[Event "Budapest zt-B"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Chernin, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1993.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. e4 c5 11. d5 c4 12. Bc2 Qc7 13. Nd4 Nc5 (13... e5 14. Nf5 g6
15. Nh6 Ng8 16. Nxg8 Rxg8 17. Qf3 Bd6 18. b3 b4 19. Nd1 a5 20. bxc4 Nc5 21. a3
Rb8 22. axb4 axb4 23. Nb2 Bc8 24. Nd3 Bd7 25. Nxc5 Bxc5 26. Ba4 $16 {Szmetan,
J-Morovic Fernandez,I/Buenos Aires/1992/}) 14. Bg5 $146 (14. b4 $1 cxb3 15.
axb3 b4 $8 16. Na4 Ncxe4 $1 17. dxe6 Rd8 $1 18. exf7+ $1 Kxf7 19. Be3 Bd6 20.
h3 Rhe8 21. Rc1 Qa5 $2 (21... Nc3 22. Nxc3 bxc3 $13) 22. Bd3 Kg8 23. Nc6 $1
Bxc6 24. Rxc6 Qe5 25. f4 Qe7 26. Bb6 $16 {Yakovich,Y-Sorokin,M/Calcutta op/
1991/}) 14... O-O-O $5 15. Bxf6 $6 (15. b4 cxb3 (15... Ncd7 16. dxe6 Ne5 17.
Rb1 Neg4 $1) 16. Bxb3 Bd6 17. f4 $5 Nfxe4 18. Bxd8 Rxd8 19. Nxe4 Nxe4 20. Rc1
Bc5 $13) 15... gxf6 16. b4 cxb3 (16... Nd7 17. dxe6 Ne5 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. exd5
Rxd5 (19... Bxb4 20. exf7 (20. f4 Bc5 21. Kh1 Rxd5 22. fxe5 Rxd4 23. Qf3 $132)
20... Rxd5 21. Qb1 Rxd4 22. Qxb4 Nxf7 23. a4 $40) 20. Bf5 Kb8 21. Qd2 (21. Be4
Rd6 $1) 21... Nd3 22. Qe3 $13) 17. Bxb3 Kb8 18. Rc1 (18. a4 b4 19. Nce2 Nxe4
20. Rc1 Bc5 $15) (18. Qf3 Bd6 19. h3 Be5) 18... Bd6 19. Qh5 Bf4 20. Ncxb5 $2 (
20. Rc2 Qe5 21. Qxe5+ (21. Qd1 Nxb3 22. Nf3 Qh5 23. axb3 exd5 $17) 21... fxe5
22. Nc6+ Bxc6 23. dxc6 Rc8 $17) 20... Qb6 (20... axb5 21. Nc6+ (21. d6 Bxd6 22.
Nxb5 Qa5 23. Nxd6 Nxb3 24. Qxa5 Nxa5 25. Nxf7 Bxe4 $13) 21... Bxc6 22. Rxc5 $16
) 21. Nc6+ (21. Nc3 Bxc1 22. Rxc1 Nd3 $19) 21... Bxc6 22. dxc6 Nxb3 (22... Bxc1
23. c7+ Ka8 24. cxd8=Q+ Rxd8 25. Rxc1 Nxb3 26. Nc7+ Kb7 27. axb3 Rc8 28. Qxf7
$18) 23. Rb1 (23. c7+ Bxc7 24. Rxc7 axb5 25. Rxf7 Nd2 $19) 23... axb5 $1 (23...
Nd2 24. Nc3 Nxb1 25. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 26. Nxb1 Be5 $14) 24. Rxb3 Be5 25. Rfb1 (25. a4
b4 26. Rfb1 Rd4 27. Qxf7 Rhd8 $19) 25... Qxc6 26. Rxb5+ (26. Qxf7 Kc8 $1) 26...
Kc8 27. Rb6 (27. Qxf7 Qxb5 28. Qxe6+ Kc7 $19) 27... Qc2 28. g3 Rd7 29. Qg4 Rhd8
30. Kg2 Rd2 31. Rf1 Bd4 32. Rbb1 Rxf2+ 33. Rxf2 Qxb1 (33... Qxf2+ 34. Kh3 Qc2
$19) 34. Rf1 Qxa2+ 35. Kh3 Kd7 36. Rc1 Ke7 37. Qg7 (37. Rc7+ Rd7 38. Rc8 Bg1
$19) 37... Be5 (37... Be5 38. Qxh7 Rd2 39. Rh1 Qb3 40. Qh4 Qf3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf4 Bg7 4. e3 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. h3 c5 7. O-O Qb6 8. Nbd2
Be6 (8... Qxb2 $2 9. Nc4 Qb5 (9... Qb4 10. c3 $1 Qb5 (10... Qxc3 11. Rc1 Qb4
12. Rb1 Qc3 13. Rb3 $18) 11. Nxd6 $16) (9... Qc3 10. Rb1 $1 {/\ Rb3}) 10. Nxd6
$16) 9. Ng5 Bd7 10. Nc4 Qc7 11. c3 h6 12. Nf3 b6 {During the game I thought
that Artur stood better but that doesn't seem to be the case} 13. Bd3 (13. a4
Bc6 14. a5 $140 Nbd7) 13... Qb7 14. Re1 Bc6 $1 15. Ncd2 Ne4 $1 16. Nxe4 Bxe4
$10 17. Qe2 Nd7 18. Ba6 (18. a4) 18... Qc7 19. Nd2 Bb7 20. Bxb7 (20. a4 Nf6)
20... Qxb7 21. e4 {I'm not so happy with this move. It doesn't spoil much
though-White's mistake comes later} cxd4 22. cxd4 Rac8 $1 {Black has equalised}
23. Nf3 Rc7 24. Qe3 Kh7 25. Qb3 Nf6 $1 26. e5 (26. d5 Rfc8 {And White will
find it difficult to control Black's activity along the c-file}) 26... dxe5 27.
Nxe5 Rcc8 28. a4 Nd5 $10 {The knight on d5 solves Black's problems} 29. Bd2 e6
30. h4 h5 31. a5 Rc7 32. a6 $6 {White is overreaching} (32. axb6) 32... Qc8 33.
Qd3 Rd8 34. Bg5 Rd6 35. Qa3 Bxe5 $1 36. dxe5 Rdc6 $17 37. Qb3 Rc2 38. Ra4 R7c4
39. Re4 Rxa4 40. Rxa4 Re2 41. Qf3 Re1+ 42. Kh2 Kg8 $1 (42... Qc7 43. Rc4 $1
Qxe5+ 44. g3) 43. Bf6 Qc7 44. g3 Qc2 $19 45. b3 Re3 46. Qg2 Rxb3 47. Rd4 Rd3
48. Re4 Rd2 49. Rf4 Kh7 50. Rf3 Ne3 $1 0-1

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {Ribli Kortschnoj Topalov has a broad repertoire with both colours. In
Madrid he predominantly played 1.e4 but right after in Las Palmas kept trying
1.c4} Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Nd5 e4 6. Nh4 d6 7. Bg2 $1 {
A real improvement (if you can call a move like Bg2 earth-shattering!).Topalov
shows that g5 is not a threat} (7. Nxb4 Nxb4 8. a3 $1 (8. d3 exd3 9. exd3 O-O
10. Be2 Bh3 {Korchnoi-Adams Wijk aan Zee 1993. White was blown off the board
in 26 moves after some inaccurate play but anyway has no advantage at this
point}) 8... Nc6 9. d3 exd3 10. Qxd3 {is Gurevich-Adams Munich 1993. White won
a long ending but Michael was doing quite well out of the opening (full
compensation for the exchange).}) (7. a3 {Kortschnoj} Ba5 $1 $13) 7... g5 {
Show me!} 8. Qa4 $1 Bd7 (8... gxh4 9. Nxb4 Bd7 10. Nxc6 Bxc6 11. Qb3 $14 {
/\ Qc3,b3,Bb2}) (8... Bc5 $5 9. d4 $1 (9. Nxf6+ Qxf6 10. Bxe4 Qxf2+ 11. Kd1 Bd7
$19) 9... Bxd4 10. Bxg5 Bxb2 11. Rb1 h6 $1 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Nxf6+ Qxf6 14.
Bxe4 $14) (8... Ba5 {Ribli} 9. Nxf6+ Qxf6 10. Bxe4 gxh4 11. Bxc6+ $16) 9. Nxb4
Nd4 (9... gxh4 $5 {Ribli}) 10. Qd1 gxh4 11. Nc2 $1 {The knight on d4 has to be
eliminated.} h3 $2 (11... c5 12. Nxd4 cxd4 13. d3 $1 $14) (11... Nxc2+ $1 12.
Qxc2 Qe7 (12... Bc6 {Kortschnoj} 13. O-O (13. b4 {Ribli} a6 14. Bb2 $16) 13...
Qe7 $14) 13. d3 {and white is a little better but not more}) 12. Bxe4 $1 Nxe4
13. Nxd4 Qf6 14. Nf3 $16 Bc6 15. O-O h6 16. d4 $1 (16. d3 Ng5 (16... Nc5 17. d4
$16) 17. Nxg5 hxg5 18. e4 $16) 16... d5 (16... O-O-O 17. d5 Bd7 18. Be3 {
/\ Ba7,Bd4}) 17. c5 O-O-O 18. Ne5 {this looks like a Petroff with White having
a pawn on e2 !!} Rhg8 19. a4 h5 20. Ra3 $1 {Overprotecting g3} Qe6 (20... h4 {
Ribli} 21. b4 $36) 21. b4 f6 22. Nd3 $1 $18 (22. Nxc6 $5 $16 {Kortschnoj})
22... h4 23. Nf4 Qf5 24. b5 Be8 25. Qd3 Rd7 $6 26. Qb3 Rg5 27. c6 $1 Rdg7 28.
cxb7+ Kxb7 29. Qf3 Qd7 (29... hxg3 {Ribli} 30. fxg3 Nxg3 31. hxg3 Rxg3+ 32.
Qxg3 Rxg3+ 33. Rxg3 $18) 30. Nd3 Bh5 (30... hxg3 31. hxg3 (31. Bxg5 $18) (31.
Bxg5 $18 {Ribli}) 31... Rxg3+ 32. fxg3 Rxg3+ 33. Qxg3 Nxg3 34. Nc5+ $18) 31.
Nc5+ Nxc5 32. dxc5 Kb8 (32... Bxf3 {Kortschnoj} 33. c6+ $18) (32... Qe7 $5 $14
{Kortschnoj}) 33. Qxf6 Rf5 34. Qd4 Bxe2 35. Re1 hxg3 36. Rxg3 Rxg3+ 37. fxg3
Qe8 38. Rxe2 (38. Rxe2 Qxe2 39. Qh8+ Kb7 40. c6+ Kb6 41. Qd4+ $1 (41. Qb8+ $4
Kc5 42. Qxa7+ Kc4) 41... Ka5 42. Bd2+ Qxd2 43. Qxd2+ Kxa4 44. Qc2+) 1-0

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g4 h6 7. Be3 Nc6 8. f3
a6 9. Bc4 $146 (9. Qd2 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12. Bg2 Nxd4 13. Qxd4
Qxd4 14. Bxd4 Bd7 15. f4 Rc8 $10 {Frolov,A-Poluljahov,A Kobanya op (10) 1992 1/
2 54 -Inf.55/239}) (9. Qe2 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 e5 11. Bf2 Be6 12. O-O-O Rc8 13. Qd2
Be7 14. h4 Qc7 $10 {Nunn,J-Jansa,V BL 1991 -Inf.51/216}) 9... Na5 (9... d5 $5
10. exd5 exd5 $13) 10. Bd3 b5 11. Qd2 Qc7 12. O-O-O Rb8 (12... Nc4 $5 13. Bxc4
Qxc4 $13) 13. Kb1 g6 14. h4 Nd7 15. f4 Nc4 16. Bxc4 Qxc4 17. g5 (17. f5 b4 18.
Na4 e5 $15) 17... hxg5 18. hxg5 Rxh1 19. Rxh1 Bb7 20. b3 Qc7 21. Rh8 e5 (21...
b4 22. Ndb5 $1 axb5 23. Nxb5 Qc6 24. Nxd6+ Ke7 25. e5 $16) 22. Ndxb5 $1 axb5
23. Nxb5 Qc6 24. Nxd6+ Ke7 25. fxe5 Ke6 (25... Nxe5 26. Qb4 Ke6 (26... Qxd6 27.
Bc5 Ke6 28. Rxf8 $18) 27. Rxf8 Rxf8 28. Nxb7 $18) 26. Nb5 $1 Qxb5 27. Rxf8 Qc6
(27... Rxf8 $4 28. Qd6#) 28. Rxb8 Nxb8 29. Qd8 Na6 (29... Nd7 $4 30. Qe8#) (
29... Qxe4 30. Qf6+ (30. Qxb8 Qxe3 31. Qxb7 Qe1+ 32. Kb2 Qxe5+ 33. c3 Qxg5 $14)
30... Kd7 (30... Kd5 $4 31. Qd6#) 31. Qxf7+ Kc8 32. Qe8+ Kc7 33. Bc5 $16) 30.
Qf6+ Kd7 31. Qxf7+ Kc8 32. Qf8+ Kc7 33. Qf7+ Kb8 34. e6 $18 Qxe4 35. e7 Bc6 (
35... Nc7 36. Bf4 $18) 36. e8=Q+ $1 (36. e8=Q+ Bxe8 37. Qa7+ Kc8 38. Qxa6+ $18)
1-0

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E98"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Kortschnoj,V"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Ne1 Ne8 10. Be3 f5 11. f3 f4 12. Bf2 h5 13. c5 g5 14. a4 Kh8 15. a5 dxc5
{TN} 16. Bxc5 Nd6 17. Nd3 $6 (17. Nb5 $1 Ng8 18. Nxa7 Bd7 19. a6 $16) 17... Ng8
18. b4 $6 (18. Nf2 Nh6 19. Nb5 $14) (18. Bf2 $5 Nh6 19. Nc5 Rf6 20. Ne6 $146)
18... Nh6 19. Nf2 Rg8 20. Ra3 Bf8 21. h3 b6 $1 $15 22. axb6 cxb6 23. Bxd6 Bxd6
24. Nb5 Bxb4 25. Rxa7 Rxa7 26. Nxa7 Bc5 27. Nc6 Qf6 28. Qa1 Nf7 29. Rc1 g4 30.
hxg4 hxg4 31. fxg4 Bxg4 32. Bxg4 Bxf2+ 33. Kxf2 Rxg4 (33... Qh4+ 34. Ke2 Qxg4+
35. Kd3 $13) 34. Rh1+ Kg7 35. Qa3 $2 (35. Qa7 Qg5 36. Rh7+ $15) (35. Qa7 Qd6
36. Rh7+ Kxh7 37. Qxf7+ Kh6 38. Kf1 $1 $15) 35... Qg6 36. Qh3 Rg3 $19 37. Qf5
Rxg2+ 38. Kf1 Qxf5 39. exf5 Rd2 40. Rg1+ Kf6 41. Rg6+ Kxf5 42. Ne7+ Ke4 43.
Rxb6 Ng5 44. Rb3 f3 45. Rb4+ Kd3 46. d6 Kc3 47. Ra4 Rxd6 48. Nf5 Rd2 49. Ng3
Kd3 50. Ra5 Ne4 51. Ra3+ Nc3 52. Ra8 Ke3 53. Nf5+ Kf4 0-1

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gurevich, Mikhail"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[PlyCount "150"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 d5 4. Bxf6 exf6 5. e3 Be6 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Qf3 Qd7 8.
a3 O-O-O 9. Nge2 g6 10. h3 h5 11. O-O-O Ne7 12. Kb1 Kb8 13. Nc1 Nc8 14. Nb3 b6
15. Rhe1 Re8 16. Ba6 h4 17. Qe2 Rh7 18. Qd3 Rhe7 19. Na2 Nd6 20. Nb4 c6 21. f3
Bf7 22. Qc3 Kc7 23. a4 Bh6 24. e4 fxe4 25. Bb5 Nxb5 26. axb5 exf3 27. Rxe7 Rxe7
28. Qxf3 Qd6 29. Nxc6 Re3 30. Qf2 Bg5 31. Ne5 Be8 32. Nf3 Qf4 33. Qf1 Bd7 34.
Nc1 Bf5 35. Nd3 Qe4 36. Re1 Rxe1+ 37. Ndxe1 Be3 38. Qe2 Bg5 39. Qd1 Bh6 40. Nd3
Bd7 41. Nf2 Qf4 42. Nd3 Qg3 43. Qe2 Bf8 44. Nc1 g5 45. Na2 Qf4 46. Nc3 Qf5 47.
Nh2 Qe6 48. Qf3 Kd6 49. Ng4 Qf5 50. Qxf5 Bxf5 51. Nxf6 Be6 52. Kc1 Be7 53. Ng4
Bf8 54. b3 Bg7 55. Ne2 Bd7 56. c4 Be6 57. Ne3 g4 58. hxg4 Bh6 59. Kd2 dxc4 60.
bxc4 Bxc4 61. Kc3 Bxe2 62. Nf5+ Ke6 63. Nxh6 Kf6 64. d5 Bxb5 65. Nf5 Kg5 66.
Nd6 Ba6 67. Kd4 Kxg4 68. Ke5 b5 69. Nf5 b4 70. d6 Bc8 71. Ne7 Bd7 72. Kd4 Kg3
73. Ng6 a5 74. Ne5 Be6 75. Ke3 Bc8 0-1

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Tukmakov, Vladimir B"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B14"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. cxd5 Nxd5 (
7... exd5 {/^c8-g4 =/+/=}) 8. Qc2 Nc6 9. a3 Ba5 (9... Be7 {/\Bf6,קd4}) 10. Bd3
$5 (10. Bd2 {/\->>>0-0}) 10... Nxc3 11. bxc3 {/\->K} Nxd4 $5 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13.
Bb5+ Bd7 (13... Ke7 14. O-O Qxc3 15. Qe2 $44 {עe7, @} Rd8 $140 $2 16. Bg5+ f6
17. Rfc1 Qd4 18. Rd1 $1 Qb6 19. Be3 Qc7 20. Rxd8 Qxd8 (20... Kxd8 21. Rd1+ Ke7
22. Qh5 $18) 21. Bc5+ Kf7 22. Qh5+ Kg8 23. Rd1 $18) (13... Kf8 14. O-O $5 Qxc3
15. Qe2 $1 $44 Qxa1 $140 16. Bb2 Qxf1+ 17. Kxf1 $36 {צa8,h8,Bc8, Pg7}) 14. O-O
Qd5 (14... Qxc3 15. Bxd7+ Kxd7 16. Qa4+ Ke7 17. Bg5+ f6 (17... Kf8 18. Rac1 $40
) 18. Rac1 Qe5 19. Bf4 Qf5 20. Bd6+ $1 $40) 15. c4 $1 {ץd7,ע} Qf5 $8 16.
Bxd7+ Kxd7 17. Qb2 {קb7,Pg7} b6 18. Rd1+ (18. Qxg7 $2 Rhg8 $132 {<->g,><g2})
18... Ke7 19. Be3 $44 (19. Qxg7 $6 Rhg8 20. Qd4 Rad8 21. Qh4+ f6 22. Rxd8 Rxd8
23. Be3 $13) 19... f6 20. c5 $1 Rhd8 (20... bxc5 $4 21. Qb7+ $18) 21. h3 (21.
Rxd8 $2 Rxd8 22. cxb6 axb6 23. Bxb6 Rd2 $15 {_|_}) 21... Kf7 (21... bxc5 22.
Qb7+ Kf8 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. Qxa7 Bc3 25. Bxc5+ Kg8 26. Qe7 $16) 22. Qb5 $1 {
ץa5} a6 (22... Qh5 $5 23. Rd7+ $13) 23. Qa4 Bc3 24. Rac1 Bb2 25. cxb6 $1 Bxc1
26. Rxc1 Kg6 $2 (26... Qd5 27. Rc7+ Kg8 28. b7 Rab8 (28... Qd1+ 29. Qxd1 Rxd1+
30. Kh2 Rf8 31. Rc8 Rb1 32. Bc5 $18) 29. Qxa6 $16 {_|_}) 27. Qh4 $1 Rd7 28. Rc7
Rad8 (28... Rxc7 29. Qg3+ {/\Qxc7+-}) 29. b7 $1 e5 (29... Qb1+ 30. Kh2 Rxc7 31.
Qg3+ Kf5 32. Qxc7 Re8 33. Ba7 $18) 30. g4 $18 Qb1+ 31. Rc1 Qxc1+ 32. Bxc1 Kf7
33. Be3 h6 34. g5 Rxb7 (34... Rxb7 35. Qc4+ Ke7 36. gxf6+ gxf6 $8 37. Bc5+ Kd7
38. Qf7+ Kc8 39. Qxf6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vyzmanavin, Alexey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[Annotator "Dautov,R"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 044"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. c4 Be7 6. Nc3 Ne4 7. Bd2 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Ne5 (9. Qa4+ $1 Qd7 10. Qc2 Nxd2 (10... Nxc3 11. Qxc3 $14) 11. Qxd2 O-O
12. O-O Nc6 13. Rac1 Rad8 14. e3 Bf6 15. Rfd1 Na5 16. b3 Rfe8 17. Ne2 Qd6 18.
Nf4 c6 19. Ne5 $1 c5 20. Ng4 $16 {Kasparov-Gligoric/Niksic/1983}) 9... O-O 10.
O-O {->E18} Nd7 (10... Nxd2 11. Qxd2 c6 12. e4 dxe4 13. Bxe4 $14) (10... Nxc3
11. Bxc3 Nd7 12. Nd3 Bd6 13. b4 c6 14. a4 a6 15. Qb3 Re8 16. Ra2 b5 17. Nc5
Nxc5 18. dxc5 $14 {Tal-Trifunovic/Palma de Mallorca/1966}) 11. Bf4 (11. Nxe4
dxe4 12. Qc2 c5 13. Bc3 cxd4 14. Bxd4 Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Qd5 $10) 11... Ndf6 (11...
c5 12. Nxe4 (12. dxc5 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Nxc5 $10) 12... dxe4 13. Nxd7 Qxd7 14. dxc5
Qxd1 15. Rfxd1 Bxc5 16. Rd7 Bc6 17. Rc7 Bd5 18. Rd1 Rfd8 19. a3 a5 20. h4 $14)
(11... Nxe5 $5 12. Bxe5 Bd6 (12... Nxc3 13. bxc3 c6 $5 $132 {/\Ba6-c4}) 13.
Bxd6 Qxd6 14. Nxe4 (14. Qc2 Nxc3 15. Qxc3 c5 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. Rfd1 Rfd8 18.
Bxd5 Bxd5 19. e4 Qe6 20. exd5 Rxd5 21. Rxd5 Qxd5 $10) 14... dxe4 15. Rc1 Rad8
16. e3 f5 17. Qc2 Rf7 $10) 12. Qa4 c5 (12... Nxc3 13. bxc3 c5 (13... Qe8 14.
Qb3 c5 15. a4 $14) 14. Nc6 Bxc6 15. Qxc6 $14) (12... Qe8 $6 13. Qxe8 Rfxe8 14.
Nxe4 (14. Nb5 Bd8 15. Rac1 c5 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. f3 a6 $13) 14... Nxe4 (14...
dxe4 15. Rac1 c5 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Rfd1 $14) 15. Rac1 c5 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. Bxe4
dxe4 18. Nd7 Rac8 19. Rfd1 $16) 13. Nxe4 (13. Nc6 Bxc6 14. Qxc6 Rc8 (14... cxd4
15. Bc7 Qc8 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qxd5 Qxc7 18. Bxe4 Rad8 19. Rac1 $14) 15. Qa4
cxd4 16. Qxd4 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Rc4 18. Qd3 Ne4 19. Be5 Bf6 20. Bxf6 Nxf6 $10)
13... dxe4 (13... Nxe4 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15. Qc2 Bd6 16. Nd3 $14) 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15.
b4 Be7 (15... Bd6 $2 16. Rad1 Nd5 17. Nc6 Qd7 18. Bxd6 Bxc6 19. b5 Bxb5 20. Qb3
Rfc8 21. Qxd5 Bxe2 22. Bxe4 $16) 16. b5 (16. Rac1 $5 Nd5 (16... a5 17. b5 Bc5
18. Rfd1 Qe7 19. Nc6 Qe6 20. Qc4 $16) 17. Rfd1 (17. Nc6 Bxc6 18. Qxc6 Rc8 $10)
17... Qe8 $132) 16... Bc5 17. Nc6 (17. Rad1 Qe8 18. Nc6 $2 a6) (17. Bg5 $6 Qd4
$1) 17... Qd5 (17... Qe8 18. Bg5 a6 19. Bxf6 axb5 20. Qxe4 Qxe4 21. Bxe4 gxf6
22. Ne7+ Bxe7 23. Bxb7 Ra7 24. Bd5 $14) 18. Rad1 Qf5 (18... Qh5 $5 19. Bxe4
Nxe4 (19... Qxe2 20. Ne7+ Bxe7 21. Bxb7 $16) 20. Qxe4 Rfe8 21. Qf3 Qxf3 22.
exf3 a6 23. a4 axb5 24. axb5 Rac8 $10) (18... Qe6 $5 $13 {/\a6}) 19. Bd6 $1
Rfe8 20. Bxc5 Qxc5 21. Rc1 Qh5 22. Qc4 (22. Rc2 a6 $10) 22... Bc8 $1 (22... a6
23. a4) 23. Rfe1 (23. a4 $5 Bh3 24. Rfe1 $14) 23... Be6 24. Qa4 h6 25. a3 Bh3
26. Qc4 Be6 (26... Ng4 $2 27. Bxe4 Nxh2 28. Ne7+ Rxe7 29. Bxa8 $18) (26... Re6
$5 27. Red1 Rae8 {/\} 28. Nxa7 Ng4 29. Rd5 g5 30. Bh1 Bg2 31. Bxg2 Qxh2+ 32.
Kf1 Rf6 33. Qd4 e3 34. f3 Qxg3 35. Kg1 Qh2+ 36. Kf1 Rxf3+ 37. exf3 e2+ 38. Ke1
Qg3+ 39. Kd2 e1=Q+ 40. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 41. Kd3 Qd1+ 42. Kc3 Re3+ 43. Qxe3 Qa1+ $19)
27. Qb4 a6 (27... Bh3 $5) 28. bxa6 Rxa6 29. Bxe4 Nxe4 30. Qxe4 Rxa3 31. Nd4 $14
Ra2 $2 (31... Qd5 32. Qxd5 Bxd5 33. Rb1 Ra6 34. Rb4 g6 35. Reb1 Rb8 $14) 32.
Nxe6 fxe6 33. Rc7 $16 Qd5 $4 (33... b5 34. Qc6 b4 35. Rb7 Rb2 $16) 34. Qg6 1-0

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gurevich, Mikhail"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 044"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 Bg7 (4... c6 $142 5. Qd2 Nbd7) 5. f3 c6 6.
Qd2 b5 7. h4 (7. Bh6 Bxh6 8. Qxh6 b4 $5 9. Nd1 Qa5 10. Bd3 Ba6 11. Bxa6 Qxa6
12. Ne2 Nbd7 13. Ne3 Rb8 14. b3 Rb5 15. Nc4 d5 16. exd5 cxd5 17. Nb2 e6 18. O-O
Ke7 19. c4 bxc3 20. Nxc3 Rb6 21. Nca4 Rc6 22. Qd2 Rhc8 $10 {Kamsky,G-Gurevich,
M/Reggio Top 16/1991/}) (7. g4 $5 h5 8. g5 Nfd7 9. f4 (9. Nge2 Nb6 10. b3 N8d7
11. f4 b4 12. Nd1 c5 13. Bg2 Ba6 14. Nf2 Bxe2 15. Kxe2 $13 cxd4 $6 16. Bxd4
Bxd4 17. Qxd4 O-O 18. Qxb4 e5 19. Qxd6 exf4 20. Qxf4 Rc8 21. c4 f5 22. gxf6
Rxf6 23. Qg3 Qe7 24. Nd3 $16 {Vogt,L-Tischbierek,R/BL 9394/1994/}) 9... Bb7 10.
Bg2 Nb6 11. b3 N8d7 12. Nh3 O-O 13. f5 $1 Re8 14. O-O e5 15. d5 Qc7 16. dxc6
Bxc6 17. Rad1 Bf8 18. Qf2 Nc5 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. exd5 Rad8 21. Kh1 Nc8 22. c3 Bg7
23. Qc2 $16 {Magem Badals,J-Izeta,F/Pamplona/1993/}) (7. Nge2 Nbd7 8. g4 Nb6 9.
Ng3 Qc7 10. O-O-O Bb7 11. g5 Nfd7 12. h4 O-O-O 13. h5 Rhg8 14. Qf2 b4 15. Nb1
c5 16. Nd2 Kb8 17. Kb1 Rc8 18. Nb3 Na4 19. Bb5 Ndb6 20. Ne2 Nxb2 $1 21. Kxb2 a6
22. Bd3 c4 $40 {Gdanski,J-Hennigan,M/Santiago Wch-jr/1990/}) (7. O-O-O Qa5 8.
Kb1 Nbd7 9. Nd5 Qxd2 10. Nxf6+ Bxf6 11. Rxd2 O-O 12. h4 Nb6 13. Bh6 Rd8 14. h5
e5 15. hxg6 hxg6 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Rxd8+ Bxd8 18. Bd2 Be6 19. Bc3 f6 20. Nh3
Na4 21. Bd2 Bb6 22. b3 Rd8 23. Kc1 Nc5 24. Be2 Bc8 $15 {Campos Lopez,M-Hort,V/
San Antonio/1972/}) (7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. a3 a6 9. g4 c5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Nge2 Bb7
12. Bh6 Bxh6 13. Qxh6 Qc7 14. Qe3 d5 $6 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. O-O-O
Bb7 18. Nc3 O-O 19. h4 Rac8 20. h5 Nxd3+ 21. Rxd3 a5 22. b4 $1 axb4 23. axb4 e5
24. Rhd1 Qe7 25. h6 $1 $36 {Polgar,Z-Polgar,S/Aruba/1992/}) 7... h5 8. a4 (8.
Nh3 $5 {/\Ng5+/=} Bxh3 9. Rxh3 Nbd7 10. Be2 a6 $13) 8... b4 9. Nd1 a5 10. Nf2 (
10. c3 bxc3 11. bxc3 Ba6 $10) 10... Ba6 11. Bxa6 Nxa6 12. Ne2 Nd7 $1 13. O-O (
13. c3 Nb6 14. Qd3 d5 $15 {/\Nc4}) (13. Nd3 c5 14. dxc5 Naxc5 15. Nxc5 Nxc5 16.
Bd4 (16. Bxc5 dxc5 $36 {/^a1-h8}) 16... Bxd4 17. Qxd4 O-O $10) 13... c5 14.
Rad1 cxd4 15. Bxd4 Bxd4 16. Nxd4 (16. Qxd4 $6 O-O {/\Rc8,><c2}) 16... Qb6 (
16... O-O 17. Qh6 $1 $40) 17. b3 Nac5 (17... Kf8 $5 $10 {/\Kg7,Nf6,Rhc8}) 18.
Kh1 Nf6 19. Nh3 Rc8 20. Rfe1 {/\e5|^} Ncd7 21. Nf4 Rc5 (21... O-O $142 22. Nd5
$5 Nxd5 23. exd5 Nf6 $1 (23... Rfe8 24. Qg5 $14) 24. Rxe7 Nxd5 25. Nf5 $5 Nxe7
26. Nxe7+ Kg7 27. Nxc8 Rxc8 $10) 22. Nd3 Rc8 23. Nb2 $1 {/\Nc4} Qc5 (23... Ne5
24. f4 $5 {/\Nc4,e5->}) 24. Nc4 Ne5 25. Ne3 O-O 26. Qf2 Nc6 (26... Rfd8 $10 {
/\d5}) 27. Ne2 e6 28. Nf4 Ne5 29. Rd2 $14 Rc6 30. Red1 Rfc8 31. Ne2 $1 (31. Nd3
Nxd3 32. Rxd3 d5 $10) 31... Qb6 32. Nd4 Rc3 33. Re1 R3c7 34. Nb5 Rc6 35. Qg3 (
35. Red1 Rd8 36. Kg1 $14) 35... Qc5 36. Qg5 $6 Kg7 37. Red1 Nh7 38. Qf4 g5 $1
39. Nf5+ $1 $8 (39. hxg5 Ng6 40. Nf5+ Kf8 $1 $17 {/\ef5}) 39... exf5 40. Qxf5
Ng6 (40... gxh4 41. Nxd6 {/\Rd5+-}) (40... Rd8 41. Rd5 Qxc2 42. Nxd6 $16) 41.
hxg5 $44 Ne7 (41... Qxf5 42. exf5 Ne5 43. Na7 $16) 42. Qxc5 (42. Qd7 Qxg5 $17)
42... Rxc5 43. Nxd6 R8c6 (43... Rb8 44. f4 f6 $5 45. gxf6+ Nxf6 $13) 44. f4
Rxc2 $2 (44... f6 $13) 45. Ne8+ $1 Kf8 46. Rd8 $36 Rc1 47. Nd6+ Kg7 48. Rxc1
Rxc1+ 49. Kh2 Rc6 (49... Nf8 50. f5 Nh7 51. f6+ Nxf6 52. gxf6+ Kxf6 53. Nc4 $16
) (49... f6 50. Rd7 Kf8 51. g6 Nxg6 52. Rxh7 Nxf4 53. Rf7+ Kg8 54. Rxf6 $16)
50. e5 $18 Rc5 (50... Ng6 $2 51. Nf5#) (50... Nd5 $2 51. Ne8+ Kf8 52. Nf6+ $18)
(50... Nf8 51. f5 $18) 51. Rd7 Ng6 (51... Kf8 $8 52. f5 Rxe5 53. f6 {/\Rd8#}
Nc6 54. Rxf7+ Kg8 55. Rg7+ Kf8 56. Rxh7 $18) 52. e6 $1 Rc6 53. Nf5+ Kg8 (53...
Kf8 $2 54. Rd8#) 54. e7 Re6 55. Rd8+ Nhf8 56. e8=Q Rxe8 57. Rxe8 Nxf4 58. Ra8
Nd3 59. Rxa5 Ne6 (59... Nc1 60. Nd4 $18) (59... Ne6 60. Rb5 {o^a}) 1-0

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Greenfeld, Alon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 044"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. e3 d5 5. Nc3 a6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Be2 Bd6 8. dxc5
Bxc5 9. O-O O-O 10. b3 Nc6 11. Bb2 Bg4 12. Nd4 Bxd4 13. Bxg4 Be5 14. Bf3 Qa5
15. Qe1 Qc7 16. g3 Rad8 17. Rc1 Rfe8 18. Na4 b5 19. Bxe5 Nxe5 20. Qe2 Qa7 21.
Nc5 d4 22. exd4 Rxd4 23. Rfe1 Nxf3+ 24. Qxf3 Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Qxc5 0-1

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Bg5 (6. Bf4 Bg4 7. Qb3
Na5 8. Qa4+ Bd7 9. Qc2 {Fischer,R-Petrosjan,T/Belgrade URS-World/1970/}) 6...
Bg4 (6... Ne4 $6 7. Bxe4 dxe4 8. d5 Ne5 9. Qa4+ b5 10. Qxe4 f6 $14) 7. Ne2 (7.
Qb3) 7... e6 8. Qc2 Bxe2 (8... Rc8 $5 9. f3 Bh5 10. O-O (10. Bxh7 $6 g6 $1 11.
g4 Rxh7 12. Qb3 Rc7 13. gxh5 Rxh5 $15)) 9. Qxe2 h6 10. Bh4 Qb6 11. Bg3 Be7 12.
O-O O-O 13. b3 Rac8 14. Nd2 a6 (14... Ba3 15. Nf3 Nh5 $13) 15. a4 $1 Qd8 16.
Rac1 Re8 17. Kh1 Bd6 18. f4 Ne7 (18... Qc7 $5 19. Nf3 $140 Bxf4 20. Bxf4 Qxf4
21. Ne5 Qg5 $15) 19. Nf3 Nf5 20. Ne5 Be7 21. Rc2 g6 $6 (21... Nd6 $1 {xe4}) 22.
Be1 h5 23. h3 h4 $6 24. Bxf5 exf5 25. Bxh4 Ne4 26. Be1 (26. Bxe7 $2 Ng3+ 27.
Kh2 Nxf1+ 28. Qxf1 Rxe7 $17) 26... Bh4 27. g4 $1 fxg4 28. hxg4 Kg7 29. f5 Rc7
30. Kg2 Bxe1 31. Qxe1 Qg5 32. Qc1 $1 Qxc1 (32... Qh4 33. f6+ $1 Kg8 (33... Nxf6
34. Rh1 $18) 34. Qf4 $16) 33. Rcxc1 gxf5 34. Rxf5 f6 35. Nd3 Rxc3 36. Rxc3 Nxc3
37. Nf4 Re4 38. Kf3 Kh7 (38... Kf7 $2 39. g5) 39. Rxf6 b5 40. Rxa6 Rxd4 41.
Ra7+ Kg8 (41... Kh6 $2 42. g5+ Kxg5 43. Ne6+ $18) 42. a5 $1 Rb4 43. g5 Rxb3 44.
Ne6 b4 45. Kf4 $1 Ne2+ (45... Ne4 46. g6 $18) 46. Ke5 Re3+ 47. Kf6 Rf3+ 48. Kg6
Nf4+ 49. Nxf4 Rxf4 50. Ra8+ Rf8 51. Rxf8+ Kxf8 52. a6 b3 53. a7 b2 54. a8=Q+
1-0

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B56"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Be3
Be6 9. Nd5 Bxd5 10. exd5 Nb4 11. c4 a5 12. Nd2 Nd7 13. Ne4 f5 14. Nc3 O-O 15.
Be2 Bg5 16. Bf2 Qf6 17. O-O Na6 18. Bd3 Qh6 19. Qe2 Rae8 20. Bc2 Nac5 21. g3 e4
22. f4 Bd8 23. a3 Nf6 24. Kg2 Bb6 25. Bg1 Ncd7 26. Nb5 Bxg1 27. Rxg1 Qg6 28. b4
Rc8 29. Nxd6 Nxd5 30. Nxc8 Nxf4+ 31. Kf1 Qf6 32. Ne7+ Kh8 33. Qd1 Nh3 34. Nd5
Qb2 35. Rg2 f4 36. gxf4 Qe5 37. Ra2 Nb6 38. Qa1 Rxf4+ 39. Ke1 1-0

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Bg5 a6 9. a4 Nc6 10. Nb3 Be6 11. Kh1 Rc8 (11... h6 $6 12. Be3 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5
14. Nxd5 Qxd5 15. Nc5 Bxb2 16. Qxd5 Bxd5 17. Rad1 Nb4 18. Nd7 $16 {Xie
Jun-Chiburdanidze,M (11) WchW Manila 1991 1-0 34}) 12. f4 Na5 (12... Nb4 $6 13.
f5 Bc4 14. a5 Bxb3 15. cxb3 Rc5 16. Ra4 Nc6 17. b4 Rxc3 18. Bxf6 Re3 19. Bxg7
Kxg7 20. b5 $16 {Fishbein,A-Karason,A Saint John op-1 1988 1-0 40}) 13. Nxa5
Qxa5 14. Bd3 Rfe8 (14... Bc4 15. Qf3 e6 16. f5 Bxd3 17. cxd3 Qb4 18. Rf2 $16 {
Fishbein,A-Danek,L Vienna op (4) 1991 1-0 41}) 15. Qe2 (15. f5 $5) 15... Qb4
16. a5 $2 (16. f5 Qxb2 $2 (16... Bd7 $10) 17. Bd2 $18) 16... Bg4 (16... Qxb2 $2
17. Na4 Qd4 18. Nb6 Rc7 19. Ra4 $16) 17. Qd2 Bd7 $1 18. Qe2 $2 (18. Ra3 Bc6 $15
) 18... Qxb2 $17 19. Bxf6 (19. Na4 Bxa4 20. Rxa4 Nd7 $17) 19... Bxf6 20. Nd5
Bb5 (20... Qxa1 $5 21. Rxa1 Bxa1 22. Nb6 Rc7 23. Nd5 Rc5 $17) 21. Bxb5 Qxb5 22.
Qxb5 axb5 23. Rab1 Rc5 $1 (23... Rxc2 $6 24. Rxb5 $15) 24. Rfd1 (24. Nxf6+ exf6
25. Rfe1 Rxc2 26. Rxb5 Rxe4 $19) 24... Kg7 25. Nb6 (25. g4 g5 26. Nxf6 exf6 27.
fxg5 fxg5 28. Rd4 Re6 $19) 25... Rxc2 26. Rxb5 Re2 27. Nd5 (27. Rb4 $5 $17)
27... Rxe4 $19 28. Rxb7 Ra8 29. g4 (29. Rb5 Ra4 $19) 29... Rxa5 30. g5 Ba1 31.
Nxe7 (31. Rxe7 $2 Rxd5 $19) 31... Rxf4 32. Nc6 (32. Rb8 h5 33. gxh6+ Kxh6 34.
Rxd6 Be5 $19) 32... Ra8 $1 (32... Ra2 33. Nd8 (33. Nb4 Rb2 $19) 33... Kf8 34.
Rc1 {/\ Ne6}) 33. Rxd6 Ra2 34. Rd1 Rff2 35. Nd8 Kg8 36. Rb8 h5 (36... Be5 $4
37. Ne6+ Bxb8 38. Rd8#) 37. gxh6 Be5 38. Rb7 Rxh2+ 39. Kg1 Rhg2+ 40. Kh1 Rh2+ (
40... Rg4 $19) 41. Kg1 Rhg2+ 42. Kh1 Rg4 0-1

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 cxd4 6. Qxd4 Nxc3 7. Qxc3 Nc6
8. e4 Bg4 (8... e6 {Morosevic,A-Moskolenko,V/Alushta/1993/CBM36/INF57,48/}) 9.
Bb5 Rc8 10. Be3 $5 (10. Bf4 $5 {Gelfand,B-Beliavsky,A/Reggio Emilia/1991/CBM27/
INF53,54/}) 10... a6 (10... Bxf3 $2 11. gxf3 a6 12. Rd1 Qc7 13. Bxc6+ Qxc6 14.
Qd4 f6 15. O-O e5 16. Qa7 $16 {Portisch,L-Huebner,R/Montreal/1979/INF27,83/})
11. Rd1 Qc7 12. Ba4 b5 13. Bb3 e6 14. O-O Bxf3 15. gxf3 Bd6 (15... Qe5 16. Qxe5
Nxe5 17. Rc1 $14 {Belov-Hudacek/Karvina/9293/INF56,(47)/}) 16. Qxg7 Bxh2+ 17.
Kh1 $14 Be5 (17... Qe5 $2 18. Qh6 $18) 18. Qh6 Qe7 19. Bg5 Qf8 (19... f6 20.
Be3 Bxb2 21. Rg1 $44) 20. Qh5 Nd4 21. Bh6 Qd6 (21... Bg7 22. Rxd4 Bxh6 23. Bxe6
$18) 22. Be3 Rc5 23. Qh3 $1 Rg8 24. f4 Bf6 25. Rg1 Rg6 (25... Rxg1+ 26. Kxg1
Ne2+ 27. Kf1 Nxf4 28. Qg3 $18) 26. Rxg6 hxg6 27. e5 Qc6+ 28. Qg2 Nxb3 29. axb3
Bd8 30. Bxc5 Qxc5 31. Qa8 Qe7 32. Kg2 a5 33. Qc6+ Kf8 34. Qc8 Ke8 35. Qc6+ Kf8
36. Rd7 Qh4 37. Qf3 Bb6 38. Qg3 Qh5 39. Rb7 Bd4 40. Qg5 Qxg5+ 41. fxg5 1-0

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 Be7 (7...
Qc7 8. a4 b6 9. Be2 Be7 10. Qd3 O-O 11. Nd2 Be6 12. O-O Nc6 13. Nf3 Nb4 14. Qd2
d5 $15 {Kalesis,N-Loginov,V Budapest FS FebGM (01) 1994 0-1 -CBM 40}) 8. Bc4
O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10. Re1 (10. Qe2 Na5 11. Bd5 Be6 12. Rfd1 Qc8 13. Bg5 Qc7 14.
Bxf6 $14 {Kalesis,N-Dao Thien Hai Budapest FS FebGM (11) 1994 0-1 37 -CBM 40})
10... Na5 (10... h6 11. a3 Be6 12. Nd5 b5 13. Ba2 Rc8 14. Nd2 Bxd5 15. exd5 Nb8
16. c4 $14 {Short,N-Anand,V Monaco rapid (01) 1993 1-0 41}) 11. Bf1 Be6 12. Nd5
Bxd5 13. exd5 b5 14. b3 Ng4 15. Bd2 Qb6 16. h3 Nxf2 $2 (16... Nf6 17. Be3 $14)
17. Bxa5 (17. Be3 $2 Qxe3 $19) 17... Qxa5 (17... Nxh3+ 18. Kh2 Qxa5 19. gxh3
$16) 18. Kxf2 Qb6+ 19. Kg3 f5 20. Kh2 (20. Nd4 f4+ 21. Kh2 Bh4 22. Ne6 Bxe1 23.
Qxe1 $14) 20... Bf6 21. c3 b4 22. Nd2 bxc3 23. Nc4 Qc5 24. a3 a5 25. Ra2 Rab8
26. Kh1 Rb7 $2 (26... g6 27. g4 $16) 27. Qf3 $1 $18 e4 (27... Rxb3 28. Qxf5
Qxd5 29. Ne3 $18) 28. Qxf5 Re7 29. Qh5 Bd4 30. Qd1 Bf2 (30... a4 $5 31. Be2 (
31. b4 $2 Rxf1+ 32. Rxf1 Qxc4 $17) 31... axb3 32. Qxb3 Qxd5 33. Na5 Qxb3 34.
Nxb3 $16) 31. Ree2 Bg3 32. Re3 Qd4 33. Ra1 Be5 (33... Qxd1 34. Rxd1 c2 35. Rc1
Bf4 (35... Ref7 36. Be2 $18) 36. Rxc2 Bxe3 37. Nxe3 $18) 34. Qc2 Bf4 35. Rxc3
$18 (35. Rd1 $2 Bxe3 36. Rxd4 Rxf1+ 37. Kh2 Bxd4 $19) 35... Ref7 36. Be2 Bg5
37. Rd1 Qf2 38. Bh5 (38. Nxd6 $18) 38... g6 39. Qxf2 Rxf2 40. Bg4 h5 41. Be6+
Kh8 42. h4 Bh6 (42... Bxh4 43. Nxd6 $18) 43. Re1 Rf1+ 44. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 45. Kh2
Re1 46. g3 e3 47. Kg2 {Boensch} (47. Kg2 e2 (47... Re2+ 48. Kf1 Rf2+ 49. Ke1
Rf3 50. Nxd6 $18) 48. Kf2 $18) 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Epishin, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2675"]
[Annotator "Ambroz,J"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Nd5 Bc5 6. d3 (6. Bg2 d6 7. O-O O-O
8. e3 Bb6 $5 9. d4 Re8 10. Nxb6 axb6 11. d5 Ne7 12. Nd2 b5 $1 {Lautier,
J-Epishin,V/Tarrasa/1991/}) 6... h6 (6... Nxd5 7. cxd5 Ne7 8. Nxe5 Bb4+ 9. Bd2
Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 Nxd5 11. Bg2 Nf6 12. O-O d6 13. Nf3 O-O 14. Rac1 c6 15. a3 Re8
16. Rfe1 Nd7 17. b4 a5 18. Nd4 Qf6 19. e3 axb4 20. axb4 Nb6 21. b5 $5 {
Gavrikov,V-Stefansson,H/Moscow GMA-op (3) 1989}) 7. a3 (7. Bg2 d6 8. O-O O-O 9.
e3 a5 10. Nc3 (10. b3 Nxd5 11. cxd5 Ne7 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Qd7 14. Bb2 c6 15.
dxc6 bxc6 16. Qc2 Bb7 17. Rfd1 Rfd8 18. Rac1 Qe8 19. a3 Qf8 20. Qc3 Bb6 21. b4
axb4 22. axb4 Rab8 23. Nb3 Ba6 24. Ra1 Be2 25. Rd2 {Huebner,R-Karpov,An/Bad
Kissingen/1980/0.5 (35)}) 10... Ba7 11. a3 Nh7 12. Kh1 Bg4 13. Qc2 f5 14. Nb5
Qd7 15. Nxa7 Rxa7 16. b3 Raa8 17. Ng1 Rae8 18. Bd2 Nf6 19. f3 Bh5 20. b4 b6 21.
Bh3 Bf7 22. Ne2 axb4 23. axb4 Ne7 24. b5 Rd8 25. d4 {Kortschnoj,V-Petrosian,T 
(05)/Ciocco cm/}) 7... a5 8. Bg2 d6 9. O-O O-O 10. Nxf6+ $5 Qxf6 $140 11. Nd2 {
/\ Ne4} Qd8 12. e3 Ne7 13. Ne4 Ba7 14. Nc3 (14. b4 axb4 (14... d5 $5 15. cxd5
axb4 16. d6 (16. axb4 Nxd5) 16... cxd6 17. axb4 d5 $15) 15. axb4 d5 16. Nc3 (
16. cxd5 Nxd5) 16... Be6 (16... d4 $2 17. Nb5) 17. Nb5 $14) (14. b3 $5 {
/\ Bb2, /^ a1-h8}) 14... c6 15. d4 Be6 16. b3 (16. d5 cxd5 17. cxd5 Bd7 $10 18.
Ne4 $140 Bb5 {/\ f5} (18... f5 19. Nxd6 Qc7 20. Nc4 $5 $16 (20. Ne4) 20... Qxc4
21. d6)) 16... f5 17. a4 Qc7 18. Ba3 Rad8 19. f4 $5 Bf7 20. Kh1 exd4 21. exd4
Kh8 22. Ra2 $5 Ng8 $5 {/\ Nf6-e4} 23. Bh3 Bg6 24. Rd2 Nf6 25. Qc2 Rde8 26. d5 (
26. Bxf5 $5 Bxf5 27. Qxf5 Ne4 28. Qxe4 Rxe4 29. Nxe4 $44 {>< Ba7}) 26... Ne4
27. Nxe4 fxe4 28. Rdd1 Rf6 $5 (28... c5 $2 $18 {>< Ba7}) 29. Bb2 e3 30. Qe2
Be4+ 31. Bg2 Rf7 (31... Bxg2+ 32. Kxg2 Rf5) 32. Bxe4 Rxe4 33. f5 Qe7 34. Rf3
Bc5 35. Bc3 (35. Rdf1 $5) 35... Kg8 36. Rdf1 (36. Bxa5 Qe5 $13) 36... cxd5 37.
f6 $1 gxf6 38. cxd5 Re5 (38... b6 39. Bxf6 $40 {/\ Rf5, Qh5} (39. Rxf6 Rxf6 40.
Rxf6 Bd4 $1 41. Bxd4 Rxd4 42. Re6 Qf7 43. Rxe3 Qxd5+ 44. Qf3 $10)) 39. Bxe5
Qxe5 40. Rf5 Qe4+ 41. Kg1 Kg7 42. h4 Bb6 43. Kh2 Rc7 (43... Qb4 44. R5f4 Qxb3
45. Qg4+ $16) 44. Rxf6 Bd4 (44... Rc2 45. Rf7+ Kh8 46. Rf8+ Kg7 47. R1f7+ Kg6
48. h5+ Kg5 49. Rg7+) 45. R6f4 Qc2 46. Rg4+ Kh7 47. Rf7+ $1 Kh8 48. Rf2 Qxe2
49. Rxe2 Bc5 50. Re4 b5 51. Kh3 bxa4 52. bxa4 Kh7 53. Rb2 Kg6 54. Re6+ Kg7 55.
Rb5 Bd4 56. Re4 Rc4 57. Rxa5 Kf6 58. Ra8 Kf5 59. Rae8 Rxa4 60. R8e6 {/\ 60...
h5 61.Rf4#, 60...Be5 61.g4#} 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gulko, Boris F"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Knaak} e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Nf3 b6
8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bd3 Ba4 10. h4 (10. O-O Nbc6 (10... c4 11. Be2 h6 (11... Nbc6
12. Ng5 h6 13. Nh3 Kd7 14. Nf4 g6 15. Re1 Kc7 16. Bg4 $14 {Johansson,M-Kroll,O/
SWE-DEN/1990/}) 12. Re1 Nbc6 13. Nd2 Qd7 14. Nf1 O-O-O 15. Ng3 g6 $10 {Zadrima,
A-Antonsen,M/Forli open/1991/}) (10... Qc7 11. Ng5 h6 12. Nh3 Nd7 13. Nf4 (13.
Be3 Qc6 14. Rb1 a6 15. Rb2 Bb5 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. Qb1 O-O 18. Bxb5 axb5 19. Rxb5
Rxa3 $17 {Nijboer,F-Brenninkmeijer,J/NLD-ch/1992/}) 13... O-O-O $13 {Stepanov,
P-Shtirenkov,V/Budapest/1991/}) 11. Re1 Qd7 12. dxc5 bxc5 13. Be3 c4 14. Bf1
Rb8 $10 {Wedberg,T-Short,N/Dortmund/1983/}) (10. dxc5 bxc5 11. O-O c4 12. Be2
Ng6 13. Ng5 Nxe5 14. f4 $40 {Nunn,J-Nikolic,P/Beograd/1991/}) 10... h6 11. h5
Qc7 (11... Nbc6 12. Rh4 (12. g3 Rc8 13. Be3 Na5 14. O-O Qd7 15. Nh4 Bb5 16. Qg4
$14 {Dolmatov,S-Dokhoian,Y/Irkutsk/1986/}) 12... c4 13. Bf1 (13. Be2 Kd7 14.
Be3 Qg8 15. Qd2 Qh7 16. Rc1 Kc7 17. Rf4 Raf8 18. Nh4 Nd8 19. Bg4 Kb7 $10 {
Sokolov,A-Yusupov,A/Riga (m)/1986}) 13... Kd7 14. Rf4 Qg8 15. g3 Qh7 16. Ra2 g5
17. hxg6 fxg6 18. Nh2 $14 {Mortensen,E-Sorensen,J/Aarhus/1993/}) (11... c4 12.
Be2 (12. Bf1 Nbc6 13. g3 Kd7 14. Bh3 Qg8 15. O-O Qh7 16. Ra2 $14 {Anand,
V-Quillan,G/Prestwich/1990/}) 12... Kd7 13. Nh4 (13. O-O Qg8 14. g3 Qh7 15. Ra2
Na6 16. Nh4 Raf8 $10 {Dolmatov,S-Hansen,LB/Polanica Zdroj/1993/}) 13... Qg8 14.
Bg4 Qh7 15. Ra2 Na6 16. Rh3 Nc7 17. Kf1 Raf8 $15 {Georgiev,Ki-Yusupov,A/Las
Palmas/1993/}) 12. O-O (12. Bf4 Nd7 13. Qd2 O-O-O 14. O-O Kb7 $13 {Bologan,
V-Hertneck,G/BL/1994/}) (12. g3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Qc3+ 14. Bd2 Qxd3 15. cxd3 Bxd1
16. Kxd1 Nbc6 $15 {Lau,R-Hansen,LB/Copenhagen Chess Cup/1992/}) (12. Rb1 $5 {
Knaak} Nd7 13. Rh4 cxd4 14. cxd4 Rc8 15. Rb2 Qc3+ 16. Kf1 f5 17. exf6 Nxf6 18.
Qe2 Ne4 $13 {Yudasin,L-Casper,T/Leipzig/1986/}) 12... Nd7 (12... c4 13. Be2
Nbc6 (13... Nd7 14. g3 O-O-O 15. Nh4 Kb7 16. Bg4 Qc6 17. Re1 Rdg8 $13 {
Tischbierek,R-Kindermann,S/BW/1992/}) 14. g3 (14. Re1 O-O-O 15. Bf1 Rdg8 16.
Nh2 Kb7 $10 {Kuczynski,R-Hansen,LB/Groningen open/1988/}) 14... O-O-O 15. Nh4
Rdg8 16. Bg4 $14 {Ehlvest,J-Yusupov,A/USSR/1988/}) (12... Nbc6 13. Rb1 (13. Re1
c4 14. Bf1 O-O-O 15. Nh2 $14 {Spassky,B-Short,N/London/1982/}) 13... c4 14. Be2
O-O-O 15. Nh4 f6 16. exf6 gxf6 17. Bg4 $14 {Gavilanes,A-Pecorelli Garcia,H/
Cuba ch/1989/}) 13. Re1 (13. Bd2 O-O-O (13... a6 $5 {Knaak}) 14. Qb1 Nc6 15.
Bb5 Bxb5 16. Qxb5 Na5 $15 {Pliester,L-Kindermann,S/Aruba/1992/}) 13... Qc6 {
/\Bb5} (13... O-O-O 14. Nh4 Kb7 15. Ra2 Qc6 $13 {Dolmatov,S-Nikolic,P/Moscow
GMA/1990/} (15... Qc6 {Knaak} 16. Qg4 Rdg8 17. Rb2 g5 18. Nf3 c4 19. Bf1 Rf8
$13 {Dolmatov,S-Nikolic,P/Moscow/1990/})) 14. Rb1 a6 {/\Bb5} 15. Nd2 cxd4 (
15... Bb5 16. c4 (16. Bxb5 axb5 17. Qe2 (17. Qg4 Nf5 $10) 17... Ra5 18. Nb3 Ra4
$10) 16... dxc4 17. Be4 (17. Nxc4 {Knaak} Bxc4 18. Bxc4 cxd4 19. Qxd4 Nf5 $13)
(17. Bxc4 Bxc4 $5 (17... cxd4 18. Bxb5 axb5 19. Nf3 $14) 18. Nxc4 Nf5 19. dxc5
Qxc5 $13) 17... Nd5 18. a4 Bxa4 19. Nxc4 $40) 16. cxd4 Bb5 17. Rxb5 $1 (17.
Bxb5 axb5 18. Qe2 Qxc2 19. Rxb5 O-O $10) 17... axb5 18. Qe2 Ra4 (18... Qc3 19.
Nb3 Rc8 (19... Nc6 20. Bd2 Qb2 21. Qg4 $40 Qxa3 22. Bxb5 Ncb8 23. Ra1 Qxa1+ 24.
Nxa1 Rxa1+ 25. Kh2 Kf8 26. Bb4+ Kg8 27. Qh4 $18) 20. Bd2 Qb2 {Bulletin} 21. Bb4
$1 {CH} Nc6 22. Bd6 (22. Qg4 $5 Nxb4 23. axb4 (23. Qxg7 $2 Nxd3 $19) 23... O-O
24. Re3 $40) 22... Nxd4 $6 (22... Na5 23. Qg4 Rg8 24. Nxa5 bxa5 25. Bh7 $18)
23. Qg4 {Knaak} Nxc2 24. Qxg7 Rf8 25. Bxb5 Kd8 26. Bxf8 $18) (18... b4 $6 {
Knaak} 19. axb4 Qc3 20. Nb3 $1 Qxb4 21. Bd2 $44) (18... Nc8 $6 {Knaak} 19. Qg4
O-O 20. Re3 f5 (20... Kh8 21. Rg3 Rg8 22. Ne4 $40) 21. exf6 Rxf6 22. Rg3 Rf7
23. Qg6 $40) (18... O-O $1 {Knaak} 19. Bxb5 Qc7 $10) 19. Nb3 (19. Bxb5 Qxc2 {
Knaak} 20. Bxa4 Qxa4 $17) 19... Rc4 20. Bd2 Nf5 (20... O-O 21. Bb4 Re8 22. c3
$14 {/\Nd2}) 21. Bb4 {>< Ke8, >< Rh8, /\ c2-c3, Nd2xc4} Nxd4 22. Nxd4 Rxd4 23.
Bxb5 Qc8 {/\Re4} 24. Rd1 Rxb4 $6 (24... Rxd1+ 25. Qxd1 Qc7 (25... f5 {Knaak}
26. exf6 gxf6 27. Qg4 $18) 26. c3 {/\Qa4} (26. f4 Kd8 $13) 26... Kd8 $13) 25.
axb4 Qc3 (25... O-O 26. c4 $16) 26. Qg4 Qxe5 27. c4 f5 28. Qg6+ Ke7 29. cxd5
exd5 30. Bxd7 Kxd7 31. Qf7+ Kc8 (31... Kc6 32. b5+ Kc5 33. Qd7 $16) 32. Qa7 $18
Re8 33. Rc1+ Kd8 34. Qb7 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Ne7 6. O-O g6 7. c4 Bg7 8. Be3
Nbc6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. c5 Bxb2 11. Nd2 O-O 12. Rb1 Bg7 13. Nc4 f5 14. Qd2 fxe4
15. Bxe4 Nd5 16. Bg5 Qc7 17. Rb3 a5 18. Nd6 a4 19. Rh3 Qa5 20. Qc2 Nb4 21. Qb1
Ba6 22. Rc1 Rxf2 23. Kxf2 Bd4+ 24. Be3 Nd3+ 25. Kg1 Qd2 26. Bxd4 Nxc1 27. Kh1
Qxd4 28. Qxc1 Rb8 29. Rf3 Rb2 30. h4 Rd2 31. Kh2 Be2 32. Rf2 Qxf2 33. Qxd2
Qxh4+ 34. Kg1 Bc4 35. a3 Bd5 36. Qf2 Qe7 37. Bc2 Qg7 38. Qf4 g5 39. Qe3 h5 40.
Qd3 Qa1+ 41. Kh2 Qe5+ 42. g3 Qf6 43. Qg6+ Qxg6 44. Bxg6 Kg7 45. Bxh5 Kf6 46.
Nc8 Ke5 47. Nb6 Kd4 48. Nxd7 e5 49. Kg1 Be6 50. Be8 e4 51. Kf2 Kc3 52. Ke3 Kb3
53. Nb6 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ernst} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. g3 g6 7. Nde2 (
7. Bg2 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. a4 Be6 11. Qb4 Qc7 12. Bg5 Rac8 13. Rfc1
a5 14. Qa3 Ng4 $15 {Spangenberg,H-Leko,P/Buenos Aires ARG-WORLD (02)/1994/})
7... Bg7 8. Bg2 Rb8 (8... O-O 9. O-O Rb8 (9... Bd7) (9... Bg4) (9... a5 $6) 10.
a4 b6 11. Re1 Bb7 12. h3 Nb4 13. Nd5 Nbxd5 14. exd5 Qc7 $10 {Georgiev,
Ki-Shirov,A/Pardubice (02)/1994/1-0 (58)}) 9. b3 $5 $146 b5 (9... Bg4 $5) 10.
Bb2 O-O 11. Qd2 Ne5 (11... b4 12. Nd5 $2 (12. Nd1 a5 $10) (12. Na4 Ba6 $10 (
12... Bd7 {Ernst} 13. O-O-O Qa5 $13)) 12... Nxe4 $19) 12. f4 Ned7 13. O-O-O $5
Bb7 14. Nd5 a5 $6 (14... e6 $1 15. Nxf6+ Nxf6 16. Qxd6 (16. Qb4 a5 $1) (16. Qe3
Qa5 $15) 16... Nxe4 17. Qxd8 (17. Qb4 $2 Bxb2+ 18. Kxb2 Qf6+ 19. Qd4 Qxd4+ 20.
Nxd4 (20. Rxd4 Nxg3 $1 $19)) 17... Rfxd8 18. Rxd8+ Rxd8 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 $10) 15.
Rhe1 $14 Nxd5 (15... b4 16. Nd4 $14) 16. exd5 Bxb2+ 17. Kxb2 b4 18. Nd4 Nc5 $2
(18... Rc8 19. f5 Ne5 $14) 19. f5 $1 $40 a4 $6 20. Kb1 $16 Nd7 $2 (20... Kg7
21. Qxb4 axb3 22. axb3 Qc7 $16 (22... Bxd5 $2 23. Qc3 $18)) 21. fxg6 hxg6 22.
Qh6 $1 $18 {/\ Re4-h4} axb3 23. axb3 e5 {Verzweiflung!} (23... Ne5 24. Re4 $18)
(23... Nc5 24. Ne6 $1 fxe6 (24... Nxe6 25. Rxe6 fxe6 26. Qxg6+ Kh8 27. Rd4 $18)
25. Qxg6+ Kh8 26. Rd4 $18) (23... Ra8 {Ernst} 24. Nf5 $1 gxf5 25. Qg5+ Kh8 26.
Rd4 Nf6 27. Rh4+ Nh7 28. Qxf5 $18) 24. dxe6 Bxg2 25. e7 Qa5 26. Ne6 $1 (26. Ne6
fxe6 27. Qxg6+ Kh8 28. Rd4 $18) 1-0

[Event "Alcobendas m"]
[Site "Alcobendas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Horvath,Ta"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1994.11.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. c3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O (13... Be6
14. Nce3 Ne7 15. g3 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 O-O 17. Bg2 a5 18. O-O Rb8 (18... f5 19. Qh5
Ra7 $5 {Hellers-Krasenkov/Malmo/1994}) 19. Ne3 $5 Qd7 20. Qh5 f5 21. Bd5 f4 $2
(21... Kh8 $142) 22. Qg4 $1 Rbe8 23. Nf5 Rf6 24. Bc6 $18 {Luther-Arakhamia/
Hastings/1994}) 14. Nce3 Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. Bc2 b4 17. O-O bxc3 18. bxc3 Kh8 $2
(18... Qa5 $1 $13) 19. Qh5 e4 20. f3 Qa5 21. fxe4 Bxc3 (21... Qc5 22. Kh1 $1 (
22. exf5 $2 Bxd5 23. f6 Qxe3+ 24. Kh1 Bh6 25. Qxd5 Qc5 26. Qe4 Ra7 $17)) 22.
Rab1 Bg7 (22... Qc5 23. Rb7 Bg8 24. Kh1 $1 (24. exf5 $2 Bd4 25. f6 (25. Rf3
Qxd5) 25... Bxe3+ 26. Nxe3 Qxe3+ 27. Kh1 Ra7 $19 28. Bxh7 (28. f7 Rxf7) 28...
Rxb7) 24... Bd4 25. Rf3 $18) 23. exf5 Bg8 24. f6 Bxf6 25. Rxf6 Rxf6 26. Nxf6
Qxh5 27. Nxh5 Bxa2 28. Rb7 Ra7 29. Rb6 Bf7 30. Rxc6 1-0

[Event "Alcobendas m"]
[Site "Alcobendas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1994.11.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 Nge7 7. Nb3 d6 8. a4
Bd7 (8... b6 9. Bg2 Bb7 10. O-O Nc8 $6 11. f4 Be7 12. f5 $1 $14 {Jansa,
V-Taimanov,M/Brno/1975/INF20,391/}) 9. Bg2 Nc8 10. O-O Be7 11. Qe2 O-O 12. Be3
Qc7 (12... Na5 13. Nxa5 Qxa5 14. Bd4 $14 {de Firmian,N-Zapata,A/Tunis izt/1985/
INF39,218/}) 13. f4 Rb8 $6 (13... Bf6 $5 14. a5 Nb4 (14... N6a7 $6 15. e5 $1
dxe5 16. Ne4 Be7 17. fxe5 Qxe5 18. Bd4 Qc7 19. Qh5 $40 {Szmetan,J-Langeweg,K/
Buenos Aires ol/1978/INF26,369/}) 15. Qd2 Rb8 16. Rfd1 Rd8 17. Bd4 e5 18. Be3
b5 19. f5 Be7 20. g4 Be8 21. Qf2 $14 {Spangerberg,H-Zapata,A/Capablanca mem/
1993/CBM36/}) 14. g4 Re8 15. g5 Nb4 (15... Bf8 16. a5 $14) 16. Qf2 b5 17. axb5
axb5 18. f5 Nxc2 (18... Bf8 19. g6 $1 $40) 19. Qxc2 b4 20. g6 $1 e5 (20... bxc3
$2 21. gxf7+ Kxf7 22. fxe6+ Kxe6 23. Bh3+ Ke5 24. Bd4#) (20... hxg6 21. fxg6
fxg6 22. e5 $1 bxc3 23. Qxg6 $18) 21. Nc5 $1 bxc3 (21... dxc5 22. Nd5 Qd8 23.
gxf7+ Kxf7 24. Nxe7 Qxe7 25. Qc4+ Kf8 26. Bxc5 $18) 22. Na6 Rxb2 (22... Qb7 23.
Nxb8 Qxb8 24. gxf7+ Kxf7 25. bxc3 $18) 23. Nxc7 Rxc2 24. Nxe8 Bxe8 25. f6 $1
Rxg2+ (25... Bxf6 26. Bh3 Ne7 27. Ra8 $18) 26. Kxg2 Bxf6 27. Ra8 Bd7 28. Rc1 {
Ribli} 1-0

[Event "Alcobendas m"]
[Site "Alcobendas"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1994.11.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 d6 7. Bg2 Bd7 8. O-O
Nf6 9. a4 Be7 10. Be3 O-O 11. f4 Rc8 12. Nb3 Na5 13. Nxa5 Qxa5 14. Qd2 Rfe8 15.
h3 h5 16. Kh2 Rc4 17. Qe2 Rxc3 18. bxc3 Qxc3 19. Bd2 Qxc2 20. Rfc1 Qb3 21. Rcb1
Qc2 22. Rxb7 e5 23. fxe5 dxe5 24. Qe3 Bxa4 25. Bc3 Bb5 26. Bxe5 Qc6 27. Rb8 Qe6
28. Rxe8+ Nxe8 29. Qd4 h4 30. Qd5 Qh6 31. Bf4 hxg3+ 32. Bxg3 Bg5 33. Ra3 Nf6
34. Qa8+ Kh7 35. e5 Ng4+ 36. Kh1 Ne3 37. Qe4+ g6 38. e6 Nxg2 39. Kxg2 fxe6 40.
Rf3 Qg7 41. h4 Bh6 42. h5 Be8 43. Qxe6 Qg8 44. Qe4 Bg5 45. Bd6 Qa2+ 46. Rf2 Qg8
47. Bf8 Bd8 48. Qb7+ Kh8 49. Bh6 gxh5+ 50. Kh1 Bg5 51. Bxg5 1-0

[Event "Pamplona 9495 5th"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E66"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Dautov,R"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "1994.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {EndgameCD Hecht} Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. g3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. d4 O-O 6. Bg2 d6
7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Na5 9. Nd2 a6 10. Qc2 e6 11. b3 (11. dxe6 $5 Bxe6 12. b3 Rb8 (
12... Qd7 13. Bb2 Nc6 14. Nce4 $14) 13. Bb2 b5 14. cxb5 axb5 15. Rad1 $14 {ECO}
) 11... exd5 12. cxd5 b5 13. Bb2 Re8 14. Rae1 (14. e4 Bd7 (14... Ra7 15. Nd1
Nh5 16. Ne3 Rae7 17. a4 Bd4 18. axb5 axb5 19. b4 Nb7 20. Bxd4 cxd4 21. Nd1 f5
22. Qd3 fxe4 23. Qxd4 $16 {Filip,M-Bilek,I/Lugano 1968}) 15. h3 Rc8 16. Kh2 h5
(16... Re5 $5 {/\ Rh5|^>>}) 17. Rae1 Qc7 18. Nd1 h4 19. g4 c4 20. b4 c3 $1 21.
Bxc3 Nc4 $44 {Shirov,A-Cseshkovsky,V/Moskva (GMA) 1989}) 14... Bd7 15. Nce4 $1
Nxe4 16. Nxe4 Nb7 (16... Bf5 $2 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 (17... Bxe4 18. Qb2 $16) 18. Qc3+
f6 19. Nxf6 Qxf6 20. Qxa5 $16) 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Qb2+ f6 19. f4 $14 Qe7 {
/\Bf5,><e3} 20. e3 Rac8 21. Nd2 c4 (21... Nd8 $5 22. e4 Nf7 (22... c4 $2 23.
bxc4 bxc4 24. Qc3 $16) 23. Re3 $14 {/\Rfe1,Nf3,e5}) 22. bxc4 Nc5 23. Qd4 bxc4
24. Nxc4 Bb5 25. Rf2 Nd3 (25... Ne6 26. dxe6 Rxc4 $1 (26... Bxc4 27. Rb2 Bxe6 (
27... Qxe6 28. Rb7+ Kg8 (28... Re7 29. Bh3 $18) 29. Qa7 $18) 28. Rb6 Rc2 29. a3
Ra2 30. Bc6 Rc8 31. Rxa6 $16) 27. Qd2 (27. Qb6 Qxe6 28. Rd2 $14) 27... Bc6 28.
Bh3 (28. Bf1 Rc5 29. Bxa6 Qxe6 30. Bf1 $14) 28... Be4 29. Qb2 $14) 26. Qxd3
Rxc4 27. Qd2 $16 Rec8 28. e4 (28. Qb2 Rc3 29. e4 Qa7 30. Kh1 Bd3 $44) (28. Bh3
$5 R8c5 29. Be6 Qc7 30. g4 Rc2 31. Qd4 Rxf2 32. Kxf2 Rc2+ 33. Kg3 $16 {/\g5})
28... Qa7 $1 {/^a7-g1} 29. Kh1 Ba4 30. Bh3 (30. Rfe2 Rc2 31. Qb4 Rxe2 32. Rxe2
Rc1+ 33. Re1 Qe3 34. Rf1 Bb5 $19) (30. Qe3 $1 Qxe3 31. Rxe3 Rc1+ 32. Bf1 Bc2
33. Kg2 Re8 34. Rfe2 $16 (34. Kf3 $2 Bxe4+ 35. Rxe4 Rc3+)) 30... R8c7 31. Qe3
$2 (31. Rfe2 Rc2 32. Qe3 Qxe3 33. Rxe3 Rxa2 $10) 31... Rxe4 $1 32. Qxe4 Qxf2
33. Qe2 (33. Qe6 Bd1 $1 34. Bg2 Bg4 35. Qe4 Rc2 $15) 33... Qxe2 34. Rxe2 Bb5
$17 35. Re1 (35. Rf2 Rc1+ 36. Kg2 Bc4 37. Be6 Ra1 $17) 35... Bc4 36. Kg1 Bxa2
37. Re6 Bxd5 38. Rxd6 Bc4 {/\Ra7} 39. Bf1 Bxf1 40. Kxf1 Ra7 $19 {Die Türme
gehören hinter die Freibauern (Tarrasch).} 41. Rd4 a5 42. Ra4 Kf7 43. Ke2 Ke6
44. Kd3 h5 45. h3 Kd5 46. g4 hxg4 47. hxg4 Kc5 48. Kc3 Kb5 49. Re4 {Nun soll
der Kc3 anstelle des R den schwarzen a-Freibauern blockieren. Jetzt mangelt es
aber den weissen Bauern an Schutz.} a4 50. Kb2 a3+ 51. Ka2 Ra4 52. Re6 Rxf4 53.
g5 fxg5 54. Re5+ (54. Rxg6 {Hecht} g4 55. Kxa3 Kc4 56. Kb2 Kd3 57. Kc1 Ke2 $19)
54... Kb4 55. Rxg5 Rf2+ 56. Kb1 Rf6 57. Rg4+ Kc3 58. Rg3+ (58. Ka2 {Hecht} Ra6
$19) 58... Kd2 59. Rxa3 g5 60. Rg3 Rb6+ 61. Ka2 Rg6 62. Rb3 g4 (62... g4 {
Endgame CD} 63. Rb2+ Ke3 64. Rb3+ Kf2 65. Rb2+ Kg1 66. Rb1+ Kh2 67. Rb2+ Kh3
68. Rb7 g3 69. Rh7+ Kg4 70. Rc7 g2 71. Rc1 Kh3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.03"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Ye, Jiangchuan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "China"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CHN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. Qd2 (
8. g4 h6 (8... b4 9. Nce2 h6 10. Qd2 e5 11. Nf5 d5 12. O-O-O Qa5 13. Kb1 Be6
14. Nc1 d4 15. Bf2 g6 16. Ng3 Nbd7 17. h4 Rc8 $15 {Nunn,J-Situru,N Moskow olm 
(04) ENG-INA 1994 0-1 36 - CBM 45}) 9. h4 Bb7 10. Rh3 Nfd7 11. Qd2 Ne5 12.
O-O-O Nbd7 13. g5 hxg5 14. Bxg5 Qa5 15. f4 Nc6 16. Nb3 Qc7 17. f5 $16 {Frolov,
A-Arnason,J EUCup f Lyon 1994 1-0 34 - CBM 45}) 8... Bb7 (8... Nbd7 9. g4 Nb6
10. g5 Nfd7 11. f4 Bb7 12. a3 Nc5 13. Bg2 Nc4 14. Qe2 e5 15. Nb3 Ne6 16. f5
Nxe3 17. Qxe3 Nf4 18. Qg3 Rc8 19. Bf3 h6 $17 {Hatanbaatar,B-Short,N Moskow olm
(01) MON-ENG 0-1 54 - CBM 45}) 9. g4 h6 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. h4 (11. Bd3 Ne5 12.
Rhe1 b4 13. Na4 d5 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Bf2 Bd6 16. Bf5 O-O 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18.
Bxe6+ Kh8 19. Bxd5 Nxf3 20. Bxf3 Bxf3 21. Bb6 Bxd1 22. Bxd8 Raxd8 $15 {
Hjartarson,J-Kasparov,G Thessaloniki ol 1988}) 11... b4 12. Nce2 (12. Na4 $146
d5 13. Bh3 Qa5 14. b3 Nc5 15. g5 Nxa4 16. bxa4 Nd7 17. g6 Nc5 18. gxf7+ Kxf7
19. Nb3 Nxb3+ 20. axb3 $16 {Gunawan,Ru-Paschall,W New York op (09) 1994 1-0 34}
) 12... d5 13. Bh3 (13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nf4 Nxe3 15. Qxe3 Qb6 16. Bc4 O-O-O 17.
Nd3 Qc7 $15 {Sax,Gy-Anand,V Philadelphia 1986}) 13... dxe4 (13... Ne5 14. Nf4
g5 15. hxg5 Nc4 16. Qe2 Qa5 17. Kb1 hxg5 18. Nfxe6 fxe6 19. Bxg5 Be7 20. Nxe6
$16 {De La Riva-Vera/1993/}) (13... Qa5 14. Kb1 g6 (14... dxe4 15. g5 hxg5 16.
hxg5 exf3 17. Ng3 Bd5 18. Nb3 Qc7 19. gxf6 Nxf6 20. Bf4 Bd6 21. Bxd6 Qxd6 22.
Qg5 $18 {Magem_Badals,J-Vera,R Barcelona 1990 -Inf.50/247}) 15. g5 Nh5 16. f4
O-O-O 17. f5 gxf5 18. exf5 e5 19. Ne6 $18 {Magem_Badals,J-Brenninkmeier,J Novi
Sad (ol) 1990 -Inf.50/247}) 14. g5 hxg5 (14... exf3 15. Ng3 (15. Nf4 Ne4 16.
Qe1 f2 $2 (16... Bd6 17. Ndxe6 $1 fxe6 18. Nxe6 Qe7 19. Bd4 {/\ 20.Ng7, 20.Bf5
+/- Magem_Badals -Inf.50/248}) (16... Qa5 $6 17. g6 f5 18. Nfxe6 Qxa2 19. Nb3
Rc8 20. Rxd7 Kxd7 21. Bxf5 Ke8 22. Bxe4 Bxe4 23. Bc5 Bxc5 24. Nexc5 Kd8 25.
Qxe4 Kc7 26. Qe7+ {1-0 De la Villa Garcia,J-Martin Vazquez/Sevilla op (2) 1993}
) 17. Bxf2 Bd6 18. Nfxe6 fxe6 19. Bxe6 Qe7 20. Nf5 $18 {Magem_Badals,
J-Rojo_Huerto,G Spanien(ch) 1990 -Inf.50/248}) 15... Nd5 16. g6 Nc5 17. gxf7+
Kxf7 18. Nxf3 $13 {Savko-Karklins URS 1990 -Inf.50/248}) 15. hxg5 exf3 16. Ng3
(16. Nf4 Ne4 17. Qe1 f2 (17... Rxh3 $146 18. Nxh3 e5 19. Nb3 (19. Nf5 $2 Qa5
20. Kb1 Bd5 21. a3 Rb8 {/\ Nc3 -+}) (19. Nxf3 $2 Qa5 (19... Nc3 20. g6 $13) 20.
Kb1 Nc3+ 21. bxc3 Bxf3 $17 (21... bxc3 22. Nd4 $1 $13)) 19... a5 20. Nd2 Qc7 $6
$16 {Anand,V-Ljubojevic,L Buenos Aires Sicilian (08) 1-0 39 - CBM 44} (20... f2
$1 21. Nxf2 Nxf2 22. Bxf2 Bxh1 23. Qxh1 Rc8 $15)) (17... Nxg5 18. Ndxe6 $1 $16
fxe6 19. Bxe6 Nxe6 20. Rxh8 Qf6 21. Rd6 $1 O-O-O 22. Nxe6 Re8 23. Qxb4 f2 24.
Qc4+ Kb8 25. Qc7+ Ka8 26. Rxa6+ {1-0 Romero Holmes,A-Tukmakov,V Wijk-B (08)
1991}) 18. Bxf2 Qxg5 19. Be3 Qh4 20. Ndxe6 $1 Qxe1 21. Nxg7+ Kd8 22. Rhxe1 Rxh3
$1 23. Nxh3 Bxg7 24. Ng5 Ke8 $2 (24... Kc8 $1 25. Nxf7 a5) 25. Nxf7 Ne5 $2 (
25... Ndf6 $5 26. Nd6+ Nxd6 27. Rxd6 $14) 26. Nd6+ $1 Nxd6 27. Rxd6 Kf8 28. Bh6
Bxh6+ 29. Rxh6 Nf7 30. Rb6 $18 {Anand,V-Beliavsky,A/Groningen/1993/1-0 (38)})
16... Ne4 (16... Ne5 $5 17. gxf6 gxf6 $13 18. Kb1 Qc7 19. Bf4 Bd5 20. Qe3 Be7
21. Bg2 Rxh1 22. Bxh1 O-O-O 23. Nxf3 $6 Bxa2+ 24. Kc1 Rxd1+ 25. Kxd1 Nc4 $1 26.
Qc1 e5 27. Bh6 f5 $17 {Velimirovic,D-Bronstein,D Donner mem-B (08) 1994 0-1 38
- CBM 43}) 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Bf4 $2 (18. Bxe6 $1 Rxh1 19. Rxh1 (19. Bxd7+ Qxd7
20. Rxh1 O-O-O $17) 19... fxe6 20. Nxe6 Qe7 $1 (20... Qa5 $2 21. Rd1 Bc6 22.
Nxf8 Nxf8 (22... Qxa2 23. Qd6 Qa1+ 24. Kd2 Qxb2 25. Bd4 $18) 23. Qd6 Rc8 24.
Bc5 Kf7 25. Qf4+ $1 Kg6 26. Rd6+ Kh5 27. Qf5 $1 $18) (20... Qc8 21. Bf4 Kf7 22.
Re1 $1 $40) 21. Nc7+ Kf7 22. Qd4 Kg6 $1 23. Rh4 Nc5 24. Nxa8 $1 Bxa8 25. Rf4 $1
Qe8 26. Rxf8 Qxf8 27. Qxc5 Qxc5 28. Bxc5 $10 {Zagrebelny,S-Efremov,V Alushta
op 1994 1/2 37}) (18. Nxe6 $6 fxe6 19. Bxe6 Nc5 $1 20. Rxh8 (20. Qxd8+ Rxd8 21.
Rxd8+ Kxd8 22. Rxh8 Nxe6 $19) 20... Qxd2+ 21. Bxd2 Nxe6 22. Bxb4 Kf7 $19) 18...
Nc5 19. Qe3 Qa5 20. Kb1 Bd5 21. Nb3 Nxb3 22. axb3 Qc5 $19 {Die Partie wurde
durch die bessere Hausanalyse entschieden.} 23. Qd3 Qc6 24. g6 Be4 25. gxf7+
Kxf7 26. Qd2 Rc8 27. Rc1 Be7 28. Rh2 Qd5 29. Qe1 (29. Qe1 Rxh3 $1 30. Rxh3 Qf5
31. Rh2 Qxf4 $19) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.04"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2680"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Gagarin,V"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Belarus"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BLR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 {Hecht} Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. h3 Bg7
8. e4 O-O 9. Bd3 b5 10. Nxb5 Re8 11. O-O Nxe4 12. Re1 a6 13. Na3 Nf6 14. Rxe8+
Nxe8 15. Bg5 Qc7 $1 (15... Bf6 16. Qd2 (16. Bxf6 $6 Nxf6 17. Nc4 Bb7 18. Ne3
Nbd7 19. Bc4 Nb6 20. b3 a5 $15) 16... Bb7 17. Re1 (17. Bc2 Nd7 18. Nc4 Bxg5 19.
Nxg5 Ndf6 20. Ne3 h6 21. Ne4 Nxe4 22. Bxe4 Qg5 23. g3 Nf6 24. Bg2 Re8 $10 {
Neverov,V-Berelovich,A/Sochi/1993/1:0/39/}) 17... Nd7 18. Be4 $1 Nb6 19. b3 $1
Bxg5 20. Nxg5 Nf6 21. Nc4 Nxc4 22. bxc4 $14 {Epishin,V-Topalov,V/Las Palmas/
1994/0,5/72/}) 16. Qd2 (16. Qe2 $5) (16. Qa4 $5 Nd7 17. Re1 Nef6 18. Qc6 Qb8
19. Nc4 Bb7 20. Qxd6 {Horvath,Cs-Hardiscay,P/HUN/1994/0,5/68/} Qxd6 21. Nxd6
Bxd5 22. b3 a5 23. Bc4 Bxc4 24. Nxc4 a4 $10 {Hardiscay/}) 16... Bb7 17. Re1 Nd7
18. Bc2 (18. Be4 Nef6 19. Nc4 Re8 $15) 18... Nef6 19. Bb3 Re8 $15 {>< d5/} 20.
Rxe8+ Nxe8 21. Nc4 Nef6 $1 (21... Ndf6 22. Bf4 Nh5 23. Qe3 Qd8 24. Bg5 Nhf6 25.
Ncd2 $14) 22. Bf4 Bf8 23. Ne3 $6 (23. Na5 $5 Ba8 $15 (23... Bxd5 $6 24. Bxd5
Nxd5 25. Qxd5 Qxa5 26. Bxd6 $10)) 23... Nb6 {>< d5/} 24. Qd3 Qd7 $1 {/\ Qb5/}
25. Bc4 Nxc4 26. Qxc4 Qb5 $1 {^^ ><d5/} 27. b3 Qb4 $1 {/\ Nd5/} 28. Bg5 $6 (28.
g4 $2 Nxd5 $1 29. Nxd5 Bxd5 30. Qxd5 Qxf4 $17) (28. Bg3 a5 $15) 28... Bg7 29.
a4 Ne4 30. Bd8 $2 {>< Bd8/} (30. Bf4 $15) 30... f5 $1 $17 31. g4 (31. Qxb4 cxb4
32. Ba5 Bc3 $17 {>< d5/}) 31... f4 $1 32. Nc2 Qxc4 33. bxc4 Bc8 $1 {>< a4/} 34.
a5 (34. Ba5 Bd7 $19) 34... h6 35. Kf1 Kf7 36. Ke2 Ke8 37. Bc7 Kd7 38. Bb6 Ke7
39. Nd2 Nc3+ 40. Kf3 g5 41. Ne4 Bd7 42. Nxc3 (42. Nd2 Ba4 $19) 42... Bxc3 43.
Ke2 {-+ Hecht: The very good 2B give Black the advantage. The weak Pc4 and the
very badly posted Bb6 give Black a winning position.} Bf6 44. Na3 Ba4 45. Nb1
Bc2 46. Nd2 $8 (46. Na3 Bg6 $19) 46... Bc3 $1 $19 47. Nf3 Bb4 48. Bc7 Kd7 49.
Bb6 Bb3 50. Kd3 Ke8 $1 51. Bc7 Ke7 $1 52. Bb6 Kd7 {(.)/} 53. Ng1 (53. Nd2 Bxd2
$19) (53. h4 Bd1 54. Ke4 Bc2#) 53... Be1 54. f3 (54. Ke2 Bc3 55. Kd3 Bd4 $19)
54... Ba2 $1 55. Ke2 (55. Ne2 Bb1#) 55... Bb4 56. Kd3 Bb1+ 57. Ke2 Bc3 $1 {(.)/
} 58. h4 $8 gxh4 59. Nh3 Be5 60. Nf2 Bg6 (60... Bg6 61. Nh3 h5 $19) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.06"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Speelman,J"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 {Boensch Ftacnik Dolmatov} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6
6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h6 (7... e5 {Dolmatov} 8. Nf5 g6 $13 (8... g6 9. g5 gxf5 10.
exf5 $13)) 8. f4 (8. f3 {Dolmatov} b5 9. Qd2 Bb7 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. a3 Rc8 $13)
(8. Qf3 {Boensch} Nbd7 9. Qh3 (9. Rg1 g5 $5 {x e5,f4} 10. O-O-O Ne5 11. Qe2 Bd7
12. f4 gxf4 13. Bxf4 Rc8 14. h3 Rxc3 15. bxc3 Qa5 16. Kb1 Qxc3 17. Rg3 Qc7 $44
{Kotronias,V-Van Wely,L Wijk Sonnevanck (03) 1992 1-0 41}) 9... Ne5 10. f3 Ng6
11. O-O-O b5 12. Qg2 b4 13. Nc6 Qc7 14. Nxb4 d5 15. Nd3 dxe4 16. fxe4 Bb7 17.
Be2 Rc8 $44 {Thorhallsson,T-Belotti,B Forli op (09) 1992 1/2 64}) (8. h4 {
Boensch} e5 9. Nf5 g6 10. Nxh6 Bxh6 11. Bxh6 Bxg4 12. Qd2 Nc6 13. Bg5 Nd4 14.
Bg2 Bf3 $15 {Richagov,M-Stohl,I Gausdal Arnold Cup (2) 1991 0-1 49}) (8. Bg2 {
Boensch} Nc6 9. Nxc6 (9. h3 Ne5 10. Qe2 g5 11. O-O Be7 12. Rad1 Qc7 13. f4 gxf4
14. Bxf4 b5 15. a3 Bb7 16. Nf3 Nfd7 17. Nxe5 {1/2-1/2 Stefansson,H-Akopian,V/
New York op (04) 1994}) 9... bxc6 10. e5 Nd5 11. Nxd5 cxd5 12. c4 dxe5 13. cxd5
Bb4+ 14. Kf1 O-O 15. a3 Bd6 16. dxe6 Bxe6 17. Bxa8 Qxa8 $44 {Stefansson,
H-Olafsson,H Reykjavik (09) 1992 1-0 48}) 8... Nc6 9. Be2 e5 10. Nf5 (10. Nxc6
{Dolmatov} bxc6 11. fxe5 dxe5 (11... Nxg4 $5 {Boensch} 12. Bxg4 Qh4+ 13. Bf2
Qxg4 14. exd6 Qg2 15. Rg1 Qxh2 $13) 12. Qxd8+ Kxd8 13. O-O-O+ Kc7 14. h3 Bb4) (
10. Nb3 $2 {Dolmatov} Nxg4 11. Bxg4 Qh4+ 12. Bf2 Qxg4 13. Nd5 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1
Rb8 $17) 10... g6 11. Ng3 exf4 12. Bxf4 Be6 13. Rf1 (13. h3 {Dolmatov} Qb6 14.
Qd2) 13... Rc8 (13... Qb6 $5) (13... Qb6 $5 {Ftacnik}) 14. h3 Qb6 {Black seems
to obtain a comfortable position after the opening. White's g3 knight is quite
passive; his king is not safe enough both in the centre and on the Q-side.
However, Black's king is in danger too.} (14... d5 {Boensch} 15. e5 (15. exd5
Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 $10) 15... Nh7 $1 $15) 15. Qd2 (15. Qc1 Nd4 16. Bd3 (16. Be3
$2 {Ftacnik} Nxc2+ 17. Qxc2 Qxe3 $17)) 15... Bg7 (15... Qxb2 16. Rb1 Qa3 17.
Rf3 $13 (17. Rxb7 $6 {Ftacnik} Na5 18. Nb5 axb5 19. Bxb5+ Nc6 $17) (17. Rf3 {
Boensch} Qa5 18. Rxb7 $13)) (15... Nd7 16. O-O-O Nde5 17. a3 (17. Be3 $10 {
Boensch}) 17... Na5 $40) 16. Bxd6 Nxg4 {The complication started with this
move prove rather favourable for White. Therefore 16...Nd4 17.Ba3 Rd8 deserved
serious attention.} (16... Nd4 {Dolmatov} 17. e5 $5 (17. Ba3 Rd8 18. Bd3 $14)
17... Qxb2 18. exf6 (18. Qxd4 {Ftacnik} Qxa1+ 19. Kd2 Qxc3+ 20. Qxc3 Rxc3 21.
Kxc3 (21. exf6 Bf8 22. Kxc3 Bxd6 $17) 21... Nd7 $17) 18... Qxa1+ 19. Kf2 Qxc3
20. Qxc3 Rxc3 21. fxg7 Rg8 22. Ne4 $18) (16... Nd7 17. O-O-O $13 (17. e5 {
Boensch} Ncxe5 18. O-O-O $13) (17. O-O-O Nb4 18. Bxb4 Qxb4 19. a3 Qb6 $36)) 17.
Bxg4 (17. Na4 {did not work in view of} Qd4 18. Bxg4 (18. Qxd4 {Dolmatov} Nxd4
19. Bxg4 Nxc2+ 20. Kf2 $132) 18... Qxd2+ 19. Kxd2 Bxg4 20. hxg4 Rd8) 17... Qxb2
(17... Bxg4 {Dolmatov} 18. Na4 (18. hxg4 $2 Qxb2 19. e5 (19. Rb1 Qxc3 (19...
Bxc3 $2 20. Rxb2 Bxd2+ 21. Kxd2 Rd8 22. Rf6 Ne5 23. Kc1 Nxg4 24. Rf4 Rxd6 25.
Rxg4 $16) 20. Rxb7 $13) 19... Nxe5) 18... Qb5 19. hxg4 Qxa4 20. Qd5 Qa5+ (20...
Nd8 $2 21. Rxf7 $18) 21. c3 Qxd5 22. exd5 Rd8 (22... Ne5 23. O-O-O $14 (23.
Bxe5 {Boensch} Bxe5 $10)) (22... Be5 $2 23. Ne4 $16) 23. Ne4 $14 (23. dxc6 $6
Rxd6 24. cxb7 Ke7)) 18. e5 $5 {This temporary rook sacritice allows White to
maintain the initiative.} (18. Nge2 $1 Qxa1+ 19. Kf2 Qb2 20. Rb1 $18) 18...
Nxe5 {This natural move is probably wrong. However, 18...Bxe5 19.Nge4! also
yielded White a strong attack. 18...Qxa1+? was poor in view of 19.Kf2 Qb2 20.
Rb1} (18... Bxg4 {Dolmatov} 19. Rb1 $18) (18... Bxe5 {Dolmatov} 19. Nge4 Qxa1+
20. Kf2 Qb2 (20... Bd4+ {Ftacnik} 21. Kg2 Qb2 22. Bxe6 fxe6 23. Rb1 $18) 21.
Rb1 $18 (21. Rb1 Bd4+ (21... Qxb1 $6 {Ftacnik} 22. Nxb1 Rd8 (22... f5 23. Bxe5
Nxe5 24. Nd6+ $18) 23. Bxe6 fxe6 24. c4 Bxd6 25. Nxd6+ Ke7 26. c5 $16) 22. Kg2
Qxb1 23. Nxb1 f5 24. Bf3 fxe4 25. Bxe4 Bf6 26. Bxg6+ Bf7 27. Qd5 $1 (27. Qe3+ {
Ftacnik} Ne7 28. Bxf7+ Kxf7 29. Qb3+ $14) 27... Bxg6 28. Qe6+ Kd8 29. Qxf6+ Kd7
30. Bg3 $40) (21. Bxe6 {Ftacnik} Bxc3 22. Bxf7+ Kxf7 23. Kg2+ Kg7 24. Nxc3 Rhd8
$17)) (18... Qxa1+ 19. Kf2 Qb2 20. Rb1 Qxb1 21. Nxb1 $16 (21. Nxb1 {Boensch}
Bxg4 22. hxg4 $16)) 19. Rb1 Qxc3 (19... Nc4 $1 {Boensch} 20. Rxb2 (20. Bxe6 $2
Bxc3 21. Bxf7+ Kd7 $19) 20... Nxd2 21. Bxe6 fxe6 (21... Bxc3 $2 22. Bxc8 Nxf1+
23. Kxf1 Bxb2 $16) 22. Rxb7 (22. Kxd2 Bxc3+ 23. Kc1 Bxb2+ 24. Kxb2 $13) 22...
Bxc3 23. Rff7 Ne4+ 24. Kd1 Nxd6 25. Rbe7+ Kd8 26. Rd7+ Ke8 $10) 20. Qxc3 Rxc3
21. Bxe6 fxe6 (21... Rxg3 22. Rxb7 (22. Bxf7+ {Ftacnik} Kd7 $1 (22... Nxf7 23.
Bxg3 $16) 23. Bxe5 Re3+ 24. Kd2 Rxe5 25. Bxg6 $14) 22... fxe6 23. Rxg7 (23.
Re7+ $1 Kd8 24. Rxg7 Rxh3 25. Ra7 Re3+ 26. Kd1 Re8 27. Bc5 Re4 28. Rf2 $16)
23... Rxh3 (23... Re3+ {Boensch} 24. Kd1 Nc4 25. Ra7 Nxd6 26. Ra8+ Kd7 27. Rxh8
Rxh3 $16) 24. Kf2 $1 $18) 22. Rxb7 Nc4 (22... Nd7 23. Ra7 Rc8 24. Ne4 Bd4 25.
Rxa6 $14) 23. Bb4 (23. Bc5 $5) 23... Re3+ (23... Rxg3 24. Rxg7 $16 (24. Rxg7 {
Boensch} Ne3 25. Rff7 Nxc2+ 26. Kf2 Rxh3 27. Ra7 $18)) 24. Ne2 Be5 25. Rff7
Rxh3 $2 {A decisive mistake. Black should have played} (25... Bd6 {, e.g.} 26.
Bxd6 (26. Rg7 $5 $16 {Dolmatov}) 26... Nxd6 27. Rfe7+ (27. Rbe7+ Kd8 28. Rd7+
Ke8 29. Rfe7+ Kf8 30. Kf2 (30. c4 $16 {Ftacnik})) 27... Kf8 {, and despite
White's clear advantage (practically an extra rook) Black still maintains some
chances. Now he loses at once.}) (25... a5 26. Bc5 Re4 27. Rfe7+ Kd8 28. Ra7
Kc8 29. Ra8+ Bb8 30. Ba7 $18) 26. Nd4 $1 Re3+ (26... Bxd4 27. Rfe7+ Kd8 28.
Rb8#) (26... Rh1+ {Boensch} 27. Ke2 Rh2+ 28. Kd3 $18) 27. Kf1 Re4 28. Rfe7+ Kd8
(28... Kf8 29. Nxe6+ Kg8 30. Re8#) 29. Nc6+ (29. Nc6+ Kc8 30. Na7+ Kd8 31.
Rbd7#) 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.09"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E87"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Kharitonov,A"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Netherlands"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "NED"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. c4 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. d4 Bg7 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Nh5
8. Qd2 f5 9. O-O-O (9. Nge2 f4 (9... a5 10. O-O-O f4 11. Bf2 Na6 12. Kb1 Bd7
13. Nc1 Qe7 14. Be2 Rfc8 15. Nd3 Nf6 16. g3 fxg3 17. hxg3 c6 18. Rh2 Nc7 $1 19.
Rdh1 cxd5 20. Nxd5 Ncxd5 21. cxd5 Ba4 $13 {Prudnikova,S-Ioseliani,N/YUG/1992/})
10. Bf2 Bf6 11. O-O-O Bh4 12. Bg1 Nd7 13. Kb1 Be7 14. Nc1 $14 {Gurevich,
M-Nielsen,Pe/Taastpur/1992/1:0/40/}) 9... a6 $5 (9... Nd7 10. Bd3 Nc5 11. Bc2
a6 12. Nge2 b5 13. b4 Nd7 14. cxb5 axb5 15. Nxb5 Rxa2 $13 {Timman,J-Kasparov,G/
Linares/1992/0:1/25/}) (9... Nd7 10. exf5 gxf5 11. Bd3 Nc5 12. Bc2 Qh4 $5 $13 {
Kuzmin,A-Sakaev,K/Doha/1993/0,5/75/}) 10. exf5 (10. Kb1 Nd7 11. Nge2 Ndf6 12.
Nc1 (12. exf5 $5 gxf5 13. Ng3) 12... Bd7 13. Bd3 Qe8 14. Nb3 b5 15. c5 b4 16.
c6 Bc8 $13 {Beni,V-Uhlmann,W/Prague/1956/0:1/31/}) 10... gxf5 11. Nge2 (11. Kb1
Nd7 12. Nge2 (12. Bd3 e4 $5 13. fxe4 f4 14. Bf2 Ne5 $36) 12... Ndf6 {/\Bd7,Qe8,
b5|^/}) (11. Bd3 {Ftacnik} b5 12. cxb5 axb5 13. Bxb5) (11. Nh3 $5 {Ftacnik} Nd7
12. g4 fxg4 13. fxg4 Nf4 14. Nxf4 exf4 15. Bxf4 Ne5 $13) 11... b5 $5 12. Ng3
Nf6 (12... Nxg3 $2 {Ftacnik} 13. hxg3 $16) 13. Bg5 (13. Bh6 $6 {Ftacnik} f4 14.
Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Nge4 b4 16. Ne2 (16. Nxf6 $2 bxc3 17. Nh5+ Kh6 $19) 16... Nxe4
17. fxe4 a5 $15) 13... b4 $2 (13... bxc4 $5 14. Bxc4 (14. Nh5 {Ftacnik} Bh8 15.
g4 $1 $40) 14... Qe8 $13) (13... Qe8 {Ftacnik} 14. cxb5 axb5 15. Bxb5 Qg6 16.
Bd3 $14) 14. Nb1 Qe8 (14... a5 15. Bd3 f4 16. Bxf6 (16. Nh5 $16 {Ftacnik})
16... Bxf6 17. Ne4 $16) 15. Qxb4 $1 h6 (15... Qg6 16. Qd2 $16) 16. Bd2 $6 (16.
Bh4 $1 a5 17. Qd2 {/\Nc3,Bd3+/-/} (17. Qd2 {Ftacnik} Na6 18. Nc3 $13)) 16... a5
17. Qa3 Na6 18. Nc3 (18. Qxa5 $2 Bd7 (18... f4 {Ftacnik} 19. Ne4 Nxe4 20. fxe4
Bg4 $40) 19. Qc3 Nc5 20. Na3 e4 21. Qc2 Ba4 22. b3 Bxb3 23. axb3 Rxa3 $19) (18.
Bxa5 $6 f4 19. Ne2 (19. Ne4 Nxe4 20. fxe4 Bg4 21. Re1 Nc5 $36)) 18... Bd7 $44 (
18... Nc5 {Ftacnik} 19. Nb5 $1 Qe7 20. Be3 $36) 19. Bd3 Qg6 20. Bb1 (20. Nb5 {
Ftacnik} e4 21. Bb1 Nb4 $132) 20... Nb4 $1 (20... Rfc8 $6 {Ftacnik} 21. Rhg1
Bf8 22. Nge2 c6 23. g4 $40) 21. Rhg1 (21. Nge2 Qxg2 22. Rdg1 Qxf3 23. Bxh6 Rf7
$17) (21. Nb5 {Ftacnik} Rfc8 22. Bxb4 axb4 23. Qxb4 h5 $1 24. Rhg1 Bh6+ 25. Kc2
Be3 26. Rge1 Bc5 27. Qd2 Bxb5 28. cxb5 h4 29. Nf1 Rcb8 $132) 21... h5 $1 22.
Nge2 $2 (22. Nf1 $5) 22... Qf7 23. Ng3 (23. h3 $5 {Ftacnik} c6 $1 (23... Rfc8
$6 24. g4 c6 25. gxf5 Kh8 26. Rg6 cxd5 27. Bh6 $16) 24. dxc6 Bxc6 25. Bxf5 Qxc4
26. Qb3 Qxb3 27. axb3 d5 $13) (23. g4 {Ftacnik} hxg4 24. fxg4 fxg4 (24... Nxg4
$2 25. h3 Nf6 26. Bh6 Ne8 27. Rxg7+ Nxg7 28. Rg1 $18) (24... f4 25. g5 Nh5 26.
Ne4 $40) 25. Ng3 $44) 23... Nh7 24. Nb5 Rfc8 $1 25. Qb3 Bf8 26. a3 $2 (26. Bxb4
$5 axb4 27. Bd3 (27. Qxb4 {Ftacnik} Bh6+ 28. Kc2 Be3 $132) 27... h4 28. Ne2 c6
29. dxc6 Bxc6 30. Kb1 d5 $36) 26... c6 $1 27. Nc3 (27. axb4 cxb5 $19) (27. dxc6
Rxc6 $1 28. axb4 Rxc4+ 29. Nc3 (29. Bc3 {Ftacnik} Bxb5 30. Bd3 (30. bxa5 Ba4 $1
) 30... axb4 31. Bxc4 Bxc4 32. Qxb4 d5 $19) 29... axb4) (27. Nxd6 Bxd6 28. axb4
cxd5 29. c5 axb4 $19) 27... cxd5 (27... Na6) 28. cxd5 (28. axb4 axb4 $1 (28...
dxc4 29. Qc2 axb4 30. Nxf5 $13 (30. Nce2 {Ftacnik} c3 31. bxc3 bxc3 32. Nxc3 d5
33. Ba2 Ba4 $19)) 29. Qxb4 d4 $1 $19) 28... Rab8 $1 $19 29. axb4 $8 axb4 30.
Qc2 bxc3 31. bxc3 (31. Bxc3 Bh6+) 31... Rc4 32. Qd3 (32. Nxf5 Rxb1+ 33. Qxb1
Bxf5 $19) 32... Ra4 33. Be3 (33. Be1 Ra1 34. Kd2 Rb2+ 35. Bc2 Raa2 36. Rc1 Bh6+
$19) 33... f4 34. Qxh7+ Qxh7 35. Bxh7+ Kxh7 36. Ne4 Ra1+ (36... Rxe4 {Ftacnik}
37. fxe4 fxe3 $19) 37. Kd2 (37. Kc2 {Ftacnik} Ba4+ $19) 37... Rb2+ (37... fxe3+
$19) 38. Kd3 (38. Ke1 Rxd1+ 39. Kxd1 Ba4+ $19) 38... Bb5+ 39. c4 Ra3+ 40. Nc3
Be8 $1 (40... Be8 41. c5 (41. Bd2 {Ftacnik} Bg6+ 42. Ke2 Rxc3 $19) 41... Bb5+
42. Ke4 Rxc3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.13"]
[Round "12.1"]
[White "Oll, Lembit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B78"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Estonia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "EST"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3
Nc6 8. Qd2 O-O 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. h4 Ne5 11. Bb3 h5 12. O-O-O Rc8 13. Bg5 Rc5 14.
g4 hxg4 15. f4 Nc4 (15... Nc6 $5 16. e5 Nxd4 17. Qxd4 Bc6 18. Rhe1 Bf3 19. Rd2
Nh7 20. Qxc5 dxc5 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Bxe7 Rc8 23. Bd5 $14 {Yudasin,L-Ljubojevic,
L Moskow olm (05) ISR-YUG 1994 1-0 72 -CBM 45}) 16. Qe2 Qc8 $5 (16... Na5 $5
17. e5 Nxb3+ 18. Nxb3 Rxc3 19. bxc3 Bc6 (19... Qc7 {Ftacnik} 20. h5 $1 $18 {
Mohr,G-Baric,D/Bled op/1992/1-0 (22)}) 20. Rhf1 Ne4 21. Qc4 d5 22. Qxe4 dxe4
23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Bxe7 Rd7 $15 {Smirin,I-Ivanchuk,V Paris PCA Intel-GP 1994 1/
2 33}) (16... b5 17. f5 Qa5 (17... Qb6 18. h5 Nxh5 19. Qxg4 Nxb2 20. Kxb2 Rxc3
21. Kxc3 Qc5+ 22. Kb2 Bxd4+ 23. Kb1 Bg7 24. Bh6 Qc3 25. Bxg7 Qxg7 26. Rdg1 {
1-0 Topalov,V-Romero,A Leon (8) 1993}) (17... gxf5 18. Bxf6 exf6 19. Bxc4 (19.
exf5 Bh6+ 20. Kb1 Ne3 21. Rdg1 Rxf5 22. Nxf5 Bxf5 23. Nd5 Re8 24. Nxe3 Rxe3 25.
Qxb5 Re5 $132 {Fernandez Auado,E-Martin,A Catalunya-ch (08) 1992}) 19... fxe4
$6 20. Bxb5 f5 21. Bxd7 Qxd7 22. Rhf1 Rb8 $2 23. Qe3 Re8 24. Qf4 Ree5 25. h5
$16 {Tseitlin,MD-Alterman,B Beesheba 1991}) (17... gxf5 {Ftacnik}) 18. Bxf6 (
18. fxg6 Nxb2 19. gxf7+ Rxf7 20. Kxb2 Qxc3+ 21. Kb1 d5 22. Bxf6 Rxf6 23. Rd3
Qa5 24. exd5 $14 {Gofshtein,L-Mestel,A Hastings Challenger 1991 1-0 32}) 18...
Bxf6 19. Qxg4 Kg7 20. Rh3 Qb6 21. Nd5 Rxd5 22. exd5 Rh8 23. c3 Bxd4 24. Qxd4+
Qxd4 25. Rxd4 Bxf5 26. Rg3 Ne5 {Morovic Fernandez,I-Georgiev,Ki Las Palmas (4)
1993 1/2 41}) 17. f5 $6 (17. h5 $5) (17. Bxf6 {Ftacnik} Bxf6 18. Nd5 Be6 19.
Nxf6+ exf6 20. f5 Bd7 21. fxg6 fxg6 22. h5 g5 23. Nf5 Bxf5 24. exf5 $13 {
Patterson,R-Spinath,P/corr/1987/0.5 (39)}) 17... Nxb2 $1 $146 (17... e5 18.
Ndb5 Bxb5 19. Nxb5 Rxb5 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Bxc4 Rb4 22. Bd5 gxf5 23. Rdf1 f4 24.
Rhg1 Re8 25. Rxg4+ Kf8 $15 {Yudasin,L-Tiviakov,S Groningen PCA (04) 1993}) (
17... gxf5 {Ftacnik} 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. exf5 Ne5 20. Ne4 Ra5 21. Nxf6+ exf6 22.
Qd2 Rc5 23. Qh6 a5 24. Qxf6 $18 {Fahner,D-Spinath,P/corr/1987/1-0 (26)}) 18.
Bxf6 $2 (18. Kxb2 Rxc3 19. fxg6 (19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. fxg6 Be6 21. Bxe6 fxe6 $17)
19... Rxb3+ (19... Be6 {Ftacnik} 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. e5 Nd5 (21... dxe5 22. h5 $1
$40) 22. Kc1 Bxe5 23. Qxg4 Rxb3 (23... Rf2 24. Rd2 Rxd2 25. Bxd2 Rg3 26. Qh5
Nf6 27. Qh6 $13) 24. axb3 Qc3 25. Qxe6+ Kg7 26. Bh6+ Kxh6 27. g7+ Rf6 28. Qxe5
$1 (28. g8=N+ Kg7 29. Rdg1+ Kf8 30. Nxf6 Qb2+ 31. Kd1 Qd4+ 32. Kc1 Bf4+ $18)
28... Qxe5 29. g8=Q Qa1+ 30. Kd2 Qc3+ 31. Kc1 $10) 20. axb3 fxg6 $15) 18...
Nxd1 $17 (18... Bxf6 {Ftacnik} 19. Qxg4 $1 Kh8 (19... Nxd1 $4 20. Qxg6+ Bg7 21.
Rg1 $18) 20. Kxb2 Rxc3 21. Qf4 $40) 19. Qxg4 (19. Bxg7 Nxc3 20. Qxg4 Kxg7 21.
h5 Bxf5 22. exf5 Rxf5 23. Nxf5+ Qxf5 $19) 19... exf6 (19... Nxc3 $2 20. Qxg6
exf6 (20... Ne2+ {Ftacnik} 21. Nxe2 Rxc2+ 22. Kb1 exf6 23. Rg1 $18) 21. Rg1
Ne2+ 22. Nxe2 Rxc2+ 23. Kb1 $18) 20. Rg1 (20. Qxg6 Rc4 $19 (20... d5 $1 {
Ftacnik} 21. Qg2 (21. Bxd5 Rxd5 22. Nxd5 fxg6 23. Ne7+ Kh8 24. Nxc8 Nf2 $19)
21... Ne3 22. Qg3 Rxc3 23. Rg1 Nxf5 $19)) (20. Nxd1 $5 Rc4 $1 21. Bxc4 Qxc4 $19
) 20... Rc4 $1 (20... Rxc3 $4 21. Qxg6 $18) 21. Nxd1 (21. Nd5 Bh6+ 22. Kxd1 (
22. Kb1 Rxd4 23. Ne7+ Kh8 24. Nxc8 (24. Nxg6+ Kh7 25. Nxf8+ Qxf8 $19) 24...
Nc3+ 25. Kb2 Rxc8 26. Bxf7 Bxf5 $19) 22... Rxd4+ 23. Ke1 Kg7 $19) 21... d5 $1
22. h5 (22. Bxc4 Qxc4 23. exd5 Qxa2 $19 {/\ Bh6}) 22... Rxd4 $19 23. hxg6 fxg6
24. Qxg6 Rf7 25. Nf2 (25. Ne3 Qc3 $19) (25. Bxd5 {Ftacnik} Rxd5 26. exd5 Bxf5
$19) (25. Rh1 {Ftacnik} Kf8 $19) 25... Qc3 26. Kb1 Qe3 27. Rg2 (27. exd5 Ba4 $1
$19 (27... Qxf2 $6 28. d6 Qxg1+ 29. Qxg1 $17)) 27... Kf8 28. exd5 (28. Bxd5 {
Ftacnik} Rxd5 29. exd5 Qe1+ 30. Kb2 Qe5+ 31. Kb1 Bxf5 $19) 28... Qe1+ 29. Kb2
Qe5 30. Kb1 Qxf5 (30... Qxf5 {Ftacnik} 31. Qg3 Qe5 $19) 0-1

[Event "Linares 13th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1995.03.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1995.03.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 Be6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Be3 Bf5 12. Rc1 dxc4 13. Bxc4 c6 14. Ne5 Nxc3
15. bxc3 Nd5 16. Qf3 Be6 17. Bd2 Bg5 18. Bxg5 Qxg5 19. Rfe1 Rae8 20. g3 Qf5 21.
Qd1 Nb6 22. Bd3 Qf6 23. Qc2 g6 24. Rb1 Bc8 25. Re2 Re7 26. Rbe1 Rfe8 27. Qb3
Be6 28. Qa3 Nc8 29. Re3 Qg7 30. Qb4 Qf8 31. a4 Rc7 32. Qb2 Nd6 33. c4 Rd8 34.
h4 Nf5 35. Re4 Ng7 36. Rf4 Nh5 37. Rf3 Qd6 38. g4 Bxg4 39. Nxg4 Qxd4 40. Nh6+
Kg7 41. Qc1 f6 42. Re4 Qc5 43. Ng4 Rf7 44. Rfe3 Rfd7 45. Be2 Rf8 46. Qc3 Qf5
47. Nh2 Qc5 48. Bg4 Rdd8 49. Nf3 Kh8 50. Bxh5 Qxh5 51. Rf4 Kg8 52. Kh2 Rd6 53.
c5 Qh6 54. Kg3 1-0

[Event "Linares 13th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1995.03.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B78"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1995.03.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3
Nc6 8. Qd2 O-O 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O Ne5 11. Bb3 Rc8 12. g4 $5 {Die
Hauptvariante 12.h4 gehört zu den am weitesten ausanalysierten Varianten. Mit
12.g4 setzt Weiß nicht auf bedingungslosen Angriff, vorrangig möchte er den
Nf6 vertreiben.} (12. h4 {Ftacnik}) 12... b5 $1 {Ein ausgezeichnetes
Bauernopfer! Die Kompensation bezieht Schwarz aus den halboffenenen Linien b
und c, außerdem übernimmt der Nachziehende die Initiative, so daß Weiß alle
eigenen Angriffsträume vergessen kann.} (12... Nc4 13. Bxc4 Rxc4 14. h4 Qa5 15.
Nb3 Qa6 16. h5 Rfc8 17. hxg6 fxg6 18. Kb1 b5 19. Bh6 Bh8 20. e5 dxe5 21. g5 $16
{Rigo,J-Braga,F Rome 1988 1-0 33}) 13. g5 (13. a3 a5 14. h4 b4 15. axb4 axb4
16. Na2 (16. Nb1 Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18. b3 Rc7 19. h5 Qc8 20. Rh2 e5 21. Nf5
Bxf5 22. exf5 Qa8 23. g5 Nxh5 24. f6 Rfc8 $132 {Lopez,H-Martin,AD Candas op 
(06) 1992 0-1 45}) 16... Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18. b3 Rc5 19. Nxb4 Bxg4 20. fxg4
Qa5 21. Kb2 Nxe4 22. Qd3 Qxb4 23. Qxe4 Qc3+ 24. Kb1 Ra5 {0-1 Lornje-Pavlovic,M/
Lvov-Belgrade (1/[06]) 1993}) (13. Ncxb5 $2 {Ftacnik} Nxf3 14. Nxf3 Bxb5 $17) (
13. h4 $6 {Ftacnik} b4 14. Nb1 a5 15. a4 bxa3 16. Nxa3 Qb6 17. Ba2 Qb7 18. Qg2
Rb8 19. c3 Rfc8 20. h5 Nxf3 $1 21. hxg6 hxg6 22. Nxf3 Nxe4 23. Bd5 Qb4 24. Bxe4
Rxc3+ $40 {Mortensen,E-Karlsson,L/Esbjerg/1984/}) 13... Nh5 (13... b4 $2 14.
Nce2 Nh5 15. Qxb4 $16) 14. Ncxb5 Nc4 (14... Bxb5 $2 15. Nxb5 Nxf3 16. Qe2 Ne5
17. Nxa7 $16) (14... Nxf3 $2 15. Nxf3 Bxb5 16. Bxa7 $16) 15. Bxc4 (15. Qe2 $5
Nxe3 16. Qxe3 e5 17. Nf5 gxf5 (17... Bxb5 18. Nxd6 Qa5 $13) 18. Nxd6 f4 19.
Bxf7+ Rxf7 20. Qb3 Qe7 21. Qxf7+ Qxf7 22. Nxf7 $16) 15... Rxc4 16. Qd3 (16. b3
$5 {/\ c4}) 16... Rb4 $1 {Schwarz möchte c3 oder a3 provozieren. Dies nimmt
den weißen N Felder weg und schaft Angriffsmarken.} 17. Nc3 (17. c3 Ra4 18. Na3
Qc7 $40 {Schwarz droht mit 19...Nf4 20.Bf4 Bd4 seinen schlechten Rand-N gegen
den guten weißen Zentral-N zu tauschen.}) (17. a3 {Ftacnik} Bxb5 18. Nxb5 Bxb2+
19. Kd2 Ra4 20. Qb3 Qa5+ $17) 17... Qb8 18. Nb3 Be6 19. Qa6 $6 (19. Nd5 Bxd5
20. Qxd5 (20. exd5 Rc8 $40 {/\ a4-a4}) 20... Rc8 $44) 19... Bxc3 20. bxc3 (20.
Bxa7 $2 {Ftacnik} Qa8 21. bxc3 Rb7 $19) 20... Rb7 {Die schlechte weiße
K-Stellung garantiert eine dauerhafte Initiative.} 21. Rd4 Rc8 22. Kd2 Qc7 23.
Qd3 (23. Qa5 Qc6 $1 $17 {Es droht Rb5.}) 23... d5 $1 (23... Bc4 $2 {Ftacnik}
24. Rxc4 Qxc4 25. Qxc4 Rxc4 26. Na5 Rcc7 27. Nxb7 Rxb7 $14) 24. Kc1 (24. exd5
$2 Bf5 $19 (24... Bf5 {Ftacnik} 25. Re4 Bxe4 26. fxe4 Nf4 $17)) 24... dxe4 25.
fxe4 Bc4 26. Qd2 (26. Rxc4 {Ftacnik} Qxc4 27. Qxc4 Rxc4 28. Na5 Rxe4 29. Nxb7
Rxe3 $17) 26... e5 27. Rd6 Nf4 28. Bxf4 exf4 29. Rd1 (29. Qxf4 $2 Bxb3 30. cxb3
Qxc3+ 31. Kb1 Rxb3+ $1 32. axb3 Qxb3+ 33. Ka1 Qa3+ 34. Kb1 Rb8+ 35. Kc2 Rb2+
36. Kd1 Qa1+ 37. Qc1 Qa4+ $1 38. Ke1 Qxe4+ 39. Kf1 Qxh1#) 29... f3 30. Qf4 (30.
Rd8+ $2 Rxd8 31. Qxd8+ Qxd8 32. Rxd8+ Kg7 33. Rd2 (33. Rd1 {Ftacnik} f2 34. Nd2
Be2 35. Rh1 Rd7 36. c4 Rxd2 37. Kxd2 f1=Q $19) 33... Be2 $19) 30... Qe7 31. h4
(31. Qxf3 Qxg5+ $15) 31... Be2 32. R1d5 Rbc7 $1 (32... Rxc3 $2 33. Rd8+ Kg7 34.
e5 Qa3+ 35. Kb1 (35. Kd2 Rxc2+ 36. Kxc2 (36. Ke3 Rxb3+ 37. axb3 Qc1+ 38. Ke4
Qxf4+ 39. Kxf4 f2 $19) 36... Qxa2+ 37. Kc1 Rc7+ 38. Nc5 Qa1+ 39. Kd2 Qd1+ 40.
Kc3 (40. Ke3 Qc1+ 41. Rd2 Qxc5+ 42. R8d4 Rc6 $44) 40... Qa1+ $10) 35... Rcxb3+
36. axb3 Rxb3+ 37. cxb3 Qxb3+ $10) 33. Nd4 $2 (33. Qf6 $2 Qxf6 34. gxf6 h6 35.
Rd8+ Kh7 $1 (35... Rxd8 $2 36. Rxd8+ Kh7 37. Kd2 Ba6 38. Ke1 Rxc3 39. Nd4 $10)
36. Rxc8 Rxc8 37. Kd2 Bc4 $19) (33. Kd2 $1 Rxc3 34. Nd4 $13) 33... Bc4 $19 34.
Qxf3 (34. Re5 $2 Qxd6 35. Re8+ Rxe8 36. Qxd6 f2 $19) (34. Ra5 {Ftacnik} f2 $19)
34... Bxd5 35. Rxd5 Rxc3 36. Qf6 Qc7 37. Qf2 Qc4 38. Kb2 Qb4+ 39. Ka1 (39. Nb3
{Ftacnik} Rxc2+) 39... Rh3 40. Qf1 Re3 (40... Re3 {Ftacnik} 41. Ne2 Rb8 $19)
0-1

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

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

[Event "Linares 13th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1995.03.09"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1995.03.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. c3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3
Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. Bc2 (16. O-O Ra7 17. Qh5 e4 18. Bc2 Qe8 19. Qxe8 Rxe8 20. f3
exf3 21. Rxf3 Ne5 22. Rg3 Rf7 23. Nf4 Nc4 24. Nxe6 $14 {Ivanchuk,V-Kramnik,V/
London PCA (3)/1994/0.5 (52)}) (16. Qh5 Qd7 (16... Ne7 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Nxf5
Qf6 {Vogt,L-Bukacek,E/Lenk op (8)/1991/1-0 (18)} 19. Ne7+ $1 Qxe7 20. Bxh7+ (
20. Qxh7+ Kf7 21. Bg6+ Kf6 22. Qh4+ Kxg6 23. Qxe7 $18) 20... Kh8 21. Bf5+ $1
Kg8 22. Qh7+ Kf7 23. Qg6+ Kg8 24. Bxe6+ $18) (16... e4 17. Bc2 Ne7 18. Bb3 Nxd5
19. Nxd5 a5 20. Nf4 Bxb3 21. axb3 Qe7 22. O-O b4 $5 23. cxb4 Qe5 24. Qg5 {
Adams,M-Beliavsky,A/Debrecen/1992/0.5 (54)}) 17. g4 e4 18. Bc2 Rae8 19. O-O-O
Ne5 20. gxf5 Bxf5 21. Nb6 Bg4 22. Nxd7 Bxh5 23. Nxf8 Bxd1 24. Nxd1 {Vogt,
L-Klundt,K/Bad Woerishofen op (08)/1992/0-1 (42)}) 16... Bh6 {Black have
prepared an agressive plan in order to avoid positional problems with pawn
chain d6-e5-f5.} (16... Ne7 17. Bb3 (17. O-O Ng6 18. f3 Bh6 19. Re1 Ra7 20. b4
Rg7 21. Kh1 Nh4 22. Re2 f4 23. Nf1 {Larduet,C-Ochoa De Echaguen,F/Capablanca
mem-C (12)/1992/0-1 (23)}) 17... Kh8 18. Nxe7 Qxe7 19. Qh5 h6 20. O-O f4 21.
Nd5 Bxd5 22. Bxd5 Rab8 {Jansson,A-Kytoniemi,J/Osterskan op/1994/0.5 (23)}) 17.
O-O Ra7 (17... f4 18. Qh5 Qg5 (18... fxe3 $2 19. Qxh6 exf2+ 20. Rxf2 Rxf2 21.
Bxh7+ Kf7 22. Bg6+ Kg8 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Qh8+ Bg8 25. Qh6#) 19. Qxg5+ Bxg5 20.
Nc7 fxe3 21. Nxe6 exf2+ 22. Rxf2 Be3 23. Nxf8 Rxf8 24. Raf1 $14) 18. f4 Qh4 (
18... Raf7) 19. g3 Rg7 $2 {This backfires badly. Black should have noticed,
that in case should his attack fail center was left dangerously unprotected.} (
19... Qh3 20. a4 $14 (20. Nc7 Rxc7 21. Qxd6 Re7 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. Qxd5+ Rff7 24.
Qxc6 exf4 $40) (20. Ng2 Nd4 21. cxd4 Bxd5 $132)) 20. Nc7 $1 {Illescas was
reportedly shocked by this surprising jump, since he must have had the
position on the board at home!} exf4 (20... Rxg3+ 21. hxg3 Qxg3+ 22. Ng2 Bc4
23. Qf3 $18) 21. Ng2 Qh3 (21... Qe7 22. Nxe6 Qxe6 23. Bb3 $18) 22. Rxf4 $1 {
Few tactical blows have decided the issue before black had got any chance to
fire a single shot.} (22. Nxe6 fxg3 23. hxg3 Be3+ $1 24. Rf2 (24. Nxe3 Qxg3+
$19) 24... Bxf2+ 25. Kf1 Bxg3 $19) 22... Bxf4 (22... Rxc7 23. Rh4 Qxh4 24. Nxh4
$16) 23. Nxf4 Rxg3+ 24. Kh1 $1 (24. hxg3 Qxg3+ 25. Ng2 Ne5 $1 26. Nxe6 Nf3+ 27.
Qxf3 Qxf3 28. Nxf8 Qe2 29. Bxf5 Kxf8 30. Rf1 Qxb2 31. Bc8+ Kg7 $13) 24... Qh6 (
24... Qh4 25. Ncxe6 $18) (24... Qg4 25. Ncxe6 $18) 25. Qxd6 (25. Qxd6 Nd8 26.
Nfxe6 $18) (25. Ncxe6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Linares 13th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1995.03.10"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "1995.03.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 c6 (4... Bg7 5. h3 $5 {,followed by f4
promises White a space advantage. It's better for Black to de- lay the
development of his Bishop, in order to play e5 with the better placed Bf8.}) 5.
f3 Nbd7 6. g4 $5 (6. Qd2 {is more usual, e.g.} e5 7. O-O-O Qa5 8. Kb1 Bg7 9. h4
h5 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Nh3 Bf8 $1 12. Ng5 Bc5 13. Bc4 O-O 14. Bxc5 Qxc5 15. Bb3
Qe7 16. Qd6 Qxd6 17. Rxd6 Kg7 18. Rhd1 Nc5 19. Rd8 Nxb3 20. axb3 Ne8 21. Na4
Nc7 22. Nc5 b6 23. Rxf8 Kxf8 24. Nd7+ Kg7 $10 {and Black maintained equality,
Magem Badals,J-Beim,V/Novi Sad olm/1990/}) 6... b5 (6... Qb6 7. Qc1 Bg7 8. Nge2
a6 9. h4 c5 10. h5 Rg8 11. a3 Qc6 12. Bg2 b6 13. Qd2 Bb7 14. Rg1 Qc7 15. h6 Bh8
16. g5 Nh5 17. O-O-O cxd4 18. Bxd4 Bxd4 19. Qxd4 Qc5 20. f4 Qxd4 21. Rxd4 Nc5
22. Nd5 Rc8 23. Kb1 b5 24. Bf3 $16 {Yudasin,L-Chernin,A/Pamplona/1991/ White
has a large space advantage and Black has no counterplay.}) 7. h4 (7. g5 Nh5 8.
a4 b4 9. Nce2 e5 10. Qd2 Bg7 11. O-O-O O-O 12. Kb1 Qa5 13. b3 c5 14. dxc5 dxc5
15. Nh3 Nb6 16. c4 Be6 17. Nc1 Nxa4 $5 18. bxa4 Rad8 19. Qc2 b3 20. Nxb3 Rb8
21. Kb2 Rb7 $13 {Georgiev,Kr-Smirin,I/Elenite/1993/}) 7... Bb7 (7... Nb6 $5 $13
{/\Nc4<=>}) (7... h5 $6 8. g5 {is bad, as the Knight must retreat passively
and White has a huge space advan- tage on the Kingside.}) (7... e5 8. h5 b4 (
8... exd4 $2 9. Qxd4 b4 10. Nce2 d5 11. hxg6 fxg6 12. g5 c5 13. Qd2 d4 14. Nxd4
cxd4 15. Bxd4 Bg7 16. gxf6 Nxf6 17. Qxb4 Be6 18. O-O-O Rb8 19. Bxf6 {1-0,
Georgiev,Kr-Moutousis,K/Athens/1991/}) 9. Nce2 Nb6 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Qxd8+ Kxd8
12. Nc1 Be6 13. Bg5 Nbd7 14. Nd3 Bd6 15. f4 Ke7 16. Nf3 h6 17. Bh4 g5 $8 18.
fxe5 Nxe5 19. Ndxe5 gxh4 20. O-O-O (20. Nxc6+ $5) 20... Rac8 21. Ba6 Rc7 22.
Rxh4 Nxe4 23. Re1 Ng5 $13 {Georgiev,Kr-Chabanon,J/Sofia tt/1990/}) 8. h5 Rg8 $8
(8... Bg7 $6 9. h6 Bf8 10. g5 $16 {loses too much time and space.}) (8... gxh5
$2 9. g5 $40) 9. Qd2 Qc7 10. Nh3 (10. h6 e5 $132) 10... a6 11. O-O-O e6 $146 (
11... c5 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. hxg6 hxg6 14. g5 {/\Nd5|^. Opening the position is
premature, as Black is behind in development.}) (11... e5 12. Be2 O-O-O 13. Ng5
exd4 14. Bxd4 c5 15. Be3 Nb6 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. Bf4 Qd7 18. Qe1 $36 {and
Black's position is rather shaky, Canfell,G-Chabanon,J/Novi Sad om/1990/}) 12.
hxg6 hxg6 13. Ng5 $14 {White has advantage in the center and occupies the only
open file, but Black's position is still solid.} Be7 14. Kb1 Rf8 {/\0-0-0} (
14... c5 15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. Bxb5+ $5 axb5 17. Nxb5 $36 {With three passed pawns
for a piece in an endgame White is clearly better.}) 15. Nh7 Nxh7 (15... Rh8 $5
16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. Rxh8+ Bxh8 18. Qh2 O-O-O {+/=/<=> This seems to be a better
possibility for Black, as the Rook is more dan- gerous on the h-file, than the
White Queen.}) 16. Rxh7 Nf6 (16... O-O-O 17. g5 $14 {-16...Nf6}) 17. Rh2 O-O-O
18. g5 Nd7 (18... Nh5 19. Bh3 {/\Bg4,d5-> Black's Knight on h5 is misplaced,
so Beliavsky must allow the Rook back to h7.}) 19. Rh7 Nb6 (19... c5 20. d5 $36
) 20. Qf2 c5 $8 (20... d5 $6 21. Qh4 $16 {/\Bf4 would seriously weaken the
black squares.}) 21. b3 (21. d5 $2 b4 $17) 21... cxd4 (21... Nd7 22. d5 $1 e5
23. Bh3 $36) 22. Bxd4 Nd7 {/\e5-+} 23. Qe3 Kb8 (23... e5 $6 24. Ba7 $16 {><d5})
24. a4 $1 b4 25. Na2 Rc8 (25... d5 26. exd5 Bxd5 27. Bxa6 $16) 26. Rd2 (26.
Nxb4 $2 d5 $19) 26... Qa5 27. Bg7 $5 (27. f4 e5 $132 {would give Black play
against White's weakened pawns e4,g5. The interesting maneuvre in the text
keeps the advantage.}) 27... Rfe8 (27... Bxg5 $2 28. f4 $16) 28. Bh6 Ne5 29.
Be2 {/\f4} (29. f4 $6 Ng4 $13) 29... Rh8 $8 30. Rxh8 Rxh8 31. Qd4 Rc8 32. Qxb4
(32. Nxb4 Nd7 33. Na2 d5 $5 {gives Black conterchances for a pawn, so White
strives for a better endgame.}) 32... Qxb4 33. Nxb4 d5 34. Bg7 $1 (34. Nxa6+ $2
Ka7 {פa6}) (34. Nd3 Nxf3 $1 35. Bxf3 dxe4 $13) 34... Bxb4 (34... Nxf3 $5 35.
Nxa6+ $1 Bxa6 36. Bxf3 Bxg5 (36... dxe4 $2 37. Be5+ $18) 37. Be5+ Ka7 38. Rg2
dxe4 39. Bxe4 $14 {עa7 White is slightly better, as his pawns are more
dangerous and his King is better sheltered. But this was much better than the
game, where Black has no counterchances.}) 35. Bxe5+ Ka8 36. Rd1 dxe4 37. fxe4
Bxe4 38. Bd3 Bxd3 (38... Bf5 39. Bxf5 gxf5 40. Rd7 $16) (38... Bb7 39. Rf1 $18)
39. Rxd3 Be7 40. Rd7 Bxg5 41. Rxf7 $16 {ק Black's passed pawns are weak and
his pieces are tied to their defence.} Rc5 (41... Rg8 42. Bd4 $16) 42. Bb2 (42.
Bd4 Rd5 43. c3 e5 $132) 42... Bh4 (42... e5 43. Rg7 e4 44. Rxg6 $16) 43. Rf8+
Kb7 44. Re8 Rc6 (44... g5 45. Rxe6 {/\} g4 46. Re4 $18) 45. c4 $1 (45. Rg8 g5
46. Bf6 Rc5 $14) 45... Bg3 (45... Rc8 46. Rxe6 Rg8 47. Bd4 $18) 46. Kc2 Bf4 47.
Bf6 g5 48. Re7+ Kc8 (48... Rc7 49. Rxe6 Rf7 50. Bd4 Bc7 51. Rg6 $18) 49. Rg7
Rc5 50. Kd3 a5 $6 {><a5,><b5 The decisive mistake, which weakens the a-pawn.
But White had a big advantage anyway.} (50... Rf5 $142 51. Be7 Re5 52. b4 $5
$16 (52. c5 Re3+ 53. Kc4 Re4+ $10)) 51. Be7 Rf5 (51... Re5 52. c5 Re3+ 53. Kc4
{/\Kb5->}) 52. c5 {/\Kc4-b5-c6} Kd7 $8 53. Bxg5+ Kc6 54. Bxf4 Rxf4 55. Ra7 Rf3+
(55... Kxc5 56. Rxa5+ Kb4 57. Rb5+ $18) 56. Kc4 Rf4+ 57. Kc3 Rf3+ 58. Kb2 $8
Kxc5 59. Rxa5+ Kd4 60. Ra8 e5 61. a5 Rf6 (61... Kc5 62. Rb8 {/\a6+-}) 62. Re8
e4 (62... Ra6 63. b4 Kc4 64. Ka3 $18) 63. b4 e3 (63... Kc4 $5 64. Ka3 $1 (64.
Rxe4+ $2 Kb5 65. Rd4 Rh6 $10) 64... Rf3+ (64... Kb5 65. Re5+ $18) 65. Ka4 e3
66. a6 Rf1 67. Ka5 $1 Ra1+ 68. Kb6 $18) 64. Kb3 (64. b5 $2 Rf5 $10) 64... Rf1
65. Rd8+ (65. a6 $5 Rb1+ 66. Ka4 Kd3 67. Kb5 Ra1 68. Kb6 e2 69. a7 Kd2 70. Kb7
$18) 65... Ke4 66. a6 Ra1 (66... e2 $5 67. Re8+ $1 (67. a7 $2 Rb1+ $1 (67...
Ra1 68. a8=Q+ Rxa8 69. Rxa8 e1=Q 70. Re8+ $18) 68. Kc4 (68. Kc2 Rc1+ $10) (68.
Ka2 Ra1+ $1 $10) 68... Rxb4+ $1 69. Kc5 Ra4 70. Rd4+ (70. a8=Q+ Rxa8 71. Rxa8
Ke3 $10) 70... Rxd4 71. a8=Q+ Ke3 $10) 67... Kd3 (67... Kf3 68. b5 $18) 68. a7
Ra1 (68... Rb1+ 69. Ka2 $18) 69. a8=Q $1 Rxa8 70. Rxa8 e1=Q 71. Rd8+ $18) 67.
b5 e2 68. Re8+ Kd3 69. Kb4 $1 $18 Kd2 (69... e1=Q+ 70. Rxe1 Rxe1 71. a7 $18)
70. Kc5 e1=Q 71. Rxe1 Kxe1 72. Kb6 Kd2 73. Ka7 $1 {/\b6-b7-b8Q} (73. a7 $2 Kd3
74. Kb7 Kc4 75. b6 Kc5 $10) 1-0

[Event "Linares 13th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1995.03.16"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1995.03.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8.
Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Bd3 b6 11. h4 Bb7 12. c3 Nf6 13. Neg5 Bxf3 14. gxf3
Kh8 15. Kb1 Qd6 16. Rdg1 h6 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18. fxe4 e5 19. f4 exd4 20. Qg2 Rg8
21. e5 Qe6 22. Qe4 f5 23. Qe2 dxc3 24. Bc4 Qc6 25. Bxg8 Rxg8 26. Rh3 cxb2 27.
Rd1 Qa4 28. Rf3 Bxh4 29. Qc2 Qxc2+ 30. Kxc2 Re8 31. Rd7 Re7 32. Rd1 Re6 33.
Kxb2 Kg8 34. Kb3 Kf7 35. a4 Be7 36. Rd7 Rc6 37. Rc3 Rxc3+ 38. Kxc3 g5 39. Rxc7
gxf4 40. Rxa7 h5 41. Rb7 f3 42. Kd3 h4 43. Rxb6 h3 44. a5 Bd8 45. Rb7+ Kg8 46.
a6 h2 47. Rb1 Bb6 48. Rh1 1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.05.28"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C75"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[Annotator "Topalov,V"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {King Wedberg Dolmatov} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 Bd7 {
Black also has 5...f5, which leads to sharper positions.} 6. d4 Nge7 (6... g6 {
Dolmatov}) 7. Be3 {In my opinion, this gives white more choice than the normal
7.0-0.} Ng6 {In his third game of the match against Anand Yusupov played 7...
h6 but couldn t equalise after 8.Nbd2 g5 9.de de 10.h4!} 8. h4 $1 {This was my
idea. The white pawns restrict the black pieces.} h5 (8... Be7 {Dolmatov} 9. h5
(9. g3 {Wedberg} h6 10. d5 Nb8 11. Bc2 Bg4 12. Nbd2 Nd7 13. Nf1 Nf6 14. N1h2
Bd7 15. Nd2 h5 16. a4 $14 {Milos,G-Magomedov,M/Moscow ol/1994}) 9... Nh4 10.
Nxh4 Bxh4 11. d5 Nb8 12. Bxd7+ Nxd7 13. Qg4 Bf6 14. c4 O-O 15. O-O $10) (8...
Bg4 {Dolmatov} 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. Nbd2 Be7 11. Qa4 Bd7) 9. g3 (9. Ng5 {Dolmatov}
Be7 10. Bb3 $16) 9... Be7 10. d5 Nb8 11. Bxd7+ (11. Nfd2 {Dolmatov} b5 12. Bb3
c5 13. a4) 11... Nxd7 12. Nfd2 {Now a typical indian structure arises with
white square B exchanged, which clearly favors white. Also the Ng6 is out of
play.} Nf6 13. f3 O-O (13... c5 $5 {Dolmatov} 14. c4 b5 15. Nc3 Rb8 $14) 14. c4
c5 {Stops the standard developing of the white attack on the queenside - Nc3,
b4, Nb3, c5 etc.} (14... c6 {Dolmatov} 15. Nc3 Qd7 $16) (14... b5 $132 {Wedberg
}) 15. Nc3 Qd7 16. a4 a5 $2 {Black is clearly worse on the kingside, so he had
to play the more flexible 16...b6 preparing b5 in some positions. This i
positional suicide. Almost anything is better.} (16... Bd8 {Dolmatov} 17. a5 {
Wedberg} Bc7 {With much more play for Black than in the game.}) 17. Qe2 Kh7 18.
O-O-O {King Cleverly, White has waited before committing his K, and now that
the Qside has closed he moves it there. Black has no counterplay to off-set
White's ferocious Kside attack.} Rh8 19. Nf1 $1 {The knight looks for its best
place on f5, where it can cause much damage for black.} Kg8 20. Bd2 Ne8 (20...
Kf8 $5 {Dolmatov} 21. Ne3 Ke8 22. Nf5 Bf8 $16) 21. Ne3 Nf8 $6 {Black has to be
more afraid of f4 than of g4. That s why Nc7, Bf6 and Re8 was the right plan.}
22. b3 {I didn t know where to put the Rd1, so I made a useful move.} g6 $6 {
Following the wrong plan. In such positions each pawn move weakens the
position. It was still not too late for Nc7 and Re8.} (22... Nc7 $142 {/\Re8})
23. f4 Bf6 24. Rdf1 Qe7 25. f5 $1 {The e5-square is well-protected, but after
22...g6 the f-file became weaker. Now the black king is in danger.} Ng7 26. Nb5
b6 $2 {The final mistake. After 26...Nd7 I had 27.fg6 fg6 28.Nc7 Ra7 29.Rf3 b6
30.Nb5 ok} (26... g5 {Dolmatov} 27. g4 gxh4 28. gxh5 Bg5 29. f6 $1 Bxf6 30.
Rhg1 $16) 27. fxg6 fxg6 28. g4 $1 {The kingside opens.} (28. Rf2 {Dolmatov} Nh7
29. Rhf1 Rf8) 28... Bxh4 29. Nxd6 Qxd6 30. Rxh4 Nd7 31. gxh5 Rxh5 32. Rxh5 Nxh5
(32... gxh5 {Wedberg} 33. Rg1 $18) 33. Nf5 (33. Nf5 {Wedberg} Qc7 34. Ne7+ Kg7
35. Nxg6 Kxg6 36. Qg4+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.06.02"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vaganian, Rafael A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Dolmatov,S"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Bd3 (7.
Bg5 $6 h6 8. Bh4 Be7 9. Bd3 c5 $10) 7... b6 (7... c5 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. O-O (9.
Qe2 O-O 10. Bg5 Qa5+ 11. c3 Be7 12. Ne5 $14) 9... O-O 10. Qe2 h6 $14 {Rogers,
I-Vaganian,R/Manila(ol)/1990/}) 8. Qe2 Bb7 9. Bg5 (9. c3 $6 Be7 10. Bg5 h6 11.
Bh4 Qd5 $13 {Kamsky,G-Kortchnoi,V/Tilburg/1991/}) 9... Be7 10. O-O-O Qd6 11.
Ne5 (11. Kb1 O-O-O 12. Ne5 Rhf8 13. Ba6 $14) 11... O-O 12. Kb1 Rad8 13. c4 $6 (
13. Bf4 $5 Qd5 (13... Nd5 14. Bg3) 14. c4 Qxd4 15. Bxh7+ Kxh7 16. Rxd4 Rxd4 17.
Be3 $16) 13... h6 14. Bf4 $6 (14. Be3 c5 15. f4 cxd4 16. Bc2 $14) 14... Qxd4 $1
$8 15. Bh7+ Kxh7 16. Rxd4 Rxd4 17. Be3 Re4 18. Nf3 Rd8 (18... Ba6 $6 19. Nd2
$14) 19. h3 Kg8 20. b3 a5 $6 (20... b5 $5 21. cxb5 Nd5 22. Rc1 Bf6 $132) 21.
Rd1 Rxd1+ 22. Qxd1 b5 23. Nd2 (23. cxb5 $6 Nd5 24. Bd4 Bb4 $44) 23... Rh4 24.
f3 Rh5 25. Qf1 bxc4 26. bxc4 (26. Nxc4 a4 $44) 26... a4 27. Bf4 (27. Qd3 Bd6
28. Bd4 Nd7 $132) 27... Rc5 28. Qd3 Rc6 29. a3 Ba6 $2 (29... Bd6 $1 30. Bxd6 (
30. Be3 Nd7 $132) 30... cxd6 $132) 30. Be5 Bd6 31. Bb2 Rb6 (31... Nd7 $5 32.
Qd4 Be5 33. Qxd7 Rb6 34. Qe8+ Kh7 35. Qxf7 Rxb2+ 36. Kc1 Rb6) 32. Qc3 Bf8 33.
Ka2 Nd7 34. Qa5 Nc5 $16 35. Bd4 Nb3 36. Nxb3 axb3+ 37. Kb2 Rc6 38. c5 (38. Qa4
$2 Rxc4 39. Qxa6 Rxd4 $14) 38... Bc4 39. Qa8 Ra6 40. Qd8 Bd5 $6 (40... c6 41.
Be5) (40... Rc6 $32 41. a4 Ra6 $16) 41. Qxc7 $18 f6 42. Qd7 Rc6 43. Qe8 Ra6 44.
a4 Ra8 45. Qb5 Rd8 46. a5 Ba8 47. Bc3 Kf7 48. a6 Rd5 49. Qb8 1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.06.05"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A61"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. Nd2 (7. Bg5 h6
8. Bh4 Nbd7 9. Nd2 g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. Nde4 Nxg3 12. Nxg3 a6 13. e3 Ne5 14. Be2
Bg7 15. Nh5 O-O 16. Nxg7 Kxg7 17. O-O g4 18. Qd2 Rg8 19. Kh1 Kh8 20. Ne4 Bf5
21. Ng3 Bh7 22. Qc3 b5 23. b4 Rc8 $132 {Nedobora,M-Moskalenko,V/Noyabrsk/1995/}
) 7... Bg7 (7... Na6 8. Nc4 Nc7 9. e4 $1 (9. a4 b6 (9... Rb8 10. e4 Bg7 11. Bf4
O-O 12. Be2 Nce8 13. O-O a6 14. a5 Qe7 15. e5 Nd7 16. exd6 Qd8 17. Na4 Bd4 18.
Qd2 Ng7 19. Rae1 f6 20. b4 $18 {Van Der Sterren,P-Austin,D/Novi Sad olm /1990/}
) 10. e4 Ba6 11. Be2 Bg7 12. Bf4 Bxc4 13. Bxc4 Nh5 14. Be3 Qh4 15. Qd2 O-O 16.
Bg5 Bxc3 17. Bxh4 Bxd2+ 18. Kxd2 Rfe8 19. Rhe1 Kg7 20. e5 Rxe5 21. Rxe5 dxe5
$44 {Gostisa,L-Ivanka Budinsky,M/Belgrade GMA-op/1988/}) 9... b5 10. Na5 a6 11.
Bg5 Bg7 12. Qf3 Bd7 13. e5 dxe5 14. Nb7 Qe7 15. d6 Qe6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Nxc5 {
1-0,Sadler,M-Stratil,L/Oakham/1988/}) 8. Nc4 (8. e4 O-O 9. Bd3 (9. Nc4 a6 10.
a4 Qc7 11. Bd3 Nbd7 12. f4 Re8 13. O-O Rb8 14. Na3 Nf8 15. Re1 Bd7 16. Bd2 Kh8
17. Qc2 Ng8 18. Kh1 Ne7 19. a5 f5 20. Nc4 fxe4 21. Nxe4 Nxd5 22. Nexd6 $36 {
Flamarzi,T-Abdullah,A,M/WCH B-14 Bratislava/1993/}) 9... Re8 10. O-O Nbd7 11.
Nc4 Ne5 12. Nxe5 Rxe5 13. Bf4 Re8 14. Qd2 a6 15. a4 c4 16. Bc2 Rb8 17. a5 b5
18. axb6 Qxb6 19. Be3 $14 {1/2-1/2,Reshevsky,S-Arnason,J/Reykjavik op/1984/})
8... O-O 9. g3 b6 10. a4 Ba6 $1 (10... Na6 $6 11. Bg2 Ne8 (11... Nc7 $2 12.
Nxd6 $1 $16) 12. O-O Nac7 13. Bd2 Rb8 14. Rb1 f5 15. b4 cxb4 16. Rxb4 Na6 17.
Rb1 Nc5 18. Na5 $1 Bb7 19. Nc6 Bxc6 20. dxc6 Rc8 21. Qc2 Nf6 22. Rfd1 Qe7 23.
Bg5 Kh8 24. e3 $16 {Baburin,A-Joyce/Bunratty op/1995/}) 11. Nb5 Ne8 12. Bg2 (
12. Bf4 Bxb5 13. axb5 Qe7 (13... g5 $6 14. Bd2 f5 15. h4 $36 {[%csl Rg7,Rg8,
Rh7,Rh8][%cal Rh1h7] <->h,׻}) 14. Qd2 Nd7 15. Bg2 $13) 12... Bxb5 13. axb5 {
[%csl Rb5] ><b5} Nd7 14. Bf4 Qe7 15. O-O $6 (15. Qd2 $142 Ne5 16. Nxb6 (16. Qe3
$5 $13) (16. Rc1 $2 Nxc4 17. Rxc4 Nc7 $17) 16... Rb8 17. Bxe5 Bxe5 18. Nc4 $10)
15... g5 $1 {()>>} 16. Bd2 Nc7 {[%csl Rb5]} 17. Qb3 $8 f5 18. Rae1 (18. f4 $5
$132 {[]} gxf4 19. Bxf4 (19. gxf4 Nf6 $15 {[%csl Rd5][%cal Yf6e4] ><d5,/\Ne4})
19... Ne5 20. Rae1 $13) 18... f4 $17 19. gxf4 gxf4 20. Kh1 Ne5 21. Bf3 (21.
Nxe5 Bxe5 $17 {[%cal Re7d7,Yg8h8,Yf8g8] /\Qd7,><b5,-><->g}) (21. Na3 Ng6 $5 $40
{[%cal Rg6h4] /\Nh4}) 21... Qd7 22. Rg1 Qxb5 23. Qxb5 Nxb5 24. Nxe5 dxe5 25.
Bg4 (25. Rg4 Kh8 26. Reg1 Bf6 $17) 25... Kh8 26. Bd7 Nc7 $1 {[%csl Rd5] ><d5} (
26... Nd6 27. e4 $15) 27. Bc6 (27. d6 Rad8 28. dxc7 Rxd7 $17 {[%cal Rd7c7] /
\Rc7}) 27... Rad8 28. e4 fxe3 29. Rxe3 (29. Bxe3 Nxd5 30. Bg5 Rd6 $19) 29...
Nxd5 30. Reg3 Ne7 $1 (30... Rg8 $2 31. Bxd5 Rxd5 32. Bh6 Rd7 33. Rg5 $132 {~/=}
) 31. Rxg7 Nxc6 $19 32. Be3 Rd6 33. Rc7 (33. R7g5 Nd4 {[%cal Rd4f3] /\Nf3})
33... Rg8 34. Rxg8+ Kxg8 35. Kg2 e4 (35... Rf6 36. Kg3 (36. f3 Nd4 37. Bxd4
exd4 38. Rxa7 Rc6 $19) 36... e4 {-35...e4}) 36. Kg3 Rf6 37. Bg5 Rf3+ (37... Rg6
$142 38. Kf4 Nd4 39. Rc8+ Kf7 40. Rc7+ Ke8 {/\} 41. Rxh7 Ne6+ 42. Kf5 Nxg5 $19)
38. Kg2 Nd4 39. Rxa7 Nf5 $6 (39... Rb3 40. Bh6 Nf5 $19) 40. Ra4 Rb3 41. Rxe4
Rxb2 42. Rf4 Ng7 {Black has made it difficult for himself, but the position
still remains won. First he will free his K and then advance his passed P.} 43.
Rf6 Rb4 44. Kf3 h5 45. h4 (45. Bh6 b5 46. Rg6 Kh7 $19) 45... b5 46. Rc6 Rc4 $1
(46... c4 $6 47. Bf6 $132 {/\} Nf5 48. Ke4) 47. Rc8+ (47. Bf6 Nf5 $19) (47. Be7
Nf5 $1 48. Bxc5 Nd4+) 47... Kf7 48. Rc7+ Kg6 49. Rc6+ Kf5 50. Rf6+ Ke5 51. Rh6
{[%cal Rg5f6] /\Bf6} Nf5 $1 52. Rxh5 {[%csl Gb5,Gc5][%cal Rb5b1] White has
equalized material, but the passed pawns are already too far.} b4 53. Rh8 Nd4+
54. Kg4 Ne6+ 55. Kh5 (55. Kf3 b3 56. Rb8 Nxg5+ 57. hxg5 Rb4 $19) 55... b3 56.
Rb8 Rb4 $1 $19 (56... Nxg5 $6 57. Rxb3 $17) 57. Rxb4 cxb4 58. Bc1 Nf4+ 59. Kg5
Nd3 60. h5 Ke6 $1 (60... Nxc1 $6 61. h6 b2 62. h7 b1=Q 63. h8=Q+ Kd5 $19) (
60... Ke6 61. Kg6 (61. h6 Kf7) 61... Nxc1 62. h6 b2 63. h7 b1=Q+ $19) 0-1

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1995.05.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C93"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1995.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 h6 12. Bc2 Bf8 13. d5 Ne7 14. c4 (14. b3 c5
15. a4 Nd7 16. Nf1 f5 17. c4 bxc4 18. bxc4 f4 19. h4 g5 20. hxg5 Ng6 21. gxh6
Bxh6 22. Ng3 Kh7 23. Nf5 Nf6 24. Nh2 {Smagin,S-Blatny,P/Stary Smokovec (2)/
1990/1-0 (46)}) 14... c6 15. b3 cxd5 (15... Rb8 16. Nf1 g6 17. Ng3 Bg7 18. a4
cxd5 19. cxd5 Rf8 20. Bd2 Nh7 21. Qc1 Rc8 22. axb5 axb5 23. Ra2 f5 24. Bxh6 {
Klovans,J-Siegel,G/Biel op (03)/1994/1-0 (77)}) (15... Qa5 16. Nf1 Reb8 17. Bd2
Qd8 18. Ng3 a5 19. Bd3 Nd7 20. Bf1 bxc4 21. bxc4 cxd5 22. cxd5 f5 $13 {
Kereszturi,S-Glatt,G/HUN-chT 9293/1993/0-1 (66)}) 16. cxd5 Rc8 17. Nf1 Nh5 18.
a4 (18. Nxe5 $2 dxe5 19. Qxh5 Rxc2 $19) 18... Qc7 19. Bd3 f5 (19... Qc3 20. Rb1
$14) 20. axb5 fxe4 21. Rxe4 $1 (21. Bxe4 axb5 $132) 21... Qc3 (21... Bxd5 22.
Bc4 $1 Nf6 23. bxa6 $16) 22. Ba3 Nf6 (22... Nf4 23. bxa6 Bxd5 24. Re3 Bxb3 $6
25. Qb1 $1 $18) 23. Bxd6 $1 Nxe4 24. Bxe4 axb5 25. Ra7 Rcd8 $1 (25... Ba8 26.
Bxe5 $16) 26. Rxb7 Rxd6 27. Rxb5 Nc6 28. Qe2 Nd4 29. Nxd4 Qxd4 (29... exd4 30.
Bh7+ Kf7 31. Bg8+ $1 Kxg8 32. Qxe8 $18) 30. Ng3 Rf6 (30... g6 31. Qc2 $40) 31.
Nf5 Qa7 32. b4 $1 (32. d6 Bxd6 33. Rb7 Qa1+ 34. Kh2 Rxf5 $1 35. Bxf5 e4+ 36. g3
Qf6 37. Bxe4 $140 Rxe4 $1 38. Qxe4 Qxf2+ 39. Qg2 Bxg3+ 40. Kh1 Qe1+ 41. Qg1
Qe4+ $10) 32... Rc8 $6 (32... Qd7 $1 $14) 33. d6 $1 g6 (33... Bxd6 34. Rb7 Qxb7
(34... Qa1+ 35. Kh2 Rxf5 36. Qg4 $1 $18) 35. Bxb7 Rc1+ 36. Kh2 Rxf5 37. Qd2 Rc7
38. Bd5+ Kh8 39. Be6 $18) 34. Bd5+ Kh8 35. Qxe5 Bg7 36. Nxg7 Qxg7 37. d7 (37.
Rb7 Qf8 38. d7 $18 (38. Rf7 $2 Rc1+ 39. Kh2 Qxd6)) 37... Rc1+ 38. Kh2 Rf8 39.
f4 (39. Qd6 $18) 39... Rd1 (39... Qxe5 40. fxe5 Rd8 41. e6 $18) 40. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Rubinstein Memorial 32nd"]
[Site "Polanica Zdroj"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "De Firmian, Nick E"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Dolmatov,S"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1995.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Baburin} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3
Be6 8. f3 Nbd7 9. g4 Be7 (9... b5 10. g5 Nh5 11. a4 b4 12. Nd5 $40) 10. Qd2 O-O
11. O-O-O b5 12. g5 b4 13. Ne2 Nh5 (13... Ne8 14. Ng3 a5 15. Kb1 a4 16. Nc1 Nc7
17. f4 $16 {Smirin,I-De Firmian,N/Polanica Zdroi (4)/1995/}) 14. Ng3 Nf4 15. h4
a5 16. Kb1 a4 17. Nd4 (17. Nc1 $5) 17... exd4 18. Bxf4 Qa5 $6 (18... Ne5 $5 19.
Nf5 $5 (19. Be2 Qc7 20. Nf5 (20. Qxd4 $2 Bxa2+ 21. Kxa2 b3+ $17) 20... Bxf5 21.
exf5 Rfc8 22. Rc1 a3 23. b3 Qc3) 19... Nxf3 (19... Bxf5 20. exf5 Qc7 21. Qxd4
$16) 20. Qd3 Ne5 21. Qxd4 $40) 19. Nf5 $1 (19. Qxd4 Rfc8 20. Bd3 Ne5 $14) 19...
Bxf5 20. exf5 Qxf5 21. Qxd4 $16 b3 (21... Ne5 $2 22. Bh3 Qg6 23. h5 Qxh5 24.
Bf5 $18) 22. Bd3 bxa2+ 23. Ka1 {Baburin: The same opening line and the same
middlegame idea, as in Smirin-De Firmian (CBM 49).} Qc5 24. Qe4 (24. Be4 Qxd4
25. Rxd4 Ra6 26. Rhd1 Nc5 $16) 24... g6 25. Be3 (25. Qxe7 $6 a3 26. Bc1 axb2+
27. Bxb2 Rfb8 $132) 25... Qe5 26. Bd4 Qxe4 27. Bxe4 Ra5 {/\d5} 28. Bc3 $1 Rc5 (
28... Ra6 29. h5 Bxg5 30. hxg6 $18) 29. Bb4 Rc4 30. Bxd6 Bxd6 31. Rxd6 $18 Nc5
32. Rc6 Rd8 33. h5 Kf8 34. hxg6 hxg6 35. Kxa2 Ke7 36. Bd3 Kd7 37. Bxc4 Kxc6 38.
Bxf7 Rf8 39. Bxg6 Rxf3 40. Rg1 Kd6 41. Bh7 Rf7 42. Bg8 Rg7 43. Bc4 Ke5 44. g6
1-0

[Event "Rubinstein Memorial 32nd"]
[Site "Polanica Zdroj"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ftacnik, Lubomir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "1995.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. d4 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Nd2 a5 10. a3 Bd7 11. b3 c6 12. Bb2 Bh6 13. Rb1 Nc8 14. dxc6 Bxc6 15.
Bd3 Nb6 16. b4 axb4 17. axb4 Nh5 18. g3 Bd7 19. Qe2 Rc8 20. Nb3 Na4 21. Nxa4
Bxa4 22. Bc1 Bxc1 23. Rfxc1 Bxb3 24. Rxb3 Ng7 25. c5 Ne6 26. Rbc3 dxc5 27. bxc5
Qa5 28. Qc2 Kg7 29. Kg2 Rc6 30. Qb2 Qc7 31. Bc4 Nxc5 32. Bb5 Qb6 33. R1c2 Rc7
34. Qc1 Rfc8 35. Bf1 Ne6 36. Rxc7 Rxc7 37. Rxc7 Qxc7 38. Qb2 Nd4 39. Bd3 Qc6
40. f4 Qf6 41. Bc4 b5 42. Bxb5 exf4 43. gxf4 Nxb5 44. Qxb5 Qxf4 45. Qb2+ Kh6
46. Qb7 f6 47. Kg1 Qf3 48. Qe7 Qg4+ 49. Kf2 Qf4+ 50. Kg1 Qg5+ 51. Kh1 Qe5 52.
Qb7 Qg5 53. Qc8 Qe3 54. Qc4 Qf2 55. Qd3 Kg5 56. Qc4 h5 57. Qd3 Kh4 58. Qd1 Qe3
59. Kg2 Qxe4+ 0-1

[Event "Rubinstein Memorial 32nd"]
[Site "Polanica Zdroj"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Smirin, Ilia"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1995.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Krasenkov,M Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6.
Be3 a6 7. Bd3 b5 8. O-O Bb7 9. Qe2 Nf6 10. Kh1 (10. a3 {Ftacnik} Be7 11. f4 d6
12. Nf3 (12. Rad1 O-O 13. f5 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 e5 15. Bf2 Rfe8 16. Bh4 Rad8 17. Kh1
Nd7 18. Bxe7 Rxe7 19. a4 b4 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. exd5 a5 22. f6 Nxf6 23. Rxf6 e4
24. Rf2 exd3 25. Qxd3 Qc5 {Przewoznik-Gdanski,J/Naleczow (02)/1988/0.5 (60)}) (
12. Kh1 O-O 13. Rae1 Rac8 14. Rf3 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 e5 16. fxe5 dxe5 17. Be3 Qd6 $2
(17... Ne8 $5 18. Rg3 Bf6) 18. Bg5 Nd7 19. Bxe7 $2 (19. Rd1 Qe6 20. Bxe7 Qxe7
21. a4 b4 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. exd5 Nc5 24. d6 $16) 19... Qxe7 20. a4 b4 21. Nd5
Bxd5 22. exd5 Nc5 $132 {Tkachiev,V-Brodsky,M/Wijk op/1995/0.5 (39)}) 12... O-O
13. Rae1 b4 $1 14. Nd1 $2 (14. Na4 bxa3 15. bxa3 d5 $1) 14... bxa3 15. bxa3 e5
$1 16. Nf2 exf4 17. Bxf4 Ne5 $1 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. Bg5 $2 h6 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21.
Ng4 Be7 22. Bc4 Bc8 $2 (22... Rad8 $1 $17 {Karpov,An}) 23. Bd5 Ra7 24. a4 Qc3
25. Ne3 $10 {Polgar,J-Ljubojevic,Lj/Buenos Aires/1994/0-1 (51)}) (10. Rad1 {
Ftacnik} Be7 11. f4 O-O 12. e5 Ne8 13. Qh5 f5 14. Bxf5 exf5 15. Nxf5 d6 16. Nd5
Qd7 17. g4 Bd8 18. exd6 Nxd6 19. Bc5 Rxf5 20. gxf5 Qxf5 21. Qxf5 Nxf5 22. Rfe1
$17 {Geller,E-Gipslis,A/Moscow/1969/0-1 (31)}) (10. h3 {Ftacnik} Be7 11. f4 d6
12. Nf3 O-O 13. a3 b4 14. Na4 Nd7 15. c3 bxa3 16. b4 d5 17. e5 g6 18. Qf2 f6
19. exf6 Bxf6 20. Qa2 Kh8 21. Qxa3 e5 22. fxe5 Ncxe5 23. Nxe5 Nxe5 24. Rad1 d4
25. cxd4 Nf3+ 26. Rxf3 Bxf3 $17 {Romanishin,O-Balashov,Y/URS-ch/1979/0-1 (36)})
10... Be7 (10... Bb4 $5 11. a4 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nxd4 13. cxd4 Nxe4 14. axb5 axb5
15. Rxa8+ Bxa8 16. Bxb5 O-O $10 {Topalov,V-Benjamin,J/Groningen PCA/1993/CBM39/
Topalov-Benjamin, Groningen 1993}) 11. f4 d6 12. a4 $5 {Weiss hat eine
interessante Idee, weil er normalerweise am Koeningsfluegel spielt.} (12. Nxc6
{Ftacnik} Bxc6 13. Bd4 e5 14. fxe5 dxe5 15. Bf2 b4 16. Nd1 O-O 17. Bh4 Ne8 18.
Bxe7 Qxe7 19. a3 a5 20. axb4 Qxb4 21. Qe1 Qxe1 22. Rxe1 Nd6 23. Nc3 a4 {
Djoric,D-Rajkovic,D/Nis op/1993/0-1 (42)}) 12... b4 13. Na2 d5 (13... O-O 14.
Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Nxb4 Bxe4 16. Bxa6 $16) (13... Rb8 14. c3 bxc3 15. Nxc3 Nb4 16.
Rac1 $36) 14. e5 Ne4 (14... Nd7 {Ftacnik} 15. Nxc6 Qxc6 16. a5 {xb4}) 15. c3 $5
bxc3 16. Nxc3 Nb4 (16... Nxc3 $2 17. bxc3 O-O 18. Nxc6 (18. Rf3 $40 {Ftacnik})
18... Bxc6 19. Bd4 $40 {/\ f5}) (16... Nc5 {Krasenkov,M}) 17. Rac1 Nxd3 18.
Qxd3 (18. Nxd5 $6 Qxc1 19. Bxc1 Nef2+ 20. Rxf2 Nxf2+ 21. Qxf2 Bxd5 22. f5 Rc8
23. Be3 Kd7 $13) 18... Qb8 {Der Nachziehende braucht noch einen Zug ( 0-0 )
und dann ist alles in Ordnung. Mit dem folgenden Bauernopfer will Weiss seine
Initiative behalten.} (18... Nxc3 19. Rxc3 Qd7 20. f5 $40 (20. Rfc1 $36 {
Ftacnik})) 19. f5 $1 Qxe5 (19... Nxc3 {Ftacnik} 20. fxe6 (20. Qxc3 {Krasenkov,M
} Qxe5 21. Bf4 Qf6 22. Qc7) (20. Rxc3 Qxe5 21. Bf4) 20... fxe6 (20... Ne4 21.
exf7+ Kd8 22. Ne6+ Kd7 23. Nc7 $18) 21. Rxc3 $40) 20. fxe6 fxe6 {[#] [#]} (
20... O-O {Ftacnik} 21. Rf5 Qd6 (21... Nc5 {Krasenkov,M} 22. Qd2 Qd6 23. exf7+
Rxf7 24. Rxf7 Kxf7 25. Nf5) 22. Nxe4 dxe4 23. Qb3 $16) 21. Ncb5 $1 {Der
Schluesselzug.} Nc5 (21... axb5 $2 22. Qxb5+ Kd8 23. Qxb7 $18) (21... Rc8 {
Ftacnik} 22. Rxc8+ (22. Bf4 Rxc1 $1) 22... Bxc8 23. Nc6 Qxb2 24. Nc7+ Kd7 25.
Nxd5 $40) 22. Qe2 {Droht /\ b4 oder Nf3} Rc8 (22... axb5 23. Qxb5+ Kd8 (23...
Nd7 24. Qxb7 Rb8 (24... Rd8 {Ftacnik} 25. Nb5 $18) 25. Rc8+ $18) 24. Rxc5 $1 (
24. Qb6+ Ke8 25. Rxc5 Qxe3 (25... Bxc5 26. Qxb7 $18) 26. Qxb7 $18) 24... Bxc5 (
24... Qxe3 25. Qxb7 $18) 25. Rf7 $1 (25. Qxb7 $18) 25... Qd6 26. Bg5+ $18) 23.
Na7 Rc7 (23... Ra8 {Ftacnik} 24. Nac6 Qd6 25. Bf4 Qd7 26. Nxe7 Qxe7 27. b4 $18)
(23... Bd6 $2 {Ftacnik} 24. Nf3 $18) (23... Rb8 {Krasenkov,M} 24. Nac6 Bxc6 25.
Nxc6 Rxb2 26. Qf3) 24. b4 $1 Nxa4 (24... Ne4 25. Rxc7 (25. Bf4 $2 Qxf4 26. Rxf4
Rxc1+ 27. Rf1 Rxf1+ 28. Qxf1 Rf8 $17) 25... Qxc7 26. Nxe6 Qe5 27. Qg4 $16) 25.
Nac6 (25. Rxc7 {Krasenkov,M} Qxc7 26. Nxe6 Qe5) 25... Qe4 (25... Bxc6 26. Nxc6
Rxc6 (26... Qe4 27. Rf4 Qg6 (27... Rxc6 {Ftacnik} 28. Rxc6 (28. Rxe4 Rxc1+ 29.
Bxc1 dxe4 30. Qxa6 O-O $16) 28... Qb1+ 29. Bg1 $18) 28. Qxa6 $18) (26... Qb2
27. Qxa6 $18) 27. Rxc6 d4 28. Qxa6 dxe3 29. Qc8+ Bd8 30. Rxe6+ $18) (25... Qd6
{Ftacnik} 26. Bf4 $18) 26. Rf4 Qg6 27. Rg4 Qf7 {[#]} (27... Qf6 {Krasenkov,M}
28. Rf1) 28. Rxg7 $1 {Eine kleine, aber huebsche Kombination entscheidet die
gut gespielte Partie.} Qxg7 29. Nxe6 Qb2 (29... Qxg2+ {Ftacnik} 30. Qxg2 Rxc6
31. Rxc6 Bxc6 32. Bd4 $18) 30. Nxc7+ Kd7 (30... Kf7 {Ftacnik} 31. Qh5+ $18) 31.
Qxb2 Nxb2 32. Ne5+ Kd6 (32... Kc8 {Ftacnik} 33. Nxd5+ Kd8 34. Nf7+ Ke8 35. Nxh8
$18) 33. Nf7+ Kd7 34. Ne5+ (34. Nxh8 $18) (34. Nxh8 {Ftacnik} Bd6 35. Nxa6 Bxa6
36. Ra1 $18) 34... Kd6 35. Bf4 Rf8 (35... Rc8 {Ftacnik} 36. Nc4+ Kc6 37. Nxb2+
Kd7 38. Na4 $18) (35... Rg8 {Krasenkov,M} 36. Nd3+ Kd7 37. Nxb2 d4 38. Bg3 (38.
Rc2 Rf8) 38... Bd6 39. Na4 $1 Bxg3 40. hxg3 Kd6 (40... d3 41. Nxa6 $18) 41. b5
Rxg3 42. bxa6 $18) 36. Nc4+ Kd7 (36... Kc6 {Ftacnik} 37. Nxb2+ $18) 37. Nb6+ (
37. Nb6+ Kd8 38. Ne6+ Ke8 39. Nxf8 $18) 1-0

[Event "Rubinstein Memorial 32nd"]
[Site "Polanica Zdroj"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Wojtkiewicz, Aleksander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1995.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Nc6 7. f3
e6 8. g4 Be7 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. Kb1 (12. h4 Rb8 13. g5
Nd7 14. Kb1 (14. Ba7 Rb7 15. Be3 Qc7 16. Bd3 b4 17. Ne2 b3 18. axb3 Rxb3 $15 {
Magem Badals,J-Ehlvest,J Pamplona (5) 1991 0-1 38}) 14... b4 15. Ne2 Ne5 (15...
Qc7 16. h5 Ne5 17. Ng1 (17. f4 Nc4 18. Qd3 e5 19. Nc1 Bg4 20. Qxc4 Qxc4 21.
Bxc4 Bxd1 22. Rxd1 exd4 23. Nb3 $14 {Tiviakov,S-Van Wely,L Wijk (06) 1994 1-0
46}) 17... Nc4 18. Bxc4 Qxc4 19. h6 g6 20. Bf6 Bxf6 21. gxf6 Rb6 22. Nh3 Bb7
23. Qe3 Rc6 $132 {Smirin,I-Van Wely,L Wijk (09) 1994 0-1 41}) 16. Bg2 Nc4 17.
Qd3 Qc7 18. b3 Na3+ 19. Kb2 Bd7 20. c4 $10 {Leko,P-Van Wely,L Wijk (02) 1994 1/
2 56}) (12. Bxf6 $6 Bxf6 13. Qxd6 Qa5 $40) 12... Bb7 13. h4 Rc8 14. g5 Nd7 15.
a3 (15. Rg1 b4 $1 (15... Ne5 16. Qf2 (16. Rg3 Qc7 17. h5 b4 18. Na4 d5 (18...
Bc6 $5) 19. g6 fxg6 20. Bh3 Qd6 21. hxg6 h6 22. Nc5 Nc4 23. Bxe6+ Qxe6 24. Nxe6
$16 {Thorhallsson-Palac Hartberg op (5) 1991 0-1 37} (24. Nxe6 Nxd2+ 25. Rxd2
dxe4 26. Nxf8 Rxf8 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. Rd7 $17 {0-1 Thorhallsson-Palac/Hartberg
op (5) 1991 (37)})) 16... Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18. h5 Qc7 19. g6 fxg6 20. hxg6 h6
21. Rh1 Bf6 22. Bxf6 Rxf6 $17 {Ryan,J-Milu,R Manila olm 1992 0-1 30} (22...
Rxf6 23. Qg3 b4 24. Na4 d5 $17 {Ryan,J-Milu,R/Manila olm/1992/0-1 (30)})) 16.
Ne2 (16. Na4 Bc6 17. Qxb4 d5 $19) 16... Ne5 17. Rg3 $6 (17. Bg2 Nc4 18. Qxb4
Qd7 19. Qb3 a5 $40) 17... Nc4 18. Qc1 e5 $1 $17 {Topalov,V-Kasparov,G
Amsterdam Euwe-mem (3) 1995 0-1 28} (18... e5 {Ftacnik} 19. Bf2 a5 20. Bg2 Ba6
21. Re1 a4 22. Bh3 Rc6 23. Qd1 d5 24. exd5 $17 {Topalov,V-Kasparov,G/Amsterdam
Euwe-mem (3)/1995/0-1 (28)})) (15. g6 fxg6 (15... b4 16. gxh7+ Kh8 17. Ne2 e5
18. Be3 f5 19. Qxb4 {Varavin,V-Pugachev,A/Budapest op/1992/} (19. Bh3 $1 {
Ftacnik} f4 $1 20. Bf2 a5 $44) 19... Ba8 20. Qd2 fxe4 $13 {Varavin,V-Pugachev,
A Kobanya op (08) 1992 1-0 54}) (15... Ne5 $6 16. Qg2 (16. gxf7+ {Ftacnik} Rxf7
17. Bxe5 dxe5 18. Bh3 Qxd2 19. Rxd2 Rc6 20. Bg4 $10) 16... Bf6 17. gxh7+ Kh8 (
17... Kxh7 {Ftacnik} 18. Rg1 Qe7 19. h5 Rfd8 $13) 18. Rg1 Qe7 19. h5 Rfd8 20.
f4 $16 {Varavin,V-Obukhov,A Krasnodar 1991 1-0 30  Varavin,V-Obukhov,A/USSR/
1991/}) 16. Bh3 e5 $17) (15. Bd3 b4 (15... Ne5 16. Qg2 Nxd3 17. Rxd3 b4 18. Nd1
Qc7 19. b3 $10 {Fedorov,A-Mochalov,E Minsk (10) 1995 1-0 63 - EXP 46} (19. b3
e5 20. Bb2 f5 21. gxf6 Rxf6 22. Ne3 Rcf8 23. Ng4 Re6 24. h5 $14 {Fedorov,
A-Mochalov,E/Minsk (10) 1995/1-0 (63)})) (15... Nc5 16. Rdg1 e5 17. Be3 b4 18.
Nd5 Bxd5 19. exd5 Nxd3 20. Qxd3 Qc7 21. Rg4 $14 {Rodriguez,A-Larsen,B San
Martin (03) 1995 1-0 57} (21. Rg4 {Ftacnik} a5 22. Rhg1 f5 23. gxf6 Bxf6 24.
Bg5 $14 {Rodriguez,A-Larsen,B/San Martin (03)/1995/1-0 (57)})) 16. Ne2 a5 17.
Ng3 Qc7 18. h5 Ne5 19. f4 Nf3 20. Qf2 Nxd4 21. Qxd4 Qc5 $15 {Salazar,H-Panno,O
Buenos Aires Cup Lat (07) 1991 1/2 29} (21... Qc5 22. Qg1 Qxg1 23. Rhxg1 Rc5
24. Ne2 Rd8 25. c3 bxc3 26. Nxc3 Bc6 27. Be2 Bd7 28. Rd4 Rb8 29. Na4 Bxa4 {
1/2-1/2 Salazar,H-Panno,O/Buenos Aires Cup Lat (7) 1991})) (15. Bh3 Ne5 16. Qg2
Nc4 17. g6 Bf6 18. gxf7+ Kxf7 19. Ne2 Rc7 20. Nf4 Bc8 21. e5 dxe5 22. Bxe5 Qe7
23. Bxc7 Qxc7 24. Bxe6+ $16 {Kovacevic,A-Zetocha,C Szekszard op (09) 1994 1/2
37 Kovacevic,A-Zetocha,C/Szekszard op (09)/1994/0.5 (37)}) 15... Qc7 $2 $146 {
Zu langsam und in einigen Varianten ein Tempoverlust.} (15... Ne5 16. Qe3 (16.
Bxe5 $6 dxe5 $17) 16... Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18. Rhg1 (18. Rd3 $5 $146 Qe8 (18...
Qc7 19. Bb6 Qc8 20. Ba5 $14 {/\ Bb4}) (18... Qb8 $5 {/\ b4}) (18... b4 $2 19.
axb4 Rxb4 20. Bc5 $16 {/\ Bd6}) 19. Rg1 e5 20. Bb6 f5 21. gxf6 Rxf6 22. Ba5 Bf8
23. Rgd1 Qh5 24. Bb4 h6 25. Bxd6 Bxd6 26. Rxd6 Qxf3 $10 {Wang Zili-Boensch,U
Peking op (07) 2nd. S.T. Lee Cup 1995 1-0 62}) (18. f4 b4 19. axb4 Rxb4 {xe4})
18... b4 19. axb4 Rxb4 $15 {Topalov,V-Kasparov,G Novgorod (04) 1995 0-1 40 -
CBM 48} (19... Rxb4 {Ftacnik} 20. Rg2 (20. f4 Qc7 21. f5 e5 22. Ba7 Rc8 $15)
20... Ba8 21. b3 (21. h5 e5 22. Bc5 Rc4 23. Ba3 Qc7) 21... a5 22. h5 Qc7 23.
Bf6 (23. g6 e5 24. gxh7+ Kh8 25. Ba7 Rc8 26. h6 g6 27. Rd3 Bc6 $40) 23... Rfb8
(23... gxf6 $4 24. gxf6+ Kh8 25. Qg5 $18) 24. Bxe7 (24. h6 a4 $40) 24... Qxe7
25. Rd4 (25. h6 $2 a4 $19) 25... e5 26. Rxb4 axb4 {Topalov,V-Kasparov,G/
Novgorod (04)/1995/0-1 (40)})) 16. Rg1 Kh8 $6 (16... Ne5 {Ftacnik} 17. Qe3 Nc4
18. Bxc4 Qxc4 19. Bf6 $1 $16) 17. h5 e5 {xd5} (17... f5 {Ftacnik} 18. h6 e5 19.
hxg7+ Kxg7 20. Be3 $16) 18. Be3 f5 {Damit wird der direkte K-Angriff zwar
gestoppt, aber die Felderschwaechen d5 und e6 garantieren Weiß vorzuegliches
Spiel.} (18... Nb6 {Ftacnik} 19. g6 $1 $40) 19. exf5 $1 (19. g6 {Ftacnik} f4
20. Bf2 h6 $13) 19... Rxf5 (19... Bxf3 {Ftacnik} 20. f6 $5 (20. Be2 Bxe2 21.
Qxe2 Rxf5 22. Nd5 Qd8 23. g6 $40 h6 $140 24. Qg4 Rf8 25. Bxh6 $1 $18) 20...
gxf6 21. g6 Rg8 22. Be2 $40) 20. Nd5 $3 {Ganz hervorragend gespielt! Mit der
radikalen Ausnutzung der weißen Felder widerlegt Topalov den Aufbau seines
Gegners.} Bxd5 (20... Qd8 21. Nxe7 Qxe7 22. Qxd6 Qxd6 23. Rxd6 $18 (23. Rxd6 {
Ftacnik} Rf7 24. Bh3 $18)) 21. Qxd5 Qxc2+ 22. Ka2 {Es droht Bd3, Bh3, Rc1 und
gelegentlich Qe6 bzw. mit dem B auf d3 Qe4.} Rff8 (22... Nc5 {Ftacnik} 23. Rd2
(23. Bh3 $2 Na4 24. Qd2 Nc3+ 25. Ka1 Nxd1) 23... Qa4 24. Bh3 $16) (22... Rc3 {
Ftacnik} 23. Rd3 (23. Bd3 $4 Rxa3+ $1 24. Kxa3 Qa4#) 23... Rc7 24. Bh3 Qc4+ (
24... Rf8 25. Rc1 $18) 25. Qxc4 bxc4 26. Bxf5 cxd3 27. Bxd3 $16) (22... Qc6 {
Ftacnik} 23. Qe6 $18) 23. Rc1 Qa4 (23... Qf5 24. Bd3 Qh3 25. Rh1 Qg2 26. Qe4 g6
27. hxg6 $18) (23... Nb6 {Ftacnik} 24. Qb7 $18) 24. Qe6 (24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Qe6
b4 26. Qxe7 bxa3 27. Rg4 Qc2 28. Rg2 Qc6 (28... Qa4 29. b3 $18) 29. h6 $18)
24... Rxc1 25. Bxc1 Qd4 (25... b4 26. Qxe7 bxa3 27. b3 Qc6 28. Bd3 Qxf3 29. Rf1
Qg2+ 30. Kxa3 Rxf1 31. h6 gxh6 32. Qxh7#) (25... Qc2 {Ftacnik} 26. Qxd7 Qxc1
27. Qxe7 $18) 26. Rg4 (26. Rg4 Qd1 27. Qxd7 Qxf1 (27... Bd8 {Ftacnik} 28. h6 $1
$18) 28. Qxe7 $18) 1-0

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

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

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Tukmakov, Vladimir B"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D76"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "1995.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nc6 8.
Nc3 Nb6 9. d5 Na5 10. Qc2 Nxd5 11. Rd1 c6 12. Ne1 (12. e4 Nb4 13. Qa4 (13. Qe2
Qc7 14. a3 Na6 15. Bf4 e5 16. Be3 Nb3 17. Rab1 h6 18. Qc2 Be6 19. Bf1 Nac5 20.
Bxc5 Nxc5 21. b4 Bg4 22. bxc5 Bxf3 {Tukmakov,V-Sanchez Almeyra,J/Zaragoza op ;
EXT 93op 1993/1-0 (38)}) 13... Qb6 (13... b5 14. Qxb4 (14. Rxd8 bxa4 15. Rxf8+
Kxf8 16. Nxa4 Nc4 17. Bf1 Bg4 18. Kg2 Bxf3+ 19. Kxf3 Ne5+ 20. Kg2 Rd8 21. Bf4
Ned3 22. Bxd3 Nxd3 23. Be3 Nxb2 24. Nxb2 Bxb2 25. Rb1 {1/2-1/2 Litinskaya Shul,
M-Qin Kanying/Subotica iztW (02) ;TD 93\02 1991 (30)}) 14... Bxc3 15. Rxd8 (15.
Qxc3 Qxd1+ 16. Ne1 Qd8 17. Bh6 f6 18. Bxf8 Kxf8 19. Nd3 Be6 20. Nc5 Bf7 21. e5
Nc4 22. exf6 exf6 23. b3 Nb6 24. Nb7 Qe7 25. Qxc6 {Foisor,O-Kleinplatz,S/
Hyeres op ;TD 92\11 1992/1-0 (59)}) 15... Bxb4 16. Rxf8+ Kxf8 17. Bh6+ Kg8 18.
e5 e6 19. Rd1 Bf8 20. Bxf8 Kxf8 21. Ng5 {1/2-1/2 Matthaei,A-Leissner,J/Porz op
(01) ;EXT 93op 1993 (28)}) 14. Bg5 (14. Be3 c5 15. a3 Nbc6 16. b4 Bxc3 17. Bxc5
Qc7 18. Rac1 Nc4 19. Rxc3 Nb2 20. Qc2 Nxd1 21. Qxd1 Rd8 22. Qc1 Bg4 23. h3 Bxf3
24. Bxf3 {Barbero,G-Banas,J/Belgrade GMA ;TD 88\07 1988/0-1 (64)}) 14... Na6
15. Bxe7 Re8 16. Nd5 Qxb2 17. Rab1 Nc4 18. Rxb2 Nxb2 19. Qb3 cxd5 20. Rxd5 Nc7
21. Ba3 Nxd5 22. exd5 {Grabarczyk,M-Babula,V/Pardubice op ;EXT 95op 1995/1-0 
(44)}) (12. Ng5 e6 13. e4 Nb4 14. Qa4 Qb6 15. Bf4 Nc4 16. Qb3 Na5 17. Qa4 Nc4
18. Qb3 Na5 {1/2-1/2 Beil,Z-Stohl,I/Stary Smokovec ;EXT 87 1987}) 12... Bd7 (
12... Bxc3 13. bxc3 Qc7 14. c4 Nf6 15. Bf4 e5 16. Bg5 Kg7 17. Qc1 Ng8 18. Nd3
Bg4 19. f3 Be6 20. Nc5 Rae8 21. Rb1 Bc8 22. Rb2 h6 23. Bd2 Rd8 {Lalic,B-Stone,
R/Groningen op (05) ;EXP 26 1991/1-0 (37)}) (12... Qe8 13. Bxd5 cxd5 14. Nxd5
Bf5 15. e4 Rc8 16. Qd2 Nc4 17. Qb4 Bxe4 18. Nxe7+ Kh8 19. Nxc8 Qxc8 20. Bg5 $16
{Sulava,N-Popovic,P/Jugoslavija/1990/}) (12... Be6 13. e4 Bg4 {Sulava,
N-Peshina,G/Budapest op/1990/} 14. Rd3 $18) 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Rxd5 e6 15. Rd3 (
15. Rd6 Qc8 16. Qxc8 Bxc8 17. Rd1 e5 18. Bd2 Nc6 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Bc3 Ba6 21.
Rd2 Rfd8 22. Rad1 Rxd2 23. Rxd2 Bc4 {1/2-1/2 Jurka,M-Daniliuk,S/Pardubice op 
(03) ;EXT 94op 1994 (31)}) (15. Bg5 f6 16. Rd3 fxg5 17. Rad1 Qb6 $13) 15... Rc8
(15... Qc8 16. Qxc8 (16. Bd2 Nc6 17. Bc3 e5 18. Rd2 Be6 19. Nd3 Bf5 20. Qb3 Qc7
21. Nb4 Nxb4 22. Qxb4 Rab8 23. Rad1 b6 24. a4 Rfe8 25. Bd5 {1-0 Mandel,
A-Trettin,U/BL2-S 9192 (1991) ;BL2 1992 (35)}) 16... Bxc8 17. Rb1 Nc6 18. Bd2
e5 19. Rd6 Bf5 20. Rc1 Rfd8 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Bg5 Rc8 23. h3 Nd4 24. Kf1 b6
25. Rxc8+ Bxc8 {Korpics,Z-Banas,J/HUN-chT1 9495 (09) ;EXT 95ch 1995/0-1 (47)})
16. Qd1 (16. Qd2 Nc4) 16... Rc7 17. Bf4 e5 18. Bg5 (18. Rc1 Nc6 19. Bd2 Qe7 20.
Be3 b6 21. Be4 Rfc8 22. Rdc3 f5 23. Bd5+ Kh8 24. Nf3 h6 25. h4 Be8 26. Qd2 Kh7
27. h5 gxh5 28. Nh4 f4 29. Qd3+ Kh8 30. Bxc6 {Schlosser,P-Fogarasi,T/Budapest
Elekes (07) ;EXT 92 1992/1-0 (41)}) 18... Qe8 (18... Qxg5 19. Rxd7 Rfc8 20.
Rxc7 Rxc7 21. Nd3 Bf8 22. Qa4 Nc4 23. Qxa7 Qd2 24. Qb8 Re7 25. b3 {1-0
Schlosser,P-Herbrechtsmeier,C/BL 9293 (1993) ;BL 90 1993 (34)}) 19. Rc1 (19. e4
h6 (19... Be6 $2 20. Bd8 $1 Rc5 21. b4 $18) 20. Bd2 Nc6 21. Nc2 Be6 $10) 19...
Rxc1 20. Bxc1 Bf5 $1 {Important improvement over the known forced line. Black
balances on tiny rope, but the positional rewards are worth it.} (20... Be6 21.
b3 e4 22. Bxe4 Bxb3 23. axb3 Qxe4 24. Ba3 (24. Nf3 h6 25. Be3 Nc6 26. Rd7 b6
27. Qc1 $5 Na5 28. Nd2 $6 (28. Bxh6 $1 Nxb3 29. Qg5 Nc5 30. Bxg7 Kxg7 31. Re7
Ne6 32. Qd2 $36) 28... Qe6 29. Rxa7 Nxb3 30. Nxb3 Qxb3 31. Qc6 Qd1+ 32. Kg2
Qxe2 {1/2-1/2 Ribli,Z-Ftacnik,L/Tilburg (01)/1994/}) 24... Re8 25. Qd2 b6 26.
Bb4 Qc6 27. Bxa5 bxa5 28. Rd8 Bf6 29. Qc2 Qe6 30. Rxe8+ Qxe8 $14 {Konopka,
M-Ftacnik,L/CSR chT/1994/}) (20... Bc6 21. e4 {xa5}) 21. e4 Be6 22. b3 Qb5 23.
Ba3 Re8 24. Rd8 Bf6 $1 (24... Bf8 $6 25. Bxf8 Rxf8 26. Rxf8+ Kxf8 27. Qd6+ Kg7
28. Bf1 $16) 25. Qd3 Qc6 26. Rxe8+ (26. Rd6 Qc7) 26... Qxe8 27. Nc2 Be7 28. Bc1
{White has little ground to believe, that his chances are better, since d5
weakness is fully compensated with character of the d4 spot.} (28. Bb2 Nc6 29.
Ne3) 28... Qc8 29. Be3 (29. Bd2 Nc6 30. Ne3 Bb4 $1 $10) 29... b6 30. Bf1 h5 31.
h4 Qc7 32. Kh2 f6 33. Bd2 Qc5 34. Ne3 (34. Be3 Qc6) 34... Nc6 35. Bh3 Bf7 36.
Qd7 Kg7 (36... Qd6 37. Qxd6 Bxd6 $10) 37. Kg2 Qd6 38. Nd5 $6 (38. Qxd6 Bxd6 $10
) 38... f5 39. Qxd6 Bxd6 40. Kf1 $6 (40. Nc3 Nd4 $15) 40... Bxd5 41. exd5 Ne7
42. Bg2 e4 43. f3 exf3 44. Bxf3 Bxg3 45. Bg5 Nc8 46. Ke2 $5 (46. Kg2 Be5 47.
Be3 $15) 46... Nd6 47. Kd3 (47. Ke3 Nf7 48. Be7 Bd6 49. Bxd6 Nxd6 50. Kf4 Kf6
51. Bg2 Nf7 $17) 47... Nf7 48. Be7 Ne5+ 49. Ke3 Nxf3 $1 50. Kxf3 Be5 51. Bb4
Kf7 52. a4 a6 (52... Bf6 53. Kg3 f4+ 54. Kxf4 Bxh4 55. a5 b5 56. a6 $1) 53. Bd2
Ke7 54. Be3 b5 55. axb5 axb5 56. Bc5+ Kd7 57. Bb4 Bf6 58. Kg3 f4+ $1 59. Kxf4 (
59. Kh3 f3 60. Kg3 Bxh4+ $19) 59... Bxh4 60. Ke4 Be7 61. Bd2 (61. Bxe7 Kxe7 $19
) 61... g5 62. Kf5 g4 63. Kf4 Bd6+ 64. Kg5 g3 65. Be3 Be5 66. Kxh5 g2 67. Bg1 (
67. Kg4 Bh2 $19) 67... Kd6 (67... Kd6 68. Kg4 Kxd5 69. Kf3 Bd4 70. Kxg2 Bxg1
71. Kxg1 Kc5 72. Kf2 Kb4 $19) 0-1

[Event "Elenite"]
[Site "Elenite"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Miladinovic, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2555"]
[Annotator "Topalov,V"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1995.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Dolmatov Mowsziszian Ribli} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qc7 5. Nc3
e6 6. Be3 a6 7. Bd3 Nf6 8. O-O (8. Qe2 Bd6 9. g3 Be5 10. Nxc6 Qxc6 11. Bd2 b5
$10) 8... h5 $5 {Ribli: Mit dieser seltenen Fortsetzung will der Nachziehende
die Stellung verschaerfen. /\Ng4} (8... Ne5) (8... Ne5 {Dolmatov} 9. h3 Bc5 10.
Na4 Ba7 11. c4 d6 12. Rc1 Bd7 13. Nc3 $14) 9. h3 b5 {Ribli: Miladinovics
Lieblings Fortsetzung.} (9... Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Bc5 11. Bxc5 (11. Be2 Qd6 (11... d6
{Mowsziszian} 12. Bxc5 Qxc5 13. Qd3 b5 14. Rfd1 Ke7 $10) 12. Bxc5 Qxc5 13. Qd3
b5 14. Qg3 Bb7 15. e5 h4 $1 16. Qf4 Nh5 $15 {Kulaots,K-Miezis,N/Riga zt/1995/
CBM47/}) 11... Qxc5 12. Na4 $14 {/\ 13.c4} (12. Qf3 {Ribli} h4 $1 {Gegen Qg3}
13. Rad1 d6 {Gulobev})) 10. Nxc6 $5 (10. a3 $5 Bb7 11. Qe1 (11. Qe2 {Ribli} h4
12. f4 Nh5 13. Qf2 Be7 $13 {Agnos,D-Miladinovic,I/Ano Liosia/1995/EXP46/}) (11.
Qe1 Rc8 (11... h4 $5) 12. f4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Bc5 14. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 15. Kh1 d6 16.
Qh4 $36 {Mainka,R-Miladinovic,I/Ano Liosia/1995/EXP46/})) 10... Qxc6 (10...
dxc6 $6 11. a4 (11. f4 $16 {Dolmatov}) 11... Bb7 12. f4 $16) 11. a3 (11. e5 {
Dolmatov} Bb7 12. Qf3 Qxf3 13. gxf3 b4 $10) 11... Bb7 12. Re1 $5 {Eine
interessante neue Idee.} (12. Qe2 $5) (12. Bg5 {Mowsziszian} Bc5 13. Re1 d6 14.
Bxf6 gxf6 15. Nd5 $5 Kd8 $1 16. Qf3 (16. Nxf6 Bd4 17. Qf3 Bxb2 18. Ra2 Bc3 {
/\Qc5-Qg5}) 16... f5 17. c4 $13) (12. f4 {Dolmatov} Bc5 13. Qf3 Qb6 $10) (12.
Qe2 {Dolmatov} Rc8 13. f4 h4 14. Rf2 b4 15. axb4 Bxb4 16. Ra4 $14) 12... Bd6 {
Droht /\ Be5} (12... b4 13. axb4 Bxb4 14. Bd4 d6 15. Re2 e5 $2 16. Nd5 $1) (
12... Bc5 {Dolmatov} 13. Bf1 Bxe3 14. Rxe3 d6 15. Qf3 $14) 13. Bd4 (13. f4 $5)
13... e5 (13... Bb8 {Mowsziszian /\Qd6} 14. Bf1 $1 {/\e4-e5,Ne4}) (13... Bf4 {
Dolmatov} 14. Bf1 $16) 14. Be3 b4 (14... Bc5 $5 {Ribli} 15. Qf3 Bxe3 16. Qxe3
d6 $13) 15. axb4 Bxb4 16. Bd2 (16. Ra4 $2 {Dolmatov} Bxc3 17. Rc4 Bxe1 18. Rxc6
Bxf2+ $10) 16... O-O (16... d6 17. Qf3) 17. Qf3 {Mowsziszian: Weiß will d7-d5
verhindern.} Rfe8 (17... Qe6 $5 $13) 18. Rad1 $14 {/\ 19.Nd5} Bxc3 $6 {Schwarz
will Nd5 nicht lassen.} (18... a5 $142) (18... Rac8 19. Nd5 Bxd2 20. Nxf6+ Qxf6
21. Qxf6 gxf6 22. Rxd2 $14) (18... a5 {Ribli} 19. Nd5 Bxd2 (19... Nxd5 20. exd5
Qxd5 21. Be4 $18 (21. Be4 Qxd2 22. Bxb7 $1 $18 (22. Rxd2 Bxe4 23. Rxe4 Bxd2 $14
))) 20. Nxf6+ Qxf6 21. Qxf6 gxf6 22. Rxd2 $14) 19. Bxc3 Qe6 {Der Nachziehende
steht wegen seines "aktiven" h5-Bauern schlechter.} 20. b3 (20. Qg3 Rac8 21.
Bd2 d5 $14) 20... Rac8 21. Bb2 (21. Bc4 $2 Rxc4 22. bxc4 Rc8 $44) 21... h4 $8 {
Schwarz will Qg3 verhindern.} (21... d5 $6 22. exd5 Bxd5 23. Qg3 $16 {>< e5})
22. Qe3 $6 {Ribli: Weiss verhindert d5 und droht /\ Qg5, aber
hoechstwarscheinlich hat er den Partiezug unterschaetzt.} (22. c4 $1 Qb6 23.
Rb1 $16 {/\ Bb2-c1-g5}) (22. Bc4 Rxc4 23. bxc4 Qxc4 $44) 22... Nh5 $1 23. Qg5 {
><h4} Nf4 24. Bc4 (24. c4 Qf6 $5 (24... Nxd3 25. Rxd3 a5 $13 {Droht /\ a4}) 25.
Qxf6 gxf6 $14) (24. Qxh4 $2 Nxd3 25. cxd3 (25. Rxd3 {Dolmatov} Rxc2) 25... Qxb3
$10) 24... Rxc4 (24... Qe7 {Ribli} 25. Qxe7 Rxe7 26. Ba3 $18 {/\Rd7}) 25. bxc4
Bc6 (25... Ng6 26. Qf5 $1 $16) (25... Qxc4 $2 {Dolmatov} 26. Bxe5 Ng6 27. Bd4
$16) 26. c5 (26. Qxh4 $2 {Dolmatov} Qxc4 27. Bxe5 $2 Ne2+ (27... Ng6) 28. Rxe2
Qxe2) 26... Ng6 $14 (26... f6 $5 {Dolmatov} 27. Qxh4 Qc4 28. Qg4 (28. g3 Ne2+
29. Kh2 Qxc2 $13) 28... Qxc2 29. Bc1) 27. Qe3 a5 {Der Nachziehende hat einige
Kompensation fuer die verlorene Qualitaet.} 28. Qc3 a4 29. Rd6 Qe7 30. Bc1 {
Mowsziszian: Die Stellung ist nicht leicht zu gewinnen, Weiß muss zuerst die
Figurenaufstellung verbesseren.} Ra8 31. f3 Kh7 32. Be3 Qe8 $6 (32... Nf4) (
32... f6) (32... Qf8) 33. Ra1 Rb8 $2 {Ribli: Nur Tempoverlust} (33... Nf4 34.
Qd2 Ne6 $5) (33... f6) (33... f6 $5 {Ribli /\ Qf7,f5}) (33... f6 34. Qe1 (34.
Bf2 $2 {Dolmatov} Nf4 35. Qe1 Qg6)) 34. Rdd1 $1 Qe6 35. Kh2 f6 $6 $138 {
Ribli: Warum nicht sofort f5!?.} (35... f5 $1 $132) 36. Rdb1 Ra8 37. Rb4 $16 {
/\ Qe1, Be3-f2:h4} Qf7 (37... Ne7 $5 {Dolmatov /\g5}) 38. Qe1 {Droht /\ Bf2,
Bh4 /\Bf2-Bh4} f5 $8 {Ribli: Na endlich, aber schon zu spaet, weil der weisse
Turm auf b4 ausgezeichnet steht.} (38... a3 39. Qc3 a2 40. Qb3 $18) (38... Qe7
$5 {Dolmatov} 39. Bf2 Nf4 40. Bxh4 Qxc5 $132) 39. exf5 Qxf5 40. Qc3 Re8 (40...
e4 41. fxe4 Bxe4 42. Raxa4 Rxa4 43. Rxa4 Nf4 44. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 45. Kg1 $16) 41.
Rg4 $1 Re6 (41... e4 42. f4) 42. Rb1 Re8 43. Rbb4 {/\Bg5-Bh4} e4 (43... Re6 {
Dolmatov} 44. Bg5) 44. f4 (44. fxe4 $5 {Ribli} Rxe4 (44... Bxe4 {Mowsziszian}
45. Rxa4 Bxc2) (44... Qe5+ {Dolmatov} 45. Qxe5 Rxe5) 45. Rgxe4 Bxe4 46. Rxa4
$16) 44... Qf7 45. Bd4 $1 Bd5 {Droht /\ Be6} (45... Nxf4 46. Rxg7+ Qxg7 47.
Bxg7 Nd5 48. Qe1 $1 Nxb4 49. Ba1 $18) 46. f5 $1 (46. Rxa4 Be6) 46... Qxf5 47.
Rxa4 $18 Bc6 48. Rb4 {/\ 49.Qe3 Droht /\ Qe3,Rg5} e3 (48... Re7 {Mowsziszian}
49. Qe3 {/\Rb8 nebst Rg5-Rh5+}) (48... Qf7 {Dolmatov} 49. Qe3) 49. Bxe3 Qd5 50.
Rg5 (50. Rxg6 $2 Kxg6 51. Rg4+ Kh5 52. Rg5+ $2 Qxg5 53. Bxg5 Re2 $1 $10) 50...
Re5 51. Rbg4 $1 (51. Rxh4+ $6 Nxh4 52. Qxe5 Qxg2+ 53. Rxg2 Nf3+ 54. Kg3 Nxe5)
1-0

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nd7 10. d4 Bf6 11. a4 Bb7 12. Na3 Nb6 13. d5 Na5 $6 {N} (13... Ne7)
14. axb5 axb5 15. Be3 Nbc4 (15... Nxb3 16. Qxb3 c6 17. dxc6 Bxc6 18. Nxb5 Rxa1
19. Rxa1 Bxe4 20. Nd2 Bf5 21. Nxd6 Qxd6 22. Qxb6 $16) 16. Bxc4 bxc4 17. Nd2 c6
18. Naxc4 Nxc4 19. Rxa8 Bxa8 20. Nxc4 cxd5 21. exd5 $16 Be7 22. Qd2 f5 23. f4
Qc7 24. b3 Bf6 25. fxe5 dxe5 26. Bb6 Qb7 27. d6 f4 28. Rf1 Qd7 29. Bc7 Qb5 30.
Nb6 Bb7 31. b4 f3 32. c4 Qe8 33. Nd5 Bh4 34. d7 Qg6 35. b5 (35. d8=Q Bxd8 36.
Bxd8 Rxd8 37. Ne7+ Kf7 38. Nxg6 Rxd2 39. Nxe5+ Ke6 40. Nxf3 Rb2 41. b5 Kd6 $16)
35... Kh8 36. Ne3 Bg5 37. Rf2 Qe4 38. Rxf3 Qb1+ 39. Nf1 $1 Bxf3 40. Qxg5 Be2
1-0

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. Be3 Ng4 8. Bg5
f6 9. Bc1 Nc6 10. h3 exd4 11. Nxd4 Nge5 12. Nxc6 Nxc6 13. O-O f5 14. exf5 Bxf5
15. Be3 Qf6 16. Qd2 Nd4 17. Bg4 c5 18. Nd5 Qf7 19. Bxd4 Bxd4 20. Bxf5 gxf5 21.
Rae1 Rae8 22. b3 Re5 23. g3 Rfe8 24. Kg2 b5 25. Qg5+ Kh8 26. Rxe5 dxe5 27. Ne3
f4 28. Qf5 Qg7 29. Qh5 Rf8 30. Nf5 Qf6 31. g4 bxc4 32. bxc4 e4 33. Re1 e3 34.
fxe3 fxe3 35. Qh6 Qxh6 36. Nxh6 Rf2+ 37. Kg3 Be5+ 38. Kh4 e2 39. Nf5 Bc3 40.
Rb1 Rxf5 41. gxf5 0-1

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B78"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Schulz,Andre"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2
O-O 9. Bc4 (9. O-O-O {ist die Hauptalternative. 9.Bc4 verhindert d6-d5, was
nach 9.0-0-0 möglich ist.}) 9... Bd7 10. h4 Rc8 11. Bb3 h5 12. O-O-O Ne5 13.
Bg5 Rc5 {Dieser starke Zug, 1976 von Sosonko entdeckt, hat die Popularität der
Verteidigung mit ...h5 begründet. Schwarz bereitet b7-b5 vor, der Turm greift
auf der 5.Reihe in das Geschehen ein, indem er z.B. den Bauern h5 indirekt
überdeckt und nach Wegzug der Dame nach a5, b6 oder b8 ist die Möglichkeit zur
Turmverdoppelung mit ...Tfc8 gegeben.} 14. g4 {Häufiger wird stattdessen der
wartende Vorbereitungszug 14.Kb1 gespielt.} hxg4 15. f4 Nc4 16. Qe2 {16.Bxc4
oder 16.Qd3 kommt ebenfalls vor.} Qc8 $5 {Die neueste Mode in der
Drachenvariante in diesem Abspiel. Schwarz deckt den Nc4, verstärkt den Druck
auf der c-Linie, droht Nxb2 und kontrolliert die Diagonale c8-h3 mit den
wichtigen Schlüsselfeldern e6, f5 und g4. Der Nachteil des Zuges liegt in
einer Schwächung des Feldes e7, besonders wenn dort ein Springer hingelangt.
Früher war statt 16...Qc8 der Bauernzug b7-b5 obligatorisch. Übrigens kann die
gleiche Stellung mit eingeschobenem Zugpaar Kb1 und b7-b5 entstehen.} 17. Bxf6
(17. f5 {Das ist die Stammpartie der Idee ...Qc8} e5 18. Ndb5 Bxb5 19. Nxb5
Rxb5 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Bxc4 Rb4 22. Bd5 gxf5 23. Rdf1 f4 {mit unklarem Spiel
und späterem 0-1 in Yudasin,L-Tiviakov,S/Groningen PCA (04) ;CBM 39 1993 (52)})
17... Bxf6 18. Nd5 $2 {Fragwürdig, denn nun bekommt Schwarz die Möglichkeit
zum folgendem "Opfer" eingeräumt. Möglicherweise hat Ivanchuk hier die
Varianten verwechselt und die Stellung im Sinn gehabt, die nach
eingeschaltetem 18.Bxc4 Rxc4 19.Nd5 entsteht. Dort ist der Springerzug stärker,
denn die Möglichkeit des Opfers gibt es nicht, weil der Rc5 nun auf c4 steht.
Dies würde auch erklären, warum er frustriert schon im 24.Zug aufgibt.} (18.
Bxc4 Rxc4 19. Nd5 Re8 (19... Be6 {Danailov ist übrigens der Trainer von
Topalov.} 20. Nxf6+ exf6 21. f5 (21. h5 $142 $1 g5 22. fxg5 fxg5 23. Nb5 $16 (
23. h6 $16)) 21... Bd7 22. Rhg1 (22. Qxg4 Qc5 23. c3 Rxc3+ 24. bxc3 Qxc3+ 25.
Kb1 Qb4+ 26. Ka1 (26. Nb3 Bxf5 $19) 26... Qc3+ $10) (22. Kb1 Re8 23. Qxg4 Qc5
24. c3 Rxe4 25. Qxe4 Bxf5 $19) 22... Qc5 23. Qf2 Rc8 24. Rd2 Ra4 25. Kb1 gxf5
26. exf5 Rxd4 27. Rxd4 Bxf5 28. Rg2 Qe5 29. Rd2 Rc4 30. Rg1 {1/2-1/2 Hamdouchi,
H-Danailov,S/Sitges op ;EXT 94op 1994}) 20. e5 (20. h5 g5 21. e5 Rc5 22. Qe4 (
22. exf6 Rxd5 23. fxe7 gxf4 24. Qe4 Re5 25. Qxf4 R8xe7 26. Qf6 Kh7 27. h6 Qg8
28. Qxd6 $13) 22... Be6 23. Nxe6 Qxe6 {1/2-1/2 Almasi,I-Payen,A/Budapest
Cansys IM-Nov (09) ;EXT 91 1991}) 20... dxe5 (20... Bg7 21. h5) (20... Rc5 21.
exf6 (21. Nxf6+ exf6 22. Nb3 Rc6 $19) (21. Nb3 Rxd5 22. Rxd5 Bc6 $19) (21. Qe4
dxe5 22. fxe5 Bf5 23. Nxf5 gxf5 24. Nxf6+ exf6 $19) 21... Rxd5 22. fxe7 Be6 23.
Nxe6 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Rxe7 (24... Qxe6 25. Qxe6 fxe6 26. Rxd6 Rxe7 $13) 25. Qxg4
Qxe6 26. Qxe6 Rxe6 $17) 21. fxe5 Bg7 22. h5 Bf5 (22... Qc5 23. e6) 23. h6 Bh8
24. h7+ Kf8 25. Qh2 Rd8 26. Nxf5 gxf5 (26... Qxf5 27. Qh6+ Ke8 28. Nc7+ Rxc7
29. Qf8+ Kxf8 30. Rxd8+ Kg7 31. Rg8#) 27. Qh6+ Ke8 28. Qg5 $18) 18... Rxd5 $1 {
Hier gibt der Drachenspieler ohne Nachdenken die Qualität und sagt "Danke".
Der Drachenläufer bleibt erhalten und der gefährliche Nd5 verschwindet vom
Brett. In der Philosophie des Drachenspielers ist dies auch kein Opfer,
sondern ein ganz normaler Tausch.} 19. exd5 b5 {Mit der Idee a7-a5-a4 folgen
zu lassen und den Bb3 in Schwierigkeiten zu bringen. Außerdem entstehen durch
die vorgerückten b- und a-Bauern eine Menge Hebel gegen die weiße
Königstellung, um das Läuferpaar zur Geltung zu bringen. Der schwarze Plan
dauert zwar ein paar Züge, aber Weiß muß etwas unternehmen, um nicht unter die
Räder zu kommen.} 20. h5 g5 {Vermeidet die Öffnung der h-Linie. Ein wichtiges
Motiv in dieser und ähnlichen Stellungen.} 21. fxg5 Bxg5+ 22. Kb1 {Nun ist
wieder eine für die Drachenvariante ganz typische Stellung entstanden. Als
Resultat der weißen Angriffsbemühungen hat Schwarz Spielmöglichkeiten am
Königsflügel erhalten. Der folgende Vorstoß des f-Bauern verhindert eine
Einschnürung am eigenen Königsflügel und bildet ein gefährliches
Freibauernpaar, das die Partie im Endspiel zugunsten von Schwarz entscheidet.
Schwarz muß nun noch aufpassen, daß dem etwas luftigen K nichts geschieht und
wird ansonsten möglichst Abtausch anstreben. Gelegentliche Angriffdrohungen
gegen den weißen K werden die Angelegenheit unterstützen.} f5 23. Rd3 $6 (23.
h6 {ist vielleicht noch ein Angriffsversuch.} f4 {leistet mehr als Königszüge}
(23... Kh8 $6 24. Rh5 (24. h7 f4 25. Ne6 Bxe6 26. dxe6 f3 27. Qe4 Ne5 28. Rh5
Bf6 $17 {Die schwarze Position um den König ist fest und man kann daran denken,
nach Verbesserung der Damenstellung, die Freibauern vorzuscheiben.}) 24... Bf6
25. Bxc4 {Der Läufer hat keine große Perspektive.} bxc4 (25... Qxc4 26. Qxc4
bxc4 27. Nxf5 $16) 26. c3 f4 27. Ne6 Bxe6 28. dxe6 f3 29. Qe4 $18 {mit stark
eingeschränktem Spiel für Schwarz, die Bauern g4,f3 und c4 sind sehr schwach.})
(23... Kh7 $2 24. Rh5 Bf6 (24... Rg8 25. Rxg5 Rxg5 26. Qxe7+ $18) 25. c3 $18 {
/\ 26.Bc2 Der weißfeldrige Läufer erwacht zum Leben und der Pf5 geht verloren.}
) 24. h7+ (24. Bxc4 Qxc4 25. h7+ Kh8 26. Qxc4 bxc4 $19 {Die Freibauern und das
Läuferpaar machen das Rennen.}) 24... Kh8 25. Ne6 Bxe6 26. dxe6 Ne3 27. Rdg1
Qc5 $17 {Schwarz steht gut, auch wenn die technische Realisierung des Vorteils
bestimmt noch mit taktischen Schwierigkeiten verbunden ist.}) (23. Ne6 $2 Bxe6
24. Bxc4 bxc4 (24... Qxc4 $2 25. Qxe6+ Kh8 26. Rhf1 $18 {Schwarz verliert den
Bauern f5 oder g4.}) 25. dxe6 Rf6 $19 {Weiß hat kein Spiel.}) (23. Bxc4 $2 Qxc4
24. Qxc4 bxc4 $19 {Weiß ist chancenlos.}) (23. Rhg1 $5 {Knaak; ist wohl noch
der beste Zug.} f4 24. Bxc4 bxc4 (24... Qxc4 $2 25. Rxg4 Bxg4 26. Qxg4 $18) 25.
Qe4 Kh8 (25... Rf6 $2 26. Qxe7 $18) 26. Ne6 Bxe6 27. dxe6 g3 28. Rd5 Bh6 {
und Weiß hat auch hier Mühe, Gegenspiel gegen die drohenden Freibauern zu
finden, z.B.} 29. Rf5 Rxf5 30. Qxf5 Qc5 31. Qxc5 dxc5 32. c3 Kg7 33. Kc2 Kf6
34. Kd1 Kg5 35. Ke2 Kg4 $19) 23... f4 24. Bxc4 Qxc4 {und hier gab Weiß auf.
Gute Güte!. Sicher hat Schwarz im mächtigen Freibauernpaar weit mehr als
Kompensation für die Qualität, aber ist es wirklich schon so schlimm?} (24...
Qxc4 25. Qg2 {verhindert f4-f3.} Kh8 (25... f3 $2 26. Nxf3 $18) (25... Bh6 $2 {
um mit folgenden Kh8 den Vorstoß des f-P vorzubereiten.} 26. Re1 Rf7 27. Qe4
Bg7 (27... Rg7 28. Rc3 Qb4 29. Rc7 $18 {wohin mit dem Bd7?}) 28. h6 Bxh6 29.
Rc3 Qa4 30. Rc7 b4 31. b3 $18 {gewinnt den Bd7}) 26. Re1 (26. Qe4 $2 Bf5 $19) (
26. b3 Qc5 27. Rg1 (27. Ne6 Bxe6 28. dxe6 g3 {und Weiß muß nicht nur auf die
Freibauern aufpassen, sondern auch auf Gefahren auf der langen Diagonalen
h8-a1 achten.} 29. Rf1 (29. Rd5 f3 $19) 29... Bh6 30. Rd5 Qc3) 27... Bf6 28.
Qe4 Be5 $19 {Weiß hat kein Gegenspiel gegen die schwarzen Freibauern.}) 26...
b4 $1 {verhindert die Möglichkeit Rc3 und läßt sich Zeit, den Vorteil in Ruhe
zu realisieren. Was soll Weiß jetzt machen?} (26... Bf5 $2 {verliert sofort}
27. Nxf5 Rxf5 28. Qxg4 Rxd5 29. Rxd5 Qxd5 30. Rg1 $18) (26... f3 $2 {führt zu
forciertem Remis} 27. Nxf3 Rxf3 28. Rxf3 gxf3 29. Qxg5 f2 30. Qh6+ Kg8 31. Qg5+
$10 {mit ewigem Schach.}) 27. Qe4 (27. Ne6 Bxe6 28. Rxe6 f3 29. Qf2 g3 30. Qxg3
f2 $19) 27... Bf5 $1 {einfach und klar.} 28. Nxf5 Qxe4 29. Rxe4 Rxf5 $19 {
und gegen das Vorrücken der Freibauern gibt es keinen Verteidigung mehr.}) 0-1

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Miladinovic, Igor"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hecht} Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. c3 h6 (3... b6 4. e4 h6 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. e5 Qe7
7. Qf3 Nc6 8. Qg3 Bb7 9. Nd2 O-O-O 10. f4 g5 11. fxg5 Qxg5 12. Qf2 Be7 13. Nh3
Qg7 14. Be2 f6 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Bf3 Rhf8 17. Qe2 h5 18. O-O-O h4 19. Kb1 Kb8
$17 {[%csl Gb7,Gd7,Ge6,Gf6] ^^[+],Qi,J-Karpov,A/Luzern tt WCh/1985/}) (3... Be7
4. Nd2 d5 5. Ngf3 (5. e3 Nbd7 6. f4 $5 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. Bxf6 Bxf6 9. Ngf3 g6
10. Ne5 a6 11. Qf3 Bg7 12. h4 Qe7 13. h5 c5 14. O-O-O O-O-O 15. Kb1 c4 16. Bc2
Kb8 17. e4 b5 18. exd5 Nxe5 19. fxe5 Bxd5 20. Be4 $16 {Bohm,H-Van Doorn,R/
NLD-chT9495/1995/}) 5... b6 6. e3 Bb7 7. Bb5+ c6 8. Bd3 Nbd7 9. O-O O-O 10. a4
c5 11. a5 c4 12. Bc2 b5 13. a6 Bc6 14. Ne5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Nd7 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17.
f4 f5 18. Nf3 Nc5 19. Nd4 Bd7 20. g4 $36 {Hort,V-Cramling,P/Biel/1984/}) 4. Bh4
(4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. Nd2 g6 6. e4 d6 7. Ngf3 Nd7 8. Bd3 Bg7 9. O-O Qe7 10. Nc4 e5
11. dxe5 dxe5 12. b4 O-O 13. Qc2 Rd8 14. a4 Nf8 15. a5 Bg4 16. Ne1 a6 17. Ne3
Be6 18. Nf3 Nh7 19. Rfd1 Ng5 20. Nxg5 Qxg5 21. c4 c6 22. c5 Rd4 23. Bc4 $10 {
1/2/Backwinkel,P-Goetz,R/BL 8889/1988/}) 4... b6 5. Nd2 Bb7 (5... Ba6 $5 6.
Ngf3 Be7 7. Qc2 d5 8. e4 Bxf1 9. Rxf1 Nbd7 10. O-O-O O-O 11. Rfe1 b5 12. Kb1 $2
Nxe4 13. Nxe4 Bxh4 14. Nxh4 Qxh4 15. g3 Qh3 16. Nd2 Nf6 17. f3 Rfe8 $17 {
Gonzalez Mateos,R-Garcia Palermo,C/Oviedo 25'/1993/}) 6. Ngf3 (6. e3 d6 7. f3
Be7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Ne2 c5 10. e4 cxd4 11. cxd4 e5 12. Bg3 exd4 13. Nxd4 Nh5 14.
Nf5 Nc6 15. Nc4 Nxg3 16. hxg3 Ne5 17. O-O Nxc4 18. Bxc4 d5 19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20.
Bxd5 Rad8 21. Qd4 Qg5 22. Rad1 Qxg3 23. Qf2 Qc7 24. Rc1 $10 {1/2/Ivanchuk,
V-Adams,M/Belgrade/1995/}) 6... d6 $5 7. Bxf6 (7. e3 Nbd7 $10 {[%cal Ye6e5,
Yg7g5,Yf6h5] /\e5,g5,Nh5}) 7... Qxf6 8. e4 Nd7 9. a4 a6 $10 10. Bd3 g6 11. a5
$6 (11. Qe2 Bg7 12. O-O O-O $10) 11... b5 12. c4 bxc4 13. Nxc4 Qe7 (13... Bg7
$5 14. e5 Qe7 $15) 14. O-O Bg7 15. Rc1 O-O $15 {[%csl Gb7,Gg7] ^^ Opening the
position for Black's Bishop pair was not a good idea, with his compact pawn
structure Black is already slightly better.} 16. Re1 Rfb8 17. Qc2 (17. b4 $6 d5
18. exd5 Bxd5 $17) 17... Ra7 $1 18. Qa4 Ba8 {[%cal Gb8b2] <->b} 19. Qa3 Qd8 20.
Bc2 Bf8 21. Qe3 Rab7 (21... d5 $5 $36) 22. h4 Rb4 23. b3 Bg7 24. Qd2 R4b5 25.
Na3 R5b7 26. Qd3 Ra7 27. Qe3 d5 $1 $36 {After thorough preparation Black opens
the position for his B-pair and his advantage grows.} (27... c5 $6 28. dxc5
Nxc5 29. Nc4 $13) 28. exd5 (28. e5 c5 $1 {[%csl Ra5,Rd4,Re5] ><a5,[+]}) 28...
Bxd5 29. Nc4 Rb5 30. Be4 Nf6 (30... Bxc4 $2 31. bxc4 Rxa5 32. d5 $36) 31. Bxd5
Nxd5 32. Qe4 Qf6 (32... Rxb3 $5 33. Nce5 Qf6 $17) 33. Nce5 Qf5 (33... Rxb3 $5 {
-32...Rxb3}) 34. Nc6 Qxe4 35. Rxe4 Ra8 36. Nd2 Kf8 37. Rc5 Ke8 $1 $17 {[%cal
Rb5c5,Re8d7] /\Rc5,Kd7 Black's advantage has now a different form-better pawn
structure and more active K. White will be unable to protect all his
weaknesses in the long run.} 38. Rxb5 (38. Rc2 Kd7 {[%cal Rd5b4] /\Nb4}) 38...
axb5 {[%csl Ra5] ><a5} 39. Re1 Bf8 (39... Kd7 40. Rc1 Ra6 $4 41. Nb8+ $18) 40.
Ne4 f6 (40... Ra6 41. Rc1 f5 $17) 41. g4 Ra6 42. Rc1 f5 43. gxf5 gxf5 44. Nd2
Nb4 $1 45. Nxb4 (45. Ne5 Bd6 46. Ra1 $6 Nc2 $19) 45... Bxb4 {Hecht: TS-TL:
starker L, aktiver sK, weiße B-Schwächen, Technik} 46. Nf3 Bxa5 47. Ra1 Ra7 48.
h5 (48. Kf1 Bb6 $19) 48... Kd7 $1 {[%csl Rd4][%cal Yd7d5] /\Kd6-d5,><d4} 49.
Kh2 Kd6 50. Rg1 c6 51. Rg6 Rh7 52. Kg3 Kd5 53. Kf4 Bc7+ $1 (53... Bb6 $6 54. b4
$132) 54. Ke3 Bb6 55. Kd3 (55. b4 e5 $1 $19) 55... c5 56. dxc5 Bxc5 57. Ke2 $8
Ra7 $1 $19 {[%csl Gd5,Ge6,Gf5] [+] Black's powerfully centralized pieces and
passed pawns will decide, the h-pawn is simply too slow.} 58. Rxh6 Ra2+ 59. Kd1
(59. Kd3 e5 $1 {[%cal Re5e4,Rb5b4] /\e4,b4#}) 59... Rxf2 60. Nh4 Rh2 61. Nf3 (
61. Ng6 e5 $19) 61... Rh1+ 62. Ke2 e5 63. Rh8 e4 64. Rd8+ Ke6 65. Ng5+ Kf6 66.
Nh7+ Ke5 (66... Ke7 $6 67. Rd5 $132) 67. Re8+ Kf4 $40 68. Nf6 $8 Rh2+ 69. Kd1
Bd4 70. Nd5+ (70. Nd5+ Kf3 {[%cal Rh2h5,Re4e2] /\Rh5,e3-e2-+}) 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1996.01.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "1996.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. d5 Ne7 (12... Nb8) 13. Nf1 (13. c4
Nd7 14. Bc2 c6 15. b3 Rc8 16. Nf1 Qc7 17. Ne3 $14 {Anand,V-Deshmukh,A/Calcutta/
1992}) 13... Ng6 14. N3h2 Nd7 {N} (14... Qd7 15. Ng4 Nxe4 $5 16. Rxe4 f5 17.
Re1 fxg4 {Rodriguez,Am-Arencibia,W/Capablanca mem-B/1994} 18. Qxg4 Qxg4 19.
hxg4 Ne7 20. Rd1 $14) 15. a3 Nc5 16. Ba2 Nf4 17. c4 c6 18. cxb5 cxb5 19. Bb1 a5
20. h4 g6 21. g3 Nh5 {The main theme of this game is the positioning of the
minor pieces. White constantly tries to push blacks minors away from the good
central squares.} 22. Ng4 Qe7 23. Bc2 Bc8 24. b3 Bd7 (24... f5 25. exf5 gxf5
26. Nxe5 Nxg3 27. Nxg3 dxe5 28. Qh5 $40) 25. Nh6+ Kh8 26. Qf3 f6 27. Bd2 Rec8
28. Rec1 Be8 29. Ng4 Bg7 30. Qe2 Qb7 31. Nge3 Bf8 32. Qe1 Qb6 33. b4 $14 axb4
34. axb4 Rxa1 35. Rxa1 Na4 36. Ra3 Bd7 37. Rb3 Be7 38. Bd3 Ng7 39. Nh2 Bd8 40.
Qe2 Qa6 41. Kg2 Nb6 42. Rc3 Rxc3 43. Bxc3 {White has a space advantage. And
blacks minor pieces are just defending.} Na4 44. Be1 Kg8 45. Nhg4 h5 $2 {
Now white gets someting to attack on the kingside. Its a long way back for Na4
to the defence.} 46. Nh2 Bb6 47. Nhf1 {Whites minor pieces looks a bit cramped.
But its just temporary. In fact they are quite mobile, with easy access to
both flanks.} Kf7 48. Nd1 Ba7 49. Nfe3 Qb6 50. f3 Qb7 51. Nc2 Ne8 52. Kh2 Qa6
53. Nce3 Bd4 54. f4 $1 $16 {Now the h5-P looks really weak.} Qb6 55. f5 Ng7 56.
fxg6+ Kxg6 57. Nf5 $1 Nxf5 58. exf5+ Bxf5 59. Bxf5+ Kxf5 60. Qc2+ $1 {A series
of Q-checks forces the black K into a mating net.} (60. Qxh5+ $2 Ke4 $13) 60...
e4 (60... Kg4 61. Qe4#) 61. Qc8+ Kg6 62. Qg8+ Kf5 (62... Kh6 63. Bd2+ e3 64.
Nxe3 Bxe3 65. Qh8+ Kg6 66. Qe8+ $18) 63. Qh7+ Ke5 64. Qxh5+ f5 65. Qf7 Be3 66.
Kg2 $1 {The K delivers the final blow by preparing Bf2 after an exchange on e3.
} f4 (66... Bc1 67. Bf2 e3 68. Nxe3 Bxe3 69. Qe6+ Kd4 70. Bxe3+ $18) 67. gxf4+
Bxf4 68. Nf2 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1996.01.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Huebner, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1996.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Fritz} c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Bd3
Nf6 8. O-O Bd6 (8... Ne5) 9. f4 $5 Bc5 (9... Nxd4 10. e5 $1 $44 Bc5 11. exf6
Nxc2 12. fxg7 Bxe3+ 13. Kh1 Rg8 14. Qxc2 Rxg7 15. Rae1 Bxf4 16. Rxf4 Qxf4 17.
Nd5 Qh4 18. Re4 $1 $18 {Azmayparashvili,Z-Kurajica,B/Strumica/1995/INF64,192/})
10. Nf5 (10. Be2 $6 Qb6 11. Na4 Bxd4 12. Nxb6 Bxe3+ 13. Kh1 Bxb6) 10... Ne7 $6
{Mit diesem Zug erzwingt Schwarz seinen Gegner eine Figur zu opfern.} (10...
Bxe3+ $5 11. Nxe3 d6 (11... Qb6 $6 12. Qd2) 12. Kh1 O-O 13. g4 $13 {Schmid,
L-Panno,O/Lugano olm/1968/INF06,472/}) (10... Qb6 $6 11. Nxg7+) 11. Nxg7+ Kf8
12. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 13. Kh1 Kxg7 14. e5 Ne8 15. Ne4 Qc7 16. Qh5 Ng6 17. Nf6 $5 $146
{[#] Mit dieser Neuerung will Weiss seinen Angriff beschleunigen.} (17. Rf3 d5
18. Ng5 $44 {Tseitlin,Ma-Faerman/Israel/1993/INF57,192/}) 17... Qd8 (17... Nxf6
$2 18. exf6+ Kxf6 (18... Kf8 19. Qh6+ Ke8 20. Bxg6 fxg6 21. Qg7) 19. f5 $40 {
>< f7}) (17... d6 $2 18. Qxh7+ Kf8 (18... Rxh7 19. Nxe8+ Kf8 20. Nxc7 $18) 19.
Nxe8 Kxe8 20. Qg7 $1 $18 {Droht /\ Bxg6}) (17... d5 18. Qxh7+ $1 (18. Bxg6 fxg6
$1 19. Qxh7+ Rxh7 20. Nxe8+ Kf8 21. Nxc7 Rxc7) 18... Rxh7 (18... Kf8 19. Nxe8
Kxe8 20. Qg7 {/\21.B:g7}) 19. Nxe8+ Kf8 20. Nxc7 Ra7 21. f5 $1) 18. f5 $1 exf5
19. Qxf5 d5 (19... d6 20. Nxe8+ Qxe8 (20... Rxe8 21. Qxf7+ Kh6 22. Rf6 Rg8 23.
exd6 $18) 21. Qf6+ Kg8 22. exd6 $18) (19... Nxf6 20. exf6+ Kg8) 20. Qg5 {
Weiss hat nur einen Bauern fuer den geopferten Bauern, aber seine Figuren,
besonders der f6-Springer, begrenzen sehr stark die schwarze Befreiung.} (20.
Nh5+ Kh6) 20... Be6 21. Rae1 $1 Qa5 $2 {Es nicht so leicht dem Nachziehenden
einen guten Rat zu geben, aber jetzt wird die schwarze Dame bei der
Verteidugung fehlen.} (21... Rc8 22. h4 h6 $5 23. Qg3 h5 24. Qg5 Bg4 $13) (
21... Rg8 $142 $1 {Fritz} 22. Qh5 (22. Bxg6 hxg6 23. Nh5+ Kh7 $19) 22... Nxf6
23. exf6+ Kh8 24. Rxe6 fxe6 25. f7 Rg7 26. Bxg6) 22. Nh5+ {Nun rollt der
schwarze Angriff unaufhaltsam voran.} Kf8 (22... Kg8 23. Qh6) 23. Bxg6 hxg6 24.
Nf4 $1 {>< e6,g6} Bf5 (24... Kg7 25. Nxe6+ fxe6 26. Qe7+ Kh6 27. Re3 $18) (
24... Kg8 25. Nxe6 fxe6 26. Qxg6+ Ng7 27. Qf7+ Kh7 28. Re3 $18) (24... Ng7 25.
Nxg6+ Kg8 26. Nxh8 Kxh8 27. Re3 $18) 25. e6 $1 {[#] Weiss will den wichtigsten
Verteidiger beseitigen --f7-Bauer--, dem schwarzen Koenig ist nicht mehr zu
helfen.} Qc7 (25... f6 26. Nxg6+ Bxg6 27. Qxg6 $18 (27. Rxf6+ $5)) 26. exf7
Kxf7 (26... Qxf7 27. Re7 $1 Qxe7 (27... Qf6 28. Nxg6+ $18) 28. Nxg6+ $18) 27.
g4 $1 {Ausgezeichnet gespielt. Weiss gewinnt die geopferten Figur mit gutem
Spiel zurueck.} Qxc2 (27... Qd8 28. Qxd8 Rxd8 29. gxf5 gxf5 30. Ne6 $18) (27...
Be4+ 28. Rxe4 $1 dxe4 29. Nd5+ $18) 28. Re2 Qc6 (28... Be4+ 29. Ng2+ $18) 29.
gxf5 d4+ 30. Kg1 d3 31. Qe7+ (31. Re7+ $1 Kg8 32. Nxg6 Qc5+ (32... Qf6 33.
Rxe8+ $18) 33. Rf2 Rxh2 (33... Rh7 34. Ne5+ Rg7 (34... Ng7 35. f6 $18) (34...
Kh8 35. Rxh7+ Kxh7 36. Qg6+ Kh8 37. Nf7#) 35. Rxg7+ Nxg7 36. f6 $18) 34. Ne5+
Kh8 (34... Kf8 35. Nd7#) 35. Nf7+ Kh7 36. Qg6#) 31... Kg8 32. Re6 Rh7 33. Nxg6
Rxe7 34. Nxe7+ Kf7 35. Nxc6 bxc6 36. Rd1 Rd8 37. Re3 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1996.01.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[Annotator "Bangiev,A"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1996.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 Nc6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Bg7 6. O-O e6 7. d3 Nge7 8. Qe1
h6 9. Bb3 Nd4 {Die am meisten gespielte Fortsetzung.} 10. Nxd4 cxd4 11. Ne2 O-O
12. Kh1 {Plan:Ne2-g1-f3} (12. Bd2 Bd7 13. Kh1 Rc8 14. Ng1 Kh7 15. Nf3 f5 16. e5
dxe5 17. Nxe5 Nd5 18. Rf2 Be8 19. Re2 Bf6 20. Qf2 b5 21. Qxd4 g5 22. Qxa7+ Rf7
23. Qf2 Rg7 24. Qf3 Nxf4 25. Bxf4 gxf4 26. Bxe6 Qd6 27. Qd5 Qc7 28. d4 f3 29.
Nxf3 Bc6 30. Qxf5+ Kh8 31. d5 Be7 32. Qe5 {1-0 Reinderman,D-Forster,R/EU-chJ
Sas van Gent (05) 1992}) (12. Qf2 Nc6 13. Bd2 Kh7 14. c3 Qb6 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 16.
Be3 Qa6 17. Bxd4 Qxd3 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Rad1 Qxe4 20. Rxd6 b6 21. Re1 Qf5 22.
Re5 Qf6 23. Qd2 Rb8 24. Re1 Rb7 25. Bc2 Rc7 26. Be4 Bb7 27. a4 Rfc8 28. g3 {
1/2-1/2 Giorgadze,G-Novikov,I/Manila olm 1992}) 12... f5 13. Ng1 Kh8 14. Nf3
Bd7 15. Bd2 Rc8 16. Qg3 $5 (16. Bb4 $6 fxe4 17. dxe4 Bb5) 16... fxe4 (16... b5
$6 17. Bb4 $5) (16... a5 $6 17. a4 {[%csl Yb5]}) 17. dxe4 d5 (17... Bb5 18. Rf2
$5 (18. Bxe6 $6 Bxf1 19. Bxc8 Qxc8 20. Rxf1 Qxc2 $132) 18... Bc4 19. Rd1 (19.
Nh4 $5 Bxb3 20. Qxb3 Kh7 21. Qd3 {22./\f5}) 19... Bxb3 20. cxb3 Rc2 21. Be1 $5
$14 {[%csl Rd4]}) (17... Kh7 18. Qh3 $5 e5 19. Ng5+ (19. Be6 $2 Bxe6 20. Qxe6
Rxc2) (19. f5 gxf5 20. Ng5+ Kg6 $5) 19... Kh8 20. Ne6 (20. f5 gxf5 21. Nf7+
Rxf7 22. Bxf7 f4 $13) 20... Bxe6 21. Qxe6 $16) 18. exd5 (18. e5 $6 Qb6 (18...
Nf5 $5 19. Qxg6 Rg8 (19... Rc6 20. Qg4) 20. Qh5 Be8 21. Qh3) 19. Rad1 Kh7 20.
Be1 Nf5 21. Qf2 Bb5 $13) 18... exd5 19. Nh4 {Weiß steht klar besser und
verfügt über eine Vielzahl von Möglichkeiten.} (19. Qf2 $5 Nf5 (19... Bf5 $2
20. Nxd4) (19... Bb5 20. Rfe1 Bc4 21. Nxd4 Qb6 22. Rxe7 (22. c3 Nf5 $14) 22...
Bxd4 23. Qh4 Bg7 24. f5 $16) 20. Rfe1 $14 (20. Ne5)) (19. Ne5 $5 Bf5 20. Rae1 (
20. Nd3 Be4) (20. Bb4 Bxe5 21. fxe5 Kh7) 20... Kh7 (20... Bxc2 21. Bxc2 Rxc2
22. Bb4 Bxe5 23. Rxe5 $16) 21. Bb4 $36) 19... Rf6 20. Nf3 Nf5 21. Qf2 Bb5 22.
Rfe1 Bc4 23. Nxd4 Qb6 24. c3 Nxd4 25. Be3 Rf7 26. Bxc4 dxc4 27. Rad1 Re8 (27...
Rcf8 28. Rxd4 $5 $16) 28. Bxd4 (28. Rxd4 $6 Rfe7 $1 $17 (28... Rxe3 29. Rxe3
Bxd4 30. Re8+ Kh7 31. cxd4 $14)) 28... Rxe1+ 29. Qxe1 Bxd4 30. Rxd4 $16 Qxb2
31. h3 Qb5 (31... Qxa2 $2 32. Qe8+ Kg7 33. Rd8 $18) 32. Qe6 Kg7 33. Rxc4 h5 (
33... Qb1+ 34. Kh2 Qxa2 $2 35. f5 $1 $16 gxf5 $8 36. Rg4+ fxg4 37. Qxa2) 34. a4
Qb1+ 35. Kh2 Qc1 36. Qe5+ Kh7 37. Qd5 Re7 38. Qd4 Rf7 (38... h4 $2 39. Rc8 $18)
39. Qxa7 (39. Rc8 $2 Qxf4+) 39... Qe1 {/\40...h4} (39... Rxf4 $2 40. Qxb7+ Kh6
41. Rc7 $18) 40. Qg1 $1 Qe2 41. Qd4 Qf1 42. Rb4 Re7 43. Qf6 Rg7 44. Re4 Qf2 {
/\40...h4} 45. Qd4 Qc2 46. Re5 $18 Qa2 47. Qe4 {[%csl Rh5] /\48.Rxh5} Kh6 48.
Re8 {[%csl Rh8]} Kh7 (48... Qf2 49. Qe5 h4 50. Rh8+ Rh7 51. Qg5+ Kg7 52. Qe7+
$1 Kxh8 53. Qf8#) 49. Rf8 {/\50.f5} Rf7 50. Rb8 {[%csl Rb7]} 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1996.01.27"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B86"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1996.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 Nbd7 8. f4
Nc5 9. e5 dxe5 10. fxe5 Nfd7 11. Bf4 b5 12. Qe2 (12. Qg4 Qb6 $5 (12... Nb6 $6
13. O-O-O $1 Bd7 14. Rhf1 h5 $6 15. Qf3 Rc8 16. Kb1 Nc4 17. Bxc4 bxc4 18. Bg5
$1 {Zapolskis,A-Tataev,M/Stare Mesto/1992/1-0 (18)}) (12... Nf6 $1 13. exf6
Qxd4 $13) (12... h5 $1 13. Qg3 h4 14. Qg4 g5 15. O-O-O $1 $8 Qe7 $2 (15... Rh6
$1 16. Qxg5 (16. Bxg5 Rg6 $17) 16... Qxg5 17. Bxg5 Rh5 18. Bf4 Bb7 $17 {
><g2, e5}) 16. Nc6 $3 Nxb3+ 17. axb3 Qc5 18. Ne4 Qxc6 19. Bxg5 {1/2-1/2 Short,
N-Kasparov,G/London (m8)/1993/ (41)}) 13. O-O-O Bb7 14. Rhf1 g6 15. h4 h5 16.
Qg3 Bg7 17. Kb1 Nxb3 18. Nxb3 Qc7 19. Rd6 O-O 20. Rfd1 Nc5 21. Be3 Nxb3 22.
axb3 Bc6 $15 {Zontakh,A-Piza,V/Hlohovec/1994/}) (12. Qh5 g6 13. Qe2 Bb7 14.
O-O-O Bg7 15. h4 h5 16. Qe3 b4 17. Na4 Qa5 18. Nxc5 Nxc5 19. Bc4 Bxg2 20. Rhg1
Bb7 21. Nxe6 Nxe6 22. Bxe6 fxe6 23. Rxg6 Qxa2 24. Rd6 {1-0 Laesson,T-Zhu Chen/
Moscow olw (11)/1994/ (30)}) 12... Bb7 13. O-O-O (13. O-O b4 14. Na4 Nxb3 15.
axb3 Nc5 16. Rad1 Nxa4 17. bxa4 Bc5 18. Be3 $2 {Zapolskis,A-Slekys,E/
Mariampole/1992/} (18. Kh1 $1 $13) 18... Qc7 $1 $15 {Zapolskis,A-Slekys,E/
Mariampole/1992/}) 13... Qb6 (13... Qa5 14. Rhf1 (14. Rhe1 Rc8 15. Qg4 b4 16.
Na4 Nxa4 17. Nxe6 Nac5 18. Nxg7+ Bxg7 19. Qxg7 Nxb3+ 20. Kb1 Nd4 21. e6 Bd5 22.
Qxf7+ {1-0 Morawietz,D-Ottens,S/NRW-II 9192/1992}) 14... Be7 {N} (14... Nxb3+
15. Nxb3 Qc7 16. Nd4 Nc5 17. a3 Be7 18. Qg4 O-O 19. Rde1 Rfd8 20. Bh6 Bf8 21.
Bg5 Rd7 22. Re3 $13 {Motwani,P-Pigott,J/BCF-ch/1989/0-1 (40)}) 15. Qg4 g6 16.
Bh6 $1 (16. Bg3 Qb6 17. h4 h5 18. Qe2 Rh7 19. Nf3 $6 (19. Rf2 $5 O-O-O 20. Qf1
$36) 19... O-O-O 20. Kb1 Qc6 $1 21. Rd4 Nb6 $1 {0-1 Zadrima,A-Ftacnik,L/Moscow
olm/1994/ (39)}) 16... Nxe5 (16... b4 $5) 17. Qf4 b4 18. Nd5 (18. Ncb5 $5 Ned3+
(18... f6 19. Nd6+ $1 Bxd6 20. Qxf6 Rg8 21. Bxe6 Be7 22. Qf7+ Nxf7 23. Bxf7+
Kd7 24. Nb3+ $16) 19. cxd3 Nxb3+ 20. Nxb3 Qxb5 21. Qxf7+ Kd7 22. d4 $40) 18...
Bxd5 19. Qxe5 f6 20. Bxd5 $5 (20. Qe3 Nxb3+ 21. Nxb3 Bxb3 $1 22. Qxb3 Kf7 23.
Rfe1 Qb6 $17) 20... fxe5 21. Bc6+ (21. Nxe6 $5 Kd7 $3 22. Nxc5+ Qxc5 23. Bxa8+
Ke8 $17) 21... Nd7 22. Nxe6 Ra7 23. Be3 {1/2-1/2 Vavra,P-Ftacnik,L/Cesko/1995/
(46)}) (13... b4 14. Na4 Nxb3+ 15. axb3 Qc7 16. Rhf1 Nc5 (16... g6 17. Bg5 Bd5
18. Qf2 Nxe5 19. Qf6 Rg8 20. Bf4 Bd6 21. Kb1 g5 22. Nf5 gxf4 23. Rxd5 exd5 {
1-0 Kobalija,M-Verner,A/Moscow-ch op (03)/1995/}) 17. Nf5 (17. Kb1 Nxa4 18.
bxa4 Bc5 19. Qg4 O-O-O 20. Bg3 g6 21. Bh4 Rd5 22. Bf6 Re8 23. Nb3 Bf8 24. g3 {
Riegler,P-Osterman,R/SLO-ch/1992/0-1 (35)}) 17... exf5 18. e6 Nxb3+ 19. Kb1 Qc6
20. Nb6 Qxe6 21. Rfe1 Nc5 22. Nxa8 $16 {Emms,J-Petrosian,A/London Lloyds (08)/
1991/1-0 (65)}) 14. Kb1 {Black struggles to avoid various sacrifices from the
attacker, but he will have to castle long. In such case f7P remains palpably
weak.} (14. Rhe1 Be7 15. Qg4 g5 16. Bg3 h5 17. Qe2 O-O-O 18. a3 h4 19. Bf2 Qc7
20. Ba2 Nb6 21. Ndxb5 axb5 22. Nxb5 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Ba6 24. b4 Bxb5 25. Qxb5
Nca4 26. Bb3 {1-0 Macieja,B-Kaminski,M/POL-chT Lubniewice (07)/1994/ (46)}) (
14. Rhf1 Be7 15. Qg4 g5 16. Bxg5 Rg8 17. h4 Nxe5 18. Qf4 Bd6 19. Qd2 Rc8 20.
Nf5 Bf8 21. Kb1 b4 22. Na4 {Oral,T-Tkebuchava,S/Ml.Boleslav op (1)/1994/1-0 
(42)}) 14... Be7 15. h4 $1 O-O-O $5 16. a3 $1 (16. Rhf1 b4 17. Na4 Nxa4 18.
Bxa4 Nc5 19. Bb3 Rxd4 20. Rxd4 Nxb3 21. Rc4+ Nc5 $13) 16... Nb8 (16... Nxb3 17.
Nxb3 Nc5 18. Bg5 $14) 17. Be3 Nc6 18. Ba2 Nxd4 19. Bxd4 Qc6 20. Rhf1 Rhf8 (
20... Qxg2 $2 21. Qxg2 Bxg2 22. Rxf7 $18) 21. g3 Kb8 22. Rf4 f5 $6 {Anand was
seriously criticized for this decision, even though it should have solved the
biggest headache with f7P. The tactics works against the defender.} (22... g5
$1 23. hxg5 Bxg5 24. Rff1 $14) 23. exf6 gxf6 24. b4 $1 e5 (24... Nd7 25. Qxe6
$16) 25. bxc5 Rxd4 $2 (25... exf4 $1 26. Qxe7 fxg3 27. Bd5 Qc7 28. Bxf6 Rde8
29. Qxc7+ Kxc7 30. Bg7 $14) 26. Rfxd4 exd4 27. Qxe7 Re8 28. Qf7 (28. Qf7 dxc3
29. Bd5 Rd8 30. Bxc6 Rxd1+ 31. Ka2 Bxc6 32. Qf8+ Kb7 33. Kb3 $18) 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B86"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Hecht Topalov} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6
7. Bb3 Nbd7 8. f4 Nc5 9. O-O (9. f5 Be7 10. fxe6 fxe6 11. O-O Nxb3 12. axb3 O-O
13. Be3 Bd7 14. Kh1 Qc7 15. Qd3 $6 Ng4 $1 $15 {Akopian,V-Ivanchuk,V/Erevan/
1989/}) (9. Qf3 b5 10. f5 Bd7 11. fxe6 fxe6 12. Be3 Qc8 13. a3 Be7 14. Ba2 O-O
$6 15. Nf5 Rf7 16. Nxe7+ Rxe7 17. e5 $16 {1-0 Macieja,B-Dao Thien Hai/Budapest
FS02 GM (11) ;EXP 51 1996 (35)}) 9... Ncxe4 (9... Be7 10. e5 $5 (10. Be3 Qc7
11. e5 dxe5 12. fxe5 Qxe5 13. Nf5 Ng4 14. Nd6+ Qxd6 15. Qxg4 O-O 16. Bh6 Qe5
17. Rae1 f5 $17 {0-1 Velimirovic,D-Peng Zhaoqin/Pozarevac (04) ;EXP 49 1995 
(36)}) 10... dxe5 11. fxe5 Nxb3 12. axb3 Bc5 13. Be3 Nd5 14. Bf2 $5 Nxc3 15.
bxc3 Qc7 $10 {Arakhamia,K-Ftacnik,L/Sydney Mercantile (7) 1991/0-1 (44)}) (9...
Be7) 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. f5 e5 12. Qh5 (12. Ne6 $6) 12... Qe7 $6 (12... d5 $3
$146 13. Re1 Bc5 (13... exd4 $4 14. Rxe4+ Be7 15. f6 $1 gxf6 16. Bxd5 Rf8 17.
Bh6 $18) 14. Rxe4 Bxd4+ (14... O-O $5 15. Rg4 (15. Rh4 Bxf5 $1 $19) 15... Bxd4+
16. Kh1 Kh8 $17) 15. Be3 (15. Rxd4 $5 Qb6 (15... exd4 $2 16. Bg5 Qa5 $8 (16...
Qd7 17. Re1+ Kf8 18. f6 $18) 17. Qe2+ Kd7 18. Qe7+ Kc6 19. Qxf7 $16) 16. c3
exd4 (16... O-O 17. Be3 exd4 18. Bxd4 $44) 17. Qe2+ Kf8 18. Qf2 Qf6 19. cxd4
Qxf5 $17) 15... O-O 16. Rxd4 exd4 17. Bxd4 f6 18. Bc5 $2 (18. Qf3 $1 $44) 18...
Re8 $15 {0-1 Topalov,V-Short,N/Amsterdam VSB (03)/1996/ (46) ;CBM 52}) 13. Qf3
Nc5 (13... exd4 14. Re1 $16) 14. Nc6 (14. f6 $2 gxf6 15. Nc6 Qc7 16. Qxf6 Nxb3
17. axb3 (17. Qxh8 Nxc1 $1) 17... Rg8 18. Nd8 Bh3 $19) (14. Ne2 $5 {/\
Ne2-c3-d5}) 14... Qc7 15. Bd5 (15. Nb4 $6 Nxb3 16. Qxb3 b5 $1 17. Nd5 Qc6 18.
f6 Bb7 $1 $17) 15... a5 $6 (15... Bd7 16. Nb4 Be7 $1 (16... Qb6 $2 17. Bxf7+ $3
Kxf7 18. Nd5 Qc6 19. Qh5+ Kg8 20. f6 $18) 17. Bc4 (17. Bxf7+ $2 Kxf7 18. Nd5 (
18. Qh5+ Kg8 19. f6 Bxf6 20. Rxf6 gxf6 21. Nd5 Qd8 $19) 18... Qd8 19. Qh5+ Kg8
$19) 17... Bc6 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. Bxd5 $44) 16. Bg5 $1 (16. Be3 Ra6 17. Nd4 exd4
18. Bxd4 $13 {Spanish TV-Kasparov 1990}) 16... Ra6 $2 (16... Bd7 17. Ne7 $3 {
Topalov} (17. Nd4 $2 {Topalov} f6 18. Qh5+ Kd8 19. Ne6+ Nxe6 $1 20. fxe6 Qc5+
$19) (17. f6 $6 {Topalov} g6 18. Ne7 Ne6 $1 $13) 17... f6 (17... Bxe7 $2 18.
Bxe7 Qb6 (18... Kxe7 19. f6+ Kd8 20. fxg7 Re8 21. Bxf7 $18) 19. f6 g6 20. Kh1
$16) 18. Qh5+ Kxe7 (18... Kd8 19. Ng6 Be8 20. Be3 $16) 19. Bxf6+ $1 gxf6 (19...
Kxf6 20. Qh4+ g5 21. fxg6+ Kg7 22. Rf7+ $18) 20. Qf7+ Kd8 21. Qxf6+ Kc8 22.
Qxh8 Qd8 23. f6 $16 (23. f6 Bh6 24. Qxh7 Be3+ 25. Kh1 $16)) 17. Nd8 $3 $18 f6
$8 18. Nf7 Rg8 19. Be3 g6 20. Ng5 $1 (20. Nxe5 $2 dxe5 21. Bxg8 Bxf5 $132)
20... Rg7 (20... fxg5 21. f6 $1 Rh8 22. f7+ Kd8 23. Bxg5+ Be7 24. f8=R+ Rxf8
25. Qxf8+ Kd7 26. Qxe7#) 21. fxg6 Rxg6 $1 (21... hxg6 22. Qxf6 Qe7 23. Bf7+ (
23. Qf2 $18 {Topalov}) 23... Kd8 24. Bc4 Qxf6 25. Rxf6 Ke7 (25... Be7 26. Rf7
$18) 26. Raf1 Bf5 27. Rxf8 Kxf8 28. Bxa6 Nxa6 29. g4 $18) 22. Bf7+ Qxf7 23.
Nxf7 Kxf7 24. Bxc5 dxc5 25. Rad1 Be7 26. Rd5 Bg4 (26... Re6 27. Qe4 b6 28. Rxe5
Bb7 29. Rxe6 Bxe4 30. Rxe4 $18) 27. Qe4 (27. Qb3 {Topalov} Be6 28. Qxb7 Bxd5
29. Qxd5+ Re6 30. Qa8 $18) 27... Kg7 28. Rfd1 $2 (28. Rf2 {/\ Rfd2 + Rd7 ist
das bessere Feld eine Qualität zurück zu opfern.}) 28... Bxd1 29. Rxd1 Re6 $1
$16 30. Qf5 (30. Qxb7 $2 e4 31. Rd7 Kf7 $13 {[%cal Ge4e1]}) 30... Kf7 31. Re1
b6 (31... b5 $5 32. c4 bxc4 33. a4 $16) (31... b5 $1 $16 {Topalov /\ 32...c4;
33...a4}) (31... Rd6 $2 {Topalov} 32. Rxe5) 32. h4 $6 (32. c4 $142 $1 {War
jetzt oder in den nächsten beiden Zügen stärker.}) (32. a4 $142 $1) 32... Rg7 (
32... b5 $142 $1 {Topalov}) 33. Kf1 (33. a4 $142 $1 {Topalov}) 33... Bd6 (33...
b5 $1) (33... Bf8) 34. Kf2 Bc7 $2 {Hier steht der B passiv, noch immer war b5
stärker.} 35. Kf3 Ke7 36. Re4 Kf7 37. Rg4 $1 $18 Re7 38. Ke4 Rxg4+ 39. Qxg4 {
Hecht: D-TL: 1 schwarzer Mehrbauer, passive schwarze Figuren, Bauern auf
L-Farbe festgelegt, schwache weiße Felder, schlechte Koordination von T und L,
Technik} Bd8 40. a4 {Endlich wird der Q-Flügel festgelegt.} (40. Qf5 Kg7 41. h5
{/\ 42.h6+ +-}) 40... Kf8 41. c3 Rg7 42. Qc8 Ke8 43. Qe6+ Kf8 44. g4 Rf7 45. h5
Rg7 46. h6 $6 (46. b3 Rf7 {nachdem der R die g-Linie verlassen hat} 47. h6 $1
$18 (47. h6 {Topalov} Ra7 48. Qd5 $1 $18)) 46... Rg6 47. Qd5 Be7 48. Kf5 Rxh6
49. Qb7 e4 (49... Bd8 50. Ke6 (50. Qd7 Be7 51. Qc8+ Kf7 52. Qb7) 50... f5+ 51.
Kxf5 Rf6+ 52. Kxe5 h6 53. Qc8 Ke8 54. Qxd8+ Kxd8 55. Kxf6 $18) 50. Qb8+ Kf7 51.
Qxb6 e3 52. Qe6+ Ke8 53. Qxe3 {Nach dem Verlust des b-P hätte Schwarz getrost
aufgeben können.} Rg6 54. Qe4 Rg5+ 55. Kf4 Kd7 56. Qb7+ (56. Qxh7 {Topalov} c4
$1 {/\ 57...Rc5}) 56... Ke6 57. Qc8+ Kf7 58. Qc7 h5 59. gxh5 Rxh5 60. Qxa5 Bd6+
61. Ke4 (61. Kf3 {Topalov} Rh3+ 62. Ke4 $4 Ke6 {/\ 63...f5#}) 61... f5+ (61...
Re5+ {Topalov} 62. Kf3 Rf5+ 63. Ke3 Re5+ 64. Kd2 $18) 62. Kd5 Be7 63. Qc7 Rh6
64. a5 Rd6+ 65. Ke5 Rf6 66. Qc8 (66. Qc8 f4 67. a6 f3 68. a7 f2 69. a8=Q Bd6+
70. Kd5 f1=Q 71. Qg8+ Ke7 72. Qae8#) 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Topalov} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. f4 (
7. Be3 Qc7 8. f4 b5 9. a3 Bb7 10. Bf3 Nbd7 11. Nb3 Rc8 12. Qe2 Be7 13. Qf2 O-O
14. O-O Rfe8 15. Rad1 Bf8 $10 {Gunnarsson,J-Tisdall,J/Reykjavik op (01) ;CBM
52_06 1996/0-1 (43)}) 7... Be7 8. Be3 Qc7 9. Bf3 (9. g4 d5 $5 10. exd5 (10. e5
Ne4 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. h4 Nd7 13. c4 b6 14. Qc2 Bb7 15. O-O-O Nc5 16. Kb1 O-O-O
17. g5 Nd3 18. Rhf1 Bc5 19. Bxd3 Bxd4 20. Bxd4 Rxd4 {1/2-1/2 Bologan,V-Novikov,
I/St.Petersburg op (09) ;EXP 46 1995}) 10... Bb4 11. dxe6 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qxc3+
13. Kf2 fxe6 14. Qd3 Qc7 15. Bf3 O-O $132 {1/2-1/2 Yemelin,V-Novikov,I/
Novgorod op (08) ;EXP 49 1995 (16)}) (9. O-O O-O 10. a4 b6 11. Bf3 Bb7 12. f5
$6 (12. g4 d5 13. e5 Ne4 $13) 12... e5 13. Nde2 Nbd7 $10 {Lutz,C-Gelfand,B/Cap
d'Agde (01) ;EXP 43 1994/0-1 (61)}) 9... Nc6 10. Qe2 Nxd4 $1 $146 (10... Bd7
11. O-O-O O-O 12. g4 Nxd4 13. Rxd4 Bc6 14. Rg1 b5 15. g5 Nd7 16. f5 $40 {
1-0 Navarro,R-Fougy,F/Novi Sad olm (04) MEX-HAI 1990 (30)}) (10... O-O 11.
O-O-O Nxd4 12. Rxd4 e5 13. fxe5 dxe5 14. Rc4 Qd8 15. Rd1 Bd7 16. Bc5 b5 17.
Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Rc7 Rfc8 19. Rxc8+ Rxc8 $10 {1/2-1/2 Gipslis,A-Arnason,J/Jurmala
1987 (39)}) 11. Bxd4 e5 12. Be3 b5 13. O-O-O (13. O-O Bb7 $10) (13. a3 Rb8 {
/\ 14...b4}) 13... O-O 14. g4 $6 (14. fxe5 dxe5 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Bd6 17.
g4 $132) (14. f5 b4 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. Rxd5 a5 $10 (16... a5 {Topalov} 17. Kb1
Ba6 18. Qf2 Bc4 19. Rhd1 Bxd5 20. Rxd5 $44)) 14... b4 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5
exf4 17. Bxf4 a5 $15 18. Rhe1 $6 (18. g5 Bf5 (18... Re8 {Topalov /\ 19...Bf5}
19. Bg4 $1 $13) 19. Be4 Bxe4 20. Qxe4 Rfe8 $15) 18... Bh4 $1 19. Rg1 $6 (19.
Bg3 Bxg3 (19... Bg5+ 20. Kb1 Ba6 21. Qe4 $10) 20. hxg3 a4 $15) 19... a4 $1 20.
Qd2 (20. g5 b3 21. a3 bxc2 22. Rd4 (22. Qxc2 Qxc2+ 23. Kxc2 Bf5+ 24. Kd2 Rfb8
$19) 22... Ba6 23. Qd2 Rfe8 24. Be3 Qb6 $17) 20... Rb8 (20... b3 21. a3 $15)
21. Kb1 Re8 22. Rg2 Bd7 23. Re2 a3 24. Rxe8+ Bxe8 25. g5 $6 (25. b3 Bf6 $17 {
[%cal Rf6a1]}) 25... f6 {/\ Be8-g6} (25... axb2 {Topalov} 26. Qd4 f6 27. Bxd6
Qxd6 28. Qxh4 $13) 26. Be4 (26. Bg4 Bg6 27. Be6+ Kh8 28. b3 Bxg5 (28... fxg5
29. Be3 Rf8 30. Rc1 $15) 29. Bxg5 fxg5 30. Rf1 h6 $17) 26... axb2 27. Qd3 g6
28. Qa6 (28. Qh3 Ra8 (28... Qc4 $19 {Topalov}) 29. Qxh4 Qc4 30. Kxb2 Rxa2+ 31.
Kb1 b3 $1 $19) 28... Rb6 29. Qa8 Rb8 30. Qa6 Rd8 31. Rd4 f5 $19 {[%cal Gf5f1]}
32. Bd3 Qe7 33. Bd2 (33. Kxb2 Be1 $19) 33... Be1 $1 34. Be2 Bxd2 35. Rxd2 Qxg5
36. Rd1 Qe3 37. Bc4 f4 38. Bb3 f3 (38... g5 $142 {Topalov /\ 39...Bg6}) 39. Qd3
Qe2 40. Bc4 Qxd3 41. Rxd3 Rc8 42. Ba6 Rc3 43. Kxb2 Bd7 44. Rd4 (44. Rxc3 bxc3+
45. Kxc3 Bh3 46. Kd2 f2 $19) 44... Bf5 45. Rxb4 (45. Bd3 Bxd3 46. cxd3 Rc8 47.
Rf4 Rf8 $19) 45... Rxc2+ 46. Kb3 Rxh2 47. Rf4 f2 48. a4 Bh3 (48... Bc2+ {
Topalov} 49. Kc3 g5 50. Rg4) 49. a5 g5 50. Rf3 g4 (50... Kg7 {Topalov} 51. Bc4
g4 52. a6 gxf3 53. a7 $18) 51. Rf5 g3 (51... g3 52. Rg5+ Kh8 53. Rxg3 f1=Q 54.
Bxf1 Bxf1 $19) 0-1

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.27"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Timman, Jan H"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Knaak Kortschnoj Ftacnik Blatny,P} c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5.
Be2 Nd7 6. O-O h6 {[%cal Yf5h7] If white plays Nf3-h4 black now has the
possibility Bf5-h7} (6... Ne7 {Kortschnoj} 7. Nh4 $5) (6... c5 {Kortschnoj}) 7.
b3 {[%csl Gc4] After 8.c4 dxc4 white wants to be able to take back with the
b-pawn.} (7. Nbd2 {Blatny,P} Ne7 8. Re1 Ng6 9. Nf1 Nh4 10. N3d2 Bh7 11. c3 Be7
12. Ng3 O-O 13. Ndf1 Kh8 14. Nh5 {Renet,O-Grotnes,N/Gausdal Troll/1992/}) (7.
c3 {Blatny,P} Qc7 8. a4 g5 9. Na3 f6 10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 O-O-O 12. exf6 Ngxf6
13. Re1 {Anand,V-Timman,J/Paris Immopar/1991}) (7. c3 {Kortschnoj}) (7. Be3 $5
{Kortschnoj}) 7... Ne7 8. c4 (8. Ba3 {Blatny,P} g5 9. c3 Ng6 10. Bxf8 Rxf8 11.
Bd3 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 g4 13. Ne1 Qg5 {Benjamin,J-Hort,V/Manila ol/1992}) 8... Ng6 (
8... g5 $5 {Blatny,P} 9. Nc3 Bh7 10. Ne1 Ng6 $13 {Shirov-Brunner/Biel/1995/} (
10... Ng6 {Ftacnik} 11. Nd3 $6 (11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Nd3 Rc8 13. Bb2 f5 $13) 11...
dxc4 12. bxc4 c5 $1 $17 {1-0 Shirov,A-Brunner,L/Biel/1995 (45)})) (8... Nc8 9.
Nc3 Be7 10. Be3 a6 11. c5 {Tseitlin-Luce/Paris op/1995/} (11. c5 {Ftacnik} a5
12. a3 b5 13. Ne1 O-O 14. f4 f6 15. g4 Bh7 16. Nf3 fxe5 17. fxe5 Rf7 18. Qd2
Nf8 19. Rf2 Be4 20. Raf1 Bxf3 21. Rxf3 Rxf3 22. Rxf3 Bg5 23. Bd3 Bxe3+ 24. Qxe3
Ne7 {1-0 Tseitlin,MD-Luce,S/Paris op/1995/ (48)})) 9. Na3 {[%cal Ya3c2,Yc2e3,
Ye3f5] In the lines where blacks doesn't play 6. - h6 white irritates Bf5 with
Nf3-h4. Now the idea is to irritate Bf5 by Na3-c2-e3.} (9. h3 {Blatny,P} dxc4 (
9... h5 {Ftacnik} 10. Be3 Be7 11. a3 dxc4 12. bxc4 c5 13. Nc3 O-O 14. d5 Ndxe5
15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. f4 Nd7 17. Bxh5 Nb6 18. Qf3 Nxc4 19. Rad1 Nxe3 20. Qxe3 Bf6
21. Bxf7+ Rxf7 22. dxe6 Bd4 23. exf7+ Kxf7 24. Rxd4 Qxd4 25. Qxd4 cxd4 {
1/2-1/2 Tkachiev,V-Adams,Mi/Wijk/1995/ (29)}) 10. bxc4 c5 11. Nc3 cxd4 12. Nxd4
Ngxe5 13. Nxf5 exf5 14. Nb5 $40 {Kaminski-Sapis/Poland/1995/} (14. Nb5 Bc5 15.
Nd6+ Bxd6 16. Qxd6 Qe7 17. Qxe7+ Kxe7 18. Ba3+ Kd8 19. Rad1 {1-0 Kaminski,
M-Sapis,W/POL-chT Lubniewice (06)/1995/ (56)})) (9. Be3 {Ftacnik} Bb4 10. a3
Be7 11. Nc3 Nh4 12. Nxh4 Bxh4 13. g4 Bh7 14. f4 f6 15. f5 exf5 16. e6 Nb6 17.
gxf5 Bg5 18. Qd3 O-O 19. Bf2 Bf4 20. Bg3 Bxg3 21. hxg3 {1-0 Savon,V-Guliev,S/
Orel/1992/ (35)}) 9... Nf4 (9... Be7 {Kortschnoj} 10. Ne1 $1 $16 (10. Nc2 O-O
11. Ne3 $14)) 10. Bxf4 Bxa3 {[%cal Ra3b2]} 11. Bd3 Bg4 (11... Bxd3 12. Qxd3 Qe7
(12... Be7 $14 {Kortschnoj}) 13. c5 Bb4 14. a3 Ba5 15. b4 Bd8 16. b5 Nb8 17.
Rab1 O-O 18. Rb3 $16 {() Xie Jun-Hort,V/Prague/1995}) 12. Rb1 {[%csl Ra3][%cal
Yb3b4,Yb1b3] /\b3-b4, Tb1-b3 ץa3} Be7 (12... c5 {Blatny,P} 13. h3 Bxf3 14.
Qxf3 $14 (14. Qxf3 cxd4 15. cxd5 $16)) 13. h3 Bh5 (13... Bxf3 {Ftacnik} 14.
Qxf3 Qa5 $14) 14. Qe2 {()} (14. g4 {Blatny,P} Bg6 15. Bxg6 fxg6 {<->f}) 14...
O-O 15. Qe3 a5 $4 {Blacks has fallen asleep. Maybe he only thougt of Qe2-e3 as
a way to get out of the pin h5-e2.} (15... Bxf3 {Blatny,P} 16. Qxf3 Bg5 17. Bh2
{/\f4->}) (15... Bg6 $142 $1 $14 {Kortschnoj}) 16. cxd5 cxd5 (16... exd5 {
Blatny,P} 17. Bxh6 Bxf3 18. Qxf3 gxh6 19. Qf5 $18) 17. Bxh6 $16 Bxf3 (17...
gxh6 18. Qxh6 Bg6 19. Bxg6 fxg6 20. Qxg6+ Kh8 21. Qh6+ Kg8 22. Qxe6+ $18 {
[%cal Ye6d5] White will have five Ps for the piece. Not bad.}) 18. gxf3 (18.
Bxg7 {Blatny,P} Kxg7 19. Qxf3 Rg8 $13 (19... Rh8 $15 {Ftacnik})) 18... Bh4 {
Blacks only hope is whites bad pawn strukture. If he could set up a blokade
with full control over f5 he would be okay. However there is no reason why
white should withdraw his forces} (18... gxh6 19. Qxh6 f5 20. Kh1 $18 (20.
Qxe6+ Kg7 21. Kh1 $18)) (18... f5 $142 $1 {Knaak: ist nicht ohne weiteres zu
widerlegen, z.B.} 19. exf6 (19. Bf4 $6 g5) 19... Rxf6 20. Bg5 Rf7 {Es folgt
dann noch Nf8, und im Gegensatz zur Partie, in der Schwarz chancenlos war,
könnte die ruinierte weiße Bauernstellung eine Rolle spielen.}) 19. Kh1 {
[%cal Yf1g1,Yg1g8] /\Rg1} f5 $8 20. Rg1 (20. exf6 $16 {Kortschnoj}) 20... Rf7
21. Bxg7 $1 (21. Rg6 {Blatny,P} Kh8 22. Bg5 Bxg5 23. Rxg5 f4 24. Rh5+ $16)
21... Rxg7 22. Qh6 {The queen is hitting too many targets: Rg7, Bh4 and Pe6.}
Bg5 (22... Qe7 {Blatny,P} 23. Rxg7+ Qxg7 24. Rg1 $18) 23. Qxe6+ Kh8 (23... Kf8
{Blatny,P} 24. Qxf5+ Kg8 25. f4 $18) 24. Qxf5 {The opposite colour bishops
favour the attacker and the knight is no match for 4 white pawns.} (24. f4 $1 {
I like this move better than the game.}) 24... Qe7 25. Qg4 {[%cal Yg4h5,Yf3f4]
/\Dh5+, f3-f4} Nxe5 (25... Kg8 {Blatny,P} 26. f4 Bh6 27. Qh5 Rxg1+ 28. Rxg1+
Bg7 29. Bh7+ Kf8 30. Qf5+ Ke8 (30... Qf7 {Ftacnik} 31. Qxf7+ Kxf7 32. e6+) 31.
Qg6+ Kf8 32. Rg5 $18) (25... Qe8 {Ftacnik} 26. f4 Bh6 27. Qh4 Rh7 28. Bxh7 Kxh7
29. f5 $18) (25... Rf8 {Kortschnoj} 26. Qh5+ Kg8 27. h4 Bxh4 28. Rxg7+ $18) 26.
dxe5 Qxe5 27. Rbe1 Qf4 (27... Qf6 {Ftacnik} 28. Qh5+ Kg8 29. f4 (29. Re8+ Rxe8
30. Qxe8+ Qf8 31. Bh7+ Rxh7 32. Rxg5+ Rg7 33. Rxg7+ Kxg7 34. Qxf8+ Kxf8 35. Kg2
$18) 29... Qxf4 (29... Bh6 30. Re8+ Rxe8 31. Qxe8+ Qf8 32. Qe6+ Qf7 33. Qxh6
$18) 30. Rxg5 Rxg5 31. Qh7+ Kf8 32. Qh6+ Kf7 33. Bg6+) 28. Qh5+ Kg8 (28... Bh6
{Blatny,P} 29. Re8+ $18) 29. Rxg5 $1 Rxg5 (29... Qxg5 {Ftacnik} 30. Re8+) 30.
Qh7+ Kf8 31. Qh6+ Kf7 (31... Kg8 32. Bh7+ Kh8 33. Bg6+ (33. Bf5+ {Kortschnoj}
Kg8 34. Be6+ $18) 33... Kg8 34. Qh7+ Kf8 35. Qh8#) 32. Bg6+ {Timman handed the
point to Topalov on a plate.} (32. Bg6+ {Ftacnik} Kf6 33. Be8+ Kf5 34. Bd7#)
1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D26"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. Qe2 a6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
O-O Nc6 9. a3 Bd6 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Bd3 b5 12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Bb7 14. Rd1 f5
15. Bb1 Qc7 16. a4 bxa4 17. Rxa4 Nb4 18. e4 a5 19. h3 Bc5 20. Be3 Bxe3 21. Qxe3
Rad8 22. Rc1 f4 23. Qc3 Qxc3 24. bxc3 Nd3 25. Bxd3 Rxd3 26. Ne5 Rd2 27. Rb1 Ba8
28. f3 Rc2 29. c4 Rd8 30. Rxa5 h6 31. Ng6 Bc6 32. h4 Rxc4 33. Nxf4 Kf7 34. Rb6
Rd7 35. h5 Rb7 36. Rba6 Kf6 37. Kh2 Rc3 38. Ra8 Ke7 39. Rg8 Kf6 40. Ng6 Rf7 41.
Ne5 Rc7 42. Rf8+ Ke7 43. Rf7+ 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.31"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E99"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Gelfand Hecht} Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7.
O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Nd3 f5 11. Bd2 Kh8 12. Rc1 Nf6 13. f3 c6 14.
Be3 a6 $1 {Ein sehr feiner Zug, der die Spannung aufrecht hält. Weiß muß ein
Tempo für das eher nutzlose b4 aufwenden.} (14... f4 {Schwarz legt es auf den
typischen Wettlauf zwischen Königsflügel - und Damenflügelangriff an.} 15. Bf2
c5 (15... g5 16. b4 Ng6 17. Nb2 cxd5 18. cxd5 Rg8 19. Kh1 Bf8 20. Nb5 g4 21.
fxg4 Nxe4 22. Nc7 Nxf2+ 23. Rxf2 Rb8 24. Ne6 Bxe6 25. dxe6 d5 $13 {Ragozin,
E-Ehlvest,J/Linares op (05) ;TD 94\02 1994}) 16. b4 cxb4 17. Nxb4 b6 18. a4 g5
19. a5 Rg8 20. Ra1 bxa5 21. Nc6 Qd7 22. c5 $16 {Ehlvest,J-Van Wely,L/New York
op (08) ;EXP 40 1994}) (14... cxd5 {Auch hier gibt Schwarz die Spannung zu
früh auf.} 15. cxd5 Neg8 16. Nf2 Bh6 17. Bxh6 Nxh6 18. Nb5 Nh5 19. Nc7 Rb8 20.
Qc2 Nf4 21. g3 Nxe2+ 22. Qxe2 f4 $13 {Nikitin,Y-Zaitsev,I/URS-ch36 Alma Ata 
(09) ;URS-ch 1968}) 15. b4 cxd5 16. cxd5 Bd7 17. Nb2 (17. a4 $5 {[%csl Gb6]
[%cal Ya4a5]}) 17... b5 18. a4 bxa4 19. Nbxa4 Rb8 20. Rb1 fxe4 21. fxe4 Neg8 $1
{[%cal Rg8h6,Yg7h6,Yh6e3] Schwarz koordiniert seine Figuren. Die Idee ist
Abtausch des schlechten Läufers mittels ...Bh6.} 22. Qd3 (22. Bxa6 $5 Ng4 (
22... Bxa4 23. Nxa4 Nxe4 24. b5) 23. Qd2 (23. Bd2 Qh4) 23... Nxe3 24. Qxe3 Bh6
{gibt Schwarz sicherlich Kompensation für den Bauern.}) 22... Bh6 23. Kh1 Bxe3
24. Qxe3 Ng4 25. Rxf8 Qxf8 26. Bxg4 Bxg4 $10 {Schwarz hat keine Problem mehr,
aber Weiß sollte eigentlich auch keine haben. Irgendetwas ist in den nachsten
Zügen schiefgelaufen.} 27. h3 Bd7 28. Nb6 (28. Qa7 $142 {Gelfand}) 28... Qd8
29. Nxd7 Qxd7 30. Qd3 Qa7 31. b5 axb5 32. Rxb5 Rxb5 33. Nxb5 {[%csl Re4] Hecht:
DS-DS: weiße Bauernschwäche e4, später Bauern- und Felderschwächen am weißen
Königsflügel, Lavieren, Technik, Springergewinn} Qc5 $17 {[%csl Re4][%cal
Yb5c3,Yc3e2,Ye2g3,Yg2g4,Yd3f3] Es ist überraschend, daß Weiß in dieser
Stellung Probleme hat. Der Anziehende würde gerne die Defensivaufstellung Qf3,
Ng3, Pg4 erreichen, aber Schwarz hindert ihn daran.} 34. Nc3 Nf6 35. Qf3 Kg7
36. g4 (36. Ne2 Qc4 37. Ng3 h5 {[%cal Yh5h4,Rh4g3] /\ ...h4}) (36. Kh2 {
Hecht oder 36.Sd1 mit dem Plan g3,Sf2 und Kg2 =}) 36... Qa3 $1 37. Kg2 Qb2+ 38.
Kg1 (38. Ne2 Qc2 {[%csl Re4]}) 38... Qc1+ 39. Kg2 Qd2+ 40. Kf1 h6 41. Ne2 (41.
Kg1 Nh7 {[%cal Yh7g5,Rg5f3,Rg5h3] /\ ...Ng5}) 41... Qd1+ 42. Kf2 Qc2 43. Ke3
Qb1 44. Ng3 Qe1+ 45. Kd3 Qg1 {[%csl Re4,Rh3][%cal Rf6d7,Rd7c5,Rf6h7,Rh7g5]
Weiß hat Dame und Springer koordiniert, aber nun steht der König schlecht. [#]}
46. h4 (46. Qe3 $5 {Hecht}) (46. Ne2 $5 {Hecht}) (46. Nf1 $2 {Hecht} Qd4+) (46.
Ke2 {Hecht} Qh2+) 46... Qb1+ 47. Ke2 Qc2+ 48. Kf1 (48. Ke1 $142 $10 {Gelfand})
48... Qc8 49. h5 (49. g5 hxg5 (49... Qh3+ {Hecht} 50. Ke2 hxg5 51. hxg5 Nh7 $19
) 50. hxg5 Nh7) 49... Nxg4 50. Qe2 Qc1+ 51. Kg2 Qf4 52. hxg6 Kxg6 53. Qf3 Kg5
54. Nf5 Qd2+ 55. Kg1 h5 56. Ng7 (56. Nxd6 {Hecht} Qc1+ 57. Kg2 Qc2+ 58. Kg1
Qc5+ $19) 56... Qc1+ 57. Kg2 Qb2+ 58. Kg1 Qa1+ 59. Kg2 Qa2+ (59... Qa2+ 60. Kg1
Qa7+ {[%cal Ra7g7,Ra7g1]}) 0-1

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.04.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Piket} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6
8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. d5 Ne7 13. c4 (13. Nf1) 13...
c6 (13... Nd7 14. Bc2 c6 15. b3 Rc8 16. Nf1 Qc7 17. Ne3 g6 18. Bd2 Bg7 19. Rc1
$14 {Anand,V-Deshmukh,A/Calcutta/1992}) 14. Bc2 bxc4 15. dxc6 Nxc6 16. Nxc4 Nd4
$5 {N} (16... h6 17. Bd2 Rc8 18. Rc1 Nd4 19. Ba4 $14 {Ermenkov-Lukacs/Albena/
1985}) 17. Nxd4 exd4 18. Bg5 (18. Qxd4 $2 d5 $15) 18... d5 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. e5
Qh6 21. Nd2 (21. Na5 $5 Bb4 22. Nxb7 Bxe1 23. Qxe1 Qc6 24. Bxh7+ Kxh7 25. Nd6
Re7 26. Qd2 $44) 21... Bb4 22. Re2 Bxd2 23. Qxd2 Qxd2 24. Rxd2 Rxe5 25. b4 $1
a5 $6 (25... Rc8 $142) 26. b5 {[%cal Yb5b8]} Rc8 27. Bd3 Kf8 28. Bf1 Ke7 (28...
Rc3 $1 29. Rxd4 Re4 $10 {Piket}) 29. Rxd4 Re4 30. Rd3 Kd6 31. Ra3 a4 32. Rb1 g6
33. f3 Rd4 34. Bd3 Kc5 35. Bf1 Kb6 36. Rb2 f5 37. Re3 Rd1 38. Kf2 Rdc1 39. Re6+
Ka5 40. Bd3 a3 41. Rb3 $18 R8c3 42. Rxc3 Rxc3 43. Ke3 Rb3 44. Kd4 Rb2 45. Re2
f4 46. Kc5 Rxe2 47. Bxe2 g5 48. b6 h5 49. Bb5 d4 50. Bd3 h4 51. Bf1 Ba8 52. Bc4
Bb7 53. Bd3 Bc8 54. Be4 Ka6 55. Kc6 Ka5 56. Bd3 Kb4 57. Kc7 Kc5 58. Bf1 1-0

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1996.05.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D79"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Bologan,V"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1996.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. d4 c6 6. Nf3 d5 7. cxd5 cxd5 8. Ne5
e6 9. O-O Nfd7 10. f4 Nc6 11. Be3 Nb6 12. Bf2 Bd7 13. e4 Ne7 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15.
e5 Rfc8 16. Re1 Nc4 17. Qe2 {Novelty. It is not just new move it is a new plan.
White is trying to avoid the exchange on "c" file defending the knight on "c3"
in a little bit unusual way Rd1-d3.} Rc7 (17... b5 $5 18. Rad1 (18. b3 Nxe5 19.
Nxd5 Nf3+ $1 20. Bxf3 Nxd5 $13) 18... b4 19. Nb1 $14) 18. Rad1 Rac8 19. Rd3 Nb6
$6 {Too slaw.} (19... b5 $5 20. g4 b4 21. Nd1 Na5 {Trying to create some
counterplay on the queenside.}) 20. g4 Na4 21. Qd2 $1 {It is very important to
keep the "c" file closed as long as White can.} Bf8 22. Rf3 b5 23. a3 a6 24.
Rf1 Rc6 (24... Nb6 25. Bh4 Nc4 26. Qf2 $16) 25. f5 $1 {Miguel is on top now
the temporary sacrifice of the pawn gives White the decisive attack.} exf5 (
25... gxf5 26. Bh4 Ng6 27. gxf5 Nxh4 28. Qg5+ Ng6 29. fxg6 fxg6 30. Nxd5 $1
exd5 31. Bh3 Qg7 32. Bxc8 Rxc8 33. Rf7 Qh8 (33... Qxf7 34. Rxf7 Kxf7 35. Qf6+
Ke8 36. Qxa6 $18) 34. Qg4 Re8 35. Qe6 Rxe6 36. Rxf8+ Kg7 37. R1f7+ Kh6 38. Rxh8
$18) 26. Bh4 Nb6 27. Bxe7 Qxe7 28. gxf5 Rd8 29. Qf2 Bh6 30. fxg6 fxg6 31. Rf7
Qg5 32. Kh1 Qe3 33. Nxd5 $4 {As we knew later this move costed Illescas the
clean victory in the 17 kategory tournament.} (33. Qh4 Qg5 34. Qh3 $16) 33...
Qxf2 {I think in this moment the spanish grandmaster realized that he has no
the intermediar check on 'e7' and the position turned from winning to lost.}
34. R7xf2 (34. Ne7+ Kxf7 $1) 34... Nxd5 35. Rf7 Rc1 36. Rxc1 Kxf7 37. Rc6 Nf4
38. Rc7+ Kg8 39. d5 Nxd5 40. Ra7 Nf4 0-1

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1996.05.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "1996.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. Bg2 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Ne5 Bd7 8. Na3
cxd4 9. Naxc4 Nxe5 10. Nxe5 Qb6 11. Nxd7 Nxd7 12. Qa4 O-O-O 13. Rd1 Be7 14.
Rxd4 Bc5 15. Rc4 Kb8 16. Kf1 e5 17. Bg5 Qxb2 18. Rcc1 Nb6 19. Qe4 Rd7 20. Rab1
Qd4 21. Qxd4 Bxd4 22. e3 h6 23. Bh3 hxg5 24. Bxd7 Bxe3 25. fxe3 Nxd7 26. Kg2 b6
27. Rb5 f6 28. Rc6 Re8 29. Rd5 Nc5 30. Kf3 Kb7 31. Rcd6 Kc7 32. Kg4 Rh8 33. h3
a5 34. Rd1 a4 35. a3 Ne4 36. Rd7+ Kc6 37. Kf3 f5 38. Kg2 Rc8 39. Rf7 Nc3 40.
Rc1 Kd5 41. Rxf5 Kc4 42. Rxg5 Kb3 43. Rxg7 Kxa3 44. h4 Kb2 45. Rf1 Rh8 46. Kh3
a3 47. Ra7 b5 48. g4 b4 49. g5 Rg8 50. Rg1 a2 51. Rg2+ Kb1 52. g6 b3 53. h5 b2
54. Ra3 $1 Rd8 (54... a1=Q $2 55. Rg1+ Kc2 56. Raxa1 bxa1=Q 57. Rxa1 $18) (
54... Nd1 55. Rd3 Nxe3 56. Rxe3 a1=Q 57. Re1+ Ka2 $13) (54... Ka1 55. Rxc3 b1=Q
56. Rcc2 $13) 55. Rxc3 $3 a1=Q 56. Rb3 $1 $18 Qa6 57. Rbxb2+ Kc1 58. Ra2 $1
Qe6+ 59. Kh2 Kb1 60. Rab2+ Kc1 61. Ra2 Kb1 62. Raf2 $1 Kc1 (62... Rd1 63. g7
Qg8 64. Rf8 $18) 63. g7 Qg8 64. Rf1+ Rd1 65. Rxd1+ Kxd1 66. h6 Ke1 67. Kg1 $1 {
/\ 68.h7} Qb3 68. g8=Q Qxe3+ 69. Kh1 Qxh6+ 70. Rh2 1-0

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1996.05.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "San Segundo Carrillo, Pablo"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Hazai,L"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1996.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 c6 8. d5 Na6
9. Nd2 Ne8 10. O-O (10. a3 f5 11. f3 Bh6 $132) (10. h4 $5 f5 11. f3) 10... f5
11. f3 (11. exf5 gxf5 (11... Bxf5 $6 12. Nde4 $14) 12. f4 $6 (12. f3) 12...
exf4 13. Bxf4 Qb6+) 11... f4 12. Bf2 c5 13. a3 b6 (13... g5 14. g4 $5) 14. b4
h5 (14... cxb4 15. axb4 Nxb4 16. Qb3 Na6 (16... a5 17. Na2) 17. Nb5 $44) 15.
bxc5 Nxc5 16. a4 $2 (16. Nb3 Nxb3 17. Qxb3 g5 18. Qd1) 16... a5 $1 17. Ra3 Bf6
18. Nb3 Rf7 19. Kh1 {[#]} Nc7 $1 {/\ Nc7-a6-b4} 20. Nxc5 bxc5 21. Rg1 Na6 $17
22. g3 Rg7 23. Kg2 Raa7 24. Kf1 Nb4 25. Ke1 Raf7 26. Nb5 fxg3 27. hxg3 h4 28.
Kd2 hxg3 29. Rxg3 Bh4 30. Rg2 Bxf2 31. Rxf2 Qg5+ 32. Re3 Rf6 33. Rh2 Rh7 34.
Rxh7 Kxh7 35. Bf1 Qf4 36. Nc3 Bd7 37. Bg2 Kg7 38. Qg1 Qg5 39. Qf2 Rf4 40. Bf1
Rh4 41. Be2 Qf4 42. Qg1 Qh6 43. Bd1 Rh3 44. Qe1 Rh2+ $19 45. Ne2 Rh1 46. Qf2
Be8 47. Bb3 Rb1 48. f4 Qh1 0-1

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1996.05.17"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1996.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Topalov} Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. e4 h6 4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. Nc3 {[%csl Gd4,Ge4] A
sharp and unbalanced position. White has a lead in development and more space,
especially due to his proud pawn center. But Black's position is extremely
solid and his B-pair is a latent power.} d6 6. Qd2 g5 (6... g6 7. O-O-O Bg7 8.
f4 Qe7 (8... g5 9. g3 Nc6 10. e5 Qd8 11. d5 exd5 12. exd6 Qxd6 13. Re1+ Kf8 14.
Qxd5 Qb4 15. Bc4 Be6 16. Rxe6 fxe6 17. Qxe6 Qe7 18. Qf5+ Qf6 19. Qc5+ Ne7 20.
Nge2 b6 21. Qa3 Rd8 22. Rf1 g4 23. f5 Qc6 24. Qb3 $44 {Fernandez,SL-Ramesh,R/
Ubeda op/1996/}) 9. Nf3 a6 10. e5 d5 11. h4 h5 12. Ng5 Nc6 13. Be2 Bd7 14. g4
hxg4 15. Bxg4 O-O-O 16. h5 gxh5 17. Bxh5 f6 18. exf6 Qxf6 19. Ne2 Rdf8 20. Kb1
Ne7 21. Bg4 Bh6 22. Qe3 Nf5 23. Qe5 Qxe5 24. dxe5 Ne3 $15 {Lukasiewicz,G-Guex,
P/Geneva op/1996/}) (6... a6 $5 7. O-O-O Nd7 8. f4 g6 9. Nf3 Qe7 10. e5 d5 11.
h4 h5 12. Ng5 Nb6 13. g4 hxg4 14. Qg2 Bd7 15. Qxg4 O-O-O 16. h5 f5 17. Qg3 gxh5
18. Be2 Be8 19. Rh4 Bh6 20. Rg1 c5 21. Bxh5 Bxg5 22. Qxg5 Qxg5 23. Rxg5 cxd4
$36 {[%csl Rh5] ץh5,Dunnington,A-Lerner,K/Cappelle la Grande op/1996/}) (6...
c6 7. O-O-O (7. f4 $142 $13) 7... e5 8. Nf3 Be7 9. Kb1 Nd7 10. Ne2 Nf8 11. Qa5
Ng6 12. Ng3 Bd8 13. Qc3 O-O 14. d5 cxd5 15. Rxd5 Bb6 16. Qe1 Bg4 17. Rd2 Nf4
18. Ng1 Rac8 19. f3 Be6 20. N1e2 Rc6 $15 {Summerscale,A-Knezevic,B/Cannes op/
1996/}) 7. O-O-O Bg7 8. g3 (8. e5 dxe5 9. dxe5 Qe7 10. f4 Nc6 11. Nf3 Bd7 12.
h4 gxf4 13. Qxf4 O-O-O 14. Ne4 Nb8 $1 15. Be2 Bc6 16. Nf6 Nd7 17. Nh5 Bxf3 18.
Bxf3 Bxe5 19. Qe4 c6 20. Rxd7 Bxb2+ 21. Kxb2 Rxd7 22. Qe3 Rhd8 23. a3 Rd4 24.
g3 Qc5 $17 {Adams,M-Karpov,A/Las Palmas/1994/}) 8... Nc6 9. Nb5 (9. Bb5 $5 Bd7
10. Nge2 a6 11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. Qe3 (12. f4 O-O-O 13. Rhf1 Qg6 14. g4 Bxe4 15.
Ng3 d5 16. Ncxe4 dxe4 17. f5 exf5 18. Nxf5 Rhe8 19. Qg2 Bf8 20. Rfe1 Qe6 21.
Kb1 h5 22. h3 hxg4 23. hxg4 Qd5 24. Re3 Re6 25. Rde1 $44 {Hodgson,J-Gabriel,C/
Horgen-B/1995/}) 12... O-O-O 13. f4 Kb8 14. Rhf1 Qg6 15. Qd3 f5 16. exf5 Qxf5
17. Qc4 g4 18. d5 exd5 19. Nxd5 Qf7 20. Qb3 Rhe8 21. Nec3 $13 {Milov,
V-Chuchelov,V/Brussels op/1995/}) 9... Qd8 10. Ne2 (10. d5 $5 {is the crucial
try.} Ne7 (10... Ne5 $6 11. Qc3 $16) (10... exd5 $5 11. exd5 Ne7 12. Bg2 Nf5
13. Re1+ Kf8 14. Ne2 Qf6 15. c3 Bd7 16. Nbd4 Re8 17. Nxf5 Bxf5 18. Nd4 Bd7 19.
Re3 Rxe3 20. Qxe3 h5 21. Qf3 h4 22. Qxf6 Bxf6 23. Nc2 Be5 24. Kd2 f5 $36 {
[%csl Gd7,Ge5] _|_^^,Garcia,Rau-David,Al/Linares zt/1995/}) 11. f4 (11. Qa5 b6
12. Qa4 O-O $15 {[%cal Gh8a1] /^h8-a1,/\} 13. Qc4 a6 14. Nxc7 b5 $19) 11... a6
$13) (10. c3 $5 {Topalov} a6 11. Na3) 10... a6 11. Nbc3 b5 $5 {Black increases
the tension by diversions on both flanks (g5,b5). However, in the center his
position remains solid.} 12. Bg2 (12. d5 Ne5 {[%cal Re5c4] /\Nc4} 13. Nd4 g4 $5
$15) (12. f4 {Topalov} b4 13. Na4 Bd7) 12... Bb7 13. f4 {[%cal Rd4d5,Re4e5] /
\e5,d5} Ne7 $5 {This flexible retreat takes the sting out of White's threats.}
(13... Na5 {Topalov} 14. Rhg1 Nc4 15. Qd3) 14. h4 (14. fxg5 $6 hxg5 15. Qxg5 $4
Bh6) (14. Kb1 $142 $5 $13) (14. d5 Qd7 $1 $132 {[%cal Ye8c8,Yb5b4,Yd7b5] /
\0-0-0,b4,Qb5}) (14. Rhg1 $142) 14... g4 15. h5 $6 {This costs White too much
time and allows Black to build up an active position.} b4 16. Nb1 a5 17. Qe3
O-O $36 {Black's K is relatively safe behind his pawns on the K-side, White's
monarch on c1 can have more trouble from the advancing black pawns.} 18. Nd2 f5
$1 {/\ Ne7-f5} 19. Rhg1 fxe4 20. Bxe4 (20. Nxe4 Nf5 21. Qb3 (21. Qf2 Bxe4 $1
22. Bxe4 d5 $15) 21... Bd5 $17) 20... Nf5 21. Qb3 (21. Qd3 $2 Ba6 22. Nc4 d5
$19) (21. Qf2 $142 $5 Bxe4 (21... d5 $2 22. Bxf5 exf5 23. Nb3 $13) 22. Nxe4 Qe8
$5 $36 {[%cal Ye8b5,Re8h5,Ya5a4,Yb4b3] /\Qh5,Qb5,a4,b3->}) 21... d5 $1 22. Bxf5
exf5 {Now the central pawn structure is symmetrical, but due to the clumsy
positions of White's pieces the e-file will soon fall into Black's hands. Also
Black's B begin to play a major role on the open diagonals (a6-f1,a1-h8).} 23.
Rge1 Re8 $1 $17 {[%csl Gb7,Gg7,Rb3,Rd2,Re2][%cal Ge8e2] ^^,<->e,ףb3,Nd2,Ne2
White's Q and N are misplaced} 24. Nf1 (24. c4 $142 $5 Kh8 $17) 24... Ba6 (
24... Qf6 $142) 25. Ng1 Bc4 26. Qa4 Bxf1 (26... Rxe1 27. Rxe1 Bxd4 28. Nd2 Qf6
$1 29. Nxc4 dxc4 30. Re8+ Rxe8 31. Qxe8+ Qf8 32. Qe6+ Qf7 $19) 27. Rxf1 Re6 $1
(27... Re3 28. Qc6 $132) 28. Qb3 (28. Rfe1 $1 {/\ 29.Re5!} Rxe1 29. Rxe1 Bxd4
30. Qc6 $1 $13) 28... c6 29. Rfe1 (29. Qd3 Qf6 30. Ne2 Rae8 31. Rf2 Re3 $19)
29... Rxe1 30. Rxe1 Bxd4 31. Ne2 Qe7 $1 $19 32. Kd1 Bf2 33. Rf1 Bc5 34. Qd3 Re8
35. Re1 (35. Nc1 $142) 35... Qe6 $22 (35... Qe4 $19) 36. c3 (36. Rf1 Qe3 $19)
36... bxc3 37. bxc3 d4 $1 38. cxd4 Bb4 39. d5 (39. Rf1 Qxa2 $40) 39... Qxd5 40.
Qxd5+ cxd5 {A strong B against passive N, extra pawn-the endgame is hopeless
for White.} 41. Rg1 Re3 42. Nc1 (42. Rg2 d4 $1 43. Nxd4 Rd3+ $19) 42... d4 43.
Nb3 a4 $1 (43... a4 44. Nc1 (44. Nxd4 Rd3+) 44... d3 {[%cal Rg8d5,Rd5f3,Rd3d2]
/\Kf7-e6-d5-e4-f3,d2-+}) 0-1

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1996.05.18"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C80"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Bologan,V"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1996.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Wedberg} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3
d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 d4 11. Bxe6 Nxe6 12. cxd4 Ncxd4 13. a4 Be7
14. Nxd4 Qxd4 (14... Nxd4 {Wedberg} 15. axb5 (15. Ne4 O-O (15... Ne6 16. Be3
O-O 17. f4 Qxd1 18. Rfxd1 Rfb8 19. Rd7 Bf8 20. f5 $16 {1-0 Karpov,
An-Kortschnoj,V (18)/Wch30-Merano ;MAINB 1981 (41)}) 16. axb5 Nxb5 17. Be3 Qc8
18. Qc2 (18. Qd5 Rd8 19. Qc6 Qf5 20. f4 h5 21. h3 Rab8 22. Rfd1 $16 {Chandler,
M-Yusupov,A/Hastings-A1 ;TD 89\14 1989/1-0 (56)}) 18... Qe6 19. f4 f6 (19...
Rad8 20. Ra4 Rd7 21. Rfa1 Qd5 22. h3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Adams,M-Yusupov,A/
Hastings-A1 ;TD 89\14 1989 (36)}) 20. exf6 Bxf6 21. f5 Qe5 22. Bc5 $14 {
1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V-Yusupov,A/Linares 1989 (32)}) 15... Nxb5 16. Qg4 (16. Qc2
O-O 17. Nf3 Nd4 18. Nxd4 Qxd4 19. Qxc7 Bb4 20. e6 fxe6 21. Qc6 Qd6 22. Qe4 Bc5
23. Be3 Bxe3 {1/2-1/2 Kindermann,S-Mikhalchishin,A/Dortmund op-A (09) 1993})
16... O-O 17. Nf3 Qc8 18. Qg3 Qe6 19. Ra4 f5 20. Bg5 Rfe8 21. Bxe7 Rxe7 22. Ng5
Qd5 23. Nxh7 Qxe5 24. Qf3 Rd8 25. Ng5 $14 {Oll,L-Vucic,M/New York op (06) 1994/
1-0 (67)}) 15. axb5 {Until now this line was considered as equal but the way
Topalov won this game says that it is not so easy for Black to get back its
pawn.} Qxe5 16. bxa6 O-O {In this position White has many opportunities to
continue the game but nor 18.Nf3 neather 18.Qg4 does not give White any
advantage.} 17. Qa4 $1 (17. Nf3 Qb5 18. Qa4 Qxa4 19. Rxa4 Nc5 20. Ra5 (20. Rc4
{Wedberg} Rxa6 21. Nd4 Ra4 22. Rxa4 Nxa4 23. b3 Nb6 24. Nb5 Nd5 25. Rd1 Rd8 26.
Ba3 Nf4 27. Rxd8+ Bxd8 28. Kf1 Ne6 {1/2-1/2 Adams,M-Sokolov,I/Leon (04) ;CBM
48 1995}) 20... Rxa6 $10 {Psakhis,L-Dolmatov,S/Frunze URS ch 1981.}) (17. Qg4
Qb5 18. Qc4 Rfb8 19. Ra2 Ra7 20. Rd1 Qxc4 21. Nxc4 Rba8 22. Be3 Rxa6 23. Rxa6 {
1/2-1/2 DeFirmian,N-Timman,J/Biel 1995.}) (17. Re1 {Wedberg} Qb5 18. Qa4 Qxa4
19. Rxa4 Nc5 20. Ra3 Ne6 21. Ra1 Ra7 22. Nf3 {1/2-1/2 Popovic,P-Grivas,E/Dubai
olm (02) ;TD 86\02 1986}) 17... Nc5 (17... Rfb8 18. a7 (18. Nf3 Qb5 19. a7 Rb7
20. Qxb5 Rxb5 21. Be3 Bf6 22. Ra2 Kf8 23. Nd2 Bd4 24. Nc4 Rb7 25. Rfa1 Bxe3 26.
fxe3 $14 {Hjartarson,J-Smejkal,J/BL 8990 (1990) ;BL 1990/1/2-1/2 (53)}) 18...
Rb7 19. Nf3 Qd5 20. Be3 Bc5 21. Rad1 Qb3 22. Qxb3 Rxb3 23. Bxc5 Nxc5 24. Nd4
Rb7 25. Nc6 $16 {Ehlvest J. - Marin M./Tallinn 1989.}) 18. Qc4 Rfb8 19. Ra5 Qd6
20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Qxe4 Qb4 22. Qxb4 Bxb4 23. Ra4 {Novelty.Nowdays it is not a
big deal when you shaw an improvement in the very deep ending. Rooks mission
on 'a4' is to attack the Black's bishop that creates a certain problems to
have the pawn back. Before was played 23.Ra2.} Rb6 24. a7 Bc5 25. Rd1 h6 $4 {
Kortschnoj is just waisting time after} (25... Rb7 26. Be3 Bxe3 27. fxe3 Kf8
28. Rda1 Rxb2 {Black is equalizing the game.}) 26. b4 $1 $16 Rxb4 (26... Bxb4
27. Be3 c5 28. Rd7 (28. Bf4 {Wedberg} Rb7 29. Bb8 $16) 28... Bd2 29. Kf1 Bxe3
30. fxe3 $16) 27. Rxb4 Bxb4 28. Be3 $18 Kf8 (28... c5 29. Rd7 c4 30. Bb6 $18) (
28... Ba5 29. Rd7 {+-}) 29. Rb1 {After 29...c5 the simple but convincing 30.
Bc5 Bc5 31.Rb8 is winning.} 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2675"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Bd7 5. c4 Nc6 6. Qd2 g6 7. b3 (7. Be2 Bg7
8. O-O Nf6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Rb1 a6 11. b3 Qa5 12. Bb2 Rfc8 13. Rfd1 Bg4 14. Qe3
Nd7 15. Nd5 Bxb2 16. Rxb2 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 e6 18. Nc3 Rd8 19. Rbd2 Nde5 20. Be2
Nb4 21. h4 b5 22. cxb5 axb5 23. Nxb5 Nbc6 24. a3 {1-0 Anand,V-Kasparov,G/
Moscow PCA-Intel GP 25'/1995/ (28)}) 7... Bg7 8. Nc3 Nf6 9. Bb2 Bg4 10. Be2 O-O
11. h3 (11. O-O a6 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Nd7 14. Be2 Nc5 15. Rfe1 Qa5 16. Bf1
Rab8 17. Rad1 b5 18. Ba1 Rfd8 19. Rb1 e6 20. f3 b4 21. Ne2 Bxa1 22. Rxa1 Qb6
23. Kh1 e5 24. Red1 Ne6 25. a3 bxa3 26. Rxa3 {Gorelov,S-Chiburdanidze,M/
Moscow-ch (15)/1981/1-0 (79)}) 11... Bxf3 12. Bxf3 Nd7 13. O-O (13. Nd5 Bxb2
14. Qxb2 e6 15. Nc3 Nde5 $15) 13... Qa5 14. Rab1 Rfd8 15. Rfc1 $6 (15. Rfd1 a6)
15... a6 16. a3 Bf6 $5 17. Bg4 (17. b4 Qg5) 17... e6 18. b4 Qg5 $1 (18... Qc7
19. Nd5 (19. f4 $5) 19... exd5 20. cxd5 Bxb2 21. Rxb2) 19. f4 (19. Qxg5 Bxg5
20. Rd1 Nce5 21. Be2 Nb6 22. c5 Nbc4 $15) 19... Qh6 20. Ne2 (20. Rd1 Nb6 21.
Be2 Nd4 $15) 20... Nde5 21. Rc2 (21. b5 axb5 22. cxb5 Na5 23. Bxe5 dxe5 24. Qc3
Qg7 $15) 21... Nxg4 22. hxg4 Bxb2 23. Rbxb2 Qh4 24. g5 (24. b5 axb5 25. cxb5
Nb8 26. Rb3 Qxg4 $17) 24... e5 25. b5 $2 (25. Rb1 exf4 26. Qxf4 Qxf4 27. Nxf4
Ne5 28. Nd5 b5 $10) 25... axb5 26. cxb5 Nd4 $1 27. Nxd4 (27. Rc7 Nxe2+ 28. Qxe2
Rxa3 $19) 27... exd4 28. Rb3 (28. Qxd4 Qxf4 (28... Rxa3 29. Qd2 Ra4 $17) 29.
Rc7 d5 $19) 28... Re8 29. g3 (29. Qxd4 Qxf4 $17) 29... Qg4 30. Qxd4 Ra4 $1 31.
Rc4 (31. Qxa4 Qd1+ 32. Kh2 (32. Kg2 Qxc2+ 33. Kf3 Rxe4 $1 $19) 32... Qxc2+ 33.
Kh3 Qd1 34. g4 (34. Kg2 Rc8 $19) 34... Qh1+ 35. Kg3 Rxe4 36. Qa5 Qg1+ 37. Kf3
Re8 $17) (31. Qxd6 Raxe4 32. Kg2 Re2+ 33. Rxe2 Qxe2+ 34. Kg1 Qe1+ 35. Kg2 Re2+
$19) 31... Rxc4 32. Qxc4 Rc8 $1 33. Qd3 $2 (33. Qf1 $1 Rc2 34. Rf3 Rc1 35. Qxc1
Qxf3) 33... Rc1+ 34. Kg2 (34. Kf2 Qh3 $19) 34... Qh5 35. e5 (35. Qxd6 Qe2+ 36.
Kh3 Rh1#) 35... Rd1 36. Qf3 Qh1+ 37. Kf2 (37. Kf2 Qg1+ 38. Ke2 Qe1#) 0-1

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.26"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 c5 8. e4
cxd4 9. exf5 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. fxe6 fxe6 12. Qe2 {Soweit ich weiß, ist
dies ein neuer Versuch.} dxc3 13. Qxe6+ Qe7 14. Bxc4 (14. Qxe7+ Bxe7 15. bxc3
Nd5 16. Bd2 Bf6 17. Rc1 Rb8 18. Bxc4 Bxc3 (18... Nxc3 19. O-O Bd4+ 20. Kh1 Nxa4
21. Rfe1+ Kf8 22. Bf4 Rd8 23. Bg5 $16) 19. Bxd5 Bxd2+ 20. Kxd2 cxd5 21. Rc7 O-O
{dürfte Schwarz aushalten können.}) 14... Qxe6+ 15. Bxe6 cxb2 (15... Bb4 16.
Ke2 Nd5 $10 {sieht mir viel besser aus.}) 16. Bxb2 Bb4+ 17. Ke2 Ke7 18. Bc4
Rhd8 19. Rhd1 Rab8 (19... Kf8 {kam sehr in Betracht; Schwarz sollte meines
Erachtens versuchen, seinen Springer so bald wie möglich auf d5 zu verankern.})
20. g3 h5 $6 (20... Kf8 {kam noch immer in Betracht. Auch}) (20... a5 {gefällt
mir besser als der Textzug, der den Königsflügel unnötig schwächt.}) 21. Rd4
Ba5 $2 {Schwarz sollte die Diagonale a3-f8 nicht aufgeben.} (21... Rxd4 22.
Bxd4 a5 {war angezeigt.}) 22. Ba3+ Ke8 {Der Schaden ist schon nicht mehr zu
reparieren:} (22... Bb4 23. Rxd8 Kxd8 24. Rb1 a5 (24... c5 25. Bc1 $16 {
Jetzt ist der Läufer des Schwarzen plötzlich sehr schlecht geworden und steht
außer Spiel; zudem ermangelt Schwarz der Kontrolle der weißen Felder.}) 25.
Bxb4 $16 {Weiß erhält einen gefährlichen entfernten Freibauern auf der a-Linie.
}) 23. Rad1 Rxd4 24. Rxd4 Rb1 $6 (24... Rd8 $5) 25. Bd3 Re1+ 26. Kf2 Kf7 (26...
Nd5 27. Bg6+ $18) 27. Bc5 $18 Ra1 28. Bc4+ Ke8 29. Bd3 Kf7 30. Bxa7 Ra2+ 31.
Kg1 Ra1+ 32. Kg2 Ra2+ 33. Kh3 Ra3 34. f4 Be1 35. Bc5 Rc3 36. Bc4+ Ke8 37. Bb4
Rc1 38. Bxe1 Rxe1 39. a5 Ra1 40. a6 Ke7 41. Rd2 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A62"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Tisdall,J"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Stohl Bologan} Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7.
g3 {It is a p ity that Kamsky opts for such a quiet line. Topalov is one of
very few top level Benoni players and it would have been interesting to see
him face a more fashionable variation.} Bg7 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Na6 {Less
popular than the reflex Benoni plan of Nbd7, Re8 and a6, though it is also
very respectable.} 10. h3 (10. Nd2 $5 Nc7 11. Nc4 b5 12. Nxd6 Qxd6 13. Bf4 Qb6
$5 14. d6 Ne6 15. Bxa8 Nxf4 16. gxf4 Rd8 17. Qd2 Bh3 18. Bg2 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 b4
20. Nd5 Qb7 21. e4 Nxe4 22. Ne7+ Kf8 23. Qd5 Qxd5 24. Nxd5 Bxb2 25. Rad1 Nxd6
26. Rfe1 a5 $15 {Gerber,R-Anastasian,A/Cannes op/1996/}) 10... Re8 (10... Nc7
11. e4 Nd7 12. Bf4 Qe7 13. Re1 f6 14. a4 Ne5 15. Nxe5 fxe5 16. Be3 b6 17. Rb1
Na6 18. Na2 Bd7 19. Bf1 Nc7 20. b4 Rab8 21. Nc3 Qe8 22. Qc2 Qc8 23. h4 Na6 24.
bxc5 Nxc5 25. Nb5 Bxb5 26. axb5 Rb7 27. Rb4 $16 {Razuvaev,Y-Romero,An/Palma/
1991/}) 11. Nd2 {White's last two moves appear to be accepted theory, and are
both aimed at preventing black from easing his position by relocating the f6N
to g4-e5, or e4. Paradoxically, Topalov's eventual plan involves avoiding
exchanges.} (11. Bf4 Nc7 12. a4 Ne4 13. Nxe4 Rxe4 14. Nd2 Rb4 15. b3 b5 16. Ra2
a5 17. Qc1 Ba6 18. Ne4 Ne8 19. axb5 Bxb5 20. Qc2 c4 21. bxc4 Bxc4 22. Ra3 Bxd5
23. Bg5 Qd7 24. Bd2 Rc8 25. Qd3 Rd4 26. Qe3 Qb7 $36 {Razuvaev,Y-Romanishin,O/
Palma GMA-op/1989/}) (11. Re1 Ne4 12. Nxe4 Rxe4 13. Bg5 Qf8 14. Qc1 Rb4 15. b3
Re4 16. Nd2 Re8 17. Ne4 f5 18. Nc3 Bd7 19. Bf1 b5 20. e4 Nc7 21. a3 a5 22. exf5
Qxf5 23. Bd2 Bd4 24. Be3 Bxc3 25. Qxc3 Nxd5 $17 {Alburt,L-Wedberg,T/New York
op/1988/}) 11... Nc7 (11... Rb8 {Stohl} 12. a4 Nc7 13. Nc4 a6 14. a5 Nb5 15.
Na4 Bf5 16. Nab6 Be4 17. f3 Bf5 18. g4 Bc8 19. Bf4 h5 20. e3 hxg4 21. hxg4 Qe7
22. Qd2 $14 {Burtman,S-Ratcu,T/Kishinev iztW/1995/}) 12. a4 (12. Nc4 $6 b5 $1
13. Nxd6 Qxd6 14. Bf4 Qb6 15. d6 Ne6 16. Bxa8 Nxf4 17. gxf4 Bxh3 18. Bf3 (18.
Bg2 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 b4 20. Na4 Qc6+ 21. Kg1 Qd7 22. e3 Qh3 23. d7 Rd8 24. f3 Qg3+
25. Kh1 Rxd7 26. Qe2 Rd5 $40 {Kiss,A-Lazarev,V/AUT-chT2 9394/1994/}) 18... Bxf1
19. Kxf1 Rd8 20. e4 b4 21. Na4 Qa6+ 22. Kg2 Rxd6 23. Qc2 Nd7 24. e5 Rd4 25.
Nxc5 Nxc5 26. Qxc5 Rxf4 27. Rd1 h5 $17 {Kaidanov-Foisor/Moskva II/1987/}) 12...
b6 13. e4 (13. Nc4 Ba6 14. Na3 Qd7 15. Re1 b5 16. axb5 Nxb5 17. Naxb5 Bxb5 18.
e4 Rab8 19. Ra3 Qc7 20. Be3 a6 21. Qc2 Nd7 22. f4 c4 23. Qf2 f5 24. g4 fxg4 25.
hxg4 g5 $1 26. fxg5 Ne5 $36 {Ionescu,Co-Suba,M/Bukarest/1980/}) (13. Re1 Ba6 $5
14. e4 {-13.e4}) (13. Rb1 Ba6 14. Re1 Nh5 15. Nde4 f5 16. Nd2 Qd7 17. Qc2 Qf7
18. e4 Nf6 19. Rd1 Rad8 20. Nf3 Bc8 21. e5 dxe5 22. d6 Na6 23. Ng5 Nb4 24. Nxf7
Nxc2 25. Nxd8 Rxd8 26. Bg5 Nd4 27. b4 cxb4 28. Rxb4 Rxd6 $44 {Kobylkin-Tunik,G/
Yalta op/1995/}) 13... Ba6 14. Re1 Nd7 15. Nf3 Qe7 $5 $146 {A very interesting
novelty from Topalov. Previously  Stohl:Topalov's new move is stronger-White's
pieces are not so ideally placed for action in the center, so Black doesn't
exchange the Nf3 and starts maneuvring. Tactically it also works.  Bologan:
Novelty. Of course it doesn't look like real improvement just a simple
developpment.} (15... Ne5 {had been played, though this led to a pleasant
white advantage after} 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 {N} 17. Be3 Bg7 18. Qd2 $14 Rb8 19. Rab1
$1 {Goldin,A-Emms,J/ Cappelle la Grande 54/69 1992 Black's idea here has a lot
of nice advantages; he avoids the exchange of knights. In fact, the N on f3
hinders both the expansion of the center and easy protection of d5 by the Bg2,
while black's knight on d7 is one of his most flexible pieces. The Q is headed
for f8 where it will preserve the Bg7, guard d6, support the kingside and help
expansion with h6/g5 as well as ...f5. I'm very impressed, and only wish it
were as easy to find such ideas as it is to see their merits afterwards.} (19.
Rab1 Bc8 (19... b5 {Bologan} 20. b4 $1) 20. b4 cxb4 21. Rxb4 Na6 22. Rbb1 Bd7
23. Nb5 Bxb5 24. axb5 Nc5 25. Bd4 Rb7 26. Re3 Rbe7 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. Qd4+ f6
29. f4 $16 {[%csl Gd5,Ge4] [+],Goldin,A-Emms,J/Cappelle op/1992/})) 16. Bf4 (
16. Be3 $5 {would be desirable, but the e4 pawn requires attention. Snatching
it off at once is risky:} Bxc3 $2 (16... Qf8 17. Qc2 {is similar to the game,
but white will find it harder to achieve the thematic advance b2-b4 while
protecting e4.}) 17. bxc3 Qxe4 18. Bxc5 Be2 19. Rxe2 Qxe2 20. Bxd6 Qxd1+ 21.
Rxd1 Rac8 22. Nd4 {must give white much more than compensation.}) (16. e5 $2
Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. f4 $2 Bd4+) 16... Qf8 17. Qc2 (17. Qd2 h6 18. Rab1 g5
19. Be3 f5 $5 (19... Bxc3 $5 20. bxc3 Nf6 (20... Rxe4 $2 21. Nxg5 Rxe3 22. Qxe3
hxg5 23. Qxg5+ Qg7 24. Qe7))) 17... h6 18. Rab1 {[%cal Yb2b4] /\b4} g5 19. Bd2
Bb7 {One of the differences between Topalov's idea and the stem game becomes
clearer. The white queen has been forced to take up a post on c2, rather than
d2, to keep a watchful eye on e4 and f5. A result of this (and the presence of
an extra pair of knights) is that the d5 pawn is much weaker now, and ...f5 is
a nagging possibility. Black also prepares to hurry the Nc7 back into play via
a6.} 20. Nh2 {Greener pastures beckon - on f3 the knight is fairly useless.
But what about the trusty b4 break?  Stohl: Inconsequent. Now with a few
clever N maneuvers Black gets a position with rich counterplay.} (20. b4 Na6 (
20... cxb4 21. Rxb4 Na6 $36 {[%cal Ra6c5,Ra8c8] /\Nac5,Rac8 is dubious-Black's
pieces get too many good squares.}) 21. bxc5 Naxc5 22. Nb5 Rec8 {and black's
activity guarantees him good chances.} (22... Ba6 $5 {is also interesting.})) (
20. Nb5 $142 $5 Nxb5 (20... Na6 21. Bc3 $14) 21. axb5 Ne5 22. Nxe5 Bxe5 23. Bc3
{/+/=/}) (20. Nd1 {[%csl Rf5][%cal Rd1e3] /\Ne3,><f5} f5 $8 21. exf5 Bxd5 22.
Nc3 Bc6 $132 {[%cal Rd6d4] /\d5-d4}) 20... Ne5 21. Ng4 (21. f4 $6 gxf4 22. gxf4
Nc4 23. Bc1 f5 $1 (23... Nxd5 24. Nxd5 Bxd5 25. Rd1 Bd4+ 26. Kh1 Be6 27. f5 $16
) 24. b3 Na5 $36) 21... Nc4 (21... Nxg4 $6 22. hxg4 {[%cal Yc3d1,Yd1e3,Ye3f5] /
\Nd1-e3-f5->}) 22. Ne3 Nxe3 (22... Nxd2 $5 23. Qxd2 Bc8 $13) 23. Bxe3 {After
much running around, the threat of Nf5 has finally led to type of position
seen in Goldin-Emms, but black has gained time to prevent the b4 advance.} Na6
24. Nb5 Nb4 25. Qd2 {Bologan: Better looks 25.Qb3 with the idea of Bd2.} Red8
26. Kh2 {It looks natural to clear the g-line to prepare f4, but the immediate
advance looks critical as well:  Stohl: Loses a tempo. Bologan: Typical Gata's
move. Even when he was playing the soviet youth champioships he was using any
possibility to improve the position by playing h3,Kh2 or h6,Kh7.} (26. f4 a6
27. Nc3 gxf4 28. gxf4 {Stohl:} (28. Bxf4 Re8 29. Re2 $14) 28... Re8 $5 {
still looks solid for black} (28... Qe7 29. Ne2 $5 {looks more pleasant for
white, who has gained the fearsome g3 square as a launching pad for his knight,
though even here} Kh8 30. Ng3 Rg8 31. Nf5 Qf6 {may give enough counterplay.}) (
28... f5 $6 29. e5 $1 dxe5 30. fxe5 Bxe5 31. Bxh6 {looks very risky for black.}
) 29. f5 $5 (29. Ne2 f5) 29... Kh7 30. Rf1 Bf6 {and white has paid rather a
high price for preventing ...f5.}) 26... a6 27. Nc3 (27. Na3 $5 {Bologan} f5
28. f4 $16) 27... Re8 28. f4 gxf4 29. Bxf4 $1 {White prefers a more civilized
approach since} (29. gxf4 f5 {should again be pleasant for black.}) 29... Bc8 (
29... c4 $6 30. Be3 $1 Nd3 31. Rf1 Nc5 32. Qe2 $36) 30. Re2 {Bologan: Kamsky
is improving the position of his rooks but I think the first guy who should be
put on better square is the knight on 'c3'.} (30. Nd1 $5 {Bologan}) 30... Bd7 (
30... f5 $6 31. Rf1 $40) 31. Rbe1 (31. Rf1 $5 {is a very natural alternative,
though it is not so easy to mount frightening pressure against f7.} b5 (31...
c4 $6 32. Be3 b5 33. axb5 axb5 34. Ref2 $16 (34. Nxb5 $5 $16)) 32. a5 $5 {
and now most moves with Ra8 are interesting - I would estimate the position is
roughly balanced.} (32. axb5 Bxb5 $1 (32... axb5 33. Ref2 $14) 33. Nxb5 axb5
34. Ref2 Ra2)) 31... c4 32. e5 (32. Nb5 $5 {looks the most entertaining way to
play.} axb5 33. Qxb4 Rxa4 34. Qxd6 Qxd6 35. Bxd6 Ra2 36. e5 Bf5 37. Bc7 b4 38.
d6 $5 {with absolute pandemonium.}) 32... dxe5 (32... Nd3 $2 33. e6 Nxe1 34.
Qxe1 $18 {[%cal Re6d7,Re6e7] /\e7,ed7 /\}) 33. Bxe5 Rxe5 {Of course black
plays to keep his dark-squared bishop.} (33... Bxe5 34. Rxe5 $16 {[%csl Rf6,
Rg6,Rg7,Rh7] ׻}) 34. Rxe5 Nd3 {It's very important for Black to keep his
Bg7-a strong defensive and attacking piece.} 35. Re7 Nxe1 36. Qxe1 $1 {[%csl
Gd7,Gg7] Black's active B-pair (especially Bg7) compensate him for the weak
K-side and passed d-pawn.} (36. Rxd7 Nd3 $5 {should not be dangerous for black
- his pieces are active and the d-pawn is not frightening for the time being.}
(36... Nxg2 37. Qxg2 (37. Kxg2 Qe8 $15) 37... Qe8 $13)) 36... Rd8 37. Qe4 b5
38. d6 $1 (38. axb5 $5 axb5 (38... Bf5 $1 {is a better try when black's
pressure against b2 gives him good counterplay. Kamsky's choice looks more
testing since he keeps his pieces well centralized.}) 39. d6 b4 40. Nd5 c3 {
looks better for white - he can try} 41. b3 {with ideas like Qf4, or Bf1-d3!?
to follow.} Be6 $2 42. Rxe6 $1 fxe6 43. Ne7+) 38... bxa4 $1 (38... Be6 $5 {
looks like a solid alternative.} 39. Qf4 $1 {is more testing.} (39. axb5 Rxd6 {
looks slightly better for black.}) 39... Bxc3 {is risky, but critical} 40. bxc3
bxa4 41. Bc6 $5 (41. Ra7 Rxd6 (41... Qxd6 $5) 42. Ra8 Rd8 43. Rxa6 a3 44. Qc1 {
is marginally better for white.})) (38... b4 39. Nd5 $36) 39. Qxc4 (39. Qf4 a3
$1 (39... Bxc3 40. bxc3 Be6 {transposes into the previous note.}) 40. bxa3 Bxc3
41. Rxd7 Rxd7 42. Qg4+ Kh8 43. Qxd7 Be5 {favors black, and vindicates his 38th
move.}) (39. Nd5 $6 Bxb2 $15 {[%csl Ga4] o^a}) 39... Be6 40. Qxa4 (40. Qxa6 $5)
40... Be5 (40... Rxd6 $4 41. Re8) 41. Ne4 (41. Qxa6 Bxd6 42. Ra7 Bb8 43. Ra8
Qg7 44. Ne4 Qxb2) (41. Rxe6 fxe6 42. Qg4+ Kh8 43. Qxe6 Qxd6 $17) (41. Ra7 $5
Qxd6 42. Ne4 Qd4 $10) 41... Bxd6 42. Ra7 Be5 43. b3 (43. Rxa6 Rd4 $5 (43...
Bxb2 $10) 44. Qa3 Qg7 45. Ra4 $5 $10) 43... Qg7 44. Qxa6 (44. Rxa6 $5 Rd4 (
44... Bf5 45. Ra8) (44... Bd5 $6 45. Qa5 $1 {and white gains the upper hand.} (
45. Nf6+ Bxf6 46. Bxd5 Be5 $1 (46... Rxd5 47. Qe8+))) 45. Qe8+ Kh7 46. Rxe6
fxe6 47. Qxe6 {should be safe for white.}) 44... Rd4 {[#]} 45. b4 $4 {A very
peculiar move that perhaps just shows how draining this tremendous battle has
been. After} (45. Qb5 $1 {white parries all threats.} h5 {is probably too
loosening.} 46. h4 $2 (46. Ra8+ Kh7 47. Qe2 {looks worrying for black. Black
does better to sit tight when his bishop pair and kingside pressure make
white's technical task highly problematic.}) 46... Bxg3+ $1 {is the idea but})
(45. Re7 $142 $5 Bf5 (45... Rxe4 $2 46. Qa8+ $18) (45... Bd5 46. Rxe5 Qxe5 47.
Nf6+ $16) (45... Qg6 46. Qa5 Rxe4 47. Qa8+ Kg7 48. Qxe4 Qxg3+ 49. Kg1 Kf8 $10)
46. Qa8+ (46. Rxe5 Qxe5 47. Nf6+ Kf8 $17) 46... Kh7 47. Qb7 $1 $132 {/\} Rxe4
$6 48. Rxf7 Bxg3+ 49. Kg1 Re1+ 50. Bf1) (45. Qf1 Bd5 46. Ra4 Rxa4 47. bxa4 Bxe4
$19) 45... Bf5 $1 {This brings unbearable pressure to bear on e4 and
simultaneously blunts the b1-h7 diagonal that was providing white with
counterplay.} (45... Rxe4 $4 46. Ra8+ Kh7 47. Bxe4+ $18) 46. Qe2 $2 (46. Ra8+
Kh7 47. Qe2 (47. Qf1 Bxe4 48. Bxe4+ Rxe4 49. Qf5+ Qg6) 47... Rxe4 48. Qf2 $1 {
was the only way to fight on.} (48. Bxe4 $2 Qxg3+ 49. Kh1 Qxh3+ 50. Kg1 Bd4+))
(46. Qb7 Rxe4 $1 $19) 46... Bxe4 $19 {preventing the check on a8.} 47. Ra3 (47.
Bxe4 Qxg3+ 48. Kh1 Rd1+ $1 49. Qxd1 Qh2#) 47... Bxg2 48. Kxg2 Rxb4 49. Ra8+ Kh7
(49... Kh7 50. Qd3+ Qg6) 0-1

[Event "Leon"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Horvath,Ta"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "1996.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 Be6 14. g3 O-O
15. Bg2 a5 16. O-O f5 17. Qe2 $1 (17. Re1 $5 {Svidler-Filippov/CBM/51/695})
17... Rb8 18. Rfd1 Kh8 19. Rd2 Qd7 20. Rad1 Qf7 21. b3 Na7 $6 (21... e4 22. Nf4
Be5 $6 (22... Bxc3 $1 23. Rxd6 Nd8 $13) 23. Rxd6 Bxd6 24. Rxd6 Nd8 25. Nd4 Bd7
26. f3 $1 $16) 22. Kh1 Nc8 23. Na3 Na7 24. f4 $1 Bxd5 25. Rxd5 exf4 26. gxf4
Bxc3 27. Qd3 $1 Bb2 28. Nc2 Nc6 29. Rxb5 Nb4 30. Nxb4 axb4 31. Rxb8 Rxb8 32.
Qxd6 Qf8 33. Qd7 Qc5 34. Bd5 Rf8 35. Qe6 Bg7 36. Rg1 Qc7 37. Rg3 Qd8 38. Qc6
Qe7 39. Be6 h6 40. Kg2 Rf6 41. Qa8+ Bf8 42. Bd5 Kh7 43. Bg8+ Kh8 44. Kh3 $1 {
Die weisse Konig ist hier unangreiffbar.} Rd6 45. Bc4 Rd8 46. Qa5 Bg7 47. Qxf5
Rf8 48. Qd5 Qf6 49. Qd7 Qf5+ 50. Qxf5 Rxf5 51. Kg4 Ra5 52. Rg2 Bf6 53. Kf3 Bg7
54. Ke4 Kh7 55. h3 Kh8 56. Be6 Kh7 57. Rc2 Bc3 58. Kd3 Kg7 59. f5 Kf6 60. Rg2
Ke5 61. Kc4 Ra7 62. h4 Rc7+ 63. Kd3 Kf4 64. Rg6 Rg7 65. a4 1-0

[Event "Leon"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2675"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1996.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. f4 Nbd7 (7...
Be7 8. Be3 Qc7 9. Bf3 (9. g4 d5 $5 10. exd5 (10. e5 Ne4 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. h4
Nd7 13. c4 b6 14. Qc2 Bb7 15. O-O-O Nc5 16. Kb1 O-O-O 17. g5 Nd3 18. Rhf1 Bc5
19. Bxd3 Bxd4 20. Bxd4 Rxd4 {1/2-1/2 Bologan,V-Novikov,I/St.Petersburg op (09)
;EXP 46 1995}) 10... Bb4 11. dxe6 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qxc3+ 13. Kf2 fxe6 14. Qd3 Qc7
15. Bf3 O-O $132 {1/2-1/2 Yemelin,V-Novikov,I/Novgorod op (08) ;EXP 49 1995 
(16)}) (9. O-O O-O 10. a4 b6 11. Bf3 Bb7 12. f5 $6 (12. g4 d5 13. e5 Ne4 $13)
12... e5 13. Nde2 Nbd7 $10 {Lutz,C-Gelfand,B/Cap d'Agde (01) ;EXP 43 1994/0-1 
(61)}) 9... Nc6 10. Qe2 Nxd4 $1 (10... O-O 11. O-O-O Nxd4 12. Rxd4 e5 13. fxe5
dxe5 14. Rc4 Qd8 15. Rd1 Bd7 16. Bc5 b5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Rc7 Rfc8 19. Rxc8+
Rxc8 $10 {1/2-1/2 Gipslis,A-Arnason,J/Jurmala 1987 (39)}) 11. Bxd4 e5 12. Be3
b5 13. O-O-O O-O 14. g4 $6 (14. fxe5 dxe5 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Bd6 17. g4 $132
) (14. f5 b4 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. Rxd5 a5 $10) 14... b4 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 exf4
17. Bxf4 a5 $15 {Anand,V-Topalov,V/Amsterdam VSB (02) ;CBM 52 1996/0-1 (51)})
8. Bf3 Qb6 (8... Qc7 9. O-O Be7 (9... Rb8 10. a4 b6 11. Kh1 Bb7 12. Qe1 h5 13.
f5 e5 14. Nb3 Be7 15. Qg3 Kf8 16. Bg5 $16 {Hlgatian,G-Haroutjunian,D/Erevan op
(06) ;EXP 52 1996/0-1 (53)}) 10. Kh1 Nf8 (10... h6 $6 11. Qe1 Rg8 12. f5 Ne5
13. Be2 b5 14. a3 Bd7 15. Qg3 $16 {1-0 Totsky,L-Petrushin,A/Kstovo op (07) ;
EXP 42 1994 (39)}) 11. e5 dxe5 12. fxe5 N6d7 13. Bf4 Ng6 14. Bh5 $13 {1-0
Emelin,V-Galkin,A/St.Petersburg op (05) 1994 (28)}) 9. a3 e5 10. Nde2 Qc5 11.
g4 exf4 12. Nxf4 Ne5 13. h3 Be6 14. g5 Nfd7 15. Nfd5 g6 $6 (15... Rc8 16. Be3
Qa5 17. Be2 Bxd5 18. Qxd5 Qxd5 19. exd5 Be7 $10) 16. Be2 Bg7 17. Be3 Qc6 18.
Qd2 Nc4 (18... Bxd5 19. Nxd5 Nc5 20. Qb4 Kf8 21. O-O-O a5 22. Qe1 (22. Qb6 $6
Nxe4 23. Bb5 Qxb6 24. Nxb6 $44) 22... Nxe4 23. Nb6 Re8 24. Qxa5 $16) 19. Bxc4
Qxc4 20. O-O-O Rc8 21. Kb1 $16 Rd8 22. b3 Qc6 23. Bd4 Bxd4 24. Qxd4 Ne5 25. Qf2
Kd7 (25... Nd7 26. h4 $16) 26. Rd4 f5 (26... Qc5 27. Rhd1 Nc6 (27... Qxa3 28.
Rb4 Rb8 29. Qb6 $18) 28. Na4 Qxa3 29. Nab6+ Ke8 30. Nc7+ $18) 27. gxf6 $18 Rhf8
28. Rhd1 Ke8 29. Qe3 Rc8 30. R1d2 Qc5 31. Kb2 b5 (31... Nc6 32. Na4 Qa5 (32...
Qa7 33. Nab6 Nxd4 34. Nxc8 Bxc8 35. Rxd4 $18) 33. Nab6 Nxd4 34. b4 $18) 32. Qg3
Rf7 33. h4 a5 34. a4 b4 35. Nb5 Rb7 36. Kb1 (36. Ne3 $2 Rxb5 37. axb5 Qc3+ 38.
Kb1 Bxb3 $13) 36... Rxb5 37. axb5 Qxb5 38. Qf4 (38. h5 $18) 38... Nf7 39. Qf2
Rc5 40. Nf4 Re5 41. Rxd6 Nxd6 (41... Nxd6 42. Rxd6 Bg8 43. Qa7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Lobron, Eric"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Dolmatov} Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. h3
Bg7 (7... a6 8. a4 Qe7 9. Bg5 Bg7 10. e3 h6 (10... Nbd7 11. Bd3 (11. Be2 $142)
11... h6 12. Bh4 O-O 13. O-O Re8 14. a5 Qf8 15. Nd2 Ne5 16. Bc2 g5 17. Bg3 Bd7
18. f4 gxf4 19. exf4 Ng6 20. Qf3 Bb5 21. Rfe1 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Re8 23. Ra1 $6 Qe7
24. Nxb5 axb5 25. Re1 Qd8 26. Rxe8+ Nxe8 $17 {Jakobsen,O-De Firmian,N/
Copenhagen PC/1996/}) 11. Bh4 Nbd7 12. Be2 Ne5 13. Nd2 g5 14. Bg3 Bf5 15. O-O
O-O 16. a5 Rae8 17. Ra3 Nfd7 18. Kh1 Bh7 19. Rb3 Rb8 20. f4 Nd3 21. Nc4 Nb4 22.
e4 $1 b5 23. axb6 Nxb6 24. f5 Nxc4 25. Bxc4 $14 {[%csl Rh7] ץh7,Hansen,
Cu-Emms,J/Copenhagen PC/1996/}) 8. e4 O-O 9. Bd3 b5 10. Nxb5 (10. O-O b4 11.
Ne2 Re8 12. Ng3 Nfd7 13. Qc2 Ba6 14. Bxa6 Nxa6 15. Bg5 Bf6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17.
Nd2 Nc7 18. Nc4 Nb5 19. f4 Qh4 20. Kh2 Nb6 21. Ne3 Qe7 22. Rae1 h5 23. Qf2 Qf6
24. e5 $1 dxe5 25. f5 Nd6 26. fxg6 Qxf2 27. Rxf2 fxg6 28. Rf6 $40 {Petursson,
M-Borbjerggaard,L/Copenhagen PC/1996/}) 10... Re8 11. O-O Nxe4 12. Re1 (12. Qb3
a6 13. Na3 Nd7 14. Nc4 Rb8 (14... Ndf6 15. Re1 Ra7 16. Qb6 $1 Qxb6 17. Nxb6 Bf5
18. a4 a5 19. Bb5 Rb8 20. g4 Rxb6 21. gxf5 Rbb7 22. Ra3 Re7 23. fxg6 hxg6 24.
Rae3 Bh6 25. Rxe4 Rxe4 26. Bxh6 Rxe1+ 27. Nxe1 Nxd5 28. Nc2 Nc7 29. Bf4 $16 {
Epishin,V-Nepomnishay,MI/St.Petersburg-ch/1996/}) 15. Qc2 f5 16. Bf4 Nb6 17.
Nxb6 Qxb6 18. Rab1 Bd7 19. Nd2 Nxd2 20. Qxd2 Bd4 $5 (20... Bb5 $10) 21. Rfe1
Rxe1+ 22. Qxe1 Re8 23. Qd2 a5 24. b3 Be5 25. a3 Bb5 26. Bxb5 Qxb5 27. Bxe5 Rxe5
28. Re1 $10 {Karpov,An-Kamsky,G (15)/Fide-Wch (Elista)/1996/}) (12. Qa4 Bd7 13.
Bxe4 Bxb5 14. Qxb5 Rxe4 15. Bg5 Qb6 16. Qd3 Re8 17. Rab1 Nd7 18. b3 Ne5 19.
Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Rbc1 Bg7 21. Rfe1 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 a6 23. Qe3 Qb5 $10 {Franco,
Z-Otero,E/Capablanca mem-B/1991/}) 12... a6 (12... Bd7 13. a4 a6 14. Na3 Nf6
15. Nc4 Rxe1+ 16. Nxe1 Ra7 17. Qf3 Bc8 18. Nc2 Bb7 19. Bg5 h6 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21.
N2e3 Bg5 22. Qg3 Ba8 23. a5 Qf6 24. Ng4 Qf4 25. Qxf4 Bxf4 26. Re1 $36 {Horvath,
J-Dinstuhl,V/Budapest FS03 GM/1994/}) 13. Qa4 (13. Na3 Nf6 14. Rxe8+ Nxe8 15.
Nc4 Nd7 16. Bg5 Ndf6 17. Bc2 Bb7 18. Ne3 Nc7 19. Bb3 h6 20. Bh4 Bc8 21. Qc2 Nb5
22. Rd1 Bd7 23. Bg3 Rc8 24. Qd3 Nh5 25. Bh2 Qf6 26. Nc4 Nf4 27. Qe3 g5 28. Nb6
Re8 29. Nxd7 Qd8 30. Nde5 Bxe5 $132 {Chuchelov,V-Hendriks,W/NLD-ch op/1992/})
13... Nd7 $5 $146 {A nice new idea. The pawn sacrifice is only temporary and
seems to solve Black's problems in this line after 13.Qa4.} (13... Bd7 14. Qa3
Qb6 15. Nc3 Nxc3 16. Rxe8+ Bxe8 17. bxc3 Nd7 18. Bf4 Qc7 19. Rb1 $5 (19. Re1
Nf6 20. c4 a5 21. Qc1 Bd7 22. Bd2 a4 23. Bc3 Re8 24. Rxe8+ $10 {1/2,Wells,P-De
Firmian,N/Copenhagen PC/1996/}) 19... Nb6 20. c4 a5 21. Ng5 Nd7 22. Bf1 Ne5 23.
Nf3 Nxf3+ 24. Qxf3 Rb8 25. Re1 Bd7 26. Qg3 Bf8 27. Bd3 Re8 28. Rf1 Ba4 29. h4
$14 {Krasenkov,M-De Firmian,N/Polanica Zdroj/1995/}) 14. Rxe4 (14. Bxe4 Nb6 15.
Qb3 axb5 16. Qxb5 Ba6 (16... Bb7 $5 17. Bg5 f6 $13) 17. Qb3 Bc4 $10) 14... Rxe4
15. Qxe4 (15. Bxe4 Nb6 16. Qb3 axb5 17. Qxb5 Ba6 $10) 15... Nf6 (15... axb5 {
Dolmatov} 16. Bxb5 Nf6) 16. Qh4 (16. Qa4 Bd7 17. Qb3 axb5 18. Bxb5 Bxb5 19.
Qxb5 Nxd5 $15 {[%cal Ga8a2,Gb8b2,Gg7b2] <->a,b,/^a1-h8}) 16... axb5 17. Bxb5
Qb6 18. a4 Bb7 (18... Qxb5 $2 {Dolmatov} 19. axb5 Rxa1 20. Qf4 Nxd5 21. Qxd6
Rxc1+ 22. Kh2) 19. Bh6 Bxd5 (19... Bh8 $5 $13) 20. Nd2 (20. Bxg7 {Dolmatov}
Kxg7 21. Qf4 $15) 20... Qb7 $10 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Qg3 (22. f3 $5 Bc6 23. Bxc6
Qxc6 24. b3 $10) 22... Nh5 $1 23. Qc3+ (23. Qxd6 $6 Bxg2 24. Qxc5 Kg8 $5 $44 {
[%csl Rf2,Rg1,Rh3] ׻} (24... Nf4 $2 25. Qd4+) (24... Bxh3 $2 25. Qc3+)) 23...
Kg8 24. f3 (24. Bf1 Nf4 25. g3 Ne6) 24... Qe7 25. Ne4 $6 (25. Nf1 $142 Nf4 26.
Qd2 (26. Re1 {Dolmatov} Qg5 $19) 26... Qg5 27. Kh2 $10) 25... Bxe4 26. fxe4 $6
{Now White will have insufficient compensation for the pawn, Black will
activate his N fast.} (26. Re1 d5 (26... Nf4 27. fxe4 (27. Rxe4 {Dolmatov} Qg5
$17) 27... Qg5 28. Qf3 $15) 27. fxe4 d4 $15) 26... Qxe4 27. Re1 Qb7 {[%cal
Yh5f4,Yf4e6,Ye6d4] /\Nf4-e6-d4} 28. Rf1 Ng7 29. Qf6 (29. b4 $5 {Dolmatov} cxb4
30. Qxb4) 29... Nf5 (29... Qd5 $2 30. Bc6 $1 Qxc6 31. Qxf7+ Kh8 32. Qf8+ $1)
30. Re1 $2 (30. Bc4 d5 $17) (30. Rxf5 $5 gxf5 31. Qxd6 $15 {[%csl Rc5,Rf5,Rf7,
Rg8,Rh7] ק,K The immediate exchange sacrifice was a good chance to save the
game. Black's weak pawns and K give White realistic drawing chances. Later
White adopts this idea in a worse version.} (31. Qg5+ {Dolmatov} Kf8 32. Qh6+
Ke7 33. Qg5+ Ke6 $17)) (30. g4 Nd4 (30... Ne3 31. Rf2 Qd5 $36) 31. Qxd6 Nxb5
32. axb5 Qxb5 $17 33. Rxf7 $2 Ra1+ {[%cal Rg8f7] /\Kf7-+}) 30... Qd5 {Black
activates his Q-it's zig-zag will decide the game.} 31. b3 (31. Be8 Qd4+ 32.
Qxd4 Nxd4 $17) 31... Qd2 $1 {A strong move. Before taking tha b3P Black chases
White's R away from the e-file.} (31... Qd4+ $6 32. Qxd4 Nxd4 33. Bc4 $15) (
31... Qxb3 32. Bd7 Qg3 $17 (32... Qg3 {Dolmatov} 33. Rf1)) 32. Rf1 Qe3+ 33. Kh2
Qg3+ 34. Kg1 Qxb3 35. Rxf5 (35. Bd7 {Dolmatov} Ng3 $17) 35... gxf5 {White has
no perpetual check.} 36. Qg5+ (36. Qxd6 Qe3+ 37. Kh1 f4 $19) 36... Kf8 37. Qh6+
Ke7 38. Qh4+ f6 $8 39. Qxh7+ Qf7 40. Qxf5 Kd8 $19 {[%csl Gc5,Gd6] Now Black's
K is safe and the united passed pawns will sooner or later decide the game.
The exchange sacrifice came too late.} 41. Bc6 Ra7 42. Bd5 Qe7 {[%cal Re7e1,
Re1e5] /\Qe1-e5-+} 43. Qb1 Kc8 (43... Kc7 {Dolmatov} 44. a5) 44. Qf5+ Kc7 45.
Qb1 Qe3+ (45... Qd7 46. a5 Rxa5 47. Qb7+ Kd8 48. Qb8+ Ke7 49. Qg8 $132) 46. Kh1
Qd2 $1 47. Qb3 (47. Bf3 d5 $19) 47... Qc1+ (47... Qc1+ 48. Kh2 Qf4+ 49. Kh1
Qxa4 $19) 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.12"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B89"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Petursson Dolmatov} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6.
Bc4 e6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qe2 O-O 9. O-O-O Bd7 (9... a6 10. Bb3 Qc7) 10. f4 (10. Bb3
$5 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Qa5 12. Rhg1 {P g4-g5,f4~/=} b5 $2 (12... Bc6 13. g4 e5 14.
Nd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 Bb5 $13) (12... Rac8 13. g4 e5 14. Be3 Rxc3 $1 $44 {Ivanov,
Alexa-Dlugy, Philadelphia 1989}) 13. e5 $1 dxe5 14. Qxe5 $14 {1-0 Yudasin,
L-Fedorowicz,J/Novi Sad olm (07) URS-USA 1990 (38)}) 10... Rc8 (10... a6 $6 11.
e5 dxe5 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. fxe5 Nd5 14. Ne4 $14 {1-0 Timman,J-Ljubojevic,L/Novi
Sad olm (13) NLD-JUG 1990 (42)}) (10... Qc8 $5 11. Nf3 Qc7 12. Kb1 a6 13. Bd3
e5 14. f5 Nb4 15. Rhg1 d5 16. exd5 Nfxd5 $132 {Wolff,P-Dlugy, Toronto 1989})
11. e5 (11. Bb3 Na5 12. e5 Nxb3+ 13. axb3 Ne8 14. Kb1 Qa5 15. Bc1 dxe5 16. fxe5
Nc7 $10 {0-1 Szuk,B-Feher,G/Budapest FS DecGM (08) ;EXP 45 1994 (34)}) (11. f5
Na5 12. Bd3 e5 13. Nb3 b5 14. Bxb5 Rxc3 15. bxc3 Nxe4 $10 {Kholmov,R-Tal,M/URS/
1968/}) 11... Ne8 (11... dxe5 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. fxe5 Nd5 14. Ne4 Qc7 15. Bc5
$16) (11... Nxd4 12. Bxd4) 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. f5 exf5 (13... Bxg2 14. Rhg1 (14.
fxe6 Rxc4 15. exf7+ Rxf7 16. Qxg2 $16) 14... Bh3 15. f6 $16) (13... d5 14. Bd3
$16) 14. e6 Kh8 (14... f6 15. Bxa7 $16) 15. exf7 Nf6 16. Be6 Bd7 17. Bb3 $1 {
Um dem B-Tausch aus dem Wege zu gehen, opfert Topalov die Qualität.} (17. Bd4
Ne4 (17... Bxe6 $5 {Dolmatov} 18. Qxe6 Qd7 19. Qxd7 Nxd7 20. Nd5 Bg5+ 21. Kb1
Rxf7 22. Bxa7 $10) 18. Bb3 (18. Bxd7 $2 {Dolmatov} Nxc3 $15)) 17... f4 (17...
Ng4 {Dolmatov} 18. Bf4 Bg5 19. Qd2 Bxf4 20. Qxf4) (17... Bc6 $5 {Dolmatov} 18.
Rhf1 Qd7) 18. Bxf4 Bg4 19. Qe3 Bxd1 20. Rxd1 a6 21. Be6 Rc5 22. g4 b5 23. h4 b4
24. Ne2 Qc7 (24... Qa8 {Dolmatov} 25. g5 Nd5 26. Bxd5 Rxd5 27. Qxe7 Rxd1+ 28.
Kxd1 Qd5+ 29. Ke1 Qh1+ 30. Kf2 Qxh4+ 31. Bg3) 25. g5 (25. Nd4 {Dolmatov} Nd5 (
25... Qb7 26. g5 Nd5 27. Bxd5 Rxd5) 26. Bxd5 Rxd5 27. Ne6 Rxd1+ 28. Kxd1 $16)
25... Rxc2+ 26. Kb1 Nh5 (26... Nd7 {Dolmatov} 27. Bb3 Rc5 28. Qxe7) 27. Bh2 g6
(27... b3 $5 28. axb3 (28. Bxb3 Rc8 $132) 28... g6 $16) 28. Bb3 Rc5 (28... Rc8
29. Qd3 Rc6 30. Be6 $16) 29. Nf4 Re5 (29... Ng7 {Dolmatov} 30. Ne6 Nxe6 31.
Qxe6 $18) 30. Qd4 Nxf4 31. Bxf4 Qc5 32. Bxe5+ dxe5 (32... Qxe5 33. Qf2 $16) 33.
Qe4 Kg7 34. Bd5 Qd6 35. Bb3 Qc5 36. Rc1 Qd4 37. Qb7 Bd8 38. Rd1 Qb6 (38... Qxh4
$2 39. Rxd8 Rxd8 40. f8=Q+ Kxf8 41. Qf7#) 39. Qe4 Bc7 40. Bc4 a5 41. Rd7 a4 (
41... Qg1+ {Dolmatov} 42. Kc2 Qf2+ 43. Kb3 Qg3+ 44. Ka4 $16) 42. Qf3 Bd8 43.
Qg3 Bc7 44. b3 a3 45. Qf3 Bd8 46. Kc2 Kh8 47. Kd3 Kg7 48. Ke2 Kh8 49. Qd5 Bc7
50. Rd8 $3 {The most beautiful winning move.} (50. Rxc7 $1 {Petursson} Qxc7 51.
Qe6 {now Black must give a piece and resign}) 50... Bxd8 (50... Rxd8 51. Qxd8+
Bxd8 52. f8=Q#) 51. Qxe5+ Bf6 52. Qxf6+ Qxf6 53. gxf6 h5 (53... h6 54. Kf3 Kh7
55. Kf4 Kh8 56. Ke5 Kh7 57. Ke6 Rb8 58. Bb5 Rf8 59. Ke7 $16) 54. Kf3 Kh7 55.
Kf4 Kh6 56. Ke5 g5 57. Ke6 Rb8 58. Bb5 Rh8 (58... Kg6 {Dolmatov} 59. Be8 Rb6+
60. Ke5 Rxf6 61. f8=Q+ $18) 59. Ke7 Kg6 60. Bd3+ 1-0

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B72"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Har Zvi,R"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Bb3 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. O-O b6 11. Qd3 (11. Bg5 Nxb3 12. axb3 Bb7 13. Qd3 a6 {
transposes to the game}) (11. Re1 Bb7 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 Rc8 14. Nd5 g5 15.
Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. Bg3 Nxb3 17. axb3 Bxd4 18. Qxd4 Rxc2 19. Rxa7 Qc7 20. Qd1 Rc8
$13 {De Firmian,N-Kaliksteyn,A 1995}) 11... Bb7 12. Bg5 (12. Bd5 Qd7 13. Bxb7
Qxb7 14. Rad1 Rac8 15. Rfe1 {Moldovan,D-Marin,M Bucuresti 1994 60/230 [Marin,M]
} a6 $1 16. Nf3 b5 17. a3 Nc4 18. Bc1 Rc7 $15 {Marin}) (12. Rad1 Rc8 13. Rfe1
Rxc3 14. Qxc3 Nxe4 15. Qd3 Nxb3 16. Nxb3 Qc7 17. c3 Nc5 18. Nxc5 bxc5 19. Bg5
$13 {/+/= Kholmov,R-Hachian,M Moscow 1995}) (12. f4 Rc8 13. Rae1 Rxc3 14. Qxc3
Nxe4 15. Qd3 Nxb3 16. axb3 e5 17. Ne2 Qa8 18. b4 Nf6 19. Rf2 Ne4 20. Rff1 Re8 {
with good compensation for black Mortensen-Kudrin 1983}) 12... Nxb3 13. axb3 a6
14. Rfe1 h6 15. Bd2 $2 {normally in this position the bishop goes to h4,where
he can put some presure along the h4-d8 diagonal,and indeed white's bishop is
not good on d2} (15. Bh4 Re8 16. Rad1 Qc7 17. Nde2 Rac8 18. Rd2 b5 19. f3 b4
20. Na4 d5 21. exd5 Nxd5 {when black has a good position Mitkov,N-Osmanbegovic,
S Cannas op 1995}) 15... b5 16. f4 e6 {black is already better,he has the pair
of bishops it is not clear where white wants to attack,and black just wants to
open the center with e5 and d5,now we can see why the bishop is needed on h4}
17. Kh2 $6 {putting the king in the h2-b8 diagonal is not the best idea} Rc8 {
white played a wrong plan,insted of playing positionly,with B on h4 and rooks
on d1-e1 white is playing for the attack,but this only serves black since
white really has no attack but creating weakness} 18. Re2 Qc7 19. b4 Rfd8 {
it is clear now black is going to break in the center and his 2 bishops will
become very powerfull} 20. Nb3 e5 $1 21. fxe5 d5 $1 {of course not 21...dxe5,
now the g7 bishop will enter the game and with the "d" and "c" file black's
rooks are also placed very good,white is paying now for Kh2} 22. exd5 Nxd5 23.
Qg3 Nxb4 24. Rf1 Re8 $1 {going for the e5 pawn there is no defence} (24... Nxc2
25. Bxh6 Bxh6 26. Rxc2 b4) 25. Bf4 g5 26. Nd4 gxf4 27. Rxf4 Rxe5 28. Rxe5 (28.
Nf5 Rxf5 29. Rxf5 Qxg3+ 30. Kxg3 Bxc3 31. bxc3 Rxc3+) 28... Qxe5 29. Nf5 Rc4 $1
{the game is over,it is impossible to prevent the exchange of queens} 30. Nxh6+
Kh7 31. Rxc4 bxc4 32. Nxf7 Qxg3+ 33. Kxg3 Kg6 34. Nd8 Bc8 35. Na4 Be5+ 0-1

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Huzman HarZvi} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6
7. Nxc6 $5 bxc6 8. O-O e6 (8... g6 $5 {Diese Fortsetzung führt zur
Drachenvariante.}) 9. Qe2 (9. b3 {HarZvi} Be7 10. Bb2 O-O 11. Qe2 e5 (11... d5
$2 12. exd5 cxd5 13. Bxd5 exd5 14. Qxe7) 12. Kh1 (12. Na4 Qc7 13. Bd3 Nd7 14.
c4 Nb6 15. Nc3 a5 16. Nd1 Nd7 17. Ne3 Nc5 18. Bc2 Re8 19. Rad1 Ne6 20. g3 Qb6
21. Nf5 $6 c5 $1 {Har Zvi: and black position seems very nice Dimitrov,
V-Cabrilo,G 1990}) 12... Qc7 13. Rae1 Nd7 14. Na4 Bb7 (14... Bf6) 15. Bd3 Rfe8
16. c4 $13 {Karpov-Stein,L URS-ch39 Leningrad 1971}) (9. Bf4 {HarZvi}) 9... Nd7
{Har Zvi: probably black does not want to enter 9...Be7 10.e5} (9... Be7 {
HarZvi} 10. e5 dxe5 11. Qxe5 O-O 12. Na4 Qb4 13. b3 Nd5 14. Qe2 Bf6 15. Bd2 Qe7
16. Rad1 Nb6 17. Nc3 Nxc4 18. Qxc4 a5 19. Rfe1 $14 {/+/- Sutovskij,E-Gross,D
Wch under 18 1995}) 10. b3 Be7 11. Bb2 O-O 12. Na4 Qc7 13. f4 {Vermeidet ...
Ne5.} Bb7 (13... d5 14. Bd3 (14. exd5 cxd5 15. Bxd5 $4 Bc5+ $19) 14... Bf6 (
14... g6 {HarZvi} 15. c4 Bf6 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. e5 Nd7 18. c5 f6 19. Rae1 {
Prie,E-Miralles,G France-Ch 1989}) 15. c4 Bxb2 16. Qxb2 $14) (13... Bf6 14.
Bxf6 Nxf6 15. e5 $1 $16) 14. Rad1 Rae8 $6 {Wie wir später sehen werden,
entwickelt Kramnik auf e8 den falschen Turm. Das Problem, mit welchem Turm
wohin, kommt im Mitelspiel sehr oft vor. Die Entscheidung ist von den
beiderseitigen Mittelspielplänen abhängig. Um die eigene Intuition zu
verbesern, empfehle ich den Lesern die Partien des ehemaligen Weltmeisters
Capablanca zu studieren. Er hat fast immer die richtige Entscheidung bei der
Turmplazierung getroffen.} (14... d5 15. Bd3 $1 {/\ed5 nebst Bh7,Qh5 und Bg7,
so könnte Topalov die berühmte Kombination Laskers mit dem Doppel Läuferopfer
vorbereiten.} (15. Bd3 {Huzman} Nc5 (15... c5 16. exd5 Bxd5 17. Bxh7+ Kxh7 18.
Qh5+ Kg8 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Qg4+ Kh8 21. Rd3 Nf6 (21... Be4 22. Rh3+ Bh7 23.
Rxh7+ Kxh7 24. Rf3 $18) 22. Rh3+ Nh7 23. Qh5 Be4 24. f5 $18) 16. Qg4 g6 17.
Nxc5 Bxc5+ 18. Kh1 $14 {/\} dxe4 19. Bxe4 f5 20. Qg5 $16)) (14... c5 {Huzman}
15. f5 $16) 15. Rd3 c5 {Not a correct move,after this move white gets a very
pleasent position. Topalov hat zwei Figuren, die ungünstig stehen: Bc4 und Na4.
Er versucht, den Läufer abzutauschen und den Springer zu zentraliesiren.} (
15... d5 16. Rg3 Bf6 (16... Nf6 {Huzman} 17. Bd3 $40) 17. e5 Be7 18. Bd3 $40) (
15... Bf6 {HarZvi} 16. e5 $1 dxe5 17. fxe5 Nxe5 (17... Bxe5 $2 18. Rxd7 Bxh2+
19. Kh1 Qxd7 20. Kxh2 $18) 18. Rxf6 $3 gxf6 19. Rh3 $1 {the threat is simply
Qh5 there is only one defence} c5 20. Qh5 {the simplest way} Be4 21. Qh4 $1 {
with both threats Qxe4 and Qxf6 when black can resign}) 16. Bb5 $1 {A very
strong move both positionally a tactically because now white's threat after
the pin along the a4-e8 diagonal is Rg3. Es droht 17.Bd7 Qd7 nebst 18.Nc5.} Bc6
(16... Rd8 17. Bxd7 Rxd7 18. Qg4 (18. Rg3 {HarZvi} g6 $6 (18... e5 19. c4 $14 {
/+/-}) 19. f5 $40) (18. f5 $40 {Huzman}) 18... g6 19. f5 $40) 17. Bxc6 Qxc6 18.
c4 $1 {Har Zvi: white got his advantage,black has a weak "d" pawn plus white
has some threats over the king's side ><d6 Strategisch richtig. Fixiert den
schwachen Bauern d6 auf der halboffenen d-Linie.} Rd8 19. Rfd1 Rfe8 {Schwarz
versucht sich wieder harmonisch aufzustellen. Kramnik mußte jedoch in der
Zwischenzeit seinem Gegner viel Raum im Zentrum überlassen.} 20. Qf3 $16 {
Es droht e4-e5 mit Druck auf der d-Linie, deshalb weicht die schwarze Dame aus.
} Qc7 21. Qg3 {Der Anziehende bezitzt Raumvorteil. Hinter seinen Bauern (c4,
e4 und f4) gruppiert er seine Figuren neu, um einen Angriff am Königsflügel zu
beginnen.} Nf6 22. Nc3 a6 23. Qh3 {Har Zvi: a very strong move,white has some
idea about an f5 break after which he is looking to have some preasure on the
h3-c8 diagonal,plus he has a very interesting idea,putting all his heavy
pieces in the third rank! ><24.f5} Qc6 24. Rg3 {[%cal Yb2g7,Yg4g7]} Kh8 25. Re1
(25. f5 {Huzman} Bf8) 25... Qc8 26. Ree3 $1 {Der weiße Angriff wird Zug um Zug
stärker. Momentan droht das Turmopfer auf g7.} Rg8 27. Nd1 Rd7 {/\ 28...d5
><28...d5} (27... Rde8 {Huzman} 28. e5 dxe5 29. fxe5 Nd7 30. Nf2 $16) 28. f5 $1
{/\ 29.B:f6 B:f6 30.Q:h7+!} (28. Bxf6 $2 {HarZvi} Bxf6 29. Qxh7+ $4 Kxh7 30.
Rh3+ Bh4 $19 (30... Kg6 31. Reg3+ Bg5 $19)) 28... e5 {[%csl Rd5] Kramnik will
den starken Läufer b2 einschränken. Der große Nachteil dieses Zuges ist die
Schwächung des Feldes d5.} (28... exf5 29. Rg5 (29. exf5 $1 {HarZvi with the
idea Bxf6-Qxh7} Re8 {this is an excellent example of white's idea to put all
his heavy pieces in  the third rank} (29... h6 30. Rxe7 Rxe7 31. Bxf6 Re1+ 32.
Kf2 Rxd1 33. Qxh6#) 30. Rxg7 $3 Kxg7 31. Rg3+ Kh8 32. Qh6 {with mate}) 29...
fxe4 (29... h6 30. Reg3 $16) 30. Bxf6 Bxf6 31. Qxh7+ $3 Kxh7 32. Rh3#) 29. Nc3
$18 {Har Zvi: the knight has nothing more to do on d1,now white wants to
change it with black's one after the h7 square will be very weak} Bd8 30. Nd5
h6 (30... Nxd5 31. Qxh7+ $1 $18 (31. Qxh7+ $1 {HarZvi} Kxh7 32. Rh3+ Bh4 33.
Rxh4#)) 31. Bc1 $1 {Alles läuft nach Plan. Nachdem der Springer seinen starken
Vorposten d5 erreicht, will auch der Läufer b2 am Angriff teilnehmen.} Nxd5 32.
exd5 Bf6 33. Re4 {Mit zwei Ideen: a)Bh6 b)Reg4} Qf8 (33... Kh7 {HarZvi} 34.
Reg4 Rh8 35. Bxh6 gxh6 36. Qxh6+ Kxh6 37. Rh3+ Bh4 38. Rhxh4#) 34. Reg4 {
Die Drohung 35.B:h6 ist nicht abzuwehren. Der junge Bulgarische Großmeißter
hat eine musterhafte, wunderbare Partie zum Thema "Figurenangriff am
Königsflügell bei beiderseitiger kurzer Roschade" durchgefürt.} 1-0

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Bd3 b5 8.
Nxc6 Qxc6 9. O-O Bb7 10. a3 Nf6 11. Re1 Be7 12. Qf3 d6 13. Qh3 h5 14. Bg5 Qc5
15. Be3 Qc6 16. f3 g5 17. a4 b4 18. Na2 g4 19. fxg4 d5 20. c3 bxc3 21. bxc3
Nxg4 22. Bd4 Bc5 23. Be2 Nf6 24. e5 Ne4 25. Nb4 Bxd4+ 26. cxd4 Qb6 27. Nc2 Rc8
28. Rab1 Qa7 29. Bd3 Rg8 30. a5 Bc6 31. Rb6 Bb5 32. Bxe4 dxe4 33. Rxe6+ Kf8 34.
Qa3+ Kg7 35. Re7 Rc7 36. Rxc7 Qxc7 37. Ne3 Kh8 38. Rc1 Qd8 39. d5 Qg5 40. Qc3
Kh7 41. Qd4 Bd3 42. d6 h4 43. Rc7 Rb8 44. Rxf7+ Kg8 45. e6 Qxe3+ 46. Qxe3 Rb1+
47. Qc1 Rxc1+ 48. Kf2 Rc6 49. Rd7 Bb5 50. Ke3 Rc2 51. Rc7 Re2+ 52. Kf4 Rf2+ 53.
Kxe4 Re2+ 54. Kf5 Rf2+ 55. Ke5 Re2+ 56. Kf6 Rf2+ 57. Ke7 Re2 58. d7 Bxd7 59.
Kxd7 Rd2+ 60. Ke8 1-0

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. c4 Bg4 {Ribli.Es ist interessant, dass Topalov mit Weiss gegen
Adams, Dortmund 1996 CBM54 nach 1.Nf3 d6 2.d4 Bg4 3.c4 Nd7 4.e4 Bxf3 verloren
hat. Vielleicht hat Topalov Lust, diese Variante mit Schwarz zu spielen.} 3. e4
$6 $146 {Ribli. Nach diesem Zug hat Weiss keine Chance, zu Eroeffnungsvorteil
zu kommen.} (3. Qb3 $5 Qc8 4. d4 {A 41 Ribli}) (3. e3 $5 {Ribli}) (3. d4 $5 {
A 41 Ribli}) 3... c5 $1 4. Nc3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 Nc6 6. d3 g6 $10 {[#] Ribli.Es ist
klar, dass Schwarz auf den schwarzen Felden spielen muss. Der Laeufer auf g7
kontrolliert den Schwachpunkt d4.} 7. g3 Bg7 8. Bg2 e6 {Ribli.Das ist
elastischer als 8...Nf6.} 9. O-O Nge7 10. Be3 O-O 11. Qe2 Rb8 {Ribli. Meiner
Meinung nach ist 11...a6 besser. Rb8 sollte eventuell spaeter kommen.} 12. Qd2
Nd4 {Ribli.Schwarz muss diesen Zug machen, sonst kommt Weiss mit 13.Ne2 und 14.
d4.} 13. Kh1 Nec6 14. f4 f5 {[#] Ribli.Typischer Zug in solchen Stellungen.
Jetzt oder spaeter muss Schwarz den moeglichen Vorstoss f4-f5 verhindern.} 15.
Rae1 Qa5 (15... Qd7 16. exf5 gxf5 17. Bxd4 Nxd4 18. Nb5 $10 {Ribli.}) 16. Bg1 (
16. exf5 gxf5 17. Nb5 Qxd2 18. Bxd2 Nxb5 19. cxb5 Nd4 20. Bc3 {Ribli.}) 16...
Kh8 17. h3 a6 18. g4 {Ribli.Es waere besser, zuerst die Diagonale h1-a8 mit 18.
exf5 zu oeffnen und danach 19.g4 zu spielen.} Rbe8 19. Bh2 (19. exf5 {Ribli.})
19... Qd8 20. exf5 $1 gxf5 21. gxf5 (21. g5 {Ribli}) 21... Nxf5 $15 22. Ne4
Ncd4 (22... Qd7 {Ribli}) (22... Qh4 23. Ng5 $13 {Ribli}) 23. Qd1 Nh4 24. Rg1
Ndf5 25. Ng5 Bd4 {[#]} 26. Nxh7 $36 (26. Nxe6 Rxe6 27. Rxe6 Bxg1 28. Bxg1 Rg8
$17 {Ribli.}) 26... Kxh7 27. Qh5+ Kg8 (27... Nh6 28. Be4+ N4f5 (28... Rf5 29.
Rg4 Bf6 30. Rxh4 Bxh4 31. Bxf5+ $18) 29. Bxf5+ Rxf5 30. Qg6+ Kh8 31. Qxh6# {
Ribli.}) 28. Be4+ Bg7 (28... Bxg1 29. Rxg1+ Ng7 30. Qh7+ Kf7 31. Qxg7# {Ribli.}
) 29. Rxg7+ Kxg7 $1 (29... Nxg7 $2 30. Bh7+ Kh8 31. Qh6 {Und Schwarz ist
hilflos.Ribli.}) 30. Rg1+ Kf6 31. Bg3 Ng6 (31... Rh8 32. Bxh4+ Nxh4 33. Qg5+
Kf7 34. Qg7# {Ribli.}) 32. Be1 (32. Bxf5 exf5 33. Bh4+ Nxh4 34. Qh6+ Ke7 35.
Rg7+ Rf7 36. Qxh4+ Ke6 37. Qe1+ Kf6 38. Qc3+ Ke7 $19 {Ribli.}) 32... Ke7 $8 33.
Rxg6 Kd7 34. Qg4 Kc8 35. Rxe6 $4 {Ribli.Weiss ist in grosser Zeitnot. 35.h4
waere viel besser - wenn moeglich gefolgt von 36.h5.} Rxe6 $19 36. Bxf5 Rxf5
37. Qxf5 Qd7 {Ribli.Nach 38.Bc3 kommt 38...Re1,und nach 38.Qf8 kommt 38...Re8.}
0-1

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Ehlvest, Jaan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Har Zvi,R"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Petursson Hazai} Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5
7. Be3 c6 8. d5 (8. dxe5 dxe5 9. Nd2 (9. Qxd8 Rxd8 10. Nxe5 Re8 (10... Nxe4)
11. f4 Nbd7 $3 12. Bd4 (12. Nxd7 Nxe4 13. Ne5 Nxc3 14. bxc3 f6) 12... Nh5 $1
13. Bxh5 Nxe5 14. Be2 (14. Bxe5 Bxe5 15. fxe5 gxh5 16. O-O-O Bg4) 14... Nf3+
15. Bxf3 Bxd4 16. Rd1 (16. Kd2 Be6 17. b3 Rad8 18. Kc2 Be3 $17) 16... Bxc3+ 17.
bxc3 Bf5 $10 18. Kf2 Bxe4 19. Rd7 $10 {Stojanovic,Mi-Damljanovic,B JUG-ch
Podgorica 1996}) 9... Qe7 10. c5 Nbd7 11. Qa4 Rd8 (11... Nxc5 $2 12. Qa3 Nfd7
13. Na4 b6 14. Nb3) 12. Nb3 Nf8 13. O-O Ne6 14. Rad1 Rxd1 15. Rxd1 Nf4 16. f3
h5 $1 $40 {Portisch,L-Ivanchuk,V Reykjavik Wcup 1991}) (8. Qd2 {this move was
played 2 round later by Shirov against Topalov but it was another very
convincing Victory for Topalov with the King's Indian with black} Qe7 (8...
Nbd7 9. Rd1 Re8 10. d5 cxd5 11. cxd5 a6 12. O-O b5 $2 (12... Ng4 13. Bg5 f6 14.
Bh4 h5 15. Ne1 $13) 13. Qc2 Nb6 14. a4 $1 bxa4 15. Nxa4 Nxa4 16. Qxa4 Rb8 17.
Nd2 $1 $16 {Kasparov,G-Ivanchuk,V Reggio Emilia 1992}) 9. d5 cxd5 (9... Ng4 10.
Bg5 f6 11. Bh4 Na6 12. O-O Bh6 (12... g5 13. Bg3 h5 14. h3 Nh6 15. a3 $14) (
12... h5 13. h3 Nh6 14. a3 $14) 13. Qd1 $1 Bf4 (13... g5 14. Bg3 f5 15. exf5
Bxf5 16. h4 $1 $16) 14. a3 g5 15. Bg3 c5 16. Nxg5 $1 Nxh2 17. Bxf4 Nxf1 18. Ne6
Bxe6 19. Bh6 $1 $14 {/+/- Khalifman,A-Wahls,M Deutschland 1992 54/597 
[Khalifman,A]}) 10. cxd5 Ng4 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bh4 Na6 13. O-O Nh6 14. Ne1 Nf7 15.
Bxa6 bxa6 16. Nc2 Rb8 17. Ne3 a5 18. Rfc1 h5 19. f3 Bh6 20. Ncd1 Ng5 21. Qxa5
f5 $36 {Shirov,A-Topalov,V Vienna 1996}) 8... Na6 (8... Ng4 9. Bg5 f6 10. Bh4
Na6 11. Nd2 Nh6 (11... h5 12. h3 Nh6 13. g4 hxg4 14. hxg4 Nf7 15. Nb3 c5 16.
Nc1 $13 {Giorgadza,G-Poluljahov,A Kropotkin 1995}) 12. a3 (12. O-O Nf7 13. Bd3
$1 c5 14. a3 Bh6 15. Qe2 Bg5 16. Bxg5 fxg5 (16... Nxg5 17. g3 {with f4}) 17. f3
Bd7 18. Rab1 h5 19. Qe3 $1 $14 {Ehlvest,J-Novik,M Sankt_Peterburg 1994 60/561 
[Nesis,G; Novik,M]}) 12... Nf7 13. f3 Bh6 14. Bf2 f5 15. Qc2 Bd7 16. b4 c5 $1
17. Rb1 b6 $13 {Karpov,An-Kasparov,G Lyon Wch (19) 1990}) 9. a3 {White is
playing against Na6 planning b2-b4. This, however looks a bit slow.} (9. Nd2 {
(Hazai: is the typical common sense move here.)} Ne8 10. O-O f5 11. f3 f4 12.
Bf2 c5 13. a3 b6 14. b4 h5 15. bxc5 Nxc5 16. a4 $6 a5 $1 {San Segundo,
P-Topalov,V Madrid 1996}) 9... Nh5 (9... Nc5 $6 {Hazai} 10. Nd2 a5 11. b4 $16)
(9... Ne8 10. dxc6 bxc6 11. c5 $1 $14) 10. g3 (10. b4 {Hazai} Nf4 11. Bf1 c5)
10... cxd5 11. Nxd5 (11. cxd5 {Hazai} f5) 11... Nf6 12. Nxf6+ (12. Nc3) (12.
Nd2 {Hazai} Nxd5 13. cxd5 f5) 12... Qxf6 13. b4 Qe7 14. O-O b6 $1 {a very
strong move the bishop will be best placed on the a8-h1 while white does not
have a c5 break} 15. Qa4 $6 {wasting too much time with useless queen moves}
Nc7 (15... Bb7 $2 16. c5 $1) 16. Qc6 Ba6 $1 {a good move playing against a c5
break} (16... Rb8 17. c5) 17. Rfd1 (17. b5 $2 Bc8 18. Rfd1 Rd8 {and white's
queen is in great danger}) 17... Rfd8 {The weakness on d6 does not play an
important role here.} 18. Rac1 Ne6 19. Qa4 Bb7 20. Qc2 {The attack against d6
is repelled, Black has a comfortable game.} Rf8 $1 {prepering the f5 break,it
is already clear black has the initiative  Now f7-f5 is threatening, after
which the weakened diagonal may cause some headache for White.} 21. Nh4 (21. c5
dxc5 $1 22. bxc5 Rac8 {winning the c5 pawn}) 21... Nd4 22. Bxd4 exd4 23. Bd3
Rae8 24. Kf1 (24. f3 {Hazai} Bh6 $17) (24. Re1 {Hazai} f5 $17) 24... Qd7 $1 {
much better than 24...Bxe4} (24... Bxe4 25. Bxe4 Qxe4 26. Qxe4 Rxe4 27. Nf3 {
gives some chances to save the game in the ending.}) 25. Re1 {[#]} f5 $1 {
Black opens up the long diagonal with a great effect. Now White is going to
have great problems on the white squares} 26. exf5 g5 $1 {this is topalov's
idea the knight must go to g2} 27. Ng2 Qc6 28. f3 (28. f4 gxf4 29. gxf4) 28...
Qxf3+ 29. Kg1 Re3 $1 30. Rxe3 (30. Nxe3 dxe3 {and there is nothing to do
against Qh1}) (30. Rcd1 $5 {defending the bishop on d3 and threating Rf1 was a
better defencive way}) 30... dxe3 31. Rf1 Qg4 32. f6 $2 (32. Qe2) (32. Be2) (
32. Nxe3 {Petursson} Bd4 33. Qf2 Qh5 34. Re1 Re8 35. Bf1 {had to be tried})
32... Rxf6 33. Rxf6 Bxf6 34. Bxh7+ Kh8 35. Bd3 Bd4 36. Qe2 $4 {a terrible
blunder losing immediately white must have played 36.Be2} (36. Be2 Qe6 37. Qd1
{black was threatening Qf6} Qe4 38. Qf1 Kg7 {and white's position is hopeless})
36... Bf3 0-1

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Shirov,A"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hazai} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. Be3 c6
8. Qd2 {This move is a bit sophisticated, after d4-d5 the natural place of the
N is d2.} (8. d5 {Hazai}) (8. O-O {Hazai}) 8... Qe7 9. d5 cxd5 {Hazai: If
immediately 9...Ng4, than later taking on d5 can strongly met by Nd5.} 10. cxd5
Ng4 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bh4 Na6 $5 $146 13. O-O Nh6 (13... h5 $5) 14. Ne1 Nf7 15.
Bxa6 $5 {Hazai: From strategical point of view these sort of exchanges are not
to be recommended.} (15. Nc2 Bh6 $1 16. Ne3 Nc7 $13) (15. Nd3 {Hazai} Bd7)
15... bxa6 16. Nc2 (16. Nd3 {Hazai} Rb8) 16... Rb8 17. Ne3 a5 (17... Bh6 $142
$13) 18. Rfc1 $1 (18. Nc4 {Hazai} Qc7 (18... Ba6 $2 19. Nxa5 $1 Bxf1 20. Rxf1)
19. b3 Ba6) 18... h5 $5 19. f3 Bh6 20. Ncd1 {[#]} (20. Bf2 {Hazai} f5) 20...
Ng5 $5 {Hazai: The a5 pawn is not important, Black prepares f6-f5.} (20... g5
$6 21. Bf2 g4 22. Qe2 $1 $16) 21. Qxa5 (21. Bxg5 $6 fxg5 $1 22. Qxa5 g4 $40)
21... f5 22. Qe1 $4 (22. Bxg5 Qxg5 $1 (22... Bxg5 $2 23. Rc7 $16) 23. Qxa7 Rxb2
$1 (23... Rb7 $2 24. Qa6) (23... Rb4 $2 24. Qa3 $1 Rd4 25. Qxd6) (23... fxe4
24. Qxb8 Bh3 25. Qxd6 exf3 26. Rc6 $1 fxg2 27. Qxg6+ Bg7 28. Nxg2 Qd2 29. Nde3
Bxg2 30. Nf5 $18) 24. Nxb2 Qxe3+ 25. Qxe3 Bxe3+ 26. Kh1 Bxc1 27. Rxc1 fxe4 28.
fxe4 Ba6 29. Kg1 $1 (29. h3 Rf2 30. Nc4 Bxc4 31. Rxc4 Rxa2 32. Rc6 Re2 33. Rxd6
Kf7 $10) 29... Rf4 $1 (29... Rb8 30. Rc6 $16) 30. Re1 Rf8 $3 31. Rc1 (31. h3
Rc8 $44) 31... Rf4 32. Re1 Rf8 $10) (22. Qc7 {Hazai} Bd7 23. Bxg5 Bxg5) 22...
fxe4 23. fxe4 Rf4 $19 24. Bxg5 Qxg5 25. Rc4 (25. Nc4 Bg4 26. Nxd6 Rbf8 27. Ne3
Rf2) 25... Ba6 $6 {Hazai: The pair of bishops in the open position kill White.}
(25... Bd7 $1 $19 {/\ Rbf8, Bb5->}) 26. Rc6 $1 Bd3 27. Rac1 Rbf8 28. Rc8 $1
Bxe4 29. Nf2 R4f7 $2 (29... Bxg2 $1 30. Nxg2 Rxf2 31. Qxf2 Qxc1+ 32. Rxc1 Rxf2
33. Rc8+ Rf8 $17) 30. Rxf8+ Rxf8 31. Rc3 $15 Qf4 32. Qe2 $4 (32. Neg4 $1 Bxd5 (
32... hxg4 33. Nxe4 Qf7 $13) 33. Nxh6+ Qxh6 34. Qd1 $1 (34. Rd3 $2 Ba8 35. Rxd6
Rxf2 $1 $19) 34... Ba8 (34... Bxa2 35. Qxd6 (35. b3 $2 Qf4 36. Rf3 Qd4 37. Qc2
e4 38. Rxf8+ Kxf8 39. Qxa2 e3 $19) 35... Qg7 36. Ne4 $44) 35. Qxd6 Qg5 36. Rg3
Qc1+ 37. Nd1 Be4 38. Qe6+ Kh7 39. Qe7+ $10) 32... Bb1 $19 33. a3 Qd4 34. g3 a5
35. Qe1 e4 36. Kg2 Bd3 37. Nfd1 Qf6 38. h4 g5 39. Nf2 Qf3+ 40. Kg1 gxh4 {
Hazai: This is a nice illustative game for the Kings Indian.} 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.24"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Saltaev, Mihail"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B88"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Uzbekistan"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UZB"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. a3 Be7 8. Ba2
Nc6 9. O-O O-O 10. Be3 Qc7 11. Qe2 b5 12. Rad1 Rb8 13. f3 Na5 14. Bc1 b4 15.
axb4 Rxb4 16. Kh1 Qb6 17. Be3 Qb7 18. b3 Qc7 19. Qd2 Rb8 20. Na4 Nc6 21. Nxc6
Qxc6 22. Ba7 Rb7 23. Bd4 Rd8 24. c4 Bd7 25. Qe3 Be8 26. Rfe1 Nd7 27. f4 Rdb8
28. Qg3 Bf8 29. Rd3 e5 30. fxe5 dxe5 31. Bxe5 Nxe5 32. Qxe5 Qe6 33. Qxe6 fxe6
34. Nc3 Bc5 35. Rf1 Bc6 36. h3 Rf7 37. Rff3 Rf6 38. Kh2 Kf7 39. Kg3 Bb6 40.
Rxf6+ gxf6 41. Kf4 h5 42. g4 hxg4 43. hxg4 Bc7+ 44. Kf3 Be5 45. Nd1 a5 46. Nf2
Ke7 47. Ke2 Bd6 48. Rd1 Bg3 49. Nh1 Bh4 50. Kf3 Rb4 51. Rd2 Rb7 52. Rh2 Bg5 53.
Rh7+ Kd6 54. Rxb7 Bxb7 55. Nf2 Kc5 56. Bb1 Kd4 57. Nd1 f5 58. gxf5 exf5 59. Nf2
Bh4 60. c5 Kxc5 61. Nd1 Kd4 62. Ne3 fxe4+ 63. Ke2 Ba6+ 64. Nc4 a4 65. Kd1 Bxc4
66. bxc4 Be7 67. c5 Bxc5 68. Kc2 e3 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.26"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Apicella, Manuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E68"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "Shipov,S"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "France"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. e4
exd4 (8... c6) 9. Nxd4 Re8 10. h3 Nc5 11. Re1 Bd7 (11... a5) 12. Bf4 (12. Rb1
h6 13. b3 a6 14. Bb2 Rb8 15. b4 Ne6 16. Nde2 b5 17. cxb5 axb5 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19.
exd5 Ng5 20. Nf4 Be5 $132 {Greenfeld,A-Spasov,V/Belgrade/1994/0:1/35/}) 12...
a6 (12... Qc8 13. Kh2 a6 (13... h6 14. f3 a5 $6 (14... a6 $5 {/\ Rb8,b5/}) 15.
Qd2 Kh7 16. Rad1 a4 17. Ndb5 $1 Bc6 18. Be3 b6 19. Qc2 $16 {Zaichik,G-Georgiev,
Ki/Katerini/1992/1:0/36/}) 14. Rc1 h5 15. b4 Ne6 16. Nxe6 Bxe6 17. c5 dxc5 18.
Nd5 $1 Bxd5 19. exd5 Rxe1 20. Qxe1 Qf5 21. Bxc7 Re8 22. Qd2 Ne4 23. Qf4 Qxd5
24. Rxc5 $14 {Ginsburg,G-Ryskin,A/Pinsk/1993/0,5/42/}) 13. Qd2 (13. Qc2 $2
Nfxe4 $1 $17) 13... Rb8 14. Rad1 Qc8 15. Kh2 b5 (15... Ne6 $5 16. Be3 b5 $132)
16. b4 $1 Ne6 17. Nxe6 Bxe6 18. c5 dxc5 19. bxc5 Nd7 $2 (19... b4 $1 20. Nd5
Bxd5 21. exd5 Rxe1 22. Qxe1 a5 $132) 20. Nd5 $1 Ne5 (20... Nxc5 $6 21. Nxc7) (
20... Bxd5 21. exd5 Rxe1 22. Rxe1 Nxc5 23. Rc1 $16) 21. Bg5 $1 Bxd5 (21... Nc4
22. Qf4 $16) 22. exd5 $16 Qf5 23. d6 cxd6 24. cxd6 Bf6 (24... Nc4 25. Qf4) (
24... Nd7 25. Qf4 $16 (25. Bc6 $2 Ne5 $1 26. Rxe5 Rxe5 27. d7 Qxg5 28. Qxg5
Rxg5 29. d8=Q+ Rxd8 30. Rxd8+ Bf8 $10)) 25. Bxf6 Qxf6 26. Qf4 $1 Qxf4 (26...
Kg7 27. d7 $18) 27. gxf4 Nc4 (27... Nd7 28. Re7 $1 Nb6 (28... Red8 29. Bd5 $1)
29. Ra7 $18) 28. Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. d7 Rd8 30. Bb7 Nb6 (30... a5 31. Ba6) 31. Bxa6
Rxd7 (31... b4 32. Bb5 Kf8 33. Rd4 $18) 32. Rxd7 Nxd7 33. Bxb5 Nc5 (33... Nb6
34. a4 Kf8 35. a5 Nc8 36. Kg3 Ke7 37. Kf3 Kd6 38. Bc4 $18) 34. a4 Nb3 35. Bc4
Na5 36. Bd5 $18 Kf8 37. Kg3 Ke7 38. Kf3 f6 39. Ke4 Kd6 40. Kd4 g5 41. fxg5 fxg5
42. Ke4 Kc5 43. f3 h6 44. Ke5 Kb4 45. Kf6 Kxa4 46. Kg6 Kb4 47. Kxh6 Kc5 48. Ba2
Nc6 49. Kxg5 Kd6 50. h4 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.10.01"]
[Round "14.1"]
[White "Lalic, Bogdan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Croatia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CRO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 c6 8. Qd2
Qe7 9. d5 cxd5 10. cxd5 Ng4 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bh4 Nh6 13. O-O Nf7 14. Ne1 h5 15.
f3 Bh6 16. Qd1 Na6 17. Kh1 Bd7 18. Bxa6 bxa6 19. Qe2 Rab8 20. Rb1 Bc8 21. Nc2
a5 22. Qc4 Rb6 23. Qa4 Ba6 24. Rfd1 Rfb8 25. Qxa5 Bc8 26. Qa3 Ra6 27. Na4 Qb7
28. b3 Bd7 29. Ra1 Kg7 30. Be1 Bxa4 31. bxa4 Qb2 32. Qxb2 Rxb2 33. Nb4 Rxa4 34.
Rab1 Re2 35. Bg3 f5 36. exf5 gxf5 37. Kg1 h4 38. Bf2 a5 39. Nd3 Raxa2 40. Re1
Red2 41. Rbd1 h3 42. gxh3 Ra3 0-1

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.17"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Dolmatov} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3
c6 8. d5 Ng4 9. Bg5 f6 ({Black should not grab the b-pawn at cost of
development:} 9... Qb6 $6 10. O-O Qxb2 11. Bd2 {with the following 12.Rb1}) 10.
Bh4 c5 11. O-O Nh6 12. Ne1 Nd7 13. Rb1 (13. Nd3 {Dolmatov} g5 14. Bg3 f5 15.
exf5 Nf6 16. Qd2 g4 17. Bh4 Bxf5 $132 {Ioseliani,N-Dolmatov,S/Moscow/1993/})
13... b6 14. a3 g5 (14... Nf7 {Dolmatov} 15. Bg4 h5 16. Be6 g5 17. Qxh5 gxh4
18. f4 $40) (14... Qe7 $5 {Dolmatov} 15. Nb5 Nb8 16. b4 a6 17. Nc3 Nd7 18. bxc5
bxc5 19. Qa4 g5 20. Bg3 f5 21. exf5 Nf6 $132) 15. Bg3 f5 $6 {Black has no
choice but to push the f-pawn, otherwise he has no counterplay. The
disadvantage of this continuation is that the white squares are becoming weak}
16. exf5 Nxf5 (16... Nf6 $142 {Dolmatov} 17. Nf3 Nh5 18. Ne4 Rxf5 19. Nxe5 (19.
Nfd2 Nf4) 19... Nxg3 20. Nc6 Nxe2+) 17. Ne4 h6 18. Nc2 Nf6 19. Bd3 Qe8 (19...
Nxe4 {Dolmatov} 20. Bxe4 g4 21. Qxg4 Ne3 22. Qg6 Nxf1 23. Qh7+ Kf7 24. Rxf1 Rh8
25. Qg6+ Kg8 26. Ne3 $40) (19... Bd7 {Dolmatov} 20. Ne3 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 Nxg3 22.
fxg3 $16) 20. Ne3 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 h5 (21... Nxg3 22. hxg3 a6 23. b4 cxb4 24. axb4
{White is definitely better}) (21... Nxe3 22. fxe3 Rxf1+ 23. Qxf1 {is in
White's favor}) 22. Qd3 (22. Nxf5 {Dolmatov} Bxf5 23. Bxf5 Rxf5 24. f3 Qg6 $10)
22... Qf7 23. f3 (23. h3 {Dolmatov} Nxe3 24. fxe3 $18) 23... Nxe3 24. Qxe3 Bh6
25. Be1 Qg7 26. Bd2 $1 Rf6 27. Qd3 g4 (27... Bd7 $2 {Dolmatov} 28. b4 $16) (
27... a5 {Dolmatov} 28. h3 Ra7 29. g4 $16) 28. Bxh6 Qxh6 29. fxg4 Bxg4 30. Rxf6
Qxf6 31. Rf1 Qg7 32. h3 Bd7 33. Qf3 $1 {The King side is a White's possession}
Be8 (33... h4 {Dolmatov} 34. Qf6 $18) 34. Qf5 Qf7 35. Qg5+ Qg7 36. Qh4 Qh6 $2 (
36... b5 {allowed Black to stay in the game just a little bit longer, for
example:} 37. Rf6 (37. cxb5 Rb8 38. a4 a6 39. bxa6 Rxb2 {with some counterplay}
) 37... Rb8 38. Rxd6 bxc4 39. Rd8 Rxd8 40. Qxd8 Qd7 41. Qb8 {and White is
winning}) 37. Rf6 (37. Qe7 $18 {Dolmatov} Qg7 38. Rf8+ Qxf8 39. Qh7#) 37...
Qe3+ 38. Kh2 Kg7 39. Rf3 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.21"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Shamkovich,L"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 {
Alternate lines are 6... e5 and 6... Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5. Black is ready to
play the regular Scheveningen after 6. Be2} 7. g4 $5 {Ivanchuk demonstrates
his fighting spirit} h6 8. f4 b5 $5 (8... e5 9. Nf5 g6 10. fxe5 dxe5 11. g5 $1
{is in White's favor}) (8... Qc7 {Ftacnik} 9. g5 hxg5 10. fxg5 Nfd7 11. g6 Ne5
12. gxf7+ Nxf7 13. Qe2 Nc6 14. O-O-O Bd7 15. Qc4 Nfd8 16. h4 Rc8 17. Qe2 Be7
18. Qg2 Bf6 19. h5 Ne5 20. h6 gxh6 21. Rxh6 Rxh6 22. Qg8+ Ke7 23. Nf5+ exf5 24.
Nd5# {1-0 Mironov,S-Popov,A/Bankia op (08) 1990}) (8... Nc6 {Ftacnik} 9. Qf3 (
9. h3 Qc7 (9... d5 $5 10. e5 Nd7 11. Qe2 Qh4+ $1 12. Kd2 Bc5 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14.
Bxc5 Nxc5 15. Qe3 Qe7 16. Rd1 Rb8 17. Kc1 a5 $15 {Shirov,A-Salov,V/Moscow/1992/
0|1/44/}) (9... Bd7 10. Qe2 Be7 11. Bg2 Qc7 12. O-O Nxd4 13. Bxd4 e5 14. Be3
exf4 15. Rxf4 Be6 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. exd5 O-O $10 {Balashov,Y-Psakhis,L/
Sverdlovsk/1987/0,5/31/}) 10. Qe2 Bd7 $5 (10... e5 $5 11. Nb3 exf4 12. Bxf4 Be6
13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. exd5+ Ne5 15. O-O-O Nfd7 16. Kb1 g6 17. Qd2 Bg7 18. Bd3 h5
$132 {Bologan,V-Novikov,I/Nikolaev/1995/0,5/42/}) 11. O-O-O (11. Bg2 b5 12. e5
$1) 11... b5 $5 12. Bg2 b4 13. Nd5 exd5 14. exd5 Nxd4 15. Bxd4+ Be7 16. g5 Bb5
17. Qe3 Rc8 18. Rd2 hxg5 19. fxg5 Nd7 20. Bxg7 Rg8 21. Re1 Ne5 22. Bxe5 dxe5
23. h4 Bd6 24. Be4 a5 25. h5 a4 26. g6 {1-0 Hracek,Z-Oll,L/Parnu-A (06)/1996/ 
(34)}) 9... Nxd4 10. Bxd4 e5 11. fxe5 dxe5 12. Bxe5 Nxg4 13. Bg3 Bb4 14. a3
Bxc3+ 15. Qxc3 O-O 16. Bd3 Qg5 17. Qd2 Ne5 18. Qxg5 Nxd3+ 19. cxd3 hxg5 20. Kd2
{Topalov,V-Kolev,At/Elenite (03)/1995/1-0 (54)}) (8... d5 {Ftacnik} 9. e5 Nfd7
10. Qd2 Nc6 11. O-O-O Qc7 12. Bd3 g5 13. Nf3 gxf4 14. Bxf4 Ndxe5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5
16. Nxd5 exd5 17. Bxe5 Bd6 18. Bxh8 Bf4 19. Rhe1+ Be6 20. Re3 d4 21. Bxd4 O-O-O
22. Bf5 Bxf5 23. gxf5 {1-0 Palac,M-Soln,P/Bled op (02)/1996/}) 9. Bg2 Bb7 10.
g5 $6 {This line is double-edged, but after defeat in the previous round,
Ivanchuk tries to create complications at any cost. It is nteresting to
mention that at the same time this variation was tested in the first round of
Groningen International.} (10. a3 Nbd7 11. O-O (11. g5 {Ftacnik} hxg5 12. fxg5
Nh5 13. g6 Ne5 14. gxf7+ Kxf7 15. O-O+ Nf6 16. Nf3 Nxf3+ 17. Bxf3 Qc7 18. e5
dxe5 19. Bxb7 Qxb7 20. Qg4 Rc8 21. Ne4 Rc4 22. Ng5+ Kg6 23. Qg3 Nh5 {0-1
Shirov,A-Van Wely,L/Tilburg (07)/1996 (41)}) 11... g6 12. Qe2 e5 13. Nb3 exf4
14. Bxf4 Ne5 15. Rad1 Nfxg4 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. exd5 g5 18. Bg3 h5 19. Nd4 Bg7 20.
h3 h4 21. Be1 Nh6 22. Qh5 Nhg4 23. hxg4 Rxh5 24. gxh5 Ng4 25. Nc6 Qb6+ 26. Kh1
Kf8 27. Rd3 Re8 28. Rdf3 Kg8 29. Ba5 Qc5 30. Rxf7 Ne3 31. h6 Bxh6 32. Re7 Rf8
33. Rxf8+ Bxf8 34. Bb4 Qb6 35. Re6 Nxg2 36. Kxg2 Kh7 37. Re4 Qb7 38. Rg4 Qf7
39. Nd4 Qxd5+ 40. Nf3 Be7 {0-1 Shirov,A-Van Wely,L/Koop Tjuchem, Groningen NED
1996}) 10... hxg5 11. fxg5 b4 {The necessary counterblow; now White Knight is
distracted from center. After 11... Nh5 White is better.} 12. Na4 (12. gxf6 {
Ftacnik} bxc3 13. fxg7 Bxg7 14. bxc3 Bxe4 $1 $17) (12. Nd5 {Ftacnik} exd5 13.
gxf6 Qxf6 (13... dxe4 14. fxg7 Bxg7 15. Nf5 Be5 16. Bd4 $10) 14. exd5 Qe5 15.
Qe2 Be7 $15) 12... Nh5 (12... Nxe4 $6 13. Qg4 d5 14. O-O-O {with dangerous
attack} (14. Bxe4 {Ftacnik} dxe4 15. O-O-O $40 Nd7 (15... Qa5 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17.
Qxe6+ Be7 18. Qg6+ Kf8 19. Rhf1+ $18) 16. Nxe6 $16)) 13. O-O (13. Bf3 {Ftacnik}
g6 14. e5 d5 $15) (13. g6 $5 {Ftacnik} Nd7 (13... Qh4+ 14. Bf2 Qe7 15. gxf7+
Qxf7 16. Nb6 Nf4 17. Bf3 $14) 14. gxf7+ Kxf7 15. Qg4 Qe7 16. Rf1+ Nhf6 17. Qg3
$14) 13... Nd7 14. g6 ({Maybe} 14. c3 bxc3 (14... Ne5 15. cxb4 Nc4 16. Qe2 Nxe3
17. Qxe3 {with the threat 18.g6}) 15. g6 $1 {is more accurate}) 14... Nhf6 15.
c3 (15. gxf7+ {Ftacnik} Kxf7 16. Qg4 Qe7 17. Rad1 (17. e5 $6 Nxe5 18. Qxe6+
Qxe6 19. Nxe6 Bxg2 20. Ng5+ Kg6 21. Kxg2 Nd5 $17) 17... Ne5 $13) 15... Ne5 (
15... bxc3 $2 {Ftacnik} 16. gxf7+ Kxf7 17. Qb3 cxb2 18. Rab1 Rb8 19. Nxe6 Qc8
20. Ng5+ Kg6 21. Qf7+ Kh6 22. Rf3 $18) (15... Qe7 {Ftacnik} 16. Qb3 d5 17. exd5
Bxd5 18. Bxd5 exd5 19. Rae1 $18) 16. gxf7+ Kxf7 17. cxb4 (17. Qb3 $5 {Ftacnik}
Qe7 18. Qxb4 Neg4 (18... Rh4 19. Nxe6 $1 Kxe6 20. Qb3+ d5 21. Bg5 $18) 19. Bf4
$16) 17... Rh4 $1 {Suddenly, Black Rook becomes very active. White must
consider both 18... Bxe4 and 18... Rg4} 18. Qb3 (18. Bf4 {Ftacnik} Rb8 19. b5
$16) 18... Qe8 {The critical position of the game} 19. Rac1 (19. Nc3 Rxh2 (
19... Rg4 20. h3 Rg3 21. Nf5 Rg6 22. Rad1 {with very complex play}) 20. Kxh2
Neg4+ 21. Kg1 Nxe3 22. Rf2 Nxg2 23. Kxg2 g5 {leads to complications with
unclear outcome}) (19. Bf4 Rc8 20. Bg3 Rh5 21. Nb6 Rc7) (19. Nc3 $16 {Ftacnik})
19... Bxe4 20. Rc7+ {Not a precise moves' order. Better was} (20. Bxe4 Rxe4 21.
Rc7+ (21. Nb6 Rb8 22. Nc4 Nxc4 23. Rxc4 Kg8 $10) (21. Bf2 Rg4+ 22. Kh1 Rf4 23.
Rc7+ Nfd7 24. Nc3 $10) 21... Kg8 (21... Ned7 22. Nb6 {and White is on top}) {
and if} 22. Nxe6 Rxe3 23. Qxe3 Qxe6 {the position is difficult to estimate})
20... Kg8 (20... Ned7 $2 {Ftacnik} 21. Bxe4 $1 (21. Nxe6 $6 Qxe6 22. Rxd7+ Be7
23. Bxe4 Rxe4 24. Qxe6+ Kxe6 25. Ra7 Rxa7 26. Bxa7 Rxb4 $10) 21... Rxe4 22. Nb6
Rd8 23. Nc6 Kg8 24. Nxd8 Qxd8 25. Rc8 $18) 21. Nxe6 (21. Qxe6+ $2 {Ftacnik}
Qxe6 22. Nxe6 Rg4 23. Rf2 Nd5 $19) 21... Rg4 $1 {The coldblooded reply!
Discovered checks are not dangerous for Black, for instance.} {Ivanchuk's hope
was the next move...} 22. Rxf6 $2 {Here 22... gxf6 fails to 23.Ng5+} (22. Nxg7+
Kh8 23. Nxe8 Rxg2+ {mating}) (22. Ng5+ Bd5 $1 $19) (22. Nxf8+ {Ftacnik} Bd5 $19
) (22. Rf2 $2 {Ftacnik} Bd5 $1 23. Qxd5 Nxd5 24. Rxf8+ Qxf8 25. Nxf8 Nxe3 $19)
(22. Nf4+ $142 {Ftacnik} d5 23. Nc3 (23. Nc5 Bxc5 24. bxc5 Nd3 25. h3 Rg5 $17)
23... Bxg2 24. Nxg2 Rxb4 $15) 22... Rxg2+ (22... gxf6 $4 23. Ng5+ $16) 23. Kf1
(23. Kh1 {Ftacnik} Rg3+ 24. Rf3 Bxf3#) 23... Qb5+ {Ivanchuk obviously
overlooked it.} (23... Qb5+ {Ftacnik} 24. Rc4 gxf6 $19 (24... Qxc4+ 25. Qxc4
Nxc4 $19)) 0-1

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D40"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e3 e6 5. d4 d5 6. a3 a6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. b4
Ba7 (8... Bd6 9. Bb2 O-O $10) 9. Bb2 O-O 10. Bd3 (10. Be2 Qe7 11. O-O Rd8 12.
Qc2 d4 13. exd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Bxd4 15. Bf3 $14 {Gheorghiu,F-Parma,B/Ljubljana/
1969/}) 10... Qe7 (10... dxc4 11. Bxc4 Qe7 (11... b5 12. Bb3 $10 (12. Bd3)
12... Bb7 13. O-O Qxd1 14. Rfxd1 Rfd8 15. Rxd8+ Rxd8 16. Rd1 Rxd1+ 17. Nxd1 {
1/2-1/2 Razuvaev,Y-Tukmakov,V/URS-FL Ashkhabad 1978}) 12. O-O b5 13. Bd3 Bb7
14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Rac8 {1/2-1/2 Zaltsman,V-Sosonko,G/Lone Pine op 1979})
11. O-O Rd8 12. Qe2 Bd7 13. Rac1 Rac8 14. cxd5 ({Another plan for the white
leads to the "Merano" type position(by changing colour)after} 14. c5 $5 {
/\15.e4d416.e5} e5 15. e4 d4 16. Nd5 Qe6 17. Bc4 $16) 14... exd5 15. h3 h6 16.
Rfd1 Be6 17. b5 (17. Na4 d4 $1 18. exd4 Bb3 19. Qxe7 Nxe7 20. Re1 Rxc1 21. Bxc1
Nc6 22. Nc5 Nxd4 23. Nxd4 Rxd4 $14 {\=}) 17... axb5 18. Nxb5 Bb8 19. Bb1 Ne4
$11 20. Ba2 Ng5 21. Nfd4 (21. Nbd4 $5 Qd6 22. Nxe6 fxe6 (22... Nxf3+ 23. Qxf3
fxe6 (23... Qh2+ $2 24. Kf1 fxe6 25. Qg4 $18) 24. g3 $14) 23. g3 Ne4 (23...
Nxh3+ 24. Kg2 Ng5 25. Nxg5 hxg5 26. e4 $36) 24. Bb1) 21... Nxd4 22. Bxd4 (22.
Nxd4 Qd6 23. f4 $11) 22... Ne4 23. a4 (23. Qh5 Rc6 24. Bb2 Rdc8 $132) (23. Qb2
Qg5 $40) 23... Rc6 $1 24. Ba7 $2 Rdc8 $1 25. Qb2 (25. Rxc6 bxc6 26. Bxb8 Rxb8
27. Nd4 (27. f3 Ng3 (27... cxb5 28. fxe4 dxe4 29. Bxe6 Qxe6 30. axb5 Qb3 $17)
28. Qf2 cxb5 29. Qxg3 Qa7 30. Qf4 bxa4 31. Rd4 Ra8 $17) 27... Qa3 28. Bb1 Nc3
29. Qc2 g6 $1 $17) (25. Qe1 Nxf2 $1 26. Rxc6 (26. Kxf2 Qh4+ 27. Kf3 Qe4+ 28.
Kf2 Qxa4 $1 $19) 26... bxc6 27. Bxb8 (27. Qxf2 Bxa7 $19) 27... Nxd1 28. Na7
Rxb8 29. Nxc6 Qd6 30. Nxb8 Nb2 $19) 25... Qh4 26. Rxc6 bxc6 27. Rc1 Nxf2 $1 28.
Qxf2 Bh2+ 29. Kf1 Qxa4 0-1

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.11"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Psakhis,L"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 exd4 8. Nxd4
Re8 9. f3 c6 10. Bf2 d5 11. exd5 cxd5 12. O-O Nc6 13. c5 Nh5 14. g3 {[%csl Rh3]
N/ New move, but I am not sure, that it will get popularity in future. Black
has nothing to worry and after} (14. Qd2 Be5 15. g3 Ng7 (15... Bh3 16. Rfe1 Qd7
17. f4 Bxd4 18. Bxd4 Bg4 19. Bf1 Bh3 20. Be2 Bg4 21. Bb5 Qf5 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23.
Bxc6 bxc6 24. Re1 Re6 25. Re5 {1/2-1/2 Nikolaidis,I-Kotronias,V/Ankara zt 1995}
) 16. Rfd1 (16. Rfe1 Nf5 $1 17. Nxf5 Bxf5 18. Nxd5 Nd4 $1 19. Bxd4 Qxd5 20.
Rad1 Rad8 21. Be3 Qxd2 22. Rxd2 Rxd2 23. Bxd2 Bxb2 $15) 16... Be6 $5 (16... Nf5
17. Nxf5 Bxf5 18. Nxd5 Nd4 19. Bxd4 Qxd5 20. Bf2 Qc6 $14 {1/2-1/2 Giorgadze,
G-Nalbandian,T/Erevan op 1996 (47)}) 17. f4 Bxd4 $1 18. Bxd4 Nf5 19. Bf2 d4 20.
Nb5 Qe7 $13 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Van Wely,L/Wijk aan Zee 1996 (42)}) 14... Bh3
15. Re1 Qg5 ({Deserves attention also} 15... Bxd4 $5 16. Bxd4 Qg5 17. Bf2 Nf4
$13) 16. Ndb5 {[%cal Rb5d6]} (16. Nxc6 $5 bxc6 17. Qa4) 16... Rad8 (16... Nf4
17. Nd6 (17. Nc7 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Nxe2+ 19. Rxe2 Rxe2 20. Qxe2 Rc8 $15) 17... Re7
$11) 17. Nd6 Bd4 $1 18. Qc1 $5 ({Dangerous for white} 18. f4 $6 Bxf2+ 19. Kxf2
Nxf4 {for example} 20. Qd2 (20. Nxe8 Ng2 (20... Qf5 21. gxf4 Qxf4+ 22. Kg1 Qg5+
23. Bg4 $1 Bxg4 24. Qc1 $1 Qh4 25. Qf4 $18) 21. Bf1 (21. Bb5 Nxe1 22. Qxe1 (22.
Nd6 d4 23. Qxe1 dxc3 24. Qxc3 Rxd6 25. cxd6 Qxb5 $19) 22... Nd4 (22... Qf5+ 23.
Kg1 Qf3 24. Qf2) 23. Bd3 Ne6 24. Bb5 a6 $1 25. Ba4 Nxc5 $17) (21. Bd3 Nxe1 22.
Qxe1 Ne5 $19) 21... Nxe1 22. Qxe1 (22. Bxh3 Rxe8) 22... Ne5 $1 23. Qc1 (23.
Bxh3 Nd3+ 24. Kg1 Nxe1 25. Rxe1 Qd2 $19) 23... Qf5+ 24. Qf4 Qc2+ 25. Kg1 Rxe8
26. Bxh3 Qxb2 $17) 20... Re6 $1 $40 {[%cal Re6f6]}) (18. Nxe8 Nxg3 19. Nf6+
Qxf6 (19... Kh8 20. Ng4 $1) 20. Bxd4 (20. hxg3 Qg5 21. g4 Bxf2+ 22. Kxf2 Qh4+
23. Ke3 d4+ $19) 20... Qg5 21. Kf2 Nf5 22. Bf1 Qh4+ 23. Kg1 Ncxd4 $17) 18...
Be3 $1 (18... Qe5 19. Nxe8 Rxe8 (19... Bxf2+ 20. Kxf2 Qd4+ 21. Qe3 Qxe3+ 22.
Kxe3 d4+ 23. Kf2 dxc3 24. Nd6 $16) 20. Qd2 $16) 19. Bxe3 Rxe3 20. Kf2 d4 21.
Nd1 $6 (21. Nce4 Qe7 22. Nc4 Rxe4 23. fxe4 d3 24. Bxh5 Qxc5+ $36 {Black has
great compensation for exchange, but nevertheless it was stronger than move in
the game.}) 21... Rxe2+ $1 22. Rxe2 (22. Kxe2 d3+ (22... Qd5 $5 23. Nf2 Ne5 24.
Nfe4 f5) 23. Kxd3 Qd5+ 24. Ke3 Ne5 {is too dangerous for White.}) 22... Qd5 {
[%csl Rf2][%cal Rc6b4,Rc6e5]} 23. Ne4 Ne5 24. Qg5 (24. Qh6 Bf5 $40 (24... Re8
25. g4 Bxg4 $140 26. Qxh5 $1)) 24... Re8 25. Rd2 $2 (25. Qh4 $5 Bf5) 25... Qc4
$6 {[%cal Rc4f1] It is very strange, that Topalov didn't found simple} (25...
Ng4+ $1 26. fxg4 (26. Kg1 Qxg5) (26. Qxg4 Bxg4 27. h3 Bxf3) 26... Qxe4 $19) 26.
Ndc3 (26. Re2 Qd3 $19) 26... h6 27. Qh4 dxc3 28. Rd8 $6 (28. bxc3 $5 {was the
best chance in bad position.}) 28... cxb2 $1 29. Rxe8+ Kg7 30. Rd1 Qc2+ 31. Rd2
b1=Q 32. Qxh3 Qcc1 0-1

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.13"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8.
Bd3 Re8 9. Qc2 c6 10. h3 Nf8 11. Bf4 Bd6 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. O-O-O a5 14. Kb1 Be6
15. g4 Rac8 16. Ng5 b5 17. f4 Bd7 18. Qe2 a4 19. Rc1 a3 20. b3 Ng6 21. Qd2 h6
22. Nf3 Ne4 23. Bxe4 dxe4 24. Ne5 Nxe5 25. fxe5 Rxe5 26. Qh2 Re6 27. Qxd6 Rxd6
28. Nxe4 Rd5 29. Nc5 Re8 30. Rhe1 Bc8 31. Nd3 h5 32. Nf4 hxg4 33. Nxd5 Bf5+ 34.
Ka1 cxd5 35. hxg4 Bxg4 36. Rc5 Bf3 37. Rxb5 g5 38. Ra5 g4 39. Rxa3 f5 40. b4 g3
41. b5 g2 42. b6 Re7 43. Ra8+ Kf7 44. Ra7 1-0

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.14"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. g3 c5 5. d5 b5 6. cxb5 a6 7. bxa6 Nf6 8. Nc3
O-O 9. Bg2 Bf5 10. O-O Nxa6 11. Ne1 Qd7 12. e4 Bh3 13. Rb1 Rfb8 14. b3 Bxg2 15.
Nxg2 Ng4 16. Bb2 Nc7 17. Qc2 Bd4 18. Kh1 Ne5 19. Qe2 Qc8 20. f4 Ng4 21. Qf3 Rb4
22. h3 $4 (22. Rbc1 $13) 22... Ne5 (22... Ne5 23. fxe5 Qxh3#) 0-1

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.15"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Psakhis,L"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 a6 7. Qd2 (7. Nge2 Nbd7
(7... c5 8. d5 b5 9. cxb5 Qa5 10. Ng3 axb5 11. Bxb5 Ba6 12. Bxa6 Nxa6 13. O-O
Rfb8 14. Rb1 Rb7 {1/2-1/2 Dreev,A-Azmaiparashvili,Z/Reggio Emilia 1996}) 8. Qd2
c5 9. d5 b5 10. cxb5 Qa5 11. a4 Nb6 12. Nc1 axb5 13. Bxb5 Ba6 $44 {1-0
Lorscheid,G-Howell,J/BL 1996 (20)}) 7... c5 8. Nge2 (8. d5 Qa5 9. Nge2) 8...
Qa5 9. d5 b5 $1 {N/ Much stronger, than} (9... Nbd7 10. Ng3 Rb8 (10... b5 $5)
11. a4 Nb6 12. Qc2 Bd7 13. Bd2 Nc8 14. Bd3 $16 {1-0 Benitah,Y-Russell,L/
Glenalmond 1996 (29)}) 10. Nc1 Nbd7 11. cxb5 axb5 12. Nxb5 (12. Bxb5 Ba6 13.
Nb3 (13. Bxd7 Nxd7 14. Bxe7 Rfb8 {with dangerous initiative.}) 13... Qb6 $44)
12... Nb6 13. Qxa5 Rxa5 14. Bd2 (14. Nc3 $5) 14... Ra8 15. Ne2 $6 (15. Bd3 Na4
16. Rb1 Bd7 17. Nc3 e6 {with good compensation for a pawn.}) 15... Nc4 $1 16.
Nec3 (16. Bc3 Bd7) (16. Bc1 $5 e6 $140 $6 17. Nec3 exd5 18. Bxc4 dxc4 19. Nxd6
$16) 16... Nxb2 17. a4 (17. Rc1 Bd7 18. Rc2 Na4 $17) 17... c4 $1 18. Ra2 (18.
Rb1 $5 Nxa4 (18... Nd3+ 19. Bxd3 cxd3 20. Be3 Nd7 21. Kd2) 19. Bxc4 Bd7 20. O-O
Rfc8 $15) 18... Nd3+ 19. Bxd3 cxd3 20. Bg5 (20. Be3 $5 Ba6 21. Kd2 Nd7 $13)
20... Ba6 21. Nc7 $6 {Maybe decisive mistake.Black,s position is perfect and
Dreev had to play very carefully.} (21. Kd2 Rfc8 22. Rb1 $1 (22. Ra3 Bxb5 23.
Nxb5 Rc2+ 24. Kxd3 Rxg2 $15)) 21... Nd7 $1 22. Ra3 (22. Bd2 $2 Bxc3 23. Bxc3
Rfc8 $1 24. Nxa8 (24. Ba5 Ra7 $19) 24... Rxc3 25. Kd2 Rc8 26. Rc1 Rxa8 27. Rc7
Nc5 $19) (22. Nd1 Bc4 23. Rd2 Rxa4 24. Bxe7 Ra1 $1 25. Bxd6 (25. Bxf8 Kxf8 26.
O-O Ra7 $19) 25... Bc3 $1 26. Bxf8 Kxf8 27. d6 Bb3 $19) 22... Rfc8 23. N3b5 (
23. Nxa8 Bxc3+ 24. Rxc3 Rxc3 {[%csl Ra8][%cal Rc3c8]} 25. a5 Ra3 26. O-O Rxa5
27. Nc7 (27. Bxe7 Rc5 $1 28. Bxd6 d2 $1 29. Bf4 Bxf1 30. Bxd2 Bxg2 $1 $19)
27... f6 28. Be3 Ne5 $17) 23... Bxb5 24. Nxb5 Rc5 $1 25. Rb3 (25. Rxd3 Rxa4 26.
Ra3 (26. Na3 Bc3+ $19) 26... Rac4 (26... Rxb5 27. Rxa4 Rb1+ 28. Kf2 Rxh1 29.
Ra8+ Bf8 30. Bxe7 Kg7 31. Bxf8+ Nxf8 32. h3) 27. Ra8+ Bf8 28. O-O Rxb5 29. Bxe7
Kg7 $19) 25... Rxa4 26. O-O (26. Kf2 Rc2+ 27. Kg3 Nc5 28. Ra3 Be5+ 29. Kh3 f6
$19) 26... Ra2 27. Kh1 (27. Bxe7 Rcc2 28. Bxd6 Rxg2+ 29. Kh1 Ne5 30. Bxe5 Bxe5
31. Rfb1 Bf4 $19) 27... d2 $19 28. Na3 Bd4 29. Rd3 (29. Nb1 $5 Rc1 30. Rxc1 (
30. Nxd2 Rxf1+ 31. Nxf1 Ra1 $19) 30... dxc1=Q+ 31. Bxc1 Rf2 32. Nd2 Re2 $1 $19)
29... Rc1 (29... Rc1 30. Rxc1 dxc1=Q+ 31. Bxc1 Ra1 32. Rd1 Bb2 $19) 0-1

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Horvath,Ta"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Hecht} c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. f4 Nc6 4. Nf3 d5 (4... d6 5. Bb5 Nf6 6. Bxc6+ $1
bxc6 7. d3 Nd7 8. O-O Be7 9. Qe1 $14 {Short-Azmajparashvili/Yerevan/ol./1996})
5. Bb5 Nge7 6. Ne5 (6. Qe2 $5 dxe4 7. Nxe4 a6 8. Bxc6+ Nxc6 9. b3 Be7 10. Bb2
O-O 11. O-O $14) 6... Bd7 7. Nxd7 Qxd7 8. exd5 exd5 9. O-O O-O-O 10. a3 Nf5 11.
Be2 c4 12. Bf3 Bc5+ 13. Kh1 h5 $1 14. Bxd5 (14. Nxd5 $2 h4 15. Ne3 Ng3+ 16.
hxg3 hxg3+ 17. Kg1 Rh2 $19) 14... h4 15. h3 Ng3+ 16. Kh2 Nxf1+ 17. Qxf1 Rhe8
18. Bxc4 Qd4 19. d3 Qf2 20. Qxf2 Bxf2 {Materiel steht Weiß nicht schlechter,
hat aber große schwierigkeiten mit der Entwicklung.} 21. Bd2 (21. Ne4 $2 Rxe4
22. dxe4 Bg3+ 23. Kg1 Rd1+ 24. Bf1 Nd4 $19) 21... f5 22. Bb5 Rd6 23. Rf1 Bg3+
24. Kg1 a6 25. Bxc6 Rxc6 26. Rc1 b5 27. Kf1 Rce6 28. Rd1 Kb7 29. d4 Rd6 30. d5
Kb6 31. b4 Kb7 32. Bc1 Rd7 33. Ne2 Red8 34. Nc3 Rc8 35. Rd3 Re7 36. Be3 Rce8
37. Nd1 Re4 38. d6 Kc6 39. d7 Rd8 40. Nc3 Re6 41. Ne2 Rxd7 42. Rc3+ (42. Nd4+
$2 Rxd4 $19) 42... Kb7 43. Nxg3 hxg3 44. Ke2 Rc7 45. Rxc7+ Kxc7 {Hecht:
technisches Endspiel L vs T mit einer weißen Bauernschwäche mehr als bei
Schwarz. Zugzwangmotive.} 46. Kf3 Kd7 47. Bd4 Rg6 48. Ke3 Ke8 49. Kf3 Kf7 50.
c3 (50. Be5 $2 {Hecht} Rc6) (50. Bc5 {Hecht} Ke6 51. Ke3 Kd5 52. Kd3 Re6 {
[%cal Re6e1,Re1a1]} 53. Be3 Re4 54. Bd2 Rd4+ 55. Ke3 Kc4 56. Be1 Re4+ 57. Kd2
Rxf4 58. Bxg3 Rf1 $19) 50... Ke6 51. Ke3 Kd5 52. Kd3 Re6 53. Bxg7 Re1 54. Bd4
Ke6 (54... Ra1 $5 {Hecht} 55. Ke2 (55. c4+ bxc4+ {mit Schach!}) 55... Rxa3 56.
h4 Ke6 57. h5 Kf7 58. h6 Kg6 59. Bg7 Kh7 $22 {[%csl Rg2,Rh6][%cal Ga3g3]}) 55.
Kd2 Ra1 56. Ke2 Rxa3 57. Be5 (57. Kf3 {Hecht} a5 58. bxa5 b4 $19) 57... a5 58.
bxa5 Rxa5 59. h4 Ra3 60. h5 Kf7 61. Bd4 Kg8 62. h6 Kh7 63. Bg7 Kg6 64. Kd2 Ra2+
65. Ke3 Rf2 (65... Rxg2 {Hecht} 66. Kf3 Rg1 67. Bd4 Rd1 68. Bg7 Rd3+ 69. Kg2
Kh7 70. Kh3 Rf3 $19) (65... Rf2 {Hecht} 66. Bf8 Rxg2 67. Kf3 Rc2 $19) 0-1

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.09"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Avrukh,B"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb7 6. Bg2 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 a5 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qc2 {another popular line is 9Nc3.} Bxd2 {Relatively a new
interpretation in this position.} (9... Re8 10. Nc3 d6 11. Rfe1 Bxc3 12. Bxc3
Be4 13. Qb2 Nbd7 14. Bf1 d5 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nd7 17. f3 Bg6 18. cxd5 exd5
19. Rad1 c6 20. e4 dxe4 21. Bh3 Ra7 22. f4 f5 23. exf6 $16 {1-0 Oll-Nikolic/
32nd Chess Olympiad, Yerevan 1996 (25)}) (9... Qe7 10. Nc3 h6 11. a3 $2 Bxa3
12. e4 Bb4 13. e5 Nh7 14. Ng5 Nxg5 15. Bxb7 Nc6 $1 16. Bxc6 dxc6 17. Bxg5 Qxg5
18. Ne4 Qf5 19. Qe2 Rfd8 $17 {0-1 Cativelli,G-Markeluk,S/Buenos Aires BCA op
1989 (29)}) (9... h6 $5 10. Nc3 Re8 11. a3 (11. Rfe1 d5 $10) 11... Bxc3 (11...
Bf8 12. e4 $16) 12. Bxc3 Be4 13. Qd1 (13. Qb2 a4 14. b4 d5 $15) 13... d5 (13...
a4 14. bxa4 d5 15. cxd5 Qxd5 16. a5 $1 $14) 14. Rc1 Nbd7 15. Re1 (15. Bh3 $6
dxc4 16. bxc4 Bxf3 17. exf3 e5 $1) 15... Qc8 16. Bf1 Qb7 (16... Bxf3 17. exf3
$14 {/\ f4, Bg2}) 17. Nd2 Bh7 18. Bb2 c6 19. e3 b5 $5 20. cxb5 (20. c5 a4 $15)
20... cxb5 21. Qe2 $1 Reb8 (21... Rab8 22. Bc3 $5) 22. f3 $14 {Karpov,A-Anand,
V/Tilburg 1991/1-0 (53)}) (9... Be4 10. Qb2 d5 11. a3 Bxd2 12. Nbxd2 Nbd7 13.
Rfd1 Qe7 14. Rac1 c6 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. Rc2 {1/2-1/2 Garcia
Ilundain,D-Gomez Esteban,J/Linares zt 1995}) 10. Nbxd2 d5 11. Rfd1 $146 (11.
cxd5 exd5 12. Ne5 Qe7 13. Ndc4 g6 14. Rac1 Na6 15. Qb2 Rac8 16. Rfd1 Ne8 17.
Ne3 c6 18. a3 Nd6 19. Rd2 Kg7 20. Rdc2 Nb8 21. a4 f6 22. Nd3 Rce8 23. b4 axb4
24. Qxb4 $16 {1-0 Beliavsky-Ahmed/32nd Chess Olympiad, Yerevan 1996 (33)})
11... Na6 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Nf1 {[%cal Gf1e3]} (13. Rac1 Re8 14. Ne5 c5 15.
Ndf3 Ne4 $11) (13. Ne5 Re8 {with next c5}) 13... Ne4 (13... c5 14. Ne3 $14 {
[%csl Gd5]}) 14. Ne5 (14. Rac1 Qf6 15. e3 c5 16. Ne5 Rfc8 17. Qb2 cxd4 18. exd4
b5 $132 {[%cal Gb5b4,Ge4c3]}) 14... Qe7 $6 (14... Nb4 $142 15. Qb2 f6 16. Nf3
$14) 15. Bxe4 $1 {Unusual, positional decision, but very strong.} dxe4 16. a3
$1 {[%csl Ga6]} c5 {[%csl Gb6]} (16... Rad8 17. Nc6 Bxc6 18. Qxc6 Nb8 19. Qb7
$1 $16 {[%csl Gb8,Gc7]}) 17. Nc4 Rad8 (17... cxd4 $142 18. Rxd4 (18. Nxb6 $2
Rad8 $17) 18... Rad8 19. Rad1 Rxd4 20. Rxd4 Qc7 (20... Rd8 21. Qd2 Rxd4 22.
Qxd4 Nc5 23. b4) 21. Nfe3 Nc5 22. Qd1 $14) 18. d5 b5 (18... Rxd5 $143 19. Nxb6
Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Rd8 21. Ne3 $16 {[%csl Ga5,Gc5]}) 19. d6 Qe6 20. Nxa5 Ba8 (20...
Bd5 21. Ne3 Rxd6 22. a4) 21. a4 bxa4 22. bxa4 Rxd6 23. Rxd6 Qxd6 24. Rd1 Qc7 (
24... Qe6 25. Ne3 $16) 25. Qc3 Rd8 (25... Nb4 26. Nb3 Rc8 27. Qxc5) 26. Rxd8+
Qxd8 27. Nb3 h6 28. Ne3 $16 {it's difficult to believe , but black's position
is very hard.The white's piecies more active , than their opponents, as well ,
as a pawn more dangerous,than black's one,at the same time black has no active
play and white can gradually to intesify their position.} Qc8 29. h4 h5 30. a5
g6 31. Qf6 Qc6 (31... c4 $2 32. Qc3 $18) (31... Qb7 32. Nd2) 32. Qd8+ Kg7 33.
Nd2 Nc7 34. Ndc4 Ne6 35. Qb8 Qa6 (35... Nd4 36. Kf1 Bb7 {[%cal Gb7a6]} 37. Qe5+
Kg8 38. Nd6 Ba6 39. Qe7 {with decisive attack.}) 36. Nd6 $2 {i think the time
trouble mistake.} (36. Qb6 Qxb6 (36... Bb7 37. Nd6 $18) 37. axb6 Kf6 38. Na5
Nd8 39. Kf1 Ke6 40. Ke1 Kd6 41. Kd2 Bb7 42. Ng2 Ba6 $11) (36. Qd6 Qxd6 37. Nxd6
Nc7 {not so clear.}) (36. Nb6 Bc6) (36. Qe8 Bc6 37. Qe7 Qb7 38. Qd6 Bb5 $11) (
36. Qe5+ $1 {was the right way.} Kg8 (36... f6 37. Qb8 {and black has no
chances to hold position.}) 37. Qf6 {[%csl Gf7][%cal Gc4e5]}) 36... Bc6 $2 (
36... Qxa5 37. Qe8 (37. Ne8+ Kh7 38. Nf6+ Kg7 39. Ne8+ Kh7 40. Qe5 Qe1+ 41. Kg2
Qxe2 42. Nf6+ Kh6 43. Ng8+ Kh7 $11) 37... Qa7 38. Nxf7 Qxf7 39. Qxa8 Nd4 40.
Qxe4 Nxe2+ 41. Kg2 Nd4 {and it must be draw.}) 37. Qb6 Qa8 (37... Qxb6 38. axb6
Nd8 39. Nec4 $18 {[%cal Gc4a5]}) 38. a6 Nd4 39. Kf1 Ne6 40. a7 {Fantastic
domination of white piecies,of course black hopeless against 41Qb8 with next
Ne3-c4-a5-b7. We are not often see , such a positional games of Veselin,
usually his games full of tactics and complicated variations;no wonder , that
he considered one of the best players of the world.} 1-0

[Event "Madrid Magistral 6th"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1997.05.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C87"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "1997.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Topalov plays this game in a very low key, slow, positional style. But his
handling of the positional problems is fresh and free of preconceptions.} 1. e4
{Hecht} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 d6 7. Bxc6+ bxc6
8. d4 exd4 9. Nxd4 Bd7 10. Nc3 O-O 11. h3 c5 (11... Rb8 12. Qf3 c5 13. Nf5 Bxf5
14. Qxf5 Qd7 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. b3 Nd7 18. Bb2 $14 {Siepelt,
H-Stobik,D/BL2-S 1996/BL2/1-0 (77)}) 12. Nf3 $146 (12. Nde2 Be6 (12... Bc6 13.
Ng3 Re8 14. Nf5 Bf8 15. Qf3 Bd7 16. Bg5 Bxf5 17. exf5 Be7 18. Re2 $14 {Adamson,
R-Stetson,R/Webb op 1989/EXT 89op2/1-0 (52)}) 13. Nf4 Nd7 14. Ncd5 Bf6 15.
Nxf6+ Qxf6 16. Nh5 Qe7 $11 {1-0 Soltis,A-Haririan,B/Boston op 1988/EXT 88op2 
(35)}) 12... Re8 13. e5 dxe5 14. Nxe5 Bd6 15. Bf4 Bf5 16. Rc1 {Very cool
defence of c2, but its good becase its the only weakness in Whites position.}
Re6 17. Qf3 Qe8 18. Nd3 c4 19. Rxe6 Bxe6 20. Ne5 Rb8 21. Re1 Qf8 (21... Rxb2
22. Nxc4 Rxc2 23. Bxd6 cxd6 24. Qd3 $16) 22. b3 cxb3 23. axb3 $14 Re8 24. Nd3
c5 25. Bxd6 Qxd6 26. Qf4 Qxf4 27. Nxf4 Bf5 28. Rc1 $1 {Again, this funny R
move. Now the threat is g4, kicking the B, then Ra1 is coming.} c4 (28... h5
29. Nfd5 Nxd5 30. Nxd5 Be6 31. Nc7 $1 (31. Ne3 f5 $132) 31... Rc8 32. Nxe6 fxe6
33. Ra1 Rc6 34. Kf1 c4 35. b4 c3 36. Ke2 Rc4 37. Rxa6 Rxb4 38. Kd3 $16) (28...
Re5 29. g4 g5 30. Ng2 $16) 29. bxc4 Rc8 30. Ncd5 $1 {Black is not going to get
his P back after this.} Nxd5 31. Nxd5 Kf8 32. Ra1 Bxc2 33. Nb6 Rc7 (33... Rc6
34. Rxa6 Ke8 35. Ra8+ Ke7 36. Nd5+ Kd6 37. Ne3 Bb3 38. Rg8 $16) 34. Rxa6 g6 35.
f3 Kg7 36. Ra3 Rc6 37. Rc3 Rxb6 38. Rxc2 Kf6 39. Kf2 Ke5 40. Re2+ Kd6 41. Kg3
Rc6 42. Rd2+ Ke5 43. Rd5+ Ke6 44. Rd4 Ra6 45. Re4+ Kd6 46. h4 Ra2 47. c5+ Kd7
48. c6+ Kd6 49. Rc4 Kc7 50. Rf4 f5 51. Rc4 h5 52. Rc5 Ra4 53. Re5 f4+ 54. Kh3
Rd4 55. Re6 $18 Rd6 56. Rxd6 Kxd6 {Hecht: Weiß benutzt die momentane
Abwesenheit des schwarzen Königs zum Gewinn eines Bauern....} 57. g3 Kxc6 58.
gxf4 {[#] Wie schon im Endspiel Izeta-Frois/EU-chT Pula/1997/ gewinnt Weiß
trotz der schlechten Bauernstellung durch vorsichtiges Herumspielen seines
Königs um den Doppelbauern zur Mitte. Danach gewinnt er leicht infolge
Zugzwang oder Damengewinn.} Kd5 59. Kg3 Ke6 (59... Kd4 {Hecht} 60. f5 Ke5 61.
fxg6 Kf6 62. Kf4 Kxg6 63. Ke5 $18) 60. Kf2 Kf6 61. Ke2 Ke6 62. Kd3 Kd5 63. Ke3
Ke6 64. Ke4 Kf6 65. f5 g5 (65... gxf5+ 66. Kf4 $18 (66. Kd5 {Hecht} f4 67. Ke4
Ke6 68. Kxf4 Kf6 69. Ke4 Ke6 70. f4 Kf6 71. f5 Kf7 72. Ke5 Ke7 73. f6+ Kf7 74.
Kf5 Kf8 75. Kg6 Kg8 76. Kxh5 Kf7 77. Kg5 $18) (66. Kf4 Ke6 67. Kg5 Ke5 68. Kxh5
Kf4 69. Kg6 $18)) 66. hxg5+ Kxg5 67. Ke5 h4 68. f6 Kg6 (68... h3 {Hecht} 69. f7
h2 70. f8=Q h1=Q 71. Qg7+ Kh4 72. Qh6+ $18) 69. Ke6 1-0

[Event "Madrid Magistral 6th"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1997.05.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C68"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "164"]
[EventDate "1997.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Shirov plays a new move, with a brand new plan to go with it, but he fails to
prove its value. Whites play could perhaps be improved, so the line is worth
another try.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. h3 h5 7.
d3 Qf6 8. Be3 (8. Nbd2 {Leads to the drawish main line.} Ne7 9. Re1 Ng6 10. d4
Bd6 11. hxg4 hxg4 12. Nh2 Rxh2 13. Qxg4 Qh4 14. Qxh4 Rxh4 15. Nf3 Rh5 16. dxe5
Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. c3 {Gipslis in ECO gives +/= here} O-O-O (18... g5 $11)
19. Be3 g5 $11 {Barendregt,J-Zuidema,C/Amsterdam IBM 1965/MCL 08/0-1 (88)})
8... Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Qxf3 10. gxf3 Bd6 11. Nd2 (11. Kh2 f5 12. Rg1 Kf7 13. a4 Ne7
14. Kg2 Ng6 $132 {1-0 De Vreugt,D-Van de Oudeweetering,A/NLD-ch op 1994/EXT
94ch (38)}) (11. c4 Nf6 12. c5 Be7 13. Rc1 Nd7 14. Nd2 O-O-O 15. Rc3 f5 16.
exf5 Rhf8 $15 {Den Broeder,G-Van der Weij,A/NLD-chT 1993/EXT 93ch/0-1 (74)}) (
11. Nc3 Ne7 12. Kg2 (12. Kh2 f6 13. h4 Ng6 14. Kh3 Nf8 15. Rg1 Kf7 16. Rg2 Ne6
17. Rag1 Rhg8 18. Ne2 {1/2-1/2 Siroky,J-Mrva,V/SVK-chT 1995/EXT 95ch}) 12...
Ng6 13. Rg1 O-O-O {1/2-1/2 Siroky,J-Sturc,G/SVK-chT 1995/EXT 95ch}) 11... Ne7
12. Rfb1 $146 {Shirov launches a completely new plan in this position. Rather
than trying to do something on the g-file, he starts play on the Q-side. The
main drawback is that there is little to be had there if Black is cautious.} (
12. Rfd1 f6 13. Kf1 (13. Nb3 Kf7 14. Kf1 g5 15. d4 exd4 16. Nxd4 Ng6 $11 {
1/2-1/2 Dassel,U-Harzheim,L/NRW-I 1989/BIG 80 (23)}) 13... g5 14. Ke2 Ng6 15.
Nf1 Kf7 16. Ng3 Ne7 17. Rh1 h4 18. Nf1 a5 19. a4 {1/2-1/2 Larsen,O-Notkin,M/
Aalborg op 1995/EXT 95op}) (12. Nc4 Ng6 13. Kh1 f6 14. Rg1 Kf7 15. Rg3 Ne7 (
15... Nh4 16. f4 exf4 17. Nxd6+ cxd6 18. Bxf4 d5 $10 {0-1 Ljubojevic,L-Spassky,
B/Tilburg 1978/MCL 08/[Ftacnik] (43)}) 16. f4 exf4 17. Nxd6+ cxd6 18. Bxf4 Rad8
19. Rag1 Rhg8 $11 {Zaitsev,I-Notkin,M/Podolsk-chT 1993/TD 93\07/0-1 (65)}) (12.
Kh1 O-O-O 13. Rg1 Rh7 14. Rg2 c5 15. Rag1 g6 16. Bg5 Re8 17. Bxe7 Bxe7 18. Nc4
Bf6 19. a4 $14 {Rozentalis,E-Duong Thanh Nha/Montreal op 1995/EXT 95op/1-0 (57)
}) (12. Kh2 f6 13. Nc4 O-O-O 14. h4 Kd7 15. Rg1 g6 16. Rab1 Ke6 $13 {Watanabe,
R-Zapata,M/WchJ-U20 Santiago 1990/EXT 90ch/0-1 (46)}) 12... Ng6 13. b4 f6 14.
a4 Kf7 15. Kf1 Nf8 16. Ke2 Ne6 {Now White has to explain the meaning behind
the moves a4 and b4.} 17. c3 $6 {Achange of plan, now White wants to go d4
instead.} (17. c4 $5 {trying for b5 or c5 is at least more in line with the
main idea of a Q-side expansion.} Nd4+ (17... b6 18. c5 bxc5 19. bxc5 Bxc5 20.
Bxc5 Nxc5 21. Rc1 $16) 18. Bxd4 exd4 19. c5 Bf4 20. Nc4 $13) 17... Rhd8 18. Nc4
(18. d4 exd4 (18... g5 19. d5 cxd5 20. exd5 Nf4+ 21. Bxf4 exf4) 19. cxd4 Nf4+ (
19... Bf4 20. Nb3) 20. Bxf4 Bxf4 21. Nb3 Rd6 22. Rd1 Rad8 23. Rd3 $11) 18... b6
19. Kd2 (19. Nxd6+ Rxd6 20. a5 b5 21. Rd1 Rad8 22. Rac1 g5 23. c4 Ke7 24. cxb5
cxb5 25. Bc5 Nxc5 26. Rxc5 c6 $11) 19... Be7 20. Kc2 Rd7 21. Rd1 Rad8 22. Rd2
g6 23. Rad1 Bf8 24. Kb3 {Finally White threatens d4 again.} c5 $1 $17 25. b5 a5
26. Kc2 Bg7 {White's play is gone, now Black has all the options.} 27. Rh1 f5
28. Rdd1 f4 29. Bc1 Bf6 30. h4 Kg7 31. Rh2 Kh7 32. Rg2 Kh6 33. Rdg1 Rg7 34. Rh1
Kh7 35. Rhg1 Rdg8 36. Rh1 Kh6 37. Kd2 g5 38. hxg5+ Nxg5 39. Ke2 Ne6 40. Rgh2 h4
41. Rxh4+ {The best practical chance} Bxh4 42. Rxh4+ Kg5 43. Rh1 Kf6 44. Bb2
Rg5 45. Rh7 Re8 46. Rd7 Re7 47. Rd5 Rh7 48. d4 exd4 49. e5+ Kf5 50. cxd4 Rg2
51. Nd6+ {Imaginative counterplay, but the position is still lost.} cxd6 52.
exd6+ Kg6 53. d7 Nd8 54. dxc5 bxc5 55. Bc3 Kf7 56. Bxa5 Ke6 57. Rxc5 Rxd7 58.
Bc7 Rgg7 59. Bxf4 Nb7 60. Rc6+ Kd5 61. Be3 Rg1 $19 62. Rh6 Kc4 63. Rc6+ Kb3 64.
b6 Kxa4 65. f4 Kb5 66. Rc2 Nd6 67. Rc5+ Ka6 68. Rd5 Rgg7 69. Kf3 Nc4 70. Rc5
Nxb6 71. Rc6 Rb7 72. f5 Rgc7 73. Re6 Kb5 74. Re5+ Kc4 75. Ke4 Nd7 76. Ra5 Nf6+
77. Ke5 Rc6 78. Bg5 Rb5+ 79. Rxb5 Nd7+ 80. Ke4 Kxb5 81. Kd5 Rc5+ 82. Ke6 Nf8+
0-1

[Event "Madrid Magistral 6th"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1997.05.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1997.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {Ftacnik} e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Bb4 {Eine in letzter Zeit sehr populäre
Zugfolge. In einigen Varianten kann Schwarz statt des "normalen" Nf6 - Ne7
spielen.Ribli.} 4. Nf3 Nf6 {So entsteht die sogenannte "Ragosin-Variante".
Schwarz strebt lebendiges Figurenspiel an. Meiner Meinung nach ist das ganze
System jedoch ein wenig unnatürlich.Ribli.} 5. Bg5 {Mit dem Partiezug bietet
Weiß seinem Kontrahenten die Gelegenheit mit 5...dxc4 in die Wiener-Variante
einzulenken. Wenn Weiß das umgehen möchte, kann er zuerst 5.cxd5 cxd5 und
anschließend 6.Bg5 ziehen.Ribli.} h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 {Das ist
ein sehr einfaches und gutes System für Weiß. Er besitzt Vorteil im Zentrum
und in Wirklichkeit ist die schwarze Dame auf f6 schlecht postiert. Schwarz
hat zwar das Läuferpaar, aber es dürfte schwierig sein, für den Bc8 eine gute
Zukunft zu finden.Ribli.} dxc4 (8... c6 9. a3 (9. Bd3 Nd7 10. O-O Bxc3 11. Rxc3
dxc4 12. Bxc4 e5 13. Bb3 exd4 14. exd4 Qd6 15. Re1 $14 {Kasparov,G-Benjamin,J/
Horgen 1994/1/2-1/2 (58)})) 9. Bxc4 c5 (9... Nc6 10. O-O Bxc3 11. Rxc3 e5 12.
d5 Ne7 13. Bb3 Bg4 14. Rxc7 Qd6 15. Qc2 Rac8 16. Rxc8 Rxc8 17. Qe4 {1-0 Van
der Sterren,P-Blatny,P/Moscow olm 1994 (53)}) 10. O-O (10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. O-O
Qe7 12. Ne4 Rd8 13. Qc2 Bb6 14. a3 Bd7 15. Ba2 Be8 16. Bb1 Nd7 {1/2-1/2 Ribli,
Z-Serper,G/Groningen PCA 1993 (25)}) 10... cxd4 11. exd4 (11. Nxd4 {Das ist
die andere Möglichkeit, wenn Weiß keinen Isolani bekommen möchte.Ribli.} a6 $5
12. Ne4 Qe7 13. Nb3 Rd8 14. Qc2 Qf8 15. Be2 Bd7 16. a3 Be7 17. Na5 b6 18. Nc4
b5 19. Ne5 Ra7 20. Rfd1 {0-1 Gagarin,V-Aleksandrov,A/RUS-Cup2 Moscow 1996 (38)}
) (11. Qxd4 Qxd4 12. Nxd4 Bd7 13. a3 Bxc3 14. Rxc3 Nc6 15. Nxc6 Bxc6 16. Rd1
Rfd8 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 {1/2-1/2 Podgaets,M-Gorelov,S/URS-FL Sverdlovsk 1984 (23)})
11... Nc6 (11... Bxc3 $5) 12. Ne4 Qd8 (12... Qf4 {Das wäre eine Alternativet,
aber die Qf4 ist nur scheinbar aktiv, in Wirklichkeit ist sie für Weiß mit
Tempogewinn leicht anzugreifen.}) (12... Qe7 13. Qe2 $14) (12... Qf4 13. Qe2
Rd8 14. g3 (14. Rfd1 Be7 15. d5 $4 exd5 {0-1 Vandevoort,P-Sosonko,G/Brussels
zt (03)/1993/}) 14... Qf5 (14... Qg4 15. Qe3 Ba5 16. Be2 Bb6 17. Rfd1 (17. Ne5
Qf5 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. Nc5 Qd5 20. Rfd1 Qxa2 21. Bc4 Qxb2 22. Rb1 Qc2 23. Bd3
Qa2) 17... Qf5 18. Nc5 Qf6 $1 19. Ne5 Nb4 $2 (19... Nxe5 20. Qxe5 $5 Qxe5 21.
dxe5 Rxd1+ 22. Bxd1 Bxc5 23. Rxc5 Bd7 24. Bf3 Rc8 25. Ra5 $16) 20. a3 (20. Bh5
$5 g6 21. Qxh6 Qg7 22. Qxg7+ Kxg7 23. Bf3 Nxa2 24. Ra1 Nb4 25. Nc4 $16) 20...
Nd5 21. Qe4 {1-0 Gelfand,B-Benjamin,J/Horgen CS (10)/1994 (41)}) 15. Rfd1 Ba5 (
15... Bf8 16. a3 Bd7 17. Bd3 Qh5 18. Nc5 Bxc5 19. Rxc5 Qg4 20. Kg2 b6 21. Rc3
Qh5 22. Ne5 Qxe2 23. Bxe2 Nxe5 24. dxe5 Ba4 25. b3 Rxd1 26. Bxd1 Bb5 {1/2-1/2
Cebalo,M-Dizdar,G/CRO-ch/1995 (32)}) 16. Nh4 Qh7 17. d5 exd5 18. Bxd5 Bf5 {
1-0 Shneider,A-Blatny,P/Bern op 1995 (35)} (18... Bf5 {Ftacnik} 19. Nc5 Bb6 20.
Nxb7 Nd4 (20... Rxd5 21. Rxd5 Nd4 22. Qd2 $18) 21. Rxd4 Bxd4 22. Nxd8 Rxd8 23.
Rc7 {1-0 Shneider,A-Blatny,P/Bern op (05)/1995 (36)})) 13. a3 (13. d5 exd5 14.
Bxd5 Bf5 $1 $8 (14... Ne7 $2 15. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 16. Qb3+ Nd5 17. Rfd1 Be6 18.
Nd4 $40) (14... Bg4 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Rxc6 $16) (14... Bd7 15. a3 $1 Be7 16. b4
$14) 15. Qb3 Qb6 {1/2-1/2 Komarov,D-Kupreichik,V/Jugoslavija 1995 (25)} (15...
Qb6 {Ftacnik} 16. Ng3 (16. a3 Be7 17. Qxb6 axb6 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Ng3 Bd3 20.
Rfd1 Bb5 21. Nd4 Bf6 $11) 16... Bd7 17. Nh5 $5 {><g7} Bg4 18. Bxc6 (18. Nf4 $6
Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Bd2 $1 $36) 18... bxc6 (18... Bxh5 19. Bd5 $11) 19. Rc4 (19. Nxg7
$2 Kxg7 20. Ne5 Bd2 $1 $19) 19... Bxh5 20. Rxb4 Qa5 $1 {1/2-1/2 Komarov,
D-Kupreichik,V/JUG/1995 (26)})) (13. Qd3 {Ftacnik} Be7 14. a3 Bd7 $11) 13...
Ba5 (13... Be7 {Meiner Meinung nach wäre diese Fortsetzung logisch, aber Judit
hat andere Gedanken im Kopf. Sie möchte Pd4 attackieren.Ribli.}) (13... Be7 {
Ftacnik} 14. Qd3 $5 (14. d5 exd5 15. Bxd5 Bf5 $11)) 14. Qd3 Bb6 15. Rfd1 {
Weiß hat einen isolierten Pd4 aber -wie üblich im Damengambit- auch
Raumvorteil. Der schwarze Bc8 findet kein gutes Feld.Ribli.} Qe7 (15... Ne7 {
Ftacnik} 16. Ba2 Bd7 17. Bb1 $14) 16. Bb5 (16. Ba2 {Ftacnik} Rd8) 16... Bd7 (
16... Rd8 $5 {Ftacnik} 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. Rxc6 (18. Qe3 Bb7 19. Ne5 Rac8 20. b4
$13) 18... Bb7 19. Rcc1 e5 20. Ng3 Qe6 21. Qe3 Bxf3 22. Qxf3 Bxd4 23. b4 a5 $11
) 17. Nc5 $14 Be8 (17... Bxc5 18. dxc5 {[%csl Rd6]}) (17... Rac8 {Ftacnik} 18.
Nxd7 Qxd7 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Ne5 $14) 18. Qc3 Rc8 (18... Rd8 {Ftacnik} 19. Nxb7
Qxb7 20. Bxc6 Bxc6 21. Qxc6 Qxc6 22. Rxc6 $14) 19. b4 {[%csl Gc5] Weiß hat ein
sehr gut plazierten Nc5. Es ist schwierig für Schwarz, zu Gegenspiel zu kommen,
aber Judit verteidigt sich hartnäckig.Ribli.} a5 20. Bd3 {[%cal Gd3b1,Gd3h7]
Der Läufer wechselt auf die Diagonale b1-h7, auf der er den schwarzen König
ein wenig beunruhigen kann.Ribli.} axb4 21. axb4 Rc7 (21... Bd7 {Ftacnik} 22.
Qe1 $14) 22. Qe1 $1 {Ein wahrhaft großmeisterlicher Zug! Die Opposition mit
dem Turm war der weißen Dame unangenehm, von e1 droht sie nun nach e4 zu
ziehen. Übrigens steht sie auch sonst ganz gut auf e1, sie deckt Pb4 und
kontrolliert die e-Linie.Ribli.} Kh8 (22... Bd7 {Ftacnik} 23. Qe4 f5 24. Qe1
Rfc8 25. Bc4 $14) 23. h4 $5 {Weiß gewinnt zusätzlich Raum und verhindert das
später eventuell mögliche Qg5.Ribli.} Qd6 24. Bb1 (24. Qe4 {Ftacnik} f5 $1 25.
Qxe6 $4 Bxc5 $19) 24... Qf4 25. Be4 {Jetzt droht Weiß mit 26.Nxb7 Rxb7 27.Bxc6.
Ribli.} Ne7 (25... Bd7 {Ftacnik} 26. g3 $14) 26. g3 Qf6 27. Ne5 {[%csl Gc5,Ge5]
[%cal Re5g4,Rg4f6] Weiß aktiviert nicht nur seinen Springer, sondern droht
zugleich 28.Ng4 mit Damenfang.Ribli.} (27. Nxb7 $6 Rxc1 28. Rxc1 Bxd4 (28...
Bxd4 {Ftacnik} 29. Nxd4 Qxd4 30. Rd1 Qb6 31. Nc5 $14)) 27... Nf5 (27... Bc6 $4
{Ftacnik} 28. Ng4 $18) (27... Nc6 $5 {Ftacnik} 28. Ng4 Qe7) 28. Ng4 Qd8 (28...
Qe7 29. d5 (29. Bxf5 {Ftacnik} exf5 30. Qxe7 Rxe7 31. Ne3 $16) 29... Bxc5 30.
bxc5 Rxc5 31. Bxf5 $18 (31. d6 $2 Nxd6 32. Rxc5 Nxe4 $13)) 29. d5 $1 $16 {
All the white pieces are harmoniously supporting this breakthrough. Da nun
alles gut vorbereitet ist, zelebriert Weiß den Durchbruch.Ribli. Alle weisse
Krafte unterstutzen mit Harmonie diesen wichtigen Durchbruch.} Nd6 (29... Qe7 {
Ftacnik} 30. Bxf5 exf5 31. d6 Qxe1+ 32. Rxe1 $16) 30. dxe6 f5 {Jetzt beginnt
ein scharfer taktischer Kampf, jedoch mit weißem Vorteil.Ribli.} 31. Nxb7 (31.
Qd2 $5 {Ftacnik} fxe4 (31... Ba4 32. Bc2 Bxc2 33. Rxc2 fxg4 34. Qxd6 $18) 32.
Qxd6 Qxd6 33. Rxd6 Ba7 34. Ne5 $16) 31... Qe7 $5 (31... Rxb7 32. Bxb7 Qe7 (
32... fxg4 33. e7 $18) 33. Rxd6 {Führt zur Partiefortsetzung.} (33. Ne5 {
Ftacnik} Nxb7 34. Rd7 (34. Nd7 Rf6 35. Nxf6 $16) 34... Qxe6 35. Rxb7 f4 36. Nd3
Qg6 37. Nc5 $18)) 32. Rxd6 (32. Nxd6 Rxc1 33. Rxc1 Qxd6) 32... Rxb7 $8 (32...
fxe4 33. Rxb6 $18 (33. Rxb6 {Ftacnik} Rxb7 34. Rxb7 Qxb7 35. Qc3 $18)) (32...
fxg4 33. Rxb6 $18) 33. Bxb7 Qxd6 (33... Qxb7 34. e7 $18 (34. Nxh6 $1 {Ftacnik}
gxh6 35. Qe5+ $18)) 34. e7 $1 {Weiß hat keine Angst vor Komplikationen. Er
opfert seinen Pg3 mit Schach, aber das ist irrelevant, weil sein Pe7 so
mächtig ist.Ribli.} (34. Qe5 Bxf2+ $1 35. Kxf2 $4 fxg4+ $19) (34. Ne3 {Ftacnik}
Qxe6 35. Nd5 Qd7 36. Nxb6 Qxb7 37. Rc8 $18) 34... Qxg3+ $6 (34... Rf7 $5 {
Meiner Meinung nach wäre das die beste Verteidigung für Schwarz. Natürlich hat
Weiß auch hier Vorteil, aber Schwarz kann sich noch verteidigen.Ribli.}) (34...
Rf7 {Ftacnik} 35. Rc8 Rxe7 36. Rxe8+ Rxe8 37. Qxe8+ Kh7 38. Kh2 $18) 35. Bg2
Rg8 (35... Rf7 {Ftacnik} 36. Rc8 $18) 36. Ne5 {[%csl Ge5,Ge7]} Qxh4 37. Rc8 {
[%csl Rg6][%cal Rc8e8]} Kh7 (37... Qxe7 $2 38. Ng6+ $18) ({Die Drohung ist} 
37... Z0 38. Rxe8 Rxe8 39. Ng6+ $18) (37... Qf4 $2 {Ftacnik} 38. Rxe8 Bxf2+ 39.
Qxf2 Qxe5 40. Rxg8+ Kxg8 41. Qxf5 $18) (37... Bh5 {Ftacnik} 38. Rxg8+ Kxg8 39.
Nd3 Kh7 40. e8=Q Bxe8 41. Qxe8 Qd4 42. Qb5 $18) (37... Qg3 $5 {Ftacnik} 38. Nc4
Bd4 (38... Ba7 39. b5 Bd4 40. Qd2 $18) 39. Qd2 (39. Rd8 $1 Qg4 40. Nd6 f4 41.
Nf7+ Bxf7 42. Rxg8+ Kxg8 43. e8=Q+ Bxe8 44. Qxe8+ Kh7 45. Qe4+ Qg6 $11) 39...
Ba7 40. b5 Bxb5 41. Rxg8+ Kxg8 42. Qa2 Bxf2+ 43. Qxf2 $18) 38. Nc4 Bd4 (38...
Qf6) (38... Ba7 {Ftacnik} 39. Nd6 Qh5 40. Nxe8 $18) 39. Nd6 $18 Qh5 (39...
Bxf2+ {Ftacnik} 40. Qxf2 Qxe7 41. Nxe8 $18) 40. Nxe8 Rxe8 41. Rxe8 Qxe8 42. Qe6
{[%csl Ge6][%cal Rg2c6,Rc6e8]} Bf6 $8 (42... g6 {Ftacnik} 43. Bc6 $18) 43.
Qxf5+ Kg8 (43... Kh8 44. Be4 $18) 44. Bd5+ Kh8 45. Be4 {Und Schwarz gab. Eine
von Topalov sehr stark gespielte Partie.Ribli.} (45. Be4 Qg8 (45... Kg8 {
Ftacnik} 46. Qh7+ Kf7 47. Bg6+ $18) 46. e8=Q $18) 1-0

[Event "Madrid Magistral 6th"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1997.05.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1997.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. e3 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. a4 O-O 8. Ra3 Bb7
9. Nf3 e6 10. dxe6 fxe6 11. Be2 $6 (11. Qd6 axb5 (11... Ne4 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 13.
Bd3 Bb7 14. Qxc5 axb5 15. axb5 d6 16. Qb4 Qc7 17. O-O Nd7 18. Rxa8 Rxa8 19. Bd2
Nc5 20. Bc2 Qb6 21. Bc3 Bxc3 22. bxc3 Bxf3 23. gxf3 Ra2 24. Rc1 {1-0 Flear,
G-Fedorowicz,J/Brussels OHRA op (08)/1987 (41)}) (11... Bxf3 12. gxf3 Qc8 13.
f4 Ne8 14. Qd1 axb5 15. Bxb5 Nc7 16. Be2 d5 17. h4 Nc6 18. h5 Ne7 19. hxg6 hxg6
20. e4 Qb7 21. Nb5 c4 22. Bg4 Ra6 23. Nxc7 Qxc7 24. exd5 exd5 25. Qe2 Nf5 {
1-0 Thorsteins,K-Meinsohn,P/Lyon op/1990 (42)}) (11... Qa5 12. Bd2 Qb4 13. Nd1
Qg4 14. Qg3 Qf5 15. Qg5 Ne4 16. Qxf5 gxf5 17. Ba5 d5 18. Be2 Nd7 19. O-O Rfc8
20. Be1 c4 {0-1 Marszalek,R-Berg,K/Pernik (04)/1984 (43)}) (11... Qc8 12. Be2
Ne8 13. Qg3 (13. Qd2 d5 14. O-O Nd7 15. b3 Nd6 16. Bb2 Rf5 17. bxa6 Bxa6 18.
Nb5 Bxb5 19. axb5 Rxa3 20. Bxa3 Ne4 21. Qa5 Nc3 {1/2-1/2 Jelen,Ig-Baklan,V/
Groningen op (06) 1996 (33)}) 13... d5 (13... axb5 $1 14. Bxb5 (14. Nxb5 $1 d5
$6 (14... Na6 $5 {Catalan}) 15. Ng5 {/\ Qh3} (15. O-O Nc6 16. b3 Ne7 17. Ra2
Nf5 18. Qh3 e5 19. Ba3 e4 20. Nh4 Rf6 21. Rc2 c4 22. Bb2 Rf7 23. Nxf5 gxf5 24.
Bxg7 Rxg7 25. Rfc1 Qd7 26. bxc4 Rxa4 27. Nd4 {1-0 Fedorowicz,J-Kohlweyer,B/
Dortmund/1986/}) 15... Ra6 16. O-O (16. Bg4 $6 Nf6 17. Nc7 Nxg4 18. Nxa6 Bxa6
$44) 16... c4 17. Bg4 Rf6 18. e4 $1 dxe4 19. Re3 Bh6 (19... Rf5 20. Nxe4 $1 $16
) 20. Rc3 $16 {Al Thani-Logins/corr/1991/}) 14... Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nc6 16. O-O Ne5
17. Be2 d5 18. Bd2 (18. f4 {>=}) 18... Nd6 19. b3 Nf5 20. Qh3 g5 $1 $17 {
Martin del Campo,J-Fedorowicz,J/Mexico/1991/}) 14. O-O Nf6 (14... axb5 $1) 15.
Qh3 (15. Bd2 Qe8 16. Ra2 Qe7 17. Rd1 Nh5 18. Qg4 axb5 19. Bxb5 Nc6 20. Be1 Rf5
21. a5 Nb4 22. Ra4 Rb8 23. a6 Ba8 24. e4 Rf4 25. Qh3 d4 {1-0 Conquest,S-Mainka,
R/Dortmund-B/1987 (43)}) 15... Qe8 (15... axb5 16. axb5 Rxa3 17. bxa3) 16. Rd1
Qe7 (16... Nbd7 17. Ng5) 17. Ng5 $1 Bc8 18. Bg4 axb5 19. Nxd5 exd5 20. Bxc8 b4
21. Rad3 h6 22. Be6+ Kh8 23. Bxd5 Nxd5 24. Rxd5 {1-0 Tarjan,J-Benjamin,J/
USA-ch (10) ;MCL 03 1983 (37)}) 12. Bxb5 Na6 (12... Qc8 13. O-O Ne8 14. Qg3
Bxf3 15. gxf3 d5 16. e4 d4 17. Ne2 Nc6 18. Bd2 Ne5 19. Rc1 d3 20. f4 dxe2 21.
fxe5 Qc7 22. Bc3 Bh6 {1/2-1/2 Boissonet,C-Matamoros,C/WchJ Gausdal (11)/1986 
(29)}) (12... Ne4 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. Bd3 (14. O-O Rf5 15. Be2 (15. Rd1 Qf6 16.
Nd2 Bc2 17. Rf1 Qd8 18. Nf3 Bf8 19. Qg3 d5 20. Qh3 Qf6 21. Ne1 Bd1 22. f3 c4
23. g4 Re5 24. Ng2 Bb3 {Burger,K-Alburt,L/New York Kavkasian/1983/1/2-1/2 (54)}
) 15... Nc6 16. Qg3 d5 17. Qh3 Qe7 18. Nd2 Bc2 19. Bg4 Rf6 20. e4 Rxa4 21. exd5
Rxa3 22. Qxa3 exd5 23. Nf3 {1/2-1/2 Petursson,M-Hodgson,J/Moscow-A/1987 (27)})
14... Bxd3 15. Qxd3 (15. Rxd3 Qa5+ 16. Bd2 Qxa4 17. Ra3 Qc6 18. Qxc6 Nxc6 19.
Bc1 Rab8 20. b3 Rb5 21. Kd1 Rfb8 22. Kc2 Nb4+ 23. Kd2 d5 {0-1 Babu,NS-Hebden,M/
London Lloyds/1990 (36)}) 15... d5 16. b3 Nc6 17. O-O Qe7 18. e4 d4 19. Bd2 h6
20. Ra2 Rf7 21. Qb5 Rc8 22. Rc2 Rxf3 23. Rxc5 {1-0 Stone,R-Popovych,O/
Philadelphia (05)/1989 (37)}) 13. O-O Rc8 14. e4 Nb4 15. e5 Bxf3 16. exf6 Qxf6
17. gxf3 Nc2 18. Ne4 Qh4 19. Bg5 Qh5 20. Bxd7 Nxa3 21. Bxe6+ Kh8 22. Bg4 {
1-0 Andruet,G-Widmann,Ru/Dortmund op (10)/1986/}) 11... d5 (11... axb5 12. Nxb5
d5 13. O-O {1/2-1/2 Schmidt,Wl-Popov,L/Warsaw zt-B (03)/1979/}) 12. bxa6 (12.
O-O $5 axb5 13. Nxb5 Nc6 14. Bd2 Qe7) 12... Nxa6 13. O-O Nb4 14. Bd2 Qe7 15.
Nb5 Nc6 (15... e5 16. Bxb4 cxb4 17. Ra1 Rfd8 $44) 16. Qb1 (16. Bc3 e5 17. a5 d4
$36) 16... e5 {White has only limited possibilities to counter the massive
black pawn center. Weiss hat nur begrenzte Moglichkeiten dem massivem
schwarzem Zentrum zu wiederstehen.} 17. h3 Kh8 (17... Ne4 $5 18. Qc2 (18. Rd1
Nxf2 $1 19. Kxf2 e4 20. Bc3 exf3 21. gxf3 Ne5 $17) (18. Bc4 $2 dxc4 19. Qxe4
Nd4 $19)) 18. Rc1 e4 19. Nh2 (19. Ne1 d4 $15) 19... d4 20. exd4 (20. Ng4 d3 (
20... Nxg4 21. Bxg4 Ne5 22. exd4 cxd4 23. Rc7 Qh4 24. Be1 Nxg4 25. hxg4 Bd5 26.
Qd1 d3 $13) 21. Bd1 Nxg4 22. Bxg4 Ne5 $17) 20... cxd4 21. Qa2 $6 (21. b4 Nd5
22. Rc5 Rad8 $13 (22... Rf5 23. Bg4 Re5 24. Qb3 $16) (22... e3 23. fxe3 dxe3
24. Rxd5 exd2 25. Rxd2 Rxa4 26. Rxa4 Qe3+ 27. Kh1 Qxd2 28. Qd1 Qxd1+ 29. Bxd1
Rf4 $11)) 21... Rad8 22. a5 d3 23. Bg4 (23. Bd1 Nd5 24. Ng4 (24. a6 Rxf2 $1 25.
Nf3 Ncb4 26. Qc4 Rxd2 27. Nxd2 Bxa6 $17) 24... h5 25. Ne3 Qf6 $15) (23. Bf1 Nd5
) 23... Nd5 24. a6 Ncb4 (24... Qf6 25. Rf1 Ncb4 26. Bxb4 Nxb4 27. Qe6 Nxa6 $17)
25. Qb3 (25. Qa1 Bc6 26. Nc3 (26. Bxb4 Nxb4 27. Rxc6 Nxc6 28. a7 Ra8 $19) 26...
Nc2 27. Rxc2 dxc2 $17) 25... Nxa6 26. Nc7 (26. Nc3 e3 27. fxe3 Nxe3 $17) 26...
Naxc7 27. Qxb7 Rb8 (27... Rb8 28. Qc6 (28. Qa7 Bxb2 $19) 28... Rxb2 $19) 0-1

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Bd7 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Be2 Nh6 7. Bxh6 gxh6 8. O-O
Qb6 9. Qd2 Bg7 10. Na3 O-O 11. Nc2 cxd4 12. cxd4 f6 13. exf6 Rxf6 14. b4 Raf8
15. b5 Ne7 16. Ne5 Be8 17. g3 h5 18. a4 h4 19. Bd3 hxg3 20. hxg3 h5 21. Ne3 Bh6
22. a5 Qd8 23. f4 Kh8 24. Qh2 Qd6 25. a6 b6 26. Rab1 Qc7 27. Nc2 Qc3 28. Rf3
Qc7 29. Rbf1 Ng6 30. Qxh5 Qg7 31. Nxg6+ Bxg6 32. Bxg6 Rxg6 33. Qe5 Rc8 34. Nb4
Rc4 35. Nc6 Kh7 36. Qxg7+ Rxg7 37. Kg2 1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Be2 h5 11. Bxg4 Bxg4 12. f3 Bd7 13. Bf2 Nc6 14. O-O e6 $5 ({
The main alternatives are:} 14... Rc8 15. Nd5 (15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Bd4 f6 17. Qd3
Rb8 18. Nd1 c5 19. Bf2 O-O 20. Re1 a5 21. Rb1 Be6 22. Nc3 a4 23. Nd5 Qd7 24. b3
axb3 25. axb3 Rb7 26. f4 gxf4 27. Nxf4 Bf7 28. Nd5 Ra8 29. Rbd1 Kh8 30. Ne3 Qb5
$11 {Tiviakov,S-Georgiev,K/Cacak 1996}) 15... e6 16. Nxc6 Rxc6 17. Bd4 Be5 18.
Ne3 f6 19. Rf2 Ke7 20. c3 Qa5 21. Rd2 Rhc8 22. Bxe5 Qxe5 23. Rd4 Qc5 24. Qd2 h4
25. Rd1 b5 26. Kh1 Be8 27. Ng4 Qb6 28. e5 dxe5 29. Rd7+ Bxd7 30. Qxd7+ Kf8 31.
Qh7 Rd6 32. Qh8+ Kf7 33. Qxf6+ Kg8 34. Qxg5+ Kf8 35. Qf6+ Kg8 36. Nh6+ {
1-0 Bologan,V-Ribli,Z/Deutschland 1996}) (14... Ne5 15. Nde2 Rc8 16. Nd5 Be6
17. Bd4 Bxd5 18. exd5 Qa5 19. f4 gxf4 20. Nxf4 Qa4 21. c3 Qxd1 22. Raxd1 Rh7
23. Bxe5 Bxe5 24. Nd3 Bh8 25. Rf4 Kd7 26. Rdf1 Bf6 27. Rb4 $14 {Lanka,
Z-Ftacnik,L/EU-chTM Pula 1997 (69)}) 15. Nxc6 (15. Qd2 {followed by 16.Rad1
was worth considering.}) 15... Bxc6 16. Bd4 Be5 {Essential move. Otherwise
Whtie has a large advantage.} 17. Qd2 Qf6 18. Bxe5 $6 (18. Ne2 $5 {intending
advancement of the queenside pawns seems to be stronger.}) 18... dxe5 19. a4
O-O 20. b3 $2 ({Strange decision. Much stronger seems} 20. Ne2) 20... Rfd8 21.
Qe3 Qf4 $1 {Transforming game into a perspective ending, since the threat Rd2
is very unpleasant.} 22. Qxf4 gxf4 23. Rfd1 h4 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Rd1 Rc8 $1 {
Certainly, exchange of the second rook pair would be in White's favor.} 26. Rd2
Kf8 27. Nd1 Ke7 28. Nf2 f5 29. Kf1 fxe4 30. fxe4 (30. Nxe4 {fails to} Bxe4 31.
fxe4 Rc3 $1) 30... a5 31. Ke2 Be8 $1 {Threatening 31...Rc3.} 32. Kd1 $2 ({
After this move White faces irreolvable problems.Essential was} 32. c4) 32...
Bh5+ (32... Rc3 $2 {is strongly met by} 33. Rd3) 33. Kc1 (33. Ke1 {fails to}
Rc3) 33... Rg8 $1 {Starting the effective operations on the kingside.} 34. Nd3
h3 $1 {Excellent blow. This pawn sacrifice yields Black decisive advantage.}
35. gxh3 Rg1+ 36. Kb2 Bf3 37. Nxe5 Bxe4 {Intending to play 39...f3 followed by
Rg2.} 38. Rf2 Kf6 $1 39. Nc4 (39. Ng4+ Kg5) 39... Kg5 {/\f4-f3, Kg5-f4.} 40.
h4+ {A desperate attempt to push own passed pawn. Clearly, this march cannot
yield anything to White.} Kg4 41. h5 f3 42. h6 Kf4 43. Nd2 Rg6 44. h7 Rh6 45.
h8=Q Rxh8 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.11"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B67"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qc7 8. Bxf6
gxf6 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. O-O-O Bd7 11. Kb1 h5 12. Bc4 O-O-O 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. Bb3
Kb8 15. Rhf1 Qc5 16. Qd3 h4 17. Qh3 Be7 18. f5 Qe5 19. Rde1 Rde8 20. Ne2 Bf8
21. Nf4 Rh6 22. a3 Bb5 23. Nd3 Bxd3 24. cxd3 Rh8 25. fxe6 fxe6 26. d4 Qxd4 27.
Bxe6 Bg7 28. Bd5 Re7 29. Rd1 Qa4 30. Rd3 Rc8 31. Rb3 Rc5 32. Ka2 Qd4 33. Rd3
Qa4 34. Rb3 Qd4 35. Rff3 f5 36. Rb4 Qd1 37. Rd3 Qe1 38. Qxf5 a5 39. Rb6 Rc1 40.
Qf4 Ra1+ 41. Kb3 Rd7 42. Rxd6 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.13"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. Qg4 O-O 8. Bd3
f5 9. exf6 Rxf6 10. Bg5 Rf7 11. Qh5 g6 12. Qd1 Qa5 ({In a recent game Artur
opted for} 12... Nbc6 13. Nf3 Qf8 (13... c4 14. Be2 Bd7 15. h4 Qa5 16. Qd2 Nf5
17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 d4 19. Bf6 dxc3 20. Qf4 Qc7 21. Qxc4 Qxc4 22. Bxc4 Rc8
23. Ba2 h6 24. h5 g5 25. O-O-O Re8 26. g4 Ng7 27. Rh3 Ref8 28. Rxc3 Bc6 29. Bc4
Rxf6 30. exf6 Rxf6 31. Rd8+ Kf7 32. Bb5 Rf3 33. Rdd3 Rxd3 34. Bxd3 Ne8 35. Bg6+
{1-0 Komarov,D-Naumkin,I/Porto San Giorgio 1996}) 14. O-O c4 15. Be2 h6 16. Bh4
Nf5 17. Bg3 g5 18. Qd2 {+/= Timman,J-Yusupov,A/Novgorod 1995}) 13. Bd2 Nbc6 14.
Nf3 c4 15. Be2 Bd7 16. O-O Kg7 $6 ({An interesting concept, which was, however,
refuted byTopalov in this game. The popular alternative is} 16... Nf5 17. Qc1
Raf8 18. a4 Nd6 19. Ng5 Rf6 20. Qa3 Nxd4 21. cxd4 Qxd2 22. Qxd6 Bc8 23. Bxc4
Qxg5 24. Bd3 Qf4 25. Qc5 b6 {1/2-1/2 Vehi Bach,V-Alvarez Ibarra,D/San
Sebastian op 1994}) 17. Qc1 $1 {Forcing 17...Ng8 and preparing bishop transfer
to the b8-h2 diagonal.} Ng8 18. Bf4 Raf8 (18... Qxc3 $4 {loses immediately
after} 19. Bd2 {Black sacrifices the exchange hoping to get sufficient
compensation. It seems the most reasonable decision. Otherwise after 19.Ne5 
(or 19.Be5) White has a huge advantage.}) 19. Bd6 Qxc3 20. a4 $1 {[%csl Rc3]
[%cal Ga1a3,Ga4a5,Ga3c3]} ({The strongest reply. After} 20. Bxf8+ $6 Rxf8 {
><d4, Black gets good counterplay. In the presence of the dark-squared bishop
the d4 pawn is indirectly protected. The text move creates the threat of 21.a5
followed by 22.Ra3.}) 20... Nf6 {Threatening Nd4.} 21. Rd1 Ne4 ({After} 21...
Rd8 {the black queen is in the trouble:} 22. a5 $1 Nb4 23. Ra3 $1 Qxc2 24. Bxb4
Qxe2 25. Re1 $18) 22. Ra3 Qa5 23. Bxf8+ Rxf8 24. c3 {Essential move,
preventing 24...c3 and fixing White's advnatage.} Qb6 25. Re1 Nd6 26. Bd1 Rf6
27. Ra2 Nf7 28. Qa3 Na5 29. Ne5 Nxe5 30. Rxe5 Qd8 31. Re3 {Black clearly did
not obtain sufficient compensation for the exchange. Yet, White needs to finds
the effiicient way to convert his advantage.} Qf8 32. Qc1 {Queen exchange
would be in Black's favor.} Nb3 33. Qb1 Na5 34. h3 b6 35. Bg4 Qd6 36. Qe1 {
Aiming at e6 pawn.} Nc6 37. h4 Nd8 38. g3 Nf7 39. Rae2 Nd8 {[%csl Re6][%cal
Ge1e6,Gg4e6] Black managed to protect his weakest e6 pawn, but White has other
resources for imporving his position.} 40. Qa1 Nc6 41. Rf3 $1 {Rook exchange
increases White's attacking chances and yields him more freedom for aggressive
actions.} Rxf3 42. Bxf3 Nd8 43. Bg4 Nf7 44. Re1 Kf6 45. Qc1 Ke7 46. h5 $1 Kf6 (
46... g5 {fails to} 47. Qc2 h6 48. Qg6 {, and the white queen penetrates the
kingside.}) 47. hxg6 hxg6 48. Kg2 Kg7 49. Bd1 Qe7 50. Bc2 Qg5 51. Qd1 Nh6 52.
Qe2 Qf6 53. Rh1 Be8 54. f4 g5 {Otherwise after 55.Qf3 followed by g4 Black's
position is unbearable.} 55. Rf1 $1 Bf7 56. fxg5 Qxg5 57. Rf4 Bg8 58. Qe3 Kh8
59. Qc1 $1 {Excellent maneuver, allowing White to transfer his queen to the
diagonal a3-f8. The white queen's invasion into the Black's kingside decides
the game.} Kg7 (59... Qe7 $4 {loses after} 60. Rh4) 60. Qa3 Bf7 61. Qd6 Ng4 62.
Kf3 $1 Nf6 63. Qe7 Qh5+ 64. Ke3 Qg5 65. Ke2 a6 66. Kd1 $1 {The final subtlety.
Transferring his king to the queenside, White develops irresistible attack.}
Qh5+ 67. Kc1 Ng8 68. Qc7 b5 69. axb5 axb5 70. g4 Qh1+ 71. Kb2 Nh6 72. Qe5+ Kg8
73. Qg5+ Kf8 74. Qd8+ Kg7 75. Qf6+ {In view of 76.g5 Black resigned.} 1-0

[Event "Lost Boys 5th"]
[Site "Antwerp"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van der Sterren, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2555"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1997.08.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Veselin Topalov plays the model plan against the Breyer defence, invading the
Q-side with the R:s on the a-file. Van der Sterrens tactic of offering
reconsiliatory pawns is without success.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4
Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7
12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. a4 c5 16. d5 c4 17. Bg5 h6 18. Be3 Nc5
19. Qd2 h5 20. Bg5 Be7 21. Ra3 Rb8 22. Rea1 $146 (22. Qe3 Nh7 (22... Bc8 23.
axb5 axb5 24. Rea1 Nh7 25. Bxe7 Rxe7 $11 {Ebeling,M-Valkesalmi,K/Espoo 1988/
EXT 88b/1/2-1/2 (54)}) 23. Bxe7 Qxe7 24. Rea1 Bc8 25. axb5 axb5 26. Nd2 Rb7 27.
Ra5 h4 28. Ngf1 f5 $132 {1/2-1/2 Kavalek,L-Spassky,B/Turin 1982/MCD-r8 (56)}) (
22. axb5 axb5 23. Be3 Bf8 24. Qe2 Bc8 25. Nd2 Bd7 26. Rea1 Qc8 27. Ra7 Rb7 28.
Qf1 $14 {Dimitrov,V-Gullaksen,E/EU-chT Debrecen 1992/EU-chT/1-0 (56)}) 22...
Nh7 23. Be3 {White should not exchange this B} Bf6 24. Ne2 Nf8 25. Nc1 Nfd7 26.
axb5 axb5 27. b4 cxb3 28. Nxb3 Qc7 29. Nxc5 Nxc5 30. Qe2 Bc8 31. Ra7 Qd8 32.
R1a5 Re7 $2 (32... Bd7 $14) 33. Rxe7 Bxe7 34. Rxb5 Ba6 35. Rxb8 Qxb8 36. Qd1
$16 {A pawn is a pawn} Qc7 37. Qa1 Bc8 38. Qa3 Nd7 39. Nd2 Kg7 40. Ba4 f5 41.
Bxd7 Bxd7 42. Qb4 Bc8 43. c4 Ba6 44. Qa4 Qc8 45. f3 Kf7 46. Kf1 Bh4 47. Ke2 Kg7
48. Qb4 Qc7 49. Kd1 Bd8 50. Kc2 f4 51. Bf2 Qa5 $2 52. Qxd6 $1 $18 Qa2+ 53. Kc1
Qa1+ 54. Nb1 Ba5 55. Qa3 1-0

[Event "Lost Boys 5th"]
[Site "Antwerp"]
[Date "1997.08.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C83"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Winants,L"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1997.08.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 32]} 1. e4 {Mikhalevski,V. Novikov} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6
5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Nbd2 {La continuation d'Ossip
Bernstein que l'on retrouve également dans l'arsenal théorique d'Anatoly
Karpov ou de Garry Kasparov. Les Blancs poursuivent le développement et
envisagent de chasser le Né4 de son piédestal. D'autres possibilités seraient:
a) 9.c3 le coup classique, qui permet de redéployer le Fou en c2; b) 9.Dé2
suivi de Td1 et c4: l'attaque Keres} Nc5 10. c3 Be7 {On pourrait aussi jouer
10... d4 immédiatement. Mais, il faudrait alors disposer d'un remède contre le
sacrifice de Zaïtsev. 11.Ng5!? qui avait offert une splendide victoire au
champion PCA sur Anand, lors du dernier championnat du monde.} 11. Bc2 d4 {
Une percée typique dans cette ouverture. La position ne date d'ailleurs pas
d'hier puisque Capablanca en avait publié une analyse détaillée dès 1914.} 12.
Nb3 {Mikhalevski,V: There are two more options:} ({Sur} 12. Ne4 {, le coups
jadis recommandé, il suivrait:} d3 $1 ({Après} 12... dxc3 13. Nxc5 Bxc5 14. Be4
Qd7 15. bxc3 {les Blancs détiendraient l'avantage comme l'ont démontré deux
parties entre Capablanca et Chajes jouées а New York en 1915 et 1916.}) 13.
Nxc5 dxc2 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 {(l'idée de Daniliuk)} 15. Nxe6 (15. Nxa6 Bc4 ({
Ou même} 15... Kd7 16. Bg5 Ra8 17. Bxe7 Rxa6 18. Ba3 Bd5 19. Rac1 Bxf3 20. gxf3
Nxe5 21. Rxc2 Nc4) 16. Re1 b4 17. Nxb4 (17. Nxc7+ Kd7 18. Nd2 Bxa2 19. Rxa2
Kxc7) 17... Nxb4 18. cxb4 Bxb4 19. Bg5 Bxe1 20. Bxd8 Bxf2+ 21. Kxf2 Kxd8 22.
Nd4 Re8 {et les Noirs sont bien}) 15... fxe6 16. Be3 Rd5 17. Rac1 Nxe5 18. Nxe5
Rxe5 19. Rxc2 Kf7 20. c4 b4 21. Rd1 Rd8 $11 {Avec égalité, Xie Jun-Z.Polgar
Championnat du monde féminin, Jaen 1996}) 12... d3 13. Bb1 (13. Nxc5 dxc2 {
reviendrait aux variantes précédentes.} (13... dxc2 {Mikhalevski,V} 14. Qxd8+
Rxd8 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Be3 O-O (16... Rd5 17. Rfc1 (17. Rac1 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Rxe5
19. Rxc2 Kf7 {Xie Jun-Polgar,Zsu 1996}) 17... Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Rxe5 19. Rxc2 Kf7
20. a4 Rd8 21. g3 Red5 22. Kg2 Bc5 23. Bxc5 Rxc5 24. axb5 axb5 25. Re2 Rd6 26.
h4 h6 27. Rae1 Kf6 28. Re4 {1/2-1/2 Seibold,H-Pieper Emden,C/BL9091 1991}) 17.
Rac1 Rd5 18. c4 bxc4 19. Rxc2 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Rxe5 21. Rxc4 $14 {1/2-1/2
Nevanlinna,R-Tuomala,T/Jyvaskyla op 1994 (49)})) 13... Nxb3 14. axb3 Bf5 15.
Be3 O-O (15... Bg6 {Mikhalevski,V} 16. Nd4 Nxe5 17. f4 c5 18. fxe5 cxd4 19.
Bxd4 $16 {1-0 Sawatzki,F-Pieper Emden,C/Karlsruhe 1997 (52)}) 16. Bd4 {'!'
Mikhalevski,V. Une nouveauté semble-t-il. Une partie Ulibin-Daniliuk, disputée
cette année, а la coupe de Russie, avait continué par:} (16. Nd4 Nxd4 17. cxd4
c5 {'!' Mikhalevski,V.} 18. Bxd3 cxd4 19. Bxd4 Qxd4 20. Bxf5 Qxb2 {etc.}) 16...
Qd5 17. Re1 {[%cal Ye1e3] 'N' Mikhalevski,V. Mikhalevski,V: /\Re3 and B:d3 La
prise du Pd3 aurait évidemment entraîné la chute de b3. C'est pourquoi Topalov
prépare Ré3.} ({Au lieu de cela,} 17. b4 {était aisément contré par} Bxb4) (17.
Bxd3 {Mikhalevski,V} Bxd3 18. Qxd3 Qxb3 19. Qe4 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 Qxb2 21. Nf5 Rae8
22. Rxa6 Qxc3 23. Rc6 Bc5 24. Qg4 g6 25. Nh6+ Kg7 26. Nf5+ Kh8 27. Qg5 Bxf2+
28. Rxf2 Qxc6 $19 {0-1 Maus,S-Pieper Emden,C/BL8889 1989/BL 80 (36)}) 17...
Rfd8 ({Un renforcement possible serait} 17... d2 $5 {et maintenant:} 18. Nxd2 (
18. Re2 Bxb1 19. Rxb1 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 (20. cxd4 Bb4) 20... Bg5 21. Nf3 Bh6 {
et les Noirs se portent а merveille}) (18. Qxd2 Bxb1 19. Raxb1 Qxb3) 18... Bxb1
({ou} 18... Nxd4) 19. Nxb1 Nxd4 20. cxd4 b4 $1 {(enfermant le Cavalier). Avec
un excellent contre-jeu}) 18. Re3 Nxd4 (18... Be4 {Mikhalevski,V} 19. Bxd3 Bxf3
20. Qxf3 Qxf3 (20... Nxd4 21. Qxd5 Rxd5 22. cxd4 $14) 21. Rxf3 Nxd4 22. cxd4
Rxd4 $140 23. Bxb5) 19. cxd4 (19. Nxd4 $6 {Mikhalevski,V} Bg6 20. b4 Bg5) 19...
c5 (19... Be4 $2 {Mikhalevski,V} 20. Bxd3 Bxf3 21. Qxf3 Qxd4 $2 22. Bxh7+ $1
Kxh7 23. Qh5+ Kg8 24. Rh3 $18) 20. Bxd3 cxd4 {Les Noirs sont parvenus а
conserver l'équilibre matériel, mais leur position présente encore quelque
danger car le pion d4 est vulnérable.} 21. Re2 {'!' Mikhalevski,V. Mikhalevski,
V: Very intresting position has arised.In the beginning it looks like 'Black
is OK',but white has a simple plan.He exchanges bishops,put his knight on d3
and white has clear advantage.Look at the position after 25 moves.Now
everything is clear.The knight on d3 is much stonger than black's bishop,pawn
on d4 is blocked and c-file is open for the white rooks.} Qe6 (21... Bxd3 $1 {
Mikhalevski,V Black had to put white's queen on d3.Piket probably had
forgotten that the queen is not as good blocker as the knight is.} 22. Qxd3
Rac8) 22. h3 $1 {[%cal Yd3f5,Yf3e1,Ye1d3] Mikhalevski,V: White is preparing
Ne1.It wasn't so good immediately because of 22...Bg4. [#] Un coup d'apparence
anodine, mais extrêmement venimeux du point de vue stratégique. Pour le
comprendre, il faut avant tout réaliser que le plan des Blancs consiste ici а
échanger le Bf5, pour conduire ensuite le Nf3 vers la case de blocage (d3) et
laisser ainsi les Noirs avec le mauvais Bé7.} ({Toutefois,} 22. Ne1 {
immédiatement, était réfuté par} Bg4 23. f3 Bh5 {suivi éventuellement de Bg5-й3
}) ({et} 22. Bxf5 Qxf5 23. Nxd4 Qf4 24. Rd2 Qxe5 25. Nc6 Rxd2 26. Qxd2 Bg5 $11
{conduisait а l'égalité.}) 22... Rd5 $2 {Mikhalevski,V: Now black missed the
last chance to play Piket a sous-estimé le danger.} ({Il était nettement
préférable de jouer} 22... Bb4 {[%csl Ge1] afin d'empêcher le transfert du
Cavalier blanc vers d3.} {Par exemple,} 23. Rc1 ({si} 23. Bxf5 Qxf5 24. Nxd4
Qf4) 23... Rac8 24. Bxf5 Qxf5 25. Rxc8 Qxc8 26. Nxd4 $4 Qd7 27. Re4 Bc5 {
et les Noirs gagnent.}) (22... Bxd3 $1 {Mikhalevski,V and after} 23. Qxd3 Rd5
$1) 23. Ne1 $1 {Mikhalevski,V: Now black is hopeless against B:f5 and Nd3.} a5
({Surtout pas} 23... Rxe5 $2 24. Rxe5 Qxe5 25. Qf3 $18 {avec attaque double.})
24. Bxf5 Qxf5 25. Nd3 {'+/-' Mikhalevski,V.} h5 26. Rc2 {Mikhalevski,V: Now
the c-file is also in the white's hands. Topalov a remarquablement manoeuvré
et son avantage est désormais évident: il domine la colonne -c- et le Fé7
manque de perspectives.} f6 {Mikhalevski,V: The situation on the board has
changed very quickly and black is in the panic.} 27. exf6 Bxf6 28. Qe2 Ra7 29.
Rac1 Re7 30. Qd1 Kh7 31. Rc5 {Premier signe d'invasion. Les fantassins de
l'aile-Dame seront bientôt assiégés.} g6 {'?!' Mikhalevski,V.} (31... Red7 $142
{Novikov}) 32. Rxd5 Qxd5 33. Rc5 Qb7 34. Qc2 Bg7 $2 {Mikhalevski,V: Blunder in
strategicly lost position. [#] Précipite les événements.} ({Pourtant après} 
34... Kg7 35. Rc6 {suivi de Qc5, les Noirs seraient également condamnés.}) (
34... Qe4 35. Rxb5) 35. Rxh5+ $3 {et les Noirs abandonnèrent. Prendre la Tour
coûterait la Dame} 1-0

[Event "Lost Boys 5th"]
[Site "Antwerp"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1997.08.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This game was crucial for the outcome of the short tournament as both players
started well and the winner would get a clear lead.} 1. d4 {Epishin} Nf6 2. c4
c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nf3 g6 5. cxb5 a6 6. Qc2 $5 {A rather rare move, occasionally
used by Korchnoi and I.Sokolov.} Bg7 ({Interesting is} 6... Nxd5 $5 7. Qxc5 Bb7
8. e4 Nf6 9. Nc3 Bg7 10. Qe3 O-O 11. Bd2 d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 Qxd5 14.
bxa6 Nxa6 15. Bc3 Bxc3+ 16. bxc3 Nc5 17. Be2 Ne4 18. O-O Rxa2 19. c4 $11 {
1/2,Schmidt,W-Plachetka,J/Trnava A/1986/}) (6... d6 $143 7. e4 Bg7 8. a4 O-O 9.
Na3 e6 10. dxe6 fxe6 11. Bd3 axb5 12. axb5 Nbd7 13. O-O Nh5 14. Bg5 Bf6 15. Bh6
Bg7 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Qc3+ e5 18. Nc4 Rxa1 19. Rxa1 Nf4 20. Nxd6 Nh3+ 21. gxh3
Rxf3 22. Kg2 Qf8 23. Rf1 Qf4 24. Qc1 {1-0,Gutman,L-Hertneck,G/Kirchheim act/
1990/}) (6... axb5 7. Qxc5 Bg7 8. Nc3 Na6 9. Qxb5 Rb8 10. Qa4 O-O 11. e4 Nc5
12. Qa7 Rb6 13. Be3 d6 14. Bxc5 dxc5 15. Bc4 Rxb2 16. O-O Bg4 (16... Ne8 17.
Rac1 Bg4 18. Qxc5 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Qb8 20. d6 Nxd6 21. Bb3 Bh6 22. Nd5 Qd8 23. Qc3
Bg7 24. Qc7 e6 25. Ne7+ Kh8 26. Qxd8 Rxd8 $16 {Najer,E-Lempert,I/Moscow
Alekhine mem op/1996/}) 17. Ne5 Qd6 18. Nd3 Nd7 19. Nxb2 Bxc3 20. Rab1 Qf4 21.
Qa3 Be5 22. g3 Qxe4 23. Qe3 Qf5 24. Nd3 Bd4 25. Qf4 $14 {Anapolsky,S-Moraru,M/
ROM-chT/1994/}) (6... Qb6 7. e4 axb5 8. Nc3 b4 9. Na4 Qa5 10. Qxc5 Bb7 11. Qb6
$1 b3+ 12. Qxa5 Rxa5 13. Nc3 Na6 14. Bc4 Nb4 15. Bxb3 Nd3+ 16. Kf1 Ba6 17. Kg1
Bg7 18. Be3 Bc8 19. Bb6 Ra8 20. Bd4 O-O 21. Ne1 $16 {Bagirov,V-Alburt,L/
URS-ch45 Leningrad/1977/}) 7. e4 ({Taking the second pawn gives Black a large
lead in development and is quite risky.} 7. Qxc5 O-O (7... d6 $5 8. Qd4 O-O 9.
e4 Nbd7 10. Nc3 Nc5 11. Qb4 axb5 12. Bxb5 Nfxe4 13. Nxe4 Ra4 14. Qxa4 Nxa4 15.
O-O Qa5 16. Bc6 Bf5 17. Ng3 Bd3 18. Re1 Nxb2 19. Bg5 Nc4 20. Rad1 $44 {Sadler,
M-Mestrovic,Z/Cannes op/1995/}) 8. Nc3 d6 9. Qc4 axb5 10. Nxb5 Nbd7 11. e3 Bb7
12. Qc2 Nxd5 13. Bd2 Qb6 14. Be2 Rfc8 15. Qb1 Nc5 16. O-O Ba6 17. a4 Nxa4 18.
Qd3 Nc7 19. Rxa4 Bxb5 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. Qb3 Qa6 22. Bxb5 Qxb5 23. Qc2 $11 {
1/2,Sokolov,I-Khalifman,A/Wijk op/1995/}) 7... axb5 ({More consistent is} 7...
O-O $5 8. Nc3 Bb7 (8... e6 $6 9. dxe6 fxe6 10. e5 Nh5 11. Be3 $1 $16 (11. Qe4
$6 Ra7 12. Be3 Bb7 13. Qc4 Bxf3 14. gxf3 axb5 15. Qxc5 Rc7 16. Qxb5 Nc6 17. Bb6
Nxe5 18. Be2 Nxf3+ 19. Bxf3 Rxf3 20. Bxc7 Qxc7 $40 {Kortschnoj,V-Greenfeld,A/
Beersheba m/1995/})) (8... d6 9. a4 e6 $132) (8... axb5 9. Bxb5 $14) 9. a4 (9.
Bf4 d6 10. Bc4 axb5 11. Nxb5 Nbd7 12. O-O Nb6 13. Be2 Nxe4 $1 14. Qxe4 Ra4 15.
Nfd4 Bxd4 16. Nxd4 Rxd4 17. Qf3 Nxd5 18. Bh6 Qa8 19. Qg3 Re8 20. b3 Ba6 $17 {
Psakhis,L-Arbakov,V/Irkutsk URS-ch qf/1983/}) 9... e6 10. d6 axb5 11. Bxb5 Nc6
12. Bxc6 Bxc6 13. O-O Qb8 14. Be3 Qb4 15. Ne5 Bxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Nxd7 Rfd8
18. Nxc5 Nxd6 19. Nd3 Qe4 20. Rfd1 Nc4 21. Qe2 Nxe3 22. Qxe3 Rxa4 23. Qxe4 Rxe4
24. Kf1 Red4 $15 {Bagirov,V-Glek,I/Tashkent 1L/1984/}) 8. Bxb5 Qa5+ $6 {
Black stubbornly avoids the logical d6 advance and gets into trouble.} (8...
O-O $142 9. O-O d6 10. Nc3 Ba6 11. a4 Nbd7 12. h3 Ne8 13. Bd2 Nc7 14. Bxa6 Rxa6
$14 {1/2,Bagirov,V-Grigorian,K/Erevan/1982/}) 9. Nc3 Ba6 (9... Nxe4 $2 {Epishin
} 10. Qxe4 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Qxb5 (11... Qxc3+ 12. Kd1 Qxa1 13. d6 $18) 12. c4 $16
) 10. Bxa6 Nxa6 (10... Qxa6 11. e5 Ng4 12. Bf4 $16 {[%csl Gd5,Ge5] [+]()}) 11.
O-O (11. e5 $2 Nb4 {[%cal Rf6d5] /\Nfd5}) 11... Nb4 12. Qe2 O-O (12... d6 13.
e5 $1 $40 {[%csl Re8] @,עe8}) 13. Be3 (13. Bg5 $142 $5 d6 (13... h6 14. Bxf6
Bxf6 15. e5 $16) 14. a3 Na6 15. e5 $36) (13. Rd1 $5 {Epishin} d6 (13... Qa6 14.
Qxa6 Rxa6 15. Bg5 $16) 14. e5 dxe5 15. Nxe5 Qc7 16. Nc4 Rfd8 17. Ne3 Qb7 18.
Qc4 Nd7 19. Bd2 Ne5 20. Qb3 $14) 13... Ng4 14. Bg5 f6 $5 {This ugly move is
necessary to prevent the e5 advance. With his Bg7 hemmed in Black's
compensation is nebulous.} 15. Bd2 Qa6 {Otherwise White has attacking chances.}
16. Qxa6 Rxa6 17. h3 Nh6 18. Rfd1 Nf7 19. Ne1 Raa8 20. Be3 Rfc8 {Black keeps
the d6-square free for his N.} (20... d6 21. a3 Na6 22. Nd3 $16) 21. a3 Na6 22.
Na4 $6 {[%csl Ra4] A step in the wrong direction. The N is misplaced here and
Black will gradually gain full compensation.} (22. f4 $5 {[%cal Rf4f5] /\f5,
ץg7} Nd6 23. Nd3 $16) 22... Rab8 23. Rac1 d6 24. Nd3 Rb3 (24... f5 $5 $14) 25.
Rc3 Rbb8 26. Rc4 Rb3 27. Nc1 (27. Rc3 Rbb8 $11) (27. g4 $5 $14) 27... Rbb8 28.
f4 f5 $1 $132 29. exf5 gxf5 {[%csl Ra4,Rb2,Rd5] Now Black has good
compensation for his pawn, as White's pawns are weakened and his pieces lack
coordination.} 30. Rd2 h5 $1 {Stops g4.} 31. Bf2 Nh6 (31... Bf6 $142 $5 $44) (
31... Bf6 {Epishin} 32. Ne2 Kg7 $11) 32. Ne2 (32. Bh4 Kf7 33. Ne2 {-32.Ne2})
32... Kf7 33. Bh4 (33. Ng3 Kg6 34. Re2 Bf6 $13) 33... Bf6 (33... Ng8 {Epishin}
34. Bg5 Nf6 35. Ng3 Kg6 36. Nc3 Nc7 $13) 34. Bg5 $1 (34. Bxf6 {Epishin} Kxf6
35. Kh2 h4 36. Ng1 Kg6 37. Nf3 Kh5 $16) 34... Ng8 (34... Bxg5 $2 35. fxg5 Ng8
36. Nf4 $16 {[%csl Rg8] פg8}) 35. Kh2 (35. Ng3 Kg6 36. h4 Rb3 $44) (35. Nac3
$142 $5 $14 {White should try to get his unlucky N into play.}) 35... Nc7 36.
Ng1 Rb3 37. Nf3 Rcb8 38. Nh4 $2 (38. Rcc2 $142 $8 Na8 $5 (38... Ra8 39. Bxf6 (
39. Rc4 Rab8 $11) 39... Nxf6 40. Nc3 $14) 39. Nh4 Nb6 40. Nxb6 R8xb6 41. Bxf6
Kxf6 42. Re2 Rd3 $44) (38. Rcc2 $11 {Epishin}) 38... Bxb2 39. Nxf5 (39. Nxb2
Rxb2 40. Rxb2 Rxb2 41. Nxf5 Nxd5 $17 {[%csl Gc5,Gd6,Ge7] [+],o^c,d}) 39... Bf6
$17 {Now the Na4 is trapped.} 40. Ng3 (40. Bxf6 $142 Nxf6 41. Nc3 Rxa3 $17)
40... Nb5 41. Nxh5 Bd4 (41... Nxa3 42. Re4 Bd4 {[%cal Rb8b4] /\R8b4-+}) 42. Ng3
Nxa3 43. Rcxd4 (43. Rc1 Be3 $19 (43... R8b4 $19)) 43... cxd4 44. Rxd4 Nc2 45.
Rd2 Ne3 $19 {[%cal Rb3a3] /\Ra3-+} 46. f5 Nf6 {[%csl Rd5] ><d5} 47. Bxf6 Kxf6 (
47... Kxf6 48. Re2 (48. Nc3 Rxc3 $1 49. Ne4+ Kxf5 50. Nxc3 Nf1+ $19) 48... Nxd5
49. Re6+ Kf7 $19) 0-1

[Event "Lost Boys 5th"]
[Site "Antwerp"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1997.08.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 {Topalov is the only one of the world elite who
employs this sharp opening.} 4. d5 d6 {A refined move order, championed by the
great Benoni devotee Mihai Suba. The point is after} (4... exd5 5. cxd5 d6 {
White can, amongst others, continue} 6. e4 $5 g6 7. Bd3 {[%csl Gc4][%cal Yb1d2,
Yb1a3] and the Nb1 can be also developed via a3 or d2, thus controlling the
important c4 square. Thus 4...d6 limits White's options.}) 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5
g6 7. e4 {Currently White's most popular weapon against the Benoni is the
setup with Bd3,h3, and subsequent play in the center.} ({If White tries to
reach his goal by a different move order} 7. h3 {he must be prepared also for}
a6 (7... Bg7 8. e4 {-A70}) 8. a4 Qe7 $5 {Here White's attempts to gain an
advantage have not been too successful lately:} 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 Nbd7 (10...
Bg7 11. e3 Bf5 $5 12. Bd3 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 O-O 14. O-O Nbd7 15. e4 Rfe8 16. Rfe1
g5 17. Bg3 Nh5 18. Bh2 Ne5 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Qf3 Bxh2+ 21. Kxh2 Qe5+ 22. g3 Nf6
23. Qe3 Qd4 24. Rad1 Qxe3 25. Rxe3 Rab8 26. Rde1 b5 27. axb5 axb5 28. e5 $11 {
Komarov,D-Yudasin,L/St.Petersburg/1997/}) 11. e3 Bg7 12. Nd2 O-O 13. Bd3 Rb8
14. O-O g5 15. Bg3 Ne8 16. Qc2 Ne5 17. Bh7+ Kh8 18. Bf5 Bxf5 19. Qxf5 b5 20.
axb5 axb5 21. Ra5 Nc4 22. Nxc4 bxc4 23. Ra2 Kg8 24. Rc1 Rb4 $132 {Cramling,
P-Suba,M/ESP-chT/1994/}) 7... a6 {Last year Topalov managed to take some sting
out of the aforementioned line:} (7... Bg7 8. h3 O-O 9. Bd3 b5 $1 10. Bxb5 Nxe4
11. Nxe4 Qa5+ 12. Nfd2 Qxb5 13. Nxd6 Qa6 14. N2c4 Nd7 15. O-O Nb6 16. Nxb6 Qxb6
17. Nxc8 Raxc8 18. Rb1 Rfd8 19. Bf4 Qb7 $1 {This new move neutralizes the
passed pawn for good.} 20. d6 Bf8 21. Qd2 Bxd6 $1 22. Bxd6 Rc6 23. Rfd1 Qa6 24.
Qg5 Rdxd6 25. Rxd6 Rxd6 26. Qxc5 Qxa2 $11 {Kaprov,An-Topalov,V/Las Palmas/1996/
Now, however, hte Bulgarian grandmaster plays a more ambitious move, which is
new in his Black repertoire.}) 8. a4 {This prophylaxis is usually played
automatically, but it certainly is not the only move.} ({Another move deserves
more attention:} 8. Bf4 b5 9. Qe2 $5 Be7 10. Qc2 O-O 11. a4 b4 12. Nb1 Re8 13.
Bd3 Bf8 14. O-O b3 (14... a5 15. Nbd2 Nbd7 16. h3 Nb6 17. Rfe1 Nfd7 18. Bb5 Ba6
19. Bc6 Ra7 20. e5 dxe5 21. Nxe5 Nxe5 22. Bxe5 Ree7 23. Rad1 $16 {Yakovich,
Y-Filippov,V/Jekaterinburg/1997/}) 15. Qxb3 Nxe4 16. Nc3 Nf6 17. a5 Nbd7 18.
Qc2 Nh5 19. Bg5 Be7 20. Bd2 Bf6 21. Ne4 Be7 22. Rfe1 Nhf6 23. Nc3 Bf8 24. Rxe8
Qxe8 25. h3 Rb8 26. Bc4 Ne5 27. Nxe5 Qxe5 28. Re1 Qd4 29. b3 Bb7 30. Be3 Qh4
31. Qd3 Ra8 32. Bd2 $16 {Yakovich,Y-Totsky,L/St.Petersburg op/1994/}) ({
Rather tame seems to be} 8. h3 b5 9. Bd3 Bg7 10. O-O c4 $5 11. Bc2 O-O 12. Bf4
Re8 13. Re1 Bb7 14. a3 Qb6 15. Be3 Qc7 16. Nd4 Nbd7 17. Qd2 Nc5 18. f3 Re7 19.
Re2 Nfd7 20. Nd1 Nb6 $13 {Malaniuk,V-Emms,J/Hastings/1996/}) 8... Bg4 ({
Black has a good reason to avoid the lines after} 8... Bg7 9. h3 O-O 10. Bd3)
9. Qb3 {The most ambitious, but also extremely risky} (9. Be2 Bxf3 10. Bxf3
Nbd7 11. O-O Bg7 12. Bf4 Qe7 {doesn't give White big chances to gain an
advantage.}) ({The same applies to} 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 Nbd7 11. Be2 Bg7 12.
O-O O-O 13. Bf4 Qe7 14. Rfe1 Rae8 15. Bf1 Nh5 {1/2,Topalov,V-Franco,Z/Elgoibar/
1991/}) 9... Bxf3 ({After} 9... Qc7 $6 10. Nd2 {the B-sortie just looses sense.
}) 10. Qxb7 (10. gxf3 $143 Qc7 $132 {[%csl Re4,Rf2,Rf3] ה,f2,f3}) 10... Nbd7
$5 {An enterprising sacrifice of 1-2 pawns.} ({Also possible is} 10... Bxg2 11.
Bxg2 Nbd7 12. O-O (12. Qc6 Be7 13. e5 Rc8 14. exf6 Rxc6 15. fxe7 Qxe7+ 16. Kd1
Rb6 17. Re1 Ne5 18. f4 O-O 19. fxe5 dxe5 20. Kc2 f5 21. Rb1 Rb4 22. Be3 Rfb8
23. Bf1 Qb7 24. Bxc5 Rxb2+ 25. Kd3 Rc8 {0-1,Olafsson,H-De Firmian,N/Reykjavik
op/1994/}) 12... Qb8 $5 (12... Be7 $5 $11) (12... Bg7 $5 13. Bf4 $36) 13. Qc6
Bg7 14. Bf4 Ke7 15. e5 dxe5 16. Rfe1 Rd8 17. d6+ Qxd6 18. Qxd6+ Kxd6 19. Rad1+
Ke6 20. Bg5 h6 $5 $13 {Komarov,D-Foisor,O/Lyon op/1995/}) (10... Nxe4 $2 11.
gxf3 Nxc3 12. Qxa8 Bg7 13. Ra3 O-O 14. bxc3 Re8+ 15. Kd1 Qf6 16. Be2 {1-0,Van
Wely,L-Guseinov,A/EU-chTM/1997/}) 11. gxf3 Bg7 12. Bf4 $5 $146 (12. Qb3 $143
O-O 13. Be2 Nh5 14. h4 Be5 15. Bg5 Qa5 16. Bd2 Bf4 17. Qc2 Qd8 18. Nd1 Ne5 19.
Ne3 Qf6 20. Rh3 Bh6 21. Ng4 Bxd2+ 22. Qxd2 Qg7 23. Ne3 Rfb8 24. Nd1 Rb3 25. Rc1
Qf6 $44 {[%csl Rb4,Rd4,Re5,Rf4] Kurz,E-Emms,J/OLBaden/1992/ Black has
fantastic black-square play for the pawn.}) (12. Qc6 O-O $1 (12... Qb8 13. Bxa6
O-O 14. Qb7 Ne5 15. Qxb8 Nxf3+ 16. Kf1 Rfxb8 17. Be2 Nd4 18. Bd1 Nd7 19. h4 c4
20. Ra2 Nc5 21. Bf4 Ra6 22. h5 Nd3 $40 {Douven,R-Psakhis,L/Groningen op/1993/})
13. Qxd6 Nh5 14. Bh3 (14. f4 Re8 15. Bg2 Ra7 16. a5 Qh4 17. Na4 Rc8 18. Nb6 Bf8
19. Nxc8 Bxd6 20. Nxa7 Nxf4 21. Bxf4 Qxf4 22. Nc6 Nf6 23. Rd1 Nxe4 24. Rf1 Nf6
25. h3 Qh2 26. Bf3 Qxh3 27. Be2 Qb3 $19 {->,Gavrikov,V-Lutikov,A/Minsk
Sokolsky mem/1981/}) 14... f5 $1 {[%cal Rf8f6] /\Rf6|^}) (12. Bxa6 Rb8 13. Qa7
{gives Black good compensation with a draw whenever he wants.} (13. Qc6 $6 O-O
{[%csl Rc6,Re1][%cal Rb8b6,Rd7e5] /\Ne5,Rb6,ע,Q})) 12... Rb8 $8 13. Qxa6 Nh5 (
13... Rxb2 $5 14. Nb5 (14. Qxd6 $2 Nh5 $40) 14... O-O 15. Bxd6 (15. Bc1 Rb3 $36
) 15... Nh5 $1 $40 {@}) (13... Rb6 $143 14. Qe2 Nh5 15. Bc1 $5 {[%csl Ga4,Rb6]
[%cal Ga4a5] and the misplaced Rb6 just gives White a tempo to advance his
passed pawn.}) 14. Bc1 (14. Bxd6 $2 Rb6 $19) (14. Qxd6 $2 Nxf4 15. Qxf4 Rxb2
$40) 14... O-O 15. Be2 (15. Qxd6 $4 Rb6) ({White must allow the blockade of
his doubled pawn, as} 15. f4 $6 Re8 {[%csl Re4,Rf4] ה is too dangerous.})
15... Be5 $44 {[%cal Rd8h4]} 16. h4 {White has to prevent Qh4} Nf4 (16... Qf6
$5 17. Bg5 Qg7 (17... Bxc3+ $2 18. Kf1 $1 $16) 18. Nb5 $5) (16... f5 $5 $36)
17. Bb5 f5 (17... Ra8 $143 18. Qb7 Nb6 19. a5 $14 {[%cal Ra1a3] /\Ra3}) (17...
c4 18. Bxd7 Qxd7 19. Qxc4 Rfc8 20. Qa6 $5 $14) 18. Bxf4 Bxf4 19. Bxd7 Qxd7 20.
Qe2 Be5 {White managed to exchange a lot of pieces, but Black still has
compensation.} (20... Rbe8 $143 21. Kf1 fxe4 22. Nxe4 $5 {[%cal Rf1g2] /\Kg2,
escaping to relative safety.}) (20... Rb4 $5 $44 {[%cal Gb8b1] <->b}) 21. Nb5
Kh8 $5 (21... fxe4 22. fxe4 Rf4 23. f3 Rbf8 24. Ra3 Qg7 25. Rh2 $14 {[%csl Ga4]
is not too promising, the a-pawn can become dangerous.}) 22. O-O-O $6 (22. Kf1
$2 fxe4 23. fxe4 Rf4 24. f3 Rbf8 25. Ra3 Qg4 $19) ({More flexible was} 22. Ra3
$5 {White will decide about his K later on, Black is pressed to show his
compensation.}) 22... fxe4 23. fxe4 Qd8 $1 (23... Ra8 24. Qc2 Rfb8 $44) 24. Rd3
(24. b3 Qa5 25. Rh3 (25. Qc2 Rxb5 26. axb5 Qa3+) 25... c4 $1 $40) (24. Qe1 $143
Rf3 $40) 24... Qa5 25. Ra3 (25. Qc2 $2 Rxb5 26. axb5 Qa1+ 27. Qb1 Bxb2+ 28. Kc2
Rxf2+ 29. Rd2 Qa4+ $19) 25... Qb4 $36 26. f3 (26. Rhh3 c4 $36 (26... Bxb2+ $4
27. Qxb2+ $18)) (26. Kb1 $2 Rxf2 27. Qxf2 Qxe4+ $19) 26... c4 27. Qc2 Rfc8 $6 (
{More logical was} 27... Rf4 $142 $1 28. Kb1 (28. h5 g5) 28... c3 $1 29. Qb3
Qc5 $17 (29... Rxe4 $5)) 28. Rf1 Rf8 {Cierny nezúfa a uznáva svoju chybu.
Napriek strate casu pozícia ostáva plná napätia.} 29. Kb1 Ra8 $2 (29... Rf4 $44
) 30. Rc1 $6 $138 {Hratelny tah, ale pri nedostatku casu mal biely vyuzít
moznost uvolnit sa a vymenit dámy po} (30. f4 $142 $5 Rxf4 (30... Bxf4 31. Qc3+
Qxc3 32. Rxc3 Rxa4 $2 33. Rcf3 Rb8 34. Nc3 Ra3 35. Kc2 $1 $18) 31. Rxf4 Bxf4
32. Qc3+ Qxc3 33. bxc3 $14) 30... Rf4 31. Qe2 Rc8 {[%cal Rf4h4,Rh4h2] /\Rh4-h2}
(31... Rxa4 $2 32. Rxa4 Qxa4 33. Rxc4 $1 $16) 32. Na7 (32. Ra2 $2 Rxh4 33. Na7
Rh2 34. Qxh2 Bxh2 35. Nxc8 Bf4 36. Rc3 (36. Rh1 Qb7 $19) 36... Be5 $19 {
[%cal Rc4c3] /\c3}) (32. Qf2 Rxh4 $1 33. Nxd6 Rf8 $1 34. Rxc4 Rh1+ {[%cal
Rb4d6] /\Qd6-+}) (32. Rc2 Rxh4 33. Na7 Rh1+ 34. Ka2 Rb8 35. Nb5 (35. Nc6 $2
Qxa3+ $1 $19) 35... Rh2 36. Qxh2 Bxh2 37. Rxh2 $13) 32... c3 33. Qb5 $2 $138 {
A tactical blunder.} (33. Ra2 Rc5 $1 34. Nc6 cxb2 35. Rxc5 Qxc5 36. Rxb2 (36.
Qd1 Bc3 37. a5 Rxf3 38. a6 Rd3 $1 $40) 36... Bxb2 37. Qxb2+ Kg8 38. Nd4 Rxh4
$17) (33. Nxc8 $142 $1 cxb2 34. Rcc3 Bxc3 35. Rxc3 Qxc3 36. Qxb2 Rxf3 37. Nxd6
$14 {and White certainly doesn't risk losing this endgame.}) 33... c2+ $1 34.
Ka2 (34. Rxc2 Qe1+ $19) 34... Qd2 35. Qf1 Qd4 (35... Qd4 36. Qb5 Qxa7 {gives
Black an extra piece with an ongoing attack.}) 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Kapengut"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hecht Stohl Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5
g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Bd3 b5 {Stohl: Topalov is currently the greatest
Benoni expert and he has enriched this topical line with quite a few ideas of
his own.} 10. Nxb5 ({Stohl: One of the Bulgarian's novelties is} 10. Bxb5 Nxe4
11. Nxe4 Qa5+ 12. Nfd2 Qxb5 13. Nxd6 Qa6 14. N2c4 Nd7 15. O-O Nb6 16. Nxb6 Qxb6
17. Nxc8 Raxc8 18. Rb1 Rfd8 19. Bf4 Qb7 $1 {which he used against Karpov in
Las Palmas 1996.} 20. d6 Bf8 21. Qd3 $5 $146 Bxd6 22. Bxd6 Rc6 23. Rfd1 Rcxd6 (
23... Qd7 24. Qa3 $5 Rxd6 25. Rxd6 Qxd6 26. Qxa7 $14) 24. Qxd6 Rxd6 25. Rxd6 c4
26. Rd2 c3 27. Rc2 Qe4 28. Rcc1 cxb2 29. Rxb2 h5 30. g3 a5 31. Rb3 Qd5 32. Rcb1
Qd2 33. a3 Qc2 34. Rb8+ Kg7 35. Re1 Qc3 36. Re3 Qc1+ 37. Kg2 Qc6+ 38. Kg1 Qc1+
39. Kg2 Qc6+ {1/2,Shipov,S-Velimirovic,D/m Belgrade-Moscow 1998}) 10... Re8 (
10... Nxe4 $6 11. Bxe4 Re8 12. Ng5 $1 (12. Qc2 $6 Bf5 $5 (12... f5 $1 13. O-O
fxe4 14. Ng5 Bf5 15. g4 $140 $2 e3 $1 {AK}) 13. Nc3 $6 (13. Nd2 Bxe4 14. Nxe4
f5 15. O-O Rxe4 16. f3 Rb4 $15 {AK}) 13... Bxc3+ 14. Qxc3 Bxe4 15. O-O Nd7 $1
16. Rd1 Qf6 17. Ng5 Qxc3 18. bxc3 Nb6 19. Bf4 Rad8 20. f3 Bxd5 21. c4 f6 22.
cxd5 fxg5 23. Bxg5 Rd7 24. Bf6 Rf8 25. Bc3 Rf5 26. Ba5 Rxd5 27. Bxb6 Rxd1+ 28.
Rxd1 axb6 $17 {Solana Alvarez,E-Garcia Gonzalez,G,Cadiz open 1990}) (12. O-O {
->10...Re8})) 11. Nd2 Nxe4 {Stohl: A duble-edged sacrificial line.} ({Stohl:
Quite playable is the safer} 11... Nxd5 12. Nc4 (12. O-O Nf4 13. Nc4 Nxd3 14.
Qxd3 Ba6 15. a4 Nc6 16. Qxd6 Qxd6 17. Ncxd6 Re7 18. Bg5 Rd7 19. Rac1 Nd4 20.
Rfe1 Ne6 21. Be3 Bxb2 22. Rc2 Be5 23. Nc4 Bg7 24. e5 Rd5 25. f4 Bf8 26. Ncd6
Bxb5 27. Nxb5 Rd3 $11 {Ambarcumjan,A-Wang Zili/PRC-CIS Beijing 1991/0-1 (54)})
12... Nb4 13. Be2 Ba6 $5 (13... Rxe4 14. Ncxd6 Rxe2+ 15. Qxe2 Ba6 16. Bg5 Bxb5
17. Bxd8 Bxe2 18. Kxe2 N8c6 19. Bg5 Nd4+ 20. Kf1 Ndc2 21. Rd1 Nxa2 22. Nc4 Bd4
23. Rd2 Nab4 24. g4 Kg7 25. Kg2 $14 {Lazarev,V-Cebalo,M/Cannes op 1995/1/2 (30)
}) 14. Nbxd6 Re6 15. Bf4 Nd7 16. O-O Ne5 17. Bxe5 Bxe5 18. a3 Rxd6 19. Nxd6
Qxd6 20. axb4 Qxd1 21. Bxd1 Bxf1 22. Kxf1 cxb4 23. Ra4 a5 24. b3 Rd8 25. Be2
Bc7 $11 {1/2,Hillarp Persson,T-Gdanski,J/Goteborg Excelsior Cup (2) 1997}) 12.
Bxe4 (12. Nxe4 {Stohl} f5 13. O-O fxe4 $13) 12... Ba6 $1 (12... a6 $6 13. Nxd6
$1 (13. Nc3 f5 14. O-O fxe4 15. Ndxe4 Bf5 16. Re1 Bxe4 17. Nxe4 (17. Rxe4 $1
Rxe4 18. Nxe4 Qe7 19. Qc2 $16 {AK}) 17... Nd7 18. Bg5 Qb6 19. Qa4 (19. Rb1 $1 {
AK}) 19... Qb5 20. Qc2 Qxb2 21. Qxb2 Bxb2 22. Rab1 Rab8 23. Nxd6 Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1
Nb6 25. Ne4 Nxd5 26. Nxc5 $16 {Kuzmin,G-Taimanov,M,Rostov 1969}) 13... Qxd6 14.
O-O Nd7 15. Nc4 Qf6 16. Qc2 Bb7 17. Bd2 Rab8 18. Rfe1 Ne5 19. Bc3 Qd8 20. Nxe5
Bxe5 21. Bf3 Bd6 22. Rxe8+ Qxe8 23. Re1 Qf8 24. Qa4 $16 {Arlandi,E-Olivier,JC,
Geneva SUI open 1997}) (12... Qb6 $6 13. a4 a6 14. Nc3 f5 15. O-O fxe4 16. Nc4
Qc7 17. Bf4 Bd4 18. Ne2 (18. Bxd6 Qb7 19. Re1 Qb4 $140 $4 20. Qxd4 $1 {AK})
18... Qg7 19. Nxd6 Rd8 20. Nxd4 cxd4 21. Nxe4 Bb7 22. Bg5 $1 Rf8 23. Qb3 Qf7
24. Rad1 Nc6 25. Nf6+ Kh8 26. Qb6 $18 {Sapis,W-Labuckas,A, Katowice open 1995})
(12... f5 $6 13. O-O fxe4 14. Nc4 $1 (14. Re1 Ba6 15. a4 e3 $5 16. Rxe3 Rxe3
17. fxe3 Bxb5 (17... Nd7 18. Ne4 Qh4 19. Nbxd6 Rf8 20. Bd2 {1/2-1/2 Barbero,
G-Raina,G,Budapest 1988}) 18. axb5 Nd7 19. Qg4 Qe7 20. Nc4 Ne5 21. Nxe5 Bxe5
22. Qe6+ Qxe6 23. dxe6 Kf8 24. Ra6 Ke7 25. b6 Kxe6 26. b3 Kd5 27. bxa7 Ke4 28.
Bd2 Kd3 $132 {Novak,I-Rosiak,A,Bydgoszcz tt 1990}) 14... Ba6 $5 15. Nbxd6 (15.
a4 {->12...Ba6}) 15... Bd4 $1 {AK} (15... Be5 16. Qa4 Bxd6 17. Nxd6 Rf8 18. Nc4
Qxd5 19. b3 $16 {Bae,T-Gassouma,M,World Juniors, Zagan 1997})) 13. a4 Qa5 (
13... f5 $6 14. O-O fxe4 15. Nc4 Bf8 (15... Be5 $2 16. Nxe5 Rxe5 17. b4 $1 Bb7
18. Bb2 Nd7 19. Nxd6 Rxd5 20. Qb3 Qc7 21. Nxb7 Qxb7 22. Rad1 c4 23. Qxc4 Nb6
24. Qc3 {1-0 Shipov,S-Maslej,M,Katowice open 1992}) (15... Bd4 $6 16. Ncxd6
Bxb5 17. Nxb5 Qb6 $5 18. Be3 $1 Bxe3 (18... Bxb2 19. Rb1 Be5 20. d6 $16) 19.
fxe3 Na6 (19... a6 20. d6 $1 $18) 20. d6 Rad8 21. Qd5+ $16 {AK}) 16. Bf4 Bxb5 (
16... Qf6 17. Qg4 Nd7 18. Bxd6 Nb6 19. Bxf8 Rxf8 20. Qxe4 Rae8 21. Qd3 Bxb5 22.
axb5 Qd4 23. Qxd4 cxd4 24. Nxb6 axb6 25. Ra4 Re4 26. d6 Rd8 27. f3 Rf4 28. g3
Rf6 29. Rxd4 $16 {Barbero,G-Zelcic,R,Belgrade GMA-op 1988}) 17. axb5 Qf6 18.
Qg4 Nd7 (18... Qd4 $6 19. Nb6 $1 axb6 20. Rxa8 Qxd5 21. Ra7 Qd3 22. Qh4 Bg7 23.
Bg5 Be5 24. Bf6 $1 Re6 25. Bh8 $1 Qxb5 26. Qd8+ Re8 27. Qg5 Re6 28. Bxe5 dxe5
29. Qd8+ {1-0 Aronov,Y-Ibraev,N,WchJ-18 Guarapuava 1995}) 19. Bxd6 Qf7 20. Bxf8
Nf6 21. Qe2 Rxf8 22. d6 Qb7 23. Ne3 Rab8 24. Qc4+ Rf7 25. Ra5 Qb6 26. Rfa1 $16
{Lazarev,V-Kreutzkamp,R,Hamburg Wichern-op 1993}) 14. Nxd6 (14. O-O $6 Bxb5 15.
Nb3 (15. axb5 $2 Qxa1 16. Nc4 Rxe4 17. Nxd6 Re7 18. Nc4 Nd7 19. Qc2 Nb6 20. d6
Rd7 21. Qe4 Rc8 22. Bh6 Qa4 23. Bxg7 Qxc4 {0-1 Miladinovic,I-Kovacevic,A,
Arandjelovac 1993}) 15... Qb6 16. axb5 Rxe4 $15 {Ilic,Z}) 14... Nd7 (14... Rd8
$2 15. Nb5 $1 (15. Nb7 Bxb7 16. O-O Qb4 17. Ra3 c4 18. Qc2 Rc8 19. a5 Qb5 20.
Ra4 Nd7 21. Rxc4 f5 22. Bd3 Qxa5 23. d6 Ne5 24. Qb3 Bd5 25. Rxc8+ Rxc8 26. Qb5
Qxb5 27. Bxb5 Rb8 28. Be2 Rd8 29. Rd1 Rxd6 30. Nb1 Rc6 31. Be3 Bc4 32. Bxc4+
Nxc4 33. Bxa7 Bxb2 $11 {Vezzosi-Vera,R, Aosta 1988}) 15... Bxb5 16. axb5 Qxa1
17. d6 Re8 18. O-O $16 {Marin,M}) (14... Re7 $6 15. Qf3 Nd7 16. Kd1 f5 17. Nxf5
$1 gxf5 18. Qxf5 Rae8 19. Bd3 Nf6 20. d6 Re5 21. Qf3 Bxd3 22. Qxd3 Rd5 23. Qc4
Kh8 24. Kc2 Rb8 25. Nb3 Qd8 26. Bd2 Qxd6 27. Bc3 $16 {Lazarev,V-Handke,F,MTO
Biel 1997}) 15. Qc2 {The best move.} (15. f3 $2 Be5 $1 {/\Bg3#} 16. Kf2 Bxd6
17. Re1 c4 18. Nf1 Nc5 19. Be3 Nxe4+ 20. fxe4 Rxe4 21. Nd2 Re5 22. Nf3 Rxd5 23.
Qc2 Rd3 24. Rad1 Qd5 25. Bd4 Rc8 26. Re3 Qb7 $17 {AK} (26... Bf4 $4 27. Rdxd3
$1 $18 {Timoshchenko,G-Shabalov,A,Barnaul 46/(119) YB/14(136) 1988})) (15. Nxe8
$6 Rxe8 16. f3 (16. Qc2 {->}) 16... f5 17. Kf2 Bd4+ 18. Kg3 Nf6 $1 19. f4 (19.
Bb1 $2 Nh5+ 20. Kh2 Qc7+ $18) (19. Kh2 $2 Qc7+ 20. g3 Bf2 21. f4 fxe4 {/\e3,
Nh5-+}) 19... Qc7 $1 20. Bf3 Re3 $1 21. Kh2 Be2 $1 22. Qc2 (22. Bxe2 Qxf4+ 23.
Kg1 Rxe2#) 22... Nh5 23. g3 Bxf3 24. Nxf3 Rxf3 $19 {Z.Ilic}) (15. g4 Ne5 (15...
Rxe4+ 16. N6xe4 Ne5 (16... Re8 $6 17. f3 Bd4 18. Qc2 c4 19. Kf1 $1 Qxd5 20. Kg2
f5 21. Rd1 Re6 22. Ng3 Nc5 23. Ra3 Nd3 24. Rxd3 cxd3 25. Qb3 Bb7 26. Qxd3 fxg4
27. hxg4 Re3 28. Qb5 Qf7 29. Rf1 Be5 30. Nde4 {1-0 Pisulinski,J-Gdanski,J,
Bielsko Biala 1990}) 17. Qc2 $5 (17. Ra3 Nd3+ 18. Rxd3 (18. Kf1 $6 Nxc1+ 19.
Kg2 Bxb2 20. Rg3 Ne2 $17 {AK}) 18... Bxd3 19. f3 (19. Qb3 $2 Bxe4 20. O-O c4 $1
21. Qxc4 (21. Nxc4 Qxd5 $19) 21... Bxd5 $19 {Barlov,D}) 19... f5 20. gxf5 (20.
Nc3 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Re8+ 22. Kf2 Re2+ 23. Kg1 Qxc3 24. Rh2 Qd4+ 25. Kh1 $11 {
Barlov,D}) 20... gxf5 21. Ng5 c4 $1 22. Ne6 Bf6 23. Kf2 Qxd5 24. Re1 Bh4+ 25.
Kg2 Qd6 $1 (25... Bxe1 26. Qxe1 Re8 27. Qg3+ Kf7 28. Ng5+ $13 {Barlov,D}) 26.
Nf1 Bxe1 27. Qxe1 Re8 28. Ng3 Rxe6 29. Qf2 f4 $19 {Kozul,Z-Barlov,D,Kladovo 47/
118 1989}) 17... Nf3+ $140 18. Kd1 Be2+ 19. Kxe2 Nd4+ 20. Kd1 Nxc2 21. Kxc2 $44
{AK}) 16. Ra3 Nd3+ $5 (16... Qb4 $2 17. Qc2 Bh6 18. Kd1 $1 Qd4 19. Re1 Bf4 20.
Nxe8 Rxe8 21. Bf3 Kg7 22. Qc3 Qxf2 23. Ne4 Qh2 24. Bxf4 Qxf4 25. Qd2 {1-0
Blees,A-Tolnai,T,Kecskemet 1989}) 17. Rxd3 Bxd3 18. Qf3 (18. f3 $2 f5) 18...
Rxe4+ 19. N6xe4 c4 20. Nd6 (20. Qe3 Qxd5 21. f3 Bd4 22. Qf4 Re8 23. g5 Qa5 $44)
20... Rf8 $5 (20... Qxa4 21. Qxf7+ Kh8 22. Qb7 Rf8 23. f3 Qc2 24. Kf2 Bd4+ 25.
Kg2 Be2 26. Nf7+ Kg8 27. Ng5 $1 $18) 21. Rg1 Qxa4 $44 {AK}) 15... f5 16. Nxe8 (
16. Kd1 $5 $11 fxe4 17. N2c4 $5 (17. Nxe8 Bd3 $5 {/\ Re8-/+ AK}) 17... Qd8 $1 (
17... Bxc4 18. Nxc4 Qa6 19. Re1 $5 {/\ Re2, Ke1-f1-g1 /\ Re2, Ke1-f1-g1} Nb6 $5
{Marin,M} (19... Qb7 20. d6 Rad8 21. Bd2 (21. Bg5 $140 $2 Qd5+ $6 $19 {Vilela,J
}) 21... Bd4 22. Ba5 $1 Rb8 23. Re2 Qa6 24. Rb1 Re6 25. b3 Rbe8 26. Bd2 $1 (26.
Ke1 $6 Ne5 $5 {Vilela,J}) 26... Qc6 27. Be3 Nb6 28. Ke1 $6 (28. Nxb6 Qxb6 29.
d7 Rd8 30. Bxd4 cxd4 31. Rxe4 $14 {Vilela,J}) 28... Nd5 29. Rd1 $1 (29. Bd2 $2
Rf8 30. Rc1 Qd7 31. Qa2 Qf7 32. Kd1 Kg7 (32... Bxf2 33. Bh6) 33. Rc2 (33. Rb1
$2 Bxf2 34. b4 e3 35. Qb2+ Kg8 36. Bc3 Re4 $19 {Vilela,J-Ristic,Neb,Bela Crkva
47/119 1989}) 33... Bxf2 $140 34. Bh6+ {Vilela,J}) 29... Nb4 (29... Rf8 30.
Bxd4 cxd4 31. Rxd4 Nf4 32. Rexe4 $18) (29... Nc3 30. Bxd4 Nxe2 31. Qxe2 cxd4
32. Rxd4 $16) (29... Bxe3 30. fxe3 $14 {Vilela,J}) 30. Qb1 Nd3+ 31. Kf1 (31.
Rxd3 exd3 32. Qxd3 Qxg2 $13 {Vilela,J}) 31... Be5 32. Nxe5 Rxe5 (32... Nxe5 33.
Red2 {Vilela,J}) 33. Rxd3 exd3 34. Qxd3 Rd5 35. Qc4 Qxd6 36. Rd2 Rd8 (36...
Ree5 $2 37. Bf4 {Vilela,J}) 37. Bxc5 $1 $13 {Vilela,J}) 20. Nxb6 axb6 21. Bf4
Rad8 (21... b5 $5 22. Rxe4 bxa4 {Garcia,G}) 22. d6 Be5 23. Bxe5 (23. Rxe4 $140
$4 Qf1+ 24. Re1 Bxf4 $1 25. Rxf1 Rxd6+ $19 {Stohl,I}) 23... Rxe5 24. Ra3 Rxd6+
25. Kc1 Rd4 26. Kb1 Kg7 27. Qe2 (27. Rd1 $5 {Stohl,I}) 27... Qa5 28. f3 Rd2 29.
Qe3 Rxg2 30. fxe4 Qd2 $1 31. Qxd2 Rxd2 32. Rb3 Re6 $15 {Sarno,S-Garcia
Gonzales,G,Aosta 48/(115) 1989 _|_,ק}) 18. Nxe8 Qxe8 19. Bd2 Qf7 $1 20. Nd6 $5
Qxf2 $5 (20... Qxd5 $5 21. Qxe4 Qb3+ 22. Qc2 Qd5 $1 $11 {Prudnikova,S}) 21.
Qxe4 Rf8 $5 (21... Ne5 22. Nb5 $5 (22. Ra3 $6 Rd8 23. Nb5 Bb7 $1 24. Nc3 {
Matveeva,S-Prudnikova,S/USSR (ch) 1991} c4 $1 $17 {Prudnikova,S}) 22... Rd8 23.
d6 (23. Re1 Bb7 24. Nc3 c4 $13) 23... Qf7 24. Ra3 Bb7 $13 {Prudnikova,S}) 22.
Qe6+ Kh8 23. Re1 (23. Qxd7 $2 Qe2+ 24. Kc2 Qd3+ 25. Kc1 Bxb2+ 26. Kd1 Qb3+ 27.
Ke1 Bxa1 $19 {Prudnikova,S}) 23... Nb6 (23... Bxb2 $2 24. Ra2 Qd4 25. Qxd7 $18
{Prudnikova,S}) 24. Ra3 Nc4 25. Nxc4 Bxc4 26. Rf3 Rxf3 27. gxf3 Qxf3+ (27...
Bb3+ 28. Kc1 Bxb2+ 29. Kb1 $1 {Prudnikova,S} (29. Kxb2 $140 Qxd2+ $11)) 28. Kc1
Bxb2+ $1 (28... Bxd5 29. Qc8+ Bg8 30. Qxc5 $16 {Prudnikova,S}) 29. Kxb2 Qb3+
30. Kc1 Qa3+ $11 {Prudnikova,S}) 16... Rxe8 17. Kd1 fxe4 18. Ra3 {Ftacnik:
With so many black pieces directed against the poor white king Van Wely has to
trade very carefully. White hopes to survive the threats and keep part of
sacrificed material.} (18. Nxe4 Qb4 (18... Re5 $5 19. Bd2 Rxd5 20. Kc1 Qd8 $5 {
/\Ne5} (20... Qc7 $6 21. Ra3 Ne5 22. Nc3 Nd3+ 23. Kb1 Rd7 24. Nb5 Bxb5 25. axb5
c4 26. Bc3 Bf8 27. Ra6 Qb7 28. Qa4 Qd5 29. Rxa7 $18 {Koczka,Z-Kozlov,V,
Budapest Festival 1991} (29. Rxa7 {Stohl} Rxa7 30. Qxa7 Qxg2 31. Rd1 Qf3 32.
Qa4 Qf7 33. b6 h5 34. Qc6 Nc5 {1-0,Koczka,Z-Kozlov,V/Budapest Spring op 1991}))
21. Nc3 Bd3 22. Qd1 Rf5 23. Be3 c4 $44 {AK}) (18... c4 $5 {Stohl}) 19. f3 (19.
Re1 Qd4+ 20. Nd2 Rxe1+ 21. Kxe1 Ne5 22. Ra3 Nd3+ 23. Rxd3 Bxd3 $19) (19. Nc3
Ne5 $40 {Marin,M}) 19... Re5 $5 (19... Qd4+ 20. Qd2 Bd3 21. Ra3 c4 22. Re1 Qxd5
(22... Re5) (22... Rb8 23. Re3 {/\ Rd3 /\ Rd3} Bh6 24. Rexd3 cxd3 25. Qxh6 $16
{Marin,M}) (22... Re5 {Ftacnik 1/2-1/2 Kloepfer,M-Meissner,B/Altensteig-B 1993/
}) 23. Nf2 Rxe1+ 24. Qxe1 Nc5 25. Qe8+ Bf8 26. Bh6 Bf5+ 27. Rd3 $1 Qf7 28. Rd8
Ne6 29. Qxf7+ Kxf7 30. Rd7+ $18 {Van Rijn,A-Enklaar,B,Nederland tt 1995}) 20.
Bd2 $5 {Marin,M} (20. Qd2 Qb3+ 21. Ke1 Rxd5 22. Ra3 Rxd2 (22... Qb7 $44 {
Marin,M}) 23. Rxb3 Rxg2 {/\ Bd4, Ne5~/= Marin,M}) (20. Nc3 Qd4+ 21. Qd2 Bd3 {
/\Re8,c4,Nc5-b3~/= /\ Re8, c4, Ne5} 22. Re1 Bh6 $8 23. f4 $8 (23. Qxh6 $2 Rxe1+
24. Kxe1 Qg1+ 25. Kd2 Qf2+ 26. Kxd3 Ne5+ 27. Ke4 Qd4# {# Marin,M}) 23... Bxf4
24. Qxf4 Be2+ 25. Kc2 Bd3+ 26. Kd1 (26. Kb3 $2 c4+ 27. Ka2 Qb6 {/\ Re1-/+Marin,
M}) 26... Be2+ 27. Kc2 Bd3+ 28. Kd1 Be2+ {1/2-1/2 Lokotar,E-Marin,M,Vosu 48/
115 1989}) 20... Rxd5 (20... Qd4 21. Ra3 Rxd5 22. Qc3 Qxc3 (22... Ne5 23. Qxd4
Rxd4 24. Kc2 Bd3+ 25. Rxd3 $1 Nxd3 26. Bc3 $18) 23. Nxc3 Rd4 24. Kc2 Bd3+ 25.
Kc1 Ne5 26. Rb3 $16 {Lokotar,E}) 21. Kc1 Qb8 (21... Qd4 22. Qc3 Ne5 23. Qxd4
Rxd4 24. Nf2 $1 $16 {Lokotar,E}) 22. Ra3 Ne5 (22... c4 23. Rd1 Ne5 24. Bc3 Nd3+
25. Kb1 $16 {Lokotar,E}) 23. Rb3 $1 Qf8 24. Kb1 $16 {Lokotar,E-Maidla,Tallinn
51/(77) 1991}) 18... c4 {Stohl: Again Topalov comes up with a new move.} (18...
Bd3 19. Rxd3 $8 exd3 20. Qxd3 Qxa4+ 21. b3 (21. Qb3 $5 $13 {Palkovi,J}) (21.
Qb3 $5 {Ftacnik}) (21. Qb3 $5) 21... Ne5 $1 (21... Qd4 $2 {/\} 22. Qxd4 Bxd4
23. Re1 $16 {Legky,N}) (21... Qa1 $2 22. d6 Kh8 23. Qb5 Bb2 (23... Nf6 $2 24.
Qxe8+ $1 Nxe8 25. d7 $18) 24. Kc2 Bxc1 25. Rxc1 Qg7 26. Rd1 $18 {Legky,
N-Muller,H,Liechtenstein 1990}) 22. Qe3 (22. Qe4 $2 Qxe4 23. Nxe4 Nd3 24. f3
Rxe4 25. fxe4 Nf2+ 26. Ke2 Nxh1 27. Bf4 Bd4 $1 28. e5 Kf7 $19 {Palkovi,J}) (22.
Qxg6 $5 Qb5 (22... Qd7 $2 23. Qg3 $16) (22... hxg6 $5 23. bxa4 Nd3 24. Rf1 $13)
(22... Nxg6 $5 23. bxa4 Rd8 $13) 23. Qf5 (23. Qg3 Nd3 24. h4 h5 $1 25. Rf1 $13)
23... Nd3 24. d6 Kh8 (24... Rf8 $6 25. Qd5+ Kh8 26. Ne4 $14) 25. Rf1 $13 {
Legky,N}) 22... Qb5 $5 (22... Qd7 $2 23. Re1 Rd8 24. f4 Nf7 25. Qxc5 $5 Rc8 (
25... Qxd5 $2 26. Re8+ $18 {Legky,N}) 26. Re7 Qf5 27. g4 (27. Rc7 $5 {Legky,N})
27... Rxc5 (27... Qxg4+ $2 $16 {Legky,N}) 28. gxf5 Rxd5 29. Rxa7 (29. Re8+ Bf8
30. Ba3 Rd8 $14) (29. fxg6 hxg6 30. Rxa7 Rh5 31. b4 Rxh3 $14 {Legky,N}) 29...
gxf5 (29... Rxf5 $2 30. Ra8+ Bf8 31. Ba3 $16 {Legky,N}) 30. Ke2 $1 h6 $2 (30...
Bf8 $5) (30... Nd6 $1 $14 {Legky,N}) 31. Nc4 $1 {/\} Bf8 (31... Rb5 $2 32. Rxf7
$18) 32. Rb7 $1 Nd6 33. Nxd6 Rxd6 34. b4 $16 {Legky,N-Lupu,M,Val Torens 1990})
(22... Qd4 23. Qxd4 cxd4 24. Ba3 {1/2-1/2 Kloepfer,M-Meissner,B,Altensteig-B
1993} (24. Re1 Rd8 $11 {Legky,N}) 24... Nd3 25. Rf1 Nf4 26. d6 Nd5 $1 27. Nc4
d3 $5 {/\ Re2} 28. Ne3 (28. Kd2 $4 Re2+ $1 29. Kxd3 Nf4# {# Palkovi,J}) (28.
Re1 Nc3+ 29. Kd2 Ne4+ 30. Kxd3 Nxf2+ 31. Kd2 Ne4+ 32. Kc1 Nxd6 $11 {Palkovi,J})
28... Rxe3 29. fxe3 Nxe3+ 30. Kd2 Nxf1+ 31. Kxd3 $11 {Zueger,B-Palkovi,J,
Leibnitz 50/90 1990}) 23. Re1 Rd8 24. Kc2 $1 (24. Qe4 $1 $13 {Ftacnik}) 24...
Rxd5 $140 25. f4 Nd3 26. Qe6+ Kf8 $8 27. Qxd5 Nxe1+ 28. Kd1 $14 {Legky,N}) 19.
Re3 (19. Nxe4 $2 Qxd5+ 20. Nd2 (20. Qd2 {Stohl} Qxe4 21. Re3 Qa8 $17 {/\} 22.
Qxd7 $2 Rd8) 20... c3 $1 $19) (19. Nxc4 $6 Qxd5+ 20. Nd2 Nc5 $17) (19. Re1 $6
Nc5 20. Nxc4 Qb4 {/\ Nd3~/=}) 19... Qxd5 $5 $146 {Stohl: In fact only this
move is new.} (19... Nc5 20. Nxc4 Qb4 21. b3 $1 $18 {Palkovi,J}) 20. Rxe4 Rf8
$1 {[#] @עd1,Rh1 Stohl: Despite being an exchange and a pawn down Black has
promising compensation in good piece play. White's forces are in a tangle and
he is behind in development.} 21. f3 $6 {Ftacnik: The problems are not over
yet, black remains with many active possibilities.} (21. Rhe1 $142 $11 Ne5 $5 (
21... c3 22. bxc3 Bd3 23. Qb3 Qxb3+ 24. Nxb3 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 Rxf2 26. Re7 $16)
22. f3 Nd3 {->21...Ne5}) (21. Re7 $5 Ne5 (21... Bf6 $140 $2 22. Qe4 $16) (21...
Qxg2 $6 22. Qe4 Bb7 23. Qe6+ Kh8 24. Re1 Bc6 25. Qxc4 Rxf2 26. b3 $16) (21...
Nc5 {Ftacnik} 22. Rxa7 (22. f3 {Stohl -21.f3}) 22... Qxg2 $132) (21... Rxf2 22.
Qe4 Nf6 23. Qxd5+ (23. Re8+ $1 $18) 23... Nxd5 24. Rxa7 $16) 22. Qe4 (22. f3 {
->21.f3}) 22... Qc5 (22... Qa5 $2 23. Rxa7 Qxa4+ $140 $2 24. b3 $18) 23. Re6
Qa5 (23... Nd3 24. Rf1 c3 25. bxc3 Qxc3 26. Rxa6 (26. Rc6 Qa1 27. Nb3 Qb1 28.
Qd5+ Kh8 $44) 26... Qxc1+ 27. Ke2 Nf4+ 28. Qxf4 Re8+ 29. Qe3 Qc8 $14) 24. Rf1
c3 25. Rxa6 Qxa6 26. bxc3 Rd8 27. Re1 Nc4 (27... Nd3 28. Qe6+ Qxe6 29. Rxe6
Bxc3 30. Kc2 Bxd2 31. Bxd2 $14) 28. Qe6+ Qxe6 29. Rxe6 Bxc3 30. Re2 Rd4 31. Kc2
Bxd2 32. Bxd2 Nxd2 33. Rxd2 Rxa4 $11) (21. Rxc4 $5 {Stohl} Bxc4 (21... Rxf2 $5)
(21... Qxg2 22. Qe4 Qxe4 23. Rxe4 Bb7 24. Rhe1 Bxe4 25. Nxe4 $14) 22. Qxc4 Qxc4
23. Nxc4 Rxf2 24. g4 Ne5 25. Nxe5 Bxe5 26. b3 Bc3 $44) 21... Nc5 (21... Ne5 22.
Rhe1 Nd3 23. R1e2 Nb4 24. Qb1 c3 25. bxc3 (25. Rxb4 $6 Bd3 26. Qa1 Bxe2+ 27.
Kxe2 cxd2 28. Bxd2 Re8+ $36) 25... Na2 $5 (25... Bxe2+ $6 26. Rxe2 Na2 27. Bb2
Bxc3 (27... Nxc3+ 28. Bxc3 Bxc3 29. Qb5 $16) 28. Qe4 Qf7 29. Qc2 Bxb2 30. Qxb2
Rd8 31. Ke1 $16) 26. R2e3 Nxc3+ 27. Rxc3 Bxc3 $44) 22. Re7 Bf6 $1 (22... Nd3
23. Rf1 (23. Rxg7+ {Stohl} Kxg7 24. Qc3+ Kg8 25. Kc2 $14) 23... Bd4 24. Re4 Rb8
$44) (22... c3 $5 {Stohl} 23. Rxg7+ Kxg7 24. Qxc3+ Kg8 $44 {/\} 25. b3 Nd3 26.
Bb2 Nf2+ $1 27. Ke1 (27. Kc1 Rc8 28. Nc4 Nd3+ $36) 27... Nd3+ $11) 23. Rxa7 c3
24. Rxa6 {Ftacnik: Panicky reaction in the face of mounting pressure, white
had to cross fingers and defend. Stohl: A tactical mistake, which loses the
game.} (24. bxc3 $6 Bc4 {/\Bb3} (24... Bd3 25. Qb2 Re8 26. Re1 Rxe1+ 27. Kxe1
Qe5+ 28. Ne4 Bxe4 29. Kf1 Bc6 $14) 25. Ra5 Re8 $40 (25... Re8 {Ftacnik} 26. Re1
(26. Rxc5 $4 {Stohl} Be2+ 27. Ke1 Bh4+ 28. g3 Bxg3#) 26... Rxe1+ 27. Kxe1 Nd3+
28. Kd1 (28. Kf1 {Stohl} Nxc1+ 29. Nxc4 Qxc4+ 30. Kg1 Ne2+ $11) 28... Nf2+ (
28... Qxa5 $2 {Stohl} 29. Nxc4 $18) 29. Ke1 Nd3+ 30. Kf1 Nxc1+ 31. Nxc4 Qxc4+
$13) (25... Bb3 $2 {Stohl} 26. Qxb3 $18)) 24... cxd2 25. Rxf6 (25. Rb6 dxc1=Q+
26. Kxc1 Qa2 $17) (25. Qxd2 {Ftacnik} Qxd2+ (25... Qb3+ {Stohl} 26. Qc2 $8
Qxc2+ 27. Kxc2 Nxa6 $15) 26. Bxd2 Nxa6 $15) 25... dxc1=Q+ 26. Kxc1 Rxf6 {
-> Stohl: Despite having 3 pawns for the N White's position is very difficult,
as his K is still in danger and he will have to give up at least a pawn to
stave off the attack.} 27. Rd1 (27. Kb1 $5 {Ftacnik} Qf5 28. Qxf5 Rxf5 $15 (
28... Rxf5 {Stohl} 29. a5 Nb3 $17)) 27... Qc6 28. Kb1 (28. a5 {Ftacnik} Nb3+
29. Kb1 Qxc2+ (29... Nxa5 $19 {Stohl}) 30. Kxc2 Nxa5 $17) 28... Nxa4 29. Qxc6
Rxc6 $17 {Ftacnik: Winning this endgame will be anything but easy, white has
to push b pawn in order to generate counterplay. [#] Hecht:  Klarer Vorteil
für Schwarz bei einem Springer gegen 2 Bauern. Die weißen Hoffnungen beruhen
auf dem geringen Bauernmaterial sowie dem Umstand, daß ein Springer bei Bauern
auf beiden Flügeln weniger effektiv ist als ein Läufer. Bei Turmtausch hätte
Weiß mit dem entfernten Freibauern etliche Überlebenschancen. Kommentare nach
Van der Wiel. Eine Medaille für schwierige Strategie + Taktik} 30. Rd8+ Kg7 31.
Rd7+ Kh6 32. h4 $6 (32. Rd4 Nb6 33. b3 Kg5 34. Kb2 $17) (32. g4 {Ftacnik} Nb6 (
32... g5 33. Rd4 Nb6 34. f4 $15) 33. Ra7 g5 (33... Rf6 34. h4 $1) 34. Ra6 Rg6
$17) (32. b3 {Stohl} Nc5 $19) 32... Nc5 (32... Rb6 $2 {Stohl} 33. g4 $1 Rxb2+
34. Kc1 g5 35. hxg5+ Kg6 36. f4 $11) 33. Rf7 Ne6 34. Ka2 (34. g4 $140 Rc7 $1 (
34... Rc7 {Ftacnik} 35. Rxc7 Nxc7 36. Kc2 {mit einigen technischen
Schwierigkeiten für Schwarz, da der Springer nur von einer zentralen Position
aus (etwa d5) nach beiden Flügeln wirken kann. In Betracht kommt nun neben Kg7
auch g5. Hier einige Remis- und Gewinnaspekte. Wie man unschwer erkennt, fällt
der Gewinn mit dem lahmen Gaul schwer.} Kg7 $17 (36... Kg7 {Hecht} 37. Kd3 Kf6
38. Kd4 Ke6 39. b4 Kd6 40. h5 gxh5 41. gxh5 Nd5 42. b5 Nf6 43. h6 Ng8 44. b6
Nxh6 45. b7 Kc7 46. Ke5 Nf7+ (46... Ng8 47. f4 Kxb7 48. f5 h5 49. Kf4 Kc6 50.
Kg5 Nf6 51. Kxf6 h4 52. Kg7 h3 53. f6 h2 54. f7 $11) 47. Kf6 h5 (47... Kxb7 48.
Kxf7 h5 49. f4 h4 50. f5 h3 51. f6 h2 52. Kg7 h1=Q 53. f7 $11) 48. Kf5 $3 (48.
Kxf7 h4 $19) 48... Z0 49. Kf4 Z0 50. Kg3 Z0 51. Kh4 {Der Springer ist mit wie
auch gegen Randbauern ein Ritter von der traurigen Gestalt.}) (36... g5 37. h5
(37. hxg5+ Kxg5 38. Kd3 Kf4 39. Ke2 Nb5 $19 {[%cal Rb5d4,Rd4f3]}) 37... Kg7 38.
Kd3 Kf6 39. Ke4 h6 40. f4 gxf4 41. Kxf4 Nd5+ (41... Na6 42. g5+ hxg5+ 43. Kg4 {
[%cal Rh5h6,Rh6h7]}) 42. Ke4 Nb4 43. Kf3 Kg5 44. Kg3 Nd5 45. Kf3 Nf6 46. b4
Nxg4 47. Ke4 (47. b5 Kf5 48. b6 Ne5+ 49. Ke2 Kg4 50. b7 Nd7 51. Ke3 Kxh5 52.
Kd4 Kg6 53. Kd5 Kf7 54. Kd6 Ke8 55. Ke6 $11) 47... Kxh5 48. b5 Nf6+ 49. Kd4 Nd7
50. Kd5 Nb6+ 51. Kc5 (51. Kc6 Na4 $19) 51... Nc8 $1 $19)) (34... g5 $2 35. Rf6+
Kg7 36. hxg5)) 34... Ra6+ 35. Kb1 (35. Kb3 {Ftacnik} Nd4+ 36. Kc3 Nf5 37. g4 $1
(37. h5 {Hecht} Rc6+ 38. Kb4 Rb6+ 39. Kc3 Nd6 40. Rd7 gxh5) 37... Nxh4 38. f4
Ng2 39. b4 Ne3 40. b5 Rd6 41. g5+ Kh5 $19) 35... Nd4 36. Rf4 (36. g4 $1 {
Ftacnik} g5 37. hxg5+ Kg6 38. Rf4 (38. Rf6+ Rxf6 39. gxf6 Nxf3 40. b4 Kxf6 41.
Kc2 Ke5 42. Kd3 Nh2 43. b5 Nxg4 44. b6 Kd6 45. b7 Kc7 46. Ke4 Kxb7 47. Kf5 h5
48. Kg5 Nf6 $19) 38... Rd6 39. Rf8 (39. b4 {Hecht} Kxg5 40. Rf8 Rb6 41. Kb2
Rxb4+ 42. Kc3 Ra4 $19) 39... Kxg5 $15) (36. f4 {Stohl} Nf5 37. g4 Nxh4 38. g5+
Kh5 39. Rxh7+ Kg4 $19) 36... Nf5 37. Re4 (37. h5 {Stohl} Kxh5 38. g4+ Kg5 $19)
37... Rd6 {/\Rd4} 38. Kc2 (38. b4 {Ftacnik} Rd2 39. b5 Nd6 40. Rb4 Rxg2 41. b6
Rf2 $19) 38... Ng3 (38... Rd4 {Stohl} 39. Rxd4 Nxd4+ 40. Kc3 Nf5 41. b4 Nxh4
42. b5 Nf5 43. b6 Nd6 44. Kd4 $132) 39. Rg4 (39. Re7 {Ftacnik} Rd4 $19) 39...
Nf1 40. Kc3 (40. Re4 $2 {Stohl} Rd2+ $19) 40... Ne3 41. Rg5 (41. Rg3 {Stohl}
Kh5 $19) 41... Nf5 42. Rg4 (42. g3 {Ftacnik} Re6 43. Kd2 (43. f4 Re3+ (43...
Rc6+ {Hecht} 44. Kb4 Rb6+ 45. Ka3 Nd6 46. b4 Ne4 47. Re5 Nxg3 48. b5 Rf6 (48...
Nf5 49. Kb4 Nd6 50. Kc5 $1) 49. Kb4 Rxf4+ 50. Kc5 Ne4+ 51. Kc6 Rf6+ 52. Kc7 Nd6
53. b6 Nc4 54. b7 Rf7+ $19) 44. Kd2 Rxg3 45. Rxg3 Nxg3 46. b4 Nf5 $19) 43...
Nd4 44. Rd5 Nxf3+ $19) 42... Kh5 43. b4 (43. g3 {Hecht} h6 44. b4 Rd5 $1 {
[%csl Rf3,Rg3][%cal Gd5b5,Gf5e3,Re3g4,Re3c4,Ge3d5,Gd5d3] verhindert b5, Kc4
und Kc2. Damit fällt f3 und/oder g3}) 43... Ne3 {Ftacnik: From this square the
knight manages to attack on both sides.} (43... Nxh4 {Ftacnik} 44. b5 Rb6 45.
Kc4 $132) (43... Nxh4 $19 {Stohl}) 44. Rd4 (44. Re4 {Ftacnik} Nxg2 $19) (44.
Rg3 $5 {Ftacnik} Kxh4 (44... h6 $5 $19 {Stohl}) 45. Rh3+ Kg5 46. Rxh7 Nxg2 $19)
44... Rxd4 45. Kxd4 Nc2+ 46. Ke5 (46. Kc3 {Ftacnik} Nxb4 47. Kxb4 Kxh4 $19)
46... Nxb4 47. Kf6 Nd5+ 48. Kg7 Ne3 (48... Ne3 {Ftacnik} 49. g4+ (49. Kxh7 Nxg2
$19) (49. g3 Nf5+) 49... Nxg4 (49... Kxh4 {Stohl} 50. Kxh7 g5 51. Kg6 Nxg4 $19)
50. fxg4+ Kxh4 51. Kxh7 g5 $19) 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Salov, Valery"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B96"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2680"]
[Annotator "Salov,V"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik Tyomkin,D} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5
e6 7. f4 Bd7 8. f5 $1 $146 (8. Qe2 h6 9. Bh4 Be7 10. O-O-O Nc6 11. Nf3 Qa5 $132
{Groszpeter-Adorjan, Hungary 1996}) (8. e5 dxe5 9. fxe5 Qa5 10. Qe2 Bb4 $132) (
8. Nf3 $5) (8. Qf3 {Ftacnik} Nc6 9. O-O-O Nxd4 (9... Qa5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. f5
Nxd4 12. Rxd4 Qe5 13. Rd1 O-O-O 14. Bc4 h5 15. g3 h4 16. g4 Bc6 17. h3 Kb8 18.
Rhf1 Bh6+ 19. Kb1 Bg5 20. Rfe1 Rhe8 21. Qf2 Qa5 22. Rd3 Qc7 23. Bb3 $13 {
1/2-1/2 Hyldkrog,L-Kristensen,K/Copenhagen op 1993}) 10. Rxd4 Bc6 11. f5 Qa5
12. Bxf6 (12. Be2 Be7 13. Bd2 Qe5 14. Rc4 O-O 15. Bf4 Qa5 16. Qg3 Bb5 17. Bh6
Ne8 18. e5 exf5 19. Nd5 Qd8 20. Nc7 Bh4 21. Rxh4 Qxc7 $17 {0-1 Nunn,J-Lennox,C/
BCF-ch 1974/ (29)}) 12... gxf6 13. fxe6 Qg5+ 14. Kb1 fxe6 15. Bc4 Qe5 16. Rhd1
O-O-O 17. Ne2 f5 18. Qb3 Re8 19. Nc3 fxe4 20. Bxa6 d5 21. Bb5 Bc5 22. Ra4 Kc7
$17 {0-1 Alexander,C-Larsen,B/Hastings5657 1956 (40)}) 8... Be7 (8... b5 {
Tyomkin,D Tyomkin,D} 9. Qf3 Be7 10. O-O-O e5 11. Nb3 Bc6 (11... Nc6 $2 12. Bxf6
) 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. g4 $36 O-O 14. Kb1 h6 15. a3 Be7 16. Be2 Ra7 17. Qf2 Rb7
18. h4 b4 19. axb4 Rxb4 20. g5 Nd7 21. f6 $18 {Shabalov,A-Dao Thien Hai/Donner
mem op 1996/1-0 (50)}) 9. fxe6 (9. Bc4 $5 $14) 9... fxe6 10. Bc4 {Ftacnik: The
central idea of this less played line is white attempt to attack the
vulnerable e6 square.} Qc8 11. Bb3 $6 (11. Qe2 $1 Nc6 12. Nxc6 Qxc6 13. O-O-O
$14) 11... Nc6 12. Nxc6 Qxc6 (12... bxc6 $5 {Tyomkin,D} 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Qh5+
$36) (12... Bxc6 {Ftacnik} 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Qh5+ $14) 13. Qd3 Qc5 $1 14. Be3
Qh5 $1 $11 15. Bf4 Rd8 (15... Qc5 $6 {Ftacnik} 16. O-O-O $16) 16. O-O (16. Bxd6
$2 {Ftacnik} Bc6 17. e5 Ng4 $1 $17) 16... O-O (16... Qc5+ {[%cal Gc5d6]
Tyomkin,D} 17. Be3 Qc6 $14 (17... Qc7 18. Na4 $16)) 17. h3 (17. Bxd6 $5 Bc8 (
17... Ng4 18. h3 (18. Qg3 Bh4 19. Rxf8+ Rxf8 20. Qh3 Bf2+ 21. Kh1 Be1 $1) 18...
Ne5 19. Rxf8+ Bxf8 20. Qd1 $16) 18. Bxe7 (18. e5 {Tyomkin,D} Bxd6 19. exd6 Qc5+
(19... Ng4 $15) 20. Kh1 Qxd6 (20... Ng4 21. Ne4 Qe5 22. g3 b5 23. Kg1 $1 Bb7
24. Rfe1 $16) (20... Rxd6 21. Ne4 Rxd3 22. Nxc5 $16 {[%csl Re6]}) 21. Qe2 Kh8
$14) 18... Rxd3 19. cxd3 Re8 (19... Rf7 20. Bd6 $44 (20. Bxf6 {Ftacnik} gxf6
21. d4 $15)) 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Rxf6 Qc5+ 22. Kh1 Rf8 23. Rxf8+ Qxf8 24. d4 Qf2
$132) 17... Kh8 18. Rad1 (18. Bxd6 Bxd6 (18... Bc8 {Ftacnik} 19. Bxe7 Rxd3 20.
cxd3 Rf7 $15) 19. Qxd6 Bb5 20. Rxf6 gxf6 21. Qxe6 Bd7 (21... Qg5 $11) 22. Qd5
Qg6 $132) 18... Bc8 (18... d5 $5 19. exd5 exd5 20. Qe3 $1 Rfe8 $1 21. Nxd5 Bb5
$1 22. g4 (22. Nxf6 Bxf6 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 $11) 22... Nxg4 23. hxg4 Qxg4+ 24. Qg3
Bc5+ $13) 19. Qg3 {Tyomkin: Black central pawns are under pressure Ftacnik:
White plays rather pointedly against d6 pawn, but so far black was defending
quite successfully.} Qc5+ (19... Qa5 $5 {Ftacnik} 20. Be3 (20. Kh1 Nh5 $1)) 20.
Be3 Qc6 $1 21. e5 $1 dxe5 (21... Ne4 $2 {Ftacnik} 22. Nxe4 Qxe4 23. Bb6 $16)
22. Qxe5 Bd6 $4 (22... b5 23. Rxd8 (23. Ne2 $140 $2 Bb7 24. Nf4 Nd7 {[%cal
Rf8f4]}) 23... Rxd8 (23... Bxd8 24. a4 $5) 24. a3 $1 (24. Ne2 $2 Bb7 (24... Qe4
{Tyomkin,D}) 25. Nf4 g5 $1 $17 (25... Bd6 26. Qg5)) 24... Bd6 (24... Bb7 {
Ftacnik} 25. Rf2 $14) 25. Qg5 h6 26. Qg6 Bc5 $11) 23. Rxd6 $1 {Ftacnik: Neat
combination that combines several motives, among them the vulnerability of the
8th rank.} Rxd6 (23... Qxd6 24. Qxd6 Rxd6 25. Bc5 Rdd8 (25... Rfd8 {Tyomkin,D}
26. Bxd6 Rxd6 27. Ne4) 26. Bxf8 Rxf8 27. Ne4 $1 $16) 24. Ne4 Rd5 (24... Rd7 25.
Nxf6 (25. Rxf6 $4 {Tyomkin,D} Rd1+ 26. Kh2 gxf6 27. Nxf6 Qd6) (25. Bd4 {
Tyomkin,D} Qc7) 25... Rdf7 (25... gxf6 26. Rxf6 Rxf6 27. Qxf6+ Kg8 28. Bxe6+
$18) 26. Bc5 (26. Bg5 $2 {Tyomkin,D} Qb5) 26... gxf6 27. Rxf6 Qxc5+ (27... Rxf6
{Tyomkin,D} 28. Bxf8 $18 (28. Bxf8 Qb6+ 29. Bc5 Qd8 30. Bd4 $18)) 28. Qxc5 Rxf6
29. Qe5 $16 (29. Bc4 $16 {Ftacnik})) (24... Rdd8 {Tyomkin,D} 25. Nxf6 gxf6 26.
Rxf6 Kg8 27. Qg5+ {with mate}) 25. Bxd5 Qxd5 (25... exd5 26. Nd6 (26. Nxf6 {
Tyomkin,D} gxf6 (26... Rxf6 27. Rxf6 gxf6 28. Qe7 $18) 27. Qf4 {[%csl Rf6]
[%cal Re3d4]} (27. Qd4 $16 {Ftacnik}) 27... Qxc2 28. Qd6 Kg8 29. Bh6 $18) 26...
Kg8 27. Bg5 $18) 26. Bd4 Qxe5 (26... Bd7 $5 27. Nxf6 (27. Rf4 {Ftacnik} Bc6 28.
Qxd5 Bxd5 29. Nxf6 gxf6 30. Bxf6+ Kg8 31. b3 $16) 27... Qxe5 28. Bxe5 gxf6 29.
Bxf6+ Kg8 $16) 27. Bxe5 Bd7 {Ftacnik: Black hopes to save himself in an
endgame with active bishop.} (27... Nd7 {Tyomkin,D} 28. Rxf8+ Nxf8 29. Nd6 Bd7
(29... Ng6 30. Bxg7+ Kxg7 31. Nxc8 $18) 30. Nxb7 Bc6 31. Nc5 $18) 28. Bxf6 gxf6
29. Rxf6 $1 Rxf6 (29... Rc8 {Ftacnik} 30. Nd6 $18) 30. Nxf6 {Tyomkin: This is
not a big deal to win in this ending on this level.} Bc6 31. Kf2 Kg7 32. Ng4
Be4 33. c3 $16 (33. c4 {Ftacnik} h5 34. Ne5 Kf6) 33... h5 34. Ne5 (34. Ne3 {
Ftacnik} Kf6 35. g4 $16) 34... Kf6 35. Nd7+ Kf5 (35... Ke7 {Ftacnik} 36. Nc5
Bd5 37. b3 Kd6 38. Nd3 e5 39. g4 $16) 36. b4 Bc6 37. Nc5 Ke5 38. g3 Kd5 39. Ke3
Kc4 40. Ne4 (40. Kd2 {Ftacnik} Bg2 41. Nxe6 Bxh3 42. Nf4 Bg4 43. Ng2 $16) 40...
e5 {Ftacnik: Black can not afford to trade into the pawn endgame, but the
fight is not over. Pawn structure c3-b4 is quite exposed, Salov hopes to
exchange all pawns.} (40... Bxe4 $2 {Ftacnik} 41. Kxe4 Kxc3 42. g4 hxg4 43.
hxg4 $18) 41. g4 (41. h4 $5) (41. Nf6 $2 {Tyomkin,D} Kxc3 42. Nxh5 Kxb4 (42...
Bd5 43. a3) 43. Nf6 Kc5 44. h4 Kd6 {[%cal Gd6e6]}) 41... h4 (41... hxg4 42.
hxg4 Kd5 43. Nc5 $1 (43. g5 Ke6 44. g6 b5 $1 $14) 43... Kc4 44. Kd2 e4 45. g5
e3+ 46. Kxe3 Kxc3 47. a3 Kb2 48. g6 Kxa3 49. g7 Bd5 50. Kd4 Bg8 $1 (50... Bf7
51. Kc3 Bg8 52. Nxb7 Ka4 53. Nd6 $18) 51. Kc3 Bf7 52. Nxb7 Ka4 53. Nd6 Bg8 54.
Nf5 Kb5 55. Nh6 Bh7 (55... Ba2 56. Kd4 $18) 56. Kb3 $1 a5 (56... Kb6 57. Ng4 $1
Bg8+ 58. Ka4 $18) 57. bxa5 Kxa5 58. Kc4 Kb6 59. Kd5 Kc7 60. Ke6 Kd8 61. Kf7 Kd7
62. Ng4 Kd6 63. Nf6 Bd3 64. Kf8 Bc4 65. Ng4 $18) 42. g5 Bd7 43. g6 Bxh3 44. Ng5
Bg2 45. Nf3 Bh3 (45... Bxf3 {Ftacnik} 46. Kxf3 h3 47. g7 $18) 46. Kd2 Be6 (
46... e4 {Ftacnik} 47. Ng5 e3+ 48. Kxe3 Bg2 49. Nf3 Bh3 50. Kd2 $18) 47. Nxh4
Kb5 (47... e4 48. Ng2 (48. g7 $2 e3+ 49. Kxe3 Kxc3) 48... Kb5 49. a3 (49. Ne3
$18 {Tyomkin,D} Bxa2 $140 50. c4+) 49... Ka4 50. Nf4 Bg8 51. Ke3 $18) 48. Nf3
Bxa2 (48... e4 $2 {Ftacnik} 49. Nd4+ $18) 49. Nxe5 Be6 (49... a5 {Ftacnik} 50.
c4+ $18) 50. Kc2 a5 (50... b6 51. Kb2 Ka4 (51... a5 52. Ka3 $18) 52. Nc6 a5 53.
bxa5 bxa5 54. g7 Bc4 55. Ne7 Kb5 56. g8=Q Bxg8 57. Nxg8 Kc4 58. Nf6 $18) 51.
bxa5 Kxa5 52. g7 Kb5 (52... b5 53. Kd3 Ka4 54. Kd4 $18 (54. Nc6 {Ftacnik} Bf7
55. Ne7 b4 56. c4 b3)) 53. Kd3 (53. Ng6 {Ftacnik} Kc4 54. Ne7 b5) 53... Ka5 (
53... Kc5 54. Nd7+ $18) (53... Ka4 {Ftacnik} 54. Nd7 $1 Bf7 (54... Ka3 55. Nc5
Bg8 56. Nxb7 $18) 55. Nc5+ Kb5 56. Nxb7 $18) 54. Kd4 b6 (54... b5 {Ftacnik} 55.
Kc5 Ka4 56. Nc6 Bf7 57. Nd4 $18) 55. Nc6+ Ka4 56. Ne7 b5 57. g8=Q (57. g8=Q {
Tyomkin,D} Bxg8 58. Nxg8 b4 59. c4 b3 60. Nf6 (60. Ne7 $144) 60... b2 61. Ne4 (
61. Nd5 $144) 61... b1=N 62. Nc3+ Nxc3 63. Kxc3 Ka5 64. Kd4 Kb6 65. Kd5 Kc7 66.
Kc5 $18) 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Topalov Tsesarsky Baburin} d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6
6. Qc2 g6 7. e3 (7. f3 $5) 7... Bf5 8. Qd2 {Baburin: This line remains quite
popular and it seems that Black still has problems here.} Nf6 ({Another option
here is} 8... Nd7 {Baburin} 9. f3 g5 (9... Nb6 {Topalov} 10. e4 Be6 11. e5 $16
{Karpov-Kasparov (London 1986)}) 10. Bg3 h5 {which led to White's victory in
the game Yakovich-Geller, RUS-ch Elista 1995 after} 11. e4 dxe4 12. fxe4 Bg6
13. Bd3 h4 14. Bf2 Nf8 15. O-O-O Qa5 16. Nf3 Bh5 17. d5 h3 18. Bd4 Rh6 19. Rhg1
hxg2 20. Be2 Ng6 21. Rxg2 Nf4 22. Qxf4 gxf4 23. Rxg8+) 9. f3 (9. Nge2 {
Tsesarsky} Nbd7 10. Ng3 Be6 11. Bd3 O-O 12. O-O (12. Bh6 Re8 13. f3 c5 14. O-O
a6 15. Rad1 Qb6 16. Bb1 Rad8 17. Kh1 cxd4 18. exd4 Nf8 19. a3 Bd7 20. Ba2 Bc6
21. Rfe1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Yanin,P-Donchenko,A/Russian Cup 8th Leg, Smolensk RUS
1997 (35)}) 12... Ne8 13. Bh6 Ng7 14. Nce2 f5 15. b4 a6 16. a4 a5 17. b5 Bb4
18. Qc2 Rc8 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Rfc1 $14 {1-0 Azmaiparashvili,Z-Diaz,J/
Capablanca mem-A 1988 (59)}) 9... h5 {Baburin: This enables Black's light-
squared bishop to stay on f5, but it comes at a price - Black's kingside is
weak now. Vermeidet g2-g4} (9... O-O {Tsesarsky} 10. g4 (10. Nge2 Nbd7 (10...
c5 $6 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. Bg5 $14) (10... Re8 11. Ng3 Be6 12. Be2 c5 13. O-O cxd4
14. exd4 Nc6 15. Kh1 Bf8 16. Rad1 Bg7 17. Be5 h5 $132 {1-0 Sherbakov,
R-Ahlander,B/Alborg 1993 (56)}) 11. Ng3 (11. g4 Be6 12. Ng3 c5 (12... Ne8 $6 {
/\ g5} 13. Bh6 Ng7 14. O-O-O $14) 13. Rd1 $6 (13. h4 Ne8 $13) 13... cxd4 14.
exd4 Ne8 $1 $15 {1-0 Howell,J-Diaz,J/Frunze 1989 (28)}) 11... Be6 12. Be2 $14)
10... Be6 11. Nge2 (11. Bd3 c5 12. Nge2 Nc6 13. Kf1 Nd7 14. Rc1 a6 15. Kg2 Re8
16. Qe1 Bf6 17. Qf2 cxd4 18. exd4 Qb6 19. Be3 Qxb2 20. Rb1 Qa3 21. Rxb7 Reb8
22. Rhb1 Rxb7 23. Rxb7 Rb8 24. Rxb8+ Ndxb8 $11 {1-0 Wessman,R-O'Donnell,T/Novi
Sad olm SVE-CAN 1990 (37)}) (11. h4 c5 12. Bd3 Nc6 13. Nge2 {Howell}) 11... c5
12. h4 Nc6 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. O-O-O Rc8 15. Kb1 Qa5 16. Bg5 Be7 17. Nd4 Ne5 18.
h5 Nxf3 $1 19. Nxf3 d4 20. exd4 Ne4 21. Bxe7 (21. Qg2 Rxc3 22. d5 Bxd5 23. Rxd5
Qxd5 $19) 21... Nxd2+ 22. Rxd2 Rfe8 $17 {0-1 Belli,M-Upton,T/Thessaloniki olm
1988 (29)}) (9... Nbd7 {Tsesarsky} 10. Nge2 Nb6 11. Ng3 Be6 12. Bd3 h5 13. Nge2
h4 14. e4 (14. Bg5 Qd7 15. e4 O-O-O 16. e5 Ng8 17. b3 Bf5 18. Bxe7 Nxe7 19.
O-O-O Bxd3 20. Qxd3 Kb8 $132 {1-0 Doroshkievich-Belikov/Bjeloreschensk 1989 
(71)}) 14... Nh5 15. Be3 Qd7 16. e5 Bf5 17. b3 Rd8 18. g4 hxg3 19. hxg3 Bxd3
20. Qxd3 Rg8 21. O-O-O Ng7 22. g4 $14 {1-0 Anapolsky,S-Saric,I/Leningrad
URS-JUG TeamJ 1991 (32)}) 10. Bd3 (10. Nge2 {Tsesarsky} h4 $5 (10... Nbd7 11.
Ng3 Be6 12. Bd3 O-O 13. O-O a6 14. Bg5 $14 {1-0 Gulko,B-Anikaev,Y/Klaipeda
1983 (25)})) 10... Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Na6 {[%cal Ya6c7,Yc7e6] Der Springer strebt
nach e6.} (11... Nbd7 {Tsesarsky} 12. Nge2 O-O 13. e4 (13. O-O Re8 14. e4 $1
Nf8 (14... dxe4 15. fxe4 Nc5 16. Qf3 Ne6 17. Be5 $14) 15. e5 N6h7 16. Bd2 (16.
Bh6 $6 Qd7 $1 17. f4 f5 18. Nd1 (18. exf6 $6 Bxf6 19. f5 g5 $15) (18. Bxf8 Nxf8
19. Nd1 Ne6 20. Ne3 Rf8 $10) 18... Ne6 $132 {1-0 Ionescu,C-Geller,E/Sochi 1986
(46)}) 16... Qd7 17. f4 f5 18. Nd1 Ne6 19. Ne3 $14) (13. O-O-O $5 $14) 13...
dxe4 14. fxe4 Nc5 15. Qf3 Ne6 16. O-O-O $14 {1-0 Gurevich,M-Geller,E/Moscow-A
1987 (23) ()[+] M.Gurevich}) 12. Nge2 (12. a3 {Tsesarsky} Nc7 13. Nge2 Ne6 14.
Be5 Bd6 15. O-O h4 16. Rad1 $14 {0-1 Raisa,U-Nokso Koivisto,A/Tampere SM 1989 
(42)}) 12... Nc7 (12... Qd7 {Tsesarsky} 13. Be5 h4 14. Nf4 g5 15. Nh3 Rg8 16.
Nf2 Qe6 17. h3 Nc5 18. Qd2 Ncd7 19. Bh2 Bd6 20. Bxd6 Qxd6 21. O-O O-O-O 22.
Rac1 $14 (22. e4 $6 dxe4 23. Nfxe4 Nxe4 24. fxe4 Ne5 25. Rad1 g4 $15 {1-0
Mielke,K-Hofstetter,H/cr JMZ-06 1988 (60)})) 13. O-O (13. Be5 $5 $14 {Tsesarsky
} Ne6 14. O-O-O) 13... Ne6 14. Be5 h4 ({Baburin: Perhaps Black should have
castled immediately -} 14... O-O {Baburin}) (14... O-O {Tsesarsky} 15. a3 (15.
e4 Qb6 16. Na4 Qb4 $15) (15. f4 $1 {Topalov} Ng7 16. f5 $1 Nxf5 (16... g5 17.
Bxf6 Bxf6 18. e4 dxe4 19. Nxe4 $16) 17. Rxf5 gxf5 18. Rf1 $40 (18. Qxf5)) 15...
Nd7 16. Bg3 Bh4 (16... h4 17. Bf2 $14) 17. b4 $14) 15. Rae1 (15. e4 {Tsesarsky}
Rh5 $1 $132 (15... O-O {Topalov} 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. e5 Bg7 18. f4 f5 $13)) (15.
Nf4 {Topalov} Nxf4 16. exf4 Qd7 17. Rae1 Kf8 $1 (17... O-O 18. g4 $1)) 15...
O-O (15... Qd7 {Tsesarsky} 16. g4 $2 (16. e4 Rh5 17. Rd1 (17. exd5 Nxd5 18.
Nxd5 Qxd5 19. Nc3 Qd7 $11) 17... Rd8 18. Qc2 $14) 16... hxg3 17. hxg3 Ng5 18.
g4 Rh7 19. Ng3 (19. Kg2 Nxg4 20. fxg4 Qxg4+ 21. Bg3 Rh3 $17) 19... Qe6 $15) 16.
g4 (16. e4 {Tsesarsky} Qb6 $132) (16. h3 {Tsesarsky} Nd7 17. Bh2 Re8 $132) (16.
Nf4 {Topalov} Nxf4 (16... Qd7 17. g4 $1) 17. exf4 (17. Bxf4 Nh5 18. Bh6 Re8 19.
e4 Bg5 $1) 17... Qd7 18. g4 Ne8 $1 (18... hxg3 $2 19. hxg3 Qh3 20. Ne2 Nh5 21.
Rf2 $1) (18... Nh7 $6 19. Kh1 $16)) (16. f4 $5 {Topalov} Ng7 17. f5 Nxf5 18.
Rxf5 gxf5 19. Qxf5 Nh7 20. e4 (20. g3 Bb4 $1 {/\ 21... Qg5}) 20... dxe4 21.
Nxe4 f6 22. Bf4 Qd5 $1) 16... hxg3 {Baburin: It's too risky to open up the
h-file; the immediate 16...Nd7 would have been more prudent.} (16... Nd7 {
Topalov} 17. f4 $1 (17. Nf4 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Qd7) (17. h3 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Kg7 19. f4
f6 20. exf6+ Bxf6) 17... Nxe5 (17... f6 18. Qxg6+ Ng7 19. Kh1) 18. dxe5 f5 19.
Kh1 $16 (19. Nd4 $16)) 17. hxg3 (17. Nxg3 $6 Nd7 18. f4 f5 $11) 17... Nd7 18.
Kg2 (18. f4 {Topalov} f6 $1 19. Qxg6+ Ng7 20. g4 (20. Kg2 Qe8 $1) 20... fxe5
21. dxe5 (21. fxe5 Bh4 $1) 21... Qe8 22. Qh6 Bc5 23. Nd4 Nxe5 $1 24. fxe5 Qxe5
$17) 18... Nxe5 (18... Re8 {Tsesarsky} 19. Rh1 Nxe5 20. dxe5 Qb6 21. f4 (21.
Rh2 Bf8 22. Reh1 (22. f4 Qxb2 23. e4 d4 $17) 22... Bg7 23. f4 Qxb2 24. Rb1 Qa3
$17) (21. Qd2 Bc5 22. Nf4 Nxf4+ 23. exf4 $14) 21... Qxb2 22. Rb1 Qa3 $17) 19.
dxe5 {/\ f3-f4-f5} Qd7 (19... Kg7 20. f4 (20. Rh1 {Tsesarsky} Qb6 21. Qd2 Rh8
22. f4 $11) (20. Nd4) (20. Nf4) 20... f5 21. Rh1 (21. g4 Bh4 $1 {Topalov} (
21... fxg4 $17) (21... Nc5 22. Qd2 fxg4 23. f5 $1 gxf5 24. Ng3) (21... fxg4 22.
Ng3) 22. gxf5 gxf5 23. Rd1 Qe8 24. Rh1 (24. Rg1 Qh5) 24... Qg6+ $1 25. Kf1 Qh5
26. Nd4 $1 $14 {Fritz}) (21. exf6+ Bxf6 $11) 21... Qd7 $13) (19... Qb6 $132 {
Tsesarsky}) 20. f4 f5 ({Der Nachziehende verpaßt die aktivere Fortsetzung:} 
20... Nc5 $142 21. Qb1 (21. Qc2 {Baburin} Qg4 22. Nd4 {is also in White's
favour.}) 21... Qg4 $11) (20... Kg7 {Tsesarsky} 21. e4 Nc5 22. Qf3 dxe4 23.
Nxe4 Nxe4 24. Qxe4 Rad8 $132) 21. g4 (21. exf6 {Tsesarsky} Rxf6 (21... Bxf6 22.
Qxg6+ Qg7 23. Qxg7+ Bxg7 24. g4 $16) 22. e4 Nc5 23. Qd2 dxe4 24. Qxd7 Nxd7 25.
Nxe4 Rf7 26. Nd4 $132) 21... Rf7 $6 {Auf f7 der Turm dem König den Fluchtweg
verspert.} ({Besser ist:} 21... Ng7 22. Rh1 Kf7 (22... fxg4 23. Qxg6 Qf5 24.
Qh6 $1 $40 {/\Ng3, Nd4}) 23. Rh6 Rh8 24. Reh1 Rxh6 25. Rxh6 Rd8 $14) (21... Nc5
{Tsesarsky} 22. Qc2 Ne4 23. Rh1 (23. gxf5 {Topalov} gxf5 24. Nd4 $16) 23... Kg7
24. gxf5 gxf5 25. Reg1 Rg8 26. Kf3+ Kf8 27. Rxg8+ Kxg8 28. Nd4 $18) (21... Rae8
{Tsesarsky} 22. Rh1 $16) 22. Rh1 Bf8 (22... Kg7 $142 $1 {Tsesarsky} 23. Ng3 (
23. g5 $5 Rh8 24. Rxh8 Kxh8 25. Rh1+ Kg8 (25... Rh7 26. Rxh7+ Kxh7 27. e4 fxe4
28. Nxe4 Nc5 29. Nxc5 Bxc5 (29... Qg4+ 30. Kh2 Bxc5 31. Qh3+ Qxh3+ 32. Kxh3 Kg7
33. Kg4 Kf7 34. f5 $16) 30. Qh3+ Qxh3+ 31. Kxh3 Kg7 32. Kg4 Kf7 33. f5 $16) 26.
Rh6 Rg7 27. Nd4 Nf8 28. a3 $14) 23... Rg8 (23... fxg4 $2 24. f5 (24. Nh5+ $2
gxh5 25. Rxh5 Rh8 26. Rxh8 Kxh8 27. Rh1+ Kg8 28. Qg6+ Rg7 29. Qh5 d4 $19) 24...
Raf8 (24... gxf5 25. Nxf5+ $18) 25. Ref1 $1 (25. fxe6 $6 Rf2+ 26. Kg1 Qxe6 27.
Qd4 b6 $13) (25. f6+ $2 Bxf6 26. exf6+ Rxf6 27. Ref1 Rf3 $17) 25... gxf5 26.
Nxf5+ Rxf5 27. Rxf5 $18) 24. gxf5 (24. Rh2 fxg4 25. f5 (25. Reh1 Rxf4 $1 26.
Rh6 Kf7 (26... Kf8 27. Rxg6 Rf7 28. Nh5 Rxg6 29. Qxg6 $16) 27. Rxg6 Rxg6 28.
Rh7+ Rg7 29. Rxg7+ Kxg7 30. Nh5+ Kh6 31. Nxf4 Nxf4+ 32. exf4 Bh4 33. Ne2 c5 34.
f5 Kg5 $17) 25... gxf5 26. Nxf5+ Kf8 27. Rf1 Nc5 28. Qb1 Ke8 $17) (24. g5 Rff8
25. Rh6 Rh8 26. Reh1 Rxh6 27. Rxh6 Rh8 28. Rxh8 Kxh8 29. Nge2 $132) (24. Qd1 $1
fxg4 25. Ref1 (25. Qxg4 $4 Nxf4+ $19) 25... Nc5 26. b4 Na6 27. e4 Bxb4 28. f5
$3 (28. exd5 Bxc3 29. e6 Qxd5+ 30. Qxd5 cxd5 31. exf7 Kxf7 $15) 28... Qe8 29.
e6 Rf6 30. Qc1 Kf8 31. e5 $18) 24... gxf5 25. Kf3 (25. Nxf5+ Kf8+ 26. Ng3 Rxf4
27. Ref1 Rxf1 28. Rxf1+ Ke8 29. Qh7 Rg7 $15) (25. Rh5 Nc5 26. Qd4 (26. Qc2 Ne4
27. Ncxe4 fxe4 28. Reh1 (28. f5 $2 Kf8 29. Rf1 Qc7 30. f6 Bxf6 31. Rhf5 Ke8 32.
R1f2 Rh7 $1 $19) 28... Kf8 (28... Qg4 29. Qe2 Qxe2+ 30. Nxe2 Kf8+ 31. Kf2 Rfg7
32. f5 Bc5 33. Nf4 Ke8 34. Rh8 $16) 29. Rh8 (29. Qe2 Rfg7 30. R1h3 d4 31. exd4
Qxd4 $17) 29... Rfg7 30. Rxg8+ Rxg8 31. Qe2 Qg4 (31... Qe6 32. Qh5 (32. Rh3 Qg6
33. Qh5 (33. a3 Bh4 34. Qf2 Qg4 35. f5 c5 36. e6 Ke7 $19) 33... Qxh5 34. Rxh5
Bc5 35. Rh7 (35. Kf2 Bxe3+ 36. Kxe3 Rxg3+ 37. Kd4 Rd3+ 38. Kc5 e3 $19) 35...
Bxe3 36. e6 Ke8 (36... Rg4 37. f5 Bf4 38. e7+ Ke8 39. f6 Rxg3+ 40. Kh1 Kd7 41.
Rh8 $18) 37. f5 Bd4 38. Kh3 (38. Rxb7 Be5 39. Rb3 Rg5 $19) 38... Rh8 39. Rxh8+
Bxh8 $17) 32... Bc5 33. Qh4 Bxe3 $1 (33... Bb6 $2 34. Kf1 d4 35. exd4 Qxa2 36.
Qf6+ Ke8 37. Rh8 Qc4+ 38. Ne2 $8 Qf7 39. Rxg8+ Qxg8 40. Qf5 Qd5 41. Qc8+ Bd8
42. Kf2 $1 $16 (42. Qxb7 e3 43. Kg1 Qf3 $11)) 34. Qd8+ Qe8 35. Qf6+ Qf7 36.
Qd6+ Qe7 37. Qb8+ Qe8 38. Qd6+ $11) 32. Qxg4 Rxg4 33. Rh8+ Kg7 (33... Kf7 34.
Kh3 $16) 34. Rb8 b6 35. f5 Bc5 36. Kh3 Rg5 37. Kh4 Bxe3 38. Nh5+ $16) 26... Kf8
27. Reh1 Rfg7 28. R1h3 Qe6 29. Nce2 Ne4 30. Qxa7 Nxg3 31. Rxg3 Rxg3+ 32. Nxg3
Rxg3+ 33. Kxg3 Qg6+ 34. Rg5 Bxg5 35. fxg5 Qxg5+ 36. Kf2 Qh4+ 37. Ke2 Qh2+ 38.
Kd3 Qxb2 39. Qb8+ Kf7 40. Qc7+ Kg6 41. Qd6+ Kg5 42. Qf6+ Kg4 43. Qg6+ Kh4 44.
e6 $14) 25... Kf8 26. Rh5 (26. Rh6 Nc5 27. Qc2 Ne4 28. Nce2 Rfg7 29. Rg1 d4 $1
$17) 26... Nc5 27. Qc2 Ne4 28. Nce2 $132 (28. Ngxe4 fxe4+ $19)) 23. gxf5 (23.
Ng3 {Tsesarsky} Nc5 24. Qd1 fxg4 25. Rh4 Bg7 26. Rxg4 Nd3 27. Rh1 Nxb2 28. Qe2
Qe6 29. Rg5 Nc4 30. Qd3 Re8 31. Rxg6 Nxe3+ (31... Qd7 32. Rhh6 $16) 32. Kg1 Qd7
33. Qxe3 d4 34. e6 dxe3 35. exd7 $16) 23... Nc5 (23... gxf5) (23... gxf5 {
Tsesarsky} 24. Ng3 $16 (24. Ng3 {Topalov} Nc5 25. Qd1 $18)) 24. Qd1 Qxf5 25.
Nd4 Qd7 (25... Qd3 {Tsesarsky} 26. Qf3 Bg7 27. Qg3 $16) 26. Reg1 {Baburin:
White has a much more solid pawn structure and clear prospects of attack on
the kingside.} (26. Rh3 $142 $1 {[%cal Yh3g3,Ye1h1]} Rh7 (26... Ne6 27. Reh1
Bg7 28. Qc2 Nf8 (28... Nxd4 29. Qxg6 Kf8 30. exd4 $18) 29. e6 $1 Nxe6 30. Qxg6
$18) 27. Rg3 $1 Rg7 28. Qc2 {/\ 29.Reg1, 30.Kf1}) 26... Re8 27. Rh3 (27. Qc2 $6
Rxe5 $1 28. Kf2 {[%cal Yg1g6,Yc2g6]} (28. fxe5 $4 Qg4+ 29. Kh2 Rh7#) 28... Ne4+
29. Nxe4 Rxe4 30. Rxg6+ $11) (27. Kf2 $142 $1 {Topalov} Rxe5 28. Rxg6+ Bg7 29.
Rxg7+ $1 Kxg7 30. Qg1+ Kf8 31. Rh8+ Ke7 32. Qg8 Nd3+ 33. Kg1 Rxe3 34. Nf5+ $1
Rxf5 (34... Qxf5 35. Qd8+ Ke6 36. Re8+) 35. Rh7+ Kd6 36. Rxd7+ Kxd7 37. Qh7+ $1
Ke6 38. Qg6+ Rf6 39. Qe8+ $18) 27... Ne6 (27... Rh7 {Tsesarsky} 28. Rxh7 Kxh7 (
28... Qxh7 29. Qg4 Qf7 30. Kf1 Kh7 31. Qh3+ Bh6 32. Rh1 Qg7 33. b4 $18) 29.
Rh1+ (29. Qf3 Bh6 30. Rh1 Rh8 (30... Qf7 31. Qh3 $16) 31. f5 $16) 29... Kg8 30.
Qf3 Bg7 31. Qg3 (31. b4 Nd3 32. a3 Qf7 $14) 31... Qf7 32. Nf3 Ne6 33. Qh3 Kf8
34. Qg4 $16) 28. Rgh1 Bg7 29. Qc2 Nf8 ({Baburin: Black had no time to take on
d4 -} 29... Nxd4 {Baburin} {bacause of} 30. Qxg6 {which threatens 31 Rh8#.})
30. Nce2 (30. e6 Rxe6 (30... Nxe6 $2 31. Qxg6 $16) 31. Nxe6 Qxe6 $44) 30... Qe7
(30... Rfe7 {Tsesarsky} 31. Nf3 $16 (31. e4 dxe4 32. Qxe4 c5 $132)) 31. Nf3 Qb4
32. Rg3 c5 33. Nh4 Re6 34. Nc3 ({Baburin: For White there is no point getting
involved in this line:} 34. Nxg6 {Baburin} Rxg6 35. Rxg6 Nxg6 36. Qxg6 Qxb2
$132 (36... Qd2 $2 37. Kf3 d4 38. Qe4 $18) 37. Kf3 $16 {Fritz} Qxa2 38. e6 Re7
39. Rh5) 34... d4 35. Nd5 Qb5 (35... d3 {Tsesarsky} 36. Nxb4 dxc2 37. Nxc2 $16)
36. e4 c4 37. Nf3 d3 38. Qc3 Ra6 39. Nd4 {[%csl Gd4,Gd5][%cal Yd4b5,Yd5f4,
Yd4c6,Yd5f6,Yd5e7,Yd5c7] Baburin: White's mass in the centre looks very
impressive! Es ist merkwürdig, wie der junge bulgarische Großmeister seine
Springer im Zentrum plaziert hat. Sie kontrollieren alle wichtigen Felder im
Zentrum und jeder ist mindestens ein Turm wert! Im Gegenteil dazu, stehen die
schwarzen Leichtfiguren sehr bescheiden. Besonders schwach ist der Läufer auf
g7 der sich kaum bewegen kann.} (39. Nd2 {Tsesarsky}) 39... Qc5 ({Baburin:
Black had to play} 39... Qa4 {Baburin although} 40. Nb4 Rb6 41. a3 {is stil
better for White.} (41. a3 {Tsesarsky} a5 42. Nd5 Ra6 43. b3 cxb3 44. Qxd3 Qxa3
45. Qc4 $16)) 40. Rxd3 $1 (40. a3 {Topalov /\ 41.R:d3} Rd7 $2 (40... Ne6 $1 41.
Nxe6 Rxe6 42. Rxd3 $2 Bxe5 $1) 41. Rxd3 Rxd5 42. exd5 Qxd5+ 43. Rf3) 40... Rxa2
41. Rdh3 b5 42. Nf3 $1 (42. Nf6+ Rxf6 $1 $13 43. exf6 Bxf6 (43... b4 $5 44.
fxg7 bxc3 45. gxf8=Q+ Qxf8 46. Rh8+ Kf7 47. Rxf8+ Kxf8) 44. Rh8+ (44. e5 b4)
44... Kf7) (42. e6 $2 {Topalov} Bxd4 43. Rh8+ (43. exf7+ Kxf7) 43... Kg7) (42.
Kg3 $5 {Topalov}) 42... Ne6 (42... b4 {Topalov} 43. Nxb4 Ne6 44. Nxa2 Nxf4+ 45.
Kf1 Nd3 46. Qd2 $8 g5 47. Rg1 $18) 43. Kg3 b4 44. Qd2 Rf8 (44... c3 {White
triples on the h-file and his attack succeeds after the further} 45. Qh2 Rxf4
$3 (45... Rf8 46. f5 (46. Rh7 $1 {Baburin}) (46. Rh7 $18 {Tsesarsky}) (46. Rh7
$1 {Topalov} Rxb2 47. Rxg7+ Nxg7 48. Qh7+ Kf7 49. e6+ $1 Kxe6 50. Qxg6+ Kd7 51.
Qxg7+ Kc8 52. f5 $18) 46... Nd4 47. Rh8+ Kf7 48. Qh7 $18) (45... Rd7 46. Rh8+
Kf7 47. Qh7 $18) (45... Rb7 46. Rh8+ $1 Kf7 47. Qh7 $18 {[%cal Yh7g8]}) 46.
Nxf4 Qe3 $3 47. Rh4 $1 Rxb2 (47... g5 48. Rh8+ Kf7 49. Qh5+ $18) 48. Qg1 Qxg1+
49. Rxg1 Nxf4 50. Kxf4 c2 51. Rc1 b3 52. Nd4 a5 53. Nxb3 Rxb3 54. Rxc2 $18) 45.
Nf6+ (45. Nxb4 $18 {Tsesarsky}) 45... Rxf6 46. exf6 Bxf6 47. e5 (47. Qh2 {
Tsesarsky} Nf8 48. e5 $18) 47... Bg7 48. Rh7 (48. Qd7 $2 Nf8 $1) 48... Qf8 (
48... Nf8 {Tsesarsky} 49. Rxg7+ (49. Qd8 Ra6 $8 (49... Rxb2 50. Rxg7+ $1 Kxg7
51. Qf6+ Kg8 52. Rh8#) 50. Nd4 c3 51. bxc3 Qxc3+ 52. Kg4 Qc4 53. R7h3 $14)
49... Kxg7 50. Ng5 Rxb2 (50... c3 51. Qh2 Qe3+ 52. Kg4 $18) 51. Qxb2 Qe3+ 52.
Kg4 Qd3 53. Qxb4 $18) 49. Ng5 (49. Rxg7+ $142 $1 {Topalov} Qxg7 $8 50. Ng5 $1 (
50. Qd5 Qf7) 50... Nxg5 51. Qd8+ Kf7 (51... Qf8 52. Rh8+ $18) 52. Qc7+ Kg8 53.
Qb8+ Kf7 54. fxg5) 49... Ra6 (49... Nxg5 50. Qd5+ Qf7 (50... Nf7 51. e6 $18 (
51. e6 {Topalov} Rxb2 52. exf7+ Qxf7 53. Rxg7+ $1 Kxg7 54. Rh7+ Kxh7 55. Qxf7+
Kh6 56. Qg8 Rb3+ 57. Kg4)) 51. Qd8+ Qf8 52. Rh8+ $1 Bxh8 53. Rxh8+ Kxh8 54.
Qxf8+ $18) 50. Rh8+ {ein sehr hübsches Mattmotiv:} (50. Rh8+ Bxh8 51. Rxh8+
Kxh8 52. Qh2+ {[%cal Yh2h7]} (52. Qh2+ {Topalov} Kg7 53. Qh7#)) 1-0

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.03.01"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Be7 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. g4 h6 11. O-O-O b5 12. Kb1 Nb6 13. Na5 Qc7 14. Bxb6 Qxb6
15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. exd5 Rc8 17. b4 O-O 18. h4 Rc7 19. Bh3 Nh7 20. Bg2 Rfc8 21.
Nc6 Nf6 22. f4 Nxg4 23. Bh3 h5 24. Rhg1 f5 25. fxe5 dxe5 26. Rgf1 Rf8 27. Nxe7+
Rxe7 28. d6 Ref7 29. Bxg4 hxg4 30. Qd5 f4 31. Qxe5 g3 32. Qd5 Qb7 33. Qxb7 Rxb7
34. d7 Rxd7 35. Rxd7 f3 36. Rdd1 f2 37. Rg1 fxg1=Q 38. Rxg1 Rf3 39. Kc1 Kh7 40.
Kd1 Kh6 41. Ke2 Rc3 42. Kd2 Ra3 43. c3 g2 44. Ke2 Rxa2+ 45. Kf3 Kh5 46. Kg3 Rc2
47. Ra1 Rxc3+ 48. Kxg2 Rc4 49. Rxa6 Rxh4 50. Ra7 g6 51. Rh7+ Kg5 52. Rxh4 Kxh4
0-1

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.01"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Efimov, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1998.09.29"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Italy"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ITA"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 g6 {Vor etwa hundert Jahren
war der Standpunkt des ungarischen Großmeisters Maroczy anerkannt, der sagte,
daß ...e6 und ...g6 wegen der schwarzen Felderschwächen nicht zusammenpassen.
Heutzutage ist der Schachstil dynamischer und dies ist eine Hauptvariante des
Paulsen-Systems. Ribli.} 6. c4 (6. O-O Bg7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. Nd2 d5
10. Bc5 $5 (10. c3 $6 Nf6 11. Bc5 Nd7 12. Ba3 Bf8 $11) 10... Bxb2 11. c4 $36 {
Weiß hat keine Angst vor 11...Bxa1, denn auf den schwarzen Feldern bekommt er
mehr als Kompensation.}) 6... Bg7 7. Be3 Nc6 (7... Ne7 8. Nc3 d5 9. exd5 exd5
10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 (11. Rc1 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nbc6 13. Nxc6 Nxc6 14. Bc5 Qxd1 15.
Rfxd1 Rd8 16. Rxd8+ Nxd8 17. Nd5 b5 18. Nc7 Rb8 19. Bd5 Bb7 20. b4 Bxd5 21.
Nxd5 Ne6 22. Kf1 Rd8 23. Rd1 f5 24. Bb6 Re8 25. Rc1 Kf7 26. Rc6 Be5 27. Ba5 Ra8
28. g3 g5 29. Kg2 Ra7 30. Nb6 Rc7 {1/2-1/2 Meier,V-Svobodova,M/Pardubice 1996/
CBM 55 ext (30)}) (11. c5 Nbc6 12. Nce2 Be6 13. Qd2 Qd7 14. Rac1 Ne5 15. Rfd1
Nxd3 16. Qxd3 Rfe8 17. b4 Bg4 18. f3 Bf5 19. Qb3 h6 20. Bf2 Rad8 21. a4 $14 {
1-0 Nevostrujev,V-Tsebekov,H/Elista 1996/CBM 56 (39)}) 11... dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nd7
13. Bg5 Nf6 14. Bb3 h6 15. Bh4 Nf5 16. Nxf5 Bxf5 17. Qf3 Qb6 18. Re7 $14 {
0-1 Kostenko,I-Eljanov,V/Yalta 1996/EXT 98 (37)}) 8. Nxc6 bxc6 $6 {Dieser Zug
ist konsequent, aber die Alternative scheint mir sicherer zu sein.} (8... dxc6
9. Nc3 Qa5 10. Rc1 Nf6 11. O-O O-O 12. Qe2 e5 13. f3 Be6 14. Qf2 Nd7 15. Rb1 b5
16. b4 Qc7 17. Rfc1 Qb7 {1/2-1/2 Ostermeyer,P-Gerusel,M/Bad Neuenahr 1978/EXT
99 (41)}) 9. c5 $1 {[#]Dynamisch gespielt! Der Bauer und die Qualität zählen
hier wenig, Weiß spielt auf nachhaltigen schwarzfeldrigen Druck.} (9. Nc3 d6 (
9... Rb8 10. Qd2 Nf6 11. O-O Ng4 12. Bf4 e5 13. Bg5 f6 14. Bh4 g5 15. Be2 h5
16. Bg3 d6 {1-0 Pokojowczyk,J-Torre,E/Polanica Zdroj 1977/MCD (59)}) 10. Qd2 (
10. O-O c5 11. Qd2 Ne7 12. Bh6 O-O 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. f4 f6 15. Rad1 Nc6 16. e5
{1-0 Ebeling,M-Rantanen,Y/Tampere 1991/EXT 99 (22)}) 10... Qc7 11. O-O Ne7 12.
Rad1 Bb7 13. Bc2 Rd8 14. f4 c5 15. f5 Be5 {0-1 Ulfarsson,M-Iordachescu,V/
Duisburg 1992/TD (57)}) 9... Bxb2 $6 {Mit diesem Zug gewinnt Schwarz Bauern
und Qualität, aber seine Stellung wird schrecklich schlecht auf den schwarzen
Feldern.} (9... d5 $5 10. cxd6 Qxd6 (10... Bxb2 11. Nd2 Qxd6 12. Nc4 $16) 11.
Qc2 $14) (9... Rb8 $6 10. Nd2 $16 {[%cal Rd2c4,Rc4d6]}) 10. Nd2 {[%cal Rd2c4,
Rc4d6]} Bxa1 11. Qxa1 $44 {[%csl Ga1,Yd6,Re8][%cal Ra1h8] [#]} f6 $8 {Die
anderen Züge verlieren sofort.} 12. Nc4 {[%csl Ga1,Gc4,Gc5,Ge3,Re8] Weiß hat
noch keine sofortigen Drohungen, nur positionell großen Druck für das Material.
} a5 {[%cal Gc8a6,Ga6d3]} 13. Nd6+ Kf8 14. O-O Ba6 (14... Kg7 15. f4 $44) 15.
Bxa6 Rxa6 16. f4 {[%csl Ga1,Gd6][%cal Gf1f8]} h5 (16... Nh6 17. f5 {[%cal
Gf1f8,Re3h6]} Ng8 (17... Ng4 18. fxe6 Kg7 (18... dxe6 19. h3 Nxe3 20. Rxf6+ $18
) 19. e5 f5 (19... Nxe5 20. Qxe5 fxe5 21. Rf7+ Kg8 22. Bh6 $18 {[%csl Rg8]})
20. exd7 $18) 18. fxg6 hxg6 19. Bg5 Kg7 20. e5 $1 fxg5 21. Rf7+ Kh6 22. g4 $18
{[%csl Rh6][%cal Ra1f1,Rf1h3,Ra1c3,Rc3h3,Rh3h6]}) 17. Rf3 {[%csl Gf3][%cal
Gf3h3,Gf3g3,Gg3g6] Weiß aktiviert seinen Turm über die dritte Reihe. Es droht
18.Rg3.} h4 18. Rh3 {[%csl Ra6,Rf8][%cal Re3f2,Rf2h4] Der weiße Plan Bf2 /
Bxh4 scheint langsam, aber es ist schwer für Schwarz seine Stellung zu
verbessern.} a4 19. Bf2 Ra8 $6 (19... Qa5 $5 20. Qc1 $44) 20. Bxh4 {[%cal
Rh4f6]} Kg7 21. f5 {[%csl Rg7]} Qa5 $6 (21... g5 $5 22. Bxg5 Rxh3 23. gxh3 $44
{[%csl Gd6] Weiß hat dank seines starken Springers auf d6 noch immer
Kompensation, aber ohne Türme ist sein Angriff nicht so gefährlich.}) 22. Qc1
Rb8 (22... g5 $5 23. Bxg5 Rxh3 24. Bd2 {[%cal Rd2a5]} Qa6 25. gxh3 Qd3 {
[%csl Gd3]}) 23. Be1 Qa6 24. Rg3 {[%cal Rg3g7]} Qe2 {[%cal Re2a2]} (24... g5
25. e5 $16 {[%csl Rg7]}) 25. Bd2 $1 {Weiß nimmt nicht sofort auf g6 mit Schach,
sondern verbessert seine Läuferstellung.} (25. Rxg6+ Kf8) 25... Ne7 (25... a3
$5) (25... Nh6 $2 26. Rxg6+ $18 {[%csl Rh6]}) 26. h3 {Weiß schafft ein
Luftloch für den König und verteidigt sich gegen ...Qh5.} Rb5 $2 {Schwarz gibt
die Qualität zurück, aber Weiß behält Angriffschancen.} (26... Rh4 $1 $13 {
[%cal Rh4e4]}) 27. Re3 {[%csl Re2]} (27. Nxb5 Qxb5) 27... Qh5 {Die schwarze
Dame muß wegziehen, aber von h5 aus kann sie nichts für die schwarze
Verteidigung tun.} 28. Nxb5 cxb5 29. Rd3 $16 {[%cal Rd3d7]} gxf5 (29... Rd8 30.
fxe6 $18 {[%cal Rd3d8]} (30. Ba5 $18)) 30. Rxd7 {[%cal Rd7g7]} Qe8 (30... Re8
31. c6 $18 {[%csl Gc6,Gd7,Re7,Rg7][%cal Rc6c7,Rc7c8,Rd2b4,Rb4e7,Rd7g7]}) 31. c6
{[%csl Gc6][%cal Rd7g7]} Kg6 32. Bb4 Nc8 33. Qe3 $18 {[%csl Gb4,Gc6,Gd7,Ge3,
Rg6] Weiß hat die überlegene Figurenkoordination.} Rh5 $8 34. Qg3+ Rg5 (34...
Kh6 35. Qg7#) 35. Qc7 {[%csl Rc8,Rg6][%cal Rd7d8]} Qh8 (35... fxe4 36. Rd8 $18
{[%csl Rc8]} (36. Rg7+ Kh6 37. Rh7+ Kg6 38. Qg7+ Kf5 39. g4+ Ke5 40. Bc3+ Kd5
41. Qxf6 $18 {[%csl Rd5]})) 36. Rd8 {[%csl Rc8] Und Schwarz gab auf, denn er
verliert die Figur auf c8.} 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.02"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Krasenkow, Michal"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1998.09.29"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Poland"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "POL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Rb1
Ne4 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. cxd5 Nxc3 11. bxc3 exd5 12. Bd3 c5 13. O-O Nc6 14. Re1 Qf6
15. dxc5 bxc5 16. e4 dxe4 17. Bxe4 Rd8 18. Qa4 Bd7 19. Qc4 Rac8 20. Qxc5 Be6
21. a4 Ne7 22. Qxa7 Nd5 23. Rbd1 Nxc3 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Bb7 g5 26. Qa5 g4 27.
Ne5 Rd2 28. Qc5 Ne2+ 29. Kh1 Nd4 30. Qc1 Qxf2 31. Rf1 Qe2 32. Re1 Rc2 33. Qd1
Qxd1 34. Rxd1 Ra2 35. Nc6 Nb3 36. a5 Nxa5 37. Nxa5 Rxa5 38. g3 Kg7 39. Rf1 h5
40. Kg2 Kg6 41. Rf2 Kg5 42. Rb2 Rc5 43. Be4 f5 44. Bb7 h4 45. Kf2 Rc3 46. Rd2
Bc4 47. Bg2 Bd3 48. Ra2 Bc4 49. Rb2 Rc1 50. Rd2 Ba6 51. Ra2 Bd3 52. Rd2 Bc4 53.
Rb2 f4 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.03"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Peng, Xiaomin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1998.09.29"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "China"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CHN"]

{[%mdl 4] This game is a nice model for how to conduct the white attack in the
Spanish main lines when Black has exchanged on d4. Topalov plays in the centre
at first to distract Black from attacking on the Q-side. Then at the
appropriate moment he shifts to a K-side operation.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nd7 10. d4 Nb6 11.
Nbd2 exd4 12. cxd4 Nb4 13. Nf1 c5 14. a3 Nc6 15. Be3 (15. Ng3 c4 16. Bc2 d5 17.
e5 a5 18. Be3 b4 19. axb4 axb4 20. Rxa8 Nxa8 21. Nh2 b3 22. Bb1 Nc7 23. Qh5 g6
24. Qh6 Re8 25. Ng4 Bxg4 26. hxg4 Bf8 27. Qh3 Ne6 $17 {0-1 Svidler,P-Adams,M/
Groningen 1997/CBM 63 (36)}) (15. d5 Ne5 16. Nxe5 dxe5 17. Be3 Bd6 18. Qd2 Bd7
19. Rec1 Qe7 20. Qa5 Rfb8 21. Nd2 Be8 22. Bd1 Nd7 $13 {0-1 Shirov,A-Piket,J/
Linares 1997/CBM 57 (40)}) (15. Bc2 Nxd4 16. Nxd4 cxd4 17. b3 Be6 18. Bb2 Bf6
19. Bxd4 Be5 20. Nh2 Bxd4 21. Qxd4 Qc7 22. Re2 Qc5 $11 {0-1 Bologan,
V-Zagrebelny,S/Kstovo 1998/EXT 99 (31)}) (15. Bf4 Nxd4 16. Nxd4 cxd4 17. Qxd4
Be6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Bg3 Nc4 $15 {0-1 Bologan,V-Piket,J/Germany 1997/GER-chT 
(44)}) 15... c4 (15... Na5 16. Bc2 Nbc4 17. Bc1 cxd4 18. Nxd4 Bf6 19. Rb1 d5
20. exd5 Bb7 21. Nf5 Qxd5 22. Qxd5 Bxd5 23. b3 Nb6 24. Be3 Rab8 25. N1g3 Be6
26. Ne4 $14 {1-0 Karpov,A-Ivkov,B/Bugojno 1980/MCD (58)}) (15... a5 16. Rc1 c4
17. Bc2 d5 18. Ne5 Bb7 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20. e5 Na4 21. Rb1 Ra6 22. Ng3 g6 23. Bh6
Re8 24. e6 $40 {1-0 Topalov,V-Piket,J/Monte Carlo 1997/CBM 57 ext (37)}) 16.
Bc2 d5 17. Ne5 $1 {[%mdl 4] Topalov keeps the central tension while building
up against the black K. This way Blacks Q-side play is at least postponed. See
the game 0-1 Svidler,P-Adams,M/Groningen 1997/CBM 63 (36) for an example of
how Black can play when White closes too early with e5.} (17. e5 a5 $132) 17...
Qc7 18. Ng3 g6 19. Qf3 Be6 20. Nxc6 Qxc6 21. Bh6 Rfe8 22. e5 {[%mdl 4] Now the
time is ripe for a pure attack on the black K.} a5 23. Nh5 $1 {This sacrifice
is the key to opening up the black box.} Nd7 (23... gxh5 24. Qg3+ (24. Qxh5 f5
25. Re3 Kh8 26. Bg7+ Kxg7 27. Rg3+ Kh8 28. Qh6 Rg8 29. Bxf5 $18) 24... Bg4 25.
e6 $40) 24. Qg3 b4 25. Ng7 Bf8 $2 (25... Rec8 26. Nf5 (26. Nxe6 Qxe6 27. f4 c3
28. b3 Qb6 29. Rad1 bxa3 $132) 26... Bxf5 27. Bxf5 $16) 26. Nxe8 Bxh6 27. Nd6
b3 28. Bf5 $18 Nb6 29. f4 Bxf5 30. Nxf5 Bf8 31. Nh4 Na4 32. f5 $40 (32. Rab1
$18) 32... Nxb2 33. e6 Nd3 (33... Bg7 $5) 34. exf7+ Kxf7 35. Re6 b2 36. Rf1 Qb7
37. Nxg6 $1 Bg7 38. Qe3 Bf6 39. Rxf6+ Kxf6 40. Qe6+ Kg7 41. f6+ Kh6 (41... Kxg6
42. f7+ Kg7 43. Qf6+ Kf8 44. Qd6+ Kg7 45. f8=Q+ Rxf8 46. Qxf8+ Kg6 47. Qf6+ Kh5
48. g4#) 42. Ne7 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.04"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E42"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Wells,P"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1998.09.29"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "France"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Nge2 cxd4 6. exd4 O-O 7. a3 Be7 8. d5
exd5 9. cxd5 Bc5 10. Nd4 $6 {The more I look at this variation, the more I am
convinced that if black is allowed to construct his 'standard' position
without interference he can look forward to a comfortable middle-game.} d6 11.
Be2 a6 12. O-O Nbd7 13. Be3 {This seems a logical attempt to keep this piece
in the centre to contest the key dark squares, but as we shall see this is not
the whole story! The older move was} (13. Bg5 Re8 14. b4 (14. Nb3 Ba7 15. Nd2
h6 16. Bh4 Ne5 17. Nde4 g5 18. Nxf6+ Qxf6 19. Bg3 Bf5 20. Kh1 Ng6 21. Bg4 Nf4
$1 $15 {Sadler,M-Short,N/ch-GBR, Torquay ENG 1998.}) 14... Ba7 15. Rc1 h6 16.
Bh4 Nf8 17. h3 Bd7 18. Bg3 {[%cal Yg3d6] It may be that g3, pressuring black's
only really discernable weakness, is after all the best square for this piece.}
Rc8 19. Bf3 Qb6 20. Nb3 Ng6 21. Na5 Ne5 22. Be2 Qd4 23. Qb3 Nd3 24. Bxd3 Qxd3
25. Bxd6 Bd4 26. Na2 Qxb3 27. Nxb3 Bb2 28. Rxc8 Rxc8 29. Nc5 Bxa3 $11 {Lautier,
J-Anand,V/Monte Carlo 1997/EXP 57.}) 13... Ne5 14. h3 Re8 15. b4 $6 {[%csl Rc4]
An understandable decision, since if white does not expand on the queen-side
it is hard to suggest a plan. Still, the weakness of c4 is by no means just
theoretical.} Bb6 {The choice of between b6 and a7 is here rather simply
determined. Since there are potential tactics on the e3-a7 diagonal the bishop
is most solidly placed on the square where its defender can stay put for some
time. Since the a8 rook is urgently needed to exploit white's 'looseness' on
the c-file the queen best performs this role, and hence Topalov's move is the
most logical.} 16. Qb3 {Choosing a square for the white queen is more tricky.
The text is suitable for offering support to the weakened c4 square, and for
promoting white's plan of pushing his queenside pawns ( it is difficult indeed
to see another plan! ). On the other hand the d2 square might, as we shall see,
be a more prudent choice for the less ambitious role of keeping white's
centralised pieces well defended.} Bd7 17. a4 Rc8 18. Rac1 Ng6 $1 {I already
prefer black, and it may be that even after a more prudent move such as} 19.
Rfd1 $2 (19. Rfe1 {black can consider the positional sacrifice} Rxe3 $5 20.
fxe3 Qe7 21. Bf1 Qe5 $5 {with great play on the dark squares. However, the
text is clearly a mistake after which black gets decisive tactical threats
instead of mere positional compensation.}) 19... Rxe3 $1 $17 {[%mdl 512] A
beautiful resolution of the tension by which black shows that his superiority
on the dark squares is not so latent after all. The very concrete tactical
follow-up however, puts this more into the category of combination than
intuitive sacrifice.} 20. fxe3 Qe7 (20... Qe8 $5 {[%cal Ge8e3,Gd7a4] is also
possible, eyeing a4 and thus preventing the game defence. However, white can
still struggle with} 21. Kf2 $5 Rxc3 $5 22. Rxc3 Bxa4 23. Rc8 $1 Qxc8 24. Qxa4
Nxd5 25. Bg4 Qd8 $17) 21. Na2 Rxc1 22. Nxc1 Bxa4 $1 23. Qxa4 Qxe3+ 24. Kh1 Ne4
$6 {Unnecessary sophistication! The simple} (24... Bxd4 $1 {looks very strong.}
) 25. Nf5 (25. Qe8+ $1 Nf8 26. Ne6 {Fritz 5!} fxe6 27. dxe6 Nf2+ 28. Kh2 Qxe6
29. Qxe6+ Nxe6 30. Re1 {is far from clear.}) 25... Nf2+ 26. Kh2 Qe5+ 27. Ng3
Ne4 28. Qb3 Bf2 29. Rd3 h5 $1 $19 30. Bxh5 Nxg3 31. Rxg3 Qxh5 $1 (31... Bxg3+
$2 32. Qxg3 Qxh5 33. Qxd6 $132) 32. Rxg6 {The rook cannot run away, since,
thematically enough, black would then penetrate on the dark squares eg.} (32.
Rf3 Qe5+ 33. g3 Qe1) 32... Qxg6 33. Qf3 Bd4 34. Nd3 Qg5 35. Qe4 Qe3 36. Qxe3
Bxe3 {With a pawn and an excellent minor piece, the technical phase poses no
difficulties.} 37. Kg3 g6 38. Kf3 Bd4 39. Ke2 Kg7 40. Ne1 Kf6 41. Kd3 Bf2 42.
Nf3 Kf5 43. Ke2 Ba7 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.05"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "1998.09.29"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h6 8. f4 e5
9. Nf5 h5 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. Qxd5 g6 12. O-O-O gxf5 13. exf5 Nc6 14. Bc4 Qf6 15.
fxe5 Nxe5 16. g5 Qxf5 17. Bb3 Qf3 18. Qd2 Qc6 19. Rhf1 Be6 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21.
Rf6 O-O-O 22. Rxe6 Bg7 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-33"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1998.10.12"]
[Round "13.1"]
[White "Miladinovic, Igor"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1998.09.29"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Greece"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GRE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. d5
Nc5 9. Qc2 a5 10. Bg5 h6 11. Be3 b6 12. Nd2 Ng4 13. Bxg4 Bxg4 14. b3 f5 15. f3
Bh5 16. a3 f4 17. Bf2 Na6 18. Qb2 g5 19. b4 g4 20. fxg4 Bxg4 21. Nf3 Bf6 22.
Kh1 Kh7 23. Rab1 Rg8 24. Bg1 Qd7 25. Qe2 Rg7 26. Qd3 Rag8 27. Rb2 Bh5 28. Ne1
Bh4 29. Nf3 Bf6 30. Ne1 axb4 31. axb4 Bh4 32. Bf2 Bxf2 33. Rfxf2 Qc8 34. Nf3
Qd8 35. Ne2 Nb8 36. g3 Nd7 37. Rg2 Qf6 38. Rb3 Qg6 39. Rb1 Nf6 40. Nc3 Qg4 41.
Rf1 Qh3 42. Ne2 fxg3 43. Nfg1 Bxe2 44. Nxe2 Nh5 45. Qf3 Rg5 46. Qe3 R8g7 47.
Rf5 Rxf5 48. exf5 Qxf5 49. hxg3 Nf6 50. Nc3 Qf1+ 51. Qg1 Qxc4 52. Qb1+ Rg6 53.
Qc2 0-1

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.10.25"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C90"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3
d6 9. c3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. Nbd2 Re8 12. Nf1 h6 13. d4 cxd4 14. cxd4 exd4 15.
Nxd4 Bf8 16. b3 Bb7 (16... Nb7 17. Ng3 Nc5 18. Ndf5 Bb7 19. f3 Ncd7 20. Bf4 Ne5
21. Qd2 Rc8 22. Rad1 Qc7 23. Bb1 d5 $132 {1/2-1/2 Cabrilo,G-Pavlovic,M/
Vrnjacka Banja 1988/EXT 97 (29)}) (16... g6 17. Bb2 Bg7 18. Qd2 Bd7 19. Rad1
Rc8 20. f3 $14 {1-0 Emms,J-Hebden,M/London 1993/TD (65)}) 17. Ng3 Nc6 (17...
Rc8 18. Bb2 g6 19. Qd2 h5 20. Nf3 Nc6 21. Rad1 Ne5 22. Nxe5 dxe5 23. Qxd8 {
1/2-1/2 Hazai,L-Pavlovic,M/Copenhagen 1987/EXT 97 (23)}) 18. Bb2 Nxd4 19. Bxd4
(19. Qxd4 $5) 19... Rc8 20. Bd3 d5 $5 21. e5 Ne4 22. Qg4 (22. Nxe4 dxe4 23.
Bxe4 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 Qd5 25. Qd3 (25. Qe2 $2 f5 26. Rf4 g5 $19) (25. Re2 Red8 26.
Rd2 Qe4 $44) 25... Bc5 26. Rd1 Bxd4 27. Qxd4 Qxd4 28. Rexd4 Rxe5 $11) 22... Qg5
23. Qxg5 Nxg5 24. Rad1 Ne6 $14 {White has the better P-formation, but Black
has a nice blockading square on e6. At this moment the pressure is on Black to
get some activity before White consolidates by placing a piece on d4.} 25. Bb2
g6 26. Ne2 Bb4 27. Rf1 d4 $5 28. Bb1 (28. Nxd4 $2 Nf4 $36) (28. f4 Bc3 29. Bc1
Nc7 $13) 28... Bc3 29. Bc1 b4 $6 (29... Kh7 30. f4 $40) (29... Kg7 $142 30. f4
b4 31. f5 Nc5 32. fxg6 (32. Nf4 $5) 32... fxg6 33. Nf4 Ne4 $13) 30. Bxh6 a5 31.
Bd3 Nc5 32. Bc4 Rcd8 33. Bg5 Rd7 34. Bf6 $16 Bc6 35. f3 d3 36. Nxc3 $1 bxc3 37.
e6 Nxe6 38. Bxc3 Nf4 39. Bd2 Ne2+ 40. Kf2 Nd4 41. Be3 $6 (41. Rfe1 $18) 41...
Nc2 42. Bc1 Re2+ 43. Kg1 Nd4 44. a4 d2 45. Bb2 Ree7 46. Kf2 Nc2 47. Bf6 {
Resigning a bit too early. Black can still put up a fight.} (47. Bf6 Re8 48.
Bg5 Na3 $1 49. Be2 (49. Rxd2 Nxc4 50. bxc4 Bxa4 51. Ra1 Rxd2+ 52. Bxd2 Bb3 $14)
49... Rb7 50. Rxd2 (50. Bxd2 Rxb3 51. Bxa5 Bxa4 $16) 50... Rxb3 51. Bf6 Bxa4
52. Ra1 $16) 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Timman, Jan H"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2649"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 8200]} 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 {Eine schlaue
Zugfolge. Weiß spielt nicht Nc3 oder d3, denn er möchte mit sofortigem d2-d4
das Spiel im Zentrum öffnen. Ribli.} Nc6 {Jetzt haben wir eigentlich die
sizilianische Drachenvariante, aber mit Tempoplus für Weiß.} 6. O-O Be7 7. d4
e4 $5 {Schwarz strebt nach zweischneidigem Spiel, aber der Textzug ist auch
logischer als die Alternative 7...exd4, nach der Weiß freie Hand im Zentrum
und die Diagonale für den Läufer g2 bekommt.} (7... exd4 8. Nxd4 Nxd4 9. Qxd4
Nf6 (9... Nb4 10. Qxg7 $5 {[#]} (10. Qe4 c6 11. Nc3 Be6 12. Be3 O-O 13. Rfd1
Qc7 14. Rac1 Rfd8 15. a3 Rxd1+ 16. Rxd1 Nd5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Qa4 {1/2-1/2
Ruck,R-Rogic,D/Porec 1998/EXT 99 (33)}) 10... Bf6 11. Qh6 Nc2 12. Nc3 Bxc3 13.
bxc3 Nxa1 14. Qg7 {1-0 Schwarz,M-Stickler,A/BL9192 1992/GER-chT (14)}) 10. Qa4+
$5 (10. Qxd8+ Bxd8 11. Nc3 c6 (11... O-O 12. b4 $14) 12. b4 Bd7 (12... O-O 13.
a4 Be6 14. Bb2 a6 15. b5 Ba5 16. bxc6 bxc6 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Bc4 19. Rfc1
Bxe2 20. Rc2 Bg4 21. Rxc6 Rfe8 22. f3 Bc8 23. Bc3 $14 {1-0 Lalic,B-Mohr,G/
Zagreb 1993/CBM 37 ext (37)}) 13. Bb2 Be7 14. a3 O-O 15. Rfd1 Rad8 16. Ne4 Nxe4
17. Bxe4 {1/2-1/2 Martin,A-Pritchett,C/England 1998/CBM 64 ext (17)}) 10... c6
(10... Qd7 11. Qc2 c6 12. e4 $6 (12. Rd1 Qe6 13. e4 $14) 12... O-O 13. Nc3 Rd8
$1 {1/2-1/2 Lobron,E-Hertneck,G/Muenchen 1994/Inf 60/[Hertneck,G] (59)}) 11.
Rd1 Qb6 12. Be3 Bc5 13. Bxc5 Qxc5 14. b4 Qb6 15. Nc3 O-O 16. Qa5 $14 {Lobron,
E-Kharlov,A/Leeuwarden 1997/Inf 71/18}) 8. Ne5 f5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 {[%csl Rc6,Rg2]
Der weiße g2-Läufer ist eingeschlossen, aber Schwarz hat mit seinen
Doppelbauern in der c-Linie auch Schwächen.} 10. Qa4 (10. Nc3 O-O 11. Qa4 (11.
f3 exf3 12. Bxf3 Be6 13. e3 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Bd5 15. Qc2 Bxf3 16. Rxf3 Qd5 17. Rf2
Rae8 18. c4 Qd7 19. Rb1 Bg5 20. Qc3 Re4 21. Rb7 Rfe8 22. Rf3 f4 23. gxf4 Qg4+
24. Rg3 Qd1+ 25. Kg2 Qe2+ 26. Kg1 Qd1+ 27. Kg2 Qe2+ {1/2-1/2 Spraggett,K-Vehi
Bach,V/Ampuriabrava 1997/CBM 62 (27)}) 11... Qd6 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Bf4 Qa6 14.
Qc2 c6 15. Rfc1 Bd7 16. e3 Qb6 17. Bf1 a5 18. Rab1 Ra7 19. Qd1 Re8 20. Kg2 Rb7
21. Be2 Bf8 22. g4 fxg4 23. Bxg4 Qd8 24. Rc2 Bd6 25. Bg3 Rf8 26. Rbc1 Bxg3 27.
hxg3 Kh8 28. Bxd7 Qxd7 29. Qd2 Qg4 30. Rxc6 Rbf7 31. R6c2 h5 $40 {0-1 Bauer,
C-Smejkal,J/Germany 1996/GER-chT (44)}) 10... Qd7 $5 {[#]Mit der
Partiefortsetzung verteidigt Schwarz den Bauern c6 und bereitet gleichzeitig
den Befreiungszug ...c6-c5 vor. Das ist der Unterschied zu 10...Qd6.} (10...
Qd6) 11. Rd1 c5 $5 {Schwarz opfert einen Bauern, aber befreit sich dabei von
seinen Bauernschwächen und bekommt aktives Figurenspiel.} 12. Qxd7+ Bxd7 (12...
Kxd7 $2 13. dxc5 Kc6 14. Nd2 $16 {[%csl Rc6]}) 13. dxc5 Be6 {[%csl Rc5]} (13...
Bc6) 14. Nd2 O-O-O {[%csl Rc5] Schwarz hat eine bequeme Stellung. Der weiße
Mehrbauer auf c5 ist kaum zu halten.} (14... Bxc5 15. Nb3 Bb6 $11) 15. a3 e3 $1
{Schwarz ist nicht zufrieden mit der sofortigen Annahme des c5-Bauern. Zuerst
möchte er die gegnerische Bauernstruktur verschlechtern.} (15... Bxc5 $11) 16.
Nf1 (16. Nb3 Nf4 $1 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18. gxf4 Rd1+ 19. Bf1 exf2+ 20. Kxf2 Bxb3
$17 {[%csl Ra1,Rc1]}) 16... exf2+ 17. Kxf2 Bxc5+ $15 {[%csl Rf2] Schwarz hat
lebendiges Figurenspiel und der weiße König steht im Zentrum ein wenig
unsicher.} 18. Ke1 Rhe8 {[%cal Ge8e1]} 19. Bg5 (19. b4 Bb6 20. Bb2 g5 $36)
19... Rd6 (19... Be7 $5) (19... Rd7) 20. Rac1 Bb6 21. Bf3 h6 22. Bf4 Rd7 23.
Be5 {[%csl Ge5][%cal Ge5g7]} g5 {Schwarz mobilisiert seine Königsflügelbauern.
Es ist für Weiß schwierig, etwas aktives Gegenspiel zu entfalten.} (23... Bg8
$2 24. Bxg7 Rxg7 25. Bxd5 $16) 24. Bd4 g4 (24... f4) 25. Bh1 Bf7 26. Bxb6 axb6
{Schwarz hat die etwas bessere Bauernstruktur und leichte Initiative, aber im
Lager des Weißen finden sich keine besonderen Schwächen.} 27. Rc6 {[%cal Rc6h6]
} f4 (27... h5) 28. Kf2 (28. Rxh6 $2 f3 {[%csl Re2]}) 28... h5 29. Rd4 fxg3+
30. Nxg3 {[%cal Gg3f5]} (30. hxg3 $5) 30... Re5 31. Rh6 {[%cal Gh6h8,Gh8c8]}
Rd8 32. Ke1 Rd6 33. Rh8+ (33. Rxd6 cxd6 $11) 33... Kd7 34. Rh7 Ke8 35. Ra4 $11
{[%csl Ga4,Gh7][%cal Ga4a8] [#]Beide weißen Türme stehen aktiv und der
strukturelle Vorteil des Schwarzen ist von geringer Bedeutung.} Nf4 $4 {
Ein unglaublicher Fehler in ausgeglichener Stellung!} 36. Rxf4 $18 {Schwarz
muß aufgeben.} 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2636"]
[Annotator "Van Wely/Cifuentes"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7.
Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O
14. Nce3 Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. O-O e4 17. Nf4 (17. Bc2 $2 {Ftacnik} f4 18. Bxe4
fxe3 19. Qh5 exf2+ 20. Kh1 (20. Rxf2 Rxf2 21. Qxh7+ Kf8 22. Kxf2 Ra7 23. Kg1
Rf7 $17) 20... Rf7 $19 {Bestagno-Kuntz/Cagnes/1989/}) 17... Bf7 18. Bc2 Be5 19.
Nfd5 {/\f4} (19. Nh3 Kh8 20. f4 (20. Nxf5 Be6 21. Ng3 Bxh3 22. gxh3 d5 $44)
20... Qb6 21. Re1 $2 Bg7 22. Kh1 Ne7 $17 23. g4 $6 d5 $6 (23... b4 $1 24. Nxf5
Nxf5 25. gxf5 bxc3 26. bxc3 Bxc3 27. Rxe4 Qc6 28. Ng5 Bd5 29. Qh5 Ra7 $17) 24.
gxf5 b4 25. Ng5 Bg8 26. Ne6 $1 Bxe6 27. fxe6 Qxe6 28. c4 Rxf4 29. cxd5 Qh3 30.
Qe2 Raf8 31. Qg2 Qxg2+ 32. Nxg2 Rf2 33. Bxe4 Nc8 $1 $15 {Lutz,C-San Segundo,P/
Pamplona 97-98}) (19. Ned5 Kh8) (19. g3 Bxf4 20. gxf4 Qf6 $11) 19... Qg5 (19...
f4 $2 20. Ng4 (20. Qg4+ {Ftacnik} Bg6 21. Bxe4 fxe3 22. Bxg6 exf2+ (22... hxg6
23. Qxg6+ Bg7 24. fxe3 $13 (24. Qe6+ $13)) 23. Rxf2 hxg6 24. Qxg6+ Bg7 25. Raf1
$13) (20. Nf5 $2 Bg6) 20... Bg6 21. Re1 e3 22. fxe3 Bxc2 23. Qxc2 Qg5 24. Nxe5
Nxe5 25. Kh1 $16) 20. f4 exf3 21. Rxf3 $146 {'!?' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'The first
independent move in a well known line of Sveshnikov Sicilian. White sacrifices
an exchange in order to get active chances.'} (21. Qxf3 Bh5 22. Qf2 (22. Qh3 {
Ftacnik} f4 23. Nc7 $1 (23. Qd7 Ra7 24. Qxc6 fxe3 25. Rxf8+ Kxf8 26. Qb6 Bxh2+
27. Kxh2 Qh4+ 28. Kg1 Qf2+ $11) 23... fxe3 24. Nxa8 Rxf1+ 25. Rxf1 $16) 22...
f4 23. h4 $6 (23. Nc7 $5) 23... Qd8 24. Nf5 Bg6 25. Nd4 Nxd4 (25... Bxc2 {
Ftacnik} 26. Nxc2 Ne7 27. Nxe7+ Qxe7 $13 28. Nd4) 26. cxd4 {'?!' Ftacnik.} (26.
Bxg6 {Ftacnik} Ne6 (26... Nf5 27. Bxf5 Rxf5 $14) 27. Be4 $14) 26... Bxc2 27.
dxe5 dxe5 28. Qc5 Rf7 $15 {1/2-1/2, Anand,V-Kramnik,V/ Linares 1998 Ftacnik:
'1/2-1/2 Anand,V-Kramnik,V/Linares/1998 (28)'}) 21... Bh5 (21... f4 $2 22. h4
$1 Qd8 23. Nxf4 $1 (23. Ng4 Be6) 23... Qxh4 24. Rh3 $1 Qxf4 25. Bxh7+ Kg7 26.
Nf5+ Kf6 27. Rh4 $1 $18) 22. Nc7 (22. Nxf5 $5 Kh8 23. Qd3 (23. h4 $5) 23...
Bxf3 24. Qxf3 Ra7 $13) 22... Bf4 $1 {'?' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'In effect this
move gives up the active dark squared bishop and black position will become
very vulnerable.'} (22... Rac8 23. Ne6 Bxf3 24. Qxf3 Qh6 25. Nxf8 (25. g3 {
Ftacnik} Rf6 (25... Qxe6 $2 26. Bb3 $18) 26. Nxf5 Qd2 27. Bb3 Kh8 28. Rf1 Qxb2
29. Ng5 $13) 25... Bxh2+ 26. Kf1 Rxf8 27. Nxf5 Qf4 28. Qxf4 Bxf4 29. a4 $14) (
22... Bxf3 23. Qxf3 Rac8 24. Bb3+ Kh8 25. Ne6 Qh6 26. Nxf8 Bxh2+ 27. Kf1 Rxf8)
23. Qd5+ Kh8 (23... Bf7 24. Qxc6 Bxe3+ 25. Kh1 $18) 24. Rxf4 (24. Qxc6 Bxe3+
25. Kh1 Rac8 26. Rg3 Qh6 $36) (24. Nf1 Bxf3 25. Qxf3 Ne5 26. Qh3 Qe7 $1 27.
Nxa8 Qa7+ 28. Kh1 Ng4 $19) 24... Qxf4 25. Re1 $2 (25. Nxf5 $1 Ne7 26. Qd4+ (26.
Qxd6 Qxd6 27. Nxd6 Ra7 (27... Rad8 $2 28. Ne6) 28. Ne6 Rf6 $11) 26... Qxd4+ 27.
Nxd4 Ra7 28. Nce6 Rf6 (28... Rb8 $13) 29. a4 $1 $13) (25. Qd2 Rae8 26. Nxe8
Rxe8 27. Re1 Ne5 28. Bxf5 Rg8 $40 (28... Nf3+ 29. gxf3 Rg8+ 30. Bg4 Bxg4 31.
fxg4 Rxg4+ 32. Kh1 Qe4+ 33. Ng2 Rxg2 34. Rxe4 Rxd2 $11) (28... Nc4)) 25... Rac8
$2 (25... Ne5 $1 26. Nxa8 Rg8 $3 27. g3 (27. Qxg8+ $8 Kxg8 28. Bxf5 (28. Nc7
Ng4 $17) 28... Qh4 (28... Bg6 29. Bxg6 hxg6 $15) 29. Rf1 Qg5 30. Nd5 Bf3 31.
Be6+ Kg7 32. g3 Qd2 33. Rf2 Qc1+ 34. Rf1 Qxb2 35. Rf2 Qb1+ 36. Rf1 Qxa2 37. Rf2
Qa1+ 38. Rf1 Qa3 $19) 27... Rxg3+ 28. hxg3 Qxg3+ 29. Kf1 (29. Ng2 Bf3) 29...
Qf4+ 30. Kg1 Nf3+ $19) 26. Ne6 Qh4 27. g3 {Ftacnik: 'Black pieces have lost
coordination and the pawn structure is rather weak.'} Rg8 28. Nxf5 Qc4 {
Ftacnik: 'The queen has no luck with a search for a proper square on the board.
'} 29. Qxd6 $18 Rg6 30. Ne7 {Ftacnik: 'This small combination begins a mating
attack.'} Nxe7 31. Qe5+ Kg8 32. Bxg6 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Reinderman, Dimitri"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B38"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2542"]
[Annotator "Alterman,B"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. Nxd4
Nc6 9. Be3 Bd7 10. Qd2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bc6 12. f3 a5 13. b3 Nd7 14. Be3 Nc5 15.
Rab1 e6 $6 (15... h5 16. Rfe1 Kh7 17. Bd1 e6 18. Bc2 Qe7 19. a3 Rfc8 20. Bf4
Nd7 21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. exd5 e5 23. Qe2 Qf8 24. Be3 Bh6 25. Bf2 Kg8 26. g4 hxg4
27. fxg4 Bf4 28. a4 Qe7 29. Kg2 {2.26-2.15 0-1 Diaz,J-Garcia,G/Capablanca
mem-B 1993/EXP 35 (49)}) 16. Rfd1 (16. Bh6 $6 Bxh6 17. Qxh6 e5 $5 $13) (16. Nd1
f5 17. exf5 gxf5 18. Nf2 Qe7 19. Rbd1 Rfd8 20. Bg5 Bf6 21. Nh3 e5 22. f4 Qg7
23. Bf3 e4 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25. Be2 Ne6 26. Qe3 {1/2-1/2 Adamski,J-Nielsen,P/Open,
Roskilde DEN 1998}) (16. Bd1 f5 17. exf5 Rxf5 18. Ne2 {+/- Tringov,G-Haik,A/
Vrnjacka Banja 1986/Inf 41}) (16. Rfc1 b6 17. Rc2 Qe7 18. Bf1 Rfd8 19. Rd1 Ra7
20. Bg5 Bf6 21. Bxf6 Qxf6 22. Qe3 Rb7 23. Rcd2 e5 24. g3 Kg7 25. Bh3 Qe7 26. f4
Rbb8 27. f5 g5 28. Bg4 f6 29. h4 h6 30. Bh5 {1/2-1/2 Wojtkiewicz,A-Olafsson,H/
St.Martin op 1993/TD 93\03 (39)}) 16... Be5 17. Bd4 (17. g3 Qe7 (17... Qf6 18.
Bg5 $5) 18. Nb5 b6 19. Bg5 f6 20. Bh6 Rfd8 21. f4 Bxe4 22. Rbc1 g5 23. fxe5
dxe5 24. Qe3 Kf7 25. Nc3 Bf5 26. g4 Bg6 27. Rf1 Kg8 28. Qf3 Nd7 29. Rcd1 {
1-0 Korneev,O-Cebalo,M/Porto San Giorgio op 1997/EXP 59 (31)}) (17. Bf4 Qe7 18.
Qe3 Rad8 19. Bg5 f6 20. Bh4 b6 21. a3 d5 22. cxd5 exd5 23. Nxd5 Bxd5 24. Rxd5
Rxd5 25. Bc4 Ne6 26. Bxd5 Kg7 27. Rd1 Qd6 28. Bg3 Rd8 29. Rc1 Bd4 30. Qxd4 Nxd4
31. Bxd6 Ne2+ 32. Kf1 Nxc1 33. Bc7 {1/2-1/2 Fishbein,A-Sorensen,J/Copenhagen
PC 1991/EXT 91op}) (17. Bf1 $6 Qh4 18. h3 Qg3 $36) (17. Nb5 Qh4 $5 18. g3 Bxg3
$5 $13) 17... Qe7 18. Bf1 (18. Qe3 Rad8 19. Rd2 Bxd4 20. Qxd4 f5 21. exf5 gxf5
22. f4 e5 23. Qe3 Qg7 24. Nd5 Ne6 25. Bf3 Kh8 26. fxe5 dxe5 27. Re1 e4 28. Bd1
Qe5 29. Bc2 Bxd5 30. cxd5 Rxd5 31. Rxd5 Qxd5 32. Rd1 Qc6 33. b4 Qxc2 {0-1
Kristiansen,J-Sorensen,J/Obro-A Copenhagen 1990/EXT 90}) 18... Rfd8 19. Qe3 (
19. Bf2) 19... Bxd4 20. Rxd4 e5 21. Rd2 Ne6 22. Rbd1 Kg7 23. g3 h6 24. h4 g5 (
24... Kh7 25. Bh3 Nd4 26. Ne2 Ne6 27. Kh2 $16) 25. h5 g4 $5 (25... Kh8 26. Bh3
Ng7 27. Bg4 $16) 26. fxg4 Ng5 27. Rf2 Qc7 28. Rf5 f6 29. Be2 Rf8 30. Kh2 Rad8
31. Rff1 Bd7 (31... Kh8 32. Rd2 $16) 32. Nd5 Qc5 33. Qd3 Be6 34. Ne3 Rf7 35.
Rd2 Qc6 36. Bf3 Qc5 37. Bg2 Qc8 38. Qe2 Qc5 39. Rfd1 b6 40. Qf2 Kf8 41. Rd5 $1
{This is the point. Black can't take the rook because the knight from e3 will
go to d5 or f5. But on the other way the rook will continue to b5 and the pawn
on b6 is very difficult to defend.} Qc7 (41... Bxd5 42. Rxd5 Qc7 43. Rb5 $16)
42. Rb5 Rb8 43. Rd3 Kg7 44. a4 Kf8 45. b4 {Finally white opens the position on
the Qeen side and black has no defense against this attack because the Ng5 is
so far.} axb4 46. Rxb4 Ra8 47. Rdb3 Ra6 48. Nf5 Bxf5 49. Qxf5 Qd7 50. Qg6 Qxg4
51. Rxb6 Rxb6 52. Rxb6 Qd7 53. Rb8+ Ke7 54. a5 Qa7 55. Qg8 Ke6 56. Bh3+ f5 (
56... Nxh3 57. Re8+) 57. exf5+ Kf6 58. Qg6+ Ke7 59. f6+ 1-0

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.03.07"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B35"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Alterman,B"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Bb3 a5 9. O-O (9. h4 a4 10. Bd5 a3 11. b3 Ng4 12. Bxc6 dxc6 13. Nde2 Nxe3 14.
fxe3 Qa5 $19) (9. h3 d5 10. Bxd5 Nxd5 11. exd5 Nb4 12. Nde2 Bf5 13. Rc1 Rc8 14.
O-O b5 15. Nd4 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 Nxc2 17. Rxc2 Bxc2 18. Bh6 e5 19. Qxe5 f6 20. Qd4
$44 {1/2-1/2 Romero Holmes,A-Frois,A/La Coruna TH op 1995 (29)}) 9... a4 (9...
Ng4 10. Qxg4 Nxd4 11. Qh4 Nxb3 12. axb3 Ra6 13. Bh6 Re6 $11 {1-0 Luecke,
N-Heinatz,T/BL 1993 (41)}) 10. Nxa4 (10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Nxa4 Nxe4 12. f3 Nf6 13.
Bb6 Qe8 14. Re1 d6 15. Bf2 c5 16. Nb6 Ra7 17. a4 Bb7 18. c3 Qd8 19. a5 Bc6 20.
Qe2 Re8 21. Ra3 e5 22. Ba4 Bxa4 23. Rxa4 e4 24. fxe4 d5 25. Qd1 d4 26. e5 Nd7
27. cxd4 Nxb6 28. axb6 Rd7 29. Ra7 cxd4 30. Rxd7 Qxd7 31. Qxd4 {1-0
Shchekachev,A-Pigusov,E/Open, Bourbon Lancy FRA 1997 (58)}) (10. Bxa4 Nxe4 11.
Nxe4 Rxa4 12. c3 Ra8 (12... Ra5 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Qb3 Rb5 15. Qc2 d5 $15 {
1/2-1/2 Gallinnis,N-Guempges,x/corr 1981 (53)}) 13. Ng3 d5 14. f4 e6 15. Re1 f6
16. Nf3 e5 17. Qb3 Na5 18. Qb5 Nc4 19. Bc5 Ra5 20. Qb4 Rf7 21. Rad1 Qc7 22.
Rxd5 Be6 23. Bb6 Bf8 24. Bxc7 Bxb4 25. Rd8+ {1-0 Baranyai,A-Toth,S/Providencia
Open, Debrecen HUN 1997}) 10... Nxe4 11. Nb5 (11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Nb6 (12. Bb6
Qe8 13. f3 Ng5 (13... Nf6 14. Bf2 Ba6 15. Re1 d6 16. c4 c5 17. Nc3 Qd8 18. Qe2
Ra7 19. a4 Qb8 20. Nb5 Rd7 21. Rad1 Rc8 22. Kh1 Nh5 23. Bc2 Nf4 24. Qd2 Ne6 25.
Be4 Nd4 26. b4 e5 27. Nxd4 cxd4 28. b5 Bb7 29. a5 $16 {1-0 David,A-Abolianin,A/
Lost Boys Open, Antwerp BEL 1998 (39)}) 14. c3 d6 15. Be3 Ne6 16. Nb6 Rb8 17.
a4 Nc7 18. a5 Be6 19. Ba4 Na8 20. Re1 Nxb6 21. Bxb6 Rxb6 22. axb6 Qb8 23. Kh1
Qxb6 24. Qd2 $14 {1-0 David,A-Taleb,M/Montpellier 1998 (35)}) 12... Rb8 13.
Nxc8 Qxc8 14. f3 (14. c3 d5 15. f3 Nd6 16. Re1 Re8 17. Ba7 Rb7 18. Bc5 Rd7 19.
a4 Qb8 20. a5 Qb5 21. Bf2 Ra8 22. Ba4 Qa6 23. Bc2 Qb7 24. Ra2 e5 25. Bd3 Nb5
26. Qa1 Rdd8 27. a6 Qd7 28. Bxb5 cxb5 29. a7 d4 30. Rd1 Qc6 31. Ra6 Qc4 32.
cxd4 $13 {0-1 Nykopp,J-Keskisarja,T/FIN-chT 1994/EXT 97 (39)}) 14... Nf6 15.
Re1 (15. Qe2 Qc7 16. Rad1 Rfe8 17. Rfe1 d6 18. Kh1 e5 19. Bg5 d5 20. Qf2 Nd7
21. c3 f5 22. Bc1 Kh8 23. Qh4 Nc5 24. Bc2 Ne6 25. g4 Qf7 26. gxf5 gxf5 27. Rg1
Rg8 28. Qh3 Rbf8 29. a4 e4 30. fxe4 fxe4 31. Rdf1 $14 {1-0 Mokry,K-Antunes,A/
EUCup Gr2 Strasbourg 1994/EXP 43 (44)}) 15... d6 16. a4 c5 17. a5 c4 18. Ba4
Qa6 19. Bb6 Rxb6 20. axb6 Qxb6+ 21. Kh1 Qxb2 22. Rb1 Qa3 23. Bb5 d5 24. Qd4 Qd6
25. Rbd1 Rb8 26. Rb1 Ne4 27. Qa7 Nc3 28. Rxe7 Nxb5 29. Qe3 Bf8 30. Re5 Na3 31.
Rxb8 Qxb8 32. Rxd5 $17 {0-1 Garcia,G-Turner,M/Lloyds Bank op 1994/EXP 43 (47)})
11... Ra6 (11... d6 12. Qe2 (12. Bb6 Qd7 13. Nc7 Rb8 14. Re1 Nf6 15. Qd2 Ne8
16. Nd5 e6 17. Ne3 d5 18. Rad1 Nc7 19. Nc5 Qd6 20. Ne4 Qf4 21. Nc5 Na8 22. Nd3
Qh6 23. Bc5 Rd8 24. c3 b6 25. Bb4 $17 {Voicu,C-Andreeva,N/EU-chJW U16 Rimavska
Sobota 1996/EXT 96ch2/0-1 (53)}) 12... Nf6 13. Rad1 Bf5 14. c4 Ng4 15. Bc1 Qb8
16. h3 Nf6 17. Be3 Nd7 18. f4 Na5 19. g4 Nxb3 20. axb3 Be4 21. Ba7 Rxa7 22.
Qxe4 Ra6 23. Qxe7 Nc5 24. Nxc5 dxc5 25. Qxc5 Bxb2 26. Rd2 Bg7 27. Rd7 Ra2 28.
Qd5 Qe8 29. Qd3 Re2 30. Nc7 $16 {1-0 Theissen,H-Fabisch,C/Dortmund op-A 1993/
TD 93\06 (58)}) (11... Rxa4 12. Bxa4 Bxb2 13. Rb1 Bg7 14. f3 Qa5 15. Bb3 Nc3
16. Nxc3 Qxc3 17. Qe1 d6 18. Qxc3 Bxc3 19. Rfd1 Bd7 20. Ba4 Ra8 21. Rxb7 Rxa4
22. Rxd7 Rxa2 23. Rc7 Ra6 24. Rb1 Bf6 25. Bh6 $16 {1-0 Bologan,V-Katz,F/
Corsican Open, Bastia FRA 1998 (42)}) 12. Qe2 (12. Re1 d6 $11) (12. Qd3 d5 13.
f3 Nf6 14. Nc5 Ra8 15. Rfd1 e6 $11) 12... d6 13. c4 (13. Rad1 Bd7 $132) 13...
Nf6 $1 (13... f5 $2 $16 14. Bb6 $1 Qd7 (14... Rxb6 $2 15. Nxb6 Qxb6 16. c5+ $18
) 15. f3 (15. c5+ Kh8 16. Rad1 $16) (15. Rad1 Na5 16. Bc2 $14) 15... Nf6 $2 (
15... Ng5 16. Rad1 Ne6 $1 17. c5 Kh8 18. cxd6 exd6 19. Rf2 d5 20. Nc5 Nxc5 21.
Bxc5 Re8 22. Qf1 Ne7 23. Rc2 $16) 16. Rad1 $22 $18 {1-0 Rogic,D-Sale,S/
CRO-ch06 Pula 1998/CBM 64/[Tsesarsky] (20)}) 14. Rfd1 (14. Rad1 Bg4 15. f3 Bd7
16. c5 Na5 17. Bc2 d5 $11) 14... Bd7 15. Nac3 Qb8 16. h3 {Position not so easy
to play for black.Topalov first of all need to find some plan to open the
center , but in such position it's very difficalt.} Rc8 17. a3 Ne5 18. Rac1
Bxb5 {Probably black should to exchange some peaces because space problem, but
now white has two bishops and clear plan to attack on the Qeen side.} 19. cxb5
(19. Nxb5 $14) 19... Ra8 20. b6 (20. Bd4 e6 21. a4 Ned7 $14) 20... Rc6 21. Nb5
Qd8 22. Nc7 Rb8 23. Qb5 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 $6 (24. Bxc1 $1 Qd7 25. Qxd7 Nfxd7 26.
Be3 {Still better for white}) 24... e6 $1 25. a4 d5 26. a5 Ne4 $1 {[%mdl 2048]
Finally black gets strong contrplay.} 27. Rd1 (27. Bc2 Nd6 28. Qc5 Ndc4 $36)
27... Nd6 28. Qc5 Nf5 29. Bc1 Bf8 30. Qc2 Nc6 (30... Qh4 $1 31. Qe2 Nc6 32. Bd2
Bc5 $17 {[%cal Rc5f2,Gf5d4,Gc6d4,Gc6a5]}) 31. Bd2 Bd6 32. Ba4 Nb4 33. Qb3 Nd4
34. Qe3 Nf5 35. Qb3 Qh4 36. Rc1 $4 {[%mdl 8192]} (36. Re1 Bc5 $17) 36... Nd4
0-1

[Event "Dos Hermanas 10th"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1999.04.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2677"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1999.04.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Kh1 b6 10. a4 Bb7 11. f3 Nc6 12. Nd5 (12. Bg5 Nb4 13. Nb1 h6 (13... Rc8
14. Na3 h6 15. Bh4 g5 16. Bf2 d5 17. c3 Nc6 18. exd5 Nxd5 19. Nc4 b5 20. axb5
axb5 21. Nca5 Nxa5 22. Nxa5 Ba8 23. Bxb5 {1-0 Palac,M-Boric,M/Pula/1999/ (28)})
14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Na3 Qc7 16. Qd2 Nc6 17. Nc4 Rfd8 18. a5 bxa5 19. Nbxa5 Nd4
20. Nxb7 Qxb7 21. Bd3 Bg5 22. Qf2 {1-0 Ivanchuk,V-Topalov,V/Monte Carlo/1998/ 
(59)}) 12... Nxd5 13. exd5 Nb4 14. c4 a5 $1 15. Bd2 Na6 16. Bc3 {Black's set
up on the queenside is not nice, but it certainly slows down white's build up
with his pawn majority.} (16. f4 Bf6 17. Bc3 exf4 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Qd2 Rae8
20. Bd3 Qe5 21. Rae1 Qg5 22. Rxe8 Rxe8 23. Rxf4 Nc5 24. Nxc5 bxc5 25. Kg1 g6
26. g3 Qe7 27. Re4 {1/2-1/2 Adams,M-King,D/England/1998/ (27)}) 16... Bg5 $5
17. Bd3 (17. g3 Bc8 18. f4 exf4 19. gxf4 Bf6 20. Nd4 $13) 17... Bc8 18. Qc2 g6
19. g3 Bh3 $1 (19... f5 20. f4 exf4 21. gxf4 Bf6 22. Nd4 Nb4 23. Bxb4 Bxd4 24.
Bc3 $11) 20. Rf2 Nb4 21. Qe2 (21. Bxb4 $5 axb4 22. Nd2 f5 23. Bf1 Bxf1 24. Nxf1
Qc7 $11) 21... Qd7 (21... Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Rc8 $11) 22. Nd2 f5 23. Bxb4 axb4 24.
b3 Qc7 25. Qe1 e4 $5 {The pawn sacrifice is very profound and depends on the
activity of all black pieces.} (25... Qc5 26. Bf1 $11) 26. fxe4 Qg7 $1 27. e5 (
27. exf5 Rae8 28. Qg1 (28. Qb1 Qd4 $17) (28. Re2 $2 Rxe2 29. Bxe2 Bxd2 $19)
28... Be3 $17) (27. Ra2 Qc3 $1 (27... Rae8 28. Nf3 Bf6 (28... fxe4 29. Bxe4 (
29. Nxg5 exd3 $17) 29... Bh6 30. Ng1 $16) 29. Rae2 Bc3 30. Qc1 $14) 28. Bf1 (
28. Nf3 Qxe1+ 29. Nxe1 fxe4 $19) 28... Bxf1 29. Rxf1 Bxd2 30. Qxd2 fxe4 $15)
27... dxe5 28. Bf1 Bg4 (28... Bxf1 29. Nxf1 e4 $15) 29. Be2 h5 $1 30. Bxg4 hxg4
31. c5 (31. Rd1 Be7 $15 (31... e4 32. Nb1 $1 {xb4})) 31... bxc5 32. Nc4 e4 33.
Rd1 Bf6 {The result of the whole operation is rather gloomy for white. He can
claim only one asset in pawn d5, but black controls the whole board and can
roll over his enemy with pawns.} (33... Qc3 34. Qxc3 (34. d6 Qxb3 35. Qf1 e3
36. Rb2 Qxa4 37. Qd3 Qc6+ 38. Kg1 $17) 34... bxc3 35. Ne5 Rfb8 36. Nxg6 Rxb3
$19) 34. d6 Bd4 35. Ra2 Rae8 36. a5 e3 $1 37. Qf1 g5 (37... f4 $5 38. gxf4 Rxf4
39. Qg2 (39. Qxf4 e2 40. Rxe2 (40. Re1 Qb7+) 40... Rxe2 41. a6 Qa7 $19) 39...
Rf2 $17) 38. Qg2 f4 39. Qd5+ Kh8 (39... Rf7 $2 40. d7 Rd8 41. a6 Rdxd7 42. a7
$3 $16) 40. gxf4 gxf4 41. d7 Rd8 {The pawn mass e3-f4-g4 is much more
dangerous than the lonely hero on d7.} 42. Rxd4 (42. Qh5+ Qh7 43. Qxg4 f3 44.
Rxd4 Qb1+ 45. Qg1 Qxg1+ 46. Kxg1 cxd4 $19) 42... cxd4 43. Qh5+ Kg8 44. Rg2 (44.
Qd5+ Kh7 45. Qh5+ Qh6 $19) 44... g3 45. Qd5+ (45. hxg3 f3 $19) 45... Kh7 46.
Qh5+ Qh6 47. Qd5 Qg6 48. a6 f3 $1 (48... e2 49. Rxe2 Qb1+ 50. Kg2 f3+ 51. Kh3
fxe2 52. Qh5+ Kg7 $19) (48... f3 $1 49. Rxg3 Qb1+ 50. Rg1 Qxg1+ $1 51. Kxg1 f2+
$19) 0-1

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 29th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "1999.05.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1999.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. Ne5 Nbd7 6. Nxc4 b5 7. Ne3 Bb7 8.
g3 c5 9. Bg2 Bxg2 10. Nxg2 Qb6 $11 (10... b4 11. Na4 e6 12. Be3 $6 c4 $15 {
1-0 Sadler,M-Iruzubieta,J/Oviedo 1992/TD (37)}) 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Be3 e6 13.
O-O (13. b4 $2 {ist nicht profitabel für Weiß.} Qc6) 13... Qb7 14. Rc1 Ncd7 $6
{Der Rückzug erscheint mir unnötig.} (14... a6 $5 {kam in Betracht, um a2-a4
mit b5-b4 beantworten zu können.}) 15. a4 a6 16. axb5 axb5 {Jetzt hat Schwarz
einige kleine Sorgen mit der Schwäche seines b-Bauern.} 17. Qd3 Rb8 18. Rfd1
Be7 19. Ra1 Qc6 20. Bf4 e5 21. Bg5 O-O 22. Ne3 Bc5 23. Rac1 $6 (23. Ned5 {
sieht konsequenter aus; Weiß hat beachtlichen Druck. Nach dem Textzug kommt
Schwarz mit Hilfe des folgenden Bauernopfers zu Gegenspiel.}) 23... e4 24. Nxe4
Nxe4 25. Qxd7 Qxd7 26. Rxd7 Rbc8 27. Bf4 g5 28. Bc7 Bxe3 (28... Nf6 29. Rxc5
Nxd7 30. Rxg5+ Kh8 31. Bd6 {ist ungünstig für Schwarz.}) 29. fxe3 Rfe8 (29...
f5 $5) 30. Rf1 f6 31. Rf5 Ra8 32. Rxb5 Ra1+ 33. Kg2 Re1 34. Kf3 ({Die Folge} 
34. g4 Rxe2+ 35. Kf1 Rc2 {verspricht dem Weißen ebenfalls keine
Gewinnaussichten.}) 34... Rf1+ 35. Kg4 ({Die Fortsetzung} 35. Kg2 Rf2+ 36. Kg1
Rxe2 {ergibt eine ungefähr ausgeglichene Stellung.}) 35... f5+ 36. Rxf5 $2 (36.
Kh3 Rf2 ({Mit} 36... g4+ 37. Kg2 Rf2+ 38. Kg1 Ra8 39. Rd1 {kann Schwarz nichts
erreichen; die Schwäche des Bauern auf f5 ist lästig.}) 37. g4 {Jetzt ist der
Bauer auf h2 gedeckt, so daß die Anzahl der Mattbilder beträchtlich reduziert
ist.} fxg4+ 38. Kxg4 h5+ (38... Nf6+ 39. Kg3 Ne4+ 40. Kh3 {ist nicht besser
für Schwarz.}) 39. Kh3 Rxe2 $11 {führte zum Remis.}) 36... h5+ 37. Kxh5 Rxf5
0-1

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 29th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "1999.05.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "1999.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 4112]} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 {In Superturnieren ist das
eine sehr populäre Variante. Weiß spielt nicht d2-d4, wonach Schwarz gute
Kontrolle über das Feld e4 hätte, sondern kämpft mit kleinen Zügen im Zentrum.
Ribli.} O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 {Weiß besitzt das Läuferpaar, aber Schwarz
hat eine feste Stellung ohne Schwächen und ist gut entwickelt. Weiß strebt
natürlich nach Aktivität für seine schwarzfeldrigen Läufer.} 7. g3 Bb7 (7... d5
8. b4 (8. Bg2 c5 9. b4 (9. O-O dxc4 $5 10. Ne5 Nd5 11. Qxc4 (11. Qc2 Bb7 $1 12.
Nxc4 Nc6 $11) 11... Ba6 12. Qe4 f5 $5 13. Qf3 Qd6 $13) (9. d3 Nc6 10. O-O Bb7
11. Bg5 d4 12. Qc2 h6 13. Bd2 Nd7 14. b4 Qc7 15. Rab1 e5 16. bxc5 Nxc5 17. Bb4
e4 18. Ne1 exd3 19. Nxd3 Nxb4 20. axb4 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Ne4 {0-1 Llanos,
G-Zarnicki,P/Buenos Aires 1992/EXT 97 (38)}) 9... Nbd7 10. O-O Bb7 11. d3 Qe7
12. Bb2 a5 13. b5 {Stean,M-Matanovic,A/Vrsac 1979/Inf 28 (13)}) 8... c5 9. bxc5
Ne4 10. Qc2 Bb7 11. Bg2 Nxc5 12. d4 (12. Bb2 d4 13. O-O Nc6 14. d3 e5 15. Nd2
Qe7 16. Nb3 Nd8 17. Nxc5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 bxc5 19. Bc1 f5 20. Rb1 Nf7 21. Bd2 Qd7
22. Rb3 Nd6 {1/2-1/2 Velikov,P-Arnason,J/Dubai 1986/TD (44)}) 12... Ne4 13. O-O
Nc6 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Bf4 Rc8 16. Qd3 Na5 17. Rfc1 Qd7 18. Ne5 Qe6 19. Bf3 Nc4
20. Qd1 g5 21. Nxc4 gxf4 22. Ne5 {1-0 Rotstein,A-Kurajica,B/Bled 1997/CBM 57
ext (29)}) 8. b4 $5 {Weiß muß so spielen, denn 8.Bg2 d5 9.b4 d4! bietet
Schwarz aktive Gegenchancen.} (8. Bg2 d5 9. b4 $5 $146 d4 $1 10. Qb2 e5 11. O-O
Nbd7 12. d3 Re8 (12... Qc8 $5) 13. e4 (13. Re1 Qc8) 13... dxe3 14. Bxe3 Qc8 $1
15. Bg5 e4 16. dxe4 Bxe4 17. Rfe1 Qb7 18. Qc3 h6 {Gabriel,C-Dautov,R/Bad
Woerishofen 1997/Inf 70/[Dautov,R] (18)}) 8... d5 (8... Ne4 9. Qb3 d5 10. Bg2
Qf6 11. Bb2 dxc4 12. Qc2 c3 13. dxc3 Qf5 14. Qb3 Nd7 15. c4 e5 16. O-O h6 17.
Rad1 {1/2-1/2 Relange,E-Rozentalis,E/Belfort 1997/CBM 62 (31)}) 9. Bb2 {
[%cal Gb2g7]} dxc4 10. Qxc4 Bxf3 {Schwarz gibt freiwillig seinen Läufer auf
und schwächt die weiße Bauernstruktur.} 11. exf3 Qd5 {Auf den ersten Blick
scheint für Schwarz alles in Ordnung, denn im Endspiel hat Weiß
Bauernschwächen. In Wirklichkeit entfaltet Weiß aber dauerhaft Initiative.} 12.
Qxd5 (12. Bxf6 Qxf3 (12... gxf6 13. Qg4+ Kh8 14. Rc1 $14) 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. Rg1
c6 15. Bg2 $14) 12... Nxd5 13. Rc1 $14 {[%csl Gb2,Gc1,Gf1] Weiß hat zwar
einige Bauernschwächen, wegen seiner aktiven Figurenstellung besitzt er aber
dennoch die besseren Aussichten.} c6 14. Bc4 Rd8 (14... Nd7 15. Bxd5 cxd5 16.
Rc7 Rfd8 17. Ke2 $14 {[%csl Gb2][%cal Gh1c1]}) 15. h4 $1 {[%cal Gh4h5,Gh5h6,
Gb2g7] Weiß plant 16.h5, 17.h6 mit Aktivität am Königsflügel.} Ne7 16. h5 Nf5 {
[%csl Yd4,Gf5] Der schwarze Springer verhindert den Zug 17.h6 und kontrolliert
das Feld d4.} 17. Ke2 a5 (17... Nd4+ 18. Bxd4 Rxd4 19. h6 a5 $5) 18. b5 c5 (
18... cxb5 19. Bxb5 $14 {[%csl Gb5,Rb8]}) 19. f4 Nd4+ $11 {[%csl Gd4] Der
schwarze Springer steht gut auf d4 und die Stellung ist geschlossen. Daher
spielt das weiße Läuferpaar keine aktive Rolle.} 20. Kf1 Rd6 (20... Nd7) 21.
Kg2 Nd7 22. a4 Rd8 {[%csl Yd4][%cal Gd8d2] Schwarz hat keine Schwächen und
entfaltet positionellen Druck in der d-Linie.} 23. Rce1 Kf8 24. Bc3 Nf6 25. d3
h6 {Schwarz verhindert die Möglichkeit h5-h6.} 26. Rd1 Nc2 27. Kf3 R6d7 (27...
Nd4+ $5 $11) 28. Bb2 Nd5 {[%csl Yb4,Yd4,Gd5][%cal Gd5b4] Der Springer d5
strebt nach b4.} 29. Rd2 Ndb4 30. g4 $1 {[%cal Gg4g5]} Re8 31. Kg3 f6 $6 {
Dieser Zug gefällt mir nicht. Schwarz schwächt freiwillig seine Königsstellung.
} (31... Nd4 $5) 32. Re2 {[%csl Ge2,Re6] Jetzt hängt e6 und Weiß aktiviert so
seinen passiven Turm.} Nd4 33. Re3 e5 $6 {Dieser Zug ist nicht logisch. Weiß
kann jetzt seinen Doppelbauern loswerden.} (33... Nbc2 34. Re4 $11) (33... Nd5)
34. fxe5 Rxe5 (34... fxe5 35. Re4 $14 (35. Rhe1 Nbc2 36. Rf1 Nxe3 $2 37. fxe3+
$16 {[%cal Rf1f8,Re3d4]})) 35. Rxe5 fxe5 36. Re1 Re7 37. Bxd4 $1 {Ein sehr
guter Zug. Weiß gibt das Läuferpaar auf und erreicht ein besseres Endspiel.}
exd4 (37... cxd4 38. Re4 $14 {[%cal Gf2f4]}) 38. Rxe7 Kxe7 39. Kf4 $14 {
Weiß hat eigentlich einen Bauern mehr, denn er hat drei bewegliche Bauern
gegen zwei am Königsflügel, während die schwarze Bauernmehrheit am Damenflügel
auf c4 gut blockiert ist.} Nc2 (39... Kf6 40. Ke4 Kg5 41. Be6 $14) 40. Ke5 {
[%csl Ge5]} Na3 {[%cal Ra3c4]} 41. Bb3 {Weiß darf nicht 41...Nxc4 zulassen.}
Nb1 42. f4 {[%csl Gb3,Ge5,Gf4,Gg4,Gh5]} Nd2 43. Bd5 {[%csl Gd5] Der weiße
Läufer ist wertvoller als der schwarze Springer. Das liegt vor allem daran,
daß in diesem Endspiel Bauern auf beiden Flügeln sind. Der Läufer kann dann
gleichzeitig eigene Bauern unterstützen und gegnerische bekämpfen.} Nf1 44. g5
Ng3 {[%cal Rg3h5]} 45. Bf3 Nf1 46. gxh6 gxh6 47. f5 {[%csl Gf5]} Ne3 48. f6+
$16 {Weiß hat einen starken Freibauern und sein König steht viel aktiver als
sein Gegenüber.} Kf7 49. Be2 $1 {[%csl Ge2,Re3] 49...c4 geht nicht und der
schwarze Springer hat keine guten Züge.} Ng2 50. Bg4 Ne3 51. Be6+ Kf8 52. Bb3 {
[%csl Gb3,Re3,Rf8] Jetzt steht der schwarze König besonders passiv.} Ng4+ (
52... c4 53. dxc4 d3 54. c5 bxc5 55. b6 $18) (52... Ke8 53. Kd6 $18) 53. Kf5
Nf2 54. Bc4 {[%csl Rf2,Rf8]} Nd1 {[%cal Gd1b2,Gb2c4,Gb2d3]} (54... Ke8 55. Kg6
$18) 55. Bb3 (55. Kg6 Nb2) 55... Nf2 (55... Nb2 56. Ke4 $16 {[%csl Rb2]}) 56.
Bc2 Kf7 57. Bb1 $22 {Der König steht gut auf f7 und der Springer kontrolliert
den Bauern d3, aber wegen Zugzwangs muß Schwarz seine Stellung verschlechtern.}
Kf8 58. Kg6 $18 {[%csl Rh6] Das Eindringen des weißen Königs entscheidet die
Partie.} Ng4 59. Ba2 $22 {[%csl Rf8,Rg4]} Ne5+ (59... Ke8 60. Kg7 $18 {[%csl
Gf6]}) 60. Kxh6 Nxd3 61. Kg5 {[%cal Rh5h6,Rh6h7,Rh7h8] Und Schwarz gab auf. Er
hat keine Verteidigung gegen die Umwandlung des h-Bauern.} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 27th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D06"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Bf5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bf4 Bb4 7. e3 Nge7 8.
Be2 O-O 9. Rc1 Bd6 10. Bg3 a6 11. O-O Nc8 12. Qb3 Nb6 13. Nd2 Re8 14. Bf3 Bxg3
15. hxg3 Ne7 16. Be2 Nec8 17. Bf3 c6 18. e4 dxe4 19. Ndxe4 Be6 20. Qc2 Nd6 21.
Nc5 Bf5 22. Qb3 Rb8 23. d5 Nbc4 24. g4 Bg6 25. Rfe1 Nd2 26. Rxe8+ Qxe8 27. Qd1
Nxf3+ 28. Qxf3 Rc8 29. Qf4 Qf8 30. Re1 Qd8 31. dxc6 Rxc6 32. Nd5 Kh8 33. b4 b6
34. Ne7 Rc7 35. Nf5 bxc5 36. Nxd6 Re7 37. Rxe7 Qxe7 38. bxc5 Qc7 39. Qe5 f6 40.
Qd5 h6 41. c6 Bc2 42. Ne8 Qe7 43. Qd7 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.04"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2616"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bxc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Nc6 7. Ne2 Bg4 8.
Nbc3 (8. f3 Bf5 9. Nbc3 e6 10. Be3 (10. O-O Qd7 11. Be3 Nb4 12. Ne4 N4d5 13.
Bf2 Be7 14. Rc1 O-O 15. Nc5 Qc8 16. Qd2 $14 {0-1 Kisseleva,N-Semenova,L/
Kishinev 1995/EXT 95 (60)}) 10... Qd7 11. g4 Bg6 12. Nf4 O-O-O 13. h4 Nxd4 14.
h5 Nxb3 15. Qxb3 Qc6 16. hxg6 Qxf3 17. Rh3 Qxg4 18. gxf7 Nd5 19. Ncxd5 exd5 20.
Qd1 $18 {1-0 Schroll,G-Volkmann,F/Aschach 1992/TD 92\04 (38)}) 8... e6 9. O-O (
9. a3 Bxe2 10. Nxe2 Qd7 11. Be3 Na5 12. Ba2 Nac4 13. Qc2 Qb5 14. Rb1 c5 15. O-O
Rc8 16. Qe4 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 Be7 18. Nc3 cxd4 19. Qxd4 Qc5 $11 {1-0 Litinskaya,
M-Nutu Gajic,D/ROM-chT 1994/EXT 94ch (69)}) (9. Be3 Bxe2 10. Nxe2 Bb4+ 11. Nc3
Nd5 12. Rc1 Nxe3 13. fxe3 Qh4+ 14. Ke2 O-O 15. g3 Qe7 16. Ne4 $14 {0-1
Oosterom,E-Duyn,R/NLD-chT9495 1994/EXT 97 (30)}) 9... Qd7 (9... Nb4 10. h3 Bh5
11. f4 Bg6 12. d5 Qd7 13. dxe6 Bc5+ 14. Kh2 fxe6 15. Qxd7+ Kxd7 16. Rd1+ N4d5
17. Bxd5 Nxd5 18. b4 Bxb4 19. Nxd5 exd5 20. Rxd5+ Kc6 21. Rd1 Bc5 22. Bb2 Rad8
23. Bd4 $36 {1/2-1/2 Adianto,U-Barua,D/Dubai 1992/EXP 32 (62)}) (9... Bf5 10.
a3 Qd7 11. Be3 Ne7 12. Ng3 Bg6 13. f4 Ned5 14. Qf3 c6 15. Bf2 Be7 16. Nge4 O-O
17. g4 $36 {1-0 Mohr,S-Osmanovic,K/Zuerich 1987/EXT 87op (34)}) (9... Be7 10.
f3 Bf5 11. g4 Bg6 12. f4 Na5 13. f5 Nxb3 14. Qxb3 exf5 15. gxf5 Bh5 16. Ng3
Qxd4+ 17. Kg2 Qh4 18. f6 gxf6 19. exf6 Bg4 20. Qb5+ $16 {1-0 Matveeva,S-Nutu
Gajic,D/Subotica 1991/TD 93\02 (28)}) 10. h3 (10. Be3 O-O-O (10... Be7 11. a3
Rd8 (11... O-O 12. Ba2 Bh5 13. Rc1 Rfd8 14. f3 Bg6 15. Qe1 Bf8 16. Rd1 Ne7 17.
Bg5 Re8 18. Bxe7 Bxe7 19. Nf4 c6 20. Ne4 {1/2-1/2 Tukmakov,V-Yakovich,Y/
Kujbyshev 1986/MCL 05 (20)}) 12. f3 Bf5 13. Qc1 Na5 14. Ba2 Bd3 15. Bf2 Qc6 16.
b4 Nac4 17. Rd1 Bxe2 18. Nxe2 a5 19. Rb1 axb4 20. axb4 Qb5 21. Nc3 Qa6 22. b5
$16 {1-0 Savchenko,S-Brady,S/Erevan 1996/EXT 96ch2 (60)}) 11. f3 Bf5 12. Bf2
Be7 13. Rc1 Kb8 14. Na4 Nb4 15. Nc5 Qe8 16. Ng3 Bxc5 17. Nxf5 Bf8 18. Ng3 N4d5
19. Ne4 $14 {1-0 Giorgadze,G-Gonzalez Garcia,J/Ubeda 1997/EXP 56 (47)}) 10...
Bxe2 $6 (10... Bf5) (10... Bh5) 11. Nxe2 Be7 12. Be3 Nb4 13. Ng3 $1 {[%cal
Gg3e4,Ge4c5]} O-O-O (13... O-O 14. Qg4 $40 {[%cal Gg3h5]}) 14. Qe2 N4d5 15. Ne4
Kb8 16. Rad1 (16. Rac1 $5) 16... h5 (16... f5 $140 17. Nc5 $16) 17. a3 Qe8 18.
Bd2 a6 (18... f6 19. exf6 gxf6 20. Nc5 Bxc5 21. dxc5 Nd7 22. c6 Nc5 23. Qb5
Qxc6 24. Qxc6 bxc6 25. Bc2 $16) 19. Rc1 Qg8 20. f4 $1 f5 21. exf6 $1 (21. Nc5
Qf7) 21... gxf6 (21... Bxf6 22. Nxf6 gxf6 23. f5 $16) 22. f5 $1 $16 Rh7 (22...
exf5 23. Rxf5 Qg6 24. Qf3 $16) 23. Nc5 Bd6 $2 (23... exf5 24. Ne6 Rd7 25. Rxf5
$16) 24. Nxe6 Qg3 25. Qf3 $1 $18 Qxf3 (25... Qh2+ 26. Kf2 Rg8 27. Bxd5 Nxd5 28.
Qxd5 $18) 26. Rxf3 Re8 27. Re1 h4 28. Re4 Bg3 29. Kf1 c6 30. Rg4 Kc8 31. a4 $1
Nc7 32. Nxc7 Bxc7 (32... Kxc7 33. Ba5 Rhe7 34. Be6 $18) 33. Be1 $1 Nd5 34. Bxd5
cxd5 35. Bxh4 Rhe7 36. Rc3 Kb8 37. Bxf6 Rf7 38. Rg6 Ref8 39. Rxc7 $1 Kxc7 (
39... Rxc7 40. Be5 Rxf5+ 41. Ke1 Rxe5+ 42. dxe5 Rc2 43. h4 Rxb2 44. h5 $18) 40.
Be5+ Kd7 41. g4 Rc8 42. Rb6 Rc1+ 43. Kg2 Ke8 44. h4 Rc6 45. Rxc6 bxc6 46. h5
Rb7 47. h6 Rxb2+ 48. Kg3 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.06"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Psakhis, Lev"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2581"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Bg7 8. Nc3
d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Be3 Rc8 11. Rac1 O-O 12. Qh4 a6 13. b3 Rc7 (13... Re8 14.
Bh3 Qc7 (14... Rb8 15. Nd5 h5 16. Ng5 Ba8 17. Bd4 b5 18. e4 bxc4 19. bxc4 e5
20. Be3 Nxd5 21. cxd5 Bf6 22. g4 $1 $40 {1-0 Delchev,A-Kutuzovic,B/Nova Gorica
1997/CBM 56 ext (29)}) (14... Rc7 {-13...Rc7}) 15. Bh6 Bxh6 16. Qxh6 Bxf3 17.
exf3 Qb7 18. Rd4 Rc5 19. Bxd7 Qxd7 20. Rh4 Rh5 21. Rxh5 Nxh5 22. Nd5 b5 23. Re1
bxc4 24. bxc4 e6 25. Qxh5 exd5 26. Rxe8+ Qxe8 27. Qxd5 $14 {Fancsy,I-Dudas,J/
Budapest/1994/}) 14. Bh3 $1 $146 {[%cal Yd8a8,Ga8h1,Rh3d7][%mdl 8] This new
move creates fresh problems for Black in a position, which was until now
considered completely equal. White sidesteps his B, thus avoiding it's
possible exchange and the pressure on the long /^ after Qa8. On h3 the B
creates threats of it's own.} ({A less enterprising alternative is} 14. Bh6 Qa8
15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Qd4 b5 $1 (16... Rfc8 $143 $6 17. Qe3 Re8 18. Bh3 b5 19. cxb5
Bxf3 20. exf3 axb5 21. Nxb5 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Nd5 23. Qd4+ N7f6 24. a4 h5 25. f4 e5
26. fxe5 dxe5 27. Qa7 $18 {Kolbus,D-Vadasz,L/Budapest/1996/}) 17. cxb5 axb5 18.
Nxb5 Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Qxa2 20. Nc3 Qa3 21. Rb1 Rc8 22. Nd2 e5 23. Qa4 Qxa4 24.
Nxa4 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 d5 26. Nf3 d4 27. b4 Nd5 28. Rb2 f6 29. h4 Kf7 30. Rd2 Nxb4
$6 31. Nxd4 $1 $11 {Topalov,V-Kramnik,V/Wijk aan Zee 5'/1999/}) ({Even less
promising is} 14. g4 h6 $1 15. h3 g5 16. Qg3 b5 17. h4 bxc4 18. hxg5 hxg5 19.
b4 Qa8 20. Bxg5 Re8 21. Be3 Nf8 22. a4 Ne4 23. Nxe4 Bxe4 24. Bd4 Bxf3 25. Bxf3
Qb8 26. Bd5 Qxb4 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. Qf4 e6 29. Be4 c3 30. Qxd6 Rc4 31. f3 Qxd6
32. Rxd6 a5 33. Bd3 {1/2,Kramnik,V-Karpov,A/Dos Hermanas/1999/}) 14... Qb8 $6 {
Although Black gets in the typical hedgehog b6-b5 break, this causes him more
pain than joy.} (14... Re8 {This position arose with 13...Re8, so technically
13.Bh3! is a novelty.} 15. Bh6 (15. Ng5 $6 h6 16. Nge4 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 g5 18.
Nxg5 hxg5 19. Bxg5 Nf8 20. Bf5 Rc5 21. g4 Bc8 22. b4 Rxf5 23. gxf5 Bxf5 $17 {
Milocco,F-Adler,J/Bled/1992/}) 15... Rc5 $5 ({A very similar type of position 
(compared to our game) arises after} 15... Bxf3 16. exf3 Rc5 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18.
Qd4 h5 19. Na4 Ne5 20. Bg2 Ra5 21. f4 Ned7 22. Nc3 Rc5 23. b4 Rc7 24. Nd5 e5
25. Qb2 Nxd5 26. Rxd5 Qf6 27. Qd2 $16 {Wojtkiewicz,A-Palkovi,J/Stara Zagora zt/
1990/}) (15... Bh8 16. Ng5 Nf8 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. cxd5 b5 19. Qf4 Rxc1 (19... Bg7
$5 {leads to a similar position as in Arsovic-Almasi.}) 20. Qxc1 Qa5 21. Qc2
Qb4 22. Nf3 Qc5 23. Qd3 b4 24. Be3 Qb5 25. Ne1 Rb8 26. Bg2 a5 27. Qxb5 Rxb5 28.
h3 Bg7 29. Nc2 Rb7 30. Nd4 $16 {Serebro,A-Izhnin,A/Kherson/1990/}) 16. Ng5 b5
17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. cxd5 Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Bxh6 20. Qxh6 Nf8 21. b4 Qb6 22. Rd1 a5
$132 {Arsovic,Z-Almasi,Z/Budapest/1991/}) (14... Qa8 $2 15. Bxd7 Rxd7 16. Na4
$18) 15. Bh6 $1 (15. Bxd7 $2 Rxd7 16. Bxb6 $2 Bxf3 $19) 15... Bxf3 (15... Bxh6
16. Qxh6 Bxf3 17. exf3 Rc5 18. Qe3 $14 (18. Bxd7 $5 $36 {[%cal Rc3d5] /\Nd5}))
16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. exf3 Ne5 (17... b5 18. cxb5 axb5 19. Qb4 $16) 18. Bg2 b5 (
18... Qb7 19. Nd5 $5 Nxd5 20. f4 $1 $16) 19. cxb5 axb5 20. Qb4 $1 $36 {[%csl
Rb5][%mdl 16] ><b5} Rfc8 ({Black's best chance was} 20... Qa8 $142 21. Qxb5 $5
(21. f4 Nf3+ 22. Kh1 Ng4 23. Rf1 Ngxh2 24. Nxb5 Rcc8 $5 $15) (21. Nxb5 $2 Rxc1
22. Rxc1 Nd3 $19) 21... Nxf3+ 22. Kh1 Rfc8 (22... Ng4 $2 23. Qe2 $16) 23. Qe2
Rxc3 24. Bxf3 Qa7 $14 {<=>[+]}) 21. f4 Ned7 22. Ne2 Rc2 (22... Rxc1 $143 23.
Rxc1 Rxc1+ 24. Nxc1 Qb6 25. Bf1 $16) 23. Rxc2 Rxc2 24. Rd2 Rc5 (24... Rxd2 25.
Qxd2 {[%csl Rb5][%cal Yd2b4,Ye2c3] /\Qb4,Nc3} b4 $6 26. Nd4 Qb6 27. Nc6 $16)
25. Bf3 Qb6 (25... Qc7 26. Nd4 $16) 26. a3 Nb8 27. Qd4 {/\b4} Qc7 (27... Nc6
$142 $5 28. Qe3 b4 29. a4 $36) 28. Qb2 $1 $16 {/\b4,Nd4,Be2} b4 $2 {This loses
outright, although Black's position was already unpleasant.} (28... Kg8 29. b4
Rc4 30. Nd4 $16) (28... Nbd7 $2 29. b4 Rc4 30. Bd5 $18) 29. axb4 Rb5 30. Nc3
$18 Rxb4 31. Nd5 Qa5 32. Re2 $5 (32. Nxb4 Qxb4 33. Rd4 $18 {would also suffice,
but Topalov's move is even more incisive.}) 32... Rb5 (32... e5 33. Nxb4 Qxb4
34. fxe5 $18) 33. b4 Qd8 34. Nxe7 d5 (34... Nbd7 35. Bc6 Rh5 36. g4 $18) 35.
Re5 Nbd7 ({Somewhat better was} 35... Kf8 $5 36. Nxd5 Nxd5 37. Rxd5 Rxd5 38.
Bxd5 Qxd5 39. Qh8+ Ke7 40. Qxb8 Qd1+ 41. Kg2 Qd5+ 42. f3 Qa2+ 43. Kh3 Qe6+ 44.
g4 $18) 36. Rxd5 Rb6 37. Rxd7 $1 $18 {The decisive simplification.} Qxd7 38.
Nd5 Qd8 (38... Rd6 39. Nxf6 Rxf6 40. g4 $18 {and the pin will cost Black a
whole R.}) 39. Nxb6 (39. g4 $6 Kg8) 39... Qxb6 40. b5 Kg8 41. Bc6 (41. Bc6 Ng4
(41... Nh5 42. Qe5 {/\Qe3+-}) 42. h3 Nh6 43. Bd7 $1 $18 {פh6,/\Qe5-e3}) 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 15th final"]
[Site "Bugojno"]
[Date "1999.10.30"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Golod, Vitali"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2568"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1999.10.29"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Beer-Sheva Chess Club"]
[BlackTeam "Sarajevo Bosna"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ISR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BIH"]

1. d4 {Alterman} Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Bg5 Ne4 5. Qd3 $6 {This move is
worse than:} (5. Bh4 $5 {Is the main line.}) ({and} 5. Bf4 $5) (5. Nbd2 $2 {
Alterman} Nxg5 6. Nxg5 e6 7. Ndf3 Be7 8. Ne4 Bb7 9. e3 Bxd5 10. Nc3 Qa5 11.
Bxb5 Bf6 12. Qd3 Bxc3+ (12... Qb4 $6 13. O-O Bxf3 (13... Bxc3 14. bxc3 $132 {
1-0 Palat,A-Hobuss,W/Open, Geneva SUI 1997 (38)}) 14. gxf3 a6 {-+}) 13. bxc3
Bxf3 14. gxf3 a6 15. Bc4 d5 {-+}) 5... Nxg5 6. Nxg5 g6 {N '=!?' Alterman.} ({
Good enough:} 6... e6 $5 7. h4 (7. Nf3 $2 c4 8. Qd1 Qb6 9. e3 Bb7 {=+ Garcia
Paolicchi,R-Fernandes,A/Linares, 1995(0-1)(46)} (9... Bb7 10. dxe6 fxe6 11. Be2
Be7 12. O-O O-O {=+ 0-1 Garcia Paolicchi,R-Fernandes,A/Linares zt 1995 (46)}))
(7. Nxf7 Kxf7 (7... Qf6 8. Nxh8 (8. dxe6 Qxb2 9. exd7+ Bxd7 (9... Nxd7 10. Nxh8
Qxa1) 10. Nxh8 Qxa1) 8... Qxb2 9. dxe6 Qxa1 10. exd7+ (10. c3 g6 11. exd7+ Bxd7
$132) 10... Bxd7 11. c4 g6 12. Nxg6 {~=}) 8. dxe6+ Ke7 (8... Ke8 9. exd7+ Bxd7
10. Qe4+ {+-}) 9. exd7 Bb7 10. Qxb5 Qb6 {-/+}) 7... c4 (7... Qf6 $143 8. Nc3 (
8. c3 $5) 8... c4 9. Qd2 Bb4 10. Rh3 O-O $132 {0-1 Arkell,K-Steinbacher,M/
Copenhagen op(2) 1994 (33)}) 8. Qf3 (8. Qe3 $143 Bb7 (8... Qf6 9. Nc3 Bb4 (9...
b4 10. Nge4 Qe5 11. f4 Qh5 12. Nb5 Na6 13. O-O-O {+/-}) 10. O-O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3
O-O 12. Qe4 $1 (12. Rh3 $6 exd5 (12... Bb7 13. Rf3 Qh6 14. dxe6 dxe6 15. Rxf7
$1 {+- 1-0 Hermlin,A-Nokka,R/Viikonlopputurnaus Helsinki 1992 (21)}) 13. Rxd5
h6 14. Ne4 Qb6 $132) 12... Qg6 13. dxe6 Qxe4 14. exf7+ Rxf7 15. Nxe4 Nc6 16. g3
{+/-}) 9. Nc3 h6 10. dxe6 (10. Nge4 Qa5 11. dxe6 dxe6 12. Nc5 Bc6 {=+}) 10...
fxe6 (10... dxe6 $5) (10... dxe6 11. Nf3 a6 {=+}) 11. Nge4 Bb4 {'=/+!?'
Alterman.} (11... Qa5 $5 {=+}) 12. Qf3 $6 (12. O-O-O $5 {~}) (12. O-O-O $5 $132
) 12... Bxe4 13. Qxe4 Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 Qf6 {=+ Martin,B-Sarfati,J/NZD-ch,1990(1/
2-1/2)(46)}) 8... Qf6 9. Nc3 Bb7 $5 (9... Bb4 10. O-O-O Qxf3 11. gxf3 {Alterman
} h6 12. Nge4 f5 13. a3 Be7 14. Ng3 a6 $132 {1-0 Karner,H-Katalymov Boris N/
olm URS Moscow RUS 1972 (41)}) 10. O-O-O Qxf3 11. Nxf3 a6 {= Marantz,M-Pasman,
M/ISR-ch,1984 (1/2-1/2) (31)} (11... a6 12. e3 Bb4 13. dxe6 dxe6 14. a4 Nd7 {
=+ 1/2-1/2 Marantz,M-Pasman,M/ISR 1984 (31)})) ({Dubious:} 6... h6 $6 {in view
of:} 7. Nh7 Qa5+ (7... c4 8. Qe4 {+=} (8. Qe4 Bb7 9. Nxf8 Kxf8 10. Qd4 Qc7 11.
e4 {+= 0-1 Senkiewicz,M-Vucic,M/New York MCC 1991 (55)})) 8. c3 d6 9. Nxf8 Kxf8
10. e4 {+= Wells,P-Buckmire,R/Oakham,1986(1-0)(26)} (10. e4 {Alterman} a6 11.
Nd2 {+= 1-0 Wells,P-Buckmire,R/Oakham YM 1986 (26)})) 7. e4 $2 {Strategical
blunder. Besides,white has two principales moves: '!?' Alterman.} (7. Qc3 $5 {
(Vaganian,R)} f6 8. Nf3 {/\e4+/=/=} (8. Ne4 {Alterman} d6 9. e3 a6 $132)) ({and
} 7. Qf3 $5 f6 $140 (7... f5 $2 8. Qc3 Rg8 9. Qxc5 e6 10. Qe3 {+/=/+/-}) 8. Ne6
$1 Qa5+ (8... dxe6 $2 9. dxe6 Qb6 (9... Bh6 $2 10. Qxa8 $140 Bc1 $2 11. Qxb8
Bxb2 12. Qxb5+ {+-}) 10. Qxa8 Nc6 11. Nc3 {+/-}) 9. c3 Bb7 (9... Bh6 $2 10. d6
{+/-}) (9... Na6 10. d6 Rb8 11. Nxf8 Rxf8 12. dxe7 Kxe7 13. Nd2 {+=}) 10. Nxf8
Kxf8 11. e4 {+=}) ({Also badly:} 7. Qxb5 $2 e6 $140 (7... Na6 {Alterman} 8. Qc4
Bh6 (8... h6 9. Qc3 Rg8 10. Ne4 Bg7 11. Qa3 {+=}) 9. h4 (9. Ne4 Rb8 10. b3 Bg7
11. c3 (11. Nec3 Nb4 12. Kd1 Bd4 $1 {-+}) 11... Nb4 12. cxb4 Bxa1 13. Nxc5 d6
14. Nd3 Qb6 15. Nd2 Ba6 16. Qc1 Bg7 17. Nc4 $132) (9. Nf3 Bg7 10. c3 (10. Nc3
Rb8 11. Rb1 Qa5 12. Kd2 $8 Nc7 (12... Rb4 13. Qd3 Rd4 14. Nxd4 cxd4 15. Qc4 Bb7
16. e3 dxc3+ 17. bxc3 {+-}) 13. a3 Nxd5 14. Qxd5 Rxb2 {-/+}) 10... Rb8 11. Nbd2
(11. b3 Nb4 12. Kd1 (12. cxb4 Bxa1 {-/+}) 12... Qc7 13. e3 Ba6 14. Qh4 Bxf1 15.
Rxf1 Nxd5 {-/+}) 11... Rxb2 12. e4 Qa5 {-/+}) 9... Rb8 10. b3 Bg7 11. c3 h6 (
11... Nb4 12. Qf4 O-O 13. Qxb8 Nc2+ 14. Kd1 Nxa1 15. Qxa7 {+/-}) 12. Ne4 (12.
Nf3 Nb4 {-/+}) 12... Nb4 13. cxb4 Bxa1 14. Nxc5 d6 15. Nd3 Qb6 16. Nd2 Ba6 17.
Qc1 Bg7 18. Nc4 $132) (7... Bg7 8. c3 Na6 9. Qa4 (9. e4 Rb8 10. Qa4 Qb6 11. b3
Nb4 12. Kd1 c4 13. Nf3 (13. Bxc4 Qxf2 {-/+}) 13... Qxf2 {-/+}) 9... Rb8 10. Qc2
Qb6 11. b3 Nb4 12. Qd2 Bb7 13. e4 O-O {~=}) 8. Ne4 exd5 9. Nxc5 {in view of:}
a6 10. Qb4 $8 Nc6 11. Qa3 d4 $36 (11... Qb6 $2 12. Qe3+ Be7 13. Nd3 Qxe3 (13...
d4 $5) 14. fxe3 {+=})) 7... Bg7 8. c3 ({Very dangerously:} 8. Qxb5 {because of:
} e6 9. Nf3 exd5 10. exd5 O-O $36) 8... O-O 9. Be2 {'=/+?!' Alterman.} ({
Again badly:} 9. Qxb5 {because of:} e6 $36 (9... e6 {Alterman} 10. Nf3 exd5 11.
exd5 Re8+ 12. Kd1 {~=} (12. Be2 Ba6 {-+})) (9... Na6 10. Qa4 Nc7 (10... Qb6 11.
Nd2 Rb8 12. Nc4 {+/-}) 11. Nf3 d6 12. Nbd2 e6 13. dxe6 fxe6 14. Bd3 d5 15. O-O
{+=})) 9... e6 10. Nf3 exd5 (10... c4 {=+ Alterman}) 11. Qxd5 (11. exd5 b4 {=+}
(11... Re8 {Alterman} 12. O-O d6 {=+} 13. Qxb5 Ba6 {-+})) 11... Qb6 $1 {=+} 12.
Nbd2 (12. Qxa8 $2 {Alterman} Bb7 13. Qxb7 Qxb7 {-/+}) (12. O-O {Alterman} Bb7
13. Qd3 c4 14. Qc2 Re8 15. Nfd2 d5 16. a4 a6 17. axb5 (17. Bf3 d4 (17... dxe4
18. Bxe4 Nc6 {=+}) 18. cxd4 Qxd4 19. axb5 Qxb2 (19... axb5 20. Rxa8 Bxa8 21.
Nc3 b4 {=+} (21... b4 22. Nd5 Bxd5 (22... c3 23. Nc7 $132) 23. exd5 Rc8 {=+}))
20. Qxb2 Bxb2 21. Ra2 c3 22. e5 Bxf3 23. Nxf3 a5 {-/+}) 17... axb5 18. Rxa8
Bxa8 19. Bf3 dxe4 20. Nxe4 Nd7 {=+}) 12... Bb7 13. Qb3 c4 $1 14. Qd1 ({
Differently after:} 14. Qc2 $2 Re8 {'=/ +' Alterman.} 15. O-O $140 d5 {black
has a material and positional advantage.}) (14. Qc2 {=+ Alterman}) 14... d6 $1
{'!?' Alterman. Alterman: 'Black do not change a pawn d on e calculating
hereafter to attack it.'} (14... Re8 {=+ Alterman}) (14... d5 {Alterman} 15.
exd5 Bxd5 16. O-O Nc6 {=+}) 15. a4 ({Also after:} 15. O-O Nd7 {with the idea
Nc5,Rfe8 black has a big positional advantage.}) 15... a6 16. axb5 axb5 17.
Rxa8 Bxa8 18. O-O Nd7 19. Re1 ({Badly:} 19. b3 {in view of:} Bxc3 20. bxc4 $140
b4 {-/+}) ({Apparently better is:} 19. Qb1 {/\Bd1-c2(><Pe4)}) 19... Nc5 20. Bf1
Re8 21. Qc2 $6 ({Slightly better is:} 21. Qb1) 21... h6 {'-/+' Alterman.} ({
In my opinion slightly better is:} 21... h5) 22. g3 (22. Nd4 $2 d5) (22. Re3 {
Alterman} d5 23. exd5 Rxe3 24. fxe3 Bxd5 25. Nd4 Qb7 {-/+}) 22... Bb7 23. Qb1 (
23. Bg2 {Alterman} Nd3 24. Re2 f5 {-/+}) 23... h5 {-/+} 24. h4 (24. Bg2 {
Alterman} Nd3 25. Re2 d5 {-/+}) 24... Qc6 25. Bg2 Nd3 (25... Nxe4 $2 {is
refuted by:} 26. Ng5 d5 27. Ndxe4 dxe4 28. Bxe4 Qd7 29. Bxb7 Rxe1+ 30. Qxe1
Qxb7 31. Qe8+ Bf8 {=}) 26. Rf1 $6 ({It is necessary:} 26. Re2 b4 {-/+} (26...
f5 $6 27. Ng5 {=+})) (26. Re3 {Alterman} Bh6 27. Rxd3 cxd3 28. Qxd3 {-/+})
26... d5 27. b3 {'-+?' Alterman. Alterman: 'After this move the game is over.'}
({Worse is:} 27. exd5 Qxd5 28. Ne1 $140 {?} Rxe1 29. Bxd5 Rxb1 30. Rxb1 Bxd5 {
-+}) ({White had good chance to try to salvage the game:} 27. Ne1 $1 {Alterman}
dxe4 (27... Nc5 28. exd5 Qd6 29. Ne4 Nxe4 30. Bxe4 Bxd5 31. Bxd5 Qxd5 32. Ng2 {
=+}) (27... Ne5 28. exd5 Qd7 29. Nef3 {=+}) (27... Nxe1 28. exd5 (28. Rxe1 d4 {
-/+}) 28... Qd7 29. Rxe1 {=}) 28. Nxe4 Rxe4 (28... b4 29. Nxd3 cxd3 30. cxb4
Rxe4 31. Qxd3 Bxb2 32. Bxe4 Qxe4 33. Qxe4 Bxe4 {=}) 29. Nxd3 cxd3 30. Qxd3 Qe8
31. Bxe4 Bxe4 32. Re1 Bxd3 33. Rxe8+ Kh7 {-/+ To realize an advantage is
difficult (if at all possible).}) 27... Qc5 $5 ({Also good enough:} 27... dxe4
$5 28. bxc4 $140 {?} (28. Ng5 Bxc3 {-/+}) 28... Bxc3 $1 (28... bxc4 $5 {-/+}) (
28... exf3 $2 29. Bxf3 Qd7 30. Bxb7 Nc5 31. Bd5 bxc4 32. Bxc4 Qxd2 33. Qxg6 Ne6
34. Qxh5 Qxc3 {=/+/-/+}) 29. Qc2 Qf6 30. Ng5 Bxd2 31. Qxd2 bxc4 {-+}) 28. exd5
Bxd5 $1 {-+ Full domination.} (28... Re2 $2 29. bxc4 Rxf2 (29... Nxf2 $2 30.
Qxb5 {+/-}) 30. Rxf2 $1 (30. Ne4 $2 Rxf1+ 31. Kxf1 Qe3 {~}) 30... Qxf2+ (30...
Nxf2 $2 31. Qxb5 {+/-}) 31. Kh1 Qe3 {~=}) 29. bxc4 bxc4 30. Ng5 ({Also loses:} 
30. Nd4 Bxg2 31. Kxg2 Bxd4 32. cxd4 Qxd4 {-+}) 30... Bxg2 31. Kxg2 Qd5+ $1 32.
Ngf3 ({After:} 32. Kh2 {strongly:} Bxc3 33. Qc2 $140 Re2 $1 34. Qxc3 Nxf2 {-+})
32... Bxc3 33. Qc2 Bxd2 34. Qxd2 Re5 $1 35. Ra1 (35. Rb1 $144 Rf5 36. Rb8+ Kh7
37. Qe3 Ne5 {-+}) 35... Rf5 36. Qe3 Ne5 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 15th final"]
[Site "Bugojno"]
[Date "1999.10.31"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1999.10.29"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Sarajevo Bosna"]
[BlackTeam "Zemun Agrouniverzal"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BIH"]
[BlackTeamCountry "SRB"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. h3 Ne5 11. f3 Nbc6 12. Bf2 Be6 13. Qd2 Rc8 14. O-O-O Qa5 15.
Nb3 Qc7 16. a3 Bxb3 17. cxb3 Na5 18. Qc2 Ng6 19. Kb1 b5 20. Rc1 Qb7 21. b4 Nc4
22. Bxc4 Rxc4 23. Qd2 O-O 24. Nd5 Rfc8 25. Rxc4 Rxc4 26. Ne3 Rc7 27. h4 e6 28.
hxg5 hxg5 29. Ng4 Qc6 30. Bd4 Bxd4 31. Qxd4 Qc2+ 32. Ka1 Qxg2 33. Nf6+ Kf8 34.
Qxd6+ Re7 35. Qd1 Kg7 36. Nh5+ Kf8 37. Ka2 g4 38. fxg4 Qf2 39. Qd8+ Re8 40.
Qd6+ Re7 41. Rc1 Kg8 42. Rc8+ Kh7 43. g5 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 12th"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "1999.11.29"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rozentalis, Eduardas"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A18"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2586"]
[Annotator "Rozentalis,E"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1999.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 074"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Lithuania"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "LTU"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4 d5 4. e5 Ne4 5. Nf3 Be7 6. h4 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] An
interesting novelty. White prepares attack on king side in case of short
castle and also prevents Ne4-g5.} Nxc3 ({After the game Topalov suggested:} 
6... Nc6 $142 7. d4 f6 8. Bd3 $14) 7. dxc3 dxc4 8. Qa4+ Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Qg4
Bxf3 11. gxf3 (11. Qxf3 Qd5 {and black is only slightly worse in the endgame.})
11... Bf8 $4 {Decisive mistake: black looses too much time. Correct was:} (
11... g6 12. h5 Qd5 $1 {and "Black is OK"}) 12. f4 Nd7 13. Be3 c6 14. O-O-O {
Due to the mistake on the 11th move, white has now big development advantage.}
Qa5 (14... h5 15. Qh3 g6 (15... Qc7 16. f5 $36) 16. Bc4 $1 {following with the
sacrifice on e6.}) 15. f5 $3 (15. Kb1 O-O-O $11) 15... Qxa2 (15... Nxe5 16. Qe4
exf5 17. Qxf5 $40) 16. fxe6 Qxe6 (16... Nxe5 17. exf7+ Qxf7 18. Qe4) 17. Qf4 $1
$18 Rd8 {Black was loosing also after:} (17... Qxe5 18. Bh3) (17... Nxe5 18.
Bh3 Qf6 19. Rhe1) 18. Bc4 Qe7 19. Rhe1 h5 (19... Nxe5 20. Bd4 $18) 20. Qg3 (20.
e6 fxe6 21. Bxe6 $18) 20... Nxe5 21. Rxd8+ Kxd8 22. Bf4 (22. Bg5 $2 f6 23. Rxe5
Qd6 $13) 22... Nxc4 23. Rxe7 Kxe7 (23... Bxe7 24. Qd3+) 24. Qd3 $1 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 12th"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "1999.12.01"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2618"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1999.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 074"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Slovenia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "SLO"]

{[%mdl 1] An excellent game by Topalov against one of the most renowned
experts of the black side of the Ruy Lopez.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4.
Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Be7 8. Nc3 d6 9. a4 Na5 10. Ba2 b4 11. Ne2
c5 (11... O-O 12. c3 bxc3 13. bxc3 d5 14. Nxe5 dxe4 15. d4 c5 16. Ng3 cxd4 17.
cxd4 Bd5 18. Nf5 Re8 19. Bg5 $36 {1-0 Dvoirys,S-Polovodin,I/St. Petersburg
1998/CBM 67 ext (61)}) 12. Ng3 O-O (12... Bc8 13. Nh4 O-O 14. Ngf5 (14. Nhf5)
14... Ne8 15. Bd5 Rb8 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Qh5 Be6 18. Nf5 Qd7 19. Bg5 f6 20.
Bxe6+ Qxe6 $11 {1-0 Jedryczka,K-Nurkiewicz,M/Czestochowa 1998/EXT 2000 (38)})
13. Bd2 {This is quite an important move in this line. The idea is to always
be ready for Bxa5 when Black tries b3.} Rb8 14. Nf5 Bc8 15. N3h4 Be6 16. Qf3
Ne8 17. Nxe7+ (17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 19. Qh3 Nc6 20. c3 bxc3 21. bxc3
Rb2 $11 {1-0 Galdunts,S-Michalczak,T/Schwaebisch Gmuend 1995/CBM 45 ext (25)})
17... Qxe7 18. Nf5 Qd7 19. Qg4 Kh8 (19... b3 20. Bxa5 bxa2 21. b3 $16) 20. f4
$40 {[%mdl 4] Topalovs handling of this position is a nice model for the White
side in this anti-arkhangel. Seemingly without effort he gets a strong attack
on the K-side.} Nc6 (20... g6 21. Bxe6 fxe6 22. Nh4 $16) 21. fxe5 Nxe5 22. Qg3
Bxa2 23. Rxa2 b3 {Black finally manages to get b3 in, but it turns out to be a
hollow victory, since White gets a new strong post for his B on c3.} 24. cxb3
Rxb3 25. Bc3 $16 f6 26. Raa1 Nc7 27. d4 $1 cxd4 28. Nxd4 Rbb8 29. Nf5 g6 {
Weakening everything, but the N was difficult to stand on f5, attacking both
d6 and g7.} 30. Ne3 Rf7 31. Rad1 Qc6 32. h3 Re8 33. Qh4 Kg7 34. Kh1 Re6 35. Nd5
$1 Qxa4 36. Nf4 Re8 37. Rxd6 Qc4 38. Nh5+ $1 {The brilliant point of the
sequence leading up to this position.} gxh5 39. Rfxf6 $18 Nb5 (39... Kg8 40.
Bxe5 $18) 40. Qg5+ Kf8 41. Qh6+ Kg8 42. Bxe5 (42. Bxe5 Rxe5 43. Rd8+ $18) 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 12th"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "1999.12.03"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lputian, Smbat G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1999.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 074"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Armenia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ARM"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. Qc2 Nf6 7. e3 Nbd7 8. h3
Nf8 9. Bd3 Ng6 10. Bh2 Bd6 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. O-O-O O-O 13. g4 Re8 14. Nge2 Bd7
15. Ng3 Rxe3 16. fxe3 Qxg3 17. e4 dxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Be6 20. Kb1 Rd8
21. Qc5 Qe3 22. Bf5 a6 23. Qb6 Rd7 24. Rhe1 Qf3 25. d5 cxd5 26. Bxe6 fxe6 27.
Qxe6+ Qf7 28. Rd4 Qxe6 29. Rxe6 Ne7 30. Rf4 g6 31. Rff6 Kg7 32. Rd6 Rc7 33. Rf2
Nc6 34. Rxd5 Re7 35. a3 h6 36. Rd6 Ne5 37. Re2 Kf7 38. Rb6 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 12th"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "1999.12.05"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2659"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "1999.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 074"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Czech Republic"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CZE"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Be3
Qe7 9. d5 c5 10. Bg5 $1 {[%mdl 44] It is a typical strategical method.White
make the Black to move h6 after which prevent counterplay of the Black on the
King side by g3and Nh4.} (10. dxc6 bxc6 11. b4 Bb7 12. Nd2 d5 13. cxd5 cxd5 14.
exd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Nb3 Qe6 $11 {0-1 Andonovski,L-Sofrevski,J/Struga
1993/EXT 99 (31)}) (10. Nd2 h5 11. a3 Nh7 12. b4 b6 13. Nb3 f5 14. f3 Ndf6 15.
bxc5 dxc5 16. a4 Bd7 17. a5 h4 $132 {time. 0-1 Ioseliani,N-Movsesian,S/CZE
1998/EXT 2000 (38)}) (10. Qd2 Ng4 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bh4 Nh6 13. Ng5 Nb8 14. Rad1
Nf7 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 Qxe6 17. Nd5 Na6 18. Bxf6 $1 Bxf6 19. Bg4 $16 {
1-0 Lambert,G-Shephard,C/Brighton 1977/EXT 99 (33)}) 10... h6 11. Bd2 Ne8 (
11... Nh5 12. g3 f5 $140 $2 13. Nh4 $18) 12. g3 $1 Ndf6 (12... f5 13. Nh4 Qf6
14. exf5 gxf5 15. f4 $16) 13. Nh4 Bh3 14. Re1 Kh7 15. Rb1 b6 16. a3 Bd7 (16...
Ng8 17. Bd3 f5 $140 18. Nxg6 $1 Kxg6 19. exf5+ Bxf5 20. Qg4+ $18) 17. b4 $16
Qd8 18. Bd3 Ng8 19. Qc2 Rc8 20. bxc5 (20. a4 cxb4 21. Rxb4 Nc7 {[%cal Yc7a6,
Ya6c5]}) 20... dxc5 (20... Rxc5 21. Be3 Rc8 22. a4 $36 {<<}) 21. f4 Nd6 (21...
exf4 $6 22. e5 fxg3 23. hxg3 $40 {[%cal Ge5e6]}) 22. a4 (22. fxe5 Bxe5 23. Nf3
f6 (23... Bd4+ 24. Kg2 $16)) (22. Nf3 exf4 (22... f6 23. f5 $5 $16) 23. e5 $36)
22... Ne7 23. Nb5 (23. Nf3 $5) 23... Bxb5 24. axb5 Qd7 25. fxe5 Bxe5 26. Nf3 f6
27. Nxe5 fxe5 28. Bc3 Nf7 29. Rf1 Rce8 30. Kh1 (30. Qf2 Nc8 {[%cal Yc8d6]}) (
30. Rf6 $5 Ng5 31. Rbf1 Rxf6 (31... Nh3+ 32. Kh1 Rxf6 33. Rxf6 Nc8 34. Bf1 Qg7
35. Rc6 $1 Ng5 36. h4 Nf7 37. Bh3 $16) 32. Rxf6 Qg4 $132) 30... g5 31. Rf6 Ng6
32. Rbf1 Nd6 33. Rxf8 Nxf8 34. Be2 $1 Kg7 (34... Ng6 35. Qd3 $1 $16 (35. Bh5
Nxc4 36. Qe2 (36. Rf6 Rg8 37. Qf2 Nd6 38. Re6 Qf7) 36... Nd6 37. Rf6 Rg8 38.
Qf3 $16) (35. Rf6 $6 Qe7 (35... Qd8))) 35. Bh5 Re7 36. Qe2 Nh7 $1 37. Bg4 Qe8
38. Bf5 Nf6 39. Kg2 Qg8 40. h4 $1 g4 $1 {Black are defending excelently and
create maximal defeculties for the White.} 41. Bxg4 Nfxe4 (41... Ndxe4 42. Bb2
Kh8 43. Bxe5 $1 Rxe5 44. Rxf6 Qg7 45. Rf4 Nd6 46. Rf8+ $18) 42. Be1 (42. Be6 $5
Rxe6 43. dxe6 Qxe6 44. Ba1 $16 {/~~}) (42. Bb2 Kh7 $1 $132 {[%csl Rg3]} (42...
Kh8 43. Rf3 $1 {[%cal Gf3e3]} (43. Rf4 h5 44. Rxe4 Nxe4 45. d6 $1 Nxd6 (45...
Re6 46. Qxe4 Qxg4 47. Qxg4 hxg4 48. d7 $18) 46. Bxe5+ Kh7 47. Qd3+ Qg6 48.
Qxg6+ Kxg6 49. Bxd6 Re4 50. Bd7) 43... Nxc4 44. Qxe4 Nxb2 45. d6 $18) 43. Qf3
Nd2 (43... Rf7 44. Be6 Rxf3 45. Bxg8+ Kxg8 46. Rxf3 Nxc4 47. Bc1 $16) 44. Bf5+
Nxf5 (44... Kg7 45. Qg4+ Kh8 46. Qf4 $1 Nxf5 47. Bxe5+ $16) 45. Qxf5+ Qg6 46.
d6 Qxf5 47. Rxf5 Rd7 48. Rxe5 Kg8 $1 {[%csl Rc4,Rd6]} 49. Re7 Rxe7 50. dxe7 Kf7
51. Bc1 Nxc4 52. Bxh6 Kxe7 $13) 42... Qh7 43. Kh3 (43. Be6 Qg6 44. Rf3 {
[%cal Gf3e3,Gh4h5]} h5 (44... Rxe6 45. dxe6 Qxe6 46. Re3 Qg6 47. g4 $16) 45.
Bc3 Rxe6 46. dxe6 Qxe6 47. Bb2 Kg6 $13 (47... Qxc4 48. Bxe5+ Kg6 $13)) 43...
Rf7 $6 (43... Nf6 $1 44. Qf3 Nxg4 45. Qf8+ (45. Bd2 Qe4 $1 46. Qf8+ Kg6 47.
Qxe7 Nf2+ $1 48. Kh2 (48. Rxf2 Qh1+ 49. Rh2 Qf1+ 50. Rg2 Qh1+ 51. Kg4 Qd1+ $11)
48... Ng4+ 49. Kg1 Qd4+ 50. Kh1 Qe4+ $11) 45... Kg6 46. Kxg4 h5+ 47. Kh3 Qg7
$11) 44. Rxf7+ Nxf7 45. Be6 Ned6 {[%csl Rc4][%cal Yh7e4]} (45... Qg6 46. g4
Ned6 47. Bg3 $16) 46. Bxf7 Nxf7 (46... Qf5+ $2 47. g4 Qxf7 48. Qxe5+ Qf6 49.
Bc3 $18) 47. Qf3 $1 (47. Bc3 Qf5+ 48. g4 (48. Qg4+ Kf6 {[%cal Yf7d6]}) 48...
Qf4 $132) 47... Qg6 (47... Qc2 $5 48. Bc3 Kg8 (48... Kf8 49. d6 (49. Bxe5 Qxc4
50. Bf4 h5 $5 $132) 49... Qg6 50. Qa8+ Kg7 51. Qd5 Kf8 52. d7 Qf5+ 53. Kg2 Ke7
54. Bxe5 (54. d8=Q+ Nxd8 55. Bxe5 (55. Qxe5+ Qxe5 56. Bxe5 Nb7 $132) 55... Nf7
56. Qb7+ Ke6 57. Qd5+ $11) 54... Qc2+ 55. Kf3 Nxe5+ (55... Qf5+ 56. Bf4 Qxd5+
57. cxd5 Kxd7 58. g4 $18) 56. Qxe5+ Kxd7 57. Qd5+ Kc7 (57... Ke7 58. Qe4+ Qxe4+
59. Kxe4 $18) 58. Qc6+ Kb8 59. Qxh6 $16) 49. d6 $5 Nxd6 50. Qa8+ Kf7 (50... Kh7
51. Qxa7+ Kg8 52. Qb8+ Kf7 53. Qxd6 Qxc3 54. Qxh6 $16) 51. Qd5+ Ke7 52. Qxe5+
Kd7 $132) 48. Bc3 Qf6 49. Qg4+ Kh7 50. Kg2 $16 Qg6 (50... Nd6 51. h5 $5 Kh8 52.
Qf3 Kg7 53. Qe2 Nf7 54. Qg4+ Kf8 55. Bd2 $16) 51. Qxg6+ Kxg6 52. g4 {[%mdl
4096] In this endgame the game will be on the different sides and in such
cases bishop is stronger than knight.} Kf6 (52... Nd6 53. Bxe5 Nxc4 54. Bf4 $16
) 53. Kf3 Nd6 54. Bd2 Kg7 (54... e4+ 55. Kf2 (55. Kg3 Nxc4 56. Bxh6 Ke5 57.
Bg7+ $1 (57. Bf4+ Kxd5 58. h5 Ke6 59. g5 Kf5 60. g6 Kf6 61. Kg4 e3 62. Kf3 Kg7
63. Ke2 Na3 64. Be5+ Kh6 65. Kxe3 Nxb5 66. Kf4 Nd4) 57... Kxd5 58. h5 Ke6 59.
Ba1 $18) (55. Kf4 $2 Nxc4 56. Bc3+ Kf7 57. Kxe4 Nd6+ 58. Kf4 Nxb5 59. Be5) (55.
Ke2 $1 Nxc4 (55... Kg7 56. Bf4 Nxc4 57. h5 $1 Na3 58. d6 Kf7 59. g5 hxg5 60. d7
Ke7 61. Bxg5+ Kxd7 62. h6 $18) (55... Ke5 56. Bxh6) 56. Bxh6 Ke5 (56... Nd6 57.
Bf4 (57. g5+ Kf5 58. h5) (57. h5 Nxb5 58. g5+ Kf5) 57... Nxb5 58. Ke3) 57. h5
Kxd5 58. Bf8 Ne5 59. h6 Kc4 60. h7 Ng6 61. Ke3 Kxb5 62. Kxe4 $18) 55... Nxc4 (
55... Ke5 56. Bxh6 Nxc4 57. Bg7+ Kxd5 58. h5 Ne5 (58... Ke6 59. Ba1 Nd6 (59...
Ne5 60. Bxe5 Kxe5 61. h6 Kf6 62. Ke3 Kg6 63. g5 Kh7 64. Kxe4 Kg6 65. Kf4 Kh7
66. Kf5 $18) (59... Kf7 60. g5 $18) 60. h6 $18)) (55... Kg7 56. Bf4 $1 Nxc4 57.
h5 $1 Na3 58. d6 Kf7 59. g5 hxg5 60. Bxg5 Ke6 61. h6 $18) 56. Bxh6 Nd6 (56...
Ke5 57. Bg7+ Kxd5 58. h5 $18) 57. h5 Nxb5 58. g5+ Kf5 59. g6 Kf6 60. Bg5+ $1
Kg7 61. Bf4 $18) 55. Bc1 Kg6 $6 (55... Nxc4 56. Ke4 Kf6 (56... Kg6 57. h5+ Kf6
(57... Kg7 58. Kf5 $18) 58. Bxh6 Nd6+ 59. Ke3 Nxb5 60. g5+ Kf5 61. g6 Kf6 62.
Bg5+ Kg7 63. Ke4 $18) 57. Bxh6 (57. g5+ hxg5 58. Bxg5+ Kf7 59. h5 Nd6+ 60. Kxe5
Nc4+ 61. Ke4 Nd6+ 62. Kf4 Nxb5 63. Ke5 a5 64. d6 Nxd6 65. Kxd6 a4 $11) 57...
Nd6+ 58. Ke3 Nxb5 59. h5 $1 (59. Bg5+ Kf7 60. Ke4 a5 $132) 59... Nd6 (59... a5
60. g5+ Kf5 61. g6 Kf6 (61... Nc3 62. d6 Nd5+ 63. Kd2 Ke6 64. Bg5 $1 $18) 62.
Bg5+ Kg7 63. Be7 $18) 60. g5+ Ke7 61. Bg7 $1 $16 Nf5+ $140 62. Kd2 Nxg7 63. h6
Kf7 64. h7 $18) 56. h5+ Kg7 57. Ke3 $1 Nf7 (57... Nxc4+ 58. Ke4 $16) 58. Kd3
Kf6 59. Bd2 Kg7 60. Be1 $1 Nd6 61. Bg3 Kf6 62. Bh4+ Kf7 63. g5 $18 e4+ 64. Kc3
Nf5 65. g6+ Kg7 66. Bd8 e3 67. Kd3 Kf8 68. Bc7 Ng7 69. Kxe3 Ke7 70. Be5 (70.
Be5 Ne8 71. d6+ Kd7 72. g7 $18) 1-0

[Event "ESP-chT Div 1"]
[Site "Cala Galdana"]
[Date "1999.11.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Korneev, Oleg"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1999.11.08"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 b5 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. O-O-O Bb7 10. g4 h6 11. Bd3 Ne5 12. Rhe1 Rc8 13. Kb1 Nfd7 14. f4 Nc4
15. Bxc4 Rxc4 16. f5 e5 17. Nf3 Qa8 18. b3 Rxe4 19. Nxe4 Bxe4 20. Ng1 Be7 21.
Bf2 O-O 22. Qe3 Nf6 23. Bh4 Qc6 24. Re2 Rc8 25. Kb2 d5 26. Bxf6 Bxf6 27. c3 Bg5
28. Qg3 d4 29. cxd4 exd4 30. Rde1 d3 31. Rxe4 Bc1+ 0-1

[Event "ESP-chT Div 1"]
[Site "Cala Galdana"]
[Date "1999.11.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B45"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1999.11.08"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. e5 Nd5 8.
Ne4 Bb7 9. c4 Nb4 10. c5 Qb8 11. f4 Ba6 12. a3 Bxf1 13. Rxf1 Nd5 14. Qd4 Be7
15. f5 exf5 16. Rxf5 O-O 17. Bd2 f6 18. O-O-O fxe5 19. Rxe5 Qb3 20. Bg5 Rae8
21. Bxe7 Ne3 22. Nf6+ 1-0

[Event "ESP-chT Div 1"]
[Site "Cala Galdana"]
[Date "1999.11.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Spraggett, Kevin"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2521"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1999.11.08"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. h3 g6 5. Bd3 Bg7 6. Bc2 e5 7. d3 O-O 8. O-O Nc6
9. a3 a5 10. a4 d5 11. Na3 h6 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Re1 b6 14. Bb3 Be6 15. Bc4 Qc7
16. Bd2 Rad8 17. Qb3 f5 18. Re2 Kh8 19. Rae1 g5 20. Qc2 Bf7 21. Qb3 Bf6 22. Nb5
Qb8 23. g4 Qc8 24. Nh2 h5 25. Bc1 Qd7 26. f3 Kg7 27. Na3 hxg4 28. hxg4 f4 29.
Nf1 Rh8 30. Rh2 Rxh2 31. Nxh2 Rh8 32. Re2 Nce7 33. Bb5 Qd8 34. Qd1 Rh3 35. Qf1
Rg3+ 36. Rg2 Ng6 37. Qe1 Nc7 38. Bc4 Bxc4 39. Nxc4 Qxd3 40. Nd2 Rxg2+ 41. Kxg2
Qc2 42. Nhf1 e4 43. Qxe4 Qxc1 44. Qc6 Be5 45. Qxb6 Qc2 46. Kg1 Qxa4 47. Qxc5
Qb5 48. Ne4 Qxb2 49. Qxa5 Nb5 50. Qb6 Kh6 0-1

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 30th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2000.05.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B20"]
[WhiteElo "2683"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "2000.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. b3 Nc6 3. Bb2 a6 4. f4 e6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. d3 d5 7. Nbd2 Be7 8. g3 O-O
9. e5 Nd7 10. Bg2 b5 11. O-O c4 12. Kh1 cxd3 13. cxd3 a5 14. Qe2 a4 15. Rfc1
Qb6 16. a3 b4 17. axb4 Ba6 18. bxa4 Nxb4 19. Bd4 Bc5 20. Qe3 Nxd3 21. Rcb1 Qc7
22. Bf1 Bxd4 23. Nxd4 N3c5 24. Bb5 g6 25. a5 Rfb8 26. Bxd7 Rxb1+ 27. Rxb1 Qxd7
28. Kg1 Rc8 29. Rc1 Nd3 30. Rxc8+ Qxc8 31. N2f3 Qc3 32. h4 Qa1+ 33. Kh2 Qxa5
34. h5 Qa2+ 35. Kh3 Qb1 36. Qg1 Qb2 37. Kh4 Nc5 38. hxg6 hxg6 39. Qh2 Qa1 40.
Kg4 Ne4 41. Qg1 Qb2 42. Qh2 Qc1 43. Qg1 Bf1 44. Kh4 Qd1 45. g4 Kh8 46. Qh2 Qc1
47. g5 Kg8 48. Kg4 Bd3 49. Qg1 Qb2 50. Qh2 Qa3 51. Kh4 Nc5 52. Qg1 Be4 53. Nh2
Bf5 54. Nxf5 exf5 55. Qg2 Ne4 56. Qf3 Qc1 57. Nf1 d4 58. Kh3 d3 59. e6 fxe6 60.
Ng3 Qe1 61. Nxe4 fxe4 62. Qg2 Qe2 0-1

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 30th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2000.05.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A41"]
[WhiteElo "2594"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2000.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Wells} d6 {Eine Überraschung für Weiß. Nach 2.c4 möchte Schwarz
wahrscheinlich 2...e5 spielen. Die prinzipielle Fortsetzung wäre 2.e4, aber
der junge französische Spieler hat Eröffnungen mit 1.e4 nicht in seinem
Repertoire.} 2. Nf3 g6 (2... Bg4 {Wells} 3. c4 Nd7 4. e4 Bxf3 $5 5. Qxf3 g6 6.
Nc3 Bg7 7. Qd1 c5 8. d5 Bxc3+ $5 9. bxc3 Ngf6 10. f3 Qa5 11. Qb3 O-O-O 12. Be2
Rdg8 $132 {0-1 Topalov,V-Adams,M/Dortmund 1996/CBM 54 (59)}) 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3
c5 5. dxc5 {Diese genügsame Fortsetzug ist ungefährlich für Schwarz.} (5. d5
Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 f5 {Eine ähnliche Stellung entsteht aus der Zugfolge 1.d4 g6 2.
c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.d5 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 f5. Unsere Partie unterscheidet sich hiervon
durch die Züge d6-Nf3.} (6... Qa5 7. Qb3 Nf6 8. Nd2 Nbd7 9. e4 Rb8 10. a4 a6
11. Qc2 e5 12. Be2 O-O 13. Ra3 Ne8 14. Nf1 f5 15. Bh6 Ng7 16. exf5 Rxf5 17. Ng3
{1-0 Hansen,S-Worsfold,O/Aarhus 1990/EXT 2000 (24)}) 7. h4 Nf6 (7... Qa5 8. Bd2
Nf6 9. h5 Nxh5 10. Rxh5 gxh5 11. e4 Nd7 12. exf5 Nf6 13. Bd3 Bd7 14. Ng5 Rg8
15. Nxh7 O-O-O {0-1 Almeida,O-Fierro Baquero,M/Havana 1999/CBM 70 ext (47)}) 8.
Bh6 Rg8 9. e3 Qa5 10. Qc2 Nbd7 11. Bd3 Nb6 12. Nd2 Na4 13. Rc1 Bd7 14. O-O Ng4
15. Bf4 O-O-O 16. f3 Ne5 17. Be2 Nf7 18. Bg3 e5 19. dxe6 Bxe6 {0-1 Turkova,
O-Loktionova,N/Kolontaevo 1998/EXT 2000 (31)}) (5. e4 $5) 5... Bxc3+ $5 {
[%mdl 4] Wells: 'One of an number of increasingly fashionable variations in
which black gives this bishop to create structural counterplay. I suspect that
Mickey Adams' liberated treatment of the bishop pair in the encounter quoted
above may have made a deep impression on his opponent.' Schwarz gibt das
Läuferpaar auf, verschlechtert dadurch aber die weiße Bauernstruktur.} (5...
dxc5 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. Bd2 (7. Bf4 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Nc6 9. g3 Be6 10. Bg2 Na5 11.
Rd1+ Ke8 12. Bc7 b6 13. Ng5 Rc8 14. Be5 Nf6 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Bxh8 Nd6 {1/2-1/2
Donk,M-Van Laatum,G/Groningen 1994/EXT 97 (41)}) 7... Bd7 8. g3 Nc6 9. Bg2 Rc8
10. O-O b6 11. Rfd1 Ke8 12. Rac1 Nd4 13. Nxd4 cxd4 14. Nd5 e6 15. Nb4 Ne7 16.
b3 {1/2-1/2 Szymczak,Z-Vokac,M/Marianske Lazne 1989/EXT 97 (57)}) 6. bxc3 dxc5
7. Qxd8+ {Wells: 'To suppose that black would feel the absence of his bishop
defending the dark squares more in a middle-game than an endgame context is a
pretty fair instinct. '} (7. Qc2 Nc6 8. h3 e5 9. e4 Qe7 10. Be3 b6 11. Be2 Bb7
12. Rd1 Nf6 13. Bg5 Na5 14. O-O h6 15. Bh4 g5 16. Bg3 Bxe4 17. Qc1 Bxf3 18.
Bxf3 e4 19. Rfe1 Rd8 {1/2-1/2 Tregubov,P-Garcia Palermo,C/Buenos Aires 1998/
CBM 67 ext (41)}) ({However a move such as} 7. Qc2 {[%cal Gb8c6,Ge7e5,Gf7f6,
Gg8e7] Wells does involve a certain loss of time. Black can aim for the set-up
...Nc6; ...e5 and maybe ...f6 which minimises the dark-square damage.}) 7...
Kxd8 8. Ne5 Be6 9. g3 Nd7 (9... f6 $2 10. Bg2 Kc7 (10... Kc8 11. Rb1 $16) 11.
Rb1 $16) 10. Nxd7 (10. Bf4 $6 Nxe5 11. Bxe5 f6 $15) 10... Kxd7 11. Bg2 Nf6 $5 {
Eine sehr riskante Fortsetzung - Schwarz opfert den Pb7. Die Annahme des Pc4
scheint mir einfacher.} (11... Bxc4 $11) 12. Rb1 $6 {Wells: 'White might feel
fairly confident here that his strategy of speedy mobilisation has rendered
black's b7 pawn as vulnerable as his own weaknesses, and that his pieces will
crash actively into black's position.'} (12. Bxb7 $5 Rab8 (12... Bxc4 $2 13.
Bxa8 Rxa8 $16) 13. Ba6 Ne4 $44 {[%cal Ge4d6,Gd6c4,Ge4c3]}) {[#]} 12... b6 $1 {
[%mdl 512] Wells: 'A rude awakening! At the cost of the exchange, the rook on
b1 is rendered impotent, white's best piece will be exchanged, and black's
light-squared bishop will be the unchallenged master of the board.' Das war
die Pointe der schwarzen Spielweise! Er opfert die Qualität, bekommt dafür
aber mehr als ausreichende Kompensation.} (12... Rab8 {Wells} 13. Bf4 $16) 13.
Bxa8 Rxa8 $44 {Petrosian (der neunte Weltmeister, der sehr gerne die Qualität
opferte) wäre sehr zufrieden! Schwarz gewinnt den Pc4, und es gibt keine
Schwächen in seiner Stellung.} 14. f3 Ne8 {[%cal Ge8d6]} 15. Bf4 Bxc4 {[%csl
Gc4] Wells: 'Take an admiring look at this piece - its influence pervades the
rest of the play. The real point is that white's rooks have no files, no
weaknesses to attack, no play.'} 16. Rb2 Kc6 {[%csl Gc4,Gc6]} 17. Rd2 (17. Kf2
Nd6 $44) 17... Nd6 18. Bxd6 $6 {Dieser Tausch gefällt mir nicht, denn er
stärkt nur die schwarze Bauernstellung. Es wäre besser, den Läufer auf dem
Brett zu belassen.} (18. Kf2 $142 $5) 18... exd6 19. Kf2 (19. e4 f5 20. exf5
gxf5 $44) 19... d5 20. e4 dxe4 21. fxe4 Re8 22. Re1 Be6 {'!' Wells.} 23. Kf3 (
23. Rb2 Rd8 24. Ree2 $5) (23. Rb1 Bg4 24. Re1 Kb5) (23. Rb1 $5 {[%csl Re4]
Wells}) 23... Kb5 $1 $15 {[%csl Gb5][%cal Gb5c4] Der schwarze König strebt
nach c4. Es ist nicht leicht für Weiß, hier Gegenspiel zu finden. Schwarz hat
einen Mehrbauern und eine gesunde Bauernstruktur für die Qualität, die weiße
Bauernstruktur weist hingegen viele Schwächen auf.} 24. Kf4 {Weiß möchte
entweder mit dem König am Königsflügel eindrignen oder Bauernschwächen
provozieren.} Kc4 25. Re3 a5 $1 {Schwarz ignoriert das Eindringen des
gegnerischen Königs am Königsflügel.} (25... f6 26. Red3 (26. e5 $2 g5+ 27. Kf3
fxe5 $17) 26... g5+ 27. Kf3 f5 $44) 26. Kg5 b5 27. Kh6 b4 28. cxb4 axb4 {
[%csl Gb4,Gc4,Gc5] Die schwarzen Bauern sind - dank Unterstützung durch König
und Läufer - sehr gefährlich für Weiß.} 29. Kxh7 {Weiß hat nun zwar eine ganze
Qualität mehr, aber sein König befindet sich weit ab vom Hauptkriegsschauplatz.
} Ra8 $17 30. Kg7 Kb5 31. h4 (31. Ree2 c4 32. Kf6 c3 33. Rc2 Rxa2 34. Rxa2 Bxa2
35. Rxa2 b3 $19) 31... c4 {[%csl Gb4,Gc4]} 32. g4 c3 $19 33. Rg2 Rxa2 0-1

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 30th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2000.05.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Gurevich, Mikhail"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2694"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2000.05.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. g3 e5 4. Bg2 f5 5. d4 {Ein vorübergehendes Bauernopfer.
Oft wird der ruhigeren Alternative der Vorzug gegeben.} (5. e3 {/\ 6.Nge2})
5... exd4 (5... e4 6. g4 $5 (6. f3) 6... Nc6 7. gxf5 gxf5 8. Nh3 Bxd4 9. Nd5 d6
10. Bg5 Qd7 11. e3 Bxb2 12. Rb1 Bg7 13. Qh5+ Kf8 14. f3 Nce7 15. fxe4 Nxd5 16.
cxd5 Bc3+ 17. Ke2 Qf7 18. Qxf7+ Kxf7 19. Rhc1 Ba5 20. Rb5 Bb6 21. Rxb6 axb6 22.
Rxc7+ Ke8 23. Bf3 h5 24. Nf4 Bd7 25. Bxh5+ Rxh5 26. Nxh5 Kf7 27. exf5 {1-0
Miles,A-King,D/Moscow 1990/TD (27)}) 6. Nb5 {Weiß gewinnt das Material zurück.
Es entsteht eine Stellung, die eigentlich für die Holländische Verteidigung
typisch ist. Wichtiger aber ist, dass Weiß wegen der Rückeroberung des Bauern
durch Nb5-Nxd4 (oder Qxd4) Zeit verliert .} Nc6 (6... c5 7. Nd6+ Kf8 8. Nxb7) (
6... Na6 7. Nxd4 Nf6 8. Nh3 O-O 9. Nf4 Nc5 10. h4 Ne6 11. Nb5 d6 12. O-O Nxf4
13. Bxf4 Ne4 14. Bxe4 fxe4 15. Qd5+ Kh8 16. Bg5 Qd7 17. Qxe4 Bxb2 {1/2-1/2
Ubilava,E-Pariente Lopez,F/Linares 1994/TD (47)}) 7. Nf3 Nf6 (7... Nh6 $2 8.
Bg5 Ne7 9. Bf4 d6 10. c5 $1 a6 11. Nxc7+ Qxc7 12. cxd6 Qa5+ 13. Bd2 Qb6 14.
dxe7 Qxb2 15. O-O $16 {1-0 Gaspar,A-Santos,C/Loures 1996/EXT 98 (33)}) 8. Bf4 (
8. O-O Ne4 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 (9... O-O 10. Be3 Qe7 11. Qa4 $14) 10. Nxd4 O-O 11.
Nb3 d6 12. Qc2 (12. Bxe4 fxe4 13. Qd5+ Kh8 14. Qxe4 Bh3 15. Re1 Qf6 $44) 12...
a5 13. Rb1 a4 14. Nd2 Nc5 15. b4 axb3 16. axb3 f4 17. Bb2 {1/2-1/2 Benko,
P-Petrosian,T/Curacao 1962/Candidates/[ChessBase] (67)}) (8. Nbxd4 O-O 9. O-O
Ne4 10. Be3 Qe7 11. Qa4 Rb8 12. c5 Nxc5 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Qxa7 Na6 15. b3 Qa3
16. Bd4 Rb7 17. Qa8 Bxd4 18. Nxd4 Rb6 {0-1 Ubilava,E-Komljenovic,D/San
Sebastian 1993/TD (37)}) (8. Nfxd4 Ne5 9. Bf4 Nh5 10. Bg5 Nf6 11. Qb3 a6 12.
Qe3 d6 13. f4 O-O 14. fxe5 dxe5 15. Qxe5 axb5 16. Nxb5 h6 17. Rd1 Qe8 18. Qxe8
Nxe8 19. Be7 Rf7 20. Ba3 Be6 21. Bxb7 Rb8 22. Bf3 Bxc4 {1/2-1/2 Schwartzman,
G-Grigore,G/Bucharest 1994/EXT 97 (39)}) 8... d6 9. Nfxd4 (9. c5 Ne4 10. cxd6
cxd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Nbxd4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qb6 14. Nb3 Be6 15. Be3 Qa6 16. Bd4
Bh6 17. e3 Rac8 {1/2-1/2 Gaspar,A-Santos,C/Loures 1996/EXT 98 (35)}) 9... Nxd4
(9... Bd7) 10. Qxd4 (10. Nxd4 O-O 11. O-O Ne4 $11) 10... O-O 11. c5 $13 {
Diese Spielweise ist zweischneidig, aber auf anderem Wege kommt Weiß nicht zu
Eröffnungsvorteil.} Ne4 12. Qc4+ (12. Qd5+ $2 {[%csl Rd5][%cal Rc7c6,Rc6b5,
Rc6d5]} Kh8 $15) 12... d5 13. Qb4 (13. Qc2 g5 $1 14. Nxc7 (14. Bxc7 Qd7 $17)
14... gxf4 15. Nxa8 Qa5+ $17) 13... a5 14. Qa3 Rf7 {[%csl Ra3,Ge4][%cal Gg7a1]
Schwarz kann mit dem Verlauf der Eröffnung zufrieden sein: Der Ne4 steht
ausgezeichnet, der Bg7 ist stark und Weiß kann seine Stellung am Damenflügel
nicht verbessern.} 15. Rd1 g5 16. Be3 Qe8 {[%cal Ge8e1,Re8b5]} 17. Nc3 $2 {
[%mdl 16384] Es ist verständlich, dass Weiß den starken Ne4 abtauschen möchte,
aber in dieser konkreten Stellung wäre der andere Springerzug besser.} (17. Nd4
f4 18. gxf4 gxf4 19. Bc1 $13) 17... Nxc3 18. bxc3 f4 $36 {Dieser Zug ist gut,
zugleich aber auch erzwungen, es hängen die Pd5 und Pg5.} 19. gxf4 gxf4 20. Bd4
Bg4 {Schwarz übt spürbar Druck aus - der weiße König steht schlecht in der
Mitte.} (20... f3 $5 21. Bf1 fxe2 22. Bxe2 Bg4 23. Be3 (23. Rd2 Qe4 $19 (23...
Bh6)) 23... Qe4 24. Rf1 Raf8 $40) {[#]} 21. O-O (21. f3 Bd7 $36 {[%csl Rg2]
[%cal Gd7b5,Gb5e2]}) 21... Ra6 $1 {[%cal Ga6g6,Gg6g1][%mdl 128]} 22. f3 {
Dieser Zug sieht nicht schön aus, aber es ist die einzige Möglichkeit für Weiß.
} (22. Bxd5 $2 Rg6 23. Bxf7+ Kxf7 $19 {[%csl Rg1]}) 22... Bf5 {[%csl Rg2]} 23.
Rf2 (23. Rd2 Rg6 $17) 23... Rg6 $17 {[%cal Gg6g1] Schwarz hat gute
Figurenkoordination und starke Drohungen am Königsflügel. Weiß hingegen
besitzt kein Gegenspiel.} 24. Kf1 Bxd4 25. Rxd4 (25. cxd4 Rfg7 $19 (25... Qe3
$2 26. Qxa5 $15 (26. Qxe3 fxe3 $19))) 25... Rfg7 {[%csl Rf1][%cal Rg7g2]} 26.
Rxd5 (26. Qb3 Rxg2 27. Rxg2 Bh3 $19) 26... Bh3 27. Qb3 {[%cal Gb3g8]} Kh8 28.
Qd1 {[%cal Rd1d8,Rd8h8]} Bxg2+ 29. Ke1 Bh3 $19 {Schwarz hat eine Mehrfigur und
einen starken Angriff - Weiß bleibt ohne Kompensation.} 30. Qd4 {[%cal Gd4h8]}
Rg1+ 31. Kd2 Qe3+ {Diese Vereinfachung gewinnt - nach dem Damentausch ist die
weiße Stellung hoffnungslos..} 32. Qxe3 fxe3+ 33. Kxe3 Be6 34. Rd4 R7g5 {
[%cal Rg5c5]} 35. Re4 Bg8 36. f4 Rxc5 37. f5 Kg7 38. f6+ Kg6 {Der weiße
f-Bauer ist nur scheinbar gefährlich - Schwarz steht auf Gewinn.} (38... Kf8
$19) 39. Re7 Bf7 40. Kd4 Rc4+ (40... b6 $19) 41. Kd3 Rc6 0-1

[Event "ESP-chT"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2000.08.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Campora, Daniel Hugo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2526"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2000.08.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c6 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. c5
Nh5 9. Be5 f5 10. b4 a6 11. h3 Nxe5 12. dxe5 f4 13. e4 a5 14. a3 g6 15. O-O b6
16. Na4 axb4 17. axb4 bxc5 18. Nxc5 Rxa1 19. Qxa1 Qb6 20. Qd4 Qb8 21. Rc1 Rd8
22. Qc3 Ng7 23. Bc2 Bd7 24. Qd4 Be8 25. exd5 cxd5 26. Qxf4 Qb6 27. Bd3 Ra8 28.
g4 Bb5 29. Kg2 Rb8 30. Nd4 Bxd3 31. Nxd3 Bg5 32. Qxg5 Qxd4 33. Qe3 Qe4+ 34. Kg3
h5 35. Qxe4 dxe4 36. Nf4 hxg4 37. hxg4 g5 38. Nh3 Rxb4 39. Nxg5 Rb8 40. Nxe4
1-0

[Event "ESP-chT"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2000.08.10"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Rodriguez Vargas, Orestes"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2494"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2000.08.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1
c6 9. Bd3 Nd7 10. O-O Qe7 11. Qc2 Bd6 12. c5 Bc7 13. e4 dxe4 14. Nxe4 Rd8 15.
Rfe1 Nf6 16. Nxf6+ Qxf6 17. b4 Bd7 18. a3 Be8 19. Qc3 a5 20. g3 b6 21. Re3 Ra7
22. h4 axb4 23. axb4 Rda8 24. Bc2 g6 25. Kg2 Ra2 26. Rd1 bxc5 27. bxc5 Rb8 28.
Bb1 Rab2 29. Be4 Qd8 30. Ra1 R8b4 31. Bc2 Rb5 32. Kg1 Qd5 33. Ra8 Rb8 34. Be4
Qd8 35. Qxb2 Rxa8 36. Rb3 Rb8 37. Kg2 Kf8 38. Rxb8 Qxb8 39. Qd2 Kg7 40. Qc3 Kf8
41. Qe3 Kg7 42. Qc3 Kf8 43. Ne5 Qb5 44. Qe3 Bxe5 45. dxe5 h5 46. Qd4 Qb7 47.
Qd6+ Kg7 48. Qd8 Qd7 49. Qxd7 Bxd7 50. Kf3 f6 51. Kf4 Kf7 52. f3 Kg7 53. g4
hxg4 54. fxg4 f5 55. Bd3 fxg4 56. Kxg4 Kh6 57. Ba6 1-0

[Event "ESP-chT"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2000.08.13"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Narciso Dublan, Marc"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D25"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2507"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2000.08.05"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 077 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 a6 5. Bxc4 b5 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. a4 b4 8. Nbd2
Nbd7 9. O-O e6 10. Qe2 c5 11. e4 cxd4 12. e5 Nd5 13. Nb3 Nc5 14. Bg5 Qd7 15.
Nfxd4 h6 16. Nxc5 Bxc5 17. Nb3 Bb6 18. Bd2 Qe7 19. a5 Ba7 20. Rac1 O-O 21. Qe4
f5 22. exf6 Rxf6 23. Qh7+ Kf7 24. Rc4 Ke8 25. Nd4 g5 26. Qxe7+ Kxe7 27. Rfc1
Raf8 28. Be3 Nxe3 29. fxe3 Rb8 30. Rxb4 Bd5 31. Rxb8 Bxb8 32. Rc8 Bd6 33. Bxa6
e5 34. Nc2 Be4 35. Be2 Rf8 36. Rxf8 Kxf8 37. Na3 Ke7 38. Kf2 Bc5 39. a6 Kd7 40.
Nc4 Kc7 41. Nxe5 Bc2 42. b4 Ba7 43. b5 Bc5 44. Nf7 Kb6 45. Nxh6 Bg6 46. g4 Bd6
47. h3 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-34"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2000.11.02"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Vaganian, Rafael A"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2623"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2000.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Armenia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ARM"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5 4. a4 b4 5. Bg5 ({Another interesting possibility
is} 5. c4 $5) 5... Ne4 (5... d6 6. e3 (6. Bxf6 exf6 7. Nbd2 (7. e4 g6 8. Nbd2
Bg7 9. Bb5+ Nd7 10. Nc4 Qe7 11. O-O O-O 12. Re1 Ne5 13. Nfxe5 fxe5 14. c3 $132
{1-0 Leyva,H-Farrand,T/Istanbul TUR 2000 (44)}) 7... Be7 8. Nc4 f5 9. g3 O-O
10. Bg2 Ba6 11. Nfd2 Bf6 12. O-O Re8 13. Re1 Bxc4 14. Nxc4 Na6 $11 {0-1 Van
der Erf,R-Markus,J/Hoogeveen NED 1999/ (60)}) 6... g6 7. Bxf6 exf6 8. Bb5+ {
see comments to the game 1/2-1/2 Nikolic,P-Sokolov,I/Wijk aan Zee 1997/CBM 57 
(51) [Stohl,I]}) (5... g6 6. Bxf6 exf6 7. e4 Bg7 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. Bd3 f5 10. exf5
Re8+ 11. Kf1 Bxb2 $15 {0-1 Porper,E-Alterman,B/Shitomir 1986/ (41)}) (5... Qb6
6. a5 Qb7 7. Bxf6 exf6 8. g3 d6 9. Bg2 g6 10. O-O Bg7 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. Nc4 Qc7
13. Nfd2 Ba6 14. e4 Nd7 15. f4 Rfe8 $132 {0-1 Ostergaard,J-Brynell,S/Hillerod
Politiken 1995/ (59)}) (5... e6 6. dxe6 fxe6 7. e4 Be7 8. Nbd2 d5 9. Bb5+ Bd7
10. Ne5 Bxb5 11. axb5 Qc7 12. f4 O-O 13. O-O c4 $132 {1-0 Auciello,S-German,G/
Najdorf Open, Buenos Aires ARG 1997/ (40)}) 6. g3 $6 $15 {This move is
mistake! Much better are Bg5 retreats:} (6. Bf4 Bb7 7. e3 g6 8. Be5 f6 9. Bf4
Bg7 10. Bc4 O-O 11. h4 d6 12. Qd3 f5 13. Qb3 $132 {1-0 Minogina,T-Fatalibekova,
E/Moscow ch wmn 1981 (33)}) ({or} 6. Bh4 g6 7. Nbd2 (7. Qd3 Nd6 8. c4 Bg7 9.
Ra2 b3 10. Qxb3 Na6 11. Nbd2 Rb8 12. Qd1 Bxb2 $15 {1-0 Tratar,M-Escobar Forero,
A/Paranana Wtt-26 ,EXT 1993/(60)}) 7... Nxd2 8. Qxd2 d6 9. e4 Bg7 10. Bb5+ Nd7
11. c3 a6 12. Be2 O-O 13. O-O a5 $132 {1-0 Sultanov,A-Grechihin,V/Samara RUS
2000/The Week in Chess 294 (25)}) 6... g6 7. Bg2 d6 (7... Bg7 8. Bc1 $15) ({
Quite good also} 7... Nxg5 8. Nxg5 d6 $15 (8... Bg7 9. d6 Nc6 10. c3 O-O $132))
8. Bc1 Bg7 9. Nfd2 (9. O-O O-O 10. Nbd2 Nxd2 11. Qxd2 Nd7 12. c4 bxc3 13. bxc3
Rb8 $15) 9... Nxd2 10. Nxd2 ({It is very difficult to decide certainly, but
maybe better is} 10. Qxd2 {[%cal Gc2c4]} Nd7 11. c4 Qa5 12. Ra2 b3 13. Ra3 (13.
Qxa5 bxa2 $19) 13... Qa6 14. Qf4 Ne5 15. Nd2 Rb8 16. O-O Rb4 17. Rxb3 Rxb3 18.
Nxb3 Nxc4 $15) 10... Nd7 11. O-O O-O 12. Re1 ({Interesting also} 12. e4 a5 13.
f4 Ba6 14. Rf3 e6 15. Nb3 exd5 $15) 12... a5 13. e4 (13. Nc4 Ba6 $15 {[%csl
Ra1,Rc4][%cal Gb2b3,Gg7a1]}) 13... Nb6 14. Ra2 e6 15. b3 $2 $17 (15. Nf1 Re8
16. dxe6 {this move permits to White to get rid of d5 weakness} (16. b3 $2 exd5
17. exd5 Rxe1 18. Qxe1 Bb7 $1 {like in this game - White remains with "bad"
Ra2 and Pd5 weakness.} (18... Ba6 $2 19. Bb2 Bxb2 20. Rxb2 c4 21. Rb1 c3 (21...
Rc8 22. c3 $132) 22. Qe4 Rc8 23. Ne3 Rc5 24. Qd4 $11) 19. Ne3 Qe7 {[%csl Rd5]
[%cal Ge7e1]} 20. Qd2 Re8 21. Bb2 Bh6 $1 $17) 16... Bxe6 17. b3 d5 $15) ({
The only chance not to worsen position was} 15. dxe6 $5 {-like in previous
variation} Bxe6 $1 (15... fxe6 16. e5 d5 17. Nb3 Qc7 18. Be3 (18. Bf4 Bd7 $15 {
[%csl Ra4]}) 18... d4 19. Bd2 Ra7 20. f4 Bd7 {[%csl Ra4]} 21. Qg4 {[%csl Re6]}
Re8 (21... Rf5 22. Be4) 22. Rea1 Bc6 23. Bxc6 Qxc6 24. Be1 Nc4 25. Bf2 $132)
16. b3 d5 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Ne4 Nc3 19. Nxc3 Bxc3 $15) 15... exd5 16. exd5 Bb7
{[%csl Ra2,Rd5] White remains with "bad" Ra2 and Pd5 weakness - as noted in
one of commented variations on previous move.} 17. Nf1 Re8 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19.
h4 ({Or} 19. Bb2 Bxb2 20. Rxb2 Qe5 $17 {[%csl Rb2,Rd5]}) 19... f5 20. Bf4 Be5
21. Ne3 (21. Qd2 Bxf4 $17 {[%csl Rd5,Rf4][%cal Gg3f4]}) 21... Bxf4 22. gxf4 {
[%csl Rd5,Rf4]} Qe7 {[%csl Rh4][%cal Ge7h4]} 23. h5 Qh4 {[%csl Rf4]} 24. hxg6
hxg6 25. Qf3 Qf6 {[%csl Ra2][%cal Gf6a1]} ({Strong also} 25... Re8 26. Ra1 Re4
$17 {[%csl Rd5,Rf4]}) 26. c4 $2 $19 {This R releaze desperate attempt makes
position of White hopeless.} (26. Bf1 $142 $17 {[%csl Ra2,Rd5][%cal Gf1b5]})
26... bxc3 27. Re2 (27. Rc2 Qd4 28. Qg3 Kf7 $19) 27... Ba6 $1 28. Nc4 Nxc4 ({Or
} 28... Bxc4 29. bxc4 Nxc4 $19) 29. bxc4 Rb8 30. Re6 (30. Qd3 Qd4 $19) {
[%tqu "En","Black here can to win immediately.How?","","","f6e6","",10]} 30...
Qxe6 $1 (30... Qg7 $2 31. Qd3 $17) 31. dxe6 c2 32. Qe3 Rb1+ 33. Kh2 c1=Q 34.
Qg3 (34. e7 Qxe3 35. Bd5+ Kg7 36. fxe3 Rb8 $19) 34... Kg7 $1 35. Qh4 Qg1+ 36.
Kh3 (36. Kh3 Qh1+ $1 $19) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-34"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2000.11.05"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Kozul, Zdenko"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2611"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2000.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Croatia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CRO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Bg5 Ne4 5. h4 $6 $146 {In my opinion, this
novelty don't change position evaluation, but bring new colours to this quite
complicated position.} ({mainlines are:} 5. Bf4) (5. Bh4) (5. Qd3 {-see
comments to the game 0-1 Reinderman,D-Sambuev,B/Marbella 1999/CBM 73 (36) 
[Avrukh,B, Alterman,B]}) 5... g6 (5... Bb7 6. Qd3 Nxg5 7. hxg5 c4 $13) 6. Nbd2
Nxg5 7. hxg5 {White implemented the main idea of 5.h4, but pressure on h-file
is not serious. Pair of BB maybe already permits to say: Black equalized.} Bg7
8. e4 Na6 $5 (8... Bxb2 $6 9. Rb1 Bg7 10. Bxb5 Qa5 11. e5 $14 {Black has
certain difficulties with queenside pieces development.}) ({In my opinion,
quite good is} 8... a6 $132) 9. a4 ({After} 9. Bxb5 $5 {also Black neutralizes
White little advantage:} Rb8 (9... Nc7 10. Ba4 Bxb2 11. Rb1 Bg7 12. c4 $14 {
[%cal Ga4e8,Gd7d6]}) (9... Bxb2 10. Rb1 Bc3 11. Rb3 Qa5 12. O-O {[%cal Gd2c4]}
Bg7 13. Nc4 $14) 10. a4 Bxb2 11. Rb1 Bg7 12. d6 $5 (12. e5 $6 Nc7 $132 {
[%cal Gc7b5,Gd7d6]}) 12... exd6 13. Nc4 O-O 14. Qxd6 (14. Nxd6 Nc7 15. Rb3 Nxb5
16. axb5 a6 $132) 14... Re8 $132) 9... Bxb2 10. axb5 (10. Rb1 Bg7 $132) 10...
Nc7 11. Ra2 (11. Ra4 Bg7 12. c4 d6 13. Bd3 (13. e5 $132)) 11... Bg7 12. c4 d6
13. Qb3 $6 $15 ({Necessary was} 13. e5 $1 Bf5 (13... dxe5 14. Ne4 Bf5 15. Nxc5
Qd6 16. Na6 e4 $132) 14. Qa4 O-O $132) 13... e6 $1 {Black must attack strong
White center and to open the game for another B - c8.} 14. Bd3 Kf8 $1 {Black
doesn't need castle! Rh8 will be released after h7-h6.} 15. Ra3 exd5 16. exd5 (
16. cxd5 Bd7 $1 {[%csl Rb5]} 17. O-O h6 $15) 16... a6 17. O-O (17. b6 $2 Rb8
18. O-O (18. bxc7 Qe7+ $1 $19 {[%csl Rb3]}) 18... Na8 $17 {[%csl Rb6]}) 17...
Rb8 (17... axb5 18. Rxa8 Nxa8 19. Qxb5 Nc7 20. Qc6 h6 $15) 18. Re1 h6 19. gxh6
Rxh6 20. Ne4 (20. Rb1 Rb6 $17) 20... Rb6 21. Qa2 (21. Nc3 Bg4 $17) 21... Bg4
22. Neg5 (22. Re3 axb5 23. cxb5 Rh5 $17 {[%csl Rd5]}) 22... Bf6 23. Qd2 (23.
Nh2 Bc8 24. Ne4 axb5 25. cxb5 (25. Nxf6 Qxf6 26. cxb5 Qh4 $19) 25... Bg7 $17)
23... Rh5 {[%csl Rg5]} 24. Qa5 {Here Black had to decide, what to do. One of
two alternatives is to send Nc7 to offside but to remain Qd8 on attack
position.} Na8 ({The second alternative is to keep harmony and to play} 24...
Qb8 25. Ne4 Bg7 26. Nh2 Bc8 27. bxa6 Rxa6 28. Rb3 $3 Qa7 $15) 25. Ne4 $4 $19 ({
The only chance was} 25. Re4 $1 {and after expected} Bf5 (25... Qd7 26. Ne6+
fxe6 27. Rxg4 Qh7 (27... exd5 28. Rxg6 $14) 28. Kf1 exd5 29. Bxg6 Rh1+ 30. Ke2
$14) 26. g4 $1 {this material sacrifice would permit to White to continue
resistance:} Bxe4 27. Nxe4 (27. gxh5 Bxd3 28. Nh7+ Kg7 29. Nxf6 Qxf6 30. Rxd3
gxh5 31. Nd2 h4 $15) 27... Rh8 28. bxa6 Bg7 $15) 25... Bxf3 26. gxf3 Bd4 {
Position of White is hopeless.} 27. Kf1 ({Or} 27. Ra2 Qh4 28. Kf1 Qf4 29. Ng3
Rh3 {[%csl Rf2,Rg3][%cal Gd4f2]} 30. Be4 f5 31. Rae2 Qh4 $19 {[%csl Rf1][%cal
Gh3h1,Gd4f2]}) 27... Rh2 28. Ke2 f5 29. Nd2 Bxf2 30. Rea1 Be3+ 31. Kxe3 Qg5+ (
31... Qg5+ 32. f4 Qg3+ 33. Nf3 Qf2#) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-34"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2000.11.06"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2667"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2000.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4
Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Qd5+ 14.
Kc2 Na6 15. Nxc4 O-O 16. Qe5 Rab8 17. a5 Rfd8 18. Be2 f6 19. Qxd5 cxd5 20. Nd2
Rdc8+ 21. Kb3 {In der Partie Bareev-Ribli, Neum 2000, geschah} (21. Kb1 {
Der Textzug ist meines Erachtens stärker.}) 21... Kf7 22. Rhc1 Ke7 23. Ka3 Nc5
24. b4 Nd7 25. Nb3 {Schwarz hat keinerlei Gegenspiel; die Stellung des Weißen
ist recht gewinnträchtig.} g6 (25... Ne5 $5) 26. a6 bxa6 {Schwarz muß schlagen,
denn nach} (26... b6 {erreicht Weiß mit} 27. Nd4 Ne5 28. Nb5 {eine
Gewinnstellung.}) 27. Nd4 Kd6 (27... Ne5 28. Bxa6 Rxc1 29. Rxc1 {ist nicht
günstiger für Schwarz; nach} Kd7 30. Kb3 g5 31. Ra1 {wird der a-Bauer fallen.})
28. Rxc8 Rxc8 29. Kb3 Nb6 30. Bxa6 Rb8 31. Nb5+ Kd7 32. Nxa7 $18 e5 33. Bb5+
Kd6 34. Rc1 e4 35. Rc6+ Ke5 36. Rc7 Kf4 37. Rxh7 Ke3 38. Nc6 Rc8 39. Rh6 Rg8
40. Ne7 Rg7 41. Nxg6 d4 42. Rh3+ (42. Nh4 Rg5 43. Bc6 {ist vielleicht noch
einfacher.}) 42... Kd2 43. Nf4 Rg5 44. Ba6 Rf5 45. Ne6 Rd5 46. Bb7 Rd6 47. Bxe4
Rxe6 48. Rd3+ Ke2 49. Rxd4 Ke3 50. Bf5 Re5 51. Rd6 Nd5 52. g4 Kd4 53. Be6 Re3+
54. Ka4 Ke5 55. Rxd5+ Kxe6 56. Rh5 Kd6 57. Rh6 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-34"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2000.11.12"]
[Round "14.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Hansen, Curt"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2613"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2000.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Denmark"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "DEN"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. g3 Nc6 5. Bg2 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. O-O Be7 8. d4
O-O 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Bg5 Qd7 ({Mainlines are:} 11... f6) (11...
Qb6) 12. Ne1 ({Interesting also} 12. Rc1 Bb6 13. Bd2 Qe7 14. e3 Bf5 15. Bc3 Be4
16. Qa4 Rac8 17. Rcd1 $14 {[%csl Gd4] 1-0 Miles,A-Podlesnik,B/Nova Gorica 1999/
CBM 68 ext (51)}) 12... d4 13. Nd3 Bb6 14. a4 (14. Bf3 {see comments to the
game 1/2-1/2 Kalinin,A-Atalik,S/Wijk aan Zee 1997/CBM 57 (39)[Atalik,S,
Tsesarsky,I]}) (14. Bd2 Qe7 15. Nf4 Be6 16. Qa4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Anand,V/
Monte Carlo 1995/CBM 46 ext (51)}) 14... Qf5 15. Bd2 Bd7 16. b4 a6 17. Nf4 {
[%cal Gg2h3] Threatening Bh3} (17. Rb1 $14 {[%cal Gb4b5]}) (17. Rc1 $14 {
[%cal Gd3c5]}) 17... Qe5 18. Nd5 Bd8 19. Bf4 Qe6 20. Re1 {[%csl Ge2] Good
preventive move} Qg6 21. b5 axb5 22. axb5 Rxa1 23. Qxa1 Ne7 24. Qxd4 Bxb5 25.
Nxe7+ Bxe7 26. Qe5 $2 $11 {[%csl Rb5,Re7] Dropping an advantage - based on
tactical blunder.} ({Simply to take P by} 26. Bxb7 $16 {was much better -
White has serious chances to win.}) 26... Bb4 $8 27. Be4 Re8 $1 {This very
strong unexpected move was probably missed by Topalov.} (27... Qb6 28. Bxh7+ $1
$18) (27... Bc3 28. Bxg6 Bxe5 29. Bxf7+ $16) 28. Qxb5 (28. Bxg6 Rxe5 29. Bxe5
Bxe1 30. Be4 Bxe2 31. Bxb7 $11) (28. Qxe8+ Bxe8 29. Bxg6 Bxe1 $11) 28... Qxe4
29. f3 Qe7 30. Rc1 {[%csl Rb4,Rb7,Re8][%cal Gc1c7]} h6 $5 (30... Ba3 31. Rc7
$16 {[%csl Rb7]}) ({Equal position after} 30... b6 $1 31. Qxb6 (31. Rc7 Bc5+
32. Kh1 Qe6 33. e4 $132) 31... g5 32. Rc7 Qxe2 {[%csl Rg1]} 33. Qxb4 Qxf3 (
33... gxf4 34. Qxf4 $16) 34. Re7 $11 (34. Bxg5 Qd1+ 35. Kg2 Re2+ 36. Kh3 Qf1+
37. Kg4 h5+ 38. Kxh5 Rxh2+ $19)) 31. Kf1 (31. Rc7 Qxe2 32. Qxe2 ({It is very
dangerous to take a piece:} 32. Qxb4 Qd1+ 33. Kg2 Re2+ 34. Kh3 Qf1+ 35. Kg4 h5+
$1 36. Kh4 $8 (36. Kg5 Qxf3 $19 {[%csl Rg5]}) 36... Rxh2+ 37. Kg5 Qxf3 38. Rc8+
$8 Kh7 39. Qb1+ $8 g6 40. Re8 (40. Kf6 Qd5 41. Re8 Ra2 42. Qb4 Ra6+ 43. Ke7 Kg7
$1 $19 {[%csl Re7]}) 40... Re2 41. Rxe2 Qxe2 42. Qb6 Qg4+ 43. Kf6 Qf5+ 44. Ke7
h4 45. Qxb7 g5 $1 $17) 32... Rxe2 33. Rxb7 Bc5+ 34. Kh1 g5 35. Bb8 $11) 31...
g5 32. Bc7 Qe3 33. Rc2 Bf8 34. Kg2 (34. Qxb7 $2 Bc5 $1) 34... Bg7 (34... Re6 $2
35. Qxb7 Bc5 36. Kh3 Qg1 37. Qd5 Qf1+ 38. Kg4 Be3 39. Be5 $1 $16) 35. Bb6 Qe6
36. Bf2 Rc8 37. Rd2 Qc6 38. Qf5 Re8 ({After} 38... b5 {also Black equalize:}
39. Rd7 Bf6 $1 40. Bd4 Rd8 $1 41. Rxd8+ Bxd8 42. Qe5 Kf8 $11) 39. e4 b5 40. Rd7
Qe6 $2 $16 ({Why not} 40... Bf6 $1 $11) 41. Qxb5 g4 42. Qd5 Qxd5 (42... gxf3+
43. Kxf3 $16) 43. Rxd5 Re6 44. Be3 Kh7 45. h3 gxf3+ 46. Kxf3 Kg6 47. h4 $1 Bf6
$2 $18 {Positional mistake. Now White wins by force.} ({Necessary was} 47... h5
$1 48. Rg5+ Kh6 49. g4 (49. Re5+ $6 Kg6 50. Rxe6+ fxe6 51. g4 hxg4+ $1 ({After
} 51... Bf6 52. g5 $1 {seems position of Black is hopeless:} Bc3 53. Bf4 Kf7
54. Ke2 Bd4 55. Bg3 Bb6 56. Kd3 Bg1 57. Kc4 Be3 58. Kb5 {White's plan is to
bring K to d7, to play g5-g6 and to take Pe6, then to push forward Pe4.} Bd4
59. Kc6 Be3 60. Kd7 Bd4 61. g6+ Kxg6 62. Kxe6 Bc3 63. e5 $18) 52. Kxg4 Bb2 53.
h5+ Kf6 54. Bf4 Kg7 {and Black survives}) 49... hxg4+ 50. Rxg4+ Kh7 51. Rg5 $16
{This position much better for Black than position from the game after 59 move.
}) 48. h5+ Kg7 49. Bf4 Be7 50. Rb5 Bd8 51. e5 Be7 52. Kg4 Bd8 53. Kf5 Be7 54.
Rb7 Bd8 55. Rb8 Ba5 56. Ra8 Bc3 57. Rd8 Bb4 58. g4 Bc5 59. g5 hxg5 60. Bxg5 {
Threatening Bf6+} Be7 61. h6+ Kh7 62. Bxe7 Rxe7 63. Rf8 Kxh6 (63... Ra7 64. Kf6
Ra1 65. Kxf7 Kxh6 66. e6 $18) 64. Kf6 Re6+ 65. Kxf7 $1 Rxe5 66. Kf6 {
instructive endgame!} 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "New Delhi/Teheran"]
[Date "2000.12.01"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kharlov, Andrei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D26"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2627"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2000.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 (2... Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd3 c6 7. O-O
dxc4 8. Bxc4 c5 9. Qe2 cxd4 10. Rd1 Nc6 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. exd4 Nd5 13. Qf3 Nxc3
14. bxc3 Qc7 15. Bd3 Bd7 16. c4 Ba4 17. Re1 Rfd8 18. d5 exd5 19. cxd5 Bf6 20.
Qf5 Kf8 21. Ba3+ {1-0 Coret,J-Benavent,V/Valencia 1991 (21)}) 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3
Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Qe2 cxd4 8. Rd1 Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11.
exd4 Qe8 (11... Qa5 12. Bf4 Bb4 (12... Qh5 13. f3 g5 14. Bg3 g4 15. f4 Bd7 16.
Rac1 Bc6 17. Rf1 Rad8 18. f5 Rxd4 19. fxe6 Bc5 20. exf7+ Kg7 21. Kh1 Ne4 22.
Nxe4 Rxe4 23. Qd3 Re3 24. Qf5 Bxg2+ 25. Kxg2 Rxg3+ 26. Kxg3 Bd6+ {0-1 Lujambio,
A-Roman/CADAP zt8 sf corr 1982/Corr 2000 (26)}) 13. Be5 Nd7 14. Rd3 Nxe5 15.
dxe5 Bxc3 16. Rxc3 Bd7 17. Rh3 Bc6 18. Bd3 h6 19. Rg3 Rfd8 20. f4 Qc5+ 21. Kh1
Rd4 22. Qg4 Qf8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Freeman,M-Rocha,A/Lugano 1968/MCD (44)}) (11...
Nd5 12. Qf3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Qc7 (13... Bd7 14. d5 Ba4 15. Bb3 Bxb3 16. axb3 exd5
17. Rxd5 Qc8 18. c4 Bf6 19. Ra2 Rd8 20. Rad2 Rxd5 21. Rxd5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Cvitan,
O-Raetsky,A/Biel SUI 2000/ (47)}) 14. Bb3 Bd6 15. c4 Bxh2+ (15... Qe7 16. c5
Bc7 17. Ba3 Rb8 18. Rac1 Re8 19. g3 Qg5 20. c6 Qa5 21. Bb2 Qb6 22. d5 exd5 23.
Bd4 Qa5 24. Bxd5 Be6 25. Bxe6 {1-0 Mikhalevski,V-Peng Zhaoqin/Hoogeveen NED
2000/The Week in Chess 310 (25)}) 16. Kh1 Bd6 17. c5 Be7 18. Bf4 Qc6 19. Qxc6
bxc6 20. Ba4 Bd7 21. Rab1 Rfd8 22. Rb7 $16 {1-0 Gelfand,B-Adianto,U/Cap d'Agde
1998/EXT 99 (36)}) 12. Nb5 Qd8 13. Nc3 Qe8 14. Nb5 Qd8 15. Bf4 Bd7 (15... a6 $2
16. Nc7 Ra7 17. d5 $16) 16. Nc7 $1 {[%mdl 4]} Rc8 17. d5 $1 Rxc7 $2 (17... exd5
$8 18. Nxd5 Re8 (18... Nxd5 19. Rxd5 Qe8 20. Re5 Bg4 21. Qe4 $18) 19. Qd3 (19.
Ne3 Qa5 20. Rac1 Ba4 21. b3 Bc6 $11) (19. Nxe7+ Rxe7 (19... Qxe7 20. Qxe7 Rxe7
21. Rac1 Re4 22. Bb3 $14) 20. Qd3 (20. Be3 Ng4 $11) 20... Re4 21. Bb5 $11)
19... Ba4 20. b3 (20. Rd2 Nxd5 21. Bxd5 Bb4 22. Bxf7+ Kxf7 23. Qf5+ Qf6 24.
Qxf6+ gxf6 25. Rd4 Bc5 26. Rxa4 Re2 $15) 20... Bc6 21. Nxe7+ Qxe7 22. Rac1 $14
(22. Bd6 Qe4 23. Qxe4 Nxe4 24. Bb4 $14)) 18. d6 Rc6 19. dxe7 Qxe7 {[%tqu "En",
"Calculate t winning line till the end.","","","c4b5","",10]} 20. Bb5 $1 Rb6
21. Bxd7 Nxd7 22. Qd2 $1 {[%cal Gd1d7,Gf4d6,Gd6f8][%mdl 64]} e5 (22... Nf6 $142
23. Bd6 Qd8 24. Bxf8 Qxd2 25. Rxd2 Kxf8 26. Rc1 Nd5 $16 {was best practical
chance}) 23. Be3 Nc5 24. b4 Ne4 25. Qc2 Rxb4 26. a3 $18 Rd4 27. Bxd4 (27. Re1
$1 f5 28. Bxd4 exd4 29. f3 d3 30. Qc4+ $18) 27... exd4 28. Re1 d3 29. Qc4 (29.
Qxd3 Re8 30. Re2 $18) 29... Nd6 30. Qxd3 Qf6 31. Rad1 Nf5 32. Qd7 g6 33. Qxb7
a6 34. Rc1 Nd4 35. Rc8 Rxc8 36. Qxc8+ Kg7 37. Qc5 Nc6 38. h3 h5 39. Rd1 Ne5 40.
Rd5 Nc6 41. Rd6 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "New Delhi/Teheran"]
[Date "2000.12.03"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2661"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2000.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Kh1 Qc7 10. a4 Nc6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Bf3 Bd7 13. Nb3 b6 14. g4 Bc8 15. g5
Nd7 16. Bg2 Bf8 17. Qh5 g6 18. Qh3 Nb4 19. Bg1 Nc5 20. Nxc5 bxc5 21. Rf2 d5 22.
Raf1 Rb8 23. Rd2 Bg7 24. e5 Qa5 25. Nd1 Nc6 26. c3 Ne7 27. Ne3 Bb7 28. Ra1 Bc6
29. Bf3 Rb3 30. Qg2 Reb8 31. Nc4 dxc4 32. Bxc6 Nxc6 33. Qxc6 Bf8 34. Ra2 Rd8
35. Rd7 Rxd7 36. Qxd7 Rb8 37. Kg2 Rd8 38. Qb7 Rd1 39. Qb8 Rd8 40. Qb7 Rd2+ 41.
Bf2 Qd8 42. Ra1 Qd3 43. a5 Qf5 44. Qf3 Qc2 45. Rf1 Qxb2 46. Kg1 Rd5 47. Be1 Qb1
48. Bf2 Qc2 49. Be1 h5 50. Rf2 Qc1 51. Qe4 Rd3 52. Re2 Rxc3 53. Kg2 Rd3 54. Bf2
Qd1 55. h3 c3 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "New Delhi/Teheran"]
[Date "2000.12.07"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2000.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. Ne5 $5 {Dieser Zug ist Topalovs Spezialität. Allerdings ist
Khalifmans 10.h4 populärer.} Bg7 (10... Nbd7 11. Qc2 (11. h4 Nxe5 12. hxg5 Nfd7
13. dxe5 Qxg5 14. Kf1 h5 15. Rh3 h4 16. f4 Qxg3 17. Rxg3 hxg3 18. Bh5 O-O-O $13
{1/2-1/2 Dimitrov,V-Yevseev,D/Koszalin 1999/EXT 2000 (53)}) (11. O-O b4 12.
Nxd7 Kxd7 $6 13. e5 bxc3 14. exf6 cxb2 15. Rb1 Ba3 16. Qa4 Qf8 17. Bxc4 Kc8 18.
Ba6 {1-0 Sasikiran,K-Hatanbaatar,B/Istanbul 2000/EXT 2001 (18)}) 11... Bg7 (
11... Rg8 12. Rd1 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Nd7 14. Bg3 Qb6 15. O-O a6 16. d5 O-O-O 17.
dxe6 fxe6 18. Bg4 c5 19. e5 Be7 20. Qh7 Rge8 21. Qf7 Qc6 22. Bf3 Qc7 23. Qxe6
$36 {1-0 Topalov,V-Bareev,E/Frankfurt 2000/CBM 76 ext (49)}) (11... Nxe5 12.
Bxe5 Be7 13. O-O Qb6 14. Rad1 Rg8 15. b3 cxb3 16. axb3 a6 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. e5
Be7 19. Qh7 Rf8 20. Bh5 Qc7 21. Ne4 c5 22. dxc5 Qxe5 23. Rfe1 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 Qf6
25. Re3 Rd8 26. Rde1 $36 {0-1 Van Wely,L-Dreev,A/Neum 2000/EXT 2001 (36)}) 12.
Rd1 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Qa5 14. O-O O-O 15. f4 Nh7 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. fxg5 hxg5 18. e5
c5 19. d5 exd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. Rxd5 Rad8 22. Rd6 Rxd6 23. exd6 Qb6 24. Qc3+
Kg8 25. Qe5 Rd8 26. Bh5 $18 {1-0 Topalov,V-Komljenovic,D/Villarrobledo 2000/
EXT 2001 (32)}) (10... Bb4 11. O-O Nbd7 12. f4 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Nxe5 14. fxg5 Nfd7
15. dxe5 Qxg5 16. Rxf7 O-O-O 17. Bg4 Qg6 18. Bh5 Qxe4 19. Qd6 Qd5 20. Rd1 Qc5+
21. Bf2 Qxd6 22. exd6 c5 23. Bg4 Bd5 24. Bxc5 Rhg8 25. Bh3 a6 26. Bf2 $16 {
1-0 Sasikiran,K-Ramesh,R/Udaipur 2000/EXT 2001 (32)}) 11. h4 Nbd7 (11... Nfd7
$6 12. Ng4 $1 Qa5 13. hxg5 hxg5 14. Rxh8+ Bxh8 15. Kf1 $16 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,
V-Timman,J/Wijk aan Zee 1998/CBM 63/[Lutz] (42)}) 12. Qc2 c5 13. hxg5 cxd4 $6 {
Schwarz beschwört Komplikationen herauf, die letztlich aber den Weißen in
Vorteil bringen.} (13... hxg5 $5 {sieht wie ein offensichtlicher
Verbesserungsversuch aus.}) 14. Nxb5 Nxe4 (14... Qa5+ $5 {ist interessant:} 15.
Kf1 Nxe4 (15... d3 16. Nd6+ Kf8 17. Nxb7 $18) (15... Qxb5 16. gxf6 Nxf6 17.
Nxc4 $16) 16. Nxc4 Qxb5 17. Nd6+ Nxd6 18. Bxb5 Nxb5 19. a4 Rc8 20. Qd2 Nc7 21.
gxh6 Bf6 {Ich denke, dass Weiß hier besser steht.}) 15. Nxc4 Nxg3 16. Nbd6+ Kf8
17. Nxb7 Qc7 18. fxg3 {Der vertrippelte weiße g-Bauer sieht nicht
beeindruckend aus, aber viel wichtiger ist, dass nun eiene Angriffslinie gegen
den Pf7 geöffnet ist.} Qxb7 (18... Qxg3+ 19. Kf1 hxg5 20. Rxh8+ Bxh8 21. Qd3
$16) 19. O-O $16 {Es erscheint mir, dass Dreev diese Stellung nicht richtig
bei seinen Vorausberechnungen eingeschätzt hat.} d3 {Um die Diagonalen b6-g1
und g7-a1 zu öffnen.} 20. Qxd3 Ne5 (20... Qd5 $5 21. g6 $16) 21. Nxe5 $18 {
Weiß steht auf Gewinn, da Schwarz an der offenen f-Linie zugrunde geht.} Qb6+ (
21... Bxe5 22. Bh5 {, und der Pf7 kann nicht mehr richtig gedeckt werden:} f6 (
22... f5 23. Rxf5+ $1 exf5 24. Qxf5+ $18) (22... Qb6+ 23. Kh1 $1 f5 (23... f6
24. Qd7 Qc7 25. Rxf6+ $18) 24. Rxf5+ $1 exf5 25. Qxf5+ Bf6 26. Qd7 Rh7 27. Qxh7
$18) 23. gxf6 $18) 22. Rf2 (22. Kh1 $4 {geht jetzt nicht.} hxg5+ $19) 22...
Bxe5 23. Qf3 {Der Rf2 ist nun gefesselt, aber jetzt schlägt das Unheil von der
anderen Seite zu: Der Pf7 und der Ra8 hängen.} f5 (23... Ke7 24. Qxf7+ Kd8 (
24... Kd6 25. Rd1+ $18) 25. g6 $18) 24. Qxa8+ Ke7 25. Qf3 {Mit dem Mehrturm
steht Weiß natürlich auf Gewinn, obwohl er wegen der Fesselung auf der
Diagonalen b6-g1 noch etwas Sorgfalt walten lassen muss.} hxg5 26. Rd1 Kf6 27.
Bc4 g4 28. Qd3 Kg5 29. Re1 Qc5 30. b4 Qd4 31. Rxe5 Qa1+ 32. Rf1 Qxe5 33. Qd2+
Kg6 34. Re1 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "New Delhi/Teheran"]
[Date "2000.12.08"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2000.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 e6 8. Ne5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nd7 11. f4 Ngf6 12. Bd2 Be7 13. O-O-O O-O 14. Kb1 {
[%mdl 8]} (14. Qf3 {Topalov-Dreev, FIDE-Wch k.o. 2000 CBM 81}) 14... c5 {
Black has to find counterplay in the [+] and the <<, otherwise White's
attacking chances on the >> become real.} (14... Qc7 15. Qf3) 15. dxc5 Nxc5 16.
Qf3 {White has to keep the queens for the ->.} Qc7 17. Bc3 Rac8 18. Bd4 Rfd8 ({
missing the "petite combination"} 18... Nce4 $1 19. c3 Nxg3 20. Qxg3 Rfd8 21.
Qf3 b5 $132) 19. c3 Na4 {Black has also attacking prospects on the <<.} (19...
b5 $5 20. Ne2 {/\ g4-g5} Nce4 (20... h5 21. g4 hxg4 22. Nxg4 $14 {opens up the
g <->.}) 21. g4 b4 22. g5 bxc3 23. Bxc3 (23. Nxc3 Nxc3+ 24. Bxc3 Nd5) 23...
Nxc3+ 24. Nxc3 Rxd1+ 25. Qxd1 Rb8 26. Qf3 {and White comes first in the race
of attack.}) 20. Ne2 (20. f5 $6 {is not that threatening.} Bc5 $1 {Black has
to eliminate White's menacing centralized B.} (20... Bd6 21. Rhe1 b5 (21... Qa5
$5 22. Ng4 $1 {Attacking the K is more to the point than hunting pawns on the
other flank.} (22. fxe6 fxe6 23. Qxb7 Rb8 24. Qf7+ Kh7 25. Qg6+ Kg8 26. Nc4
Nxc3+ 27. Bxc3 Qxc3 28. Ne4 Qxc4 29. Nxf6+ Kf8 30. Nh7+ Kg8 31. Nf6+ $11 {
with only perpetual checks.}) 22... Nxg4 23. Qxg4 $16) 22. Nh5 (22. fxe6 fxe6)
22... Nxh5 23. fxe6 fxe6 24. Qxh5 b4 25. c4 $14 {avoiding the opening of the
lines on the <<.}) 21. Bxc5 Qxc5 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 $17 {and White's -> is beaten
back.}) 20... Qa5 $1 (20... b5 $6 {is again slower, for example:} 21. g4 $1 b4
22. c4 (22. g5 $143 bxc3) 22... Nd7 (22... Bd6 23. b3 $1 (23. g5 $2 {is
premature in view of} Bxe5 24. Bxe5 (24. fxe5 Qxc4 25. gxf6 Qc2+ 26. Ka1 Rc3 $1
$19) 24... Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Qxc4 26. Ka1 Qe4 27. Qxe4 Nxe4 $15) 23... Nc5 (23...
Nc3+ 24. Nxc3 bxc3 25. Bxc3 Nd5 26. Bb2 $16) 24. g5 $40) 23. b3 Nac5 24. g5 $16
{and White's -> becomes rather dangerous, while Black cannot show anything on
the other flank.}) 21. b3 $1 Nc5 22. g4 $1 Ncd7 (22... Nfd7 $6 23. g5 $16) 23.
g5 Nxe5 (23... hxg5 24. hxg5 $16) 24. fxe5 Qd5 $1 {Black's defence is on the
top.} (24... Nd7 25. gxh6 Nxe5 26. Qxb7 $18) 25. Qd3 $5 {White wants to
continue his -> on the >>.} (25. Qxd5 Nxd5 26. gxh6 gxh6 $14 {is only a little
better _|_ for White.}) 25... Ng4 $1 (25... Nd7 26. Nf4 Qc6 27. gxh6 Nxe5 28.
Qg3 $18) 26. Nf4 Qc6 27. Qe2 Ba3 $1 {Again Black finds the best chance for a
counterplay.} (27... hxg5 {opens up the h <-> against his own K.} 28. hxg5 Bxg5
29. Ng6 $1 (29. Nh3 {is strongly met by} Be3 $1 30. Qxg4 Rxd4 $1 31. cxd4 Qc2+
32. Ka1 Qc3+ $11 {and draw by perpetual.}) 29... Nh6 30. Rhg1 fxg6 31. Rxg5 Nf5
32. Rxg6 Nxd4 33. cxd4 Rc7 34. Rg4 $14 {with still some pressure on the >>.}) (
27... Bc5 $2 {simply loses to} 28. Bxc5 Rxd1+ 29. Rxd1 Qxc5 30. Qxg4 Qxc3 31.
Qe2 $18) 28. Rh3 (28. Rde1 $2 Rxd4 29. cxd4 Ne3 30. gxh6 Qc3 $1 $19 {/\ Nc2}) (
28. Qxg4 Rxd4 $1 29. gxh6 Qe4+ 30. Ka1 Rxd1+ 31. Rxd1 Qxe5 $11) (28. Rhg1 $6
Rxd4 29. cxd4 Ne3 $1 30. Nd3 Nd5 $15) 28... Bc5 $1 (28... Rxd4 29. Rxd4 $1 (29.
cxd4 $4 Qc1+)) 29. Rhd3 {[#]} (29. Qxg4 Rxd4 $1 30. gxh6 Rxd1+ 31. Qxd1 gxh6
32. Qg4+ Kh8 33. Qh5 Qe4+ 34. Nd3 Bf8 35. Qxf7 Bg7) (29. Rg3 Bxd4 30. cxd4 Rxd4
$1 31. Rxg4 h5 32. Nxh5 Rxg4 33. Qxg4 Qc2+ 34. Ka1 Qc3+ $11) 29... Bxd4 $2 {
[%mdl 8192] The B was more important than the R in this special position.} ({
missing the forceful} 29... Rxd4 $3 30. Qxg4 $1 (30. Rxd4 $2 Bxd4 31. cxd4 (31.
Rxd4 Qxc3 $19) 31... Ne3 $19) (30. cxd4 $2 Ba3 {with nasty mating threats on
the c <->.} 31. Qd2 Nf2 $17) 30... Rxd3 31. Nxd3 $1 (31. Rxd3 Qh1+ 32. Kb2 Qh2+
33. Ng2 h5 34. Qe4 b5 $15) 31... Be3 32. c4 b5 33. Nb4 Qc5 34. Nd3 $11 {
with an equal position.}) 30. cxd4 $18 {Now the N on g4 is trapped.} Qa6 31.
Qxg4 Rc2 32. a4 {This is the cold-blooded answer!} h5 33. Nxh5 Rdc8 34. Nf6+ $1
Kf8 35. Nd7+ Ke7 36. Nc5 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "New Delhi/Teheran"]
[Date "2000.12.08"]
[Round "4.5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2000.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 e6 8. Ne5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nd7 11. f4 Ngf6 12. Bd2 Be7 13. O-O-O O-O {This
variation is very popular these days, although White's space advantage looks
rather frightening at first sight. However after a quick c6-c5 Black can blow
up White's [+].} 14. Qf3 (14. Ne2 {/\ g4 is a consistant try, but Black comes
first.} c5 $1 {This is the key move here.} {/\} 15. g4 $6 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Nxg4
17. Qf3 h5 $17 {and the N on g4 is well-protected.}) (14. Qe2 c5 15. f5 {
- Glek-Dautov, Julian Borowski-A Essen 2000 CBM 77} (15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. f5 (16.
Bc3 Qc7 17. f5 Nd5 $1 18. Bd4 Rad8 $132 {Vuckovic-Prelevic, YUG 2000}) 16...
Qb6 17. Be3 Rad8 18. Qc4 Qc7 19. Bf4 Nd5 {White's time-consuming manoeuvres
are not impressive at all.} 20. Ng6 Nxf4 21. Nxe7+ Kh8 ({or} 21... Kh7 $5 {/\}
22. Kb1 $2 b5 $1 $19) 22. Kb1 b5 $1 23. Rxd8 $1 Rxd8 (23... bxc4 $2 24. Rxf8+
Kh7 25. Rxf7 $16) 24. Qf1 {(Sherzer-Al Vajda, Budapest FS GM 2001)} Nfd3 $1 25.
cxd3 (25. fxe6 Qxe7 26. cxd3 Qxe6 $17) 25... Qxe7 $17)) (14. Rhe1 c5 $1 15.
Nxd7 Qxd7 16. f5 cxd4 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. Qb3 Nd5 19. Re4 Bc5 20. Rg4 Kh8 21. Nh5
Qf7 $1 $15 {and it is not easy for White to get back the sacrificed P,
Feygin-Dautov, Gersenkirchen BL 2000/2001}) 14... Qc7 15. c4 (15. Rhe1 {
- Hracek-Dautov, Lippstadt 2000 CBM 78}) (15. Kb1 c5 {This looks more
straightforward, there is no need for preparation.} (15... Rad8 16. Ne2 h5 $1 {
This is the typical defensive reaction in this variation, otherwise 17.g4
comes.} 17. Bc3 g6 18. Rhg1 Qd6 19. g4 hxg4 20. Qd3 Qd5 21. Ng3 Kg7 22. h5 (22.
Ne2 Rh8) 22... Nxe5 (22... gxh5 23. Nxh5+ Nxh5 24. Rxg4+ Kh8 25. Qh3 $16) (
22... Nxh5 $2 23. Nxh5+ gxh5 24. Nxg4 $1 hxg4 25. Rxg4+ Kf6 26. Rg5 $18) 23.
h6+ (23. fxe5 Nxh5 24. Ne4 Qb5 25. Qe3) 23... Kh7 24. fxe5 Ng8 25. Ne4 $14 {
Luther-Neulinger, AUT-chT 2000}) 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. Bc3 Qe7 19.
Rhe1 Rfd8 20. Bxf6 Qxf6 21. Ne4 Qe7 22. Nxc5 Qxc5 23. Qxb7 Qf2 24. Qf3 Qxh4 25.
b3 Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Rd8 27. Rxd8+ Qxd8 28. Qe3 $14 {with only slightly better
_|_ for White, Fercer-Neulinger, Finkenstein op 2000.}) 15... a5 ({Now} 15...
c5 {is already strongly met by the standard} 16. d5 $1 Rae8 (16... exd5 17. Nf5
$1 $16) (16... Nxe5 $2 17. fxe5 Qxe5 18. Bf4 $18) 17. Rhe1 exd5 18. cxd5 (18.
Nf5 $5 {deserves attention as well.} dxc4 19. Bc3 $16) 18... Bd6 19. Bc3 Nxe5
$2 (19... Nb6 20. Nf5 $16) 20. fxe5 $18 Rxe5 (20... Bxe5 21. Rxe5 Rxe5 22. d6
$18) 21. Bxe5 Bxe5 22. Nf5 Rd8 (22... Re8 23. Kb1 c4 24. d6) 23. d6 $1 Bxd6 24.
Rxd6 $1 {1:0 Movsesian-Iordachescu, FIDE Wch KO New Delhi 2000}) 16. Kb1 (16.
Ne2 $5 h5 $1 {This is the correct reaction again!} (16... a4 {gives White free
hand on the >> after} 17. g4 $16) (16... c5 $5 17. g4 $1 {The race begins!}
cxd4 18. g5 $1 Nxe5 $1 (18... hxg5 $6 {opens up the position against his own K.
} 19. hxg5 Nxe5 20. fxe5 Qxc4+ 21. Kb1 Qd5 (21... d3 22. gxf6 $18) 22. Qh3 Qe4+
23. Ka1 Nh7 24. g6 $1 Qxg6 25. Rdg1 Qe4 26. Qh6 $18) 19. fxe5 Nd7 $1 (19...
Qxc4+ 20. Kb1 d3 21. exf6 Qc2+ 22. Ka1 dxe2 23. Qxe2 $16) 20. gxh6 $1 (20. Bf4
Nxe5 $1 (20... Qxc4+ 21. Kb1 $44) 21. Bxe5 (21. Qg3 $2 Qxc4+) 21... Qxe5 22.
gxh6 Qf6 $15) 20... Nxe5 21. Qg3 (21. Qg2 $6 Qxc4+ 22. Bc3 (22. Kb1 g6) 22...
Bf6 23. hxg7 (23. Nxd4 Nd3+ $17) 23... Rfc8 $17) 21... g6 $1 {Black has to
avoid the opening of the lines on the >>.} (21... Qxc4+ 22. Bc3 $1 {This is
the surprise move!} (22. Kb1 Qd3+) 22... Bf6 (22... Ng6 23. hxg7 Rfc8 24. Nxd4)
23. Nxd4 Rfc8 24. Kb1 b5 25. Rhf1 $16 {with good attacking chances for White.})
22. Nxd4 (22. h5 $2 Qxc4+) 22... Qxc4+ 23. Bc3 $44) 17. Ng3 g6 18. Rhe1 Rad8
19. f5 $5 (19. Kb1 {- 16.Kb1 Rad8 17.Ne2 h5}) 19... Nxe5 20. dxe5 Ng4 21. Nxh5
$1 {This is the precise move order.} ({In case of} 21. f6 Bc5 22. Nxh5 $1 Nxe5
$1 {will come.}) 21... gxh5 22. f6 Rd4 $1 (22... Bc5 $2 23. Qf4 $18) 23. fxe7
Rxc4+ 24. Kb1 Qxe7 25. Bg5 Qb4 $13) 16... Rad8 17. Bc1 (17. Bc3 Bb4 {exchanges
the dangerous B.}) (17. Ne2 $5 {deserved attention here as well.} h5 $1 {
is the cold-blooded answer again.} (17... c5 $5 {is again met by the aggressive
} 18. g4 $1 cxd4 19. g5 Nxe5 20. fxe5 Nd7 $1 21. gxh6 $1 (21. Bf4 $6 Nxe5 22.
Qg3 Qxc4 23. gxh6 (23. Bxe5 Qxe2 24. gxh6 g6) 23... g6 (23... Ng6 $2 24. hxg7
Rfe8 25. h5 Qxe2 26. hxg6 Qe4+ 27. Ka1 fxg6 28. Be5 $18) 24. h5 Kh7 $1 {
- 21.gxh6} (24... Qxe2 25. h7+ Kxh7 26. hxg6+ Kg8 27. Rh8+ Kxh8 28. Qh3+ Bh4
29. Qxh4+ Kg7 30. Qh6+ Kf6 31. Qg5+ Kg7 $11)) (21. Qg3 $2 h5 $17) 21... Nxe5
22. Qg3 g6 23. h5 Kh7 24. hxg6+ $1 (24. Bf4 Qxc4 25. Nxd4 Rxd4 26. Bxe5 Rxd1+
27. Rxd1 Qe4+ 28. Ka1 g5 $19) 24... fxg6 25. Nf4 $1 (25. Bf4 Qxc4) 25... Qxc4
26. Rhe1 $44) 18. Ng3 g6 19. Rhe1 (19. Bc3 Nxe5 20. fxe5 (20. dxe5 Ng4) 20...
Ng4 $13) 19... Nxe5 (19... c5 20. d5) 20. fxe5 Ng4 21. Bg5 $1 $14) 17... Rfe8
18. Ne2 c5 $5 (18... h5 $1 {looks attractive again, for example:} 19. Ng3 g6
20. Rhe1 c5 21. d5 exd5 22. cxd5 Nb6 23. f5 Bd6 $1 24. fxg6 Bxe5 25. Nxh5 Nxh5
26. Qxh5 f6 $1 $13) 19. g4 $1 cxd4 20. g5 Nxe5 21. fxe5 Nh7 (21... Nd7 22. gxh6
Nxe5 23. Qg3 Bf6 $13) 22. gxh6 Qxe5 (22... Qxc4 $2 23. Rhf1 $1 f5 (23... Rf8
24. hxg7) 24. Rg1 $18) 23. hxg7 f5 $5 (23... Bf6 {is the other defensive
option.} 24. h5 Bxg7 25. Rhg1 Kf8 26. Rdf1 Nf6 27. Qa3+ (27. Rxg7 $6 Kxg7 28.
h6+ Kh8 29. Qxf6+ Qxf6 30. Rxf6 d3) 27... Qd6 28. Qf3 Qe5 $11) 24. Ng3 (24. h5
$1 {was required, for example:} Qf6 $1 (24... Kxg7 25. h6+ Kh8 26. Nf4 Qf6 (
26... Nf8 27. Rde1 Qf6 28. h7 $1 $18) 27. Nh5 Qg6 28. Bf4 $16) 25. h6 e5 26.
Ng3 f4 27. Ne4 Qe6 28. Rh5 (28. Qd3 Rc8 29. b3 a4) 28... Rc8 29. b3 a4 30. Rg1
axb3 31. axb3 Ra8 $14) 24... Qc7 25. Qe2 Bc5 (25... Bf6 $6 {runs into} 26. Nh5
e5 27. Ng3 {attacking >< f5} Qc8 28. Qh5 f4 {Now the light squares are
weakened.} 29. Nf5 $16) 26. Nh5 e5 27. Ng3 Qf7 (27... f4 $6 {weakens the
important light squares.} 28. Nf5 $16) 28. Qf1 (28. h5 Kxg7 29. Rdf1 f4 30. Ne4
Be7 $13) 28... f4 29. Ne4 {The N is an excellent blockading piece on e4 now.}
Qf5 30. Qd3 Be7 31. Rdg1 Rd6 32. c5 Re6 (32... Rg6 33. Rxg6 Qxg6 34. h5 Qxg7
35. Qb3+ Kh8 36. Qxb7 Nf6 $13 {exchanging the strong N on e4.}) 33. h5 Bg5 (
33... Ng5 $5 34. h6 Qh7 {deserved serious attention.}) 34. Ka1 Bh6 (34... Nf6 {
is again logical eliminating the blockading N on e4.} 35. Rxg5 Qxe4 36. Qh3 Rc6
37. h6 Kh7 $13) 35. Qf3 Ng5 (35... R6e7 $2 36. Nd6 $18) 36. Nxg5 Bxg5 37. Qd5 (
37. Qxb7 e4 $132) 37... Bh6 38. Rg6 (38. Qxb7 {allows the push} e4 $132) 38...
Qf7 39. Qe4 Rc8 40. Rhg1 Rxc5 41. Bd2 Rec6 (41... Rxg6 42. Rxg6 Rc6 43. Qxe5
Rxg6 44. hxg6 Qxg6 $11) 42. a3 Rc8 $4 {[%mdl 8192] The is a terrible blunder,
probably in time trouble.} ({There was nothing wrong with} 42... Rxg6 43. Rxg6
Rc6 44. Qxe5 Rxg6 45. hxg6 Qxg6 46. Qxd4 Qxg7 $11) 43. Rxh6 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "New Delhi/Teheran"]
[Date "2000.12.08"]
[Round "4.6"]
[White "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2000.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Nge2 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Ng3
exd5 9. cxd5 a6 10. a4 h5 11. Bg5 Qc7 12. Qd2 Re8 13. Be2 Nh7 14. Bh6 Bd4 15.
Be3 Bh8 16. O-O Nd7 17. f4 Ndf6 18. e5 h4 19. Nge4 dxe5 20. d6 Qa5 21. Nxf6+
Nxf6 22. fxe5 Rxe5 23. Bf4 Re8 24. Bc4 Qb4 25. b3 Be6 26. Qd3 Bf5 27. Qf3 Bg4
28. Qd3 Bf5 29. Qf3 Bg4 30. Nd5 Bxf3 31. Nxb4 Be2 32. Nd3 Ne4 33. d7 Red8 34.
Ne5 Bxe5 35. Bxe5 Bxf1 36. Rxf1 Rxd7 37. h3 Nd2 38. Rf4 Nxc4 39. bxc4 Re8 40.
Bc3 Re3 41. Bf6 Re6 42. a5 b6 43. Bc3 Rd3 44. Bb2 Rb3 45. Bf6 bxa5 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2632"]
[Annotator "Rabinovich,Al"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb7 (5... b5 6. cxb5 Bxb5 7. Bg2
Bb4+ 8. Bd2 a5 9. O-O O-O 10. a3 Be7 11. Nc3 Bc6 12. Qc2 {[%cal Ge2e4]} d5 13.
Ne5 Bb7 14. Na4 {[%cal Ga4c5]} Nfd7 15. Nd3 Bc6 16. Nac5 Nxc5 17. Nxc5 Ra7 18.
Rfc1 Bb5 19. e3 Nd7 20. a4 Be2 21. Bxa5 $16 {1-0 Tkachiev,V-Nisipeanu,L/
Naujac-sur-Mer FRA 2000/The Week in Chess 303 (28)}) (5... Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7.
Bg2 c6 8. Bc3 d5 9. Nbd2 Nbd7 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 c5 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Bb7
14. Nfg5 cxd4 15. Bxd4 Qc7 16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. Qf3 $11 {1/2-1/2
Gyimesi,Z-Almasi,Z/Budapest HUN 2000/The Week in Chess 310 (37)}) 6. Bg2 Bb4+
7. Bd2 a5 (7... c5 8. Bxb4 cxb4 9. O-O O-O 10. Nbd2 d6 11. Qc2 Nc6 12. e4 e5
13. d5 Nb8 14. a3 bxa3 15. b4 a5 16. c5 $36 {1-0 Shariyazdanov,A-Baklan,V/Neum
BIH 2000/The Week in Chess 308 (43)}) 8. O-O O-O 9. Qc2 d6 10. Bc3 d5 {[%mdl 8]
A new idea played by black.The popular continuation here is 11...Nbd7 12.a3
Bc3 with interesting continuations.White mostly pushes e4,trying to gain some
space advantage in the center,while black has a solid and hard to break
position,playing on queenside.The move played in the game doesn't let white to
play e4,but now the pawn on c7 will be in ganger after c-file will be opened.}
11. a3 Bd6 (11... Bxc3 12. Nxc3 Nbd7 $14 {With small but a long range
advantage.White can prepare by 13.Rfc1 pressure on c7 pawn or to exchange on
d5 and to play b4,both cases white has a slightly better position.}) 12. Bb2
Nbd7 13. Nc3 {[%csl Rc7,Rd6][%cal Gc3b5]} Re8 (13... dxc4 14. bxc4 e5 15. dxe5
Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Bxg2 17. Nxf7 Rxf7 18. Kxg2 $16) (13... c5 $5 {It should be one
of the ideas in this position,why not to play it now?After white will place
the R on d1 it will be tough to play c5.Here can arise position with two
hanging pawns and black will get good counterplay.} 14. Nb5 Be7 15. dxc5 dxc4
16. bxc4 Nxc5 17. Rad1 $11) 14. Rfd1 {Playing against both c5 and e5.Good
profilactic move.} Qb8 (14... c6 15. e4 dxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Qxe4 Nf6 18. Qe3
$14) 15. Nb5 $14 {Now white gets a better position.Black can't avoid
exchanging his dark square B .Black sacrafises a pawn,trying to find some
fortune on the queenside.} a4 (15... Bf8 {Trying to save the B,can be
dangerous,because of 16.Bc1. B goes to f4 from where he will attack
already"feeling scared" c7 pawn.} 16. cxd5 (16. Bc1 $5 $14 {[%cal Gc1f4,Gf4c7]}
) 16... exd5 $11 {[%cal Ge8e2,Gc7c6]}) 16. bxa4 dxc4 17. Nd2 (17. Qxc4 Bd5 18.
Qc2 Be4 19. Qd2 Rxa4 20. Nxd6 cxd6 {Black is fine.}) 17... Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Qb7+
19. f3 {[%cal Gd2c4,Ge2e4] White is better.In addition to extra pawn,white
knights are taking good places and sometime white will also like to advance
the e4.} Rec8 20. Nxc4 Bf8 21. Rac1 $1 {e4 can wait,important to bring the
second R in the game.} Qa6 {[%csl Ra4] It will be hard for black to win the a4
pawn,since white always will play Ncd6 and win the c7 pawn.} 22. e4 c6 $6 {
May be it was better just to play 22...Be7 not to rush.After the move in the
game,black prepared to sacrafise an exchange ,but he doesn't get enough
compensation for the sacrafised material.} (22... Be7 $5 23. Ne5 Nxe5 24. dxe5
Ne8 25. Rd7 Bc5 {White has to do a lot of work to prove that this extra pawn
is enough for win.}) 23. Ncd6 cxb5 $6 {Of course 23...Bd6 was better,but black
already prepared the sacrafise....} (23... Bxd6 24. Nxd6 Rd8 25. Rd2 $16 (25.
Qxc6 $2 Qe2+)) 24. Nxc8 b4 (24... bxa4 {[%cal Ga8c8,Ga6e2]} 25. Rd2 $18) 25.
Qc4 (25. axb4 {Could give black some surviving chances.} Rxc8 26. Qxc8 Qe2+ 27.
Kh3 Qxb2 (27... Qxf3 $1 28. Qc2 Nxe4 29. Rf1 Ng5+ 30. Kh4 Qe3 {[%cal Gg5f3,
Gf8e7]} 31. Qf2 $6 Nf3+ $3 32. Qxf3 (32. Kh3 Ng5+ 33. Kh4 $11) 32... Qh6+ 33.
Kg4 f5+ $19) 28. e5 $18) 25... bxa3 (25... Qxa4 26. axb4 $18) 26. Qxa6 {
Without the queens it easier to bring the N in the game.} Rxa6 27. Ba1 Rxa4 28.
d5 {[%cal Gd5d6] White must promote the d-pawn as much as possible,so black
pieces won't be able to concentrate on pushing the pawns on queenside.} Bc5 29.
dxe6 (29. Bxf6 $1 {Was winning immideatly.} Nxf6 (29... gxf6 30. dxe6 fxe6 31.
Rxd7 a2 32. Ra1 b5 33. Ne7+ Kf8 34. Nc6 b4 35. Rb7 $18) 30. Nxb6 Ra5 31. e5 $18
) 29... fxe6 30. Nd6 {White has brought his N to the game,but the position is
not simple .Black has stronge pawn on a2 and white must pay attantion not to
let black to push the b-pawn.} h5 31. Nb7 Ra7 32. Nd8 $6 (32. Nxc5 Nxc5 {
[%cal Gf6d7]} 33. Bxf6 gxf6 34. Rc3 {[%cal Gd1a1] Winning the a-pawn.}) 32...
Nf8 33. Nc6 Rb7 (33... Rc7 34. Nd4 $16 {[%cal Gd4b5,Ge4e5]}) 34. Rd3 N6d7 35.
Rb3 Rc7 36. Nb4 {[%cal Gb4c2,Gb4a6]} Ra7 37. Nc2 e5 (37... a2 38. Bb2 {[%cal
Gc1a1,Gb2a3,Ga1a2]}) 38. Bc3 $1 {[%cal Gc1a1] Finally white is winning the
a-pawn,after what the way to win is easier.} Ne6 39. Ra1 Nd4 40. Bxd4 exd4 41.
Nxa3 Ne5 42. f4 Nc4 43. Nc2 {[%cal Ge4e6,Gf4f5] White's position is won.The
plan is to bring the king to the center,activate the rooks and watch the black
d-pawn and be aware of any tricks.} Rd7 {[%cal Gd4d3]} 44. Rd1 Ra7 {[%cal
Ga7a2]} 45. Kh3 {[%cal Gc2d4]} Nd6 46. e5 Ne4 47. Rxd4 {White transfers the
ending to one without any counter chances for black.Pawn on b6 won't influence
anything.White king will enter the center and e and f pawns will win the game.}
Nf2+ (47... Bxd4 48. Nxd4 $18 {[%cal Gb3b6,Gh3h4]}) 48. Kg2 Bxd4 49. Nxd4 Ra2
50. Kf3 Ng4 51. h3 Nh2+ {Black is looking for tricks,but white carefully rids
of any complications and brings the K to the center.The rest is simple,black
doesn't want to put passivly the R on a6 to protect the b-pawn,trying to
attack white pawns on kingside.White R+Kplaced good enough to protect the
pawns and game ends in few moves.} 52. Ke4 Nf1 53. Kf5 Rg2 54. g4 hxg4 55. hxg4
g6+ 56. Kxg6 Rxg4+ 57. Kf5 Rg7 {The last trick.} 58. e6 (58. Rxb6 $4 Ng3+ $11
59. Kf6 (59. Ke6 $4 Rg6+ $19) 59... Nh5+ 60. Kf5 Ng3+) 1-0

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 31st"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2001.05.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2661"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2001.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 {Dieser
Zug wird auf Großmeisterebene nur selten gespielt. Weiß möchte in der Folge
mit 0-0-0 und eventuellem f3, g4 eine starke Angriffsstellung aufbauen.} b5 8.
O-O-O (8. Bf4 e5 (8... Ne5 9. Ndxb5 axb5 10. Nxb5 Qb8 11. Qc3 f6 12. O-O-O Nd3+
13. Bxd3 Qxf4+ 14. Kb1 Kf7 15. Rhf1 Ne7 {0-1 Doncheva,M-Velcheva,M/Plovdiv BUL
2001/(52)}) 9. Nd5 Qb8 10. Nxc6 dxc6 11. O-O-O cxd5 12. Qxd5 f6 13. Be3 Qb7 14.
Qd8+ Kf7 15. f3 Be6 {0-1 Bhattacharyya,P-Mishra,N/Calcutta 1994/CBM 39 ext (26)
}) 8... Nf6 (8... Bb7 9. Nxc6 Bxc6 10. Nd5 Bxd5 11. exd5 Nf6 12. d6 Qc6 13. Be2
Qxg2 14. f3 Nd5 15. Rdg1 Qh3 16. Rg3 Qh4 17. Rg4 Qd8 18. Bc5 Rc8 19. b4 h5 20.
Rd4 Nf6 21. a4 {1/2-1/2 Leko,P-Movsesian,S/Las Vegas 1999/CBM 72 (54)}) 9. Bf4
{Das ist eine neue und interessante Idee. Ich glaube, dass wir in nächster
Zeit weitere Partien zu diesem Thema sehen werden.} (9. Nxc6 dxc6 (9... Qxc6
10. f3 Bb7 11. g4 (11. Kb1 Rc8 12. Bd4 Bc5 13. g4 Bxd4 14. Qxd4 Qc5 15. Qd2 b4
16. Na4 Qc6 17. b3 O-O 18. g5 Nh5 {1/2-1/2 Kobalija,M-Oral,T/Varadero 2000/CBM
77 (34)}) 11... b4 12. Ne2 d5 13. e5 Nd7 14. Bd4 a5 15. Kb1 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Qxc5
17. f4 O-O 18. Nd4 {1/2-1/2 Kobalija,M-Stefansson,H/Varadero 2000/CBM 77 (41)})
10. f3 Be7 11. g4 e5 12. h4 Be6 13. Bh3 Rd8 14. Qh2 Rxd1+ 15. Rxd1 O-O 16. g5
Nh5 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Qh3 Qc8 19. Ne2 g6 {1/2-1/2 Motylev,A-Fominyh,A/Ubeda
ESP 2001/(41)}) (9. f3 Bb7 10. Nb3 (10. Kb1 b4 11. Na4 d5 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. Nb6
Rd8 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Rxd5 16. Bd3 Be7 $11) 10... d6 11. Bd3 Ne5 12. Qf2
Nfd7 13. Kb1 Rb8 14. Rhe1 Be7 15. Ba7 Rc8 {0-1 Tirard,H-Gustafsson,J/Hamburg
1996/CBM 55 ext (44)}) 9... Ne5 (9... Qb6 10. e5 $36) (9... e5 10. Nxc6 exf4 (
10... dxc6 11. Bxe5 $18) 11. e5 Ng4 12. Nd4 $40) 10. Nf3 Nfg4 (10... Nxf3 $5
11. gxf3 Qa5 12. Kb1 (12. e5 b4 $132) 12... b4 13. Ne2 d5 $13) 11. Bg3 (11. h3
Nxf3 12. Bxc7 Nxd2 13. Rxd2 Nf6 14. e5 b4 {b5-b4auf e4-e5 ist ein für diese
Stellungen typischer Gegenangriff von Schwarz.}) 11... f6 (11... b4 $2 12. Nd5
exd5 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. Qxd5 $16 {[%csl Re5][%cal Rd5a8]}) (11... Bb4 $2 12. Qg5
$16) (11... d6 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. f4 $40) 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 (12... fxe5 $2 13. Qg5
$16) 13. f4 {Weiß hat Entwicklungsvorsprung und gute Angriffschancen. Der
schwarze König steht unsicher in der Mitte. Dennoch hat Schwarz einige
Gegenchancen am Damenflügel.} Nc4 (13... b4 $2 14. Nd5 $16) (13... Nf7 $5) 14.
Bxc4 Qxc4 15. f5 $36 {[%csl Re8]} Kf7 $6 (15... Bb4 16. fxe6 Qxe6 17. Qd5 Qc6 (
17... Qxd5 $2 18. Nxd5 Ba5 19. Bc7 $18) 18. Qh5+ g6 19. Qh6 Bf8 (19... Bxc3 $2
20. Qg7 $18) 20. Qh4 $40) (15... e5 $5 {Dieser Zug schwächt zwar das Feld d5,
aber die schwarze Stellung scheint mir verteidigungsfähig.}) (15... b4 $5 16.
fxe6 bxc3 17. exd7+ Kf7 $13) 16. e5 $1 {[%mdl 128]} b4 (16... Bb4 17. Rhf1 Bxc3
18. bxc3 Qxa2 19. Qe2 $44 (19. Qd6 $44)) 17. Nb1 exf5 (17... Qxa2 18. Rhf1 $36
{[%cal Gf1f7]}) 18. exf6 gxf6 19. Bd6 $1 {[%csl Gd6]} (19. Rhf1 d5 $1 (19...
Kg6 20. Bd6 $40) 20. b3 Qc6 21. Qxd5+ Qxd5 22. Rxd5 Be6 $11) 19... Bxd6 (19...
Qxa2 20. Qxb4 Bh6+ 21. Bf4 $36) 20. Qxd6 Re8 21. b3 (21. Rhe1 Re6) 21... Qb5 (
21... Qe4 22. Nd2 Qe5 (22... Qxg2 23. Rhg1 Qc6 24. Qg3 $16 {[%cal Rg1g7,Rg7f7]}
) 23. Qxb4 Qa1+ 24. Nb1 $36) 22. Rhe1 (22. a4 $5) 22... Bb7 (22... Re6 23. Rxe6
dxe6 24. Qc7+ Kg6 25. Rd8 $18) (22... Re5 23. Nd2 Bb7 (23... Qc5 24. Qxc5 Rxc5
25. Nc4 $36) 24. Rxe5 fxe5 25. Nc4 $16) 23. a4 (23. Qxd7+ Kg6 24. Qd6) 23...
Qc6 (23... bxa3 24. Nxa3 Qc6 25. Qxd7+ Kg6 26. Qd3 Rxe1 27. Qg3+ Kf7 28. Qxe1
Re8 29. Qh4 $40) 24. Qxb4 {Endlich hat Weiß das materielle Gleichgewicht
widerhergestellt. Die schwarze Königsstellung ist - die ganze Partie über -
schwach, doch Weiß hat noch keine konkreten Drohungen.} Rxe1 (24... Rac8 25.
Na3 $16 {[%cal Ga3c4,Gc4d6]}) (24... Re6 $5) 25. Qxe1 (25. Rxe1 Rc8 (25... Qxg2
26. Qe7+ Kg6 27. Qxd7 Be4 28. Nd2 $14) 26. Na3) 25... Rc8 26. Na3 d5 27. Qh4 {
[%csl Gh4]} Kg8 28. Rd3 {[%cal Gd3h3,Gg3g8]} Qe6 29. Qg3+ Kf7 $2 {[%mdl 8192]
Das ist ein Fehler, der Weiß tödliche Drohungen ermöglicht.} (29... Kh8 $1 30.
Re3 Qd7 31. Qh4 Qg7 $14) 30. Re3 $1 $16 Qb6 (30... Qd7) 31. Qh3 {[%csl Rf7]
[%cal Rh3h7,Rh7f7]} Qc5 32. Qxh7+ Kf8 33. Rg3 $18 1-0

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 31st"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2001.05.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Atalik, Suat"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D29"]
[WhiteElo "2537"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[Annotator "Atalik,S"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2001.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e3 {Too tame.} ({Usual is} 5. e4
Bb4 6. Bg5) 5... a6 6. Bxc4 (6. a4 c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O Be7 9. Qe2 cxd4 10.
Rd1 e5 {transposes to some equal variation of queen's gambit accepted.} 11.
exd4 exd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qe5 Qd6 14. Qxd6 Bxd6 15. Rxd4 $11) 6... b5 7. Bb3
Bb7 8. O-O c5 9. Qe2 Nbd7 10. Rd1 Qb8 11. d5 Nxd5 12. Bxd5 exd5 13. Nxd5 Bxd5
14. Rxd5 Qb7 15. e4 Be7 16. Bg5 f6 17. Rad1 {This is all theory.} Nb6 18. Bf4
O-O (18... Nxd5 $6 {is risky.} 19. exd5 O-O 20. d6 Bd8 21. d7 Bc7 22. Qe6+ Kh8
(22... Rf7 23. b4 cxb4 (23... c4 24. Be3 c3 25. Bc5 $18) 24. Rc1) 23. Be3 Qb6
$140 $2 24. Qxb6 Bxb6 25. b4 $18) 19. R5d2 Rfe8 $1 {Black builds up his play
around whites post on e4.} 20. e5 Bf8 21. Qd3 Nc4 $1 22. Re2 {I have thought
that blacks last is impossible.} (22. exf6 $2 Nxd2 23. f7+ Qxf7 24. Ng5 Nf3+ $1
{The move which I have later seen.} 25. Qxf3 (25. gxf3 Qg6 $19 {and the knight
is pinned.}) 25... Qxa2 $8 $19) 22... fxe5 23. Bxe5 $6 {Like it was mentioned
in the previous notes,white is not doing so fine.} (23. Nxe5 Bd6 24. Rde1 Bxe5
25. Bxe5 Rad8 26. Qg3 Nxe5 27. Rxe5 Rxe5 28. Qxe5 Qd5 29. Qe7 Rf8 30. b3 c4 31.
bxc4 bxc4 32. Qe6+ Qxe6 33. Rxe6 Rc8 34. Re2 Kf7 35. Kf1 Kf6 36. Ke1 $11) 23...
Nxe5 24. Nxe5 c4 25. Qf5 Qe7 $1 26. Re3 Rad8 {After this white can force a
pawns ending.However during the game I have thought that this ending is losing
by force.} 27. Rde1 $2 {Despite everything white has to go to the pawns ending.
} (27. Rd7 $1 Rxd7 (27... g6 $2 28. Qg4 Qf6 29. Qd1 $1 $18) 28. Nxd7 Qf7 29.
Qxf7+ Kxf7 30. Rxe8 Kxe8 31. Nxf8 Kxf8 32. f4 $1 {This is the first critical
move.White is threatening to occupyone of the central squares with his king.} (
{This one is clearly losing.} 32. a3 $2 a5 33. Kf1 b4 34. Ke2 (34. axb4 c3 $1
35. bxc3 a4 $19) 34... c3 $19) (32. Kf1 $2 Ke7 33. Ke2 Kd6 34. Ke3 Kd5 35. h4 (
35. f4 h5 $1 (35... b4 36. g4 $1 $11) 36. g3 a5 37. h3 b4 38. a4 Kc5 $1 39. g4
hxg4 40. hxg4 Kd5 $19) (35. g4 g5 36. f4 gxf4+ 37. Kxf4 Kd4 $19) 35... h5 $1
36. f3 (36. a3 a5 $1 (36... c3 $2 37. bxc3 Kc4 38. f4 Kxc3 39. g4 hxg4 (39...
a5 40. gxh5 b4 41. axb4 axb4 42. f5 b3 43. f6 gxf6 44. h6 b2 45. h7 b1=Q 46.
h8=Q $11) 40. f5 a5 41. f6 gxf6 42. h5 b4 43. axb4 axb4 44. h6 b3 45. h7 b2 46.
h8=Q b1=Q 47. Qxf6+ $11) 37. f3 c3 $1 38. bxc3 Kc4 39. Kd2 Kb3 40. g4 Kxa3 41.
gxh5 b4 $19) 36... a5 37. g4 b4 (37... g6 $2 38. a3 b4 (38... Ke5 39. f4+ Kf6
40. gxh5 gxh5 41. Kd4 Kf5 42. Kc5 Kxf4 43. Kxb5 Kg4 44. Kxc4 Kxh4 45. b4 axb4
46. a4 $18) 39. axb4 axb4 40. gxh5 gxh5 41. f4 b3 42. Kd2 Ke4 43. Kc3 Kxf4 44.
Kxc4 Kg4 45. Kxb3 Kxh4 46. Kc4 Kg3 $11) 38. gxh5 (38. a4 hxg4 39. fxg4 Ke5 40.
h5 b3 41. Kd2 Kf4 42. Kc3 Kxg4 43. Kxc4 Kxh5 44. Kxb3 g5 45. Kc4 g4 $19) 38...
a4 39. Kd2 Kd4 40. a3 b3 41. h6 gxh6 42. h5 (42. f4 Ke4 43. Kc3 Kxf4 44. Kxc4
Ke3 45. Kb5 Kd2 $19) 42... c3+ $1 {Now black is winning due to the fact that
white's passer's are two files apart.} 43. bxc3+ Kc4 44. f4 Kd5 45. Kd3 Ke6 46.
c4 Kf5 47. c5 Ke6 $19) 32... Ke7 (32... h5 33. Kf2 Ke7 34. Ke3 Ke6 35. Ke4 $11)
(32... a5 33. Kf2 a4 34. Ke3 b4 35. Kd2 Ke7 36. a3 c3+ 37. bxc3 b3 38. g4 Kd6
39. Kd3 g6 40. c4 Ke6 41. Kc3 $11) 33. Kf2 {The move order does not matter
white has to throw his king on the third rank and then should play g4 or the
other way around.} (33. g4) 33... Kd6 34. Ke3 Kd5 35. g4 $1 b4 (35... a5 $5 36.
h4 $5 (36. a3 a4 37. Kd2 Ke4 (37... Kd4 38. f5 h6 39. Kc2 c3 40. bxc3+ Ke4 41.
h3 Kf4 42. Kd3 Kg3 43. Ke4 Kxh3 44. Kf3 $11) 38. Kc3 $1 (38. f5 $2 Kf4 39. Kc3
Kxg4 40. Kb4 Kh3 41. Kxb5 Kxh2 42. Kxa4 Kg3 43. Kb5 h5 $19) 38... Kxf4 39. Kb4
Kxg4 40. Kxb5 Kh3 41. Kxa4 Kxh2 42. b4 cxb3 43. Kxb3 g5 44. a4 $11) 36... a4
37. a3 b4 $1 (37... g6 $2 {This move surprisingly loses the game.} 38. g5 $3 (
38. h5 $2 gxh5 39. gxh5 h6 40. Kd2 Ke4 41. Kc3 Kxf4 42. Kb4 Kg5 43. Kxb5 Kxh5
44. Kxa4 Kg4 $19) 38... Ke6 (38... b4 $2 39. axb4 c3 40. Kd3 cxb2 41. Kc2 a3
42. b5 Kc5 43. h5 gxh5 44. f5 h4 45. f6) 39. Kd4 Kd6 (39... Kf5 40. Kc5 Kxf4
41. Kxb5 Kg4 42. Kxc4 Kxh4 43. b4 axb3 44. Kxb3 Kxg5 45. a4 $18) 40. Kc3 Kd5
41. Kb4 Kc6 42. f5 gxf5 43. h5 f4 44. g6 (44. Kc3 $2 f3 45. Kd2 b4 $19) 44...
hxg6 45. hxg6 f3 46. g7 f2 47. g8=Q f1=Q 48. Qa8+ Kc7 49. Qa5+ Kd6 50. Qb6+ Ke7
51. Qxb5 Qe2 52. Qc5+ Kd7 53. Qd4+ Ke7 54. Kxa4 $18) (37... h6 38. h5 $1 b4 39.
axb4 c3 40. Kd3 cxb2 41. Kc2 a3 42. g5 $18) 38. axb4 c3 39. Kd3 cxb2 40. Kc2
Kc4 (40... a3 $2 41. f5 $18) 41. f5 Kxb4 42. Kxb2 (42. g5 $2 Ka3 $19) 42... Kc5
43. h5 Kd6 44. g5 Ke7 45. Ka3 h6 46. gxh6 gxh6 47. Kxa4 Kf6 48. Kb3 Kxf5 49.
Kc2 $11) (35... g6 36. a3 h6 37. h3 a5 38. f5 gxf5 39. gxf5 Ke5 40. f6 Kxf6 41.
Kd4 Kg5 42. Kc5 Kh4 43. Kxb5 Kxh3 44. Kxc4 h5 45. b4 axb4 46. axb4 h4 47. b5
Kg2 48. b6 $11) 36. a4 $3 {This is the most important move.} a5 37. h4 (37. f5
$2 h6) 37... b3 (37... g6 38. f5 gxf5 39. gxf5 Ke5 40. f6 Kxf6 41. Kd4 c3 42.
bxc3 b3 (42... bxc3 43. Kxc3 h5 (43... Kf5 $2 44. Kc4 Kg4 (44... Ke5 45. Kb5
Kd6 46. Kxa5 Kc5 47. h5 h6 48. Ka6 Kc6 49. a5 Kc7 50. Kb5 Kb7 51. Kc5 $18) 45.
Kb5 h5 46. Kxa5 Kxh4 47. Kb5 Kg3 48. a5 $18) 44. Kc4 Ke6 45. Kb5 Kd5 46. Kxa5
Kc5 $11) 43. Kd3 Ke5 44. Kd2 Kd5 45. Kc1 Kc4 46. Kb2 h5 47. Ka3 Kxc3 $11) 38.
Kd2 Ke4 39. Kc3 Kxf4 40. Kxc4 Kxg4 41. Kxb3 Kxh4 42. Kc4 g5 43. b4 axb4 44. a5
g4 45. a6 g3 46. a7 g2 47. a8=Q g1=Q 48. Kxb4 $11) 27... Qe6 $1 {Black
sacrifices a pawn for initiative.Actually it is not even a sacrifice since
black will win it back almost immediately.} 28. Qxe6+ Rxe6 29. Nxc4 Rc6 30. Ne5
Rc2 31. Rb3 $4 {Unbelievable!After this howler of course white will lose in
2two moves.} (31. Kf1 $1 Rxb2 (31... Bb4 32. Rb1 Rdd2 (32... Bc5 33. Re2 Rdd2
34. Rxd2 Rxd2 35. Rc1 Rxf2+ 36. Ke1 Be3 37. Rc8+ Rf8 38. Rxf8+ Kxf8 $15) 33.
Nd3 Ba5 34. Rf3 $11) 32. R3e2 Rxe2 33. Kxe2 Bb4 34. Rd1 Rxd1 35. Kxd1 $15)
31... Rdd2 $19 32. g3 {Nothing works!} (32. Nd3 a5 33. h3 a4 34. Rxb5 Rxd3 $19)
(32. Ng4 Bc5 $19) 32... Rxf2 0-1

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 31st"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2001.05.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kurajica, Bojan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B28"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2567"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2001.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Nf6 6. Be2 cxd4 7. cxd4 e6 8.
Nc3 Qd6 9. Ne5 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Bf3 Be7 12. Bf4 Qd7 13. O-O Nd5 14. Be5
O-O 15. Na4 Qa7 16. Rc1 Bd7 17. Be4 Be8 18. Re1 f6 19. Bxd5 fxe5 20. Bxc6 Rd8
21. Bxe8 Rxd4 22. Qb3 Rxe8 23. Rxe5 Kh8 24. Rxe6 Rf8 25. Qe3 Bh4 26. g3 Qd7 27.
Nc5 Qd8 28. gxh4 Rg4+ 29. Kf1 Rgf4 30. Ne4 Qxh4 31. h3 h6 32. Rc3 Qh5 33. Rc5
Qf7 34. Rce5 Rf3 35. Qc5 Kh7 36. Kg2 Qb7 37. Rxh6+ Kg8 38. Qc4+ R3f7 39. Rc6
Qxb2 40. Rf5 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. h3 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8.
c3 c5 9. Bc2 Nc6 10. d4 Be6 11. Re1 h6 $1 {Topalov correctly sensed the
importance of the g5 square control, even though weakened diagonal b1-h7 could
have seemed dangerous.} 12. Be3 Re8 13. Nbd2 Bf8 (13... Nd5 14. Nf1 Nxe3 15.
Nxe3 $14) 14. Ne4 Nd5 (14... Nxe4 15. Bxe4 d5 16. Bc2 $14) (14... Bd5 15. Nxf6+
Qxf6 16. dxc5 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Qxf3 18. gxf3 dxc5 19. Be4 $14) 15. dxc5 (15. Bc1
Bf5 16. Qd3 Qd7 $13) 15... Nxe3 16. Rxe3 dxc5 17. Qe2 Qc7 (17... Qb6 18. Re1
Qxb2 $2 19. Nf6+ gxf6 20. Bh7+ $18) 18. Re1 (18. Nfg5 hxg5 19. Nxg5 (19. Qh5
Bf5 20. Nf6+ gxf6 21. Bxf5 Bg7 $19) 19... g6 20. Nxe6 (20. Bxg6 fxg6 21. Nxe6
Qf7 $15) 20... Rxe6 21. Rxe6 fxe6 22. Qxe6+ Qf7 $15) 18... Rad8 19. Neg5 Rd6 $1
{[%mdl 256] Excellent defensive move played in cool blood, Morozevich will
have a hard time intensifying his attack.} (19... Bd7 $2 20. Qd3 $18) (19...
hxg5 $6 20. Nxg5 g6 (20... Bd6 21. Qh5) 21. Bxg6 $1 fxg6 22. Nxe6 $16) 20. Ne4
(20. Nxe6 $5 Rexe6 (20... Rdxe6 $2 21. Qd3 $18) 21. Bb3 Rxe3 22. Qxe3 $14)
20... Rdd8 21. Nfg5 $1 Bd5 $1 22. Qh5 $2 {White got carried away with the
prospects of triumphal attack, this impatient move loses.} (22. Nh7 $1 Bxe4 (
22... Kxh7 $2 23. Nf6+ Kh8 24. Rxe8 $18) (22... Be7 23. Nxc5 $1 Bxa2 24. Nf6+
gxf6 25. Qg4+ Kf8 (25... Kh8 26. Qf5 $18) 26. Bh7 $18) 23. Rxe4 Re7 24. Nxf8
Kxf8 $14) 22... Re5 $1 23. f4 Rf5 24. g3 (24. Ng3 g6 25. Qe2 Rxf4 $19) 24... g6
25. Qh4 c4 $1 (25... hxg5 26. Nxg5 Rxg5 27. Qxg5 c4 $17) 26. Kh2 (26. Nf3 Be7
27. Qxh6 (27. Qg4 h5 $19) 27... Bxe4 $1 (27... Rh5 $2 28. Nf6+ $1 Bxf6 29. Re8+
$18) 28. Bxe4 Rh5 $19) 26... Kg7 27. Qg4 (27. R1e2 Be7 $17) 27... hxg5 28. Nxg5
Rxg5 29. Qxg5 Qb6 30. f5 Be7 $1 {For the change black is now prepared to play
aggressively, opponent's concept was fully refuted.} 31. Qf4 (31. Rxe7 Qf2#)
31... Qxb2 32. Rxe7 (32. R1e2 Qc1 $19) 32... Qxc2+ 33. R1e2 Qxf5 34. Qxf5 gxf5
35. Re8 (35. Rxb7 Nd4 $19) 35... Rd7 $1 36. Rd2 Kf6 37. Kg1 Ne5 38. Kf2 Nd3+
39. Ke3 Bc6 40. Rb8 Re7+ 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2711"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7 (5... Be7 6.
Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. Bc4 O-O 9. Qe2 c5 10. O-O-O Qb6 11. Nxf6+ Nxf6 12. dxc5
$14 {Magem Badals,J-Dizdar,G/Erevan olm 1996}) 6. Nf3 h6 7. Nxf6+ (7. Bxf6 Nxf6
8. Bd3 Be7 9. O-O Nxe4 10. Bxe4 O-O 11. c3 Qd6 12. Re1 c5 13. Qe2 cxd4 14. cxd4
Bf6 15. Rad1 Rb8 16. Ne5 $14 {Gligoric,S-Akopian,V Erevan 1989/}) 7... Nxf6 8.
Bxf6 (8. Bh4 c5 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bxd7+ Qxd7 11. Qe2 Be7 12. O-O-O O-O 13. dxc5
Qc6 $1 14. Kb1 Rfd8 $10 {Anand,V-Ivanchuk V Linares m/2 1992 Inf 55/283/}) 8...
Qxf6 9. Bb5+ (9. g3 Bd6 10. Bg2 O-O 11. O-O e5 12. dxe5 Bxe5 13. Nxe5 Qxe5 14.
c3 c6 15. Re1 Qc7 16. Qa4 Be6 17. Rad1 Rfd8 18. h4 a5 19. b3 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Rd8
21. Rxd8+ Qxd8 {1/2-1/2 Vallejo Pons,F-Illescas Cordoba,M/Torneo de Pamplona
9th 1998}) (9. Bd3 a6 (9... Bd6 10. Qe2 Bd7 11. Be4 O-O-O 12. O-O Rhe8 13. c4
c6 14. Rad1 e5 15. c5 Bc7 16. d5 cxd5 17. Rxd5 $14 {Kovalev,A-Dolmatov,S/
BL9293 1993}) 10. Qe2 c5 11. O-O-O cxd4 12. Kb1 Bd6 13. h4 Bd7 14. Be4 Bb5 $15
{Maier,C-Legky,N/ch-FRA (team) 1999}) 9... c6 10. Bd3 a6 $5 {Shirov used this
continuation against Topalov in advanced chess in Lion and won, so Anand
decides to check it out wether Topalov has come to Dortmund with an
improvement!} (10... Bd6 11. O-O (11. c3 O-O 12. Qe2 Rd8 13. O-O c5 14. Rad1
cxd4 15. cxd4 $14) 11... Bd7 (11... O-O 12. Qe2 c5 13. c3 Rb8 14. Ne5 Bxe5 15.
dxe5 Qe7 16. Rad1 Rd8 17. Qe4 g6 18. Qe3 Kg7 19. Be4 $14 {Morovic Fernandez,
I-Hergott,D/North Bay op 1996}) 12. Qe2 O-O 13. Ne5 Rfd8 14. Qe4 g6 $13 {
Kovalevskaya,E-Edzgveradze,N/Moscow-W 1996}) (10... g6 11. c3 (11. Qe2 Bg7 12.
h4 O-O 13. h5 g5 14. c3 Qe7 15. Qe4 Rd8 16. Qh7+ Kf8 17. Ne5 $40 {Kreiman,
B-Zifroni,D/Graz op 1997}) 11... Bg7 12. Qe2 O-O 13. O-O (13. O-O-O $5 {
/\Kb1,h4,h5/}) 13... Rd8 14. Rad1 Bd7 15. Ne5 Be8 16. f4 $16 {Smyslov,
V-Dolmatov,S/Rostov 1993}) 11. c3 c5 12. Ne5 Bd6 13. Qe2 $146 {Here comes
Topalov's novelty. In the game with Shirov he played Ftacnik: 'Anand has
chosen Shirov's play as an inspiration in this line, white sensibly admitts
the importance to support the most valuable piece in the center.'} (13. Qa4+
Ke7 14. O-O Bxe5 15. dxe5 Qxe5 16. Rae1 Qc7 17. Qh4+ g5 18. Qh5 Bd7 {Black
managed to survive white's attack and to convert his material advantage into a
point after very sharp battle.} (18... Bd7 {Ftacnik} 19. f4 c4 20. fxg5 Qc5+
21. Kh1 cxd3 22. Rxf7+ Kd8 {0-1 Topalov,V-Shirov,A/Leon/2001/ (49)})) 13...
cxd4 14. cxd4 Bd7 ({After} 14... Bb4+ 15. Kf1 {White loses a castling option
but his rook can be brought into play over the h-file.} O-O 16. Qe4 Rd8 17. h4
{[%csl Rf7,Rg8][%cal Gh1h3,Gh3f3] with initiative. '|^' Ftacnik.}) 15. O-O ({
After a tempting} 15. Qe4 $5 {black can hold by} Bxe5 16. dxe5 Qf5 $1 {with
slightly worse position.} (16... Qf5 $1 {Ftacnik} 17. Rc1 $14)) 15... Qf4 ({
In case of} 15... Rd8 16. f4 {Black's position is too passive.}) 16. g3 {
'!' Ftacnik.} (16. Rfd1 Bxe5 17. dxe5 Bc6 18. Rac1 Bd5 $1 (18... O-O $2 19. Rc4
Qg5 20. Rg4 Qe7 21. Qe3 Kh8 22. Qg3 $40 (22. Qg3 {Ftacnik} f5 23. Rd4 (23. exf6
Qxf6 24. Rg6 Qxb2 $13) 23... Bd5 24. b3 $14)) 19. Rc7 O-O $14 {'~~' Ftacnik.})
16... Qxd4 17. Nxd7 Kxd7 18. Qf3 $36 {[%csl Rb7,Rf7] White is regaining a pawn.
Due to unsecure position of the black king Topalov's position is better.} Ke7 {
Ftacnik: 'Black has to be very careful in the defense, despite compact
position the centralized king can easily become indifensible.'} (18... Kc8 {
Ftacnik} 19. Be4 Kb8 20. Rfd1 Qb6 21. Qxf7 $16) 19. Qxb7+ Kf6 20. Rad1 Qa7 (
20... Qg4 {Ftacnik} 21. Bxa6 Rhb8 22. Qc6 Be5 23. b3 $16) 21. Qf3+ Ke7 22. Qg4
g5 (22... Be5 {Ftacnik} 23. Rd2 $14) 23. Bc4 Qb6 24. Rd3 $1 {An excellent
maneuver. This rook has a lot to do on the third rank.} Rad8 (24... Qxb2 25.
Re1 {[%csl Re6]} Qf6 26. Rf3 Qg6 27. Rxf7+ $1 Qxf7 28. Rxe6+ Kf8 29. Rxd6 $18)
25. Rf3 $1 {Veselin is aiming at the black king.} ({Not so promising was} 25.
Rb3 Qc6 (25... Qc5 {Ftacnik} 26. Qe2 a5 $14) 26. Qe2 a5) 25... Be5 (25... Qxb2
$4 26. Rxf7+ $1 {with the checkmate in two.}) 26. Re1 f6 ({Extremely risky is} 
26... Rd4 $6 27. Rxf7+ $1 Kxf7 28. Qf5+ Ke7 (28... Bf6 29. Rxe6) 29. Qxe5 Rf8
30. Bxe6 Qd6 $1 31. Qg7+ Kd8 32. Qxh6 $18 {and white is winning '+/-' Ftacnik.}
) 27. Qh5 {[%csl Re7][%cal Ge1e5,Gh5f7] White is threatening with 28.Rxe5.
Black has to defend against tacktical blows on every move.} (27. Qe4 $5 {
Ftacnik} Rd4 28. Qg6 $40) 27... Qb4 {'!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'Black's position
is not bad, but white's attack can not be underestimated.'} (27... Qxb2 28. Rb3
{[%cal Gb3b7]} Qd2 29. Rb7+ Rd7 30. Reb1 Rxb7 {'!?' Ftacnik.} (30... Rc8 $5 {
Ftacnik} 31. Rxd7+ (31. Qxh6 Rxc4 32. Qg7+ Ke8 $11) 31... Qxd7 32. Bxa6 $14)
31. Rxb7+ Kd6 32. Qf7 $1 {[%csl Re6]} Qe1+ 33. Bf1 Bd4 34. Rd7+ Ke5 35. Rxd4
Kxd4 36. Qg7 $3 $40 {'!!' Ftacnik.} (36. Qg7 $3 Ra8 37. Qd7+ Ke5 38. Qc7+ Kf5
39. Qc2+ Ke5 (39... Kg4 40. h3+ Kh5 41. g4+ Kh4 42. Qg6 $18) 40. Qc5+ Ke4 41.
Qc6+ $18)) 28. Rxe5 {'!' Ftacnik.} ({A similar position emerges after} 28. Re4
$5 Qd2 $1 (28... Qxb2 {Ftacnik} 29. Rb3 Qc1+ 30. Kg2 $18) 29. Rxe5 Qc1+ 30. Kg2
Qxc4) 28... Qxc4 29. Re1 ({On} 29. Rc3 {black would have sacrificed the queen}
Qxc3 $1 (29... Qxa2 $2 30. Rc7+ Kd6 31. Rec5 $18) 30. bxc3 fxe5 31. Qe2 Rd6 32.
Qxe5 Rh7 {with good drawing chances. '+/=' Ftacnik.}) 29... Qxa2 {With every
pawn capture Vishy is getting closer to desired draw.} 30. Qg6 Rhf8 31. Qxh6
Qxb2 ({In case} 31... e5 {white could conduct the following combination} 32.
Qg7+ Rf7 33. Rxe5+ $1 fxe5 34. Qxg5+ Ke6 ({after} 34... Ke8 35. Qxe5+ Kd7 {
White closes out the game with an incredible} 36. Rc3 $3 {(total domination!)}
Qb1+ 37. Kg2 Rxf2+ {(there is no other choice)} 38. Kxf2 Qxb2+ 39. Ke3 $3 {
Black is forced to trade the queens '!' Ftacnik.} Qb6+ 40. Qd4+ Qxd4+ 41. Kxd4
{the emerged endgame is hopeless for Black '+-' Ftacnik.}) 35. Rxf7 Rd1+ 36.
Kg2 Kxf7 (36... Qd5+ 37. Rf3) 37. Qh5+ Ke6 38. Qxd1 Qxb2 {with big advantage
in the queen ending. After the move which was played in the game the same
tactical idea works.} (38... Qxb2 {Ftacnik} 39. h4 $16)) 32. Qg7+ Rf7 33. Rxe6+
$1 $16 {'!' Ftacnik.} Kxe6 34. Re3+ Qe5 35. Rxe5+ fxe5 36. Qxg5 Rdf8 37. Qg4+
Kd5 38. Qd1+ Kc5 39. Qc2+ Kb4 $2 {Very stupid mistake Ftacnik: 'Anand is
probably playing serious innaccuracy in the time trouble, chances for
successful defense were promised after the correct 39...Kb6.'} ({After} 39...
Kb6 $1 40. Qb2+ (40. h4 Rxf2 41. Qxf2+ Rxf2 42. Kxf2 a5 $11 (42... a5 43. h5 a4
$11)) 40... Kc6 41. Qa2 (41. Qxe5 {Ftacnik} Rxf2 42. Qe6+ Kb7 (42... Kb5 43.
Qd5+ Kb6 44. Qd4+ Kb5 45. Qxf2 Rxf2 46. Kxf2 $18) 43. h4 R2f6 $14) 41... Rxf2
42. Qxa6+ Kd5 $14 {White can't exchange his queen for two black rooks to his
advantage,which means that black is very close to a draw here!} (42... Kd5 43.
Qb7+ (43. Qd3+ Kc6 44. Qc4+ Kd6 $11) 43... Kd4 $1 44. Qb6+ Kd3 45. Qxf2 Rxf2
46. Kxf2 Kd2 47. Kf3 Kd3 $11)) 40. Qb2+ $18 Kc5 (40... Kc4 41. Qe2+ Kd5 42.
Qd3+ $1 Kc5 43. Qxa6 $18 {[%csl Gf2][%cal Ga6a7,Ga7f2]}) (40... Ka4 41. Qa1+ $1
Kb4 42. Qxa6 $18 {[%cal Ga6b6,Gb6f2]}) 41. Qxe5+ Kb6 42. h4 a5 43. h5 Rd7 44.
Qe6+ Kc7 45. h6 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2711"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qb6 5. Nb3 Nf6 6. Nc3 e6 7. a3 Be7 8.
Bf4 O-O 9. Bd6 Ng4 10. Bg3 (10. Qxg4 Bxd6 11. Bd3 Ne5 $11) 10... Nge5 11. f4
Qe3+ (11... Ng6 12. Qd2 d6 13. O-O-O $14) 12. Be2 Ng6 (12... Nc4 $2 13. Bf2 $18
) (12... Ng4 13. Nd2 f5 14. Nc4 Qd4 15. Bxg4 Qxc4 16. Be2 $14) 13. Qd3 $1 {
The original opening is followed by the first surprise in the form of transfer
to the endgame. The knight on g6 is not a great asset and Morozevich has to
find a way to complete his development.} Qxd3 14. Bxd3 a6 15. O-O-O f6 $6 (
15... d6 $5) 16. Ne2 b5 17. Bf2 Rb8 18. g3 $1 Nh8 $1 (18... d6 19. Ned4 $14)
19. Rd2 Nf7 20. Rhd1 Re8 (20... d6 21. Ned4 $14) 21. c3 e5 22. c4 $1 {For
Topalov it is not enough to suitably place the pieces, in order to get
advantage he needs the help of his pawns.} b4 (22... bxc4 23. Bxc4 Rb7 24. Bd5
$14) 23. a4 Bf8 (23... d6 24. c5 (24. f5 Bb7 25. Kb1 Ng5) 24... Be6 25. Bc2
Rbd8 $11) 24. c5 $1 exf4 25. gxf4 d6 26. Kb1 h5 $2 {The defender became very
active in the moment, when 26...Ng4!? would probably have solved most problems.
} (26... Bg4 $5 27. Rc1 Rbd8 28. cxd6 Rxd6 29. Bc4 Ncd8 $13) (26... dxc5 27.
Nxc5 $14) 27. Rc1 Bb7 28. Bc4 (28. Ng3 h4 29. Nf5 $16) 28... Rxe4 29. Bd5 Ne7
$1 (29... Ree8 30. cxd6 Ncd8 31. d7 $16) 30. Bxf7+ $6 (30. Bxe4 Bxe4+ 31. Ka1
$16) 30... Kxf7 31. cxd6 Nd5 32. Nc5 Nc3+ $2 {[%mdl 8192] Mere mortals are not
able to understand the irrational moves of this kind, Morozevich must have
made a terrible mistake in his calculations.} (32... Rxe2 33. Rxe2 Bxd6 34. Rd1
$14) 33. bxc3 bxc3 34. Rxc3 Rb4+ (34... Bxd6 35. Nxe4 Bxe4+ 36. Ka2 $18) 35.
Ka2 Be4 36. Ka3 (36. Nxe4 Rxa4+ 37. Ra3 Rxe4 38. Bc5 $18) 36... a5 (36... Bc6
37. Nd4 $18) 37. Nd7 $1 R8b7 38. Nxf8 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "168"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. c3 a6 7. Bf1 Bg4 8. d3
e6 9. Nbd2 Nd7 $6 {Topalov hopes to avoid the move Nh4 from the variations
after 9...Be7, but he diminishes control of the center and neglects
development of the pieces.} 10. h3 Bh5 11. g4 Bg6 12. d4 $1 cxd4 (12... Be7 13.
d5 $1 exd5 14. exd5 Nce5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 (15... Nxe5 $2 16. f4 Nd3 17. f5 $1) 16.
f4 $1 $40) 13. cxd4 e5 14. d5 (14. Nc4 b5 15. Ne3 Bxe4) 14... Ncb8 15. b4 $1 {
Thanks to the closed character of the struggle black was able to avoid huge
problems, but Anand enjoys pleasant initiative.} h5 16. g5 (16. Nc4 hxg4 17.
hxg4 Nf6 18. Ng5 b5 19. Na5 Qd7 20. f3 Be7 $15) 16... a5 (16... h4 17. Nc4 b6
18. Bd3 $14) 17. bxa5 Be7 (17... Rxa5 18. a4 Nc5 $6 19. Nb3 $16) 18. Nb3 O-O (
18... Na6 19. Bb5 O-O 20. Nh4 Ndc5 (20... Bxg5 21. Nxg6 fxg6 22. Bxd7 $18) 21.
Nxg6 fxg6 22. h4 $16) 19. Qd2 $6 (19. Bd2 Na6 20. Rc1 Nac5 21. Rc4 f6 22. Nxc5
Nxc5 23. gxf6 Bxf6 24. Qe2 $16) 19... Na6 20. Nh4 Nac5 $1 21. Bg2 b6 22. Nf5 (
22. Nxg6 fxg6 $132) 22... f6 $1 (22... Bxf5 23. exf5 Nxb3 (23... bxa5 24. Nxc5
Nxc5 25. Qe3) 24. axb3 Rxa5 25. Rxa5 bxa5 26. Qe3 $14) 23. Nh4 Qe8 24. Nxc5 (
24. Qc3 $5 fxg5 25. Nxg6 Qxg6 26. axb6 $15) 24... Nxc5 25. axb6 fxg5 26. Nxg6
Qxg6 27. Qe2 Rfb8 28. Rb1 Bd8 $1 {Topalov plys very well in the defense and
white has to start worrying about liquidation of the tension into complete
equality.} 29. Be3 (29. Bf3 g4 $1 30. hxg4 hxg4 31. Bxg4 Rxa2 32. Qxa2 Qxg4+
33. Kf1 Qh3+ 34. Kg1 (34. Ke2 $4 Qd3#) 34... Qg4+ $11) 29... Bxb6 30. Rec1 g4
31. hxg4 hxg4 32. Rb4 Ba5 (32... Ba7 $5) 33. Rxb8+ Rxb8 34. Bxc5 dxc5 35. d6 (
35. Rxc5 Rb1+ 36. Bf1 g3 $1 37. Rxa5 g2 $19) 35... Qxd6 36. Qc4+ $2 (36. Qxg4
$1 Bd2 37. Rd1 $13) 36... Kh8 37. Qxc5 Qh6 $1 (37... Qxc5 38. Rxc5 Bb6 39. Rxe5
g3 40. Kf1 Bxf2 $11) 38. Rd1 $2 (38. Qe3 Qxe3 39. fxe3 Bd2 40. Rc2 Bxe3+ 41.
Kf1 $17) 38... Bb6 $1 (38... g3 $5 39. Qxa5 Qh2+ 40. Kf1 gxf2 41. Rd8+ Kh7 $1
42. Rxb8 (42. Kxf2 Qh4+ 43. Ke2 Rxd8 44. Qxe5 $15) 42... Qg1+ 43. Ke2 Qxg2 44.
Rh8+ $1 Kxh8 45. Qd8+ Kh7 46. Qh4+ Kg6 47. Qxf2 Qxe4+ $17) 39. Qxe5 Rf8 40. Rf1
(40. Qh2 Rxf2 41. Qxh6+ gxh6 $17) 40... Qh4 $2 {This move is yet another
tragic prove how difficult it is to manage problems with the time trouble.
With a bit more time in his pocket black would surely have found tyhe winning
move 40...Rf4!} (40... Rf4 $1 41. Qc3 Qh4 $19) 41. Qh2 Bxf2+ 42. Kh1 Qxh2+ (
42... g5 43. Qxh4+ gxh4 44. a4 $1 h3 45. Bxh3 gxh3 46. a5 $11) 43. Kxh2 g5 (
43... Rf6 44. Bh1) 44. Bh1 $1 g3+ 45. Kg2 g4 46. Rd1 Kg7 47. Kf1 Bd4+ 48. Ke2 (
48. Kg2 Be5 49. Rd2 Rf3) 48... Be5 (48... Rf2+ 49. Kd3 Be5 50. Rd2) 49. Rd2 Ra8
50. Bg2 Kf6 51. Kd3 Kg5 52. Ke2 (52. Kc4 $5 Kf4 53. Re2 $15) 52... Kf4 53. Rc2
Ra3 54. Rd2 Re3+ 55. Kd1 Ra3 56. Re2 Ra7 57. Rc2 Rb7 58. Re2 Rb1+ 59. Kc2 Rg1
60. Kd3 $1 Rc1 (60... Rxg2 61. Rxg2 Kf3 62. Rg1 g2 63. a4 Kf2 64. Rxg2+ Kxg2
65. a5 Bb8 66. a6 g3 67. e5 $11) 61. Rd2 Rc3+ 62. Ke2 Rf3 $1 63. Kd1 (63. Bxf3
gxf3+ 64. Kf1 Ke3 65. Rc2 Kd3 $1 $19) (63. Rc2 Rf2+ 64. Kd3 Rxc2 $1 65. Kxc2
Ke3 66. a4 Kf2 67. a5 Kxg2 68. a6 Bb8 69. e5 Kf3 70. e6 g2 71. e7 g1=Q $19)
63... Bc3 64. Re2 Ke5 65. Kc2 Bd4 66. Kd1 Rf8 67. Rd2 Rb8 68. Ke2 Bc3 69. Rd5+
(69. Rc2 Kd4 70. Kd1 Rb1+ 71. Rc1 (71. Ke2 Re1#) 71... Rxc1+ 72. Kxc1 Ke3 73.
Kc2 Be5 74. a4 Kf2 75. a5 Kxg2 76. a6 Kf3 77. a7 g2 78. a8=Q g1=Q $19) 69...
Ke6 70. Kd3 Be5 (70... Rb2 71. Kxc3 Rxg2 72. Rg5 Rxa2 73. Rxg4 Ke5 74. Kd3 $11)
71. Rc5 Rb1 72. Rc6+ Kd7 73. Rc2 Rg1 74. a4 {In a nasty ending Anand is
fighting like a lion and enjoys good chances for a draw.} Ra1 75. Kc4 Ke6 (
75... Rxa4+ 76. Kd5 $11) 76. Kb3 Bd4 77. Ra2 Rg1 78. a5 Bf2 79. a6 Ke5 (79...
Rxg2 80. a7 Bxa7 81. Rxg2 Bf2 82. Kc3 Ke5 83. Kd3 Kf4 84. Ke2 Kxe4 (84... Bd4
85. Kf1 Kf3 86. Ra2 Bf2 87. Ra3+ $11) 85. Rxf2 gxf2 86. Kxf2 $11) 80. Ra5+ Kf6
(80... Kf4 81. Kc4 Rxg2 $2 82. Kd3 Bc5 83. Rxc5 Kf3 84. Rf5#) 81. e5+ $6 (81.
Ra2 Kg5 82. Kc4 Rxg2 (82... Kf4 83. Ra5 $1) 83. a7 Bxa7 84. Rxg2 Kf4 85. e5 $1
$11) 81... Ke6 82. Bd5+ (82. Bb7 g2 83. Bxg2 Rxg2 84. a7 Bxa7 85. Rxa7 Kxe5 $19
) 82... Kxe5 83. Bb7+ Kf6 (83... Kd6 84. Ra2 (84. a7 Bxa7 85. Rxa7 g2 86. Bxg2
Rxg2 87. Ra5 (87. Kc3 Ke5 88. Rf7 Ke4 $19) 87... Ke6 88. Kc3 Kf6 89. Kd3 Rf2
90. Ke3 g3 $19) 84... g2 85. Ka4 $1 g3 86. Bxg2 Rxg2 87. a7 Bxa7 88. Rxg2 $11)
84. Ra4 $4 {Horrible blunder after a long tirering fight, in Dortmund Anand
was clearly out of form.} (84. Ra2) 84... g2 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.11.29"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vescovi, Giovanni P"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2585"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2001.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a4 h6 13. Bc2 exd4 14. cxd4 Nb4 15.
Bb1 c5 16. d5 Nd7 17. Ra3 f5 (17... c4 {is the safest for Black, but it
doesn´t give many winning chances.}) 18. Nh2 Nf6 19. Rg3 Qe7 {This move gave
Bacrot a nice victory last year.} 20. Nhf3 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] More logical than
Grischuks choice. Toplalov just builds his attack, following the standard
approach of not counting P:s with White in this line.} (20. Rf3 Bxd5 21. Rxf5
Bf7 22. Ndf3 Be6 23. g4 Bxf5 24. gxf5 Qb7 $13 {0-1 Grischuk,A-Bacrot,E/Enghien
les Bains 2001/CBM 83/[Ftacnik] (56)}) 20... fxe4 21. Nxe4 Bxd5 $5 {Black
needs the P to justify giving White such a nice attacking position.} 22. Nxf6+
Qxf6 23. Bd2 $1 $40 {[%mdl 128] White is a P down, but he has a very nice game
with easy to find attacking moves in the pipeline. The most prominent threat
is Bxb4.} Bf7 $6 (23... Qxb2 $5 24. Bxb4 (24. Bxh6 $2 Bb3 $1) 24... Bxf3 25.
Qd3 $5 {looks very strong, but it´s not so easy to prove a win for White.}
Rxe1+ (25... Bh5 26. Rxe8 (26. Qh7+ Kf7 27. Qf5+ Kg8 28. Qh7+ $11) 26... Rxe8
27. Bc3 Qc1+ 28. Kh2 Qf4 $1 $13) 26. Bxe1 Bc6 27. Bc3 Qc1+ 28. Kh2 Qf4 29. Bxg7
Bxg7 30. Qh7+ Kf7 31. Qxg7+ Ke6 32. axb5 axb5 33. Bh7 $13) (23... Bxf3 24. Rxf3
Qxb2 $2 25. Bc3 $16) 24. Bc3 Rxe1+ 25. Qxe1 Qe6 26. Ne5 $1 {An excellent
attacking move simply threatening to win with Qe4.} Nd5 (26... d5 27. Rf3 Be8 (
27... Ra7 28. Nxf7 Qxe1+ 29. Bxe1 Rxf7 30. Bh7+ $18) (27... d4 28. Bxb4 cxb4
29. Qe4 $18) 28. Bh7+ $1 Kxh7 29. Rxf8 Bc6 30. Qb1+ g6 31. Nxg6 Qe4 32. Qxe4
dxe4 33. Rf6 $18) (26... dxe5 $2 27. Qe4 $18) 27. Qe4 $18 {All white pieces
are taking part in the onslaught. Black is defenceless.} Nf6 28. Qxa8 dxe5 29.
axb5 axb5 30. Qb8 Qd6 31. Qxb5 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.02"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Zhang, Zhong"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2657"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2001.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Be7 9. Qd2 h5 10. Be2 Nbd7 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Bf5 13. O-O (13. Na5 Qc7 14.
c4 O-O (14... Bh4+ 15. g3 Bf6 16. Rc1 b6 17. Nc6 a5 18. O-O Bh3 19. Rfe1 g6 20.
b3 Bg7 21. a3 O-O 22. b4 {1-0 Wang Yu-Zhao Xue/HeiBei 2001/ (44)}) 15. O-O Bf6
16. Rac1 b6 17. Nc6 Nb8 18. Nxb8 Raxb8 19. b4 Qd7 20. c5 bxc5 21. bxc5 dxc5 22.
Rxc5 Be7 {0-1 David,A-Dinstuhl,V/Germany 2000/ (39)}) (13. c4 b6 14. O-O Nf6
15. Nc1 a5 16. b3 h4 17. a3 Nh5 18. Bd3 Bd7 19. Ne2 f5 20. f4 e4 21. Bc2 Bf6
22. Nd4 Qc7 23. Rac1 g6 24. Bb1 Kf7 25. Nb5 {1-0 Kraemer,M-Becker,M/Willingen/
2001/ (50)}) 13... Qc7 (13... O-O 14. c4 Bh7 15. Na5 Qc8 16. b4 Bd8 17. Nb3 b6
18. Rac1 Qb8 19. f4 h4 20. f5 {1-0 Conquest,S-Gofshtein,L/Fuerth 1999/ (37)}) (
13... a5 14. f4 a4 15. fxe5 axb3 16. Rxf5 bxa2 17. e6 Nf6 18. exf7+ Kxf7 19.
Bd4 Qc8 20. Bd3 Rf8 21. Qe2 Rh8 22. b3 Qd7 23. c3 Ra3 24. Rxa2 Rha8 25. Qxh5+
Kg8 26. Rxf6 {1-0 Galliamova,A-Hunt,H/Istanbul 2000/EXT 2001 (26)}) 14. c4 b6
15. f4 g6 16. Rad1 (16. fxe5 dxe5 17. Nc1 a5 18. a3 Nc5 19. b3 h4 20. Ra2 O-O
21. Qe1 Kg7 22. b4 axb4 23. axb4 Rxa2 24. Nxa2 Nd3 25. Qc3 Ra8 {1/2-1/2
Ponomariov,R-Cvitan,O/Neum 2000/ 2001 (39)}) 16... a5 17. fxe5 Nxe5 (17... dxe5
18. d6 $18) 18. Rxf5 $5 {[%mdl 4] Topalov is trying to refute black's concept
with the position exchange sacrifice, even though he could have played more
positionally.} (18. Nd4 Bd7 19. Nf3 $1 Nxf3+ 20. Rxf3 $16) 18... gxf5 19. Nd4
Ng4 $6 (19... Rg8 20. Nxf5 (20. b3 h4 21. Nxf5 Bf6 $13) 20... Nxc4 21. Bxc4 (
21. Rc1 b5 22. b3 Qd7 23. bxc4 Qxf5 24. cxb5 Rb8 $13) 21... Qxc4 22. Re1 Kd7
$13) 20. Nc6 (20. Bxg4 hxg4 (20... fxg4 21. Nc6 f6 (21... Bf6 22. Qf2 $16) 22.
Re1 Rh7 23. Qc2 $18) 21. Nxf5 Bf6 22. Qe2 $14) 20... Rg8 (20... Nxe3 21. Qxe3
Kf8 22. Qc3 Rh6 23. Rf1 Bf6 24. Qd2 Kg7 25. Rxf5 h4 26. Bd3 $14) 21. Rf1 Ne5 {
The knight rushes back proving, that the move 19..Ng4?! was a dubious concept.}
(21... Nxe3 22. Qxe3 h4 23. Rxf5 $16) (21... h4 22. Rxf5 h3 23. g3 $16) 22.
Rxf5 Nxc6 (22... h4 23. Bh5 $1 h3 24. g3 Rg7 (24... Rf8 25. Qf2 $18) 25. Bd4
$18) 23. dxc6 O-O-O (23... Qxc6 24. Bf3 Qc8 (24... Qd7 25. Qd5 Bd8 26. Bxh5 Rg7
27. Bh6 Rh7 28. Qe4+ Qe7 29. Rxf7 Rxf7 30. Qc6+ Qd7 31. Bxf7+ $18) 25. Qd5 Rb8
26. Qxf7+ Kd7 27. Rf6 Rf8 28. Rxd6+ $1 Kxd6 29. Bf4+ Kd7 30. Qd5+ $18) 24. Qd5
Rde8 (24... Rdf8 25. Bxh5 $18) 25. Rxf7 Kb8 (25... Ref8 26. Qe6+ Kd8 27. Rxe7
Qxc6 28. Bf3 Rxf3 29. Qxg8+ Kxe7 30. Bg5+ Rf6 31. Qg7+ $18) 26. Bf4 Ka7 (26...
Rgf8 27. Rxe7 Rxe7 28. Bxd6 Rd8 29. Bxc7+ Kxc7 30. Qf5 Rxe2 31. Qf7+ Kd6 32.
Qf4+ Kc5 33. Qg5+ $18) 27. c5 $1 {Fine attacking idea, that opens access to
black's king.} bxc5 28. Bxd6 Bxd6 29. Rxc7+ Bxc7 30. Qb3 (30. Qb3 Rb8 (30...
Bb6 31. Qf7+) 31. Qc4 Rxb2 32. Qxg8 Rxe2 33. Qb3 $18) 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.05"]
[Round "4.6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2001.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Be3 Bf5 12. Qb3 c6 13. g4 $5 {[%mdl 4] A double
edged novelty tries to solve the riddle of the position with extreme meassures.
} (13. Rac1 dxc4 14. Bxc4 b5 (14... a5 15. a3 Nxc3 16. axb4 Nb5 17. bxa5 Rxa5
18. d5 Be4 19. dxc6 Bxf3 20. Bxb5 bxc6 21. Bxc6 Bxc6 22. Rxc6 {1-0 Adams,
M-Christiansen,L/Cannes 1992/ (52)}) 15. Bxf7+ Rxf7 16. Ne5 Nd5 17. Nxe4 Bxe4
18. Rxc6 Qe8 19. Rcc1 Bd6 20. Nxf7 Qxf7 21. Rc6 Rd8 {0-1 Khalifman,A-Arkhipov,
S/Moscow/1985/ (57)}) (13. cxd5 cxd5 (13... Nxc3 14. bxc3 Nxd5 15. Qxb7 Nxc3
16. Bc4 Rb8 17. Qxc6 Be4 18. Bxf7+ Rxf7 19. Qxc3 Bb4 20. Qc4 Bd5 21. Qd3 Rxf3
22. gxf3 Qd7 {1/2-1/2 Shirov,A-Gelfand,B/Leon 2001/ (28)}) 14. Rfc1 Rc8 15. Ne5
f6 16. Nf3 Qd7 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Ne1 {1/2-1/2 De Firmian,N-Kaidanov,G/New York/
1994/ (18)}) (13. c5 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Nc2 15. Qxb7 Nxa1 16. Rxa1 Bf6 (16... Qe8
17. Qa6 f6 18. Ne1 Qc8 19. Qxc8 Bxc8 20. Bf4 Bd8 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Kramnik,V/
Tilburg/1998/ (46)}) 17. Qxc6 Re8 18. Qa4 h5 19. Bb5 Re4 20. Nd2 Re6 21. Bc6
Rb8 22. Nf1 Bd3 {0-1 Benjamin,J-Christiansen,L/San Francisco 1998/ (39)}) 13...
Bxg4 14. c5 a5 15. a3 Na6 16. Qxb7 Nc7 (16... Nxc3 17. bxc3 Nc7 18. Rab1 Nb5
19. Ne5 Bxe2 20. Nxc6 Qe8 21. Nxe7+ Kh8 22. Rfe1 Rb8 23. Qxd5 Qxe7 24. Bd2 Nc7
{0-1 Topalov,V-Shirov,A/Moscow/2001/ (53)}) 17. Ne5 Bxe2 (17... Rb8 18. Nxc6
Rxb7 19. Nxd8 Rxd8 (19... Bxe2 20. Nxb7 Bxf1 21. Rxf1 $16) 20. Bxg4 Nf6 (20...
Rxb2 21. Nxe4 dxe4 22. Rfb1 $16) 21. Bf5 $14) 18. Nxc6 $1 Qd7 (18... Rb8 19.
Nxd8 Rxb7 20. Nxb7 $16) 19. Nxe2 Ra6 (19... Bf6 20. Ng3 (20. f3 Ng5 21. Bxg5
Bxg5 22. f4 Qg4+ 23. Kh1 Qxe2 24. Rae1 Qa6 25. Qxc7 $16) 20... Rfe8 21. Bf4 $16
) 20. Ne5 $1 {White keeps an excellent centralized piece that indirectly
defends his own exposed king.} (20. Nxe7+ Qxe7 21. Bf4 Ng5 22. Bxg5 Qxg5+ 23.
Ng3 Qf4 24. Rae1 Rh6 $132) 20... Qd8 21. Ng3 Bf6 (21... Nxg3 22. fxg3 $16) 22.
Nxe4 dxe4 (22... Bxe5 23. dxe5 dxe4 24. Qxe4 $18) 23. Qxe4 Re6 24. c6 (24. f4
Rfe8 25. Rac1 $18) 24... Bxe5 (24... Nd5 25. Rac1 (25. f4 $6 Bxe5 26. fxe5 Rxc6
$14) 25... Bxe5 26. dxe5 Nxe3 27. fxe3 $1 (27. Qxe3 Qd5 28. f3 Rxc6 29. Rxc6
Qxc6 $14) 27... Qg5+ 28. Kh1 Rxe5 29. Qf4 Qe7 30. c7 $18) 25. dxe5 f5 26. Qc4 (
26. Qf3 f4 27. Bc5 Rfe8 28. Bd6 Nb5 29. Qxf4 Nxd6 30. exd6 Rxd6 31. Qc4+ Kh8
32. Rae1 $18) 26... f4 (26... Qd5 27. Rfc1 Qxe5 28. Bf4 (28. Bd4 Qd5 29. Qxd5
Nxd5 30. Rc5 Nf4 31. Kf1 $18) 28... Qd5 29. b3 (29. Bxc7 Re1+ $1 30. Rxe1 Qxc4
31. Rac1 $11) 29... Rg6+ 30. Kf1 $18) 27. Bb6 Qd5 (27... Rf7 28. Bxc7 Rg6+ 29.
Kh1 Qxc7 30. Rac1 $18) 28. Qxd5 Nxd5 29. Bxa5 f3 (29... Rxc6 30. Rfd1 $18) 30.
c7 $5 {The pawn on seventh rank has enormous power.} (30. Rfd1 Rxe5 31. b4 Rfe8
32. a4 Nc3 33. Rd8 Rxd8 34. Bxd8 Nxa4 35. h3 $18) 30... Nf4 31. Rac1 (31. Rfd1
Nh3+ 32. Kf1 Rg6 33. Ke1 Rg1+ 34. Kd2 Rxd1+ 35. Rxd1 Nxf2 36. Rf1 $18) 31...
Ne2+ (31... Rc8 32. Rcd1 Rxe5 33. Rd8+ Re8 34. Rfd1 $18) 32. Kh1 Nxc1 33. Rxc1
Rc8 34. Rd1 Kf7 (34... Rxe5 35. Rd8+ Re8 36. b4 Kf7 37. h3 Ke7 38. b5 $18) 35.
Rd8 Rc6 (35... Re8 36. h3 $18) 36. h3 (36. Rxc8 $4 Rc1+ $19) 36... R8xc7 37.
Bxc7 Rxc7 38. Rd3 $1 Rc2 39. Rxf3+ Ke6 40. b4 Kxe5 41. Kg2 Rb2 42. Rf7 1-0

[Event "Cannes NAO Masters"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "2002.02.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2742"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2002.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 {If Black doesn't fancy the
solid classical 5...Be7, he can strive for a more active development of his
Bf8. This plan is very popular nowadays and has its adherents at the highest
level.} ({Also playable is the immediate} 5... Bc5 {but this gives White's B a
choice after} 6. c3 b5 7. Bc2 $142 $5 (7. Bb3 d6 8. a4 {can after} Rb8 {
lead to the game position.}) 7... d6 ({Central action leads to an unpleasant
position almost by force:} 7... d5 8. d4 dxe4 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Qxd1 11.
Rxd1 Ng4 12. Bxe4 Nxf2 13. Bc6+ Ke7 14. Rd5 Bb6 15. Bg5+ $1 f6 16. exf6+ gxf6
17. Bh4 Ng4+ 18. Kh1 Rb8 19. Nd2 Be6 20. Rh5 Kf7 21. h3 Ne5 22. Rh6 $1 Ng6 23.
Rf1 f5 24. Bg5 $36 {Svidler,P-Grischuk,A/Biel/2001/}) 8. d4 Bb6 9. a4 Bg4 10.
axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Qxa8 12. h3 Bh5 13. d5 Na7 14. Bg5 Nd7 15. Na3 O-O 16. Qe2
Rb8 17. Rd1 Qb7 18. b4 c5 19. dxc6 Qxc6 20. Qd3 Bc7 21. g4 Bg6 22. Nh4 $16 {
(),Hracek,Z-Slobodjan,R/Lippstadt/2000/}) 6. Bb3 Bc5 {The Arkhangelsk line was
once connected mainly with} (6... Bb7 {but the B can often be effectively used
on the /^ c8-h3.}) 7. a4 {The popularity of 6...Bc5 stems also from the fact,
that White doesn't get any advantage after the seemingly tempting} (7. Nxe5
Nxe5 8. d4 Bxd4 9. Qxd4 d6 {e.g.,} 10. f4 Nc6 (10... c5 $5 11. Qd1 Ng6 12. Bd5
Nxd5 13. Qxd5 Rb8 14. Qh5 Bb7 15. Nc3 b4 16. f5 bxc3 17. fxg6 fxg6 18. Qh3 Qe7
19. e5 Rf8 20. Rxf8+ $11 {1/2,Ivanchuk,V-Anand,V/Riga Tal mem/1995/}) 11. Qc3
Bb7 12. e5 Ne4 13. Qe3 Na5 14. Nd2 Nxb3 15. cxb3 Nxd2 16. Bxd2 O-O 17. Bc3 Qh4
18. Rae1 Rfe8 19. Qf2 Qxf2+ 20. Rxf2 dxe5 $11 {1/2,Anand,V-Topalov,V/Linares/
1997/}) 7... Rb8 {In the spirit of the note to move 6, but the traditional} (
7... Bb7 {is playable as well:} 8. d3 O-O 9. Nc3 Na5 10. axb5 Nxb3 11. cxb3
axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Nxe5 d5 14. Bg5 dxe4 $5 (14... Be7 $44) 15. dxe4 Qxd1
16. Rxd1 b4 17. Bxf6 bxc3 18. bxc3 gxf6 19. Nd7 Bd6 20. Nxf8 Kxf8 21. f3 h5 22.
h4 Ke7 23. Kf2 Bb7 24. c4 Be5 25. Rd2 Bc8 26. Rd5 Be6 27. Ra5 c5 $1 $11 {
Kasparov,G-Kramnik,V/WCh London/2000/}) 8. c3 d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. axb5 axb5 11.
Na3 {Nowadays the main continuation, which causes Black most problems.} ({
An earlier attempt was} 11. h3 O-O 12. Re1 Bb7 ({Food for thought is also} 
12... Re8 $5 13. Na3 b4 14. Nc4 bxc3 15. bxc3 exd4 16. Nxb6 Rxb6 17. cxd4 Nxe4
18. Bxf7+ Kxf7 19. Rxe4 Rxe4 20. Ng5+ Kg8 21. Nxe4 Bf5 22. Ng5 Ne7 23. g4 Bg6
24. Ne6 {Anand,V-Topalov,V/Wijk aan Zee/1998/} Qb8 $1 $132 {/\} 25. d5 Bf7 26.
Nxg7 $2 Kxg7 27. Qd4+ Kf8 28. Bh6+ Ke8 29. Re1 Rb1 $19) 13. Na3 exd4 14. cxd4
Na5 15. Bc2 b4 16. Nb1 c5 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bh4 {when later games showed} cxd4 $1
{is playable:} (18... b3 $6 19. Bxb3 g5 $2 20. Nxg5 $1 hxg5 21. Bxg5 cxd4 22.
Ra3 $1 $40 Nc6 23. Ba2 Ne5 24. Rg3 Kh7 25. f4 Ned7 26. e5 $18 {Hracek,Z-Shirov,
A/Bundesliga 9798/1997/}) 19. Qd3 Re8 20. Nbd2 Nc6 21. Nc4 Bc7 $5 22. Nxd4 Nxd4
23. Qxd4 d5 $132) 11... O-O {Black is practically forced to sacrifice a P.} (
11... b4 $6 12. Nc4 O-O 13. Ba4 $16) (11... Ba6 12. Re1 h6 (12... O-O $6 13.
Bg5 $40) 13. Nc2 Bb7 14. Ne3 $36) 12. Nxb5 Bg4 $5 ({The alternative is the
immediate} 12... exd4 13. cxd4 Bg4 {Black has strong pressure against White's 
[+] and the exposed minor pieces on the b-file give him various tactical
chances, for example:} {The most problems are however caused by Anand's recent
idea} 14. Ra3 $5 (14. Re1 Nxd4 (14... d5 $5 $44) 15. Nbxd4 Bxd4 16. Bxf7+ Rxf7
17. Qxd4 Bxf3 18. gxf3 Qd7 $44) 14... Re8 (14... d5 $5 15. e5 Ne4 16. Qd3 $14 (
16. Be3 $2 Nxe5 $1 $15)) 15. Re1 d5 16. e5 Ne4 17. Be3 Ba5 (17... Nxe5 18. dxe5
Bxe3 19. Rxe3 Rxb5 20. Ba4 $16) 18. Na7 Bxf3 19. gxf3 $1 (19. Qxf3 Nxd4 20.
Bxd4 Bxe1 21. Nc6 Qd7 22. Nxb8 Rxb8 23. Ra7 Bb4 24. Ba4 Qe7 25. Qe3 h6 26. Bc6
Bc5 $14 {Galkin,A-Prokopchuk,E/Moscow Aeroflot/2002/}) 19... Bxe1 20. fxe4 Nxa7
21. Rxa7 dxe4 22. Ba4 Bxf2+ $5 23. Bxf2 Qg5+ 24. Bg3 Red8 25. Rxc7 Qe3+ 26. Kh1
Rxd4 27. Qb3 $1 Qf3+ 28. Kg1 Rdd8 29. Qxf3 exf3 30. b3 $16 {Anand,V-Tkachiev,V/
FIDE WCh Moscow/2001/} (30. Rc2 $5 $16)) 13. Bc2 ({But the blockade deserves
closer attention:} 13. d5 $5 Ne7 (13... Nxe4 14. dxc6 Nxf2 15. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 16.
Kxf2 Rxb5 17. Bd5 Bxf3 18. gxf3 $1 Qh4+ 19. Kg2 $16 {Acs,P-Blehm,P/Budapest zt/
2000/}) 14. Bc2 (14. Qd3 Nd7 15. Bd1 f5 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Qc4 Nf6 18. Bg5 h6
19. Bxf6 Rxf6 20. Nd2 Qe8 21. Be2 Qf7 22. Bf3 Ng6 23. Kh1 Bd7 24. Na3 Rf8 $44 {
|^,Fressinet,L-De Vreugt,D/Zug/2001/}) 14... Bxf2+ (14... Ng6 15. h3 Bh5 16.
Qd3 $1 Nf4 17. Bxf4 exf4 18. Nbd4 Bxd4 19. Nxd4 Rxb2 20. Nc6 Qd7 21. f3 $16 {
[%csl Rh5] ץh5,Acs,P-Estrada Nieto,J/HUN-chT/2000/}) 15. Rxf2 Rxb5 16. b4 $14
{|^<<}) ({After} 13. Be3 {tactics work for Black:} exd4 14. cxd4 Nxe4 $1 15.
Bd5 Qe8 $132 {/\} 16. Qc2 $6 Bxf3 $1 (16... Nb4 $2 17. Qxe4 Qxb5 18. Qxg4 {
a Sh6} Nxd5 19. Bh6 $16) 17. Bxc6 (17. gxf3 Nb4 18. Nxc7 Nxc2 19. Nxe8 Nd2 $1
$17) 17... Qe6 18. gxf3 Qg6+ $17 19. Kh1 $2 Ng3+) 13... h6 $6 $146 {[%mdl 8]
To waste a tempo on prophylaxis in such a sharp position seems suspect.} (13...
Bxf3 14. Qxf3 (14. gxf3 $5 {is the principled alternative.}) 14... exd4 15. Bg5
h6 16. Bh4 dxc3 17. bxc3 Ne5 18. Qe2 Ng6 19. Bg3 Re8 20. Rad1 Qd7 21. Nd4 Qg4
22. f3 Qg5 23. f4 Qh5 24. Rf3 Nh4 25. Bxh4 $11 {1/2,Polgar,J-Shirov,A/Linares/
1997/}) (13... d5 14. exd5 (14. Bg5 exd4 15. cxd4 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 dxe4 (16...
Bxd4 $5 17. exd5 Qxd5 $11) 17. Bxe4 Nxd4 $11) (14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 exd4 16.
Bg5 Bc5 (16... dxc3 17. bxc3 $14) 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Qxf6 gxf6 19. Nxc7 Rxb2 20.
Ba4 dxc3 $5 21. Nxd5 (21. Bxc6 Rc8 22. Nxd5 Rxc6 $11) (21. Na6 $5) 21... Ne5
22. Nxc3 Nd3 $44) 14... Qxd5 15. dxe5 Qxb5 16. Ba4 $1 (16. exf6 Rbd8 $13) 16...
Bxf3 17. Qxf3 $1 Nxe5 18. Bxb5 Nxf3+ 19. gxf3 Bxf2+ 20. Kxf2 Rxb5 21. Ra7 $14 {
White gets a somewhat better _|_ practically by force, even later in the game
we will see such positions don't suit Morozevich too well.}) 14. dxe5 $6 {
This isn't an ideal solution, as it activates Black's forces.} ({On the
following day Morozevich dared to repeat the line, but the first to improve
was his opponent:} 14. d5 $142 $5 Ne7 15. h3 Bh5 16. Kh1 Nxe4 $6 (16... Bxf2
17. Nxd6 $16) 17. Bxe4 f5 18. Bc2 Qe8 19. Ba4 e4 20. Nxc7 Qf7 21. Ne6 exf3 22.
gxf3 Qf6 23. Nxf8 Rxf8 24. Bb5 Qh4 25. Kg2 g5 26. Ra4 f4 27. Bd7 Ng6 28. Re4
Ne5 29. Rxe5 dxe5 30. Qd3 Kg7 31. Qe4 Bc7 32. Bf5 $18 {Leko,P-Morozevich,A/NAO
Cannes/2002/}) (14. Be3 d5 $132 {[+]} (14... Bxd4 $2 15. cxd4 Rxb5 16. Ba4 $18)
) (14. Re1 $5 {also seems better than the text move.}) 14... Nxe5 15. Nbd4 d5 {
White is close to consolidation, so Black must act.} ({Perhaps it was here
Morozevich wanted to improve with} 15... c5 $1 16. Nb3 $5 (16. h3 cxd4 17. hxg4
dxc3 18. g5 cxb2 19. Bxb2 Nfg4 $1 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. gxh6 Bxf2+ $11) (16. Nf5
Nxf3+ 17. gxf3 Bxf5 18. exf5 d5 $44 {|^[+]}) (16. Nb5 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Qd7 $1 18.
f4 $8 (18. Nxd6 $2 Qh3 19. Bf4 Nxf3+ 20. Kh1 Ng4 $19) 18... Qxb5 19. fxe5 dxe5
20. Qf3 Ra8 $5 $11) 16... Nh7 $1 $44 {/\Ng5,Qf6 and the nagging pin gives
Black compensation.}) ({Simplistic is} 15... Bxd4 $2 16. cxd4 Nxf3+ 17. gxf3
Bh3 18. Re1 $16 {and White has both a positional and material advantage.}) 16.
exd5 (16. h3 $142 $5 dxe4 (16... Bh5 17. g4 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 (18. Nxf3 $143 Bg6
$13) 18... dxe4 (18... Bg6 $2 19. Nc6 $16) 19. Qg2 $1 Bxd4 20. gxh5 $18 {
/\Bh6->}) (16... Nxf3+ 17. Nxf3 $16 {leads nowhere.}) 17. hxg4 exf3 18. g5 $1
hxg5 (18... fxg2 19. Re1 $1 Nfd7 (19... Nfg4 $6 20. Kxg2 {[%cal Rf2f3] /\f3})
20. gxh6 Qh4 21. Kxg2 $5 Ng4 22. h7+ Kh8 23. Qf3 $16) 19. Nxf3 Qxd1 20. Rxd1
Nxf3+ 21. gxf3 $14 {|^_|_ gives White a slightly better version of the game
position-his Pb2 is not under direct pressure and he can preserve his strong
^^.}) 16... Qxd5 $8 (16... Bxd4 $6 17. Qxd4 Nxf3+ 18. gxf3 Bxf3 19. c4 $16) 17.
h3 (17. Bf4 Bxd4 18. Bxe5 Bxe5 $11 (18... Qxe5 $5 19. cxd4 Qh5 $44)) 17... Bh5
{[%cal Rc7c5,Rb6d4] /\c5,Bd4} 18. g4 $1 {[%mdl 64] White has to get rid of the
pin, so he initiates a tactical sequence, which transposes the game into an
_|_.} (18. Bf4 $6 Bxd4 19. Bxe5 Bxe5 20. Qxd5 Nxd5 21. Nxe5 Rxb2 $15) 18...
Nfxg4 {After 16.h3!? Black didn't have this option.} 19. Nxe5 (19. hxg4 $2 Bxg4
20. Nxe5 Bxd1 21. Ndc6 (21. Nec6 Rbe8 22. Rxd1 Qh5 $40) 21... Qxe5 (21... Qc5
$5 22. Bxd1 Rbe8 $15) 22. Nxe5 Bxc2 23. Nd7 Ra8 24. Be3 Rxa1 25. Rxa1 Rd8 26.
Nxb6 cxb6 27. Bxb6 Rb8 $15 {_|_}) 19... Nxe5 (19... Ne3 $5 20. Bxe3 Bxd1 21.
Nec6 Bc5 (21... Qh5 $5) 22. Rfxd1 (22. Bxd1 Rxb2 23. Bf3 Qc4 $15) 22... Rxb2
23. Rd2 $13) 20. Qxh5 Bxd4 21. Qf5 Nf3+ (21... g6 $6 22. Qe4 $16 {[%csl Rh6]
><h6}) 22. Kh1 Qxf5 23. Bxf5 $36 {[%csl Gc1,Gf5] /+/=} Bf6 {[%csl Rc1] Pins
the B to c1.} (23... Bb6 $143 24. Be4 Nh4 25. Bf4 $36) 24. Ra7 (24. Be4 Ne5 {
would probably only transpose.} (24... Ng5 25. Bg2 $14)) 24... c5 (24... Rfd8
25. Bg4 $5 (25. Rxc7 Nh2 $1 26. Re1 Nf3 $11 {is an attractive repetition.})
25... Nd2 26. Rd1 Ne4 27. Kg2 $14) 25. Be4 Ne5 26. Rd1 $1 {[%cal Ye4d5] /\Bd5}
(26. Bd5 Nd3 $11) 26... Nc4 27. Bb7 Bg5 (27... Rfd8 28. Rxd8+ (28. Bd5 $6 Kh8
$1 $132) 28... Rxd8 29. Ra8 $14 (29. Kg2 $5 $14)) 28. Bxg5 (28. f4 {maintains
the ^^, but compromises the Bc1} Bf6 $13 {[%csl Rc1]}) 28... hxg5 29. b3 Ne5 $2
{[%mdl 8192] This costs Black a pawn and prepares the final tactical oversight.
} (29... Nb6 $8 30. Bf3 (30. Kg2 Nc8 $11) 30... Rfd8 $14 {/= is passive, but
gives Black reasonable drawing chances.}) 30. Rd5 Rfe8 31. Rxc5 Re7 {Black
continues down the lethal path.} (31... Nd3 $142 32. Rc7 (32. Rxg5 Nxf2+ 33.
Kg2 Nd1 34. c4 $16) 32... Nxf2+ 33. Kh2 Nd3 34. Bg2 $5 $16) 32. Rb5 $18 {
White can get out of the pin with Ra8, or by advancing his Pc3, but he has
even a direct threat.} Nd3 $2 33. Be4 $1 (33. Be4 Rxe4 (33... Nxf2+ 34. Kg2
Ree8 35. Rxb8 Rxb8 36. Kxf2 $18) 34. Rxb8+ Kh7 35. Rxf7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Cannes NAO Masters"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "2002.03.01"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2002.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3 Bd6 8.
Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Qc7 11. Qg4 Kf8 12. O-O c5 13. b3 e5 (13... cxd4
14. Qxd4 Ne5 $5 {- Leko-Karpov, Linares Super GM 2001 CBM 82}) 14. dxc5 (14. c3
$5 {- Leko-Timman, Corus Wijk aan Zee 2002 CBM 87}) 14... Nxc5 15. Bf5 {
White's only advantage is the inferior position of the black K, and if Black
accomplishes his development the game is completely even.} h5 (15... Ne6 16.
Bb2 h5 17. Qh4 f6 18. Bxe6 Bxe6 19. c4 Bg4 20. h3 Bf5 $13 {Stellwagen-Nep,
Corus Wijk aan Zee 2002}) (15... Bxf5 16. Qxf5 e4 17. Nh4 Kg8) (15... e4 16.
Bb2 Rg8 17. Nd4) 16. Qh3 Ne6 17. Rd1 $5 $146 {This is the first new move, and
now Black is at the crossroad.} (17. Qh4 Be7 18. Qg3 {The Q has also problems
in this line.} Nf4 19. Bxf4 exf4 20. Qh3 {White wants to get exactly this
position by playing 17.Rfd1, but with an extra Rfd1!} g6 (20... Bf6 $5) 21.
Bxc8 Rxc8 22. c4 {The P structure is better for White, he has to improve his
Q's position.} Kg7 23. Nd4 Rhd8 $11 (23... Bf6 24. Nb5 (24. Rad1 Rcd8) 24...
Qc5 $11 {Gelfand-Speelman, Munich 1992})) 17... Be7 (17... g6 18. Bxe6 Bxe6 19.
Qh4 Be7 (19... Kg7 20. Bg5 $16 {/\ Bf6 is annoying}) 20. Qe4 Bg4 21. Bb2 $14 {
and >< e5 is severly attacked.}) (17... Kg8 18. Qh4 $5 {may again lead to
similar consequences after} (18. Ng5 $143 Nd4 $142 {is the strong centralizing
reply.} (18... Nf8 19. Bxc8 (19. Qf3 e4 $5) 19... Rxc8 20. Qf5 $14) 19. Bxc8
Qxc8 20. c4 Qxh3 21. Nxh3 Rd8 $11) 18... Be7 19. Qg3 Nf4 20. Bxf4 exf4 21. Qh3)
18. Qg3 $1 ({The hyper-aggressive} 18. Rd5 $6 g6 19. Nxe5 $5 {founders on} Bf6
$1 (19... gxf5 $2 20. Qxf5) 20. Nxg6+ (20. Bb2 $2 Nf4 $1) 20... fxg6 21. Bxe6
Bxa1 22. Bxc8 Qxc8 23. Rd7 Qc6 $1 $19 {Speelman}) 18... Nf4 $1 (18... Bd6 {
seems to be a loss of a tempo, White has improved his Q's position.} 19. c4 Bd7
20. Bxe6 (20. Bb2 {allows} Nf4 $1) 20... Bxe6 21. Bb2 f6 22. Qg6 $14 {with
some pressure on the weakened light squares.}) (18... Bf6 19. Ba3+ $1 {
penetrating on >< d6} Kg8 20. Bd6 (20. Bxe6 Bxe6 21. Bd6 Qxc2 22. Bxe5) 20...
Nf4 21. Kh1 $5 (21. Bxc7 Ne2+ 22. Kf1 Nxg3+ 23. hxg3 Bxf5 24. Bxe5 $14) 21...
h4 (21... Bxf5 $2 22. Bxc7 Ne2 23. Qxe5 $1 $18) 22. Qg4 Bxf5 23. Qxf5 Qc8 24.
Qe4 $1 {and Black hasn't finished his development yet, Speelman.}) 19. Bxf4
exf4 20. Qh3 Bf6 (20... g6 21. Bxc8 (21. Bd7 $5 Bf6 22. Rac1 Kg7) 21... Rxc8 {
is almost the same position as in Gelfand-Speelman, but with an extra Rfd1,
which helps for White.} 22. Rd7 $1 {This is the big difference!} (22. c4 Rd8 $1
(22... Bf6 23. Rac1 Kg7 24. Rd7) 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 $11) 22... Qxc2 23. Re1 {
Now White's heavy artillery is in action.} Bb4 (23... Bf6 24. Rxb7 $16) 24.
Red1 Kg7 25. Ng5 (25. Ne5 Be7 $1) 25... Be7 26. Ne6+ $1 Kh7 27. Qf3 $16) 21.
Rac1 g6 22. Bxc8 Qxc8 $6 (22... Rxc8 {is more natural, of course.} 23. Rd7 Qc6
24. c4 Kg7 25. Nd4 $14 {was the lesser evil.}) 23. Qxc8+ {The _|_ is certainly
better for White because of the virtual P majority on the << and the
possession of the d <->.} (23. Rd7 $5 {looks also tempting penetrating on the
7-th rank.} Kg7 (23... Qc6 24. c4) 24. Qe6 Rf8 (24... Qe8 25. Qd5) 25. c4 $16)
23... Rxc8 24. Rd7 Rb8 $14 {Black can still hold his weaknesses on the 7-th
rank, more penetrations cannot be seen yet.} (24... Bb2 25. Rcd1 Rxc2 26. Rxb7
$16 {and soon both rooks will penetrate on the 7-th rank.}) 25. c4 Kg7 26. Kf1
g5 27. Rcd1 (27. Nd4 Kg6) (27. c5 Rhd8) 27... Rhe8 28. R1d5 Kg6 (28... g4 29.
Ng5 Re7 30. Rxe7 Bxe7 31. Ne4 Kg6 $14) 29. h3 a6 (29... g4 $14) 30. R5d6 (30.
c5 $5 $14) 30... Re6 31. Rxe6 fxe6 {Now Black's P structure has been improved
a bit.} 32. Nd2 (32. Ke2 $5 {/\ Nd2 avoiding the exchange of his active R was
worthy of consideration.}) 32... g4 $2 (32... Rd8 33. Rxd8 Bxd8 34. Ne4 Be7 35.
Ke2 $14 {looks a bit better for White, but it is far from clear.}) 33. Ne4 {
Now White's pieces dominate the board, the N is much better than the passive B.
} b6 34. f3 $1 {clarifying the situation on the >> fixing the P on the colour
of the B.} gxf3 35. gxf3 Bb2 36. Re7 Kf5 37. Ra7 a5 {another weakness has been
created.} 38. c5 $1 {Now White is simply winning a P.} bxc5 39. Rxa5 Bd4 40.
Nxc5 $18 Rc8 41. b4 (41. Ne4+ Kg6 42. Ke2 $18) 41... e5 (41... Bxc5 $2 42.
Rxc5+ Rxc5 43. bxc5) 42. Ne4 Ke6 43. Ke2 Rc2+ 44. Kd3 Rh2 45. Ra6+ Kd7 {
Black's last hopes are based on a remote o^ on the h <->.} 46. Ng5 Rg2 47. h4
Rh2 48. Ne6 Bf2 49. Nf8+ Kc7 50. Ng6 Be1 (50... Bxh4 51. Nxh4 Rxh4 52. Ke4 $18)
51. b5 {White connected passed pawns look decisive.} Rb2 52. a4 Rb3+ {Now the
target is >< f3.} 53. Ke4 Re3+ 54. Kf5 Rxf3 55. Nxe5 Rb3 56. Kxf4 $6 {It was
absolutely not necessary giving away the h P.} (56. Rc6+ Kd8 57. Kg5 $1 f3 58.
Rf6 f2 59. Kxh5 $18 {was the winning plan.}) 56... Bxh4 57. Ke4 {Now White has
some technical difficulties.} Bg3 58. Rc6+ Kd8 59. Nd3 h4 60. Rh6 (60. Nc5 Rb4+
61. Kd5 Rb1) 60... Ra3 61. Nc5 Bf2 62. Kd5 Bxc5 63. Kxc5 Rxa4 64. Kc6 {The R
_|_ is winning, because the black K cannot reach b8.} Rc4+ 65. Kb7 Kd7 66. b6
Rb4 67. Ka7 Ra4+ 68. Kb8 Rb4 69. b7 Ra4 70. Rh7+ Kd8 (70... Kd6 71. Kc8 Rc4+
72. Kd8 Rb4 73. Rh6+ Ke5 74. Kc7 $18) (70... Ke6 71. Kc7 Rc4+ 72. Kb6 Kf6 73.
Kb5 $18) 71. Rh8+ Kd7 72. Rh6 $22 {White has deliberately lost a tempo in
order to create zugzwang.} Kd8 73. Rh7 $22 {This already the last zugzwang.}
Rb4 74. Ka7 Ra4+ 75. Kb6 1-0

[Event "Cannes NAO Masters"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "2002.03.02"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2687"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2002.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 {GM Topalov spielt gerne die Benoni-Verteidigung
- die könnte hier nach 4.d5 entstehen.} 4. Nc3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 (5... Bb4) 6.
a3 {Die Hauptidee des Zugs besteht darin, die Fesselung des Nc3 durch Bb4 zu
umgehen. Der Alternativen gibt es viele: 6.g3, 6.Bg5, 6.Bf4, 6.Nbd5.} Nxd4 (
6... Be7) (6... Bc5 7. Nb3 Be7) (6... d5) 7. Qxd4 b6 {Schwarz beabsichtigt Bc5
zu spielen und den weißfeldrigen Läufer nach b7 zu entwickeln.} 8. Qf4 (8. e4
Bc5) (8. Bf4) 8... Bb7 (8... Be7 9. e4 d6 10. Qg3 O-O 11. Bh6 Ne8 12. Bd2 Nf6
13. Bh6 Ne8 14. Bd2 {1/2-1/2 Nogueiras,J-Hansen,C/Istanbul 2000/EXT 2001 (14)})
9. e4 d6 10. Bd3 {Jetzt haben wir eine Igelstellung auf dem Brett. Weiß
kontrolliert mehr Raum, aber die schwarze Stellung ist solide.} (10. Be2 Be7
11. O-O O-O 12. Rd1 Qb8 13. b3 Rd8 14. Bb2 Bc6 15. Qg3 Bf8 16. Bf3 Nd7 17. Rab1
a6 18. a4 Nc5 19. Ba1 Qc7 20. Re1 Rac8 21. h4 {1-0 Gorbatow,A-Lengyel,L/
Budapest 1997/CBM 61 ext (30)}) (10. Be3 Be7 11. Bd3 O-O 12. O-O Nd7 13. Qg3
Ne5 $11) 10... Nd7 $5 $146 {[%cal Gd7e5,Gd7c5][%mdl 4] Der Springer strebt
nach e5 oder c5. Der natürliche Entwicklungszug 10...Be7 eröffnet Weiß
hingegen Angriffschancen.} (10... Be7 11. Qg3 $1 O-O 12. Bh6 Ne8 13. Bd2 Rc8
14. O-O Bf6 15. Rac1 g6 16. b3 a6 17. Qe3 $6 (17. Rfd1 $142 Bg7 18. Bg5) 17...
Bg7 {2.23/2.19. 1-0 Kortschnoj,V-Sax,G/Wijk aan Zee 1991/Candidates/
[Kortschnoj] (45)}) (10... Rc8 11. O-O Ba6 12. b3 g6 13. Bb2 Bg7 14. Rad1 O-O
15. Be2 Nd7 16. Na4 {1-0 Speelman,J-Kinsman,A/Hove 1997/EXT 99 (28)}) 11. Qg3 {
Mit diesem Zug unterbindet Weiß die Entwicklung des Bf8 nach e7.} (11. O-O Be7
(11... Rc8) 12. Qg3 O-O 13. Bh6 Bf6) 11... a6 {Wer "den Igel" spielt, kommt um
diesen Zug nicht herum. Anschließend kann Schwarz Qc7 spielen.} (11... Be7 12.
Bf4 O-O 13. Rd1 (13. Bxd6 Bxd6 14. Qxd6 Nc5 $44) 13... Bh4 14. Qh3 $6 (14. Qe3
e5 15. Bg3 f5 16. Bxh4 Qxh4 17. Nb5 Nc5 18. Nxd6 Nxd3+ 19. Rxd3 Bxe4 20. Nxe4
fxe4 21. Rd5 $14) 14... Ne5 $13) 12. O-O g6 {Schwarz muss so spielen, wenn er
den Bf8 entwickeln möchte.} (12... Rc8 13. f4 $14) 13. Bf4 {[%cal Gg3d6] Weiß
greift den Pd6 an, aber hier wie in ähnlichen Stellungen kann Schwarz diese
Schwäche leicht verteidigen.} (13. Rd1) 13... Qc7 {Weiß hat großen
Entwicklungsvorsprung, aber die schwarze Stellung ist elastisch.} (13... h5 $5
14. Rfd1 h4 $13) 14. Bc2 (14. Rad1 $5) 14... h5 $5 {[%cal Gh5h4,Gh4g3] Ein
origineller Spielplan - Schwarz beabsichtigt, die Qg3 mit 15...h4 zu verjagen.
Danach wäre Ne5 oder Be7 möglich} (14... Qxc4 15. Bxd6 Bxd6 16. Qxd6 $14) (
14... e5 15. Be3 Qxc4 16. Rac1 Be7 17. Rfd1 $36) 15. Ba4 {[%cal Ga4e8]} (15.
Rfd1 h4 16. Bxd6 hxg3 17. Bxc7 gxf2+ 18. Kxf2 Rc8 $11) 15... Bc6 (15... h4 $6)
16. Bxc6 Qxc6 $11 {Der Pd6 ist verteidigt, und die Dame steht aktiv auf c6.
Wie soll Weiß seinen Entwicklungsvorsprung nun auszunutzen versuchen?} 17. h4
$6 {Damit legt Weiß die Bauern am Königsflügel fest, aber in der Folge wird
der Ph4 schwach.} (17. b3) (17. Rad1 h4 $11) (17. Rfd1 $5) 17... Be7 (17...
Qxc4 $6 18. Rfd1 $1 (18. Bxd6 Bxd6 19. Qxd6 Qc5 20. Qg3 O-O 21. Rfe1 $14) 18...
Bg7 19. Rxd6 Bxc3 20. bxc3 Qxe4 21. Rad1 $18) 18. Rad1 (18. Rfd1 $1) 18... Ne5
(18... Qxc4 $2 19. Bxd6 $16) 19. Bxe5 $6 {Weiß ist optimistisch und erobert
vorübergehend einen Bauern.} (19. b3 O-O 20. a4 Bf6 21. Rd2 Rfd8 22. Rfd1 $11)
19... dxe5 20. Qxe5 O-O $44 {[%csl Rc4,Gc6,Ge7,Rh4] Schwarz hat einen Bauern
weniger, konnte aber endlich die Entwicklung beenden. Momentan hängen sowohl
der Pc4 als auch der Ph4.} 21. Qf4 $6 (21. g3 $142 Qxc4 (21... Rad8 $6 22. Rxd8
Rxd8 23. Nd5 Bxh4 (23... exd5 $2 24. Qxe7 $18) 24. gxh4 (24. Nb4 Qc5 (24...
Qxc4 25. gxh4 a5 26. b3 $18) 25. Qxc5 bxc5 26. Nxa6 Be7 27. b4 $16) 24... exd5
25. cxd5 $16) 22. Rd7 Rfe8 $11) (21. Rd4 Bxh4 $15) 21... Qxc4 $15 22. Rd7 (22.
Rc1 $5) 22... Bxa3 $1 {Damit gewinnt Schwarz einen Bauern.} 23. bxa3 Qxc3 24.
Qd6 (24. Rb1 b5 25. Qd6 Qf6 $15) 24... b5 25. Rd1 {[%cal Gd1d7] Weiß hat
starke Kontrolle über die d-Linie, die Realisierung des Materialvorteils ist
daher keine leichte Sache für Schwarz.} Qf6 26. g3 (26. Qg3 $142 Rac8 27. e5
Qf5 $15) 26... Rfc8 {[%cal Gc8c2]} 27. Kg2 (27. e5 Qf5 $15) 27... Rc2 28. Qb6
$6 (28. Qd4 $1 Qxd4 29. R1xd4 $15 {In diesem Turmendspiel hat Weiß bessere
Remischancen als in der Partie.}) 28... Rac8 {[%cal Gc8c1] Schwarz
kontrolliert die c-Linie.} 29. R1d3 (29. R1d2 Rxd2 30. Rxd2 Rc3 $1 31. Qxa6
Qf3+ 32. Kh2 Rc1 $19) 29... R8c3 $17 30. Qe3 Rxd3 31. Rxd3 Qe5 {[%csl Gc2,Ge5]
[%cal Gc2c4,Gc4e4][%mdl 4096] Schwarz hat nicht nur einen Mehrbauern, sondern
auch die aktiveren Figuren.} 32. Qf3 Rc4 33. Re3 $6 (33. Rd7 Qxe4 34. Rxf7
Qxf3+ 35. Rxf3 Ra4 $17) 33... Kg7 $1 {Schwarz muss sich nicht beeilen - sein
Gegenüber ist machtlos und zum Abwarten verurteilt.} 34. Qe2 Qd4 {[%csl Gc4,
Gd4,Re2,Re3]} 35. e5 (35. Qe1 e5 36. Qb1 Rc3 37. Rxc3 Qxc3 $19) 35... Rc3 $1
36. Qb2 (36. Rxc3 Qxc3 $19 {[%csl Ra3,Re5]}) 36... Qd5+ 37. Kh2 Rxe3 38. fxe3 {
Weiß hat einen Bauern weniger und eine sehr schlechte Bauernstruktur.} Qc5 $19
{[%csl Re3,Re5] Mit diesem Zug gewinnt Schwarz einen weiteren Bauern und die
Partie.} 39. e4 Qe3 {[%csl Ge3]} 40. Qb4 Qf2+ 41. Kh3 Qg1 {[%csl Rh3][%cal
Rg1h1,Rh1h3]} (41... Qg1 42. Qb2 Qh1+ 43. Qh2 Qxh2+ 44. Kxh2 a5 $19) 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament Gp1"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.06"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lutz, Christopher"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2002.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 {Der
bulgarische Großmeister spielt diese Variante gern mit Weiß.} Nf6 8. O-O-O Bb4
9. f3 Ne5 10. Nb3 b5 11. Kb1 {Das ist die Abweichung von der Partie Leko-Lutz/
Essen 2002. Weiß droht jetzt 12.Nxb5 zu spielen. Mit dem Textzug gibt Topalov
zu erkennen, dass er den Abtausch auf c3 immer noch nicht fürchtet. Die
psychologische Erklärung des Zuges - Weiß möchte nicht auf die sehr
wahrscheinliche schwarze Verbesserung zur Partie Leko-Lutz warten.} (11. Bd4
Be7 12. Kb1 d6 13. Qf2 O-O 14. g4 b4 15. Na4 Bb7 16. Rg1 Nfd7 17. Nb6 Rab8 18.
g5 {1-0 Leko,P-Lutz,C/Essen 2002/CBM 90_01 (62)}) 11... Nc4 {Dieser Zug
scheint mir zu früh zu kommen - ich glaube, es wäre besser entweder mit 11...
Be7 das Motiv 12.Nxb5 zu vermeiden oder mit 11...Bxc3 fortzusetzen.} (11... Be7
12. Qf2 d6 13. g4 Nfd7 14. g5 Bb7 15. a3 O-O 16. Rg1 Rfc8 17. h4 Nc4 18. Bxc4
bxc4 19. Nc1 Rab8 {1/2-1/2 Nevednichy,V-Delchev,A/Creon 2001/EXT 2002 (19)}) (
11... Bxc3 12. Qxc3 $5 (12. bxc3 Nc4 13. Bxc4 bxc4 (13... Qxc4 14. Qd6) 14. Nc5
d5 $13)) 12. Bxc4 bxc4 13. Nc1 {[%cal Gc1e2]} (13. Nd4) 13... Qb7 14. N1e2 Rb8
$6 {Dieser Zug ist zu direkt und gefällt mir nicht - der große Nachteil des
Zuges ist, dass Weiß nun mit Bf4 den Turm angreifen kann.} (14... O-O $142 $1
15. Qd4 (15. Bf4 d5) 15... Rb8 16. Qxc4 d5 $13) 15. b3 $14 (15. Bd4 $6 e5 16.
Bxe5 $2 Bd6 $19 {[%cal Rd6e5,Rb8b2]}) 15... O-O 16. Bf4 $1 Ra8 17. Bd6 {
[%csl Gd6] Der Läufer steht ausgezeichnet auf d6 - sehr wichtig ist, dass der
schwarze d-Bauer blockiert ist.} Bxd6 (17... a5 {Dieser Zug ist sehr
interessant - Schwarz opfert die Qualität und möchte mit a5-a4 angreifen. Das
einzige Problem ist, dass das Opfer nicht völlig korrekt ist.} 18. Bxf8 Kxf8
19. e5 Nd5 (19... Ne8 20. Qd4 cxb3 21. cxb3 a4 22. Ne4 $16) 20. Qd4 cxb3 (20...
a4 21. Qxc4 axb3 22. cxb3 Ne3 {[%cal Re3d1,Re3c4]} 23. Qh4 $1 $18 {[%cal Rh4d8,
Rd8f8,Rh4h7]}) 21. cxb3 Nxc3+ 22. Nxc3 a4 23. Ne4 axb3 24. axb3 Be7 25. Qc3 Kg8
(25... Qa7 26. Rd2 $16) 26. Rd4 Rb8 27. Rd3 $16) 18. Qxd6 cxb3 $6 {Es wäre
besser die Spannung in der Stellung zu halten und sofort 18...a5 zu ziehen.} (
18... a5 $5) 19. axb3 a5 20. Rd4 $1 {[%cal Gd4a4]} Ra6 21. Qa3 d5 $1 {Das ist
die einzige Gegenchance für Schwarz.} 22. exd5 exd5 $6 (22... Nxd5 $142 23.
Nxd5 exd5 24. Nf4 Be6 25. Rhd1 Rd8 $14) 23. Nf4 {[%csl Rd5]} Be6 24. Rhd1 h6 (
24... Rd8 25. Ne4 $1 Nxe4 26. fxe4 a4 27. Nxd5 Bxd5 28. Rxa4 $16 (28. Rxd5 Rxd5
29. Rxd5 h6 $132)) (24... Qc7 25. Ncxd5 Nxd5 26. Nxd5 Bxd5 27. Rxd5 a4 (27...
Qxh2 $2 28. Rd8 $18) 28. Rd7 $14) 25. Ncxd5 Nxd5 26. Nxd5 $16 {Weiß hat einen
klaren Bauern mehr - das schwarze Gegenspiel am Damenflügel ist zu wenig.} Rb8
$2 (26... a4 {Mit diesem Zug konnte Schwarz eventuell im Trüben fischen.} 27.
Nf6+ $1 (27. Rb4 axb3 28. Rxb7 bxc2+ 29. Kxc2 Rxa3 $11) 27... gxf6 28. Rd8 Rxd8
29. Rxd8+ Kh7 30. Qf8 Kg6 31. g4 f5 32. Qg8+ Kf6 33. Qh8+ Kg5 (33... Ke7 34.
Qf8+ Kf6 35. Qxh6+ Ke7 36. Qf8+ Kf6 37. g5+ Ke5 38. Qg7+ Kf4 39. Qd4+ Kxf3 40.
Qc3+ Kf4 41. Qg3+ Ke4 42. Qg2+ $18 {[%cal Rg2b7]}) 34. Qg7+ $18) (26... Bxd5 $5
27. Rxd5 a4) {[#]} 27. Nf6+ $1 {[%mdl 512]} gxf6 28. Rd8+ Rxd8 29. Rxd8+ Kh7
30. Qf8 {[%csl Rh7][%cal Rf8g8,Rg8h7][%mdl 128] Der schwarze König befindet
sich in Mattnetz - es droht 31.Qg8#.} Kg6 (30... h5 31. g4 (31. Qh8+ Kg6 32.
Rg8+ Kf5 33. Qxh5+ Kf4 34. Rd8 $18) 31... hxg4 32. fxg4 Kg6 33. Qg8+ Kh6 34.
Qh8+ Kg5 35. Qg7+ Kf4 36. Qxf6+ $18) 31. Qg8+ Kh5 (31... Kf5 32. Qg4+ Ke5 33.
f4+ Ke4 34. Qf3+ $18 {[%cal Rf3b7]}) 32. Qg7 $1 (32. Rd4 Qb5 33. g3 Qg5 34.
Rh4+ Qxh4 35. gxh4 $18) 32... f5 33. Rd4 $1 {Droht 34.Rh4+ Kxh4 35.Qxh6#.} Bc8
34. g3 (34. g3 Qe7 (34... Rg6 35. Rh4+ Kg5 36. f4#) 35. Rh4+ Qxh4 36. Qxf7+ $18
) 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament Gp1"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2002.07.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. g4 Bg6 6. Nge2 c5 7. h4 h5 8. Nf4 Bh7
(8... Nc6 9. Nxg6 fxg6 10. Ne2 Qb6 (10... cxd4 {- Grischuk-Ehlvest, FIDE-Wch k.
o. 2000 CBM 81}) 11. Nf4 cxd4 12. Bd3 (12. Nxg6 {- Morozevich-Bareev, Bosna
Super GM Sarajevo 2000 CBM 77}) 12... Nxe5 13. Nxg6 Nxg6 14. Bxg6+ Kd7 15. gxh5
Bb4+ $1 $17 {- Zhang Pengxiang-Khalifman, CHN-RUS Summit Men 2001 CBM 85}) 9.
Nxh5 (9. Bb5+ Nc6 10. Nxh5 cxd4 11. Qxd4 Nge7 {- 9.Nh5}) (9. g5 {- Arizmendi
Martinez-Piankov, Ciudad de Ubeda op 2000 CBM 75}) 9... Nc6 (9... cxd4 {
- Grischuk-Seirawan, FIDE GP Moscow rapid 2002 CBM 90}) 10. dxc5 (10. Bb5 cxd4
11. Qxd4 Nge7 12. Bh6 (12. Bg5 {All this looks extremely frightening for Black,
but White cannot make use of the pins.} a6 ({Even} 12... Bxc2 13. Rc1 Qd7 $1 {
is possible according to GM Kallai.}) 13. Bxc6+ Nxc6 $1 14. Qa4 (14. Qd2 Qc7
$15) (14. Qf4 Qc7 15. O-O Bg6 16. Rfe1 Bxh5 17. gxh5 Rxh5 $17 {Holmsten-Hansen,
Rilton Cup Stockholm 1998}) 14... b5 15. Qf4 Qc7 16. O-O (16. O-O-O $2 b4 {
- Ehlvest-Bareev, FIDE-ch k.o. 2001 CBM 86}) 16... Bg6 17. Ng3 Qxe5 {and
White's psition is falling apart.} 18. Qd2 Bc5 $15 {Orso-Kallai, ch-HUN k.o.
Budapest 2000}) 12... Rg8 $1 {Black needs good nerves playing this variation!}
13. O-O-O a6 14. Bxc6+ Nxc6 15. Qf4 (15. Qe3 Qa5) 15... Qa5 16. Qa4 $1 (16.
Rhe1 {allows the quick counterattack after} Nb4 $1 17. a3 Rc8 $1 18. axb4 Qa1+
19. Kd2 Qxb2 $19 {Chapman-Rogers, Australien Open 1999}) (16. Kb1 {is also met
by the same tactics:} Nb4 $1 17. Rc1 Rc8 18. a3 Nxc2 19. Rxc2 Rxc3 $1 $19 {
A.David-Kallai, France 1999}) 16... Qxa4 17. Nxa4 gxh6 18. Nf6+ Ke7 19. Nxh7
Nxe5 $5 (19... Rxg4 20. Nb6 Rd8 21. Nf6 Rf4 22. Ng8+ Ke8 23. Nf6+ $11 {is a
nice draw by perpetual checks.}) 20. g5 Ng4 {/\ Rh8 Kallai}) 10... Bxc5 $1 11.
Bb5 {[%mdl 8]} (11. Bd3 $2 {is feeble due to} Bxd3 12. Qxd3 (12. cxd3 {McShane}
) 12... g6 $1 $15 {Nataf-N.P.Nielsen, North Sea Cup Esbjerg 2001 CBM 85}) (11.
Nxg7+ Kf8 12. Nh5 Qb6 (12... d4 {McShane} 13. Na4 Be7 14. Bf4 b5 $1 15. Bxb5
Qd5 $1) 13. Rh2 Nxe5 14. f4 $13) (11. Bg2 {- Grischuk-Bareev, FIDE GP Moscow
rapid 2002 CBM 90}) 11... Qc7 (11... Qb6 12. Bxc6+ (12. Qe2 a6 (12... Kf8 $2
13. Na4 $16) 13. Bxc6+ Qxc6 14. f3 Kf8 $13 {and Black has some compensation
for the P, his ^^ is very strong, and White's P structure is weakened.}) 12...
bxc6 (12... Qxc6 {- 11...Qc7}) 13. Qd2 (13. Nxg7+ Kf8 14. Nh5 Bxf2+ $13) 13...
Bf8 14. Ng3 $14) (11... Kf8 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Na4 Be7 (13... Be4 14. Rh3) 14.
Be3 {with some blockading ideas on >< c5.} Bg6 15. Nf4 Be4 16. f3 (16. Rh3 Qa5+
17. c3 Rxh4 18. Rxh4 Bxh4 19. Nc5 $14) 16... Qa5+ 17. c3 Rxh4 18. Rxh4 Bxh4+
19. Bf2 Bxf2+ 20. Kxf2 Bh7 21. b4 Qb5 22. Nc5 $14 {and the strong blockading N
has arrived.}) 12. Bxc6+ (12. Qe2 Kf8 $13) 12... Qxc6 (12... bxc6 {gives White
time to consolidate his position.} 13. f4 (13. Nxg7+ Kf8 14. Nh5 Qxe5+ 15. Kf1
$14) 13... Kf8 14. Ng3 $14) 13. Qf3 (13. Qe2 $4 d4 $19) (13. Rh2 d4 14. Ne2
O-O-O $1 $13) 13... O-O-O {Black puts his cards on the advance of his d P.} (
13... Kf8 {was also possible passively defending the P.} 14. Be3 $5 (14. Bd2
Bxc2 15. Rc1 Bh7) 14... Bb4 (14... d4 $6 {Now this push is out of order.} 15.
Qxc6 bxc6 16. Na4 Be4 17. Rh3 $16) 15. O-O Bxc3 16. bxc3 Bxc2 (16... Qxc3 17.
Nxg7 Qc6 18. Nh5) 17. Qf4 (17. Bc1 Ne7 $13) 17... Ne7 18. Qb4 a5 19. Qa3 Qc7
$13) 14. Nxg7 (14. Bg5 $5 {is met by the aggressive} f6 $1 15. exf6 gxf6 16.
Bxf6 $1 (16. Nxf6 Rf8 17. O-O-O Bb4 $13) 16... Rf8 (16... Nxf6 17. Nxf6 Bxc2
18. Rc1 Bg6 19. h5 Be8 20. g5) 17. g5 Bg6 18. Nf4 (18. Ng3 Nxf6 19. gxf6 Bd4
$17) 18... Nxf6 19. Nxg6 Ne4 $1 $13) 14... d4 $5 ({Inserting} 14... Bb4 15. Rh3
{and then} d4 {was the alternative.} 16. a3 (16. Qxc6+ bxc6 17. a3 Bf8 $1)
16... Bxc3+ (16... Bf8 17. Qxf7 $1) 17. bxc3 Qc7 18. Bf4 (18. Qf4 d3 $1) (18.
Bg5 d3 $13) 18... d3 $1 (18... Ne7 19. Rd1) 19. Rd1 dxc2 20. Rxd8+ Qxd8 $13)
15. Qxc6+ bxc6 16. Na4 (16. Bg5 $6 {is inferior because of} dxc3 17. Bxd8 cxb2
18. Rb1 Bd4 $1 $17) 16... Bf8 17. Nh5 Bxc2 18. b3 {Both white knights are on
the edge of the board, and the o^ on d4 is strong. However White has a very
strong P majority on the >>, which will be important in the _|_.} Rd5 19. Bf4 (
19. f4 Be7 (19... Be4 20. Rh3 Bg6 21. Nf6 $1 (21. Ng3 f6 $1 $132) 21... Nxf6
22. exf6 $16) 20. Bb2 Nh6 21. g5 Be4 22. Rh3 Nf5 23. Nf6 Bxf6 24. gxf6 $14)
19... Bb4+ 20. Ke2 (20. Kf1 d3 $13) 20... d3+ 21. Kf3 d2 22. Rad1 {White has
to neutralize the strong o^ at any cost.} (22. Ke2 Rd4) 22... Ne7 (22... Bxd1+
23. Rxd1 Be7 24. Kg3 $44) 23. Nf6 Rd3+ (23... Bxd1+ 24. Rxd1 $14) 24. Ke2 Nd5 (
24... Ng6 25. Bg3 Bxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Rd4 27. h5 $16) 25. Bg5 (25. Bg3 Nxf6 26. exf6
Rd4 27. f3 Bxd1+ 28. Rxd1 $13) (25. Nxd5 Rxd5 (25... Bxd1+ $2 26. Kxd3) 26.
Rxd2 Bxd2 27. Bxd2 Rhd8 28. Bg5 (28. Be3 Bd1+) 28... Rxe5+ 29. Be3 Red5 $13)
25... Bxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Rh3 27. h5 Be7 $2 {This is the big mistake.} (27... Nxf6
28. Bxf6 Rg8 29. f3 Rh2+ 30. Kd3 Rh3 31. Ke4 Rh2 32. Nb2 $14 {was certainly
better for White, but the text loses.}) 28. Rxd2 {eliminating Black's only
pride.} Bxf6 29. Bxf6 Nf4+ 30. Kd1 Rg8 31. Nc5 $1 $18 {and suddenly the black
K is in clear and present danger.} (31. f3 Rxf3 32. h6 Rh3 33. g5 Nd5 34. Bg7
Rd8 $13) 31... Rxg4 32. Rd8+ Kc7 33. Rd7+ Kb6 (33... Kc8 34. Rxf7 $18) 34. Be7
$1 Nd5 35. Rb7+ Ka5 36. Rxa7+ Kb5 37. Rb7+ Nb6 38. a4+ Ka5 39. Kc2 1-0

[Event "Candidates sf2"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A67"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Kapengut"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2002.07.13"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7
8. Bb5+ Nfd7 9. a4 O-O 10. Nf3 Na6 11. O-O Nb4 {Since Alexander Zaitzev had
begun to play 9.a4, black tried to put knight on b4, but it is usual remained
outside of the game. In this game Topalov has proved a converse.} 12. h3 (12.
Bd2) (12. f5) (12. Kh1) (12. Be3) (12. Re1 $5) 12... a6 13. Bc4 {[#]} (13. Be2
Re8 14. Re1 $6 (14. Be3 Nf6 {*} 15. e5 dxe5 16. Bxc5 Nfxd5 $1 $15) 14... f5 $1
15. exf5 gxf5 16. Bc4 Nb6 (16... Rxe1+ 17. Nxe1 Bd4+ 18. Kh1 Qf6 19. Bd2 Nb6
$15) 17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. Bf1 Bd7 19. a5 Nc8 20. Bd2 b5 21. Qb3 h6 22. Na2 Nxa2
23. Qxa2 Ne7 24. Bc3 Qf7 25. Rd1 Re8 26. Kh2 Bc6 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. b4 Bxd5 $17
{Hort,V-Panno,O/Madrid 1973}) 13... f5 $1 $146 {[%csl Re4,Re6][%cal Gd7b6,
Gc8f5,Gf3g5,Gg5e6,Ge4e5] Important novelty in a well-known position. This is
one of the main ideas solving the central problems in the Benoni. I think,
this move will have a bright future.} (13... Nf6 $6 14. Re1 $5 (14. Be3 $6 {*}
Nxe4 $5 (14... Re8 $6 15. e5 $1 {[%csl Rf7][%cal Gc4g8,Gf1f7]} Nd7 16. Ng5 h6
17. Ne6 $1 fxe6 18. dxe6 Kh7 19. exd6 $1 Bd4 20. Bxd4 cxd4 21. Ne4 b5 22. f5 $1
{1-0 Van der Peut,A-Houtman,A/cr NLD/M73 1979}) 15. Nxe4 Re8 16. Ne5 $1 dxe5 $5
(16... b6 $6 17. Ng5 dxe5 (17... f6 $5 18. Ne6 Bxe6 19. dxe6 d5 20. Nc6 $1 {
[%csl Rd5]} Nxc6 21. Bxd5 $1 Qc7 22. f5 $16) 18. fxe5 Bh6 {Soos,B-Povah,N/
Birmingham 1977/Inf 23/136} 19. e6 $1 $18) 17. Bxc5 exf4 18. Rxf4 (18. Nd6 $140
$6 Bf8 $1) 18... g5 $5 (18... Be5 $6 19. Rf2 Bf5 20. Bxb4 Bxe4 21. d6 $1 Kh8
22. Bxf7 $18 {De Grott,A-Gouma,R/NLD-ch H corr 1987}) 19. Nd6 gxf4 20. Nxe8
Qxe8 21. Qe1 $5 Qxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Bd7 23. Bxb4 Bxa4 24. d6 Re8 $15) 14... Nd7 (
14... b6 $6 15. e5 Ne8 16. Be3 Ra7 17. Bf2 Bh6 18. Bh4 f6 19. exf6 (19. Ne4
Bxf4 20. Nxf6+ Nxf6 21. Bxf6 Rxf6 $5 22. exf6 Rf7 $14 {[%csl Re6][%cal Ge1e8]})
19... Nxf6 20. Ne4 Bg7 21. Ne5 $5 (21. Ra3 h6 22. g4 Raf7 23. Ne5 dxe5 24. fxe5
g5 25. exf6 gxh4 26. fxg7 Rxg7 27. Rae3 h5 28. g5 b5 $132 {[%csl Rg5,Rh3][%cal
Gg7g2] Santolini,L-Rupeni,F/corr 1993}) 21... Qc7 (21... dxe5 $140 $6 22. fxe5
$18) 22. Nc6 $1 Nxe4 23. Rxe4 $16) 15. Be3 Qc7 (15... Rb8 16. Qd2 Nb6 17. Bf1
Re8 18. a5 $5 (18. Rad1 $6 Bd7 19. Ra1 Qc7 20. e5 $6 Bf5 21. g4 Bc2 22. e6 Bb3
$1 23. a5 N6xd5 24. exf7+ Qxf7 25. Ng5 Qd7 26. Nxd5 Bxd5 27. Bg2 Bxg2 28. Kxg2
Qc6+ $17 {[%cal Gd6d5,Gb8d8] Tuzan,O-Doghri,N/Moscow 1990}) 18... Na8 19. e5 $1
Nc7 20. Ne4 dxe5 21. d6 $16) 16. Bf2 Nb6 (16... Rb8 17. Rc1 Bh6 18. Bg3 Qa5 19.
Ra1 Nb6 20. Bf1 c4 21. f5 $5 Qc5+ 22. Qd4 $1 Qxd4+ 23. Nxd4 Bg7 24. Nf3 Nc2 25.
Bxd6 $16 {Profit,B-Zendrowski,J/ 1993}) 17. Bf1 Re8 18. Qd2 Rb8 19. Rac1 Bd7
20. b3 Nc8 21. e5 $5 b5 $5 22. axb5 Qb7 23. bxa6 Nxa6 24. Ne4 Bf5 25. Nf6+ (25.
Neg5 Ra8) 25... Bxf6 26. exf6 Nb6 27. g4 Be4 28. f5 $1 Nd7 29. Bh4 Kh8 30. Qh6
Rg8 31. Bxa6 Qxd5 32. Ng5 Nxf6 33. Bc4 {1-0 Oei,I-Michaud,P/Avoine 1992}) (
13... Qa5 {[%cal Gb7b5] /\b5} 14. Ra3 (14. Bd2 $5 Nb6 $5 15. b3 Re8 $132 16.
Re1 $140 $6 Nxc4 17. bxc4 Nd3 $17 {[%csl Rc3,Re1,Re4][%cal Gg7a1]}) 14... Qc7
15. Re1 Rb8 16. e5 $5 Nb6 17. b3 (17. Bf1 $6 Bf5 $132 {[%cal Gb4c2]}) 17... Bf5
18. Ne4 dxe5 (18... Bxe4 $5 {[%csl Rd5]} 19. Rxe4 dxe5 20. fxe5 N6xd5 $5 21.
Bxd5 $140 Rbd8 $36) 19. fxe5 Rbd8 20. d6 Qc6 21. Ng3 Bc2 22. Qe2 h6 (22... Nxc4
23. Qxc4 Bd3 24. Qg4 Nc2 25. Rd1 c4 $1 $17 {[%csl Ra3][%cal Gc6c5,Gc5g1,Gc5a3]}
) 23. Bd2 Nxc4 24. Qxc4 Qd5 25. Qh4 Nd3 $36 {[%csl Re1,Re5] Borik,O-Lobron,E/
Randers 1982}) (13... Rb8 14. Be3 {*} Re8 (14... b5 $5) 15. Bf2 b5 (15... Nb6
16. Be2 Na8 $16) 16. axb5 Nb6 17. Be2 axb5 18. Bh4 Bf6 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Bxb5
Bd7 21. Bxd7 Nxd7 22. Qd2 $1 (22. Ra7) 22... c4 23. e5 $1 $16 {Zaitsev,
A-Gufeld,E/Debrecen 1970/Inf 10/137}) (13... Re8 14. Re1 Rb8 (14... Nb6 15. Bf1
a5 $5 $132 {[%csl Gb4,Rd5][%cal Gc5c4]}) (14... Bd4+ $6 15. Nxd4 cxd4 16. Na2
Nxa2 17. Rxa2 Qh4 18. b3 f5 19. e5 $1 $16 {[%csl Ra8,Rc8] Meyer,H-Einarsson,H/
Reykjavik 1984}) (14... b6 $6 15. Be3 Qc7 16. Bf2 Rb8 17. Bg3 b5 $6 18. axb5
Nb6 19. Bf1 c4 20. Bf2 Nd7 21. Qa4 Nd3 22. Bxd3 cxd3 {Gravel,S-Hua,L/Quebec
1999} 23. bxa6 Rxb2 24. Nb5 Rxb5 25. Qxb5 Bxa1 26. Rxa1 $18) (14... Nf8 $6 {
[%csl Rf8]} 15. Be3 Rb8 16. e5 $1 Bf5 17. Rc1 Qd7 18. a5 (18. g4 $5 {[%csl Rf5]
} b5 19. Be2 Bxg4 $5 20. hxg4 Qxg4+ 21. Kf2 dxe5 22. Nxe5 Qh4+ 23. Kg2 Rxe5 $5
24. fxe5 (24. Rh1 $140 $6 Qxh1+ $1 $36) 24... Bxe5 25. Bf3 Qg3+ 26. Kf1 Nd3 $5
$44 {[%csl Rc1,Re1,Rf1,Rf3]}) 18... Rbc8 19. Bf2 (19. g4 $5 {[%csl Rf5]} Bxg4
20. hxg4 Qxg4+ 21. Kf2 dxe5 22. Rg1 Qh3 23. Rg3 $16) 19... Qd8 20. g4 Bd7 21.
Ne4 dxe5 22. fxe5 Qxa5 23. Nd6 $18 {Rodriguez,O-Rohde,M/Alicante 1978}) 15. Be3
b5 (15... b6 16. Bf2 Bb7 17. Qd2 Ba8 18. Re2 f6 19. Rae1 h6 20. g4 g5 21. Bg3
Nf8 22. e5 $5 $36 {[%csl Ge4,Rg8][%cal Gc4g8,Gd2h6] Kordts,W-Weinmann,S/Bayern
2000}) 16. axb5 axb5 17. Bf1 c4 18. Bf2 Na6 19. Nd4 Bxd4 20. Bxd4 Nac5 {
A complicated tactical position arise after} 21. e5 $5 dxe5 22. fxe5 Nb3 {
[%csl Ra1,Rd4]} 23. e6 $5 fxe6 24. dxe6 Nf6 $5 (24... Nf8 $6 25. Ba7 Bxe6 $5
26. Bxb8 Qb6+ 27. Kh1 Nxa1 28. Nd5 $1 {[%csl Re8][%cal Gd5f6,Gd5b6]} Qxb8 29.
Nf6+ Kf7 30. Nxe8 Qxe8 31. Qf3+ Kg7 32. Rxa1 $16 {Cebalo,M-Godena,M/Caorle 1984
}) 25. Nxb5 $5 {[%csl Rb3][%cal Gb3g8]} (25. Ba7 $140 $6 Bxe6 26. Bxb8 Qb6+ 27.
Kh1 Rxb8 $44) 25... Rxb5 26. Bxf6 Qxf6 27. Bxc4 Nd4 $5 (27... Nxa1 $140 $2 28.
Bxb5 Rd8 29. Qxd8+ $1 Qxd8 30. e7 Qb6+ 31. Kh1 Qxb5 32. e8=Q+ Qxe8 33. Rxe8+
Kg7 34. Rxc8 $18) 28. Re4 Bxe6 29. Rxe6 Rxe6 30. Ra8+ Kg7 31. Bxe6 Nxe6 32.
Qd7+ Kh6 33. Qxb5 Nc7 34. Qa5 Nxa8 35. Qxa8 Qxb2 $11) 14. Ng5 ({It is the most
basic typical central breakthrough here!} 14. e5 $5 dxe5 $1 (14... Nb6 $6 15.
b3 $16) 15. d6+ Kh8 16. Ng5 (16. fxe5 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Bh6 Bd4+ 19. Kh1
Qxd6 $1 $44) 16... e4 17. Ne6 Qf6 18. Nxf8 Nxf8 $44 {[%csl Rb2,Rd6][%cal Gf6d4]
}) 14... Nb6 15. Bb3 (15. Be2 a5 $5 {[%csl Gb4][%cal Gc5c4]} (15... h6 $140 $6
16. Ne6 Bxe6 17. dxe6 fxe4 18. a5 $1 $16 {[%csl Rb6,Ge6][%cal Ge2c4,Ga2g8]}))
15... a5 $1 {Black strengthen the square b4. This is the ideal set-up of the
knights, but it is nonstandart way for Modern Benoni.} 16. Be3 (16. Ne6 $140 $2
Bxe6 17. dxe6 c4 18. Bc2 d5 $5 $15 {[%csl Re6]}) 16... fxe4 $5 (16... c4 $5 {
[%csl Gd3]} 17. Bc2 Re8 18. Re1 Bd7 $132) 17. Kh1 (17. Qd2 $140 $6 c4 {[%csl
Gd3,Rd5]} 18. Bc2 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Nxc2 20. Qxc2 Nxd5 21. Qxe4 Nxe3 22. Qxe3 Bf5
$15 {[%cal Gf5d3]}) (17. Qe2 $140 $6 c4 $1 18. Bxc4 Nxc4 19. Qxc4 Nc2 $17 {
[%csl Ra1,Re3]}) (17. Ncxe4 $5 c4 $1 (17... Bxb2 $140 $6 18. Nxc5 $1 dxc5 19.
Bxc5 $36 {[%cal Gc5f8,Gc5b6,Gd5d6,Gb3g8]})) 17... Nd3 $1 {[%csl Rb2]} 18. Qd2
Re8 19. Rab1 {'?!' Ftacnik.} (19. Ngxe4 $140 $6 Nxb2 $17) (19. Ncxe4 $5 Nxb2
20. Rac1 N6xa4 (20... Bf5 $140 $6 21. Nxc5 $1 dxc5 22. Bxc5 $36 {[%csl Gf7]
[%cal Gd5d6,Gb3g8,Gg5f7]}) (20... N2xa4 {Ftacnik} 21. Ne6 Bxe6 22. dxe6 d5 $17)
21. Ne6 Qb6 $13) 19... Bf5 20. g4 h6 $1 21. gxf5 (21. Ne6 $140 $2 Bxe6 22. dxe6
d5 23. f5 Qh4 24. Qg2 d4 $17 {[%csl Gc5,Gd4,Ge4,Rh1][%cal Ga8d8]}) (21. Ngxe4
$140 $2 Bxe4+ 22. Nxe4 Qe7 23. Qxd3 Qxe4+ 24. Qxe4 Rxe4 $17 {[%csl Ra4,Rd5,Re3,
Rf4]}) 21... hxg5 22. fxg5 gxf5 $36 23. Rxf5 {'?' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'Very
tempting move destroying black's pawn structure, but attacking concept
starting with 23.Qe2! seems much more promising.'} (23. Qe2 $1 {Ftacnik} Qd7
24. Qh5 Rf8 (24... Rac8 $2 {Ftacnik} 25. g6 Bd4 26. Bxd4 cxd4 27. Nb5 Nc5 28.
Nxd6 $1 Nxb3 29. g7 Qxd6 30. Rxf5 $18) 25. g6 Be5 26. Bh6 c4 27. Bc2 $13) 23...
Qd7 24. Rbf1 Re5 $1 {[%csl Rh3][%cal Gd7h3]} 25. Rf7 (25. Nxe4 Rxf5 26. Qxd3
$140 $2 c4 $1 $19 {[%csl Re3,Rh3]}) 25... Qxh3+ 26. Qh2 (26. Kg1 $140 $2 Rxg5+
$1 27. Bxg5 Bd4+ $19) 26... Qxh2+ 27. Kxh2 Rf8 $1 $15 28. Rxf8+ Bxf8 29. Rf6 $5
c4 (29... Nxb2 $140 $6 30. Bf4 (30. Bxc5 $6 dxc5 31. Rxb6 e3 $1 $19) 30... Re8
31. Bxd6 Bg7 32. Re6 $1 $13) 30. Bd1 (30. Ba2 $5 {[%csl Rd6][%cal Ga2g8]} Nd7
31. Re6 $5 Nxb2 (31... Rxe6 $6 32. dxe6 N7e5 {/\Ng4} 33. Kg3 Be7 34. Nxe4 Nxb2
35. Nf6+ Kf8 36. Nd7+ Ke8 37. Nxe5 dxe5 38. Kg4 $14) 32. Bd4 e3 $1 (32... Rxg5
$6 33. Nxe4 Rxd5 34. Bxb2 $1 Kf7 35. Bxc4 Kxe6 36. Nc3 $1 (36. Ng5+ $6 Kf5 37.
Bxd5 Kxg5 38. Bxb7 $15) 36... Nb6 37. Bb3 $16 Bh6 $140 $6 38. Kg3 Bd2 39. Nxd5
Nxd5 40. Kf3 $18) 33. Bxe5 Nxe5 34. Kg3 e2 35. Nxe2 (35. Kf2 $140 $2 Nd1+ $19)
35... Nxa4 36. Re8 b5 37. Ra8 b4 38. Rxa5 Nc5 $44 {[%csl Ra2,Gb4,Gc4,Gc5,Ge5,
Gf8]}) 30... Nd7 31. Rg6+ (31. Re6 N7c5 32. Rxe5 dxe5 33. Bg4 Nxb2 34. Bxc5
Bxc5 35. Nxe4 Bb4 36. Be6+ (36. d6 $6 Nxa4 37. d7 Be7 38. Be6+ Kg7 39. Bxc4 Nb2
$17) 36... Kf8 37. d6 Nxa4 38. Bxc4 Nc5 $1 $17) 31... Kh7 32. Re6 N7c5 33. Rf6
$6 $17 {'?' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'The final mistake, as all white's pawns are
weak and counterplay remains a distant dream.'} (33. Rxe5 $5 dxe5 (33... Nxe5
$2 {Ftacnik} 34. Bxc5 dxc5 35. Nxe4 $16) 34. Kg3 (34. Bh5 Nxb2 35. Be8 $1 $15)
34... Nxb2 (34... Kg6 35. Kh4 Nxb2 36. Bh5+ Kg7 37. Be8 $44) 35. Bc2 Ncd3 36.
Nxe4 Nb4 37. Bc1 N2d3 38. Bxd3 Nxd3 39. Bd2 $44 {[%csl Ra5,Gd5,Gg5]}) 33... Kg8
$6 (33... Be7 $1 34. Rh6+ Kg8 35. g6 Bg5 $19) 34. Bh5 Be7 35. Rh6 Kf8 36. Rh8+
(36. Bd4 $5 Bxg5 $1 (36... Rxg5 $140 $6 37. Rh8+ Rg8 38. Rh7 $11) 37. Rh8+ (37.
Bxe5 Bxh6 38. Bxd6+ Kg7 {/\Bc1} 39. Be2 Bd2 $1 $19 {[%csl Ra4]}) 37... Kg7 38.
Bxe5+ Nxe5 39. Re8 Bc1 40. Nb5 Ned3 $1 41. Kg1 (41. Nxd6 $140 $4 Bf4+ $19)
41... Bf4 $19 {[%csl Rb2,Ge4]}) 36... Kg7 37. Re8 Bxg5 $1 $19 38. Rxe5 Bxe3 $1
39. Re7+ Kf6 40. Rf7+ Kg5 41. Bd1 Bd4 42. Kg2 Nxb2 43. Nb5 Be5 44. Bc2 Nbd3 45.
Kf1 Nb4 46. Bb1 Nxd5 0-1

[Event "Candidates sf2"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2002.07.13"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. g4 Bg6 6. Nge2 Ne7 7. f4 c5
$5 {[%mdl 8]} (7... Na6 8. Ng3 Nb4 9. f5 exf5 10. a3 f4 11. axb4 fxg3 12. hxg3
a6 (12... Nc8 13. b5 $1 $14 {- Sutovsky-Dautov, Julian Borowski-A 3rd Essen
2001 CBM 83}) 13. Bg5 b5 $1 {- Bruzon Bautista-Gonzales, CUB-ch Holguin City
2002 CBM 89} (13... Qb8 14. Bd3 Qa7 {This is a rather sophysticated Q
manoeuvre.} 15. Ne2 b5 16. c3 Bxd3 17. Qxd3 Ng6 18. Nf4 Nxf4 19. gxf4 {and
White's P chain can easily be mobilized.} h6 20. f5 $16 {Svidler-Galkin,
RUS-chT Tomsk 2001})) (7... h5 8. f5 $1 exf5 9. g5 {- Nataf-Grabarczyk,
Hasselbacken 2001 CBM 85}) 8. h4 $6 {The is too much of P moves on the >>.} (8.
dxc5 $142 {is the natural reaction in the [+].} Nec6 9. Be3 (9. f5 $6 {is
again self-destructive.} exf5 10. Qxd5 Na6 $5 (10... fxg4 {comes also into
consideration, White's P majority on the << is counterbalanced on the other
flank.} 11. Qxd8+ (11. Bf4 Bxc2 (11... Nd7 12. O-O-O Nxc5 {looks also playable.
}) 12. Qxd8+ Kxd8 13. Rc1 Bg6 14. Bg2 Nd7 $15 {and White has to show something
for the P.}) 11... Kxd8 12. Be3 Nxe5 13. O-O-O+ Kc8 14. Bg2 Na6 15. Rd5 f6 $1 {
strengthening the strong N in the [+].} (15... Nd7 16. Rhd1 Bxc5 17. Bxc5 Ndxc5
18. Nb5 $1 $14) 16. Rhd1 Be7 $13) 11. Qxd8+ Rxd8 $13) 9... Nd7 10. Ng3 (10. f5
$6 {is again dubious in view of} exf5 11. gxf5 Bxf5 12. Nxd5 Bxc5) 10... Ndxe5
$1 {This was the idea, but} (10... d4 11. Bxd4 Bxc2 12. Qxc2 Nxd4 13. Qa4 Bxc5
14. O-O-O $14 {and White has the better development.}) (10... Bxc5 $6 11. Bxc5
Nxc5 12. f5 $16) 11. Nb5 $1 {is the real answer!} (11. fxe5 d4 $13) 11... a6 (
11... d4 12. Bd2 $1 Bxc5 (12... a6 13. Nd6+ $16) 13. fxe5 Nxe5 14. Qe2 f6 15.
Ne4 $14) 12. Nd6+ Bxd6 13. cxd6 Nc4 14. Bxc4 dxc4 15. O-O $14) 8... h5 $1 9. f5
$1 {otherwise the whole >> collapses.} exf5 10. g5 {This old blockading idea
is not so effective, because the [+] is not closed.} Nec6 11. Bg2 cxd4 12. Nxd5
(12. Nxd4 Bb4 $15) 12... Nd7 13. Nxd4 Ndxe5 14. Nb5 {'!?' Ftacnik. Ftacnik:
'White has to play creatively, since with completed development second player
might be very satisfied with his prospects.'} (14. Bf4 {Ftacnik} Bd6 15. Qd2
O-O $11) 14... Rc8 (14... Bd6 $5 {Ftacnik} 15. Nf6+ Ke7 16. Nd5+ Kf8 17. Nxd6
Qxd6 18. Bf4 Qc5 $13) 15. Qe2 {'!' Ftacnik.} Bd6 (15... Bc5 $5 16. Bf4 (16. b4
$1 {Ftacnik} Bd6 17. Bf4 $16) 16... O-O 17. O-O-O Qa5 18. Rhe1 Rfe8 19. Kb1 $13
) (15... f6 {Ftacnik} 16. Bf4 $40) 16. Nxd6+ (16. Bf4 $5 {Ftacnik} Bb8 17.
O-O-O Kf8 18. Rh3 $16) 16... Qxd6 17. Bf4 O-O 18. O-O-O {White still blockades
the vital f4 square, but the fight arises now on the other side of the board.}
Qc5 {'?!' Ftacnik. leaving the pins with ease! Ftacnik: 'White's bishops pair
is very dangerous, so it was important for the defender to play accurately.'} (
18... Qe6 {Ftacnik} 19. Rh3 Ng4 20. Qb5 $14) 19. Rh3 {'!' Ftacnik.} (19. b4 $6
{is again a suicide move:} Nxb4 20. Nxb4 Nc4 $1 $44) 19... Rfe8 (19... Nc4 $5 {
grabbing the |^ on the << was worthy of consideration:} 20. Rc3 (20. c3 Rfe8)
20... Nb4 21. Kb1 Qb5 22. Ne7+ Kh7 23. Bf1 $1 (23. Nxc8 Na3+ $19) 23... Rfe8
$17) 20. Rc3 Qa5 21. Ra3 (21. Re3 $2 Qxa2 $1 22. Bxe5 Na5 $1 23. Ra3 Nb3+ 24.
Rxb3 Qxb3 $17) 21... Qc5 22. Re3 (22. Rc3 $11) 22... Nd4 $2 {Black has lost
the thread.} (22... Re6 $1 {was required with a complicated struggle.} 23. Bxe5
(23. Rc3 Qa5 $13) (23. Kb1 Kh8 $13) 23... Rxe5 24. Rxe5 Nxe5 25. c3 Nc6 $13)
23. Rxd4 $1 Qxd4 24. Rxe5 {Now White gets the material advantage and an active
^^ in an opened position.} (24. Bxe5 Qxh4 (24... Qg4 {Ftacnik} 25. Qxg4 fxg4
26. c3 $16) 25. Bf4 Rxe3 26. Qxe3 Kh7 27. Kb1 $14) 24... Kh7 (24... Rxe5 25.
Bxe5 Qg1+ 26. Qf1 $14 {and the _|_ is clearly better for White because of his
chances on the <<.}) (24... Qg1+ 25. Qf1 $14) 25. Qd1 {'?!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik:
'Not the best way to realize solid advantage, Topalov hopes to eliminate even
a traces of counterplay. '} (25. Qe3 Qxe3+ (25... Qc4 26. Nc3 $14) 26. Rxe3 $14
) (25. Rxe8 Rxe8 26. Qf1 $14) 25... Qf2 {'!' Ftacnik. Black wants to
complicate matters, therefore avoids the exchange of queens.} (25... Qxd1+ 26.
Kxd1 $14) 26. Bf3 Rxe5 27. Bxe5 f4 $2 {'!' Ftacnik. Black finally wants to
free his entombbed B, but this was not the right place.} (27... Qxh4 28. Bf4
Rd8 (28... Qf2 29. Bxh5 $16) 29. Qd2 Re8 30. Kd1 $14) 28. Bc3 $1 Rd8 {'?'
Ftacnik.} (28... Qxh4 29. Qd4 Rxc3 30. Nxc3 Qxg5 {gave at least a lot of pawns
for Black...} 31. Nd5 $16 (31. Qxa7 $16 {Ftacnik})) 29. b3 (29. Bxh5 $18 {
was simpler}) 29... Kh8 30. Be1 {leaving the long /^ can only be explained by
the usual lack of time.} (30. Bd4 $18 Qxh4 (30... Qh2 {Ftacnik} 31. Bxg7+ Kxg7
32. Qd4+ Kh7 33. Nf6+ Kg7 34. Nxh5+ Kf8 35. Qxd8#) 31. Bxg7+ Kxg7 32. Qd4+ Kh7
33. Nf6+ Kg7 34. Nxh5+) 30... Qc5 31. Kb2 Bf5 (31... Bxc2 {Ftacnik} 32. Qxc2
Rxd5 33. Bxd5 Qxd5 34. Qc4 Qg2+ 35. Ka3 $18) 32. c4 b5 33. Bb4 Qf2+ 34. Qe2
Qxe2+ (34... Qg1 35. Bxh5 $16 (35. Bc3 {Ftacnik})) 35. Bxe2 bxc4 36. bxc4 {
and the _|_ is simply winning again.} Bg4 37. Bd3 f3 38. Kc3 Be6 39. Ne3 Bh3
40. Nd1 $138 (40. Nd1 Bf5 $1 41. Nf2 Bxd3 42. Nxd3 Re8 43. Bc5 a6 44. Bd4 Kh7
45. c5 $16 {Black lost on time in a position, that still offered some chances
for resistance.}) 1-0

[Event "Candidates final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2002.07.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2002.07.18"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Be7 7. O-O d6 8. c4
b6 9. Nc3 Bf6 {Topalov strives to steer the game away from the book
continuation.} (9... Bb7 10. Qe2 (10. f4 Nd7 11. Be3 Ngf6 12. Qf3 g6 13. Rad1
Qc7 14. Qh3 h5 15. f5 gxf5 16. exf5 e5 17. Be2 Rg8 18. Bf3 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Rb8
20. Nd2 b5 21. cxb5 axb5 22. Nde4 {1-0 Shirov,A-Agrest,E/Leon 2001/ (44)})
10... Nf6 (10... Nd7 11. a4 (11. f4 Ngf6 12. Bd2 O-O 13. Kh1 Re8 14. Nd4 Qc7
15. Rac1 Rac8 16. b4 Qb8 17. Nb3 g6 18. a4 Qa8 19. a5 d5 20. cxd5 exd5 21. e5
Bxb4 {0-1 Hunt,H-Ciuksyte,D/Varna 2002/ (31)}) 11... Ngf6 12. a5 Nc5 13. Bc2
Nxb3 14. Bxb3 bxa5 15. Rd1 Qc7 16. Ba4+ Bc6 17. Bf4 Bxa4 18. Rxa4 Nd7 19. Rda1
Bf6 20. Rxa5 {1-0 Lindberg,B-Agrest,E/SWE 2002/ (87)}) 11. Bf4 Nbd7 12. Rfd1
Qc7 13. Bg3 O-O 14. a4 Nc5 15. Bc2 Nxb3 16. Bxb3 Rac8 17. Rac1 g6 18. f3 Nd7
19. Ba2 Rfe8 20. Qd2 Ne5 {1/2-1/2 Barria,D-Vehi Bach,V/Barbera/2000/ (31)}) 10.
Qc2 Ne7 11. Be3 Qc7 12. Rfd1 Nd7 13. Qd2 (13. a4 Rb8 14. a5 bxa5 15. Nxa5 Nc5
$11) 13... Bb7 14. Be2 Be5 (14... Rd8 15. Qxd6 Qxd6 16. Rxd6 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Nc8
18. Rd2 Bxe4 19. c5 $1 $16) 15. Bd4 Rd8 16. Rac1 (16. f4 Bxd4+ 17. Qxd4 Nf6 $11
) 16... Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Nf6 18. Na4 Nc8 (18... Bxe4 $6 19. Qxb6 Qxb6 20. Nxb6 Rb8
21. Na4 (21. Rxd6 $2 Nf5) 21... Rb4 22. Nc3 $16) 19. e5 $5 {Excellent idea to
start active operations before black gets a chance to complete his development.
} (19. f3 O-O 20. Qe3 Nd7 $11) 19... dxe5 20. Qxd8+ Qxd8 21. Rxd8+ Kxd8 22. c5
b5 (22... Nd5 23. cxb6 Ncxb6 24. Nxb6 Nxb6 25. Nc5 $14) 23. c6 Ba8 (23... Bxc6
24. Rxc6 bxa4 25. Nc5 a3 26. b3 $11) 24. Nac5 Kc7 (24... Bxc6 25. Nxe6+ Kd7 26.
Nec5+ Kd6 27. Nxa6 $11) 25. Nxa6+ Kb6 26. Bxb5 (26. Nb4 Na7 27. Rc5 Rc8 28.
Rxe5 Bxc6 29. Nxc6 Rxc6 $11) 26... Nd6 {Topalov was forced to play for win at
all costs, so the equalizing variation with 26...Kxb5 was rejected.} (26...
Kxb5 27. Nc7+ Kb6 28. Nxa8+ Ka7 29. Nc7 Kb6 $11) 27. Be2 (27. a4 Nxb5 28. axb5
Kxb5 29. Nc7+ Kb6 30. Nxa8+ Rxa8 31. Nd2 e4 $11) 27... Bxc6 28. Nb4 (28. Nac5
Ra8 29. a3 Nf5 $36) 28... Bd5 29. Nd2 (29. Nxd5+ $2 exd5 $17) 29... Nf5 30.
Nc4+ Bxc4 31. Rxc4 (31. Bxc4 Rc8 32. Nd3 e4 33. Ne5 Nd6 34. b3 Rc5 $15) 31...
Nd4 32. Bf1 (32. Kf1 Ne4 33. Ke1 Ra8 34. a3 Nd6 35. Rc1 g5 $36) 32... Rd8 33.
Nd3 Nc6 {White's pawn majority on the queenside is blocked by the black king
and second player can dream about stirring some trouble on the kingside.} 34.
a4 (34. f3 Ra8 35. a3 Nd5 $13) 34... e4 35. Nc5 Na5 36. Rb4+ (36. Rc2 Rd4 37.
h3 Nd5 $36) 36... Kxc5 37. Rb5+ Kc6 (37... Kd4 38. Rxa5 Rb8 39. Ra7 Rxb2 40.
Rxf7 $11) 38. Rxa5 Nd5 39. Rb5 (39. Ra6+ Kb7 40. a5 Rb8 $13) (39. Ra7 $2 Nc7 $1
40. Ra5 Rb8 $17) 39... Nf4 40. Rb4 f5 41. Rc4+ (41. f3 Nd3 (41... e3 $2 42.
Rxf4 Rd1 43. Rc4+ Kb6 44. Rc2 $18) 42. Rc4+ Kd5 43. b3 Rb8 $15) 41... Kb7 42.
g3 (42. f3 $2 e3 $1 43. Rxf4 Rd1 44. Rb4+ Ka7 $19) 42... Nd3 43. a5 g5 44. Be2
Rd5 45. b4 Ne5 46. a6+ Kb8 (46... Kxa6 47. Rxe4+ Kb6 48. Re3 $11) 47. Rc2 g4
48. Rc5 (48. b5 Nd3 $15) 48... Nf3+ 49. Kf1 $2 {[%mdl 4096] A rare ocassion,
when Leko is showing normal weakness of human chessplayer. Draw was still
available, but white had to find courage for transfer into an original pawn
edngame.} (49. Bxf3 $1 gxf3 (49... Rxc5 $2 50. bxc5 gxf3 (50... exf3 51. c6 $18
) 51. c6 e5 52. Kf1 f4 53. g4 e3 54. g5 $18) 50. Rxd5 exd5 51. b5 Ka7 52. Kf1
d4 53. Ke1 e3 54. fxe3 dxe3 55. h3 h5 56. h4 $11) 49... Nxh2+ 50. Ke1 (50. Kg2
Nf3 $17) 50... Nf3+ 51. Bxf3 (51. Kf1 Rxc5 52. bxc5 Ka7 53. Bb5 Nd2+ 54. Ke1
Nb3 55. c6 Kb6 56. Bc4 Nd4 $19) 51... exf3 (51... Rxc5 52. bxc5 gxf3 53. c6 e5
54. Kd2 h6 55. Ke3 h5 56. Kd2 f4 57. Ke1 e3 58. Kf1 e2+ 59. Ke1 e4 60. Kd2 e3+
$19) 52. Rc6 Re5+ 53. Kd1 (53. Kf1 Ka7 (53... Rb5 54. Rxe6 Rxb4) 54. Rd6 Rb5
55. Rxe6 Rxb4 56. Kg1 Rb1+ 57. Kh2 f4 58. gxf4 Rf1 59. f5 Rxf2+ 60. Kg1 Rc2 $19
) 53... h5 (53... Re2 $2 54. b5 Rxf2 55. b6 $16) 54. b5 Rxb5 55. Rxe6 Rb2 56.
Ke1 (56. Rf6 Rxf2 57. Rxf5 h4 $1 $19) 56... Rb1+ 57. Kd2 Rf1 58. Re5 (58. Ke3
$2 Re1+ $19) 58... f4 59. gxf4 Rxf2+ 60. Ke3 (60. Ke1 g3 61. Re3 h4 $19) 60...
Re2+ 61. Kd3 Ra2 (61... Ra2 62. Rxh5 f2 63. Rh1 g3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2624"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ {Dieses Läuferschach ist
sehr populär in der letzten Zeit - Schwarz möchte die geschlossene Variante
spielen und verhindert die normale Entwicklung des weißen Läufers nach b2.} 5.
Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2 b6 9. Bf4 {Wäre der Läufer auf c1, könnte
Weiß b3 und Bb2 spielen.} Ba6 10. Nbd2 Nbd7 11. Rfd1 Rc8 12. Rac1 Nh5 $11 {
Schwarz hat eine bequeme Stellung.} 13. e4 $6 {Ftacnik: 'Combination of giving
up the bishop on f4 for the knight a activity with e4 is very unfortunate, the
square f4 will be very weak.' Weiß geht nicht zurück - er hat keine Angst vor
der Schwächung seiner Bauernstellung.} (13. Be3 f5 14. Qa4 Nb8 15. Ne5 f4 16.
gxf4 Nxf4) 13... Nxf4 14. gxf4 Nf6 $5 {[%cal Gf6h5,Gh5f4]} (14... dxe4 15. Nxe4
Qc7 $11) 15. Ne5 (15. e5 Nh5 16. f5 Nf4 $36) 15... Nh5 $1 {Schwarz beschäftigt
sich nicht mit dem Damenflügel, er möchte am Königsflügel angreifen.} (15...
Bb7 16. f5 $13) 16. Qa4 Bxc4 17. Nxc6 (17. Ndxc4 b5 18. Qa6 bxc4 19. Nxc6 Rxc6
20. Qxc6 Nxf4 {Mit Zugumstellung erhalten wir die Partiefortsetzung.}) 17... b5
18. Qa6 {[#]} Rxc6 $1 {[%mdl 512] Ftacnik: 'Topalov has a clearly defined
atitude towards material on the board, initiative and positional compensation
have a distinct preference with him.'  Ein positionelles Qualitätsopfer a la
Petrosian. Nachfolgend erhält Schwarz dafür eine dauerhafte Initiative.} (18...
Qd6 19. exd5 $13 (19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20. Nxc4 Nxf4 $19)) 19. Qxc6 Nxf4 {[%csl Gf4]
[%cal Gf4e2,Ge2g1,Ge2c1] Der Springer steht ausgezeichnet auf f4.} 20. Nxc4
bxc4 $1 $44 (20... Ne2+ 21. Kf1 Nxc1 22. exd5 Nxa2 23. Qxb5 Nb4 $13) 21. exd5
exd5 22. Rc3 (22. Bf3 Bh4 23. Rc2 Qg5+ 24. Kf1 Qf5 $36) 22... Bh4 $1 {[%cal
Gd8g5] Mit diesem Zug bereitet Schwarz 23...Qg5 vor.} 23. Rg3 (23. Kf1 Nxg2 24.
Kxg2 Qg5+ 25. Rg3 (25. Kf1 Qf4 $19) 25... Bxg3 26. hxg3 Qg4 $17) (23. Rf3 Qg5
24. Rxf4 Qxf4 25. Rf1 $17) 23... Re8 $5 {Ftacnik: 'There are very few mere
mortals, that would be able to resist the temptation to take back the exchange
and play without any risk. Obviously, Topalov is from a different sort... ' 
Interessant - Schwarz möchte die Qualität nicht nehmen.} (23... Bxg3 24. hxg3
Nxg2 25. Kxg2 Re8 $17) 24. Rg4 Re6 25. Qc5 Nxg2 26. Rxg2 a6 $15 {[%csl Rd4,Rg2,
Gh4][%mdl 1024] Schwarz hat nur einen Bauern für die Qualität, aber dafür
völlig ausreichendes Gegenspiel - der Pd4 ist angreifbar und der Rg2 steht
passiv. Schwarz kann seine Stellung stufenweise verbessern, weil Weiß kein
Gegenspiel hat.} 27. Qa3 g6 {Schwarz verbessert mit kleinen Zügen seine
Stellung, bevor er eine entscheidende Aktion einleitet.} 28. Qc3 Qe7 {[%cal
Ge7e2]} 29. b3 Qa3 (29... cxb3) 30. Qc2 Qe7 {Schwarz wiederholt die Züge in
besserer Stellung - auf diese Weise kann er Bedenkzeit gewinnen.} 31. Kf1 (31.
Qc3 cxb3 32. Qxb3 (32. axb3) 32... Qd6 $15) 31... cxb3 32. Qxb3 (32. axb3 $15)
32... Qd6 33. Qd3 (33. Qf3 Re4 $15) 33... Qf4 {[%csl Ge6,Rf1,Gf4,Rg2,Gh4]
Ftacnik: 'White is lacking counterplay and squares for pieces, on the other
hand he can not complain about the lack of weaknesses.'} 34. Qd2 Qf5 35. Qd3
Re4 $1 (35... Qf4) 36. Qb3 Kg7 37. Qd3 h5 38. Qb3 Bf6 39. Rg3 (39. Qc3 Qf4 $15
(39... h4 $15)) 39... Rf4 $1 {Schwarz kann auch sofort den d-Bauern nehmen,
aber zuerst erhöht er lieber den positionellen Druck.} (39... Bxd4 $17) (39...
Rxd4 $17) 40. Qe3 h4 {[%csl Gh4] Der schwarze h-Bauern kommt sehr stark ins
Spiel.} 41. Rg2 Rf3 42. Qe2 a5 43. Kg1 Rf4 44. Kh1 Re4 45. Qf1 a4 (45... Rxd4
46. Rxd4 Bxd4 $17) 46. Rd2 Bxd4 $17 {Endlich Schwarz nimmt den d4-Bauern.} 47.
Qd1 Be5 {[%cal Ge4b4,Gb4b1,Gb1h1]} 48. f3 (48. Rxd5 h3 49. Rg1 Qf4 50. Rg3 Qxf2
$19) 48... Rb4 {[%cal Rb4b1,Rb1h1] Ftacnik: 'Black has two pawn for the
exchange and also control over the most squares on the board. In connection
with mating attack it makes him the obvious winner of the game.'} 49. Rd3 h3
50. Re2 d4 51. Rf2 Bf4 52. Qe2 Rb1+ 53. Rd1 d3 $19 {[%csl Gd3,Gf4] Der d-Bauer
entscheidet die Partie.} 54. Qf1 Rxd1 55. Qxd1 d2 56. Re2 Qd3 57. Rf2 (57. Re4
Qc3 $19) 57... Be3 58. Rf1 Bd4 59. a3 Kg8 $22 {Nach diesem Zug befindet sich
Weiß in Zugzwang.} 60. f4 Qe4+ 61. Rf3 Bf2 $1 {Diese Partie war die beste in
der 3. Runde.} 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2594"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Mueller,Karsten} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 Bd7 6. Bxc6
Bxc6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Bg5 e6 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Rhe1 O-O 11. Kb1 h6 12. Bh4 Qa5 13.
Qd2 Qh5 14. h3 g5 15. Bg3 e5 16. Qd3 Rad8 17. Nd2 d5 18. Bxe5 dxe4 19. Qe3 Nd5
20. Nxd5 Rxd5 21. Bd4 f5 22. f3 Rfd8 23. c3 Rxd4 24. cxd4 f4 25. Qb3+ Bd5 26.
Qc2 e3 27. Ne4 Qf7 28. Nc3 Be6 29. d5 Bf5 30. Ne4 Rxd5 31. Rxd5 Qxd5 32. Rd1
Qe6 33. Ka1 h5 34. a3 Kf7 35. Qa4 Bxe4 36. fxe4 Bf6 37. Qc2 Qc6 38. Kb1 g4 39.
hxg4 hxg4 40. Qd3 Qe6 41. g3 f3 42. Qxe3 Be5 43. Qg5 Bxg3 44. Qh5+ Kg7 45. Qg5+
Kf7 46. Qh5+ Kg7 47. Ka1 f2 48. Qg5+ Kf7 49. Qh5+ Kg7 50. Rh1 $6 {Too risky.
Draw by perpetual was the best option for White.} Be5 $1 51. Qh7+ Kf8 52. Qxb7
g3 53. Rc1 {'?' Mueller,Karsten.} (53. Rd1 $142 {Mueller,Karsten}) {[%tqu "En",
"Black's passed pawn are very dangerous, but White is threatening 54.Rc8+. Can
you find Topalov's brilliant winning move?","Exploit the power of Black's
passed f-pawn.","Sacrifice your queen to deflect the white rook.","e6c4",
"That's it. A remarkable queen sacrifice wins immediately.",6]} 53... Qc4 $3 {
[%csl Ra1,Rc1][%cal Gf2f1] The winning move.} 54. Qa8+ (54. Rxc4 {The queen is
invulnerable:} f1=Q+ 55. Ka2 Qxc4+ {, and Black wins.}) 54... Ke7 55. Qxa7+ Bc7
$1 {[%csl Gf2,Gg3][%cal Gg3g2,Gf2f1]} (55... Bc7 $1 {The shortest way to the
victory. After} 56. Qxc7+ (56. Rxc4 f1=Q+ 57. Ka2 Qxc4+) 56... Qxc7 57. Rxc7+
Kd6 58. Rc1 (58. Rf7 g2 59. Rxf2 g1=Q+) 58... g2 {Black's pawns are
unstoppable.}) 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.24"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Krasenkow, Michal"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2633"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 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 Ke8 10. h3 Be7 11. Bg5 Bxg5 12. Nxg5 h6 13. Nf3 Be6 14.
Rad1 Rd8 15. b3 g5 16. Ne4 Bd5 17. Nf6+ Ke7 18. Nd4 Nxd4 19. Rxd4 Be6 20. Ra4
a6 21. f4 Rd2 22. Rf2 Rhd8 23. fxg5 hxg5 24. Ne4 Rxf2 25. Kxf2 Bf5 26. Nxg5
Rd2+ 27. Kf3 Bxc2 28. g4 Rd5 29. Kf4 c5 30. h4 Kf8 31. h5 Kg7 32. e6 f6 33. Ne4
Re5 34. g5 Rxe6 35. Nxf6 b5 36. Ra5 Rc6 37. h6+ Kg6 38. Nd7 Rd6 39. Nxc5 Rd4+
40. Ke5 Rd2 41. Rxa6+ Kxg5 42. Ne6+ Kxh6 43. Nxc7+ Kg7 44. Nxb5 Kf7 45. Nd4 Bd3
46. Ra7+ Ke8 47. a4 Kd8 48. b4 Kc8 49. b5 Rh2 50. Kd6 Rh6+ 51. Kc5 Be4 52. Re7
Bg2 53. a5 Bb7 54. Ne6 Kb8 55. a6 Bc8 56. Nd4 Bxa6 57. Nc6+ Kc8 58. Kb6 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {[%mdl 32]} c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7.
Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Kb1
O-O 14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Nf6 16. Qe2 Qd5 17. Ne5 (17. Be3 $143 {cannot be
recommended, the B is too passive here.} Rfd8 (17... Nxh5 $6 18. g4 $40) (17...
Ng4 18. Bc1) 18. Ne5 c5 19. f3 cxd4 20. Bxd4 Qa5 21. Rhe1 Qc7 22. g4 Bc5 23.
Bxc5 Qxc5 $11 {Gershenzon-Kruppa, Dnepropetrovsk 1993}) (17. Be5 b5 18. Rd3 {
avoids the exchange of Q, but unfortunately this was White's main threat
getting a slightly better _|_.} Rfd8 19. Rg1 Ng4 20. Bc7 Rdc8 21. Bf4 c5 22.
Ne5 Nf6 23. dxc5 Qxc5 24. Rg3 Kf8 25. Rf3 Rd8 26. g4 Rd5 27. Nd3 Qc4 28. g5
hxg5 29. Bxg5 $13 {Firman-Ekstroem, Lausanne 2001}) 17... Qe4 18. Qxe4 (18. Qd2
$6 {is completely illogical.} Nd5 19. Bg3 Rfd8 20. Rde1 Qf5 21. Nd3 Rac8 22.
Be5 c5 23. dxc5 f6 24. g4 Qf3 25. Bd4 Qxg4 26. Be3 Qf5 $17 {Kupreichik-Lobron,
Ljubljana/Portoroz 1989}) 18... Nxe4 19. Rhe1 $1 {In general White is happy to
get a slightly better _|_ right after the opening. However with precise play
Black can neutralize the pressure, just without any winning chances.} (19. Rhf1
Bg5 {1/2:1/2 A.Sokolov-Dautov, Bled ol 2002}) (19. Be3 Rfd8 20. c4 Rac8 (20...
Kf8 21. g4 Nf6 22. f3 Nd7 23. f4 a6 24. Kc2 Nxe5 25. dxe5 $14 {Stefansson-S.
Kasparov, Tanta City 2001}) 21. g4 Nf6 22. f3 $14) 19... Nf6 (19... Nxf2 $2 20.
Rd2 Bh4 21. Ree2 $1 $16 {and the N is trapped.}) 20. g4 Rfd8 (20... c5 {
is the other main alternative here.} 21. dxc5 Bxc5 22. Nd7 $5 {penetrating on
the 7-th rank deserves attention.} (22. Be3 {White is certainly slightly
better because of the << P majority, the pressure on the d <-> and the strong
centralized N, but if Black defends himself carefully he can consolidate his
position.} Rfc8 (22... Bxe3 23. Rxe3 Rfd8 24. Red3 Rxd3 25. Rxd3 Kf8 26. c4 Ke7
{neutralizing White's pressure on the d <->.}) 23. c4 Kf8 24. Bxc5+ Rxc5 25. f4
Rc7 26. Rd4 Ke7 27. Red1 Re8 28. b3 {1/2:1/2 V.Gurevich-Khlian, Azov 1995}) (
22. f3 Rfd8 {- 20....Rfd8}) 22... Nxd7 23. Rxd7 Bxf2 24. Rf1 Bc5 25. Rxb7 $14)
21. f3 (21. c4 c5 $1 22. Be3 (22. dxc5 Bxc5 23. f3 {- 21.f3}) 22... Bd6 (22...
cxd4 23. Rxd4 Rxd4 24. Bxd4 {and the white B is finally on the right /^.}) 23.
f3 Rac8 24. b3 a6 ({There is no need to hurry with} 24... cxd4 $143 25. Bxd4
Bb4 26. Rf1 a6 27. Kb2) 25. Bf2 cxd4 26. Bxd4 Bb4 27. Rg1 (27. Rf1 Rxd4 (27...
b5 $5) 28. Rxd4 Bc3 29. Rfd1 {- 27.Rg1}) 27... Rxd4 $5 (27... b5) 28. Rxd4 Bc3
29. Rgd1 Bxd4 30. Rxd4 $14 {and White has a P majority on the <<, plus the
better placed pieces, Areshchenko-Grant, Istanbul 2003 CBM 96.}) (21. Be3 {
Kasparov-Anand, Linares 2003 CBM 94}) (21. c3 {/\ Kc2} c5 22. dxc5 Bxc5 23. f3
Rxd1+ (23... Nd5 24. Bd2 Bd6 25. Nd3 Rac8 26. Re2 Kf8 27. Rh1 Rc4 28. Kc2 Rdc8
29. Re4 Nb4+ 30. Nxb4 Rxb4 31. Bf4 Rb6 32. Be3 Bc5 33. Bf4 Bd6 34. Bd2 {
White certainly wants to avoid the repetition of moves.} Rbc6 35. a4 $14 {
Kalezic-Mateuta, Bucharest Blue Autumn 2002}) (23... Rac8 24. Bc1 Bf2 25. Rf1
Bb6 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. Kc2 {It is advisable for White to exchange one pair of
rooks and keep the other.} Kf8 28. Re1 Bc7 29. Nd3 Bb6 30. a4 $14 {
Guseinov-Mchedlishvili, EU-chT 2003}) 24. Rxd1 Nd5 25. Nd3 Be7 26. Bc1 Rd8 27.
Kc2 f6 28. Nf4 Kf7 29. a3 b5 {blockading the light squares.} 30. Nxd5 Rxd5 31.
Rxd5 {1/2:1/2 Lutz-Dorfman, Bled ol 2002}) (21. Rd3 c5 22. Red1 cxd4 23. Rxd4
Rxd4 24. Rxd4 Rd8 25. Rxd8+ Bxd8 {Without rooks White's advantage is only
microscopical.} 26. c4 Bc7 27. f3 Nh7 28. b4 f6 {attacking soon >< f3} 29. Nd3
Bxf4 30. Nxf4 Ng5 $11 {Thorteins-Lobron, Reykjavik op 1984}) 21... Rac8 (21...
c5 22. dxc5 Bxc5 23. c4 {/\ Kc2} Bf2 (23... Kf8 24. Kc2 Ke7 25. Rd3 Rac8 26.
Red1 Rxd3 27. Nxd3 Bd4 28. Kb3 Nd7 29. Bd2 e5 $11 {and Black gets reasonable
counterchances on the >>, Andreev-Bets, Alushta Golden Autumn 2001.}) (23...
Rac8 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Kc2 Kf8 26. a3 {/\ b4 and a quick advance of pawns on
the << is White's main threat.} Ke8 27. b4 Bd6 28. Rd1 Bc7 29. Rxd8+ Bxd8 30.
Be3 a6 31. Bd4 $14 {Kovalev-Kruppa, Berliner Summer 1993}) 24. Rf1 Bd4 25. Rd3
Bxe5 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. Bxe5 Nh7 28. b3 f6 29. Bf4 f5 30. Re1 fxg4 31. fxg4 Nf6
{and again Black has ample play against the weakened pawns on the >>.} 32. Rxe6
Kf7 33. Re5 Nxg4 $11 {Lutz-Khenkin, Bundesliga 2002}) (21... Nd7 22. Nc4 Nf8
23. Na5 Rd7 24. c3 Rc8 25. Kc2 Bd8 26. Nc4 Bc7 27. Bc1 f6 28. b3 b5 29. Nb2 Kf7
30. Nd3 $14 {Ginzburg-Bykhovsky, Israel Int op 2003}) 22. c3 c5 (22... Kf8 23.
Kc2 Nd5 24. Bc1 c5 {Soon or later Black has to play this freeing move.} 25.
dxc5 Rxc5 26. f4 b5 27. a3 Kg8 28. g5 hxg5 29. fxg5 $14 {Shirov-Kramnik,
RUS-The World rapid 2002}) 23. dxc5 Bxc5 (23... Nd5 24. Bc1) 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.
c4 $14 {White's hopes are based on the advance of his << P majority.} Kf8 26.
Kc2 Ke8 27. Nd3 Bd4 28. b3 Rc8 29. a4 a6 30. a5 {White has to gain space on
the <<.} Nd7 (30... Nd5 31. Bd2 $14 {- 30...Nd7}) 31. Re4 Ba1 32. Bd6 Nf6 33.
Re1 Bd4 34. Bb4 Nd5 35. Bd2 Nf6 36. Bc3 {The exchange of the bishops was
inevitable for a winning attempt.} Bxc3 37. Kxc3 {Now a typical _|_ has arisen,
compare to the game Areshchenko-Grant, Istanbul 2003 CBM 96.} Ke7 {On any
other attempt b4 may come soon.} (37... Nd5+ 38. Kd4 Ne7 39. b4 $14) (37... Nd7
38. b4 $14) 38. b4 Nd7 39. Re2 Rf8 $6 {Black wants to create some active
counterplay on the other flank. However this allows a quick advance on the <<.}
(39... Rc7 {was the passive defence.} 40. c5 (40. f4 $143 {It is better for
White to keep quiet on the >> and concentrate to the other flank.} Nf6 41. f5
$5 (41. Rg2 Rd7 $1 42. Nc5 Rd1 $132 (42... Rc7 43. Kd4)) 41... Nxg4 42. fxe6
fxe6 43. Nc5 Kf6 44. Nxe6 Re7 45. Re4 Rxe6 46. Rxg4 Kf7 $14) (40. Kd4 Rc6 $14)
40... Nf6 41. Ne5 Nd5+ 42. Kc4 $14) 40. b5 $1 g5 (40... Ra8 41. Kb4 $16) 41.
Rb2 {/\ bxa6 and Rb7.} Kd6 (41... f5 {was consequent, but then comes the
penetration on the seventh rank.} 42. bxa6 bxa6 43. Rb7 fxg4 44. fxg4 Kd6 45.
Ra7 $16) 42. bxa6 bxa6 43. Rb7 $1 Ra8 {The R has to defend the a P passively.}
44. Nb4 $1 {Now the black K cannot come for a defence to the <<.} (44. Kd4 {
allows} Kc6 (44... e5+ $2 {founders on} 45. Nxe5 $1 Nxe5 46. c5+ $18) 45. Rb1
f6 46. c5 Rd8 $14) 44... f5 $2 {Black still organizes his counterblow on the
other flank, but in the P race White comes first.} (44... Ne5 {defending
against the push c5-c6 was more stubborn.} 45. Rb6+ (45. Nd3 Nd7) 45... Ke7 46.
Rxa6 Rxa6 47. Nxa6 Nc6 48. Nb4 Nxa5 49. c5 Kd7 $14) 45. gxf5 exf5 46. Kd4 g4
47. fxg4 fxg4 48. c5+ $1 {and there is no defence against the winning march of
the o^.} Ke6 49. c6 $18 Nf6 50. c7 Rc8 51. Nxa6 (51. Rb6+ Kf5 52. Nxa6 g3 53.
Ke3 $18 {was an easy win as well.}) 51... g3 (51... Nxh5 52. Rb6+ Kd7 53. Rxh6
Nf4 54. Ke5 $18) 52. Rb3 (52. Rb6+ $1 {was again more precise.} Ke7 (52... Kf5
53. Ke3) 53. Ke3 $18) 52... Nxh5 53. Kc5 $1 (53. Rb6+ Kf5 54. Ke3 g2 55. Rb5+
Kf6 (55... Kg4 56. Kf2) 56. Rb1 Ke5 {was not so effective.}) 53... g2 (53...
Kd7 54. Kb6 $18) 54. Rb1 Nf4 55. Kc6 {The active white K decides the battle.}
h5 56. Kb7 Rg8 57. Nc5+ Kd5 (57... Kd6 58. Ne4+ Ke5 59. Nf2 Kd4 60. a6 Ke3 61.
Ng4+ $1 $18) 58. Nd7 Ke6 59. c8=Q 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2679"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Bd2 Nd7 11. Nc3 Nd4 12. Nxd4 exd4 13. Ne2 Bf6 14. Ng3 g6 15.
Bh6 Re8 16. f4 Nc5 17. Qf3 Nxb3 18. cxb3 Qd7 19. Rf1 c5 20. Rf2 Bh8 21. f5 d5
22. Qg4 Bc6 23. Raf1 dxe4 24. Nxe4 c4 25. Nc5 Qc8 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. Qg3 Bd5 28.
b4 Qc6 29. Bg5 cxd3 30. Bf6 d2 31. Bxh8 Kxh8 32. Rxd2 Bc4 33. Rc1 Qf6 34. Qf2
Qxf2+ 35. Kxf2 Re3 36. a5 Rae8 37. Rcd1 Re2+ 38. Kg1 Bd5 39. Nxa6 Bxg2 40. Nc7
R8e5 41. Rxe2 Rxe2 42. Nxb5 Rxb2 43. Rxd4 Kg7 44. a6 Bf3 45. Nc3 Rg2+ 46. Kf1
Rxh2 47. b5 Rb2 48. a7 Bb7 49. Rd7 Ba8 50. Rd8 Bb7 51. Rb8 Bf3 52. b6 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.24"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 b5 8. g4
Nfd7 9. Qd2 Nb6 10. a4 bxa4 11. Nxa4 Nxa4 12. Rxa4 Be7 13. g5 $146 {Topalov
doesn't move his bishop from f1, since he hopes to win a6 pawn or use the
piece on c8-h3 diagonal.} (13. Be2 O-O 14. O-O Bb7 15. Rfa1 Nd7 16. Nb3 Rb8 17.
Ba7 Rc8 18. Na5 Ba8 19. Bxa6 Ne5 20. Be2 f5 21. gxf5 exf5 22. Nc4 Qe8 {1/2-1/2
Anand,V-Kasparov,G/Kopavogur 2000/ (41)}) 13... O-O 14. h4 Bd7 $5 ({It seems
more natural to develop the bishop to b7, but the pawn e6 could have become
vulnerable.} 14... Bb7 15. h5 Nd7 16. g6 Nc5 17. Rb4 $5 a5 18. Rxb7 $1 Nxb7 19.
gxf7+ $44) 15. Ra1 Nc6 16. Rxa6 Qc7 $6 {It seems, that this move is inferior
to the direct} (16... Rxa6 17. Bxa6 Qa8 18. Nxc6 Bxc6 19. Be2 d5 $5 20. exd5
Bxd5 21. Kf2 (21. O-O $6 Qb8) 21... Rd8 22. Qc1 Qb7 $44 {Anand was not sure,
if the compensation would be sufficient.}) 17. Kf2 Nxd4 18. Bxd4 e5 (18... Rxa6
19. Bxa6 Ra8 20. Bd3 e5 21. Be3 Be6 22. h5 $14) 19. Be3 Rxa6 20. Bxa6 f5 21.
gxf6 Bxf6 (21... gxf6 $6 22. Rg1+ Kf7 23. Ke1 $16) 22. Qd5+ Kh8 23. Bc4 (23.
Be2 $5 Qxc2 24. Qxd6 Rd8 25. Qb4 Be6 {when black pieces are very active.})
23... Be8 24. Be2 Bf7 25. Qd2 Bh5 (25... Qc6 $5 26. c4 Bxc4 $1 27. Qc3 (27. Rc1
Bxh4+ 28. Kg2 d5 $1 $17) 27... d5 28. exd5 Bxd5 29. Qxc6 Bxc6 30. b4 $14) 26.
b3 Qe7 27. Kg2 Qf7 (27... Bxh4 $4 28. Rxh4 $1 Qxh4 29. Bg5 $18) 28. Rh3 (28.
Qxd6 Be7 29. Qd1 Qg6+ 30. Kh3 (30. Kf2 $6 Qxe4) 30... Qf6 31. Bg5 Qe6+ 32. Kh2
h6 33. Be3 Qf6 $132) 28... Be7 29. b4 {It will not be easy to get far with the
b pawn, since it can not easily be supported by white pieces.} h6 30. b5 (30.
c4 Qf6 31. b5 Bf7 32. Rg3 $14) 30... Qg6+ 31. Kh2 Qe6 32. Qd3 (32. b6 Be8 33.
Qd5 $14) 32... Be8 $1 33. Qb3 Qc8 (33... Qxb3 $5 34. cxb3 Bd7 35. Rg3 Bxh4 36.
Rg1 Rb8 37. Ba7 Rb7 38. b6 Bf2 39. Ba6 Bxg1+ 40. Kxg1 Bc6 41. Bxb7 Bxb7 42. Bb8
d5 43. exd5 Bxd5 44. Kf2 e4 $11) 34. b6 Bf7 35. Qb1 $2 (35. Qb2 $1) 35... Qc3
$2 {[%mdl 64] Paying back with the faulty move himself, Anand misses ingenious
shot.} (35... Be6 $1 36. b7 Qc3 $3 37. Ba7 (37. b8=Q Qxe3 $1 $15) 37... Qd2 38.
Qd1 Qb4 $11) 36. Bd3 $1 Rb8 (36... d5 37. b7 Bd6 38. Qb6 Qa3 39. Bc1 Qc5 40.
Qxc5 Bxc5 41. exd5 Rb8 42. c4 Rxb7 43. f4 $16) 37. Qg1 $1 {Topalov has managed
to consolidate his position and now is ready to attack on the kingside.} Bc4 $6
38. Qg6 $1 Bxd3 39. Rg3 $1 Bf6 (39... Qxc2+ 40. Rg2 Qxg2+ 41. Kxg2 $18) 40.
cxd3 Rxb6 {Desperation, but the threat of 41.Bxh6 was otherwise unstoppable.} (
40... Qe1 41. Bxh6 Qf2+ 42. Kh3 Qf1+ 43. Kg4 Qf2 44. Bg5 Rf8 45. Kh3 Bxg5 46.
Qxg5 $18) 41. Bxb6 Qb2+ 42. Rg2 Qxb6 43. Rc2 Bd8 (43... Qd8 44. Qf5 $18) 44. h5
1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.25"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2578"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. e4 Bg7 4. d4 d6 5. d5 (5. Nc3 {/\} Bg4 (5...
Nf6 6. Be2 {-E91}) 6. d5 $14 (6. dxc5 dxc5 7. Qxd8+ Kxd8 8. Be3 Bxc3+ (8...
Bxf3 9. gxf3 Bd4 10. O-O-O e5 11. Nb5 Kd7 12. f4 $36) 9. bxc3 b6 10. Ne5 Be6
11. O-O-O+ Ke8 12. Bd3 f6 13. Nf3 Nc6 14. e5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 fxe5 16. Rhe1 Nf6
17. Bg5 Kf7 18. Rxe5 Rhd8 19. h3 Rd6 20. Rde1 {Browne,W-Forintos,G/Wijk aan
Zee/1974/} Rxd3 21. Rxe6 Rd7 $14 {/~~})) 5... e6 6. Nc3 exd5 7. exd5 {Timman
after a long tournament, which has not gone well for him, strives for simpler
play.} (7. cxd5 $142 {is the only principled continuation, transposing into
Benoni positions.} Nf6 {-A70} (7... Bg4 {-A43})) 7... Bg4 8. Be2 Ne7 $1 $13 {
One of the points of delaying the development of the Ng8. Now Black's N gets a
chance to get to f5 and potentially d4. After} (8... Nf6 9. O-O O-O 10. h3 Bxf3
11. Bxf3 $14 {-E91 White transposes into a pleasant King's Indian line, the ^^
gives him a long-lasting pull.}) 9. O-O (9. Qb3 b6 (9... Nd7 $2 10. Qxb7 O-O
11. O-O Nf5 12. Bg5 Qb8 13. Qxd7 Qxb2 14. Nd2 Bxc3 15. Bxg4 Bxd2 16. Bxd2 Qxd2
17. Bxf5 gxf5 18. Qxd6 $18 {Finegold,B-Ivanov,A/New York/1992/}) 10. Qa4+ (10.
O-O O-O {-9.0-0}) (10. Ne4 O-O {/\} 11. Bg5 f5 $1 $32 {|^}) 10... Nd7 11. O-O
O-O 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Ne5 $13 (13... Nf5 14. Bg4 Bxc3 $5 15. bxc3 Ne5 16.
Bxf5 gxf5 $13)) 9... O-O (9... Nd7 10. Nb5 (10. Ne4 Nf5 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Bxf3
O-O 13. Bg4 Nd4 $1 $13 {/\} 14. Nxd6 $2 f5 15. Bf3 Ne5 $17) 10... Nb6 11. Bf4
Nbc8 12. Qd2 O-O 13. a4 (13. Bh6) 13... Nf5 14. Ra3 a6 15. Nc3 Nb6 16. Qd3 Re8
17. h3 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 Nd7 (18... Nd4 $142 $1 $15) 19. Bg4 Ne5 20. Bxe5 Rxe5 21.
Bxf5 gxf5 (21... Rxf5 22. f4 {[%csl Rf5] צf5}) 22. Ne2 Qf6 23. f4 Re4 24. Ng3
Qd4+ 25. Qxd4 Bxd4+ 26. Kh2 Ree8 27. Nxf5 Rad8 28. Rb3 {Ward,C-Ivanov,A/London/
1989/}) 10. Qb3 $146 {This Q sortie achieves no immediate and concrete
advantage and seems rather artificial.} (10. Bf4 Nf5 (10... Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Nf5
12. Ne4 $14) 11. Ng5 $5 Bxe2 12. Qxe2 h6 (12... Nd7 $142 $132) 13. Nge4 g5 14.
Qg4 $1 Ne7 15. Bxd6 f5 16. Qh3 fxe4 17. Nxe4 $44 {Elschner,A-Zielinska,M/
Bundesliga-W/2001/}) (10. Re1 Nf5 11. Bg5 Qb6 12. Rb1 h6 13. Bd2 Nd7 14. Qa4
Qd8 15. Qd1 Re8 16. b3 {Szeberenyi,A-Fogarasi,T/Budapest/2004/} Bxf3 17. Bxf3
Nd4 $11) 10... b6 11. Ng5 (11. h3 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 Nf5 13. Ne2 $11) 11... Bxe2 12.
Nxe2 Nd7 13. Qh3 {Consistent with White's 10-th move, but the Q will find
nothing to do here, more to the point seems} (13. Ne4 $11) 13... Nf6 14. Bd2 $6
{Now Black wins tempi and starts fighting for the initiative.} (14. Nc3 $142 h6
(14... Re8 15. Nce4 Nexd5 16. cxd5 Nxe4 17. Qxh7+ Kf8 18. Nxe4 Rxe4 19. Bh6
Bxh6 20. Rae1 $1 $36) 15. Nge4 $11) 14... h6 15. Nf3 g5 $1 16. Ne1 $8 (16. g4
Qd7 $17) 16... Ne4 (16... b5 17. cxb5 Nexd5 (17... Qd7 $5) 18. Nc3 $13) (16...
Re8 17. Qd3 {/\Bc3=}) 17. Bc1 (17. Rd1 $142 $5 $132) 17... f5 $32 {|^} 18. Qd3
Qd7 $15 {[%mdl 32] Topalov has achieved a promising position, which he
systematically improves after further inaccuracies from White.} 19. Rb1 (19. f3
Nf6 20. Nc2 f4 $15 (20... b5 $5 $36)) 19... Rae8 20. b3 Ng6 21. Bb2 $2 {
Natural, but allows Black to strengthen his grip on the position.} (21. f3 $142
Ne5 (21... Nf6 22. Bb2 $132) 22. Qc2 Nf6 23. Nd3 (23. Ng3 f4 24. Nf5 Nxd5 $1
25. Nxg7 Nb4 $17) (23. Bb2 f4 $15) 23... f4 $15) 21... Bxb2 22. Rxb2 Qg7 23.
Rc2 f4 {[%cal Rg5g4,Rf4f3] ()>>,/\g4,f3->} 24. Nc3 {Now Black takes full
control of the open <->e and increases his advantage in the _|_.} ({However,
White's position is already very unpleasant even after} 24. f3 Nf6 25. Qd1 Nh4
26. Rd2 Nf5 $17 {[%csl Re3][%cal Ge8e1] ><e3,<->e}) 24... Nxc3 25. Qxc3 $8 (25.
Rxc3 f3 $1 $40 {/\} 26. Nxf3 Nf4 27. Qd2 Qxc3 $19) 25... Qxc3 26. Rxc3 Re2 $17
{[%cal Ge8e1][%mdl 4096] <->e} 27. a3 Rfe8 28. Nd3 Rd2 (28... Kf7 {[%cal Ye2d2,
Ye8e4,Yf7f6,Yg6e5] /\Rd2,Kf6,Re4,Ne5 keeps both R on the board and was
possibly even better, White can hardly move.} 29. f3 $6 {[%cal Yf1f2] /\Rf2
runs into} Ra2 30. b4 Ree2 $19) (28... Ra2 29. b4 {/\} Ree2 $4 30. Nc1 $16) 29.
Re1 {Now White exchanges a pair of R, as now Black doesn't have Rd3. The _|_
however remains very difficult.} Rxe1+ 30. Nxe1 Ne5 31. h3 Kg7 32. Kf1 (32. Nf3
Rd1+ 33. Kh2 Nd3 $19) 32... Kf6 33. g4 (33. Nf3 Ra2 $17) 33... fxg3 $1 {
Black has to open the position to make progress.} 34. Rxg3 (34. fxg3 Rh2 35.
Nf3 Nxf3 $5 (35... Rxh3 36. Kg2 {[%csl Rh3] צh3}) 36. Rxf3+ Ke5 37. Re3+ Kd4
38. Re6 Rb2 $17) 34... Kf5 35. Re3 h5 36. a4 (36. Nf3 Rd3 $1 37. Rxd3 (37. Ke2
Rxe3+ 38. Kxe3 Nxf3 39. Kxf3 h4 $1 40. Ke3 (40. Ke2 Ke4 41. f3+ Kf4 42. Kf2 a6
43. b4 cxb4 44. axb4 Ke5 45. Ke3 a5 $19) 40... g4 (40... Ke5 $19) 41. hxg4+
Kxg4 42. Ke2 Kf4 $19) 37... Nxd3 38. Kg2 Kf4 $17 {/-+}) 36... Rb2 37. Ng2 (37.
Nf3 Ng6 $1 {[%cal Rg6f4] /\Nf4-/+}) 37... h4 $1 {[%csl Rh3] ><h3} 38. Rc3 (38.
Ne1 Ng6 (38... g4 $5 39. hxg4+ Kxg4 $19 {[%csl Gh4] o^h4}) 39. Ng2 Nf4 40. Nxf4
gxf4 41. Re6 Rxb3 42. Rxd6 Rb4 $19) 38... Ke4 39. Re3+ Kf5 40. Rc3 Rb1+ 41. Ke2
Rh1 42. Re3 a5 $22 (42... Ng6 $2 43. Re6 $1 $132 {[%cal Rg2e3] /\Ne3}) 43. Rc3
(43. Ne1 Ng6 44. Nd3 Nf4+ 45. Nxf4 gxf4 46. Re6 (46. Rc3 Ke4 {-see game}) 46...
Rxh3 47. Rxd6 Rxb3 $19) 43... Ng6 $1 44. Rf3+ Nf4+ 45. Nxf4 gxf4 $19 {_|_R,()}
46. Rc3 (46. Kd3 Rc1 47. Kd2 Ke4 $1 48. Rxf4+ (48. Rd3 Rd1+ $19) 48... Kxf4 49.
Kxc1 Kf3 $19) 46... Ke4 47. Kd2 Rb1 $22 48. f3+ (48. Kc2 Rf1 $19) (48. Rd3 Rd1+
$19) (48. Ke2 f3+ $1 49. Kd2 (49. Rxf3 Rb2+ $19) 49... Rf1 50. Re3+ Kf4 51. Re6
Rxf2+ 52. Kd3 (52. Ke1 Re2+ $1 $19) 52... Rb2 $19) 48... Kf5 {Now the Ph3 is
defenceless and the game is decided.} 49. Rc1 Rxb3 50. Re1 (50. Ke2 Rb2+ 51.
Kf1 Rb4 $19) 50... Rxf3 51. Re6 Rxh3 52. Rxd6 Re3 {Cuts off White's K, the
o^f4 will run.} 53. Rxb6 Re4 54. Kc3 (54. Kd3 Rd4+ 55. Ke2 (55. Kc3 f3 $19)
55... Rxc4 $19) 54... f3 55. Rb8 h3 56. Rf8+ Kg4 57. Kd3 (57. d6 Rd4 58. Rg8+
Kh4 59. Rh8+ Kg3 60. Rg8+ Kf2 $19) 57... Re1 (57... Re1 58. Rg8+ Kh4 59. Rh8+
Kg3 60. Rg8+ Kh2 61. Rf8 Kg2 62. Rg8+ Kh1 63. Rf8 h2 64. Rxf3 Kg2 $19) 0-1

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C97"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. d5 $5 {This natural advance is rather
unusual. The reason for this is probably the highly acclaimed notion that
White should keep the pressure against e5 in the Closed Ruy Lopez - waiting to
see if dxe5, d5 or just waiting yet another move is the best continuation. The
strategy of keeping all options in the centre has the disadvantage that it
gives Black quite a few choices as well, like taking on d4.} Nc4 {The most
popular move at this point. Black avoids the a5-b7-d8-f7 route for his N.} 13.
b3 Nb6 14. a4 Bd7 15. a5 Nc8 16. c4 {[%mdl 8] Remarkably a novelty. Garry the
great has played b4 at this point. I guess one reason for prefering b4 over c4
is to protect a5, thereby freeing Ra1 for action on the K-side. c4 on the
other hand gives added support to d5 - which can be useful later on if Black
tries to free himself with f7-f5 at some point.} (16. b4 c4 17. Nbd2 Bd8 (17...
g6 18. Nf1 Nh5 19. Bh6 Re8 (19... Ng7 20. Ng3 Bd8 21. Qd2 Kh8 22. Rad1 f6 23.
Nh2 Ne7 {1/2-1/2 Reutsky,S-Farakhov,R/Fakel Jamala, Noyabrsk RUS 2003 (23)})
20. Qd2 Bf8 21. Ng3 $5 Nxg3 22. fxg3 Ne7 23. Rf1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,
G-Ivanchuk,V/Prague 2002/CBM 89/[Wedberg] (45)}) 18. Nf1 Ne8 19. g4 Ne7 20. Ng3
Kh8 21. Kh2 Ng8 22. Rg1 g6 23. Be3 Ng7 24. Nd2 Bf6 25. Qf3 {1/2-1/2 Fressinet,
L-Sokolov,I/Selfoss 2003/CBM 98 no vc (25)}) 16... g6 {Open b-file with bxc4
or closed Q-side with b4? Black decides to wait with that decision.} 17. Nc3
Nh5 18. Ne2 Re8 (18... f5 {Logical from a structural point of view, but
Black´s pieces are badly placed to support this type of aggression. Still as a
bid for more space it could be the best option in a cramped situation.} 19. Bh6
Ng7 20. exf5 gxf5 21. Ng5 $36) 19. Ra2 Bf8 20. g4 $1 {White gains even more
space and prepares to go for the black K.} Ng7 21. Ng3 f6 22. Nh2 $1 {[%csl
Rc8,Rg7][%cal Yf2f4] This is a nice idea. White sees that f4 might be a good
option since both Black´s N:s are light years away from e5.} Re7 23. h4 Rf7 24.
f4 {[%cal Yf4f5,Yg4g5,Yh4h5] Threatening to overwhelm Black with f5, g5 and h5.
} exf4 25. Bxf4 Qd8 26. Rf1 Qe7 27. h5 Ne8 28. Bd3 $1 {[%cal Ya2f2] White
finds simple moves to increase the pressure, while Black struggles to find any
squares at all for his pieces.} Bg7 29. Kg2 Qf8 30. Qc1 bxc4 {Black hopes to
create some counterplay on the Q-side, but again he has no pieces to attack
with.} 31. bxc4 Rb8 32. Raf2 Rb3 33. Rf3 Ne7 34. Bd2 Bc8 35. Qc2 Rb8 {End of
counterplay.} 36. Kh1 gxh5 {This looks really ugly. But waiting to see how
White was going to open the black position wasn´t very nice either.} (36... Bh6
37. Bc3 Rb7 38. e5 $1 $16) 37. Nxh5 Ng6 {One more move (Ne5) and Black would
have something resembling a position.} 38. e5 $3 {[%mdl 144] This line opening
move cuts through Black´s plans.} dxe5 (38... Nxe5 39. Bxh7+ Kh8 40. Rh3 $18)
39. Bxg6 hxg6 40. Qxg6 e4 41. Rh3 Rfb7 (41... f5 42. Nxg7 Rxg7 43. Qh5 Nf6 44.
Qh8+ Kf7 45. Qxf8+ Kxf8 46. Bh6 $18) 42. Nf4 Rb1 43. Qh7+ Kf7 44. Qh5+ Kg8 45.
Ng6 (45. Ng6 Qd6 46. Bf4 $18) 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.06.21"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Delchev, Aleksander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E48"]
[WhiteElo "2602"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nge2 d5 7. cxd5 cxd4 8.
exd4 Nxd5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be4 h6 11. Nxd5 exd5 12. Bc2 Bd6 13. Bf4 Re8 14. Bxd6
Qxd6 15. Qd3 g6 16. Qd2 Kg7 17. Nf4 Bd7 18. Rfe1 Rad8 19. Bb3 Qf6 20. Red1 Ne7
21. Rac1 Bc6 22. Bc2 Nc8 23. b3 Nd6 24. f3 Nb5 25. Ne2 Re7 26. Re1 Rde8 27. Kf1
Re3 28. a4 Nc7 29. Qa5 Ne6 30. Qxa7 Qh4 31. Qa5 Qxh2 32. Qd2 Ng5 33. Ng1 Rxf3+
34. Nxf3 Nxf3 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.06.22"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Delchev, Aleksander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2602"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Be7 8. Re1
O-O 9. a3 Re8 10. Nbd2 Bf8 11. Nf1 h6 12. Ba2 d6 13. c3 Nb8 14. Nh4 d5 15. Qf3
c6 16. Nf5 Nbd7 17. g4 Nh7 18. Qg3 Nc5 19. h4 a5 20. Bd2 a4 21. Rad1 Nb3 22.
Bxb3 axb3 23. Nh2 c5 24. Nf3 Qf6 25. exd5 Bxd5 26. Nxe5 Rad8 27. c4 bxc4 28.
Ba5 Ra8 29. Bc3 Qa6 30. Nd7 Be6 31. Nxf8 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.06.23"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2647"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qc7 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8.
O-O-O Bb4 9. f3 Ne5 10. Nb3 b5 11. Kb1 {Großmeister Topalov spielte diese
Fortsetzung schon zwei Jahre vorher gegen Großmeister Lutz (Topalov, V - Lutz,
Ch Dortmund 2002). Die Idee des Königszuges ist, dass 12.Nxb5 droht und später
- wie in der Partie Topalov - Lutz - nach 11...Nc4 12.Bxc4 bxc4 13.Nc1 das
c1-Feld frei ist.} (11. Bd4 Be7 12. Qf2 d6 13. g4 (13. Kb1 Bb7 14. Bd3 O-O 15.
g4 Nfd7 16. f4 b4 17. Ne2 Nxd3 18. cxd3 e5 19. Be3 d5 {0-1 Libiszewski,
F-Laznicka,V/Zemplinska Sirava SVK 2004/(48)}) 13... O-O 14. h4 Nfd7 15. g5 b4
16. Ne2 Bb7 17. Kb1 a5 18. Ng3 a4 $40 {0-1 Acher,M-Lazarev,V/Nice FRA 2003/(30)
}) 11... Be7 (11... O-O $2 12. Nxb5 Bxd2 13. Nxc7 Bxe3 14. Nxa8 $18) 12. Qf2 d6
13. Bb6 $1 {[%mdl 4] Weiß verjagt die Dame und es scheint, als ob alle
möglichen Damezüge ihren Nachteil haben.} Qb8 (13... Qb7 14. Na5 $36) 14. Bd4
$14 Nc6 (14... Nc4 15. Bxc4 bxc4 16. Na5 $16 {[%cal Ra5c4,Ga5c6,Gc6b8,Gc6e7]
Diese Variante zeigt, dass die Dame nicht so gut auf b8 steht wie auf c7.}) (
14... O-O 15. g4 $36) 15. Be3 Nd7 16. g4 O-O 17. g5 {Gewöhnlich spielt man
hauptsächtlich einen Bauernangriff am gegnerischen Königsflügel, wenn die
Könige an verschieden Flügeln rochiert haben. Hier ist der weiße Angriff
schneller und gefährlicher.} b4 18. Na4 {[%csl Ga4] Der Springer blockiert die
schwarzen Angriffsmöglichkeiten und kontrolliert das b6-Feld.} (18. Ne2 $6 a5
$132) 18... Nce5 19. Rg1 {[%cal Gf3f4] Mit diesem prophylaktischen Zug
bereitet Weiß 20.f4 vor und verteidigt sich gegen 20...Ng4.} Bb7 20. Na5 (20.
f4 Bc6 21. fxe5 Bxa4 22. exd6 Bxd6 23. h4 Qc7 $132) 20... Rc8 21. b3 $1 {
Mit diesem prophylaktischem Zug bereitet Weiß 22.Nxb7 Qxb7 23.f4 vor und in
diesem Fall kann Schwarz nicht 23...Nc4 ziehen.} (21. f4 $2 Bxe4 22. fxe5 Bxc2+
23. Qxc2 Rxc2 24. Kxc2 Qc7+ $19) (21. Nxb7 Qxb7 22. f4 Nc4 $132) 21... Bc6 (
21... Qc7 22. Nxb7 Qxb7 23. f4 Nc6 24. f5 $14) 22. Nxc6 Nxc6 23. f4 {Weiß hat
das Läuferpaar und sein Angriff ist "ante Portas" - f4-f5 kommt schnell.
Andererseits ist es schwer für Schwarz Gegenspiel zu finden.} Nc5 24. Nxc5 dxc5
25. f5 Ne5 26. Bh3 $16 {[%cal Gh3c8]} (26. fxe6 fxe6 27. Bh3 Qb6 $14) 26...
exf5 (26... Qb6 27. Qg3 $18 {[%csl Re5]}) 27. exf5 Re8 28. Bf4 {[%csl Rb8,Gf4,
Gh3][%cal Gf4b8]} (28. f6 $40) 28... Bd6 {[#]} 29. g6 $1 {[%mdl 128] Ein
typisches und sehr effektives Bauernopfer, was kaum anzunehmen ist. Weiß
möchte Linien in der gegnerischen Königsstellung öffnen.} hxg6 30. fxg6 Ra7 (
30... fxg6 31. Bg2 $18 {[%csl Rg8][%cal Rg2d5,Rd5g8]}) 31. Qg2 {[%cal Gg2d5,
Gd5g8,Gd1d6]} Nc4 32. Rxd6 $1 (32. Bxd6 Nxd6 33. Rdf1 $16) 32... Nxd6 33. Qd5
$18 {[%csl Rd6,Rf7,Rg8][%cal Rd5g8]} Rd8 34. gxf7+ Rxf7 (34... Nxf7 35. Bxb8
Rxd5 36. Bxa7 $18) 35. Be6 Qb7 36. Qg5 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.06.26"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Kozul, Zdenko"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2627"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ {Dieses Läuferschach ist sehr populär
in der Großmeisterpraxis - Schwarz möchte die natürliche weiße
Figurenentwicklung stören.} 5. Nbd2 {Dieser Zug wird selten gespielt. Nach 5.
Bd2 spielt Schwarz 5...Be7 und in der geschlossene Variante (wenn Schwarz
nicht auf c4 nimmt) mit d2B kann Weiß nicht b3-Bb2 spielen.} dxc4 {Das ist die
konsequente Fortsetzung - Schwarz nimmt den Bauern.} 6. Bg2 b5 7. O-O O-O 8. a4
c6 9. e4 {Weiß hat ein starkes Bauernzentrum, das ist seine Kompensation für
den Bauern.} (9. Qc2 Bb7 (9... a5 10. b3 cxb3 11. Nxb3 bxa4 12. Rxa4 Ba6 13.
Bg5 Bb5 14. Ra2 h6 {1/2-1/2 Raetsky,A-Gipslis,A/Senden 1998/CBM 67 ext (28)})
10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. e4 Re8 12. e5 Nd5 13. Ne4 Bf8 14. h4 Nb4 15. Qe2 Nd3 {0-1
Koerholz,L-Hracek,Z/Rethymnon 2003/CBM 98 (27)}) 9... c3 10. Nb3 (10. bxc3 Bxc3
11. Rb1 b4 $15) 10... Ba6 {[%cal Ga6f1]} (10... cxb2 11. Bxb2 Ba6 (11... Nxe4
$2 12. axb5 cxb5 $2 13. Nfd2 $18) 12. a5 Nxe4 13. Qc2 {Auf diese Weise
bekommen wir unsere Partiefortsetzung mit Zugumstellung - siehe 13.Bxb2.}) 11.
a5 $8 {Weiß muss die a-Linie schließen, sonst verliert er Material.} (11. axb5
$2 Bxb5 12. Re1 cxb2 $19) 11... Nxe4 12. Qc2 cxb2 13. Bxb2 Nf6 14. Ne5 $15 {
Schwarz hat zwar zwei Bauern mehr, aber Weiß hat zwei starke Läufer auf den
großen Diagonalen und er kontrolliert die wichtigsten Punkte. Andererseits
sind zwei Bauern zu viel und ich glaube, die weiße Kompensation ist nicht
ausreichend.} Nd5 15. Rfc1 (15. Nxc6 Nxc6 16. Qxc6 Qd6 17. Qxd6 (17. Rfc1 Rfd8)
17... Bxd6 18. Nc5 Bxc5 (18... Bc8 $15) 19. dxc5 Bb7 $15) 15... Bb7 16. Nc5
Bxc5 17. dxc5 {[%csl Gb2][%cal Gb2g7] Auf diese Weise öffnet Weiß die
Diagonale des b2-Läufers.} (17. Qxc5 Na6 $17) 17... f6 {Schwarz verjagt den
Springer von e5 und beschränkt die Aktivität des b2-Läufers.} (17... Nd7 $2 18.
a6 $16) 18. Nd3 (18. a6 $2 Bc8 $17) 18... Na6 (18... e5 $6 19. f4 $132) 19. Re1
Bc8 $1 {Schwarz muss seine Läuferstellung verbessern.} (19... e5 $6 20. f4 $132
) 20. Be4 (20. f4 $5 $15) 20... h6 (20... e5 $5 21. f4 Be6 $17) 21. Rad1 (21.
f4 $5) 21... Qc7 22. Qe2 e5 23. f4 Be6 (23... exf4 24. gxf4 Be6 $17) 24. fxe5
f5 $1 {[%mdl 256] Schwarz hat nur noch einen Bauern mehr, aber die Stellung
hat einen geschlossenen Charakter und die weißen Läufer sind weniger wert.} 25.
Bxd5 cxd5 (25... Bxd5 26. Nf4 $132) 26. Nf4 Qc6 (26... Nxc5 $2 27. Rc1 $18) 27.
Qh5 (27. Qf3 Rad8 $15) 27... Nc7 {Endlich kommt der schwarze Springer auch ins
Spiel.} 28. Qg6 Qe8 29. Ba3 (29. Qxe8 Rfxe8 $15) 29... Rb8 {[%cal Gb5b4]
Schwarz bereitet 30...b4 vor.} (29... Bf7 $2 30. Qxf5 Ne6 31. c6 $16) (29...
Qxg6 30. Nxg6 Rfe8 31. c6 Kf7 32. Nf4 g5 $15) 30. Rd4 Bf7 31. Qd6 (31. Qxf5 Ne6
{Jetzt können wir die Idee des Zuges 29...Rb8 sehen - wegen der Drohung 30...
b4 spielte Weiß 30.Rd4 und jetzt hängt der Turm auf d4.} 32. Nxe6 Bxe6 33. Qd3
Qc6 $15 {Die Stellung ist materiell gleich, aber Schwarz steht etwas aktiver.})
31... Ne6 {[%csl Ge6]} 32. Nxe6 (32. Rb4 Ng5 $15 {[%cal Gg5e4]}) 32... Bxe6 33.
c6 Rf7 34. Rc1 Rc8 35. Rxd5 f4 $1 $17 {Schwarz beschäftigt sich nicht mit der
Qualität, er strebt zum Angriff am Königsflügel.} (35... Bxd5 $6 36. Qxd5 $44 {
[%cal Ga3d6,Ge5e6]}) 36. Rxb5 (36. gxf4 Rxf4 $17 {[%csl Rg1][%cal Re8g6,Rg6g1]}
) 36... fxg3 37. hxg3 Rd8 38. Qb4 (38. Qc5 Rd3 $17) 38... Rf3 $1 39. c7 (39.
Kg2 Rxg3+ $1 40. Kxg3 Rd3+ 41. Kf2 Qf7+ $19) (39. Qe7 Rxg3+ 40. Kf2 Rxa3 41.
Qxa3 Qf7+ $19) 39... Rxg3+ $1 $19 {[%csl Rg1] Dieser Zug führt forciert zum
Matt.} 40. Kf2 Qf7+ {[%mdl 128]} 41. Kxg3 Rd3+ 42. Kg2 Qf3+ (42... Qf3+ 43. Kh2
(43. Kg1 Qe3+ 44. Kg2 (44. Kh1 Qh3+ $19) 44... Bh3+ $19) 43... Qf2+ 44. Kh1
Rh3#) 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.06.27"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kozul, Zdenko"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B67"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2627"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O Bd7 9. f3 Be7 10. Kb1 O-O 11. h4 Qb8 12. g4 Rc8 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 14. Bd3 b5
15. Ne2 b4 16. Nd4 Be8 17. h5 a5 18. Be3 Nd7 19. Bb5 Ne5 20. Bxe8 Rxe8 21. b3
Qb7 22. g5 a4 23. Qg2 Rec8 24. g6 axb3 25. gxf7+ Kxf7 26. cxb3 Rc3 27. Rhg1 Bf8
28. Bd2 Rd3 29. Bc1 Qa7 30. Rxd3 Nxd3 31. Be3 Qa6 32. Rd1 Nc5 33. Qe2 Qxe2 34.
Nxe2 Nd7 35. Rc1 Nf6 36. Rc7+ Kg8 37. Nf4 e5 38. Ne6 Nxh5 39. Bd2 Rb8 40. Rc4
Be7 41. Rxb4 Re8 42. Rb7 Bh4 43. Nc7 Rf8 44. a4 Rxf3 45. a5 Bf2 46. a6 Nf6 47.
Ne6 Nxe4 48. Be1 h5 49. Bxf2 Rxf2 50. a7 Nc3+ 51. Kc1 Ra2 52. Rxg7+ Kh8 53. Rc7
h4 54. Rc8+ Kh7 55. a8=Q Rxa8 56. Rxa8 Ne4 57. b4 Kg6 58. b5 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.06.28"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kharlov, Andrei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2593"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 exd4 6. Nxd4 Ne7 7. Bxc4 Nbc6
8. Be3 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 $146 (9. Bxd4 O-O 10. a3 (10. O-O Nc6 (10... c6 11. a3 Ba5
12. Bc5 Qxd1 13. Raxd1 Re8 14. f4 Ng6 15. b4 Bb6 16. h3 Nf8 17. Bxb6 axb6 18.
a4 Be6 19. Bxe6 Rxe6 20. Rd3 f6 21. Rfd1 $16 {1-0 Georgiev,K-Schulz,K/
Rethymnon GRE 2003(53)}) 11. Be3 Qxd1 12. Rfxd1 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Be6 $11 {0-1 Van
Wely,L-Azmaiparashvili,Z/Ohrid 2001/CBM 84/[Huzman] (63)}) 10... Ba5 11. O-O
Bb6 (11... Ng6 12. Bc5 Re8 13. Qa4 Bh3 14. Qxa5 Qg5 (14... b6 $5) 15. g3 b6 16.
Bxb6 Qf6 17. Rfd1 Qf3 18. Bf1 Bxf1 19. Kxf1 Ne5 20. Bxc7 Qh1+ 21. Ke2 Qf3+ 22.
Kf1 Qh1+ 23. Ke2 Qf3+ 24. Ke1 $1 $18 {1-0 Gruenberg,H-Penrose,J/corr 1988 (42)}
) 12. Bxb6 axb6 13. f4 $16 {1-0 Van Wely,L-Romanishin,O/Moscow RUS 2004/(60)})
9... Qxd4 10. Bxd4 O-O (10... Nc6 11. Bxg7 Rg8 12. Bf6 Rxg2 13. e5 Be6 14. Bd3
$36 {[%csl Ra8]}) 11. a3 Bxc3+ (11... Nc6 $5 12. Bxg7 (12. Be3 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3
Be6 $11) 12... Kxg7 13. axb4 Nxb4 $13) 12. Bxc3 Be6 13. Be2 $14 {White has a
small advantage due to his pair of bishops and the pawn majority on the king's
side.} Bb3 (13... f5 14. exf5 Nxf5 15. O-O-O $14) 14. h4 $1 Rfe8 (14... f5 $5
15. Rh3 Be6 16. exf5 (16. Rg3 Rf7 17. Bh5 g6 18. Bf3 Re8 $132) 16... Nxf5 17.
O-O-O Rae8 18. Bf3 c6 19. Rhh1 $14) 15. Rh3 Ng6 16. Bd2 Ba4 (16... Be6 17. Rc3
Nxh4 18. g3 $16) 17. h5 Nf8 18. b3 Bc6 19. f3 Ne6 20. Rg3 f5 $5 (20... Nd4 21.
Bc3 Rad8 22. Rd1 $16) (20... Rad8 21. Bc3 $16) 21. Bc3 fxe4 22. fxe4 Rad8 (
22... Bxe4 23. Bc4 g6 24. O-O-O $18 {[%csl Rg8][%cal Gd1d7]}) 23. Bc4 $1 {
[%mdl 32]} Bxe4 (23... Rd7 24. Rd1 $16) 24. Bxg7 (24. Bxe6+ Rxe6 25. Rxg7+ Kf8
26. Rxc7 Rd3 (26... Bxg2+ 27. Kf2 Bc6 28. Bb4+ Ke8 29. Rxh7 Rd3 $132 {/+/-})
27. Kf2 Rc6 $1 28. Rxc6 Bxc6 29. Rc1 Kf7 $14) (24. Rxg7+ Kf8 $14) 24... Kf7 25.
Bc3 Bd5 $1 26. Kf2 (26. O-O-O Bxc4 27. Rf3+ Kg8 28. bxc4 Rxd1+ 29. Kxd1 $14)
26... Rg8 (26... Bxc4 $5 27. bxc4 Nd4 $132) 27. Rxg8 Kxg8 28. Rd1 Bxc4 (28...
c6 $5 29. Ke3 b5 30. Bxd5 Rxd5 31. Rxd5 cxd5 32. g4 Kf7 $11) 29. Rxd8+ Nxd8 30.
bxc4 {White still has an advantage because in following the game on two sides
Bc3 is stronger than Nd8.} a6 (30... Kf7 31. Ke3 Ke6 32. g4 Nf7 33. Kf4 $16) (
30... Nf7 31. Ke3 Nd6 32. Kd3 $16 {[%cal Gc3e5]}) 31. Ke3 Kf7 32. g4 Ne6 33.
Ke4 $16 Nc5+ 34. Kd5 Nd7 35. g5 Nb6+ 36. Kd4 Na4 37. Ba1 Nb6 38. c5 Nc8 39. Ke4
c6 $2 (39... b6 $1 40. Bd4 $1 (40. c6 Ne7) 40... bxc5 (40... Ke6 41. g6 $18)
41. Bxc5 Ke6 (41... Nb6 42. Bxb6 cxb6 43. Kd5 $18) 42. h6 (42. Kf4 Nb6 $14)
42... Kf7 43. Kd5 Kg6 44. Kc6 Nd6 45. Kxc7 Ne4 46. Be3 Nxg5 $14) 40. Bf6 b5 (
40... b6 41. Kd4 Ke6 42. Bd8 $18 bxc5+ 43. Kxc5 Nd6 44. Kxc6 Nf7 45. Bf6 h6 (
45... Kf5 46. Kb6 $18) 46. g6 Kxf6 47. gxf7 Kxf7 48. Kb6 $18) 41. Bd8 Ke6 42.
h6 Kf7 43. Kf5 $22 {[%mdl 4096]} a5 (43... Na7 44. g6+ Kg8 45. Kf6 $18) 44.
Bxa5 (44. Bxa5 Ne7+ 45. Ke5 Nc8 46. Bd8 Kg6 47. Ke6 $18) 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Tripoli"]
[Date "2004.06.29"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Kharlov, Andrei"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C24"]
[WhiteElo "2593"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2004.06.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "LBY"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O d6 6. a4 O-O 7. Re1 Nbd7 (7...
Qc7 8. Nbd2 Nbd7 9. Nf1 (9. Ba2 d5 10. exd5 cxd5 11. c4 $13) 9... d5 $1 {
This is Black's main idea here.} 10. exd5 (10. Bb3 $2 dxe4 11. dxe4 Nc5 {
and the B cannot be saved.}) ({Also on} 10. Ba2 dxe4 11. dxe4 Nc5 {comes into
consideration.}) 10... cxd5 11. Ba2 e4 $1 {Now Black grabs the |^ in the [+].}
12. dxe4 dxe4 13. Ng5 (13. Nd4 Nc5 14. Ng3 (14. Nb5 Qe5) 14... Rd8 {with a
nasty pin on the d <->.} ({and certainly not} 14... Nxa4 $6 {in view of} 15.
Bxf7+)) 13... Nc5 14. Be3 ({White has to play carefully. In case of} 14. Ng3 $2
Bg4 {Black has a good game.}) 14... h6 $1 {This is a nice temporary P
sacrifice in order to activate the pieces and get the ^^.} 15. Bxc5 Bxc5 16.
Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Rxe4 Bf5 {In an opened position the ^^ is very dangerous.} 18.
Re1 (18. Re2 $4 {loses to} Bg4) 18... Qb6 $1 $44 {Kudrin-I.Sokolov, Las Vegas
1999 CBM 72} (18... Qf4 19. Ne3) (18... Rad8 19. Qe2)) 8. Nc3 (8. Nbd2 Qc7 {
- 7...Qc7}) 8... Nc5 (8... a5 9. d4 Qc7 {leads to the Philidor with an extra
tempo for Black.} 10. Ba2 $13) 9. d4 (9. a5 {avoiding ...a7-a5} d5 (9... Ne6)
10. exd5 cxd5 11. Ba2 {and Black has problems with holding his P [+].} d4 12.
Nb1 $14) 9... exd4 10. Nxd4 {Now we reach a Philidor type of position with an
extra tempo for Black.} a5 {Black wants to secure his c5 N's position and gain
some control over the dark squares.} (10... Re8 11. Qf3 $14 (11. Bf4 Bf8 12. e5
{White's pieces are not active enough for this opening of the position.} (12.
f3 d5 $1 13. exd5 Rxe1+ 14. Qxe1 cxd5 15. Bf1 Ne6 16. Be3 Bc5 17. Nce2 Qb6 $132
) 12... dxe5 13. Rxe5 Bg4 14. f3 Bh5 15. Rxe8 Nxe8 16. a5 Bg6 17. Be3 Nc7 18.
Qe2 a6 19. Qf2 Qe7 20. Nce2 Re8 21. Bd2 N5e6 22. Nxe6 Nxe6 23. c3 Qc5 24. Qxc5
Bxc5+ 25. Kf1 Rd8 26. Be1 h6 27. b4 Be7 28. Bf2 Bf6 $11 {Heinemann-Enders,
Germany 2000 CBM 74 ext})) 11. Bf4 Ng4 12. Be2 (12. Nf5 $5 {deserves attention.
} Ne5 (12... Bxf5 13. exf5 Ne5 (13... Nf6 $2 {The "natural" retreat loses to}
14. Rxe7 $1 $18) 14. Bxe5 dxe5 15. Rxe5 (15. Qxd8 Raxd8 16. Rxe5 Rfe8 17. Rae1
Kf8) 15... Bd6 16. Re3 Bf4 (16... Bxh2+ $2 17. Kxh2 Qh4+ 18. Rh3 Qxc4 19. Qh5
$16) 17. Rf3 $14 {with an extra P and the ^- helps also for White.}) 13. Nxe7+
(13. Bf1 Bxf5 14. exf5 Bf6) 13... Qxe7 14. Bf1 $14 {White has the ^^ and >< d6
may become weak.}) 12... Nf6 13. Bf3 (13. Bc4 Ng4 $11 {is only a repetition of
moves.}) 13... Re8 14. Qd2 g6 (14... Ng4 $5 15. Bxg4 (15. Rad1 Bh4 16. Rf1 Ne5
17. Be2 Ng6 18. Nf3 Bf6 $132) 15... Bxg4 16. f3 {If Black cannot play the
freeing move d6-d5, the position remains a bit better due to the >< d6.} (16.
h3 Bd7 17. Rad1 Qb6 18. b3 Qb4 $132) 16... Bd7 17. Rad1 {+/=/=}) 15. h3 {
This allows the following regrouping of pieces.} (15. Rad1 $142 Ng4 16. Qe2 $14
) 15... Nfd7 16. Rad1 Bf8 (16... Qc7 17. g4 $5 {/\ Bg2, Bg3, f4 but needs a
lot of time.} Ne5 (17... Bf8 18. b3 $14) 18. Bg2 Nc4 19. Qc1 Ne6 20. Nxe6 Bxe6
21. b3 Ne5 22. Be3 $14) 17. g4 $5 Qb6 {Now White has the natural retreat to g2,
because >< c4 can be defended in time.} (17... Ne5 $142 18. Be2 {White has to
keep an eye on >< c4.} (18. Bg2 Bg7 $13 19. b3 $140 Ned3 $1 $15) 18... Bg7 19.
Be3 Ned7 20. f3 Qh4 $132) 18. Bg2 (18. b3 Ne5 19. Bg2 {- 18.Bg2}) 18... Ne5 19.
b3 Qb4 20. Nde2 $14 {White has consolidated his position and the weakness of
d6 begins to tell.} (20. Be3 Bg7 21. Nde2 $14) 20... f6 {This is another small
concession closing the /^ for the fianchettoed B.} (20... f5 $6 {founders on
the energetic} 21. Bxe5 Rxe5 22. gxf5 gxf5 23. Qg5+ Bg7 24. Qd8+ Kf7 25. Qxd6
$16) 21. Be3 h5 $2 {Black wants to fish in troubled waters.} (21... Nf7 22. f4
$14 {and White has the ideal set-up of his pieces.}) 22. f4 Nxg4 (22... hxg4
23. fxe5 gxh3 24. Bf3 dxe5 25. Kh2 $16 {was not correct either.}) 23. hxg4 Bxg4
24. Qc1 $16 {Black has no adequate compensation, but from practical point of
view the idea may work well...} f5 25. Rd4 Qb6 26. Qd2 Qc7 27. Bf2 Re6 28. Rc4
(28. e5 dxe5 29. fxe5 Kh7) 28... Rae8 29. Nd4 Rxe4 30. Nxe4 Nxe4 31. Bxe4 fxe4
32. Rc3 d5 {Black has already sacrificed a R for three pawns in order to keep
the position complicated.} 33. Rg3 Bd6 34. Be3 Qd7 35. c3 Rf8 36. Rf1 b6 37.
Rf2 c5 38. Nb5 Bb8 39. Rfg2 (39. Kf1 $1 g5 40. Rg1 $18 {would have won easily.}
) 39... g5 $1 {Now (probably in time trouble) Black gets real counterchances.}
40. Rf2 (40. Rxg4 hxg4 41. fxg5 Rf3 $44) 40... Kg7 41. Qc1 (41. Rgg2 Rf5 42.
fxg5 Rxf2 43. Qxf2 Bf3 44. Qh4 Bxg2 45. Kxg2 Kg6 $44) 41... Kg6 42. Qf1 Rf5 43.
Rgg2 Qf7 44. fxg5 Bf3 45. Rh2 Bxh2+ 46. Rxh2 {[#]} Rf4 $1 {Black is not greedy
at all in this game, he has sacrificed a piece a rook and an exchange...} 47.
Bxf4 Qxf4 48. Rg2 $2 {This is the final mistake.} (48. Qe1 {was still enough
for a draw, for example:} Qxg5+ 49. Kf1 (49. Kf2 Qf4) 49... Qf4 50. Qh4 Qc1+
51. Qe1 Qf4 $11) 48... h4 $1 $19 {Now White is a R up, but he is completely
helpless against the advance of the pawns.} 49. Qe1 e3 (49... Bxg2 50. Kxg2
Kxg5 $19) 50. Rh2 Qxg5+ 51. Kf1 h3 $1 52. Qb1+ (52. Nd6 Bg2+ 53. Ke2 Qg4+ 54.
Kxe3 Qe6+ 55. Kf2 Qxd6 $19) 52... Be4 53. Qb2 Bd3+ 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8.
O-O-O Bb4 9. f3 Ne5 10. Nb3 b5 11. Kb1 {Dies ist eine beliebte Fortsetzung von
Topalev. Mit diesem Königszug er hat in einer schönen Partie gegen Lutz
gewonnen (Topalov,V - Lutz,C 2002 Dortmund). Die bekannten Alternativen sind -
11.Qe1 (die moderne Fortsetzung) und 11.Bd4 (der traditionelle Zug). Nach dem
Königszug droht sofort 12.Nxb5.} Nc4 {Das ist die direkte Fortsetzung, jedoch
kommt auch die Alternative in Betracht.} (11... Be7 $5) 12. Bxc4 bxc4 13. Nc1 {
Dies ist die Idee des Zuges 11.Kb1 - der Springer besitzt nun ein Schlupfloch
auf c1.} (13. Nd4 Rb8 14. Ka1 O-O 15. g4 d6 16. a3 Ba5 {1/2-1/2 Sax,
G-Goloshchapov,A/Rethymnon GRE 2003/(16)}) 13... Qb7 $146 {Schwarz möchte die
halboffene b-Linie besetzen. Er besitzt zwar das Läuferpaar, jedoch stehen sie
nicht aktiv (besonders Bc8).} (13... Rb8 14. Bf4 (14. N1e2 O-O (14... Qb7 15.
b3 O-O 16. Bf4 Ra8 17. Bd6 Bxd6 18. Qxd6 cxb3 $6 (18... a5 $5) 19. axb3 a5 20.
Rd4 {1-0 Topalov,V-Lutz,C/Dortmund 2002/CBM 90/[Ribli] (34)'}) 15. Ka1 $6 (15.
Bf4 $5 e5 16. Bg5 Ba3 17. b3 Qb6 18. Be3 $14) 15... d5 16. Bg5 dxe4 17. Bxf6
gxf6 18. Qh6 Qe5 19. f4 Qf5 20. g4 Qg6 21. Qh3 Kh8 22. Rhg1 Bc5 23. f5 Qg7 {
0-1 Korneev,O-Delchev,A/Navalmoral de la Mata 2004/CBM 103 ext (41)}) 14... e5
(14... Bxc3 $2 15. Bxc7 Rxb2+ 16. Ka1 Rxc2+ 17. Qxc3 Rxc3 18. Kb2 Re3 19. Bf4
$18) 15. Bg5 Qb6 16. N1e2 O-O 17. Bxf6 Ba3 18. b3 Qxf6 19. Nd5 $14 {0-1 Zufic,
M-Delchev,A/Zadar 2004 (46)}) (13... O-O 14. Bf4 Bxc3 15. Bxc7 Bxd2 16. Rxd2 c3
17. bxc3 d5 {Grischuk,A-Svidler,P/Cap d'Agde (rapid) 47) 2003/(25)}) 14. N1e2 (
14. Qd4 Rb8 15. Na4 $5) 14... O-O 15. Qd4 {[%csl Rc4,Rc8] Es hängt der Pc4,
aber das größere Problem der schwarzen Stellung besteht in der passiven
Stellung des Bc8.} (15. Bf4 d5) 15... Rb8 16. Bc1 $5 $14 {Weiß steht sicher
und übt positionellen Druck auf die d-Linie aus.} (16. Qxc4 d5 $13) 16... d6 (
16... Ba3 17. b3 Bxc1 18. Rxc1 cxb3 19. cxb3 Rd8 20. e5 Ne8 21. Ne4 $16) (16...
Qc6 17. Bf4 Bc5 18. Qxc4 Rb4 19. Qd3 $14) 17. Qxc4 Bd7 18. b3 Rfc8 {[%csl Gb8,
Gc8][%cal Gb8b1,Gc8c1] Durch den Druck auf der b- und c-Linie besitzt Schwarz
zwar Kompensation für den Minusbauern, jedoch ergeben sich daraus keine
konkrete Drohungen.} 19. Qd3 a5 20. a3 Bc5 (20... Bxc3 21. Nxc3 a4 22. b4 $14)
21. a4 Be8 22. Bb2 Bb4 (22... Nd7) 23. Na2 (23. Nd4 d5) 23... Bc5 {Es droht 24.
..Bxa4.} 24. Bxf6 $1 {Weiß tauscht seinen Läufer, und im weiteren Verlauf wird
der Pf6 nicht zu halten sein.} gxf6 25. Nec3 {[%csl Ga2,Gc3] Die weißen
Springer verteidigen sicher die Königsstellung; es ist somit nicht leicht für
Schwarz, seinen Angriff zu forcieren.} Bc6 26. Rhe1 Qb6 27. f4 Kh8 28. Re2 {
[%mdl 256] Die weiße Stellung steht gegen eventuelle Angriffe von Schwarz
sicher. Natürlich ist es noch nicht leicht, den Mehrbauern zu mobilisieren} Rg8
29. g3 Rbd8 30. Qc4 (30. Red2) 30... Rd7 31. Red2 {[%cal Gd1d8]} Bb7 32. Qe2 {
[%csl Ge2][%cal Ge2h5,Gh5h4,Gh4f6] Die weiße Dame zielt auf den Königsflügel,
um den schwachen f-Bauern anzugreifen.} Qc6 33. Qh5 Qb6 34. Qh4 Qd8 35. f5 $1 {
Weiß verbessert seine Stellung kontinuierlich.} exf5 (35... Qe7) 36. exf5 Rg5
37. Qf4 Re7 38. Nd5 $16 {[%csl Gd5]} Re5 39. g4 Bxd5 40. Rxd5 Rxd5 41. Rxd5 Qe7
{[%csl Ge7,Gg5] Schwarz verfügt über einige Aktivitäten am Königsflügel. Der
Springer auf a2 steht hingegen noch weit vom Hauptkriegschauplatz entfernt.}
42. Qf3 (42. h3 $16) 42... Qe1+ 43. Rd1 Qh4 44. h3 h5 {[%csl Rg4]} 45. Nc3 $1 {
Weiß gibt den Bauern zurück, um seinen Springer zurück ins Spiel zu bringen.} (
45. Rh1 Kg7) 45... hxg4 46. hxg4 Rxg4 (46... Qxg4 47. Rh1+ (47. Qxg4 Rxg4 48.
Nd5 Kg7 49. c3 $16) 47... Kg7 48. Qa8 Rh5 49. Rxh5 Qxh5 50. Qxa5 Qxf5 51. b4
Qf1+ 52. Kb2 Bd4 53. Qc7 $16) 47. Nd5 {[%csl Gd5] Die Stellung ist materiell
ausgeglichen, aber Weiß besitzt die bessere Bauernstruktur.} (47. Ne2 $142 $1
Kg7 48. Rh1 Qg5 49. Qh3 Kf8 50. Qh8+ Ke7 51. Qc8) 47... Kg7 48. Rh1 Rg3 (48...
Qg3 49. Rh7+ $1 Kxh7 50. Nxf6+ $18) 49. Qd1 Qd4 50. Qxd4 Bxd4 51. Kc1 {[%mdl
4096]} Rg5 $2 (51... Rf3 $142 52. Rh5 Bc5 53. c3 $16) 52. Rf1 Rg2 53. c3 Be5
54. Rd1 Kf8 55. Rd2 Rg1+ (55... Rxd2 56. Kxd2 $18) 56. Kc2 Ke8 57. b4 $18 {
[%csl Ga4,Gb4,Gd5,Re5] Weiß bekommt am Damenflügel unweigerlich einen
Freibauern, dem Schwarz nichts entgegenzusetzen hat. Der Be5 ist scheinbar
stark, jedoch kann er den Freibauern nicht aufhalten} Kd7 (57... axb4 58. cxb4
$18) 58. bxa5 Kc8 59. Nb4 Rg5 60. Rd5 Rxf5 61. Rb5 $1 {[%csl Gb5,Rc8][%cal
Gb5b8] Dem schwarzen König bleibt der Zugang zur b-Linie verwehrt; es droht
a6-a7.} Rf2+ 62. Kb3 Rf3 63. Nd5 Rd3 64. Kc4 (64. a6 Rxd5 65. Rxd5 Kb8 66. Kc4
$18) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. g4 h6
{Lately Black has been trying to do without this prophylactic move,} (8... Nfd7
{was played more often.}) 9. Qd2 b4 $5 {A flank action before finishing
development is always something, which should be considered very carefully and
the reputation of this alternative was not the best. However, modern chess is
a very concrete game, Topalov has a novelty up his sleeve...} (9... Nbd7 10.
O-O-O Bb7 11. h4 b4 12. Na4 {is the older main line, which gradually loses
it's popularity - Black risks more, than White in the arising razor-sharp
positions, for example after} ({The older} 12. Nce2 d5 13. Bh3 dxe4 {is OK for
Black.}) 12... Qa5 13. b3 Nc5 14. a3 Nxa4 15. axb4 Qc7 16. bxa4 d5 17. e5 Nd7
18. f4 Nb6 {recent practice favours White due to} 19. Rh3 $5 Nxa4 20. Bf2 Rc8
21. Be1 $14 ({or even} 21. c4 $5 dxc4 22. Qc2 $36)) 10. Na4 {Just as in the
line from the above note, White initially focused his attention on} (10. Nce2 {
However, here the situation is different and this retreat is far from
exhausted - actually it was tested in Wijk a few rounds later.} e5 11. Nb3 $142
({More active, but paradoxically less promising is} 11. Nf5 d5 12. O-O-O (12.
exd5 Qxd5 13. Bg2 Bb7 14. O-O Nbd7 15. Rfd1 g6 16. Nfg3 Bc5 17. Nf1 Qxd2 18.
Rxd2 e4 19. fxe4 Nxg4 20. Bxc5 Nxc5 21. Nf4 O-O 22. Nd5 a5 23. a3 b3 24. Rad1
Kg7 $11 {Kovacevic,A-Ilincic,Z/YUG Cup Herceg Novi/2000/}) 12... Qa5 ({Black
should open the [+] himself instead of letting White do it, after} 12... Be6
13. Kb1 Nbd7 14. exd5 Bxd5 15. Bg2 Rc8 16. Nc1 Qc7 {Korneev,O-Vera,R/Sevilla
op/2001/} 17. f4 $1 $36 {is pretty annoying.}) 13. Kb1 dxe4 14. fxe4 Be6 15.
Nc1 Nbd7 16. Qg2 Qc7 $13 17. g5 $6 hxg5 18. Bxg5 Qc6 19. Bxf6 Nxf6 20. Nd3 Rd8
21. Re1 g6 22. Nxe5 Qc7 23. Ng4 Nxg4 24. Qxg4 Bxa2+ $1 $40 {Balogh,C-Antal,G/
HUN-ch U20/2001/}) 11... a5 (11... d5 {is less played, but perhaps also
possible:} {The critical line is} 12. O-O-O $5 (12. exd5 Qxd5 13. Qxd5 Nxd5 14.
Bf2 a5 15. O-O-O Bb7 16. Ng3 Nf4 17. Bb5+ Bc6 18. Rhe1 f6 19. Nd4 Bxb5 20. Nxb5
Na6 21. Nf5 g6 22. Nfd6+ (22. Nbd6+ Bxd6 23. Rxd6 Kf7 $5 $13) 22... Bxd6 23.
Rxd6 O-O 24. Bg3 Nh3 25. Rc6 Nb8 26. Rc7 Na6 $11 {Schwartz,Y-Rashkovsky,N/Bern/
2001/}) 12... d4 (12... Be6 13. g5 $1 hxg5 14. Bxg5 d4 15. Bg2 Be7 16. f4 Ng4
17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. fxe5 Nf2 19. Nexd4 Nxd1 20. Rxd1 Ra7 21. Nc5 Rc7 22. Nd3 Rxh2
23. Nf3 Rh6 24. Nxb4 Rd7 25. Nd5 Qc5 26. Nd4 $16 {Colovic,A-Palac,M/
Saint-Vincent/2001/}) 13. Nexd4 $5 exd4 14. Nxd4 $32 {()|^}) 12. Rd1 $142 $1 (
12. Ng3 a4 13. Nc1 {again gives Black a choice:} Qa5 (13... d5 14. Bb5+ Bd7 15.
Bxd7+ Qxd7 16. g5 (16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Nd3 Nc6 18. Nc5 Bxc5 19. Bxc5 Nf4 20.
O-O-O Qxd2+ 21. Rxd2 Ne6 22. Bd6 f6 23. Ne2 Kf7 $11 {Socko,B-Ibrahimov,R/
EU-chT Plovdiv/2003/}) 16... hxg5 17. Bxg5 dxe4 18. Bxf6 Qxd2+ 19. Kxd2 e3+ (
19... gxf6 20. fxe4 Bh6+ $132) 20. Kxe3 gxf6 21. h4 Ke7 22. Nd3 Nc6 23. f4 a3
24. b3 Rd8 25. h5 {Fedorov,A-Solak,D/EU-ch Istanbul/2003/} Ke6 $13) 14. Bc4 Be6
15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Nd3 Nc6 17. O-O Be7 18. Qg2 g5 $5 19. c3 bxc3 20. Rac1 Nb4
21. Nxb4 Qxb4 22. Rxc3 d5 23. Qc2 d4 24. Rc4 Qb5 25. Bd2 Kf7 26. Nh1 Nd7 27.
Nf2 Nb6 $132 {Svidler,P-Ilincic,Z/EU-Cup Chalkidiki/2002/}) ({An interesting
idea is blockading the << with} 12. c4 $5 {, but Black should be able to cope
after} a4 (12... Nc6 13. Rd1 Be6 14. Ng3 a4 15. Nc1 g6 16. h4 h5 17. g5 Nd7 18.
Be2 Be7 19. O-O Qa5 20. b3 Nc5 21. f4 exf4 22. Rxf4 axb3 23. axb3 Qa1 24. Nf5
Nxe4 25. Rxe4 gxf5 26. Rf4 Qc3 27. Bf3 $36 {Iordachescu,V-Lutz,C/Calvia olm/
2004/}) 13. Nbc1 Nc6 (13... Qa5 14. Ng3 g6 15. Bd3 $6 (15. h4 $142) 15... Nbd7
16. O-O Nc5 17. Be2 Be6 18. Nd3 Nxd3 19. Qxd3 Be7 20. h3 {Nyysti,S-Szabo,K/
Budapest/2004/} Nd7 $1 {/\Bg5=/+}) 14. Ng3 Nd7 15. Nd3 Qa5 16. Be2 Nc5 17. O-O
Be6 18. Rac1 g6 $13 19. f4 $6 Nxd3 20. Qxd3 exf4 21. Bxf4 Ne5 22. Qd2 Bg7 23.
h3 b3 24. axb3 Qxd2 25. Bxd2 axb3 $36 {Kuznetsov,V-Shtyrenkov,V/Alushta/2004/})
12... a4 (12... Qc7 13. Ng3 g6 14. h4 h5 $6 (14... Be6 $142) 15. Bg5 Nbd7 16.
Bb5 Be7 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. gxh5 Ke7 19. hxg6 fxg6 20. h5 $36 {Nijboer,F-Nielsen,
P/Wijk aan Zee B/2005/}) 13. Nbc1 Nc6 14. Ng3 Qa5 15. Nf5 Bxf5 16. gxf5 d5 $5
17. exd5 O-O-O 18. Bc4 Bc5 19. Bxc5 Qxc5 20. Nd3 Qxc4 21. dxc6 e4 22. Qxb4 Qxc6
23. Qc5 Qxc5 24. Nxc5 Rxd1+ 25. Kxd1 Rd8+ 26. Ke2 exf3+ 27. Kxf3 a3 $5 $14 {
<=>,Zhigalko,A-Svidler,P/EU-Cup Rethymnon/2003/}) 10... Nbd7 (10... e5 $6 11.
Nf5 $36 {[%csl Rb6] ><b6}) (10... d5 11. e5 Nfd7 12. f4 $14 {is Ilincic's
favourite, but transposing so abruptly into a French P-structure is
discouraging for most Sicilian players. White can activate his Na4 after b3
via b2 and should be better.} Bb7 13. Bd3 Qa5 14. b3 Nc6 15. Qf2 Rb8 16. f5 $1
Ncxe5 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. O-O Bd6 19. Qh4 Nf8 20. Nxe6 Nxe6 21. Bb6 Qxb6+ 22.
Nxb6 Bc5+ 23. Kg2 $40 {Sammalvuo,T-Ilincic,Z/Budapest/2004/}) 11. O-O-O (11.
Qxb4 d5 12. Qd2 dxe4 $15) (11. Nc6 Qc7 12. Nxb4 d5 $5 $36 {[%csl Ra4,Rb4][%cal
Rc7a5] /\Qa5,פ}) 11... Ne5 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] An interesting and promising
novelty, previous attempts were not too encouraging:} (11... d5 12. exd5 Nxd5
13. Bc4 Bb7 $6 {[%csl Re6] ><e6} ({Safer was} 13... N7f6 $142) 14. Rhe1 Ne5 15.
Bb3 Qc7 16. Bf2 Be7 17. Kb1 Ng6 18. Bg3 (18. Rxe6 $1 fxe6 19. Nxe6 Qd7 20. Qe1
$1 $40 {Z.Almasi}) 18... Qa5 19. Nxe6 $5 fxe6 20. Rxe6 $32 {|^} Rd8 21. Qe1 O-O
22. Rxg6 $16 {Almasi,Z-Movsesian,S/Budapest/2003/}) (11... Qa5 12. b3 d5 $2 {
failed tactically to} (12... Nc5 $2 13. Nc6 Qc7 14. Bxc5 $16) (12... Bb7 $142
$132) 13. e5 $1 Ng8 (13... Nxe5 14. Nxe6 $1 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Re3b6] /\Bb6+-,
ףa5}) 14. f4 Qc7 15. Kb1 g5 16. f5 Nxe5 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. h4 gxh4 19. g5 hxg5
20. Bxg5 Nf7 21. Bh3 e5 22. Ne6 Bxe6 23. Bxe6 d4 24. Rdf1 $18 {->,Leko,
P-Movsesian,S/Budapest/2003/}) 12. Qxb4 ({A more recent try of a better
prepared opponent was} 12. b3 $5 {However, this novelty is also far from clear
and the final result of the Anand-Topalov game was only indirectly influenced
by the opening battle.} d5 (12... Bd7 $5 {/\} 13. Nb2 Qa5 (13... d5 $5 $13) 14.
a4 (14. Kb1 $2 Nxf3 $1 15. Nxf3 Nxe4 $17) 14... d5 $13) 13. Bf4 Bd6 (13... Ng6
$5 14. Nc6 Nxe4 $5 (14... Qd7 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 $36) 15. fxe4 Qf6 16. e5
Qxf4 17. Qxf4 Nxf4 18. Nb6 Bb7 19. Nxa8 Bxa8 20. Nb8 $5 (20. Nd4 Ng6 $44) 20...
a5 $13 {[%csl Re5,Gf4] ><e5}) 14. Bxe5 Bxe5 15. Nc6 Qc7 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Qxb4
dxe4 18. Nb6 Rb8 19. Kb1 Qc7 20. Qa4+ Kf8 21. Nxc8 Rxc8 22. Qc4 Qxc4 23. Bxc4
a5 24. Ba6 Rb8 25. fxe4 h5 (25... Nxe4 $5 26. Rd4 Nc5 $14 {/<=>}) 26. gxh5 Nxe4
27. Rd4 Nf6 28. Be2 Nxh5 29. Rh4 g6 30. Rg1 Ke7 31. Ra4 Ra8 32. Bf3 Ra7 33. Rg5
$36 {Anand,V-Topalov,V/Linares/2005/}) 12... Bd7 {[%csl Ra4,Rb4,Gd7,Re6] פa4,
Qb4 The Bd7 covers the traditionally vulnerable Pe6 and targets the sidelined
Na4.} 13. Nb3 $6 {[%mdl 64] The surprised Kramnik loses control and reacts
badly in a volatile position, full of tactics.} (13. Nc3 $142 {Even the
"silicon friend" indicates this after some thought as the best option, as
Black can't immediately trap White's Q. The annotator had to face this very
move himself only 3 days after Kramnik-Topalov!} Qc7 $5 {[%cal Rd6d5] /\d5-+} (
13... d5 $143 $6 14. Qb7 Rb8 15. Qxa6 Bb4 16. Ndb5 $32 {->}) 14. Bf4 ({
Deserving attention is} 14. Qb3 $5 Rb8 15. Qa3 Nc4 16. Bxc4 Qxc4 17. Nb1 $5 d5
18. Nd2 Qc8 $13 (18... Qc7 $5 $44)) 14... g5 15. Bg3 h5 $1 16. h4 $6 (16. gxh5
$142 Nxh5 17. Be2 Nf4 $44) 16... hxg4 17. Bxa6 $2 (17. fxg4 Nfxg4 $15) 17...
Rxa6 18. hxg5 Rxh1 19. Rxh1 Rb6 $1 20. Ndb5 Bxb5 21. Bxe5 (21. Nxb5 $2 Nd3+ 22.
Kb1 Qxc2+ $1 $19) 21... Bd7 22. Qa5 dxe5 23. gxf6 gxf3 $17 {/-+} 24. Nd1 Bc6 $6
25. Nf2 $2 $138 (25. Qc3 $8 $17) 25... Bb4 $1 {Balinov,I-Stohl,I/Betriebsliga
Vienna/2005/ In the end White's Q didn't escape its fate!}) 13... Rb8 $6 {
This is possibly not ideal.} (13... Nxf3 $142 14. Nb6 Rb8 $15) ({or} 13... a5
$5 14. Qa3 Nxf3 $36 {were promising alternatives.}) 14. Qa3 $2 {[%mdl 8192]
After this resigned move White goes under without a trace.} (14. Nb6 Nc6 (14...
Nxf3 $5 {-13...Nf3}) 15. Qa4 Rxb6 16. Bxb6 Qxb6 17. Qxa6 Qe3+ 18. Nd2 Ne5 19.
h4 (19. Qa8+ Ke7 20. h4 g6 {[%cal Rf8g7] /\Bg7->}) 19... Be7 $17) (14. Bb6 $142
Rxb6 (14... Nxf3 15. Qa5 $13) 15. Qxb6 (15. Nxb6 Nc6 $17 {-14.Nb6}) 15... Bxa4
16. Qxa6 Bd7 {Although White's P are in front of his K and Black's minor
pieces should prevail in the long run, the game is far from decided. Black
still hasn't finished developing his >> and White can create complications with
} (16... Bxb3 $6 {is perhaps possible, but quite risky after} 17. Bb5+ $44) 17.
f4 $5 $132 {/=/+}) 14... Nxf3 {[%csl Re4,Rg4] ><g4,e4 White's centre is
falling apart and he also lacks piece coordination.} 15. h3 Nxe4 16. Be2 (16.
Bg2 Ne5 $1 {/\} 17. Bxe4 Nc4 $19) 16... Ne5 17. Rhe1 (17. Bxa6 Qc7 {[%cal
Rc7c6,Rd6d5] /\Qc6,d5-+}) 17... Qc7 $19 {[%csl Ra4,Rb3,Ge4,Ge5] פ Black is
already a healthy P up, just compare his N with White's.} 18. Bd4 Nc6 19. Bc3
d5 20. Nbc5 Qa7 (20... Qa7 21. b4 $8 Nxc3 22. Qxc3 Nxb4 {[%cal Rb4a2] /\Na2}
23. Kd2 Bxa4 24. Nxa4 Be7 $1 $19 {[%cal Re7g5] /\Bg5}) 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2674"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 O-O 13. g3 Ne7 14. h4 Bh6
15. Bh3 Bxh3 16. Rxh3 a5 17. Kf1 Rc8 18. Nce3 Bxe3 19. Nxe3 Qd7 20. g4 Rfd8 21.
h5 Qc6 22. Qf3 d5 23. exd5 Nxd5 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 25. Re1 h6 26. Kg2 Qe6 27. Qf5
Qxf5 28. gxf5 f6 29. Re2 Rc4 30. a3 a4 31. Rhe3 Rf4 32. Rf3 Kf7 33. Kg3 Rc4 34.
Rfe3 Rd1 35. Re4 Rg1+ 36. Kh4 Rg5 37. Rxc4 bxc4 38. Re4 Rxf5 39. Rxc4 Rxf2 40.
Rxa4 Rxb2 41. Ra7+ Ke6 42. Rxg7 Rh2+ 43. Kg3 Rxh5 44. Rc7 Rh1 45. a4 Ra1 46.
Rc6+ Kf5 47. Rc4 h5 48. Kf3 Kg5 49. Ke4 h4 50. Rc8 h3 51. Rg8+ Kh4 52. Kf3 Rf1+
53. Ke2 Rf4 54. a5 h2 55. a6 Ra4 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.23"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Bruzon Batista, Lazaro"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2652"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. c3 Nge7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1
e5 9. Na3 d6 10. Be3 b6 11. Qd2 Bg4 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Qd7 14. Bg2 f5 15.
exf5 gxf5 16. f4 Rad8 17. Re2 Qe6 18. Qc2 Qg6 19. Kh2 Kh8 20. Qa4 d5 21. fxe5
Bxe5 22. Bf4 Qf6 23. Bxe5 Nxe5 24. d4 N5g6 25. dxc5 bxc5 26. Rf1 f4 27. gxf4
Nf5 28. Qxa7 Qh4 29. Qxc5 Nxf4 30. Rd2 Nxh3 31. Qc7 Rd6 32. Nc2 Qg3+ 33. Kh1
Rh6 0-1

[Event "Linares 22nd"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2005.02.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E37"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Tyomkin,D"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2005.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {This game was Veselin's first step to his triumph in Linares 2005- the
best tournament in his life.} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6.
Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 e5 8. e3 (8. cxd5 {1-0 Kasparov,G-Adams,M/Linares 2005/CBM
106_01 (54)}) 8... exd4 9. cxd5 Qxd5 10. Nf3 Nd6 11. Nxd4 Bd7 12. f3 Nc6 13.
Nxc6 Bxc6 14. a4 $146 {A new move but not a new idea. Atalik introduced the
idea to bring the queenside rook to the game in 1992, first playing Be2 and
only then a4. The way of Atalik seems stronger since on 14.a4 black has a
strong reply.} (14. Be2 f5 $6 (14... O-O $14) 15. a4 O-O-O 16. b4 Qe6 17. Ra3
Kb8 18. Rc3 Bd5 19. b5 (19. Rxc7 Bb3 20. Qc3 Rc8 $44) 19... g5 20. O-O g4 21.
e4 (21. fxg4 Be4 22. gxf5 Nxf5 23. Bd3 Rxd3 24. Rxd3 Rg8 25. Rf2 $16) 21...
gxf3 (21... fxe4 22. fxg4 $16 {[%cal Gc1f4]}) 22. exd5 Qxe2 23. Rfxf3 Qxc2 24.
Rxc2 $14 Rhe8 25. Bf4 Re4 26. Bxd6 cxd6 27. Rxf5 Rxa4 28. Kf2 Rd7 29. Rf8+ {
1-0 Atalik,S-Kotronias,V/Mangalia 1992/EXT 97}) 14... Qh5 $1 {This move
refutes Topalov's idea- white can't complete the development without weakening
his kingside pawn chain.} 15. Be2 {15.Bd3 is objectively stronger, but black
can reach a draw there.} (15. Bd3 Qh4+ 16. Qf2 Qb4+ 17. Qd2 Qh4+ {would lead
to a move repetition.}) 15... Qh4+ {White is forced to weaken his kingside
pawn structure with g3 move.} 16. g3 Qh3 17. Kf2 O-O-O {White lags in
development, but has some strategical advantages, like a pair of bishops
advantage as well as a pawn mass in the centre. Black must play aggresively to
exploit his advantage in development.} 18. Ra3 (18. b4 Rhe8 19. b5 Ne4+ (19...
Bd5 20. a5 Ne4+ 21. Kg1 Nxg3 {-see 19...Ne4 line;}) 20. Kg1 (20. fxe4 Bxe4 {
[%csl Rc2,Rh1]}) 20... Bd5 {[%cal Ge4g3]} 21. a5 Nxg3 22. hxg3 Qxg3+ 23. Kf1
Be6 {and black has at least a draw.}) 18... Rhe8 19. Bf1 Qe6 20. Be2 {Here
Veselin was ready for a draw (20...Qh3 would lead to a second repetition),
while Mickey has different plans for this game- black is obviously better and
has an attack on black king.} g5 $1 $17 {White doesn't have a good way to
prevent g5-g4. Veselin's position didn't look very promising at this point.
Hard to believe that white will be winning in seven moves from now without any
big blunders from black.} 21. Rf1 g4 22. fxg4 Qh6 $6 {First inaccuracy by
Mickey.} (22... Qd5 $142 23. Bd3 Kb8 (23... Re6 24. Ke1 $1) (23... Qf3+ 24. Ke1
Qxg4 25. Rc3 {with some counterplay.}) 24. Ke1 (24. Rc3 Ne4+ 25. Bxe4 Rxe4 $17)
24... Ne4 25. b4 Qe6 26. b5 Bd5 {[%cal Gc7c5] with very strong idea c5 to open
the c-file for black's attack in case of en passant.}) (22... Ne4+ 23. Kg1 Ng5
(23... h5 24. Rf4 Ng5 25. Kf1 $1) 24. h4 Ne4 25. Kh2 {and white's position is
defendable.}) 23. Kg1 Qh3 24. Bd3 Ne4 (24... Qxg4 25. Rf4 Qh5 26. Rc3 {
intending RxBc6 with sufficient counterplay.}) 25. Rf4 Nxg3 $1 26. Rc3 $1 {
[%mdl 256] With a big threat RxBc6 then Ba6 and mating attack. Despite of the
upset in the opening, Topalov continues to fight, and does it the toughest way.
} Re6 $2 {This move, which looks so logical (prevents Rxc6 threat of white as
well as white may transfer it to a kingside via 6th rank) actually loses a
game! 26...Rxd3 was the only move to keep an initiative, but white manages to
escape there anyhow.} (26... Rxd3 27. Rxd3 Rg8 {I suppose Mickey overlooked
this winning move in his calculations, but unfortunately for black it doesn't
give him more than a draw if white defends perfectly.} (27... f5 28. Rc3 Be4
29. Qf2 Rd8 30. Bd2 Nh1 31. Qe2 {and black's attack goes to nowhere.}) 28. e4
$1 {the toughest defense.} Bxe4 29. Rxg3 (29. Rxf7 Ne2+ $1 30. Kf2 Qxh2+ 31.
Ke1 {only move} Qh1+ (31... Bxd3 32. Qxd3 Qh4+ 33. Kxe2 Qxg4+ 34. Rf3 {black
has no more than perpetual check.}) 32. Kxe2 (32. Kd2 $2 Qh6+ $1 33. Kxe2 Bxd3+
34. Qxd3 Qe6+ $19) 32... Qg2+ 33. Kd1 (33. Rf2 Qxg4+ 34. Ke1 Qg1+ 35. Rf1 Qg6
36. Bf4 c6 37. Ke2 Rf8 $1 {[%cal Gg6g4]}) 33... Qxg4+ 34. Kd2 Qg5+ 35. Ke1 Qh4+
36. Qf2 Rg1+ 37. Kd2 Qxf2+ 38. Rxf2 Bxd3 39. Kxd3 Rxc1 40. Rf8+ Kd7 41. Rf7+
Kc6 42. Rxh7 Kb6 {but I am not sure that black wins here.}) 29... Qxg3+ 30.
hxg3 Bxc2 31. Rxf7 {and this ending is just a draw;}) 27. e4 $1 $18 {[%mdl 256]
with a big threat Bf1 and RxN then. Now Rc3 and Bc1 join the party, as well as
e3-e4 move restrics Bc6 and Re6 of black. Black is in serious trouble now.} Nh5
{There is simply no good way....} (27... Rxe4 28. Bf1 $1 Re1 29. Rxg3 $18) 28.
Bc4 {One more precise more by Topalov.} Qh4 29. Bxe6+ fxe6 30. gxh5 Qxh5 31.
Rd3 {White is up a rook and black doesn't have forces to attack white king.
The game is actually over.} Rg8+ 32. Rg3 Rd8 33. Be3 e5 34. Rf1 h6 35. b4 {
Veselin was in some time trouble here, but it didn't prevent him from making
good moves.} a6 36. b5 axb5 37. axb5 Bxb5 38. Rg7 c6 39. Qa2 Ba6 40. Qe6+ Kb8 {
[%tqu "En","Find the fastest way to mate black king!","look for a queen
sacrifice!","Don't give up your queen for nothing!! ;-)","e6d6","Final accord.
Mate in three is unpreventable.",5]} 41. Qd6+ $1 {Final accord. Mate in three
is unpreventable.} 1-0

[Event "Linares 22nd"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2005.02.28"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2005.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. f3
Be6 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. g4 b5 12. g5 b4 13. Ne2 Ne8 14. f4 a5 15. f5
a4 16. fxe6 axb3 17. exf7+ {The line with rapid advance of blacks pawns on the
queenside has become very popular.} (17. cxb3 fxe6 18. Kb1 Qa5 19. Nc1 Nc7 20.
Bh3 g6 21. Rhf1 Rxf1 22. Rxf1 Nc5 {0-1 Ivanovic,B-Djukanovic,S/Bijelo Polje
2004/ (53)}) 17... Rxf7 18. Kb1 bxc2+ 19. Kxc2 (19. Qxc2 Bxg5 20. Bxg5 Qxg5 21.
Ng3 Nb6 22. Qb3 d5 23. Qxb4 Qd8 24. Bh3 Rf6 25. exd5 {1-0 Djukic,N-Arsovic,G/
Kopaonik 2005/ (33)}) 19... Nb6 (19... Nc5 20. Ng3 Kh8 21. Bc4 Qc8 22. Kb1 Rf8
23. Rhf1 Nc7 24. Bxc5 Rxf1 25. Rxf1 dxc5 26. Rf7 Bf8 27. Rxc7 Qxc7 28. Qd5 {
1-0 Ivanovic,B-Benderac,S/Bar 2005/ (28)}) 20. Nc1 d5 21. exd5 Nd6 22. Kb1 (22.
h4 Nbc4 23. Bxc4 Nxc4 24. Qe2 Qc8 25. Kb1 Qf5+ 26. Ka1 Qe4 27. Bd2 Qxe2 28.
Nxe2 Rf2 29. Rhe1 b3 {0-1 Gross,D-Babula,V/Austria 2005/ (32)}) 22... Rf3 $6 {
[%mdl 4] Vallejo is stretching his luck too far, white is probably better with
two bishops and a spare pawn.} (22... Nbc4 $5 23. Bxc4 Nxc4 24. Qe2 Nxe3 25. g6
hxg6 26. Qxe3 Bd6 27. Rhg1 Qc8 28. Qe4 Qf5 {1/2-1/2 Czarnota,P-Bobras,P/Poznan
2005/ (31)}) 23. h4 Na4 (23... Nbc4 24. Bxc4 Nxc4 25. Qe2 Rxe3 26. Qxc4 Bd6 27.
Qg4 $14) 24. Qe2 Rg3 $2 (24... e4 25. Bd4 Nb6 26. Bg2 Rf4 27. Nb3 $16) (24...
Qf8 25. Ka1 Qf5 26. Re1 e4 27. Bg2 $16) 25. Bf2 Rc3 26. Qxe5 Nxb2 (26... Rf3
27. Bd4 Rf7 28. Bh3 $18) 27. Bd4 $1 {Topalov's control of the position becomes
overwhelming.} (27. Kxb2 Qa5 28. Kb1 Rxc1+ 29. Kxc1 Qxa2 30. Rd2 $18) 27... Bf8
(27... Nf5 28. Kxb2 Nxd4 29. Rxd4 $18) 28. Kxb2 Rf3 (28... Qa5 29. Bxc3 Qa3+
30. Kb1 bxc3 31. Rh2 Rb8+ 32. Ka1 Rb2 33. Bd3 $18) 29. Bd3 Kh8 (29... Qa5 30.
Qe6+ Rf7 (30... Kh8 31. Qh6 $18) 31. Bxh7+ Kxh7 32. g6+ $18) 30. Qe2 Rf4 (30...
Rxd3 31. Qxd3 Qc7 32. h5 $18) 31. Qh5 {White has extra piece and mating attack,
the game is over.} Nf5 32. g6 (32. g6 h6 33. Bxf5 Rxd4 34. Rxd4 Qf6 35. Rhd1
Bc5 36. Qg4 $18) 1-0

[Event "Linares 22nd"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2005.03.08"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2678"]
[Annotator "Dautov,R"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2005.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. Nd2 Bb4 {Es ist zu vermuten, daß die Anzahl der Anhänger
dieses Zuges bald schnell abnehmen wird, so überzeugend ist Topalovs Sieg
ausgefallen. Eine gute Alternative zum Textzug stellt 10...Be7 dar.} (10... Be7
) 11. cxd5 exd5 (11... Nxd5 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. Bd3 g6 14. Rc1 Be7 15. O-O Bf6
16. Nb3 Qb6 17. Nc5 (17. Bd6 $5 $14) 17... Qxb2 18. Qa4 Qb6 19. Bd6 Be7 20.
Bxe7 Nxe7 21. Nd7 (21. Qf4 $5) 21... Bxd7 22. Qxd7 Qb3 $11 {Topalov,V-Kramnik,
V/Wijk aan Zee 2001}) 12. Bd3 d4 13. O-O Bxc3 14. Nc4 Qh5 15. bxc3 Nd5 (15...
dxe3 16. Nxe3 $14) 16. Bg3 dxe3 17. Rae1 Be6 {Bisher hat sich keiner der
Schwarzspieler getraut, den Bauern f2 zu nehmen. Zumindest wüßte Schwarz
danach , wofür er gequält wird, in der Partie muß Rustam dagegen "umsonst"
leiden.} (17... exf2+ $6 18. Rxf2 Be6 19. Nd6 (19. Re4 h6) 19... b6 $44) 18.
fxe3 Nde7 (18... Rad8 19. Nd6 Ne5 $2 (19... b6 20. e4 $14) 20. Bxh7+ Qxh7 21.
Qxh7+ Kxh7 22. Bxe5 f6 23. e4 Nb6 24. Bg3 Na4 25. e5 $16 {Topalov,V-Kramnik,V/
Monte Carlo 2001}) 19. Nd6 b6 20. Rb1 $1 {Nun spielen alle weißen Figuren mit,
während die schwarzen Türme bis zum Ende der Partie dem Kampf tatenlos zusehen
werden.} f6 $146 {Eine Neuerung, die aus der Not geboren zu sein scheint. Das
bereits gespielte 20...Nd5 sieht auch nicht vertrauenerweckend aus.} (20... Nd5
21. Rb5 (21. Qd2 $5) 21... Qh6 22. Rxd5 $5 Bxd5 23. Nf5 Qg5 24. Bh4 Qh5 25. Rf4
$2 (25. Qa4 $1 $40) 25... f6 26. Ng3 Qe8 27. Bxh7+ Kh8 $17 {Nadanian,
A-Dervishi,E/Panormo 1998}) 21. Rb5 (21. Rf4 $5) 21... Ne5 22. Rf4 N7g6 23. Rd4
Bd7 $2 {Die Läuferschaukel sieht einladend aus, und es ist nicht leicht, den
starken weißen 25. Zug zu sehen. Besser wäre jedoch 23...Rad8, wonach Weiß
eine schöne Stellung, aber keinen direkten Gewinnweg hätte.} (23... Rad8 $5 24.
Be2 Qh6 25. Bf4 Nxf4 26. exf4 Nc6 $14) 24. Rbd5 Be6 25. Be2 $1 $18 {[%mdl 64]}
Qh6 26. Bf4 $1 Nxf4 27. exf4 g6 {Schwarz ist verloren.} (27... Bxd5 $2 28. Nf5
$18) (27... Nc6 28. Rh5 Qg6 29. f5 Nxd4 30. cxd4 $18) (27... Rad8 28. Qd1 Nc6
29. Nf5 Bxf5 30. Rxd8 Nxd8 31. Rxd8 Be6 32. Qd6 Rxd8 33. Qxd8+ Kf7 34. Bb5 $18)
(27... Kh8 28. Qe4 Bxd5 29. Rxd5 Ng6 (29... Nc6 30. Rd3 $1 $18) (29... Qg6 30.
fxe5 Qxe4 31. Nxe4 Rae8 32. Nd6 $18) 30. g3 $1 Nxf4 31. Qxf4 Qxf4 32. gxf4 $18)
28. Qe4 $1 Bxd5 29. Qxd5+ Kh8 30. Re4 Nd7 31. Nf7+ Rxf7 32. Qxf7 (32. Qxf7 Nc5
33. Re8+ Rxe8 34. Qxe8+ Kg7 35. Qe7+ Kh8 36. Bc4 $18) 1-0

[Event "Linares 22nd"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2005.03.09"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D53"]
[WhiteElo "2686"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2005.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Qc2 ({
The main line is} 7. e3) 7... dxc4 {Deviating from the game
Vallejo-Kasimdzhanov, played few rounds before.} ({Few rounds before Vallejo
won against Kasimdzhanov after} 7... O-O 8. O-O-O c5 9. dxc5 {1-0 Vallejo Pons,
F-Kasimdzhanov,R/Linares 2005/CBM 106 [Postny,E] (60)}) 8. e3 ({Now, long
castling is not recommended for white:} 8. O-O-O $6 a6 9. e4 b5 10. e5 Bg5+ 11.
Kb1 Bb7 12. h4 Be7 $15 {0-1 Bradbury,N-Wells,P/London 1985/MCL (39)}) 8... c5
9. dxc5 Qa5 10. Bxc4 Qxc5 11. Ne4 Qa5+ (11... Qb4+ 12. Nfd2 Nd7 13. Bb3 Be7 14.
O-O O-O 15. Qc7 Bd8 16. Qf4 $14 {1-0 Najer,E-Kruppa,Y/Elista 2000/CBM 079 
[Tsesarsky] (54)}) 12. Ke2 {White does not mind to lose his right to castle.
After the forthcoming exchange of queens, the king will feel pretty
comfortable in the centre.} Be7 13. Qc3 $146 (13. g4 Nd7 14. a3 Nf6 15. Ned2
Bd7 16. Rhg1 Rc8 17. Qb3 Qb6 18. Qxb6 axb6 19. Ne5 Ba4 20. Rac1 Bd6 21. Ndf3
Ke7 $11 {0-1 Bacrot,E-Kortschnoj,V/Albert 1997/CBM 061 [Tsesarsky] (54)}) 13...
Qxc3 14. Nxc3 a6 {The position is equal. White has temporary advantage in
development, but black's position is out of weaknesses. Black's pair of
bishops might become a potential source of worry for white in future.} 15. Rhd1
Nd7 16. Ne4 b5 17. Bb3 Bb7 18. Nd6+ Bxd6 19. Rxd6 {Most of the spectators
expected a draw agreement very soon. Therefore, it's very instructive to watch,
how Topalov gradually outplayed his opponent...} Ke7 20. Rad1 $6 ({Safer would
have been} 20. Rdd1 {followed by 21.Rac1 not allowing black to take control
over the "c" file.}) 20... Rhd8 21. R6d4 $6 {The rook has nothing to do on d4.}
(21. R6d2 Rac8 22. Ne1 {followed by 23.Rc2 equalizing.}) 21... Rac8 22. Ne1 a5
$15 23. f3 (23. R4d2 $6 b4 {[%cal Gb7a6]}) 23... Rc7 24. e4 Rdc8 {Establishing
the control over the "c" file.} 25. a3 g5 {Fixing white's pawns on the
kingside and preparing to establish the knight on e5.} 26. Ke3 Ne5 27. R4d2 Ba6
28. Rd6 $6 {After this "active" move white is in serious trouble.} ({It looks
like white could escape for a draw by} 28. Nd3 $1 Nc4+ 29. Bxc4 bxc4 30. Ne5 c3
31. Rd7+ Kf6 32. Ng4+ Kg7 33. Rxc7 Rxc7 34. b4 c2 35. Rc1) 28... Ra7 29. R6d2
$6 {Vallejo simply did not find any reasonable plan. But, after this move
white's position is beyond saving already...} ({White's last chance was
probably:} 29. Rb6 b4 $1 30. axb4 a4 31. b5 (31. Ba2 Bc4 $1 32. Rc1 Rac7 33.
Bb1 Nd7 $19 {[%csl Rb6]}) 31... Bb7 32. Ba2 a3 {and black gets a strong
initiative.}) 29... b4 30. axb4 Rb8 $1 31. Ra1 (31. Nc2 a4 $1 32. Ba2 Bc4 33.
Bb1 Bb3 $19) 31... Rxb4 32. Ra3 (32. Ba2 Bc4 33. Bb1 Rb3+ 34. Kf2 Rd7 $1 {
with total domination.}) 32... a4 33. Ba2 Bc4 34. Bb1 Bf1 $6 ({More convincing
seems to be} 34... Rab7 35. Nd3 Bxd3 36. Bxd3 Rxb2 $19) 35. Ba2 $8 Rab7 36. Nc2
$2 {This loses quickly.} ({The only way to resist was} 36. Kf2 Bc4 37. Rc2)
36... Rxb2 37. Rxa4 Rc7 $1 ({But not} 37... Rxa2 38. Rxa2 Nc4+ 39. Kf2 Nxd2 40.
Ne3 {and black will be only a pawn up.}) 38. Kf2 Bb5 {[%csl Ra4,Rc2][%mdl 4096]
Black is winning a full piece. Great technique by Topalov!} 0-1

[Event "Linares 22nd"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2005.03.10"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[Annotator "Tyomkin,D"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2005.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2] Garry knew that he is a winnner of Linares even he loses (the first
tie-break was more wins with black). As well as, Garry knew that this game is
the last in his professional chess career- Garry announced his retirement from
professional chess right after the end of this game ( this decision was not
any spontaneous,and the loss of this game didn't cause to that).} 1. e4 c5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 {Garry chooses a solid variation for the last round game.} 4.
Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. O-O {Garry prepared 6.Nd2 line with white for Linares 2005
and was very close to beat Leko in round 8 of the same tournament.} (6. Nd2 {
Roiz in CBM 106} Bg5 7. h4 Bxd2+ 8. Bxd2 Nf6 {That position was tested many
times on the highest level.} 9. O-O {A latest attempt to fight for the opening
advantage which connected with an idea of f2-f4.} Be6 10. f4 $146 {White
allows black to exchange the bishops,as it will make the Pd6 very vulnerable.}
Bxc4 11. dxc4 h5 $1 {A typical defensive idea in such a positions. Black
exploits a drawback of 7.h4 and gets a nice square for his knight.} 12. f5 Ng4
13. f6 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G-Leko,P/Linares 2005/CBM 106_01/[Roiz] (31) White
chooses a very energetical continuation. He tries to use some vulnerablity of
Ke8.}) 6... Nf6 7. Nh4 {A real surprise! This move has never been tested
before. Out of other seven tries, the 7.Ng5 is a most popular and promises
white a good play. In Dortmund 2004 Vishy tested 7.Bg5, and managed to achieve
some opening advantage, but for some reason this line hasn't gained any
popularity. The main idea of Topalov was to keep Garry out of book and his
analysis, and his strategy worked successfully in this game.} (7. Ng5 O-O 8. f4
Bg4 {After the game Kramnik,V-Grischuk,A/Wijk aaz Zee 2003 [Roiz] that move
became very popular.} 9. Qe1 exf4 {That helps white to complete his
development, but there is nothing better.} 10. Bxf4 Nd4 11. Qd2 h6 $146 {
This is a dubious novelty in my opinion, as after h7-h6 white gets excellent
attacking possibilities, using the open ''g'' file (after an exchange on f3).}
12. Nf3 Bxf3 $5 {Black tries a new concept in this common position. He keeps
his knight in the centre, trying to start a quick counterplay by b7-b5.} (12...
Nxf3+ 13. gxf3 Be6 14. Kh1 $36 {[%cal Gf1g1] - Here white's initiative is more
dangerous than in Kramnik-Grischuk, as Qd8-d7 is a quite useful move for black.
At the same time a2-a4 is obviously not white's best attacking continuation.})
13. gxf3 Qd7 14. Be3 b5 {There is no other way of counterplay-otherwise black
is just much worse.} 15. Bxd4 (15. Bd5 $5 Rae8 16. Qg2 Kh8 17. a3 $1 {[%cal
Gd5a2]} Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Nc6 19. Kh1 $14) 15... bxc4 ({The alternative was:} 15...
cxd4 $1 16. Nxb5 d5 17. exd5 Bc5 18. b4 Bb6 19. a4 Nxd5 $14 {and black has
some compensation due to weakness of white's kside, although white's chances
are preferable.}) 16. Bxf6 (16. Be3 $5 cxd3 17. Qxd3 Rfe8 18. Rad1 Rad8 19. b3
$14) 16... Bxf6 17. dxc4 Bd4+ $2 {The idea of getting counterplay by f7-f5 is
right, but black chooses a wrong redaction for that!} ({After the correct:} 
17... Rab8 $1 18. b3 (18. Rab1 $6 Qh3 $1 19. Nd5 $140 Bd4+ 20. Kh1 Rxb2 $15 {
[%csl Rf1]}) 18... Qh3 $1 19. Rae1 Bd4+ 20. Kh1 f5 21. exf5 Rxf5 22. Nb5 Rxf3
23. Rxf3 Qxf3+ 24. Qg2 Qxg2+ 25. Kxg2 Be5 $14 {white has only a small
advantage in this endgame.}) 18. Kh1 f5 19. Nd5 $1 $16 {0-1 Grischuk,
A-Cheparinov,I/Mallorca 2004/CBM 104/[Roiz,M] (39) Finally white's knight has
got an ideal spot, while the Bd4 couldn't stay in the centre too long in view
of the following c2-c3.}) (7. Bg5 $5 O-O 8. Bxf6 Bxf6 9. Nd5 Bg5 10. a3 b6 11.
b4 Bh6 12. c3 Ne7 13. bxc5 bxc5 14. Rb1 $14 {1-0 Anand,V-Leko,P/Dortmund 2004/
CBM 103 (27)}) 7... Nd4 (7... Nxe4 8. dxe4 (8. Nxe4 d5 9. Bxd5 Qxd5 10. Bg5 f6
$1 $15) 8... Bxh4 9. f4 (9. Nd5 O-O 10. f4 exf4 11. Bxf4 Ne5 {and black is
safe.}) 9... O-O 10. f5 $44 {and white has a full compensation.}) 8. g3 Bg4 (
8... Bh3 {only helps white} 9. Ng2) 9. f3 Be6 10. Bg5 Ng8 $1 {getting rid of
the bad bishop.} 11. Bxe7 Nxe7 12. f4 exf4 13. Bxe6 (13. gxf4 Qd7 {following
with 0-0-0.} 14. f5 Bxc4 15. dxc4 O-O-O {[%cal Gc6e5,Ge7c6,Gg7g6] white
kingside pawns are vulnerable.}) 13... fxe6 14. Rxf4 Kd7 $6 {Very unusual way
to connect black rooks. Both 14...Qb6 and 14...Qd7 followed with 0-0-0 would
give black at least an equal play. I believe, if no pressure of the last round
game (as well as of the last game of Garry's professional career), Garry would
choose one of those moves.} (14... Qb6 {[%cal Ge8c8]}) (14... Qd7 $11) 15. Nf3
$1 {This move wouldn't be possible in case of 14..Qb6 or 14...Qd7 since there
black had Ng6 reply.} Rf8 16. Rxf8 Qxf8 17. Nxd4 cxd4 18. Ne2 (18. Nb5 $5 Nc6
19. c3 (19. Qh5 Qe7 20. Rf1 (20. Qxh7 Qg5 {with at least a perpetual check.})
20... Rf8 21. Rxf8 Qxf8 22. Qxh7 a6 23. Na3 Ne5 {and black has a nice
compensation for a sacrificed pawn.}) 19... dxc3 20. bxc3 Qf6 21. d4 Rf8 22.
Qd2 Qf3 {and the activity of black pieces compensate the unsafe position of
black king.}) 18... Qf6 (18... Nc6 $143 19. Qd2 $1 $14 {[%cal Gb2b4,Ga1f1]} (
19. c3 Qf3 20. Nxd4 Nxd4 21. cxd4 Qe3+ 22. Kh1 Rf8 {and black is fine.})) 19.
c3 Rf8 (19... dxc3 $6 20. Qa4+ Nc6 21. Rf1 $16) 20. Nxd4 Nc6 {The game move
keeps it equal, while 20...Qf2+ line gives black at least a draw;} (20... Qf2+
21. Kh1 Nc6 (21... Rf6 $5) 22. Qg4 $1 Nxd4 23. Qxg7+ Rf7 24. Qxd4 Qxb2 {
and black is not any worse.}) 21. Qf1 Qxf1+ {I don't put a question mark to
Garry's move since I can't prove that the pawn ending is winning for white.
Although, Garry had two safe ways for a draw: 21...Qd8 and 21...Nf6.} (21...
Qd8 22. Qe2 (22. Nf3 Qb6+ 23. d4 Qxb2 24. Rb1 Qxc3 25. Rxb7+ Ke8 (25... Kd8 $5)
(25... Kc8 $2 26. Rb3 $16 {black king is vulnerable on c8;}) 26. Rb3 Qc2 27.
Qe1 $1 {in other cases black is just fine.} Qxa2 28. Qc3 Kf7 $1 29. Rb7+ Kg8
30. Qxc6 Qe2 31. Qc3 Rxf3 32. Qc8+ Rf8 33. Qxe6+ Kh8 34. Qf5 {and here black
must go for perpetual check.}) 22... Nxd4 (22... Qb6 $2 23. Qg4 $1) 23. cxd4
Qb6 24. Qe3 Qxb2 {and this position is equal.}) (21... Nxd4 22. Qxf6 Rxf6 (
22... gxf6 23. cxd4 Rc8 24. Rf1 Ke7 25. Kg2 {[%cal Gg2f3] with winning chances.
}) 23. cxd4 Rf3 24. Rd1 g5 {[%cal Gg5g4] and in view of d3 weakness, white
can't reach any progress in this ending.}) 22. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 23. Kxf1 Nxd4 24.
cxd4 d5 $2 {[%mdl 4096] Garry played this move instantly, however, if black
keeps his pawn on d6, the win of white is very doubtful. This way was
mentioned by GM Shipov, he believes that this pawn ending is winning for white
anyhow, but does not show the way. Same here...} (24... b5 25. Ke2 Ke7 (25...
a5 26. Kd2 Kc6 27. a3 (27. Kc3 b4+ 28. Kc4 d5+ 29. Kb3 Kb5 $11) 27... Kd7 (
27... b4 28. axb4 axb4 29. Ke3 Kb5 30. b3 Kc6 31. Kf4 Kd7 32. d5 $18) 28. Kc3
Kc6 {and I don't see a winning plan for white.}) 26. Kd2 Kd7 27. Kc3 Kc6 28. a4
a5 $1) (24... Ke7 25. Ke2 Kf6 (25... b5 $1) 26. Kd2 {[%cal Gd2c3,Gc3c4,Gd4d5]}
Kg5 27. e5 {! Shipov, source: www.chesspro.ru} d5 {and I don't see any chance
for white here - the white king can't go to the queenside since black's king
is just faster.}) 25. Kf2 Ke7 26. Kf3 Kf6 27. h4 $2 {[%mdl 4096] This move
loses couple of tempis, as well as gives Garry an excellent chance to save the
game!} (27. Kg4 h6 (27... g6 28. h4 $1 {leads to the game line.}) 28. Kh5 {
[%cal Gh2h4,Gg3g4,Gg4g5]} Kf7 29. g4 Kf6 30. h4 Kf7 31. g5 $18) 27... g6 $2 {
[%mdl 4096] Garry returns the favour and misses a chance to draw the game.} (
27... h6 28. Kg4 $1 (28. Kf4 g5+ 29. Kg4 Kg6 30. hxg5 (30. h5+ Kf6) 30... hxg5)
(28. h5 Kg5 29. g4 g6 30. hxg6 Kxg6 31. Kg2 Kg7 32. Kg3 Kf7 (32... Kg6 33. Kh4
$1) 33. Kf4 (33. Kh4 Kg6) 33... Kf6 $11) 28... Kg6 (28... g6 29. Kf4 (29. b4 b5
30. a3 a6 {Same position as in the game with white to move, so white can't win
a tempi!}) (29. Kf3 g5 $1) 29... g5+ 30. Kg4 Kg6 $11) 29. Kf4 Kf6 30. h5) 28.
b4 b5 {28...h6 doesn't help here;} (28... h6 29. b5 g5 30. Kg4 Kg6 31. hxg5
hxg5 32. a3 Kh6 33. exd5 exd5 34. Kf5 $18) 29. Kf4 h6 (29... h5 30. g4 hxg4 31.
Kxg4 {and white king gets in;}) 30. Kg4 (30. Kg4 {Black is in zugzwang and
resigned. I still don't want to accept that Garry will not play in big
tourneys like this one nor in matches for the World Championship title. I grew
up as a chessplayer learning from Kasparov's games. He is my favourite chess
player, and a chess writer (and probably yours too!). I hope he will
reconsider and will come back to Big Chess.... Chess needs you, Garry, and we,
chess fans, don't accept your withdrawal.} Kf7 31. h5 $1 gxh5+ (31... g5 32.
exd5 exd5 33. Kf5 {[%cal Gf5e5]}) (31... Kf6 32. hxg6 Kxg6 33. Kf4 Kf6 34. g4
a6 35. a3 Kg6 36. Ke5 Kg5 37. Kxe6 $18 Kxg4 38. exd5 {and white pawn is faster.
}) 32. Kxh5 Kg7 33. g4 Kh7 34. g5 hxg5 35. Kxg5 Kg7 36. e5 $1 {final zugzwang;}
) 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Tyomkin,D"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3
c6 8. e4 d5 9. Qc2 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bb7 11. Neg5 {Vishy used the game
Topalov-Leko for his preparation, and he definitely liked Black there, while
Topalov was ready for this line and had prepared an improvement.} (11. Bg2 c5
12. Neg5 {with the idea Nxf7, but almost any logical move of black prevents
this threat!} (12. Nfg5 Nxe4 13. Nxe4 Nc6 $17) 12... Nc6 (12... O-O $142 13.
dxc5 h6 $15) 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Bc3 (14. O-O h6 15. Ne4 Qc8 $6 (15... Nb4 16.
Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. Bxb4 cxb4 18. Rad1 Qe7 $15 {^^}) 16. Bc3 Nb4 17. Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.
Qb2 $14 {0-1 Foisor,O-Vilela,J/Polanica Zdroj 1982/MCD (75)}) 14... Nd4 15.
Bxd4 cxd4 16. O-O O-O (16... Nd7 17. Rfe1 $5 Bxg5 18. Nxg5 Bxg2 19. Qf5 Qf6 20.
Nxe6 Qxf5 21. Nxg7+ Kf8 22. Nxf5 Bh3 23. Nxd4 Kg7 {A draw is the most likely
outcome in this ending.}) 17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Bd6 $2 {Overlooking simple
tactics:} (18... Qc7 19. Rae1 (19. f4 h6 20. Ngf3 Nd5 $1 $17) ({The same idea
doesn't work here:} 19. Ng4 g6 20. Nh6+ Kg7 21. Nhxf7 Qc6+ $17) 19... h6 20.
Ngf3 Rfd8 {Black is just fine here.}) 19. Ng4 g6 20. Nh6+ Kg7 21. Nhxf7 $16 {
1-0 Topalov,V-Leko,P/Monte Carlo 2005/CBM 105 ext (36)}) 11... c5 {12.Bg2
would transpose to the game Topalov-Leko, but Topalov had prepared something
much more aggresive for this game.} (11... h6 12. Nxf7 (12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. Bh3
$5 (13. Qg6+ Kd7 14. Bh3 Qe8 $1) 13... O-O $140 14. Bxe6+ Kh8 15. Ne5 $18)
12... Kxf7 13. Ne5+ Kg8 14. Bh3 Bc8 15. O-O {with the same scenario as in the
game - White is a piece down but has long-term compensation.}) (11... O-O 12.
O-O-O (12. Bd3 h6 13. Bh7+ Kh8 14. Nxf7+ Rxf7 15. Ne5 Rf8 16. Ng6+ Kxh7 17.
Nxe7+ Kh8 18. Ng6+ Kg8 19. Nxf8 Kxf8 $17) 12... h6 13. h4 c5 14. d5 {Topalov
definitely looked for such scenario in this game - he is simply better than
anyone in such positions.}) 12. d5 exd5 13. cxd5 h6 {Fritz would agree with
Vishy here! This move "induces bluff"- the Nxf7 sacrifice, and Vishy believed
in Black's defense. From the other moves, 13...0-0 is probably the strongest,
while White has a nice initiative in all the cases.} (13... Bxd5 14. O-O-O (14.
Bb5+ Kf8 $5 {[%cal Gh7h6]}) 14... h6 15. Bc3 $1 hxg5 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Bc4 Bd4
18. Rhe1+ Be6 19. Bxe6 $18) (13... O-O 14. O-O-O (14. Bc3 g6 15. O-O-O Nxd5 16.
h4 $44) 14... g6 (14... h6 15. h4 Bxd5 16. Bc3 $16) 15. h4 {[%cal Gd2c3,Gh4h5]}
) 14. Nxf7 $1 {[%mdl 512] Definitely a home preparation by Topalov. The
exclamation mark is for the bravery, on the other hand Veselin probably
analysed it in depth.} (14. Bb5+ Nbd7 (14... Kf8 15. Nxf7 {leads to the same
as in the game, but with the bishop developed to b5.}) 15. Ne6 fxe6 16. Qg6+
Kf8 17. dxe6 Qe8 $1) 14... Kxf7 15. O-O-O Bd6 $1 {The toughest defense. Other
moves lead to clear advantage for White.} (15... Nbd7 16. Nh4 Nf8 17. d6 Bxh1
18. dxe7 Qxe7 19. f3 {[%cal Gf1c4] The Bh1 is dead, after grabbing the bishop,
White will be down an exchange only but still attacking.}) (15... Bxd5 $2 16.
Bc3 Nbd7 (16... Nc6 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Rxd5 $18) 17. Rxd5 Nxd5 18. Qf5+ N7f6 19.
Ne5+ Kf8 20. Ng6+ Kg8 21. Bxf6 $18 {[%cal Gf1c4]}) (15... Kg8 $6 16. Bc3 Nbd7
17. Qf5 Qe8 $8 18. Bc4 $36) 16. Nh4 $1 {[%csl Gf5,Gg6]} Bc8 $1 {The only move
again! Black moves the bishop to the starting position While there are 4 other
pieces still undeveloped! Many humans would fail to find this move, but Vishy
is Vishy!} (16... Bxd5 $2 17. Bc3 Bxh1 18. Bc4+ $18) (16... Re8 17. Qg6+ Kg8
18. Nf5 Qc7 19. Bxh6 Bf8 {and now the fastest way is the one suggested by
Fritz:} 20. Bxg7 $1 Bxg7 21. Bb5 $1 $16 {with BxR and d6 threats - black is
hopeless.}) 17. Re1 $1 {Qg6 check was so tempting....} Na6 {17...Re8 is
possible, but doesn't help much.} (17... Re8 18. Qg6+ Kg8 (18... Kf8 19. Bb5 {
and Bxh6 next;}) 19. Bc4 {with the same Re6 idea as happened in the game.} ({
or and Bc3 then.} 19. Bd3)) 18. Re6 $1 {That's the reason why Topalov needed
the black King on f7 - now BxR loses due to Pxe6 check and then BxN.} Nb4 $6 {
The 18...Nc7 line would lead to very messy position with unbalanced material.
In the 18...Kg8 line I don't see more than a draw for white... In my opinion,
Black's troubles started from this move.} (18... Nc7 19. Qg6+ (19. Bc4 b5 20.
Bc3 Nfe8) 19... Kg8 20. Nf5 Bf8 21. Bc4 b5 22. Ne7+ $1 Bxe7 23. Rxe7 Qxe7 $1 (
23... Qf8 24. Rxc7 bxc4 25. bxc4 Ng4 26. Bc3 Rh7 27. Qc6 $16 {[%cal Gd5d6,
Gh1e1,Ge1e7]}) (23... Rh7 24. Bc3 $1 Qf8 $8 25. Rhe1 $16) 24. d6+ bxc4 25. dxe7
Be6 26. bxc4 Bxc4 27. Bf4 Bf7 {Black manages to survive in this line and the
outcome here is unpredictable.}) (18... Kg8 19. Bc3 Nxd5 (19... Bxe6 20. dxe6
Nc7 21. e7 $1 Bxe7 (21... Qxe7 22. Bc4+ {[%cal Gh4f5]}) 22. Bxf6 $16) 20. Qg6
Qg5+ 21. Qxg5 hxg5 22. Rxd6 Nxc3 23. Bc4+ Kh7 24. Bd3+ g6 25. Re1 Bf5 26. Nxf5
gxf5 27. Re7+ Kg8 28. Rg6+ Kf8 29. Rgg7 Nb4 {and I don't see more than
perpetual check.}) 19. Bxb4 (19. Qg6+ Kg8 20. Nf5 Bf8 $17) 19... cxb4 20. Bc4 {
White is bringing his last forces to the attack.} b5 $1 {diverting the bishop
from the attack and gaining a tempo for a pawn. Again, Vishy finds the best
defense!} (20... Kg8 21. Nf5 Bxe6 22. dxe6 Be7 23. Rd1 Qf8 24. Rd7 Re8 25. Rxa7
$16 {An amazing position! Black is a rook up but can't move - almost zugzwang!}
) (20... Kf8 21. Rhe1 b5 22. Bxb5 (22. Qg6 Bxe6 23. dxe6 Qe8 24. Bxb5 Qxg6 25.
Nxg6+ Kg8 26. Nxh8 Kxh8 27. e7 Ne8 $11) 22... Bxe6 23. dxe6 Rc8 24. e7+ $1 Bxe7
25. Bc4 $16) 21. Bxb5 Be7 $4 {A horrible blunder. Even the best of us catch
black-outs from time to time. Tactical blunders is the main reason why
computers beat humans lately (A good example is Adams vs Hydra). After the
only move 21...Kg8, I can't find any clear way for White's advantage.} (21...
Kg8 $1 22. Bc4 (22. Ng6 $5) (22. Rd1 $5) 22... Rb8 (22... Rh7 23. Rhe1 $16) 23.
Nf5 Rb6 24. Rhe1 {with the threat Rxf6} Kf8 $8 {and Black manages to survive.})
(21... Rb8 22. Qg6+ Kg8 23. Nf5 Bf8 24. Bc4 Rh7 25. Rhe1 $18) 22. Ng6 $18 Nxd5
(22... Bxe6 23. dxe6+ Kg8 24. Rd1 $18) 23. Rxe7+ $6 {Topalov just missed an
immediate win here.} (23. Re5 $1 $18 {[%cal Re5d5]} Bb7 (23... Be6 24. Nxh8+
Qxh8 25. Rxe6 $1 Kxe6 26. Qc6+ $18 {winning all black pieces.}) 24. Qf5+ Kg8
25. Bc4 $18 {winning a lot of material.}) 23... Nxe7 {The fight is still on.}
24. Bc4+ Kf6 {The rook ending in the 24..Be6 line is just hopeless for Black.}
(24... Be6 25. Bxe6+ Kxe6 26. Re1+ Kf6 27. Nxe7 Rc8 28. Nxc8 Qxc8 29. Re4 Qxc2+
30. Kxc2 a5 31. Rc4 $18) 25. Nxh8 Qd4 $1 {The best chance.} (25... Qxh8 26. Rd1
{Black is still up a piece, but completely hopeless against White's attack.})
26. Rd1 Qa1+ 27. Kd2 Qd4+ 28. Ke1 Qe5+ 29. Qe2 (29. Kf1 $2 Bh3+) 29... Qxe2+
30. Kxe2 Nf5 (30... Bg4+ 31. f3 Rxh8 32. fxg4 Nc8 33. Rd5 $18 {[%cal Gd5b5]})
31. Nf7 a5 (31... Be6 32. Bxe6 Kxe6 33. Nd8+ $18) 32. g4 Nh4 33. h3 Ra7 34.
Rd6+ Ke7 35. Rb6 Rc7 36. Ne5 {Cutting black's knight off. The white pieces are
dominating.} Ng2 37. Ng6+ Kd8 38. Kf1 {Finally trapping this unlucky knight.}
Bb7 39. Rxb7 Rxb7 40. Kxg2 {The rest wasn't necessary, but Vishy decided to
continue.} Rd7 41. Nf8 Rd2 42. Ne6+ Ke7 43. Nxg7 Rxa2 44. Nf5+ Kf6 45. Nxh6 Rc2
{With a last hope RxB.} 46. Bf7 Rc3 47. f4 a4 48. bxa4 b3 49. g5+ Kg7 50. f5 b2
51. f6+ Kh7 52. Nf5 $1 {Veselin chooses the most elegant way to finish this
game.} (52. Nf5 b1=Q 53. g6+ Kh8 54. g7+ Kh7 55. g8=Q#) 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B91"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2778"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e5 7. Nb3 Nbd7 8. Bg2
b5 9. O-O Be7 10. a4 b4 11. Na2 a5 12. c3 bxc3 13. Nxc3 Nb6 14. Nb5 O-O 15. Bd2
Nc4 16. Bc3 Be6 17. Re1 Qb8 18. Nd2 Rc8 19. b3 Nxd2 20. Qxd2 Nd7 21. Reb1 Nc5
22. Qd1 Ra6 23. b4 axb4 24. Bxb4 Qa8 25. Nc3 Bd8 26. Bf1 Ra7 27. Nb5 Rd7 28.
Nxd6 Rc6 29. Bxc5 Rxc5 30. Bb5 Rdc7 31. a5 g6 32. a6 Bg5 33. h4 Be7 34. Ne8 Ra7
35. Qd2 Rxb5 36. Rxb5 Qxe8 37. Rb7 Bc5 38. Ra5 Qc8 39. Rxa7 Bxa7 40. Kh2 Qc7
41. Kg2 h5 42. Ra1 Qc4 43. Qe1 Qd3 44. Ra5 Bg4 45. Kh2 Kh7 46. Ra2 Bf3 47. Ra5
Qc2 48. Kg1 Kg7 49. Rd5 Bxe4 50. Rd2 Qc4 51. Kh2 Qc3 52. Qe2 Bd4 53. Ra2 Ba8
54. Qd1 Qc4 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.21"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[Annotator "Tyomkin,D"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. d4 {I believe Ponomariov was prepared for 1.e4 - the move which
Topalov used to beat Ruslan in Corus 2005;} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5.
b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O (7... c6 8. e4 d5 9. Qc2 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bb7 11.
Neg5 {1-0 Topalov,V-Anand,V/Sofia 2005/CBM 107_01/[Tyomkin,] (52)}) 8. Rc1 {
Topalov's variation again! I must notice that it's his first victory in this
variation!} (8. Bg2 {is a move usually played in this position;}) 8... c6 {
I recommended this move in CBM 105, but missed a strong improvement for White
in this line on move 10... I'm sorry, Ruslan;} (8... Bb7 9. Bg2 d5 10. Ne5 Na6
11. cxd5 exd5 12. O-O c5 13. Be3 Re8 14. Nd3 Qd7 15. Na4 cxd4 16. Bxd4 Ne4 $11
{1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Kramnik,V/Monaco 2004/CBM 099 ext (41)}) (8... Ba3 {Finkel}
9. Rc2 (9. Rb1 d5 10. cxd5 (10. b4 c5 11. bxc5 bxc5 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Qa4 cxd4
14. Qxa3 dxc3 15. Bxc3 Ne4 $13) 10... exd5 11. Bg2 c5 12. O-O Nc6 13. Bg5 Re8
$132) 9... Nc6 10. Bc1 Bb4 (10... Bxc1 11. Rxc1 Bb7 12. Bg2 Ne7 13. O-O d6 14.
Qd3 Re8 15. e4 $14) 11. Bg2 (11. a3 Bxc3+ 12. Rxc3 Bb7 13. Bg2 Ne7 14. O-O d6
$13) 11... b5 $5 {Beliavsky is famous for his uncompromising style, that's why
he starts a fight for the initiative from the very first moves.} 12. cxb5 {
1/2-1/2 Ionov,S-Beliavsky,A/Sochi 2004/CBM 101/[Finkel,A] (81)} Bxb5 13. Bd2 (
13. O-O Bxc3 14. Rxc3 Ne4 (14... Rb8 15. Re1 Ne4) 15. Re3 d5 16. a4 Ba6 17. Ba3
$14) 13... Rb8 14. O-O a5 {Black's play on the queenside is based on the
advance of the a-pawn.} 15. Nxb5 Rxb5 16. Bg5 Be7 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Qd2 Nb4 19.
Rcc1 c6 20. Rfd1 Qa8 21. e3 (21. e4 d5 22. e5 Be7 23. Rc3 Rb6 24. Rdc1 $13)
21... Rfb8 22. Ne5 $6 {I don't like the idea to give Black a chance to get rid
of the knight.} Bxe5 23. dxe5 R5b7 24. Rc4 Nd5 {1/2-1/2 Ionov,S-Beliavsky,A/
Sochi 2004/CBM 101/[Finkel,A] (81)}) (8... d5 {From my annotations in CBM 105:
Judit invents a novelty, while it seems like Black got good play in the
previous games. I am not sure that Judit prepared this move at her home
preparation - she probably more expected 1.e4 from Topalov in this game.  8...
c6 followed by d5 looks like the strongest move;} 9. cxd5 Nxd5 (9... exd5 10.
Bg2 $14) 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Bg2 Re8 12. Rc2 {This rook will serve to protect e2
- White intends to move the bishop d2 and then to castle if possible... but
this game got a completely different scenario!} Bd6 13. Bg5 Bb4+ $1 {This
intermediate check prevents white from castling in this game! Topalov
definitely expected this move.} 14. Kf1 f6 15. Bf4 Nd7 $6 {0-1 Topalov,
V-Polgar,J/Wijk aan Zee 2005/CBM 105_03/[Tyomkin,D] (53) 15...Bd6 looks safe
and logical, while Judit goes for the fast development.} (15... Bd6 16. Ne5 $1
Bb7 17. Nd3 a5 $1 $11 {[%cal Gb8a6,Ga6b4]})) 9. e4 d5 10. e5 $1 {From Sofia
reports: Veselin explained at the press conference in Sofia, he simply forgot
to play 10.e5 first (referring it to his game vs Gelfand), and opted for 10.
Bd3?! unintentionally!} (10. Bd3 dxe4 (10... dxc4 $5 11. bxc4 e5 {'!' and
black look very good here.}) (10... dxc4 $5 11. bxc4 e5 $1 {and black looks
great here.}) 11. Nxe4 Nbd7 12. Nxf6+ Nxf6 13. Bc3 c5 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Qe2 Bb7
16. O-O h6 (16... Re8 $5 {[%cal Ge6e5]} 17. b4 e5 18. Ng5 $6 Bd4 19. Ne4 Rc8
20. Nxf6+ Qxf6 $15 {0-1 Bologan,V-Tkachiev,V/Belfort 2004/EXT 2005 (35)}) 17.
b4 Be7 18. Rfd1 Qc7 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Be4 Bxe4 21. Qxe4 a5 $1 $11 {1/2-1/2
Topalov,V-Gelfand,B/Monaco 2004/CBM 099 ext (50)}) 10... Ne4 {A good
alternative could be 10...Nfd7.} (10... Ne8 11. Bd3 c5 12. dxc5 {with a
similar scenario.}) (10... Nfd7 $5 11. Bd3 $140 (11. Bf4 $5) (11. Be3 $5) 11...
c5 {Black looks OK here;}) 11. Bd3 {Ruslan definitely saw this position for
the first time in his life...} Nxc3 $6 {All of Black's problems started from
this move;} (11... f5 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. Qe2 $14 {following with 0-0. White has
a clear edge here;}) (11... Nxd2 $142 12. Qxd2 f6 13. O-O Nd7 {and here White
must prove that he has something;}) 12. Rxc3 {From Sofia reports: "Both
Kramnik and Anand, absolutely independently from each from other, stated that
the outcome of the Topalov-Ponomariov game was already pre-determined on move
12 - here!"} c5 {Black needs to get any counterplay really fast, otherwise he
will lose on the kingside;} 13. dxc5 bxc5 {Here Ruslan could have received
counterplay by 13...d4;} (13... d4 14. Rc1 Bb7 15. cxb6 Nd7 {Black doesn't
look that bad here!}) 14. h4 {[%mdl 128] With an obvious threat Bxh7 and Ng5
then. I bet, you are familiar with this idea!} h6 $2 {Ruslan should've tried
14...Qc7 which is the best defensive move here;} (14... Re8 15. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7
16. Ng5+ Kg8 17. Qh5 Bxg5 18. hxg5 Kf8 19. g6 $18 (19. Rf3 $1)) (14... Nc6 15.
Bxh7+ Kxh7 16. Ng5+ Kg8 17. Qh5 Bxg5 18. hxg5 {with a mate in few;}) (14... d4
15. Bxh7+ Kh8 16. Rc1 Bb7 17. Bb1 $18) (14... Qc7 $1 {Fritzy recommends 15.0-0
but I doubt that Topalov had this move in mind here;} 15. Kf1 $5 {A
recommendation of GM Shipov;} h6 16. Bb1 Nd7 17. Qc2 f5 18. exf6 Nxf6 19. Bxh6
Ne4 {with a big mess on the board;}) 15. Bb1 $16 {Ponomariov said on the press
conference: "I thought that I made all normal moves, but then I found myself
in a bad position". Topalov and his second, young prodigy and a champion of
Bulgaria Ivan Cheparinov analysed this line up to this position!} f5 {
According to Topalov, the only move was 15...Nd7;} (15... Nd7 16. Bxh6 $1 (16.
Qc2 f5 17. exf6 Nxf6 18. Re3 {This line was suggested by Topalov, but it
doesn't look very clear;} Bb7 19. Rxe6 dxc4 20. Qxc4 Bxf3 21. Rd6+ Bd5 22. Rxd8
Raxd8 $17 {and suddenly black is attacking here!}) 16... gxh6 17. Qc2 f5 18.
exf6 Rxf6 19. Qh7+ Kf8 20. Ng5 $1 $18) (15... d4 16. Qc2 g6 17. Rd3 (17. Bxh6
dxc3 18. h5 Bb7 19. hxg6 f5 $17) 17... h5 18. g4 hxg4 19. h5 {It is hard to
believe that Black can stand this attack.}) 16. exf6 $18 Bxf6 (16... Rxf6 17.
Qc2 $18) 17. Qc2 d4 (17... Bxc3 18. Bxc3 d4 19. Qh7+ Kf7 20. Qg6+ Ke7 (20...
Kg8 21. Ne5) 21. Nxd4 $1 {with decisive attack;}) {[%tqu "En","Play like
Veselin Topalov!","","","f3g5","This combo will appear in many books! You
don't need to be Topalov to continue the attack here;",10]} 18. Ng5 $1 {
[%mdl 128] This combination will appear in many books! You don't need to be
Topalov to continue the attack here;} hxg5 (18... Bxg5 19. Qh7+ Kf7 20. Bxg5 $1
hxg5 21. Rf3+ $18) 19. hxg5 dxc3 20. Bf4 {Many commentators got excited by Rh8
check in this position. In fact, 20.Bf4 is same good as 20.Rh8, and wins even
faster! But 20.Bf4 move required careful calculation from Veselin, especially
the position after 26.Rh7 where white is down a piece, and black starts
checking white king!} (20. Rh8+ Kf7 21. Qg6+ Ke7 22. gxf6+ gxf6 23. Rh7+ Kd6
24. Bf4+ Kc6 (24... e5 25. Bxe5+ $1) 25. Qe4+ ({or} 25. Be4+ $18 {and Bc7 then;
}) 25... Kb6 26. Bc7+ {seven checks in a row in this line!} Qxc7 27. Rxc7 Kxc7
28. Qxa8 $18) 20... Kf7 (20... Bd4 21. Qg6 $1 {and Rh8 next;}) 21. Qg6+ Ke7 22.
gxf6+ Rxf6 23. Qxg7+ Rf7 24. Bg5+ {Here Veselin was double-checking the
consequences of Bg5+, although White didn't have a good alternative;} Kd6 25.
Qxf7 Qxg5 26. Rh7 {The white king escapes from the checks easily;} Qe5+ (26...
Qc1+ 27. Ke2 Qd2+ 28. Kf3 Qd1+ 29. Kg2 $18) 27. Kf1 Kc6 28. Qe8+ Kb6 29. Qd8+
Kc6 30. Be4+ $1 {Final accord! 30...Qxe4 31. Qc7# Ra8 and Nb8 are still on
starting positions!} 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.22"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2778"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. Qd2
b4 9. Nce2 e5 10. Nb3 Nc6 $5 $146 {Interesting novelty in the position, that
was giving black decent results so far.} (10... d5 11. exd5 Qxd5 12. O-O-O Be6
13. Qe1 Qc6 14. Ng3 Nbd7 15. Kb1 Be7 16. Bd3 a5 17. Qe2 a4 18. Bb5 Qc7 19. Nc1
O-O 20. Nd3 b3 {0-1 Bhawoodien,S-Mauba,S/Cape Town 1995/ (27)}) (10... a5 11.
a4 bxa3 12. Rxa3 d5 13. Rxa5 Rxa5 14. Nxa5 (14. Qxa5 Qxa5+ 15. Nxa5 dxe4 16.
Nc4 Nc6 17. fxe4 Nxe4 18. g3 Nb4 19. Kd1 f6 20. Bg2 Bf5 {1/2-1/2 Balogh,
C-Cheparinov,I/Warsaw 2005/ (54)}) 14... dxe4 15. Qxd8+ Kxd8 16. Bb6+ Ke8 17.
Nc4 exf3 18. gxf3 Nbd7 19. Bc7 Bb7 20. Nxe5 Nd5 21. Nxd7 Nxc7 22. Ne5 f6 23.
Nd3 Bxf3 {0-1 Daubenfeld,G-Shtyrenkov,V/Pardubice 2004/ (56)}) 11. c4 (11. g4
h6 12. Ng3 Be6 13. h4 d5 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. O-O-O Qc7 16. Bd3 a5 17. Nc5 Bxc5
18. Bxc5 O-O-O 19. Nf5 g6 20. Ng7 Kb8 21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Be3 {1-0 Naiditsch,
A-Palac,M/Warsaw 2005/ (48)}) 11... Be7 (11... bxc3 $6 12. Nxc3 $14) 12. Ng3 g6
(12... O-O 13. Be2 a5 $13) 13. Bd3 Nd7 14. Rd1 (14. O-O a5 15. Be2 Qc7 $13)
14... O-O 15. Qf2 a5 {Topalov has no need to exchange a pair of knights as it
would make the weakness on d5 more palatable.} (15... Na5 16. Nxa5 Qxa5 17. b3
Nc5 18. O-O $14) 16. O-O (16. c5 dxc5 17. Nxc5 Nxc5 18. Bxc5 Nd4 (18... Bxc5
19. Qxc5 Qf6 20. O-O Rd8 21. Bc4 $14) 19. Bxd4 Qxd4 $11) 16... a4 17. Nc1 Nc5 (
17... Bg5 $5 18. f4 exf4 19. Bxf4 Bxf4 20. Qxf4 Nce5 $11) 18. Bb1 Qc7 19. Nce2
(19. Nd3 Be6 $1 20. Nxc5 dxc5 21. Bxc5 Bxc5 22. Qxc5 Ra5 23. Qe3 Bxc4 $15)
19... Be6 {A paradoxal jump of black's knight to a5 might have posed some
unpleasant problems for white.} (19... Na5 $5 20. Bh6 Re8 21. Rc1 Ba6 $17) 20.
Bh6 Rfe8 21. Nf5 $1 (21. Rc1 Na5 22. Nf5 Bxc4 23. Ne3 Be6 24. f4 $44) 21...
Bxc4 22. Ne3 $1 Ba6 (22... Be6 23. f4 $1 Bf8 24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25. f5 $14) 23. f4
exf4 24. Bxf4 (24. Nxf4 $5 Bxf1 25. Rxf1 Ne5 $17) 24... Ne5 25. Nd5 Qa7 26.
Bxe5 $6 {Kramnik played very creatively, sacrificed the pawn for piece
activity. The exchange of the dark squared bishop can not be good, as taking
the f7 pawn would have given black serious advantage.} (26. Be3 $5 Bd8 $13)
26... dxe5 27. Kh1 (27. Qxf7+ Kh8 28. Nxe7 Ne6+ 29. Kh1 Rxe7 30. Qf6+ Kg8 $17)
27... Bg5 $1 (27... Bxe2 28. Qxe2 Ne6 $11) 28. Nxb4 Bc4 29. Rfe1 Qb7 30. Nd5 (
30. Qxc5 Rac8 31. Qa5 Ra8 $11) 30... Qxb2 $4 {[%mdl 8192] Players were
obviously very tired in the last round of Sofia supertournament. Topalov plays
a horrible blunder, that could have lost a piece.} 31. Nc7 (31. Qxc5 Bxe2 32.
Qf2 $18) 31... Ne6 32. Nxe8 Rxe8 33. Rf1 Rf8 34. Nc1 $4 {[%mdl 8192] Kramnik
pays back with a lemon, that immediately cost him the whole point. It is
really rare to see double blunder in the game of two 2750+ players!} (34. Bd3
Bxd3 (34... Bxa2 35. Ra1 Bb3 $15) 35. Rxd3 f5 36. Rf3 Qxa2 37. Qb6 Bd8 38. Qc6
Ng5 39. Nc3 Qe6 40. Qxe6+ Nxe6 $15) 34... Qxb1 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2612"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. e5 cxd4 8. Nxd4
(8. Qa4+ Nc6 $13) 8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. exf6 Qxg5 11. fxg7 Qxg7 12. Qd2 {
Dieser Damenzug scheint mir logischer, als die Alternative 12.Qf3.} O-O (12...
Nc6 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Bxc4 Qe5+ 15. Kf1 Bb7 16. Rd1 O-O 17. h4 Rad8 $10 {
Portisch,L-Huebner,R/Skelleftea WCup/1989/0,5/28/}) 13. Bxc4 a6 {Interessant
ist zu bemerken, dass vor ein paar Monaten Topalov mit Schwarz dieselbe
Variante spielte, aber statt dem Bauernzug die Alternative 13...Rd8 wählte.} (
13... Rd8 14. Qe3 Bd7 15. O-O Nc6 16. Nf3 Ne7 17. Ne5 Ng6 (17... Bc6 18. Nxc6
Nxc6 19. Bd3 (19. f4 $5) 19... Ne7 20. Be4 Nd5 21. Bxd5 Rxd5 22. Rad1 Qe5 {
1/2-1/2 Van Wely,L-Topalov,V/Monte Carlo C 2005/(29)}) 18. f4 Rac8 19. Be2 Nxe5
20. fxe5 Bc6 21. Bf3 Bd5 22. Rab1 b6 23. Rb4 $1 Bxf3 24. Rxf3 Rd1+ 25. Kf2 {
0-1 Dreev,A-Kharlov,A/Novosibirsk 1995/CBM 050/[Belov] (44)}) 14. O-O {Weiß
hat einige Bauernschwächen am Damenflügel, aber Entwicklungsvorteil.} Rd8 $6 (
14... b5 15. Bb3 (15. Be2 Bb7 16. Bf3 Bxf3 17. Nxf3 Nc6 $11) 15... b4 16. Rac1
(16. Rad1 $5 {Das wäre eine mögliche Verbesserung für Weiß.} bxc3 (16... Rd8
17. Qf4 Bb7 (17... bxc3 18. Nxe6 $18) (17... e5 18. Nf5 Rxd1 (18... exf4 19.
Rxd8+ Qf8 20. Ne7+ $18) 19. Nh6+ $18) 18. Nf3 $1 $36) 17. Qxc3 Bb7 (17... Nd7
18. Rd3 Ne5 19. Rg3 Ng6 20. h4 Qh6 21. Qf3 $1 {[%cal Rh4h5,Rf3a8]}) 18. Qh3 Kh8
(18... Nc6 19. Nxe6 $1) 19. Ba4 $5 $36) 16... Rd8 17. Qe3 Bb7 18. f3 bxc3 19.
Rfd1 Nc6 20. Nxc6 Rxd1+ 21. Bxd1 Bxc6 22. Rxc3 Bd5 23. Bb3 Bxb3 24. axb3 {
1/2-1/2 Ribli,Z-Acs,P/Hungary/ 2002 (57)}) 15. Qf4 b5 $6 (15... e5 16. Qh4 $36)
(15... Bd7 $142 16. Rae1 Nc6 17. Re3 Ne7 (17... e5 18. Qh4 exd4 19. Rg3 Bf5 20.
Rxg7+ Kxg7 21. Qg3+) 18. Rg3 Ng6 19. Qg5 $36) 16. Qc7 $1 $36 {[%csl Gc7] Das
Eindringen der Dame in die gegnerische Stellung ist sehr stark; Schwarz hat
große Schwierigkeiten mit der eigenen Figurenentwicklung.} Qf8 (16... Qf6 17.
Bd3 {[%csl Gc7,Gd3][%cal Rd3e4,Re4a8]}) 17. Bd3 Rd7 (17... Qd6 18. Bxh7+ $1 Kg7
(18... Kxh7 19. Qxf7+ Kh8 (19... Kh6 20. Nf3 $1 Qf8 21. Ne5 Qg7 22. Qf4+ Kh7
23. Qh4+ $18) 20. Rad1 Qf8 21. Qh5+ Kg8 22. Nxe6 Bxe6 23. Qg5+ $18) 19. Qxd6
Rxd6 20. Be4 Ra7 21. Rad1 $16) 18. Qf4 Bb7 19. Rae1 {[%cal Re1e3,Re3g3,Rg3g8]
[%mdl 2048] Weiß bringt den Turm ins Spiel, seine Drohung ist Re3-Rg3.} Qg7 $6
(19... Nc6 20. Re3 Ne7 21. h4 $1 $40) 20. Be4 $16 Kh8 (20... e5 21. Bxb7 f6 (
21... exf4 22. Re8+ $18) 22. Qf3 Rxb7 23. Nf5 Qc7 24. Nh6+ Kg7 25. Qg4+ Kxh6
26. Re3 $18) 21. Re3 Bxe4 (21... e5 22. Bxb7 $1) 22. Qxe4 Rd5 (22... Raa7 23.
Qf4 Rac7 24. Rg3 e5 25. Qf5 exd4 26. Re1 $18) (22... Rda7 23. Rg3 Qf6 24. Nf3
Nd7 25. Ng5 Qg6 (25... Nf8 26. Nxf7+ $1 Rxf7 (26... Qxf7 27. Qe5+ $18) 27. Qxa8
$18) 26. Qd4+ e5 (26... f6 27. Nxh7 $1) 27. Qd5 Nb6 (27... Rf8 28. Nxh7 $18)
28. Qf3 $1 f5 29. Nxh7 $18) {[#]} 23. Nxe6 $3 {[%mdl 512] Mit diesem
Figurenopfer vernichtet Weiß die schwarze Bauerverteidigung und erhält
deutlichen Angriff.} fxe6 24. Qxe6 $18 {[%csl Ge3,Ge6,Rg7,Rh8][%cal Re3g3,
Rg3g7]} Rd7 (24... Rd8 25. Rg3) 25. Rg3 Qf8 26. Re1 $1 {[%csl Ra8,Rb8,Ge1,Ge6,
Gg3] Die letzte weiße Figur kommt ins Spiel - Schwarz ist machtlos.} Raa7 (
26... Rg7 27. Rxg7 Kxg7 (27... Qxg7 28. Qc8+ Qg8 29. Re8 $18) 28. Qg4+ Kh8 29.
Qd4+ Kg8 30. Qd5+ $18) 27. Qf6+ $1 (27. Qf6+ Qxf6 28. Re8+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Psakhis,L"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. a3 f6 {Psakhis,L: 'This
move is very popular at the moment. Another interesting move is the solid} (
6... c4 $5 {which I prefer to play myself.'}) 7. Bd3 (7. b4 c4 (7... fxe5 8. b5
$5 (8. dxc5 {- 44/317} Nf6 9. Bb5 e4) (8. bxc5 e4 9. Ng5 Nf6 $15) 8... Na5 9.
Nxe5 Nf6 10. Bg5 $5 (10. Bd3 c4 $5 (10... Bd6 11. Bg5 O-O 12. Qc2 Qe8 $5 13.
Bxf6 gxf6 14. Bxh7+ Kg7 15. Bg6 Qe7 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. Bd3 e5 $13)
) 10... Be7 11. Bd3 O-O 12. Nd2 $14) 8. Be2 Qc7 $13) 7... Qc7 (7... fxe5 {
also deserves attention:} 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Ne7 (9... g6 {and it is not
easy for White to get an advantage, for example} 10. O-O Qc7 11. f4 c4 12. Bc2
Bc5+ 13. Kh1 Ne7 14. Nd2 O-O-O 15. b4 cxb3 16. Nxb3 Bb5 $13 {0-1 Afek,Y-Hebert,
J/Paris op 1995 (24)}) 10. O-O Qc7 $13) (7... cxd4 8. cxd4 Nh6 9. O-O Nf7 10.
Re1 Be7 11. Nc3 O-O 12. Qc2 f5 13. Nxd5 $5 exd5 14. e6 $14) 8. Bf4 (8. O-O
O-O-O (8... c4 9. Bc2 O-O-O (9... fxe5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 O-O-O 12. Qe2 Nh6
13. Bxh6 gxh6 14. Nd2 Bg7 15. Nf3 Rdf8 16. Rae1 Rf7 17. Nd4 Qd8 18. Qh5 Rf4 19.
g3 Rff8 20. Bd1 Re8 21. Bg4 Qb6 22. Re2 Re7 {1-0 Haba,P-Ganaus,H/St Poelten GM
2002/ (32)}) 10. Re1 Nge7 (10... fxe5 11. Nxe5 $5 $146 ({Black has nothing to
worry about after} 11. dxe5 Bc5 12. Nbd2 Nh6 13. b4 Bb6 14. h3 Nf7 15. Qe2 Rdf8
16. Kh1 g5 17. a4 a5 $1 18. b5 Ne7 $15 {0-1 Alekseev,E-Ivanov,S/St.
Petersburg-ch 1999 (48) but it is not clear if the move in the game is an
improvement.}) 11... Nxe5 12. dxe5 Bc5 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. Rxe3 Ne7 15. Nd2 Nc6
$11 16. Nf3 (16. Qg4 Rdg8 17. Nf3 {1/2-1/2 Haba,P-Potkin,V/Pardubice Czech
Open 2002/The Week in Chess 403}) 16... Rdf8 17. Qe2 h6 {[%cal Gg7g5]} 18. Nh4
$5 (18. b3 cxb3 19. Bxb3 Na5 {[%csl Rc3]}) 18... Be8 ({Maybe White is slightly
better after} 18... Ne7 19. Ng6 Nxg6 20. Bxg6 $14 {[%cal Ga1d1,Ge2g4]}) 19. Qg4
Qe7 {[%cal Ge7g5]} (19... Qf7 $5) 20. Ng6 Bxg6 21. Bxg6 h5 $1 $11 {1/2-1/2
Haba,P-Ulibin,M/Koszalin-A 1999/CBM 73/[Psakhis,L] (25)}) (10... Nh6 11. Bxh6
gxh6 12. exf6 Qf4 13. Nbd2 Bd6 14. Qe2 Rdf8 15. Rad1 Qxf6 16. Ne5 Rhg8 17. g3
h5 $36 {1/2-1/2 Grosar,A-Furlan,M/SLO-ch 1993 (37)}) (10... h6 11. b3 cxb3 12.
Bxb3 g5 13. exf6 Nxf6 14. Bb2 Bd6 15. c4 dxc4 16. Bxc4 Nd5 17. Nbd2 Rhf8 18.
Ne4 g4 $132 {0-1 Arnhold,K-Kiseleva,N/EuropapokalW 1998 (31)}) 11. Nbd2 (11.
Qe2 fxe5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Qxe5 Qxe5 14. Rxe5 Nc6 15. Re2 Bd6 16. Bg5 Rde8 17.
Nd2 e5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Rae1 Nd3 20. Rxe8+ Bxe8 21. Bxd3 cxd3 22. Be3 b6 23.
Rd1 {1/2-1/2 Shavtvaladze,N-Barsov,A/Ikaros op 2001/Ajelibre}) 11... fxe5 12.
dxe5 h6 13. Nf1 g5 14. h3 Bg7 15. Qe2 Rhf8 16. Ng3 Be8 17. Nd4 Bf7 18. Nb5 Qxe5
19. Nxa7+ Nxa7 20. Qxe5 Bxe5 21. Rxe5 Nac6 22. Re1 e5 23. Be3 d4 {0-1 Shanava,
K-Gaprindashvili,V/GEO-ch I Liga Tbilisi 2002/EXT 2004 (51)}) 9. Re1 (9. Qe2 h6
10. b4 c4 11. Bc2 f5 12. Nh4 Be8 13. f4 Be7 14. Nxf5 exf5 15. Bxf5+ Kb8 16. Qg4
g5 17. fxg5 hxg5 18. Bxg5 Bh5 19. Qg3 Bxg5 20. Qxg5 Nge7 21. Nd2 Rdg8 22. Qe3
Nxf5 23. Rxf5 Qh7 {0-1 Grischuk,A-Short,N/Reykjavik op 2000/The Week in Chess
284 (32)}) 9... fxe5 (9... c4 10. Bf1 Nge7 11. Nbd2 fxe5 12. Ng5 exd4 13. Nf7
dxc3 14. bxc3 Ng6 15. Nxh8 Nxh8 16. Nf3 Nf7 17. g3 Be7 18. Nd4 Nxd4 19. cxd4
Bf6 20. Bb2 Nd6 {0-1 Genin-Epishin/Leningrad 1980/ChessBase (49)}) (9... h6 10.
b4 c4 11. Bc2 f5 12. h4 Be8 13. Bf4 Bh5 14. Nbd2 g5 15. hxg5 hxg5 16. Bxg5 Qh7
17. Kf1 Nce7 18. Qc1 Bh6 19. Bxh6 Nxh6 20. Ng5 Qg6 21. f4 Rdg8 22. Bd1 Nf7 23.
Ndf3 Bxf3 {0-1 Crut,A-Luther,T/FRA-ch National 1 Lille 2005/ (40)}) 10. dxe5
$146 c4 $5 {Psakhis,L: Black has nothing to worry about after} 11. Bc2 Bc5 12.
Nbd2 (12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Rxe3 Nh6 14. h3 Nf7 15. Qe2 g5 16. Nbd2 Rdg8 17. b3 h5
$132) 12... Nh6 {[><f2, e5]} 13. b4 Bb6 14. h3 Nf7 15. Qe2 Rdf8 $5 16. Kh1 (16.
b5 Ncxe5 $1) (16. a4 $5 a5 17. b5 Ncxe5 $1 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Qxe5 Bxf2+ 20. Kh1
Bxe1 21. Qxe1 e5 22. b6 $5 (22. Ba3 Rf6 23. Nf3 Bf5 $13 {עc8})) 16... g5 17.
a4 a5 18. b5 Ne7 $15 {0-1 Alekseev,E-Ivanov,S/Saint Petersburg 1999/ (48)
Psakhis,L: 'but it is not clear if move in the game is an improvment.'}) (8.
exf6 gxf6 9. O-O O-O-O 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. b4 Bd6 12. h3 Nge7 13. Nd4 Nxd4 14.
cxd4 e5 15. Ra2 Kb8 16. b5 e4 17. Rc2 Qb6 18. Be2 Rhg8 19. Kh1 Nf5 20. Nc3 Qxd4
21. Nxd5 Be6 22. Nf4 Qe5 {1/2-1/2 Andrejchuk,V-Kudin,V/UKR Juniors games boys
Evpatoria 2005 (45)}) 8... O-O-O (8... c4 9. Bc2 O-O-O 10. Nbd2 (10. Qc1 f5 11.
h4 Nh6 12. Nbd2 Be7 13. Nf1 Nf7 14. Ng5 Rdf8 15. Nh2 Nfd8 16. Nf1 g6 17. Nf3
Nf7 18. Ng5 Nfd8 19. Nf3 Nf7 {1/2-1/2 Vatter,H-Barsov,A/Untergrombach op 1995/
ChessBase}) 10... Be8 11. Qb1 Bh5 12. Bg3 Qf7 13. exf6 gxf6 14. O-O Bg6 15. b3
cxb3 16. Qxb3 Bxc2 17. Qxc2 Nge7 18. Rab1 Nf5 19. Qa4 Nxg3 20. hxg3 Qd7 21. c4
Kb8 22. cxd5 exd5 {1-0 Giaccio,A-Soln,P/Elista ol 1998/ChessBase (63)}) (8...
Nge7 9. Bg3 Qb6 10. b3 cxd4 11. cxd4 f5 12. Be2 g6 13. Bf4 h6 14. h4 Rc8 15. b4
Nd8 16. O-O Nf7 17. Qd2 Qd8 18. Nc3 g5 19. hxg5 Ng6 20. Nb5 Nxf4 21. Qxf4 hxg5
22. Qg3 g4 {0-1 Thapa,K-Reefat,S/Dhaka GM 2004/ (39)}) 9. O-O c4 (9... g5 $2
10. Bg3 g4 11. exf6 $16) 10. Bc2 Qb6 $146 (10... h6 $5 11. Bg3 (11. h4 Be8 (
11... f5 12. h5 $14) 12. b3 (12. Nbd2 Bh5 13. Qe1 f5 $15) 12... cxb3 13. Bxb3
Bh5 14. Nbd2 (14. Qd3 g5 15. Bg3 (15. hxg5 hxg5 16. Bg3 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 (17. exf6
Qf7 18. Qxf3 Qh7 $19) 17... Qh7 $19) 15... f5 16. hxg5 Bxf3 $19) 14... fxe5 (
14... g5 $1 15. Bg3 (15. Be3 f5 $17) 15... f5 $17) 15. dxe5 Bc5 16. Qb1 (16.
Qe1 Nge7 17. Be3) 16... Nge7 17. c4 (17. Bh2 Rhf8 18. Bd1 $17) 17... Rhf8 18.
Bh2 Bxf3 19. Nxf3 Rxf3 $1 20. gxf3 Nd4 21. Kg2 Nef5 $36 {Adams,M-Epishin,V/
Tel Apel 1992}) (11. b3 g5 12. Be3 fxe5 13. bxc4 dxc4 14. Nbd2 Bg7 15. Rb1 Be8
16. Qe2 Nge7 17. Qxc4 Nd5 18. Ne4 exd4 19. cxd4 g4 {0-1 Valet,R-Pap,G/
Budapest-02 IMA 2005/ (32)}) 11... f5 12. h4 (12. Bf4 Be8 13. Ne1 g5 14. Bc1
Nge7 15. Nd2 Na5 16. Rb1 Nec6 17. b3 cxb3 18. Nxb3 Nxb3 19. Bxb3 Na5 20. a4 Kb8
21. Bd2 f4 22. Bc2 Nc4 23. Bc1 Qa5 {1/2-1/2 Chevaldonnet,F-Barsov,A/FRA t-ch2
0304 2003/ChessBase (46)}) 12... Be8 13. Nbd2 Bh5 14. Qb1 Nge7 15. b3 cxb3 16.
Bxb3 Na5 17. Rc1 Nxb3 18. Qxb3 Nc6 19. Rab1 Na5 20. Qa2 Bxf3 21. Nxf3 Nc4 {
0-1 Markgraf,A-Luther,T/Dresden ZMD-op 2003/ChessBase (70)}) 11. b3 cxb3 12.
Bxb3 g5 $1 13. Be3 g4 14. Ne1 {[%cal Ge1d3]} (14. Nfd2 {[%csl Rb1]}) 14... Na5
15. Bc2 f5 16. Nd3 Kb8 17. a4 $5 {[%cal Gb1a3]} (17. Nd2 $5 Rc8 18. Rb1 Qc7 19.
Nb3 {[%cal Gb3c5]}) 17... Rc8 18. Qe2 Qa6 19. Qe1 (19. Na3 $5 Rxc3 $140 $2 (
19... h5 $5) 20. Nb5 Bxb5 21. axb5 Qxb5 22. Rfb1 $40 {[%csl Ga1,Gb1]}) 19... b6
(19... Nc4 $5 20. a5 $140 Bb5) 20. Na3 Bxa3 $1 (20... Nb3 $6 21. Ra2 (21. Bxb3
$5 Qxd3 22. Nb5) 21... Qxa4 (21... Bxa4 22. Nb1 $18) 22. Nc1 (22. Qb1 Rxc3 23.
Qb2 Qc6 24. Bxb3 Rxd3 25. Rc1 Qb7 26. Qc2 Bxa3 27. Rxa3 Bb5 28. Bxd5 $1 exd5
29. Rxd3 Bxd3 30. Qxd3 Ne7 (30... Qd7 31. e6 $1) 31. Bg5 $36) 22... Bxa3 23.
Nxb3 Bb5 24. Qa1 $18) 21. Rxa3 Ne7 22. Nb4 {White has seized space on the
queenside and is ready to play actively there, while Black has to develop his
play on the kingside.} Qb7 23. Bd3 Nc4 24. Bxc4 (24. Ra1 $5) 24... dxc4 25. a5
b5 26. a6 Qa8 {[%csl Ga8] It looks that Topalov has big problems as his queen
will now be temporarily out of play, but I don't see how White can use it to
his favour.} 27. Qe2 Nd5 28. Nxd5 $6 {A dubious decision allows Black to
activate his forces.} (28. Qb2 $140 $1 Nxb4 29. Qxb4 Qd5 (29... Qe4 $2 30. Qd6+
Rc7 31. d5 {/\B:a7}) 30. Qd6+ Qxd6 31. exd6 h5 32. Bf4 $14) 28... Qxd5 $36 {
[%mdl 32]} 29. f4 (29. f3 Rcg8 (29... h5 $5)) 29... h5 $1 {Black prepares his
own offensive on the kingside.} 30. Rb1 h4 31. Kf1 Bc6 $17 {[%csl Ra6,Gc6,Gd5]
[%cal Gh4h3]} 32. Bg1 Ka8 33. Rb4 Rb8 34. Ra2 Rb6 35. Ke1 h3 36. g3 Rc8 37. Be3
Bd7 $5 {[%csl Ra6][%cal Gc8c6,Gd7c8] Topalov has improved the position of all
his pieces and is now ready for more active actions. Unfortunately White must
just sit and wait - he hasn't any counter-play.} 38. Ra5 Qh1+ 39. Kd2 Bc6 40.
Qf2 Bd5 41. Qg1 (41. Rbxb5 Rcb8 42. Rxb6 (42. Rb4 Rxb4 43. cxb4 Rxb4 $19) 42...
Rxb6 {[%cal Rb6b2]}) 41... Qe4 {White's position is hopelessly passive.} 42.
Kc1 (42. Rbxb5 Rcb8 $19) 42... Rcc6 $19 43. Qf2 (43. Raxb5 Rxb5 44. Rxb5 Rxa6
45. Kb2 Bc6 46. Rb4 Ba4 47. Qc1 $8 Bb3 48. Rxb3 cxb3 $19) 43... Rxa6 44. Raxb5
(44. Rbxb5 Rxa5 45. Rxa5 Rb6 46. Ra1 Rb3) 44... Ra1+ 45. Rb1 Rxb1+ 46. Rxb1 Ra6
47. Qd2 Qh1+ {Great positional achievement of Veselin Topalov.} 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.17"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "211"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. h4 Be7 14. a3 ({
S.Karjakin achieved few important wins with} 14. Nce3 Be6 15. Qf3 {[%cal Ga1d1,
Yf1d3,Yd3c2,Yc2b3]}) 14... Be6 {The mnost precise answer, not fearing Ncb4.} (
14... Kh8 15. g3 $14 (15. Bd3 $14) (15. Ncb4 Bb7 $11)) (14... a5 15. Nce3 $14)
15. Ncb4 (15. g3 Qd7 16. Bg2 a5 $11) 15... Nxb4 16. axb4 Ra8 17. g3 (17. Bd3 $6
Bxd5 18. exd5 f5 $15) 17... Qd7 ({Better than} 17... a5 {since White retains
some winning chances in the endgame thanks to the passed b-pawn:} 18. Bxb5 Bxd5
(18... axb4 $2 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Nxe7+ $18) 19. Qxd5 axb4 20. Rxa8 Qxa8 21.
Qxa8 Rxa8 22. Kd2 bxc3+ 23. Kxc3 $14) 18. Bg2 ({After} 18. Nb6 $2 Qb7 {White
must return with the knight, since} 19. Nxa8 $2 {loses due to} Qxe4+) 18... Bd8
19. O-O Qc6 ({White is marginally better after} 19... a5 20. bxa5 Rxa5 21. Rxa5
Bxa5 22. Qd3 (22. h5 h6) 22... Qb7 23. Rd1 $1 $11 {[%cal Gg2f1] /+/=} (23. Ne3
Bc4 24. Nxc4 bxc4 $11) (23. Ra1 Bb6 $1 (23... Ra8 $2 24. b4 Bd8 25. Rxa8 Qxa8
26. Qxb5 $18) 24. Nb4 (24. Ne3 Bxe3 25. Qxe3 b4 $11) 24... Bc5)) 20. Ne3 a5 ({
Also possible was} 20... Bb6 21. Qd2 (21. Qd3 Bc4 22. Nxc4 bxc4 23. Qd2 a5 $11)
21... Rfd8 22. Rfd1 (22. Nf5 $6 Bxf5 23. exf5 d5 24. Rfd1 e4 $132) 22... Bb3
23. Nd5 Ra7 $1 $11) 21. bxa5 Bxa5 22. Nf5 (22. Qd3 Bc4 $11) 22... Qd7 (22...
Bxf5 23. exf5 e4 24. f6 $36) 23. Qd2 Bc7 24. Ne3 (24. Nxg7 Kxg7 25. Qg5+ Kh8
26. Qf6+ Kg8 $11) 24... Qc6 25. Nf5 Qd7 26. Qg5 f6 27. Qd2 d5 {Black
successfully solved all problems and equalized. Possibly Leko relaxed around
here and Topalov slowly outplayed him. Nevertheless Black still must play
accurately to achieve a draw.} 28. Ne3 d4 29. cxd4 Qxd4 (29... exd4 30. Nd5 $14
) 30. Qc2 Rxa1 (30... Bb6 $2 31. Rxa8 Rxa8 32. Qc6 $18) 31. Rxa1 Bb6 32. Rd1
Qc5 (32... Qb4 33. Nd5 Qa5 $11 {[%cal Gb6d4]}) 33. Qe2 Bb3 34. Rd3 Bc4 {
Leaving on the board opposite-coloured bishops unexpectedly offers White an
easier play on the kingside.} (34... Qc1+ 35. Kh2 (35. Bf1 Be6 (35... Bxe3 36.
Rxb3 $1 $16) 36. Rd1 Qc5 37. h5 (37. Qxb5 Qxb5 38. Bxb5 Bxe3 39. fxe3 Rb8)
37... b4 $11) 35... Bf7 36. Rc3 Qb1 37. Qxb5 Bd4 $11) 35. Nxc4 Qxc4 36. b3 Qb4
(36... Qc7 37. Bh3 Bd4 38. Be6+ Kh8 39. Kg2 Qc6 40. Bd5 Qd6 41. Rd2 b4 42. Ra2
Rd8 43. h5 $14) 37. Bh3 (37. Rd5 Qxb3 38. Rxb5 Qe6 $11) 37... Bd4 (37... Rd8 $2
38. Rxd8+ Bxd8 39. Qd3 Be7 40. Qd5+ Kh8 41. Qf7 $36) 38. Kg2 g6 {Not really
necessary, although White's chances are better anyway.} (38... Qe7 $142 39. Rd2
b4 40. Qc4+ Kh8 41. h5 g6 $14 {[%cal Gf6f5]} (41... Qf7 $2 42. Qxb4)) 39. Be6+
Kh8 40. h5 Qe7 41. Qg4 Re8 42. Bd5 (42. Bd7 $2 f5 $19) 42... f5 (42... Kg7 43.
Rd1 $14 {[%cal Gd1h1]}) 43. Qh3 (43. exf5 gxf5 44. Qxf5 Rf8 $132) 43... fxe4 (
43... Kg7 44. exf5 gxf5 45. Qxf5 Rf8 46. Qg4+ Kh8 47. Rf3 $16) 44. Bxe4 gxh5
45. Qxh5 Rf8 46. Rd2 Qf7 47. Qh6 Qg7 48. Qc6 b4 49. Qd6 Bc3 50. Ra2 Qf6 51. Qc5
Kg7 52. Ra7+ Rf7 53. Bd5 Rxa7 54. Qxa7+ Kf8 $2 ({Correct was} 54... Kh8 55. Be4
Qg7 56. Qb8+ Qg8 57. Qd6 Qg4 {and White cannot create serious threats. For
instance:} 58. Bd5 Kg7 59. Qe7+ Kh6 60. Bf7 (60. Qf6+ Qg6) 60... e4 $1 {
[%cal Gg4f3]}) 55. Qxh7 $16 Bd4 56. Qc2 Bc3 57. Qa2 Qd8 58. Bc4 Ke7 59. Qa7+
Qd7 60. Qa8 Kd6 61. Bd5 Kc5 62. Bf3 Kd6 63. Qb8+ Ke7 64. Qa8 Qd8 65. Qe4 Qd7
66. Qh4+ Kd6 67. Qf6+ Qe6 68. Qd8+ Kc5 69. Qa5+ Kd4 70. Qa7+ Kd3 71. Qa2 Kd4
72. Kf1 e4 73. Qa7+ Ke5 74. Qc7+ Kd4 75. Qa7+ Ke5 76. Qe3 Qxb3 77. Qxe4+ Kf6
78. Kg2 Qe6 79. Qd3 Qe5 80. Bd5 Qf5 81. Be4 Qc5 82. Bd5 Ke5 83. Qe4+ Kd6 84.
Qe6+ Kc7 85. f4 Qd6 86. Qe4 Qd7 87. Kf3 Kd6 88. g4 Qb5 89. Qe6+ Kc5 90. Ke4
Qe2+ 91. Kf5 Qd3+ 92. Be4 Qd8 93. g5 Qf8+ 94. Kg4 Qd6 95. Qxd6+ Kxd6 96. Bc2
Ke7 97. Kh5 Kf7 98. Kh6 Kg8 99. f5 Kh8 100. Kg6 Bd4 101. f6 Be3 102. Kf5 Kg8
103. Bb3+ Kh8 104. g6 Bh6 105. Ke6 Bg7 106. fxg7+ 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.09.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 b5 8. Qd2
b4 9. Na4 Nbd7 $146 {[%mdl 4] Topalov has prepared a very sharp line at home,
that is very risky.} (9... Bd7 $1 $13) 10. O-O-O (10. Bc4 Qa5 11. b3 Bb7 12. a3
d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. O-O Nxe3 15. Qxe3 Qe5 16. Qd2 Qd6 17. f4 bxa3 18. Rad1 Nb6
19. Qa5 Nxc4 20. bxc4 Qb4 21. Qxb4 Bxb4 22. Rb1 O-O-O {0-1 Ewaldt,M-Ftacnik,L/
Hamburg 2005/ (31)}) 10... d5 11. exd5 (11. Bf4 Bb7 12. e5 Nh5 13. b3 Nxf4 14.
Qxf4 Nc5 15. Nxc5 Bxc5 16. Qd2 Qb6 17. Kb1 a5 18. Bb5+ Kf8 19. Ba4 Rc8 20. f4
Bxd4 21. Qxd4 Qxd4 22. Rxd4 Bc6 23. Bxc6 Rxc6 24. a3 Rb6 25. axb4 axb4 26. Kb2
Ke7 27. Ra1 Rc8 28. Ra4 Rbc6 29. Rd2 Rb6 30. Ra7+ Kf8 31. g3 Ke8 32. Ra4 Kd7
33. Rd4 {1/2-1/2 Teo Wei Xing-Wee, Singapore 2004}) 11... Nxd5 12. Bc4 N7f6 (
12... Bb7 13. Rhe1 Qa5 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Bb6 Qxa4 16. Bxd5 Be7 17. Bxb7 Nxb6
18. Rxe6 O-O 19. Rxe7 Qxa2 20. Qd4 Rf6 21. Bxa8 {1-0 Wang Hao-Nava,R/Instanbul
2005/}) 13. Bg5 Qc7 (13... Bb7 14. Rhe1 Be7 15. Nf5 $1 O-O 16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17.
Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Nb6 Rad8 19. Nxd5 Rxd5 20. Qxd5 $18) 14. Bxd5 {White could have
contemplated also other dangerous idea 14.Qe2!?} (14. Qe2 $5 Bd6 $1 15. Nxe6 (
15. Nf5 Bf4+ 16. Kb1 Bxg5 17. Bxd5 Rb8) 15... Bxe6 16. Bxf6 (16. Bxd5 $2 Nxd5
17. Rxd5 O-O $19) 16... Nxf6 17. Bxe6 Bf4+ 18. Kb1 fxe6 19. Qxe6+ Kf8 20. g3
Bh6 $13) 14... Nxd5 15. Rhe1 Bb7 16. Qe2 Qd6 17. Kb1 (17. f4 $1 $40 Nxf4 18.
Qg4 Nd5 19. Nxe6 $18) 17... h6 18. Bh4 Nf4 19. Qf2 Qc7 20. Nf5 $2 {The opening
experiment by black has failed and white could have capitalized on his
centralized pieces with the winning jump 20.Nb6!} (20. Nb6 $1 $40 Rb8 $8 (20...
Qxb6 21. Nxe6 Qxf2 (21... Qxe6 22. Qa7 $3 $18) 22. Nxg7#) 21. Nf5 Bc6 22. Qd4
Rg8 (22... Ng6 23. Bg3 Qxb6 24. Qxb6 Rxb6 25. Bc7 $18) 23. Nc4 $5 g5 24. Bg3
Rd8 25. Ncd6+ Bxd6 26. Nxd6+ Rxd6 (26... Kf8 27. Bxf4 gxf4 28. Rxe6 $18) 27.
Qxd6 Qxd6 28. Rxd6 $18) 20... g5 $1 21. Bg3 Rc8 22. Qd4 (22. Rd2 Rd8 23. Bxf4
gxf4 24. Rxd8+ Qxd8 25. Nc5 Bd5 $14) 22... Rg8 23. c3 $2 {Leko played very
badly in time trouble and transformed the position into difficult ending.} (23.
Qf2 $1) 23... Rd8 24. Qxd8+ (24. Qe3 Bc6 $17) 24... Qxd8 25. Rxd8+ Kxd8 $17 26.
Ne3 Bc6 27. Nb6 bxc3 28. bxc3 Bg7 29. Bxf4 gxf4 30. Nd1 Bb5 31. a4 Bd3+ 32. Kc1
Kc7 33. a5 Bh8 34. Kd2 Bb5 35. Rg1 Bc6 36. Ke2 Be5 37. c4 Bd4 38. Nf2 Bc3 39.
Ne4 Bxa5 40. c5 f5 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.09.30"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. O-O Nf6 6. e5 dxe5 7. Nxe5 Qc8
8. Qf3 e6 9. d3 Be7 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Bf4 Nfd7 12. Nc4 Nc6 13. Rae1 Nd4 14. Qd1
Qc6 15. a4 b6 16. Re3 f6 17. Rh3 Rf7 18. Be3 Rd8 19. Re1 Nf8 20. b3 a6 21. Ne2
b5 22. axb5 axb5 23. Nd2 Qc7 24. c4 Nc6 25. cxb5 Nb4 26. Qb1 Nxd3 27. Rd1 Nb4
28. Nc4 Nd5 29. Bd2 Qb8 30. Ba5 Rd7 31. b6 Bd8 32. Rhd3 Nxb6 33. Bxb6 Rxd3 34.
Qxd3 Bxb6 35. Qe3 Bc7 36. g3 Qb5 37. h4 Qc6 38. f4 Rd7 39. Re1 Bd8 40. Nc3 Be7
41. Ne4 Rd4 42. Nf2 Qd5 43. Nb6 Qb7 44. Nc4 f5 45. Kf1 Bf6 46. Ke2 Rd7 47. Qf3
Qb4 48. Rd1 Bd4 49. g4 h6 50. h5 Qb8 51. Rd2 Rf7 52. g5 hxg5 53. fxg5 Qh2 54.
Kd3 Qh4 55. g6 Ra7 56. Nd1 Qg5 57. Nc3 Qg1 58. Rd1 Qh2 59. Nb5 Rd7 60. Nxd4 Qa2
61. Nd2 Qb2 62. Ke2 Qxd4 63. Qe3 Qd6 64. Qf3 Qh2+ 65. Ke1 Rd4 66. Qb7 Rd7 67.
Qf3 Rd5 68. Nf1 Re5+ 69. Ne3 f4 70. Rd3 Qg1+ 71. Kd2 fxe3+ 72. Rxe3 Qxe3+ 73.
Qxe3 Rxe3 74. Kxe3 Nd7 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.10.01"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2719"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 Ne4 8. d4
$5 {[%mdl 16] Topalov plays a sharp and ambitious move, which occurs only
rarely. White wants to occupy the centre even at the cost of weakening his
P-structure. The most usual continuation is} (8. Nxe4 Bxe4 9. d3 Bb7 10. e4 Nc6
11. d4 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 O-O {In this simplified position White has
at most a very slight edge.} 14. b3 (14. Rd1 $5 d6 15. a4 Qc7 16. Ra2 Bc6 $6
17. b3 Rfd8 18. Ba3 Rd7 19. Rad2 Rad8 20. Qe3 Qb7 21. f4 $14 {(), Beliavsky,
A-Lutz,C/Mitropa Leipzig/2002/}) 14... Bc5 $1 15. Qc3 Qe7 16. Re2 a5 17. a4 f5
18. e5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rad8 20. Qf3 d6 21. exd6 Qxd6 22. Bg5 Rd7 23. Rae1 Qd3 24.
Qxd3 Rxd3 25. Rxe6 Rxb3 $11 {Ponomariov,R-Anand,V/Sofia 2005/}) 8... Nxc3 9.
bxc3 Be4 {A natural reaction, known also from various Queen's Indian lines -
Black stops e4 manually. However, he has other less direct alternatives, which
seem playable:} (9... O-O 10. d5 d6 $5 11. dxe6 fxe6 12. Bh3 e5 13. Be6+ Kh8
14. Bd5 Bxd5 15. cxd5 $6 (15. Qxd5 Nd7 $11 {[%cal Yd7f6] /\Nf6}) 15... e4 16.
Nd2 e3 $1 17. fxe3 Nd7 18. c4 Ne5 19. Qc2 Qe8 20. Bb2 Ng4 $36 {Van Wely,
L-Yermolinsky,A/Merrillville/1997/}) (9... Nc6 10. d5 Na5 11. Nd2 e5 (11... O-O
$13) 12. d6 $5 Bxd6 13. Nb3 Bc7 (13... Bxg2 14. Qxd6 Nxc4 15. Qd3 $16) 14. Nxa5
Bxg2 15. Kxg2 bxa5 16. Qd5 d6 17. Rb1 Rb8 18. Bg5 f6 19. Be3 Ke7 20. f4 exf4
21. Qe4+ Kf7 22. Qd5+ Ke7 23. Qe4+ Kf7 {1/2, Greenfeld,A-Bar,R/Israel/2004/})
10. Bf1 {The bishop is better placed here, than on h3 if Black takes on f3.
Nevertheless,} (10. Bh3 {deserves attention:} Bxf3 (10... Nc6 11. Nd2 Bg6 12.
d5 Na5 13. e4 {()}) (10... O-O $5 11. Nd2 Bb7 $132) 11. exf3 cxd4 12. cxd4 Nc6
(12... O-O {seems more flexible.}) 13. Be3 Rc8 (13... Na5 $142 14. Rc1 Rc8) 14.
Rc1 (14. d5 $1 $36) 14... Na5 15. Qd3 O-O 16. f4 g6 17. Bg2 Qc7 18. c5 d5 19.
cxd6 Qxd6 20. Qa6 Qd7 21. Bf3 (21. d5 $5 $14) 21... Bf6 22. h4 Rfd8 23. h5 Nc6
24. Qa4 Ne7 25. Qxd7 Rxd7 26. Rxc8+ {1/2, Kramnik,V-Yudasin,L/Yerevan ol/1996/}
) 10... d6 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (10... O-O 11. h4 ({Sasikiran tries to follow
Topalov's footsteps, but} 11. Nd2 {[%cal Ye2e4] /\e4 seems better}) 11... Nc6
12. Nd2 Bg6 13. e3 h6 14. h5 Bh7 15. Nb3 d6 16. Bg2 Rc8 17. e4 Nb8 18. Bf1 e5
19. a4 Nd7 20. a5 cxd4 21. cxd4 exd4 22. Nxd4 Ne5 $132 {Sasikiran,
K-Annageldyev,O/Hyderabad/2005/}) ({The main move until now was} 10... Bxf3 11.
exf3 cxd4 12. cxd4 O-O 13. f4 Nc6 14. Be3 (14. d5 Na5 15. Bd2 Rc8 16. Bxa5 bxa5
17. Rb1 Bc5 18. Qd3 $11 {^-1/2, Savchenko,S-Gurevich,V/Ubeda 1998/}) 14... Rc8
15. Rc1 Bf6 16. Bg2 g6 17. d5 exd5 18. Qxd5 Ne7 19. Qd3 Nf5 20. Bd2 Re8 21. Bh3
Nd4 22. Rxe8+ Qxe8 23. Be3 Ne6 24. f5 Nc5 25. Bxc5 (25. Qd5 $1 $36 {^^}) 25...
Rxc5 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. Bxd7 Qe5 28. Bh3 b5 $132 {1/2, Izoria,Z-Mchedlishvili,M/
Tbilisi/2001/}) 11. h4 {[%mdl 32] Original strategy, but the sortie Ng5 leads
nowhere and Topalov will abandon this idea later.} ({The more natural} 11. Nd2
Bb7 12. e4 {now and even one move later deserves attention.}) 11... Nd7 12. d5
(12. Nd2 Bb7 13. e4 $13) 12... O-O 13. a4 (13. dxe6 fxe6 14. Ng5 (14. Bh3 Bf5
$15) 14... Bxg5 15. Bxg5 Nf6 $15 {[%csl Rc3,Rc4]}) (13. Nd2 exd5 14. f3 Bg6 15.
cxd5 Bf6 16. Bb2 b5 $15) 13... h6 (13... Bf6 $5) 14. Bh3 exd5 $1 (14... e5 15.
Nd2 $14 {()}) 15. cxd5 Bf6 16. Ra3 b5 {Adams wants to prevent c4 at all costs,
but he doesn't succeed. Black's centralized pieces make a good impression and
he later suggested the improvement} (16... Ne5 $5 {Adams} 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 (17...
dxe5 18. c4 $14) 18. c4 Qf6 19. Bg2 Qg6 20. Bxe4 Qxe4 21. Qd3 Qg4 $132 {
[%cal Yf7f5,Ya8e8] /\f5, Rae8}) 17. axb5 Nb6 18. c4 $1 {[%csl Gd5][%mdl 16]
The d5-pawn is important, as it cramps Black's position. White is glad to get
rid of his weak c-pawn.} Bxf3 (18... Nxc4 19. Ra4 Bxf3 20. Rxc4 (20. exf3 Nb6 (
20... Nb2 21. Bxb2 Bxb2 22. Rae4 $14 {[%csl Ra7][%cal Yh3f1,Yf1d3,Ge1e8] /
\Bf1-d3,<->e,><a7}) 21. Rae4 (21. Ra6 Bd4 $13) 21... a6 22. bxa6 Rxa6 $132)
20... Bh5 21. Ra4 $5 $14) 19. Rxf3 (19. exf3 Nxc4 20. Ra4 {-18...Nc4}) 19...
Nxc4 20. Qa4 Ne5 (20... Nb6 21. Qg4 Nxd5 22. Bxh6 $36 {>>}) 21. Ra3 Re8 (21...
h5 $142 $1 $13 {/<=>}) 22. h5 $1 $36 {[%csl Gh5][%cal Gb1h7] ()>>,-><->b1-h7}
Re7 (22... Rb8 $5 {Adams} 23. Bf5 (23. f4 $6 {[%csl Rg1] ע} Nd7 24. Qxa7 Nb6
$36) 23... Rb7 24. Bd2 $14) 23. Bf4 Rb8 24. Bf5 Qe8 25. Bc2 (25. Rb1 $5 $14 {
Cheparinov}) 25... Qd7 $2 (25... Qxb5 $2 26. Qe4 $40) (25... Rxb5 $142 $1 26.
Qe4 g6 27. Bxe5 (27. Ba4 Rb4 28. Qc2 Rxa4 29. Rxa4 Nf3+ $17) 27... Bxe5 28.
hxg6 fxg6 29. Qh4 Kh7 30. Ba4 a6 $44) 26. Qe4 Ng6 27. Qd3 c4 $2 (27... Nf8 $142
28. Qf5 Rxb5 29. Qxd7 Rxd7 30. Bf5 $36) 28. Qxc4 Nxf4 29. Qxf4 Re5 30. Qf3 Qh3
(30... Qxb5 31. Rb1 Qe8 32. Qd3 Rxb1+ 33. Bxb1 Kf8 34. Qh7 Qd7 35. Qh8+ Ke7 36.
Qa8 Qd8 37. Rxa7+ Kf8 38. Qc6 $16 {/+-}) 31. Rxa7 Rxh5 32. e3 Qh2+ 33. Kf1 {
White's K is safe and his extra o^b5 is taboo due to Black's back-rank
weakness. The game is decided.} Qh3+ (33... Qh1+ 34. Qxh1 Rxh1+ 35. Ke2 Rxe1+
36. Kxe1 $18 {_|_}) 34. Ke2 Re5 35. Rc7 {[%cal Re1h1] /\Rh1+-} Rc8 $2 (35...
Qh5 $8 {was the only way to prolong the game, but the _|_ with the extra P is
won for White.}) 36. Bf5 $1 Rxf5 (36... Qxf5 37. Qxf5 Rxc7 38. Qd3 $18 (38. b6
$18)) 37. Rxc8+ Kh7 38. Rh1 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.10.03"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. h3 Ne5 11. Nf5 Bxf5 12. exf5 Nbc6 13. Nd5 e6 14. Ne3 (14.
fxe6 fxe6 15. Ne3 O-O (15... Qa5+ 16. c3 Nf3+ $146 17. Qxf3 Bxc3+ 18. Kd1 Bxb2
$13 19. Rc1 Bxc1 20. Nc4 Qxa2 21. Qf6 Qb1 22. Qxe6+ Kf8 23. Qxd6+ Kg7 24. Bd3
Bf4+ 25. Bxb1 Bxd6 26. Nxd6 {1-0 Cheparinov-Ibarra Jerez, Roquetas de Mar 2004}
) 16. Be2 Qe7 17. O-O Rad8 18. Bh5 $1 Kh8 19. Re1 d5 20. a4 Nc4 $2 (20... Nd7
$5 21. Nxd5 $140 Qc5 22. Ne3 Nf6 23. Qe2 Nd4 $1) 21. Nxc4 dxc4 22. Qg4 $16 {
1-0 Kasimdzhanov,R-Anand, FIDE Wch San Luis 2005}) 14... Qa5+ $146 {Topalov
played his combination rather quickly and the whole idea was obviously
prepared at home.} (14... O-O 15. c3 d5 16. fxe6 fxe6 17. Be2 Qe7 18. O-O Rad8
19. Qe1 Ng6 20. Rd1 Nf4 21. Bd3 Kh8 22. Bb1 {1-0 Bromberger,S-Berczes,D /
Budapest 2004/ (45)}) (14... Qe7 15. Be2 O-O 16. O-O d5 17. c3 Rad8 18. fxe6
Qxe6 19. Nc2 d4 20. cxd4 Nxd4 21. Nxd4 Rxd4 {1/2-1/2 Spasov,V-Elsness,F/
Gothenburg 2005/ (79)}) 15. c3 (15. Qd2 Qxd2+ 16. Kxd2 h5 $11) 15... Nf3+ $1
16. Qxf3 (16. gxf3 Bxc3+ 17. bxc3 Qxc3+ 18. Ke2 Nd4+ $19) 16... Bxc3+ 17. Kd1
Qa4+ $1 (17... Bxb2 18. fxe6 Qa4+ 19. Kd2 Qb4+ 20. Kd1 fxe6 $13) 18. Nc2 (18.
Kc1 Bxb2+ 19. Kxb2 Qb4+ 20. Kc1 Nd4 $44 21. Qd1 (21. Nc2 Rc8 $40) 21... Qc3+ (
21... Rc8+ 22. Bc4 Qc3+ 23. Kb1 Rxc4 24. Nxc4 Qxc4 25. a3 $16) 22. Kb1 (22. Nc2
Nxc2 23. Qxc2 Qxa1+ $40) 22... Qb4+ $11) 18... Bxb2 19. fxe6 fxe6 20. Qb3 $1 {
[%mdl 1024] Svidler was well aware of the dangers of playing the middlegame
with his own king loose in the center.} (20. Qg4 Nd4 $1 21. Rc1 Rc8 22. Bd3 Kd7
23. Re1 Qxa2 $17) 20... Qxb3 21. axb3 Bxa1 22. Nxa1 $13 Ke7 23. Bd3 (23. Kd2 $5
Rac8 24. f3) 23... Rac8 (23... Nb4 $5 24. Bb1 $140 a5) 24. Re1 (24. Nc2 Na5 25.
Nd4 e5 26. Nf5+ Kf6 27. b4 Nc4 28. Ke2 d5 $13) 24... Nd4 25. f3 (25. Nc2 Nxb3
26. Bf5 e5 27. Bxc8 Rxc8 $11) 25... Rc3 (25... Rc5 $13) 26. Kd2 Rhc8 {Topalov
had to hurry to bring his pieces into attacking locations, otherwise white
pieces might have become pretty dangeorus.} 27. Rb1 (27. Bc4 $5 R8xc4 (27...
Rxf3 $5 28. gxf3 Nxf3+ 29. Ke3 Nxe1 30. Bxe1 $14) 28. bxc4 Rxc4 $11 (28... Ra3
29. Bh2 Ra2+ 30. Kc3 Nxf3 31. Bxd6+ Kxd6 32. gxf3 Rh2 33. Nb3 $14)) 27... R3c5
$1 28. b4 (28. Bf2 Rd5 29. Rb2 Rf8 $1 30. Nc2 Nxf3+ 31. gxf3 Rxf3 32. Be3 Rxh3
33. Nb4 $14) 28... Rd5 $13 29. Bf2 (29. Be4 $2 Nxf3+ $1 30. Ke2 Rd2+ 31. Kxf3
Rc3+ 32. Kg4 Rd4 33. Re1 Rxb4 $1 $19) 29... Kd7 (29... Nc6 30. Ke2 Ne5 31. Be4
Rb5 32. Nc2 d5 33. Bh7 a5 $13) 30. Be3 (30. Nb3 Nc6 31. Ke2 Nxb4 32. Be4 Re5 (
32... Na2 33. Bxd5 Nc3+ 34. Ke1 Nxb1 35. Bxb7 Rb8 $17) 33. Bg3 Rb5 34. Nd4 Rb6
35. Bf2 d5 $13) 30... Nf5 31. Bf2 Nh4 $5 {The future champion is trying his
luck and undertakes some risk. After 31...Nd4 the game would most likely have
ended in a draw.} (31... Nd4 32. Be3 $11) 32. Bxh4 gxh4 33. Nc2 h5 34. Re1 (34.
b5 $1 $14) 34... Rg8 35. Kc3 $6 {Svidler nerves were already playing games
with him and he overlooks opponent's reaction.} (35. Re2 Rdg5 36. Ne1 $11)
35... a5 $1 (35... Rxg2 36. Ne3 Rxd3+ 37. Kxd3 Rh2 $15) 36. Bc4 $2 {With more
time and calm white would surely have taken on a5 and calculated, that the
long tactical line was still better for him.} (36. Re4 axb4+ 37. Rxb4 Rc5+ 38.
Kb3 Rxg2 39. Rxb7+ Rc7 $15) (36. bxa5 $1 Rxg2 37. Nd4 Rc5+ 38. Kb4 Rb2+ 39. Ka3
Rf2 40. Bb5+ Rxb5 41. Nxb5 Rxf3+ 42. Kb4 Rf4+ (42... Rxh3 43. Rc1 $16) 43. Kc3
Rf3+ 44. Kb2 Rf2+ 45. Ka1 Rf5 46. Rb1 $14) 36... Rc8 $1 37. Ne3 (37. Kb3 a4+
38. Kxa4 Rxc4 39. Ne3 Re5 $19) (37. bxa5 Rdc5 38. Ne3 d5 $19) 37... Rb5 $1 38.
Kd3 (38. bxa5 d5 $19) 38... Rxb4 39. Bxe6+ {Black had too many pawns for the
normal continuations, but the rook endgame will be also hopeless.} Kxe6 40.
Nc2+ Kd5 41. Nxb4+ axb4 42. Re7 b5 43. Rh7 Rc3+ (43... Rc4 $1 $19) 44. Kd2 Rc4
$1 (44... Rc4 $1 45. Rxh5+ Kc6 46. Rh8 b3 47. Re8 Kc5 $19) 0-1

[Event "FIDE-Wch"]
[Site "San Luis"]
[Date "2005.10.04"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2005.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Ne4 h6 12. b3 c5 13. Be3 b6 14. Rad1+
Bd7 15. Nc3 Kc8 16. Nd5 Be6 17. c4 Kb7 18. Bc1 a5 19. a4 Rd8 20. g4 h5 21. Ne3
Re8 22. Rfe1 Nf4 23. Ng5 Be7 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. gxh5 Nxh3+ 26. Kf1 Rxh5 27. Ng4
Bg5 28. Bxg5 Rxg5 29. f3 Rf8 30. Kg2 Nf4+ 31. Kg3 Rh5 32. Kf2 Ng6 33. Rd7 Rh3
34. Re3 Nh4 35. Rdd3 Kc6 36. Rc3 Rh1 37. Red3 Nf5 38. Ne3 Nd4 39. Nf1 Rh5 40.
Re3 Rf4 41. Rcd3 g5 42. Re4 Kb7 43. Kg3 Rxe4 44. fxe4 Rh4 45. Nd2 Kc8 46. Re3
Kd7 47. Re1 Ke7 48. Nf3 Nxf3 49. Kxf3 Kf7 50. Rd1 Rf4+ 51. Ke3 Kg7 52. Rd7+ Rf7
53. Rd1 Kg6 54. Rd8 g4 55. Rg8+ Kh5 56. Rh8+ Kg5 57. Rg8+ Kh4 58. Rg6 Rf3+ 59.
Ke2 Kg3 60. Rxe6 Kf4 61. Re8 Re3+ 62. Kf2 g3+ 63. Kg2 Kxe4 64. e6 Kd3 0-1

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

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

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nxd5 4. d4 Bf5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 6. Qxd3 e6 7. O-O Nc6 8.
c4 Nb6 (8... Nf6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Bf4 O-O 11. Rad1 Qd7 12. Ne5 Qe8 13. Qf3 Bd6
14. c5 $14 {Mikhalchishin,A-Ubilava,E/Rostov on Don 1980}) 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Bf4
g5 $2 {Breaking one of the most important principles of opening strategy -
Black starts active operations before taking care of the king. Against a
player of Topalov's caliber one can't afford himself such a luxury!} (10... O-O
11. Rad1 Bf6 12. Ne4 Rc8 $6 13. Nfg5 Bxg5 14. Nxg5 g6 15. d5 exd5 16. cxd5 Nb4
17. Qh3 $16 {Skrjabin,I-Parkkinen,J/Kajaani 1999}) 11. Bg3 g4 12. Ne5 Nxd4 {
Black wins a pawn, but his king won't be safe till the end of the game...} ({
No better was} 12... Qxd4 13. Qe2 Qc5 14. Ne4 Qb4 15. b3 h5 16. Rfd1 $36 {
[%csl Rb4,Re8,Rh8]}) 13. c5 $1 {The most accurate way to meet Black's
advanturous play.} ({Another promising alternative was} 13. Rad1 $5 c5 14. Ne2
h5 15. Nxd4 cxd4 16. c5 $1 $16 {[%cal Gd3b5]}) 13... Bxc5 14. Rad1 {[%csl Rd4]
[%cal Gd1d8]} O-O (14... f6 15. Nxg4 Nd7 16. Nb5 $1 $16) 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Nxg4
$1 $16 {Intending to decide the game by a direct attack on Black's king.} (16.
Qxd4 Qxd4 17. Rxd4 c5 18. Rdd1 f5 19. Nd7 fxe4 20. Nxf8 Rxf8 21. Rfe1 $16)
16... c5 (16... Nf5 17. Qc3 Nd5 18. Rxd5 exd5 19. Nef6+ Kh8 20. Be5 $18) (16...
f5 17. Nh6+ Kg7 18. Be5+ Kxh6 19. Qh3+ Kg6 20. Bxd4 Nd5 21. Nc3 $16 {[%csl Re6,
Rg6][%cal Gd1d3,Gd3g3]}) 17. b4 $6 {It takes Fritz a second to find a forced
win!} (17. Be5 $1 {[%cal Gg4h6]} f6 18. Ng5 Nf5 (18... fxg5 19. Nh6#) 19. Nh6+
$18) 17... Nd5 18. bxc5 $6 {He misses the same forced win again!} (18. Be5 $1
Nf5 19. Nh6+ Nxh6 20. Qg3+ $18) 18... Nf5 19. Qf3 {[%cal Gd1d5,Gg3d6]
Unfortunately for Kamsky his position remains hopeless.} Rc8 20. Bd6 Nxd6 (
20... Bxd6 21. Rxd5 exd5 22. Nef6+ Kg7 23. Qxf5 $18) (20... Rc6 21. Rxd5 exd5
22. Qxf5 dxe4 23. Nh6+ Kg7 24. Qe5+ Bf6 25. Qh5 $16) 21. cxd6 Bh4 22. d7 Rc6 (
22... Rc7 23. Rxd5 exd5 24. Nef6+ Bxf6 25. Nxf6+ Kg7 26. Ne8+ Rxe8 27. dxe8=Q
Qxe8 28. Qg3+ $18) 23. Ne5 Rc7 24. Qg4+ Kh8 25. Nd6 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bf4 O-O
8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Nc5 10. h4 Bf6 (10... Bg4 11. h5 (11. Be2 Re8 12. Nd4 Bxe2
13. Qxe2 Qd7 14. Be3 Ne4 $11 {1-0 Jackova,J-Gara,A/Germany 2003/EXT 2004 (30)})
(11. Re1 Re8 (11... Ne6 12. Ng5 h6 13. Nxe6 Bxe6 14. Bxh6 gxh6 15. Qxh6 Bf6 16.
Bd3 Re8 17. Re3 Be5 18. Rhh3 {1-0 Fontaine,R-Skoberne,J/Portoroz op 2004 (18)})
(11... Bxf3 12. gxf3 Ne6 13. Bg3 Re8 $14 {0-1 Cinar Corlulu,N-Hernandez,Y/
Gothenburg SWE 2005/(42)}) 12. Nd4 Ne6 13. Nxe6 Bxe6 14. Bd3 Qd7 15. f3 a5 16.
Kb1 b5 $132 {0-1 Bologan,V-Motylev,A/chessassistantclub.com INT 2004/(48)})
11... Re8 (11... h6 12. Be2 Bf6 13. Nd4 Ne4 14. Qe3 Bxe2 15. Qxe2 Re8 16. Qf3
Bg5 $11 {1-0 Galego,L-Camejo Almeida,R/Portugal 1993/TD (49)}) (11... Qd7 12.
Re1 Bf6 13. Nd4 Rfe8 14. Rxe8+ Rxe8 15. f3 Qa4 16. Kb1 Bd7 17. b3 Qa5 18. h6
Ne6 19. Be3 g6 $11 {1-0 Manik,M-Novak,P/Litomysl CZE 2005/(43)}) 12. Bc4 c6 13.
Bxd6 Bxd6 14. Qxd6 Qxd6 15. Rxd6 Bxf3 16. gxf3 $16 {1-0 Anand,V-Carlsen,M/Leon
ESP 2005/(30)}) (10... c6 11. Bxd6 (11. Bg5 d5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Nd4 Ne4 14.
Qe1 Qf6 15. f3 Nd6 16. Qd2 Bd7 17. Qg5 Qxg5+ 18. hxg5 {1/2-1/2 Rozentalis,
E-Arencibia,W/Elista 1998/CBM 66 ext (18)}) 11... Qxd6 12. Qxd6 Bxd6 13. Rxd6
Ne4 14. Rd4 Nxf2 15. Rg1 Ng4 16. Bc4 Bf5 17. Bd3 Bxd3 18. cxd3 Nf6 19. Re1 (19.
Kd2 Rfd8 20. a4 Ne8 21. Re1 Rxd4 22. Nxd4 Kf8 23. a5 Nc7 24. b4 Rd8 $14 {
1/2-1/2 Cheparinov,I-Dominguez,L/Cuernavaca MEX 2006/(54)}) 19... Rfe8 20.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 21. Kd2 Kf8 22. a4 Ke7 $14 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Gelfand,B/Wijk aan
Zee NED 2006/(72)}) (10... b5 11. Bxb5 Rb8 12. Nd4 Bd7 13. Nc6 Bxc6 14. Bxc6
$16 {0-1 Yakivchik-Goreskul/Lvov 1999 (32)}) (10... Re8 11. Kb1 (11. Bc4 Be6
12. Bxe6 Nxe6 13. Be3 Qd7 14. Qd3 Qc6 15. Rde1 Nc5 16. Bxc5 Qxc5 17. Re3 Bf6
$11 {1/2-1/2 Almasi,Z-Fridman,D/Neukoelln GER 2005/(20)}) (11. Be3 Ne4 12. Qe1
Bg4 13. Bd3 Bf6 $15 {0-1 Van Oosterom,C-Skatchkov,P/Groningen NED 2005/(25)})
11... Ne4 12. Qe1 Bf6 13. Be3 c5 14. Bd3 Qa5 15. Bxe4 Rxe4 $11 {0-1 Bologan,
V-Rabiega,R/playchess.com INT 2004/EXT 2005 (28)}) (10... Be6 11. Ng5 Qd7 12.
Be3 b6 13. a3 a5 14. f3 $36 {1-0 Atlas,V-Nemet,I/Schweizer Liga Luzern-Riehen
sp05/12 2005/Inf 005 (30)}) 11. Ng5 h6 (11... Qd7 12. Kb1 h6 13. Bc4 Qf5 14. f3
hxg5 15. hxg5 Be5 16. Bxe5 dxe5 17. Rh4 $40 {0-1 Narings,N-Monteban,M/
Amsterdam NED 2005/(35)}) 12. Bd3 (12. Bc4 $5 Bf5 13. f3 $36) 12... Nxd3+ 13.
Qxd3 (13. cxd3 $5 b5 $5 (13... hxg5 14. hxg5 Be7 15. Qe3 Bf5 16. Rh2 (16. Rde1
Re8 17. Qf3 Bf8 $13) 16... f6 17. g4 $40) 14. Ne4 Re8 (14... Bb7 15. g4 $36)
15. f3 Be6 16. Nxf6+ Qxf6 17. g4 $13) 13... g6 14. Nf3 {White is trying to
take advantage of the opponent's weakened kingside.} (14. Ne4 Bg7 15. h5 g5 16.
Be3 Bf5 17. Bd4 d5 18. Nf6+ Qxf6 19. Bxf6 Bxd3 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Rxd3 c6 $11
22. c4 dxc4 23. Rd7 b5 24. Rhd1 Rfe8 25. R1d6 Re1+ 26. Kd2 Rae8 $132) 14... h5
(14... Bg7 $5 15. Qd2 (15. h5 g5 16. Be3 Qf6 17. Bd4 Qf5 $11) 15... Kh7) 15.
Rde1 Bf5 16. Qd2 Re8 17. Bg5 $14 {White is still threatening with a kingside
offensive - and that allows him to keep a slight advantage.} Bxg5 18. Nxg5 (18.
hxg5 Be4 19. Qf4 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Qd7 $11) 18... Qf6 19. f3 {[%cal Gg2g4]} Re5 $1
{Black's counter play along the "e"- file forces White to swap pieces thus
reducing his own attacking potential.} 20. Rxe5 (20. g4 hxg4 21. fxg4 Bxg4 22.
Ref1 Rf5 23. Qg2 Re8 $17) 20... dxe5 (20... Qxe5 21. Re1 $16) 21. Rd1 Qc6 $11
22. b3 Re8 {[%cal Ye5e4]} 23. Kb2 e4 24. fxe4 Bxe4 25. Qf4 Bf5 26. Rd2 (26. Nf3
Qe4 $11) 26... Qc5 27. Nf3 Bg4 28. a4 Bxf3 $2 {Black swaps one piece too many
and lets White back into the driving seat.} (28... Kg7 $11) 29. Qxf3 $14 c6 30.
Rd7 Re7 31. Qd3 $1 {It's not easy to defend Black's queenside pawns -
especially while in a time-trouble.} Rxd7 $2 (31... a6 32. Rc7 $5 (32. b4 Qe5
$11) 32... Rxc7 33. Qd8+ Kg7 34. Qxc7 b5 35. Qa5 (35. a5 b4 36. cxb4 Qd4+ 37.
Ka2 Qe4 $11) 35... Qa7 36. axb5 cxb5 37. Qd8 $14) 32. Qxd7 Qb6 33. b4 $1 c5 $2
(33... a5 34. Kb3 Kf8 35. Qd4 $36) 34. a5 Qc6 $4 (34... Qf6 35. Qc8+ Kh7 36.
Qxc5 Qxh4 37. Qxa7 Qe4 38. Qa8 Qe7 39. b5 $18) 35. Qxc6 bxc6 36. Kb3 $18 Kf8
37. Kc4 cxb4 38. cxb4 Ke7 39. Kc5 Kd7 40. c4 f6 41. b5 g5 42. b6 axb6+ 43. Kxb6
Kc8 44. Kxc6 gxh4 45. c5 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2647"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. d4 {Huebner,R} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a4 {The Slav
with a6 remains very popular at all levels, White is still unable to get a
workable advantage in the critical lines.} (5. e3 b5 (5... e6 {is also
playable, but not too consistent - if Black wants to play like this, the
normal Meran is more promising. White can now avoid it with} 6. b3 Bb4 7. Bd2
Nbd7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O Bd6 10. Qc2 h6 11. Ne2 $5 Re8 12. Ng3 e5 13. cxd5 Nxd5
14. Rad1 exd4 15. Nxd4 Nb4 16. Bh7+ Kh8 17. Qb1 Nd5 18. Bf5 Qc7 19. Rfe1 N7f6
20. e4 Ne7 21. Bxc8 Raxc8 22. Qc1 c5 23. Nf3 Ng4 24. Ba5 $1 Qxa5 25. Rxd6 $40 {
Gelfand,B-Sokolov,I/Wijk aan Zee/2006/}) 6. c5 $5 Nbd7 (6... g6 {also has a
good reputation.}) 7. b4 (7. Bd3 e5 $5 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Ng4 10. f4 Bxc5 11.
Qf3 Qb6 12. Ke2 Nh6 13. h3 {Gelfand,B-Sokolov,I/Merida/2005/} O-O $132 {Hübner}
(13... Be7 $5 $13 {Gelfand})) 7... a5 8. bxa5 Qxa5 9. Bd2 b4 10. Nb1 Ne4 11. a3
({After} 11. Be2 e5 12. O-O {Black doesn't have to hurry with the exchange on
d2 and can play} Be7 $5 {first, keeping the option Nc3:} 13. Ne1 Nc3 14. Bxc3
bxc3 15. a4 Nf6 16. f3 Bf5 17. Bd3 Be6 18. Ra3 Nd7 19. Kh1 Bf6 20. Nc2 O-O 21.
f4 exf4 22. exf4 Nxc5 $5 23. dxc5 Qxc5 $44 {Krasenkow,M-Kritz,L/Mainz rpd op/
2005/}) 11... Rb8 $1 12. Ra2 Nxd2 13. Qxd2 Ra8 14. Be2 e5 15. O-O Be7 16. Rb2
bxa3 17. Qxa5 Rxa5 18. Ra2 Ba6 19. Bxa6 Rxa6 20. Rxa3 $11 {1/2,Aronian,
L-Sokolov,I/EU-chT Gothenburg/2005/}) 5... e6 {The main alternative. It's only
seemingly passive, as moving the Bc8 enhances the strength of the Qb3 sortie.
Now we have a Semi-Slav position with the extra a4 and a6, both sides are
trying to prove that their move is the more useful one. This is a difficult
task, especially for White.} 6. Bg5 {This active move is the most popular
choice - White plays it more often than all the other options together.} (6. a5
{tries to use the merits of 5.a4. However, this is too slow and Black has} c5
$1 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Rb8c6] /\Nc6,><a5} 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Ne5 Nc6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10.
e3 cxd4 11. Qxd4 c5 12. Qd1 Be7 $11 13. e4 $6 Nb4 14. Bd2 O-O 15. Be2 Ra7 16.
Be3 Rd7 17. Qb1 Nc6 18. Qa2 Nd4 19. Bd1 Rb7 20. O-O Bd7 21. f3 Rb4 $36 {
Azmaiparashvili,Z-Epishin,V/Elenite/1994/}) ({The "meran"} 6. e3 {is passive
and rather harmless, Black now even has a choice:} c5 $5 (6... a5 {[%cal Yb8a6,
Ya6b4] /\Na6-b4<=>}) 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. O-O Be7 $11 (8... Bd6 $5 {In any case he
can easily develop his forces and the weakness on b4 gives him sufficient <=>.}
)) (6. g3 {is more justified, as due to 5.a4 Black usually can't hold the pawn
after playing dxc4. However, in a solid Catalan White's minimal edge can
quickly evaporate:} dxc4 (6... a5 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Nd2 $1 {already
isn't quite ideal, after} Na6 10. e4 Nb4 11. e5 Nd7 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Ndb1 Nb8
14. Na3 N8c6 15. Be3 b6 16. Re1 Ba6 17. Nab5 Na7 18. Qd2 Nxb5 19. axb5 Bc8 20.
h4 $14 {()->>>,Najer,E-Malakhov,V/Moscow/2003/ White has good attacking
chances.}) 7. Bg2 (7. Ne5 c5 $11) (7. Bg5 Nbd7 8. Bg2 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. a5
Bb4 11. O-O O-O 12. Qa4 Qe7 13. Rfd1 Rb8 14. Qa2 c5 15. d5 $5 exd5 16. Nxd5
Qxe2 17. Nxb4 cxb4 18. Rd2 Qe7 19. Qxc4 Nf6 (19... b6 $5 $11) 20. Rd4 b5 21.
Qxb4 Qxb4 22. Rxb4 Bb7 $11 {Ponomariov,R-Bacrot,E/Biel/2004/}) 7... c5 8. dxc5
(8. O-O Nc6 9. Ne5 Na5 $5 $11) 8... Qxd1+ 9. Nxd1 Nc6 (9... Bxc5 {is similar
and also playable.}) 10. Be3 (10. Ne3 $142 {is played more often and seems
more promising after} Bxc5 11. Nxc4 Ke7 12. O-O Bd7 13. b3 $5 $11 {/+/=}) 10...
Nd5 11. O-O Nxe3 ({Black can postpone this capture, more flexible is} 11... Bd7
$1 12. Nd2 Rd8 {/\} 13. Nxc4 Nxe3 14. Ndxe3 Bxc5 $11) 12. Nxe3 Bxc5 13. Nxc4
Ke7 14. Rac1 Bd7 ({Still quite solid is} 14... Rd8 $5 15. Nce5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5
Bd6 17. Nc4 Bc7 {[%cal Ya8b8] /\Rb8=}) 15. Nfe5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Bd6 17. Nxd7 Kxd7
18. Bxb7 Ra7 19. Bc6+ Ke7 20. b3 Rb8 21. Rb1 $14 {[%csl Rc6,Gd6] /=^-,Aronian,
L-Bacrot,E/Khanty Mansyisk/2005/ This _|_ is drawish, but the exhausted Bacrot
did lose it in the end.}) 6... h6 {The prologue to an enterprising idea,
obviously prepared by Topalov at home (as he has never played the a6 Slav
previously).} ({Black plays} 6... Nbd7 {more often, but this doesn't fit the
active style of the current World Champion, moreover Van Wely has had previous
experience with} 7. cxd5 (7. a5 {can be a.o. met by the interesting} Bb4 $5 8.
Qa4 Be7 9. e3 O-O {[%cal Yb7b5,Yc6c5] /\c5,b5<=> In an Orthodox QG White has
some extra tempi, but he spent them to play a4-a5 and Qa4, so Black should be
able to equalize with a timely central break.}) (7. e3 Qa5 {leads to a
modified Cambridge Springs, in which Black solved his opening problems after}
8. Nd2 Bb4 9. Qc2 c5 10. Nb3 Qc7 11. dxc5 O-O $1 12. Bd3 dxc4 13. Bxc4 Bxc5 14.
Bd3 Bd6 15. Rc1 b6 $11 {Mamedyarov,S-Dautov,R/EU-chT Plovdiv/2003/}) 7... exd5
({Black can probably equalize even with the simple} 7... cxd5 $5 8. e3 h6 9.
Bh4 Bd6 10. Bd3 b6 11. O-O Bb7 12. Rc1 (12. Qe2 O-O 13. Rac1 Qb8 14. Bg3 Bxg3
15. hxg3 Qd6 16. Rc2 Rfc8 17. Rfc1 Qb4 18. Nd2 g6 19. b3 Kg7 20. Qd1 e5 21. Na2
Qd6 22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Rxc8 Bxc8 $15 {Van Wely,L-Shirov,A/BL 0405/
2005/}) 12... O-O 13. Re1 Qb8 14. Bg3 Bxg3 15. hxg3 Qd6 16. Qb3 Rfc8 17. Rc2
Rc7 18. Rec1 Rac8 19. Ne2 Rxc2 20. Rxc2 Rxc2 21. Qxc2 $11 {1/2,Pelletier,
Y-Karjakin,S/Merida/2005/}) 8. e3 a5 {Otherwise Black must already seriously
reckon with a5.} 9. Bd3 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Qc2 Re8 {In this Carlsbad
structure position due to a4 White can't play for the << minority attack with
b4 anymore, but he has an extra tempo and can turn his attention to the other
flank:} 12. Rae1 Nf8 13. Ne5 Ng4 14. Bxe7 Rxe7 15. f4 f6 16. Nxg4 Bxg4 17. f5
Bh5 18. Kh1 Qb6 (18... Qd6 $142 $5) 19. Rg1 Bf7 20. g4 c5 $6 {[%csl Rd5] This
weakens d5 and seems too committal.} 21. Qf2 cxd4 22. exd4 Rae8 23. Rd1 Re3 24.
Bb5 R8e7 25. Rg3 Rxg3 26. Qxg3 Qd8 27. h4 Be8 28. g5 $36 {Van Wely,L-Sedlak,N/
BL 0405/2004/}) ({Another solid alternative is} 6... a5 7. e3 Be7 8. Be2 O-O 9.
O-O Na6 10. Qb3 Nb4 11. Rac1 b6 ({Malakhov twice held the balnace even with
the somewhat provocative} 11... Nh5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Na2 Nxa2 14. Qxa2 Nf6 $11
{/+/=}) 12. Na2 (12. cxd5 Nfxd5 13. Bf4 $5 (13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Ne5 Bb7 15. Nxd5
exd5 16. Nd3 Rfc8 17. Nxb4 axb4 $11 {1/2,Stohl,I-Kindermann,S/BL 0304/2004/})
13... Nxf4 14. exf4 Bd6 15. g3 Ba6 $11 {<=>} (15... Bb7 16. Bc4 c5 $6 17. d5
Bxf4 18. Rcd1 b5 19. axb5 Bd6 20. Rd2 a4 21. Qd1 e5 22. Re1 $14 {Nielsen,
P-Bacrot,E/Dortmund/2005/})) 12... Nxa2 13. Qxa2 Ne4 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Ne5 Bb7
16. cxd5 cxd5 17. Qa3 Qxa3 18. bxa3 Rfc8 19. Nd7 Nc3 20. Bb5 Rc7 21. Nxb6 Ra7
22. h3 Ba6 $11 {Sokolov,I-Stefanova,A/Hoogeveen/2005/}) 7. Bh4 ({After} 7. Bxf6
Qxf6 {probably the best chance to fight for a slight edge is} 8. Qb3 $5 {
, when White can in some lines profit from the vulnerability of the b6-square.
However, Van Wely wants more and avoids the exchange...} (8. g3 {can lead to
Ponomariov-Bacrot from the above notes, while in the line}) (8. e3 Nd7 9. Bd3
g6 {the moves a4 and a6 are more to Black's favour.})) 7... dxc4 $5 {The most
principled continuation, despite a4 Black unambiguously indicates he wants to
hold on to the Pc4.  Huebner,R: Dies ist ein völlig neues, höchst originelles,
großartiges Konzept. Über den Wert der Fortsetzung kann verständlicherweise
hier kein endgültiges Urteil gefällt werden.} (7... Nbd7 {is already less
accurate, as after the insertion of h6 and Bh4 White's B is less exposed.}) 8.
e3 $6 {This is somewhat inconsistent and causes White problems. The most
radical continuation is definitely} (8. e4 $5 g5 ({After} 8... Bb4 {White has
the simple} 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Bxc4 $14 {, but interesting is}) (8... b5 $5 {
This vesrion of the Botvinnik may be fully playable for Black, in some of the
main lines White's N misses the important a4-square.} 9. axb5 (9. Bxf6 gxf6 10.
axb5 cxb5 11. Nxb5 $6 axb5 $1 12. Rxa8 Bb7 $36) (9. e5 $13) 9... cxb5 10. e5 g5
11. exf6 gxh4 12. Ne5 Qxf6 13. Nxb5 Bb4+ (13... axb5 $5 14. Rxa8 Bb4+ 15. Ke2
Bd6 $44) 14. Nc3 O-O 15. Bxc4 Bb7 16. O-O Rd8 17. Re1 Qg7 18. g3 Nc6 19. Nxf7
$1 $40 {Vallejo Pons,F-Magem Badals,J/ESP-chT Cala Galdana/1999/}) 9. Bg3 Bb4
10. Bxc4 (10. Qc2 $5 $44) 10... Nxe4 11. O-O Nxg3 12. fxg3 $1 $13 {White's
compensation can't be underestimated.}) 8... b5 $1 {[%mdl 512] Black already
can't stop halfway and must sacrifice the exchange. This is the right
move-order, as} (8... g5 $6 9. Bg3 b5 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Nxb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bb4+
13. Nd2 $5 $16 {is dubious, the Nb8 is attacked.}) 9. axb5 cxb5 10. Bxf6 (10.
Nxb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bb7 12. Ra1 (12. Bxf6 {-10.Bf6}) 12... Bb4+ 13. Ke2 $8 (13.
Nd2 $2 g5 14. Bg3 Ne4 $19) 13... O-O $44 (13... g5 14. Bg3 Nc6 $13)) 10... gxf6
11. Nxb5 {This is also forced, otherwise Black has a healthy extra P after Bb7.
} axb5 12. Rxa8 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] White comes up with a novelty,
but presumably it wasn't prepared beforehand.} ({The seemingly more solid
alternative} 13. Nd2 Bb7 {is in fact no less dangerous:} 14. Ra7 $142 $5 (14.
Ra1 e5 $1 $32 {Van der Wiel} (14... Rg8 $143 {allows} 15. Be2 $1 Rxg2 16. Kf1
Bxd2 17. Qxd2 {Marovic,D-Pomar,A/Olot/1969/} Qd6 $5 18. Ra7 Rxh2 19. Rg1 $1
Bg2+ 20. Ke1 $13 {/+/=}) (14... f5 {Huebner,R} 15. f4 (15. f3 {wird mit} f4 {
beantwortet.}) 15... Nd7 {hat Schwarz vorzügliche Kompensation für die
geopferte Qualität.})) 14... Qb6 15. Ra1 {is better, as it deflects the Q from
the <->d. However, even here Black has} e5 $1 16. Be2 (16. dxe5 Ke7 $1 17. Qh5
{is too computer-like:} Rd8 18. Rd1 Nd7 $32 {->}) 16... exd4 17. O-O Rg8 $1 18.
e4 (18. Bf3 $2 Bxd2 19. exd4 Bb4 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 $17 {/-+,Van den Doel,E-Van der
Wiel,J/NED-ch Rotterdam/1999/}) 18... Nd7 $15 {[%csl Gc4,Gd4] and his [+]P
give him an advantage.} (18... f5 $5 $36)) 13... Bb7 14. Ra1 f5 $5 {Black has
visible compensation and many tempting ways to increse the pressure, but not
all of them are effective:} (14... Nc6 $6 {allows} 15. g3 {[%cal Yf1g2] /\Bg2})
(14... Qd5 15. Ne1 $5 {/\f3,Kf2+/=}) ({Black could have avoided the following
active sortie with} 14... Rg8 $44 {or}) (14... Nd7 $44 {/\} 15. b3 $6 Bd5 $40)
15. Ne5 (15. b3 {(Huebner,R) kommt in Betracht, um dem Springer zunächst das
Feld d3 freizukämpfen. Nach} Bd5 16. Ne5 cxb3 17. f3 {ist die Lage nicht
deutlich.}) 15... Rg8 16. f4 $5 {[%cal Ye2f2] White needs f2 for his K and} (
16. f3 $2 {fails to} f6 $19 {[%csl Re5]}) 16... Nc6 (16... Nd7 $5 {[%cal Yd7f6,
Yf6e4] /\} 17. Nf3 (17. Ra7 Nxe5 18. Rxb7 Qa8 $1 $36 {regains the exchange and
retains the pressure.}) (17. Nxd7 Qh4 $1 18. Nf6+ (18. g3 Rxg3 $1 19. hxg3 Qxh1
20. Nf6+ Ke7 21. d5 Kxf6 22. Qd4+ Kg6 $19) 18... Qxf6 19. Kf2 Qh4+ 20. Kg1 e5 {
leads to a position, similar to the following note. Now White ha a better
chance to avoid it.}) 17... Nf6 $36) 17. Nf3 $1 {White wants to consolidate
his set-up, too passive is} (17. Nxc6 Bxc6 18. Kf2 Qh4+ 19. Kg1 e5 $1 {We'll
see this break in an even more impressive version in the game.} (19... Qh3 20.
Qe2 h5 21. Qf2 h4 {allows White to play} 22. g3 $1 hxg3 23. Bxh3 gxf2+ 24. Kxf2
Bxh1 25. Rxh1 $11) 20. fxe5 $140 $2 (20. Qe2 {Huebner,R} exf4 21. exf4+ Kf8 22.
Qf2 (22. Ra6 Bb7 23. Ra7 Qxf4 {ist ungesund für Weiß.}) 22... Qxf2+ 23. Kxf2
Rg4 {ist ebenfalls unbequem für Weiß, obwohl er nicht ohne Rettungsaussichten
verbleibt.}) 20... Qe4 21. Qe2 f4 $19 {->}) (17. Kf2 $2 Nxe5 18. fxe5 Qg5 $19)
17... Na5 $6 (17... Ne7 $5 18. Kf2 Nd5 $36 {/\} 19. Be2 $2 Rxg2+ $19) 18. Kf2
Nb3 19. Ra7 Be4 20. Ra2 $2 {Topalov beautifully refutes this.} (20. g3 $142 $1
$13 {[%cal Yf1g2,Rf3e5] /\Bg2,Ne5!<=> leaves the result quite open.}) (20. h4 {
(Huebner,R) kommt in Betracht, obwohl es der Bauernstruktur des Weißen nicht
gut tut. Die Möglichkeit zu Dd8-h4+ wird dem Weißen genommen und Th1-h3
vorbereitet.}) 20... e5 $3 {[%mdl 512] This powerful break blows up White's
central defensive bastions.} 21. fxe5 {The only way to take the P.} (21. Nxe5
$2 {loses by force:} Qh4+ 22. g3 (22. Kg1 Be1 23. Qe2 Nc1 $1 $19) 22... Rxg3
23. hxg3 Qxh1 24. Nf3 Bxf3 25. Qxf3 Be1+ 26. Ke2 Nc1+ $19) (21. Be2 exd4 22.
exd4 Nd2 $5 $17 {->} (22... Nxd4 {Huebner,R} 23. Qxd4 (23. g3 Bc5 24. Kg2 Rg6 {
hält Weiß nicht lange aus.}) 23... Rxg2+ 24. Kf1 Qxd4 25. Nxd4 Bc5 26. Bf3 Bxf3
27. Nxf3 Rf2+ 28. Ke1 Rxf3 {führt zu einer freudlosen Stellung für Weiß.}))
21... f4 22. Be2 (22. exf4 Bxf3 23. gxf3 (23. Qxf3 Qxd4+ 24. Qe3 Qd5 {[%cal
Rb4c5] /\Bc5-+}) 23... Bd2 $19 {->} 24. Bh3 {Huebner,R} Bxf4 {dürfte Weiß kaum
überleben können.}) 22... fxe3+ 23. Kxe3 Qd5 {'!' Huebner,R.} ({Nach} 23...
Bd2+ {Huebner,R} 24. Kf2 Bxf3 25. Bxf3 Qxd4+ 26. Kf1 {ist die Lage nicht klar.
Wenn Schwarz darauf verzichtet, mit} Qd3+ 27. Be2 Qf5+ 28. Bf3 Qd3+ {
Dauerschach zu geben, kommt Weiß zu g2-g3 nebst Kf1-g2.}) 24. g3 {'?' Huebner,
R. The motif from the game works even after other moves, e.g.,  Huebner,R:
'Jetzt hängt in vielen der taktischen Abwicklungen der Turm auf h1, und
Schwarz erzielt den Gewinn. Versucht werden mußte'} (24. Rg1 Nxd4 $1 (24...
Bd2+ {Huebner,R} 25. Kf2 Bxf3 26. Bxf3 Qxd4+ 27. Kf1 {gibt dem Schwarzen auch
hier keine Gewinnaussichten.}) 25. Nxd4 {Huebner,R: 'Andere Züge sind
hoffnungslos:'} (25. Ra8+ {Huebner,R} Qxa8 26. Qxd4 Bxf3 27. Bxf3 Qc8 {, und
Schwarz gewinnt.}) (25. Qxd4 {Huebner,R} Bc5 26. Ra8+ Ke7 27. Ra7+ (27. Rxg8
Bxf3 28. Qxc5+ Qxc5+ 29. Kxf3 Qxg1 {überläßt dem Schwarzen eine Gewinnstellung.
}) 27... Ke8 28. Ra8+ Ke7 (28... Kd7 29. Rxg8 Bxd4+ (29... Bxf3 30. Rd1 {
ist hier ungesund für Schwarz.}) 30. Nxd4 Qxe5 31. Nf3 Bxf3+ 32. Kxf3 Qf5+ 33.
Kg3 Qe5+ {mit Remisschluß.}) 29. Ra7+ {Nun hat Schwarz drei Königszüge zur
Auswahl, wenn er auf Gewinn spielen will:} Kd8 {ist richtig:} (29... Ke6 30.
Rc7 (30. Ra6+ {ist gut genug fürs Remis.}) 30... Bxd4+ 31. Nxd4+ Kxe5 32. Re7+
Kd6 33. Rxe4 f5 34. Rf4 Qe5+ 35. Kf3 {verschafft dem Schwarzen ebenfalls keine
Freude.}) (29... Kf8 30. Ra8+ Kg7 31. Rxg8+ Kxg8 32. Qxc5 Qxc5+ 33. Kxe4 Qb4
34. Rb1 Qb3 35. Nd4 Qa2 36. Rc1 Qxb2 37. Rc2 Qb1 38. Kd5 {birgt für Schwarz
nur Gefahren.}) 30. Rd1 Bd3 31. Bxd3 Bxd4+ 32. Nxd4 cxd3 33. Rxd3 Qxe5+ 34. Kf3
(34. Kf2 Qe4 35. Nc6+ Kc8 36. g3 Re8 (36... Qxd3 37. Ne7+ Kd8 38. Nc6+ Ke8 39.
Re7+ Kf8 40. Rxf7+ Kxf7 41. Ne5+ Ke6 42. Nxd3 Kd5 {sollte auch zum Gewinn
führen.}) 37. Rxf7 b4 38. Na7+ Kb8 39. Kg1 Qc4 {, und Weiß wird schließlich
mattgesetzt werden.}) 34... Qd5+ 35. Ke3 Qg5+ 36. Ke4 Qxg2+ {, und Schwarz
wird schließlich gewinnen.}) 25... Bc5 $1 {Ftacnik} (25... Qxe5 26. Nf3 Bc5+ (
26... Bxf3+ {Huebner,R} 27. Kxf3 Qf5+ 28. Ke3 Bc5+ 29. Kd2 Ke7 30. Re1 Rxg2 31.
Ra3 Bxa3 32. bxa3 Qd3+ 33. Kc1 Qxa3+ 34. Kb1 Qb4+ 35. Kc1 Qc3+ 36. Kb1 Kf8 37.
Rg1 {überläßt dem Weißen Rettungsaussichten.}) 27. Kd2 c3+ $1 (27... Qf4+ {
Huebner,R} 28. Ke1 Bxg1 29. Nxg1 Qe3 (29... Qh4+ 30. g3 Qxh2 31. Qd4 Qxg3+ 32.
Kd2 {dürfte nicht zum Gewinn genügen.}) 30. Qd6 Qxg1+ 31. Kd2 Qxg2 32. Qb8+ Ke7
33. Ra7+ Ke6 34. Ra6+ Kf5 35. Qxb5+ Bd5 36. Rxh6 {, und Weiß sollte überleben.}
) 28. bxc3 Qd5+ {[%cal Rd5a2] /\Qa2 with equal material and a continuing ->.})
26. Bf3 Rg5 $1 27. Bxe4 (27. Re1 Bxf3 28. gxf3 Rg2 29. f4 Rxh2 $19) 27... Rxe5
28. Qc2 f5 $19) 24... Nxd4 25. Nxd4 (25. Qxd4 Bc5 26. Ra8+ Kd7 $19 {Huebner,R:
'ist hier ganz hoffnungslos für Weiß.'}) 25... Bxh1 26. Bf3 Qxe5+ 27. Kf2 Bc5 {
Huebner,R: 'In der vorliegenden Stellung begünstigt der Umstand, daß ungleiche
Läufer entstehen, den Angreifer. Weiß geht an der Schwäche seines Bauern auf
b2 zugrunde.'} 28. Bxh1 Bxd4+ 29. Kf1 Rg5 $19 {[%mdl 128] The storm has calmed
down for a while, but Black is already a P up and his attack continues to the
very end.} 30. Bf3 Kf8 31. Kg2 Qe3 32. Kh3 Kg7 33. b3 cxb3 34. Ra3 b4 35. Rxb3
Bc3 {Cuts off the Rb3.} 36. Qe2 Qc5 37. Qd3 Qc8+ 38. Kg2 Ra5 39. Qc2 Qe6 40.
Qb1 $6 (40. h4 $142 $5 {is more resilient, although after} Ra1 {White's
position is untenable in the long run.}) 40... Ra1 (40... Ra3 {Huebner,R} 41.
Rxa3 bxa3 {sorgt sofort für eine neue Dame; aber der Textzug genügt.}) 41. Qc2
Bd4 42. Bd1 ({It's too late for} 42. h4 Rh1 $1 43. Kxh1 Qh3+ 44. Qh2 Qf1+)
42... Qe1 43. Bf3 ({Auf} 43. Rd3 {(Huebner,R) folgt} b3 (43... Qg1+ 44. Kf3 Ra6
{genügt natürlich auch zum Gewinn.}) 44. Qxb3 Qf2+ 45. Kh3 Qf1+ 46. Kg4 h5+ 47.
Kxh5 (47. Kg5 Bf6+ 48. Kxh5 Qh3#) 47... Qf5+ 48. Kh4 Bf6#) 43... Qf1# {A
fitting end to a great attacking display.  Huebner,R: 'Eine weitere
Glanzpartie von Topalov!'} 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2689"]
[Annotator "Mikhalevski,V"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. c3
O-O 9. d4 Bb6 10. axb5 axb5 11. dxe5 {This move is starting to come into
fashion.} ({A fresh game of a young FIDE candidate saw} 11. Re1 d6 12. Be3 (12.
Bg5 $5) 12... Bg4 13. Na3 ({White could also try, which however doesn't seen
to promise an advantage.} 13. d5 Bxe3 14. Rxe3 Ne7 15. h3 $13) 13... exd4 (
13... b4 $1 14. Nb5 (14. Nc4 bxc3 15. bxc3 exd4 16. cxd4 Bxd4 $1 17. Bxd4 Bxf3
$1 $17) 14... Na5 $1 $15) 14. cxd4 Re8 15. Nxb5 Nxe4 16. Nc3 $11 {1/2-1/2
Carlsen,M-Nielsen,P/Aalborg DEN 2006 (38)}) ({The main line} 11. Na3 d6 12.
Nxb5 Bg4 {Dominguez,L-Rodriguez,A/ CBM109[Erenburg]. leads to an interesting
position with compensation for the sacrificed pawn.}) 11... Ng4 12. Na3 $146 {
This novelty is an attempt to revive the line with 11.dxe5, but as it was
proven by Anand(see below) Black develops very dangerous initiative after 12...
Ncxe5!} ({In two recent games} 12. Bf4 {proved to be not sufficient for
advantage.} Qe8 (12... Qe7 $5 13. Qd5 Bb7 14. Qxb5 Ba8 15. Qc4 Ncxe5 16. Bxe5
Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Qxe5 18. Nd2 Kh8 19. Nf3 Qf4 20. Rae1 Rbe8 {1/2-1/2 Smirin,
I-Kamsky,G/Khanty Mansyisk RUS 2005/The Week in Chess 578}) 13. Nd4 Ngxe5 14.
Nxb5 d6 15. Ba4 Bg4 16. Qc2 f5 17. Nd2 Qg6 {1/2-1/2 Svidler,P-Khalifman,A/
Moscow RUS 2005/ (41) and Black obtained a dangerous initiative.}) 12... Qe8 $6
{When we know Anand's idea any alternative looks dubious, however this time
this is the objective evaluation of the move.} ({Only few days later Vishy put
White's idea under a big question with} 12... Ncxe5 $1 13. h3 d6 $1 {The
brilliant piece sacrifice was probably missed by Topalov in his home
preparation and so he decided to decline it with} 14. Qe2 {and after series of
exchanges an equal position arose.} Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 Ne5 16. Qg3 Be6 17. Bxe6
fxe6 18. Nxb5 Rxf2 19. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 20. Qxf2 Rxb5 21. Qe2 Rb8 22. Bf4 Qf6 23. Rf1
$11 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Anand,V/Wijk aan Zee NED 2006.}) 13. Nd4 $1 Ngxe5 ({
Probably Black had to play more agressively} 13... Ncxe5 14. Naxb5 d6 {leaving
the knight on g4.}) 14. Naxb5 d6 15. Ba4 $1 {The reason to capture with the
queen knight on e5.} Bd7 16. b3 $1 {White has stabilized position on the
queenside and if Black shows no counterplay in the nearest future White's
extra pawn will play its role.} Ne7 {Sokolov is trying to avoid exchanges and
thus to exploit "stuck" White's pieces on the queenside.} ({In case of} 16...
Qe7 {[%cal Ge7h4] White prevents Black's counterplay by means of} 17. Qd2 $1
Qh4 18. Qf4) 17. Kh1 d5 {Black opens the centre to exploit his better placed
pieces, but...} (17... f5 {is not better in view of} 18. exf5 Nxf5 19. Nxf5
Rxf5 20. Nd4 Rf8 21. f4 Ng4 22. Qf3 $16) 18. f4 Ng4 ({In case of} 18... N5c6
19. f5 $1 $16 {[%cal Gf5f6] is very unpleasant.}) 19. e5 $1 {White keeps the
position close.} f6 20. h3 $1 Nxe5 $6 {A desperate attempt to obtain
counterplay, which is however objectively unsound. Topalov proves it without
big efforts.} ({After} 20... fxe5 21. hxg4 exd4 22. Nxd4 Bxa4 23. Rxa4 Qf7 24.
f5 $16 {Black has no compensation for a pawn. Still it was objectively better
than the game.}) 21. fxe5 fxe5 22. Rxf8+ Qxf8 23. Nf3 e4 24. Ne5 $18 Bxh3 {
The very last try to complicate matters.} 25. gxh3 Qf5 {[%csl Rh3]} 26. Ng4 h5
27. Nh2 {White keeps his extra pieces.} Qxh3 28. Bg5 $1 {Topalov defends his
king with the most natural moves.} Nf5 {[%cal Gf5g3]} 29. Qxd5+ Kh8 30. Bf4 $1
{[%csl Rg3] Covering the g3-square.} Bf2 $5 {[%cal Gf5g3,Gf2g3] Despite his
inventive play Sokolov can't save the game.} ({Doesn't help} 30... h4 31. Qxe4
Ng3+ 32. Bxg3 hxg3 33. Qg2 Qh4 34. Nd4 $1 Rf8 35. Rg1 $1 $18) 31. Ra2 $1 {
[%csl Re2,Rh2] Veselin is precise to the end.} Bg3 ({or} 31... Ng3+ 32. Bxg3
Bxg3 {[%cal Gg3h2]} 33. Qf7 $1 $18 {[%csl Rf1]}) 32. Bxg3 Nxg3+ 33. Kg1 {
Now the e2-squared is covered. So} Rf8 {[%cal Gg3f1] It seems that Black
achieved something, but White is just in time to parry Black's threats.} 34.
Nd4 $1 {[%csl Rh3][%cal Ga4d7] Eventually White brings his sleeping extra
pieces from the queenside and decides the game in his favour.} c5 ({or} 34...
Nf1 35. Bd7 $1 $18 {and white king finds a safe place on h1.}) ({Black could
win a queen with} 34... Rf1+ 35. Nxf1 Qh1+ 36. Kf2 e3+ 37. Nxe3 Ne4+ {, but
after} 38. Qxe4 Qxe4 39. Bc6 $18 {White obtains too many pieces for it.}) 35.
Bd7 $1 Qh4 ({Black could win a queen once again with} 35... Rf1+ $1 36. Nxf1
Qh1+ 37. Kf2 e3+ $1 38. Nxe3 Ne4+ $1 39. Qxe4 $1 Qxe4 40. Nf3 $18 {But at the
end White is completely winning.}) 36. Ne6 $1 Rf1+ $1 {The very last practical
chance.} 37. Kg2 $1 {Avoiding unnecessary complications. Black's attack has
come to its logical end and so Sokolov resigned. Bravo Topalov!} (37. Nxf1 $2 {
would allow some counterplay, although after} Qh1+ 38. Kf2 Qf3+ 39. Ke1 Qxf1+
40. Kd2 Qe2+ 41. Kc1 Qxa2 42. Qxc5 Qa1+ 43. Kd2 Qb2+ 44. Ke3 Qe2+ 45. Kf4 Qf3+
46. Ke5 {White escapes the checks and eventually win anyway.}) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.24"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7.
Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 O-O 13. a4 bxa4
14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Rb8 16. Ra2 (16. b3 Kh8 17. Nce3 g6 ({Here after} 17...
Bxe3 18. Nxe3 Ne7 19. O-O f5 (19... Bb7 20. Qc2 $5 $14) 20. exf5 Nxf5 21. Nxf5
Bxf5 22. Qd5 {White keeps an edge}) 18. h4 Bxh4 19. g3 $13) 16... Kh8 17. Nce3
Bxe3 {The simplest way to equalize.} (17... g6 18. h4 Bxh4 19. g3 {leads to a
much more complicated play. It is important for White here that he can play
b2-b4 (in opposite to a similar position after 16.b3, see above).}) 18. Nxe3
Ne7 19. b3 $5 $146 {Interesting novelty, which, however, can hardly change
much. White's edge is insignificant.} (19. O-O f5 20. exf5 Nxf5 21. Nd5 (21.
Nxf5 Bxf5 $11) (21. Bd5 Qc7 22. Nxf5 Bxf5 23. Qd2 Rb5 24. Re1 Rfb8 25. h3 a4
26. g4 Bd7 27. c4 Rb4 28. Re3 Bc6 29. Rc3 Qc8 {1/2-1/2 Heyn,U-Fritsche,F (1975)
/DESC email 2001}) 21... Ne7 $11) 19... f5 20. exf5 Nxf5 21. Nd5 Bb7 ({The
idea of 19.b3 is that Black cannot exchange the knights at once:} 21... Ne7 {
in view of} 22. Nxe7 Qxe7 23. Rxa5 {winning a pawn.}) 22. O-O Rc8 {A good idea,
keeping the pressure. The rook can often go to a good square c5.} 23. Qd3 Nh4
24. Rd1 h6 {Time to evaluate the position. Thanks to the tricky 19.b3 White
succeeded to avoid a quick simplification of the position. On the other hand
Black has little to complain about - his pieces are active, which should be
enough to compensate a slightly inferior pawn structure.} (24... Qg5 {brings
nothing in view of} 25. Qg3) 25. Qg3 (25. Rad2 {allows} a4 $1 {with the idea}
26. bxa4 Qg5 {and Black takes over the initiative. 27.Qg3 is not possible
because the queen must protect the bishop on c4.}) 25... Nf5 26. Qg4 Rc5 27.
Rad2 {White also nicely centralized his pieces, but on the other hand now he
will have to keep bishop c4 under queen protection in order to prevent ...a4.}
Bc8 28. Qe4 (28. Qe2 Qg5 $36) 28... Bb7 ({After} 28... Qg5 {White has} 29. f4
$1 exf4 30. Rf2 $1 {and the position opens in White's favour} (30. Nxf4 $2 Re5)
) 29. h3 $6 (29. Qg4 $142 $11) 29... Nh4 30. Bd3 $6 {White overestimates his
position. Black is not worse and attempts to play for a win are not justified.
Karjakin should have tried to wait and hold the balance.} Rf5 $1 31. Bb1 $2 {
This is already a blunder.} (31. Bc4 $142) (31. c4 Bxd5 32. cxd5 Kg8 $15) 31...
Rxc3 $1 32. Qg4 h5 33. Qe2 (33. Qa4 $8 Bc6 (33... Qg5 $2 34. Qe8+ Kh7 35. Bxf5+
$18) 34. Nxc3 Bxa4 35. Bxf5 Nxf5 36. bxa4 $17) 33... Qg5 $19 34. f4 (34. Be4
Rcf3 $1 35. Bxf3 Rxf3 36. g3 Rxb3 $19) 34... Rxf4 35. Kh1 Nxg2 36. Qxg2 ({After
} 36. Nxc3 {many moves win. The strongest is} Qh4 37. Kh2 Ne3 38. Qxe3 Rf3 39.
Qxf3 Bxf3 $19) 36... Rg3 ({Again} 36... Qh4 {is the quickest win.}) 37. Nxf4
Bxg2+ (37... exf4 $4 38. Qxb7 Rxh3+ 39. Rh2 $18) 38. Nxg2 Rxh3+ 39. Kg1 Rg3 40.
Rf2 Kg8 41. Rxd6 ({After} 41. Kh2 {Black has the interesting possibility} Rh3+
42. Kxh3 Qg4+ 43. Kh2 Qxd1 44. Be4 Qxb3 {and with so many pawns the position
should be winning rather easy.}) 41... h4 {White is helpless against the
further advance of the h-pawn.} 42. Rc6 Qg4 {Accuracy is required, of course.}
(42... h3 $4 43. Rc8+ $18) 43. Bf5 (43. Rd6 e4 44. Rd4 h3 45. Bxe4 Qg5 46. Rd5
Qe7 47. Re2 Qa7+ 48. Kh2 hxg2 49. Rxg2 Rxg2+ 50. Kxg2 Qe3 $19) 43... Rxg2+ $1
44. Rxg2 Qxf5 45. Rcg6 Qf7 46. R6g4 Qf6 47. Kh2 Kf7 48. Kh3 e4 49. Rg5 e3 50.
Kxh4 g6 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2
c6 8. Bc3 (8. Nc3 {is gaining some popularity in recent years, mainly due to
the fact that main lines (one of which we will see here) don't seem to promise
White much. Well, Topalov's defenitely intending to change that.}) 8... d5 9.
Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Nf6 ({In a recent world
championships (San Luis 2005), Anand continued} 12... Rc8 13. e4 c5 14. exd5
exd5 15. dxc5 dxc4 16. c6 cxb3 17. Re1 b2 {- it's all theory so far -} 18. Bxb2
Nc5 19. Nc4 Bxc4 20. Qg4 Bg5 21. Qxc4 Nd3 22. Ba3 Nxe1 23. Rxe1 {actually, it
is still theory} Re8 24. Rxe8+ {and only this was Topalov's novelty.} Qxe8 25.
Bd5 {with definitely sufficient compensation, but perhaps not more.}) 13. e4 b5
{One of the most critical positions in the Queen's Indian, and about one year
ago it was considered to give Black a rock solid equality.} 14. exd5 (14. Re1 {
used to be almost automatic for many years, but Black learned to equalize:}
dxe4 15. Qc2 Rc8 16. Rad1 Nd5 $1 {and now accepting the sac gives Black a
strong initiative on the queenside.} 17. cxd5 cxd5 {with a very impressive
pawn mass in the center - Black has nothing to worry about.}) 14... exd5 {
This move got many headlines after Anand beat Adams with it, utilizing a...
strong positional exchange sacrifice:} (14... cxd5 15. c5 $1 b4 16. Bxb4 Bxf1
17. Bxf1 e5 18. Bc3 a5 19. a3 Ne4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. b4 {1-0 Anand,V (2786)
-Adams,M (2741)/Wijk aan Zee 2005/CBM 105/ [Tyomkin,D]}) 15. Re1 Rb8 16. c5 ({
in Bologan - Sadvakasov, Pojkovsky 2005 White continued} 16. a3 {but after} Re8
17. c5 Bc8 18. b4 Qc7 19. a4 a6 20. axb5 axb5 21. Nb3 Bf5 {he had no advantage.
}) 16... Bc8 {The bishop has no longer anything to do on the queenside.} 17.
Nf3 Ne4 18. Rxe4 $1 {Out of the blue... Actually, Levon was an innocent victim
of a bomb designed for somebody else. Topalov later admitted this idea to be
prepared for San Luis. But note an interesting tendency: all the noisy
novelties lately are somehow connected with exchange sacrifices, maybe we
should re-evaluate the relative strengths of knight/bishop and a rook?} ({
Until now White played} 18. Ne5 $5 {and this looks like a gun shot towards a
bunker} Nxc3 19. Qd3 Qc7 20. Qxc3 Re8 21. a4 b4 22. Qf3 Bf8 {and White failed
to get anything in the two encounters between Kramnik (White) and Leko in
Dortmund 2004.}) 18... dxe4 19. Ne5 {White's idea is very logical (like all
strong ideas, once executed - they all look so natural and easy).. The pawn on
d5 was a key defender of the h1-a8 diagonal, and now all Black's queenside is
compromised, along with the center, of course.} Qd5 $1 {A good reaction by
Aronian, especially given that he had to face a strong novelty over the board.}
({A passive defence, like} 19... Qc7 {will not do it:} 20. Bxe4 b4 21. Bd2 Bd7
(21... Bxc5 22. Nxc6) (21... f5 22. Bg2 Bb7 23. Qe2 Bf6 24. Qc4+ Kh8 25. Bf4 {
is bad for Black.}) 22. Bf4 Qb7 23. Qd3 {it's hard to see why the rook on b8
is stronger than a knight on e5, but even if one manages to see the 'why', he
can win the exchange back with Nxd7.}) 20. Qe1 $1 {Continuing the analysis.} ({
Bad is} 20. Qc2 {as now,} f5 {cannot be met with} 21. f3 $2 {due to} Bxc5 $1
22. dxc5 Qxc5+ 23. Kh1 b4 {and Black even wins because of the unfortunate
position of White's queen.}) 20... Bf5 ({But now} 20... f5 21. f3 {is already
very strong - Black's light bishop will have to protect c6 for the rest of the
game.}) 21. g4 $1 {A strong idea, which was suggested by Cheparinov (according
to Topalov, at least).} Bg6 22. f3 {Here Topalov was still within his home
preparation whereas Aronian had to carefully weigh each move.} ({it's still
too early to snatch material:} 22. Nxg6 hxg6 23. Qxe4 Qxe4 24. Bxe4 b4 25. Bb2
Rfc8 {followed by Bf6, with a good position for Black, perhaps even better.})
22... b4 $2 {A mistake, allowing White to control the center, which will in
the end decide the game.} (22... Bxc5 $1 23. dxc5 Qxc5+ 24. Kh1 b4 25. Bb2 Qc2
26. Qc1 Qe2 {was better, as the white king's is in a somewhat exposed position
which promises Black counterplay.}) 23. fxe4 Qe6 24. Bb2 Bf6 ({Perhaps Aronian
was planning on} 24... f6 {but after} 25. Nxg6 hxg6 26. Qg3 {with a lethal
Bf1-c4 reansfer, Black has every reason to get depressed.}) 25. Nxc6 $1 {
Another great move by Topalov, giving him two strong passered in the center.} (
{a slighly worse version (with a 180 degree difference in the eventual
evaluation) arises after:} 25. d5 Qe8 26. Nxg6 Bxb2 27. Nxf8 Bxa1 28. Qxa1 cxd5
29. exd5 Qe3+ 30. Kh1 Kxf8 $19 {and Black's threats to white king will be much
stronger than the white runners.}) 25... Qxc6 26. e5 Qa6 27. exf6 Rfe8 {
Intenting to invade along the e-file, and get counterplay on the 2nd rank.} ({
After} 27... Qxf6 28. Qf2 $1 Qg5 29. d5 Qxg4 30. Qd4 Qxd4+ 31. Bxd4 {Black's
position is totally hopeless.}) 28. Qf1 $1 {Another strong move, depriving
Black of any counterplay.} ({If white snoozes with} 28. Qf2 Re2 29. Qg3 Rbe8
30. Bf1 Qc8 31. Bxe2 Rxe2 {,he suddenly finds himself in danger of losing.}) (
28. Qg3 Qxf6) 28... Qe2 $1 29. Qf2 $1 {We're used to see kings performing all
kinds of gracious triangles, but queens?! In any case, the World Champion's
last maneuver didn't allow Black to enter the second rank, and with this all
hopes for counterplay are gone.} (29. Qxe2 Rxe2 30. Bc1 Re1+ 31. Kf2 Rbe8 $132)
29... Qxg4 ({After} 29... Qd3 30. Bf1 Qe4 31. h3 {Black will have another
headache on a kingside.}) 30. h3 $1 {When you know what you want, everything
is so clear... even simple.} Qg5 (30... Qh5 31. Re1 {That's it. Preparational
moves are over, and once White starts moving his pawns - it's won't be a nice
sight.}) 31. Bc1 $1 {Transfrering the bishop to a better position, after which
it will be virtually imposible for Black to cope with White's passed pawns.} (
31. d5 {would have been too early due to} Be4) 31... Qh5 ({Perhaps} 31... Qxf6
{was better:} 32. Qxf6 gxf6 33. Bf4 Rbc8 34. Bb7 Rcd8 35. d5 Be4 36. Re1 {
and Black is still holding on, although it should be for long.}) 32. Bf4 Rbd8 (
32... Re2 33. Qg3 {Followed by Bf3.}) 33. c6 {Now it's showtime.} Be4 (33...
Re2 34. c7 Rc8 35. Qf3 Qxf3 36. Bxf3 Rc2 {Black loses because of the 8th rank
weakness.} 37. Re1 gxf6 38. Re7 {with a triumphant d-pawn march.}) 34. c7 Rc8
35. Re1 Qg6 {#} (35... Bxg2 {loses nicely to} 36. Rxe8+ Rxe8 37. Qxg2 Qd1+ 38.
Kh2 g6 39. Qe4 $1 {(Black doesn't even have a check)} Rc8 40. d5 {and Black
can resign.}) 36. Rxe4 $1 {Another exchange sacrifice, and again on e4. Two
white pawns are worth two black rooks.} Rxe4 37. d5 Rce8 38. d6 Re1+ 39. Kh2 {
Black could have resigned already now.} Qf5 40. Qg3 g6 41. Qg5 {The most
precise. Without the queens Black is hopeless.} Qxg5 42. Bxg5 Rd1 43. Bc6 Re2+
(43... Rc8 44. Bf4) 44. Kg3 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.02.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2007"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 {The Slav is a rare guest in Topalov's
games with Black. However, he seems to have included it recently into his
basic repertoire; in Wijk aan Zee 2006 he used it successful against Van Wely.}
5. cxd5 {The exchange variation is by no means peaceful. White aims to limit
Black's counterplay to the minimum, but keep for himself chances for an
advantage. Ivanchuk obtained a nice technical victory in this symmetrical
structure against Leko, (Istanbul, ol 2000), although the opening was
different (the fianchetto Grünfeld).} cxd5 {#} 6. Qb3 $5 (6. Bf4 {would have d
to a "genuine" position of the exchange variation. After Ivanchuk's move, we
find ourselves on the independent territory of the a6-Slav.}) 6... Nc6 7. Bg5
e6 8. e3 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Bd3 Bd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Rac1 {White enjoys a
better development, but this is not too relevant if he does not find a way to
open the position. In the long run, the pair of bishops is likely to offer
Black an advantage.} b5 13. Bb1 Bd7 14. Qc2 g6 15. Qd2 Rac8 16. Rfd1 Rc7 17.
Qe1 b4 18. Ne2 a5 19. Qd2 Rfc8 20. Ne1 a4 21. Nd3 Na5 22. Rxc7 Rxc7 23. Rc1 Nc4
24. Qe1 Qd8 25. g3 Bb5 {#Black's advantage is obvious now.} 26. h4 $6 {This
move unnecessarily weakens the king side.} g5 $1 ({Black could have won a pawn
with} 26... Nxb2 27. Nxb2 Bxe2 28. Rxc7 Qxc7 29. Qxe2 Qc1+ 30. Qd1 Qxb2 {
but it is far from clear whether this would have ensured him a win after} 31.
Qc2 Qa3 32. h5 {With his last move, Topalov not only forces the opening of the
h-file, but also retstricts the activity of the white knights even more.}) 27.
hxg5 hxg5 28. Kg2 Qc8 29. Ng1 f6 30. Qd1 Be8 31. Nf3 Bh5 32. Rc2 Bg6 33. Re2 g4
34. Nh4 Be4+ 35. Kh2 f5 36. Ne1 {#} Nxe3 $1 {Now that his domination reached
an apogeum, Topalov finally recurs to tactical methods.} 37. Rxe3 Rc1 38. Qd2
Rxb1 39. Rxe4 dxe4 40. Qg5+ Kf7 0-1

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.03.03"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. 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 Na5 11. Bd3 b6 12. Rc1 e5 $6 {A dubious idea. Black
doesn't obtain a sufficient compensation for the pawn.} 13. dxc5 (13. d5 {
is harmless, of course:} c4 14. Bc2 Bd7 15. Rb1 Nb7 16. Ba4 Bxa4 17. Qxa4 Nd6
18. f3 f5 19. Qc2 fxe4 20. fxe4 Qh4 21. Ng3 Bh6 22. Qd2 Bxe3+ 23. Qxe3 Rf4 24.
Rfe1 Raf8 $17 {0-1 Seifert,V-Zezulkin,J/Bayern 1999/EXT 2001 (37)}) 13... Be6 (
13... Qc7 14. cxb6 axb6 15. c4 Nb7 16. Nc3 $16) 14. c4 $1 {[%mdl 32] With two
ideas: 1) cxb6 axb6 c5!; 2) Ne2-c3-d5.} bxc5 15. Bxc5 Re8 16. Be3 Re7 17. Qc2
Rd7 18. Rfd1 Nc6 (18... Rb8 19. c5) 19. a3 {[%cal Cd8a5,Ca5a3,Ye2c3,Yc3d5]
White has consolidated his position keeping a healthy extra pawn...} Qa5 20.
Nc3 $1 Qxa3 21. Nd5 {...and the extra pawn has immediately gone! Not in vain -
the knight is already on d5! A typical example of transformation of an
advantage.} Rc8 22. Ra1 Qf8 23. Ra6 Nb4 (23... Bxd5 $6 24. exd5 Nb4 25. Qa4 $1
$16) 24. Nxb4 Qxb4 25. Rb1 Qf8 26. c5 Bh6 {Getting rid of the "bad" bishop but
the strong passed pawn guarantees White a big advantage anyway.} 27. Bxh6 Qxh6
28. c6 Rdc7 (28... Qf8 $5 {is probably more stubborn} 29. Rb5 $140 Qd8 $1) 29.
Rb5 {White plans to provoke the weakening ...f7-f6 then trade the bishops, put
his rook on d5 and eventually (after, say, Qa4 or Qd3) invade to d7. Of course,
in the meantime he must secure his king (and Black must try some kingside
counterplay).} Rd8 $6 {GM Petr Svidler doesn't want to wait passively but this
move simplifies White's task.} 30. Rb7 $1 Rxd3 {That was the idea but White
converts his extra exchange pretty easily.} 31. Qxd3 Qc1+ 32. Qf1 Rxc6 33. Ra1
Qf4 34. Qe1 Rc4 35. Rb4 Rc2 36. Rbb1 Bg4 37. h3 Be2 38. Ra3 a6 39. Re3 Bb5 40.
Rc1 Ra2 {Of course, after the rook exchange Black's position is hopeless but
now the white rooks start a killing counterattack.} 41. Rc8+ Kg7 42. Rc7 Be8
43. Rf3 Qg5 (43... Qd2 44. Qxd2 Rxd2 45. Re7 $18) 44. Qc3 {[%csl Rf7][%cal
Rc3c4] This has been my last game annotated for the Gruenfeld section of the
ChessBase Magazine. I would like to thank all our readers for 7 years we spent
together. From the next issue CBM changes its format. I hope for our new
meetings within a new formula!} 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.03.04"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 {Topalov obtained his only win in
Morelia with the 4...a6-Slav, which can be a partial explanation for his
opening choice in this game.} 5. Bd3 Bg4 6. Nbd2 e6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. b3 c5 $5 {
The fashion of pushing the pawn to c5 in two moves was initiated by Morezevich
and is a proof of the flexibility of Black's position in the Slav. With 4...a6
Black has induced the white queen's knight to develop to d2, overdefending the
c4-square for the eventuality of a further ...b5. This resulted in a lack of
pressure against the d5-pawn, which justifies Black'a last move. To a certain
extent this is similar with some Queen's Indian variations, where Black
willingly loses a tempo with his queen's bishop : 4.g3 Ba6 5.Nbd2 Bb7 later
followed by ...d5.} 9. cxd5 ({This looks like a significant concession.
White's previous play does will hardly be justified in the symmetrical
position with open centre that will arise now. More consistent would have been
} 9. Bb2 {aiming for a position with hanging pawns, when White's extra-tempi
in development (consequence of ...c6-c5 and ...a6) might have made themselves
felt. If Black would ignore the tension in the centre and develop normally,
with} Be7 10. Qc2 O-O {White could already start active operations in the
centre with} 11. Ne5) 9... Nxd5 $1 {Underlining the drawbacks of White's plan:
the relative weakness of the c3-square, the exposed position of the d3-bishop
and the difficulty of finding a good square for the queen.} 10. Bb2 Be7 11. Qb1
{The queen avoids the unpleasant pin along the d1-h5 diagonal and the fork on
b4 at the same time, but with such unnatural development White can hardly
claim an advantage.} cxd4 12. Bxd4 Bf6 {The exchange of the dark-squared
bishops makes part of Black's general plan. He releases the pressure against
his king side while accentuating the weakness of the c3-square, which will
require permanent surveillance from White.} 13. Rc1 ({The h7-pawn is posisoned:
} 13. Bxh7 Bxd4 14. exd4 (14. Nxd4 {is even worse in view of} Qh4) 14... f5 15.
Bg6+ Kf8 {and the bishop is trapped.}) 13... Bh5 ({In this phase of the game,
the absence of concrete threats gives play a rather abstract character. With
his last move, White retreats the bishop to a less exposed square and prepares
an eventual interference of the b1-h7 diagonal with ...Bg6 in order to enable
castling short. In case of the immediate} 13... Qe7 {White could face his
opponent with a difficult choice with} 14. Bxf6 {when 14...Qxf6 looks like a
mere loss of tempo, while} N7xf6 {is strongly met by} 15. Ne5 {with certain
initiative.}) ({The exchange on d4 looks slightly premature, too. After} 13...
Bxd4 14. Nxd4 N7f6 15. Ne4 O-O 16. Ng3 {Black had to resort to extreme
measures in order to save his bishop in Tregubov-Morozevich, Sochi 2005}) 14.
Rc4 Qe7 15. h3 ({It is not easy for White to make use of his minimal advance
in development, but his last move does not seem to be useful in any way at
this stage of the game. More to the point seems tobe} 15. a4 {followed by a5,
winning space on the queen side and indirectly developing the a1-rook without
moving it.}) 15... Rd8 {Probably feeling White's indecision, Black makes his
last useful, half-waiting move.} 16. Be4 $6 {Finally, White loses patience and
decides to threaten something concrete. However, his last move only helps
Black complete his development.} Bxd4 17. Nxd4 N7f6 18. Bxd5 Nxd5 19. Qb2 O-O
20. Rac1 Bg6 {Black's position already looks more pleasant. His bishop is
quite strong, while the enemy knights are somewhat restricted in their actions.
However, White's authoritary control of the c-file should enable him to
maintain the balance even.} 21. N4f3 f6 $1 {Continuing to restrict the white
knights.} 22. g3 $6 ({White takes the f4-square under control in order to
prepare the advance of the e-pawn. In doing so, he probably wanted to reduce
the activity of the black minor pieces, thus answering with the same method as
that employed by his opponent. However, the last move has the serious drawback
of weakening the light squares around the own king. Instead of this, he could
have continued his "own play" with} 22. a4 {, winning space on the wing where
he has concentrated such important forces as the major pieces.}) 22... e5 23.
a3 ({The necessity of this additional prophylactic move speaks about the
eroneous character of White's plan. The immediate} 23. e4 {would be strongly
answered by} b5 $1 24. Rc6 Nb4 25. Rc7 Rd7 26. Rxd7 Qxd7 27. Rc3 Nd3 28. Qc2
Rd8 {with active play for Black.}) 23... Qe6 {A multi-purpose move. White
takes under observation the weak h3- and b3-pawns while clearing the e7-square
for the knight in view of its further transfer to c6.} 24. e4 Ne7 25. Rc7 Rd7
26. h4 Rfd8 27. b4 h6 {Clearing the safe h7-square for the king.} 28. Rxd7 Rxd7
{Black's advantage is obvious. All his pieces are more active than White's.
The enemy knights have little chance to get active, mainly because of the
weakness of the e4-pawn.} 29. b5 axb5 30. Qxb5 Nc6 31. Kg2 Kh7 32. Qc4 Qxc4 33.
Rxc4 Rd3 {Simplifications did not bring White any relief. His knights are
still hopelessly passive.} 34. a4 (34. Ra4 {would leave the rook out of play
after} b5 35. Ra6 {allowing} Nd4 36. Nxd4 exd4 {with a more or less decisive
advantage for Black.}) 34... Ra3 {Black threatens to win the a4-pawn with ...
Bf7. White's attempts to prevent this simple plan will only shorten his
suffering.} 35. Nb1 Ra2 36. Nc3 Rc2 37. Rc5 {Defending ag ainst the threat ...
Bxe4+, but allowing Black to set a stronger one.} Nb4 {Threatening ...Nd3 or ..
.Na2. White cannot avoid important material losses.} 38. Ne1 Rc1 {The apparent
simplicity of this game is induced by the fact that Topalov won mainly by
parrying White's one- or two- move threats. The difficult (and instructive)
part consisted of combining this prophylactic play with the permanent
improvement of his own position.} 0-1

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.03.05"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "Gavrikov,V"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 {Black has a few reliable
possibilities to equalize in this line.} cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O ({The main
alternative to the text is} 6... Ne4) 7. Bg2 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qb3 Qb6 ({
Some players prefer the position after} 9... Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. O-O Qa5) 10.
Bxd5 exd5 11. Be3 Bh3 12. Rc1 ({This continuation is not so investigated as} 
12. g4 {after which Black´s simplest way to equality is} Nc6 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 {
[%cal Gd5d4]} 14. Rg1 Bxc3+ 15. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 16. bxc3 f5 17. Rd1 (17. f3 fxg4 18.
fxg4 a6 19. Kd2 Rae8 20. Rg3 Bf1 $11) 17... Bxg4 18. Rxd5 Rae8 {1/2-1/2 Bezold,
M-Horvath,C/Budapest 1994/CBM 045 ext (23)}) 12... Nc6 $146 ({Previous
practice has seen} 12... Rd8 13. a3 Ba5 14. Qxb6 Bxb6 15. Rg1 (15. Na4 Bxd4 16.
Bxd4 Nc6 17. Rd1 Rac8 18. Nc3 f6 $11) 15... h5 16. Rd1 Nc6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Atalik,
S-Pieniazek,A/Cappelle la Grande 1995/EXT 97 (30)}) 13. Nxc6 ({Favourable for
Black is} 13. Qxd5 $6 Bc5 $1 14. Nc2 Bxe3 15. Nxe3 Qxb2) 13... Qxc6 14. f3 Qc4
$6 ({More logical was to keep queens and choose} 14... Rfe8 15. Qxb4 (15. Kf2
Rxe3 $1 16. Kxe3 $140 $2 Qh6+ 17. f4 (17. Kd3 Bf5+ 18. e4 dxe4+ 19. fxe4 Bxc3
20. Qxc3 Rd8+ 21. Ke2 Bxe4 $40) 17... Re8+ 18. Kd2 Qb6 19. Rc2 d4 $17) 15...
Rxe3 16. Kf2 Rae8 17. Rhe1 R3e5 {when Black´s activity compensates the
weakness on d5.}) 15. Kf2 Be6 16. Qxc4 dxc4 17. Rhd1 {[%cal Gc3d5]} Bxc3 ({
White also maintains initiative after} 17... Ba5 18. Nb5 a6 19. Nd4 b5 20. Nxe6
fxe6 21. Rd6 Rfe8 22. Rcd1 Bc7 23. Rc6 Be5 24. Bc1) 18. bxc3 b6 19. Rd4 {
In this situation White´s pawn majority on the kingside is more important than
Black´s on the queenside.} Rfd8 20. g4 Rd5 $6 {An inaccuracy.} ({Better looks} 
20... f6 {followed by Kf7}) 21. g5 $1 {[%mdl 4096]} Rad8 22. h4 Kf8 23. Rb1 Ke7
24. Rb2 R8d6 25. Rxd5 ({After} 25. Rxc4 $6 Ra5 26. Re4 Rc6 27. a4 Rc4 {Black
restores the material balance.}) 25... Rxd5 26. Bd4 f6 27. e4 Ra5 28. f4 Bd7
29. Ke3 {White needs to open a file on the kingside for activate his rook.} Rb5
30. Rg2 Kf7 31. h5 $1 {[%cal Gg5f6,Gh5h6]} fxg5 32. fxg5 g6 ({Bad is} 32... Kg8
$2 {because of} 33. h6 $1 g6 34. Rf2 $1 Be8 35. Bg7 Bf7 36. e5 {[%csl Rg8]
[%cal Ge5e6]}) 33. Rf2+ Ke8 34. hxg6 hxg6 35. Bf6 Rb1 36. Kd4 Rd1+ ({Another
defensive idea was} 36... Re1 37. Kd5 (37. Rh2 Bc6) 37... Re3 38. Rh2 $140 Rh3)
37. Kxc4 Be6+ 38. Kb5 Ra1 39. Rh2 Rxa2 40. Rh7 $1 {[%csl Re8] Finally the rook
penetrates in Black´s camp.} (40. Rh8+ $143 Kd7 41. Rh7+ Kd6) 40... Bd7+ 41.
Kc4 Rd2 $2 {This seems to be a decisive mistake.} ({Necessary was} 41... Be6+
$1 42. Kd3 (42. Kd4 $140 Rd2+ 43. Ke5 Rd7 $1 44. Rh8+ Kf7) 42... Kf8 43. Re7
Bg4 44. Rg7 Bh5 45. e5 $140 Bg4) 42. Bd4 {Threatening Kd5-d6.} Be6+ 43. Kb5 {
[%cal Gb5c6]} Bd7+ 44. Ka6 Bc6 ({Or} 44... Ra2+ 45. Kb7 Bb5 46. Kc7 Bc4 47. Kd6
{and e-pawn becomes very dangerous.}) 45. Kxa7 Bxe4 46. Kxb6 {The resulted
position should be lost for Black.} Rb2+ 47. Kc5 Rb7 48. Rh4 Rc7+ 49. Kb4 Rb7+
50. Kc4 Bf5 (50... Rc7+ $142 51. Bc5 Bf5 52. Kd5 Kd7) 51. Kc5 Rc7+ $6 ({
More tenacious was again} 51... Kd7) 52. Kd6 Rd7+ 53. Kc6 Re7 54. Bf6 Re4 55.
Rh8+ Kf7 56. Rh7+ Kg8 57. Rg7+ Kf8 58. Kb5 {Preparing the advance of c-pawn.}
Re8 (58... Re1 59. c4 Rb1+ 60. Kc5 Rc1 61. Rc7 Be6 62. Kd4 $18) 59. c4 Rb8+ 60.
Ka5 Ra8+ 61. Kb4 Rb8+ 62. Kc3 Rc8 63. Ra7 $1 {Planning Be7+ and c5.} Be6 64.
Be7+ Kg8 65. c5 Bd5 66. Kd4 Bg2 67. Ke5 Ra8 68. Rc7 ({Also wins} 68. Rxa8+ Bxa8
69. Kf6 Be4 (69... Kh7 70. Ke6 Kg7 71. Bf6+ Kf8 72. Kd7) 70. Bd6 Kh7 71. Ke7
Kg8 72. Bf4 Bg2 73. Kd7 Bh3+ 74. Kc7 Kf7 75. c6 Ke8 76. Kb8) 68... Ra1 69. Kf6
Be4 70. Rc8+ Kh7 71. Rd8 {[%cal Gf6f7]} Ra6+ (71... Rf1+ 72. Ke6 $18) 72. Kf7
Bf5 (72... Bf3 73. Rd4 Bh5 74. Rh4 Rc6 75. Bd6 $1 {[%cal Gh4h5]}) 73. Rd4 Be6+
74. Kf8 Ra8+ 75. Bd8 Bg4 76. c6 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 23rd"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2006.03.10"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "141"]
[EventDate "2006.02.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This game was played in the last but one round. To keep any chance of getting
the first place, Veselin Topalov has to win this game, whereas the leader for
that moment, Peter Leko, needed only a draw. Since this game generated a lot
of interest, but was commented not only once, so in my comments, I will use
some comments of IM Maxim Notkin's (M.N.) "www.chesspro.ru", GM Mihail Marin 
(M.M.) "www.chessbase.com" and GM Konstantin Sakaev (K.S.) "www.e3e5.com".} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8. Nf3
d6 9. Nd2 Nbd7 10. f3 d5 11. cxd5 {This exchange is usually effectuated after
the inclusion of the moves 11.e3 Re8.} exd5 12. e3 Re8 13. Be2 $146 ({The
apparently more ambitious} 13. Bb5 $5 {has been tried at the highest possible
level:} c6 14. Be2 Qe7 15. b4 h6 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Kf2 Qd6 18. Nf1 a5 19. Ng3
Ba6 20. Bxa6 Rxa6 21. Rhc1 b5 22. bxa5 Rea8 23. Nf5 Qe6 24. g4 $14 {Kasparov,
G-Karpov,A/Frankfurt,1999/(1/2-1/2)(49)}) 13... Rc8 14. O-O ({M.N. "This
deserved attention:} 14. Bh4 $5 {[%csl Re3][%cal Gh4f2,Gf2e3]} Ne4 15. Bxd8
Nxc3 16. bxc3 Rcxd8 17. Kf2 c5 18. a4 $14 {with a small advantage for White".})
14... Qe7 {[%csl Re3][%cal Ge8e3,Gh7h6] Black uses the fact that the white
bishop is on "g5", and not on "h4" (what could have been after "h6" and "Bh4")
to pressure on "e3".} 15. Bb5 {The weakness on "e3" forces White to part with
one of his bishops. M.M. "Now that White has castled, the transfer of the
bishop to a4 looks entirely possible. Topalov seems not to be put off by
having to lose a tempo in order to carry out his plans".} c6 16. Ba4 h6 17.
Bxf6 Nxf6 $11 {White didn't get any advantage out of the opening, but got good
space advantage and the weakness of the "c6" pawn allows White to play this
position without any risks. On the other hand, Black has a reliable position,
and a player on Leko's level should easily be able to make a draw here.} 18.
Rfe1 b5 $6 {[%csl Rb5,Rc6,Rd5] Unnecessarily weakening the pawn structure of
the queen side.} (18... Nd7 $5) 19. Bc2 c5 {Black gets rid of one weakness
while gaining another.} 20. Bf5 {Very resourceful bishop :)} Rc7 ({Another
option is:} 20... cxd4 21. Qxd4 Rc7 22. Bd3 $14) 21. dxc5 Rxc5 {M.M. "Leko
understood that in this case the exchange of the queens with:} (21... Qxc5 22.
Qxc5 Rxc5 {would not bring him any closer to draw. White would transfer his
knight to d4 with:} 23. Nb3 Rc7 24. Nd4 {with a clear positional advantage. If
Black could retreat his b-pawn to b6, his position would most likely be
defensible, but the way it is he risks getting into a typical ending with a
bad bishop".}) 22. Qd4 $6 {It's generally known that the queen is not too well
suited for the purpose of the blockade.} ({It deserves more attention:} 22. Qb4
$5 {/\Nb3-d4 +/=}) 22... a6 23. a4 {M.M & K.S. "Another dubious decision.
Topalov opens the a-file for his rook, but in doing so he helps Black to get
rid of one of his pawns placed on the same colour as the bishops, thus
bringing him some positional relief. More naturally seems the game over the
dark squares.} (23. b4 $5 Rc7 24. Bd3 {[%cal Gd2b3,Yb3c5,Yb3d4] with
positional domination".}) 23... bxa4 24. Rxa4 Rc6 25. b4 Qe5 {M.M.&K.S. "A
strong defensive move, underlining White's lack of stability on d4. If White
could play now 26.Nb3, he would preserve his positional advantage intact, but,
unfortunately the bishop is hanging".} (25... Qc7 $143 26. Bd3 Nd7 27. Nb3 Ne5
28. Nc5 Nxd3 29. Qxd3 Rg6 30. Qd4 $14) 26. Qxe5 Rxe5 27. Bd3 Rb6 {M.M. "The
relative weakness of the b4-pawn partly compensates for the weak a6-pawn".} ({
K.S. "} 27... Re7 $5 28. Kf2 Nd7 {/\Ne5 ".}) 28. Kf2 ({M.N. "} 28. Nb3 $143 Bc6
29. Rxa6 Rxb4 {and Black should be able to maintain this position".}) 28... Bc8
{[%cal Gc8d7,Gd7a4]} (28... Bc6 $2 29. Rxa6 $18) 29. Rb1 {Defending the "b4"
pawn.} Bf5 {M.M. "By exchanging his "bad" bishop, Black makes further progress
in his way to equalize, although White still maintains some advantage because
of the active placement of his pieces and the better pawn structure".} 30. Bxf5
(30. Ke2 $5) 30... Rxf5 31. Ra5 {White uses Black's awkward rook position.} g6
(31... Re5 $2 32. Nc4 $18) ({K.S. "Doesn't solve all the problems:} 31... Rh5
32. h3 Rh4 33. f4 g5 $6 34. Nf3 Rh5 35. g4 Rxh3 36. Kg2 $16 {".}) 32. Ke2 {
M.M. "By unpinning the f-pawn, White intends to win space with g4,harassing
the enemy rook at the same time".} h5 {[%csl Yh5][%cal Yh5g4]} ({M.N. "} 32...
Nd7 $5 {".}) 33. g3 Kg7 34. h3 Nd7 35. g4 hxg4 36. hxg4 ({K.S. "} 36. fxg4 $143
Re5 37. Nf3 Re4 38. Rxd5 Nf6 39. Rd4 Rxd4 40. Nxd4 Nd5 $11 {".}) 36... Re5 37.
Kf2 ({This didn't give anything:} 37. f4 Ree6 38. Rxd5 Nf6 39. Rg5 Ne4 40. Nxe4
Rxe4 41. Ra5 Rbxb4 42. Rxb4 Rxb4 43. Rxa6 g5 44. Kf3 gxf4 45. exf4 Rb3+ $11)
37... Rc6 38. Rb3 Rb6 (38... Rc2 $143 39. Ke2 Nb6 40. Kd3 Rxd2+ 41. Kxd2 Nc4+
42. Kd3 Nxa5 43. bxa5 d4 44. exd4 Rxa5 45. Kc4 $14 {Material wise the position
is equal, however, the "d" pawn gives White some chances for a win.} Kf6) 39.
f4 Ree6 40. g5 {M.M. "Winning even more space and threatening to capture the
d5-pawn. The immediate:} (40. Rxd5 {would have led nowhere because of} Nf6 {
[%csl Rd5,Rg4][%cal Gf6d5,Gf6g4] ".}) 40... Red6 41. e4 Rb5 ({K.S. "} 41... f6
$6 42. exd5 (42. gxf6+ $143 Rxf6 43. Rxd5 Rxf4+ 44. Ke3 Rf7 45. Nc4 $14) 42...
Rb5 43. Rxb5 axb5 44. Rd3 Nb6 45. gxf6+ Kf7 (45... Kxf6 $2 46. Ne4+ $18) (45...
Rxf6 46. Ke3 $18 {[%csl Rb5][%cal Ge3d4,Gd4c5,Gc5b5]}) 46. Ne4 Rxd5 47. Ra3 $18
{".}) (41... dxe4 $2 42. Nc4 $18) 42. Rxb5 axb5 43. Rd3 (43. e5 $6 Rc6 $13 {
/\ Nf8-e6, >< Pf4}) 43... Nb6 44. Nb1 {/\ Nc3 >< Pb5, Pd5} Rc6 45. exd5 ({
K.S. "} 45. Rc3 Rxc3 (45... Rc4 $6 46. Rxc4 bxc4 47. Ke3 $16) 46. Nxc3 dxe4 47.
Ke3 f5 48. gxf6+ (48. Kd4 Kf7 49. Nxb5 Ke7 $11) 48... Kxf6 49. Kxe4 (49. Nxe4+
Kf5 $11) (49. Nxb5 Nd5+ $11) 49... g5 $11 {".}) 45... Rc4 46. Kf3 Rxb4 47. Nd2
f6 48. Ne4 $1 {White's last hope is to concentrate his efforts to ensure the
advance of the d-pawn.} ({After:} 48. gxf6+ Kxf6 49. Ne4+ Kf5 50. Ng3+ Kf6 51.
d6 g5 52. fxg5+ Kxg5 53. d7 Nxd7 54. Rxd7 {This is a well known theoretical
position, and Black can easily make a draw here.}) 48... fxg5 49. Nxg5 Kf6 50.
Kg4 Nc4 51. Ne4+ (51. d6 $4 Ne5+ $19) 51... Ke7 ({M.N. "This also lead to a
draw:} 51... Kf7 $5 52. d6 (52. Kg5 $143 Nb6) 52... Ne5+ 53. fxe5 Rxe4+ 54. Kf3
Rh4 55. Rd5 (55. d7 Rh3+ 56. Ke4 Rxd3 57. Kxd3 Ke7 58. e6 g5 59. Ke4 b4 60. Kd5
b3 61. Kc6 b2 62. Kc7 b1=Q 63. d8=Q+ Kxe6 64. Qxg5 $11) 55... Rh8 56. Rxb5 Ke6
{it is unclear how white can improve his position".}) 52. d6+ Kd8 53. Kg5 Nb2
54. Re3 Rd4 $4 ({This lead to a draw:} 54... Kd7 $5 55. Kxg6 Nc4 56. Rf3 (56.
Rd3 Nxd6 $1 57. Rxd6+ (57. Nxd6 Rxf4 $11) 57... Ke7 58. Rb6 Rxe4 59. Rb7+ Kd6
60. f5 Kc5 $11) 56... Nxd6 57. Nxd6 Kxd6 $11 {Black sacrifices the rook for
the "f" pawn and compel of White to sacrifice his rook for the "b" pawn.}) {
[%tqu "En","Please find the move, which brings White a decisive advantage!","",
"","e4f6","",10]} 55. Nf6 $1 Rxd6 $140 56. Re8+ Kc7 57. Re2 $18 {[%csl Rb2,Rc7,
Rd6][%cal Gf6e8,Ge8c7,Ge8d6,Ge2b2] Now Black loses material.} Rd1 58. Rxb2 Rg1+
59. Kh6 {M.M. "White's task consists of capturing the g6-pawn without losing
his last pawn and prevent the b-pawn from becoming dangerous at the same time.
In fact, Topalov will simplify the problem. He will keep the b-pawn under
control by the permanent threat of sacrificing the knight for it, once the
capture of the g6-pawn will be ensured".} Kc6 60. Ne4 Kd5 61. Rb4 Kc6 62. Rd4
Rg4 63. Nf2 Kc5 64. Rd1 $1 Rg2 (64... Rxf4 $4 65. Nd3+) 65. Nd3+ Kc4 66. Ne5+
Kc3 67. Rc1+ Kb2 68. Rc6 Kb3 69. Rxg6 Rf2 70. Rg3+ Kc2 71. Nd3 {The further
resistance is senseless.} 1-0

[Event "Bucharest m"]
[Site "Bucharest"]
[Date "2006.04.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2006.04.06"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 {Nisipeanu refrains from his main weapon against
3.Nf3, the Queen's Indian, probably finding himself under the impression of
Topalov's brilliant achievements in this opening during the past years.} 4. Nc3
Be7 {But only this was meant to be the real surprise for Topalov. Prior to
this game, Nisipeanu had played the Orthodox Queen's Gambit only once in his
life, at the youth Balkaniad back in 1993. As a coincidence, his opponent in
that game was also Bulgarian: Vladimir Georgiev. Topalov might have expected
the Vienna variation (4...dxc4) or the Semi-Slav (4...c6), which occured
occasionally in the European Champion's games along the past years. For
instance, he defeated Topalov's second, Silvio Danailov, in the Meran in the
B-group of the Wijk aan Zee festival in 2000.} 5. Bf4 ({From strict strategic
point of view, the classical} 5. Bg5 {might seem sounder, because it increases
the pressure over the d5-square. By choosing 5.Bf4, White usually gives up any
ambitions regarding the influence over the centre and aims for animated minor
piece play instead. We can draw a similar parallel in the open games, between
the Ruy Lopez and the Italian Game. The modern history of 5.Bf4 started in
1978, when Kortschnoj repeatedly employed it during his World Championship
match against Karpov. In spite of the fact that Karpov generally managed to
hold his own, it could be felt that there was a lot of potential behind
White's setup.}) 5... c5 ({The counter-attack in the centre based on the
advance of the c-pawn is a logical consequence of the lack of pressure against
the d5-pawn. However, Black usually inserts the moves} 5... O-O 6. e3 {and
only now plays} c5 {. Topalov had some recent experience against it:} 7. dxc5
Bxc5 8. a3 Nc6 9. cxd5 $5 ({He also used the classical move} 9. Qc2 {,
Kortschnoj's favourite, but after} Qa5 {he chose the modern} 10. Nd2 {instead
of the more established 10.Rd1. The game soon took a very interesting course:}
Bb4 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Bd3 d4 13. O-O Bxc3 14. Nc4 Qh5 15. bxc3 Nd5 16. Bg3 dxe3
17. Rae1 Be6 18. fxe3 Nde7 19. Nd6 b6 20. Rb1 {and White's numerous pawn
weaknesses were compensated by his hyper-activity in Topalov-Kasimdzhanov,
Linares 2005. Black's queen soon got into big trouble, causing him decisive
material losses.}) 9... Nxd5 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 Bb6 12. O-O d4 13. e4 Bc7
14. Bxc7 Qxc7 15. h3 Qb6 16. b4 Be6 17. Rc1 h6 18. Qd2 {with a more pleasant
position for White in Topalov-Morozevich, San Luis 2005. The early attack of
the centre by means of 5...c5 chosen by Nisipeanu has never made part of the
main stream of theory, but suddenly became popular in 2005. The European
Champion might have relied on the fact that his mighty opponent had awarded
this variation less time during his home preparation than to the main lines.})
6. dxc5 Na6 {Black intends to capture the c-pawn without the loss of tempo
implied by Be7xc5.} 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 exd5 9. e4 $5 ({It appears that it is
not so easy to surprise the World Champion in the opening! Topalov played this
new move relatively quickly, leaving little doubt about the fact that he had
prepared it at home. Previously,} 9. e3 {had been played, when after} Nxc5 10.
Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bxd7+ Qxd7 12. O-O O-O {White retains the more pleasant but not
necessarily better position.}) 9... O-O {However, Nisipeanu had done his
homework properly, too, since he played this move rather quickly. We could
hardly dream for a more promising start of the game.} 10. exd5 Bxc5 {This
looks like a deviation from Black's initial intentions, but, given the new
circumstances, the capture with the knight might have put less pressure on
White, allowing him to keep his strong central pawn without having to make any
major concessions. After the text move, the white king is vulnerable along the
e-file and the e1-a5 diagonal. White has to act carefully.} 11. Be2 ({Played
solidly. The attempt to accelerate the rhythm of his development with} 11. Bxa6
$6 {would be a typical mistake, allowing} Qa5+ $1 12. Nd2 Qxa6 {when White
would have serious problems getting castled, while his d5-pawn would lack
satisfactory defence. In caseof} 13. Qe2 {, Black could maintain the tension
with} b6 $5) ({The consolidation of the d5-pawn by means of} 11. Bc4 {would
have allowed Black deprive his opponent from the right to castle in more
economic way than in the game with} Re8+ {. After the apparently modest
development of the bishop to e2, it is obvious that Black has compensation for
the pawn in view of his slight lead in development. However, finding the right
path through the jungle of variations is far from easy for both sides.}) 11...
Bb4+ ({Instead of trying to win his pawn back, Nisipeanu forces White to give
up the idea of castling, hoping that this would ensure him long term
compensation. Black had several ways of striving for material equality, but
apparently only one of them would have been satisfactory. In case of} 11... Nc7
$6 {White could safely give up his active bishop with} 12. Bxc7 (12. d6 {
would not save the pawn after} Ne6 13. Bg3 Qa5+ 14. Nd2 Qb4 {eventually
followed by ...Rd8 if for any reasons ...Bxd6 would not work.}) 12... Bb4+ 13.
Nd2 Qxc7 14. O-O {and although Black can hope to hold on because of his firm
blockade on d6, this looks like a rather one-sided affair.}) ({Going for the
b2-pawn with} 11... Qb6 $6 12. O-O Qxb2 {looks pretty risky in view of} 13. Be5
{when the black king side starts looking vulnerable, while the d5-pawn
considerably restricts Black's activity.}) ({The attempt to improve upon this
last line with} 11... Qa5+ $6 12. Bd2 Qb6 13. O-O Qxb2 {would be refuted by}
14. Rc1 {followed by Bc3, with similar consequences.}) ({However, the simple} 
11... Nb4 12. d6 Be6 {suggested by IM Mircea Pavlov looks a satisfactory way
of solving the opening problems. Black threatens ...Nd5 followed by the
capture on d6. It is not very clear whether White could retain even some
symbolic advantage in the symmetrical ensuing position. IM Francisc Nemeth
suggested} 13. Ng5 {as a possible refutation of Black's plan, but after} Qf6 {
White risks losing stability. In a brief statement for the Radio made after
the game, Nisipeanu mentioned that at some moment he deviated from his initial
analysis because he thought that there would be a better possibility for him.
Judging from the fact that he invested some time in taking the decision of
giving check, we could assume that this was the moment he referred to.}) 12.
Kf1 Bd6 {This pawn has to be safely blocked. Besides, the bishop was obviously
misplaced on b4. White needs three whole tempi in order to get castled in
artificial way, for instance h4, Kg1-h2. This strongly suggests that Black has
at least adequate compensation for the sacrificed pawn. However, things are
not that simple. First of all, White can do perfectly well without connecting
his rooks yet, since he has the plan based on the advance of the h-pawn at his
disposal. This could lead to the activation of the rook either directly (after
h4-h5 and Rh4) or indirectly (in case of Black's ...h6, there would always be
a possibility of a knight jump to g5 sustained by the h4-pawn, when the
opening of the h-file would be dangerous for Black. Besides, Black's
development is not that impressive yet, while his king's position is quite
vulnerable. All these aspects make the position quite difficult to evaluate
and, more important, to play over-the-board.} 13. Bg5 $5 ({White cannot afford
to allow Black to develop naturally. With his last move, Topalov underlines
the fact that the enemy queen has problems finding adequate squares. The
neutral retreat} 13. Be3 {would have offered Black a good position after} Bf5 {
followed by ...Rac8.}) 13... Qa5 ({Only ulterior analysis will reveal the
objective merits of this move, but my personal feeling in this moment is that
it is one of the main reasons for Black's ulterior problems. The queen will be
very exposed on the queen side, allowing White the radical activation of his
forces without loss of time. We can see a similar picture after} 13... Qb6 14.
Nd2 Qxb2 15. Nc4 Qb4 16. Rc1 {eventually followed by Bd3 and Bd2-c3, when the
black king would start feeling unsafe, while some of the other pieces are
hanging.}) (13... f6 $6 {is hardly a solution either. The weakness of the
e6-square would leave White with a permanent advantage in case of returning
the pawn by means of Nd4-e6, followed by g3 and Kg2.}) ({However, the
awkwardly looking} 13... Qd7 $5 {deserves serious attention. Black plans to
concentrate his forces against the d5-pawn with ...b6, ...Bb7, ...Nc7 and, if
allowed, ...Rad8. This looks like a rather slow course of events, but we
should not forget that White is also several tempi away from completing his
development.}) 14. a3 Nc7 ({With the queen on a5, this move has obvious
drawbacks, by cutting HerMajesty's retreat. In the press centre the normal
developing move} 14... Bd7 {suggested b y IM Andrei Cioara was considered to
be a satisfactory continuation, and if} 15. b4 {then} Qa4 {followed by the
occupation of the c-file. Abstractly speaking, this looks very logical. Indeed,
Black intends to take advantage by the passivity of the h1-rook by initiating
active operation on the opposite wing. However, after} 16. Nd2 {followed by
Nc4 or Ne4 Black would face concrete problems because of his lack of stability
on d6.}) 15. Bc4 b5 16. b4 Qb6 17. Bb3 {Generally speaking, Black should be
content with the fact that White has made absolutely no progress with the
development of his king side yet. However, the quality of development of all
his other pieces is better than Black's. For instance, the g5-bishop denies
the rooks access to d8, while his colleague exterts some potential pressure
along the a2-g8 diagonal, which could count in certain tactical lines.
Comparing with the similar position that could have arisen after 13...Qd7,
Black's position looks less harmonious. His queen is vulnerable and actually
not so active on the left wing.} a5 {A logical move, activating the a8-rook.}
18. Be3 ({Now that there is a point of tension on b4, White decides to
transfer his bishop to the queen side. In the press centre, the main worries
were connected with} 18. Rc1 {when after} Bb7 19. Be3 Qa6 20. Ng5 {the threat
Qd3 with a strong attack would be very unpleasant. In case of} h6 {, besides
jumping with the knight to e4, White could renew his initial threat with} 21.
h4 {when Black's position looks critical. In certain cases, the intrusion of
the rook to c6 would reveal the hidden force of the b3-bishop.}) 18... Qb7 19.
Bc5 ({Topalov chooses a safe continuation, increasing his domination in the
centre. The alternative would have been} 19. Ng5 {with the threat Qd3, when
after} Bf5 20. g4 Bg6 21. h4 {Black could survive with} Rfe8 22. h5 Be4 {
although after} 23. Nxe4 Rxe4 {White should be better. The only trap he has to
avoid is} 24. Qf3 $2 Nxd5 25. Qxe4 Nxe3+ {winning tones of material for Black.}
) 19... Bxc5 $3 ({Nisipeanu pl ayed this completely unexpected move after long
thinking. The objective merits of the exchange on c5 are hard to judge without
thorough analysis, but the double exclaim mark attached to the move refers to
Black's courage of changing the generally unfavourable course of events by
radical and apparently highly risky means. Consolidating the d6-square would
leave White free hands on the opposite wing, for instance} 19... Rd8 20. Ng5
Bf5 21. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 22. Qf3 g6 23. g4 {and Black is in dire straits. The
careless} Bxc5 $2 {only makes things worse because of the discovered check} 24.
d6+ {, winning the queen.}) ({Or, similarly,} 19... Ra6 20. Qd3 h6 21. h4 axb4
22. Ng5 f5 23. Bxb4 Bxb4 24. d6+ Kh8 25. d7 Bxd7 26. Qxd7 {and now, in view of
the threat Nf7+ followed by Qxf5+, Black has to play} Qc8 {defending the
f5-square and hoping for survival, although his position still looks
precarious because of the weakness of the light squares around his king.}) 20.
bxc5 a4 21. Ba2 b4 22. axb4 Qxb4 {This is the position Nisipeanu was aiming
for. White's pawns look impressive, but because of his delay in development
they could become vulnerable, too. In the following phase of the game, the
World Champion proved his ability of adapting himself to the new circumstances
by returning one of the pawns at the right moment in order to complete his
development and maintain an edge.} 23. Qd4 Na6 24. c6 Qxd4 25. Nxd4 Nb4 26. Ke2
$3 ({Even though we cannot draw any definitive conclusion about the concrete
position on the board, I believe that it is safe to consider this to be the
key move of the game. The d5-pawn will be lost, but for the first time in the
game it will be White who will enjoy the better development, because of his
more active king. Finding himself in slight time trouble already, Nisipeanu
will fail to find satisfactory ways in what could be a defensible position.
One of the merits of White's last move is that it refrains from "winning" a
piece with} 26. d6 Rd8 27. d7 {. Indeed, after} Bxd7 28. cxd7 Rxd7 29. Nf3 Nxa2
30. Rxa2 Rd1+ 31. Ne1 Re8 32. Re2 Ra8 {White's devel oping problems would
persist and Black would have little trouble forcing a draw, for instance} 33.
f3 Ra1 34. Kf2 a3 35. Rf1 a2 36. Nc2 Rxf1+ 37. Kxf1 a1=Q+ {with complete
equality.}) 26... Nxa2 27. Rxa2 Ba6+ 28. Kd2 Bc4 29. Ra3 Bxd5 30. c7 $1 {
White needs to keep the d8-square under control, preventing Rfd8 in order to
ensure the knight's stability in the centre. Besides, this pawn will be a
permanent threat for Black. If White will manage to install his knight on d6,
Black would be completely paralysed.} Be6 ({The regrouping initiated by this
move fails to solve all Black's problems. Capturing the g2 pawn with} 30...
Bxg2 {would have made some sense. Black would probably not be able to
sacrifice the exchange for the c-pawn, but in certain cases giving up his
bishop and starting a king side counter-attack might be just sufficient for a
draw. The presence of the a-pawn would also cause White some loss of time
during the process of defending his other wing. However, from a practical
point of view it is rather difficult to take such a decision.}) 31. Nb5 Bd7 ({
This move does not really cross White's plans. More stubborn seems to have been
} 31... Ra5 32. Rb1 Bd7 33. Nd6 Ra6 {when the white king would be too far from
the centre yet to ensure the stability of his knight.}) 32. Nd6 g6 ({Black
deci des to activate his king and avoid any back rank problems at the same
time. The counterplay initiated by} 32... Ra6 33. Rd3 a3 {would fail to the
simple} 34. Nc4 Be6 35. Nxa3) 33. Rc1 Kg7 34. Rc4 $5 ({White intends to keep
both wings under control. Just as after the opening, Black has to permanently
watch the possibility of possible rapid king side attacks. However, the
immediate activation of the white king was also possible, for instance} 34. Ke3
{(Avoiding the d-file in order to prevent ...Ra6, which could be answered now
by the simple c8=Q)} Kf6 35. Kd4 Ke7 36. Kc5 Ra6 {and now the simple} 37. Re1+
{reduces Black's previous efforts of centralisation to nothing.}) 34... Ra6 35.
Rd4 $5 ({Another interesting moment. Topalov probably rejected} 35. c8=N {
because of} Rd8 {when Black could hope to give up one of his rooks for the
enemy knights at the right moment and then defend his a4-pawn by placing his
bishop on b3, which would lead to a draw.}) 35... Ra7 36. Ne8+ $1 {A simple
tactical operation, leading to a very promising double-rook ending.} Rxe8 37.
Rxd7 {With the simple threat of Rd8} Raa8 ({The most stubborn answer. In case
of} 37... Rc8 {White would launch an irresistible attack with} 38. Rf3 a3 39.
Rdxf7+ Kh6 (39... Kg8 {allows} 40. Rf8+ {when the c-pawn would promote.}) 40.
Rh3+ Kg5 {and now} 41. f4+ Kg4 42. Rg3+ {followed by Rxh7 leads to mate.}) 38.
Kc3 {The decisive centralisation.} Kf6 39. Kb4 Ke6 40. Rd4 ({From practical
point of view, this looks like the safest method. White threatens Re3+,
followed by the exchange on e8 and Rd8, ensuring the promotion of the pawn.
However, the apparently double edged} 40. Rad3 {would have been sufficient for
a win, too after} a3 41. Rd8 a2 42. Rxe8+ Rxe8 43. Re3+ Kf6 44. Rxe8 a1=Q 45.
c8=Q {and the white king will hide from checks on the eighth or seventh rank
of the queen side.}) 40... Ke5 $6 ({This last mov e in time trouble makes
things easier for White. At some moment, it was considered to be the decisive
mistake in a difficult position, but apparently other moves did not save the
game either.} 40... Rec8 {would have given White the possibility of displaying
impressive rook activity with} 41. Re3+ Kf6 42. Rf4+ Kg7 43. Re7 a3 ({or} 43...
Rf8 44. Ka3 {followed by Rxa4, with a winning rook ending. Black's king would
be just one step too far.}) 44. Rfxf7+ Kg8 (44... Kh6 {leads to a curious
mating attack after} 45. Rxh7+ Kg5 46. h4+ Kg4 47. Re4+ Kf5 48. Rhe7 $3 {
threatening g4 followed by R4e6 mate.}) 45. Rg7+ Kf8 46. Rxh7 Kg8 47. Reg7+ Kf8
48. Rd7 Kg8 49. Rhe7 a2 50. Re1 {when the least White will obtain would be a
winning rook ending with two extra pawns.}) ({Or if} 40... f5 {, clearing the
f7-square for the king, then} 41. Re3+ Kf7 42. Rd7+ Kf8 43. Rxe8+ Kxe8 44. Rxh7
{again with an obvious win.}) 41. Rc4 Rec8 ({IM Mircea Pavlov suggested} 41...
Ke6 42. Kc5 Kd7 43. Kb6 Kc8 {in order to block the pawn with the king, as
generally recommended in the endgame. However, this method would not have
saved the game here because of Black's complete passivity. After} 44. Re3 $1 {
suggested by IM Nemeth, Black cannot avoid mate on the eighth rank (either on
e8 or d8). Remarkably, Black would have maintained chances to save the game in
case of the absence of his a-pawn, which would have allowed starting efficient
counterplay based on ...Ra1.}) 42. Kb5 Kd5 43. Rc2 {being reduced to complete
passivity, Black resigned.} 1-0

[Event "Bucharest m"]
[Site "Bucharest"]
[Date "2006.04.09"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B65"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2006.04.06"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O O-O (8... Qb6 {Sehr interessante Varianten entstehen nach} 9. Be3 $5 (9.
f3 {sichert den stabilen Vorteil} Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Rxd4 a6 $14 {->7....
Qb6}) (9. Nb3 O-O 10. f3 Rd8 11. Nb5 Rd7 12. Qe1 a6 13. N5d4 $14) 9... Ng4 $8 {
Mit einer Folge von einigen Zügen kann sich Schwarz ins Remis retten:} 10. Nxc6
(10. Ndb5 Nxe3 11. Qxe3 Qxe3+ 12. fxe3 O-O 13. Nxd6 Rd8 $44) 10... Nxe3 (10...
Qxc6 $4 11. Bb5 $18) 11. Nxe7 Nxd1 12. Na4 (12. Bb5+ $2 Kxe7 13. Qg5+ Kf8 14.
Rxd1 a6 $17) 12... Qxf2 (12... Qc7 13. Nxc8 Rxc8 14. Bb5+ Ke7 15. Rxd1 $18) 13.
Qxd6 Bd7 $1 (13... Ne3 14. Bb5+ Bd7 15. Bxd7+ Kf8 16. Ng6+ Kg8 17. Qf8+ Rxf8
18. Ne7#) 14. Nc5 Ne3 $1 15. Qxd7+ (15. Bd3 Qxg2 16. Qxd7+ Kf8 {->15.Qd7})
15... Kf8 16. Bd3 Qxg2 17. Re1 (17. Nxe6+ fxe6 18. Re1 Qg5 $15) 17... Qf2 (
17... Qg5 $2 18. Qxb7 Rd8 19. Nc6 Ng2+ 20. Kb1 Nxe1 21. Nd7+ Kg8 (21... Ke8 22.
Nde5 Qf6 23. Nxd8 $18) 22. h4 $3 Qxh4 23. Nde5 $18) 18. Rd1 (18. Rh1 Qg2 $11)
18... Nxd1 19. Qd6 Qe3+ 20. Kxd1 Qg1+ 21. Ke2 (21. Kd2 Qg5+ 22. Kd1 Qxe7 $19)
21... Qg2+ 22. Ke1 Qg1+ $11) 9. f4 (9. f3 a6 10. h4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 b5 12. Kb1
$132 {Ist die andere Hauptvariante, die zu kompliziertem Spiel, ähnlich dem
Englischen Angriff im Najdorf, führt.}) 9... Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qa5 11. h4 $5 {
Ein sehr seltener Zug, der anscheinend die Wirkung eines Überraschungseffektes
hatte - nach wenigen Zügen stand Weiß fast schon auf Gewinn.} (11. Bc4 {
ist die uralte klassische Variante.} Bd7 12. e5 dxe5 13. fxe5 (13. Qxe5 Qb6 14.
Qe2 Bc6 $132) 13... Bc6 14. Bd2 Nd7 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Rhe1 $14 {
Die Stellung ist sehr kompliziert und wurde schon tausend Mal gespielt,
allerdings hat Weiß hier etwas bessere Chancen.}) 11... e5 (11... h6 {Stellt
keine konkrete Drohung auf, da das Nehmen auf g5 sehr gefährlich ist.} 12. Kb1
Rd8 13. Be2 (13. g4 $5) 13... a6 14. Bf3 b5 15. Bxf6 $1 Bxf6 16. e5 dxe5 17.
Qc5 Rb8 18. Ne4 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Bxh4 20. Nd6 $1 Qb6 (20... Bd7 21. Nb7 $18) 21.
Qxb6 Rxb6 22. Nxc8 Rb8 23. Na7 exf4 24. Rd6 $16 {Dvoyris - Aseev (UDSR, 1990)})
12. Qe3 exf4 $6 {Das sofortige Nehmen ist zweifelhaft. 12....Be6 kommt in
Betracht.} (12... Be6 $5 13. f5 $5 (13. a3 exf4 14. Bxf4 {Hier entsteht die
Stellung wie in der Partie, nur dass Weiß statt den d6 Bauer zu gewinnen, a3
gezogen hat. Was natürlich vorteilhaft für Schwarz ist.}) (13. Bxf6 $2 exf4 14.
Qxf4 Bxf6 $17) 13... Bxa2 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. g4 $44) (12... h6 $2 13. Nd5 $1 (
13. Bxf6 $2 exf4 $1 (13... Bxf6 14. f5 $16) 14. Qxf4 Bxf6 15. Rd5 Qc7 16. Qxd6
Qxd6 17. Rxd6 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Be6 $44) 13... Nxd5 $8 14. Rxd5 Bxg5 (14... Qc7 15.
Qg3 $1 $16) 15. hxg5 Qxa2 16. gxh6 Qa1+ 17. Kd2 Bg4 18. Qg3 $1 Qd1+ 19. Ke3
Qc1+ 20. Rd2 exf4+ 21. Qxf4 Qe1+ 22. Kd3 f5 23. Kd4 $3 {/\Bc4} Qxe4+ 24. Qxe4
fxe4 25. Bc4+ Kh7 26. Ke3 $16) 13. Bxf4 Be6 (13... Rd8 14. h5 h6 (14... Bg4 15.
Be2 $16) 15. Bc4 Bg4 16. Rdf1 Rac8 17. Bb3 $14 {Die weißen Figuren schauen
alle in Richtung des schwarzen Königs, was ja sowieso sehr unangenehm ist. Und
wenn man dann noch gegen Topalov spielt, dann sollte man solche Stellungen
überhaupt vermeiden.}) 14. Bxd6 {Eiskalt!} Bxd6 (14... Ng4 15. Qf4 Bxd6 16.
Rxd6 Rac8 17. Rxe6 Rxc3 (17... fxe6 18. Qxg4 $18) 18. bxc3 fxe6 19. Qxg4 Qxa2
20. Kd2 Rd8+ 21. Bd3 $18) 15. Rxd6 Rac8 ({Nach} 15... Bxa2 {war wohl} 16. Rxf6
$3 {geplant} gxf6 17. Rh3 Kh8 18. Qh6 Rg8 (18... Qe5 19. Nxa2 $18) 19. Qxf6+
Rg7 20. Rg3 Rag8 21. Rg5 $1 Qc7 22. Nxa2 $18) 16. a3 Rc6 {Der Turm auf d6
stört zwar sehr, aber wenn man ihn auf diese Art los wird, bleibt man einfach
mit einem Minusbauern ohne kompensierendes Gegenspiel. Allerdings ist es auch
nicht einfach, etwas anderes zu finden.} (16... Rfd8 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18. Be2 $16
) (16... Rfe8 17. Be2 Bf5 18. Rd4 (18. Rxf6 $5 gxf6 19. Qg3+ Kh8 20. exf5 Rxc3
21. Qxc3 Qxc3 22. bxc3 Rxe2 23. Rd1 Rxg2 24. Rd7 $14) 18... Qb6 19. Bf3 $16) (
16... Qe5 $5 17. Rd2 (17. Qd4 Qf4+ 18. Qd2 Qe5 19. Rd4 b5 $5 $13) 17... Rc5 18.
Be2 $14) 17. Rxc6 bxc6 18. Be2 $16 {Schwarz hat zwar noch ein kleines
Gegenspiel gegen den Bauern e4 und evtl. auf der b-Linie, das reicht aber
nicht aus, um den weißen Mehrbauern vollständig zu kompensieren.} Nd7 19. Rd1
Qc7 20. g3 Rb8 21. Qd4 Qxg3 22. Qxa7 Nf6 23. Kb1 h5 24. a4 Bg4 25. Bxg4 hxg4
26. Qd4 Qxh4 27. e5 Nd5 28. Nxd5 cxd5 29. Rg1 Qh2 30. Rxg4 Rc8 31. Rxg7+ Kh8
32. Rg4 Rc4 33. Qd1 Rxg4 34. Qxg4 Qxe5 35. c3 Kh7 36. Qd4 Qe6 37. a5 f5 38. b4
Qe2 39. Qxd5 Kg6 40. Qd6+ Kg5 41. a6 f4 42. Qc5+ Kg4 43. a7 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2671"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Marin} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 {Marin: Given the fact that
Topalov himself included the a6-Slav in his repertoire recently, Kamsky's
opening choice can be regarded as double-edged. From psychological point of
view, Topalov could possibly face slight problems playing "against himself",
but on the other hand, one would expect that he is well-versed in all the
subtleties of this variation.} 5. c5 {Marin: This is one of the most ambitious
continuations. White not only prevents in radical way Black's plan to win
space on the queen side by means of ...b5, but also takes under control the
b6-square, which has just been weakened on the previous move. We can see a
similar way to meet ...a6 in other closed variations. For instance, in the
Swiss Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined, characterized by the moves 1.
d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.Rc1 a6!?, one of
White's main options is 8.c5. After 5.c5 from the Slav Opening, the queen side
position usually remains blocked for a long while. The pawn break ...b6 would
leave the c5-square weak (here we can notice the small damaged caused by the
advance of the a-pawn: Black cannot meet cxb6 with ...axb6 any more) while
White's plan based on b4, a4, b5 is too time consuming for the moment. These
aspects transform the centre into the main theatre of operations, with the
pawn breaks e4 and ...e5 as the main topic.} Nbd7 6. Bf4 Nh5 {Marin: 'Black
does not tolerate the bishop on this active square. One of the ideas behind
playing ...Nbd7 at such an early stage is to take the e5-square under control
in order to prevent (or, better said,discourage) Be5, which would caused Black
some lack of coordination if he had played ...g6 instead.'} 7. Bd2 Nhf6 8. Rc1
{A rare move, prepared by Topalov especially for the tournament in Sofia. That
was a very inspired decision, as it brought Topalov two very important
victories.  The idea of 8.Rc1 is that in some concrete variations the rook on
c1 is more useful than the queen on c2.} ({For instance, after the common
continuation} 8. Qc2 {Black can play} g6 9. h3 (9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11.
Qxe4 Nf6 $11) 9... Qc7 (9... Bg7 10. Bf4 O-O 11. e3 Ne4 {is a reasonable
alternative} (11... Ne8 $14)) 10. g3 e5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 {and Black often can
develop the B on f5 with tempo:} 12. Bf4 (12. dxe5 Bf5 $5 13. Qb3 Nd7 $13)
12... Bf5 13. Qd2 Nfd7 $13) 8... g6 ({Several days later Bacrot played} 8... e5
{but didn't solve the problems and quickly got an worse position:} 9. Nxe5 Nxe5
10. dxe5 Ng4 11. Na4 Nxe5 12. Bc3 f6 13. Nb6 Rb8 14. Nxc8 Rxc8 15. g3 Qd7 16.
h4 $1 $36 {1-0 Topalov,V (2804)-Bacrot,E (2708)/Sofia BUL 2006/D-TWIC 477-603 
(42)}) (8... Qc7 9. g3 $5 e5 (9... g6 $6 10. Bf4 $14 {/+/-}) 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11.
Bf4 {leads to unexplored complications.}) 9. h3 {Marin: 'Aiming to ensure
stability to the bishop on the h2-b9 diagonal.'} Qc7 {Recommended by Korchnoi
and played by Topalov recently, 9...Qc7 has some certain drawbacks, though. It
is designed to prevent opponent's dark-squared bishop from occupying the
diagonal b8-h2. A common reaction from White is 10.g3 and then in order to
justify his play Black must continue 10...e5, but as we'll see in that case
with the rook on c1 (instead of the queen on c2) concrete variations favour
White. Another approach after 10.g3 is to allow White Bf4, like Kamsky did in
the present game. However, losing time in order to provoke g2-g3 doesn't look
particularly attractive and therefore 9...Qc7 can hardly be the optimal choice.
} ({An important alternative is} 9... Bg7 10. Bf4 Ne4 (10... O-O 11. e3 Ne4 ({
Insufficient is} 11... Ne8 12. Be2 (12. Bd3 f6 $1 {leads to the game
Kasparov-Genius 3, Cologne 1995, where the opening result favoured Black. That
game pointed out the drawbacks of developing the bishop on d3.} 13. e4 {Marin}
e5 {The position becomes very sharp now. During the next sequence of moves,
one of the greatest players of the history was completely outplayed by a
machine.} 14. dxe5 Nxc5 15. exd5 fxe5 16. Be3 Nxd3+ 17. Qxd3 e4 18. Qxe4 Nf6
19. Qc4 Nxd5 20. Nxd5 Be6 21. O-O Bxd5 {with a huge advantage for Black, who,
nevertheless went on losing as a consequence of exagerated greediness in
Kasparov-Comp Chess Genius 3.0, Cologne 1995.}) 12... Nc7 13. O-O Re8 14. Bg5
$1 $14) 12. Be2 Nxc3 13. bxc3 b6 14. cxb6 Qxb6 15. O-O $14 {1-0 Graf,A (2646)
-Kuraszkiewicz,M (2304)/Germany 2003 (46)}) 11. e3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 (12. Rxc3 O-O
13. Be2 Re8 14. O-O e5 15. Bh2 exd4 16. exd4 {1/2-1/2 Golod,V (2571)-Kritz,L 
(2578)/Las Vegas 2006}) 12... Qa5 13. Be2 e5 $5 $13 {0-1 Roussel Roozmon,T 
(2419)-Kritz,L (2578)/Las Vegas 2006 (78)}) 10. g3 {Marin: 'White insists with
the idea of developing the bishop on f4, which Black cannot prevent actually.'}
Bg7 {Looks like the best continuation under the circumstances.} (10... e5 {
played by Topalov two months prior to the present game is much too risky:} 11.
Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Bf4 (12. dxe5 Qxe5 13. Na4 $1 $13) 12... Nfd7 13. e4 $5 ({
More ambitious than} 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Bg2 Bg7 15. O-O O-O 16. e4 $14) 13... g5
(13... Bxc5 14. dxc5 O-O 15. Bg2 Nxc5 16. O-O $44) 14. Bxg5 Ng6 15. exd5 Bg7
16. Qe2+ (16. Bg2 O-O 17. O-O $36) 16... Kf8 17. d6 Qa5 18. Be3 b6 19. Bg2 $13
{1/2-1/2 Vallejo Pons,F (2650)-Topalov,V (2801)/Monte Carlo MNC 2006 (38)} (19.
Qf3 $1 $16 {[%cal Gf1c4]})) (10... Nh5 $6 11. Bg2 e5 $2 12. dxe5 $16 (12. Nxe5
Nxe5 13. dxe5 Bxc5 {1/2-1/2 Nikolov,S (2407)-Rusev,K (2412)/Velingrad 2004} 14.
g4 Ng7 15. b4 Bxb4 16. Nxd5 Bxd2+ 17. Qxd2 Qxe5 18. Nb6 Rb8 19. Nc4 $16) 12...
Nxe5 $140 13. Nxe5 Qxe5 14. Nxd5 cxd5 15. Bc3 $18) 11. Bf4 Qd8 {Marin: 'It
might seem that Black has just lost two tempi. However, precisely these two
moves (g3 and h3) cause some slight contradiction: The bishop's development on
f4 has been enabled, but its stability on the h2-b8 diagonal is not too
reliable.'} (11... Qa5 12. Qd2 Nh5 13. Bg5 Nhf6 14. Bg2 h6 15. Be3 $16 {
1-0 Filip,L (2385)-Nevednichy,B (2302)/Timisoara 2005 (33)}) 12. Bg2 ({The
alternative} 12. g4 Ne4 {is less problematic for Black.}) 12... Nh5 (12... O-O
{Maybe Black should have castled first in order to prevent a quick e2-e4.}) 13.
Bg5 h6 14. Bd2 O-O 15. e4 $1 $14 dxe4 16. Nxe4 Nhf6 ({Kamsky suggested} 16...
Ndf6 17. Nc3 Nd5 {as a possible alternative. However, White's chances are
preferable after} 18. O-O Nhf6 19. Re1 $14) 17. Nc3 Re8 {Kamsky's idea is to
clear square f8 in order to transfer the knight from d7 to d5. This is
somewhat slow and leaves White with more space.} ({The principled continuation
is} 17... e5 18. dxe5 Re8 19. O-O (19. Be3 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Qxd1+ 21. Rxd1 Rxe5
22. Rd8+ Re8 {looks acceptable for Black}) 19... Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Rxe5 {and after
the strongest} 21. Na4 {Black must choose between a slightly inferior position
after} (21. Bf4 Qxd1 22. Rfxd1 Re8 $11) 21... Nd5 ({the positional exchange
sacrifice} 21... Rd5 $5 22. Bxd5 Nxd5 {The players had different opinions
about it: Topalov thought that Black has sufficient compensation, while Kamsky
preferred White here.}) ({or the sharp complications:} 21... Bxh3 22. Bxh3 Rd5
23. Rc2 Ne4 24. Nb6 Nxd2 {although here too, after} 25. Re1 {White's chances
are preferable}) 22. Bc3 Re8 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 $14) 18. O-O Nf8 ({After} 18... e5 {
White can choose between} 19. Be3 {(which was Topalov's intention)} ({or} 19.
dxe5 {leading to variations from 17...e5, see the previous annotation.})) 19.
Qb3 $1 {Pointing out Black's problems with his queenside.} Ne6 20. Be3 Nc7 $1
21. Ne5 Nfd5 22. Nxd5 (22. Bd2 Be6 $1 {and White cannot take on b7:} 23. Qxb7
$2 Bxe5 24. Nxd5 (24. dxe5 Rb8 25. Qxc6 (25. Qa7 Qc8 $19) 25... Bd7 $19) 24...
Rb8 25. Qxc6 Bd7 $17) (22. Rfd1 $5) 22... Nxd5 23. Bd2 {Marin: 'In spite of
Black's control of the d5-square, White has strong pressure. For Black it will
be not easy to develop his queen side.' Kamsky succeeded to exchange a pair of
knights and decrease from White's advantage, nevertheless Black still has
problems to develop his queenside.} Bxe5 {This radical solution would have
been acceptable in case of a quick ...Be6, but Black does not have time for
that.} ({Variations like} 23... Qc7 24. Rfe1 Be6 (24... Rd8 25. Nc4 $16) 25.
Nxg6 Qc8 {can hardly work. White has few attractive possibilities:} 26. Ne5 ({
Good is also} 26. Rxe6 $5 Qxe6 27. Ne5 $44) 26... Nf4 (26... Bxh3 27. Bxd5 cxd5
28. Qxd5 $16) 27. d5 $1 Nxd5 (27... Bxd5 28. Bxd5 Nxd5 29. Rc4 $40) 28. Nc4 $14
) (23... Be6 $2 24. Qxb7 Bxe5 25. dxe5 Rb8 26. Qxc6 $18) 24. dxe5 h5 {
Unfortunately, before playing ...Be6 Black must spend time for a lot of other
moves.} 25. Rfe1 Qc7 {Protecting b7 and finally being ready for ...Be6.} 26. e6
$1 {Opening the position.} Bxe6 27. Rxe6 $1 fxe6 28. Re1 $16 {Two strong
bishops and a lot of weaknesses in Black's position (especially around his
king) secure White a wonderful compensation for the exchange).} Qd7 ({In
Shipov's opinion, best chances to defend would have offered the move} 28... e5
{and then} 29. Bc3 ({Weaker is} 29. Bxd5+ cxd5 30. Qxd5+ e6 31. Qe4 Qf7 32. Bc3
Rad8 33. Qxe5 Kh7 $13) 29... e6 30. Bxe5 Qf7 31. Be4 $44) 29. Qd3 Kh7 (29...
Kg7 30. Bc3+ $16) 30. Re5 {White's attack goes very smoothly.} Nf6 31. Qe3 Kg7
32. Be4 $1 Kf7 (32... Nxe4 33. Rxe4 $18) 33. Bc2 Rad8 $6 ({More stubborn is} 
33... Rg8 34. Qh6 Raf8 35. Bc3 $16) 34. Qh6 Rg8 (34... Qxd2 35. Bxg6+ Kg8 36.
Rg5 $18) 35. Ba5 Qd4 $2 {Loses at once.} ({Relatively best was} 35... Rg7 {
although after the simple} 36. Bxd8 Qxd8 37. Bb3 Nd5 38. Rxe6 $16 {White has a
huge advantage.}) (35... Rdf8 36. Rg5 $18) 36. Bc3 $18 Qc4 37. Bb3 Qd3 38.
Bxe6+ Ke8 39. Kg2 Rf8 40. Qg7 Rd5 41. Bf5 Rf7 42. Rxe7+ (42. Rxe7+ Rxe7 (42...
Kxe7 43. Bxf6+ Ke8 44. Qg8+ Rf8 45. Qe6#) 43. Qh8+ Kf7 44. Qxf6+ Ke8 45. Qh8+
Kf7 46. Qg7+ Ke8 47. Qg8#) 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.18"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 b5 8. Qd2
b4 {Topalov is showing remarkable skill at using provocative moves in sharp
Sicilian lines. Black has only one piece firmly developed, but he is the first
to start active operations.} 9. Na4 Nbd7 10. c4 {Facing Topalov´s invention
Anand is using a novelty enhancing the control of the center.} (10. O-O-O Qa5 (
10... d5 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Bc4 Bb7 (12... N7f6 13. Bg5 Qc7 14. Bxd5 Nxd5 15.
Rhe1 Bb7 16. Qe2 Qd6 17. Kb1 h6 18. Bh4 Nf4 19. Qf2 Qc7 20. Nf5 $16 {0-1 Leko,
P (2763)-Topalov,V (2788)/San Luis 2005 (40)}) 13. Rhe1 Qa5 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15.
Bb6 Qxa4 16. Bxd5 Be7 17. Bxb7 Nxb6 18. Rxe6 O-O 19. Rxe7 Qxa2 20. Qd4 Rf6 21.
Bxa8 {1-0 Wang Hao (2519)-Nava,R (2317)/Instanbul 2005}) 11. b3 Bb7 12. a3 (12.
g4 Nc5 13. a3 Nxa4 14. axb4 Qc7 15. bxa4 Nd7 16. Nb3 d5 17. Na5 Rc8 18. c4 Ba8
19. c5 Nxc5 20. bxc5 Bxc5 21. Bxc5 Qb6 22. Nc4 Qxc5 23. Qd4 Ke7 24. Qxc5+ Rxc5
25. Be2 dxc4 $17 {0-1 Andreev,E (2470)-Sasikiran,K (2670)/Cappelle la Grande
2006 (47)}) 12... Qc7 13. axb4 d5 14. c4 dxe4 15. f4 (15. Kb2 Be7 16. Be2 O-O
17. Bf4 e5 18. Bg3 g6 19. Nc2 Rfd8 20. Qe3 Bc6 $11 {1-0 Motylev,A (2638)
-Cheparinov,I (2625)/Wijk aan Zee 2006 (42)}) 15... Nd5 16. Nc2 Nxe3 17. Qxe3
Be7 18. Rxd7 Qxd7 19. Nb6 Qc7 20. Nxa8 Bxa8 21. Be2 O-O $17 {1-0 Ponomariov,R 
(2738)-Grischuk,A (2719)/Sochi 2006 (32)}) (10. g4 h6 11. O-O-O Ne5 12. b3 Bd7
13. Nb2 Qa5 14. a4 d5 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. f4 Nxg4 17. Nc4 Qc7 18. f5 Ngxe3 19.
fxe6 Nxd1 20. exd7+ Qxd7 $19 {1-0 Fierro Baquero,M (2273)-Choisy,M (2152)/
Guingamp 2006 (29)}) (10. Bc4 Qa5 11. b3 Bb7 12. a3 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. O-O
Nxe3 15. Qxe3 Qe5 16. Qd2 Qd6 17. f4 bxa3 18. Rad1 Nb6 19. Qa5 Nxc4 20. bxc4
Qb4 21. Qxb4 Bxb4 $17 {0-1 Ewaldt,M (2099)-Ftacnik,L (2612)/Hamburg 2005 (31)})
10... bxc3 11. Nxc3 (11. Qxc3 Bb7 12. Rc1 (12. Nc6 $6 Nxe4 $1 13. fxe4 (13.
Nxd8 Nxc3 14. Nxb7 Nxa4 15. b3 Nc3 16. Bd2 Nd5 17. Rc1 $13) 13... Qh4+ 14. Kd1
Rc8 $17) 12... Rc8 13. Qb3 Rxc1+ 14. Bxc1 Qb8 $11) 11... Bb7 12. Be2 (12. Bc4
d5 $5 13. exd5 Nb6 14. Bb3 Nfxd5 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 $11) 12... d5 $6 {The annotator
is probably crossing the silver line of praising the winner, but in my opinion
immediate opening of the center is too risky for Black. The lesser moratls
than Topalov would have preferred 12...Be7 finishing the development with
equal chances.} (12... Be7 13. O-O O-O 14. Rac1 (14. b4 d5 15. exd5 Bxb4 16.
dxe6 Nd5 17. e7 Nxe7 18. Rab1 Bxc3 19. Qxc3 Nd5 20. Qa3 Nxe3 21. Qxe3 Re8 $11)
14... Ne5 $11) 13. exd5 Nxd5 (13... Bxd5 14. O-O Bb7 15. Rac1 $14) 14. Nxd5
Bxd5 15. O-O (15. Rc1 Bd6 16. Nf5 Be5 17. O-O O-O 18. f4 Bf6 19. Rfd1 $14)
15... Qb8 $1 {In the post mortem Topalov was praising this move, that prepares
Bd6 and prevents b2-b4.} (15... Be7 16. Nf5 $5) 16. Nf5 $1 (16. f4 Bb4 17. Qc2
O-O 18. Rac1 Bc5 $11) 16... Qe5 17. Ng3 Bb4 $1 (17... Qxe3+ $6 18. Qxe3 Bc5 19.
Qxc5 Nxc5 20. Rfc1 Nb7 (20... Nd7 21. Bxa6 $1 $16) 21. Nh5 O-O 22. Nf4 $16) 18.
Qxb4 $6 {The first dubious decision by the great Indian player. It was much
better and safer to centralize the pieces, since Black still had to finish his
development.} (18. Qd4 $5 O-O 19. Ne4 Rfb8 20. Rfd1 $14) 18... Qxe3+ 19. Kh1
Rb8 $5 {[%mdl 4] Topalov deserves great praise for playing actively and
striving for win, the much more modest 19...Qb6 was good only for equality.} (
19... Qb6 20. Qa3 f5 (20... a5 21. Nh5 Qb4 22. Nxg7+ Kf8 23. Nh5 $14) 21. Nh5
Kf7 $11) 20. Qd6 (20. Qa4 $5 Rxb2 (20... h5 21. Rfe1 Qf2 22. Nf5 h4 23. h3 g6
$15) 21. Rac1 Ke7 $15) 20... Rb6 (20... Rxb2 $2 21. Rac1 $14 (21. Rfc1)) (20...
Qb6 21. Qxb6 Rxb6 22. Rac1 Ke7 $11) 21. Qc7 (21. Nf5 Qg5 $1 22. Rac1 $1 (22.
Qc7 exf5 $19) 22... Bb7 (22... Rxd6 23. Rc8+ Qd8 24. Rxd8+ Kxd8 25. Nxd6 Ke7
26. Nc4 Rc8 $15) 23. Qc7 exf5 24. Rcd1 (24. Rfe1 O-O 25. Qxd7 Rxb2 26. Rb1 Bc8
$17) 24... O-O 25. Rxd7 Rxb2 26. Qe5 $1 Qf6 27. Qxf6 gxf6 $17) 21... Rc6 (21...
Qc5 22. Qxc5 Nxc5 23. Rac1 Nb7 24. b3 $14) 22. Qb7 Rc2 $5 {Daring and
courageous it is Black who plays for a win out of the opening!} (22... Qb6 $11)
23. Qxa6 O-O 24. b3 $2 {It is hard to believe, that Anand has missed the
spirited move 24.Qa4! with an unclear position.} (24. Qa4 $1 Rc7 (24... Rxe2 $2
25. Nxe2 Nc5 26. Qd4 $16) (24... Rd2 $2 25. Qxd7 $18) 25. Bb5 Nf6 $13) (24. Qd3
$6 Qxd3 25. Bxd3 Rxb2 26. a4 Nc5 $15) 24... Ne5 (24... Ra8 25. Qd6 (25. Qd3
Qxd3 26. Bxd3 Rcxa2 27. Rxa2 Rxa2 $15) 25... Nf6 $5 $17) 25. Rae1 (25. f4 $2
Ng4 $1 (25... Nd3 26. Bf3 Nf2+ 27. Rxf2 Qxf2 $19) 26. Bf3 Nxh2 $19) 25... Qd2 (
25... Qf4 $5) (25... Ra8 $2 26. Bd1 $1 Qc5 (26... Qxe1 27. Qxa8+ Bxa8 28. Rxe1
Rc1 29. Rf1 $14) 27. Qxa8+ Bxa8 28. Bxc2 $16 Nxf3 $2 29. Rc1 $1 $18) 26. Rd1
Qf4 {Black is now exercising so much pressure, that the missing pawn does not
even deserve to be mentioned.} 27. Bb5 (27. Qa7 g6 $5 $44 (27... h5 28. Nxh5 $5
$13) (27... Nc6 $5) 28. Rd4 Qe3 $17) 27... h5 (27... Rxg2 $2 28. Rxd5 $1 (28.
Kxg2 $2 Bxf3+ 29. Kg1 Qe3+ 30. Rf2 Bxd1 $19) 28... Rxg3 29. hxg3 Qxg3 30. Rd2
Nxf3 31. Qd6 $16) 28. Ne2 (28. Nxh5 $6 Qh4 $1 29. Rxd5 (29. Ng3 $2 Ng4 $19)
29... exd5 30. Ng3 Qf4 $17) 28... Qe3 29. a4 (29. Nd4 Rxg2 $5 (29... Rd2 30.
Rxd2 Qxd2 31. Nc6 Ng6 $5 $44) 30. Kxg2 Ra8 31. Qd6 Rxa2+ 32. Kh3 $13) 29... Rb2
(29... h4 30. h3) (29... Nxf3 $2 30. Rxd5 $1 Nxh2 31. Kxh2 exd5 32. Rf5 $13)
30. Qd6 (30. Ng1 $2 Ng4 $1 31. Nh3 (31. Rxd5 Nf2+ 32. Rxf2 Qxf2 33. Rg5 Rb1 $19
) 31... Qe5 $1 $19) 30... Rc8 31. Rde1 Nxf3 $5 32. gxf3 {Anand must have been
a bit tired of the need to defend very carefuly against myriad of dangers, so
he missed possibly better defense with 32.Rxf3!?} (32. Qg3 $2 Nxe1 $1 33. Qxe3
Nxg2 34. Qg3 $8 Nf4+ 35. Kg1 Nxe2+ 36. Bxe2 Rxe2 37. Re1 Rb2 $19) (32. Rxf3 $5
Bxf3 33. Qg3 Bxg2+ 34. Kxg2 (34. Qxg2 Qxb3 $17) 34... Qe4+ 35. Qf3 (35. Kg1 h4
36. Qf4 Qg6+ 37. Kh1 h3 $17) 35... Qxf3+ 36. Kxf3 Rxb3+ 37. Kf2 g5 $15) 32...
Bxf3+ 33. Rxf3 Qxf3+ 34. Kg1 Qe3+ 35. Kf1 Qf3+ (35... Rc5 36. Qd8+ Kh7 37. Bd3+
$1 (37. Qd3+ $4 Rf5+ $19) 37... f5 38. Qh4 Qf3+ 39. Kg1 Re5 40. Rf1 $11) 36.
Kg1 Qxb3 37. Qe5 Rd8 38. Qc3 Qxc3 39. Nxc3 h4 40. Re4 Rb3 {White pieces are
pretty loose and there is no counterplay.} 41. Ne2 (41. Rc4 Rd2 $17) 41... g5
42. Re5 Rd5 43. Rxd5 exd5 44. Bc6 Ra3 45. Nd4 (45. Bxd5 Rxa4 $17) 45... Kg7 46.
Bxd5 Rd3 47. Nf5+ Kf6 48. Be4 Rd1+ 49. Kg2 Rd2+ 50. Kf3 (50. Kg1 Ke5 $19) 50...
Rxh2 51. Ne3 Ra2 52. Bc6 Ra3 {Black now has too many passed pawns and White is
still unable to fully coordinate his pieces.} 53. Kf2 Ra1 54. Bd7 Ke5 55. Kf3
Ra3 56. Kf2 Ke4 57. Bc6+ (57. Ng2 h3 58. Bc6+ Kd4 $19) 57... Kf4 58. Ng2+ Ke5
59. Ne3 Ra2+ 60. Kf3 f5 61. Bd7 h3 (61... h3 62. Nxf5 h2 63. Ng3 Ra3+ 64. Kg2
Rxg3+ 65. Kxh2 Kf4 $19) 0-1

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

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

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B97"]
[WhiteElo "2671"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4
Qb6 8. Nb3 Be7 9. Qf3 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. Bd3 b5 12. Rhe1 {Kamsky just
loves this line and the recent games present him as a successful promoter of 8.
Nb3.} Bb7 (12... b4 13. Ne2 Bb7 14. Ned4 (14. Kb1 h6 15. Bh4 a5 16. Ned4 a4 17.
Nb5 Qb8 18. N3d4 Nc5 19. g4 b3 20. c4 bxa2+ 21. Kxa2 O-O $13 {1-0 Kamsky,G 
(2690)-Sakaev,K (2668)/Khanty Mansyisk 2005 (37)}) 14... Nc5 15. Kb1 O-O (15...
h6 16. Bh4 O-O-O 17. Qf1 Rhe8 18. Nxc5 dxc5 19. Nf3 a5 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Ba6
$14 {1-0 Kamsky,G (2686)-Novikov,I (2575)/San Diego 2006 (92)}) 16. g4 Rac8 17.
Qh3 Nxd3 18. cxd3 a5 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. g5 Be7 21. Qe3 Ba6 22. Rc1 $14 {0-1
Kamsky,G (2690)-Vallejo Pons,F (2674)/Khanty Mansyisk 2005 (62)}) 13. Qh3 $6 {
White have confessed, that he forgot the best moveorder. There are many moves
that might be better than the text.} (13. Nd4) (13. a3) (13. Qg3) (13. Kb1)
13... b4 14. Nb1 (14. Ne2 e5 (14... Nc5 15. Nxc5 Qxc5 16. Nd4 Kf8 17. Nb3 Qc7
18. e5 Nd5 19. Bxe7+ Qxe7 20. f5 dxe5 21. Rxe5 $16 {1-0 Gonda,G-Pineau,J (2280)
/Tokyo 1990 (38)}) (14... Nxe4 15. Bxe7 Kxe7 16. Qh4+ Ndf6 (16... Nef6 17. Ned4
g6 18. g4 $40) 17. Ng3 (17. g4 h6 $1 $17) 17... Nxg3 18. hxg3 a5 19. Nd4 Qc5
$15) 15. Ng3 g6 16. f5 O-O-O 17. Kb1 a5 18. Bb5 Kb8 19. Bxd7 Rxd7 20. fxg6 fxg6
21. Bxf6 $2 (21. Nxa5 Ba8 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Qe6 $16) 21... Bxf6 22. Nxa5 {
1/2 Momo,S-Gudmundsson,A/Leipzig 1960 (62)} Rc8 $5 $11) 14... e5 $1 $146 {
Topalov has found this good move at the board, it makes lot of sense to
prevent the centralization of the knight via d4 square.} (14... Rc8 15. N1d2 e5
16. g4 a5 17. Bxf6 Nxf6 18. g5 Nd7 19. g6 a4 20. Qxh7 Rxh7 21. gxh7 axb3 22.
h8=Q+ Bf8 23. axb3 $16 {1-0 Danes,J (2074)-Vachal,J (2170)/Czechia 2001 (34)})
(14... a5 15. Nd4 Nc5 16. Bb5+ Kf8 17. Nd2 Rc8 18. e5 dxe5 19. fxe5 Nfe4 20.
Nxe4 Bxe4 21. Bxe7+ Qxe7 22. Kb1 h5 23. Be2 Qg5 24. Bf3 $14 {0-1 Kamsky,G 
(2690)-Smirin,I (2673)/Khanty Mansiysk 2005 (49)}) 15. N1d2 a5 16. Kb1 $6 (16.
Nc4 $5 a4 17. Nbd2 O-O $15) 16... a4 17. Nc1 O-O {Black has finished his
development in excellent form and White can only dream about the same level of
attack on the kingside.} (17... a3 18. b3 Qc3 $2 19. Nc4 $18) 18. Ne2 $2 (18.
g4 Nc5 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. g5 Be7 21. Bc4 exf4 22. Qg4 Rfc8 23. h4 Ba6 24. Qf5 (
24. Qxf4 Bxc4 25. Nxc4 Ne6 $19) (24. Nd3 b3 $1) 24... Ne6 25. b3 axb3 26. cxb3
g6 $17) 18... Rfc8 19. Ng3 g6 $1 {[%mdl 2048] Kamsky has misplaced both queen
and knight for the unreal dream of queenside attack. Both pieces will now be
sorely missed in the defense of the burning queenside.} (19... a3 20. Nf5 Bf8
$15) 20. Nc4 (20. Rc1 a3 21. c4 (21. b3 Qc3 22. Nc4 Rxc4 $19) 21... Nc5 $19)
20... Ba6 (20... b3 $5) 21. b3 axb3 22. cxb3 Nc5 {The disaster becomes visible
with naked eyes, on top of all troubles Black can penetrate via the a file.}
23. Ne2 (23. Bf1 Qa7 24. Rd2 Nxb3 $1 25. axb3 Bb7 26. Kc2 Qa2+ 27. Kd1 Qxb3+
28. Ke2 Qxc4+ 29. Kf2 Qc5+ $19) 23... Nfxe4 (23... Qa7 24. Nc1 Bxc4 25. Bxc4
Ncxe4 $19) 24. Bxe7 Qxe7 25. Bxe4 Nxe4 26. Nb6 Qa7 $1 {The cool move perfectly
epitomises the different fate of white and black pieces.} 27. Nxa8 (27. Nxc8
Bd3+ $1 28. Qxd3 Qxa2+ 29. Kc1 Qa1+ 30. Kc2 Ra2#) 27... Rxa8 28. a4 Bxe2 29.
Rc1 Qf2 {White has remained sitting on h3 with no perspective.} 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 2nd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2006.05.21"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2006.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This victory from the last round helped Topalov to become the sole winner of
Mtel Masters for the second time.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5
Nbd7 6. Bf4 Nh5 7. Bd2 Nhf6 8. Rc1 {Topalov's specialty in Sofia. Neither
Kamsky, nor Bacrot could solve opening problems after this move.} (8. Qc2) 8...
e5 $146 {This natural move is a novelty. Bacrot tries to improve on Kamsky's
play from round five, but he underestimated White's resources. The game shows
that 8...e5 is inferior to 8...g6.} (8... g6 9. h3 Qc7 ({Possibly the best
chances to equalize offers} 9... Bg7 10. Bf4 Ne4) 10. g3 Bg7 (10... e5 11. Nxe5
Nxe5 12. Bf4 (12. dxe5 Qxe5 13. Na4 $1 $13) 12... Nfd7 13. e4 $5 ({More
ambitious than} 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Bg2 Bg7 15. O-O O-O 16. e4 $14) 13... g5 (
13... Bxc5 14. dxc5 O-O 15. Bg2 Nxc5 16. O-O $44) 14. Bxg5 Ng6 15. exd5 Bg7 16.
Qe2+ (16. Bg2 O-O 17. O-O $36) 16... Kf8 17. d6 Qa5 18. Be3 b6 19. Bg2 $13 {
1/2-1/2 Vallejo Pons,F (2650)-Topalov,V (2801)/Monte Carlo MNC 2006 (38)} (19.
Qf3 $1 $16 {[%cal Gf1c4]})) 11. Bf4 Qd8 $146 (11... Qa5 12. Qd2 Nh5 13. Bg5
Nhf6 14. Bg2 h6 15. Be3 $16 {1-0 Filip,L (2385)-Nevednichy,B (2302)/Timisoara
2005 (33)}) 12. Bg2 Nh5 (12... O-O $5) 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bd2 O-O 15. e4 $14 {
1-0 Topalov,V (2804)-Kamsky,G (2671)/Sofia 2006 (42)}) (8... Qc7 9. g3 $14) 9.
Nxe5 ({After} 9. dxe5 {White must reckon with} Ne4 $13) 9... Nxe5 10. dxe5 Ng4
({Now after} 10... Ne4 {White keeps advantage with} 11. Nxe4 (11. Na4 Qc7 $11)
11... dxe4 12. g3 {since both 12...Qd5 and 12...Qd4 run into 13.Ba5+/-.}) 11.
Na4 {The knight is only temporary on a4. In fact Topalov's last move besides
protecting pawn c5, also cleverly exploits the weakness on b6.} Nxe5 (11... Bf5
12. Bc3 Qe7 13. Qd4 $16) 12. Bc3 ({Stronger than} 12. Nb6 Rb8 13. Bf4 Qf6 (
13... f6 14. Qd4 $14) 14. e3 (14. Qd2 Be6 15. Qe3 {unexpectedly favours Black:}
Ng4 16. Qg3 Qxb2 17. h3 Ne5 18. Na4 Qb4+ 19. Nc3 d4 20. Bxe5 Rd8 $132) 14... g5
15. Bg3 {when White is just marginally better}) 12... f6 {An ugly move,
especially given the fact that White can exchange opponent's light-squared
bishop. On the other hand Bacrot didn't have a choice - it is difficult for
Black to deal with White's pressure on the long diagonal.} (12... Nd7 13. Bd4
Nf6) 13. Nb6 $1 {White plays very simple: the bishop pair secures a stable
advantage. In the game Topalov convincingly converted it into a full point.} ({
Weaker is} 13. e3 Bf5 14. Be2 Be7 15. O-O O-O {1-0 Javakhishvili,L (2410)
-Milliet,S (2330)/Turin 2006 (51) and Black has no problems.}) 13... Rb8 14.
Nxc8 Rxc8 15. g3 $1 {As it often happens, a pawn move that closes one diagonal
weakens another one. After the move 12...f6 Black has problems with the
diagonal c8-h3.} Qd7 16. h4 $1 {In spite of his novelty, the opening outcome
is not satisfactory for Bacrot - Black must suffer with basically no
perspectives for any activity. Besides, White has a clear and easy play.} Qf7
17. Bh3 Nd7 ({Nothing changes} 17... Rd8 18. f4 {and the jump on c4 is hardly
better than the retreat on d7:} Nc4 (18... Nd7 19. b4 {leads to the game}) 19.
Bd4 ({or} 19. Qd4 Qe7 20. b3 Na3 21. Ba5 Ra8 22. Kf2 $16) 19... Be7 20. h5 O-O
(20... g6 21. Qb3 Rb8 22. e4 $16) 21. Bf5 $16 {However, the move 17...Rd8 is
more logical, since in the game White could play 19.h5 instead of 19.f4.}) 18.
b4 Rd8 19. f4 (19. h5 {at once was strong as well, but possibly Topalov didn't
want to deviate from his initial intentions (Black could achieve this position,
had he started with 17...Rd8). I wouldn't be surprised if all this is still
home preparation...}) 19... Be7 20. h5 $1 {A powerful play. The World Champion
increases the space advantage and creates targets for his bishops. Black
completely lacks coordination due to the fact that his pieces have no good
squares.} g6 $6 {It must be very painful to produce such a move, especially
for a high-class player like Bacrot. The Frenchman tries to prevent White from
switching the bishop to b1-h7 diagonal, but it offers White a lot of other
possibilities. His plan to continue ...Rg8, ...f5 and then ...Nd7-f6 is too
slow.} ({Probably White's task would have been more difficult after} 20... O-O
21. Bf5 Rfe8 {[%cal Gd7f8] with a passive, but relatively solid position.}) 21.
Qb3 {Pointing out light-squared weaknesses in Black's position. The idea is to
play quickly e2-e4 and then penetrate with the bishop on e6.} (21. hxg6 hxg6 {,
} 22. Bxd7+ $2 Kxd7 {and the rook on h8 is protected}) 21... Rg8 22. e4 $1 gxh5
{Bacrot tries to create some counterplay, hoping to complicate opponent's task.
} ({Another option was to stick to the initial plan and try to defend the
position after} 22... f5 23. exd5 Qxd5 (23... cxd5 24. Bg2 Nf6 25. Bxf6 Bxf6
26. Rd1 $16 {/+-}) 24. Qxd5 cxd5 25. hxg6 hxg6 26. Bg2 Nf6 $16) 23. exd5 cxd5 (
23... Qxd5 24. Qxd5 cxd5 25. Kf2 $16) 24. Kf2 (24. Bd4 f5 ({As indicated by S.
Shipov, the endgame after} 24... Qg6 25. Kd2 Qxg3 26. Rcg1 Qxb3 27. Rxg8+ Kf7
28. axb3 Kxg8 29. Be6+ {is difficult for Black}) 25. Qd3 h4 26. gxh4 $1 {
would have kept a larger advantage.}) 24... h4 $1 (24... f5 25. Bg2 Nf6 26.
Bxf6 Bxf6 27. Rcd1 $16) 25. Bxd7+ $1 {A good practical decision, confirming
the well-known saying about the bishops pair. Topalov doesn't wish to allow
any activity for his opponent.} (25. gxh4 f5 $132 {[%csl Rh4][%cal Gd7f6]}) ({
Preventing the advance ...f5 by means of} 25. Bf5 {allows activity anyway:}
Rxg3 (25... hxg3+ 26. Kg2 $16) 26. Rxh4 Qg7 $1 {and somehow Black is able to
create threats with little forces.}) (25. g4 Kf8 $13) 25... Rxd7 26. Rxh4 d4 {
The arising endgame is difficult for Black, although the desire to exchange
queens is understandable.} ({Chances for counterplay offers} 26... f5 27. Rh3 (
{Better is} 27. Rhh1) 27... Bf6 {with the idea} 28. Bxf6 Qxf6 29. Re1+ Kd8 30.
Re5 Re8 31. Rxd5 Qc6 $132) 27. Qxf7+ Kxf7 28. Bd2 Rg7 29. Rh5 $1 {Preventing ..
.f6-f5.} Bf8 ({More stubborn is} 29... d3 {and White's plan from the game
doesn't work:} 30. c6 $2 (30. Kf3 $16) 30... bxc6 31. Rxc6 Bxb4 $1 32. Bxb4 d2
33. Rh6 Rg6 34. Rxh7+ Rg7 35. Rxg7+ Kxg7 36. Bxd2 Rxd2+ 37. Ke3 Rxa2 $11) 30.
c6 $1 bxc6 31. Rxc6 {The rest is a matter of technique, since Black is unable
to avoid the loss of at least a pawn.} d3 (31... Rd6 32. Rxd6 Bxd6 33. Ra5 $18)
32. Rxa6 Kg8 (32... Bxb4 33. Bxb4 d2 34. Rh6 $1 $18 {winning the second pawn
after} Rg6 (34... d1=Q 35. Raxf6+ Ke8 36. Rf8#) (34... d1=N+ 35. Ke2 Rxg3 36.
Rxh7+ Rg7 37. Rxg7+ Kxg7 38. a4 $18) 35. Rxh7+ Rg7 36. Rxg7+ Kxg7 37. Bxd2
Rxd2+ 38. Ke3 $18) 33. Rh1 (33. Rxf6 $2 Rge7 $132) 33... Rde7 34. Kf3 Re2 35.
Rd1 {Black's activity is a temporary factor.} h5 (35... f5 36. Be3 Bxb4 37.
Rxd3 Re1 38. Rd8+ Kf7 39. Rd5 $18) 36. Rxf6 h4 37. gxh4 {It turns out that
Black does not have any dangerous threats.} Rgg2 38. Be3 Be7 39. Ra6 Rxa2 40.
b5 Rab2 41. Rxd3 Bxh4 42. Rd7 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.05"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Kramnik's solid play with Black has been quite impressive over the past three
games, but today he offered a rather feeble resistence when finally getting
the white pieces. Confroned with an unexpected opening, a rare sub-variation
and a relatively early novelty, Kramnik soon landed in an unpleasant ending.
By carelessly advancing his kingside pawns, he only made things worse for
himself, by providing Topalov with targets for attack. The game ended four
moves away from mate.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 {Apparently, during the last three
games Kramnik has managed to convince his opponent that the Slav is not such a
bad opening after all.} 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 {But this must have been the real
surprise for Kramnik! Topalov usually employs the ...a6 systems and has only
occasionally played the Semi-Slav throughout his carrier. If his intention was
to confront Kramnik with the unpleasant psychological situation of fighting
against his own weapons, we can safely state that the experiment has been
crowned with success.} 5. e3 Nbd7 ({Even here, Topalov preferred} 5... a6 {
in his game against Ponomariov, played at Sofia 2006.}) 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5
8. Be2 {Kramnik is consequent with his policy of avoiding sharp opening lines.
The modest bishop retreat to e2 is supposed to offer White little chances for
a palpable advantage, but even less danger of getting into trouble.} Bb7 9. O-O
b4 {Topalov's desire to take his oppponent out of the well-known paths as soon
as possible becomes obvious. Black usually plays 9...Be7 here or, even more
frequently, 8...a6.} 10. Na4 c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Bb5+ {This move and the
whole sequence that follows looks hard to resist, but shows some slight
illogicality. The natural question is whether White should aim for sharp play
once he has chosen a basically quiet variation in the first line. Further
practice is needed to give a definitive answer, but the following 2 games seem
to be more in the spirit of the 8.Be2 system, by aiming for a tiny advantage
in a symmetrical position.} (12. Bd2 Ncd7 13. Nd4 Bd6 14. Nb5 Be7 15. Qe1 a6
16. Nd4 Nb6 17. Nxb6 Qxb6 18. a3 bxa3 19. Ba5 Qa7 20. Bb4 $1 Nd5 $6 (20... axb2
21. Bb5+ Kf8 22. Bxe7+ Kg8 $8 23. Rb1 $36 {[%csl Yg8]}) 21. Bxe7 Kxe7 22. Rxa3
$16 {1-0 Lputian,S (2607)-Grabarczyk,M (2506)/Ohrid 2001/CBM 084 (41)}) (12. a3
Ncd7 13. Qd4 bxa3 14. b4 Be7 15. Bxa3 O-O 16. Rfd1 Nb6 17. Nc5 $14 {1-0
Aleksandrov,A (2535)-Filippov,V (2530)/Moscow 1996/EXT 2000 (80)}) 12... Ncd7
13. Ne5 Qc7 14. Qd4 Rd8 15. Bd2 {Looking at this position, I have the feeling
as if players had changed roles with each other. It is Kramnik who has a
slight advance in development, while Topalov mainly relies on the solid
character of his position. Quite the opposite to what we have seen during the
last few days.} Qa5 $146 {And now, Topalov moves for the second time with his
already developed queen, something that Kramnik did frequently in the first
part of the match. The move is a novelty, which is quite curious because it is
the computer's first suggestion. We can suppose that Kramnik had looked at it
at home (even though not especially for this game or match) and the time spent
on the next moves was destined to let him remember the old analysis.} (15... a6
$2 {is an obvious loss of time, weakening the b6-square at the same time.} 16.
Rfc1 Qa5 17. Bc6 Bxc6 18. Nxc6 Qxa4 19. Nxd8 Kxd8 20. a3 $16 {1/2-1/2
Cvetkovic,S-Bagirov,V/Vrnjacka Banja 1974/EXT 99 (42)}) 16. Bc6 Be7 (16... Bxc6
17. Nxc6 Qxa4 18. Nxd8 Kxd8 {is too risky for Black, although White can easily
go astray, too.} 19. Qc4 $1 {[%csl Ya4][%cal Ya1c1,Yf1d1,Yc4c8]} (19. Rfc1 $6
Qb5 $1) (19. a3 Qa5 20. axb4 Qb6 $13) 19... Ne5 (19... Qa5 20. Rfc1 Bc5 21. a3
$1 $16) (19... Bc5 20. a3 $16) 20. Qf4 (20. Qd4+ Ned7 $11) 20... Qb5 21. Rfd1
Kc8 22. Rac1+ Kb7 23. a3 $36) 17. Rfc1 {This looks like the more logical way
of maintaining the advance in development.} (17. Bxb7 $2 Nxe5 $19) ({Knowing
the further course of the game it is easy to recommend} 17. b3 O-O 18. Bxd7
Nxd7 19. Nxd7 Bc6 $11 {and White cannot save all his pieces placed along the
d-file.}) 17... Bxc6 {Without fearing any ghosts, Topalov embarks the sharp
forced line.} 18. Nxc6 Qxa4 19. Nxd8 (19. b3 Qb5 (19... Qa6 20. Bxb4 $44 {
Korotylev}) 20. Qxa7 {Korotylev} Qb6 $1 21. Qa4 Nd5 22. Nxd8 Qxd8 23. e4 Nc3
$15 {Svidler}) 19... Bxd8 20. Qxb4 Qxb4 21. Bxb4 Nd5 22. Bd6 {At first glance
it might look that White is doing just great. His material deficit is almost
insignificant, while his rooks are ready to invade the enemy queen side.
However, there is a certain detail that favours Black: the centralized
position of his king. Since the white king would need a considerable amount of
time to get into play, we can state that for practical purposes Black is a
whole... king up! From this point of view, Kramnik's 20th move is slightly
questionable. In order to prove 17.Rfc1 to be playable, White needs to
exchange queens only after Black gets castled. The only open question remains
whether this can be achieved in practice.} f5 23. Rc8 N5b6 24. Rc6 Be7 25. Rd1
Kf7 26. Rc7 Ra8 27. Rb7 Ke8 {Black's last three moves can be considered some
sort of artificial (but huge) castling.} (27... g5 {Svidler: "trying to gain
some space on the K-side, also made sense - but by allowing White to play
h2-h4 Black succeeded in opening the h-file for his rook, so perhaps it was a
conscious decision on Veselin's part."}) 28. Bxe7 Kxe7 29. Rc1 a5 (29... Nd5
30. Rc6 a5 {is a more accurate move order, according to Svidler.}) 30. Rc6 (30.
Rcc7 $1 {Svidler}) 30... Nd5 {Both sides have completed the first phase of
piece mobilisation. The placement of the white rooks creates a strong optical
impression, but they fail to create any serious threats. With the e6-pawn and
the d7-knight safely defended by the king, Black has no problems keeping
things under control. At the same time, the transfer of the white king to the
queen side is highly problematic, because of the numerous possible forks. We
can safely state that Black is better, although it is not entirely clear yet
how much better precisely. One important element of his general plan of
converting his minimal advantage is to avoid the exchange of one pair of rooks,
which would make his coordination more difficult.} 31. h4 $6 {"Do not move
pawns on the wing where you are weaker" they say. It is remarkable how much
quicker Black will make progress on this wing after White's unnecesary pawn
move.} ({Here is a variation illustrating White's difficulties in obtaining
counterplay:} 31. Kf1 g5 32. Ke2 g4 33. a3 {(Necessary, in order to enable the
further advance of the king without fearing the fork on b4.)} a4 34. Kd3 h5 35.
Kc4 h4 36. Kb5 N5f6 {[%cal Yf6e4] Black's advantage of space on both wings
leaves him with the better chances in case of the pawn race that is likely to
arise after} 37. Ra6 Rxa6 38. Kxa6 Ne4) 31... h6 ({Black could have also played
} 31... g6 {, but this does not seem to be necessary as can be seen from the
next comment.}) 32. a4 (32. h5 {[%csl Yh5]} a4 (32... N5f6 $6 33. Rcc7 {
[%csl Gd7][%cal Yb7a7]}) 33. Kf1 Ra5 34. Ke2 N5f6 35. Rcc7 Kd6 36. Ra7 Rb5 37.
Rc2 (37. Rcb7 Nb6 $17) 37... Rb4 38. Rd2+ Nd5 $17 {In order to avoid the loss
of the h5-pawn, White has been forced to allow the radical activation of
Black's forces.}) 32... g5 33. hxg5 hxg5 34. Kf1 g4 {Now, White has to
permanently count with the enemy rook's penetration through the h-file or the
pawn break ...g3.} 35. Ke2 N5f6 {The start of a highly original manoeuvre.} 36.
b3 ({Korotylev gives a long analysis intended to prove that White would have
held a draw with} 36. Rcc7 {. In my opinion, Black retains his advantage with}
Kd6 {(Not considered by Korotylev)} 37. Ra7 Rb8 38. Rc2 (38. Rcb7 {does not
work because after} Rxb7 39. Rxb7 Nc5 {White loses a pawn:} 40. Ra7 Nxa4 41. b3
Nc5 $17 {It is early to talk about Black's win yet here, but it is even more
out of place to claim equality for White.}) 38... g3 $1 39. fxg3 Rb3 40. Rxa5
Nd5 {and Black's activity has taken dangerous forms.}) 36... Ne8 $1 ({Black
intends to drive the enemy rook away from the b-file by means of ...Nd6. The
seemingly more active} 36... Ne4 {, bearing the same idea, would have been
less accurate in view of} 37. Rcc7) 37. f3 $6 {Even though this move is bad,
it is hard to apply to it the same kind of criticism as to White's 31st move.
Kramnik must have felt that he is rapidly losing ground and aimed to exchange
as many pawns as possible.} g3 $1 {Rejected.} 38. Rc1 Nef6 {Now that White has
weakened his king side, the knight changes plans.} 39. f4 {But this looks like
suicide already. White weakens his structure even more, in order to get the
possibility to attack the g3-pawn, without noticing that it is posioned.} Kd6
40. Kf3 Nd5 41. Kxg3 $2 {White offers to his opponent the only thing that he
was missing yet: an open file for the attack.} Nc5 42. Rg7 Rb8 43. Ra7 Rg8+ 44.
Kf3 Ne4 {Black has a decisive attack already.} 45. Ra6+ Ke7 46. Rxa5 Rg3+ 47.
Ke2 Rxe3+ 48. Kf1 Rxb3 49. Ra7+ Kf6 50. Ra8 Nxf4 51. Ra1 Rb2 52. a5 ({Allowing
mate in 5. However,} 52. Rg8 {would have failed to safely defend the g2-square
because of} Kf7) 52... Rf2+ 0-1

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.07"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 ({This is the first time Kramnik has
deviated from the course of an earlier game of the match. In the seventh game
he transposed to the Queen's Gambit Accepted with} 4... e6 5. Bd3 dxc4 6. Bxc4
c5) 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. a3 $5 {Almost never played before.
Topalov usually plays ...a6 as Black in the Slav Defence and now he gives it a
try from the other side of the board. I would allow myself a small divagation.
Three quarters of century ago, the somewhat mysterious Indian player Sultan
Khan (not the most erudite theoretician of his time, for sure) frequently
employed the modest advance of the a-pawn with both colours and irrspective of
the opening. Among others, he beat the great Capablanca in what is called
today the Petrosian-Kasparov system and accidentally "invented" the Chebanenko
- Slav much before the birth of the Moldavian trainer. Returning to our game,
the point behind Topalov's last move will become clear soon.} Nbd7 9. g3 Be7
10. f4 {After having eliminated the black light-squared bishop, White has
arranged several of his pawns on dark squares. This is aimed at ensuring the
free circulation of his own bishop, which became the unchallenged master of
the light squares. However, combining a3 with f4 also pursues a more concrete
aim. White threatens to block the position with c5, when the thematic central
break ...e5 would be impossible. At the same time, the attempt to undermine
the powerful chain of pawns from the other side with ...b6 is safely answered
by b4, because ...a5 is inoffensive since the b4-pawn has been defended in
advance. This would leave White with considerable advantage in space, without
any possibility of counterplay for Black.} dxc4 ({Giving up the centre so
easily is a risky decision.} 10... a5 {deserves attention, with the idea of
answering 11.c5 with 11...b6.} {If} 11. Rb1 {then} dxc4 12. Bxc4 O-O 13. e4 b5
{[%csl Ge4] is different already.} 14. Bd3 $8 b4 15. Na4 c5 $132) 11. Bxc4 O-O
(11... Qc7 $5 12. e4 Rd8 $5 {[%cal Yc6c5] Shipov}) 12. e4 {Looking at this
position, I cannot stop asking myself: what does it mean to play a hypermodern
opening? 1...d5 is supposed to be a classical way of starting the game, but
isn't here White's advantage in the centre just as big or maybe even bigger
than, say, in the Gruenfeld? One of the reasons why the Slav is so popular
nowadays is that it allows Black choose any type of structure he wishes,
according to the style of play or, why not, the mood in that specific moment.
It can lead to more or less symmetrical positions or to very unbalanced
situations. As a compensation for White's advantage in space and powerful pair
of bishops in the current position, Black is few tempi ahead in development.
It remains an open question whether this is enough. Kramnik's play in the next
phase of the game does not really sustain this hypothesis, but objectively
speaking Black should be OK.} (12. Be2 c5 $1 13. d5 exd5 14. Nxd5 Rc8 $1 {
[%cal Yc5c4,Yd7c5]} 15. O-O c4 16. Bf3 Nc5 {[%csl Yd3]}) 12... b5 13. Be2 {
We can see here a further merit of a3: in order to undermine the e4-pawn,
Black needs to spend an extra tempo, allowing White to transfer the bishop on
to the optimal square.} b4 ({This logical move implies a big strategic risk,
because it leaves Black's structure in ruins and it opens new horizons for the
f3-bishop, by weakening the c4-square. If the piece pressure fails to yield
the expected effect, Black will find himself in a hopeless situation.} 13...
Qb6 {was a more restrained continuation, although it could lead to animated
play, too.} 14. Be3 Rad8 15. O-O c5 16. e5 cxd4 17. exf6 (17. Bxd4 $2 Bc5 18.
Bxc5 Nxc5 $19 {[%cal Yb6g1,Yd8d1]}) 17... Nxf6 18. Bf2 dxc3 $1 19. Bxb6 Rxd1
20. Raxd1 axb6 21. bxc3 Nd5 $132) 14. axb4 Bxb4 15. Bf3 Qb6 $6 {Kramnik lost
this game mainly because he did not try to get rid of his backward c-pawn in
any way. The plan of breaking the enemy centre with ...e5 has not sufficient
strategic basis.} ({This was probably the last moment when Black could obtain
adequate play by means of} 15... c5 16. e5 (16. Be3 Nb6 $132 {Golubev}) (16.
Kf1 $5 $14 {[%cal Yf1g2] Golubev}) 16... Nd5 ({For some reasons, only the
intermediate exchange} 16... cxd4 $6 {has been analyzed so far. Black simply
loses a pawn after} 17. Qxd4 Nd5 18. Bxd5 Bc5 19. Qd3 exd5 20. Qxd5 $14 {
[%csl Gc5,Gd7][%cal Ye1f1,Yf1g2] . The fact that the black minor pieces are
hanging prevent Black from starting a rapid counter-attack, thus allowing
White complete his development with Kf1-g2.}) 17. Bd2 (17. Bxd5 exd5 18. Be3
Nb6 19. dxc5 (19. Qe2 Nc4 20. Bf2 Rb8 21. O-O Bxc3 22. bxc3 Rb2 $132) 19... Nc4
20. Bd4 Nxb2 21. Qc2 (21. Qe2 Nc4 22. O-O Bxc3 23. Bxc3 Qd7 $11) 21... Nc4 22.
O-O a5 $132) 17... Bxc3 (17... N7b6 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxb4 cxb4 20. Qd3 Qc7 21.
O-O $14) 18. bxc3 ({In fact,} 18. Bxc3 $5 {might be simpler. Capturing the
bishop would lead to the loss of the a7-pawn, while the threat Bxd5 is
stronger now that the white queen side has not been weakened.} Qb6 19. Qa4 Rfd8
20. O-O $14) 18... cxd4 19. Bxd5 (19. c4 N5b6 {[%cal Yd7c5]} 20. Bxa8 Qxa8 21.
O-O Nxc4 22. Bc1 Rd8 $44 {[%csl Yd4][%cal Ra8h1,Rd8d1]}) 19... exd5 20. cxd4
Qb6 {We have reached a position typical for the Sämisch variation of the Nimzo
Indian Defence. White's advantage in the centre is compensated by Black's
counterplay along the c-file.} 21. Ba5 Qe6 22. O-O Rfc8 23. g4 Rc4 24. Ra2 Rac8
25. f5 gxf5 26. gxf5 Qh6 $13) 16. O-O e5 {This was the counterplay Black was
relying on. However, White has sufficient resources to avoid any structural
damage in the centre.} 17. Be3 Rad8 {Apparently, a logical move. The d4-pawn
is pinned along the g1-a7 diagonal and, indirectly, along the d-file. However,
these minor problems are rather easy to solve.} 18. Na4 {Black has to release
the first pin now.} Qb8 ({This slightly mysterious move was probably connected
with a concrete detail mentioned below. However, the more active} 18... Qb5 {
might have been better and if} 19. Qc2 {then} exd4 20. Bxd4 c5 {followed by ...
Nb6, with certain counterplay.}) 19. Qc2 exf4 20. Bxf4 ({Kramnik's idea is
revealed after} 20. gxf4 {when} Rfe8 {creates the threat ...Nxe4 and the
generally desirable Bf2 loses the f4-pawn. However, White's last move
maintains the advantage in the centre intact.}) 20... Qb7 21. Rad1 Rfe8 {
Both sides have completed their development and time has come to make a first
evaluation. Optically speaking, White's advantage is overwhelming. He has
maintained his control in the centre, has placed his bishops actively and has
the more compact structure of pawns. However, converting this advantage into
something more concrete is likely to be a laborious process. It might look
tempting to start advancing the central pawns, but this would just provide the
black knights with stable squares in the centre. At least for a while, it is
much wiser to create simple threats (be they real or imaginary) on the wings,
maintaining the centre intact. This would most probably cause Black to
gradually lose his coordination and then the pawns could advance unhindered.}
22. Bg5 Be7 23. Kh1 Nh7 24. Be3 Bg5 25. Bg1 {Of course, exchanging pieces
would somewhat relieve Black's position.} Nhf8 26. h4 {Not only restricting
the enemy bishop, but creating the potential threat of an attack by means of
h5.} Be7 27. e5 {Now that the knights do not have access to d5, this move is
well-timed. In order to defend his c6-pawn, Black is forced to retreat even
more.} Nb8 28. Nc3 Bb4 29. Qg2 {Now, such threats as d5 or h5 start to look
feasible. Black's main problem is that he cannot easily guess what are White's
intentions and each minor slip could be decisive. At the same time, White can
allow himself to miss one or two promising continuations, because they would
be there few moves later, too.} Qc8 30. Rc1 {Enabling the knight's jump to d5,
eventually followed by Nf4, in order to take under observation one of Black's
last remaining outposts, the e6-square.} Bxc3 $2 {Black finally cracks under
the pressure. This exchange is equivalent to an unconditional strategic
surrender.} ({He could have stayed in the game with} 30... Qb7 {, avoiding the
knight jump and preventing the central break d5 at the same time.}) 31. bxc3 {
Nothing can stop White's pawns now. However Topalov will employ the same
method as in the previous phase of the game, maintaining the threat of
advancing the centre in reserve. This could have slightly complicated matters
as we shall see.} Ne6 32. Bg4 $6 {Putting pressure on the generally well
defended e6-knight but allowing the other knight join the battle by releasing
the pressure against the c6-pawn.} ({The simpler} 32. Rcd1 Qc7 33. c4 $18 {
looks crushing.}) 32... Qc7 33. Rcd1 Nd7 34. Qa2 {We can feel here the effects
of the huge advantage in space: White's pieces can easily be transferred from
one wing to the other. It might look that White is planning to put the a7-pawn
under pressure, but we shall soon see that his target is much more important.}
Nb6 {However, the reserve knight has reached a stable square, too. Black is
much worse, but still breathing for the moment.} 35. Rf3 {Slightly careless.
Topalov probably thought that his strong centre allows him to manoeuvre his
pieces without any restrictions.} (35. Ra1 $5 {Would have more or less forced
Black to interrupt his queen's access to f7 in order to defend a7} Rd7 (35...
Re7 36. Rxf7 $16) (35... c5 36. Qxa7 cxd4 37. cxd4 $16 Qxa7 38. Rxa7 Nxd4 39.
Rfxf7 $18) {thus allowing} 36. Rxf7 $1 Rxf7 (36... Kxf7 37. Rf1+ Kg8 38. Bxe6+
Kh8 39. Bxd7 Qxd7 40. Rf7 Qh3+ 41. Qh2 $18) 37. Bxe6 Nd5 $16 {Black's control
over the light squares offers him chances to resist in spite of the material
disadvantage.}) 35... Nf8 $2 {This voluntary knight retreat is hard to
understand.} ({"Any unpromoted pawn majority risks becoming a weakness". This
old statement by Nimzowitsch applies here perfectly. Taking advantage of the
temporary lack of coordination between White's major pieces, Black could have
attaked the enemy centre by means of} 35... c5 36. d5 (36. Rdf1 cxd4 37. cxd4
Qc6 38. Kh2 Rd7 {and Black has achieved stability in the centre.}) 36... Nf8 {
[%csl Ge5]} 37. d6 Qb7 {[%cal Yb7h1]} 38. Rdf1 Rxe5 39. Qxf7+ Qxf7 40. Rxf7 Nd5
{[%csl Gc5,Gd6,Gg4][%cal Yd5f6] White's still has an advantage thanks to his
powerful pair of bishops, but play becomes more concrete now and requires
certain accuracy.}) 36. Rdf1 Re7 37. Be3 $18 {White's last piece joins the
attack, threatening Bg5. Suddenly, Black is just lost.} Nh7 38. Rxf7 $1 Nd5 39.
R7f3 {Or anything else.} 1-0

[Event "Hoogeveen Essent Crown 10th"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2006.10.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2006.10.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 {Not
really a fashionable, but nonetheless an interesting line. By refraining from
the traditional transfer of the queen's knight to the kingside, White intends
to submit the opposite wing under pressure.} c6 15. Rb1 $5 $146 {This novelty
bears certain optical similarity with Topalov's 8.Rb1 from the 11th game of
the Elista-match. The essentian difference is that here White does not intend
to sustain the further advance of the b-pawn as it might look at first sight.
He just plays a generally useful move, preparing to exchange on b5 without
having to bother about the tension along the a-file and leaving the b3-square
available to the knight.} ({The usual continuation is} 15. b3 g6 16. Bb2 {
1-0 Morozevich,A (2743)-Sasikiran,K (2666)/Biel 2004/CBM 102/[Wedberg] (35)} (
16. Bf1 {1-0 Ponomariov,R (2722)-Sasikiran,K (2666)/Biel 2004/CBM 102/[Wedberg]
(62)})) (15. b4 {1-0 Sokolov,A (2554)-Bacrot,E (2645)/Aix les Bains 2003/CBM
097/[Wedberg] (49) is also occasionally played.}) ({Compared to the game
continuation,} 15. Qc2 {is supposed to have the drawback of defining the
queen's position too soon. At some moment, Black could create some latent
pressure by placing a rook on c8, although it is not entirely clear how the
opposition of the rook and bishop along the c-file could be used yet.} Rc8 (
15... Qb6 16. b3 g6 17. Bb2 Rac8 18. Rad1 Nh5 19. Bf1 c5 20. Qb1 Bg7 21. Qa1 {
1/2-1/2 Nunn,J (2620)-Portisch,L (2610)/Rotterdam 1989/CBM 013}) 16. axb5 axb5
17. b4 g6 18. Bb2 Nh5 19. g3 exd4 20. cxd4 d5 21. Bc3 Nb6 22. e5 Rc7 23. Nb3
Bc8 24. Kg2 Ng7 25. Nh2 h5 26. Nc5 Nc4 27. Nf3 Bf5 28. Bxf5 Nxf5 $13 {1/2-1/2
Short,N (2635)-Portisch,L (2605)/Wijk aan Zee 1990/CBM 017 (56)}) 15... Qc7 16.
Qc2 {Abstractly speaking, this move makes more sense now that the enemy queen
has also occupied the c-file.} g6 {The adherents of the Breyer system play
this move almost authomatically. And yet, anticipating a bit the further
course of events, there was no need to weaken the kingside dark squares when
the bishopis in fact needed to defend the a3-f8 diagonal.} ({Black could have
tried to take advantage of the slightly awkward placement of the white pieces
by means of} 16... c5 $5 17. axb5 (17. d5 c4 18. Bf1 Reb8 19. axb5 axb5 20. b3
cxb3 21. Rxb3 Ba6) 17... axb5 18. dxe5 $6 (18. Bxb5 $2 cxd4 $17) (18. dxc5 $142
Qxc5 $13) 18... Nxe5 19. Nxe5 (19. Bxb5 Nxf3+ 20. gxf3 {[%csl Ge4]} Re5 $44)
19... Rxe5 20. Bxb5 d5 21. f4 Re6 22. e5 c4 23. Nf3 Ne4 $44 {[%csl Gb5,Re4]})
17. axb5 axb5 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. Nb3 Reb8 20. c4 {After carrying out his plan,
White can count on a stable, though minimal, advantage. The pressure along the
c-file is more important than Black's counterplay along the b-file because the
b2-pawn is safely defended. Besides, the e4-pawn is easier to defend than the
e5-pawn.} bxc4 (20... b4 21. c5 $14 {[%csl Gb3]}) 21. Bxc4 Ba6 22. Nbd2 Nc5 ({
If Black maintains the tension with} 22... Bb5 {, White could do the same with}
23. b3) 23. Bxa6 {After this release of the tension from White's part, Black
will manage to regroup his knights in optimal way.} (23. b4 $5 Bxc4 (23... Ne6
$2 24. Bxe6 fxe6 25. Qc3 $16) (23... Ncd7 24. b5 $1 $16 {[%cal Yf3g5]} Bxb5 $2
25. Rxb5 cxb5 26. Bxf7+ $1 {[%csl Gc7]}) 24. Nxc4 Ncd7 25. Bd2 $14 {[%cal
Yc4a5]}) 23... Rxa6 24. Nc4 Nfd7 25. Rd1 Ne6 {[%csl Gd4]} 26. Be3 Raa8 $6 {
A somewhat mysterious and not very accurate move.} ({This was a good moment to
take full control of the d4-square with} 26... c5 {when} 27. Qd3 {[%csl Ga6,
Gd7] is not dangerous because of} Ra7 $132 {[%cal Ye6d4]}) 27. Qd2 $1 (27. Qc3
Rb5 $5) 27... Rd8 28. Qc3 c5 {Black plays this move under less favourable
circumstances now.} (28... f6 29. b4 $14) 29. Nfxe5 Bg7 30. f4 g5 31. g3 gxf4
32. gxf4 Nxe5 33. Nxe5 Bxe5 34. fxe5 $16 {White's extra-pawn ensures him the
better control over several central squares. Both kings are exposed, but the
bishop is a more dangerous attacking piece than the knight.} Kh8 35. Bf2 Qe7
36. Qf3 Rg8+ 37. Kh1 Rg6 38. Rd5 Rag8 39. Rg1 Rxg1+ 40. Bxg1 Rg6 41. Kh2 Kg7
42. Be3 c4 43. Rd6 Qc7 44. h4 Qa5 45. Rd5 Qe1 46. Kh3 Kf8 $6 (46... Kh8 $16)
47. Rd7 $1 {The exclamation mark is for Topalov's anticipation of the final
combination.} Rg3+ 48. Qxg3 Qh1+ 49. Kg4 Qxe4+ 50. Kh5 $3 (50. Kh5 $3 Ng7+ 51.
Qxg7+ Kxg7 52. Bh6+ Kg8 53. Rd8#) 1-0

[Event "Hoogeveen Essent Crown 10th"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2006.10.27"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2006.10.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 {After his spectacular loss against Judit Polgar, Sokolov
does not seem inclined to enter the Nimzo-Indian again, although he generally
has good results against this opening. By delaying the advance of the c-pawn,
he probably wanted to avoid two other occasional weapons of Topalov, the
Benoni and the Volga-Benkö.} c5 {Indeed, Sokolov seems to have felt his
opponent's mood quite well: Topalov desperately needed to win in order to
recover after the catastrophyc start.} 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 d6 6. Bb5+ {
The most ambitious move, aiming to provoke some lack of coordination in the
enemy camp.} Nfd7 ({Sokolov only had some old experience with this system,
which rises the question whether his opening choice for this game was really
that inspired.} 6... Nbd7 {0-1 Sokolov,I (2630)-Minasian,A (2565)/Ljubljana
1995/CBM 051/[Stohl] (34)}) 7. a4 Na6 {The most restrictive move order.} ({
If Black delays the transfer of the knight to c7 by castling firts, White is
just in time to regroup perfectly.} 7... O-O 8. O-O Na6 9. Re1 Nc7 10. Bf1 $1 {
In the game, the bishop will not have this square at his disposal.} a6 (10...
Nf6 $6 {loses too much time, since White has used the 2 extra-tempi to regroup
perfectly.} 11. h3 b6 12. Bf4 Bb7 13. Qd2 a6 14. Rab1 Qd7 15. b4 $16 {1-0
Lerner,K (2520)-Razuvaev,Y (2525)/Beltsy 1981/EXT 2002 (30)}) 11. Bf4 Rb8 {
[%cal Yb7b5]} 12. a5 $1 (12. e5 $6 {[%csl Gd5] is premature.} dxe5 13. Nxe5
Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Bxe5 15. Rxe5 b5 16. axb5 axb5 {The e7-pawn is not weaker than
the d5-pawn.} 17. Qd2 (17. Ra7 b4 18. Na4 Qd6 $11 19. Rxe7 $2 {0-1 Mateuta,G 
(2475)-Kovacevic,A (2485)/Bucharest 1997/EXT 2001 (73)} Qxe7 20. d6 Rd8 21.
dxc7 Qxc7 22. Rxc7 Rxd1 $19) 17... b4 18. Na4 Qd6 19. Rae1 Bd7 20. b3 Bxa4 21.
bxa4 e6 22. Qh6 Nxd5 23. Bc4 Nf6 24. Qg5 Kg7 25. Rxc5 {1/2-1/2 Polgar,Z (2545)
-Hartman,B (2400)/North Bay 1995/EXT 2002 (28)} Ng4 $1 26. g3 h6 $1 $19) {
The thematic} 12... Nb5 {fails to generate adequate queen side counterplay and
leaves White with the initiative.} (12... f6 $6 {[%csl Gg7]} 13. Nd2 b5 14.
axb6 Nxb6 15. Nb3 $16 {[%cal Yb3a5,Ya5c6]} Qe8 $2 {[%cal Yc7b5]} 16. Nxc5 $1
$18 {1-0 Iordachescu,V (2500)-Timagin,P/Bad Wiessee 1997/CBM 061 ext (39)}) (
12... b5 13. axb6 Nxb6 {[%cal Rc8g4]} 14. Ra2 {[%csl Gb2]} (14. h3 {1/2-1/2
Kononenko,T (2370)-Calzetta Ruiz,M (2278)/Varna 2002/CBM 088 ext (91)} Nb5 $5
$132) 14... Bg4 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 $14 {[%csl Ya6,Rf1,Rf4]}) (12... Nf6 {
Again, this move just wastes time.} 13. h3 b5 14. axb6 (14. e5 $5 Nfe8 15. b4 {
1-0 Miladinovic,I (2555)-Velickovic,S (2400)/Aegina 1995/EXT 97 (60)} Bb7 $5
$132 {[%csl Yd5,Ye5]}) 14... Rxb6 15. Ra2 $14) 13. Nxb5 axb5 14. c3 b4 (14...
c4 15. Nd4 $14) (14... Ra8 15. Bxb5 Rxa5 16. Qe2 $14 {and the queen side pawns
are blocked.}) 15. e5 (15. cxb4 Bxb2 16. bxc5 Bxa1 17. Qxa1 Nxc5 18. Bh6 f6 19.
Bxf8 Kxf8 20. Nd2 b5 $11) 15... dxe5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Bxe5 Bxe5 18. Rxe5 bxc3
19. bxc3 Qd6 20. Qe2 e6 21. Rd1 $1 (21. dxe6 Bxe6 {with a reasonable position
for Black.}) 21... f6 22. Rxe6 Bxe6 23. dxe6 $44) 8. O-O Nc7 9. Re1 {A double
edged decision. White clears the f1-square for the bishop, hoping that the
exchange on b5 would leave him with a favourable queen side configuration.} ({
Curiously, Topalov had had this position only once before, but with the white
pieces.} 9. Bc4 O-O 10. Re1 a6 11. Bf4 Rb8 12. Qd3 Nb6 (12... b5 $6 13. axb5
Nb6 14. bxa6 $1 $16 {1-0 Topalov,V (2455)-Velimirovic,D (2520)/Vrnjacka Banja
1991/CBM 023/[Schussler] (26)}) 13. b3 (13. Bb3 $5 Bg4 14. Nd2 {[%csl Gg4]
[%cal Ya4a5]} Nc8 {[%cal Yb7b5]} 15. a5 Bd7 {[%cal Yc7b5]}) 13... Bg4 14. e5
Bxf3 15. Qxf3 dxe5 16. Bxe5 Bxe5 17. Rxe5 Nd7 18. Ree1 b5 $132 {1/2-1/2
Eljanov,P (2447)-Brodsky,M (2512)/Polanica Zdroj 1999/EXT 2000 (40)}) 9... Nxb5
10. axb5 O-O 11. Bf4 Nb6 {Immediately taking advantage of two positive effects
of the exchange on b5. The knight is very stable on b6 now, while the
c4-square is vulnerable.} (11... f6 $5 {As we shall see, this is a typical
move under the newly created circumstances. Black prevents the central break
e5 in radical, way, without fearing the weakness of the e6-square once the
enemy light-squared bishop has been removed. The passivity of the g7-bishop is
temporary, because ...f5 is hard to prevent on long term. The only question is
whether ...f6 should be played at such an early stage.} 12. Ra3 Nb6 13. Qa1 Qc7
14. Rxa7 Rxa7 15. Qxa7 Bg4 16. Qa2 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Kh8 ({There was no need for
this prophylactic move, since after} 17... f5 $132 {White cannot generate
threats along the a2-g8 diagonal:} 18. e5 Ra8 19. Qb3 Bxe5 20. Bxe5 c4 $1) 18.
Ne2 Ra8 19. Qb3 Qd7 20. Bd2 c4 21. Qe3 Qxb5 22. Nd4 $14 {1-0 Laketic,G (2425)
-Velimirovic,D (2515)/Niksic 1997/CBM 059 ext (49)}) 12. e5 {After installing
the knight on b6, Black is ready to play ...f6, which justifies Sokolov's
resolute actionin the centre.} (12. h3 f6 13. Qd3 Qc7 14. Ra3 Bd7 15. Rea1 f5
$1 {[%csl Yd5][%cal Rg7b2]} 16. Ng5 h6 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. dxe6 g5 19. Bd2 fxe4
20. Qxe4 d5 $1 21. Qe2 (21. Nxd5 $2 Nxd5 22. Qxd5 Rad8 {[%csl Gd2]}) 21... Rf5
22. Rxa7 Raf8 $44 {[%csl Gf2] 0-1 Rajkovic,D (2460)-Velimirovic,D (2525)/
Svetozarevo 1990/EXT 97 (40)}) 12... Bf5 13. h3 {White's advantage of space in
the centre is quite impressive, at least optically speaking. However, it is
not easy to make any concrete progress. Black has a flexible position and a
stable placement of the pieces. Besides, the d5-pawn could become weak in the
long run.} h6 {[%cal Yg6g5,Yf7f6] The start of an ambitious plan. Black will
place his kingside pawns on dark squares, in order to enable higher mobility
to his light-squared bishop and restrict the enemy bishop at the same time.}
14. Qe2 g5 15. Bg3 Qd7 $13 16. h4 $6 {White weakens the g4-square in order to
provoke a move that formed part of Black's plan anyway.} f6 17. e6 Qe8 {
White has won even more space, but his minor pieces are strongly restricted by
the enemy chain of pawns.} 18. Nh2 Bg6 19. f4 Bh5 20. Qd3 gxf4 21. Bxf4 Qg6 $15
{Black's position is easier to play.} 22. Nf1 f5 23. Kh2 Qg4 24. Qg3 Qxg3+ 25.
Nxg3 Be8 26. Nge2 Kh7 27. Bg3 Nc4 28. b3 Ne3 29. Rac1 Rg8 30. Nd1 Nxd5 31. c4
Nb4 32. Ne3 a6 33. bxa6 Rxa6 34. Nxf5 Bf6 35. Nf4 Ra2 36. Nd5 Nxd5 37. cxd5 Bh5
38. Rf1 Rd2 39. Ne3 Bd4 40. Nc4 Rd3 41. Bf4 Rxb3 42. Nd2 Rb2 43. Rb1 Bg6 44.
Rxb2 Bxb2 45. Rf3 Rf8 46. Nc4 Be4 47. Bxd6 Bxf3 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2683"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Qd2
O-O 9. O-O-O b5 10. f3 Be6 11. Nd5 {This move order is making advance of the
black queenside pawns more challenging.} (11. g4 b4 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 a5)
11... Bxd5 12. exd5 Qc7 (12... Nbd7 13. Na5 $1 Qc7 14. Nc6 Bd8 15. Kb1 Nb6 16.
c4 Nxc4 17. Bxc4 bxc4 18. Rc1 Qb7 19. Rhd1 $6 (19. Rxc4 Qb5 20. Rc2 Nxd5 21.
Rd1 Nxe3 22. Qxe3 $14) 19... Qb5 20. Nxd8 Rfxd8 $15 {1/2 Van den Doel,E (2528)
-Neverov,V (2549)/Hoogeveen 1999/ (39)}) 13. g4 Rc8 14. Kb1 b4 15. g5 Nfd7 16.
h4 (16. f4 a5 17. Bh3 a4 18. Nc1 a3 19. b3 Ra5 20. Bf5 g6 21. Be4 Na6 22. Nd3
exf4 23. Bxf4 Nb6 24. Ne1 Bf8 25. h4 Bg7 26. h5 Nc5 27. Bg2 Nca4 28. bxa4 Nxa4
29. Rh3 Nc3+ {0-1 Jakic,I (2246)-Ljubicic,F (2397)/Bibinje 2001/}) 16... a5 17.
Bh3 (17. h5 a4 18. Nc1 Nb6 19. Bxb6 Qxb6 20. g6 b3 21. gxf7+ Kxf7 22. cxb3 axb3
23. Nxb3 Qa7 24. a3 Qa4 25. Qd3 Bf6 26. Qb5 Qa7 27. Bh3 {1-0 Zatonskih,A (2320)
-Calotescu,A (2180)/Bucharest 1998/ (52)}) 17... a4 18. Nc1 Na6 $6 {The first
independent move seems to be flawed, as black will find it hard to make
progress with his counterplay.} (18... a3 19. b3 Ra5 20. Rh2 (20. Bf5 $5) 20...
Na6 21. h5 Qc3 22. Qxc3 Rxc3 23. Nd3 (23. Re2 Rxe3 24. Rxe3 Bxg5 25. Re4 Nb6 {
1/2 Mamedov,N (2517)-Maenhout,T (2282)/Instanbul 2005/ (42)}) 23... Ndc5 24.
Bd2 Nxd3 25. Bxc3 Nf4 26. Be1 Nxd5 27. g6 $16 {0-1 Stander,H (2128)-Maenhout,T
(2282)/Instanbul 2005/ (54)}) 19. h5 Rcb8 (19... a3 20. b3 Rf8 21. Nd3 Nb6 22.
Nf2 $16) 20. g6 Bf6 21. gxf7+ (21. gxh7+ $5 Kxh7 22. h6 g6 23. Ne2 $14) 21...
Kxf7 22. Be6+ Kf8 $2 (22... Ke7 $1 23. Nd3 $14) 23. b3 $2 {Fortunatelly for
Topalov the mistakes of both sides are not of the same magnitude. Black's king
retreat could have been punished by the immediate 23.Qd3!} (23. Qd3 $1 Nac5 24.
Qxh7 Ke7 25. Bxd7 Nxd7 26. Bg5 $16) 23... Ndc5 24. Rhg1 Qe7 25. Bf5 Kg8 $2 {
[%mdl 256] The second mistake will not go unnoticed, Van Wely has managed to
enhance white's attack.} (25... axb3 26. cxb3 e4 $1 27. f4 Kg8 $11) 26. Bxc5 $1
Nxc5 27. Qh6 Kf8 28. Qxh7 Qf7 (28... axb3 $4 29. Qh8+ Kf7 30. Bg6#) 29. Nd3
axb3 30. cxb3 Nxd3 (30... Rxa2 31. Qh8+ (31. Kxa2 $2 Qa7+ 32. Kb1 e4 33. Nb2
Bxb2 34. Kxb2 Qa3+ 35. Kb1 Qxb3+ 36. Kc1 Qc3+ 37. Kb1 Qb3+ $11) 31... Ke7 32.
Qxb8 $18) 31. Rxd3 e4 (31... Qg8 32. Qg6 Qf7 33. h6 Qxg6 34. Rxg6 $18) 32. Be6
exd3 (32... Qa7 33. Qg8+ Ke7 34. Qf7+ Kd8 35. Qf8+ Kc7 36. Rc1+ Kb7 37. Qf7+
Ka6 38. Rc6+ Rb6 39. Qxa7+ Kxa7 40. fxe4 $16) 33. Bxf7 Rxa2 {The desperate
final slavo is easy to parry..} 34. Qg8+ (34. Kxa2 $4 Ra8+ 35. Kb1 Ra1#) 34...
Ke7 35. Kxa2 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D89"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. 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 Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Be6 14. d5 Bxa1
15. Qxa1 f6 16. Qd4 Bf7 17. Bh6 Re8 18. Bb5 e5 19. Qf2 Re7 20. f4 exf4 21. Qxf4
Qb6+ 22. Kh1 Bxd5 23. exd5 Qxb5 24. Qxf6 Qe8 25. Qd4 {An attempt of
improvement on the game Najer-Krasenkow, analysed in CBM 110.} (25. Nf4 Rf7 26.
Qc3 Qd8 27. Rc1 b5 28. Qg3 Rc8 29. Re1 Re7 30. Rf1 Qd6 31. Bg5 Rf7 32. h4 Nc4
33. Re1 Rcf8 34. Re6 Qa3 35. Qxa3 Nxa3 36. d6 Rd7 37. Nd5 Rf1+ 38. Kh2 Kf7 39.
Nc7 Nc4 40. Re7+ Rxe7 41. dxe7 Nd6 42. Be3 Kxe7 43. Bxa7 Kd7 44. Nd5 Rf5 45.
Nb4 Rf4 46. Nd3 Rxh4+ 47. Kg3 Nf5+ {0-1 Najer,E-Krasenkow,M/Saint Vincent 2005/
CBM 110}) (25. Bd2 {[%cal Rd2c3]} Qf8 26. Qa1 $1 Rxe2 27. Rxf8+ Rxf8 28. Bh6 $5
(28. Bxa5 Rxa2 29. Qe1 Rxa5 30. Qe6+ $11) 28... Rf7 29. h3 {deserves attention
although Black should not lose after} Nc4 30. Qd1 Re8 31. Qa4 Nd6 32. Qxa7 Rf5)
25... Rd8 $146 (25... Rc8 $5 {is another important option. Here is a practical
example:} 26. Ng3 Rf7 27. Rxf7 Qxf7 28. h3 $36 Rc4 $2 (28... g5 $5 29. Bxg5 Qg6
30. Bh4 {[%cal Yg3e4]}) 29. Qe5 Rc8 30. Ne4 Nc4 31. Nf6+ (31. Qd4 $18) 31...
Kh8 32. Qd4 $18 {-> 1/2-1/2 Del Rio Angelis,S-Konguvel,P/Badalona 2006/CBM 113
ext (46)}) 26. h3 $1 {[%mdl 4]} (26. Ng3 $2 Rf7 27. Rxf7 Qxf7 28. Qc3 Nc6 29.
h4 Rxd5 30. Ne4 Re5 $19 {0-1 Moskalenko,A-Danin,A/Moscow RUS 2007/The Week in
Chess 639 (70)}) 26... Rf7 27. Rxf7 Qxf7 28. Qc3 b6 29. Ng3 $44 Nb7 $2 {
A terrible mistake.} (29... Re8 $1 {to prevent Ne4 was absolutely necessary.
After} 30. Qd4 {[%cal Rg3e4] Black should probably continue} g5 $1 31. Bxg5 Qg6
{with good chances to successfully defend, e.g.} 32. Bf4 Rf8 $1 (32... Qg7 $143
33. Qd1 $1 {[%cal Yg3h5]}) 33. Be5 (33. d6 Nc6 34. Qd5+ Qf7 35. Qg5+ Qg6 $11)
33... Rd8 $1 {[%cal Ra5c6]} 34. d6 Qe6 35. Bf4 Nc6 $13) 30. Ne4 Qe7 31. Nf6+
Kf7 32. Nxh7 Kg8 33. Nf6+ Kf7 34. Ng4 $1 {White has recaptured a pawn and his
attack continues.} Kg8 (34... Rxd5 35. Qg7+ Ke6 36. Qxg6+ Kd7 37. Nf6+ $18) 35.
Qd2 Re8 36. Qf4 Qd6 {Black is ready for an endgame a pawn down but White
prefers to attack!} 37. Qf2 $1 Qc5 38. Qg3 (38. Qf1 $5 Qe7 39. Nf6+ Kf7 40.
Nxe8+ Kxe8 41. Qf4 {and White should win.}) 38... Qd4 {Other defences are
equally insatisfactory:} (38... Qe7 39. Qf3 (39. Qf4 Qd6 40. Qf2 Qc5 41. Qf1 {
is possible, too, of course}) 39... Rc8 40. Qf4 Qd6 41. Qd4 Qe7 42. Nf6+ Kf7
43. Ne4 Kg8 44. d6 $18) (38... Qd6 39. Qc3 (39. Qf2) 39... Re7 40. Bg5 Re2 41.
Nf6+ Kf7 42. Ne4 $1 Rxe4 43. Qf3+ $18) 39. Kh2 $1 {[%cal Rg3c7,Rg3h4] A quiet
move with deadly threats.} Nd8 40. Qd6 $1 Ne6 41. Be3 $1 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 {Topalov
ocasionally plays the Benoni (in its traditional move order, based on 2...c5)
which means that he is not too worried about KI systems that allow undermining
the centre with a later advance of the c-pawn.} 7. d5 e6 8. Bd3 exd5 9. cxd5
Re8 10. Nge2 {The development of the knight to e2 is typical for the Penrose
system, where White does not commit his queen's bishop so soon.} ({For years,
I have tried to find an antidote against} 10. Nf3 {Here is my (generally
unpleasant) experience.} c4 11. Bc2 b5 12. a3 Bd7 (12... Na6 13. O-O Nc5 14.
Re1 Qb6 15. Qd2 $14 {Rogozenko,D (2480)-Marin,M (2515)/Bucharest 1993/CBM 034/
[Knaak] (1-0, 39)}) (12... a5 $6 13. Nxb5 $1 Qb6 14. Qd4 $1 Qxb5 15. Bxf6 Bxf6
16. Qxf6 Nd7 17. Qd4 $16 {Chernin,A (2600)-Marin,M (2515)/Budapest 1993/CBM
034/[Hansen,Cu] (1-0, 44)}) (12... a6 13. O-O Nbd7 14. Qd2 Qc7 15. Rfe1 Bb7 16.
Rad1 $14 {Despite his advantage of space on the queenside, Black has not
equalised completely. His queen's bishop is passive, while the d4-square will
serve White quite well to increase his pressure.}) 13. O-O a5 14. Nd4 Qb6 (
14... Na6 $2 15. Ndxb5 $16 {Rogozenko,D (2480)-Marin,M (2515)/Odorheiu
Secuiesc 1993/CBM 036/[Knaak] (1-0, 24)}) 15. Be3 (15. Ndxb5 {Belov} Bxb5 16.
Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Nxb5 Na6 18. a4 Bxb2 19. Rb1 Bg7 $15) 15... Qb7 16. Qf3 $1 Na6
17. Bg5 Ng4 18. Nc6 Ne5 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Bf6 b4 21. axb4 axb4 22. Nd1 Nc5 $13
{Ziegler,A (2372)-Marin,M (2555)/Gothenburg 2000/CBM 076 (1/2-1/2, 58). This
is the first (and only) game where I obtained a reasonable positoon out of the
opening.}) 10... Nbd7 11. O-O {This position has occurred in practice rather
rarely.} h6 {By refraining from ...a6, Topalov has a concrete ideain his mind,
as we shall see.} ({However,} 11... a6 {seems entirely playable, too.} 12. a4
h6 (12... Qc7 13. Ng3 h6 14. Be3 c4 15. Bc2 h5 $132 {Lee Chee Sing-Hernandez,R/
Siegen 1970/EXT 2002 (0-1, 31)}) 13. Bh4 g5 14. Bg3 c4 15. Bc2 Nc5 16. f3 Nh5
$132 {Atalik,S (2595)-Velimirovic,D (2535)/Ulcinj 1998/EXT 99/[Bulletin] (0-1,
34)}) 12. Be3 Ne5 13. a4 {It appears that White cannot prevent his bishop from
being exchanged without making some other kind of concession.} (13. Bc2 b5 $1
14. Nxb5 Nc4 15. Bc1 Nxe4 $15) (13. Bb5 Bd7 {just helps Black complete his
development, leaving the d3- and c4-square vulnerable.}) 13... Nxd3 14. Qxd3 b6
{After the dissapearence of the white light-squared bishop, such an
arrangement of the queenside pawns is very appropriate. The c5-pawn is
consolidated in order to inhibit a central break with e5, while the weakness
of the light squared induced by the advance of the b-pawn is not too relevant.}
15. Ng3 Nh7 {Here we can see another drawback of the move Bg5. The advance of
the h-pawn by just one square proves useful for Black. With his last move, he
prepares undermining the e4-square with ...h5.} ({The immediate} 15... h5 {
could have been met by} 16. Bg5 $1) 16. f4 h5 17. f5 {Ponomariev considers the
weakness of the e5-square to be not too relevant, since Black is left with
just one knight, which is placed on a different route.} h4 18. fxg6 fxg6 19.
Nge2 g5 $132 {Very entreprising. Black not only continues restricting the
e2-knight, but prepares active kingside operations at the same time.} 20. Rf2
a6 21. Raf1 Ra7 {A typical way of bringing the queen's rook into play. In
positions where the opponent has an advantage of space in the centre, this is
frequently the only method of achieving a reasonable development.} 22. Nb1 {
[%csl Gd6,Ge5,Gg5,Gh4][%cal Yb1d2,Yd2c4,Yd2f3] This manoeuvre is justified
strategically, but too slow fromconcrete point of view.} g4 23. hxg4 Bxg4 24.
Nd2 Bxb2 {Well, why not? Black wins a pawn and clears the g7-square for his
rook at the same time.} 25. Nc3 $6 (25. Nc4 $5 Be5 26. Rb1 Nf6 $132) 25... Rg7
26. Nc4 Bxc3 27. Qxc3 Bh5 28. Bf4 $6 Rxe4 29. Ne3 ({Could Ponomariov have
missed that after} 29. Bxd6 Rxc4 {the f8-square is well defended?}) 29... Qf6
$17 {Black has two extra-pawns, a harmonious regrouping of forces and a solid
pawn structure.} 30. Qc2 Bg6 31. Ng4 Qd4 32. Nh6+ Kh8 33. Bc1 Re1 34. Qd2 Rxf1+
35. Kxf1 Bd3+ 36. Kg1 Ng5 37. Kh2 Ne4 38. Rf8+ Kh7 39. Qf4 Nc3 40. Qxd4 cxd4
41. Nf7 Ne4 42. Bb2 Bf1 43. Rh8+ Kg6 44. Rxh4 Kxf7 45. Rf4+ Kg8 46. Rxf1 Rh7+
47. Kg1 d3 48. Rd1 Rh1+ 49. Kxh1 Nf2+ 50. Kg1 Nxd1 51. Bc1 Nb2 52. Kf2 Nxa4 53.
Bf4 Nc3 54. Kf3 a5 55. Bd2 Nb1 56. Bf4 a4 57. Bxd6 d2 58. Ke2 Nc3+ 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The eagerly awaited game betwwen the two highest raited players in Wijk was,
although theoretically interesting, somewhat an anticlimax with it's abrupt
end.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 {In the past two years especially due
to Topalov's efforts the main line lost some of it's peaceful reputation and
again became a fighting weapon.} Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 ({In 2005
Topalov was successful with} 7. Nc3 {, but since then Black has found suitable
antidotes:} c6 (7... O-O 8. Rc1 $5 d5 (8... c6 $6 9. e4 d5 10. e5 Ne4 11. Bd3
Nxc3 12. Rxc3 $1 {shows one of the ideas behind 8.Rc1!? - the B can stay on
the c1-h6 digonal, targeting the >>.} c5 13. dxc5 (13. h4 $5 $40 {[%cal Rd3h7,
Rf3g5] /\Bh7,Ng5}) 13... bxc5 $6 (13... d4 $142 $5 $132) 14. h4 $1 h6 15. Bb1
$1 f5 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Qc2 d4 18. Ng5 $1 hxg5 19. hxg5 dxc3 20. Bf4 $18 {
->,Topalov,V (2778)-Ponomariov,R (2695)/Sofia/2005/}) 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Bg2 (10.
Nxd5 $143 exd5 11. Bg2 Re8 $1 12. Rc2 c5 13. O-O Nc6 14. Bc3 Rc8 15. Bh3 Rc7
$36 16. Re1 $2 cxd4 17. Bxd4 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Bb4 19. Rf1 Rxc2 20. Qxc2 Bc5 21.
Rd1 Bxd4 22. Rxd4 Rxe2 23. Qc1 Qf6 24. Rf4 Qe7 25. Kg2 Re1 {0-1,Leko,P (2763)
-Adams,M (2737)/Miskolc rpd m/2005/}) 10... Nxc3 (10... Ba3 11. Rb1 Bb7 12. O-O
Nd7 13. Nxd5 Bxd5 14. b4 $1 a5 15. bxa5 bxa5 16. Qc2 Nf6 17. Bg5 Be4 18. Qxe4
Nxe4 19. Bxd8 Raxd8 20. Rb3 Bd6 21. Rb2 $1 c5 22. Rc2 g6 23. e3 $16 {[%csl Ra5,
Rc5] ><c5,a5,Navara,D (2719)-Goloshchapov,A (2555)/Bundesliga 0607/2007/}) 11.
Bxc3 Bb7 (11... Nd7 12. O-O Rc8 13. Re1 Bb7 14. b4 Nf6 15. Qa4 a6 16. Ne5 Bxg2
17. Kxg2 c5 18. dxc5 bxc5 19. Red1 Qb6 20. bxc5 Rxc5 21. Bd4 Qb7+ 22. f3 Rxc1
23. Rxc1 $14 {Timman,J (2594)-Wells,P (2480)/London/Crowthorne/2006/}) 12. Qc2
(12. O-O Nd7 13. b4 $5 $11 {/+/=}) 12... Nd7 13. O-O Nf6 14. Bb2 Rc8 15. Rfd1
Qe8 16. Ne5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 c5 18. Qd3 cxd4 19. Bxd4 Ba3 20. Rc4 Rxc4 21. Nxc4
Be7 22. Qf3 Qc8 23. Rd3 Nd5 24. a3 b5 $11 {Ftacnik,L (2540)-Efimenko,Z (2620)/
EU-ch Warsaw/2005/}) 8. e4 d5 9. Qc2 dxe4 10. Nxe4 c5 $1 (10... Bb7 11. Neg5 $1
c5 12. d5 $1 exd5 13. cxd5 h6 14. Nxf7 Kxf7 15. O-O-O Bd6 16. Nh4 Bc8 17. Re1
Na6 18. Re6 Nb4 19. Bxb4 cxb4 20. Bc4 $44 {->,Topalov,V (2778)-Anand,V (2785)/
Sofia/2005/}) 11. Bc3 (11. dxc5 $6 Bb7 12. Bd3 Nbd7 $1 $15 {/\} (12... bxc5 13.
Bc3 Qb6 14. O-O-O Nc6 15. Rhe1 Rd8 16. Ne5 $36 {Gelfand,B (2717)-Grischuk,A 
(2720)/W-Cup Khanty Mansiysk/2005/}) 13. cxb6 $2 Nc5 $19) 11... Bb7 12. Bd3
cxd4 13. Nxd4 Na6 14. Nxf6+ Bxf6 15. Be4 Bxe4 16. Qxe4 O-O 17. Rd1 Nc5 18. Qf3
Qc7 19. O-O Qb7 20. Qxb7 Nxb7 $11 {Van Wely,L (2655)-Carlsen,M (2646)/Schagen
m/2006/}) 7... c6 8. Bc3 d5 9. Ne5 (9. Nbd2 Nbd7 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 c5 12. e4
dxe4 13. Nxe4 Bb7 $11 {is rightly considered sterile, White's hopes for an
opening advantage are connected only with the text move.}) 9... Nfd7 10. Nxd7
Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O {The first critical opeing position, in which Black's
choice will influence the further course of the game.} Nf6 ({The other main
move is} 12... Rc8 13. e4 {, here Black has also been experiencing some
problems lately:} c5 (13... b5 14. Re1 dxe4 15. Nxe4 bxc4 16. Qe2 Rb8 17. Nc5
$5 Qc8 $6 ({Black should have probably tried the more principled} 17... Nxc5
$142 $5 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. Qe5 Qf6 20. Qxf6 gxf6 21. Bxf6 Rfc8 22. Bf1 $44) 18.
bxc4 Bf6 19. Ne4 Be7 20. Rac1 Re8 21. Ba1 Qc7 22. Qd2 Bb4 23. Bc3 Ba3 24. Rc2
Bf8 25. d5 $1 $16 {|^[+],Radjabov,T-Karjakin,S/Wijk aan Zee-A/2007/}) 14. exd5
exd5 15. dxc5 dxc4 16. c6 (16. cxb6 Nxb6 17. Re1 cxb3 18. Qxb3 Nd7 19. Ne4 Nc5
20. Nxc5 {1/2,Topalov,V-Aronjan,L/Morelia Linares/2007/} Bxc5 21. Rad1 Qb6 $11)
16... cxb3 17. Re1 b2 (17... Bb5 18. axb3 Bxc6 19. Bxc6 Rxc6 20. Rxa7 $14 {/\}
Rxc3 $2 21. Nb1 {gives White a small, but more or less permanent pull.}) 18.
Bxb2 Nc5 19. Nc4 $5 (19. Nb3 {was tested later in Linares/Morelia without much
success:} Nd3 20. Re2 Nxb2 21. Rxb2 Qxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Rfd8 23. Rbd2 Rxd2 24. Rxd2
Rd8 25. Rxd8+ Bxd8 26. Nd4 Bc4 27. a4 (27. Bf1 Bd5 28. Bg2 Bc4 {1/2,Carlsen,M 
(2690)-Aronian,L (2744)/Morelia Linares/2007/}) 27... Kf8 28. Nb5 Bxb5 29. axb5
Ke7 30. f4 Bc7 $11 {Topalov,V (2783)-Leko,P (2749)/Morelia Linares/2007/})
19... Bxc4 20. Qg4 Bg5 21. Qxc4 Nd3 22. Be5 (22. Ba3 Nxe1 23. Rxe1 Re8 24.
Rxe8+ Qxe8 25. Bd5 h5 26. Kg2 Be7 27. Bb2 Bf6 28. Bc1 $44 {Topalov,V (2788)
-Anand,V (2788)/FIDE WCh San Luis/2005/ gives White compensation for the
exchange, but he can't claim an advantage.}) 22... Nxe1 23. Rxe1 Bf6 24. Bxf6
Qxf6 25. c7 Qd6 26. Rc1 b5 27. Qc2 b4 {has already been played in the past a
couple of times and Black drew easily, but his task is not so simple after the
refined} 28. Bb7 g6 29. Qc5 Qxc5 30. Rxc5 Kg7 (30... a5 $2 {has to wait,
Black's P will be vulnerable after} 31. Kf1 a4 32. Ke2 {׫}) (30... Rfe8 31.
Kf1 Kf8 32. Bxc8 (32. Ba6 $142 $1 {is similar to Wang Yue's idea.}) 32... Rxc8
33. Ke2 Ke7 34. Kd3 Kd6 35. Kc4 Rxc7 36. Rxc7 Kxc7 37. Kxb4 Kb6 $11 {Bacrot,E 
(2729)-Lutz,C (2616)/EU-chT Gothenburg/2005/}) 31. Rc6 Rfe8 32. Ba6 $1 {
Once his K can't cross the <->e, White must already prevent a5.} Kf8 33. Rc2 $1
f5 $6 {׻} (33... Kg7 $142 $5) 34. Kg2 Kf7 35. Kf3 Rf8 36. Kf4 Ke6 37. Rc4 Kd6
38. Bxc8 Rxc8 39. Rxb4 Rxc7 40. Ra4 Kc5 41. Kg5 $16 {_|_R,Wang Yue (2626)
-Sokolov,A (2589)/Paris/2006/}) 13. e4 dxe4 {A rare move, but Anand will
perhaps make it fashionable - he used it again in Morelia against the same
opponent.} (13... b5 14. exd5 (14. Re1 dxe4 15. Qc2 Rb8 $1 16. Rad1 Qc8 {
[%cal Yb5c4,Yc6c5] /\bc4,c5<=>=}) 14... exd5 (14... cxd5 15. c5 $1 b4 16. Bxb4
Bxf1 17. Bxf1 $44 {/+/=, Anand,V-Adams,M/Wijk aan Zee-A/2005/}) 15. Re1 Rb8 16.
c5 Bc8 17. Nf3 Ne4 {is currently in a crisis due to Topalov's resourceful} 18.
Rxe4 $1 dxe4 19. Ne5 Qd5 20. Qe1 Bf5 21. g4 Bg6 22. f3 b4 $6 (22... Bxc5 $142
$5 23. dxc5 Qxc5+ 24. Kh1 b4 25. Bb2 Qc2 $14 {/<=>}) 23. fxe4 Qe6 24. Bb2 Bf6
$6 25. Nxc6 $1 Qxc6 26. e5 Qa6 27. exf6 Rfe8 28. Qf1 Qe2 29. Qf2 Qxg4 30. h3
Qg5 31. Bc1 Qh5 32. Bf4 Rbd8 33. c6 Be4 34. c7 Rc8 35. Re1 Qg6 36. Rxe4 $1 Rxe4
37. d5 $18 {[%csl Gc7,Gd5,Gf4,Gg2] ^^,o^,Topalov,V (2801)-Aronian,L (2752)/
Wijk aan Zee-A/2006/}) 14. a4 $5 {An ambitious attempt to stop the <=> with b5.
} (14. Re1 b5 {is a line, acceptable for Black - see the previous note.}) ({
The main alternative to the text move is the simple} 14. Nxe4 b5 {Consistent,
otherwise White has a pleasant () in a typical Catalan position.} (14... Rc8
15. Qc2 b5 16. Nc5 Bxc5 17. dxc5 Qe7 18. cxb5 Bxb5 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Rfe1 $14 {
Onischuk,A (2655)-Ibragimov,I (2582)/Fort Lauderdale/2004/}) {Here the most
principled and dangerous continuation seems to be} 15. Nc5 $1 (15. Nxf6+ Bxf6
16. Bb4 (16. Bxc6 Rc8 17. cxb5 Bxb5 $11) 16... Bxd4 (16... bxc4 $5 17. Bxf8
Qxf8 18. Qe2 Rd8 $44) 17. Bxf8 Bxa1 18. Qxd8 (18. Qxa1 Qxf8 19. Bxc6 Rb8 $11)
18... Rxd8 19. Be7 Re8 20. Rd1 Bf6 21. Bxf6 gxf6 22. Bxc6 Rb8 23. c5 Rc8 24.
Rd6 b4 {[%cal Ra6d3,Rd3b1] /\Bd3-b1<=>}) (15. Qe2 bxc4 16. Rfd1 Nd5 17. Be1 Nb6
18. Nc5 Qc8 19. Nxa6 Qxa6 20. a4 Rab8 21. Bf3 Bf6 22. Rac1 Nd5 23. Qxc4 Qb7 24.
Qxc6 Qxb3 25. Be4 Nb4 26. Qd7 a5 27. Rb1 Qa2 28. Qa7 Qxa4 29. Ra1 Qb5 30. Qxa5
Nd5 $11 {1/2,Topalov,V (2783)-Anand,V (2779)/Morelia Linares/2007/}) 15... Bxc5
16. dxc5 bxc4 17. Qe2 Nd5 (17... Qe7 18. Bd4 $14) 18. Be5 Qg5 $2 19. Bd6 Rfd8
20. bxc4 Rac8 21. Qc2 Nb6 22. cxb6 Rxd6 23. Qa4 Bb7 24. Qxa7 Qe7 25. Qa3 c5 26.
Qa7 Rd7 27. Rad1 {1-0,L'Ami,E (2586)-Iordachescu,V (2603)/Vlissingen op/2006/})
14... Nd5 $5 {A natural try, Black wants to use his currently offside Ba6 to
solve his strategic problems by tactical means.} (14... Rc8 15. Nxe4 {[%csl
Ra6] ץa6,()} Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Bf6 17. Qd3 h6 18. Rfd1 Qc7 {Teske,H (2529)-Markos,
J (2467)/Pardubice op/2002/} 19. a5 b5 20. c5 $36) 15. cxd5 $8 (15. Bb2 $2 f5
$17) (15. Nxe4 $6 Nxc3 16. Nxc3 Bf6 $11 {/=/+}) 15... Bxf1 {Anand in his
preparation probably underestimated the resulting position. After the game
Topalov criticized already this natural reaction and recommended the generous}
(15... cxd5 $5 16. Re1 Rc8 $44 {White's extra N doesn't make itself felt, as
his forces lack coordination.}) 16. d6 $1 {This intermediate move is necessary
to disrupt Black's P-chain.} (16. Bxf1 $2 exd5 $17 {[%csl Gc6,Gd5,Ge4] [+]} (
16... cxd5 $5)) 16... Bxg2 17. dxe7 Qxe7 18. Kxg2 f5 (18... Rad8 19. Qe2 (19.
Qe1 $5 f5 20. b4 {is similar to our game and stronger}) 19... f5 20. Nc4 (20.
b4 $1) 20... c5 21. Qe3 cxd4 22. Bxd4 Rd5 23. Ne5 Qd6 24. Nc4 Qd8 $13 {[%cal
Gd8d1] /=/+,Matthiesen,M (2289)-Schandorff,L (2551)/DEN-chT/2002/ With the
open d<-> Black has no problems and already White must take care.}) 19. b4 $1
$146 {[%mdl 8] An important improvement in comparison with the previous
example:} (19. Nc4 Rad8 (19... Rfd8 $5 {/\c5<=>}) 20. Ra2 (20. Qe1 $5 c5 21.
dxc5 bxc5 22. b4 $1 {[%csl Gb5][%cal Rb4b5] /\b5o^b}) 20... Rd5 (20... c5 $11)
21. Ne3 Rd7 22. Rd2 f4 23. gxf4 Rxf4 24. Qh5 Rd8 25. Rc2 Rdf8 {[%csl Rg2][%cal
Gf8f1] /=/+,<->f,ע,Sasikiran,K (2670)-Motylev,A (2638)/Moscow Aeroflot op/
2006/ Here Black has managed to open an important file for his R and he has no
problems. Topalov, on th other hand, would like to keep the position more
closed for the time being. He probably realized the strength of the text move
some time ago, without intending to use it in a concrete game against Anand 
(who has never played 13...dxe4 previously). White first of all takes the
sting out of a c5 break, his N is not needed on c4 yet - from d2 it better
supports f3.}) 19... Qd7 $6 {This phase is already decisive for the future
fate of the game, from Anand's lack-lustre play we can see he didn't realize
the importance of the moment. Black starts to make moves out of general
considerations, which however don't counter White's plans. Instead, he should
have energetically sought <=> as soon as possible. Topalov didn't repeat this
line in Morelia - this indicates that he either wanted to avoid the position
after 15...cxd5!?, or found something better for Black at this point. However,
finding concrete improvements is not so easy, as immediate activity can do
more harm, than good:} (19... c5 20. dxc5 bxc5 21. b5 $16) ({Deserving
attention was a try like} 19... Rad8 20. Qe2 Rd5 {[%cal Yf8d8,Yc6c5,Ye6e5] /
\Rfd8,c5,e5} (20... c5 21. dxc5 bxc5 22. b5 Rd3 23. Rc1 $14) (20... a5 21. bxa5
c5 22. Qc4 $16) (20... e5 {is interesting, but at this moment White has the
accurate} 21. Qc4+ $1 (21. dxe5 Rd3 22. Rc1 Qe6 $1 $44 {For the P Black has
activated his major pieces and has undeniable <=>. An important component of
it is the fact that White still can't play} 23. f3 $2 Rfd8 24. fxe4 {due to}
Qa2 $19) 21... Qf7 22. dxe5 Qxc4 23. Nxc4 Rd3 24. Rc1 $16 {and he should be
able to gradually consolidate his position.}) {If White continues as in the
game} 21. f3 (21. Nc4 $5 {seems better.}) 21... exf3+ 22. Nxf3 {Black has} f4
23. g4 h5 {/\} 24. g5 Rxg5+ 25. Nxg5 Qxg5+ $44) 20. Qe2 Qd5 21. f3 exf3+ 22.
Nxf3 {[%mdl 32] White has made the first important step - he exchanged the Pe4,
which limited his forces. Although Black can't complain about the formal
material balance, he has serious problems generating any concrete active play.
His Rs lack open <->, pawn breaks either lose material outright, or only
create new ><. On the other hand, White's position has far more potential for
improvement. In the following moves he plans to dislodge Black's Q from it's 
[+] outpost and proceed to concentrate his forces against the ><e6 and Black's
K. Topalov will patiently implement this strategy.} h6 (22... f4 23. g4 $16 {
[%csl Rf4] doesn't help, the Pf4 can also become vulnerable.}) (22... a5 $5 23.
bxa5 bxa5 $14 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Gb8b1] ><a5 was possibly better. Although the
Pa5 is weak, at least the <->b is open. Later (see move 30) Black won't get
even this chance.}) 23. Re1 Rfe8 24. Qc2 {White starts regrouping his forces.
He prepares Re5, after ...Qc4 he will have the reply Nd2.} Rad8 {Anand must
have felt the growing pressure, but he still doesn't want to resort to
desperate measures as, e.g.,} (24... g5 {With the text move he intends to meet
Re5 by preparing ...Rd5, as and exchange of R would greatly favour the defence.
However, Topalov doesn't have to hurry with occupying e5.}) 25. Bd2 $1 $16 {
Takes c5 under control and improves the B.} Qd7 26. Kf2 {White has enough time
to take the sting out of ideas as Qb7, followed by c5.} Rc8 27. Bf4 {White
toys with the idea Be5...} Qd5 28. Re5 {In the end Topalov puts his R on e5
after all - with 26...Rc8 Black's R is farther from d5.} Qd7 29. h4 {White
strengthens his position with prophylactic moves, this one is aimed against a
possible g5.} Ra8 30. Bd2 $1 {Again prophylaxis (stopping a5), but also part
of an active plan - the B goes to c3, once the N is free, it can head for f4.
Also 29.h4 comes in handy, White can fix the >>P with h5.} Rac8 {A very
unpleasant situation: Black can't do much more than mark time.} 31. Qc4 {
[%cal Re5f5] /\Rf5} Kh7 32. Bc3 Qd6 33. Ne1 b5 $6 {Anand can't endure the
massage any longer and tries to break free, but this advance only further
weakens his position.} 34. Qc5 Qd8 (34... Qxc5 35. Rxc5 bxa4 36. Ra5 $16 {
/+- and without Q White is free to concentrate all his forces, inclding the K,
against Black's ק.}) 35. Nd3 $1 {[%cal Rd3f4] /\Nf4 Again active prophylaxis,
White stops f4 and his N aims for the dream square. A noteworthy fact is that
from move 20 onwards there was no necessity to give any long and forcing lines.
The games between the world elite are usually far more complex and rarely is
one of the sides completely outplayed without lashing out. Thus, despite the
passivity and the apparent helplessness of Black's position, Anand's
resignation came as a big surprise. Some online commentators even waited 10-15
minutes to confirm that there has been no data transmission error. Although
the Indian GM was understandably disgusted with his position, after all the
material is still equal and converting White's advantage still requires more,
than just simple technique. Topalov immediately after the game said he
considered White's position strategically winning, but he wouldn't have
resigned so early. Subsequently he modified this statement, saying the by
transferring his R to d6 Black could still put up strong resistance. The point
is that to win the game White will once have to at least partially open the
position, something which might give Black some <=> after all.} 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.24"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 O-O 7. e3 c5 8.
dxc5 Nbd7 9. Rc1 Qa5 10. a3 Bxc3+ 11. Rxc3 Ne4 12. b4 Nxc3 13. Qa1 Qa4 14. Qxc3
a5 15. b5 Nxc5 16. Qxc5 Be6 17. Qc1 Rfc8 18. Qa1 Qc2 19. Be2 Qc1+ 20. Qxc1
Rxc1+ 21. Bd1 Ra1 22. a4 Rc8 23. Nd4 Rc4 24. O-O f6 25. Bf4 Bf7 26. h4 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.02.25"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. Ne2 ({
A rare move, aimed to consolidate the d4-square at the cost of delaying the
development of the queenside The normal continuation is.} 8. Qd2 {. I would
quote here a recent example form the practice of another great French expert,
which bears some similarity with our main game:} b5 9. a3 g5 $5 {and Black
managed to undermine White's centre, although the position remained
complicated, Jakovenko-Bareev, Sochi 2006.}) 8... Qb6 9. Qc1 g5 $6 {Not only
typical for the French opening, but also for Morozevich' enterprising and
original style of play. However, the tension created by this move has a double
edged character. Black is not allowed to slow down his initiative, because
otherwise several of his minor pieces (the d7-knight, the c8-bishop) would
remain passive.} ({In case of} 9... cxd4 $6 10. Nexd4 Bc5 11. c3 {the fight
for the central dark squares could continue with} f6 $5 12. b4 $1 $36) ({
Maybe Black should not be in a hurry to drive the enemy king away from the
centre. After} 9... f6 $5 10. c3 Be7 11. g3 O-O {the king would actually have
a harder time finding a safe square.} 12. Bh3 (12. Bg2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Bb4+ 14.
Kf2 Qb5 {[%csl Ge2]} 15. Rf1 Nb6 16. b3 Bd7 $132) 12... cxd4 13. cxd4 fxe5 14.
Bxe6+ (14. Nxe5 Ndxe5 15. fxe5 Bb4+ $17) 14... Kh8 $44) 10. c3 (10. fxg5 cxd4
11. Nexd4 Ncxe5 $132) 10... cxd4 11. cxd4 Bb4+ 12. Kf2 f6 (12... gxf4 13. Nxf4
$16 {/\Bd3}) 13. g3 (13. exf6 Nxf6 14. Nxg5 Ng4+ 15. Kg1 (15. Kg3 $6 e5 $1 16.
fxe5 Rg8 $36) 15... Be7 {/\e5} 16. Nf3 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 Qxb2 $13) 13... Rf8 (13...
gxf4 14. gxf4 fxe5 (14... Nf8 15. exf6) 15. fxe5 Nf8 16. Nf4 $14 {[%csl Gf6]})
14. Kg2 g4 (14... gxf4 15. gxf4 Rg8+ 16. Ng3 fxe5 17. fxe5 Nf8 18. Rg1 Bd7 19.
Kh1 Be7 20. Nh5 Rxg1+ 21. Bxg1 O-O-O 22. Nf6 $14) 15. Nh4 Rg8 ({Optically
speaking,} 15... f5 {looks safer, but in this case Black would have needed
several tempi to complete his development. White could use this time to
"organize" some piece sacrifice for two pawns in order to get a threatening
central avalanche.}) 16. h3 h5 17. hxg4 hxg4 18. Nc3 fxe5 19. fxe5 Ncxe5 $6 ({
Another typical sacrifice. Black solves the problems of development in radical
way, putting the enemy king in danger at the same time. Apparently, Morozevich
is delighted with having such positions with either colour. During the World
Championship held in Moscow he managed to repell Gurevich' attack and convert
his extra-piece into a win, which proved decisive for the final result of
their mini-match. In our concrete case, the sacrifice might not be entirely
sound, but is hard to meet over the board. Besides, in case of a neutral
developing move such as} 19... Nf8 {(preparing ...Bd7 and ...0-0-0), White
could consider sacrificing himself with} 20. Nf5 $5) (19... Nxd4 20. Nf5 $5
exf5 21. Nxd5 Qc6 (21... Qa5 22. Bc4 Ne6 23. Rh6 Nxe5 24. Bb6 Qa4 25. Bb3 Qc6
26. Qxc6+ Nxc6 27. Nf6+ $16 {Shipov}) 22. Qxc6 bxc6 23. Nxb4 (23. Nc7+ Kd8 24.
Nxa8 Bb7 $5 $132) 23... c5 24. Kf2 Bb7 (24... Nxe5 $2 25. Bxd4 cxd4 26. Re1 $18
) 25. Rh6 $16) 20. dxe5 d4 21. Na4 Qa5 22. Qc4 Nxe5 23. Qxd4 {Black has only a
pawn (and rather insufficient compensation) for his piece, but the position is
completely chaotic. Remarkably, White will miss several opportunities to
consolidate his advantage.} Nf3 (23... Bd7 24. Nb6 Bc6+ 25. Kh2 (25. Kg1 $5)
25... Rd8 26. Nc4 $1 (26. Qf4 Rh8 $1 {/\Rxh4}) 26... Nxc4 27. Qxc4 $16) 24.
Nxf3 gxf3+ 25. Kf2 Qxa4 26. Bd3 {White has returned his material advantage for
the sake of rapid development. However, the position of his king remains
relatively exposed.} Qd7 27. Qe4 $2 (27. Rh8 $1 Qxd4 28. Rxg8+ Kf7 29. Bxd4
Kxg8 30. Rh1 $18) 27... Bd6 (27... Qg7 $5 {[%csl Gb2,Gg3]}) 28. Rag1 $6 (28.
Rh7 $1 Qc6 (28... Bxg3+ 29. Kxf3 $18 {/\Rg1}) 29. Qxc6+ bxc6 30. Be4 Bd7 31.
Rg1 $16) 28... Qg7 $132 29. Rh6 Qxb2+ 30. Kxf3 Rf8+ 31. Bf4 Qe5 32. Qg6+ Kd8
33. Kg2 Qb2+ 34. Kh1 Bxf4 35. gxf4 Bd7 36. Be4 Kc7 $2 ({Rather careless.} 36...
Qd4 {, centralising the queen or}) (36... Rh8 {, aiming for simplifications,
were entirely viable.}) 37. Rb1 Qf2 38. Rxb7+ $2 ({This premature check leaves
the win slip away (true, only temporarily). It would have been better to keep
the threat of capturing on b7 in reserve with} 38. Qg7 {, adding a new one:
Rh7. Black would have been without defence.}) 38... Kc8 39. Rb1 Ra7 40. f5 Rc7
$2 ({A fatal mistake, just before the time control. It is not easy to foresee
why this move is losing, but on general ground, centralising the queen with
tempo would have been a wise idea. For instance} 40... Qf4 {and only after} 41.
Re1 {the rook could come into play with} Rc7 {. The main difference is that
after} 42. fxe6 $2 Be8 {the h6-rook is hanging.}) 41. fxe6 Be8 42. Qg5 {
White is a pawn up and his king is in absolute safety. The long diagonal, the
h-file and the back rank are well defended. The black king is under no
immediate threat, but one can smell the danger approcahing.} Qd4 ({It is too
late now for} 42... Qf4 {because of} 43. Qxf4 Rxf4 44. Rh8 Re7 45. Bg6 {
, winning the bishop.}) 43. Bg2 Rf4 44. e7 Rc5 45. Qg3 Rc3 46. Qe1 Re3 47. Qa5
Bb5 48. Rc1+ 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 3rd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2007.05.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Sasikiran, Krishnan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2007.05.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 Ng4 8. Bg5
f6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nh6 11. d5 Nd7 12. h3 $6 {Quite a pretentious way to
avoid the main line} (12. Nd2 f5 13. exf5 Nf6 14. Nde4 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Bxf5 16.
Bd3 g4 {etc.}) 12... f5 13. exf5 (13. Nd2 {makes little sense now. However,
there has been a practical example:} Nf6 14. Qc2 (14. f3 Nh5) 14... c6 15. a4
cxd5 16. cxd5 fxe4 17. Ndxe4 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 (18. Nxe4 Nf5 {[%cal Yf5d4]}) 18...
Qb6 19. O-O Nf5 20. Bd3 Bd7 21. b4 Rac8 22. Ne2 a5 23. bxa5 Qxa5 24. f3 Rf6 {
0-1 Gustafsson,J-Solleveld,M/Enschede 2003/CBM 094 ext (47)}) (13. Bh2 $5 Nc5
14. Nd2 {K.Sakaev} a5 $13) 13... Nc5 (13... Nxf5 {is possible, too:} 14. Ne4
Nc5 $1 (14... h6 $143 15. O-O (15. Bd3 $5) 15... Nf6 16. Nfd2 Nd4 17. Bd3 c6
18. Re1 cxd5 19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. cxd5 Bd7 21. Rc1 Rac8 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Ne4 Qg6
24. f3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Horvath,J-Hazai,L/Hungary 2003/EXT 2004 (49)}) 15. Bd3 (15.
Nfxg5 $6 Nxg3 16. fxg3 Bf5 $36) (15. Nxc5 Nxg3 16. fxg3 dxc5 $36) 15... Nxd3+
16. Qxd3 h6 $11 {K.Sakaev}) 14. Nd2 $6 {This is quite illogical as one of the
ideas of 12.h3 is to keep this knight on f3.} (14. b4 $2 {doesn't work due to}
e4 $1) (14. Qd2 {is the most natural move but Black did fine in the following
game:} Nxf5 15. Nxg5 Bh6 16. h4 Nxg3 17. fxg3 a5 (17... Bf5 $5 18. O-O a5 {
I_A.Nataf}) 18. g4 Qe7 19. O-O-O Bd7 $6 (19... Rf7 $1 {[%cal Yf7g7] I_A.Nataf})
20. Rhf1 $1 Rxf1 21. Rxf1 Rf8 22. Rxf8+ Qxf8 23. Qe3 Qe7 $44 {[%cal Yd7e8,
Ye8g6] 1/2-1/2 Akesson,R-Nataf,I/Stockholm 84/477 2001/Inf 84/[Nataf,I.-A] (32)
}) 14... Bxf5 (14... Nxf5 {is quite good, too.}) 15. O-O (15. f3 e4 $1 $40 {
I_A.Nataf}) 15... e4 16. Nb3 b6 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (16... Nxb3 $143 17. Qxb3
Bg6 18. Rae1 Re8 19. Qxb7 Nf5 20. Bg4 Rb8 21. Qa6 Rxb2 (21... Nxg3 $5 22. fxg3
Rxb2 23. Nb5 $13) 22. Bxf5 Bxf5 23. Nd1 Rb6 24. Qxa7 Bd4 25. Ne3 Bd7 26. Qa5
Qf6 27. Rb1 h5 28. Rxb6 Bxb6 29. Qd2 Rf8 $44 {1-0 Onischuk,A-Smirin,I/Russia
87/481 2003/Inf 87/[Onischuk,Al] (41)}) 17. Nd4 Qf6 18. Nc6 a5 (18... Bd7 {
[%cal Yh6f5] was probably even more appropriate. If} 19. f4 $6 (19. Nb5 $6 {
doesn't work in view of} a6 $1 20. Nxc7 (20. Nbd4 Bxc6 21. Nxc6 Qxb2) 20...
Rac8) {then anyway} 19... Nf5 20. fxg5 Qxg5 21. Bf4 Qh4 $17) 19. f4 $6 {
[%csl Ge4] After this "active" move Black's e4 pawn becomes extremely
dangerous.} (19. Nb5 {[%cal Yb5d4] was now the best way to make use of Black's
inaccuracy:} Rac8 (19... Qxb2 $6 20. Nxc7) 20. Nbd4 Bd7 21. Rb1 Nf5 22. Nxf5
Bxf5 23. Qd2 $15) 19... Bd7 $1 20. Nb5 {Better late than never?} (20. fxg5 Qxg5
$17) (20. Qd2 $5 gxf4 (20... Bxc6 21. fxg5 $1 Qd4+ 22. Qxd4 Bxd4+ 23. Kh2 Nf7
24. dxc6 Bxc3 25. bxc3 Nxg5 $15) 21. Bxf4 Bxc6 22. Be3 $1 (22. dxc6 Qd4+ 23.
Qxd4 Bxd4+ 24. Kh2 Bxc3 25. bxc3 Nf5 $17) 22... Nf5 23. dxc6 Qe5 24. Rad1 $1
$15) 20... Bxc6 21. dxc6 Qxb2 22. Rb1 Qxa2 23. Nxc7 (23. Bf2 $5 {(an extremely
difficult move for a human being)} Rac8 $1 (23... Nf5 24. g4 $1) (23... gxf4
24. Nxc7) (23... Rxf4 24. Nxc7 Raf8 $13) 24. fxg5 Nf5 $17) 23... Nf5 $1 24. Bf2
$2 {Now this leads to a lost position. Krishnan Sasikiran has bad luck with
good moves in this game: he makes them too late!} (24. Nxa8 $142 Nxg3 25. Re1 {
, e.g.} Rxa8 26. c7 Nxe2+ 27. Rxe2 Qxc4 28. Rxb6 Na6 $1 29. Rxd6 Nxc7 30. Rc2
Bc3 31. fxg5 (31. Rd8+ $143 Rxd8 32. Qxd8+ Kf7 33. Qd7+ Kf8 34. Qf5+ Ke8) 31...
Rf8 {Black is better, of course, but the position remains extremely tense.})
24... e3 $1 25. Be1 (25. Nxa8 exf2+ 26. Rxf2 Bd4 $19 {[%cal Rc5e4]}) (25. Qd5+
Kh8 26. Bd3 $5 exf2+ 27. Rxf2 Bd4 28. Qxd4+ Nxd4 29. Rxa2 Rac8 30. Nd5 Nxd3 31.
Rd1 Nb3 $1 $19) (25. Bf3 Rac8 ({or} 25... exf2+ 26. Rxf2 Bd4 27. Bd5+ Rf7 $1
28. Bxf7+ Kf8 $1 29. Qxd4 Qxb1+ 30. Rf1 Nxd4 31. Rxb1 Rc8 $1 $19) 26. Nb5 gxf4
$19 27. Be1 $140 e2 $1 28. Bxe2 Ne3) 25... Nd4 $1 26. Nxa8 Nxe2+ 27. Kh2 Nxf4
28. Rxf4 gxf4 29. Rxb6 f3 30. Qd5+ Ne6 $5 31. Qxe6+ Kh8 32. Qg4 Be5+ 33. Kh1 f2
(33... fxg2+ $5 34. Qxg2 Rf1+ 35. Qxf1 Qh2#) 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 3rd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2007.05.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2007.05.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nde2 Be6 8. f4
g6 {Nisipeanu has a pet line with the rare move 7.Nde2 which is growing into
an independent system. Topalov must have known he would be facing it, so his
setup is clearly the fruit of home preparation.} 9. h3 h5 $5 {Actually this
idea is the key to the defender's strategy. Restricting the advance g2-g4 may
leave the knight on e2 in a truly awkward situation.} (9... Nc6 10. g4 d5 11.
fxe5 Nxe5 $11) 10. fxe5 (10. Qd3 Nc6 11. O-O-O $13) 10... dxe5 11. Qxd8+ Kxd8
12. O-O-O+ Nbd7 13. Ng1 $5 {Nisipeanu has indirectly admitted, that Black has
found a kind of antidote to the ambitions of 7.Nde2 move. Redirecting the
knight from e2 to the more promising square f3 increases the harmony in
White's position.} (13. g3 Kc7 14. Bg2 Bh6 $11) 13... Rc8 14. Bd3 (14. Nf3 Rxc3
$5 15. bxc3 Ba3+ 16. Kb1 Nxe4 17. Rd3 Kc7 $15) (14. Bg5 Bh6 15. Bxh6 Rxh6 16.
Nf3 Ke7 17. Ng5 h4 $11) 14... Bh6 15. Bxh6 Rxh6 16. Nf3 Ke7 17. Ng5 (17. h4
Rhh8 18. Rhe1 Rhd8 $11) 17... h4 {This modest move fixing the pawn structure
on the kingside will prove to be very useful in the long run.} 18. Be2 Rc5 19.
Rhf1 (19. Rd2 Rh8 20. Rhd1 Rhc8 $11) 19... Rh8 20. Rd3 Rhc8 21. Kd2 b5 (21...
Bc4 22. Rdf3 b5 23. a3 $11) 22. a3 a5 $1 23. b4 (23. Nxe6 fxe6 24. Nxb5 $2
Rxc2+ 25. Ke1 Rxb2 $19) 23... axb4 24. axb4 R5c6 {Topalov has managed to
provoke the move b2-b4 and White has to fight for equality.} (24... Rc4 25.
Rdf3 Rxb4 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Bd3 $15) 25. Rdf3 Bc4 26. Bxc4 (26. Nxb5 $2 Bxb5
27. Bxb5 Rxc2+ 28. Kd1 Rxg2 29. Bxd7 Ra8 $17) 26... Rxc4 27. Ra1 (27. Rb1 Nf8 (
27... Nb6 28. Ra1 Na4 (28... Rd8+ 29. Kc1 Rxb4 30. Ra7+ Rd7 31. Ra6 Rd6 32.
Ra7+ $11) 29. Nxb5 Rxc2+ 30. Ke3 Rxg2 31. Nxf7 Rcc2 32. Rxa4 Rge2+ 33. Kd3
Red2+ $11) 28. Ra1 Ne6 29. Nxe6 Kxe6 $15) 27... Rxb4 28. Nd5+ {[%mdl 4096]
Nisipeanu is pinning his hopes on the active approach with counterplay and
active pieces.} (28. Ra7 $5 Ke8 (28... Rbc4 29. Nd5+ Nxd5 30. Rxf7+ Ke8 31.
exd5 Rxc2+ 32. Kd1 R2c7 33. Rxc7 Rxc7 34. d6 Rc4 35. Re7+ Kd8 36. Rg7 $11) 29.
Ra5 Rd4+ 30. Ke1 Rdc4 31. Nxb5 Ke7 32. Na3 R4c5 $15) 28... Nxd5 29. Rxf7+ Kd6 (
29... Ke8 30. exd5 Rd4+ 31. Ke1 Rxd5 32. Rg7 Nf8 33. Ne4 Rc6 $11) 30. exd5 Rd4+
31. Kc1 (31. Ke1 $5 {One of the tough decisions for White. The feeling that
his king should protect the pawn c2 is quite understandable.} Ra4 (31... Rxd5
32. Ne4+ Ke6 (32... Kc6 $2 33. Ra6+ Kc7 34. Nf6 Rd6 35. Ra7+ $18) 33. Ng5+ Kd6
$11) 32. Rc1 e4 $17) 31... Nc5 32. Raa7 e4 (32... Kxd5 33. Nf3 Rc4 34. Kd1 Rd8
$17) 33. Ne6 $5 Rc4 (33... Nxe6 $2 34. Rad7+ Ke5 35. dxe6 $11) 34. Nxc5 R8xc5 (
34... Kxc5 35. Rad7 e3 36. Kd1 Kb4 $17) 35. Rad7+ Ke5 36. Rf2 {White has
managed to exchange the knights and he still keeps the material balance.
Unfortunately Topalov's pieces are better coordinated and he can eliminate the
d5 pawn at any moment.} (36. Rde7+ Kxd5 37. Rf2 Kd6 38. Rg7 g5 39. Rg6+ Ke5 40.
Rxg5+ Kd4 $17) 36... b4 (36... Rc7 $1 37. Rd8 Rc8 38. Rxc8 Rxc8 $17) 37. Re7+
Kd6 (37... Kxd5 $2 38. Rd2+ Kc6 39. Kb2 $11) 38. Rb7 (38. Re6+ Kxd5 39. Rxg6 b3
$1 $17) 38... Kxd5 39. Kb2 (39. Re2 e3 40. Rg7 (40. Rxe3 Rxc2+ 41. Kb1 Rc1+ 42.
Kb2 R5c2+ 43. Kb3 Rxg2 44. Rxb4 Rb1+ 45. Ka4 Rxb4+ 46. Kxb4 Rg3 $19) 40... b3
41. Rxe3 Rxc2+ 42. Kb1 Rxg2 $17) 39... e3 40. Re2 Re4 $1 {From this moment
onwards the e3-pawn becomes a superpower in the endgame struggle.} 41. Kb3 (41.
Rd7+ Ke5 (41... Kc4 42. Rd3 Rce5 43. Rb3 Re7 44. Rd3 $13) 42. Rf7 Rd5 43. Rf3
Kd4 $17) 41... Ke5 42. Rf7 (42. Rxb4 Rxb4+ 43. Kxb4 Kd4 $1 44. Rxe3 Rxc2 45.
Rf3 Ke4 46. Rb3 Rxg2 $19) 42... g5 43. Rf8 Rd5 44. c4 Rd7 $5 {A fine move
proving, that coordination is more important than sheer material. Black's king
plans to enter the fight via the d4-square with crushing effect.} (44... bxc3
45. Kxc3 Ra5 46. Rf7 (46. Re8+ Kf4 47. Rf8+ Rf5 $19) 46... Ra3+ 47. Kb2 Rd3 48.
Kc2 $17) 45. Re1 (45. Kxb4 $2 Kd4 $1 46. Rf1 Rb7+ 47. Ka5 Kxc4 $19) 45... Rd2
46. Kxb4 Rxg2 47. Kc3 Rg3 48. Re8+ (48. Kd3 e2+ 49. Kd2 Rxh3 $19) 48... Kf5 (
48... Kf4 $4 49. Rf1+ Rf3 50. Rf8+ $18) 49. Rf1+ Kg6 $1 {It was not too late
to spoil everything with the greedy approach and transfer of the king to the
queenside. Topalov played the endgame with great confidence...} (49... Rf4 50.
Rf8+ Ke5 51. Re8+ Kd6 $2 52. Rd1+ $11) 50. Rxe4 e2+ 51. Rf3 Rxf3+ 52. Kd2 Rxh3
53. c5 (53. Rxe2 Ra3 54. c5 Ra2+ 55. Kd3 Rxe2 $19) 53... Ra3 54. c6 (54. Rxe2
Ra2+ 55. Kd3 Rxe2 56. Kxe2 Kf5 $19) 54... Ra2+ (54... Ra2+ 55. Kd3 Ra6 $19) 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 3rd"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2007.05.20"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Sasikiran, Krishnan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E52"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2007.05.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 {Surprise! Surprise! Topalov is great
Queen's Indian specialist, but recently he has not had too many successes with
it. Überraschung! Topalov ist ein großer Damenindisch-Spezialist, aber zuletzt
hatte er da wenig Erfolge zu verzeichnen.} Bb4 4. e3 {This too is unexpected;
up till now the Bulgarian has above all played 4.Qc2. Auch das ist unerwartet,
bisher spielte der Bulgare vor allem 4.Qc2.} b6 {Since up till now Sasikiran
has only played 4...c5, both sides are now out of their specific preparation. 
Da Sasikiran bisher nur 4...c5 spielte, sind nun wohl beide aus der direkten
Vorbereitung.} 5. Bd3 Bb7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O d5 (7... c5 $5) 8. a3 Bd6 9. cxd5
exd5 10. b4 {Topalov can feel satisfied. The evaluation of this line lies
between n +/= and = and does so for a long time. This is exactly what you want
for a decisive game. Topalov kann zufrieden sein. Die Bewertung dieser
Variante liegt zwischen +/= und = und das auf lange Sicht, für eine
Entscheidungspartie ist das genau richtig.} Nbd7 (10... a6 {is usual, perhaps
for good reason. ist üblich, vielleicht nicht ohne Grund.}) 11. b5 $1 Ne4 12.
Bb2 (12. Qb3 Re8 13. a4 Ndf6 14. Ba3 a5 15. Bxd6 cxd6 {The same structure!
Since both are playing for a win. White could be the one to crack it. Die
gleiche Struktur! Da beide auf Gewinn spielten, konnte sich Weiß durchsetzen.}
16. Ne2 h6 17. Ra2 Qd7 18. Ne1 Re7 19. f3 Ng5 20. Ng3 g6 21. Re2 h5 22. h4 Ne6
23. Qb1 Nf8 24. Kf2 Rae8 25. Bc2 Qd8 26. Nd3 Ne6 27. Bb3 Rc7 28. Rc2 Rxc2+ 29.
Bxc2 Qe7 30. Qc1 Kg7 31. Qd2 Ng8 32. Rh1 Nh6 $14 {/= 1-0 Knaak,R (2565)
-Beliavsky,A (2595)/Novi Sad 1979/EXT 1999 (58)}) 12... Re8 13. a4 Re6 14. Ne2
a5 15. Ba3 Rc8 16. Bxd6 cxd6 {The advantage for Black of these doubled pawns
is clear: control of many central squares. On the other hand, the pawns are
weakened and immobile. White has a long-term advantage, but not a big one. 
Der Pluspunkt für Schwarz bei diesem Doppelbauern ist klar: Beherrschung
vieler Zentrumsfelder. Auf der anderen Seite sind die Bauern geschwächt und
unbeweglich. Weiß hat langfristig Vorteil, aber der ist nicht groß.} 17. Rc1
Ndf6 18. h3 Re7 19. Qb3 h6 20. Rxc8 Qxc8 21. Rc1 Rc7 {In my opinion the
exchange of both rooks favours White. Since f3 will have to be played sooner
or later, it would be good for Black to have a rook on the e-file.  Der
Abtausch beider Türme ist m.E. für Weiß günstig. Da früher oder später f2-f3
erfolgen muss, wäre ein schwarzer Turm in der e-Linie gut postiert.} 22. Rxc7
Qxc7 23. Qc2 Qe7 ({The exchange of queens was well worth considering: Der
Damentausch kam durchaus in Frage:} 23... Qxc2 24. Bxc2 {Black would have to
adopt a completely passive setup, e.g. with Be7, Nc7, Nf6 and Pg5. But how
does White then make progress? Schwarz würde sich völlig passiv aufstellen
müssen, z.B. mit Be7, Nc7, Nf6 und Pg5. Aber wie macht Weiß dann Fortschritte?}
) 24. Qc1 g6 25. Nh2 Kg7 26. h4 Ne8 27. f3 N4f6 28. Nf1 (28. g4 $5) 28... h5
29. Nf4 Nd7 30. Qe1 Nf8 31. Qg3 Kh6 (31... Nf6) 32. Nxh5 $5 {Objectively, the
move is not correct, but it is not clear how White could have made something
of his slight advantage by other means. The fact that Sasikiran was problay
short of time will certainly also have played its part. Objektiv ist der Zug
nicht korrekt, aber es ist ja nicht klar, dass Weiß seinen kleinen Vorteil mit
anderen Zügen hätte auch verwerten können. Die vermutlich schon knappe Zeit
bei Sasikiran wird sicher auch eine Rolle gespielt haben.} gxh5 33. Qg8 (33.
Qf4+ Kg7 34. Ng3 Kg8 35. Nxh5 Ng6 36. Qh6 Qxh4 $11) 33... f5 $8 34. Ng3 Ng7 (
34... Qxe3+ {would also be enough for a draw: würde auch zum Remis ausreichen:}
35. Kh2 Qxd3 36. Qh8+ Kg6 37. Qxh5+ Kg7 38. Nxf5+ Kf6 39. Qxe8 Qxf5 40. Qxf8+
Kg6 {and here the exchange of queens would not win, because Bb7-c8-d7xb5 would
happen too quickly for that.. und hier würde Damentausch nicht gewinnen, weil
Bb7-c8-d7xb5 zu schnell käme.}) 35. Bxf5 Ng6 36. Bxg6 Kxg6 37. Nxh5 Qxe3+ 38.
Kh2 Qe7 $2 (38... Qxd4 $11 {would not only take a pawn, but also control
another important square: f4. würde nicht nur einen Bauern nehmen, sondern
sogar ein zusätzliches wichtiges Feld kontrollieren: f4} 39. Kh3 Qe5 40. g4 d4
41. Nxg7 Qxg7 42. h5+ Kf6 43. Qd8+ $11) 39. Nf4+ $1 Kf6 (39... Kf5 40. Qh7+
Kxf4 41. Qh6+ Kf5 42. g4#) 40. g4 Qf7 41. Qd8+ Qe7 42. Qg8 Qf7 43. Qd8+ Qe7 44.
Qxe7+ (44. Qxb6 {was simpler after all, since the white king is never in any
danger. war wohl einfacher, denn der weiße König ist nie gefährdet.}) ({
Also winning is: Es gewinnt auch} 44. g5+ Kf7 45. g6+ Kf6 46. Qg8 Ne6 47. Nh5+
Kf5 48. Kg3 Nf8 49. Nf4 $18) 44... Kxe7 45. Kg3 Ne6 $6 {If you want, the final
error. Wenn man so will, ist das der letzte Fehler,} ({But aber auch} 45... Kf6
46. Ne2 {with the advance of the pawns did not offer Black much of a chance of
survival either. nebst Vormarsch der Bauern bietet Schwarz kaum
Überlebenschancen.}) 46. Nxe6 $1 {An impressive evaluation of the position or
calculation... Das ist eine beeindruckende Einschätzung der Stellung oder
Berechnung...} Kxe6 47. f4 Bc8 48. f5+ Kf7 49. h5 Bd7 {... because on account
of the possibility of Bd7xb5, White's victory hangs on a single, very thin
thread. ...denn wegen der Möglichkeit Bd7xb5 hängt der weiße Sieg an einem
hauchdünnen Faden.} 50. h6 Kg8 (50... Bxb5 51. axb5 a4 52. g5 a3 53. g6+ Kg8 (
53... Ke7 54. h7 a2 55. h8=Q a1=Q 56. Qg7+ Kd8 57. Qf6+ Kc7 58. g7 $18) 54. f6
a2 55. h7+ Kh8 56. f7 $18) 51. Kf4 Be8 (51... Bxb5 52. g5 Bxa4 53. g6 Bc2 54.
Kg5 a4 55. h7+ Kg7 56. f6+ Kh8 57. f7 $18) 52. Kg5 $1 Kf7 53. h7 $1 Kg7 54.
h8=Q+ Kxh8 55. Kf6 Bxb5 (55... Kg8 56. Ke7 Bf7 57. Kd7 $18) 56. Ke7 Bd3 57. f6
Bg6 58. f7 Bxf7 59. Kxf7 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 16th"]
[Site "Heraklion"]
[Date "2007.10.30"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Djukic, Nikola"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2528"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2007.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Montenegro"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "MNE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
h5 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. Kb1 b5 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 Nb6 14. Bxb6 Qxb6
15. Qa5 Nd7 16. c4 bxc4 17. Bxc4 g6 18. Qxb6 Nxb6 19. Na5 Bh6 20. Rd3 Kd7 21.
Rb3 Nxc4 22. Nxc4 Rab8 23. Rxb8 Rxb8 24. Kc2 f5 25. a3 Rc8 26. Kb3 Rc5 27. Rd1
Kc7 28. Rd3 e4 29. fxe4 fxe4 30. Rd1 e3 31. Kc3 Bg7+ 32. Kb3 Rxd5 33. Re1 Rb5+
34. Kc2 d5 35. Rxe3 Bd4 36. Re7+ Kd8 37. Re6 Kd7 38. Rd6+ Kc7 39. b4 g5 40. h3
h4 41. Kd2 Ba1 0-1

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 16th"]
[Site "Heraklion"]
[Date "2007.10.31"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Kozul, Zdenko"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2609"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2007.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Croatia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CRO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bf4
Nbd7 9. Qc2 a5 10. Rd1 h6 11. Ne1 b6 12. Nd2 Nh5 13. Be5 Ba6 14. Nd3 Rc8 15.
Rac1 Nhf6 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. e3 Re8 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. Qb1 Bd6 20. Bf1 Rxc1 21.
Rxc1 Qb8 22. Rc2 Rc8 23. Nf3 Bb5 24. Qc1 Rxc2 25. Qxc2 Be8 26. Nde5 Ne4 27. Ba6
f6 28. Nd3 Qa8 29. Bc8 Nc5 30. dxc5 Qxc8 31. Qc3 bxc5 32. Qxa5 e5 33. Nh4 g5
34. Ng2 Be7 35. Nc1 d4 36. Qd2 Bc6 37. Ne1 Qe6 38. Qc2 Kg7 39. e4 c4 40. b3 Bb4
41. Nf3 Qg4 0-1

[Event "Chess Champions League"]
[Site "Vitoria Gasteiz"]
[Date "2007.11.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2007.11.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 dxc4 7. Qxc4 b6 8.
Nf3 O-O 9. Bg5 Ba6 10. Qc2 c5 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. Rd1 Qa5+ 13. Bd2 Qb6 14. Bc3
Nbd7 15. e4 Bxf1 16. Kxf1 Qb7 17. Re1 Ne8 18. h4 Nd6 19. Rh3 Nb5 20. Rg3 f6 21.
e5 f5 22. Ng5 Rfe8 23. Qe2 Nf8 24. h5 h6 25. Nh3 Nc7 26. Qc4 Nd5 27. Bd2 Kh7
28. b3 Qf7 29. Qe2 Rab8 30. Rc1 Nd7 31. a4 Rb7 32. Nf4 Nxf4 33. Bxf4 Reb8 34.
Rcc3 Rb4 35. Bd2 Rh4 36. Kg1 Rbb4 37. f4 Re4 38. Qf3 Rxh5 39. Re3 Rd4 40. Rd3
Rxd3 41. Qxd3 Nb6 42. Qd6 Nd5 43. Rd3 Nb4 44. Bxb4 cxb4 45. Qxb4 Rh4 46. Rh3
Rg4 47. Qd2 a5 48. Qf2 Qc7 0-1

[Event "Chess Champions League"]
[Site "Vitoria Gasteiz"]
[Date "2007.11.03"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2007.11.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Ne4 $5 {Kasimdzhanov is not ready to suffer in the main line after 9.
..Nfd7. The knight jmove to the centre loses time, but Black wants to
eliminate White's dark squared bishop.} (9... Nfd7) 10. O-O Nxc3 11. Nxc3 O-O
12. Rc1 Bb4 13. e3 Qe7 (13... f6 14. Nd3 Bd6 15. cxd5 Ba3 16. Rc2 exd5 17. Re1
$14) 14. Re1 f6 15. Nd3 Ba3 {Black has to be alert to the dangers of his
position, where the knight from b8 is not yet developed.} (15... Bd6 $2 16.
cxd5 exd5 17. Nxd5 $1 $16) 16. Rc2 dxc4 17. bxc4 Bxc4 18. Nb1 Bb5 (18... Bxd3
19. Qxd3 Bd6 20. Rec1 e5 21. Be4 g6 22. Bxc6 Nxc6 23. Rxc6 $14) 19. Nxa3 Qxa3
20. Nf4 {Topalov is not running any risk, as his pieces are better developed
and Black has to take care of several weaknesses.} Re8 (20... Qe7 21. Rc1 e5
22. Qb3+ Kh8 23. Ne6 Ba4 24. Qxa4 Qxe6 25. Qc2 $14) (20... Ba4 21. Qc1 Qxc1 22.
Rcxc1 Kf7 23. d5 e5 24. dxc6 Bxc6 25. Nd5 $14) 21. Qh5 Nd7 (21... Re7 22. d5 $1
g6 23. Qh3 $16) 22. Bxc6 Bxc6 23. Rxc6 Qxa2 24. Rc7 Re7 (24... Red8 $2 25. Qg4
f5 26. Qg5 $16) 25. Rec1 e5 (25... Rd8 26. Qb5 e5 27. Nd5 Rf7 28. Rc8 $16) 26.
Qf3 Rd8 (26... e4 27. Qg4 Rd8 28. R1c6 Qf7 29. Rxa7 $16) 27. Nd5 $6 {The weak
moment in the game: White believes that keeping the pieces on the board plays
in his favour. Objectively better was to trade the queens and strive for some
advantage in the endgame.} (27. Qd5+ $1 Qxd5 28. Nxd5 Rf7 (28... Re6 29. Rxa7
exd4 30. exd4 Rd6 31. Nb4 $16) 29. Rxa7 exd4 30. exd4 Ne5 31. Ne7+ Kf8 32. Rcc7
Re8 33. Nf5 $16) 27... Rf7 (27... Re6 $2 28. Rxd7 Rxd7 29. Rc8+ Kf7 30. Qh5+
$18) 28. Nc3 Qb3 (28... Qe6 29. d5 Qe8 30. Rxa7 f5) 29. Rb1 Qe6 (29... Qc2 $2
30. Qd5 $1 $16) 30. d5 Qe8 31. Rxa7 f5 {Objectively speaking Black should have
enough counterplay with his compact position. Topalov finds it difficult to
claim any advantage.} 32. Kg2 (32. d6 e4 33. Qd1 Ne5 34. Rxf7 Qxf7 35. Rxb6 h6
$14) 32... Ra8 (32... e4 $5 33. Qd1 Rf6 $11) 33. Rc7 (33. Rba1 Rxa7 34. Rxa7
Nc5 35. Rxf7 Qxf7 $11) 33... Nc5 $2 {[%mdl 256] The balance in chess is often
a very sensitive issue. With one unfortunate move Black loses the foundation
of his defence and immediately faces serous trouble.} (33... e4 34. Qf4 Rd8 $13
) 34. d6 $1 e4 (34... Rxc7 35. dxc7 Rc8 36. Qd5+ Qf7 37. Rxb6 Nd7 38. Re6 Rxc7
39. Nb5 Rc5 40. Re8+ Nf8 41. Rxf8+ Kxf8 42. Qxc5+ $18) 35. Qd1 Nd3 (35... Ra3
36. Rxb6 Rxc3 37. Qd4 Nd7 38. Rxc3 Nxb6 39. Qxb6 $18) (35... Rxc7 $2 36. dxc7
Rc8 37. Qd5+ Kh8 38. Rxb6 Rxc7 39. Nb5 Rc8 40. Nd6 Qd7 41. Rb7 $18) 36. Qb3 $1
{White's queen suddenly has a chance to fullfil her dreams of a great destiny..
.} (36. Rxb6 Kh8 37. Nd5 $16) 36... Rd8 (36... Kf8 37. Nd5 Qe6 38. Qxb6 Qxd5
39. Qb8+ $18) 37. Ra1 (37. Re7 $1 Qf8 38. Qd5 $18) 37... Kf8 38. Rxf7+ (38.
Raa7 Rfd7 39. Nb5 Ne1+ 40. Kf1 Nf3 41. Qd5 $18) 38... Qxf7 39. Qxb6 Rc8 (39...
Qf6 40. Ra6 $18) 40. Ne2 {The defender now plays on with hopless cards, White
has all the trumps in the position.} Qh5 (40... Kg8 41. Nd4 h6 42. Ra7 $18) 41.
Nd4 Nxf2 (41... Qe8 42. d7 Qxd7 43. Ra7 Qe8 44. Qb7 $18) 42. d7 1-0

[Event "Chess Champions League"]
[Site "Vitoria Gasteiz"]
[Date "2007.11.11"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2668"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2007.11.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 exd4 5. Bxc4 Nc6 6. O-O Be6 {This opening
line has returned to top tournaments after a few years of absence.} 7. Bb5 {
[%csl Rd4]} (7. Bxe6 fxe6 8. Qb3 Qd7 9. Qxb7 Rb8 10. Qa6 {is another
theoretical line leading to unbalanced positions.}) 7... Bc5 8. b4 {The most
principled continuation. The quiet alternative 8.Nbd2 should not be a source
of worry for Black.} (8. Nbd2 Nge7 (8... Qd6 9. e5 Qd5 10. Ng5 O-O-O 11. Bc4
Qd7 12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. b4 Nxb4 14. Qb3 Nd5 15. Ne4 Bb6 16. a4 a5 17. Nd6+ Kb8
18. Bxd5 exd5 19. Bd2 cxd6 20. Qxb6 dxe5 21. f4 $44 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G (2812)
-Anand,V (2781)/Linares 1999/CBM 070 (29)}) 9. Nb3 Bb6 10. Nbxd4 Bd7 11. Nxc6
Bxc6 12. Qb3 O-O 13. Bg5 Bxb5 14. Qxb5 Qe8 $11 {1-0 Sargissian,G (2602)
-Kaidanov,G (2629)/Moscow 2005/CBM 106 (41)}) 8... Bb6 $8 (8... Bxb4 $2 9. Qa4
{and Black is collapsing.}) 9. a4 a6 (9... a5 10. bxa5 $1 Rxa5 11. Ng5 Qd7 12.
Nd2 Nge7 13. Nxe6 $1 Qxe6 14. Nc4 $14 {1-0 Ushenina,A-Korbut,E/St Petersburg
2004/CBM 101 ext (26)}) 10. Bxc6+ bxc6 11. Bb2 Nf6 12. a5 {This push is useful,
because in some lines the Pa6 will be hanging.} Ba7 13. Nbd2 $146 {[%mdl 8] A
novelty, most probably the fruit of home preparation. White refrains from
capturing the Pd4.} (13. Nxd4 Bxd4 14. Bxd4 Nxe4 15. Re1 (15. Bxg7 Rg8 16. Be5
Bh3 $6 (16... Bd5 17. Bg3 Qf6 {Krasenkow}) 17. Bg3 Nxg3 18. hxg3 Qxd1 19. Rxd1
Be6 20. Nc3 Rg4 21. Rab1 Rb8 22. f4 Bf5 23. Rb2 Rxg3 24. Na4 Kf8 25. Nc5 Ra8
26. Kf2 Rc3 27. Rbd2 Rc4 28. Rd4 Rxd4 29. Rxd4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Aronian,L (2759)
-Shirov,A (2699)/Elista 2007/CBM 119 (68)}) 15... Qd5 $6 ({Black can equalise
by} 15... Nf6 16. Nc3 O-O 17. Be5 Nd5 $11 {Probably, this is how Nisipeanu
intended to improve his own play, but Topalov was the first to deviate from
the game Onischuk-Nisipeanu.}) 16. Qd3 c5 17. Rxe4 cxd4 18. Nc3 {The drawback
of 15...Qd5 is clear now.} Qb3 (18... Qf5 19. Qxd4 O-O 20. Rd1 $36) 19. Rxd4
O-O 20. Qd2 c5 21. bxc5 Rab8 22. h3 Qb7 23. Nd5 $16 {1-0 Onischuk,A (2663)
-Nisipeanu,L (2693)/Foros 2007/CBM 119 (58)}) 13... O-O (13... Rb8 14. Qc2 {
if Black captures the Pb4, Ba3 will be very annoying.}) 14. Qc2 Ng4 $2 {
The knight goes the wrong way. Nisipeanu definitely miscalculated something.} (
14... Nh5 {This is the test of Topalov's novelty. The position is quite
doeble-edged. Here are a few possible lines for example:} 15. Qxc6 Nf4 16. Qxa6
Qe7 (16... Qf6 $5) 17. Ba3 (17. Qc6 Qxb4 18. Ba3 Qc3 19. Qxc3 dxc3 20. Bxf8
Kxf8 $15) 17... Qf6 18. b5 Rfb8 19. Qc6 Qg6 20. g3 Ne2+ 21. Kh1 Bh3 22. Qxc7
Bxf1 23. Rxf1 Rxb5 24. Ne5 Qe6 25. Nc6 $16) 15. h3 Nf6 {Admitting the mistake.}
(15... Ne3 16. fxe3 dxe3 17. Nb3 e2+ 18. Rf2 $16 {Probably, this move was
overlooked by the Romanian GM.}) 16. Ne5 $1 {White should not be in a hurry to
capture the Pc6.} (16. Qxc6 $6 Nh5 17. Qxa6 Nf4 $44) 16... Bd7 17. Rfe1 $6 {
Logical move, but it was more precise to put the rook on the d-file.} (17. Rfd1
$1 Qe7 18. Ndf3 c5 19. bxc5 Qxc5 20. Qxc5 Bxc5 21. Bxd4 Bxd4 22. Rxd4 Bb5 23.
Rc1 Rac8 24. Nc6 {with a big advantage.}) 17... Qe7 18. Ndf3 (18. Nxc6 $2 Bxc6
19. Qxc6 Qxb4 $15) 18... c5 {The Pb4 is taboo in view of Ba3. Black must get
rid of his weak pawns along the c-file.} 19. bxc5 Qxc5 20. Qd2 Qe7 21. Ba3 (21.
Bxd4 Bxd4 22. Qxd4 c5 23. Qc3 Bb5 $11) 21... c5 22. Qxd4 {This way Topalov
keeps all his potentially attacking pieces out of the exchange.} Bb5 ({After} 
22... cxd4 $2 23. Bxe7 {[%csl Rd7,Rf6,Rf8] Black loses material.}) 23. Qc3 Rfd8
24. Bb2 {The battery along the diagonal a1-h8 is threatening.} Nh5 $1 25. Nc4
Rab8 ({It was possible to eliminate the potentially dangerous knight:} 25...
Bxc4 26. Qxc4 Nf4 27. Rad1 Qe6 {and Black is only slightly worse.}) 26. Ne3
Qxe4 $2 {This pawn appears to be poisoned.} ({It was necessary to remove the
threats along the long diagonal:} 26... Rd3 $1 27. Nf5 Qe6 28. Qc1 f6 {Some of
Black's pieces are awkwardly placed (Ba7, Nh5), but White can't exploit it so
easily.}) 27. Ng4 {The beginning of the decisive attack.} Qg6 {Other retreats
also lose.} (27... Qd3 28. Qe5 Qd5 29. Nh6+ Kh8 30. Ng5 $18 {[%csl Rf7]}) (
27... Qf4 28. g3 Qd6 29. Re5 Nf6 30. Rg5 $18) 28. Nh4 Qd3 $8 (28... Qg5 29. Re5
Qxh4 30. Rxh5 $18) 29. Qe5 Qd5 {[%tqu "En","How should White continue his
attack?","","","g4h6","",5]} 30. Nh6+ $1 Kh8 31. Qe7 {[%csl Ra7,Rf7]} (31. N4f5
Qxe5 32. Bxe5 {was also good, but Topalov correctly keeps the queens on the
board.}) 31... Bc4 32. Rad1 (32. Qxa7 $4 Rb7 $19 {[%csl Ra7]}) 32... Qxd1 33.
Rxd1 $1 Rxd1+ 34. Kh2 {Black's pieces are randomly strewn across the board;
his position is lost.} Ra8 {What else?} 35. N4f5 f6 36. f4 (36. Ng3 $1 Nxg3 37.
fxg3 Rf1 38. Qe4 $18) 36... Bd5 37. Nf7+ $2 {Topalov got carried away by his
attack. I suppose that time-trouble was playing a role here.} (37. Qe2 $1 {
prosaically winning material.} Rb1 38. Qxh5 Rxb2 39. Nf7+ Bxf7 (39... Kg8 40.
Ne7+ $18) 40. Qxf7 Rg8 41. Qxa7 $18) 37... Bxf7 38. Qxf7 c4 $1 {Suddenly,
Black's dark-squared bishop is alive!} 39. Qxh5 Bg1+ 40. Kg3 Rd3+ 41. Kg4 Rf8
42. Ne7 $2 {After missing numerous winning continuations Topalov makes another
mistake which spoiles the advantage.} (42. Kh4 $1 {was still winning.} g6 (
42... c3 43. Qe2 Rd5 44. Ba3 $18) 43. Qh6 $18) 42... Bf2 $4 {Nisipeanu missed
his chance.} (42... f5+ $1 {distracting the knight from g6 square.} 43. Nxf5 c3
44. Ne7 {There is nothing better than to give a perpetual check.} (44. Ba3 $4
g6 $19) 44... cxb2 45. Ng6+ Kg8 46. Ne7+ $11) 43. Ng6+ Kg8 44. Ne7+ Kh8 45.
Ng6+ Kg8 46. Nxf8 $1 {This move required some calculation. The position
transforms into a won bishop endgame for White.} Rg3+ 47. Kf5 g6+ 48. Nxg6
hxg6+ 49. Qxg6+ Rxg6 50. Kxg6 Be1 (50... Bh4 51. g4 $18) 51. Bxf6 {Black
resigned.} (51. Bxf6 c3 52. f5 c2 53. Bg5 Bc3 54. f6 Bb2 55. f7+ Kf8 56. Bh6+
$18) 1-0

[Event "Chess Champions League"]
[Site "Vitoria Gasteiz"]
[Date "2007.11.13"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E55"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2007.11.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O dxc4 8. Bxc4
Nbd7 9. Qb3 cxd4 10. exd4 Bxc3 11. bxc3 b6 12. Ng5 Re8 13. Re1 Nf8 14. f3 Bb7
15. Bf1 Rc8 16. Bb2 Qc7 17. c4 Red8 18. Rac1 Qf4 19. Nh3 Qc7 20. Nf2 Rd7 21.
Ne4 Qd8 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. d5 Qg5 24. Re4 Qd8 25. Qc3 f6 26. dxe6 Re7 27. Rg4
Rxe6 28. Qa3 h5 29. Rd4 Qe7 30. Rcd1 Qxa3 31. Bxa3 Ree8 32. c5 bxc5 33. Rh4 g6
34. Ra4 a6 35. Bc4+ Kg7 36. Rb1 Rc7 37. Bxc5 Rxc5 38. Rxb7+ Kh6 39. h4 a5 40.
Ra7 Re1+ 41. Kh2 Ree5 42. Rf7 Nh7 43. Bb3 Re8 44. Rd4 Rf8 45. Ra7 f5 46. Rd6
Nf6 47. a4 f4 48. Rb6 Rc1 49. Bf7 Kg7 50. Be6+ Kh6 51. Rxa5 Rd8 52. Rb4 Rd6 53.
Bb3 Rb1 54. Rab5 Rd3 55. Bc2 Rxb4 56. Rxb4 Rd2 57. Bb3 Rb2 58. Rb7 g5 1-0

[Event "Chess Champions League"]
[Site "Vitoria Gasteiz"]
[Date "2007.11.14"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2007.11.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
h5 9. Be2 Nbd7 10. O-O Rc8 11. Qd2 Be7 12. a4 Nb6 13. a5 Nc4 14. Bxc4 Rxc4 15.
Qd3 Qc8 16. Na4 Rxc2 17. Nb6 Qc7 18. Rfc1 Rxc1+ 19. Rxc1 Qb8 20. f4 O-O 21. f5
Bd7 22. Bg5 Bc6 23. Qe2 Qd8 24. Bxf6 Bxf6 25. Rd1 Bg5 26. Nc5 Bf4 27. Nd3 Qg5
28. Nxf4 Qxf4 29. Re1 g6 30. Qd3 gxf5 31. Qxd6 fxe4 32. Nc4 Re8 33. Ne3 Qg5 34.
Qc5 f5 35. Nc4 e3 36. Nxe3 f4 37. Qc4+ Kg7 38. h4 Qg6 39. Nd5 Qe6 40. Nb6 Qg4
41. Nd5 Qxh4 42. Re2 Qg4 43. Rd2 Qe6 44. Qc5 Qd7 45. Rd3 Qf7 46. Qd6 Qg6 47.
Qc7+ Kh6 48. Nxf4 exf4 49. Qxf4+ Kh7 50. Rg3 Rf8 51. Qe5 Rf5 52. Qc7+ Qf7 53.
Qd6 Rd5 54. Qb8 Rxa5 55. Qd8 Rd5 56. Qh4 Rf5 57. Kh2 Qf6 58. Qc4 Rg5 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bg4 10. Re1 O-O 11. Bf4 Bd6 12. Bxd6 cxd6 13. Re3 Qd7 14. h3
Bh5 15. Qd2 Rae8 16. Nh4 Rxe3 17. Qxe3 Qe6 18. Nf5 Rd8 19. Qg5 Bg6 20. Ne3 Be4
21. Re1 h6 22. Qh4 Qg6 23. Be2 Bxc2 24. Bh5 Qe4 25. Qg3 Bd3 26. f3 Qe7 27. Ng4
Qg5 28. f4 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
h5 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. a4 Be7 11. Be2 Qc7 12. O-O O-O 13. Rfd1 Rfd8 {Topalov plays
Sicilian positions with great feeling for them and often finds subtle
improvements in different lines. The text move is technically new, but it is
the idea of advancing b5 that counts as a real contribution.} (13... Nb6 14. a5
Nc4 15. Bxc4 Qxc4 16. Na4 Rad8 17. Nb6 Qb5 18. Qd3 Qxd3 19. Rxd3 d5 20. Bc5
dxe4 21. fxe4 Rxd3 22. cxd3 Re8 23. Bxe7 Rxe7 24. Nc5 Rc7 25. b4 {1-0
Rytshagov,M (2533)-Astrom,R (2462)/Gothenburg 1999 (55)}) 14. a5 b5 $5 15. Nd5
{Leko plays very cautious chess, so he had no desire to unleash the black
pieces with a grab of a pawn.} (15. axb6 Nxb6 16. Rxa6 Rxa6 17. Bxa6 d5 $1 18.
Nb5 Qb8 19. Na5 Bd7 (19... dxe4 20. Qxd8+ Bxd8 (20... Qxd8 21. Rxd8+ Bxd8 22.
Nc6 Nbd5 23. Bc5 Bb6 24. Bxb6 Nxb6 25. Nxe5 $16) 21. Nc6 $18) 20. exd5 Nfxd5
$44) 15... Bxd5 (15... Nxd5 16. exd5 Bf5 17. Rac1 Rdb8 18. Bd3 Bxd3 19. Qxd3
Qc4 $11) 16. exd5 Rac8 17. c3 (17. Rac1 Qb7 18. c3 Re8 $13) 17... Qb7 18. Ra3
g6 19. Na1 {Black decided to part with the e6 bishop, but in consequence left
the c6-square vulnerable. Leko is ready to play a rather unsual manoeuvre with
his miplaced knight to bring it to c6.} Re8 (19... e4 20. f4 Ne5 $5 21. fxe5
dxe5 22. d6 (22. Ra2 Nxd5 $17) 22... Rxd6 23. Qxd6 Bxd6 24. Rxd6 Nd5 $13) 20.
Nc2 Bf8 21. Nb4 Bg7 22. Rc1 (22. h3 e4 23. f4 Nc5 24. Bd4 e3 25. Bxe3 Qe7 26.
Nc2 Nfe4 27. Qe1 Bf6 $132) 22... e4 $1 {It was obvious, that Black will try to
capitalize on his pawn majority on the kingside. White must be careful not to
let the enemy pieces intrude on his territory.} 23. f4 (23. fxe4 $6 Nxe4 24.
Qe1 f5 $17) 23... Ng4 24. Bxg4 (24. Bd4 $2 e3 $1 25. Qe1 Nh6 $17) 24... hxg4
25. Qe2 (25. Nc6 Nc5 26. Bxc5 dxc5 27. Re1 Qd7 $15) 25... Nf6 (25... f5 26. Nc6
Nb8 $13) 26. Rd1 Rc4 27. Qd2 (27. Raa1 Qc8 28. Rd4 Rc7 29. Rdd1 Nh5 $13) 27...
Qc8 28. Raa1 g3 $5 {Topalov is best when playing active aggressive ideas. The
sacrifice of a pawn is unpleasant for White, since it would be painful to
defend the king after grabbing it.} (28... Nh5 29. Qf2 Bf6 $13) 29. h3 (29.
hxg3 Ng4 $1 30. Nc2 Qf5 31. Kf1 Bf6 $15) 29... Nh5 30. Rac1 (30. Nc6 $5 Qd7 31.
Rdc1 Nf6 32. b3 Rxc6 33. dxc6 Qxc6 $13) 30... Bh6 31. b3 {This move deserves
some explanation. Leko was unsure about the consequences of trapping Black's
rook on c4 forcing the exchange sacrifice for the knight c6. He prefers to
kick the rook away and Black will not be forced to take on c6!} (31. Nc6 Ng7 $1
32. b3 Rxc6 33. dxc6 Nf5 $15) 31... Rc7 32. Nc6 Ng7 (32... Qf5 33. Rf1 Rb7 $15)
33. c4 bxc4 34. Rxc4 (34. bxc4 Rb7 35. Rb1 Rxb1 36. Rxb1 Nf5 37. Rb6 Bg7 $15)
34... Qd7 35. Qc2 Rb7 {Topalov was not on his best form in Wijk aan Zee and
thus he avoids the risk connected with the more enterprising idea 35...Nf5!?} (
35... Nf5 $5 36. Bb6 Bxf4 (36... Rb7 37. Rxe4 $16) 37. Ne7+ (37. Rxe4 Be3+ 38.
Bxe3 Nxe3 39. Rxe8+ Qxe8 40. Qe2 f5 41. Rd4 Kf8 42. b4 Nxd5 43. Qxe8+ Kxe8 44.
Rxd5 Rxc6 $15) 37... Nxe7 38. Rxc7 Qf5 $15) 36. b4 (36. Rxe4 Rxe4 37. Qxe4 Rxb3
38. Bb6 Nf5 39. Re1 Kh7 $15) 36... Nf5 37. Bc1 e3 38. Re1 (38. Re4 Rb5 39. Bb2
Bg7 40. Bxg7 Kxg7 $17) 38... Rb5 39. Qd3 f6 {This move was criticized as it
exposes the black king, but no better alternative can be found. Black wants to
gain access to the d5-pawn by moving his queen to f7.} (39... Bg7 40. Re4 Rxe4
41. Qxe4 Bc3 42. Re2 Rxb4 43. Nxb4 Qa4 44. Rc2 Nd4 45. Qd3 Qxb4 46. Rxc3 Qxc3
47. Qxc3 Ne2+ 48. Kf1 Nxc3 49. Bxe3 Nxd5 50. Bd2 $11) (39... Qb7 40. Re4 Rxe4
41. Qxe4 Bg7 42. Bxe3 $14) 40. Re4 (40. Bxe3 Qf7 41. Re4 Rxe4 42. Qxe4 Qxd5 43.
Qxd5+ Rxd5 44. Bc1 Rb5 45. Kf1 $14) 40... Rxe4 41. Qxe4 Qf7 42. Nd4 {This
witty tactical move deserves at least some mild criticism. White would have
kept the better part of equality after 42.Rd1, now he will retain the lesser
part.} (42. Rd1 e2 43. Qxe2 Rxd5 44. Re1 Rb5 45. Bd2 $14) 42... Qxd5 (42...
Rxb4 $4 43. Nxf5 Rxe4 44. Nxh6+ $18) 43. Qe8+ Kh7 44. Nxf5 (44. Qd7+ Bg7 45.
Nxf5 gxf5 46. Qe8 Rxb4 47. Qh5+ $11) 44... Qxf5 45. Qxe3 Rxb4 46. Qxg3 Re4 {
It takes some courage to criticise the winner, but objectively speaking it
made more sense to advance the d-pawn.} (46... d5 $5 47. Bd2 Rb1 48. Rxb1 Qxb1+
49. Kf2 d4 $15) 47. Rxe4 Qxe4 48. Qe3 f5 49. Qxe4 $2 {[%mdl 16384] Leko must
have badly miscalculated the consequences of this tragic exchange. His king
had hoped to centralise first and level the chances, but it will not be
possible.} (49. Qa7+ $1 Bg7 50. Kh2 Qc2 51. Be3 Qc3 52. Qe7 Qe1 53. Qa7 Qc3 $11
) 49... fxe4 50. Kf2 d5 51. g4 (51. Be3 Bg7 52. Bb6 d4 53. Ke2 Kg8 54. g4 Kf7
$17) (51. Ke3 g5 $1 52. g3 (52. Kd4 gxf4 53. Kxd5 f3) 52... gxf4+ 53. gxf4 Bg7
54. Ba3 Kg6 $19) 51... d4 52. Bb2 Bg7 {It is most doubtful, whether white was
hoping for this prospect. Black's pawns are not accesible and the king marches
to the centre.} 53. Ba3 (53. Ke1 Kg8 $19) 53... Kg8 54. h4 Kf7 55. Bc5 Ke6 56.
h5 (56. Bb6 Bf6 57. h5 (57. Kg3 d3 58. Kf2 Bxh4+ 59. Ke3 Bg3 $19) 57... gxh5
58. gxh5 Kf5 59. Bc7 Bg7 60. Bd6 Kg4 $19) 56... gxh5 57. gxh5 d3 {The material
balance on the board should not fool anybody. Black enjoys the better pawn
structure and the active king.} 58. Ke3 (58. Be3 Kf5 59. Kg3 Bd4 $19) 58... Bh6
59. Bb4 Kd5 (59... Kf5 60. Bd6 Kg4 61. Be5 Bf8 (61... Kxh5 $2 62. Bc3 $11) 62.
Bc3 Kf5 63. Be5 Bc5+ 64. Kd2 Bb4+ 65. Ke3 Bxa5 66. Bd6 Bc3 $19) 60. Bd2 Bf8 61.
Bc1 (61. Kf2 Bc5+ 62. Ke1 e3 $19) 61... Bc5+ 62. Kd2 Kc4 63. h6 Bf2 $1 {
Looking for fine details in similar positions is a joy for stronger side.} (
63... e3+ 64. Kd1 e2+ 65. Ke1 Be7 66. Be3 Kc3 67. h7 Bh4+ 68. Bf2 d2+ 69. Kxe2
Kc2 70. Bxh4 d1=Q+ 71. Kf2 Qh5 $19) 64. Kd1 e3 65. Bxe3 Bxe3 66. h7 Bd4 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 Bg7 12. Nxf7 $5 $146 {[%mdl 520] With this
sacrifice (apparently prepared long ago) Veselin Topalov opens up a new
chapter in the theory of the Moscow Gambit!} Kxf7 13. e5 Nd5 {The position is
extremely complicated and needs detailed analysis. Particularly, I would
consider giving the piece back at once:} (13... Rf8 14. exf6 Nxf6 15. Be5 Kg8
16. Qc2 Qe7 17. Rae1 $44) 14. Ne4 Ke7 15. Nd6 Qb6 16. Bg4 $44 {Black is a
clear piece up but his position is not easy to play. His king is in jeopardy
and the white d6 knight is extremely powerful.} Raf8 {Of course, Black has a
lot of defensive ideas which deserve attention, such as, e.g.,} (16... Rhg8 $5
17. Qc2 Nf8) 17. Qc2 Qxd4 $2 {A very unfortunate move clarifying the position
in White's favour.} (17... Rhg8 {is an attempt at improvement, successfully
applied on the next day in the Honorary Group:} 18. a4 $6 (18. Qg6 {leads
nowhere due to} Nc7) ({but something else should be looked for, say,} 18. Rad1
$5) 18... Ba8 (18... Qxd4 {now appears very strong}) 19. Rfe1 Nc7 20. d5 cxd5
21. axb5 a5 22. b3 cxb3 23. Qh7 d4 24. Bh5 Nxb5 25. Nf7 b2 26. Rab1 Nc3 $19 {
0-1 Timman,J-Ljubojevic,L/Corus Honorory, Wijk aan Zee NED 2008 (42)}) 18. Qg6
Qxg4 19. Qxg7+ Kd8 20. Nxb7+ {White has recaptured the piece while keeping up
a strong attack.} Kc8 21. a4 $1 b4 22. Rac1 c3 $6 (22... Rfg8 $5 23. Qf7 Rf8
24. Nd6+ Kc7 25. Qg6 Rhg8 26. Qb1 $14) 23. bxc3 b3 $2 (23... Rfg8) 24. c4 $1
Rfg8 25. Nd6+ Kc7 26. Qf7 Rf8 27. cxd5 $2 (27. h3 $1 Rxf7 28. hxg4 {[%cal
Cd5e3,Ce3f1,Od6f7,Rc4d5] was apparently winning at once.}) 27... Rxf7 28. Rxc6+
Kb8 29. Nxf7 Re8 $2 {It is very difficult to defend such a position. Probably}
(29... Qe2 $1 {was the solution, e.g.} 30. Rc3 $1 (30. Nxh8 $2 Qxf1+ $1 31.
Kxf1 b2) (30. Rb1 $2 Qa2) 30... b2 31. Rb3+ Ka8 32. Nxh8 Nc5 $1 33. Rxb2 (33.
Rb4 a5 34. Rb5 Nxa4) (33. Rb5 Nxa4 34. Rxb2 Qxb2 35. dxe6 Qb6 36. e7 Qe6 $13)
33... Qxb2 {and the fight is in full swing.}) 30. Nd6 Rh8 31. Rc4 $1 {White
now stops the b3-pawn and his own central pawns decide the game.} Qe2 32. dxe6
Nb6 33. Rb4 Ka8 34. e7 Nd5 35. Rxb3 Nxe7 36. Rfb1 Nd5 37. h3 h5 38. Nf7 Rc8 39.
e6 a6 40. Nxg5 h4 41. Bd6 Rg8 42. R3b2 Qd3 43. e7 Nf6 44. Be5 Nd7 45. Ne6 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.02.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Ne4 7. Qd3 Bxc3+ 8.
bxc3 Nc5 9. Qf3 d6 10. Bg2 {This system was examined in several CBM issues:
108 (several games annotated by GM V.Gavrikov), 115 (Bareev-Nyback), 116 
(Chuchelov-Babula).} e5 ({To} 10... Nbd7 {(previously considered the most
appropriate) White has recently achieved good results by means of} 11. Qg4 {
, e.g.} O-O (11... Qf6 12. Nb5 O-O 13. Bg5 Qg6 14. Qh4 f6 15. Be3 Qc2 16. O-O
Qxe2 17. Rfe1 Qc2 18. Qd4 $16 {1-0 Le Quang Liem-Smirnov,P/Moscow RUS 2008/The
Week in Chess 693 (24)}) 12. Bh6 Qf6 13. Bg5 Qg6 14. Qh4 Nf6 (14... f6 15. Be3
a6 16. O-O Qf7 17. Nb3 Qe7 18. Qd4 Na4 19. Rfd1 Ne5 20. Rab1 Re8 21. Na5 Qc7
22. Nxb7 $16 {1-0 L'Ami,E-Sher,M/Cappelle La Grande FRA 2008/The Week in Chess
694 (53)}) (14... a6 15. O-O Nf6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Qxf6 gxf6 18. Nb3 Rd8 19.
Nxc5 dxc5 20. Rfd1 Rd7 21. Rxd7 Bxd7 22. Bxb7 Ra7 23. Rb1 $16 {1-0 L'Ami,
E-Gofshtein,L/Hoogeveen 2007/CBM 120 ext (64)}) 15. Nb3 (15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Rd1
Bd7 17. O-O Ba4 18. Rb1 Rac8 19. Nb3 b6 20. Rfd1 e5 21. Rb2 Rfd8 22. Bd5 Bc6
23. Nxc5 Bxd5 24. cxd5 Rxc5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Moiseenko,A-Kveinys,A/Cappelle La
Grande FRA 2008/The Week in Chess 693 (29)}) (15. O-O Bd7 16. Nb3 Rac8 17. Rfd1
Bc6 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Qxf6 gxf6 20. Nxc5 dxc5 21. Rd6 Rfd8 22. Rad1 Rxd6 23.
Rxd6 Kf8 {1/2-1/2 Nielsen,P-Gyimesi,Z/Crete 2007/CBM 121 (39)}) 15... Nce4 16.
Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Qd4 e5 (17... Rd8 $5) 18. Qxd6 Bg4 19. Rd1 Rae8 20. Bxb7 Qh5 21.
h3 e4 22. Nd4 $16 {1-0 Delchev,A-Kveinys,A/Crete 2007/CBM 121 (63)}) 11. Qe3 $5
$146 {[%mdl 8] After provoking ...e6-e5 White starts regrouping his pieces to
make use of the hole on d5. Earlier practice had seen:} (11. Nb3 Nba6 12. Ba3
Qc7 13. Rd1 (13. Bxc5 Nxc5 14. Nxc5 Qxc5 15. Qd5 Qxd5 16. Bxd5 Rb8 17. Kd2 Be6
$11 {1/2-1/2 Furman,B-Greet,A/Hastings 2007/CBM 116 ext (48)}) 13... Be6 14.
Nxc5 (14. Bxc5 Nxc5 15. Nxc5 dxc5 (15... Qxc5 $142 $1) 16. O-O Rb8 17. Qh5 O-O
18. Bd5 Rfe8 19. Bxe6 Rxe6 20. Rd5 Re7 21. Rfd1 Rbe8 22. Qg5 b6 23. Rd6 $14 {
1-0 Aronian,L-Nielsen,P/Turin 2006/CBM 113 (66)}) 14... Nxc5 15. Bxc5 Qxc5 16.
Qxb7 Rc8 17. O-O (17. Bd5 Bxd5 18. Qxd5 Qxc4 19. Qxd6 Qxc3+ 20. Kf1 Qc7 21. Kg2
Qxd6 22. Rxd6 Ke7 23. Ra6 Rc7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Moiseenko,A-Gyimesi,Z/
Maalot-Tarshiha ISR 2008/The Week in Chess 688 (33)}) 17... Qxc4 18. Rxd6 O-O
19. Qxa7 Qxe2 20. a4 Rxc3 21. a5 Bc4 22. Ra1 Ra3 23. Rdd1 Rxa1 24. Rxa1 Qb2 25.
Rd1 Be2 26. Re1 Qd2 27. Rb1 Bd3 $132 {1/2-1/2 Wang Yue-Meier,G/Yerevan 2006/
CBM 114 ext (36)}) (11. Nf5 $5 Qf6 12. Ne3 Qxf3 13. Bxf3 (13. exf3 Nba6 14. Ba3
Be6 15. O-O-O O-O-O 16. f4 exf4 17. gxf4 f5 18. h4 Rhe8 19. h5 Kc7 $13 {
1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V-Asrian,K/Sochi 2007/CBM 118 (62)}) 13... Be6 14. Ba3 Nba6
15. O-O-O Ke7 16. Bg2 Rad8 17. f4 f6 18. Rhf1 b6 19. g4 Nc7 20. h4 g6 21. Kc2
Rhf8 22. Bc6 f5 23. fxe5 dxe5 24. Rxd8 Kxd8 25. gxf5 gxf5 26. Bxc5 bxc5 27. Be4
$14 {1-0 Kramnik,V-Anand,V/Monte Carlo 2007/CBM 117 ext (29)}) 11... O-O (11...
Nba6 $6 {was a later attempt at an improvement, which was brilliantly refuted:}
12. f4 $1 Qe7 (12... O-O 13. fxe5 dxe5 14. Nb3 $16) 13. Nc6 $1 Qd7 14. Nb4 O-O
15. Nxa6 Nxa6 16. fxe5 Re8 17. O-O Rxe5 18. Qd4 Nc5 19. Bd5 Ne6 20. Qf2 Qe7 21.
Rb1 $16 Nd8 22. Bf4 Rxe2 23. Bxd6 Qe8 24. Qxe2 Qxe2 25. Rfe1 Qxe1+ 26. Rxe1 Be6
27. c5 {1-0 Gajewski,G-Macieja,B/Lublin POL 2008/The Week in Chess 694 (41)})
12. Nb3 Qc7 (12... Nba6 13. Ba3 Qc7 14. Nxc5 Nxc5 15. Bxc5 dxc5 {and White
gets a favorable structure as in Aronian-Nielsen (see above)} ({or} 15... Qxc5
16. Qxc5 dxc5 17. O-O-O)) {However, the text move leads to an even better
situation for White as his bishop pair proves really strong.} 13. Nxc5 dxc5 14.
O-O Nd7 15. f4 $5 {[%mdl 32] Making space for the bishops!} exf4 $6 (15... Re8
$142 16. f5 $5 (16. Bd5 $5 Nf6 17. f5)) 16. Rxf4 {Despite his destroyed pawn
structure, White has a clear advantage. In fact, it is difficult for Black to
develop his pieces without losses!} a5 ({It was relatively better for Black to
give up a pawn but complete his development:} 16... Nb6 17. Ba3 Be6 18. Qxc5
Rfc8 19. Qxc7 Rxc7 20. Bd6 Rxc4 21. Bxb7 Rd8 $16) 17. Qe7 (17. Ba3 $5 Ra6 18.
Bd5) 17... Qe5 18. Qxe5 Nxe5 19. Be3 Nd7 (19... Be6 {hardly helps now:} 20.
Bxc5 Rfd8 21. Rd4 $5) 20. Re4 (20. Rd1 $5 {was perhaps more accurate. If} Re8 {
then} 21. Re4 Kf8 22. Rd5 {etc.}) 20... Ra6 (20... Nf6 $1 21. Re7 Be6 $16 {
was the last chance of consolidation.}) 21. Rb1 Rg6 22. Re7 b6 23. Bf4 h5 24.
Be4 Re6 25. Rxe6 fxe6 26. Bd6 Rf6 27. Rd1 {Total domination!} Kf7 28. Bf4 {
[%cal Rf4g5]} Kg8 29. Bc7 Rf7 $6 {Loses material.} (29... e5 $142) 30. Bg6 {
The rest is clear.} a4 31. Bxh5 Nf6 32. Bxf7+ Kxf7 33. Bxb6 Ba6 34. Bxc5 e5 35.
a3 Bxc4 36. Bb4 e4 37. Kf1 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.02.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Nbd7 9. g4 b5 10. g5 b4 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Bf5 13. Bd3 Bxd3 14. Qxd3 Be7 15.
h4 a5 $146 {Ivanchuk adds a new twist to this well known position. White was
planning long castling so Black's novelty hopes to start activity on the
queenside as soon as possible.} (15... O-O 16. O-O-O a5 17. Nd2 a4 (17... f5
18. Kb1 (18. gxf6 Nxf6 19. h5 Qc8 20. h6 g6 21. Rhg1 Kh8 22. f4 Ng4 23. fxe5
Nxe5 24. Bd4 Bf6 {1/2 Shirov,A (2726)-Svidler,P (2713)/Wijk aan Zee 1999 (41)})
18... Qc8 (18... Qc7 19. Nc4 a4 20. Rhf1 g6 21. b3 Rfe8 22. f4 Bf8 23. h5 exf4
24. Rxf4 Bg7 {1/2 Anand,V (2803)-Bu Xiangzhi (2640)/Turin 2006 (40)}) 19. f4
Qa6 20. Qxa6 Rxa6 21. Nc4 Rc8 22. b3 Bd8 23. Rhe1 Kf7 24. Bc1 Rxc4 25. bxc4 e4
26. Bb2 Bb6 27. Re2 Bc5 {1/2 Ponomariov,R (2743)-Anand,V (2755)/Mainz 2002 (40)
}) 18. Kb1 f5 19. f4 Qc7 20. Nc4 exf4 21. Bd4 Nc5 22. Bxc5 Qxc5 23. Rhf1 Rfe8
24. Rxf4 g6 25. Qd4 Qxd4 26. Rfxd4 h6 27. Rg1 {1/2 Leko,P (2743)-Kasparov,G 
(2838)/Bled 2002 (54)}) 16. a3 a4 (16... Qb8 17. axb4 a4 18. Nd2 Qxb4 19. Qa3
Qb7 $13) (16... O-O 17. axb4 axb4 18. Rxa8 Qxa8 19. O-O $14) 17. Nd2 Rb8 (17...
bxa3 18. Rxa3 O-O 19. Nc4 f5 $13) 18. axb4 Rxb4 19. Qa3 Qb8 {The defender is
fighting without the help of the best moves. It seems reasonable to believe
that queen had to go to a5, also hitting the vulnerable d5-pawn.} (19... Qa5 $1
20. c3 Rb8 21. Qxa4 Qxd5 22. b3 Rc8 $13) 20. c3 $1 Rxb2 21. Qxa4 Rb7 $6 (21...
h6 22. gxh6 gxh6 23. Nc4 Rb5 24. Ke2 $14) 22. Ke2 $1 Rc7 $2 {The loss of a
tempo is what actually seals Black's fate. The rook is actually not exercising
real pressure along the c-file.} (22... O-O 23. Rhb1 Rc8 (23... Nc5 24. Rxb7
Qxb7 25. Qc6 Qb2 (25... Qxc6 26. dxc6 Rc8 27. Ra7 Bf8 28. Bxc5 dxc5 29. Ra6 $16
) 26. Ra7 Bd8 27. Qxd6 $16) 24. Rxb7 Qxb7 25. Qa7 Rc7 26. Qxb7 Rxb7 27. Ra8+
Nf8 28. f4 $16) 23. Rhb1 Qc8 (23... Rb7 $2 24. Qc6 $18) 24. Bb6 $1 Rb7 (24...
Rxc3 25. Ne4 Rc4 (25... Rc2+ 26. Kd3 $18) 26. Rc1 Rxc1 27. Rxc1 Qxc1 (27... Qb8
28. Rc7 O-O 29. Qxd7 Qxb6 30. Qxe7 $18) 28. Qa8+ Nb8 29. Qxb8+ Kd7 30. Nc5+
Qxc5 31. Qa7+ $18) 25. Ba7 {Suddenly Ivanchuk is facing the whole white army
without the chance to use the help of the h8-rook.} e4 (25... f6 26. Rxb7 Qxb7
27. Qc6 Qxc6 28. dxc6 Kf7 29. cxd7 $18) 26. fxe4 (26. Rxb7 exf3+ 27. Ke3 Qxb7
28. Qc6 Qxc6 29. dxc6 Ne5 $14) 26... Rxb1 27. Rxb1 O-O 28. Qc6 Ne5 {At least
the second player is not losing outright.} (28... Rd8 $2 29. Rb7 $18) 29. Qxc8
Rxc8 30. Rb8 {Topalov prefers to simplify with a rook exchange in order to
prevent any real counterplay.} (30. Rb7 Kf8 31. Bd4 f6 32. Nf3 $16) 30... Rxb8
31. Bxb8 Kf8 {Unfortunatelly Black is unable to survive with the help of
keeping the knight on e5.} (31... f6 32. gxf6 gxf6 33. Nf3 Kf7 34. Nxe5+ fxe5
35. h5 Kf6 36. c4 Kg5 37. c5 dxc5 38. Bxe5 $18) 32. Nf3 Ng6 (32... Nxf3 33.
Kxf3 Ke8 (33... f6 34. gxf6 gxf6 35. Kf4 $18) 34. e5 $18) 33. c4 Ke8 (33... f6
34. Ke3 Ke8 35. h5 Nf8 36. h6 gxh6 37. gxf6 Nd7 38. fxe7 Nxb8 39. c5 Kxe7 40.
cxd6+ Kxd6 41. Kd4 $18) 34. e5 $1 {The key part of White's plan is to unleash
the power of the c4-d5 pawn pair.} Kd7 (34... dxe5 35. Bxe5 Nxe5 36. Nxe5 f6
37. g6 hxg6 38. Nxg6 $18) (34... Nxe5 35. Nxe5 dxe5 36. Bxe5 f6 37. gxf6 gxf6
38. Bd4 $18) 35. Kd3 h6 (35... Nxe5+ 36. Nxe5+ dxe5 37. Bxe5 $18) 36. exd6 Bxd6
37. Bxd6 Kxd6 38. gxh6 gxh6 39. Kd4 {Knight endgames are often compared to
simple king pawn positions. Black has no compensation for his plight.} f6 40.
c5+ Kd7 41. Ke4 (41. c6+ Kd6 42. Nd2 Kc7 43. Nc4 $18) 41... h5 42. d6 Ke6 43.
Nd4+ Kd7 44. Nf5 {Topalov keeps the h4-pawn on the board, the battle is over.}
(44. Kf5 Nxh4+ 45. Kxf6 Ng2 46. Ke5 $18) 44... Ne5 (44... Ke6 45. c6 Nxh4 46.
c7 $18) 45. Kd5 Nc6 46. Nd4 (46. Nd4 Nb4+ 47. Kc4 Na6 (47... Na2 48. Ne2 $18)
48. Kb5 Nb8 49. Kb6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.02.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. Qd2
b4 {A variation deeply prepared by Topalov for the 2005 World Championship
tournament. Since then it has become highly popular and both players have
contributed a lot to the development of its theory. It must be mentioned that
Veselin had achieved several memorable victories with this variation in the
past two years, including wins against Anand, Kramnik and ... Leko.} 9. Na4
Nbd7 10. c4 {Anand's move, never used by Leko before.} (10. Qxb4 {allows} d5 {
and Black wins back a central pawn.}) ({When faced for the first time with the
this variation, Peter continued} 10. O-O-O {and got a very promising position
after} d5 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Bc4 N7f6 13. Bg5 Qc7 14. Bxd5 Nxd5 15. Rhe1 {
but misplayed it and lost, Leko,P (2763)-Topalov,V (2788)/San Luis 2005.
However, Black has at his disposal the sharp 10...Qa5 11.b3 Bb7 12.a3 Qc7,
which leads to complications which are favourable for him.}) ({Later Leko
switched to} 10. Bc4 {:} Ne5 11. Bb3 Rb8 12. O-O Bd7 13. a3 a5 14. axb4 axb4
15. f4 $36 {1/2-1/2 Leko,P-Grischuk,A/Moscow 2006 (65)}) 10... bxc3 11. Nxc3
Bb7 12. Be2 Be7 ({In 2006 Topalov won against Anand after} 12... d5 13. exd5
Nxd5 14. Nxd5 Bxd5 15. O-O Qb8 16. Nf5 Qe5 17. Ng3 Bb4 $1 {but later
Morozevich discovered that Black faces problems after 15.Rc1!.}) 13. O-O O-O
14. Rac1 Qb8 15. Rfd1 Rd8 {An important move. Although White seems to have
more space and therefore some pressure, Black inevitably advances d5 next and
should have no problems whatsoever.} ({The immediate} 15... d5 {is premature
due to} 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Nc6 $14) 16. Kh1 {This new move
changes little: Black has a comfortable game.} (16. Bf2 {was met once before,
after which Black can continue} d5 17. Bg3 Bd6) 16... d5 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Nxd5
Bxd5 19. Bc4 ({Now} 19. Nc6 {is no longer attractive for White due to} Bxc6 20.
Rxc6 Ne5 {and after the forced} 21. Rb6 Qc8 22. Qc1 Rxd1+ 23. Qxd1 Nc4 24. Bxc4
Qxc4 {it is Black who has some initiative}) (19. a3 Nc5 20. Qc3 (20. b4 $2 Nb3
21. Nxb3 Bxb3 $19) 20... a5 $11) 19... Nf6 20. Qe2 Qb7 21. b3 h6 {The position
is completely equal. In the next part both sides try to improve their pieces.
Black will double on the d-file, White will take control over the c-file.} 22.
Bf2 Rd7 23. Rc2 Bxc4 24. Rxc4 (24. Qxc4 $2 e5 $19) 24... Rad8 25. Rf1 {Placing
the rook on c1 and/or e1 is more natural.} (25. Rdc1 Ba3 26. Re1 $11) (25. Re1
Bb4 26. Rec1 Ba3 27. Re1 $11) 25... Rd6 26. Qc2 Bf8 27. Nc6 Re8 {Possibly Leko
overestimated White's achievements: the knight on c6 is strong indeed, but
Black keeps sufficient activity in the centre.} 28. b4 ({More cautious is} 28.
Re1 Rd5 29. Bd4 $11) 28... e5 29. Na5 Qb5 30. Bc5 Rd5 31. Bxf8 Rxf8 32. Re1 (
32. Nc6 Re8 33. a4 Qb6 34. Re1 $11) 32... Rfd8 33. Nb3 (33. Nc6 Rd1 ({After} 
33... Rd2 34. Qc1 {Black has nothing better than 34...Rd1 anyway.}) 34. Rxd1
Rxd1+ 35. Qxd1 Qxc4 36. Nxe5 Qxa2 37. Nd3 Nd5 38. Qe1 $11) 33... Rd1 $1 {
An unpleasant surprise for Leko, who suddenly must solve concrete problems and
react very precisely.} 34. Qxd1 $2 {With little time the Hungarian GM got
confused and went for the wrong variation.} ({Correct is} 34. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 35.
Qxd1 Qxc4 36. Qc1 $1 ({Not} 36. Qe1 Nd5 $1 37. h3 f6 {and Black wins the pawn
b4}) 36... Qxb4 37. Qc8+ Kh7 (37... Qf8 38. Qxa6) 38. Qf5+ g6 39. Qxe5 {
The e1-square is under control, so White will easily make a draw.}) 34... Rxd1
35. Rc8+ Kh7 36. Rxd1 e4 {Black builds a direct attack against the king and
White's situation becomes difficult. Each mistake is fatal and loses at once.
That's exactly what happened.} 37. fxe4 $2 ({The only way to put up some
resistance was} 37. Rc3 Qxb4 38. Re3 exf3 39. Rxf3 $17) 37... Ng4 $1 {A
precise move that wins immediately.} ({Much stronger than} 37... Nxe4 38. Rc2)
38. Rc5 ({After} 38. Rc2 {the quickest win is} Qe5) 38... Qb8 $1 (38... Qb8 39.
g3 Nf2+ $19) 0-1

[Event "Morelia/Linares 25th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2008.03.03"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D89"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2008.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.04.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Ne2 c5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Be6 14. d5 Bxa1
15. Qxa1 f6 16. Qd4 Bf7 17. Bh6 Re8 18. Bb5 e5 19. Qf2 Re7 20. Bd3 $5 $146 {
[%cal Yf3f4][%mdl 8] Another new idea of Topalov's team. Recent theoretical
discussions were concentrated on} (20. f4 exf4 21. Qxf4 Qb6+ 22. Kh1 Bxd5 23.
exd5 Qxb5 24. Qxf6 Qe8 25. Qd4 {see - Topalov - Shirov in CBM 117, which
Topalov brilliantly won, and Aronian - Shirov (CBM 119), where Alexey
demonstrated a way to equality.}) 20... Rc8 (20... Rc7 $5 21. f4 Qe7 {is
another way of consolidation, which may be tested in future.}) 21. f4 Nc4 22.
fxe5 Nxe5 $6 (22... Rxe5 $1 {looks stronger, e.g.} 23. Qxa7 (23. Bf4 Re7 24.
Qxa7 Ne5) 23... Nd6 24. Bf4 Rxe4 $1 25. Bxd6 Rxe2 26. Bxe2 Qxd6 27. Qxb7 (27.
Bf3 b6 $15) 27... Qc5+ 28. Kh1 Bxd5 $15 {It would be interesting to know what
Topalov had prepared in that case.}) 23. Qxf6 Bxd5 (23... Qb6+ 24. Qxb6 axb6 {
, although not very pleasant, was apparently better than the text, e.g.} 25.
Bg5 Rec7 26. Bb1 Be8 $1 27. Bf4 Bb5 $1 28. Bxe5 Rc5 {regaining the piece with
good drawing chances.}) 24. exd5 Ng4 25. Qf4 Nxh6 26. Qxh6 Qb6+ $2 {[%mdl 8192]
A strange blunder.} (26... Qxd5 {was necessary but with the queens on the
board Black's life is far from easy.}) 27. Kh1 Qe3 28. Qh4 {It looks like
Black overlooked this simple move but the mysterious thing is that even after}
(28. Qxe3 Rxe3 29. Rd1 {I don't see equality for him.}) 28... Re5 $2 {[%mdl
8192] Collapsing immediately.} (28... Rf8 $142 $1 29. Rxf8+ (29. Rg1 $5) 29...
Kxf8 30. Qc4 {and White should gradually win} ({but not} 30. Qf6+ $4 Rf7 31.
Qh8+ Ke7)) 29. Qf6 Ree8 30. Bxg6 hxg6 31. Qxg6+ Kh8 32. Qf6+ Kh7 33. Qf7+ Kh8
34. Nf4 (34. Nf4 Rg8 35. Qh5+ Kg7 36. Qg6+ $18) 1-0

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

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

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 4th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2008.05.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A32"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2008.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. Nf3 ({Remarkably, Aronian refrains from} 4. d5 {
when after} exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O {he had
been successful with white, while Topalov had lost with black in recent games.}
Re8 ({This is considered slightly more accurate than} 9... a6 10. a4 Re8 {
when after} 11. Bf4 {Black is more or less confined to embark the slightly
exotic line} Ne4 $5 {Aronian,L (2759)-Carlsen,M (2693)/Elista 2007/CBM 119/
[Marin] (1-0, 66)}) 10. Bf4 Bg4 $5 {Eljanov,P (2692)-Topalov,V (2780)/Wijk aan
Zee 2008/[Marin] (1-0, 46). Aronian's choice may have been dictated by
practical reasoning: once Topalov is ready to play the Benoni again, he must
have found an improvement somewhere, or, who knows, an entire new plan.}) 4...
cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4+ {An open invitation to the fianchetto Nimzoindian.} 6. Bd2 {
The psychological duel continues and, once again, it seems that Topalov
emerges as a moral winner..} ({With reversed, colours, the position after} 6.
Nc3 {(true, via genuine Nimzo Indian move order) had occurred twice between
the same players and Topalov won each time.} O-O (6... Ne4 7. Qd3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3
Nc5 9. Qf3 {Topalov,V (2780)-Aronian,L (2739)/Morelia/Linares 2008 (1-0, 35)})
7. Bg2 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qb3 {Topalov,V (2801)-Aronian,L (2752)/Morelia/
Linares 2006/CBM 112/[Gavrikov] (1-0, 76)}) 6... Be7 {This method is
frequently seen in modern chess, in openings such as the Queen's Indian, the
Catalan and, of course, Bogo Indian. Apparently, Black has lost a tempo, but
White will have difficulties finding a good square for his queen's bishop,
which stands in the way of the own queen.} 7. Bg2 Nc6 8. Bc3 {The bishop's
situation is not that bad now, but usually this is the best square for the
knight, keeping the d5-square under severe control.} O-O 9. O-O d5 {The
logical consequence of Black's previous play. With a white knight on c3, this
move would leave Black with a weak pawn on d5 after cxd5.} 10. Nd2 Bd7 {
A simple developing move, inviting White to define his plans.} ({The main
alternative is} 10... Qb6 11. e3 ({Despite his defeat, Gavrikov repeated the
line in a later rapid game. The player with White did not know the theory of
this variation too well and had to improvise, which he did relatively well:} 
11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd5 exd5 13. N2b3 Bh3 14. Re1 Rfe8 15. Rc1 Rac8 16. Qd3 Bf8
17. Qb5 {After the exchange of queens, the weakness of the g2-square becomes
less relevant and White can enjoy his stability on the dark squares with
chances for a small, but stable plus.} Qxb5 18. Nxb5 a6 19. N5d4 Ne5 20. f3 Bd7
21. Kf2 Nc4 22. e3 b5 23. a3 g6 24. Na5 Bh6 25. Nxc4 dxc4 {Black has improved
his structure, but White maintains his control in the centre.} 26. Rcd1 Bf8 27.
Nc2 Bc6 28. Nb4 Re6 29. Nxc6 Rexc6 30. Rd7 R6c7 31. Red1 Be7 $14 {Marin,
M-Gavrikov,V/WorldChessNetwork.com 2005 (0-1, 75). White's position is more
active, but Black's queenside majority, as well as the fact that White's pawns
on this wing are situated on dark squares offer Black some counterchances.})
11... Bd7 12. a3 dxc4 13. Nxc4 Qa6 14. Qb3 {It is obvious now that the early
development of Black's queen has helped White win time for the coordination of
his forces.} Nd5 15. Nxc6 Bxc6 16. Bd4 Rfd8 17. Rfc1 Ba4 18. Qa2 b6 19. b3 Be8
20. Qb2 Bf8 21. e4 Ne7 22. a4 $14 {Jussupow,A (2645)-Gavrikov,V (2550)/Minsk
1987/URS-ch (1-0, 42). with domination for White.}) 11. cxd5 {Finally
releasing the tension.} ({The willing retreat} 11. N4b3 $146 {failed to
impress in Huebner,R (2585)-Oral,T (2521)/Baden 1999/CBM 071/[Ribli] (1/2-1/2,
51) White avoids possible simplifications with ...Nxd4 and ...Bc6. He has the
good Catalan bishop on g2, but has problems with piece coordination on the
queenside. Weiß vermeidet mögliche Vereinfachungen mit ...Nxd4 und ...Bc6. Er
besitzt den guten katalanischen Läufer auf g2, hat aber am Damenflügel
Probleme mit der Figurenkoordination.}) ({However,} 11. Rc1 {, which also
continues the development without discarding White's intentions, deserves
serious attention.} Nb4 {Black is incompletly developed yet, which makes this
knight jump look premature.} ({The neutral} 11... Re8 {failed to equalize
completely after} 12. e4 {. Finally a concrete decision.} dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxd4
14. Qxd4 Bc6 15. Qxd8 Rexd8 16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Rfd1
$14 {Romero Holmes,A (2550)-Suba,M (2498)/Almeria 2003/CBM 095 ext (1-0, 46).
and White's rather symbolic advantage eventually was converted into a win.}) ({
The drawback of Suba's move is that the rook is not doing much on e8 and it
caused further loss of time. Therefore,} 11... Rc8 $5 {, consolidating the
c6-square in order to avoid the creation of a weakness on that square, may be
Black's best solution.}) 12. Nc2 a5 (12... Nxa2 {looks risky, but leads to
unclear consequences, for instance} 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Ra1 Qa5 15. cxd5 exd5 16.
Ne3 Bxb2 17. Qc2 Bxa1 18. Rxa1 Nb4 19. Rxa5 Nxc2 20. Nxc2 Rfc8 21. Ra2 Bf5 22.
Nd4 Rc1+ 23. Nf1 $13 {[%cal Gf2f3,Gg1f2,Gf1e3] Black is at least OK from a
material point of view, but his queenside pawns are not dangerous yet. However,
White will need some time to get rid of the back rank pin. Personally, I would
prefer White, but am convinced that the position remains double-edged.}) 13. a3
Nxc2 14. Qxc2 Bc6 15. Rfd1 Qb6 16. cxd5 Bxd5 17. e4 Ng4 18. Rf1 Bc6 19. h3 Nf6
20. Nc4 Qb5 21. Ne5 $14 {Schlosser,P (2560)-Kosten,A (2540)/Austria 2003/CBM
097 ext (1-0, 46). Again, White's position is more active in the presence of
almost symmetrical structure.}) 11... Nxd5 12. Bxd5 {Catalan opening players
know that sometimes it is essential to part with the pride of their position,
in order to achieve certain strategic aims, or avoid strategic problems. Here,
Black will be left with a well-blocked isolani, while otherwise the exchange
on c3 would cause White problems on the dark squares.} exd5 13. Qb3 {White
immediately puts pressure on the b7- and d5-pawns, aiming to cause some
strategic concession from Black's part.} (13. N2f3 Re8 (13... Bh3 $5 14. Re1
Re8 {looks more restrictive.}) 14. Qb3 Bh3 15. Rfd1 $1 {The rook stands better
here than on e1.} Qd7 16. Rd3 Rad8 17. Rad1 Qc8 18. R1d2 $13 {Seirawan,
Y-Benjamin,J/Philadelphia 1986/Inf 42. The position does not essentially
differ from that arising in our main game.}) 13... Bf6 14. N2f3 Bg4 $5 $146 {
A strong novelty.} ({Previously, the tempting} 14... Bh3 {had been played.
Black wins a tempo for the purpose of defending his attacked pawns, but,
generally speaking, the bishop is not doing much on h3, since the attacking
prospects are not too realistic for Black.} 15. Rfd1 Qd7 $6 (15... Rb8 16. Nb5
$14 {would provoke the favourable exchange of the dark-squared bishops.}) 16.
Nxc6 $1 Bxc3 (16... bxc6 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Qc3 $16) 17. Nce5 $1 Bxe5 18. Nxe5
Qe6 19. Rxd5 $16 {Morovic Fernandez,I (2535)-Suba,M (2550)/New York 1988/CBM
008 (1-0, 36)}) 15. Rfd1 ({One of the tactical points is that after} 15. Qxb7 {
Black gets his pawn back with} Nxd4 16. Nxd4 (16. Bxd4 Bxf3 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18.
exf3 Qxf3 {and, with an active queen and a strong passed pawn, Black is not
worse.}) 16... Bxd4 17. Bxd4 Bxe2 $132 {. Both sides have increased their
control on "their" squares (White on dark squares and Black on light squares).
Strategically, White seems to be better, but the vulnerability of his king
invites to caution.}) 15... Rb8 {As frequently happens, the queen is well
developed on the initial square. The f6-bishop is over-protected and the
a5-square is kept under control, enabling an eventual knight move to harrass
the enemy queen. At the same time, the presence of the bishop on g4 is very
useful, because it inhibits the moving away of the other knight. In fact,
Black maintains the dynamic equilibrium by attacking both enemy knights with
his bishops.} 16. Qa4 {Somehow, moving again with the queen does not seem to
be right from an abstract point of view.} ({Now,} 16. Nb5 {is less effective
than in a previous comment, but certain accuracy is required from Black.} Bxc3
$1 (16... Bxf3 $6 17. exf3 $1 d4 (17... Bxc3 18. Rxd5 $1 $16) 18. Kg2 $5 {
It is important to defend the f3-pawn.} (18. Rd2 Qb6 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Qxb6
Nxf3+ 21. Kg2 axb6 22. Kxf3 Bxc3 23. bxc3 $11) 18... Qd7 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Bxd4
Bxd4 21. Rd2 Rfd8 22. Rad1 $16) 17. bxc3 (17. Nxc3 Bxf3 18. exf3 d4 $13) (17.
Rxd5 Qe7 18. Qxc3 Qxe2 19. Rg5 f6 20. Nbd4 Nxd4 21. Nxd4 Qe4 22. Re1 Qxe1+ 23.
Qxe1 fxg5 $13) 17... Qe7 18. Nbd4 Bxf3 $11 {After getting rid of his
potentially "bad" bishop, Black is OK. The weakness of the d5 and c3-pawns 
(and that of the c4 and d4-squares) compensate for eachother.}) ({I would
think that} 16. Rd2 $5 {is the most logical continuation, continuing the
mobilisation of forces and increasing the latent pressure against the central
pawn.} Re8 17. Rad1 Na5 (17... Re4 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. Bxf6 $1 $14) (17... a6 {
[%cal Gd8d6]} 18. Nc2 $14 Rxe2 19. Rxe2 Bxf3 20. Ba5 $1 $14) 18. Bxa5 Qxa5 19.
Kg2 {[%cal Gh2h3] The position remains interesting. Black's bishops continue
to keep the enemy knights under pressure, but White maintains his overall
stability. It is hard to give a final assesment, but I assume that for a
strategic player White's position would be slightly more appealing.}) 16...
Bxf3 $1 {A good moment to carry out this exchange.} 17. exf3 {An ambitious,
but strategically risky decision.} (17. Nxf3 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Re8 19. Rd2 Qf6 20.
Qb3 b6 $132 {[%csl Rc3,Rd5,Re2][%cal Gb8d8,Gc6a5]}) 17... Bxd4 18. Bxd4 Qd7 {
Black has a passed pawn in the centre, but White's king seems to be better
defended than his rival, because of the extra pawn on this wing. Aronian's
main plan is to block the enemey queenside pawns on dark squares and then
simplify to an ending where the bishop could attack them with Bb8. However, if
this plan fails, the future looks promising for Black, who can combine the
threat of advancing the d4-pawn with a kingside attack.} 19. b4 b6 20. Rac1
Rbc8 21. Bb2 Rfd8 22. Rc2 Ne7 23. Rxc8 Nxc8 24. b5 Ne7 25. Qb3 Nf5 {From here,
the knight 1) overprotects the g7-square, 2) sustains the further advance of
the passed pawn, 3) puts the enemy kingside under pressure. Could we ask for
more than that?} 26. a4 h5 27. h3 Qe6 28. Kg2 Qe2 $1 {[%cal Gd5d4] This brave
intrusion of Her majesty puts White into some trouble.} 29. g4 $6 {He should
not have weakened his own king while there are queens on board still.} ({
Accepting that things had gone slightly wrong would have been wiser. White is
worse after} 29. Bd4 Qc4 30. Qd3 Qxd3 31. Rxd3 Nxd4 32. Rxd4 Kf8 $15 {[%cal
Gf8c5,Gf3f4,Gg3g4,Gg2f3] but he could try to generate some counterplay on the
kingside, where he still has an extra-pawn.}) 29... Nh4+ (29... Ne3+ $2 30.
Qxe3 Qxd1 31. Bxg7 $1 $16) 30. Kg3 Ng6 31. gxh5 Ne7 32. Kg2 Nf5 33. Bd4 Qe7 34.
Qd3 Qg5+ 35. Kh2 Re8 36. Bb2 Re3 $5 {This spectacular move is probably not the
best.} (36... Qf4+ $1 37. Kh1 (37. Kg1 $2 Ne3 38. fxe3 Qg3+ 39. Kf1 Qxf3+ 40.
Kg1 Qg3+ 41. Kf1 Rxe3 $19) (37. Kg2 $2 Nh4+ $19) 37... Ne3 38. Qe2 Nxd1 39.
Qxe8+ Kh7 40. Qe2 Nxb2 41. Qxb2 Qxf3+ $17) 37. fxe3 $2 $19 (37. Qxd5 $1 {
[%cal Gd5d8] would have paried the attack, because Black faces problems
avoiding the exchange of queens, while his rook is hanging.} Qf4+ 38. Kg1 Qg5+
(38... Re2 $6 39. Bc1 Qh4 40. Qd8+ $16 {[%csl Ra7,Rb6,Gb8] would lead to the
dream ending for White.}) 39. Kh2 $11) 37... Qg3+ 38. Kh1 Qxf3+ 39. Kg1 Nxe3
40. Rd2 Qg3+ 41. Kh1 Qxh3+ 42. Kg1 Qg3+ 43. Kh1 Qe1+ $1 44. Kh2 Qxd2+ 45. Qxd2
Nf1+ 46. Kg2 Nxd2 $19 {After a forced and well-calculated sequence, Black has
obtained decisive material advantage. White's counterplay on the queenside
will temporarily win one of the pawns back, but this will not be enough to
save the game.} 47. Be5 Ne4 48. Kf3 Nc5 49. Ke3 Nxa4 50. Kd4 Nc5 51. Kxd5 a6
52. bxa6 Nxa6 53. Kc6 Nc5 54. Bc7 Kh7 55. Bxb6 Ne4 56. Be3 Nf6 57. Kd6 Nxh5 58.
Ke5 Kg6 59. Bd2 f5 60. Be1 Kg5 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 4th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2008.05.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Cheparinov, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2696"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2008.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 {It is
curious that Topalov follows the opening line which he played in previous
round ... as White against Vassily Ivanchuk.} 8. Ne2 {Not a common move. I
guess that Chepatrinov wanted to deviate both from the main line 8.Qd2 and
from the game Topalov-Ivanchuk played in the 2nd round.} (8. a3 cxd4 9. Nxd4
Bc5 10. Be2 O-O 11. Qd2 Qc7 12. Bf3 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Nb6 14. Ne2 Bxd4 15. Qxd4 Bd7
$11 {0-1 Topalov,V (2767)-Ivanchuk,V (2740)/Sofia BUL 2008/The Week in Chess
705 (43)}) ({The main theoretical line is} 8. Qd2 b5 9. a3 {and here Black can
try out Morozevich's idea} g5 $5) 8... Be7 {This move hadn't appeared on the
top level beforehand. Probably Topalov was trying to deviate from the main
lines which were definitely analysed by Cheparinov, especially after the game
Topalov-Morozevich which was played in Morelia/Linares 2007.} (8... Qb6 9. Qc1
g5 $5 (9... f6 $5 {is a serious alternative suggested by Mihail Marin.} 10. c3
Be7 11. g3 O-O $132) 10. c3 cxd4 11. cxd4 Bb4+ 12. Kf2 f6 13. g3 Rf8 14. Kg2 g4
15. Nh4 $14 {1-0 Topalov,V (2783)-Morozevich,A (2741)/Morelia/Linares 2007/CBM
117 (48)}) 9. c3 O-O 10. g3 cxd4 11. Nexd4 (11. cxd4 Nb6 12. b3 Bd7 {and Black
will slowly, but surely develop his play on the queenside. Meanwhile, White's
attacking chances on the kingside are murky.}) 11... Nc5 {The knight is
heading to e4. It can be concluded that Black has solved his opening problems,
the position is equal.} 12. Bg2 Bd7 (12... f6 $6 {would play into White's
hands.} 13. exf6 Rxf6 14. O-O $16 {and after the exchange on c6 followed by
Be3-d4 White will be in possession of an initiative.}) 13. O-O Rc8 14. Kh1 Ne4
({It was possible to go for knight moves on the queenside straight away:} 14...
Na5 {[%cal Ga5c4]} 15. Nd2 Na4 16. Rb1 (16. Qc2 $2 {[%tqu "En","How can Black
win material?","","","e7a3","",10]} Ba3 $1 17. bxa3 Rxc3 $19 {[%csl Rc2,Re3]})
16... Nb6 17. f5 Nac4 18. Nxc4 Nxc4 19. Bf4 exf5 20. Bxd5 Rc5 21. Bxb7 Qc7 22.
Bxa6 Nxe5 $44) 15. Nxc6 $1 {Eliminating the knight before it comes via a5 to
c4.} bxc6 16. c4 a5 $6 {I don't like this move, since it takes an important
square from black's queen.} (16... Qa5 17. Qc2 Rb8 {looks more to the point.})
17. Qc2 g6 18. Rad1 Nc5 19. Nd4 {Black's only active piece is driven away from
it's outpost. White is clearly better. His plan is an assault against the
black monarch.} Qc7 {Eyeing the Pe5. However, it does not really prevent from
White his natural attacking plan by f4-f5.} 20. g4 Rfd8 $6 {Topalov does not
sense the danger. Moving away the rook from the f-file makes Black's king more
vulnerable.} (20... f6 21. exf6 Bxf6 22. cxd5 cxd5 23. f5 gxf5 24. gxf5 Kh8 25.
fxe6 Nxe6 26. Qd2 Bg7 27. Bxd5 Qe5 {Black is a pawn down but, after the
forthcoming massive simplifications his chances for a draw are reasonable.
This is because very few pawns are left on the board.}) 21. Qf2 Be8 (21... dxc4
22. f5 exf5 23. gxf5 Qxe5 24. fxg6 fxg6 25. Qf7+ Kh8 26. Ne6 Nxe6 27. Qxe7 Qxe3
28. Rf7 Kg8 29. Rg7+ Nxg7 30. Qxe3 $16) 22. f5 $1 {Everything is ready for an
assault.} Qxe5 ({White gets a strong attack also after} 22... exf5 23. Nxf5 $1
gxf5 24. gxf5 {[%csl Rc5,Rg8][%cal Gf2g3,Gf5f6]}) 23. fxe6 $2 {It is logical
to open the f-file. However, It would have been far stronger to start with the
tempting move 23.Nf3 followed by 24.fxg6, not allowing Black's knight to join
the defence.} (23. Nf3 $1 Qd6 24. fxg6 {All the variations show that Black
does not have a satisfactory defence.} fxg6 (24... hxg6 25. Ng5 f6 (25... Bxg5
26. Bxg5 $40) 26. Bxc5 Qxc5 27. Qxc5 Bxc5 28. Nxe6 $18) 25. Ng5 Nd7 (25... Bxg5
26. Bxc5 Bh4 27. Qg1 Qc7 28. Qe3 Bf7 29. Qh6 g5 30. Qf6 $18 {[%cal Gc5d4,Gc5e7]
}) (25... e5 26. Qh4 Bxg5 27. Bxg5 Rd7 28. Rf6 Ne6 29. c5 $1 $18) 26. Nf7 Bxf7
27. Qxf7+ Kh8 28. Bf4 e5 29. Bh6 Rg8 30. cxd5 c5 31. Qe6 $18 {[%cal Gf1f7]})
23... Nxe6 24. Nxe6 (24. Rde1 $6 Bd6 25. Nf3 Qg7 {defending successfully.})
24... Qxe6 25. Rde1 $1 {White should not care about such a small detail as Pg4.
} Qxg4 26. Bd4 $2 {This is a typical situation when a player, being on the
offensive, misses a point where it's already necessary to guarantee himself
equality.} (26. Bc5 Bxc5 27. Rxe8+ Rxe8 28. Qxf7+ Kh8 29. Qf6+ {with a
perpetual check was the objective result at this point.}) 26... Qh4 27. Rxe7
Qxe7 28. Re1 (28. Bf6 Qf8 {White does not have anything better than to win
back the exchange which will leave him simply two pawns down.}) 28... Qg5 29.
Re5 (29. h4 Qf5 30. Qxf5 gxf5 31. Rg1 Rd6 32. h5 Kf8 33. Bc5 Ke7 34. Re1+ Kd7
35. Bh3 {would have been objectively better but, who wants to go to a worse
endgame in such a position?!}) 29... Qc1+ 30. Re1 Qg5 31. Re5 f5 {Of course,
no repetition. White's attack evaporates, while Black's extra material decides
the outcome.} 32. h4 Qg4 33. Kh2 (33. Bf3 Qh3+ 34. Kg1 Bf7 $19) 33... dxc4 34.
Bh3 Qd1 35. Re1 Rxd4 $1 (35... Qxd4 $4 {[%tqu "En","Please enter a move for
White.","","","e1e8","",3]} 36. Rxe8+ $1) 36. Rxd1 Rxd1 {Black has too much
material for the queen.} 37. Bf1 Bf7 38. Be2 {White resigned.} 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 4th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2008.05.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bu, Xiangzhi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2008.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 {This move leads to a
so called Dutch variation of the Slav Defence.} ({The main alternative} 6. Ne5
{leads to sharper lines, which have been played by the Chinese grandmaster for
both colours.}) 6... e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O O-O 9. Qe2 Ne4 {This old move which
was played by Capablanca, Alekhine and Euwe, has recently come back again to
high level tournaments.} ({The main line continues with} 9... Nbd7 10. e4 Bg6
11. Bd3 {where White usually gets a very slight edge.}) 10. Ne5 {This move
appeared only a few times beforehand. The main continuations are 10.Nxe4, 10.
Na2 and 10.Bd3.} Nd7 (10... Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bxc3 12. Ra3 Bb4 13. e4 Bg6 (13...
Bxa3 14. Bxa3 Bg6 15. Bxf8 Kxf8 16. Qb2 Nd7 17. Nxg6+ hxg6 18. Qxb7 $14) 14.
Rh3 Nd7 15. Nxg6 hxg6 16. Bb2 $44 {1-0 Sahl,B (2385)-Parr,E (2229)/Gausdal
2001/CBM 080 ext (42)}) (10... Bxc3 $2 11. bxc3 Nxc3 12. Qb2 $16 {[%csl Rb7,
Rc3]}) 11. Nxd7 ({After} 11. Nxe4 $6 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Bxe4 13. Qg4 Bf5 {Black has
no problems.}) 11... Qxd7 12. Na2 {A typical move in this setup. White saves
his knight from the exchange, and drives the black bishop away. Later on,
White can push b2-b4 seizing some space on the queenside.} Be7 $6 $146 {
Not the best place for the bishop. It has more prospects on c7. Actually, this
is the beginning of Black's troubles in this game.} (12... Ba5 13. b4 Bc7 14.
f3 Nd6 15. Bb3 Bg6 (15... a5 16. e4 $140 Bg6 17. Be3 $2 axb4 18. Nxb4 Nxe4 $1
19. fxe4 Qd6 $17 {[%cal Gd6h2,Gd6b4]}) 16. e4 Rae8 $6 (16... a5 $142) 17. Rd1
f5 18. e5 Nc8 19. b5 Nb6 20. Ba3 Rf7 21. Rac1 $16 {1-0 Van Wely,L (2647)
-Gelfand,B (2723)/Monte Carlo 2006/CBM 111 ext (60)}) 13. f3 Nf6 $6 {This move
is not connected with a concrete plan as well.} (13... Nd6 14. Bb3 Bg6 15. e4
Kh8 $1 16. Be3 f5 17. e5 Ne8 {[%cal Ge8c7,Gc7d5] Black's position is somewhat
cramped but, he has a nice square on d5 as a compensation.}) 14. e4 Bg6 (14...
Qxd4+ $4 15. Be3 $18) 15. Be3 {[%csl Gd4,Ge4]} Qc7 16. Nc1 $1 {Transfering the
knight to an ideal d3 square where it will fight against both c6-c5 and e6-e5.}
a5 (16... c5 {could not solve Black's problems. For instance:} 17. Nb3 cxd4 18.
Bxd4 Rfd8 19. Rfd1 Rac8 20. Rac1 Qb8 21. a5 {[%csl Yg6] White is clearly
better. The main clash is going to be on the queenside, meanwhile, Black's
light-squared bishop is totally out of play.}) 17. Nd3 $16 Nd7 18. Rac1 Rfe8 (
18... e5 19. d5 {is unsatisfactory for Black as well.}) 19. g3 Bd6 20. Nf4 e5
$6 {[%csl Gc4][%cal Gc4g8] It is rather difficult to suggest a reasonable
alternative plan or Black. Still, it would have been better to refrain from
this push, as White's light-squared bishop now becomes exceptionally strong.} (
{Black should adopt a waiting strategy, for example:} 20... Rad8) 21. Nxg6 hxg6
22. f4 exd4 ({After} 22... exf4 23. e5 {the piece sacrifice does not make
Black's life easier:} Nxe5 24. dxe5 Rxe5 25. Rxf4 Rxe3 26. Rxf7 Rxe2 {[%tqu
"En","Should White capture the queen with check?","","","f7f4","",5,"f7c7","",
0]} 27. Rf4+ $1 (27. Rxc7+ $4 Kh7 $11) 27... Kh7 (27... Qf7 28. Rxf7 $18) 28.
Rh4#) 23. Bxd4 b6 (23... Nf8 24. f5 g5 25. Qh5 Rxe4 26. Bxg7 $1 {with a
crushing attack.}) (23... Bb4 24. f5 g5 25. Qh5 Ne5 26. Bxe5 Rxe5 27. f6 $18)
24. f5 $1 {White's attack is irresistible.} g5 25. Qh5 {[%csl Rf7]} Nf6 (25...
Ne5 26. f6 gxf6 27. Rxf6 $18) 26. Bxf6 gxf6 27. Qg6+ Kf8 28. Qxf6 Be5 29. Qxg5
Qe7 30. f6 Bd4+ 31. Rf2 $1 (31. Rf2 Bxf2+ 32. Kf1 $1 $18 (32. Kxf2 $4 Qc5+))
1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 4th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2008.05.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2008.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bd6 9. O-O O-O 10. a3 Bb7 11. h3 {A prophylactic move anticipating 11...e5.} (
11. Qc2 {- see Svidler-Karjakin in this issue (Baku section).}) 11... e5 (11...
Qe7 12. Ng5 e5 13. Qc2 h6 14. Nge4 Bb8 15. Bd2 a5 16. Rfe1 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Nf6
18. dxe5 Nxe4 19. Nxe4 Qxe5 20. f4 Qe7 21. Nc5 Ba7 22. Nxb7 Qxb7 23. Bxa5 Bxe3+
24. Rxe3 Rxa5 25. Rc1 b4 26. axb4 {1/2-1/2 Ostenstad,B-Stokke,K/Hamar 2007/CBM
119 ext}) (11... Re8 $5 12. e4 (12. Qc2 e5 {- game}) 12... e5 13. Bg5 a6 (13...
h6 14. Bh4 a6 15. Bc2 Rc8 16. Qd2 c5 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. Rad1 Qb6 {1/2-1/2 Braun,
A-Ribli,Z/Germany 2007/CBM 118}) 14. Re1 c5 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Bc2 Qb6 17. Be3
Rad8 18. Qe2 Bxe3 19. Qxe3 Qxe3 20. Rxe3 Nb6 21. Bb3 h6 $11 {0-1 Tomic,
I-Pekarik,B/Croatia 2005/EXT 2007 (54)}) 12. Qc2 Re8 13. Bd2 Qe7 14. Ng5 $146 (
14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Nf6 16. dxe5 Nxe4 17. Qxe4 {1/2-1/2 Gligoric,
S-Trifunovic,P/Bled 1961/MCL}) 14... h6 15. Nge4 Bc7 16. Rfe1 Bb6 17. Ng3 Rad8
18. Rad1 Qf8 19. Nce2 {[%mdl 32] Typical lengthy manoeuvring in a roughly
equal but complex position.} a6 (19... a5 $5) 20. b4 h5 $6 {This pawn will
eventually be weak.} (20... Nd5 {looks more solid.}) 21. Bc3 h4 22. Ne4 Nd5 23.
Nc5 Nxc5 24. dxc5 Bc7 25. Bb2 Bc8 $6 (25... Nf6 $5 {in order to make White's
access to the h4-pawn more difficult.}) 26. Bh7+ Kh8 27. Bf5 Bxf5 28. Qxf5 $14
{The weakness of Black's h4-pawn is now obvious.} Qe7 29. Nc3 Nxc3 30. Bxc3 Kg8
31. Qe4 Qe6 {Giving up the pawn at once for activity.} (31... Qf6 32. Qg4 Qe7
33. e4 {[%cal Rc3d2,Rd2g5]} Rxd1 34. Rxd1 Rd8 35. Rxd8+ Qxd8 36. Be1 {[%cal
Yf2f3]}) 32. Qxh4 ({Paradoxically,} 32. Rxd8 {, giving up the open file, was
probably more accurate:} Rxd8 (32... Bxd8 33. Rd1 Be7 $14 {is probably better})
33. Qxh4 f6 (33... Qb3 $2 34. Bxe5) (33... Rd3 34. Rc1 Qb3 35. Qe7 Qxa3 36. Rb1
$1 Qxc3 37. Qxc7 $16) 34. Qe4 Qb3 35. Ba1 Rd5 36. Qf5 {[%cal Rf5c8]} Rd8 37.
Rf1 Kf7 (37... Qxa3 $2 38. Qe6+) 38. h4 Qxa3 $140 39. Qf3 Rd5 40. Qh5+ Ke7 41.
Qh8 Kf7 42. Qc8 $16) 32... Qb3 $1 33. Rc1 (33. Rxd8 $4 Bxd8 $19) 33... Qxa3 $2
({After} 33... Rd3 $1 {White has nothing better than a lucky perpetual after}
34. Qe4 (34. Ba1 Qxa3 35. Qe4 Rd5) 34... Rxc3 35. Qxc6 Re7 36. Qa8+ Kh7 37.
Qe4+ Kg8 $1) 34. Qe4 {[%cal Re4c6,Re4c2] With an unexpected double threat: to
win the crucial c6 pawn and to trap the black queen.} a5 (34... Rd5 $2 35. Qc2
Qa4 36. Qb2 $18 {[%cal Rc1a1]}) 35. Qxc6 axb4 36. Bxb4 Qxb4 37. Qxc7 {The
white c-pawn is stronger than the black b-pawn.} Rc8 38. Qa7 Re6 39. Red1 Qe4 (
39... Rec6 40. Qe7 R6c7 41. Qxe5 Rxc5 42. Rxc5 Qxc5 43. Rd8+ Kh7 44. Rd5 $18)
40. Qd7 Rec6 41. Qb7 b4 42. Rd7 {White combines the threat of the pawn advance
with the attack on Black's b-pawn and his weakened king.} Qf5 43. Rd5 Rg6 44.
Kf1 b3 45. Qxb3 $18 {Two extra pawns are quite enough to win.} Qg5 46. g3 Qf5
47. Kg2 Rf6 48. Rd2 Qf3+ 49. Kh2 Rd6 $5 50. Qa2 (50. Rxd6 $5 Qxf2+ 51. Kh1 Qf3+
52. Kg1 Qxg3+ 53. Kf1 $18) 50... Rxd2 51. Qxd2 Rc6 52. Kg1 Rh6 53. Qd1 Qc6 54.
h4 Rf6 55. Qg4 g6 56. h5 Kg7 57. e4 Kh6 58. hxg6 fxg6 59. Kg2 Kg7 60. Qe2 Rf7
61. Rc4 g5 62. Qh5 Qf6 63. Rc2 Qd8 64. c6 Qd3 65. Qxg5+ Kf8 66. Qh6+ Kg8 67.
Rd2 Qxe4+ 68. Kh2 Rf8 69. c7 Qf5 70. f3 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 4th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2008.05.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Cheparinov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D90"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2696"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2008.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bd2 Nb6 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. e3 O-O 8.
Rc1 N8d7 (8... Nc6 $1 9. Bb5 e5 {is definitely more active - see opening
database in CBM 119}) 9. a4 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (9. Be2 {is quite harmless:} e5
{Or else:} (9... c5 $6 10. O-O cxd4 11. Nxd4 Nc5 (11... Ne5 12. Ncb5 Bd7 13.
Ba5 Nc6 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Nd4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Gurevich,D-Sutovsky,E/Rishon Le
Ziyyon 2006/CBM 114 ext (53)}) 12. Ncb5 a6 13. Rxc5 axb5 14. Rxb5 e5 15. Nf3
$16 Rxa2 {0-1 Gurevich,D-Livshits,G/Rishon Le Ziyyon 2006/CBM 114 ext (48)} 16.
Bb4 $18) (9... c6 $5 10. O-O e5 11. Ne4 (11. b4 Re8 12. a4 e4 13. Ne1 Nf6 14.
b5 Bd7 15. a5 Nbd5 16. Nxd5 cxd5 17. Qb3 Bg4 18. Bxg4 Nxg4 19. h3 Nf6 20. Nc2
Qd7 21. Na3 {1/2-1/2 Burger,K-Byrne,D/New York 1969/MCD}) 11... Qe7 12. dxe5
Nxe5 13. Bc3 Rd8 14. Qc2 Bf5 15. Nd4 Bg4 16. Bxg4 Nxg4 17. Nf3 Bxc3 18. Nxc3
Re8 19. Rfd1 Nf6 $11 {0-1 Goehring,K-Gauglitz,G/Germany 1995/GER-chT2 (45)})
10. O-O (10. d5 e4 11. Nxe4 Nxd5 12. Qb3 c6 13. O-O Re8 14. Nd6 Nc5 15. Rxc5
Qxd6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Hottes,D-Fritsch,R/Germany 1989/GER-chT2 (23)}) 10... exd4
11. Nxd4 Ne5 (11... c6 $5 12. b4 Re8 13. a4 Ne5 14. Ne4 Nec4 15. Bxc4 Nxc4 (
15... Rxe4 $2 16. Bxf7+ $1 $16 {1-0 Smyslov,V-Stein,L/Moskva 1969/Inf 08 (50)})
16. Rxc4 Rxe4 17. Nxc6 Qd5 18. Rxe4 Qxe4 19. Nd4 Bd7 $44) (11... Nf6 12. b4 c6
13. a4 a6 14. Qb3 Qe7 15. Rfd1 Rd8 16. a5 Nbd5 $11 17. Na4 $6 Ne4 18. Be1 Nf4
19. Bf3 Bxd4 20. exd4 Ng5 $40 {0-1 Kholmov,R-Szabo,L/Budapest 1970/MCD (56)})
12. Ne4 Re8 (12... Nd5 13. Qb3 c6 14. Rfd1 Qe7 15. Ng3 f5 16. a3 Kh8 $13 {
0-1 Reisel,F-Fabian,J/Slovakia 1999/EXT 2001 (46)}) (12... Qh4 13. Nc5 (13. f4
$5) 13... Nd5 14. Nf3 Qe7 15. Qb3 c6 16. e4 Nxf3+ 17. Bxf3 $14 {0-1 Duer,
A-Naumann,A/Linz 2000/EXT 2001 (53)}) 13. Qc2 (13. Nc5 c6 14. b4 Nd5 15. Ncb3
Qe7 16. b5 cxb5 17. Bxb5 Rd8 18. Qc2 Bg4 19. Rfe1 {1/2-1/2 Gligoric,S-Uhlmann,
W/Rovinj/Zagreb 1970/Inf 09}) 13... Nd5 14. Rfd1 c6 15. b4 Qe7 16. Qb3 Ng4 17.
Ng3 Bxd4 18. exd4 Qh4 19. Bxg4 Bxg4 20. Re1 Bd7 21. Qd3 Qd8 22. a3 {1/2-1/2
Toran Albero,R-Unzicker,W/Palma de Mallorca 1969/MCD}) (9. e4 c5 $5 10. d5 Ne5
11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Be3 e6 13. Bxc5 exd5 14. Bxf8 Qxf8 15. exd5 Qb4 16. Bd3 Bg4
17. Qb3 Qf4 $44 {0-1 David,V-Le Roux,J/France 2007/CBM 121 Extra (26)}) 9... a5
10. e4 {This is the point! ...c7-c5 will now weaken the b5 square.} e5 (10...
c5 11. d5 {[%csl Rb5]} f5 $6 {is quite dubious.}) 11. d5 c6 {This move is
necessary sooner or later. Black could also start with} (11... Nf6) 12. Bg5 $5
Bf6 $6 (12... Nf6 $1 13. dxc6 bxc6 14. Qxd8 Rxd8 15. Be3 $1 (15. Nxe5 Re8 16.
Nxc6 Bd7 17. Bb5 Nxe4 $44) 15... Nbd7 (15... Rb8 $2 16. Nxe5) 16. Bc4 $14) (
12... f6 $143 13. Be3 $16) 13. Be3 {[%csl Rd7,Rf6]} (13. h4 $5) 13... Qe7 (
13... cxd5 14. exd5 (14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Qxd5 Nb8 16. Qxd8 Rxd8 17. Bb6 Re8 18.
Bb5 $36) 14... e4 15. Nxe4 Bxb2 (15... Re8 16. Nc3 $16) 16. Rc2 Bg7 17. Bb5 $16
) 14. d6 Qe6 15. b3 Bg7 16. h4 {After completely tying up Black's pieces White
starts a decisive attack.} f5 {Desperation.} 17. Ng5 Qf6 18. b4 $1 f4 (18...
axb4 19. Qb3+ Kh8 20. Qxb4 c5 21. Qb3 {and Black has no moves!}) 19. Bxb6 Nxb6
20. bxa5 Nd7 21. a6 $1 Kh8 (21... bxa6 22. Nd5 Qxd6 23. Rxc6 $1 Qa3 24. h5 $18)
22. Nb1 $6 (22. a5 bxa6 23. Na4 {was more natural.}) 22... Bh6 23. Nf3 bxa6 {
Collapsing at once but Black could hardly organize any defense anyway:} (23...
Re8 24. Be2 Re6 (24... Bf8 25. Ng5) 25. axb7 Bxb7 26. Qb3 Bc8 27. Ng5 $1 $18)
24. Rxc6 Bb7 (24... Rb8 25. Nc3) 25. Rc7 Bxe4 26. Rxd7 Qf5 27. Rc7 Bxb1 28. Ng5
$1 Bg7 29. Bc4 Bc2 30. Qd5 h6 31. Rf7 Qc8 32. Rxg7 (32. Rxg7 Kxg7 33. Qxe5+ Rf6
34. Qe7+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Grand Slam Final 1st"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2008.09.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2008.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Bg3 c5 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 Bxd5 13. e4 (13. Rc1 {
- see Gelashvili-Lputian in CBM 104.}) (13. Qe2) 13... Bb7 14. Rc1 a6 $5 $146 {
[%cal Rb6b5][%mdl 8] Veselin Topalov deviates from his own game against
Kasimdzhanov.} (14... Nf6 {is usually played, with quite a decent position for
Black:} 15. Qe2 (15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Qe2 Nh5 17. Be5 a5 18. Rfd1 Qe7 19. a3 Rfd8
20. h3 Nf6 21. Nd2 a4 22. Bb1 Rac8 23. Nf3 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Rd8 {1/2
Kasimdzhanov,R (2690)-Topalov,V (2769)/Vitoria Gasteiz 2007/CBM 121 (46)})
15... Nh5 (15... Rc8 16. dxc5 Rxc5 17. Rxc5 Bxc5 18. Bh4 Qc7 19. Bxf6 gxf6 $13
{0-1 Simeonidis,I (2261)-Kosintseva,N (2480)/Kusadasi 2006/CBM 111 ext (28)})
16. Rfd1 Nxg3 17. hxg3 cxd4 18. Ba6 Bxa6 19. Qxa6 Rc8 $11 ({but not} 19... e5
$2 20. Nxe5 Bf6 21. Nc6 Qe8 22. e5 $16 {1-0 Danner,G (2408)-Upton,T (2250)/
Gothenburg 2005/CBM 109 (48)})) (14... cxd4 $143 15. Bc7 Qe8 16. Nxd4 Nc5 17.
Bb5 Qc8 18. Be5 f6 19. Bf4 $14 {1-0 Banikas,H (2571)-Tassopoulos,M (2271)/
Kallithea Halkidiki GRE 2008/The Week in Chess 714 (24)}) 15. b4 {Hardly a
successful attempt to refute Black's last move.} (15. Re1 b5 16. d5 exd5 (16...
c4 $5 $13) 17. exd5 Bxd5 18. Bh7+ Kxh7 19. Qxd5 Nf6 20. Qxd8 Bxd8 21. Rxc5 Bb6
22. Rc6 Nd5 $11) 15... cxb4 16. Bc7 $6 {White's compensation for the pawn will
now be insufficient.} (16. Rc7 $142 Ra7 $1 {[%cal Yd7f6,Yf6e8]} (16... Rb8 $143
17. Qe2 Nf6 18. Rfc1 $44) 17. Bxa6 (17. Qe2 $143 Nf6 18. Be5 Ne8 19. Rc2 Nd6
20. Rfc1 Nb5 $1 $15) 17... Rxa6 18. Rxb7 Rxa2 19. Qb1 Ra8 20. Rc1 $44) 16...
Qe8 17. Qe2 b5 18. Ba5 Rc8 19. Qb2 Nf6 {[%mdl 32] This game perfectly
illustrates the situation when a "strong pawn centre" is rather weak!} 20. Rxc8
Qxc8 21. Nd2 $2 {After this mistake Black keeps his material advantage but
White had no equality after the best} (21. Re1 Qc3 $1 (21... Qa8 $143 22. Nd2)
22. Qxc3 bxc3 23. Bxc3 Rc8 24. Bd2 b4 $15 {[%csl Gb4,Re4]}) 21... Qc3 $1 22.
Qxc3 bxc3 23. Bxc3 Rc8 24. Ba5 (24. Bb2 Bb4 25. Rd1 Bxd2 26. Rxd2 Bxe4 $19) (
24. Rc1 Bb4 25. Nb1 Bxe4 $19) 24... Bd8 $1 25. Bxd8 (25. Bb4 Bb6 {[%csl Rd4]})
25... Rxd8 26. Rd1 Rxd4 {and Black gradually brings home his extra pawn:} 27.
Nb3 Rd8 28. f3 Kf8 29. Kf2 Nd7 30. Be2 Ke7 31. Na5 Ba8 32. Rc1 Kd6 33. Ke3 Nb6
34. f4 Rc8 35. Rxc8 Nxc8 36. Kd4 Ne7 37. Bf3 Kc7 38. Nb3 Kb6 39. Ke5 $6 {
desperation} Ng6+ 40. Kd6 Nxf4 41. Nc5 (41. Ke7 f5 $1 42. exf5 Bxf3 43. gxf3
exf5 $19) 41... b4 42. h4 a5 43. g3 Nh3 44. Nd7+ Ka7 45. Kc5 f5 46. Kb5 fxe4
47. Bh5 e3 48. Kxa5 g6 49. Bg4 h5 50. Be2 Ng1 51. Bf1 e2 52. Bxe2 Nxe2 53. Nf8
Be4 54. Nxe6 Nxg3 55. Nf4 Kb7 56. Kxb4 Kc6 0-1

[Event "Grand Slam Final 1st"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2008.09.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2008.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. d5 {This pawn
sacrifice appears regularly in top level tournaments. At first sight it does
not look very promising. However, practice shows time after time that Black
can experience difficulties as he is behind in development.} exd5 8. cxd5 Nxd5
9. O-O Be7 10. Rd1 Qc8 {Defending the Bb7. Anand had already played this
position just a few weeks beforehand.} 11. a3 {Covering the b4-square against
a possible knight move. This quiet move is White's last word in this
fashionable variation.} (11. e4 Nc7 12. Nc3 O-O 13. e5 Ne6 14. Nd5 Bxd5 15.
Rxd5 Nc6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Carlsen,M (2775)-Anand,V (2798)/Mainz GER 2008/The Week
in Chess 717 (33)}) ({Also seen in practice is:} 11. Bg5) (11. Nh4 Bxh4 12.
Rxd5 {but, didn't yield White any advantage.}) 11... Nf6 12. Bg5 $1 $146 {
[%mdl 8] Another fine novelty from the "Topalov team kitchen". White is
intending to exchange on f6 before Black's queenside kinight is developed to
d7.} (12. Nc3 d5 13. Bg5 Nbd7 14. e4 d4 15. e5 Nxe5 $1 ({After} 15... dxc3 $2
16. exf6 Nxf6 17. Re1 {Black's king will be stuck in the centre.}) 16. Nxe5
Bxg2 17. Qa4+ Nd7 18. Bxe7 Kxe7 19. Re1 Nxe5 20. Rxe5+ Kf8 21. Kxg2 dxc3 22.
bxc3 g6 23. Rae1 Kg7 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V (2788)-Leko,P (2741)/Moscow RUS 2008/
The Week in Chess 720 (28). ... and White's compensation was sufficient only
for equality.}) 12... d5 $6 {Taking into account what happened in the game
later, it is easy say that this move is the source for Black's troubles.} (
12... O-O 13. Nc3 h6 14. Bf4 (14. Bxf6 $6 Bxf6 15. Nb5 Nc6 16. Nd6 Qc7 {
is not dangerous for Black.}) 14... Nc6 {might be an improvement for Black.
Without any doubt, the theoretical discussion in this line will continue.}) 13.
Bxf6 $1 Bxf6 14. Nc3 Bxc3 (14... d4 $2 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Nxd4 $1 cxd4 17. Qxc8+
Bxc8 18. Nd2 $18 {[%csl Ra8]}) (14... Qe6 $2 15. Nxd5 $1 Bxd5 16. Ng5 Bb3 17.
Nxe6 Bxc2 18. Rd2 {and White wins material.}) 15. bxc3 Na6 $1 (15... O-O 16.
Ng5 g6 17. Bxd5 Bxd5 18. Rxd5 {with a long-lasting initiative.}) 16. Nh4 g6 (
16... Qe6 $6 17. Nf5 O-O-O (17... O-O 18. c4 $16) 18. Nxg7 Qf6 19. Nf5 Nc7 20.
a4 $16 {[%cal Ga4a5]}) 17. Bxd5 Bxd5 18. Rxd5 {White has got back the pawn and
has a long-lasting initiative thanks to the activity of this pieces. Another
factor is that Black's king is less protected compared to his counterpart.
Still, Black's position is defendable.} O-O 19. Rad1 Nc7 {Transferring the
knight to e6.} 20. Rd7 Ne6 21. Qe4 (21. Qa4 c4 22. Rxa7 Nc5 23. Rxa8 Nxa4 24.
Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Rc1 Ra8 $44) 21... Qe8 $2 {This move is already a critical
mistake. Instead of this, Black had two playable options.} (21... c4 22. Qf3
Qc5 23. Ng2 Rae8 (23... Qxa3 24. Rxf7 Rxf7 25. Qxa8+ Nf8 26. Ne3 Qxc3 27. Qd5 {
Black's queenside pawns would definitely decide the game in the event of an
exchange of queens. Meanwhile, White is in possession of an initiative.}) 24.
Ne3 (24. Rxa7 $4 Ng5 {[%csl Rf2][%cal Gg5h3,Gg5f3]} 25. Qg4 (25. Qf6 Re6 $19)
25... h5 $19) 24... Ng5 25. Qd5 Qxd5 26. R1xd5 Ne4 27. Rd4 Nxc3 28. Rxc4 Rc8 {
and Black should hold the endgame.} (28... Nxe2+ $4 29. Kf1 $18 {[%csl Re2]}))
(21... Nd4 22. Qe7 Nc6 23. Qf6 Nd4 24. Re7 Qc6 (24... Nc6 25. Nxg6 $1 hxg6 26.
Re4 {[%cal Ge4h4,Gh4h8]} Qf5 $8 27. Qxc6 $16) 25. Qg5 Ne6 26. Qe5 Rad8 {
and Black is only slightly worse.}) 22. Nf3 c4 (22... Nd4 23. Ne5 Nc6 24. f4
Nxe5 25. fxe5 Qe6 26. R1d6 Qh3 27. Rc7 {[%cal Gd6d7]} Rae8 28. Rxa7 {Black is
pawn down in a worse position. Nevertheless, this was the least of the evils
for him.}) 23. Qh4 $1 {This move is even stronger than the capture of Pc4.
White's attack is very strong.} (23. Qxc4 Nc5 $16) 23... Nc5 (23... Rd8 24. Ne5
{[%cal Ge5g4,Gg4f6]} h5 25. Qf6 Rxd7 26. Rxd7 {with total domination. One of
the threats is 27.Re7 followed by 28.Nxg6+-.}) 24. Re7 Rd8 (24... Qa4 25. Rd6
$1 Qc2 (25... Qxa3 26. Ng5 h5 27. Rxg6+ $1 fxg6 28. Qxc4+ Kh8 29. Rh7#) 26. Ng5
h5 27. Rf6 $18 {[%csl Rf7]}) 25. Rf1 $1 {A crushing defeat for Vishy Anand.} ({
Black resigned in view of the following variation:} 25. Rf1 Qc6 26. Ng5 h5 27.
Nxf7 $1 Rxf7 28. Rxf7 Kxf7 29. Qxd8 $18) 1-0

[Event "Grand Slam Final 1st"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2008.09.10"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B78"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2008.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 {One of the theoretical
highlights of year 2008 has undoubtedly been the appearance of the Dragon
Sicilian on the highest level. This happened thanks to efforts of Magnus
Carlsen, who starting with the tournament in Baku (April 2008) fearlessly
implemented the Dragon against 1.e4 in almost all his Black games. The
Norwegian found new ideas and came with a fresh look at many Sicilian Dragon
positions. In this extremely important game (a direct fight for the tournament
victory in the Grand Slam Final) Magnus remains true to his style and goes for
the Dragon again.  On the other side Veselin Topalov shouldn't be invited
twice to challenge his opponents in principled opening variations. The
Bulgarian goes for what represents the most critical variation of the Sicilian
Dragon these days.} 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2 O-O 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 ({
At this moment "the Chinese Variation" -} 10... Rb8 {is a worthy alternative
to the main 10...Rc8. Its theory's development still has a long way before
coming to sensible conclusions.}) 11. Bb3 Ne5 12. Kb1 {About ten years ago
this strong waiting move, useful in many further complications, started
quickly to gain popularity and meanwhile became White's main weapon against
the Dragon. Black's problem is that all active moves have certain drawbacks.} (
12. g4 b5 $1 {[%csl Rf3]}) 12... a6 {This is one of Magnus' amazing findings
in the Dragon. The modest advance of the a-pawn used to have a very bad
reputation: those players who tried 12...a6 in the past (also including GMs)
were simply swept away in those games. This is explained by the fact that
White starts a direct attack next and the move 12...a6 usually turns out to be
a loss of tempo. Certainly Carlsen analyzed and tested the position a lot and
must have come to the surprising conclusion that Black has sufficient
potential for defence and counterplay.  We'll see that actually the Norwegian
wonderboy might be right - Black's position has indeed many hidden resources.
But there is still a big problem: now even a small inaccuracy in defence from
Black can easily be fatal. Thus in order to play well the resulting positions
both sides (and especially Black) need the precision of a computer.} ({
Practice has shown that White retains better prospects after the more active
moves:} 12... a5 13. a4) (12... b5 13. Ndxb5) (12... Nc4 13. Bxc4 Rxc4 14. g4
b5 {Comparied to 12.g4 b5, here the f3-pawn is not under attack and White can
take on b5:} 15. b3 $1 Rc8 16. Ndxb5 {Theeory has established that Black has
serious problems here.}) ({In the past decade Black's main reply has become
the defensive waiting move:} 12... Re8) 13. h4 ({In the second round of the
same tournament (a week prior to the present game) Ivanchuk against Carlsen
continued} 13. Rhe1 {Surprisingly, this move required from the Ukrainian
around 40 minutes of thinking over the board.  Then after} b5 14. Bh6 Bxh6 15.
Qxh6 {instead of the typical, but rather questionable exchange sacrifice on c3,
Black had the attractive possibility} a5 (15... Rxc3 16. bxc3 a5 17. f4 Neg4
18. Qh4 a4 19. Bxf7+ {In the game the following wild complications lead to a
draw, but there are possibilities to improve:} Rxf7 20. e5 Nd5 21. e6 Nxc3+ 22.
Kc1 ({White has the advantage after} 22. Ka1 $1 Bxe6 23. Nxe6 Qc8 24. Rd4 Nxa2
25. Qh3 $1 Qxc2 26. Qf3) 22... Bxe6 23. Nxe6 Qa5 24. Qxg4 Nxa2+ 25. Kb2 Qc3+
26. Kxa2 Qxc2+ 27. Ka1 Qc3+ 28. Kb1 Qb3+ 29. Ka1 Qc3+ {1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V 
(2781)-Carlsen,M (2775)/Bilbao 2008}) 16. Ndxb5 Bxb5 17. Nxb5 a4 18. Bxa4 (18.
Bd5 Qb6 19. Nd4 Rc5 $40) 18... Qa5 19. b3 Rc5 $44) 13... h5 14. g4 hxg4 15. h5
Nxh5 16. Rdg1 {The most critical position of the line 12.Kb1 these days.} Rc5
$146 {Carlsen doesn't wait for Topalov to demonstrate his preparation and
instead comes up with a good novelty. The queen is kept on d8 for defence.} ({
Previously} 16... Qa5 {was played:} 17. Bh6 Bf6 $5 (17... Rxc3 $2 {turned out
to lose right away in the rapid game Anand-Carlsen, Mainz 2008:} 18. Bxg7 Kxg7
19. Rxh5 $1 $18) (17... Rc5 {is the position which could also arise in the
main game, see 17...Qa5 instead of 17...Kh7.} 18. Rh4 Nxf3 19. Nxf3 Bxc3 20.
bxc3 Qxc3 21. Qxc3 Rxc3 22. Bxf8 Kxf8) 18. fxg4 Bxg4 {and now instead of
accepting the positional exchange sacrifice White must disturb the stability
of the black pieces on the kingside with the surprising} 19. Bf4 {which leads
to advantage.} (19. Bxf8 Kxf8 20. Qe3 Rxc3 21. Qxc3 (21. bxc3 $5) 21... Qxc3
22. bxc3 e6 {0-1 Karjakin,S (2727)-Radjabov,T (2744)/Sochi 2008 (52). offered
Black excellent compensation for two exchanges.})) (16... Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18.
fxg4 Nf6 19. Nf5 $1 $40) 17. Bh6 ({The immediate} 17. f4 $5 {was an
interesting alternative:} Nc4 18. Bxc4 Rxc4 19. f5 e5 ({After} 19... Nf6 20.
Bh6 $1 {Black probably must play the dubious position by retreating the bishop
to h8, since} ({Not} 20. fxg6 $2 fxg6 $17) 20... Nxe4 21. Nxe4 {wins for White:
} Rxd4 (21... Bxd4 22. f6 $1 $18) 22. Qh2 $18) (19... Qa5 20. Rxg4 Rxc3 (20...
Rfc8 21. Rxh5 $1 Rxc3 (21... gxh5 22. Rg1 $18) 22. bxc3 {is the same}) 21. bxc3
Rc8 22. Rxh5 Rxc3 $1 (22... gxh5 23. Rg1 $18) (22... Qxc3 23. Rh2 $18) 23. Rh2
Qb6+ 24. Kc1 Rxe3 25. Qxe3 Qxd4 $14 (25... Bxd4 26. Qb3 $14)) 20. fxe6 fxe6 21.
Rxg4 Qf6 22. Nde2 $44) 17... Kh7 $1 {Forcing the exchange of bishops on g7
reduces White's attacking potential (apart from gaining more air for the king,
the rook will be able to go to h8 and the pawn on g6 won't be pinned anymore).}
({After other moves Black is in troubles:} 17... Qa5 18. Rh4 $1 Nxf3 19. Nxf3
gxf3 ({Better is to exchange queens with} 19... Bxc3 20. bxc3 Qxc3 21. Qxc3
Rxc3 22. Bxf8 Kxf8 {even if after} 23. Ng5 {There is no question about White's
advantage. E.g.} Kg7 24. Bxf7 Kf6 25. e5+ $1 Kxg5 26. e6 Bxe6 27. Bxe6 Nf6 (
27... Kxh4 28. Rxg4+ Kh3 29. Rc4+ $18) 28. Rh2 $16) 20. Rxg6 $18) (17... b5 18.
Nd5 $16 e6 $140 19. fxg4 Nxg4 20. Rxg4 exd5 21. Nf5 $18) ({The positional
exchange sacrifice is not sufficient here:} 17... Bf6 18. Bxf8 Kxf8 (18... Qxf8
19. Nd5 Bg7 20. fxg4 Bxg4 21. Qg5 $40) 19. fxg4 Bxg4 20. Nd5 {An important
resource. With the queen on a5 (as in Karjakin-Radjabov, see 16...Qa5) White
can't play this.} Bg7 21. Ne3 Bd7 22. Nef5 $36) ({Or} 17... Bh8 18. fxg4 Bxg4
19. Bxf8 Qxf8 (19... Kxf8 20. Qf2 $16) 20. Rh4 $36) 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. f4 ({
Again White had an interesting alternative:} 19. fxg4 {after which Black needs
to play extremely precisely:} Nxg4 (19... Bxg4 $2 20. Rxh5 gxh5 (20... Bxh5 21.
Nf5+ $18) 21. Nf5+ Kf6 22. Qh6+ Ng6 23. Nh4 $18) 20. Nd5 (20. Nf5+ {looks less
attractive to me} Rxf5 $5 (20... Bxf5 21. exf5 Ngf6 22. fxg6 fxg6 23. Qg2 Nf4
24. Qxb7 $13) 21. exf5 Bxf5 $13) 20... Rh8 21. Nf5+ Bxf5 (21... gxf5 $2 22.
Qg5+ $18) 22. exf5 Nhf6 23. Rxh8 Qxh8 24. fxg6 fxg6 {Strangely enough, Black
seems to keep the balance here:} 25. Nf4 ({After} 25. Nxe7 Re5 26. Qxd6 {
a possible variation is} Qf8 27. Be6 Ne4 28. Qd7 Nc5 29. Nxg6+ Kxg6 30. Rxg4+
Kf6 31. Rf4+ Kg5 {with a draw due to the back rank weakness.}) 25... Re5 26.
Ne6+ Kg8 {and the analysis shows that White has little better than repeating
moves. However, for the Black side to evaluate correctly such a position and
find all this over the board is far from easy.} 27. Nf4+ Kg7 28. Ne6+ Kg8 $11)
({With the king on g7 the move} 19. Rh4 $2 {is just bad, since after} Nxf3 ({or
} 19... e6 {[%cal Gd8h4]}) 20. Nxf3 gxf3 {pawn g6 is protected (unlike in the
variation 17...Qa5 18.Rh4).}) 19... Nc4 20. Bxc4 Rxc4 21. f5 e5 $1 (21... Rh8 {
offers White nice compensation for the pawn:} 22. Rxg4 e5 (22... Nf6 23. Rgh4
$16) (22... Qb6 23. Nce2 $16) 23. fxe6 Bxe6 (23... fxe6 24. Rhg1 Rh6 25. e5 $1
$18) 24. Nxe6+ fxe6 25. Qg2 (25. Rhg1 Rh6 26. Qg2 Qe8 {and Black holds somehow}
) 25... Rh6 (25... Qf6 $2 26. e5 $18) 26. Ne2 $44) 22. Nde2 ({Black is doing
fine after} 22. fxe6 fxe6 23. Nde2 (23. Rxg4 $2 e5 24. Nf5+ (24. Rxh5 Rf1+ 25.
Nd1 Bxg4 26. Qh6+ Kf7 $19) 24... Bxf5 25. Rxh5 Bxg4 26. Qh6+ Kf7 27. Qh7+ Ke8
28. Qxg6+ Kd7 29. Qxg4+ Kc6 {and the king successfully escapes}) 23... e5 24.
Qxd6 Qe8 {with at least equal play}) 22... Rh8 {Again the only move to keep
the position alive. Black must cover the h6-square in order to retreat the
knight after the coming Rxg4.} 23. b3 {Before taking on g4 White must drive
his opponent's rook away from the fourth rank.} ({After the immediate} 23. Rxg4
{Black exploitss the pin on the e-pawn:} Bxf5) (23. Qxd6 {leads to a good
endgame for Black:} Bc6 24. Qxe5+ Qf6 25. Qxf6+ Nxf6 26. Rxh8 Kxh8 27. e5 Ne4
$15) 23... Rc6 $2 {Up till now Carlsen has defended very well, but now he
makes a mistake, which is enough to lose such dangerous positions.} ({The only
move was} 23... Rc8 $1 {Protecting once again square h8 was more important
than defending pawn d6.} 24. Rxg4 (24. fxg6 fxg6 25. Qxd6 Qe8 $13) 24... Nf6
25. Rgg1 ({After} 25. Rxh8 Qxh8 26. Rg1 {Black can already consider} Rc6 {
since the plan Ng3 and Rh1 is no longer dangerous due to the possibility to
activate the queen:} 27. Ng3 (27. Qe1 Qh5 28. Rh1 Qg5) 27... Qh6 $13) 25... Qe7
{Black rooks are connected and although White has compensation for the pawn
thanks to the pressure on the open files, the position remains balanced:} 26.
Ng3 Rxh1 27. Rxh1 Rh8 $13 {Thus we can conclude that with the correct 23...Rc8
Black would have kept a playable position.}) 24. Rxg4 {White's main idea is to
pin the knight (Rgh4), then continue Nd5, after which Black will find himself
almost in zugzwang. Therefore Black must retreat the knight, but then White
takes control over the h-file...} Nf6 25. Rgg1 $1 $16 {/+- Suddenly it turns
out that Black cannot defend against Ng3, followed by Rxh8 and Rh1, creating a
decisive attack on the h-file.} (25. Rgh4 $4 {runs into} Nxe4 $1 $19 {[%csl
Rh1,Rh4][%cal Gh8h1,Gd8h4]}) 25... Rxh1 26. Rxh1 Ng4 {A nice way to protect
the h6-square, but the knight on g4 is not stable and therefore it does not
solve Black's defensive task.} (26... Nh5 27. Nd5 $18) 27. Ng3 Kg8 28. Nd5 {
Complete domination. Black's position is hopeless.} Rc5 29. Ne3 {Topalov goes
for a simple position, rightly assessing it as clearly better for White.} ({
Variations like} 29. Qg2 Rxd5 30. fxg6 {also favor White, but 29.Ne3 is more
practical.} (30. Qh3 $2 Rd1+ 31. Rxd1 Nf2) ({After} 30. exd5 Bxf5 31. Nxf5 gxf5
{Black keeps possibilities for counterplay})) 29... Nxe3 (29... Qg5 30. Qxd6
$18) 30. Qxe3 Qf6 31. Qh6 Qg7 32. Qg5 f6 33. Qd2 {Black cannot protect his
weaknesses on the entire board.} Rc6 ({After} 33... g5 {White has two good
solutions:} {the simple} 34. Qxd6 ({or} 34. Nh5 Qe7 35. Qh2 {and wins due to
the threat Nf4, coming with the knight either to g6 or e6.}) 34... Rc6 35. Qd5+
$16) 34. Kb2 $6 {Completely unnecessary.} (34. Qa5 {wins at once:} b6 (34...
Rc8 35. Qd5+ Kf8 36. fxg6 $18) 35. Qxa6 Rc8 (35... gxf5 36. Qa8+ Kf7 37. Nxf5
$18) 36. Qb7 gxf5 37. Qd5+ Kf8 38. Qxd6+ $18) 34... gxf5 ({Carlsen misses the
opportunity} 34... Be8 $1 35. fxg6 ({Now after} 35. Qa5 {Black has} Qc7 36.
Qd5+ Bf7) 35... Bxg6 {and White has no direct win.}) 35. Qa5 Qe7 (35... b6 36.
Qd5+ Kf8 37. Nxf5 $16) 36. Qd5+ Be6 37. Qd1 $1 ({Due to the unfortunate
position of the king on b2} 37. Nxf5 {allows Black a counter-sacrifice} Rxc2+
$1 {and White's advantage is questionable after} (37... Bxd5 38. Nxe7+ Kf8 39.
Nxd5 $18) 38. Ka1 (38. Kxc2 $4 Qc7+ 39. Kb2 Bxd5 $19) 38... Qd7 39. Qd3 Bxf5 $1
(39... Rg2 40. Qh3 $18) 40. Qxc2 (40. exf5 Rc7 $1 $11) 40... Bg6 $13) 37... Qg7
38. exf5 Bf7 (38... Qxg3 39. Rg1 $18) 39. Ne4 Kf8 40. Nxd6 Ke7 ({More stubborn
is} 40... Bg8 {although it would have not changed the result.} {After} 41. Ne4
{the black king is too exposed.}) 41. Nxb7 {The rest is simple - White has a
material advantage and a winning attack.} Qg8 42. Qd2 (42. Rh7 $1 Qxh7 $140 43.
Qd8#) 42... Rb6 43. Rd1 Qc8 44. Nd6 {The technical decision.} (44. Nd8 Qc7 45.
Nxf7 Kxf7 46. Qd5+ Kf8 47. Rg1 $18) 44... Qd7 45. Nxf7 Qxd2 46. Rxd2 Kxf7 47.
c4 Ke7 48. Kc3 1-0

[Event "Grand Slam Final 1st"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2008.09.13"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2008.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. a3 Bd6 10. O-O O-O 11. Qc2 h6 {A rare, rather second-rate move in this
popular position.} (11... a6 {- see Svidler-Karjakin in CBM 124}) 12. e4 (12.
Bd2 {is less energetic:} Qe7 (12... a5 13. Rfd1 (13. h3 Qe7 14. Rfe1 b4 15.
axb4 axb4 16. Na4 e5 17. e4 Nh5 18. g3 Ra5 19. Bf1 Rfa8 20. b3 Qf6 21. dxe5
Nxe5 $13 {1-0 Rausis,I (2521)-Fargere,F (2330)/Basel 2007/CBM 116 ext (51)})
13... Rc8 14. Be2 Qc7 15. Rac1 Rfe8 16. h3 Qb8 17. Qb1 e5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19.
Nxe5 Rxe5 20. Bf3 $14 c5 $6 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Qd3 Qe7 23. Nxb5 $16 {0-1 Wang
Yue (2598)-Zhang Pengxiang (2623)/Wuxi 2006/CBM 113 ext (36)}) 13. b4 a5 14.
bxa5 Bxa3 15. e4 e5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Ng4 18. Be2 Nxe5 19. f4 Nd7 20. Kh1
Bb4 21. e5 Rfd8 22. Rfb1 Nf8 23. Nd5 Qc5 24. Ne7+ Kh8 25. Qxc5 Bxc5 26. Bb4
Bxb4 27. Rxb4 Ne6 $13 {0-1 Kachiani Gersinska,K (2420)-Dreev,A (2645)/Bad
Wiessee 1998/EXT 2001 (39)}) (12. h3 $5 a5 13. e4 e5 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5
Bxe5 16. Be3 Re8 17. Rad1 Qe7 18. Ne2 Rad8 (18... c5 $1 19. Bxb5 Bxe4 20. Qxc5
Qxc5 21. Bxc5 Reb8 22. a4 Bxb2 $13) 19. f4 Bd6 20. Ng3 $16 {1-0 Fressinet,L 
(2640)-Sebag,M (2471)/Cap d'Agde 2006/CBM 115 (33)}) 12... e5 13. dxe5 (13. Rd1
Qe7 14. Nh4 exd4 15. Nf5 Qe6 16. Nxd4 Qe5 17. Nf3 Qe7 18. Nh4 Bc5 19. Nf5 Qe6
20. Bf4 Ne5 21. b4 Bb6 22. Be2 Rfd8 23. Be3 Ng6 {1/2 Mukherjee,A (2514)
-Khromov,S (2481)/RCCA 2004/ICCF CBM 120}) 13... Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. h3 a6 (
15... Nh5 $5 16. f4 $140 Bd4+ 17. Kh2 Qh4) 16. Be3 c5 {It is a logical idea to
open up the way for the b7-bishop by means of this pawn sacrifice. There was
probably no sense in waiting, e.g.} (16... Re8 17. f4 $1 (17. Rad1 $143 Qe7 18.
Ne2 {gives Black an excellent opportunity to play} c5 $1 19. Bxc5 Qc7 $132)
17... Bd4 18. Bxd4 Qxd4+ 19. Kh2 c5 20. e5 $14) 17. Bxc5 Re8 18. Rad1 Qc7 19.
Nd5 $1 Nxd5 $6 {Black fails to find a difficult defence:} (19... Bxd5 $1 20.
exd5 Rac8 21. b4 (21. Rc1 Nxd5) 21... Bh2+ 22. Kh1 Bd6 23. Bf5 Rcd8 {regaining
the d5-pawn with good drawing chances.}) 20. exd5 Bxb2 {Black has regained the
material in a simpler way but White has obtained a strong passed pawn, which
makes a big difference.} 21. d6 Qc6 22. f3 Rec8 23. Bh7+ Kh8 24. Be4 Qxc5+ 25.
Qxc5 Rxc5 26. Bxb7 Rd8 27. Rfe1 Be5 $6 (27... Re5 28. Rxe5 Bxe5 29. d7 a5 30.
Rd5 Bc7 31. Kf2 {is probably winning for White but}) ({the prophylactic} 27...
Kh7 $1 {was much stronger:} 28. Bxa6 (28. d7 Rc7 29. Bc8 Rdxc8 30. dxc8=Q Rxc8
{must be a draw}) 28... Rc6 (28... Bxa3 $5 29. d7 Bb4 30. Re8 Ba5 31. Rxd8 Bxd8
32. Rb1 Kg6 33. Bxb5 Kf6) 29. Bxb5 Rcxd6 30. Rxd6 Rxd6 31. a4 Kg6 {and White
can hardly win}) 28. d7 a5 29. f4 Bc7 30. Bd5 $1 {The second weakness (f7)
proves decisive.} Kh7 31. Bxf7 Rf5 (31... Bxf4 32. Re6 {[%cal Rf7g6]}) 32. Ba2
Rxf4 33. Bb1+ Kg8 34. Bg6 {With a simple threat: 35.Re8+ Rf8 37.Rf1.} Bb6+ 35.
Kh1 Bc5 (35... Rdf8 36. Re8 Bd8 37. Rc1 $18) 36. Rc1 $6 (36. Re8+ $142 Rf8 37.
Rd3 a4 {(what else?)} (37... b4 $2 38. Rd5) 38. Re5 Bf2 39. Rxb5 $18) 36... Bf8
37. Red1 Bxa3 $2 (37... Rc4 {gave Black some chances to survive.}) 38. Rc8 Rff8
39. Be8 Be7 40. Re1 {"trapping" the black bishop} Bg5 41. g3 a4 42. h4 Bf6 43.
Re6 {[%cal Re6f6]} 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gundavaa, Bayarsaihan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2458"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Mongolia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "MGL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Qd2
Be6 9. f4 exf4 10. Bxf4 Nc6 11. O-O-O Ne5 12. Nd4 O-O 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. exf5 b5
15. Be2 Qa5 16. Kb1 Rfd8 17. Nd5 Qxd2 18. Nxe7+ Kf8 19. Rxd2 Kxe7 20. Rhd1 Ne4
21. Rd4 Nc5 22. b3 f6 23. g4 g5 24. Bg3 Rab8 25. Kb2 Rd7 26. a3 Rbd8 27. Bf1
Rh8 28. a4 Rb8 29. axb5 axb5 30. Bf2 Na6 31. Bg2 Rbd8 32. Ra1 Nc5 33. Ra5 Rb8
34. Ra1 Rc7 35. Rad1 Rb6 36. h3 h6 37. Bf1 b4 38. Bg2 Rc8 39. Ra1 Ned7 40. Ra7
Rcb8 41. Rd1 Kf8 42. Bd5 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B86"]
[WhiteElo "2684"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[Annotator "Nisipeanu,LD"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Romania"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ROU"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 ({Finally I decided
to deviate from our 'private' duel in the line} 6. Be3 e5 7. Nde2 {in which we
have played 3 games so far with Veselin leading 2-1}) 6... e6 7. Bb3 Nbd7 ({
I had expected the main move} 7... b5) 8. Bg5 Qa5 9. Bxf6 Nxf6 10. O-O Be7 {
The first real surprise} ({In all my previous games, in this position the move
} 10... Nd7 {was played.}) 11. f4 Qc5 12. Kh1 b5 {All these moves are logical
and do not require any comments.} 13. a3 ({The critical line} 13. f5 e5 14. Nf3
Bb7 15. Qd3 b4 (15... O-O $5) 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. Bxd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 O-O 19. Nd2
Rac8 20. Rac1 $13 {was also worth considering, but I was sure that my opponent
was prepared for this.}) 13... Bb7 ({I was, rather naively, hoping for} 13...
O-O $2 14. f5 e5 15. Nd5 $1 Ra7 16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. Ne2 $16) 14. Qd3 ({Bad is
the tempting} 14. Bxe6 $2 fxe6 15. Nxe6 Qc4 16. Nxg7+ Kf7 17. Nf5 Bxe4 $17)
14... g6 $5 {A very ambitious move, typical for Topalov.} (14... O-O 15. Rae1
Rfd8 $13) 15. f5 $5 {A no less ambitious move after which the board is on fire.
} (15. Rae1 O-O-O $13 {was probably the idea of 14...g6}) 15... gxf5 16. Nxf5
$1 {The only way to justify the previous move.} (16. exf5 $2 e5 {is a
positional nightmare for White.}) 16... exf5 17. Rxf5 d5 $1 ({I must admit
that the move} 17... Ng4 $6 {did not cross my mind during the game, but it
seems insufficient in view of} 18. Bxf7+ Kd8 19. Qg3 Ne5 20. Rd1 {with a
strong initiative to White.}) 18. exd5 $5 (18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 Bxd5 20. exd5
{was suggested by Topalov after the game, but while it is probably sufficient
for maintaining the balance, it still looks quite tame to me.}) 18... Qd6 $1 {
A good, human move.} ({During the game I was calculating mainly} 18... Rg8 19.
Re1 $1 (19. Raf1 Rg6 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Qxe4 O-O-O 22. Rxf7 Bd6 {with unclear
play.}) 19... Kd8 $1 (19... Kf8 20. Qf1 $1 Qb6 (20... Kg7 21. Rxf6 Bxf6 22.
Qxf6+ Kxf6 23. Ne4+ $16) 21. Ne4 $36) 20. Qf1 $1 Qd6 21. Rxe7 Kxe7 22. Rxf6
Qxf6 23. d6+ Qxd6 24. Qxf7+ Kd8 25. Qxg8+ Kc7 26. Qf7+ {with perpetual.}) 19.
Raf1 Ng4 20. Qh3 ({I spent a lot of time calculating} 20. R1f4 Nh6 $1 (20...
Rg8 $2 21. Qe2 {is bad for Black.}) 21. Ne4 Nxf5 22. Nxd6+ Nxd6 23. Qe3 $13 {
it was not clear to me if White has an edge here.}) 20... Rg8 $1 ({Obviously
bad is} 20... h5 21. Ne4 Qh6 22. Rxf7 $16) 21. Ne4 $6 {A move made 'by hand'
which spoils an interesting game.} ({Best was} 21. Rxf7 O-O-O 22. R1f4 h5 23.
Qxh5 Ne5 24. Ne4 Nxf7 25. Nxd6+ Nxd6 $13 {but in timetrouble I would like to
play Black in such a position, alltough the engines give a clear edge to White.
}) 21... Qh6 $1 22. Qxh6 $2 ({Only the line} 22. Re1 $1 Qxh3 23. gxh3 Nh6 24.
Re5 Kd8 25. Rxe7 Kxe7 26. Nc5+ Kf8 27. Nxb7 {would have given some saving
chances to White.}) 22... Nxh6 $17 23. Re5 Kf8 24. h3 $6 ({I did not see} 24.
Rh5 Rg6 25. Rxh6 Rxh6 26. d6 f6 27. dxe7+ Kxe7 {but Black is close to winning
anyway.}) 24... Rg6 25. g4 Re8 26. Re1 Ng8 27. Nc5 Ba8 28. g5 $2 Rd8 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Zhao, Zong Yuan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2567"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Australia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8.
Nge2 Re8 9. O-O Nf8 10. b4 Be6 11. b5 Ng6 12. Qc2 Bd6 13. f4 Bg4 14. Bxf6 Qxf6
15. Nxd5 Qd8 16. Ng3 Rc8 17. Bf5 Bxf5 18. Nxf5 c6 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Nc3 Bb4 21.
Ne4 a5 22. Rad1 h6 23. Neg3 Nf8 24. e4 Ne6 25. e5 Qb6 26. Nh5 Red8 27. Kh1 Kf8
28. Nfxg7 Nxg7 29. Nf6 Ke7 30. d5 Rh8 31. Qb3 Rcd8 32. d6+ Kf8 33. f5 Qb5 34.
Qg3 Qe2 35. Qf4 Ne8 36. Ne4 Rg8 37. Qxh6+ Rg7 38. Ng3 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Zhigalko, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2592"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Belarus"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BLR"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. c5
O-O 9. Na3 Bb7 10. b4 a5 11. Nc4 Nd5 12. Rb1 axb4 13. Nxb6 Nxb6 14. Rxb4 Ra6
15. Qb3 d5 16. Rxb6 Rxb6 17. cxb6 c5 18. O-O c4 19. Qb2 Nc6 20. a4 Qd7 21. a5
Ra8 22. Ra1 f5 23. e3 Bd6 24. h4 Ba6 25. Bc3 h6 26. Bf1 Kf8 27. Be2 Ke7 28. Bd1
Kd8 29. Ba4 Kc8 30. Ne5 Bxe5 31. dxe5 Kb7 32. Qa3 Rc8 33. h5 Rd8 34. Qc5 Qc8
35. Rd1 Rd7 36. f4 Rf7 37. Qd6 Qd7 38. Kf2 Qc8 39. Rxd5 exd5 40. e6 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Berg, Emanuel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2623"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Sweden"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SWE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 7. Nc3 Nc6 8.
Qg4 Nf6 9. Qg3 d6 10. O-O Ne5 11. Be2 O-O {Topalov is the first player on the
world rating list and the level of his theoretical preparation is excellent.
Black have been testing immediate activity with the b7-b5 advance, but the
position was not ripe for it.} (11... b5 12. Bf4 Qe7 (12... b4 13. Rad1 Qe7 14.
Rxd6 Qxd6 15. Bxe5 Qe7 16. Bd6 bxc3 17. Bxe7 Kxe7 18. Qxc3 $18 {1-0 Nisipeanu,
L (2707)-Korneev,O (2601)/Benidorm 2005 (28)}) 13. Rad1 Bb8 14. Qxg7 Rg8 15.
Qh6 b4 16. Na4 Ba7 17. Be3 (17. Bxe5 dxe5 18. Nac5 $16) 17... Neg4 18. Bxg4
Nxg4 19. Qxh7 Qf8 20. Bxa7 Rh8 21. Qxh8 Qxh8 22. h3 Rxa7 23. hxg4 {0-1 Belov,V
(2582)-Kobalia,M (2634)/Moscow 2005 (41)}) 12. Bf4 (12. Kh1 b5 13. f4 Nc4 14.
e5 Ne8 15. a4 Bd7 16. axb5 axb5 17. Ne4 Bc6 18. Bd3 Bxe4 19. Bxe4 d5 20. Bd3 f5
21. c3 Nc7 {1/2 Delchev,A (2669)-Korneev,O (2601)/Benidorm 2005}) 12... Bb8 13.
Rad1 Qe7 14. Be3 {Black's setup with the bishop on b8 supporting the diagonal
b8-h2 is very resilient, even though it seems a bit passive. Probably the most
problems for him would result from the modest advance of the white h-pawn.} (
14. Nd4 Ng6 15. Bg5 h6 16. Bc1 d5 17. Qd3 Ne5 18. Qg3 Nxe4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20.
Qe3 f5 $17 {0-1 Jimenez,P (2292)-Diamant,A (2384)/Havana 2007 (36)}) (14. h4 $1
b5 15. h5 b4 16. Bh6 Nfg4 17. Bxg4 bxc3 18. Be2 f5 19. bxc3 $14) (14. Bg5 Ng6
15. f4 h6 16. f5 exf5 17. exf5 hxg5 18. fxg6 d5 19. Qxg5 Bxh2+ 20. Kh1 Bc7 $11)
14... b5 15. f4 Nc4 16. Bxc4 (16. Bd4 e5 (16... Nxb2 17. e5 dxe5 18. fxe5 Nd7
19. Rd2 $14) 17. fxe5 dxe5 18. Bc5 Ba7 $11) 16... bxc4 17. Nd2 Bb7 (17... d5
18. e5 Nd7 19. b3 $14) 18. e5 (18. b3 cxb3 19. axb3 Rc8 $11) 18... dxe5 19.
fxe5 Nd5 20. Bg5 $6 {Berg has much improved as a chessplayer and he obviously
likes active solutions. The conservative move 20.Bd4 centralised the bishop
with a modest advantage.} (20. Bd4 Nxc3 21. Qxc3 Qg5 22. g3 Bd5 23. Rde1 $14)
20... Qc5+ 21. Kh1 f5 22. Nde4 $5 {White simply has to succeed on the kingside,
where he enjoys the advantage in number of pieces. The investment of the
knight is bringing him closer to the enemy king.} (22. Bh6 Qc7 23. Nxd5 Bxd5
24. Bf4 Ra7 $15) 22... fxe4 23. Nxe4 (23. Rxf8+ Qxf8 24. Nxe4 Qf5 $19) 23...
Rxf1+ 24. Rxf1 Qc7 (24... Qc6 $2 25. Bh6 Qc7 26. Nd6 $18) 25. Qg4 $2 {[%mdl 64]
Youth loves activity, but this move is pushing things way too far. Topalov's
defensive combination will be quite charming.} (25. Nd6 $1 Qd7 26. Rf7 Qxf7 27.
Nxf7 Kxf7 28. Qf3+ Kg8 29. Qg4 Bc8 30. Qxc4 Bd7 31. Qe4 $11) 25... Qxe5 26. Qh5
h6 (26... g6 27. Qh6 Ba7 $19) 27. Qf7+ Kh7 28. Rf4 (28. Ng3 Ra7 $19) 28... Nxf4
$1 29. Nf6+ (29. Bf6 Qc7 $19) 29... Qxf6 30. Bxf6 Bxg2+ 31. Kg1 Ba7+ {The
final check pointedly elevates the bishop to the role of the hero, as he was
descreetly supporting Black's play for the whole game.} 0-1

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 1st"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2008.12.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2008.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[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 Bd7 11. Rb1 Qc7 12. Bd3 (12. Bf4 Qc8 $1) 12... Rfd8
{This line was examined in CBM 108, annotations to Berkes-Sutovsky.} 13. h3 {
A quiet, solid but, of course, harmless move. The other options seen in recent
practice:} (13. Qc1 $5 Rac8 14. Rd1 a6 $6 (14... cxd4 15. cxd4 Qa5 $5) 15. Qa3
Qa5 16. Qxc5 Qxc5 17. dxc5 Be6 18. Rxb7 Bxa2 19. h3 Bc4 20. Nd4 $1 Bxd3 21.
Nxc6 Rxc6 22. Rxd3 $1 $16 {1-0 Berkes,F-Sutovsky,E/Paks 2005/CBM 108/
[Krasenkow] (48)}) (13. Qd2 Be8 14. d5 (14. Rfc1 e6 15. Bh6 Bh8 16. Qg5 Qd6 17.
Rxb7 cxd4 18. cxd4 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Qxd4 20. Qe7 Bg7 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Bf1 Qxe4
23. Rxa7 Qf4 $15 {0-1 Sundararajan,K-Sasikiran,K/Kolkata 2008/CBM 123 Extra 
(62)}) 14... Ne5 15. c4 a6 16. Rfc1 e6 17. Bf4 Qe7 18. Nc3 Nxd3 19. Qxd3 b5 20.
cxb5 axb5 21. Nxb5 Bxb5 22. Qxb5 exd5 23. exd5 Rxd5 24. Re1 Qd7 25. Be3 {
1/2-1/2 Moranda,W-Tomczak,J/Sroda 2008/CBM 122 Extra}) (13. Bf4 e5 14. Bg3 cxd4
15. cxd4 Rac8 16. d5 Na5 17. f3 Nc4 18. Bf2 Bh6 19. Bxc4 Qxc4 20. Rxb7 Ba4 21.
Qe1 Bb5 22. Ng3 Qa4 23. Qd1 Qa6 $13 {0-1 Vitiugov,N-Timofeev,A/Dagomys 2008/
CBM 124 (37)}) (13. f4 e6 14. f5 exf5 15. exf5 cxd4 16. cxd4 Re8 17. Qd2 Ne7
18. Bf4 Qc6 19. fxg6 hxg6 20. Rfc1 Qd5 21. Bc4 Qe4 22. Bd3 Qd5 23. Bc4 Qe4 24.
Bd3 Qd5 25. Bc4 Qe4 26. Bd3 {1/2-1/2 Grandelius,N-Hermansson,E/Reykjavik 2008/
CBM 123 Extra}) 13... Be8 14. d5 Ne5 15. c4 e6 (15... a6 $5 {[%cal Yb7b5]}) 16.
Nf4 Rab8 17. Be2 Rd6 $5 {Quite a rare route to activate this rook, which White
tries to refute in an original way.} 18. Qc2 Ra6 19. Rb5 $5 {[%mdl 512]
White's risk is that Black needn't take this rook at once as it has no real
way back anyway!} Bf8 (19... Bxb5 $143 20. cxb5 Rd6 21. Qxc5 Qxc5 22. Bxc5 Rd7
23. dxe6 (23. Bxa7 Ra8 24. b6 g5 25. dxe6 Rd2 $13) 23... fxe6 24. Nxe6 Re8 (
24... Rd2 25. Bd1) 25. Nxg7 Kxg7 26. Be3 $14) 20. a4 Bxb5 $6 {Here, too, it
was better to wait for a more appropriate moment for this capture:} (20... Rc8
$5 {[%cal Re8b5]} 21. Rc1 Bd7 $13) 21. cxb5 Rd6 22. Qc3 $1 {It is important to
lure the black bishop back to g7.} (22. Qxc5 $143 Qxc5 23. Bxc5 Rdd8 24. Bxa7 (
24. Bxf8 $6 Kxf8 25. dxe6 Rd4) 24... Ra8 25. Bd4 Bg7 $13) 22... Bg7 23. Qxc5
Rc8 (23... Qxc5 $142 24. Bxc5 Rd7 25. dxe6 fxe6 26. Nxe6 $14 {led to a
position similar to the one indicated in annotations to move 19.}) 24. Qxa7 b6
(24... g5 25. Nh5 $16) 25. Qxc7 Rxc7 26. Rd1 {[%csl Rb6][%cal Rd5e6] Black has
now got an additional weakness on b6.} Bf6 $2 {This strange move leads to
severe material losses.} (26... g5 $142 27. Nh5 (27. Nd3 Rc2 $1 28. Kf1 Ra2)
27... h6 $14) 27. dxe6 Rxd1+ 28. Bxd1 fxe6 29. Bb3 $1 (29. Nxe6 $143 Rc3) ({
After} 29. Bb3 Rc3 (29... Rb7 30. Nxe6 Kh8 31. f4 Nd7 32. Bd5 Ra7 33. e5) 30.
Bxe6+ Kg7 31. Nd5 Ra3 32. Nxb6 Bd8 33. Nd5 Rxa4 34. f3 {White's material
advantage is decisive so Black chose to resign at once.}) 1-0

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 1st"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2008.12.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2008.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bd6 9. O-O O-O 10. Qc2 (10. a3 {- see Topalov-Aronian and Svidler-Karjakin in
CBM 124.}) 10... Bb7 11. e4 e5 12. h3 {A useful waiting move, however, rarely
played.} (12. dxe5 {is the main line.}) 12... Re8 {This leads to the 12.dxe5
line with a transposition of moves. Practice has also seen:} (12... exd4 {
(Black's main option)}) (12... Qb8) (12... h6) (12... a6) 13. dxe5 (13. Be3 $5
exd4 $5 14. Nxd4 (14. Bxd4 b4) 14... Nc5) 13... Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Be3 Qe7
{Alternatives:} (15... a6 16. f4 $1 (16. Ne2 c5 17. Rad1 c4 18. Bxc4 Qc7 19.
Bd3 Qxc2 20. Bxc2 Bxe4 {1/2-1/2 Sargissian,G-Potkin,V/Warsaw 2005/CBM 108}) (
16. Rae1 c5 17. Bxc5 Rc8 18. b4 Nd7 19. Nd5 Nxc5 20. bxc5 Bd4 21. Qb3 Bxc5 22.
a4 {1/2-1/2 Bernard,C-Boudre,J/Massy 1993/EXT 1997}) (16. Rad1 Qc7 (16... Qe7
$5 17. Ne2 Bd6 18. Nd4 g6 19. Nb3 c5 $1 20. Nxc5 Rac8 21. b4 Nxe4 22. Bxe4 Bxe4
23. Qd2 Rcd8 24. Bd4 Be5 $11 {0-1 Akesson,R-Ernst,T/Gothenburg 2005/CBM 107
ext (57)}) 17. f4 Bxc3 18. bxc3 c5 19. e5 Nd5 (19... c4 20. Bf5 g6 21. Bg4 Be4
22. Qd2 Nxg4 23. hxg4 Bd3 24. Rf3 Qe7 25. Bd4 b4 26. cxb4 Qd7 27. Bc3 Qxg4 $11
{1-0 Koentges,M-Craciun,G/ICCF WS 2005/ICCF CBM 125 (67)}) 20. Bxh7+ $6 (20.
Bd2 g6 $13) 20... Kh8 21. Rfe1 g6 22. Bxg6 fxg6 23. Qxg6 Re7 $17 {0-1
Krzyzanowski,P-Feldmann,G/IECG 2002/Telechess CBM 105 (36)}) 16... Bd4 17. Bxd4
Qxd4+ 18. Kh2 g6 19. e5 Nd5 20. Nxd5 cxd5 21. Rad1 Qb6 22. Rde1 Rac8 23. Qe2
Rc7 24. f5 $36 {1/2-1/2 Renaze,L-Flear,G/Cap d'Agde 2006/EXT 2007 (42)}) (15...
Bd4 $5 16. Bxd4 Qxd4 17. Rad1 Qc5 {[%cal Rb5b4]} (17... Qb6 18. Kh2 c5 19. Bxb5
Bxe4 20. Qa4 Re6 21. Rfe1 a6 22. Bd7 Nxd7 23. Nxe4 Nf8 24. Qc2 Rae8 25. Re3 $14
{0-1 Itter,E-Wong,K/IECG 2005/Telechess CBM 119 (42)}) 18. Rfe1 a6 19. Qc1 h6
20. Nd5 $2 (20. Qf4 Re6 $11) 20... Nxe4 21. Ne7+ Kf8 22. Bxe4 Qxc1 23. Ng6+
fxg6 24. Rxc1 Re6 $15 {1/2-1/2 Gutman,G-Shalimov,V/Alushta 1999/EXT 2001 (58)})
16. Rfd1 {Or else:} (16. Rae1 a6 17. Ne2 (17. Nb1 c5 18. Bxc5 Qc7 19. b4 Rad8
20. Kh1 Qd7 21. Re3 Bf4 22. Rf3 Nxe4 23. Rxf4 Qxd3 24. Qxd3 Rxd3 $17 {0-1
Jelen,I-Soln,P/Krsko 1997/CBM 061 ext (30)}) (17. Rd1 Rac8 18. Rfe1 c5 $11 {
1-0 Bieker,P-Thier,F/DESC 2004/Telechess CBM 109 (33)}) 17... c5 $1 (17... Bd6
18. Nd4 g6 19. Nb3 Nd7 20. Na5 Ne5 21. Nxb7 Qxb7 22. Be2 Rac8 23. f4 Nd7 24.
Bg4 Rc7 25. e5 Bb4 26. Rd1 $16 {1-0 Bonin,J-Shabalov,A/New York 1992/EXT 1997 
(40)}) 18. Bxc5 Qc7 19. Bd4 Bh2+ 20. Kh1 Nxe4 21. Rc1 Qd6 22. Rfd1 Rac8 23. Nc3
Qb8 $15 {0-1 Sanchez Rodenas,A-Pinho,J/ICCF 2003/CBM 110 (43)}) (16. Ne2 Bc7 $5
(16... Rad8 17. Rad1 Bc7 {1/2-1/2 Trufanov,A-Chubakov,A/Tomsk 2003/CBM 095 ext
(42)} 18. Bc5 $5) 17. Rad1 $5 (17. Ng3 $6 Bxg3 18. fxg3 Nxe4 19. Rf4 Ng5 20.
Re1 g6 21. Rff1 Ne6 22. a3 Red8 23. Kh2 a5 24. Bb6 Rd7 25. a4 Rd5 26. Qc3 b4
27. Qc2 Rxd3 28. Qxd3 Ba6 29. Qf3 Bxf1 30. Rxf1 Qb7 $17 {0-1 Kulczycki,M-Kuhne,
D/LSS 2006/Telechess CBM 123 (45)}) (17. Nd4 Nxe4 18. Rfd1 Qe5 19. Nf3 Qe7 20.
Bxe4 Qxe4 21. Qxe4 Rxe4 22. Rd7 Rc8 23. Bxa7 Re2 $11 {1-0 Kolar,J-Sherwood,R/
IECG 2002/Telechess CBM 95 (40)}) (17. Bc5 Qe5 18. f4 Qxc5+ 19. Qxc5 Bb6 20.
Qxb6 axb6 21. e5 Nd5 22. Ng3 Rad8 23. Be4 f6 $11 {0-1 Likavsky,T-Buhmann,R/
Austria 2005/EXT 2006 (119)}) 17... Bb6 (17... Nxe4 $5) 18. Nd4 Qc7 (18... Nxe4
$2 19. Rfe1 Bxd4 20. Bxd4 f5 (20... c5 21. Bxb5 $1 cxd4 22. Bxe8 Rxe8 23. f3)
21. f3 c5 22. Bf2 c4 23. Bf1 $18 {1-0 Bonin,J-Alexopoulos,G/New York 1994/EXT
2004 (30)}) 19. Rfe1 Rad8 20. Nf3 c5 21. Bxb5 Bxe4 22. Qe2 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Re7
24. Ng5 Ba8 25. Bf4 {1/2-1/2 Mayer,C-Lifshitz,S/IECC 2005/Telechess CBM 113}) (
16. Rfe1 a6 17. Ne2 Bd6 (17... c5 $1) 18. Nd4 Bb4 19. Nf5 Qe6 20. Bd2 c5 $6 21.
Bxb4 cxb4 22. e5 $16 {1-0 Kuzubov,Y-Shalimov,V/Alushta 2002/EXT 2003 (46)}) (
16. a4 $5 {needs more tests} Bxc3 17. bxc3 Nxe4 18. Rfe1 Qh4 19. axb5 cxb5 20.
Bxb5 Rec8 21. Bd4 Nd6 22. Bf1 $4 (22. Bd3 $14) 22... Qxd4 {0-1 Ivanov,
S-Kounalakis,E/Sunny Beach 2008/CBM 126 Extra (29)}) 16... a6 17. Ne2 c5 $1 {
[%cal Gb7e4] A typical sacrifice in this kind of position, in order to
recapture this pawn on e4.} 18. Bxc5 Qc7 19. f3 $1 {White prefers to give up
his b2-pawn while keeping Black's Bb7 and Nf6 restricted.} Bxb2 20. Qxb2 Qxc5+
21. Qd4 Qe7 22. Bc2 Bd5 $2 {A curious idea but White manages to prove the
strength of his d5-pawn.} (22... Rac8 $142 23. Bb3 a5 $14 {/=}) 23. exd5 Qxe2
24. Bb3 (24. Rac1 $5) 24... a5 25. d6 a4 $6 {Now Black's queenside pawns
become weak.} (25... Rad8 $142 26. Rac1 a4 27. Bc2 $16) 26. Bd5 Rac8 $6 (26...
Nxd5 27. d7 $1 Red8 28. Qxd5 $16 {[%csl Gd7]}) 27. Rd2 Qe5 28. Qxe5 Rxe5 29.
Bb7 $1 Rd8 (29... Rb8 30. d7 Rd8 31. Bc6) 30. Rb1 g6 (30... Re6 31. Bc6 $1
Rdxd6 32. Rxd6 Rxd6 33. Bxb5 a3 34. Rb3) 31. Bc6 Rc5 32. Bxb5 Rb8 33. Rdb2 a3
34. Rb3 Rc2 $6 {After this move White keeps two extra pawns but} (34... Kg7 35.
d7 Rd5 36. Bc4 Rxb3 37. Rxb3 Rxd7 38. Rxa3 {is obviously hopeless.}) 35. Rxa3
Rd2 36. Ra7 Nd5 (36... Rxd6 37. a4 Rd2 38. Rc1 $18 {[%cal Rc1c7]}) 37. d7 Kg7
38. Re1 Ne3 (38... Nf4 39. a4 Nxg2 {- game}) 39. a4 (39. Rxe3 {was good enough:
} Rxb5 40. Re7 Rf5 (40... Rbb2 41. Rxf7+ Kh6 42. Rxh7+ Kg5 43. Ra5+ Kf6 44.
Ra6+ Kf5 45. Rf7+ Kg5 46. Kh1 $18) 41. a4 g5 42. a5 Kg6 43. a6 Ra5 44. Re2 $18)
39... Nxg2 40. Re4 (40. Re7 $142 {[%cal Re7f7]} Rd8 (40... Rf8 41. Re8) 41. Re8
Nh4 42. Bc6 $18) 40... g5 41. Rc7 Nh4 42. Rc3 Rb7 43. Re2 $4 {[%mdl 8192] A
sudden blunder in a winning position.} (43. Re7 Rb6 (43... Rb8 44. Re8) 44.
Ree3 $18 {[%cal Rc3d3]}) 43... Rbxd7 $14 {White still keeps winning chances
due to his strong a-pawn.} 44. Kf2 R7d5 45. Rxd2 Rxd2+ {[%mdl 4096]} 46. Ke3
Ra2 47. Kd4 Ng2 48. Kc4 Nf4 49. Kb3 Ra1 50. Kb2 Re1 51. Rc5 Kf6 $6 {It was
more important to bring the knight back:} (51... Ne6 $1) 52. a5 Re5 $4 {
The resulting endgame is lost for Black.} (52... Ne6 {was not so good now due
to} 53. Rc6 {[%cal Yc6b6,Ya5a6]}) (52... Re7 {was probably the most stubborn
defence.}) 53. Rxe5 Kxe5 54. a6 Ne6 55. a7 Nc7 56. Bc6 f5 57. Kb3 Kd6 {White
was threatening to bring his king forward and push the black knight away from
c7 (using zuzgwang if necessary); preventing that, Black allows the white king
to move to the kingside, after which White can already take the black knight
by a7-a8Q.} 58. Bb7 Kc5 59. Kc2 Kd4 60. Kd2 h6 61. Ke2 $22 Ke5 62. Ke3 Kf6 63.
Bc6 Ke7 64. a8=Q Nxa8 65. Bxa8 Kf6 66. Bc6 (66. Kd4 {was already possible} g4
$140 67. f4 $1) 66... Ke5 67. Bb5 Kd5 68. Ba6 Ke5 69. h4 $1 Kd5 (69... gxh4 {
is obviously hopeless.}) 70. hxg5 hxg5 71. Bc8 Ke5 72. Bd7 $22 (72. Bd7 Kf6 73.
Kd4 $18) 1-0

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 1st"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2008.12.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B45"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2008.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 {Eine andere Möglichkeit
gegen Paulsen zu spielen ist 5.Nb5.} (5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Nf6 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3 b6
9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Ne5 11. f3 Be7 12. Be3 O-O $132 {Es entsteht eine
Igelstellung, in der Weiß einige Probleme mit dem Na3 hat. Die Stellung ist
ungefähr ausgeglichen, beide Seiten haben ihre Chancen.}) 5... Nf6 {Schwarz
weicht von dem Paulsen-System ab.} 6. Ndb5 (6. Nxc6 $5 {Das Nehmen auf c6 ist
eine vollwertige Alternative.} bxc6 (6... dxc6 $6 7. Qxd8+ Kxd8 8. Bf4 Bb4 9.
O-O-O+ Ke7 10. f3 Rd8 (10... Bxc3 11. Bd6+ Ke8 12. bxc3 $16) 11. Be2 Bd7 12. a3
Bxc3 13. Bd6+ Ke8 14. bxc3 b6 15. g4 $16 {J.Polgar - Amura (Benidorm, 2002)})
7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Qc7 9. f4 Qb6 10. c4 $14 {Die Stellung ist sehr kämpferisch,
doch wie die Erfahrungen zeigen, sind die weißen Chancen besser.}) 6... Bb4 $6
{Schwer zu verstehen, warum Ivanchuk diese Variante ausgewählt hat. Es ist
wohl bekannt, dass Weiß einen "kostenlosen" Vorteil bekommt.} (6... d6 7. Bf4
e5 8. Bg5 a6 {führt mit Zugumstellung zur Sveshnikov-Variante.}) 7. a3 (7. Nd6+
$2 {Das Schachgebot gilt seit Ewigkeiten als Fehler: Schwarz tauscht nicht
seinen guten Läufer ab, sondern zieht es vor, mit dem König im Zentrum zu
bleiben.} Ke7 $1 (7... Bxd6 8. Qxd6 Qe7 9. Bf4 $16) 8. Nxc8+ Rxc8 9. Bd3 d5 10.
exd5 Nxd5 $15) 7... Bxc3+ 8. Nxc3 d5 9. exd5 $1 {Das ist die alte,
prinzipielle und meiner Meinung nach stärkste Fortsetzung. Das Endspiel, das
nach 9.Bd3 entsteht, kann man auch spielen, doch der Vorteil dort ist eher
minimal:} (9. Bd3 dxe4 (9... d4 $2 {Ein strategischer Fehler. Schwarz wird
nach der späteren Spielöffnung Schwierigkeiten haben, weil er dem weißen
schwarzfeldrigen Läufer nichts entgegenzusetzen hat.} 10. Ne2 e5 11. O-O O-O
12. h3 Re8 13. Ng3 Be6 14. f4 $1 exf4 15. Bxf4 Nd7 16. Qh5 g6 17. Qh6 Qf6 18.
Bg5 Qg7 19. Qh4 Nce5 20. Bh6 Qh8 21. Nf5 $1 $16 {Shirov - Grischuk (Linares,
2001)}) 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 Qxd1+ 12. Kxd1 Bd7 13. Be3 f5 14. Bf3 e5 15. Kc1
$14 {Weiß verfügt über das Läuferpaar und hat damit einen kleinen Vorteil.
Doch ich denke, dass Schwarz bei richtigem Spiel ausgleichen kann. Das Zentrum
und der schlecht platzierte weiße König sind die Gründe dafür.}) 9... exd5 10.
Bd3 O-O 11. O-O d4 (11... h6 {Der Versuch, den Bc1 einzugrenzen bringt nichts,
weil der Läufer sowieso rauskommt.} 12. Bf4 d4 13. Ne2 Nd5 14. Bg3 $14) 12. Ne2
Bg4 ({Nach} 12... Re8 {hat Weiß die Wahl, ob er die Entwicklung des Läufers
auf g4 vermeiden sollte oder nicht. Beide Möglichkeiten versprechen ihm gutes
Spiel.} 13. b4 (13. h3 h6 14. b4 a5 15. Rb1 axb4 16. axb4 Nd5 17. Qd2 Qh4 18.
Rb3 Re5 19. b5 Nce7 20. Nxd4 $16 {Berg - Ivanov (Copenhagen, 2007)}) 13... Bg4
14. f3 Bh5 15. Bb2 {Die Schwäche des d4-Bauern erlaubt Schwarz nicht, den
Springer über d5 nach e3 zu führen.} a6 (15... Nd5 16. Qd2 Ne3 17. Rfe1 a6 18.
Nxd4 Nxd4 19. Bxd4 $1 $18) 16. Rf2 $1 {Nun droht das Nehmen auf d4.} Bg6 (16...
Qb6 17. Nxd4 Nxd4 18. Bxd4 Qxd4 19. Bxh7+ $18) (16... Kh8 17. Bc4 $16) 17. Bxg6
hxg6 18. Nxd4 $16 {Vorobiov - Hasangatin (Pardubice, 2007)}) 13. f3 Bh5 14. Nf4
({Eine andere gute Möglichkeit ist} 14. Bg5 Qd6 15. Qd2 Nd5 (15... Rfe8 16.
Rad1 $16) 16. Be4 h6 17. Bf4 Nxf4 18. Nxf4 Bg6 19. Nxg6 fxg6 20. Qd3 Kh8 21.
Rad1 $16 {Iordachescu - Van Riemsdijk (Vlissingen, 2006)}) 14... Re8 $6 $146 {
Ehrlich gesagt gefällt mir diese Idee gar nicht. Weiß bekommt das Läuferpaar
plus der Bauer d4 ist schwach plus Weiß hat Chancen, auf Angriff zu spielen.
Das traditionelle 14....Bg6 ist jedoch auch nicht viel besser. Wie gesagt, die
gesamte Variante sieht sehr verdächtig aus.} (14... Bg6 15. Nxg6 hxg6 16. f4
$14 {Das Szenario ist ungefähr das gleiche wie in der Partie - Weiß kombiniert
das Spiel gegen die schwarzen Schwächen.}) 15. Nxh5 Nxh5 16. f4 $1 {Dieser Zug
dient zwei Zielen: erstens, der Bauer kann unter Umständen den weißen Angriff
unterstützen; zweitens, er nimmt dem schwarzen Springer das lebenswichtige
Feld e5. Grundsätlich gilt, Weiß darf den weißfeldrigen Läufer nur dann
tauschen, wenn er einen materiellen Nutzen davon zieht.} Nf6 17. Qf3 Nd5 {
Das Feld e3 ist die einzige Hoffnung des Schwarzen.} 18. Qh3 g6 (18... h6 19.
Qf5 g6 (19... Nf6 {Der Springer kam gerade von f6, sicherlich ist es keine
gute Idee, hin und her zu laufen.} 20. b4 $1 $16) 20. Qh3 Ne3 21. Bxe3 dxe3 (
21... Rxe3 22. Qxh6 $18) 22. Rae1 Qb6 23. Qxh6 Rad8 24. f5 e2+ 25. Rf2 Ne5 26.
h3 $1 (26. f6 $4 Qxf2+ 27. Kxf2 Ng4+ $19) 26... Nxd3 27. cxd3 Rd6 28. fxg6 fxg6
29. Qd2 $16) 19. f5 $1 {Die schwarze Stellung sieht furchtbar aus. Seine
einzige Chance ist es, mit dem Springer auf e3 das Übel zu kompensieren, doch
auch das gelingt nicht ganz.} Ne3 20. Qh6 $1 Qe7 (20... Nxf1 {Das Annehmen des
Opfers bringt die sofortige Katastrophe.} 21. fxg6 (21. Bg5 Qd6 22. Rxf1 Ne5
23. fxg6 fxg6 24. Bf6 Qc7 25. Be4 $44) 21... hxg6 (21... fxg6 22. Bc4+ Kh8 23.
Bg5 Qd6 24. Rxf1 Rf8 25. Bf7 $1 $18) 22. Bg5 (22. Bxg6 fxg6 23. Qxg6+ Kh8 24.
Bg5 Ne3 25. Bf6+ Qxf6 26. Qxf6+ $14) 22... Qd6 23. Rxf1 Qf8 24. Qh4 $18 {
Es ist keine Kompensationsstellung - Weiß steht auf Gewinn!}) 21. Rf4 gxf5 (
21... Nxf5 {gibt den letzten Vorposten auf e3 auf.} 22. Bxf5 gxf5 23. Bd2 Qe6
24. Qh3 Ne7 25. Rxd4 $16) 22. Bd2 $1 {Topalov spielt cool. Die schwarze
Bauernstruktur ist geschwächt, der König völlig kompromittiert. Weiß braucht
sich nicht zu beeilen, es ist offensichtlich, dass seine Läufer die Stellung
auseinander reißen werden.} Rad8 (22... Qe5 23. Re1 Re6 24. Qh4 Rg6 25. Bxe3
dxe3 26. Rxf5 Qg7 (26... Qxb2 27. Rxe3 Qc1+ 28. Re1 Qh6 29. Rh5 $18) 27. Be4
$16) 23. Bxf5 Nxf5 24. Rxf5 $18 {Schwarz ist chancenlos. Schlechte
Bauernstruktur, schwacher König, Läufer gegen Springer. Es ist ein Wunder,
dass Ivanchuk so lange überstanden hat.} Rd6 25. Qf4 (25. Qh5 $1 Rg6 26. Re1
Qd7 27. Ref1 Nd8 28. g3 $18) 25... Rg6 26. Rf1 Qe2 27. g3 Rf8 (27... Re4 28.
Qc7 $1 {Bevor Weiß den Damentausch anbietet, gewinnt er einen Bauern.} Re7 29.
Qc8+ Re8 (29... Kg7 30. Bg5 Qe6 31. Qa8 Rd7 (31... Re8 32. Rxf7+ Qxf7 33. Rxf7+
Kxf7 34. Qxb7+ Kg8 35. Bf4 $18) 32. Rf6 Qe5 33. Rxg6+ hxg6 34. Bf6+ Qxf6 35.
Rxf6 Kxf6 36. Kf2 $18) 30. Qxb7 Re7 31. Qc8+ {Die weiße Dame arbeitet sich
zurück nach Hause.} Re8 32. Qc7 Re7 33. Qf4 Re4 34. Qf2 $18) 28. Rf2 (28. Rxf7
$2 Qxf1+ 29. Qxf1 Rxf7 $16 {Immernoch steht Weiß mit Vorteil da, doch die
schwarzen Chancen steigen enorm.}) 28... Qe6 29. h4 Ne7 (29... Qd6 {sieht
besser aus, doch es führt sehr schnell zur Niederlage:} 30. h5 $1 Qxf4 (30...
Rxg3+ 31. Kh2 Qxf4 32. R2xf4 Rg7 33. Re4 $1 Rd8 34. Bh6 $18 {Interessantes
Bild - der Turm ist gefangen.}) 31. R2xf4 Rd6 (31... Rxg3+ 32. Kh2 Rg7 33. Re4
$18) 32. Rg4+ Kh8 33. h6 f6 (33... Rg8 34. Bg5 $1 $18) 34. Rg7 $18) 30. Re5 Qd7
31. h5 Rg7 32. Rg5 f5 33. Rxg7+ Kxg7 34. Qe5+ {Bis jetzt hat Topalov die
stärksten Züge gespielt. An dieser Stelle hätte er das Spiel mit 34.Bb4 sofort
beenden können. Wobei das keine große Rolle spielt, Weiß hat viele
Möglichkeiten zu gewinnen.} (34. Bb4 $1 Rf7 (34... Rf6 35. Re2 Re6 36. Rxe6
Qxe6 37. Qxd4+ Kh6 38. Qf4+ Kg7 39. Bxe7 Qxe7 40. Qxf5 Qe1+ 41. Kg2 Qe2+ 42.
Kh3 $18) 35. g4 Kg8 36. gxf5 $18) 34... Kg8 35. Bh6 Nc6 (35... Rf7 36. Qb8+ Nc8
37. Re2 $18 {Schwarz ist fast im Zugzwang!}) 36. Qf4 Rf7 37. g4 $1 d3 (37...
fxg4 38. Qg5+ Kh8 39. Bg7+ Kg8 (39... Rxg7 40. Rf8+ $18) 40. Be5+ Kf8 41. Qg7+
Ke8 42. Qg8+ $18) 38. cxd3 Kh8 39. gxf5 (39. Qc4 $5 {gewinnt noch schneller.}
Ne5 40. Qc3 Qc7 41. Qd4 Kg8 42. gxf5 $18) 39... Qxd3 40. Kg2 Qd5+ 41. Qf3 {
Übergang ins Endspiel ist eine gute Entscheidung - Schwarz hat nicht mal den
Ansatz auf eine Hoffnung.} Ne7 (41... Qxf3+ 42. Rxf3 Ne7 43. f6 Nd5 44. Bg5 $18
) 42. Qxd5 Nxd5 43. Rc2 $1 {Bringt auch die Türme vom Brett.} Rc7 (43... Ne7
44. Rc7 $18) (43... Nc7 44. Rd2 $18) 44. Rxc7 Nxc7 45. Kf3 {Der Rest ist
Technik.} Kg8 46. Ke4 Ne8 47. Ke5 Kf7 48. Bg5 Nc7 49. h6 Nb5 50. Be3 b6 51. a4
Nc7 52. Kd6 Na6 53. Kc6 Nb4+ 54. Kb7 Nd5 55. Bg5 a5 56. Kc6 Nb4+ 57. Kxb6 Nd3
58. b3 1-0

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 1st"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2008.12.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2008.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 $1 {Das ist die Fortsetzung,
die zum Ausgleich führt.} 6. Be3 Nd7 (6... cxd4 $5 {Zuletzt hat Schwarz keine
großen Probleme in dieser Variante gehabt.} 7. Nxd4 Ne7 8. Bg5 (8. c4 Nbc6 9.
Qa4 a6 10. Nc3 dxc4 11. O-O-O Bd3 12. Bxd3 cxd3 13. Rxd3 Qa5 14. Qb3 Nb4 15.
Rdd1 Ned5 $11 {Efimenko - Macieja (Plovdiv, 2008)}) 8... Qd7 9. Bxe7 Bxe7 10.
Nxf5 exf5 11. Bf3 (11. Nd2 Nc6 12. Nf3 O-O 13. O-O Rad8 14. Re1 Rfe8 15. Qd2
Bc5 $132 {Nijboer - Erenburg (Dieren, 2006). Der Bauer e5 ist genauso schwach
wie der Bauer d5.}) 11... Qb5 $1 (11... d4 $6 {Man sollte dem weißen Läufer
nicht so viel Platz machen.} 12. O-O Nc6 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Qd3 Rb8 15. b3 Rb5
16. Qg3 O-O 17. Nd2 Bb4 18. Nc4 Bc3 19. Rad1 $14 {Volokitin - Bareev (Warsaw,
2002)}) 12. Qxd5 Qxb2 13. O-O Nc6 14. Qb3 (14. Nd2 Rd8 15. Qb3 Qxb3 16. Nxb3
Kd7 $11 {Mamedov - Rodshtein (Plovdiv, 2008)}) 14... Qxb3 15. axb3 Kd7 16. Nc3
Rhd8 17. Rfd1+ Ke6 $11 {Almasi - Vallejo Pons (Heviz, 2008)}) 7. Nbd2 ({
Als Hauptzug gilt hier} 7. O-O {mit der Idee c4 durchzusetzen.} Ne7 (7... c4 8.
Nc3 $14 {Der Springer auf c3 verhindert ...b5.}) 8. c4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bxb1 (9...
Nxe5 10. cxd5 Qxd5 11. Qa4+ Qd7 12. Bb5 N5c6 13. Nc3 $44) 10. Rxb1 Nxe5 (10...
dxc4 11. Bxc4 Nxe5 12. Qa4+ N5c6 13. Rfd1 $18) 11. Qa4+ Nd7 (11... Qd7 12. Nb5
N5c6 13. Rbd1 $44) 12. Bf3 Nc8 13. cxd5 Ncb6 14. Qb3 e5 15. Ne6 $3 Qb8 (15...
fxe6 16. dxe6 Nf6 17. Qb5+ Ke7 18. Qxe5 $18) 16. Rbc1 $18 {Almasi - Berkes 
(Hungary, 2006)}) 7... c4 $5 {Dieser Zug kam in der Praxis nur zwei Mal vor.
Interessant ist der Versuch auf jedem Fall - Schwarz schließt den Damenflügel
und das Zentrum, so dass Weiß wenig Platz zum agieren hat.} 8. a4 $6 {Der
ganze Plan mit der Durchführung von b3 scheint mir verdächtig zu sein. Ich
würde das von Rublevsky gespielte 8.0-0 bevorzugen.} (8. O-O $1 b5 9. Ne1 Bg6
10. g4 Bb4 11. c3 Ba5 12. Ng2 Ne7 13. Nf4 $14 {Rublevsky - Dreev (Sochi, 2005).
Weiß spielt, wo er spielen muss - am Königsflügel. Seine Hauptidee ist es,
später f5 durchzusetzen.}) 8... h6 {In diesen Varianten sichert Schwarz mit
diesem Zug den Läufer f5 ab.} 9. b3 $2 {Wenn man den Plan mit b3 spielen will,
muss man ihn vorbereiten. Die Alternative 9.0-0 ist nicht mehr so gut.} (9. O-O
Ne7 $1 10. Ne1 Bh7 $1 11. g4 $6 {Sonst kommt 11....Nf5.} h5 12. h3 hxg4 13.
hxg4 Nc6 $15 {Die weiße Stellung fällt auseinander.}) (9. c3 $1 Ne7 10. b3 {
Jetzt ist es eine andere Sache - Weiß nimmt mit der Dame auf b3 und entwickelt
eine Initiative.} cxb3 11. Qxb3 Nc6 $5 12. Qxb7 $5 (12. O-O Na5 13. Qb2 Be7 14.
c4 $132) 12... Rb8 13. Qxc6 Rb6 14. Qb5 a6 (14... Rxb5 15. axb5 Qb8 16. O-O $14
) 15. Qxa6 Rxa6 16. Bxa6 Qa5 17. Bb5 Qxc3 18. O-O $132 {Die Stellung ist
ziemlich unklar. Ich denke, dass Weiß zumindest nicht schlechter steht.}) 9...
cxb3 10. Nxb3 (10. cxb3 Bb4 $15 {Und man landet in einer für Schwarz
superguten französischen Stellung.}) (10. c4 $5 {Ein verrückt aussehender
Versuch, doch macht er Sinn.} b2 (10... Bc2 11. Qc1 Bb4 12. O-O Ne7 13. Qb2
dxc4 14. Bxc4 Rc8 15. Rac1 Bxd2 16. Nxd2 O-O 17. Bxb3 Bxb3 18. Rxc8 Qxc8 19.
Rc1 Qb8 20. Qxb3 Rc8 21. Nc4 $11) 11. Ra2 Qb6 12. O-O dxc4 13. Bxc4 (13. Nxc4
b1=Q $19) 13... Qb4 14. Qb3 b1=Q 15. Nxb1 Rc8 16. Qxb4 Bxb4 17. Nbd2 Nb6 $11 {
Weiß steht nirgends besser, aber zumindest hat er Ausgleich. In der Partie man
hat das Gefühl, dass das Spiel auf ein Tor verlief.}) 10... Rc8 (10... Bb4+ 11.
Bd2 Bxd2+ 12. Nfxd2 Ne7 13. O-O O-O 14. c4 $11) 11. Ra2 Qc7 12. Bd3 (12. O-O
Bxc2 $19 {Das Problem ist nicht, dass der Bauer c2 hängt - das Problem ist,
dass der Nb3 ebenfalls hängt!}) 12... Bxd3 13. Qxd3 ({Auch} 13. cxd3 {bringt
Weiß in Nachteil.} Bb4+ 14. Bd2 Bxd2+ 15. Qxd2 Ne7 16. O-O Qc3 $15) 13... Ne7 {
Schwarz spielt sehr genau. Das Schach auf b4 bietet sich an, um die
Entwicklung schneller zu beenden, doch aus strategischer Sicht ist es richtig,
die schwarzfeldrigen Läufer nicht abzutauschen.} (13... Bb4+ $6 14. Bd2 Bxd2+
15. Nfxd2 Ne7 16. O-O O-O 17. a5 $11) 14. O-O Qc4 15. Rb1 (15. Qd1 Nf5 16. Nfd2
Qc7 17. Nf3 Be7 $15) 15... b6 ({Schlecht ist der Damentausch} 15... Qxd3 16.
cxd3 b6 {,} {denn nach} 17. a5 $132 {bekommt Weiß gutes Spiel gegen die
schwarzen Bauern des Damenflügels.}) 16. Qf1 (16. a5 $5 {Gab Weiß die
Gelegenheit, aktiv zu werden.} b5 17. a6 $8 {Sonst spielt Schwarz selbst a6.}
Nc6 18. Qxc4 dxc4 (18... bxc4 19. Na5 Rb8 20. Rb7 Rxb7 21. axb7 Nd8 22. Nxc4 $3
dxc4 23. Rxa7 Bb4 24. Ra8 $18) 19. Na5 Nb4 (19... Nxa5 20. Rxa5 b4 21. d5 exd5
(21... Bc5 22. dxe6 fxe6 23. Bxc5 Rxc5 24. Rxc5 Nxc5 25. Rxb4 Nxa6 26. Rxc4 Kd7
27. Ra4 Rb8 28. Kf1 Rb6 29. Nd4 $18) 22. Bxa7 $16) 20. Rab2 Nd5 21. Rxb5 Nc3
22. Nd2 Nxb5 23. Rxb5 Nb8 24. Naxc4 Nxa6 25. Ra5 Rc6 26. c3 Be7 27. Kf1 O-O 28.
Ke2 Rfc8 29. Kd3 $15 {Beide Seiten sind von gegnerischen Figuren gefesselt,
doch Schwarz hat noch Potential mittels R8c7-Nb8-Nd7-Nb6.}) 16... Nc6 17. c3 (
17. Qxc4 dxc4 18. Nbd2 Nb4 19. Ra3 Nd5 $15) 17... Qxc3 $1 {Für den Bauern hat
Weiß keine ausreichende Kompensation. Wenn Schwarz auf c3 nicht nehmen würde,
dann hätte Weiß die Option auf c4 zu nehmen.} (17... Be7 18. Qxc4 dxc4 19. Nbd2
{Jetzt ist dem schwarzen Springer das Feld b4 genommen.} Na5 20. Ne4 $132) 18.
a5 (18. Qd1 Qc4 19. Rc2 Qxa4 20. Nfd2 Be7 $17) 18... Be7 (18... Nb4 {Sieht
sogar stärker aus!} 19. Ra4 (19. Bd2 Qc4 20. Bxb4 Qxf1+ 21. Kxf1 Bxb4 22. axb6
axb6 23. Na1 Bc3 24. Ra7 Ke7 25. Nc2 Ra8 $19) 19... Qc4 20. Qd1 b5 21. Nbd2 (
21. Rc1 bxa4 22. Rxc4 Rxc4 23. Nbd2 Rc2 24. Ne1 Ra2 $17) 21... Qc3 22. Raa1 Qc6
23. Rc1 Qa6 24. Rxc8+ Qxc8 $17 {Schwarz behält den Bauern und Weiß den
schlechten Läufer.}) 19. axb6 axb6 20. Qd1 Qc4 (20... O-O {Das Damenopfer
bringt ebenfalls Vorteil.} 21. Rc2 Qb4 22. Nc5 bxc5 23. Rxb4 Nxb4 24. Rb2 c4
$15 {Und wenn Weiß jetzt taktische Tricks versucht} 25. Rxb4 Bxb4 26. Qa4 Ra8
27. Qxb4 Ra1+ 28. Ne1 Rb8 29. Qc3 Rbb1 $19 {wird er gnadenlos dafür bestraft.})
21. Nc1 {Üblicherweise ist es ein schlechtes Zeichen, wenn man solche Züge
spielen muss.} Nb4 22. Ra7 (22. Rab2 Nc2 23. Nd3 O-O $19 {Schwarz hat einen
gesunden Mehrbauern.}) 22... Qc2 $1 {Richtige Entscheidung - sind die Damen
vom Brett, ist die Stellung gewonnen.} 23. Qxc2 Nxc2 24. Bd2 Na3 25. Ra1 Nc4
$19 {Weiß ist chancenlos.} 26. Rb7 (26. Nd3 Nb8 27. Rb7 Nc6 $19) 26... Nb8 27.
Ra8 O-O 28. Raxb8 Nxd2 {Auch die Taktik ist auf der Seite von Schwarz!} (28...
Rxb8 $2 29. Rxe7 $132) 29. Rxc8 Nxf3+ 30. gxf3 Rxc8 31. Ne2 (31. Rxe7 Rxc1+ 32.
Kg2 Rc4 33. Rb7 Rxd4 34. Rxb6 g5 $19 {Das Turmendspiel ist absolut gewonnen.})
31... Bd8 32. f4 g6 33. Kg2 Kf8 34. Kf3 Ra8 35. Ke3 Ra3+ 36. Kd2 Bh4 0-1

[Event "World Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.02.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2009.02.17"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 {Experience may have taught Topalov that his peak of form usually
arises in the second part of important matches and tournaments. During his
unlucky match against Kramnik, he did not seem to take this detail into
account and went for a sharp and uncompromising fight from the very first game.
As a result, he suffered two defeats instead of what could otherwise have
become two of his best games ever. His opening choice in the second game
against Kamsky looks more cautious. Instead of his beloved Sicilian, he has
chosen the solid Ruy Lopez. Will it be a boring Berlin variation?!} 2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 $5 {A big surprise on the 4th move already! Topalov had
developed the bishop to c5 before, but only as an aswer to 4.d3.} 5. Nxe5 ({
Kamsky decides to set up forced play from an early stage of the game, instead
of the strategically more constructive} 5. c3 {followed by d4. Recently,
Topalov had failed to get anything with White in this line, which may explain
his decision to include it in his repertoire with Black.} O-O 6. d4 Bb6 7. Bg5
h6 8. Bh4 d6 9. Qd3 g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Qxd8 Rxd8
14. Bxe5 Re8 15. h3 f6 16. Bh2 Rxe4 17. Nbd2 Re8 18. a4 a5 19. Nc4 Ba6 {
Topalov,V (2767)-Vallejo Pons,F (2684)/Dos Hermanas 2008/CBM 123 Extra (1/2,
47)}) ({Kamsky's only (!!) experience against this line so far dates a long
time back and is completely irelevant from the theoretical point of view.} 5.
Nc3 O-O 6. Nxe5 Re8 7. Nf3 ({Deviating from one of the most famous games of
chess history, which continued with} 7. Nxc6 dxc6 8. Bc4 b5 9. Be2 Nxe4 10.
Nxe4 Rxe4 11. Bf3 Re6 12. c3 $2 Qd3 13. b4 Bb6 14. a4 bxa4 15. Qxa4 Bd7 16. Ra2
$2 Rae8 17. Qa6 Qxf3 $1 $19 {Paulsen,L-Morphy,P/New York 1857/MainBase/
[ChessBase] (0-1, 28)}) 7... Nxe4 8. d4 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bf8 $11 {Kamsky,G (2655)
-Winants,L (2505)/Tilburg 1992/CBM 032 (1-0, 42)}) 5... Nxe4 6. Qe2 Nxe5 7. d4
Qe7 {The previous sequence of moves looks completely chaotic, but has been
played before. White will retrieve the temporarily sacrificed piece, but he
aims to do it in the best way. Black's last move proves his intention to avoid
retreating unless this is absolutely necessary.} (7... Be7 8. Qxe4 Ng6 9. f4 c6
10. Bd3 d5 11. Qe2 f5 12. Nd2 O-O 13. Nf3 Nh8 {><e4} 14. Bd2 a5 {Shirov,A 
(2746)-Grischuk,A (2606)/New Delhi/Teheran 2000/CBM 080/[Ftacnik] (1-0, 44)}
15. Rae1 $1 Bf6 16. b4 Nf7 17. bxa5 Nd6 18. Ne5 Ne4 19. Bb4 Re8 $14 {Shirov})
8. dxc5 (8. Qxe4 {allows Black to maintain the material equality with} Nc6 {.})
8... Nxc5 9. Nc3 $146 {White has excellent compensation for the sacrificed
pawn. He is far ahead in development and has an active pair of bishops. The
only thing that will not be compensated in any way is the slowness with which
Kamsky effectuated his moves and which inevitably led him to hopeless
time-trouble. Until this moment, Topalov had spent only a minute, but after
White's last move he started thinking longer. I wonder whether he had really
failed to analyse at home Kamsky's logical novelty.} (9. b4 {is not convincing.
} a6 10. bxc5 axb5 11. Re1 Ra6 $1 {An important resource, saving the game for
Black.} (11... f6 $2 12. f4 Qxc5+ 13. Be3 Qc4 14. fxe5 $18 {Gipslis,A (2535)
-Gonsior,E (2385)/Hradec Kralove 1977/EXT 2007 (1-0, 51)}) 12. Qxe5 $2 Re6 13.
Bb2 Kd8 $3 $19) 9... Ng6 10. Qh5 {I am not sure that this is the best move.
White moves for the second time with an already developed piece.} (10. Be3 {
looks more logical, continuing the development of the queenside and
threatening to win a piece with Bxc5.} Ne6 (10... O-O $6 11. Nd5 Qd6 12. Rad1
$16) 11. f4 f5 {I believe that this position is critical for the evaluation of
the whole variation. White is several tempi ahead in development and has an
active pair of bishops, but cracking Black's position is not easy yet. He
probably should keep activating his pieces with Rad1, Rae1 or Nd5, since the
subsequent analysis proves that pawn moves, aiming to make the enemy knights
feel uncomfortable, do not give the desired effect.} 12. h4 (12. g4 $6 O-O 13.
gxf5 Rxf5 14. Bd3 Nh4 15. Bxf5 Nxf5 $44 {[%cal Gb7b6,Gc8b7,Gg7g6,Ga8f8] I
guess Topalov would be just too happy to get such wonderful compensation for
the exchange.}) 12... c6 (12... Qxh4 13. Bf2 $16 {[%cal Ge2e6,Gc3d5]}) (12...
O-O 13. h5 Nh8 14. g4 $36 {Black finds it more difficult to consolidate the
f5-square.}) (12... Nxh4 13. Nd5 Qf7 14. Bf2 $36 {[%cal Gd5c7]}) 13. h5 cxb5
14. Nd5 (14. hxg6 hxg6 15. Nxb5 Qh4 $11 {allows Black force a draw by
perpetual if he so wishes.}) 14... Qd8 (14... Qd6 15. Rad1 Qc6 16. g4 $36) 15.
hxg6 hxg6 16. Bf2 $44 {[%csl Gh4] White's compensation is obvious, but I do
not sense big dangers for Black, either.}) 10... c6 11. Bg5 f6 12. Rae1 Ne6 13.
Bd3 O-O 14. Bd2 {Over the past few moves, White has considerable activated his
pieces. Black mainly relies on his lack of weaknesses, which offers him
chances to resist.} d5 $1 {This is the only move that keeps Black in the game.
Since his main problem is the delay in development, he needs to open the h3-c8
immediately.} ({In the event of} 14... Qf7 {, aiming to meet f2-f4 with f6-f5,
White would consolidate his lead in development with} 15. Ne4 {when the
occupation of the d6-square would leave Black paralyzed after, for instance}
Ne5 ({The exchange of queens with} 15... Ngf4 16. Qxf7+ Rxf7 {would not bring
the desired relief after} 17. Bxf4 Nxf4 18. Nd6 Nxd3 19. cxd3 Rf8 20. Re7 {
and Black is in trouble.}) 16. Qh3 Nxd3 17. Nd6 $1 {An important intermediate
move.} Nef4 18. Bxf4 Nxf4 19. Qg4 {followed by Qxf4 with a clear advantage for
White.}) 15. f4 {This is the only way to keep fighting for the initiative.} (
15. Re3 $2 d4 16. Rh3 Ng5 $17) (15. Bxg6 hxg6 16. Qxg6 Bd7 $11) 15... Qc5+ $1 {
This move repells White's attack and leads to the simplification of the
position. At this height of the game, Kamsky had about 8 minuts left on his
clock. Quite a difficult situation...} 16. Kh1 $2 ({After this over-cautious
move White will find himself struggling.} 16. Be3 {was necessary, taking the
d4-square under control, for instance} d4 17. Bxg6 hxg6 ({Black should go for
the opposite coloured bishops. In case of} 17... Qxh5 18. Bxh5 dxe3 19. Rxe3 {
White retains a small edge.}) 18. Qxc5 Nxc5 19. Bxd4 Ne6 {. Black should not
have problems completing his development and gradually equalizing.}) 16... d4
17. Bf5 {With little time on his clock, Kamsky may have overrated the effects
of this move, which threatens to win the queen with Bxe6.} Rf7 $2 ({This move
deserves criticism only because there was an even better one:} 17... Nexf4 $1
18. Rxf4 (18. Bxf4 {allows} Qxf5) 18... dxc3 {Black will emerge a pawn up,
because} 19. Be6+ $2 {does not work in view of} Bxe6 20. Qxc5 cxd2 {with a
decisive material advantage.}) 18. Ne4 Qd5 19. Bxg6 hxg6 20. Qxd5 cxd5 21. Nd6
{It may seem that White is on the top again. After the "obvious" 21...Re7,
defending the knight, White maintains a strong initiative with 22.Bb4.} Rc7 $3
{A fantastic move, starting powerful counterplay.} 22. c4 $2 ({This is
premature panicking with less than 3 minutes left. He should have accepted the
sacrifice with} 22. Nxc8 Raxc8 23. Rxe6 {, although after} Rxc2 {Black has
sufficient material compensation and a strong initiative for the bishop.
Another important aspect is that the black king is safer than its counterpart.
White's position looks dangerous, but he would have remained in the game.})
22... dxc3 23. Bxc3 d4 {Everything is over now. Kamsky is a clear pawn down
and had practically no time left on his clock.} 24. Bb4 Bd7 25. Rf2 a5 26. Ba3
b5 27. b3 b4 28. Bb2 Ra6 29. Ne4 Rac6 30. Kg1 Rc2 31. g3 d3 32. Rd1 f5 {
A tragic game for Kamsky, but quite interesting to follow from the spectators'
point of view.} 0-1

[Event "World Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.02.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2009.02.17"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {After getting nowhere against the Grünfeld, Topalov makes a change
already on move 1.} e6 {This is a much bigger surprise, as Kamsky has
previously never played the French Defence.} 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 {Topalov fights
for the opening initiative and is not interested, what Kamsky has up his
sleeve against his usual aggressive choice} (3. Nc3) 3... c5 4. Ngf3 {Although
this is played quite often and can yet transpose into the main lines, the most
principled continuation is still} (4. exd5) 4... cxd4 ({One of Topalov's rare
outings with 3.Nd2 went} 4... Nc6 5. exd5 exd5 (5... Qxd5 $143 $6 6. Bc4 Qd8 7.
dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qe2 Nf6 9. O-O $14 Qc7 10. Ne4 Be7 11. b3 Bd7 12. Bb2 O-O-O 13.
Rad1 Qf4 14. Nd6+ $1 Bxd6 15. g3 Qg4 16. Rxd6 h5 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 Qxe2 19.
Bxe2 $14 {/+/-, Deviatkin,A (2543)-Pogosian,G (2196)/Sochi/2008/}) 6. Bb5 Bd6
7. O-O cxd4 8. Nb3 Nge7 9. Bxc6+ $5 (9. Nbxd4 {leads to usual theoretical
positions.}) 9... bxc6 10. Qxd4 O-O 11. Bf4 Nf5 12. Qa4 Qb6 (12... c5 $5 13.
Bxd6 Qxd6 14. Qa3 Ba6 15. Rfe1 Rac8 $132) 13. Rfe1 (13. Bxd6 $142 Nxd6 14. Ne5
c5 15. Qc6 Qxc6 16. Nxc6 c4 17. Nbd4 Re8 18. Rfe1 Be6 19. Re5 Kf8 20. f3 a6 21.
Kf2 Nb5 22. Nxb5 axb5 23. c3 Ra6 24. Nd4 Rb8 25. Nc2 $36 {Degraeve,J (2523)
-Vaisser,A (2542)/FRA-ch Pau/2008/}) 13... c5 14. Rad1 Be6 15. Ng5 Rae8 16.
Bxd6 Nxd6 17. Qa5 Nb7 18. Qc3 h6 19. Nxe6 fxe6 $11 {Topalov,V (2769)
-Harikrishna,P (2668)/Bilbao/2007/ However, this was a rapid blindfold game.})
(4... dxe4 $6 5. Nxe4 cxd4 6. Qxd4 $32 {|^}) ({Topalov himself opted for the
rare} 4... a6 5. dxc5 Bxc5 6. Bd3 (6. Nb3 $142 Ba7 7. exd5 $14 {/<=>}) 6... Nc6
7. O-O Nge7 8. exd5 exd5 9. Nb3 Bb6 10. Re1 O-O 11. Be3 Bc7 12. h3 h6 13. c3
Re8 14. Qc2 Qd6 15. Rad1 Qf6 16. Nbd4 Bd7 17. Qd2 Ng6 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. Bd4 Qd6
20. b4 a5 21. a3 axb4 22. axb4 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Re8 $11 {Anand,V (2784)-Topalov,
V (2700)/Wijk aan Zee/1999/ and White's slight edge gradually evaporated.}) ({
Another alternative is} 4... Nf6 5. exd5 (5. e5 Nfd7 6. c3 Nc6 $13 {leads to
different lines - C05-6.}) 5... Nxd5 6. Nb3 cxd4 7. Nbxd4 Be7 8. g3 {This line
could arise also in the game after the possible 5...Nf6 - White has a slight
edge and Black has to defend with care.} (8. Bd3 $5)) 5. Nxd4 {Topalov avoids
a theoretical duel and leads to game to less trodden paths.} ({The more usual} 
5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O {was featured in Game 7.}) 5... Nc6 ({A
different, but viable approach, preferred by French connoisseurs Ni Hua and S.
Ivanov, is} 5... Nf6 6. exd5 Qxd5 $5 (6... Nxd5 7. N2f3 Be7 $14 {-4...Nf6}) 7.
N2f3 $5 (7. Nb5 Na6 8. c4 (8. Nc3 Qd8 9. a3 Be7 10. Bc4 O-O 11. Qe2 Nc5 12. O-O
a6 13. b4 Ncd7 14. Bb2 a5 (14... Qc7 $5 $132) 15. bxa5 Qxa5 16. Nb5 Nb6 17. Bc3
Qa4 18. Bb3 Qh4 19. Nc7 Rxa3 20. g3 Qg4 21. Qe3 Rxa1 22. Rxa1 Nbd7 23. Nxe6 $36
{Timofeev,A (2657)-Ni Hua (2607)/Taiyuan/2006/}) (8. Be2 Qxg2 $5 (8... Bd7 9.
c4 Qxg2 10. Bf3 Qh3 11. Bxb7 Nb4 12. Ne4 Nd3+ 13. Ke2 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Nxc1+ 15.
Rxc1 Rb8 16. b3 Bc5 17. Nc7+ Ke7 18. Na6 Rb6 19. Nxc5 Qh5+ 20. f3 Qxc5 21. Qg1
Qe5 22. Qg3 $14 {Ni Hua (2703)-Lysyj,I (2595)/RUS-chT Dagomys/2008/}) 9. Bf3
Qg5 10. a4 Qh4 (10... Bc5 11. Nc4 Qh4 12. Qe2 O-O 13. Ne5 $6 (13. Rg1 $142 $13)
13... Nb4 14. Rg1 Nfd5 15. Bg5 Qxh2 16. Rg3 (16. Rh1 $17) 16... f6 17. c3 fxe5
18. cxb4 Qxf2+ 19. Qxf2 Bxf2+ 20. Kxf2 e4 $19 {Brandenburg,D (2340)-Erdos,V 
(2450)/EU-chJ Iraklion/2004/}) 11. Rg1 Bc5 (11... Qxh2 $5) 12. Qe2 O-O 13. b3
Nb4 14. Nc4 a6 15. Bg5 Qxh2 16. Rh1 Bxf2+ 17. Kf1 Qg3 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Qxf2
Qxf2+ 20. Kxf2 axb5 21. Rag1+ Kh8 22. Rh4 bxc4 23. Rgh1 {1/2, Yemelin,V (2460)
-Ivanov,S (2515)/St Petersburg/1996/}) 8... Qf5 (8... Qc6 9. a3 Be7 10. b4 O-O
11. Nd4 Qd7 12. Bb2 (12. N2f3 {Avrukh,B (2591)-Zifroni,D (2540)/ISR-chT/2002/}
Rd8 $1 13. Qc2 e5 14. Nb5 e4 $36 {Avrukh}) 12... e5 13. Nc2 $5 Qc7 14. Ne3 Rd8
15. Qc2 Nb8 16. Bd3 Be6 17. Ne4 h6 (17... g6 $142 $132) 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. Rd1
Qe7 20. Bh7+ Kh8 21. Rxd8+ Qxd8 22. Bf5 Bxf5 23. Qxf5 Nc6 24. O-O $14 {Evans,G
(2252)-Petrov,M (2114)/corr/2003/}) 9. Be2 Be7 10. O-O (10. Nf3 O-O 11. Nd6
Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qb6 13. Nxc8 Raxc8 14. Qc2 Nb4 15. Qb1 Bc5 16. O-O Nc6 17. Bc3
Rfd8 18. Qc2 Nb4 19. Qb1 Nc6 20. Qc2 Nd4 21. Nxd4 Bxd4 $11 {Godena,M (2535)-Ni
Hua (2641)/Reggio Emilia/2008/}) 10... O-O 11. Nd4 Qc5 12. N2b3 Qe5 13. Bf3 Qc7
14. Qe2 Bd7 15. Be3 Rac8 16. Rac1 Nc5 17. Rfd1 Nxb3 18. axb3 b6 19. Nb5 Qb8 20.
Bd4 Bc6 21. Ra1 Bxf3 22. Qxf3 a5 23. Qe3 Bc5 $11 {Howell,D (2593)-Ni Hua (2710)
/Dresden olm/2008/}) 7... Nc6 (7... a6 8. Bd3 e5 9. Qe2 Bb4+ 10. c3 O-O 11. Bc4
Qd8 12. Nxe5 Qxd4 13. O-O Bxc3 14. bxc3 Qc5 15. Qe3 Qxe3 16. Bxe3 Nbd7 17. Nf3
$5 b5 18. Bb3 Bb7 19. c4 bxc4 20. Bxc4 Rfc8 21. Rfc1 Bd5 22. Bf1 Rxc1 23. Bxc1
a5 24. a4 $14 {[%csl Gc1,Gf1] _|_^^, Rozentalis,E (2645)-Ivanov,S (2530)/
Krynica/1997/}) (7... Bc5 8. Be2 (8. c4 $5) 8... Nc6 9. c4 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Qa5 11.
Nxc6 bxc6 12. a3 Bxd2+ 13. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 14. Kxd2 c5 15. b4 Ke7 16. Ne5 Bb7 17.
Ke3 $14 Bxg2 $6 18. Rhg1 Be4 19. Rxg7 Bg6 20. Rg1 Nd7 21. R1xg6 Nxe5 22. Rh6
$16 {Smagin,S (2575)-Ivanov,S (2550)/RUS-ch St Petersburg/1998/}) 8. Nb5 (8.
Nxc6 $5) 8... Bb4+ 9. c3 Qxd1+ 10. Kxd1 Ba5 11. Nd6+ Ke7 12. Nxc8+ Raxc8 13.
Bd3 Rhd8 14. Ke2 Ng4 15. Rd1 Bb6 16. Bg5+ f6 17. Bh4 Nge5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Be4
Nc4 20. Rxd8 Rxd8 21. b3 Nd6 22. Bd3 g5 23. Bg3 h5 $132 {Yudasin,L (2600)
-Ivanov,S (2515)/St Petersburg/1997/}) 6. Bb5 {This natural move is the best.}
({After} 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 Nf6 8. O-O Be7 {Black is doing fine. He has a
better version of a similar line from the Pauslen Sicilian and actually if
after} 9. Re1 {Black plays even the senseless} a6 $6 {, he gets a playable
theoretical position - B46.}) 6... Bd7 7. Nxc6 (7. Bxc6 Bxc6 (7... bxc6 $143 8.
O-O Bd6 9. Re1 Qb8 10. exd5 cxd5 11. Nf5 $1 Bxh2+ 12. Kh1 Kf8 13. Nf3 exf5 14.
Nxh2 Nf6 15. Nf3 Be6 16. Kg1 Qb4 17. Nd4 h6 18. b3 Re8 19. Bb2 Ne4 20. Qf3 $40
{Smirin,I (2673)-Dizdar,G (2542)/CRO-chT Sibenik/2005/}) 8. Nxc6 (8. O-O Bc5 $5
9. N2b3 Bd6 $13) 8... bxc6 {-7.Nc6}) 7... Bxc6 ({Here after} 7... bxc6 8. Bd3 {
the situation differs from the 6.Nc6 line, as Black's B is misplaced on d7 and
he has problems developing his N to the natural f6-square. A spectacular crush
was} Qc7 (8... Nf6 $6 9. e5 $16) (8... Bd6 9. Qe2 Ne7 10. e5 $36) (8... Bc8 $5
{, recommended by Gulko, is perhaps the best choice, but it's not easy to make
such a move!}) 9. Qe2 Bd6 (9... Ne7 10. c4 $5 $36 {Yudasin}) 10. Nf3 dxe4 11.
Qxe4 Nf6 12. Qh4 Rb8 (12... Nd5 $142 $1 $14) 13. O-O Nd5 14. Re1 $1 Be7 15. Qg4
g6 16. c4 f5 17. Bxf5 $3 Nf6 18. Qf4 Qxf4 19. Bxf4 Rxb2 20. Bxe6 Bc5 21. Bxd7+
Kxd7 22. Ne5+ Kc8 23. Nd3 {1-0, Yudasin,L (2605)-Gulko,B (2635)/Biel izt/1993/}
) 8. Bxc6+ ({Too soft and sterile is} 8. Qe2 Nf6 9. O-O Be7 10. exd5 Qxd5 11.
Bxc6+ Qxc6 12. Nf3 a6 13. Bg5 Rc8 14. c3 Qe4 15. Rfe1 Qxe2 16. Rxe2 Nd5 17. Rd1
Bxg5 18. Nxg5 O-O $11 {Narciso Dublan,M (2468)-Psakhis,L (2599)/Andorra/2000/})
8... bxc6 9. c4 $1 {White must act immediately, after} (9. O-O Nf6 $11 {
Black equalizes easily.}) 9... Bd6 {Another important moment. Kamsky chooses a
rare, but sound and logical developing move. However, Black has more than one
alternative:} (9... Nf6 10. Qa4 Qd7 $142 (10... Qc7 11. exd5 exd5 12. O-O Be7
13. Nf3 (13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Nf3 O-O 15. Bd2 Bf6 16. Rac1 Bxb2 17. Rxc6 Qd7 {
1/2, Smirin,I (2649)-Ni Hua (2710)/ECC Kallithea/2008/}) 13... O-O 14. Bg5 Rab8
15. cxd5 Nxd5 16. Qc2 h6 17. Bxe7 Nxe7 18. Rfe1 $14 {[%csl Ra7,Rc6] ׫, Zhang
Zhong (2632)-Villamayor,B (2469)/Manila/2008/}) 11. e5 Ng8 $1 12. O-O Ne7 13.
Nf3 c5 (13... dxc4 $5 {/\Nd5<=>}) 14. Qc2 Nc6 15. Rd1 d4 16. Qe4 Rb8 17. h4 Be7
18. h5 h6 19. Qg4 Kf8 20. b3 a5 21. Bf4 a4 22. Nd2 Kg8 23. Ne4 Kh7 24. Rd3 Rhg8
25. Rf3 Ra8 26. Re1 axb3 27. axb3 Qe8 28. Bg3 Ra7 29. Qf4 Rf8 30. Nf6+ gxf6 31.
exf6 Bd8 32. Qe4+ Kh8 33. Qf4 Kh7 34. Qe4+ Kh8 {1/2, Arizmendi Martinez,J 
(2478)-Karpov,A (2692)/Manises/2001/}) (9... Qa5 $5 {aims to prevent Qa4} 10.
Qb3 (10. exd5 cxd5 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. Qa4+ Qd7 13. Qxd7+ Kxd7 14. Nc4 Nf6 15.
Ke2 Bc5 16. Rd1+ Nd5 17. Be3 Rhc8 18. Bxc5 Rxc5 19. Ne3 Rac8 $11 {Jurcik,M 
(2378)-Likavsky,T (2485)/Prievidza/2008/}) 10... Rd8 11. O-O Nf6 12. e5 Nd7 13.
Qg3 Qa6 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. Nb3 g6 16. Bg5 Rc8 17. Rac1 Bg7 18. Qd3 Rc4 19. Rxc4
Qxc4 20. Rc1 Nxe5 21. Qe3 Qa6 22. Qc5 f6 23. Bh6 {1/2, Vachier Lagrave,M (2632)
-Malakhatko,V (2621)/Paris/2008/} Nd7 24. Qe3 O-O 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Rc7 Rf7 27.
Rxa7 Qd6 $13) (9... dxe4 10. Nxe4 (10. Qa4 f5 $5 (10... Qb6 11. Nxe4 Qb4+ 12.
Qxb4 Bxb4+ 13. Bd2 $14) 11. Qxc6+ (11. f3 Qb6 $1 $17) 11... Kf7 12. O-O Nf6 13.
Nb3 Bd6 14. h3 Rc8 15. Qb7+ Qc7 $36 {1/2, Erenburg,S (2595)-Hug,W (2445)/
Gothenburg/2005/}) 10... Qxd1+ 11. Kxd1 Nf6 12. Nxf6+ gxf6 13. Be3 Rg8 14. g3
c5 15. Kc2 Kd7 16. Rhd1+ Kc6 17. Rd3 Be7 18. Rad1 Rgd8 $11 {/+/= gives White a
long-term, but only very slight advantage - until now in all games with GM
opposition Black managed to hold the _|_.}) ({Lately Black has experienced
problems after} 9... Bc5 10. Qa4 {, but possibly the matters are not so
serious:} Ne7 11. exd5 exd5 12. Nb3 (12. cxd5 Qxd5 13. O-O O-O $11) 12... Bb6
13. c5 Bc7 14. O-O O-O 15. Bg5 f6 16. Bf4 Be5 17. Rae1 Bxb2 $5 (17... Ng6 18.
Bc1 Rc8 19. Qxa7 f5 20. f4 Bf6 21. Re6 Re8 22. Rfe1 Rxe6 23. Rxe6 Nf8 24. Re2
Rc7 25. Qa6 Re7 26. Rxe7 Qxe7 27. Bd2 $36 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2681)-Stellwagen,
D (2616)/Paks/2008/}) 18. Bd6 Rf7 19. Bxe7 (19. Na5 Nf5 $132) 19... Rxe7 20.
Qxc6 Rc7 21. Qe6+ Kh8 22. Re2 Bc3 23. Rd1 d4 24. Qg4 Qd7 25. Qf3 Rac8 26. Re4 {
Krueger,H (2398)-Newman,N/corr/2003/} h6 $11) 10. cxd5 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (10. Qa4
Qd7 11. exd5 cxd5 12. Qxd7+ Kxd7 13. cxd5 exd5 14. O-O Ne7 15. Nf3 Rab8 16. b3
a5 17. Bd2 Bb4 18. Bf4 {Mahjoob,M (2335)-Ghane Gardeh,S (2315)/IRI-ch/2000/}
Rbc8 $11) 10... cxd5 11. exd5 exd5 12. O-O (12. Qa4+ Qd7 {could have
transposed into the previous example. Topalov keeps the queens on the board,
which allows White to exert somewhat more pressure.}) 12... Ne7 (12... Nf6 $2 {
is more active, but after} 13. Re1+ {Black will have problems with both his K
and activating his Rh8.}) 13. Nf3 (13. Qa4+ Qd7 14. Qxd7+ Kxd7 15. Nf3 {-10.Qa4
}) 13... O-O 14. Qd3 {[%mdl 32] Now playing Qa4 makes little sense and White
prefers to centralize his Q instead. The opening is over and both sides can be
more or less satisfied: Topalov, despite a surprise already on move 1, has
achieved a comfortable position, in which he can without any excessive risk
try to gain something more tangible, than a microscopic edge. On the other
hand, Kamsky has survived the opening without serious damage and with patient
he can hope to neutralize White's slight pull in the long run. The following
phase of the game is characterized by positional manoeuvring, when most of the
strategic battle takes place in the open [+]. While one can suggest
improvements for both sides on more than one moment, objectively the balance
of the position remains almost undisturbed, right up to the fateful mistake on
move 35.} Qd7 ({After} 14... Qb6 {Black has to reckon with} 15. Ng5 {, forcing
>> concessions. Kamsky's move is passive, but safe.}) 15. Rd1 (15. Ng5 $142 Qf5
$11) (15. Re1 $5 {is a plausible alternative - right now the Pd5 is reliably
defended later in the game White's R will occupy the open <-> anyway.} Qf5 16.
Qxf5 Nxf5 17. Bd2 $14 {/=}) 15... Rfd8 16. Be3 a5 {The P leaves a vulnerable
square and makes it more difficult for White to advance his <<P-majority.} (
16... Nf5 17. Bg5 $14 {/\} f6 $2 18. Qxd5+ Kh8 19. Bf4 $16) 17. g3 h6 {Both
sides need a luft for their K.} 18. Bb6 {Why force Black's R to occupy a more
active square?} (18. Bd4 $5) 18... Rdc8 (18... Re8 $5) 19. Bd4 Bc5 {A
debatable decision. Although the Bd4 targets Black's >>, at this moment it
still doesn't present any concrete danger.} (19... a4 {, fixing Pb2, was fully
playable.}) 20. Bc3 Bb4 21. Be5 (21. Rac1 Bxc3 22. Rxc3 a4 $132) 21... Bd6 (
21... Qg4 $5 {[%cal Yg4e4] Shipov, /\Qe4}) 22. Rd2 $5 ({After the natural} 22.
Bxd6 Qxd6 23. Nd4 a4 24. Rd2 Nc6 $5 $11 {/<=> White doesn't achieve much, so
Topalov prefers another central outpost for his N.}) 22... Bxe5 {Consistent.} (
22... Bb4 23. Re2 f6 24. a3 $5 Bc5 25. Bd4 $5 $36 {[%csl Re6] ><e6}) 23. Nxe5
Qd6 (23... Qb7 $5 24. Qf3 Rf8 {[%cal Ya8a6,Ya6e6,Ye6f6] /\Ra6-e6,f6<=>}) 24.
Re1 Rc7 (24... a4 25. Nc4 $5 Qf6 26. Nb6 Qxb6 27. Rxe7 $14) 25. Qf3 Rf8 26. Kg2
(26. h4 $1 {[%cal Yh4h5] /\h5()>>}) 26... Rb7 (26... g6 $5 27. h4 (27. Qf4 Nf5
28. Red1 d4 $13 {/\} 29. g4 Re7 $1 30. gxf5 Rxe5 31. Rxd4 Qc6+ 32. Qf3 Qxf3+
33. Kxf3 Rxf5+ $11) 27... h5 {[%cal Yg8g7,Yd6f6] /\Kg7,Qf6 slightly loosens
the >>, but prevents the cramping advance of the h-pawn. This will be
significant later on.}) 27. h4 $1 Qb4 28. Ree2 Qa4 $1 29. b3 Qb4 {Black has
forced an advance of the Pb2, but why give White a tempo to reposition his N?}
(29... Qb5 $142 $5 $11 {/+/=,/\a4}) 30. Nd3 (30. h5 Rc7 {is similar.}) 30...
Qd6 31. h5 Rc7 32. Nf4 d4 ({Less committal is} 32... Rd8 $5 {and White's edge
remains at best minimal.}) 33. Re4 Nc6 $8 (33... Nf5 $2 34. Ne2 $16) 34. Nd3 {
Solid, White blockades the P and can occupy the neighboring open files.} (34.
Ne2 $2 f5 35. Rf4 Ne5 $17) 34... Rd8 35. Rc2 {Natural, but here the R is
undefended.} (35. Qf4 Qd5 $1 $132 (35... Qxf4 36. Nxf4 $14)) (35. Rde2 $5)
35... Nb4 $2 {[%mdl 8192] Otherwise a sound positional move, this is a heavy
tactical mistake, which costs Black the game.} ({Waiting moves like} 35... Kh8
36. Rc4 $14 {allow White to retain his edge.}) (35... Ne5 $2 36. Nxe5 Rxc2 37.
Nxf7 Qd7 38. Nxd8 Qxd8 39. Qd3 $18) ({However, interesting was the concrete} 
35... f5 $5 36. Qxf5 (36. Ree2 Ne5 37. Nxe5 Rxc2 38. Nf7 (38. Rxc2 Qxe5 $11)
38... Qf6 39. Nxd8 (39. Nxh6+ Qxh6 40. Rxc2 d3 41. Rc5 d2 42. Rd5 Qf6 $36 {
[%csl Gd2]}) 39... Rxe2 40. Qxe2 Qxd8 $11) 36... Ne7 37. Re6 $8 Qxg3+ $8 38.
fxg3 Rxc2+ 39. Qf2 Rxf2+ 40. Kxf2 Nd5 41. Re5 Nb4 42. Nxb4 (42. Ke2 Nxa2 43.
Rxa5 Nc3+ $11) 42... axb4 43. Ra5 $1 d3 44. Ke1 d2+ 45. Kd1 Rd3 46. Ra4 (46. g4
Rg3 $11) 46... Rxg3 47. Rxb4 Rg1+ 48. Kxd2 Rg2+ 49. Kc3 Rxa2 $11 {and although
formally White is still better, it's hard to imagine Black can lose such a
simplified R_|_.}) 36. Nxb4 axb4 37. Rxd4 $1 Qf8 $6 (37... Qxd4 38. Rxc7 Qd5 {
was more tenacious, although here after} (38... Rf8 39. Qf5 $16 {/\Qc5 also
forces the Q-swap.}) 39. Rb7 Qxf3+ 40. Kxf3 $16 {/+- White has excellent
winning chances - the Ph5 plays an important positive role.}) (37... Rxc2 $2
38. Rxd6 Rxd6 39. Qa8+ Kh7 40. Qe4+ $18) 38. Rxd8 Qxd8 39. Rxc7 Qxc7 40. Qa8+
Kh7 41. Qe4+ Kg8 42. Qxb4 $18 {Black is 2P down and has no perpetual - the
result is a foregone conclusion.} Qc6+ 43. Kg1 Qc1+ 44. Kh2 Qc2 45. Qe1 (45.
Qb8+ Kh7 46. Qf4 Kg8 47. Qe3 $18 {is similar}) 45... Kf8 (45... Kh7 46. a4 $5
Qxb3 47. Qe4+ Kg8 48. Qa8+ Kh7 49. a5 {[%csl Ga5] and the o^ is unstoppable.})
46. a3 $1 Qb2 (46... Qxb3 47. Qb4+ $18) 47. Qb4+ Kg8 48. Kg2 Qe5 49. Qg4 Qb2 (
49... Qd5+ 50. Qf3 $18) 50. Qc8+ Kh7 51. Qc4 Qxa3 (51... Kg8 52. a4 $18) 52.
Qxf7 Qb4 53. Qc4 Qb7+ 54. Kg1 Qf3 55. g4 {[%cal Rb3b6] /\b4-b5-b6} 1-0

[Event "World Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.02.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2009.02.17"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 ({Game 5 featured} 4. Ngf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 {
, here Topalov goes for the main alternative.}) 4... Qxd5 {Black doesn't want
to defend an isolated queen's P and strives for free development of his forces.
This line was highly popular in the 1980s, although it lost most of its appeal
towards the end of the 20-th century, when Black mostly turned to 3...Nf6.
Black's choice is still largely a matter of taste, the other main move} (4...
exd5 {is also far from refuted and objectively hardly any worse - Korchnoi
used it successfully in his 1974 match against Karpov.} 5. Ngf3 Nf6 6. Bb5+ Bd7
7. Bxd7+ Nbxd7 8. O-O Be7 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. Nb3 Nce4 11. Nfd4 Qd7 12. Qf3 g6 13.
Bh6 Ng4 14. Bf4 O-O 15. h3 Ngf6 16. c3 Rfe8 17. Rfd1 Bd8 18. Nc2 Bb6 19. Nbd4
Re7 20. Ne3 Rae8 21. Ng4 Nxg4 22. hxg4 Qc8 $11 {1/2 Topalov,V (2455)-Fries
Nielsen,J (2415)/Copenhagen/1991/}) 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O ({A very
ambitious idea is} 7. Qe2 $5 {, after} Nf6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Bg5 a6 10. O-O-O b5
11. Bd3 Be7 12. Rhe1 Bb7 (12... Bd7 $5) 13. Nfxd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Qd5 $6 (14...
Nd5 $14) (14... Bd5 $5) 15. Nf5 Qxa2 16. Qe5 $1 Qa1+ 17. Kd2 Qa5+ 18. c3 Ne4+
$2 (18... Kf8 $16) 19. Bxe4 Bxg5+ 20. Ke2 Bxe4 21. Nxg7+ Kf8 22. Qxg5 $18 {
Ganguly,S (2603)-Petrik,T (2487)/Dresden olm/2008/ Black was soon crushed.
However, Topalov is one point up with two games to go and doesn't need
double-edged positions with opposite-side castling.}) 7... Nf6 8. Re1 {This
idea gained it's share of attention after Kasparov used it against Gelfand in
Astana 2001.} ({However, the main line is still} 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10.
Nxd4 {and now Moskalenko advocates Petrosian's simple developing move} Be7 $5 {
, which seems quite solid:} (10... a6 {and}) (10... Bd7 {occur far more often,
but are perhaps no better.}) 11. Be3 (11. b3 O-O 12. Bb2 Qf4 13. Nf3 b6 14. Be5
Qg4 15. Nd4 Qxd1 16. Raxd1 Bb7 17. Nb5 Bc5 18. Bd6 Bxd6 19. Rxd6 Rfc8 20. Rfd1
Kf8 $11 {1/2, Tal,M (2615)-Petrosian,T (2625)/Biel izt plof/1976/}) (11. Nb5
Qc6 (11... Qb8 $5 12. Bg5 O-O 13. Re1 a6 14. Nc3 b5 15. Bd3 Bb7 16. Qe2 Qc7 17.
Rad1 Rfd8 $11 {Alonso Fernandez,M (2196)-Gavilan Diaz,M (2081)/Mondariz/2004/})
12. Qe2 O-O 13. Bf4 a6 14. Nd4 Qc5 15. Nb3 Qc6 16. Nd4 Qc5 $11 {1/2,Tal,M 
(2615)-Petrosian,T (2635)/Tbilisi/1976/}) (11. c3 O-O 12. Qf3 (12. Re1 {
can lead to the position from our game.}) 12... Qc7 13. Bb3 (13. Bd3 Bd7 14.
Bg5 Nd5 15. Bxe7 Nxe7 16. Rfe1 Rad8 $11 {1/2, Cooper,L (2313)-Lalic,B (2538)/
Bunratty/2009/}) 13... Bd7 14. Bg5 Rad8 (14... Nd5 $5 $11 {Illescas}) 15. Bh4
Bc8 16. Rfe1 a6 17. Rad1 Rfe8 18. Bc2 Nd5 19. Bg3 Bd6 20. Bb3 Bxg3 21. hxg3 Nf6
22. Nc2 $11 {1/2, Illescas Cordoba,M (2603)-Moskalenko,V (2569)/Barcelona/2008/
}) 11... O-O 12. Qf3 Qc7 13. Bb3 Bd7 14. h3 Rac8 15. Rad1 b5 16. Rfe1 Rfe8 17.
Bf4 Qb6 18. a3 b4 19. axb4 Bxb4 20. c3 Be7 21. Be5 a5 22. Ra1 {Onischuk,A 
(2610)-Gulko,B (2585)/New York op/1998/} a4 $11) 8... Be7 {Kamsky played this
quickly, just as in the above note Black strives first of all to safeguard his
K.} (8... Nc6 {is played more often, but it can lead to the same position
after both of White's main reactions:} 9. Nb3 {again gives Black a choice
between transposing to the game with} (9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Rxe4 Be7 11. Nxd4 ({
Later White tried} 11. Bf4 {, but this is also far from convincing:} Qc5 12.
Bd3 Bf6 13. a3 O-O (13... a5 $5 14. Re1 O-O 15. Nd2 Be7 16. Nc4 Rd8 17. Bc7 Rd7
18. Bb6 Qg5 19. Qe2 a4 20. Rad1 Bf6 21. Qe4 g6 22. Nd2 Bd8 23. Bxd8 Rxd8 24. f4
Qc5 $17 {Marcotulli,G (2484)-Legemaat,G (2381)/corr/2004/}) 14. b4 Qb6 $1 (
14... Qh5 $6 15. b5 Ne7 16. Be5 Nd5 17. Bxd4 Bxd4 18. Rxd4 Nf6 19. Qd2 a6 20.
b6 Qc5 21. Re1 Qxb6 22. Ne5 $40 Nd5 $2 23. Bxh7+ Kxh7 24. Rh4+ Kg8 25. Qd3 g6
26. Qh3 Qa5 27. Rh8+ Kg7 28. Qh6+ {1-0, Hracek,Z (2584)-Kelly,B (2487)/ECC
Rethymnon/2003/}) 15. Re1 (15. b5 Ne7 16. Nxd4 Nd5 17. Be5 Rd8 $13 {/=/+})
15... Ne7 16. Qe2 Nd5 17. Qe4 g6 18. Be5 Rd8 19. Bxf6 Nxf6 20. Qh4 Kg7 21. Rad1
a5 22. Bf1 axb4 23. axb4 h6 24. Ne5 Ra4 25. Rd3 Qxb4 26. Rf3 Qe7 $15 {
Marcotulli,G-Sandstroem,B/corr/2004/} (26... g5 27. Rg3 Qxe1 28. Rxg5+ hxg5 29.
Qxg5+ Kh7 30. Qh4+ $11)) {The principled continuation is} 11... e5 $142 $1 {
, the forced series of moves} (11... O-O 12. Bf4 Qc5 13. Bd3 $1 $14 {|^,
Kasparov} (13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. Bd3 b5 15. a4 a6 16. Re3 Bb7 17. Be4 {Kasparov,G 
(2835)-Gelfand,B (2712)/Astana/2001/} Qb6 (17... Qc8 $5 18. Rc3 Bxe4 19. Rxc8
Raxc8 $44) 18. a5 Qa7 $11)) 12. Bf4 (12. Qf3 Nxd4 13. Qxf7+ Kd8 14. Qxg7 Re8
$17) 12... exf4 13. Nxc6 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 bxc6 15. Rde1 Kf8 16. Rxe7 Be6 17.
R1xe6 fxe6 18. Rc7 (18. Rxe6 Re8 19. Rxc6 Re1+ 20. Bf1 Ke7 21. Rc7+ Kf6 22.
Rc6+ Kg5 $17 {Moreno Tejera,E (2360)-Matamoros Franco,C (2472)/Lorca/2003/})
18... h5 $1 {leads to a sharp _|_, in which even Black can have winning
chances, if White overdoes it:} 19. Kf1 Rh6 20. Rxc6 (20. Ke2 Rf6 21. Rxc6 Rd8
22. a4 Ke7 23. Ra6 Rd7 24. Bd3 f3+ 25. gxf3 Rf4 $15 {Efimenko,Z (2590)-Petrik,
T (2393)/Cappelle la Grande/2003/}) 20... Rd8 (20... Re8 21. Rc7 Re7 22. Rc8+
Re8 23. Rc7 Re7 24. Rc8+ {1/2, Kurnosov,I (2549)-Najer,E (2614)/Kazan/2005/})
21. Bd3 Ke7 22. Ra6 Rd7 23. h4 $1 {Oral,T} (23. Ra5 $6 h4 24. h3 g6 {[%cal
Yh6h5] /\Rh5=/+} 25. Ra6 g5 26. Ke2 Kf6 27. b3 Rh8 28. Bc4 Re7 29. Rc6 Rb8 30.
a4 Rb6 31. Rc8 e5 32. Rf8+ Kg6 33. Rg8+ Kf5 34. a5 Rd6 35. Rf8+ Rf6 $17 {
Oral,T (2565)-Wang Hao (2456)/Calvia olm/2004/}) 23... e5 (23... Rf6 24. Ra5 g6
25. Ke2 f3+ 26. gxf3 Rf4 27. Bxg6 Rxh4 28. Rxh5 $11) 24. Ra5 Kd6 25. Ke2 $13)
9... Be7 ({or sharper moves as} 9... Bd7 {or}) (9... a6)) 9. Nb3 {Just as on
move 7, Topalov makes the more restrained move and is simply content with
regaining the P.} (9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Rxe4 Nc6 {-8...Nc6}) 9... Nc6 10. Nbxd4 Nxd4
(10... O-O 11. Nxc6 Qxc6 12. Ne5 $36) 11. Nxd4 (11. Qxd4 Qxd4 12. Nxd4 Bd7 $11)
11... O-O 12. c3 Bd7 (12... e5 13. Nf3 Qxd1 (13... Qc7 {Ehlvest,J (2589)
-Lobron,E (2517)/Reykjavik/2002/} 14. Nxe5 $1 Bd6 15. Qd4 Bxe5 16. Rxe5 Rd8 17.
Qf4 Rd1+ 18. Bf1 Qc6 (18... Be6 19. Re1 $16) 19. c4 Be6 20. b3 $16) 14. Rxd1
Bg4 15. Re1 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Bd6 17. Be3 Rfc8 18. Bb3 a5 19. Rad1 Ra6 20. Kg2 h6
21. Bc2 $14 {[%csl Gc2,Ge3] Hotting,A (2479)-Bendig,F (2373)/corr/2004/ This
endgame is pleasant and riskless for White with his ^^, no wonder Kamsky
avoids it.}) (12... Qc7 13. Bb3 Bd7 14. Bg5 Nd5 15. Bxe7 Nxe7 16. Qh5 Rae8 17.
Re3 g6 18. Qg5 Kg7 19. Rh3 Ng8 20. Qh4 h6 21. Nc2 e5 22. Rg3 Ne7 23. Ne3 Nf5
$11 {Minhazuddin,A (2339)-Panggabean,H (2254)/Kuala Lumpur/2008/}) 13. Qf3 (13.
Bg5 $2 Qc5 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 $17 {Middelhoven,H-Marcus,J (2274)/Haarlem/2001/}) (
13. Bb3 Bc6 14. Bg5 {1/2, Adams,M (2715)-Seirawan,Y (2647)/Bermuda/2000/} Rfd8
$132) (13. Qe2 Rac8 14. Bb3 Qb6 15. Be3 Bc5 16. Bg5 Bxd4 17. cxd4 Qb5 18. Qe5
Qxe5 19. dxe5 Nd5 20. Rac1 Bc6 21. Bxd5 Bxd5 $11 {Arnason,J (2500)-Eingorn,V 
(2570)/Moscow/1990/}) 13... Qb6 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] An interesting novelty,
which puts White's << under pressure and gives Black good <=>. Kamsky was
still playing quite fast, indicating that he was still following his
preparation.} (13... Qc7 14. Bd3 (14. Bb3 Bd6 15. h3 e5 16. Nc2 e4 17. Qe2 Qc5
18. Ne3 Rae8 19. Nf1 Qf5 $13 {/=/+,Cioara,A (2422)-Kruppa,Y (2538)/Bucharest/
2006/}) 14... Rfe8 (14... Bd6 15. g3 (15. h3 a6 16. Bg5 Be5 17. Qe3 Bh2+ 18.
Kh1 Nd5 19. Qe4 f5 20. Qe2 Rae8 21. g3 Bxg3 22. fxg3 Qxg3 23. Nf3 Qxh3+ $44 {
Horvath,T (2475)-Almasi,I (2370)/HUN-chT 9394/1994/}) 15... Be5 16. Nb5 Bxb5
17. Bxb5 Rfd8 18. Bf1 Nd5 19. Bd2 Bf6 20. Rad1 Qb6 21. Bc1 $14 {Ciornas,V 
(2357)-Saul,A (2100)/corr/2005/}) 15. Bg5 (15. Bf4 $5 Qb6 16. Re2 $14) 15...
Nd5 16. Bxe7 Rxe7 17. Rad1 Ba4 18. Bc2 Bxc2 19. Nxc2 $11 {1/2, Sokolov,A (2595)
-Nogueiras Santiago,J (2560)/Brussels/1988/}) (13... Rac8 14. Bf4 Qb6 15. Bb3
Bc6 16. Nxc6 Qxc6 17. Qxc6 Rxc6 18. Rad1 Rcc8 19. Rd3 Rfd8 20. Red1 Rxd3 21.
Rxd3 Kf8 22. Kf1 Bc5 23. f3 Ke7 24. Ke2 $14 {Liberzon,V (2480)-Tatai,S (2385)/
EU-chT Haifa/1989/}) 14. Bb3 (14. Bf4 Qxb2 15. Rab1 Qa3 16. Rxb7 {seems
promising for White, but is in fact at best unclear after} Rac8 17. Bb3 Qc5
$132 (17... a5 $5 $11)) 14... a5 ({The text-move is more enterprising, than} 
14... Bc5 15. Bg5 (15. Be3 a5 {-14...a5}) 15... Bxd4 16. cxd4 Bc6 17. Qd3 Bb5 (
17... Nd5 18. Bc2 $36) (17... Qb5 $6 18. Qxb5 Bxb5 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. d5 $36)
18. Qe3 Nd5 $11) 15. Be3 {[%cal Rd4e6]} (15. Nf5 $6 exf5 16. Rxe7 a4 17. Bc4
Rae8 $32 {is risky for White.}) 15... Bc5 16. Rad1 {[%mdl 576] Defensive moves
are fine for Black, therefore Topalov sacrifices a P and heads for immense
complications.} (16. Qe2 a4 17. Bc4 e5 18. Nc2 (18. Nf3 Bg4 $1 $36) 18... Rac8
$11) (16. Re2 $6 e5 (16... a4 17. Bc2 Nd5 18. Rd1 $13) 17. Nf5 e4 18. Qf4 Bxf5
19. Qxf5 Bxe3 20. fxe3 a4 $36) ({However, objectively the text-move is quite
risky and White still had} 16. Bg5 $5 Bxd4 17. cxd4 Bc6 18. Qd3 $11 {, which
is similar to 14...Bc5 and rather sterile.}) 16... a4 17. Bc2 (17. Bc4 $5 {
gives Black a choice:} {Black can also ignore the P, a fighting alternative is}
e5 $5 (17... Qxb2 18. Bh6 $5 Be7 (18... Bc6 19. Qg3 (19. Nxc6 bxc6 20. Re2 Qb8
21. Bf4 Qb6 $13 {/=/+}) 19... Nh5 20. Qh4 Ra5 (20... Bxd4 21. cxd4 Ra5 22. Bc1
$36) 21. Re5 Qxc3 22. Nxc6 bxc6 23. Rxh5 Bxf2+ (23... gxh6 24. Bd3 $40) 24.
Kxf2 Rxh5 25. Qxh5 Qxc4 26. Qg5 Qxa2+ 27. Rd2 Qa1 28. Rd8 f5 29. Rd7 Qb2+ 30.
Ke1 Qb1+ 31. Kf2 Qb2+ $11) (18... Bd6 19. Bg5 (19. Rb1 Qa3 20. Nb5 Bxb5 21.
Rxb5 Nd5 $5 $15) 19... Rfc8 20. Rb1 Qa3 21. Bxf6 Rxc4 22. Qxb7 Rac8 23. Qxd7
R4c7 24. Qb5 gxf6 25. Qa6 $1 $11 {/+/=}) 19. Qg3 Nh5 20. Qf3 Nf6 $11 {with
repetition is probably the most prudent option.}) 18. Nf5 Bxf5 (18... e4 19.
Ne7+ Kh8 20. Qg3 Bxe3 21. Qxe3 Qxb2 22. Nd5 Nxd5 23. Bxd5 Rac8 $11) 19. Qxf5
Bxe3 20. Rxe3 e4 $13) 17... Qxb2 $1 {Consistently accepting the challenge.} (
17... Nd5 $143 18. Bc1 $14) (17... e5 $6 18. Nf5 Bxf5 (18... Bxe3 19. Qxe3 $36
{/\} Qxb2 $2 20. Rxd7 $1 Qxc2 (20... Nxd7 21. Qg5 g6 22. Qh6 gxf5 23. Bxf5 Nf6
24. Qg5+ $18) 21. Ne7+ Kh8 22. Rd2 $18) 19. Bxc5 Qxc5 20. Bxf5 $14 {/=}) 18.
Bg5 Nd5 (18... Bxd4 $143 19. Rxd4 Nd5 (19... Qxc2 $2 20. Bxf6 Bc6 21. Rg4 Qg6 (
21... g6 22. Qe3 Qf5 23. Rf4 Qd5 24. Rf3 $1 $18) 22. Qf4 $1 $16) 20. Rd2 $44)
19. c4 Bxd4 ({Apart from the simple and straightforward text-move Black had
also the alternative} 19... g6 20. cxd5 Bxd4 21. Re2 (21. Rd2 Qc3 (21... Qxa2
22. dxe6 fxe6 23. Qe4 $132) 22. Qf4 Bg7 23. Qd6 Bc8 $5 $15) 21... Qc3 $5 (21...
Qb6 22. Rb1 Qc5 $5 (22... Qa6 23. Bd3 b5 24. Bh6 $13) 23. Bh6 (23. Rxb7 Bb5 $36
) 23... Rfd8 24. Rxb7 (24. Be4 $5) 24... exd5 25. Bxa4 Rab8 $1 $15) 22. dxe6
Bxe6 23. Be4 Ra5 $15) (19... Nb4 $6 20. Bxh7+ Kxh7 21. Re2 Nc2 22. Rxc2 $14) (
19... Nb6 20. Re2 Qb4 (20... Bxd4 21. Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. Rxb2 Bxb2 23. Be3 $16) 21.
Bf6 $44 (21. Bd3 $5 {/\} Bxd4 22. Qe4 $36)) 20. Qd3 (20. Re2 g6 {transposes
into the 19...g6 lines, as} (20... h6 $5 $15 {also seems playable}) (20... Qb6
21. Qd3 g6 22. Qxd4 Qxd4 23. Rxd4 Nb6 24. Red2 Bc6 25. Bf6 $44) 21. Bxg6 $2 {
runs into} fxg6 22. Rxb2 Rxf3 23. Rxd4 Rf5 $19) 20... f5 $1 (20... g6 $143 $2
21. Qxd4 Qxd4 (21... Qxc2 22. Bh6 Qc3 23. Bxf8 $16) 22. Rxd4 Nb4 (22... Rfc8
23. Be4 $18) (22... Nb6 23. Rb1 $16) 23. Rxd7 Nxc2 24. Rc1 Nb4 (24... f6 25.
Bd2 $18) 25. Be7 $1 Nxa2 26. Rc2 $16 {traps the N and gives White a clear _|_
advantage due to Black's weak back rank. Shipov gives an unforced, but pretty
continuation} Rfc8 27. Rxa2 Rxc4 28. f3 b5 29. Rb7 Rc1+ 30. Kf2 Rb1 31. Bf6 h6
32. Rxa4 $1 $18) 21. Qxd4 Qxc2 22. cxd5 ({White wants to keep the tension,} 22.
Rd2 Qc3 23. cxd5 Qxd4 24. Rxd4 exd5 $15 {gives Black a healthy extra P and
winning chances.}) 22... Qxa2 {[%csl Ga4] Just as on move 17, Kamsky chooses a
risky, but consistent alternative, now Topalov must reckon with the Pa4. After
other moves White's initiative would fully compensate the missing P, even the
^- giving his attack an extra impulse.} 23. Qb6 (23. Qb4 Rae8 $5 (23... a3 $2
24. Rd2 $18) (23... Qb3 24. Qd6 Bb5 25. Rb1 Qd3 26. Red1 Qe2 27. Re1 $11) 24.
Qxb7 Rf7 $15) 23... a3 $5 (23... exd5 $2 24. Qxb7 $18 {[%csl Rd7] ץd7}) (23...
Qc4 24. Qd6 $132) (23... Rae8 {from the previous note is playable, but the
text-move is even more ambitious.}) 24. Be7 $1 {The best move, White's B joins
the fight against the Pa3.} (24. Qd6 Ba4 25. Qxe6+ Rf7 26. Ra1 Qc4 27. Be7 (27.
Rxa3 $2 Re8) 27... a2 28. d6 Qxe6 (28... Bb5 $15) 29. Rxe6 Bb5 30. Re5 Bc4 31.
d7 Rxe7 32. Rxe7 Kf8 $36 33. d8=Q+ Rxd8 34. Rxb7 Rd2 $36) (24. dxe6 Bc6 $15 (
24... Bxe6 25. Qxe6+ Qxe6 26. Rxe6 b5 27. Kf1 b4 28. Re3 {/\Rb3 and the
blockade holds.})) 24... Rfe8 25. Qd6 $6 (25. Qxb7 Ba4 26. Ra1 Qxd5 (26... Qb2
27. Qb4 $15 {is similar}) 27. Qxd5 exd5 28. Bxa3 $15 {leads to an _|_ White
should be able to hold in the long run. Instead Topalov plays vabanque.}) 25...
Ba4 $2 {An important moment. Kamsky, surprised by White's previous move, spent
about 30 minutes. He reacts badly and loses control, moreover getting into
time-trouble (which lead to more mistakes). Black had 2 better moves, which
would have given him an advantage:} (25... Kf7 26. Rxe6 (26. Qxd7 Rxe7 27.
dxe6+ Qxe6 $1 $19) (26. Bg5 Bb5 $17) 26... Qb3 27. Rde1 Qa4 $5 $17 (27... Qb5 {
allows White to bail out with} 28. Bf6 $1 Bxe6 29. dxe6+ Kxf6 (29... Kg6 30.
Qg3+ Kxf6 31. Qc3+ $11) 30. e7+ Kg5 $8 31. h4+ Kxh4 (31... Kh5 $2 32. Qg3 f4
33. Qf3+ $18) 32. Qg3+ Kh5 33. Qh2+ Kg6 34. Qd6+ $11)) (25... Bc8 26. Qc7 $1 (
26. dxe6 $2 Qc4 {is hopeless}) 26... Qb3 (26... Qb2 27. d6 a2 28. Ra1 $15) 27.
d6 a2 28. Ra1 (28. d7 $2 Bxd7 29. Qxd7 Qxd1 $1 $19) (28. Bf6 Bd7 $1 (28... gxf6
$2 29. d7 Bxd7 30. Rxd7 $18) 29. Bxg7 Kxg7 30. Qxd7+ Kg8 $17) 28... Qa4 (28...
Ra6 $5 {/\} 29. d7 Bxd7 30. Qxd7 Qa4 $17) 29. Re2 Qd4 30. Qc1 Bd7 31. Rexa2
Rxa2 32. Rxa2 Rc8 33. Qe1 b5 $17) 26. Qxe6+ Kh8 27. Ra1 Qc4 28. Rec1 $6 {
Black was down to 8 minutes and Topalov wants to pursue his own ambitions.
Altough in the end this risky gamble pays off, the prudent choice was} (28.
Rxa3 Bb3 29. Rxa8 Rxa8 30. Qxf5 Qxd5 $11) 28... Bc2 $1 {[%cal Rb7b4] /\b5-b4}
29. Qd7 $2 (29. Qe3 $142 f4 (29... a2 $2 30. d6 $16 {[%cal Rd6d7] /\d7}) 30.
Qc5 Qxc5 31. Bxc5 Be4 (31... a2 32. Rxc2 Re1+ 33. Rxe1 a1=Q 34. Rce2 $44) 32.
d6 (32. Rxa3 Bxd5 $15) 32... a2 33. d7 Red8 34. Bb6 Rxd7 35. Rxa2 Rf8 $15)
29... a2 30. d6 (30. Qxb7 Qe4 31. h4 Bb1 {/\} 32. Bg5 Qe5 33. Raxb1 Rab8 34.
Qxb8 Rxb8 35. Rxb8+ Qxb8 36. d6 h6 37. Bf4 Qb2 38. d7 Qd4 $19) 30... b5 31. Qb7
(31. Qc7 Qxc7 32. dxc7 Bb3 $19) 31... Reb8 $2 ({The wrong move-order, after} 
31... b4 $1 32. d7 Reb8 $19 {Black disarms White's o^ and wins.}) 32. Qc7 Rc8
$2 $138 {[%mdl 8192] The final mistake, which loses material, the game and the
whole match.} (32... Bd3 $1 33. Rxc4 bxc4 34. h4 (34. Qxb8+ Rxb8 35. h4 Rb1+
36. Kh2 Rxa1 37. d7 Rh1+ 38. Kg3 h6 39. d8=Q+ Kh7 40. Bf6 $1 gxf6 41. Qe7+ Kg6
42. Qe8+ Kg7 43. Qe7+ $11) 34... Rb1+ 35. Kh2 Rxa1 36. d7 Rh1+ 37. Kg3 Rg8 38.
d8=Q a1=Q 39. Qcb8 (39. Qxg8+ Kxg8 40. Qd8+ Kf7 41. Qf8+ Ke6 42. Qc8+ $1 Kxe7
43. Qc7+ Ke6 44. Qc6+ Ke5 45. Qc5+ $11) 39... f4+ $8 40. Kf3 Qd1+ 41. Kxf4 g5+
42. Bxg5 Rxh4+ 43. Bxh4 Qg4+ 44. Ke5 Qe4+ 45. Kd6 Qd4+ $11) 33. Qxc4 Rxc4 34.
d7 Bb1 (34... Rd4 35. d8=Q+ Rdxd8 36. Bxd8 Bb3 37. Be7 $18) ({Kamsky probably
overlooked} 34... b4 $2 35. Rxa2 $1 $18 (35. d8=Q+ $2 Rxd8 36. Bxd8 b3 $17))
35. Rd1 $1 $18 (35. Rxc4 bxc4 36. d8=Q+ Rxd8 37. Bxd8 c3 38. Kf1 c2 39. Bg5 {
also wins in the long run, but the text-move is even more incisive.}) 35... Kg8
36. d8=Q+ Rxd8 37. Bxd8 Bc2 38. Rdc1 b4 (38... Bb3 39. Rxc4 Bxc4 40. Ba5 $18)
39. Rxa2 b3 40. Ra8 Kf7 (40... b2 41. Bf6+ $18) 41. Rb8 Ke6 42. Re1+ Kd5 43.
Be7 Ra4 44. Bf8 Ra7 45. h4 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 5th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.05.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Wang, Yue"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2009.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Nb6 8.
Ne5 a5 9. f3 Nfd7 10. e4 Nxe5 11. dxe5 (11. exf5 {offers prospects of a slight
advantage (Huebner,R): bietet Aussichten auf einen leichten Vorteil (Huebner,R)
:} Nec4 (11... Ned7) 12. Qb3 Nd6 13. Bd3 g6 14. g4 Bg7 15. Be3 Nd7 16. O-O-O
Qb6 17. Qxb6 Nxb6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Carlsen,M (2770)-Wang Yue (2738)/Leon 2009 (47)}
) 11... Qxd1+ 12. Kxd1 Be6 13. Kc2 f6 (13... Bc4 14. Bxc4 (14. Be3 Bxf1 15.
Rhxf1 $14) 14... Nxc4 15. e6 fxe6 16. b3 Nd6 17. e5 Nf7 18. Re1 $44 {0-1
Berczes,D (2232)-Carlsen,M (2250)/Heraklio 2002 (57)}) 14. Rb1 Nd7 $146 (14...
fxe5 15. b4 Nc4 16. bxa5 (16. Bxc4 Bxc4 17. bxa5 O-O-O 18. Rd1 Rxd1 19. Nxd1 e6
20. Ne3 Ba6 21. Ng4 Bd6 22. Bb2 Rd8 23. Rd1 h5 24. Nxe5 Bxe5 25. Bxe5 Rxd1 26.
Kxd1 g6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Vallejo Pons,F (2629)-Kasparov,G (2847)/Linares 2003 (41)}
) 16... Nxa5 17. Be3 Bc4 18. Bb6 Bxf1 19. Rhxf1 Nc4 20. Kd3 $14 {1-0 Berkes,F 
(2614)-Kiss,P (2394)/Hungary 2005 (32)}) 15. b4 $1 (15. exf6 $6 exf6 $15) 15...
Nxe5 (15... axb4 16. Rxb4 O-O-O 17. Be3 Nxe5 18. a5 $40 {[%cal Ga5a6,Gf1e2,
Gh1b1]}) 16. bxa5 Bc8 (16... O-O-O $2 17. a6 $18) 17. a6 $1 bxa6 18. a5 {
Black's queenside is very weak, he has problems completing his development and
finding any activity. Therefore White's compensation for the pawn is more than
enough and secures him better prospects.} Nd7 (18... Be6 19. Rb6 Bc4 20. Bf4
Bxf1 21. Rxf1 Nc4 22. Rxc6 Nxa5 23. Rc7 e5 24. Bd2 $16 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Gc3d5]}
) 19. Na4 e5 (19... Rb8 20. Rxb8 Nxb8 21. Nb6 Bb7 22. Bc4 e5 23. Be3 $16) 20.
Bc4 Bc5 (20... Bd6 21. Be3 Ke7 22. Rhd1 $44) 21. Rd1 ({A good alternative was} 
21. Nxc5 Nxc5 22. Rb6 $44) 21... Bd4 22. Ba3 c5 23. Rb3 h5 24. Rdb1 Ke7 25. Bd5
Ra7 26. Rb6 $1 Rc7 $2 {The decisive mistake.} ({Necessary was} 26... Nxb6 27.
axb6 Rd7 {and White has nothing forced. After} 28. Bxc5+ Bxc5 29. Nxc5 Rxd5 $1
30. exd5 Bf5+ 31. Ne4 Rb8 {Black retains good chances of escaping with a draw.}
) 27. Re6+ Kd8 28. Nb6 $18 Nxb6 (28... Ra7 29. Kd3 $5 Bb7 30. Kc4 $18) 29. axb6
Rb7 30. Rd6+ $1 Ke7 31. Rc6 Rd7 32. Re6+ Kf7 33. b7 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 5th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.05.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B99"]
[WhiteElo "2746"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2009.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3
Qc7 9. O-O-O Nbd7 10. Bd3 h6 11. Qh3 Nc5 {Topalov is famous for many
achievements, one of them is undoubtedy his independent approach to many
opening lines. The move with the knight to c5 amounts to a small revolution.
The move of the knight to b6 has a much higher reputation and better results,
as it defends the critical d5-square.} (11... Nb6) 12. Rhe1 (12. f5 Nd5 $5 13.
Bxe7 Nxc3 14. f6 (14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15. bxc3 O-O $15) 14... Nxd1 15. Rxd1 gxf6 16.
Bxf6 e5 17. Qg3 Nxd3+ $1 (17... Rf8 18. Bb5+ $1 $18) 18. Rxd3 Rf8 19. Ne2 Be6
$11) 12... Rg8 {Another rather provocative move that opens the conflict on the
kingside and in the centre. Should the developing move 12...Bd7 prove viable
it must be a much safer solution.} (12... Bd7 13. f5 (13. e5 dxe5 14. fxe5 Nd5
15. Bxe7 Nxe7 16. Qg3 O-O 17. Ne4 Rad8 18. Nxc5 (18. Nd6 Nc8 19. Nb3 $14) 18...
Qxc5 19. Qh4 Bb5 20. Nxb5 axb5 21. a3 Rd5 {1/2-1/2 Atakisi,U (2406)-De Firmian,
N (2559)/Kavala 2006 (55)}) 13... O-O-O 14. Bh4 g5 15. fxg6 fxg6 16. e5 dxe5
17. Nb3 Nd5 18. Bxe7 Nxe7 19. Nxc5 {1/2-1/2 Virzi,E (1952)-Cardani,R (1887)/
Erba 2007}) 13. Bh4 {The game is unbelievably complex and interesting, we have
just passed the first great potential crisis. Meeting the immediate advance in
the centre would be anything but easy for Black.} (13. e5 $5 hxg5 (13... dxe5
14. fxe5 hxg5 15. exf6 Bxf6 (15... gxf6 16. Qh7 (16. Nf5 Nxd3+ 17. Rxd3 Qf4+
18. Rd2 Qxf5 19. Qxf5 exf5 20. Nd5 Rh8 21. Nc7+ (21. Nxe7 Be6 22. Nxf5 Rd8 $11)
21... Kf8 22. Nxa8 Rxh2 23. Nc7 f4 $1 24. Rde2 Be6 25. Nxe6+ fxe6 26. Rxe6 Bc5
$44) 16... Kf8 17. g3 Nxd3+ 18. Rxd3 Qa5 19. g4 $14) 16. Nd5 Qd8 17. Nf5 $1 (
17. Bh7 Qxd5 $1 (17... Rh8 $2 18. Nf5 $1 g4 19. Qg3 Kf8 20. Nxf6 {1-0 Planinec,
A (2520)-Najdorf,M (2540)/Wijk aan Zee 1973}) 18. Bxg8 (18. Nxe6 Qxd1+ 19. Rxd1
Bxe6 $17) 18... Qxa2 19. Qh5 e5 $13) 17... Kf8 18. Nxf6 Qxf6 19. Qe3 Na4 20. c3
Bd7 21. Bc2 $16 {1-0 Plaskett,J (2467)-Rechel,B (2414)/West Bromwich 2003 (56)}
) 14. exf6 Bxf6 (14... gxf6 15. Qh7 (15. Nf5 $1 Kd8 16. Qh7 Re8 17. Nxe7 Qxe7
18. Nd5 $18) 15... Rf8 16. Nf5 Qc6 17. Be4 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 d5 19. Nxe7 Kxe7 20.
Nc3 Rd8 21. fxg5 fxg5 22. Qg7 {1-0 Valenti,G-Santolini,L/Tivoli 1973 (27)}) 15.
Nd5 Qd8 16. Bh7 Rh8 17. Nxf6+ (17. Nf5 Bxb2+ 18. Kxb2 Kf8 $17) 17... Qxf6 18.
Nf5 Kf8 19. Nxd6 gxf4 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Qa3+ Ke8 22. Bxe4 $14) (13. Bxf6 Bxf6
14. Qe3 Bd7 15. Kb1 O-O-O 16. e5 Be7 17. Nf5 Bf8 18. Nxd6+ Bxd6 19. exd6 Qa5
20. Bb5 axb5 21. Qxc5+ {1-0 Videnova,I (2155)-Nikolova,A (2234)/Vratsa 2007 
(52)}) 13... g5 14. e5 $1 {Ivanchuk must force the crisis as a peaceful
continuation is too mellow to promise any advantage.} (14. fxg5 hxg5 15. Bf2
Bd7 $11) 14... dxe5 (14... Nd5 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. exd6 Qxd6 17. Qg3 Kf8 18. fxg5
hxg5 19. Qxd6 Bxd6 20. Bg3 Bxg3 21. hxg3 $14) ({A very interesting alternative
to the game continaution lay in the elimination of the dark-squared bishop} 
14... gxh4 $5 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Nd5 Qd8 17. Nb3 (17. Nf5 Kf8 18. Nxf6 Qxf6 19.
Qxh4 Qxh4 20. Nxh4 d5 $11) (17. Bh7 Rh8 (17... Rg7 18. Nf5 Rxh7 19. Nxd6+ Kf8
20. Nxf6 Qxf6 21. Qe3 $1 Na4 (21... b6 $2 22. Ne4 Nxe4 23. Qxe4 $16) 22. Qa3
Qxb2+ 23. Qxb2 Nxb2 24. Kxb2 Bd7 25. Nf5 exf5 26. Rxd7 Re8 $11) 18. b4 Bxd4 $1
(18... Kf8 19. Nxf6 (19. bxc5 exd5 $1 $17) 19... Qxf6 20. bxc5 dxc5 21. Qa3
Qxf4+ 22. Kb2 Rxh7 23. Qxc5+ Kg8 $11) (18... Rxh7 $2 19. Qf5 $1 Kf8 20. Qxf6
$18) 19. Rxd4 Kf8 20. bxc5 exd5 21. Bf5 dxc5 22. Rd2 Qf6 23. Rxd5 Bxf5 24. Qxf5
Qxf5 25. Rxf5 Rc8 $11) 17... Nxb3+ 18. axb3 Kf8 (18... Bd7 19. Qf3 (19. f5 $2
Be5 $1 $17) 19... Bc6 20. f5 Rg5 21. Nxf6+ Qxf6 22. Be4 Bxe4 23. Qxe4 Rxf5 24.
Qxb7 Rd8 $11) 19. Nxf6 Qxf6 $11) 15. fxg5 $1 {Two of the very best players in
the world are navigating the complexity of the position with confidence. Much
weaker was the other recapture.} (15. fxe5 Nd5 $1 (15... Nh5 16. Bg3 Nxg3 17.
Qxg3 Bd7 18. Rf1 Rf8 19. Kb1 Qa5 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 O-O-O 22. Rf3 Ba4 23.
Rfd3 $16 {1/2-1/2 Sylvan,J (2285)-Hunt,H (2315)/Witley 1996 (51)}) 16. Nxd5 (
16. Bf2 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Na4 $15) 16... exd5 17. Qg3 Ne6 18. Nf5 Kf8 $1 19. Qe3
gxh4 20. Qxh6+ Ke8 21. Kb1 $15) 15... hxg5 {Topalov prefers small steps,
despite the fact that he had an enviable choice of very complex lines.} ({
The rather simplistic capture on d4 unleashes the might of the white pieces.} 
15... exd4 16. gxf6 Bd6 17. Nd5 Qc6 (17... Qa5 18. Bc4 b5 19. b4 Qa4 20. Rxd4
bxc4 21. bxc5 $16) 18. Ne7 $1 Bxe7 (18... Qxg2 19. Bf1 Qxh3 20. Bxh3 $16) 19.
fxe7 Qxg2 20. Qxg2 Rxg2 21. Rg1 Nxd3+ 22. cxd3 Rg5 23. Bxg5 hxg5 24. Rxg5 $16)
(15... Nh5 {Refuting the knight move to h5 is not easy and only the very
Sicilian sacrifice on b5 can put the defender to the real test.} 16. Bb5+ $1 (
16. gxh6 exd4 17. h7 Rh8 18. Bxe7 (18. Nd5 exd5 19. Rxe7+ Qxe7 20. Bxe7 Bxh3
21. Bxc5 Bxg2 22. Bxd4 Ke7 $17) 18... Qxe7 19. Qxh5 dxc3 $17) 16... Kf8 (16...
axb5 17. Ndxb5 Qb6 18. gxh6 Nf4 19. h7 Rh8 20. Qg4 $18) (16... Bd7 $2 17. Nxe6
fxe6 18. Bxd7+ Nxd7 19. Qxe6 O-O-O 20. Nd5 $18) 17. gxh6 Nf4 (17... axb5 18.
Ndxb5 Qb6 19. Bxe7+ Kxe7 20. Qxh5 $18) (17... exd4 $2 18. Bxe7+ (18. h7 $2 Qf4+
19. Kb1 Qxh4 20. Qxh4 Bxh4 21. hxg8=Q+ Kxg8 22. Re5 dxc3 23. Rxc5 axb5 24. Rxh5
Bf6 $17) 18... Qxe7 19. Qxh5 axb5 (19... dxc3 20. h7 cxb2+ 21. Kb1 $18) 20. h7
Rh8 21. Qh6+ Ke8 22. Rxd4 $18) 18. Bxe7+ Qxe7 19. Qe3 {White may be losing
some material, but the black pieces are poorly coordinated.} f6 (19... axb5 20.
h7 Rh8 21. Qxe5 Nfd3+ 22. cxd3 Rxh7 23. Ndxb5 $18) (19... Nxg2 20. Qxe5 Nxe1
21. h7 $1 $18) 20. Bf1 exd4 21. Rxd4 Ng6 (21... Nxg2 22. Bxg2 Rxg2 23. Nd5 Qf7
24. Nb6 $18) 22. Red1 b5 23. Ne4 $18 {White is on the verge of winning the
position.}) ({The most challenging for White would have been the knight move
to the centre, when Black would not suffer from the vulnerability of the steed
on the h-file.} 15... Nd5 $5 16. Bb5+ (16. Nde2 hxg5 17. Bg3 Ne3 18. Rd2 $13) (
16. Nxd5 exd5 17. Qg3 Bxg5+ 18. Kb1 f6 19. Qf2 $11 {White has enough
compensation for the mere pawn.}) 16... Kf8 (16... axb5 17. Ndxb5 Qc6 18. gxh6
f6 19. Bg3 $13) 17. gxh6 exd4 $1 (17... Nxc3 18. h7 Nxa2+ 19. Kb1 Rh8 20. Bxe7+
Kxe7 21. Qh4+ f6 (21... Kf8 22. Qh6+ Ke7 23. Nc6+ bxc6 24. Qg5+ Kf8 25. Rd8+
$18) 22. Qh6 Kf7 23. Be2 $1 $18) (17... axb5 18. h7 Rh8 19. Ndxb5 Qc6 20. Bxe7+
Kxe7 21. Rxe5 $18) 18. Rxd4 (18. h7 Qf4+ 19. Kb1 Nxc3+ 20. bxc3 Qxh4 21.
hxg8=Q+ Kxg8 $17) (18. Nxd5 exd5 19. Bxe7+ Qxe7 20. Qh5 Bg4 $17) 18... Nf6 (
18... Nxc3 19. h7 Rh8 20. Bxe7+ Kxe7 21. Qh4+ f6 22. Qh6 Kf7 23. Rg4) (18...
axb5 $2 19. h7 Rh8 20. Nxd5 exd5 21. Bxe7+ Qxe7 22. Qh6+ $18) 19. Qe3 axb5 20.
h7 Nxh7 21. Nd5 Nb3+ 22. Qxb3 exd5 23. Bxe7+ Kg7 24. Qxd5 $11 {The final
position is roughly equal.}) 16. Bg3 Ncd7 {Black must try to hold the center,
otherwise the disparity between White's fully developed forces and Black's
half finished business will become too painful. Unfortunatelly the other
knight's move is simply insufficient.} (16... Nfd7 $2 17. Bf5 $3 (17. Qh7 Rf8 (
17... Nf6 18. Qh6 (18. Bxe5 Nxh7 19. Bxc7 Nxd3+ 20. Rxd3 Bd7 21. Nd5 exd5 22.
Rde3 Be6 23. Nxe6 Kd7 24. Nd4 Bc5 25. Rf3 f6 26. Rh3 Nf8 27. Nb3 $14) 18...
Nxd3+ 19. Rxd3 Rg6 20. Qh8+ Rg8 21. Qh3 $16) 18. Nf3 Bf6 (18... Nxd3+ 19. Rxd3
f6 20. Qg6+ Rf7 21. Rf1 Nf8 22. Qh5) 19. Qh5 (19. Ne4 Nxe4 20. Qxe4 $16) 19...
Rh8 20. Qg4 $16) 17... Rf8 (17... exf5 18. Nd5 Qd8 19. Bxe5 Nxe5 20. Rxe5 Be6
21. Qh7 Rg6 22. Nxe6 Nxe6 23. Rxf5 $18) 18. Bg4 b5 19. Bh5 $16) 17. Nxe6 $5 {
[%mdl 128] The course of this fascinating battle indicates, that Ivanchuk was
really in fighting mood and was willing to go to extremes to win the game. His
sacrifice on e6 is a bit too temperamental.} (17. Kb1 Qb6 (17... Bb4 $5 18. Ne4
(18. Nxe6 $2 Qb6 19. Ng7+ Rxg7 20. Bxe5 Nxe5 21. Rxe5+ Kf8 $17) 18... Bxe1 19.
Nxf6+ Nxf6 20. Rxe1 Qa5 (20... Nd7 21. Nxe6 $16) 21. Rxe5 Qd2 22. Re1 Bd7 $14)
(17... b5 18. Ne4 Qb6 19. Nxf6+ Bxf6 20. Be4 Ra7 21. Nc6 Rc7 {0-1 Dimitrijevic,
A (2369)-Brkic,A (2402)/Subotica 2003 (72)} 22. Rd6 Bb7 23. Qh5 Bxc6 24. Bxc6
Rxc6 25. Rxd7 $16) 18. Nb3 Bb4 19. Bxe5 Nxe5 20. Rxe5 $14) 17... Qb6 {Black
can play much more safely than accepting the dangerous gift.} (17... fxe6 18.
Qh6 Kd8 $1 19. Bxe5 (19. Bg6 Qc4 20. Rxe5 Ng4 21. Qh7 Ngf6 22. Qf7 Rf8 23. Qxe6
Qxe6 24. Rxe6 $14) 19... Nxe5 20. Bh7+ Ke8 21. Bxg8 Nxg8 22. Qh8 Kf8 23. Rf1+ (
23. Rxe5 Bf6) (23. Qxe5 Qxe5 24. Rxe5 Nh6 $1 $15) 23... Nf7 24. Ne4 {Black has
three minor pieces for the white rook, but they are not coordinated. Topalov
would have to play very carefully just to survive the onslaught.} Bd7 (24...
Qc4 $2 25. Qh7 e5 26. b3 Qe6 27. Rd6 Bxd6 28. Nxg5 $18) 25. Rxf7+ (25. h4 Be8
26. hxg5 Qb6 27. g6 Qe3+ 28. Kb1 Qh6 $15) 25... Kxf7 26. Qh7+ Kf8 27. Rf1+ Qf4+
28. Rxf4+ gxf4 29. h4 $1 $16) ({The safest way to limit White's attacking
chances might have been the other queen move.} 17... Qc6 $5 18. Bh7 Qxe6 19.
Qxe6 fxe6 20. Bxg8 Nxg8 21. Bxe5 Nxe5 22. Rxe5 Nh6 $15) 18. Bc4 $1 (18. Nxg5
Rxg5 19. Bf5 Qc6 20. Ne4 Rxf5 21. Qxf5 Nxe4 22. Qxe4 Qxe4 23. Rxe4 f5 24. Rc4
f4 $17) (18. Bh7 Qxe6 (18... Rh8 19. Nxg5 Nxh7 20. Nf3 Qe6 $11 {is very messy
and unlcear.}) 19. Qxe6 fxe6 20. Bxg8 Nxg8 21. Bxe5 Nxe5 22. Rxe5 Nh6 $15)
18... g4 {The sheer number of very complex and interesting lines after each
move must have seriously tested the players' ability to combine exact
calculation and tactical "feeling" with ticking clocks right next to them.} ({
Accepting the sacrifice at this moment is not a serious attempt to play for a
win with Black.} 18... fxe6 19. Ne4 (19. Bxe6 $2 g4 $19) 19... Qc6 $1 (19...
Nxe4 20. Rxe4 Nf6 21. Bxe5 Nxe4 (21... Bd7 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Qh5+ Ke7 24. Rxd7+
Kxd7 25. Qf7+ Be7 26. Bxe6+ $11) 22. Qh5+ Kf8 23. Qh6+ Kf7 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25.
Qh6+ $11) 20. Bd3 g4 (20... Kd8 21. Nxf6 Bxf6 22. Rf1 Rf8 23. Bxe5 Bxe5 24.
Rxf8+ Kc7 25. Rf7 Kb8 26. g3 $11) (20... Nd5 21. Qh7 Rf8 22. Qg6+ Kd8 23. Nxg5
$11) 21. Nxf6+ Nxf6 22. Qh6 e4 23. Bxe4 Nxe4 24. Qh5+ Kf8 25. Rf1+ Nf6 26. Bd6
Kg7 27. Qg5+ Kf7 28. Qh5+ $11) ({Much more original and dangerous for White is
the fascinating defensive line} 18... Nf8 $1 19. Bxe5 (19. Nd8 Bxd8 20. Rxe5+ (
20. Qh6 Ng4 $17) 20... Be7 21. Rxe7+ (21. Qh6 Be6 22. Bxe6 fxe6 $17) 21... Kxe7
22. Bd6+ Qxd6 23. Qe3+ Ne6 24. Rxd6 Kxd6 $15) 19... Bxe6 20. Bxe6 Nxe6 (20...
fxe6 21. Bd4 $13) 21. Qf5 Rg6 22. Bd6 Ng8 23. Bg3 Rd8 $15 {Black must have
some chances to survive with extra material.}) 19. Qh6 fxe6 20. Bh4 $1 {
Black has an extra piece that is not taking part in the game and the
centralized king is under maximum fire. White is running a serious risk, but
playing the position is more difficult for the defender.} (20. Ne4 Nxe4 21.
Qh5+ Kf8 22. Qh6+ Rg7 23. Qh8+ Kf7 24. Rxe4 (24. Qh5+ Kg8 25. Qe8+ Nf8 26. Rxe4
Qc6 $17) 24... Bg5+ 25. Kb1 Nf6 26. Rf1 Bd7 27. Qxa8 Rg8 28. Qxg8+ (28. Rxe5
Rxa8 29. Rxg5 Rh8 30. Be5 Rh6 31. Rgf5 Ke8 $17) 28... Kxg8 29. Rxe5 Nh7 30. Re4
$15) (20. Bd3 Nd5 21. Bg6+ Kd8 $15) 20... Bf8 $1 {Topalov gets a lot of credit
for this intuitive expulsion of the queen from the active square. Seemingly
compact defence with the rook} (20... Rf8 21. Rf1 (21. Bd3 Kd8 22. Qg7 $13)
21... Rf7 $1 (21... Qc6 $2 22. Bd3 $1 Qb6 23. Bxf6 Bxf6 24. Bg6+ Ke7 25. Ne4 $1
(25. Rxf6 Rxf6 26. Qg7+ Kd8 27. Qxf6+) 25... Rh8 26. Bh7 $18) {fails to the
quiet retreat of the king from the exposed c1-square} 22. Kb1 $1 (22. Bd3 Kd8
23. Bg6 (23. Ne4 $2 Rh7 $17) 23... Rf8 24. Qg7 Rg8 25. Qf7 Rf8 $11) (22. Ne4
Nxe4 23. Rxf7 Bxh4 24. Qg6 Qe3+ 25. Kb1 Nd2+ 26. Ka1 Kd8 27. Bxe6 $11) 22...
Qc6 23. Bd3 $18) 21. Qd2 Qc6 $6 {A clear proof that Black had to play at least
some moves based on "feeling". The best way to play for advantage was the rook
retreat to the h-file.} (21... Be7 22. Qh6 (22. Rf1 Qc6 23. Bd3 e4 24. Nxe4
Nxe4 25. Bxe4 Qxe4 26. Bxe7 Kxe7 27. Qd6+ Kd8 28. Rf8+ Rxf8 29. Qxf8+ Kc7 30.
Qd6+ $11) 22... Bf8 23. Qd2 $11) (21... Rh8 $1 22. Bg5 Be7 (22... Rxh2 $6 23.
Qd3 $1 $40) 23. Ne4 Qd4 $17) 22. Bd3 b5 $2 {Topalov is openly admitting, that
he badly needs to finish his development. Unfortunately most of the natural
moves simply fail to solve the mounting problems.} (22... Rh8 $2 23. Bxf6 Nxf6
24. Bg6+ Ke7 25. Qd8#) (22... Be7 23. Qh6 Qc5 (23... Nd5 24. Qh5+ Kd8 25. Nxd5
exd5 26. Bxe7+ Kxe7 27. Qh7+ $18) (23... Qxg2 24. Ne4 Nxe4 25. Qh5+ Kd8 26.
Bxe7+ Kxe7 27. Qh7+ $18) (23... Rf8 24. Rf1 $1) 24. Ne4 (24. Bg6+ Kd8 25. Bf7
Kc7 26. Bxg8 Nxg8 27. Qh7) 24... Nxe4 25. Rxe4 $16) (22... Nd5 23. Bh7 Rg7 (
23... Nxc3 $2 24. Bxg8 Nxd1 25. Qg5 $18) 24. Be4 Qc5 25. Qh6 $18) ({The best
idea for Black was to transfer the queen to the d-file with many ideas.} 22...
Qd6 $1 23. Rf1 (23. Qe2 Nd5 24. Ne4 Qc7 $17) 23... e4 24. Nxe4 Nxe4 25. Qe3 Be7
(25... e5 26. Bxe4 Bh6 (26... Qh6 27. Rxf8+ Qxf8 28. Kb1 $3 $16 {An
unbelievable position in which White dominates the board despite the fact that
he is missing a whole rook!}) 27. Rxd6 Bxe3+ 28. Kb1 Bg5 (28... Bf4 29. Re6+
Kf7 30. Re7+ Kf8 31. g3 $16) 29. Rg6 Bxh4 30. Rxg8+ Ke7 31. Rg7+ Kd6 32. Rxg4
$16) 26. Bxe4 Qc5 27. Qb3 Qe5 {might be the best defence against manifold
threats.}) 23. Ne4 $2 {Ivanchuk had a golden opportunity to decide the fight
for himself with pressure returning to the f-file.} (23. Rf1 $1 e4 $1 (23...
Bg7 24. Bg6+ Ke7 25. Be4 $18) (23... Nd5 24. Bh7 $1 Nf4 (24... Rg7 25. Qh6 $1
$18) 25. Bxg8 Bh6 26. Bh7 Ne2+ 27. Kb1 $18) (23... Be7 24. Qh6 Rf8 25. Bg6+ Kd8
26. Bxf6 Rxf6 27. Rxf6 Bxf6 28. Be4 $18) (23... Bb7 24. Rxf6 $5 (24. Bxf6 Nxf6
25. Rxf6 O-O-O 26. Qe1 Be7 27. Be4 Qc4 28. Bxb7+ Kxb7 29. Rf7 $16) 24... Nxf6
25. Bxf6 Qc7 26. Bh4 $16) 24. Bxf6 exd3 (24... Nxf6 25. Bxb5 $1 axb5 26. Qd8+
Kf7 27. Qxf6+ Ke8 28. Rd8#) 25. Qxd3 e5 $1 (25... Qc5 26. Bh4 Qh5 27. Qe4 Qh6+
28. Kb1 Ra7 29. Qc6 Qxh4 30. Qxe6+ Kd8 31. Qxg8 $18) (25... Bb7 26. Qh7 Nxf6
27. Rxf6 Rg7 28. Rxf8+ Kxf8 29. Rf1+ Qf3 30. Qh8+ Kf7 31. Qh5+ $18) 26. Nd5 Bb7
27. Qf5 Qxd5 28. Rxd5 Bxd5 29. Bxe5 $16) 23... Nd5 $1 24. Rf1 Bb7 $6 {Once
again a sound idea but not the most exact execution. The best was a retreat of
the queen from the c6-square with tempo.} (24... Qb6 $1 25. Kb1 Bb7 26. Rxf8+
Nxf8 27. Qh6 Kd7 $17) 25. Rxf8+ $1 {Played with a great deal of fantasy,
Ivanchuk prefers a colourful solution to the mundane attack along the f-file.}
(25. Qf2 Nf4 (25... Rg7 $2 26. Nd6+ Bxd6 27. Bg6+ Rxg6 28. Qf7#) (25... Bh6+
26. Kb1 Bf4 27. g3 $14) 26. g3 Nxd3+ 27. Rxd3 Bh6+ 28. Kb1 Rf8 29. Nd6+ Qxd6
30. Rxd6 Rxf2 31. Rxe6+ Kf7 32. Re7+ Kg8 $1 33. Rxf2 Bc6 34. Re6 Be3 35. Rf5
$11) 25... Nxf8 (25... Kxf8 $2 26. Rf1+ Ke8 27. Qh6 $18) (25... Rxf8 26. Qh6
Rf7 27. Ng5 Rf6 28. Qh8+ Nf8 29. Nh7 O-O-O 30. Nxf6 (30. Bxf6 Nxf6 31. Nxf6
Qxg2 $11) 30... Ng6 31. Qh7 Ndf4 $11) 26. Qh6 Rg6 {White is attacking without
a rook, but the danger for Black is very real. Topalov might have proven the
balance even after the 26...Qc7 move, but to calculate the lines properly
would surely require a lot of time or/and a silicon heart!} (26... Kd7 27. Nf6+
Nxf6 28. Bxb5+ Nd5 29. Bxc6+ Kxc6 30. Rxd5 Kxd5 31. Qd2+ Kc6 32. Be7 $18) (
26... Qc7 27. Rf1 $1 Rc8 28. Nf6+ (28. Qh5+ Ng6 29. Nf6+ Nxf6 30. Bxg6+ Kd7 31.
Bxf6 Bd5 $11) 28... Nxf6 29. Rxf6 Qb6 30. Qh5+ Kd7 31. Qf7+ Kd6 32. Qxg8 Bf3
33. Kd2 Rxc2+ $3 34. Kxc2 Qc5+ 35. Kd2 Qb4+ $11) 27. Nf6+ {We should be
merciful to the players and not ask for solutions like} (27. Qh5 $5 Qc7 (27...
Kd7 28. b4 Rg7 29. Qxe5 Rf7 30. Bg3 Rd8 31. Nd6 $13) 28. Nf6+ (28. Rf1 Qg7 $1
29. Nd6+ Kd7 30. Nxb7 (30. Rf7+ $2 Kxd6 31. Rxg7 Rxg7 $19) 30... Qh6+ 31. Qxh6
Rxh6 32. Rf7+ Kc6 33. Nd8+ Kd6 34. Nb7+ $11) 28... Nxf6 29. Bxg6+ Nxg6 30.
Qxg6+ Qf7 31. Qxf6 Qxf6 32. Bxf6 Bxg2 $11) 27... Rxf6 28. Bxf6 Nxf6 $2 {
Topalov is losing his heart and accepts the fact, that the game should end in
a draw. He could still have test his dangerous opponent to the limit with the
much stronger move} (28... Qc7 $1 29. Bg7 O-O-O $1 (29... Qd6 30. Qh5+ Kd8 31.
Bxe5 Qc5 32. Rf1 Kd7 33. Bg3 $11) (29... Qf7 30. Bxf8 Qxf8 31. Qxe6+ Qe7 32.
Qxg4 $44) (29... Ne3 30. Rd2 $1 (30. Bg6+ Nxg6 31. Qxg6+ Qf7 32. Qxf7+ Kxf7 33.
Rd7+ Kg6 34. Rxb7 Rd8 35. b3 Rd1+ 36. Kb2 Rd2 37. Bxe5 Rxc2+ 38. Kb1 Rxg2 $17)
30... e4 $1 (30... O-O-O 31. Bf6 $1 (31. Bxf8 Rxd3 $1 $19) 31... Nd5 (31... Re8
32. Qxe3 $16) 32. Bxd8 Qxd8 33. Qg7 $13) 31. Bxf8 exd3 32. Bb4 Qe5 (32... Nd5
33. Qxe6+ Ne7 34. Bd6 Qd7 35. Qe5 $16) 33. Qf8+ Kd7 34. Rxd3+ Nd5 35. Qe7+ Kc6
(35... Kc8 36. Qe8+ Kc7 37. Ba5+ Kd6 38. Bb4+ $11) 36. Qc5+ Kd7 37. Qe7+ $11)
30. Bxf8 {White would need to rise to the occasion and find} Nf4 31. Qg7 $1 Rd7
(31... Bxg2 32. Qxc7+ Kxc7 33. Bg7 Rd5 34. Re1 Nxd3+ 35. cxd3 Rxd3 36. Bxe5+
Kc6 $15) 32. Qh8 Qd8 (32... Rxd3 33. Rxd3 Nxd3+ 34. Kd2 Nxb2 35. Ba3+ $11) 33.
Bg7 Qxh8 34. Bxh8 e4 35. Bf1 e3 36. Rxd7 Kxd7 37. Be5 $1 Nxg2 (37... e2 38.
Bxe2 Nxe2+ 39. Kd2 Ng1 40. Bd4 $11) 38. Bd4 $11 {saving the draw in a slightly
spectacular way.}) 29. Bg6+ $1 (29. Qxf6 $2 e4 $17) 29... Nxg6 30. Qxg6+ Ke7
31. Qg7+ Ke8 32. Qxf6 {Naturally White can already give perpetual check.} (32.
Qg6+ $11) 32... Rc8 $1 33. c3 (33. Qh8+ $11) 33... b4 34. Qg6+ Ke7 (34... Kf8
$2 35. Rf1+ Ke7 36. Qg7+ Kd6 37. Rd1+ Kc5 38. Qxe5+ Kb6 39. Rd6 $18) 35. Qg7+
Ke8 36. Rf1 Qc5 37. Qxb7 $2 {With a few seconds left on the clock Vassily goes
over the top and loses beautifully. He was still better after} (37. Qf7+ Kd8
38. Rd1+ Bd5 39. Qxe6 Qe3+ 40. Kb1 Qe4+ 41. Ka1 (41. Kc1 Qe3+ $11) 41... Kc7
42. Qxd5 Qxd5 43. Rxd5 Rh8 44. cxb4 Rxh2 45. Kb1 Rxg2 46. Rxe5 $11 {but the
game would end in a draw.}) 37... Qe3+ 38. Kc2 (38. Kd1 Rd8+ 39. Kc2 Qe2+ 40.
Kb3 Qxf1 $19) 38... Qe2+ 39. Kb3 Qc4+ 40. Kc2 b3+ $1 {The symbolic 40th move
locks the white king into 2 ranks and forces a winning queen endgame.} 41. Kd2
$8 (41. axb3 Qe2+ 42. Kb1 Qxf1+ 43. Ka2 Rd8 $19) 41... Rd8+ 42. Ke1 Rd1+ $1 43.
Kxd1 Qxf1+ 44. Kd2 Qf4+ 45. Kd1 {It was a bit late to show bravery, but
objectively speaking much more challening for Black would have been the daring
centralization of the king.} (45. Kd3 $5 bxa2 46. Qb8+ Kf7 47. Qa7+ Kg6 48. Qg1
Qf5+ 49. Kd2 Qb1 50. Qb6 Kh5 51. Qb8 Qg6 52. Ke2 Qe4+ 53. Kf2 Qf4+ 54. Ke2 Qc4+
55. Kd2 Qd5+ 56. Ke3 Qc5+ 57. Ke4 a1=Q $19) 45... bxa2 46. Qc8+ (46. Qxa6 a1=Q+
47. Qxa1 Qf1+ $19) 46... Kf7 47. Qd7+ Kf6 48. Qd8+ Kf5 49. Qf8+ Ke4 50. Qa8+
Kd3 51. Qxa6+ {Unfortunatelly for White he can not even give check on d8.} (51.
Qd8+ Qd4 $1 $19) 51... Qc4 52. Qa7 (52. Qd6+ Ke4 53. Qa3 a1=Q+ 54. Qxa1 Qf1+
$19) 52... g3 {Black would like to mate the white king after Qg4+.} (52... Qb3+
53. Ke1 Kc2 $19) 53. h3 (53. hxg3 Qg4+ 54. Kc1 Qg5+ $19) 53... Qb3+ 54. Ke1 Kc2
{One of the most complicated games in recent months with a finish in the style
of ancient greek tragedies. Ivanchuk did not really deserve to lose after his
enterprising play in the whole game.} 0-1

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 5th"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2009.05.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C97"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2746"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "161"]
[EventDate "2009.05.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. d5 {This move is frequently played,
with the aim of avoiding the lines based on ...cxd4. Personally, I feel that
this release of the tension in the centre is premature.} Bd7 {I consider this
natural developing move to be the best.} ({The immediate attempt to improve
the queen's knight position with} 12... Nc4 {succeeds only partially:} 13. b3
Nb6 14. a4 Bd7 15. a5 Nc8 {I do not feel that the knight is much better placed
here than it was on a5. Besides, White has managed to win much space on the
queenside.} 16. Nbd2 g6 17. Nf1 Nh5 18. Bh6 Re8 19. Qd2 Bf6 20. Ng3 Nxg3 21.
fxg3 Bg7 22. Rf1 f6 23. Be3 Ne7 24. g4 Rf8 25. Kh2 Rae8 26. Nh4 Qc8 27. b4 c4
28. Rf3 Rf7 29. Raf1 Ref8 {Black has managed to regroup, but his position
remains passive.} 30. Bh6 $6 ({Shipov reccomends} 30. Nf5 $5 gxf5 31. gxf5 {
[%cal Gg2g4,Gh3h4] with enduring pressure, despite the big material
disadvantage. In this line, the black knight remains passive all the same.})
30... g5 $1 $11 {Bacrot,E (2728)-Svidler,P (2726)/Nalchik 2009/CBM 131 (1/2,
36)}) (12... c4 $6 {is premature because of} 13. b4 $1 {In this line, it is
important that the c3-pawn is defended.}) 13. b3 {This is the most consistent
continuation, aiming to keep the a5-knight out of play.} (13. Nbd2 {is met by}
c4 $132 {[%cal Ga5b7,Gb7c5]} 14. Nf1 (14. b4 $2 cxb3 $1 {[%csl Gc3]}) 14... Nb7
15. g4 (15. N3h2 {Karjakin,S (2645)-Aleksandrov,A (2630)/Saint Vincent 2005/
CBM 110/[Marin,M] (1/2, 31)}) 15... h5 {Sulskis,S (2528)-Efimenko,Z (2620)/
Dresden 2007/CBM 118 [Marin] (0-1, 74)} (15... Ne8 {Harikrishna,P (2673)
-Fressinet,L (2624)/Pamplona 2005/CBM 111/[Marin,M] (1-0, 41)})) 13... c4 $6 {
I find it hard to justify such an early opening of the queenside.} ({When
facing this position, I played} 13... Rab8 {intending to discourage an
eventual break with a4 and waiting for White to develop his knight in order to
continue with ...g6 and Nh5 without fearing Bh6.} 14. Be3 (14. a4 $6 bxa4 15.
bxa4 {>< b3}) (14. Nbd2 g6 15. Nf1 Nh5) 14... g6 ({As we shall find out from a
further line, it is better to transfer the knight to g7 via h5 rather than with
} 14... Ne8) 15. Nbd2 ({I was slightly worried about} 15. Bh6 $5 {but after}
Rfe8 16. Nbd2 Nh5 {Black would have an extra-tempo compared to the line
starting with 13...g6 below.}) 15... Nh5 16. Bh6 Ng7 ({In fact, even here} 
16... Rfe8 $5 17. Nf1 Bf8 {came into consideration.}) 17. Nf1 Nb7 {The knight
initiates its voyage to f7.} 18. g4 Nd8 19. Ng3 f6 20. Nh2 Nf7 21. Be3 Kh8 (
21... a5 $5) 22. Qd2 (22. f4 f5 $5 $132 {/\ Bh4}) 22... Qc8 (22... a5 $5) 23.
f4 exf4 (23... f5 24. exf5 gxf5 25. g5 $1) 24. Bxf4 Ne5 25. Rf1 a5 $11 {
Maze,S (2455)-Marin,M (2540)/Moscow 2005 (1/2, 34)}) 14. Ba3 $146 {[%cal Gf3e5]
An interesting novelty.} ({In fact, there is nothing wrong with the natural} 
14. b4 Nb7 15. Be3 $6 ({White should start fighting for the a-file with} 15. a4
$1 {since} a5 {fails to equalize after} 16. axb5 axb4 17. Rxa8 Rxa8 18. cxb4
Bxb5 19. Na3 $14 {[%csl Gb7]}) 15... a5 16. a3 axb4 $6 {Black should not help
White clear the c3-square for his knight.} ({Once he has avoided queenside
problems, he should have switched to Rubinstein's old plan} 16... Ne8 17. Nbd2
g6 18. Nf1 Ng7 19. g4 f6 20. Ng3 Nd8 21. Qd2 Nf7 $11 {[%cal Ga8a6,Gf8a8]}) 17.
cxb4 $14 {[%cal Gb1c3]} c3 $6 18. Bg5 h6 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Re3 $16 {Kasparov,G
(2715)-Comp Meph Experimental/Hamburg 1985/EXT 2002 (1-0, 55)}) 14... Bd8 {
This is the only way to parry the threat.} (14... Rfe8 $2 15. Nxe5 dxe5 16.
Bxe7 Rxe7 17. d6 $18) 15. Nbd2 Ne8 16. Bb4 cxb3 $6 {Opening the a-file leads
to trouble with the a5-knight.} ({Before anything, Black should have continued
his regrouping with} 16... g6 17. Qe2 Ng7) 17. axb3 Nb7 18. Qe2 $1 {White
prepares to put up pressure against the b5-pawn, in order to discourage ...a5.}
Qb8 (18... a5 19. Ba3 Qxc3 20. Bd3 $16 {[%cal Ge1c1,Gd3b5] Black is very
poorly coordinated.}) ({It is too late for} 18... g6 19. c4 a5 20. Ba3 $1 $16 {
[%csl Gc1]} (20. Rec1 Rb8 $1 21. Bc3 b4 22. Bb2 Nc5 $15) 20... Rc8 {[%cal
Gb5b4]} 21. cxb5 $1 Qxc2 22. Rec1 $18) 19. Ba3 $1 {[%csl Gb7][%cal Gb3b4]} (19.
c4 a5 20. Bc3 b4 21. Bb2 Nc5 $15) 19... Bb6 {Black has activated his bishop,
but this is not the highest priority in the Chigorin Ruy Lopez. It is the
knights he should be concerned in the first line. The bishop's activity is
rather sterile, while the knights cause problems of coordination.} (19... Na5
20. b4 $16) 20. b4 Nc7 {This looks ugly, but Black needed to consolidate the
b5-square.} ({It was too late for reaching a harmonious development with} 20...
g6 21. c4 Ng7 22. Bb2 f6 {[%cal Gb7d8,Gd8f7] because of} 23. cxb5 Bxb5 24. Bd3
$16 {and the queenside is vulnerable.}) 21. Bd3 $14 (21. c4 $1 $16 {seems to
pose even bigger problems, because of the permanent threat of c5.}) 21... a5 $1
{Black reduces the damage. He still gets a weak pawn on b5, but at least there
will be no c4-c5 hanging around.} 22. Nf1 axb4 23. cxb4 f6 24. Ne3 g6 25. Bb2
Rxa1 26. Rxa1 Nd8 27. Nd2 Nf7 {The bad knight has been transferred to a
relatively favourable square, but the other (usually good) knight stands
miserably.} 28. Kh2 Qd8 ({Black cannot regroup with} 28... Ba7 29. Rf1 Ne8 30.
Nb1 Ng7 {because of} 31. Na3 $16 {, winning the weak pawn.}) 29. Rf1 Qe7 30.
Bc1 Ra8 31. Nb1 Bd4 32. Nc2 Bb6 33. Nc3 {The b5-pawn is almost doomed, which
forces Black open the other wing.} f5 34. exf5 gxf5 35. f4 $1 $14 {White has
stabilized the position and remains better coordinated. The problem is that
Black cannot release the tension, because this would give White free hands to
grab the b5-pawn.} Rc8 {A slightly mysterious move.} (35... Qf6 {has been
recommended, but White remains in control after} 36. Be3 e4 37. Bxb5 Nxb5 38.
Nxb5 Bxe3 39. Nxe3 Rb8 40. Na3 Rxb4 41. Nac2 Rb3 42. Ra1 $14 {White has the
safer king and the more active minor pieces.}) 36. Be3 Bxe3 37. Qxe3 (37. Nxe3
$5 $14 {comes into consideration, since} exf4 $6 {can be met by} 38. Nxf5 $1 (
38. Rxf4 $2 Qe5) 38... Qxe2 39. Nxe2 Nxd5 40. Nxf4 $16) 37... Ne8 38. Be2 Qf6
39. Qd2 exf4 $6 {Ivanchuk probably thought that this is a good moment to start
his counterattack, overlooking White's 41st move.} 40. Nd4 Qe5 41. Bxb5 $1 {
It appears that the discovered check is not dangerous for White.} ({Black may
have counted with} 41. Kh1 Nf6 $36) 41... f3+ 42. Kg1 Bxb5 43. Ncxb5 fxg2 44.
Rxf5 $16 {White is more active and will be a pawn up soon.} Qe4 45. Nc3 Qh4 46.
Qxg2+ Kh8 47. Nce2 Nf6 48. Rf4 Qh6 49. Nf5 Qf8 50. Ned4 Ne5 51. b5 Qg8 52. Ne7
Rc1+ 53. Kh2 Qxg2+ 54. Kxg2 Nfd7 55. Ndf5 Nc4 56. Rg4 Nf6 57. Rg3 Rc2+ 58. Kg1
Rc1+ 59. Kh2 Rc2+ 60. Rg2 Rxg2+ 61. Kxg2 Ne4 62. Nc8 Nc3 63. Ncxd6 Nb6 64. Ne3
Kg7 65. Kf3 Kf8 66. Kf4 Ke7 67. Ndc4 Nxc4 68. Nxc4 Nxd5+ 69. Kg5 Kd7 70. h4 Ne7
71. Kf6 Ng6 72. Ne5+ Nxe5 73. Kxe5 Kc7 74. h5 Kb6 75. Kf6 Kxb5 76. Kg7 Ka4 77.
Kxh7 Kb3 78. h6 Ka2 79. Kg6 Kb1 80. h7 Kc2 81. h8=Q 1-0

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 2nd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2009.10.04"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D90"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2009.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qb3 dxc4 7. Qxc4 O-O 8.
Bf4 Na6 9. e4 c5 {This line was examined in CBM 103 (annotations to Cs.Horvath
- Flumbort) and CBM 107 (annotations to Riazantsev - Sutovsky).} 10. e5 Nh5 11.
Be3 cxd4 12. Qxd4 Bc6 13. Be2 Qa5 (13... Bxf3 14. Bxf3 Qxd4 15. Bxd4 Nb4 16.
O-O-O Nf4 17. Kb1 Ne6 18. Be3 Bxe5 19. Rd7 Nc6 20. Rhd1 Rab8 21. Na4 Rfc8 22.
Rc1 Ned4 $11 {1/2 Riazantsev,A (2608)-Sutovsky,E (2665)/Sochi 2005/CBM 107 (32)
}) (13... Qc7 14. Qh4 Bxe5 15. Nxe5 Qxe5 16. O-O-O Nc7 17. Rhe1 Ne6 18. Bxh5
Qxh5 19. Qxh5 gxh5 20. Nd5 Rfe8 21. Bh6 Kh8 22. Bd2 Rac8 (22... Kg7 $142 $11)
23. Bc3+ Kg8 24. Re5 Bxd5 25. Rexd5 Red8 26. Rxh5 $14 {/=1-0 Grigoriants,S 
(2553)-Esen,B (2287)/Warsaw 2005/CBM 108 (62)}) 14. O-O Nb4 $6 $146 {Hardly a
good novelty.} (14... Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Bxe5 16. Qd5 Qxd5 17. Nxd5 Rfe8 18. Rac1 e6
19. Nc3 Re7 20. a3 Bf4 21. Bxh5 Bxe3 22. fxe3 gxh5 23. Ne4 $11 {1/2 Sokolov,I 
(2695)-Van Wely,L (2654)/Belgium 2003/CBM 097 ext (37)}) 15. Qh4 (15. Qc5 $5 {
is simple and strong:} Qxc5 16. Bxc5 a5 (16... Bxf3 17. Bxf3 Nd3 18. Bxe7 Rfe8
19. Nd5 Bxe5 20. g3 $14) 17. g3 (17. Bxe7 Rfe8 18. Bd6 Nf4 $132) 17... Bxf3 18.
Bxf3 Bxe5 19. Bxe7 Rfe8 20. Bg5 $14) 15... Nc2 $6 (15... Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Bxe5 17.
Qxe7 (17. Bxh5 Bf6 $1 18. Qe4 gxh5 19. Qxb7 Nc2 $132) 17... Nc2 18. Rad1 Nxe3
19. fxe3 Rae8 20. Qxb7 Nf6 $44 {[%csl Re3,Ge5]}) 16. g4 $1 Nxe3 $2 {After this
move White wins a piece without sufficient compensation.} (16... Nxa1 $8 17.
Rxa1 Qb4 $1 18. gxh5 Qxb2 19. Rc1 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Rac8 21. h6 $1 Bxe5 22. Ne2 $14
{White's bishop pair and "nail" on h6 gives him slightly better prospects.})
17. fxe3 Bh6 18. Nd1 Kh8 19. gxh5 Rg8 20. Kf2 Rad8 21. hxg6 $6 (21. Qxe7 {
was much simpler, e.g.} gxh5 22. Rg1 Rxg1 23. Kxg1 Bxf3 24. Qf6+ Bg7 25. Qxf3
Bxe5 26. Kf1 $18) 21... Bxf3 22. Kxf3 (22. gxf7 $2 Rg7 23. Qxe7 Bxe2 24. f8=Q+
Rxf8+ 25. Qxf8+ Rg8 26. Qxh6 Qd2 $11) 22... Rxg6 23. Qe4 (23. Qxe7 $4 Qd5+ 24.
e4 Qd2 $19 {[%cal Rd2f4,Rd8d3]}) 23... f5 $5 24. Qc4 Qd2 25. Rc1 $4 {[%mdl
8192] Just blunders away a rook. In fact, it was not easy for White to parry
Black's threats and consolidate his position:} (25. Qc3 Qd5+ 26. Kf2 Bg5 27.
Ke1 Bh4+ 28. Nf2 Rg2 $44) (25. Rf2 $1 {was probably the most appropriate but
after} Qe1 (25... Rc6 $143 26. Qb3 Rb6 27. Bc4 $1 Qe1 28. Qc3 Qh1+ 29. Ke2 Rc6
30. a4 $16) (25... Rg4 26. Bf1 $1 Qa5 27. b4 $1 Qxe5 28. Qc3 $16) 26. Bd3 Rg4
27. Qc2 Qh1+ 28. Ke2 Rg1 29. Qc3 e6 {it is not easy for White to swap off his
pieces.}) 25... Rc6 $19 26. Qh4 Qxc1 27. Qxe7 Rg8 28. e6 Qd2 29. Kf2 f4 0-1

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 2nd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2009.10.06"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D72"]
[WhiteElo "2762"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2009.09.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nb6 7. Ne2 c5 8. d5
e6 9. O-O O-O 10. Nbc3 Na6 11. Nf4 e5 12. Nd3 c4 13. Ne1 {For this line - see
CBM 108, annotations to Wojtaszek - Kovchan. However, a lot of games have been
played since then.} Bd7 (13... f5 {was "rehabilitated" in the following game:}
14. Be3 Bd7 15. Qd2 Rc8 $5 16. Rd1 Nc5 17. d6 Qf6 18. Bg5 Qe6 19. exf5 gxf5 20.
Nd5 Kh8 21. Ne7 (21. Be7 $5 e4 $5 22. Bxf8 Rxf8 23. Nf4 Qe5 $44) 21... Rcd8 22.
Nd5 $6 e4 23. Nf4 Qe5 24. Nh5 Qxb2 25. Qe3 Nd3 26. Nxg7 Qxg7 27. Bxd8 Rxd8 $44
{0-1 Akesson,J (2344)-Nyback,T (2565)/Stockholm 2007/CBM 122 Extra (43)}) 14.
Qe2 $146 {[%mdl 8] A committal move. It is unclear yet whether e2 will be the
best square for the white queen. On the other hand, White prevents ...
Nb6-c8-d6.} (14. f4 {(the most active move) was recently met with} Nc5 $1 (
14... exf4 $143 15. Bxf4 Nc5 16. Qd2 Nba4 17. Rc1 Nxc3 18. bxc3 Re8 19. e5 $1
Bxe5 20. Bxe5 Rxe5 21. Nf3 Re8 22. Qd4 $44 {1-0 Wojtaszek,R (2569)-Kovchan,A 
(2488)/Warsaw 2005/CBM 108 (30)}) {and Black obtained a good position:} 15.
fxe5 Bxe5 16. Bh6 (16. Nf3 Bg4) 16... Re8 17. Qd2 Nba4 18. Nxa4 Nxa4 19. Rb1 f6
20. b3 cxb3 21. Rxb3 Nc5 22. Rb1 Rc8 $15 {[%csl Re4,Ge5] 0-1 Ilincic,Z (2542)
-Sedlak,N (2553)/Decs HUN 2008/The Week in Chess 756 (39)}) (14. Be3 {is
probably the best move after all. Black replied} Nc8 {in several recent games
but failed to reach full equality:} (14... Rc8 15. a4 $1 $14) 15. f4 Nd6 16.
Qd2 (16. fxe5 Bxe5 17. Bd4 f6 18. Qd2 Bxd4+ 19. Qxd4 Qb6 20. Qxb6 axb6 21. Nf3
Rfe8 22. Rae1 Nf7 23. b3 Rac8 24. Rb1 b5 {1/2 Kharitonov,A (2526)-Kempinski,R 
(2595)/Plovdiv 2008/CBM 124}) 16... f6 (16... Nb4 17. a3 Nd3 18. Nxd3 cxd3 19.
Qxd3 Rc8 20. Rf2 Re8 21. fxe5 Bxe5 22. Bd4 $14 {1/2 Zhu Chen (2482)-Sutovsky,E
(2624)/Gibraltar 2006/CBM 110 ext (60) - Black does not have full compensation
for the pawn}) 17. fxe5 fxe5 18. Nf3 (18. Rxf8+ Qxf8 19. Nf3 $14) 18... b5 (
18... Qc7 $142 19. Qf2 b6 $11) 19. a3 Qc7 20. Qf2 h6 21. Kh1 Kh7 22. h3 Kg8 23.
g4 $14 {[%csl Ra6,Ra7] 1/2 Sebenik,M (2502)-Kempinski,R (2595)/Plovdiv 2008/
CBM 124 (50)}) 14... Nc5 15. Be3 Rc8 16. Nf3 {[%cal Yf3d2]} Qe8 $5 (16... Nba4
{looks normal and will be probably tested in future games.} 17. Qxc4 $140 Nxc3
18. bxc3 Na4 19. Qb4 a5 $1 $132) 17. Nd2 f5 18. exf5 gxf5 19. Nxc4 Nxc4 20.
Qxc4 {White has won a pawn. Black has more active pieces but does it
compensate for his material deficit?} Ne4 $5 (20... b5 21. Qh4 $14) 21. Qb4
Nxc3 22. bxc3 f4 23. Bc5 $2 (23. Bxa7 f3 24. Bh1 {[%csl Rh1]} b5 $5 {was
unclear but the text move is simply bad.}) 23... f3 24. Bxf8 (24. Bh1 Rf4 $1
25. c4 b6 26. Be3 Rfxc4 27. Qa3 e4 $19) 24... Bxf8 25. Qxb7 fxg2 26. Kxg2 {
[%csl Gd7,Gf8,Rg2] White is OK materially but Black's bishop pair should
decide the game, taking into consideration the poor position of the white king.
} Qf7 $1 27. Rab1 (27. Qb3 e4 28. c4 Rxc4 $1 29. Qxc4 $140 Qf3+ 30. Kg1 Bh3 $19
) 27... e4 $5 (27... Rxc3 28. Kg1 e4 {is also good.}) 28. f4 (28. Kg1 Bc5 {
[%cal Yc8f8]}) (28. f3 Rxc3 29. fxe4 Rc2+ 30. Kh1 Qh5 $19) 28... Rxc3 29. Rb3
Rd3 (29... Rc7 $1 $19 {was even stronger.}) 30. f5 {Desperation.} Rd2+ 31. Rf2
Rxf2+ 32. Kxf2 Qxf5+ 33. Ke1 Bc5 {White must now choose between a mate and a
hopeless endgame.} 34. Qb8+ Kf7 35. Qf4 Qxf4 36. gxf4 Ke7 $19 {[%csl Gc5,Gd7,
Ge4] _|_} 37. Rg3 Kd6 38. Rg7 h5 39. Rg5 e3 40. Ke2 Bb5+ 0-1

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 17th"]
[Site "Novi Sad"]
[Date "2009.10.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2682"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2009.10.22"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "England"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ENG"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. a4 c5 13. Bc2 Re8 14. d5 c4 15. b3
cxb3 16. Nxb3 Qc7 17. Bd3 Qxc3 18. Be3 Rec8 19. Rc1 Qb4 20. Rb1 Qc3 21. axb5
axb5 22. Bxb5 Nf8 23. Nfd2 Ra2 24. Qf3 Rc2 25. Nf1 Ng6 26. Ng3 Rb2 27. Qd1 Nf4
28. Rxb2 Qxb2 29. Qb1 Qa3 30. Bd2 Bd8 31. Re3 Qa7 32. Nf5 Qb8 33. Na5 g6 34.
Nxb7 gxf5 35. Nxd8 Rxd8 36. exf5 Qb7 37. Qb2 Kf8 38. Rb3 N4xd5 39. Bh6+ Ke7 40.
Ba4 Qa6 41. Rb7+ Nd7 42. Qb3 Qa5 43. Kh2 1-0

[Event "Linares 27th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2010.02.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2010.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Qc2 g6 6. Bd3 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Nbd2
Nbd7 9. cxd5 {Topalov is very well prepared and this might be true even for
the lesser opening lines. White is swapping the pawns on d5 in the conviction,
that the black knight on d7 is seriously misplaced.} (9. b3 e5 (9... c5 10. Bb2
b6 11. Rfd1 Bb7 12. Rac1 (12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Bxe4 15. Qxe4 e6
16. Rd2 Qc7 $11) 12... e6 13. Be2 Qe7 14. dxc5 bxc5 15. Ne5 Rac8 (15... Nxe5
16. Bxe5 Rac8) 16. Bf3 (16. Nxd7 Nxd7 (16... Qxd7 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Ba3 $16)
17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Nf3 $11) 16... Rfd8 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 18. Be5 Qe7 19. Bc3 $6 d4
20. exd4 cxd4 21. Ba5 Re8 22. Bxb7 Qxb7 23. c5 {1-0 Goldin,A (2621)-Mulyar,M 
(2446)/Seattle 2003 (61)}) 10. Nxe5 (10. dxe5 Ng4 11. Ba3 Re8 12. cxd5 cxd5 13.
Bb2 Ndxe5 14. Bd4 Nxd3 15. Qxd3 Bf5 16. Qc3 Rc8 17. Qb4 Qe7 18. Qxe7 Rxe7 19.
Bxg7 Kxg7 20. h3 Nf6 21. Rfc1 Rec7 22. Rxc7 Rxc7 {1/2-1/2 Barlov,D (2500)
-Simic,R (2495)/Kladovo 1994 (61)}) 10... Nxe5 11. dxe5 Ng4 12. Nf3 Nxe5 13.
Nxe5 Bxe5 14. Bb2 Bxb2 15. Qxb2 {1/2-1/2 Kosic,D (2537)-Kobalia,M (2602)/Neum
2002}) 9... cxd5 10. b3 Nb8 (10... Re8 11. Bb2 Nb8 12. Ne5 Nfd7 13. Ndf3 Nxe5
14. Nxe5 f6 15. Nf3 Nc6 16. a3 Bg4 17. Be2 Rc8 18. Qd1 e5 19. h3 Be6 20. Rc1 e4
21. Nd2 f5 22. b4 {1-0 Vavra,P (2192)-Fuksik,J (2211)/Czechia 2004 (73)}) (
10... b6 11. Ba3 Bb7 12. Rac1 Rc8 13. Qb1 Re8 14. h3 Rxc1 15. Rxc1 Qb8 16. Rc2
e6 17. Qf1 Rc8 18. Ne1 Rxc2 19. Nxc2 Qc8 20. f3 h5 21. Bb2 Ne8 {1/2-1/2 Czakon,
J (2416)-Stopa,J (2308)/Legnica 2004 (29)}) 11. Ba3 (11. Ne5 Nfd7) 11... Nc6
12. Rac1 Be6 {Gashimov is doing a great job with improving his pieces. The
bishop on e6 has found a temporary respite in order to bring out the rook to
the c8-square.} (12... Bg4 13. h3 $14) 13. Qb2 Re8 14. h3 Rc8 15. Rc2 Bf5 $5 {
The strategy of exchanging the mighty bishop on d3 comes at a cost. The black
pawn structure will never be perfect again.} 16. Bxf5 gxf5 17. Ne1 $6 {The
Bulgarian star played very interesting chess in Linares, but it was not always
a smooth performance. The transfer of the knight seems to be highly artificial.
} (17. Rfc1 $5 Nd7 (17... Ne4 18. Ne5 $14) 18. Qc3 e6 19. Qd3 $14) 17... Ne4 {
Gashimov is preparing the counterplay in the centre, but the immediate snub of
White's pawn structure was even stronger.} (17... f4 $1 18. Nd3 (18. exf4 Nh5)
18... Nh5 19. Nf3 fxe3 20. fxe3 Ng3 $11) 18. Nd3 e5 19. Nxe4 dxe4 (19... fxe4
20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. dxe5 Bxe5 22. Rxc8 Qxc8 23. Qd2 Qe6 24. Bb2 $14) 20. Nxe5
Nxe5 21. dxe5 Rxc2 (21... Bxe5 22. Rxc8 Qxc8 23. Qe2 f4 24. exf4 Bxf4 25. Bb2
Qe6 $11) 22. Qxc2 Qa5 {The position is practically equal, but it does not mean
the players can not try to play on.} (22... Bxe5 23. Rd1 Qc8 24. Qd2 Bf6 $11)
23. Bd6 Bxe5 24. b4 Qd8 (24... Qb5 25. Rd1 Rd8 26. Bxe5 Rxd1+ 27. Qxd1 Qxe5 28.
Qd8+ Kg7 29. Qg5+ Kf8 30. g3 $14) 25. Bxe5 Rxe5 26. Rc1 Rd5 27. a4 b5 {Black
was not a favourite in this game and even a super grandmaster can become
nervous about proving clear equality.} (27... Kg7 28. Qc7 Qxc7 29. Rxc7 b5 30.
Ra7 Rd1+ 31. Kh2 Rb1 32. Rxa6 Rxb4 $11) 28. axb5 Rxb5 (28... axb5 29. Qc6 Kg7
$14) 29. Qa4 Qd6 30. Qa1 $1 {Topalov might not be the perfect player, but he
is definitely a fighter. In a simple position Black suddenly has to worry
about preventing mate.} Qe5 (30... Qe6 31. Rd1 Qb6 32. Qc3 Rxb4 33. Qc8+ Kg7
34. Rd8 (34. Qxf5 Rb1) 34... Rb1+ 35. Kh2 Qe6 36. Rg8+ Kf6 37. Qf8 $16) 31.
Qxa6 Rxb4 32. Qh6 Rb8 33. g3 Qe6 34. Qf4 Rc8 35. Rd1 Rc6 $2 {[%mdl 256] Time
trouble combined with an opponent's pressure have managed to send numerous
games down the drain. Black was wrong to leave the 8th rank unprotected.} (
35... f6 36. Rd6 Qe5 37. Qxe5 fxe5 38. Rf6 Rf8 39. Re6 Kg7 40. Rxe5 Kf6 41. Rd5
$14) 36. Rd8+ Kg7 37. Kg2 h6 (37... Rb6 38. Qc7 $16) 38. Qb8 Qf6 39. Rd5 $2 {
A serious blot on an interesting game, White misses a simple and convincing
winning pattern.} (39. Rh8 Kg6 40. Qf8 $1 Kg5 41. Rg8+ Kh5 42. Qa8 Ra6 43. Qb8
Rd6 44. Qc7 Qe6 45. Qc2 $18) 39... Re6 40. h4 h5 $2 {Time is the enemy of both
heroes in our game, Gashimov is missing the last chance to limit the damage.} (
40... f4 $5 41. Qxf4 (41. exf4 e3 42. fxe3 Rxe3 43. Qb4 Qa1 $14) 41... Qxf4 42.
gxf4 $16) 41. Rd8 $1 {White is not ready to let the golden chance slip away
for the second time.} Kh7 42. Rg8 f4 (42... Rd6 43. Qf8 Rd7 44. Rg5 $18) 43.
gxf4 (43. Rg5 f3+ 44. Kh3 $18) 43... Qxh4 (43... Rc6 44. Rg5 $18) 44. Rh8+ Kg6
45. Qg8+ Kf6 46. Qd8+ Re7 47. Rh6+ Kf5 (47... Kg7 48. Qh8#) 48. Qd5+ {The sad
finish to the game for Black as the win is now trivial.} (48. Qd5+ Kg4 49. f3+
exf3+ 50. Qxf3+ Kf5 51. Rxh5+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Linares 27th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2010.02.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2010.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 Nf6 8. h3
Nc6 9. g4 Qb6 10. Nde2 $146 {The new move in this sharp line represents the
novelty, but it definitely is not the most exciting part of the fascinating
fight. The knight hopes to get more quickly to the kingside from the e2-square.
} (10. Nb3 e6 11. Be3 (11. Bg2 Be7 12. Be3 Qc7 13. g5 Nd7 14. f4 b5 15. Qd2 Bb7
16. O-O-O Nb6 17. Bxb6 Qxb6 18. h4 b4 19. Ne2 a5 20. Nbd4 a4 21. Kb1 Qc5 22. h5
Nxd4 23. Nxd4 a3 $15 {1/2-1/2 Naiditsch,A (2689)-Grischuk,A (2736)/Moscow 2009
(47)}) 11... Qc7 12. Qe2 (12. g5 Nd7 13. f4 b5 14. a4 b4 15. Ne2 Bb7 16. Bg2
Na5 17. Nxa5 Qxa5 18. O-O Be7 19. f5 exf5 20. exf5 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Rc8 22. Ng3
Ne5 23. f6 gxf6 24. gxf6 Bf8 25. Nf5 $14 {0-1 Pikula,D (2513)-Damljanovic,B 
(2590)/Vrsac 2007 (42)}) (12. f4 b5 13. Bg2 Bb7 14. O-O Be7 15. g5 Nd7 16. Qe1
Nb6 17. Rd1 b4 18. Ne2 Nc4 19. Bc1 e5 20. Kh1 a5 21. fxe5 dxe5 $17 {1-0 Magem
Badals,J (2531)-Fluvia Poyatos,J (2469)/Lleida 2009 (35)}) 12... b5 13. f4 Bb7
14. Bg2 Be7 15. O-O-O Nd7 16. Qf2 Na5 17. Nxa5 Qxa5 18. Kb1 Rc8 19. Bd4 O-O 20.
e5 Bxg2 21. Qxg2 dxe5 22. fxe5 Nc5 23. Ne4 Nxe4 24. Qxe4 $11 {0-1 Dominguez
Perez,L (2719)-Grischuk,A (2736)/Moscow 2009 (44)}) 10... e6 (10... Bxg4 $5 11.
hxg4 Nxg4 12. Nd4 $1 (12. Be3 Nxe3 13. fxe3 Qxe3 14. Rh3 $16) 12... Nxd4 13.
Nd5 Qc5 14. c3 Nxf2 15. Kxf2 Ne6+ 16. Be3 $16) 11. Bg2 Be7 12. b3 h6 13. Qd2 {
Topalov playes a clever move avoiding the problems lurking in the knight move
to c4 after the obvious 13.Bb2.} (13. Bb2 Ne5 14. Qd2 Nc4 $1 15. Na4 Qc6 16.
Nd4 Qxa4 17. bxa4 Nxd2 18. Kxd2 Bd7 $11) 13... g5 $5 {Grischuk is a very
gifted man, with a healthy confidence in his own abilities. The radical
prevention of the f2-f4 advance weakens the position forever. The modest
castling seems timid in comparision.} (13... O-O 14. Bb2 Nd7 15. Nf4 $13) 14.
Ba3 Ne5 (14... O-O 15. f4 Nd7 16. O-O-O Qf2 17. Rhg1 gxf4 18. Nxf4 (18. Bxd6
Bxd6 19. Qxd6 Qe3+ 20. Qd2 Qxd2+ 21. Rxd2 e5 22. Rgd1 Nf6 $11) 18... Qxd2+ 19.
Rxd2 Nc5 20. Kb1 $14) 15. O-O-O Qxf2 {At first glance Black's courage is quite
breathtaking. The conflict in the centre starts at the moment, when White is
much better prepared for the complications.} (15... Bd7 16. Bxd6 Bxd6 17. Qxd6
Qxd6 18. Rxd6 h5 19. f3 $14) 16. Bxd6 Bxd6 (16... Qxg2 $2 17. Bxe7 Nfd7 18. Bd6
$18) 17. Qxd6 Nfd7 18. Nd4 Qf6 (18... Qxg2 19. Nxe6 $1 fxe6 20. Qxe6+ Kd8 21.
Qxe5 Rf8 22. Qg7 Rf2 23. Nd5 Qxe4 24. Qh8+ Qe8 (24... Rf8 25. Qxf8+ Nxf8 26.
Nf6+ $18) 25. Qxe8+ Kxe8 26. Nc7+ Kf7 27. Nxa8 $18) 19. Qa3 {The great
critical moment of the game. Topalov must have realised, that getting serious
advantage is not so easy. Objectively speaking his initiative is good only for
a moderate plus.} (19. Na4 $5 Rb8 (19... Qe7 20. Qc7 Qd8 21. Qc3 O-O 22. Qg3
$16) 20. Rhf1 Qe7 21. Qc7 b5 22. Nf3 Nxf3 23. Rxf3 (23. Rxd7 Qxd7 24. Qxb8 Qd2+
25. Kb2 O-O 26. Bxf3 bxa4 $11) 23... bxa4 24. Rxd7 Qxd7 25. Qxb8 O-O 26. Rd3
Qc6 $14) (19. Rd2 Qe7 20. Qc7 Qd8 $1 21. Qxd8+ Kxd8 $14) (19. Kb2 Qe7 20. Qc7
Qd8 21. Qxd8+ Kxd8 22. a4 Ke7 23. a5 h5 $14) 19... Qe7 20. Qb2 O-O (20... b5
21. Nc6 (21. Nd5 exd5 22. Nf5 Qd8 23. exd5 (23. Rxd5 f6 24. Qc3 Rb8 $13) 23...
Qb6 24. d6 Bb7 $15) (21. Nf3 O-O 22. Nxe5 Nxe5 23. Kb1 f6 $11) 21... Qc5 (21...
Nxc6 22. Nd5 exd5 (22... Qf8 23. Nc7+ Ke7 24. Nxa8 Bb7 25. Rxd7+ Kxd7 26. Rd1+
Kc8 27. Nb6+ $16) 23. Qxh8+ Qf8 24. Qxf8+ Kxf8 25. exd5 Nce5 26. d6 Rb8 $11)
22. Nd5 Qxc6 23. Nf6+ Ke7 (23... Nxf6 $2 24. Qxe5 Ke7 25. Rhf1 $18) 24. Nxd7
Bxd7 25. Qxe5 Rac8 26. Rd2 Rhd8 $11) 21. Nf5 $6 {The Bulgarian star must have
prepared for the event psychologically with a goal to play with maximum
sharpness and risk. The knight sacrifice is spirited, but objectively speaking
not good enough.} (21. Nce2 b5 22. Ng3 b4 (22... Bb7 23. Ngf5 exf5 24. Nxf5 Qd8
25. Nxh6+ Kh7 26. Nf5 $40) 23. Ndf5 exf5 24. Nxf5 Qc5 25. h4 Qc3 26. hxg5 Qxb2+
27. Kxb2 Re8 $13) 21... exf5 22. Nd5 Qc5 23. exf5 a5 $1 {[%mdl 2048] Excellent
defence by a Grischuk in splendid form. The rook will help the black king from
the 6th rank.} (23... Re8 24. Kb1 (24. h4 $2 gxh4 25. Rxh4 Nd3+ 26. Rxd3 Re1+
$19) 24... a5 (24... b5 25. h4 Qf2 26. Ne7+ Rxe7 27. Bxa8 $13) (24... f6 25. h4
Kg7 26. hxg5 hxg5 27. Rh5 Rh8 28. b4 Qd6 29. Rxh8 Kxh8 30. Nc3 Qf8 31. Nd5 $13)
25. h4 Nxg4 26. hxg5 Nde5 27. Bh3 $1 Bxf5 28. Bxg4 Nxg4 29. gxh6 $13) 24. h4
gxh4 25. Rxh4 Ra6 (25... Qf2 $2 26. Rxh6 Qxg2 27. f6 $18) 26. Kb1 (26. Rdh1 $2
Nd3+ $19) (26. f6 Rxf6 27. Nxf6+ Nxf6 28. Rxh6 Nd3+ (28... Bxg4 29. Qd4 Qa3+
30. Kb1 Bxd1 31. Qxd1 Qe7 32. Qh1 Kg7 $17) 29. Rxd3 Qg5+ 30. Kb1 Qxh6 31. Rd6
Kg7 $17) 26... Qf2 27. Ne7+ {The crisis is reaching its maximum as White is
facing near oblivion with his scattered pieces and only murky attacking
chances.} (27. Rh2 Nxg4 28. Ne7+ Kh7 29. Nxc8 Nc5 30. Rf1 Qd2 31. Rg1 Rxc8 32.
Bxb7 Qxh2 33. Rxg4 Rg8 34. Rxg8 Kxg8 35. Bxa6 Qg1+ 36. Qc1 Qxc1+ 37. Kxc1 Nxa6
$19) 27... Kg7 (27... Kh7 $1 28. Rdh1 Qxg2 29. Qc1 Nxg4 30. Ng6 fxg6 31. Rxg4 (
31. Rxh6+ Kg7 (31... Nxh6 $2 32. Qxh6+ Kg8 33. Qh7#) 32. Qg5 Nxh6 33. Qxg2 Nxf5
$19) 31... Qxh1 32. Qxh1 Rxf5 33. Re4 Ne5 $17) 28. Rh2 f6 $2 $138 {The
following phase of the game is truly imperfect. Grischuk was seriously short
of time and Topalov could not find the patience in his heart..} (28... Qg3 29.
Nxc8 Qxh2 30. Bxb7 Rf6 31. Qc3 Qe2 $19) 29. g5 $2 (29. Qc1 $1 Nxg4 (29... Rh8
30. Nxc8 Qg3 31. Rdh1 $18) 30. Nxc8 Nc5 (30... Nxh2 31. Rxd7+ Rf7 32. Rxf7+
Kxf7 33. Bxb7 Ra7 34. Nxa7 Qxa7 35. Qxh6 $18) 31. Rd2 Qxf5 32. Bh3 Rxc8 33.
Bxg4 Qxg4 34. Rdg2 Qg5 35. Qe1 $16) 29... fxg5 30. Nxc8 Raf6 $1 31. Ne7 (31.
Qc3 Qc5 32. Qxc5 Nxc5 33. Ne7 Ng4 34. Rhh1 Nf2 $17) 31... R8f7 (31... Qg3 $1
32. Rhh1 (32. Rdh1 Ng4 $17) 32... Qxg2 33. Ng6 Re8 $19) 32. Nd5 Nf3 $2 (32...
Ng4 33. Nxf6 Ndxf6 34. Bd5 Qxh2 35. Bxf7 Kxf7 36. Qc3 Qe5 $17) 33. Bxf3 Qxh2
34. Nxf6 (34. Qd4 Qe5 35. Nxf6 Qxf6 $11) 34... Nxf6 35. a4 {The smoke has
nearly cleared and White is back in the game with his potentially strong
bishop.} (35. Qd4 Re7 $15) 35... Qf4 (35... Re7 36. Qd4 Qe5 37. Qb6 Qxf5 38.
Bxb7 h5 $13) 36. Bd5 Rd7 37. Re1 Qxf5 38. Bc4 (38. Be6 Qf2 39. Qe5 Re7 40. Qxa5
g4 41. Qb4 Rc7 $11) 38... Qf2 {The last nervous move shortly before the time
control. The queen should have aimed for the c5 square.} (38... Qc5 $1 39. Qc3
(39. Re6 Qg1+ 40. Ka2 Qd4 41. Re7+ Kh8 42. Qxd4 Rxd4 43. Rxb7 g4 $17) 39... g4
40. Ka2 b6 $15) 39. Qe5 Qd4 40. Qf5 Qg4 41. Qxa5 Rd1+ 42. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 43. Kb2
Qd6 (43... Qd4+ 44. Ka2 g4 45. Qc7+ Qd7 46. Qe5 Qe8 47. Be6 h5 $11) 44. Qa7 $1
{White can claim some small chances with his long range bishop in an exciting
ending.} Qe5+ 45. Ka2 Qe4 (45... Qc7 46. a5 Ne4 47. Qd4+ Nf6 48. b4 g4 $13) 46.
Bd3 Qc6 47. a5 Nd5 48. Qd4+ $1 Nf6 {Unfortunately for the defence the knight
has to retreat.} (48... Kf7 $2 49. Bc4 Ke6 50. c3 Kd6 51. b4 h5 52. Kb3 g4 53.
Qd2 $16) (48... Kf8 49. Qh8+ Ke7 50. Qg7+ Kd8 51. Qf8+ Kc7 52. c4 Nf4 53. Bf5
$16) 49. Qe5 Kf8 (49... Kf7 50. Bc4+ Kg6 51. Qe6 Qc7 $1 (51... Qxe6 52. Bxe6
Ne4 (52... g4 53. Bc8 $18) 53. Bc8 Nd6 54. Bxb7 Nxb7 55. a6 $18) 52. Bd3+ Kg7
53. Qf5 Qf7 54. Qe5 $14) 50. c4 (50. Kb2 g4 51. Bc4 Kg7 52. Qe7+ Kg6 53. Be6
$16) 50... g4 51. Bf5 Kf7 52. Qb8 Ne8 $2 {The permanent struggle is finally
bearing fruits for the inventive Topalov as his opponent is finally showing
signs of wear and tear.} (52... Ke7 $1 53. Bc8 Qc5 54. Qxb7+ Kd8 55. Qa6 (55.
a6 Qxc8 56. Qb6+ Ke7 57. c5 g3 58. Qb7+ Qxb7 59. axb7 g2 60. b8=Q g1=Q $15)
55... Qf2+ 56. Ka3 Qc5+ 57. b4 Qe3+ 58. Ka4 Ne4 $11) 53. Qf4 (53. Qh2 Qc5 54.
Qh5+ Ke7 55. Bxg4 Qxh5 56. Bxh5 Kd8 57. b4 $18) 53... Qc5 $2 {Shocked and in
disbelief Black gives in and loses the unbelievably complex fight.} (53... Nf6
$1 54. Qxh6 Qd6 55. Bxg4 Qe5 56. Qd2 Nxg4 57. a6 bxa6 58. Qd7+ Kf6 59. Qxg4 $16
) 54. Bxg4+ Nf6 55. Qf5 Qd4 56. Bf3 Qf2+ 57. Ka3 Kg7 58. Ka4 {The advance of
the white king represents the proverbial last straw in the position. Black is
helpless.} b6 (58... Qa2+ 59. Kb4 Qf2 60. Kb5 Qe3 61. b4 $18) 59. axb6 Qxb6 60.
c5 Qa7+ 61. Kb5 Qb8+ 62. Kc4 Qg8+ 63. Kc3 Qe8 64. b4 Qe1+ 65. Kc4 Qf1+ 66. Kb3
Qb5 67. Bd1 Qc6 68. Bc2 Kf7 69. Bd3 1-0

[Event "Linares 27th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2010.02.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2010.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. a3 g5 8. d3
g4 9. Nd2 h5 10. b4 h4 11. Bb2 Rh6 12. Nb3 Nd4 13. Nc5 c6 14. e3 Ne6 15. O-O
hxg3 16. fxg3 Nxc5 17. bxc5 Bxc5 18. Qe2 Be7 19. Rad1 f5 20. Qf2 Be6 21. e4 Rh5
22. Ne2 Qc7 23. exf5 Rxf5 24. Qe3 Na4 25. Qh6 Kd7 26. Rxf5 Nxb2 27. Rdf1 Bxf5
28. Rxf5 Nxd3 29. h4 Qd6 30. Qg7 Qxa3 31. Kh2 a5 32. Rf7 a4 33. h5 Ne1 34.
Qxg4+ Kc7 35. Qe6 Re8 36. Qxe5+ Kb6 37. Rf5 Qb4 38. Qe3+ Bc5 $4 {[%mdl 8192]} (
38... Kc7 $11) 39. Qxe8 Nxg2 40. Kxg2 a3 1-0

[Event "Linares 27th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2010.02.24"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2010.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 ({Die alte klassische
Spielweise nach} 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Bf5 9. Nc3 Nb4 10. Be2
O-O 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5 15. Bf4 Rac8 $11 {
führt zu einer Stellung, die mit Hilfe des Computers fast bis zum Ende
ausanalysiert wurde und bei der Ausgleich als Diagnose festgestellt wurde.})
5... Nxc3 (5... d5 $6 {Ein Versuch direkt zu kontern endet mit einem
Misserfolg:} 6. Qe2 Be7 7. Nxe4 dxe4 8. Qxe4 O-O 9. Bc4 Re8 10. Ne5 $1 $18) 6.
dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 (7. Bf4 {ist eine parallele Variante, in der die einfachste
Methode auszugleichen dieselbe ist, wie nach 7.Be3.} Nc6 {Für Schwarz ist der
Plan mit der langen Rochade der sicherste, um Ausgleich zu erzielen.} 8. Qd2
Be6 9. O-O-O Qd7 10. Kb1 (10. h4 h6 11. g3 Bf6 12. Bg2 O-O-O 13. Kb1 Rhe8 14.
Rhe1 Bg4 15. Qd5 Rxe1 16. Rxe1 Re8 $11 {Efimenko - Zhou Jianchao (Al Ain, 2008)
}) 10... O-O-O $1 {Ich denke, nach allen Experimenten mit 10....a6, die
sofortige Rochade ist der beste Zug. Weiß kann mittels Bb5 nichts rausholen, d.
h. Schwarz braucht keine Zeit zu verlieren.} 11. Bb5 (11. Ng5 Bxg5 12. Bxg5 f6
$11 {Efimenko - Sakaev (Kallithea, 2008)}) 11... a6 12. Ba4 (12. Bxc6 Qxc6 13.
Nd4 $6 Qxg2 14. Rhg1 Qd5 15. Nxe6 Qxd2 16. Bxd2 fxe6 17. Rxg7 Bf6 $15) 12...
Bf6 13. Bg5 (13. Nd4 Bd5 $11) 13... Bxg5 14. Qxg5 b5 15. Bb3 f6 16. Bxe6 Qxe6
17. Qf4 (17. Qxg7 Rdg8 18. Qh6 Rxg2 19. Rhe1 Qf5 $11) 17... h5 18. h3 g5 $11 {
Ivanchuk - Kramnik (Moscow, 2008)}) 7... O-O {Persönlich finde ich diese
Variante nicht folgerichtig. Man spielt Russisch, um auszugleichen, dann muss
man auch konsequent durchhalten und die sicherste Fortsetzung wählen - nämlich
den Plan mit der langen Rochade, wo Weiß schon seit Jahren nichts Neues
erfinden kann.} (7... Nc6 $1 {gleicht problemlos aus.} 8. Qd2 Be6 9. O-O-O Qd7
10. Kb1 (10. h4 h6 11. Nd4 {Typischerweise vereinfacht sich das Spiel nach dem
Springertausch, so dass Remis ein 99% Ergebnis ist.} (11. Kb1 O-O-O 12. Nd4
Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Rhg8 14. h5 c5 15. Be3 Qc6 $11 {Adams - Nielsen (Dortmund, 2005)}
) (11. Bb5 a6 12. Ba4 b5 $5 13. Bb3 Bf6 14. Bd5 O-O-O $1 $11 (14... Rb8 15. Kb1
Bxd5 16. Qxd5 $14 Ne7 17. Qd3 Qf5 $11 {Zawadzka - Socko (Karpacz, 2008)}))
11... Nxd4 12. Bxd4 (12. cxd4 d5 $11) 12... Rg8 13. c4 (13. Bd3 c5 14. Be3
O-O-O $11 {Demnächst spielt Schwarz d5.}) 13... O-O-O $11 {Dominguez Perez -
Wang Yue (Linares, 2009)} (13... c5 $6 {In dieser Stellung wäre das ein wenig
zu optimistisch - die weißen Läufer werden viel bessere Positionen einnehmen.}
14. Bc3 O-O-O 15. g3 $1 $14)) (10. Ng5 Bxg5 11. Bxg5 f6 12. Be3 O-O-O $11 {
Der Vorteil des Läuferpaares ist nicht auszunutzen.}) (10. Bb5 a6 11. Ba4 O-O
12. Rhe1 b5 13. Bb3 Na5 $1 (13... Bxb3 14. axb3 a5 15. Qd5 $14 {Karjakin -
Kritz (Gothenburg, 2005)}) 14. Bxe6 fxe6 $132) 10... Bf6 (10... O-O-O $5 11.
Bb5 a6 12. Ba4 Bf6 13. Bd4 Bxd4 14. cxd4 Bd5 $11 {Belov - Belozerov (Tomsk,
2006)}) 11. Be2 (11. Bb5 a6 {Am besten klärt man die weißen Pläne bezüglich
seines weißfeldrigen Läufers.} 12. Ba4 (12. Bxc6 Qxc6 13. Bd4 (13. Nd4 Qxg2 $15
) 13... Bxd4 14. cxd4 (14. Nxd4 Qxg2 $15 {Da Schwarz bald lang rochiert, hat
er nichts zu befürchten, es ist eher Weiß, der sich um Ausgleich Gedanken
machen muss.}) 14... Qd5 15. b3 O-O-O $11) 12... O-O 13. Nd4 Bd5 14. f3 b5 15.
Bb3 Bxb3 16. Nxb3 Qf5 $11 {Es ist nichts von einem möglichen weißen Vorteil zu
sehen.}) (11. h4 h6 $11 {Typische Reaktion - man sollte Weiß nicht zu Ng5
lassen, falls er mit dem Bauern nehmen kann.}) 11... O-O-O 12. Nd4 (12. Ng5
Bxg5 13. Bxg5 f6 $11 {Die Stellung wurde schon hundert mal gespielt, Weiß
verfügt über einen symbolischen Vorteil, Schwarz sollte jedoch problemlos
Remis schaffen.}) 12... Bxd4 $1 {Die beste Fortsetzung, hier hat Weiß
überhaupt keinen Vorteil.} (12... Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Bxd4 14. Qxd4 c5 15. Qf4 d5 16.
Bf3 $36 {Obwohl die Stellung für Schwarz noch im grünen Bereich liegt, hat
Weiß doch gewissen Druck aufbauen können.}) 13. cxd4 (13. Bxd4 f6 14. Be3 $11 {
Man kommt wieder in diese Stellung rein, die sehr remislich ist.}) 13... d5 $11
{Die weißen Läufer hatten keinen Vorteil über die schwarzen Läufer und
Springer in Dominguez Perez - Wang Yue (Sofia, 2009).}) 8. Qd2 Nd7 ({Nach} 8...
Nc6 9. O-O-O {hat Schwarz eigentlich keine Wahl - er muss Ne5 spielen. Nach
dem Partiezug hat Schwarz unterschiedliche Optionen.}) 9. O-O-O Re8 (9... Ne5 {
Das ist die Hauptvariante, in der Schwarz keine großen Schwierigkeiten hat.}
10. h4 (10. Kb1 Re8 (10... a6 11. Be2 Be6 12. Nd4 Nc4 13. Qd3 Nxe3 14. Nxe6
fxe6 15. Qxe3 e5 16. Bd3 $16 {Anand - Kramnik (Monte Carlo, 2005)}) 11. Nd4 a6
12. f4 Ng4 13. Bd3 d5 14. Rhe1 Bh4 15. g3 Nxe3 16. Rxe3 Rxe3 17. Qxe3 Bf6 18.
Nf3 Qe7 19. Qxe7 {1/2-1/2 Svidler - Anand (San Luis, 2005)}) 10... Bg4 (10...
Re8 11. h5 Bf6 12. Kb1 a6 13. Nh2 b5 14. Be2 Bb7 $132 {Svidler - Kramnik 
(Moscow, 2005)}) (10... b6 11. Nd4 Bb7 12. Bg5 Bf6 13. Qf4 Ng6 14. Qf5 Bxg5+
15. hxg5 Re8 16. Qg4 Nf8 17. Bb5 Re4 18. f4 g6 19. Bd3 Re3 20. f5 $16 {Anand -
Alekseev (Dortmund, 2007)}) 11. Be2 Qc8 12. h5 Re8 13. Nxe5 dxe5 14. Bxg4 Qxg4
15. Qd5 Qa4 16. Kb1 Bd6 17. c4 b6 $11 {Jakovenko - Shirov (Moscow, 2007)}) (
9... Nc5 {dieser Zug wird gespielt, wenn Weiß den Läufer auf f4 hat.}) 10. h4
c6 {Das sieht komisch aus. Schwarz verliert Zeit während Weiß am Königsflügel
aufrollt. Besonders gegen Topalov ist das eine gefährliche Strategie.} 11. h5 (
11. c4 Nc5 12. Bd3 $2 {Wie kann man nur daran denken, den Läufer zu geben?!}
Nxd3+ 13. Qxd3 Qa5 14. Bd2 Qf5 15. Bb4 Qxd3 16. cxd3 Bg4 $15 {Korbut - Lahno 
(Kemer, 2007)}) 11... h6 {Schwarz sollte Weiß nicht zu h6 kommen lassen, denn
danach würde sich sein König immer in Gefahr befinden.} (11... Nf6 12. h6 g6
13. Qd4 $5 $14 {und Schwarz kann sich nicht so gut bewegen.}) 12. Kb1 {Ein
gesunder prophylaktischer Zug - der König steht auf b1 immer besser als auf c1.
} Nf6 13. Bd3 {Das Opfer auf h6 hängt in der Luft. Am besten unternimmt
Schwarz dagegen Maßnahmen, bevor da etwas reinfliegt.} Bf8 14. Rdg1 $1 {
Weiß zieht konequent seinen Plan durch: g4-g5-Matt.} Ng4 ({Viel schlechter ist
der andere Versuch, g4 zu verhindern:} 14... Bg4 $2 15. Nh2 Bxh5 16. g4 Bg6 17.
g5 hxg5 18. Bxg5 $16 {und der weiße Angriff ist tödlich.}) 15. Bf4 {Der
einzige Zug.} Qf6 16. Nh2 ({Nichts bringt} 16. Bg3 d5 17. Bh4 Qd6 18. Re1 Bd7
$11 {Wenn Weiß keinen Königsangriff organisieren kann, dann bekommt er auch
keinen Vorteil.}) 16... Nxh2 ({Ein interessanter Versuch ist} 16... Ne5 {
Hier kann Weiß sogar seinen Läufer geben, weil sein Angriff schon sehr weit
voran ist.} 17. g4 Nxd3 18. cxd3 Qe7 19. Be3 (19. g5 $2 hxg5 20. Rxg5 Qe2 $17)
19... Be6 20. g5 $40) 17. Rxh2 Bf5 18. Bxf5 {18.g4 verdient ebenfalls
Betrachtung.} (18. g4 Bxd3 19. cxd3 Qe6 20. Be3 d5 21. g5 hxg5 22. Rxg5 $40)
18... Qxf5 19. g4 Qe4 (19... Qd5 {sieht sehr schief aus...} 20. Qxd5 cxd5 21.
f3 $16) 20. g5 $40 {Es ist offensichtlich, dass Weiß aus der Eröffnung sehr
viel erreicht hat.} hxg5 21. Bxg5 (21. Rxg5 $4 Qe1+ $17) 21... Qe2 $2 {Schwarz
verliert eine Qualität, aber es ist schwer, etwas Besseres vorzuschlagen.} (
21... Re6 22. h6 g6 23. Rh4 Qe2 24. Qxe2 Rxe2 25. h7+ Kh8 26. Be3 $18 {Der
Turm ist gefangen genauso wie in der Partie.}) 22. Qxe2 Rxe2 23. Be3 Rxe3 (
23... Re8 {ändert nichts:} 24. Rh3 d5 25. Kc1 $18) 24. fxe3 $18 {Die Stellung
ist total gewonnen für Weiß, es ist schwer vorzustellen, was passieren sollte,
dass sie noch remislich wird!} Re8 25. Rh3 (25. h6 $5 {gewinnt wohl sofort.} g6
(25... Rxe3 26. hxg7 Bxg7 27. Rhg2 $18) 26. h7+ Kh8 27. Rh3 $18 {Schwarz muss
sich nun auch noch um den Bauer h7 kümmern.}) 25... Re6 26. c4 (26. h6 $1 {
führt zu der oben gezeigten Stellung.} g6 27. h7+ Kh8 28. Kc1 $18) 26... Be7
27. Rf3 $2 {"Show time!" Ganz egal, was die Idee dieses Zuges ist, im Endspiel
mit einem Qualität mehr muss man nichts erfinden! Man sollte die
Hauptprinzipen des Endspiels nicht vergessen - der König gehört ins Zentrum!} (
27. Kc1 $1 {Schwarz kann nichts Besseres machen als aufgeben, nicht mal Bf6
funktioniert.} Bf6 28. h6 g6 29. h7+ Kh8 30. Rf1 $18) 27... Re5 28. Rgf1 $2 {
Wozu? Warum tauscht man den h5-Bauern gegen den Bauern f7? Um Schwarz den
freien g-Bauern zu geben?} (28. h6 {ist auch nicht mehr so gut.} g6 29. h7+
Kxh7 30. Rxf7+ Kg8 31. Rf3 Kg7) (28. Rh3 {ist vielleicht die beste Wahl, um
alles von vorne anzufangen.}) 28... Rxh5 $1 {Wenn man so eine Chance bekommt,
muss man sie nutzen!} (28... f6 $2 29. Rh3 $18) 29. Rxf7 Re5 $16 {Die Stellung
ist immer noch gewonnen, aber Weiss hat seine Aufgabe wesentlich schwerer
gemacht.} 30. R7f3 (30. R1f3 g5 $1 (30... Rxe3 31. Rxg7+ Kxg7 32. Rxe3 $18) 31.
R7f5 Re4 32. b3 Kg7 $132 {und es geht los - die schwarzen Chancen sind nicht
schlechter.}) 30... Bf6 31. c3 $2 {Rätselhaftes Spiel. Der Zug macht überhaupt
keinen Sinn, er bringt Weiß dafür konkrete Probleme.} (31. Kc1 Re4 32. b3 $16 {
/\Kd2-Kd3}) 31... Re4 32. Rxf6 $4 {Man kann es nicht glauben, dass ein
Großmeister mit über 2800 so spielt. Topalov geht in ein remisliches
Turmendspiel über, ohne es zu versuchen, seinen materiellen Vorteil "normal"
zu verwerten.} (32. Rd1 $1 {hält den Bauern und erlaubt Schwarz kein
Gegenspiel.} Re6 (32... Be5 $2 33. b3 g5 34. Kc2 Kg7 35. Rdf1 $18) 33. Kc2 g5
34. Kd3 $16 {Die weiße Stellung ist immernoch nahhezu gewonnen.}) 32... gxf6
33. Rxf6 Rxe3 34. Rxd6 {Auf den ersten Blick sieht das Endspiel remislich aus.
Dass Gelfand es verloren hat, liegt wohl an einem taktischen Fehlgriff.} Kf7
35. Kc2 (35. Rd7+ Re7 36. Rxe7+ Kxe7 $11 {Der weiße Mehrbauer kann nicht
verwertet werden.}) 35... Re2+ 36. Kb3 Ke7 37. Rd4 c5 $1 {Ein Wartezug wäre
ein Fehler:} (37... Rf2 38. c5 Ke6 (38... Rf5 39. Rb4 Rxc5 40. Rxb7+ Kd6 41.
Rxa7 $18) 39. Ra4 a6 40. Rb4 Rf7 41. Rd4 $16 {Weiß hat seine Stellung
wesentlich verbessert.}) 38. Rd3 b6 {Weiß hätte diesen Zug sowieso früher oder
später mittels Rd5 erzwingen können.} 39. Ka3 Rc2 {Der schwarzer König hat
eine ideale Position, er kontrolliert alle Felder - d7 und d8.} 40. Rd5 {
Schwarz befindet sich im Zugzwang.} a5 (40... Rh2 {Ich denke, man konnte das
Remis einfach halten, wenn man an der Stellung nichts ändert.} 41. b4 cxb4+ 42.
cxb4 Rg2 43. Kb3 Rg3+ 44. Ka4 Rg2 45. a3 Rg3 46. c5 bxc5 47. bxc5 Ke6 $11 {
Dieses Endspiel muss Remis sein. Schwarz kann den a-Bauern geben und mit
seinem König zu den weißen Bauern rüberlaufen - damit entsteht eine
theoretische Remisstellung.}) 41. Rd3 Rh2 42. b3 Rc2 43. Ka4 $1 {Die einzige
Chance, die Weiß hat.} Rxa2+ 44. Kb5 Rb2 45. Kxb6 a4 46. Kxc5 Rxb3 $2 ({
Ein einfaches Remis erreichte Schwarz nach} 46... a3 $1 47. Kc6 (47. Rd6 Rxb3
48. Ra6 Rxc3 $11) (47. b4 $4 a2 $19) 47... Rxb3 48. Rd7+ Ke6 $1 {es ist
wichtig, den König im Zentrum zu behalten, um zum a-Bauern laufen zu können.}
49. Ra7 Rxc3 50. c5 Ke5 51. Ra4 Rh3 52. Kb6 Rb3+ 53. Kc7 Kd5 54. c6 Rc3 55.
Ra5+ Kc4 $11) 47. Kc6 a3 48. c5 Ke8 $4 {Nun ist die Stellung forciert verloren!
} (48... a2 49. Rd7+ Ke6 $1 {Ins Zentrum!!} 50. Ra7 Rb2 (50... Rxc3 $4 51. Rxa2
$18 {das ist selbstverständlich verloren.}) 51. Ra4 $1 {Die beste Chance.} (51.
c4 Ke5 52. Kc7 Kd4 53. c6) 51... Rc2 (51... Ke5 $5 52. Kd7 Rh2 53. Kc7 Rh7+ 54.
Kb6 Rh2 55. c6 Kd6 56. Rd4+ Ke5 57. c7 a1=Q 58. c8=Q Qb2+ $11) 52. Kb6 Kd5 $11)
49. Rh3 (49. Rd7 $4 Rxc3 50. Ra7 Kd8 51. Ra8+ Ke7 $11) 49... a2 50. Rh8+ Ke7
51. Ra8 $18 Rb2 52. Kc7 {Schwarz kommt in allen Varianten zu spät.} Rc2 (52...
Ke6 53. c6 Kd5 54. Kd7 $18) 53. c6 Rb2 54. c4 Rc2 55. Ra6 Rb2 56. c5 Ke6 57.
Ra5 Rc2 58. Kb7 Rb2+ 59. Kc8 Ke7 60. c7 Ke8 61. Rxa2 Rxa2 62. Kb7 1-0

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.04.24"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "L'Ami,E"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The first game is of course always a tense affair. Months of preparations
culminate to this moment. Would Vishy stick to the Grunfeld, which he employed
so regularly over the past year? Or was he just hiding his real intentions?} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 {Apearantly not!} 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7
7. Bc4 {Re-opening the discussion which was thought to be closed after the
Kamsky-Topalov match. In that match Veselin switched from 7.Bc4 (game 1) to 4.
Qb3 (game 3) before realizing that 1.e4! (games 5 and 7) refutes Grunfeld
altogether.} c5 8. Ne2 {Protecting the centre from e2 so that Bg4 can be
answered with f2-f3.} Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Na5 ({Two weeks later Vishy opted
for} 10... b6 $5 {but instead of} 11. dxc5 Qc7 {which gives Black normal
compensation, Veselin played the consolidating moves Qd2, Rac1 and Rfd1 and
obtained a pleasant position.}) 11. Bd3 b6 12. Qd2 e5 13. Bh6 cxd4 14. Bxg7
Kxg7 15. cxd4 exd4 16. Rac1 ({We thought this would come as a small suprise
but since Vishy replied more or less instantly this wasn't the case. Against
Kamsky, the game continued} 16. f4 f6 17. e5 Bd7 $5 {and Black was fine because
} 18. Nxd4 Nc6 {offers White no hopes for an advantage. This reveals one of
the points behind White's last move; both ...f6 and ...Bd7 look strange here,
and in the meantime White takes the c-file.}) 16... Qd6 $5 ({A logical novelty,
while preparing moves such as Nc6 and Bd7 the queen also controls the
e5-square.} 16... Bb7 {was played by Carlsen two years ago but it leaves the
Black king a bit vulnerable against the upcoming f4-f5.}) 17. f4 f6 18. f5 Qe5
{Both players were still blitzing their moves! By now the adreneline level
started to rise rapidly within our camp since we had considered Black's last
move to be very risky.} 19. Nf4 g5 20. Nh5+ Kg8 ({A difficult choice!} 20...
Kh8 {clears g8 for the rook but may not be better than the text.} {After} 21.
h4 Rg8 {White can continue his attack with the brutal} 22. Nxf6 $5 (22. Qe1 {
also deserves attention, threatening Nxf6 followed by e5, and if this is not
working than hxg5 followed by Qh4 looks attractive as well.}) 22... Qxf6 23. e5
Qxe5 24. f6 Be6 ({even without queens the black king can be in danger;} 24...
Qe3+ 25. Qxe3 dxe3 26. Rc7 $1) 25. f7 Rgf8 26. Rce1 Qd5 (26... Qd6 27. Rf6 {
wins the piece back with ongoing attack.}) 27. Be4 Nc4 28. Qf2 Rxf7 (28... Qd8
29. Bd5 $3 {is a nice move on the interference-theme; 29...Bxd5 gives up
control over the d4-square while 29...Qxd5 gives up f6.}) 29. Bxd5 Rxf2 30.
Bxa8 Rxf1+ 31. Rxf1 $1 (31. Kxf1 Ne3+ 32. Kf2 gxh4 33. Re2 Kg7 34. Rd2 Nf5 {
should be a draw.}) 31... d3 32. Rf8+ Kg7 33. Rd8 {and although this is a very
interesting ending I am sure the editor wont be happy if I continue analysing
it. In any case it's clearly not pleasant for Black.}) 21. h4 h6 22. hxg5 hxg5
23. Rf3 Kf7 $2 ({From various sources I read that Black could have saved his
skin with} 23... Bd7 24. Rg3 Rac8 {however, this runs into the powerfull} 25.
Nxf6+ Qxf6 26. Re1 $1 {once again preparing e5, while} Rc3 27. Rxg5+ Kf7 28. e5
Rxd3 29. Qf4 $1 {with e6 to follow, is another important point. A better
alternative, now that 23...Bd7 24.Rg3 has been included, is to move the king
to f7. After the more or less forced line 24...Kf7 25.Bc4+ Nxc4 26.Rxc4 Rh8 27.
Rxd4 Be8 28.Rd7+ Kf8 I have been unable to find a win for White but I wouldn't
be suprised if it's there for the taking.}) 24. Nxf6 $1 {We have entered a new
era in chess where it is possible to win a game by doing your homework, and
doing it well. I wonder what thoughts Steinitz and Lasker would have on all of
this?} Kxf6 ({Or} 24... Qxf6 25. Rh3 {and despite having many moves all of
them fall short;} Bd7 (25... Ke8 26. e5 $1) (25... Kg8 26. Rh5 $1) (25... Bb7
26. e5 $1 Qxe5 27. Rh7+ Kf6 28. Re1) 26. Rh7+ Ke8 27. e5 $1) 25. Rh3 Rg8 (25...
Qf4 26. e5+ $1 {clears the road to Black's king} Kxe5 27. Qe2+ Kd5 28. Rf1 {
winning heavy material.}) 26. Rh6+ Kf7 27. Rh7+ Ke8 28. Rcc7 {A remarkable
picture!} Kd8 29. Bb5 $1 {Finishing the game in style! The bishop cannot be
taken and at the same time Qxc7 is prevented.} Qxe4 (29... a6 30. Rce7 $1 Qc5 {
loses elegantly too -amongst others-} 31. Qxg5 $1) 30. Rxc8+ ({Black resigned,
he is a piece down after} 30. Rxc8+ Kxc8 31. Qc1+ Nc6 32. Bxc6 Qe3+ 33. Qxe3
dxe3 34. Bxa8 {. Obviously, after this first game spirits where high in our
team. What could possibly go wrong?}) 1-0

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.05.04"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 {Two years ago against Kramnik Anand
played 4...e6 and Kramnik opted for Meran with 5.e3. It is very likely that
Topalov would have gone for the sharper 5.Bg5.} dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 {Topalov
also plays 6.e3, but undoubtedly 6.Ne5 is more ambitious and offers more
chances to fight for an advantage (although as is usually the case, it is
altogether more risky).} e6 7. f3 c5 {This is Anand's "Black secret weapon"
for the match in Sofia, which worked relatively well in games 3 and 5. However,
the present game ended in a drama and it was the last Slav game of the match.
As the World Champion admitted later, he didn't expect Topalov to be so
consistent and keep playing this variation as White after making previously
two draws. However, the course of the game shows that Black is suffering and
the price for every mistake is too high. In his match strategy Anand obviously
took a lot from Kramnik, who played same openings in 2006 against Topalov. The
motto is: the best result when playing Black is a draw! One must say that such
an approach is indeed very effective in World Championship matches (let's just
remember Kramnik's "discovery" of the Berlin endgame in his match versus
Kasparov), only that it doesn't necessary suit everyone. Later Anand showed
flexibility by changing his openings with both colours.} 8. e4 Bg6 ({The
variation} 8... cxd4 9. exf5 {favours White}) 9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 ({Here is
the reason why taking with the bishop is no better:} 10. Bxd4 Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6
12. Bxc4 Qa5 13. Qe2 {and in Pelletier,Y (2525)-Smyslov,V (2500)/Zuerich 1998
the players agreed to a draw already. After} Bc5 {Black achieves good
counterplay on the dark squares.}) 10... Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Nfd7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13.
Bxc4 {The big question of this endgame is: does White have a real advantage,
or is Black able to slowly equalise? I must admit that in spite of the fact
that the position happened three times in Sofia, there is no clear answer to
this question yet. My feeling can be expressed in the following way: a good
player, who is ready to suffer for a draw with Black, should be able to
achieve it with precise play.} Rc8 {Fearing improvements from Topalov, Anand
is the first one to deviate.} ({Previously in games 3 and 5 Anand played} 13...
a6 {but in spite of achieving two draws must have remained not completely
satisfied with the resulting positions.}) 14. Bb5 {Topalov continues in the
most principled way, taking advantage of the fact that Black doesn't control
the b5-square.} ({In the earlier practice more often White retreated the
bishop to a2} 14. Ba2 {but all (!) those eight games (all played among GMs)
ended in a draw.. Here is a very recent example:} a5 15. h4 h5 16. Ke2 Rg8 17.
Nb5 Bc5 18. Bc3 b6 19. Rhd1 Ke7 20. Rd2 f6 21. Rad1 Rgd8 22. Na7 Rc7 23. Nb5
Rcc8 24. Nd4 Bxd4 25. Bxd4 {White's advantage proved to be only marginal:} Be8
26. Be3 Rc6 27. Bf4 e5 28. Be3 Rdc8 29. Bd5 Rc2 30. b3 Bf7 31. Bxf7 Kxf7 32.
Rxc2 Rxc2+ 33. Rd2 Rc7 34. Rd5 Ke6 35. Kd3 Rc6 36. g4 g6 37. Rb5 Rd6+ 38. Ke2
Rc6 39. Kf2 f5 40. exf5+ gxf5 41. gxf5+ Kxf5 42. Ke2 Rg6 43. Rd5 Ke6 44. Rb5
Kf5 45. Bg5 Rc6 46. Bd8 Kf4 47. Bg5+ Kf5 48. Bd2 Rg6 49. Be3 Rg2+ 50. Bf2 Rg6
51. Rd5 Ke6 52. Rd1 Rg2 53. Kf1 Rg8 54. Rc1 Kd5 55. Rc7 Kd6 56. Rc4 Kd5 57. Rc1
Nc5 58. Rd1+ Ke6 59. Rc1 Kd5 60. Rd1+ {1/2-1/2 Gustafsson,J (2646)
-Mastrovasilis,D (2574)/Rijeka 2010}) 14... a6 15. Bxd7+ Kxd7 16. Ke2 f6 17.
Rhd1 Ke8 (17... Kc7 {looks risky, but has no direct refutation:} 18. e5 (18.
Ba7 Be8 $1 (18... Bd6 19. b4 $1 $16 {[%csl Rc5][%cal Ga1c1,Ga7c5]} (19. Rac1 {
brings nothing yet in view of} Kd7 {[%cal Gd7e7]})) 19. Rac1 Bc6 {now White
can give checks with the knight on b5 or d5, but Black holds somehow.}) ({
The nice-looking sac} 18. Nb5+ {doesn't work:} axb5 19. Rac1+ Kd7 20. Be5+ Bd6
21. Rxd6+ Ke7 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Bg3 $11) 18... Be7 (18... f5 $2 {allows now}
19. Nb5+ $1 axb5 20. Rac1+ Kb8 (20... Kd7 21. Be3+ Bd6 22. Rxd6+ Ke7 23. Bg5+
Kf7 24. Rd7+ $18) 21. Ba7+ $1 Kxa7 22. Rxc8 bxa4 23. Rdd8 $18) 19. Ba7 Be8 20.
Rac1 Bc6 21. a5 fxe5 22. Ne4 $44) (17... Bd6 $2 {loses a pawn:} 18. e5 fxe5 19.
Bxe5 Rc6 20. Bxg7) 18. a5 $146 {It is hard to believe that Anand didn't
analyze at home this obvious move, nevertheless he sank into deep thought
after it.} ({Previously White tried two other moves:} 18. Bb6 Bc5 19. Bxc5 Rxc5
{in CBM 119 this variation was evaluated as being equal, which was confirmed
in practice:} 20. Rd6 ({Also after} 20. Rac1 Rc6 {[%cal Ge8e7]} 21. Rd4 Rf8 (
21... Ke7 22. Rb4 Rb8 23. Nd5+ $1 Kd6 24. Rxc6+ Kxc6 25. Rb6+ Kd7 26. Nb4 $16)
22. Rcd1 Rc7 23. Ke3 Ke7 {Black slowly achieves equality.}) 20... Ke7 21. Rad1
Be8 22. R6d3 a5 23. Ke3 Bc6 24. Nb5 Rc8 25. Na7 Rc7 26. Nxc6+ R5xc6 27. R1d2
Rc4 28. b3 Rc3 29. h4 h5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Bocharov,D (2614)-Amonatov,F (2574)/
Voronezh 2007 (60)}) (18. Rac1 Rc6 (18... Be7 $5) 19. Na2 Rxc1 20. Nxc1 Be7 21.
Bb6 e5 22. Nd3 Bf7 $2 (22... Kf7 {[%cal Gf7e6]}) (22... Rf8 $5) 23. Rc1 Bd8 24.
a5 $16 Ke7 25. Rc8 Re8 26. Rb8 Bc4 27. Rxb7+ Kf8 28. Ke3 $18 {1-0 Maletin,P 
(2545)-Amonatov,F (2650)/Novokuznetsk 2008 (49)}) 18... Be7 {One of many
possibilities to develop the bishop. Its drawback is that it takes the
e7-square away from the king. Other ways of development are:} (18... Bb4 {
This prepares 19...Ke7 and looks like the best.} 19. Ra4 (19. Na4 Ke7 (19...
Bxa5 $6 {is risky due to} 20. Nc5 $36) ({but} 19... Rc2+ 20. Kf1 Ke7 {is
perfectly playable.}) 20. Rac1 {and now the simplest way to equality is} Be8
21. Bc5+ Kf7 $11) (19. Bb6 Ke7 $11 {[%cal Gg6e8,Ge8b5,Yb4c3]}) (19. Rac1 Bxa5 (
{or} 19... Ke7 20. Na4 {which leads to 19.Na4}) 20. Na4 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Ke7 22.
Bc5+ Kf7 23. Bb6 Bxb6 24. Nxb6 Re8 25. Ke3 $44 {[%csl Rg6]}) 19... Be7 (19...
Bxc3 20. Bxc3 $14) 20. Bb6 Kf8 {[%cal Gg6e8,Yf8f7] The rook on a4 prevents
White from playing 21.Rd7. Next Black plays Be8-c6 and Kf7, solving all his
problems.}) (18... Bc5 $6 {Now compared with the above game Bocharov-Amonatov
this move leads to a position with a tempo down for Black and therefore is
clearly worse than after 18.Bb6:} 19. Bxc5 Rxc5 20. Rac1 {The pawn on a5 is a
clear achievement for White:} Rc6 (20... Rxa5 21. Na4 $36) ({Probably Black
must defend a slightly inferior position after} 20... Rf8 21. Na4 Rxc1 22. Rxc1
Rf7 $14) 21. Na4 $1) ({And finally} 18... Rc6 $5 {with the idea Bd6 and Ke7
also seems playable. After} 19. Na4 Bd6 20. Rac1 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Ke7 22. Bc5 Be8
23. Bxd6+ Kxd6 24. Nb6 Bb5+ 25. Ke3 e5 {White's plus is insignificant.}) 19.
Bb6 Rf8 $1 {After the previous move this is practically the only way to bring
the king's rook into play. Anand combines two ideas: he either prepares Rf7,
then remove the bishop from e7 and plays Rf7-d7, or Black can also activate
his pieces by advancing the f-pawn.  The evaluation of the position remains
typical for the entire opening variation: White is trying to increase the
pressure and break through; Black is not far away from equality. In fact
Topalov achieved the most White could do in this variation - he prevented
Black from connecting the rooks and bringing the Bg6 into play. In such
positions and especially against White's energetic play Black is practically
walking on the edge and must defend very accurately to avoid a quick disaster.
And Anand typically is using all the defensive resources of Black's position.
However, in the following part of the game both players made some errors and
even bad mistakes. All that should not be regarded as separate episodes, but
rather as a part of a very complex World Championship match. The enormous
tension of such a match is not just an indispensable part of the game; it
often plays the decisive role for the final result. Let's not forget that in
this game both opponents strictly follow their match strategy and try to prove
the correctness of their opening choice. The outcome of such a tough
psychological battle is extremely important and needless to say, it puts an
additional pressure on both opponents.} ({Compared to 18...Bb4, here} 19... Kf8
$2 {is just bad in view of} 20. Rd7 $16) (19... f5 20. e5 Bg5 21. Rd4 $14) 20.
Rac1 (20. Rd2 f5 21. e5 f4 $11 {[%csl Re5][%cal Gf8f5]} (21... Bg5 {is
unnecessary:} 22. Rd4)) 20... f5 {With the rook on c1 Black is tempted to
activate the bishop via g5.} (20... Rf7 {works well in the event of} 21. Na4
Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Bd6 {and Black is close to equality. On the other hand, as
mentioned by GM S.Shipov, after 20...Rf7 Black doesn't want to play 21...Bf8
in view of 22.Na2! Rxc1 23.Rd8+! Ke7 24.Nxc1, with obvious advantage. Thus 21..
.Rf7 can be regarded as a sort of waiting move, after which in some lines the
idea Bf8 and Rd7 might work.}) 21. e5 ({After} 21. Na4 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 fxe4 23.
Rc8+ Kf7 24. Rc7 exf3+ 25. gxf3 Ke8 {[%cal Gg6h5] Black has sufficient for
equality and counterplay and therefore White has little better than to go for
a draw:} (25... Kf6 $5) 26. Rxe7+ ({or} 26. Rc8+ $11) 26... Kxe7 27. Bc5+ Kf7
28. Bxf8 Kxf8 29. Nc5 Ke7 30. Nxb7 e5 31. Nc5 Be8 $11) 21... Bg5 (21... f4 $2
22. Ne4 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Bxe4 (23... Rf5 24. Rc8+ Kf7 (24... Kd7 25. Rc7+ Ke8 26.
Bd4 $18) 25. Bd4 $18) 24. fxe4 $16) 22. Be3 (22. Ra1 $2 Bf4 $132) 22... f4 $6 {
Possibly Anand simply missed White's reply.} ({After} 22... Bxe3 23. Kxe3 f4+
24. Kd4 Ke7 25. Ne4 Bxe4 26. Kxe4 {there is still a long way for Black before
securing a draw, nevertheless this was objectively the right way.}) 23. Ne4 $1
(23. Nb5 $1 {is similar. The knight comes with tempo to d6.}) 23... Rxc1 24.
Nd6+ Kd7 $8 (24... Ke7 25. Bxc1 Rb8 (25... Bc2 26. Rd4 Bb3 27. g3 $1 $18) 26.
Rd4 $18) 25. Bxc1 $16 {With the knight on d6, exposed king and pawn weaknesses
on b7 and f4 White's advantage is obvious.} Kc6 26. Bd2 {Now it is Topalov who
starts to play inaccurately.} ({Stronger is} 26. Rd4 Kc5 (26... b5 27. axb6
Kxb6 28. g3 $18) 27. Rc4+ Kd5 28. Bd2 $5 Kxe5 29. Nxb7 Be7 (29... Rb8 $2 30.
Bc3+ {and mate next}) 30. Rc7 Re8 31. b4 $16) 26... Be7 {Anand rightly feels
that opposite-coloured bishops will offer Black good chances to escape.} 27.
Rc1+ (27. Bb4 $142 Rd8 28. Rd4 $1 Bxd6 29. Bxd6 {and with rooks on the board
Black is still struggling.}) 27... Kd7 (27... Kd5 $2 28. Rc7 Bxd6 29. exd6 Kxd6
30. Rxb7 $16) 28. Bc3 ({Again better is} 28. Bb4 {although now Black has real
chances to draw in variations like} Rd8 ({or} 28... Bxd6 29. Rd1 (29. Bxd6 Rc8
$11) 29... Rd8) 29. Rd1 (29. Nxb7 Rb8 30. Bxe7 Rxb7 31. Ba3 Rb5 $132) 29...
Bxd6 30. Rxd6+ (30. Bxd6 Rc8 $5 31. Bf8+ Ke8 32. Bxg7 Rc5 33. b4 Rc4 $132)
30... Kc8 31. Rxe6 Bf7 32. Re7 (32. Rb6 Bc4+ 33. Ke1 Rd5 34. Bc3 Rb5 35. Rd6
Rd5) 32... Rd7 {with a draw.}) 28... Bxd6 29. Rd1 (29. exd6 Rc8 $11) 29... Bf5
30. h4 (30. Rxd6+ Kc8 {[%cal Gf8d8]} (30... Kc7 31. Bd4 $14)) 30... g6 (30...
Kc7 $142 31. exd6+ (31. Rxd6 Rd8 $11) 31... Kd7 32. Rd4 (32. Bxg7 Rg8) 32...
Rf7 33. Rxf4 Kxd6 $11) 31. Rxd6+ Kc8 32. Bd2 (32. Rd4 h6 33. Bb4 (33. Rxf4 Bd3+
34. Ke3 Rxf4 35. Kxf4 Kd7 $11) 33... Rf7 34. Bd6 (34. Rxf4 Bd3+ 35. Ke3 Rxf4
36. Kxf4 Kd7 37. Bf8 h5 38. Kg5 Ke8 39. Bc5 Kf7 $11) 34... g5 $14) 32... Rd8
33. Bxf4 Rxd6 34. exd6 {Considering the earlier inaccuracies, Topalov has
achieved the most White could: winning the f4-pawn and creating a passer on d6.
The endgame is certainly far from simple, but with accurate defence it's
probably a draw.} Kd7 35. Ke3 Bc2 36. Kd4 Ke8 37. Ke5 Kf7 38. Be3 Ba4 39. Kf4
Bb5 40. Bc5 Kf6 41. Bd4+ Kf7 42. Kg5 Bc6 43. Kh6 Kg8 44. h5 {Vishy has
defended accurately and continues to do so, until blundering on move 54. The
endgame was analysed by Karsten Mueller in the online edition of ChessBase
Magazine and the variations below are based on his analysis.} Be8 (44... gxh5
$2 45. Kxh5 e5 (45... Bd7 46. Be5 Bc6 47. Kh6 $18 {and White wins like in the
game: the bishop comes to g7, the g-pawn goes to g6 and the king breaks
through to e7.}) 46. Bxe5 Be8+ 47. Kh6 Bc6 48. g4 Bd7 49. Kh5 Kf7 50. f4 Ke6
51. Kh6 Kf7 52. f5 Kg8 53. Bd4 Bc8 54. Kg5 Kf7 55. Kf4 Bd7 56. Ke5 Ba4 57. g5
Bd7 58. Be3 Bc8 59. f6 Bh3 60. Kd5 Bd7 61. Kc5 Ke6 62. Bf4 Be8 63. Kb6 Bc6 64.
Kc7 $18) 45. Bc5 (45. g4 gxh5 46. gxh5 Bc6 $11) 45... gxh5 46. Kg5 Kg7 $1 47.
Bd4+ Kf7 48. Be5 (48. Kxh5 Bb5 49. Kh6 Bd3 $11) 48... h4 49. Kxh4 Kg6 50. Kg4
Bb5 51. Kf4 Kf7 52. Kg5 Bc6 $4 {Blundering in the moment when the draw was
closer than ever. Obvioulsy it's because of tiredness and tension. The correct
way is to control/blockade with the king pawn d6 (in order to prevent the
white king to come to e7) and protect the pawn h7 with the bishop.} (52... Bd3
53. Kh6 Ke8 54. Kg7 Kd7 55. g4 Bc2 56. f4 Bg6 57. Kf6 Be4 58. f5 exf5 59. gxf5
Bd3 60. Kg5 h6+ $5 61. Kf6 Bc2 62. Bg3 Bd3 63. Ke5 h5 64. Bh4 Bc4 65. Kd4 (65.
f6 Bf7 66. Bg3 Be6 67. b4 Bf7 68. Kf5 h4 69. Bh2 h3 70. Kg5 Ke6 $11) 65... Bf7
66. Kc5 Bg8 67. Bg3 Bh7 68. f6 Bg8 69. Kb6 Bd5 70. f7 Bxf7 71. Kxb7 Bc4 $11)
53. Kh6 Kg8 54. g4 {Realising what he has done Anand resigned. The game shows
clearly the tremendous difficulty of playing long games under constant
pressure.  This game, together with the next one where Anand missed the
victory more than once, were very tough for Anand. Nevertheless he showed a
great capability to control himself and succeeded ing playing very well the
last game, winning the match and keeping the World Champion title.} ({The game
could continue} 54. g4 Be8 55. g5 Bc6 56. Bg7 Be8 57. f4 {and Black is in
zugzwang. The bishop can't control both d7 and g6 any longer:} Bc6 58. g6 hxg6
59. Kxg6 Be8+ 60. Kf6 Bd7 61. Ke7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.27"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Matamoros Franco, Carlos S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2542"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Ecuador"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ECU"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 Ng4 8. Bg5
f6 9. Bh4 Nc6 10. d5 Ne7 11. Nd2 h5 12. h3 Nh6 13. f3 c5 14. g4 hxg4 15. hxg4
Nf7 16. Bd3 Bd7 17. Rb1 Nc8 18. b4 b6 19. Bc2 Bh6 20. a3 Kg7 21. Ba4 Bxa4 22.
Qxa4 Rh8 23. Ke2 Ne7 24. Bf2 Bf4 25. Nb3 Rxh1 26. Rxh1 Qc8 27. Nc1 a6 28. Qb3
Qc7 29. Nd3 Rh8 30. Rxh8 Kxh8 31. a4 cxb4 32. Qxb4 a5 33. Qb5 Nc8 34. Qc6 Qd8
35. Nb5 f5 36. gxf5 gxf5 37. exf5 Bh6 38. Nc7 Kh7 39. Ne6 Qg8 40. Qd7 e4 41.
Ne1 e3 42. Bh4 1-0

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 3rd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2010.10.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2010.10.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. d5 exd5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. O-O Be7 10. Rd1 Nc6 11. Qf5 Nf6 12. e4 d6 13. e5 Qd7 14. Qf4 $5 Nh5 15.
Qc4 O-O 16. Nc3 Rae8 17. Be3 (17. g4 $2 Na5 $1) (17. h3 {/\ 18.g4} Nd4 18. Nxd4
cxd4 19. Qxd4 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Qb7+ 21. Qd5 Qxd5+ 22. Rxd5 dxe5 23. Rxe5 Nf6 $14 {
/=}) (17. exd6 $5) 17... Nb4 18. Rd2 Ba6 (18... d5) (18... Qe6) 19. Qb3 Nd3 20.
Qa3 Qc8 21. exd6 Bxd6 22. Rad1 (22. Bf1 Bf4 23. Bxd3 Bb7 24. Bxf4 Nxf4 25. Ne1
Nh3+ 26. Kf1 Ng5 27. Be2 Qh3+ 28. Kg1 Qh6 $11 {(Gustafsson)}) 22... Be7 23. Nd5
Nb4 24. Ne5 Nxd5 25. Bxd5 Nf6 26. Bg2 c4 27. Qc3 Bb5 28. h3 Bc5 $2 (28... Qe6
$15) 29. Bxc5 Qxc5 30. Rd5 Nxd5 31. Rxd5 Qc7 32. Rxb5 Rc8 33. Nc6 Rfe8 34. Rb4
Re2 35. Bf3 Re6 36. Rxc4 Rce8 37. Kg2 1-0

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 3rd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2010.10.30"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Wang, Yue"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D82"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2010.10.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 c5 6. dxc5 Qa5 7. Qa4+ Qxa4 8.
Nxa4 Bd7 9. Nc3 Ne4 10. Nxd5 Na6 11. f3 Nexc5 12. O-O-O Rc8 13. Bg5 f6 14. Bh4
Kf7 15. Ne2 e6 16. Ndc3 Bh6 17. Bf2 e5 18. Kb1 Rhd8 19. e4 f5 20. Ng3 b6 21.
Be2 f4 22. Nf1 Bf8 23. a3 Ne6 24. Nd2 Nac5 25. Nd5 a5 26. b4 axb4 27. axb4 Ba4
28. Rc1 Rb8 29. Rc3 Nd4 30. Bxd4 exd4 31. Ra3 b5 32. bxc5 Bxc5 33. Ra2 d3 34.
Bxd3 bxc4+ 35. Kc1 cxd3 36. Rxa4 Be3 37. Nxe3 fxe3 38. Nc4 Rdc8 39. Rd1 Rb3 40.
Ra7+ Kg8 41. Ra4 Rc3+ 0-1

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 18th"]
[Site "Porto Carras"]
[Date "2011.11.06"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2011.11.03"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. a3 h6 11. Nbd2 Bc5 12. c3 Bb6 13. Ba2 d6 14. Nf1 d5 15. exd5
Nxd5 16. Qb3 Na5 17. Qc2 Qd6 18. b4 Nc6 19. Ng3 Rad8 20. Ne4 Qg6 21. g4 Nf6 22.
Nh4 Qh7 23. Nf5 Qg6 24. Nh4 Qh7 25. Qe2 Ne7 26. Qf3 Nxe4 27. dxe4 g6 28. g5 Rd6
29. gxh6 Nf5 30. Bg5 Nxh4 31. Bxh4 Bc8 32. Red1 Be6 33. Rxd6 cxd6 34. Bg5 Bxa2
35. Rxa2 Rf8 36. a4 f6 37. Be3 Bxe3 38. Qxe3 bxa4 39. Rxa4 Qb7 40. Qd3 Qb5 41.
Qxb5 axb5 42. Ra7 Rc8 43. Rg7+ Kh8 44. Rxg6 Rxc3 45. Rxf6 Rc4 46. f3 d5 47.
exd5 Rxb4 48. Re6 Rd4 49. Rxe5 b4 50. Kf2 b3 51. Re3 Rxd5 52. Rxb3 Kh7 53. Rb6
Rd2+ 54. Kg3 Rd1 55. f4 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 18th"]
[Site "Porto Carras"]
[Date "2011.11.07"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A22"]
[WhiteElo "2712"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2011.11.03"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Germany"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bb4 4. Bg2 O-O 5. e4 Bxc3 6. bxc3 c6 7. Rb1 d5 8.
cxd5 cxd5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Ne2 Nc6 11. O-O Re8 12. d3 Nb6 13. Be3 Bg4 14. Qc2
Re7 15. Nc1 Be6 16. Rb5 Nd5 17. c4 Nxe3 18. fxe3 Rc8 19. Qb2 b6 20. Bxc6 Rxc6
21. Rxe5 f6 22. Re4 Bh3 23. Rff4 f5 24. Rxe7 Qxe7 25. Kf2 Re6 26. Qd2 Qb7 27.
e4 Re8 28. Ne2 fxe4 29. Qe3 Qc6 30. Rxe4 Rf8+ 31. Rf4 Re8 32. Re4 Rf8+ 33. Rf4
Re8 34. Qf3 Qc5+ 35. d4 Qxc4 36. g4 g5 37. Rf6 Qxe2+ 0-1

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 18th"]
[Site "Porto Carras"]
[Date "2011.11.10"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Godena, Michele"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2548"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2011.11.03"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Italy"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ITA"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 exd4 6. Nxd4 Nd7 7. Bxc4 Ngf6
8. O-O O-O 9. f3 Ne5 10. Be2 Qe7 11. a3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 c5 13. Nb3 Rd8 14. Qc2
Be6 15. Be3 b6 16. Nd2 Nc6 17. Rfe1 Rac8 18. Bf1 h6 19. h3 Rc7 20. a4 Bc8 21.
Nc4 Rcd7 22. Bf4 Nh5 23. Bh2 Ba6 24. e5 Qg5 25. Qe4 Bxc4 26. Bxc4 Na5 27. e6
Nf6 28. exf7+ Rxf7 29. Bxf7+ 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 74th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2012.01.28"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 147"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6
8. Qd2 Be6 9. O-O-O Qd7 10. Kb1 Bf6 11. Bg5 {A relatively unexplored move.} (
11. h4 {is more common. Amusingly, in the following game both sides kept
moving their rook pawns for another 3 plies!} h6 12. a3 a6 {Leko,P (2739)
-Smeets,J (2657)/Wijk aan Zee 2010/CBM 135/[Marin,M] (1-0, 45)}) 11... Qe7 12.
Bb5 a6 13. Bxc6+ {Playing for a microscopic, but, as we will see, stable
advantage.} (13. Ba4 b5 14. Bb3 Ne5 15. Bxf6 Nxf3 16. Qe3 Qxf6 17. Bd5 Rb8 18.
Bc6+ Ke7 19. Qa7 Rhc8 20. Bxf3 Rb6 21. Bb7 Re8 22. Rhe1 Kf8 $11 {Black has
managed to survive the forceful atack and has little to worry about.} 23. Bxa6
$6 Qd8 $1 {The bishop is caged suddenly.} 24. a4 (24. Bb7 c6 $1) 24... bxa4 25.
Ka1 Qb8 26. Qxb8 Rexb8 $17 {Ivanchuk,V (2779)-Gashimov,V (2746)/Monte Carlo
2011/CBM 142 (0-1, 28)}) 13... bxc6 14. Qf4 Bxg5 15. Nxg5 O-O 16. Rde1 {
For some hidden reasons, Topalov decides that the king's rook may still be
useful on the h-file.} ({After} 16. Rhe1 Qd7 17. f3 h6 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Qg4
Rf5 20. Re2 {White would be a tempo up if compared to the game, but this line
is not forced, of course.}) 16... Qd7 17. f3 h6 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Qg4 Rf5 20.
Re2 e5 21. Rd1 {There nothing exciting in this position, for sure, but White's
play is easier. Black has no obvious way to set his central pawns in motion,
while White can increase his pressure systematically.} Qf7 22. Qb4 Qd7 23. Qa4
Kh8 24. c4 Qe8 25. Rd3 Rf4 26. Qa5 Qe7 27. c5 Rf6 28. Qc3 Qe8 29. b3 Rb8 30. a4
$14 {White has consolidated his domination and has an obvious advantage.} Ra8
31. Re4 Qc8 32. Qd2 Qf8 33. Qa5 Qe7 34. Rde3 Qd7 35. Re1 Rf5 36. Qc3 Rd8 37. g3
Rf7 38. cxd6 $1 cxd6 39. f4 $1 {Opening the position at the right moment.} exf4
40. gxf4 c5 41. Re6 Rxf4 42. Rxh6+ Kg8 43. Qd2 Rf7 44. Rg1 $16 {And now, there
is an attack going already.} c4 $2 45. Qg5 $18 {[%cal Gg5h5]} Rdf8 46. Qh5 Rf1+
47. Kb2 {According to the engines, Black can delay mate for eight moves, by
means of the "Dilaram combination" starting with ...Rb1+ and so on.} 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.01"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Cori, Jorge Moise"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C04"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2496"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Peru"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "PER"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd7 6. Nb3 a5 7. a4 Be7 8. Bb5
O-O 9. O-O Ncb8 10. Re1 b6 11. g3 c6 12. Bf1 Ba6 13. Bxa6 Rxa6 14. h4 h6 15. c3
c5 16. Nh2 Re8 17. Qg4 Kh7 18. Qh5 Kg8 19. Re3 Bf8 20. Rf3 g6 21. Qg4 Qe7 22.
Qh3 Bg7 23. Ng4 Kh7 24. Bg5 Qf8 25. Kg2 h5 26. Ne3 Nc6 27. g4 Ndxe5 28. dxe5
Nxe5 29. gxh5 gxh5 30. Rg1 f5 31. Kh1 Ra7 32. Nc1 d4 33. cxd4 cxd4 34. Ng2 Ng4
35. Nf4 Qf7 36. Nce2 e5 37. Nxh5 e4 38. Rf4 e3 39. Rgxg4 fxg4 40. Rxf7 Rxf7 41.
Qxg4 exf2 42. Neg3 Re1+ 43. Kh2 Be5 44. Bf4 d3 45. Bxe5 Rxe5 46. Qc4 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.04"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Netherlands"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "NED"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Ne4 {
This rare continuation will hardly gain new adherents.} 8. Qc2 (8. Bd3 f5 9.
Bxe4 (9. Ne5 Bf6 10. Nxd7 Bxd7 11. O-O g5 12. Bxe4 gxf4 13. Bd3 fxe3 14. fxe3
Kh8 15. Ne2 c6 16. Kh1 Qe7 17. Qb3 Rab8 18. Qa4 a6 19. Qa5 Bg5 20. Qc7 Rfc8 21.
Qg3 Rg8 $132 {0-1 Amanov,M (2516)-Topalov,V (2752)/Istanbul TUR 2012/The Week
in Chess 931 (56)}) 9... fxe4 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. Bxe5 b6 12. b4 a5 13. a3 bxc5
14. bxc5 Rf5 15. Bg3 Bh4 16. Qa4 Bd7 17. Qc2 Qg5 $13 {1/2 Esen,B (2587)
-Ganguly,S (2629)/Vlissingen NED 2012/The Week in Chess 927 (27)}) (8. Nxe4
dxe4 9. Ne5 (9. Nd2 e5 10. Bxe5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Qd5 12. Qc2 Rd8 13. Bc4 Qxe5 14.
Rc1 Bf5 $15 {1/2 Socko,M (2490)-Halkias,S (2600)/Kavala 2011/CBM 143 Extra (27)
}) 9... Nxe5 10. Bxe5 b6 11. b4 f6 12. Bg3 a5 13. a3 axb4 14. axb4 Rxa1 15.
Qxa1 Qd5 16. Be2 bxc5 17. bxc5 e5 18. dxe5 f5 19. O-O Be6 20. Rc1 Ra8 21. Qc3 (
21. Qb1 Qd2 22. Bc4 Bxc4 23. Rxc4 Qd3 24. Rc1 Qxb1 25. Rxb1 Bxc5 $11 {1/2
Lenic,L (2633)-Grachev,B (2672)/Muelheim GER 2012/The Week in Chess 937 (28)})
21... Ra2 22. Bf1 Rd2 23. h3 Rd1 {1/2 Gagunashvili,M (2577)-Halkias,S (2593)/
Porto Carras 2011/EXT 2012}) (8. Rc1 c6 9. Nxe4 dxe4 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. Bxe5 b6
12. Qa4 bxc5 13. dxc5 Qd5 14. Bd4 Bd7 15. Be2 Qf5 16. O-O e5 17. Bc3 Bxc5 18.
Qa5 Bb6 19. Qxe5 Qxe5 20. Bxe5 Rfe8 21. Rfd1 Be6 22. Rxc6 Bxa2 $11 {1/2 Ding
Liren (2702)-So,W (2677)/St Louis USA 2012/The Week in Chess 936 (46)}) (8. h4
$5 Nxc3 9. bxc3 c6 10. Bd3 f5 11. g4 fxg4 12. Ng5 Nf6 13. Qc2 h6 14. Bh7+ Kh8
15. Bg6 {1-0 Bellaiche,A (2435)-Reshetov,V (2126)/St Petersburg 2009/CBM 132
Extra (24)} b6 $132) 8... f5 (8... g5 {is crucial:} 9. Bg3 f5 10. Nxe4 (10. h3
$6 Nxg3 11. fxg3 Nf6 12. Bd3 (12. Nxg5 Nh5 $1) 12... Ne4 13. g4 Ng3 14. Rh2 c6
$15 {1-0 Forintos Gy-Csom I/Magyarorszag Inf.7/479 1969/[Florian,T] (39)}) (10.
Bd3 $5) 10... dxe4 11. Nd2 f4 12. Bc4 (12. Nxe4 Rf7 13. O-O-O Nf8 14. Be2 fxg3
15. hxg3 Bd7 16. d5 exd5 17. Rxd5 c6 $13 {1/2 Lenderman,A (2525)-Sarkar,J 
(2376)/Orlando 2011/CBM 143 Extra (38)}) 12... fxg3 13. hxg3 Qe8 $1 (13... Rf6
14. Qxe4 Nf8 15. Nf3 Rg6 16. Ne5 Rg7 17. O-O-O $16 {1-0 Ehlvest,J (2627)-Saidy,
A (2376)/Los Angeles 2000/EXT 2001 (25)}) 14. Nxe4 Qg6 15. Bd3 Qg7 16. f4 $44)
9. Bd3 (9. Ne5 Bf6 10. Nxd7 Bxd7 11. f3 Ng5 12. Bxg5 Bxg5 13. f4 Bf6 14. b4 g5
15. g3 Kh8 16. Be2 Rg8 $11 {1/2 Fressinet,L (2714)-Ponomariov,R (2734)/
Istanbul TUR 2012/The Week in Chess 931 (30)}) (9. h3 {is too slow:} c6 10. Bd3
(10. Be2 Bf6 11. g4 $6 b6 12. cxb6 axb6 13. Rg1 Ba6 14. Bxa6 Rxa6 $15 {0-1
Kazimova,N (2209)-Batsiashvili,N (2434)/Baku AZE 2012 (28)}) 10... Bf6 11. g4
b6 12. cxb6 Qxb6 13. g5 Be7 14. g6 hxg6 15. Rg1 Kh7 16. h4 c5 17. Qe2 a5 18. h5
gxh5 19. Ne5 Ndf6 $17 {0-1 Blanco Gramajo,C (2577)-Gerbich,V (2477)/Rochade
5171-Jub15 bd03 2005/CBM 118 (50)}) 9... c6 (9... g5 $5 10. Bg3 c6 {needs
checking, e.g.} 11. Ne2 $5) 10. Ne5 Bf6 11. Nxd7 Bxd7 12. f3 Ng5 13. Bxg5 {
White leads to a closed setup like in Fressinet-Ponomariov.} (13. Bd6 Re8 14.
f4 Nf7 15. Be5 Bxe5 16. fxe5 b6 $132 {0-1 Krivobokov,S-Goltsov,D/Tula 2002/EXT
2010 (30)}) 13... Bxg5 14. f4 Be7 15. a3 b6 16. b4 g5 17. g3 Kh8 18. Be2 gxf4 {
There was no need to open the g-file at once.} (18... Rg8 $11) 19. gxf4 Rg8 20.
Kd2 Qf8 21. Rag1 bxc5 $6 {And the opening of the b-file is wrong. It will
serve White.} (21... Rg6 $5) 22. bxc5 Rb8 23. Rb1 $6 {It was probably better
to trade both pairs of rooks:} (23. Rxg8+ Qxg8 24. Rb1 {Still, breaking down
Black's defence would be very difficult for White.}) 23... Rxb1 24. Rxb1 e5 $1
{The right reaction.} (24... Rg2 {is senseless. White's queenside attack after}
25. Qa4 {comes first.}) 25. dxe5 $6 (25. fxe5 f4 $1 $40) (25. Rb7 {was logical.
The position remained dynamically balanced.}) 25... Bxc5 26. Rb7 Bc8 27. Rb8 d4
$6 (27... Bb6 $142 {[%cal Yb6c7,Yf8h6] with an excellent position for Black})
28. exd4 Qh6 (28... Bxd4 $142 29. Ba6 Be3+ $3 (29... Qh6 30. Rxc8 Qxf4+ 31. Kd3
Qe3+ 32. Kc4 {, and White's king escapes}) 30. Kxe3 Qc5+ 31. Kf3 Bxa6 32. Rxg8+
Kxg8 33. Qd2 $14) 29. Qa4 $1 {[%mdl 64] Black probably missed this strong move.
} (29. dxc5 $4 Qxf4+ $19) 29... Bb6 (29... Qxf4+ 30. Kc2 Qxd4 (30... Bxd4 31.
Qxc6 $18) 31. Qxc6 $18) 30. Kc2 Be6 31. Rb7 (31. Rxg8+ Bxg8 32. h3 $1 $18)
31... Qxf4 32. Rxb6 $1 axb6 33. Qxc6 Rg6 34. d5 Bg8 $6 (34... Qxe5 {may be a
relatively better choice. White's strong connected pawns are quite worth a
piece.}) 35. e6 Qe5 36. Qxb6 Rg2 37. Kd3 $1 Rxh2 38. Qd4 {The endgame is
clearly winning for White. His king will support his pawns.} Rh3+ 39. Kc4 Qxd4+
40. Kxd4 {[%mdl 4096]} Kg7 41. e7 Bf7 42. d6 Rh4+ (42... Be8 43. Bb5) 43. Ke5
Be8 44. Bb5 Bxb5 45. Nxb5 Kf7 46. Nc7 Re4+ 47. Kxf5 Re1 48. a4 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.05"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Amanov, Mesgen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2516"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Turkmenistan"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "TKM"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Ne4 8. Bd3
f5 9. Ne5 Bf6 10. Nxd7 Bxd7 11. O-O g5 12. Bxe4 gxf4 13. Bd3 fxe3 14. fxe3 Kh8
15. Ne2 c6 16. Kh1 Qe7 17. Qb3 Rab8 18. Qa4 a6 19. Qa5 Bg5 20. Qc7 Rfc8 21. Qg3
Rg8 22. Qh3 Rbf8 23. b4 Rf6 24. Rae1 Rh6 25. Qf3 Be8 26. Nf4 Bh4 27. Rb1 Bg3
28. h3 Qh4 29. Be2 Rg4 30. Rb3 Bh5 31. Nxh5 Rxh5 32. e4 Rhg5 33. exf5 Rf4 34.
Qe3 Re4 35. fxe6 Rxe3 36. Rxe3 Qxd4 37. Rf8+ Rg8 38. Rxg8+ Kxg8 39. Rxg3+ Kf8
40. Rf3+ Ke7 41. a3 Qb2 42. Rf2 h5 43. Kg1 Qc1+ 44. Rf1 Qe3+ 45. Rf2 d4 46.
Bxh5 Kxe6 47. Bf3 d3 48. h4 Qe1+ 49. Rf1 d2 50. Bg4+ Ke5 51. h5 Kd4 52. Bd1 Kc3
53. g4 Qg3+ 54. Kh1 Kb2 55. a4 Ka2 56. Be2 Qe1 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.09"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Iturrizaga Bonelli, Eduardo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2627"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Venezuela"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "VEN"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 c5 7. Bxb4 cxb4 8.
Nbd2 Nc6 9. e4 O-O 10. Bd3 Rc8 11. e5 Ne8 12. Bxh7+ Kh8 13. Bd3 d5 14. exd6
Nxd6 15. O-O Qf6 16. c5 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Rxc5 18. Bxa6 Rxc2 19. Nxc2 Qxb2 20. Rfc1
Rd8 21. Kg2 g6 22. Nb3 Ne4 23. Bb7 Nc5 24. Rab1 Qf6 25. Bf3 Nxb3 26. axb3 Rd2
27. Ne3 Qd4 28. Kg1 Qf6 29. Kg2 Qd4 30. Rc8+ Kg7 31. Re1 a5 32. Ng4 f5 33. Rc7+
Kf8 34. Ne3 Qb2 35. Rf1 b5 36. Rb7 Qc3 37. Re1 a4 38. bxa4 bxa4 39. Nd1 Qb3 40.
Re5 Rd8 41. Reb5 Rd4 42. Ne3 a3 43. Nd5 1-0

[Event "London FIDE GP 1st"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.09.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2012.09.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 a6 5. Nc3 b5 6. c5 g6 {Dominguez is way too
strong not to know about problems after the weaker older move 6...Bg4. Black
has build up a fortress on the queenside and thus will be able to focus on the
centre of the board.} (6... Bg4 7. Qb3 $1) 7. Ne5 Bg7 8. f4 Qc7 {The defender
is usually unable to avoid playing the queen to c7 at some stage in this setup.
It will be necessary to defend the c6-pawn in order to develop the pieces so
Black is waiting to see what his opponent will do.} (8... O-O 9. Be2 (9. Bd3
Be6 (9... Qc7 10. O-O Be6 11. g4 Nbd7 12. f5 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Nd7 14. fxe6 fxe6
15. Bd2 Nxc5 16. Bc2 Bxe5 17. Qe2 a5 18. a3 a4 $11 {0-1 Eljanov,P (2729)
-Malakhov,V (2706)/Khanty-Mansiysk 2009 (47)}) 10. g4 Qc7 11. Bd2 a5 12. g5 b4
13. Na4 Ne4 14. Nb6 Ra7 15. Qe2 f6 16. Nf3 Nd7 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 18. gxf6 exf6 19.
O-O-O Bf5 $17 {0-1 Eljanov,P (2729)-Malakhov,V (2706)/Khanty-Mansiysk 2009 (31)
}) 9... Qc7 10. O-O Be6 11. Bf3 Nbd7 12. Nd3 Bf5 13. Nf2 h5 14. h3 b4 15. Na4
Ne4 16. Bxe4 dxe4 17. Bd2 Rab8 18. Qe2 h4 $11 {1-0 Wang Yue (2716)-Malakhov,V 
(2732)/Ningbo 2010 (46)}) (8... a5 9. Bd3 Bf5 10. Bxf5 gxf5 11. Bd2 e6 12. Qe2
h5 13. O-O-O b4 14. Na4 Ne4 15. Nb6 Ra7 16. Nd3 Nd7 17. Nxd7 Kxd7 18. Rdg1 Qb8
19. Nf2 Nxf2 20. Qxf2 a4 $15 {1/2-1/2 Bacrot,E (2705)-Wang Yue (2736)/Elista
2008 (47)}) (8... Be6 9. Bd3 Qc8 10. Bd2 Bf5 11. Bxf5 gxf5 12. b4 Nbd7 13. a4
Ne4 14. Nxe4 Nxe5 15. fxe5 fxe4 16. O-O O-O 17. Be1 Qe6 18. Bh4 f6 19. exf6
exf6 20. Bg3 $16 {1/2-1/2 Eljanov,P (2729)-Malakhov,V (2706)/Khanty-Mansiysk
2009 (80)}) 9. Be2 h5 {Yet another move, that simply belongs to a defensive
plan. Topalov would like to attack and the advance of the h-pawn will
maximally complicate his g2-g4 idea.} (9... a5 10. a3 O-O 11. O-O Be6 (11...
Ne4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. a4 b4 14. Qc2 f5 15. Qb3+ e6 16. Bc4 Qe7 17. g4 Bxe5 18.
fxe5 Na6 19. Qd1 Nc7 20. b3 {0-1 Vitiugov,N (2709)-Malakhov,V (2712)/Moscow
2010 (41)} Ba6 $15) 12. Nd3 (12. Bf3 Nbd7 13. Nd3 h6 14. g4 Nh7 15. h4 f5 16.
g5 hxg5 17. hxg5 Kf7 18. Kg2 Rfb8 19. Bd2 Nhf8 20. Be2 $16 {1-0 Gelfand,B 
(2741)-Wang Yue (2752)/Medias 2010 (82)}) 12... Ne4 13. g4 f5 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15.
Ne5 a4 16. gxf5 gxf5 17. Kh1 Nd7 18. Rg1 Kh8 19. Qf1 Nxe5 20. fxe5 $14 {
1-0 Al Sayed,M (2490)-Sanchez,L (2262)/Caleta 2011 (54)}) (9... Be6 10. Bf3
Nbd7 11. Nd3 h5 12. a3 Bf5 13. O-O a5 14. Ne5 O-O 15. Bd2 Ne4 16. Bxe4 dxe4 17.
a4 b4 18. Ne2 Nxe5 19. fxe5 Be6 20. Qc2 Bd5 21. Nf4 $14 {1-0 Ashwin,J (2431)
-Phoobalan,P (2255)/Jalgaon 2010 (61)}) 10. O-O a5 11. a3 {The modest move a3
is a defence against an attack on the c3-knight. The weakness on e4 is so
important, that White can not leave it without exerting some control.} (11. Bd3
Bf5 12. Bxf5 gxf5 13. Qc2 e6 14. Bd2 Nbd7 $11) 11... Bf5 12. h3 Nbd7 13. Bf3 {
We shall be returning to the g4 idea in our comments several times. Topalov
has decided to refrain from it at this early stage of the game, since now he
would not get an advantage.} (13. g4 hxg4 14. hxg4 Be4 15. g5 Nh5 16. Nxe4 dxe4
$11) 13... Ne4 $1 14. Bxe4 (14. g4 $2 Nxc3 15. bxc3 hxg4 16. hxg4 Be6 $17)
14... dxe4 (14... Bxe4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Qc2 Nf6 17. a4 b4 18. Nc4 $14) 15. Bd2
{The coveted advance of the g-pawn would have meant excessive weakening of the
kingside leading only to problems.} (15. g4 $2 hxg4 16. hxg4 Nxe5 17. fxe5 Be6
$17) 15... Nf6 16. Qe2 Be6 17. b4 (17. Be1 O-O 18. Bh4 Rfd8 $11) 17... axb4 18.
axb4 O-O 19. Rfc1 Rfb8 20. Be1 {The Bulgarian ex world championship challenger
has finally parted with the chimera of the pawn attack on the kingside.} (20.
g4 $6 hxg4 21. hxg4 Nd7 22. Nxe4 Nxe5 23. fxe5 Qd7 24. g5 Ra4 $15) 20... Qc8
21. Kh2 Ra6 22. Bh4 Rba8 23. Rxa6 Qxa6 24. Qe1 Qb7 {Dominguez had every reason
to be satisfied with his position, but he could not find the courage to try
using the a-file for an attack at the cost of the e4-pawn.} (24... Ra7 $5 25.
Qd2 Nd5 26. Nxe4 f6 27. Nd3 Qa3 28. Be1 Qb3 $15) 25. Ra1 Rxa1 26. Qxa1 Nd5 27.
Nxd5 (27. Nxe4 $6 f6 28. Nf3 Nxb4 $15) 27... Bxd5 28. Qa5 $1 Qc8 {Black has
reached the situation where he has to try building a fortress at a cost of a
pawn. It was a much bigger risk to allow the enemy pieces to start active
operations.} (28... Kh7 29. Qd8 f6 30. Nd7 Be6 31. Nb8 Bd5 32. Qe8 $16) 29.
Bxe7 Qe8 30. Qc7 (30. Bh4 $2 f6 $17) (30. Qd8 Qxd8 31. Bxd8 Kf8 32. Kg3 Ke8 33.
Bh4 Bxe5 $11) 30... f6 31. Qd7 Bf7 (31... Qxd7 32. Nxd7 Kf7 33. Bd6 Ke6 34. Nb6
$14) 32. Bxf6 {Topalov will get three pawns for the piece and can look into
the future without concern. The other option was to take the c6-pawn right
away keeping the balance as well.} (32. Qxc6 fxe5 33. Qxe8+ Bxe8 34. fxe5 Kf7
35. Bg5 Ke6 36. Kg3 Kd5 37. Kf4 Bd7 $11) 32... Bxf6 33. Qxc6 Bxe5 $2 {Original,
non-standard positions represent serious risks even for very strong players.
Various solutions can be more difficult to evaluate and judgements can turn
out to be plain wrong.} (33... Qxc6 $5 34. Nxc6 Kf8 35. Na7 Bc4 36. Nc6 Ke8 37.
Ne5 g5 38. f5 $11) 34. Qxe8+ Bxe8 35. fxe5 h4 {Black is hoping to get
counterplay with the pawn advance to g4 with the goal of exploiting the
potential of the h-pawn.} (35... Bc6 36. Kg3 Kf7 37. Kf4 Ke7 38. Kg5 Kf7 39. h4
Bd5 40. g4 hxg4 41. Kxg4 Ke7 42. Kg5 Kf7 43. e6+ Bxe6 44. Kf4 Bf5 45. d5 Kf6
46. c6 $18) 36. d5 Kf7 37. Kg1 Ke7 38. Kf2 g5 39. Ke1 Bf7 {The three white
connected passed pawns are very dangerous and Dominguez must have been
agonising between hopeless continuations.} (39... Bh5 40. Kd2 g4 41. hxg4 Bxg4
42. c6 Bf3 43. d6+ Kd8 44. gxf3 h3 45. e6 h2 46. e7+ Ke8 47. c7 $18) 40. e6 Bh5
(40... Bxe6 41. dxe6 Kxe6 42. Kd2 $18) 41. Kd2 Kd8 {The centralising of the
white king after the immediate 41...g4 was very impressive.} (41... g4 42. hxg4
Bxg4 43. Kc3 Bf3 44. Kd4 Bxg2 45. Ke5 h3 46. d6+ Ke8 (46... Kd8 47. e7+ Kd7 48.
c6+ $18) 47. c6 h2 48. c7 $18) 42. d6 g4 43. hxg4 Bxg4 44. e7+ Ke8 45. c6 Be6
46. Kc3 Bd5 47. c7 Bb7 48. Kd4 Kd7 49. Kc5 {The defender is helpless, as he
can not prevent the loss of the b5-pawn. A very interesting and unusual
endgame!} (49. Kc5 Ba6 50. Kb6 Bc8 51. Kxb5 $18) 1-0

[Event "London FIDE GP 1st"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.10.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2012.09.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. d3 O-O 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. e4 d4 8. Ne2
e5 9. c3 dxc3 10. bxc3 b6 11. Qc2 Qe7 12. a4 Rd8 13. Rd1 Ba6 14. c4 Na5 15. Ba3
Qe8 16. Bb4 Nc6 17. Bc3 Nd7 18. Nd2 Nc5 19. Nb3 Bc8 20. a5 Bg4 21. f3 Be6 22.
h4 Qe7 23. Kh2 Rd7 24. Bh3 Rad8 25. axb6 Nxb3 26. bxc7 Nxa1 27. cxd8=Q+ Qxd8
28. Bxa1 Bxh3 29. Kxh3 Nb4 30. Qa4 Nxd3 31. Kh2 Nc5 32. Rxd7 Qxd7 33. Qxd7 Nxd7
34. Nc3 f5 35. Kg2 Kf7 36. Na4 h5 37. Kf2 Bf8 38. Ke2 Ke6 39. Bc3 Be7 40. Kd3
f4 41. Be1 fxg3 42. Bxg3 Nc5+ 43. Nxc5+ Bxc5 44. Be1 a6 45. Ke2 Be7 46. f4 exf4
47. Kf3 Bd6 48. Ba5 Kd7 49. Bd2 Bc7 50. Bc3 Ke6 51. Bh8 Be5 52. Bxe5 Kxe5 0-1

[Event "London FIDE GP 1st"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.10.03"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2012.09.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Be2 dxc4 8.
O-O c5 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. Bxc4 Qxd1 11. Rfxd1 b6 12. Nd4 Bb7 13. Rac1 a6 14. b4
Nce4 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. a3 a5 17. f3 Bd5 18. e4 Bxc4 19. Rxc4 axb4 20. axb4 Rfc8
21. Rdc1 Rxc4 22. Rxc4 h6 23. Kf1 Kf8 24. Nc6 b5 25. Rd4 Ra6 26. Nxe7 Kxe7 27.
Rd2 Nd7 28. Rc2 g5 29. Bc7 f6 30. Ba5 h5 31. h4 gxh4 32. Rc8 Ne5 33. Rc7+ Kd6
34. Rb7 h3 35. gxh3 Nxf3 36. Rxb5 Nd2+ 37. Kg2 Ra8 38. Rxh5 Rg8+ 39. Kf2 Nxe4+
40. Ke3 f5 41. Rh7 e5 42. Bc7+ Ke6 43. Kd3 Rg3+ 44. Kc4 Rc3+ 45. Kb5 f4 46.
Rh6+ Kd5 47. Bb6 f3 48. Rh8 Ra3 49. Bg1 f2 50. Bxf2 Nxf2 51. Rd8+ Ke4 52. Kc6
Rc3+ 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 28th"]
[Site "Eilat"]
[Date "2012.10.14"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Timofeev, Artyom"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2631"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2012.10.11"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Zuerich SG"]
[BlackTeam "SOCAR"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SUI"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 c5 5. d5 d6 6. e4 O-O 7. Nge2 b5 8. Nf4 a6
9. Bd2 exd5 10. cxd5 Ba5 11. Be2 Nbd7 12. O-O Ne5 13. Kh1 c4 14. b3 b4 15. Na4
c3 16. Be3 Bc7 17. a3 a5 18. Bb5 Rb8 19. Qe2 h6 20. Rfd1 Qe7 21. axb4 axb4 22.
Rd4 g5 23. Nh3 Bxh3 24. gxh3 Rxb5 25. Qxb5 Rb8 26. Qe2 Nh5 27. h4 Nf4 28. Qf2
Qf6 29. hxg5 hxg5 30. Rdd1 Bd8 31. Ra2 Qh6 32. Qg3 Kh7 33. Rg1 Nfg6 34. Rf2 Qh5
35. f4 Nd3 36. Rff1 Bf6 37. Ba7 Rb7 38. Qxd3 Rxa7 39. Rg3 Nxf4 40. Rxf4 gxf4
41. e5+ Kh6 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 28th"]
[Site "Eilat"]
[Date "2012.10.15"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Laznicka, Viktor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2678"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2012.10.11"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "SOCAR"]
[BlackTeam "Novy Bor"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CZE"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 b5 6. b3 Bg4 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. h3 Bh5
9. g4 Bg6 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Ne4 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 13. f3 Bg6 14. cxd5 cxd5 15.
a4 b4 16. Bb2 e6 17. Rc1 Be7 18. Qd4 O-O 19. O-O a5 20. f4 Be4 21. Bd3 Bxd3 22.
Qxd3 Qd7 23. Rc2 Rfc8 24. Rfc1 Rxc2 25. Qxc2 g6 26. Bd4 Kf8 27. Kg2 Ke8 28. Kf3
Ra6 29. h4 Qb7 30. h5 Kd7 31. hxg6 hxg6 32. Rh1 Rc6 33. Qd3 Qa6 34. Qb5 Qxb5
35. axb5 Rc8 36. Rh7 Rf8 37. e4 dxe4+ 38. Kxe4 Kc7 39. f5 gxf5+ 40. gxf5 exf5+
41. Kxf5 Kd7 42. Ke4 Bg5 43. Kd5 Rd8 44. Bb6 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 28th"]
[Site "Eilat"]
[Date "2012.10.17"]
[Round "7.3"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2012.10.11"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Tomsk 400"]
[BlackTeam "SOCAR"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ ({The line} 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6.
Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nc3 (7. c4 {enables Black to consider the thrust} f5 $5 $132 {
due to the active position of the Bc6.}) {can lead to similar positions as in
the game after} 7... h6 $5 $13 ({More common is} 7... Nf6)) 3... Nd7 $5 {
The most ambitious reaction.} ({However, the most solid continuation with the
best reputation is definitely} 3... Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 {For the novel idea} 5.
c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 g6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bg7 9. f3 Qc7 $5 (9... Nc6 {and}) (9... O-O
{are the customary moves}) 10. b3 Qa5 {see Carlsen,M (2843)-Anand,V (2780)/Sao
Paulo/Bilbao/2012/}) 4. O-O (4. d4 cxd4 ({The alternative} 4... Ngf6 5. Nc3 a6
6. Bxd7+ Nxd7 7. O-O $32 {gives White more chances to fight for an opening
edge.}) 5. Qxd4 a6 6. Bxd7+ Bxd7 {Now White can transpose into the game, we'll
check other options:} 7. Bg5 (7. Nc3 e5 8. Qd3 Rc8 9. O-O h6 10. Be3 Nf6 {
leads to a comfortable Najdorf for Black:} 11. Nd2 (11. a4 Be7 12. a5 Be6 13.
Rfd1 O-O 14. Nh4 Rc6 15. Nf5 Bxf5 16. exf5 Qc8 17. h3 Rd8 18. Bb6 Rd7 19. Qf3
Bd8 20. Be3 Rc4 $15 {[%cal Yc4b4,Yc8c6] Spasov,V (2621)-Volokitin,A (2661)/
ROM-chT Baile Herculane/2010/}) 11... Qc7 12. a4 (12. h3 b5 13. a3 Be7 14. f4
exf4 15. Rxf4 Be6 16. Raf1 Nd7 17. Bd4 Ne5 18. Qg3 Bg5 19. R4f2 O-O 20. Nf3 Bf6
21. Nxe5 Bxe5 $11 {Sigurpalsson,R (2229)-Baklan,V (2617)/ISL-chT Reykjavik/
2011/}) 12... Be7 13. a5 O-O 14. Rfd1 Be6 15. Nf1 Qc4 {1/2,Adams,M (2712)
-Radjabov,T (2761)/Wijk aan Zee/2009/} 16. f3 (16. Qxc4 Rxc4 17. f3 Rfc8 $11 {
/=/+}) 16... Qb4 17. Rdb1 Bc4 18. Qd2 d5 $5 19. exd5 Rfd8 20. Ra4 Qd6 21. Bb6
Rd7 22. Ne3 Bxd5 23. Qe2 (23. Nf5 $142 $11) 23... Bc6 24. Rd1 Qe6 25. Raa1 Bb4
$36 {Frois,A (2374)-Damaso,R (2437)/Porto/2001/}) (7. c4 b5 8. Nc3 (8. Na3 e5
9. Qd3 Qb6 10. O-O Qb7 11. Re1 h6 12. b3 Nf6 13. Nc2 Be7 14. Ba3 Bc6 15. Nd2
O-O 16. f3 Rfd8 17. Nf1 Bd7 18. Nfe3 Be6 19. Rad1 Rac8 20. Bb4 bxc4 21. bxc4
Qa7 22. Na3 Rb8 $11 {/=/+,Tiviakov,S (2673)-Zhigalko,S (2649)/Nakhchivan/2012/}
) 8... e5 9. Qd3 bxc4 10. Qxc4 Be6 11. Qc6+ Bd7 12. Qc4 Be6 13. Nd5 $6 ({
A more circumspect move was} 13. Qc6+ $11 {, or at least}) (13. Qd3 $11) 13...
Qa5+ 14. Qc3 Qxc3+ 15. Nxc3 h6 16. b3 Rc8 17. Bb2 Nf6 18. O-O Be7 19. Rfd1 O-O
20. Nd2 Rc6 21. Nf1 Rfc8 22. Rd3 Bd8 23. Ne3 Bb6 24. Rad1 Bd4 $36 {Howell,D 
(2635)-Shanava,K (2569)/Istanbul olm/2012/}) (7. O-O {- 4.0-0}) 7... Rc8 8. Nc3
h6 9. Bh4 e5 10. Qd3 g5 $1 11. Bg3 Nf6 12. Nd2 (12. O-O-O Qa5 13. Nd2 Be6 14.
Nb3 Bxb3 15. axb3 Qa1+ 16. Nb1 Be7 17. f3 O-O 18. h4 Nh5 19. Be1 Nf4 20. Qf1
Rc6 21. hxg5 Bxg5 22. Bd2 Rfc8 $40 {Jansa,V (2513)-Georgiev,K (2666)/EU-ch
Aix-les-Bains/2011/}) (12. h4 g4 $5 (12... Rg8 13. hxg5 hxg5 14. O-O-O Qc7 15.
Kb1 b5 16. Rhe1 Qc4 17. Nd2 Qxd3 18. cxd3 b4 19. Ne2 Bb5 20. d4 Bd3+ 21. Ka1
Nd7 22. dxe5 dxe5 23. Nf3 Bxe2 24. Rxe2 f6 25. Nh2 g4 26. Bh4 Be7 27. f3 $132 {
Oral,T (2510)-Babula,V (2571)/CZE-chT/2006/}) 13. Nd2 b5 14. a3 Be6 (14... Be7
{and}) (14... h5 {also give Black a good position.}) 15. O-O (15. h5 Qa5 16.
Nd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Bd7 18. O-O Bg7 19. Bh4 Qc7 20. Rac1 O-O 21. c4 f5 $36 {
Shaposhnikov,E (2545)-Khismatullin,D (2664)/Samara/2012/}) 15... Be7 16. Rfd1
Qb6 17. Nf1 Rc4 18. Nd2 Rd4 $5 (18... Rc8 $11) (18... Rc5 $5 $13) 19. Qe3 Qc6
20. Re1 Bd8 21. Nb3 Rc4 22. Rad1 Bb6 23. Qd3 Rxc3 $5 24. bxc3 Ke7 $44 {
Movsesian,S (2723)-Topalov,V (2803)/Khanty-Mansiysk olm/2010/}) 12... b5 13. a4
b4 (13... Qa5 14. O-O bxa4 15. Rfb1 Qc5 16. Qxa6 Be7 17. Nxa4 Qxc2 18. Nb6 Rd8
19. Ndc4 Qxe4 20. Re1 Qf5 21. Nxe5 dxe5 22. Rxe5 Qc2 23. Nxd7 Rxd7 24. Qxf6 $18
{Naiditsch,A (2691)-Sanikidze,T (2566)/EU-ch Rijeka/2010/}) 14. Nd1 Qb6 15. Ne3
Qd4 16. O-O Be7 17. Qxa6 O-O 18. Qd3 Qxb2 19. Rfd1 Qc3 20. f3 Be6 21. a5 Rc6
22. Bf2 Ra8 23. Ra4 d5 $11 {Baltag,I (2396)-Babula,V (2595)/Istanbul olm/2012/}
) 4... a6 {The move order is important for achieving the desired position.} (
4... Ngf6 5. d4 $5 a6 (5... Nxe4 6. Qe2 $44 {[%cal Yd4c5,Yf1d1] and retaining
the pawn is very risky due to Black's lag in development.}) (5... cxd4 6. Qxd4
e5 7. Qd3 h6 8. c4 $5 a6 9. Bxd7+ Bxd7 10. Nc3 {transposes to the line 9...Nf6,
mentioned in the notes below. Here Black's counterplay is less concrete and
effective, than in the game.}) 6. Bxd7+ Nxd7 7. Nc3 {- 4.d4 Nf6}) 5. Bxd7+ {
Retreating costs a valuable tempo and never was White's plan anyway.} (5. Bd3
g6 6. c3 Bg7 7. Bc2 Ngf6 8. d4 Qc7 9. h3 O-O 10. a4 b6 11. Be3 Bb7 12. Nbd2 e5
13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Qe2 Bc6 15. b4 cxb4 16. cxb4 b5 17. Rfd1 bxa4 18. Bxa4 Bxa4
19. Rxa4 Qc2 20. Rda1 Nxe4 21. Ne1 Qb2 22. Nd3 Qc2 23. Ne1 $11 {1/2,Bartel,M 
(2653)-Cheparinov,I (2650)/EU-chT Porto Carras/2011/}) 5... Bxd7 6. d4 cxd4 7.
Qxd4 e5 {Again the Najdorf motif as above.} ({More restrained, but plausible is
} 7... e6 8. c4 Nf6 9. Nc3 Bc6 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Rad1 O-O 12. Rfe1 h6 13. Bxf6
Bxf6 14. Qxd6 Qxd6 15. Rxd6 Rfc8 16. Rd3 b5 17. cxb5 axb5 18. a3 Rab8 19. Nd4
b4 20. Nxc6 Rxc6 21. axb4 Rxb4 $11 {Bologan,V (2663)-Van Wely,L (2680)/
playchess.com 5'/2004/}) ({Another version of the same idea is} 7... Rc8 $5 8.
c4 (8. Nc3 e5 9. Qd3 h6 {leads to a position, mentioned already in the note to
4.0-0 as fully satisfactory for Black.}) 8... Qc7 9. b3 e5 10. Qd3 b5 11. Na3
Qb7 12. Re1 h6 (12... Bc6 13. Nb1 Nf6 14. Nc3 b4 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Bd7 17.
Bb2 f6 18. a3 Be7 19. axb4 O-O 20. Nd4 f5 21. Ne6 Rf6 22. c5 $16 {Jones,G 
(2653)-Gordon,S (2539)/GBR-ch North Shields rpd plof/2012/}) 13. Nd2 (13. cxb5
axb5 14. Nc2 Nf6 15. Nb4 Be7 16. Bb2 O-O 17. Nd2 Be6 18. Nb1 {Kabanov,N (2500)
-Akkozov,B (2288)/Pavlodar/2010/} d5 $32 {|^}) 13... Nf6 14. Nc2 Be7 15. Ba3
Be6 16. Ne3 {1/2,Haslinger,S (2524)-Esen,B (2587)/Vlissingen/2012/} O-O $11) 8.
Qd3 h6 9. c4 (9. Nc3 {gives Black a pleasant choice between} Rc8 {-7...Rc8!?} (
{and} 9... Nf6)) 9... b5 $1 {This energetic advance gives Black full-blooded
counterplay.} (9... Nf6 {is less active and somewhat weaker, although it's
played more often:} 10. Nc3 Be7 11. a4 O-O (11... b6 $6 {is too passive:} 12.
b3 Ra7 13. Rd1 Bc8 14. Ba3 Rd7 15. Nd2 O-O 16. Nf1 Bb7 17. Ne3 Re8 18. Ncd5
Nxd5 19. Nxd5 Bxd5 20. Qxd5 Qa8 21. Qxa8 Rxa8 22. Rd5 f6 23. Rad1 Rad8 24. g3
g5 25. f4 $16 {[%csl Ga3,Rd6,Re5,Re7,Rf6,Rg5,Rh6] Tiviakov,S (2647)-Anand,V 
(2817)/Bundesliga/2012/}) 12. Be3 $5 (12. b3 {allows the liberating} b5 $1 13.
axb5 axb5 14. Rxa8 Qxa8 15. cxb5 Rb8 16. Be3 Bxb5 $1 17. Nxb5 Qa6 18. Rc1 Qxb5
19. Qxb5 Rxb5 20. Rc7 Bf8 21. Nd2 d5 22. exd5 Nxd5 $11 {Oratovsky,M (2520)
-Soffer,R (2515)/Tel Aviv/1994/}) 12... Rc8 (12... Be6 13. a5 Rc8 14. b3 Nd7
15. Nd5 Qe8 16. Rfd1 Bd8 17. Nd2 Kh7 18. f3 g6 19. Nc3 (19. b4 $5) (19. Nb1 $14
) 19... Be7 20. Nd5 Bd8 {1/2,Rublevsky,S (2662)-Fedorov,A (2684)/Smolensk/2000/
}) 13. a5 Qc7 14. b3 Be6 15. Rfc1 (15. Nh4 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 f5) 15... Qb8 16. Ne1
(16. h3 $5 $14) 16... Ng4 17. Nc2 f5 18. Nd5 Bd8 19. exf5 Bxf5 20. Qe2 Kh8 21.
Rd1 Be6 22. Nc3 Bh4 23. f3 Nxe3 24. Nxe3 Bd8 25. Ne4 Rc6 26. Nd5 Bxd5 27. Rxd5
b6 28. Qd1 Bc7 $132 {Anisimov,P (2445)-Amonatov,F (2557)/St Petersburg/2003/})
10. Nfd2 {Protecting Pc4 with the N takes the sting out of bxc4. Although the
text move looks unnatural, alternatives give Black at least easy equality:} (
10. Rd1 bxc4 11. Qxc4 Nf6 12. Nc3 Be7 13. Nd5 (13. h3 O-O 14. Be3 Qb8 15. Rab1
Qb7 16. Qd3 Bc6 17. Nd2 d5 18. exd5 Nxd5 $11 {Dovzik,J (2374)-Likavsky,T (2498)
/SVK-chT/2009/}) 13... Nxd5 14. Qxd5 Qc8 15. b3 Bc6 16. Qd3 Qb7 17. Nd2 O-O 18.
Ba3 Rfd8 19. Qe2 d5 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21. Rac1 Qe6 22. exd5 Bxd5 23. Ne4 Bxe4 24.
Qxe4 Rac8 $11 {1/2,Rivas Pastor,M (2445)-Suba,M (2520)/Albacete/2005/}) (10.
Nc3 bxc4 11. Qxc4 Nf6 12. Qd3 Be7 13. Nd2 O-O 14. Nc4 Be6 (14... Qb8 15. Rd1
Bb5 16. Nxb5 axb5 17. Ne3 Rd8 18. Nd5 Qb7 19. Be3 Nxd5 20. Qxd5 Qxd5 21. Rxd5
b4 22. Kf1 Rdc8 23. Rb5 Rc2 24. Rxb4 d5 $44 25. Rb7 d4 26. Rc1 Rac8 27. Rxc2
Rxc2 28. Rxe7 $11 {1/2,Tyulin,E (2450)-Cherkasov,N/corr/1987/}) 15. Ne3 Qc7 16.
Bd2 Qb7 17. b3 Rfd8 {1/2,Marinovic,B (2390)-Kovacevic,A (2549)/Valjevo SRB-chT/
2012/}) (10. c5 Be6 11. Qe3 Nf6 12. b3 Rc8 13. cxd6 Bxd6 14. Bb2 Rc2 15. Bc3 b4
16. Qd3 {1/2,Oratovsky,M (2587)-Damaso,R (2423)/Maia/2003/} Rxc3 17. Nxc3 bxc3
18. Rfd1 Be7 19. Qxc3 Qa8 $15) 10... Nf6 11. Nc3 Qb8 $5 {This seems to be the
best.} ({After} 11... Qb6 12. a4 {Black's queen is misplaced, as is clearly
show by the continuation} b4 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. cxd5 a5 15. Nc4 Qa6 16. f4 Rc8
17. b3 Be7 18. fxe5 dxe5 19. Rxf7 $1 Bc5+ (19... Rxc4 20. Rxe7+ $16) 20. Kh1
Bd4 21. Rxd7 Rxc4 22. Rxg7 $1 $16 {Iordachescu,V (2440)-Marin,M (2545)/
Bucharest/1996/}) (11... b4 {is perhaps plausible, but closing the queenside
after Black's 9...b5! doesn't seem too consistent:} 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. Qxd5 (13.
cxd5 Bb5 14. Nc4 Rc8 $11) 13... Be7 14. Re1 O-O 15. Nf1 Be6 16. Qd3 Qa5 $6 (
16... f5 $142 $1 $132) 17. Ne3 Bg5 18. b3 Rfd8 19. Rd1 $14 Bxe3 {This swap
eases White's task and still wasn't forced, but Black was probably worried
about ideas, connected with Nf5.} 20. Bxe3 Qc7 21. a3 bxa3 22. Rxa3 Qc6 23. Ra5
Rd7 24. f3 Rdd8 25. Rda1 $36 {[%csl Ra6,Rd6] Olsarova,K (2247)-Womacka,M (2427)
/Teplice/2012/}) 12. a4 bxa4 (12... b4 13. Nd5 $14) 13. Nxa4 Be7 $13 {[%mdl 32]
Topalov has opened the queenside instead of pushing the b-pawn. Strategically
the position resembles an original mix of the Najdorf and Sveshikov setups.}
14. Nc3 $146 {A natural novelty.} ({A very similar line is} 14. Rd1 Bc6 15. Nc3
O-O 16. Nf1 Qb7 17. f3 Nh5 (17... Nd7 $5 $132) 18. Ng3 (18. Ne3 $142) 18...
Nxg3 19. hxg3 Rfc8 20. Be3 a5 21. Nb5 ({Releases the tension, but} 21. b3 $5
Qb4 $11 {is also only roughly equal.}) 21... Bxb5 22. cxb5 Rcb8 23. b6 Bd8 24.
Qxd6 Bxb6 $11 {Skripchenko,A (2468)-Melia,S (2400)/EU-chW Gaziantep/2012/ The
game was quickly drawn after massive simplification.}) 14... O-O 15. b3 Bc6 16.
Ba3 {[%cal Yb3b5]} a5 {Topalov naturally prevents b4-b5 and fixes the pawn on
b3 as a target for his major pieces.} 17. Rfd1 Rd8 18. f3 Ra7 19. Kh1 Rb7 $132
{[%cal Gb8b3] ~~ Pressure on the semi-open b-file allows Black to retain the
dynamic balance.} 20. Rdb1 (20. Nd5 Nxd5 21. exd5 (21. cxd5 Bb5 22. Qe3 Rc8 $11
{/=/+}) 21... Bd7 {[%csl Ge5,Gf5][%cal Yf7f5,Ye7f6] is pleasant for Black}) (
20. Rab1 $142 $11) 20... Rc8 ({The immediate} 20... Nd7 $5 {[%cal Yd7c5,Ye7g5]
was also fully viable.}) 21. Rd1 Rd8 22. Ra2 Nd7 $5 {After slight hesitation
Topalov opts for an active plan - he abandons the control of d5 and transfers
his knight to more active squares.} 23. Qc2 (23. Nd5 Bg5 24. Rb1 Nf8 25. Qc3
Ne6 $5 26. Qxa5 Nd4 {and Black regains the pawn back with a pleasant position.
This line shows how Black can play so to say "around" the seemingly powerful
Nd5.}) 23... Bg5 24. Nf1 Nf8 25. Ne2 {This passive retreat helps Black.} (25.
Ng3 $5 {[%cal Yg3e2]}) 25... Ne6 26. Rd3 Qa7 {[%mdl 512] This pawn sacrifice
in approaching time-trouble is interesting, but hardly fully clear.} (26... a4
27. bxa4 Rb1 28. Rd1 Rxd1 29. Qxd1 Bxa4 30. Qxa4 Qb1 31. Bc1 Bxc1 32. Ra1 Qd3
33. Rxc1 Qxe2 34. Qc2 $11 {simplifies the position and eases White's task.}) (
26... Nc5 $5 27. Bxc5 dxc5 $11 {/=/+}) 27. Qd1 (27. Bxd6 a4 $1 (27... Qf2 $143
28. Qb1 Nc5 29. Bxc5 Qxc5 $44 {[%csl Rb3,Gc6,Gg5]}) 28. Qd1 (28. b4 $2 Qf2 29.
Qb1 (29. Qd1 Nf4) 29... Rxb4 $1 30. Bxb4 Rxd3 $17) 28... Rbd7 29. b4 Be7 30. c5
Bb5 $36) (27. Rxd6 $142 $5 Qf2 28. Qb1 (28. Rxd8+ Bxd8 29. Qb1 Bb6 $44 {
is similar}) 28... Rxd6 29. Bxd6 Qb6 30. Rb2 Nc5 $44 {Here Black has enough
for the pawn, but he can hardly claim an advantage and the final result is
very much open.} (30... Nd4 $5)) 27... Qb6 28. Ra1 Qf2 29. Nc3 Nc5 $5 ({
The text move retains the tension and is less committal than} 29... Nd4 30. Rb1
(30. Ra2 Qh4 31. Nd5 Rxb3 $5 32. Rxb3 Ba4 $36) 30... Rxb3 31. Rxb3 Nxb3 32. f4
$1 Bxf4 33. Rf3 Qd4 $1 (33... Qb6 $143 $6 34. Nd5 $16) 34. Qxb3 a4 35. Qc2 (35.
Qb4 f5 36. Nb5 Qa1 $44) 35... Qxc4 36. Qd3 $13) 30. Bxc5 Qxc5 31. Nd5 Rdb8 32.
Nfe3 g6 $11 {/=/+ The position slightly favours Black. White's knights are
tied to each other and he can't attack Black's isolated pawns, while his own
Pb3 is under pressure. On the other hand Black can prepare a timely a4, or
carefully expand on the opposite flank.} 33. h3 {White makes some s breathing
space, but this is questionable, as his king will not be any safer on h2.} ({
Perhaps he should have rather marked time with} 33. Rc3 h5 34. Rd3) 33... h5
34. Qc2 h4 {[%csl Rf4,Rg3] While this is a sound positional move, in some
lines White can profit from the g4-square.} 35. Qa2 Kg7 (35... a4 $5 36. b4
Rxb4 37. Nxb4 Rxb4 $44) 36. Ng4 $6 {This is dubious, as it allows a promising
exchange sacrifice.} ({White could have waited instead with} 36. Qc2 $132) ({
Even better was the concrete} 36. Qd2 $5 Bxd5 (36... Rxb3 $2 37. Nf5+ $18) (
36... Bxe3 37. Nxe3 Rxb3 38. Rxb3 Rxb3 39. Ng4 $40) 37. Rxa5 Qb4 38. Qxb4 Rxb4
39. Nxd5 $11) 36... a4 $1 37. f4 $2 {[%mdl 8192] A serious error, probably
caused by time trouble.} (37. bxa4 $2 Rb2 38. Qa3 Rb1+ $19) (37. b4 $8 Rxb4 38.
Nxb4 Rxb4 39. Rc3 f5 40. Nf2 {was more resilient, although after} Qd4 $36 {
Black is distinctly on top.}) 37... Rxb3 $19 {Now the defence collapses.} 38.
Rxb3 (38. fxg5 Rxd3 $19 (38... Rb2 $5 $19)) (38. Rd2 Bxf4 $19) 38... axb3 39.
Qb2 Bxd5 40. Nxe5 {Sheer desperation.} (40. exd5 Bxf4 $19) (40. fxg5 Bxe4 41.
Nf6 Qxc4 $19) 40... dxe5 (40... dxe5 41. Qxe5+ Bf6 42. Qxb8 Bxa1 $19) 0-1

[Event "Bucharest Kings 6th"]
[Site "Bucharest"]
[Date "2012.11.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2668"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2012.11.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. d5 exd5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. O-O Be7 10. Rd1 Nc7 11. Nc3 a6 {[%cal Ya8a7] A rare move. Black plans
to develop his rook via a7.} (11... Qc8) (11... Ne6) ({and} 11... Nc6 {are
seen in practice more frequently.}) 12. Bf4 $146 {Two previous games went
quite successfully for Black:} (12. Ne4 d5 13. Nh4 Bxh4 14. gxh4 Nc6 15. Bf4
O-O 16. Ng5 g6 17. h5 Ne6 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. e3 gxh5 20. Kh1 Kh8 {1/2
Khmelniker,I (2411)-Sulskis,S (2528)/Dresden 2007/CBM 118 (35) - White has
lost all his compensation for the missing material}) (12. Qf5 O-O 13. Bf4 (13.
Ng5 $1 g6 14. Qh3 Bxg5 15. Bxg5 Qxg5 16. Bxb7 Ra7 17. Bg2 $44) 13... Ne6 14.
Bd6 Ra7 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Qe5 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 Nc6 18. Qd5 Ned4 19. Be4 Nb4 20.
Qh5 g6 21. Qh6 Nxe2+ 22. Nxe2 Qxe4 $19 {0-1 Arnaudov,P (2404)-Suba,M (2451)/
Arvier 2010/CBM 137 Extra (66)}) 12... O-O 13. e3 {White prefers to avoid
simplifications.} (13. Ng5 {was possible here, too:} Bxg5 14. Bxb7 Ra7 15. Bxg5
Qxg5 16. Be4 Qh6 17. e3 $44) 13... Ra7 14. Rd2 Ne6 15. Rad1 Nxf4 16. exf4 $44 {
[%csl Gd1,Gd2][%cal Gd2d7]} Qc8 (16... Bf6 $5) 17. h4 d6 18. a3 Nc6 $6 {
Black should be ready to exchange White's knight on d5.} (18... h6 $142) 19.
Nd5 Bd8 (19... b5 $5 {[%cal Yc5c4]}) 20. Ne3 Bf6 (20... Be7 21. Nf5) 21. Rxd6
Nd4 22. Nxd4 Bxd4 23. Bxb7 Rxb7 24. Nf5 $14 Qb8 (24... Bf6 25. Rxf6 gxf6 26.
Rd6 $16 {[%csl Gf5,Rg8]}) 25. Qe4 g6 (25... Bxb2 26. Ne7+ Kh8 $2 27. Nc6 Qc7
28. Rd8 $18) 26. Ne7+ $6 {As a result of Black's inaccuracies, White has
obtained strong pressure but now he complicates his task.} (26. Nxd4 Qxd6 27.
Qxb7 b5 (27... cxd4 28. Qxa6 {with an extra pawn and excellent winning chances.
}) 28. Qc6 Rd8 29. Qxd6 Rxd6 30. Kf1 cxd4 31. Ke2 $14 {_|_}) 26... Kg7 27.
R1xd4 cxd4 28. Qxd4+ f6 29. Nc6 Qc8 30. Kh2 {[%mdl 1024] White's pieces are
very active but that merely compensates for Black's material advantage.} Rc7 (
30... Qf5 $142 $1 {[%cal Yf8e8]}) 31. Qd5 $1 (31. Nd8 Re7 32. Qxb6 Rfe8) 31...
Re8 32. Nd4 Rce7 (32... Kh8 $1 {, evading the knight fork, was the right
defence. White has no decisive blow:} 33. Ne6 (33. Rxb6 $6 Rd7 34. Rd6 Red8) (
33. f5 gxf5 34. Nxf5 $2 Rc5) (33. Rxf6 Rd7 34. Rd6 Rxd6 35. Qxd6 Qc5) 33...
Rce7 34. f5 Qc2 $132) 33. f5 Qc1 $2 {[%mdl 8192] This move definitely loses.
Black's queen has nothing to do on c1.} (33... Re5 34. Qf3 gxf5 35. Rxb6 Qc5) (
33... b5 $5) 34. Ne6+ Kh8 35. Qd4 Qc2 (35... Rf7 36. Rd8 Qc6 37. Qxb6 $1 $18)
36. Qxf6+ Kg8 37. fxg6 Qxg6 38. Qxg6+ hxg6 39. Nf4 Rg7 40. Rxb6 a5 {White has
a decisive material advantage, Black's resistance is absolutely hopeless.} 1-0

[Event "Zug FIDE GP"]
[Site "Zug"]
[Date "2013.04.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2013.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteClock "0:18:46"]
[BlackClock "0:00:40"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8. e3
c4 9. Nd2 g5 10. Bg3 Bf5 {This line was examined in CBM 141, game Radlabov -
Eljanov (annotations by GM Pavel Eljanov).} 11. Be5 {Probably a bit premature.}
(11. Be2 {is more common; here are some recent games:} O-O (11... Nc6 12. h4
Rg8 (12... O-O $5) 13. a3 $5 (13. hxg5 hxg5 14. Rc1 Kf8 (14... Qe7 15. O-O Bxc3
16. Rxc3 b5 17. a4 a6 18. Qa1 b4 19. Rcc1 Ne4 $132 {0-1 (35) Kosteniuk,A (2497)
-Hou,Y (2575) Rostov on Don 2011}) 15. O-O Rh8 16. b3 Bxc3 17. Rxc3 b5 18. bxc4
bxc4 19. Qa4 Rc8 20. Nxc4 $2 Ne4 21. Rcc1 Qf6 $19 {0-1 (37) Riazantsev,A (2705)
-Kulaots,K (2581) Warsaw POL 2012}) 13... Bxc3 14. bxc3 b5 15. O-O Qe7 16. Re1
Kf8 17. hxg5 hxg5 18. e4 $1 Nxe4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. a4 b4 21. d5 Rd8 22. Bxc4
$14 {1-0 (33) Ding,L (2637)-Wang Hao (2728) Ningbo 2011}) (11... Nbd7 12. O-O
Qa5 (12... O-O 13. f3 Bg6 14. e4 Bxc3 15. bxc3 Qa5 16. Qc1 b5 17. e5 Nh7 18. f4
$16 {1-0 (44) Cheparinov,I (2640)-Cramling,P (2536) Villafranca 2010}) 13. Qc1
O-O 14. a3 Bxc3 15. bxc3 Rac8 16. f3 Bd3 17. Re1 Rfe8 18. Bd1 Re6 19. Nf1 Rce8
20. Qd2 Nf8 $13 {1-0 (36) Moradiabadi,E (2502)-Dizdar,G (2521) Paris 2006}) 12.
O-O (12. h4 $6 Re8 13. hxg5 hxg5 14. Be5 Nbd7 15. f4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 b5 17. g4
Bh7 18. Rh6 Re6 19. fxg5 Nxe5 20. gxf6 Ng6 $17 {0-1 (31) Nyback,T (2636)
-Grandelius,N (2545) Plovdiv 2012}) 12... Re8 13. a3 Bxc3 14. bxc3 Nc6 15. Re1
b5 $11 {0-1 (31) Eljanov,P (2716)-Morozevich,A (2788)/ Moscow 2008/CBM 126
Extra}) ({The immediate} 11. h4 {is also possible, e.g.} Rg8 12. hxg5 hxg5 13.
Be5 Bxc3 14. bxc3 Nbd7 15. Qf3 Bg6 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Qg3 Qb6 18. Qe5+ Kd7 19.
Be2 Rae8 20. Qxg5 Bc2 21. Qf4 Qb2 22. O-O Rxg2+ 23. Kxg2 Rg8+ 24. Kh2 Rh8+ 25.
Kg2 {1/2 (25) Nyback,T (2618)-Kulaots,K (2567) Salo FIN 2012}) ({Finally,
White can go for simplifications:} 11. Bxb8 {[%cal Rd1a4]} Bxc3 $8 12. bxc3
Rxb8 13. Qf3 Bg6 14. h4 gxh4 15. Qf4 b5 16. a3 Rb6 17. Be2 Re6 18. Rxh4 Ne4 19.
Rc1 h5 $13 {1-0 (45) Chiburdanidze,M (2502)-Xu Yuhua (2484) Doha 2011}) 11...
Bxc3 {More or less forced.} (11... Nbd7 $2 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Nxd5 $16) 12. bxc3
Nbd7 13. Bd6 (13. Qa4 O-O 14. Bg3 {is rather illogical:} Re8 15. Be2 Re6 16.
O-O Qe7 17. Qd1 Qa3 $36 {1-0 (54) Zhou Jianchao (2660)-Xiu,D (2508) Xinghua
Jiangsu 2011}) 13... Qb6 14. Bb4 $146 {This move provokes 14...a5 but that is
rather good for Black, who starts advancing his queenside pawns.} (14. Bg3 Qb2
$1 15. Qc1 Qxc1+ 16. Rxc1 b5 17. f3 O-O 18. Kf2 Rfe8 19. a4 a6 20. Be2 Re6 $15
{0-1 (56) Radjabov,T (2740)-Eljanov,P (2751) Astrakhan 2010 CBM 141 [Eljanov]})
(14. Ba3 Qa6 (14... Qe6 15. Qa4 a5 16. Qb5 $14 {Werle,J (2574)-Bartel,M (2599)
Germany 2010}) 15. Bb4 Qe6 16. a4 Ne4 17. a5 g4 18. Be2 Ndf6 19. Nf1 O-O-O $15
{0-1 (30) Gauglitz,G (2465)-Dizdar,G (2500)/Halle 1987/ CBM}) 14... a5 15. Ba3
Qc6 16. Be2 b5 17. O-O Rb8 18. f3 b4 19. Bb2 O-O 20. Rc1 Nb6 {Black has seized
the initiative.} 21. Ba1 Qe6 (21... Rfc8 $5 22. e4 Bg6) 22. e4 dxe4 {The
position now opens up.} (22... Bg6 $5 {and if} 23. exd5 Nfxd5 24. Nxc4 {then}
bxc3 $17 25. Bxc3 $2 Nxc4 26. Bxc4 Qe3+ 27. Kh1 Nxc3) 23. cxb4 axb4 24. fxe4
Nxe4 $6 (24... Bxe4 $142 $1 25. Rxf6 (25. Nxc4 Nfd5 $15) 25... Qxf6 26. Nxe4
Qf4 27. Nf2 Ra8 28. Rc2 c3 {Despite White's formal material advantage, his
position is worse, due to Black's strong c3-pawn.}) 25. Bxc4 Nd5 26. Nb3 {
[%mdl 2048] White has considerably activated his pieces.} Bg6 27. Nc5 Qd6 28.
Qf3 Rfe8 (28... Rbe8 $142 $1 29. Nb7 Qd7 30. Nc5 Qd6 $11) 29. Na6 $1 {Suddenly
White wins an exchange. OK, for a pawn, and Black's compensation is obvious
but still Black is not totally safe now. Besides, Peter Leko comes under
tremendous time pressure.} Rb7 30. Bxd5 Qxd5 31. Nc7 Rxc7 32. Rxc7 Qxa2 33. Qh3
(33. d5 $5 {[%cal Ga1h8]} Qxd5 34. h4) 33... Qd5 (33... Kh7 {was quite
possible; well, White could have played} 34. d5 {here, too.}) 34. Qxh6 Nc3 35.
Kh1 $2 (35. Bxc3 $142 bxc3 36. Kh1 Qf5 37. Rg1 c2 38. Rc5 Qf2 39. Rc6 $11)
35... Qf5 36. Rg1 Ne4 37. Rc2 b3 38. d5 f6 39. Re2 Bf7 $2 (39... Ng3+ $4 40.
hxg3 Rxe2 {didn't work due to} 41. g4 $1 Qe4 42. Bxf6 $18) (39... Kf7 $1 {
was the way to obtain an advantage:} 40. d6 Ng3+ 41. hxg3 Rxe2 42. d7 $1 Rd2 $1
{winning the d-pawn (Indicated by GM M.Golubev)} ({but not} 42... Qxd7 $2 43.
Bxf6 Kxf6 44. Rf1+)) 40. d6 Qg6 $2 (40... Bd5 $1 41. d7 Rd8 42. Rc1 $1 {
[%cal Yh1g1]} Bb7 $1 43. Re3 $1 g4 $1 {(M.Golubev)} 44. Rxb3 Rxd7 $132 {
[%cal Rd7h7] is, of course, impossible to find on move 40.}) 41. Qxg6+ Bxg6 42.
d7 Rd8 43. Rd1 $16 {Black has no compensation for the exchange anymore, and
White gradually overcomes the technical difficulties in this ending:} Kf7 44.
g4 Nc5 45. Rd6 Ne4 46. Rd4 Nc5 47. Re3 Bc2 48. Rc3 Nxd7 49. Re3 f5 50. Bb2 fxg4
51. Rd5 Kg6 52. Re7 Ra8 53. Rdxd7 Ra2 54. Rd6+ Kh5 55. Bg7 g3 56. h3 Bg6 57.
Ree6 b2 58. Bxb2 1-0

[Event "Zug FIDE GP"]
[Site "Zug"]
[Date "2013.04.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C87"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2013.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 d6 7. c3 Bg4 {
This move is not so popular nowadays.} (7... O-O {is more common.}) 8. Re1 {
This may also arise via C87 6.Re1 d6 7.c3 Bg4 8.d3.} Nd7 {Immediately
transferring the N to the <<.} (8... O-O {is the main alternative.}) 9. h3 ({
The another lines are} 9. Be3) ({and} 9. Nbd2) 9... Bh5 ({Black's main plan is
} 9... Bxf3 10. Qxf3 {and} Bg5 {to exchange the dark-squared B} 11. Be3 {
is similar to the game.} (11. Qg3 {looks more ambitious, but after} Bxc1 12.
Qxg7 Bxb2 13. Qxh8+ Ke7 (13... Nf8 $6 14. Nd2 Bxa1 15. Rxa1 Qg5 16. Nf3 {
with some pressure.}) 14. Qxd8+ Nxd8 15. Nd2 Bxa1 16. Rxa1 $11 {Black is
closer to an equal endgame.})) 10. Be3 (10. Nbd2 {is also possible, but first
White develops his B.}) 10... b5 ({7 years ago, Topalov had a game with} 10...
h6 11. g4 Bg6 12. Nbd2 h5 13. g5 Nb6 14. Bb3 h4 15. a4 d5 $1 16. a5 d4 17. cxd4
exd4 18. Bf4 Nd7 $13 {Topalov-Mamedyarov, Wijk aan Zee 2006; with a very
unclear struggle.}) 11. Bc2 (11. Bb3 {is another alternative keeping the B on
the a2-g8 diagonal.}) 11... Nb6 $146 (11... h6 {preparing Bg5} 12. Nbd2 Bg5 13.
Nf1 Qf6 14. g4 Bg6 15. Nxg5 hxg5 16. Qd2 Qf3 17. Ng3 Rxh3 18. Bd1 Rxg3+ 19.
fxg3 Qxg3+ 20. Kf1 Nc5 $44 {Palac-I.Sokolov, Sibenik 2011}) 12. Nbd2 O-O 13.
Nf1 Rb8 {It lookes like a strange move, but Black protects his N and prepares
for d5.} ({The immediate} 13... d5 $6 {could have been met by} 14. Bxb6 $1 cxb6
15. d4 $1 exd4 16. exd5 Na5 (16... Qxd5 17. Be4 $18 {loses a piece.}) 17. Ng3
Bxf3 18. Qxf3 Bf6 (18... dxc3 $2 19. Qe4 $18) 19. Ne4 $16 {and White is better.
}) 14. Ng3 (14. a3 $5 {is a very interesting prophylactic move. White prepares
for Bb3 and in the event of Na5 he can reply with Ba2.} Bxf3 ({in the event of
} 14... d5 15. Bxb6 Rxb6 16. exd5 Qxd5 17. Ne3 Qd8 18. Bb3 {White is very
active. The b3 B and e3 N work well together.}) 15. Qxf3 Bg5 16. Bb3 (16. b4 $5
) 16... Na5 17. Ba2 $14 {showing the main idea of a3.}) 14... Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Bg5
16. Nf5 Bxe3 17. Nxe3 ({After} 17. fxe3 {the white P wouldn't be so flexible.})
17... Ne7 18. d4 c5 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. h4 $5 {A very ambitious move. It
prevents Ng6 and causes some unpleasant problems for Black to avoid h5-h6.} Qd6
21. Red1 Qe6 22. a4 $1 {A very good move. Since Black is preventing White's
h5-h6 threats, Topalov suddenly starts to play on the queenside.} Rfd8 ({
In the case of} 22... Nxa4 23. Bxa4 bxa4 24. Rxa4 Rxb2 25. Nc4 $36 {followed
by Rd6 with a strong initiative.}) 23. axb5 axb5 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Ra6 Qc6 26.
c4 $1 b4 27. Ba4 $1 {Topalov improves his B and protects his Q side with Bb5.}
({The computer suggests} 27. Nd5 {, but after} Nexd5 28. exd5 Qb7 29. Ra1 Ra8
30. Rxa8+ Qxa8 {Black can hold the position.}) 27... Qb7 28. Bb5 Nbc8 29. Ng4
Nd6 30. Nxe5 Qxe4 31. Qxe4 Nxe4 32. f3 Ng3 33. Kf2 {White's advantage is
undeniable, as all of his pieces are more active than Black's and the B is
also stronger than the N.} Ngf5 (33... Nh1+ 34. Ke1 $14) 34. h5 f6 35. Nd7 Rc8
36. Ba4 $1 {Threatening with Ra5.} Nd4 37. h6 $1 f5 38. Ke3 (38. hxg7 Kxg7 39.
Ke3 b3 {transposes to the game.}) 38... b3 ({If} 38... gxh6 39. Nxc5 Nxf3 40.
gxf3 (40. Kxf3 Rxc5 41. Rb6 $16) 40... Rxc5 41. Kd4 Rc8 42. c5 $16 {then White
is also better.}) 39. hxg7 Kxg7 40. Kd3 Nc2 41. Kc3 f4 42. Ra7 Kg6 43. Bxb3 $18
Ne3 44. Nxc5 $1 N7f5 45. Ra6+ Kh5 46. Ne6 Kh4 47. Nxf4 Kg3 48. Nd3 Kxg2 49. c5
Kxf3 50. Be6 Rd8 51. Bxf5 Nxf5 52. Rf6 Ke4 53. Re6+ Kf3 54. b4 h5 55. Ne5+ Kf4
56. Nf7 Rf8 57. Nd6 Nxd6 58. Rxd6 Rh8 59. b5 h4 60. b6 h3 61. b7 h2 62. Rd1 Ke4
63. Kc2 $1 {A very good practical move.} ({Topalov avoids the Q vs R ending.
After} 63. c6 h1=Q 64. Rxh1 Rxh1 65. b8=Q Rc1+ 66. Kd2 Rxc6 {which is also
winning, but the text move is easier.}) 63... Rg8 64. c6 Rg2+ 65. Kc3 Rg3+ 66.
Kc4 Rg1 67. b8=Q h1=Q 68. Rd4+ Kf5 69. Qf4+ Kg6 70. Rd6+ Kh7 71. Qf5+ Kh8 72.
Qf8+ 1-0

[Event "Zug FIDE GP"]
[Site "Zug"]
[Date "2013.04.26"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2013.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 ({In 2008 Morozevich came up with} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2
c5 5. dxc5 O-O 6. Nf3 Na6 7. c6 $5 {Morozevich,A (2788)-Ponomariov,R (2718)/
Moscow/2008/ and scored a resounding win against Ponomariov in the Tal
Memorial. For details see the notes to this game in CBM 126 by Krasenkow, I'm
mentioning this because of the similarity: In our game the creative Russian GM
will come up with another novelty at an early stage, also involving the
advance of a c-pawn.}) 1... c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e6 6. g3
({The other main move is} 6. a3 {Here are two recent games by Tkachiev which
featured the less usual} Nxd4 (6... Bc5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. e4 O-O 9. Be2 b6 10. O-O
Bb7 11. Bf4 $11 {/+/=, Carlsen,M (2848)-Polgar,J (2705)/London/2012/ For more
details about the whole line see the extensive notes to this game in CBM 152})
7. Qxd4 b6 8. Qf4 Bb7 9. e4 Be7 $5 $146 ({Black doesn't hurry with} 9... d6 10.
Bd3 Be7 11. Qg3 O-O 12. Bh6 Ne8 13. Bd2 Rc8 14. Rd1 a6 15. O-O Qc7 16. Rfe1 Bf6
17. Kh1 g6 18. Rc1 Bg7 19. Bf4 Be5 20. Bxe5 dxe5 21. b4 Nf6 22. Qe3 Rfd8 23. f3
Kg7 24. Bf1 Rd4 25. c5 $1 bxc5 26. Na4 $36 {Tkachiev,V (2644)-Hamdouchi,H 
(2602)/Nancy rpd/2013/}) 10. Bd3 ({More testing is to accept the challenge with
} 10. e5 $5 Nh5 11. Qg4 g6 12. Bh6 f6 13. Be2 Qc7 14. exf6 Nxf6 15. Qh3 $13 {
/+/=}) 10... O-O 11. O-O Qb8 12. Qf3 a6 13. Bf4 d6 14. Qh3 Nd7 15. Nd5 exd5 16.
Qxd7 dxe4 17. Bxe4 Bxe4 18. Qxe7 Re8 19. Qxd6 Qxd6 20. Bxd6 Rac8 21. Rfc1 Rc6
22. Bg3 Rec8 23. b3 b5 24. Re1 Bc2 25. cxb5 axb5 26. a4 Bxb3 27. axb5 Rb6 28.
Rec1 Rxc1+ 29. Rxc1 f6 30. Rc8+ Kf7 31. Rb8 Rxb8 32. Bxb8 h5 $11 {Tkachiev,V 
(2650)-Ivanchuk,V (2758)/Gibraltar/2013/ Due to the opposite-coloured bishops
Black easily held the endgame.}) 6... Qb6 7. Nb3 ({The text move is played
more often than} 7. Ndb5 Ne5 8. Bg2 ({The more topical alternative} 8. Bf4 Nfg4
{was analysed in the notes to the aforementioned game Carlsen-J.Polgar.}) 8...
a6 9. Na4 ({The older} 9. Qa4 Rb8 10. Be3 Bc5 11. Bxc5 Qxc5 12. Qa3 b6 $11 {
promises Black easy equality.}) 9... Qa5+ {Another recent novelty is} 10. Nbc3
$5 $146 (10. Bd2 $6 Qd8 11. Na3 Bxa3 12. bxa3 $6 (12. c5 $142 $1 $132) 12...
Nxc4 13. Bb4 d5 14. Qb3 Bd7 15. O-O Rc8 16. Rfc1 a5 17. Be1 O-O $17 {
Kleeschaetzky,R (2220)-Holloway,T (2160)/Bundesliga2N/2008/}) 10... Nxc4 11. b3
Nb6 (11... Na3 $5 12. O-O d5 13. e4 (13. Be3 Nd7 $15) 13... b5 14. exd5 Bb7 (
14... bxa4 15. dxe6 Qxc3 16. Bd2 $32 {|^}) 15. Ne4 bxa4 16. Nxf6+ gxf6 17. dxe6
Rd8 18. Qe2 Bxg2 19. e7 Bxe7 20. Bxa3 O-O 21. Bxe7 Bxf1 22. Rxf1 Rd2 23. Qf3
Qe5 $11) 12. Nxb6 Qxb6 13. O-O Be7 (13... d5 14. e4 $44) (13... Qa5 $5 14. Bd2
Qd8 $13) 14. Na4 Qd8 15. Be3 d5 16. Bb6 Qd6 17. Rc1 Bd7 18. Bc7 Qa3 19. Nb6 O-O
20. Nxa8 Rxa8 21. Rc2 Bc6 22. Qc1 Qxc1 23. Rfxc1 Ba3 24. Rb1 $14 {Kramnik,V 
(2801)-Gelfand,B (2739)/Alekhine memorial Paris/St Petersburg/2013/ White's
small material advantage gives him winning chances, but after a long defence
Gelfand managed to save the game.}) 7... Ne5 8. e4 Bb4 9. c5 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8]}
({Until now White, without a second thought, has played almost exclusively} 9.
Qe2 {, but in 2013 Black has been doing fine after} d6 {Morozevich's most
recent outing with this line prompted him to look for earlier improvements:}
10. Bd2 (10. f4 Nc6 11. Be3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qc7 13. Bg2 e5 $5 ({More ambitious
than} 13... O-O $11 {, mentioned in the notes to Carlsen-J.Polgar}) 14. c5 (14.
O-O b6 $13) 14... b6 $146 (14... Bg4 15. Qb5 a6 16. Qb6 Qxb6 17. cxb6 Be6 18.
O-O-O Ke7 {Ftacnik,L (2568)-Kovacevic,A (2582)/Khanty-Mansiysk olm/2010/} 19.
Kb2 $11) 15. cxd6 Qxd6 16. O-O O-O 17. Rfd1 (17. f5 Rd8 18. Rfd1 Qa3 19. Rxd8+
Nxd8 20. Bg5 Ba6 21. Qd2 Qe7 22. Rd1 Nb7 23. Bf3 Rd8 $15 {Radjabov,T (2793)
-Gelfand,B (2740)/Candidates London/2013/}) 17... Qe7 18. f5 h6 19. g4 Rd8 20.
h4 h5 21. Rxd8+ Nxd8 22. gxh5 Kh7 23. Bg5 Bb7 24. Bf3 Rc8 25. Qg2 Bc6 26. Kh2
Nb7 27. Nd2 Nc5 28. Rg1 Rg8 $132 {Civitillo,A (2447)-Zautzig,H (2555)/corr/
2010/}) 10... O-O (10... a5 11. f4 Nc6 12. Be3 Qc7 13. Bg2 e5 $1 $11 {Fridman,
D (2667)-Anand,V (2780)/Baden-Baden/2013/ also solves Black's opening problems,
for more details see the notes to this game in CBM 153.}) 11. O-O-O a5 12. f4
a4 13. Na1 ({A new, but rather clumsy idea. White refrains from the complex} 
13. fxe5 axb3 14. a3 dxe5 $13) 13... Nc6 14. Nc2 a3 15. b3 d5 $5 (15... Bc5 16.
Be3 Qa5 $132) 16. Bg2 (16. e5 dxc4 $1 {/\} 17. exf6 $6 cxb3 18. Nxb4 Nxb4 19.
axb3 a2 20. Kb2 Rd8 $17) 16... dxc4 17. Qxc4 Bxc3 (17... Ng4 $5 $132) 18. Qxc3
Ng4 19. Qf3 e5 20. f5 Nf6 (20... Bxf5 $5 21. exf5 Rac8 22. Qxg4 Nd4 23. Be4 h5
24. Qh4 Rxc2+ 25. Bxc2 Rc8 26. Qe4 Rxc2+ 27. Qxc2 Nxc2 28. Kxc2 Qc6+ 29. Bc3
Qe4+ 30. Kd2 Qd5+ 31. Kc1 Qc6 $11) 21. Bg5 Qc5 22. Kb1 b6 23. Bxf6 gxf6 24. Rd5
Qe7 25. Rhd1 Ra5 26. Qe3 (26. Qf2 $5 $36) 26... Nd4 $1 27. Nxd4 exd4 28. R1xd4
Bxf5 $11 {Morozevich,A (2758)-Grischuk,A (2764)/RUS-chT/2013/}) 9... Qc6 $1 {
Here the parallel with Morozevich-Ponomariov ends: while Ruslan was surprised,
the Bulgarian GM reacted quickly and confidently. Topalov had obviously done
some research of his own and anticipated White's attempt beforehand.} (9...
Bxc5 10. Nxc5 Qxc5 11. Be2 $44 {[%csl Gc1][%cal Yc1e3,Ye3f4] gives White good
compensation - he has two bishops and potentially promising play on the dark
squares.}) 10. f3 (10. Bg2 Qb5 {practically forces} (10... b6 11. Bf4 d6 (11...
Nc4 12. O-O Bxc3 13. e5 Nd5 14. bxc3 $14 {/\} O-O 15. Qg4 Kh8 16. Bh6 $1 gxh6
17. Qxc4 $16) 12. cxd6 (12. Qxd6 Qxd6 13. cxd6 Nd3+ 14. Kd2 Nxf4 15. gxf4 Bb7
$11 {/=/+}) 12... Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 Qxc3+ 14. Kf1 Nd3 15. e5 Nd5 16. Bd2 Qxe5 17.
Qc2 Nc5 18. Bf4 Qh5 19. Nxc5 bxc5 20. Re1 Nxf4 21. Bc6+ Bd7 22. Bxa8 Bb5+ 23.
Kg1 Nh3+ 24. Kg2 Nf4+ $11) 11. Bf1 Qc6 $11 {White certainly didn't reveal his
novelty to immediately repeat moves.} ({Perhaps Topalov himself would have
gone for the fighting, but very risky line} 11... Qa4 12. f3 Nxe4 13. fxe4
Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 Qxe4+ 15. Qe2 Qxh1 16. Qxe5 O-O $13)) 10... b6 11. Bf4 {Both
sides continue playing concrete chess, the following series of moves is
practically forced.} (11. cxb6 Nxe4 $1 (11... Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 axb6 $36) 12. fxe4
Qxe4+ 13. Qe2 Qxh1 14. Qxe5 Ba6 15. Nd2 Bxf1 16. Nxf1 O-O $32 {-/+}) 11... Ng6
12. Bd6 bxc5 (12... Nxe4 $2 13. fxe4 Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 Qxe4+ 15. Kf2 Qxh1 16. Bg2
$18 {[%csl Ra8]}) 13. a3 (13. Kf2 Bxc3 14. bxc3 c4 15. Nc5 Nd5 16. Bxc4 Qxd6
17. Qd4 Ne5 (17... f5 18. exd5 e5 19. Qe3 f4 20. gxf4 Nxf4 21. Ne4 Qc7 22. Qc5
Qxc5+ 23. Nxc5 d6 24. Ne4 $132) (17... O-O $5 18. exd5 e5 19. Ne4 $13) 18. exd5
Nxc4 19. Qxc4 O-O $15 {/\} 20. Rhd1 Rb8 21. dxe6 $6 Rb2+ 22. Kg1 Qc6 23. Qd5
Qxd5 24. Rxd5 fxe6 $36) 13... Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 a5 $1 {[%cal Ya5a4,Yc8a6] Another
strong move, which Topalov obviously prepared at home and still played fast.
Black frees his potentially trapped rook and prepares to unravel his queenside.
} (14... Nxe4 $143 $6 {still isn't ideal:} 15. fxe4 Qxe4+ 16. Kf2 Qxh1 (16...
Bb7 17. Rg1 Qf5+ 18. Ke1 $16 {[%csl Gd6]}) 17. Bg2 Qxh2 18. Qh1 $36 {[%csl Ra8]
} (18. Qf3 $6 Rb8 $1 19. Bxb8 Nh4 $13) (18. Nxc5 $5 {[%cal Rd1f3,Rd1h1]})) 15.
e5 (15. Nxc5 Nd5 $1 16. exd5 (16. e5 f6 $36 {[%csl Re5]}) 16... Qxd6 $15) (15.
Kf2 c4 16. Nc5 Nd5 $11 {/=/+ is similar to the 13.Kf2 line above, with only
the moves a3 and a5 inserted. As in both cases White has to fight for equality,
Morozevich supports his powerful Bd6 instead. The problem is that not only
Black, but also White lacks development.}) 15... Nd5 {Here Black already had a
choice and he opts for the safest line.} (15... a4 16. Nd2 (16. Nxc5 Nxe5 $15)
16... Ng4 17. Nc4 $44) ({However, there are two other moves, which can't be
discarded outright:} 15... Ne4 16. Bb5 (16. fxe4 Qxe4+ 17. Kf2 Qxh1 18. Bg2
Qxd1 19. Rxd1 a4 $5 $17) 16... Qxb5 17. fxe4 Ba6 18. Rb1 $5 $13 {Although the
open f-file might be dangerous for Black, it's difficult to see how White
could directly profit from it.}) (15... Ng4 $5 16. Bd3 (16. fxg4 Qxh1 17. Nxc5
{is interesting, but speculative - in the future Black can free his kingside
with f6 (just as in the game).}) 16... f5 {[%csl Re5]} 17. exf6 (17. Qe2 c4 18.
Bxc4 N6xe5 19. Bxe5 Nxe5 20. Qxe5 Qxc4 21. Qxg7 Rf8 $15) (17. Bb5 Qxb5 18. fxg4
fxg4 19. Rf1 Ba6 $36) 17... Nxf6 18. Bxg6+ hxg6 19. Qd3 Kf7 $15 {[%cal Rc5c4,
Yf6e8,Yd7d6,Ye6e5]} 20. Nxc5 $2 Rh5 $1 $19) 16. Bd3 ({Morozevich couldn't make
lines like} 16. c4 $6 Ne3 17. Qe2 Nxc4 18. Qxc4 Qxf3 19. Nxc5 Qxh1 {work and
his initiative starts fading away.}) ({Krasenkow's suggestion is} 16. a4 $5 {
[%cal Rf1b5] , which could have led to a number of more or less forced draws:}
Nxc3 (16... Ba6 17. Nxa5 Qb6 18. Nc4 Qc6 {A simpler try is} 19. Na5 $142 $11 (
19. Qb3 Nxe5 $5 (19... f6 20. Na5 c4 21. Qb2 Qc8 22. exf6 gxf6 23. f4 Qd8 24.
Nxc4 (24. Nb7 Qc8 25. Na5 Qd8 $11) 24... Qc8 25. Qb3 Qc6 26. Ba3 Ndxf4 27. Nd6+
Kf8 $13 (27... Ke7 $5)) 20. Bxe5 f6 21. Na5 (21. Nd6+ Ke7 $36) 21... c4 (21...
Qc8 22. Bc4 (22. Bf4 Bxf1 23. Nb7 O-O 24. Rxf1 c4 $44 {|^}) 22... fxe5 23. Bxd5
Rb8 24. Qa2 Qc7 25. Nc6 exd5 $5 (25... dxc6 26. Bc4 $14) 26. Nxb8 Qxb8 {
[%csl Re1]} 27. Qxd5 Qb2 28. Qxe5+ Kd8 29. Qg5+ Kc8 (29... Ke8 30. Qe5+ $11)
30. Qxc5+ Kd8 31. Qa5+ Ke8 32. Qxa6 Qxa1+ 33. Ke2 Qxh1 34. Qc8+ Kf7 35. Qxh8
Qxh2+ $11) 22. Qb8+ (22. Nxc6 cxb3 23. Bxa6 Rxa6 $15) 22... Rxb8 23. Nxc6 Rb6
24. Nb8 fxe5 25. Nxa6 Rxa6 26. Bxc4 $11)) 17. Qd2 Ne4 (17... Qxf3 $4 18. Bg2)
18. fxe4 Qxe4+ 19. Kf2 Bb7 20. Be2 Qg2+ 21. Ke3 Qe4+ $11) 16... f6 $1 {[%mdl
32] Undermining White's central outpost is crucial for Black's strategy.} 17.
Bxg6+ (17. c4 $5 {deserved attention:} fxe5 (17... Ne3 18. Qe2 fxe5 19. Bxc5
Nf5 20. Rd1 $13 {[%cal Rd3e4]}) 18. cxd5 (18. Bxc5 Nf6 $15 {[%cal Ra5a4,Yc8b7,
Yd7d6]}) 18... Qxd6 19. dxe6 Qxe6 20. Nxc5 Qb6 21. Rc1 $132) 17... hxg6 18. Qd3
Kf7 19. Nd2 (19. Nxc5 fxe5 20. Ne4 Ba6 21. c4 $1 (21. Ng5+ $2 Kg8 22. Qxg6
Qxc3+ 23. Kf2 Qd2+ 24. Kg1 Qd4+ $19) 21... Rh5 (21... Nf6 22. Rc1 Rh5 {only
transposes}) (21... Bxc4 22. Ng5+ Kf6 $8 23. Ne4+ Kf7 $11) (21... Qxc4 22. Qxc4
Bxc4 23. h4 $44) 22. Rc1 Nf6 23. O-O $13 {/=/+}) 19... c4 $1 $36 {From now on
Morozevich is definitely fighting only for equality.} (19... Ba6 20. c4 $13)
20. Qd4 $5 (20. Qxc4 Qxc4 21. Nxc4 Ba6 22. Nxa5 Rac8 $36) 20... Qb6 $1 {
The queen swap lessens the potential danger for Black's king.} (20... Ne7 21.
g4 $5 {is less clear-cut}) 21. Qxb6 Nxb6 22. Rb1 Nd5 23. Ne4 g5 $1 {Another
important link in the strategic chain - Black discourages h4.} 24. Kd2 (24. h3
$5 $15) 24... Rh3 $1 25. Nf2 Rh5 26. Rb5 (26. h4 $142 gxh4 27. Rxh4 $15 {
and getting the Bc8 into the game is still not easy.}) 26... a4 27. h3 Ba6 28.
Rc5 Bb7 29. Rb1 Bc6 30. Rxc4 Ne7 $1 {[%cal Ye7g6] Black has gladly returned
the extra pawn to activate his bishop.} 31. g4 Rhh8 32. Ke3 $6 $138 {
Morozevich was already down to his last 6 minutes and the text move is not
ideal.} (32. f4 $142 $1 gxf4 33. exf6 (33. Rxf4 Ng6 $17) 33... gxf6 34. Bxe7
Kxe7 35. Rxf4 $15 {leads to a pleasant endgame for Black, but his advantage is
still far from decisive.}) 32... Ra5 $1 {Finally forcing White to relinquish
his central outpost. Compare this position with the one after move 16!} 33.
exf6 ({Here White can't even exchange the knight as in the previous note:} 33.
Bxe7 $2 Rxe5+) 33... Nd5+ $5 34. Kd2 gxf6 {[%csl Gd7,Ge6,Gf6][%cal Ye6e5,Yf7e6]
[+]} 35. f4 $8 gxf4 36. Bxf4 Rb5 (36... e5 $142 37. Bg3 Nc7 $5 $36 {[%csl Ra3]
[%cal Yc7b5,Ya5d5]}) 37. Rxb5 Bxb5 38. Rd4 (38. Rc5 {is interesting but White
was obviously worried about} Nxf4 (38... Bf1 39. Bd6 Bxh3 40. c4 $132) (38...
Bc6 39. Bg3 {and now} e5 $6 {isn't with tempo as in the game, so White has} 40.
g5 $1) 39. Rxb5 Nxh3 40. Nxh3 Rxh3 41. Rb4 Rh4 (41... Rh2+ $5) 42. Rxa4 f5 $36)
38... Bc6 39. Bg3 (39. Be3 $5 {/\} e5 40. Rd3 Rb8 41. c4 $15) (39. c4 Nxf4 40.
Rxf4 e5 41. Rf5 Kg6 $17) 39... e5 40. Rc4 Rb8 41. Nd3 $1 {[%cal Yd3b4,Yg3e5]
After the time-control White finds the best chance - activating his knight.} (
41. g5 $2 Rb2+ 42. Kc1 Ne3 $1 43. Kxb2 (43. Rb4 Rc2+) 43... Nxc4+ 44. Kc1 fxg5
$19 (44... f5 $19)) 41... Rb3 (41... Ke6 $5 42. Nc5+ Kd6 $17) 42. g5 $2 ({
The consistent move was} 42. Bxe5 $1 Rxa3 $5 (42... fxe5 43. Nxe5+ Ke7 44.
Nxc6+ dxc6 45. Rxc6 $5 (45. Rxa4 Rxc3 $17) 45... Rxa3 46. g5 $132 {and
fighting against the kingside passed pawns will most probably cost Black his
last winning hope - the Pa4.}) 43. Bd4 Ra2+ 44. Kc1 Bb5 (44... Rh2 $5 45. Nf2
Nf4 $17) 45. Rc5 Bxd3 46. Rxd5 Ke6 47. Ra5 a3 $17 {gives Black good winning
chances, but the game is not over yet.}) 42... e4 (42... Bb5 $142 $1 43. Rc5
Nb6 {[%cal Rb6c4] /\} 44. gxf6 d6 $1 45. Rc7+ Kxf6 $19 {[%csl Ra3]}) 43. Nf4 (
43. Rxe4 Nxc3 44. Re3 Nb1+ (44... Ne4+ 45. Kc2 (45. Kc1 Nxg3 46. Rxg3 Be4 47.
Kd2 Rxd3+ 48. Rxd3 Bxd3 49. Kxd3 fxg5 50. Kc4 Ke6 51. Kb4 Kd5 $19) 45... fxg5 (
45... Nxg5 $5) 46. Be1 $17 {/-+}) 45. Ke2 Nxa3 $5 46. gxf6 Bb5 47. Bh4 Kf8 $19)
43... Nxf4 (43... e3+ 44. Kd3 Ne7 $5 {[%cal Rc6b5]} 45. Rc5 (45. Kxe3 Nf5+ 46.
Kf2 Rb2+ $19) 45... d6 46. Ra5 Bb5+ 47. Kxe3 fxg5 48. Ne2 Nf5+ 49. Kf2 Rb2 50.
c4 Bd7 51. Ke1 Rb3 $17 {/-+}) 44. Bxf4 Rxa3 (44... fxg5 $142 $1 45. Bd6 (45.
Bxg5 Rxa3 {transposes to the game after} 46. Rc5 Ra2+ $19) 45... Ke6 46. Bb4
Rb2+ 47. Ke3 Rh2 $19) 45. Rc5 fxg5 46. Bxg5 {Eases Black's task.} ({A more
resilient try was} 46. Rxg5 $1 Ra2+ (46... d5 47. Rf5+ Ke6 48. Re5+ Kd7 49. Rh5
$17) 47. Ke3 {/\} a3 $6 ({Black has a large advantage, but he must still work
for the full point after} 47... Ra1 $17 {or}) (47... Rc2 $17) 48. Rf5+ $1 Kg6
49. Rg5+ Kf6 50. Ra5 Ra1 51. c4 {[%cal Rf4e5]}) 46... Ra2+ 47. Ke3 a3 $19 {
[%cal Ya2a1,Ya3a2] White has no effective defence against the advance of the
Pa3.} 48. Bf4 Ra1 49. Rf5+ Ke6 (49... Kg6 50. Rg5+ Kf6 {-49...Ke6}) 50. Re5+
Kf6 51. Ra5 d5 $6 (51... a2 $142 $1 52. Kf2 (52. Be5+ Ke6 53. c4 Rh1 54. Bd4
Rxh3+ 55. Ke2 Rh2+ $19 (55... d5 $5 {/\} 56. Rxa2 Rh2+ 57. Bf2 d4 $19 {[%csl
Gd4,Ge4]})) 52... Ke6 (52... e3+ $6 53. Bxe3 Rh1 54. Bd4+ Kf7 55. c4 $17) 53.
c4 d5 54. cxd5+ Bxd5 55. Bd2 Rh1 56. Bc3 Rxh3 $19) 52. Kd4 $6 (52. c4 $1 Ke6 $1
(52... a2 53. cxd5 Re1+ (53... Bxd5 54. Rxd5 Re1+ 55. Kf2 Rf1+ (55... a1=Q 56.
Be5+ Qxe5 57. Rxe5 $11) 56. Ke2 Rxf4 57. Ra5 $11) 54. Kf2 (54. Kd4 $2 Rd1+ 55.
Kxe4 Bxd5+ $19) 54... Ba4 (54... a1=Q 55. Rxa1 Rxa1 56. dxc6 $11) 55. Rxa4 a1=Q
56. Rxa1 Rxa1 57. h4 $11 Kf5 58. Bg5 Ke5 59. h5 Kxd5 60. h6 {is already a TB
draw (even with the pawn only on h4).}) 53. Kd4 Bb7 $17 {still retains good
winning chances.}) 52... a2 {[%cal Ra1d1]} 53. Bd2 (53. Kc5 Kf5 54. Bh6 Bb5 55.
Kxb5 Rb1+ 56. Kc6 a1=Q 57. Rxa1 Rxa1 58. Kxd5 Rd1+ 59. Kc4 Rd3 $19) 53... Bb5
$1 {[%cal Rb5c4,Ra1d1]} 54. Kxd5 (54. Rxb5 Rd1 55. Ra5 a1=Q (55... Rxd2+ 56.
Ke3 Rd3+ 57. Kf2 Rxh3 $19) 56. Rxa1 Rxa1 {/\} 57. c4 Rd1 $19) 54... Rd1 55.
Kxe4 (55. Rxa2 e3 $19) 55... a1=Q {[%mdl 2] An extra rook is too much. With
this game Topalov took the sole lead and ran away with the tournament.} 0-1

[Event "Zug FIDE GP"]
[Site "Zug"]
[Date "2013.04.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[Annotator "Margvelashvili,G"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2013.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Before this game, Topalov was leading the tournament and had half point
more than Caruana. So it was one of Caruana's last chances to catch Topalov.
No wonder he chose a very aggressive set-up with White.} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4
cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3 Be7 9. Qd2 O-O (9... h5 {
This move has been played by Topalov previously. The idea is to prevent g4 and
develop an attack on the queenside. On the other hand the h5-pawn almost
denies Black an opportunity to castle short.}) 10. O-O-O {Caruana and Topalov
have castled on opposite sides. Now the question is whose attack will be
faster.} a5 $5 {Topalov tries to push his pawn to a4 and then possibly to a3,
getting rid of the knight from b3 and weakening Caruana's queenside pawns.} 11.
a4 {Preventing the above mentioned plan.} Na6 {We will see on the next move
why Topalov developes his knight on a6, and not c6.} 12. Bb5 Nc7 $1 {Strong
move. Topalov wants to exchange the b5-bishop that defends Caruana's position
on the queenside, and also prepares for a possible d5-push.} (12... Nb4 {
is more natural, but in many variations this knight is misplaced on b4.}) 13.
Bb6 {Caruana cannot afford to give up his b5-bishop, so he decides to exchange
the dark-squared bishop for the c7-knight.} (13. Be2 {this retreat is too slow,
since after} d5 $1 {Black developes a big initiative in the center.}) 13... Qc8
14. Bxc7 Qxc7 15. g4 {Caruana proceeds with his own plan. He wants to get rid
of the f6-knight and occupy the d5-square.} Rfd8 16. g5 Nh5 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18.
exd5 g6 19. Kb1 {The opening phase of this game is over and we can draw some
conclusions. Both kings are defended very well, and neither side can develop
an attack. But whereas Black has a clear plan of pushing f6 and attacking the
weak f3-pawn, White's plan is less obvious. Probably the best Caruana can do
is to bring the b3 knight to e4. Overall, I think Topalov's position is
slightly preferable and easier to play.} Rf8 $1 20. Qe3 Qd8 (20... Nf4 21. h4
f6 {was already possible, with a slight advantage for Black.}) 21. h4 Nf4 22.
Qg1 h6 $5 {Topalov deviates from his original plan. He wants to exchange the
h6-pawn for the g5-pawn, which would allow him to push ...f5 and dominate in
the center.} 23. Nd2 Kg7 24. gxh6+ Kxh6 {The king looks dangerously placed on
h6, but Caruana does not have enough resources to cause any troubles.} 25. Nc4
Qc7 26. Qe3 Kh7 27. h5 $1 {A strong move by Caruana: sacrificing a pawn to
open files.} g5 $1 {Topalov is correct to decline the pawn sacrifice.} (27...
Nxh5 $4 {would just lose a game.} 28. Rdg1 f5 29. f4 $1 {with the following
Qf3 and Black has no defence against Rxh5.}) (27... gxh5 {is possible, but
risky. For example:} 28. Nb6 Rad8 29. Rd3 $1 {preparing Rc3 followed by Nd7.})
28. h6 f5 29. Qd2 {Freeing the e3-square for the knight, which can attack the
f5-pawn from there. This position is very complicated, which means that plan
with ...f6 was better than Topalov's h6-plan.} Rf6 30. Rdg1 Rg6 31. Ne3 Rf8 32.
Nc4 $6 {Not a good move.} (32. Ng2 $1 {is the right move, exchanging the
f4-knight} Nxg2 33. Rxg2 Bd8 34. Bd3 {with a slight advantage for Caruana.})
32... Bd8 $1 33. Rd1 Rff6 34. Qf2 Rxh6 35. Qa7 $2 {In time trouble Caruana
makes several inaccurate moves.} (35. Ne3 {is better.}) 35... Rxh1 36. Rxh1+
Rh6 37. Qg1 $6 (37. Rxh6+ Kxh6 38. Qg1 {was more accurate, since it would not
allow Topalov to place his rook on h4.}) 37... Rh4 $1 38. Ne3 Qf7 39. Ng2 $6
Rxh1 40. Qxh1+ Qh5 41. Qxh5+ Nxh5 42. Ne3 Ng3 43. Kc1 Kg6 44. Kd1 g4 $6 (44...
e4 $1 45. fxe4 Nxe4 46. Bd7 Ng3 {and White cannot stop the black pawns from
advancing.}) 45. fxg4 f4 46. Nc4 $2 {The final mistake by Caruana.} (46. Nf5 $1
{aiming for an opposite coloured bishop ending that has huge drawing
tendencies.} Nxf5 47. Bd3 f3 48. Kd2 Kg5 49. Bxf5 Kf4 50. Kd3 Kg3 51. Be4 Kxg4
52. c3 {and it is not clear to me how Topalov was going to win this position.})
46... Bc7 {Now it is over.} 47. Bd7 Kg5 48. Ke1 f3 49. Ne3 Bb6 {Topalov's
pawns are unstoppable, so Caruana resigned. A very intense game, where Caruana
took a lot of risks, but in the end Topalov just played a better game.} 0-1

[Event "Zug FIDE GP"]
[Site "Zug"]
[Date "2013.04.30"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A64"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2013.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Bg2 Bg7 8. Nf3
O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Nd2 Nbd7 11. a4 a6 12. a5 b5 13. axb6 Nxb6 14. Nb3 Bf5 15.
Na5 Ne4 16. Bd2 Nxd2 17. Qxd2 h5 18. e3 h4 19. Rfe1 Qg5 20. Na4 Reb8 21. Nc3
Qh5 22. f3 Qh8 23. g4 Bd7 24. h3 f5 25. g5 f4 26. exf4 Bd4+ 27. Kh1 Qg7 28. Bf1
Re8 29. Ne4 Kh8 30. Nxd6 Rxe1 31. Rxe1 Rf8 32. Re4 Nxd5 33. Nb3 Bc6 34. f5 gxf5
35. Rxh4+ Kg8 36. Nxd4 cxd4 37. Bc4 Qe5 38. Qxd4 Qxd6 39. Rh6 Qe7 40. Bxd5+
Bxd5 41. Rh8+ 1-0

[Event "Thessaloniki FIDE GP"]
[Site "Thessaloniki"]
[Date "2013.05.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2013.05.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. c3 a6 7. Bf1 Bg4 {
Das ist die Hauptvariante, wenn Schwarz auf 3.Lb5 mit 3...d6 und 4...Ld7
reagiert.} 8. h3 ({Die Alternative ist} 8. d3 {z.B.:} e6 9. Nbd2 Be7 10. h3 Bh5
11. g4 Bg6 12. Nh4 Nd7 13. Ng2 h5 14. f4 hxg4 15. hxg4 Qc7 16. Nf3 O-O-O 17.
Ne3 Nb6 18. Nc4 Nxc4 19. dxc4 f5 20. exf5 exf5 21. g5 Bf7 22. Qc2 g6 23. Qf2 d5
24. cxd5 Bxd5 25. Be3 Bxg5 26. Qg3 Be7 27. Bg2 g5 28. Nxg5 Bxg5 29. Bxd5 Rxd5
30. Qxg5 Qf7 31. Kf2 Rh2+ 32. Kf1 Rd8 33. Qg3 Qc4+ 34. Kg1 Rxb2 {0-1 (34)
Anand,V (2791) -Carlsen,M (2776) Nice 2009}) 8... Bh5 ({Noch öfter wird} 8...
Bxf3 {gespielt:} 9. Qxf3 g6 10. Qd1 Bh6 11. a4 d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. d3 Bxc1 14.
Qxc1 O-O 15. Nd2 Qc7 16. Ne4 b6 17. Qh6 f6 18. d4 cxd4 19. Bc4 e6 20. Ng5 fxg5
21. Rxe6 Ncb4 22. cxb4 Qxc4 23. Rxg6+ hxg6 24. Qxg6+ Kh8 25. Qh6+ Kg8 26. Qg6+
{1/2-1/2 (26) Jones,G (2644)-Shirov,A (2708) England 2013}) 9. d4 ({Oder} 9. d3
e6 10. g4 Bg6 11. Nh4 Nd7 12. g5 e5 13. Qg4 Be7 14. Nf5 Bxf5 15. exf5 h6 16. h4
hxg5 17. hxg5 f6 18. Nd2 fxg5 19. Ne4 Nf6 20. Qxg5 O-O 21. Qg6 Qe8 22. Bg2 Qxg6
23. fxg6 Nh5 24. Ng3 Nf4 25. Bxf4 Rxf4 26. Bd5+ Kf8 27. Kg2 Bf6 28. Re4 Ne7 29.
Bf7 Rxe4 30. dxe4 Bg5 31. Rh1 Bh6 32. Kf3 b5 33. Kg4 a5 34. a3 a4 35. Nh5 b4
36. cxb4 cxb4 37. axb4 Rb8 38. Nf6 gxf6 39. Rxh6 Rxb4 40. Rh8+ Kg7 41. Rh7+ Kf8
42. f3 Rxb2 43. Rh8+ Kg7 44. Rh7+ Kf8 45. Kg3 a3 46. Rh8+ Kg7 47. Rh7+ Kf8 48.
Rh8+ Kg7 49. Rh7+ Kf8 50. Rh8+ Kg7 51. Rh7+ {1/2-1/2 (51) Rublevsky,S (2702)
-Ivanchuk,V (2786) Almaty 2008}) 9... Bxf3 10. gxf3 cxd4 11. cxd4 d5 ({Gut
spielbar ist} 11... e5 {z.B.:} 12. d5 Nd4 13. Be3 Nd7 14. Nd2 Qf6 15. Bg2 g6
16. f4 Nb5 17. fxe5 dxe5 18. a4 Nd6 19. Rc1 h5 20. Qb3 Bh6 21. Nc4 Rb8 22. Qb4
Bf8 23. Qd2 Be7 24. Nxd6+ Qxd6 25. Rc2 O-O 26. Rec1 Kh7 27. Qe2 Bd8 28. Rc4 Bb6
29. Bd2 Qf6 30. a5 Bd4 31. Be3 Bxe3 32. Qxe3 Qd6 33. Rc7 Nf6 34. Qa3 Ne8 35.
Re7 {0-1 (35) Al Modiahki,M (2572)-Sasikiran,K (2661) Macau 2007}) 12. Nc3 e6
13. Bg5 Be7 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. exd5 Nxd4 16. Re4 Qb6 17. dxe6 Qc5 $2 {Wirft die
Partie einzügig fort.} ({Völlig OK für Schwarz ist} 17... Nxe6 18. Nd5 Qd8
19. Qa4+ b5 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Qb4 f5 22. Ree1 Rg8+ 23. Kh1 Qd5 24. Qc3 Rd8 25.
Re5 Qd2 26. Qxd2 Rxd2 27. Re2 Rd4 $15 {0-1 (89) Sadykov,R (2255)-Savina,A 
(2392) Izhevsk 2010}) 18. e7 {Nach diesem Zug bricht die schwarze Stellung
bemerkenswert schnell zusammen.} ({Weniger kräftig ist} 18. exf7+ Kxf7 19. Na4
Qg5+ 20. Rg4 Qd5 $14) 18... h5 (18... Ne6 19. Nd5 Bd4 20. Qa4+ b5 21. Bxb5+
Qxb5 22. Rxd4 $18) (18... Nf5 19. Qa4+ $18) 19. Rc1 Rh6 20. Kh1 Rg6 (20... Qa7
21. Nd5 $18) 21. Ne2 1-0

[Event "Thessaloniki FIDE GP"]
[Site "Thessaloniki"]
[Date "2013.06.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Sumets,A"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2013.05.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Ne7 6. c3 Nd7 7. O-O c5 8. Nh4 {
The most principled option. Also White can play 8.Be3 and 8.dxc5!?} (8. Be3 Nc6
9. Nbd2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Be7 11. a3 O-O 12. b4 Nb6 (12... a6 $6 13. Rc1 a5 14. b5
Na7 15. a4 Rc8 16. Qb3 b6 17. Qb2 $14 {Cheparinov,I-Bulmaga,I Golden Sands BUL
2012 1-0 (40)}) 13. Rc1 Rc8 14. Nb3 Nc4 15. Bxc4 dxc4 16. Rxc4 Qd5 17. Rc1 b6
$44 {Short,N-Adams,M/Garmisch Partenkirchen 1994 1/2-1/2 (30)}) (8. dxc5 $5
Nxc5 9. Nd4 Bg6 10. h4 $5 $146 h6 11. h5 Bh7 12. Bb5+ Nd7 13. Re1 Nf5 14. Bd3
Nxd4 15. cxd4 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 Qh4 17. Nc3 a6 (17... Qxh5 $2 18. Nb5 Rc8 19. Nxa7
Ra8 20. Nb5 Rc8 21. Bd2 Be7 22. Rac1 O-O 23. Nd6 $14) 18. Qd1 Rc8 19. g3 Qh3
20. g4 Bb4 21. Re3 Qh4 22. Kg2 f5 (22... Rc4 $5 23. Rh3 Qe7) 23. gxf5 Bxc3 24.
bxc3 Rf8 25. Qe2 Rxf5 26. Rh3 Qe4+ 27. Qxe4 dxe4 28. Rb1 b6 29. Bd2 Rd8 30. Be3
Rc8 31. Bd2 Rd8 32. Be3 Rc8 33. Bd2 Rd8 {1/2-1/2 Zhigalko,S-Mamedyarov,S/Loo
RUS 2013}) 8... Be4 (8... Bg6 $6 {A slightly passive move. In my opinion, the
possible consequences aren't very cheerful. White trades his knight for
Black's bishop and gradually prepares an attack on the kingside. Black has no
counterplay} 9. Nd2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Nc6 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. Nf3 Be7 13. Be3 Nb6 14.
b3 O-O 15. g3 a5 16. a4 Rc8 17. Rc1 Rc7 18. h4 Qb8 19. Ng5 Nb4 20. h5 $14 {
Amonatov,F-Malakhatko,V St Petersburg 2009 1-0 (38)}) 9. Nd2 Nc6 10. g3 (10.
Nxe4 dxe4 ({Black has to be careful, otherwise he will be the co-author of a
chess miniature.} 10... Qxh4 $4 11. Bg5 Qxe4 12. Bd3 $18) 11. g3 Qb6 12. Be3 {
The main continuation. White also can try 12.d5 and 12.dxc5.} (12. d5 $5 {
an interesting attempt.} Ncxe5 $8 13. Bf4 O-O-O 14. dxe6 Qxe6 $6 {as we will
see, Black could have faced big troubles. So he should look for some
improvement.} (14... fxe6 $5 15. Qa4 Nf7 16. Ng2 g5 17. Be3 Nf6 $132) 15. Qa4
f5 16. Qxa7 Be7 17. Bb5 Nb8 18. f3 $2 (18. Ng2 $1 Nf3+ 19. Kh1 Bd6 20. Rfd1 $16
) 18... g5 $1 {Black could be happy with his position} 19. Bc4 Qf6 20. Bxe5
Qxe5 21. f4 gxf4 22. Rxf4 Bxh4 23. Rxh4 Nc6 $17 {Liu Qingnan-Pantsulaia,L
Qinhuangdao CHN 2011 0-1 (39)}) (12. dxc5 Qxc5 (12... Bxc5 13. Qc2 Ncxe5 14.
Qxe4 O-O $14) 13. Qa4 Qxe5 14. Bb5 Qd5 $6 {A dubious move. I think Black
should have chosen between 14 ...Be7 and 14....Rc8} (14... Rc8 15. Bf4 Qc5 16.
Rfe1 a6 17. Bxc6 Qxc6 18. Qxc6 Rxc6 19. Rxe4 Be7 20. Nf3 $11) (14... Be7 $5 15.
Bxc6 bxc6 16. Qxc6 Qd5 $8 17. Qxd5 exd5 18. Nf5 g6 19. Ne3 Nb6 $11) 15. Rd1 Nb6
16. c4 $1 (16. Rxd5 Nxa4 17. Rd4 Nc5 18. b4 Nd7 19. Rxe4 Be7 20. Nf3 O-O) 16...
Qc5 17. Qc2 f5 18. Be3 Qe5 19. a4 $44 {1/2-1/2 Van Kampen,R-Lenderman, A
Hoogeveen NED 2011 (86). White has a very strong attack.}) 12... Rd8 13. Qa4
Be7 14. Rab1 Bxh4 $1 {It seems to me that this is the strongest continuation} (
14... cxd4 15. cxd4 Qb4 16. Qxb4 Nxb4 17. Ng2 O-O 18. Rfc1 Nd5 19. Nf4 N7b6 20.
Bf1 Rd7 21. Nxd5 (21. Bg2 Nxf4 22. Bxf4 f5 23. exf6 Bxf6 24. Bxe4 Bxd4 $132)
21... Nxd5 22. Bg2 f5 23. exf6 Nxf6 24. Rc4 $14 {Inarkiev,E-Ovetchkin,R
Novokuznetsk 2008 1/2-1/2 (43). Due to the pair of bishops and Black's doubled
pawns White has much better chances.}) 15. gxh4 cxd4 16. cxd4 Qb4 17. Bb5 (17.
Qxb4 $5 Nxb4 18. Rbc1 Nd5 19. Bd2 f5 20. exf6 gxf6 $132) 17... Qxa4 18. Bxa4
Nb6 19. Bc2 Nxd4 20. Bxe4 Nc4 21. Rbd1 {1/2-1/2 Karjakin,S-Motylev,A/Wijk aan
Zee 2007}) 10... Be7 11. f3 $146 {As far as I know, this option is considered
as a harmless one. Morozevich employs a novelty, which doesn't change the
general assessment of the line.} (11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Ng2 Qb6 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14.
b4 Nd3 15. Bxd3 exd3 16. Qxd3 (16. Be3 Qa6 17. a4 Nxe5 18. Bd4 Bf6 19. Re1 Qd6
20. f4 Nc4 21. Qxd3 Rc8 $11) 16... Nxe5 17. Qe4 Bf6 18. Be3 Qc6 19. Qxc6+ Nxc6
20. Rac1 O-O $11 {Socko, B-Drozdovskij,Y Tromso NOR 2010 1/2-1/2 (67)}) 11...
Bg6 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. Nb3 $8 cxd4 $5 {Black could try 13...g5.} (13... g5 $5 {
After this move the game sharpens} 14. f4 {sooner or later White has to play f4
} (14. Kg2 $5 Rc8 15. f4 gxf4 16. Bxf4 cxd4 17. cxd4 Nb6 $132) 14... gxf4 15.
Rxf4 (15. Bxf4 $2 Qb6 16. Qd2 cxd4 17. cxd4 Ndxe5 $17) 15... Rc8 16. Kg2 Qb6
$13) 14. cxd4 Nb6 $1 {Black has good counterplay.} 15. f4 (15. Be3 Nc4 16. Bxc4
dxc4 17. Nd2 b5) 15... Nc4 {Perhaps preparing long castling was part of
Topalov's plan so he didn't want to play 15...Rc8. It seems to me that after
15...Rc8 Black has good counterplay as well.} (15... Rc8 16. Kg2 Nc4 17. Rf3 a5
18. a4 Qb6 {It is difficult to suggest a good plan for White.}) 16. Kg2 Qb6 17.
Rf3 O-O-O 18. Be3 {It is hard to believe that White can claim an advantage
after trading his dark-squared bishop. Otherwise White wouldn't be able to
complete his development.} (18. Rc3 Kb8 19. Bxc4 $6 (19. a3 f6) 19... dxc4 20.
Rxc4 Qb5 21. Rc3 Nxd4 22. Nxd4 Rxd4 23. Qf3 (23. Qxd4 $2 Qe2+ 24. Qf2 Rxh2+ 25.
Kxh2 Qxf2+ 26. Kh3 Qg1 $19) 23... Rhd8 24. Rb3 Rb4 $17) 18... Nxe3+ (18... Nxb2
$2 {Of course, to take this pawn means to commit suicide.} 19. Qc2 Nc4 (19...
Na4 20. Rb1 Qc7 21. Bd2 $16) 20. Bxc4 dxc4 21. d5 cxb3 22. axb3 Qc7 23. dxc6 b6
24. Qc4 Kb8 25. b4 {White's attack will be decisive soon.}) 19. Rxe3 Kb8 20. a4
a6 {I think that is a small inaccuracy} (20... Bb4 $1 {I would recommend this
move. As more as I'm concerned, Black's position is better after 20...Bb4:} 21.
Rc1 (21. a5 $6 Bxa5 22. Nc5 Bb4 23. Rb3 a5 $17) 21... Rc8 22. Rc2 Rc7 $15) (
20... Na5 21. Nxa5 Qxa5 22. b4 Bxb4 23. Rb3 Rd7 24. Rab1 Be7 25. Rb5 Qc3 26.
Rc1 Qe3 27. Rb3 Qe4+ 28. Bf3 Qf5 29. h4 Rc8 30. Rxc8+ Kxc8 31. Bg4 Qe4+ 32. Bf3
Qf5 $11) 21. a5 Qb4 22. Rd3 Rc8 23. Nd2 $2 {White loses a pawn without any
compensation.} ({White should have played} 23. Nc5 $1 {even though Black would
have sufficient compensation for the queen.} Bxc5 (23... Nxa5 $5 24. Ra4 Bxc5
25. Rxb4 Bxb4) 24. Ra4 Rc7 25. Rxb4 Bxb4 26. Qb3 Bxa5 27. Rd1 Ka7 28. h4 Bb6
29. Qa4 $13) (23. h4 $5 Rc7 24. Nc5 Bxc5 25. Ra4 Rhc8 26. Rxb4 Bxb4 $13) 23...
Nxa5 $17 24. Nf3 (24. Rda3 $2 Qxd4 $1 25. Rxa5 Rxh2+ 26. Kxh2 Qf2+ 27. Kh3 Rh8+
28. Kg4 Rh4+ 29. gxh4 Qg2#) 24... Qb6 25. Qa4 Bb4 26. h4 Rc7 27. Rh1 {White
has no plan. He should look for some tactical chances.} Rhc8 28. Bd1 Be7 29. b3
Rh8 30. Ng5 Bd8 31. Rf1 Nc6 32. Bg4 Nb4 33. Rd2 Ka7 34. Rff2 Nc6 {It gives a
chance to complicate the game.} (34... Bxg5 35. fxg5 Rhc8 36. Bd1 $17 {Black
still has an advantage but at least White has some counterplay, which is
connected with the pressure on the f7-pawn and the ability to create a passed
pawn after g4, h5, h6.}) 35. Nxf7 $6 {Morozevich has waited for his chance to
sharpen the game and he has taken it.} ({Perhaps Morozevich would have a
better chance of a positive result, if he waited with} 35. Rf3) ({or} 35. Rf1)
35... Rxf7 36. Bxe6 Rc7 37. Bxd5 Ne7 38. Be4 Nf5 39. Bxf5 (39. Rd3 Qe6 $1 (
39... Bxh4 $5 40. gxh4 Nxh4+ 41. Kf1 Rc1+ 42. Ke2 Nf5 43. Bxf5 gxf5 $40) 40. d5
Nxh4+ 41. gxh4 Qg4+ 42. Rg3 Qxh4 43. Qd4+ Ka8 44. Kf3 Rc1 45. d6 Rf8 46. Rg4
Qh3+ 47. Rg3 Qh5+ 48. Ke3 Re1+ 49. Kd3 Qd1+ 50. Kc4 Qxd4+ 51. Kxd4 Bb6+ 52. Kd5
Bxf2 $19) 39... gxf5 40. d5 Rc3 $19 41. d6 Rxb3 $6 ({Topalov could have won
immediately:} 41... g5 $1 42. fxg5 (42. hxg5 Rxg3+ 43. Kxg3 Qe3+ 44. Rf3 (44.
Kg2 Qh3+ 45. Kg1 Qh1#) 44... Qxd2 $19) 42... Bxg5 $1 43. hxg5 Rxg3+ 44. Kxg3
Qe3+ 45. Rf3 Qxg5+ 46. Kf2 Qxd2+ 47. Kg3 Qh2#) 42. Rfe2 $2 {Black's position
is winning, but Morozevich could try the last chance to save the game} (42. Qd4
$5 Qxd4 43. Rxd4 Bb6 44. Rdd2 Bxf2 45. Kxf2 Rb4 $1 (45... Kb6 $2 46. e6 Rb4 $8
(46... Rc3 $2 47. d7 Rc7 48. g4 $1 fxg4 49. f5 Kc6 50. h5 b5 51. d8=Q Rxd8 52.
Rxd8 Re7 53. h6 gxh6 54. Kg3 b4 55. Kxg4 a5 56. Rd1 b3 57. Kf4 a4 58. Ke5 b2
59. f6 $18) 47. d7 Re4 48. d8=Q+ Rxd8 49. Rxd8 Rxe6 50. Rd5 g6 (50... Rf6 51.
h5 a5 52. Ke3 a4 53. Kd2 Kc6 54. Re5 b5 55. Kc3 $11) 51. h5 gxh5 52. Rxf5 {
The position seems to be drawish. For example} a5 53. Rxh5 a4 54. g4 Re8 55. f5
a3 56. f6 Ra8 57. Rh1 a2 58. f7 (58. g5 $5 Ra5 $1 59. Ra1 Rxg5 60. Rxa2 Rf5+
61. Ke3 Rxf6 62. Kd4 $11) 58... Rf8 59. Ra1 Rxf7+ 60. Kg3 $11) 46. e6 Re4 47.
e7 Kb6 48. h5 $5 (48. d7 Rxe7 49. d8=Q+ Rxd8 50. Rxd8 a5 51. Rd5 a4 52. Rxf5 a3
53. Rd5 a2 54. Rd1 Re8 $19) 48... a5 49. Kf3 Kc6 50. h6 gxh6 51. g4 Re6 52. d7
fxg4+ 53. Kxg4 Rxe7 54. d8=Q Rxd8 55. Rxd8 b5 $19) 42... Rxg3+ $1 43. Kxg3 Qg1+
44. Kf3 Bb6 0-1

[Event "Beijing FIDE GP"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2013.07.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D97"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2013.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Na6 8.
Be2 c5 9. d5 e6 10. O-O exd5 11. exd5 Bf5 12. Bf4 Re8 13. Rad1 Ne4 14. Nb5 {
This classic variation is a rare guest in today's practice.} g5 {An
interesting move requiring further analysis. The games played so far don't
lead to any conclusion.} (14... Qf6 {is more common.}) 15. Be3 (15. Bc1 {
is harmless:} h6 (15... g4 $5) 16. Bd3 Qb6 17. Rfe1 Nd6 18. Rxe8+ Rxe8 19. Nxd6
Bxd3 20. Rxd3 Qxd6 $132 {0-1 (61) Siekanski,J (2340)-Jasnikowski,Z (2430)
Slupsk 1989}) (15. Nxg5 $5 Nxg5 16. Nd6 {is critical but Black apparently
holds his ground:} Qf6 $1 17. Nxe8 (17. Nxb7 Qxb2 18. Qxa6 Nh3+ $1 19. gxh3
Rxe2 20. Nxc5 Bxh3 $13) 17... Rxe8 18. Qb5 {1-0 (51) Gavrileteanu,L (1827)
-Gallo,L (2009) IECG 2003} Rd8 $1 $13 19. Qxb7 $140 Bc8) 15... h6 (15... g4 $6
16. Nd2 Qh4 17. Nxe4 Rxe4 18. Qc1 Be5 19. g3 Qh3 20. Rfe1 Re8 21. Bf1 Qh5 22.
Nc3 $16 {1-0 (30) Arakelov,I (2334)-Shipilov,A Voronezh 2000}) (15... Bxb2 $5
16. d6 $44 {needs checking}) 16. d6 (16. Bd3 Nd6 $6 (16... Nb4 $5) (16... Bxb2
$5) 17. Nxd6 Bxd3 18. Rxd3 Qxd6 19. h4 $14 b5 20. Qxb5 g4 21. Nd2 $16 {1-0 (36)
Bai,J (2236)-Dolgener,T (2220) Budapest HUN 2013}) (16. Nd2 Nd6 $6 (16... Bxb2)
17. Qb3 Nxb5 18. Bxb5 Re5 19. Bc4 $14 {1-0 (28) Babula,V (2132)-Pribyl,M (2202)
Brno 1989}) (16. Qb3 $5 Qb6 17. Nd2 Nxd2 (17... Nc7 $5) 18. Rxd2 Rad8 19. Rc1
Bd7 20. d6 Re4 21. Nc3 Qxb3 22. axb3 Rb4 23. Bc4 $14 {1-0 (50) Milanovic,D 
(2378)-Jevtic,M (2350) Jahorina 2000}) 16... Qd7 17. a3 (17. Qc1 $5 {M.Golubev}
) 17... Rad8 (17... Bxb2 $5 {M.Golubev}) 18. Qc1 Qe6 19. b4 {This was the idea
behind 17.a3.} cxb4 20. Nfd4 {[%mdl 2048]} Qf6 (20... Bxd4 21. Rxd4 $5 Nxd6 22.
Qd1 Nxb5 23. Rxd8 Nc3 24. Rxe8+ Qxe8 25. Qd2 $14) 21. Nxf5 Qxf5 22. Bxa7 (22.
axb4 $142 $1 Nxb4 23. Bc4 {o^d6,^^ with excellent compensation for the pawn.})
22... Nc3 23. Nxc3 bxc3 24. Bd3 Qf6 25. Bxa6 $2 (25. Bb5 Re6 26. Bd4 Qf4 (26...
Qxd4 27. Rxd4 Bxd4 28. d7) 27. Bxc3 Qxc1 28. Rxc1 Rexd6 {, and Black should
not lose. But after the text move he seizes initiative.}) 25... bxa6 26. Bc5 $2
(26. Bd4 $142 {but after} Qxd4 $1 (26... Qf4 27. Qxf4 gxf4 28. Bxg7 Kxg7 29.
Rc1 $11) 27. Rxd4 Bxd4 28. h4 Re2 $1 29. hxg5 Rd2 {[%csl Gc3] Black's
compensation for the queen is more than sufficient (indicated by Mikhail
Golubev).}) 26... Qf5 27. Bb6 Rd7 28. a4 (28. Bc7 Re2 29. Rde1 Rd2 30. Re8+ Kh7
31. Qe1 Bd4 {is hardly enough for survival either.}) 28... Re2 29. Qa3 c2 30.
Rc1 Bf8 (30... Qd5 $5 31. Bc5 Be5) 31. Bc5 Re5 32. Bb4 (32. Be3 Bxd6 33. Qb3
Rc7 {left him no real hope.}) 32... a5 $1 33. Bc3 Bxd6 34. Qb3 Re2 35. Qc4 Rde7
36. Qc6 R7e6 37. Qc8+ Bf8 38. Bb2 Qd3 39. g3 Rd2 40. Qc3 Qxc3 41. Bxc3 Rde2 (
41... Rde2 {[%cal Rf8a3]} 42. Ra1 Rc6 43. Bd4 (43. Bxa5 Bg7) 43... Rd6 44. Bb2
Rd1 45. Bc3 Rxa1 46. Rxa1 Bc5 $19) 0-1

[Event "Beijing FIDE GP"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2013.07.12"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2013.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8.
O-O-O Be7 (8... Bb4 {is the other main line.}) 9. f3 b5 (9... O-O {was more
common, but nowadays the text move has become popular.}) 10. g4 Nxd4 {Black's
plan is developing the queenside quickly and waiting for both sides to castle.}
11. Bxd4 (11. Qxd4 {has also been tried} Bb7 12. g5 Nh5 13. Kb1 (13. a3 Rc8 14.
Kb1 Bc5 15. Qd2 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 {(Eliseev-Grachev, Yekaterinburg 2013)} O-O {
and thanks to the weak f4-square Black has a comfortable position.}) (13. Bh3
Rc8 $1 14. Qd2 ({The tempting} 14. Bg4 {can be met by} b4 $1 15. Bxh5 bxc3 16.
Qxg7 cxb2+ 17. Kxb2 Rf8 $13 {and Black has a nice counterplay for the P.})
14... b4 15. Na4 d5 $5 {was more promising.} (15... Bc6 16. Nb6 Rb8 17. Bg4
Rxb6 18. Bxb6 Qxb6 19. Bxh5 Qa5 20. Kb1 Qxg5 21. Qxg5 Bxg5 $44 {with some
compensation, Robson-Wang Yue, Ningbo rapid 2013.})) 13... Rc8 14. Qd2 g6 15.
Bh3 b4 16. Ne2 d5 17. e5 O-O 18. Bd4 a5 (18... Bxg5 $5 {leads to a forced and
unclear line} 19. Qxg5 Qxc2+ 20. Ka1 Qxe2 21. Bg4 Ng7 22. Qh6 Rc4 $13) 19. Bg4
Ng7 20. h4 a4 21. Nc1 Ba6 22. h5 {and suddenly White's attack is faster} a3 23.
Qh2 gxh5 24. Rd2 Bxg5 25. f4 Bd8 26. Bxh5 $18 {with a winning attack, Z.
Almasi-Inarkiev, Havana 2013.}) 11... Bb7 (11... b4 12. Ne2 Bb7 13. Ng3 ({
in case of} 13. g5 Nxe4 $1 {a typical strong sacrifice} 14. fxe4 Bxe4 15. Rg1 (
15. Ng3 $2 {is bad because of} Bxg5 $19 {and mate on c2!}) 15... e5 16. Bf2 Rc8
17. c3 d5 $36 {with a strong initiative.}) 13... O-O 14. Kb1 Rfc8 $13 {Alsina
Leal-Inarkiev, Barcelona 2010.} (14... d5 $5 $13)) 12. Qf2 (12. g5 {was also
tried by Dominguez} Nh5 13. Bd3 O-O 14. Ne2 e5 15. Be3 g6 16. Ng3 Nf4 17. h4
Rac8 18. Bxf4 exf4 19. Ne2 d5 $132 {with a double-edged fight, Dominguez
Perez-Potkin, Havana 2012.}) 12... O-O 13. Bd3 $146 {The first novelty.} (13.
Bb6 Qb8 (13... Qc6 {also looks interesting} 14. g5 Nh5 15. Be3 b4 16. Ne2 {
similar to the game.}) 14. g5 Nh5 15. Be3 ({First the computer suggests} 15.
Rxd7 {, but in human terms in my view, it is too risky in a practical game.}
Bxg5+ 16. Kb1 b4 17. Ne2 Bc6 18. Rd1 Rc8 $132) 15... Bc6 16. Ne2 b4 17. Nd4 Bb7
18. Kb1 {is the typical reaction.} (18. Bc4 $6 a5 {and Black looks nicely
placed, Sanal-Potkin, Nakhchivan 2013.})) 13... Rac8 (13... b4 14. Na4 d5 15.
e5 Nd7 16. f4 {similar to the French Defence Steinitz opening.Variation}) 14.
Ne2 $6 {A logical plan, Karjakin wants to transfer his N to g3. On the other
hand, this manouvre also means leaving the equally important queenside.} (14.
Kb1 {was an alternative} b4 15. Na4 d5 16. e5 Ne4 17. Qe3 (17. fxe4 $6 dxe4)
17... Nc5 18. Nxc5 Bxc5 19. f4 Bxd4 20. Qxd4 Qc5 21. Qxc5 Rxc5 {with about an
equal endgame.}) 14... d6 (14... d5 15. e5 Ne4 (15... Nd7 {is also possible}
16. f4 Nc5) 16. Qe3 b4 $5 (16... Nc5 17. Kb1 Nxd3 18. Qxd3) 17. fxe4 dxe4 18.
Bxe4 Bg5 $1 19. Nf4 Bxe4 20. Qxe4 Qc6 ({or} 20... Bxf4+ 21. Kb1 Bg5) 21. Qxc6
Bxf4+ 22. Kb1 Rxc6 {with an interesting endgame.}) 15. Ng3 Nd7 16. Rhe1 (16. f4
Nc5 17. Kb1 e5 18. Be3 Bh4 $15) 16... Nc5 17. Kb1 Rfd8 18. b3 e5 19. Bb2 Bh4 $1
20. Rg1 g6 21. Qe3 f6 $1 22. f4 exf4 23. Qxf4 d5 {Topalov chooses the human
way. He wants to liquidate to a slightly better endgame.} ({Engines suggest} 
23... Nxd3 24. cxd3 Qc2+ 25. Ka1 Qxh2 26. Rh1 Qxg3 27. Qh6 Rc2 28. Rxh4 Rd7 29.
Rhh1 Qg2 30. Rb1 {should be good for Black, but White's attack also looks
dangerous in a practical game!}) 24. Qxc7 Rxc7 $15 25. Rgf1 (25. e5 Nxd3 26.
Rxd3 fxe5 27. Bxe5 Rf7 $15) 25... d4 $1 {Black fixes the centre and closes the
long diagonal.} 26. Rf3 $6 (26. Ne2 Rcd7 (26... Nxe4 27. Nxd4) 27. Nf4 Nxe4 $15
) 26... Re7 27. Ba3 Re5 28. Bxc5 {The e4 P was very weak, so Karjakin had to
give up his important B.} Rxc5 29. c4 bxc4 30. Bxc4+ Kg7 31. Kb2 Rg5 (31... Bc8
32. h3 Re5 $15) 32. h3 h5 33. Ne2 hxg4 34. hxg4 Rxg4 35. Nxd4 Kh7 $1 $17 {
A good cool-blooded move, which avoids the threats of N moves.} 36. Rh3 g5 37.
Kc3 $6 {Not a very precise move, but White's position was already difficult.} (
37. Be6 Rg2+ 38. Kc3 Bxe4 39. Re1 Bg6 40. Nf5 $15 {with a little counterplay.})
37... Bxe4 38. Bxa6 f5 (38... Kg6 $19) 39. Bd3 Kg6 40. Nf3 Bg3 $19 {Black has
a winning position. The rest is easy.} 41. Be2 Rc8+ 42. Kd2 Rc2+ 43. Ke3 Rc3+
44. Bd3 Bxd3 45. Rxd3 Bf4+ 46. Ke2 Rg2+ 47. Kf1 Rxd3 48. Kxg2 Rd8 49. Ne1 Rd2+
50. Kf1 g4 51. Rc3 Rxa2 52. Nd3 Kg5 {A nice win by Topalov.} 0-1

[Event "Beijing FIDE GP"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2013.07.16"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Annotator "Pavlovic,M"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2013.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 {The Philidor Defence had
been forgotten for a long time in chess tournament practice, until promising
French GM Bauer wrote a nice book about it. Due to his and some other GMs'
efforts the opening started to become more and more popular. Nowadays we see
not one but a few ideas that Black uses against the regular setup Bc4 0-0.} 6.
O-O O-O 7. a4 c6 8. Re1 {This is considered as best play so far for White.} a5
9. h3 Nb6 {And this is something that has been introduced in the last few
years and at the present moment is the most popular reply for Black at this
point. Very interesting positions are ahead of us.} 10. Bb3 {Not the only move,
White has various ideas how to proceed with the bishop from here.} (10. Ba2
Nfd7 11. Be3 exd4 12. Bxd4 (12. Qxd4 Nc5 13. Rad1 Be6 14. b3 $5 {a strange
looking move} (14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. e5 d5 16. Qg4 {transposes below to the main
line under 12.Qxd4}) 14... Ncd7 15. Ne2 d5 16. Nf4 Re8 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. e5 Bc5
19. Qg4 Bxe3 20. Rxe3 Qe7 21. c3 c5 22. Bb1 Nf8 23. h4 c4 $132 {1/2-1/2 (48)
Zhigalko,S (2661)-Mamedov,N (2602) Denizli TUR 2013}) 12... Nc5 13. Bxc5 dxc5
14. Qe2 Qd6 15. Rad1 Qg6 $5 (15... Qh6 16. Nd2 (16. Qd2 Qg6 17. Ne5 Qf6 18. Nc4
(18. f4 Be6 19. Bxe6 Qxe6 20. Qf2 Bf6 21. Qxc5 Bxe5 22. fxe5 Nd7 23. Qd6 Nxe5
$11) 18... Nxc4 19. Bxc4 Be6 20. Bxe6 Qxe6 21. Qd7 Rfd8 22. Qxb7 Rdb8 23. Qd7
Rxb2 $11 {1/2-1/2 (30) Alsina Leal,D (2527)-Magem Badals,J (2593) Barcelona
ESP 2010}) 16... Be6 17. Nc4 Nxc4 18. Bxc4 Rad8 19. Bxe6 Qxe6 20. Qe3 Rxd1 21.
Rxd1 Bf6 22. Qxc5 Bxc3 23. Qxc3 Qxe4 24. Rd4 Qe5 $11 {1/2-1/2 (54) Quesada
Perez,Y (2604)-Alonso Rosell,A (2540) Barcelona ESP 2012}) 16. Ne5 Qg5 17. f4
$6 (17. Nxf7 Rxf7 18. f4 Qh4 19. Bxf7+ Kxf7 20. f5 Kg8 21. Rf1 (21. Nb1 Bd7 22.
Nd2 Be8 $13) 21... Bd7 22. e5 Rf8 23. e6 Be8 24. Ne4 c4 $13) 17... Qxf4 $1 18.
Nxf7 c4 19. Rf1 Bc5+ 20. Kh1 Qh4 $1 $17 (20... Qe3 $2 21. Qh5 $1 $18 {0-1 (48)
Inarkiev,E (2680)-Al Sayed,M (2498) Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2013})) (10. Bf1 exd4
11. Nxd4 d5 12. e5 Ne8 13. Nce2 g6 14. Bh6 (14. Nf4 Ng7 15. Nd3 f6 16. b3 fxe5
17. Nxe5 Bb4 18. Bd2 Nd7 19. Bxb4 axb4 20. Qd2 Nxe5 21. Rxe5 Qd6 22. Rae1 Bd7
23. Nf3 Rae8 24. Bd3 Rxe5 25. Nxe5 Bc8 26. Qe3 Re8 27. Qf4 Qf8 28. Qd4 Ne6 29.
Qh4 Qe7 30. Qg3 Qg5 $11 {1/2-1/2 (53) Saric,I (2616)-Neuman,P (2465) Deizisau
GER 2013}) 14... Ng7 15. Nf3 $5 (15. Ng3 Bg5 16. Bxg5 Qxg5 17. Nf3 Qf4 18. Ne2
Qb4 $1 (18... Qh6 19. Ned4 Be6 20. c3 Nd7 21. b4 Rfe8 22. Qb3 $14 {0-1 (64)
Efimenko,Z (2682)-Bologan,V (2690) Poikovsky RUS 2009}) 19. c3 Qe7 20. Ned4 Bf5
21. Qb3 Qc7 22. Rad1 Rad8 $11) 15... Nd7 16. Ned4 Nc5 17. c4 Be6 $5 (17... Nce6
18. Qb3 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 c5 20. Ne2 dxc4 21. Qxc4 Be6 22. Qc3 Qb6 23. Nf4 Rfd8 $14
{1-0 (60) Kosintseva,T (2562)-Zhu Chen (2476) Ulaanbaatar MGL 2010}) 18. Qc2
Qb6 19. Rad1 Rfd8 $13) (10. Bd3 $5 {An interesting idea especially due to a
Morozevich game which I find rather interesting for further development.} Nfd7
(10... exd4 11. Nxd4 d5 12. e5 Ne8 13. Bf4 g6 14. Nf3 Ng7 15. Ne2 Nd7 16. c3
Nc5 17. Bc2 Bf5 18. Bh6 Bxc2 19. Qxc2 f6 20. Ned4 fxe5 21. Nxe5 Qd6 22. Rad1
Rae8 23. Ndf3 Bd8 24. c4 $36 {0-1 (63) Hansen,S (2603)-Hopman,P (2365) Pattaya
THA 2011}) 11. Be3 (11. Ne2 exd4 $1 (11... c5 12. c3 c4 13. Bc2 Qc7 14. Ng3 Rd8
15. Nh2 $14 {1-0 (30) Stojanovic,D (2495)-Rowe,P (1987) Istanbul TUR 2012}) 12.
Nexd4 Nc5 13. b3 Bf6 14. Rb1 Nbd7 15. Ba3 Re8 16. Nf5 Ne5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18.
Bxc5 dxc5 19. Bc4 Qf6 $13 {1/2-1/2 (35) Meier,G (2546)-Al Sayed,M (2469) Biel
SUI 2007}) 11... exd4 (11... Re8 $5 12. Qd2 exd4 13. Bxd4 Ne5 $1 14. Nh2 Ng6
15. f4 Bf6 16. Be3 d5 17. e5 Bh4 18. Bf2 Bxf2+ 19. Qxf2 Nd7 20. Bxg6 hxg6 21.
Nf3 Qb6 $13) 12. Bxd4 Nc5 13. Bf1 $5 Be6 (13... Qc7 14. Qd2 Ne6 15. Be3 Bf6 16.
Rad1 Rd8 17. b3 Nd7 18. Ne2 Ndc5 (18... Ne5 19. Nfd4 (19. Nh2 Ng6 20. f4 Nc5
21. Bxc5 dxc5 22. Qc1 c4 $132) 19... Ng6 20. Nxe6 Bxe6 21. Bd4 $14 {[%cal
Gf2f4]}) 19. Ng3 $14) 14. Qd2 d5 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. Rad1 Re8 17. b3 h6 (17...
Bf8 18. Bc4 Nxc3 19. Qxc3 Bxc4 20. Bxc5 Rxe1+ 21. Qxe1 Bd5 22. Bxf8 Qxf8 23.
Nd4 f6 24. Rd3 $14) 18. Bc4 Nb4 (18... Nc7 19. Qf4 Qc8 20. Qg3 Bf8 21. Ne5 $36)
19. Bxc5 $1 Qxd2 20. Rxd2 Bxc5 21. Bxe6 Rxe6 22. Rxe6 fxe6 23. Ne4 $16 {
1/2-1/2 (53) Morozevich,A (2770)-Kazhgaleyev,M (2589) Astana KAZ 2012}) 10...
Nfd7 11. Be3 exd4 12. Nxd4 (12. Qxd4 Nc5 13. Rad1 Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. e5 d5
16. Qg4 Qe8 {this position is perfectly ok for Black} 17. h4 (17. b3 Nbd7 18.
Rd4 Rf5 19. Qg3 Kh8 20. Rg4 Qf7 21. Bd2 Rf8 $13 {1/2-1/2 (30) Ni Hua (2645)
-Danielsen,H (2519) New Delhi IND 2011}) 17... Nbd7 18. Ne2 Qf7 19. Ned4 Rae8
20. Rb1 Bd8 21. h5 Ne4 $15 {0-1 (58) Sosna,J (2385)-Neuman,P (2471) Czech
Republic CZE 2013}) (12. Bxd4 Nc5 13. Bxc5 dxc5 14. Qe2 Qd6 {We have the same
position like in the 10.Ba2 line but with a bishop on b3. Quesada is using
this fact for a small idea.} 15. Qe3 $5 Qg6 16. Ne2 $1 {now the pawn on a4 is
protected} Qh6 17. Qxh6 gxh6 18. c3 Be6 19. Bc2 Rad8 20. Nf4 Bc8 $13 {1-0 (74)
Quesada Perez,Y (2620)-Narciso Dublan,M (2551) Barcelona ESP 2011}) 12... Nc5
13. Qf3 (13. Qh5 Nxb3 14. cxb3 g6 15. Qh6 Nd7 16. Rad1 Re8 17. Nf3 Bf8 18. Qf4
Qe7 19. Qg3 Ne5 20. Nd4 Bg7 21. Bg5 Qf8 22. f4 Nd7 $13 {0-1 (42) Horvath,C 
(2208)-Neuman,P (2522) Pardubice CZE 2013}) (13. Nf5 $6 Bxf5 $1 14. exf5 Nxb3 (
14... Nbd7 15. Qg4 d5 16. Rad1 Bf6 {this is also ok for Black}) 15. cxb3 Bf6
16. Qg4 Nd7 (16... d5 $2 17. Bc5 $16 {1-0 (35) Potapov,P (2460)-Kabanov,N 
(2472) Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2013}) 17. Rad1 d5 {Black is fine.}) 13... Nxb3 14.
cxb3 Be6 {I am not so sure about this move, somehow it runs on f4-f5 ideas.} (
14... Nd7 15. Rad1 Ne5 16. Qe2 (16. Qg3 Re8 17. Re2 Bh4 18. Qh2 Bf6 19. Red2
Ng6 20. Nde2 Be6 $13) 16... Bd7 (16... Re8 $5 17. f4 Ng6 18. Qd2 Bf6 19. f5 Ne5
20. Nc2 Re7 21. Qf2 Rd7 $13) (16... Ng6 17. f4 f5 $13) 17. f4 Ng6 18. Nf5 Bxf5
19. exf5 Nh4 20. Bf2 Nxf5 21. g4 Nh4 22. Qxe7 Nf3+ 23. Kf1 Nxe1 24. Qxd8 Rfxd8
25. Kxe1 d5 26. Bb6 Re8+ 27. Kd2 f6 $13 {1/2-1/2 (57) Rublevsky,S (2667)
-Bologan,V (2645) Tomsk RUS 2006}) 15. Rad1 Nd7 (15... d5 16. Qg3 $16) (15...
Kh8 16. Qg3 $14) 16. Qg3 Ne5 17. Re2 Ng6 (17... Bh4 18. Qh2) 18. f4 $14 c5 $2 (
18... Bc8 {It was better to accept the fact that a mistake had been made and
to retreat with the bishop.}) 19. Nf5 $5 (19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. Qg4 Qc8 21. Nb5 Ra6
22. Red2 $16) 19... Bxb3 20. Rdd2 Rc8 21. Rf2 {White has a strong initiative
for the pawn.} Kh8 22. h4 Rg8 23. h5 Nf8 24. Nxd6 Bxd6 25. e5 f5 26. Rxd6 Qe8
27. Qh3 $16 Be6 28. Rfd2 h6 29. Nb5 Nd7 30. Qf3 b6 31. Qd1 $18 Nf8 32. Rxb6 Qe7
33. Qf3 Nd7 34. Rb7 Rb8 35. Ra7 Rgd8 36. Rd6 Qf7 37. Nc7 Bc4 38. e6 Qe7 39.
Rxd7 Rxd7 40. exd7 Qxd7 41. Nb5 Qe6 42. Qg3 1-0

[Event "Novy Bor m1"]
[Site "Novy Bor"]
[Date "2013.09.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Laznicka, Viktor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D24"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2677"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2013.09.19"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bxc4 Nxe4 7. O-O Nxc3 8.
bxc3 Be7 9. Qc2 O-O 10. Bf4 Nd7 11. Rad1 Nf6 12. Rfe1 b6 13. Ne5 Bb7 14. Re3
Nd5 15. Rh3 f5 16. Bc1 Bf6 17. Re1 c5 18. g4 Bxe5 19. Rxe5 Qd7 20. dxc5 Rae8
21. gxf5 Rxf5 22. Rxf5 exf5 23. Bd2 Re4 24. Qd3 bxc5 25. Re3 Qe6 26. f3 Rxe3
27. Qxe3 Qxe3+ 28. Bxe3 Kh8 29. Bxc5 Nxc3 30. Bd4 Nxa2 31. Bxa2 Bxf3 32. Bb1
Bg4 33. Kg2 a5 34. Kg3 Bd1 35. Bxf5 Bb3 36. Kf4 Kg8 37. Ke5 Kf7 38. Bxh7 g6 39.
Kf4 Bc2 1-0

[Event "Novy Bor m1"]
[Site "Novy Bor"]
[Date "2013.09.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Laznicka, Viktor"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E21"]
[WhiteElo "2677"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2013.09.19"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. Qb3 c5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 d5 8. e3 Nc6
9. cxd5 Qxd5 10. Bc4 Qf5 11. dxc5 Ne4 12. cxb6 O-O 13. Bd3 Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 Ne5
15. Bxe4 Qxe4 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Bg3 Qe4 18. O-O Bb7 19. f3 Qxe3+ 20. Bf2 Qg5
21. c4 axb6 22. Bxb6 Rfc8 23. a4 e5 24. c5 Re8 25. a5 Qg6 26. Rad1 e4 27. Rd6
Re6 28. Rxe6 fxe6 29. Qc2 Bc6 30. Rd1 Rf8 31. Rd6 Qg5 32. Rxc6 exf3 33. g3 Qe5
34. Qf2 Qa1+ 35. Qf1 Qd4+ 36. Qf2 Qd1+ 37. Qf1 f2+ 0-1

[Event "Novy Bor m1"]
[Site "Novy Bor"]
[Date "2013.09.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Laznicka, Viktor"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2677"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2013.09.19"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Be7 {There's always a lot to be said about the
Orthodox type of position in the Queen's Gambit. Obviously Black isn't aiming
for an utlra-aggressive setup the way that the King's Indian or Benoni deal
with the opening, and it's even more solid than a Queen's Indian or a Slav, so
why isn't it more popular? The reason really is that it is quite passive and
if White doesn't do anything special he should retain the slightest of edges.
However, once in a while, specially lately, White goes for immediate
aggression to try to punish Black for trying to develop so harmoniously.} 4.
cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. e3 Bf5 (6... Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 {is also a popular line.})
7. g4 $5 {Nothing new under the sun. This idea has been around since the age
of Botvinnik, but only lately has White really explored all of its potential.}
Be6 8. Bd3 (8. h4 $5 Nd7 9. g5 h6 10. g6 {was seen just yesterday in the game
Stefanova-Kosteniuk, Tashkent Grand Prix}) 8... Nd7 9. Bf5 $5 {Not entirely
new. Volkov tried it unsuccessfully against Grachev last year, but whenever
Volkov essays something grandmasters look at it with interest.} Bxf5 {already
new, Gracehv chose Nf8.} 10. gxf5 Bb4 11. Nge2 Ne7 12. Qc2 {White's pawn on f5
is very weak, but it is hard to get to. The open f-file and the potential to
set up a strong pawn center compensate.} Nb6 13. f3 $2 {Strangely we will see
that this move is the source of all of White's problems from now on. Of course,
hindsight is 20/20.} (13. Rg1 g6 14. Be5 {was certainly more to the point.})
13... g6 $5 {Black takes advantage of the fact that the f3 move has somewhat
weakened darksquares, specifically the h4-e1 diagonal and the e3 square.
Topalov's idea is very strong.} 14. fxg6 Nxg6 $1 {Topalov's idea.} 15. O-O-O
Qe7 16. Rd3 Nc4 {The pressure on e3 is ramping up, and Laznicka decides to
kick out this knight from c4, but at the cost of further weakening his dark
squares.} 17. b3 Na3 18. Qb2 Nxf4 19. Nxf4 Rg8 {With white's discoordinated
rooks, it is suddenly Black that takes advantage of the open g-file.} 20. Qf2
O-O-O 21. Kb2 Kb8 22. Nb1 Rde8 23. Nxa3 Bxa3+ 24. Kb1 Bd6 {White's position is
very discoordinated, and oh did he wish his pawn on f3 was back on f2...} 25.
Ne2 Qe6 26. Nc3 Qf5 27. Rhd1 Rg6 28. R1d2 Qh3 29. f4 Qf5 30. Ne2 h5 31. Ng3 Qg4
32. Qe2 h4 33. Qxg4 Rxg4 34. Nf5 Bb4 {White hasn't lost material yet, but his
position keeps becoming worse and worse. His rooks are horrible compared to
their counterparts and specially h2 will be hard to hold on to.} 35. h3 (35.
Rf2 Rh8 $1 {Suddenly puts the question to the knight on f5: how exactly are
you going to go back? The threat is Rh5.}) 35... Rg6 36. Re2 (36. Nxh4 Rg1+ 37.
Rd1 Rxd1+ 38. Rxd1 Rxe3 {is hopeless as White is about to lose a pawn or two.})
36... Rh8 37. e4 Rf6 38. Ng7 Rg8 {The lone knight on g7 persishes as his rooks
are unable to support him. Topalov played a positionally brilliant game to
conclude this match.} 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 29th"]
[Site "Rhodes"]
[Date "2013.10.22"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E21"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2664"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2013.10.20"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "SOCAR"]
[BlackTeam "Padova"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ITA"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. Qb3 c5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3
Ne4 9. e3 Bb7 10. d5 d6 11. O-O-O Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nd7 13. Qc2 Nxg3 14. hxg3 Qf6
15. Bd3 O-O-O 16. Be4 Kc7 17. Nd2 exd5 18. Bxd5 Ne5 19. f3 Qg6 20. e4 h5 21.
Nf1 g4 22. f4 Bxd5 23. cxd5 Nc4 24. Qa4 Na5 25. Ne3 h4 26. Rxh4 Rxh4 27. gxh4
Qf6 28. e5 dxe5 29. d6+ Kc8 30. d7+ Kb8 31. Nxg4 Qe6 32. fxe5 Nc4 33. Nf6 Nxe5
34. Qf4 Kb7 35. h5 c4 36. Kc2 Nxd7 37. Rd6 Qe7 38. Qd4 Nxf6 39. Rxd8 Qe2+ 40.
Kb1 Qf1+ 41. Qd1 Qxg2 42. Rd6 Qf2 43. h6 Kc7 44. Qd4 Qf5+ 45. Kb2 Qb5+ 46. Ka1
Qg5 47. Qd2 Qf5 48. Rd4 Kb7 49. Qg2+ Ka6 50. Qe2 b5 51. Rd6+ Ka5 52. Qe3 Qf1+
53. Kb2 Qg2+ 54. Ka3 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 29th"]
[Site "Rhodes"]
[Date "2013.10.24"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Korobov, Anton"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[PlyCount "191"]
[EventDate "2013.10.20"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "SOCAR"]
[BlackTeam "Ugra"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4 b4
9. Nbd2 Na5 10. Ba2 O-O 11. c3 Rb8 12. Nc4 Nxc4 13. Bxc4 bxc3 14. bxc3 Qe8 15.
Qe2 Bd7 16. Qa2 h6 17. Re1 Bc6 18. h3 Kh8 19. Be3 Nh7 20. Bxa6 f5 21. Qc4 Bd8
22. exf5 Rxf5 23. Bb5 Bxb5 24. axb5 Qxb5 25. Qxb5 Rxb5 26. d4 e4 27. Nd2 d5 28.
c4 Rb8 29. Rec1 c6 30. Ra6 Rf6 31. f3 exf3 32. Nxf3 dxc4 33. Rxc4 Rb1+ 34. Kf2
Rb6 35. Rxb6 Bxb6 36. Ke2 Re6 37. Ne5 Nf6 38. Rxc6 Rxc6 39. Nxc6 Kg8 40. Ne7+
Kf7 41. Nf5 h5 42. Kd3 g6 43. Nh4 Nd5 44. Bg5 Ba7 45. Bd2 Kf6 46. Ke4 Nc7 47.
d5 Nb5 48. Bb4 Bb8 49. Nf3 Nd6+ 50. Bxd6 Bxd6 51. g4 hxg4 52. hxg4 Ke7 53. Kd3
Bf4 54. Kc4 Be3 55. Kd3 Bf4 56. Kd4 Bg3 57. Nd2 Bf2+ 58. Kc4 Be3 59. Ne4 Kd7
60. Kd3 Bf4 61. Kd4 Bh2 62. Ng5 Ke7 63. Ne6 Bd6 64. Nc5 Bh2 65. Ne4 Bg1+ 66.
Kc4 Kd7 67. Kd3 Bh2 68. Kd4 Bf4 69. Nf2 Bh2 70. Nd3 Kd6 71. Ke4 g5 72. Ne1 Bg3
73. Nf3 Bf4 74. Nd4 Bc1 75. Nf5+ Kd7 76. Kd3 Bf4 77. Kc4 Bc1 78. Kd3 Bf4 79.
Kd4 Bh2 80. Kc4 Bb8 81. Nd4 Bf4 82. Ne6 Bc1 83. Kd4 Kd6 84. Ke4 Bd2 85. Nd4 Bc1
86. Nf5+ Kd7 87. Ne3 Ke7 88. Nc4 Bf4 89. Kf5 Kd7 90. d6 Bh2 91. Kxg5 Ke6 92.
Kh5 Bf4 93. g5 Kf5 94. g6 Ke6 95. g7 Kf7 96. d7 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 19th"]
[Site "Warsaw"]
[Date "2013.11.09"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2013.11.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Nge2 {A quiet
move, instead of the more aggressive} (7. g4) 7... Nf6 (7... Nd7 {should
rather be played first (preventing h2-h4 for the time being)}) 8. Ng3 Bg6 9. h4
h5 10. Bg5 $146 {A new continuation in this well-known position. It is not bad
but GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov misplays the resulting position completely.} (10.
Be2 Qb6 (10... Nbd7 $5 11. Bf3 Qb6 (11... Qa5 12. a3 Nb6 13. b4 Qa6 14. Be2 Nc4
15. Bg5 $14 {1-0 (49) McShane,L (2546)-Berkes,F (2545) Goa 2002}) 12. Qe2 Kf8
13. Kf1 Re8 14. Kg1 Kg8 {1/2 (14) Drozdovskij,Y (2550)-Zakharevich,I (2523)
Moscow 2006}) 11. Qd2 Nbd7 12. a3 (12. Bf3 Qa6 13. Rd1 Nb6 14. Bg5 Rd8 15. b3
Nbd7 16. Nce2 Qa3 17. O-O Bb4 $36 {0-1 (73) Vaganian,R (2570)-Giorgadze,T 
(2535) Minsk 1979}) 12... a5 13. Rc1 (13. Rd1 O-O 14. Bf3 Rfe8 15. Bg5 Bd6 16.
Nce2 Ne4 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. O-O a4 19. Nc3 Bxg3 20. fxg3 Qa5 $11 {1-0 (69)
Caruana,F (2772)-Kasimdzhanov,R (2709) Zug 2013}) 13... Qd8 (13... Kf8 14. O-O
Qd8 15. Qd1 Nb6 16. Bg5 Nfd7 17. f4 Bxg5 18. fxg5 $14 {1-0 (34) Dreev,A (2658)
-Doettling,F (2542) France 2007}) 14. Qd1 Kf8 $5 15. Bf3 Kg8 16. O-O Nf8 17.
Qb3 Ra7 18. e4 $5 a4 19. Qd1 dxe4 20. Ngxe4 Nxe4 21. Nxe4 Bxh4 22. d5 $13 {
1/2 (22) Sadler,M (2665)-Baburin,A (2570) Isle of Man 1997 CBM 061 [Baburin]})
(10. Bd3 $5 {, getting rid of Black's powerful bishop and then preparing f2-f3
and e3-e4, is probably more appropriate, e.g.} Bxd3 11. Qxd3 g6 12. O-O-O (12.
e4 dxe4 13. Ngxe4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Nd7 15. d5 Nf6 $13 {1/2 (36) Delchev,A (2637)
-Franco Alonso,A (2483) Linares ESP 2013}) 12... Na6 (12... Nbd7 13. e4 dxe4
14. Ngxe4 O-O (14... Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Nf6 $6 16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. Qa3 $16 {1-0 (51)
Lalic,B (2514)-Carlhammar,M (2324) Paris 2008}) 15. f3 Qa5 16. g4 $40 {Chekhov,
V (2505)-Timoshchenko, G (2490) USSR 1987}) 13. Kb1 Qd7 (13... Qa5 14. Bg5 {
1-0 (24) Portisch,L-Pietzsch,W Kecskemet 1966} O-O $14) 14. f3 $14 {[%cal
Ye3e4]}) 10... Nbd7 11. Be2 (11. Bd3 {may be still possible but White's idea
is completely different.}) 11... Ne4 {A logical simplification.} (11... Qb6 $5
12. Qd2 Nf8 {[%cal Yf8e6] needs checking, too.}) 12. Ngxe4 (12. Ncxe4 $5 dxe4
13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nxh5 $5 Bxh5 15. Bxh5 g6 (15... Qb4+ 16. Kf1 Qxb2 17. Be2 {
[%csl Re8][%cal Gb1b7]}) 16. Be2 Rxh4 17. Rxh4 Qxh4 18. Qb3 Nb6 19. Rc1 {
, and White keeps some pressure.}) 12... dxe4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qb3 b5 $6 {
A risky move.} ({There was nothing wrong with} 14... Nb6 {Black probably
didn't like} 15. a4 {, overlooking a good defence:} f5 $1 16. a5 Bf7 17. Qa3
Nd5 $14 {/=}) 15. Rc1 O-O 16. g3 Nf6 17. a4 $1 a6 18. Na2 Rfc8 19. O-O $6 {
[%mdl 32]} (19. Nb4 $142 $1 $36) 19... Bf5 20. Nb4 Be6 {That's the difference!}
21. Qa3 $6 (21. Qc3 $142 c5 (21... Qd7 22. Qc5) 22. dxc5 a5 23. Nc6 $1 Rxc6 24.
axb5 Rcc8 25. Rfd1 $44) 21... Qd7 $1 {[%cal Ye6g4] It turns out that White's
king is less safe on the kingside than it was in the centre!} 22. axb5 $6 {
Another unwise idea - to open up the a-file.} (22. Qc3 $142 Bc4 23. Bxc4 bxc4
24. Kg2) 22... axb5 23. Qc3 Bc4 $1 24. Bxc4 bxc4 {[%cal Rd7h3]} 25. Kg2 Rcb8 $1
{That's the difference! Black obtains the initiative on the queenside, too.}
26. Ra1 (26. Qxc4 $4 Ra4) 26... Rxa1 27. Rxa1 Nd5 28. Nxd5 cxd5 $17 {[%csl Rb2,
Rg2]} 29. Qd2 Qg4 30. Re1 Qf3+ 31. Kh2 Kh7 $1 {White is completely passive so
Black activates his king for a future ending.} 32. Qe2 Kg6 {Disgusted, White
chose to resign. Black should gradually win, preparing ...g7-g5, e.g.} (32...
Kg6 33. Qc2 (33. Qxf3 $2 exf3 {[%cal Rb8b2]}) 33... Kf5 34. Qd2 {(White has no
active moves)} (34. Ra1 g5 35. Ra5 gxh4 36. Rxd5+ Kg4 $19) 34... g5 35. Rg1 $1
(35. hxg5 h4 36. gxh4 Rh8) 35... Kg6 {then at some point ...Qf3-g4 forcing the
exchange on g5, then preparing ...h5-h4 etc. But, of course, White could have
put up a long resistance.} (35... Rg8 $6 {was not good due to} 36. Qa5)) 0-1

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 19th"]
[Site "Warsaw"]
[Date "2013.11.12"]
[Round "5.14"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ragger, Markus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2672"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2013.11.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Austria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AUT"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 Be6 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. c3 Qe8 14. d4 exd4 15.
cxd4 Qg6 16. b3 Rf7 17. Kh1 Rff8 18. Ra2 Nd7 19. Rc2 c6 20. Qe2 d5 21. Bb2 Bd6
22. g3 Ra7 23. Kg2 Bf4 24. Bc1 Bh6 25. Qd3 Raa8 26. Re2 Bxd2 27. Bxd2 dxe4 28.
Qxe4 Qxe4 29. Rxe4 Rab8 30. Bf4 Rb7 31. Rxe6 Nxb3 32. Rexc6 Nb6 33. Rb2 Na5 34.
Rc7 Nd5 35. Rc5 Rxf4 36. gxf4 Nxf4+ 37. Kg3 Nd3 38. Rc8+ Kf7 39. Rd2 b3 40.
Rxd3 b2 41. Nd2 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 19th"]
[Site "Warsaw"]
[Date "2013.11.15"]
[Round "7.13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Steingrimsson, Hedinn"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2543"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2013.11.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Iceland"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ISL"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. Nc3 e6 7. Nh4 Bh5 8. h3
Be7 9. g4 Bg6 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Rg1 g5 12. Bd2 Nbd7 13. O-O-O Qxb3 14. axb3
O-O-O 15. Kc2 Nf8 16. Ra1 Kb8 17. f3 Ng6 18. c5 Rd7 19. b4 a6 20. Rh1 Rc8 21.
Bd3 Bd8 22. Ra3 Nh4 23. Rf1 Ne8 24. Be1 Ng2 25. Bf2 Re7 26. Rg1 Nh4 27. f4 f6
28. Bg3 Bc7 29. Bxh4 gxh4 30. Rga1 Bd8 31. Bxa6 bxa6 32. Rxa6 Rb7 33. b5 cxb5
34. c6 Nc7 35. cxb7 Kxb7 36. Rd6 b4 37. Na4 Nb5+ 38. Nc5+ Rxc5+ 39. dxc5 Nxd6
40. cxd6 Bb6 41. Kd3 Kc6 42. Ra6 Kb7 43. Ra4 Bc5 44. d7 Kc7 45. Ra5 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 19th"]
[Site "Warsaw"]
[Date "2013.11.16"]
[Round "8.11"]
[White "Grandelius, Nils"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2557"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2013.11.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Sweden"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SWE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qb3 a5 6. Bg5 c6 7. e3 Nbd7 8. a3
Be7 9. Be2 h6 10. Bh4 O-O 11. O-O Ne4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Qc2 f5 14. Rab1 Nd6 15.
Nd2 f4 16. Bd3 dxc4 17. Nxc4 f3 18. gxf3 Rxf3 19. Nxd6 Qxd6 20. Ne4 Qe7 21. Be2
Rh3 22. Ng3 Qh4 23. Bc4 Nb6 24. Nf5 Qg4+ 25. Ng3 Bd7 26. f3 Rxg3+ 27. hxg3
Qxg3+ 28. Kh1 Qh3+ 29. Kg1 Qg3+ 30. Kh1 Qh4+ 31. Kg1 Qg5+ 32. Kf2 Rf8 33. Ke2
Qf6 34. Rf2 Be8 35. Qb3 Nxc4 36. Qxc4 Bh5 37. Rbf1 Qg6 38. Kd2 Rf5 39. e4 Rb5
40. Kc1 Kh8 41. Rd2 Qf6 42. Rd3 Qg5+ 43. Rd2 Qf4 44. Rff2 Rg5 45. Qb3 a4 46.
Qxb7 Bxf3 47. Qc8+ Kh7 48. Rxf3 Qxf3 49. Qxe6 c5 50. dxc5 Qf1+ 51. Rd1 Rxc5+
52. Kd2 Qf2+ 53. Kd3 Qc2+ 54. Kd4 Rg5 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]
[WhiteClock "1:26:36"]
[BlackClock "1:03:45"]

1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} e6 {[%emt 0:
00:06]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 4. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Be7
{[%emt 0:00:21]} 5. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:11]} 6. e3 {[%emt 0:
00:03]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 7. c5 {[%emt 0:00:04] A very direct approach and
the most popular one.} Nh5 {[%emt 0:00:14] The most principled way to question
the effectiveness of the last move. Both players had had this position before,
so they must have both known what they were doing.} (7... c6 8. h3 {0-1 (41)
Bacrot,E (2749)-Aronian,L (2801) Warsaw 2013 CBM 158 [Krasenkow,M]}) (7... Ne4
8. Qc2 f5 {1-0 (48) Topalov,V (2752)-Giri,A (2711) Istanbul 2012 CBM 151 
[Krasenkow,M]}) 8. Be5 $5 {[%emt 0:00:04] Following his own path and deviating
from that which was supposedly the most familiar to Kramnik.} (8. Bd3 Nxf4 9.
exf4 b6 10. b4 a5 11. a3 c6 12. O-O Qc7 13. g3 Ba6 14. Bxa6 Rxa6 15. Qe2 Rfa8
16. b5 $1 (16. Rab1 {Radjabov,T (2744)-Kramnik,V (2785) Kazan 2011 CBM 143 
[Marin,M] (1/2-1/2, 39)}) 16... cxb5 17. Nxd5 $1 {Aronian,L (2802)-Giri,A 
(2714) Porto Carras 2011 CBM 146 [Krasenkow,M] (1-0, 43)}) 8... c6 {[%emt 0:01:
01]} 9. Bd3 {[%emt 0:02:09] Clearly the most active developing move.} (9. Be2 {
is a bit too passive.} f6 10. Bg3 g6 ({The knight did not really need
defending yet. Black should have started his counterplay without delay:} 10...
e5 $1 11. b4 e4) 11. b4 e5 12. Qb3 Kh8 {Savchenko,B (2569)-Azarov,S (2585)
Voronezh 2008 (0-1, 36)} 13. b5 $5) (9. h3 {simply gives away a tempo, since
Black was going to take on e5 at some point anyway.} Nxe5 10. Nxe5 Nf6 11. Bd3
Nd7 12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. O-O e5 $5 $132 {Krush,I (2472)-Zatonskih,A (2499) Saint
Louis 2011 (1-0, 37)}) 9... g6 {[%emt 0:03:43]} ({An old game by Topalov saw
the too straightforward} 9... f5 $6 10. b4 a6 11. h3 Nxe5 12. dxe5 f4 13. e4
$14 {Topalov,V (2707)-Campora,D (2526) Barcelona 2000 (1-0, 40)}) (9... f6 {
was played in a historic match, a long, long time ago, but deserves closer
investigation.} 10. Bg3 (10. Ng5 {is interesting but may well lead only to a
draw:} fxe5 11. Qxh5 Bxg5 12. Qxh7+ Kf7 13. Qh5+ (13. Bg6+ Kf6 14. Bh5 Bh6 15.
g4 Ke7 16. g5 Rh8 17. Qg6 Qf8 {parries the attack.}) 13... Kg8 $11 14. Bh7+ $2
Kh8 15. Bg6+ Bh6 $19) 10... f5 {In a way, Black won a tempo over
Topalov-Camora above. But it could well turn that he has actually lost a tempo,
depending on the ulterior course of the game.} 11. Ng5 $2 {Steinitz,W-Chigorin,
M Nuremberg 1896 (1-0, 33)} (11. Be5 $5 {would really throw away a tempo.}) (
11. b4 $5 Nxg3 12. hxg3 g6 {[%cal Ge7f6,Ge6e5]} 13. b5 e5 $1) 11... Nxc5 $1 12.
dxc5 Nxg3 13. Nxe6 Bxe6 14. hxg3 Bxc5 $17) (9... Nxe5 10. Nxe5 g6 ({If} 10...
Nf6 11. Qc2 $14 {Black cannot free himself easily, since ...Nd7 would require
weakening the kingside with either ...h6 ot ...g6. This would be at least
risky given that White can still castle long.}) 11. h4 $36 Bxh4 $2 12. Qg4 Bf6
13. Rxh5 $18) 10. h4 {[%emt 0:00:07] In some cases, this could prove an useful
move for the attack, but clearing the h2-square for the bishop is at least as
important.} f5 $6 {[%emt 0:13:01] Allowing White to keep his bishop is
strategically risky.} ({True, embarking the following line against Topalov
would imply risks of a different nature.} 10... Nxe5 11. Nxe5 f6 12. Nxg6 hxg6
13. Qg4 f5 14. Qxg6+ Ng7 15. h5 {The engines are sceptical about this whole
plan, but Topalov has more than once proven he deals well with positions
offering unclear compensation. It was precisely this kind of anti-computer
chess that, basically avoiding his opponent's preparation, yielded him the
supreme crown in 2005.} Rf6 (15... Kh8 $5) 16. Qg5 Kf7 17. Ne2 Qh8 18. Nf4 Qh6
19. Qg3 Ke8 20. Be2 b6 21. Ng6 Bd7 22. b4 $44 {Black is under no immediate
threats, but freeing himself is almost impossible.}) 11. Bh2 $1 $14 {[%emt 0:
07:01]} b6 {[%emt 0:08:01]} (11... Bxh4 {is another form of risky material
grabbing.} 12. Nxh4 Qxh4 13. Qd2 e5 14. O-O-O $36 {[%csl Gg8]}) 12. b4 {
[%emt 0:04:03]} f4 {[%emt 0:03:44] Kramnik must have relied on this way of
neutralising the bishop, but since the h5-knight is doomed to defend the
f4-pawn, Black cannot really hope to be a piece up for practical reasons in
any other area of the board.} 13. O-O {[%emt 0:11:15]} a5 $2 {[%emt 0:31:37]
Playing with fire.} (13... bxc5 14. bxc5 e5 15. Qa4 Qc7 (15... Bb7 16. Rab1)
16. Rab1 $32 e4 $6 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Bxe4 $16) (13... Bb7 $5 $14) 14. b5 $1 $16
{[%emt 0:04:22] Kramnik surely saw this (it is just too thematic), but he must
have overlooked something at a slightly later moment.} (14. a3 axb4 15. axb4
Rxa1 16. Qxa1 bxc5 17. bxc5 e5 $11) 14... bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:31]} (14... Bb7 15.
bxc6 Bxc6 16. cxb6 Qxb6 17. Qe2 $16 {[%cal Ga1b1,Gf1c1]}) 15. bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:
07]} Nb8 {[%emt 0:03:05]} 16. Bb5 {[%emt 0:04:10]} Ba6 {[%emt 0:07:48]} 17. a4
$16 {[%emt 0:05:06] Kramnik must have thought he would get the c6-pawn without
any problems, underestimating White's dynamic potential.} Qc8 {[%emt 0:00:31]}
(17... c4 18. exf4 Nxf4 19. Ne2 {[%cal Gc6c7,Gh2c7]} Bd6 20. Nxf4 Bxf4 21. Bxf4
Rxf4 22. h5 gxh5 23. Ne5 $18 {[%csl Ga8,Gb8,Rg8]}) 18. dxc5 {[%emt 0:02:29]}
Nxc6 {[%emt 0:13:23]} 19. Nxd5 $1 {[%emt 0:08:20] The point.} exd5 {[%emt 0:00:
47]} 20. Qxd5+ {[%emt 0:00:08]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:01:51]} 21. Qxc6 {[%emt 0:00:09]}
Qxc6 {[%emt 0:01:58]} 22. Bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rac8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 23. Bb5 {
[%emt 0:03:33]} Bxb5 {[%emt 0:00:55]} 24. axb5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bxc5 {[%emt 0:
00:03]} 25. Rxa5 {[%emt 0:04:01]} fxe3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 26. fxe3 {[%emt 0:00:
05]} Bxe3+ {[%emt 0:00:18]} 27. Kh1 $16 {[%emt 0:00:05] Black has limited the
damage to the loss of just one pawn. Still, that pawn is quite dangerous.} Rc2
$2 {[%emt 0:11:36] This counterplay will fail.} ({It would have made sense to
stop the pawn somehow.} 27... Nf6 28. Rb1 Nd5 $16) 28. Rb1 $18 {[%emt 0:05:31]}
Rfc8 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 29. Raa1 {[%emt 0:05:52]} Bb6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 30. Be5+ {
[%emt 0:05:35]} Kg8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 31. Ra6 $18 {[%emt 0:00:19] There is no
way to stop the pawn now.} Be3 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 32. b6 {[%emt 0:04:22]} Rc1+ {
[%emt 0:00:09]} 33. Rxc1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Rxc1+ {[%emt 0:00:02]} 34. Kh2 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 35. g4 $1 {[%emt 0:03:42] The start of a
well-calculated execution.} Bf4+ {[%emt 0:03:10]} 36. Kg2 {[%emt 0:02:04]} Bxe5
{[%emt 0:00:49]} 37. Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nf4+ {[%emt 0:01:21]} 38. Kf3 {
[%emt 0:00:20]} Ne6 {[%emt 0:02:29]} (38... Nd5 39. Ra8+ Kg7 40. Ra7+ Kf6 41.
Nd7+ Ke6 42. b7 $18) 39. b7 {[%emt 0:05:20]} Rb3+ {[%emt 0:01:23]} 40. Kf2 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Rb2+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Ke3 {[%emt 0:02:01]} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.27"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B49"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Be2 b5 (7...
Nf6 {is the big main line.}) 8. Nxc6 dxc6 (8... Qxc6 {is by far more popular
than the text move.}) 9. a4 {A logical decision, Topalov immediately attacks
Black's queenside.} (9. O-O {has also been tried} Bb7 10. a4 b4 11. Nb1 c5 12.
Nd2 Nf6 13. Bd3 ({now} 13. f3 $6 {is not so good, because of} Bd6 $1) 13... Be7
{was more solid.} (13... c4 14. Nxc4 Nxe4 {(Korneev-Brodsky, Sochi 2012)} 15.
Qg4 $36 {with a great initiative for the pawn.}) 14. Qe2 O-O 15. f3 {and
White's position looks more comfortable.}) 9... b4 (9... Bb7 10. O-O {
transposes to 9.0-0.}) 10. Nb1 Nf6 (10... Bb7 {was an alternative} 11. Nd2 Nf6
12. f3 (12. Bd3 Nd7 13. Qe2 Bc5 14. Nc4 O-O 15. a5 $14 {with a comfortable
position for White.} (15. e5 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 c5 17. f4 Bd5 18. O-O Bxc4 19. Bxc4
Nb6 $13 {Dragun-Malakhatko, Warsaw 2011.})) 12... Be7 (12... Rd8 13. Qc1 $14 {
followed by Nc4.}) 13. Nc4 $14 {and White is slightly better.}) 11. Nd2 c5 (
11... Bb7 {transposes to 10...Bb7.}) 12. f3 $1 (12. O-O {was also possible,
but I prefer the text move, because he is immediately preparing for Nc4.})
12... Bb7 (12... Bd6 $2 {is bad now, since} 13. Nc4 Bxh2 $2 14. Rxh2 $1 Qxh2
15. Bxc5 $18 {and White is winning.}) 13. Nc4 Nd7 (13... Be7 14. Qc1 O-O (14...
Nd7 {transposes to the game.}) 15. Bf4 $14 {and White is slightly better.}) 14.
Qc1 $1 {A nice positional move. White prepares for the unpleasant Bf4 and he
is very strong on the dark squares.} Be7 15. O-O (15. Bf4 e5 16. Bg3 {is very
similar to the game.}) 15... O-O 16. Bf4 e5 {This isn't a pretty move, but it
is forced.} ({In the event of} 16... Qc6 $6 17. Rd1 $36 ({or} 17. Na5 {and
White looks nicely placed.})) 17. Bg3 h6 18. c3 a5 19. Qc2 {White improves his
pieces.} Ba6 20. Rfd1 (20. Ne3 $5 {was an interesting alternative:} b3 (20...
c4 21. Nd5 Bc5+ 22. Kh1 $36 {and White has a nice initiative.}) 21. Qd2 Bg5 22.
Bxa6 Rxa6 23. Nd5 $14) 20... Rfd8 21. b3 {A natural move, but} (21. Rd5 $1 {
was more accurate, for example} Bb7 22. Nxe5 $1 {A brilliant tactical blow!}
Bxd5 23. Nxf7 Qb6 24. exd5 Kxf7 25. d6 $1 $18 {followed by Bc4 with a decisive
attack.}) 21... Bg5 22. Bf2 Nf8 23. cxb4 cxb4 $6 {An inaccuacy. After this,
White will control the d-file.} (23... axb4 {should have been played.}) 24. Bb6
$1 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Qb8 26. Bf2 $1 {Simple, but strong!} Qc7 (26... Bd8 $142 {
was more exact.}) 27. Rd5 Rc8 28. h4 ({The engine suggests} 28. Rc5 {, but I
think Topalov didn't want to allow} Qxc5 29. Bxc5 Rxc5 {White looks better,
however Black has a stable position. It isn't so easy to find any weaknesses
in Black's position.}) 28... Be7 29. Qd2 Rd8 $2 {Loses immediately, but
Black's position was already difficult.} ({Still} 29... Bxc4 {was the only
chance} 30. Bxc4 Rd8 31. Rxd8 Bxd8 32. Qd5 {, but Black has to face a long
period of torture.}) 30. Bb6 $1 $18 Rxd5 31. Qxd5 Qb8 32. Qxa5 Bxc4 33. Bxc4
Qd6 34. Bf2 Qd1+ 35. Kh2 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.09"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E21"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bg5 c5 {Thanks to his castled king
Black is able to start real counterplay in the centre.} 6. Rc1 h6 7. Bh4 cxd4 (
7... g5 8. Bg3 Ne4 9. e3 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nc6 11. Bd3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Nxg3 13. hxg3
Kg7 14. Qh5 Rh8 15. f4 d5 16. O-O dxc4 17. Nxc6 bxc6 18. fxg5 Qe7 19. Rf6 Bd7
20. Rcf1 {1-0 (20) Bacrot,E (2725)-Inkiov,V (2465) Haguenau 2013}) 8. Nxd4 d5 {
Kramnik is right to hurry up with active operations in the centre as with each
move the opponent will be closer to complete development including the king
being brought to safety. The pawn advance to d5 is a relatively rare
continuation as Black has predominantly been testing other ideas.} (8... Nc6 9.
a3 (9. e3 e5 (9... b6 10. Ndb5 (10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O {1/2 (11) Marin,M (2475)
-Andersson,U (2600) Szirak 1987}) 10... Be7 11. Be2 Ne8 12. Bg3 d6 13. O-O Bb7
14. Bf3 a6 15. Nd4 Qc8 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Nd5 Bd8 18. Nb4 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Ra7 20.
Qc6 Qxc6 21. Nxc6 $14 {1-0 (53) Bacrot,E (2706)-Rau,H (2464) Deizisau 2012}) (
9... Bxc3+ 10. Rxc3 g5 11. Bg3 Ne4 12. Ra3 Qe7 13. Bd3 Qb4+ 14. Kf1 Qxb2 15.
Bxe4 Qxa3 16. h4 Nxd4 17. hxg5 Nf5 18. Bxf5 exf5 19. Be5 f6 20. Bd6 Qc3 21.
Rxh6 Rf7 22. Rg6+ $18 {1-0 (28) Sedlak,N (2553)-Perunovic,M (2580) Vrsac 2008})
(9... d6 10. Bd3 Bd7 11. O-O Ne5 12. a3 Bxc3 13. Rxc3 Rc8 14. f4 Nxd3 15. Qxd3
d5 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Rfc1 Rxc3 19. Rxc3 Qb6 20. Rb3 Qc7 21. Kf2
$11 {1/2 (36) Barsov,A (2525)-Campora,D (2505) Catalan Bay 2003}) (9... Be7 10.
Be2 d5 11. O-O Bd7 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Bxe7 Ncxe7 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bf3 Rc8 16.
Bxd5 exd5 17. Qb3 Bc6 18. Rc3 Qb6 19. Qxb6 axb6 20. Rb3 Ra8 21. a3 $16 {
1-0 (73) Zhang,Z (2649)-Hussein,H (2354) Beijing 2008}) 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Ndb5
Rd8 12. Be2 d6 13. O-O Bxc3 14. Nxc3 Be6 15. Qb3 Rd7 16. Rfd1 Rad8 17. Rd2 Qg6
18. Rcd1 e4 19. Qc2 Bf5 20. Kh1 Ne5 21. Rd5 $11 {1-0 (58) Bacrot,E (2645)
-Socko,B (2551) Rethymnon 2003}) 9... Bxc3+ 10. Rxc3 g5 11. Bg3 Ne4 12. Nb5
Nxc3 13. Nxc3 d5 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Qxd5 Be6 16. Qxd8 Rfxd8 17. e3 Rac8 18. h4
g4 19. Be2 Na5 20. Be5 Nc4 21. Bxc4 Bxc4 $15 {1/2 (54) Anand,V (2784)-Timman,J
(2649) Wijk aan Zee 1999}) (8... b6 9. e3 Bb7 10. Ndb5 $1 Na6 11. Nd6 Bxd6 12.
Qxd6 Rc8 (12... Qc7 13. Nb5 $16) 13. f3 Rc6 14. Qd4 Qe7 15. Be2 (15. Rd1 Rd8
16. Be2 $16) 15... g5 $6 (15... Nc7 16. O-O d5 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Bd3 $16) 16.
Bg3 d5 (16... Nh5 17. Rd1 (17. Bf2 f5 18. h4 $16) 17... Nxg3 18. hxg3 Rd8 19.
Ne4 $16) 17. h4 (17. Be5 Nd7 18. cxd5 exd5 19. Bg3 $16) 17... Nh5 (17... dxc4
$2 18. hxg5 hxg5 19. Ne4 Nh7 20. Bd6 $18) 18. Bf2 Ng7 19. hxg5 hxg5 (19... Qxg5
20. cxd5 exd5 21. g4 $16) 20. Qe5 $5 {1-0 (36) Ponomariov,R (2705)-Polgar,J 
(2708) Vitoria Gasteiz 2007} (20. cxd5 exd5 21. Bb5 Rc5 22. a3 $16)) (8... g5
9. Bg3 Ne4 10. Ndb5 f5 11. Bc7 Qe7 12. f3 a6 13. a3 axb5 14. axb4 Na6 15. Be5
d6 16. Bd4 Nxc3 17. Bxc3 bxc4 18. e4 fxe4 19. Bxc4 b5 20. Bb3 Bb7 21. Qd4 Kh7
$11 {1-0 (62) Bauer,C (2640)-Cheparinov,I (2621) Metz 2005}) (8... Be7 9. e3 d6
10. Be2 Nc6 11. O-O a6 12. Bg3 Bd7 13. Nb3 Ne5 14. c5 Qb8 15. f4 Ng6 16. e4 e5
17. fxe5 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 dxe5 19. Rxf6 Bxf6 20. Qxd7 $18 {1-0 (33) Gonzalez
Garcia,J (2522)-Hernandez Carmenates,H (2570) Barbera del Valles 2011}) 9. Bxf6
(9. e3 e5 10. Nf3 g5 11. Bg3 d4 12. exd4 exd4 13. Nxd4 (13. Qxd4 Re8+ 14. Be2
Qe7 15. O-O Nc6 16. Qe3 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Qxe3 18. fxe3 Rxe3 19. Nd4 $11) 13... Qb6
14. Ndb5 Bg4 15. Be2 Bxe2 16. Kxe2 Qe6+ 17. Kf1 Qxc4+ 18. Qe2 Qxe2+ 19. Kxe2
Re8+ 20. Kd3 Nc6 $11 {1/2 (56) Wojtaszek,R (2701)-Tkachiev,V (2632) Legnica
2013}) (9. cxd5 g5 (9... exd5 10. e3 Nc6 11. Be2 Re8 12. O-O g5 13. Bg3 Bxc3
14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Rxc3 Bd7 16. f3 Re6 17. Qd2 Qe7 18. Rfc1 Nh5 19. Bf2 Nf4 20.
Ba6 Ng6 21. Bb7 Rd8 22. Qd4 $16 {1/2 (41) Byrne,R-Wexler,B Leipzig 1960}) 10.
Bg3 Qxd5 11. a3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Rd8 13. Nb5 Na6 14. f3 Bd7 15. e4 Qc5 16. Qd4
Bxb5 17. Qxc5 Nxc5 18. Bxb5 a6 19. Be2 Nh5 20. Bf2 Rac8 21. Rc2 Nd3+ 22. Kf1
Nhf4 $11 {1/2 (37) Ipatov,A (2569)-Smirnov,P (2618) Moscow 2013}) 9... Qxf6 10.
cxd5 Rd8 {The former world champion is working hard on chess and often his
analyses are surprisingly deep. Black could have tried the simple recapturing
with pawn with a fair position.} (10... exd5 11. e3 Nc6 12. a3 Bxc3+ 13. Rxc3
Qg6 $11) 11. e3 (11. e4 $2 exd5 $19) 11... Rxd5 (11... exd5 12. a3 Bxc3+ 13.
Rxc3 Nc6 $11) 12. Qb3 Rxd4 $6 {[%mdl 1028] The game was very important for
both players who have not been on friendly terms ever since their world
championship match. Kramnik tries to punish Topalov with active play over the
board. Unfortunately the exchange sacrifice is not forced and most likely also
not the strongest line.} (12... Qe7 13. Bd3 Rd8 14. O-O Nc6 $11) 13. exd4 Nc6
14. Bb5 $1 Qf4 {Black gets cold feet at the moment when he could shock his
adversary with the sacrifice of the rook with 14...Nxd4!? The whole system is
very spirited, but Black has no reason to believe that he can gain an opening
advantage.} (14... Qxd4 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. O-O $14) (14... Nxd4 $5 15. Qxb4 Qf4
16. Kd1 (16. Qe7 Qxc1+ 17. Nd1 Nc2+ 18. Ke2 Nd4+ 19. Ke1 e5 $19) 16... e5 17.
Ne2 (17. Rf1 Bg4+ 18. f3 Rd8 19. Qe7 Nc6+ 20. Qxd8+ Nxd8 21. fxg4 Qxg4+ 22. Kc2
$14) 17... Nxe2 18. Qxf4 Nxf4 19. Re1 Bf5 20. Rc5 $14) 15. O-O Nxd4 16. Qd1 (
16. Qc4 $5 Bd6 (16... a6 17. Rfd1 e5 18. Nd5 Qg4 19. Qxb4 axb5 20. Kh1 $14) 17.
g3 Qg4 18. Rfd1 e5 19. Qd5 Be7 20. Rd3 $14) 16... Bxc3 $6 {Even in the battle
of two former world champions the positional rules are still more than valid.
Kramnik is diminishing his chances by the exchange of his dark-squared bishop
for the knight at the moment when a simple retreat would have offered near
equality.} (16... Ba5 17. Bd3 e5 $11) 17. Rxc3 e5 (17... Nxb5 $2 18. Qd8+ Kh7
19. Rxc8 $16) (17... Qd6 18. Bc4 e5 19. Qh5 Be6 20. Bxe6 Qxe6 21. Rc7 $14) 18.
Bc4 (18. Qc1 $5 Be6 19. Bd3 $14) 18... Bd7 19. Qc1 Qf6 (19... Qxc1 20. Rfxc1
Bc6 21. f3 $14) 20. Qe3 Bc6 21. Bd3 {White is very disciplined and he is
working hard on stabilising his position in the centre. Black's chances for
active counterplay will be honed down to a minimum.} Re8 (21... Qd6 22. Be4
Bxe4 23. Qxe4 Rd8 24. Re3 Nc6 25. f4 exf4 26. Qxf4 $14) 22. Be4 Bb5 (22... Qd6
23. Bxc6 bxc6 24. Rc4 Rb8 25. b3 Rd8 26. Re1 $14) 23. Re1 Qa6 $2 {Kramnik did
not play this spirited opening with the hope of defending passively. His
striving for active play is perfectly understandable, but White will benefit
more from the conflict.} (23... Qe7 24. b3 $14) 24. Rc7 $1 Qxa2 (24... Bc6 25.
Bxc6 bxc6 26. Qa3 $1 $16) 25. Rxb7 a6 (25... Qxb2 26. Rb1 Qe2 27. R7xb5 Qxe3
28. fxe3 Nxb5 29. Rxb5 $18) 26. b3 Rd8 $6 {The nerves are ticking and Black is
not willing to admit that only passive defence can offer some chances of
survival.} (26... Rf8 27. Bb1 Qb2 28. h3 Ne2+ 29. Kh2 Nf4 30. Rc7 Nd5 31. Qe4
Nf6 32. Qf5 $16) 27. Bd5 $1 Ne2+ (27... Rxd5 28. Rb8+ Kh7 29. Qe4+ f5 30. Qxd5
$18) 28. Kh1 (28. Rxe2 $2 Qxe2 29. Bxf7+ Kh8 30. Qxe2 Bxe2 31. h4 $14) 28...
Nf4 (28... Qc2 29. Bxf7+ Kh8 30. Bc4 Qd1 (30... Bxc4 31. Qxe5 Qc3 32. Qxc3 Nxc3
33. bxc4 $18) 31. Qxe2 Qxe2 32. Bxe2 Bxe2 33. h3 $18) 29. Bxf7+ Kh8 30. Qb6 $6
{Topalov is not immune to trepidations of his own. In the heat of the fight he
chooses exactly the wrong method of bringing his queen closer to the black
king.} (30. Rb6 $1 Qd2 31. Rb8 Qd6 32. Rxd8+ Qxd8 33. Qxe5 Nd3 34. Qe7 $18) (
30. Qxe5 Qxf2 31. Bd5 $1 Nh5 32. Bf3 Nf6 33. Rf7 $18) 30... Qd2 31. Rg1 Kh7 $6
{A nervous move, ignoring the golden chance to complicate matters with a
spectacular hidden resource. In the battle of two computers we would have seen
31..Nh3!!, but instead we are witnessing the merciless duel of two ex-world
champions.} (31... Nh3 $3 32. gxh3 Be2 33. Qc6 Qd3 34. Bd5 Qxd5+ 35. Qxd5 Rxd5
36. Rc1 $16) (31... Qd4 32. h3 $18) 32. h3 Rd6 (32... Qd4 33. Bc4 $18) 33. Qc7
Bd7 (33... Rd7 34. Qb8 Rd8 35. Qxe5 Qxf2 36. Bg6+ $18) 34. Qb8 {Exactly this
picture was the defender's worst nightmares. Black is unable to defend the 8th
rank so he chooses to play va-banque.} h5 $8 35. Qg8+ Kh6 36. Qh8+ Kg5 37.
Qxg7+ Kf5 38. Bxh5 {Time trouble is lurking around the corner and White
probably had no time to choose the best winning line. Fortunately for the
aggressor his position is completely winning in most sensible lines.} (38. f3
Nd3 39. Rxd7 Rxd7 40. Qg6+ Kf4 41. g3+ Kxf3 42. Qf5+ Ke3 43. Qg5+ Nf4 44. Qxe5+
$18) (38. Bg8 $1 Ng6 39. Bh7 Be8 40. Re7 Re6 41. Rxe8 $18) 38... Nxh5 39. Qg4+
Kf6 40. Qxh5 Qxf2 41. Qh6+ {Even after the time control Topalov is not ready
to play the best moves, he just wants to grab his deserved point and run...} (
41. Rb8 $1 Ke6 42. Qg4+ Ke7 43. Qg7+ Ke6 44. Rf8 $18) 41... Ke7 42. Qg7+ Ke6
43. Qg4+ Ke7 44. Rd1 {Material and positional superiority is rendering any
resistance by Black pointless.} (44. Rd1 Rxd1+ 45. Qxd1 Qf5 46. h4 Ke8 47. Kg1
$18) 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.12"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Agdestein, Simen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2628"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Nd5 Bc5 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. e3
$5 {I must confess it comes as a surprise that this is so effective.} ({
In my English trilogy I recommended} 8. d3 h6 (8... Nxd5 9. cxd5 Nd4 10. Nxd4
Bxd4 11. e3 Bb6 12. a4 a5 13. Bd2 {leads to slightly more pleasant play for
White, for instance} Bd7 14. Qc2 c6 15. Qb3 Rb8 16. f4 {Reinderman,D (2601)
-Rublevsky,S (2678) Aix-les-Bains 2011 (1-0, 43)}) 9. e3 a6 ({Or if} 9... a5
10. b3 Ba7 {the a5-pawn slows down the attack based on b3-b4, but weakens the
b5-square, justifying} 11. Nc3 $5) 10. b3 Ba7 (10... Nxd5 11. cxd5 Ne7 12. d4
$14) 11. Nxf6+ $1 ({But now the threat of taking on d5 was real:} 11. Bb2 $6
Nxd5 12. cxd5 Ne7) 11... Qxf6 12. Bb2 Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. Bc3 {White's
queenside attack will develop naturally while for Black it is not easy to take
advantage of the pin, since the queen is blocking the f-pawn.} Qe7 {This
releases the pressure, simplifying White's play.} ({But even after something
like} 14... Rae8 15. b4 Nd8 16. Rc1 Ne6 17. c5 {White's position is more
pleasant.}) (14... a5 15. a3) 15. b4 f5 16. Qb3 {The start of a smart
regrouping aimed at taking the steam out of Black's attack.} Kh8 17. Qb2 Nd8
18. Rae1 Ne6 19. Nd2 c6 20. Kh2 Rad8 21. f4 Bb8 22. Nf3 $14 {Rogozenco,D (2576)
-Wells,P (2476) Germany 1999 (1-0, 32). There is no black attack left and
White's pieces are better placed while his structure is more flexible.}) 8...
a6 9. b3 {A rare move.} (9. d3 {is more popular. In principle it leads to the
same type of positions as after 8.d3, with the difference that Black has saved
on the tempo ...h7-h6. One recent high level example is} Ba7 10. Nxf6+ Qxf6 11.
Bd2 Qg6 12. Bc3 {Grischuk,A (2785)-Adams,M (2752) Warsaw 2013 CBM 158 [Adams,M]
(1/2-1/2, 48). From Adams' comments it can be inferred that the position is
roughly equal but just more pleasnt for White.}) 9... Ba7 10. Bb2 Nxd5 {
There were no reasons to refrain from this exchange, allthough it will appear
that White is well prepared against it.} (10... h6 11. d4 exd4 12. Nxd4 $14) (
10... Be6 11. Ng5 Bxd5 12. cxd5 Nb4 13. Qb1 h6 14. a3 hxg5 15. axb4 $14) 11.
cxd5 Ne7 12. Nh4 $5 {This is the move which gives meaning to the whole plan.
Since ...g7-g5 is risky in most of the cases, the knight clears the path for
the f-pawn in the most active way.} ({With the bishop on a7} 12. d4 {is
pointless due to} e4) 12... f5 $146 ({The game introducing the whole plan,
played just three days earlier (!) proves how dangerous White's attack could
be:} 12... c6 13. dxc6 Nxc6 (13... bxc6 14. Rc1 {[%cal Gd2d4,Gf2f4]}) 14. f4
exf4 (14... d5 15. fxe5 d4 16. Qe2 dxe3 17. dxe3 Qg5 18. Rae1 $36 {[%csl Ga8,
Gb7,Gc8]}) 15. Rxf4 d5 16. Qh5 Bb8 (16... Be6 17. Raf1 $40) 17. Rf2 d4 18. Be4
h6 19. Raf1 Be6 20. Nf5 $18 {Swiercz,D (2613)-Balogh,C (2648) Budapest 2014 
(1-0, 36)}) (12... g5 13. Nf3 f6 14. Ne1 $14 {[%cal Gd2d4,Gf2f4]}) 13. f4 $6 {
Too straightforward.} ({It would have made sense to develop before starting
concrete action.} 13. Rc1 {We will see that the rook can prove useful here.} g5
(13... Bb6 {[%csl Gc7]} 14. f4 e4 15. g4 Nxd5 16. Nxf5 Bxf5 17. gxf5 Qe7 18.
Rc4 $1 {This is the moment when the rook's previous development is essential!})
14. Nf3 h6 (14... Nxd5 15. Nxg5 Nf6 16. d4 $36) (14... Ng6 15. Qc2 Rf7 16. d4
e4 17. Nd2 {[%csl Ga7][%cal Gf2f3,Gg3g4]}) 15. Qc2 Bb6 (15... c6 16. dxc6 Nxc6
17. Nxe5 $3 Nxe5 (17... dxe5 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Qxc6) 18. f4 $36) 16. Qc4 {
This is the square for the knight, but White needs to defend d5 before playing
d3 and Nd2.} Kh7 17. d3 Bd7 18. Nd2 $14 {[%csl Gb6][%cal Gc4c2,Gd2c4,Gf2f4]})
13... e4 14. g4 Nxd5 15. Nxf5 Bxf5 16. gxf5 Qe7 17. Kh1 Nf6 {Black has no
special reasons to complain, but the position remains tense.} 18. d3 {I would
not create myself a weakness so easily.} ({The hypermodern approach, ignoring
the centre, would be} 18. Rg1 d5 19. Bf1 c6 20. Qe1 $13) 18... c6 (18... Bxe3
19. dxe4 $14) 19. dxe4 (19. Bxf6 Rxf6 20. dxe4 Bxe3 $15) 19... Nxe4 20. Qc2
Rae8 $15 {/=} 21. Rg1 Nf6 (21... Rxf5 22. Qxe4 Qxe4 23. Bxe4 Rxe4 24. Rxg7+ Kf8
25. Rxb7 Bxe3 26. Re1 $44) 22. Rae1 Qf7 (22... d5 23. Be5 $11) 23. e4 $2 (23.
Qd2 {looks OK for White.}) 23... d5 $1 (23... Bxg1 24. Rxg1 $44) 24. Bxf6 (24.
e5 Ng4 25. Rgf1 Qxf5 $17) 24... Bxg1 25. Be5 Ba7 26. exd5 cxd5 $17 {White does
not have enough compensation for the exchange.} 27. Qd3 Rd8 28. Rc1 Rd7 29. Bh3
Re7 30. Qg3 Kh8 31. Rc2 Bb8 32. Bg4 d4 33. Kg1 d3 34. Rd2 Qd5 35. Rxd3 Ba7+ 36.
Kf1 Qh1+ 37. Ke2 Qe4+ 38. Kd1 Bb8 39. Qf3 Qxf3+ 40. Bxf3 Bxe5 41. fxe5 Rxe5 42.
Bxb7 Rexf5 43. a4 a5 44. h3 Rf2 45. Ba6 g5 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.04"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A85"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2698"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Spain"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ESP"]

{It may seem strange that in my day by day comments for chessbase.com I have
put the Leningrad Dutch into the same category as the Berlin and the Petroff
defences. The Dutch is highly non-symmetrical and has been traditionally
considered a good weapon to play for a win by asccepting high positional risks.
However, over the past years White has systematically failed to prove an
advantage in the main lines with g2-g3, so players like Kramnik and Aronian
have started experimenting with rare and unexplored systems of developing.
Besides, the description "wall" surely applies to the structure Black is
aiming for, maybe to a higher extent than in the aforementioned openings. On
basis of all these considerations, I hope you will welcome the Leningrad Dutch
into the group of wall-defences.} 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 {Topalov also
deviates from the main lines.} e6 $5 {Not really switching to another system.
The positional threat of ...Bb4 as well as the possibility to switch to the
Stonewall later induces the next move after which Black will be ready to
continue his Leningrad style development.} 4. a3 (4. e3 {is surely playable,
but Topalov wanted his bishop to go to f4.} Bb4 (4... d5 5. Bd3 c6 6. Qc2 Bd6
7. f3 O-O 8. Nge2 Qc7 9. cxd5 $1 {Kortschnoj,V (2625)-Nikolic,P (2635)
Sarajevo 1998 CBM 066 [Tyomkin,D] (1-0, 49)}) 5. Nge2 O-O 6. a3 Be7 7. g3 d5 {
1/2-1/2 (27) Morovic Fernandez,I (2551)-Rodriguez Vila,A (2479) Santos 2003
CBM 095 [Roiz,M]}) ({As for} 4. Bf4 {it seems that it allows} Bb4 {in optimal
form, since the consolidating Nge2 is not available yet.} 5. Rc1 b6 6. Nf3 Bb7
7. e3 O-O 8. Be2 Ne4 $132 9. h4 $5 d6 10. Ng5 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Nxg5 (11... Qe7 $5
) 12. Bxg5 (12. hxg5 $5 Bxg2 13. Rh2 $44 {White has all kind of positional
threats such as d4-d5, c4-c5 or doubling along the h-file. The bishop has to
retreat to either e4 or c6, which are both vulnerable squares, since} Bb7 $2
14. Bf3 $1 $16 {would speed up White's queen's transfer to h3 or h5.}) 12...
Qe8 13. Bh5 Qd7 14. d5 Na6 $15 {Ipatov,A (2454)-Narciso Dublan,M (2553)
Badalona 2009 (0-1, 34)}) 4... g6 {At GM level a novelty. It had been played
in a few games between low rated players.} (4... d5 {does not seem entirely
logical, as White has not obstructed his c1-bishop yet.} 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 $14 {
Mihailovs,J (2405)-Moskalenko,V (2565) Barcelona 2010 (1/2-1/2, 34)}) 5. Bf4
$146 {Reminiscent of Aronian-Van Wely, Wijk aan Zee 2014.} Bg7 6. e3 O-O 7. Nf3
d6 8. Be2 {I would rate that the first opening duel has yielded Black some
success. At the moment, the move ...e7-e6 is more useful than a2-a3. It
prevents a central blockade based on d4-d5 and allows the queen's development
to e7.} h6 {The plan introduced by this move loses time and results in the
weakening of the light squares.} ({I would prefer} 8... Nc6 9. Qc2 Qe7 {
, preparing either ...e6-e5 or ...Nd8-f7.}) ({Or if Black wanted to develop
his queen's bishop to b7, he should have done it without weakening the f5-pawn
anyway:} 8... b6 9. O-O Bb7) 9. h3 g5 $2 {The illusion of playing against the
f4-bishop proves too strong.} ({In principle, ...h7-h6 may be useful by
preventing Nf3-g5, so it was not late for Black to switch back to a better
plan:} 9... Nbd7 10. Qc2 b6) 10. Bh2 Nbd7 ({The same plan as above does not
work out so well now:} 10... Qe7 11. Qc2 Nc6 12. d5 Nd8 13. Bd3 {and f5 is
hard to defend.}) 11. Qc2 b6 12. Rd1 Kh8 13. b4 Bb7 14. d5 $1 {After the
bishop has emerged on b7, this is just natural. For the time being, Black has
indirect ways of defending the f5-pawn, but these are only temporary solutions
while the core of the problem will persist.} e5 $5 15. Nd2 (15. Qxf5 $6 {
does not work out well due to:} Nxd5 16. Qc2 Nxc3 17. Qxc3 e4 18. Nd4 c5) 15...
c6 $6 {There was no need to weaken the d6-pawn so soon. True, the bishop is
temporarily passive on b7, but could be recycled with a later ...Bb7-c8.} ({
The neutral} 15... a5 {is an important alternative.}) ({I would mainly consider
} 15... f4 {, removing the problems with the hanging pawn and giving the
h2-bishop a hard time. The computer is quite sceptical about my idea, but
engines tend to underestimate the importance of cutting such bishops off-play.
I would surely not castle in this position despite Houdini's optimism. Most
likely, White would have to switch to King's Indian play with} 16. e4 Qe7 17.
f3 h5 18. Bg1 Bh6 19. Bf2 Kg7 20. Nb3 $16 {White's queenside attack is more
realistic than Black's kingside counterplay, which would mainly weaken his own
king.}) 16. dxc6 Bxc6 17. O-O Rc8 ({Due to the weaknesses along the d-file, it
is too late for} 17... f4 18. Nde4 {already.}) 18. Qxf5 $1 {Just like in the
game Leko-Wang, White destroys the wall with a positional queen sacrifice.} Ne4
19. Qxf8+ $1 Bxf8 20. Ndxe4 Qc7 21. Rd2 Kg7 22. Rfd1 {As I mentioned on my
Leningrad Dutch DVD, when things go wrong for Black in this opening, they can
really spoil your day. Soon there will be only ruins left out of the black
wall.} Nf6 23. Nxd6 Bxd6 24. Rxd6 Qe7 25. Bg3 Be8 26. Rxf6 $5 {Not really
necessary, but strong enough and rather typical for Topalov, who likes playing
with minor pieces against major pieces.} (26. b5 $16 {[%cal Ga3a4]}) 26... Qxf6
27. Ne4 Qg6 $8 (27... Qe7 28. Nd6 {[%cal Gd6c8,Gd6f5]}) 28. Nd6 Ba4 (28... Rd8
29. Nf5+ Qxf5 30. Rxd8 $16) (28... Ra8 29. Bf3 Qc2 $8 30. Bxe5+ Kf8 31. Nf5 $40
) 29. Rd5 Qb1+ {The queen's activity is very sterile, since White dominates
the centre and has no weaknesses.} 30. Kh2 Rf8 31. c5 Bb3 32. Rxe5 {Materially
speaking the position is balanced (two minor pieces and three pawns for the
queen) but the exposure of the black king is decisive.} Qc2 33. Bf3 Rxf3 {
The bishops were getting too strong. However, this return sacrifice does not
save the game.} 34. gxf3 bxc5 35. bxc5 Ba4 36. Nf5+ Kg6 37. c6 h5 38. Nd4 Qc4
39. h4 gxh4 40. Bxh4 a5 41. Re6+ Kf7 42. Re7+ Kg6 43. c7 {[%csl Rg6][%cal
Gf3f7]} 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.05"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lupulescu, Constantin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Romania"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ROU"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. dxc5
O-O 9. Qd2 Nxc5 10. O-O-O a6 11. Qf2 b6 12. h4 Qc7 13. Kb1 f6 14. Qg3 f5 15.
Nd4 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 Bb7 17. Qf3 Rf7 18. g4 fxg4 19. Qxg4 Raf8 20. Rg1 b5 21. Ne2
Bc8 22. h5 b4 23. Bh3 Ne4 24. Qg2 Bc5 25. Bxc5 Nxc5 26. Qg3 a5 27. Qe3 Ne4 28.
Bg2 Nc5 29. Rd4 Na4 30. Nc1 Qb6 31. Re1 Nc5 32. b3 Nb7 33. Ne2 Nd8 34. Bh3 Nc6
35. Rd3 Qxe3 36. Rxe3 Re7 37. Rd1 Bd7 38. c4 bxc3 39. Rxc3 Rb8 40. a3 Rb6 41.
Kb2 Kf8 42. Rc5 Be8 43. Bg4 Reb7 44. Rd3 Ke7 45. Rdc3 Bd7 46. Rg3 Kf8 47. Bh3
Ra7 48. Rgc3 Ke7 49. f5 Nxe5 50. fxe6 Bxe6 51. Bxe6 Kxe6 52. Nf4+ Kf7 53. Rxd5
Nd7 54. a4 Nf6 55. Rdc5 Rbb7 56. Ka3 Rd7 57. Rb5 Rd4 58. Rf3 Ke7 59. Re3+ Kd6
60. Rf5 h6 61. Re6+ Kd7 62. Ree5 Kd6 63. Rb5 Kc6 64. Ne6 Rd5 65. Rbxd5 Nxd5 66.
Nd4+ Kc5 67. Nb5 Rd7 68. Nc3 Kd4 69. Rxd5+ Rxd5 70. Nxd5 Kxd5 71. b4 Kd4 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.08"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Ivanisevic, Ivan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2613"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Serbia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SRB"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. a4 a5 8. d3
Be7 9. Be3 Be6 10. Bxb6 cxb6 11. O-O O-O 12. e3 Rc8 13. Nb5 Bf6 14. Rc1 Re8 15.
Nd2 Re7 16. Ne4 Rd7 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. d4 exd4 19. exd4 g6 20. Rc3 Qf5 21. Re1
Rcd8 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23. Rxc6 Bd5 24. Rc3 Bb7 25. Qc1 Qd5 26. f3 Ba6 27. Re4 Bxb5
28. axb5 Qxb5 29. Rc8 Qf5 30. Qc6 Rxc8 31. Qxc8+ Kg7 32. Kg2 Rd6 33. Qc7 Qd5
34. Rf4 Rd7 35. Qxb6 Rb7 36. Qf6+ Kg8 37. Kh3 Rxb2 38. Qe5 Qxe5 39. dxe5 Re2
40. Rf6 Rxe5 41. g4 Re6 42. Rf4 Kf8 43. Ra4 Ra6 44. Kg3 Ke7 45. Kf4 Kd6 46. Kg5
Ra7 47. Kh6 f6 48. h4 Kc5 49. h5 gxh5 50. gxh5 Kb5 51. Ra1 a4 52. f4 a3 53. f5
a2 54. Rc1 a1=Q 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.11"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Cuba"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CUB"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 Nf6 8. f3
e5 9. Nb3 Be6 10. Be3 h5 {This line is one of the favourite weapons of
Dominguez.} 11. Qd2 Nbd7 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 g6 14. Be2 Qc7 15. Rc1 $1 {
A deep move by Topalov. This is more accurate than 15.c4. White avoids 15...
Nb6, because he can answer that with 16.c4 and the b6 N becomes very passive.}
(15. c4 {could have been met by} a5 {.}) 15... Ng8 $5 {At first sight this is
a strange move, but Black prepares for Bh6 to exchange the dark squared B.} ({
Now} 15... a5 $6 {is dubious, as} 16. a4 $1 $14 {and the b5 square is weak.}) (
{Three month previously, Dominguez played} 15... Bg7 16. O-O O-O 17. c4 b6 18.
Na1 Kh7 19. h3 Ng8 20. g4 Qd8 21. gxh5 Qh4 $1 22. hxg6+ fxg6 $44 {with nice
compensation, So-Dominguez Perez, Havana 2014.}) 16. O-O $146 {The first new
move in the game.} (16. c4 Bh6 17. f4 Ne7 (17... exf4 $5 {was also interesting}
18. Bxf4 Bxf4 19. Qxf4 Qb6 $13 {with an unclear middlegame.}) 18. fxe5 Bxe3 19.
Qxe3 Nxe5 20. O-O Nf5 21. Qd2 (21. Rxf5 $5 gxf5 22. c5 $44) 21... b6 $13 {
and Black was active, Mista-Yilmaz, Germany 2014.}) 16... Ne7 ({After the
logical} 16... Bh6 {White can continue with} 17. f4 $36 {and it isn't so easy
for Black to finish his development.}) 17. Bg5 $1 {This is a provocative move
and White avoids Nf5.} f6 ({In the event of} 17... Bg7 18. Kh1 {and Black has
to weaken his position, otherwise he can't castle.}) 18. Be3 O-O-O $1 {An
unexpected, but a great decision. Suddenly Black castles on the queenside,
which is very rare in this type of Najdorf.} ({In the event of} 18... Bg7 $6
19. c4 b6 (19... O-O 20. c5 $1 $36) 20. c5 $1 {What a brilliant break-through!}
bxc5 21. Nxc5 $1 Nxc5 (21... dxc5 22. d6 $18 {with a decisive attack.}) 22. b4
$36 {and Black is in trouble.}) 19. c4 Nf5 20. Bf2 $1 {A brave decision,
Topalov simply sacrifices an exchange.} Kb8 ({After capture the sacrifice with
} 20... Bh6 21. Qb4 Bxc1 22. Rxc1 Kb8 23. Na5 {and White has some compensation
for the exchange.}) 21. Qc3 Bh6 22. Rcd1 Nc5 23. Nd2 (23. Na5 $5 {was an
interesting option,} Be3 (23... Ne3 $2 {is losing, because of the brilliant}
24. b4 $3 Nxd1 25. Rxd1 Nd7 26. c5 $18 {and White has an overwhelming attack!})
(23... Nd4 24. Rfe1 {and White is threatening with b4.}) 24. Bxe3 Nxe3 25. Nc6+
$1 {An important intermediate move!} bxc6 26. Qxe3 $36 {and White has some
initiative.}) 23... Nd4 24. Rfe1 ({Of course} 24. Bxd4 $2 {is bad, as} exd4 25.
Qxd4 $2 Rhe8 $19 {and Black is winning.}) 24... a5 {Black simply prevents b4.}
25. Bf1 f5 ({The engine suggests} 25... Na4 $5 26. Qc1 Nc5 {and it is not so
easy to continue the attack with White.}) 26. Nb3 $1 {A nice move. White has
some space disadvantage, so it is good to exchange Black's unpleasant N.} Ndxb3
27. axb3 e4 $6 {An ambitious reply, but it is not the best.} ({The solid} 27...
Qb6 {was better to avoid b4 and the b3 P is under pressure too.} 28. Ra1 Qb4
29. Qxb4 axb4 30. Bxc5 dxc5 31. Rxe5 Rhe8 $44 {and Black has some compensation
for the P.}) 28. b4 $1 {White immediately grabs the initiative.} axb4 29. Qxb4
Rhe8 (29... exf3 30. gxf3 $16 {is not dangerous for White, his K is safe.}) 30.
fxe4 (30. Qc3 $5 {was also strong.}) 30... fxe4 (30... Rxe4 31. Ra1 $16) 31.
Bd4 e3 $6 {This P will be weaker.} (31... Bg7 32. Be3 Be5 33. Qa3 $1 $16 {
followed by b4 and White is better.}) 32. Qa3 {Prepares for b4.} Re4 33. b4 Na6
34. Be2 $1 $18 {Topalov is playing very strong moves. Now he is threatening
with Bf3. White's position is already winning.} Bg5 35. Bf3 Rxd4 36. Rxd4 Qb6
37. Re4 Qxb4 38. Qxb4 Nxb4 39. h4 Bh6 40. Rd1 (40. Rb1 $18 {was more simple.})
40... Rc8 41. c5 dxc5 42. d6 Nc6 43. Rb1 Rd8 44. Re7 $1 Nxe7 45. dxe7 Re8 46.
Rxb7+ Kc8 47. Bc6 {A great victory by Topalov!} 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.12"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"]
[BlackTeam "Poland"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "POL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Nbd7 9. g4 b5 (9... Nb6 {is the other main line.}) 10. g5 b4 11. Nd5 (11. Ne2 {
is more popular.}) 11... Nxd5 12. exd5 Bf5 13. Bd3 Bxd3 14. Qxd3 Be7 15. h4 (
15. Rg1 {has also been played} O-O 16. O-O-O a5 17. Nd2 f5 $1 $13 {with an
unclear middlegame, Leko-Kasparov, Linares 1999.}) 15... O-O ({6 years
previously Topalov had a game with} 15... a5 16. a3 a4 17. Nd2 Rb8 18. axb4
Rxb4 {(Topalov-Ivanchuk, Morelia/Linares 2008)} 19. Qc3 Qb8 20. Qc6 $1 $14 {
and White's position is promising.}) 16. a3 (16. O-O-O a5 17. Nd2 a4 18. Kb1 f5
$132 {with a double-edged fight, Leko-Kasparov, Bled ol 2002.}) 16... bxa3 $1 (
16... a5 17. axb4 axb4 18. Rxa8 Qxa8 19. Ke2 $1 $14 {Topalov}) 17. Rxa3 a5 18.
Qb5 $1 {The most ambitious reaction.} Qc7 19. Nxa5 Rfb8 (19... Qxc2 $5 {
was an interesting option} 20. O-O Bd8 21. Nc4 (21. Qxd7 Rxa5 22. Qxd6 Qxb2 23.
Rxa5 Bxa5 $11) 21... Rb8 $1 (21... Rxa3 22. bxa3 Qf5 23. Kg2 $1 $14 {and White
is slightly better.}) 22. Qc6 (22. Qxd7 $2 Qxc4 $17) 22... Qf5 23. Qxd6 Rc8
$132 {with a double-edged fight.}) 20. Qc6 Qxc6 $2 {A serious mistake. After
this White will have an unpleasant P in Black's position.} (20... Bd8 $1 {
was the correct answer,} 21. O-O Rxa5 22. Rxa5 Qxa5 23. Qxd7 Bb6 24. Bxb6 Qxb6+
25. Kg2 Qb4 26. Qc7 Rf8 $44 {and Black is not worse.}) 21. dxc6 d5 (21... Rxb2
$2 {does not work, because of} 22. cxd7 Rb1+ 23. Ke2 Rxh1 24. Nc6 $1 $18 {
and White is winning.}) 22. Ra2 Bd8 ({In case of} 22... Rb5 23. cxd7 (23. Bd2
Nf8 24. Ke2 $14) 23... Rbxa5 24. Rxa5 Rxa5 25. Ke2 d4 26. Rd1 $1 Rd5 27. c3
Rxd7 28. cxd4 exd4 29. Bxd4 $14 {and White is a healthy P up.}) 23. cxd7 Rxa5
24. Rxa5 Bxa5+ 25. Ke2 d4 (25... Rxb2 $2 {is bad, as} 26. Ra1 $18) 26. Bd2 Bd8
27. Kd3 (27. Ra1 {was also strong.}) 27... f6 (27... Rxb2 28. f4 Rb7 29. fxe5
Rxd7 30. Ra1 $16 {and White is better.}) 28. f4 Rxb2 (28... Kf7 29. gxf6 gxf6
30. fxe5 fxe5 31. Rf1+ Ke7 32. Bg5+ Kxd7 33. Rf8 Bc7 34. Rxb8 Bxb8 35. Ke4 {
should be a winning endgame for White.}) 29. fxe5 fxe5 30. Ra1 Rb8 (30... Kf7
31. Ra8 $1 Ke7 32. g6 $1 h6 33. Bxh6 $1 $18) 31. Ke4 ({The pretty} 31. Ra5 $1
$18 {was probably stronger.}) 31... Kf7 32. Kxe5 Rb7 ({In the event of} 32...
Ke7 33. Ra7 Bb6 34. d8=Q+ $1 $18 {with a winning position for White.}) 33. Rf1+
Ke7 34. g6 $1 {A really strong move! White frees the g5 square for his B even
with a P sacrifice too.} Rb5+ (34... hxg6 $2 35. Bg5+ Kxd7 36. Rf7+ $18) 35.
Kxd4 Bb6+ $6 (35... Kxd7 36. gxh7 Rh5 37. Bg5 $1 Rxh7 38. Ke5 $18 {and White
is winning.}) 36. Kc4 Rc5+ 37. Kb3 Kxd7 38. Rf7+ Ke6 39. Rxg7 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 2nd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2014.08.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2014.08.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 {This
Arkhalgelsk system is one of Nakamura's favourite weapons.} 7. c3 d6 8. a4 Rb8
9. h3 {A rare move, but this transposes to the main line.} (9. d4 Bb6 10. h3
O-O {is the same as the text move.}) 9... O-O 10. d4 Bb6 11. Re1 Bb7 12. axb5
axb5 13. Na3 exd4 14. cxd4 Na5 15. Bc2 b4 {Black has to create counterplay on
the queenside, otherwise the b5 P is lost.} 16. Nb1 Re8 (16... c5 {is more
popular,} 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bh4 cxd4 19. Qd3 b3 20. Bxb3 Nxb3 21. Qxb3 g5 22. Nxg5
hxg5 23. Bxg5 d3 $1 $13 {with a really complicated position, Navara-Shirov,
Carlsbad 2007.}) 17. Nbd2 b3 18. Bb1 ({In the event of} 18. Nxb3 $6 Nxb3 19.
Bxb3 Rxe4 {and Black looks nicely placed.}) (18. Bd3 $5 {was the alternative,}
Qd7 19. Ra3 Re7 20. d5 Rbe8 $132 {with a double-edged fight.}) 18... Qd7 19. e5
$6 $146 {A risky move since White's pieces are not well developed and Black's
Bs can be really strong.} (19. Qe2 $6 {was played in Kulaots-Caruana,
Gibraltar 2011, but Black should have been played} Nxe4 $1 20. Bxe4 f5 $36 {
with a nice initiative.}) ({Probably} 19. Ra3 {was a logical and solid reply,}
Re7 $13 {with an unclear middlegame.}) 19... dxe5 20. dxe5 Nh5 $1 $36 {Now
both Black Bs are extremely active.} 21. Ng5 $2 {This looks an aggressive move,
but is a tactical blunder.} ({The B sacrifice with} 21. Bxh7+ $2 {doesn't work
here, because of} Kxh7 22. Ng5+ Kh6 $1 23. e6 Bxf2+ $1 24. Kxf2 Qd4+ 25. Re3
Nc4 $19 {and Black is winning.}) ({In the event of} 21. Ne4 Qxd1 22. Rxd1 Nc4
$15 {and the e5 P is lost.}) 21... g6 $2 {Returns the favour. Nakamura missed
a strong tactical blow.} (21... Bxf2+ $1 {was the strongest reply} 22. Kxf2
Qd4+ 23. Re3 (23. Kf1 $2 Ng3# {mate.}) 23... Rxe5 24. Be4 (24. Bxh7+ Kf8 25.
Be4 Rxg5 $19) 24... Rxg5 25. Bxb7 Nxb7 26. Qxb3 Qd8 (26... Nf4 {was also
strong.}) 27. Nf3 Rd5 28. Re8+ Qxe8 29. Qxd5 Nf6 30. Qc4 Nc5 $1 $17 {and Black
is a P up with great winning chances.}) 22. e6 $1 {Topalov grabs the practical
chance to weaken Black's kingside.} fxe6 23. Qg4 Nf6 24. Qh4 Rf8 $6 (24... Bd5
{was more precise to stabilise the position,} 25. Ndf3 Nc6 26. Ra4 Rf8 {
and White has some compensation for the P, but not more.}) 25. Ndf3 $1 Bd5 26.
Ne5 Qg7 27. Bd2 $6 {An inaccuracy, now Black can again grab the initiative.} (
27. Ngf3 {was more accurate} Nh5 28. Be4 $36 {and White's pieces are very
powerful.}) 27... Nc6 (27... Nh5 $1 {was better} 28. Ngf3 Bxf3 29. gxf3 (29.
Nxf3 $2 Qxb2 $17) 29... Nc6 $1 {This is the point!} 30. Nxc6 Qxb2 31. Nxb8 Qxd2
32. Bxg6 $1 {The only chance.} hxg6 33. Rad1 Bxf2+ $1 34. Qxf2 Qg5+ 35. Qg2
Qxg2+ 36. Kxg2 Rxb8 {and White has to fight for draw.}) 28. Nxc6 Bxc6 $6 {
The reflex response.} ({Still Black had a strong intermediate move in} 28...
Nh5 $1 29. Bc3 (29. Nxb8 $2 {is losing, as} Bxf2+ 30. Qxf2 Rxf2 31. Kxf2 Qxb2
$19) 29... Bxf2+ 30. Qxf2 Rxf2 31. Ne4 $1 {Another important move.} Rxg2+ (
31... Bxe4 32. Bxe4 Qf8 33. Nxb8 Qc5 34. Kh2 Qd6+ 35. Kg1 Qc5 $11) 32. Kxg2
Nf4+ 33. Kg3 Nh5+ 34. Kg2 Nf4+ $11) 29. Bc3 $1 {An unpelasant move pinning the
N on f6. Now Black has to face some dangerous threats.} e5 $2 (29... Rbe8 {
was tougher} 30. Rxe6 Qd7 31. Rxc6 $1 Qxc6 32. Bd3 Re7 33. Qc4+ Qxc4 34. Bxc4+
Kg7 35. Ne6+ Rxe6 36. Bxe6 {+/=/+/- and White's chances are better.}) 30. Rxe5
$1 $18 {Topalov is playing very well, his position is already winning.} Nd5 31.
Qc4 $1 {Another strong reaction.} Bxf2+ (31... Rxf2 32. Kh1 $1 $18 {and the
f1-square is protected, Black can't avoid White's threats.}) 32. Kh1 Rb4 (32...
Bg3 33. Rxd5 $18) 33. Bxb4 ({Probably} 33. Qxc6 $1 $18 {was more accurate, but
the text move is also winning.}) 33... Qxe5 34. Be4 $1 Rf6 (34... Rd8 35. Qxc6
Nxb4 36. Qc4+ Nd5 37. Ra8 $1 $18 {this pretty move wins the game.}) 35. Rd1 Kg7
(35... Qxg5 36. Bxd5+ Bxd5 37. Rxd5 $18) 36. Bxd5 Bxd5 37. Qxd5 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 2nd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2014.08.31"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[Annotator "Havasi,G"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2014.08.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3
Be7 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O a5 11. a4 (11. Bb5 {is the main line with many top
games.}) 11... Na6 12. g4 Nb4 13. Kb1 Qc7 (13... Rc8 {is the most popular move.
}) 14. g5 ({The immediate} 14. Bb5 {allows} d5 15. g5 d4 16. gxf6 dxe3 17. Qxe3
Bxf6 18. Nc5 Rad8 19. Nxe6 fxe6 $11 {Ganguly-Gutman, Dresden 2012}) 14... Nh5
15. Bb5 ({Improving the b3 N also came into consideration:} 15. Nc1 f5 16. Nd3
Qc6 17. Rg1 Kh8 18. g6 f4 19. Bf2 Rfc8 20. Ne1 Qe8 21. Bb5 Qg8 22. Nd3 $36 {
Szczepanski-Kasperek, corr. 2009}) 15... Rac8 16. Rhg1 $146 {This very natural
move is a novelty.} (16. Qf2 Nf4 (16... Bd8 {isn't so clear}) 17. h4 d5 18.
Bxf4 exf4 19. exd5 ({A more accurate try is} 19. Nxd5 Nxd5 20. exd5 Bf5 21. Bd3
$16) 19... Bf5 20. Rd2 Bd6 21. Nd4 $2 (21. Ne4 $18) 21... Bc5 $1 22. d6 $1 Qb6
23. d7 (23. Ne4 Bxe4 24. fxe4 Qxd6 25. c3 Qe5 26. Qf3 $14) 23... Rcd8 $142 $44
(23... Nxc2 $4 24. Nxf5 $3 $18 {Hou Yifan-Sebag, Beijing 2013})) 16... f5 {
This is the typical move in this kind of structure.} 17. gxf6 (17. Nd5 {
seems to win a P, but things aren't so easy:} Nxd5 (17... Bxd5 18. exd5 Qxc2+
19. Qxc2 Rxc2 20. Nxa5 $16) 18. exd5 Bd7 19. Nxa5 Bxb5 20. axb5 Ra8 $44) 17...
Nxf6 18. Qg2 (18. Bh6 Rf7 $13 {is nothing special.}) 18... Nh5 (18... Rf7 19.
Bg5 Nh5 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21. Qd2 Bxb3 22. cxb3 Rf6 23. Qg5 Nf4 24. Rxd6 $1) (18...
g6 $5 {would be a very deep move, the advantage of which becomes clear in the
18...Rf7 line.} 19. Bg5 Nh5 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21. Qd2 Bxb3 22. cxb3 Rf6 23. Qg5 Nf4
{and there is no mating threat on g7!}) 19. Nc1 ({The computer gives the
amazing} 19. f4 $5 exf4 20. Nd4 Bd7 21. Bf2 {, but Topalov's move is much more
logical. He wants to improve the position of his N, maybe exchange Black's
strong b4 N.}) 19... Bf6 (19... Rf7 $5 {seems more logical.} 20. Nd3 Rcf8 21.
Rgf1 Nc6 $13) 20. Nd3 (20. N1e2 Kh8 $1 21. Rd2 Qf7 $1 {and Black is fine.})
20... Nxd3 $1 {Black tries to create counterchances, mainly in connection with
the next move.} (20... Nc6 21. f4 $1 exf4 22. Nxf4 Nxf4 23. Bxf4 Bd4 24. Rxd4
Rxf4 25. Rd2 Rg4 26. Qh1 $1 $14) 21. Rxd3 Nf4 $1 {Practically the only
sensible move, because if Black plays a waiting move, for example} (21... g6
22. Rgd1 Be7 23. Qg1 $16 {White is much better.}) (21... Bh4 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23.
Rxd5 g6 (23... Nf4 $2 24. Bxf4 Rxf4 25. Rxd6 $18) 24. Qd2 $16 {is also much
better, because the f4-square is useless and the decisive factor is Black's
bad structure.}) (21... Be7 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. Rxd5 g6 24. Rd2 $14 {With two Bs
and a good structure White has a promising position.}) 22. Bxf4 exf4 23. Nd5
Bxd5 24. Rxd5 Be5 {Let's take a fresh look at the position. The players have
opposite-coloured Bs, and both of these Bs are strong. At first sight, it's
hard to believe, that Black has good drawing chances, because White is going
to increase the pressure on Black's position. On the other hand, with precise
play Black should have held this position.} (24... Qb6 $5 25. c3 Rc5 26. Rgd1
Be5 {is very similar to the game.}) 25. c3 Rf6 26. Qf2 b6 27. Ba6 Rb8 28. Bd3
Kh8 29. Rb5 Rf7 30. h4 Qa7 {White's pieces are more or less in their best
positions, now White has to improve his Q.} 31. Qc2 Rc7 32. Qb3 Rc5 33. Qe6
Rxb5 34. Bxb5 Rf8 35. h5 Qc7 (35... Qf7 $1 36. Qxf7 Rxf7 37. Kc2 Rc7 {seems to
be drawish.}) 36. Ka2 Qd8 (36... Qf7 $1) 37. Qg4 Qc7 38. Kb3 Rc8 $6 {This move
isn't bad, but the plan in connection with it is. Black should exchange the Q
to reach the draw. If White wants to break into Black's position, he can use
his R to defend on c7, cutting the white K away from the queenside Ps.} 39. Qe6
Qc5 $4 (39... Rf8 $1 40. Rg5 Qf7 41. Qxf7 Rxf7 42. Kc4 Rc7+ 43. Kd5 Kg8 44. Ke6
Rf7 45. Be8 Ra7 46. Bd7 h6 47. Rf5 g5 48. hxg6 Kg7 $11) (39... Qd8 $1 {/\ Qg8})
40. Rg5 $3 $18 {The killing move. The R joins the attack and the game is over.}
Rb8 41. Rf5 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 2nd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2014.09.04"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2014.08.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[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. h3 Ke8 10. Nc3 Ne7 11. Ne4 Ng6 12. Re1 h6 13. Kh2 $5 {A very
useful move. White's idea is g4 and his K is ready to go to g3.} (13. b3 c5 14.
Bb2 Be6 15. Ng3 a5 16. a4 Nf4 17. Bc1 Nd5 18. Bd2 c4 19. bxc4 Nb4 $132 {
with a double-edged fight, Robson-Onischuk, Saint Louis 2014.}) 13... c5 14. c4
$146 {A novelty by Nakamura.} (14. g4 {has also been played} Be6 15. Nc3 Be7
16. Be3 Kd7 17. Kg3 Kc6 {Usually the c6-square is a nice base for Black's K.}
18. Rad1 Rad8 19. Rxd8 Bxd8 20. Rd1 Be7 21. Rd2 b6 22. b3 a6 23. Rd1 h5 $36 {
and Black has a comfortable position, Bokros-Postny, Oropesa del Mar 1999.})
14... Be6 15. b3 {This is a typical Berlin position. White has a space
advantage, while Black has two Bs, his position is solid and his P structure
is also strong.} b6 16. g4 {The ambitious reaction, White continues his plan
on the kingside.} h5 $1 {Topalov immediately tries to create counterplay on
the h-file.} 17. Kg3 Rd8 18. Neg5 $6 {This move starts a wrong plan.} (18. Bg5
{was better,} Rd3 (18... Be7 19. Re3 {and White is solid.}) 19. Re3 Rxe3 20.
Bxe3 {with an equal position.}) 18... Bc8 $1 {The right move. Black doesn't
want to give up his B and he isn't afraid of e6!} 19. Bb2 ({Probably Nakamura
wanted to play} 19. e6 $2 {, but this does not work because of} Bd6+ 20. Kg2 f6
$1 21. Nf7 hxg4 22. hxg4 Bb7 $1 {This is the point!} 23. Nxh8 Nxh8 $1 $17 {
and White can't avoid the really unpleasant pin of the N on f3 and Black is
threatening to play Ng6 followed by Nh4.}) 19... Be7 {The most natural reply.}
20. Rad1 Rxd1 21. Rxd1 hxg4 (21... Bb7 $5 {was also possible to keep the
tension.}) 22. hxg4 f6 $1 {A good move. Black opens the position and the
g-file, the g4 P will be weak, moreover Black is ready to play Rg8.} 23. exf6 (
23. Nh3 Kf7 ({or} 23... f5 {and Black is slightly better.})) 23... gxf6 24. Re1
{An interesting tactical choice, but it isn't dangerous for Black.} (24. Ne4
Kf7 {is similar to the game.}) 24... Kf8 $1 {The best reply!} ({In the event of
} 24... fxg5 25. Bxh8 Nxh8 26. Nxg5 Ng6 27. f4 {and White won't lose.}) 25. Ne4
Kf7 26. Bc1 {It is difficult to find any useful move for White.} Rg8 $1 {
White's K is under X-ray attack, he has to face some unpleasant threats.} 27.
Rh1 $6 {An inaccuracy, but it is difficult to hold White's position.} (27. Bd2
{was tougher, but} Bb7 {and White's position is very unpleasant.}) 27... Bb7 $1
28. Re1 (28. Rh7+ Ke6 29. Nfd2 Ne5 30. f3 Nd3 31. Ba3 f5 $17 {and White is in
a big trouble.}) 28... Re8 $1 {Topalov is playing the strongest moves.} 29.
Nfd2 {The only move, otherwise Black immediately wins material.} Ne5 $1 {
Black's activity is very strong.} 30. Bb2 $6 (30. Rh1 {was tougher, but} Nd3
$17 {and Black is better.}) 30... Nd3 31. Rb1 Rg8 32. Kf3 Nxb2 33. Rxb2 Bc8 {
White cannot protect the g4 P. White has no hope.} 34. g5 f5 35. Nf6 Rxg5 36.
Nd5 Bb7 37. Rb1 Rg4 38. Rh1 Bd6 39. Ke2 Rd4 40. Rh7+ Kg6 41. Rd7 Bxd5 42. cxd5
Rxd5 $6 (42... b5 $1 $19 {was much better and White can resign.}) 43. Nc4 b5
44. Nxd6 cxd6 45. Rxa7 b4 {Black should be much better, but R endgames always
give some practical chances.} 46. a4 bxa3 47. Rxa3 Re5+ 48. Kd3 Kg5 49. Ra6 Re1
(49... Kf4 50. Rxd6 Kf3 {was also strong.}) 50. Kd2 Re6 51. Rb6 (51. Ra4 f4 52.
Kd3 Kg4 {is also hopeless for White.}) 51... Kg4 52. b4 cxb4 53. Rxb4+ Kf3 54.
Kd1 f4 55. Rd4 Re4 56. Rd2 d5 57. Ra2 Kg2 {A very nice victory by Topalov!} 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 30th"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2014.09.15"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E90"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.09.14"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "SOCAR"]
[BlackTeam "SHSM-64"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 O-O 6. Nf3 d6 7. Bd3 e6 8. O-O
exd5 9. exd5 Bg4 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Nbd7 12. Qd1 Nh5 13. Ne4 Be5 14. f4 f5
15. fxe5 fxe4 16. Rxf8+ Qxf8 17. e6 exd3 18. exd7 Qf5 19. g4 Qxd7 20. Qxd3 Nf6
21. Qf3 Qg7 22. Bd2 Nd7 23. Bc3 Ne5 24. Qe4 Rf8 25. Rf1 Qe7 26. Rxf8+ Kxf8 27.
Bxe5 dxe5 28. Qe3 Qd6 29. Kg2 Kg8 30. Kf3 Qa6 31. Ke4 Qxc4+ 32. Kxe5 Qxa2 33.
Ke6 Qxb2 34. Qf3 Kg7 35. g5 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 30th"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2014.09.17"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Navara, David"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2014.09.14"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Novy Bor"]
[BlackTeam "SOCAR"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. c4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
e5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. e4 exd4 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 h6 13. b3 {This move became
popular after the rapid game of the World Championship play-off Gelfand -
Anand (2012). It was annotated and the whole line thoroughly examined by GM
Lubomir Ftacnik in CBM 149.} (13. Nxd4 {is the main theoretical continuation.})
13... Ne5 (13... Nb6 {requires further examination. A practical example:} 14.
Bc4 (14. Be4 $5) 14... Bd7 (14... Qf6 $5) (14... Nxc4 $5 15. bxc4 Qc7 {[%cal
Yb7b5]}) 15. Bb2 Rc8 16. Qd3 $14 {1-0 (27) Dmochowska,A (1790)-Maslova,P (1900)
Budva 2013}) 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Re1 (15. f4 Bf6 16. Ba3 Re8 17. d6 Bd7 18. Qd2
Bc6 19. Rac1 Qd7 20. Rfe1 Qg4 21. Bf1 g5 22. Bc5 Qxf4 23. Qxf4 gxf4 24. Rxe8+
Rxe8 25. Rd1 Rd8 $11 {1-0 (52) Bacrot,E (2702)-Sumets,A (2622) Fujairah City
2012}) 15... Re8 (15... Qxd5 16. Ba3 Rd8 17. Qe2 (17. Bc4 Qa5 18. Qg6 Rd7 19.
Qh5 Qxa3 20. Qxe5 Rd8 21. Rad1 $14 {L.Ftacnik}) 17... Qa5 $4 (17... Bd6 $1 $14)
18. Be7 Rd5 19. b4 Qc7 20. Qe4 Bxh2+ 21. Kh1 Rf5 22. Rac1 {1-0 (22) Navara,D 
(2700)-Shomoev,A (2581) Yerevan ARM 2014}) 16. Bb2 (16. f4 $5 Bf6 17. Rxe8+
Qxe8 18. Bd2 Qd8 19. Re1 $14 {L.Ftacnik}) 16... Bd7 17. g3 (17. Qd2 {is more
accurate but still harmless due to} Qg5 $1 18. Qxg5 hxg5) 17... Rc8 (17... Qa5
$1 {apparently gives Black an excellent position.}) 18. Qd2 Qf6 {This is also
inaccurate, I guess.} (18... Bh3 $142 $1 {[%cal Rd8d5]} 19. Be4 Qb6 20. Rad1
Bf6 {, and the d4-pawn is untouchable.}) 19. Bf1 {David Navara deviates from
the stem game but goes his own way instead of following Ftacnik's
recommendation.} (19. a4 $2 Qf3 $1 20. Be4 Qxb3 $17 {1/2 (32) Gelfand,B (2727)
-Anand,V (2791) Moscow 2012 CBM 149 [Ftacnik,L]}) (19. Qb4 $5 {[%cal Rf2f4]}
Qf3 $5 (19... Qb6 20. Qxb6 axb6 21. Kg2 $14 {L.Ftacnik}) 20. Qxb7 Rc7 21. Qa6
Qxd5 22. Be4 $14) 19... g5 $1 {[%mdl 32] Preventing f2-f4. Black's d4-pawn is
now safe.} 20. Bg2 $6 {It was not a good idea to allow ...d4-d3.} (20. Rac1
$142 $11) 20... Bf5 21. Rac1 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 d3 {[%csl Gd3]} 23. Bxe5 (23. Re1
Re7 24. Bxe5 Rxe5 25. Re3 $5 {is relatively better but Black still has the
upper hand after} Rxe3 26. fxe3 Qe5) 23... Qxe5 24. g4 Qe2 $1 {White probably
overlooked this tactical trick.} 25. Qxe2 dxe2 26. Re1 Bxg4 {[%mdl 4096] Black
has won a pawn and gradually brings home his material advantage.} 27. f3 Bf5
28. Kf2 Bd3 29. f4 gxf4 (29... Kg7 $5) 30. d6 b6 31. d7 Rd8 32. Bc6 {White's
bishop will be pushed away from this square.} Kf8 33. Rc1 (33. Kf3 Ke7 34. Kxf4
Kd6) 33... Ke7 34. Rc3 Kd6 35. Rxd3+ Kxc6 36. Rf3 Rxd7 37. Rxf4 Re7 38. Ke1 Kb5
39. Rf6 ({After} 39. h4 a5 {White can hardly save the game as well.}) 39... Kb4
40. Rxh6 Ka3 41. Rf6 (41. h4 Kxa2 42. b4 {was more stubborn but Black should
win anyway.}) 41... Kxa2 42. Rf3 Re4 43. Rxf7 a5 44. Rf6 b5 45. Rf5 b4 46.
Rxa5+ Kxb3 47. Rh5 Kc3 48. Rc5+ Kb2 49. Rh5 b3 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 30th"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2014.09.18"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "157"]
[EventDate "2014.09.14"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "SOCAR"]
[BlackTeam "Padova"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ITA"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 a5 10. bxa5 c5 11. a4 Rxa5 12. Ra3 Ra6 13. Ne1 {[%mdl 32] A typical
plan: Ne1-d3 and possibly f2-f4. However, I don't like it in this particular
position. Other options:} (13. Re1 {with the idea Be2-f1 (or Qd1-c2) and then
Nc3-b5. This is a bit artificial. E.g.} Kh8 14. Qc2 Ne8 15. Nb5 Ng8 16. Bf1 f6
17. g3 Nh6 18. Bg2 Nf7 19. Bd2 Bd7 20. Rb1 f5 21. Nc3 b6 {0-1 (39) Stern,R 
(2461)-Lanka,Z (2504) Rostock 2002 - Black obtained a solid position.}) (13.
Nd2 {followed by Nc3-b5 and Bc1-b2 is very logical. A relatively recent
example:} Nd7 14. Nb5 f5 15. exf5 gxf5 16. f4 $1 exf4 17. Rxf4 Ng6 18. Rf1 Nde5
19. Nf3 f4 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. Bg4 Kh8 22. Bxc8 Qxc8 23. Qh5 Qd7 24. Bd2 Qg7 25.
Kh1 $14 {1-0 (42) Buhmann,R (2541)-Babaev,R (2479) Boeblingen 2008}) 13... Nd7
14. Nd3 (14. Nb5 f5 15. exf5 {0-1 (40) Karttunen,M (2275)-Solleveld,M (2295)
Sas van Gent 1998} {can now be met with} Nxf5 {as White doesn't control the
e4-square.}) 14... h6 {I am not sure Black should cover the g5-square.} (14...
Nb6 $5 15. Qb3 f5 16. exf5 (16. f3 f4 $5) 16... Nxf5 17. Nb5 Nd7 18. f4 e4 19.
Nf2 Re8 20. Qc2 Nf6 $13 {1/2 (30) Lputian,S (2633)-Smirin,I (2649) Kemer 2007})
(14... f5 {is quite natural:} 15. f4 fxe4 $1 (15... exf4 16. Nxf4 Bd4+ 17. Kh1
Bxc3 (17... Nf6 18. Nb5 Be5 19. Nd3 $1 fxe4 20. Nxe5 dxe5 21. Be3 Nd7 22. Rxf8+
Kxf8 23. d6 $16 {1-0 (54) Rychagov,A (2506)-Banikas,H (2542) Athens 2000}) 18.
Rxc3 Ne5 19. Bb2 fxe4 20. Re3 g5 21. Nh5 $36 {1/2 (26) Simmelink,J (2315)
-Fabiani,J (2378) IECG 2002}) 16. Nxe4 Nf5 17. Kh1 Qe7 18. fxe5 Nxe5 19. Nxe5
Qxe5 20. Ng5 Bd7 21. Bf4 Qd4 $13 {0-1 (39) Nikcevic,N (2409)-Djukic,N (2503)
Cetinje 2010}) 15. f4 {A logical consequence of Nf3-e1-d3. It is important
that White's knight controls the e5-square.} (15. f3 f5 16. Nf2 {is passive.
The key to this position is the fact that White can't break through on the
queenside; therefore, he should prepare some play on the kingside, which is
very dfficult after f2-f3 f5-f4. Here is an example:} Nf6 17. g3 g5 18. Bd2 Rf7
19. Qc2 Bf8 20. Rb1 Rg7 21. Bd3 f4 22. g4 h5 23. h3 Ng6 24. Kf1 Rh7 25. Ke2 Be7
26. Nb5 Kf7 27. Raa1 Nh4 28. Rg1 Bd7 29. Qb3 Qc8 {1/2 (29) Irwanto,S (2452)
-Spasov,V (2578) Turin 2006}) 15... exf4 16. Nxf4 (16. Bxf4 f5 $132) 16... Ne5
{Black has established a blockade but White is not too concerned. Black's
pieces are constricted, his e7-knight is placed extremely poorly, merely
getting in the way of his pieces. The only problem for White is how to break
through.} 17. Kh1 Kh7 18. Nb5 Ng8 19. Qc2 Nf6 {The knight has improved its
position but still it would be much better for Black to get rid of it
altogether.} 20. h3 Qe7 (20... g5 21. Nd3 Nfd7 {was an option but Black didn't
want to weaken the light squares in his camp.}) 21. Bd2 Bd7 22. a5 Kg8 23. Re3
b6 {A double-edged decision since the a- and b-files are more likely to be
used by White due to his space advantage.} 24. Nd3 bxa5 (24... Nxd3 $5 25. Bxd3
bxa5 26. Nxd6 (26. Bc3 a4) 26... Rxd6 27. e5 Nxd5 $5 28. exd6 Qxe3 29. Bxe3
Nxe3 30. Qd2 Nxf1 31. Bxf1 a4 $132) 25. Nxe5 Qxe5 26. Bc3 Qg5 27. Ref3 Ne8 {
[%csl Re8]} 28. Bxg7 Kxg7 29. Nc3 a4 (29... Qe5 30. Qb2 {[%cal Rb2b7]} {
although after} Ra8 31. Qb7 Rd8 {Black's position is very solid.}) 30. Qb2 {
[%cal Rb2b7,Rc3a4]} Qd8 $6 (30... Ra5 $5 31. Nxa4+ Qe5) 31. Nxa4+ Kg8 32. Nc3 {
The blockade on e5 has been lifted, and White's chances are preferable due to
Black's poor e8-knight.} Rb6 33. Qd2 Qg5 34. Qa2 Bc8 35. Qa8 Qd8 36. Qa5 Qc7
37. Nb5 Qb7 38. Qd2 Kg7 39. Qc3+ Kg8 (39... f6 40. Rg3 {[%csl Rg6][%cal Re2h5]}
Kh7 41. Bd3 $40 {[%cal Re4e5]}) 40. e5 $16 dxe5 41. Qxe5 Bd7 42. Nc3 Nd6 43.
Rf6 Qb8 44. Qf4 Nf5 (44... Bf5 45. g4 (45. Qxh6 Qd8 46. Qg5 Rb3) 45... Bc2 46.
h4 $16) 45. Ne4 Qxf4 46. Rxf4 Rb1+ 47. Kh2 Rb2 48. Bd3 Rc8 49. Ra6 Kg7 50. Nf6
Ne3 51. Nxd7 Nxg2 52. Kg3 Nxf4 53. Kxf4 {Besides a material advantage, White
now has a strong passed pawn, and Black's c5-pawn is very weak.} Rf2+ 54. Ke5
Rf3 55. Be4 $1 Re8+ (55... Rxh3 56. Nf6 {[%cal Yd5d6,Yd6d7]}) 56. Re6 $1 fxe6
57. Bxf3 {[%mdl 4096]} exd5+ 58. Kxd5 Re3 59. Bg4 h5 60. Be6 g5 61. Nxc5 g4 62.
hxg4 h4 {This pawn doesn't help Black; White successfully stops it.} 63. Kd4
Ra3 64. Bd5 h3 65. Ne6+ $2 (65. Nd3 $142 h2 66. Nf2) 65... Kf6 66. Nc5 h2 $2 {
Black misses a golden chance:} (66... Kg5 67. Ne4+ Kxg4 68. c5 h2 69. c6 Kf4 $1
{, and White can't win, e.g.} 70. Nf2 (70. Nc3 Ra7 71. Nb5 Re7 72. c7 Rd7 $11)
70... Ra7 71. Kc5 Ra5+ 72. Kb6 (72. Kd6 Rxd5+ 73. Kxd5 Kf3 74. Nh1 Kg2 75. c7
Kxh1 76. c8=Q Kg2 $11) 72... Rxd5 73. c7 Rd2 74. c8=Q Rxf2 $11) 67. Ne4+ Ke7
68. Nf2 Ra1 69. Ke3 Rf1 70. c5 Rc1 71. c6 Kd6 72. Bg2 Rc2 73. g5 Ke5 74. g6
Rc3+ 75. Nd3+ Kf6 76. Be4 Ke6 77. Kd4 Ra3 78. c7 Ra4+ 79. Kc3 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 30th"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2014.09.20"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2014.09.14"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "SOCAR"]
[BlackTeam "St Petersburg"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d4 d6 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Nbd2 Bc5 12. h3 Qe7 13. Bd5 Bd7 14. Nb3 Bd6 15.
Bg5 h6 16. Bh4 g5 17. Bg3 Rad8 18. Qe2 Nb8 19. Bc4 Nh5 20. Na5 Bc8 21. Bd5 Nf4
22. Bxf4 gxf4 23. Qc4 Kh7 24. Kf1 Bc5 25. Red1 Bb6 26. Nc6 Nxc6 27. Bxc6 a5 28.
c3 bxc3 29. Qxc3 Rxd1+ 30. Rxd1 Rd8 31. Rxd8 Qxd8 32. Bd5 f6 33. b4 axb4 34.
Qxb4 Qd6 35. Qxd6 cxd6 36. Nh4 h5 37. Bc6 Kh6 38. Ke2 Kg5 39. Nf3+ Kh6 40. Nd2
f5 41. exf5 Bxf5 42. Ne4 Bxe4 43. Bxe4 h4 44. f3 Kg5 45. Kd3 Kf6 46. Kc4 Ke7
47. Kb5 Bf2 48. Kc6 Be1 49. Bf5 Bd2 50. Kb6 d5 51. a5 Kd6 52. a6 Be3+ 53. Kb7
Bf2 54. Bc2 Bg1 55. a7 Bxa7 56. Kxa7 Kc5 57. Kb7 Kd4 58. Kc6 e4 59. Bd1 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 13th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2015.01.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Stefansson, Hannes"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2573"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2015.01.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O Re8 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
Be7 9. Nbd2 d6 10. Bg3 Bd7 11. a4 Bf8 12. Re1 a6 13. Bc4 g6 14. d4 Bg7 15. Qb3
Re7 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Bd5 Rb8 18. Nc4 Nh5 19. Bh4 g5 20. Bg3 Qe8 21. Ne3 Nf4
22. Qc2 Kh8 23. b4 Nd8 24. Bb3 Be6 25. Rad1 Rd7 26. Rxd7 Qxd7 27. Nf5 Nc6 28.
Rd1 Qe8 29. h3 Rd8 30. Bxe6 Rxd1+ 31. Qxd1 fxe6 32. Nxg7 Kxg7 33. b5 axb5 34.
axb5 Ne7 35. Nxe5 Nh5 36. Qd4 Nxg3 37. Ng4+ Kh7 38. fxg3 Qxb5 39. Qf6 Qc5+ 40.
Kh2 Ng8 41. Qf7+ Kh8 42. Qg6 h5 43. Qxh5+ Kg7 44. e5 Qe7 45. c4 b6 46. Nf6 Nxf6
47. Qxg5+ Kf7 48. Qf4 c6 49. exf6 e5 50. Qe3 Qe6 51. h4 Kxf6 52. Qxb6 e4 53.
Qd4+ Kg6 54. c5 e3 55. Qd6 Qxd6 56. cxd6 e2 57. d7 e1=Q 58. d8=Q Qe6 59. Qd4
Qc8 60. g4 c5 61. h5+ Kf7 62. Qd5+ Kg7 63. Qe5+ Kg8 64. g5 Qg4 65. Qe8+ Kh7 66.
Qf7+ 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 13th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2015.01.31"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anton Guijarro, David"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A12"]
[WhiteElo "2617"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2015.01.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 Bg4 3. e3 Nd7 4. Bb2 Ngf6 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Qxf3 e6 7. c4 c6 8. Qd1
Bd6 9. Be2 a6 10. O-O Bb8 11. d4 Qc7 12. f4 g5 13. Nc3 gxf4 14. exf4 Ba7 15. c5
Rg8 16. b4 Nf8 17. Qe1 Ng6 18. Qf2 Bb8 19. Bc1 Ne4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Bc4 Qd7
22. f5 Qc7 23. g4 exf5 24. Kh1 Ne7 25. Bd2 Qg3 26. Qxg3 Bxg3 27. gxf5 Rd8 28.
Be3 Nd5 29. Bg1 Rg5 30. Rab1 Ke7 31. Rb3 Kf6 32. a4 Bc7 33. Bf2 Rh5 34. Be2 Rh6
35. Bg4 Rg8 36. Rg1 Nf4 37. Re3 Nd3 38. Rxd3 exd3 39. Kg2 Rh5 40. d5 cxd5 41.
Kf3 Rxf5+ 42. Bxf5 Rxg1 43. Bxg1 Kxf5 44. Be3 h5 45. Bd2 d4 46. b5 axb5 47.
axb5 Be5 48. c6 bxc6 49. bxc6 Bc7 50. Bh6 Bb6 51. Bf4 Ke6 52. Ke4 d2 53. Bxd2
Kd6 54. Kf5 Kxc6 55. Kg5 Kd5 56. Kxh5 Ke4 57. Kg4 d3 0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 13th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2015.02.03"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ju, Wenjun"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2547"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2015.01.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
g6 9. O-O Bg7 10. a4 O-O 11. a5 a6 12. Qb3 Qe7 13. cxd5 exd5 14. e4 Nf6 15.
exd5 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 cxd5 17. Qxd5 Be6 18. Qe4 Qd6 19. Qxb7 Rfb8 20. Qe4 Bd5 21.
Qe2 Re8 22. Qd1 Rab8 23. Rc1 Rb4 24. Rc3 Rxb2 25. Bc4 Qb4 26. Qd3 Bxc4 27. Qxc4
Qxa5 28. Rb3 Qa2 29. Qc6 Qxb3 30. Qxe8+ Kh7 31. Qa8 Qb5 32. h3 a5 33. d5 Rb1
34. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 35. Kh2 Qb4 36. Kg1 a4 37. d6 a3 38. d7 Bf6 39. Qd5 Kg7 40. g3
Qb2 41. d8=Q Bxd8 42. Ne5 Qb1+ 43. Kg2 Qf5 44. f4 Bc7 0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 13th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2015.02.05"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Bartel, Mateusz"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2631"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2015.01.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nbd2 d6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. O-O O-O 8.
Nc4 Be6 9. Qe2 a5 10. a4 Nd7 11. Bd2 Bxc4 12. dxc4 Qe7 13. Kh1 Bb6 14. Ra3 Nc5
15. Ng5 h6 16. Nh3 f5 17. exf5 Rxf5 18. g4 Rff8 19. g5 h5 20. Qxh5 Rf5 21. Ng1
Qf7 22. Qh4 Qg6 23. Rh3 Raf8 24. Ne2 Ne6 25. Qe4 d5 26. cxd5 cxd5 27. Qg4 Bxf2
28. c4 d4 29. Qe4 Rxg5 30. Qd5 Rgf5 31. Qe4 R5f6 32. Qxg6 Rxg6 33. Ng3 Bxg3 34.
Rxf8+ Kxf8 35. Rxg3 Rf6 36. Bxa5 e4 37. Rg4 e3 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2876"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2015.06.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Rc1
g6 9. Be2 (9. Bd3 {is more common, with a usual continuation being} dxc4 10.
Bxc4) 9... Bg7 (9... dxc4 10. Bxc4 {was possible here, too.}) 10. cxd5 {
[%mdl 32] White goes for the classic Karlsbad structure, for which his rook is
not placed properly on c1 but neither is Black's bishop on g7.} ({He can
include mutual castling first:} 10. O-O O-O (10... dxc4 11. Bxc4 {again leads
to a common position}) 11. cxd5 (11. e4 dxe4 12. Nxe4 Qf4 13. Qc2 f5 14. Nc3
Qc7 15. Rfd1 e5 16. d5 {0-1 (31) Kanep,M (2505)-Fridman,D (2653) Riga 2012} e4
$132) (11. Qc2 Qe7 12. Rfd1 a6 $5 13. a3 Rb8 14. h3 Kh8 15. Nd2 Rd8 16. b4 b5
17. c5 e5 18. Nb3 Nf8 19. dxe5 Qxe5 20. Nd4 Qc7 21. h4 Ne6 $132 {1/2 (48)
Aronian,L (2816)-Kasimdzhanov,R (2684) Istanbul 2012}) 11... exd5 12. b4 a6 (
12... Nb6 {1/2 (17) Tosic,M (2440)-Kosic,D (2455) Kladovo 1993} 13. b5 $1) 13.
a4 Qd6 14. Qb3 (14. b5 $5) 14... b5 15. axb5 axb5 16. e4 {1/2 (42) Devereaux,M
(2329)-Horton,J Port Erin 2003} Nb6 $1 $11 17. exd5 $140 Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Be6 $1)
({If} 10. b4 a6 11. a4 {then} dxc4 12. Bxc4 O-O 13. O-O Qe7 $11 14. b5 $6 axb5
15. axb5 c5 16. Be2 cxd4 17. Nxd4 Nb6 18. Ra1 Rxa1 19. Qxa1 e5 20. Nf3 Be6 $36
{0-1 (60) Kolbus,D (2416)-Malakhatko,V (2556) Port Erin 2005}) 10... exd5 11.
b4 {[%cal Yb4b5]} a6 (11... Qd6 {is less accurate:} 12. b5 O-O 13. O-O Nb6 14.
bxc6 bxc6 (14... Qxc6 15. Ne5 Qe8 16. Nd3 Bd7 17. Nc5 Bc6 18. Qb3 Qe7 19. a4
Qg5 20. Rfd1 Rad8 21. Nb5 Nc8 22. Bf3 a6 23. Nc3 $16 {1/2 (61) Shchekachev,A 
(2537)-Bajarani,U (2424) Paris 2011}) 15. Na4 Re8 16. Nc5 Rb8 17. Re1 Nd7 18.
Nd3 Ba6 19. Nf4 Bb7 20. Qa4 a6 21. Nd3 Rec8 22. Qa5 $14 {1-0 (46) Shchekachev,
A (2528)-Lamorelle,J (2277) Paris 2012}) 12. a4 O-O 13. b5 axb5 14. axb5 {
The classic minority attack leads to a typical position with the weak c6-pawn 
(in the event of b5xc6 b7xc6) or weak b- and d-pawns in Black's camp (in the
event of ...c6xb5 or b5xc6 Qxc6). Usually Black opts for the former setup as
it is difficult for White to convert such a small advantage. Often (in the
present game, too) White refrains from the early capture on c6 so that the
b-file remains closed, and he can sometimes attack the b7-pawn.} Qd6 15. O-O
Nb6 16. Qb3 Rb8 17. Nd1 {The knight goes to d3 and then possibly to c5 or e5.}
Bf5 18. Nb2 Rfc8 19. Nd3 Bxd3 {A simple way to disrupt White's plan. However,
the exchange of Black's light-squared bishop has a drawback as it is a good
defender of his position.} 20. Qxd3 c5 {Another typical transformation. Black
prefers to have an isolated central pawn, safely protected by the perfectly
placed b6 knight. In many cases (including this one) it is quite enough for
equality.} 21. dxc5 Rxc5 $11 {However, the World Champion is famous for
regularly outplaying his rivals in quiet equal positions.} 22. h4 Na4 (22... h5
{was quite possible (and would have been probably played against any other
opponent):} 23. Ng5 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Ra8 $11) 23. h5 Rbc8 $6 {Another timorous
move.} (23... Nc3 $142 24. hxg6 Qxg6 $11) 24. Rxc5 Nxc5 {The knight is hardly
placed better on c5 than on b6.} 25. Qc2 {Now the destruction of Black's
queenside is inevitable. He must switch to defence.} gxh5 (25... Qe6 26. Rc1 $1
$36) 26. Nd4 Qg6 27. Nf5 $14 {[%csl Gf5]} Bf8 28. Rd1 Qe6 29. Rc1 Nb3 $1 {
[%mdl 256] A correct simplification.} 30. Qxc8 Nxc1 31. Qxc1 Qxf5 {The
opposite-coloured bishops should secure Black a draw.} 32. Qc7 Qb1+ 33. Bf1 d4
$1 34. exd4 (34. Qxb7 dxe3 35. fxe3 Qe1 {[%cal Yf8d6,Ye1g3]}) 34... Qd1 (34...
Qe4 $142 $1 $11 35. Bc4 $140 Qe1+ 36. Kh2 Qxf2) 35. Qe5 $1 (35. Qxb7 Qxd4 $11 {
[%cal Yf8c5]}) 35... Bg7 36. Qe8+ Bf8 37. Qd8 Kg7 (37... Qd2 $142 $5 38. d5 Kg7
) 38. Qd5 $1 {White is trying all possible chances.} b6 39. Qe5+ Kg8 40. Qf6
Bg7 (40... Bb4 $142 $1 41. Qxb6 (41. Qxh6 Qxd4 {[%cal Yb4c5]}) 41... Kg7 {
[%cal Yb4c3,Yc3d4]} 42. Qd8 Bc5 $1 {, which is not easy to find, though.}) 41.
Qxb6 Bxd4 42. Qxh6 Qg4 43. Qd6 Qd1 44. Qd8+ Kh7 $6 {A serious inaccuracy.} (
44... Kg7 $1 45. Qg5+ Kh7 {was still a clear draw.}) 45. Qc7 $1 {White's
passed pawn now moves forward.} Kg7 46. b6 Qg4 $1 {The only way to create
counterplay.} (46... Qd2 $4 47. Qg3+ Kh7 48. b7) 47. b7 Qh4 $1 48. g3 Qf6 49.
Qc2 Qe5 {Black has stopped White's pawn at the last moment. The draw is still
highly probable.} 50. Qd3 Ba7 51. Qf3 Qf6 52. Qe2 {The queen exchange leads to
a draw, e.g.} (52. Be2 Qxf3 53. Bxf3 Kg6 54. Kg2 f5 55. Be2 Bb8 (55... f4 56.
gxf4 Bb8 {is good enough}) 56. Kh3 Be5 57. f4 Bc7 58. Kg2 (58. Kh4 Bd8+) 58...
h4 $1 $11) 52... Qc3 53. Kh2 Qd4 54. Qf3 Bb8 $2 {Surprisingly, this is a big
mistake.} (54... h4 $1 {was correct as} 55. g4 Qe5+ 56. Kg2 Bb8 {lead to a
dead draw.}) 55. Kh3 Bc7 (55... Qf6 56. Qxf6+ Kxf6 57. Kh4 Kg6 58. Be2 {
- Black's bishop is placed wrongly, unable to give a check, therefore he loses
the h5-pawn and the game.}) 56. Be2 Bb8 57. Bd1 {[%cal Rf3h5] White doesn't
want to calculate the queen endgame after} (57. Qxh5 Qxf2 58. Qg5+ Kf8 59. Qd8+
Kg7 60. Qxb8 Qxe2) 57... f5 {Desperation.} 58. Be2 f4 (58... Qg4+ 59. Qxg4+
hxg4+ 60. Bxg4 fxg4+ 61. Kxg4 $18 {White's pawns easily prevail as his king
goes to the queenside at the decisive moment.}) 59. Qxh5 Qxf2 $5 60. Qg5+ Kf7
$138 {White lost on time unaware of the time rate. He still needed several
accurate checks to construct the mating net:} (60... Kf7 61. Bc4+ Ke8 62. Bb5+
$1 {Only this; if Black's king escapes to the queenside, it will be safe!} Kf7
63. Qf5+ Kg7 64. Qd7+ $1 Kf6 65. Qd8+ $1 Kg7 (65... Kf7 66. Bc4+ Kg6 67. Qg8+
Kf6 68. Qf8+ Kg5 69. Qg7+ {leads to the same}) 66. Qe7+ Kh6 67. Qf6+ Kh7 68.
Bd3+ Kg8 69. Bc4+ Kh7 70. Qf7+ Kh6 71. Qf8+ $1 Kg5 72. Qg7+ Kf5 73. g4+ Ke4 74.
Qg6+ Kd4 75. Qb6+ $18) 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2015.06.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. e4 c5 11. d5 Qc7 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Bc2 Bd6 14. Ng5 Nf8 15. f4
O-O-O 16. Qe1 e5 17. f5 h6 18. Nf3 N8d7 19. Kh1 Rhe8 20. Bd2 Qc6 21. Rd1 Nb6
22. Nd5 $2 (22. Be3 $13) 22... Nbxd5 23. exd5 Qd7 24. Ba5 e4 25. Ng1 Bc7 26. d6
Bxa5 27. Qxa5 e3 28. Ne2 Qc6 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2798"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2015.06.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 {The Ragozin was a very popular choice
in Stavanger. Black essays the active bishop sortie, but he can still opt for
solid lines later on - as he does in our game.} ({The text move is more
enterprising than} 4... Be7 {- the Orthodox Queen's Gambit was absent in
Norway!}) ({Another sharp continuation is the Semi-Slav} 4... c6 {, which
however arose in Stavanger only by transposition:} 5. Bg5 (5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 (
6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O e5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. e4 exd4 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5
h6 13. Nxd4 Qh4 14. Nf3 Qh5 15. Bh7+ Kh8 16. Qf5 Qxf5 17. Bxf5 Nf6 18. Bc2 b6
19. Ba4 $146 (19. Rd1 Bb7 20. Bb3 Rad8 21. Rd3 Bc7 22. Bd2 Bxd5 23. Bxd5 Rxd5
24. Rxd5 Nxd5 25. Rc1 Rd8 $11 {Mamedyarov,S (2753)-Anand,V (2786) Moscow 2013})
19... Bb7 20. Bc6 Bxc6 21. dxc6 Rac8 22. Be3 (22. Nd4 Be5 $11) 22... Rxc6 23.
Rad1 Re8 24. Bd4 Bf8 25. g3 Kg8 26. Kg2 Ne4 27. Rfe1 Rce6 28. Re3 Nc5 $11 {
Vachier Lagrave,M (2723)-Giri,A (2773) Stavanger 2015}) 6... dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8.
Bd3 Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. e4 c5 11. d5 Qc7 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Bc2 Bd6 14. Ng5 Nf8
15. f4 O-O-O 16. Qe1 e5 17. f5 ({More principled, but far from clear is} 17.
Nd5 Bxd5 18. exd5 exf4 19. Bd2 $5 $44 {, this has brought White a moderate
success in postal practice.}) 17... h6 18. Nf3 N8d7 19. Kh1 (19. Bd2 $142)
19... Rhe8 (19... Nb8 20. Be3 Nc6 21. Rc1 Rhe8 22. Bb1 Nd4 23. b4 c4 24. a3 Bf8
25. Rd1 Nxf3 26. gxf3 Rxd1 27. Qxd1 Rd8 28. Qe1 Bc6 29. Qf2 Kb7 $11 {Knight,T 
(2526)-Loinjak,S (2443) email 2008}) 20. Bd2 Qc6 21. Rd1 Nb6 22. Nd5 $2 ({
Premature, but} 22. a3 Bc7 $15 {[%cal Yb5b4,Yb6c4] is already comfortable for
Black.}) 22... Nbxd5 23. exd5 Qd7 24. Ba5 e4 25. Ng1 Bc7 26. d6 Bxa5 27. Qxa5
e3 28. Ne2 Qc6 {[%csl Rd6,Ge3,Rg2] 0-1, Vachier Lagrave,M (2723)-Topalov,V 
(2798) Stavanger 2015}) 5... h6 6. Bh4 (6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Rc1 g6 9. Be2
Bg7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 a6 12. a4 O-O 13. b5 axb5 14. axb5 Qd6 15. O-O Nb6 16.
Qb3 Rb8 17. Nd1 Bf5 18. Nb2 Rfc8 19. Nd3 Bxd3 ({Black has no problems at all
after} 19... Nc4 $142 $1) 20. Qxd3 c5 21. dxc5 Rxc5 22. h4 Na4 $6 (22... h5 23.
Ng5 Qc7 $11) 23. h5 Rbc8 24. Rxc5 Nxc5 25. Qc2 gxh5 26. Nd4 Qg6 27. Nf5 (27.
Qf5 $5 $36) 27... Bf8 {Carlsen,M (2876)-Topalov,V (2798) Stavanger 2015} 28.
Bf3 Qe6 29. Rc1 $36) {A new direction in the Anti-Moscow is} 6... g5 (6... dxc4
7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. e5 Nd5 11. O-O Nxc3 (11... Nd7 {is the
standard reaction}) 12. bxc3 c5 13. a4 a6 14. Qb1 g4 15. Nh4 cxd4 16. axb5 d3
17. Bxg4 a5 18. Bf3 Bxf3 19. Nxf3 Qd5 20. Ra4 Nd7 21. Qa2 Nb6 22. Rxa5 Rxa5 23.
Qxa5 Bc5 $44 {Grischuk,A (2780)-Karjakin,S (2753) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015}) 7. Bg3
{and now} Ne4 $5 (7... dxc4 {already gives White a choice, apart from} 8. e4 ({
he has the alternatives} 8. e3) (8. h4 {and}) (8. a4 $5)) {The simplest and
possibly the best reaction seems to be} 8. e3 $5 {/\} (8. Nd2 Nxg3 9. hxg3 Bg7
(9... Qb6 $5 $13) 10. e3 a6 11. Bd3 b5 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Rc1 Nd7 14. f4 Bb7 15.
Nf3 Rc8 16. O-O g4 17. Ne5 h5 18. Ne2 Rxc1 19. Qxc1 f5 20. Qc2 Nxe5 21. dxe5
Qc8 22. Qd2 $16 {Grischuk,A (2728)-Kramnik,V (2788) Moscow blitz 2008}) (8.
Nxe4 dxe4 9. Nd2 Qxd4 10. e3 Qxb2 11. Rb1 Qc3 12. Be2 Nd7 13. O-O Nc5 14. Nb3
Nd3 15. Nd2 Nc5 {½, Vachier Lagrave,M (2723)-Carlsen,M (2876) Stavanger 2015})
8... Qa5 9. Qb3 Bb4 10. Rc1) 5. Bg5 ({The main alternative is} 5. cxd5 exd5 6.
Bg5 {and now:} {Aronian preferred} h6 (6... Nbd7 7. Rc1 (7. e3 c5 ({Black can
still transpose into 6...h6 with} 7... h6) 8. dxc5 (8. Bd3 Qa5 9. Qc2 c4 10.
Bf5 O-O 11. O-O Re8 {is the older main line, here it's difficult for White to
fight for an advantage.}) 8... Qa5 ({or} 8... O-O {was the topic of an opening
survey in CBM 148.})) (7. Qc2 c5 8. g3 $5 {is another recent try to get an
opening advantage:} h6 9. Bf4 Qa5 10. Bg2 Ne4 11. Rc1 Qxa2 12. Nd2 Bxc3 13.
bxc3 Qxc2 14. Rxc2 Nxd2 15. Kxd2 Nb6 16. dxc5 Nc4+ 17. Kd3 Bf5+ $2 (17... Be6
$132) 18. e4 Bh7 19. Kd4 Na5 20. Kxd5 O-O-O+ 21. Bd6 b6 22. Ra1 Nb7 23. Rxa7
bxc5 24. Bh3+ f5 25. e5 {1-0, Vitiugov,N (2735)-Aleksandrov,A (2603) EU-ch
Jerusalem 2015}) 7... c6 8. e3 ({A more restrained way is} 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. Rxc3
O-O 10. e3 Qe8 $132) 8... Qa5 9. Bd3 Ne4 (9... Qxa2 $5 10. O-O Qa5 11. Ne5 Nxe5
12. dxe5 Ng4 13. Bf4 f6 14. exf6 Nxf6 15. Qb3 Be7 16. e4 Qb4 17. Qc2 d4 18. Ne2
Be6 19. Bd2 Bb3 20. Bxb4 Bxc2 21. Bxc2 Bxb4 22. e5 Ng4 23. Nxd4 Nxe5 24. Ne6
Ke7 25. Nxg7 Rad8 26. Rfd1 a5 $13 {/=, Khismatullin,D (2657)-Landa,K (2635)
Dagomys 2010}) 10. O-O Nxg5 11. Nxg5 Nf6 12. Qc2 h6 13. Nf3 Bd6 14. Ne5 Ng4 15.
Nf3 (15. Bf5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Bxe5 17. Bxc8 Rxc8 18. Qf5 Qc7 19. Nxd5 Bxh2+ 20.
Kh1 Qd7 21. Nf6+ gxf6 22. Qxf6 Rg8 23. Kxh2 Rg6 $132 {Korotylev}) 15... Nf6 16.
h3 O-O 17. Ne5 a6 (17... c5 $6 18. Nb5 Bxe5 19. dxe5 Nd7 20. f4 c4 21. Bh7+ Kh8
22. Nd6 Nc5 23. Rcd1 $16 {Gelfand,B (2758)-Jakovenko,D (2736) Khanty-Mansiysk
2009}) 18. f4 (18. Na4 $5 $14) 18... c5 19. g4 cxd4 20. exd4 Be6 21. Qb3 (21.
Qf2 $13) (21. Kh1 $5) 21... b5 22. f5 Qb6 23. Nf3 $8 Bc8 24. Kg2 $6 (24. Nxd5
$1 Nxd5 25. Be4 Nc7 26. Rc6 Qb7 27. Nd2 $13) 24... Bb7 {[%csl Re4][%cal Ga8h1]}
25. Na4 Qa7 26. Nc5 Rac8 (26... Ne4 $5 $36) 27. a4 (27. Nxb7 $142 Qxb7 $15)
27... Bxc5 28. dxc5 d4 $1 29. axb5 axb5 30. Qxb5 Bc6 31. Qb6 Qd7 32. Kg1 Rfe8
$40 {[%csl Rg1] Vachier Lagrave,M (2754)-Caruana,F (2803) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015}
) 7. Bh4 Nbd7 (7... g5 8. Bg3 Ne4 9. Nd2 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Bxc3 11. Rc1 Bb2 12.
Rxc7 Na6 13. Rc2 Bxd4 14. e3 Bg7 15. h4 {Carlsen,M (2881)-Aronian,L (2815)
Flor & Fjaere blitz 2014} Bf5 $1 16. Bb5+ Kf8 $13) 8. e3 g5 9. Bg3 Ne4 10. Qc2
(10. Nd2 Nxg3 11. hxg3 c6 12. Qc2 Nf6 13. Bd3 Qe7 14. O-O-O Be6 15. Kb1 O-O-O
16. a3 Bd6 17. Nb5 Kb8 18. Nxd6 Rxd6 19. Nb3 Bc8 20. Nc5 Nd7 21. Na4 Nb6 22.
Nc5 $11 {Vitiugov,N (2739)-Aronian,L (2770) Sochi 2015}) 10... h5 11. h3 $146 (
11. h4 g4 12. Ng5 Nxg3 13. fxg3 Qe7 14. O-O-O Bxc3 15. bxc3 {Rasmussen,K (2462)
-Wegerer,F (2235) Pula 2007} Rh6 $1 $17 {[%cal Yf7f6]}) 11... Qf6 (11... Bxc3+
12. bxc3 Nxg3 13. fxg3 Nb6 14. Bd3 g4 15. hxg4 Bxg4 16. O-O Qe7 17. Ne5 Be6 18.
Bf5 Nd7 19. e4 Nxe5 20. exd5 $1 O-O-O 21. dxe6 fxe6 22. Rae1 exf5 23. Rxe5 $16
{Vachier Lagrave,M (2723)-Aronian,L (2780) Stavanger 2015}) 12. Bd3 Bxc3+ 13.
bxc3 Nxg3 14. fxg3 g4 15. hxg4 hxg4 16. Nh4 Nb6 17. Qf2 (17. e4 $5 dxe4 18.
Bxe4 c6 19. Rf1 $13) 17... Qxf2+ 18. Kxf2 Be6 19. Nf5 Kd7 20. Rh4 Rhg8 21. Ke2
Nc8 22. Rf1 Nd6 23. Nxd6 Kxd6 24. Bf5 Rg5 25. Bxe6 Kxe6 26. Rh7 Rf8 27. a4 b6
28. Kd3 c5 29. Rh6+ f6 30. Rh7 Rf5 $1 $44 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2723)-Grischuk,A
(2781) Stavanger 2015}) 5... h6 ({In a later round Levon didn't repeat this
line and went somewhat surprisingly for the Vienna with} 5... dxc4 6. e4 c5 7.
Bxc4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ Nbd7 11. Bxf6 Qxc3+ 12. Kf1 gxf6
13. h4 a6 14. Rh3 Qb4 ({This has replaced the older} 14... Qa5 15. Ba4 $5 b5
16. Bb3 Qb6 17. Rc1 Bb7 18. Rhc3 Ne5 19. f4 Rd8 20. fxe5 Rxd4 21. Qf3 f5 22.
Qf2 fxe4 23. Rc7 {1-0, Khalifman,A (2617)-Kachar,V (2283) Voronezh 2014}) 15.
Be2 Ne5 16. Rb1 $5 (16. h5 Qd6 17. Qd2 Nc6 18. Rd3 Qh2 19. f4 Rg8 20. Bf3 Bd7
21. Ne2 Qh1+ 22. Ng1 Nd4 23. Rxd4 Bb5+ 24. Kf2 Qh4+ 25. Ke3 e5 26. fxe5 Qg5+
27. Kf2 Qg3+ $11 {Anand,V (2770)-Kramnik,V (2787) Khanty-Mansiysk 2014}) 16...
Qd6 17. Qd2 Bd7 $5 $146 (17... b5 18. Rd1 Bb7 {0-1 (49) Bida,M (2323)-Bluebaum,
M (2521) Durban 2014} 19. Qh6 $1 Qe7 20. Rc3 {[%cal Rd4b5]} Rd8 21. f3 $44) 18.
Rxb7 Bb5 19. Rb3 Rc8 (19... Rd8 20. R3xb5 axb5 21. Bxb5+ Kf8 22. Nxe6+ Qxe6 23.
Qxd8+ Kg7 24. Qd5 Qg4 $132) 20. Bxb5+ axb5 21. Qb4 (21. R7xb5 O-O (21... Nc4 $5
22. Qc3 O-O $13) 22. Rg3+ Ng6 23. h5 Rfd8 24. hxg6 hxg6 25. Rb4 e5 26. Rd3 exd4
27. Rbxd4 Qa6 $44) 21... Qxb4 22. Rxb4 O-O (22... Nd3 23. Nxb5 Rc1+ 24. Ke2
Nxb4 25. Rb8+ Ke7 26. Rxh8 Rc2+ $11) 23. R7xb5 Rfd8 24. Ke2 Kg7 25. Ra4 (25. a4
Rc1 $132) 25... Ra8 26. Rbb4 Rdb8 27. Nb3 Rxb4 28. Rxb4 Rxa2+ $11 {Giri,A 
(2773)-Aronian,L (2780) Stavanger 2015}) 6. Bxf6 {The usual response.} ({
Without the exchange on d5} 6. Bh4 {can be rather risky:} dxc4 $5 ({White must
also reckon with} 6... g5 7. Bg3 Ne4 8. Qc2 (8. Rc1 $6 h5 9. Qa4+ Nc6 10. cxd5
exd5 11. Ne5 Bd7 12. Nxc6 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 Bxc6 14. Qb3 h4 15. Be5 f6 16. f3 fxe5
17. fxe4 O-O 18. e3 Kg7 19. Bb5 Qd6 20. Qa4 Rae8 21. Bxc6 bxc6 22. Rf1 h3 23.
gxh3 Qh6 $40 {Michalik,P (2576)-Movsesian,S (2700) Czechia 2014}) 8... h5 9. h4
g4 $13) 7. Qa4+ (7. e3 b5 8. a4 c6 {and in practice White's compensation has
been rather nebulous.}) 7... Nc6 8. e3 Bd7 9. Qc2 b5 10. a3 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Ne7
12. Ne5 Nf5 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. a4 c6 16. g3 a5 17. Bg2 Ra6 18. d5
cxd5 19. axb5 Rb6 20. e4 dxe4 21. Rxa5 O-O 22. Bxe4 (22. Qxe4 $5 Rxb5 23. Rxb5
Qxb5 24. O-O $132) 22... Nd6 23. Bc6 $2 (23. O-O $15) 23... Qc7 24. Ra4 Nxb5
25. Bxb5 Qe5+ $17 {Eljanov,P (2729)-Khismatullin,D (2656) St Petersburg 2013})
6... Qxf6 7. Qa4+ {An attempt to disrupt Black's natural development and
prevent c7-c5.} ({After} 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 dxc4 9. Bxc4 c5 {Black has been
holding his own recently:} 10. O-O (10. dxc5 Bxc5 (10... Nd7 11. c6 Ne5 (11...
bxc6 $5 12. O-O Ne5 13. Be2 Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 Ba6 15. Re1 Rab8 16. Qa4 Rb6 $132 {
Sasikiran,K (2658)-Sandipan,C (2478) Mumbai 2003}) 12. Nxe5 Qxe5 13. O-O (13.
Qb3 $5 Ba5 14. cxb7 Rb8 15. Ba6 Bxb7 16. Bxb7 Qc7 17. O-O Rxb7 18. Qa3 $14)
13... bxc6 14. Qe2 Rd8 15. Rfd1 Bb7 16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 17. Rd1 Rxd1+ 18. Qxd1 Qc7
19. h3 Bxc3 20. bxc3 c5 21. Qa4 Qc6 $11 {Giri,A (2790)-Carlsen,M (2863)
Shamkir 2015}) 11. Qc2 (11. O-O Rd8 (11... Qe7 12. Ne4 Rd8 13. Qc2 Bb6 14. Rfd1
Nc6 15. Rxd8+ Nxd8 16. Ne5 Bd7 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 18. Rd1 Qc7 19. g3 Nc6 20. Bb5 Rc8
21. Rc1 Ne7 22. Qxc7 Rxc7 23. Rxc7 Bxc7 $11 {Aronian,L (2816)-Anand,V (2780)
Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2012}) 12. Qc2 $5 (12. Qe2 Qe7 13. a3 Bd7 14. Rfd1 Nc6 15. b4
Bb6 16. Bb3 Be8 17. Na4 Rxd1+ 18. Bxd1 Bc7 19. Nc5 Bd6 20. Bc2 a5 21. Qd3 g6
22. Ne4 Rd8 $15 {Shirov,A (2696)-Wei,Y (2551) WCup Tromsoe 2013}) 12... Bf8 (
12... Qe7 13. Rfd1 Bd7 14. Bd3 Bb6 15. Bh7+ Kh8 16. Be4 Nc6 17. Na4 f5 18. Bxc6
Bxc6 19. Ne5 Rxd1+ 20. Rxd1 Bxa4 21. Qxa4 Qc7 22. Ng6+ Kh7 23. Nf4 Rd8 24. Rxd8
Qxd8 25. Qb3 $11 {/+/=, Buczinski,H (2184)-Salzmann,S (2133) email 2008}) 13.
Rfd1 Nc6 14. Ne4 Qe7 15. Rxd8 Qxd8 16. Rd1 Bd7 {½, Wang,Y (2689)-Zhang,Z 
(2613) Jiangsu Wuxi 2008}) 11... Bd7 (11... Bb4 12. O-O Bxc3 13. Qxc3 Qxc3 14.
Rxc3 Bd7 15. Rd1 Rc8 16. Be2 Rxc3 17. bxc3 f6 18. Rb1 b6 19. Rd1 Kf8 20. Nh4
Bc6 {Fressinet,L (2711)-Gajewski,G (2641) Saint Quentin 2014} 21. Bh5 $36) 12.
O-O Bb6 13. Ne4 Qe7 14. Rfd1 Nc6 15. a3 Rfd8 16. Nd6 Rab8 17. Qe4 (17. Ba2 $5 {
[%cal Ya2b1]}) 17... Bc7 18. Bd3 g6 19. Nb5 Bb6 20. h4 $6 (20. Qf4 Kg7 $11)
20... e5 21. Be2 Bf5 22. Qa4 e4 23. Nfd4 Nxd4 24. Nxd4 Bd7 25. Bb5 {Ipatov,A 
(2608)-Zhukova,N (2470) Doha 2014} Bg4 $17) 10... cxd4 11. Ne4 (11. Nxd4 Bd7
12. Qb3 Nc6 13. Nxc6 Bxc3 14. Rxc3 Bxc6 15. Bb5 Bd5 16. Bc4 Bc6 17. Bb5 Bd5 18.
Bc4 {½, Topalov,V (2798)-Anand,V (2804) Stavanger 2015 This quick draw in the
last round only repeated past games, but it brought Topalov tournament victory.
}) 11... Qe7 12. Nxd4 Bd7 {This year White has tested} 13. Bd3 (13. Qh5 Nc6 14.
Nb3 f5 (14... Be8 15. a3 f5 (15... Bd6 16. Nxd6 Qxd6 17. Rfd1 Qe7 18. Qc5 Qf6
19. Bd3 {[%cal Rd3h7]} g6 20. Qc2 Ne5 {Zhukova,N (2471)-Szczepkowska,K (2414)
Chengdu 2015} 21. Be4 Ba4 22. Rd4 $14) 16. Qe2 Bxa3 17. bxa3 fxe4 18. Nc5 Ne5
19. Ba2 Nf3+ 20. Kh1 Qh4 21. gxf3 Bh5 22. Bxe6+ Kh8 23. Bg4 exf3 24. Qb2 Bxg4
25. Rg1 Rf7 26. Qd4 h5 27. Nd3 Rd8 28. Qe4 Qe7 29. Qxe7 Rxe7 30. Nf4 Kh7 31.
Rc5 $132 {So,W (2762)-Hou,Y (2673) Wijk aan Zee 2015 For more details about
this game see the notes by Ftacnik in CBM 165}) 15. a3 fxe4 (15... Ne5 $5 16.
Be2 Be8 17. Qh3 Bc6 18. axb4 Bxe4 19. Qg3 {Ramirez,A (2591)-Cornette,M (2545)
Cappelle la Grande 2012} Qg5 $5 $11) 16. axb4 Nxb4 17. Nc5 Nd3 18. Nxd3 exd3
19. Bxd3 Bc6 20. Rc4 Rf6 21. Be4 Bxe4 22. Rxe4 Rd8 23. Qe2 Rf5 24. h3 Rfd5 25.
Qg4 R8d6 26. Rc1 {Aronian,L (2804)-Anand,V (2785) Bilbao 2014 For more details
see the notes to this game by Roiz in CBM 163} Qd7 $11 {/+/=}) 13... Nc6 14.
Nb3 Na5 $5 15. Rc7 Rfd8 16. a3 ({A forcing tactical line is} 16. Nbc5 f5 $8 17.
a3 fxe4 18. axb4 exd3 19. Qxd3 (19. bxa5 $2 Rac8 20. Rxc8 Bxc8 $17 {[%csl Gd3]}
) 19... Bb5 20. Rxe7 Bxd3 21. bxa5 Bxf1 22. Kxf1 Rd1+ 23. Ke2 Rad8 24. Rxb7
R1d2+ 25. Ke1 $11 {½, Matlakov,M (2694)-Wojtaszek,R (2746) Montpellier 2015})
16... Nxb3 17. Qxb3 Ba5 18. Rxb7 Ba4 $1 19. Rxe7 Bxb3 20. Nc5 Bb6 21. Nxb3 Rxd3
22. Nd4 Bxd4 23. exd4 Rb8 24. Rxa7 Rxb2 25. Ra4 Ra2 $11 {Gelfand,B (2744)-Giri,
A (2776) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015}) 7... Nc6 8. e3 O-O 9. Be2 {Retains the central
tension.} ({Topalov spurns the Carlsbad-like} 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Be2 Be6 11. O-O
a6 12. Rfc1 Bd6 13. Qd1 (13. a3 Ne7 14. b4 c6 15. Qb3 g5 16. Qb2 Qg7 17. Na4
Rae8 18. Nc5 Bc8 19. g3 Nf5 20. Bd3 Qf6 21. Rf1 h5 22. Rac1 h4 23. Qd2 Nh6 $2 (
23... hxg3 24. hxg3 Kg7 $15) 24. e4 $16 {Aronian,L (2777)-Anand,V (2797)
Baden-Baden 2015}) 13... Ne7 14. a3 Rfd8 15. b4 Nc8 16. Na4 b6 $6 (16... b5 $5
17. Nc5 Nb6 $132) 17. Nb2 Ne7 18. Nd3 Ng6 19. a4 a5 20. b5 Re8 21. Rc3 Bf5 22.
Rac1 Rad8 23. Nd2 Rd7 24. g3 Nf8 25. Bg4 $16 {Carlsen,M (2862)-Aronian,L (2797)
Wijk aan Zee 2015 Although White won both quoted games, Krasenkow in his notes
in CBM 165 indicates ample improvements for Black. Especially Anand, who
concentrated on his kingside play, achieved a promising position.}) 9... dxc4 (
{Perhaps it's more accurate to force White's Q to move with} 9... Bd7 $5 10.
Qb3 (10. Qc2 dxc4 11. O-O Na5 12. Ne5 Qe7 13. Ne4 Bd6 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. Bxc4
Nxc4 16. Qxc4 Be7 17. Rac1 c6 18. Qb3 Rfd8 19. Nc5 Bxc5 20. Rxc5 Qe7 21. Qc3
Rd5 22. Rxd5 exd5 $11 {Zoler,D (2504)-Hammer,J (2647) Yerevan 2014}) 10... dxc4
11. Qxc4 (11. Bxc4 Bd6 $11 {[%cal Ye6e5,Rc6a5]}) 11... Qg6 ({We will have a
look at} 11... Bd6 {in the following note, it can lead to similar positions.})
12. O-O Bd6 13. Rfd1 (13. Nb5 Rfc8 14. Nxd6 cxd6 15. Rac1 e5 16. dxe5 dxe5 17.
Bd3 Bf5 18. Bxf5 Qxf5 19. Qb5 Qe6 20. Qxb7 Rab8 21. Qa6 Rxb2 22. Rc5 Rxa2 23.
Qb7 Ra5 24. Rxa5 Nxa5 25. Qxa7 Nc4 26. Rc1 Nd6 27. Rxc8+ Qxc8 28. Qa1 e4 29.
Nd4 Nf5 30. Nxf5 Qxf5 {½, Wojtaszek,R (2711)-Yu,Y (2677) Wijk aan Zee 2014}) (
13. Rac1 Na5 14. Qd3 Qxd3 15. Bxd3 Nc6 16. Rfd1 Rfd8 17. Bb1 Nb4 18. Be4 c6 19.
Bb1 Be8 20. a3 Nd5 21. Ne4 Be7 22. Ba2 g5 23. h3 Kg7 24. Rd2 Nf6 25. Bb1 a5 26.
Nxf6 Bxf6 27. Be4 a4 $11 {Zhou,J (2589)-Yu,Y (2723) Xinghua 2015}) 13... Rfd8
14. Bd3 Na5 15. Qb5 Bxb5 16. Bxg6 Bc6 17. Be4 Bxe4 18. Nxe4 Nc4 19. Rdc1 Nb6
20. Kf1 c6 21. Ke2 Kf8 22. g4 Ke7 23. h4 Rac8 24. Rc2 Nd7 $11 {/+/=, Vallejo
Pons,F (2698)-Wei,Y (2634) Leon rpd 2014 Black had a solid, but rather passive
position, which he eventually managed to hold.}) 10. O-O Bd7 (10... Bd6 11.
Qxc4 (11. Bxc4 e5 $5 12. Ne4 Qe7 13. Nxd6 cxd6 $11 {/+/=}) 11... Bd7 12. Rac1
Qg6 13. Rfd1 Na5 14. Qd3 Qxd3 15. Bxd3 Nc6 16. Ne4 Nb4 17. Bb1 Ba4 18. Rd2 Bc6
19. a3 Bxe4 20. Bxe4 Nd5 21. Rdc2 c6 22. Nd2 a5 23. g3 Rfd8 24. Nc4 Be7 25. Kf1
Ra6 26. Bd3 Nb6 27. Ne5 Raa8 28. f4 Nd7 29. Nf3 a4 30. Ke2 Ra5 $11 {/+/=,
Melkumyan,H (2676)-Naroditsky,D (2633) Tsaghkadzor 2015 This position is
slightly more pleasant for White and in the end he managed to win.}) 11. Bxc4
Bxc3 {Aronian decides not to lose any more time and gives up the bishop-pair
instead. It's not so simple to equalize after the alternatives:} (11... Bd6 12.
Qc2 $5 (12. Ne4 Qe7 13. Qc2 e5 14. d5 Nd8 15. Nxd6 cxd6 16. Rac1 f5 17. Be2 Rc8
18. Qb3 f4 19. Nd2 b6 20. Qa3 fxe3 21. Qxe3 Nf7 22. Ba6 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Bf5 24.
Ne4 Rd8 25. Ng3 Bg6 26. Bd3 $36 {Wagner,D (2481)-Landa,K (2640) Germany 2013})
12... e5 13. d5 Nb4 14. Qd2 Qg6 (14... a5 $5) 15. a3 Na6 16. b4 Bh3 $6 17. Ne1
e4 18. f3 exf3 19. Nxf3 Bg4 20. Bd3 Qh5 21. Ne4 Rad8 22. Nxd6 Rxd6 23. e4 $16 {
[%csl Ra6,Gd5,Ge4] Ragger,M (2670)-Cornette,M (2552) Belfort 2012}) (11... Qg6
{[%cal Rc6d4]} 12. Qd1 $5 {[%cal Yc4d3] also seems to retain a small plus.})
12. bxc3 Rfd8 (12... Qe7 13. Be2 (13. Qc2 $5 {/\} e5 14. Rab1 b6 15. Bd5 $36)
13... e5 $1 14. Qb3 b6 15. Qc4 Rac8 16. Nd2 Na5 17. Qb4 c5 18. Qa3 Rfe8 (18...
Qe6 $5) 19. d5 e4 20. c4 Qg5 21. Kh1 Rcd8 22. Rae1 Bf5 23. Rg1 h5 24. Nf1 Bg4
$11 {Fedoseev,V (2601)-Aleksandrov,A (2586) Khanty-Mansiysk 2013}) 13. Be2 $146
{[%mdl 40] Topalov's novelty indicates a different strategy, contrary to prior
examples: White will concentrate more on queenside play.} (13. Qc2 Na5 14. Bd3
c5 15. Ne5 Be8 16. f4 Qe7 17. Qe2 Rac8 18. f5 f6 19. Ng4 exf5 (19... h5 20. Nf2
e5 $1 $36) 20. Bxf5 Rc7 21. Rad1 h5 22. Nf2 cxd4 23. cxd4 Nc4 24. Rfe1 Bf7 25.
Bd3 b5 26. Ne4 Re8 27. Qf2 Rc6 28. Nc5 Rxc5 29. dxc5 Qxc5 $44 {0-1 (44) Hansen,
C (2621)-Hammer,J (2665) Oslo 2015}) (13. Qa3 Qe7 14. Qb2 Na5 15. Bd3 c5 16. e4
Be8 17. Rad1 cxd4 18. cxd4 Rac8 19. Rfe1 Nc4 20. Qe2 Nb6 21. Rc1 Qa3 22. Rxc8
Rxc8 23. d5 Bd7 $15 {Shankland,S (2661)-Aronian,L (2770) Tsaghkadzor 2015})
13... Be8 {Follows the same plan as against Shankland, but this seems
unnecessarily passive.} (13... e5 $5 14. Qb3 b6 15. Rfd1 Bf5 $132) 14. Qa3 Qe7
15. Qb2 Na5 {[%cal Yc7c5]} 16. Qb4 $5 {[%mdl 4096] Topalov prevents c5 and
opts for a slight endgame pull.} Qxb4 17. cxb4 Nc6 18. Rab1 a5 $5 {Aronian
seeks activity.} ({Moves such as} 18... Ne7 {, or}) (18... Rac8 {enable White
to retain his space advantage and a small, but long-term edge.}) 19. bxa5 {
A controversial decision. White opens the queenside for his rooks, but
improves Black's pawn structure.} ({More natural was} 19. b5 Ne7 (19... Nb4 20.
a3 Nd5 21. Rfc1 $14) 20. Rfc1 $14) 19... Nxa5 20. Rfc1 Rdc8 21. Ne1 {[%csl Gc5,
Ge5][%cal Ye1d3]} Ra7 (21... Bc6 22. f3 (22. Nd3 Bd5 23. Nb4 c6 {[%csl Gc4]
[%cal Yb7b5]} 24. a4 Bb3 25. Nd3 Bc4 $132) 22... Bd5 23. Rb2 $14) 22. Nd3 Nc6
23. Bf3 Nd8 {[%cal Ye8c6] Black has foregone an earlier chance to activate the
Be8, but now he prepares the bishop swap.} 24. Nb4 (24. g3 Bc6 25. Bxc6 Nxc6
26. Nc5 Nd8 ({or} 26... Na5 $5 {seemed one exchange too much to Topalov.
Therefore he prevents Bc6, but the knight obstructs the open file.})) 24... Ra5
{[%cal Yc7c5]} 25. h4 Kf8 26. Rc3 c6 (26... c5 27. Rbc1 (27. Nd3 c4 28. Nc5 b5
29. a4 bxa4 30. Rxc4 Rc7 $132 {[%csl Ga4]}) 27... b6 28. a3 f6 $5 {/\} 29. Nd3
c4 $132) 27. Bd1 $5 {[%cal Yd1b3,Yb4d3] The manoeuvring continues, the bishop
will protect a2 and free the knight.} Ke7 (27... c5 $6 28. Nd3 c4 29. a4 $1 b5
(29... Bxa4 30. Bxa4 Rxa4 31. Nc5 $36 {[%csl Rb7][%cal Yc3c4]}) 30. axb5 Bxb5
31. Bf3 $14 {/+/-}) (27... f6 $5 28. Bb3 Bg6) 28. Bb3 c5 $5 {Aronian finally
decides to clarify the position.} 29. Nd3 b6 30. dxc5 (30. Bc2 Rb5 31. dxc5
Rxb1+ 32. Bxb1 Bb5 $11) 30... bxc5 (30... Bb5 $5 31. Bc4 Bxc4 32. Rxc4 bxc5 33.
a4 Rc7 {is probably a more reliable way to neutralise the pressure. The
distant passed pawn is under sufficient control.}) 31. f3 (31. Rbc1 Nb7 {
[%cal Ye8a4]} 32. e4 {is similar.}) 31... Rc7 32. e4 Nb7 33. Rbc1 Ba4 (33... f6
34. e5 Bg6 35. Nf4 Bf7) 34. e5 $1 {() The difference in comparison with the
note to move 30 is here the bishop swap will take place on b3, enabling the
Pb3 to join the attack on the vulnerable Pc5. However, Black's position is
still defensible...} Rc6 (34... Bxb3 $142 35. axb3 Ra3 36. b4 (36. Kf2 Rd7 37.
Ke3 Rd5 $11) 36... Rxc3 37. Rxc3 Kd7 38. bxc5 Kc6 $11 {[%cal Yc6b5]}) (34... g6
{also deserves attention, Black prevents further space gains.}) 35. Kh2 Rb6 36.
h5 $1 $36 {[%csl Rg7] Fixes a weakness and continues the fight.} (36. Bxa4 Rxa4
37. Nxc5 Nxc5 38. Rxc5 Rxh4+ 39. Kg3 Rd4 $11) 36... Bxb3 (36... f6 $142 $5 37.
Nb2 (37. Bc4 Bc6 $14) 37... Bxb3 38. axb3 $14) 37. axb3 {[%cal Rb3b4]} Kd7 $2 {
This doesn't stop White's main threat.} (37... Rab5 $142 {still retains
reasonable drawing chances:} 38. Nxc5 (38. b4 cxb4 39. Nxb4 (39. Rc8 $2 Rd5 $17
) (39. Rc7+ Ke8 40. Rc8+ Nd8 41. Nxb4 Rxe5 $15) 39... Rxb4 40. Rc7+ Ke8 41.
Rc8+ Nd8 42. Rd1 Ke7 43. Rcxd8 Rb7 $11) 38... Nxc5 39. Rxc5 Rb7 $5 (39... Rxc5
40. Rxc5 Rb7 $1 $14 (40... Rxb3 41. Rc7+ Kf8 42. Rc8+ Ke7 43. Rg8 {[%csl Rg7,
Rh6]} Rb5 44. f4 f6 45. Rxg7+ Kf8 46. Rh7 fxe5 47. fxe5 Rxe5 48. g4 $18 (48.
Rxh6 $2 Rg5 49. Kh3 Kg7 $11))) 40. R1c3 f6 $14) (37... f6 $2 38. b4 cxb4 39.
Rc7+ Ke8 40. Rxg7 $18) 38. b4 $1 cxb4 (38... Rab5 39. bxc5 Rc6 40. Rc4 $16 {
[%cal Yc4g4]}) 39. Rc8 {[%cal Rc1c7]} Nd8 40. R1c7+ Ke8 41. Nc5 {[%cal Rc7d7]}
Rxc5 $8 {Bitter, but true - Black must give up an exchange to stave off the
mating attack.} 42. Rxc5 b3 43. Rc1 Kd7 (43... b2 $6 44. Rd1 Ke7 45. Rcxd8 Rb7
46. Rg8 b1=Q 47. Rxb1 Rxb1 48. Rxg7 $18 {[%csl Rh6][%cal Rg7h7]}) 44. R8c7+ Ke8
45. Rc8 ({Topalov probably spurned} 45. R7c3 {due to} Rb5 (45... b2 46. Rb1 Nc6
47. f4 $18) 46. f4 f6 $16) 45... Kd7 46. R8c3 Ke7 (46... Rb5 47. Rd1+ Ke7 48.
Rc7+ Ke8 49. Rc8 Rd5 50. Rxd5 exd5 51. Rb8 $18) ({A more resilient try was} 
46... Nc6 $142 $5 47. f4 f6 $16) 47. Rd3 (47. Rb1 $1 Nc6 48. f4 Nd4 49. Rc7+
Ke8 50. Ra1 Rb8 51. Raa7 Nb5 (51... b2 52. Re7+ Kd8 53. Rxf7 Ke8 54. Rxg7 Kf8
55. Rh7 Kg8 56. Rag7+ Kf8 57. Rh8+ $18) 52. Rab7 Rxb7 53. Rxb7 Nd4 54. Rb4 Ne2
55. Rb8+ Ke7 56. Rb7+ Kf8 57. g3 Nc1 58. Kg2 $18 {[%cal Yg2f3,Yf3e3,Ye3d2]}) (
47. f4 $5 {leads to the game position.}) 47... Nb7 (47... Nc6 $142 48. Rd6 b2
49. Rb1 f6 $16) 48. Rdc3 Nd8 49. f4 $5 (49. Rb1 $1 $18 {-47.Rb1!}) 49... f6 (
49... b2 50. Rb1 {[%cal Yc3c2,Yc2b2]} f6 51. Rc7+ Ke8 52. exf6 (52. Rxg7 $2
fxe5 {/\} 53. fxe5 Nf7) 52... gxf6 53. Rc2 Rb5 54. g4 Rb4 55. Rf2 $18 {and
White will gradually win.}) 50. Rc7+ Ke8 (50... Kf8 51. Rc8 b2 52. Rb1 $18 {
- 49...b2}) 51. Rxg7 $1 fxe5 (51... Nc6 52. exf6 b2 53. Rb1 Nd4 54. g4 $1 $18 {
[%cal Rg4g5] /\} Nf3+ (54... Nc2 55. Rd1 $1 $18) 55. Kg2 Nd2 56. g5 Nxb1 57. g6
$18 {[%cal Rg7e7,Rg6g7]}) 52. Rcc7 $18 {[%cal Rg7g8] The mating attack trumps
the passed pawn and the rest is simple and straightforward.} Kf8 53. Rh7 Kg8 $8
54. Rcg7+ Kf8 55. Rd7 Kg8 56. Rxh6 Nf7 (56... b2 57. Rxd8+ Kg7 (57... Kf7 58.
Rh7+ Kf6 59. Rf8#) 58. Rg6+ Kf7 (58... Kh7 59. Rd7+ Kh8 60. f5 $1 b1=Q 61. Rh6+
Kg8 62. f6 $18 {[%cal Rf6f7,Rd7g7]}) 59. Rd7+ Ke8 (59... Kf8 60. h6 b1=Q 61. h7
$18) 60. Rc7 Kf8 61. h6 b1=Q 62. h7 $18) 57. Rg6+ Kh8 58. Rf6 $1 (58. Rf6 b2
59. Rfxf7 Kg8 60. h6 Rb8 (60... b1=Q 61. Rg7+ Kf8 62. Rd8#) 61. Rh7 b1=Q 62.
Rdg7+ Kf8 63. Rh8#) 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Hammer, Jon Ludvig"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2677"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "2015.06.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {[%mdl 4096]} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 {Topalov has a rich
experience in this system. For instance, he used it with White in the World
Championship match against Vladimir Kramnik.} Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 {
The most solid choice.} ({Provoking the f2-f3 advance by means of} 6... Be4 7.
f3 Bg6 {is somewhat more ambitious, but risky continuation.}) 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8.
Bd2 Nbd7 9. Qc2 {This setup is usually connected with q-side castling and
offers a complex battle.} a6 {This move is a standard preparation of q-side
activity.} ({After} 9... Rc8 10. O-O-O b5 (10... c5 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Kb1 $14)
11. c5 {White may claim for something of an edge, since} Ng4 12. Be1 Rxh2 13.
Rxh2 Nxh2 14. Be2 {looks rather dangerous for Black.}) ({After} 9... Be7 {
White should switch to a quiet way of development:} 10. Be2 (10. O-O-O {
offers nothing now:} Nb6 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Kb1 Rc8 $11) 10... dxc4 11. Bxc4 O-O
12. O-O c5 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. Rfd1 Rc8 15. Be2 $14) ({The most natural looks to
be} 9... Bd6 10. g3 dxc4 (10... Qe7 11. c5 Bc7 12. Bg2 e5 13. O-O O-O 14. b4
$14) (10... O-O) 11. Bxc4 Qe7 12. Be2 e5 {with a long strategic battle, where
White's bishops offer White some edge.}) 10. O-O-O $146 {This brave move is a
novelty.} ({Another logical way of handling the position was} 10. c5 $5 Qc7 11.
g3 e5 12. Bg2 Be7 13. O-O O-O 14. b4 $14 {Black faces some problems with
creating counterplay, since the b7-b6 advance would allow White to take
control over the c5-spot.}) ({At the same time, the previously played} 10. Bd3
dxc4 (10... b5 11. c5 Ng4 12. h3 $14 {1/2 -1/2 Schlosser,P(2550) - Hertneck,G
(2525)/Bayern-chI Bank Hofmann 1st 1997}) 11. Bxc4 c5 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Be2 Rc8
{was comfortable for Black in 1/2-1/2 Ding,Liren (2458) - Zhao Jun (2560)/
Beijing zt 2009}) 10... Be7 (10... Rc8 $5 11. c5 (11. Kb1 dxc4 12. Bxc4 b5 13.
Be2 c5 $132) 11... b6 12. Bxa6 Rb8 13. cxb6 Qxb6 14. Be2 c5 $44) 11. Kb1 Qc7
12. h3 (12. g3 dxc4 (12... O-O 13. e4 Nxe4 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Qxe4 Rfd8 16. Qc2
$14) 13. Bxc4 c5 14. Be2 Rc8 $132) 12... Rd8 ({The following possibility looks
most principled:} 12... dxc4 13. Bxc4 c5 {and White has to enter into an
extremely wild position in order to fight for the initiative:} 14. d5 Nb6 15.
dxe6 Nxc4 16. Qa4+ b5 17. Nxb5 axb5 18. Qxa8+ Bd8 $132) 13. c5 {Obviously, the
Rd8 has not much of a job in the centre, so this move definitely makes sense.}
e5 (13... b6 14. cxb6 Qxb6 15. Rc1 Rc8 16. Qd3 O-O) 14. f4 (14. Bd3 $5 {
deserved serious attention:} O-O 15. Na4 (15. g4 $5 {is also interesting.})
15... Rfe8 16. Rhe1 e4 17. Bf1 $14 {White is better prepared for the resulting
''French pawn structure''}) 14... exd4 15. exd4 Nh5 $1 {That concrete approach
is definitely the best here. White's setup isn't completed, so protecting the
Pf4 is not an easy task.} (15... O-O 16. Bd3 b6 17. Rhe1 Rfe8 18. cxb6 Qxb6 19.
f5 gxf5 20. Bxf5 Qxd4 21. g4 {offers White excellent compensation for a
missing pawn.}) 16. Ne2 ({After} 16. Re1 Ng3 (16... Nxf4 $6 {is too risky:} 17.
g3 Ne6 18. Rxe6 fxe6 19. Qxg6+ Kf8 20. h4 $36) 17. Rg1 Kf8 18. Bd3 Bf6 19. Be3
Re8 $132 {Black gets control over central squares, so the position is balanced.
}) 16... Nhf6 17. Nc3 Nh5 {Topalov's tournament situation was excellent, so he
had no reasons for avoiding a draw by repetition here.} 18. Ne2 Nhf6 19. Ng3
Ng8 $2 {Quite a strange decision - White gets a serious development advantage
now.} ({A much better way was} 19... b6 $1 20. cxb6 Qxb6 21. Re1 Kf8 $132) 20.
Bd3 f5 ({Unfortunately, there is no time for manoeuvres:} 20... Bf6 21. Ne2 Ne7
22. h4 $1 Nf5 23. h5 Nxd4 24. Nxd4 Bxd4 25. hxg6 Rxh1 26. Rxh1 Nxc5 27. gxf7+
Kxf7 28. Bg6+ $18) 21. Nxf5 $6 {This tempting piece sac seems somewhat
premature.} ({The precise} 21. Rhe1 $1 {would punish Black for his careless
waste of time:} Kf7 (21... Ngf6 22. Nxf5 gxf5 23. Bxf5 Nf8 24. g4 $16) 22. Nf1
$1 (22. Nxf5 {is less clear:} gxf5 23. Bxf5 Nf8) 22... Ngf6 23. g4 Ne4 24. Ne3
$16) 21... gxf5 22. Bxf5 Ndf6 $6 {Returning the favour.} ({Black had a great
chance to regroup the minor pieces by means of} 22... Bf6 $1 23. g4 Ne7 24. g5
({After} 24. Rhe1 Kf8 25. Re2 Nxf5 26. Qxf5 Re8 27. Rde1 Rxe2 28. Rxe2 Nb8 $1
29. g5 Qd7 30. Qxd7 Nxd7 31. gxf6 Nxf6 $11 {Black has full positional
compensation for a pawn}) 24... Bxd4 25. Rhe1 Kf8 $132) 23. Bg6+ Kf8 24. g4 Ne4
{Of course, Veselin is ready to give up some material in order to consolidate.}
25. g5 $1 {[%csl Re7,Rf8,Rg8] Despite the material advantage, Black's position
is rather passive and unpleasant now.} Rh4 $2 (25... b6 {didn't offer Black
any counterplay:} 26. h4 bxc5 27. dxc5 $16) ({Topalov's task was tough, but
the correct} 25... Re8 $1 {would allow Black to regroup the pieces and
consolidate:} 26. h4 Bd8 27. Bxe8 Kxe8 28. h5 Ne7 $132) 26. Bc1 {A natural
move - the bishop has found a safe square, while the queen is getting useful
along the 2nd rank.} ({However, a much more energetic and stronger option was} 
26. Be1 $1 Rh8 {the lesser evil} (26... Rxf4 $2 {gives White a decisive attack
after} 27. h4 b6 28. Bd2 Nxd2+ 29. Qxd2 bxc5 30. Rhf1 $18) 27. h4 $16) 26...
Qd7 27. Qg2 b6 $1 {Black's position still looks dangerous, but Topalov finds a
way to develop counterplay.} 28. cxb6 ({Possibly,} 28. Bxe4 $5 {was better
from the practical point of view. For instance, after} dxe4 29. f5 bxc5 30. Qg3
Rh8 31. dxc5 Qxd1 32. Rxd1 Rxd1 $132 {White's position looks somewhat safer.})
28... Bd6 (28... Rb8 29. Bxe4 dxe4 30. d5 cxd5 31. f5 $44) 29. Bxe4 dxe4 30. d5
{Jon Ludvig's play is very natural. The Kf8 is in permanent danger, but
Black's pieces are much more active than before.} Ne7 (30... cxd5 $5 {deserved
serious attention:} 31. Rxd5 Ne7 {and it looks like White must play precisely
in order to keep the balance:} 32. Rd4 Rb8 (32... Nf5 33. Rxe4 Qc6 34. Rhe1
Qxb6 35. Re6 $44) 33. Rhd1 Rxb6 34. g6 $1 Rxh3 35. Rxd6 Rxd6 36. Rxd6 Qxd6 37.
Qxh3 Qxg6 38. Qe3 $11) 31. dxc6 Qxc6 32. Rhe1 Qxb6 (32... Rb8 33. Qxe4 Qxe4+
34. Rxe4 Rxb6 35. Re6 Bc5 36. Rxb6 Bxb6 37. Rd6 {led to a drawish endgame.})
33. Qxe4 {The resulting position is approximately equal - White has sufficient
compensation for a piece, but not more.} Bc5 34. Rxd8+ Qxd8 35. Qc4 Qd4 36.
Qxa6 {Correctly deviating from an exchange - the vulnerablity of Black's
monarch causes problems here.} g6 $6 {Inviting some troubles.} ({The most
natural} 36... Rxh3 37. a4 Qd3+ 38. Qxd3 Rxd3 {led to an endgame, where the
draw looks unavoidable.}) 37. Re5 $1 Qd6 38. Qa8+ Kg7 39. Qf3 ({Hammer could
have posed Black more problems by means of:} 39. Qe4 $1 Rxh3 40. a4 Rg3 41. a5
$14 {the a-passer is quite annoying.}) 39... Bd4 40. Re2 Qd7 41. Qd3 {White
has 4 pawns for a piece, but the activity of Black's pieces cannot be
underestimated.} Nc6 (41... Nf5 42. Rc2 Rh8 43. a4 Ra8 (43... Qxa4 $2 44. Rc7+
Kf8 45. Qe4 $18) 44. b3 $14) 42. Rh2 $6 ({More in the spirit of White's
previous play was} 42. Rc2 Nb4 43. Rc7 Qxc7 44. Qxd4+ Kf7 45. Qxb4 Rxh3 46. Qe4
$14 {keeping some edge, though it would be very difficult to advance the
passers.}) 42... Nb4 $1 43. Qc4 (43. Qe4 Qf5 44. Qxf5 gxf5 45. a4 Nd5 46. a5
Nxf4 47. Bxf4 Rxf4 48. Kc2 $11) 43... Rxh3 {Now Topalov is no longer facing
any risk.} 44. Rd2 (44. Rxh3 {was safer:} Qf5+ 45. Rd3 Qxd3+ 46. Qxd3 Nxd3 47.
Bd2 Nxb2 48. Kc2 Na4 49. Kd3 Bg1 50. Ke4 Nc5+ 51. Ke5 $11 {and Black cannot
avoid the exchange of Pg6.}) 44... Qf5+ 45. Ka1 Bc5 $1 {Now White is under
pressure, though the position is still equal.} 46. a3 Nd3 47. Rd1 Nxc1 48. Rxc1
Bf8 49. Qd4+ Kg8 50. Rc7 $1 ({Correctly rejecting} 50. Qc4+ Qf7 51. Qxf7+ Kxf7
$15) 50... Qe6 51. Qc4 Qxc4 52. Rxc4 Kf7 53. a4 Rb3 (53... Ke6 54. a5 Bd6 55.
a6 Rh7 56. Ra4 Ra7 57. Kb1 $11) 54. a5 {The strong a-passer doesn't yield
Black much time for attacking the other pawns.} Rb5 55. Ra4 Bg7 56. Ra2 {
This awkward move is the only way to protect the pawn.} (56. Kb1 {was also
possible:} Rxb2+ 57. Kc1 Rb8 58. a6 $11) 56... Bd4 57. Ra4 Bxb2+ 58. Ka2 Bc1
59. a6 Rb2+ 60. Ka1 Rb8 61. Rc4 Be3 62. Rc7+ Kg8 (62... Ke6 63. Rc6+ Kd5 64.
Rxg6 $11) 63. Rc6 Bd4+ 64. Ka2 Kf7 {Black is pushing for a win, but his
resources are limited.} 65. Rd6 Bc3 66. Rc6 Bh8 67. Ka3 Bd4 68. Ka4 Rf8 ({
Black could have tried} 68... Rb6 $5 69. a7 Rb1 70. Rd6 Bxa7 71. Rf6+ Kg7 72.
f5 {White manages to swap the pawns, but there was still some theoretical
chance.}) 69. Kb5 Kg7 70. Rc7+ Rf7 71. Rxf7+ Kxf7 72. Kc4 Ba7 73. Kd5 Ke7 74.
Kc6 $4 {GM Hammer definitely doesn't deserve a loss in this game. Alas, this
terrible blunder immediately spoils half a point.} (74. f5 gxf5 75. Ke5 $11) (
74. Ke5 Bb8+ 75. Kd5 $11) 74... Ke6 (74... Ke6 75. Kb7 Be3 76. a7 Bxa7 77. Kxa7
Kf5 $19) 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2015.06.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 c5 5. d5 O-O 6. e4 d6 7. Nge2 {In CBM 161
I did a survey of this variation. The current game adds to my conclusion that
Black is doing fine in this line.} b5 {The most aggressive.} 8. Nf4 {This move
strengthens White's centre, but the knight on f4 might be misplaced in some
cases.} (8. Ng3 {is another option.}) 8... exd5 {Topalov deviates from his own
game, where he also achieved a good position.} (8... a6 9. Bd2 exd5 10. cxd5
Ba5 11. Be2 Nbd7 12. O-O Ne5 13. Kh1 c4 14. b3 b4 15. Na4 c3 16. Be3 Bc7 $15 {
[%csl Gb4,Gc3] 0-1 (41) Timofeev,A (2631)-Topalov,V (2751) Eilat 2012}) (8...
e5 {has appeared in practice as well with good results for White. Closing the
centre gives White some time to regroup his pieces.}) 9. cxd5 (9. Nfxd5 Nxd5
10. Qxd5 Qb6 11. Bf4 Be6 $1 {has never appeared so far, but might be an
improvement that Topalov had in mind.} (11... Rd8 $2 12. Bg5 $1 Re8 13. Rd1 $16
{1-0 (19) Khairullin,I (2602)-Karthikeyan,P (1983) Vlissingen 2009}) (11...
bxc4 $6 12. Bxc4 Nc6 13. O-O Be6 14. Qd3 $14 {1/2-1/2 (40) Volkov,S (2636)
-Maletin,P (2545) Novokuznetsk 2008}) 12. Qxd6 (12. Qxa8 $6 Nc6 13. Qxf8+ Kxf8
$15) 12... Qa5 13. Kf2 Rd8 14. Qc7 Rd2+ 15. Kg3 Qxc7 16. Bxc7 Bxc3 17. bxc3
bxc4 $13) 9... a6 {We have here a Benoni type structure with, somewhat
unusually, Black's bishop on b4 and a slight lag in development for White.
It's important for Black that he has already managed to expand his play on the
queenside.} (9... c4 $6 10. a4 Nbd7 11. axb5 Ne5 12. Be3 $14 {0-1 (34) Moranda,
W (2533)-Dziuba,M (2556) Lublin 2008}) 10. Be2 (10. a4 {is worth checking.
Black should reply with} Ba5 $1 {tactically protecting the Pb5.} 11. Be3 (11.
axb5 axb5 {[%cal Ga5c3]} 12. Bd2 Qb6 $132) 11... c4 12. axb5 axb5 13. b4 $1
cxb3 (13... Bxb4 $6 14. Rxa8 Bxc3+ 15. Kf2 $14) 14. Qxb3 Ba6 $13) 10... Nbd7
11. O-O c4 $146 {More flexible than the previously played 11...Ne5. It's not
clear yet, where Black's knight should go.} (11... Ne5 12. Kh1 (12. a4 $5)
12... Bd7 13. Nd3 Nxd3 14. Qxd3 $13 {1/2-1/2 (30) Richter,M (2470)-Babula,V 
(2583) Pardubice 2013}) 12. Be3 $6 {This allows the exchange of dark-squared
bishops, which, to my mind, White should avoid, at least at this stage of the
game.} (12. Kh1 {looks more in the spirit of the position.} Bc5 $1 (12... Ne5
13. a3 Bc5 14. b4 Bb6 15. g4 h6 16. Ng2 a5 17. Bf4 {This is the kind of
position that White should strive for in this line - to stabilise the
queenside and try to create chances on the kingside.}) 13. g4 Ne5 14. Ng2 h6
15. a3 {trying to push b2-b4 even in a slightly inferior version.}) 12... Bc5
13. Bxc5 Nxc5 14. b4 (14. Qd4 g5 $1 15. b4 cxb3 16. Nd3 Nfd7 $15) 14... cxb3
15. axb3 b4 16. Nb5 $2 {This is, actually, a blunder. It would be good for
White, if the knight reached the d4 square, but not in this game...} (16. Na4
Nxa4 17. Rxa4 Qb6+ 18. Kh1 a5 19. Nd3 Ba6 20. Nb2 Rfc8 21. Bxa6 Qxa6 $15 22.
Nc4 $2 Rxc4 $1 23. bxc4 Nd7 $17 {[%cal Gd7c5]}) (16. Nb1 Nfd7 17. Nd2 a5 18.
Nh5 $5 {would be acceptable for White, though I already slightly prefer
Black's position.}) 16... Qb6 17. Kh1 {[%tqu "En","How can Black win
material?","","","g7g5","White can't keep both knights and has to sacrifice
one of them.",5]} g5 $1 {White can't keep both knights and has to sacrifice
one of them.} 18. Qd4 Ncd7 19. Qxb6 (19. Qxb4 gxf4 20. Qd2 Nh5 $19) 19... Nxb6
20. Nc7 (20. Nxd6 gxf4 {is another version of giving a piece, but White's
compensation is insufficient.}) 20... Ra7 21. Nb5 {Unfortunately for Grischuk
it's not a repetition. Black's rook can have squares along the seventh rank.}
Re7 $6 {It's not clear why Topalov gave up the Pd6, when he could defend it.} (
21... Rd7 22. Nxd6 ({Perhaps, he was slightly concerned about} 22. Ne6 {
but, it should be winning for Black after} fxe6 23. dxe6 Re7 24. Nxd6 Bxe6 25.
Rxa6 Rb8) 22... Rxd6 23. e5 Rdd8 $19) 22. Nxd6 gxf4 23. Bxa6 Rd8 24. Bxc8 $6 (
24. Nxc8 Nxc8 25. Ra4 Ra7 26. Bb5 {would be a better chance. The bishop will
be annoying on c6.}) 24... Rxd6 25. Bf5 Nbd7 26. g3 (26. Ra7 Kf8 27. Ra8+ Kg7
28. Ra7 Re5 {and slowly, but surely Black will regroup his pieces and
eventually win.}) 26... fxg3 27. Rg1 $6 {Grischuk insists on opening the
g-file, but it makes the things even worse for him.} (27. hxg3 {should have
been played, at least keeping the structure intact. Here Black's winning task
would be far more difficult.}) 27... Kf8 28. Rxg3 Nc5 $19 {White has no
threats. Meanwhile, the weakening of the f4-square will become apparent very
soon.} 29. Bh3 Re8 30. Rb1 Nh5 31. Rg5 Nf4 {The perfect blockade. The rest is
easy.} 32. Bf1 Ra8 33. Bc4 Ra2 34. Rg4 Rh6 $1 35. h4 (35. Rxf4 Raxh2+ 36. Kg1
Rh1+ $19 {[%csl Rb1]}) 35... Nfd3 36. Rg2 Rxh4+ 37. Kg1 Ra7 38. d6 Rh6 39. Rh2
Rxd6 {Well played by Topalov.} 0-1

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 3rd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2853"]
[BlackElo "2816"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2015.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. O-O Ngf6 (4... a6 {is the another main line,
but after} 5. Bd3 Ngf6 {White doesn't have to play 6.Re1, he can immediately
answer with} 6. c3 {followed by Bc2, d4.}) 5. Re1 a6 6. Bd3 b5 7. c4 g5 $5 $146
{A very interesting and ambitious novelty by Topalov. Nowadays ...g5 becomes
typical in these type of position. In case of White captures the P Black has
some play on the g-file and in case of White ignores, Black continues with ...
g4 and takes some pressure in the centre.} ({Last year Nakamura played} 7...
Ne5 {against Carlsen,} 8. Bf1 Nxc4 9. a4 Bd7 10. d4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 e5 12. axb5
exd4 13. Bxc4 axb5 14. Rxa8 Qxa8 15. Bb3 Be7 16. Qxd4 $14 {and White had a
comfortable position, Carlsen-Nakamura, Zuerich rapid 2014.}) 8. Nxg5 {Carlsen
takes the gauntlet.} (8. cxb5 $5 {was the alternative,} g4 9. e5 $5 dxe5 10.
Ng5 Nb6 {with a very complicated position.}) 8... Ne5 9. Be2 bxc4 10. Na3 (10.
Nc3 $5 {was also possible,} Rg8 11. d4 cxd3 12. Bxd3) ({or} 10. Nf3 $5 Nd3 11.
Bxd3 cxd3 12. e5 $1 Nd5 (12... dxe5 13. Nxe5 {and White has a dangerous
initiative since} Bb7 $2 {loses instantly,} 14. Qa4+ $1 Nd7 15. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7
16. Qb3+ Kg7 17. Qxb7 $18 {and White wins.}) 13. Na3 Rg8 $132 {with a
double-edged fight.}) 10... Rg8 11. Nxc4 $6 {A pretty piece sacrifice, but
objectively this is not so good!} (11. Nf3 $6 {could have been met by} Nd3 12.
Bxd3 cxd3 13. Nc4 (13. e5 dxe5 14. Nxe5 Qd5 $17) 13... Be6 $15 {and Black
looks fine.}) ({Probably} 11. d4 {was the most accurate, but} cxd3 12. Bxd3 h6
13. Nf3 Nxd3 14. Qxd3 d5 $1 $132 {and Black has a nice counterplay.}) 11...
Nxc4 (11... Rxg5 $2 {is bad, because of} 12. d4 $16 {and White is better.}) 12.
d4 {This was the point of the piece sacrifice.} Nb6 13. Bh5 (13. dxc5 dxc5 14.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 15. Nxf7+ Ke8 16. Ng5 e5 $15 {and two Ps are not enough.}) 13...
Nxh5 14. Qxh5 Rg7 (14... Rg6 $1 {was more accurate. The R is much more active,
and after} 15. Qxh7 Rg7 16. Qh8 cxd4 17. Nh7 Rxh7 18. Qxh7 e5 $17 {and Black
has a wonderful position.}) 15. Nxh7 Qd7 (15... Bg4 16. Qh4 Rxh7 17. Qxh7 cxd4
18. Bh6 Bxh6 19. Qxh6 e5 20. f4 {and still White has some counterchance.}) 16.
dxc5 dxc5 17. e5 $2 {Decisive mistake.} (17. Nxf8 {was the only move} Qh3 $1 (
17... Qg4 18. Qxg4 Rxg4 19. Nh7 f6 20. Ng5 $1 fxg5 21. g3 $1 $18 {followed by
f3 and the R is trapped.}) 18. Qxh3 Bxh3 19. g3 Nc4 (19... Kxf8 20. Bh6 {
might even favour White as Black's pieces are not well coordinated.}) (19...
Rg8 20. Nh7 f6 $13) 20. Bh6 Rg8 $13) 17... Qc6 $1 ({The natural} 17... Bb7 $4 {
is losing immediately, as} 18. Nf6+ exf6 19. exf6+ $18) 18. f3 ({Now} 18. Nf6+
{could have been met by} Kd8 $1 $17 {and Black is better.}) 18... Qg6 $1 {
A good move, Black forces to exchange of Qs and he avoids White's practical
chances.} 19. Nf6+ Kd8 $1 {The black K simply slides over to safety.} 20. Qxg6
Rxg6 21. Ne4 Bb7 22. h4 Rc8 23. h5 Rg8 24. Bd2 Nc4 25. Bc3 Bh6 26. Rad1+ Ke8
27. Rd3 Bf4 $1 $19 {Very precise play by Black, his position should be winning.
} 28. Nf2 Bc6 29. Nh3 Bg3 30. Re2 Bb5 31. Rd1 Bc6 32. Nf2 Bxe5 $1 {A beautiful
tactical solution! White's position is now hopeless.} 33. Ng4 (33. Bxe5 Bxf3
34. Rde1 Bxe2 35. Rxe2 Nxe5 36. Rxe5 f6 $19) 33... Bxc3 34. bxc3 Kf8 35. Kf2
Rh8 36. Ne5 Nxe5 37. Rxe5 Be8 38. g4 f6 39. Re6 Bb5 40. Rde1 Rc7 0-1

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 3rd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2816"]
[BlackElo "2814"]
[Annotator "Illingworth,M"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "2015.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,146,27,19,19,10,13,8,12,13,13,-1,-3,-5,0,-2,16,7,7,6,6,9,33,10,10,10,
56,45,48,38,19,7,3,3,18,19,22,17,25,19,13,28,36,37,37,37,73,73,92,89,91,70,83,
83,103,100,96,98,92,81,73,74,67,64,65,26,40,24,28,28,49,4,47,53,38,43,46,46,62,
67,76,81,96,57,81,79,70,80,63,70,70,70,70,69,109,119,78,129,92,100,118,118,119,
119,119,117,108,110,143,144,144,144,163,163,171,176,157,157,187,187,187,208,
168,198,203,230,363,383,419,419,439,417,490,487,480,528,547,547,547,547,547,
527,909,752,909,909,1012,909,1207] The following game between two of the
winners in the first round put Topalov in the outright lead, though he slowed
his pace somewhat after this game.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5.
Nbd2 $5 {A relatively fresh move order device, aiming to limit Black's options.
} (5. Bxc6 {is the more strategic approach,}) ({whereas} 5. O-O {is another
major option}) ({and} 5. c3 {is the main line.}) 5... d6 {A normal move, but
now Nakamura can't play the ...Re8/...d5 setups he had favoured in a couple of
his previous games.} (5... Nd4 {isn't as effective here as after 5.0-0 because
of} 6. Nxd4 Bxd4 7. c3 Bb6 8. d4 $5 ({Or White can grab the bishop pair with} 
8. Nc4 {[%csl Rb6]} O-O 9. O-O) 8... exd4 9. e5 dxc3 10. bxc3 Qe7 11. O-O {
[%cal Ye1e8] <->e} Nd5 12. Bc4 Nf4 13. Nf3 Ne6 14. a4 O-O 15. Nd4 $36 {[%csl
Ra8,Rc8,Ye5][%cal Rd7d5,Rd7d6] and White has very promising compensation in
the style of the Evans Gambit - Black will probably have to return the pawn to
develop his remaining pieces.}) (5... O-O {gives White a few options, such as}
6. c3 ({White can also move order Black with} 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. O-O {into the 5.
Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nbd2 0-0 7.0-0 variation.}) 6... d6 {and now 7.0-0 transposes to
the game, but} 7. h3 $5 {is an interesting alternative that has been favoured
by a few strong players recently.}) 6. O-O O-O 7. c3 ({Earlier this year
Carlsen tried the independent} 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. h3 {, but after} h6 9. Re1 Re8
10. Nf1 d5 11. exd5 Qxd5 12. Be3 Bf8 $11 {[%csl Rc6,Rc7,Yc8,Ye5,Yf8] ^^, ><o/
oc; 0-1 (75) Adams,M (2727)-Kramnik,V (2801) Paris/St Petersburg 2013 CBM 154 
[Szabo,Kr], Black was fine.}) 7... Ne7 {[%cal Yc7c6,Ye7g6] /\Ng6, /\c6} ({
This is the most popular move at a high level, although} 7... h6 {has been
extensively tested in engine games.}) (7... a6 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. d4 $1 exd4 10.
cxd4 Bb6 11. Qc2 {[%csl Rb6,Rc6,Rc7,Yd4,Ye4] [+], ><o/oc, ><Bb6 however is a
good indication of what White is aiming for - to achieve the d4 break and stop
Black freeing his position. To give one illustrative example:} Re8 12. Re1 c5
13. d5 Bg4 14. b3 Ba5 15. Re3 c6 (15... Bxf3 $142 16. Nxf3 Qe7 17. Bd2 Bxd2 18.
Nxd2 Ng4 19. Ree1 $14 {[%csl Yd5,Ye4][%cal Yd2c4,Yb3b4] /\Nc4 is still not
enough for full equality; while Black drew both correspondence games to reach
this position, White's extra space and flexible structure give him the more
comfortable game.}) 16. dxc6 d5 17. exd5 Rxe3 18. fxe3 Qxd5 19. Bb2 $14 {
[%csl Ra6,Rc5] ><a6, ><c5; 1-0 (66) Ponomariov,R (2723)-Sargissian,G (2671)
Melilla 2011 CBM 146}) 8. d4 exd4 9. cxd4 Bb6 10. Re1 (10. Bd3 {is no longer
played, with good reason:} Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Qb3 Nc6 $1 13. d5 Ne7 $11 {
[%csl Yb6][%cal Yb6g1] /^b6-g1 and White can't possibly be better facing such
a strong bishop on b6.}) 10... Ng6 (10... Bg4 {0-1 (38) Vachier Lagrave,M 
(2754)-Karjakin,S (2753) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015 CBM 167 [Illingworth,M], was
annotated by yours truly, although it's worth pointing out that Caruana played
this way in a later round of the Sinquefield Cup against Topalov, going on to
win.}) 11. h3 ({This makes sense as} 11. b3 $6 c6 12. Bd3 Bg4 $1 $15 {[%csl
Rd4][%cal Rg6f4] ><d4, /\Nf4 would be more than a little awkward.}) 11... c6 (
11... d5 $143 12. e5 Nh5 {[%csl Ye5] is a favourable transformation of the
structure for White, who stops Black achieving his key ...f6 break under
reasonable circumstances by means of} 13. Nb3 Nhf4 14. Bxf4 Nxf4 15. Qd2 Ne6
16. Bd3 c6 {actually transposes to my 11...d5 note, where I indicated} 17. Bf5
$1 $14 {[%csl Re6][%cal Rf7f6,Re5f6,Rf5e6] \/f6 , after which Black does not
have any obvious counterplay.}) 12. Bd3 {This was the product of the first
major think of the game.} (12. Ba4 $6 {misplaces the bishop and} d5 13. e5 Nh5
14. Nf1 Nhf4 15. Bc2 f6 $36 {[%cal Rb6g1,Rf8f1] <->f, /^b6-g1; ½-½ (38)
Svidler,P (2758)-Anand,V (2770) Khanty-Mansiysk 2014 CBM 160 [Stohl,I]
favoured Black.}) (12. Bf1 $5 {is probably the main alternative Topalov was
contemplating, and I expect some of the subsequent theoretical discussions to
follow this direction.} d5 $1 ({Black should change the structure as} 12... Re8
13. b4 Be6 14. a4 a6 15. a5 Ba7 16. Bb2 h6 17. g3 Qd7 18. Kh2 $14 {[%csl Yd4,
Ye4][%cal Yd1c2,Yf1g2,Ya1d1] [+], /\Qc2, Rd1, /\Bg2 gives White a clear space
advantage and plenty of chances to slowly improve his position, while Black
can only sit and wait.}) 13. e5 Nh5 14. b4 f6 15. a4 Nhf4 $1 (15... fxe5 16. a5
Bxd4 17. Nxd4 Qf6 18. N4f3 e4 19. Ra3 exf3 20. Nxf3 Nhf4 21. Qd2 $14 {[%csl
Rf4,Rg6][%cal Yc1b2,Yb2h8,Ya3e3] ><Nf4, ><Ng6 and Bb2 provides more than
enough compensation for the pawn as the dark-squared bishop will be a monster
on the long diagonal, plus it is quite hard for Black to coordinate his minor
pieces.}) 16. a5 Bc7 17. Nb3 fxe5 18. dxe5 $14 {[%csl Yc5,Yd4][%cal Yg2g3,
Yf2f4] and the position is very double-edged, but I think White has the better
chances because the Black majority is blockaded and White has the safer king
in the long-term.}) 12... Nh5 $1 {[%csl Rd3][%cal Rh5f4] /\Nhf4, ><Bd3} ({
Black has to play to disrupt White's natural development as quiet play will
leave White with better central control for free:} 12... Re8 13. Nc4 Bc7 14.
Bg5 d5 15. Ncd2 $14 {[%csl Rc7][%cal Gg5d8] ><Bc7}) (12... Nf4 $143 {is merely
a shot in the dark after} 13. Bf1 $14 {[%csl Rf4][%cal Yd2c4] /\Nc4, ><Nf4} (
13. Bc2 Bxh3 $5 14. gxh3 Nxh3+ 15. Kg2 Ng4 16. Nc4 Ngxf2 17. Qd2 {may also
favour White, but why enter such complications when it's not necessary?})) (
12... d5 13. e5 Nh5 14. Nb3 ({It would be a strategic mistake to enter} 14.
Bxg6 $143 $6 fxg6 $1) 14... Nhf4 15. Bxf4 ({Once again} 15. Bxg6 $6 fxg6 16.
Bxf4 Rxf4 17. a4 a5 18. Rc1 g5 {[%cal Rg5g4,Rf8f1] is very comfortable for
Black; it is not clear where White's play is coming from, whereas Black has
nice pressure along the half-open f-file and ideas of ...g4 in the mix.}) 15...
Nxf4 16. Qd2 Ne6 {actually transposes to my 11...d5 note, where I indicated}
17. Bf5 $1 $14) (12... Be6 {is a bit too slow after} 13. b4 Nh5 ({or} 13... Re8
{[%csl Re6][%cal Re8e1] <->e} 14. a4 a6 15. a5 Ba7 16. Bc2 Qe7 17. Ra3 Rad8 18.
Nf1 d5 19. e5 Ne4 20. Rb3 $14 {[%csl Ye4][%cal Yf1d2,Yf1g3] /\Nd2, /\Ng3 and
while Black has a nice knight on e4 for now, it will soon be evicted, while
White's trumps are enduring.}) 14. Nc4 Nhf4 ({Also good for White is} 14... d5
15. Nxb6 axb6 16. e5 Nhf4 17. Bb1 $14 {[%csl Yb1,Yc1,Ye5] ^^}) (14... Bc7 $2 {
would allow} 15. d5 $1 cxd5 16. exd5 $16 {[%cal Yd3g6] /\Bxg6}) 15. Nxb6 axb6
16. d5 cxd5 17. exd5 Nxd5 {(Black should at least have a pawn to compensate
his positional problems)} 18. Bb2 Ndf4 19. Bf1 $1 Bxa2 20. Qd4 $1 Nh5 21. Qd2
$14 {[%csl Ra2,Yb2,Rg6,Rh5][%cal Yb2h8] and despite his material deficit,
White is better as he has the two bishops and Black has real problems
organising his pieces at all.}) 13. Nc4 Bc7 {[%csl Rc4][%cal Rd6d5] /\d5} 14.
d5 $1 {Only this move makes sense, else Black plays ...d5 and the knight on c4
feels strangely placed.} (14. Bg5 f6 15. Be3 Nhf4 {is nothing special for
White; if} 16. d5 c5 $11) (14. e5 {sets some tricks up if Black plays 14...d5.}
d5 $5 {This can still be played, but it gets very chaotic:} (14... Nhf4 15.
Bxg6 Nxg6 16. Bg5 Qd7 17. exd6 Bxd6 18. h4 Bb4 $11 {is safe for Black now that
White's light-squared bishop is traded,}) ({as is} 14... dxe5 15. Ncxe5 Nhf4
16. Be4 Nxe5 17. Bxf4 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 Bxf4 19. Qxf4 Be6 $11 {[%csl Rd4,Yd5]
><d4 with a typical anti-IQP position.}) 15. Bxg6 fxg6 16. Bg5 Qd7 17. e6 $1 (
17. Ncd2 $2 h6 18. Be3 Qf7 $15 {[%cal Yg6g5,Yg5g4] /\g5-g4 can only favour
Black.}) 17... Qe8 18. e7 Rf5 $1 (18... Rxf3 19. Qxf3 dxc4 20. d5 h6 21. d6 $14
{[%csl Ra8,Rc7,Rc8,Yd6,Ye7,Re8,Rh5] is very messy, but the powerful passed
pawns give White the advantage.}) 19. Nce5 ({Black obtains fantastic
compensation for the exchange after} 19. g4 Rxg5 20. Nxg5 Nf4 21. Ne5 h6 22.
Ngf3 Nxh3+ 23. Kf1 Nf4 $44 {[%csl Yf4][%cal Yg6g5,Yc7d6] /\Bd6, /\g5}) 19...
Nf4 20. Qd2 Ne6 21. g4 Nxg5 $1 22. Nxg5 Rf6 $13 {followed by ...h6 and ...g5,
when the position is still extremely unclear.}) (14. Ne3 {is harmless because
of} Nhf4 15. Bc2 ({or} 15. Bf1 Re8 {[%csl Re4] ><e4} 16. Qc2 d5 $11) 15... d5
16. exd5 cxd5 17. Bd2 Be6 $11) 14... Nhf4 {This is the natural continuation of
Black's play. Up to this point the players were following a correspondence
game (though both took some time to get here).} (14... cxd5 15. exd5 {doesn't
make much sense for Black.}) (14... Re8 {is also inconsistent, and allows the
following device:} 15. e5 $1 cxd5 (15... dxe5 $6 16. d6 $1 $16 {[%csl Yd6]
[%cal Rd3g6] /\Bxg6}) 16. Bg5 f6 17. exf6 gxf6 18. Bxg6 Rxe1+ 19. Nxe1 hxg6 20.
Qxd5+ Kg7 21. Bd2 Qg8 22. Ne3 $16 {[%csl Ra8,Rc8,Rh5][%cal Rd5b7] and Black
has big trouble even completing his development.}) 15. Bf1 ({This is the
correct square for the bishop, keeping everything protected, as} 15. Bc2 cxd5
16. exd5 b5 17. Ne3 Ba5 ({or} 17... Bb6 $11) 18. Bd2 Bxd2 19. Qxd2 Qf6 $11 {
[%csl Rd5][%cal Rc8b7,Rg6e7] /\Ne7, /\Bb7, ><d5 is quite comfortable for Black.
In fact the d5-pawn feels more like a target than anything else in such a
position.}) 15... f5 $6 {This is a bit over-ambitious in light of the game
continuation.} (15... Re8 {[%csl Ra1,Rc1][%cal Ye8e4,Yc6d5] ->e, /\cxd5 would
have been fine for Black as White has some difficulty finishing his
development without making a concession:} 16. Bxf4 (16. dxc6 bxc6 {is a
favourable trade for Black.}) 16... Nxf4 17. Qd2 cxd5 $1 (17... Qf6 18. e5 $1
dxe5 19. d6 Rd8 20. Rad1 Be6 21. Nfxe5 Bxc4 22. Nxc4 $36 {gives White a
significant initiative based on his passed d-pawn.}) 18. exd5 Rxe1 19. Rxe1 Ng6
$11 {[%cal Yc8d7,Ya8c8] /\Bd7, Rc8 and it is not easy for White to exploit his
extra space, which Black can develop around.}) (15... cxd5 16. exd5 b5 {
however is not as effective here, as the b5-pawn will come under attack with}
17. Ne3 Bd7 18. Bd2 Bb6 19. Kh2 Re8 20. Qb3 $14 {[%csl Rf4,Rg6] ><Nf4, ><Ng6
and White's space advantage is more serious when the board is full of pieces.})
16. e5 $1 {This strong pawn sacrifice will create major gaps in Black's
dark-squared defences.} (16. dxc6 $143 fxe4 {is good for Black,}) ({as is} 16.
exf5 $143 Bxf5) 16... Nxd5 ({This is clearly better than} 16... cxd5 17. Nxd6
Bxd6 18. exd6 Qxd6 19. Bd2 Bd7 20. Bc3 $16 {[%csl Yc3] and Black has no good
way to challenge a battery down the long diagonal.}) 17. exd6 $1 ({It looks
natural to insert} 17. Bg5 Qd7 18. exd6 Bxd6 19. Nxd6 Qxd6 20. Qb3 {[%csl Rg5]
[%cal Yf5f4] , but after} f4 {[%csl Rg5] ><Bg5 the White bishop cannot reach
the long diagonal, as happened in the game.}) 17... Bxd6 18. Nxd6 Qxd6 19. b3
$14 {[%csl Rf5,Rg7,Rg8][%cal Rf7f5,Yc1b2,Yb2h8,Yd1d4] White has a quite stable
advantage as his dark-squared bishop is unopposed and it will be very hard for
Black to challenge it, especially as the move ...f5 seriously weakened his
king. If only that pawn could move backwards - then Black's problems would be
solved! Furthermore, we'll see later on that the bishop pair will be a serious
asset even in the endgame.} Bd7 {The most obvious move, for sure.} (19... Qf6 {
only hastens Bb2 after} 20. Ba3 Rd8 21. Qd2 h6 22. Bb2 Qf7 {and White has a
plethora of attacking options; I like} 23. Qd4 $14 {[%cal Yh3h4,Yh4h5,Yf3e5,
Yf1c4,Ya1d1] /\Rad1, Bc4, Ne5} ({but} 23. Rad1 {is also logical,}) ({although} 
23. Ne5 Nxe5 24. Rxe5 Be6 {would simplify Black's defensive task as the knight
was very misplaced on g6.})) (19... f4 $5 {aims to develop more actively, but}
20. Bb2 Bf5 21. Qd4 Qd7 22. Bc4 $1 $16 {[%csl Yb2,Rf5] is much better for
White now that an opposite-coloured bishop middlegame is on the cards.}) 20.
Bb2 Rfe8 $6 {Defending Black's position certainly isn't easy, but White's
advantage becomes a fair bit larger after this, as it becomes difficult to
protect the g7-pawn.} (20... h6 21. Bc4 Rf7 {is probably the best defence, but
here too} 22. h4 $1 $14 {[%csl Rg6][%cal Yh4h5,Yf3e5] /\h5, Ne5 and h5 sees
White increase the pressure on Black's kingside.}) 21. Qd4 $1 {White gains
some time with a nice shuffle.} Qf6 (21... Qf8 $143 {is too passive after} 22.
Bc4 Be6 23. Ng5 $16) 22. Qd2 $16 {Obviously White doesn't want to trade the
queens when Black's king is exposed.} Qd6 {The natural square for the queen.} (
{Instead} 22... Qf8 $5 {runs into greater problems after the consistent} 23.
Bc4 Be6 24. Nd4 ({If} 24. Ng5 Bf7 $14 {defends.}) 24... Qf7 25. Rad1 Rad8 26.
Nxe6 Rxe6 27. Rxe6 Qxe6 28. Qa5 Qd7 29. Qxa7 {[%cal Yc4g8,Yd1d8] <->d, /^c4-g8,
><Nd5 and White is much better with a very strong bishop pair.}) 23. Bc4 {
White's play is as simple as it is effective - now Qd4 is a big threat.} h6 {
Black hopes to hold the endgame, but we'll see that this proves a pretty
difficult task.} (23... Be6 $142 24. Qd4 Qd7 {was probably a better defence,
but not by much: White retains a clear advantage with} 25. Ng5 Nf8 26. Re5 h6
27. Nxe6 Nxe6 28. Qd3 $1 (28. Bxd5 $6 cxd5 29. Rxd5 Qf7 {gives Black decent
chances to defend because of the fixed nature of the position.}) 28... Nef4 29.
Qxf5 Qxf5 30. Rxf5 $16 {[%csl Yb2,Yc4] ^^ and White has a big advantage as the
bishops are much stronger than the knights.}) 24. Qd4 ({It doesn't make such
sense to simplify the position with} 24. Ba3 $6 Qxa3 25. Bxd5+ cxd5 26. Qxd5+
Kh7 27. Qxd7 Rxe1+ 28. Rxe1 Qxa2 29. Qxb7 Rd8 $14 {[%cal Rd8d3] /\Rd3}) 24...
Qf6 25. Qxf6 (25. Bxd5+ $6 cxd5 26. Qxd5+ {doesn't win because of} Be6) 25...
gxf6 26. Bxf6 Rxe1+ 27. Rxe1 {[%csl Yc4,Rf5,Yf6,Rg8,Rh6] This endgame is a
nightmare for Black to defend as White has the bishop pair, and Black's
kingside pawns and king are quite exposed.} Re8 {Fighting for control of the
open file, plus it's not obvious where the rook goes otherwise.} (27... b5 28.
Bxd5+ cxd5 {gives White pretty good winning chances with a rook and knight
each to complement the opposite coloured bishops, and furthermore White has
clearly the better bishop and Black's pawns are mostly weak. Play could proceed
} 29. Rd1 $1 (29. h4 {doesn't convince after} Kf7 30. Bd4 Re8 31. Rxe8 Bxe8 32.
Bxa7 f4 {and although Black is a pawn down, removing the rooks greatly
increases Black's drawing chances.}) 29... Be6 30. a4 bxa4 31. bxa4 $16 {
[%csl Ra7,Rd5,Rf5,Rg8,Rh6][%cal Yd1b1,Yb1b7,Yf3d4] /\Rb1-b7, /\Nd4 and Black
is in a bad way, with very passive pieces, plus all his remaining pawns are
isolated. Even his king can become an issue after something like Rb1-b7.}) 28.
Rd1 $1 {White has the safer king, so it is sensible to retain the major pieces.
} Be6 29. Nd4 ({Going after the bishop pair immediately, but in light of the
note to move 30, it was probably more precise to start with} 29. Bb2 Kf7 30.
Nd4 $16 {, so Black can't take away White's bishop pair.}) 29... Kf7 ({
Defending the a-pawn with} 29... a6 {gives White the time to improve his
position with moves like} 30. g3 $16) 30. Nxe6 Rxe6 $6 ({The machine doesn't
see much difference between taking on e6 or f6, but I think Black will be able
to hold the pawn-down endgame that arises from} 30... Kxf6 $1 31. Bxd5 cxd5 32.
Nc7 Re2 33. Nxd5+ Ke5 {[%csl Ye2] , as his pieces become very active, which is
a small price to pay for a pawn in a worse rook endgame. After} 34. Nb4 (34.
Nc3 {is well met by} Rc2 {,}) ({but} 34. a3 $5 {is a valid attempt to keep as
many pawns alive as possible. Still,} Rb2 35. b4 Ra2 36. Ne3 Ke6 37. Nc4 b5 38.
Nd6 a6 {should place Black in reach of a draw, with best play.}) 34... Ke6 35.
Rd8 a5 36. Nd3 Rxa2 37. Nc5+ Ke5 38. Re8+ Kd5 39. Nxb7 a4 40. bxa4 Rxa4 $14 {
[%csl Rb7] ><Nb7 and in such a three vs. two situation, especially with
White's knight currently out of play, Black should succeed in holding the draw,
though Black's split pawns give White some practical chances.}) 31. Bd4 ({
White wants to provoke some pawn weaknesses on the queenside, though} 31. Bb2 {
is good as well.}) 31... a6 32. Kf1 $1 {A nice refining move, emphasising the
fact that Black is struggling to find a useful course of action.} Ngf4 (32...
h5 {holds back White's majority but also risks making the pawns even bigger
targets of attack. One continuation could be} 33. a4 (33. Bd3 $5 Nge7 34. h4
$16 {[%csl Rh5][%cal Yd3e2,Yg2g3] /\Be2, ><h5 is probably more unpleasant.})
33... Ngf4 (33... b5 34. Bd3 Nge7 35. h4 $1 $16 {is a good example of what
Black wants to avoid - the h5-pawn is fixed as a weakness.}) 34. a5 {and
despite not having a great pawn break, the weakness of Black's pawns and the
difficulties Black faces with the pin give White winning chances, although
Black might just hold the position with} h4 35. Be3 Re4 {[%csl Gd5,Ge4,Gf4] .})
33. b4 $1 {Incrementally improving the position is a good practical try given
that the players were close to the time control.} (33. Be3 b5 34. Bxf4 bxc4 35.
Bd2 cxb3 (35... c3 $2 36. Be1 $1) 36. axb3 h5 {[%csl Ya6,Yc6,Yd5,Ye6,Yf5,Yh5]
[%cal Yd5c7] /\Nc7 is the main line given by the engine, but I think Topalov's
decision is better as here Black can simply defend everything on the light
squares to draw.}) 33... Re4 ({This is probably the best defence as} 33... Kg6
$2 34. g3 $1 Nxh3 35. f4 {[%csl Rh3] ><Nh3} Kh5 36. Bb3 $1 $16 {gives Black a
severe issue in his trapped knight on h3, which will probably have to
sacrifice itself on f4 in the near future.}) 34. f3 {Black was threatening ...
Ne6, so there is nothing better.} Re8 35. g3 $1 {Using the idea we already saw
in the previous note to force Black's pieces back.} Ne6 (35... Nxh3 $2 36. f4
$1 $16 {is even better here than before.}) 36. Bf2 {[%cal Yg3g4,Ya2a4,Yb4b5] /
\a4, b5, /\g4 Topalov has done a great job of keeping control of the position,
although now the next step is to open the position a bit more so his pieces
can show their full energy. Of course this has to be done without trading too
many pawns, as if the pawns are all left on one side of the board, the knights
will find it much easier to hold White's pieces off.} Rd8 ({This is the right
decision as} 36... Nxb4 $2 37. Rd7+ Kf6 (37... Re7 $2 {loses to} 38. Bxe6+ Kxe6
39. Rxe7+ Kxe7 40. Bc5+ $18) (37... Kg6 38. Rxb7 Nd5 39. Bxa6 {is no help for
Black either.}) 38. Rxb7 Nd5 39. Rh7 $16 {[%csl Ra6,Rc6,Rf5,Rf6,Rh6] wins a
pawn, as Black has too many weaknesses to cover.}) 37. Re1 $5 {A very smart
move, practically speaking, as it prompted Nakamura to make a typical decision
when defending a worse position - to change the position in some fashion -
which proved a mistake in this case.} (37. Bb3 $1 {as given by the engine is a
good consolidating move, although after} Kf6 {I'm not entirely sure what
White's best plan. He should probably start with} 38. a3 {, then combine ideas
of a g4 push with a later a4/b5, though I'm unsure how he should execute it.
The problem with moves such as f4, which fix the f5-pawn, is that Black can
play ...h5 and then the g4 push would trade off most of the kingside pawns -
it would be ideal if White can leave Black with at least one weak pawn on each
side of the board.}) 37... f4 $2 {If one looked at this position in isolation,
this decision would seem a bit strange as the f4-pawn becomes fixed as a
weakness, but we have to remember that Black has been under pressure from the
early part of the game from White's very dynamic play, starting with his pawn
sacrifice earlier, and when faced with such persistent pressure, it's very
hard not to make a serious mistake eventually, especially when we consider
that both players were a bit short of time.} (37... Kf6 {is probably best as
I'm not infatuated with any of White's kingside pawn moves at this stage:} 38.
g4 (38. f4 h5 {[%cal Rg3g4] /\g4 is what Black wants, when White lacks a good
breakthrough on the kingside - as mentioned before, g4 exchanges too many
pawns to be ideal.}) (38. h4 $5 {and then g4 may be the most precise.}) 38...
Ndf4 $1 39. Bxe6 Nxe6 40. Bh4+ Ng5 41. f4 fxg4 42. hxg4 Rd4 43. fxg5+ hxg5 44.
Bg3 Rxb4 45. Kf2 Rxg4 {[%cal Yg4a4,Yb7b4,Yb4b3] /\Ra4, b5-b4 and while White
has one pawn remaining, Black should be able to trade the pawn off and achieve
a draw.}) ({A waiting move such as} 37... h5 {was also possible. As usual
White is better, but Black should be able to defend if he maintains his setup
until White makes a major push.}) 38. g4 {[%csl Rf4][%cal Yh3h4,Yg4g5,Re1e4] /
\h4-g5, /\Re4, ><f4 Now Black has serious problems, as White will be able to
eventually create a passed pawn with h4 and g5, while leaving Black with this
weakness on f4.} Ng5 {The knight is going to be pushed back by h4 later anyway,
but it's hard to offer a better suggestion.} ({For instance} 38... Kf6 39. Re4
{shows up the problem of the f4-pawn,}) ({and} 38... Re8 {(trying to bait
White into cashing in)} {is strongly met by} 39. h4 $5 {It transpires the
b4-pawn is not a freebie:} (39. Re4 $5 {[%csl Rd5,Re6][%cal Yc4f7] /^c4-f7,
><Nd5, ><Ne6 to keep consolidating is also possible - quite importantly,
Black's knights are both tied up as moving either one allows Rxf4.}) (39. Bxd5
$6 cxd5 40. Re5 {would be too impatient after} d4 41. Rd5 Rc8 42. Bxd4 Rc4 (
42... Rc2 $143 43. Rf5+ Ke8 44. Be5 Rxa2 45. Bxf4 Nxf4 46. Rxf4 {gives White
excellent winning chances.}) 43. Bc5 Nxc5 44. bxc5 Ke6 45. Rh5 Rc3 46. Rxh6+
Ke5 {[%cal Yc3c2,Yf1f2] /\Rc2 and Black's pieces are very active, which gives
him reasonable drawing chances even being two pawns down - which will soon
become one.}) 39... Nxb4 40. Rb1 a5 41. a3 Nc2 42. Rxb7+ Kf6 43. Bb3 $1 Nxa3
44. Rh7 Kg6 45. Ra7 Nb5 46. Bc2+ Kf6 47. Rxa5 $16 {and with some fine
technical play White has obtained a clear advantage as all of Black's
remaining pawns are quite weak.}) 39. Kg2 Re8 (39... Ne6 {is a hard move to
play as it admits Black has nothing to do, but it was an alternative.}) 40. Rd1
$1 (40. Rxe8 $2 Kxe8 41. Bxd5 cxd5 42. h4 Ne6 {[%csl Yc4,Yd4,Ye4,Yf4] looks
like a fortress to me as White's king has no way to penetrate through the
c4-d4-e4 barrier.}) 40... Re5 $6 {Black was probably already losing, but this
makes White's task easier.} (40... Rd8 41. Bb3 Kf6 {seems the best defence,
but still} 42. Bd4+ (42. Rd4 Ke5 43. h4 Ne6 44. Re4+ Kd6 45. Bb6 Rg8 46. a3 {
is another approach, again with a clear edge. Normally cutting the opponent's
king off from your majority would be an achievement, but the other pieces have
taken its place quite well.}) 42... Kg6 43. h4 Ne6 44. Kf2 Nxd4 45. Rxd4 Kf6
46. Bxd5 Ke5 (46... Rxd5 47. Rxd5 cxd5 48. Ke2 Ke6 49. Kd3 $18 {is an easy win.
}) 47. Re4+ Kxd5 48. Rxf4 $18 {[%csl Rd5][%cal Yf4f8] and this should be a
quite easy win.}) 41. Bd4 ({This should be good enough, but the rook felt
offside on e5, so I would have gone for} 41. h4 $1 Ne6 42. Bd4 Nxd4 43. Rxd4
Kg6 44. Bxd5 cxd5 (44... Rxd5 45. Rxd5 cxd5 46. Kf2 $18) 45. Kf2 Re3 46. Rxd5
Ra3 {and after some brief analysis I concluded the rook ending is probably a
win for White, based on} 47. Rd6+ Kg7 48. Rb6 Rxa2+ 49. Ke1 Ra3 50. Rxb7+ Kg8
51. Ke2 Re3+ 52. Kf2 Rb3 53. Rb6 Rb2+ 54. Ke1 Kg7 55. Rxa6 Rxb4 56. Ke2 Rd4 57.
h5 Kh7 58. Re6 $18 {[%csl Rf4][%cal Ye6e4] as Black's king is cut off from the
f-pawn, which will soon be lost with Re4.}) 41... Re8 (41... Re7 {is well
answered by} 42. h4 Ne6 43. Kf2 (43. Bf2 $2 Nxb4 $1 44. Bc5 Nc2 {is suddenly
not that simple.}) 43... Ke8 44. a3 $16 {and White's position is fully
organised, and he will start working on the g5 break.}) 42. h4 ({White could
have probably cashed in with} 42. Bxd5+ cxd5 43. h4 Ne6 44. Bb6 d4 45. Rd2 $1
Rc8 46. Bxd4 Nxd4 47. Rxd4 Rc2+ 48. Kh3 Rxa2 49. Rxf4+ Kg7 50. Rd4 $18 {
and White should win this easily. Obviously a possible situation of two
connected passed pawns vs. one passer is a win for the stronger side (in
general).}) 42... Ne6 43. Bf2 $6 ({White keeps the bishop pair, but he could
transpose to the previous note with} 43. Bxd5 $1 cxd5 44. Bb6) 43... Nec7 (
43... Rd8 $142 44. Re1 Ke7 45. Re4 $16 {[%cal Ye6f4,Yd5f4,Yd8d2] is much
better for White, but Black's position is not collapsing just yet.}) 44. h5 $1
{A very nice move to fix the h6-pawn as a target too, and this also makes the
g5 break easier to achieve. Then the h-pawn will be a true monster.} (44. Bc5
$1 {was also strong, to deprive Black's pieces of good squares.}) 44... Kf6 ({
Waiting around doesn't work here either:} 44... Re6 45. Bd4 Ke7 46. Kf2 Kf8 47.
Bb3 Kf7 48. Rg1 $16 {[%cal Yg4g5,Yb3c2,Yc2h7,Yd4h8] and once g5 comes, the
passed h-pawn will be extremely difficult to stop, as the bishops will support
it almost perfectly.}) 45. Kh3 $1 {A nice move, ensuring ...Ne3 doesn't happen
with check.} b5 $5 ({Black gets desperate as} 45... Kg7 46. Bd4+ Kh7 47. Bc5
Kg8 48. Kh4 {[%csl Yh5][%cal Yg4g5] and g5 would be quite an easy plan to
execute.}) 46. Bd4+ Kg5 {Objectively this isn't the best move, but that
shouldn't be the main consideration in a losing position.} ({Instead} 46... Kf7
{makes it quite easy for White after} 47. Bd3 Kg8 48. Bg6 Re7 49. g5 hxg5 50.
Rg1 Ne6 51. Be5 $18) 47. Bxd5 ({Good enough to win, but the most crushing was
the quiet} 47. Bb3 $1 {[%csl Rg5][%cal Yd4f2,Yf2h4] when Black is quite
helpless against the plan of Bf2-h4, for example:} Nxb4 48. Bf2 Kf6 49. Bh4+
Ke5 50. Bf7 Rf8 51. Re1+ Kd4 52. Re4+ Kc3 53. Be1+ Kd3 54. Bg6 {and Black
cannot avoid substantial material loss.}) 47... Nxd5 48. Rc1 ({Or} 48. a3 {
first.}) 48... Re6 (48... Nxb4 $2 49. Rc5+ Nd5 50. Rxc6 {will be mate with Rg6.
}) 49. Rc5 {Here Komodo and Stockfish share a little joke with us by claiming
'0.00' after 49...Rd6. Were you fooled.} (49. a3 {transposes to the position
after move 53 in the game.}) 49... Rd6 50. Bg7 Re6 51. Bd4 Rd6 {Now you get
the joke - the machines were referencing the twofold repetition of the
position! Of course, this is an absolutely normal technique to emphasise one's
control of the position and gain some seconds on the clock.} 52. a3 $1 Re6 53.
Rc1 {transposes to the position after move 53 in the game.} Ne7 54. Bf2 $1 {
Now White's converting task is trivial.} Kf6 55. Bh4+ ({I'll just point out
for instructional purposes that} 55. Re1 Rxe1 56. Bxe1 {is a winning endgame
after} Nd5 57. Kh4 Kf7 58. Bd2 Kf6 59. Bc1 Kg7 60. Bb2+ Kh7 61. Be5 Kg8 62. g5
hxg5+ 63. Kxg5 {. However Topalov's move is the strongest.}) 55... Kf7 56. g5 (
56. Bxe7 Kxe7 57. g5 {also won.}) 56... hxg5 57. Bxg5 Nd5 58. Kg4 {White wins
the f4-pawn.} Kg7 59. Bxf4 Nxf4 60. Kxf4 {[%csl Rc6][%cal Re6c6] True, with
the queenside pawns gone this is a theoretical draw, but the presence of these
pawns make the position a win for White, as Black is tied to the defence of
these pawns and has too much ground to cover.} Rd6 61. Rc3 Kf6 ({Nothing is
altered by} 61... Rd4+ 62. Kg5 Rd5+ 63. Kg4 Rd4+ 64. f4 $18) 62. Kg4 a5 {
A last attempt to confuse White as} (62... Kg7 63. f4 Kh6 64. Re3 Rf6 65. f5 {
is not hard to execute.}) 63. bxa5 ({It would be a huge pity to allow} 63. Rc5
$4 axb4 64. axb4 Rd4+ 65. f4 Rxb4 66. Rxc6+ Kf7 {with a draw, even if the
b-pawn is absent.}) 63... Rd4+ 64. f4 Ra4 65. Rxc6+ Kg7 66. a6 {White keeps a
pawn on the queenside, so he just wins.} Rxa3 67. f5 b4 68. f6+ Kf7 69. h6 Kg6
70. Rc8 b3 ({If} 70... Rxa6 71. h7 Kxh7 72. f7 $18) 71. Rg8+ Kf7 72. h7 Ra4+
73. Kf3 {Black resigned.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.15"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Zhigalko, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2816"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Bg2
c6 9. e4 d5 {This position was the subject of a major theoretical discussion
between Levon Aronian and Sergey Karjakin: it happened in 3 games between
those players, which were annotated in CBM 151, 155, and 159.} 10. Qe2 ({
Levon Aronian played} 10. exd5 {in the above-mentioned games. I condemned the
text move in CBM 151 but Topalov seems to have a different opinion.}) 10... b5
$1 (10... Nbd7 11. e5 Ne8 12. O-O Nc7 13. a4 Re8 14. Rfe1 Nf8 15. h4 Qd7 16.
Red1 Red8 17. Be3 Rab8 18. Rdc1 (18. Ne1 $5 {[%cal Ye2g4,Ye1c2]}) 18... Rbc8
19. Kh2 Qe8 20. Ne1 Qd7 21. Nc2 dxc4 22. bxc4 Nd5 23. Bd2 Nxc3 24. Bxc3 c5 $11
{1/2 (32) Jussupow,A (2610)-Spraggett,K (2575) Quebec 1989}) (10... c5 11. dxc5
(11. exd5 exd5 12. O-O Nc6 13. dxc5 (13. Be3 $5 {[%cal Ya1d1]}) 13... Bxc5 14.
Bg5 Re8 15. Qc2 Nb4 16. Qb1 dxc4 17. Rd1 Qe7 18. bxc4 Bxc4 19. a3 Na6 $13 {
0-1 (56) Tukmakov,V (2575)-Ehlvest,J (2445) Minsk 1987}) 11... Bxc5 12. e5 Ne8
(12... Nfd7 $5 13. O-O Nc6 {[%cal Yc5e7,Yd7c5] V.Gavrikov} 14. Rad1 $36 {
[%cal Yd2f4]}) 13. O-O Nc6 14. Rfd1 Nc7 15. Bg5 (15. Bf4 Qe7 16. Qc2 h6) 15...
Be7 16. Qe3 Nxe5 17. Qxe5 f6 18. Qe1 fxg5 19. cxd5 exd5 20. Nxd5 Nxd5 21. Qe6+
Kh8 22. Rxd5 (22. Ne5 Qe8 23. Bxd5 Bf6 24. Qxe8 Raxe8 25. Nf7+ Rxf7 26. Bxf7 {
1/2 (26) Gavrikov,V (2550)-Lerner,K (2520) Riga 1985}) 22... Qe8 23. Nxg5 h6 {
1/2 (39) Perez,J (1924)-Fages,J (1892) IECG 2002} 24. Ne4 Bc8 25. Qe5 Bb7 26.
Rd4 $14) 11. e5 (11. exd5 $2 exd5 12. cxb5 cxb5 13. Nxb5 Ba3 $1 14. Bf1 Re8 15.
Be3 (15. Ne5 Bb2 16. Rd1 Bxd4 17. f4 Nfd7 18. Nxd4 Nxe5 19. fxe5 Bxe2 20. Bxe2
Rxe5 {0-1 (20) Tukmakov,V (2575)-Chernin,A (2570) Moscow 1987}) 15... Qa5+ 16.
Kd1 Nc6 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Ne4 $19 {-> 0-1 (48) Gustafsson,J (2634)
-Zhigalko,A (2568) Warsaw 2008}) 11... Ne8 {[%csl Re8]} ({I still believe that
} 11... Nfd7 $1 {is more appropriate. White must play} 12. cxb5 cxb5 {anyway,
and the b8-knight comes out to c6. In the following correspondence game Black
obtained an excellent position, and it would be interesting to see what
Veselin Topalov had prepared here:} 13. Qe3 b4 14. Ne2 Qb6 15. Rc1 Nc6 16. O-O
Bxe2 17. Qxe2 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Qxd4 19. Rc7 Rad8 20. Rfc1 Rfe8 21. Be3 Qxe5 22.
Qb5 Nf6 23. Rxa7 Bd6 $15 {0-1 (53) Simon,H (2141)-Van Seben,E (2239) IECG 2007}
) 12. cxb5 cxb5 13. Qe3 (13. Nxb5 $2 Qb6 14. a4 Nc7 15. Bf1 Nc6 {[%csl Rd4]})
13... Nc6 (13... b4 14. Na4 (14. Ne2 $6 Nc6 15. Nf4 Qb6 16. Nd3 Nc7 17. Rc1 Nb5
$17 {0-1 (35) Dydyshko,V-Ivanov,A Minsk 1985}) 14... Nc6 15. Bf1 Qa5 16. Bd3 (
16. Nb2 Rc8 17. Bd3 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 f6 19. O-O Nc7 20. a3 Qb5 21. axb4 Bxb4 $11 {
1/2 (32) Atakisi,F (2512)-Lepikhov,A (2610) ICCF Email 2001}) 16... Rc8 (16...
Nc7 $5) 17. Rc1 $5 $36 (17. O-O $143 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 Nc7 19. Bg5 h6 20. Bxe7 Nxe7
21. a3 bxa3 22. Rxa3 Na6 $15 {0-1 (40) Atakisi,F (2523)-Teichmeister,S (2530)
ICCF 2002})) 14. Bf1 {[%mdl 32] A typical manoeuvre in this structure: White's
bishop is more active on d3 than on g2.} Rc8 15. Bd3 Nc7 16. Rc1 Ba3 $5 17. Rd1
Be7 18. h4 b4 19. Ne2 Bxd3 {A premature exchange, after which Black's
c7-knight becomes his headache for quite a while.} (19... Nb5 $5 $132 {[%cal
Yd8b6]}) 20. Qxd3 f5 (20... a6 {[%cal Yc7b5]} 21. Ng5 g6 22. Kf1 {, and the
weakness of Black's kingside promises White a strong attack} ({but} 22. Nxh7 $6
Kxh7 23. h5 {is premature due to} Rh8 $1)) 21. Rc1 Qd7 22. Bg5 h6 23. Bd2 a6
24. Rg1 Nb5 {Black has finally managed to activate his knight but White has
prepared an attack in the meantime.} 25. g4 $1 {[%mdl 128]} f4 ({The position
after} 25... fxg4 26. Rxg4 h5 27. Rg6 {is hardly satisfactory for Black but
the text move doesn't help him either.}) 26. g5 $1 hxg5 27. Qg6 Bd8 28. Rxg5 $1
Qf7 29. Qxf7+ Kxf7 30. Bxb4 Be7 31. Bxe7 Nxe7 32. Rxc8 Rxc8 33. Rg4 Nf5 34.
Rxf4 {White has won two pawns and easily converts his advantage.} Rc2 35. Ng3
Rxa2 (35... g6 36. a4 Nc7 37. h5) 36. Nxf5 exf5 37. Rxf5+ Ke6 38. Rf4 Ra1+ 39.
Kd2 Ra2+ 40. Ke3 Ra3 41. Ng5+ Kd7 42. Rf7+ Kc6 43. Rxg7 Rxb3+ 44. Kf4 Nxd4 45.
Rg6+ Kc5 46. Rxa6 Rb4 47. h5 Nc6+ 48. Kf5 Rh4 49. f4 Rxh5 50. Ra1 d4 51. Ke4 d3
52. Rc1+ Kb5 53. Kxd3 Nxe5+ 54. fxe5 Rxg5 55. Ke4 $18 {_|_} Rg2 56. e6 Kb6 57.
Ke5 Kb7 58. e7 Re2+ 59. Kf6 Rf2+ 60. Ke6 Re2+ 61. Kf7 Rf2+ 62. Ke8 Rf3 63. Rc4
Rf1 64. Kd7 Rd1+ 65. Ke6 Re1+ 66. Kd6 Kb6 67. Rb4+ Ka7 68. Rb5 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.19"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Lu, Shanglei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B72"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2599"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {Täuscht die
Najdorf-Variante an.} 6. Be2 g6 {Und nach dem kleinen 6.Le2 doch Drachen.} 7.
Be3 Bg7 8. Qd2 {Topalov bereitet aber nun doch die lange Rochade vor. Im
Unterschied zur ähnlichen Position in der richtigen Drachenvariante hat Weiß
Le2, Schwarz a6 eingeschoben.} Nc6 9. f3 d5 {Kommt etwas früh.} (9... O-O 10.
O-O-O d5) 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bd4 Bxd4 {Mit dem Tausch des Lg7
verliert der Drachen stets viel Gift.} 13. Qxd4 O-O 14. O-O-O Be6 15. Qc5 Qb8
16. g3 a5 17. Na4 Rd8 ({Hier ging} 17... Nf4 {mit der Absicht.} 18. gxf4 (18.
Bc4 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Nd5 $11) 18... Qxf4+ 19. Kb1 Qxa4 $17) 18. a3 (18. c4 Nb4 19.
a3 Na2+ 20. Kb1 Qb3 $11) 18... h5 19. Rd2 Qc7 20. Rhd1 h4 21. f4 {[#]} Rab8 $2
22. c4 $18 Nf6 (22... hxg3 {reicht nicht:} 23. cxd5 gxh2 24. dxe6 Rxd2 25.
exf7+ Kxf7 26. Kxd2 Rd8+ 27. Bd3 Qxf4+ 28. Qe3 Qxa4 29. Rf1+ $19) 23. Qe5 Rdc8
({Nun scheitert} 23... Qxe5 {am Zwischenzug.} 24. Rxd8+) 24. Nc5 {Auf a6 gibt
es noch ein Problem.} Bf5 25. Qxc7 Rxc7 26. Na6 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.18"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Karttunen, Mika"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A32"]
[WhiteElo "2423"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Tammer Shakki"]
[BlackTeam "Socar"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FIN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. Bg2 Qc7 7. O-O Qxc4 8.
Na3 Qc7 9. Bg5 Nc6 10. Rc1 h6 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qa4 Rb8 13. Rfd1 Be7 14. Qc2 f5
15. Qc3 O-O 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Nc4 d5 18. Nd2 c5 19. Rc2 a5 20. Nb3 a4 21. Nc1
c4 22. Nd3 Bd6 23. Qd2 Kh7 24. Nc1 Be5 25. b3 axb3 26. axb3 c3 27. Qd3 Rb4 28.
Qf3 Bg7 29. e3 Bb7 30. Qh5 Qe7 31. Ne2 Rxb3 32. Nd4 Bxd4 33. exd4 Qf6 34. Bf1
Rc8 35. Qf3 Kg7 36. Qe3 Rc6 37. Rdc1 Rb4 38. Rd1 f4 39. gxf4 Qg6+ 40. Qg3 Kf6
41. Qxg6+ fxg6 42. Kg2 g5 43. fxg5+ hxg5 44. Rd3 e5 45. Rdxc3 Rxc3 46. Rxc3
Rxd4 47. Rb3 Bc8 48. Be2 Rd2 49. Rb6+ Ke7 50. Bh5 e4 51. Rg6 e3 52. Rxg5 Rxf2+
53. Kg3 d4 54. h4 Bf5 55. Bf3 Kf6 56. Rg8 d3 57. Rf8+ Ke5 58. Re8+ Be6 59. Rd8
d2 60. Rd3 e2 61. Bxe2 Rxe2 62. Kf3 Rh2 63. Ke3 Bf5 64. Rxd2 Rh3+ 65. Kf2 Kf4
66. Kg2 Rg3+ 67. Kh2 Be4 68. Rf2+ Bf3 69. Rb2 Rg4 70. Rb4+ Be4 71. Rb3 Rg2+ 72.
Kh3 Rd2 73. Rb4 Rd3+ 74. Kh2 Rd1 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.21"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Socar"]
[BlackTeam "Padova"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ITA"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 {More than 200
games have reached this position and almost all of them have continued with
Bg2. Topalov wanted to try something different. But by making the move a3, he
cannot really hope for an opening advantage. It is more like trying to play a
fresh position.} 7. a3 $5 Ne4 8. Bg2 Bd6 9. Nfd2 Bb7 10. Qc2 f5 11. Nc3 O-O 12.
Nb5 Nc6 13. b4 $6 (13. Nxd6 cxd6 $5 {would have given Black a very comfortable
position but White is not worse in any way. The way Topalov plays leaves him
with a very bad position.}) 13... Be7 $1 {Preserving the bishop. The knight on
b5 looks really silly now.} 14. e3 a5 $1 15. bxa5 Rxa5 $17 {The opening has
gone horribly wrong for White. Not only is he behind in development, his pawn
structure is not so great with a weak and isolated a-pawn and also the black
knight on e4 is very well placed.} 16. Rb1 Qd7 17. Qb3 Kh8 18. Nxe4 fxe4 19.
Bd2 Ra6 20. O-O Na5 21. Bxa5 Rxa5 22. a4 Ba6 23. Rfc1 c6 24. Nc3 Rb8 $6 {
Why do you need to bring the rook from the half open f-file?} (24... Bd8 $1 25.
Na2 c5 $1 (25... Bc4 $6 26. Rxc4 $1 dxc4 27. Qxc4 $44) 26. dxc5 bxc5 $17) 25.
Bf1 Bc8 26. Na2 h6 27. Nb4 Bb7 28. Na2 Bd8 29. Nc3 Rba8 30. Rb2 Bc7 31. Qd1 {
Let's take stock once again to understand what's going on. White has a
weakness on a4 and Black has weaknesses on b6 and c6. It seems as if they
cancel out each other. But the important thing to note here is that the b6 and
c6 weaknesses can be protected by bishops on d8 and d7. Then they are
defending the weaknesses and also eyeing the kingside. Also crucial is the
semi-open f-file. While one of the black rook can continuously put pressure on
the a4 pawn, the other one can go to the f-file and start pressurising the f2
pawn and also threaten a kingside attack. Black has a clear advantage in this
position. It is interesting to see how Peter Leko misplayed this promising
position.} Bd8 $2 {An error. It was much more important to transfer the rook
to the f-file first.} (31... Rf8 $1 32. Qh5 Bc8 {Stopping Bh3.} 33. Rbc2 Bb8 $6
34. Ne2 Rf6 (34... Rf5 $6 35. Qg4 (35. Rxc6 $1 Rxh5 36. Rxc8+ Kh7 37. Rxb8 $11
{[%cal Ge2f4] White has excellent compensation.}) 35... Rf6 36. Qxd7 Bxd7 $17)
35. Nf4 Bxf4 36. exf4 Kh7 $15) 32. Qh5 Bc8 {Now the rook is stuck on a8 and
White can bring his knight into the game via e2.} 33. Rbc2 (33. Ne2 $1 {
was more accurate.}) 33... Be7 (33... Qe6 34. Ne2 Bd7 35. Nf4 Qe8 {and Black
has managed to co-ordinate his position. But White can execute a strong
positional exchange sacrifice.} 36. Qxe8+ Bxe8 37. Rxc6 $1 Bxc6 38. Rxc6 Rxa4
39. Nxd5 $14) 34. Ne2 Ba3 (34... Rxa4 35. Rxc6 $18) 35. Rb1 Rxa4 36. Rxb6 {
All of Black's superior co-ordination is lost and White has nearly a winning
position. The mistakes made by Leko were so subtle in nature - he didn't
organize his forces in the best possible way.} Bb7 37. Nf4 $18 {Look how the
position has changed. From a clearly better situation, Leko misplayed his
position so badly that he is completely lost!} Rb4 38. Ng6+ (38. Rxb4 Bxb4 39.
Bh3 Qd8 40. Ng6+ Kh7 41. Ne5 $18) 38... Kh7 39. Ne5 Qe8 40. Qxe8 Rxe8 41. Rxb4
Bxb4 42. Rb2 c5 43. dxc5 Rxe5 44. Rxb4 $18 {White has won a pawn and the rest
is a matter of straightforward technique.} Re7 45. Rb6 Rc7 46. Bb5 Bc8 47. Rc6
Rb7 48. Rxc8 Rxb5 49. c6 Rc5 50. Kg2 Rc2 51. h4 h5 52. c7 g6 53. g4 d4 54. exd4
e3 55. Kf1 e2+ 56. Ke1 g5 57. hxg5 h4 58. Rf8 h3 59. Rf6 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.23"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Socar"]
[BlackTeam "Novy Bor"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CZE"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
h5 9. Nd5 Bxd5 10. exd5 Nbd7 11. Qd2 g6 12. O-O-O ({Last year Topalov chose} 
12. Be2 Qc7 13. Rc1 Ng8 $5 14. O-O Ne7 15. Bg5 $1 f6 16. Be3 O-O-O 17. c4 Nf5
18. Bf2 $1 Kb8 19. Qc3 Bh6 20. Rcd1 $36 {Topalov-Dominguez Perez, Tromso ol
2014, and White had a nice position.}) 12... Nb6 {Topalov was the first to
play this move with Black in 2008 against Anand.} 13. Qa5 ({Two month ago
Grischuk played} 13. Kb1 {against Topalov,} Nbxd5 14. Bg5 Be7 15. Na5 Rb8 16.
Bc4 Nb6 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Qxd6 Qxd6 19. Rxd6 Bd8 20. Rd3 Bc7 21. Bb3 Ke7 22.
Rhd1 Rhd8 $11 {Grischuk-Topalov, Saint Louis 2015, with an equal endgame.})
13... Bh6 {This is the point!} 14. Bxh6 Rxh6 15. g3 (15. Kb1 Rc8 (15... Kf8 $5)
16. Qb4 Kf8 17. c4 Kg7 18. g3 Rh8 19. Rc1 Qc7 20. Bh3 Rce8 21. Rhd1 Re7 22. a3
Rd8 23. Nd2 Nbd7 (23... e4 $5) 24. Qc3 a5 25. Bxd7 Nxd7 26. f4 $14 {
Anand-Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 2008, and White had a comfortable position.}) 15...
Kf8 16. Kb1 Kg7 17. Be2 $146 {A novelty by Topalov.} (17. f4 {was tried in a
correspondence game,} h4 18. fxe5 dxe5 19. d6 Nbd7 20. Bg2 Qxa5 21. Nxa5 e4 22.
Nxb7 Rh5 23. c4 Rb8 24. c5 Nxc5 25. Nxc5 Rxc5 $11 {Bell-Ísólfsson, ICCF 2014,
with an equal endgame.}) 17... Rh8 18. c4 Rc8 19. Rc1 Nfd7 20. Rhd1 Rc7 ({
In the event of} 20... h4 21. g4) ({or} 20... Nc5 21. Nd2 Nbd7 22. Qa3 $13 {
with an unclear position.} (22. Qxd8 Rhxd8 23. b4 Na4 $11)) (20... Re8 $5) 21.
Qa3 $1 {A very nice move by Topalov; now the d6-P is under pressure and it is
not easy to protect.} Nc8 22. Nd2 (22. c5 $6 {is too early, as} Nxc5 23. Nxc5
dxc5 24. Rxc5 Rxc5 25. Qxc5 Nd6 {and Black has a great blockade on d6.}) 22...
Nf6 (22... f5 $5) 23. h3 $1 Re7 24. g4 hxg4 25. fxg4 (25. hxg4 $6 {could have
been met by} Rh2 $132) 25... e4 26. g5 Nd7 27. Bg4 e3 28. Qc3+ Kg8 (28... Kh7
$5 {was an interesting alternative.}) 29. Nf3 Ne5 30. Nxe5 Rxe5 31. Re1 ({
Probably} 31. c5 $1 {was stronger} Ne7 (31... e2 32. Re1 Rxd5 33. c6 $1 bxc6
34. Qf6 $1 Qxf6 35. gxf6 Na7 36. Rxe2 $16 {and White is better.}) 32. c6 Qc7
33. Qa3 $36 {and White has a dangerous initiative.}) 31... Nb6 32. Qd4 $1 Nd7
33. Rc3 e2 34. Rc2 Rxg5 $6 {A dubious move, which gives up the important
e-file.} (34... b5 {was more accurate} 35. cxb5 axb5 36. Rcxe2 Rxe2 37. Rxe2
Ne5 38. Qf4 $14 {and White is slightly better.}) 35. Bxd7 $1 {Otherwise ...Ne5.
} Qxd7 36. Rcxe2 Kh7 37. a3 $1 {A very strong and deep move. White opens an
airhole in his back rank and now he is ready for action!} ({The immediate} 37.
Re7 {could have been met by} Qf5+ 38. Ka1 b5 {.}) 37... b5 $2 {Loses
immediately, but Black's position was already difficult.} (37... Rf8 {was
tougher, but} 38. Re7 Qxh3 39. Rxb7 $16 {and White's chances are much better.})
38. Re7 $1 $18 {The best move, White's pieces are very active, Black has no
hope left.} Qf5+ 39. Ka2 Rg8 40. Re8 Qd7 41. R8e7 Qf5 42. R1e4 1-0

[Event "Festa da Uva quad"]
[Site "Caxias do Sul"]
[Date "2016.02.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Mekhitarian, Krikor Sevag"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2559"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2018"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. a3 {
Les alternatives Qd2 et g4 semblent un peu meilleures} (8. Qd2 Nbd7 9. g4 h6
10. O-O-O b4 11. Nce2 Qc7 12. h4 d5 13. Bf4 e5 14. Bh2 dxe4 15. g5 hxg5 16.
hxg5 Rxh2 17. Rxh2 exd4 18. Rh4 Ng4 19. Rxg4 Nc5 20. Rh4 d3 21. Nd4 Bb7 22. Rh8
O-O-O 23. g6 fxg6 24. fxe4 Bxe4 25. Nb3 Nxb3+ 26. axb3 Be7 27. Bxd3 Rxh8 28.
Bxe4 Rd8 29. Qe3 Rxd1+ 30. Kxd1 Qc5 31. Qxc5+ Bxc5 {1/2-1/2 (33) Leko,P (2707)
-Giri,A (2798) Baku 2015}) (8. g4 h6) 8... h5 $5 {La nouveauté a-t-elle été
trouvée devant l'échiquier à l'inspiration?} 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O {[%csl
Ra3] Il est difficile de jouer l'attaqua anglaise sans le ooo mais la poussée
a3 est assez affaiblissante} Bb7 11. Kb1 Rc8 $132 12. h3 $6 $146 (12. h4 Be7
13. Rh3 O-O 14. Rg3 Kh7 15. Bg5 Re8 16. Bd3 Kh8 17. Bh6 Bf8 18. Be3 Kg8 19. Nb3
Qc7 20. Bh6 Kh8 21. Be3 Be7 22. Bf4 Red8 23. Nd4 Bf8 24. Nde2 Ne5 25. Bg5 d5
26. exd5 Bxd5 27. Bf4 Bc4 28. Qe3 Bd6 29. Rg5 Nxd3 30. cxd3 Bb3 31. Rc1 Kg8 32.
Bxd6 Qxd6 33. Nf4 Re8 34. Qe5 Qxe5 35. Rxe5 g6 36. Nce2 Kg7 37. Rxc8 Rxc8 38.
Nd4 Bd5 39. b4 Bb7 40. Nb3 Nd5 41. Nxd5 Bxd5 {Larsen,S (2498)-Ljubicic,L (2649)
ICCF email 2011 0-1 (68)}) 12... h4 $1 {[%csl Rg2,Rg3] Sans la possibilité de
jouer g4, les Blancs sont privés de contre-jeu et la partie a basculé} 13.
Bd3 Ne5 14. Rhe1 Be7 $17 15. Bg5 Nc4 16. Bxc4 Rxc4 17. Nb3 Rh5 18. Bxf6 gxf6
19. Qe3 Qc7 20. Rd3 a5 21. Qd2 b4 22. axb4 Rxb4 23. Na2 Rb6 24. Rd1 a4 25. Nd4
Ba6 26. Ra3 Qb7 27. c3 d5 28. Rxa4 dxe4 29. fxe4 Qxe4+ 30. Qc2 Bb7 31. Rd2
Qxc2+ 32. Kxc2 f5 33. Nf3 Be4+ 34. Kd1 Bg5 35. Re2 Rd6+ 36. Ke1 Bf4 37. Nd4
Bg3+ 38. Kf1 e5 0-1

[Event "Festa da Uva quad"]
[Site "Caxias do Sul"]
[Date "2016.02.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mekhitarian, Krikor Sevag"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2559"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2018"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qa4+ Nc6 8.
e3 O-O 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Be2 Be6 11. a3 (11. O-O a6 12. Rfc1 Bd6 13. Qd1 Ne7 14.
a3 Rfd8 15. b4 Nc8 16. Na4 b6 17. Nb2 Ne7 18. Nd3 Ng6 19. a4 a5 20. b5 Re8 21.
Rc3 Bf5 22. Rac1 Rad8 23. Nd2 Rd7 24. g3 Nf8 25. Bg4 Nh7 26. Bxf5 Qxf5 27. Qf3
Qg5 28. h4 Qe7 29. Rc6 Nf6 30. Nf4 g6 31. h5 Kg7 32. hxg6 fxg6 33. Nxd5 Nxd5
34. Qxd5 Bxg3 35. Qg2 Bd6 36. Nc4 Rf8 37. Ne5 Bxe5 38. Qxg6+ Kh8 39. Qxh6+ Kg8
40. dxe5 Qxe5 {Carlsen,M (2862)-Aronian,L (2797) Wijk aan Zee 2015 1-0}) 11...
Bd6 12. Nb5 Bg4 13. Rc1 a6 14. Nxd6 Qxd6 15. Qc2 Rac8 16. Ng5 hxg5 17. Bxg4
Rce8 18. O-O g6 19. Qc5 Rd8 20. Qxd6 $146 (20. Be2 Rfe8 21. Rfd1 Re6 22. b4 Rd7
23. b5 Ne7 24. bxa6 bxa6 25. a4 Nf5 26. a5 Qe7 27. Qxe7 Rdxe7 28. Rc5 Rd7 29.
Bd3 Ng7 30. Rb1 f5 31. Rb7 Ne8 32. g4 f4 33. exf4 gxf4 34. Kg2 Rdd6 35. h4 Rf6
36. Kf3 Rf7 37. Rb8 Rf8 38. Ra8 Ng7 39. Rxa6 Ne6 40. Rxd6 Nxd4+ 41. Kg2 cxd6
42. Rxd5 f3+ 43. Kh2 Rf4 44. Rxd6 {1-0 (44) Chatalbashev,B (2581)-Sedlak,N 
(2605) Rijeka 2007}) 20... Rxd6 21. Rc5 Re8 22. Bf3 Red8 23. Rfc1 Kf8 24. Be2
Ra8 25. b4 $16 {[%csl Rc6,Rc7] Transposant dans une structure de variante
d'échange du gambit dame ou le Nc6 est trés mal placé} Ke7 26. h3 Ke6 27.
Bd1 $1 {[%cal Gd1b3]} (27. Bf3 $5) 27... Kd7 $6 28. Bb3 Rc8 29. Bxd5 {Après
le gain du P, l'avantage est facile à convertir} Nd8 30. Bb3 f6 31. Ba4+ c6
32. d5 b5 33. Bb3 Rb8 34. g4 1-0

[Event "Festa da Uva playoff1"]
[Site "Caxias do Sul"]
[Date "2016.02.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Mekhitarian, Krikor Sevag"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2559"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2016.02.12"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2018"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "900+5"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 b5 $1 {La ligne critique} 4. Bg2 d5 5. O-O a5 $5 (
5... Bb7 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. e4 dxe4 8. Nfd2 h6 9. Bxf6 Nxf6 10. Qe2 a6 11. Nxe4
Bxe4 12. Bxe4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Qd5 14. Qe3 Rd8 15. Rd1 Be7 16. Nc3 Qf5 17. Rd3 O-O
18. Rad1 Rd7 19. Ne4 Rfd8 20. a3 c6 21. f4 a5 22. c3 Qd5 23. R3d2 Qc4 24. Nf2
c5 25. Ne4 cxd4 26. cxd4 b4 27. axb4 axb4 28. Rd3 Qd5 29. Nd2 Bf6 30. Nb3 Rc7
31. Qf3 Qb5 32. R1d2 Rdc8 33. Kg2 Rc2 34. Rxc2 Rxc2+ 35. Rd2 {Aronian,L (2784)
-Dominguez Perez,L (2732) Skopje 2015 1/2-1/2 (62)}) 6. Bf4 $146 (6. Nbd2 Be7
7. Ne5 Ra7 8. e4 Bb7 9. Qe2 b4 10. a3 bxa3 11. b3 O-O 12. Rd1 c5 13. dxc5 Bxc5
14. exd5 exd5 15. Nd3 Re8 16. Qf1 Ba6 17. c4 Bd4 18. Rxa3 dxc4 19. Nxc4 Rae7
20. Bd2 Ng4 21. Bf3 Ne5 22. Ndxe5 Rxe5 23. Bc3 Bxc3 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25. Qh3 Re1+
26. Kg2 Nd7 27. Qh4 Rb8 28. Qf4 Ne5 29. Bd5 Rb6 30. Ne3 Rf6 31. Qa4 g6 32. Ra2
Bd3 33. Qe8+ Kg7 34. h3 h5 35. Qa8 g5 {Jirka,J (2429)-Soukup,J (2356) Czechia
2014 1/2-1/2}) 6... Be7 7. Nbd2 Nbd7 8. a4 b4 9. c3 $6 {Il est difficile
d'obtenir du contre-jeu sans réagir au centre mais ce coup est trop
affaiblissant} (9. Re1 $142 {[%cal Ge2e4]} Bb7 10. Ne5 {[%cal Ge2e4] Avec une
position plus saine mais les Noirs ont égalisé}) 9... bxc3 $132 10. bxc3 O-O
11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. Bxe5 Ba6 13. Re1 Nd7 14. Bf4 Bd6 $5 15. Nb3 Bc4 16. Nd2 (16.
Bxd6 cxd6 17. Nd2 Ba6 {[%csl Rc3]}) 16... Ba6 17. Nb3 Bxf4 18. gxf4 Bc4 19. Nd2
Nb6 $15 {[%csl Ra4,Rc3,Gc4]} 20. Nxc4 Nxc4 21. e3 Rb8 22. Bf1 Qf6 23. Bxc4 dxc4
24. Qe2 Rb3 25. Qxc4 Qg6+ 26. Kh1 Qe4+ 27. Kg1 Rfb8 28. Qxc7 Qg6+ 29. Kh1 Qe4+
30. Kg1 Rb2 31. Rf1 Qf3 32. Ra2 Qg4+ 33. Kh1 Qh3 34. Qc4 Rxa2 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grandelius, Nils"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C87"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2649"]
[Annotator "Pavlovic,M"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 {A popular idea
avoiding lots of theory and heading for positional play.} d6 7. c3 O-O 8. Re1
Re8 9. Nbd2 Bf8 10. h3 b5 11. Bc2 {Usually White has to retreat to b3, but the
idea of this line is to sidestep ...b5 with Bc2 at once which helps him to get
in d3-d4. The downside is that the bishop on b3 is aiming at f7 and thus gives
Black certain problems that he needs to solve with some preparatory moves like
...h6 for instance.} Ne7 {Black has various ideas here, I will give few
interesting examples:} (11... g6 12. Nf1 Bg7 13. Ng3 Nb8 14. d4 Nbd7 {with a
Breyer type of position.} 15. b3 (15. d5 Bb7 16. b3 Qe7 17. c4 c6 18. Bg5 cxd5
19. cxd5 h6 20. Be3 Rec8 21. Rc1 Nc5 22. b4 Ncd7 23. Nd2 $14 {1-0 (70) Delchev,
A (2606)-Zisiadis,D (2005) Paleochora 2015}) 15... c5 16. d5 Qc7 17. Bg5 h6 18.
Be3 a5 19. Nh2 Kh7 20. Qd2 b4 21. c4 a4 22. Rad1 Qd8 23. Bb1 Re7 24. Rf1 Qh8
$13 {1/2-1/2 (71) Sengupta,D (2563)-Kovalenko,I (2680) Al-Ain 2015}) (11... Bb7
12. Nf1 Nb8 13. Ng3 Nbd7 14. d4 g6 {Another way of getting a Breyer type of
position.} 15. Bg5 h6 16. Bd2 Bg7 17. Rc1 c6 18. Bb1 Qc7 19. h4 h5 20. Bg5 Nh7
21. Be3 Ndf6 22. Nh2 Rad8 $13 {0-1 (45) Najer,E (2628)-Bruzon Batista,L (2691)
Internet 2013}) 12. d4 Ng6 13. Nf1 exd4 {This looks like a new idea in this
position, but the motif is known.} (13... Bb7 14. Ng3 h6 15. a4 c6 16. Be3 Qc7
17. axb5 axb5 18. Rxa8 Rxa8 19. Nh2 Re8 20. Ng4 Nxg4 21. hxg4 $14 {1-0 (40)
Gharamian,T (2661)-Butnorius,A (2400) Cappelle la Grande 2013}) 14. cxd4 c5 15.
d5 {This kind of Benoni structure is known and Black often employs it.} Nd7 16.
Ng3 a5 17. Be3 a4 18. Bd3 Rb8 19. Bf1 {Interesting play by Topalov, usually
players are happy with the bishop on c2 in the Ruy Lopez, but Topalov wants to
keep an eye on the queenside as well.} Nde5 {The problem of the black position
is typical: both black knights are heading for the same square which is
usually bad.} ({Another idea is to put pressure on e4:} 19... Nf6 20. Qc2 Bd7
21. Nd2 {[%cal Gf2f4,Gd2f3] White is heading for f4.} Be7 22. f4 h5 23. Nf3 h4
24. Nh1 Nh5 $13) 20. Nd2 $1 {Exchanging one knight would help Black immensly
and Topalov knows that.} Be7 21. b3 axb3 $6 {Such decisions to open or not are
not easy to solve during the game, but in this case it helps White because
soon he will be able to get on to the a-file.} (21... a3 {keeping the position
a bit closed was a safer option.}) 22. axb3 Bg5 23. Nh5 $1 Bxe3 24. Rxe3 Nd7
25. Ra7 Re5 26. Be2 Ndf8 27. Qa1 {White is clearly better. In just few moves
all white pieces have started to get the best squares.} Qh4 28. Ng3 Qd8 29. Bg4
$1 {It is of crucial importance to get the f5-square for the knight.} Re7 30.
Rxe7 Nxe7 31. Bxc8 Rxc8 32. Nh5 f6 33. Rg3 Neg6 34. Qa6 Qd7 35. f4 {With f5 to
come next, Black is simply lost.} c4 36. bxc4 bxc4 37. Nxc4 f5 38. Nxd6 Rc1+
39. Kh2 fxe4 40. f5 e3 41. fxg6 hxg6 42. Nf4 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 4th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.08.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Pavlovic,M"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2016.08.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Be6 11. Bxe6 $5 {Recently on top level they started to use
a lot this thematic but a bit forgotten idea. It does remind me on an old game
Karpov-Jussupow, Bugojno 1986, which came from the Italian Game, where the Ex
World Champion executed nice positional ideas.} fxe6 12. Nbd2 d5 {Another
interesting thing is that I found only one game played in same manner dated
all the way back to 1962!} (12... Nd7 13. c3 Bf6 (13... Rb8 14. Nf1 bxc3 15.
bxc3 Rb5 16. Be3 {again with a complicated game}) 14. Qa4 bxc3 15. bxc3 Na7 16.
Qc4 Qe8 17. Qxa6 Nc5 18. Qc4 Qb5 19. d4 exd4 20. cxd4 Qxc4 21. Nxc4 Nb3 22. Rb1
Nxd4 23. Nxd4 Bxd4 24. Be3 Nc6 25. Rb7 Bxe3 26. Nxe3 Rfc8 27. Rc1 $14 {1/2-1/2
(43) Parma,B-Sanguineti,R Mar del Plata 1962}) (12... Qe8 13. c3 bxc3 14. bxc3
Qg6 15. Nf1 {with an interesting game ahead of us.}) 13. c3 {Taking the pawn
is not much advisable here:} (13. exd5 exd5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Rxe5 Bc5 16. Nf3
Ng4 17. Re2 Qd6 $19) 13... Bd6 14. d4 bxc3 15. bxc3 exd4 16. cxd4 dxe4 17. Nxe4
Bb4 18. Bd2 Nxe4 19. Rxe4 Qd5 20. Bxb4 Qxe4 21. Bxf8 Rxf8 22. Rc1 {Massive
changes didn't help Black to reach an equal play, still White has the easier
play and pawns on a6 and c7 are much more vulnerable than White's counterparts
on a5 and d4.} h6 23. Qd2 Rb8 24. Qe3 Qd5 25. h3 Rb4 $4 {A blunder that loses
a piece.} (25... Rb5 26. Qc3 Nxa5 27. Qxc7 Nb3 28. Re1 Nxd4 29. Nxd4 Qxd4 30.
Qc8+ Kh7 31. Qc2+ Kg8 32. Rxe6 {Due to the better king we can say that White
still has the initiative but chances for Black to equalise are high.}) 26. Qc3
$1 Nxd4 27. Qxb4 Ne2+ 28. Kh1 {Black resigned due to} (28. Kh1 Nxc1 29. Qb8+
Kh7 30. Qb1+ Nd3 31. Ne1 $18) 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 4th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.08.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C93"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[Annotator "Mokal,P"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2016.08.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Re8 10. d4 Bb7 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a3 {For a long time 12.a4 was the
main move in this position in the Zaitsev, but in the last few years 12.a3 and
12.d5 have become equally popular.} h6 13. Bc2 ({Both the players have had
their share of experience with} 13. d5 Nb8 14. Nh2 Nbd7 (14... c6 15. dxc6 Bxc6
16. Qf3 Nbd7 {is the same}) 15. Qf3 c6 16. dxc6 Bxc6 17. Ng4 {Here Giri vs
Ding Liren went} Nc5 ({while Topalov vs Morozevich, 2009 continued} 17... a5
18. Ba2 $5 Qe7 19. Nf1 $5 Nxg4 20. hxg4 Nc5 21. g5 $1 $40 {1-0
Topalov-Morozevich, Nice 2009 (43); and White got nice attacking prospects.})
18. Nxf6+ Qxf6 19. Qxf6 gxf6 20. Bc2 Red8 21. Nf1 d5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Giri-Ding
Liren, Bilbao 2015 (42)}) 13... Nb8 {Black responds with the Breyer style
manoeuvre.} 14. b3 {[%cal Gd2e4,Gc1b2] Since White cannot go Nf1-Ng3 (which is
usually his typical play in the Breyer) he finds the other way to develop his
B.} Nbd7 15. Bb2 Rc8 (15... g6 {is more common here. One of the comparatively
recent top level games went} 16. a4 c6 17. Bd3 Nh5 (17... Bg7 $5) 18. g3 Bg7
19. Qc2 Qb6 20. Bf1 Rac8 $132 {1/2-1/2 Leko-Caruana, Malmo 2012 (39); with a
dynamic position that gives chances to both sides.}) 16. a4 b4 $6 $146 {
This pawn sacrifice does not look challenging and is unlikely to repeat itself
at the top level. It offers Black good posts for his pieces temporarily but
nothing more than that.} (16... c6 {is normal and makes a lot of sense.}) 17.
cxb4 exd4 18. Bxd4 c5 19. bxc5 Nxc5 20. Qb1 (20. e5 dxe5 21. Bxe5 Ne6 22. Nc4
$14) 20... a5 21. b4 axb4 22. Qxb4 Ba8 {What Black has, is definitely not
enough for the P.} (22... Nfxe4 23. Nxe4 Bxe4 24. Bxe4 Rb8 25. Qa3 Nxe4 26. a5
$16 {[%cal Ga5a6,Ga6a7]}) 23. a5 d5 (23... Nfxe4 24. Bxe4 Nxe4 25. Nxe4 Bxe4
26. a6 $16 {[%cal Ga6a7]}) 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25. e5 Qa6 26. Qg4 (26. Qb6 $5 Qxb6 (
26... Rc6 27. Qxa6 Rxa6 28. Nd4 $16) 27. axb6 Rb8 28. Reb1 Ne6 29. Ra5 Bc5 30.
Ba4 (30. Rbb5 $5 Bxb6 31. Rxa8 Rxa8 32. Rxb6 $14) 30... Red8 31. Rab5 $16 Bc6
$6 32. Rxc5 Bxa4 33. Ra5 $18) 26... Ne6 27. Bf5 (27. Qf5 $6 g6 {does not
improve White's position.}) 27... Rc5 28. Bxe6 Rxe6 29. Nb3 ({A much more
decisive move is} 29. Nd4 $142 {although it involves giving up the a5-P in
return for a powerful attack.} Rg6 (29... Re8 30. e6 $1 fxe6 31. Rxe6 $5 (31.
Qg6 $1 Rec8 32. N2b3 Rc4 33. Nf5 $18 {[%csl Rg8]}) 31... Rxe6 32. Qxe6+ Qxe6
33. Nxe6 $18) (29... Re7 30. e6 $18) 30. Qd7 Rxa5 (30... Qc8 31. Qxc8 Rxc8 32.
Rec1 (32. a6 $5 $18) 32... Rxc1+ 33. Rxc1 Ra6 34. Rc8 g6 (34... Rxa5 35. e6 $18
) 35. N2b3 $18) (30... Bc6 31. Qd8 $18) 31. Rac1 $1 Bb7 32. N2b3 Ra2 33. Rc7
$18) 29... Rc4 30. Nfd4 Bb7 31. Qf5 Re7 32. e6 Bc8 33. exf7+ Rxf7 34. Qxd5 Bb7
35. Qe6 Rb4 36. Re3 ({Objectively stronger was} 36. Qxa6 {but it demanded
computer precision to follow-up accurately.} Bxa6 37. Re8 Kh7 (37... Rf6 38.
Rc1 Kh7 (38... Kf7 39. Rd8 Be7 40. Rc7 $18) 39. Rc6 Rxc6 40. Nxc6 Rxb3 41. Rxf8
Ra3 42. Rf5 Rc3 43. Nb4 $18) 38. Re6 Bc4 39. Rb6 Rxb6 40. axb6 Rf6 (40... Rb7
41. Na5 Rxb6 42. Nxc4 Rb4 43. Ne6 $18) 41. Nd2 Bd5 (41... Bd3 42. Ra8 $18) 42.
Ra5 Rd6 43. Nf5 Rd7 44. Ne3 Bb7 45. Ndc4 $18) 36... Qa8 37. Rc1 Bd5 (37... Bxg2
$4 38. Rc8 Qd5 39. Rxf8+ Kxf8 40. Qe8#) 38. Rc8 Bxe6 39. Rxa8 Bc4 40. Rc8 Kh7
41. Rc3 Ba6 42. Rd8 ({White could have exchanged one pair of Rs with} 42. R8c7
Rf6 (42... Rf4 43. Ne6 Rf6 44. Nxf8+ Rxf8 45. Nc5 $18) 43. R7c6 {Although even
then after} (43. R3c6 Bd6 44. Rd7 $18) 43... Rxc6 (43... Bd6 44. Rxa6 Bh2+ 45.
Kxh2 $18) 44. Rxc6 Bc4 {White has to find accurate ways to use his Ns.} 45. Nc2
$1 Ra4 (45... Rxb3 46. Rxc4 $18) 46. Nc5 $1 Bd5 (46... Rxa5 47. Nd7 $18) 47.
Nxa4 ({A nice exercise for calculation could be} 47. Rxh6+ Kxh6 48. Nxa4 Bb3
49. Nb6 Bxc2 50. a6 Be4 51. a7 Be7 52. a8=Q Bxa8 53. Nxa8 Bd8 $11 {It does not
look like White can progress.}) 47... Bxc6 48. Nc3 $16 {In spite of the
achievement, progress is not easy.} (48. Nb2 Be4 49. Nd4 Bb4 50. Nc4 Bd5 51.
Nc2 Bc3 52. N2e3 Bb7 53. f4 $16 (53. Kf1 $2 Ba6))) 42... Ra4 43. Ne6 $6 {
This loses the key P. Other natural moves would have kept things in White's
grasp, although his task would still not be easy.} (43. Nc6 $142) (43. Rc1 $142
) 43... Bb4 44. Rc6 Bb5 45. Rc1 Ra2 46. f3 Ba4 47. Nbd4 Bxa5 48. Ra8 Bb6 49.
Kh1 Bb3 50. Rb8 Bxe6 51. Rxb6 Bf5 {The position now looks technically drawn
but Black will have to endure a tough and thankless battle for a long long
time.} 52. Rd6 Bg6 53. Rd8 Bf5 54. Rd6 Bg6 55. Rc8 Rb7 56. Rdd8 Bd3 57. Ne6 Bf1
$2 {After enduring for a long time, Ding Liren makes a slip.} (57... Bf5 $142
58. Rh8+ (58. Nf8+ Kg8 $11) 58... Kg6 59. Nf4+ Kg5 60. Rc4 $14 {and the story
would continue. Topalov would still press for more but the position would be
objectively equal.}) 58. Nf8+ $2 {Topalov misses his chance. Luckily he will
get another. He admitted that it took him a lot of time to find the brilliant
idea that we see later in the game.} (58. Rh8+ $1 Kg6 59. Nf4+ {was correct,
transposing to the game.}) 58... Kg8 59. Ng6+ Kh7 (59... Kf7 $142 60. Nh8+ (60.
Nf4 Bxg2+ 61. Nxg2 Rb1+ 62. Kh2 Rbb2 $11) 60... Ke6 61. Re8+ Kd6 62. Rcd8+ Kc6
$11 {[%csl Rg2]}) 60. Nf8+ Kg8 61. Ne6+ Kh7 $4 {Black fails to spot the
critical point, probably misled by the repetition. But he does give the
spectators a chance to witness an aesthetically pleasing finish.} (61... Kf7 $8
62. Nf4 Bxg2+ $1 63. Nxg2 Rb1+ 64. Kh2 Rbb2 $11) 62. Rh8+ Kg6 63. Nf4+ $1 Kg5 (
{If} 63... Kf5 {then the Black K is pushed totally out of the game, and then
White will gobble up the >> pawns.} 64. Rhf8+ Ke5 65. Rce8+ Kd4 (65... Kd6 66.
Re6+ Kc5 (66... Kc7 67. Rf7+ $18) 67. Rc8+ Kb4 68. Re1 Ba6 69. Rb1+ Ka5 70.
Rxb7 Bxb7 71. Rc7 $18) 66. Re1 Bc4 67. Rc8 $18 {[%csl Rd4]}) 64. Rhf8 $1 {
Now Black K is stuck in an awkward position and he is likely to lose material
for it. The whole point can be seen if Black takes on g2.} Rbb2 ({In his
calculation, after} 64... Bxg2+ {Ding probably missed the brilliancy} 65. Kh2
$3 {[%csl Rg5] which would bring about a fantastic study-like finish to the
game. It's all about the vulnerable Black K.} (65. Nxg2 $4 Rb1+ 66. Kh2 Rbb2
$11) 65... Bxf3+ (65... Kh4 66. Nxg2+ $18) 66. Kg3 $18 {[%cal Gh3h4] and Black
has to give up everything to save his K.}) ({Another beautiful and study-like
line is} 64... Kh4 65. Rc1 $1 {[%csl Rf1]} Ba6 (65... g5 66. Rxf1 gxf4 67.
Rxf4+ $18) 66. g3+ $1 Kxg3 (66... Kg5 67. h4#) 67. Rg1+ Kxf3 (67... Kh4 68.
Rg4#) (67... Kf2 68. Rg2+ $18 {[%csl Ra2]}) 68. Nd5+ Ke4 (68... Ke2 69. Nc3+
$18) 69. Nc3+ $18) (64... Rb5 {does not help either} 65. Rc7 Kh4 (65... g6 66.
g3 $18 {[%cal Gh3h4]} h5 67. h4+ Kh6 68. Rh8#) 66. Rxg7 $18) 65. Rc7 $1 g6 (
65... Bxg2+ 66. Nxg2 Rxg2 67. Rxg7+ $18) 66. g3 (66. g3 Rh2+ 67. Kg1 {[%cal
Gh3h4]} Bxh3 68. Nxh3+ Rxh3 69. Rc5#) 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.06"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Arenas Vanegas, David"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Colombia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "COL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 d6 7. a3 {Each tempo
in the opening has the value of gold, but White is ready to invest in order to
prevent the arrival of any black piece on b4.} Bd7 8. Bd3 Bc6 9. O-O Nd7 10.
Re1 Rc8 {Black has managed to develop the whole queenside reserves in order to
tame down White's possible initiative on the kingside.} (10... dxe5 11. dxe5
Be7 12. b4 N5b6 13. Nc3 $14) 11. b4 a6 12. Ng5 {A very aggressive approach
that depends very much on the number of pieces in play. Arenas Vanegas seems
to believe, that the unfinished development of Black's kingside justifies
breaking some rules.} (12. Nbd2 Nc3 13. Qb3 Ba4 14. Qb2 Nd1 15. Qb1 Nc3 16. Qb2
Nd1 17. Qb1 Nc3 18. Qb2 {1/2-1/2 (18) Janev,E (2485)-Spasov,V (2579) Plovdiv
2008}) (12. Bg5 Be7 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nbd2 O-O (14... Nc3 15. Qc2 Nb6 16. Qxc3
Bxf3 17. Bb5+ axb5 18. Qxf3 d5 19. Qd3 Nc4 20. a4 Qxb4 21. Nf3 bxa4 $17 {
1/2-1/2 (49) Sivokho,S (2425)-Vaulin,A (2550) St Petersburg 1998}) 15. Ne4 (15.
Rc1 dxe5 16. dxe5 Nf4 17. Bf1 Rfd8 18. Qb3 Ng6 19. Qb2 Nb6 20. g3 h6 21. h4 Qd7
22. Ne4 Na4 $15 {0-1 (45) Batsanin,D (2474)-Papin,V (2475) Sochi 2008}) 15...
dxe5 16. dxe5 Nf4 17. Bf1 Rfd8 18. Qd4 Ng6 19. Qb2 Bd5 20. g3 Nb6 $15 {0-1 (49)
Shaked,T (2500)-Rublevsky,S (2650) Groningen 1997}) 12... dxe5 {Topalov as a
former world champion is well known for his good nerves and ability to hold
out against an opponent's initiative.} (12... g6 13. Qf3 Qe7 14. exd6 Qf6 15.
Qg4 Bh6 16. Bd2 O-O 17. Qh4 Qg7 18. Nf3 Bxd2 19. Nbxd2 Rfd8 20. Ne5 Qf6 21. Qg3
$16 {1-0 (43) Wolff,P (2564)-Stripunsky,A (2563) ICC INT 2011}) (12... Be7 13.
Qh5 g6 14. Qh6 Bf8 15. Qh3 dxe5 16. dxe5 Bg7 17. Nf3 (17. Qg3 Ne7 (17... Bb5
18. Bxb5 axb5 19. Nd2 Ne7 20. Ndf3 Nf5 21. Qf4 Rc4 22. Ne4 O-O 23. Bb2 Rc2 24.
Rab1 Qc7 $11 {0-1 (61) Janev,E (2444)-Shyam,S (2502) Varna 2013}) 18. Bb2 O-O
19. Nd2 h6 20. Nh3 Nb6 21. Nb3 Na4 22. Bd4 Bd5 23. Nc5 {0-1 (46) Janev,E (2451)
-David,A (2589) Bratto 2013} Bc4 $15) 17... Qc7 18. Qg3 Nxb4 19. axb4 Bxf3 20.
Bb2 Bc6 21. Nd2 O-O 22. Nc4 $15 Rcd8 {0-1 (39) Milovanovic,D-Stripunsky,A 
(2550) Parsippany 2005}) 13. Nxe6 $6 {The direct attack with the sacrifice on
e6 is well known, but it does not enjoy a good reputation. White was clearly
bending some rules with Ng5, but he crosses the critical line with this
untimely aggression.} (13. dxe5 Be7 14. Qg4 Ne3 (14... Bb5 15. Bxb5 axb5 16.
Nf3 Kf8 17. Nbd2 N7b6 (17... h5 18. Qd4 g5 19. Qd3 g4 20. Nd4 h4 21. Bb2 Qb6
22. Re4 $16 {1-0 (49) Janev,E (2450)-Nikolov,M (2550) Blagoevgrad 2010}) 18.
Ne4 Nc4 19. Bg5 Bxg5 20. Nexg5 h6 21. Ne4 Ra8 22. Nd4 $14 {1-0 (44) Ulybin,M 
(2533)-Sipos,I (2482) Winterthur 2009}) (14... h5 $5 15. Qg3 h4 16. Qg4 Nxe5
17. Rxe5 Nf6 18. Qd1 h3 19. Nc3 (19. Nxh3 Qd4 20. Rxe6 Qxa1 $17) 19... Bxg2 $13
) 15. Bxe3 (15. Rxe3 Bxg5 16. Re1 Nxe5 $17) 15... Nxe5 16. Nxe6 Nxg4 17. Nxd8
Rxd8 18. Bc5 Rxd3 19. Rxe7+ Kd8 20. Re1 $11) (13. Nxh7 $2 Qh4 14. Bg5 Qxd4 $19)
13... fxe6 (13... Qf6 $2 14. Nxf8 Kxf8 15. Be4 exd4 16. Bb2 Nf4 17. Bxd4 Qg5
18. Qf3 (18. Bxc6 Rxc6 19. g3 $16) 18... Ne6 19. Be3 Qf6 20. Nd2 $14 {1/2-1/2 
(20) Brynell,S (2465)-Rytshagov,M (2525) Gothenburg 1998}) 14. Qh5+ Ke7 {
Let us remark that the possibility of getting some small advantage for Black
with the daring move 14...g6 does not bode very well for the quality of the
knight sacrifice.} (14... g6 15. Bxg6+ hxg6 16. Qxg6+ (16. Qxh8 Kf7 (16... exd4
$1 17. Qxd4 Kf7 18. Bb2 Bh6 $17) 17. Qh7+ Bg7 18. Bh6 Qh8 19. Qxg7+ Qxg7 20.
Bxg7 Kxg7 21. dxe5 Nf4 $17 {0-1 (29) Velchev,H (2285)-Iotov,V (2556) Sofia 2009
}) 16... Ke7 17. Bg5+ N7f6 (17... N5f6 $2 18. dxe5 Qe8 19. Bxf6+ Nxf6 20. Qxf6+
$18) 18. Nc3 Kd7 19. Nxd5 Bxd5 20. Bxf6 Be7 21. Bxh8 Qxh8 $15) 15. dxe5 {
I am not impressed by this pawn move as I strongly believe in piece play in
the middlegame, but especially in the opening. In my understading of chess it
should be more promising to engage pieces with 15.Bg5+.} (15. Bg5+ N5f6 (15...
N7f6 16. dxe5 Kd7 17. exf6 gxf6 18. Bh6 $14) 16. Qh3 $5 (16. dxe5 $2 Nxe5 $1
$19) 16... Qc7 (16... e4 17. Nc3 Kf7 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 (18... b6 19. Bc2 Qe8 20.
Bb3) 19. Nxe4 Rc6 20. Bxf6 Nxf6 21. Ng5+ Kg8 22. Rac1 Qd7 $15) 17. dxe5 Nxe5
18. Bf4 Nf3+ 19. Qxf3 (19. gxf3 Qxf4 20. Qxe6+ Kd8 $19) 19... Bxf3 20. Bxc7
Rxc7 21. gxf3 g6 22. Ra2 Nd5 $15) 15... h6 $1 (15... N5f6 $2 16. exf6+ Nxf6 17.
Qh3 Be4 18. Bxe4 Nxe4 19. Ra2 Qd5 20. Rae2 Rc6 21. Rxe4 Rxc1 22. Rxe6+ Kf7 23.
Nc3 $18 {1-0 (34) Ulybin,M (2521)-Lefebvre,H (2286) Cappelle-la-Grande 2013})
16. Nc3 $2 {[%mdl 4] White is going beserk right at the end of the known chess
theory for this dubious line. The sacrifice of too many pieces makes it easier
for the defender to parry even the most violent attack.} (16. Qg4 N7b6 $1 (
16... Bb5 17. Bxb5 axb5 18. Nd2 Qe8 $17) 17. Nd2 h5 18. Qg3 Kd7 $17) (16. Qh4+
Kf7 17. Qh5+ Kg8 18. Bg6 Qe7 $17) (16. Bg5+ hxg5 17. Qxh8 (17. Qxg5+ N7f6 18.
Nd2 Kd7 $19) 17... Nf4 18. Bf1 Nxe5 $19) (16. Bg6 N7b6 17. Nd2 Be8 18. Ne4 Bxg6
19. Qxg6 Qe8 20. Qg4 Kf7 21. Bb2 Nc4 $17 {0-1 (32) Dolzhikova,O (2261)
-Goormachtigh,J (2187) Benidorm 2012}) 16... Nxc3 $1 17. Bg5+ hxg5 (17... Nf6
$4 18. exf6+ gxf6 19. Bxf6+ $18) 18. Qxg5+ (18. Qxh8 Nxe5 19. Rxe5 Qxd3 $18)
18... Nf6 19. exf6+ (19. Re3 Kd7 20. exf6 gxf6 21. Qg4 Bd5 22. Bf5 Rc6 $19)
19... gxf6 20. Rxe6+ {It is very difficult to assign the right sign to this
brave and desperate move. White must act quickly, otherwise his sacrifice of
two minor pieces will turn out to be senseless.} (20. Qc5+ Qd6 $19) 20... Kxe6
21. Qg4+ {The black king is vulnerable in the centre, but fortunately it is
not acting alone. Black can always part with one spare piece to slow down
White's initiative.} (21. Re1+ Kd7 22. Bf5+ (22. Qf4 Bd6) 22... Kc7 23. Qg3+) (
21. Bf5+ Ke7 22. Qe3+ Ne4 23. Bxe4 Bh6 $19) 21... Ke7 (21... Kd6 22. Qg3+ (22.
Qf4+ Ke7 23. Re1+ Kf7 24. Qf5 Bd6 $19) 22... Ke7 23. Re1+ Be4 24. Bxe4 (24. h3
Qd4) 24... Ne2+ $1 $19) 22. Re1+ Ne4 23. Bxe4 {White can hardly hope to give
perpetual check with two rooks missing after 23.Rxe4+} (23. Rxe4+ Bxe4 24.
Qxe4+ Kd7 (24... Kd6 $19) 25. Qxb7+ Qc7 26. Bf5+ Kd8 27. Qd5+ Qd6 $19) 23...
Qd2 $1 24. Kf1 (24. Rd1 Bd7 (24... Ba4 $19) (24... Rh4 25. Qf3 Rxe4 $19) 25.
Qf3 Rc1 $19) 24... Kd8 {Topalov was already enjoying himself as White was
obviously fighting a more than hopeless battle.} (24... Bb5+ 25. Bd3+ Qxe1+ (
25... Kd8) 26. Kxe1 Rc1+ 27. Ke2 Rc2+ 28. Ke3 Bh6+ 29. Ke4 Bc6+ 30. Kd4 Rd8+
$19) 25. Rd1 (25. Bxc6 Rxc6 26. Rd1 Rc1 $19) 25... Bb5+ 26. Kg1 Rc1 {It is
very dangerous to play extreme lines without exact knowledge of what is
possible and what is not.} 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown 60m"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D24"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2823"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2016.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bxc4 Nxe4 7. O-O Nxc3 8.
bxc3 Bd6 9. Re1 O-O 10. Qd3 Nd7 11. Ne5 Bxe5 12. dxe5 Nb6 13. Qg3 Nxc4 14. Bh6
g6 15. Rad1 Bd7 16. h4 Nb6 17. h5 Qe7 18. Rd4 Be8 19. Bg5 f6 20. exf6 Qc5 21.
Rxe6 Qf5 22. Re5 Qb1+ 23. Kh2 gxh5 24. Bh6+ Bg6 25. Bxf8 Rxf8 26. Qg5 Qxa2 27.
Re7 Qxf2 28. Rg7+ Kh8 29. Rxg6 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Showdown 60m"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.12"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2016.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8.
Nf3 O-O 9. d4 d5 10. c3 Bd6 11. Bd3 Nce7 12. Nbd2 c6 13. Qc2 g6 14. Nf1 Ng7 15.
Ng3 f6 16. Bh6 Re8 17. Nh4 Bxg3 18. hxg3 Nef5 19. Qd2 g5 20. Rxe8+ Qxe8 21. Re1
Qd8 22. Nxf5 Nxf5 23. Bxf5 Bxf5 24. Qe2 Kf7 25. g4 Bd7 26. f4 Kg6 27. fxg5 fxg5
28. Qe5 Qf6 29. Qh2 Bxg4 30. Re5 Bf5 31. g4 Bxg4 32. Rxg5+ Qxg5 33. Bxg5 Kxg5
34. Qxh7 b6 35. Qb7 Rc8 36. Qxa7 b5 37. b3 Kf4 38. Kf2 Bf5 39. a4 bxa4 40. bxa4
Ke4 41. a5 Rh8 42. Qc7 Kd3 43. a6 1-0

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.18"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The London Chess Classic was the last tournament of the Grand Chess Tour and
before the last round in London we already had a winner of the circuit - the
amazing Wesley So, who had a great 2016. But in the game between Levon Aronian
and Veselin Topalov, which I am discussing here, there also was a lot at stake:
Aronian had the chance to finish third in the GCT, whereas Topalov before this
game had 1.0/8 - a disastrous result after playing fighting chess throughout
the tournament. However, he did not plan to change his style to cut losses. He
repeatedly said in London that he was playing interesting chess and was trying
to have fun in all his games. After all, his creative play led to amazing
positions though Topalov failed to capitalize them.} 1. c4 $5 {The English
suits Levon's creative and original style. It often leads to unexplored
positions and he doesn't mind going into uncharted territory. It is here that
he discovers many of his brilliant ideas.} g6 2. Nc3 c5 {The Symmetrical
English, a very solid way to play with Black.} 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. Nf3 {
Now Black has a wide range of choices.} d6 ({An alternative is} 5... Nf6 {
which after} 6. O-O O-O 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 {leads to a classical position of
the Open English. But the fashionable move nowadays is} Qa5 $5 {which tries to
disturb White's development.}) (5... e5 6. O-O d6 7. d3 Nge7 {The 'Botvinnik
Triangle' is one of the safest ways to fight against the English Opening.} 8.
a3 O-O 9. Rb1 a5 {and as soon as White plays Ne1 (preparing Nc2 and Ne3 to
control d5), Black quickly goes for ...Be6 and ...d5!}) (5... e6 6. O-O Nge7 7.
d3 O-O {followed by ...d5 or first ...b6-...Bb7.}) (5... Nh6 $5 {The knight
wants to go to f5 where it controls d4. But White can be original as well:} 6.
h4 $5 {followed by h5.}) 6. O-O e6 7. e3 {White takes the chance to play d4.}
Nge7 8. d4 O-O (8... cxd4 9. exd4 d5 {trying to fix the weakness on d4 and to
establish a piece on d5 is a typical reaction but Black is too far behind in
development for such measures. But White has to be keep this idea in mind.} 10.
cxd5 $1 exd5 {gives White a slight advantage.} (10... Nxd5 $2 11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12.
Ne5 $16) 11. Bg5 $14) 9. Re1 $5 {I like this move. It is very useful in case
Black tries to play ...cxd4 and ...d5.} (9. d5 $6 {is not good:} Na5 $1 {
hitting the c4-pawn, and entering a good Benoni after:} 10. Nd2 exd5 11. cxd5
Rb8 {with excellent play for Black.} 12. Nde4 a6 13. Rb1 b5 $36 {0-1 (40)
Hillarp Persson,T (2564)-Rodshtein, M (2671) Helsingor 2014}) 9... a6 (9...
cxd4 10. exd4 d5 {and 9.Re1 proves to be very useful! White has the initiative:
} 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bg5 $1 $36 Qb6 {and now both Na4 and Qd2 give White a very
good and active position.} (12... f6 13. Bd2 $14) 13. Na4 $14 (13. Qd2 $5 $14))
10. Bd2 $5 Rb8 (10... cxd4 $6 {helps White.} 11. exd4 Nxd4 (11... d5 12. cxd5
Nxd5 13. Bg5 $1 {is similar to the lines arising after 9...cxd4.}) 12. Nxd4
Bxd4 13. Bh6 $1 Bg7 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Qd2 $16) 11. Rc1 b6 {Both players
improve their positions. White can still not play d5 (because with a bishop on
d2 the white queen does not defend d5) and Black is not yet ready to play ...
cxd4 followed by ...d5.} 12. Ne2 e5 $5 (12... Bb7 13. Bc3 cxd4 14. Nexd4 (14.
exd4 {looks awkward and after} d5 $1 {Black should be fine.}) 14... Nxd4 15.
Bxd4 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 $14 {and White keeps a spatial advantage.}) 13. Bc3 (13. d5
Nb4 {forces White to part with his bishop.} 14. Bxb4 cxb4 $13 {with a complex
positional struggle - but Black looks fine.}) 13... h6 {A provocative move I
do not fully understand.} (13... b5 $5 {which starts play on the queenside was
more advisable.}) 14. d5 Nb4 15. Ra1 $1 {Threatening a3. One might think that
a5 is forced now, but we all know how Topalov works:} b5 $5 {An interesting
piece sacrifice that changes the direction of the game completely.} (15... a5 {
is too passive.} 16. a3 Na6 17. Nd2 {and White can slowly expand on the
queenside and has every reason to be happy.} b5 $2 {is probably always bad
because White now obtains an amazing outpost on c4 whereas the black knights
are horribly placed.} 18. cxb5 Rxb5 19. Nc4 $16 {with a tremendous position}) (
15... e4 {is no good either} 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Nd2 Nd3 18. Rf1 b5 (18... Nxb2
$2 19. Qc2 Nd3 20. Nxe4 $16) 19. b3 $14 {and White is in the driver's seat.})
16. a3 bxc4 17. axb4 cxb4 18. Bd2 Nxd5 {Black has three pawns for the piece
and prospects on the queenside.} 19. Qc1 $1 {There is no easy way to defend c4.
} c3 (19... Be6 $5 20. Rxa6 c3 21. bxc3 b3 {Black has only one pawn for the
piece but it is not easy to control the b3-pawn.} 22. Qb1 (22. Qb2 $2 Nb6 $1
$17) 22... b2 $36) ({The natural} 19... Qc7 $2 {fails:} 20. Nxe5 $18 {now the
knight is hanging on d5.}) 20. bxc3 b3 21. Qb1 {White desperately needs to
activate his bishop on d2 and his knight on e2.} (21. Qb2 $5 {right away was
also possible.}) 21... Nf6 $1 {White was threatening to play c4.} 22. Qb2 (22.
c4 $2 b2 $19 {followed by ...Bf5.}) 22... Qc7 23. c4 $1 {White sacrifices
another pawn but gains space for his pieces.} Qxc4 24. Nc3 {Here I thought
White should be able to consolidate, get at least one pawn back and start
playing for a win. But things aren't so simple:} (24. Bc3 $5 {bringing the
knight over to d2, was another defensive setup:}) 24... Be6 25. Rec1 Nd7 $5 (
25... Rfc8 $5) 26. e4 (26. Ra4 $5) (26. Bf1 Qc6 $1 27. e4 Nc5 {forces the
black queen on to a more passive post but White still has problems to prove an
advantage.} 28. Be3 Nxe4 29. Rxa6 Qb7 $13) 26... Nc5 27. Bf1 Qb4 28. Be3 (28.
Bxa6 $2 Ra8 $1 29. Bf1 Nxe4 30. Nxe4 Qxe4 $17) 28... Rfc8 {Black is bringing
pieces to the queenside to consolidate and prepare the advance of the a-pawn.}
29. Nd2 (29. Bxa6 {was possible now:} Nxa6 30. Rxa6 Ra8 $1 31. Rxa8 Rxa8 32.
Nd2 f5 $5 $44) 29... a5 $1 30. Bxc5 {The natural reaction - White eliminates
the strong knight and stops the a-pawn.} Rxc5 31. Ra4 Qb7 32. Bc4 Qc6 $1 33.
Bd5 (33. Bxe6 $5 fxe6 {threatening ...Rxc3} 34. Raa1 Rc8 35. Ndb1 d5 $1 36.
exd5 exd5 37. Qxb3 e4 $132) 33... Bxd5 34. exd5 Qd7 35. Ra3 a4 $1 36. Nxa4 Rxd5
37. Nxb3 e4 38. Qa2 Qf5 $44 {A curious position - Black gave up his strong
passed pawns, but won White's pawn on d5. Black's d-pawn can become strong and
White has problems to coordinate his knights. Black has at least sufficient
compensation.} 39. Re1 Rdb5 40. Rc1 d5 41. Nac5 {I think Levon was playing for
a win here and rejects a number of solid options in the next moves.} (41. Nc3
$5 {bringing the knight over to the centre was another way to go.}) 41... d4
42. Ra7 (42. Ra8 $5 {was another way to control the risks - but in turn White
would have less winning chances.}) 42... d3 43. Rc7 $6 h5 $1 {With his pieces
in ideal positions Topalov now attacks on the kingside - the threat is h4-h3.}
44. Qa4 h4 45. Qxe4 $1 {White has no choice - he has to go on the defensive.}
Qxe4 46. Nxe4 Rxb3 47. gxh4 $2 {The decisive mistake.} (47. Rd7 $1 {was
necessary. After} h3 48. Rd1 $11 {White cannot take on d3 immediately but
after Kf1 a draw seems to be unavoidable.}) 47... Bh6 $1 {White is in trouble
now.} 48. Rf1 R3b4 49. f3 Rb2 50. Nf6+ (50. Rd7 Be3+ 51. Kh1 Rb1 52. Rxb1 Rxb1+
53. Kg2 d2 $1 54. Nxd2 Rb2 $19 (54... Rd1 $4 55. Ne4 $1 $11)) 50... Kg7 51. Ng4
d2 52. Rd7 (52. Nxh6 Kxh6 53. Rd7 Re8 $1 $19) 52... Re8 53. Nf2 Re1 {and White
resigned because he cannot stop ...Rb1.  This was Topalov's first win in
London. He finished with it and played a 2577 performance (which shows how
strong the tournament was - and anyone who criticises him should bear in mind
that 2600 is a grandmaster performance!). I guess it is always important to
finish the tournament with a win, and Topalov definitely was looking for one
in London. Aronian, on the other hand, had the better prospects in a very
complex position, and tried to push by keeping the tension in the end this did
not work out for him. I think we should thank the players for such a
delightful tournament (all rounds had at least one decisive result) and
congratulate Wesley So on a fantastic result: he won the London Chess Classic
2016 with 6.0/9 and a 2900+ performance! - let's see how he does in 2017!} 0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 15th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2017.01.28"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Deac, Bogdan Daniel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2572"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2017.01.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bd7 6. Ne5 Bc6 7. Nxc6 Nxc6 8.
e3 Qd7 9. O-O Rd8 $5 {Just as in the game against Adams from the same
tournament Romania's biggest talent shows himself aware of the latest
theretical trends. The last move increases the pressure in the centre and
removes the rook from the g2-bishop's range without exposing the king as in
the line which used to be fashionable until recently:} (9... O-O-O {e.g.
Pogonina,N (2454)-Koneru,H (2583) Tehran 2016 CBM 171 [Mikhalchishin,A] (1-0,
42). But even though the king is not under the bishop's pressure, its
situation is not entirely safe in the centre as it needs two more tempi to get
castled short.}) 10. Qe2 {As we will see the threat of retrieving the pawn was
mainly intended by Topalov as a way of inducing Black to open the centre with
the king still there and not as a direct attempt at restoring the material
equality.} ({The move best corresponding to the Catalan Gambit spirit is} 10.
Nc3 {ignoring the pawn and continuing developing. But in practice it has not
yielded anything concrete.} Be7 ({Since the pawn is not attacked} 10... Nb4 {
(Cheparinov,I (2689)-Lu,S (2627) Doha 2016 (1-0, 44)) is premature. White
could get a strong initiative in the centre with} 11. a3 Nbd5 12. Qe2 b5 13. e4
Nxc3 14. bxc3 c5 15. Rd1) 11. Qa4 (11. Qe2 {may be a more restrictive move
order with respect to our main game.}) 11... Nb4 {Now this is well timed as
the pawn was in danger.} 12. Bxb7 Qxa4 13. Nxa4 Rb8 14. Bg2 Nc2 15. Rb1 Na3 16.
Ra1 Nc2 17. Rb1 Na3 18. Ra1 Nc2 19. Rb1 {½-½ Ju,W (2580)-Harika,D (2543)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2016}) ({Other attempts at retrieving the pawn than the game
move are slightly more committal:} 10. Qa4 Nb4 ({better than} 10... e5 {
Ftacnik,L (2560)-Yermolinsky,A (2478) Tekirdag 2016 (½-½ , 59)} 11. Qb5 exd4
12. Qxb7 $14) 11. Qxd7+ Rxd7 12. Na3 c5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. Nxc4 {White cannot
take advantage of his bishop pair due to his incomplete development.} Nd3 ({
Black should not fool around with time as this would allow to White catch up
in deevlopment and retain the better chances due to his bishops.} 14... O-O 15.
Ne5 Rc7 16. a3 Nbd5 {Csonka,B (2398)-Kozak,A (2365) Hungary 2016 (½-½, 23)}
17. Bd2 $5 $14) 15. b3 O-O 16. Ba3 Bxa3 17. Nxa3 Rfd8 $11 {/=/+ Bai,J (2537)
-Bu,X (2715) Shenzhen 2016 (0-1, 48)}) (10. Nd2 {is not too annoying since the
knight moves far from the d5-square.} b5 11. Nf3 Be7 12. Qe2 a6 13. Bd2 Nd5 {
Saduakassova,D (2428)-Ju,W (2579) Doha 2016 (0-1, 48) Black is perfectly
regrouped and White's compensation is rather abstract,}) 10... e5 ({Obviously
the only answer as} 10... b5 11. a4 a6 12. axb5 axb5 13. b3 {leads to
queenside disaster.}) 11. Nc3 {Now that the centre is likely to open, the
knight should take the e4- and d5-squares under control.} ({White's advantage
is purely symbolic after} 11. Qxc4 exd4 12. Qb5 Rb8 13. Rd1 a6 14. Qc4 (14. Qf1
Bd6 15. exd4 O-O {Tomashevsky,E (2722)-Bu,X (2698) Novi Sad 2016 (½-½, 76)})
14... Bd6 15. exd4 O-O 16. Nc3 h6 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. Qxd5 Rfe8 19. Be3 Ne7 {
Andreikin,D (2736)-Lu,S (2619) China 2016 (½-½, 34)}) 11... Be7 {The most
logical move as it is best to defend the e-file and keep the d-file clear.} (
11... Bd6 12. Qxc4 exd4 13. exd4 O-O 14. Rd1 h6 15. Be3 $14 {Shankland,S (2674)
-Libiszewski,F (2545) Caleta 2017 (½-½, 40) is an improved version over the
same structure in the lines above.}) (11... exd4 {opens the d-file too quickly:
} 12. exd4+ Be7 13. d5 Nb4 14. Bg5 $14 {Kraemer,M (2570)-Luther,T (2541)
Austria 2016 (½-½, 42)}) 12. dxe5 $146 {Topalov gives up the tension in
order to open the centre and avoid any pawn weaknesses.} (12. d5 Nb4 13. e4 {
Dziuba,M (2554)-Wang,H (2701) Czech Republic 2017 (0-1, 59)} Nd3) (12. Rd1 exd4
13. Qxc4 O-O {Iturrizaga Bonelli,E (2652)-Moskalenko,A (2488) Moscow 2017 (1-0,
37)}) 12... Nxe5 13. Bxb7 Bb4 ({Deac must have analyzed this position at home
as this not a very natural move, wasting a tempo with the king uncastled, is
indeed the engines' favourite. Black prevents b2-b3 as after} 13... O-O 14. b3
c6 15. Ba6 Qd3 16. Qxd3 cxd3 17. Bb2 {White retains the more flexible
structure and chances for a small but lasting advantage.}) 14. Rd1 Nd3 {
This strong knight offers Black entirely adequate play despite White's mobile
centre and bishop pair.} 15. e4 Bxc3 ({This is the second idea behind ..Bb4.
Black exchanges the knight which threatened to move ahead, for instance} 15...
O-O 16. Nd5 {with some initiative.}) 16. bxc3 Qb5 {Without being a mistake,
this starts looking a bit like playing with fire.} ({Black should castle while
this is still possible:} 16... O-O 17. Bg5 Qe6) 17. e5 Nd5 {Probably
overlooking White's answer. Did Deac really believe he had tricked a former
World champion into forcing Bxd5?!} (17... Qxe5 $2 18. Qxe5+ Nxe5 19. Re1 Nfd7
20. f4 $18) ({Once again castling is safest:} 17... O-O $1 18. exf6 Qxb7 19.
fxg7 Rfe8 $1 (19... Kxg7 20. Qh5 Qc6 21. Be3 a6 22. Rd2 $36 {[%cal Gd2e2,Ge3d4]
}) 20. Be3 (20. Qh5 $2 Ne1 $19) 20... Qe4 $15 {with black domination.}) 18. Rb1
$1 Nxc3 $2 ({The trick is that} 18... Qxb1 $2 {loses the queen:} 19. Bc6+ Kf8
20. Ba3+) ({But with his king in the centre Black should not have embarked on
forced play. Instead he should have limited the damage with} 18... Qc5 19. Qf3
O-O 20. Bxd5 Qxd5 21. Qxd5 Rxd5 22. Rb7 $14) 19. Qf3 Qxe5 (19... Qc5 $2 20.
Bc6+ Kf8 21. e6) 20. Qc6+ Kf8 $2 {Probably a fruit of miscalculation.} ({
Even in a desperate position Black should have maintained the possibility of
castling.} 20... Rd7 21. Bb2 Ne2+ 22. Kg2 Nd4 23. Bxd4 Qxd4 24. Bc8 Qxf2+ (
24... Qd5+ 25. Qxd5 Rxd5 26. Ba6 $18) 25. Kh1 O-O 26. Bxd7 Qd4 27. Rd2 Nf2+ 28.
Rxf2 Qxf2 29. Bh3 Qxa2 $16 {Mamedyarov,S (2743)-Nakamura,H (2787) Tromsoe ol 
(Men) 41st 2014 (11.1) 1-0 White still faces technical problems winning this
position. Quite probably the game will simplify to the same type of ending as
analysed in:}) 21. Bb2 Ne2+ 22. Kg2 c3 (22... Qe6 {requires a bit more
imagination from White:} 23. Qxe6 fxe6 24. Bf3 Nd4 25. Bxd4 Rxd4 26. Rb8+ Ke7
27. Rxh8 c3 28. Rxh7 c2 29. Rxg7+ Kf6 (29... Kd6 30. Rf1 Rb4 31. Be2) 30. Rxd3
c1=Q 31. Rxc7 $1 {Eliminating Black's only passed pawn.} Qxc7 32. Rxd4 $18 {
Black cannot prevent the systematic advance of White's passed pawns.}) 23. Ba3+
Kg8 24. Qe4 c2 {This must have been what Deac relied on. It seems that White
loses but there is just one move after which he wins.} 25. Rxd3 $1 {Of course.
The back rank weakness decides.} (25. Rxd3 Qxe4+ 26. Bxe4 Re8 (26... Rxd3 27.
Rb8+) 27. Re1 $18) 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 15th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2017.01.29"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Howell, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "157"]
[EventDate "2017.01.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. Nbd2 d6 7. h3 Bb6 8. Nc4
Ne7 9. O-O Ng6 10. Ba4 Be6 11. Bc2 h6 12. Nxb6 axb6 13. d4 c5 14. a3 Re8 15.
Be3 Qc7 16. d5 Bd7 17. Nd2 b5 18. Qf3 Nh7 19. Qg3 Qd8 20. f4 exf4 21. Rxf4 Qg5
22. Rf3 Qxg3 23. Rxg3 Kh8 24. Rf1 Ne5 25. Bd1 Re7 26. Bf4 f6 27. h4 Be8 28. Be2
Ra4 29. Re3 Nf8 30. Bg3 Kg8 31. c4 Nfd7 32. cxb5 Nb6 33. Rc1 Ra5 34. Be1 Ra4
35. Bf2 Bd7 36. Rg3 Nc8 37. Ra1 Na7 38. b3 Ra5 39. b4 Bxb5 40. bxa5 Bxe2 41.
Rb1 Ba6 42. Rgb3 Nc8 43. Bg3 Ng4 44. h5 Kf7 45. Re1 Ne5 46. Bxe5 Rxe5 47. Nf3
Re7 48. Nh4 Rd7 49. Nf5 Ne7 50. Ne3 Ke8 51. Kf2 Kf8 52. a4 Kf7 53. Reb1 Ke8 54.
g4 Kd8 55. Rc3 Kc7 56. Kf3 Nc8 57. Nc2 Kd8 58. Rc1 Ne7 59. Kf2 Ke8 60. Ne3 Rc7
61. Rb1 Kd8 62. Kf3 Rd7 63. Kf4 Rc7 64. Rcb3 Rd7 65. Ng2 Nc8 66. Kf3 Ke8 67.
Nf4 Rc7 68. Ne6 Re7 69. Kf4 Rd7 70. Ke3 Re7 71. R3b2 Rf7 72. Rf2 Bc4 73. Kd2
Ba2 74. Rb2 Bc4 75. Kc3 Ba6 76. Rb1 Na7 77. Rb6 Nc8 78. Rxa6 bxa6 79. Rb2 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 15th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2017.01.31"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Sutovsky, Emil"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2628"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Sadorra,J"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2017.01.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Hello chess lovers and fans! Now that Tata Steel Super-tournament is over, we
can now focus more on following the fighting and exciting chess happening in
Gibraltar :-D. In round 8, the only decisive game on the top boards that also
affected the leaderboard is the game between the imaginative Israeli GM
Sutovsky and former World Champ GM Topalov.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 {the Caro-Kann
is well-known for its solidity and dynamism, making it a good fighting weapon.}
3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h5 5. Bd3 $5 {this sharp line in the Advance Variation only
started becoming popular in high-level practice in 2014, thanks to the efforts
of GMs Morozevich and Saric.} Bxd3 6. Qxd3 e6 7. Bg5 Be7 ({The most frequently
played line here is} 7... Qb6 8. Nd2 Qa6 9. c4 Bb4 10. b3 {which was tested in
the 4th round between Vocaturo and Caruana.}) 8. Nf3 Nh6 9. Bxh6 Rxh6 10. Nbd2
{Interestingly, this position had been played by Sutovsky 3 months previously,
a game which he nicely won.} Nd7 {I'm sure Topalov is still in his prep as
revealed by his time consumption.} ({Sutovsky's previous game went:} 10... Na6
$6 {the knight has no future here.} 11. c3 c5 12. a3 Rc8 13. b4 cxd4 14. cxd4
Kf8 15. Ke2 g6 16. Qb5 Rc7 17. Rac1 Nb8 18. Nb3 a6 19. Qd3 Kg7 20. Rxc7 Qxc7
21. Rc1 Qd7 22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. bxc5 Nc6 24. Rb1 Rh8 25. Qd2 $1 $16 {1-0 (59)
Sutovsky,E (2625)-David,A (2574) Novi Sad SRB 2016, and White eventually
converted his positional advantages into a win.}) 11. c3 {This normal move can
lead to the same middlegame structure as in the previously mentioned game. It
is also the new deviation according to the databases.} ({The only game played
here before was} 11. g3 c5 12. c4 cxd4 13. cxd5 Qa5 $1 $13 {½-½ (26) Potapov,
P (2485)-Alekseenko,K (2570) Sochi 2016, with a complex game.}) 11... c5 12. a3
Rc8 13. b4 cxd4 14. cxd4 Nb6 $1 {Black has a better version of the middlegame
Sutovsky vs. David owing to the better placement of the knight.} 15. O-O $5 {
"Are you asking me?" replied the brave fighter from Bulgaria.} ({Playing in a
similar fashion as Sutovsky did in his previous game will not be as effective
here:} 15. Ke2 Nc4 16. Rhc1 b5 17. a4 a6 {and Black has no problems.}) ({
A more circumspect try is} 15. g3 Nc4 16. Kf1 (16. O-O) 16... Kf8 {but it's
probably not in Sutovsky's style.}) 15... Bxh4 $1 {Ladies & gentlemen, it is
showtime! :-)} 16. Nxh4 Qxh4 17. Rac1 {"Let me 'show' you what I've got, "
Emil calmly and confidently said.} Qd8 {To which Veselin replied "OK, show me!"
} 18. Qb5+ Qd7 19. Rxc8+ Nxc8 20. Qa5 b6 21. Qa6 {The fighters have exchanged
a series forcing blows, and when the smoke has cleared a little, the verbal
fight ensues:} Ne7 {"You're not taking or threatening anything yet, so let me
just play a natural move here."} 22. Rc1 {"It's coming, just you wait..."} Kd8
$6 {"C'mon, I still don't see it," Veselin tauntingly said. Unfortunately for
him, Veselin didn't sense that he is already drifting into dangerous territory.
..} ({Objectively, it was safer to get the king out of the danger zone with} 
22... f6 $5 23. Nf3 Kf7 {followed by transferring his rook to c8.}) 23. b5 $1 {
"Almost there!" said Emil who craftily played a prohpylactic attacking move.} (
{The hasty} 23. a4 $2 {fails to} Nc6 24. a5 Nxb4 {and Black successfully kicks
out White's annoying queen.}) 23... Nf5 {White to play.} 24. Nb3 $6 {This
solid move was played after a 4-minute thought.} ({Unfortunately for the
Israeli fighter, he missed here a great opportunity to show something real for
the sacrificed pawn that he courageously initiated on move 15:} 24. a4 $3 Nxd4
{Then what?} 25. Kh1 $1 {Of course this calm, cool move has to be foreseen &
planned before venturing into sac-ing another pawn!} Rg6 (25... Rh8 26. a5 $40
{and White's attack crashes through!} Nxb5 (26... bxa5 27. b6 $1) 27. axb6 Ke7
28. Rb1 $18) 26. a5 Rg4 27. g3 $1 {Another calm, patient move that allows
White to stop enemy counterplay and move forward his attack.} Nxb5 {the only
way to try to hold on} 28. axb6 axb6 29. Qa8+ Ke7 30. Rc8 $18 {and Black would
have been helpless in face of White's incoming decisive threats.}) 24... Rh8 {
Veselin hurries to bring his rook to the defence of his imprudent king.} 25. a4
Ke7 26. a5 Rb8 {"I made it!" Veselin said with a huge sigh of relief. The
situation is still complex, and Emil still has compensation owing to his
active pieces. However, now that the queenside is safely secured Emil has to
play more accurately as his compensation will be questioned move by move.} 27.
axb6 $2 {The only clear mistake in the game as it limits White's resources or
allows Black to defend easily. But without enough concrete analysis (and time
of course!), it's difficult to make the right choice here.} (27. Rc6 $1 Qb7 28.
Qxb7+ Rxb7 29. a6 $1 {This is the resource that allows White to keep the
balance.} Rd7 30. Rc8 {and Black cannot make progress:} Rd8 (30... g6 31. Kf1
$11) (30... g5 31. g3 $11 (31. Nc5 $5)) (30... f6 $2 {if Black is ambitious,
White can even get more!} 31. Nc5 bxc5 32. dxc5 d4 33. c6 Rd5 34. b6 d3 35.
bxa7 d2 36. Rc7+ $1 Ke8 (36... Kd8 37. a8=Q+ Kxc7 38. Qb7+ Kd8 39. c7+ $18) 37.
a8=Q+ Rd8 38. Qxd8+ Kxd8 39. Rd7+ $18) 31. Rc7+ Rd7 32. Rc8 $11) 27... axb6 28.
Rc6 Qb7 29. Qa3+ Kd7 {The position has now stabilised, and in the next moves
it is Veselin who will execute his plan and control the game.} 30. g3 Ke8 31.
Qc1 Qe7 (31... Qd7 $5 {preventing rook to c7, but Veselin was probably
concerned about} 32. Qg5 g6 $17 {but White only has ghost threats.}) 32. Rc7
Qd8 33. Qc6+ Kf8 34. Rd7 Qc8 $1 {Trading active pieces and simplifying when up
in material--simple chess!} ({A kingside attack doesn't work as it allows
White enough counterplay after} 34... Qg5 35. Qc7 Ra8 36. Rxf7+ Kg8 37. Qxb6 $1
Kxf7 38. Qb7+ $132) 35. Na5 $2 {Hastens the end. It is either a result of
frustration with losing control of his initiative earlier, or discouragement
for not seeing anything good coming from this position.} ({While it is true
that White is much worse due to lack of compensation, I think he should
nevertheless still have tried to resist and make Black do some technical work
after} 35. Rc7 Qe8 $1 36. Kg2 (36. Rd7 Rc8 37. Qb7 Rc3 38. Rc7 Rxc7 39. Qxc7
Qxb5 $19) 36... Qxc6 37. bxc6 (37. Rxc6 g5 $19) 37... Ne7 38. Kh3 $17 {Black
still needs to make a few more important decisions to convert the advantage,
but Veselin will most probably be up to the task!}) 35... bxa5 36. Rc7 Qd8 37.
b6 Ne7 38. Qc5 a4 $19 {Black is simply a piece up for nothing and has a clear
plan of trading his a-pawn for White's b-pawn.} 39. b7 a3 40. Qd6 a2 41. Rc1
Qxd6 42. exd6 Rxb7 {The rook ending is dead lost, so White resigned. A valiant
effort from both players! I am looking forward to more enterprising battles in
round 9 especially from "Top"alov who has now made his way back to the Top!}
0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 15th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2017.02.02"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Gledura, Benjamin"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2589"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Navara,D"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2017.01.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. g3
Nbd7 9. Qe2 Bb4 10. Bg2 Nb6 11. cxd5 exd5 12. O-O O-O 13. Qd3 Re8 14. a3 Bxc3
15. bxc3 Qd7 16. f3 Na4 17. g4 Re7 18. Rb1 b5 19. Bd2 Rae8 20. Rfe1 Qd6 21. Qc2
Qd7 22. Qd3 a6 23. Re2 Qd6 24. Rbe1 Nb2 25. Qc2 Nc4 {Black's knights are
surprisingly stronger than White's bishops. Besides, the a3-pawn is weak.} 26.
e4 $6 {The attempt to open the position backfires, but White's position was
unenviable in any case.} ({The computer suggests} 26. a4 bxa4 27. Bc1) ({or} 
26. Bc1 {, but such options are appalling rather than appealing.}) 26... dxe4
27. fxe4 c5 $1 {Great move. Black undermines the centre, after which White's
king becomes very weak.} (27... Nxg4 $2 28. e5 {would offer White the desired
counterplay.}) 28. e5 Qb6 29. Kf1 $2 {White's king enters a dangerous zone and
eventually gets punished.} (29. Qd3 cxd4 30. Qxd4 (30. cxd4 Rxe5 $17) 30... Qc7
$5 $17 {is not rosy for White, either. Still, it was the lesser evil.}) 29...
cxd4 30. cxd4 (30. exf6 $2 {loses to} Qxf6+ 31. Rf2 Nxd2+ 32. Qxd2 Rxe1+ $19)
30... Qxd4 31. Bc3 Qf4+ 32. Rf2 (32. Kg1 Nxg4 {was hopeless for White.}) 32...
Ne3+ {There were many roads to Rome, but this one is both pretty and
straightforward.} 33. Rxe3 Qxe3 34. exf6 {It looks as if White were alright,
but...} Qe1+ $1 {forces mate. A beautiful finale!} 0-1

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Lenderman,A"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This is GM Aleksandr Lenderman presenting you round 2 game of the day. Once
again the choice was a no-brainer, since this game by Veselin Topalov is one
of the most beautiful games I've ever seen. So, with great pleasure I will go
through this game with you.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 {One of
the many possible moves for Black here.} 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 (6... Be4 {
is slightly more common, but 6...Bg6 has been played more than once by Topalov,
including in big games, such as the 2016 Candidates in Moscow, against Hikaru
Nakamura.}) 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. Bd3 $5 (8. Rb1 $5 {has been played by Nakamura.}
Nbd7 9. c5 {The point of 8.Rb1. Now White's idea is to play b4 and be able to
protect his space on the queenside.} a5 10. a3 Be7 11. g3 e5 12. Bg2 e4 13. b4
axb4 14. axb4 Nf8 15. b5 Ne6 16. Bd2 O-O 17. Na4 $14 {1-0 (39) Nakamura,H 
(2790)-Topalov,V (2780) Moscow RUS 2016. White won the opening game and then
won the game after the complications. I'm sure Topalov had improvements though.
}) 8... c5 $5 {Quite a rare move, so probably the first small surprise for
Wojtaszek. The only high level game from this position was between Kramnik and
Gelfand from 2005.} 9. Qb3 {Kramnik also played it. Since the game was in 2005,
it's possible that Topalov had even analyzed this position back when he was
preparing for his match against Kramnik.} Qd7 {So far Topalov has played very
quickly.} 10. cxd5 exd5 11. dxc5 Nc6 $146 {According to my database, a novelty,
and a very interesting, dynamic one, not to mention very good. Black is
sacrificing a pawn for the initiative. Now Black has a practical edge, since
he not only has the initiative, but also is probably better prepared than his
opponent in this rare territory.} (11... Bxc5 {was played by Gelfand but he
got a somewhat worse position where he might've had to suffer, had Kramnik
played a bit more precisely.} 12. Qb5 Qxb5 13. Nxb5 Kd7 14. O-O Nc6 15. Rd1 Ke7
16. Bd2 Bb4 17. Nc3 (17. Bxb4+ Nxb4 18. Be2 $14) 17... Rac8 18. Rac1 Rhd8 19.
a3 Bd6 20. Ne2 (20. Be2 $14 {was better for White.}) 20... Ne5 {1/2 (20)
Kramnik,V (2744)-Gelfand,B (2724) Saint Vincent 2005. The game was agreed a
draw here. I still prefer White. Maybe Kramnik clinched a tournament win with
this draw.}) 12. Bd2 {Wojtaszek had his first big think here, for about 15
minutes. He had alternatives here.} (12. Na4 $5 {trying to hold on to the pawn.
} Ne4 $1 13. Bxe4 dxe4 $44 {would lead to good compensation for Black, since
Black has annoying threats like ...Ne5, ...Qg4, and he can castle quickly with
0-0-0, while White's pieces are uncoordinated. White's only move not to be
worse now is...} 14. Nc3 O-O-O (14... f5) 15. Nxe4 Rh4 16. f3 f5 17. Nf2 Bxc5 {
and from a practical stand point of view I prefer Black, even though the
position is dynamically equal.}) (12. Qa3 Qg4 $1 13. Kf1 (13. O-O $4 Rxh2 14.
Kxh2 Qh4+ 15. Kg1 Ng4 $19) (13. g3 Be7 $36) 13... Be7 $44 {with good
compensation for the pawn.}) 12... Bxc5 {Now Black was able to avoid the queen
trade, and therefore avoid the slightly unpleasant endgame.} 13. Rc1 (13. Ne2 {
Might be a little bit more solid.} O-O-O $132) 13... Rd8 (13... d4 $5 14. Na4 (
14. Ne4 dxe3) 14... dxe3 15. Nxc5 exd2+ 16. Kxd2 Qd6 17. Rhe1+ Kf8 18. Nxb7
Qf4+ 19. Kd1 Ne5 20. Nd6 Qd4 21. Rxe5 Qxd6 {with very complex play. Of course
this is just a sample line and not all the moves are forced here.}) 14. Na4 ({
Again} 14. Ne2 {might be safer, but Wojtaszek is an ambitious player.}) 14...
Bd6 15. Nc5 Bxc5 16. Rxc5 d4 $6 {This move helped Topalov win an excellent
game, but perhaps objectively it's slightly inaccurate.} (16... Kf8 $5 {
keeps the balance. Naturally Black doesn't want to castle since he doesn't
want to give up control of the h-file.}) (16... g5) (16... Ne4 {are also
viable alternatives.}) 17. Bb5 $2 {But this move is probably asking more from
the position than it can offer. White is moving the same piece twice, and
falling behind on development and allowing an initiative is very dangerous,
especially against Topalov.} (17. e4 $14 {I'm not completely sure what Black's
plan was against the simple e4. Black's knights don't have a good outpost
square, and in the long run, White's two bishops and strong centre should
prove a nice advantage, while the bishop on d3 blocks the passed pawn on d4,
and it can't be dislodged easily.} Ng4 18. Rd5 Qc7 19. h3 {Is better for White.
}) 17... O-O $1 {Playing for the initiative.} 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. f3 $6 {
Mistakes often come in pairs. When White played the move 17.Bb5, he left
behind the key e4-square, and now tries to cover that mistake up by defending
it. But here we have a classical situation where the cure is worse than the
disease. Black doesn't have ...Ne4 anymore, but now White's king is fatally
weakened.} (19. Qc2 {still kept White in the game.} Ne4 $1 20. Re5 $1 (20. Qxe4
dxe3 21. Qxe3 Rfe8 22. O-O Rxe3 23. Bxe3 $17 {might also offer White drawing
chances.}) 20... Rfe8 21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. O-O d3 23. Qd1 $15 {And even though
Black is better with his strong passed pawn on d3, White is still in the game.}
) 19... Qe7 (19... Rb8 20. Qa3 dxe3 21. Bxe3 Nd5 22. O-O Nxe3 23. Qxe3 Rxb2 $17
{was also very promising for Black.}) 20. Rc2 (20. Rxc6 dxe3 21. Bb4 Qd7 22.
Rd6 Qc7 23. Qc3 Qb8 24. Qd4 Nd5 $1 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 26. Ba5 Nb6 $17 {is very
dangerous for White. Here the e3 pawn is very strong.}) 20... Nd5 21. Kf2 Rb8
22. Qa3 Rxb2 $5 {A very nice exchange sacrifice which shatters White's
defences and from here on White is under heavy pressure. The only reason I
don't give this move a double exclamation point is because objectively there
were other good solutions for Black here, arguably even a bit better.} (22...
Qh4+ $1 23. g3 dxe3+ 24. Bxe3 Qh3 $40 {would've also been very strong for
Black but this isn't so obvious from far away. However, here White is kind of
stuck to come up with a good plan.}) 23. Qxb2 $1 (23. Qxe7 $6 Rxc2 {was
Black's point.} 24. Qe5 Rxd2+ 25. Kg3 Nxe3 26. Kh3 Nxg2 {Black ends up getting
a rook, knight, and two pawns for the queen, and also a very strong initiative
against the White king. White is lost.}) 23... dxe3+ 24. Bxe3 Qxe3+ 25. Kg3 $2
{The final mistake.} (25. Kf1 {still kept White in the game:} Nf4 $1 {Stopping
Re2. Here the king looks very bad, but still White can try to defend here, for
example...} 26. Qc3 Qb6 $1 {Otherwise White is fine.} 27. Qb3 (27. Qb2 Qa6+ 28.
Kg1 Nd3 29. Qb3 Re8 $36) 27... Qd4 $1 28. Qc4 $1 {Giving back some material to
get rid of the dangerous initiative.} Qd1+ 29. Kf2 Nd3+ 30. Kg3 Qxh1 31. Qxd3
Qe1+ 32. Kh3 Qe6+ 33. Kg3 $17 {is the best line for both sides according to
Stockfish 8. Black has good winning chances of course with the extra pawn, but
White can still put up a good defense.}) 25... Qf4+ (25... Qg5+ {was also good:
} 26. Kf2 Nf4 27. g3 (27. Kf1 Re8 $19) 27... Nd3+) 26. Kf2 (26. Kh3 $2 g5 {
is mate in a few moves.}) 26... Rb8 $1 {The last piece joins the fray. Without
this move, Black is not even better. Now, however, Black's attack is
unstoppable. A typical situation when three pieces attack the exposed king and
the king can't defend succesfully.} 27. Qc1 Qd4+ 28. Kg3 Ne3 $19 29. Rc5 (29.
Rd2 Nf5+ 30. Kh3 Qh4#) 29... Rb2 30. Rg1 Rxa2 31. h3 Qd6+ 32. f4 Qd3 33. Kh2
Qe4 34. Rg5 Rc2 {And White resigned since he's about to lose the f4-pawn and
Black will have both a material advantage and an unstoppable attack, which
will lead to more and bigger material gains. Beautiful game by Topalov. I love
the move 22...Rxb2! since from a practical standpoint of view it's very strong
even if objectively it's not the best. The reason is, it becomes much more
difficult for the opponent to play when he has to defend against the
initiative. Also a very nice opening surprise by Topalov which led to a fresh
position, a dynamic position, where Topalov feels in his comfort zone, and
also a position, which Wojtaszek hadn't had a chance to analyse deeply since
it was so rare. Wojtaszek normally has excellent opening preparation, since he
helped Anand a few times in his World Championship matches. So, outpreparing
him is already a big accomplishment in itself.} 0-1

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 Ne4 7. Bd2 Bf6 8. Qc2
Nxd2 9. Qxd2 {Delaying castling in this system was advocated by Karpov in his
best years. It could help by creating kingside threats, or allow White to
castle long after stabilising the queenside.} d6 10. h4 $146 {This thematic
move is usually played after the centre is blocked, but in this position is a
novelty.} ({The main move is} 10. d5 {Topalov had tried it a few years earlier.
} Bxc3 ({An old Karpov game went} 10... O-O 11. Nd4 e5 12. Nc6 Qd7 13. Nxb8
Rfxb8 14. h4 a5 15. a4 Rf8 16. e4 h5 17. O-O-O {with one-sided play in Karpov,
A (2760)-Jussupow,A (2630) Tilburg 1993 CBM 039 [Dautov] (1-0, 57)}) 11. Qxc3
O-O 12. Nd2 Re8 13. e3 c5 14. O-O exd5 15. cxd5 Nd7 {Topalov,V (2784)-Grischuk,
A (2789) Bilbao 2014 CBM 163 [Stohl,I] (½-½, 74), with satisfactory play for
Black.}) 10... Nd7 11. Rd1 {With the centre still flexible White gives up the
plan of castling long, but keeps his king in the centre to inhibit ...g7-g6 in
view of h4-h5. The last move takes measures against the breaks with ...e6-e5
and ...c7-c5, but may prove useful if White plays d4-d5.} O-O 12. Qc2 {[%csl
Rb7,Rh7][%cal Gf3g5,Gf6g5,Gh4g5] Threatening to win a piece with 13.Ng5 Bxg5
14.hxg5.} c6 $5 {Timman,J (2625)-Polugaevsky,L (2625) Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee
1979 (8) 0-1 A flexible move, parrying the threat and preparing a slow
expansion with ...a7-a6 and ...b6-b5, but keeping other options as well. It
reminds me of} (12... Rb8 {allows the slight kingside weakening:} 13. Ng5 g6
14. Bxb7 Rxb7 15. Nf3 {[%cal Ge1f1,Gf1g2,Gh4h5]}) (12... Re8 {is less
committal but also less ambitious than the text:} 13. e4 (13. Ng5 $2 Bxg2 14.
Qxh7+ Kf8 $19) 13... e5 14. d5 a5 {This structure is typical for the whole
variation, but having delayed castling helps, as Bh3 and h4-h5 make part of
White's general plan. The king could later go to g2.}) 13. e4 Qc7 14. Ng5 {
[%csl Gh7][%cal Ge4e5]} e5 15. d5 h6 16. Nf3 a6 {Black consequently carries
out his plan, while White is a bit behind in development due to the time
losses caused by the queen and knight.} 17. dxc6 {The start of an ambitious
plan.} (17. O-O b5 $5 (17... cxd5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Rxd5 b5 20. Rc1 {offers
White chances for an advantage due to his control on the light squares:} Nb6
21. Rdd1 Qxc4 (21... bxc4 22. Nd2 Rac8 23. Bh3 $16) (21... Nxc4 $2 22. b3 $18)
22. Qxc4 Nxc4 23. b3 Na5 24. Rxd6 $36) 18. dxc6 Qxc6 19. Nd5 Bd8 $11) 17...
Qxc6 18. Bf1 $5 {It takes guts to play such a move with the king in the centre.
Topalov obviously wanted to prevent ...b6-b5.} (18. Qd3 b5 19. Qxd6 Nc5 20.
Qxc6 Bxc6 $44 {[%csl Gc4,Ge1,Ge4]}) 18... Rfc8 $6 {Slightly inaccurate.} ({
Black should have hurried to transfer the knight closer to the d4-square.} 
18... Nc5 19. b4 ({The same plan as indicated below leads to fiasco:} 19. g4
Bd8 20. g5 h5 21. g6 fxg6 {[%csl Gd4,Gf4][%cal Gf8f3,Gc5e6]}) 19... Ne6 $11)
19. a4 ({Missing the chance to take over the initiative with} 19. g4 $5 Bd8 20.
g5 h5 21. g6 $5 ({The more neutral} 21. Bh3 g6 22. Qd2 Be7 23. Qe3 {also looks
promising.}) 21... fxg6 22. Bh3 $36) 19... Nc5 20. Nd2 Ne6 21. Qb1 Nd4 22. Bh3
Rf8 23. Rc1 $2 {White wastes too much time. He probably wanted to inhibit ...
b6-b5, but it would have been more important to prepare to exchange the
central knight:} (23. Qd3 $1 Bd8 24. O-O f5 ({Of course, Black could play
solidly with, say,} 24... Qc5 {but then he would not have chances for an
advantage.}) 25. Nf3 $1 {In the game White will not have this resource.} Nb3 (
25... Nxf3+ 26. Qxf3 $16 fxe4 $2 27. Be6+) 26. Qxd6 Nd4 27. Rxd4 (27. Qxc6
Nxf3+ 28. Kg2 Nxh4+ 29. gxh4 Bxc6 30. Rd6 $13) 27... exd4 28. Qxc6 Bxc6 29.
Nxd4 Bxe4 30. Nxe4 fxe4 31. Be6+ Kh8 32. Bd5 Rc8 33. b3 $44) 23... Bd8 24. O-O
f5 $1 ({The other thematic break clears space for White's pieces:} 24... b5 25.
axb5 axb5 26. cxb5 Nxb5 27. Nxb5 Qxb5 28. Nc4 Bc7 29. Rfd1 $11) 25. Kh2 f4 {
Black has excellent attacking chances while White has no constructive idea.} (
25... g5 $5) 26. Qd3 Kh8 (26... Qe8 $5 {[%cal Ge8h5]}) 27. b3 Bc8 28. Bxc8 Qxc8
29. Ne2 Nxe2 30. Qxe2 {White has exchanged the active knight but this does not
make his king's situation safer.} Ra7 $1 {A thematic way of connecting rooks.}
31. Rc3 b5 ({Playing on two wings but the immediate} 31... Raf7 {was also
strong.}) 32. Rd3 bxa4 33. bxa4 Raf7 34. Rxd6 Bxh4 $1 35. Rd5 (35. gxh4 f3 36.
Qe3 Rf4 $19) 35... f3 $2 {Since Black will not be able to deliver mate on g2,
the last move reduces his attacking potential.} (35... Qe6 $1 36. a5 Be7 $17 {
Pawns are equal but Black is better regrouped and the white king is weak.
Curiously, the permanent threat of ...fxg3+ is likely to put White in zugzwang
with a lot of pieces on board!!} 37. c5 Kh7 $3 {Alekhine,A-Nimzowitsch,A San
Remo 1930 (3) 1-0 Creating the zugzwang. Compare with the famous} (37... fxg3+
{is premature.} 38. fxg3 Rxf1 39. Nxf1 Qf6 40. Kg2 $11) 38. Qd1 fxg3+ 39. fxg3
Rxf1 40. Nxf1 Qf6 $19) 36. Qd3 Qg4 37. Rh1 Bg5 38. c5 (38. Rxe5 $5) 38... Rb8 (
38... Bxd2 39. Qxd2 Qxe4 40. Re1 Qxa4 41. Rdxe5 $44 {The extra pawn is not
significant and the c-pawn is strong.}) 39. Nc4 Rfb7 $6 ({Black could have
strengthened his attack with} 39... Bf4 $1 {requiring from White a long series
of only moves to save the game:} 40. Rd8+ ({Black's idea is revealed after} 40.
Nb6 $2 Bxg3+ 41. fxg3 Qh5+ 42. Kg1 f2+ 43. Kg2 Qxh1+ 44. Kxh1 f1=Q+ 45. Qxf1
Rxf1+ 46. Kg2 Rc1 $17) 40... Rxd8 41. Qxd8+ Kh7 42. Nd6 $1 {[%cal Gd8c8]} (42.
c6 $2 Bxg3+ 43. fxg3 Qxe4 $19) 42... Bxg3+ 43. fxg3 Rf6 {[%cal Gg4h5]} (43...
Qh5+ 44. Qh4) 44. Qc8 $1 Qg5 45. Nc4 {[%csl Gd2,Ge3] It is Black's turn to
find a way of forcing a draw.} Rf4 {[%cal Gf4e4,Gf4h4]} 46. Ne3 Rf6 47. Nc4 $11
{with a draw by repetition.}) 40. Nb6 Rxb6 $2 {Black will not get enough
compensation for the exchange.} (40... Bf4 {would still have kept White under
pressure and probably maintained even chances. For instance} 41. Qf1 (41. Qxa6
Qh5+ 42. Kg1 Qg6 $11 {[%csl Ge4]}) 41... Qg6 42. gxf4 Qxe4 $44 {[%csl Gd5,Gh2]}
) 41. cxb6 Rxb6 42. Rxe5 Bh4 43. Qc3 Rg6 44. Qe1 $18 {White's position is not
too harmonious but he has parried the threats keeping a clear extra exchange
and a dangerous passed pawn.} Bg5 45. Rf5 Rd6 46. Rf8+ Kh7 47. e5 Rd3 48. e6
Be7 49. Rf4 Qh5+ 50. Kg1 Qd5 51. Qe4+ Qxe4 52. Rxe4 Kg6 53. Kh2 Rd2 54. Rf1 Kf5
55. Re3 Kg4 56. Kg1 g5 57. Rc1 Ra2 58. Kf1 Rxa4 59. Rc7 Bb4 60. Rc4+ (60. Rc4+
Kf5 61. Rxb4 Rxb4 62. e7) 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2018.04.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C83"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2814"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2018.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 64] After the first 3 rounds with only draws, this is the game which
finally managed to break the deadlock in Shamkir, with Topalov scoring a full
point against the home-crowd favourite. And an exciting encounter it was, full
of complications and tactical turns!} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6
5. O-O Nxe4 {Topalov had a lion's share of the decisive results in Shamkir,
unfortunately for him after two initial wins he finished badly, adding only
zeroes to his scoresheet. Two of them came in the last two rounds, after} (5...
Bc5 6. c3 O-O 7. d4 Ba7 8. Re1 ({The most ambitious and complex move here is} 
8. Bg5 {Sutovsky,E (2619)-Bartel,M (2631) Biel 2015 Those willing to take it
up should study Sutovsky's revealing notes to his win with Bartel in CBM 168.})
8... b5 9. Bb3 d6 10. h3 Bb7 11. a4 Ne7 12. Bc2 Ng6 13. Na3 c6 14. Bd3 Re8 15.
Nc2 h6 16. dxe5 $6 ({Opening the a7-g1 diagonal straight away lands White in
an uncomfortable position. His opening hadn't been a success, but with e.g.} 
16. axb5 axb5 17. Be3 $11 {, or the immediate}) (16. Be3 $11 {he still holds
the balance and has little to fear.}) 16... dxe5 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. Nxe3 Nf4 19.
Bc2 Qc7 20. Nf5 Rad8 21. Qc1 Bc8 22. Nh2 $6 (22. Ne3 $15) 22... Bxf5 23. exf5
e4 $1 24. axb5 axb5 25. Nf1 c5 26. b3 Nd3 $17 {[%csl Gd3] /-+, Topalov,V (2749)
-Wojtaszek,R (2744) Shamkir 2018}) 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Be3 {
The open Ruy Lopez is quite rare in Mamedyarov's games and must have been at
least a slight surprise for Veselin, so he decides to sidestep Shakh's
preparation and avoid a battle in the main line.} ({Until now he has played
exclusively} 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 {, after} Be7 11. Bc2 d4 12. Nb3 d3 13. Bb1
Nxb3 14. axb3 Bf5 {we are at the first theoretical crossroads:} 15. Be3 (15.
Re1 O-O 16. b4 (16. Be3 {transposes to 15.Be3.}) 16... Qd7 17. h3 Rfd8 18. g4 (
18. Bf4 a5 19. bxa5 Rxa5 20. Rxa5 Nxa5 21. Nd4 g5 22. b4 Nc4 23. Bc1 d2 24.
Bxf5 dxe1=Q+ 25. Qxe1 Qd5 26. e6 Qe5 27. exf7+ Kxf7 28. Be4 Re8 29. Nf3 Qe6 30.
Nd4 $44 {/=, Svidler,P (2745)-Mamedyarov,S (2743) Reykjavik 2015}) 18... Bg6 $1
(18... Be6 $2 19. Bf4 $16 {[%cal Ye1e3]}) {White somewhat more often starts
with} 19. Ba2 (19. Bf4 {and now:} {Black has even better results with the more
active} a5 $5 (19... Qc8 20. Ba2 (20. e6 fxe6 21. Ba2 Bf7 22. Ng5 Bxg5 23. Bxg5
Rd6 24. Qf3 Qf8 (24... Qd7 25. Bf4 d2 26. Red1 Rd8 27. Bxd6 Qxd6 28. Bb3 $14)
25. Rad1 e5 26. Bxf7+ Qxf7 27. Rxd3 Qxf3 28. Rxf3 h6 $11 {Schakel,C (2408)
-Tinture,L (2452) email 2017}) 20... a5 21. e6 f6 22. bxa5 Nxa5 23. b4 Nc4 24.
Bxc4 bxc4 (24... Rxa1 25. Qxa1 Qb7 26. Nd2 Ra8 27. Ba2 Qa7 28. Nb3 Qxa2 29.
Qxa2 Rxa2 30. Nd4 c5 31. Nc6 Kf8 $11) 25. Nd2 c5 $6 (25... Qb7 $142 $1 $132)
26. b5 $1 Be8 27. Rxa8 Qxa8 28. b6 Bc6 29. Bc7 Rd5 {Harikrishna,P (2755)-Ding,
L (2778) Danzhou 2016} 30. Qa1 $1 $16 {For more details see the notes to this
game in CBM 174 by Kr.Szabo.}) 20. bxa5 Rxa5 21. Ba2 Rf8 22. e6 (22. b4 Ra4 23.
e6 (23. Qd2 $6 Nd8 24. Bg5 c5 $36 {Caruana,F (2805)-Giri,A (2773) Stavanger
2015 See the notes to this game in CBM 167 by Ramirez Alvarez.}) 23... Qd8 24.
exf7+ Kh8 25. Bd2 h6 26. Be6 Rxa1 27. Qxa1 Bxf7 28. Bxf7 Rxf7 29. Re3 Qd5 30.
Qf1 $1 Rxf3 31. Qg2 Ne5 32. Rxe5 Qxe5 33. Qxf3 Qd6 34. Qe4 $11 {½, Tesic,Z 
(2406)-Walter,G (2455) email 2016}) 22... Qd8 23. exf7+ Kh8 24. Qd2 Qa8 25. Nd4
Nxd4 26. cxd4 Bh4 27. Bd5 Qxd5 28. Rxa5 Qxf7 29. Rxb5 h6 30. Bg3 Bxg3 31. fxg3
Qd7 32. Rbe5 Qxd4+ $44 33. Qe3 (33. R5e3 Rf6 34. Qc3 Qb6 35. Qd2 $11 {½,
Sherwood,H (2313)-Sanchez,M (2329) email 2016}) 33... Qxb2 34. h4 Qc2 $44 {
½, Malashenkov,A (2432)-De Jong,J mail 2017}) 19... Qc8 20. e6 (20. Be3 a5 21.
e6 f6 22. bxa5 Nxa5 23. Bc5 Nc6 24. Nd4 Nxd4 25. Bxe7 d2 26. Re3 Rxa2 27. Rxa2
Nf3+ $1 28. Kf1 (28. Rxf3 $2 Bc2 $19) 28... Nh2+ (28... Bc2 $2 29. Bxd8 Bxd1
30. e7) 29. Kg1 $11 {½, Gritsaenko,V (2466)-Walter,G (2452) email 2016}) (20.
Bg5 a5 21. bxa5 Bxg5 22. Nxg5 Nxa5 23. e6 Nc4 24. exf7+ Bxf7 25. Nxf7 Kxf7 26.
Re4 c5 27. Re3 Rxa2 28. Rf3+ Kg8 29. Rxa2 d2 30. b3 Qe6 31. Ra1 Na5 32. c4 Qe5
33. Kg2 Nb7 34. Rb1 Qe4 35. Rb2 {½, Begliy,M (2438)-Walter,G (2452) email 2016
} Qe1 36. Rb1 Qe4 $11 {[%cal Re4b1]}) (20. Bf4 {transposes to Harikrishna-Ding
Liren above.}) 20... f6 21. g5 $5 $146 (21. Nh4 a5 22. bxa5 Rxa5 23. b4 Ra6 24.
Bf4 Qa8 25. Qd2 (25. Nxg6 $5 hxg6 26. Bxc7 Rc8 27. Ba5 Nxa5 28. Qxd3 Nc4 29.
Qxg6 Rxa2 30. Qf7+ $11) 25... Qa7 {Shirov,A (2689)-Mamedyarov,S (2743)
Reykjavik 2015 This was Mamedyarov's previous experience with the Open Ruy,
here} 26. Be3 $11 {would have still held the balance.}) 21... a5 22. gxf6 gxf6
23. Nh4 axb4 24. Qg4 f5 25. Qg3 d2 26. Bxd2 Bxh4 27. Qxh4 Rxd2 28. e7+ Rxa2 29.
Rxa2 bxc3 30. Qg3 Nxe7 31. Rxe7 Rd1+ 32. Kh2 Qb7 33. Qg2 Qxg2+ 34. Kxg2 Bf7 35.
Ra8+ Kg7 36. bxc3 Kf6 37. Rxf7+ Kxf7 38. Ra7 $11 {Gerasimov,V (2509)-Walter,G 
(2452) email 2016}) 15... O-O 16. Bd4 Qd5 17. Re1 Rfd8 ({Black is also close
to equality after} 17... d2 18. Re2 Bxb1 19. Rxb1 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 Bg5 21. g3 c5
22. Nf5 Qd3 23. Nd6 Qg6 24. h4 Bxh4 25. Rxd2 Be7) 18. h4 $5 {became
fashionable two years ago when Caruana used it to defeat Hou Yifan. Postal
players have meanwhile found effective antidotes:} ({The older continuation} 
18. Re3 Nxd4 19. cxd4 c5 20. Bxd3 cxd4 21. Re2 {was tested by Topalov more
than 20 years ago:} Qe6 (21... Bxd3 $5 22. Qxd3 Rac8 $13 {V.Mikhalevski}) 22.
h3 Rac8 (22... Rd5 23. Ne1 a5 24. Bxf5 Qxf5 25. Nd3 h5 26. Rc2 f6 27. exf6 Bxf6
28. Qe2 $36 {Topalov,V (2745)-Piket,J (2630) Antwerp 1997}) 23. Ne1 Rc6 {
Svidler,P (2735)-Motylev,A (2651) Moscow 2004} 24. Qb1 (24. Bxf5 Qxf5 25. Nd3
h5 $11) 24... Bxd3 25. Qxd3 h6 26. f4 Qc8 $132 {Svidler,P (2735)-Motylev,A 
(2651) Moscow 2004}) 18... Nxd4 (18... Bg6 $6 19. b4 d2 20. Qxd2 Bxb1 21. Raxb1
Bxb4 22. Qf4 Be7 23. e6 fxe6 24. Qg4 Nxd4 25. Nxd4 Bf6 26. Nxe6 Rd7 27. Re3 $36
{Caruana,F (2804)-Hou,Y (2663) Shamkir 2016 For more details about the whole
line see the extensive notes to this game in CBM 173.}) (18... h6 19. Re3 (19.
Bxd3 Bxd3 20. Qxd3 Qxb3 (20... Bc5 $5 $132) 21. e6 Bf6 $1 $11) 19... Bc5 $5 (
19... Nxd4 20. Nxd4 Bg6 21. b4 c5 22. bxc5 Bxc5 23. Ba2 $36) 20. Bxc5 Qxc5 21.
Bxd3 b4 (21... Bxd3 22. Rxd3 Rxd3 23. Qxd3 Nxe5 24. Qe4 $14) 22. e6 Bxe6 23.
Qe2 bxc3 24. bxc3 Bxb3 25. Re1 f5 26. h5 Bf7 27. Qc2 $44 {Iotov,V (2546)
-Williamson,H (2499) email 2013}) (18... d2 19. Qxd2 (19. Re2 Nxd4 20. Nxd4
Bxb1 21. Rxb1 Bxh4 22. Nf3 Be7 23. Rxd2 Qe4 24. Qe1 Qxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Rxd2 26.
Nxd2 Rd8 $11 {Conde Poderoso,A (2347)-Martin Vazquez,J (2283) email 2017})
19... Nxd4 $5 (19... Bxb1 20. Raxb1 Qxb3 21. e6 fxe6 22. Qf4 Bd6 23. Qg4 e5 $14
{/=}) 20. Qxd4 Qxb3 21. Qf4 Bxb1 22. Raxb1 c5 $132 {½ Broniek,M (2431)
-Boldysh,M (2384) email 2016}) 19. Nxd4 Be4 20. b4 (20. Qg4 Bg6 21. b4 d2 22.
Rd1 Bxb1 23. Raxb1 Qxe5 24. Rxd2 (24. Nc6 Qd6 25. Nxd8 Rxd8 26. Ra1 g6 27. Qg3
Qe6 28. Qxc7 Rd6 29. h5 Bf8 30. Qb7 Bh6 $44 {Apicella,M (2304)-Hofstetter,H 
(2387) email 2016}) 24... Qf6 25. Re2 (25. g3 c5 26. bxc5 Bxc5 27. b4 Bb6 $11 {
Stroemberg,H (2364)-Nenneman,D (2000) email 2017}) 25... Bxb4 26. Ne6 fxe6 27.
Rxe6 Qf7 28. cxb4 Rd2 29. Re2 h5 30. Qe4 Rad8 $132 {Bergmanolson,M (2284)
-Panman,H (2319) email 2016}) 20... c5 21. Ba2 $5 (21. bxc5 Bxc5 22. Qg4 Bxd4
23. Rxe4 Bxe5 24. Ba2 Qd6 25. Qh5 Bh2+ 26. Kf1 Qf6 27. Re3 g6 28. Qg4 Qf4 29.
Qf3 Qxf3 30. Rxf3 Be5 31. Rxf7 Kh8 $11 {Zugrav,W (2567)-Hofstetter,H (2387)
email 2016}) 21... c4 22. Qg4 Bg6 23. h5 d2 24. Red1 Bd3 25. h6 g6 26. Qf4 $13
{/+/= is still waiting for practical tests.}) 9... Be7 10. c3 O-O ({After} 
10... Nc5 11. Bc2 Nd7 {, the pawn sacrifice} 12. Nd4 $5 Ndxe5 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14.
Nd2 $44 {is really dangerous and Black tends to avoid it - there haven't been
any relevant games in this branch since 2016.}) 11. Nbd2 Nxd2 {A line, which
features older (even way back to the 19-th century!), as well as recent games.}
({In the notes to Caruana-Hou Yifan I concentrated on} 11... Qd7 {and taking
on d2 only on the following move. While being similar, there are some slight
diffferences between these branches, e.g. our game will show Black's Q can
have a different future.} {After} 12. Re1 {Black, apart from taking on d2
followed by Na5, has also} (12. Bc2 Nxd2 13. Qxd2 Bg4 14. Bf4 Bxf3 15. gxf3
Rad8 16. Rad1 ({After} 16. Rfd1 Qe6 17. Qe3 {Hou,Y (2673)-Muzychuk,M (2554)
WChW Lvov 2016} {Black's play can be improved with} Na5 $1 18. b3 c5 $13) 16...
Rfe8 17. Rfe1 g6 18. Bg3 Qh3 (18... Bf8 $142 $5 19. Qg5 Qe6 20. Kg2 Ne7 $13)
19. f4 Bh4 20. a4 $1 Ne7 21. Qe2 c6 22. Qe3 Nf5 23. Bxf5 gxf5 24. Bxh4 (24. Qb6
$2 Re6 25. Re3 Qg4 26. Rd2 Be7 $36 {[%csl Rg3][%cal Rh7h4] Paehtz,E (2464)
-Muzychuk,A (2582) Huaian rpd 2017}) 24... Qxh4 25. axb5 axb5 26. Qg3+ $14 (26.
Kh1 $5 $14)) 12... Rad8 13. Bc2 Bf5 $5 14. Nxe4 Bxe4 15. Bxe4 (15. Ng5 Bxg5 16.
Bxg5 Qf5 $1 17. Bxe4 (17. Rxe4 Qxg5 18. h4 Qh6 19. Rg4 Nxe5 20. Rg5 Qf6 21.
Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. Qh5+ Kg8 23. Rxe5 d4 24. cxd4 Rxd4 $15 {Fons Cervero,F-Sorin,A 
(2415) Olot 1992}) 17... Qxg5 18. Bd3 Nxe5 19. h4 Qf6 20. Bxh7+ Kxh7 21. Qh5+
Kg8 22. Qxe5 Qxe5 23. Rxe5 Rfe8 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Kf1 Kf8 26. a4 Re4 $11 {
Shirov,A (2651)-Tomczak,M (2394) Karlsruhe 2018}) 15... dxe4 16. Qxd7 Rxd7 17.
e6 fxe6 18. Nd2 Ne5 19. Nxe4 Nd3 20. Re2 Rf5 21. Kf1 Kf7 22. Rd2 c5 23. f3 c4
24. Ke2 h6 25. b3 Ba3 26. Rc2 Bc5 27. Rb1 Bxe3 28. Kxe3 cxb3 29. axb3 Nc5 $11 {
Leko,P (2735)-Akopian,V (2694) Astrakhan 2010}) 12. Qxd2 (12. Bxd2 {seems
unnatural, Black equalized rather easily after} Qd7 13. Re1 Rad8 14. Bg5 Bg4
15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Bc2 d4 17. Qd3 g6 18. Nxd4 Nxd4 19. cxd4 Bf5 20. Qb3 Bxc2 21.
Qxc2 Rxd4 22. Qc6 Qe6 23. Qxc7 Rc8 24. Qa7 Rd2 25. b4 Rcc2 26. h3 Qf5 27. e6
Qxf2+ 28. Qxf2 Rxf2 29. e7 Rxg2+ $11 {½, So,W (2775)-Ding,L (2778) Shanghai
2016}) 12... Na5 13. Bc2 ({Retreating the B is very natural, but as in the
game Black solved his opening problems, maybe it's time to have a better look
at} 13. Nd4 $5 c5 (13... Nc4 14. Nxe6 (14. Bxc4 dxc4 $5 15. Rfd1 Bd7 16. a4
bxa4 17. Qe2 Qc8 18. Qxc4 c5 19. Nf3 h6 20. e6 Bxe6 21. Qxa4 Qb7 22. Rd2 Rfd8
23. Rad1 Rxd2 24. Rxd2 Qb5 $11 {Bauer,C (2647)-Anton Guijarro,D (2651)
Heraklio 2017}) 14... fxe6 15. Qe2 Nxe3 16. Qxe3 c5 17. Bc2 {[%csl Gc2,Re7]
The position with the ^- is deceptively simple, but White's attacking chances
shouldn't be underrated:} g6 18. g3 c4 19. h4 Rf7 20. Kg2 Rc8 21. Rad1 b4 22.
f4 Qa5 23. h5 $36 {Swiercz,D (2649)-Petrosyan,M (2546) Minsk 2017}) 14. Nxe6
fxe6 15. Bc2 Nc4 16. Qd3 (16. Qe2 $5 Nxe3 (16... Nxe5 17. Bd2 Qd6 18. Rae1 Ng6
19. Qxe6+ Qxe6 20. Rxe6 $14) 17. Qxe3 {can transpose into Swiercz-Petrosyan.})
16... g6 17. Bh6 Re8 18. Qh3 Bg5 19. Bxg5 Qxg5 20. f4 Qe7 21. b3 Na3 22. Bd1 a5
23. Rc1 c4 24. Qg3 Rf8 25. h4 cxb3 26. axb3 a4 $132 {Barbosa,E (2518)-Diaz
Hernandez,H (2388) Lima 2018}) ({Other moves give Black reasonable counterplay
after recapturing on c4 with the b-pawn:} 13. Bg5 Nc4 14. Bxc4 bxc4 15. b4 cxb3
16. axb3 a5 17. Ra4 Bxg5 18. Nxg5 h6 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. Rfa1 Rb8 21. R1a3 c5 22.
h3 Qc7 23. f4 Rb5 24. Kh2 Qb6 25. Qd1 Qc6 26. Ra2 Kh8 27. Qg4 Rxb3 28. Rxa5 d4
$132 {Yu,Y (2738)-Najer,E (2659) Moscow 2017}) (13. Rfd1 Nc4 14. Bxc4 bxc4 15.
b4 (15. Nd4 Qd7 16. f4 c5 17. Nf3 Rfb8 18. Qf2 Rb5 19. b3 cxb3 20. c4 b2 21.
Rab1 Rb7 22. cxd5 Bxd5 23. Bxc5 {Hunt,A (2288)-Naes,F (2222) Port Erin 1999}
Qb5 $1 24. Bxe7 Bxa2 25. Ba3 Qb3 26. Bxb2 Bxb1 27. Rxb1 Rab8 $17) 15... cxb3
16. axb3 a5 17. Bg5 c5 18. Ra4 d4 19. Ra3 Bxg5 20. Nxg5 dxc3 21. Qc1 Qe7 22.
Nxe6 fxe6 23. Qxc3 Rfd8 24. Rda1 Rd5 $132 {Navara,D (2708)-Polgar,J (2682)
Prague 2010}) 13... Nc4 14. Qd3 g6 15. Bh6 {[%mdl 512] The pawn-sacrifice is
far from clear, but consistent.} ({Black readily equalizes after the softer} 
15. Bc1 Bf5 (15... f6 $5 16. Nd4 Qd7 17. exf6 Bxf6 18. a4 c5 19. Nxe6 Qxe6 20.
f4 Nd6 21. axb5 axb5 22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23. f5 Nxf5 24. Qxb5 Ne3 25. Bxe3 Qxe3+ 26.
Kh1 Bg5 $11 {Beth,N (2145)-Vuillemin,G (2178) email 2010}) 16. Qe2 Bxc2 17.
Qxc2 f6 18. Bh6 (18. e6 Re8 19. b3 Ne5 20. Nd4 Bc5 21. Kh1 Qd6 22. Bf4 Qb6 23.
Rfe1 Bxd4 24. cxd4 Nc6 25. Qc3 b4 26. Qd2 Nd8 27. e7 Ne6 28. Be3 Rxe7 $17 {
Korneev,O (2465)-Haba,P (2515) Bad Woerishofen 1992}) 18... Re8 19. Rae1 fxe5
20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. Rxe5 Bf6 22. Rxe8+ Qxe8 23. Be3 Qe6 24. Ra1 Re8 25. h3 Qe4
$11 26. Qd2 Be7 27. Bf4 Bd8 28. Be3 Be7 29. Bf4 Bd8 30. Be3 {½, Doehner,H 
(2252)-Richter,W (2036) email 2009}) 15... Nxb2 {Black is also consistent.} (
15... Re8 16. b3 Na3 (16... Bf5 17. Qe2 Bxc2 18. Qxc2 Nb6 19. Rfe1 c5 20. Rad1
Rc8 21. Qd2 Rc6 22. h4 Re6 23. Qf4 Qc7 24. Qg4 a5 25. a3 Qb7 26. h5 $13 {
/+/=, Aronin,L-Milev,Z Moscow (Central CC) 1959}) 17. Bd1 Bf5 18. Qd2 c5 19.
Be2 Qb6 20. Qb2 (20. Rad1 $5 $14) 20... b4 21. cxb4 cxb4 (21... Qxb4 $5 22. e6
f6 23. Rad1 (23. Bd2 $2 Qe4 $17) 23... Nb5 24. Rxd5 Bxe6 $11) 22. Nd4 Be4 23.
Be3 Bc5 24. Rac1 Rac8 25. Rfd1 Rc7 26. Bf1 h6 27. Qe2 Nb1 28. Qxa6 Qxa6 29.
Bxa6 Nc3 30. Rd2 Nb1 31. Rdd1 Nc3 $11 {Ruggeri Laderchi,G (2345)-De Lorenzo,G
email 1999}) 16. Qe2 (16. Qe3 Nc4 17. Qf4 Re8 18. Ng5 Qd7 $15 {[%cal Ye6f5]
gives White nothing concrete.}) 16... Re8 17. Nd4 {After some thought Topalov
plays the main move.} ({Regaining the pawn} 17. Bxg6 hxg6 18. Qxb2 {can hardly
give White any objective advantage, although he outplayed his opponent after}
Bg4 (18... c5 {is more natural, preparing b4 with << counterplay.}) 19. Nd4 Bf8
$2 ({A misguided swap, Black still has a reasonable position after} 19... Qd7
$13 {[%cal Yc7c5]}) 20. Bxf8 Rxf8 21. Qb4 Qd7 22. Rfe1 Rfe8 23. Re3 Be6 24. f4
Rac8 25. Qc5 c6 26. a4 $16 {Van Haastert,E (2429)-Vedder,R (2261) Netherlands
2015}) 17... Bd7 {White's large plus score in this line stems mainly from
pre-computer times; objectively speaking Black's defensive resources seem
sufficient.} (17... Bf8 18. Bxf8 Rxf8 19. f4 (19. Bxg6 hxg6 20. Qxb2 c5 21. Ne2
Qc7 22. f4 {Seibold,M-Duehrssen,R ICCF corr 1935} f6 $5 $132) 19... c5 20. Nxe6
fxe6 21. Bxg6 hxg6 22. Qxb2 Rb8 23. Rad1 Qb6 24. Qc2 Kg7 25. Rf3 c4+ 26. Kh1 b4
27. Rg3 Rf5 28. Rxg6+ Kxg6 29. g4 Qe3 30. gxf5+ Kh6 31. Qg2 Rg8 $1 $11 {
Romanovsky,P-Tolush,A Leningrad 1938}) ({Weaker is} 17... Qd7 18. f4 Bg4 (18...
f5 19. g4 Bc5 20. gxf5 gxf5 21. Kh1 Bf8 22. Qh5 Qf7 23. Rg1+ Kh8 24. Qh3 Bxh6
25. Qxh6 c5 26. Nxf5 Bxf5 27. Bxf5 $18 {Baczynskyj,B (2370)-Bellin,R (2415)
London 1978}) 19. Qf2 c5 20. f5 Bf8 21. Bxf8 Rxf8 22. Nb3 $1 $36 (22. Qf4 cxd4
23. Qxg4 d3 24. Bb3 Nc4 25. Qd4 Qa7 $17 {Foldi,K (2202)-Fordan,T (2211)
Hungary 2010})) 18. f4 c5 {Black is in no hurry to return with his N and
pursues his own play instead. Indeed, the Nb2 will remain on its post until
move 24.} (18... Nc4 19. Rae1 c5 20. e6 {Yates,F-Gunsberg,I Chester/ Cheshire
1914 Although Black quickly got routed in this game, his defence can be
improved with} cxd4 21. f5 Bxe6 22. fxe6 f5 $1 23. Bxf5 Bc5 24. cxd4 Bxd4+ 25.
Kh1 Qh4 $1 $15) 19. Nf3 Qb6 20. Qf2 ({Black's last move took the sting out of
the impending pawn advance - after} 20. f5 gxf5 ({or} 20... Bxf5 {his Q joins
the defence, attacking the Bh6.})) 20... d4 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] A novelty in the
spirit of the previous note - Shakh is not worried about White's attack and
furthers his own queenside ambitions.} (20... Nc4 21. Rae1 Bd8 22. Ng5 Na3 23.
e6 Rxe6 $1 (23... fxe6 24. f5 $1 exf5 25. Bxf5 gxf5 26. Qxf5 $1 $18) 24. Nxe6
fxe6 25. f5 (25. Bxg6 hxg6 26. Qg3 Kh7 27. Qh3 Kg8 28. Qg3 $11) 25... exf5 26.
Qg3 {[%cal Rg3e5]} Bc7 27. Qh4 {[%cal Rh4e7]} Bd8 28. Qg3 Bc7 29. Qh4 {½,
Haznedaroglu,K (1990)-Wojcik,W (2185) email 2006}) 21. Bg5 {To further his
attack, White must get access to h4, possibly swapping the dark-squared bishop.
} ({Moves as} 21. Be4 dxc3 22. Bxa8 Rxa8 $17) ({or} 21. cxd4 cxd4 22. Be4 Nc4
23. Bxa8 Rxa8 $36 {[%cal Ye7c5,Yc4e3] pass the initiative unequivocally to
Black.}) 21... dxc3 {Black again opts for the most principled move, increasing
his material plus.} (21... d3 22. Bxe7 (22. Bb3 $5 {is maybe even stronger,
limiting Black's options}) 22... dxc2 (22... Rxe7 23. Bb3 Na4 24. Bxa4 bxa4 25.
Nd2 {[%cal Yd2c4,Yd2e4]} f5 26. Nc4 Qe6 27. Nd6 $44) 23. Bxc5 Qc7 24. Bb6 Qb7
25. Bd4 Bf5 26. Qh4 $132 {[%csl Rg8] Although the Pc2 is strong, Black's K is
seriously vulnerable.}) 22. Qh4 ({Now there will be no B-swap, but Black beats
off the attack after} 22. Bxe7 Rxe7 23. Ng5 $142 (23. Qh4 Rae8 24. Ng5 c4+ 25.
Kh1 f5 $19) (23. f5 Bxf5 24. Bxf5 gxf5 25. Nh4 Nd3 $1 26. Qg3+ (26. Qxf5 c4+
27. Kh1 Kh8 $19) 26... Kh8 27. Nxf5 c4+ 28. Kh1 Rg8 $19) 23... f5 $5 24. Qf3
Rd8 25. Qxc3 h6 26. Nf3 Nc4 27. Bb3 Be6 $17) 22... c4+ {Tempting, but Black
could have also considered keeping c4 free for his knight to rejoin the
defence.} ({An unforced sample line is} 22... Bf8 $5 23. Be4 Bc6 24. Bxc6 Qxc6
25. f5 Nc4 26. e6 Ra7 {/\} 27. Bf6 Ne3 28. exf7+ Rxf7 29. fxg6 {with the
beautiful resource} Rg7 $1 30. gxh7+ (30. Bxg7 Qxg6 $19) 30... Rxh7 31. Qg5+
Bg7 $17) 23. Kh1 Bf8 24. f5 $6 {Now Black shuts out the Bc2.} ({Stronger} 24.
Be4 $1 {with unclear consequences:} f5 (24... Bc6 25. Bxc6 Qxc6 26. f5 $44 {
[%cal Ye5e6] can be really dangerous - the N can't go to c4 anymore.}) 25. exf6
(25. Bxa8 Rxa8 $17) 25... Rxe4 26. f7+ Kg7 $8 27. Bh6+ Kxf7 28. Ng5+ Kg8 29.
Nxe4 Bxh6 30. Nf6+ (30. Qxh6 Bf5 31. Nxc3 Nd3 $17) 30... Kh8 31. Nxd7 Qd8 32.
Qh3 $5 Nd3 33. Ne5 $13) 24... Nd3 25. e6 Bxe6 $8 (25... fxe6 $2 26. fxg6 hxg6
27. Bf6 Bg7 28. Ng5 $18) 26. fxe6 Rxe6 $15 {After the forced piece sacrifice
Black has 4 extra pawns and his king is relatively safe for the time being.
However, the game is far from over.} 27. Rad1 ({Topalov's original intention} 
27. Nd4 Rd6 28. Rxf7 {fails to} h6 $1 (28... Kxf7 $2 29. Qxh7+ Bg7 30. Rf1+ $18
) 29. Rxf8+ Rxf8 30. Be3 Qd8 31. Qxh6 Rf7 $19 {[%cal Yf7h7]}) 27... Rae8 (27...
Rd6 $5 28. Qe4 Qc6 $36 {was possibly a simpler choice, Black returns a pawn to
force a queen swap.}) 28. Bxd3 cxd3 29. Rxd3 {[%cal Rg5d8,Rf3g5,Rd3c3]
Material is roughly equal and White has some threats - the game remains
complex and both players have to calculate a lot.} Re4 $6 {Squanders the
advantage, Black had two better moves:} ({The most natural move is} 29... b4 {
, after} 30. Bd8 (30. Bh6 Qb5 31. Rdd1 Re4 32. Qh3 Bg7 $5 $17) {Black has}
30... Qb5 $1 (30... Be7 31. Bxb6 Bxh4 32. Ba5 Be7 33. a3 c2 34. Rc1 bxa3 35.
Rxc2 $11) 31. Ng5 h6 32. Qf4 (32. Nxe6 Qxd3 33. Qf6 Qxf1+ $1 {[]} 34. Qxf1 Rxe6
{and the o^c3 decides the game:} 35. Bc7 c2 36. Bf4 b3 $1 37. axb3 Rf6 38. g3
Rxf4 39. Qxf4 Ba3 $19) 32... R6e7 $142 $1 (32... f5 33. Nxe6 Qxd3 34. Nxf8 Rxd8
35. Nxg6 c2 36. Rg1 Qe4 37. Qxh6 Rd1 38. Ne7+ Kf7 (38... Qxe7 39. Qg6+ Kf8 40.
Qxf5+ $11) 39. Qh5+ Kxe7 40. Rxd1 cxd1=Q+ 41. Qxd1 $11 {should be a draw.}) 33.
Bxe7 Rxe7 34. Nxf7 Qxd3 35. Ng5 (35. Ne5 Qf5 36. Nxg6 Qxf4 37. Nxe7+ Bxe7 38.
Rxf4 a5 $19) 35... Qxf1+ $8 36. Qxf1 hxg5 37. Qc4+ Kg7 38. g3 Rd7 $15 {/-/+}) (
{Also after} 29... Qc5 30. Bd2 cxd2 31. Ng5 Qxg5 $1 (31... h6 32. Nxe6 Rxe6 33.
Rxd2 $11) 32. Qxg5 Re1 33. Rg1 Rxg1+ 34. Kxg1 Re1+ 35. Kf2 d1=Q 36. Rxd1 Rxd1
$15 {Black retains some winning chances without any risk.}) 30. Bf4 $1 {
[%cal Rf3g5]} Be7 {Mamedyarov is still ambitious.} ({Good enough for equality
was} 30... h6 $5 31. Rxc3 g5 32. Nxg5 hxg5 33. Qxg5+ Qg6 $11 {/\} 34. Qh4 Bg7
35. Rg3 $2 Re1) 31. Qg3 ({White avoids tha back-rank ambush} 31. Ng5 $2 Bxg5
32. Qxg5 Re1 33. Rdf3 Rxf1+ 34. Rxf1 Qf2 $1 $19) 31... b4 32. Ng5 Bxg5 33. Bxg5
Qe6 {Black's o^c3 is held in check by the Bg5. Due to his dark-square
vulnerability Mamedyarov seeks a Q-swap, but the position is already easier to
play for White.} 34. h3 Qe5 $6 (34... a5 35. Kh2 $13 {/+/=}) (34... Re1 $142 {
It's important for Black to simplify the position and} 35. Rxe1 (35. Rdf3 Rxf1+
36. Rxf1 Qxa2) 35... Qxe1+ 36. Kh2 Qxg3+ 37. Kxg3 f6 $1 {is still sufficient
for a draw after} 38. Bxf6 Re2 39. a3 Rd2 (39... a5 $5 $11) 40. Rf3 c2 41. Bb2
Rd1 $11) 35. Kh2 Qxg3+ 36. Kxg3 h6 $6 (36... Re1 37. Rxe1 Rxe1 38. Bf6 Re8 (
38... Kf8 39. Kf2 Re6 40. Rd8+ Re8 41. Rxe8+ Kxe8 42. Ke3 $14 {/+/- and with
the pawns stopped, only White can play for a win.}) 39. Rd5 $36 {is already
unpleasant, but the pawn-sacrifice is no better.}) ({Perhaps the best chance is
} 36... a5 $5 $14) 37. Bxh6 Re1 (37... a5 38. Rf6 $16) 38. Rf6 $1 (38. Rxe1
Rxe1 $11 {holds, but White can avoid the swap for the time being.}) 38... R1e6
39. Rf2 $6 (39. Rxe6 $142 $1 Rxe6 40. Be3 $16 {White prepares to cross over to
the queenside with his K, while} c2 {runs into} 41. Rd8+ Kh7 42. Bd4 g5 43. Rc8
Re2 44. Kf3 c1=Q 45. Rxc1 Rxa2 46. Rc7 $18) 39... Re2 (39... a5 $142) 40. Rd5
$1 {Preventing a5 complicates Black's task.} Rxf2 $6 ({The final mistake, far
more resilient was} 40... R2e5 41. Rd7 R8e7) 41. Kxf2 $18 f6 42. Be3 {
Achieving an even better version of the 39.Rxe6 line with Black's pawns going
nowhere and soon to become objects of attack. Shakh's resignation seems a bit
premature, but his position is objectively lost.} 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2018.04.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Navara, David"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2018.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. O-O Bg4 5. d3 Nbd7 6. c4 dxc4 7. dxc4 e5 8.
Qc2 h6 9. Rd1 Qc7 10. Nc3 Be6 11. b3 Bc5 12. Na4 Be7 13. Nh4 g6 14. h3 Kf8 15.
Bb2 Re8 16. e4 Kg8 17. Rac1 Kh7 18. Nf5 Bf8 19. Ne3 Nb6 20. Qc3 Nxa4 21. Qxe5
Bd6 22. Qxf6 Nxb2 23. Qxb2 Qe7 24. Qc3 Bb4 25. Qe5 Qg5 26. Qb2 Rd8 27. a3 Rxd1+
28. Rxd1 Bc5 29. Nf1 Rd8 30. h4 Qe7 31. Rxd8 Qxd8 32. b4 Qd4 33. Qc2 Be7 34. c5
a5 35. bxa5 Bxc5 36. a4 Kg7 37. Nh2 Bb3 38. Qe2 Qxa4 39. Nf3 Qa1+ 40. Bf1 Qc3
41. Kg2 Ba4 42. Qc4 Qxc4 43. Bxc4 Bc2 44. Nd2 Bb4 45. Bb3 Bxb3 46. Nxb3 c5 47.
Kf3 c4 48. Nd4 Bxa5 49. Nb5 c3 50. Nd4 b5 51. Ke2 b4 52. f4 Bb6 53. Nb3 h5 0-1

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2019.04.06"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2019.03.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Ng5 Rf8 12. Nf3 Re8 13. Nbd2 Bf8 14. a3 g6 15. Ba2
Bg7 16. b4 exd4 17. cxd4 a5 18. Rb1 axb4 19. d5 Ne5 20. Nxe5 dxe5 21. Rxb4 c6
22. dxc6 Bxc6 23. Qf3 Bf8 24. Rb1 Ra4 25. Nf1 Rxe4 26. Rd1 Qe7 27. Bg5 Bg7 28.
Ne3 Qxa3 29. Ra1 Qc5 30. Rdc1 Rc4 31. Qd1 Ne4 32. Bxc4 bxc4 33. Rxc4 1-0

[Event "Riga FIDE GP"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "2019.07.14"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2019.07.12"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "LAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. O-O
d6 9. Bg3 a6 10. Ba4 b5 11. Bc2 Re8 12. Nbd2 Bf8 13. Re1 Nh5 14. Nf1 Nxg3 15.
hxg3 g6 16. Ne3 Bg7 17. a4 Rb8 18. axb5 axb5 19. Bb3 Rf8 20. d4 b4 21. Bd5 Bd7
22. Ra6 Ne7 23. dxe5 dxe5 24. Bc4 bxc3 25. bxc3 Bc6 26. Qc2 Ra8 27. Rea1 Rxa6
28. Rxa6 Kh7 29. Ra5 f6 30. Nd2 Qd7 31. Nb3 Ra8 32. Nc5 Qd6 33. Rxa8 Bxa8 34.
Ne6 h5 35. Qb1 Qb6 36. Qxb6 cxb6 37. Bd5 Bc6 38. Bxc6 Nxc6 39. Nd5 b5 40. Kf1
f5 41. Ke2 Bh6 42. Nec7 Na7 43. exf5 gxf5 44. Ne7 f4 45. gxf4 exf4 46. Kf3 Nc6
47. Nxc6 1-0

[Event "Hamburg FIDE GP"]
[Site "Hamburg"]
[Date "2019.11.07"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2019.11.05"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,132,19,31,18,18,18,-4,40,29,10,-4,11,12,10,12,10,10,24,19,26,13,16,16,
10,8,17,0,17,3,15,9,0,-24,-22,-18,-28,-40,-31,-86,-94,-95,-104,-84,-94,-103,
-74,-147,-143,-125,-137,-129,-148,-123,-153,-160,-160,-187,-83,-97,-78,-110,
-115,-118,-123,-122,-122,-124,-139,-124,-132,-130,-121,-116,-107,-107,-112,
-107,-112,-161,-81,-97,-81,-76,-91,-126,-91,-34,-63,-85,-106,-113,-115,-115,
-130,-157,-207,-256,-205,-210,-227,-220,-238,-230,-268,-268,-275,-277,-289,
-294,-245,-251,-190,-247,-257,-257,-215,-232,-244,-244,-208,-289,-191,-193,
-189,-200,-209,-238,-200,-200,-200,-336,-336,-335,-350]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. h3 Nd7 7. Bg5 $146 {A new move in this
well-known position. It's idea is certainly to provoke ...f7-f6, which can be
a weakening move if the centre opens up after d3-d4. Besides, Nf3-h4(-f5)
becomes possible.} (7. Be3 {was played by Hikaru Nakamura in an earlier game.
He won it but he didn't achieve any advantage after the opening:} Bd6 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. c3 c5 11. a3 $5 a5 12. Re1 Nf8 13. d4 cxd4 14. cxd4 exd4 15.
Nxd4 Be5 16. N2f3 Bxd4 17. Bxd4 b6 $11 {1-0 (24) Nakamura,H (2764)
-Kasimdzhanov,R (2706) Baku 2014 CBM 163 [Marin,M]}) 7... f6 8. Be3 Bxe3 (8...
Bd6 {deserves attention here, too. If} 9. d4 (9. Nh4 {is not dangerous yet due
to} g6) {then} 9... O-O 10. Nbd2 Qe7 {, and Black looks OK.}) 9. fxe3 Qe7 10.
Nc3 b6 {[%mdl 32] An unusual plan: Black prepares long castling.} ({To} 10...
O-O {White could have played} 11. Nh4 {, then slowly preparing a kingside
attack.}) 11. O-O Bb7 12. Nh4 $6 (12. Rb1 {[%cal Yb2b4,Yb4b5] was more logical
here.}) 12... g6 13. Qe1 {Preventing ...f6-f5 but White's pieces are now
placed awkwardly.} O-O-O 14. a3 Kb8 15. b4 c5 16. Na4 Bc6 17. Nb2 Rhg8 18. Rd1
$6 (18. Nc4 $142 Rdf8 19. Qc3 {putting pressure on Black's e5 pawn in case of}
f5 20. Nf3) 18... Rdf8 19. c4 f5 $1 $17 {This advance marks the failure of
White's strategy.} 20. b5 Bb7 21. exf5 gxf5 22. Rd2 Qg5 {Black has a lot of
good plans here: ...Qg5-h5, ...f5-f4, ...Rg8-g3 or ...Rf8-f6-h6. White must do
something.} 23. e4 ({Examples:} 23. Na4 Rf6 24. Nb2 Rh6 25. Nf3 Qh5 {etc.}) (
23. Qf2 Qh5 24. Nf3 f4 25. e4 Rg3 $19) 23... fxe4 24. Rxf8+ (24. dxe4 Rxf1+ 25.
Kxf1 Nf6 $19) 24... Nxf8 $1 25. dxe4 {[%csl Rc4,Re4]} Ne6 26. Nf3 Qh5 27. Kh2
Nd4 28. Qe3 (28. Nxd4 exd4 $1 ({stronger than} 28... cxd4 {, after which
Black's e5 pawn is vulnerable, too, and White obtains a possibility to play
c4-c5 at some point}) 29. Nd3 Qf7 30. Rc2 Qe6 {, and White can't protect all
his weaknesses}) 28... Bc8 (28... Rg4 $1 {, winning the e4 pawn, was stronger.
If} 29. Nxd4 exd4 30. Qf3 {then} Qe5+) 29. Ne1 Qg6 30. Ned3 Re8 31. Nd1 Qg8 32.
N3b2 {White has organized a kind of defence but his position is still bad, and
he can't hold it in a long term.} Be6 33. Qd3 Rd8 34. Qc3 h5 $1 35. Rf2 h4 36.
a4 Qg6 37. Qe3 Rg8 38. Kh1 Qh5 39. a5 Kc8 $6 {An apparently solid move
preparing ...Rg8-g3 Rf2-f8+ Kc8-d7. However, it allows White to create
counterplay.} (39... Rg3 $1 {was possible at once:} 40. Rf8+ Bc8 41. Qf2 bxa5
$1 {[%cal Yd4e6,Ye6g5]} 42. Ne3 Ne6 43. Rf5 Qh6 44. Rf3 Ng5 $1 $19) 40. Qe1 (
40. Nc3 $1 {was correct, after which Black should go for an endgame by} Qg6 {
[%cal Yg6g3]} ({as} 40... Rg3 41. Rf8+ Kd7 42. Qf2 {[%cal Rf2f6,Yc3d5]
suddenly gives White excellent counterchances.})) 40... Rg3 ({Here, too,} 40...
Qg6 {[%cal Yg6g3] was better.}) 41. Qf1 Kd7 42. Nd3 (42. Na4 {[%cal Ya4c3] was
White's last chance. Black must find} Bxc4 43. Qxc4 Qxd1+ 44. Kh2 Qb3 45. Rf7+
Ke8 46. Qxb3 Rxb3 47. Rxc7 Rxb5 48. Rxa7 Rxa5 49. Rxa5 bxa5 50. Nxc5 Ne2 $1 {
with a winning knight endgame.}) 42... Ke7 43. N1b2 Rg8 {Black converts his
advantage very slowly but he can afford such play as White is completely
passive.} (43... Qg5 $142) 44. a6 Qg5 45. Qg1 c6 $5 {A possible plan: Black
clarifies the situation on the queenside.} 46. bxc6 Nxc6 47. Rf1 Qg3 48. Qf2 {
White can hardly do anything else but the endgame is completely hopeless for
him. The rest of the game is not very interesting.} Qxf2 49. Nxf2 Rd8 50. Nfd1
Rd2 51. Rf2 Rxf2 52. Nxf2 {[%mdl 4096]} Na5 53. Kh2 Nxc4 54. Na4 Kd6 55. Nc3
Kc6 56. g3 hxg3+ 57. Kxg3 b5 58. Nd3 b4 59. Na4 b3 60. h4 Bf7 61. Kg4 Bg6 62.
Nc3 b2 63. Kf3 Kd6 64. Nb5+ Kd7 65. Nxb2 Nxb2 66. Nxa7 Bh5+ (66... Bh5+ 67. Kg3
(67. Kf2 Nd1+ 68. Ke1 Nc3 $19) (67. Ke3 Nc4+ 68. Kd3 Nd6 $19) 67... Be2 68. h5
Bxh5 69. Nb5 Kc6 $19) 0-1

[Event "Salamanca Uni 9th"]
[Site "Salamanca"]
[Date "2019.11.28"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Santos Ruiz, Miguel"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "2583"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2019.11.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Bf4 Nc6 5. e3 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bg4 7. Qb3 Na5 8.
Qa4+ Bd7 9. Qd1 e6 10. Bd3 Nc4 11. Qe2 Rc8 12. Nf3 Bb4 13. Rc1 Ne4 14. O-O Bxc3
15. bxc3 f6 16. Bxe4 dxe4 17. Nd2 Nxd2 18. Qxd2 Bb5 19. c4 Bxc4 20. Rfe1 O-O
21. Qb4 b5 22. Rc2 a5 23. Qd2 h5 24. h4 a4 25. Qb4 Rc6 26. a3 Re8 27. Kh2 Kf7
28. Rh1 Qd7 29. Qd2 Rd8 30. Qa5 Rdc8 31. Rg1 Ke8 32. Rgc1 Qd8 33. Qe1 Kf7 34.
f3 Qd5 35. Qg3 Bd3 36. Rxc6 Rxc6 37. Rxc6 Qxc6 38. Bd6 exf3 39. gxf3 Be2 40.
Bc5 Bxf3 41. Kg1 Qe4 42. Kf2 Bg4 43. Qf4 Bf5 44. Qxe4 Bxe4 45. Kg3 g5 46. Bb4
Kg6 47. Be7 Kf5 48. Kh3 Bd5 49. Kg3 Ke4 50. Kh3 g4+ 51. Kg3 Kxe3 52. Bxf6 b4
0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 18th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2020.01.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Libiszewski, Fabien"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2522"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2020.01.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. Ne2
Be7 9. c3 O-O 10. g3 cxd4 11. Nexd4 Nc5 12. Qc2 Bd7 13. h4 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Rc8
15. Bd3 h6 16. g4 Ba4 17. b3 Bb5 18. Bh7+ Kh8 19. Ng5 Ne4 20. Bxe4 dxe4 21.
O-O-O Bd3 22. Rxd3 exd3 23. Qxd3 g6 24. Ne4 Qd5 25. Rd1 Rfd8 26. Kb2 Kg7 27. h5
Bc5 28. Qe3 Bxd4 29. Rxd4 Qc6 30. Rd6 Rxd6 31. exd6 Rf8 32. Qd4+ f6 33. c4 g5
34. d7 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 18th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2020.01.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Santos Latasa, Jaime"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2586"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2020.01.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 b6 4. e3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 c5 6. Bxb4 cxb4 7. Be2 a5 8. a3
Na6 9. O-O O-O 10. Nbd2 Bb7 11. Ne5 Qe7 12. Nd3 d5 13. Nf4 Rfd8 14. Nf3 dxc4
15. Bxc4 Nc7 16. Ne5 bxa3 17. bxa3 b5 18. Be2 b4 19. Bf3 Ncd5 20. Nfd3 Rdc8 21.
Nc5 Nc3 22. Qd3 Bxf3 23. Nxf3 Nd7 24. axb4 axb4 25. Nb3 Qd6 26. Rfc1 Qd5 27.
Nfd2 h6 28. h3 Nb6 29. Rxa8 Rxa8 30. Rxc3 bxc3 31. Qxc3 Rc8 32. Qb4 Nc4 33. Nf3
Nd6 34. Nc5 Ra8 35. Qb6 Ne4 36. Nxe4 Qxe4 37. Qb2 Kh7 38. Kh2 Rc8 39. Qb5 Qc2
40. Qd7 Rc7 41. Qd6 Ra7 42. Qc5 Qxc5 43. dxc5 Ra5 44. Ne5 Kg8 45. Nd7 Ra7 46.
Ne5 f6 47. Nd3 Kf7 48. g4 Ra3 49. Nf4 Rc3 50. Kg2 Rxc5 51. h4 g6 52. Kf3 Ra5
53. Kg2 e5 54. Ne2 Ra4 55. Kg3 Ke6 56. Ng1 h5 57. gxh5 gxh5 58. Ne2 Ra2 59. Nc3
Rc2 60. Ne4 Rc4 61. f3 f5 62. Nf2 Rc3 63. e4 f4+ 64. Kg2 Kd6 0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 18th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2020.01.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kotronias, Vasilios"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2526"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2020.01.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. a4 Ngf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 b6 7. d4 cxd4 8.
Qxd4 Bb7 9. O-O e6 10. Rd1 Qc7 11. Be3 Ng4 12. Bg5 Rc8 13. h3 h6 14. Bh4 Nge5
15. Qe3 Qc5 16. Nd4 g5 17. Bg3 Be7 18. Ra3 h5 19. a5 b5 20. Na2 Qc7 21. Nb4 Nc5
22. Nxa6 Bxa6 23. b4 Ncd7 24. Nxb5 Bxb5 25. Bxb5 O-O 26. c4 h4 27. Bh2 Rfd8 28.
Rc3 Nf8 29. f4 gxf4 30. Bxf4 Nfg6 31. Bh2 Bf6 32. Rc2 Rb8 33. Rf2 Qe7 34. a6
Rdc8 35. Kh1 Ra8 36. Qe2 Bg5 37. Rff1 Kg7 38. Rd4 Qc7 39. Qf2 Rd8 40. Rfd1 Qb6
41. Qe2 Bf4 42. Bg1 Qc7 43. c5 d5 44. exd5 Rxd5 45. Rxd5 exd5 46. Bd3 Nxd3 47.
Qxd3 Be5 48. b5 Qa5 49. Qxd5 Re8 50. c6 Nf4 51. Qc4 Qa3 52. Bh2 Qe3 53. Rf1 Ne6
54. Qg4+ Ng5 55. Bxe5+ Qxe5 56. b6 Qb5 57. Qf4 Ne4 58. Qxf7+ Kh6 59. Qf4+ Kg6
60. Qg4+ Ng5 61. Rc1 Qa5 62. Qxh4 Qxb6 63. c7 Qxa6 64. Qg4 Rc8 65. h4 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 18th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2020.01.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Basso, Pier Luigi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2020.01.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.03.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. c3 O-O 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Nbd2
d6 9. a4 Nh5 10. Bg3 Nxg3 11. hxg3 Nb8 12. Ba2 Nd7 13. d4 c6 14. Qc2 Qc7 15. g4
c5 16. g5 hxg5 17. O-O-O Bf6 18. Rh2 g6 19. Rdh1 cxd4 20. Rh6 Kg7 21. Nb1 Nc5
22. Nxd4 Bd7 23. Rh7+ Kg8 24. Nb5 Qd8 25. Nxd6 Be6 26. Bxe6 Nxe6 27. Qd1 g4 28.
Na3 Nf4 29. Nac4 Nh3 30. Rxf7 Rxf7 31. gxh3 Rh7 32. Qxg4 Bg5+ 33. Kb1 Qf6 34.
Rg1 Bf4 35. Qxg6+ Qxg6 36. Rxg6+ Kh8 37. Re6 Rd8 38. h4 Rc7 39. Kc2 Kh7 40. Kb3
a6 41. Nf5 b5 42. axb5 axb5 43. Ncd6 Rb8 44. Ne8 Ra7 45. Nf6+ Kh8 46. h5 Rba8
47. Nd5 Bc1 48. Kc2 Ra1 49. Rxe5 Kg8 50. Nb4 1-0

