[Event "London Classic"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2009.12.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "McShane, Luke J"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2698"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Adams,M"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2009.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 134"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{It has been good to see Luke in more regular chess action recently this was
our first game since 2003.} 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 {Luke wheeled out the Breyer for the
first time in the European Team Championships making an easy draw with
Gashimov. I wasn't too sure what to expect but thought it could be time for a
second outing.} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 c6 {
This move has become quite popular and I had faced it before against
Morozevich in the Spanish Team Championship in 2007. I wasn't convinced the
solid but slightly passive positions arising would suit my opponent but later
on he found a way to make things very interesting.} 15. a4 Qc7 16. Be3 Rad8 17.
Qc1 h6 18. b3 Qb8 {Black's problem here is that all his pieces are already on
optimal squares and his only positive plan the d5 break opens up the game in
White's favour, so he just shuffles around a bit waiting for White to commit
himself.} 19. Rb1 Qc8 20. Qb2 ({The aforementioned game went} 20. b4 Qc7 21.
Nd2 d5 {when I had managed to allow Black to achieve a complete freeing of his
game. Armed with the fruits of our post mortem I tried to do a bit better this
time round.}) 20... Qc7 21. Rbd1 Bc8 22. c4 {This was the idea which got the
seal of approval in the Morozevisch postmortem White secures a space advantage.
} bxc4 ({It was more flexible to take on d4 immediately as} 22... exd4 23. Bxd4
c5 24. Bc3 b4 {is another interesting option.}) 23. bxc4 exd4 24. Bxd4 c5 25.
Bc3 Bb7 {I felt White should be doing well here but although I have achieved
some strategical goals Black's compact structure remains a tough nut to crack.}
26. Nf5 ({Luke pointed out that} 26. Nh4 $1 Re6 27. Nhf5 {would have been a
better way to turn the screw, preventing the dangerous counterplay that he
develops in the game.}) 26... Re6 27. Nd2 Rde8 ({Unsurprisingly Luke wasn't
interested in} 27... g6 28. Ne3 Nxe4 {although it is not easy to demonstrate a
clearly convincing path for White I was intending} (28... Bg7 {is pleasant for
White}) 29. Nd5 (29. Bxe4 Bxe4 30. Nxe4 Rxe4 31. Nd5 Rxe1+ 32. Rxe1 Qb8 {
clearly gives good compensation but maybe no more than that}) 29... Bxd5 30.
cxd5 Nxc3 31. dxe6 Nxd1 32. exf7+ Kxf7 (32... Kh7 33. Rxd1 Bg7 {looks
hazardous but maybe alright}) 33. Qb3+ Kg7 34. Qg3 Ne5 35. f4 {which looked
very promising to me although} Nc6 36. Qxg6+ ({or} 36. Re6 Kh8 37. Bxd1 Qg7 38.
Rxg6 Qd4+) 36... Kh8 37. Rxd1 Qg7 {continues the struggle.}) 28. f3 Nh5 {
I hadn't appreciated the strength of this idea although the White forces are
well centralised they aren't conveniently placed to cover the sensitive dark
squares on the kingside that Black's knights are homing in on.} 29. Nf1 Ne5 ({
Taking the aggressive option although it may be objectively better to play} 
29... g6 30. N5e3 Bg7 {when White is only a little better as the exchange of
dark-squared bishops is positionally desirable for Black.}) 30. N1e3 Rg6 (30...
Nf4 {gives Black an extra option after} 31. Qc1 ({but} 31. Kh1 {will probably
transpose to the game}) 31... Nxh3+) 31. Kh1 Nf4 32. Qc1 Qc8 ({The queen
retreat seems wise as} 32... Bc8 33. Nd5 Nxd5 34. exd5) ({and} 32... h5 33. Nd5
Bxd5 34. exd5 Rxg2 (34... Nxg2 35. Re2) 35. Qxf4 Rxc2 36. Bxe5 dxe5 37. Nh6+
Kh7 38. Qe4+ Kxh6 39. Qxc2 {look promising for White.}) 33. Ng4 Nxg2 {There is
no sense in going back, now things get completely crazy as both king's get
exposed with large amounts of material remaining on the board.} 34. Kxg2 ({
I took the knight with little thought but as the horse has no retreat square
there were two other options. After} 34. Rg1 {Black should play the amazing}
Ne1 $1 (34... Nxf3 35. Rxg2 Ng5 {looks troublesome but} 36. Rd5 $1 {is very
strong the rook can't be captured as} Bxd5 37. exd5 {is winning}) 35. Rgxe1 {
maybe strongest} (35. Rdxe1 Nxf3 36. Nfxh6+ gxh6 37. Nf6+ ({the stronger} 37.
Rg3 {is still very messy}) 37... Kh8 {leads nowhere}) (35. Nxe5 Nxf3 $1 (35...
Rxg1+ 36. Kxg1 Nxc2 37. Nxf7 Kxf7 38. Qxc2 Re6 {gives White an edge due to his
more active pieces}) 36. Nxg6 (36. Nxf3 $2 {is met by the devastating riposte}
Qxf5 {the queen can't be taken} 37. exf5 ({but after} 37. Rxg6 Qxf3+ 38. Rg2
Qxh3+ 39. Kg1 Qxc3 {White's position is completely wrecked.}) 37... Bxf3+ 38.
Rg2 Rxg2 39. Qf4 Bc6 40. Rd5 Bxd5 41. cxd5 Rxc2) 36... Nxg1 37. Nge7+ Rxe7 38.
Kxg1 Rxe4 39. Nxh6+ gxh6 40. Bxe4 Bxe4 41. Qf4 {is roughly equal}) 35... Nxf3
36. Re3 Ng5 37. Nfxh6+ gxh6 38. Nf6+ Rxf6 39. Bxf6 {looks a little better for
White.}) ({Therefore the other less obvious rook move might be better} 34. Re2
Ne1 $1 {surprisingly still the best move even though the idea of setting up a
rook fork no longer exists} (34... Nxf3 35. Rxg2 {reaches the position White
is aiming for}) 35. Rdxe1 Nxf3 36. Rf1 Ng5 37. Qf4 Qe6 {looks promising for
White but it's not clear how to continue if} 38. Nfxh6+ gxh6 39. Nf6+ Rxf6 40.
Qxf6 Qxf6 41. Bxf6 Nxe4 {liquidates to an equal ending.}) 34... h5 ({During
the game} 34... Nxf3 35. Kxf3 Qxf5+ 36. Qf4 Qe6 {didn't really feature in my
thoughts, but it could well be a very decent practical option. It wouldn't be
easy to keep White's position together in the time pressured moves before move
40.}) 35. Kf2 ({I didn't like the look of} 35. Qf4 Qe6 {and played a more
ambitious move forcing Luke to open the h-file or throw more fuel on the fire.}
) 35... Nxf3 ({White looks a little better after} 35... hxg4 36. hxg4 Qe6 37.
Bxe5 Qxe5 38. Rh1 Bc8) 36. Nfh6+ ({The knight check is necessary as} 36. Kxf3
$4 Qxf5+ {wins for Black.}) 36... Kh7 ({I thought this was forced but matters
are also not simple in the line} 36... gxh6 37. Nf6+ Rxf6 38. Bxf6 Ne5 $1 (
38... Nxe1 $2 39. Rxe1 {is winning for White}) 39. Qf4 $1 (39. Rg1+ Ng6 40. Qf4
Bg7 41. Qxd6) 39... Ng6 (39... Qxh3 40. Rg1+) 40. Qf5 {although White should
be better here.}) 37. Kxf3 {My king continues to meander round the board. It
is interesting to note that Black's ligh-squared bishop which was biting on
granite has become a very influential piece.} f5 $2 {Luke finds it hard to
resist maximising confusion before the time control but the more
straightforward.} (37... hxg4+ 38. Nxg4 f5 {was a better idea} 39. Kg3 Qc6 (
39... fxg4 40. e5) 40. Rd5 fxg4 41. hxg4 Kg8 42. Rh5 {leaves White's monarch
looking marginally less endangered.}) ({Taking the other knight is not so
clever} 37... gxh6 38. Nf6+ Rxf6+ 39. Bxf6 Qxh3+ 40. Kf2 {and my king walks
away from the checks to victory.}) 38. Kg3 fxg4 ({It is hard to say if this is
a mistake objectively but it clearly is in practical terms especially as after
} 38... hxg4 {my intended} 39. exf5 (39. Nxg4 {would transpose to the
variation in the last note}) ({However the computer points out the strongest
move} 39. Nf7 $1 {and the knight emerges unscathed to keep a material edge}
gxh3+ 40. Ng5+ Kg8 41. exf5 {White should be winning here but the following
variations would be very hard to find over the board.} Qc6 42. Rd5 Rxe1 {
and here} (42... Rh6 43. f6) 43. Qxe1 {is a rather nice touch} (43. Bxe1 Rh6
44. Nxh3 Qe8 45. Bd2 {is also good but less deadly}) 43... Rxg5+ 44. Kh4 Rg2
45. Qe6+ Kh8 46. f6 {and Black's king has limited life expectancy.}) 39... Rxh6
40. hxg4 (40. f6+ g6 41. hxg4 Bf3) 40... Kg8 {is not all that clear.}) 39. e5 {
Now all my pieces are working well and although the White king still feels
very uncomfortable Black doesn't have time to exploit this, partly because his
own monarch is not ideally located either.} h4+ ({I thought this was a mistake
but in fact things are already over anyway if} 39... dxe5 40. Rxe5 Rxe5 41.
Bxe5 Qc6 42. Bxg6+ Qxg6 43. hxg4 {leaves White with extra material.}) ({
The knight can't be captured as} 39... gxh6 40. Bxg6+ ({or} 40. Qb1) 40... Kxg6
41. Qb1+ Qf5 42. Qxb7 {win.}) 40. Kxh4 ({The over cautious} 40. Kh2 $4 {
would lead to complete catastrophe:} g3+ 41. Kg1 Qxh3 {but there is no reason
not to capture the pawn.}) 40... Be7+ 41. Kg3 ({Having made the time control I
felt that both king moves were winning, but decided for the sake of my blood
pressure to take the safe option. Despite its precarious nature} 41. Kh5 Qe6
42. Qb1 {is also more than good enough.}) 41... Rf8 ({I was anticipating} 41...
gxh3+ {when there are a bewildering array of promising options.} 42. Bxg6+ ({
Luke thought} 42. Kh2 {was simplest but} gxh6 {wasn't that clear to me
although there is more than one way to win the computer's} 43. Qb1 Reg8 44.
Bxg6+ Rxg6 45. Rxd6 Bxd6 46. exd6 {leaves Black's pieces pleasingly dominated})
42... Kxg6 43. e6 Bg5 44. Qb1+ Kxh6 45. Qf5 {was my intention which I felt had
to be winning as although I have given back all the material I am closing in
on Black's king, Bxg7+ is one threat. One nice finish is} Qd8 46. Qxh3+ Kg6 47.
Kg4 {and White's king concludes the attack.}) 42. Rf1 gxh6 ({It was still a
better practical chance to play} 42... gxh3+ 43. Bxg6+ Kxg6 44. Ng4 ({however
I was intending} 44. Nf7 Kh5 {when either the simple} (44... Rxf7 45. Qb1+ Rf5
46. exd6 {is a simple win}) 45. Qf4 ({or the flashy} 45. Rd4 Rxf7 46. Qd1+ Kg6
47. Rg4+ {get the job done.})) 44... Kh5 {which could get confusing over the
board.}) 43. Qb1 {The position has clarified and it's clear Black is out of
ammunition.} h5 ({After} 43... Qe6 44. Rxf8 {all Black's pieces drop off with
check .}) 44. Bxg6+ Kh6 45. Bxh5 Rg8 46. Bd2+ {[%emt 0:00:04] and Luke
resigned as it is mate in 4.} 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Van der Sterren, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[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 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.
b3 Bg7 16. d5 Rc8 $1 (16... Nb6 17. Rb1 $14) 17. Be3 (17. c4 c6) 17... c6 18.
c4 Qc7 $1 (18... b4 $2 19. a3) 19. Rc1 (19. Bd3 Nc5 (19... cxd5 20. cxd5 Bxd5
21. exd5 e4 $13)) 19... b4 $1 20. Qd2 a5 21. Bb1 (21. Bd3 Nc5) 21... c5 $1 22.
Rf1 Ra8 23. Nh2 a4 24. Bg5 axb3 25. axb3 Ra3 $11 26. Bc2 Ra2 $1 27. Kh1 (27. f4
h6 $1 28. Bxf6 (28. fxe5 hxg5 29. exf6 Bxf6 (29... Nxf6 $5 30. Qxg5 Qe7 $44)
30. Rxf6 (30. Ng4 Bd4+ 31. Kh1 f6) 30... Nxf6 31. Qxg5 Qd8) 28... Nxf6 29. fxe5
Rxe5 $15) 27... h5 28. Rce1 Nh7 29. Be3 Qd8 (29... Rea8 $5 {/\ Qd8-e7} 30. Qd1
Qd8 31. Bb1 Ra1 $1 32. Qc2 Qe7 $11) 30. Qc1 Qe7 31. Ne2 Bc8 32. Bb1 Ra3 33. Qc2
Rf8 (33... Nhf8 $1) 34. Nc1 Re8 35. Nd3 Nhf8 36. Re2 Ra6 (36... g5 $1 {/\ Ng6=}
) 37. Nf3 $2 (37. f4) 37... Nh7 $2 (37... f5 $1 38. exf5 $8 (38. Ng1 f4 39. Bc1
g5 $17) 38... gxf5 $15) 38. Nd2 Nhf8 (38... g5 $1) 39. f4 exf4 40. Bxf4 Ne5 (
40... f6 $5 {/\ Ne5}) 41. Nxe5 Bxe5 42. Bxe5 Qxe5 (42... dxe5 $1) 43. Ref2 Re7
44. Nf3 Qg3 $2 (44... Qc3 $1 45. Qxc3 bxc3 46. Rc1 Ra1 $1) 45. Qd2 $1 Nd7 (
45... Nh7 46. e5 dxe5 47. d6 Rd7 48. Qe3 $1 $36) (45... f6 46. e5 $1 dxe5 47.
Ng5 $16) 46. Qh6 f6 $2 (46... Re5 $1 47. Nxe5 Nxe5 48. Qf4 (48. Qd2 Bd7) 48...
Qxf4 49. Rxf4 Kf8 {/\ Ke7+/=}) 47. e5 $1 $18 dxe5 48. Bxg6 Nf8 (48... f5 49. d6
) 49. Be4 Rg7 50. Ne1 $1 Ng6 (50... f5 51. Qxh5) 51. Rf3 1-0

[Event "Linares 10th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1992.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 028"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 {This was a bit of a
surprise to me- Alexander has been playing the Archangelsk for some time now}
6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8
13. a4 {A fairly safe line - White has active plans without venturing into the
stifling main line 13.Nf1 Bf8 14.Ng3. My work on the ChessBase author disk
obviously didn't hurt my understanding of the Breyer variation!} Bf8 14. Bd3 c6
15. Nf1 d5 {A very forcing alternative} (15... Qc7) 16. Bg5 dxe4 17. Rxe4 Be7 (
17... h6 $2 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. N1h2 $1 $16 {Lobron-Smejkal}) 18. Re2 exd4 19.
Nxd4 Bf8 20. Rd2 Qc7 (20... c5 $2 21. Nxb5 $16 {Van der Wiel-Van der Sterren})
21. Bf5 (21. Ne3 g6 {Gets nowhere}) 21... c5 22. Nf3 Ne5 $1 23. Nxe5 Rxe5 $1 (
23... Qxe5 24. Ng3 $14 Ne4 $140 25. Re2) 24. Ne3 Qc6 25. axb5 axb5 26. Rxa8
Bxa8 27. Bxf6 Qxf6 $2 (27... Rxf5 $1 28. Be7 $1 (28. Bxg7 $2 Rg5 29. Bxf8 Rxg2+
30. Kf1 Rg1+ $19) 28... Bxe7 29. Rd8+ Bf8 30. Rxf8+ Kxf8 31. Qd8+ Qe8 32. Qxe8+
Kxe8 33. Nxf5 Kf8 34. b4 cxb4 35. cxb4 Bc6 36. f4 Bd7 37. Ne3 $1 {/\
Kg1-f2-e2-d3-d4+/= -Yusupov. In his hands it is probably +/-!}) 28. Rd8 $16 g6
(28... Qc6 29. Bxh7+ Kxh7 30. Rxf8 Rxe3 $2 31. Qh5+ $18) 29. Rxa8 gxf5 30. Qd7
$1 h5 31. Nd5 Qh6 32. g3 $1 $18 Re1+ 33. Kh2 h4 34. Ne7+ Kh8 35. Nxf5 hxg3+ 36.
Nxg3 Kg8 37. Qxb5 Qd6 38. Qc4 $138 1-0

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 34th"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2004.05.25"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Atalik, Suat"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2558"]
[Annotator "Atalik,S"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2004.05.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 101"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 {According to many masters of Spanish Breyer is one of the best
defences. Usually c pawns should be moved or exchanged to have a free game no
matter what the color is.} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 c5 $5 {This was
championed by one of the best ever lived Yugoslavs GM Svetozar Gligoric.} 13.
d5 (13. Nf1 Re8 14. Ng3 Bf8 (14... g6 15. Bh6 cxd4 16. cxd4 exd4 17. Nxd4 (17.
Qxd4 Qb6 18. Qd2 Ne5 19. Be3 Qc7 $132) 17... d5 (17... Rc8 18. Qd2 Ne5) 18.
exd5 (18. e5 $6 Bb4 19. f4 Bxe1 20. Qxe1 Ne4 $1 $17 {since e4 pawn is taboo
due to tactics the sacrifice is not correct this time.}) 18... Bxd5 $14) (14...
cxd4 15. cxd4 exd4 16. Nxd4 d5 {is Ivan's big time discovery.} 17. e5 $5 Bb4
18. f4 (18. Bf4 $2 Bxe1 19. Qxe1 Nxe5 20. Bxe5 Nd7 21. f4 f6 $17) 18... Bxe1
19. Qxe1 Nc5 (19... Ne4 $2 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Nf5 Re6 22. Bb3 Rc6 23. Be3 Nc5
24. Bxc5 Rxc5 25. Qg3 g6 26. Nh6+ Kg7 27. Nxf7 Qd4+ 28. Kh2 Bd5 29. Qh4 $1 $18)
20. Be3 (20. Ndf5 $2 d4 (20... Bc8 $2 21. Nxg7 Kxg7 22. exf6+ Kh8 23. Qd1 d4
24. Bxh7 Qxf6 25. Qh5 Kg7 26. Bc2 $18) 21. b4 Qd5 22. Qd2 Nce4 23. Nxe4 Nxe4
24. Bxe4 Qxe4 25. Nd6 Qd5 26. Nxe8 Rxe8 27. Bb2 d3 $17) 20... Nfe4 21. Nxe4
dxe4 22. Nf5 Nd3 23. Qg3 g6 24. Nd6 Re7 25. Rd1 Qc7 26. Bxd3 exd3 27. Rxd3 Qc2
28. Bd4 $44) 15. d5 g6 16. a4 Nb6 {Gilgoric likes this one.} (16... c4 {
transposes to the main line.}) 17. Qe2 Nxa4 18. Bxa4 bxa4 19. Rxa4 Nd7 (19...
a5 20. b3 Bc8 21. Bd2 Bd7 22. Ra3 a4 23. Rea1 axb3 24. Rxa8 b2 25. R8a2 bxa1=Q+
26. Rxa1 $14) 20. Be3 Nb6 21. Ra3 a5 22. b3 Bc8 23. Rea1 Bd7 24. c4 a4 $11)
13... g6 14. Nf1 Nh5 15. Bh6 Re8 16. a4 Nb6 $5 {Since c4 gives d4 square I
like this move by Gliga very much.} (16... c4 {I am in general against this
move.} 17. Ng3 Ng7 (17... Nxg3 18. fxg3 b4 $1 19. cxb4 Qb6+ 20. Be3 Qxb4 21.
Nd2 Rac8 $13) 18. Qd2 Nc5 19. Nh2 Rb8 20. axb5 axb5 21. Ng4 $1 (21. Be3 h5 22.
f4 exf4 23. Bxf4 h4 24. Ne2 Bf6 25. Nd4 Nh5 26. Ng4 Nxf4 27. Qxf4 Be5 28. Qf3
Bg7 29. Rf1 Qe7 30. Ra7 Ra8 31. Nc6 Qc7) 21... Bc8 $13) 17. a5 $6 {Viktor
Viorel played this rather quickly.} (17. axb5 axb5 18. Rxa8 Qxa8 {does not
bring to the first player much.}) (17. Ng3 Nxg3 18. fxg3 Nxa4 19. Bxa4 bxa4 20.
g4 Bc8 21. Qxa4 Bd7 22. Qc2 a5 23. Rf1 a4 24. Qf2 f6 25. Nd2 Bb5 $1 26. c4 Bd7
$13) 17... Nc4 18. b3 $2 {I can not see the point. My opponent later mentioned
that he had played something similar with GM Romanishin and even has won with
it.} Nxa5 19. Ra2 Qc7 {I can defend the knight.} 20. Qa1 Bd8 21. N1d2 Bc8 $6 {
I did not want to give my extra pawn at once however in this case I would have
an overwhelming position.} (21... Nf4 22. Bg5 f6 23. Bxf6 Bxf6 24. Rxa5 Rf8 $17
) 22. Rc1 Nf4 23. Bxf4 exf4 24. b4 cxb4 25. cxb4 Nc4 26. Bd3 Qb8 27. Bxc4 $2 {
Another sacrifice another blunder!} (27. Nxc4 bxc4 28. Rxc4 Bd7 29. Nd4 Bf6 30.
Rxa6 f3 $5 31. Rxa8 Qxa8 32. Qxa8 Rxa8 33. Nc6 (33. Nxf3 Bb5) 33... fxg2 34.
Kxg2 Ra3 $44) 27... bxc4 28. Nxc4 Rxe4 29. Na5 $6 {White has some vague ideas
to take some squares.} (29. b5 $142 $1 {After this black has a tough task to
defend.} Bb7 (29... a5 30. b6) 30. bxa6 Bxd5 31. a7 (31. Rb2 Qa7 32. Nxd6 Re6
$17) 31... Qb4 32. Rb2 Qc5 33. Rb8 Re7 $17 {But most likely pawn a7 is not
that strong.}) 29... Bxa5 {I have just wanted to get rid of the knight the
move has more psychological aspects than technical ones.} (29... Qxb4 30. Nc6
Qb6 31. Rac2 $44) 30. bxa5 Qb5 31. Rd2 Bb7 32. h4 $4 {A hoorible blunder.} (32.
Rcd1 Qd7 $17) 32... Bxd5 33. h5 ({Probably he overlooked that after} 33. Rb1
Ra4 $1 34. Rxd5 Qc6 $1 $19 {his queen can not protect Rd5.}) 33... Ra4 34. Qf6
Bxf3 $19 35. Rdc2 $1 {This came kind of like a surprise. It is clear that I
was in a very bad form in Sarajevo, however what would I accomplish even in a
good form is another story.} Re8 $1 {After burning some substantial time like
4 minutes out of my remaining 5 I have decided for the best.} ({Everyone has
criticized me for not to play} 35... Qf5 36. Qxf5 gxf5 37. gxf3 (37. Rc8+ Rxc8
38. Rxc8+ Kg7 39. gxf3 Rxa5 40. Rc6 Kh6 41. Rxd6+ Kxh5 $19) 37... Rxa5 38. Kh2
Kg7 $19 {however the move I have chosen is much better than this unorthodox
position with quadruple pawns on the f file.}) (35... Bxh5 $4 {Even this is a
draw.} 36. Rc8+ Qe8 37. Rxe8+ Rxe8 38. Rc7 Rf8 39. Qxd6 Rxa5 40. Qxf4 g5 41.
Qd2 Rb5 42. Ra7 Bg6 $11) ({But this one loses.} 35... Bg4 $4 36. h6 Qe5 37.
Rc8+ Rxc8 38. Rxc8+ Bxc8 39. Qd8+) 36. h6 Qe5 37. Rc8 Bc6 38. Qxe5 dxe5 39.
R1xc6 Kf8 $4 {OK I had 1 minute to reach the time control, but still this is
another flash of stupidity! The awful truth is that this was not my original
idea. When I have looked for some time more to the position I have seen no
difference between Rf8 and the text and I have decided for the latter because
king to the center is more coherent with the chess principles.} (39... Rf8 $1
40. Rxf8+ Kxf8 41. Rxa6 Ra1+ 42. Kh2 e4 43. Ra8+ Ke7 $19 {After this best he
can achieve should be R+g2 against R+f7,g6,h7.}) 40. R8c7 $1 $11 {So this is
the difference.} Ra1+ 41. Kh2 Re6 $4 {After we have passed over the time
control I have thought maybe another 10 minutes and decided to continue the
game with this blunder.} (41... Rxa5 42. Rf6 Re7 43. Rc8+ Re8 $11 {is an
unfortunate draw!}) 42. Rb6 $1 $18 {Incredible turn of events. After this all
I can do is just to resign and crush some furniture in my hotel room like
Rubinstein' used to do. Well I have eventually done the first but not the
second!} (42. Rxe6 $2 fxe6 43. Rxh7 e4 44. Rh8+ Kf7 45. h7 Kg7 46. Rf8 Kxh7 47.
Rxf4 Rxa5 48. Rxe4 e5 $17 {would still retain some winning chances for black.})
42... e4 43. Rb8+ Re8 44. Rbb7 Re5 $8 45. Rxf7+ Ke8 46. g4 $1 {Well he of
course does not go wrong!} (46. Rxf4 $2 Rh5+ (46... Re7 47. Rxe7+ Kxe7 48.
Rxe4+ Kf6 49. Re8 Rxa5 50. Rh8 Rh5+ 51. Kg3 Rxh6 52. Ra8 $11) 47. Kg3 Rg5+ 48.
Kh4 Rxg2 49. Rxe4+ Kd8 50. Kh3 Rg5 51. Rg4 Rh5+ 52. Kg2 Rxh6 53. Rf4 Ke8 54.
Rff7 $11) 46... fxg3+ 47. Kxg3 Rg5+ 48. Kf4 Rf5+ 49. Rxf5 gxf5 50. Rxh7 {
Now besides everything I have my king on the 8th.} Rf1 (50... Rh1 51. Kxf5 Kf8
52. Kxe4 Rh5 53. Rh8+ Kf7 54. h7 Kg7 55. Ra8 Kxh7 56. Rxa6 $18) 51. Rb7 Rxf2+ {
Nothing matters.} (51... Rh1 52. h7 Kf8 53. Kxf5 $18) 52. Kg3 {This loss realy
made me frustrated for many different reasons!} 1-0

[Event "Maalot Tarshiha"]
[Site "Maalot Tarshiha"]
[Date "2008.01.13"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Smirin, Ilia"]
[Black "Avrukh, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2616"]
[BlackElo "2638"]
[Annotator "Avrukh,B"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2008.01.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This was a very important game for both players. We both (together with
Postny) were leading the tournament and I had no doubts, that Ilya would press
hard to score in this game, after losing in the previous round to Gyimesi. For
me it was important to hold in this game, since I had a feeling, that I had
almost recovered after my poor start to the tournament.} 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 {I think
that it was obvious for both of us, that this variation would appear in the
game. The only question for me was which setup Ilya would choose.} 10. d4 Nbd7
11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 ({Nowadays} 13. Nf1 {is White's most popular
move in this line.}) 13... Bf8 14. Bd3 b4 $5 {A relatively rare continuation,
which in my opinion, might be quite an interesting alternative to the almost
obligatory 14...c6, where Black gets a very solid, but slightly passive
position. And, if it works, why should Black block his own bishop?} 15. Qc2 ({
Nobody has tried to take on b4 and it seems to me Black is perfectly fine
after:} 15. cxb4 exd4 16. Nxd4 d5 {[%csl Ge4][%cal Gf8b4]} ({maybe even
stronger is} 16... Ne5 $5 17. Bf1 d5)) 15... g6 $5 $146 {Quite a logical
novelty, which had been prepared at home. Black's main idea still remains to
break in the centre with the d5-move; now after 15...g6 Black can recapture on
d5 with his N, since the h7-pawn is not under attack.} ({Strangely enough the
last game in which this position had occurred was a game by Smirin, in which
he defended Black's side! During my homework I felt that White could improve
on his play:} 15... d5 16. exd5 exd4 17. Rxe8 Qxe8 18. cxd4 Bxd5 19. b3 c5 20.
Bb2 cxd4 21. Re1 Qb8 22. Bxd4 Qb7 $14 {1/2-1/2 Kasimdzhanov,R-Smirin,I/22nd
ECU Club Cup 2006/CT-2166 (29)}) 16. dxe5 {Obviously White has a wide choice
here: he could have played 16 Nb3, 16 a5 or 16 d5, but Ilya decided to remove
the tension in the centre.} bxc3 $1 {I believe this is the right choice, my
idea is to recapture with a piece on e5, but White has another option.} ({
White is slightly better after both} 16... Nxe5 17. Nxe5 dxe5 (17... Rxe5 $2
18. Nf3 Re8 19. cxb4 $16) 18. Nc4 (18. Nb3 c5 19. Bc4 $5 $14)) ({or} 16... dxe5
17. Bc4 $1 {[%cal Gf3g5]} bxc3 18. Qxc3 $14) 17. exf6 ({The alternative would
have been} 17. bxc3 {, but Black has a perfectly playable position after} Nxe5
18. Nxe5 Rxe5 19. Rb1 Rb8 (19... Bc6 20. Nf3 (20. Nc4 Rxe4) 20... Re8 (20...
Ra5 $5 {[%csl Ga4]}) 21. Nd4 Qd7 $11) 20. Nf3 Re8 $11) 17... cxd2 18. Bxd2 Nxf6
19. Ng5 $1 {[%csl Gb7,Gf7][%cal Gc2b3,Gd3c4] As always Ilya is very creative,
he finds a very unexpected attacking resource, which demands accurate defence
from Black.} ({Black has no problems after} 19. Bg5 Bg7) ({or} 19. b4 Bg7 20.
Rac1 Rc8) 19... Qd7 (19... h6 $140 $2 20. Nxf7 Kxf7 21. Qb3+ $16 {[%cal Gb3b7]}
) ({The computer likes} 19... Re7 $5 {but the text looks more logical.}) 20.
Bc3 Bg7 21. Bc4 d5 22. exd5 ({During the game I was mostly concerned about} 22.
Rad1 {and indeed Black should be very accurate, not to get into trouble:} Rad8
$1 {Black's best defence.} (22... h6 $6 23. Nf3 Qc6 (23... Nxe4 $2 24. Bxg7
Kxg7 25. Rxe4 Rxe4 26. Qxe4 dxe4 27. Rxd7 exf3 28. Rxc7 $18) 24. Bxf6 Qxc4 25.
Qxc4 dxc4 26. Bxg7 Kxg7 27. Rd4 $16) (22... c6 23. Bd3 $14 {[%csl Gb7]}) 23.
exd5 (23. Bb3 c5 (23... h6 24. e5 Nh7 25. e6 fxe6 26. Bxg7 Kxg7 27. Nf3 $44))
23... Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 Nxd5 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Qb3 Bc6 $1 (26... Qc6 27. Qf3 Rd7
28. Bxd5 Qxd5 29. Qc3+ Kh6 30. Nf3 $14) 27. a5 {[%csl Ga6]} Qf5 {Black
equalises.}) ({By the way} 22. Red1 $6 {is dubious in view of} h6 23. e5 Qc6
24. exf6 dxc4 {[%csl Gg2]}) 22... Bxd5 ({Certainly I could have first played} 
22... Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 {and now} Bxd5 {, but White is slightly better after} 24.
Rd1 c6 25. Nf3 Qb7 $14 {, although Black is pretty solid.}) 23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 ({
Black remains a pawn down after} 23... Nxe8 $6 24. Rd1 c6 25. Bxg7 Nxg7 26. Qd3
$1 {[%csl Ga6]} Rb8 27. Bxd5 Qxd5 28. Qxd5 cxd5 29. Rxd5 h6 30. Ne4 Ne6 31. Ra5
$16) 24. Rd1 c6 $2 {A serious mistake.} ({I should have played} 24... Qc6 $1 {
, which of course I saw during the game, but incorrectly evaluated the
resulting position after} 25. Bxd5 (25. Bb3 h6 (25... Qb7 $5) 26. Bxf6 Qxc2 27.
Bxc2 Bxf6 28. Rxd5 hxg5 $11 {is not dangerous.}) 25... Nxd5 26. Qb3 Bxc3 (26...
Rd8 {looks a bit risky, but may be possible as well.}) 27. bxc3 (27. Rxd5 $2
Bf6 $1 $17) 27... Re5 28. Nf3 (28. f4 $2 Rf5 29. g4 Nxf4 $19 {[%cal Gc6g2]}) (
28. f4 $2 Rf5 {now f7 is protected} 29. g4 $140 Nxf4 $19 {[%cal Gc6g2]}) 28...
Rh5 $8 {I evaluated this position as quite dangerous for me due to the
misplaced rook on h5. In fact White can do nothing and Black's rook will come
into play very soon via the 5th rank.} 29. c4 Nf6 $11) 25. Bxa6 $16 Qa7 {
White has won a pawn, but Black still has some counterplay.} 26. Bf1 $1 {
The best square for the light-squared bishop.} (26. Bd3 Qb8 {[%cal Gd5b3]} ({
Black can even try} 26... h6 27. Nf3 Bxf3 28. gxf3 Nd5 $5 29. Bxg7 Kxg7 30.
Qxc6 Re5 {true, it looks risky, but Black has some compensation.}) 27. b4 h6
28. Nf3 Bxf3 29. gxf3 Qf4 $44) 26... h6 (26... Qb8 {[%cal Gd5b3]} 27. b4 Qf4
28. Qc1 $1 $16) 27. Nf3 Bxf3 (27... Be4 28. Bd3 Bxf3 29. gxf3 Nd5 30. Bxg7 Kxg7
31. Qxc6 Re5) 28. gxf3 Qc5 $1 (28... Nd5 29. Bxg7 Kxg7 30. Qxc6 $18) 29. b4 $2
(29. Qd2 $1 Nd5 30. Bxg7 Kxg7 31. a5 $16 (31. Qd4+ Qxd4 32. Rxd4 Re1 33. a5 Ra1
34. a6 g5)) 29... Qg5+ 30. Kh1 Qf4 31. a5 Nd5 ({Black's main problem is that
he is not really threatening to take on f3} 31... Qxf3+ 32. Bg2 Qh5 33. a6 $16
Ng4 34. Rf1) 32. Bxg7 Kxg7 33. a6 Re7 $2 $138 {Unfortunately being short of
time, I missed a golden opportunity to get real chances for survival.} ({
I should go for} 33... Nxb4 34. Qb2+ (34. Qc3+ Qf6 35. Qxf6+ Kxf6 36. a7 Ra8
37. Rd7 Ke6 38. Rb7 Nd5 {is a much better version of the endgame for Black
than after 34 Qb2}) 34... Qf6 $1 {I completely forgot about this move!} 35. Rb1
$1 Nd5 36. a7 Qxb2 37. Rxb2 Ra8 38. Rb7 Kf6 {it's difficult to make a clear
assessment of this position, but definitely Black has clear chances to hold.}
39. Bc4 Ke6 40. Kg2 f5 41. f4 Kd6 42. Bxd5 ({Another line is} 42. Kf3 Nc7 $1 {
the key defensive idea} 43. Ke3 Kd7 {[%cal Gd7c8]} 44. Bf7 Kc8 45. Rb8+ Rxb8
46. axb8=Q+ Kxb8 47. Bxg6 Nd5+ 48. Kd4 Nxf4 49. Bxf5 Kc7 $11) 42... Kxd5 43.
Rg7 (43. Kf3 c5 44. h4 (44. Ke3 Kc6 45. Rg7 Kb6 46. Rxg6+ Kb5 47. Rg7 Kb6 48.
Rh7 Rxa7 49. Rxh6+ Kb5 $11) 44... Kc4 {and the endgame looks drawish} (44...
Kc6 45. Rg7 Kb6 46. Rxg6+ Kb5 47. Rg7 $14)) 43... c5 44. Kf3 g5 {once again
with good chances for a draw.}) (33... Qf6 $6 34. Qb3 Nxb4 35. a7 Nd5 36. Rb1
$16) 34. Qb2+ $1 {The decisive manoeuvre, White's Q tranfers to the fantastic
d4-square.} Kh7 35. Qd4 Qxf3+ 36. Bg2 Qb3 37. Ra1 $18 Nc7 38. Qc5 ({Also
winning is} 38. a7 Nb5 39. Qc5 Rxa7 40. Rxa7 Nxa7 41. Qxa7 Qd1+ 42. Kh2 Qd6+
43. Kg1 Qd1+ 44. Bf1 $18) 38... Qb2 39. Rf1 Re6 (39... Re2 40. a7 Qa2 41. Rd1
$18) 40. a7 Qa3 41. Qa5 Qxa5 42. bxa5 Re5 (42... Na8 43. Rb1 Re7 44. a6 Rxa7
45. Bf1 $18 {[%cal Gb1b7]}) 43. Ra1 Rc5 44. a6 Kg7 45. Rb1 Ra5 46. Bf1 1-0

[Event "Moscow"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1981.04.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Torre, Eugenio"]
[Black "Smejkal, Jan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[Annotator "Belov,I"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1981.04.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. Bc2 Nb8 13. a4 Nbd7 14. Bd3 (14. b3
g6 15. Bb2 exd4 16. cxd4 d5 17. e5 Nh5 18. Nf1 Ng7 19. Qd2 Ne6 20. Ne3 $14 {
Akopian,V-Psakhis,L/Novosibirsk/1993/1:0 (40) Inf 58/376/}) 14... c6 (14... Bc6
15. b3 Rb8 16. Qc2 g6 17. axb5 axb5 18. Ra5 $16 {/\ d5/}) (14... b4 15. Qc2 d5
$5 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Rxe5 18. Nf3 Rxe4 19. Bxe4 dxe4 $44 {Mainka,
R-Nikitin,A/Dortmund/1993/1:0 (66) Inf 57/357/}) 15. Nf1 d5 16. dxe5 $6 (16.
Bg5 $142 dxe4 17. Rxe4 Be7 18. Re2 exd4 19. Nxd4 Bf8 20. Rd2 Qc7 21. Bf5 c5 22.
Nf3 Ne5 $1 23. Nxe5 Rxe5 $1 $14 {Anand,V-Beliavsky,A/Linares/1992/1:0 (38) Inf
54/344/}) 16... Nxe5 17. Nxe5 dxe4 $1 18. Bxe4 Qxd1 19. Rxd1 Nxe4 $15 20. Nf3
Nc5 21. axb5 Nb3 $6 (21... axb5 $10) (21... cxb5 $15) 22. bxc6 $1 Nxa1 $6 (
22... Bxc6 $142 23. Ra2 $8 a5 $16) 23. cxb7 Rab8 (23... Rad8 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25.
Bf4 $18) 24. Bf4 Nb3 (24... Rxb7 25. Rxa1 Rxb2 26. Rxa6 $18) 25. Bxb8 Rxb8 26.
Ne5 $16 (26. Rd7 Nc5) 26... Rxb7 27. Ne3 f6 28. N5c4 a5 29. Rd8 a4 30. Kf1 Nc5
31. Ke2 Kf7 32. Ra8 g6 33. Kd1 (33. Nd5 $18 {/\ Ndb6/}) 33... Nd3 (33... h5 34.
Kc2 {/\ Nd5}) 34. Kc2 Nc5 (34... Nxf2 35. Rxa4 $18) 35. Nd5 $18 Rd7 36. Nxf6 $1
Re7 37. Ne3 (37. Nd5 Re2+) 37... Bh6 38. Nfd5 Rd7 39. Ra5 Ne4 (39... Bf8 40.
Nb6) 40. Rxa4 Nxf2 41. Rh4 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 15th"]
[Site "Gothenburg"]
[Date "2005.08.01"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Berg, Emanuel"]
[Black "Graf, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2539"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Berg,E"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2005.07.30"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SWE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 109"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Sweden"]
[BlackTeam "Germany"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SWE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
b3 {this move doesn't seem to give white anything special after blacks reply.
Instead} (15. a4 {should be played to put pressure on the black queenside.
Just one round later in the tournament Graf played this variation once again
against the Frenchman Fressinet. There followed} c5 16. d5 c4 17. Bg5 Bg7 18.
Qd2 {with a slight advantage to white who later on went on to win the game.})
15... d5 $1 {With this pawn break black immediately equalizes. As the game is
about to open and white still hasn't got time to play Bb2, the move b3 has
just created weaknesses in white's position.} 16. dxe5 ({After} 16. Nxe5 {
black plays} Nxe4 {with an even position.}) (16. Bg5 {has been played a few
times, but after} h6 17. Bh4 g5 18. Nxg5 hxg5 19. Bxg5 exd4 {white's
compensation has shown to be insufficient.}) 16... Nxe5 $2 {A mistake. Now
white is getting another chance to take the advantage. Black should have played
} (16... dxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Rxe4 Nxe5 $1 {with an even
endgame. I had planned to continue with} 20. Bf4 Qxd1+ 21. Rxd1 Nxf3+ 22. gxf3
{and the activity of whites pieces compensate for the double pawn on the
f-file.}) 17. Nxe5 Rxe5 18. f4 ({The alternative was} 18. Bf4 {but this can be
met with} Re6 19. e5 Nd7 {and there is difficult to see any good continuation
for white. Now the e5 pawn is easier to attack as its only protected by pieces.
}) 18... Re8 ({Now} 18... Re6 {is bad because of} 19. f5 $1 {and the white
attack comes quickly.}) 19. e5 Nd7 20. Qg4 {White starts building up an attack
on the kingside. The break e5-e6 can soon become a serious threat and moreover
the queen support the pawn thrust h4-h5.} Bg7 {Black protects his king with
the bishop and also puts some pressure to e5. Furthermore the bishop is
directed against c3 and a1, which makes e5-e6 difficult to carry through.} 21.
Ba3 $1 {White takes the chance and occupies the fine diagonal down to f8 that
the black bishop just left.} c5 {Blocking the diagonal for white's bishop and
takes control over the center as well. But in the same time blacks position
starts to look a bits shaky and hollow.} 22. Rad1 {White increases the
pressure on blacks position. The rook shoots along the d-file down to d7 and
d8 and moves like Ne4 and Be4 is in the air.} Bc6 {Protecting the knight on d7,
freeing the queen as is now on her way to a5.} 23. h4 $5 {White ignores
black's threat ...Qa5 and instead stakes everything for his own attack.} ({
White could also have chosen the more positional} 23. b4 {with the idea} c4 24.
Bc1 {to get control over the dark squares.}) 23... Qa5 24. h5 $1 {The point
behind 23.h4. White sacrifices a piece for a crushing attack.} Qxc3 $1 {
Instead of accepting the piece black takes a pawn so that the queen should be
able to support the defence. From here it threatens in all directions and
disturb the co-ordination for white. at the same time the queen is dangerously
placed and can easily be trapped by the white pieces.} (24... Qxa3 {is far too
greedy. The white attack breaks though very quickly after} 25. hxg6 hxg6 26.
Bxg6 $1 fxg6 27. Qxg6 {and to avoid mate black must play} Nf8 28. Qxc6 {
with two pawns and a strong attack for the sacrificed piece.}) 25. hxg6 hxg6
26. Re2 {White protects the bishop on c2 and prepares the sacrifice Bb2
followed by Bxg6, but also 27.Rd3 can be an interesting possibility.} ({
Unfortunately} 26. Bxg6 {doesn't work because of} fxg6 27. Qxg6 Nf8 28. Qxc6
Qxg3 {and white has some compensation, but not sufficient for a whole piece.
The black pieces are a lot more active here compared with the previous
variation.}) ({However} 26. Bb1 $5 {was an interesting option.} Nf8 27. Ne2
Qe3+ 28. Kf1 {and the black queen is about to get trapped with Bc1.} {Black
can save the queen tactically with} Bd7 29. Qh4 g5 $1 30. Qxg5 Rxe5 $1 {
but after} 31. Bxc5 $1 Qxe2+ ({In case of} 31... Rxg5 32. Bxe3 Rg4 33. g3 {
the black rook on g4 is in a terrible position.}) 32. Rxe2 Rxg5 33. fxg5 Bg4
34. Rxd5 Bxe2+ 35. Kxe2 {white has an extra pawn and a winning position.
Instead black should try 26...Lxe5! 27.fxe5 Sxe5 28.Txe5 (28.Df4 looses to
Sf3+ and the rook on e1 will be lost for white) 28...Txe5 Now black has rook
and three pawns for white two minor pieces. The tactics with 29.Lxg6 doesn't
work because of 29...De3+ followed by 30...Tg5 and black wins.}) 26... Nf8 27.
Bb2 $2 ({It was better to play} 27. Rd3 Qa1+ {and here white can choose
between 28.Rd1 Qc3 with repetition or the very interesting continuation} 28.
Kh2 {Now the c5 pawn is threatened and after} b4 {there follow} 29. Rd1 Qxa2
30. Bxg6 Qxa3 31. Bf5 $1 {White has a dangerous initiative for the sacrificed
piece. The immediate threat is Kh5 and there is difficult to find a good
defence.} (31. Bxf7+ {is a bit too spectacular. After} Kxf7 32. Nf5 Ne6 33.
Nd6+ Ke7 34. Nxe8 Rxe8 35. f5 Qxb3 $1 {the black king will escape and white
has sacrificed far too much material.}) 31... Re6 ({in case of} 31... Ne6 {
there will follow} 32. Nh5 Ra7 33. Re3 $1 {and the black king doesn't stand a
chance against the coming attack.}) (31... Qxb3 {also look tough for black.}
32. Nh5 Ng6 33. Rd3 $1 {with a powerful attack.} ({Worse is} 33. Bxg6 fxg6 34.
Qxg6 Re7 35. Rd3 Qb1 {and white has no better than repetition with} 36. Nf6+ (
36. Nxg7 Rxg7 37. Qe6+ Kf8 38. Rh3 {doesn't work because of} Rg6 $1 {and black
wins.}))) 32. Bxe6 Nxe6 ({White is winning after} 32... fxe6 33. Nh5 Ra7 34.
Re3 {followed by Rg3 with a decisive attack.}) 33. f5 {White is winning back a
piece with material advantage and a continuously strong attack.}) 27... Bd7 $1
{A strong defensive move that interrupt the co-ordination of white's pieces.} (
{Efter} 27... Qxb2 28. Bxg6 Qxe2 29. Bxf7+ Kxf7 30. Qxe2 {har svart torn och
löparparet mot dam och bonde för vit. Men min uppfattning är att vits angrepp
med dam och springare i kombination med de förbundna fribönderna bör leda till
vinst.}) 28. Qg5 ({After} 28. Qxd7 Qxg3 29. Qxd5 Ne6 {the position is in
material balance, but there is no good defence against blacks threat ...Kxf4
and so black is clearly better.}) (28. Bf5 {is leading to a won endgame for
black} Bxf5 29. Nxf5 gxf5 30. Qxg7+ Kxg7 31. Bxc3 d4 {Black is a pawn up and
has a superior position.}) 28... Qxb2 29. Bxg6 Qc3 30. Bxf7+ (30. Bf5 {is not
much better} {After} Bxf5 31. Nxf5 Ne6 {white is lost, even though there still
will be some practical chances.}) 30... Kxf7 31. Nh5 Ne6 32. Qf5+ Kg8 33. Nf6+
{Playing this move I thought I had tricked my opponent forcing a nice mate
combination. Unfortunately I had missed a small detail. White is lost in
nevertheless, but} (33. Qg6 Rf8 34. Rxd5 {would have given some practical
chances.}) (33. Rd3 Nxf4 $1 {immediately decides the game in blacks favor.})
33... Bxf6 34. exf6 Kf7 $1 35. Rxd5 $4 (35. Re5 Rh8 {eliminates all hopes for
white and}) (35. Qh7+ Kxf6 36. Qxd7 (36. Re5 Nxf4 $1) 36... Qg3 37. Rxd5 Qg4 {
does not give white any real survival chances either.}) 35... Qc1+ $1 {The
move that I had missed in the time trouble. Now black forces exchange of
queens with ...Qxf4+ next move. I was only counting on} (35... Qa1+ 36. Kf2 {
and white is winning, for instance} Qxf6 37. Rxd7+ Re7 38. Qh7+ Kf8 (38... Ke8
{also looses to} 39. Rxe7+ Qxe7 40. Qg8+ Kd7 41. Qxa8) 39. Rxe7 Nxf4 40. R2e3 {
and white wins.}) 36. Kh2 (36. Kf2 Qxf4+ 37. Qxf4 Nxf4 38. Rxd7+ Kxf6 {gives
black a whole piece more and an easy win.}) 36... Rh8+ {The quickest win} (
36... Qxf4+ {also wins of course.}) 37. Kg3 Rag8+ 38. Kf2 Rxg2+ $1 39. Kxg2
Qh1+ 40. Kf2 Rh2+ 41. Kg3 (41. Ke3 Rxe2+ 42. Kxe2 Nd4+ 43. Rxd4 Bxf5) 41...
Qg1+ 42. Kf3 Nd4+ 0-1

[Event "ESP-chT Honor Gp1 49th"]
[Site "Merida"]
[Date "2005.08.28"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2691"]
[Annotator "Bologan,V"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2005.08.24"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 109"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 {Been one of the most active and faithful Ruy Lopez players for
Black Ivan has various possibilities pf playinng it. One of them is Breyer
Variation.} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 c5 {Black is trying to clarify
the situation in the center as soon is possible which in my opinion favours
white aswell.} 13. d5 {We get into Chigorin type of positions with the bad
bishop on b7.} Qc7 $5 {Technicaly a novelty. Recently was played} (13... g6 {
with three different results} 14. Nf1 Nh5 (14... Qc7 15. Bh6 (15. Ng3 c4 16.
Bh6 Rfb8 17. Qd2 Bf8 18. Be3 a5 19. Nh2 b4 20. f4 Ba6 21. Rf1 bxc3 22. bxc3 Rb2
{Cheparinov I 2634 - Sokolov I 2691 , 22. 7.2005 ACT Open}) 15... Rfb8 16. g4
Bf8 17. Qd2 Bxh6 18. Qxh6 Qd8 19. Ng3 Qf8 20. Qe3 c4 21. Nd2 Nc5 22. b4 cxb3
23. axb3 a5 24. b4 axb4 25. cxb4 Na4 26. Bd3 Bc8 27. Nb3 $14 {Kosteniuk A 2516
- Sokolov I 2691 , 13. 8.2005 Ordix Open}) 15. Bh6 Re8 16. Qd2 Bf8 17. Bg5 f6
18. Be3 Ng7 19. Bh6 Nh5 20. Be3 Ng7 21. Bh6 {1/2-1/2, Schoorl R 2239 - Timman
T 2335 , 20. 7.2005 ACT Open}) 14. Nf1 Rfb8 (14... c4 15. Ng3 Rfb8) 15. Ng3 Bc8
{Black undercovers his plan - he doesn't want to play g6 and to weaken his
kingside. Instead would prfere to use this square for the knight meanwhile
trying to create a counterplay on the queenside.} 16. Be3 Nf8 17. a4 $1 {
On the first look black is stronger on the queenside, but without knights all
the plays will be favorable to white.} Bd7 (17... bxa4 18. Ra2 a3 19. b3) 18.
Qd2 b4 {Preventing the eventual b4 from my side. If} (18... Ng6 {I would go for
} 19. b4 c4 20. Ra2 a5 (20... Qd8 21. Rea1) 21. axb5 axb4 22. b6 Qc8 23. Rxa8
Rxa8 24. cxb4 c3 25. Qd3 $16) 19. Bd3 {After this white is taking under
control the white squares which means that black's plan failed.} Bd8 (19... c4
20. Bf1 b3 (20... a5 21. Qe2 bxc3 22. bxc3 Ng6 23. Qxc4 $16) 21. Qe2 Rc8 22.
Nd2) 20. Bc4 Qc8 21. Nh4 $1 {To achive more then a pleasunt position one have
to use both strategical and tactical thinking. Now due to weakened d6 square
this tempting maneuvre becomes possible. Beside the control on f5 white is
also ready to push the f pown.} Ng4 $5 {Trying to simplify the position even
at cost of loosing one bishop.} (21... Nxe4 22. Nxe4 Bxh4 23. Nxd6 Qc7 24. Nxf7
) (21... Ng6 22. Nxg6 hxg6 23. f4 exf4 24. Bxf4 Bc7 25. e5 dxe5 26. Bxe5 Bxe5
27. Rxe5 $16) 22. hxg4 Bxh4 23. Nf5 {The other choice I liked less:} (23. g5
Bxg3 24. fxg3 $14) 23... Bxf5 24. gxf5 (24. exf5 h6 25. g3 Be7 26. f4 Nd7)
24... h6 25. g3 Bf6 26. Kg2 Nh7 27. Rh1 $16 {White is better on both sides. On
the queenside he can always open by a5 and Ra4, on the king side the open h
file provokes for a different sacrifices and even in center black have to be
careful.} Bg5 (27... Ng5 28. f3 $16) 28. f4 exf4 $2 {Decissive mistake. After
this white gets the possibility to blow the position with e5. The solid} (28...
Bf6 29. a5 (29. fxe5 Bxe5 30. Bxh6 bxc3 31. bxc3 gxh6 32. Qxh6 Bxc3 33. Qxh7+
Kf8 $13) 29... bxc3 30. bxc3 Nf8 31. Kf3 $16 {would continue the game with
still very good chances for white}) 29. gxf4 Bf6 30. Kf3 Qc7 31. a5 Ra7 32. Qd3
Nf8 33. Rag1 Kh8 34. e5 $1 {The time had come.} dxe5 35. fxe5 Qxe5 (35... Nd7
36. exf6 Ne5+ 37. Ke2 Nxd3 38. fxg7+ Kg8 39. Rxh6 $18) 36. Bf4 Qe8 37. Bxh6 {
Even not cosidering the exchange.} Kg8 (37... gxh6 38. Qd2) 38. Bf4 {I spent a
good part of the resting time for the tempting} (38. Bxg7 {but I was not
satisfied with the subsequences} Bxg7 39. f6 Ng6 40. Qf5 (40. Rxg6 fxg6 41. d6+
Kf8 42. Qd5 Rf7) (40. fxg7 Qe5) 40... Qe5 41. Qxe5 Nxe5+ 42. Kf2 Ng6 43. d6 Kf8
) 38... bxc3 39. bxc3 Rb2 40. Kg4 Re7 $6 {Suspicious but the game is already
difficult to save.} (40... Qd7 41. Rh5 g6 (41... Ng6 42. Rgh1) 42. Kf3 Bg7 43.
fxg6) (40... Rf2 41. Bg3 Rb2 42. Rh5 Be5 (42... g6 43. fxg6 Nxg6 44. d6 Qd7+
45. Rf5 Kg7 46. Qe3 Ra8 47. Rh1 $18) 43. Re1 Rg2 (43... g6 44. Rg5) 44. Kh3 $18
) 41. d6 Re4 42. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 43. Qd5+ Re6 44. Rh8 g5 45. d7 Qe7 46. d8=N+
Qxd8 47. fxe6+ Kg7 48. Qxd8 1-0

[Event "Bugojno"]
[Site "Bugojno"]
[Date "1978.03.13"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Byrne, Robert Eugene"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Bulletin"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1978.02.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. Bc2 g6 13. b3 Nb8 14. a4 Nbd7 15. Bd3
c6 16. Bb2 Bg7 17. Qc2 Rb8 (17... Qb6 18. b4 exd4 19. cxd4 c5 20. bxc5 dxc5 21.
axb5 axb5 22. dxc5 Nxc5 23. Rxa8 Bxa8 24. Bd4 $14 {Byrne-Oasdevsky, Monte
Carlo 1968}) (17... Rc8 18. dxe5 $6 (18. Bf1 $5) 18... dxe5 19. b4 Bf8 20. Red1
Qb6 21. Qb3 c5 $15 {Korchnoi-Portisch, m USSR-Rest Belgrad 1970}) 18. Bf1 Ba8
19. b4 Qc8 20. dxe5 dxe5 21. c4 bxa4 22. Rxa4 c5 23. b5 Bb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.23"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Sutovsky, Emil"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[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 "Odlar Yurdu"]
[BlackTeam "Mednyi Vsadnik"]
[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. c3
d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Bg5 ({
Üblich ist} 14. Ng3 g6 15. a4) 14... h6 {[#]} 15. Bh4 {Der Läufer konnte
nicht nach e3, weil e4 hing. Aber hier steht er nicht gut, weil er dem Sf1 den
Weg nach g3 versperrt.} Qc8 16. N3d2 g6 17. dxe5 Rxe5 18. f4 Re8 {[#] Weiß
hat Probleme mit dem schwachen Bauern e4 und löst dies nun auf radikale Weise.
} 19. e5 $6 dxe5 20. f5 g5 21. Bf2 e4 22. Ng3 {[#]} e3 {Gibt den Bauern
zurück und öffnet dabei Linien für die eigenen Figuren.} 23. Rxe3 (23. Bxe3
Rxe3 24. Rxe3 Bc5 25. Ndf1 Nd5 $19) 23... Bc5 24. Rxe8+ Qxe8 25. Qe1 Qf8 26.
Nde4 Bxe4 27. Nxe4 Nxe4 28. Qxe4 Re8 29. Qc6 Bxf2+ 30. Kxf2 Qe7 31. Kg1 ({Nach
} 31. Qxh6 Qe3+ 32. Kf1 Qf4+ 33. Kg1 Re2 34. Rf1 Qg3 {scheint} 35. Be4 {
noch zu gehen. Aber} Qe3+ (35... Rxe4 $2 36. f6 Nxf6 37. Qxf6 $11) 36. Kh1 Qxe4
{gewinnt gefahrlos die Figur.} 37. Qxg5+ Kf8 38. Qd8+ Qe8 $19) 31... Nf6 32.
Qf3 (32. Qxa6 Qc5+ 33. Kh1 Kg7 $17 {und die weiße Dame ist sehr weit weg vom
eigenen König, der bald unter Beschuss geraten wird.}) 32... Qc5+ 33. Qf2 {[#]
} Re3 $1 {Schick. Es droht g4 und Weiß kann nicht auf g4 nehmen, weil nach
Sg4 die Dame ziehen muss und dann ein Abzug des Turmes folgt. Die weiße
Position wird nun in wenigen Zügen ausgehebelt.} 34. Kf1 Qc4+ 35. Kg1 Re2 36.
Bb3 Qe4 37. Qg3 c5 38. Bd1 Rxb2 39. Bf3 Qe3+ 40. Kh1 Qxc3 41. h4 Rb4 0-1

[Event "Grenke Chess Classic 3rd"]
[Site "Baden-Baden"]
[Date "2015.02.08"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Baramidze, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2594"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2015.02.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. 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 Bg7 16. Bd3 {Baramidze is faithful to the variation that gave him a good
position against Carlsen, even if he lost that game at the end.} c6 17. Be3 {
Already a different approach from 17.Bg5. The structure is typical for the
Breyer: Black will try to break on d5 at some point, but it isn't always easy
to achieve and it doesn't always give full equality. On the other hand it
isn't entirely clear what White is doing to improve his own position.} Qc7 18.
Qd2 exd4 19. cxd4 c5 {This entire plan of playing c5, though common for the
structure, is probably dubious at this point. White is very well placed for it.
} 20. d5 c4 21. Bc2 Rec8 22. axb5 c3 {This is the start of a combination that
doesn't work.} (22... axb5 23. Nd4 {looks pretty bad for Black as b5 is hard
to defend in a natural way.}) 23. bxc3 Nxd5 24. exd5 Bxc3 25. Qd1 Bxa1 26. Qxa1
axb5 27. Qd4 {Black doesn't have the time to take on c2.} Qc3 (27... Qxc2 28.
Bh6 f6 29. Re7 {Black is too weak along the 7th rank and his defenses simply
collapse.}) 28. Ne4 Qxd4 29. Nxd4 Bxd5 30. Nxd6 Rc5 31. N6xb5 {White has
consolidated his extra material. The two pieces will overpower the rook, even
if it is a slow process.} Ra2 32. Bh6 Ra8 33. Bd3 Rd8 34. Bg5 Ra8 35. Be7 Rcc8
36. Nd6 Rc7 37. N4b5 Rc6 38. Bf1 Kg7 39. g4 f6 40. g5 Rb8 41. h4 h5 42. Bh3 f5
43. Bf1 Kg8 44. Rd1 Bf3 45. Ra1 Bd5 46. f4 Nc5 47. Rd1 Bf3 48. Bc4+ Kh7 49. Rf1
Be4 50. Ra1 Nd3 51. Nd4 Rc7 52. Nxe4 fxe4 53. Bf6 Rcb7 54. Ne6 Rb1+ 55. Rxb1
Rxb1+ 56. Kg2 Rb8 57. Kf1 Rc8 58. Bd5 Re8 59. Be5 Rc8 60. Ke2 Nc5 61. Nxc5 Rxc5
62. Bxe4 Ra5 63. Ke3 Ra3+ 64. Kd4 Ra5 65. f5 1-0

[Event "Reggio Emilia 53rd"]
[Site "Reggio Emilia"]
[Date "2011.01.05"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2719"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2010.12.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 140"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Bg5 h6 15.
Bh4 g6 {This is the second Breyer the two players play this year, with Navara
seeking to settle the score.} (15... exd4 16. cxd4 c5 17. d5 g6 18. Bg3 Nb6 19.
b3 Bg7 20. Rc1 a5 21. Bd3 b4 22. N3d2 a4 23. Ne3 axb3 24. axb3 Nh5 25. Bh2 Bb2
26. Bb5 Re7 27. Ng4 Nf6 28. Nxh6+ Kg7 29. Ng4 Bxc1 30. Qxc1 Nxg4 31. hxg4 {
1-0 Gashimov,V (2719)-Navara,D (2731)/Sestao 2010/CB34_2010 (48)}) 16. N1h2 Bg7
17. dxe5 dxe5 18. Ng4 g5 (18... Qe7 19. Qd2 g5 20. Nxf6+ Nxf6 21. Bg3 Nh5 22.
a4 c5 23. Nh2 c4 24. Nf1 Nf4 {1/2-1/2 Gashimov,V (2734)-Svidler,P (2735)/
Astrakhan 2010/CB20_2010 (62)}) 19. Bg3 Nxg4 20. hxg4 Qe7 21. a4 c5 {#} 22. Nd2
{Obviously, the knight has few options on f3, so it is time to reroute it to
the far more attractive f5 square which is just screaming to have a knight
placed on it.} Nf6 23. Nf1 Qe6 24. f3 h5 25. gxh5 ({Instead of handing the f4
square to Black's knight, Gashimov might have tried} 25. Qd2 Bh6 26. Ne3 Red8
27. Qf2 hxg4 28. Nf5) 25... Nxh5 26. Bf2 Rad8 27. Qc1 Nf4 28. Ne3 {#Although
White's knight will finally reach its destination, it is completely balanced
by Black's equally well-placed counterpart.} Qg6 29. axb5 axb5 30. Ra7 {#} g4
$3 {Trouble in paradise!} 31. fxg4 Bxe4 32. Nf5 Bxc2 33. Qxc2 Qxg4 34. Be3 c4
35. Rb7 {#} Rd3 ({The Czech player now had a chance to finish Vugar off with
the unexpected} 35... Bf8 $1 {The point is that} 36. Bxf4 {would no longer
effectively defend, since now} ({If White ignores this and grabs the pawn with
} 36. Rxb5 {then Black forces his opponent's hand with} Re6 37. Bxf4 {Forced
due to the threat of Rg6.} exf4 38. Rxe6 Rd1+ $1 39. Kf2 fxe6 {and the knight
is lost since if it moves, White is mated with Qg3+ Ke2 Qe1 mate.}) 36... exf4
37. Rxe8 Rxe8 $1 {and White cannot protect against the fatal rook penetration
and the knight at the same time.}) 36. Bxf4 Qxf5 37. Bc1 Qc8 ({The natural
looking} 37... e4 {was strongest here.}) 38. Ra7 Bf8 39. b4 Qe6 40. Qf2 Rxc3
41. Bd2 Rb3 42. Rf1 {White's threats are starting to become serious, and
Navara is walking on very thin ice here.} Qd5 $6 {#} (42... Be7 43. Ra6 Qd5 (
43... Qxa6 44. Qxf7+ {leads to mate.})) 43. Be3 $1 Rxe3 44. Rxf7 $1 (44. Qxe3
Qd4 $1 {and White is in trouble. Ex:} 45. Qxd4 exd4 46. Rfxf7 d3 $1) 44... Bh6
({The interference return of material with} 44... Rf3 {was an option to
prevent Qf5, though Black is still in big trouble after} 45. Rxf3 Bg7 46. Qe2
Qd4+ 47. Kh1 Re6 48. Rh3) 45. Qf5 Qd3 (45... Qe4 46. Qd7 Ra8 47. Qe6 $18) 46.
Qg4+ Kh8 47. R7f6 Rh3 {Forced.} (47... Kh7 $4 48. Rxh6+ Kxh6 49. Rf6+ {etc.})
48. gxh3 Qh7 49. Kh1 Bf4 50. Qf3 Rg8 51. Rb6 Qc2 52. Qh5+ Qh7 53. Qxh7+ Kxh7
54. Rf3 {Protecting against Rg3 and ending any hopes for Black.} 1-0

[Event "St Stefan/Belgrade m"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Spassky, Boris Vasilievich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "Chandler,M"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1992.09.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 031"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 (13. b4 {Fischer,
R-Spassky,B/Reykjavik m-10/1972/}) 13... Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. Bg5 $5 h6 (15...
Bg7 16. Qc1 c5 17. d5 Nb6 18. Bh6 Nfd7 19. b3 a5 20. a4 bxa4 21. bxa4 Ba6 {
Balashov,Y-Spassky,B/Tallin/1973/}) 16. Bd2 Bg7 17. a4 $5 (17. Rc1 {Spassky,
B-Unzicker,W/Santa Monika/1966/}) 17... c5 (17... Nb6 18. axb5 axb5 19. b3 Nfd7
20. Bd3 b4 21. Rxa8 Bxa8 22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Nxe5 dxe5 24. Qc2 bxc3 25. Bxc3 {
Karpov,An-Kortchnoi,V (1)/Lenigrad m/1971/}) (17... exd4 18. cxd4 c5 19. d5 Nb6
20. Qc1 Kh7 21. Ba5 Nfd7 $10 {Kuczynski,R-Kveinis,A/Warszawa op/1989/}) 18. d5
c4 19. b4 Nh7 $6 (19... cxb3 20. Bxb3 Nc5 (20... Rc8 21. axb5 axb5 22. Qe2 Qb6
23. Reb1 Ra8 24. Ba4 Ba6 25. c4 $16) 21. c4 $1 bxc4 (21... bxa4 22. Bxa4 Re7
23. Bb4 Rc8 (23... Qc7 24. Bxc5 Qxc5 25. Nd2 h5 26. Nb3 Qxc4 27. Na5 Qc8 28.
Nxb7 Rxb7 29. Bc6 $16) 24. Qe2 $14) 22. Bxc4 $14) 20. Be3 h5 21. Qd2 Rf8 22.
Ra3 Ndf6 (22... h4 23. Nf1 f5 24. exf5 (24. Bg5 Bf6 (24... Nxg5 25. Qxg5 Qxg5
26. Nxg5 $16) 25. Bh6 Bg7 26. Bxg7 Kxg7 27. exf5 gxf5 28. Ne3 f4 (28... Kg6 29.
Nxf5 Rxf5 30. Bxf5+ Kxf5 31. Qc2+ Kf6 32. Qxh7 $18) 29. Nf5+ $16) 24... gxf5
25. Ng5 Nxg5 26. Bxg5 Bf6 27. Bh6 Bg7 28. Bxg7 Kxg7 29. f4 $16) 23. Rea1 Qd7 (
23... h4 $2 24. Nxh4 Nxe4 25. Nxe4 Qxh4 26. Nxd6 $16) 24. R1a2 Rfc8 25. Qc1 Bf8
26. Qa1 Qe8 27. Nf1 $1 Be7 28. N1d2 (28. N3d2 $5 Kg7 29. f3 $16) 28... Kg7 29.
Nb1 $1 Nxe4 $1 (29... Nd7 30. axb5 axb5 31. Rxa8 Rxa8 32. Rxa8 Qxa8 33. Qxa8
Bxa8 34. Na3 $18) 30. Bxe4 f5 (30... Nf6 $5 $13) 31. Bc2 Bxd5 32. axb5 axb5 33.
Ra7 $1 Kf6 34. Nbd2 Rxa7 (34... f4 35. Ne4+ Bxe4 36. Bxe4 Rxa7 37. Bxa7 $18)
35. Rxa7 Ra8 36. g4 $1 (36. h4 $5) 36... hxg4 37. hxg4 Rxa7 (37... fxg4 38. Nh2
) 38. Qxa7 f4 (38... fxg4 39. Nh2 Qc8 (39... Be6 40. Ne4+ Kg7 41. Nxd6 $18) 40.
Ne4+ Ke6 41. Nxd6 $1 Bxd6 (41... Kxd6 42. Bc5+) 42. Qxh7 $18) (38... Bc6 39.
Nh4 Bd7 40. Bh6 $18) 39. Bxf4 $1 (39. Bb6 Qc8 $1 $16) 39... exf4 40. Nh4 $1 Bf7
(40... Nf8 41. Qd4+ Ke6 42. Nxg6 Nxg6 43. Bf5+ Kf7 44. Bxg6+ Kxg6 45. Qxd5 $18)
41. Qd4+ Ke6 (41... Kg5 42. Qg7 $140 Kxh4 43. Qh6+ Kxg4 44. f3+ Kg3 45. Qh2#)
42. Nf5 Bf8 (42... Kd7 43. Qa7+) 43. Qxf4 Kd7 (43... gxf5 44. Qxf5+ Ke7 45.
Qxh7 $18) 44. Nd4 Qe1+ 45. Kg2 Bd5+ 46. Be4 Bxe4+ 47. Nxe4 Be7 48. Nxb5 Nf8 (
48... d5 49. Qc7+ Ke6 50. Qc6+ Ke5 51. Ng3 Nf8 52. Nd4 $18) 49. Nbxd6 Ne6 50.
Qe5 1-0

[Event "Baden"]
[Site "Baden"]
[Date "1980.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Byrne, Robert Eugene"]
[Black "Spassky, Boris Vasilievich"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1980.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. c4 Bb7 12. Nc3 c6 13. a3 exd4 14. Nxd4 Nc5 (14...
bxc4 15. Bxc4 d5 16. Nxc6 (16. Bd3 dxe4 17. Nxe4 c5 $10) 16... Bxc6 17. exd5 {
/\18.d5-d6 +/-} Nb6 18. dxc6 Nxc4 (18... Qxd1 19. Nxd1 $18) 19. Qe2 $18) 15.
Ba2 bxc4 16. Bxc4 d5 17. exd5 cxd5 18. Ba2 Nfe4 19. Nf5 Nxc3 20. Nxe7+ Qxe7 21.
bxc3 Ne6 22. Bxd5 Rfd8 23. c4 Bxd5 24. cxd5 Qc5 25. Be3 Qxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Biel GM"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "2007.07.27"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Motylev, Alexander"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2648"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2007.07.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. b3
c6 16. a4 Bg7 17. Ba3 d5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Rxe5 20. f4 Re8 21. e5 Nd7 22.
Bd6 c5 23. axb5 axb5 24. Rxa8 Bxa8 25. b4 cxb4 26. Bxb4 f6 27. Bb3 fxe5 28.
Bxd5+ Bxd5 29. Qxd5+ Kh8 30. f5 Qb6+ 31. Kh2 Nf6 32. Qf7 e4 33. fxg6 Qb8 34.
gxh7 Qe5 {Carlsen had played the game extremely quickly, but not without some
inaccuracies. Here Motylev had a winning position, but he was already in
extreme time trouble and carlsen's rapid play did not allow him much thinking
time on his opponent's moves.. Carlsen hatte die Partie extrem schnell
gespielt, aber auch nicht fehlerlos. Motylev hatte hier eine Gewinnstellung,
aber er befand sich auch schon starker Zeitnot und wegen Carlsens schnellen
Spiel erhielt er wenig Gelegenheit bei gegnerischem Zugrecht nachzudenken.} 35.
Bd6 $4 ({The strongest move, and almost the only winning one was Am stärksten 
(und fast auch der einzige Gewinn) war} 35. Qg6 Z0 {and the unpinning of the
g3-knight with und die Entfesselung des Springers g3 mit} 36. Kg1) 35... Qxd6 {
The plan now was 36.Qxg7+ Kxg7 37.Nf5+, but the knight on g3 was still pinned.
Geplant war nun 36.Qxg7+ Kxg7 37.Nf5+, aber der Springer auf g3 ist immer noch
gefesselt.} 0-1

[Event "URS-ch55"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1988.07.??"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Sokolov, Andrei"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1988.07.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "URS-ch"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15. b3
Rb8 16. Ba3 Nh5 (16... Qb6 $13) 17. Bf1 Nf4 18. Qc2 Bc8 19. Rad1 Qb6 20. b4 $14
Qd8 21. a5 Qf6 22. g3 Ne6 23. Bg2 exd4 24. cxd4 Nxd4 25. Nxd4 Qxd4 26. Qxc6 Qf6
27. Nb1 Qe7 28. Qc2 Bb7 29. Nc3 Rbc8 30. Qd2 Nf6 31. Nd5 Nxd5 32. exd5 Qd7 33.
Rxe8 Qxe8 34. Bb2 Rc4 35. Rc1 Qc8 36. Rxc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Interzonal-09b playoff plac3 2+3"]
[Site "Portoroz"]
[Date "1973.09.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Geller, Efim P"]
[Black "Portisch, Lajos"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "173"]
[EventDate "1973.09.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "IZT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {1) DSZ 1973, S.354-356. [Teschner].} 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. c4 c6 12.
Qc2 a5 13. a4 bxc4 14. Bxc4 d5 15. Bd3 dxe4 16. Bxe4 Nxe4 17. Qxe4 Bb4 18. Bd2
Bxd2 19. Nbxd2 exd4 20. Qxd4 Nf6 21. Rac1 Bd7 22. Nc4 c5 23. Qxc5 Bxa4 24. Nfe5
Rb8 25. Qa3 Bb5 26. Nxa5 Qb6 27. b4 Rfe8 28. Qc3 Re6 29. Nec6 Rbe8 30. Rxe6
Rxe6 31. Qc5 Qxc5 32. Rxc5 Re1+ 33. Kh2 Ba4 34. b5 Rb1 35. Nd4 h5 36. Rc8+ Kh7
37. Rb8 h4 38. Rb7 Kg6 39. Nac6 Ne4 40. Ne5+ Kf6 41. Ng4+ Kg6 42. Ne5+ Kf6 43.
f4 Bb3 44. Nef3 g6 45. Nxh4 Bd5 46. Rc7 Rd1 47. Nc2 Rb1 48. Ne3 Rxb5 49. Nf3
Be6 50. Nd4 Rb4 51. Nxe6 Kxe6 52. Rc4 Rxc4 53. Nxc4 Kf5 54. g3 Nc5 55. Kg2 Nd3
56. Kf3 Nc5 57. Nd6+ Ke6 58. Ne4 Nd7 59. Ke3 f5 60. Ng5+ Kf6 61. Kd4 Kg7 62.
Ne6+ Kf7 63. Nc7 Nf6 64. Nd5 Nd7 65. Nc7 Nf6 66. Nd5 Nd7 67. Nc3 Nf6 68. Ke5
Nh5 69. Ne2 Ke7 70. Kd5 Nf6+ 71. Ke5 Nh5 72. Kd4 Nf6 73. Ke3 Nd5+ 74. Kf3 Kf7
75. Nc1 Kg7 76. Nd3 Kf7 77. Kf2 Kg7 78. Nc5 Nf6 79. Ke3 Kh7 80. Nd3 Kh6 81. Ne5
Kg7 82. Nc4 Kf7 83. Kf3 Nd5 84. Ke2 Kg7 85. Kd3 Nf6 86. Ke3 Kf7 87. Kf3 $138 {
Geller überschritt vor Ausübung des 87.Zuges die Zeit. Er war irrigerweise
der Meinung, die Zeitkontrolle wäre schon nach dem 86.Zug geschehen. Die
nächste Zeitkontrolle wäre nach dem 88.Zuge geschehen.} 0-1

[Event "Interzonal-10a"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1976.08.04"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Byrne, Robert Eugene"]
[Black "Matanovic, Aleksandar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "1976.07.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "19"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "IZT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. c4 c6 12. Nbd2 Bb7 13. Bc2 Ne8 (13... c5 $1 14.
d5 Nb6 15. b3 Bc8 $10) 14. Qe2 Qb6 15. Nb3 c5 16. d5 g6 17. Bd2 b4 18. Bh6 Ng7
19. Nbd2 Nf6 20. g4 Kh8 21. Nf1 Ng8 22. Bd2 Bc8 23. Ng3 Bd7 24. Kh2 a5 25. Rg1
a4 26. Bd3 a3 27. b3 f6 28. Rg2 Rf7 29. Rag1 Raf8 30. Ne1 f5 31. gxf5 gxf5 32.
exf5 Qd8 33. f4 Bf6 34. Nf3 exf4 35. Bxf4 Bc8 36. Qc2 Be7 37. Kh1 Bf6 38. Nf1
Qd7 39. Ne3 Re8 40. Qf2 Ne7 41. Ng5 Bxg5 42. Rxg5 Nexf5 43. Nxf5 Nxf5 44. Qg2
Nh6 45. Bh2 Rd8 46. Rh5 Ng8 47. Bxd6 Qxd6 48. Bxh7 Nf6 49. Bg8+ Nxh5 50. Bxf7
Qd7 51. Bxh5 Qxh3+ 52. Qxh3 Bxh3 53. Bg4 Bxg4 54. Rxg4 Re8 55. Rg1 Kh7 56. d6
Rd8 57. Rd1 Kg7 58. Kg2 Kf7 59. Kf3 Ke6 60. d7 1-0

[Event "URS-ch56"]
[Site "Odessa"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Balashov, Yuri S"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "1989.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "URS-ch"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15.
Nf1 d5 16. Bg5 dxe4 17. Rxe4 Be7 (17... h6 $2 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. N1h2 $16 {
Lobron-Smejkal}) (17... exd4 $2 18. Rxd4 Qc7 19. Bf4 Qb6 {Huebner-Spassky (5)/
Venice m/1989/} 20. Rxd7 $1 Nxd7 21. Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. Ng5+ Kg8 23. Qxd7 Be7 24.
Re1 Kf8 25. Bd6 Qd8 26. Rxe7 Rxe7 27. Bxe7+ Qxe7 28. Nh7+ $18) 18. Re1 (18. Re2
$5 {Van der Wiel,J-Van der Sterren,P/NLD-ch/1990/ ->}) 18... exd4 19. Nxd4 Bf8
20. Nf5 Qc7 (20... Ne5 21. Bc2 Qxd1 22. Raxd1 Nd5 23. N1e3 $14 {Balashov}) (
20... h6 21. Be3 Ne5 22. Bc2 {Huebner,R-Van der Sterren,P/Munich/1990/1/2-1/2/
22/ ->}) 21. Qd2 Rad8 22. Rxe8 Rxe8 23. Bf4 Qb6 24. a5 Qd8 25. Nd6 Bxd6 26.
Bxd6 c5 27. Ng3 c4 28. Bc2 Nc5 29. f3 Re5 30. Qd4 Rd5 31. Bxc5 Rxd4 32. Bxd4
Nd5 33. Re1 f6 34. Be4 Qxa5 35. Nf5 Qd8 36. Bc5 Qd7 37. Bxd5+ Bxd5 38. Ne7+ Kf7
39. Rd1 Qc7 40. Rxd5 Qf4 41. Rd1 Qe5 42. Nd5 Qe2 43. Ne3 Qxb2 44. Rd7+ Kg8 45.
Rd8+ Kf7 46. Rd7+ Kg8 47. Rd8+ Kf7 48. f4 Qxc3 49. f5 g6 50. Rd7+ Ke8 51. Re7+
Kd8 52. Bb6+ Kc8 53. Nd5 Qa1+ 54. Kh2 gxf5 55. Rc7+ Kd8 56. Rxh7+ Ke8 57. Re7+
Kf8 58. Bc5 Kg8 59. h4 f4 60. h5 f3 61. gxf3 Kh8 62. h6 Qc1 63. Re8+ Kh7 64.
Nxf6+ Kg6 65. Ng4 c3 66. Re6+ Kf7 67. Re7+ Kg6 68. Rg7+ 1-0

[Event "Montreal International"]
[Site "Montreal"]
[Date "1979.04.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Black "Spassky, Boris Vasilievich"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1979.04.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 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 Nc5 (17... Rb8 18. Qd2 Bc8 19. axb5 axb5 20. Ra2 Bg7
21. Rea1 Nc5 {Spassky,B-Karpov,An (10)/Leningrad cm/1974/1/2-1/2/}) (17... h6 {
main line} 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2 Kh7 20. Nh2 Bg7 21. Rf1 h5 22. f3 {Spassky,
B-Portisch,L (9)/Geneve cm/1977/1-0/}) 18. Qd2 Be7 19. Bh6 Nfd7 (19... Rb8 $5)
20. Nh2 Rb8 21. Rf1 Bc8 22. axb5 axb5 23. Kh1 (23. Ng4 $142 $1 Nf6 24. Nxf6+
Bxf6 25. f4 exf4 26. Qxf4 Nd7 27. e5 $40) 23... Bf8 24. Bg5 Be7 25. Be3 Bf8 26.
Ng4 Qe7 27. Bg5 f6 28. Be3 Bg7 29. Nh2 {/\f2-f4} Rb7 30. Ra5 Qd8 31. Ra2 Qe7
32. Ne2 Nb6 33. Ng3 Rf8 34. f4 $6 {><e5} exf4 35. Bxf4 Nbd7 36. Nf3 Ne5 37.
Raa1 Ned3 $15 38. b4 $5 (38. Bxd3 $2 Nb3 39. Qf2 Nxa1 $19) 38... Nxe4 39. Nxe4
Qxe4 40. Bxd3 cxd3 41. Rad1 g5 $2 (41... Bf5 $1 $17) 42. Bg3 Bf5 43. Qa2 (43.
Qa2 Qc4 (43... Bg6 44. Nd4 Bf7 45. Rf5 Bg6) 44. Qxc4 bxc4 45. Nd2 $14) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vrsac"]
[Site "Vrsac"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Popovic, Petar"]
[Black "Lalic, Bogdan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1989.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.04.01"]
[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 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. Kh1 Rb8 20. Qd2 h5 21. Ng5 Bh6 22.
axb5 axb5 23. f4 {23.Ra5 Popovic-Beliavsky/Thessaloniki ol/1989/ +/-} h4 24.
fxe5 Rxe5 25. Nf3 Bxe3 26. Qxe3 Nxd5 $1 {N} 27. Qh6 hxg3 28. Nxe5 dxe5 29. Rad1
Nf4 $1 30. Rxd8+ Rxd8 31. Qg5 Rd2 32. Qxe5 Nce6 33. Bd1 $1 $10 (33. Qb8+ Kh7
34. Qxb7 Rxg2 $19) (33. Bd1 Rxg2 34. Bg4 Rh2+ 35. Kg1 Rg2+ 36. Kf1 Rf2+ $10)
1/2-1/2

[Event "Stockholms Schackforbund-03 1960/61"]
[Site "Stockholm"]
[Date "1960.12.31"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Tal, Mihail"]
[Black "Unzicker, Wolfgang"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[Annotator "ChessBase/Tal"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1960.12.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SWE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2018"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {1) Shakhmatyi (Riga) 1961. Reprinted in 2) Kirillov,V: Mikhail Tal
1949-1961. Riga. 1996. p.267-268.} 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. c4 c6 12. c5 $1 Qc7
(12... dxc5 {Averbakh,Y-Furman,S URS-ch28 Moscow 1961 1-0}) (12... Bb7 $142)
13. cxd6 Bxd6 14. Bg5 $1 {[%cal Rd4e5] [#]} c5 $6 (14... Bb7) (14... exd4 {
was played later.} 15. Bxf6 {During the game Tal valued this position as
better for White.} gxf6 16. Nxd4 Nc5 $13) 15. dxc5 (15. dxe5 Bxe5) 15... Bxc5 (
15... Nxc5 $5 16. Bxf6 Nxb3 17. Qxb3 Be6 18. Qe3 gxf6 19. Qh6 Qe7 20. Nc3 Bb4
21. Re3 Kh8) 16. Nc3 {'+/='} Bb7 17. Rc1 (17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 Nb6 19. Bxb7
Qxb7 20. Nxe5 f6 21. Nd3 Bxf2+ 22. Nxf2 fxg5) 17... Qb6 18. Re2 $1 {[%cal
Rg5f6]} Rfe8 {'?'} (18... h6 $2 19. Bxf6 Nxf6 20. Nxe5) (18... Bd4 $142 19.
Nxd4 exd4 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. exd5 {(+/- Unzicker)} Rfe8) 19. Nd5 $1 {'+/-'} Bxd5
(19... Nxd5 20. Bxd5 {[%cal Rd5f7]}) 20. Bxd5 Rad8 (20... Nxd5 21. Qxd5 Ra7 22.
Rec2) 21. Rec2 $1 (21. Qb3) 21... Be7 22. Rc6 Qa5 {[#]} (22... Qb8 23. Bxf6
Nxf6 (23... Bxf6 24. Rxa6) 24. Bxf7+ Kxf7 25. Qb3+ Kg6 (25... Kf8 26. Ng5) 26.
Nh4+ Kh5 27. Qf3+ Kxh4 28. Qf5 g5 29. Qxh7+ $1) 23. Bd2 $1 b4 (23... Qa4 24.
Bb3 Qxe4 25. Bxf7+) 24. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 25. Qb3+ (25. Qb3+ Kf8 (25... Kg6 26.
Nh4+ Kh5 27. Qf3+ Kxh4 28. g3+ Kxh3 29. Qf5+ Ng4 30. Qh5+ $18) 26. Ng5 Nd5 27.
Ne6+ Kg8 28. Nxd8 $18) 1-0

[Event "Match/Nation GER-URS  13-51"]
[Site "Hamburg"]
[Date "1960.08.05"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Unzicker, Wolfgang"]
[Black "Tal, Mihail"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[Annotator "ChessBase/Tal/Khalifman"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1960.07.27"]
[EventType "team-schev"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2018"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.10.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "German Fed Rep"]
[BlackTeam "Soviet Union"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "URS"]

1. e4 {1)Tal in Skakhmatyi (Riga) 1960. Reprinted in 2) Kirillov,V: Mikhail
Tal 1949-1961. Riga . 1996. p.254-255. 3) Khalifman: Mikail Tal 1949-1962.
Sofia. 1994., game 507.} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1
b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 (11. c4) 11... Bb7 12.
Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. b3 (15. Bg5 h6 16. Bd2 d5 $1 (16... Bg7 17.
Qc1 (17. a4 c5 18. d5 c4 19. b4 $5 Nh7 $6 (19... cxb3 20. Bxb3 Nc5 21. axb5
axb5 22. Bc2 Qd7) 20. Be3 h5 21. Qd2 Rf8 22. Ra3 $16 {Fischer-Spassky, Sveti
Stefan 1992 (1)}) 17... Kh7 18. h4)) 15... Bg7 (15... d5 $6 16. Bg5 $1 h6 17.
Bh4 $5 g5 (17... dxe4 $2 18. Nxe4 g5 19. dxe5 Nxe4 20. Bxe4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 gxh4
22. Rd4 Re7 23. e6 $16 {Ju.Polgar-Spassky, Budapest m/8, 1993}) 18. Nxg5 hxg5
19. Bxg5) 16. d5 {'?!'} (16. a4 d5 17. dxe5 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Bxe4 Bxe4
20. Rxe4 Nxe5 $11) 16... Nb6 (16... Bf8 $6 17. Bg5 h6 18. Be3 c6 19. c4 a5 20.
Qd2 Kh7 21. Nh2 $1 b4 22. Ng4 Nxg4 23. hxg4 $16 {J.Polgar-Spassky, Budapest
1993 m/2}) 17. Qe2 $2 (17. Bd3 $142 {'!?'} c6 18. c4 cxd5 19. cxd5 Nfd7 {'='})
(17. Be3 Rc8 $1 18. Qe2 c6 19. c4 cxd5 20. cxd5 Nbxd5 21. exd5 Nxd5 $36 {
J.Polgar-Spassky, 1993, m/10}) (17. Rb1 $5) 17... c6 $1 18. c4 {'?'} (18. dxc6
Bxc6 {[%cal Gd6d5] '/\ d5 -/+'}) 18... cxd5 19. cxd5 Nfxd5 $1 {'-+!'} 20. exd5
e4 21. Nxe4 (21. Rb1 exf3 22. Qxe8+ Qxe8 23. Rxe8+ Rxe8) 21... Bxa1 22. Bg5 f6
23. Be3 (23. Bh4 $142 Bc3 24. Qd3 b4) 23... Nxd5 $1 24. Rxa1 Nxe3 25. Qxe3 Bxe4
26. Bxe4 d5 (26... f5) 0-1

[Event "Piatigorsky Cup-01"]
[Site "Los Angeles"]
[Date "1963.07.03"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gligoric, Svetozar"]
[Black "Petrosian, Tigran V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[Annotator "Dolmatov,S"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1963.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. c4 c6 12. c5 $6 Qc7 13. cxd6 Bxd6 14. Bg5 exd4 15.
Bxf6 gxf6 16. Nxd4 Nc5 17. Nf5 (17. Qh5 Bh2+ 18. Kh1 Nd3 $15 {Milos,G-Timman,J/
Manila/1992/ Inf 55/355/}) 17... Bxf5 18. exf5 Rad8 19. Qh5 Be5 $2 (19... Nd3
20. Re4 Qa7 $15) 20. Nc3 Rd4 21. Re3 Bf4 22. Re2 Bd2 23. Nd1 Bg5 (23... Qf4 24.
g3 Qh6 $14) 24. g3 Qd6 25. Ne3 Bxe3 26. Rxe3 Kg7 27. Bc2 $16 Qd5 28. a3 Rd2 29.
Qg4+ Kh8 30. Rd1 Rxd1+ 31. Qxd1 Qxd1+ $6 (31... Rd8 32. Qg4 (32. Qxd5 $2 cxd5
33. b4 d4 $15) 32... Qd2 33. Re2 $16) 32. Bxd1 Rd8 33. Bf3 Rd3 34. Re8+ Kg7 35.
Bxc6 $18 Rb3 36. Re7 Rxb2 37. Bd5 Kh6 38. Bxf7 Kg5 (38... Rd2 39. Rc7 $18) 39.
Be6 Nxe6 40. fxe6 Kf5 41. Rxh7 Kxe6 42. Ra7 Ra2 43. Rxa6+ 1-0

[Event "CZE-chT 1617"]
[Site "Czech Republic"]
[Date "2016.12.10"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Dragun, Kamil"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[Annotator "Dragun/Macieja"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2016.10.08"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Novoborsky"]
[BlackTeam "Pardubice"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CZE"]

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. c4 {I didn't expect that line, and unfortunately
I didn't remember how to react.} c6 {The most frequent reaction. Another
option is:} (11... Bb7 12. Nc3 $1 {Here White has a space advantage.} c6 13. a3
h6 14. Be3 Re8 15. Qc2 exd4 16. Bxd4 c5 17. Be3 Nb6 18. cxb5 axb5 19. Rad1 $14)
12. Qc2 $5 (12. Nc3 b4 $1 13. Na4 c5 $1 $11 14. d5 (14. dxc5 dxc5 15. Bc2 (15.
a3 Bb7 $11) 15... Qc7) 14... Re8 15. Bc2 Nf8 $11) 12... Bb7 {A bit passive. I
should have tried more active play:} (12... a5 $5 13. cxb5 cxb5 14. Nc3 Ba6 (
14... a4 $5 15. Bd5 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Bb7 17. Qd3 Bxd5 18. exd5 Qb8 $13) 15. a3 Rc8
16. Qd1 h6 17. Be3 Bb7 18. Nxb5 Bxe4 19. Nc3 Bh7 20. dxe5 dxe5 21. Bc2 Bxc2 22.
Qxc2 Bb4 23. axb4 axb4 {0-1 (41) Frolyanov,D (2561)-Kamsky,G (2741) Loo 2013})
13. Nc3 exd4 14. Nxd4 b4 15. Na4 c5 16. Nf5 Re8 17. Bf4 Bf8 {I had this
position in mind while playing 13...exd4. I thought it was better for me due
to the bad location of the white pieces on the queenside. I hoped the Na4
would never rejoin the battle.} 18. f3 Ne5 19. Rad1 Qc7 $6 {Instead of
defending, I should have started attacking.} (19... Nh5 20. Bh2 (20. Nxc5 $4
Nxf4 21. Nxb7 Qb6+ 22. Kh1 Qxb7 $19) 20... g6 21. Ne3 Bc6 22. Nd5 (22. Nxc5
Nxf3+ 23. gxf3 Qg5+ 24. Kh1 dxc5 $13) 22... Bxd5 23. cxd5 (23. Rxd5 Qg5 {
[%csl Ra4,Rb3,Ge5,Gf8,Gg5,Gh5][%cal Gh5f4]}) 23... g5 24. Bc4 Nf4 25. b3 h5 $13
) 20. Bg5 Re6 21. Ne3 Rae8 $6 {I thought for a while, and eventually decided
to develop the last piece. A concrete approach was way better:} (21... Nh5 $1
22. Qf2 (22. f4 h6 $1 23. Nd5 Bxd5 24. exd5 Rg6 25. fxe5 Rxg5 26. e6 Nf4 $40) (
22. Nd5 $2 Bxd5 23. exd5 Rg6 24. Qf5 Ng3 25. Qf4 Be7 $1 26. h4 h6 $17) 22... h6
23. Bh4 g5 24. Bg3 Nxg3 25. Qxg3 Rg6 $15) 22. Qf2 {Now White has consolidated.}
h6 (22... Nh5 $5 23. Nd5 (23. Qh4 $2 h6 $1) 23... Bxd5 24. cxd5 Rg6 25. f4 Rxg5
$1 26. fxg5 Qd8 $13) 23. Bh4 Ng6 $2 {Unfortunately, moves backwards hardly
ever are good.} (23... g5 $1 24. Bg3 Nh5 25. Bh2 Nf4 26. Bc2 Bg7 $13 {[%csl
Rd5,Ge5,Gf4,Rf5,Gg7]}) 24. Nd5 $1 {Now White is grabbing the initiative.} Nxd5
$2 (24... Bxd5 $1 {should have been played. After} 25. cxd5 R6e7 26. Bxf6 gxf6
$14 {Black's structure looks terrible, however there are no other pros in
White's position. Anyway, it is a much better position that in the game, as
Black keeps chances to get some counterplay.}) 25. cxd5 Re5 26. Bg3 R5e7 27.
Bc2 {Now Black's position is already strategically tough. There are no
prospects for any counterplay, whereas White can easily improve his position.}
Rd7 28. f4 Qd8 29. b3 Be7 30. Nb2 {The last piece joins the battle.} Bf6 31.
Nc4 Bc3 ({Winning the exchange doesn't help.} 31... Bd4 32. Rxd4 cxd4 33. Qxd4
$16) 32. Re2 a5 33. Qf3 Nf8 (33... a4 $5 {should have been tried.} 34. bxa4 Ba6
35. Bb3 Ra7 36. Kh2 $14) 34. a4 $1 Ba6 35. Bd3 Bb7 36. Kh2 Nh7 {Black keeps
defending passively.} (36... f5 $5 {deserved attention} 37. exf5 Rxe2 38. Bxe2
Rf7 39. Bd3 Nh7 40. Bc2 $14) 37. Ne3 Rc7 38. Bb5 Rf8 39. Nc4 {White has placed
all the pieces on their perfect squares.} Re7 40. f5 Re5 $1 {The only chance.
Black is looking for a blockade.} 41. Bxe5 dxe5 42. g4 $6 {Not a precise move.}
(42. Qg3 $5 f6 (42... Nf6 43. Qh4 {[%csl Rf6]}) 43. h4) 42... Ng5 $1 43. Qg3 f6
44. h4 Nf7 {Now the black knight is placed quite well, thus it is not easy for
White to break through the defensive setup of his opponent.} 45. d6 $1 Bd4 46.
d7 {The white pawn is unfortunately untouchable, and will always cause a
serious problem for Black.} Qc7 47. g5 fxg5 (47... hxg5 48. hxg5 Nxg5 49. Nd2
$1 $16 {[%cal Gb5c4,Gd2f3]}) 48. f6 $1 gxf6 49. Qf3 {The black king is
defenceless.} Kg7 50. h5 $6 (50. Rf1 Nh8 51. Qf5 Bc6 (51... Ng6 52. Qe6 Nf4 53.
Rxf4 exf4 54. Nd6 $18) 52. Bxc6 Qxc6 53. hxg5 hxg5 54. Kg3 $18) 50... f5 $1 {
The only chance.} (50... Nh8 51. Qf5 $18) 51. Qxf5 Nh8 52. Qe6 (52. Rxd4 $1 {
was simpler,} exd4+ 53. Qe5+ Qxe5+ 54. Nxe5 Rd8 55. Nd3 $18) 52... Rf6 53. Qe7+
(53. Rxd4 exd4+ 54. Qe5 $18) 53... Nf7 54. Kg2 Rf4 55. Rf1 (55. Nd6 $1 Qxd6 (
55... Qd8 56. Qe8 g4 57. Nxf7 $18) 56. Qxd6 Nxd6 57. d8=Q Rg4+ 58. Kh3 Rh4+ 59.
Kg3 $18) 55... Qd8 56. Qxd8 Nxd8 57. Rxf4 exf4 58. Nxa5 $2 {It was sufficient
to stop the black pawns.} (58. Kf3 $1 Nf7 59. Rd2 Kf6 60. Nxa5 $18) 58... g4 $1
{Now, both of us were in time trouble, while the position had become unclear.}
59. Re1 Ba8 $1 60. Nc4 Kf6 $2 {Black missed that he could have taken the
central pawn, which would have probably led to a draw.} (60... Bc3 $1 61. Rd1
Bxe4+ 62. Kf1 g3 63. a5 (63. Nd2 $5 Bc2 64. Rc1 Bf5 65. Nf3) 63... f3 $1 (63...
Bd4 $6 64. Rxd4 $1 cxd4 65. Nd2 Ba8 (65... Bd5 66. a6 Kf6 67. a7 Ke7 68. Be2
Ba8 69. Bf3 Nc6 70. Nc4 d3 71. Ke1 Nxa7 72. Bxa8 Kxd7 73. Kd2 Nb5 74. Kxd3 Ke6
75. Bf3 $16) 66. Be2 Kf6 67. a6 Nc6 68. Bf3 Ke7 69. Nc4 d3 70. Kg2 $1 (70. Ke1
$2 Kxd7 71. Nb2 $11 (71. Nb6+ Kd6 72. Nxa8 Nd4 $1 $19)) 70... d2 71. Nxd2 Kxd7
72. Nc4 Kc7 73. Bd5 $16) 64. Nd6 Bc2 65. Rd5 (65. Rc1 $2 Bh7 $3 66. Rd1 Bd4 $19
) 65... Ne6 66. d8=Q (66. Bd3 Nd4 $1 $11) 66... Nxd8 67. Bd3 g2+ 68. Kg1 Ne6 $1
69. Bxc2 Nf4 70. Nf5+ Kf7 71. Rd7+ Ke8 72. Rd1 Nh3+ 73. Kh2 Nf2 74. Rb1 Be5+
75. Ng3 Ng4+ 76. Kh3 Nf2+ $11) 61. a5 Kg5 $2 {The only chance was to try again}
(61... Bc3 62. Rd1 Bxe4+ 63. Kf1 g3 64. Nd2 Ba8 {but perhaps it wouldn't be
sufficient after} 65. Ke2 {or} (65. Bd3)) 62. a6 Kh4 63. Nd2 Bc3 64. Rh1+ Kg5
65. Nf3+ $1 {The simplest.} Kf6 (65... gxf3+ 66. Kxf3 Bd4 67. Bc4 $18) 66. Rh4
$1 {White forces Black to capture the knight.} gxf3+ 67. Kxf3 Be5 68. Rg4 Bc7
69. Bc4 Nc6 70. Rg8 Ne5+ 71. Kf2 Bxe4 72. d8=Q+ Bxd8 73. Rxd8 Ng4+ 74. Ke1 f3
75. a7 f2+ 76. Kf1 1-0

[Event "Grand Slam Final 3rd"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2010.10.15"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2826"]
[Annotator "Edouard,R"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2010.10.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[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 c6 15. b4
Nb6 16. axb5 cxb5 {Nice to see Magnus playing the same line again!} 17. d5 Rc8
18. Ra3 $146 (18. Bb2 {was Shirov move in round 3.}) 18... Nh5 19. Nf1 g6 $1
20. N1h2 {Probably the first unprecise move.} Bg7 21. Bg5 $6 Qd7 22. Be3 $6 {
Somehow, White's 2-3 last moves were just bad.} Nc4 $6 ({Both} 22... Nxd5 23.
exd5 e4 {and}) (22... Na4 {followed by ...f5 are given near by winning for
Black by the engine!}) 23. Bxc4 Rxc4 24. Nd2 Rc7 25. Nhf1 Nf4 {Also here,
Black is doing very fine.} 26. Bb6 Rcc8 27. Ne3 f5 28. f3 Rf8 29. Kh2 Rf7 $2 (
29... Nd3 30. Rf1 Bh6 {would make White's task much harder, for instance:} 31.
Qb1 Nf4 32. c4 $5 Ne2 $1 (32... bxc4 $6 33. Nexc4 Ne2 34. Be3 {is OK for White.
}) 33. c5 Bf4+ 34. Kh1 Ng3+ 35. Kg1 Nxf1 36. Ndxf1 {and White keep some
chances.}) 30. c4 $1 {Now White espaces. I think that Carlsen underestimated
his position and didn't believe he should try something too rough, or he
overestimated and thought he has enough time for preparing his attack with
moves like 29...Rf7.} bxc4 31. Nexc4 fxe4 32. fxe4 Rcf8 33. Be3 Bh6 34. Rf1 Bg7
35. Qa4 Qe7 36. b5 axb5 37. Qxb5 Bc8 38. Qb6 Qg5 39. Rf2 Qh4 40. Bxf4 ({
The defensive} 40. Nf3 $5 Qh5 41. Ng1 {could be a much better try, as Black
has huge problems with the d6-pawn, but just leads to a weird draw by force:}
Qh4 $8 42. Nxd6 Bxh3 $8 43. gxh3 Nxd5 $8 44. Qb3 Rxf2+ 45. Bxf2 Rxf2+ 46. Kh1
Qf4 47. Qxd5+ Kh8 48. Ra8+ Bf8 49. Rxf8+ Qxf8 50. Qxe5+ Qg7 $8 51. Qe8+ Qg8 52.
Qa4 Qa2 $8 {and draw.}) 40... Rxf4 (40... exf4 $5 {holds thanks to the trick}
41. Nxd6 Qg3+ $3 42. Rxg3 fxg3+ 43. Kxg3 Be5+ 44. Kh4 Rxf2 45. Nxc8 Bf6+ 46.
Kg3 Be5+ {and draw!}) 41. Rxf4 Qxf4+ 42. Kg1 Bh6 43. Rf3 Qg5 44. Qc6 Rxf3 45.
Nxf3 Qc1+ 46. Kf2 Bd7 47. Qxd7 Qxc4 48. Qe6+ Kg7 49. Qe7+ Kg8 50. Qe6+ Kg7
1/2-1/2

[Event "Grand Slam Final 3rd"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2010.10.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2826"]
[Annotator "Edouard,R"]
[PlyCount "349"]
[EventDate "2010.10.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[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 {The well-known Breyer defense. Carlsen already
played it twice this year, but in rapid games only (against Smeets and Anand).}
11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 ({Magnus tried the rarer} 12... c5 $5 {against Smeets.
}) 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15. b4 $5 {The most fashionable move over the last
months.} (15. b3 {and 15.Nf1 are the two other common options.}) 15... Nb6 16.
axb5 cxb5 $5 {Played only once, but convincingly, by German player Baramidze!
And not against anybody: against Shirov himself! This leads to a totally
different kind of position in comparison to the other capture. Instead of
trying to hold a rather "passive" draw, Black tries to put up pressure on the
king-side. Typical Magnus!} (16... axb5 17. Rxa8 Bxa8 (17... Qxa8 18. Nb3 {
is also possible.}) 18. Nb3 Bb7 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Be3 Bc8 21. Qc2 Qc7 22. Na5
Bd7 23. Rc1 h6 24. Nd2 Na4 25. Ndb3 Rb8 26. Ra1 c5 27. bxc5 Nxc5 28. Nxc5 {
1/2-1/2 Anand-Carlsen, Kristiansund (NOR) 2010}) 17. d5 Rc8 18. Bb2 $146 {
Shirov's improvement.} (18. Qb3 Qc7 19. Bb2 Nh5 20. Rac1 f5 (20... Nf4 $5 21.
Bf1 f5 {is also to check.}) 21. c4 fxe4 22. cxb5 Qd7 23. Nxe4 Bxd5 24. Qd1 Rxc1
25. Bxc1 axb5 26. Nfg5 Bxe4 27. Nxe4 Nf4 28. Bxf4 exf4 29. Ng5 Rxe1+ 30. Qxe1
Qe7 31. Ne6 Kf7 $4 (31... g6 {should hold a draw.}) 32. Bxh7 Qf6 33. h4 Qe5 34.
Ng5+ Ke8 35. Qc1 Nc4 36. Nf3 Qf6 37. Bg8 d5 38. Bxd5 Qb2 39. Bc6+ Kd8 40. Qd1+
Nd6 41. Nd4 Qxb4 42. Bxb5 Qc3 {1-0 Shirov,A (2730)-Baramidze,D (2532)/GER 2010}
) 18... Nh5 19. Bf1 f5 20. Nxe5 {The point of leaving White's queen on d1!} (
20. exf5 Nf4 {should be OK for Black without huge problems.}) 20... Rxe5 21. c4
$1 (21. Qxh5 fxe4 {would be fine for Black.}) 21... Nf6 $1 22. Bxe5 (22. c5
fxe4 (22... Rxd5 23. exd5 dxc5 24. bxc5 Bxc5 {looks risky for Black, somehow!})
23. Bxe5 dxe5 24. d6 {comes back into the game.}) 22... dxe5 23. c5 fxe4 24. d6
$1 {A totally messy position. But what else to expect in a game between Shirov
and Carlsen?!} (24. cxb6 Bxb4 {is definitely fine for Black.}) 24... Na4 $5 {
Interesting, brave, and clever option, while everybody was expecting a capture
on d6! Instead, Black wants to sac a piece on c5!} (24... Bxd6 25. cxd6 Qxd6
26. Qb3+ Kh8 27. Rad1 {should be better for White, with an easy play.}) 25. Nc4
$6 {A funny move, which seems like a mistake.} (25. Rxa4 bxa4 26. Nc4 (26. Qxa4
Bxd6 27. cxd6 Qxd6 {should hold a draw easily.}) 26... Qe8 $8 {followed by ...
Rd8, and sooner or later, Black will sac a piece and equalize (yes, yes, I'm
for sure right: the engine agrees with me, not to say that I agree with the
engine!).}) (25. Bc4+ {should be best:} Kh8 26. Be6 Rxc5 $1 27. bxc5 Nxc5 {
and again, I will not push more the analysis of this crazy position too much,
as it would become unreadable! But for instance, it could go on with} 28. Bf5
Bxd6 (28... Qxd6 29. Qc2 Qc6 30. Nb3 e3 31. f3 Nxb3 32. Qxb3 Bc5 33. Rac1 e4
34. fxe4 Nxe4 35. Bxe4 Qxe4 36. Re2 {here White is for sure better, but I
would be surprised if there were no draw!}) 29. Qc2 Qa8 30. Nb3 Nd3 31. Red1 {
after what White should have better chances. I must admit that this position
is too complicated for my small mind!}) (25. Rc1 Bxd6 26. cxd6 Rxc1 27. Qxc1
Qxd6 {should be an improvement (for Black) to 24...Bxd6.}) 25... Nxc5 $1 26.
bxc5 Rxc5 27. Qb3 Bd5 28. Qb4 Rxc4 (28... Rc6 $5 {should be stronger, but after
} 29. Nxe5 (29. Ne3 Qxd6 30. Qxd6 Bxd6 31. Rec1 Rb6 32. Rc8+ Kf7 33. Nxd5 Nxd5
{and only Black can try to go for a win.}) 29... Rxd6 30. Red1 {the position
should be likely a draw, thought Black should keep better chances.}) 29. Bxc4
bxc4 30. Rxa6 {Now White should be able to keep the balance.} Qc8 31. Qa5 c3
32. d7 Qxd7 33. Qxc3 Qb7 34. Rea1 Qb8 35. Ra7 h6 36. Rc7 Qb6 37. Qxe5 Bd6 38.
Rc8+ Kf7 39. Qc3 Qb7 40. Rca8 Qxa8 $5 41. Rxa8 Bxa8 {Ok, from here, there
might be few moves too much according to my poor endgame level. Still, it is
very impressive to see Magnus's determination in winning games, even though it
is pretty understandable after his difficult start.} 42. Qd4 Bd5 43. Qa7+ Be7
44. Qc7 h5 45. Qe5 g6 46. Kh2 Be6 47. Kg1 Bf5 48. Kf1 Ne8 49. Kg1 Ng7 50. Qd5+
Ne6 51. Qb7 h4 52. Kh2 Nf4 53. Kg1 Nd3 54. Kf1 Nc5 55. Qd5+ Be6 56. Qe5 Bf5 57.
Qd5+ Ne6 58. Qb7 Kf8 59. Qa8+ Bd8 60. Qa7 Bf6 61. Qb7 Kg8 62. Qa7 Bg5 63. Ke2
Nf4+ 64. Kf1 Nh5 65. Ke2 Kf8 66. Kf1 Bf6 67. Qc7 Ng7 68. Qa7 Ne6 69. Qb7 Nd8
70. Qa7 Nf7 71. Kg1 Kg7 72. Kf1 Be5 73. Qe7 g5 74. Kg1 Bf6 75. Qb7 Kg6 76. Qd5
Ne5 77. Qg8+ Bg7 78. Qe8+ Kh6 79. Qe7 Nd3 80. Kf1 Nf4 81. Qd6+ Bg6 82. Qe7 Nd5
83. Qe6 Nf6 84. Kg1 Be8 85. Qf5 Bd7 86. Qe5 Kg6 87. Kf1 Bf8 88. Kg1 Ba3 89. Qc7
Bb4 90. Qe5 Bd2 91. Qd4 Bf4 92. Qb6 Be8 93. Kf1 Bf7 94. Kg1 Kf5 95. Qa7 Be6 96.
Kf1 Kg6 97. Qb6 Bd7 98. Kg1 Ba4 99. Qe6 Bb5 100. Qb6 Bc4 101. Qd4 Be6 102. Kf1
Bf5 103. Kg1 g4 104. hxg4 Bxg4 105. Qc3 Bf5 106. Qb3 Bg5 107. Kf1 Kh6 108. Kg1
Kg6 109. Kf1 Bd7 110. Kg1 Be8 111. Qc3 Bf7 112. Qe5 Bd5 113. Qc3 Be6 114. Qe5
Bd7 115. Qc3 Bf5 116. Qb3 Nh5 117. Qg8+ Ng7 118. Qb3 Ne6 119. Kh2 Bf6 120. Kg1
Bg7 121. Kf1 Ng5 122. Qb6+ Bf6 123. Kg1 h3 124. gxh3 Bxh3 125. Qd6 Bf5 126. Kg2
Nf3 127. Qd5 Kg5 128. Qg8+ Bg6 129. Qd5+ Be5 130. Qd8+ Kh5 131. Qd5 Bf5 132.
Qf7+ Kg4 133. Qg8+ Ng5 134. Qc4 Bf4 135. Qg8 Be6 136. Qg7 Bf7 137. Qd4 Kf5 138.
Qc5+ Be5 139. Qf8 Kg6 140. Qc5 Bf6 141. Qd6 Bc4 142. Qc6 Be6 143. Qd6 Bg4 144.
Qd5 Bf3+ 145. Kf1 Nf7 146. Kg1 Ne5 147. Qg8+ Kf5 148. Qc8+ Kg5 149. Qg8+ Ng6
150. Qd5+ Kh6 151. Qe6 Be5 152. Qf5 Bf4 153. Qf6 Bg5 154. Qe6 Kg7 155. Qd7+ Ne7
156. Qe6 Bf6 157. Kf1 Kg6 158. Kg1 Nf5 159. Qg8+ Kh5 160. Qf7+ Kg5 161. Qg8+
Kf4 162. Qb8+ Kg4 163. Qg8+ Bg5 164. Qc8 Bf6 165. Qg8+ Kf4 166. Qb8+ Be5 167.
Qb4 Nd4 168. Qf8+ Kg5 169. Qg8+ Kh6 170. Qf8+ Bg7 171. Qd6+ Kh5 172. Qh2+ Kg5
173. Qg3+ Bg4 174. Qe3+ Kf5 {Now the game is drawn according to the 50-moves
rule. The transmission shows 175.Qd2 as a last move. Either a mistake, or some
fun from Shirov, aiming to claim a draw in the event of 175...Nf3+.} 175. Qd2
1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 15th"]
[Site "Gothenburg"]
[Date "2005.08.02"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Black "Graf, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2627"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Erenburg,S"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2005.07.30"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SWE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 109"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "France"]
[BlackTeam "Germany"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

{[%mdl 8]} 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 {covering the g4 square. More ambitious theoretical
continuation is} (9. d4 Bg4 10. d5 Na5 11. Bc2 {1-0 Comp Hydra-Adams,M/London
2005/CBM 108_01/[Erenburg] (28)}) 9... Nb8 {Again Graf chooses safe Breyer
variation, like in the previous round against Berg. Other options are:} (9...
Bb7 10. d4 Re8 {0-1 Sutovsky,E-Bacrot,E/Dortmund 2005/CBM 108_01/[Erenburg] 
(31)}) (9... Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 {1-0 Leko,P-Adams,M/Miskolc 2005/CBM
108_01/[Erenburg] (32)}) 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 {strengthening the
central e4 pawn, thus, liberating the queenside knight for maneouvres.} Re8 (
12... c5 {1-0 Bologan,V-Sokolov,I/Merida 2005/CBM 109_01/[Erenburg] (48)}) 13.
Nf1 {transfering the knight to g3.} ({Another option to fight for an advantage
is} 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15. b3 g6 {1-0 Ponomariov,R-Sasikiran,K/Biel 2004/
CBM 102/[Wedberg] (62)}) 13... Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 {covering the f5 spot, as well
as preparing a transfer of dark-squared bishop to a long diagonal.} 15. a4 {
creating some tension on the queenside.} (15. Bg5 h6 16. Bd2 Bg7 17. a4 c5 18.
d5 c4 19. b4 {1-0 Ponomariov,R-Gyimesi,Z/Moscow 2005/CBM 106/[Wedberg] (43)})
15... c5 16. d5 c4 $1 {[%csl Gc4][%cal Yd7c5] After white played a2-a4, black
can transfer his knight to c5. The point is that when white's "a" pawn located
on a4, white can react with b2-b4 on black's c5-c4, Nd7-c5.} (16... Nb6 17. Qe2
Nxa4 18. Bxa4 bxa4 19. Rxa4 {1-0 Anand,V-Piket,J/Monte Carlo 2000/CBM 076/
[Wedberg] (46)}) 17. Bg5 {provoking black to play h7-h6, that will weaken
black's kingside.} (17. Be3 Nc5 18. Qd2 Nfd7 19. Ra3 Nb6 20. axb5 axb5 21. Rea1
Rxa3 22. Rxa3 Bc8 23. Bh6 $14 {0-1 Sandipan,C-Sturua,Z/Linares 2001/CBM 081 
(42)}) 17... Bg7 {Black has the following alternatives:} (17... Nc5 18. Qd2 Be7
19. Bh6 Bf8 20. Bg5 Be7 21. Rf1 Nfd7 22. Be3 Bf6 23. Nh2 h5 24. Ne2 Bg7 $13 {
1-0 Motylev,A-Stevic,H/Istanbul 2003/CBM 096 (57)}) (17... h6 18. Be3 Nc5 19.
Qd2 h5 20. Bg5 Be7 21. Ra3 Nfd7 {0-1 Georgiev,K-Ponomariov,R/Moscow 2001/CBM
086/[Kostakiev,D] (40)}) 18. Qd2 Qe7 19. Ra3 Nc5 $146 {Accoding to my database,
this position appeared for the first time. In the preceding game black
continued} (19... Qf8 20. Rea1 Nc5 21. Qc1 Rec8 22. Be3 Nfd7 23. Nd2 Qd8 24.
Qf1 Nb6 25. axb5 axb5 26. Rxa8 Rxa8 27. b3 $14 {1-0 Geller,E-Abramovic,B/
Moscow 1982/MCL (38)}) 20. Rea1 Qc7 {moving away the queen from unpleasant pin
along the h4-d8 diagonal.} 21. Nh2 $1 {[%cal Gf2f4,Yh2g4] preparing to develop
initiative on the kingside with f2-f4.} h5 $1 {[%csl Yh5][%cal Yf6h7,Gh5g4]
Typical maneouvre- black not only covers the g4 spot, but also prepares to
drive away the dark-squared bishop from an active position.} 22. Rf1 {White is
preparing to carry out the f2-f4 advance.} (22. f4 {is met by} Nh7 $1) 22...
Nh7 23. Be3 Qe7 {preventing white's f2-f4 advance.} 24. Raa1 {White's rooks
has nothing to do on "a" file.} (24. f4 {is refuted by} exf4 25. Rxf4 (25. Bxf4
h4 $19) 25... Be5 $17) 24... Nf6 {threatening to win the pawn by h5-h4.} 25. f3
{strenghtening the centre.} Nfd7 $11 {Black has succeeded to neutralize
white's initiative on the kingside. The position is equal, as white doesn't
have a space advantage, and black pieces has some strongholds, like c5.} 26.
Bg5 Bf6 27. Be3 {Here Laurent was ready to accept the draw, but Alexander
wanted more...} Nb6 {forcing white to define the pawn structure on the
queenside.} (27... Bg7 $11) 28. a5 Nbd7 29. Nh1 {moving away the knight from
an active position.} Nf8 30. Rae1 {preparing for f2-f4 breakthrough.} Bc8 $6 {
The light-squared bishop's possibilities are limitted by white's d5 pawn,
therefore, Graf transfers it to the c8-h3 diagonal. On the other hand, black
should not have allowed white to carry out the f2-f4 advance so easily.} ({
More to the point seems} 30... Qc7 31. Ra1 $11 (31. f4 Qxa5 32. fxe5 (32. f5
Qd8) 32... Bxe5 33. Qf2 Qc7 $15)) 31. f4 $1 exf4 (31... Nfd7 {is bad, in view
of} 32. f5 $36) 32. Bxf4 Nfd7 $1 {Black emphasizes the drawback of opening the
"f" file- the e5 spot will be occupied by black's pieces.} 33. Nf3 Ne5 34. Nxe5
{White couldn't allow black to occupy the d3 stronghold.} Bxe5 (34... dxe5 35.
Be3 $14 {[%cal Yd2f2]}) 35. Ng3 $14 {intending to transfer the knight to d4
via e2} Ra7 {covering the squares on the 7-th rank.} 36. Ne2 Bxf4 37. Qxf4 Nd7
{bringing another knight to e5, that will strengthen black's monarch residence
on the kingside, as well as will cover the c6 spot.} ({Comes to consideration:
} 37... Qe5 $5) 38. Nd4 Ne5 39. Rf2 {intending to connect the rooks along the
"f" file.} Qd8 40. Qh6 Qe7 ({It is too dangerous to take on a5:} 40... Qxa5 41.
Ref1 Qd8 42. Rf6 Rc7 43. Bd1 (43. Nc6 Nxc6 44. dxc6 Re5) 43... Rce7 44. Bxh5
$40) 41. Ref1 Qh4 (41... Qf8 42. Qg5 Qe7 43. Rf6 Qd8 (43... Nd7 44. Nc6 $18)
44. Bd1 $16) (41... Qd8 42. Rf6 Rae7 43. Nc6 Nxc6 44. dxc6 $18 {[%cal Ye4e5]})
42. Nc6 $1 {trying to change the most important piece in black's position.}
Nxc6 $4 {[%mdl 8192] loses on the spot.} ({After} 42... Rc7 {it is not so easy
to find the way to get an advantage for white. For instance:} 43. Nxe5 (43. Rf6
Qg3 $1) 43... Rxe5 44. Rf6 {[%cal Yf6g6]} Rg5 $1 (44... Qg5 45. Qxg5 Rxg5 46.
h4 Re5 47. Rxd6 Rce7 $16 {/+-}) 45. R1f3 Rg3 46. Rf2 Bxh3 47. e5 (47. Rxd6 Bxg2
48. Rxg2 Rxg2+ 49. Kxg2 Qg4+ 50. Kf2 Qh4+ 51. Kg2 (51. Ke2 Qh2+ $19) 51... Qg4+
$11) 47... Bxg2 48. Rxg2 Rxg2+ 49. Kxg2 Qg4+ 50. Kf1 Re7 51. e6 Qh3+ 52. Ke2
Qg2+ 53. Kd1 Qh1+ $11 (53... Qxd5+ 54. Qd2 $14)) {[%tqu "En","Please find the
strongest continuation for white","","","f2f7","",10]} 43. Rxf7 $1 $18 Rxf7 44.
Qxg6+ Rg7 45. Qxe8+ Kh7 46. e5+ 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 21st"]
[Site "Saint Vincent"]
[Date "2005.09.20"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Shchekachev, Andrei"]
[Black "Azarov, Sergei Nikolaevich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2582"]
[Annotator "Erenburg,S"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2005.09.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Schwarzach"]
[BlackTeam "Minsk Vesnianka"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AUT"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]

{[%mdl 8192]} 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 c5 {immediately
attacking White's centre. Another theoretical possibility is} (12... Re8 13.
Nf1 {transfering the knight to g3.} (13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15. b3 g6 16. Bf1 {
Not a novelty, but quite unusual, although White's basic central strategy is
the same. Moves like Bb2/a3, Qc2 and Rad1 are in the pipeline.} (16. Qc2 {
is more common.}) (16. Bb2 Qb6 17. c4 $5 {A new and aggressive move.} (17. Qc2
Nh5 (17... Rac8 18. Bf1 Nh5 19. Rab1 exd4 20. cxd4 d5 21. Ba1 c5 22. exd5 {
1/2-1/2 Hort,V-Smejkal,J/Germany 1990/GER-chT (22)}) 18. Bf1 exd4 19. cxd4 d5
20. e5 Nf4 21. Nh2 Ne6 22. Ndf3 c5 $132 {1/2-1/2 Ehlvest,J-Krivonosov,O/
Tallinn 1998/CBM 62 ext (34)}) 17... Nh5 18. b4 Bg7 19. c5 {Make or break.} Qc7
20. cxd6 $5 (20. Nb3 $14) 20... Qxd6 21. dxe5 Qxb4 $1 $13 {1-0 Morozevich,
A-Sasikiran,K/Biel 2004/CBM 102/[Wedberg] (34)}) 16... Qc7 (16... Rc8 17. Ba3
Qb6 18. Qc2 Nh5 19. Rad1 Nf4 20. Qa2 Ne6 $13 {0-1 Stefansson,H-Bologan,V/New
Delhi/Teheran 2000/CBM 80 (49)}) 17. Bb2 Rac8 {The battle is fought in a bit
special position, since the pawn structure can take rather different forms. It
is not easy to choose the flexible squares for pieces in order to be ready for
different alternatives.} (17... Bg7 18. Qc2 d5 19. exd5 Nxd5 20. c4 $14) 18.
Qc2 Qb8 19. g3 (19. axb5 axb5 20. Bd3 Bg7 21. dxe5 dxe5 22. c4 $14) 19... Bg7
20. Rad1 Ba8 {It's a game of wait and see for the moment. Both sides are
making useful moves in case the other side decides to open the game.} (20...
bxa4 $5 21. bxa4 Qc7 $11) 21. axb5 axb5 22. b4 $1 $14 {1-0 Ponomariov,
R-Sasikiran,K/Biel 2004/CBM 102/[Wedberg] (61) White is about to create some
real pressure with the typical manoeuvre dxe5 followed by c4.}) 13... Bf8 14.
Ng3 g6 {covering the spot f5, as well as preparing a transfer of the
dark-squared bishop to a long diagonal.} 15. a4 {creating some tension on the
queenside.} (15. b3 {preparing the c1-a3 diagonal for the dark-squared bishop.}
d5 $5 {Black chooses the most principled attempt to equalize the game. Other
ones are:} (15... Bg7 16. d5 Qe7 17. c4 c6 18. Be3 Rec8 19. Rc1 a5 20. Qd2 bxc4
21. bxc4 cxd5 22. cxd5 Nc5 23. Bd3 h5 24. Bxc5 dxc5 25. Qg5 $16 {1-0 Leko,
P-Short,N/Wijk aan Zee NED 2005/The Week in Chess 534 (37)}) (15... c6 16. Bg5
Bg7 17. Qd2 Qc7 18. a4 d5 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Qxe5 21. Bf4 Qe6 22. e5 Nd7
23. Bh6 Bh8 24. f4 Qe7 25. Re3 $14 {1-0 Carlsen,M-Shirov,A/Drammen NOR 2005/
The Week in Chess 530 (38)}) 16. dxe5 {White has the following alternatives:} (
16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Nxe4 (17... Rxe5 {-the game.}) 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Qxd8
Raxd8 20. Bf4 Ba3 21. Rab1 Bc5 22. Bxe4 Bxe4 23. Rxe4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Horvath,
A-Gyimesi,Z/Kazincbarcika HUN 2005/The Week in Chess 550 (33)}) (16. Bg5 dxe4
17. Nxe5 h6 18. Nxd7 hxg5 19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. Bxe4 $18 {1-0 Kasimdzhanov,
R-Beliavsky,A/Hyderabad 2002/CBM 092/[Hecht] (60)}) (16. exd5 Nxd5 17. dxe5
Nxc3 18. Qd3 Nd5 19. Bg5 Qc8 20. Qd4 Bg7 21. Nf5 $5 gxf5 22. Bxf5 Re6 23. Qh4
Nf8 24. Nd4 c5 25. Rac1 Qc7 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Bb1 Rc8 $17 {Polgar,J-Beliavsky,
A/Munich/1991/}) 16... Nxe5 $146 {Black could equalize after 16...dxe4, but
Graf is looking for a complicated game...} (16... dxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4
Bxe4 19. Rxe4 Nxe5 20. Bf4 Qxd1+ 21. Rxd1 Nxf3+ 22. gxf3 c5 $11 {1/2-1/2
Alonso,S-Beltran Rueda,S/Sitges 2003/CBM 095 ext (45)}) (16... Nxe4 17. Nxe4
dxe4 18. Ng5 Qc8 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Rxe4 Bg7 {1-0 Szczyrba,D-Janocha,W/Polanica
Zdroj 1999/EXT 2001 (20)}) 17. Nxe5 Rxe5 {'-the game.'} 18. f4 ({Black isn't
worse after} 18. Bf4 Re6 $1 19. e5 Nd7 $15 {[%cal Yf8g7] /=}) 18... Re8 ({
In my opinion, Black doesn't get a sufficient compensation for an exchange
sacrifice after:} 18... Rxe4 $6 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Be3 $16) 19. e5 Nd7 20. Qg4 {
White has quite many pieces, that can take part in attack on the Black's
monarch, while almost all of Black's pieces are located far from their king...}
({More positional option lead to unclear position:} 20. Be3 Bg7 21. Qd2 c5 $13)
20... Bg7 21. Ba3 c5 $1 {[%cal Yd8a5] limiting the possibilities of White's
dark-squared bishop, and at the same time, preparing to activate the queen.}
22. Rad1 Bc6 $1 {protecting the Nd7.} (22... Qa5 $4 23. Qxd7 $18) 23. h4 {
White doesn't lose the time and starts an attack immediately.} Qa5 24. h5 Qxc3
$1 ({After} 24... Qxa3 {White's attack is extremely dangerous:} 25. hxg6 hxg6
26. Bxg6 fxg6 (26... Nf8 27. Bxf7+ Kxf7 28. Nf5 $40 {[%cal Gg4g7,Gf5d6]}) 27.
Qxg6 {[%cal Gg3f5]} Nf8 28. Qxc6 $44) 25. hxg6 hxg6 ({Worse is} 25... Qxc2 26.
gxf7+ Kxf7 27. e6+ $16) 26. Re2 {protecting the light-squared bishop.
Meanwhile, White sacrificed only one pawn, and his attack looks very dangerous
for black.} (26. Bxg6 {is refuted by} fxg6 27. Qxg6 Nf8 $1 28. Qxc6 Qxg3 29.
Qxd5+ Ne6 30. Bxc5 (30. f5 Rad8 $19) 30... Qxf4 $19) 26... Nf8 $11 {0-1 Berg,
E-Graf,A/Gothenburg 2005/CBM 109_01/[Erenburg] (42)}) (15. Bg5 h6 16. Bd2 Bg7
17. a4 c5 18. d5 c4 19. b4 cxb3 (19... Nh7 $6 20. Be3 h5 21. Qd2 Rf8 22. Ra3
Ndf6 23. Rea1 Qd7 24. R1a2 Rfc8 25. Qc1 Bf8 26. Qa1 $16 {1-0 Fischer,R-Spassky,
B/Belgrade 1992/CBM 031/[Chandler,M] (49)}) 20. Bxb3 Nc5 21. c4 $5 (21. axb5
axb5 22. Bc2 Qc7 23. Rb1 Ba6 24. Rb4 Nfd7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Thipsay,P-Sriram,J/
Calicut 2003/CBM 097 ext (35)}) 21... bxc4 (21... Qd7 22. cxb5 axb5 23. a5 Rec8
24. Bc2 Rc7 25. Ra3 Rac8 26. Nh4 Kh7 27. f4 exf4 28. Bxf4 Ng8 29. Ngf5 $13 {
1/2-1/2 Mista,A-Socko,B/Warsaw 2004/CBM 101 (51)}) 22. Bxc4 $14 {1-0
Ponomariov,R-Gyimesi,Z/Moscow 2005/CBM 106/[Wedberg] (42) White has more space.
So at least his game is more comfortable.}) 15... c5 16. d5 c4 $1 {[%csl Gc4]
[%cal Yd7c5] After White played a2-a4, ´Black can transfer his knight to c5.
The point is that when White's a-pawn located on a4, White can react with
b2-b4 on Black's c5-c4, Nd7-c5.} (16... Nb6 17. Qe2 Nxa4 18. Bxa4 bxa4 19. Rxa4
{1-0 Anand,V-Piket,J/Monte Carlo 2000/CBM 076/[Wedberg] (46)}) 17. Bg5 {
provoking Black to play h7-h6, that will weaken Black's kingside.} (17. Be3 Nc5
18. Qd2 Nfd7 19. Ra3 Nb6 20. axb5 axb5 21. Rea1 Rxa3 22. Rxa3 Bc8 23. Bh6 $14 {
0-1 Sandipan,C-Sturua,Z/Linares 2001/CBM 081 (42)}) 17... Bg7 {Black has the
following alternatives:} (17... Nc5 18. Qd2 Be7 19. Bh6 Bf8 20. Bg5 Be7 21. Rf1
Nfd7 22. Be3 Bf6 23. Nh2 h5 24. Ne2 Bg7 $13 {1-0 Motylev,A-Stevic,H/Istanbul
2003/CBM 096 (57)}) (17... h6 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2 h5 20. Bg5 Be7 21. Ra3 Nfd7 {
0-1 Georgiev,K-Ponomariov,R/Moscow 2001/CBM 086/[Kostakiev,D] (40)}) 18. Qd2
Qe7 19. Ra3 Nc5 $146 {According to my database, this position appeared for the
first time. In the preceding game Black continued} (19... Qf8 20. Rea1 Nc5 21.
Qc1 Rec8 22. Be3 Nfd7 23. Nd2 Qd8 24. Qf1 Nb6 25. axb5 axb5 26. Rxa8 Rxa8 27.
b3 $14 {1-0 Geller,E-Abramovic,B/Moscow 1982/MCL (38)}) 20. Rea1 Qc7 {moving
away the queen from the unpleasant pin along the h4-d8 diagonal.} 21. Nh2 $1 {
[%cal Gf2f4,Yh2g4] preparing to develop the initiative on the kingside with
f2-f4.} h5 $1 {[%csl Yh5][%cal Yf6h7,Gh5g4] A typical maneouvre- Black does
not only covers the spot g4, but also prepares to drive away the dark-squared
bishop from an active position.} 22. Rf1 {White is preparing to carry out the
f2-f4 advance.} (22. f4 {is met by} Nh7 $1) 22... Nh7 23. Be3 Qe7 {preventing
white's f2-f4 advance.} 24. Raa1 {White's rooks have nothing to do on the
a-file.} Nf6 {threatening to win the pawn by h5-h4.} 25. f3 {strenghtening the
centre.} Nfd7 $11 {1-0 Fressinet,L-Graf,A/Gothenburg 2005/CBM 109_01/[Erenburg]
(45)}) 13. Nf1 {is more common, but often it's just a transposition, since d5
comes later anyway.} (13. d5 g6 14. Nf1 a5 $146 {In the main line White often
takes the initiative on the Q-side with a timely a2-a4. So Sokolov
concentrates on the Q-side right away.} (14... Nh5 15. Bh6 Re8 16. a4 Nb6 $5 {
Since c4 gives the square d4 I like this move by Gliga very much.} (16... c4 {
I am against this move in general.} 17. Ng3 Ng7 (17... Nxg3 18. fxg3 b4 $1 19.
cxb4 Qb6+ 20. Be3 Qxb4 21. Nd2 Rac8 $13) 18. Qd2 Nc5 19. Nh2 Rb8 20. axb5 axb5
21. Ng4 $1 (21. Be3 h5 22. f4 exf4 23. Bxf4 h4 24. Ne2 Bf6 25. Nd4 Nh5 26. Ng4
Nxf4 27. Qxf4 Be5 28. Qf3 Bg7 29. Rf1 Qe7 30. Ra7 Ra8 31. Nc6 Qc7) 21... Bc8
$13) 17. a5 $6 {Viktor Viorel played this rather quickly.} (17. axb5 axb5 18.
Rxa8 Qxa8 {does not bring to the first player much.}) (17. Ng3 Nxg3 18. fxg3
Nxa4 19. Bxa4 bxa4 20. g4 Bc8 21. Qxa4 Bd7 22. Qc2 a5 23. Rf1 a4 24. Qf2 f6 25.
Nd2 Bb5 $1 26. c4 Bd7 $13) 17... Nc4 18. b3 $2 {I can not see the point. My
opponent later mentioned that he had played something similar with GM
Romanishin and even has won with it.} Nxa5 19. Ra2 Qc7 {I can defend the
knight.} 20. Qa1 Bd8 21. N1d2 Bc8 $6 {I did not want to give my extra pawn at
once however in this case I would have an overwhelming position.} (21... Nf4
22. Bg5 f6 23. Bxf6 Bxf6 24. Rxa5 Rf8 $17) 22. Rc1 Nf4 23. Bxf4 exf4 24. b4
cxb4 25. cxb4 Nc4 26. Bd3 $14 {1-0 Bologan,V-Atalik,S/Sarajevo 2004/CBM 101/
[Atalik] (51)}) 15. a4 b4 {White is invited to close the Q-side.} 16. Bd3 (16.
c4 {is possible, but it gives Black a clear picture of what to do (play on the
K-side). Judit prefers to keep more options.}) 16... Qc7 17. Ne3 bxc3 18. bxc3
c4 19. Bc2 (19. Nxc4 Ba6 $132) 19... Ba6 20. Nd2 Rfc8 21. Ba3 Bf8 22. Qf3 Bg7
23. g3 Rab8 24. Kg2 Nb6 25. g4 $1 {White must start to attack before Black
manages to open lines on the other side.} Nfd7 26. h4 Nc5 {[%cal Yc5d3]} 27.
Bxc5 $1 {Otherwise Black jumps in with Nd3.} Qxc5 28. h5 Nd7 $6 (28... Bh6 $5
29. Qf6 (29. Rh1 Bf4 30. hxg6 fxg6 31. Qh3 Rc7) 29... Nd7 30. Qh4 Bf4 31. hxg6
fxg6 32. g5 Rb2 33. Rh1 Nf8 34. Ndf1 Qc7 $15) 29. Rh1 Nf8 30. g5 $1 $14 {
1-0 Polgar,J-Sokolov,I/Wijk aan Zee 2005/CBM 105/[Wedberg] (39) Black is
subdued on the K-side and can only wait to see how White is going to increase
the pressure against the K.}) (13. b3 {Not very common but perfectly sound.
White wants to build a classical formation with B:s on b2 and c2, Q on d2 och
R:s on d1 and e1.} cxd4 $146 {A slightly dubious strategy that plays into
White's hands. Keeping the centre closed looks more in tune with the wibes of
the situation.} (13... Re8 {has been played a number of times.}) 14. cxd4 exd4
15. Nxd4 Re8 16. a4 (16. Bb2) 16... bxa4 17. bxa4 Rc8 18. Nf5 Qc7 19. Bb3 Bf8
20. Bb2 $14 {1-0 Akopian,V-Sokolov,I/Wijk aan Zee 2004/CBM 99/[Wedberg] (36)
This is the kind of position most players of the white side sre looking for in
the Ruy Lopez: aggressive N on f5, long shooting B:s on b2 and b3. At least
pleasant for White.}) 13... Qc7 {connecting the rooks, thus, preparing to
transfer the kingside rook to the queenside. Black tried also:} (13... Re8 14.
d5 g6 15. b3 (15. Be3 Bf8 16. N1h2 Bg7 17. Ng4 Nxg4 18. hxg4 Nf6 {1/2-1/2
Spassky,B-Gligoric,S/Bath 1973/EU-chT (18)}) (15. a4 Nb6 16. Ne3 Nxa4 17. Bxa4
bxa4 18. Nc4 Bc8 19. Qxa4 {1/2-1/2 Georgiev,K-Sygulski,A/Warsaw 1983/MCD (19)})
15... Nb6 (15... a5 $5 16. Rb1 Nh5 17. Ne3 Ba6 18. c4 b4 19. g3 Bc8 20. Kh2
Ndf6 21. Ng1 Ng7 22. Rb2 Nfh5 23. Ng4 Rf8 $40 {0-1 Cervetto,E-Slipak,S/Villa
Martelli 1998/EXT 2000 (48)}) 16. Ne3 {We have a P-formation typical of the
closed Ruy Lopez. But quite often Black has a N on a5 to worry about in these
situations. Now it´s on b6 which is more flexible. Still the only one who can
be better here is White with his considerable space advantage.} (16. a4 bxa4
17. bxa4 a5 18. Ne3 Ba6 19. Ng4 Nxg4 20. hxg4 Bc8 21. Nd2 Bg5 22. Bd3 Bd7 $11 {
1/2-1/2 Torre,E-Gligoric,S/Nice 1974/EXT 2000 (48)}) 16... Bc8 17. a4 Bd7 18.
a5 Nc8 19. b4 c4 {With the preliminary fighting over on the Q-side the real
game begins on the K-side.} 20. g4 h5 21. Nh2 hxg4 22. hxg4 Nh7 23. Kg2 Bg5 24.
Rh1 Qf6 25. Bd2 Ne7 26. Qe2 Kg7 27. Rag1 Rh8 {Both sides mass pieces on the
K-side for the coming battle.} 28. Kf1 Bf4 29. Nf5+ $5 {In the right moment
before Black has moved Ra8 to g8 with all pieces in play.} gxf5 30. gxf5+ $44 {
1/2-1/2 Svidler,P-Sokolov,I/Germany 2003/CBM 095/[Wedberg] (42)}) (13... d5 14.
dxe5 Nxe4 15. Ne3 Nb6 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. Bxe4 Bxe4 18. Qxd8 Raxd8 19. Rxe4 Rd1+
20. Re1 Rxe1+ 21. Nxe1 Nc4 22. f4 $16 {1-0 Yudasin,L-Terterians,V/Podolsk 1991/
CBM 026 ext (53)}) 14. d5 {limiting the possibilities of Black's light-squared
bishop.} c4 $6 {Probably, this move is an inaccuracy. At first Black has to
regroup his pieces: The kingside rook should be transfered to the queenside-
to b8, while, the light-squared bishop should cover the light squares on the
kingside from c8 square.} (14... Rfb8 $146 {[%cal Yb7c8,Yc8d7,Yd7f8] Black
liberates some space for his queenside light pieces. He intends to regroup
them. In the preceding game Black continued} 15. Ng3 Bc8 16. Be3 Nf8 ({The
plan with transfering knight to c5 is parried by white's b2-b4 advance.} 16...
c4 17. Qd2 Nc5 18. b4 cxb3 19. axb3 $14) 17. a4 {creating tension on the
queenside.} Bd7 (17... bxa4 18. Ra2 $14 {[%cal Yc2a4]}) 18. Qd2 b4 {Black
decides to open the b-file, thus, creating a counterplay on the queenside. It
is not so easy to recommend another plan for Black .} 19. Bd3 $1 {occupying
the f1-a6 diagonal.} Bd8 {Black tries to activate his dark-squared bishop,
transfering it to a5.} ({After} 19... c4 $6 20. Bf1 a5 21. Rec1 {[%cal Yc1c4,
Yf1c4,Gc3b4] Black's pawn c4 is in trouble.}) 20. Bc4 Qc8 21. Nh4 {intending
to take control of the spot f5.} Ng4 {Basically, Black is interested to change
the pieces, as he suffers under a lack of space. On the other hand, white will
get the open h-file and the stronghold f5 for the knight.} ({If black covers
the f5 spot with} 21... g6 {, White will emphasize the weaknesses of the dark
squaers in Black's camp by} 22. Bg5 $1 {[%cal Gf2f4,Ye1f1,Yf1f6]}) 22. hxg4
Bxh4 23. Nf5 Bxf5 ({loses the pawn.} 23... Qd8 24. Nxd6 Bxg4 25. Bxc5 $16) 24.
gxf5 $16 {1-0 Bologan,V-Sokolov,I/Merida 2005/CBM 109_01/[Erenburg] (47)
White's advantage is obvious now, thanks to a pair of bishops and space
advantage. Probably, Black's plan of counterplay on the queenside was not
successful, due to its sluggishness. It should be noted, that Black's a6 pawn
becomes vulnerable. If Black moves it to a5, White's light-squared bishop will
get an important spot on b5.}) 15. g4 $1 $146 {starting an attack on the
kingside.} ({In the previous game White continued} 15. Ng3 Rfb8 (15... Rfe8 16.
Nh2 Bf8 17. Bg5 g6 18. Qf3 Bg7 19. Ng4 Nxg4 20. hxg4 h6 21. Bd2 Nb6 22. Nf1 Qe7
23. g3 Qf8 24. Ne3 Nc8 25. b3 $16 {1-0 Manik,M-Lazan,R/Hlohovec 1997/EXT 2004 
(65)}) 16. Nf5 Bf8 17. Nh2 Nc5 18. Ng4 Ne8 19. f4 f6 20. Rf1 $16 {1/2-1/2
Klima,L-Azarov,S/Pardubice CZE 2005/The Week in Chess 560 (45)}) 15... a5 $6 ({
Black should have thought more about protecting his monarch:} 15... Nc5 16. Ng3
Bc8 17. g5 $141 Ne8 18. Kg2 g6 (18... f6 19. g6 $16 hxg6 20. Nh4 Qd7 21. Rh1
Kh7 22. Nxg6 $18) 19. Nh2 f6 $132) 16. Ng3 Rfb8 17. g5 Ne8 18. Nh2 $1 {
transfering the knight to g4, thus, adding another piece to the attack.} Bf8 $6
({In my opinion, Black should have brought some forces to the kingside to
parry White's attack:} 18... Nc5 19. Nf5 Bc8 20. Nxe7+ (20. Ng4 $5) 20... Qxe7
21. Ng4 $36 {/+/=}) 19. Ng4 b4 $2 {After Black has allowed White to occupy the
spot f5 with the knight, his position is strategically lost.} (19... Nc5 20.
Nf5 Bc8 21. Re3 $16) ({Covering the spot f5 was a much more logical decision:} 
19... g6 20. f4 exf4 21. Bxf4 Bg7 22. Ne2 $14 {[%cal Ye2d4]}) 20. Nf5 $16 {
There is no way to drive White's forces from away from their attacking
positions on the kingside.} Nc5 21. Re3 {adding the rook to the attack on
Black's monarch.} Kh8 22. Rf3 Ba6 {planning to occupy the spot d3 with the
knight.} 23. h4 {The problem is that White isn't impressed by it.} h5 $2 {
The opening of the game on the kingside plays in White's hands.} ({The least
of the evils was} 23... Nd3 24. h5 bxc3 25. bxc3 $16 {[%cal Gg5g6]}) 24. gxh6
g6 25. Ng7 $1 Nxg7 (25... Qd7 {doesn't change too much:} 26. Rg3 bxc3 27. bxc3
{[%cal Ce8g7,Gh4h5]} Nxg7 28. hxg7+ Bxg7 29. h5 $40) 26. hxg7+ Bxg7 27. h5 $40
{Now it turns out, that Black is hopeless against White's attack, as all his
major pieces are located on the queenside.} Qe7 ({Nothing can stop White's
attack:} 27... gxh5 28. Rh3 Kg8 29. Nh6+ Kf8 (29... Bxh6 30. Bxh6 $18) 30. Qxh5
Bc8 31. Rf3 $18) 28. Kg2 f5 {losing immediately.} (28... gxh5 {doesn't change
anything:} 29. Rh3 h4 30. Qh1 Kg8 31. Rxh4 bxc3 32. bxc3 Bc8 33. Bh6 f5 34.
exf5 Nd7 35. Rg1 $18 {[%cal Gg2f1]}) 29. hxg6 f4 (29... fxg4 30. Qh1+ Kg8 31.
Qh7#) 30. Qh1+ Kg8 31. Bxf4 $1 1-0

[Event "Interzonal-14b"]
[Site "Szirak"]
[Date "1987.??.??"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Nunn, John DM"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1987.07.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1988.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1988.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 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. Ng5 Bh6 $5 (20... Nh7) (
20... Bg7) 21. Re2 (21. f4 h4 22. fxe5 (22. Nf1 Bxg5 23. fxg5 Nfxe4 $17) 22...
Rxe5 23. Nf1 Bxg5 24. Bxg5 Nfxe4 25. Bxd8 Nxd2 26. Rxe5 dxe5 27. Be7 Nxf1 28.
Bxc5 Ng3 $10) 21... Qe7 22. Rae1 h4 23. Nf1 Nh5 24. g3 (24. g4 $142) 24... hxg3
25. fxg3 f6 (25... Bc8 26. g4 Nf4 27. Bxf4 exf4 28. Nf3 $13) 26. g4 Bxg5 $2 (
26... Nf4 27. Bxf4 Bxg5 28. Bxg5 (28. Be3 Kg7 {/\ Rh8|^}) 28... fxg5 29. Rf2
$15) 27. Bxg5 fxg5 28. gxh5 $16 {->} gxh5 29. Ng3 Kh7 30. Nf5 Qf6 31. Rg2 Rg8
32. Qe2 g4 33. Rf1 Rg5 (33... Raf8 34. hxg4 Rxg4 35. Rxg4 hxg4 36. Qh2+ $18)
34. hxg4 Bc8 35. Ng3 Qe7 36. Nxh5 Bd7 37. Qe3 Rh8 38. Rh2 $2 (38. Rf7+ $142 $1
Qxf7 39. Qxg5 Rf8 40. Nf6+ Qxf6 41. Rh2+ $18) 38... Rxg4+ 39. Kh1 Kg6 40. Rf6+
Qxf6 41. Nxf6 Rxh2+ 42. Kxh2 Kxf6 43. Qh6+ Ke7 44. axb5 axb5 45. Bd1 Rf4 $1 (
45... Rxe4 $2 46. Qg5+ Kf8 47. Qf6+ Kg8 48. Bh5 Rf4 49. Qxd6 $18) 46. Qg5+ Rf6
$14 {/\ Ne4} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Budapest FS03 GM"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Wells, Peter K"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2485"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1993.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "8"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15. b3
g6 16. Qc2 Rc8 17. Bb2 Bg7 18. Bf1 (18. c4 exd4 19. Bxd4 Nh5 20. Bxg7 Nxg7 $10
{Adams,M-Motwani,P/LondonWFW/1990/}) 18... Nh5 19. c4 exd4 20. Nxd4 b4 21. Rad1
c5 22. Ne2 Ne5 23. f4 Nd3 24. Qxd3 Bxb2 25. g4 Ng7 26. Qc2 Bf6 27. g5 Bxg5 $6 (
27... Be7 28. Nf3 f6 29. h4 $13) 28. fxg5 Qxg5+ 29. Bg2 Nf5 30. Qd3 $1 Ne3 31.
Ng3 Nxd1 32. Rxd1 $14 f5 33. Kh2 f4 (33... fxe4 34. Ndxe4 $16) 34. Nh1 Qe5 35.
Kg1 Rcd8 36. Nf2 Qg5 37. Nf3 Qe7 38. Re1 Qg7 39. h4 h6 40. Kh2 Bc6 41. Rg1 Kh8
42. Bh3 Qc3 43. Nd2 Kh7 44. Bf1 Re6 45. Rg4 f3 46. Nxf3 Rf8 47. Kg2 Ref6 48.
Rg3 $1 Rf4 49. Qxd6 Qxf3+ 50. Rxf3 Rxf3 51. Ng4 Rxf1 (51... Bxe4 52. Qe7+ $18)
52. Qxc6 h5 53. Ne5 R8f2+ 54. Kg3 1-0

[Event "Interzonal-14c"]
[Site "Zagreb"]
[Date "1987.??.??"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Gruenfeld, Yehuda"]
[Black "Ehlvest, Jaan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1987.08.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1988.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1988.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. b4 $6 (13. Nf1) 13... Bf8
14. a4 Nb6 15. a5 Nbd7 16. Bb2 Rb8 17. Rb1 g6 18. Ba1 Ba8 19. dxe5 $5 (19. Bd3)
19... Nxe5 20. Nxe5 dxe5 21. c4 bxc4 22. Bc3 Bc6 (22... c5 23. Nxc4 Qxd1 (23...
Qc7 24. Nb6 $16) 24. Rbxd1 cxb4 25. Bxe5 Rbc8 26. Bxf6 Rxc4 27. Bb3 $1 $16) 23.
Qe2 Bb5 24. Nxc4 c5 25. bxc5 Bxc5 (25... Nd7 $5) 26. Bb3 $1 {/\ Qa2} Qc7 27.
Rbc1 (27. Qf3 $2 Bxc4 28. Bxc4 Rxb1 29. Rxb1 Bxf2+ $17) 27... Ba3 $5 (27...
Rbd8 28. Qf3 Kg7 29. Ne3 Qe7 (29... Rd3 $2 30. Bb4 Rxb3 31. Rxc5 Qb7 32. Nf5+
$18) 30. Nd5 Nxd5 31. Bxd5 f6 32. Bd2 Rc8 33. Qg4 h5 $1 $14 {Browne,W} (33...
Qd7 $4 34. Qxd7+ $18)) 28. Rc2 Nd7 (28... Bc6 29. Nd2 $14) 29. Bd2 $1 Bc5 $6 (
29... Nc5 30. Qe3 Nxb3 31. Nxa3 Bc6 32. Bc3 Rbc8 33. Rb1 $5 Nxa5 34. Be1 $1 $44
{/\ 35.Rbc1, 35.Qb6}) 30. Qf3 $14 Re6 31. Bg5 Rc6 $2 (31... h6 32. Bxh6 Rf6 33.
Qg3 Bxc4 34. Bxc4 Qxa5 35. Rf1 $16 {^^}) 32. Ne3 $18 Rf8 33. Nd5 Qxa5 34. Rec1
Kg7 35. Rxc5 $1 Rxc5 36. Bf6+ 1-0

[Event "Biel"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "161"]
[EventDate "1992.07.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 031"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. c4 Bb7 (11... c6 12. a3 bxc4 13. Bxc4 d5 $6 14.
exd5 $1 cxd5 15. Ba2 e4 16. Ne5 Bb7 17. Nc3 $16 {Anand,V-Spasski,B/Cannes/1989/
}) (11... c6 12. c5 Qc7 13. cxd6 Bxd6 14. Bg5 exd4 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Qxd4 Ne5
17. Nbd2 Rd8 18. Qe3 Nd3 $13 {Fischer-Portisch, Santa Monica 1966.}) 12. Nc3 c6
13. c5 Qc7 14. cxd6 Bxd6 15. Bg5 h6 16. dxe5 Bxe5 17. Nxe5 Qxe5 18. Bh4 $16 Nc5
19. Bg3 Qg5 20. h4 Qg6 21. Bc2 Rfd8 22. Bd6 Bc8 23. e5 Bf5 24. Bxf5 Qxf5 25.
exf6 Qxf6 26. Bxc5 Rxd1 27. Raxd1 Qxh4 28. Rd4 Qg5 29. b4 a5 30. a3 Qf5 31. Ne4
axb4 32. axb4 Qe5 33. Rdd1 h5 34. Nd2 Qc7 35. Nf3 Rd8 36. Rxd8+ Qxd8 37. Re5 f6
38. Re7 Qd1+ 39. Kh2 Qc1 40. g3 Qd1 41. Re3 Qd5 42. Nd4 Kh7 43. Re6 Qa2 44. Kg1
Qd5 45. Rxc6 $18 h4 46. gxh4 Qh5 47. Re6 Qg4+ 48. Kf1 Qxh4 49. Re7 Qh1+ 50. Ke2
Qd5 51. Ke3 Qg5+ 52. Kd3 Qd5 53. Kc3 Qc4+ 54. Kb2 Qd3 55. Rb7 Qd2+ 56. Nc2 Qe2
57. Bd4 Kg6 58. Rc7 Qd3 59. Be3 Qe2 60. Rd7 Qc4 61. Bc5 Qe2 62. Be3 Qc4 63. Rd4
Qc6 64. Na3 Kf7 65. Nb1 g5 66. Nc3 Qf3 67. Rd5 g4 68. Ba7 f5 69. Rxb5 f4 70.
Rd5 g3 71. fxg3 fxg3 72. b5 g2 73. Kb3 Qg3 74. Bg1 Qe1 75. Rd1 Qe6+ 76. Kb2 Qg4
77. Rd2 Ke8 78. b6 Qf3 79. Nd5 Qf1 80. Nc7+ Kf7 81. b7 1-0

[Event "Novosibirsk"]
[Site "Novosibirsk"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Dolmatov, Sergey"]
[Black "Psakhis, Lev"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "185"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Wedberg} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3
O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 c5 (13...
Bf8) 14. d5 (14. b4 {Wedberg} cxd4 15. cxd4 d5 {= van der Wiel-Spassky, EUcup
1991}) 14... c4 15. b3 (15. Nf1 Nc5 16. Ng3 g6 17. Bh6 $14 {Gruenfeld,Y-Lev,R/
Tel Aviv/1991/}) 15... cxb3 16. Nxb3 Qc7 17. Bd2 Nb6 18. Na5 Nxa4 19. Bxa4 Qxa5
20. c4 Qc7 21. cxb5 axb5 22. Bxb5 Rxa1 23. Qxa1 Ra8 24. Qb1 Rb8 25. Qd3 {
0.5-0.5 Sokolov,A-Beliavsky,A/Linares/1989/} Qb6 26. Be3 Qa5 27. Bc4 $14 (27.
Bd2 {Wedberg 1/4-1/4, Smirin-vd Sterren, Tilburg 1992}) 27... Bc8 (27... Nd7)
28. Rb1 Rxb1+ 29. Qxb1 Bd7 30. Nd2 h6 31. Qb7 Bd8 32. Bf1 Qc7 33. Qa6 Bc8 34.
Qa3 Bd7 35. Qb4 Ne8 36. Nc4 f5 37. exf5 Bxf5 38. Be2 Be7 39. Bb6 Qd7 40. Ne3
Nf6 41. Ba6 Bg6 42. Qc4 Bf7 43. Bc8 $1 Qe8 44. Qc6 Kf8 45. Bb7 Kg8 46. Nf5 Kf8
47. Ne3 Kg8 48. Ba5 g6 49. Bc7 Qf8 50. Qa4 Bd8 51. Qa5 Bxc7 52. Qxc7 {Weakness/
Schwächung/d6} Ne8 53. Qd8 Kg7 54. Bc8 Nf6 55. Qc7 Ne8 56. Qb7 h5 57. Nc4 Kh8
58. Be6 Bg8 59. Qc8 Kg7 60. Qd7+ Kh8 61. Qd8 Kg7 62. h4 $1 $16 Nf6 (62... Bf7
$16) 63. Qc7+ Kh8 64. Nxd6 Nxd5 65. Bxd5 Bxd5 66. Qc5 Qg8 67. Nb5 Qe6 68. Qf8+
(68. Nc7 $2 Qc6 69. Qf8+ Bg8 $14) 68... Qg8 (68... Kh7 69. Nc7 Qc6 $2 70. Ne8
Qc1+ 71. Kh2 Qf4+ 72. Qxf4 exf4 73. Nf6+ $18) 69. Qh6+ Qh7 70. Qg5 Qd7 (70...
Qg7 71. Nd6 Bc6 72. Nc4 e4 73. Ne5 Be8 74. Qf4 $16) 71. Qxe5+ Kh7 72. Nd4 Qd8
73. Nb5 Qd7 74. Nd6 $1 Qe6 (74... Bc6 75. Qf6 Bd5 76. Qf8 Qg7 77. Qxg7+ Kxg7
$18) 75. Qxe6 Bxe6 76. Kh2 $18 Kh6 77. Ne4 $1 Bd5 78. f3 Bc4 79. Kg3 Ba6 80.
Kf4 Bf1 81. g3 Bc4 82. Ke5 Kg7 83. Nd2 Ba2 84. f4 Kf7 85. f5 Kg7 (85... gxf5
86. Kxf5 $18) 86. f6+ Kf7 87. Ne4 Bb1 88. Nd6+ Kf8 89. Kf4 Bd3 90. Kg5 Kg8 91.
Nb7 Bf5 92. Na5 Kf7 93. Nc4 (93. Nc4 Ke6 94. Ne5 Kxe5 95. f7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Goodricke op 12th"]
[Site "Kolkata"]
[Date "2001.02.14"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ramesh, Ramachandran B"]
[Black "Kunte, Abhijit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2467"]
[BlackElo "2568"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2001.02.06"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 082"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 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 Bg7 16. Bd3 c6 17. Bg5 Nf8 18. Qd2 $14 Ne6 19. Be3 Nd7 20. Red1 Qc7 21. Bf1
Rad8 22. Qc2 Nb6 23. b3 Nd7 24. Rac1 Qb8 25. Rd2 Ba8 26. Qd1 Nf6 27. b4 Rc8 28.
Qb3 Bb7 29. Rcd1 Bf8 30. axb5 axb5 31. dxe5 dxe5 32. Be2 Rcd8 33. c4 $5 {
The characteristic breakthrough in this line.} Rxd2 34. Rxd2 Bc8 $2 (34... bxc4
35. Bxc4 Bc8 36. b5 cxb5 37. Qxb5 Qxb5 38. Bxb5 Re7 $14) 35. c5 Qc7 36. Qb2 Nf4
37. Bf1 Nd7 38. Ne2 $16 Nxe2+ 39. Bxe2 Nf6 40. Bd3 Nh5 41. Bc2 h6 42. Bb3 Nf4
43. Bxf4 exf4 44. e5 g5 45. Qc2 Be6 46. Bxe6 Rxe6 47. Qf5 $40 Be7 48. h4 $18
Qa7 49. hxg5 hxg5 50. Nxg5 Qa1+ 51. Kh2 Bxg5 52. Qxg5+ Kh7 53. Qxf4 Rh6+ 54.
Kg3 Kg7 (54... Rg6+ 55. Kf3 Qc3+ 56. Ke2) 55. Rd6 Qc3+ 56. Qe3 Qxe3+ 57. fxe3
Rh5 58. Rxc6 Rxe5 59. Kf4 1-0

[Event "Budapest Honved"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Black "Stefansson, Hannes"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2400"]
[BlackElo "2470"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 027"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.04.01"]
[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 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 (11. c4 c6 12. a3 $1 {Weiss bereitet die
Entwicklung des Königsspringers vor damit dieser nicht sofort vertrieben
werden kann.} bxc4 13. Bxc4 d5 $6 14. exd5 cxd5 15. Ba2 e4 16. Ne5 Bb7 17. Nc3
Nb6 18. f3 Rc8 $16 {Anand - Spasskij, Cannes 1989. 19.Lg5! Anand.}) 11... 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. Ng5 Bh6 21. Kh1 (21. f4 h4 22. fxe5 Rxe5 23. Nf3 Bxe3+ 24. Qxe3
Nxd5 25. Qd4 Ne6 26. Qd2 Ndf4 27. Nxe5 Qg5 $1 28. Re3 dxe5 $44 {Nunn-
Beljavskij, Linares 1988.}) 21... Qe7 (21... Rb8 22. axb5 axb5 23. f4 h4 24.
fxe5 Rxe5 25. Nf3 Bxe3 26. Qxe3 Re8 27. Nxh4 Ng4 28. Qf4 $1 Qxh4 29. Rf1 Nd7
30. Bd1 Nde5 31. Bxg4 Bc8 32. Bxc8 Qxf4 33. Rxf4 $16 {Ye Jiangchuan - van der
Sterren, Saloniki (ol) 1988}) (21... Rb8 22. axb5 axb5 23. f4 h4 24. fxe5 Rxe5
25. Nf3 Bxe3 26. Qxe3 Nxd5 27. Qh6 hxg3 28. Nxe5 dxe5 29. Rad1 Nf4 {Ein
erzwungenes Damenopfer.} 30. Rxd8+ Rxd8 31. Qg5 $1 Rd2 32. Qxe5 Nce6 33. Bd1 $1
$10 {P.Popovic - B.Lalic, Vrsac 1989.}) 22. Nf1 Rab8 23. axb5 axb5 24. Nh2 Ra8
25. Rab1 Ra2 26. Qc1 Bc8 27. Rf1 Bd7 28. Qe1 Na4 $2 {Ein positioneller Fehler.
Schwarz sollte nicht seinen starken Springer gegen den schlechten weissen
Läufer abtauschen lassen.} 29. Bxa4 bxa4 30. Ngf3 Bxe3 31. Qxe3 Rb8 32. Nd2
Raxb2 33. Rxb2 Rxb2 34. Nxc4 Rb3 35. Nd2 Rb2 36. Nc4 Rb3 37. Nd2 Rb2 38. Nc4
Rb7 39. Ra1 Be8 40. Nf3 Qc7 41. Nfd2 Bb5 42. Nb2 Qa5 43. Ra3 Kg7 44. Kh2 Qa6
45. f4 exf4 46. Qxf4 Re7 47. c4 Be8 48. Nd3 Qb6 49. c5 dxc5 50. Nc4 Qb1 51. Nd6
c4 52. Nc5 c3 53. Rxc3 Qb2 54. Nf5+ $1 {Zum Schluss ein schönes Opfer.} gxf5
55. Qg5+ Kh7 56. Qxf5+ Kg8 57. Rg3+ Ng4+ 58. hxg4 1-0

[Event "Sonnevanck 5th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Riemersma, Liafbern"]
[Black "Wells, Peter K"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2430"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1995.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[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 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15.
Qc2 g6 16. b3 Rc8 17. Bb2 Bg7 18. Rad1 Nh5 $1 $146 {[#]} (18... Qc7) 19. Bf1
Qb6 20. Qb1 (20. b4 $1) 20... d5 21. axb5 axb5 22. exd5 cxd5 23. dxe5 Nxe5 24.
Nxe5 Rxe5 25. Nf3 (25. Rxe5 Bxe5 26. Qd3 b4 $17) 25... Re4 26. Nd4 b4 $1 27.
Rxe4 dxe4 28. cxb4 Rd8 29. Qa1 Nf4 30. Nc6 $2 (30. Qa5 $5) (30. g3 $1 Nd3 $1 (
30... Ne6 31. Nxe6 Rxd1 32. Qxd1 Bxb2 33. Qd8+ $10) 31. Bxd3 exd3 32. Rxd3 Bxd4
33. Rxd4 Rxd4 34. Bxd4 Qc6 35. Kf1 $10) 30... Bxc6 31. Rxd8+ Qxd8 32. Bxg7
Nxh3+ 33. gxh3 (33. Kh2 Nxf2 34. Bh8 f6 $19) 33... Qg5+ 34. Kh2 (34. Bg2 e3 $19
) 34... Qf4+ 35. Kg1 (35. Kh1 e3+ 36. Bg2 exf2 $19) 35... e3 36. Be5 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-34"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2000.10.31"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "De Firmian, Nick E"]
[Black "Prasad, Devaki V"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2567"]
[BlackElo "2431"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2000.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "US of America"]
[BlackTeam "India"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "IND"]

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 Bg7 {This move gives the game another character than the usual 15.-c5.} 16.
Bd3 c6 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bd2 Qc7 19. Qc1 h5 20. Bh6 Bh8 21. Qb1 Nh7 22. b4 Ndf8
23. Ra2 Ne6 24. Be3 Qe7 25. dxe5 dxe5 26. c4 $1 $16 {The typical breakthrough
in these positions.} h4 27. Ne2 Nhg5 $1 28. Nxg5 Nxg5 29. axb5 axb5 30. Rxa8
Rxa8 31. cxb5 cxb5 32. Nc3 Ne6 33. Bxb5 Nd4 34. Ba4 Bf6 35. Bb3 Rb8 36. Ba2 (
36. Bd5 $1 Ba6 37. Qa2 $16) 36... Bc6 37. Bxd4 exd4 $11 38. Nd5 Bxd5 39. exd5
Rxb4 40. Qd1 Qd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "ISL-FRA"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Steingrimsson, Hedinn"]
[Black "Hauchard, Arnaud"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2420"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 035"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15. b3
Qc7 (15... g6 16. Ba3 Qc7 (16... Nh5 17. Qc2 (17. Bf1 Qb6 18. b4 Rad8 19. Bb2
c5 $10 {Cseshkovsky,V-Psakhis,L/URS-ch/1981/}) 17... Nf4 18. Bf1 Qc7 19. g3 Ne6
20. Bb2 Bg7 21. b4 $14 {Brodsky,M-Aleksandrov,A/URS-chJ Kherson/1991}) 17. Qc2
Bg7 (17... Rad8 18. Rab1 $1 d5 $6 19. Bxf8 Kxf8 20. b4 dxe4 21. Bxe4 exd4 22.
cxd4 $16 {Dolmatov,S-Beliavsky,A/URS-56ch/1989/}) (17... Rac8 18. Rab1 $1 (18.
Rad1 Qb6 19. Bf1 c5 20. d5 Rb8 $10 {Brunner,L-Abdennabi,I/Novi Sad ol/1990/})
18... Qb8 19. Qa2 Bg7 20. dxe5 dxe5 21. c4 Ba8 22. b4 $16 {Fernandez Garcia,
J-Campora,D/Buenos Aires/1990/}) 18. Rad1 $1 (18. Bf1 d5 19. exd5 Nxd5 20. c4
b4 $5 21. cxd5 bxa3 $10 {Sokolov,A-Beliavsky,A/URS-56ch/1989/}) (18. Rab1 Rad8
19. Bf1 d5 $10 {Magem Badals,J-Vladimirov,E/Leon/1991/}) 18... d5 19. exd5 Nxd5
20. Ne4 exd4 21. cxd4 b4 22. Bb2 a5 23. Bc4 $16 {Ivanchuk,V-Beliavsky,A,
Linares 1990}) (15... g6 16. Bb2 Bg7 (16... exd4 17. cxd4 d5 18. e5 Nh5 19. Nf1
Nf4 20. Bc2 c5 21. dxc5 Nxc5 $10 {Kuczynski,R-Balashov,Y/Warsaw/1990/}) 17. Bf1
(17. Qc2 Qb6 (17... Rc8 18. c4 exd4 19. Bxd4 Nh5 20. Bxg7 Nxg7 21. b4 a5 $10 {
Adams,M-Motwani,P/London WFW/1990/}) (17... Nh5 18. Bf1 Nf4 19. Rad1 (19. Rab1
Ne6 20. Ba1 Qc7 21. b4 Rad8 22. Qa2 $14 {Renet,O-Sturua,Z/Manila ol/1992/})
19... Ne6 $14 {Aseev,K-Georgadze,G/Lvov zt/1990/}) 18. b4 $6 c5 19. bxc5 dxc5
20. dxe5 (20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. dxe5 Nd7 22. c4 b4 23. f4 g5 $1 $44) 20... Nh5 $10
{Stefansson,H-Carlhammar,M/Rilton-Cup/1988/}) 17... Qb6 18. Qc2 Rac8 (18... Nh5
19. b4 Nf4 20. dxe5 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 dxe5 22. c4 $16 {Karpov,An-Beliavsky,A/Biel/
1992/}) 19. Rad1 Nh5 20. b4 $14 {Kindermann,S-Gabriel,C/Altensteig/1992/}) (
15... Rb8 16. Ba3 Nh5 17. Bf1 Nf4 18. Qc2 Bc8 $14 {Sokolov,A-Beliavsky,A/
URS-ch/1988/}) 16. Bb2 g6 17. Qc2 Bg7 18. Rad1 Rac8 19. Bf1 Qb8 20. Qb1 Ba8 21.
Qa2 Nh5 22. b4 Re7 23. c4 exd4 24. Bxd4 Bxd4 25. Nxd4 $14 c5 26. Nc2 bxa4 27.
Qxa4 cxb4 28. Nxb4 Nc5 29. Qa3 Qa7 (29... Nxe4 30. Nxe4 Rxe4 31. Rxe4 Bxe4 32.
Nxa6 $16) 30. Re3 Rce8 31. Rde1 Nf6 (31... Nxe4 32. Qxa6 Qxa6 33. Nxa6 $10) 32.
f3 $14 h5 33. h4 Qb6 34. Kh1 Rb8 35. Nd3 Nfd7 36. Rb1 Qd8 37. Rxb8 Qxb8 38.
Nxc5 Nxc5 39. Nb3 $1 Qd8 40. Nxc5 dxc5 41. Qxc5 Rb7 42. Kg1 $16 Rb1 43. Re2 Bb7
44. Qf2 Bc8 45. Rd2 Qc7 46. Qd4 Be6 47. Qf6 $18 Rb8 48. e5 Bxc4 49. Bxc4 Qxc4
50. Rd6 Qc5+ 51. Kh2 a5 52. f4 Qc3 53. Rd7 Rf8 54. f5 Qc8 55. e6 Qb8+ 56. g3
gxf5 57. Rxf7 1-0

[Event "Nabereznye Chelny"]
[Site "Nabereznye Chelny"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Muhutdinov, Marat"]
[Black "Sideif Sade, Fikret Israfil O"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2425"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. a4 c5 13. Bc2 Re8 14. d5 c4 15. b4
cxb3 16. Nxb3 Qc7 17. Bd3 $1 (17. Bd2 Nb6 18. Na5 Nxa4 19. Bxa4 Qxa5 20. c4 $14
{Dolmatov,S-Psakhis,L/Novosibirsk/1993/}) 17... bxa4 18. Rxa4 Nb6 (18... Qxc3
$4 19. Rc4 $18) 19. Ra2 a5 (19... Qxc3 20. Na5 $44) 20. Rxa5 Qxc3 21. Rxa8 Rxa8
22. Bb5 Nc4 23. Nfd2 Ba6 24. Bxa6 Rxa6 25. Qf3 Qxf3 26. gxf3 Ra4 27. Nxc4 Rxc4
28. Na5 $14 Rc8 29. Nc6 Bf8 30. Bg5 Ne8 31. Ra1 f6 32. Be3 Rc7 33. Ra8 Kf7 34.
Bb6 Rd7 35. Nd8+ Kg8 36. Ne6 Kf7 37. Kg2 Be7 38. f4 (38. Kf1 Rb7 $132) 38...
exf4 39. Nxf4 Rb7 40. Bd8 Nc7 41. Bxc7 Rxc7 42. Ne6 Rc4 43. f3 f5 $1 44. exf5
Rc2+ 45. Kg3 Rd2 46. Nf4 Bg5 47. Ra7+ Kf6 48. Nh5+ Kxf5 49. Nxg7+ Kg6 50. h4
Bf6 51. Ne6 Be5+ 52. f4 Rd3+ 53. Kg2 Bf6 54. Nf8+ Kh5 55. Nxh7 Bxh4 $10 56. f5
Rxd5 57. f6 Rd2+ 58. Kf3 Rf2+ 59. Ke4 Bxf6 60. Nxf6+ Rxf6 61. Kd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2834"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:06]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 4. Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:44]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:15]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 6. Re1 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 7. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:07]}
8. c3 {[%emt 0:00:31]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:07]} 9. h3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Nb8 {
[%emt 0:00:08] The famously solid Breyer variation! Similar in character to
some games of mine that began with the move 1.d4 b5, Black's play in this line
is extremely formulaic and rarely deviates from well-established and easily
understood plans. A good sign of mastery is to be able to combine elements
from different plans as the game dictates.} 10. d4 {[%emt 0:00:23]} (10. d3 $5
{is another move, recently used against Mamedyarov by the young Spanish GM
David Anton. The logic is that Black has spent time on ...Nb8 that he probably
wouldn't have done against an earlier d3-system. For instance:} Nbd7 11. Nbd2
Bb7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ng3 $132 {and White can contemplate playing with Nh2-g4 in
place of the standard d4, Bc2 stuff.}) 10... Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 11. Nbd2 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:00:11]} (11... c5 {The reason this move order is
not played, is that Black would like White to have to play a4 before Black
goes c4.} 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ng3 Bf8 14. Ng5 {The point. Now there is no real
choice other than c4, and then Black has to go for tricks.} c4 15. Bc2 exd4 $5
(15... h6 16. Nf3 Bb7 17. d5 g6 18. Be3 {is exactly what Black doesn't want:
counterplay is slow to arrive because White doesn't have a4 yet, and White may
continue with Nh2-g4 or Qd2, etc.}) 16. cxd4 Bb7 17. Bd2 g6 $132 {Black's play
now is aimed at making the knight on g5 feel silly. Nevertheless, he doesn't
have quite enough pressure on e4 and the feeling is that White must be better
somehow, perhaps with a4 under the now-different circumstances.}) 12. Bc2 {
[%emt 0:07:27]} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 13. Nf1 {[%emt 0:01:09]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:00:
09]} 14. Ng3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 15. a4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} (15.
Nh2 {is an interesting creative move:} exd4 16. cxd4 c5 17. d5 $11 {In this
kind of position it's hard to know how much weight to give to the opinion of
the machine, but Black should not be worse if he follows normal plans (...Bg7,
...c4, ...Nc5, possibly ...h5.) See Motycakova,M-Nemcova,K Frydek Mistek 2009.}
) (15. b3 $5 {A conceptually challenging line. White wants to get d5 without
a4, and not have it punished by ...c6 and detonation of the centre. Black must
react carefully, and I am not sure quite how to equalise here, though there is
a very interesting piece sacrifice which gives excellent compensation.} Bg7 (
15... c5 16. d5 $14) (15... d5 16. Bg5 h6 17. Bh4 $14 {seems to have been
pioneered by Mamedyarov and analysed down to a draw, but cloud engines
disagree! The consensus will probably change soon...}) 16. d5 Rc8 17. c4 {
This was White's point.} c6 18. Be3 (18. dxc6 Rxc6 19. cxb5 axb5 20. Bd3 b4 $11
{Berg,E-Butnorius,A Gibraltar 2008}) 18... Nb6 $1 {Now for concrete reasons
this is best.} (18... Qa5 {is suggested by the engine, but following} 19. a3
bxc4 20. bxc4 Nc5 21. Qd2 Qxd2 22. Nxd2 Nfd7 23. Rab1 $14 {the queens have
come off and Black is quite passive}) 19. Qe2 $1 {Other moves have been tried,
but this is the most convincing for White.} cxd5 20. cxd5 Nbxd5 {If not for
this move White would be trivially better.} 21. exd5 Nxd5 22. Rac1 $1 {The
only way to take back on e3 with a piece.} (22. Qd2 Nxe3 23. fxe3 e4 24. Nd4
Bxd4 25. exd4 e3 26. Qe2 Qh4 27. Kh2 Qxd4 {is not what White was looking for
from the opening}) 22... Nxe3 (22... Nc3 23. Qd2 $14) 23. Qxe3 d5 $44 {Black
has good compensation based on the big centre.}) 15... Nb6 $5 {[%emt 0:00:51]
Not a move I had seen before, but perhaps it will be seen more in light of the
present game.} (15... c5 {This is the main line. White is only given liberty
to close the centre after he has played a4. Here I have some quite detailed
analysis but suffice it to say in summary that Black faces some slight
problems according to the present theory, largely depending on how fast he
allows tripling on the a-file.} 16. d5 c4 17. Bg5 $1 {White is trying to cross
or delay Black's usual knight redeployment of Nc5, Nfd7.} Bg7 $1 (17... h6 $6 {
is less strong, and a simple plan for White can be formulated, involving...
tripling on the a-file. Far from gaining a tempo, ...h6 in fact loses one. I
will give some sample lines.} 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2 h5 20. Ra3 Qc7 (20... Nfd7
21. Rea1 Nb6 {Else just R1a2, Qc1-a1, etc.} 22. a5 Nba4 {Interesting idea, but
probably bad.} 23. Rb1 $1 Bg7 24. Nf1 $14 {The idea is just Qd1, N1d2, Nxc4
and there is not a lot Black can do about it.}) 21. Rea1 Rab8 22. Qd1 Bc8 23.
axb5 axb5 24. Ra5 Rb7 25. R1a2 Bd7 26. Bg5 Nh7 27. Bd2 Nf6 28. Ng5 Reb8 29. Nf1
{White has gained a marginally more pleasant position and will be able to
triple on the a-file if desired, however if Black plays completely precisely
the advantage will grow, and as we all know, with almost nothing on the board
0.3 is a draw!}) 18. Qd2 Nc5 19. Ra3 (19. Nh2 Qc7 20. Ng4 Nxg4 21. hxg4 Bc8 22.
f3 Bd7 $11) 19... Qc7 20. Rea1 Reb8 21. Qc1 Nfd7 {Black is just about in time,
for instance:} 22. R1a2 Nd3 $132) (15... Bg7 $5 {is an interesting attempt to
dodge the main line - Black is fine to play with ...c6 in place of ...c5, and
keep the position compact and solid in a Philidor-like way.} 16. Bd3 {
Otherwise Black gets ...c5, free of the problems outlined above.} c6 17. Be3 (
17. Bg5 {encourages Black's concept:} Nf8 18. Qd2 Ne6 19. Be3 Nd7 $11 {Black
is fine as in Hou,Y-Sasikiran,K New Delhi 2011.}) 17... Qc7 $132 {Black is
playing for ...d5 and whether White has an edge depends heavily on whether he
can sufficiently discourage this move in the coming phase. One motif to pay
attention to is the dark-square complex. Anand has been on the White side of
this: Anand,V-Baramidze,D Baden-Baden 2015}) 16. axb5 {[%emt 0:06:22]} (16. a5
Nbd7 17. b4 $5 {Caruana,F-Roiz,M Bilbao 2014 , An audacious concept . White is
trying to play d5, lock down the centre as well as the queenside and only
subsequently (and extremely slowly) make progress with the kingside attack.
The idea could, however, have come slightly unstuck against the principled}
exd4 18. cxd4 c5 19. bxc5 dxc5 20. d5 c4 $132) (16. b3 $5 {is possibly more
ambitious than the text - White wants Bd3, c4, d5.} bxa4 {may be the best way
to counter this:} 17. bxa4 a5 18. Bd3 Qc8 $132 {Adams,M-Tan,J Bournemouth 2016,
Black has reasonable play according to current knowledge, but Black's position
looks slightly looser than usual, so there may be an incisive way for White to
get an edge.}) 16... axb5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 17. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Bg7 {
[%emt 0:06:43]} 18. Bd3 {[%emt 0:05:49]} Rxa1 {[%emt 0:06:36]} 19. Qxa1 {
[%emt 0:00:16]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 20. Be3 {[%emt 0:02:51]} (20. Qc1 {
followed by Bh6 is the engine idea, but Black is solid in any case.}) 20... Qc7
{[%emt 0:07:19]} 21. dxe5 {[%emt 0:01:00]} dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 22. Qc1 {
[%emt 0:00:52]} Bc8 {[%emt 0:05:35]} 23. Qc2 {[%emt 0:01:39] The last two
moves do not create a great impression, but White has a very wide margin of
error in such positions.} Nfd7 {[%emt 0:05:08]} 24. c4 {[%emt 0:05:31] This
move looks like White has reconciled himself to offering a draw soon.} Nxc4 {
[%emt 0:01:03]} 25. Bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 26. Qxc4 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} Nf8 {[%emt 0:01:19]} 27. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:04:
33]} (27... Rd8 $5 {is a nice wrinkle: after} 28. Qxc6 Rd1+ 29. Kh2 Rxc1 30.
Qxc1 Qxc1 31. Bxc1 Ne6 $36 {Black has full compensation for the pawn despite
the reduced material and his bishop pair means his game is more pleasant.}) 28.
Nf1 {[%emt 0:04:57]} Ne6 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 29. N1d2 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Qa5 {
[%emt 0:10:37]} 30. Ng5 {[%emt 0:16:57]} Nxg5 {[%emt 0:01:18]} 31. Bxg5 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:08:28]} 32. Be3 {[%emt 0:05:44] With a draw offer
which was accepted.} (32. Nb3 Qb5 33. Qc3 {was maybe worth considering, as on
strategic purity White is still marginally ahead. Definitely below super-GM
level there is a strong chance that White will consolidate a dark-square bind,
e.g. Be3-c5, Nd2, b4, f3, Kh2.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "GER-ch 77th"]
[Site "Osterburg"]
[Date "2006.02.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Michalczak, Thomas"]
[Black "Graf, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2361"]
[BlackElo "2604"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2006.02.03"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. b3
c6 16. Bb2 Qb6 {None of the sides is ready to commit yet.} (16... Qc7 17. Bd3
Rad8 18. Qc2 Qb8 19. a4 Bg7 20. Rab1 Qa8 21. Ra1 Qb8 22. axb5 axb5 23. c4 exd4
24. Bxd4 b4 $13 {Solozhenkin,E-Yemelin,V/St Petersburg 1995}) (16... Bg7 17.
Qd2 Qc7 18. Nh2 h5 19. Rad1 Rad8 20. Bc1 $6 d5 21. exd5 Nxd5 22. Qg5 c5 $13 {
Moingt,J-Trabert,B/Bastia 2004}) 17. Qd2 {White just puts all his pieces in
the center without a clear purpose.} (17. dxe5 dxe5 18. Qe2 Rad8 19. Rad1 a5
20. Bc1 Qc7 21. h4 Ng4 22. Nh2 Nxh2 23. Kxh2 Nc5 24. Nf1 Ne6 25. g3 b4 $13 {
Vajda,S-Zatonskih,V/Bucharest 1997}) 17... Rad8 18. Rad1 Bg7 19. Bd3 d5 {
This is probably Black's best move in the position, but Black was too anxious
to win the game, so it hardly suited for this purpose.} (19... c5) 20. dxe5
Nxe5 21. Nxe5 Rxe5 ({Another way to equality is} 21... dxe4 22. Nxe4 Nxe4 23.
Rxe4 Rxe5 24. Rxe5 Bxe5 $11) 22. c4 Ree8 (22... Re6 23. cxd5 (23. e5 $6 Nd7 24.
cxd5 cxd5 $15 {[%csl Re5]}) 23... cxd5 24. Bb1 Rde8 25. e5 Ne4 26. Nxe4 dxe4
27. Bxe4 Bxe4 28. Rxe4 Bxe5 $11) 23. e5 Nd7 24. e6 $5 Rxe6 $6 {Black is trying
too hard to get something out of this position and finds himself in troubles.}
(24... fxe6 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Qg5 Nf6 (26... Rf8 $2 27. Nh5+ Kh8 28. Nf4 $16)
27. h4 e5 28. h5 (28. Nf5+ Kf7 29. Nh6+ Kg7 $11) 28... e4 29. hxg6 hxg6 30.
Nf5+ Kf7 $11) 25. Rxe6 fxe6 26. Bxg7 Kxg7 27. Nh5+ $1 gxh5 (27... Kh8 28. Bxg6
$16 (28. Qh6 Rg8 29. Nf4 Nf8 (29... Ne5 30. Qg5 $1 $18) 30. Qg5 Qd4 $14)) 28.
Qg5+ Kh8 $2 {A losing move. It was necessary to play} (28... Kf8 29. Re1 $40 {
even though White's attack is very dangerous in any case.}) 29. Qe7 $1 $18 Nf8
30. c5 Qa5 31. b4 Qa4 32. Rb1 (32. Re1 $142 $1) 32... Rb8 $6 (32... Ra8 33.
Qxb7 Rd8 34. Qe7 Ra8 $18) 33. Qc7 $2 {Missing a simple win after} (33. Qf6+ $1
Kg8 34. Qg5+ Kh8 (34... Ng6 35. Bxg6 hxg6 36. Qxg6+ Kf8 37. Qf6+ Ke8 38. Qxe6+
Kd8 39. Qd6+ Kc8 40. Re1 $18) 35. Qe5+ Kg8 36. Qg3+ Kf7 37. Qxb8 $18) 33... Re8
34. Qf7 Rb8 35. Qc7 (35. Qf6+ $18) 35... Re8 36. Qf7 Rb8 37. Qc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Aeroflot op-A"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2006.02.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Alekseev, Evgeny V"]
[Black "Sorokin, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2634"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2006.02.08"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.06.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 c5 {One of the pet lines of
Ivan Sokolov.} 13. d5 {In most of the cases White doesn't hurry to close the
centre.} (13. Nf1 {is considered to be the main line.}) 13... c4 (13... g6 14.
Nf1 Nh5 15. Bh6 Re8 16. a4 Nb6 $5 17. a5 $6 Nc4 18. b3 $2 Nxa5 19. Ra2 Qc7 20.
Qa1 Bd8 $17 {Bologan,V-Atalik,S/Sarajevo 2004/CBM 101/[Atalik] (51)}) 14. b3
Qc7 $2 {After the move in the game Black pawn becomes vulnerable on c4, so it
seemed necessary to capture on b3.} (14... cxb3 15. axb3 Qc7 16. Bb2 Nb6 17. b4
Nfd7 18. Bb3 Kh8 19. Rc1 Nc4 20. Nxc4 bxc4 21. Bc2 a5 $11 {Nasybullin,
V-Seredenko,V/Tselinograd 1978}) 15. bxc4 bxc4 16. Rb1 {[%csl Rc4]} Rab8 (16...
a5 $5) 17. Qe2 Rfc8 18. Ba3 {[%cal Gb1b2,Ge1b1]} Nb6 $6 {[%csl Rb6] Now Black
has to worry about the knight too!} (18... Nh5) 19. Rb2 Nfd7 20. Reb1 Ba8 21.
g4 $1 {After the previous unfortunate play in the opening Black can barely
move, so it's easy to explaine his blunder in the next move.} Nf8 $2 22. Nxe5
$18 dxe5 (22... Bf6 23. Nexc4 Nxc4 24. Nxc4 Rxb2 25. Rxb2 Qxc4 26. Qxc4 Rxc4
27. Rb8 Be5 28. Rxa8 Rxc3 29. Bb3 $18) 23. Bxe7 Qxe7 24. Rxb6 Rxb6 25. Rxb6 Qa3
26. Nxc4 Qxc3 27. Bd3 Ng6 28. Qd2 {White needs to trade the queens in order to
deprive Black any counterchances.} Qa1+ (28... Rxc4 29. Qxc3 Rxc3 30. Rb8+ Nf8
31. Bxa6 $18) 29. Rb1 Qd4 30. Qe3 Qc3 31. Bf1 Qc2 32. Qb3 $1 Qxe4 $2 33. Nd6
1-0

[Event "China Chess King 1st"]
[Site "Taizhou"]
[Date "2015.11.25"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Lu, Shanglei"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Fischer,J"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2015.11.24"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. c4 c6 12. Qc2 Bb7 13. Nc3 b4 14. Na4 c5 15. d5
Nh5 16. Qd1 Nf4 17. Bc2 Ng6 18. b3 Bc8 19. a3 a5 20. Be3 Nf6 21. Nh2 h6 22. Nf1
Nh7 23. Ng3 Bg5 24. Nb2 Bd7 25. Nf5 Qf6 26. Qf3 Bxe3 27. fxe3 Ne7 28. Nxe7+
Qxe7 29. Qg3 Rfb8 30. Reb1 h5 31. Kh1 h4 32. Qf2 Qg5 33. Nd3 Nf6 34. Ne1 a4 $6
{Releasing the tension on the queenside. Komodo here recommends} (34... Qh6 {
with the idea to advance the kingside pawns with ...g5.}) 35. axb4 Rxb4 36. Nf3
Qg3 37. Qxg3 hxg3 38. Nd2 Rb6 39. Ra2 Rab8 $2 {Now Black loses a pawn. Better
was} (39... Rba6) 40. bxa4 Rxb1+ 41. Nxb1 Bc8 42. Kg1 Ba6 43. Nd2 Rb4 44. Bd3
Kh7 45. Kf1 Kh6 46. Ke2 Kh5 47. a5 g5 48. Kd1 g4 49. Be2 Kg5 50. hxg4 Nxg4 51.
Bxg4 Kxg4 52. Kc2 Kg5 53. Kc3 f6 54. Rb2 Ra4 55. Rb6 Rxa5 56. Rxd6 Kg6 57. Rc6
Kf7 58. Kb2 1-0

[Event "Interpolis-03"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1979.11.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Black "Spassky, Boris Vasilievich"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1979.11.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 (11. Nh4 Re8 12. Nf5 Bf8) 11... Bb7 12. Bc2
Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 (14. Bg5 h6 15. Bh4 g5 (15... g6 $5 $10) (15... exd4
16. cxd4 g5 17. Bg3 Nxe4 18. d5 {~/=-Psakhis} Ndf6 $5) 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Bg3
Ng6 $1 (17... Ned7 18. N3d2 Bg7 19. Bh2 $13) 18. N1d2 Nh5 19. Bh2 Nhf4 20. a4
Qf6 $132) 14... g6 15. a4 {/\16.d5 ><b5} (15. b3 Bg7 16. Bb2 (16. a4 d5 17.
dxe5 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Bg5 Qc8 $10 (19... exf3 20. Bxd8 Raxd8 $13 {
Byrne-Spassky/San Juan /1975})) 16... c5 $10) (15. Bg5 h6 16. Bd2 Bg7 (16... c5
17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 dxe5 $10) 17. Qc1 (17. Rc1 c5 18. d5 Nb6 19. Bd3 Bc8 20.
Nh2 Qe7 21. Rf1 Ra7 $10) 17... Kh7 (17... h5 18. Bh6 Nh7 19. Qd2 Bxh6 20. Qxh6
Qf6 21. a4 Ndf8 22. d5 $14) 18. h4 d5 19. exd5 (19. h5 dxe4 20. hxg6+ fxg6 21.
Nxe4 exd4 $1 (21... Nxe4 22. Bxe4 Bxe4 23. Rxe4 exd4 24. Rxe8 Qxe8 25. cxd4 Rc8
26. Qc6 $1 $16 {Geller-Rubinetti}) 22. Neg5+ hxg5 23. Nxg5+ Kg8 24. Bxg6 Rxe1+
25. Qxe1 Nf8 26. Bf7+ Kh8 27. f3 N6h7 {=/+-Beliavsky}) 19... exd4 20. h5 dxc3
21. Bxc3 Bxd5 22. Nh4 Nf8 23. Nhf5 gxf5 24. Nxf5 $44) (15. Bd2 Bg7 (15... c5
16. d5 Bg7 17. b3 (17. Qc1 Kh8 18. Bg5 Qe7 19. Nh2 Qf8 20. Ng4 Ng8 $1 $10)
17... Nb6 18. Nh2 Bc8 19. Rf1 Ra7 20. f4 exf4 21. Bxf4 Qe7 $132) 16. Qc1 c5 (
16... Qe7 17. Bh6 Bxh6 18. Qxh6 Qf8 19. Qd2) (16... Nf8 17. Bh6 N6d7 18. Rd1
Qe7 19. Bb3 Ne6 $10) (16... d5 17. Bg5 Qc8 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Nxe4 20. Bxe4
dxe4 21. Bf6 Bxf6 22. exf6 Qe6 23. Nxe4 (23. Nh5 e3 $1 24. Rxe3 Qd5 25. Nf4 Qc6
$10) 23... Bxe4 24. Rxe4 Qxf6 $10) 17. Bh6 Qe7 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Nd2 Nb6 $10) (
15. h4 d5 $132) 15... c5 (15... Bg7 16. d5 Qe7 17. b3 c6 18. c4 $16) 16. d5 {
/\17.b3} (16. Be3 exd4 (16... Qc7 17. Qd2 cxd4 18. cxd4 Nb6 $10) 17. cxd4 Bxe4
$1 (17... Nxe4 18. Bxe4 (18. Nxe4 Bxe4 19. Bg5 Bxf3 20. Bxd8 Bxd1 21. Rxe8 Bxc2
$17) 18... Bxe4 19. Bg5 $16) 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Rxe4 20. dxc5 Nxc5 21. Qd5
Re8 (21... bxa4 $10 {Sax-Ivanchuk/Manila izt/990.}) 22. axb5 axb5 23. b4 Ne6
24. Rxa8 $10 {Sax-Beliavsky/Reykjavik/1988}) (16. b3 cxd4 17. cxd4 bxa4 18.
Rxa4 exd4 $132) 16... c4 (16... Nb6 17. Qe2 $1 {Karpov} (17. b3 bxa4 18. bxa4
a5 $1 {><c4}) 17... Nxa4 18. Bxa4 bxa4 19. Rxa4 $14 {><a6,d6 /\b3, c4, b4, c5})
(16... Bg7 17. b4 (17. c4 Nb6 18. Nd2 bxa4 19. Bxa4 Nxa4 20. Qxa4 Nd7 21. Ndf1
a5 $13 {Dvoiris-Georgadze/USR-ch/1989}) (17. Bg5 h6 18. Bd2 Nb6 $13) 17... cxb4
18. cxb4 Nb6 19. a5 Nc4 20. Bd3 Rc8 21. Ra2 Re7 (21... Rf8 {Karpov-Portisch/
Madrid/1973.} 22. Rc2 Ne8 23. Qe2 Kh8 24. Bxc4 bxc4 25. Rxc4 Rxc4 26. Qxc4 Nc7
$44) 22. Rc2 Rec7 $13) 17. Bg5 (17. Be3 Nc5 18. Qe2 (18. Qd2 Nfd7 19. h4 h5 20.
Ng5 Qe7 $10) 18... Nfd7 (18... Qc7 19. Ra3 (19. Nd2 $5) 19... Bg7 20. Rea1 Rec8
21. Nd2 Qd8 22. R1a2 Nfd7 $10) 19. Nd2 Qc7 20. Ra3 Nb6 21. axb5 axb5 $10) 17...
h6 (17... Nc5 $6 18. Qd2 Be7 19. Bh6 Nfd7 (19... Rb8 $5) 20. Nh2 Rb8 21. Rf1
Bc8 22. axb5 axb5 {Kavalek-Spassky/Montreal/1979} 23. Ng4 $1 Nf6 24. Nxf6+ Bxf6
25. f4 exf4 26. Qxf4 Nd7 27. e5 $40) 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Ra3 (19. Qd2 h5 (19... Kh7
20. Nh2 Bg7 21. Rf1 h5 22. f3 Qe7 $2 (22... Qc7 {23... Tf8, 24... Tae8}) 23.
Bg5 $1 Qf8 24. f4 exf4 25. Rxf4 Nfd7 26. Raf1 Ne5 27. Nxh5 $1 gxh5 28. Qe2 $40
{Spassky-Portisch/Genf/1977}) 20. Ng5 (20. Bg5 Be7 21. Bh6 Nfd7 22. Qe3 (22.
Rf1 $1) 22... Rb8 23. Rf1 Bf8 24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25. Nd2 Bc8 26. f4 exf4 27. Qxf4
Ne5 28. Nf3 Qe7 29. axb5 axb5 30. Qh6 b4 31. Ne2 $10 {Ljubojevic-Beljavski/
Beograd/1987}) 20... Bh6 21. Re2 Qe7 22. Rae1 h4 23. Nf1 Nh5 24. g3 hxg3 25.
fxg3 f6 26. g4 Nf4 $1 (26... Bxg5 $2 27. Bxg5 fxg5 28. gxh5 $16 {
Nunn-Beljavski/Szirak/1987}) 27. Bxf4 Bxg5 28. Bxg5 fxg5 $15) (19. Rf1 h5 {
Oim-Zagorovsky/corr/1993}) 19... Rb8 20. Nd2 Bc8 21. axb5 axb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "St Stefan/Belgrade m"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Spassky, Boris Vasilievich"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1992.09.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 031"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
Bg5 h6 16. Bd2 exd4 $5 $146 17. cxd4 c5 18. Bf4 $6 cxd4 19. Nxd4 Ne5 20. b3 $6
(20. a4 $5) 20... d5 $1 21. Qd2 (21. exd5 Qxd5 22. f3 (22. Ne4 Neg4 $1 23.
Nxf6+ Nxf6 $15) 22... Bc5 23. Be3 Nxf3+ 24. gxf3 Rxe3 $19) (21. Bxe5 Rxe5 22.
f4 Re8 23. e5 Ne4 24. Bxe4 dxe4 25. Nxe4 Bxe4 26. Rxe4 Bc5 27. Qd3 f5 $1 28.
exf6 Rxe4 29. Qxe4 Qxd4+ $19) 21... dxe4 (21... Kh7 22. Bxe5 Rxe5 23. f4 Re8
24. e5 Ne4 25. Bxe4 dxe4 26. Nxe4 Bxe4 27. Rxe4 Bc5 28. b4 Ba7 29. Rd1 Qb6 30.
Kh1 Rad8 31. Qe1) 22. Nxe4 Nd5 $1 23. Bg3 (23. Bxh6 Bb4 24. Qc1 Bxe1 25. Qxe1
f5 26. Bg5 Qb6 $19) 23... Rc8 (23... Bb4 24. Qxh6 Bxe1 25. Rxe1 Qb6 26. Ng5 Nf6
27. Bxe5 $18) 24. Re2 $1 (24. Rad1 $2 Bb4 25. Qxh6 Bxe1 26. Rxe1 Qb6) 24... f5
(24... Nb4 $5 25. Rd1 (25. Bb1 Bg7 $1 26. a3 (26. Qxb4 Qxd4 27. Qxd4 Nf3+ 28.
gxf3 Bxd4 $19) 26... Qxd4 27. Qxd4 Nf3+ 28. gxf3 Bxd4) 25... Nxa2 $17) 25. Bxe5
$8 Rxe5 26. Ng3 Rxe2 27. Ngxe2 Nb4 28. Rd1 Nxc2 29. Nxc2 Qxd2 30. Rxd2 Rc7 31.
Ne3 Kf7 32. h4 $1 Bc8 33. Nf4 g5 34. hxg5 hxg5 35. Nd3 Bg7 36. Nd5 $1 Rc6 37.
N5b4 Rc7 38. Nd5 Rc6 39. N5b4 Rc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Budapest m"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Spassky, Boris Vasilievich"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "1993.01.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[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 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Re8 $2 12. Bc2 $2 (12. Bxf7+) 12... Bb7 13.
Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. b3 Bg7 16. d5 Nb6 $1 17. Be3 (17. Qe2 c6 18. c4 cxd5 19.
cxd5 Nfxd5 $1 $19 {Unzicker,W-Tal,M/1960/0-1/}) 17... Rc8 18. Qe2 c6 19. c4
cxd5 20. cxd5 Nbxd5 $1 21. exd5 Nxd5 22. b4 $6 Nxb4 23. Bb3 Bd5 24. Red1 Bc4
25. Qd2 Nd3 26. Bh6 d5 27. Bc2 Nc5 28. Re1 $2 (28. Bxg7 Kxg7) 28... Bh8 $1 29.
Rad1 Qb6 30. Qg5 e4 31. Qe3 Bxa2 32. Bb1 Bxb1 (32... Bc4 $1 {/\ a6-a5-a4 etc.})
33. Rxb1 Na4 34. Qxb6 Nxb6 35. Be3 Na4 36. Nd4 Nc3 37. Rbc1 Rc4 38. Nge2 Nxe2+
39. Nxe2 Rd8 (39... f5 $1) 40. g4 d4 41. Rcd1 d3 42. Ng3 Bc3 43. Bd2 Bxd2 44.
Rxd2 Rdd4 45. f3 $1 exf3 46. Kf2 b4 47. Kxf3 Rd8 48. Re7 Rb8 49. Rd7 b3 50.
R7xd3 $1 a5 51. Rb2 a4 52. Ne2 Kg7 53. Ke3 Ra8 54. Nc3 Rb4 55. Nxa4 Raxa4 56.
Rbxb3 Rf4 $1 57. Ke2 Kh6 58. Rf3 Kg5 59. Kf2 Rxf3+ 60. Kxf3 Kh4 61. Kg2 Ra2+
62. Kg1 h5 $1 63. gxh5 Kxh5 64. Rf3 f5 65. Rf4 Re2 66. Kh1 Re4 67. Rf2 Kh4 68.
Kg2 Rb4 69. Kh2 Re4 70. Kg2 f4 $1 71. Kf3 Re5 72. Rg2 (72. Kxf4 Rf5+ 73. Ke3
Rxf2 74. Kxf2 Kxh3 $19) 72... g5 73. Rg4+ Kxh3 74. Rg3+ Kh4 0-1

[Event "Tashkent FIDE GP 2nd"]
[Site "Tashkent"]
[Date "2012.11.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2012.11.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "UZB"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
d6 9. c3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Bg5 {White
is refraining from pursuing the relocation of the knight 14.Ng3, but puts his
faith in the impact of the bishop on the diagonal d8-h4.} h6 15. Bh4 Qc8 {
Karjakin is a very dilligent and extremely gifted young player. His choice of
queen retreat is hinting at the fact that none of the huge number of other
moves was convincing enough for him.} (15... c5 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. N3h2 (17. a4
c4 18. N3h2 Re6 (18... g5 $5 19. Bg3 Nc5 20. Qf3 Qd6 21. Ng4 Nxg4 22. hxg4 $13)
19. Qf3 Qb6 20. Ng4 Be7 21. Nxf6+ Bxf6 22. Bg3 Bg5 23. Ne3 Bxe3 24. Qxe3 Qxe3
25. Rxe3 Nc5 $11 {0-1 (65) Smeets,J (2662)-Anand,V (2810) Wijk aan Zee 2011})
17... Qc7 (17... Be7 $6 18. Ne3 Nh7 19. Bxe7 Rxe7 20. Nf5 $14 {1-0 Romanishin,
O (2485)-Gligoric,S (2575)/Odessa 1975/ (55)}) (17... Qb6 18. Qf3 Re6 19. Ne3
c4 20. Nhg4 Nxg4 21. hxg4 Nf6 22. Rad1 Rae8 23. b3 cxb3 24. axb3 Qc5 25. Nf5
Qc6 $11 {1/2-1/2 (41) Psakhis,L (2580)-Abramovic,B (2475)/Tallinn 1983/MCD})
18. Qf3 Re6 19. Ne3 c4 20. Nhg4 Nxg4 21. hxg4 Rae8 22. Red1 Nc5 23. Rd2 Rd6 $11
{1/2-1/2 (41) Tal,M (2615)-Smejkal,J (2615)/Biel 1976/ Black can most likely
hope for equality in the line with the standard advance 15...c5.}) (15... g6
16. N1h2 Qc8 (16... Bg7 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. Ng4 Qe7 19. Qd2 g5 20. Nxf6+ Nxf6 21.
Bg3 Nh5 22. a4 $11 {1/2-1/2 (62) Gashimov,V (2734)-Svidler,P (2735)/Astrakhan
2010/CBM 137}) 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. a4 Bg7 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qe2 Bc6 21. Ng4 Nxg4
22. hxg4 Nc5 $11 {1/2-1/2 (28) Filippov,A (2620)-Sasikiran,K (2688)/Guangzhou
2010/}) 16. dxe5 {The exchange in the centre is connected with the clear goal
to follow classical play by transferring the knight to g4.} (16. N3d2 d5 (16...
exd4 17. cxd4 c5 $11) 17. dxe5 Nxe4 18. f4 Ndc5 19. Ng3 Nxg3 20. Bxg3 Qd7 21.
Bf2 Rad8 22. b3 b4 23. cxb4 Ne6 24. f5 $14 {1-0 (42) Narayanan,S (2336)-Golod,
V (2579) Trieste 2011}) 16... dxe5 17. N3h2 a5 $5 {The education of the best
players in the world is deserving of great respect. They know about finesses
and alternative plans in known positions. The idea of a rook transfer via a6
was discovered by Spassky, but it has hardly been used in practice.} (17... c5
18. Qf3 Qc6 (18... a5 $5) (18... c4 19. Ne3 a5) 19. Rad1 c4 (19... Qe6 20. b3 (
20. c4 $5)) 20. Ne3 g6 21. Rd2 Be7 22. Red1 Qe6 23. Nhg4 Kg7 (23... h5 24. Nh6+
Kg7 25. Nhf5+ $1) 24. b3 $1 h5 $5 (24... Rab8 25. bxc4 bxc4 26. Ba4 Bxe4 27.
Nxf6 Bxf3 28. Nxe8+ Rxe8 29. Bxd7 Bxd1 30. Bxe6 Bxh4 31. Bd7 $18) 25. Nxf6 Nxf6
26. bxc4 bxc4 27. Bxf6+ Qxf6 28. Qxf6+ Bxf6 29. Nxc4 $14 {1-0 (63) Romanishin,
O (2560)-Spassky,B (2640) Tilburg 1979}) 18. Qf3 Ra6 19. Ng4 {Dominguez was
not able to get an advantage from the opening, but we should admire his
persistence. Navara was also unable to get very far in a recent game after 19.
Ne3.} (19. Ne3 Qa8 20. Rad1 Nc5 21. Bxf6 Rxf6 22. Nf5 b4 23. Ng4 Rfe6 24. a3 b3
25. Bxb3 Bxe4 26. Rxe4 Qxe4 27. Qxe4 Nxe4 28. Bxe6 Rxe6 $11 {1/2 (98) Navara,D
(2691)-Avrukh,B (2596) Sibenik 2012}) 19... Nxg4 20. Qxg4 (20. hxg4 Rg6 21. Ne3
Nf6 22. Nf5 Qe6 (22... Nxg4 23. a4 b4 24. Bb3 Nf6 25. Bxf6 Rxf6 26. Nxh6+ Kh7
27. Nf5 g6 28. Qh3+ Kg8 29. Nh6+ Bxh6 30. Qxh6 Qg4 $11) 23. a4 bxa4 24. Rxa4
Qb6 $11) 20... Nc5 21. Qf3 {White had a chance to finish his pains in looking
for advantage after the swap of the queens on the c8-square.} (21. Qxc8 Rxc8
22. Ne3 Bxe4 (22... Nxe4 23. Nf5 Nc5 24. Ne7+ Bxe7 25. Bxe7 Nd7 26. Rad1 Bc6
27. Be4 Bxe4 28. Rxe4 Nb6 29. Rxe5 $11) 23. Bxe4 Nxe4 24. Nf5 Nd6 25. Rxe5 Nxf5
26. Rxf5 c5 $11) 21... Qa8 22. Rad1 b4 $1 {Karjakin does not have a single
problem so he tries to generate somw initiative on the queenside.} 23. Nd2 Rd6
24. Qe3 (24. Nc4 Rxd1 25. Qxd1 bxc3 26. bxc3 Qa6 $15) 24... Ne6 25. Nc4 Rxd1
26. Rxd1 bxc3 27. bxc3 f6 28. Rb1 $6 {[%mdl 256] If Dominguez Perez had
realised that he should not be frustrated by the results of the opening, he
might still have found the regrouping of the pieces with approximate equality.
Instead of this he begins to play without a plan and understanding.} (28. Qe1
$1 a4 29. f3 Ba6 30. Ne3 Qc6 31. Bf2 $11) 28... a4 29. Kh1 (29. Kh2 Qa6 30. Nb2
Bc6 $15) 29... Ba6 30. Nb2 (30. Bd3 $2 Nc5 $17) 30... a3 31. Nd3 Bc4 32. Bb3 $2
{The exemplary case for the false exchange of pieces. The problem with the
absence of the light squarred bishop lies in its former defensive functions.
Now White will not be able to hold the d file and his defence will collapse in
a few moves.} (32. Nc1 Rd8 33. Nb3 Qa6 34. f3 Nf4 $15) 32... Bxb3 33. Rxb3 (33.
axb3 Qc6 34. Qe1 Qb5 $17) 33... Rd8 34. Rb1 (34. c4 Qa4 35. Qc1 Nd4 36. Rb1 Ne2
37. Qe1 Qc2 38. Nxe5 Qxa2 $19) (34. Kh2 Qa6 35. Nb4 Qc4 36. Qe1 Nc5 37. Rxa3
Nxe4 $17) (34. f3 Qa6 $19) 34... Qa4 35. Nb4 Nf4 36. Bg3 c5 {Karjakin was
already in the position to choose between various forms of realising the
advantage. The attack along the back rank seemed to be enticing, but also the
chosen continuation is hpeless for the defender.} (36... Rd1+ 37. Rxd1 Qxd1+
38. Kh2 Ne2 39. f3 c5 40. Nd5 Qc2 41. Be1 Qxa2 $19) 37. Nd5 Nxd5 38. exd5 Qc2
39. Rb7 $6 {The first and the last "active" move in the game, White was
certainly nearly struggling with time trouble. The fight is effectively over,
since no force can stop the pawn any more.} (39. Qc1 Qxa2 40. Ra1 Qb2 41. Qxb2
axb2 42. Rb1 Rxd5 43. Rxb2 Rd1+ 44. Kh2 Rc1 45. f4 exf4 46. Bxf4 Rxc3 $17) (39.
Ra1 Rxd5 40. Kh2 Qb2 41. Qe1 Rd2 $19) 39... Qxa2 40. Ra7 Qb1+ 0-1

[Event "Budapest m"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Spassky, Boris Vasilievich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1993.01.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[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 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
b3 d5 16. Bg5 $1 (16. exd5 Nxd5 17. dxe5 Nxc3 18. Qd3 (18. Qd4 Nxe5 $1 19. Qxc3
$2 Nxf3+ 20. gxf3 Bg7) 18... Nd5 19. Bg5 Qc8 20. Qd4 Bg7 21. Nf5 $5 gxf5 22.
Bxf5 Re6 23. Qh4 Nf8 24. Nd4 c5 25. Rac1 Qc7 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Bb1 Rc8 $17 {
Polgar,J-Beliavsky,A/Munich/1991/}) (16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Rxe5 18. f4 (18.
Bf4 Re6 $1) 18... Rxe4 $1 19. Nxe4 dxe4 $44) 16... h6 17. Bh4 $5 (17. Bxf6 Qxf6
18. exd5 exd4) 17... dxe4 $2 (17... g5 $5 18. Nxg5 hxg5 19. Bxg5 Be7 20. Nf5
$40) 18. Nxe4 g5 19. dxe5 $1 Nxe4 (19... Nxe5 $2 20. Qxd8 Nxf3+ 21. gxf3 Rexd8
22. Nxf6+ Kg7 23. Nh5+ Kh8 24. Bg3 $18) 20. Bxe4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 gxh4 22. Rd4 Re7
(22... Qc8 $5 23. Rxd7 Bd6 $1 24. Rxd6 cxd6 25. Qxd6 (25. exd6 Qxc3 26. Rc1 $16
) 25... Qxc3 26. Re1 $16) 23. e6 $1 fxe6 24. Ne5 Rg7 25. Rxd7 Qg5 26. Qf3 Rd8
27. Rxg7+ Qxg7 28. Re1 Bc5 29. Ng4 Qg6 30. Qf4 Bb6 (30... Rf8 31. Qxc7) 31.
Nxh6+ Kg7 32. Qxh4 $1 Qf6 (32... Rh8 33. Qe7+ Kxh6 34. Rxe6 $18) 33. Qxf6+ Kxf6
34. Re2 Rd1+ 35. Kh2 Rc1 36. g4 Rxc3 37. h4 Rd3 38. g5+ Ke7 39. g6 Kf8 (39...
Kf6 40. h5 Rd5 41. Ng4+ Kg7 42. h6+ Kxg6 43. Rxe6+ Kf5 44. h7 Bd4 (44... Rd8
45. Rf6+ $1 Kg5 (45... Kxg4 46. Rg6+ Kf5 47. Rg8 $18) 46. Kg3 Rh8 47. f4+ Kh5
48. Rh6#) 45. Rf6+ $3 Bxf6 46. Nxf6 Rd8 47. Ng8 $18) 40. Rxe6 Rf3 41. Ng4 Rf5 (
41... Bxf2 42. Nxf2 Rxf2+ 43. Kg3 Rxa2 44. h5 $18) 42. Kg3 1-0

[Event "Piatigorsky-Cup 2nd"]
[Site "Santa Monica"]
[Date "1966.07.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Portisch, Lajos"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "1966.07.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. c4 c6 12. c5 Qc7 (12... dxc5 $6 $16 13. dxe5 Ne8
14. e6 $1 $16 {Averbakh,Y-Furman,S/URS-ch28/1961/1-0 (32)}) (12... Bb7 13. Nc3
Qc7 (13... h6 14. cxd6 Bxd6 15. Be3 Qc7 16. Rc1 exd4 17. Nxd4 Rad8 18. Nd5 $14
{Sakharov-Vitolinsh/URS-chT/1962/}) 14. cxd6 Bxd6 15. Bg5 exd4 16. Nxd4 $1 (16.
e5 $2 Nxe5 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Nxd4 Ng6 $17) 16... Bh2+ 17. Kh1 Bf4 18. Bh4 Rad8
19. Bxf7+ $1) 13. cxd6 Bxd6 14. Bg5 (14. Nc3 exd4 (14... b4 $2 15. Na4 exd4 16.
Nxd4 Re8 17. Bc2 Nb6 18. Nxb6 Qxb6 19. Nf3 Bc5 20. Be3 $14 {Gligoric,S-Bely/
Hastings/1963/}) 15. Nxd4 Nc5 16. Qf3 Be5 17. Nf5 Nxb3 18. axb3 Be6 19. Bg5
Bxb3 20. Qe3 Qa7 $15 {Klovan-Kortschnoj,V/URS-ch31/1963/}) (14. a4 exd4 15.
Nxd4 Nc5 16. axb5 Rd8 $1 17. Be3 Be5 18. Ba2 Qd6 $15 {Quinones-Reshevsky,S/
Amsterdam izt/1964/}) 14... exd4 $1 (14... c5 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Nc3 Bb7 17. Rc1
Qb6 18. Re2 $1 {Tal,M-Unzicker,W/Stockholm/1960/1-0/25/}) (14... h6 15. Bh4 (
15. dxe5 Bxe5 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Be3 Nxe4 18. Bxh6 Ndc5 19. Be3 Nxb3 $10 {
Djurasevic-Karaklajic/Belgrade/1961/}) 15... Nh7 16. Bg3 $14 exd4 17. e5 $1) (
14... Bb7 15. Nc3 (15. Nbd2 Rad8 16. Rc1 c5 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. Nh4 Qb6 $15)
15... exd4 16. Qxd4 c5 17. Qd2 c4 18. Bc2 Rfe8 (18... b4 $5 {Euwe} 19. Nd5 Nxd5
20. exd5 c3 21. Qd3 g6) 19. Rad1 Be5 $2 {>= 19...Bc5, 19...Bb4} 20. Nxe5 Qxe5
21. f4 Qc5+ 22. Kh2 h6 23. Bxf6 Nxf6 24. e5 $40 {Lehmann-Hartoch/Amsterdam/
1963/}) 15. Bxf6 (15. Qxd4 $6 Ne5 (15... c5 16. Qe3 c4 17. Bc2 Re8 18. Bxf6
Nxf6 19. e5 Bb4 (19... Bc5 20. Qg5 Nd7 21. Nc3 Bb7 22. Be4 Bxe4 23. Nxe4 Re6
$10 {Gligoric,S-Darga,K/Enschede/1963/}) 20. Nc3 Bb7 21. Qf4 Bxc3 22. bxc3 Bxf3
23. Qxf3 Nd7 24. e6 Nf6 $1 {Stein,L-Pachmann,L/Amsterdam izt/1964/}) 16. Nbd2
Nfd7 17. Qe3 c5 18. Bd5 Rb8 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. Nf3 c4 $15 {Dubinin-Yudovich/
Ragosin mem corr/}) 15... gxf6 (15... Nxf6 16. e5 $18) 16. Qxd4 (16. Nxd4 Nc5
17. Nf5 (17. Bc2 Be5 18. Qh5 Bxd4 19. e5 f5 20. Qg5+ $10) (17. Nf3 Rd8 18. Qc2
Nxb3 19. Qxb3 {>= 19.axb3} Be6 20. Qc3 Be5 21. Nxe5 Qxe5 22. Qc2 Rd4 $15 {
Golikov-Yudovich/corr-URSch7/}) (17. Nd2 Rd8 18. N2f3 (18. Nf5 Bxf5 19. exf5
Be5 $17) 18... Nxb3 19. Qxb3 c5 20. Nf5 Be6 21. Qc2 Be5 $15 {Gufeld,E-Stein,L/
URS-ch31/1963/}) (17. Qc2 Rd8 18. Rd1 Nxb3 19. Nxb3 Kh8 (19... Qe7 20. Nc3 $2 {
>= 21.N1d2} Qe5 21. Nd4 Qh2+ 22. Kf1 Be6 23. Nxe6 fxe6 24. Qd3 Rd7 25. Qf3 Rg7
26. Ke2 Rf8 27. Rd3 f5 28. Rf1 b4 29. Nb1 Rxg2 {Pitzsch-Liberzon/Moscow/1963/
0-1/29/}) (19... Bh2+ 20. Kh1 Rxd1+ $10) 20. Nc3 Qe7 21. Ne2 c5 $2 22. Ng3 $2 (
22. Nxc5 Rg8 23. Rxd6 Qxd6 24. Rd1 $16) 22... Rg8 23. Rxd6 $13 {
Cuellar-Portisch,L/Sousse izt/1967/}) 17... Bxf5 18. exf5 Rad8 19. Qh5 $15 (19.
Qg4+ Kh8 20. Nc3 $10 (20. Qh4 Be5 21. Nc3 Rfe8 22. Re3 Rg8 23. Rd1 $2)) 19...
Nd3 $1 (19... b4 $1) (19... Be5 $6 20. Nc3 Rd4 21. Re3 Bf4 22. Re2 Bd2 23. Nd1
Bg5 24. g3 Qd6 25. Ne3 Bxe3 26. Rxe3 $13 {Gligoric,S-Petrosian,T/Los Angeles/
1-0/}) 20. Re4 Qa7 $15) 16... Ne5 (16... Bc5 $5 17. Qc3 a5 18. Nbd2 (18. a3 Qg3
19. Qxc5 Nxc5 20. Bxf7+ Kxf7 21. fxg3 Nb3 22. Ra2 Be6 $15) 18... a4 19. Bc2 b4
20. Qd3 Ba6 $15) 17. Nbd2 Rd8 (17... c5 $6 {Portisch} 18. Qe3 c4 19. Bc2 Bc5
20. Qh6 Qb6 21. a4 Bxf2+ 22. Kh1 Bxe1 23. Rxe1 $40) (17... Kh8 $5 18. Nh4 Rg8
19. Nf5 Bxf5 20. exf5 Rad8 $15) 18. Qe3 Nd3 {/\ 19...Bc5, 19...Bf4} 19. Qh6 $1
$8 Bf4 (19... Nxe1 20. Rxe1 Bf4 (20... Be5 21. Nxe5 {/\ 22.Re3-> +-}) 21. Qxf6
Bxd2 (21... Rxd2 22. Nxd2 Bxd2 23. Rd1 Ba5 24. Rd3 {/\ 25.e5-> +- Portisch})
22. Bxf7+ $18) (19... Qe7 {19...Be7} 20. e5 $1) 20. Qxf6 Rd6 21. Qc3 Nxe1 22.
Rxe1 Qd8 (22... Rg6 23. Nh4 {/\ 24.Nf5}) (22... Bxh3 $2 23. gxh3 Rg6+ 24. Kf1 {
Portisch}) 23. Re2 Rg6 $44 24. Kh1 (24. Kf1) 24... Be6 25. Bxe6 fxe6 (25...
Rxe6 26. Nb3 $1 $14 (26. Nd4 $6 Bxd2 27. Nxe6 Bxc3 28. Nxd8 Rxd8 $17)) 26. g3
Bh6 (26... Bxd2 $6 27. Rxd2 {/\ 28.Ne5->}) 27. Kg2 (27. Qxc6 $2 Rc8 {Portisch})
(27. Nb3 $142) 27... Rc8 28. e5 $6 (28. Nb3 c5 $2 29. Nxc5 b4 30. Qd3) 28...
Qd5 29. Ne4 Bg7 30. b3 Rf8 31. Qc2 {/\ 32.Rd2} Rf4 $36 32. Ned2 c5 33. Re3 Qc6
$6 (33... Bf8 34. Ne4 (34. Rd3 Rd4 35. Rxd4 cxd4 36. Qd3 (36. Qe4 Bb4 $1) 36...
Bg7 $17) 34... Be7 $15 {Portisch}) 34. Ne4 c4 35. bxc4 bxc4 36. Ned2 Bh6 37.
Rc3 Rg7 38. Rd3 $1 (38. Nxc4 $2 Rxf3 39. Rxf3 Rc7 $19) (38. Rxc4 $143 Rxc4)
38... Qa8 39. Nxc4 Qc6 40. Na3 (40. Rc3 Rxf3 41. Rxf3 Rf7 42. Qe2 Rxf3 43. Qxf3
Qxc4 $19) 40... Qxc2 41. Nxc2 Ra4 42. Rd8+ Kf7 43. a3 Rg6 $16 (43... Bc1 $142
44. Rd1 Bb2 45. Rb1 Bc3 46. Rb3 Rc4) 44. h4 Bf8 45. Ng5+ Ke7 46. Ra8 h6 47. Nh7
Bg7 48. Ra7+ Ke8 49. h5 Rgg4 50. f3 $2 (50. Ne3 $18 Bxe5 51. Nxg4 Rxg4 52. f4
Ba1 (52... Bxf4 53. Nf6+) 53. Ng5 $1 $18 {Portisch}) 50... Rgc4 51. Rxg7 Rxc2+
52. Kh3 Rxa3 53. f4 Rf2 (53... a5 54. Rg6 (54. f5 exf5 55. e6 Re2 56. Nf6+ Kd8
57. Rd7+ Kc8 58. e7 Raa2 59. e8=Q+ Rxe8) 54... Kf7 55. Nf6 Rf2 56. Rxh6 Rxf4
57. Rh7+ Kf8 58. h6 Rff3 59. Rg7 $18) 54. Nf6+ Kf8 55. Rg4 a5 56. Ne4 Rc2 57.
Rg6 Re3 58. Nd6 Rcc3 59. Rxe6 Rxg3+ 60. Kh4 Rg1 61. f5 Rc2 62. Re8+ Kg7 63. f6+
Kh7 64. Re7+ Kg8 65. Kh3 Rc3+ 66. Kh4 Rc2 67. Kh3 Rc3+ 68. Kh2 Rcg3 (68... Re1
$10) 69. f7+ Kg7 70. Nf5+ Kf8 71. Nxg3 Rxg3 (71... Rxg3 72. Ra7 Re3 $10)
1/2-1/2

[Event "Piatigorsky-Cup 2nd"]
[Site "Santa Monica"]
[Date "1966.08.14"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Unzicker, Wolfgang"]
[Black "Portisch, Lajos"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1966.07.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
Bd2 Bg7 16. Qc1 d5 17. Bg5 Qc8 (17... dxe4 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Nxe4 exd4 20. cxd4
$14 {Spassky-Antoshin/Sochi/1965 Unzicker}) 18. dxe5 (18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. dxe5
Nxe4 20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. Nxe4 Bxe4 22. Rxe4 Qf5 23. Qf4 $2 h6 $1 {Dely-Forintos/
Budapest/1966}) 18... Nxe4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Bxe4 Nxe5 (20... Bxe4 21. Rxe4
Nxe5 22. Nxe5 Rxe5 23. Rxe5 Bxe5 24. Qe3 $10) 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates final"]
[Site "El Escorial"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Timman, Jan H"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1993.01.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "Candidates"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 (6. Qe2 b5 7. Bb3
O-O 8. c3 d5 9. d3 Bb7 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. a3 $5 Bf8 12. Ba2 Nb8 $1 13. Re1 Nbd7
14. Nf1 c5 $10 {Short,N-Timman,J/Amsterdam KRO/1992/}) 6... b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. Bc2 Nb8 13. a4 (13. Nf1 Nbd7 14. Ng3)
13... Nbd7 14. Bd3 c6 15. b3 (15. Qc2 Rc8 16. axb5 axb5 17. b4 g6 18. Bb2 Nh5
19. g3 exd4 20. cxd4 d5 21. Bc3 Nb6 22. e5 Rc7 23. Nb3 Bc8 $10 {Portisch,
L-Short,N/Wijk/1990/}) 15... g6 16. Qc2 (16. Bb2 Bg7 17. Bf1 Qc7 18. Ra2 d5 $1
19. axb5 cxb5 20. exd5 Nxd5 $132 {Cseshkovsky-Dorfman,I/Erevan/1982/}) (16. Ba3
Qc7 17. Qc2 Bg7 18. Rad1 $5 d5 19. exd5 Nxd5 20. Ne4 exd4 21. cxd4 b4 22. Bb2
a5 23. Bc4 N7b6 24. Bf1 Bc8 25. Nc5 Bf5 $14 {Ivanchuk,V-Beliavsky,A/Linares/
1990/}) 16... Bg7 (16... Nh5 17. Bb2 Nf4 18. Bf1 Bg7 19. Rad1 Ne6 20. Qb1 $6 (
20. b4 $1 Qc7 21. Nb3) 20... Qc7 21. g3 (21. Qa1 $6 d5 $1) 21... bxa4 22. bxa4
d5 $10 {Aseev-Georgiev,G/Lvov/1990/}) 17. Bb2 Qc7 (17... Qb6 18. Rad1 Rac8 19.
Qb1 Nh5 20. Bf1 c5 21. Qa1 {0,5/Nunn,J-Portisch,L/Rotterdam/1989/}) (17... Nh5
18. Bf1 Qb6 19. b4 Nf4 20. dxe5 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 dxe5 22. c4 $14 {Karpov,
An-Beliavsky,A/Biel/1992/}) 18. Rad1 Rac8 (18... d5 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. dxe5 Nxe4
(20... dxe4 21. Bxb5 $5) 21. Bxe4 dxe4 22. Nxe4 Qxe5 23. Rd7 $36) 19. Qb1 (19.
dxe5 dxe5 20. c4 bxa4 21. bxa4 Nc5) 19... Nh5 20. Bf1 (20. b4 Nf4 21. Bf1 bxa4
22. dxe5 dxe5 23. Nc4 $14) 20... bxa4 21. bxa4 d5 $1 22. Qa2 (22. exd5 cxd5 23.
dxe5 Nxe5 24. Nxe5 Bxe5 25. Nf3 Bg7 26. Nd4 $10) 22... Rcd8 23. Rc1 $2 (23. c4
$5 dxe4 24. Nxe4 exd4 25. c5 $13) 23... Bh6 $1 24. exd5 cxd5 25. c4 $4 (25.
dxe5 Nxe5 $15) 25... e4 26. cxd5 Qf4 27. Rb1 (27. g3 Nxg3 28. fxg3 Qxg3+ 29.
Bg2 exf3 30. Nxf3 Bxc1 31. Rxc1 Nf6 $19) (27. Qb3 exf3 (27... Bc8 28. g3 Nxg3
29. Nh2) 28. Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. Qxb7 Qxd2 30. Qxd7 Nf6 31. Qb7 Ne4 $19) 27... exf3
28. Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. Nxf3 Qf5 $1 30. Bc4 (30. Ne5 Nxe5 31. dxe5 Bxd5 $1 $19)
30... Nf4 31. Bc1 Bxd5 32. Bxd5 Nxd5 (32... Nxd5 33. Bxh6 Nc3 $19) 0-1

[Event "St Stefan/Belgrade m"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Spassky, Boris Vasilievich"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1992.09.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 031"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
Bg5 h6 16. Bd2 exd4 17. cxd4 c5 18. d5 $1 $146 Nb6 19. Ba5 (19. h4 $5 Bc8 20.
h5 g5 $1 21. Ba5 Rb8 $10) (19. Qc1 $5 Kh7 20. h4 $36) 19... Nfd7 20. b3 (20.
Nd2 Bg7 21. Rb1 Qh4 $10) 20... Bg7 21. Rc1 Qf6 22. Rb1 $6 (22. h4 $5 h5 23. e5
$1 (23. Re3 $5 Bh6 24. Ng5 $36) 23... dxe5 24. Ne4 Qe7 25. d6 Qd8 (25... Qf8
26. Bxb6 Nxb6 27. Nxc5 $16) 26. b4 (26. Nfg5 $5) 26... c4 (26... cxb4 27. Bb3
$40) 27. Nc5 $44) (22. e5 $5 dxe5 (22... Nxe5 $2 23. Bxb6) 23. Ne4 Qe7 $13)
22... b4 23. Ne2 $6 (23. Qc1 Nc8 24. a3 bxa3 25. Qxa3 Na7 $13) 23... Qe7 24. a3
$2 (24. Qc1) 24... bxa3 25. Bc3 f5 $5 26. Bxg7 Qxg7 27. Nf4 $6 fxe4 28. Nh4 (
28. Bxe4 a2 29. Rc1 Nf6 30. Bxg6 Rxe1+ 31. Qxe1 Nfxd5 32. Nxd5 Nxd5 33. Be4 Nf4
$1 34. g3 Re8 $19) (28. Ne6 Qf7 29. Bxe4 Nf6 $17) 28... g5 29. Ne6 (29. Nh5 Qf7
30. Bxe4 gxh4 31. Qg4+ Kh8 32. Bg6 Rxe1+ 33. Rxe1 Qf8 $19) 29... Qf6 30. Qg4
Nxd5 $1 31. Nxg5 (31. Qxe4 Nf8 $1 $19) 31... hxg5 32. Qxd7 Nb4 $1 (32... Re7
33. Qg4 Bc8 34. Qg3 Kf8 $19) 33. Qxb7 Nxc2 34. Rxe4 a2 35. Rf1 Nb4 (35... a1=Q
36. Qd5+ Kh8 37. Rxa1 Qxa1+ 38. Kh2 Qf6 $19) 36. Rg4 a1=Q 37. Rxa1 Qxa1+ 38.
Kh2 Qg7 39. Qf3 Qe5+ 40. g3 (40. Rg3 $5 Ra7 41. Qh5 Rh7 $19) 40... Rf8 41. Qg2
Qf6 42. f4 Ra7 43. Rxg5+ Rg7 44. Rh5 Qe6 45. g4 Rxf4 0-1

[Event "St Stefan/Belgrade m"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "29"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Spassky, Boris Vasilievich"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1992.09.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 031"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. c4 c6 12. cxb5 axb5 13. Nc3 Bb7 14. Bg5 b4 (14...
h6 15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Bh4 Re8 17. a3 Qc7 18. Ba2 Rad8 19. Qb3 Rf8 20. Qc2 Qb8
21. Rad1 Nb6 22. Bg3 Bd6 $14 {Gufeld,E-Kholmov,R/URS-ch/1972/}) 15. Nb1 h6 (
15... c5 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Nbd2 Nfd7 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 19. a4 bxa3 20. bxa3 Nxf3+
21. Qxf3 Ne5 22. Qc3 Qc7 23. f4 Nc6 24. Nf3 $14 {Mecking,H-Unzicker,W/Hastings/
1971/}) (15... Ne8 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Nbd2 Nc7 18. Nc4 Nb5 19. Rc1 Rfd8 20. Ne3
c5 21. dxc5 {/Geller,E-Portisch,L/Palma de Mallorca izt/1970/}) 16. Bh4 (16.
dxe5 hxg5 17. exf6 Bxf6) 16... c5 17. dxe5 Nxe4 $1 18. Bxe7 (18. e6 $2 Bxh4 19.
exd7 Bxf2+ $19) 18... Qxe7 19. exd6 Qf6 (19... Qxd6 20. Qxd6 Nxd6 21. Rd1 Ra6 (
21... c4 22. Rxd6 cxb3 23. Rxd7 Rxa2 (23... Bxf3 24. gxf3 Rxa2 25. Ra7 $1) 24.
Rxb7 Rxa1 25. Nfd2 Rd8 (25... Rc8 26. Rxb4 Rc1+ 27. Kh2 Raxb1 28. Nxb1 Rxb1 29.
Rxb3 $16) 26. Kh2 $14) 22. Nbd2 Nb6 23. Ne5 $14) 20. Nbd2 (20. Bd5 Bxd5 21.
Qxd5 Qxb2 (21... Nxd6 $5 22. Nbd2 Rfc8 $132) 22. Nbd2 $13) 20... Nxd6 21. Nc4
Nxc4 (21... Ra6 22. Nfe5) 22. Bxc4 (22. Qxd7 Bc6 23. Qe7 Nxb2 $1) 22... Nb6 (
22... Bxf3 23. Qxd7 Qg6 24. Bf1 $10) 23. Ne5 $8 (23. Be2 Qxb2 $17) 23... Rae8 (
23... Nxc4 24. Nxc4 Ba6 25. Qc2 (25. Re4 Bxc4 26. Rxc4 Qxb2 27. Rxc5 Rxa2 28.
Rxa2 Qxa2 29. Rb5 Qc4 30. Rb7 Rc8 $17) (25. Ne5 Rfd8 26. Qc2 Rd5 $17) 25...
Bxc4 26. Qxc4 Qxb2 27. Qxc5 b3 $1 28. a4 (28. Reb1 Qf6 $17) 28... Rfb8 $17) 24.
Bxf7+ $8 (24. Qh5 Rxe5 25. Rxe5 (25. Bxf7+ $2 Rxf7 26. Qxe5 Qxf2+) 25... Nxc4
26. Rxc5 Nxb2 $17) (24. Ng4 Qxb2 $17) 24... Rxf7 25. Nxf7 Rxe1+ 26. Qxe1 Kxf7 (
26... Qxf7 27. Qe5 Qg6 $140 28. Qb8+ Bc8 29. Rd1 $132) 27. Qe3 Qg5 (27... Qxb2
$2 28. Re1 $40) (27... Qg6 28. f3) 28. Qxg5 hxg5 29. b3 (29. a3 b3 $5 30. a4
Ba6 $17) 29... Ke6 (29... Bd5 30. a3 bxa3 31. Rxa3 Ke7 32. Ra7+ Kd6 33. Rxg7
Bxb3 34. Rxg5 c4 35. Kf1 c3 36. Ke2 c2 37. Kd2 $13) 30. a3 Kd6 (30... bxa3 31.
Rxa3 Kd5 32. Ra7 Kc6 33. f3 $13) 31. axb4 cxb4 32. Ra5 Nd5 (32... Bd5 $2 33.
Rb5 Kc6 34. Rxb4 $16) 33. f3 Bc8 34. Kf2 Bf5 35. Ra7 g6 (35... Bc2 36. Rxg7
Bxb3 37. Ke1 Bc2 38. Kd2 b3 39. Rxg5 $13) 36. Ra6+ Kc5 37. Ke1 Nf4 (37... Bc2
38. Kd2 Bxb3 39. Rxg6) 38. g3 Nxh3 39. Kd2 Kb5 (39... Ng1 40. Ke3 g4 (40... Bc2
$2 41. Ra1 Nh3 42. Rc1 $18) 41. fxg4 $10) 40. Rd6 Kc5 (40... Ng1 41. Ke3 Bc2
42. Rd5+ Kc6 43. Rxg5 Bxb3 44. Rxg6+ Kc5 45. Rh6 Bc2 46. Rh1) 41. Ra6 Nf2 42.
g4 Bd3 43. Re6 Kd5 (43... Bb1 44. Re1 Ba2 45. Kc2) 44. Rb6 Kc5 45. Re6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Budapest m"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Spassky, Boris Vasilievich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1993.01.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. b3
{Die 15.b3 Variante ist mit dem Sekundanten Lev Psakhis speziell für den
Spassky-Wettkampf vorbereitet worden.} (15. a4 {Üblich}) 15... Bg7 (15... c5 $5
) 16. d5 Bf8 $5 {In Verbindung mit dem geplanten Vorstoss ...c7-c6 sinnvoll.}
17. Bg5 h6 18. Be3 c6 19. c4 a5 20. Qd2 Kh7 21. Nh2 b4 $6 (21... bxc4 $6 22.
bxc4 Ba6 23. Ba4 $1) (21... a4 $5 $132) (21... Ba6 $5 22. dxc6 (22. Bd3 $2 bxc4
23. bxc4 Nc5) 22... Nc5 23. cxb5 Bxb5 $36) 22. Ng4 Nxg4 23. hxg4 Qh4 $2 {
Richtet sich gegen den weissen Plan 24.f3, 25.Kf2, 26.Rh1} 24. g5 $1 c5 $2 (
24... hxg5 25. dxc6 $1 (25. Bxg5 Bh6 $1 26. Bxh4 Bxd2 $13) 25... Bxc6 26. Bxg5
Bh6 27. Qxd6 Bxg5 28. Qxc6 $16) (24... cxd5 25. exd5 (25. cxd5 hxg5 26. Bxg5
Bh6 $1 $10) 25... hxg5 26. Bxg5 Bh6 $14) 25. Nf1 $1 f6 (25... hxg5 26. Bxg5 Bh6
27. Bxh4 Bxd2 28. Nxd2 $18) (25... Qg4 26. Bd1 Qh4 27. Nh2 $18) 26. g3 Qh3 27.
f3 fxg5 28. Re2 Nf6 29. g4 $1 Qxf3 30. Nh2 Qh3 (30... Qg3+ 31. Rg2 Qh3 32. Rf1
$18) 31. Rf1 Nxg4 32. Rf7+ Bg7 (32... Kg8 33. Rxb7 Nxe3 34. Rxe3 Qc8 35. Rb6 h5
36. Rg3 g4 37. Qg5 Kh7 38. Nxg4 $1 $18) 33. Nxg4 Qxg4+ 34. Rg2 Qh3 (34... Qc8
35. Bxg5 $18) 35. Rxb7 Rf8 $2 (35... Kg8 $1 $16) 36. Bxg5 $1 hxg5 37. Qxg5 Qh6
38. Qxh6+ (38. Rh2 Rf1+ 39. Kxf1 Qxh2) 38... Kxh6 39. Rh2+ Kg5 40. Rxg7 Rf3
$138 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "New Delhi/Teheran"]
[Date "2000.12.01"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2762"]
[BlackElo "2641"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[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. 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 c5 15.
d5 c4 16. Bg5 Qc7 17. Nf5 (17. Qd2 Reb8 18. Nf5 {game aborted. Kasparov,
G-Piket,J/Internet/2000/ (18)}) 17... Kh8 18. g4 Ng8 {Bologan will try to get
away with concept of not weakening any of his kingside pawns.} (18... g6 $5 19.
Ne3 (19. Nh6 Re7 $13) 19... Bg7 $13) 19. Qd2 Nc5 (19... g6 20. Ng3 (20. Nh6 $2
f6 21. Be3 Bxh6 22. Bxh6 g5 $1 $17) 20... Bg7 21. b4 $14) 20. Be3 Bc8 21. Ng3 (
21. g5 g6 22. Ng3 Bxh3 $15) 21... Rb8 22. Kg2 a5 23. a3 Ne7 (23... g6 24. g5
Bg7 25. h4 $40) 24. Rh1 Ng6 25. g5 $1 b4 $5 {Anand has excellently prepared
for the kingside attack, so the opponent takes over the initiative with the
pawn sacrifice.} (25... Qb6 26. h4 $40) 26. axb4 axb4 27. cxb4 Na6 (27... Nf4+
28. Bxf4 exf4 29. bxc5 fxg3 30. c6 gxf2 31. Ra2 $16) 28. Ra4 (28. Rhc1 $5 Nxb4
29. Ba4 Re7 30. b3 Nd3 31. Rxc4 Ndf4+ 32. Kh2 Qd8 33. Nf5 $18) 28... Nf4+ 29.
Bxf4 exf4 30. Nh5 (30. Qxf4 Nxb4 31. Qd2 Qb6 $14) 30... Qb6 31. Qxf4 Nxb4 32.
Bb1 (32. Qxf7 Nxc2 33. Rxc4 (33. Qxe8 $2 Bxh3+ $19) 33... Qxb2 34. Rc7 Bf5 35.
exf5 Re2 $132) 32... Rb7 (32... Kg8 33. Rc1 Qb5 34. Ra3 Be7 35. Rac3 $16) 33.
Ra3 Rc7 (33... Nd3 34. Bxd3 Qxb2 35. Raa1 cxd3 36. Rhb1 Qxb1 (36... Qc3 37.
Rxb7 Bxb7 38. Qxf7 Qc8 39. Rc1 $18) 37. Rxb1 Rxb1 38. Qxf7 Rb8 39. g6 hxg6 40.
Ng5 $18) 34. Rd1 Na6 (34... Nd3 35. Bxd3 Qxb2 $2 36. Qc1 $1 $18) 35. Nd4 Qxb2
36. Rg3 c3 (36... Nc5 37. Nf6 $1) 37. Nf6 $3 {[%mdl 128] The tactical
reasoning behind this impressive move is pretty interesting, most of white
pieces are ready to jump on the enemy's king.} Re5 (37... gxf6 38. gxf6 h6 (
38... Re5 39. Rg1 $1 c2 40. Kh2 Bg7 41. Qh6 $18) 39. Rg1 $1 (39. Nf5 Qe2 (39...
Bxf5 40. exf5 Qe2 41. Re1 $1 $18) 40. Rg7 Qh5 41. Qg3 Bxf5 42. exf5 Qxd1 43.
Rg8+ Kh7 44. Rxf8 Qxd5+ 45. Be4 $1 Qxe4+ 46. Kg1 Qe1+ 47. Kg2 $11) 39... Qd2 $1
(39... c2 $2 40. Bxc2 Qxd4 41. Kh1 $18) 40. Qh4 c2 (40... Rb7 41. Bc2 $1 $18)
41. Nxc2 Rc3 (41... Rxc2 42. Bxc2 Qxc2 43. Kh1 Qxe4+ 44. Qxe4 Rxe4 45. Rg8+ Kh7
46. Rxf8 $18) 42. Ne3 Rc1 43. Kh2 $1 Rxg1 44. Rxg1 Re5 45. Nc4 Qd4 46. Nxd6 $18
) 38. g6 $1 fxg6 (38... hxg6 39. Qh4+ $18) (38... gxf6 39. Qxf6+ Bg7 40. Qd8+
$18) 39. Nd7 Be7 (39... Rf5 40. Nxf5 Bxd7 41. Nxd6 Be7 42. Nf7+ Kg8 43. d6 c2
44. dxe7 $18) 40. Nxe5 dxe5 41. Qf7 h6 (41... Qb4 42. Qe8+ Bf8 43. Rf3 Kg8 44.
d6 $18) 42. Qe8+ (42. Qe8+ Kh7 43. Qxg6+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 3rd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2010.10.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2719"]
[BlackElo "2826"]
[Annotator "Giri,A"]
[PlyCount "150"]
[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. 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 {Breyer - no surprises. Magnus sticks to his main weapon.} 10. d4
Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Bg5 $5 {Interesting try, that
was already employed by Gashimov earlier a few times. So not a surprise for
Magnus. To be honest I always found this move to look a bit artificial, but ok,
it's hard to find any advantage in the main lines. So why not.} h6 15. Bh4 Be7
{Black wants to neutralise the psychological pressure (bishop h4-queen d8) and
to one day exchange the bishop on h4 for the passive one on e7 (f8).} 16. Ng3
$5 {A new try by Gashimov. At the Olympiad in Khanty, Kasimdzhanov tried 16.
a4 and Vachier Lagrave 16.Bg3.} g6 {A solid and logical move. Black is
covering f6 and preparing ...Kg7 followed by ...Nh7.} (16... g5 {is obviously
too risky without preparation - and probably also with it. White has
compensation after all three possibilities and it wasn't a surprise that
Magnus decided to play it safe.} 17. Nf5 $5 (17. Nxg5 $5) (17. Bxg5 $5)) 17.
Qd2 Kg7 18. Rad1 {Simply centralizing - why not?} Nh7 {as promissed black
exchanges the bishop.} 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. dxe5 {It is logical to take now,
since Black can't recapture with the pawn due to the hanging knight on d7.} ({
The favourite Kasparov method:} 20. h4 $5 {deserves some attention, though I
don't think the pawn alone can trouble black king so much. For example} Nhf6 (
20... h5 {is weakening the g5 square for later.}) 21. h5 {and White is sort of
having some pressure on g6, but I think without the dark squared bishop it is
really hard to create any attack.}) 20... Nxe5 21. Nd4 Qg5 $5 {Carlsen chooses
the most logical way to defend against Nf5+. But it allows a tactical blow,
which should have not lead to any advantage, had Magnus reacted correctly.} (
21... Nc4 $5 {Was a recipe for those who don't want to calculate any lines.}
22. Qe2 Qg5 {and Black is fine.}) 22. Ngf5+ $1 gxf5 23. f4 Nc4 $2 {It's a bit
surprising to me that Magnus didn't play the best continuation, since this one
leads to a distasteful position for Black in many ways. True it wasn't easy to
calculate all the lines after ...Nf3+!, but I can tell you that a player like
Magnus could have easily done it.} (23... Nf3+ $1 24. Nxf3 Qh5 {Now White has
several ways to continue, and even though it looks promising, objectively
Black is not even any worse.} 25. Qd4+ (25. Nd4 $5 Bxe4 (25... fxe4 26. Re3)
26. c4 $5 Nf6 27. cxb5 Kh7) 25... Nf6 $1 26. e5 Bxf3 27. exf6+ Kh8 28. Rxe8+
Rxe8) 24. fxg5 Nxd2 25. Nxf5+ (25. gxh6+ $5 Kg8 26. Rxd2 fxe4 27. Rf2 {was
also quite promising, but the way Gashimov played is the most human, and it is
also pretty good.}) 25... Kf8 26. Rxd2 hxg5 27. e5 $5 (27. Rf2 $5 {was also
possible, keeping e5 for later.}) 27... Nf6 $1 {Magnus is doing his best in
this difficult position, but Gashimov keeps on playing forcefully.} 28. Rf1 $1
Rxe5 29. Nxd6 $1 Rd8 30. Rxf6 cxd6 {Now we get a static endgame that is
extremely unpleasant for Black. The problem is that basically whatever White
does he always keeps up the pressure and has the better position.} 31. Bb3 Rd7
32. Kf2 d5 33. Rf3 Kg7 34. Rfd3 Rd6 35. Bd1 Bc8 36. Bf3 Be6 {Both players are
manoeuvring...} 37. Rd4 Kf6 38. a4 $1 {Now it's time for White to touch the
b-pawn.} bxa4 $1 {better a then b.} 39. Rxa4 Rb6 40. Be2 Bc8 41. Ra2 Bb7 42.
Ra4 Re4 43. Ra3 Re5 44. b4 Rc6 45. Rd4 Kg7 46. Bf3 Rf6 47. Rd3 Rf4 48. Ra5 Rc4
{Magnus seems to be active, but Gashimov again finds a good reply:} 49. Rc5 $1
{Not reacting to any provocations. Taking the pawn would probably lead to a
drawn rook endgame.} (49. Bxd5 $2 Bxd5 50. Raxd5 Rxd5 51. Rxd5 Rxc3 52. Rxg5+
Kf8 53. Ra5 Rc4 $1 54. Ra4 a5 $1 {Liquidating to a drawn rook ending (White
can press here of course).}) 49... Rxc5 50. bxc5 Re6 (50... Re7 {immediately
seems more precise to me.}) 51. Rd2 $1 {Transfering the rook and again wisely
not taking the pawn.} (51. Bxd5 $2 Bxd5 52. Rxd5 Kf6 {and Black seems to be
doing fine.}) 51... Re7 52. Rb2 (52. Bxd5 {Now was maybe the best chance.} Bxd5
53. Rxd5 Kf6 54. c6 Rc7 55. Rc5 {with good winning chances, which also means
good drawing ons. Black's problem here is that he can't just come over with
king and take on c6, since after that White will go g3 and h4, creating a
second passed pawn. However all of these things depend on tempos... Ah, those
rook endgames!}) 52... Bc8 53. Bxd5 {White has finally won a pawn, but now
under favourable conditions. Gashimov's patience was rewarded!} Re5 54. c4 Be6
$1 {Magnus is doing all he can and I am still not sure about the final
evaluation of this position!} 55. c6 $5 (55. Rd2 Kf6 56. c6 Ke7 {is also not
easy for White.}) 55... Bxd5 56. cxd5 Rxd5 57. Rc2 Rd8 58. c7 (58. Ra2 Rd3 $1
59. Rxa6 Rc3 {and it seems that Black is holding.}) 58... Rc8 59. Ke3 Kf6 60.
g3 a5 61. Kd4 Ke6 $1 {Now Black is just in time in all the lines. These guys
with 2800 are very often lucky. So in the end it's hard to come to a
conclusion about the endgame. Both players played quite well. Black always
seemed to be on the edge, but it was never easy and clear.} 62. h4 gxh4 63.
gxh4 a4 64. h5 a3 65. h6 a2 66. Rxa2 Rxc7 67. Ra6+ Kf5 68. h7 Rc8 69. Rh6 Rh8
70. Rh1 Kg6 71. Ke5 {Setting a trap, though at top GM level it is not really
setting a trap, but more like making a joke.} Re8+ (71... Rxh7 $4 72. Rg1+ {
and this unique position is won!}) 72. Kf4 Kg7 73. Kf5 Rh8 74. Rg1+ Kf8 75. Rh1
Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 3rd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2010.10.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2826"]
[Annotator "Giri,A"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[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. e4 {After the World Championship, Anand seems to be listening to Fischer,
who a long time ago anounced that the best move was 1.e4!} e5 {No Dragons, no
Najdorfs, Carlsen is still faithful to the Breyer Defense, that remained
uncracked since his last tournament in Bilbao.} 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 {As promised: Breyer. Since
my early childhood I always liked this knight maneuvre. Nowadays this
variation is pretty popular and with Carlsen fighting for the black side, I am
afraid the popularity of the line will only increase.} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7
12. Bc2 Re8 ({the rare} 12... c5 {was tried by Carlsen once in a rapid game
against Jan Smeets. He managed to win the game, but I doubt that the opening
had something to do with the result.}) 13. a4 ({Earlier the main move was} 13.
Nf1 {having in mind the typical Spanish maneuvre. However, nowadays not
everybody is convinced that this is the way to play.} Bf8 14. Ng3 g6) 13... Bf8
14. Bd3 c6 15. b4 ({Statistically the main move is} 15. b3 {and it was
successfully played by Anand a few times last year. However objectively it's
hard for White to prove his advantage.}) 15... Nb6 {Forcing White to take on
b5 (or play a5, which is considered to be an achievement for Black),
underlining the disadvantage of White's last move.} 16. axb5 {#So far Magnus
has already had the position three times, two of them against Vishy.} axb5 {
The main move, but sort of a surprise!} (16... cxb5 17. d5 Rc8 {was discussed
in Shirov-Carlsen and Anand-Carlsen in Bilbao. In fact it seemed that both
times Carlsen had no opening problems. I think this time he decided to fight
his curiousity and go for the solid axb5.}) 17. Rxa8 Qxa8 $5 {finally a real
surprise} (17... Bxa8 {was played in yet another Anand-Carlsen in Arctic rapid
2010.}) 18. Nb3 Nc4 $146 {A new move, with the idea to take back on e5 with a
piece and thus keeping the options of d5 and c5.} 19. dxe5 {Good move - it's
hard to see what else White could do.} Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Rxe5 {Black did take on
e5 with piece, and he did keep option of d5 and c5, but still I have the
feeling he may be slightly under pressure.} 21. f3 Re8 22. Be3 Bc8 {both sides
are simply trying to improve their pieces.} 23. Bf2 Be6 24. Nd4 Bd7 25. Qd2 Qb8
26. Bf1 h6 27. Ra1 Qb7 28. Ra5 {Here it seemed as if White was about to get
something real with Qa2 in the air, but Black is just in time with the
counterstrike.} ({White could have tried} 28. Nb3 $5 {Now Black has to prevent
Ra7} Ra8 {and the key move} (28... Qb8 $5 {with the idea} 29. Ra7 c5) 29. Ra5
$5 {White intends Qa2, and then to take on a5 with the pawn, which leads to a
strategically very complicated position, but I believe Black should be able to
hold the a-pawn, e.g.} Rxa5 30. bxa5 $5 Qa6 31. Bb6 Be8 $1 {or any other
bishop move, intending Nd7, should be fine for Black. So all in all I believe
Black should always have enough counterplay in this line.}) 28... d5 $1 (28...
Ra8 29. Qa2 Rxa5 30. bxa5 Qa6 31. c4) 29. exd5 Nxd5 30. Nb3 Be6 31. Nc5 Bxc5
32. Bxc5 {Here, too, it seemed to me that White has the advantage, but in fact
Black is very solid and with strong play Carlsen easily managed to equalize.}
Rd8 33. Ra1 Qb8 34. Rd1 Qg3 $1 {It's always nice to annoy the king of World
Champion, at least a little bit.} 35. Bf2 Qe5 36. c4 bxc4 37. Bxc4 Rd7 38. Bxd5
{Black equalized, so it's time to fix the result.} Rxd5 39. Qe1 Qxe1+ 40. Rxe1
Rd2 41. Bc5 Kh7 42. Rf1 $1 {A strong "Sofia rule" plan.} Bc4 43. Rf2 Rxf2 44.
Kxf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Syre Memorial op 35th"]
[Site "Issy les Moulineaux"]
[Date "2012.05.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Guliyev, Namig"]
[Black "Shchekachev, Andrei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2522"]
[BlackElo "2513"]
[Annotator "Guliyev,N/Primel,D"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2012.05.17"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Je craignais une nulle de salon mais il y a eu une véritable partie et
les deux adversaires ont longuement analysé après la partie. J'ajoute quelques
analyses du GMI de la suite possible de la partie;} 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 {[%cal Gb8d7] La
vieille défense Breyer} (9... Na5) 10. d4 (10. d3 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Nf1 Re8
13. Ng3 Bf8 14. Ng5 d5 $13) 10... Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 (12... c5) 13.
a4 (13. Nf1 {La grande ligne} Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. a4 c5 16. d5 (16. Be3 Qc7 17.
Qd2 cxd4 18. cxd4 Nb6 19. Bg5 Bg7 20. Rac1 Nc4 21. Qc3 exd4 22. Nxd4 Qc5 23.
Ndf5 gxf5 $13 {Keres,P-Szabo,L Alekhine Memorial 1963 (4) 1-0})) 13... Bf8 14.
Bd3 c6 15. b3 (15. Nf1 d5 (15... Qb8) 16. Bg5) 15... g6 16. Bb2 ({RR} 16. Ba3)
16... Qb6 $5 {Une ligne secondaire qui était souvent jouée par Spassky} (16...
Nh5 17. Qc2 Nf4 18. Bf1 Bg7 19. Rad1 Qb6 20. b4 d5) (16... exd4 {Nisipeanu,L 
(2659)-Carlsen,M (2815) Bazna Kings 5th 2011 (9) 1/2}) 17. Qc2 (17. c4 {
Morozevich,A (2743)-Sasikiran,K (2666) Biel GM 2004 (8) 1-0}) 17... Rac8 (17...
Nh5 18. Bf1 {Huebner,R (2600)-Spassky,B (2580) Venice m 1989 (3) 1/2}) 18. axb5
$146 (18. Bf1 Nh5 19. Rab1 exd4 20. cxd4 d5 21. Ba1 c5 22. exd5 {1/2-1/2 Hort,
V (2545)-Smejkal,J (2545)/Germany 1990/GER-chT}) 18... axb5 19. c4 Nh5 {
[%csl Rd4][%cal Gh5f4,Gf4e6,Gd3f1,Gg2g3,Gc4c5]} (19... Nh5 {Guliyev} 20. c5 $1
{[%csl Rd6,Re5][%cal Gc5d6]} dxc5 21. dxe5 Bg7 (21... Nf4 22. Bf1 {[%cal Gg2g3]
} Bg7 23. g3 Ne6 {[%csl Gd4]}) 22. e6 $5 Rxe6 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Biel"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1992.07.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 031"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15. b3
g6 16. Qc2 Bg7 (16... exd4 17. cxd4 d5 18. e5 Nh5 19. Nf1 Ng7 20. Bh6 bxa4 21.
Rxa4 c5 22. N1h2 cxd4 23. Ng4 Qb6 24. Qd2 f5 25. exf6 Rxe1+ 26. Qxe1 Nxf6 $10 {
Short-Spassky Belfort 1988 (inf. 45/418)}) (16... Rc8 17. Bb2 Nh5 18. Bf1 Nf4
19. g3 Ne6 20. h4 $14 {Hubner-Smejkal BL 1989 (inf. 47/442)}) (16... Nh5 17.
Bb2 (17. Bf1 Qb6 18. Bb2 Rac8 19. Rad1 exd4 20. cxd4 d5 $132 {Hubner-Spassky
Venice m 1989}) 17... Nf4 18. Bf1 Bg7 {Timoschenko,Geo-Georgadze,G Podolsk
1989 (inf. 48/(481))} 19. g3 (19. Rad1 Ne6 {Aseev-Georgadze,G Lvov zt 1990} 20.
g3 $14) 19... Ne6 20. b4 $14 {Nb3-a5}) (16... Qc7 17. Bb2 Nh5 18. Bf1 Nf4 19.
c4 bxa4 20. Rxa4 Ne6 21. c5 Nxd4 22. Nxd4 exd4 23. cxd6 Bxd6 24. Bxd4 $14 {
Kinderman-Mokry Vienna 1991}) 17. Bb2 Nh5 (17... Qb6 18. b4 c5 $132 {
Stefansson-Carlhammar Rilton Cup 1988}) 18. Bf1 Qb6 19. b4 Nf4 (19... c5 20.
bxc5 dxc5 21. d5 $14 {/\Teb1, ><b5}) 20. dxe5 Nxe5 (20... dxe5 21. c4 $14) 21.
Nxe5 dxe5 22. c4 $14 {ץb7,ץg7} Rad8 $2 (22... bxc4 $2 23. Nxc4 Qxb4 24. Ba3
$18) (22... Ne6 $1 $132) 23. axb5 axb5 24. Ra5 $1 $16 {/\cxb5} Bf8 (24... bxc4
25. Nxc4 Qxb4 26. Rb1 $16 {/\Ba3/Bxe5}) 25. Bc3 {/\cxb5} Ne6 26. Nf3 {/\cxb5/
Sxe5} Nd4 $8 27. Bxd4 exd4 28. c5 {ץb7/ץf8} Qc7 29. Ra7 Qb8 (29... Ra8 30.
Rxa8 Rxa8 31. Nxd4 $16) 30. Qa2 {><f7,/^a2-g8,/\e4-e5-e6} d3 $8 31. Ra3 d2 32.
Nxd2 Rd4 33. e5 Rxb4 (33... Rxe5 34. Rxe5 Qxe5 35. Nf3 $18) 34. e6 $40 fxe6 35.
Rxe6 Kh8 (35... Rxe6 36. Qxe6+ Kh8 37. Re3) 36. Rae3 Rxe6 37. Qxe6 {/\38.Df7}
Rf4 (37... Bxc5 38. Qf6+ Kg8 39. Rd3 Bb6 40. Rd7 $18) 38. Ne4 {/\Nd6} Qd8 $2
39. Qe5+ {Hansen,Cu} 1-0

[Event "Reunion op 09th"]
[Site "Reunion"]
[Date "2007.10.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Wantiez, Fabrice"]
[Black "Sriram, Jha"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2300"]
[BlackElo "2458"]
[Annotator "Hauchard,A"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2007.10.14"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2012"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.11.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.11.24"]
[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 {La vieille variante Breyer qui laisse le cavalier se recycler
en d7 libérant ainsi le pion c7} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. c4 {Un coup assez moderne qui
change du routinier Cbd2} Bb7 (11... c6 {Est plus souple}) 12. Nc3 c6 13. a3 {
Fabrice jouait assez vite montrant qu'il s'était préparé pour cette partie} Rc8
$146 {Une nouveauté qui ne permet pas d'égaliser} 14. Bg5 (14. Be3 $5 {Et je
ne vois pas comment jouer avec les noirs}) 14... Re8 15. Bxf6 $5 {Une idée
intéressante des blancs qui veulent jouer contre les mauvais fous de
l'adversaire} Bxf6 16. d5 {Je pense qu'ici la tache des noirs est simplifiée
car la tension est relachée au centre} cxd5 17. cxb5 {Bien sur l'idée de Fou
prend f6} d4 {(=)} 18. bxa6 Bxa6 19. Nd5 Nb6 20. Rc1 Rc5 21. Qd2 {Fabrice
devait regretter d'avoir refusé la nulle et la proposa a son tour...Tout reste
possible dans cette position peu claire. Sur Fb7 on doit certainement prendre
en f6 et les noirs conservent un joli centre} (21. Ba2 Bb7 22. b4 Rxc1 23. Qxc1
{était une facon de jouer plus  dynamique}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Asia-ch 4th"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2003.02.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ganguly, Surya Shekhar"]
[Black "Kayumov, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2556"]
[BlackElo "2479"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "171"]
[EventDate "2003.02.22"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 094"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 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 Nfd7 22.
Be3 Bf6 23. Rea1 Rb8 24. Ne2 bxa4 25. Ng3 h4 26. Nf1 a5 27. Bxc5 Nxc5 28. Bxa4
Re7 29. Bc2 a4 30. Qe2 Ba6 31. Bxa4 Reb7 32. Bc2 Rb6 33. Ne3 Bg5 34. Nxg5 Qxg5
35. R1a2 Qf4 36. Rxa6 Rxa6 37. Rxa6 Nxa6 38. Qxc4 Rxb2 39. Qxa6 Rxc2 40. Nxc2
Qc1+ 41. Qf1 Qxc2 42. Qe1 Kg7 43. Qe3 Qd1+ 44. Kh2 Qf1 45. Qf3 Qc1 46. Qe3 Qf1
47. Qd2 Kf6 48. Qc2 Qc4 49. Kg1 Kg7 50. f3 g5 51. Qc1 Qc5+ 52. Kh2 Kg6 53. c4
Kf6 54. Qc2 Kg7 55. g3 hxg3+ 56. Kxg3 Qg1+ 57. Qg2 Qc1 58. Kh2 Qf4+ 59. Kh1 Kf6
60. Kg1 Qe3+ 61. Qf2 Qc1+ 62. Qf1 Qe3+ 63. Kg2 Qd2+ 64. Qf2 Qc1 65. Qe2 Kg6 66.
Qa2 Kf6 67. Kg3 Qf4+ 68. Kg2 Qc1 69. Qe2 Kg6 70. Kf2 Kf6 71. Qe3 Qxc4 72. Qb6
Qd4+ 73. Qxd4 exd4 {[#] Thema: Freibauern} 74. f4 (74. Ke2 Ke5 75. Kd3 Kf4 76.
Kxd4 f6 $1 $19) 74... gxf4 75. h4 d3 76. h5 Kg5 77. e5 (77. h6 Kxh6 78. e5 Kg7
79. exd6 Kf8 $19) 77... Kg4 (77... dxe5 78. d6 e4 79. d7 e3+ 80. Kf3 $18) 78.
exd6 f3 79. d7 (79. Ke3 $142 Kg3 80. d7 f2 81. d8=Q f1=Q 82. Qg5+ Kh3 83. Kd4
Qe2 84. Qe3+ Kg4 85. Qxd3 Qf2+ 86. Kc4 Kxh5 87. d6 {und Weiß kann noch auf
Gewinn spielen.}) 79... d2 80. d8=Q d1=Q 81. Qd7+ f5 82. Qg7+ Kxh5 83. Qe5 Kg5
84. d6 Qd2+ 85. Kxf3 Qd3+ 86. Qe3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup final"]
[Site "Hyderabad"]
[Date "2002.10.18"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2653"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2002.10.15"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 092"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.02.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.02.06"]
[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. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
b3 d5 16. Bg5 dxe4 17. Nxe5 h6 18. Nxd7 hxg5 19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. Bxe4 c6 21. b4
a5 22. a3 axb4 23. axb4 Rxa1 24. Qxa1 Bc8 25. Bc2 Rxe1+ 26. Qxe1 g4 27. hxg4
Bxg4 28. Qe3 Be6 29. Be4 Bc4 30. Bf3 Be7 31. Ne4 Qf5 32. g3 Bd5 33. Kg2 Kg7 34.
Kg1 Kf8 35. Kg2 Kg7 36. Qe2 Bc4 37. Qe1 Bd5 38. Qe3 Kf8 39. Kg1 Kg7 40. Bg2 Qg4
41. Nd2 Bg5 42. f4 Qd1+ 43. Nf1 Bf6 44. Bxd5 cxd5 {[#] Schlechter "guter"
Läufer, der nichts angreifen und nichts verteidigen kann. Weißes
Baukastenspiel gegen d5 unter gleichzeitiger Königssicherung} 45. Kf2 Qc2+ 46.
Qd2 Qb1 (46... Qxd2+ 47. Nxd2 $18 {[%csl Rb5][%cal Gd2b1,Gb1a3]}) 47. Ne3 Qh1 (
47... Qb3 48. Qc2 $18) (47... Qe4 48. Qe2 $18) 48. Qd1 Qh2+ 49. Ng2 Qh3 50. Qf3
Qc8 51. Ne3 $1 $18 {[%csl Gc3,Rd5][%cal Re3f5]} g5 52. Nxd5 g4 53. Qe2 Bd8 54.
Qd3 f5 55. Ne3 Qa8 56. Nxf5+ Kf8 57. Qe2 Qh1 58. Ne3 Qc1 59. Qxg4 Qxc3 60. Qf5+
1-0

[Event "Hyderabad WIPRO"]
[Site "Hyderabad"]
[Date "2000.07.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ramaswamy, Aarthie"]
[Black "Vladimirov, Yevgeniy"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2319"]
[BlackElo "2598"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2000.07.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 079"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
d6 9. c3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. a4
Bg7 16. d5 Qb8 17. b3 c6 18. c4 b4 19. Be3 a5 20. Qd2 cxd5 21. cxd5 Rc8 22.
Rac1 Nc5 23. Bh6 Bxh6 24. Qxh6 Rc7 25. Qe3 Qd8 26. Bd1 Nfd7 27. Nd2 Nb6 28. Be2
Qh4 29. Nc4 Nxc4 30. Bxc4 Rf8 31. Nf1 f5 32. exf5 gxf5 33. Qg3+ Qxg3 34. Nxg3
f4 35. Ne4 Nxe4 36. Rxe4 Rc5 37. Rd1 Bc8 38. f3 Bf5 39. Re2 Rfc8 40. Rb2 Rxc4
41. bxc4 Rxc4 42. Rdd2 Rc3 43. Kf2 b3 44. g4 fxg3+ 45. Kxg3 Kf7 46. h4 Bc2 (
46... Bc2 47. Kf2 Rc4 48. Ke3 Rxa4 49. Rdxc2 bxc2 50. Rxc2 Rd4 51. Rc7+ Kg6 52.
Rd7 Rxd5 $19) 0-1

[Event "POL-ch 53rd"]
[Site "Brzeg Dolny"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bobras, Piotr"]
[Black "Socko, Bartosz"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2355"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1996.03.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. c4 bxc4 12. Bxc4 Bb7 13. Nc3 h6 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15.
Nxe5 dxe5 16. Be3 Qxd1 17. Raxd1 Rfd8 18. f3 Bb4 19. Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. Rd1 Rd6 21.
Rc1 Ba5 22. Na4 Nd7 23. b4 Bb6 24. Nxb6 cxb6 25. Be2 Rc6 26. Rxc6 Bxc6 {
[#] starkes Läuferpaar bei je einem Freibauern und offener Stellung; ab 43.Zug
L+2B vs S+1B} 27. Bxa6 b5 28. a4 bxa4 29. Bc4 Kf8 30. Kf2 Ke7 31. Ke1 a3 32.
Bc1 Nb6 33. Ba2 f5 34. Bxa3 Kf6 35. exf5 Kxf5 36. Bb1+ Ke6 37. Bd3 Nd5 38. b5
Bb7 39. Be4 Bc8 40. Bf8 Nc3 41. Bc6 Bd7 42. Bxg7 Nxb5 43. Bxd7+ Kxd7 44. Bxe5
Ke6 45. f4 h5 46. g4 Na7 47. Kf2 Nc6 48. Bb2 Nb4 49. f5+ Kf7 50. Ke3 1-0

[Event "Southwest Class-ch 8th"]
[Site "Forth Worth"]
[Date "2017.02.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Hevia Alejano, Carlos Antonio"]
[Black "Sturt, Raven M"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2491"]
[BlackElo "2432"]
[Annotator "Hevia,C"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2017.02.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{During that tournament, I had avoided main lines. Eventually I decided it was
time to change the approach, if I wanted to get a good place.} 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 {
This came as a surprise to me, I didn't remember any Breyer System when I
looked through my opponent's games. Though, I was happy because I had a good
score against this system.} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8
14. Ng3 g6 15. a4 c5 16. d5 c4 17. Bg5 Nc5 (17... h6 {is pretty common but
after} 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2 h5 20. Bxc5 dxc5 21. Reb1 {in recent games, White
hasve proved his position is much more pleasant to play.}) 18. Qd2 {There are
several ways to play against the Breyer but I think this setup is the most
annoying and solid. White has a small but firm advantage due to the space in
the centre. Normally, the problem with Black's position, besides the lack of
space, is his bishop on b7. Compared with the white bishop on c2, which is
defending the light squares of the queenside and overprotecting the centre (e4)
, the black bishop is useless.} Be7 {With the idea to propose the exchange of
bishops after executing the normal plan for Black, bring the f6-knight to the
queenside (Nd7-b6), the light-squared bishop to d7 and try to get counterplay
in the queenside.} (18... Bg7 {is the other normal move, keeping the
dark-squared bishop Black's castling is safer but White maintains his pressure.
} 19. Ra3 Qe7 20. Rea1 {With a different move order, we get a position I
played in 2015 against Kamil Miton.} Qf8 21. axb5 axb5 22. Ra5 Ra6 23. Rxa6
Bxa6 24. Nh2 {The opened file doesn't grant anything real to White so I
followed a different approach preparing f4 and playing in the kingside.} Nfd7
25. Rf1 Bc8 26. f4 h6 27. f5 {1/2-1/2 (49) Hevia, Carlos - Miton, Kamil
Capablanca Premier 2015. The game got into a complicated position but was a
draw at the end.}) 19. Bh6 {Maybe not the most precise move, but I can always
come back to g5 after ...Bf8.} Nfd7 (19... Bf8 {I think was better.}) 20. Nh2 {
Now I was quite happy with my position because I thought I could create some
threats in the kingside.} Bf8 (20... Nb6 {If Black keeps playing carelessly,
f4 is coming with real chances of a strong attack for White.} 21. axb5 axb5 22.
Rxa8 Bxa8 23. Ng4 Bb7 24. f4 $36) 21. Ng4 Bxh6 22. Qxh6 Qe7 {The queen needs
to go to f8 and defend the castling position's dark squares.} 23. f4 exf4 $6 (
23... Qf8 $142 {leads to a better version of the game.} 24. Qh4 exf4 (24... Qe7
$6 25. Qxe7 Rxe7 26. fxe5 Nxe5 27. Nxe5 Rxe5 28. axb5 axb5 29. Rxa8+ Bxa8 30.
Ra1 Bb7 31. Ra5 Ba6 32. Kf2 $14) 25. Nh6+ Kh8 26. Qxf4 f6 {Black's pieces are
better coordinated than in the game.} 27. Ng4) 24. Qxf4 f6 $2 {This blunder
costs Black a pawn.} (24... Kh8 {was the only move} 25. Rf1 Rf8 26. axb5 axb5
27. Rxa8 Bxa8 28. Qh6 {with the idea of e5 and Nh5} f6 29. h4 Qg7 {Black
should be able to equalise.}) 25. Nh6+ Kh8 (25... Kf8 26. Nhf5 gxf5 27. Nxf5
Qf7 28. Qxd6+ $18) 26. Qxd6 {The move Black missed.} Ne5 $6 {This gives up the
a-file and makes White's play easier.} (26... Qf8 $142) 27. Qxe7 Rxe7 28. axb5
axb5 29. Rxa8+ Bxa8 30. Ra1 $18 {White is a pawn up and his pieces are better
placed. The rest should be a matter of avoiding counterplay. Black's only
chance for counterplay is playing ...f5 and activating his bishop.} Re8 31. Ra5
{I wanted to divert the rook from the centre so f5 wouldn't be strong enough.}
Rb8 32. Ra7 (32. Ng4 Ned7 33. Ne2 f5 34. exf5 gxf5 35. Bxf5 Bxd5 36. Nd4 $18)
32... Bb7 33. Ng4 h5 34. Nxe5 fxe5 35. Kf2 {Black was hoping to close the
position and get some kind of fortress but has too many weaknesses.} Kg7 36.
Nf1 Kf6 37. Nd2 Ra8 38. Rxa8 Bxa8 39. Ke3 Ke7 40. b3 cxb3 41. Nxb3 Nxb3 (41...
Na4 42. Kd2 Bb7 43. Bd3 Ba6 44. h4 $18) 42. Bxb3 {Now the position is
completely winning. The pawn on b5 is weak as well as the pawns on the
kingside, and the bishop needs too many moves to get into play.} Bb7 43. d6+ {
With the idea to create a passed pawn on the kingside which combined with the
b5 weakness gives a clear victory.} (43. h4 {was enough too.} Kd6 (43... Bc8
44. d6+ Kxd6 45. Bf7) 44. Bd1 Bc8 45. g4 hxg4 46. Kf2) 43... Kxd6 44. Bf7 h4 (
44... g5 45. Bxh5 Bc8 46. Bg6 Be6 47. Bf5 Bf7 48. Bg4 {preparing g3-h4-h5} Kc5
49. g3 Kc4 50. Kd2 b4 51. cxb4 Kxb4 52. h4 gxh4 53. gxh4 $18) 45. Bxg6 Kc5 46.
g3 {And the only way to stop the h-pawn is by giving up the bishop.} hxg3 47.
h4 Bc8 48. h5 Be6 49. h6 Bg8 50. Kf3 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 10th"]
[Site "Debrecen"]
[Date "1992.11.??"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Sax, Gyula"]
[Black "Hjartarson, Johann"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "Hjartarson,J"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1992.11.20"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "EU-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Hungary II"]
[BlackTeam "Iceland"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "HUN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ISL"]

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 c6 15. b3
g6 16. Bb2 exd4 $1 17. cxd4 d5 18. e5 Nh5 19. g3 (19. Nf1 Nf4 20. Bc2 c5 $10 {
Kuczinski-Balashov, Warsaw 1990}) 19... Ng7 (19... Qb6 $2 20. Ng5 Ng7 (20... h6
$2 21. Nxf7 Kxf7 22. Qg4 $18) 21. Qf3 $16) 20. Nf1 Ne6 21. Qd2 bxa4 (21... Qb6
$2 22. a5 $1 Qa7 23. b4 $16) 22. bxa4 c5 23. N1h2 h5 (23... cxd4 $2 24. Ng4 h5
25. Nh6+ Kg7 26. Nxd4 $16) (23... f5 24. exf6 (24. g4 $2 f4 $15) 24... Nxf6 25.
dxc5 Bxc5 26. Ne5 $14) 24. g4 h4 $1 (24... hxg4 25. Nxg4 cxd4 26. Nxd4 Bg7 27.
Nh6+ $16) 25. g5 Be7 26. Bc1 cxd4 27. Ng4 Ndc5 (27... Kg7 $5 28. Nf6 Rh8 $15)
28. Nf6+ Kg7 29. Rb1 (29. Nxe8+ $32 Qxe8 30. Rb1 Qxa4 $44) 29... Rh8 30. Bb2
Bc6 31. Nxd4 Bxa4 32. Bf1 Rc8 33. Bg2 Nb3 $1 (33... Nxd4 34. Bxd4 Ne6 35. Bb6
Qf8 36. Rec1 $132) 34. Qd1 (34. Nxb3 $2 Bxb3 35. Bxd5 Bxd5 36. Nxd5 Bxg5 $17)
34... Nbxd4 35. Qxa4 Rc4 36. Qd1 (36. Qxa6 $2 Nxg5 $17) 36... Bc5 (36... Bb4 $2
37. Bxd5 $1 Bxe1 38. Bxc4 $16) 37. Bxd5 Rb4 38. Qc1 Qa5 $2 (38... Qe7 $1 39.
Bg2 Qa7 40. Nd5 Rb3 $17) 39. Kh1 Rhb8 40. Bc3 $1 Rxb1 41. Bxa5 Rxc1 42. Rxc1
Rb5 (42... Rb2 $1 43. Bc3 Rc2 $1 $15) 43. Bd2 Nb3 44. Bxb3 Rxb3 45. Rc4 $1 $10
Rxh3+ (45... Bxf2 $2 46. Rc8 Nf8 47. e6 fxe6 48. Bc3 $18) 46. Kg2 Rd3 47. Rxh4
Nf8 48. Ba5 Rd4 $1 49. Rh3 Rf4 50. Ne8+ (50. f3 Ra4 $10) 50... Kg8 51. Nf6+ Kg7
52. Ne8+ Kg8 53. Nf6+ Kg7 54. Ne8+ Kg8 55. Nf6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paleochora op 13th"]
[Site "Paleochora"]
[Date "2020.07.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Van Foreest, Lucas"]
[Black "Vlachos, Anatole"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2401"]
[Annotator "Kapnisis,Spyridon"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2020.07.18"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,106,80,4,89,-8,53,-27,-22,-38,-5,-95,-27,-58,-58,-37,-18,-58,-48,-60,
-13,-13,10,-3,8,-25,-9,-15,13,21,24,4,5,5,58,26,31,43,43,57,61,61,55,-26,33,
-27,-27,-33,-14,-14,-5,-6,12,-96,-118,-118,-87,-88,-88,-29,-29,-11,-11,-54,-43,
-28,41,-44,63,-46,-57,-77,-39,-56,-57,-71,-73,-99,-99,-99,-99,-104,-99,-119,
-103,-119,-93,-115,-108,-104,-69,-69,-72,-90,-96,-103,-99,-87,-78,-80,-83,-96,
-76,-83,-78,-78,-47,-87,12]} 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. Bg5 h6 16. Bd2 {[#]} d5 $6 {In this modern
tabiya of the Breyer variation Black tries a rare move which, not unexpectedly,
fails to equalize.} (16... exd4 17. cxd4 c5 {Is an interesting way to play if
Black wants to fight for more than equality.} 18. d5 Bg7 19. Bf4 (19. a4 $5)
19... Qe7 20. a4 Nb6 (20... Nh7 21. Qc1 $14) 21. b3 $13 {1-0 (38) Carlsen,M 
(2861)-Amin,B (2704) Abidjan CIV 2019}) (16... Bg7 {is the standard move.} 17.
Qc1 (17. a4 Nb6 (17... c6 $6 18. axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Nh4 Qd8 21. Qc1
Kh7 22. Nhf5 $1 $40 {1-0 (28) So,W (2773)-Kamsky,G (2678) Saint Louis USA 2016
White got a very powerful attack and an easy win in one of So's most
impressive victories.}) 18. b3 bxa4 19. bxa4 a5 {[%cal Yb7a6] 0-1 (49)
Atabayev,M (2498)-Abdusattorov,N (2462) Tashkent UZB 2017}) 17... Kh7 18. a4 c5
$5 (18... Nb6 19. axb5 axb5 20. Rxa8 Bxa8 21. b3 Nbd7 {1/2 (34) Leko,P (2691)
-Oparin,G (2609) Linares ESP 2018 Black managed to draw quite easily although
White should be slightly preferable.} (21... Nfd7 $5)) 19. d5 c4 20. Be3 (20.
b4 $5 cxb3 21. Bxb3 Nc5 22. Bc2 $14) 20... Qc7 21. Qd2 (21. Nh2 $5 {[%cal
Yh2g4]}) 21... Nc5 22. Ra3 $13 {1-0 (39) Bacrot,E (2671)-Amin,B (2699) Cap
d'Agde FRA 2019}) 17. Nxe5 $1 {From all the available options this is the most
critical.} (17. dxe5 $2 dxe4 $1 {White should already be alert not to end up
worse.} 18. Nxe4 (18. exf6 exf3 19. Be4 Bxe4 20. Nxe4 fxg2 $15) 18... Nxe5 19.
Bf4 (19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. Nxe5 Rxe5 21. Rxe5 Qxe5 22. Qg4 Bd6 23. Kf1 $1 $15)
19... Nxf3+ 20. Qxf3 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 Rxe4 $1 22. Rxe4 f5 23. Rd4 Bxf3 24. Rxd8
Rxd8 25. gxf3 g5 (25... c5 $5) 26. Bxc7 Rd2 {[%csl Gd2][%cal Yf8c5] is
unpleasant for White but probably holdable.}) (17. exd5 exd4 {is ok for Black.}
) 17... dxe4 (17... Nxe5 $2 18. dxe5 Nxe4 (18... Rxe5 19. f4 Re8 (19... Rxe4
20. Nxe4 Nxe4 21. Be3 $16 {[%cal Ya2a4]}) 20. e5 $16) 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Bxe4
Bxe4 21. Rxe4 Qd5 22. Qe1 $1 $16 {White's extra pawn looks safe and sound.})
18. Bf4 (18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. Bf4 Qc6 $1 20. Qd2 {is a bit more pleasant for
White since the pawn on e4 is a potential target.} Rad8 (20... Nd5 $6 21. Bxh6
e3 22. Bxe3 Nxc3 23. f3 $16) 21. a4 $14) (18. Ng4 $5 Nxg4 (18... Kh7 19. Bf4
$16) 19. hxg4 Nf6 20. g5 Nh7 $1 21. Bxe4 $14) 18... g5 {Black stops the white
bishop from reaching e5, however, the position of the black king becomes quite
vulnerable.} (18... Nxe5 19. Bxe5 c5 20. a4 $14) (18... e3 19. Rxe3 (19. fxe3
Nxe5 20. Bxe5 Bd6 21. Bxf6 (21. Bf4 $5 Bxf4 22. exf4 Rxe1+ 23. Qxe1 Qd6 24. Qf2
$14) 21... Qxf6 22. Qg4 $14) 19... Nd5 20. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 21. Rf3 Kg7 (21... Nxf4
22. Rxf4+ Kg7 (22... Kg8 23. Bxg6 $18 {White's attack against the black king
seems unstoppable.}) 23. Qg4 $18) 22. Bxg6 $1 Kxg6 23. Qd3+ Kg7 24. Bxh6+ $1
Kxh6 (24... Kh8 25. Rf7 $18 {[%cal Yd3h7]}) 25. Nf5+ Kh7 26. Nd6+ Kh8 $1 27.
Nf7+ Kg7 28. Nxd8 Raxd8 $14 {Here we have a very rare case where White has a
queen and four pawns for 4 pieces. White should be able to prove an advantage
because of the problems Black has with his king's safety.}) 19. Nxd7 Nxd7 20.
Bd2 {White prefers to keep the e-file open for his rook at the cost of
allowing c5.} (20. Be3 $5 Nf6 21. b3 $1 {[%cal Yc3c4] White will be able to
play c4 and establish control of the important d5 square limiting Black's
counterplay.} Nd5 22. Qd2 $16 {[%cal Yc2e4]}) 20... Nf6 21. Re3 (21. a4 $5 Qd5
(21... Bg7 22. b4 $14) (21... c5 22. axb5 axb5 23. Rxa8 Bxa8 24. dxc5 Bxc5 25.
Be3 $14 {leads to a favourable for White exchange of pieces. Black will be
left with no counterplay defending his weak pawns e4 and b5.} (25. Nf5 $5)) 22.
Bb3 Qd7 23. Nh5 $1 $16) 21... Qd5 $2 {[#]} (21... c5 22. dxc5 (22. Qe2 cxd4 23.
cxd4 Rc8 24. Bxe4 Nxe4 25. Nxe4 Re6 $44) 22... Bxc5 23. Re2 Qc7 24. Be3 Bxe3
25. Rxe3 Rad8 $14) (21... Rc8 $5) 22. f3 $6 (22. Nh5 $1 {The exchange of the
pair of knights would have given a sizable advantage to White since a vital
defensive piece in Black's setup would disappear, making White's attack a lot
easier and stronger.} Nxh5 (22... Nd7 23. f3 $1 exf3 24. Rxf3 $18 {[%csl Rg8]
[%cal Yc2b3]}) (22... Qe6 23. f4 $18) 23. Qxh5 $16 {[%cal Yh3h4,Ye3g3]}) 22...
exf3 23. Rxf3 c5 (23... Qd6 $1 24. Bb3 $5 (24. Qf1 $5 Bxf3 25. Qxf3 $44) 24...
c5 25. Nh5 (25. Nf5 $5 Qb6 26. h4 $13) 25... Bxf3 (25... Nxh5 26. Bxf7+ Kh8 27.
Bxe8 Rxe8 28. Rxf8+ Rxf8 29. Qxh5 cxd4 30. Bxg5 Rg8 $1 31. Qf7 $1 hxg5 32. Qxb7
dxc3 33. bxc3 g4 $11) 26. Qxf3 Bg7 27. Rf1 c4 28. Bc2 Nxh5 29. Qxf7+ Kh8 30.
Qxh5 Rf8 31. Bf5 $44) 24. Qf1 $1 Re6 (24... Bg7 25. Nf5 $16) 25. Qf2 (25. Rf5
$1 Qd6 26. Qf2 $1 $16 {[%cal Ya1f1]}) 25... Rae8 {[#]} 26. Bb3 $2 {White loses
valuable time and surrenders the initiative to Black.} (26. Rf5 $1 Qd8 (26...
Qc6 27. Bxg5 $1 hxg5 28. Rxg5+ Kh8 (28... Bg7 29. Nf5 (29. Rf1 $5) 29... Re2
30. Rxg7+ Kf8 31. Qg3 $18) 29. d5 $1 Nxd5 30. Qxf7 $18 {with multiple mate
threats}) 27. Rf1 Bg7 28. Bxg5 $1 (28. Rxc5 $18) 28... hxg5 29. Rxg5 Kf8 30.
Rxg7 $1 Kxg7 31. Nh5+ Kf8 32. Nxf6 $18) (26. Rf1 $5) 26... c4 27. Bc2 Bd6 $1 {
[#]} 28. Rf1 $2 (28. Rf5 $1 Bxg3 $1 29. Qxg3 Qd6 30. Bf4 Qb6 31. Bxg5 hxg5 32.
Qxg5+ Kf8 33. Raf1 Ke7 34. Re5 $1 Kd8 $1 (34... Kd7 $2 35. Rxe6 Rxe6 36. Bf5
$18) 35. Rxe6 Rxe6 36. h4 $1 $44 {[%cal Yc2f5]}) 28... Bxg3 {Black correctly
eliminates White's knight on g3 so that his rooks get access to the important
second rank and the e2 square.} (28... Bc7 $5 {with the idea of Qd6} 29. Bf5 (
29. Rf5 Qd6 30. Rxf6 Rxf6 31. Qxf6 Qxf6 32. Rxf6 Bxg3 33. Bd1 Kg7 $17) 29...
Rb6 $15 (29... R6e7 30. Bc2)) 29. Qxg3 Re2 30. R1f2 Rxf2 31. Rxf2 Ne4 $1 32.
Bxe4 Rxe4 $15 {After the massive exchanges that took place in the last 4 moves,
Black is left clearly on top. Black's advantage has mainy to do with his
better placed pieces, the pressure against g2 which makes White's pieces quite
passive while being unable to find an active role for his bishop.} 33. Kh2 (33.
Rf6 Re2 34. Rf2 Rxf2 35. Qxf2 Qe4 $1 36. h4 f6 $17) (33. Qf3 $1 {[%cal Yf3f5,
Yf3f6] It makes sense for White to try exchanging queens since most of the
pressure would be relieved.}) 33... Kh7 34. Rf6 Re2 35. Rf2 Rxf2 36. Qxf2 f5
37. Qe2 Bc6 38. Kg1 (38. b3 $1 {White misses the chance to exchange a pair of
pawns which would have made his defensive job easier.} Kg6 39. bxc4 bxc4 40.
Bc1 f4 $15 {is far from pleasant but still better than the game.}) 38... f4 39.
Kh2 Kg6 40. Kg1 Kf6 (40... h5 $6 41. h4 $1) (40... Qf5 41. a4 $5 f3 42. gxf3
Qxh3 {looks quite threatening but white can still hold.} 43. axb5 axb5 44. f4
$1 $11) 41. Kh2 Kf5 42. Qg4+ Kf6 43. Qe2 a5 44. Kg1 Qe4 $5 (44... Qf5 45. a4 $5
) 45. Qxe4 Bxe4 {[#]} 46. h4 $1 {White correctly tries to exchange as many
pawns as possible.} (46. Kf2 Kf5 47. g4+ $2 (47. Kf1 Bc6 48. Kf2 (48. Be1 $1 a4
(48... h5 49. a3 g4 50. hxg4+ hxg4 51. Bh4 $1 a4 52. g3 $1 $11) 49. a3 Bd5 50.
Bf2 {it seems difficult for Black to make any significant progress.} f3 51.
gxf3 (51. g4+ $2 Ke4 52. Ke1 Kd3 53. Kd1 {[#]} b4 $1 54. axb4 a3 55. bxa3 Kxc3
56. Kc1 (56. b5 Kb2 $19) 56... Bc6 $1 57. d5 Ba4 $19 {[%cal Yc3d3,Yd3e2]
White's passed pawns become irrelevant in typical fashion.}) 51... Kf4 52. h4
$1 Kxf3 53. hxg5 hxg5 54. Be1 Ke3 (54... g4 55. Bh4 $11 {[%cal Yh4e7,Ye7b4,
Yf1g1]}) 55. Bg3 $1 {[%cal Yg3d6]} b4 56. cxb4 $1 Kd3 57. Be1 $1 $11 {[%cal
Ye1c3]}) 48... h5 49. Be1 a4 50. Bd2 Ke4 51. Ke2 g4 52. hxg4 hxg4 53. Be1 g3
$19 {[%cal Yc6e8,Ye8h5]}) 47... fxg3+ 48. Kxg3 Bb7 $1 {Picking the right
square for the bishop is far from obvious.} (48... Bc6 $2 49. d5 $1 Bxd5 50.
Be3 Ke4 51. Bb6 a4 52. a3 $11) (48... Bd5 $2 {stops white's idea of d5 but
leaves the black bishop vulnerable to White's king attack as it is seen in the
long forced variation that follows:} 49. h4 $1 gxh4+ 50. Kxh4 Ke4 51. Bxh6 Kd3
52. Bf8 $1 Kc2 53. Ba3 Kb1 54. Kg4 Kxa2 55. Kf5 Kb3 56. Ke5 Bb7 57. d5 b4 58.
cxb4 axb4 59. Bxb4 Kxb4 60. d6 Bc6 61. Kd4 $11 {...with a draw}) 49. h4 gxh4+
50. Kxh4 Ke4 51. Bxh6 Kd3 52. Bf8 Kc2 53. Ba3 Kb1 $19) (46. Be1 $5 Kf5 47. Bf2
Bd5 48. Kf1) 46... Kf5 47. hxg5 hxg5 {[#]} 48. Kf2 (48. a4 $1 bxa4 49. Be1 $1
Ba8 50. Kf1 Bd5 51. Bf2 $1 {[%cal Yf2e1,Ye1f2]} g4 52. g3 $1 $11) (48. Be1 $1
Bb7 49. Kf1 $1 (49. g3 $2 Ke4 50. gxf4 gxf4 $19 {[%cal Ye4d3]}) (49. Kf2 g4 50.
Kf1 g3 51. Bd2 a4 52. a3 Ke4 53. Ke2 Bd5 54. Bc1 Bf7 55. Kf1 $1 Bh5 56. d5)
49... g4 50. Bh4 $11) 48... Bd5 $1 49. g3 $2 (49. a3 Ke4 50. Ke2 g4 51. Be1 $1
g3 52. Bd2 a4 53. Bc1 $1 (53. Be1 $2 Bf7 54. Bd2 {[#]} b4 $3 {is an excellent
tactical shot} 55. cxb4 (55. axb4 Bh5+ 56. Kf1 f3 $19 {[%cal Ye4c2,Yc2b2]} (
56... Kd3 $2 57. Bxf4 Kc2 58. b5 $1 Bf7 59. Bxg3 Kxb2 60. Bd6 $11)) 55... c3 $1
56. Bxc3 Bc4+ 57. Ke1 f3 58. gxf3+ Ke3 $1 (58... Kxf3 $2 59. d5 $11) 59. d5 g2
60. Bd4+ Kxd4 61. Kf2 Bxd5 $1 (61... Kxd5 $2 {is illogical of course but it
leads to a study like draw} 62. Kxg2 Kd4 63. Kf2 Kd3 64. Ke1 Kc2 65. f4 Bd3 66.
Kf2 Kxb2 67. Ke3 Kc3 68. Kf3 $11) 62. Kxg2 Kc4 $19) 53... Bf7 54. Kf1 $1 {
and I cannot see any progress for Black.} (54. Bd2 b4 $3) 54... b4 55. cxb4 Kd3
(55... Bd5 56. Bd2 Kd3 57. Be1 $1 (57. Bc3 $2 Bxg2+ $1 58. Kxg2 Ke2 $19) 57...
Kc2 (57... c3 58. bxc3 Kc2 59. b5 Kb3 60. Bd2 Kxa3 61. Bxf4 Kb2 62. Bd6 a3 63.
Bxa3+ Kxa3 $11 {Black will collect all white pawns on the queenside but still
we will have a theoretical draw.}) 58. Bc3 $11) 56. Bxf4 Bd5 57. Bxg3 Kc2 58.
Ke2 Kxb2 59. Be1 Kxa3 (59... c3 60. Kd3 c2 61. Bd2 Bxg2 62. Kc4 $11) 60. Bc3
$11) (49. Be1 {is as good as 49.a3}) 49... Ke4 50. gxf4 gxf4 (50... Kd3 $5 51.
Ke1 gxf4 52. Bxf4 Kc2 $19) 51. a3 a4 52. Bc1 f3 53. Bg5 {[#]} b4 $1 {The only
winning move which guarantees that Black will get a decisive second passed
pawn on the queenside to accompany f3. White had seen enough and resigned} (
53... b4 54. axb4 (54. cxb4 Kd3 $19 {White's b2 is doomed}) 54... Kd3 55. b5
Kc2 $19 {[%cal Yc2b2,Ya4a3] Thanks to the Bd5 which takes care of White's
passed pawns and protects f3, Black has all the time to collect all White's
pawns.}) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.28"]
[Round "7.4"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2701"]
[Annotator "Karjakin,S"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Russia II"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 {The Breyer line which Evgeny has been playing regularly
recently.} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 {A more experienced and
much stronger player than me explained to me, that he has known since he was 7
years old, that if Black allows him to transfer the knight to g3, White has to
make use of that chance and play 13.Nf1.} Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15. b3 {Against
Navara in the World Cup I played 15.b4. 15.b3 is more solid, White is playing
for a long manoeuvring game.} Qc7 {More popular is 15...g6, but as the
position is closed, without clear plan in sight almost any move is possible.}
16. Bb2 Rac8 17. axb5 $5 {After the rook came to c8 it looked logical to me.
As White wants to put his queen on c2 I thought that later Black probably will
take with the c-pawn...} cxb5 $5 {Anyway! This move surprised me.} ({I was
expecting} 17... axb5 18. Qc2 {with manoeuvring play, typical for this line.})
18. c4 {A concrete move with the idea to open the centre.} ({It looked logical
to play} 18. d5 {but after} Nh5 19. g3 (19. Bf1 g6) 19... g6 {it is hard to
make progress, as after c4 Black always has b4. The game is complicated.})
18... exd4 $6 {Black clearly wants to play safer, but after this he has to
defend very accurately!} ({Stronger was} 18... b4 19. c5 $1 d5 $1 ({After} 
19... exd4 20. cxd6 Qxd6 21. Bxd4 {White keeps an initiative. For example:} Ne5
$6 ({Better is} 21... Rcd8) 22. Bxa6 $1 Nxf3+ 23. Nxf3 Bxa6 24. e5 $36) 20.
exd5 Nxd5 21. Ng5 h6 22. Bh7+ (22. Nxf7 Kxf7 23. Qh5+ Kg8 24. Qf5 e4 25. Nxe4
N5f6 {and Black holds}) 22... Kh8 23. Bf5 Kg8 {the postion looks dangerous for
Black, but probably his defensive resources are enough to keep the balance.})
19. cxb5 $14 {Now due to the passed b-pawn White is slightly better.} Nc5 20.
Bf1 axb5 21. Bxb5 Re7 22. Nxd4 ({White is also better after} 22. b4 Ncxe4 23.
Nxe4 Nxe4 24. Qxd4 $14) 22... Nfxe4 23. Nxe4 Rxe4 $2 ({After} 23... Nxe4 $1 24.
Rc1 Qb6 25. Rxc8 Bxc8 26. Bc6 Bb7 27. Bxb7 Qxb7 {with accurate play Black
should hold.}) 24. b4 $16 {Now Black has problems with his knight...} Qb6 $2 {
A logical continuation after 23...Rxe4, but White has a forced refutation!} ({
Black should have preferred} 24... Ne6 {but even here, after} 25. Rxe4 ({
Also good is the simple} 25. Bf1) 25... Bxe4 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Rc1 Qb7 28. Rxc8
Qxc8 29. Bf1 $16 {White has a clear advantage due to the passed pawn.}) (24...
Rxe1+ 25. Qxe1 Ne4 26. Rc1 Qb8 27. Rxc8 Qxc8 28. f3 Nf6 29. Bd3 $16 {is also
not inspiring for Black.}) 25. bxc5 $1 dxc5 ({Black was hoping for} 25... Rxe1+
26. Qxe1 dxc5 {, but here White wins by} 27. Nf5 $1 Qxb5 28. Nh6+ $1 gxh6 (
28... Kh8 29. Nxf7+ Kg8 30. Qe6 $18) 29. Qe5 Qxb2 30. Qxb2 Be4 31. Re1 Bg6 32.
Qb7 Rd8 33. Qc7 Ra8 34. Qd7 {following with f4 and White should be winning.})
26. Rxe4 Bxe4 27. Qg4 Qb7 28. Nf5 ({It also wins, but there was the stronger} 
28. Ne6 $1 Qxb5 29. Bxg7 Bf5 30. Qxf5 Qd7 31. Bxf8 fxe6 32. Qg4+ Kxf8 33. Ra3 {
winning!}) 28... Bxf5 ({More stubbon was} 28... g6 {after which the strongest
is} 29. Ra7 $1 (29. Qg5 $6 Qxb5 30. Qf6 Qxb2 31. Ne7+ Bxe7 32. Qxb2 Bf8 {
is not convincing}) ({but also strong is} 29. Qe2 Rb8 (29... Bxf5 30. g4 $1 $18
) 30. Be5 Bxf5 31. Bxb8 Qxb8 32. Bc4 $18) 29... Qxb5 (29... Qxa7 30. Qxe4 c4
31. Bxc4 $18) 30. Nh6+ Bxh6 31. Qxc8+ Bf8 32. Be5 {winning.}) 29. Qxf5 Qxb5 30.
Bxg7 $1 {This move required calculations! White has a winning attack!} ({
But not} 30. Qxc8 $2 Qxb2 {and it will be very hard to win it.}) 30... Rb8 ({
Also lost is} 30... Re8 31. Bf6 h6 32. Ra3 Re1+ 33. Kh2 Bd6+ 34. f4 Rh1+ 35.
Kg3 Qe2 36. Kh4 $18) ({But in the practical game there was the more stubbon} 
30... Qe8 31. Bf6 h6 {and here I spent some time finding} 32. Qg4+ ({but not} 
32. Ra3 $2 Qe1+ 33. Kh2 Bd6+ 34. f4 (34. g3 Qe6 {and Black is still in the
fight.}) 34... Qe6 35. Rg3+ Kf8 36. Bg7+ Ke7 37. Re3 Qxe3 38. Bf6+ Kf8 39.
Qxc8+ Qe8 40. Bg7+ Ke7 {and it is still far from winning...}) 32... Kh7 33. Ra7
$1 $18 {with the invintable threat Re7!}) 31. Bc3 Qb6 32. Qg5+ Qg6 33. Qe5 {
Now White wins an exchange, but, already missing his g7-pawn, Black resigned!}
1-0

[Event "Match/Team URS-World 20,5-19,5"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1970.03.29"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Portisch, Lajos"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Kortchnoi/Portisch"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "1970.03.29"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Soviet Union"]
[BlackTeam "World"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "URS"]
[TimeControl "40/9000:16/5400:0"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. b3 (13. Nf1 d5 14. exd5
exd4 15. Nxd4 Nxd5 16. Nf5 Bf6 {Kortschnoj=:K}) 13... Bf8 14. Bb2 (14. d5 {K})
14... g6 15. a4 Bg7 16. Bd3 c6 (16... Bc6 17. d5 Nc5 18. Bf1 Bd7 19. Ba3 {K}) (
16... d5 17. axb5 $13 {Portisch=:P}) (16... bxa4 $6 17. Rxa4 d5 18. dxe5 $1 Nc5
19. Rd4 Nfd7 20. b4 $1 Ne6 21. Rxd5 Bxd5 22. exd5 Nf4 23. Nc4 $1 $16 {P}) 17.
Qc2 (17. Rb1 Qb6 (17... Nh5 $5) 18. b4 Nh5 19. Nb3 Rad8 20. Bc1 Qc7 21. Bg5 Rb8
22. Qc2 $16 {Ljubojevic,L-Smejkal,J/Reggio/1985/}) 17... Rc8 $146 (17... Qb6
18. b4 exd4 19. cxd4 c5 20. bxc5 dxc5 21. axb5 axb5 22. dxc5 Nxc5 23. Rxa8 Bxa8
24. Bd4 Nfd7 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Qb2+ Qf6 27. Qxb5 Qc3 28. Bf1 Rb8 29. Qc4 Qxc4
30. Bxc4 Re8 31. e5 Bc6 32. Kh2 Re7 33. Kg3 Bb7 34. Bb5 f6 35. exf6+ Kxf6 36.
Rc1 Ne4+ 37. Nxe4+ Bxe4 38. Bc6 Nf8 39. Bxe4 Rxe4 40. Rc7 Re7 41. Rxe7 Kxe7 42.
Nd4 Kf6 43. Kf4 Nd7 44. h4 Ne5 45. Ke4 h5 46. f3 Nf7 47. Nb5 {Byrne,R-Padevsky,
N Monte Carlo 1968 1/2-1/2 (62)}) 18. dxe5 $2 {K} (18. b4 {! /\ 19.de de 20.c4
K / ?! P} exd4 19. cxd4 c5 $1 20. axb5 c4 $17) (18. Bf1 $5 {Portisch}) (18.
Rad1 $5 Qb6 19. Qb1 Nh5 20. Bf1 $14 {Matanovic,A-Ivkov, B/Belgrade m/1978/1-0/}
) 18... dxe5 19. b4 (19. Ba3 Qb6 {/\ 20... c5 K}) (19. c4 Bf8 $1 $15 {P}) 19...
Bf8 $1 {P} 20. Red1 Qb6 21. Qb3 c5 $1 {P} 22. axb5 (22. Ng5 Re7 $1 (22... c4
23. Nxc4 bxc4 24. Bxc4 $44) 23. axb5 axb5 24. bxc5 Nxc5 25. Qxb5 Qxb5 26. Bxb5
h6 $17 {P}) 22... axb5 23. bxc5 Bxc5 24. Qxb5 $6 {P} (24. Rf1 Bc6 $17 {>< e4 P/
/\ Nh5 K}) 24... Bxf2+ 25. Kf1 Re7 (25... Qe3 26. Nc4 Rxc4 27. Bc1 $1 {K/P})
26. Qxb6 Bxb6 27. Ba6 $1 {P} Bxa6+ 28. Rxa6 Be3 $1 {P} (28... Nh5 {K}) 29. Ke2
Bc5 30. g4 $6 {P} Rb8 31. Ra2 $2 {K} (31. Ba1 {K}) 31... Nf8 32. c4 N6d7 33.
Kf1 (33. g5 Ne6 34. h4 Nf4+ 35. Kf1 Nd3 36. Ba1 Rf8 $1 {37... f6 K}) 33... f6
34. Nb1 Nb6 $1 {K} 35. Nfd2 Rd7 36. Rc1 Ne6 37. Ba3 Rd3 (37... Rbd8 $5 {P}) 38.
Rc3 Rbd8 39. Bxc5 Nxc5 40. Rxd3 Rxd3 41. Ra5 $1 {P} (41. Ra3 Rd4 42. Rc3 Nc8 $1
{/\ Nd6 P}) 41... Nbd7 42. Ra3 (42. Kg2 Re3 43. Ra7 Nf8 44. Ra3 Nd3 45. c5 Re2+
46. Kf3 Nf4 47. c6 N8e6 $19 {K}) 42... Rd4 43. Re3 (43. Ra7 Nb6 $1 (43... Nf8
44. Ra8 Nxe4 45. Nxe4 Rxe4 46. Nd2 $44 {c-o^}) 44. Rc7 Nxc4 45. Nxc4 $1 (45.
Rxc5 Nxd2+ 46. Nxd2 Rxd2 47. g5 fxg5 $1 $19) 45... Rxc4 46. Na3 $1 Rc1+ $1 (
46... Ra4 $2 47. Rxc5 Rxa3 48. Kg2 $10) 47. Kg2 Nd3 48. Rxc1 Nxc1 $16 {P})
43... Nb6 44. Ke2 Nxc4 45. Nxc4 Rxc4 46. Nc3 Kg7 (46... Kf7 $142 {P}) 47. Kf3
Ne6 48. h4 Nd4+ 49. Kf2 Rb4 50. Nd1 $6 {P} (50. Nd5 $1 Rb2+ 51. Kg3 {P}) 50...
Ra4 51. Kg3 $2 {K} (51. Kg2 {/\ Nf2 K}) 51... h5 52. Nf2 (52. gxh5 f5 $1 {K/P})
52... Ra2 $1 {P} (52... hxg4 53. Kxg4 $1 {P} (53. Nxg4 $2 Nf5+ $1 54. exf5 gxf5
$18)) 53. g5 $2 {K} (53. gxh5 f5 54. Kg2 {K}) 53... fxg5 54. hxg5 h4+ 55. Kg2
Ne6 56. Kf3 Nxg5+ 57. Kg4 Nf7 $4 {K/ ? P} (57... Kf6 $1 {K/P} 58. Nh3 (58. Nd3
h3 $19) 58... Rg2+ 59. Kxh4 Rh2 $19 {P}) (57... Rxf2 58. Kxg5 h3 59. Rxh3 Rg2+
60. Kh4 Re2 61. Kg5 Rxe4 62. Ra3 Rf4 $18 {P}) 58. Rf3 g5 59. Kh5 Ra8 $2 {
K/ ?? P} (59... Re2 $1 {K} 60. Rf5 (60. Nh3 Rg2 61. Nf2 Rg3 62. Rxg3 hxg3 63.
Nh3 g2 64. Kg4 Kf6 65. Kf3 Nd6 $18) 60... Re3 $1 $18 {P}) 60. Rb3 $1 {P} Rh8+
61. Kg4 Rh6 62. Nh3 $1 {K} Rf6 63. Rb8 $1 {K} Rd6 (63... Kg6 64. Rg8+ {P}) 64.
Kh5 Rh6+ (64... Rg6 65. Rg8+ (65. Kg4 Nh6+ 66. Kh5 g4 67. Ng5 $1 $10 {P}) 65...
Kxg8 66. Kxg6 $10 {P/K}) 65. Kg4 Rd6 66. Kh5 Kf6 67. Rb2 Kg7 68. Rb8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad Women-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.03"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Kosintseva, Nadezhda"]
[Black "Zhao, Xue"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2524"]
[BlackElo "2549"]
[Annotator "Kosintseva,N"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[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 "Russia (W)"]
[BlackTeam "China (W)"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CHN"]

{This game was played in round 6, against our main rivals in all team events,
the Chinese. Such matches are always especially crucial for us, and on this
occasion, apart from all the usiual factors, it was important to show
ourselves that, despite all the objective evidence of the strength of the
Chinese players, it is still possible for us to fight against them.} 1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 {A definite surprise. In my preparations, I had expected
the Berlin.} 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 {The Breyer chosen by Zhao Xue is
also one of my favourite lines as Black against the Spanish. In the past, as
White, I have always preferred to leave the knight on d2, and have played
several games with 13.a4. This time I decided to vary my opening set-up, so as
to surprise my opponent, before she could surprise me.} Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. Bg5
$5 {A rather rare, buit interesting continuation, the idaes of which were
shown to me and my sister about a year ago, by Yuri Dokhoian.} ({White more
often prefers} 15. a4 c5 16. d5 c4) ({or} 15. b3 Bg7 16. d5) {The main idea of
the text is to develop the pieces, and not to commit my queenside pawn
structure until Black has committed hers. Then White will choose a plan, based
on Black's actions.} 15... h6 ({If Black tries to do without this move, by
playing} 15... Bg7 {then after} 16. Qd2 Qe7 17. b3 $5 {, the white pieces are
very comfortably placed, whilst Black is a little tied up, eg.} c6 ({or} 17...
Qf8 18. d5 Rec8 ({not the immediate} 18... c6 {because of} 19. dxc6 Bxc6 20.
Rad1 d5 $140 21. exd5 Bxd5 22. Nxe5 $1 Nxe5 23. Bxf6 Bxf6 24. Qxd5 {with an
extra pawn}) 19. c4 bxc4 20. bxc4 Nc5 21. Rab1 {followed by the regrouping Be3,
Ng3-e2-c3 and a comfortable space advantage.}) 18. Rad1 Qf8 19. a4 Rad8 20. Qc1
{and White had the initiative in the game Karjakin-Kamsky, 2009:} h6 21. Be3
Kh7 22. b4 Re7 23. axb5 cxb5 24. d5 Rc8 25. Qa3 Qd8 26. Rc1 Nb6 27. Nd2 h5 28.
Bd3 Bh6 29. Bxh6 Kxh6 30. c4 $14) ({After the immediate} 15... c5 16. d5 c4 ({
if here} 16... h6 {then there is the move} 17. Be3 Bg7 {and after} 18. a4 c4
19. Qd2 Kh7 20. b3 cxb3 21. Bxb3 {Black has achieved absolutely nothing on the
queenside}) 17. Qd2 ({It is also worth considering} 17. b4) 17... Qc7 18. Nh2
Bg7 19. Rf1 Rf8 20. Kh1 Kh8 21. f4 exf4 22. Rxf4 Ng8 23. Rf2 Ne5 24. Nf3 $14 {
Bacrot-Postny, 2009}) 16. Bd2 {Unfortunately, the bishop cannot occupy the
better square e3, because the e4-pawn would hang. Therefore, White has to
compromise and retreat the bishop to d2, where it perhaps stands less than
ideally, but as the game show, it still has its points.} c5 $6 {In my view, it
was more subtle not to provoke White and not to clarify the queenside
structure yet. After the move in the game, it is clear that White enjoys a
strategic plus on the queenside, whilst it will be difficult for Black to
create any counterplay there.} ({If Black does not wish to close the centre
completely, then there is} 16... exd4 17. cxd4 c5 18. d5 {- as, for example,
in the game Fisher-Spassky,1992:} Nb6 19. Ba5 Nfd7 20. b3 Bg7 21. Rc1 Qf6 22.
Rb1 $14 (22. h4 $5 h5 23. e5 dxe5 24. Ne4 Qe7 25. d6 Qd8 26. b4 c4 27. Nc5 $44
{Ftacnik})) ({But most often in this position, Black prefers to defer any pawn
moves:} 16... Bg7 {and after} 17. a4 {now} c5 ({with} 17... exd4 18. cxd4 c5
19. Bf4 Nf8 20. d5 {White can count on an advantage, thanks to the more
harmonious position of his pieces.}) ({Also worthy of consideration is} 17...
Nb6 $5 18. b3 bxa4 19. bxa4 a5 $5 (19... Nc4 20. Bc1 $5) 20. Bd3 Qc8 ({The
reason the queen goes to c8 is shown by the following variation:} 20... Qd7 21.
d5 c6 (21... Ba6 22. Bxa6 Rxa6 23. Qb3 {followed by c4}) 22. Rb1) 21. d5 $140 {
and now} c6 22. Rb1 Nbd7 23. c4 Nc5 {with a complicated game, Ni Hua-Torre,
2010.}) 18. d5 c4 (18... Nb6 19. Qe2 $5 c4 20. b4 cxb3 21. Bxb3) 19. b4 $5 cxb3
({White has very comfortable play after} 19... Nh7 20. Be3 h5 21. Qd2 Rf8 22.
Ra3 $16 {Fischer-Spassky, 1992}) 20. Bxb3 Nc5 21. c4 $5 Qd7 22. Ba5 $5 {
freeing the d2-square for his knight. Then his plan is Bc2, Nf1-e3 and play on
the b-file. If he manages to achieve this, then notwithstanding the pawn
exchanges and the apparent simplification of the position, it will not be so
easy for Black to find an effective regrouping for his pieces.} Rec8 23. Bc2
bxc4 24. Nd2 {the bishop on c2 defends its own pawn on a4 and controls the
black knight on c5.} {This position has only been met twice in practice (once
involving my sister as Black) and both times, Black decided to part with
material, in order to activate his pawn centre.} Bxd5 ({If} 24... Nd3 {then
after} 25. Bxd3 cxd3 26. Qb3 Rc5 27. Bb6 Rc2 28. Qxd3 Rac8 29. Ba5 $14 {
Black has some trouble, because of his bishop on b7.}) 25. exd5 Nb7 26. Bc3 $1
{this stronger} ({than} 26. Bb6 Nxd5 27. a5 {Balogh-Mikhalevski, 2009} Nxb6 $5
28. axb6 d5 $132) 26... Nxd5 27. Nb1 $1 Qe6 28. Be4 Rc5 29. Bf3 $16 {
Sebag-Kosintseva,T, 2011}) 17. d5 c4 18. b4 $1 {Exploiting the fact that White
has not yet played a4, and so in the event of 18...cxb3 19.axb3, can obtain
the more compact pawn structure on the queenside. If, on the other hand, Black
decides to leave things as they are and not take on b3, then after a4, Ra3
followed by doubling on the a-file, Black will be very passive.} cxb3 ({
A principled reply is} 18... a5 {, but in this specific case, White has the
better game after the head-on reply} 19. a4 $1 bxa4 ({or} 19... Qc7 {
Becerra-Nakamura, 2008} 20. axb5 $5 axb4 21. cxb4 $14 Rxa1 22. Qxa1 Ra8 23. Qb2
Qb6 24. Ne2 Qxb5 25. Nc3 $16) (19... axb4 20. cxb4 bxa4 21. Bxa4 Qc7 22. Qc2
Rec8 23. Ne2 $14) 20. b5 $1 Nc5 21. Qe2 Nfd7 22. Be3 $14) 19. axb3 Rc8 {
Preventing c4.} ({Black has also tried} 19... Qc7 20. Bd3 Nc5 21. Bf1 Reb8 22.
c4 bxc4 23. Ba5 Qe7 24. Bxc4 $14 {Adams-Bacrot, 2002}) 20. Bd3 Nb6 21. Bf1 {
If White has not seen the following pawn sacrifice, then this is a pointless
move. The bishop does nothing on f1 and this square will soon be needed for
the Ng3. Furthermore, considering that White intends to play c4 and take back
bxc4, it is a big question which diagonal the bishop should stand on.} ({
Although the immediate} 21. Nf1 $2 {fails to the standard tactical trick} Nbxd5
22. exd5 e4 $132) ({the simpleast was the most direct move} 21. Qe2 Nfd7 (21...
Bg7 22. c4 bxc4 23. Bxc4 Nxc4 24. bxc4 Nd7) (21... Nbd7 22. c4 bxc4 23. Bxc4
$16) 22. c4 bxc4 23. bxc4 Nc5 24. Ba5 $14) 21... Bg7 22. Qc1 $6 {A routine
decision, amounting to a loss of time.} ({White could count on an advantage
after the more concrete} 22. c4 $1 bxc4 {, but here White had to see} 23. Ba5
c3 24. Qc2 $1 Nfd7 25. Ne2 {tying the black pieces in knots.}) 22... h5 23. c4
bxc4 24. bxc4 $2 {And this is now a real mistake. White has achieved c4, but
it is not clear what the bishop is doing on f1. Black's pieces are able to
redeploy comfortably to the blockading squares.} ({Even with a loss of tempo,
it was still strong to play} 24. Ba5 cxb3 (24... c3 25. Qc2 {followed by Ne2-c3
}) (24... Nfxd5 25. exd5 e4 26. bxc4 Bxa1 27. Qxa1 exf3 28. Ne4 $1 $16) 25. Qb1
Nfd7 (25... Rb8 26. Ra3 $1) (25... h4 26. Nxh4 Nfd7 27. Nf3 Nc5 28. Ra3 Ba8 29.
Re3 $16) 26. Qxb3 ({ili} 26. Ra3 $5 h4 27. Ne2 Rc5 28. Qxb3 Rb5 29. Qc2 Nc5 30.
Rea1 $14) 26... Rb8 27. Rab1 Ba8 (27... Bc8 28. Rec1) 28. Bxa6 Qe7 29. Qa3 $36)
({Even the less creative} 24. Bxc4 Nfd7 (24... Nbd7 25. Qd1 Nc5 26. Qe2 $16)
25. Be3 {led to a notably more unpleasant position for Black than the game.}
Nc5 26. Qb1 $14) 24... Nbd7 25. Rb1 $6 {By a series of simple decisions, White
with each move squanders part of his initiative.} ({It was essential to
recognise the strategic threat and, acknowledging the previous mistake, decide
on:} 25. Bd3 $1 Nc5 26. Bc2 $14 {and, despite the lost time, White is still
pressing. There could follow: Be3, Qd2 or Qa3, Reb1, Ne2-c3, with the
initiative.}) 25... Nc5 26. Be3 Nfd7 27. Qc2 Qe7 28. Nd2 ({It was possible to
start the manoeuvre with the other knight} 28. Ne2 {and if now} Kh7 {there is
the extra idea} 29. Ng5+ $5 ({then as well as the direct} 29. Nc3 Bh6 30. Bxc5
Nxc5 31. Na4 Rc7 32. Nxc5 (32. Rb6 $140 Nd7) 32... Rxc5 33. Nd2 Bxd2 34. Qxd2
$14) 29... Kg8 30. Nc3 Bh6 31. h4 f6 $140 32. Bxc5 Nxc5 33. Ne6 Nxe6 34. dxe6
Ba8 35. Rb6 Qxe6 36. Ra1 $36) 28... Kh7 29. Nb3 Bh6 30. Bxh6 ({The other path} 
30. Nxc5 Nxc5 31. Bxc5 Rxc5 32. Ne2 {followed by Nc3-a4, Rb6.} ({not the
immediate} 32. Rb6 {because of} Rec8 33. Reb1 R8c7 {preventing the transfer of
the white knight.})) 30... Kxh6 31. Na5 $6 {A strategic error. Unfortunately,
I did not realise immediately that the knight on a5 is just an illusion. That
knight is firing into thin air, and it was necessary to fight not for c6, but
for the entry points on the b-file.} ({For this, it was essential to exchange
the important blockader on c5:} 31. Ne2 Rc7 (31... Nxb3 32. Rxb3 Nc5 33. Rb6
Rc7 34. Nc3 $14) 32. Nec1 Bc8 33. Nxc5 Nxc5 34. Nd3 {with still the better
chances, thanks to the weakness of the black pawns.}) 31... Rc7 $6 {It is
surprising, but this is not the first time in this game that a seemingly
logical decision, from the viewpoint of general principles, has proved to be a
false one. It seems that ...Rc7, preparing to transfer the bishop from b7 
(where it is blocked by the pawn on d5) to c8, from where it prepares f5,
cannot be bad. But even so, if one looks deeper, then one sees the noticeable
minus of this move - Black cedes the b-file. White cannot exploit this at once,
but everything changes in a few moves, after the white knight on g3 is
exchanged for the black one on c5.} ({It is difficult cold-bloodedly to bury
the bishop with} 31... Ba8 {if one is not a computer, but even so, this was
the most effective way to show the error of White's last move. The truth is
that the bishop on a8 is not weaker than the knight on a5!} 32. Ne2 Rb8 33. Nc3
Kg7 34. Nc6 Rxb1 35. Rxb1 Qg5 $132) 32. Ne2 Qg5 33. Nc3 (33. Nc1 {was also
possible:} Bc8 34. Nd3 {not fearing} f5 (34... Nxd3 35. Qxd3 Nc5 36. Qa3 f5
$140 37. exf5 gxf5 38. Rb6 $16) 35. exf5 Qxf5 36. Qd2+ Kg7 37. Re3 $5 $14)
33... Bc8 34. Nc6 $6 {Unnecessary. White has wasted a great deal of time in
this game, playing moves which look useful, but which turn out to be no use in
practice.} ({It was necessary to play without delay} 34. Na4 Nxa4 ({If} 34...
f5 {then} 35. exf5 Qxf5 (35... gxf5 36. Nxc5 Nxc5 37. Rb6 Qf6 38. Nb3 $36) 36.
Qd2+ Kg7 (36... Qg5 $2 37. f4) 37. Nxc5 Nxc5 38. Rb6 Qf6 39. Nb3 Nxb3 40. Rxb3
$14) (34... Kg7 35. Re3 $5 (35. Nxc5 Nxc5 36. Rb6 Bxh3 $13)) 35. Qxa4 f5 36.
exf5 gxf5 37. Nc6 {and White still achieves everything:} Nc5 38. Qa5 Rg7 39.
Nxe5 Reg8 40. Nf3 Qf4 41. Qa3 $16) 34... Nf6 $6 {Carelessness in return.} ({
Black gets decent play after the direct} 34... f5 35. exf5 {although he has to
see the intermediate move} Nf6 $1 $132 (35... gxf5 {is worse because of} 36.
Nd4 $1 e4 (36... Nf6 37. Nf3 Qg6 38. Rb6 Nfe4 39. h4 $1 $36) (36... exd4 37.
Rxe8 dxc3 38. Qxc3 Qf6 (38... Nf6 39. Rh8+ Kg7 40. Qa5 $1 $40) 39. Qa5 Rb7 40.
Bd3 $1 $36) 37. h4 Qf6 (37... Qxh4 $4 38. Nxf5+) (37... Qg6 38. Nce2 Nd3 39.
Qd2+ Kh7 40. Nf4 $14) 38. Qd2+ Kh7 39. Nf3 Ne5 40. Ng5+ Kg8 41. Na4 $1 Nxa4 (
41... Ncd3 42. Bxd3 Nxd3 43. Re3 Rxc4 44. Rg3 $40) 42. Qa5 Rce7 43. Qxa4 $14))
({Or the quieter prophylactic} 34... Rb7 35. Na4 $140 $6 Rxb1 36. Rxb1 Nxa4 37.
Qxa4 Nc5 $36) 35. Na4 $1 {Finally! There is nothing else to do, and tactics
comes to the aid of strategy.} Bxh3 ({It is easy to calculate the variation} 
35... Nxa4 36. Qxa4 Bxh3 37. Qa3 {with a double attack on the bishop and the
pawn d6.}) 36. Nxc5 dxc5 37. Qc3 Bc8 $2 {An oversight that is hard to account
for.} ({The only move was} 37... Bd7 38. Nb8 (38. Qa5 {is worse:} Rcc8 (38...
Rec8 39. Nb8) 39. Qxc5 (39. Na7 Rb8 40. Rxb8 Rxb8 41. Nc6 Rh8 42. Qxc5 Kg7 $132
) 39... Kg7 $13) 38... Bc8 ({there is nothing to be achieved by} 38... Ng4 39.
f3) ({in the event of} 38... h4 39. Nxa6 Rcc8 40. Qe3 $14 {Black faces a very
unpleasant defence in the endgame.}) ({whilst if} 38... Ra7 39. Qa5 Ra8 40.
Nxd7 Nxd7 41. Rb7 Red8 42. Reb1 {the activity of the white pieces completely
makes up for the temporary pawn deficit.}) 39. d6 (39. Qa5 Rb7 40. Rxb7 Bxb7
41. Qc7 Ng4 $1 $132) 39... Ra7 {few would decide on this move, if not a
computer. The white position looks threatening and in a practical game, even
the most gifted tactician could hardly play the position perfectly.} ({Black
would probably prefer the more human move} 39... Rb7 {after which there follows
} 40. d7 $1 Rxd7 (40... Nxd7 41. Rxb7 Bxb7 42. Nxd7 $18) 41. Nxd7 Nxd7 (41...
Bxd7 42. Rb7 $14) 42. Rbd1 {with the exchange for 2 pawns, and a definite
initiative, on account of the slight discoordination among the black pieces.}
Kg7 (42... Nf8 43. Rd5) 43. Rd6 Nf8 44. Rd5 $14) 40. Qa5 Kg7 $1 {an important
move in many variations} (40... Ng4 41. f3 $16) ({The immediate} 40... h4 41.
Qxc5 (41. Re3 Ng4 42. Rf3 f5 43. d7 Rxd7 44. Nxd7 fxe4 45. Rf7 Bxd7) (41. f3
Be6 42. Qxc5 Ra8 $15) (41. Nc6 Qf4 $1) 41... Rb7 42. Qa3 Rxb1 43. Rxb1 h3 {
fails to} 44. Qg3 Qxg3 45. fxg3 Rd8 46. c5 Nxe4 47. Nc6 {with the better
endgame}) 41. Qxc5 Rb7 42. f3 (42. Qc6 Ng4) (42. Qa3 Rxb1 43. Rxb1 Nxe4 44. d7
Bxd7 45. Nxd7 Nxf2 $1) 42... Rxb1 43. Rxb1 h4 44. Rd1 Bg4 $1 $11) 38. Qa5 Ng4 {
Black burns her bridges and stakes everything on a breakout.} 39. f3 ({Less
principled is} 39. Be2 Rb7 40. Qxc5 Kg7 {also leading to White's advantage.})
39... Qh4 40. fxg4 hxg4 41. Be2 (41. Re3 {fails because of} g3 42. Rxg3 Qxg3
43. Qxc7 Qe3+ 44. Kh1 Kg7 $19) ({As before,} 41. Rb3 g3 42. Rxg3 Qxg3 43. Qxc7
Qxe1 $19) ({I did not want to remove the attack on the Rc7 by means of} 41.
Qxc5 Kg7 42. g3 Qxg3+ 43. Bg2 Rh8 {although in fact, after} ({ili} 43... Bd7
44. Re3 Qf4 (44... Qh4 45. Qd6 g3 46. Qxc7 Qh2+ 47. Kf1 Bh3 48. Ke2 Qxg2+ 49.
Kd3 $18) 45. Rf1 Qg5 46. Ra3 $16) 44. Qe3 {Black's attacking chances on the
h-file are nothing to worry about:} Qh2+ 45. Kf1 Bd7 46. Na5 f5 (46... Qf4+ 47.
Qf2 Rc5 48. Ra1 g5 49. Re3 Rh6 50. Rc3 Rf6 51. Qxf4 gxf4 52. Nb3 $16) 47. Qg1 (
47. exf5 Bxf5 48. Rb6 Re8 $13) 47... Qf4+ 48. Qf2 Qh2 $140 49. d6 $18) ({
In the event of the immediate} 41. g3 Qxg3+ 42. Bg2 Rb7 43. Qxc5 {after} Bd7
44. Rf1 Rxb1 45. Rxb1 Bxc6 46. dxc6 Kg7 47. Qf2 ({or} 47. c7 Rh8 48. Qf2 Qh2+
49. Kf1 Rc8 50. Rb7 a5) 47... Qa3 48. Rf1 Qe7 49. Ra1 g3 (49... Rh8) 50. Qxg3
Qc5+ 51. Qf2 Qxc6 {White still has to overcome some technical problems to
realise the extra piece.}) 41... Rb7 (41... g3 $140 42. Bf3) 42. Qc3 ({The
pawn on c5 could also have been taken:} 42. Qxc5 Kg7 (42... g3 43. Bf3 Rxb1 44.
Rxb1 Kg7 45. Kf1 g5 46. Re1 g4 47. Bd1 $18) 43. Kf1 Rh8 {although here too,
definite accuracy is needed:} (43... Rxb1 44. Rxb1 f5 45. exf5 gxf5 46. Na7 $18
) 44. Rxb7 ({for example, it would not be so easy to realise the extra
material after:} 44. Qe3 Qf6+ 45. Kg1 Qh4 46. Bd3 Qh2+ 47. Kf1 Rh3 48. Qg1
Qxg1+ 49. Kxg1 Rxd3 50. Rxb7 Bxb7 51. Nxe5 Rd4 $14) 44... Bxb7 45. Bd1 {
freeing a path for his king} Bxc6 46. dxc6 Qg3 47. Qf2 Qc3 48. Kg1 g3 49. Qe3
Qxc4 50. Qxg3 Qc5+ 51. Qe3 Qxc6 52. Bb3 $16) 42... g3 {Or else White plays g3
herself.} 43. Qe3+ Kg7 44. Rxb7 $6 {There was no reason at all to rush this
exchange.} (44. Kf1 {was better:} Rh8 (44... g5 45. Bd3 Qg4 (45... Rh8 46. Rxb7
Bxb7 47. Nxe5 $18) 46. Rxb7 Bxb7 47. Rb1 Rh8 48. Ke1 $18) 45. Bf3 g5 $140 $2 (
45... Rxb1 46. Rxb1 Bg4 47. Ke2 $18) 46. Rxb7 Bxb7 47. Nxe5 $18) 44... Bxb7 ({
I think we both missed that after the far from obvious} 44... Rh8 {White keeps
the advantage, after two only moves:} 45. Rxf7+ $8 (45. Kf1 $4 Qf4+ 46. Qxf4
Rh1#) 45... Kxf7 46. Kf1 Qg5 $1 47. Bh5 $8 (47. Qg1 $2 Kg7) 47... Rxh5 (47...
Qxh5 48. Qxg3 $16) 48. Qxg5 Rxg5 49. Ke2 $16 {with the advantage in the ending,
despite the pawn minus.}) 45. Bf3 g5 46. Kf1 {The feeling of danger from
approaching time-trouble made me sacrifice the pawn structure, to get the king
away as soon as possible.} ({Thus, for example, with} 46. Na5 Rh8 47. Kf1 Bc8 {
White has to give up not a pawn, but a piece:} 48. Nc6 (48. Nb3 Rh6 49. Nd2 Rf6
50. Ke2 g4 51. Kd3 gxf3 52. Nxf3 Qh5 53. Nd2 a5 54. Qxg3+ Rg6 55. Qe3 Qh4 $13)
48... Rh6 49. Nxe5 (49. Bd1 Bg4 50. Nxe5 Rf6+ 51. Bf3 Bh5 52. Ke2 g4 $13) 49...
g4 50. Ke2 gxf3+ 51. Nxf3 Bg4 $13) 46... g4 (46... Bxc6 47. dxc6 Rh8 48. c7 g4
49. Bd1 $18) 47. Bd1 Bxc6 48. dxc6 Re6 49. Ke2 ({It is wrong to bother with} 
49. Qxc5 {because after} Qh1+ 50. Qg1 Rf6+ 51. Ke2 Qh6 52. Rf1 Rxf1 53. Qxf1
Qxc6 54. Ke1 Qc5 {it will be very hard for White to realise the extra piece.})
49... Rxc6 50. Rf1 Rb6 (50... Rd6 51. Qxc5 Qe7 {is refuted by both} {as well}
52. Qb4 ({and} 52. Qe3 Qb7 53. Bb3 Rd4 54. Bc2 Rxc4 (54... Qb2 55. Qb3 Rxe4+
56. Kd2 Qd4+ 57. Qd3 Qxc4 58. Qxe4 Qxf1 59. Qxe5+ $16) 55. Bd3 Qb2+ 56. Qd2
Qxd2+ 57. Kxd2 $16) 52... a5 53. Qxa5 Rd4 54. Bc2 Rxc4 55. Qd2 $16) 51. Qc3 {
Here, I had very little time left on the clock, so I tried to play as solidly
as possible.} ({In fact, nothing terrible happens to White after} 51. Qxc5 Rb2+
52. Kd3 Qd8+ (52... Rxg2 53. Qxe5+ Kg6 54. Qe8 $18) (52... Rf2 53. Qxe5+ Kg8
54. Be2 $18) 53. Qd5 Qe7 54. Bc2 Rb7 55. Qa5 $18) 51... f6 52. Qd2 Qh2 53. Ke1
({White's position is objectively winning after} 53. Qd7+ Kh6 54. Qxg4 Qxg2+
55. Ke1 {i.e.} a5 56. Qh5+ Kg7 57. Qf3 Qxf3 58. Rxf3 Rb4 59. Rxg3+ Kh6 60. Be2
$18) 53... Kg6 54. Qe2 {I took Zhao at her word that the g4-pawn should not be
taken.} ({The simple} 54. Bxg4 Rb1+ 55. Bd1 Qh4 56. Qd5 {won much more simply.}
) 54... Kf7 55. Qd2 ({A more precise way was} 55. Qxg4 Qxg2 56. Qd7+ Kg6 57.
Qf5+ Kg7 58. Qf3 $18) 55... Ke7 56. Bxg4 Rb1+ 57. Bd1 Qh4 ({ili} 57... Rb6 58.
Bc2 $1 Rd6 (58... Rb2 59. Kd1 Ra2 60. Kc1 Ra1+ 61. Bb1 $18) 59. Bd3 a5 60. Kd1
a4 61. Kc2 $18) 58. Qd3 {Again too cautious.} ({More convincing was} 58. Qd5 $1
{leading faster to victory.}) 58... Rb6 (58... Rb2 {is refuted by} 59. Bc2 Qh2
({ili} 59... Qh6 60. Kd1 Rb6 61. Qxg3 $18) 60. Qf3 Qh6 61. Kd1 Rb4 62. Qd3 Qh2
(62... Rb6 63. Qxg3 Rd6+ 64. Bd3 $18) 63. Kc1 Qxg2 $140 64. Rd1 $18) 59. Qe3
Rd6 60. Bf3 Rd4 61. Ke2 Kf7 (61... Rxc4 62. Rc1 $18) 62. Rd1 Kg6 63. Rxd4 $2 {
Tiredness made me want to simplify the position as much as possible. However,
this is objectively far from the best decision, and creates further technical
difficulties.} ({I am winning after} 63. Qa3 Rxc4 (63... f5 64. Qxa6+ $18) (
63... Rxd1 64. Kxd1 Qh1+ 65. Kc2 Qg1 66. Qxa6 Qf2+ 67. Kb3 $18) 64. Qb3 Rd4 65.
Qg8+ Kh6 66. Qh8+ Kg5 67. Qg7+ Kf4 68. Rf1 $18) 63... cxd4 $2 {The decisive
mistake.} ({Black could have offered further resistance by} 63... exd4 64. Qa3
Qf4 65. Kd1 $16) 64. Qc1 {Now there followed} f5 65. Qc2 Qf4 66. exf5+ Kf6 67.
Qe4 Qc1 68. Qc6+ Kg7 (68... Kxf5 69. Be4+ Kg5 70. Qg6+ Kh4 71. Qf6+ $18) 69.
Qg6+ Kf8 70. Qf6+ {and Black resigned in view of the unavoidable mate.} 1-0

[Event "Olympiad Women-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.29"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Kosintseva, Nadezhda"]
[Black "Sachdev, Tania"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2382"]
[Annotator "Kosintseva,N"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia (W)"]
[BlackTeam "India (W)"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "IND"]

{This game was played in the 8th round of the Olympiad, against the Indian
team. At that moment, difficult matches against China, Georgia and Ukraine,
who are always among the favourites in any team event, were behind us, but
despite this, it was too early to relax. The Indian team, even though they
were missing Humpy Koneru, are extremely unpredictable and dangerous, and
already for several years have been very difficult opponents for us. Matches
against them are always very hard and tense.  It all started with a difficult
draw at the last Olympiad at Dresden, in which it was not the Indians who had
to fight for the draw. The continuation followed at last year's world team
championship, when we began the match a point behind, after one of our players
arrived late, and we did not even manage to draw the match. The present
encounter, notwithstanding the eventual victory of the Russian team, also did
not pass without the need for great effort and strong nerves on all our parts.
} 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 {My opponent's opening choice is a classical one, the Breyer
System, one of the most reliable defences to the Spanish, Here it is difficult
for White to achieve any kind of significant positional advantage, and her
main hope is limited to a certain space advantage.} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7
12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 {A line which has become increasingly popular in
contemporary tournament practice, thanks mainly to some new strategic ideas,
found by the top-GMs in recent times. White deliberately refrains from the
typical Spanish manoeuvre Nf1-g3, planning to develop the dark-squared bishop
either to b2, or a3, and to play on the queenside.} ({The alternative is} 13.
Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 {and then either the plan with b3 and Bb2 once again, or
developing the bishop on the c1-h6 diagonal.}) 13... Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15. Qc2 $5
{White does not often start with this move.} ({Rather more popular is} 15. b3 {
and then, White tries to find the best order in which to play the moves Bb2,
Ba3 and Qc2.}) ({or} 15. b4 Nb6 {and then either the structure with} 16. axb5 (
{or with} 16. a5)) {The move Qc2 on the one hand lays claim to being very deep,
. since White retains the option of either b3, or b4, but on the other, it
immediately commits the white queen, which is some lines could come under an
x-ray attack along the c-file.} 15... Qc7 ({A few rounds later in the same
Olympiad, the game Vallejo Pons,F (2697)-Grischuk,A (2760)/Khanty-Mansiysk RUS
2010 was played, where after} 15... Rc8 16. axb5 axb5 (16... cxb5 $5) 17. b3 (
17. b4 $5) 17... g6 18. Bb2 Qc7 19. c4 (19. Rad1 $5) 19... bxc4 20. Nxc4 exd4
21. Bxd4 {the players agreed a draw, apparently because of the variation} d5
22. exd5 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 cxd5 24. Ne3 Qxc2 25. Bxc2 Ne4 {with equality.}) {
In general, in this position, Black can practically play how he likes: he can
put his rook on c8, his queen on b6, or he can put the queen on c7 and leave
the rook on a8, or put it on d8; he can fianchetto the bishop on f8 after g6
and Bg7; he can transfer the knight via h5 to f4. Here there can hardly be any
definite theory, rather a complicated position with many plans, based on a
long battle.} 16. b4 g6 ({In analogous positions, Black usually reacts to the
move b4 with} 16... Nb6 {,forcing White to determine the structure on the
queenside.} {And here after} 17. axb5 ({Complicated play results from} 17. a5
$5 Nbd7 18. Bb2 c5 $5 (18... exd4 $2 19. cxd4 c5 20. e5 $16) 19. bxc5 dxc5 20.
dxe5 (20. d5 c4 21. Be2 Nc5 $13) 20... c4 $1 (20... Nxe5 21. Nxe5 Rxe5 22. c4
$36) 21. Bxc4 Nxe5 (21... bxc4 22. exf6 Nxf6 23. Ba3 $14) 22. Nxe5 {the most
accurate is} Qxe5 {with compensation for the pawn} (22... bxc4 23. Nef3 Nd7 24.
Ba3 Bxa3 25. Rxa3 Nc5 26. Nd4 $14) (22... Rxe5 23. Bd3 Rd8 24. c4 Rg5 25. Nf3
Rc5 26. Bd4 bxc4 27. Bf1 Rxa5 28. Rxa5 Qxa5 29. Bxf6 gxf6 30. Bxc4 $36) 23. Bd3
Qf4 24. c4 bxc4 25. Nxc4 Bxe4 26. Be5 Bxd3 27. Qxd3 Qg5 $11) {especially
trendy is} 17... cxb5 {,emphasing the queen's position on c2, which is not
ideal in this structure.} 18. d5 Rac8 19. Bb2 Nh5 {with play for both sides. A
possible variation then is} (19... Na4 20. c4 $14) 20. Bf1 ({or} 20. Rac1 f5
21. exf5 Bxd5 22. Be4 Bxe4 23. Qxe4 Nf4 $13) 20... f5 $5 21. exf5 (21. Ng5 Qe7
22. Ne6 fxe4 $15) 21... Nxd5 22. Qb3 (22. c4 Nb6 (22... Nxb4 $2 23. Qb3) 23. c5
dxc5 24. Bxe5 Qd7 $13) 22... Qf7 23. c4 Ndf4 24. cxb5 Qxb3 25. Nxb3 axb5 26.
Bxb5 Bc6 $44) ({It does not make sense to hurry with} 16... d5 {since after}
17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Rxe5 19. Nf3 Ree8 ({or} 19... Rxe4 20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. Nd2
c5 22. axb5 $14) 20. e5 Ne4 21. Be3 $14 {White stands slightly better.}) 17.
Bf1 $6 {A poor decision. The idea of this move is to prepare the manoeuvre
Nd2-b3-a5, but I completely underestimated Black's central play, connected
with ...d6-d5, which becomes more relevant with the retreat of the bishop from
d3, and the consequent weakening of the e4-pawn.} ({I did not like the
immediate} 17. Nb3 {because of} c5 ({also interesting is} 17... d5 $5) 18. bxc5
(18. axb5 $2 c4) 18... dxc5 19. dxc5 bxa4 20. Rxa4 a5 $1 {This is better than
the immediate} (20... Nxc5 21. Nxc5 Bxc5 22. Bg5 $36) 21. Bb5 (21. Bg5 Bc6 22.
Raa1 a4 $36) 21... Reb8 22. Bc4 Bc6 23. Ra1 Nxc5 24. Nxc5 Bxc5 25. Bg5 Be7 26.
Qa2 Be8 27. Bh6 a4 {with play for both sides.}) ({But stronger was} 17. Bb2 {
with the idea after} Nb6 ({whilst the move} 17... Bg7 {was met splendidly by}
18. dxe5 $1 Nxe5 ({or} 18... dxe5 19. c4 bxa4 20. c5 $1 a5 21. bxa5 Bf8 (21...
Rxa5 22. Nc4 Rxc5 23. Ba3 $14) 22. Nc4 Bxc5 23. Rxa4 Ba6 24. Rd1 $14 {1-0
Sethuraman,S (2493)-Kashlinskaya,A (2346)/Kirishi RUS 2010/The Week in Chess
809 (48)}) 19. Nxe5 dxe5 20. c4 bxa4 21. c5 $1 a5 22. bxa5 Nd7 (22... Qxa5 23.
Nc4 Qxc5 24. Ba3 Qa7 25. Nd6 $36) 23. Ba3 Rxa5 24. Nc4 $14 {1-0 Timoshenko,G 
(2550)-Sriram,J (2408)/Kalamaria 2006/EXT 2007 (42)}) 18. axb5 (18. a5 Na4 $13)
18... axb5 (18... cxb5 {is less good here, because after} 19. d5 Rac8 20. Bf1 (
{but not} 20. Nb3 Nxe4 $1 21. Bxe4 f5 22. Bxf5 gxf5 23. Qxf5 Bxd5 $36) 20...
Nh5 21. Nb3 {the pawn on g6 interferes with the plan f5, whilst after} Na4 22.
Na5 Nxb2 23. Qxb2 Ba8 24. c4 Qb6 25. Qd2 Rc7 26. cxb5 axb5 27. Rec1 Rec8 28.
Rxc7 Rxc7 29. Nb3 {White has the initiative.}) 19. Rxa8 Bxa8 20. c4 $1 {
and everything works when tactics come to the aid of strategy:} bxc4 21. Nxc4
d5 (21... Nxc4 22. Bxc4 exd4 23. Bxd4 $14) 22. Nxb6 Qxb6 23. dxe5 Nxe4 (23...
Bxb4 24. exf6 Bxe1 25. Nxe1 dxe4 26. Bc4 $14) (23... dxe4 24. e6 $1 Rxe6 25.
Bc4 Nd5 26. Rxe4 $36) 24. e6 $1 f5 (24... Rxe6 25. Bxe4 dxe4 26. Ng5 $18) 25.
Bxe4 fxe4 26. Rxe4 $1 Bxb4 (26... dxe4 27. Qc3 $18) 27. Rg4 $1 Rxe6 28. Qf5 c5
29. Ne5 Rf6 30. Qc8+ Rf8 31. Qxf8+ Kxf8 32. Nd7+ {winning.}) 17... Bg7 $6 {
A mistake in reply.} ({Black could solve all her problems at once by} 17... d5
$1 18. exd5 ({ili} 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Rxe5 20. f4 Qb6+ 21. Kh1 Ree8 22. e5
Nh5 23. Nb3 Ng3+ 24. Kh2 Nxf1+ 25. Rxf1 bxa4 26. Na5 (26. Rxa4 Qb5 27. Nd2 a5
$36) 26... c5 $132) 18... Nxd5 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Rxe5 21. Bb2 Rae8 {
with equal play. For example} 22. Rxe5 Qxe5 23. c4 Nxb4 24. Qb3 Qf5 25. Qc3 f6
26. cxb5 cxb5 27. axb5 axb5 28. Bxb5 Bc5 $11) 18. Nb3 $6 {Again a stereotyped
decision, underestimating the opponent's counterplay.} (18. dxe5 {was not so
effective here, because of} Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Rxe5 $1 20. Bb2 (20. c4 bxc4 21. Bb2
Re7 22. Bxc4 Rae8 $13) 20... d5 $5 21. c4 dxc4 22. Bxe5 Qxe5 {with compensation
}) ({But chances of positional pressure were offered by} 18. axb5 axb5 ({or} 
18... cxb5 19. d5 Rac8 20. Bb2 Nb6 (20... Nh5 21. Nb3 f5 22. exf5 Bxd5 23. fxg6
hxg6 24. Rxa6 Bxf3 25. gxf3 Nf4 26. Bc1 $16) 21. Nb3 Na4 22. Na5 Nxb2 (22...
Ba8 23. Rxa4 bxa4 24. Bxa6 $14) 23. Qxb2 Ba8 24. c4 $36) 19. Rxa8 Bxa8 20. c4 (
20. dxe5 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 Rxe5 $1 $11) 20... bxc4 (20... exd4 21. cxb5 c5 22. Nxd4
Qb6 23. Nc6 Bxc6 24. bxc6 Qxc6 25. b5 $14) 21. dxe5 Nxe5 22. Nxe5 Rxe5 23. Nxc4
Re6 24. Bf4 {with a small plus for White.}) 18... d5 ({Notwithstanding all
White's preparations, the correct move was} 18... c5 $5 19. bxc5 (19. dxc5 dxc5
20. Na5 cxb4 21. Nxb7 bxc3 $1) (19. axb5 axb5 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. bxc5 dxc5 22.
dxe5 (22. Nxc5 Nxc5 23. dxc5 Qxc5 24. Be3 Bxe4 25. Bxc5 Bxc2 $11) 22... Nxe5
23. Nxe5 Qxe5 24. f4 Qe7 25. Bxb5 (25. e5 b4 $132) 25... Nxe4 26. Nd2 f5 27.
Nxe4 Bxe4 28. Bc6 Bxc2 29. Rxe7 Rd8 $11) 19... exd4 $1 ({weaker is} 19... dxc5
20. d5 c4 21. Nbd2 Nc5 22. Ba3 $1 Nxa4 $140 23. Bxc4 Rac8 24. Ng5 $36) 20. cxd6
(20. cxd4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 Nxe4 22. axb5 Nexc5 $132) (20. axb5 dxc5 21. bxa6 Bxe4
22. Rxe4 Nxe4 23. cxd4 Rac8 $132) 20... Qxc3 $1 (20... Qxd6 21. e5 Nxe5 22.
Nxe5 Rxe5 23. Bf4 $16) 21. Qxc3 dxc3 22. axb5 axb5 23. Rxa8 Bxa8 24. Bxb5 Rxe4
$11) 19. exd5 (19. Nxe5 {does not work because of} Nxe5 20. dxe5 Nxe4 $36)
19... Nxd5 20. Bd2 Rad8 ({More accurate was} 20... exd4 21. cxd4 Bf8 {forcing
the closure of the c-file} 22. axb5 ({ili} 22. Nc5 Nxc5 23. bxc5 (23. dxc5 Rad8
24. Rad1 Bc8 $11) 23... Bg7 24. Qb3 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Rd8 26. Bg5 Rf8 $11) 22...
axb5 (22... cxb5 $6 23. Nc5 Bg7 24. Rac1 Nxc5 25. dxc5 $14) 23. Rxa8 Rxa8 24.
Nc5 Nxc5 25. dxc5 Bg7 26. Qe4 Rd8 27. Qh4 Bc8 $11) 21. Na5 ({For the moment,
there were no dividends from} 21. c4 bxc4 22. Bxc4 N5b6 23. Bf1 exd4 $11) ({
whilst after} 21. axb5 {then} cxb5 {both} ({and} 21... axb5 22. c4 bxc4 23.
Bxc4 N5b6 $11) 22. Nc5 Nxc5 23. bxc5 e4 24. Ng5 f5 25. c4 Bxd4 $1 26. cxd5 Rxd5
{are possible, with unclear play.}) 21... Bc8 $2 {No matter how unnatural it
looks and how reluctant Black was to play it, the bishop should have retreated
to a8, from where it helps defend the pawn on c6. After the text, the black
position becomes virtually hopeless all at once.} ({It was still possible to
defend reliably by both} 21... exd4 22. cxd4 Ba8 (22... Bf8 $2 23. axb5 axb5
24. Bxb5 cxb5 25. Qxc7 Nxc7 26. Nxb7 $16) 23. Rec1 Rc8 {with a solid game.}) ({
and the immediate} 21... Ba8 {and White gets nothing from} 22. c4 bxc4 23. Bxc4
{because of the precise} Qb6 $1 {forcing} 24. dxe5 Nxe5 25. Nxe5 Rxe5 ({or} 
25... Bxe5 26. Rad1 Bd4 27. Rxe8+ Rxe8 28. Be1 Nf4 29. Qd2 Nd5 $11) 26. Rxe5
Bxe5 27. Re1 Bd4 28. Bg5 f6 29. Bh6 Be5 $13) 22. c4 $1 {But now is the time
for this!} bxc4 23. Bxc4 Nb8 (23... N7b6 24. Bd3 $16 {does not help}) ({or} 
23... N5b6 24. Nxc6 $18) 24. Nxe5 {Because of the weakness of c6, Black has to
weaken his kingside further, by giving up the dark-squared bishop.} Bxe5 25.
dxe5 Rxe5 26. Rxe5 Qxe5 27. Re1 Qd6 ({No better was} 27... Qd4 28. Bg5 Bf5 29.
Qc1 $18) 28. Bg5 {From this moment, I started to play poorly and gradually
squandered almost all of my huge advantage. My position seemed so good, and my
opponent so short of time, that a series of superficial moves followed.} ({
Black's resistance could have been ended beautifully by} 28. Bh6 $1 Nf6 (28...
Nxb4 29. Qc3 $18) (28... Qxb4 29. Qe4 $1 $18) (28... Qf6 29. Bxd5 cxd5 30. Qc7
Be6 31. Nb7 Re8 32. Nd6 Rd8 33. h4 $1 Qxh4 34. Rxe6 $18) 29. Qe2 $1 Qxb4 30.
Qe5 Qd6 31. Qxd6 Rxd6 32. Bf4 $18) 28... f6 29. Bd2 ({Once again White could
win, albeit in slightly more complicated fashion, by} 29. Bh6 $1 Qxb4 30. Qe4
$1 Qd6 (30... Qxa5 31. Qe7 $18) 31. Qf4 $1 Qxf4 32. Bxf4 Bd7 33. Rb1 $18) 29...
Kg7 30. Qc1 ({More active was} 30. Qe4 Bf5 (30... Nxb4 $140 31. Qe7+ $18) 31.
Qh4 {with a decisive attack.}) 30... g5 31. Qb2 h6 32. Bf1 ({It was better to
keep the bishop working actively on the a2-g8 diagonal:} 32. Ba2 Nd7 33. Bb1
Nf8 34. Qc1 {with a big advantage.}) 32... Nd7 33. Nc4 Qf8 34. b5 $2 {But this
is a more serious lapse, but its cause was not purely chess-related. The truth
is that at this moment, on the neighbouring board one, Harika Dronavali put a
piece en prise in a winning position, and in a moment, the match situation
changed from being unclear to being very good for us. Seeing this, I was so
happy that I played the first move that came into my head, as often happens in
team competitions.} ({Black's position would remain extremely difficult after} 
34. h4 gxh4 $140 35. Qd4 Nxb4 36. Nd6 $18) 34... axb5 35. axb5 cxb5 36. Qxb5
Qc5 37. Qb1 Ba6 $2 {Sachdev Tania could not stand the tension. Compared with
the position a few moves ago, one could say that Black has never stood so well,
but evidently, I was not the only one affected by the unfortunate turn of
events on board one.} ({After} 37... Nf8 38. Bc1 ({or} 38. Rc1 Be6) 38... Ne6
39. Ba3 Qc7 40. Ne3 Nef4 41. Nxd5 Nxd5 {,if White has any advantage left at
all, it is only minimal.}) 38. Ne3 Nxe3 ({More stubborn was} 38... Bxf1 39.
Nf5+ Kh8 (39... Kf8 40. Nxh6 Ne5 41. Qh7 Bd3 42. Qg8+ Ke7 43. Rxe5+ fxe5 44.
Bxg5+ $18) 40. Nxh6 Kg7 41. Nf5+ Kf8 42. Kxf1 {trying to defend the position a
pawn down.}) 39. Bxe3 Qa5 ({The only move was} 39... Qc6 {but after} 40. Bxa6
Qxa6 41. Rd1 {Black reaches the same, prospectless posuition as the game.}) 40.
Bxa6 ({The game could be won at once with the simple but unexpected} 40. Bb6 $1
Qxb6 41. Re7+ Kf8 42. Qh7 {mating. But even after the text, the unbreakable
pin on the d-file is decisive.}) 40... Qxa6 41. Rd1 {There followed} Qc6 42.
Qf5 Qc7 43. Qd5 Kg6 44. Qe4+ Kg7 45. Qe7+ 1-0

[Event "Olympiad Women-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.25"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Kosintseva, Tatiana"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2578"]
[BlackElo "2573"]
[Annotator "Kosintseva,T"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[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 "China (W)"]
[BlackTeam "Russia (W)"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CHN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

{The draw worked out so that in rounds 4, 5 and 6, we had to meet our main
rivals for the medals, Georgia, China and Ukraine respectively. If the match
with Georgia went quietly and well for us from the start, the China match
caused us all great anxiety. The tension and emotion was exceptional... I had
to play against Hou Yifan, already our fourth game this year, the three
previous meetings being in the Grand Prix and so the battle was always going
to be principled and interesting. Jumping ahead, I can say that the game was a
nervy one for both players, with mutual errors.} 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 {We have the
Breyer Variationh, which has been quite popular in recent times, and which I
quite often play.} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. c4 {An old continuation, rare;y seen in our
day. White's idea is immediately to create pressure in the centre, without
spending time on preparatory moves, at the same time forcing Black to change
the pawn structure.} c6 12. a3 {A multi-plan move: White prepares to develop
the knight to c3, and in advance frees the important square a2 for the bishop
on b3, should it become necessary.} ({The principled variation arises after} 
12. c5 Qc7 13. cxd6 Bxd6 14. Bg5 exd4 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Nxd4 Nc5 {with unclear
play.}) 12... Qc7 $2 {In this instance, routine development soon brings Black
problems, since he gradually runs out of natural developing moves, whilst
White, in view of his space advantage and ideally placed pieces (after Nc3,
Bg5, Rc1) has a simple and clear game.} ({Therefore a more logical answer to
White's plan was immediate action in the centre:} 12... bxc4 13. Bxc4 Nxe4 14.
dxe5 (14. Rxe4 d5 15. Re1 dxc4 16. Qe2 Re8 17. Nbd2 exd4 18. Nxd4 Bb7 19. Nxc4
Bf6 20. Qxe8+ Qxe8 21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. Be3 c5 23. Nf5 (23. Nb3 Bd5 24. Nba5 Ne5
{1/2-1/2 Huebner,R (2590)-Lengyel,L (2490)/Wijk aan Zee 1971}) 23... Bd5 24.
Ncd6 Rb8 25. Rd1 Be6 {1/2-1/2 Penrose,J-Unzicker,W/Luzern 1963}) 14... d5 15.
Ba2 Qb6 16. Qc2 Bc5 17. Be3 {with complicated play Jimenez Zerquera,E-Robatsch,
K/Havana 1964}) 13. Nc3 Bb7 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bh4 Rfe8 16. Ba2 {Preparing the
possibility of Qb3 with an unpleasant x-ray against the weakened pawn on f7,
as well as the advance b2-b4.} ({Also interesting was} 16. Rc1 $5 {underlining
the unfortunate position of the queen and preventing the exchanging plan exd4
Nxd4 bxc4 Bxc4 d5, for example.} Qd8 ({but} 16... Qb6 $2 {is bad because of}
17. c5) (16... Rac8 $5) 17. cxb5 axb5 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. d5 $36) 16... bxc4 $2 {
Seeing White's simple plan of increasing the pressure by Rc1, b4, Qb3, I did
not want to wait any longer, since it seemed to me that another couple of
quiet moves on my part would only worsen the situation, such as, for example,
after the natural 16...Rad8... Therefore I decided to adopt active measures in
the centre, but I miscalculated.} ({The central operation should have been
started by} 16... exd4 $5 17. Nxd4 (17. Qxd4 Ne5) 17... bxc4 18. Nf5 $5 (18.
Bxc4 d5 19. exd5 (19. Ba2 Nxe4 20. Bxe7 Rxe7 21. Nxe4 Rae8) 19... cxd5 20. Bb3
Bd6 21. Qf3 Rab8 $13) 18... Bf8 19. Bxc4 d5 (19... g6 20. Ne3) 20. Bg3 Qb6 21.
Ba2 {with an initiative for White.}) (16... Rad8 $6 17. Rc1 (17. Qb3 exd4 18.
Nxd4 Nc5 19. Qc2 bxc4 20. Bxc4 d5 21. exd5 cxd5 22. Ba2 Nce4 23. Nf5 $36) 17...
Qb6 18. Qb3 (18. b4 Qa7 19. d5) 18... exd4 (18... bxc4 19. Qxb6 Nxb6 20. dxe5
dxe5 21. Nxe5) 19. c5 dxc5 20. Qxf7+ Kh8 21. e5 (21. Ne2) 21... Ng8 22. Re4 Rf8
23. Qg6 Rxf3 24. Rg4 Bf8 25. Bxg8 Kxg8 26. gxf3 $16) 17. Bxc4 $6 {An
inaccuracy, which allows Black to preserve a more elastic pawn structure than
after 17.dxe5:} (17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. Bxc4 {leads to a lasting
advantage for White, because of the better pawn structure.}) 17... d5 $2 {
Continuing with the mistaken calculation begun at move 16...} ({Black should
prefer} 17... exd4 18. Qxd4 (18. Nxd4 d5 {transposes to 16...exd4}) 18... c5
19. Qd2 Nb6 20. Ba2 Rad8 21. Bg3 Bf8 $14) 18. dxe5 Nxe4 (18... dxc4 19. exf6
Nxf6 20. Qe2 $16) (18... Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Qxe5 20. exd5 Qf4 21. Qa4 $16) 19. Nxe4
({Interesting play arises after} 19. Rxe4 $5 Bxh4 (19... dxe4 20. Bxf7+ Kxf7
21. e6+ Kg8 22. exd7 Red8 23. Bg3 Qxd7 24. Qb3+ Kh7 25. Ne5 Qc8 26. Qf7 $18)
20. Rxh4 dxc4 21. Qd6 Rac8 22. Rd1 Nxe5 23. Nxe5 Rxe5 24. Qxc7 Rxc7 25. Rxc4
$16 {with a difficult endgame for Black.}) 19... Bxh4 20. Nd6 $6 {It is very
tempting to grab the exchange, but it turns out that Black gets good
compensation. The alternative was the less obvious 20.Nh4 Ne5 21.Nf6, going
over to an attack on the king, where the resulting complications would favour
White.} (20. Nxh4 $5 Nxe5 21. Nf6+ $1 gxf6 22. Qh5 dxc4 (22... Nxc4 23. Qg4+
Kh8 (23... Kh7 24. Nf5 Rg8 25. Qh5 Rg6 26. Re7 $18) (23... Kf8 24. Nf5 Re5 25.
Qg7+ Ke8 26. f4 Re4 27. Rxe4+ dxe4 28. Rd1 $18) 24. Nf5 Rg8 25. Qh4 $1 Rg6 26.
Re7 Qd8 27. Nxh6 $18) 23. Nf5 Bc8 24. Rxe5 Bxf5 25. Rxf5 Re5 26. Qg4+ Kf8 27.
Rxf6 Rae8 28. Rf1 R8e6 29. Rxe6 Rxe6 30. Qxc4 $16) 20... Rxe5 {Black has to
surrender material, since after} (20... Re6 21. Nxh4 dxc4 22. f4 {quick
destruction follows.}) 21. Nxe5 Qxd6 $6 {A loss of time, allowing White to
achieve an optimal coordination of his pieces.} ({More accurate was} 21... Nxe5
22. Rxe5 (22. Nf5 Bf6 23. Bf1 c5) 22... Qxd6 {winning a valuable tempo for the
stabilisation of his pieces, for example} 23. Re2 c5 24. Bd3 Bf6 25. Rb1 Rc8
26. b3 g6 27. Qc2 Kg7 28. Rd1 (28. Rbe1 c4) 28... Bd4 $44) 22. Nxd7 Qxd7 23.
Be2 {White's idea is to put the bishop on f3, holding up the advance of the c-
and d-pawns.} ({More vigorous was} 23. Bd3 $5 {with a view to setting up the
unpleasant battery Bb1 and Qd3.} c5 24. Rc1 (24. b4 c4 25. Bxc4 Qf5 26. Qd4 Qf6
27. Qxf6 Bxf6) 24... Be7 25. h4 $1 (25. Bf5 Qc7) (25. Bb1 g6 26. h4 h5) 25...
Bd6 26. Bb1 {and Black faces a difficult defence.}) 23... Be7 {Calculating
that the set-up c5, Bf6-d4 does not work, because of the advance b2-b4, after
which the bishop would be hanging, I decided to put the bishop on f8, from
where it would support the pawn on c5. However, this plan is too slow.} (23...
c5 $5 24. Rc1 Qc6 25. b3 Bg5 26. Rc2 Rd8 27. Bf3) 24. Bg4 {An unnecessary move.
From this point on, White began to play quite quickly, follwoing the plan of
occupying the e-file and forcing exchanges.} ({Again, the most resolute
decision was} 24. Qb3 $5 a5 (24... c5 25. Qb6 Bd6 26. Rad1) 25. Qb6 Bd8 26. Bg4
Bxb6 27. Bxd7 $16) 24... Qc7 25. Re2 Bf8 26. Qe1 $6 {Continuing with the plan.}
(26. Qc2 $5 c5 27. Rd1 Rd8 28. Bf3) 26... Qd8 (26... c5 27. Re8 Rxe8 28. Qxe8
d4 29. Rc1 $14) 27. Rc1 a5 28. Rc3 $2 {This is a serious mistake, exacerbating
the consequences of the previous unnecessary moves. White blindly follows the
plan of taking over the e-file, without taking account of Black's counterplay.
It transpires that, instead of taking concrete decisions on her previous moves,
after which Black would have faced a difficult defence, White has been running
on the spot, allowing Black to obtain real compensation.} ({The cautious} 28.
Qd2 a4 (28... c5 29. Bf3) 29. Rce1 Ba6 30. Re3 {retained White's advantage.})
28... d4 29. Rb3 Ba6 30. Rd2 c5 31. Bf3 Ra7 32. Re3 Bb5 {Black has made clear
progress - she has advanced her pawns and restricted the mobility of the white
rooks, and at the same time greatly activated the bishop on b5.} 33. Re5 Qf6 ({
Better was} 33... Bd6 34. Re4 Qf6) 34. Bd5 $2 {White has still not sensed the
danger, although the position has changed sharply...} (34. Rxd4 cxd4 35. Rxb5
a4 36. Qd2 g6 $11) (34. b4 axb4 35. axb4 Bd6 $11) 34... Bd6 35. Re4 Qf5 36. Bb3
Bc6 37. Re8+ {Necessary, since the two black bishops and the queen are already
taking aim at the white king.} (37. Ree2 $2 Qf4 {loses}) 37... Bxe8 38. Qxe8+
Bf8 39. Re2 Qd7 $2 {The sharply changed situation, accompanied by serious
time-trouble, prevents Black reacting to the new circumstances, where it is
now Black who has the advantage.} ({After} 39... d3 40. Re5 Qf6 (40... Qf4 41.
g3) 41. Qb8 Re7 42. Rxe7 Qxe7 43. Qf4 Qd7 {White would face a long and
difficult defence.}) 40. Bc4 Qxe8 41. Rxe8 {In this case, Black's extra pawn
is balanced by White's active rook and also the presence of opposite-coloured
bishops. Therefore the game ends peacefully after a few more moves.} g6 (41...
a4 42. Rb8 g6 43. Kf1 Kg7 44. Ke2 Bd6 45. Rb6 $11) 42. a4 Kg7 43. Kf1 Bd6 44.
Ke2 Re7+ 45. Rxe7 Bxe7 46. g3 h5 47. f4 h4 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.02"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2686"]
[BlackElo "2684"]
[Annotator "Kostakiev,D"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2001.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.02.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. 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 (12... c5 {Gligoric's main
continuation.} 13. d5 $1 {Karpov,An-Gligoric,S/Leningrad izt/1973/1-0/63/ (25)
Karpov's move.} (13. a4 {Minic,D-Gligoric,S/Ljubljana/Portoroz/1973/ (19)}) (
13. b3 {Kavalek,L-Gligoric,S/Nica olm/1974/1-0/40/ (25)}) (13. Nf1 {Tal,
M-Gligoric,S/Hastings/1973/1/2-1/2/25/ (24)})) 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 {1956 -
Kozma.Boom - 2001; Most of the games are draw. Won games: White - 51%, Black-
49%.} 15. a4 {Other lines:} ({I nthe initial game it was:} 15. Bg5 h6 16. Be3 (
16. Bd2 $5 {[/\ Re1Xe4]} Bg7 17. Qc1 (17. a4 {1/2-1/2 Karpov,A-Kortschnoj,V/
Leningrad 1971/EXT 2001 (55)}) 17... Kh7 18. h4 d5 {1-0 Spassky,B-Berrios
Pagan,A/San Juan 1969/EXT 99 (36)}) 16... Bg7 17. Qd2 Kh7 18. d5 Qe7 19. Rad1
Bf8 {1/2-1/2 Ivanco,I-Kozma,J/Bratislava 1956/EXT 98 (23)}) (15. b3 $5) (15.
Bb3 Bg7 16. a4 c5 17. d5 c4 18. Bc2 $11 {1-0 Stein,L-Averbakh,Y/Leningrad 1963/
URS-ch (87)}) 15... c5 (15... Bg7 {1-0 Karpov,A-O'Kelly de Galway,A/Caracas
1970/MCD (41)}) (15... c6 {1-0 Geller,E-Nikolic,S/Pancevo 1987/TD (47)}) 16. d5
c4 17. Bg5 h6 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2 h5 20. Bg5 Be7 21. Ra3 Nfd7 22. Be3 (22. Bxe7
Qxe7 23. Rea1 {1/2-1/2 Tatai,S-Dorfman,J/Budapest 1988/CBM 09 (36)}) 22... Bf6
23. Rea1 Nb6 $146 (23... Qc7 24. Qe2 Nb6 {0-1 Martin Gonzalez,A-Giorgadze,G/
Benasque 1999/EXT 2001 (67)}) 24. axb5 axb5 25. Rxa8 Bxa8 26. Ra5 (26. Ra7 $5)
26... h4 27. Nf1 (27. Bxc5 dxc5 28. Ne2 Nxd5 29. Rxb5 (29. exd5 $2 Qxa5) 29...
Nb6 30. Qxd8 Bxd8 31. Rxc5 Bf6 32. Rb5) 27... Nxd5 28. Rxa8 Qxa8 {[#]} 29. Bxc5
$6 (29. exd5 $1 Nd3 (29... Qa1 30. Bxc5 (30. Ng5 Bh8) 30... dxc5) 30. Bxd3 cxd3
31. Bg5 Bxg5 32. Qxg5 $16) 29... dxc5 30. exd5 {[#] NN / RP} e4 31. N3h2 Bg7 (
31... Qa1) (31... Qd8) 32. d6 (32. Qg5 b4 $1 (32... Re5 33. Qxh4 Qxd5 34. Ng4 (
34. Ne3 $14) 34... Re6 $14) 33. d6 Qc6 34. Qd2 $14 (34. Qf4 f5 35. Ne3 Be5 36.
Qxh4 b3 37. Bb1 Bxh2+ 38. Kxh2 Qxd6+ 39. g3 $11)) (32. Ng4 Qb8 33. d6 Rd8 (
33... f5) 34. Nh6+ Kf8) 32... Qc6 {[#]} 33. Qf4 $2 (33. d7 Rd8 34. Qf4 f5 35.
f3 exf3 36. Nxf3 $14) (33. f3 exf3 34. Nxf3 Rd8 35. Qg5 Qxd6 36. Qxh4 Re8 37.
Qf2 $14) 33... f5 $11 34. f3 e3 35. Nxe3 Be5 {[#]} 36. Qh6 $2 (36. Qg5 Bxh2+ $1
(36... Qxd6 $2 37. Nhf1 Qf6 38. Qh6 $16 Kf7 39. Qh7+) 37. Kxh2 Qxd6+ 38. Kg1
Qg3 39. Qh6 $11) 36... Qxd6 $17 37. Nhf1 Bf4 38. Nxf5 gxf5 39. Qh5 $2 (39. Qxh4
$17) 39... Re1 $19 40. g3 Be3+ 0-1

[Event "EU-ch 20th"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2019.03.25"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ter Sahakyan, Samvel"]
[Black "Kovalev, Vladislav"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2703"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2019.03.18"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[Tiebreak "Sum of Buchholz"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,71,16,28,52,10,5,4,13,8,0,0,16,-10,6,7,17,-24,-25,-14,14,1,-6,2,-9,-4,
27,29,38,36,81,73,48,57,51,47,70,55,90,27,19,17,19,41,72,73,82,180,200,200,231,
159,182,189,196,212,231,223,239,229,254,285,357,388,402,435,439,652,711,765,
784,852,976,993]} 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 c5 12. Bc2 (12. Nf1 {
is the main line here.}) 12... Re8 {Black prepares ...Be7-f8 and provokes
d4-d5.} (12... cxd4 13. cxd4 Bb7 {is another popular option.}) 13. b3 (13. Nf1
{leads to a position, more often arising from the 12.Nf1 line.}) (13. d5 {
lead to a complicated positional fight in the following game:} Qc7 14. b3 g6
15. a4 Rb8 16. Nf1 Bf8 17. Ng3 Bg7 18. Be3 bxa4 19. Rxa4 Nb6 20. Ra2 a5 21. Bd3
Bd7 22. c4 Ra8 23. Qc2 a4 24. Rea1 axb3 25. Qxb3 Reb8 $13 {1/2 (47) Asadli,V 
(2478)-Sanal,V (2515) Ankara 2018}) (13. a4 Rb8 14. axb5 axb5 15. b4 cxb4 16.
cxb4 exd4 17. Nxd4 Ne5 $11 18. f4 $6 {1/2 (31) Yagupov,I (2394)-Balashov,Y 
(2434) Tula 2018} Qb6 19. N2b3 Nc4 $36) 13... exd4 (13... Bf8 14. Bb2 Qc7 15.
dxe5 dxe5 16. c4 Bb7 17. Qe2 b4 18. Nf1 Nb8 19. Ne3 Nc6 20. Nd5 Qd8 $11 {
1/2 (31) Almasi,Z (2700)-Efimenko,Z (2647) Germany 2015}) (13... cxd4 14. cxd4
exd4 {is the most principled reply:} 15. Nxd4 Bb7 16. Bb2 Bf8 17. Nf5 g6 18.
Ng3 h5 19. Nf3 Ne5 20. a4 b4 21. a5 Rc8 22. Bd3 Nxd3 23. Qxd3 Bg7 24. Bd4 d5
25. e5 Ne4 $13 {1/2 (35) Asadli,V (2471)-Aleksandrov,A (2599) Baku 2018}) 14.
cxd4 Bf8 (14... cxd4 {is possible here, too.}) 15. a4 (15. d5 g6 {leads to a
Benoni structure where Black has already played ...b7-b5 and should be OK.})
15... Bb7 16. axb5 (16. d5 {looks more senseful here, "killing" Black's b7
bishop.}) 16... axb5 17. Rxa8 Bxa8 18. Bb2 (18. d5 $5) 18... g6 $2 (18... cxd4
$5 19. Nxd4 b4 $132 {[%cal Yd6d5]}) 19. e5 $1 {Black understimated this break.
White activates all his bishops and knights and gets a strong attack.} dxe5 20.
dxe5 Nd5 21. Ne4 {[%mdl 128]} Qb6 $6 {A careless move.} (21... Bc6 $142 {
but Black can hardly survive anyway.}) 22. Neg5 $1 {[%cal Rg5f7] Threatening
23.Nxf7! Kxf7 24.e6+!, which is not easy to prevent!} Qc6 (22... f5 {was the
lesser evil, to which White could continue his attack by means of} 23. g4 ({or
} 23. Nh4 {, threatening a piece sacrifice on f5.})) 23. e6 $1 fxe6 24. Nxh7 $1
{[%mdl 64]} Bg7 (24... Kxh7 25. Ng5+ Kg8 (25... Kh6 26. Nf7+ Kh7 27. Qh5+) 26.
Qh5 $1 gxh5 27. Bh7#) 25. Bxg6 Re7 26. Bxg7 Rxg7 27. Be4 $18 {White has won a
pawn and continues his attack. The rest is easy.} Qd6 (27... Rxh7 28. Bxh7+
Kxh7 29. Rxe6 $1 $18) 28. Nhg5 Nf8 29. h4 Bb7 30. Ne5 Qe7 31. Qf3 Nb4 32. Ng4
Bxe4 33. Nf6+ Kh8 34. Rxe4 Rg6 35. Rf4 Nd3 36. Nd5 $1 1-0

[Event "Horgen-B"]
[Site "Horgen"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Black "Gabriel, Christian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2475"]
[Annotator "Leko,P"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1995.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ernst Gabriel} 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 c6 15. Qc2 g6 16. b3 Rc8 (16... Qc7 {Wedberg} 17. Bb2 Bg7 18. c4 bxa4
19. c5 exd4 20. cxd6 Qxd6 21. Bxd4 Qb8 22. Rxa4 c5 23. Bb2 $14 {Almasi,
Z-Yemelin,V/Bratislava WchJM U18/1993}) 17. Bb2 Bg7 (17... Nh5 18. Bf1 Nf4 19.
g3 Ne6 20. h4 Qb6 21. Bh3 Rcd8 22. Rad1 Bg7 23. Nf1 Ndf8 24. axb5 axb5 25. Ne3
h5 26. Bf1 exd4 27. cxd4 Nc7 28. Rc1 Na6 29. Ng2 Nb4 30. Qd2 c5 31. d5 {
1-0 Huebner,R-Smejkal,J/BL 8889 (1989) ;BL 80 1989 (40)}) 18. Rad1 (18. c4 exd4
19. Bxd4 Nh5 20. Bxg7 Nxg7 $10 {Adams,M-Motvani,P/London/1990/}) (18. Bf1 Nh5
19. c4 exd4 20. Nxd4 b4 21. Rad1 c5 22. Ne2 Ne5 23. f4 Nd3 24. Qxd3 Bxb2 25. g4
Ng7 26. Qc2 Bf6 27. g5 Bxg5 $6 28. fxg5 Qxg5+ 29. Bg2 Nf5 30. Qd3 $1 Ne3 31.
Ng3 Nxd1 32. Rxd1 $14 {1-0 Leko,P-Wells,P/Budapest FS03 GM (03) ;CBM 37 1993 
(54)}) 18... Qc7 (18... Qb6 19. Qb1 Nh5 {/Spassky,B-Smejkal,J/Salonika/1984/1/
2-1/2/}) (18... Nh5 $142 $1 {Ernst}) 19. b4 (19. Qb1 Nh5 20. Bf1 Nf4 21. g3 Ne6
22. b4 bxa4 23. Qa2 Nb6 24. Nc4 Nxc4 25. Bxc4 d5 26. Bd3 dxe4 27. Bxe4 exd4 28.
cxd4 a5 29. Qxa4 axb4 30. Qxb4 Rb8 {1/2-1/2 Lutz,C-Gabriel,C/Dresden op ;EXT
95op 1995}) 19... Nb6 (19... Qb8 20. axb5 axb5 21. dxe5 $1 Nxe5 22. Nxe5 Rxe5
$2 23. c4 $1 {1-0 Leko,P-Van der Sterren,P/Wijk op (06) ;CBM 46 1995 (36)}) 20.
a5 Na4 (20... Nbd7 21. dxe5 Nxe5 22. Nxe5 dxe5 23. c4 $14 (23. c4 {Wedberg} Qe7
24. Qb3 Red8 25. Nf3 Ne8 26. c5 Rc7 27. Bb1 Rxd1 28. Rxd1 Bc8 29. Qc3 f6 $10 {
Khalifman,A-Van der Sterren,P/Ter Apel/1995})) 21. dxe5 (21. Ba1 c5 22. bxc5
dxc5 23. dxe5 $16 Nd7 {=/+/-/+ Gabriel}) 21... dxe5 22. c4 Nxb2 23. Qxb2 Qe7
24. c5 Rcd8 25. Bc2 Bc8 26. Nf1 Nh5 27. Ng3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens op"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1995.01.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Van der Sterren, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "Leko,P"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1995.01.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ernst Wedberg} 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 c6 15. b3 g6 16. Qc2 Rc8 (16... Qc7 {Wedberg} 17. Bb2 Bg7 18. c4 bxa4
19. c5 exd4 20. cxd6 Qxd6 21. Bxd4 Qb8 22. Rxa4 c5 23. Bb2 $14 {Almasi,
Z-Emelin,V/Bratislava WchJM U18/1993}) 17. Bb2 Bg7 18. Rad1 (18. Bf1 {Ernst}) (
18. c4 {Ernst} exd4 19. Bxd4 Nh5 20. Bxg7 Nxg7 $10 {Adams,M-Motvani,P/London/
1990/}) 18... Qc7 (18... Qb6 {Ernst} 19. Qb1 Nh5 {/Spassky,B-Smejkal,J/
Salonika/1984/1/4/}) (18... Nh5 $142 $1 {Ernst}) 19. b4 $1 $146 (19. Qb1 {
[56/  ]}) 19... Qb8 (19... Nb6 $5 20. a5 Nbd7 (20... Na4 $6 21. Ba1 c5 22. bxc5
dxc5 23. dxe5 $16) 21. dxe5 Nxe5 22. Nxe5 dxe5 23. c4 $14 (23. c4 {Wedberg} Qe7
24. Qb3 Red8 25. Nf3 Ne8 26. c5 Rc7 27. Bb1 Rxd1 28. Rxd1 Bc8 29. Qc3 f6 $10 {
Khalifman,A-Van der Sterren,P/Ter Apel/1995})) 20. axb5 axb5 (20... cxb5 $6 21.
d5 $1 Nb6 22. Qb3 (22. c4 $2 bxc4 23. Nxc4 Nxc4 24. Bxc4 Qc7 25. Nd2 Bh6 $13)
22... Bh6 23. c4 bxc4 24. Nxc4 Nxc4 25. Bxc4 $14) 21. dxe5 $1 Nxe5 (21... dxe5
22. c4 bxc4 23. Bxc4 $1 (23. Nxc4 Bf8 $1 $10 (23... Ba6 $2 24. Nd6 $1 Qxd6 25.
Bxa6 Qxb4 26. Bxc8 Rxc8 27. Nxe5 $18)) 23... h6 24. Qb3 Re7 $14) 22. Nxe5 Rxe5
$2 (22... dxe5 23. c4 bxc4 24. Bxc4 $1 (24. Nxc4 Bf8 $10) 24... Qc7 25. Nf3 $14
) 23. c4 $1 bxc4 $6 (23... Re6 24. cxb5 (24. c5 $5 dxc5 25. bxc5 Nd7 26. Bxg7
Kxg7 27. Nb3 $16) 24... cxb5 25. Qb3 Bc6 $14) 24. Nxc4 Re6 {*} 25. e5 $1 $16
Ne8 $8 (25... Nd5 26. exd6 (26. Nxd6 $5) 26... Rxe1+ 27. Rxe1 Nxb4 28. Qd2 Nxd3
29. Bxg7 $1 (29. Qxd3 Bxb2 30. Nxb2 Rd8 31. Rd1 Ba6 $1 32. Qxa6 Qxb2 33. Qxc6
Qf6 $14) 29... Kxg7 (29... Nxe1 30. Bf6 $1 $18) 30. Qxd3 Ba6 31. Qd4+ $16) (
25... dxe5 $2 26. Bxe5 Qa7 27. Ra1 $18 (27. Nd6 {Wedberg} Rd8 (27... Rf8 28.
Bc4 Re7 29. Bxf6 Bxf6 30. Rxe7 Bxe7 31. Nxf7 Rxf7 32. Rd7 $18) 28. Bc4 Nd5 29.
Bxg7 Rxe1+ 30. Rxe1 Kxg7 31. Bxd5 cxd5 32. Qc7 $18)) 26. exd6 Rxe1+ (26... Nxd6
{Wedberg} 27. Rxe6 fxe6 28. Nxd6 Qxd6 29. Bxg6 $18) 27. Rxe1 Nxd6 (27... Bxb2
$2 28. d7 $1 $18) 28. Bxg7 Kxg7 29. Qb2+ $1 (29. Qc3+ Kg8 30. Ne5 Re8 31. Rd1
Nb5 $1) 29... Kg8 30. Ne5 $1 Re8 31. Rd1 Re6 (31... Bc8 32. Nxc6 Qb6 33. b5 $18
) 32. Nd7 $1 (32. Ng4 Qf8 33. Nf6+ Kh8 $13) 32... Qd8 33. Nc5 Re7 (33... Qf6
34. Qd2 Re7 35. Bxg6 Qxg6 (35... hxg6 36. Qxd6 Re1+ 37. Kh2 Qxd6+ 38. Rxd6 $18)
36. Qxd6 Re1+ 37. Kh2 Rxd1 38. Qxd1 $18) 34. Qd4 $18 Qf8 $2 (34... Qc7 35. Bxg6
$1 fxg6 36. Qxd6 Qxd6 37. Rxd6 Rc7 38. f4 $18) 35. Qxd6 Re1+ 36. Bf1 1-0

[Event "Geneva FIDE GP"]
[Site "Geneva"]
[Date "2017.07.14"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Lenderman,A"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2017.07.06"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Today there were many very interesting games, but in the end I chose the draw
between Grischuk and Mamedyarov on one of the top boards, since not only it
was very critical for the standings, but also it was truly a great battle
between two fighting players.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O
Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 {Mamedyarov decides not to threaten playing the
Marshall with 0-0 and commits to a slower Ruy Lopez.} (7... O-O 8. c3 (8. a4 {
White can also play the popular slower line a4.}) 8... d5 {would be the
Marshall Gambit, the top guest at the top level, especially by Levon Aronian,
Magnus Carlsen, and Peter Svidler.}) 8. c3 ({Sometimes on} 8. a4 {Black has
the option of} Bd7 {right away.} (8... Bg4 {or this})) 8... O-O 9. h3 Nb8 {
The other popular line, the Breyer, which is very solid for Black and avoids
very concrete lines.} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3
g6 15. a4 (15. b3 $5 {This is also an alternative in this still very
theoretical position, and interestingly enough, this move was featured by the
exact same players back in 2006.} d5 (15... Bg7 {Of course Black doesn't have
to play the concrete ...d5 move, and can play the solid move ...Bg7.}) 16. Bg5
$1 h6 17. Bh4 $1 g5 18. Nxg5 hxg5 19. Bxg5 exd4 $1 20. e5 $1 Rxe5 21. Rxe5 Nxe5
22. cxd4 Nc6 $1 23. Qd3 $1 {1/2 (34) Grischuk,A (2710)-Mamedyarov,S (2728)
Moscow 2006 CBM 116 [Lukacs/ Hazai]. Here White has a very strong attack, but
in the end this battle in 2006 ended also as a draw.} (23. Nh5 $1 {is still
the main line, but the consequences are unclear.})) 15... c6 (15... c5 $5 {
was played by Kamsky against Grischuk} 16. d5 c4 17. Bg5 h6 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2
h5 {0-1 (101) Grischuk,A (2748)-Kamsky,G (2720) Nalchik 2009 CBM 130 [Marin,M].
And after a complex battle White ended up actually losing, but his opening
seems decent enough here.}) 16. Bg5 h6 17. Be3 Qc7 18. Bd3 {Grischuk is the
first one to deviate, both from his own game against Mamedyarov, and in
general from Mamedyarov's previous opponents.} (18. Qd2 {is an interesting
alternative, played by Navara, also against Mamedyarov.} Kh7 19. Bb3 exd4 (
19... Re7 $5) 20. cxd4 Nxe4 21. Nxe4 Rxe4 22. Bxh6 $2 {This was a basque game,
so that explains this blunder.} (22. Bxf7 $16) 22... Bxh6 23. Ng5+ Bxg5 24.
Qxg5 Qd8 $19 {Though after futher adventures White actually won this game.} 25.
Qg3 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1 d5 27. Qd6 Nf8 28. Qe7 Qd7 29. Qh4+ Kg7 30. Re7 Qd8 31. Qg5
Bc8 32. Rxf7+ {1-0 (32) Navara,D (2734)-Mamedyarov,S (2747) Huai'an CHN 2016})
18... Bg7 19. Qc1 Kh7 20. b4 $146 {The logical and consistent approach and
according to my database this is a novelty. The other game I saw White didn't
play very logically and let Black get control of the centre and quickly
control of the game.} (20. b3 Rac8 21. Ra2 Re7 22. Nh2 $6 d5 $15 {0-1 (42)
Muller,A (2095)-Donaldson Akhmilovskaya,E (2410) Elista 1998. Black got
control and won the game later.}) 20... Rac8 (20... Rad8 {might be an
alternative but in general I think these kinds of positions are easier to play
for White than Black.}) 21. Qd2 exd4 $5 {Black decides to change the course of
the action and tries to create counterplay.} 22. cxd4 Nb6 23. axb5 {Not the
engine's top choice, but a logical idea trying to either get d4-d5 and the
d4-square for one of his pieces, or opening the a-file.} (23. Bf4 $1 {Komodo
prefers this.} Nxa4 $2 (23... bxa4 24. e5 {leads to similar problems as after
23...Nxa4.}) (23... Qd7 {To try to defend against e5.} 24. a5 Nc4 25. Qa2 Re6
26. Rad1 $16 {seems very difficult for Black, but maybe it's not so trivial to
break through right away.}) 24. e5 {Is just bad for Black.} dxe5 (24... Nd5 25.
exd6 Qd7 26. Nh5 $18 {Here also White has a decisive attack. Black's pieces
are misplaced and not defending the king.}) 25. Nxe5 $18 {White is crashing
through here.}) 23... cxb5 (23... axb5 24. Bf4 $16 {seems inferior for Black.})
24. d5 Nfd7 (24... Nc4 $5 25. Bxc4 bxc4 $1 {might've been a better way for
Black to create counterplay.} 26. Bd4 c3 27. Qc2 (27. Qf4 Qe7) 27... Qc4) 25.
Bd4 Ne5 (25... Qd8 {would also be a solid alternative where White is better
thanks to the space and more active pieces but Black still has some
counterplay on the c-file.}) 26. Nxe5 dxe5 27. Rac1 Qd6 28. Bc5 Qf6 29. Nf1 Nd7
30. Rc2 Rc7 31. Qe3 Rec8 32. Nd2 Qf4 33. d6 $6 {Up to here Grischuk played
brilliantly, but here maybe he got a bit materialistic and carried away with
the tempting option. However, this move looks like it spoils his advantage.} (
33. Nb3 {seems to offer very good winning chances for White.} Qxe3 (33... Bf8
34. Rec1 Qxe3 35. fxe3) 34. fxe3 Bf8 35. Rec1 Kg8 36. d6 Nxc5 $8 (36... Rc6 37.
Na5 $18) 37. bxc5 (37. Nxc5 $5 Bxd6 38. Nxb7 Rxc2 39. Rxc2 Rxc2 40. Bxc2 Bxb4
41. Nd8 $16 {looks like very good winning chances for White.}) 37... Rd7 38. g4
$16 {with long lasting pressure. Black is in for a very unpleasant defence.})
33... Nxc5 $1 {Could it be that Grischuk missed this?} (33... Rc6 34. Nb3 $16 {
was maybe what Grischuk expected in likely mutual time pressure.}) 34. dxc7
Qxe3 35. Rxe3 Ne6 $1 {The only move but sufficient. Maybe this was the move
Grischuk missed from afar.} 36. Nb3 (36. Nf3 {might've been a better
unconventional try, to at least not let Black play ...Bf8 very quickly.} f6 37.
Re1 Bf8 38. Rb1 {and at least White is in time to defend the key b4-pawn.})
36... Bf8 37. Be2 (37. Na5 $5 Ba8 38. Nc6 {was also a very interesting
practical try, since here Black actually has to find a very difficult computer
move to hold the balance.} Kg7 $3 {The point of this move is to improve the
king position and wait to see what White does. If he takes the e5-pawn, then
he wants to be able to take the b4-pawn without the f7-pawn hanging. This
would hold the balance.} (38... f6 $2 {is very natural but it actually loses
for Black.} 39. Nd8 $3 Nxd8 (39... Nxc7 40. Ne6 Bd6 41. Be2 $18 {is also
easily winning for White.} Bb7 42. Nxc7 Rxc7 43. Rxc7+ Bxc7 44. Rd3 Bc6 45. Rc3
$18) (39... Nd4 40. Ra2 Rxc7 41. Rxa6 $18 {is a more prosaic win.}) 40. cxd8=Q
Rxd8 41. Rc7+ $18 {White is winning here since he has penetratedBlack's
position. White will win some pawns and Black's pieces are very passive.} Kg8
42. Bc2 $1 Bxb4 43. Rd3 $1 $18) (38... Bd6 39. Nb8 $1 Bb7 (39... Nd4 40. Ra2)
40. Nxa6 $1 Bxa6 41. Rc6 Bxb4 42. Rxa6 Bc5 43. Re1 {with some winning chances
for White and no risk.} Nd4 44. Kf1 Rxc7 45. Rb1 b4 46. Bc4 $14) (38... Bxc6
39. Rxc6 Bxb4 40. Rxa6 $14) (38... Rxc7 39. Nxe5) 39. Nxe5 (39. Re1 Rxc7 40.
Rec1 Rd7 {is also close to equal}) 39... Bxb4 $11) 37... Bxb4 38. Bg4 Rxc7 39.
Rxc7 Nxc7 40. Rd3 Ne8 $6 {The last move before time control, probably a bit
inaccurate, as it makes the draw slightly more difficult.} (40... h5 $1 41. Rd7
hxg4 42. Rxf7+ Kh6 43. f3 $3 {would probably secure equality though.} (43. Rxc7
Bxe4 44. hxg4 Bd3 $1 {Here Black is the only one with winning chances.}) 43...
Bxe4 44. fxe4 Ne8 45. hxg4 Nd6 46. Rd7 Kg5 $11 {with a balanced endgame.}) 41.
Rd7 Nd6 42. f4 $1 {Last winning attempt for White.} Bc8 43. Rc7 (43. Ra7 $5 {
might've offered White slightly more practical chances:} Bxg4 44. hxg4 Bc3 (
44... Nxe4 45. fxe5 $16) (44... Kg8 45. fxe5 Nxe4 46. Rxa6) 45. fxe5 Bxe5 46.
Kf1 $1 (46. Rxa6 Nxe4 $11) 46... Kg7 47. Nd2 {might still offer White very
slight winning chances.}) 43... Bxg4 44. hxg4 Kg8 $1 {This resource wouldn't
be as effective after 43.Ra7.} 45. fxe5 Nxe4 46. Rc8+ Kg7 47. Ra8 Bc3 48. Kf1
Bxe5 {Now this is a simple draw for Black.} 49. Ke2 (49. Re8 $6 Kf6) 49... Kf6
50. Rxa6+ Kg5 51. Kf3 Nf6 52. Ra7 Nxg4 53. Rxf7 Bc3 54. Rb7 Ne5+ 55. Ke4 b4 56.
Nd4 Nc4 57. Kd3 Ne5+ 58. Ke4 Nc4 59. Kd3 {And a draw by 3-fold repetition. A
great battle by two great fighters. There were some inaccuracies in time
pressure but it's much easier for me sitting next to my Stockfish figuring
these details out than working these details out at the board under heavy time
pressure and in general with big stakes on the line.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 1st"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2006.11.06"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2720"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[Annotator "Lukacs/Hazai"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2006.11.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 116"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
b3 d5 16. Bg5 h6 17. Bh4 g5 18. Nxg5 hxg5 19. Bxg5 exd4 $1 20. e5 $1 Rxe5 21.
Rxe5 Nxe5 22. cxd4 Nc6 $1 23. Nh5 $1 {This is still the main line. However the
situation is extremely complicated.} Be7 (23... Bg7 24. Qd3 Kf8 (24... Nb4 25.
Nxf6+ Bxf6 26. Qh7+ Kf8 27. Re1 $18) 25. Bxf6 Bxf6 {- 23...Be7}) 24. Bxf6 (24.
Bh6 $143 Qd6) 24... Bxf6 25. Qd3 Kf8 (25... Bxd4 26. Qh7+ Kf8 {- 25...Kf8}) 26.
Qh7 Bxd4 27. Qh6+ (27. Re1 $143 Qg5 $19) 27... Ke8 {This looks more flexible,
although} (27... Ke7 {is messy, too.} 28. Re1+ Ne5 29. Qf6+ (29. Ng7 Qh8 (29...
Kd7 {- 27...Ke8})) 29... Kf8 30. Qg7+ (30. Qh8+ Ke7 31. Qf6+ {repetition of
moves} (31. Rxe5+ Kd7 $1 (31... Bxe5 32. Qxe5+ {- 30.Qg7}) 32. Bf5+ Kc6 33.
Qxd8 Rxd8 34. Re7 Rf8 $15)) 30... Ke7 31. Rxe5+ Bxe5 (31... Kd6 32. Qh6+ Kxe5 (
32... Kc5 33. Rf5 $14) 33. Qf4+ Ke6 34. Bf5+ Ke7 35. Qxd4 $44) 32. Qxe5+ Kf8
33. Nf6 (33. Ng3 Bc8) 33... Qe7 34. Qg5 Qe1+ (34... Qe2 35. Nd7+ Ke8 36. Bf5
$44) 35. Kh2 Qxf2 36. Nh7+ Ke8 37. Qe5+ Kd8 38. Nf6 Bc6 39. Nxd5 Bxd5 40. Qxd5+
Ke7 41. Qe4+ Kd7 42. Qxa8 Qxc2 43. Qxa6 $14) 28. Re1+ {Black now has two
possibilities.} Ne5 {Mamedyarov knows what he is doing...} (28... Ne7 $5 {
See the last game!}) 29. Bf5 (29. Nf6+ Ke7 30. Qf4 (30. Ng4 Qh8) 30... Kd6 31.
b4 (31. Ng4 Qh8) (31. Rd1 Bb2) 31... Qe7 32. Rd1 Bb6 $17) (29. Ng7+ Kd7 (29...
Ke7 30. Nf5+ $18) 30. Bf5+ Ke7 31. Bh7 $1 (31. Qh4+ Kd6 $1 (31... Kf8) 32. Qxd4
Qf6 $36) (31. Qf4 Kd6 32. Bg4 Bc3 (32... Bb2 33. Re2 Bc3 (33... Ba1 34. Nf5+
Kc6 35. Rc2+ Kb6 36. Qe3+ d4 37. Qxe5 Bc3 $15) 34. Nf5+ Kc5 (34... Kc6 35. Rc2
d4 36. Nxd4+ Kb6 37. Rxc3 Nxg4 38. Qxg4 $16) 35. Rc2 d4 36. Rxc3+ dxc3 37. b4+
Kd5 38. Ne3+ Kc6 (38... Kd6 39. Qd4+ Ke7 40. Qxe5+ Kf8 41. Qh8+ Ke7 42. Nf5+
$18) 39. Qxe5 Qd6 40. Qxc3+ Kb6 41. Nf5 Qd5 (41... Qf8 42. Qe3+ c5 43. Ne7) 42.
Ne3 (42. Qe3+ c5) (42. Bf3 Qxf5 43. Qd4+ c5 44. Qd6+ Ka7 45. bxc5 Qe6 46. Qc7
Rb8 47. c6 Qxa2 48. cxb7 Qa1+ 49. Kh2 Qf6 $17) 42... Qd6 $11)) 31... Kd7 32.
Bf5+ $11 {repetition of moves}) 29... Qd6 (29... c5 30. Kf1 Bc3 (30... Qe7 31.
Nf6+ Kd8 32. Ng8 $18) 31. f4 Qe7 (31... Bxe1 32. Ng7+ Ke7 33. fxe5 $18) 32.
Nf6+ Kd8 33. Ng8 Ng4 34. Qb6+ Qc7 35. Re8+ Kxe8 36. Qxc7 Ne3+ 37. Ke2 Nxf5 38.
Qxb7 $18) (29... Ke7 30. Qf4 $1 (30. Qf6+ Kf8 31. Qg7+ Ke7 32. Rxe5+ Kd6 (32...
Bxe5 33. Qxe5+ Kf8 34. Nf6 (34. Be6 d4) 34... Qd6 35. Nd7+ Kg8 36. Qe3 f6 37.
Qh6 $18) 33. Qh6+ Kc5 34. Re2 b4 $13) 30... c5 31. Rxe5+ Bxe5 32. Qxe5+ Kf8 33.
Nf6 $44) 30. Qg5 c5 31. Nf6+ (31. Kf1 $5 {looks interesting, but it requires
detailed analysis. Here are some sample lines.} b4 (31... Bc8 32. Nf6+ Kd8 33.
Nxd5+ Ke8 34. Be4 $40) 32. f4 (32. Nf6+ Kd8 33. Nxd5+ Ke8) 32... a5 33. Nf6+
Kd8 34. Nxd5+ Ke8 35. Qg8+ Qf8 36. Nc7+ Ke7) 31... Kd8 32. Nxd5+ Ke8 33. Nf6+ {
and the draw is inevitable.} Kd8 34. Nd5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 1st"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2006.11.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[Annotator "Lukacs/Hazai"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2006.11.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 116"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
b3 d5 16. Bg5 h6 17. Bh4 g5 18. Nxg5 hxg5 19. Bxg5 exd4 $1 20. e5 $1 Rxe5 21.
Rxe5 Nxe5 22. cxd4 Nc6 $1 23. Qd3 {It is very interesting, what Mamedyarov
said after the game. He forgot his home analysis; he has so many variations...
However he believed that White has no more than a draw!} (23. Nh5 $1 {is still
the main line, but the consequences are unclear.}) 23... Nb4 24. Qf3 (24. Bxf6
$6 Nxd3 25. Bxd8 Nb4 26. Bf6 Nxc2 27. Rc1 Nb4 28. Rxc7 Bc8 $17) 24... Be7 (
24... Nxc2 $2 {Ftacnik} 25. Bxf6 Qxf6 26. Qxf6 Nxa1 27. Qg5+ Kh8 28. Nh5 $1 Re8
29. Nf6 Re1+ 30. Kh2 Bd6+ 31. g3 $18) 25. Bb1 (25. Nf5 {is another tempting
idea, but it only leads to a repetition of moves after} Nxc2 26. Nxe7+ Qxe7 27.
Bxf6 Qe4 28. Qg3+ Qg6 (28... Kf8 $2 29. Qg7+ Ke8 30. Qg8+ Kd7 31. Qxf7+ Kc6 32.
Rc1 Kb6 33. Qe7 $18) 29. Qh4 Qh7 30. Qg5+ Qg6 (30... Kf8 $2 31. Rc1) 31. Qh4 {
repetition of moves}) 25... Bc8 $6 (25... Ne4 $1 {Ftacnik. This is the
critical line here.} 26. Bxe7 (26. Be3 Qd6 $15) 26... Qxe7 27. a3 Nc6 (27...
Ng5 28. Qg4 $36) 28. Nxe4 Nxd4 {is another try with again a drawish result
after} (28... dxe4 29. Bxe4 Qd6 30. Re1 $44 (30. Rc1 Re8 $1 31. Bd5 Re7 $17))
29. Qg4+ Kf8 30. Qh5 Kg7 31. Qg4+ Kf8 $11 {repetition of moves}) 26. Qf4 (26.
Bf5 $1 {Ftacnik. White wants to create a stronghold for his N on f5, therefore
the exchange of the light-squared bishops helps him.} Be6 (26... Nc6 27. Bxc8
Rxc8 28. Nf5 $16) (26... Ne4 27. Bxe7 Qxe7 28. Bxc8 Rxc8 29. Qg4+ $18) 27. Re1
Ne4 (27... Nc6 28. Bxf6 Bxf6 29. Rxe6 $3 {This is the beautiful continuation
of the ->. White's following moves are far from trivial...} fxe6 30. Bxe6+ Kf8
31. Nf5 Qe8 32. Bxd5 Nxd4 33. Nxd4 Qe1+ 34. Kh2 Qe5+ 35. g3 Qxd4 36. Bxa8 $18)
28. Bxe7 Qxe7 29. Nxe4 Bxf5 30. Qxf5 dxe4 31. Rxe4 Qd6 32. Rh4 Re8 (32... Rd8
33. Qg5+ $18) 33. Qh7+ Kf8 34. Qh8+ Ke7 35. Re4+ $18) 26... Ne4 (26... a5 $5 {
is again interesting.}) 27. Bxe7 Qxe7 28. a3 (28. Nxe4 dxe4 29. Bxe4 c6 $1 30.
Rc1 (30. Re1 {Ftacnik} Be6 31. Re3 (31. Bf5 Qf6 32. Qg4+ Kf8 $1 33. Bxe6 Re8
$17) 31... Kf8 32. Qe5 $11) 30... Nd5 31. Bxd5 cxd5 32. Rxc8+ Rxc8 33. Qg4+ Kh7
34. Qf5+ Kg7 35. Qxc8 Qe1+ 36. Kh2 Qxf2 37. Qg4+ $16 {and the Q _|_ clearly
favours White because of the extra P.}) 28... Nc6 29. Bxe4 $6 ({Missing the
last chance} 29. Nxe4 $1 {Ftacnik} dxe4 30. Bxe4 Nxd4 (30... Bb7 31. Re1 $40) (
30... Bd7 31. Re1 $40) 31. Qg3+ $1 Kf8 32. Qe3 $1 Nf5 (32... Qf6 33. Rd1 $16)
33. Qf4 $1 {This was an excellent Q manoeuvre!} Qf6 34. Re1 Rb8 35. Bxf5 Bxf5
36. Re5 $16) 29... dxe4 $11 30. Nh5 (30. Rc1 $2 Nxd4 31. Rxc7 Ne6 32. Qg4+ Qg5
$19) 30... Qd6 31. Nf6+ Kf8 32. Qh6+ Ke7 33. Ng8+ Ke8 34. Nf6+ {White has to
take the perpetual checks.} Ke7 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-ch 17th"]
[Site "Gjakova"]
[Date "2016.05.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Palac, Mladen"]
[Black "Swiercz, Dariusz"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2577"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2016.05.12"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "KOS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
Bg5 {This move came into the limelight after Fischer used it to obtain a
brilliant win in the first game of his return match against Spassky.} h6 {
Some players prefer doing without this weakening move, but allowing White to
consolidate his bishop on g5 has its minuses.} ({As many times in the Breyer,} 
15... c5 {is somewhat premature since White has not weakened his queenside
with a2-a4 yet.} 16. d5 c4 17. Qd2 Qc7 18. Nh2 {White prepares his kingside
attack systematically, while for Black it is not easy to open the queenside.
With a2-a4 on the board he could try forcing White to open the a-file with ...
Nc5, ...Nf6-d7-b6.} Bg7 19. Rf1 Rf8 20. Kh1 Kh8 21. f4 exf4 22. Rxf4 Ng8 23.
Rf2 Ne5 24. Nf3 $14 {Bacrot,E (2728)-Postny,E (2648) Le Port Marly 2009 (1-0,
45)}) (15... Bg7 16. Qd2 Qe7 17. b3 c6 18. a4 (18. Rad1 Qf8 19. a4 Rad8 20. Qc1
h6 21. Be3 Kh7 22. b4 Re7 23. axb5 cxb5 $6 24. d5 $14 {[%csl Gb7] Karjakin,S 
(2706)-Kamsky,G (2725) Nice 2009 (1-0, 52)}) 18... Nf8 19. b4 Ne6 20. Be3 Qc7
21. Bb3 Nd7 22. Bh6 $14 {Balogh,C (2608)-Olszewski,M (2549) Katowice 2010 EXT
2016 [RR] (1-0, 36)}) 16. Bd2 {With the e4-pawn hanging the bishop cannot
retreat to e3. But d2 is not such a bad square, since the bishop can be
effective in the event of a queenside attack based on b2-b4.} Bg7 17. Qc1 ({
In the aforementioned game Fischer preferred striking on the queenside at once.
} 17. a4 c5 18. d5 c4 19. b4 cxb3 {More or less forced.} ({Spassky played the
passive} 19... Nh7 {allowing Fischer to produce a model game for this
structure.} 20. Be3 h5 21. Qd2 Rf8 22. Ra3 {The start of an impressive
migration of White's pieces to the queenside.} Ndf6 23. Rea1 Qd7 24. R1a2 Rfc8
25. Qc1 Bf8 26. Qa1 Qe8 27. Nf1 Be7 28. N1d2 Kg7 29. Nb1 $3 {Suddenly the
b5-pawn is in danger. Spassky did not find anything better than sacrificing a
piece (something which he used to do quite often) but failed to level the
chances.} Nxe4 30. Bxe4 f5 31. Bc2 Bxd5 {Fischer,R (2785)-Spassky,B (2560)
Belgrade 1992 CBM 031 [Chandler,M] (1-0, 50)}) 20. Bxb3 Nc5 21. c4 {This is
one of the moments when the bishop proves useful on d2, by preventing the
blocking ...b5-b4.} Qd7 22. cxb5 axb5 23. a5 Reb8 $1 {The start of a coherent
regrouping, aimed at neutralising White's slight pressure.} 24. Bc2 Bc8 25. Rb1
Qd8 26. Qc1 Kh7 27. Qa3 Ne8 28. Ne2 Nc7 29. Nc3 Bd7 30. Na2 N7a6 31. Nb4 Be8 {
Black has equalised completely. All his pieces stand well and the structure is
rock solid.} 32. Ra1 Nxb4 33. Qxb4 Na6 34. Qb3 Nc5 35. Qb4 Na6 36. Qb3 Nc5 37.
Qb4 {1/2-1/2 Vachier Lagrave,M (2765)-Adams,M (2744) London 2015}) 17... Kh7 ({
The weakening} 17... h5 {is not as bad as it looks. In many cases White has to
count with ...h5-h4, undermining the e4-pawn.} 18. Bg5 Nf8 19. Qd2 Qe7 20. Bh6
N6h7 21. b4 Bxh6 22. Qxh6 Qf6 23. Rad1 a5 $132 {Adhiban,B (2619)-Baramidze,D 
(2612) Tromso 2014 (1/2-1/2, 127)}) 18. a4 ({In his turn, White has
occasionally tried advancing hs h-pawm:} 18. h4 exd4 19. cxd4 c5 20. e5 dxe5
21. dxe5 Ng4 22. e6 Rxe6 23. Rxe6 fxe6 24. h5 {Smirin,I (2658)-Eljanov,P (2753)
Ashdod 2015 (1-0, 46)} Nde5 $1 25. hxg6+ Kg8 {Black has parried the attack,
retaining a centralised position and a dangerous queenside majority.}) 18... c5
19. d5 c4 20. b4 {A slightly modified implementing of Fischer's idea.} (20. Be3
{is equivalent to losing a few tempi with respect to the Breyer main line,
since White needs to re-locate his dark-squared bishop and his queen.} Nc5 21.
Nd2 Qc7 22. Qd1 Nfd7 23. Qf3 {1/2-1/2 Klovans,J (2441)-Butnorius,A (2402)
Hockenheim 2007}) 20... cxb3 21. Bxb3 Nc5 22. Qa3 $146 ({This looks more
active than} 22. Qb1 {as in a game between lower rated players Olson,H (2079)
-Shafi,D (1908) Edinburgh 2015 (1-0, 37)}) 22... Nfd7 {Now and later Black is
not interested in exchanging on b3. His knights are useful for maintaining
stability on dark squares while the Spanish bishop is not doing much at the
moment. Moreover, after ...Nxb3 Qxb3 the b5-pawn would be in danger.} 23. Be3
Qc7 24. Reb1 Reb8 {The same way of regrouping as in the game Vachier-Adams
above.} ({But it would make sense to put some pressure on the c-file, too, for
instance} 24... Rec8 25. Nd2 Nd3 26. Bc2 Nf4 $132 {[%csl Gc3]}) 25. Nd2 Nb6 {
Forcing White to clear up matters on the queenside.} ({In the absence of
threats on the c-file} 25... Nd3 {does not work out so well:} 26. Bc2 Nf4 27.
axb5 axb5 28. Qb4 $14) 26. a5 $5 {An interesting concept. After the
predictable c3-c4 White will keep the threat cxb5 in reserve but not execute
it in order to avoid clearing the a6-square for the enemy minor pieces.} ({If} 
26. axb5 axb5 27. Qb4 {Black's pieces prove being in the right places:} Ba6 28.
Bc2 Nc4 29. Nxc4 bxc4 30. Qa5 Rxb1+ 31. Bxb1 Qxa5 32. Rxa5 Nb3 33. Ra3 Bf6 $11
{[%cal Gf6g5]}) 26... Nbd7 27. Bc2 Bc8 28. Rb4 ({It does not make sense to
hurry with} 28. c4 {since as said White does not intend to exchange on b5:} Nf6
{[%cal Gc8d7,Gd7b5]} 29. Nb3 (29. cxb5 axb5 {[%cal Gc5a6,Gf6d7,Gd7c5]}) 29...
Nfd7 (29... b4 30. Qa2 Bd7 31. Nxc5 dxc5) 30. cxb5 axb5 31. Qb4 Na6 32. Qd2
Ndc5 $11) 28... Bf6 {Hoping to exchange the dark-squared bishops which would
solve most of Black's strategic problems.} ({But a more constructive way of
doing it was} 28... h5 29. Nf3 (29. c4 Bh6 $11) 29... Bh6 30. Ng5+ Kg7 31. Qc1
Kg8 {[%cal Gd7f6,Gh5h4] With his pieces split between the opposite wings,
White has problems starting an attack on either side.}) 29. c4 (29. Nf3 $5)
29... Qd8 ({Missing his second chance.} 29... Bg5 $1 30. Bxg5 hxg5 31. Nf3 f6
32. Nf1 {[%cal Gf1e3,Ge3g4]} Nf8 33. Ne3 Bd7 {For the time being the f8-knight
has no moves but Black has a simple plan of clearing its path to freedom} 34.
Nd2 bxc4 35. Ndxc4 Rxb4 36. Qxb4 Bb5 {[%cal Gf8d7] With his last move Black
obviously intended to exchange the bishops without getting the doubled pawns,
but White can prevent this by simple means.}) 30. Nf3 $1 Rb7 ({Exchanging the
bishop for the f3-knight is too risky:} 30... Bg5 31. Nxg5+ hxg5 32. Nf1 f6 33.
Nd2 $16 {The unchallenged e3-bishop keeps both enemy wings under observation
while the reserve knight is rushing to the queenside}) 31. Nf1 Bg7 $6 {
Preparing a risky plan, ...f7-f5.} ({Black would have retained a viable
position by admitting that something had gone wrong in the previous phase.} 
31... Rab8 32. Rab1 Qc7 {[%csl Ga5][%cal Gf6d8]}) 32. N1d2 Qf8 $6 33. Rab1 f5
$2 {Throwing away a pawn without any reason.} ({But due to the uninspired
regrouping over the past couple of moves, Black had already started
experiencing some problems:} 33... Rab8 34. cxb5 ({It is not easy to find any
neutral move strengthening the position. For instance} 34. R1b2 $6 {places the
rook on a vulnerable square.} f5 35. exf5 gxf5 36. cxb5 Rxb5 37. g4 e4 38. Nd4
f4 $132) 34... Rxb5 35. Ne1 $14 {[%cal Ge1d3] The queen and bishop are badly
missed on the queenside.}) 34. cxb5 axb5 35. Rxb5 Rxb5 36. Rxb5 $18 {The game
is basically over. White has a strong extra pawn and Black's kingside play is
not too promising.} Ba6 37. Rb1 f4 38. Bxc5 Nxc5 39. Nb3 Nb7 40. Qb4 Bf6 41.
Ne1 Qc8 42. Bd3 Bd8 43. Rc1 Qd7 44. Bxa6 Rxa6 45. Qc4 Ra7 46. a6 Na5 47. Nxa5
Bxa5 48. Nd3 Qd8 49. Rb1 Qa8 50. Qc6 Rxa6 51. Rb7+ Kh8 52. Qb5 {[%cal Gb7b8]} (
{Even more convincing than} 52. Qd7 {when Black could play one more desperate
move} Qg8 $18) 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 1st"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2006.11.14"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "203"]
[EventDate "2006.11.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 116"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
b3 exd4 ({After having opened a new trend of fashion with} 15... d5 {in Essent
2006, Mamedyarov adopts an even more rare line now.}) 16. cxd4 c5 {Black aims
for a Benoni type of position.} 17. d5 $1 {With a black bishop developed on b7,
there is no need for White to refrain from this move.} ({Maintaining the
tension in the centre for too long would offer Black excellent counterplay:} 
17. Bb2 Bg7 18. Qd2 cxd4 19. Bxd4 Ne5 20. Nxe5 dxe5 21. Be3 Qxd2 22. Bxd2 Bf8
$15 {[%csl Rc2,Rd2,Ye4,Gg3][%cal Re8d8,Ra8d8,Rf8a3] Tzoumbas,A (2215)-Stevic,H/
Szombathely 1993/TD (1/2-1/2, 60)}) 17... Bg7 {The position is characteristic
for the dreaded Nf3, h3 and Bd3 system against the Benoni. There are some
minor differences, though. Black has spent 3 tempi to reach the d7-square with
his queen's knight and just the same amount of time to place his bishop on g7,
but what has White been doing in the meanwhile? He has transferred his own
knight to g3 (2 tempi), thus putting some pressure over the black kingside,
but leaving the queenside slightly unnattended. The remaining 2 tempi have
been consumed for b3 and Bc2, which do not seem to fit together too well. the
advance of the b-pawn is supposedly aimed to inhibit a further ...c5, but for
this purpose the bishop would be needed on d3. However, all these are just
general aspects. Before seeing how they influence the further course of the
game, I would say that, based on my experience as a Benoni player, I prefer
White's chances slightly.} 18. Rb1 $1 {This move was recommended by
Kasimdzhanov. White eliminates the possibility of any tactical operation in
the centre.} (18. Bf4 Qb6 (18... Nxd5 $1 {Kasimdzhanov,R} 19. exd5 Rxe1+ 20.
Qxe1 Qf6 $1 21. Rd1 Qxf4 22. Qe7 Bc8 23. Qd8+ Bf8 24. Ne4 h6 25. Re1 Kg7 26.
Qc7 $44) 19. a4 $14 {Kasimdzhanov,R (2680)-Stevic,H (2550)/Jahorina 2003/CBM
094 ext (1-0, 50)}) (18. Bb2 {Kasimdzhanov,R} Nxe4 19. Bxg7 Nxg3 20. Bb2 Rxe1+
21. Qxe1 Nh5 22. Qd2 $44) 18... a5 {Taking advantage of the absence of the
bishop from d3 and of the knight from c3, Black starts the generally desirable
queenside expansion.} 19. Bf4 ({Given the concrete configuration on board,
Black seems to dispose over sufficient resources to maintain things under
control after} 19. a4 $5 Ba6 ({In fact, even giving up the tension with} 19...
b4 {would be playable, because Black can successfully fight for the control of
the c4-square.} 20. Bd3 Nb6 21. Nd2 Nfd7 22. Bb5 Ba6 $132 {[%csl Gc4]}) 20. Bd3
Rb8 21. Bf4 Qc7 22. Rc1 {. Threatening axb5 followed by Bxb5 and Nd4!} (22. Qc2
$5) 22... bxa4 $5 23. Bxa6 axb3 $44 {[%cal Ya5a2,Yb3b2]}) 19... Qc7 20. Bd3 Ba6
21. a4 {White resorts to this move anyway, but now Black has a choice already.}
(21. Qd2 b4 $5 $132 {[%cal Ya5a4]} (21... a4 22. b4 $1 $16 {[%csl Ya6,Gd4]} (
22. bxa4 b4 $132))) 21... c4 (21... Rab8 {would transpose to a previous
comment.}) 22. bxc4 bxc4 (22... b4 $5 $44 {[%csl Ga4][%cal Yd7c5]}) 23. Bc2 c3
$6 {This move offers White the desired stability in the centre and exposes the
courageous pawn.} (23... Nc5 $132 {[%cal Yc5d3,Yf6d7]}) 24. Re3 Nb6 25. Nd4
Nfd7 26. Ndf5 $1 {This elegant tactical blow will not lead to mate, but just
provoke the exchange of the dark-squared bishops, resulting in the elimination
of the c3-pawn.} Be5 (26... gxf5 27. Nxf5 {[%cal Ye3g3,Yd1g4]} Kh8 28. Bxd6 Qd8
29. Nxg7 Kxg7 30. Qh5 $18) 27. Nh6+ Kf8 28. Bxe5 Nxe5 29. Qd4 Nbc4 30. Rxc3 $16
Qa7 31. Qxa7 Rxa7 32. Ng4 Nd7 33. f3 h5 34. Nf2 Rc8 35. Ne2 Na3 36. Rxc8+ Bxc8
37. Rc1 Rc7 38. Bd1 Rxc1 39. Nxc1 Nb1 40. Nb3 Nc3 41. Nxa5 Nb6 42. h4 Bd7 43.
Nc6 Nbxa4 44. Bxa4 Nxa4 {[%mdl 4096]} 45. Nd3 Nb6 46. Kf2 Nc4 47. Nd4 Ke7 48.
Nc2 Na5 49. Na3 Nb3 50. Ke3 Be8 51. Nb4 Na5 52. Kd4 Nb3+ 53. Kc3 Nc5 54. Nd3
Nd7 55. Nc4 f6 56. f4 Nb8 57. e5 fxe5 58. fxe5 dxe5 59. Ndxe5 Kf6 60. Nf3 Bb5
61. Nd6 Bf1 62. Ne4+ Ke7 63. Ne1 Nd7 64. Kd4 Kf7 65. g3 Ke7 66. Nc2 Bg2 67. Nc5
Nxc5 68. Kxc5 Kf6 69. Ne3 Bh3 70. d6 Bd7 71. Kb6 Ke6 72. Kc7 Ba4 73. Nc2 Ke5 {
Apart from some hesitations, Morozevich has conducted the game well, but now
had to take some concrete decisions, based on accurate calculations. Not
really easy after several hours of play. Optically, Black's kingside
counterplay looks dangerous, but in fact Black has several ways to win.} 74.
Nb4 (74. d7 Bxd7 75. Kxd7 g5 (75... Kf5 76. Ne3+ Ke4 77. Ke6 $1 Kf3 78. Kf6
Kxg3 79. Kg5 $18) (75... Ke4 76. Ke6 Kf3 77. Kf6 Kxg3 78. Kg5 $18 {This is the
simplest way, but in fact the more spectacular 76.Nd4, distracting the enemy
king, is also winning.}) 76. hxg5 Kf5 77. Nd4+ Kxg5 78. Ke6 Kg4 (78... h4 79.
Nf3+ $1 $18) 79. Nf5 $18) 74... Be8 75. Kd8 $2 (75. Nc6+ Ke4 (75... Kf5 76.
Ne7+ Kg4 77. Nxg6 Kxg3 78. d7 $18) 76. d7 Bxd7 77. Kxd7 Kf3 78. Ne5+ Kxg3 79.
Nxg6 $18) 75... Ba4 76. Ke7 g5 $1 $11 77. Nd3+ Kf5 78. Nc5 Bb5 79. Ne6 gxh4 80.
Nd4+ Kg4 81. Nxb5 h3 (81... hxg3 $2 82. d7 g2 83. d8=Q $18 g1=Q 84. Qg8+ {
[%csl Gg1]}) 82. Nc3 Kxg3 83. Ne4+ Kg2 84. d7 h2 85. d8=Q h1=Q 86. Qd5 Qh4+ 87.
Kf7 Qf4+ 88. Kg6 Qg4+ 89. Kh6 Qf4+ 90. Kxh5 Qf3+ 91. Kg5 Qe3+ 92. Kf5 Qf3+ 93.
Ke5 Qe3 94. Qa2+ Kg1 95. Qb1+ Kg2 96. Qc2+ Kg1 97. Qd1+ Kg2 98. Qg4+ Kh2 99.
Qh4+ Kg2 100. Qh5 Kg1 101. Kf5 Qh3+ 102. Qxh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 20th"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2015.11.20"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Svetushkin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Marin, Mihail"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2586"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2015.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Moldova"]
[BlackTeam "Romania"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "MDA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ROU"]

1. e4 ({The following classical game inspired me to prepare to sacrifice a
pawn later in the game. It does not seem to be saved in the main databases so
I could not make a hyperlink to it, which would have been more convenient.} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 g6 6. Bd3 Bg7 7. Nge2 Nbd7 8. h3 a6 9.
Be3 Nh5 10. Qd2 O-O 11. g4 Nf4 12. Nxf4 exf4 13. Bxf4 Ne5 14. Be2 b5 15. cxb5
axb5 16. Nxb5 Ra4 17. Nc3 Rd4 18. Qe3 Re8 19. Qg3 g5 20. Be3 Ng6 21. Bb5 Rexe4
22. Nxe4 Rxe4 23. O-O Rb4 24. Bd3 Be5 25. Qf3 Nh4 26. Qd1 Qf6 27. a3 Nf3+ 28.
Kg2 Bxg4 29. axb4 Nh4+ 30. Kg1 Bxd1 31. Rfxd1 cxb4 32. Be4 Bxb2 33. Ra8+ Kg7
34. Rb8 Bc3 35. Rxb4 Nf3+ 36. Bxf3 Qxf3 37. Rd3 Be5 38. Rg4 h6 39. Rd2 Qxh3 40.
Rg2 f6 {0-1 (40) Flohr,S-Larsen,B Copenhagen 1966}) 1... 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 {Over the
past years I have tried several Spanish variations, but never in my life did I
try the Breyer! But since I had already adopted the Steinitz strucutre twice
in this championship (in my games with Steingrimsson and Banikas) and I have
annotated quite a lot of Breyer games, I found it tempting to give the Breyer
a try. Even though the game is marred by mutual strategic inaccuracies, I
found the experiment refreshing as the fight was very tense and interesting.}
10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 $5 {The latest trend and the move
played by Dmitry in his only previous game against the Breyer.} c5 ({I
remembered rather well my recent analysis on} 13... Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15. Qc2 Rc8
16. axb5 axb5 17. b4 c5 $1 $146 {Karjakin,S (2762)-Svidler,P (2727) Baku 2015
CBM 169 [Marin,M] (0-1, 38), but assumed that my last movge would transpose to
the main line.}) 14. d5 c4 $6 {There was no need to rush in with this move.} ({
A better form of carrying out my plan was} 14... g6 15. b3 (15. b4 Qc7) 15...
Nh5) 15. b4 {Dima played this quickly, showing that he had analysed the
position in detail.} ({But} 15. b3 {was more restrictive, since Black has
problems if trying to keep his pawn on c4:} Nb6 16. bxc4 Nxc4 17. Nxc4 bxc4 18.
a5 {Since ...a5 followed by ...Ba6 is not possible anymore and the c4-pawn
needs permanent care, Black has problems reaching a favourable regrouping with
his bishop to c8-d7-b5 and his knight to d7-c5.}) 15... g6 $5 {I decided to
apply a combination of familiar (to me) plans. On the kingside I would play in
the spirit of the Romanischin Chigorin system and on the queenside I planned
regrouping as seen in some old games of Chigorin.} (15... cxb3 16. Nxb3 Qc7 17.
Bd3 Qxc3 18. Be3 Rec8 19. Rc1 Qb4 20. Rb1 Qc3 21. axb5 axb5 22. Bxb5 $14 {
Topalov,V (2813)-Adams,M (2682) Novi Sad 2009 (1-0, 43)}) 16. Nf1 (16. g4 $143
{is premature due to} h5) 16... Nh5 {The logical follow-up of the previous
move, preventing Nf1-g3. Already now I planned to sacrifice a pawn in the
spirit of the game mentioned in the comments to the first move.} 17. Be3 Bf6
18. Qd2 Rb8 {Both sides play consequently. White increases his control over f4
to prepare g2-g4 while Black plans regrouping with ...Bc8, ...Nb6, ...Bd7.} 19.
Ra3 {Not only preparing to take over the control over the a-file but also
over-protecting the c3-pawn to prepare g2-g4.} (19. g4 {is premature. During
the game I calculated in a flash} Nf4 20. Bxf4 (20. Kh2 {is more cautious but
Black has great play anyway:} h5 21. gxh5 Nxh5 22. Ng3 Nf4 23. Ra3 Kg7 24. Bxf4
exf4 25. Qxf4 Ne5) 20... exf4 21. Qxf4 Bxc3 22. Qxd6 {Actually White should
not have enough compensation for the exchange, but I was glad that} Ne5 {
would be just winning:} 23. Qxd8 Nxf3+ 24. Kg2 Nxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Rbxd8) 19... Bc8
({It makes no sense to take measures against White's plan with} 19... Bg7 {
as after} 20. g4 Qf6 $2 21. Bg5 Qxf3 22. Re3 {the queen is trapped.}) 20. g4 $6
{This offers Black reasonable compensation for the pawn.} ({White should not
have hurried with this move, as the combination of Black's plans on both wings
is not very harmonious. The problem is that the planned ...Nb6 takes the
knight away from the e5-square, making the effects of g2-g4 more favourable
for White. Black would have had a hard job fidning a useful neutral move.} 20.
Rea1 $1) 20... Nf4 21. Bxf4 {In for a penny, ...} (21. Kh2 h5 $1 22. gxh5 Nxh5
23. axb5 axb5 24. Ng3 Nf4 25. Bxf4 exf4 26. Qxf4 Ne5 27. Kg2 g5 28. Qe3 Bxh3+
29. Kg1 Nxf3+ 30. Qxf3 Be5 $132) 21... exf4 22. axb5 {White could have waited
with this exchange for one more move, but this would not have made any
difference.} (22. Qxf4 Ne5 ({Dmitry probably feared} 22... a5 {but this is
premature:} 23. axb5 axb4 24. cxb4 Ne5 25. Nd4 $16) 23. N1h2 $6 (23. axb5 $1 {
transposes to the game.}) 23... a5 $5 24. axb5 axb4 25. cxb4 Bd7 $44) 22...
axb5 23. Qxf4 ({I had to consider} 23. Nd4 {, threatening to win material with
Nc6.} {The paradoxical} Bxd4 $5 {, giving away the control over the e5-square
is better.} ({My initial plan was} 23... Be5 {But after the better} 24. Nh2 ({
If} 24. Nc6 Qh4 25. f3 (25. Nxb8 f3 $17) 25... Qxh3 26. Nxb8 Nxb8 $15 {Black
has a great position, indeed.}) 24... Qh4 (24... h5 25. Nhf3 $1 hxg4 26. Nc6
Qf6 27. hxg4 Rb7 28. Kg2 $16) 25. Kg2 {I would have had to play} Bxd4 {anyway.
While this is acceptable, it basically means having misplaced the queen for
nothing.} 26. cxd4 Qh6 27. Nf3 Nf6 $13) 24. cxd4 g5 {There are several
elements justifying Black's compensation. He has a strong passed pawn and some
kingside space advantage. The white centre is immobile as the d5-pawn needs
defending. Finally, the only good square for the white knight is f3, but
placing it there would allow ...h7-h5.} 25. h4 (25. Nh2 Nf6 26. Bb1 Kg7 27. Nf3
h6 28. Qc2 Rh8 $36 {[%cal Gh6h5]}) 25... h6 26. f3 Kg7 $36 27. Qc1 $140 Qf6 28.
Qb2 gxh4) 23... Ne5 {Even though the position is static, the chronic weakness
on c3 ensures Black long term compensation for the pawn.} 24. N1h2 {The most
logical answer, preparing the reserve knight for fighting for the dark squares.
} (24. Nxe5 Bxe5 25. Qe3 (25. Qf3 Qg5 $36) 25... Qf6 26. Kg2 Bf4 27. Qf3 h5 $44
) (24. Nd4 Bg5 25. Qg3 Qf6 26. Qg2 h5 27. gxh5 Kh8 $1 28. hxg6 Nxg6 $44) (24.
N1d2 g5 25. Qe3 Ng6 26. Nd4 Bd7 $44) 24... Bd7 ({Right after playing my last
move I regretted not having started setting up the blockade on the dark
squares with} 24... g5 25. Qe3 (25. Qd2 {leaves the h3-pawn vulnerable:} h5 $1
26. gxh5 Bxh3) (25. Qg3 Ng6) 25... Ng6 (25... h5 $143 26. gxh5 $16) 26. Nd4
Bxd4 $1 $44 {[%cal Gg6f4]} (26... Bd7 {allows an effective regrouping:} 27. Ne2
$1 (27. Nhf3 Nf4 $132) 27... Be5 (27... Ra8 28. Rea1 Rxa3 29. Rxa3 $16) 28. Nf3
Bf4 29. Qd4 h5 30. Nxf4 gxf4 31. e5 $1)) 25. Qe3 {White hopes to set his
centre in motion with Nxe5 followed by f2-f4.} (25. Nd4 {would have led to
interesting complications:} Bg5 26. Qg3 Bh4 (26... Qf6 27. Nhf3 Bf4 28. g5 $1
Bxg3 29. gxf6 Bf4 30. Kg2 $16) 27. Qe3 (27. Qg2 Ra8 28. Rea1 Rxa3 29. Rxa3 Qf6
30. Nhf3 Qf4 $1 $132) 27... f5 28. gxf5 gxf5 29. Nhf3 Qf6 30. Nxe5 Rxe5 31. f4
Re7 32. Re2 fxe4 33. Rg2+ Kh8 $13) ({But once again it would have made some
sense to consolidate White's control over the a-file.} 25. Rea1 $5 g5 26. Qg3
$1 (26. Qe3 Ng6 27. Nd4 Bxd4 28. Qxd4 Nf4 29. Kf1 Nxh3) 26... Ng6 27. Qxd6 {
This is the difference with the bishop on d7.} Be7 (27... Nf4 $2 28. Ra7) 28.
Qg3 Nf4 29. Nd4 Bd6 30. Qf3 Be5 31. Nf1 Rb6 {[%cal Gb6f6] Black has more than
enough compensation for a pawn, but it is not entirely clear if this applies
to the missing 2 pawns!}) 25... Ra8 $1 26. Rea1 Rxa3 27. Rxa3 Nxf3+ 28. Nxf3 (
28. Qxf3 Be5 {keeps the centre under control.}) 28... Bg7 29. Ra7 f5 {This is
Black's only active possibility but it is rather double-edged as it weakens
his own kingside.} 30. Nd4 $6 {Based on a miscalculation.} ({The critical
continuation was} 30. gxf5 {when Black would have had to work hard to get a
draw:} gxf5 31. Nd4 (31. Qf4 fxe4 32. Bxe4 Qf6 33. Bxh7+ Kxh7 34. Qxf6 Bxf6 35.
Rxd7+ Kg6 36. Rxd6 Kf5 $44) 31... Bxd4 (31... fxe4 32. Nc6 $16 Bxc6 33. dxc6 d5
34. Rd7) 32. Qxd4 (32. cxd4 fxe4 33. Bxe4 Re7 $132) 32... Qg5+ (32... f4 33.
Kh2 Re5 34. Bd1 $18) 33. Kh2 f4 34. Qd1 $1 (34. Rxd7 $2 f3) 34... Re7 35. Qg1
Qxg1+ 36. Kxg1 Rg7+ (36... Kf7 37. e5 $1) 37. Kh2 f3 38. e5 dxe5 39. Be4 Rg2+
40. Kh1 Bxh3 41. d6 (41. Rxh7 Bg4) 41... Rxf2 42. d7 Bxd7 43. Rxd7 Rf1+ 44. Kh2
Rc1 45. Kg3 Rxc3 46. Rb7 h5 47. Rxb5 h4+ 48. Kf2 h3 49. Kg3 (49. Bxf3 h2) 49...
Rc1 50. Bxf3 c3 51. Kxh3 c2 52. Rc5 Rb1 $11 {The "only" thing required is
defending the R+B vs R for 50 moves.}) 30... fxg4 31. hxg4 Qh4 32. Qg3 ({
My opponent had initially planned} 32. Bd1 {but then noticed the strong} Be5 $1
({I was relying on} 32... Bxg4 $2 33. Qf4 Rf8 {but Dima had prepared} 34. Rxg7+
$1 Kxg7 35. Ne6+ {winning the queen.}) 33. Ne6 (33. Rxd7 $2 Qh2+ 34. Kf1 Bxd4
35. cxd4 Qh1+ 36. Ke2 Rxe4 $19) 33... Bxe6 34. dxe6 Qh2+ 35. Kf1 Rxe6 $13)
32... Qxg3+ 33. fxg3 {Things have calmed down and the white kingside has been
weakened in the process. I already started thinking whether I could win this
position.} Bxg4 ({I gave up my initially intended} 33... Bxd4+ 34. cxd4 Bxg4
35. Kg2 Rf8 {[%cal Gg4f3] when I noticed} 36. Ra3 {keeping things under
control. True, the position would be just equal.}) 34. Nxb5 {White is once
again a pawn up, but the black bishops are very strong.} Be5 35. Kg2 Rb8 $1 (
35... Rf8 36. Nd4) 36. Ba4 (36. Nd4 Bxd4 37. cxd4 Rxb4 $17 {[%csl Gc2]}) 36...
Rf8 {An effective switch from one wing to the other.} 37. Nc7 $1 {The best
defence in an apparently critical position.} ({The point behind the apparently
hesitant rook manoeuvre is that the e4-pawn is undefended so after} 37. Nd4
Bxd4 38. cxd4 Bf3+ {White has nothing better than} 39. Kf2 Bxe4+ 40. Ke3 Bxd5
$15) 37... Rf3 (37... Bf3+ 38. Kf2 Bxe4+ 39. Ke3 Bg2 40. Ne6 $44 {[%csl Gb4]})
38. Ne6 $1 {As simple as that. White threatens a perpetual with Ra8-f8-e8-f8.}
Rxg3+ 39. Kf2 Rf3+ 40. Kg2 Rg3+ 41. Kf2 Rf3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 1st"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2006.11.10"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2698"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2006.11.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 116"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 {If
White does not wish to embark any long theoretical discussion, this variation
looks like the best way to move the accent of the fight to the middlegame.} c6
15. b3 (15. Rb1 $5 $146 {1-0 Topalov,V (2813)-Mamedyarov,S (2728)/Hoogeveen
2006/CBM 115 [Marin, Mihail] (50)}) 15... Qc7 {Usually, Black transfers his
king's bishop to g7 in this line. He can start doing that with or without
developing the queen, although this can just lead to a transposition. In this
game, Black has completely different plan, for which ...g6 is not useful at
all.} (15... 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)})) 16. Bb2 d5 $5 $146 {Quite curiously, this
thematic break has never been played so far.} (16... g6 17. Qc2 Bg7 18. c4 (18.
b4 Nb6 19. a5 Na4 20. Rac1 (20. Bc1 {[%cal Yg7a1]} exd4 21. cxd4 c5 $132) 20...
Nxb2 21. Qxb2 Nd7 22. c4 bxc4 23. Bxc4 exd4 24. Qa2 Re7 25. Nb3 Ne5 $11 {
Haag,E-Forintos,G/Budapest 1965/MCD (1/2-1/2, 33)}) (18. Bf1 Rac8 19. Rad1 Nb6
{Since the a4-pawn is safely defended, this move makes less sense now and just
weakens Black's control over the centre.} (19... d5 $5) 20. c4 exd4 21. Bxd4
bxa4 22. e5 dxe5 23. Bxe5 Qe7 24. c5 Nbd7 25. Bd6 Qd8 26. bxa4 $16 {Vitomskis,
J (2575)-Girod,F (2415)/LAT-SUI corr 1994/Corr 2000 (1-0, 29)}) 18... bxc4 (
18... bxa4 19. c5 $5 axb3 20. Nxb3 exd4 21. cxd6 Qxd6 22. Na5 $36 {[%csl Gb7]
Grigoriants,S (2313)-Platonov,E (2296)/Orel 1999/EXT 2001 (1-0, 42)}) 19. Bxc4
exd4 20. Bxd4 Re7 ({Black can also choose another move order of concentrating
his forces against the e4-pawn.} 20... c5 {[%cal Yb7e4]} 21. Bc3 Re7 22. Qb2
Rae8 {[%csl Ye4]} 23. Rad1 h6 {The strong pressure against the e4-pawn
restricts White's active possibilities.} 24. Bd3 Re6 25. Bc4 R6e7 {1/2-1/2
Hendriks,R-Girod,F/ICCF corr 1994/Corr 2000}) 21. b4 Rae8 22. Bd3 c5 23. Rac1
Qd8 (23... Nd5 $5 {[%csl Gd4,Ge1]}) 24. bxc5 Nxc5 25. Bxc5 dxc5 $13 {Aseev,K 
(2540)-Yemelin,V (2520)/Elista 1994/CBM 044 (1/2-1/2, 87)}) 17. dxe5 {
Confronted with a relatively early opening surprise, White chooses the safe
way.} ({The main alternative was} 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Qc2 $5 {[%csl Gh7] not
only connects rooks, but underlines the relative vulnerability of the black
kingside too.} ({Now,} 18. dxe5 {involves a nice trap, but is not too
dangerous otherwise.} Nf4 (18... Nxe5 $2 19. Rxe5 Rxe5 20. c4 $16) 19. Be4 Nxe5
$11) 18... exd4 $5 {Since Black has no adequate way of avoiding kingside
weaknesses, he bravely plays for material grabbing.} (18... h6 19. dxe5 Nf4 20.
Bh7+ Kh8 21. Qe4 $16) (18... g6 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. dxe5 Nf4 21. Ne4 $16 {
[%csl Gf6]}) (18... N5f6 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Rxe5 21. c4 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 $36
{[%csl Yb5,Yf6,Yh7]}) 19. Bxh7+ Kh8 20. Nxd4 g6 21. Bxg6 fxg6 22. c4 N5f6 23.
Qxg6 $36 {[%csl Yb7,Gh8]}) 17... Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Qxe5 19. Nf3 Qf4 {A brave
decision. The queen is rather exposed here.} (19... Qh5 $5 20. e5 $140 Nd7 $11)
20. exd5 {Again, White refrains from complicating the game.} (20. e5 $5 {
[%csl Gf4][%cal Yb2c1]} Ne4 21. Qc2 {would have led to a complex position,
where Black's activity might be just apparent, while the exposed placement of
his queen would offer White some tactical ideas.}) 20... Nxd5 21. c4 Nb4 22.
Be5 Qh6 23. Be4 Rad8 24. Qb1 bxc4 25. bxc4 $11 {We can state that Black's
strategy has been crowned with success. The usefullness of the dark-squared
bishop on the a3-f8 diagonal is obvious. At the same time, the fact that he
refrained from ...g6 ensures the return of the queen to the centre in the near
future.} Ba8 26. Bc3 c5 27. Bxa8 Rxa8 28. Ne5 Qe6 29. Qb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Foros Aerosvit"]
[Site "Foros"]
[Date "2007.06.26"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Sasikiran, Krishnan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "2007.06.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "UKR"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 ({
People do not take Morozevich'} 14... c6 {too seriously yet. However, the
inventor himself seems to trust the variation. After the game against Anand
from Morelia/Linares, he repeated the experiment in the Spanish team
championship:} 15. Be3 Qc7 16. a4 Rad8 17. Qc1 {White does not try to refute
the variation in any way and keeps consolidating his position.} h6 $5 {This
move, restricting the e3-bishop and the f3-knight, is not so frequently played
when there is a knight on g3. Here, however, the vulnerability of the e4-pawn
prevents White from playing Nf5.} 18. b3 Qb8 19. Rb1 Qc8 20. b4 Qc7 21. Nd2 d5
$11 {Adams,M (2734)-Morozevich,A (2762)/Lugo 2007/CBM 119 (1/2-1/2, 24)}) 15.
b3 c6 16. Bg5 Bg7 ({The main alternative is} 16... h6 {, but weakening the
kingside is not to everybody's taste.}) 17. Qd2 Qe7 ({The queen is heading for
f8, in order to enable a further ...h6 and keep the kingside well defended.
There seems to be less to do for the queen on the other wing:} 17... Qc7 18. a4
Rac8 (18... d5 $6 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Qxe5 21. Bf4 $1 Qe6 22. e5 {Carlsen,M
(2581)-Shirov,A (2726)/Drammen 2005/CBM 105/[Wedberg] (1-0, 38)}) (18... Rad8
19. Bd3 Nf8 20. Qc2 Ne6 21. Be3 Nd7 22. Rec1 Qb8 23. axb5 axb5 24. b4 $14 {
Acs,P (2521)-Gabriel,C (2556)/Germany 2004/EXT 2005 (1-0, 44)}) 19. Bd3 Nf8 20.
Rec1 Ne6 21. Be3 Nd7 22. Bf1 {White is in firm control of the position, but
making further progress is not easy.} Nb6 (22... Rcd8 23. b4 Qb8 24. axb5 axb5
25. Ra5 Nf6 26. dxe5 dxe5 27. Qc2 Nd7 28. c4 bxc4 29. Bxc4 Qc7 30. Qa2 $14 {
Fedorov,A (2603)-Maiorov,N (2457)/Minsk 2005/CBM 106 (1-0, 45)}) 23. a5 Nd7 24.
b4 $14 {Fedorov,A (2608)-Maiorov,N (2490)/Minsk 2006/CBM 111 ext (1-0, 48)})
18. a4 Qf8 19. Kh1 $5 $146 {The usefulness of this mysterious move can be
understood if we think that White's main worry is to be prepared against the
freeing break in the centre ...d5.} (19. Bd3 d5 $1 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. dxe5 Rxe5
22. f4 Ree8 23. e5 Nd7 24. axb5 cxb5 {and now White played} 25. Kh1 {anyway,
but failed to obtain an advantage:} Qc5 26. b4 Qc7 27. Ne2 f6 28. exf6 Nxf6 {
and the weakness of the e4-square offers Black a good game, Dominguez,L (2655)
-Bruzon Bautista,L (2648)/Havana 2006/CBM 116 (1/2-1/2, 36)}) ({Releasing the
tension with} 19. axb5 axb5 20. dxe5 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 {(1/2-1/2 Fedorov,A (2608)
-Sasikiran,K (2670)/Moscow 2006/CBM 112) hardly offers White anything.} dxe5
22. Qe2 Nd7 23. b4 Bh6 24. Bxh6 Qxh6 25. Bb3 Qf8 26. Nf1 Qe7 27. Nh2 Kg7 $11 {
Almasi,Z (2640)-Sasikiran,K (2663)/D'Ajaccio 2005 (1/2-1/2, 37)}) (19. b4 {
weakens the light squares too much.} Nb6 20. dxe5 dxe5 21. Qe2 Nxa4 22. Bxa4
bxa4 23. Be3 Nd7 24. Rxa4 c5 $11 {Aroshidze,L (2531)-Giorgadze,G (2610)/
Tbilisi 2007/CBM 117 ext (1/2-1/2, 37)}) (19. Rad1 {is logical, but releases
the potential pressure along the a-file.} Rac8 {Now that there is no danger of
an enemy rook infiltration to a7, Black can improve the position of his rook,
too.} (19... d5 $5 {looks possible, too.}) 20. Bd3 h6 21. Be3 Rcd8 22. Qa2 Ra8
23. Bc1 (23. Qc2 $5 {/\b4}) 23... Re6 24. Qd2 Qb8 25. c4 bxa4 26. bxa4 Re8 27.
Bb2 $13 {1/2-1/2 (slightly premature, with all pieces on board) Motylev,A 
(2662)-Grigoriants,S (2579)/Tomsk 2006.}) 19... Rac8 ({Svidler's idea becomes
obvious after} 19... d5 20. dxe5 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 Rxe5 22. f4 Ree8 23. e5 Nd7 {
, when, freed of the worry of a check on c5, White can try} 24. c4 $5 {,
putting Black under pressure in the centre.}) 20. axb5 cxb5 $1 {The correct
decision. The other capture would have allowed Ra7, while now the c3-square is
under certain pressure.} 21. Bd3 h6 22. Be3 exd4 23. cxd4 d5 $1 24. e5 Ne4 25.
Qb2 f5 26. exf6 {Otherwise, Black could start a slow but massive kingside
attack.} Qxf6 $11 {Black has entirely adequate play.} 27. Rac1 Ndc5 28. Bb1
Nxg3+ 29. fxg3 Ne4 30. Bf4 Qb6 31. Kh2 b4 32. Be5 Rc3 33. Rf1 Bxe5 34. Nxe5
Qxd4 35. Ng4 Rf8 36. Rcd1 Qg7 37. Bxe4 dxe4 38. Qd2 Rd3 39. Qxb4 h5 40. Nh6+
Qxh6 41. Qxb7 h4 42. Rxd3 exd3 43. Qd5+ Kh8 44. Qd4+ Kg8 45. Rxf8+ Qxf8 46.
Qxd3 hxg3+ 47. Kxg3 Qf6 48. Qd5+ Kh7 49. Qb7+ Kg8 50. Qc8+ Kh7 51. Qc7+ Kg8 52.
h4 Qb2 53. Qd8+ Kg7 54. Qe7+ Kg8 55. Qe6+ Kg7 56. Qd7+ Kh6 57. Qf7 a5 58. Kf3
Qa1 59. Qf8+ Kh7 60. Qe7+ Kg8 61. Qd8+ Kh7 62. Qc7+ Kg8 63. Qc4+ Kh7 64. Ke4
Qe1+ 65. Kd5 Qd2+ 66. Kc5 Qxg2 67. Kb5 Qd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Baku FIDE GP"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2008.04.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2684"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2008.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 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 {It is refreshing to see that the main line against the Breyer is about to
become fashionable again.} ({For quite a while, there has been some intense
theoretical discussion after} 15. b3 {, against which Kamsky successfully
experimented with} a5 $5 {in a couple of games played in 2007.}) 15... c5 16.
d5 c4 17. Bg5 h6 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2 h5 20. Bg5 ({About two decades ago, some
of the leading British players introduced the direct attacking plan initiated
by} 20. Ng5 {. However, it soon became clear that Black disposes over
sufficient tactical resources to beat off the attack.} Bh6 $5 21. f4 $5 ({
The slower} 21. Re2 {did not offer White an advantage after} Qe7 22. Rae1 h4
23. Nf1 Nh5 {Nunn,J (2585)-Beliavsky,A (2620)/Szirak 1987/CBM 003/[Ernst] (1/
2-1/2, 46)}) 21... h4 $1 ({An improvement over} 21... exf4 22. Bxf4 h4 23. Nf1
bxa4 24. Qd4 Ng4 25. Ne3 Nxe3 26. Qxe3 Qe7 27. Nf3 Bxf4 28. Qxf4 $36 {Chandler,
M (2590)-Hjartarson,J (2590)/Linares 1988/CBM 006 (1-0, 42). with the usual
kingside pressure for White.}) 22. fxe5 (22. Nf1 Bxg5 23. fxg5 Nfxe4 $17) 22...
Rxe5 $1 23. Nf3 Bxe3+ 24. Qxe3 Nxd5 25. Qd4 Ne6 26. Qd2 Ndf4 27. Nxe5 Qg5 $1
28. Re3 dxe5 29. Nf1 Rd8 30. Qf2 Nc5 $17 {Nunn,J (2615)-Beliavsky,A (2645)/
Linares 1988/CBM 006 (0-1, 62). The dancing around of the black pieces has
come to an end. White has "won" the exchange, but Black's stability on dark
squares and his extra-pawn offer him excellent play.}) 20... Be7 21. Ra3 {
The plan of increasing the pressure against the enemy queenside is the least
committal, by not creating any weaknesses in the own camp. Once Black's forces
will have been distracted to this wing, operations on the kingside involving
f4 may become possible.} ({White can insert the moves} 21. Bh6 Nh7 {and only
then play} 22. Ra3 {, as, for instance, in Adams,M (2600)-Salov,V (2645)/Wijk
aan Zee 1991/CBM 022/[Salov] (1-0, 67). The move order played in the game is
aimed to prevent the (generally desirable for Black) further advance of the
h-pawn. However, in the game this move will also become possible soon.}) 21...
Rb8 22. Kh1 $5 {The latest trend of theory. White makes a generally useful
move, refraining from any important commitment.} ({The more natural} 22. Rea1 {
leaves the e4-pawn slightly vulnerable and can eventually be met by} h4 $5 23.
Bxh4 Nfxe4 {Adams,M (2680)-Giorgadze,G (2625)/Groningen 1997/CBM 063/[Wedberg]
(1-0, 43). with interesting play, despite the unfavourable result for Black.})
22... Nh7 $146 {Before undertaking any concrete operation, Black decides to
improve the placement of his kingside pieces.} (22... Bc8 23. axb5 axb5 24. Ra7
Bb7 $6 {Quite inconsequent. The bishop returns to a passive square, after
having provoked a loss of two tempi.} (24... Bd7 25. Rea1 Qb6) 25. Rea1 Qb6 26.
Nh4 Ra8 27. Rxa8 Rxa8 28. Rf1 Qd8 29. f4 Nfd7 30. Bxe7 Qxe7 31. Nhf5 Qf8 32.
fxe5 Nxe5 33. Nxh5 Ncd7 34. Qg5 $16 {Berescu,A (2433)-Graf,A (2604)/Kusadasi
2006/CBM 111 ext (1-0, 71)}) (22... Nfd7 {This move increases Black's
stability on dark squares, but leaves the b7-bishop without possibilities of
improving its placement. This is one of Black's main strategic problems in the
Breyer system: Several of his pieces are competing for the d7-square.} 23. Be3
h4 24. Nf1 bxa4 {An obvious strategic concession. Black's temporary activity
will not offer him sufficient compensation.} 25. Bxc5 Nxc5 26. Bxa4 Rf8 27. Bc2
Bc8 28. Ra2 Kg7 29. Ne3 {[%csl Rc4]} Nd3 30. Bxd3 cxd3 31. Qxd3 f5 32. Nc4 fxe4
33. Qxe4 Rf4 34. Qe2 Bf5 35. Ncxe5 $1 Re4 36. Qxe4 Bxe4 37. Nc6 Qg8 38. Rxe4
$18 {Beikert,G (2434)-Kachiani Gersinska,K (2374)/Bad Koenigshofen 2007/CBM
116 ext (1-0, 87)}) ({With the e4-square safely defended,} 22... h4 $2 {
does not work, for instance} 23. Bxh4 Nfxe4 24. Nxe4 Bxh4 25. axb5 axb5 26.
Nxh4 Qxh4 27. Nxd6 $18) 23. Be3 {White would agree to the exchange of the
dark-squared bishops only if his attacking prospects would become realistic.
Otherwise, this exchange would favour Black.} Bf6 24. Rea1 Bg7 25. Qe2 Bc8 {
Time has come to take care about this bishop, too.} 26. Nf1 $5 {[%cal Gf1d2,
Gb2b3] Once the pressure against the e-pawn has been released, this knight can
look for new horisons.} f5 $5 {Equally logical. SInce the f5- and h5-squares
are not under pressure anymore, Black may start expanding on this wing.} ({
Delaying this operation with one more move may allow White too much activity
on the opposite wing.} 26... Bd7 27. axb5 axb5 28. N1d2 {[%csl Rb5,Rc5][%cal
Gb2b3]} f5 29. Ra7 Nd3 30. exf5 gxf5 31. R1a6 f4 32. Rxd6 $36) 27. axb5 axb5
28. exf5 gxf5 29. Ng3 $1 {[%csl Rf5,Rh5] A well-timed re-adjustment of plans.
The queenside plan would have been too slow now, of course.} Nd3 $1 30. Nxh5 (
30. Bxd3 $2 cxd3 31. Qxd3 e4 $17) 30... f4 31. Nxg7 Kxg7 {[%csl Rg2,Rh3][%cal
Gb8b7] Black has sacrificed a pawn and may lose another one after the exchange
on d3. However, most of his pieces are targetting the enemy kingside.} 32. Ba7
$5 {White wins a tempo for eliminating the irritating d3-knight, but on the
other hand the bishop is somewhat out of play on a7 and the last move helps
Black improve the placement of his queen's rook.} (32. Bd2 e4 33. Nd4 Qh4 $36)
32... Rb7 33. Bxd3 cxd3 34. Qxd3 e4 {Black retrieves the sacrificed material,
but, abstratcly speaking, this move looks risky, because it allows the return
of the enemy bishop into play.} (34... Rf7 $6 {would allow White too much
activity after} 35. Qxb5 {[%csl Re8][%cal Ga7b6,Ga3a7]}) (34... Kg8 $5 {
[%cal Ge5e4]} 35. Nd2 (35. Qc2 Rg7 $44) 35... Qg5 36. Ne4 Qg6 37. f3 Bf5 $44)
35. Bd4+ (35. Qd4+ Kg8 36. Nd2 Qh4 37. c4 $5 {[%cal Ya3h3]} (37. Nxe4 $2 Bxh3
$1 $19) 37... b4 38. Rb3 Rg7 $44 39. Nxe4 $6 Rge7 40. Nxd6 (40. f3 Bxh3 $1)
40... Re1+ 41. Kh2 Nf6 $40 42. Qxf6 $8 Qxf6 43. Nxe8 Rxe8 $15) 35... Nf6 (35...
Kg8 36. Qc2 $1 {[%csl Rg6]}) 36. Qd1 ({White should not give up his bishop with
} 36. Bxf6+ {although this would allow him maintain the material advantage
after} Qxf6 37. Qe2 {. Black gets a strong attack with} Kf8 $1 {[%csl Ge8]
[%cal Gb7h7,Ge4f3]} 38. Re1 Bg4 $3 $36 39. hxg4 $2 (39. Qf1 $8) 39... Rh7+ 40.
Kg1 Qh8 41. Kf1 Rh1+ 42. Ng1 Qh2 $19) 36... exf3 37. Qxf3 Kg6 38. Qxf4 {
White has 4 pawns for a knight and a very active bishop. However, he cannot
take advanatge of the apparently exposed position of the black king because an
important part of his army (both rooks) are temporarily passive, doubled on an
empty open file.} Nh5 (38... Nxd5 $5 39. Qg3+ Qg5 40. Qxd6+ Kh7 $13 {[%csl Rg2]
[%cal Gb7f7,Gc8b7,Gd5f4]}) 39. Qh2 {It is not easy to find a stable square for
the queen and maintain the king defended at the same time.} (39. Qf3 Rf7 40.
Qd3+ Bf5 $36) 39... Rbe7 (39... Rf7 $5 {[%cal Gh5f4]}) 40. Qg1 $2 {White will
never be able to recycle his queen with such artificial moves.} (40. g4 $5)
40... Re2 $36 41. Ra8 Qh4 42. Rb8 Kh6 $5 {Removing the king from a dangerous
file.} (42... Bxh3 43. gxh3+ {[%csl Gg6]} Ng3+ 44. Qxg3+ Qxg3 45. fxg3 Rxb8 46.
Ra6 Rd8 47. b4 $13) 43. Rb6 $2 {Missing the point behind Black's last move.} (
43. Qf1 $8) 43... Bxh3 $1 $19 44. Rxd6+ Kh7 45. g3 (45. gxh3 Qxh3+ 46. Qh2 Re1+
) 45... Bg2+ 46. Kxg2 Qxg3+ 47. Kf1 Qh3+ 48. Qg2 Ng3+ {A fascinating game in
romantic style.} 0-1

[Event "WchT 8th"]
[Site "Ningbo"]
[Date "2011.07.21"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Postny, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2699"]
[BlackElo "2618"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2011.07.17"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Hungary"]
[BlackTeam "Israel"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "HUN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ISR"]

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.
b3 Rb8 16. a4 d5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Nxe5 $146 (18. Bg5 {Akopian,V (2694)
-Mamedyarov,S (2763)/Astrakhan 2010/CBM 137/[Marin,M] (1/2, 53)}) 18... Nxe5
19. dxe5 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Bf4 Qxd1 22. Raxd1 Bg7 23. Bxe4 Bxe5 {It may
seem that a draw is inevitable.} 24. Bc6 $1 {An important intermediate move,
allowing White to maintain an edge.} Bxc6 25. Rxe5 Rxe5 26. Bxe5 Rc8 27. Bf6
$14 {This ending is not easy to evaluate. White's position is by far more
pleasant, because of the permanent eighth rank threats. However, further
analysis may reveal that Black can equalize with a series of accurate moves.
For the time being, I would use a way of evaluating suggested by Bronstein:
out of 10 games, White should count on making 6/6,5 points or similar. I
prefer this way of putting things over the Informant like "+/=/+/-" or Rybka's
"+0,36", which do not offer any concrete information.} Kf8 28. g4 Re8 29. Kh2
Re6 30. Rd8+ Re8 31. Rd1 Re6 32. g5 Rd6 33. Ra1 Rd2 34. Ra7 Rxf2+ 35. Kg1 Re2
36. Rxc7 Re6 37. Rc8+ Be8 38. Kg2 Re2+ 39. Kf3 Re6 40. h4 h5 41. Rb8 Re1 42. c4
bxc4 43. bxc4 Re6 44. c5 Rc6 45. Be5 Re6 46. Ke4 Ke7 47. Rb7+ Kd8 48. Kd4 Bd7
49. Ra7 Kc8 50. Bd6 Kd8 51. Ra8+ Bc8 52. Kd5 Re2 53. Kc6 Re6 54. Ra7 f6 55.
gxf6 Rxf6 56. Rh7 Re6 57. Rg7 Ba6 58. Kd5 Re2 59. c6 Ke8 60. Ra7 Bc8 61. Ra8
Kd8 62. Bf4 Re1 63. Kd6 Rd1+ 64. Kc5 Rb1 65. Bd2 1-0

[Event "Elista FIDE GP"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2008.12.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Cheparinov, Ivan"]
[Black "Alekseev, Evgeny V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2696"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2008.12.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 {By
employing this slow system of development, White does not pretend to refute
the Breyer variation. Instead, he aims to maintain the tension for as long as
possible, maintaining the centre under control and preventing freeing pawn
breaks in the centre. Since Black is under no immediate pressure, he can
arrange his pieces as he wishes and employ different move orders. However,
there comes a time when he should undertake some concrete action, or else he
will be suffocated, as will happen in this game.} c6 15. b3 (15. Rb1 $5 $146 {
Topalov,V (2813)-Mamedyarov,S (2728)/Hoogeveen 2006/CBM 115/[Marin,M] (1-0, 50)
}) 15... Qc7 16. Bb2 g6 ({I have made a Survey of the whole variation in my
notes to} 16... d5 $5 $146 {1/2 Svidler,P (2750)-Carlsen,M (2698)/Moscow 2006/
CBM 116/[Marin] (29). Now, I will only insert game fragments that are closely
related with the main game.}) 17. Qc2 Rac8 18. Bf1 Qb8 19. Rad1 Bg7 20. g3 {
A relatively new plan. Black seems to have completed his regrouping, but risks
remaining short of strengthening moves, while White can still improve his
position further.} Ba8 {This still looks like an useful move, by overdefending
the b5-pawn in view of an eventual break in the centre.} ({A more fluent
regrouping was carried out in the following blitz game:} 20... Nf8 21. Bg2 Ne6
22. b4 Nd7 23. axb5 axb5 24. dxe5 Nxe5 25. Nd4 c5 $132 {Ponomariov,R (2718)
-Ivanchuk,V (2781)/Moscow 2008/CBM 126 Extra (0-1, 36)}) 21. axb5 axb5 ({
As a Pirc player, I would seriously consider} 21... cxb5 $5 {aiming to give
the position an assymetrical character, for instance} 22. d5 {[%csl Ra8]} Rc7 {
[%cal Ga8b7,Gb7c8,Gg7h6]} 23. b4 (23. c4 b4 $1 {[%cal Gd7c5]}) 23... Nb6 $1 {
[%csl Gc4]}) 22. b4 Bf8 $6 {Starting with this move, Black loses the thread
and plays without a clear plan. With all his pieces on optimal squares, he
could consider opening the centre already.} (22... c5 $5 23. bxc5 exd4 24. cxd4
dxc5 25. d5 c4 {Ponomariov,R (2722)-Sasikiran,K (2666)/Biel 2004/CBM 102/
[Wedberg] (1-0, 62)}) (22... d5 $5 23. dxe5 Nxe5 24. Nxe5 Rxe5 $132 25. f4 $6 (
25. c4 dxc4 26. Bxe5 Qxe5 $44) 25... Qb6+ 26. Kh1 (26. Kh2 $2 Qf2+) (26. Kg2
Nxe4 $17 {[%csl Gf2][%cal Ga8g2]}) 26... Rh5 27. e5 Ng4 $36) 23. Qb3 h6 $6 (
23... Bg7 $5 24. dxe5 $140 Nxe5 25. c4 bxc4 26. Nxc4 Nxf3+ 27. Qxf3 Re6 $11) (
23... d5 $5) 24. dxe5 Nxe5 25. c4 bxc4 26. Nxc4 Nfd7 $2 (26... Qc7 $14 {
would still have offered chances to hold the position.}) 27. Nfxe5 Nxe5 28.
Nxe5 dxe5 29. Rd7 $18 {Black cannot defend the f7-square for too long.} Re7 30.
Red1 Rce8 31. Bc4 Kg7 32. Qf3 c5 33. Qxf7+ $1 Rxf7 34. Rxf7+ Kh8 35. Rdd7 1-0

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.02.21"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 {The Breyer system has become fashionable lately, but this is
precisely the reason why Morozevich' choice might seem a bit surprising. The
Russian GM usually prefer to play his "own theory".} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7
12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 c6 $5 ({Of course. Instead of the almost
authomatically played} 14... g6 {, Morozevich employs a move that has been
played only once, 51 (!) years ago.}) 15. Nf5 Qc7 ({The old game lost its
theoretical significance after} 15... g6 $2 16. Nh6+ Bxh6 ({Sad necessity. If} 
16... Kg7 {then} 17. Ng5 $1 {and the f7-pawn is impossible to defend, for
instance} Re7 18. Nhxf7 {and the knight is taboo because of the fork on e6.})
17. Bxh6 {. After giving up his bishop, Black had an awful position in
Burstein-Thomson, Moscow ol 1956.}) 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Nh2 c5 18. Qf3 c4 {
Black clears the c5-square for his queen's knight. With his next moves, White
will put pressure on the f6-square, in order to take advantage of the
predictable departure of the knight from d7.} 19. Bg5 Re6 20. Rad1 Nc5 21. Bxf6
(21. Nh6+ Kh8 {offers White absolutely nothing.}) 21... Rxf6 22. Ng4 Re6 23.
Nge3 {After this voluntary retreat, White can hardly claim an advantage.} ({
As known, playing on both wings increases the chances for success. Therefore,} 
23. b4 {(one of Fischer's favourite moves in the closed Spanish) deserves
serious attention.} cxb3 {(Maybe Black should refrain from this capture, but
this would mean to withdraw with his best placed piece.} 24. axb3 {[%csl Ge6,
Gf7][%cal Yb3b4,Yc2b3] followed by b4 and Bb3, when the pressure against the
black kingside would become quite annoying..}) 23... Qa5 24. a3 g6 {Black
enjoys almost absolute stability on dark squares, while White's activity has a
temporary character. We can conclude that the opening experiment has been
crowned with success.} 25. Nd5 $5 {Rudolf Spielmann used to call this "a
passive sacrifice", meaning that Black is not forced to accept it. By simply
continuing his development, he will gradually take over the advantage.} Rd8 ({
After} 25... gxf5 $2 26. exf5 {followed by Qg3+ and Qxe5, White's attack would
become very dangerous, especially that the black queen is far away from the
kingside.}) 26. Qg3 Rd7 27. Nfe3 Qd8 28. Qf3 Bg7 ({Black could undermine
White's centre with} 28... f5 $5 {The threat of fxe4 forces White give up a
piece immediately with} 29. exf5 $5 {, which would lead to a rather unclear
situation, for instance} Red6 30. fxg6 hxg6 31. Qg4 Bxd5 32. Nxd5 Rxd5 33. Rxd5
Rxd5 34. Qxg6+ Bg7 35. Qh7+ Kf8 36. Re3 Rd6 (36... Nd7 37. Rf3+ Nf6 38. g4 $44)
37. Rg3 Qe7 38. Qf5+ Bf6 39. Rg6) ({Morozevich' decision to increase the
pressure by indirect means is more technical in principle, as it will
practically force White to make an awful positional concession. Nevertheless,} 
28... Red6 {might have been even better and if} 29. g4 {then} Bh6 $17 {[%csl
Gf4,Gh4] and White's position is anything but appealing.}) 29. a4 Red6 30. axb5
axb5 $17 {Now Black really threatens ...f5, questioning White's stability in
the centre.} 31. g4 {Anand did not find any constructive way to sacrifice a
piece after ...f5, and decides to prevent it by mechanical means. However, the
dark squares are seriousloy weakened now and Black's advantage becomes even
more obvious.} Qh4 ({Possibly premature. The queen was well placed on d8,
keeping the d5-knight under pressure and defending the queenside (the
a5-square in first line).} 31... Bh6 $5 {followed by ...Bxe3 deserves serious
attention.}) 32. Ra1 Ne6 33. Qg3 Qxg3+ 34. fxg3 {White has spoiled his pawn
structure, but has solved the problem of the f4-square at least.} Nc5 $2 ({
By neglecting the defence of the b5-pawn, Black offers his opponent strong
counterplay.} 34... Nc7 {, exchanging the active knight, would have preserved
some advantage.}) 35. h4 h6 36. Ra5 {Black has problems defending his
queenside now.} Bc6 37. Nb4 Bxe4 38. Bxe4 Nxe4 39. Rxb5 {The position has
changed in radical way. Suddenly, Black's initiative is not easy to develop,
while his pawns are hanging.} Nd2 ({When embarking this line, Morozevich might
have overlooed that} 39... Nxg3 {loses material to} 40. Kg2 Ne4 41. Nxc4) 40.
Kg2 e4 41. Re2 Bf8 42. Ned5 {White dominates the board now. Black can do very
little for survival.} e3 43. Nxe3 Re6 44. Nbd5 Nb3 45. Nf4 Rc6 46. Nxc4 Rxc4
47. Rxb3 Kg7 48. Rb5 Bc5 49. g5 hxg5 50. hxg5 Be7 51. Kf3 Bd8 52. Re4 Rc6 53.
Kg4 Rd2 54. Rd5 Rxd5 55. Nxd5 Re6 56. Rxe6 fxe6 57. Nf4 Kf7 58. Nd3 Bc7 59. Kf3
1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.10.02"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2762"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[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 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 ({In the Ruy Lopez a2-a4 is a
thematic move, activating the queen's rook and weakening the black queenside.
Since in this game White will play it a bit earlier than in the main lines, it
is worth mentioning that} 12. a4 {is premature since Black has not committed
his f8-rook yet:} c5 13. d5 c4 14. Bc2 Nc5 15. Nf1 Qc7 16. Ng3 Rfb8 $1 {
The most effective regrouping, forcing White to release the queenside tension
and give away the control of the a-file.} 17. Nf5 Bf8 18. Qe2 Bc8 19. g4 Bd7
20. axb5 axb5 21. Bg5 Ne8 22. Nd2 Ra7 23. Be3 Rba8 $36 {Polgar,J (2658)
-Kasparov,G (2851) Internet KC 2000 (1/2-1/2, 49)}) 12... Re8 13. a4 $5 ({
After the usual} 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. a4 {Black has a choice between two
reliable systems:} c5 ({The modern trend is} 15... Bg7 16. Bd3 c6) 16. d5 c4)
13... Bf8 (13... c5 {would have probably transposed to one of the main lines
mentioned above, but maybe Svidler intended to play the modern one, based on
refraining from ...c7-c5.}) 14. Bd3 c6 15. Qc2 $5 ({White could, of course,
transpose with} 15. Nf1 {as for instance in a game played in the same
tournament:} Qc7 16. Ng3 g6 17. Bg5 Bg7 18. Qd2 Nf8 19. Bh6 Ne6 20. Bxg7 Kxg7
21. Bf1 Rad8 22. b4 Nd7 {Dominguez Perez,L (2732)-Adams,M (2742) Baku 2015 (1/
2-1/2, 38). But Karjakin wants to make full use of the concrete move order,
keeping his knight close to the queenside.}) 15... Rc8 ({In a somewhat older
game, one of the main specialists of the ...c7-c6 system with Black kept
regrouping as in the main line:} 15... g6 16. b4 Nb6 17. a5 $6 {Stabilising
Black's queenside.} ({It is true, though, that} 17. axb5 axb5 18. Rxa8 Bxa8 19.
dxe5 dxe5 20. Nb3 {offers White only some temporary control as after} Qc7 21.
Be3 Nbd7 {it would be hard to stop the equalising ...c6-c5 for too long.})
17... Nbd7 18. Bb2 Rc8 19. c4 exd4 20. Bxd4 bxc4 21. Qxc4 c5 $15 {Berg,E (2623)
-Sasikiran,K (2694) Dresden 2008 (0-1, 63)}) 16. axb5 axb5 17. b4 c5 $5 $146 {
A surgical novelty.} ({After} 17... Qc7 {Black eventually landed in troubles
in Karjakin,S (2767)-Carlsen,M (2868) Stavanger 2013 CBM 155 (0-1, 46) [Marin,
M]}) ({But the slow treatment of the position is entirely viable as in the
following classical game:} 17... 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 {
Short,N (2635)-Portisch,L (2605) Wijk aan Zee 1990 (½-½, 56), with a
harmonious position for Black.}) 18. bxc5 exd4 (18... dxc5 {would offer White
a dangerous initiative based on activating his Spanish bishop:} 19. Bxb5 cxd4
20. Bc4 dxc3 21. Qxc3 {[%csl Gb7,Gf7]} Qc7 (21... Re7 22. Ba3 Nc5 23. Rab1 $36)
22. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 23. Ng5+ Kg8 (23... Ke7 24. Ba3+ Nc5 25. Nb3 $18) (23... Kg6
24. Qg3 $18 {[%cal Gd2f3,Gf3h4,Rg5e6]}) 24. Qb3+ Bd5 25. exd5 $14 {Even though
the d5-pawn is most likely doomed, the weakness of the e5-pawn will leave
Black struggling in the endgame.}) 19. c6 ({White has not developed enough to
build up a massive centre:} 19. cxd4 dxc5 20. d5 c4 21. Bf1 Bc5 $36 {[%cal
Gd8b6,Gf6h5]}) 19... dxc3 {This is the simplest solution, but it allows White
to retain some symbolic advantage.} (19... Bxc6 $5 {is more ambitious but not
easy at all to calculate:} 20. Nxd4 b4 21. Ba6 (21. cxb4 Bb5 22. Qb3 Bxd3 23.
Qxd3 d5 $132) (21. Nxc6 Rxc6 22. Bb2 bxc3 23. Bxc3 Qc7 $15) 21... bxc3 $1 (
21... Rc7 22. cxb4) 22. Bxc8 cxd2 23. Bxd2 Bxe4 24. Bxd7 Bxc2 25. Bxe8 Be4 $11)
20. cxb7 cxd2 21. Qxd2 Rb8 22. Bxb5 Qb6 {A viable move, even though it will
eventually lose a tempo.} (22... Rxb7 23. Bc6 {[%cal Ga1a8] offers White some
initiative.}) ({But} 22... Qc7 $5 {may be a slight improvement over the game.})
23. Rb1 Qxb7 24. Bd3 Qa8 25. Rxb8 Rxb8 26. Bb2 {+/=/= White has the bishop
pair, more space and the better structure. But in view of the reduced number
of pawns, his chances to prove anything concrete are very slim.} Qa2 27. Re2 h6
28. Qc1 Qb3 29. Bc4 Qb7 30. Qd1 ({Since White intended to play e4-e5 it would
have made sense to keep the bishop pair in the process, but unfortunately} 30.
e5 dxe5 31. Nxe5 Nxe5 32. Bxe5 {allows the queen exchange with an obvious draw:
} Qb1) 30... Re8 31. Bxf6 {Betting on an illusory attack.} (31. e5 dxe5 32.
Nxe5 Nxe5 33. Bxe5 {is not too promising either, but White would at least keep
some symbolic pressure.}) 31... Nxf6 32. e5 dxe5 33. Nxe5 Re7 34. Qd4 Nd7 {
Those thinking the game would not last for too long were right, but they
surely failed to guess the result as a draw looks inevitable already.} 35. Nxf7
{This does not spoil anything yet, as after general exchanges on f7 the
reduced material would not offer Black any winning chances. In fact, the f7/f2
square theme will be recurrent in this match.} ({But a more restrictive move
order was} 35. Rb2 Qc7 36. Nxf7 Rxf7 {when Karjakin's manoeuvre} 37. Rb5 {
is entirely playable, but not really effective after, say,} Bc5) 35... Rxf7 36.
Rb2 Qc6 {Occupying the square on offer.} 37. Rb5 $4 {Bringing the last
reserves into the attack is not too threatening, as Rf5 can always be met with
...Nf6.} ({Karjakin's blunder was probably intended as an improvement over} 37.
Rb3 {which allows (among many other playable moves)} Ne5) 37... Kh8 $1 {
As simple as that. The white rook is hanging, meaning Black keeps his extra
piece.} 38. Rd5 $6 {Shortening the agony.} Nb6 {Confronted with new material
losses, Karjakin resigned. With hindsight, Karjakin's blunder can be regarded
as a non-intentional psychological gambit. Had the game ended in a draw,
Svidler might have kept his composure and his minimal advantage on the score
table, but facing the perspective to win easier than expected he took a few
highly uninspired decisions.} 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 24th"]
[Site "Kallithea"]
[Date "2008.10.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Landa, Konstantin"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2613"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2008.10.17"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 127"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Muelheim Nord"]
[BlackTeam "Ural Sverdlovskaya"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

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.
b3 Bg7 ({Last year, Kamsky experimented with} 15... a5 $5 {Shirov,A (2739)
-Kamsky,G (2714)/Khanty-Mansiysk 2007/CBM 122/[Rogozenko] (1/2, 42)}) ({
Apparently, the irrational} 15... d5 16. Bg5 h6 17. Bh4 {has fallen out of
fashion after some intense practical testing at top level.}) 16. d5 {Once the
d6-pawn is not defended anymore, this move is logical. Black needs to prepare
the thematic ...c6 still. Besides, the threat ...d5 had become more real after
the re-development of the blak king's bishop.} Rc8 17. Bg5 {The bishop
basically belongs to e3, but White intends to provoke a minor weakening of the
enemy kingside.} ({After} 17. c4 c6 {, apart from Bg5 which would just
transpose to the main game, White has tried} {Against} 18. Be3 {, Black
usually employs the same plan as in the main game. Here are two recent games
featuring Kamsky on both sides:} (18. Bd2 {This move, directed against ...Nb6 
(Ba5!) aims to provoke a weakness on the opposite wing before placing the
bishop on e3.} a5 {קb5} ({In a recent blitz game, Kamsky delayed this move
for a while, but play did not take on an independent character:} 18... Qc7 19.
Rc1 bxc4 20. bxc4 Nc5 21. Be3 Nfd7 22. Nd2 a5 $11 {Leko,P (2741)-Kamsky,G 
(2723)/Moscow Tal Mem blitz 2008 (0-1, 61). Black has achieved full stability.}
) 19. Be3 Nc5 (19... bxc4 20. bxc4 {prematurely opens the d1-a4 diagonal:} Nc5
21. Bxc5 dxc5 22. Ba4 $1 $14 {The light squares in Black's camp will remain
weak.}) (19... Qc7 20. Bd3 bxc4 21. bxc4 Ba6 22. Bf1 Nc5 23. Bxc5 dxc5 24. Rb1
$14 {Anand,V (2766)-Ponomariov,R (2718)/Cap d'Agde 2003/CBM 98/ (1/2, 60). is
also somewhat better for White, although there will be no exchange of
light-squared bishops yet.}) 20. a3 (20. Bxc5 dxc5 {[%csl Rc2] would make less
sense with the bishop passive on b2.}) 20... bxc4 21. bxc4 ({The intermediate} 
21. Bxc5 {aiming to transpose above, could be met by the also intermediate}
cxd5 $5 {, destroying White's centre.}) 21... Nfd7 {Now, everything looks fine
for Black.} 22. Rb1 Ba6 23. Nd2 Rf8 24. Qf3 Qh4 25. Qg4 Qxg4 26. hxg4 Bf6 27.
Ne2 cxd5 28. exd5 $5 (28. cxd5 {[%csl Ga6]}) 28... Bd8 29. g5 $6 ({Instead of
making a "generally useful move" on the kingside, White should have
consolidated his queenside with} 29. Nc3 $13) 29... Nb6 $15 {Karjakin,S (2730)
-Harikrishna,P (2659)/Motril 2008 (0-1, 60)}) 18... Nb6 {[%csl Rc4]} 19. Rb1 {
[%cal Gb1b7]} Qc7 {[%csl Gb7,Rc4][%cal Gc7c2]} 20. Bd3 ({Releasing the tension
with} 20. dxc6 {offers the black knights too much freedom.} Bxc6 21. Bd3 bxc4
22. bxc4 Na4 23. Qc2 Nc5 24. Nd2 Nfd7 25. Bf1 Ne6 26. Ne2 Ndc5 27. Nc3 Nd4 $132
{Kamsky,G (2726)-Harikrishna,P (2679)/Dagomys 2008/CBM 124 (1/2, 43)}) 20...
cxd5 21. cxd5 Nbxd5 $1 22. exd5 e4 {After dissolving White's centre, Black
will have absolutely no problems.} 23. Rc1 Qd7 24. Rxc8 Qxc8 25. Nxe4 Nxe4 26.
Bxe4 Rxe4 27. Qd3 Re7 28. Bf4 Rxe1+ 29. Nxe1 Qa8 30. Nc2 Bxd5 31. Ne3 Be6 32.
Qxd6 h5 $11 {Karjakin,S (2732)-Kamsky,G (2726)/Baku 2008 (1/2, 44)}) ({One day
earlier in the same tournament where the main game was played, White tried a
new move:} 17. Bd3 $146 c6 18. c4 Nc5 19. Bf1 bxc4 20. bxc4 a5 21. Bg5 h6 22.
Bd2 Ba6 23. Rb1 h5 24. Bg5 Qc7 25. Nd2 a4 26. Qf3 Nh7 27. Be3 Qa5 28. Red1 Bf6
{Karjakin,S (2730)-Svidler,P (2727)/Kallithea 2008 (1/2, 59). and Black has a
stable and active position.}) 17... c6 18. c4 h6 19. Be3 Nb6 20. Rb1 {[%csl
Rb7] Indirectly defending c4.} Qc7 $1 {Defending the b7-bishop and targetting
the c2-bishop.} ({The immediate sacrifice} 20... cxd5 21. cxd5 Nbxd5 $6 22.
exd5 Nxd5 {can be met by a counter-sacrifrice after} 23. Bd2 f5 24. Nxf5 $1
gxf5 25. Bxf5 Rb8 (25... Nc3 26. Bxc8 $5 Nxd1 27. Bxb7 e4 $5 28. Rbxd1 exf3 29.
Rxe8+ Qxe8 30. Bxf3 $14) 26. Rc1 $14 {Kasimdzhanov,R (2668)-Short,N (2701)/
Skanderborg 2003/CBM 98/ (0-1, 54). The black king feels rather insecure.}) 21.
dxc6 ({With the pawn on h6,} 21. Bd3 {has not been tried in practice.
Basically, there should not be a big difference, because after} cxd5 22. cxd5
Nbxd5 23. exd5 e4 {White gets nothing special with} 24. Bxh6 Bxh6 25. Bxe4 (25.
Nxe4 Nxd5 $15) 25... Qc3 $44 {[%csl Rd5]}) 21... Bxc6 22. cxb5 $146 {White
completely releases the tension, aiming to complete his development as soon as
possible.} ({The seemingly solid} 22. Nd2 {, defending c4 and e4, is in fact a
bit passive.} Nbd7 23. Rc1 Qa5 24. Bb1 Nc5 $15 {Gashimov,V (2717)-Harikrishna,
P (2668)/Sabadell 2008 (0-1, 42)}) 22... axb5 23. Qd2 Kh7 {Of course, the
white setup would make less sense in the event of the immediate development of
the bishop on e3 (no ...h6).} 24. Rbc1 Nbd7 ({Black should refrain from
premature activity.} 24... d5 $2 {leaves the black king exposed after} 25. Nf5
$1 gxf5 26. exd5 e4 (26... Nbxd5 27. Bxf5+ Kh8 28. Bxh6 $40) 27. dxc6 $14 exf3
$2 28. Bxf5+ Kg8 29. Bxb6 Qxb6 30. Rxe8+ Rxe8 31. c7 $18) 25. Red1 Bf8 {
White's position looks more active, but Black's compact structure insures him
against trouble. Besides, the occupation of the d5-square is not achievable
for White.} 26. b4 {[%csl Gc5][%cal Gc2b3]} Nb6 27. Bb3 {[%csl Rb6][%cal Gb3f7]
Landa has activated his position to the maximum. It is remarkable that Black
cannot parry the threat Bxf7 by simple means. His king is bound to defend the
h6-pawn, while ...Re7 would lose the d6-pawn.} Nc4 $5 {Kamsky decides to cut
the Gordian knot by surgical means.} 28. Bxc4 bxc4 29. Rxc4 Qb7 $44 {[%csl Re4]
Black will retrieve the pawn soon. In order to avoid being crushed by the
central pawns, White has to provoke simplifications, as in the endgame the
outside passed pawns would become more dangerous.} 30. Rdc1 Nxe4 31. Nxe4 Bxe4
32. Rxc8 Rxc8 33. Rxc8 Qxc8 34. b5 Qb7 35. a4 Bxf3 36. gxf3 Qxf3 37. b6 {
White seems to have winning chances because of his passed pawns, but the
insecure position of his king makes a draw look most probable.} d5 $1 {
Activating the bishop.} 38. b7 Bd6 39. Ba7 (39. Bc5 Bb8 40. a5 d4 41. a6 Qxh3
$11 {and a draw by perpetual is quite close.}) 39... Qb3 40. b8=Q Bxb8 41. Bxb8
Qxb8 42. Qxd5 {It is known that in queen endings the number of pawns is less
relevant than the degree of danger posed by them. White has some hopes to
promote his a-pawn, but once again the vulnerability of his king will keep the
balance even.} Qa7 43. a5 e4 44. Kg2 h5 45. a6 {Forcing a draw.} (45. Qb5 {
[%cal Gb5b6,Ga5a6]} e3 $132 46. Qb6 $2 Qxb6 47. axb6 e2 $1 $17) 45... Qxa6 46.
Qxf7+ Kh8 47. Qf8+ Kh7 48. Qf7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "2010.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[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 {The Breyer system seems to suit Mamedyarov's style
perfectly well. It is quite flexible and allows Black to change the setup from
one game to another, confusing the opponent from an early stage . The
objective correctness of the lines employed is of secondary importance, once
the points are brought home!} 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6
15. a4 Bg7 {This is considered to be slightly passive.} ({The main line goes} 
15... c5 16. d5 c4 17. Bg5 h6 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2 h5 {, for instance:} 20. Bg5
(20. Bxc5 dxc5 {Grischuk,A (2748)-Kamsky,G (2720)/Nalchik 2009/CBM 130/[Marin,
M] (0-1, 101)}) 20... Be7 21. Ra3 {Inarkiev,E (2684)-Kamsky,G (2726)/Baku 2008/
CBM 124/[Marin,M] (0-1, 48)}) 16. Bd3 d5 $5 {But this is a really rare move!
Black immediately sets up tension in the centre, taking advantage of the fact
that White has just spent another tempo with a piece that had consumed a lot
of time already.} ({The aforementioned evaluation of 15...Bg7 is based on the
fact that Black usually defends his b-pawn with} 16... c6 {, see for instance
Timofeev,A (2521)-Bologan,V (2655)/Kazan 2001/CBM 085/[Wedberg] (1-0, 37)}) 17.
Bg5 $1 {A logical developing move. It had been the over the board choice of a
player who five years later was to become one of the greatest World Champions
ever. In view of the pin, Black is best advised to refrain from releasing the
tension in the centre. The position becomes very complicated, requiring deep
calculation on every step. The fact is that the moves dxe5 and exd5 and their
symmetrical corresponding moves need to be taken into account on every step.} (
17. axb5 {is not dangerous.} dxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Rxe4 axb5 21.
Bg5 f6 22. Bd2 c5 $5 (22... Rxa1 23. Qxa1 Qa8 24. Qxa8 Rxa8 25. dxe5 fxe5 26.
Re2 Ra2 $132) 23. dxe5 {White did not find a good moment to capture on a8
because after ...Qxa8 he would have to lose a tempo to move or defend his rook.
} Rxa1 24. Qxa1 Nxe5 25. Nxe5 Qd5 26. Qe1 (26. Re2 {is slightly more
consistent, but White's advantage remains microscopical:} Rxe5 27. Rxe5 fxe5
28. Be3 e4 29. g3 c4 30. Qa7 h5 {with a probable draw.}) 26... Rxe5 27. Rxe5
Qxe5 28. Qxe5 fxe5 29. b3 c4 $11 {and Black has no problems at all, Garcia
Vera, R-Redolfi,A/Buenos Aires 1958/MCL (1/2, 39)}) (17. exd5 exd4 18. Rxe8+ (
18. Nxd4 Rxe1+ 19. Qxe1 Nc5 {/\ Qd5=/+}) 18... Qxe8 ({Minic recommends} 18...
Nxe8 {, which looks good enough, indeed.} 19. Nxd4 Nc5 20. axb5 $1 Bxd4 $1 21.
cxd4 Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Qxd5 $11) 19. Nxd4 Bxd5 20. Bf1 (20. axb5 axb5 21. Rxa8 Qxa8
22. Bf1 c6 $11) 20... c5 21. Nde2 Bc6 22. axb5 axb5 23. Rxa8 Qxa8 $15 {
Berezjuk,S (2436)-Sodoma,J (2379)/Czechia 2008/CBM 127 Extra (1/2, 31). The
position is almost symmetrical, but Black's pieces are more active.}) 17... b4
$5 $146 {Finally removing this pawn from the attacked square and sacrificing
it in order to spoil White's structure.} (17... dxe4 $6 {leaves the initiative
to White:} 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Nxe4 exd4 20. Nxd4 c5 (20... h6 21. Nc6 Qc8 22.
Nxf6+ Nxf6 23. Bxf6 $1 Rxe1+ 24. Qxe1 Bxf6 25. Qe4 $16 {Milic}) 21. Bxf6 Nxf6 (
21... Bxf6 $2 22. Nc6 {/\ Qd7!+- Milic}) 22. Nxc5 Rxe1+ 23. Qxe1 b4 $5 24. Rc1
{'?!' Milic,B.} (24. Rd1 $1 bxc3 25. Qxc3 Rc8 26. b4 Ne4 $5 27. Qe1 $1 $16 Nxc5
$2 28. Nc6 $1 $18 {Milic}) 24... bxc3 25. bxc3 (25. Qxc3 Rc8 $1 $44 {Milic})
25... Qd5 26. Ndb3 Bf8 27. Qd1 Qxd1+ 28. Rxd1 Rc8 29. Nxa6 Rxc3 30. Rb1 Bd6 $11
{/\...Rc6} 31. Rd1 Bf8 32. Rb1 Nd7 $2 (32... Bd6 $11) 33. a5 Rc6 34. Rd1 $16 {
Karpov,A-O'Kelly de Galway,A/Caracas 1970/MCD (1-0, 41)}) 18. cxb4 {
Strategically, not the most consistent and possibly not the best move.} (18.
exd5 {looks like a premature releasing of the tension, similar to Black's ...
dxe4 in the previous game.} bxc3 19. bxc3 exd4 20. c4 Rxe1+ 21. Qxe1 h6 22. Bf4
Nc5 23. Qd1 c6 $132) ({White should continue his development by connecting
rooks, but how?} 18. Qd2 {places the queen on a vulnerable square, allowing ...
Nxe4 in certain cases.} bxc3 19. bxc3 dxe4 20. Bxe4 Bxe4 21. Nxe4 exd4 22.
Nxf6+ Nxf6 23. cxd4 Qd5) (18. Qc2 {does not put too much pressure and may be
answered with} h6) (18. Qc1 {prevents both ...h6 and ...Nxe4, but is a bit
passive. Black could answer symemtrically with} Qc8 {, getting out of the pin.}
) ({The main drawback of Black's novelty is the weakening of the queenside
light squares. From this point of view,} 18. Qb3 $5 {deserves serious
attention:} c5 (18... h6 19. Qxb4 Rb8 20. Bxf6 Qxf6 21. Qa5) 19. exd5 Bxd5 20.
Qxd5 $1 (20. Bc4 Bxc4 21. Qxc4 exd4 22. cxd4 cxd4 $11) 20... Nxd5 21. Bxd8
Raxd8 (21... Rexd8 22. Be4 $16) 22. Bc4 $14 {White is better regrouped and
Black's position has many weak light squares.}) 18... h6 19. Bxf6 (19. Bd2 {
is harmless:} dxe4 20. Nxe4 exd4) ({The thematic} 19. Bh4 $5 {, as worked out
by Judit Polgar in another line of the Breyer, deserves attention:} g5 20. Nxg5
hxg5 21. Bxg5 exd4 22. exd5 $44 {[%cal Gg3f5]}) 19... Qxf6 20. Rc1 Qd6 $44 {
Black is well regrouped now and exerts strong pressure against White's centre
and queenside.} 21. b5 (21. exd5 Bxd5 22. dxe5 (22. Ne4 Qxb4 $132) (22. b5 exd4
23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. bxa6 Nc5 $132) 22... Nxe5 23. Nxe5 Bxe5 {With so many dark
squares under attack, White cannot maintain his material advantage.}) (21. Qc2
Qxb4 (21... Rac8 $6 22. exd5 Bxd5 23. Ne4 $1 Qxb4 24. Bxa6 $16 {This is a
moment in which the insertion of the moves Qc2 and Rac8 favours White if
compared to the game continuation.}) 22. Qxc7 Red8 $132) 21... axb5 {Black
cannot ignore the queenside tension.} (21... exd4 $6 22. bxa6 Bxa6 23. Bxa6
Rxa6 24. Nxd4 $16 {Black has not enough compensation for the pawn, because he
cannot play} dxe4 $2 25. Nb5 $1 Qxd1 26. Rexd1 {[%cal Gb5c7,Gd1d7]} Rd8 (26...
Re7 27. Rxc7 $18) 27. Rxc7 $18) 22. Bxb5 {[%cal Gb5e8] The only way to avoid
disaster in the centre.} (22. axb5 exd4 $17) 22... c6 23. Bf1 exd4 24. Nxd4 {
Black has excellent development and the missing bishop leaves White unstable
on dark squares. Despite the missing pawn, Black's position looks very
pleasant. However, he must avoid certain tricks still.} Rab8 $1 {The start of
a coherent plan of improving the piece placement even more. For the time being,
the weakened b-file is taken under control.} (24... dxe4 $2 25. Nxc6 $16) 25.
b3 (25. Qd2 $2 dxe4 $1 $15) 25... Ba8 26. Nf3 Nc5 27. Rb1 Ne6 $44 28. Qd2 Rb4
29. exd5 {White intends to place his bishop on b5, but this way of releasing
the tension leaves the g7-bishop very active.} (29. e5 $5 {may be a better way
to restrict Black's initiative.}) 29... cxd5 30. Bb5 Rd8 31. Red1 Rf4 $36 {
[%cal Gf4f3] Suddently dark clouds are gathering around the white king.} 32.
Ne1 {This (and the next) knight retreat does not look nice, but it is hard to
find a satisfactory continuation.} (32. b4 Rxf3 33. gxf3 Ng5 $40) (32. Be2 h5
33. b4 d4 $36) 32... Bd4 $1 33. Nh1 Ba7 {One gets the feeling that the whole
board is Black's. The ease with which he transfers his pieces from one wing to
another is impressive.} 34. Nd3 Rh4 35. Re1 ({Rather sadly, White cannot bring
his knight back in the game:} 35. Ng3 $2 Qxg3) 35... Ng5 36. Qe2 Ne4 37. Rbc1
Bb8 {The start of what should have been the decisive phase of the attack. The
next few moves may have been played in mutual time trouble.} 38. f4 g5 $5 (
38... Rxf4 $1 39. Nxf4 Qxf4 40. g3 (40. g4 Ng5 $19) 40... Nxg3 $19) 39. g3 (39.
Nhf2 gxf4 $17) 39... Rxh3 $2 (39... gxf4 40. gxh4 f3 41. Qb2 Ba7+ $1 $19) 40.
Qg4 Qe6 41. Qxe6 fxe6 42. Bd7 $2 {This is a nice trick, but after Black's
accurate answer it will leave the bishop hanging.} (42. Kg2 Rh5 43. Nhf2 $13 {
offers White chances to regroup properly, while the h5-rook may have problems
returning into the game.}) 42... Kf7 $1 $17 (42... Rxd7 $2 43. Rc8+ $16) 43.
Kg2 Rh5 44. f5 exf5 $1 (44... Rxd7 $6 45. fxe6+ Kxe6 46. Rc8 $132) 45. Bxf5 Nf6
(45... Rxh1 $5 46. Rxh1 Nxg3 $17) 46. Nhf2 d4+ 47. Kg1 Bxg3 $17 {Having again
gained an advantage, Mamedyarov will not let it slip away for the second time.}
48. Ne5+ Bxe5 49. Rxe5 g4 50. Be6+ Kg6 51. Rcc5 g3 52. Nh3 Rxe5 53. Rxe5 Ne4
54. Bg4 Rf8 55. Re6+ Kg7 56. Re7+ Kh8 57. Be2 Nd2 58. Nf4 (58. a5 Nf3+ 59. Kg2
(59. Bxf3 Bxf3 {[%cal Gf8c8]} 60. Kf1 d3 61. Ke1 Bg4 62. Ng1 Rf2 63. Re8+ Kg7
64. Rd8 Ra2 65. Rxd3 Ra1+ 66. Kd2 Rxg1 $19) 59... Nh4+ 60. Kg1 (60. Kxg3 Nf5+)
60... Bg2 $19 {[%csl Gh3]}) 58... Rxf4 59. Re8+ Kg7 60. Rxa8 Rf2 61. Bh5 Rh2
62. Bd1 Ne4 63. Bf3 Ng5 64. Bg2 h5 65. Rd8 Ne6 66. Rd7+ Kf6 67. a5 Nf4 68. Bf1
d3 69. Rd6+ Ke5 70. Rd8 g2 71. Re8+ Kd6 0-1

[Event "Elista FIDE GP"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2008.12.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Alekseev, Evgeny V"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2679"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2008.12.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
b3 Bg7 16. d5 Rc8 17. c4 ({I made a survey of this increasingly popular
variation in my comments to the game} 17. Bg5 {Landa,K (2613)-Kamsky,G (2729)/
Kallithea 2008/CBM 127/[Marin] (1/2, 48). In some of my notes below, I will
just mention the games that have been commented in the notes to this same game.
}) 17... c6 18. Bd2 (18. Be3 {Karjakin,S (2732)-Kamsky,G (2726)/Baku 2008/CBM
127 (1/2, 44)}) 18... Nc5 (18... a5 {Karjakin,S (2730)-Harikrishna,P (2659)/
Motril 2008 (0-1, 60) קb5}) (18... Qc7 {Leko,P (2741)-Kamsky,G (2723)/Moscow
Tal Mem blitz 2008 (0-1, 61)}) 19. Rb1 $146 {Judging from the course of the
game, this is not a very inspired novelty.} ({Previously,} 19. Rc1 {had been
played, but after} a5 {White unnecessarily weakened the b3-square with} 20. a3
$6 ({He should have continued as in our main game, when the rook would have
been better placed on c1, at least if Black would have defended in the same
way, for instance} 20. Be3 Qc7 21. Bxc5 dxc5 22. Bd3 bxc4 23. bxc4 Ba6 24. Bf1
Bh6 25. Rc3 {and Black would have had to live with the permanent threat of
dxc6 followed by a knight transfer to d5, since} cxd5 {does not work anymore
because of} 26. cxd5 {[%csl Gc4]} c4 $6 27. Nd2 Bxd2 28. Qxd2 $16 {and Black
is worse on practically all the areas of the board.}) 20... bxc4 21. bxc4 Nfd7
22. Bb1 Ba6 23. Nf1 a4 24. Bg5 Qb6 $11 {with a stable position for Black in
Krakops,M (2440)-Gabriel,C (2570)/Pula 1997/CBM 057 ext (1/2, 44)}) 19... Qc7
20. Be3 a5 ({Black does not have time to consolidate with} 20... Nfd7 {because
of} 21. b4 $16 {[%csl Gc5]}) 21. Bxc5 $5 {A double edged decision. White
spoils Black's structure, but gives up an important bishop.} (21. Qd2 {could
already have been answered with} Nfd7 $11) 21... dxc5 22. Bd3 (22. d6 {is
usually risky in this type of position. After} Qd7 {the pawn would remain
vulnerable.}) 22... bxc4 23. bxc4 (23. Bxc4 $2 {loses the central pawn after}
cxd5 24. exd5 Rcd8) 23... Ba6 $5 {Preparing to release the tension in the
centre.} 24. Qc2 ({Now,} 24. Rc1 {fails to stabilize the position, mainly
because of having lost one tempo compared to the aforementioned game:} Bh6 25.
Rc3 cxd5 26. cxd5 c4 27. Bf1 (27. Nd2 {offers Black very active play after}
cxd3 $3 28. Rxc7 Rxc7 29. Ngf1 Rc2 $15) 27... Rb8 28. Nd2 (28. Qc2 Rec8) 28...
Bf4 29. Nxc4 Rb4 30. Qc2 Rc8 {and White cannot unpin himself properly.}) 24...
cxd5 25. cxd5 ({Usually, a move such as} 25. exd5 {does not offer White
anything concrete, but here, with the black queen's bishop badly placed and
the b5-square weak, it may have been a better try for complex play. Black
would answer} Bf8 $13 {with acceptable stability on the dark squares. His
central pawns could become threatening in the long run.}) 25... c4 $1 26. Bf1
Bf8 {[%cal Gf8b4,Gc7d6,Gf6d7] The start of an excellent regroupment, absolving
Black from any problems, despite his slightly spoiled structure.} 27. Ne2 {
White, too, improves the placement of his minor pieces. The c4-pawn needs to
be safely blocked.} Nd7 28. Nc3 Bb4 29. Red1 Qd6 30. Nd2 Kg7 $11 {Both sides
have completed their regroupment and the position is about equal. The most
logical outcome of the game would be a peaceful draw, but Akopian decides to
force matters.} 31. a3 $6 Bxa3 32. Nb5 Bxb5 33. Rxb5 Bb4 $1 {The rook is
trapped now and White does not get entirely adequate compensation for the
exchange, mainly because his f2-square is vulnerable.} 34. Nxc4 (34. Ra1 {
is not better:} Nb6 (34... Qa6 $2 35. Rxb4 $18) 35. Nxc4 Nxc4 36. Bxc4 Qc7 37.
Rc1 Ba3 38. Ra1 Be7 $1 {A nice manoeuvre, winning an essential tempo.} 39. Ra4
(39. Rc1 Bg5 $19) 39... Bb4 $1 {Now, the rook cannot return to c1 anymore.} 40.
Raxb4 axb4 41. Rxb4 Rb8 $17) 34... Qa6 $15 35. Qa4 (35. Rxb4 axb4 36. Qb3 $15 {
[%cal Gc4e5,Gb3b4]}) 35... Nc5 36. Rxc5 Bxc5 37. d6 {Apparently, this is a
favourite pattern of Akopian, without any objective reason. At the Moscow
Olympiad in 1994, playing against me, he was forced to sacrifice an exchange,
obtaining an advanced pawn on d6, sustained by a stable c4-knight. In that
game, we also had opposite coloured bishops. However, things did not go too
well for Akopian, who lost on both occasions.} Rcd8 38. Nxe5 Qb6 39. Nc4 Bxf2+
40. Kh1 Qa7 41. e5 Bg3 42. Qa1 Kg8 43. Qxa5 Qf2 44. Qc3 Bf4 45. Rb1 h5 46. Qe1
Qxe1 47. Rxe1 f6 48. Bd3 Kh7 49. g4 hxg4 50. hxg4 Bxe5 51. g5 Kg7 52. gxf6+
Bxf6 53. Rg1 Rh8+ 54. Kg2 Rh4 55. Rb1 Rd4 56. Bf1 Rc8 57. Rb7+ Kh6 58. Rc7 Ra8
59. Rf7 Kg5 60. Rb7 Ra2+ 61. Kg3 Rg4+ 0-1

[Event "ROM-chT"]
[Site "Calimanesti Caciulata"]
[Date "2016.11.23"]
[Round "5.4"]
[White "Zhigalko, Andrey"]
[Black "Marin, Mihail"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2584"]
[BlackElo "2549"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2016.11.19"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Vados"]
[BlackTeam "Timisoara Medicina"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ROU"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ROU"]

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 {At this time I feel
that this is one of the most challenging move orders. White starts attacking
on the queenside before Black gets perfectly coordinated and without
committing his d2-knight.} Bf8 (13... c5 14. d5 c4 15. b4 {Svetushkin,D (2586)
-Marin,M (2580) Reykjavik 2015 CBM 170 [Marin,M] (1/2-1/2, 41); eventually
yielded me great play, but I have expressed some of my doubts in the comments.}
) 14. Bd3 c6 {When commenting this game I was intrigued to find out that 13.a4
had enjoyed some popularity at GM level in the classical years, too. Black has
tried out other moves, too.} ({The typical central break} 14... d5 {yielded
good results but there seems to be a slight problem.} 15. axb5 $1 {is the
critical test.} (15. exd5 {is not at all dangerous.} exd4 16. Rxe8 (16. Nxd4
Rxe1+ 17. Qxe1 Bxd5 18. axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Bf1 b4 $11) 16... Qxe8 17.
Nxd4 (17. cxd4 Nb6 18. axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8 Bxa8 20. Qb3 b4 $11 {Yudasin,L (2495)
-Mikhalchishin,A (2525) Kuibyshev 1986 (1/2-1/2, 31)}) 17... Bxd5 18. axb5 axb5
19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Bf1 b4 {1/2-1/2 (59) Solozhenkin,E (2510)-Notkin,M (2515)
Vrnjacka Banja 1996}) 15... dxe4 (15... axb5 $2 16. Rxa8 Qxa8 17. exd5 exd4 18.
Rxe8 $1 {spoiling Black's coordination. The queen needs to keep up the
pressure on g2 but} Nxe8 19. Nxd4 Bxd5 20. Bxb5 $16 {leaves the d7-knight
undefended allowing White to keep the extra pawn.}) 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Bxe4
18. Rxe4 axb5 19. Rxa8 $1 $146 (19. Bg5 f6 20. Bh4 Rxa1 21. Qxa1 Bd6 22. Qa2+
Kh8 23. dxe5 Nxe5 {1/2-1/2 Ljubojevic,L (2605)-Portisch,L (2610) Bugojno 1986})
19... Qxa8 20. Qe2 $14 {This position is slightly more pleasant for White but
players with good defensive skills may have nothing against playing it with
Black.} f6 (20... f5 21. Re3 e4 22. Qxb5) 21. dxe5 fxe5 22. c4 (22. Nxe5 Qd5 {
[%cal Gf8d6]} 23. f4 $6 Bc5+ 24. Kh2 Nf6 $17 {[%csl Ge4]}) (22. Nd4 $5 Qa1)
22... b4 23. Bf4 Bd6) (14... exd4 15. cxd4 c5 {is more ambitious but also
fails to equalise completely in just one line.} 16. axb5 axb5 17. Rxa8 Bxa8 18.
Bxb5 (18. dxc5 Nxc5 19. Bxb5 Re7 20. Nd4 Ncxe4 21. Nxe4 Rxe4 22. Rxe4 Nxe4 23.
Be3 {Kuczynski,R (2415)-Szymczak,Z (2335) Gdynia 1985 (1-0, 40)} d5 $11 {
[%cal Gf8b4]}) (18. d5 c4 19. Bb1 Nc5 20. b4 cxb3 21. Bb2 Bb7 22. Re3 g6 23.
Nxb3 {Short,N (2650)-Hjartarson,J (2615) Amsterdam 1989 (1-0, 48)} Bg7 $5 $146
{An exchange on c5 would lead to uncontrolable complications, but tactics are
available all the way for instance} 24. Qd4 Qc7 25. Qb4 Nxd5 $1 26. exd5 Rxe3
27. fxe3 Bxb2 28. Nxc5 Qxc5 29. Qxb2 Qxe3+ 30. Qf2 Qc1+ 31. Qe1 Qc5+ 32. Kh2
Bxd5 33. Be4 Be6 {[%cal Gb5b3] Black has three pawns for a knight and a strong
passed pawn. Even if things turn out badly, he can count on saving the game
due to the favourable colour of the h8-corner.}) 18... Nxe4 19. Nxe4 Rxe4 20.
Rxe4 Bxe4 21. Ng5 Bg6 22. Bxd7 $6 {wins a pawn but offers no chances for a win.
} (22. dxc5 $1 Nxc5 23. b4 Ne6 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. Be3 d5 26. Qa4 e5 27. Bc5 $14
{White's queenside pawn may cause Black some headaches.}) 22... Qxd7 23. dxc5
Bf5 24. cxd6 Bxd6 {Black should have no problem simplifying to a drawn
opposite-coloured bishops ending.} 25. Qf3 h6 26. Ne4 Be5 27. Nc3 Qd3 28. Qxd3
Bxd3 29. Nd5 f6 30. Ne7+ Kf7 31. Nc6 Ke6 32. Nxe5 Kxe5 33. f3 h5 34. Be3 h4 {
1/2-1/2 Spassky,B (2605)-Karpov,A (2710) Tilburg 1983}) 15. Qc2 Rc8 16. axb5
axb5 17. b3 ({Last year I had analysed the following game:} 17. b4 c5 ({
Actually against Zhigalko I intended playing according to the following game:} 
17... g6 18. Bb2 Nh5 19. g3 exd4 20. cxd4 d5 21. Bc3 Nb6 22. e5 Rc7 {Short,N 
(2635)-Portisch,L (2605) Wijk aan Zee 1990 CBM 017 (1/2-1/2, 56)}) 18. bxc5
exd4 {0-1 (38) Karjakin,S (2762)-Svidler,P (2727) Baku 2015 CBM 169 [Marin,M]})
17... g6 {To tell the truth, I was out of book already, but in the Breyer
concrete theory is not that important.} 18. Bb2 Nh5 {Since it was clear that
sooner or later White would play c3-c4, I decided to bring the knight closer
to d4.} (18... Qc7 19. c4 bxc4 20. Nxc4 exd4 21. Bxd4 {1/2-1/2 Vallejo Pons,F 
(2697)-Grischuk,A (2760) Khanty-Mansiysk 2010} d5 $11) 19. Bf1 (19. c4 {
looks premature:} exd4 20. Bxd4 (20. Nxd4 b4 21. g3 Bg7 22. Bf1 Ra8 $11) 20...
c5 21. Bb2 b4 22. g3 (22. Nf1 Nf4 23. Kh2 Ra8 $15) 22... Bg7 23. Bf1 (23. Nf1
Bxb2 24. Qxb2 f5 $36) 23... Bxb2 24. Qxb2 Ra8 25. Bg2 Ng7 26. h4 Ne6 27. Nf1
Qf6 28. Qxf6 Nxf6 $15) 19... Nf4 20. b4 ({I was mainly considering} 20. g3 Ne6
21. h4 {without knowing it had been played before:} exd4 22. cxd4 d5 {This is
how I would have probably reacted, too.} 23. Bh3 (23. e5 b4 {[%cal Gc6c5]})
23... c5 24. exd5 Bxd5 {0-1 (47) Navara,D (2734)-Sasikiran,K (2639) Berlin 2015
}) 20... Bg7 {Slightly passive.} ({My initial intention was} 20... exd4 21.
cxd4 ({Actually I was not so sure about} 21. Nxd4 {but apparently Black can
take over the initiative by sacrificing a pawn:} c5 22. bxc5 dxc5 23. Nxb5 Ne5
{[%cal Gf4h3,Gd8d2,Ge5f3]} 24. Re3 c4 $44 {[%csl Rb2,Gd3][%cal Gf8c5]}) 21...
d5 22. Bc3 (22. Qb3 {deprives the knight of the b3 square causing Black no
problems at all.} Nb6 23. e5 Ne6 $11) 22... dxe4 (22... Nb6 23. e5 Nc4 24. g3
Ne6 25. Nb3 {may be just slightly better for White.}) 23. Nxe4 Nd5 24. Qb3 (24.
Nc5 Nxc5 25. dxc5 Nxc3 26. Rxe8 Qxe8 27. Re1 Qd7 28. Qxc3 Bg7 29. Qe3 Rd8 30.
g3 Bc8 31. Bg2 Qc7 $11 {[%cal Gc8e6]} 32. Ne5 $2 Re8 33. f4 f6 34. Bxc6 Rd8 $1
{[%csl Gd5]} 35. Qb3+ Kf8 $17) (24. Ne5 Rc7 {[%cal Gb7c8]}) 24... Rxe4 $5 25.
Rxe4 Nxc3 26. Qxc3 c5 27. Ree1 c4 28. Ne5 Nf6 $44 {[%csl Gb4]}) 21. Qb3 (21.
Nb3 Ne6 22. Na5 Ba8 {offers White some pressure but Black is solid enough.})
21... Ne6 22. Rad1 (22. d5 cxd5 23. Bxb5 dxe4 24. Nxe4 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 Rb8 26. c4
Nc7 27. Bxd7 Qxd7 28. Ra7 Qc6 $11) 22... Qb6 $6 {The queen is now not only far
from the kingside but also exposed.} (22... Qe7 $1 23. dxe5 Nxe5 24. c4 Ba6 25.
Nxe5 (25. c5 Nxf3+ 26. Nxf3 dxc5 27. Bxg7 Kxg7) 25... dxe5 26. Nf3 (26. c5 Rcd8
) 26... bxc4 27. Bxc4 Bxc4 28. Qxc4 Nc7 $11) 23. dxe5 Nxe5 (23... dxe5 24. c4
Rcd8 25. c5 {faces Black with problems of space, so I rightly decided to offer
the exchange of one knight before reaching a similar structure.}) 24. c4 Rcd8 (
{I refrained from} 24... Ba6 {due to} 25. c5 {and rightly so:} Nxf3+ 26. Qxf3
$1 {Possible only with the queen on b6 as otherwise the b2-bishop would be
hanging..} dxc5 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. e5 $36 {[%cal Gd2e4]} cxb4 29. Ne4 {[%cal
Gd1d7]} Rcd8 30. Qf6+ Kg8 31. Rd6) 25. Nxe5 ({Since Black controls the d-file
already,} 25. c5 {does not work out so well:} Nxf3+ 26. Qxf3 dxc5 27. Bxg7 Kxg7
28. e5 cxb4 29. Ne4 Rxd1 30. Rxd1 Rd8 31. Qf6+ Kg8) 25... dxe5 26. Nf3 (26. c5
Qc7 {[%cal Gb7c8]}) 26... bxc4 ({After the game my opponent suggested} 26...
Nd4 {but I was worried about} 27. Nxd4 ({He only mentioned} 27. Bxd4 exd4 28.
e5 c5 $132) 27... exd4 28. c5 Qc7 29. g3 $1 {[%cal Gf2f4] as I was afraid I
would lose the d4-pawn. Apparently, my fears were justified.} Bc8 30. f4 Be6
31. Qf3 {[%cal Ge4e5]}) 27. Bxc4 Rxd1 28. Rxd1 $14 {White is very active but
the almost symmetrical structure offers Black hopes of gradually equalising.}
Qc7 29. Qc2 h6 30. Rd2 Kh7 31. Qd1 Bc8 32. Qa1 Ng5 $2 {This could have led to
troubles.} ({As an experienced Pirc player I considered} 32... f6 $1 {but
rejected it for no concrete reason.} 33. Qa5 Qb7 34. Bc3 Nc7 $11) 33. Nxg5+
hxg5 34. Qa5 Qe7 35. Qc5 $6 {Missing a good moment to take over the initiative:
} (35. b5 $1 cxb5 36. Ba3 Qb7 37. Bd5 Qa6 (37... Qd7 38. Rc2 {[%cal Gc2c7]})
38. Qxa6 Bxa6 39. Bxf7 $16) 35... Be6 36. Bxe6 (36. Qxe7 Rxe7 37. Bxe6 Rxe6 38.
Rd7 $14) 36... Qxe6 37. Rc2 (37. Rd6 Qb3 38. Qc3 Qxc3 39. Bxc3 Rc8 {also looks
a bit more pleasant for White, but Black can regroup effectively:} 40. Kf1 Rc7
41. Ke2 Bf8 42. Rd8 Be7 43. Rb8 f6 44. Kd3 Kg7 45. Kc4 Rd7 46. Rc8 Rd6 {
and it is far from obvious how White could make progress.}) 37... Bf8 38. Qc4 (
38. Qb6 g4 $5 39. Qxc6 gxh3 40. Qxe6 Rxe6 41. Rc7 Bxb4 42. Rxf7+ Kg8 43. Rb7
Bc5 44. gxh3 Rf6 45. Bxe5 Rxf2 {should be drawn.}) 38... Qxc4 39. Rxc4 Re6 $11
{The worst is past for Black.} 40. Kf1 Kg7 41. Ke2 f6 42. Bc1 Kf7 43. Be3 Ke8
44. Bc5 Bxc5 45. bxc5 Re7 $1 {Black should activate the rook as soon as
possible in order to avoid micro-problems.} 46. Ra4 Rb7 47. Ra8+ Kd7 48. Rf8 (
48. Rg8 Rb5 49. Rxg6 Ke6 $11) 48... Ke7 49. Rc8 Kd7 50. Rf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.29"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Obodchuk, Andrei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2395"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[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 "Uzbekistan"]
[BlackTeam "IPCA"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UZB"]

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. Bg5 h6 15.
Bh4 {I have examined this line in the notes to Gashimov,V (2734)-Svidler,P 
(2735)/Astrakhan 2010/CBM 137/[Marin,M] (1/2, 62)} Be7 {This is a rare move,
which I did not consider in my notes. Black intends to neutralize the annoying
bishop.} (15... g6 {was the game above, while other alternatives examined with
that occasion are: 15...c5, 15...g5 16.dxe5! and 15...exd4.}) 16. a4 $5 $146 ({
Precisely one week earlier, White tried} 16. Bg3 Bf8 {This bishop has moved
forth and back quite a lot, but each time it had some good reasons fro doing
it. Despite the seeming loss of time, Black has a viable position, as long as
he keeps the e5-pawn well defended, thus restricting the g3-bishop.} 17. dxe5
Nxe5 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. Qf3 Nh7 20. Ne3 (20. h4 {prevents ...Ng5, but weakens
the g4-square a bit.} Qf6 21. Qe2 Qc6 22. a4 Nf6 23. axb5 axb5 24. Rxa8 Bxa8
25. Bd3 $14 {The pressure against the e5- and b5-pawns is unpleasant, but the
difference of class between the opponents in Short,N (2610)-Al Ghasra,A/Novi
Sad 1990/TD (1-0, 37) is too big to draw any conclusions.}) 20... Ng5 21. Qg4
Bc8 22. Qe2 c6 23. a4 Rb8 24. axb5 axb5 25. Red1 Qc7 26. Ng4 f6 27. Bb3+ Be6
28. Bxe6+ Nxe6 29. Qf3 Rbd8 {Black has regrouped perfectly and has little to
fear, Vachier Lagrave,M (2721)-Beliavsky,A (2632)/Khanty-Mansiysk 2010/CBM 139
(1/2, 61).}) ({Right after the Olympiad, the following game was played:} 16.
Ng3 $5 $146 g6 ({It does not look like a good idea to "win" a piece with} 16...
g5 17. Nxg5 hxg5 18. Bxg5 $44 {, especially without speciffic preparation.})
17. Qd2 Kg7 18. Rad1 {White has completed his dveelopment exerts some pressure,
but with the next move Black somewhat relieves his position.} Nh7 19. Bxe7 Qxe7
20. dxe5 Nxe5 21. Nd4 Qg5 $2 {A rather careless move.} (21... Nc4 22. Qe2 Qg5 {
looks OK for Black.}) 22. Ngf5+ $1 gxf5 23. f4 Nc4 24. fxg5 Nxd2 25. Nxf5+ Kf8
26. Rxd2 hxg5 27. e5 $36 {Black has acute problems and later only miracle
saved him in Gashimov,V (2719)-Carlsen,M (2826)/Nanjing 2010/CBM 139 (1/2, 75)}
) (16. dxe5 Nxe5 ({Given the fact that this allows the enemy queen getting to
f3,} 16... dxe5 $5 {comes into consideration.}) 17. Nxe5 dxe5 18. Qf3 {Having
over-defended e4, White is ready to play Ne3-d5.} Nd7 19. Bg3 Bd6 20. Ne3 g6
21. Bb3 {White's position is more pleasant, despite the symmtrical structure,
but Black has no insurmontable problems either.} Rf8 22. Qg4 Kh7 23. Bh4 h5 24.
Qg3 Be7 25. Bxe7 Qxe7 26. Nd5 Bxd5 27. Bxd5 Rad8 28. a4 Nb6 29. axb5 axb5 30.
Rad1 Rd6 $11 {Plaskett,J (2405)-Kraidman,Y (2440)/Gausdal 1981/MCD (1/2, 58)})
16... c6 {A solid, though somewhat passive, reaction to the opening surprise.}
(16... c5 {is more in the spirit of the Breyer system.}) 17. Ng3 g6 18. Qd2 Kg7
19. b4 {White enjoys considerable space advantage now.} Nh7 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21.
Bb3 Ng5 22. Nh2 Ne6 {This is not an especially stable square for the knight,
so maybe he should not have hurried with this move.} (22... Nf6 23. h4 Ne6 24.
h5 Nf4 25. hxg6 fxg6 {and Black may become ambitious with ...h5-h4 at some
point.}) 23. Red1 Red8 $2 {Black does not feel the danger.} (23... Nf6 $14 {
would have maintained his position hard to break.}) 24. axb5 $1 {Before
initiating the final attack, it makes sense to release the tension.} (24. Bxe6
Qxe6 25. Ng4 {does not lead to anything concrete after} h5) 24... cxb5 (24...
axb5 25. Rxa8 Bxa8 {Once the d8-rook has remained insufficiently well defended,
White has the possibility of a sacrificial attack.} (25... Rxa8 {leaves the
d-file undefended after} 26. dxe5) 26. dxe5 dxe5 27. Bxe6 Qxe6 28. Ng4 h5 29.
Qh6+ Kg8 30. Nxh5 gxh5 31. Qg5+ Kh7 32. Qxd8 $18) 25. dxe5 dxe5 (25... Nxe5 26.
f4 $40) 26. Bxe6 $1 fxe6 (26... Qxe6 27. Ng4 $18 h5 28. Qh6+ Kg8 29. Rxd7 $1
Rxd7 30. Nxh5 gxh5 31. Nf6+ Qxf6 32. Qxf6 $18) 27. Ng4 Qg5 28. Qxd7+ $1 {
White gets decisive material advantage and maintains a powerfull attack along
the seventh rank.} (28. Qxd7+ Rxd7 29. Rxd7+ Kg8 30. Rxb7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 1st"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2868"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2013.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 {For a player like Carlsen, who rarely banks on the
opening, the Breyer variation must be an optimal choice. Black retains a
flexible position and things cannot go really wrong for him. In the worst case,
he would find himself in a slightly inferior position after 15-20 moves or so,
but Carlsen is quite good at converting such worse positions into... wins! The
important thing is to leave the opening behind with the minimum of damage and
then get to the complicated middlegame business, clearly Carlsen's piece of
cake.} 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 {A typical position for
this line. Black surely is flexible and has no weaknesses at all. He still has
useful moves at his disposal, mainly ...g6 and ...Bg7, but then will have to
come up with some counterplay in the centre. White has better control in the
centre, but in order to prove at least a slight advantage, he has to prepare
against Black's ...d6-d5, ...c6-c5 and ...exd4 in optimal way. Easier said
than done, especially in over the board conditions.} 15. Qc2 {A relatively
rare move.} ({Carlsen has had some experience against the more popular
continuations:} 15. b4 Nb6 16. axb5 cxb5 $5 (16... axb5 {1/2 Anand,V (2800)
-Carlsen,M (2826)/Nanjing 2010/CBM 139/[Giri] (44)}) 17. d5 Rc8 18. Ra3 (18.
Bb2 Nh5 {1/2 Shirov,A (2749)-Carlsen,M (2826)/Bilbao 2010/CBM 139/[Edouard,R] 
(175)}) 18... Nh5 19. Nf1 g6 20. N1h2 Bg7 {Anand,V (2800)-Carlsen,M (2826)/
Bilbao 2010/CBM 139/[Edouard,R] (1/2, 50)}) ({A previous Breyer duel between
the same two players went:} 15. b3 Qc7 ({Carlsen also tried the standard} 15...
g6 16. Bb2 exd4 17. cxd4 d5 {Nisipeanu,L (2659)-Carlsen,M (2815)/Medias 2011/
CBM 143/[Rogozenco] (1/2, 32)}) 16. Qc2 Rac8 17. Bb2 Nh5 {Karjakin,S (2760)
-Carlsen,M (2802)/Moscow (blitz) 2010/EXT 2011 (0-1, 31)}) 15... Rc8 16. axb5
axb5 17. b4 ({Slightly more ambitious, but also more committal, than} 17. b3 g6
18. Bb2 Qc7 19. c4 bxc4 20. Nxc4 exd4 21. Bxd4 {1/2 Vallejo Pons,F (2697)
-Grischuk,A (2760)/Khanty Mansiysk 2010/CBM 139} d5 $11) 17... Qc7 $5 $146 ({
Carlsen might have disliked the standard} 17... g6 {for concrete reasons.} 18.
dxe5 $5 ({After the neutral} 18. Bb2 {Black managed to get enough play in an
older top level game:} Nh5 19. g3 exd4 $5 20. cxd4 d5 21. Bc3 Nb6 22. e5 Rc7
23. Nb3 Bc8 24. Kg2 Ng7 25. Nh2 h5 $13 {(1/2, 56) Short,N (2635)-Portisch,L 
(2605)/Wijk aan Zee 1990/CBM 017}) 18... dxe5 19. Nb3 Qc7 (19... c5 $6 {
loses a pawn without compensation:} 20. bxc5 Nxc5 21. Nxc5 Rxc5 22. Ba3 $16)
20. Bg5 $1 h6 21. Be3 $14 {White retains some pressure, since after} c5 22.
bxc5 {the pawn is not that easy to retrieve because Ph6 is hanging.}) 18. Bb2 (
18. dxe5 dxe5 19. Nb3 {is completely inoffensive:} c5 20. bxc5 Nxc5 21. Nxc5
Qxc5 $11) 18... Ra8 $6 {But this counter-developing move does not seem right.}
(18... g6 {would leave White with the problem of how to strengthen his
position.} 19. Bf1 {Possibly the most constructive move. Once the b1-h7
diagonal has been safely defended by Black's last move, the bishop is more
useful on f1, defending g2 among others.} (19. c4 exd4 20. Bxd4 bxc4 21. Qxc4
d5 $11) (19. Nb3 c5 $1 20. bxc5 dxc5 21. dxe5 Nxe5 $132 22. Nxe5 $6 c4 $15) (
19. Rad1 d5 $5 20. exd5 exd4 21. Rxe8 Rxe8 22. dxc6 Qxc6 $11) 19... exd4 ({
Some of the metits of the bishop retreat can be seen after} 19... d5 $6 20.
exd5 exd4 $6 21. Rxe8 Rxe8 22. dxc6 Qxc6 23. Nxd4 $18 {and the g2-pawn is
defended.}) 20. cxd4 d5 21. e5 Nh5 22. Bc3 Ng7 23. Nb3 Nb6 {This is similar to
the Short-Portisch game above, but the move ...Qd8-c7 is at least a waste of
time. For instance, Black does not have the nice regrouping ...Rc7, ...Bc8
anymore. So, maybe White has better chances to retain some advantage.}) 19.
Rad1 Nb6 $6 {Paradoxically, this does not reduce the impact of c3-c4 at all.
In fact, weakening the defence of the e5-pawn will have serious effects.} ({
Given White's centralisation,} 19... g6 {looks dangerous, too:} 20. c4 bxc4 21.
Bxc4 (21. Qxc4 Ba6 $11) 21... exd4 22. Bxd4 $14 d5 23. Bxd5 Nxd5 24. exd5 Rxe1+
25. Nxe1 Bxb4 26. Ne4 $36 {Black is under pressure on bth wings. With the pawn
on g7, things would be different, but it is late to think about that now.}) ({
Black should probably have admitted that something had gone slightly wrong and
played some very safe move like} 19... h6 $5 {According to White's answer,
Black could next play ...g6 or ...d5. Or if} 20. c4 bxc4 21. Bxc4 exd4 22. Bxd4
{, the safest might be} Qc8 $5 {[%cal Gd6d5,Gb7a6] unpinning the c6-pawn and
preparing both ...d6-d5 and ...Ba6.} (22... Ba6 23. Bxa6 Rxa6 24. b5 $16) (
22... d5 23. e5 dxc4 24. exf6 {If he does not wish to see his kingside
structure ruined, Black has to spend a tempo on} g6 $14)) 20. c4 $1 bxc4 21.
Nxc4 Nxc4 22. Bxc4 $16 {White has wonderful development, with the bishops
deserving a special mention. This time, the Breyer has yielded Carlsen
slightly less than a worse but playable position.} h6 {Even now, this seems to
be the only move allowing him to put up some resistance.} (22... g6 $2 23. dxe5
dxe5 24. Ng5 Re7 25. f4 $18) (22... Ba6 $6 23. dxe5 (23. Bb3 $5 $16) 23... dxe5
24. Ra1 Bxc4 25. Rxa8 Rxa8 26. Bxe5 Qb6 27. Qxc4 Bxb4 28. Rb1 c5 29. Ng5 Qb7 (
29... Ra7 30. Bc3) 30. Qxc5) (22... exd4 23. Bxd4 d5 (23... Nxe4 $2 24. Bd5 Nf6
25. Ng5 $18 {Golubev}) 24. Bxd5 Nxd5 25. exd5 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1 $16 Bxb4 $2 27.
Ng5 g6 28. Ne4 $18) 23. dxe5 (23. Bb3 {also looks playable, but may lead to
some undesired complications. White is entitled to hope to win the game by
technical means.} exd4 24. Nxd4 c5 25. Nf5 Nxe4 (25... Bxe4 $2 26. Rxe4 Nxe4
27. Bd5 $18) 26. f3 Qb6 $1 (26... Nf6 27. Nxh6+ $1 $18) 27. Re3 c4 28. Qxc4 Ng5
29. Bd4 Qc6 {and Black's position is worse, but probably holdable.}) 23... dxe5
24. Bc3 Ba6 {Aiming to get counterplay in a position that does not allow that.}
(24... Nd7 $2 25. Rxd7 Qxd7 26. Nxe5 Rxe5 27. Bxe5 Bxb4 28. Rd1 Qe7 29. Qb3 $18
) (24... g6 $6 25. Qb2 Nd7 (25... Bd6 26. Rxd6 Qxd6 27. Bxe5 Rxe5 28. Nxe5 $18)
26. Rxd7 Qxd7 27. Nxe5 Rxe5 28. Bxe5 $18) ({Maybe Black should have thought of
consolidating the e5-pawn with} 24... Re7 $5 25. Qb2 Rae8 {, although his
position would be rather cramped.}) 25. Bb3 c5 26. Qb2 c4 27. Ba4 Re6 28. Nxe5
Bb7 {Black has lost a pawn, but his light-squared bishop has become active and
for an instant White is slightly hanging.} 29. Bc2 $2 {This has a double
drawback: it cuts the queen off from the kingside and allows Black's optimal
regrouping with the next move.} (29. Bb5 $1 $16 {[%csl Gc4,Ge8]} Ba6 (29...
Nxe4 30. Rd7 $18 {Golubev}) (29... Bxe4 30. Bxc4 Rxe5 31. Bxe5 Qxc4 32. Rd4 Qc2
33. Qxc2 Bxc2 34. b5 $18 {Golubev}) 30. Bd7 Rb6 (30... Re7 31. Bc6 $16) 31. b5
Bxb5 32. Bxb5 Rab8 33. Ba5 $18) 29... Rae8 $1 30. f4 Bd6 $44 {Suddenly, Black
has entirely adequate compensation. He is threatening ...Nh5 followed by
either ...f6 or ...g5, undermining White's stability in the centre.} 31. Kh2 $6
{This is hard to explain, the king does not stand well on the same diagonal as
the black queen and bishop.} (31. g3 Nh5 32. Re3 g5 33. Ba4 R8e7 34. Qe2 (34.
Qf2 gxf4 35. gxf4 f6) (34. Qg2 f5) 34... gxf4 35. Qg4+ (35. Nxf7 fxe3 36. Qxh5
Rxf7 37. Qg4+ Kh7 38. Qxe6 $13) 35... Kf8 36. gxf4 Nf6 37. Qf5 Bxe4 38. Rxe4
Nxe4 39. Qxe4 Bxe5 40. Bxe5 Qa7+ 41. Qd4 Qxa4 42. Bd6 $11) (31. Re3 Nh5 {
is likely to transpose.}) 31... Nh5 32. g3 f6 33. Ng6 Nxf4 $1 {White is in
trouble already. This seemed virtually impossible 10 moves earlier. What kind
of magic does Magnus use?} 34. Rxd6 (34. gxf4 Bxf4+ 35. Kg2 (35. Nxf4 Qxf4+ 36.
Kg2 f5 $19) (35. Kh1 Rxe4 36. Bxe4 Rxe4 37. Kg1 Bd2 $1 $18 {[%cal Gc7g3]})
35... f5) 34... Nxg6 35. Rxe6 Rxe6 $15 36. Bd4 $6 (36. Qc1 $5 $15) 36... f5 $17
{Winning a pawn.} 37. e5 Nxe5 38. Bxe5 Qc6 39. Rg1 (39. Bxf5 Rxe5) (39. Be4
fxe4 40. Re3 $17) 39... Qd5 40. Bxf5 Rxe5 41. Bg4 h5 42. Bd1 c3 43. Qf2 (43.
Qxc3 Qa2+ 44. Qc2 Qxc2+ 45. Bxc2 Re2+) 43... Rf5 44. Qe3 Qf7 45. g4 Re5 {
An elegant solution.} ({The simple} 45... Qc7+ {was good enough, of course.}
46. Rg3 (46. Qg3 Rf2+) 46... Qc6 (46... h4 $2 47. gxf5) 47. Rg1 c2 48. Qb3+ Kh8
49. Qxc2 Qd6+ 50. Rg3 h4) 46. Qd4 Qc7 $1 {[%csl Rh2][%cal Gc3c2,Ge5e3,Ge5d5]}
0-1

[Event "Astrakhan FIDE GP"]
[Site "Astrakhan"]
[Date "2010.05.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2694"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2010.05.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 137"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
b3 Rb8 $5 {A rare and somewhat mysterious continuation. One needs long
strategic and tactical sight in order to foresee the usefulness of the rook on
b8, if compared with a8.} ({We should permanently refer to the line} 15... d5 {
, without the moves ...Rb8 and a4.} 16. Bg5 h6 17. Bh4 dxe4 (17... g5 18. Nxg5
hxg5 19. Bxg5 {is very dangerous for Black, see for instance Grischuk,A (2710)
-Mamedyarov,S (2728)/Moscow 2006/CBM 116/[Lukacs/Hazai] (1/2, 34)}) 18. Nxe4 g5
19. dxe5 $1 Nxe4 20. Bxe4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 gxh4 22. Rd4 $16 {Polgar,J (2595)
-Spassky,B (2565)/Budapest 1993/CBM 033/[Ftacnik] (1-0, 42)}) ({In the event of
} 15... Bg7 16. d5 {Black still needs to prepare ...c6, because the d6-pawn is
hanging.}) 16. a4 ({From the point of view of the previous comment,} 16. d5 {
is premature because Black can break with} c6 {immediately, when after} 17. c4
{the rook obviously is useful on the b-file, which is likely to open soon.}
bxc4 ({Black should consolidate on c5 as soon as possible. Delaying this
operation may cause problems.} 17... Qc7 18. Be3 Rec8 19. Rc1 a5 20. Qd2 bxc4
21. bxc4 Nc5 22. Bxc5 $1 dxc5 23. Ba4 Nd7 24. dxc6 Bxc6 25. Bxc6 Qxc6 26. Ne2
$14 {Hou,Y (2509)-Sasikiran,K (2700)/Zafra 2007/CBM 117 (1/2, 56). Black's
light squares are weak and his bishop risks becoming "bad".}) 18. bxc4 Nc5 19.
Bg5 Be7 20. Be3 Nfd7 21. Rb1 Qc7 22. Nd2 a5 23. Nb3 Ba6 $132 {Negi,P (2636)
-Safarli,E (2610)/Delhi 2010 (1-0, 68)}) 16... d5 {The same thematic pawn
break, under slightly changed circumstances.} 17. axb5 axb5 18. Bg5 h6 19. Bh4
{The critical answer.} (19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. exd5 Bg7 $1 {This natural
re-developing move puts strong pressure along the a1-h8 diagonal, preventing
White from keeping his extra pawn.} (20... exd4 21. Rxe8 Rxe8 22. Qxd4 Qd6 23.
Rd1 Bg7 24. Qd3 Qb6 25. Nd4 $14 {Al-Modiahki,M (2581)-Sasikiran, K (2657)/
Moscow 2005}) 21. Ne4 (21. dxe5 Nxe5 22. Nxe5 Rxe5 23. Be4 Qd6 24. c4 $2 f5 25.
Bf3 Rxe1+ 26. Qxe1 Bxa1 $17) (21. Be4 exd4 22. Nxd4 b4 $36) 21... Qd8 $132 {
[%csl Gd5]}) 19... dxe4 20. Bxf6 ({The main point if compared to the main line
is that after} 20. Nxe4 Bxe4 21. Bxe4 {the rook is not hanging on a8, allowing}
g5 22. dxe5 (22. Bg3 Nxe4) 22... Nxe5 23. Bg3 Nxe4 24. Bxe5 f5 $11 {With his
queenside weak, White does not seem to be able to take advantage of the
vulnerability of the black king. Still, this line looks preferable to White's
choice in the game.}) 20... Nxf6 21. Nxe5 {White seems to be one step away
from winning the e4-pawn...} b4 $1 $132 {This strong counterplay on the dark
squares questions White's stability in the centre.} 22. c4 c5 23. Nxe4 cxd4 24.
Nxf6+ Qxf6 25. Ra5 ({Pawn grabbing looks risky:} 25. Qxd4 Qg5 {[%csl Gg2][%cal
Gf8g7]} 26. Ng4 Bg7 27. Rxe8+ Rxe8 28. Qd7 Re7 29. Qd8+ Kh7 {[%csl Gd8][%cal
Ge7e1]} 30. Rf1 $8 Qc5 $44) 25... Rbd8 26. Bd3 h5 27. Qd2 Re7 {White's
position is passive and he has not managed to organise his blockade on light
squares yet. His knight will become unstable rather soon.} 28. Bf1 {Hoping for
Nd3, with a solid defence.} d3 $1 $36 {A thematic pawn sacrifice, about which
Nimzovich may have written several pages, explaining his theory about blocking
and unblocking.} 29. Nxd3 Qc3 {Suddenly, White's pieces lack harmony.} 30. Qxc3
bxc3 31. Rc1 Bh6 32. f4 (32. Rxc3 $2 Bd2 $19) 32... Re3 33. Nc5 (33. Rxc3 Bg7
$17) 33... Bc6 34. Ra6 Rc8 (34... Bxf4 $5 35. Rxc6 Rxh3 36. gxh3 Bxc1 37. Bd3
$8 Be3+ 38. Kf1 Bxc5 39. Ke2 $8 Bd4 40. b4 Re8+ 41. Kd1 Re3 42. Kc2 Rxh3 {
The position looks very sharp at first sight. Both sides have dangerous pawns,
but the white bishop is also unstable. At some point, Black's material
advantage may tell.}) 35. Nd3 h4 $44 {Black retains strong compensation, but
White is not without chances, either.} 36. Rxc3 Bxf4 37. b4 Rg3 38. Raa3 Be3+
39. Kh2 Bd4 40. Rcb3 Re8 41. b5 Bb7 42. c5 Bd5 43. Ra4 Bxc5 44. Nxc5 Bxb3 45.
Rxh4 Rge3 46. b6 Kg7 47. Na6 Bd5 48. Nc7 R8e5 49. Nxd5 Rxd5 50. b7 Rb3 51. Bc4
Rdb5 52. Bxb3 Rxb3 53. Rc4 Rxb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogeveen Essent Crown 10th"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2006.10.27"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[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. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
b3 ({This modern approach is a worthy alternative to the traditional} 15. a4 c5
16. d5 c4) 15... d5 $5 {A logical reaction.} ({White's main idea is that after
} 15... Bg7 16. d5 {the move b3 proves useful by enabling a further
consolidation of the centre by means of c4, while the bishop move has left the
d6-pawn undefended, which causes Black some delay with the planned ...c6.}) 16.
Bg5 {The start of an interesting phase of the game, in which neither side
should hurry to release the tension in the centre.} h6 17. Bh4 {This
provocative move is the only way to fight for an advantage.} g5 ({Black has
nothing else left than accept the challenge. The pin of the f6-knight is quite
unpleasant.} 17... dxe4 $2 18. Nxe4 g5 19. dxe5 $1 {1-0 Polgar,J (2595)
-Spassky,B (2565)/Budapest 1993/CBM 033/[Ftacnik] (42)}) 18. Nxg5 hxg5 19. Bxg5
exd4 (19... Be7 20. Nf5 $40) (19... dxe4 20. Bxe4 $1 {1-0 Sherzer,A (2500)
-Lesiege,A (2485)/Biel 1993/CBM 037/[Wolff] (47)}) 20. e5 $1 {The only ay to
keep the attack going.} Rxe5 21. Rxe5 Nxe5 22. cxd4 (22. Qxd4 Qd6 23. Re1 Ne4
24. Bf4 Re8 $17 {0-1 Navara,D (2663)-Socko,B (2615)/Ermioni Argolidas 2005/CBM
107 ext (41)}) 22... Nc6 {Not only keeping the d4-pawn under pressure, but
allowing the free circulation of the own queen as well.} ({It might seem more
logical to keep the f6-knight overdefended with} 22... Ned7 {[%csl Yd8] , but
this move seems to be too passive and leave White with dangerous initiative.}
23. Qf3 Qe7 24. Bf5 {[%csl Rd7,Yf5,Rf6,Yg5]} (24. Nh5 $5 Bg7 25. Nxg7 Kxg7 26.
Qg3 $36) 24... Qd6 25. Bf4 Qe7 26. Rc1 c6 $2 (26... c5 $5 {[%cal Yd6b6]} 27.
Bg5 Qd6) 27. Bg5 Qd6 28. Nh5 $1 $40 {[%csl Gd6]} Bg7 (28... Re8 29. Bf4 Qe7 30.
Qg3+ Kh8 31. Qh4 Kg8 32. Qg5+ Kh8 33. Nxf6 Nxf6 34. Be5 Bg7 35. Rc3 $18) (28...
Nxh5 29. Qxh5 Bg7 30. Qh7+ Kf8 31. Bxd7 Qxd7 32. Bh6 Bxh6 33. Qxh6+ Ke7 34.
Re1+ Kd8 35. Qf6+ Kc8 36. Re7 $18) 29. Nxg7 Kxg7 30. Bf4 Qe7 31. Qg3+ Kh8 32.
Qh4+ Kg8 33. Bxd7 Qxd7 34. Qxf6 Qe6 35. Qg5+ {1-0 Navara-Socko, Ustron 2006})
23. Nf5 $6 $146 {An unfortunate novelty.} ({The critical continuation is} 23.
Nh5 {when White has several ways of reaching a draw by perpetual, but has
failed to prove a method of retaining a concrete advantage yet.} Be7 24. Bxf6
Bxf6 25. Qd3 Bxd4 26. Qh7+ Kf8 27. Qh6+ Ke8 28. Re1+ Ne7 29. Qg5 (29. Ng7+ Kd7
30. Nf5 Nc6 31. Nxd4 Nxd4 32. Qf4 Nxc2 33. Qxf7+ Kc6 34. Qg6+ Kc5 35. Qxc2+ Kb6
36. Re6+ c6 $17 {0-1 Fedorov,A (2602)-Inarkiev,E (2612)/Sochi 2005/CBM 107 (60)
}) 29... Kf8 30. Bh7 {[%csl Gg8][%cal Ye1e7]} Bc3 (30... Bh8 $2 31. Qh6+ Ke8
32. Bf5 Bc3 33. Ng7+ Kf8 34. Ne6+ Ke8 35. Qf8+ Kd7 36. Nxd8+ Nxf5 37. Qe8+ Kc8
38. Nxf7#) 31. h4 {[%csl Gg5][%cal Ye1e7]} (31. Rxe7 {[%csl Ge7][%cal Yh5g3,
Yg3f5,Rg5h6]} Bh8 $1 32. Ng3 $6 f6 $1 {[%csl Gg7]}) 31... Qd6 (31... Bxe1 $2
32. Qg7+ Ke8 33. Nf6#) (31... a5 {[%cal Ya8a6]} 32. Qh6+ Ke8 33. Bf5 $1 {
[%cal Yh5g7]} Bc8 34. Qc6+ Kf8 35. Qxc3 $16) 32. Rxe7 Re8 {White has managed
to win the sacrificed material back, but Black can also be satisfied with his
achievements: he has completed his development and the pair of bishops could
become dangerous in the long run. However, the main factor remains the complex
tension surrounding the e7-square, which reminds us to mutual zugzwang. 1/2-1/
2 Landa,K (2574)-Kosyrev,V (2539)/playchess.com 2005/CBM 106 ext (48).}) 23...
Bc8 $1 $17 {After the exchange of the white knight, the attack will be easier
to beat off.} 24. Rc1 Bxf5 25. Bxf5 Qd6 26. Bh4 Ne7 27. Bg3 Qb4 28. Bb1 c6 29.
Be5 Bg7 30. a3 Qxa3 31. Rc3 Nd7 32. Rg3 Nxe5 33. dxe5 Qb4 34. Rg4 Qc3 35. f4 d4
36. Kh2 Nd5 37. f5 d3 38. Qxd3 Qxe5+ 39. Rg3 Nf6 40. Qf3 Rd8 0-1

[Event "Astrakhan FIDE GP"]
[Site "Astrakhan"]
[Date "2010.05.17"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2734"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2010.05.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 137"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
d6 9. c3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Bg5 $5 {
An almost forgotten move, which enjoyed certain popularity in the '70s and the
'80s. Although the resulting structures are similar to those from the main
line of the Breyer system, the piece placement is slightly different. Although,
there are many tempting possibilities to open the centre with Black, most of
them connected with a certain amount of risk.} h6 15. Bh4 g6 ({With the bishop
on h4, weakening the d5-square with the standard} 15... c5 {leaves White with
pleasant play, although Black's defensive resources are rather high.} 16. dxe5
dxe5 17. N3h2 {The start of the standard kingside regrouping (Qf3, Ne3, Nhg4).}
Qc7 (17... Be7 18. Ne3 Nh7 (18... Nxe4 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Nf5 Qe6 21. Qf3 Nd6
22. Qg4 g6 23. Nxd6 Qxd6 24. Rad1 Bd5 25. Be4 Nf6 26. Rxd5 Nxd5 27. Rd1 $16)
19. Bxe7 Rxe7 20. Nf5 Re6 21. a4 $14 {Romanishin,O (2485)-Gligoric,S (2575)/
Odessa 1975/MCD (1-0, 55)}) (17... Qb6 18. Qf3 Re6 19. Ne3 c4 20. Nhg4 Nxg4 21.
hxg4 Nf6 22. Rad1 $14 {Psakhis,L (2580)-Abramovic,B (2475)/Tallinn 1983/MCD (1/
2, 41)}) 18. Qf3 Re6 (18... Be7 19. Ne3 g6 20. Rad1 Rad8 21. Re2 Kg7 22. Red2
Nf8 23. Nhg4 $14 {Timman,J (2620)-Garcia Padron,J (2370)/Las Palmas 1981/MCD 
(1-0, 57)}) 19. Ne3 c4 20. Nhg4 Nxg4 21. hxg4 Rae8 22. Red1 Nc5 {This looks
like the most coherent and active display of black pieces. Suggestively, the
magician from Riga did not manage to find any weak spot in Black's setup.} 23.
Rd2 Rd6 24. Rad1 Ne6 25. Rxd6 Bxd6 26. a4 Bf8 27. axb5 axb5 28. Nd5 Bxd5 29.
Rxd5 {Apparently, White has made certain progress, by getting the bishop pair.
However, his pieces are temporarily not coordinated, allowing Black strong
counterplay.} Nf4 30. Rxb5 Rb8 {With the queen on f3 and the bishop on h4, the
b2-pawn is very weak.} 31. Ba4 Ra8 32. b3 cxb3 33. Bxb3 Ra1+ 34. Kh2 Rc1 $132 {
Tal,M (2615)-Smejkal,J (2615)/Biel 1976/IZT (1/2, 41)}) ({Black has two ways
of going for the e4-pawn. The first of them is} 15... g5 16. dxe5 $1 {An
important intermediate move, avoiding problems regarding the e4-pawn and
relying on the fact that the weakness of the f5-square will tell.} (16. Bg3
exd4 17. Qxd4 Bg7 $132) ({White's attacking chances are not too clear after} 
16. Nxg5 $6 hxg5 17. Bxg5 Be7 18. Ng3 Nh7 $13) 16... Nxe5 (16... dxe5 17. Bg3
$14 {[%csl Gf5][%cal Gf3d2,Gf1e3]}) 17. Bg3 Ned7 18. N3d2 {[%cal Gf1e3,Ge3f5] /
\Ne3} Bg7 19. Bh2 d5 20. e5 Ne4 21. Nf3 c5 22. Ne3 Nxe5 23. Nxe5 Bxe5 24. Bxe5
Rxe5 25. Qh5 $44 {Romanishin,O (2585)-Kraidman,Y (2445)/Hastings 1976/EXT 99 
(1-0, 48)}) ({Changing the move order has other drawbacks.} 15... exd4 16. cxd4
g5 17. Nxg5 $1 {Once Black has given up the control in the centre, this
sacrifice is much stronger than in the similar line above. The permanent
threat of e4-e5, with the activation of the c2-bishop, makes a big difference.}
hxg5 18. Bxg5 Bg7 (18... Be7 19. Ng3 Nh7 20. Bd2 Ndf8 21. Nf5 $40) 19. Ng3 c5
20. Nf5 Qc7 21. Re3 Bf8 22. Rg3 Kh8 23. Qf3 $18 {Kilkowski,M-Balthasar,A/
FRG-ch M1337 corr 1989/Corr 2000 (1-0, 26)}) 16. N1h2 (16. dxe5 dxe5 17. N3h2 (
17. N1h2 $5 {may transpose to the main game.}) 17... Bg7 18. Qf3 Nf8 (18... c5
19. Rad1 Qc7 20. Ne3 c4 21. Nhg4 $14 {Balashov,Y (2530)-Smejkal,J (2515)/
Trnava 1989/CBM 012 (1/2, 31)}) 19. Ng4 N8h7 20. Bb3 h5 21. Nxf6+ {1/2 Smirin,
I (2500)-Balashov,Y (2540)/Klaipeda 1988/CBM 011}) ({The attempt to set up
play in the centre and on the queenside does not seem to bother Black:} 16.
N3d2 Bg7 17. d5 c6 18. c4 Qc7 19. Ne3 Nb6 20. dxc6 Bxc6 21. cxb5 axb5 22. Qf3
Nfd7 23. Rad1 Qb7 24. a3 Nc5 25. Bf6 Nbd7 26. Bxg7 Kxg7 $13 {Sokolov,A (2595)
-Beliavsky,A (2645)/Belfort 1988/CBM 008 (1/2, 31)}) 16... Bg7 17. dxe5 $146 (
17. Qd2 $6 {finds Black better prepared for the opening of the centre.} exd4
18. cxd4 g5 19. Nxg5 hxg5 20. Qxg5 Nf8 21. Ng4 Nxg4 22. Qxg4 Qd7 23. Qg3 Ng6
$17 {Giuricza,G-Maia,J/BRA-ch7 f corr 1992/Corr 2000 (0-1, 33)}) 17... dxe5 18.
Ng4 {White has accelerated the knight transfer to g4, preventing the manoeuvre
...Nf8-h7 as in the game Smirin,I (2500)-Balashov,Y (2540)/Klaipeda 1988/CBM
011 above.} Qe7 19. Qd2 {Black is pinned and his h6-pawn is under attack. He
has to make some sort of concession in order to free himself.} g5 (19... Kh7 {
places the king on a vulnerable position.} 20. Bxf6 ({The calmer} 20. Rad1 Rad8
21. Qe3 $14 {also looks promising.}) 20... Nxf6 21. Ngxe5 Rad8 22. Qf4 Nh5 23.
Qxf7 Qxf7 24. Nxf7 Rd7 25. Bb3 Ree7 (25... c5 26. Rad1 $1 $16) 26. a4 Rxf7 27.
Bxf7 Rxf7 28. axb5 axb5 29. Ra7 $36) (19... h5 $6 20. Nh6+ Kh7 $2 21. Nxf7 $1
$18) 20. Nxf6+ Nxf6 21. Bg3 Nh5 {The f5-square has been chronically weakened,
but the g3-bishop is out of play, while the f3-knight needs several tempi in
order to get to e3-f5.} 22. a4 c5 (22... Nxg3 23. fxg3 c5 24. Nh2 c4 25. Ng4
Red8 26. Qe2 Bc6 27. axb5 axb5 28. Ne3 Bf8 29. Kh2 $13 {Black's kingside is
chronically weak and White has attacking chances in the position with opposite
bishops after Nd5, ...Bxd5 exd5. On the other hand, his queenside pawns would
be in danger in eny kind of ending, which makes the position double-edged.})
23. Nh2 c4 24. Nf1 Nf4 (24... Nxg3 $6 25. Nxg3 $14) 25. axb5 axb5 26. Rxa8 Rxa8
27. Rd1 Bf6 28. Ne3 {White has almost completed his regrouping, but Black will
manage to simplify to a dead drawn ending.} Rd8 29. Nf5 Qf8 30. Qe1 Bc8 $1 {
Preparing the exchange of the active knight.} 31. Rxd8 Bxd8 32. Bxf4 gxf4 33.
Qd1 Bxf5 34. exf5 Bf6 $1 {Blocking the f-pawn in order to avoid an attacking
attempt based on f5-f6. At the same time, Black prepares to fight for the open
file with ...Qd8.} 35. Be4 (35. Qd5 Qd8 36. Be4 (36. Qxb5 $2 Qd2 $40) 36...
Qxd5 37. Bxd5 Be7 38. Bc6 b4 39. Bd5 bxc3 40. bxc3 Ba3 41. Bxc4 Bb2 $11) 35...
Qc5 36. Kf1 Kf8 37. Qd5 Qxd5 38. Bxd5 $11 {Although White's position remains
more pleasant (and he even will win a pawn later on), the drawing margin is
quite wide in the opposite coloured bishops ending. Therefore, the evaluation
+/= does not make too much sense from a practical point of view.} Be7 39. Ke2
Kg7 40. Kf3 Kf6 41. Ke4 Bc5 42. Bc6 b4 43. f3 bxc3 44. bxc3 Bf2 45. Kd5 Kxf5
46. Kxc4 Ke6 47. Bd5+ Ke7 48. Kb5 f6 49. Kc6 h5 50. c4 h4 51. Bg8 Be3 52. Kd5
Bf2 53. c5 Kd7 54. Be6+ Kc7 55. Bf5 Be3 56. c6 Bf2 57. Be4 Be1 58. Ke6 Bf2 59.
Kxf6 Kd6 60. Kf5 Bg3 61. c7 Kxc7 62. Kxe5 1/2-1/2

[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 "Nalchik FIDE GP"]
[Site "Nalchik"]
[Date "2009.04.24"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2748"]
[BlackElo "2720"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "202"]
[EventDate "2009.04.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 130"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O 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 {It may seem that this move
slightly weakens the kingside, but practice has shown that this is the best
solution to the attack against the h6-pawn. At some point, the threat ...h4
may cause White some troubles.} (19... Kh7 {was tested twice during a
Candidates match. In the first encounter, Black played a model game, but then
White took revenge in a brilliant way.} 20. Nh2 $1 {The plan based on f4
underlines the drawbacks of Black's last move. The f7-square is vulnerable.} ({
In the first game of the match in which this variation came up, White played
the standard} 20. Ra3 {and was gradually outplayed.} Rb8 21. Rea1 Re7 22. R1a2
Rc7 23. axb5 axb5 24. Qd1 Nfd7 25. h4 Bc8 26. h5 Nf6 27. Nh2 Rcb7 28. Bd2 Bg7
29. Qe2 Ng8 30. Ra8 Bd7 31. R8a3 Bf6 32. Be3 Bg5 33. Nf3 Bxe3 34. Qxe3 Qb6 35.
Nd2 Nf6 36. Bd1 Kg7 37. Be2 Rc8 38. Ra1 Na4 39. Qxb6 Rxb6 40. R1a2 Nxh5 41.
Nxh5+ gxh5 42. Bxh5 f5 $15 {Remarkably, White could not defend this position
after adjournment in Spassky,B (2610)-Portisch,L (2625)/Geneve 1977/Candidates
(0-1, 67)}) 20... Bg7 21. Rf1 h5 ({A similar game continued with} 21... Rb8 22.
f3 Qe7 23. Rf2 Ng8 24. axb5 axb5 25. Raf1 Qh4 26. Ne2 Qe7 27. f4 exf4 28. Rxf4
Rf8 29. Nd4 $16 {Timoscenko,G (2505)-Zhukhovitsky,S (2200)/Beltsy 1977/MCD 
(1-0, 42)}) 22. f3 {[%cal Gf1f2,Ga1f1,Gf3f4]} Qe7 23. Bg5 Qf8 24. f4 $1 {
[%csl Gf8]} exf4 25. Rxf4 Nfd7 26. Raf1 Ne5 {Apparently, Black is doing fine,
with all his minor pieces on stable squares. However, his king is vulnerable...
} 27. Nxh5 $1 gxh5 28. Qe2 Qh8 29. Rh4 $18 {Spassky,B (2610)-Portisch,L (2625)/
Geneve 1977/Candidates (1-0, 40)}) 20. Bxc5 $5 {Until recently, this move
practically did not exist. Offering Black almost absolute stability on the
dark squares may look pointless, but there are certain strategic subtleties
involved.} (20. Bg5 Be7 {Inarkiev,E (2684)-Kamsky,G (2726)/Baku 2008/CBM 124/
[Marin,M] (0-1, 48)}) 20... dxc5 {Black's position looks absolutely fine. It
is not easy to suggest constructive pawn breaks for White. For instance, f2-f4
would leave the e5-square in Black's hands after ...exf4. Or of b2-b3, then ...
cxb3 followed by ...c4 would clear the c5-square for the black pieces. At the
same time, Black cannot display any form of activity easily. He has to keep
the h5- and c4-pawns well defended, while the a-file is likely to remain in
White's possesion. The main problem of coordination consists of the fact that
at least two of his pieces (the knight and the dark-squared bishop) compete
for the d6-square. The premature occupation of this square by either of these
pieces may cause problems. In pirnciple, the position may be just equal, but
Black has to permanently worry about White's far from obvious threats.} 21. Bd1
{[%csl Gc4,Gh5][%cal Gd1e2]} Rb8 {This move is a novelty at a high level (it
had been played in just one completely irrelevant game before), but in this
kind of position it is a new plan to be mentioned rather than a concrete new
move.} ({In the previous two games, Black hurried to transfer his knight to d6,
which left the c5-square vulnerable.} 21... Re7 22. Be2 Ne8 23. Qe3 (23. b3 $2
{is premature.} cxb3 24. axb5 axb5 25. Bxb5 Nd6 26. Qd3 Rxa1 27. Rxa1 {Motylev,
A (2632)-Ponomariov,R (2704)/Khanty Mansiysk 2005/CBM 111 (1/2, 29)} h4 $36 {
[%cal Gf7f5]} 28. Nxh4 $2 Rc7 $1 {[%cal Gd8h4,Gc5c4]} 29. Nf3 c4 $19) 23... Rc8
24. axb5 axb5 25. Ra7 Nd6 26. Rea1 Re8 27. Nf1 Qf6 28. N1d2 Qh8 29. Ng5 Bh6 30.
Qg3 Qf6 31. h4 Rb8 ({White's potential pressure is revealed in the variation} 
31... Qf4 $6 32. Qxf4 $1 exf4 33. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 34. R1a6 Bf8 35. Rxd6 Bxd6 36.
Rxb7+ Be7 37. Rxb5 $16 {[%cal Ge2c4]}) 32. b3 $1 {After thorough preparation,
White carries out this standard pawn break.} cxb3 33. Nxb3 Rec8 ({Under the
given circumstances, the generally desirable} 33... c4 {is strongly met by} 34.
Nc5 $14) 34. c4 bxc4 {Black needs his knight to put pressure on e4 and defend
Bb7.} (34... b4 35. R7a5 $16) (34... Nxc4 35. Bxc4 bxc4 36. Na5 $16) 35. Na5 c3
36. Qxc3 $16 {Volokitin,A (2684)-Harikrishna,P (2679)/Dagomys 2008/CBM 124 
(1-0, 53). The queenside operation has left White with a strategic advantage.})
22. Qe3 Kh7 23. Nf1 Qc7 24. Ng5+ Kg8 25. Be2 Bc8 26. Ra2 {White continues
manoeuvring.} ({The plan based on b2-b3 is less effective after} 26. Nd2 Bd7
27. axb5 axb5 28. b3 cxb3 29. Nxb3 c4 $13 {[%cal Gf8c5]}) 26... Qb6 27. Nf3 Kh7
28. Ng5+ Kg8 29. axb5 axb5 30. Nd2 Bh6 31. Qg3 Nh7 32. Ndf3 Qf6 33. h4 Nf8 {
After having provoked h2-h4, the knight moves closer to d7, in order to keep
the e5- and c5-squares under observation, for the case of f2-f4 and b2-b3,
respectively.} 34. Ra7 Bd7 35. Rea1 Qd6 36. R7a6 Qe7 37. Ra7 Qd6 38. R7a6 Qe7
39. Nh2 Bc8 40. Ra7 Rb7 41. Ra8 Nd7 42. Nf1 Nb6 43. R8a5 Bd7 44. Ne3 Qf6 45.
Ra7 Reb8 46. R1a6 Be8 47. Rxb7 Rxb7 48. Bxh5 $5 {After a long manoeuvring
phase, Grischuk convinced himself of the fact that Kamsky was not going to
make any strategic concession and decided to change the character of the
position by scarificial means. He chose the h5-pawn as an object of interest,
since the c4-pawn was better defended.} (48. Bxc4 $2 Qf4 $1 (48... bxc4 49.
Nxc4 Bg7 {also looks safe for Black}) 49. Be2 Qxg3 50. fxg3 f6 $19) 48... gxh5
49. Nf5 {Getting this square for the knight surely is an acceptable reward for
the sacrificed material.} Bg7 ({Apparently, Black does not need to fear the
discovered checks.} 49... Bf8 {would make sense, keeping the e7-square well
defended. The position would remain balanced, because Black cannot display any
activity despite his material advantage.}) 50. d6 (50. Qf3 {[%cal Gf3h5] is
premature because of} Bd7 $1 {and White is under the threat of losing
stability.} 51. Nh6+ $5 Qxh6 52. Qxf7+ Kh8 53. Rxb6 Rxb6 54. Qxd7 {offers
White sufficient play for the sacrificed material, with a draw by perpetual as
the most probable result, but not more than that.}) 50... Nd7 $6 {Once the
bishop's access to d7 is denied, the h5-pawn gets into danger.} (50... Bf8 $5 {
may be better. After a neutral move such as} 51. Kh2 {Black could play} Nd7 {
already, because} 52. Qf3 {can be answered with} Qg6 {[%csl Ge7]}) (50... Bd7
$2 51. Ne7+ Kh8 52. Nd5 Nxd5 53. Ra8+ $18) 51. Qf3 $1 Bf8 52. Qxh5 $14 {
With two pawns for the piece and an active position, White has the better
chances.} Qg6 53. Qg4 f6 {He only needs to get out of the pin somehow.} 54.
Ne7+ $2 {Giving up this active knight annihilates White's initiative.} (54. Qd1
$1 $14 {[%csl Gb7][%cal Gd1d5] leaves White with a strong initiative.}) 54...
Bxe7 55. dxe7 {[%cal Ga6f6]} Rb6 $1 $17 {Black is simply a piece up.} 56. Rxb6
Nxb6 57. Qe6+ Kg7 58. Nf3 Na4 59. h5 Qxh5 60. g4 Qh3 61. Nxe5 Nxb2 62. Qc8 Qh8
63. Nd7 Nd3 64. Nf8 Qh4 65. Qxe8 Qxf2+ 66. Kh1 Qh4+ 67. Kg2 Qxg4+ 68. Kh2 Ne5 (
68... Nf4 $5 69. Ne6+ Qxe6 70. Qf8+ Kh7 71. Kg3 Nh5+ 72. Kf3 Ng7 $19) 69. Kh1
Nf3 70. Ne6+ Qxe6 71. Qf8+ Kh7 72. Kg2 Nh4+ 73. Kf2 Ng6 74. e8=Q Nxf8 75. Qxf8
b4 76. Qxc5 b3 77. Qc7+ Kg6 78. Qg3+ Kh5 79. Kf3 Qd7 80. Qg8 Qd3+ 81. Kf4 Qd2+
82. Kf3 Qxc3+ 83. Kf4 Qc1+ 84. Kf3 Qf1+ 85. Ke3 Kh4 $3 {[%cal Gh4h1] Excellent
judgement. Black anticipates the queen checks by migrating with the king
towards the safest zone, keeping his pawns defended for the time being.} 86.
Kd4 Qd3+ 87. Kc5 Qxe4 88. Qh8+ Kg5 89. Qg7+ Qg6 90. Qb7 Qd3 91. Qg2+ Kf5 92.
Qf2+ Ke6 93. Qg2 f5 94. Qg7 f4 95. Qg8+ Kf5 96. Qc8+ Kg5 97. Qg8+ Kh4 98. Qg2
f3 99. Qh2+ Kg4 100. Qg1+ Kf4 101. Qh2+ Ke3 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 26th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1998.07.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Mikhalchishin,A"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1998.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 066"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. a4 (11. Nbd2) 11... Rb8 $5 (11... c6 $5) 12. Nbd2
Bb7 (12... c5 $5) 13. Bc2 c5 (13... Re8 14. Bd3 $14) 14. Nf1 Re8 15. Ng3 Bf8
16. d5 (16. b3 $5 b4 $1 {<=>}) 16... c4 17. Bg5 h6 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Nd2 Bc8 (
19... g6 20. Qf3 Bg7) 20. Qf3 g6 21. Ra3 $14 Nfd7 (21... Bd7 22. axb5 axb5 23.
Rea1 $14) 22. Rea1 Qf6 $1 23. Qe2 $6 (23. Qxf6 Nxf6 24. axb5 axb5 25. Ra7 $14)
23... Nb6 24. axb5 axb5 25. Nf3 (25. Ra7 Re7 26. b4 cxb3 27. Nxb3 Nca4 $1 $13)
25... Nba4 26. R1a2 Bd7 27. Qd2 (27. Nh2 $5 {/\ Ng4}) 27... Bxh3 $1 28. Bxh6
Bg4 29. Bg5 (29. Bxf8 $2 Kxf8 30. Qh6+ Ke7 $1 {/\ Rh8}) 29... Qh8 30. Nh2 Bd7
31. Bd1 (31. f3 $5 {/\ Ng4}) 31... f6 32. Be3 Re7 $1 {<=>} 33. Bg4 Bxg4 34.
Nxg4 Qh4 35. Qe2 Rh7 (35... Nd3 36. Qf3 Rf7 37. b4 $1 $13) 36. Bxc5 $1 Nxc5 37.
Qf3 Be7 38. Ra8 Rxa8 39. Rxa8+ Kf7 40. Kf1 Nd3 41. Ne3 $2 (41. Ke2 $11 {>=})
41... Qf4 $2 (41... Nf4 {>=} 42. Ke1 Qh2 $17) 42. Ra7 Ke8 (42... Nxb2 43. Rb7
Na4 44. Rxb5 Nxc3 45. Rb4 $11) 43. Rb7 Rh2 $1 44. Ke2 $1 (44. Rxb5 $2 Qxf3 45.
gxf3 Rxf2+ $17) 44... Nc1+ 45. Kf1 (45. Kd2 $2 Qxf3 46. gxf3 Nd3 $17) 45... Nd3
46. Ke2 Nc1+ 47. Kf1 Nd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Women-ch k.o."]
[Site "Teheran"]
[Date "2017.02.22"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Muzychuk, Anna"]
[Black "Stefanova, Antoaneta"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2558"]
[BlackElo "2512"]
[Annotator "Mikhalchishin,A"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2017.02.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "IRI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "6000+1250"]
[WhiteClock "0:01:42"]
[BlackClock "0:00:36"]

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. Bg5 {
This can be named the Lviv variation, as the man behind many of the ideas was
GM Oleg Romanishin, and other friends of his played it too! And Anna follows
her great predecessors! The variation has a great history.} h6 15. Bh4 Qc8 ({
The most direct way is} 15... g5 16. dxe5 (16. Bg3 exd4 17. Qxd4 Bg7 18. e5
dxe5 (18... Bxf3 $2 19. exf6 Bxf6 20. Qd3 $1 $18) 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. Bxe5 Qxd4
21. Bxd4 $11) 16... Nxe5 (16... dxe5 17. Bg3 Nh5 $2 18. Bxe5 $18) 17. Bg3 Ng6
$1 (17... Ned7 $6 18. N3d2 Bg7 19. Bh2 d5 20. e5 Ne4 21. Nf3 c5 22. Ne3 Nxe5 $8
23. Nxe5 Bxe5 24. Bxe5 Rxe5 25. Qh5 $44 (25. Ng4 $5) 25... Qf8 (25... Re6 $142
26. Rad1 Qf6) 26. f4 $1 {Romanishin,O-Kraidman,Y/Hastings 1976, with the
initiative.}) 18. N1d2 (18. N3d2 $5) 18... Nh5 19. Bh2 Nhf4 20. a4 $1 (20. Nd4
Qf6 21. Nf5 d5 $132) 20... Qf6 21. Nd4 (21. axb5 axb5 22. Rxa8 Bxa8 23. Nd4 b4
$11) 21... c5 22. Ne2 d5 $1 $11 {Mikhalchishin,A-Hemmasi - Vienna 1982}) (15...
c5 $6 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. N3h2 $1 Be7 18. Ne3 Nh7 $6 (18... g6 $142 $14) 19. Bxe7
Rxe7 (19... Qxe7 $2 20. Nf5 $18) 20. Nf5 {Romanishin,O-Gligoric,S/USSR -
Yugoslavia 1975. with pressure.}) (15... g6 16. a4 $5 (16. dxe5) (16. N1h2 Bg7
17. dxe5 dxe5 18. Ng4 g5 (18... Qe7) 19. Bg3 Nxg4 20. hxg4 Qe7 21. a4 c5 22.
Nd2 Nf6 23. Nf1 Qe6 24. f3 h5 25. gxh5 Nxh5 26. Bf2 Rad8 27. Qc1 Nf4 {Gashimov,
V (2733)-Navara,D (2708)/Reggio Emilia ) 2010 (28), the position is unclear.})
16... Bg7 17. d5 Qb8 18. Ne3 (18. axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8 Bxa8 $11) 18... c6 19.
dxc6 (19. axb5 axb5 20. Rxa8 Bxa8 21. dxc6 Bxc6 22. Nd2 Nh5 $11) 19... Bxc6 20.
axb5 (20. Nd2 Qc7 21. Qf3 Nh5 $11) 20... axb5 21. Rxa8 Bxa8 22. Nd2 b4 $6 (
22... Nh5 $142 $5 23. Ndf1 Nf4 24. Qd2 Bf8 $11) 23. c4 Nc5 (23... Rc8) 24. Bxf6
(24. f3 Rc8 25. Nb3 $14) 24... Bxf6 $11 25. Nb3 Rc8 (25... Qb6 $5) 26. Nxc5
Rxc5 27. Qd3 Ra5 (27... Bg5 $5 28. Ra1 Bxe3 29. Qxe3 Rxc4 30. Bb3 Rc5 31. Ra6
Rc6 $11) 28. Bb3 Bg5 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2798)-Buhmann,R (2653)/Dortmund 2016,
the position is equal.}) (15... Be7 16. Ng3 (16. Bg3 Bf8 17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5
dxe5 19. Qf3 Nh7 20. Ne3 $146 (20. h4) 20... Ng5 21. Qg4 Bc8 22. Qe2 c6 23. a4
Rb8 24. axb5 axb5 25. Red1 Qc7 26. Ng4 (26. b4) 26... f6 27. Bb3+ Be6 28. Bxe6+
Nxe6 {Vachier-Lagrave,M (2721)-Beliavsky,A (2632)/Khanty-Mansiysk (ol) 2010,
with equal play.}) (16. a4 exd4 17. cxd4 c5 18. d5 $14) 16... g6 (16... Bf8 $5)
17. Qd2 Kg7 (17... Bf8 $5) 18. Rad1 Nh7 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. dxe5 Nxe5 21. Nd4 Qg5
{[#]} 22. Ngf5+ $1 gxf5 23. f4 {Gashimov,V (2719)-Carlsen,M (2826)/Nanjing
2010, with very unclear play.}) 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. N3d2 ({Another way was tried
previously:} 17. N3h2 c5 18. Qf3 Qc6 (18... a5 $5) (18... c4) 19. Rad1 c4 (
19... Qe6 20. c4 $5 (20. b3)) 20. Ne3 g6 21. Rd2 Be7 22. Red1 Qe6 23. Nhg4 Kg7
24. b3 $1 h5 $5 (24... Rad8 25. bxc4 Nxg4 26. Qxg4 Qxg4 27. hxg4 Bxh4 28. Rxd7
Rxd7 29. Rxd7 Bc8 30. Rc7 $16) 25. Nxf6 Nxf6 26. bxc4 bxc4 27. Bxf6+ Qxf6 28.
Qxf6+ Bxf6 29. Nxc4 {Romanishin,O-Spassky,B/Tilburg 1979 with advantage.})
17... Nh7 (17... Re6 18. Ne3 Nc5 19. Qf3 a5) 18. Ne3 Nc5 19. Nd5 a5 20. a4 $1 {
The usual active plan with a pawn.} bxa4 21. Bxa4 Nxa4 22. Qxa4 Re6 ({White
would keep a slight advantage after} 22... Bxd5 23. exd5 Qb7 24. Nc4 Qxd5 25.
Bg3 f6 26. Nxa5 Ng5 27. b4) 23. Nc4 Bc6 24. Qd1 ({It would be more logical to
reserve d1 for the rook:} 24. Qa2) 24... a4 25. Bg3 (25. Qg4 {was very sharp})
25... f6 26. b4 $5 {Sooner or later it is necessary to start play on the
queenside.} axb3 27. Rxa8 Bxa8 28. Qxb3 Ng5 29. Ra1 (29. f3 {is more solid.})
29... Bxd5 ({It was necessary to enter a risky variation with equality:} 29...
Nxe4 30. Nxc7 Qxc7 31. Rxa8 Qf7) 30. exd5 Re8 31. Ra7 ({Girls dont retreat!} 
31. Nd2) 31... Bc5 32. Rb7 Nxh3+ $5 ({The solid move} 32... Kh8 {was
preferable.}) 33. Kf1 Nf4 $2 ({The balance would be kept after the correct} 
33... Kh8 34. gxh3 Qxh3+ 35. Ke2 Qh5+ 36. Kd2 Qf3) 34. d6 $1 Qe6 35. dxc7 Nd5 (
{There is a crazy line which was losing, but it was worth trying:} 35... Qd5
36. Rb8 Qxg2+ 37. Ke1 Bxf2+ 38. Bxf2 Nd3+ 39. Kd1 Nxf2+ 40. Kd2 Ne4+ 41. Ke3)
36. Qb5 $1 {The decisive move.} Bf8 37. Nb6 Nxb6 38. Rxb6 Qg4 39. f3 1-0

[Event "Interpolis-03"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1979.11.10"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2705"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Minic,D"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1979.11.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. a4
Bg7 $6 (15... c5 16. d5 (16. Be3 exd4 (16... Qc7 17. Qd2 cxd4 18. cxd4 Nb6 $10)
17. cxd4 Bxe4 $1 (17... Nxe4 18. Bxe4 (18. Nxe4 Bxe4 19. Bg5 Bxf3 20. Bxd8 Bxd1
21. Rxe8 Bxc2 $17) 18... Bxe4 19. Bg5 $16) 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Rxe4 20. dxc5
Nxc5 21. Qd5 Re8 (21... bxa4 $10 {Sax-Ivanchuk/Manila izt/990.}) 22. axb5 axb5
23. b4 Ne6 24. Rxa8 $10 {Sax-Beliavsky/Reykjavik/1988}) 16... Qc7 (16... c4 17.
Be3 (17. Bg5) 17... Nc5 18. Qe2 (18. Qd2 Nfd7 19. h4 h5 20. Ng5 Qe7 $10) 18...
Nfd7 (18... Qc7 19. Ra3 (19. Nd2 $5) 19... Bg7 20. Rea1 Rec8 21. Nd2 Qd8 22.
R1a2 Nfd7 $10) 19. Nd2 Qc7 20. Ra3 Nb6 21. axb5 axb5 $10) (16... Nb6 17. Qe2
Nxa4 $14) (16... Bg7 17. b4 (17. c4 Nb6 18. Nd2 bxa4 19. Bxa4 Nxa4 20. Qxa4 Nd7
21. Ndf1 a5 $13 {Dvoiris-Georgadze/USR-ch/1989}) (17. Bg5 h6 18. Bd2 Nb6 $13)
17... cxb4 18. cxb4 Nb6 19. a5 Nc4 20. Bd3 Rc8 21. Ra2 Re7 (21... Rf8 {
Karpov-Portisch/Madrid/1973.} 22. Rc2 Ne8 23. Qe2 Kh8 24. Bxc4 bxc4 25. Rxc4
Rxc4 26. Qxc4 Nc7 $44) 22. Rc2 Rec7 $13) 17. Be3 c4 18. Qd2 Nc5 19. Ra3 Nfd7
20. Rea1 Bg7 21. Bh6 Bh8 22. Nh2 Nb6 23. axb5 axb5 24. Rxa8 Rxa8 25. Rf1 Qe7
$13) (15... exd4 16. cxd4 c5 17. d5 Bg7 18. Bf4 Qc7 19. Rc1 Nb6 20. b3 bxa4 21.
b4 Nfd7 22. Bxa4) 16. Bd3 $1 (16. d5 Qe7 17. b3 c6 18. c4 $16) 16... c6 17. Bg5
{/\Dd2} h6 18. Bd2 Kh7 (18... d5 $2 19. exd5 Nxd5 20. dxe5 {><h6}) 19. Qc2 {
/\b4, c4} d5 $6 (19... Qb6) 20. exd5 Nxd5 21. h4 $1 $16 {/\h5} exd4 22. h5 Ne7
(22... Qf6 23. cxd4 $16) 23. cxd4 c5 (23... Nf8 24. Ne5 $16) 24. Nh4 Nf8 25.
dxc5 Qd4 26. hxg6+ fxg6 27. Rxe7 $2 (27. c6 $1 Bxc6 (27... Bc8 28. Rxe7 Rxe7
29. Nxg6 $18) (27... Rac8 28. Rxe7 Rxe7 29. Nxg6 Nxg6 30. Bxg6+ Kh8 31. cxb7
$18) 28. Rxe7 Rxe7 29. Bxg6+ Nxg6 30. Qxg6+ Kg8 (30... Kh8 31. Qxc6 {/\32.Sg6})
31. Nhf5 $18) 27... Rxe7 28. Nxg6 Nxg6 29. Bxg6+ Kh8 30. c6 (30. Nf5 Qg4) 30...
Bxc6 $1 (30... Bc8 31. axb5 $18) 31. Qxc6 Rf8 32. Be3 (32. Bc3 Qxf2+ 33. Kh2
Qf4 34. Rf1 Qh4+ 35. Kg1 Bd4+ $10) 32... Rxe3 $1 33. fxe3 Qxe3+ 34. Kh2 Be5 35.
Ra3 Qg5 (35... Bxg3+ $2 36. Kh3 $18) 36. Kh3 (36. Qe4 $5 Rf4 37. Qa8+ Kg7 38.
Nh5+ Qxh5+ (38... Kxg6 39. Nxf4+ Bxf4+ 40. g3 Qh5+ 41. Kg1 Qd1+ 42. Kf2 Qd2+
43. Kf3 $18) 39. Bxh5 Rf8+ 40. Kh3 Rxa8 41. axb5 a5 $14) 36... Rg8 37. Ne4 Qxg6
38. Qxg6 Rxg6 39. axb5 axb5 40. Rb3 Rb6 41. Kg4 b4 42. Kf3 Bg7 43. g3 Kh7 44.
Nc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Smeets, Jan"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2662"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[Annotator "Moradiabadi,E"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[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 {Known as the Breyer. It usually considered among the safest
lines in the Ruy Lopez for Black specially in comparison to the Zaitsev and
the classical Chigorin.} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14.
Bg5 {Not the most common one. 14.Ng3 is the main alternative.} (14. Ng3 g6 {
leads to a rich position in which a lot of territory has so far remained
unexplored.}) 14... h6 15. Bh4 c5 $5 (15... g6 {is the safest continuation} 16.
N1h2 Qc8 (16... Bg7 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. Ng4 Qe7 19. Qd2 g5 20. Nxf6+ Nxf6 21. Bg3
Nh5 22. a4 c5 23. Nh2 c4 24. Nf1 Nf4 25. axb5 axb5 26. Rxa8 Rxa8 27. Rd1 Bf6
28. Ne3 Rd8 29. Nf5 Qf8 30. Qe1 Bc8 31. Rxd8 Bxd8 32. Bxf4 gxf4 33. Qd1 Bxf5
34. exf5 Bf6 35. Be4 Qc5 36. Kf1 Kf8 37. Qd5 Qxd5 38. Bxd5 Be7 39. Ke2 Kg7 40.
Kf3 Kf6 41. Ke4 Bc5 42. Bc6 b4 43. f3 bxc3 44. bxc3 Bf2 45. Kd5 Kxf5 46. Kxc4
Ke6 47. Bd5+ Ke7 48. Kb5 f6 49. Kc6 h5 50. c4 h4 51. Bg8 Be3 52. Kd5 Bf2 53. c5
Kd7 54. Be6+ Kc7 55. Bf5 Be3 56. c6 Bf2 57. Be4 Be1 58. Ke6 Bf2 59. Kxf6 Kd6
60. Kf5 Bg3 61. c7 Kxc7 62. Kxe5 {1/2-1/2 Gashimov,V (2734)-Svidler,P (2735)/
Astrakhan 2010/CBM 137}) 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. a4 Bg7 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qe2 Bc6 21.
Ng4 Nxg4 22. hxg4 Nc5 23. Qe3 Rxa1 24. Rxa1 Ne6 25. Bg3 f6 26. b4 Kh7 27. Nd2
Rd8 28. Nb3 Be8 $14 {1/2-1/2 Filippov,A (2620)-Sasikiran,K (2688)/Guangzhou
2010/EXT 2011}) 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. a4 $146 {To my surprise, this very natural
move is a novelty. However, I am strongly doubtful about its strength.} (17.
N3h2 {is what has been examined, though in general, Black has no problem to
keep the balance.} Qc7 (17... Be7 $6 18. Ne3 Nh7 19. Bxe7 Rxe7 20. Nf5 $14 {
1-0 Romanishin,O (2485)-Gligoric,S (2575)/Odessa 1975/MCD (55)}) (17... Qb6 18.
Qf3 Re6 19. Ne3 c4 20. Nhg4 Nxg4 21. hxg4 Nf6 22. Rad1 Rae8 23. b3 cxb3 24.
axb3 Qc5 25. Nf5 Qc6 26. b4 g6 27. Nxh6+ Bxh6 28. g5 Bg7 29. gxf6 Bxf6 30. Bxf6
Rxf6 31. Qe3 Qb6 32. Bb3 Bc8 33. Rd5 Qxe3 34. Rxe3 Kf8 35. Rc5 Rd6 36. Rg3 Be6
37. Bxe6 Rexe6 38. Rg5 Rd1+ 39. Kh2 Rd3 40. Rg3 Rdd6 41. Rf3 {1/2-1/2 Psakhis,
L (2580)-Abramovic,B (2475)/Tallinn 1983/MCD}) 18. Qf3 Re6 19. Ne3 c4 20. Nhg4
Nxg4 21. hxg4 Rae8 22. Red1 Nc5 23. Rd2 Rd6 24. Rad1 Ne6 25. Rxd6 Bxd6 26. a4
Bf8 27. axb5 axb5 28. Nd5 Bxd5 29. Rxd5 Nf4 30. Rxb5 Rb8 31. Ba4 Ra8 32. b3
cxb3 33. Bxb3 Ra1+ 34. Kh2 Rc1 35. Qe3 Rxc3 36. Qb6 Qxb6 37. Rxb6 g5 38. Bg3
Rc7 39. Rb5 Bd6 40. f3 Kg7 41. Bf2 Kf6 {1/2-1/2 Tal,M (2615)-Smejkal,J (2615)/
Biel 1976/IZT}) 17... c4 18. N3h2 Re6 (18... g5 $5 19. Bg3 Nc5 20. Qf3 Qd6 21.
Ng4 Nxg4 22. hxg4 $13 {In return for his weakened kingside, Black can outplay
White's dark-squared bishop. Although this is not of very much interest to the
mind of a human player!}) 19. Qf3 Qb6 20. Ng4 Be7 21. Nxf6+ Bxf6 22. Bg3 Bg5
23. Ne3 Bxe3 24. Qxe3 Qxe3 25. Rxe3 Nc5 26. f3 Rd8 27. Re2 Bc6 28. axb5 Bxb5 $5
{Anand was definitely playing for a win. He has an eye on d3 and is trying to
activate his pieces to compensate for his broken pawn chain.} 29. Bf2 Nd3 30.
Rd2 Rc8 31. Bb1 (31. b4 {could let White get rid of his weak b2-pawn}) 31...
Rd6 32. Be3 Rcc6 33. Bxd3 cxd3 34. Kf2 Rd7 35. Rdd1 Rb7 36. Ra5 f6 37. Ke1 Bc4
38. b4 Bb5 39. Kd2 h5 40. Bc5 Kf7 41. Rc1 Bc4 42. Be3 Bb5 43. Bc5 Rxc5 $5 {
Anand tries to complicate things, even though the evaluation of the position
remains the same.} 44. bxc5 Bc4 45. Rd1 Rb2+ 46. Kc1 Rc2+ 47. Kb1 Ke7 48. c6
Kd8 49. Ra4 Bb5 50. Ra2 Kc7 51. c4 (51. Rxc2 $4 dxc2+ 52. Kxc2 Ba4+ 53. Kd2
Bxd1 54. Kxd1 h4 $19 {[%csl Ga6] and Black's remote passer would decide the
game.}) 51... Rxc4 52. Rc1 Rd4 53. Rd2 Ba4 54. Rc5 Bc2+ 55. Kb2 Rd6 56. Kc3 h4
57. g3 $4 {Unbelievable! I cannot really find an explanation for this blunder!}
(57. Rf2 Rxc6 58. Rxc6+ Kxc6 59. Rf1 a5 60. Ra1 a4 61. Ra2 {and White is just
on time to construct a fortress.}) 57... hxg3 58. h4 (58. Rg2 d2 59. Rxd2 Rxd2
60. Kxd2 g2 $19 {[%csl Gg2]}) 58... g6 59. Rd5 Rxc6+ 60. Kb2 Rb6+ 61. Kc3 Rb3+
62. Kc4 Rb1 63. Rg2 Bb3+ 64. Kxd3 Bxd5 65. exd5 Rb3+ 0-1

[Event "World Women-ch k.o."]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2015.04.03"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Muzychuk, Mariya"]
[Black "Pogonina, Natalija"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2526"]
[BlackElo "2456"]
[Annotator "Muzychuk,M"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2015.03.17"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This was the 2nd game of the final match of the Women's World Championship.
The first one finished in a draw and now I tried to use my chances with the
white pieces. I have chosen this game to comment as the win in it was crucial
for winning the match and the title of champion.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {
Usually there is no need to comment on the 3rd move but here we have an
exception. The point is that mainly I play 3.d4, the Scotch which I used in my
previous matches against Humpy Koneru and Harika Dronavalli. In this game I
went for the Ruy Lopez which is known to be a more stable opening but such a
choice was less expected for Nataliya as I don't have so many games after 3.
Bb5.} a6 {Recently Nataliya has also played 3...Nf6, the Berlin.} 4. Ba4 Nf6 5.
O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 (6... Bb7 {is another system where Nataliya had experience
and for which I had to be prepared.}) 7. Re1 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 $1 {
An exclamation mark just for the choice of the variation. While preparing for
the game I noticed that in this position Nataliya plays only one line with 9...
Bb7 10.d4 Nd7. My elder sister Anna also used to play it with Black some time
ago and I believe that with correct play White should be better there. 9...Nb8,
the Breyer system, is known as a complex position with mostly a closed centre
and many different plans. Usually the player who understands it better and
chooses the right strategy wins the game. I think that going into this type of
position was the right choice by Nataliya as in Sochi everybody mentioned my
tactical skills as being the main weapon.} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. a4 {According to
the database usually White does not hurry with a4. It was more precise first
to move the knight from b1 to g3, the bishop to c2 and only then probably to
play a4.} Bb7 12. Nbd2 c5 13. d5 c4 14. Bc2 Nc5 15. Nf1 Re8 {15...Nfd7 and 15..
.Qc7 are also possible but as the position is closed and both sides are
manoeuvring the move order does not have such a high value.} 16. Ng3 g6 17. Be3
(17. Bh6 {was an interesting and typical move for such kind of structures. The
idea is to prevent Black from moving the bishop from e7 to g7. If Black still
continue with their plan and plays ...Bf8, then after the exchange of the
bishop Black's king will be slightly weaker.}) 17... Qc7 18. Nd2 {I did not
have any experience in this line and was not so familiar with the plans. Nd2
is not so bad but I think the knight is misplaced there. This knight choose
another direction: Nh2 with the idea Ng4. Possibly now or some moves later.} ({
For example} 18. Qd2 $5 {[%cal Yf3h2,Yh2g4] and then Nh2-Ng4}) ({Or one more
plan is playing on the queenside:} 18. Qe2 $5 {[%cal Ya1a2,Ye1a1,Ya1a3] with
the idea Ra2 (or Ra3) and Rae1. I think this position is objectively equal.
The plan for Black can be:} Reb8 {[%cal Yc7c8,Ye7d8,Yd8b6] with the idea Qc8
and moving the bishop from e7 to b6.}) 18... Bf8 ({As we could see from the
previous line the bishop from e7 can also go to the the queenside, so it was
possible first to make a more useful move Nfd7 (sooner or later Black should
play it) and only then decide where to move the bishop.} 18... Nfd7 $5) 19. Qe2
({One more plan which can be suggested is still moving the knight to g4 but
now the knight from g3!:} 19. Ngf1 Nfd7 20. Nh2 {and if} h5 {then} 21. Nhf3 {
with still a very complex position. Now White has a plus that after h5 it
would be much more difficult for Black to create the plan with ...f5}) 19...
Nfd7 20. f3 $2 {This must be wrong. My plan was to play f3, then move the
knight from g3 to f2, and then play g3 and f4. Unfortunately it is too long
and Black gets her play much quicker. Better options were the above-mentioned
plans Ra2-Rae1 or 20.Ngf1-Nh2-Ng4.} Nb6 21. a5 {After analysing my game I am
sure it was better not to close the position on the queenside. My idea of
playing on the kingside starting with 20.f3 is completely wrong as it is Black
who will soon become better on the kingside!} Nbd7 22. Nh1 Be7 $6 {Now I
believe Black goes in a wrong direction. There were plenty of other good
possibilities:} (22... Bg7 $1 23. Nf2 Rf8 {[%cal Yf7f5] Black has a clear plan
while I don't see any good ideas for White. Bg7 is better than Be7 as now
after Rf8 White does not have Bh6.}) (22... Bc8 $5 {trying to win the a5-pawn}
23. Nf2 Nb7 24. Ng4 {[%cal Yg4h6] Black wins the pawn but White gets some
counterplay and the position becomes unclear.}) (22... Nf6 $5 {[%cal Yf6h5]}) (
22... h5 $5) 23. g4 $6 ({At this moment I realised that all my plan was not so
good. g4 was against h5 but it also has minus of weakening the black squares.
I did not see a better move while there was one interesting plan:} 23. Nf2 h5
24. Rec1 $1 {[%cal Yb2b4] followed by b4! White gets clear play and the
position is about equal.}) 23... Qd8 (23... Bh4 $142 {is more precise as it
does not allow Ng3 or Qf2.}) 24. Qf2 (24. Ng3 $5) 24... Bh4 (24... h6 {
Probably the best but not so easy to find. The idea is to play ...Bg5 and in
case of ...Bg5 Black takes with the pawn. While} 25. Bxh6 {is a mistake:} Bh4
26. Ng3 g5 {and the bishop on h6 will be lost.}) ({In comparison,} 24... Bg5 {
immediately leads to} 25. Bxg5 Qxg5 26. Ng3 {The position of Black looks
better but it is not easy to find the plan of improving.}) 25. Ng3 Rc8 (25...
h6 {is still interesting}) ({while} 25... f6 {[%cal Yd8e7,Yg8h8,Ye8g8,Ya8f8]
is also possible.}) 26. Kg2 Nf8 $2 {The only idea of ...Nf8 which comes to my
mind is to play ...g5 and then ...Ng6. This plan is not dangerous itself and
just makes the position completely equal. In that case, Black should have
started with ...g5 as the only plan for White is to move f4 after which the
knight on d7 could be much more useful then on f8.} 27. Rf1 (27. f4 $5 {
was already possible} exf4 28. Qxf4) 27... Bg5 (27... g5 $11) 28. f4 $5 {
Opening the position and trusting my style.} ({I think that if I keep the same
structure the position is about equal:} 28. Bxg5 Qxg5 29. Rh1 Qh4 30. Ne2 Qxf2+
31. Kxf2 $11) (28. h4 $2 {does not work} Bxe3 29. Qxe3 Qxh4 30. Rh1 Qe7 {
[%cal Yf7f6] there is not enough compensation for the pawn.}) 28... exf4 29.
Bxf4 {As a result, now I get more space, an open f-file, a good d4-square for
the knight but also a very weak e5-square and a weak e4-pawn. To sum it up the
position is still equal but now more complicated.} Rc7 $6 ({Black does not
have enough time to move the rook from c8 to e7 and also then the knight from
f8 to e5, therefore it was better to start moving the knight to e5.} 29... Bxf4
30. Qxf4 Qe7 31. Nf3 Nfd7 32. Nd4 Rf8 $11) 30. Bxg5 (30. Rae1 $5) 30... Qxg5
31. Nf3 Qe7 (31... Qf4 32. g5 {[%cal Yg3e2]}) (31... Qd8 32. Nd4 Rce7 33. Qf4 {
this line demonstrates what happens if Black tries to move the rook to e7. Now
there is no Nfd7, and if} Qc7 {then} 34. Qg5 {[%cal Yg3f5]}) 32. Nd4 $5 ({
Once again, if White just doubles the rooks on the f-file, slowly improves the
position, it should be about equal but I found one interesting idea} 32. Qd2
Nfd7 33. Rf2 $11) 32... Qe5 $2 {The queen is known to be a bad blocking piece
and Black does not have time to move the queen to g7 and then the knight from
f8 to e5.} ({My main idea was in this variatio:} 32... Nfd7 33. Ngf5 $1 {
Otherwise Black comes to e5, later possibly to d3 and start to explore my
weaknesses} gxf5 34. Nxf5 Qf6 (34... Qf8 $2 35. Nxd6) 35. g5 (35. Nh6+ Kg7) (
35. Qf4 Rf8) 35... Qg6 (35... Qxg5+ $2 36. Kh1 $16) 36. Nh6+ $13 {and now we
come to a very unclear but also a very interesting position.}) 33. h4 $1 {
Starting from here my position is better.} h6 (33... Qg7 34. g5 Nfd7 35. Ngf5 {
just shows that Black is not in time to regroup the pieces.}) (33... Qe7 {
is probably the best move but of course it is difficult just to go back and
lose 2 tempi.}) 34. Qd2 Bc8 (34... Qg7 35. Rf2 {and again Black cannot play}
Nfd7 {because of} 36. Ngf5 gxf5 37. Nxf5 $18) 35. Nc6 $6 {Not the best choice.
As we can see later after Nc6 Black has a nice tactical motif. Instead of this
the following possibilities were better:} (35. Nf3 $5 {[%cal Yd2f4]}) (35. Qxh6
$5 Bxg4 36. Rf4 (36. h5 Bxh5 (36... f5 37. hxg6 fxe4 38. Rf4 $18) 37. Rh1 $16)
36... Bc8 37. h5 Qg7 38. Qxg7+ Kxg7 39. Rg1 $40 {[%cal Yg2f2]}) (35. Rae1 $5
Bxg4 36. Ndf5) 35... Qg7 (35... Rxc6 $5 {changes the character of the position
but objectively Black does not get enough compensation for the exchange} 36.
dxc6 Bxg4 37. Qxh6 $16) 36. Qf4 (36. g5 hxg5 37. hxg5 Bb7 38. Nd4 Nh7 $13)
36... Rd7 $6 (36... Nfe6 $1 {A great chance!} 37. Qxd6 {Otherwise Black plays .
..Bb7 and I have to move my knight to b4 where it is not so well placed} Nb7 {
, then Nec5, ...Bd7 and it becomes quite unclear, especially in the coming
timetrouble.}) (36... Nb7 37. Nb4 $16) 37. Rf2 {Now we are again playing for
just 2 results.} (37. g5 $5) 37... Bb7 38. Nd4 (38. Raf1 $5 Bxc6 39. dxc6 Nfe6
40. Qd2 $16) 38... Re5 (38... Nh7 $5) 39. Nf3 (39. h5 $5) (39. Raf1 $5) 39...
Re8 40. g5 $6 {A bit unpractical. I decide to change the structure on the 40th
move while I could just play Rf1 and then after adding additional time decide
whether I want to play g5 or h5.} (40. h5 $5 Nh7 41. hxg6 fxg6 42. Rh1 $16)
40... h5 41. Nd4 (41. Raf1 $5) 41... Qe5 42. Qd2 Rc7 (42... Nh7 $5) 43. Raf1
Ree7 $2 {A huge mistake, losing the game immediately} ({Black had to play} 
43... Nh7 {to keep the f6-square under control. And here, despite of the fact
that computer gives White quite a big advantage, I don't see a clear plan of
how to improve my position.}) 44. Rf6 $18 Red7 (44... Re8 45. Qf2 $18) 45. R6f4
$2 (45. Ndf5 $1 {was winning immediately. I considered this move but in such
an important match it was difficult to sacrifice the piece without seing till
the end that I am winning.} gxf5 46. R1xf5 Qe7 47. Rh6 $18 (47. Qd1 $18)) (45.
Qd1 $5) 45... b4 $2 ({With 45...b4 Black tried to complicate the position but
actually it appears that it makes White's play easier. After} 45... Nh7 {
we come again to the position where White has to show some plan.}) 46. Nf3 (46.
Ndf5 $1 {again very strong and winning but even less obvious than on the
previous move. Here are some lines just to show White's strong attack:} gxf5
47. Nxh5 Ng6 (47... bxc3 48. bxc3 $18) 48. Nf6+ Kg7 49. Rxf5 Nxh4+ 50. Kh1 Nxf5
51. Rxf5 Qe7 (51... Qg3 52. Nh5+) 52. Qh2 $18) (46. cxb4 $5 Nd3 47. Nge2 Nxf4+
48. Qxf4 $16) 46... Qg7 (46... bxc3 47. Nxe5 cxd2 48. Nxd7) 47. cxb4 {
Basically with b4 Black just gave away a pawn and now everything collapses.}
Nd3 (47... Nb3 48. Qc3 $18) 48. Rf6 (48. Bxd3 $5 cxd3 49. Ne1 $1 $18) 48... Nh7
(48... Nxb2 49. Qc3 Nd3 50. Nd4 $18 {[%cal Yd4f5]}) 49. Nd4 Nxf6 50. gxf6 Qf8 (
50... Qh7 $142 {does not lose by force but of course with the queen on h7
there should not be too many chances to save the game.}) 51. Ba4 $2 {I am
still winning after Ba4 but this move is in the wrong direction.} (51. Nxh5 $18
gxh5 52. Bxd3 (52. Qg5+ Kh7 53. Qf5+ Kh6 54. Kh2 $18) 52... cxd3 53. Rf5 $18) (
51. Bxd3 cxd3 52. Qxd3 $16) 51... Ne5 $2 (51... Rd8 {the only move and now
when playing 51.Ba4 I planned} 52. Ne6 $2 {but after} (52. Nxh5 gxh5 53. Rf5
$18 {is winning}) 52... fxe6 53. dxe6 Bc8 54. e7 Rxe7 55. fxe7 Qxe7 {it is me
who has to fight for a draw! I just hope that after Rd8 I would have found
this line and choose the winning 52.Nh5.}) 52. Bxd7 {Now I get the exchange
back and just have a winning position.} (52. Nxh5 $18 {also winning.}) 52...
Rxd7 53. Nf3 (53. Qg5 Kh7 54. Nxh5 $18) (53. Nxh5 gxh5 54. Qg5+ (54. Rf5 $18)
54... Ng6 55. Qxh5 $18 {[%cal Yh5g4,Yh4h5]}) 53... Ng4 54. Nxh5 $1 {Finally I
open the king and win with a forced attack.} gxh5 55. Qg5+ Kh8 56. Qxh5+ Nh6
57. Kh2 (57. Rg1 $5 $18) 57... Qg8 58. Rg1 1-0

[Event "OHRA-A"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1984.07.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Campora, Daniel Hugo"]
[Black "Van der Sterren, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2475"]
[Annotator "Notkin,M"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1984.07.17"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. 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. b3 Bf8 14. d5 c6 15. c4
Qc7 16. Nf1 Rac8 $6 (16... Rec8 17. Ne3 g6 (17... bxc4 18. bxc4 Nc5 19. Nd2
cxd5 20. cxd5 a5 21. a4 Ba6 22. Ra3 $16 {Ermenkov,E-Smejkal,J/Thessaloniki/
1984/1:0/54/}) 18. Nh2 $1 h5 $6 19. Nhf1 a5 20. Bd2 Bg7 21. Rc1 bxc4 22. bxc4
Nc5 23. Qf3 Qd8 24. Ng3 $16 {Ljubojevic,L-Beliavsky,A/Reykjavik/1991/0,5/61/})
17. Ne3 g6 18. Bd2 $2 (18. Nh2 $1) 18... bxc4 $2 (18... Nc5 19. Ng4 Nxg4 20.
hxg4 cxd5 21. cxd5 Na4 $1 $10) 19. bxc4 Bg7 $6 (19... cxd5 20. cxd5 a5 21. Rc1
Nc5 22. Ng4 $14) 20. Bb4 cxd5 $2 (20... Nc5 $14) 21. cxd5 a5 22. Ba3 Nc5 23.
Nd2 $16 Qd8 $2 (23... Ba6 24. Rc1 Red8 $16) 24. Nec4 Ba6 25. Ba4 $1 Nxa4 (25...
Re7 26. Bc6 Bxc4 27. Nxc4 Ncxe4 28. Qc2 Nc5 29. Nxd6 $18) 26. Qxa4 Bh6 $8 27.
Rad1 Bxd2 28. Nxd2 $18 Nh5 (28... Qb6 29. Rb1) (28... Re7 29. Rc1 Ne8 30. Nb3)
29. g3 Bd3 (29... Qg5 30. Nf3 Qf6 31. Kg2) (29... f5 $5 30. exf5 gxf5 31. Rc1
Rb8 (31... e4 32. Qd4 {/\Bb2/}) 32. Rc3 $18) 30. Rc1 Qb6 (30... Nxg3 31. Rxc8
$1 Qxc8 32. fxg3 $18) 31. Rc6 $1 Rxc6 32. Qxc6 Qxc6 33. dxc6 Rc8 34. Rc1 Nf6 (
34... Bb5 35. c7 Ng7 36. Bxd6 f6 37. f4 $18) 35. Bxd6 Nxe4 36. Nxe4 Bxe4 37. c7
f6 38. Rc5 a4 39. Rc4 Bf5 40. Rxa4 Kf7 (40... Bxh3 41. f4 exf4 42. Rxf4 Kf7 43.
Rb4 $18) 41. g4 Bd3 42. Rb4 Ke6 43. Rb6 Kd7 44. f4 e4 45. Kf2 Bb5 46. f5 Bc6
47. Rb8 gxf5 48. gxf5 Ba4 49. Ke3 Bc6 50. Bf4 h5 51. h4 (51. h4 Bd5 52. a4 {
/\a5-a6-a7,Kd4-c5,Rc8,Kd6+-/}) 1-0

[Event "RUS-Cup01 Chigorin Memorial"]
[Site "St Petersburg"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Balashov, Yuri S"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[Annotator "Notkin,M"]
[PlyCount "140"]
[EventDate "1996.11.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 056 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.03.01"]
[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 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
a4 c5 16. d5 Nb6 17. a5 (17. Qe2 Nxa4 18. Bxa4 bxa4 19. Rxa4 Bc8 (19... Nd7 20.
Ra3 Nb6 21. Nh2 Bg7 22. Ng4 Bc8 $14 {Torre,E-Gligoric,S/Bad Lauterberg/1977/0:
1/55/}) (19... Bg7 20. c4 Bc8 21. Bd2 Rb8 22. Rb1 Re7 23. Ne1 Reb7 24. Nd3 Rb3
25. Rba1 Ne8 26. Bc3 $14 {Karpov,A-Gligoric,S/Milan/1975/1:0/50/}) 20. b3 Rb8
21. Ra3 Re7 22. c4 Reb7 23. Qc2 Ne8 24. Bd2 Ng7 $10 {Karpov,A-Smejkal,J/Moscow/
1977/1:0/52/}) 17... Nc4 (17... Nbd7 18. b3 Bg7 19. Be3 Qe7 20. Qd2 Kh8 21. Bg5
Qf8 22. Rf1 Ng8 23. Rae1 Bh6 24. c4 {Mikhalchishin,A-Arbakov,V/Budapest/1990/0,
5/24/}) 18. b3 $5 (18. b4 cxb4 19. cxb4 Rc8 20. Bd3 Bg7 21. Ra2 Rf8 22. Rc2 Qd7
$13 {Karpov,A-Portisch,L/Madrid/1973/0,5/50/}) 18... Nxa5 19. Bg5 Bg7 (19...
Be7 20. Ra2 c4 21. b4 Nb3 22. Bxf6 (22. Bxb3 cxb3 23. Qxb3 Nxd5 $17) (22. Bh6
a5 23. Bxb3 cxb3 24. Qxb3 a4 $13) 22... Bxf6 23. Bxb3 cxb3 24. Qxb3 Qc7 $10)
20. Ra2 c4 21. b4 Nb3 22. Bxb3 cxb3 23. Qxb3 h6 24. Be3 Rf8 25. Nd2 Ne8 26. f3
f5 27. Bf2 Nc7 (27... f4 28. Ngf1 Bf6 29. c4 $16) 28. c4 fxe4 $1 (28... bxc4
29. Nxc4 Nb5 30. Qd3 $14 fxe4 $140 31. Nxe4) 29. Ngxe4 (29. fxe4 bxc4 30. Nxc4
Nb5 31. Na5 Bc8 32. Nc6 Qg5 $13) 29... bxc4 30. Nxc4 Bxd5 31. Rd1 Kh7 (31...
Bxc4 32. Qxc4+ d5 33. Qc6 Qe8 34. Qxc7 dxe4 35. fxe4 $14) 32. Bb6 Bxe4 33. fxe4
Qe7 34. Bxc7 (34. Nxd6 Ne6 {/\Nd4/}) 34... Qxc7 35. Rxd6 Rac8 36. Rc2 Qa7+ 37.
Qe3 Rf7 (37... Qxe3+ 38. Nxe3 Rxc2 39. Nxc2 Rc8 40. Ne3 $16) 38. Qxa7 Rxa7 39.
Ne3 Rxc2 40. Nxc2 Bf8 41. Rc6 (41. Rb6 a5) 41... Rb7 42. Rc4 Kg7 43. Kf2 Kf7
44. Ke2 Ke6 45. Kd3 (45. Rc6+ Kf7) 45... Kd7 46. Kc3 Bd6 47. Na1 h5 48. Nc2 Rb8
49. Ne3 Rb5 50. Nd5 Rb7 (50... a5 $10) 51. Kd3 Rb8 52. Rc2 $5 Bxb4 53. Rc7+ Kd6
54. Rg7 Be1 $1 55. Rxg6+ Kc5 56. Rxa6 (56. Rg5 Rb3+ 57. Kc2 (57. Ke2 Bg3 58.
Rxh5 a5 $15) 57... Rg3 $10) 56... Rb3+ 57. Ke2 Bg3 58. Ra5+ Kd4 59. Ra4+ Kc5
60. Ne3 Bf4 61. Nd1 (61. Nf5 Rb2+ 62. Kf3 Rb3+ $10) 61... h4 62. Ra8 Kd4 63.
Ra4+ Kc5 64. Ke1 Rb1 65. Ra8 Kd4 66. Ke2 Rb3 (66... Kxe4 $4 67. Nc3+) 67. Nf2
Re3+ 68. Kd1 (68. Kf1 Bg3) 68... Rg3 69. Ra4+ Kc3 (69... Kc5 70. Ra2 Kd4 $10) (
69... Ke3 $2 70. Ng4+) 70. Ra3+ Kd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Rohde op 08th"]
[Site "Sautron"]
[Date "2008.11.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Carlsson, Pontus"]
[Black "Lafuente, Pablo"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2515"]
[BlackElo "2522"]
[Annotator "Primel,D"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2008.10.25"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2009"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 (7...
O-O {[%cal Gd7d5]}) 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 {[%cal Gb8d7] la vieille variante
Breyer mais curieusement, il n'y a aucune partie dans les bases de ce joueur
hongrois avec cette idée} 10. d4 (10. d3) 10... Nbd7 11. Nbd2 (11. Nh4 {
[%csl Gf5]} Nxe4 12. Nf5 Ndf6 13. Qf3 Bb7 14. Bc2 {[%cal Gf3b7]} Nc5 15. Qg3
$44 {[%csl Rg7]} Ne6 {Bogdanovic,R-Hort,V Sarajevo 08th 1965 (14) 1/2}) 11...
Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 {[%csl Re4][%cal Ge7f8]} 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 (14. Bg5) 14... g6
(14... c5 $143 15. d5 {[%csl Rb7,Rc6]}) 15. a4 (15. b3 $5 {[%cal Gc3c4]} Bg7
16. d5 Nb6 17. Rb1 c6 $132) (15. Bg5) 15... c6 {C'est la différence avec la
variante Tchigorine, les noirs n'ont pas encore poussé c7c5 et peuvent lutter
pour le contrôle de la case "d5"} (15... c5 {La grande ligne}) 16. Bg5 h6 17.
Be3 Qc7 18. Qd2 {[%csl Rh6]} (18. b3 Bg7 19. b4 Nb6 20. dxe5 dxe5 21. Bb3 $11)
18... Kh7 19. b3 (19. Bb3 {[%csl Rf7]} Re7 20. Nh2 {Navara,D (2491)-Roiz,M 
(2511) Wch U20 Athens 2001 (13) 0-1} (20. axb5 axb5 21. Rxa8 Bxa8 22. Ra1 Bb7
23. Ra7)) 19... Rad8 $5 $146 {[%cal Gd8d2]} ({RR} 19... Bg7 20. dxe5 dxe5 21.
Qe2 Nf8 22. b4 Bc8 23. Nd2 Be6 24. Nb3 N8d7 25. Qf3 Red8 26. Ne2 Ne8 27. Nec1
Nd6 28. Nd3 Nb7 29. Qg3 a5 30. bxa5 Nxa5 31. Nbc5 Nxc5 32. Nxc5 Bc4 33. Qh4 f6
34. Reb1 {Nikolenko,O (2517)-Turova,I (2358)/Tula 2002/CBM 087 ext/1/2-1/2 (59)
}) 20. Rad1 (20. axb5 $5 axb5 21. Ra7 {profitant de la nouveauté Rad8 qui ne
contrôle plus la colonne "a"} (21. Bd3 d5 22. dxe5 dxe4) 21... Ra8 $1 22. Rea1
Rxa7 23. Rxa7 Ra8 24. Rxa8 Bxa8 $11) (20. Bd3 d5 $1) 20... Bg7 21. Qc1 c5 22.
d5 bxa4 23. bxa4 (23. b4 cxb4 24. cxb4 Nb6 25. Qb1 {[%cal Gd1c1,Gc1c7]}) 23...
Nb6 24. Qb1 a5 25. Qa2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sautron op 14th"]
[Site "Sautron"]
[Date "2014.11.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Zubarev, Alexander2"]
[Black "Maiorov, Nikita"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2588"]
[BlackElo "2585"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2014.10.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 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 {55} 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2 h5 20. Ra3 (20. Bxc5 dxc5
21. Qe3 Rb8 22. Nf1 Bc8 23. N1d2 Bd7 24. axb5 axb5 25. Ra6 Rb6 26. Ra7 Qb8 27.
Rea1 Qd6 28. Bd1 Bg7 29. Be2 Reb8 30. Bxc4 bxc4 31. Nxc4 Qe7 32. Nxb6 Rxb6 33.
b4 Bf8 34. R7a5 Bb5 35. bxc5 Qxc5 36. Qxc5 Bxc5 37. c4 Nxe4 38. Rxb5 Bxf2+ 39.
Kf1 Rf6 40. Rb8+ Kg7 41. Raa8 Rf4 42. d6 Bh4 43. Rg8+ Kh7 44. Rh8+ Kg7 45.
Rag8+ Kf6 46. d7 Ke6 47. d8=Q Bxd8 48. Rxd8 Nf6 49. Ke2 Rxc4 {Giri,A (2752)
-Karjakin,S (2771) Flor & Fjaere 2014 1-0 (65)}) (20. Bg5) 20... Nfd7 {48} 21.
Rea1 {Une longue suite théorique qui va permettre de dépasser le minimum des
25 coups et annuler.} Bg7 22. axb5 axb5 23. Rxa8 Bxa8 {42} 24. Bg5 $146 (24.
Qd1 Qc7 25. Ra3 Bb7 26. Qa1 Rb8 27. Ra5 Bc8 28. Nf1 Rb6 29. Ra7 Rb7 30. Ra3 Rb6
31. Ra7 Rb7 32. Ra3 Rb6 {1/2-1/2 (32) Landa,K (2574)-Kosyrev,V (2539)
playchess.com INT 2005}) 24... Qc7 25. Nh4 Bb7 {31} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sautron op 16th"]
[Site "Sautron"]
[Date "2016.10.22"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Bedouin, Xavier"]
[Black "Maiorov, Nikita"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2353"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2016.10.22"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:30:56"]
[BlackClock "0:34:32"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:03:35]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 4. Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:
05]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:13]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 6. Re1 {
[%emt 0:00:14]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 7. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:03]}
(7... O-O) 8. c3 {[%emt 0:00:20]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:03]} 9. h3 {[%emt 0:00:13]}
Nb8 {[%emt 0:00:02] La variante Breyer} 10. d4 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:
00:05]} 11. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:18]} (11. c4 $5 c6 12. a3 bxc4 13. Bxc4 Nxe4 14.
dxe5 d5 {Zhigalko,S (2671)-Ivanchuk,V (2753) Latvian Railway op rapid 2014 (9)
0-1}) 11... Bb7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 12. Bc2 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:03]}
(12... c5 13. d5 $14 {[%csl Rb7]}) 13. Nf1 {[%emt 0:00:19]} (13. a4) (13. b3)
13... Bf8 {[%emt 0:00:03][%cal Ge5d4,Gf6e4]} 14. Ng3 {[%emt 0:00:15]} g6 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} (14... c6 {Passif mais la position Noire est solide}) 15. a4 {
[%emt 0:00:25]} Nb6 {[%emt 0:01:31]} (15... c5 16. d5 c4 17. Bg5 Bg7 18. Qd2
Rb8 19. Nh2 Bc8 20. Ng4 Nc5 21. Nh6+ Bxh6 22. Bxh6 bxa4 23. Ra2 a3 24. bxa3
Nfd7 25. f4 a5 26. Rf1 f6 27. f5 Nd3 28. Bxd3 cxd3 29. Qd1 Re7 30. Raf2 Rf7 31.
Qxd3 Nc5 32. Qf3 Ba6 33. Qg4 g5 34. h4 Bxf1 35. Rxf1 Qd7 36. hxg5 fxg5 37. Qh5
Kh8 38. f6 Rg8 39. Bg7+ Rfxg7 40. fxg7+ Qxg7 41. Nf5 Qg6 42. Qxg6 Rxg6 43. Ne7
Kg7 44. Nxg6 Kxg6 45. Rf8 {Anand,V (2804)-Carlsen,M (2876) Stavanger 2015 1-0})
16. dxe5 {[%emt 0:20:18]} dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 17. Qxd8 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Raxd8
{[%emt 0:00:09]} 18. axb5 {[%emt 0:00:21]} axb5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 19. Bg5 $146 {
[%emt 0:09:51]} (19. Ra7 Rb8 20. Bd3 Nc8 21. Ra5 c6 22. Be3 Bd6 23. Rd1 Bc7 24.
Ra2 Nb6 25. b3 Ra8 26. Rxa8 Bxa8 27. Ra1 Nfd7 28. c4 bxc4 29. bxc4 Bd6 30. Ra5
Bb4 31. Ra6 c5 32. Nd2 Bc6 33. Nb3 Ra8 34. Rxa8+ Bxa8 35. Nf1 Bb7 36. Nfd2 Ba6
37. Be2 f6 38. Bg4 Kf7 39. Bxd7 Nxd7 40. Kf1 Ke6 41. Ke2 Kd6 42. Kd3 Nb6 43.
Bh6 Ke6 44. Be3 Na4 45. Kc2 Kd6 46. f3 Nb6 47. Kd3 Na4 48. Kc2 Nb6 {Ringoir,T 
(2321)-Sonntag,H (2384) Eupen 2008 1/2-1/2}) 19... Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:54]} 20. Ra7
$36 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:44]} 21. Bd3 {[%emt 0:02:26]} c6 {[%emt 0:
01:50]} 22. b3 {[%emt 0:14:00]} Nfd7 {[%emt 0:02:47]} 23. Nf1 {[%emt 0:01:54]}
Bf8 {[%emt 0:07:41]} 24. Bc2 {[%emt 0:02:36]} Nc8 $5 {[%emt 0:03:46]} 25. Ra2 {
[%emt 0:02:04]} Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 26. N3d2 {[%emt 0:09:40]} Bc8 {[%emt 0:02:
23]} 27. Be3 {[%emt 0:05:57]} b4 {[%emt 0:01:57]} 28. cxb4 {[%emt 0:05:26]} (
28. c4) 28... Nb5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 29. Bd3 {[%emt 0:01:12]} Nd4 {[%emt 0:02:02]
} 30. Rc1 {[%emt 0:03:02]} Bxb4 $132 {[%emt 0:01:41]} 31. Ra4 {[%emt 0:07:31]}
c5 {[%emt 0:18:37]} 32. Ra7 {[%emt 0:03:17]} Nb6 {[%emt 0:01:39]} 33. Bxd4 {
[%emt 0:06:44]} exd4 {[%emt 0:02:30]} 34. Nf3 {[%emt 0:01:06]} Be6 {[%emt 0:18:
24]} 35. N1d2 {[%emt 0:00:27]} Bc3 $1 {[%emt 0:00:57]} 36. Nb1 {[%emt 0:03:35]}
Bxb3 {[%emt 0:08:57]} 37. Nxc3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} dxc3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 38. Rxc3
{[%emt 0:00:17]} c4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 39. Nd2 $1 {[%emt 0:02:22]} Red8 {[%emt 0:
22:00]} 40. Nxb3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rxd3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Rohde op 12th"]
[Site "Sautron"]
[Date "2012.10.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Riff, Jean Noel"]
[Black "Pancevski, Filip"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2473"]
[BlackElo "2482"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2012.10.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2014"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
[WhiteClock "1:30:00"]
[BlackClock "1:30:00"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 4. Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 6. Bb3 {
[%emt 0:00:06]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 7. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:58]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:12]
} 8. c3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:07]} 9. h3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nb8 {
[%emt 0:00:08] La défense Breyer est trés solide} 10. d4 {[%emt 0:00:24]} (10.
d3) 10... Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 11. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:00:07]}
12. Bc2 {[%emt 0:07:46]} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:29][%cal Ge7f8]} 13. b3 {[%emt 0:00:
07]} (13. Nf1 {La grande ligne} Bf8 14. Ng3) 13... Bf8 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 14. Bb2
{[%emt 0:00:05]} (14. d5) (14. a4) 14... g6 {[%emt 0:04:07]} 15. a4 {[%emt 0:
03:09]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:29]} (15... Rb8 16. Bd3 c6 17. Qc2 Nh5 18. Nh2 Nf4 19.
Bf1 Ne6 20. Ng4 Bg7 21. dxe5 dxe5 22. Nf3 h5 23. Ne3 Qc7 24. Rad1 Rbd8 25. h4 {
1/2-1/2 Ljubojevic,L (2600)-Karpov,A (2705)/Tilburg 1986/CBM 003}) (15... Bg7
16. Bd3) 16. Nf1 {[%emt 0:04:17]} (16. Bd3 Bg7 17. Qc2 Qc7 18. c4 $14 {
Volokitin,A (2672)-Tazbir,M (2444) POL-chT Karpacz 2008 (3) 1/2}) 16... Qb6
$146 {[%emt 0:15:34]} ({RR} 16... Nh5 17. Ne3 Nf4 18. Qd2 h5 19. Rad1 Qb6 20.
c4 Rad8 21. d5 bxa4 22. g3 axb3 23. Bb1 Nxh3+ 24. Kg2 Nxf2 25. Qxf2 Bh6 26.
dxc6 Qxc6 27. g4 Bf4 28. gxh5 Nf6 29. Nd5 Nxd5 30. exd5 Qxc4 31. Re4 {Tukhaev,
A (2536)-Salgado Lopez,I (2627)/Mamaia 2012/CBM 150 Extra/1-0 (35)}) 17. Ng3 {
[%emt 0:12:58]} (17. a5 Qc7 18. Ng3 (18. Bd3)) 17... Rad8 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 18.
a5 {[%emt 0:05:13]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:04:18]} 19. Bd3 {[%emt 0:02:20]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:
04:21]} 20. Qc2 {[%emt 0:01:03]} c5 {[%emt 0:02:57] La perte de tremps est
négligeable dans une position fermée.} 21. d5 {[%emt 0:00:46][%csl Rb7]} Rf8 {
[%emt 0:00:24][%cal Gf6e8,Gf7f5]} (21... Bh6 $5 22. c4 b4) 22. c4 {[%emt 0:00:
41]} b4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 23. Bc1 {[%emt 0:03:12] Le Bb2 n'avait plus beaucoup
d'avenir et les Blancs profitent du fait que les Noirs n'ont pas joué Bh6} Kh8
{[%emt 0:00:13]} 24. Ra2 {[%emt 0:01:53] Un coup bizarre} Ng8 {[%emt 0:00:15]
[%cal Gg7h6]} 25. Bd2 {[%emt 0:03:44]} Rde8 {[%emt 0:00:57]} 26. Qc1 {[%emt 0:
01:47]} Bc8 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 27. Nh2 {[%emt 0:01:05]} Qd8 {[%emt 0:00:55]} 28.
Bb1 {[%emt 0:02:25]} Ndf6 {[%emt 0:01:34]} 29. Rf1 {[%emt 0:01:12] La poussée
f4 sera difficile а réaliser sans affaiblir le P"e4"} h5 $5 {[%emt 0:01:55]}
30. Bg5 {[%emt 0:01:31]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:02:21][%cal Gf6h7]} 31. Nf3 {[%emt 0:06:
45]} Nh7 {[%emt 0:01:59]} 32. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:31]} Qd8 {[%emt 0:00:41]
Proposant tacitement la nulle} 33. Ng5 {[%emt 0:01:02]} Nxg5 {[%emt 0:15:23]}
34. Bxg5 {[%emt 0:01:37]} f6 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 35. Be3 {[%emt 0:02:43]} h4 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} 36. Nh1 {[%emt 0:00:08]} f5 $1 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 37. exf5 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} gxf5 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 38. Qd1 {[%emt 0:00:36]} Qf6 {[%emt 0:03:
09]} 39. Qh5+ {[%emt 0:02:29]} Bh6 {[%emt 0:01:46]} 40. f4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kg7
$1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Bc1 {[%emt 0:05:18]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:12:30]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Plancoet op-A 10th"]
[Site "Plancoet"]
[Date "2013.07.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Bryzgalin, Kirill"]
[Black "Miron, Lucian Costin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2544"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2013.07.28"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2017"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.10.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.10.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 (10. d3 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Nf1) 10... Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7
12. Bc2 Re8 (12... c5 13. d5 {[%csl Rb7]}) 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. Bg5 (15.
a4) (15. b3) 15... h6 ({RR} 15... Bg7 16. Qd2 Qe7 17. b3 c6 18. Rad1 Qf8 19. a4
Rad8 20. Qc1 h6 21. Be3 Kh7 22. b4 Re7 23. axb5 cxb5 24. d5 Rc8 25. Qa3 Qd8 26.
Rc1 Nb6 27. Nd2 h5 28. Bd3 Bh6 29. Bxh6 Kxh6 30. c4 {Karjakin,S (2706)-Kamsky,
G (2725) Nice 2009 1-0 (52)}) 16. Be3 Bg7 17. Qd2 Kh7 18. dxe5 $146 ({RR} 18.
d5 Qe7 19. Rad1 Bf8 20. b3 c5 21. b4 c4 22. a4 Bg7 23. a5 {1/2-1/2 (23) Ivanco,
I-Kozma,J Bratislava 1956}) 18... dxe5 19. a4 c5 20. Qe2 Bc6 $11 21. Nd2 Qc7
22. axb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Plancoet op-A 10th"]
[Site "Plancoet"]
[Date "2013.07.31"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Konguvel, Ponnuswamy"]
[Black "Miron, Lucian Costin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2319"]
[BlackElo "2544"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2013.07.28"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2017"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.10.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.10.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 ({RR} 13. b4) 13...
Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. a4 Bg7 16. Bg5 h6 17. Bd2 c5 ({RR} 17... Nb6 18. axb5 axb5
19. b3 Nfd7 20. Bd3 b4 21. Rxa8 Bxa8 22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Nxe5 dxe5 24. Qc2 bxc3
25. Bxc3) ({RR} 17... exd4 18. cxd4 c5 19. d5 Nb6 20. Qc1 Kh7 21. Ba5 Nfd7) 18.
d5 Nb6 19. Qe2 $146 (19. a5 {Garcia Martinez,S (2445)-Parma,B (2510) Portoroz/
Ljubljana 1975 (14) 1/2}) 19... Qd7 20. Be3 Nxa4 21. Bxa4 bxa4 22. Qc2 Nxd5 $5
(22... Rab8) 23. exd5 Bxd5 24. Qxa4 Qxa4 25. Rxa4 f5 $44 26. Bd2 Kh7 27. Rea1
Bb7 28. Be1 Rab8 29. Nd2 Red8 (29... Bc8 $5 {[%cal Gb8b2]}) 30. Ra5 Bc8 31.
R1a2 Bf6 32. Ngf1 f4 $6 {[%csl Re4]} 33. Ne4 Be7 {[%cal Gd6d5]} 34. c4 {
[%csl Rd5,Rd6]} Bb7 35. Nfd2 g5 36. Nc3 Rd7 37. Nd5 Rf8 38. f3 {[%csl Gd5] Les
Noirs sont privés de contre-jeu et la paire de B ne sert à rien} h5 39. Ne4
$18 {[%csl Gd5,Ge4] Un cas d'école de domination des N sur les B.} Bd8 40.
R5a3 Kg6 41. Rb3 Rh8 42. Bc3 g4 43. Rxb7 Rxb7 44. Rxa6 gxf3 45. Nxd6 Rd7 46.
Bxe5 Rg8 47. Bxf4 fxg2 48. Ne4+ Kf7 49. Nxc5 Bh4 50. Be3 Rdd8 51. Ra7+ Kg6 52.
Kxg2 Rdf8 53. Nd3 Kf5+ 54. Kf3 Rg3+ 55. Ke2 Rg2+ 56. Kf1 Rc2 57. Bh6 Re8 58.
Ne3+ Rxe3 59. Bxe3 Ke4 60. Bf2 Bf6 61. Nc5+ Kf3 62. Ra3+ 1-0

[Event "POL-chT 66th"]
[Site "Katowice"]
[Date "2010.09.09"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Piorun, Kacper"]
[Black "Olszewski, Michal"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2497"]
[BlackElo "2549"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2010.09.04"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Gorzow Wielkopolski"]
[BlackTeam "Wroclaw"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "POL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "POL"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15. b4
(15. Qc2 Qc7 16. b3 g6 17. Bb2 Rac8 18. Rad1 Nh5 19. Qb1 bxa4 20. bxa4 exd4 21.
cxd4 d5 22. Rc1 Nf4 23. Bf1 Qb8 24. g3 Ne6 25. h4 Bg7 26. Bh3 c5 27. dxc5 Bxb2
28. Qxb2 Ndxc5 29. Ne5 Red8 30. Bxe6 Nxe6 31. Rxc8 Qxc8 32. Rc1 Qa8 33. exd5
Bxd5 34. Ng4 Bh1 35. Nf6+ Kf8 36. Nxh7+ Kg8 37. Nf6+ Kf8 38. f3 Bxf3 39. Qa3+
Kg7 40. Nxf3 Kxf6 41. Qb2+ Ke7 42. Ne5 Nd4 43. Rf1 f5 44. Re1 Qd5 {Naiditsch,A
(2705)-Ponomariov,R (2723) Dortmund 2014 1-0}) 15... Nb6 16. axb5 cxb5 17. d5
Rc8 18. Bb2 g6 19. Bf1 $146 (19. Qb3 Qc7 20. Rec1 Bh6 21. Rc2 Nxe4 22. Nxe4 Bg7
23. c4 bxc4 24. Bxc4 Nxc4 25. Rxc4 Qxc4 26. Qxc4 Rxc4 27. Nxd6 Rxb4 28. Nxe8
Rxb2 29. Nxg7 Kxg7 30. Rd1 Rb5 31. d6 Bxf3 32. d7 Bxd1 33. d8=Q Bb3 34. Qd6 a5
35. Qd3 {1/2-1/2 (35) Tiemann,H (2472)-Laane,E (2456) ICCF email 2010}) 19...
Bh6 20. Nb3 $14 {[%csl Ga5]} Na4 21. Rxa4 $1 bxa4 22. Na5 $44 {[%csl Rb7,Rc6]}
a3 23. Bc1 Bxc1 24. Qxc1 Qb6 25. Qxa3 $44 {[%csl Ra6,Rd6][%cal Ga5c4,Ga5b7,
Gf1a6]} Re7 26. Nd2 Ne8 27. c4 f5 28. Ndb3 $1 {[%cal Gc4c5]} fxe4 29. c5 $40 {
La majorité de l'aile-dame est très forte} Qa7 30. c6 {[%csl Rb7]} Ba8 {
[%csl Ra8] Les Noirs ont quasiment une pièce de moins car le Ba8 est hors-jeu}
31. Nd2 $1 Rb8 32. Nxe4 {[%csl Ge4][%cal Ge4g5,Gg5e6]} Qd4 {[%cal Gd4d5,Gd4b4]}
33. Bc4 $1 {Les Noirs sont ligotés} Rf7 {[%cal Gf7f4]} 34. Kh2 $1 Rf4 35. f3 {
[%cal Ge4g5,Gg5e6]} h6 36. Rb1 Kg7 37. Ng3 (37. Bxa6 Qxd5 38. b5 $18 {[%csl
Gb5,Gc6]}) 37... Qd2 38. Rb2 Qd1 39. Qe3 $1 Qd4 40. Qxd4 $6 {Cet échange va
permettre aux Noirs d'activer les R} (40. Qe2 $142) 40... Rxd4 41. Ne2 Rd1 42.
Nc3 Ra1 43. Ra2 Rc1 44. Ne2 Rb1 45. Bxa6 R1xb4 46. Nc3 Kf6 $6 (46... Rb2) (
46... Nc7) 47. Bf1 (47. Bb7 Nc7) 47... e4 $2 48. fxe4 Ke5 49. Rd2 Kf4 50. Nc4
Rb3 51. Rf2+ Kg5 52. Ne2 1-0

[Event "POL-chT 66th"]
[Site "Katowice"]
[Date "2010.09.11"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Balogh, Csaba"]
[Black "Olszewski, Michal"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2608"]
[BlackElo "2549"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2010.09.04"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Wroclaw Polonia"]
[BlackTeam "Wroclaw"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "POL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "POL"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 (7...
O-O) 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 {[%cal Gb8d7] La défense Breyer} (9... Na5) 10. d4
Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 (13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 (14. b4)) 13... Bf8
14. Ng3 g6 15. Bg5 (15. a4 {la grande ligne} c5 16. d5 {[%csl Rb7]}) 15... Bg7
16. Qd2 Qe7 17. b3 (17. Bh6 Bxh6 18. Qxh6 Qf8 19. Qd2 {Tseshkovsky,V (2520)
-Furman,S (2540) URS-ch FL Tbilisi 1973 (2) 1/2}) 17... c6 18. a4 Nf8 {[%cal
Gf8e6] Les Noirs veulent chasser le Bg5 par Be6 mais le coup habituel Qf8
suivi de la poussée h6 est plus souple} (18... Qf8 $142 {[%cal Gh7h6]} 19. Be3
(19. Rad1 h6 20. Be3) 19... Rac8 20. Bd3 d5 21. dxe5 Nxe5 22. Nxe5 Rxe5 23. f4
Ree8 24. e5 Nd7 25. axb5 cxb5 26. b4 f6 27. exf6 Nxf6 28. Bd4 Ne4 29. Bxe4 dxe4
30. Ne2 Rcd8 31. Qe3 Bh6 32. Rf1 Qf7 33. Rad1 Rd5 34. Ng3 Rd7 35. Rde1 Qd5 36.
Ne2 Rf7 37. Rd1 Qc6 38. Bc5 Rd7 39. Bd4 Rf8 40. Rf2 Qc7 41. Qg3 Rf5 42. Rff1
Qc4 43. Qg4 Rdf7 44. Bc5 Bf8 45. Rd8 Rxc5 46. bxc5 Kg7 47. f5 Be7 48. Rd7 {
Almasi,Z (2726)-Sasikiran,K (2681) Ningbo 2011 0-1 (85)}) 19. b4 Ne6 20. Be3 (
20. Bh6) 20... Qc7 21. Bb3 $1 $146 (21. Bh6 Bh8 22. Bb3 Rad8 23. Rad1 Bc8 24.
Qe3 Bg7 25. Kh2 Nd7 26. Rd2 c5 27. bxc5 dxc5 28. d5 Nf4 29. d6 Qb6 30. Bg5 Bf6
31. axb5 axb5 32. Bxf6 Nxf6 33. Nxe5 Rxe5 34. Qxf4 Rxd6 35. Red1 Rxd2 36. Rxd2
Re7 37. Rd6 Qa7 38. Qxf6 c4 39. Rd8+ {1-0 (39) Almasi,Z (2640)-Sasikiran,K 
(2663) Bastia 2005}) 21... Nd7 22. Bh6 $1 {[%csl Rc7]} Bf6 (22... Rad8 23. Bxg7
Kxg7 24. Ng5 $1 {[%csl Gb3,Rf7]}) 23. Rad1 Rad8 24. Ng5 d5 $6 {Les pièces
Noires sont mal placées pour ouvrir le centre} 25. Nxe6 fxe6 26. Bg5 bxa4 27.
Bxa4 Bg7 $2 (27... Be7) 28. Bxd8 Rxd8 29. Qg5 Re8 30. exd5 exd5 31. dxe5 Rxe5
32. Rxe5 Bxe5 33. Qe7 Bxc3 34. Ne4 Be5 35. f4 Bxf4 36. Qxd7 1-0

[Event "Rohde op 12th"]
[Site "Sautron"]
[Date "2012.11.02"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Oleksienko, Mikhailo"]
[Black "Zubarev, Alexander2"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2539"]
[BlackElo "2583"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2012.10.27"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2014"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
[WhiteClock "1:30:00"]
[BlackClock "1:30:00"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:16]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:54]} 4. Ba4 {[%emt 0:01:
30]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:07]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:55]} 6. Re1 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 7. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:29]}
8. c3 {[%emt 0:00:32]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:28]} 9. h3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nb8 {
[%emt 0:02:59][%cal Gb8d7] La vieille variante Breyer} 10. d4 {[%emt 0:01:11]}
(10. d3) 10... Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 11. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} (11. c4 c6)
11... Bb7 {[%emt 0:03:41]} 12. Bc2 {[%emt 0:01:29]} Re8 {[%emt 0:01:37]} 13.
Nf1 {[%emt 0:01:01][%cal Gf1e3,Gf1g3]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:00:52][%cal Ge8e4,Gg7g6]}
14. Ng3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 15. a4 {[%emt 0:02:29]} (15. b3)
15... c6 {[%emt 0:03:15]} (15... c5 $142 {Plus courant} 16. d5) 16. Be3 {
[%emt 0:10:27] Une ligne secondaire} (16. b4 Nb6 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. Qxd8 Raxd8
19. Bg5 Kg7 20. Nd2 Nxa4 21. Bxa4 bxa4 22. Nc4 c5 23. bxc5 Bxc5 24. Rxa4 Rd3
25. Be3 Bxe3 26. Rxe3 Rd1+ 27. Kh2 h5 28. f3 h4 29. Ne2 Bc6 30. Rb4 Bb5 {
Milos,G (2618)-Mamedyarov,S (2741)/Bursa 2010/CBM 134/0-1 (36)}) 16... c5 $146
{[%emt 0:12:33]} (16... Qc7 17. Qd2 Bg7 18. Bg5 Nf8 19. Bd3 Ne6 20. Be3 Nd7 21.
Bc2 Nb6 22. axb5 Nc4 23. Qe2 axb5 24. Bb3 Nxe3 25. fxe3 Qb6 26. Kh1 Rxa1 27.
Rxa1 exd4 28. exd4 c5 29. d5 Nf8 30. Qf2 Nd7 31. Rf1 {Barendse,T (2206)
-Pavasovic,D (2615)/Wijk aan Zee 2004/CBM 099/0-1 (76)}) 17. d5 {[%emt 0:03:51]
[%csl Rb7]} c4 {[%emt 0:00:48][%cal Gd7c5]} 18. Qd2 {[%emt 0:04:52]} Nc5 $11 {
[%emt 0:07:43]} 19. Ra3 $5 {[%emt 0:04:01][%cal Ge1a1,Ga4b5]} Nfd7 {[%emt 0:04:
58]} 20. Rea1 {[%emt 0:04:33]} Nb6 $1 {[%emt 0:02:41][%cal Gb6a8,Gb6a4]} 21.
axb5 {[%emt 0:02:03] Conduit а des simplifications et la position va
s'applanir.} axb5 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 22. Rxa8 {[%emt 0:00:19]} Nxa8 {[%emt 0:00:
43]} 23. Bh6 {[%emt 0:13:44]} Nb6 {[%emt 0:03:07]} 24. h4 {[%emt 0:07:10]} Nbd7
{[%emt 0:07:12]} 25. h5 {[%emt 0:01:26]} Bxh6 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow op-A 04th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.02.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Sjugirov, Sanan"]
[Black "Tjurin, Alexander P"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2491"]
[BlackElo "2337"]
[Annotator "Reeh,O"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2008.02.02"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[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 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 d5 14. exd5 exd4 15.
Nxd4 Nxd5 16. Nf5 {As my co-commentator from ChessBase TV, André Schulz, uses
to say: "If in the Ruy Lopez White gets a knight on f5, he wins." Wie mein
Ko-Moderator von TV ChessBase André Schulz zu sagen pflegt: "Wenn Weiß im
Spanier einen Springer nach f5 bekommt, gewinnt er."} N7f6 17. Bg5 Bf8 18. Qf3
Rxe1 19. Rxe1 Rb8 20. Qg3 g6 {The threat was 21.Nh6+! gxh6 22.Bxf6+. Die
Drohung lautete 21.Nh6+! gxh6 22.Bxf6+.} 21. Nh6+ Kg7 $2 ({Like it or not,
Wohl oder übel musste} 21... Bxh6 22. Bxh6 Qd6 {had to be played, with only a
small plus for White. geschehen, mit nur leichtem Plus für Weiß.}) 22. Qh4 Qd7
23. Ne3 Qc6 {[%tqu "En","All white pieces are aiming at the black king - how
do you continue?","Any attack on the king needs open lines!","","e3f5","",10]}
24. Nef5+ $1 {Ripping open Black's king position. Reißt die schwarze
Königsstellung auf.} gxf5 {[%tqu "En","What now?","White has forced the
opening of which file?","","h4g3","Marvellous!!  The most difficult move of
the attack, a calm retreat: White threatens a lethal discovered check in the
g-file.  Have you seen how White now wins after 25...Nh5 attacking his queen?",
20,"De","Was nun?","Die Öffnung welcher Linie hat Weiß erzwungen?","","h4g3",
"Prachtvoll!!  Der schwierigste Zug des Angriffs, ein stiller Rückzug: Weiß
droht ein tödliches Abzugsschach in der g-Linie.  Haben Sie schon gesehen, wie
Weiß jetzt nach 25...Sh5 gewinnt, wonach ja seine Dame angegriffen ist?",20]}
25. Qg3 $3 {The most difficult move of the attack, a calm retreat: White
threatens a lethal discovered check in the g-file. Der schwierigste Zug des
Angriffs, ein stiller Rückzug: Weiß droht ein tödliches Abzugsschach in der
g-Linie.} Nh5 (25... Kh8 26. Bxf6+ {and mate on f7 or g8. und Matt auf f7 oder
g8.}) {[%tqu "En","60 seconds to find a mate in two!","Beachten Sie die Motive:
Deflection , Discovered attack , Decoy .","","g5f6","Yep!",10,"De","Sie haben
60 Sekunden - Matt in zwei!","","","g5f6","Jawoll!",10]} 26. Bf6+ $1 {Dieses
Doppelschach lässt Schwarz nur die Wahl, auf welchem Feld er mattgesetzt
werden will: 26...Kxh6 27.Qg5++ or} Kxf6 27. Ng8# 1-0

[Event "Moscow Aeroflot op-A"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.02.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Khairullin, Ildar"]
[Black "Vijayalakshmi, Subbaraman"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2586"]
[BlackElo "2459"]
[Annotator "Reeh,O"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2007.02.14"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 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 Bg7 16. Bd3 c6 17. Bg5 Nf8 18. Qd2 Ne6 19. Be3 Qc7 20. Bf1 Rad8 21. Bh6 exd4
$6 {The start of a faulty plan. Die Einleitung zu einem fehlerhaften Plan.} 22.
cxd4 d5 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. e5 Ne4 25. Qc2 $1 ({Black was probably hoping for
Schwarz hoffte wahrscheinlich auf} 25. Nxe4 $2 dxe4 26. Rxe4 c5 27. Rh4 h5 $1 {
with good counterplay. mit gutem Gegenspiel.}) 25... Nxg3 26. fxg3 {Now Black
is left with dark-squared weaknesses all over the board. Nun hat der
Nachziehende auf dem ganzen Brett Schwächen auf den dunklen Feldern.} b4 {
Otherwise 27.b2-b4. Sonst folgt 27.b2-b4.} 27. Rac1 Qe7 28. Qd2 a5 29. Nh2 f6
30. exf6+ Qxf6 31. Re5 Nc7 (31... Nxd4 {would fail to würde scheitern an} 32.
Rxe8 Rxe8 33. Ng4 $1 {and Black loses. und Schwarz verliert.}) ({yet doch} 
31... Rd6 {(preparing Bb7-c8) was more stubborn. (zur Vorbereitung von Lb7-c8)
war hartnäckiger.}) 32. Ng4 $1 Qd6 33. Bd3 Bc8 34. Qh6+ Kg8 ({No better would
be Nicht besser wäre} 34... Kh8 35. Rxe8+ Rxe8 36. Ne5) 35. Rh5 $1 Re7 (35...
gxh5 36. Qxh7+ Kf8 37. Rf1+ {and mate. und Matt.}) {[%tqu "En","The white
pieces are firing at the black king. Time to strike!","Rip open Black's king
position.","","d3g6","Boom!  Now Black is helpless since the attempt 36...Qxg6
fails to 37.Rg5 winning the queen.",10,"De","Die weißen Figuren feuern auf den
schwarzen König. Schlagen Sie zu!","Reißen Sie die schwarze Königsstellung auf.
","","d3g6","Bumm!  Nun ist Schwarz hilflos, denn der Versuch 36...Dxg6
scheitert an 37.Tg5 mit Damengewinn.",10]} 36. Bxg6 $1 {Ripping open Black's
pawn shield! Reißt den schwarzen Bauernschild auf!} Kh8 (36... hxg6 {(36...
Qxg6 37.Rg5)} {leads to mate after führt zum Matt nach} 37. Qh8+ Kf7 38. Rh7+
Ke6 39. Qf6+ Kd7 40. Rxe7+ (40. Ne5+) 40... Qxe7 41. Qxc6#) ({and und} 36...
Bxg4 {loses to verliert wegen} 37. Bxh7+ Kf7 38. Rf1+ Ke8 39. Rf8+ Kd7 40.
Rxd8+ Kxd8 41. Qxd6+) {[%tqu "En","Crown the white attack!","It's mate in
six!","","h6h7","Yes - the queen sacrifice does it!",10,"De","Krönen Sie den
weißen Angriff!","Es ist Matt in sechs!","","h6h7","Ja - das Damenopfer
schafft's!",10]} 37. Qxh7+ $1 {Giving checkmate without the queen is always a
special pleasure! Ohne Dame mattzusetzen ist immer ein besonderes Vergnügen!}
Rxh7 38. Rxh7+ Kg8 39. Nh6+ (39. Nh6+ Kf8 40. Rf1+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Bazna Kings 5th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2011.06.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2011.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. h3 Nb8 {The knight goes to d7 freeing the path for the c-pawn.} 10. d4
Nbd7 {With plenty of strategical ideas for both sides the Breyer Variation of
the Ruy Lopez is a classical opening line, which Magnus Carlsen had played
many times before.} 11. c4 {Nakamura certainly relied on the surprise factor
of this move.} ({In the vast majority of games White plays here} 11. Nbd2)
11... c6 12. Nc3 {"I was very happy when I saw this move, as now I can
conveniently close the position", said Carlsen after the game.} (12. a3 {
would have kept somewhat more tension in the position.}) 12... b4 13. Na4 c5
14. d5 {In this close position the main battlefield is going to be the
kingside.} Re8 $5 {[%csl Ra4,Rf4][%cal Gd7f8,Gf8g6] A somewhat unexpected move
in such positions. Usually in this structure Black is trying to prepare ...
f7-f5 and therefore he needs the rook on f8 for that. However, Carlsen had
another plan in mind - he wanted to transfer the knight to g6.} 15. Bc2 Nf8 16.
a3 a5 17. b3 {The knight from a4 is coming to d3.} Ng6 18. Nb2 Bd7 {[%cal
Gb2d3,Gf3h2,Yh2g4,Yh2f1]} 19. Nh2 {Now Nakamura improves the position of the
other knight.} h6 {And Carlsen is doing the same - the knight from f6 needs a
square in order to prepare the favourable (for Black) exchange of the
dark-squared bishops via g5.} 20. Nf1 Nh7 21. Ne3 Bg5 22. axb4 axb4 23. Rxa8
Qxa8 24. Nf5 Bxc1 25. Qxc1 Bxf5 {Continuing to exchanges pieces. Black wasn't
obliged to hurry and could keep a comfortable position with 25...Qa6 - a move
which Magnus, as he admitted, would have normally played, had he not been
feeling tired.} 26. exf5 Ngf8 {Already around here Carlsen saw the possible
repetition of moves and he just went for it without second thought.} 27. Nd1
Nf6 28. f3 Qa2 29. g4 Ra8 30. Nf2 Qa3 {White cannot really avoid the
repetition. At this moment both sides must have been happy with the outcome.}
31. Qb1 (31. Qd2 {allows Black to improve with} Qb2) ({while the only
reasonable attempt} 31. h4 {can bring White nothing but troubles in the
resulting endgame mentioned by Carlsen:} Qxc1 32. Rxc1 g5 33. fxg6 Nxg6 34.
Bxg6 fxg6 35. g5 hxg5 36. hxg5 Nh5 37. Ne4 Ra6 {and with his rook on the open
file only Black can play for a win.}) 31... Qa2 32. Qc1 Qa3 33. Qb1 Qa2 34. Qc1
1/2-1/2

[Event "World Cup"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2007.12.13"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2007.11.24"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Before this first game of the World Cup's final match Shirov and Kamsky met
many times in the past and the overall score was clearly in Shirov's favour.
The match in Khanty-Masiysk was different though: Kamsky proved to be
invincible. The present game is typical for the entire match: Shirov creates
some initiative, but in spite of his efforts to achieve any real advantage,
Kamsky's cool and precise defense finally triumphes.} 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 {The
so-called Breyer Variation of the Ruy Lopez. Black brings the knight to d7,
where it won't disturb his own pieces and pawns in the fight for the center.
Shirov has a large experience with it, while Kamsky played it only once with
each colour. On the Black side Kamsky used for the first time the Breyer
Variation few days before, in his game versus Svidler.} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2
Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. b3 ({The main} 15. a4 {didn't bring
Shirov much in the past:} c5 16. d5 c4 17. Bg5 h6 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2 h5 20.
Bg5 (20. Ra3 Nfd7 21. Rea1 Bg7 22. Bg5 Bf6 23. Bh6 Qe7 24. Qc1 Nb6 25. axb5
axb5 26. Ra5 Qd7 $11 {Shirov,A (2715)-Kramnik,V (2809)/Monte Carlo (rapid) 2002
}) 20... Be7 21. Ra3 Rb8 22. axb5 axb5 23. Rea1 Qc7 24. Qe3 Ra8 25. Bh6 Nh7 26.
Nh2 Rxa3 27. Rxa3 h4 28. Ne2 Ra8 29. Rxa8+ Bxa8 {Shirov,A (2710)-Van der
Sterren,P (2555)/Wijk aan Zee 1998}) 15... a5 {This is Kamsky's novelty
introduced in his 4th round game versus Svidler, where White achieved some
pressure. Shirov is ready to repeat Svidler's play. The usual move is 15...Bg7,
another critical continuation is 15...d5.} ({Shirov himself experienced
troubles with black after} 15... c6 16. Bg5 Bg7 17. Qd2 Qc7 18. a4 d5 19. dxe5
Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Qxe5 21. Bf4 Qe6 22. e5 Nd7 23. Bh6 Bh8 24. f4 {Carlsen,M (2581)
-Shirov,A (2726)/Drammen 2005}) 16. a4 b4 (16... bxa4 17. Rxa4 $14) 17. cxb4
axb4 {In his home preparation Kamsky deeply evaluated the position and came to
the conclusion that in spite of White's protected passed pawn, Black has
sufficient counterplay in the center. It is important for Black that he will
soon be able to use square c5 for his pieces.} 18. Bb2 (18. d5 c6 19. dxc6 Bxc6
$11) 18... Bh6 19. dxe5 dxe5 (19... Nxe5 20. Nxe5 (20. Nd4 $5) 20... dxe5 21.
Bd3 Bf4 22. Bb5 c6 23. Bc4 $14) 20. Bd3 Nc5 $146 {The knight on c5 is very
active, while the task to protect pawn e5 is left for the other knight.} ({
In the mentioned game versus Svidler Kamsky didn't fully equalized:} 20... Bf4
21. Qc2 Ra5 22. Rad1 Rc5 23. Qe2 Qe7 24. Nf1 Nb6 25. g3 Bh6 26. Bc1 Bxc1 27.
Rxc1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Svidler-Kamsky, Khany-Maniysk 2007 (60).}) 21. Bb5 {
Provoking the advance of the c-pawn is the only attempt to fight for advantage.
} (21. Bc2 $6 Bf4 $36) (21. Bc4 Qxd1 22. Raxd1 Nfd7 $11) 21... Qxd1 22. Raxd1
c6 23. Bc4 Nfd7 {At the first sight White seems to have an advantage thanks to
his slightly superior pawn structure and the passivity of bishop b7. But a
closer look reveals that these factors are rather questionable: the bishop b7
will enter the game via a6, while the pawn formation is quite acceptable for
Black: the weakness of pawn b3 secures Black sufficient resources for
counterplay.} 24. Re2 {Transferring the rook to the c-file looks like the most
logical plan.} (24. Bc1 Bf4 $5) 24... Bf4 25. Rc2 Re7 26. Ne2 Bh6 27. Ng3 Bf4 {
A silent draw offer by repeating the moves.} 28. Bc1 {Although the position is
practically equal, it is Black who needs accuracy in order to keep the balance.
Therefore Shirov decides to continue the game, in spite of having less time on
the clock.} (28. Ne2 Bh6 $11) 28... Ba6 $1 (28... Bxg3 {is answered with} 29.
Bg5 $1 ({Not} 29. fxg3 Nxe4) 29... Ree8 ({Worse is} 29... Bxf2+ 30. Rxf2 Ree8
31. Nh2 Rf8 32. Ng4 {and Black is in troubles} (32. Bh6 Nb6 33. Bxf8 Rxf8 34.
Rc2 Nxe4 35. a5 $16)) 30. fxg3 Kg7 31. Be3 $16) 29. Bxf4 exf4 30. Ne2 Bxc4 {
The most accurate: Kamsky exchanges the queenside pawns.} (30... Nxe4 31. Bxa6
Rxa6 32. Rc4 c5 33. Nxf4 $11 {/+/=}) 31. Rxc4 Nxb3 32. Rxb4 Nbc5 {Black
simplified the position and easily achieves the draw. White's small initiative
is insignificant.} 33. Nc3 Ree8 34. Rd6 Re6 35. Rbd4 Rxd6 36. Rxd6 Ra6 $11 37.
e5 Rb6 38. Rd1 Rb3 39. Ne2 Ra3 40. Ned4 Rxa4 41. Nxc6 Nf8 42. Ne7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bazna Kings 5th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2011.06.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2659"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2011.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

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 {In the 6th round Nakamura played 11.c4
here against Carlsen. Nisipeanu chooses the main move.} Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4
Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15. b3 g6 16. Bb2 (16. Ba3 $5) 16... exd4 {A rare continuation,
which was quite unexpected for Nisipeanu.} ({Instead, one of the main moves is
} 16... Nh5 {Here is a game played by Viorel Iordachescu, who was Nisipeanu's
second at the Kings' Tournament:} 17. Qc2 Nf4 18. Bf1 Bg7 19. Rad1 Qb6 20. b4
d5 {with complications that led later to a draw in Iordachescu, V (2640)
-Avrukh,B (2601)/Mulhouse 2011.}) 17. cxd4 d5 18. Ne5 {This new move is the
result of 20 minutes of thought.} ({In the previous games White always
advanced the e-pawn:} 18. e5 Nh5 {"with a normal position for Black" (Carlsen)}
) 18... Bb4 {Still played a tempo by Carlsen.} (18... Nxe5 19. dxe5 {looks
risky for Black, even if the consequences of} dxe4 {are not entirely clear.})
19. Nxd7 Qxd7 20. e5 Nh5 {[%csl Rc5,Rf4] White has several attractive ideas.
He would be happy to exchange the dark-squared bishops in order to exploit the
weak square c5, but that is not easy to achieve.} 21. Bf1 ({The main
alternatives were} 21. Ba3 Bc3 (21... Nf4 $5) 22. Rc1 ({The exchange sacrifice
is probably not enough:} 22. Bc5 Bxa1 23. Qxa1 Nf4 24. Bf1 Ne6 25. Bd6 a5 {
with the idea Ba6}) 22... Bxd4 23. Nf3 Bb6 24. Qd2 {with positional
compensation for the sacrificed pawn.}) (21. Qc2 Nf4 22. Bc3 c5 $5) 21... Nf4
22. Re3 c5 {Magnus Carlsen felt that Black should quickly start counterplay in
the centre in order to prevent White's plan with Nf3-h2-g4.} ({In the event of
} 22... Ne6 23. Nf3 c5 {White can ignore Black's intentions and continue} 24.
Nh2 {and if} h5 {then} ({Better is probably} 24... c4 25. Ng4 Be7) 25. Rg3 {
with good attacking prospects.}) 23. dxc5 (23. Nf3 {is already too slow:} c4
24. Nh2 h5 25. Rg3 Rac8 {with sufficient counterplay for Black.}) 23... d4 (
23... Bxc5 $2 24. Ne4 Be7 25. Nd6 Bxd6 26. exd6 {looks terrible for Black due
to the "monster-bishop" on b2.}) 24. Ne4 {The most natural move.} (24. Nf3 Bxc5
) (24. Re4 {doesn't work:} Bxd2 $1 25. Rxd4 Nxh3+ 26. gxh3 Qc6 {and Black wins.
}) 24... Bxe4 25. Rxe4 Ne6 26. Rxd4 {A good practical decision from Nisipeanu,
since he saw no way to set any real problems for Black. After the exchange sac
White is out of risk and the draw becomes the most likely result.} ({After} 26.
Bxd4 Rad8 27. Be3 Qxd1 28. Rxd1 Rxd1 29. Rxb4 Nc7 {only White can be worse.}) (
26. axb5 {brings White nothing either:} axb5 27. Rxa8 (27. Qd3 Rxa1 28. Bxa1
Rd8 29. Qxb5 Qxb5 30. Bxb5 d3 31. Bxd3 Rxd3 32. Rxb4 Rd1+ 33. Kh2 Rxa1 34. Rb8+
Kg7 35. b4 Re1 {is again risky rather for White}) 27... Rxa8 28. Qd3 Bxc5 29.
Qxb5 Qxb5 30. Bxb5 Ra2 {with counterplay}) 26... Nxd4 27. Qxd4 Qxd4 28. Bxd4
Rad8 29. Be3 Rxe5 30. axb5 axb5 31. Rc1 {[%csl Gc5]} Rxe3 {Forcing the draw.} (
31... Rc8 32. c6 Kf8 33. g3 {is also about equal: the strong extra pawn on c6
together with the bishop pair secure White good compensation for the exchange.}
) 32. fxe3 ({After} 32. fxe3 Bd2 33. Rc2 Bxe3+ 34. Kh2 Rd5 {the draw becomes
obvious.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 3rd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2015.06.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2876"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[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. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 {Both players have a
huge experience of playing the Ruy Lopez with both colours. This time Vishy
goes for a quiet, but very fashionable line.} d6 (6... b5 7. Bb3 d6 {is the
most common choice here.}) 7. c3 O-O 8. Nbd2 Re8 9. Re1 b5 10. Bc2 (10. Bb3 Na5
11. Bc2 c5 {leads to another well-known theoretical line.}) 10... Bf8 11. Nf1 (
11. d4 $5 {deserves some attention in order to meet} Bg4 {with} 12. h3 Bh5 13.
d5 $14) 11... g6 12. h3 ({Sometimes White prefers to start with} 12. Ng3 {
, but most probably White shouldn't do without h2-h3 anyway.}) 12... Bb7 13.
Ng3 ({It was also possible to keep the knight on f1 for a while, like in the
following example:} 13. Be3 Bg7 14. Qc1 Qd7 (14... d5 $5) 15. Bh6 Nd8 16. Ng3
c5 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. d4 $14 {1/2-1/2 (82) Rozentalis,E (2607)-Jovanic,O (2519)/
Trieste ITA 2013}) 13... Nb8 14. d4 Nbd7 {The players have entered into the
main line of Breyer system.} 15. a4 (15. b3 {is another major line here.})
15... c5 16. d5 c4 17. Bg5 Bg7 ({Recently White has managed to put Black under
positional pressure after} 17... h6 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2 Kh7 20. Bxc5 dxc5) ({
In the following recent game Black was able to solve the problems after} 17...
Rb8 $5 18. Qd2 Nc5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Nh2 Bc8 21. Rf1 Bg7 22. f4 h6 23. fxe5
Nfxe4 24. Bxe4 Qxg5 25. Qxg5 hxg5 26. e6 fxe6 27. Bxg6 Re7 $11 {1/2-1/2
Vachier Lagrave,M (2775)-Dominguez Perez,L (2726)/Tbilisi FIDE GP 2015}) 18.
Qd2 Rb8 {Magnus deviates from the known paths at this early stage. This move
is aimed at making the c8-spot vacant for the bishop.} ({In the following
classical game between two former World Champions White couldn't pose Black
any special problems:} 18... Nc5 19. Ra3 (19. Nh4 Qd7 20. axb5 axb5 21. Rxa8
Rxa8 22. Qe3 Ne8 $132 {1-0 (68) Zherebukh,Y (2473)-Kovalev,V (2318)/Kirishi
2008/CBM 127 Extra}) 19... Qc7 20. Rea1 Rab8 21. Qe3 Nfd7 22. Bh6 Bh8 23. Nh2
Bc8 24. axb5 axb5 25. Ng4 Nf6 {1/2-1/2 Tal,M (2645)-Petrosian,T (2645)/Milan
1975/MCL}) 19. Nh2 $146 {This logical innovation is a standard preparation of
White's k-side activity, which is based on the f2-f4 advance.} ({Taking
control over the a-file doesn't offer much:} 19. Ra3 Nc5 20. axb5 axb5 $11 {
1/2-1/2 (21) Dueball,J (2450)-Matanovic,A (2490)/Bath 1973/EU-chT}) 19... Bc8
$6 {The World Champion is playing with fire! Leaving the pin yields White too
many attacking possibilities.} ({A much safer move was} 19... Qc7 20. f4 (20.
Ng4 Nxg4 21. hxg4 Bc8 22. Be3 (22. f3 Nc5 23. Be3 Bd7 24. axb5 Rxb5 25. Ra2
Reb8 26. Rb1 a5 $132) 22... Nc5 23. g5 Bd7 $132) 20... exf4 21. Qxf4 b4 22. Rf1
Qa5 $132 {with a complex battle.}) 20. Ng4 Nc5 $6 {One more inaccuracy.} ({
After} 20... Qe7 21. Nh6+ Kh8 22. Rf1 Qf8 23. axb5 axb5 24. Ra5 (24. h4 $5)
24... Nc5 25. Rfa1 $14 {Black's position would be worse, but playable.}) 21.
Nh6+ $1 Bxh6 {Exchanging the main defender of king is definitely a bad sign
for Black!} (21... Kf8 22. axb5 axb5 23. f4 $16 {[%csl Rf8]}) 22. Bxh6 bxa4 {
Breaking the q-side pawn chain is necessary, since Black desperately needs any
counterplay.} 23. Ra2 {Definitely not the best, since Black is getting some
play along the b-file, while the Ra2 is passive now.} ({A stronger move was} 
23. Reb1 $1 Bd7 24. Bg5 Kg7 25. Qe3 Qe7 26. Ra2 $16) 23... a3 $1 24. bxa3 $6 {
Recapturing the pawn definitely suits Black here.} ({There was a nice way to
extend the initiative at the cost of pawn:} 24. Rxa3 $1 Rxb2 25. Bg5 Kg7 26.
Qc1 Qb6 (26... Rb7 27. Rf1 $36) 27. Be3 Nfd7 28. Ba4 $36) 24... Nfd7 $1 25. f4
({Possibly,} 25. Qe3 $5 {was more promising here:} Kh8 (25... a5 26. Nf5 Nf6
27. Ng7 Rf8 28. f4 $36) 26. Raa1 Rb2 27. Qc1 $14) 25... a5 $1 {Magnus finds
the best way to connect the rooks - the bishop is heading to a6.} (25... Qh4 $2
{doesn't work in view of} 26. Bg5 Qxg3 27. Re3 Nb3 28. Bxb3 Qxe3+ 29. Qxe3 cxb3
30. Rb2 $18) 26. Rf1 (26. f5 Qh4 $1 27. Nf1 f6 28. Be3 gxf5 29. Bf2 Qg5 {
looks good for Black.}) 26... f6 $2 {This passive continuation leads to a very
difficult position from the strategic point of view.} ({It was necessary to
release the pressure in the centre:} 26... Qb6 $1 27. Kh1 Nb3 28. Qe2 exf4 $1
29. Bxf4 Ne5 30. Be3 Qd8 $132 {leads to a complex position, where the strong
centralised knight compensates for the vulnerablity of Black's monarch.}) 27.
f5 $1 {Now Black's position desperately lacks space.} Nd3 {Black is trying to
complicate matters, since White's potential k-side attack is unstoppable.} ({
After} 27... Qe7 28. h4 Qf7 29. Be3 $16 {White may develop a crushing attack
step by step.}) 28. Bxd3 cxd3 29. Qd1 $1 {White has reached a harmonious setup,
so all the pieces may take part in attacking the opponent's king.} ({Vishy
correctly rejects} 29. Qxd3 $6 Qb6+ 30. Be3 (30. Kh2 Ba6 31. c4 Qb3 $11) 30...
Ba6 31. Qd2 Qb3 $44) 29... Re7 (29... Kh8 30. Be3 Rg8 31. Qxd3 Qc7 32. fxg6
hxg6 33. Qe2 $16) 30. Raf2 Rf7 31. Qxd3 {Now there is nothing wrong with
taking a pawn.} (31. h4 $5 {was another promising option here:} Kh8 32. fxg6
hxg6 33. h5 Qg8 34. Bg5 $40) 31... Nc5 32. Qf3 Ba6 {A natural move, but the
bishop was quite useful on c8.} (32... g5 {was bad:} 33. h4 gxh4 34. Nh5 Kh8
35. Qg4 Qe7 36. Rf3 Ba6 37. Re1 Nd3 38. Ree3 Rb1+ 39. Kh2 $18) ({The most
tenacious continuation seems to be} 32... Kh8 33. fxg6 hxg6 34. Bg5 Nd7 35. h4
Ba6 36. c4 Qg8 {[%cal Gb8f8] and Black manages to parry the immediate threats,
though White is still almost winning here.}) 33. Qg4 ({It looks like the
direct attack would decide the game here:} 33. fxg6 hxg6 34. Qg4 Kh7 35. Qh4
Bxf1 36. Bg5+ Kg8 (36... Kg7 37. Qh6+ Kg8 38. Bxf6 $1 Rxf6 39. Nh5 gxh5 40.
Rxf6 $18) 37. Bxf6 Rh7 38. Qg5 Qe8 39. Rxf1 Rbb7 40. h4 $18) 33... g5 ({
Black's position is hopeless after} 33... Bc8 34. Qh4 g5 35. Qg4 Kh8 36. h4 Ba6
37. hxg5 Bxf1 38. g6 $18) 34. h4 $1 {There is no need to spend a tempo on
removing the rook.} Bxf1 35. Rxf1 Qd7 ({After} 35... Kh8 36. hxg5 fxg5 {
the most convincing is} 37. f6 Rxf6 38. Bg7+ Kxg7 39. Nh5+ Kh8 40. Rxf6 Qe7 41.
Qf5 $18 {with full domination.}) 36. hxg5 fxg5 37. Qh5 {This unexpected move
doesn't spoil anything - the king is too weak.} ({There was nothing wrong with
the most natural} 37. Bxg5 Kh8 38. Qh4 Rg8 39. Rb1 $1 $18 (39. Bf6+ $6 {
is less clear:} Rxf6 40. Qxf6+ Qg7 41. Qxg7+ Kxg7 $16)) 37... Kh8 38. f6 Rg8
39. Bg7+ Rfxg7 40. fxg7+ Qxg7 {It looks like Black has consolidated, but
Anand's calculations were deep!} 41. Nf5 Qg6 42. Qxg6 Rxg6 43. Ne7 $1 $18 Kg7 (
{The poor coordination of Black's pieces enables White to liquadate into a
winning rook ending:} 43... Rh6 44. Rf8+ Kg7 45. Rc8 Kf7 46. Nf5 Rg6 47. Nxd6+
Rxd6 48. Rxc5 $18) 44. Nxg6 Kxg6 45. Rf8 a4 ({Or} 45... Nxe4 46. c4 a4 47. Ra8
Nc5 48. Kf2 h5 49. Ke3 Kf5 50. Rf8+ Kg4 51. Rd8 $18) 46. c4 h5 47. Kf2 {
Quite a disappointing loss for Magnus, but Anand's achievement shouldn't be
underestimated.} ({Black resigns in view of} 47. Kf2 Nxe4+ 48. Ke3 Nc5 49. Rd8
$18) 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 16th"]
[Site "Heraklion"]
[Date "2007.10.30"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Roiz, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2694"]
[BlackElo "2644"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[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 "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "Israel"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ISR"]

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 {I had decided to surprise my young but experienced opponent. I
hadn't touched the Breyer variation for several years.} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 (
11. c4 $5 {In my opinion this agressive move promises no less than the main
line.}) 11... Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. b3 {Nowadays this
move is much more popular then the ''classical'' 15.a4. White intends to seize
a lot of space by d4-d5 and c3-c4, making the Bb7 useless.} Bg7 {Allowing the
aforementioned advance.} ({The alternatives are:} 15... c6 {which leads to a
very solid but rather passive positions}) (15... d5) ({and} 15... exd4 16. cxd4
c5 17. d5) 16. d5 Qe7 {Sooner or later Black has to push his c-pawn, so he
takes control of Pd6.} ({The possible alternatives are:} 16... Qb8) ({and} 
16... Rc8) 17. c4 ({Worth serious attention is:} 17. Be3 $5 {intending to meet}
c6 {with} 18. c4 {The strategic risk for Black in this position was proved in
1-0 Leko,P-Short,N/Wijk aan Zee 2005/CBM 105/[Wedberg] (36)}) 17... c5 $5 $146
{This move was prepared at home together with my good friend Boris Avrukh.
Black chooses a rare plan for this type of position - he intents to close the
queenside by b5-b4 and a6-a5. In this case it would be not easy for White to
develop any activity on the kingside.} (17... c6 {leads to the same type of
position.}) 18. a3 $5 {Sergey found an interesting attempt to refute Black's
idea.} ({After} 18. Be3 b4 19. Qd2 a5 {I would be satisfied with my position,
since I don't believe White can develop a real attack on the kingside.}) 18...
b4 {This move is more or less forced.} ({Otherwise after} 18... Reb8 19. Bd2
$14 {[%cal Cd7b6,Cb5c4,Gc2d3,Gd1e2] White could slowly put strong pressure on
the Pb5.}) 19. Nh4 $1 {A brave decision which seems to be critical for the
whole variation.} Qd8 (19... a5 $2 20. Nhf5 gxf5 21. Nxf5 Qf8 22. Re3 $40) 20.
Nhf5 $1 {During the game I had the feeling that this sacrifice is 100% correct.
As the analysis shows, my intuition was right.} gxf5 21. Nxf5 Nf8 (21... Bf8 {
is too passive and White can can prove it by energetic play:} 22. g4 $1 Nb6 23.
g5 Nfd7 24. Qg4 $36) 22. axb4 cxb4 ({Maybe Black should go for the following
line:} 22... Bc8 23. Nxg7 Kxg7 24. bxc5 dxc5 25. Be3 Qd6 26. Ra5 N8d7 27. Qd2
$44 {but it looks like with 2 pawns for a piece White is even slighty better.})
23. Qd2 $1 ({Here the thematic advance of the g-pawn didn't promise White
anything:} 23. g4 $2 Kh8 24. g5 Ng8 $17) 23... a5 ({Black shouldn't give up
the b-pawn:} 23... Bc8 $2 24. Nxg7 Kxg7 25. Qxb4 a5 26. Qc3 Ng6 27. Bd2 $16)
24. Nxg7 $4 {It looks weird, but this move is practically the only and
decisive mistake! Sergey simply overlooked Black's 26th move.} ({At the same
time after the correct} 24. Qg5 $1 Ng6 25. Nxg7 Kxg7 26. Qh6+ Kh8 27. Bg5 Ra6
28. Ra4 (28. Bd3 Ra8 29. Ra4 Ng8 30. Bxd8 Nxh6 31. Bxa5 f6) 28... Ng8 29. Bxd8
Nxh6 30. Bxa5 f6 31. Rea1 Nf7 32. Bxb4 Rxa4 33. Rxa4 $14 {White's prospects in
the endgame would even be preferable.}) 24... Kxg7 25. Qh6+ Kh8 26. Bg5 N8d7 $1
{Now Black's pieces get harmony again and all I need here is some accuracy.}
27. f4 Rg8 ({Another way to neutralise White's activity was} 27... Qb6+ 28. Kh2
Ng8 29. Qh5 f6 $19) 28. fxe5 Rg6 29. Qh4 Nxe5 (29... dxe5 30. Rf1 Qb6+ 31. Kh2
Kg7 {was not bad either, but I just wanted to keep my knight on e5.}) 30. Rf1
Qb6+ 31. Kh1 (31. Rf2 Nf3+ 32. gxf3 Rxg5+ 33. Qxg5 Rg8 $19) 31... Nfd7 $19 {
The rest is quite easy - White simply has no attacking chances.} 32. Rf5 Rag8
33. Re1 a4 {Black creates a strong passed Pb4.} 34. bxa4 b3 35. Bb1 f6 36. Be3
Qb4 37. Rh5 R8g7 38. Bh6 Rf7 ({Even simpler was} 38... Rxg2 39. Bxg7+ Rxg7) 39.
Qf2 Ba6 {Bringing the last piece into play.} 40. Rg1 Bxc4 41. Qf5 Qxa4 42. Qe6
Qa6 43. Bf4 Nc5 44. Qf5 Kg8 45. Be3 Bd3 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 42nd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2014.07.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2705"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2014.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[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 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 (14...
b4 {is a more concrete way to handle this position.}) 15. Qc2 {Quite a popular
setup. White may postpone the development of the dark-squared bishop.} Qc7 16.
b3 g6 {The fianchetto is the most popular move in this particular position.} ({
It can be also done one move later, as the following game shows:} 16... Rad8
17. Ba3 g6 18. Bf1 Bg7 19. Rab1 Ba8 20. dxe5 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 Rxe5 22. c4 bxa4 23.
c5 axb3 24. Nxb3 {1/2-1/2 Volokitin,A (2638)-Istratescu,A (2667)/Saint-Quentin
FRA 2014}) 17. Bb2 ({In the following nice game Vishy was able to secure a
clear advantage after} 17. Ba3 {But Black's play may be improved upon. In fact,
White's bishop found itself on b2 just few moves later anyway:} Bg7 18. Rad1 (
18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 dxe5 20. c4 bxa4 21. c5 axb3 22. Qxb3 Bc8 $11) 18...
Rac8 19. Bb2 Nh5 20. Bf1 bxa4 (20... Nf4 $5) (20... exd4 $5 21. cxd4 Nf4 22. g3
Ne6) 21. bxa4 d5 22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Nxe5 Bxe5 24. c4 $14 {1-0 Anand,V (2791)
-Leko,P (2751)/Nice 2009/CBM 129 Extra (36)}) 17... Rac8 18. Rad1 ({In the
preceding game Black experienced definite problems:} 18. Bf1 Qb8 19. Rad1 Bg7
20. g3 Ba8 21. axb5 axb5 22. b4 Bf8 $6 (22... d5 $5) 23. Qb3 h6 24. dxe5 Nxe5
25. c4 $14 {1-0 Cheparinov,I (2696)-Alekseev,E (2715)/Elista 2008/CBM 128/
[Marin,M] (35)}) 18... Nh5 19. Qb1 {A typical complicated strategic battle.
The setup of both sides is very flexible, but White has someyhing of a space
advantage.} (19. Bf1 Nf4 20. g3 Ne6 21. h4 Bg7 $11) 19... bxa4 $146 {A double
edged novelty in a rare position. Releasing the pressure may help Black to
push c6-c5 at some point, but now there are some targets along the b-file.} ({
In my opinion, Black has a comfortable position after} 19... Nf4 20. Bf1 Ne6
21. Qa1 (21. g3 Bg7 22. Bg2 exd4 23. cxd4 d5 $11) 21... Bg7 22. Bd3 Qb6 23. Bc2
Rcd8 24. Nf1 Qc7 25. Ne3 d5 $11 {0-1 Neuschmied,S (2308)-Diermair,A (2429)/
Austria 2012/EXT 2013 (36)}) ({Or} 19... Bg7 20. g3 bxa4 21. bxa4 d5 $11) 20.
bxa4 exd4 {That is one of Black's main ideas in such a positions - now the
pawn structure becomes stable, and the knight gets a nice route to e6.} (20...
Nf4 21. Bf1 exd4 22. cxd4 d5 23. g3 Ne6 $11) 21. cxd4 d5 22. Rc1 Nf4 23. Bf1
Qb8 {This move looks a bit passive, but actually Ruslan's position is still
very solid.} ({I can also suggest:} 23... Rb8 $5 {with a nice tactical idea:}
24. g3 $140 dxe4 25. Rxe4 Rxe4 (25... Nd5 26. Rxe8 Rxe8 27. Ne4 $14) 26. Nxe4
c5 $1 27. gxf4 Qxf4 28. Nfd2 Bxe4 29. Nxe4 cxd4 $132) 24. g3 Ne6 25. h4 {
Arkadij is trying to develop some attack on the k-side, but it will take a
long time.} Bg7 26. Bh3 c5 {This natural advance is not bad at all, but now
the price of each move becomes higher.} ({There were some good alternatives:} 
26... Ba8 $5 27. Ng5 c5 28. Nxe6 fxe6 29. Qa2 c4 $132) (26... dxe4 27. Nxe4 c5
28. Ne5 Bxe4 29. Rxe4 Nf6 30. Re2 cxd4 31. Rxc8 Qxc8 32. Bxd4 Nd7 $1 33. Nxd7
Bxd4 34. Bxe6 fxe6 35. Ne5 Qc3 $11) 27. dxc5 Bxb2 28. Qxb2 {The Kg8 is
somewhat exposed, so Black must be careful...} Ndxc5 $2 {A serious mistake.
This knight was covering important squares, so it was better to take with the
other one.} (28... Nexc5 29. Rb1 (29. Qd4 dxe4 30. Bxd7 Nxd7 31. Ng5 Rxc1 32.
Rxc1 Ne5 33. Ndxe4 Bxe4 34. Qxe4 h6 $11) 29... dxe4 $1 30. Bxd7 Nxd7 31. Qxb7
Qxb7 32. Rxb7 Nc5 $11) 29. Ne5 $1 {Now White has a dangerous initiative.} Red8
$8 {As a result, Black has to find a couple of only moves.} (29... dxe4 $2 30.
Ng4 Nd3 31. Nh6+ Kf8 32. Qf6 Rc7 33. Bxe6 Nxc1 34. Nxf7 Rxe6 35. Qh8+ Kxf7 36.
Qxb8 $18) 30. Bxe6 Nxe6 31. Rxc8 Qxc8 (31... Rxc8 $2 32. Nd7 $18) 32. Rc1 {
This natural move is a slight inaccuracy - the rook was quite useful on e1.} (
32. exd5 $142 Bxd5 33. Ng4 Qb7 34. Nh6+ Kf8 35. Qh8+ Ke7 36. Qg7 Rf8 37. Ng4
$16) 32... Qa8 33. exd5 ({Another way to develop the initiative was} 33. Ng4 $5
d4 34. h5 Rc8 35. Rxc8+ Qxc8 36. Qb4 $36) 33... Bxd5 34. Ng4 Bh1 $2 {This
attempt to create some threats has a concrete refutation.} ({Ruslan had to
find the tough} 34... h5 $1 35. Nh6+ (35. Nf6+ Kf8 36. Qb4+ Kg7 37. Qc3 Kf8 $11
) 35... Kf8 36. Qf6 Qb7 37. Rb1 Qc7 $14) 35. Nf6+ Kf8 (35... Kg7 36. Nfe4+ Kh6
37. Kxh1 f5 38. f3 fxe4 39. Nxe4 $18) 36. Nxh7+ Kg8 37. Nf6+ Kf8 {White is a
pawn up, but that is not such a big deal. The real trouble for Black comes now.
..} 38. f3 $1 {The bishop is trapped, so the next move is forced.} Bxf3 (38...
Rxd2 39. Qxd2 Qxf3 40. Rf1 $18) 39. Qa3+ Kg7 40. Nxf3 Kxf6 {Now there is a
material balance, but the king is too weak...} (40... Qa7+ 41. Kf1 Kxf6 42.
Qb2+ Ke7 43. Ne5 Ke8 44. Nc6 Qe3 45. Nxd8 Qf3+ 46. Qf2 Qh1+ 47. Qg1 Qf3+ 48.
Ke1 Qe4+ 49. Kf2 $18) 41. Qb2+ $6 {Now Black is still in the game.} ({A much
stronger move was} 41. Qc3+ Ke7 42. Ne5 Ke8 (42... Nd4 43. Qc7+ Kf6 44. Rf1+
$18) (42... Qa7+ 43. Kg2 Qb7+ 44. Nc6+ Ke8 45. Kh3 $18) 43. Nc6 Rd6 44. Qh8+
Nf8 45. Qe5+ Re6 46. Qc7 $18 {with complete domination.}) 41... Ke7 42. Ne5 Nd4
{Somehow Black is able to parry the immediate threats at the cost of a pawn.}
43. Rf1 (43. Rc4 f6 $1 44. Nxg6+ Kf7 45. Rxd4 Rxd4 46. Qxd4 Kxg6 $16) 43... f5
$2 {But this is already a decisive mistake.} ({It wasn't easy to find the
precise defence:} 43... Qd5 $1 44. Qb4+ Ke8 45. Rxf7 Rd6 46. Rh7 (46. Qb8+ Rd8
47. Qc7 $6 Nf5 48. Kh2 Qa2+ 49. Kh3 Qd5 $132) 46... Ne6 47. Rh8+ Ke7 48. Nxg6+
Kf7 49. Nf4 Qd1+ 50. Kh2 Qd2+ 51. Qxd2 Rxd2+ 52. Ng2 Ra2 $16) 44. Re1 $1 $18 {
Now Black cannot avoid a massive loss of material.} (44. Nxg6+ Kf7 45. Ne5+ Kf6
46. Ng4+ Kg7 47. Rxf5 Qe4 48. Rf4 $18) 44... Qd5 (44... Kf6 45. Qb6+ Ne6 46.
Nd7+ $18) 45. Qb6 $1 {Not the only, but the most effective way.} Rd6 46. Qc7+
Kf8 ({Or} 46... Ke8 47. Ng4+ Ne6 48. Nf6+ Kf8 49. Nxd5 Nxc7 50. Nxc7 $18) 47.
Nxg6+ $1 {A nice final touch.} Rxg6 48. Qe7+ Kg8 49. Qe8+ ({Black resigns in
view of} 49. Qe8+ Kh7 50. Re7+ Rg7 51. Qh5+ Kg8 52. Re8#) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund 44th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2016.07.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Buhmann, Rainer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2798"]
[BlackElo "2653"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2016.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[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 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Bg5 {
This approach was explored and successfully employed by Great Vugar Gashimov.}
(14. Ng3 {is much more popular.}) 14... h6 15. Bh4 g6 16. a4 {Maxime comes up
with a natural novelty.} (16. N1h2 {is what was seen in Vugar's games} {
For instance, in the following game GM David Navara was outplayed after} Bg7
17. dxe5 dxe5 18. Ng4 g5 19. Bg3 Nxg4 20. hxg4 Qe7 21. a4 c5 22. Nd2 Nf6 23.
Nf1 $14 {Gashimov,V (2719)-Navara,D (2731) Reggio Emilia 2011}) 16... Bg7 {
The correct response.} ({Perhaps,} 16... c5 {doesn't offer Black a full
equality:} 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. c4 $1 (18. Ne3 c4 19. Nd5 Bg7 $11) 18... b4 19. a5
{White is better due to control over d5-spot, whereas Black's knights are far
away from from d4.}) 17. d5 {Now, when the immediate c7-c6 break doesn't work,
this advance is getting more effective.} (17. dxe5 dxe5 18. Qe2 c6 19. Ne3 Qc7
{looks very solid for Black.}) 17... Qb8 $1 {A typical way of preparing the
c7-c6 break.} 18. Ne3 (18. b3 c6 19. c4 bxc4 20. bxc4 a5 $132 {feels
comfortable for Black.}) 18... c6 19. dxc6 {Getting rid of Pd5 is a definite
achievement for Rainer, since it was squeezing Black.} Bxc6 20. axb5 axb5 21.
Rxa8 Bxa8 {The pressure on Pe4 yields Black a good counterplay, so White has
nothing special.} 22. Nd2 b4 {This move seems inaccurate - it only helps White
to seize more space and fix the weak Pd6.} ({More to the point was} 22... Nh5
$5 23. f3 Nf4 24. Ndf1 Bf6 25. Bf2 Nb6 $11) 23. c4 Nc5 24. Bxf6 $6 {There was
no reason for exchanging such a powerful bishop.} ({The more natural} 24. f3
Nfd7 25. Nb3 Ne6 26. Qd2 Nd4 27. Ng4 $14 {would offer White a small, but
stable positional advantage.}) 24... Bxf6 25. Nb3 Rc8 {There is nothing wrong
with this move,} ({but} 25... Qb6 26. Nxc5 Qxc5 $11 {, getting more control
over the dark squares looks preferable.}) 26. Nxc5 Rxc5 ({Most probably, after
} 26... dxc5 27. Ba4 Kg7 28. Nd5 Bb7 29. Qd3 Qd6 {White cannot make further
progress, but Black's position would be rather passive.}) 27. Qd3 Ra5 {The
arising position is typical for Sveshnikov - it's very difficult for both
sides to make any progress.} (27... Bg5 28. Ba4 Ra5 29. b3 Qb6 $11) 28. Bb3 Bg5
29. Rd1 Qb6 ({More accurate seems} 29... Kg7 $1 30. g3 Bd8 {, intending to put
the bishop on b6 - it's another typical idea for Sveshnikov. In this case
White would have to play precisely in order to maintain the ballance.}) 30. c5
$1 {Maxime doesn't miss his chance and changes the unfavourable character of
play.} Qxc5 $6 {Only this move leads to unpleasant consequences.} ({Black
would be OK after} 30... Rxc5 $1 31. Nc4 Qa6 32. Nxd6 (32. Nxe5 Qxd3 33. Nxd3
Ra5 34. f3 d5 35. e5 Be3+ 36. Kf1 Bb7 37. Ke2 d4 $11) 32... Qxd3 33. Rxd3 Kf8
34. Bxf7 Rc1+ 35. Kh2 Rc2 36. Bxg6 Rxf2 $132) 31. Nc4 Ra7 32. Nxd6 {Now the
pressure on Pf7 is very strong.} Kg7 $2 {Mistakes rarely come alone! This is
one is decisive.} ({Instead, the correct} 32... Rd7 33. Qf3 Bf4 34. Nxf7 Rxd1+
35. Qxd1 Kg7 36. Nd8 Qc1 37. Ne6+ Kf6 38. Nc5 Qxd1+ 39. Bxd1 Bc1 $14 {would
offer Black excellent drawish chances due to pair of bishops.}) 33. Qf3 Qc6 ({
The most stubborn was} 33... f5 {, but} 34. Qg3 $1 {yields White a decisive
attack:} Ra6 35. Qd3 Qc6 36. Ne8+ Kh7 37. Nc7 Ra7 38. Nxa8 fxe4 (38... Qxa8 39.
exf5 $18) 39. Bd5 Qxa8 40. Bxe4 Qe8 41. Qd6 Rg7 42. Qxb4 $18) 34. Bxf7 Re7 35.
Ba2 {This king is helpless, so Black resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 42nd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2014.07.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Baramidze, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2616"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2014.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[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 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 (15. b3 {is a common alternative here.}) 15... c5 {A classical response.
Black doesn't mind getting a closed type of position.} ({Another solid line
starts with} 15... Bg7 16. Bd3 c6) 16. d5 c4 17. Bg5 h6 18. Be3 Nc5 {By far
the most popular continuation.} ({However,} 18... Qc7 {also deserves serious
attention. In the following recent game Black has succesfully solved the
opening problems:} 19. Qd2 h5 20. Ra3 Nc5 21. Rea1 Bg7 22. Qc1 Nfd7 23. axb5
axb5 24. Rxa8 Rxa8 25. Rxa8+ Bxa8 26. Qa1 Bb7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Kokarev,D (2611)
-Khismatullin,D (2656)/St Petersburg RUS 2013 (47)}) 19. Qd2 h5 20. Bxc5 {
A modern approach to a well known tabiya in the Breyer. White is ready to give
up an important bishop in order to obtain a strong passed pawn.} dxc5 21. Reb1
{This move is nominally new in this particular position, but the real novelty
is coming later. Obviously, White is trying to put pressure along the b-file
and also freeing a way for the Ng3, which is usually a bad piece.} (21. Bd1 Rb8
(21... Kh7 $5 22. Ng5+ Kg8) 22. Qe3 Kh7 23. Nf1 Qc7 24. Ng5+ Kg8 25. Be2 Bc8
26. Ra2 $14 {0-1 Grischuk,A (2748)-Kamsky,G (2720)/Nalchik 2009/CBM 130/[Marin,
M] (101)}) 21... Nd7 (21... Qc7 22. b3 (22. Nf1 $5) 22... cxb3 23. Bxb3 b4 24.
a5 Rac8 25. Rc1 $14) 22. b3 $146 {This is a logical continuation of White's
previous play.} ({In the preceding game Black could be satisfied with the
outcome:} 22. Nf1 Nb6 23. Qe3 (23. Ne3 Qc7 $132) 23... Nc8 24. g4 hxg4 25. hxg4
Nd6 26. Ng3 Qf6 $132 {1-0 Van Kampen,R (2603)-Amin,B (2657)/Reykjavik ISL 2014
(49)}) 22... Nb6 $1 {A correct decision - The knight is not placed well, but
it doing an important job.} (22... cxb3 23. Rxb3 b4 24. a5 Qf6 25. Nf1 $14 c4
$140 26. Rxb4 Bxb4 27. cxb4 $16) 23. Qe2 {Michael leaves a nice spot for one
of his knights.} cxb3 ({Releasing the pressure would lead to a difficult
position:} 23... b4 $2 24. a5 cxb3 25. Bxb3 Nd7 26. Ba4 $16) 24. Bxb3 (24. Rxb3
Qd7 25. axb5 c4 26. Rbb1 axb5 $11) 24... c4 (24... Qd7 25. c4 bxc4 26. Bxc4 Nc8
27. Nf1 Nd6 28. N1d2 $16) (24... b4 25. a5 Nd7 26. Ba4 $16) 25. Bd1 {Keeping
the 2nd rank available for the queen.} (25. Bc2 Qd7 26. Qd1 Bh6 $11) 25... Bc8
$2 {David was on top till this moment, but this is a bad mistake.} ({A
concrete approach was required:} 25... h4 26. Nf1 Bxd5 $1 27. exd5 (27. a5 Bxe4
28. Qxe4 Nd5 29. Rc1 Nf4 $44) 27... e4 28. axb5 (28. Nd4 Nxd5 29. Qe1 Bg7 $36)
28... exf3 29. Qxf3 a5 $44) 26. axb5 a5 {It looks like Black may have hopes of
getting adequate compensation for a pawn, but there is no time for
consolidating, since the second pawn is in danger.} 27. Nd2 (27. Nf1 Bd7 28.
Ne3 Qc7 29. Nd2 Rec8 {would just transpose to the text.}) 27... Qc7 28. Ngf1
Bd7 29. Ne3 Rec8 30. Qf3 $1 $16 {Michael finds a nice way to regroup the
pieces and pose new problems. Almost all Black's pieces are located on the
q-side, so the Kg8 is not really safe.} a4 $2 {A critical loss of time. The
Pa4 can be easily stopped, while White wins a second pawn.} (30... Qc5 31. Ra2
a4 (31... Bh6 32. Be2 Bxe3 33. fxe3 $16) 32. Be2 Bxb5 33. Rab2 Ra5 34. Rb4 $16)
31. Be2 Ra5 (31... Bh6 {doesn't help:} 32. Ndxc4 Bxe3 33. Nxe3 (33. d6 Qc5 34.
Nxb6 Qxb6 35. Qxe3 Qxe3 36. fxe3 Rxc3 37. b6 $16) 33... Qxc3 34. Qf6 Rab8 35.
g4 $1 $18) 32. Ndxc4 Nxc4 ({The Pb5 was untouchable:} 32... Rxb5 33. d6 Qb7 (
33... Bxd6 34. Rxb5 Bxb5 35. Nxd6 Bxe2 36. Qf6 Rd8 37. Ndf5 gxf5 38. Nxf5 $18)
34. Nxb6 Rxb6 35. Rxb6 Qxb6 36. Bc4 $18) 33. Bxc4 $18 {Now White is 2 pawns up
and in firm control.} Be8 34. b6 Qd6 {Definitely not the best job for the
queen, but what else is there?} (34... Qd8 35. d6 Bxd6 36. b7 Rb8 37. Bd5 Bc7
38. Nc4 Ra6 39. Qd3 $18) 35. Bd3 {Freeing a square for the knight.} Rac5 36.
Bc2 {Liquadating the last threat.} Rxc3 (36... Rb5 37. Rxb5 Bxb5 38. Bxa4 Qxb6
39. Rb1 $18) 37. Bxa4 Bxa4 38. b7 {Michael prefers to keep the passed pawn.} ({
Another possibility was} 38. Rxa4 Rc1+ 39. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 40. Kh2 Qxb6 41. Ra8 Kg7
42. Qg3 $18) 38... Rb8 39. Rxa4 Qc7 (39... Qd7 40. Ra7 Rc7 41. g4 h4 (41...
hxg4 42. Nxg4 $18) 42. d6 Rcxb7 43. Raxb7 Rxb7 44. Rxb7 Qxb7 45. Qf6 Qb1+ 46.
Kh2 $18) 40. Ra7 Kg7 41. Kh2 {A nice prophylactic move. Black is completely
helpless now.} Be7 (41... Bc5 42. Nf5+ gxf5 43. Qxc3 $18) 42. Ra8 Rxb7 43. Nf5+
{The final touch.} (43. Nf5+ gxf5 44. Qxh5 Rxb1 45. Qh8+ Kg6 46. Rg8#) 1-0

[Event "USA-ch"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2016.04.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2678"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2016.04.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 {The solid Breyer system is one of Gata's main weapons against 1.
e4, so it couldn't come as a real surprise for Wesley.} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2
Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. Bg5 {The main idea behind this move
is provoking h7-h6, which exposes the kingside structure.} ({The most popular
continuations here are} 15. b3) ({and} 15. a4) 15... h6 16. Bd2 Bg7 17. a4 c6
$6 {Finally Gata deviates from the main theoretical paths, but this passive
move is a serious concession.} ({Instead, he should have chosen between} 17...
c5 18. d5 c4 19. b4 cxb3 20. Bxb3 Nc5 21. c4 Qd7 22. cxb5 ({Possibly,} 22. a5
$5 {can pose Black more problems.}) 22... axb5 23. a5 Reb8 24. Bc2 Bc8 25. Rb1
Qd8 $132 {1/2 Vachier Lagrave,M (2773)-Adams,M (2737) London ENG 2015}) ({and} 
17... Nb6 18. b3 bxa4 19. bxa4 a5 20. Bd3 Ba6 21. Bxa6 Rxa6 22. Qb3 Qa8 $132 {
1-0 Ni Hua (2691)-Wagner,D (2583) Karlsruhe GER 2016}) 18. axb5 $146 {A
novelty. Opening up the a-file was connected with a concrete idea.} (18. b4 $5
{also deserved serious attention:} Nb6 19. Qc1 Kh7 20. Bb3 Qe7 21. Qc2 $14) ({
Or} 18. b3 Qc7 19. Qc1 Kh7 20. Bd3 Nf8 21. dxe5 dxe5 22. c4 $14 {Duda,J (2603)
-Inarkiev,E (2680) Wroclaw POL 2014, with a serious space advantage in both
cases.}) 18... axb5 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Nh4 $5 {An aggressive idea, which was
fully justified in the game!} ({Honestly speaking, a stronger move was} 20. Be3
{and now if} c5 (20... exd4 21. cxd4 c5 22. d5 $14) 21. d5 c4 22. Qd2 h5 23.
Nh4 $36 {, then the same idea as in the game would work effectively.}) 20...
Qd8 $6 {Perhaps, Gata had underestimated White's attacking resources, so he
immediately accepted the challenge!} ({At the same time, the correct} 20...
exd4 $1 21. cxd4 c5 22. d5 Qd8 $1 {would maintain the balance, since now the
same sac is less effective:} 23. Nhf5 gxf5 24. Nxf5 Ne5 25. Nxh6+ Bxh6 26. Bxh6
Nh7 $132) 21. Qc1 $1 {The last preparations...} Kh7 $2 {It's hard to believe,
but this natural move is a decisive mistake!} ({He had to play} 21... Nh7 $1
22. Nf3 (22. Nhf5 gxf5 23. Nxf5 Re6 24. Bxh6 Bxh6 25. Nxh6+ Kf8 26. Nf5 $44 {
offers White sufficient compensation, but not more.}) 22... h5 23. Bh6 Bf6 $14
{White's positional advantage is obvious, but a complex struggle lies ahead.})
22. Nhf5 $1 gxf5 23. Nxf5 Re6 ({After} 23... Bf8 24. Bxh6 Ng8 25. Bxf8 Nxf8 {
White wins in beautiful style:} 26. Qd1 Nf6 27. Qd2 Ng8 28. Qe2 Nf6 29. Qe3 Ng8
30. Qf3 Nf6 31. dxe5 dxe5 32. Rd1 Qc7 33. Qe3 Ng8 34. Qg5 $18) 24. Bxh6 {
The lack of harmony in Black's camp makes the attack decisive.} Ne8 (24... Nh5
25. Bg5 Bf6 26. Bxf6 Qxf6 27. dxe5 Nxe5 (27... dxe5 28. Qd1 $1 $18 {[%csl Rd7,
Rh5]}) 28. f4 Ng6 29. e5 dxe5 30. fxe5 Rxe5 31. Qh6+ Kg8 32. Rxe5 Qxe5 33. Qxh5
$18) 25. Bg5 Bf6 (25... Qc7 26. dxe5 dxe5 (26... Nxe5 27. f4 Nd7 28. e5 $18)
27. Bb3 Nc5 28. Bxe6 Nxe6 29. Qd1 Kg8 30. Qg4 $18) 26. Bxf6 Qxf6 {Gata was
able to exchange one pair of bishops, but the awkward placement of his rook
invites new troubles...} (26... Rxf6 27. Qg5 Nf8 28. Re3 $18) 27. d5 Re7 (27...
cxd5 28. exd5 Bxd5 29. Ne3+ {is completely hopeless too.}) 28. g4 $1 {Black
loses the whole rook.} 1-0

[Event "Interpolis-03"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1979.11.16"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Romanishin, Oleg M"]
[Black "Spassky, Boris Vasilievich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Romanishin,O"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "1979.11.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Bg5 h6 15.
Bh4 Qc8 (15... c5 $142) (15... g5 16. dxe5) (15... exd4 16. cxd4 g5 17. Nxg5)
16. dxe5 dxe5 17. N3h2 c5 18. Qf3 Qc6 (18... a5 $5 {/\Ta6}) (18... c4 19. Ne3
a5 {/\Ta6 Spassky}) 19. Rad1 c4 (19... Qe6 20. b3 (20. c4 $5)) 20. Ne3 g6 21.
Rd2 Be7 22. Red1 Qe6 23. Nhg4 Kg7 (23... h5 24. Nh6+ Kg7 (24... Kh8 25. Nxf7+
Qxf7 26. Rxd7) 25. Nhf5+ $1) 24. b3 $1 h5 $5 (24... Rab8 25. bxc4 bxc4 26. Ba4
Bxe4 27. Nxf6 Bxf3 28. Nxe8+ Rxe8 29. Bxd7 Bxd1 30. Bxe6 Bxh4 31. Bd7 $18) (
24... Rac8 25. bxc4 bxc4 26. Ba4 Bc6 (26... Bxe4 27. Nxf6 Bxf3 28. Nxe8+ Rxe8
29. Bxd7 Bxd1 30. Bxe6 Bxh4 31. Bd7) 27. Bxc6 Rxc6 (27... Qxc6 28. Nxf6 Nxf6
29. Rd6 $1) 28. Nf5+ $18) (24... Rad8 25. bxc4 (25. Nxf6 Nxf6 26. Bxf6+ Bxf6
27. Rxd8 Rxd8 28. Rxd8 Bxd8 29. bxc4) 25... Nxg4 26. Qxg4 Qxg4 27. hxg4 Bxh4
28. Rxd7 Rxd7 29. Rxd7 Bc8 30. Rc7 $16) 25. Nxf6 Nxf6 26. bxc4 bxc4 27. Bxf6+
Qxf6 28. Qxf6+ Bxf6 29. Nxc4 Re7 30. Nd6 Rc7 31. Bb3 Bc6 32. c4 Rb8 33. c5 Bg5
34. Rd3 (34. Rc2) 34... h4 35. g3 Rb4 36. gxh4 Bxh4 37. Bd5 Bb5 (37... Ba4 $142
38. Rc1 {/\39.Lf7, 39.c6}) 38. Nxb5 axb5 39. c6 $18 Rb2 40. Rf1 (40. Rf3 $142)
40... Be7 41. Rf3 (41. Rb3 Rxb3 42. axb3 Ra7 $1) 41... Bg5 (41... Bd6 42. Rd1
Bc5 43. Rc1 Bb6 44. a3 {/\Tcc3-b3}) 42. Rd1 b4 43. Rdd3 Bf4 44. Rb3 Rxa2 (44...
Rxb3 45. Rxb3 Bd2 46. Kf1 Ra7 47. Ke2 Bc3 (47... Rxa2 48. Rd3) 48. a3 $18 bxa3
49. Rxa3) 45. Rxb4 Rc2 46. Rb6 $1 (46. Rb7 $6 R2xc6 47. Bxc6 Rxc6 $16) 46... g5
47. Rfb3 {/\48.Ta6, 49.Tb7} Kf6 (47... Kf8 48. Ra6 Ke7 49. Rb7 Kd6 50. Rxc7
Kxc7 51. Ra7+) 48. Rb7 R2xc6 49. Bxc6 Rxc6 50. R3b6 Rxb6 51. Rxb6+ Kg7 52. Kf1
f6 53. Ke2 Kg6 54. Kd3 Bh2 55. Rc6 Bg1 56. f3 Bh2 57. Kc4 $2 (57. Rc8 $142 Kh5
58. Rh8+) 57... Kh5 58. Rxf6 Bf4 (58... Kh4 59. Rh6+ Kg3 60. Kd3 Kxf3 61. h4 g4
62. h5 Bf4 63. Rg6 g3 64. h6 $18) 59. Kd3 (59. Rxf4 gxf4 60. Kd5 Kh4 61. Kxe5
Kg3 62. h4 Kxf3 63. h5 $18) 59... Kh4 60. Rh6+ Kg3 61. Ke2 Bc1 62. Rg6 Kh2 (
62... Kxh3 63. Kf2) (62... Bf4 63. h4 Kxh4 64. Kf2 Kh5 65. Rg8) 63. f4 1-0

[Event "URS-chT Cup 10th"]
[Site "Ordzhonikidze"]
[Date "1978.05.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Geller, Efim P"]
[Black "Romanishin, Oleg M"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[Annotator "Romanishin,O"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1978.05.05"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2017"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.10.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.10.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Soviet Army"]
[BlackTeam "Avangard"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "URS"]

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 Nb6 17. Qe2 Nxa4 18. Bxa4 bxa4 19. Rxa4 Bc8 20. Bg5 $146 (20. c4 {
Matulovic,M (2510)-Smejkal,J (2575) Dortmund 1977 (2) 1/2}) 20... h6 21. Be3
Rb8 22. Rea1 Nh7 $6 (22... Nd7 {Inf25}) 23. Qc2 h5 24. Nd2 Be7 25. Nc4 Bg5 26.
Qd2 h4 27. Nf1 Kg7 28. Nxd6 Qxd6 29. Bxg5 Nxg5 30. Qxg5 Rxb2 31. Qxh4 Qb6 32.
Qg5 Rb1 33. Qd2 Bd7 34. R4a2 Rb8 35. c4 Qb3 36. Rxb1 Qxb1 37. Qc2 Qe1 38. Qe2
Qxe2 39. Rxe2 Rb4 40. Rc2 Ba4 41. Rc1 a5 42. Nd2 f5 43. Ra1 fxe4 44. Ra2 Kf8
45. Kf1 Bd1 46. Rxa5 Bc2 47. Ke2 Ke7 48. Ke3 Kd6 49. Nxe4+ 1-0

[Event "San Salvador zt 2.3"]
[Site "San Salvador"]
[Date "2017.05.29"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ruiz Castillo, Joshua Daniel"]
[Black "Gonzalez Vidal, Yuri"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2350"]
[BlackElo "2534"]
[Annotator "Ruiz,J"]
[PlyCount "183"]
[EventDate "2017.05.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. 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 Nc5 {I don't really know the Breyer system, I was
prepared only for ...h6.} (17... h6 {is the main move.}) 18. Qd2 {[%cal Rh7h6]}
Be7 19. Be3 (19. Bh6 $5 Nfd7 20. Nh2 Nxa4 21. Bxa4 bxa4 22. Rxa4 a5 23. Ng4 Ba6
24. Be3 Bb5 25. Raa1 h5 26. Nh6+ (26. Nxh5 $5) 26... Kg7 27. Nxh5+ gxh5 28.
Nf5+ Kg6 (28... Kh8 29. Bb6 Bg5 30. Qe2 Nxb6 31. Qxh5+ Kg8 32. h4 Bd7 33. hxg5
Bxf5 34. exf5 Nxd5 35. Qh6 Qe7 36. Red1 Nf4 37. g3 $16) 29. f4 $44 {1-0 (46)
Azarov,S (2594)-Zhigalko,S (2662) Minsk BLR 2017} (29. Qe2 $5)) 19... Nfd7 20.
Nh2 {I spent 20 minutes looking for a good plan for me. Eventually I came to
the conclusion I had to play f4.} h5 21. Rf1 Bf8 $6 {[%cal Gh8a1,Re7f6]} (21...
Bf6 22. Ne2 Bg7 23. g4 hxg4 24. hxg4 bxa4 $13) 22. Bg5 $5 f6 $6 (22... Be7 $5)
23. Be3 $14 {[%csl Rf6,Rg6]} Qe7 {I concluded f4 wasn't good yet. I thought my
knight was not well placed on h2.} 24. Nf3 $1 {[%cal Gf3h4,Rf2f4]} Qh7 25. Nh4
Be7 26. f4 $1 {I wasn't completely sure about the consequences of that move,
but it looked promising. Moreover, the tournament situation encouraged me to
play aggressively.} Rab8 $6 (26... exf4 27. Bxf4 Ne5 (27... g5 $6 28. Nhf5 gxf4
29. Rxf4 Ne5 30. Raf1 $1 Bd8 31. Rh4 $40) 28. Be3 Nxa4 29. Bxa4 bxa4 30. Nf3 {
[%cal Gf3d4]} Bc8 31. Rxa4 $14 (31. Nxe5 fxe5 32. Rxa4 Bd7 33. Ra5 h4 34. Nh1
$1 $14)) (26... f5 27. exf5 Bxh4 28. fxg6 Qh8 29. Nf5 Be7 30. g7 $18) (26...
Nb3 27. Bxb3 exf4 28. Rxf4 cxb3 29. Rff1 Ne5 30. Qe2 bxa4 31. Rxa4 a5 32. Nf3
Bc8 33. Nxe5 fxe5 34. Rfa1 Bd8 35. R4a3 Ba6 36. c4 Rc8 37. Ra4 $14) 27. axb5
axb5 28. Nf3 (28. f5 $1 g5 29. Ng6 h4 30. Nh1 Ra8 31. Nf2 Rec8 32. Qe2 Nf8 33.
Bxc5 dxc5 34. b3 $16) 28... Ra8 29. fxe5 (29. f5 g5 30. Qe2 Rec8 (30... h4 31.
Nh1 Qg7 32. Nf2 $16 {[%cal Gf2g4,Gf3d2,Rb2b3]}) 31. Nd2 $14) 29... dxe5 30. Qe2
{[%csl Gb5,Gc4][%cal Yf3d2,Yb2b3]} Rxa1 31. Rxa1 Ra8 32. Rxa8+ Bxa8 33. Nd2 Bb7
34. b3 $1 $16 Ba6 35. bxc4 bxc4 36. Nxc4 Qf7 37. Bb1 h4 38. Nf1 f5 39. exf5 (
39. Qa2 fxe4 40. Ncd2 Bd3 41. Qa8+ Kg7 42. Bxd3 exd3 43. Qc6 Nb8 44. Qc7 Nba6
45. Qxe5+ $16) 39... gxf5 40. Ba2 Bxc4 $6 $18 (40... Ne4 41. d6 Bf6 42. Nxe5
Bxe2 43. Bxf7+ Kg7 44. Nxd7 Kxf7 45. Nxf6 Kxf6 46. Nd2 Nxd6 $16) 41. Qxc4 Kg7
42. Nd2 e4 43. Bd4+ Kh7 44. d6 Qxc4 45. Nxc4 Bf6 46. Bxf6 Nxf6 47. Ne5 Kg7 48.
Bc4 (48. Kf2 f4 49. Ke2 Nb7 50. d7 $18) 48... f4 (48... e3 49. Bb5 Kf8 (49...
Kf8 50. d7 Ke7 51. Ng6+ Kd8 52. Nxh4 f4 53. Ng6 Nh5 54. Ne5) 50. d7 Ke7 51.
Ng6+ Kd8 52. Nxh4 $18) 49. Bb5 Ne6 50. d7 e3 51. Bc4 Nd8 52. Kf1 Kf8 53. Ke2
Ke7 54. Kf3 Nh5 55. Ng6+ Kxd7 56. Nxf4 Ng3 57. Bd5 Kd6 58. Kxe3 Ke5 59. Kf3 Nf1
60. c4 Nh2+ 61. Ke3 Nf1+ 62. Kf2 Nd2 63. Ng6+ Kd4 64. Nxh4 Nxc4 65. Bxc4 Kxc4
66. Ke3 Kd5 67. Ng6 Ke6 68. Nf4+ Kf6 69. g4 Kg5 70. Ng2 Ne6 71. Ke4 Nf8 72. Kf3
Ne6 73. h4+ Kf6 74. Nf4 Nc5 75. Ke3 (75. Nd5+ Kg6 76. g5 $18) 75... Nd7 76. Nd3
Nf8 77. Nf4 Nd7 78. Kd4 Ne5 79. Nh5+ Ke6 80. Ng7+ Kd6 81. g5 Nc6+ (81... Nf3+
82. Ke4 Nxh4 83. Nf5+ Nxf5 84. Kxf5) 82. Ke4 Ke7 83. Nf5+ Kf7 84. h5 Nb8 85.
Nd6+ Kg7 86. Ne8+ Kf7 87. Nd6+ Kg7 88. Kd5 Nd7 89. Ke6 Nb6 90. Nf5+ Kg8 91. g6
Na4 92. Kf6 1-0

[Event "Danzhou 6th"]
[Site "Danzhou"]
[Date "2015.07.09"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Yu, Yangyi"]
[Black "Bruzon Batista, Lazaro"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2669"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2015.07.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[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 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. Bc2 Nb8 13. a4 Nbd7 14. Bd3 c6 15.
Nf1 d5 16. Bg5 dxe4 17. Rxe4 c5 $2 (17... Be7 18. Re2 exd4 19. Nxd4 g6 $13) 18.
dxe5 $1 Bxe4 19. Bxe4 Rb8 20. axb5 axb5 21. Bc6 $2 (21. exf6 $1 Rxe4 22. Ng3
Ra4 (22... Re6 23. fxg7 Be7 24. Bf4 $16) 23. fxg7 Be7 24. Rxa4 bxa4 25. Bxe7
Qxe7 26. Qxa4 Rxb2 27. Nf5 Qe8 28. Qh4 $16) 21... Qc7 22. Ra6 Re6 23. exf6 Rxc6
24. Bf4 Qxf4 25. Rxc6 Nxf6 $11 26. Ne3 h6 27. Ra6 Qe4 28. b3 c4 29. bxc4 bxc4
30. Ra1 Bc5 31. Nd2 Qd3 32. Ndxc4 Qxc3 33. Rc1 Qb3 34. Qxb3 Rxb3 35. Nd2 Rxe3
36. Rxc5 Re1+ 37. Nf1 g6 38. Rc2 Kg7 39. g3 Re7 40. Kg2 Rd7 41. Rb2 Ne4 42. Re2
Nc5 43. Rc2 Ne4 44. Re2 Nc5 45. Rc2 Ne4 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.04"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Black "Gonzalez Vidal, Yuri"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2547"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 4. Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 6. Re1 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 7. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:24]}
8. c3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:39]} 9. h3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nb8 {
[%emt 0:00:48]} 10. d4 {[%emt 0:00:59]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 11. Nbd2 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:02:26]} 12. Bc2 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:
31]} 13. Nf1 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 14. Ng3 {[%emt 0:02:19]} g6
{[%emt 0:01:14]} 15. b3 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:02:22]} 16. d5 {[%emt 0:
02:54]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:02:06]} 17. c4 {[%emt 0:01:16]} c6 {[%emt 0:03:34] This
is all very well known and 74 games have already played in this position.} 18.
Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:37]} h6 {[%emt 0:05:10]} 19. Bd2 $5 $146 {[%emt 0:00:10] This
is Harikrishna's novelty. Earlier 19.Be3 has been played. Harikrishna had the
position with Black against Gashimov when the Azeri player had gone Be3. The
idea of this move is to provoke ...a5. Once that is played the queenside
structure is not so solid for Black and he cannot hold his position together
for long and hence has to clarify the situation on the queenside.} (19. Be3 Nb6
{Gashimov-Harikrishna, 2008.}) 19... a5 {[%emt 0:03:02]} (19... Nb6 20. Ba5 $16
) 20. Be3 {[%emt 0:02:07] After provoking ...a5, Hari moves the bishop to e3.}
Ba6 {[%emt 0:14:14]} (20... Nb6 21. Rb1) 21. Qd2 {[%emt 0:11:37]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:
13:41]} (21... bxc4 22. bxc4 Bxc4 23. dxc6 Rxc6 24. Ba4 $14) 22. dxc6 {[%emt 0:
10:34]} Rxc6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 23. cxb5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Bxb5 {[%emt 0:00:08]}
24. Rac1 {[%emt 0:00:46]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:10:56]} 25. a4 {[%emt 0:16:41]} Ba6 {
[%emt 0:00:28]} 26. b4 $1 {[%emt 0:00:08] A very nice pawn sacrifice by
Harikrishna.} axb4 {[%emt 0:07:36]} 27. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Rxc1 {[%emt 0:02:
49]} 28. Rxc1 {[%emt 0:01:19]} d5 {[%emt 0:10:47]} (28... Qe7 29. Rc7 $36) 29.
Bxd5 {[%emt 0:06:51]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:10:56]} (29... Nxd5 30. Qxd5 $14 (30. exd5
f5 $17)) 30. Bb3 {[%emt 0:03:14]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:01:03]} 31. Rxc8 {[%emt 0:09:18]
} Bxc8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 32. Qd3 $6 {[%emt 0:00:56]} (32. a5 $16) 32... Bb7 $2 {
[%emt 0:05:37]} (32... Nc5 $1 33. Bxc5 Qxc5 34. Bxf7 Qc3 $1 $11 {It was not so
easy to find these moves that give up the f7-pawn, but if Gonzalez had have
them he would have qualified for the next round.}) 33. a5 {[%emt 0:09:47]} (33.
Qb5 $1 $16) 33... Kg8 {[%emt 0:01:15]} 34. a6 {[%emt 0:07:00]} Ba8 {[%emt 0:00:
10]} 35. a7 {[%emt 0:00:51] The a-pawn single handedly wins the game.} Qe8 {
[%emt 0:01:00]} 36. Qc4 {[%emt 0:01:53]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 37. Qc7 {[%emt 0:
03:28] Black is completely tied up.} Kh7 {[%emt 0:01:25]} 38. Ba4 {[%emt 0:03:
23]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 39. Nd2 {[%emt 0:06:52]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 40. Bc6
{[%emt 0:00:00]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:45]} 41. Bb7 {[%emt 0:02:42] Next up is Qc6,
and the a-pawn just queens.} 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1991.01.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Salov, Valery"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Salov,V"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "1991.01.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 022"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.06.01"]
[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 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. Bh6 Nh7 22.
Ra3 Rb8 23. Rea1 Bc8 24. axb5 axb5 25. Ra7 $5 {TN} (25. Be3 Bf6 26. Ne2 Bd7 27.
Ra7 $14 {Timman-Portisch,Bruxelles 1988}) 25... Bb7 26. Qe3 Bf6 (26... Qb6 $5)
(26... Qd7 $5 {/\ Be7-d8-b6<=>} 27. Nxh5 gxh5 28. Nxe5 dxe5 29. Qg3+ Bg5 30.
Bxg5 Kh8 31. Qh4 $44) 27. Nd2 Qb6 (27... h4 $5 28. Ne2 Bg5 29. Bxg5 Qxg5 30.
Qxg5 Nxg5 31. R1a5 Bc8 32. Nc1 Bd7 $10) 28. b4 cxb3 (28... Ba6 $5 29. R1xa6
Nxa6 30. Qxb6 Rxb6 31. Be3 Reb8 32. Bxb6 Rxb6 33. Ngf1 Bg5 $10) 29. Nxb3 Ra8 (
29... h4 $5 30. Nf1 Bd8 31. Qd2 $1 $13) 30. Rxa8 Rxa8 31. Rb1 $1 Rc8 32. Bd3 $1
Ba6 33. Nxc5 Qxc5 34. Qxc5 Rxc5 35. Ra1 Bc8 36. Ra8 h4 (36... Rxc3 $2 37. Bxb5
Bg7 38. Bxg7 Kxg7 39. Bc6 Be6 40. dxe6 Rxc6 41. e7 $18) 37. Ne2 Bg5 $5 (37...
Ng5 38. Rb8 Be7 39. Rb6 $1) 38. Bxg5 Nxg5 39. Rb8 Kg7 40. Rb6 f5 (40... Rc7 41.
Rxd6 Bxh3 42. gxh3 Nf3+ 43. Kf1 Ra7 44. Nc1 Ra1 45. Ke2 Ng1+ 46. Kd2 Nxh3 47.
Rc6 $1 $18) 41. f3 Rc7 $5 (41... Nf7 42. Bxb5 fxe4 43. fxe4 g5 44. c4 g4 45.
hxg4 Bxg4 46. Nc3 $16) 42. Rxd6 Rb7 43. Kf2 fxe4 44. fxe4 Nf7 45. Ra6 g5 46.
Ke3 g4 47. hxg4 Bxg4 48. Nc1 Ng5 49. Ra5 Rc7 (49... b4 50. c4 Rf7 51. d6 $1 h3
52. gxh3 Rf3+ 53. Kd2 Rxh3 54. d7 Rh2+ 55. Ne2 Nf7 $16) (49... Rf7 $5) 50. Na2
Rf7 51. Nb4 h3 52. gxh3 Rf3+ 53. Kd2 Rxh3 54. Rxb5 Nf3+ 55. Kc1 Ne1 56. Bf1 Rh1
57. Bc4 Nd3+ 58. Kc2 Nf2 59. Rb7+ Kf6 60. d6 Nxe4 61. Nd5+ Ke6 (61... Kg5 62.
Rg7+ $18) (61... Kg6 62. Bd3 $18) 62. d7 Rh2+ 63. Kc1 (63. Be2 $1 $18) 63...
Rh8 64. Ne3+ Kd6 65. Nxg4 Nxc3 66. Nh6 Kc6 67. Ra7 1-0

[Event "WchT 8th"]
[Site "Ningbo"]
[Date "2011.07.17"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Black "Sasikiran, Krishnan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2681"]
[Annotator "Sasikiran,K"]
[PlyCount "170"]
[EventDate "2011.07.17"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Hungary"]
[BlackTeam "India"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "HUN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "IND"]

1. e4 {My games against Zoltan Almasi has always been uncomprimising and
complex. The current game is no exception.} 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. b3 c6 16. Bg5 Bg7 17. Qd2 Qe7 18. a4 Qf8 {
A fairly standard position for me. I have played three classical games 
(against, Svidler, Bauer, & Federov) and many other rapid and blitz games. The
placement of the queen is somewhat awkward. However, now White's kingside plan
of exchanging the dark coloured bishops to follow it up with attack is no
longer possible. The Classical centre (e4-d4) offers a slight advantage in
space to White with chances to play on either wing. Black's main play
concentrates on the centre. His plan is to resolve the central tension and
achieve equality.} 19. Be3 $5 {An usual concept. Black's freeing break in the
centre is connected with the d5 break. Now White can respond this with an
exchange on e5 followed by Bd4 (if necessary to neutralise Bg7) or as happened
in the game.} Rac8 $5 {[%mdl 8]} (19... exd4 20. cxd4 c5 {is another way of
resolving the central tension, transposing to similar structures occuring in
the Benoni Opening.} 21. d5 b4 {Although the computer assesses this position
as equal, it is not very appealing to humans. Black's majority on the
queenside can be easily neutralised by controlling the c4-square, whereas
White has a free hand on the kingside to expand with f4-e5. However, in view
of what follows later, this may have been the most prudent decision.}) 20. Bd3
$1 {Keeping an eye on b5 and discouraging the plans with ...exd4 followed by ..
.c5.} d5 $2 {A dangerous decision, however one that is typical of team
championships. You want to exchange a few pieces and resolve the tension 
(especially when playing Black). After the text move, White's advantage in
space stabilises and Black is left without any counterplay which puts him in
the brink of defeat. The natural question is how a grandmaster with so much
experience in the opening (Ruy Lopez Breyer) can get into a losing position so
quickly. The answer lies in the fact that even if you are familiar with
typical pawn breaks, the various ways to resolve the tension, every position
has to be assessed/calculated on a case to case basis. One cannot rely on
experience alone.} (20... Rc7 $5 {waiting for White to show his hand is more
logical.} 21. Ra2 $5 Rec8 22. Rc1 Qe8 {and the waiting game continues.
Nevertheless White has slightly the better of it, as he can continue to expand
on queenside with b4 and c4, whereas Black's choice of plan is limited to
waiting.}) 21. dxe5 Nxe5 (21... dxe4 22. Bxe4 $1 (22. exf6 Nxf6 23. Be2 exf3
24. Bxf3 $14) 22... Nxe5 23. Nxe5 Rxe5 24. Bd4 Rd8 (24... Qd8 25. Qb2 Re7 26.
c4 Rd7 27. Be5 bxc4 (27... b4 28. Rac1 Ne8 29. Bxg7 Nxg7 30. Bf3 f5 31. c5 $16)
28. bxc4 Ba8 (28... a5 $2 29. Bf5 gxf5 30. Nxf5 c5 31. Ra3 $1 {and White's
attack is irresistable.}) 29. c5 $14) 25. Qf4 Nd5 26. Bxd5 Rexd5 27. Ne4 Bxd4
28. cxd4 f5 29. Ng5 Rxd4 30. Qc1 $1 Bc8 31. Qxc6 R4d6 32. Qc7 R6d7 33. Qa5 Rd5
34. axb5 axb5 35. Qc7 R5d7 36. Qb6 $14 {The weakened position of the Black
King and the possibility of establishing a knight on e5 gives a lasting edge
to White.}) 22. Nxe5 Rxe5 23. f4 $5 {Although White maintains some slight edge
after the text, 23.Bd4 forcing the exchange of the dark coloured bishops is
more logical. Black's bishop on b7 cannot be activated easily and hence the
exchanges in the centre favours White.} (23. Bd4 $1 Nd7 (23... Re6 24. exd5
Nxd5 (24... Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Nxd5 26. Bxg7 Kxg7 (26... Qxg7 27. Ne4 Rd8 28. Bf1
$1 Qf8 29. c4 f5 30. Ng5 Nc7 31. Qa5 $16) 27. c4 bxc4 28. bxc4 Nb4 29. Qc3+ Kg8
30. Re3 $1 Rd8 (30... Nxd3 31. Nf5 h5 32. Ne7+ Kh7 33. Nxc8 Nxf2 34. Kxf2 Bxc8
35. Qf6 $16) 31. Nf5 f6 32. Ne7+ Kf7 33. Qxb4 Rd7 34. Nxc6 Bxc6 35. c5 $16) 25.
Rxe6 fxe6 26. Bxg7 Qxg7 27. Ne4 Rf8 (27... b4 28. Rc1 bxc3 29. Nxc3 Qd4 30. Ne4
Rf8 31. Rc4 Qe5 32. Nc5 $16) 28. Re1 $16) (23... Ree8 24. b4 $1 Re6 (24... dxe4
25. Bc5 Bh6 26. Qa2 Qg7 27. Bxe4 $1 $16) 25. e5 Nd7 26. axb5 cxb5 27. f4 Qd8 (
27... Bh6 28. Qf2 $16) 28. Nf1 $14 {with Ne3 to follow.}) 24. Bxe5 Bxe5 25.
exd5 cxd5 26. Ne2 bxa4 27. bxa4 Nc5 28. Rab1 Qd6 29. Nd4 Bh2+ 30. Kh1 Bf4 31.
Qe2 $14) 23... Ree8 24. e5 Nd7 25. axb5 $5 {This does not seem necessary as it
opens the c-file for the black rook. However, it does not spoil anything.} (25.
b4 f6 26. e6 Rxe6 27. f5 Rxe3 28. Qxe3 Ne5 29. Ne2 Bh6 30. Qg3 Qg7 31. Rf1 $14)
25... cxb5 26. b4 f6 $5 {Otherwise Black will get squashed if White is allowed
to play Bd4 next. The text involves an exchange sacrifice.} 27. exf6 $2 {
Now Black is no longer worse. The black knight will reach the e4-square and
White has worry about the weakness of the c3-pawn.} (27. e6 $1 {was the most
critical continuation.} Rxe6 28. f5 Rxe3 (28... Rd6 29. fxg6 hxg6 30. Bxg6 f5
31. Bxf5 Bxc3 32. Qf2 Re8 (32... Bxa1 33. Rxa1 $18) 33. Bd4 $1 Bxe1 34. Rxe1
Rxe1+ 35. Qxe1 Kf7 36. Bxd7 Rxd7 37. Nf5 Rc7 38. Qe5 Rc6 39. Kh2 $5 $18 {
The weakened position of Black's king does not offer any hopes for survival.})
29. Qxe3 Ne5 {I judged this position to be slightly better for White having in
mind that the knight on e5 and two bishops as some compensation.} (29... Rxc3
30. Ne2 Rc7 31. Nf4 $18) {But} 30. Bc2 $1 {dispels any illusions. White marks
the d-pawn as the prime target and intends to continue with Bb3 and Rad1. The
other plan is Ne2-d4 (or f4) threatening to jump on to e6. I think Black is
lost here.} Kh8 (30... Qf7 31. Bb3 Nc4 32. Bxc4 Rxc4 33. Ne2 $1 $16) 31. Bb3
Bh6 32. Qd4 Qg8 33. Kh1 $16) 27... Nxf6 28. Bd4 Ne4 29. Bxe4 dxe4 30. Ne2 Rcd8
31. Qe3 Bh6 $5 {One of the important ideas, when playing with the pair of
bishops, is to retain both of them so that the control over both square
complexes are maintained. In the present case Black targets the f4-pawn which
somewhat upsets the co-ordination of White's pieces. Nevertheless the bishop
on d4 cannot be underestimated as it cements White's position by defending the
c3-pawn and looking at the black king.} (31... Qf7 {was possible} 32. Rad1 (32.
Bxg7 $6 Rd3 $1 (32... Kxg7 33. Nd4 $14) 33. Qc5 Qxg7 34. Nd4 e3 $15) 32... Bh6
$5 33. Rf1 {transposes back to the game.}) 32. Rf1 Qf7 33. Rad1 Rd5 $6 {
Planless play. Both players were approaching time trouble and I did not want
to change the situation. However, it is more natural to activate the light
coloured bishop via c4 and this would have put some pressure on White.} (33...
Bd5 $1 34. Ra1 Qb7 35. Ng3 Bc4 36. Rf2 Rd6 {and Black's position is easier to
play even in time trouble.}) 34. Ng3 Rd7 35. Rde1 Qd5 36. Ne2 Rf7 37. Rd1 Qc6
$5 (37... Rd8 38. Qg3 Bf8 39. Rd2 Qf5 {with an even position.}) 38. Bc5 $1 Rd7
$6 {Threatening a cheap trick with ...Rd3. However it was important to stop
Nd4.} (38... Qc7 39. Kh2 (39. h4 Rf5 $13) 39... Rd8 40. g3 Qc8 {is unclear.})
39. Bd4 $6 {White fails to exploit the chance opportunity.} (39. Nd4 Qf6 40.
Rf2 Bd5 41. g4 Bg7 42. Kh2 (42. Ra1 $5) 42... Bb7 (42... Rf7 43. Nxb5 axb5 44.
Rxd5 Qxc3 45. Qxc3 Bxc3 46. Rc2 Bf6 47. Kg3 $14) (42... Rc8 43. f5 Qe5+ (43...
Rf7 44. Rg2 $5 $14) 44. Kg1 $14) 43. Kg3 {and White can further expand on the
kingside with h4-g5-f5. Black's position is not very pleasant.}) 39... Rf8 40.
Rf2 Qc7 41. Qg3 Rf5 $6 {The Rook is quite vulnerable here as Ng3 will always
come with a tempo.} (41... a5 {was the logical idea trying to undermine the
bishop on d4.} 42. bxa5 Qxa5 43. f5 Qc7 44. fxg6 Qxg3 45. Rxf8+ Kxf8 46. Nxg3
hxg6 47. Rb1 Bc6 $11) 42. Rff1 Qc4 43. Qg4 Rdf7 (43... Rd6 44. Be5 Rd5 45. Rfe1
e3 46. Bd4 Rf7 47. Bxe3 Rxd1 48. Rxd1 Bf8 49. Rd8 Qc7 50. Qg5 $14) 44. Bc5 $6 (
44. Be5 $1 Rf8 45. Qh4 Bg5 (45... Bg7 46. Bxg7 Kxg7 47. Nd4 R5f6 48. f5 Bc8 49.
Qxe4 gxf5 50. Qe5 $14) 46. fxg5 Qxe2 47. Rfe1 Qa2 48. Rd7 R5f7 49. Rxf7 Rxf7
50. Bf6 $40 {The opposite coloured bishops enhances White's advantage (secure
king position).}) 44... Bf8 $6 {Allowing the white rook to enter after which
the black king comes under a devastating attack.} (44... Rd5 45. Rxd5 Qxd5 46.
Bd4 Bf8 47. Rd1 $13 {and the game would have continued with dynamic equality.})
45. Rd8 Rxc5 {Sacrificing the exchange for some counterplay. However, the
black king is very weak and hence nothing serious comes out of it.} (45... Kg7
46. Bxf8+ Rxf8 47. Rd4 Qc6 48. Rfd1 Kg8 (48... R5f6 49. Rd7+ R8f7 50. Rxf7+
Rxf7 51. Rd8 $14) 49. Rd6 Qe8 50. Qg3 R5f6 (50... e3 51. R1d3 $16) 51. h4 $14)
46. bxc5 Kg7 $2 {Both players were down to the last seconds and were mainly
playing on the thirty second increment and hence the last part of the game is
full of errors.} (46... Qxc5+ 47. Nd4 Qb6 (47... Qxc3 48. f5 Bc8 49. Qxe4 Bxf5
(49... Qc7 50. Qh4 Qc5 51. fxg6 hxg6 52. Rf6 $16) 50. Qe5 h6 51. Rf3 Qc1+ 52.
Kh2 Qg5 53. Ra8 Kh7 54. Nxf5 gxf5 55. Rxa6 $16) 48. Qh4 e3 (48... Kg7 49. Re8
$40 {with f5 to follow.}) 49. Re1 g5 50. Rxf8+ Rxf8 51. Qxg5+ Qg6 52. Rxe3 Qxg5
53. fxg5 Bd5 54. h4 Bc4 55. Nc6 $14 {although White has an extra pawn, Black's
outside passer gives him good hopes for a draw.}) 47. f5 $6 (47. Nd4 Qxc5 48.
f5 {would have won on the spot.}) 47... Be7 48. Rd7 Qxc5+ 49. Nd4 Bc8 50. f6+
Bxf6 51. Rxf7+ $5 (51. Rxf6 Rxd7 52. Rc6 Rxd4 53. Rxc5 Bxg4 54. cxd4 Be2 55.
Rc7+ $1 {The key check in a long forcing line. Hari (Pentala Harikrishna) and
me discovered this possibility when we were analysing this position blindfold
immediately after the game finished. Now Black is forced to put his king on f8
(otherwise Black loses his a-pawn).} (55. Kf2 Bd3 56. Rc7+ Kf8) 55... Kf8 (
55... Kf6 56. Kf2 Bc4 57. Rc6+ Ke7 58. Rxa6 $18) (55... Kh6 56. d5 $18) 56. Kf2
Bd3 57. Ke3 b4 58. Kd2 h5 59. h4 $1 {and White should eventually win, because
Black will not be able to cover all the weaknesses (g6-e4 etc.).}) 51... Kxf7
52. Qh4 Bf5 53. Qxh7+ Ke8 54. Kh1 $2 {Now the game begins afresh and I am not
sure whether White has a clear win. In all the variations Black seems to be
fighting.} (54. Qg8+ Ke7 55. Rd1 $1 b4 56. Kh1 Bxd4 57. cxd4 Qd6 58. Qg7+ Kd8
59. Rc1 e3 60. Re1 Bd7 61. Rxe3 Kc7 62. Rf3 Qe6 63. Qf8 Qd6 64. Qa8 Qxd4 65.
Qxa6 Bf5 66. Qa5+ Kc6 67. Qa4+ Kc5 68. Rf1 $16) 54... Qc4 55. Rd1 (55. Rg1 Bxd4
56. cxd4 Qxd4 57. Qb7 b4 58. Qxa6 (58. Rb1 a5 59. Qb5+ Kf8 60. Qxa5 e3 61. Rxb4
Qd1+ 62. Kh2 Qd6+ $11) 58... e3 59. Re1 Kf7 60. Qc6 Be4 61. Qc7+ Kg8 62. Qg3 b3
63. Rxe3 b2 64. Qb8+ Kh7 65. Rxe4 Qxe4 66. Qxb2 Qf4 $11) 55... Bxd4 56. cxd4 e3
57. Qh8+ Kf7 58. Qh7+ Ke8 59. Qh6 e2 60. Rc1 $4 {A blunder squandering the
draw. Now Black's pieces will co-ordinate perfectly and the queenside pawns
will romp home.} (60. Qh8+ $11) 60... Qxd4 61. Re1 Bd3 62. Qd2 Qf2 $5 63. Kh2
Bc4 {With the bishop protected and no file for the white rook, the rest does
not require much commentary.} 64. Ra1 Qf6 (64... g5 $1 {threatening ...Qf4+
followed by the advance of the b-pawn was the fastest way to victory.}) 65.
Qe3+ Kd8 66. Re1 Qd6+ 67. Kg1 a5 68. Qa7 a4 69. Qa8+ Kd7 70. Qb7+ Qc7 71. Qe4
Qb6+ 72. Kh2 a3 73. Qg4+ Qe6 74. Qf3 Qd6+ 75. Kh1 a2 76. Qb7+ Qc7 77. Qe4 Qc6
78. Qd4+ Qd6 79. Qc3 Ke6 80. Qc2 Kf6 81. Qc3+ Qe5 82. Qa3 Kg7 83. Qa7+ Kh6 84.
Qa3 b4 85. Qc1+ Kg7 {This win enabled us to draw the match.} 0-1

[Event "Munich"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Brunner, Lucas"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2525"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "156"]
[EventDate "1990.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 018"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 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. Bh6 Bf8 22.
Bg5 Be7 23. Bh6 Nh7 24. Ra3 Rb8 25. Be3 Qb6 $5 {This might be a small
refinement. In some games Black has parried the threat of Bxc5 by Bf6.
Beliavsky wants to exchange the bishop by Bg5 without losing a tempo by having
to play Bf6.} (25... Bf6 26. axb5 axb5 27. Rea1 Bc8 28. Ne2 Bd7 {Van der Wiel,
J-Timman,J/ Amsterdam 1988}) 26. Rea1 Bc8 27. axb5 axb5 28. Qe1 Bd7 29. Nd2 Bg5
30. Bxg5 Nxg5 31. Qe3 Nh7 32. Ne2 {Starts a known, 'theoretical' manouvre. The
knight is heading for b4 (and perhaps c6).} Rec8 33. Nc1 Qd8 34. Na2 Ra8 35.
Nb4 Rxa3 36. Rxa3 Ra8 37. Rxa8 Qxa8 38. b3 cxb3 39. Nxb3 Nxb3 40. Bxb3 Qa1+ 41.
Kh2 Nf6 42. Bc2 Kg7 43. Qd2 Qb2 44. Qe3 h4 45. Bd1 Qb1 46. Bf3 Qf1 47. Qb6 Qe1
48. Qxd6 Qxc3 49. Nc6 Bxc6 50. dxc6 b4 51. c7 Ne8 52. Qxb4 Qxb4 53. c8=Q Nf6
54. Qc2 Qd4 55. Qe2 Nd7 56. g3 hxg3+ 57. fxg3 Nc5 58. Bg2 Na4 59. h4 Nc3 60.
Qf3 Kf8 61. Kh3 Nd1 62. Kh2 Ne3 63. Qe2 Kg7 64. Bf3 Qc3 65. Bg2 Qc1 66. Bh3 Nc2
67. Bg2 Nd4 68. Qf2 Qd1 69. Kh3 g5 70. Qe3 Ne6 71. Qf3 Qd4 72. Qg4 Qf2 73. Qf3
Qd4 74. Qg4 Qd3 75. Kh2 Qd8 76. Qf5 Qf6 77. Qxf6+ Kxf6 78. Bf3 gxh4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Munich"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Huebner, Robert"]
[Black "Van der Sterren, Paul"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2515"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1990.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 018"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15.
Nf1 d5 16. Bg5 dxe4 17. Rxe4 Be7 18. Re1 exd4 19. Nxd4 Bf8 20. Nf5 h6 $146 {
New.} ({Beliavsky played} 20... Qc7 {in the Soviet championship last year, but
was slightly worse (and later lost) after} 21. Qd2 Rad8 22. Rxe8 Rxe8 23. Bf4
Qb6 24. a5 {Balashov,Y-Beliavsky,A/ URS-ch Odessa 1989/ 1-0 (68)}) 21. Be3 Ne5
22. Bc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "NED-ch45"]
[Site "Hilversum"]
[Date "1990.06.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Van der Wiel, John"]
[Black "Van der Sterren, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2515"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1990.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15.
Nf1 d5 16. Bg5 dxe4 17. Rxe4 Be7 18. Re2 $1 {Instead of the stereotyped 18. e1,
played for instance in Sokolov, A - Beljavskij, White in the present game
creates the possibility of d2 putting pressure on the d-file.} exd4 19. Nxd4
Bf8 20. Rd2 c5 $2 21. Nxb5 $1 $18 Qb6 22. Na3 Ne5 23. Nc4 Nxc4 24. Bxc4 Ne4 25.
Qh5 g6 26. Bxf7+ $1 Kg7 27. Qh6+ Kh8 28. Qh4 Re5 29. Bf4 Rh5 30. Qg4 Nxd2 31.
Nxd2 Rf5 32. Bc4 Rd8 33. Re1 Qf6 34. Re6 Qg7 35. Re2 Bc8 36. Qg3 Be7 37. Nf3
Bf6 38. Ng5 Bxg5 39. Bxg5 Rdf8 40. Re7 {Time} 1-0

[Event "Linares 08th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1990.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 017"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.08.01"]
[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 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 {
Beliavskijs solid but somewhat passive favourite variation.} 15. b3 {For 15.
Qc2 see Short-Portisch (Game 923/disk 17).} g6 16. Ba3 {For 16. Bb2 see
Kuczynski-Balashov (Game 809/disk 17).} Qc7 17. Qc2 Bg7 18. Rad1 d5 19. exd5
Nxd5 20. Ne4 exd4 21. cxd4 b4 22. Bb2 a5 $14 23. Bc4 N7b6 24. Bf1 Bc8 25. Nc5
Bf5 26. Bd3 Bxd3 27. Nxd3 f6 28. Nd2 Kf7 29. Nc4 Nxc4 30. bxc4 Nf4 31. Nc5 Re7
32. Bc1 Bf8 33. Nb3 Rae8 34. Rxe7+ Bxe7 35. Bxf4 Qxf4 36. Nxa5 Bd8 37. Nb3 Bc7
38. g3 Qf3 39. Nc1 Bxg3 40. fxg3 Re3 41. Rf1 Qxg3+ 42. Qg2 Qd6 43. Ne2 Qe6 44.
d5 Qe5 45. Nf4 Re4 46. Nd3 Qd4+ 47. Qf2 cxd5 48. Qxd4 Rxd4 49. Nxb4 dxc4 50. a5
c3 51. Nc2 Rd8 52. a6 Ra8 53. Nb4 1-0

[Event "Kerteminde"]
[Site "Kerteminde"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Jansa, Vlastimil"]
[Black "Van der Sterren, Paul"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2475"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1991.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 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. Kh1 Rb8 20. Qd2 h5 21. axb5 axb5 22.
Ng5 Bh6 23. f4 h4 24. fxe5 Rxe5 25. Nf3 Bxe3 26. Qxe3 Re8 (26... Nxd5 27. Qh6
hxg3 28. Nxe5 dxe5 29. Rad1 Nf4 $13 {Popovic,P-Lalic,B, Vrdac 1989}) 27. Nxh4
Ng4 28. Qf4 $1 Qxh4 29. Rf1 Nd7 30. Bd1 Nde5 31. Bxg4 Bc8 32. Bxc8 Qxf4 33.
Rxf4 Rexc8 (33... Rbxc8 34. Rff1 Nd3 35. Ra7 Rf8 36. Ra2 b4 37. Ra6 Rcd8 $14 {
But in Ye Jiangchuan-Van der Sterren, Thessaloniki (ol) 1988 (Tourn. disk 1988
VI, game 701) Black managed to win after nine more moves.}) 34. Ne2 Ra8 35.
Rff1 Nd3 36. Nd4 Nf2+ 37. Kh2 Nxe4 38. Nxb5 Rxa1 39. Rxa1 Rb8 40. Ra5 Kg7 41.
h4 Rb6 42. Na3 Rxb2 43. Nxc4 Rc2 44. Ra6 Rxc3 45. Nxd6 Nf6 $10 46. g3 {46.
Ra7?? Ng4+ - +} Rc5 47. Kh3 {47.Ra7!?} Rxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "WchT 2nd"]
[Site "Luzern"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Nunn, John DM"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1989.10.27"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "England"]
[BlackTeam "Soviet Union"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ENG"]
[BlackTeamCountry "URS"]

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. Kh1 Qe7 {The Queen starts an
adventurous journey to f8. Safer is 19. - Rb8 or 19. - Rc8.} 20. Qd2 h5 21. Bg5
Bg7 22. Nh4 {Preparing the thematic break f2-f4.} Qf8 23. Rf1 Nh7 24. f4 Bh6 (
24... Nxg5 25. fxg5 Qe7 26. Bd1 $1 {The forthcoming 27. Bxh5 will give White a
tremendous attack.}) 25. Ngf5 $6 {The simple 25. Bxh6 Qxh6 26. Rf2 would have
given White a promising position.} gxf5 26. Nxf5 Bg7 27. fxe5 Rxe5 28. Bf4 Rxf5
29. exf5 Nf6 30. Rf3 Re8 31. axb5 axb5 32. Ra7 Bxd5 33. Rg3 Kh8 34. Qd1 Nce4
35. Bxe4 Rxe4 36. Bg5 h4 37. Re3 Rxe3 38. Bxe3 Qe8 39. Qd2 Qe4 40. Bh6 Qxf5 0-1

[Event "Bern zt"]
[Site "Bern"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Brunner, Lucas"]
[Black "Lev, Ronen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2525"]
[BlackElo "2390"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "141"]
[EventDate "1990.01.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 017"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.08.01"]
[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 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 g6 14. a4 Bf8 15.
Ng3 Bg7 16. d5 Qb8 17. b3 c6 18. c4 bxc4 19. bxc4 a5 20. Bd3 Ba6 21. Be3 {
Kindermann developed this bishop to a3 in his game versus Lev in the same
tournament (See game 82/disk 17).} Qc7 22. Bf1 Reb8 23. Rb1 Rb4 24. Rxb4 axb4
25. Qb3 c5 26. Nd2 Bc8 27. Ra1 Ra5 28. Qa2 Nb6 29. Nb3 Rxa4 30. Qb2 Qa7 31. Bd3
Rxa1+ 32. Nxa1 Qa4 33. Nf1 Nxe4 34. Bxe4 Nxc4 35. Qb3 Qxa1 36. Qxc4 Ba6 37. Qc1
Qxc1 38. Bxc1 f5 39. Bb1 e4 40. Ne3 c4 41. g4 Bh6 42. gxf5 gxf5 43. Bd2 c3 44.
Bc1 Bxe3 45. fxe3 Bc4 46. Kf2 Bxd5 47. Bc2 Kf7 48. Kg3 Be6 49. Kf4 h6 50. Ba4
Kf8 51. Bb5 c2 52. Bd2 b3 53. Bc1 Ke7 54. Kg3 Kd8 55. Bf1 Kc7 56. Kf2 Kc6 57.
Ba3 Kb6 58. Ke1 f4 59. exf4 d5 60. Bb2 Kc5 61. h4 d4 62. Ba6 Kb4 63. Kd2 Kc5
64. Ba3+ Kb6 65. f5 e3+ 66. Kd3 Bxf5+ 67. Kxd4 Kxa6 68. Kxe3 Kb5 69. Kd2 Kc4
70. Bb2 Be6 71. Kc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "NED-ch45"]
[Site "Hilversum"]
[Date "1990.06.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nijboer, Friso"]
[Black "Van der Sterren, Paul"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2515"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1990.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15. b3
g6 16. Bb2 (16. Ba3 Qc7 17. Qc2 Rad8 18. Rab1 d5 19. Bxf8 Kxf8 20. b4 dxe4 21.
Bxe4 $14 {Dolmatov - Beljavskij, Soviet (ch), 1989}) 16... Bg7 17. Qb1 Qc7 18.
axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8 Bxa8 20. Qc2 Nh5 21. b4 Nf4 22. Bf1 Ne6 23. dxe5 Nxe5 24.
Nxe5 dxe5 25. Nf3 Rb8 26. c4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Magem Badals, Jordi"]
[Black "Vladimirov, Yevgeniy"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1991.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 025"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. 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 (13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3
g6 15. a4 (15. b3 d5 $1 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. dxe5 Nxc3 18. Qd3 Nd5 19. Bg5 Qc8 $17
{Polgar,J-Beljavskij,A Munich 1991.}) 15... c5 16. d5 c4 17. Be3 {This was
tried in Sion Castro,M-Bass,L (CBM 25/game 628). Usual is 17.Bg5 h6 18.Be3 in
order to weaken Black`s K-side. In any case White has a very slight initiative.
}) 13... Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 (14... b4 $5 15. a5 $5 d5 16. exd5 exd4 17. Rxe8 Qxe8
18. c4 $14 {Khalifman-Beljavskij, Soviet (ch) 1990.}) 15. b3 g6 16. Ba3 Qc7 17.
Qc2 Bg7 18. Rab1 Rad8 19. Bf1 d5 $10 20. exd5 Nxd5 21. b4 Qb8 22. Rbc1 Bc8 23.
Qb3 Bf8 24. dxe5 Nxe5 25. Nxe5 Rxe5 26. Rxe5 Qxe5 27. Nf3 Qf6 28. c4 bxa4 29.
Qxa4 Nf4 30. Qb3 Bg7 31. Re1 Be6 32. Qe3 h6 33. b5 $6 axb5 34. cxb5 cxb5 35.
Bxb5 Rb8 36. Ba4 Rc8 37. Bb4 Rc4 $17 38. Rb1 Qf5 39. Nd2 Bd4 40. Qf3 Bd5 41.
Qg4 Nxh3+ $1 {42.Qxh3 Qxf2+ (42. - Bxf2+ - + ) 43.Kh2 Rxb4 - +} 0-1

[Event "Interzonal-15"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Sax, Gyula"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2680"]
[Annotator "Schussler,H"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1990.06.29"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "PHI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 019"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Sax} 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. a4 c5
15. Ng3 g6 16. Be3 $6 {16.d5 is standard here and for good reason. As Ivanchuk
shows 16.Be3 only gives White problems. After a forced sequence of moves Sax
barely manages to draw the ensuing endgame.} exd4 (16... Qc7 {Sax} 17. Qd2 exd4
18. cxd4 Nb6 19. Bg5 Bg7 20. Rac1 Nc4 21. Qc3 $14) 17. cxd4 Bxe4 (17... Nxe4 $2
{Sax} 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Bg5 $1 Bxf3 20. Bxd8 Bxd1 21. Rxe8 $16) 18. Nxe4 Nxe4
19. Bxe4 Rxe4 20. dxc5 Nxc5 21. Qd5 (21. axb5 {Sax} axb5 22. Qd5 Re8 (22...
Rea4 23. Rxa4 bxa4 24. Ng5 Ra7 25. Ne4 $1 Qa5 26. Bd2 {/\ Nf6+-}) 23. Ng5 (23.
b4 $10) 23... Ne6 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. Qxb5 Rb8 26. Qe2 Bg7 27. Reb1 Rb3 28. Ra7
Qb8 29. Qa6 $1 $14) 21... bxa4 (21... Re8 {Sax}) 22. Ng5 Re7 23. Rad1 (23. Bd4
{Sax} Rc8 24. Re3 Qd7 {/\ Qb7-/+}) 23... Nd7 (23... Rb8 $1 {Sax} 24. Nxf7 Rxf7
25. Bxc5 Rxb2 26. Bd4 Rc2 {/\ Qd7-b7-/+}) 24. Qc6 Qc8 25. Qxa4 Qb7 26. Bd4 Qb5
(26... Rae8 $5 {Sax}) 27. Qxb5 axb5 28. Rxe7 Bxe7 29. Ne4 b4 30. Be3 Nf6 (30...
Ra6 {Sax} 31. Bf4 (31. Rc1 d5 32. Rc7 dxe4 33. Rxd7 Kf8 $17) 31... Ne5 32. Rd5
f5 33. Nxd6 Rxd6 34. Rxe5 Rd1+ 35. Kh2 Bd6 36. Re8+ Kf7 37. Bxd6 Kxe8 38. Bxb4
$15) 31. Rd4 d5 (31... d5 {Sax} 32. Nxf6+ Bxf6 33. Rxb4 Ra1+ 34. Kh2 Rb1 $10)
1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 11th final"]
[Site "Ljubljana"]
[Date "1995.11.30"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Shirov,A"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1995.11.30"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SLO"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Berlin SV Empor"]
[BlackTeam "Budapest Honved"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "HUN"]

1. e4 {Wedberg} 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. b4
Nb6 15. a5 Nbd7 16. Bb2 Rb8 17. Rb1 h6 (17... Ba8 {Wedberg} 18. Ba1 g6 19. dxe5
Nxe5 20. Nxe5 dxe5 21. c4 bxc4 22. Bc3 c5 (22... Bc6 23. Qe2 Bb5 24. Nxc4 c5
25. bxc5 Rc8 26. Bb3 Rxc5 27. Bb4 Rc6 $10 {Browne,W-Karpov,An/Amsterdam/1976})
23. bxc5 Rxb1 24. Qxb1 Bxc5 25. Nxc4 Qc7 $15 {Thorsteins,K-Hjartarson,J/
Westmann Islands/1985}) 18. Ba1 Ba8 19. Re3 {N} (19. dxe5 $6 {Wedberg} dxe5 20.
c4 c5 $1 $10 {Hjartarson,J-Beliavsky,A/Belfort WCup/1988}) 19... g6 20. Qe2
$146 (20. c4) 20... c6 (20... Bg7 21. d5 c6 $10) 21. c4 Bg7 $2 (21... bxc4 22.
dxe5 $14 (22. dxe5 {Wedberg} dxe5 23. Qxc4 c5 $132)) (21... exd4 $1 22. Bxd4
bxc4 23. Nxc4 d5 $10 (23... c5 $132)) 22. dxe5 dxe5 23. c5 $16 Nh5 $6 (23...
Bb7 $142 24. Rd3 Qc7 $16) 24. g3 Qc7 25. Rd3 Rbd8 (25... Nf8 26. Nf1 Ne6 27.
Rd6 $16) 26. Rd1 Nf8 27. Nf1 Rxd3 28. Qxd3 Nf6 (28... Qc8 29. Kh2 $18) 29. Ne3
Bb7 30. Kg2 Qb8 31. Bb2 Qc7 32. Bb3 Re7 $6 (32... Qb8 33. Ng4 $5 (33. Bxf7+ $5
Kxf7 34. Qb3+ $40) 33... Nxg4 34. hxg4 $16) 33. Qd8 $1 (33. Qd6 Nxe4 34. Qxc7
Rxc7 35. Bxe5 Rd7 $1 {Leko} (35... Bxe5 36. Nxe5 $18) 36. Re1 $16) 33... Qxd8 (
33... Nxe4 34. Ng4 $1 Rd7 (34... Qxd8 35. Rxd8 Rd7 36. Rb8 $1 $18) 35. Qxc7
Rxc7 36. Bxe5 Rd7 37. Re1 Nd2 38. Nxd2 Rxd2 39. Nf6+ Bxf6 40. Bxf6 Rd3 (40...
Bc8 41. Re7 $18) 41. Re8 Rxb3 42. Be7 Rd3 (42... Rxb4 43. Rxf8+ Kg7 44. Rb8 $18
) 43. Bxf8 $18) 34. Rxd8 N6d7 (34... Rd7 35. Rb8 $18) 35. Nh4 $18 Kh7 36. Nhf5
gxf5 37. Nxf5 Bf6 38. Nxe7 Bxe7 39. Re8 Bg5 40. Bxf7 Kg7 41. Bb3 Bf6 42. f4 Ng6
43. f5 Ngf8 44. h4 Kh7 45. Kh3 Kg7 46. g4 Kh7 47. Bc1 Bg7 48. g5 hxg5 49. hxg5
Kh8 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.10"]
[Round "8.3"]
[White "Yu, Yangyi"]
[Black "Safarli, Eltaj"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2668"]
[BlackElo "2649"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[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 "China"]
[BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CHN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 {
There has not been much new on the Marshall front. After} (7... O-O 8. c3 d5 9.
exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d3 Bd6 13. Re1 Bf5 14. Qf3 Qh4 15. g3
Qh3 16. Be3 Bxd3 17. Nd2 Qf5 18. Bd4 Rfe8 19. a4 h6 20. Kg2 {a prepared
Aronian came up with} Qxf3+ (20... Kf8 21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. axb5 axb5 23. Qxf5
Bxf5 24. Bxd5 cxd5 25. Ra6 Be7 26. Nf1 $14 {Caruana,F (2782)-Aronian,L (2812)/
Zuerich/2014/ See the notes to this game by Caruana in CBM 159.}) 21. Kxf3 Rxe1
22. Rxe1 Bf5 23. Ne4 Bf8 24. Nc5 Nb6 25. g4 Nd7 $1 26. gxf5 Nxc5 27. Bxc5 Bxc5
28. Rd1 Kf8 29. Rd7 Ra7 $11 {Adams,M (2740)-Aronian,L (2805)/Tromsoe olm/2014/}
) 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 {The classical Closed Ruy Lopez isn't the dominant open
game anymore. This is due to the popularity of the Berlin and the Marshall.
White in turn started playing lines to avoid these systems; especially d3
lines have flourished for roughly the last decade. Once this position is
reached, in GM encounters Black nowadays prefers the manoeuvring Breyer system.
However, there are exceptions:} (9... Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a3 (12.
a4 h6 13. Bc2 exd4 $5 14. cxd4 Nb4 15. Bb1 c5 $13 {is the main line of the
Zaitsev, which leads to a double-edged and extremely complex position. Once
the ground for great theoretical battles between Kasparov and Karpov, nowadays
it's mostly tested in postal games with the help of powerful engines...}) 12...
h6 13. Bc2 Nb8 14. b3 Nbd7 15. Bb2 Rb8 16. a4 c5 17. d5 Bc8 18. axb5 axb5 19.
Bd3 Nh5 20. Bf1 Ndf6 21. Ra7 Nf4 22. Qa1 Ng6 23. Qa5 Qxa5 24. Rxa5 Bd7 25. Rea1
Rb7 26. Ne1 Reb8 27. Nc2 Ne8 28. Ra8 Rxa8 29. Rxa8 Nc7 $11 {Radjabov,T (2713)
-Carlsen,M (2881)/Shamkir/2014/}) 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1
{The main alternative here is} (13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 {and now:} 15. Qc2 {
is a newer try, after} (15. b4 Nb6 16. axb5 axb5 17. Rxa8 Qxa8 18. Nb3 h6 {
is rather soft, Black equalised after} (18... Nc4 $143 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5
Rxe5 21. Bf4 $1 (21. f3 Re8 22. Be3 Bc8 23. Bf2 Be6 24. Nd4 Bd7 25. Qd2 Qb8 26.
Bf1 h6 27. Ra1 Qb7 28. Ra5 d5 29. exd5 Nxd5 30. Nb3 Be6 31. Nc5 Bxc5 32. Bxc5
Rd8 $132 {Anand,V (2800)-Carlsen,M (2826)/Nanjing/2010/}) 21... Re8 22. Na5 Bc8
23. Bc2 $1 $14 {[%csl Rd6] Pascual Perez,N (2224)-Salzmann,S (2149)/email/2010/
}) 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Be3 Na4 21. Qc2 Bc8 22. Ra1 Qb8 23. Na5 Bd7 {[%cal Yc6c5]}
24. c4 Bxb4 25. Nxc6 Bxc6 26. cxb5 Bxb5 27. Bxb5 Qxb5 28. Qxa4 Qxa4 29. Rxa4
Bf8 30. Ra5 Nxe4 31. Rxe5 {1/2, Shankland,S (2634)-Kamsky,G (2713)/USA-ch
Saint Louis/2014/}) (15. b3 g6 16. Bb2 {enables the abrupt} exd4 $5 17. cxd4 d5
18. Ne5 (18. e5 Nh5 19. Nf1 Nf4 {[%cal Yc6c5]} 20. Ne3 {Alekseev,E (2613)
-Sasikiran,K (2679)/Skanderborg/2003/} (20. axb5 axb5 21. Qd2 $5 Nxd3 22. Qxd3
$11) (20. Bc2 c5 21. dxc5 Nxc5 22. axb5 axb5 23. Qd2 Nfe6 24. Rxa8 Bxa8 25. Ng3
Qc7 26. Rc1 Qb7 27. Nd4 Nxd4 28. Bxd4 Ne6 $15 {Kuczynski,R (2460)-Balashov,Y 
(2535)/Warsaw/1990/}) 20... Bb4 21. Rf1 bxa4 $5 22. Rxa4 a5 $132) (18. Qc2 Bg7
19. Rad1 Rc8 20. Ba3 dxe4 21. Nxe4 Nxe4 22. Bxe4 Nf6 23. Bc5 {prevented the
liberating push c5} Qc7 24. Ne5 Nxe4 25. Rxe4 Re6 26. Rde1 Rce8 27. b4 Bc8 28.
a5 Qb7 29. R4e2 f6 30. Nd3 Qf7 $11 {Inarkiev,E (2666)-Harikrishna,P (2725)/
TUR-chT Kocaeli/2014/ , but Black reactivated his Bc8 with equality.}) 18...
Bb4 19. Nxd7 Qxd7 20. e5 Nh5 21. Bf1 Nf4 22. Re3 c5 $1 23. dxc5 d4 24. Ne4 Bxe4
25. Rxe4 Ne6 26. Rxd4 $5 Nxd4 27. Qxd4 Qxd4 28. Bxd4 Rad8 29. Be3 Rxe5 30. axb5
axb5 31. Rc1 $44 Rxe3 32. fxe3 {1/2-1/2 Nisipeanu,L (2659)-Carlsen,M (2815)/
Medias 2011/CBM 143} Bd2 33. Rc2 Bxe3+ 34. Kh2 Rd5 $11 {See notes to this game
by Rogozenco in CBM 143.}) 15... Rc8 (15... Qc7 16. b3 g6 17. Bb2 Rac8 18. Rad1
Nh5 19. Qb1 bxa4 20. bxa4 exd4 21. cxd4 d5 22. Rc1 Nf4 23. Bf1 Qb8 24. g3 Ne6
25. h4 Bg7 26. Bh3 c5 (26... dxe4 $142 $5 27. Nxe4 c5 {/\} 28. Ne5 Bxe4 29.
Rxe4 Nf6 $11) 27. dxc5 Bxb2 28. Qxb2 Ndxc5 29. Ne5 Red8 30. Bxe6 Nxe6 31. Rxc8
Qxc8 32. Rc1 Qa8 33. exd5 Bxd5 34. Ng4 $40 {[%csl Rf6,Rg8,Rh6][%cal Ga1h8]
Naiditsch,A (2705)-Ponomariov,R (2723)/Dortmund/2014/}) ({Black also has} 15...
g6 16. b3 Rc8 17. Bb2 (17. Ba3 Nh5 18. g3 Ng7 19. Bf1 Ne6 20. h4 (20. Rad1 Qb6
21. Qa2 exd4 22. cxd4 Bg7 23. Bxd6 Nxd4 24. a5 Qa7 25. Nxd4 Bxd4 26. Nf3 Bg7
27. b4 c5 $1 $36 {Shabalov,A (2606)-Navara,D (2707)/Khanty-Mansiysk WCup rpd/
2009/}) 20... Qb6 21. Bh3 Rcd8 $132 {Shabalov,A (2606)-Navara,D (2707)/
Khanty-Mansiysk WCup rpd/2009/}) 17... Bg7 (17... Nh5 18. Bf1 exd4 $5 19. cxd4
d5 20. g3 b4 21. Qd3 Ng7 22. Rac1 Ne6 23. Bg2 Bg7 24. h4 Ndc5 25. Qb1 Nxe4 26.
Nxe4 dxe4 27. Qxe4 Rc7 28. Qb1 Qa8 29. d5 Bxb2 30. Qxb2 cxd5 31. Rxc7 Nxc7 32.
Ne5 d4 33. Bxb7 Qxb7 34. Qxd4 Ne6 {1/2, Felytin,L (2454)-Yarmolyuk,Y (2354)/
email/2011/}) 18. Rad1 (18. axb5 {allows} cxb5 $5 19. d5 Nh5 20. Bf1 Qb6 21. b4
Ng3 22. Bd3 Rf8 23. Nf1 Nxf1 24. Rxf1 Qc7 25. Nd2 Nb6 26. Nb3 f5 $132 {/=/+,
Akopian,V (2691)-Tomashevsky,E (2701)/EU Cup Plovdiv/2010/}) (18. Bf1 Qc7 19.
Rad1 {probably only transposes.} (19. c4 bxc4 (19... exd4 $5 20. cxb5 axb5 $132
) 20. dxe5 Nxe5 $6 (20... cxb3 $142 21. Nxb3 dxe5 22. Nbd2 $44) 21. Nxe5 cxb3
22. Nxb3 dxe5 23. Nc5 Ra8 24. a5 $44 {/+/=, Petrosian,T (2604)-Khairullin,I 
(2640)/Moscow/2011/})) 18... Qc7 19. Qb1 (19. b4 $5) 19... Rcd8 20. Qa1 Nh5 21.
Bf1 Nf4 22. c4 b4 $6 (22... exd4 $142 $13) 23. c5 d5 24. Nxe5 Nxe5 25. dxe5
Bxe5 26. Bxe5 Rxe5 27. Nf3 $1 $36 {[%csl Rb7] Nisipeanu,L (2659)-Sanikidze,T 
(2524)/TUR-chT Konya/2011/} {/\} Rxe4 28. Rxe4 dxe4 29. Qe5 $1 $16) 16. axb5
axb5 17. b4 Qc7 (17... g6 $5 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 $11 {Short,N (2635)
-Portisch,L (2605)/Wijk aan Zee/1990/}) 18. Bb2 Ra8 (18... g6 $5) 19. Rad1 $1
Nb6 $6 ({A more circumspect try is} 19... h6 $142) 20. c4 $1 bxc4 21. Nxc4 Nxc4
22. Bxc4 h6 23. dxe5 dxe5 24. Bc3 Ba6 25. Bb3 c5 26. Qb2 c4 27. Ba4 Re6 28.
Nxe5 Bb7 {Karjakin,S (2767)-Carlsen,M (2868)/Stavanger/2013/} 29. Bb5 $1 $16 {
See more details in the notes to this game by Marin in CBM 155.}) 13... Bf8 {
Black almost exclusively plays this standard move.} ({However,} 13... d5 $5 {
still hasn't been fully refuted:} 14. Nxe5 (14. dxe5 Nxe4 15. Ng3 Bc5 (15...
Nxg3 16. fxg3 Nc5 $5 $13) 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Bg5 f6 18. Bb3+ Kh8 19. exf6 Nxf6
20. Nd4 Bd5 21. Bxf6 gxf6 22. Qh5 Re5 23. Qh4 Bxd4 24. cxd4 Re6 25. Rac1 {
De Firmian,N (2550)-Lapshun,Y (2461)/USA-ch San Diego/2004/}) (14. exd5 exd4
15. Nxd4 Nxd5 16. Nf5 Bf6 17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. N1e3 Nxe3 19. Bxe3 Ne5 20. Bd4 {
Pavasovic,D (2597)-Baramidze,D (2557)/EU cup Kallithea/2008/} Qc6 21. f3 Qe6
$11 {My notes to this game in CBM 127 cover the whole Breyer line in more
detail, in the following lines I will concentrate mostly on more recent
examples.}) 14... Nxe5 (14... Nxe4 $2 15. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 16. Rxe4 $1 {/\} dxe4
17. Bb3+ Kf8 18. Qh5 $18) (14... dxe4 15. Bb3 $5 Rf8 16. Ng3 Bd6 17. Bf4 Qe8
18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. Be5 $36 {[%csl Re4]}) 15. dxe5 Nxe4 16. f3 Nc5 (16... Ng5
$143 17. Ng3 Bc5+ 18. Kh2 Bf2 19. Re2 (19. Nh5 $5 Bxe1 20. Qxe1 $36) 19...
Bxg3+ 20. Kxg3 f6 21. Bxg5 fxg5 22. Qd3 g6 23. Rh1 Qe7 24. h4 gxh4+ 25. Rxh4
Rad8 26. b4 $14 {Sivuk,V (2436)-Bondarchuk,S (2309)/Yuzhny/2011/}) 17. Be3 $5 (
17. b4 {is played more often, but it weakens the queenside and gives Black
counterplay after} Nd7 (17... Ne6 18. f4 $36 {[%cal Rf4f5]}) 18. f4 c5 19. a3 (
19. Qd3 g6 20. Bd2 Qb6 21. Kh2 Qc6 22. Rac1 Bh4 23. Ng3 f6 24. exf6 Bxf6 25.
bxc5 Nxc5 26. Qf3 Qd7 27. Qf2 d4 $11 {Moreno Carretero,C (2420)-De Carlos
Arregui,I (2392)/email/2009/}) 19... Nf8 20. Ne3 cxb4 21. cxb4 a5 22. Rb1 axb4
23. axb4 d4 24. Nf5 Ra2 25. Qd3 Qc7 26. Re2 Bd5 27. Rf2 Rd8 28. Nxe7+ Qxe7 29.
Qxb5 d3 30. Qxd3 Bxg2 31. Qc3 Bb7 $44 {Alcala,A (2160)-Gray,G (2156)/email/
2011/}) 17... Bf8 (17... Nd7 18. f4 c5 19. Qg4 Qc7 20. Rad1 Bf8 21. Bf2 Nb6 22.
Ne3 g6 23. f5 d4 24. cxd4 cxd4 25. Rxd4 Rxe5 26. Bb3 $36 {Booij,R (2350)-De
Carlos Arregui,I (2387)/email/2010/}) 18. Bf2 g6 19. Nh2 h5 20. Qd2 {Zherebukh,
Y (2553)-Zelbel,P (2330)/Moscow/2009/} Ne6 {[%cal Yc7c5,Yd5d4]} 21. f4 Bh6 22.
Be3 d4 $5 23. cxd4 c5 $132) 14. Ng3 g6 15. a4 {The older move is fashionable
once again.} ({Let's check how Black has fared against the modern} 15. b3 {
more recently:} Bg7 {has probably the best reputation:} (15... Rc8 16. a4 c6 (
16... c5 17. d5 $14 {()}) (16... exd4 17. cxd4 c5 18. d5 Bg7 19. Rb1 $14 {
[%csl Gd5,Ge4] is a pleasant Benoni for White.}) 17. Bg5 Bg7 18. Qd2 Nf8 19.
axb5 cxb5 20. d5 Qc7 21. c4 $1 N8d7 22. Rec1 bxc4 23. bxc4 Nc5 24. Be3 Ra8 25.
Bxc5 Qxc5 26. Ra5 Qc7 27. c5 $1 dxc5 28. Ba4 $16 {Negi,P (2641)-Sasikiran,K 
(2676)/New Delhi/2012/}) (15... a5 16. a4 (16. Bd2 b4 $5 17. cxb4 axb4 18. d5
Rb8 (18... Qb8 $5 $13) 19. Bxb4 Bxd5 20. Bxd6 cxd6 21. exd5 Qa5 22. Be4 Nxe4
23. Nxe4 {Berg,E (2608)-Kovachev,D (2315)/Oslo/2011/} f5 $44) 16... b4 17. cxb4
axb4 18. Bb2 Bh6 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Bd3 Nc5 21. Bb5 c6 22. Bc4 Qxd1 23. Raxd1
Nfd7 24. Bc1 (24. Re2 Bf4 25. Rc2 Re7 26. Ne2 Bh6 27. Ng3 Bf4 28. Bc1 Ba6 $1
$11 {Shirov,A (2739)-Kamsky,G (2714)/Khanty-Mansiysk WCup/2007/}) 24... Bf4 25.
Be3 Ba6 26. Bxa6 Rxa6 27. Nf1 Re7 28. g3 Bxe3 29. Rxe3 f6 30. N1d2 $11 {
/+/=, Zhigalko,S (2661)-Eljanov,P (2707)/Kiev rpd/2013/ The resulting endgame
is perhaps very slightly better for White, but should be defensible.}) (15...
c6 16. Bg5 Bg7 17. Qd2 Qe7 18. a4 Qf8 19. Be3 Rac8 20. Bd3 d5 $6 (20... Rc7
$142 $14 {Sasikiran}) 21. dxe5 Nxe5 22. Nxe5 Rxe5 {Almasi,Z (2726)-Sasikiran,K
(2681)/WChT Ningbo/2011/} 23. Bd4 Ree8 24. b4 $1 $36 {For more details see the
notes to this game by Sasikiran in CBM 144.}) (15... d5 $6 {has been more or
less confirmed as dubious despite a minor improvement for Black:} 16. Bg5 h6
17. Bh4 g5 18. Nxg5 hxg5 19. Bxg5 dxe4 (19... exd4 $6 20. e5 Rxe5 21. Rxe5 Nxe5
22. cxd4 Nc6 23. Qd3 {is as good as unplayable for Black:} Be7 (23... Nb4 24.
Qf3 Be7 25. Bf5 $1 Nc6 (25... Qd6 26. Nh5 $1 (26. Re1 Ne4 27. Bd2 $1 (27. Bxe7
Qxe7 28. Nxe4 dxe4 29. Bxe4 Re8 30. Bh7+ Kf8 31. Rxe7 Bxf3 32. Rxe8+ Kxe8 33.
gxf3 Nxa2 $14 {Sjugirov,S (2588)-Popov,I (2568)/RUS-chT Dagomys/2009/}) 27...
Nc2 (27... Nxd2 28. Qg4+ Kf8 29. Bh7 Ke8 30. Nf5 $18) 28. Qh5 Bf6 29. Qg4+ Kh8
30. Nxe4 dxe4 31. Bf4 Qa3 32. Qh5+ Kg8 33. Rc1 Qb2 34. Qh7+ Kf8 35. Bxe4 $18) (
26. Bf4 $18 {[%cal Rg3h5] ->}) 26... Nxh5 27. Qxh5 Bxg5 28. Qh7+ Kf8 29. Qh8+
Ke7 30. Re1+ $18) 26. Re1 Nxd4 27. Qe3 Ne4 (27... Bc5 28. Qf4 $1 Qd6 29. Qh4
Nh5 30. Bh7+ $1 Kxh7 31. Nxh5 Rh8 32. Bf6 Nf5 33. Qg5 {1-0, Chiricuta,M (2137)
-Staf,G (2016)/email/2008/}) (27... Ne6 28. Bxe6 Ne4 29. Bxe7 Qxe7 30. Bf5 $18
{Moura,A (2482)-Flores Gutierrez,C (2446)/email/2008/}) 28. Bxe7 Qxe7 29. Qxd4
Re8 30. b4 $16 {Cote,J (2636)-Dubuc,S (2464)/email/2006/}) 24. Re1 ({Even more
concrete than} 24. Bh6 $5 Bc8 25. Re1 $36 {, which I suggested 6 years ago in
CBM 127.}) 24... Nb4 25. Qf5 Ne4 (25... Nxc2 26. Rxe7 Qxe7 27. Bxf6 Qe6 28.
Qg5+ Kf8 29. Nf5 $18 {Navara}) (25... Bc8 26. Qf4 Be6 27. Bb1 (27. Bf5 $5 Ne4
28. Bxe7 Qxe7 29. Nxe4 Bxf5 30. Qxf5 dxe4 31. Rxe4 Qd8 32. Qg4+ Kf8 33. Qf4 $1
$18) 27... Kf8 28. Bxf6 Bxf6 29. Nh5 Bg5 30. Qe5 Bd2 31. Re2 Qg5 32. Qh8+ Ke7
33. Qxa8 Bc3 34. Qa7 Kd7 35. Qc5 Qxh5 36. f3 Ba1 37. Qxb4 Qh4 38. Kh1 Bxd4 39.
Re4 $16 {Bobras,P (2558)-Socko,B (2660)/Ustron/2007/}) 26. Nxe4 dxe4 27. Bxe7
Qxe7 28. Rxe4 (28. Bxe4 Kf8 29. Qh5 $1 Qe6 30. Qc5+ $16) 28... Bxe4 29. Bxe4
Kf8 30. Bxa8 Nxa2 31. Qc8+ Kg7 32. Qxa6 $16 {Dolgov,I (2507)-Ivanov,V (2359)/
email/2007/}) 20. Bxe4 $1 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 Be7 $1 $146 (21... Qc8 22. Rh4 $40) 22.
Rh4 Nf8 23. dxe5 Qxd1+ 24. Rxd1 N6d7 25. Bxe7 Rxe7 26. Rg4+ Kh8 27. f4 Nb6 28.
Kh2 $14 {Oudheusden,W (2267)-Bokar,J (2577)/email/2011/ Black has managed to
transpose into an endgame, but he must still defend with extra care. In the
end he drew the game.}) 16. d5 Rc8 $5 17. c4 c6 18. Bg5 (18. Be3 Nb6 19. Qe2 (
19. Rb1 Qc7 20. Bd3 cxd5 21. cxd5 Nbxd5 22. exd5 e4 23. Rc1 Qd7 $11 {Karjakin,
S (2732)-Kamsky,G (2726)/Baku/2008/}) 19... cxd5 20. cxd5 Nbxd5 $1 21. exd5
Nxd5 $44) (18. Bd2 a5 19. Be3 Qc7 (19... Ba6 20. Bd3 bxc4 21. Bxc4 Bxc4 22.
bxc4 cxd5 23. cxd5 Nc5 {leads to a position, which seems slightly better for
White. However, in a few mail games he made no headway, e.g.} 24. Nd2 Nd3 25.
Rf1 h5 26. Rb1 Nf4 27. Ne2 Bh6 28. Nxf4 Bxf4 29. Bxf4 exf4 30. f3 Nd7 31. Qa4
Ne5 32. Nb3 Rc2 33. Rbc1 {1/2, Fenwick,J (2418)-Andriuschenko,N (2474)/email/
2010/}) 20. Bd3 b4 $5 21. a3 bxa3 22. Rxa3 cxd5 23. cxd5 Bxd5 24. exd5 e4 {
Sjugirov,S (2602)-Navara,D (2731)/GRE-chT Peristeri/2010/} 25. Ba6 Ra8 26. Bb5
exf3 27. Qxf3 Qc3 $132) 18... Qc7 (18... h6 19. Be3 Nb6 20. Rb1 Qc7 (20... cxd5
21. cxd5 Nbxd5 22. exd5 Nxd5 23. Bd2 f5 24. Nxf5 gxf5 25. Bxf5 $36 {[%csl Rg8]
Kasimdzhanov,R (2668)-Short,N (2701)/Skanderborg/2003}) 21. dxc6 $5 Bxc6 22.
cxb5 axb5 23. Qd2 Kh7 24. Rbc1 Nbd7 25. Red1 Bf8 26. b4 {requires active
defence with} Nb6 27. Bb3 Nc4 $5 $132 {Landa,K (2613)-Kamsky,G (2729)/EU Cup
Kallithea/2008/ See the notes to this game in CBM 127 by Marin.}) 19. Rc1 bxc4
(19... Qb8 20. Qd2 Nb6 21. Bd3 cxd5 22. cxd5 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Rc8 24. Rb1 $5 Qc7 {
Negi,P (2639)-Zherebukh,Y (2623)/Richardson/2013/} 25. Be3 $14) 20. bxc4 Nc5
21. Nd2 ({White turns his attention to the queenside.} 21. Qd2 {is harmless:}
Rb8 22. Bh6 Bc8 23. Nh4 Qe7 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. Qg5 Kh8 26. Nf3 Bd7 27. Rb1 cxd5
28. cxd5 Rec8 $15 {Frolyanov,D (2587)-Tomashevsky,E (2708)/Irkutsk/2010/})
21... a5 22. Ne2 Ba6 23. Nc3 {Kurnosov,I (2633)-Johannessen,L (2496)/Helsingor/
2011/} cxd5 $11 (23... h6 $5)) 15... c5 16. d5 c4 17. Bg5 h6 ({Weaker is} 17...
Rb8 $143 18. Qd2 Bc8 (18... Nc5 {was last played more than 20 years ago,
Black's results after} 19. axb5 axb5 20. Ra3 ({or} 20. Nh2 $14 {were dismal.}))
19. axb5 axb5 20. Ra7 (20. b4 $5 cxb3 21. Bxb3 $14) 20... Nc5 21. Rea1 Bg7 22.
Be3 Re7 $2 (22... Qb6 23. Qe2 $14 {[%cal Yf3d2,Yb2b4]}) (22... Nfd7 {is similar
}) 23. Bxc5 $1 dxc5 24. Rxe7 Qxe7 25. Qg5 {[%csl Re5] Ponomariov,R (2723)
-Baramidze,D (2616)/Dortmund/2014/}) 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2 h5 ({Loosens the pawn
structure, but Black has even more problems on the kingside after} 19... Kh7 {
[%csl Rf7]} 20. Nh2 Bg7 21. Rf1 $1 h5 (21... Qc7 {and}) (21... Qe7 {are
subsequent tries, but here Black always has to reckon with the Ng4 sortie.})
22. f3 (22. Nf3 $5) 22... Qe7 23. Bg5 Qf8 24. f4 $1 exf4 25. Rxf4 Nfd7 26. Raf1
Ne5 27. Nxh5 $1 gxh5 28. Qe2 Qh8 29. Rh4 Kg6 30. Bd1 $18 {[%csl Rg6] Spassky,B
(2610)-Portisch,L (2625)/Geneve cm/1977/}) 20. Bxc5 $5 {This swap sparked the
recent interest in 15.a4.} ({The defence holds strong after} 20. Bg5 Be7 21.
Bh6 (21. Ra3 Nfd7 ({Solid, but interesting is also the ambitious} 21... Rb8 22.
Kh1 Nh7 $5 23. Be3 Bf6 24. Rea1 Bg7 25. Qe2 Bc8 26. Nf1 f5 $5 27. axb5 axb5 28.
exf5 gxf5 29. Ng3 Nd3 30. Nxh5 f4 31. Nxg7 Kxg7 $44 {Inarkiev,E (2684)-Kamsky,
G (2726)/Baku 2008/ See the notes to this game in CBM 124 by Marin.}) 22. Be3 (
22. Rea1 Bxg5 23. Nxg5 Qf6 24. Rf1 Qf4 25. Qxf4 exf4 26. Ne2 Nxa4 27. Bxa4 bxa4
28. Rxa4 Bxd5 29. exd5 Rxe2 30. Rxc4 Rxb2 31. Rxf4 Rf8 $11 {Inarkiev,E (2669)
-Alekseev,E (2715)/Elista/2008/}) 22... Qc7 (22... Bf6 23. Rea1 Qc7 24. Qe2 Nb6
25. axb5 axb5 26. Nd2 Rxa3 27. Rxa3 Bc8 $11 {Martin Gonzalez,A (2418)
-Giorgadze,G/Benasque/1999/}) 23. Rea1 Nb6 24. axb5 axb5 25. Rxa8 Rxa8 26.
Rxa8+ Nxa8 27. Bxc5 Qxc5 28. Qh6 Nc7 29. Ng5 Bxg5 30. Qxg5 Kf8 31. Bd1 Ne8 32.
Bxh5 gxh5 33. Nf5 Qc7 34. Qxh5 Kg8 35. Qg5+ $11 {Sanikidze,T (2555)-Baramidze,
D (2608)/Nuremberg/2013/}) 21... Nfd7 22. Qe3 (22. Rf1 Bf8 23. Bg5 Be7 24. Be3
Bf6 25. Ng5 Qe7 26. Rae1 Rf8 27. Kh1 $6 bxa4 28. h4 a5 29. f4 exf4 30. Bxf4 Ne5
$17 {Azarov,S (2648)-Navara,D (2705)/CZE-chT/2012/}) 22... Bf8 23. Ra3 Bxh6 24.
Qxh6 Qf6 25. Rea1 Qf4 26. Ng5 Qf6 (26... Nf8 27. Nxh5 gxh5 28. g3 Qd2 29. Qf6
$11) 27. Nf3 {1/2, Jaracz,P (2558)-Navara,D (2705)/CZE-chT/2012/}) (20. Ng5 Bg7
21. axb5 axb5 22. Rxa8 Bxa8 23. Ra1 Bb7 24. Qd1 Qc7 25. Ra7 Ra8 26. Rxa8+ Bxa8
27. Qa1 Bb7 28. Nf1 Bc8 29. Nd2 Bd7 30. Qa8+ Ne8 31. Ngf3 Bf6 32. Qa3 Nb7 33.
Qa7 Bd8 $11 {Friedel,J (2484)-Kamsky,G (2726)/Las Vegas/2008/}) 20... dxc5 {
[%mdl 32] Mihai Marin has already written about the strategic specifics of
this position., I'll try to sum it up briefly. It seems that White with his
poor bishop (he has just exchanged the better one!) can't fight for an
advantage, moreover Black controls the dark squares. However, he has a problem
how to coordinate his forces with two minor pieces striving for the blockading
d6-square. Occupying it with a knight leaves c5 vulnerable, while the bishop
could be necessary on the kingside. On the queenside Black for the time being
is only passively holding the balance and must always be prepared for an
invasion via the a-file. White's active options include gradual improvement of
his bishop, as well as well-timed pawn advances to open up Black's fortress.
In the quoted practical examples we will see him pushing b3 and even g4; our
game will feature central expansion (f4 on move 34). All in all White has the
initiative and Black must tread with care; our game simply confirms this
evaluation.} 21. Qe3 {Non-committal, other attempts are:} (21. Reb1 Nd7 (21...
Qc7 $142 $5 {, but even here Black must reckon with} 22. b3 cxb3 23. Bxb3 $13 {
/+/=}) 22. b3 Nb6 $2 (22... cxb3 $8) 23. Qe2 cxb3 24. Bxb3 c4 (24... b4 25. a5
Nd7 26. Ba4 $36) 25. Bd1 Bc8 26. axb5 a5 27. Nd2 Qc7 28. Ngf1 Bd7 29. Ne3 Rec8
30. Qf3 a4 31. Be2 $18 {[%csl Rc4] Adams,M (2743)-Baramidze,D (2616)/Dortmund/
2014/}) (21. Nf1 Re7 $5 (21... Qc7 22. Qe3 Red8 23. Qg5 Bg7 24. Qh4 Ne8 25. g4
$5 Nf6 26. Kg2 Rab8 27. Red1 Rd6 28. Ne3 Re8 29. Rdb1 Bc8 30. Qg3 Qb8 31. g5
Nd7 32. Bd1 Nb6 33. axb5 axb5 34. Ra5 Bd7 35. Rba1 Nc8 36. Ra8 Qc7 37. Nh4 Bf8
38. Bxh5 $1 gxh5 39. Nef5 $44 {->, Lucki,S (2338)-Bobel,P (2217)/email /2011/})
(21... Nd7 22. Reb1 Nb6 23. Qe3 Nc8 24. g4 hxg4 25. hxg4 Nd6 26. Ng3 Qf6 27.
Ne2 Bc8 28. g5 Qh8 29. axb5 Nxb5 30. Ba4 Bd7 31. Nd2 $16 {Van Kampen,R (2603)
-Amin,B (2657)/Reykjavik/2014/ In the first example White broke through on the
kingside, in the second on the opposite flank.}) 22. Qe3 Qc7 23. N1d2 Rb8 24.
axb5 axb5 25. b3 cxb3 26. Nxb3 c4 27. Nc5 Ree8 $132 {Naiditsch,A (2689)
-Svidler,P (2754)/Khanty-Mansiysk WCup/2009/}) (21. Bd1 Rb8 (21... Re7 22. Be2
Ne8 23. Qe3 Rc8 24. axb5 axb5 25. Ra7 Nd6 26. Rea1 Re8 27. Nf1 Qf6 28. N1d2 Qh8
29. Ng5 Bh6 30. Qg3 Qf6 31. h4 Rb8 32. b3 cxb3 33. Nxb3 Rec8 34. c4 $1 bxc4 35.
Na5 $36 {Volokitin,A (2684)-Harikrishna,P (2679)/Dagomys/2008/}) 22. Qe3 Kh7
23. Nf1 Qc7 24. Ng5+ Kg8 25. Be2 Bc8 26. Ra2 Qb6 27. Nf3 Kh7 28. Ng5+ Kg8 29.
axb5 axb5 30. Nd2 Bh6 31. Qg3 Nh7 32. Ndf3 Qf6 33. h4 $14 {Grischuk,A (2748)
-Kamsky,G (2720)/Nalchik/2009/ Although Black has defended the entry points,
he remains passive and can only react to White's attempts. In the game his
patience was rewarded after Grischuk misplayed a promising piece sacrifice 
(Bxh5). For more details see the notes to this exciting game in CBM 130 by
Marin.}) 21... Nd7 (21... Rb8 22. Nf1 Bc8 $6 {[%cal Ga1a8]} 23. N1d2 Bd7 24.
axb5 axb5 25. Ra6 Rb6 26. Ra7 Qb8 27. Rea1 Qd6 28. Bd1 Bg7 29. Be2 {[%cal
Yb2b3,Re2c4]} Reb8 30. Bxc4 $1 $16 {/+-, Giri,A (2752)-Karjakin,S (2771)/
Norway blitz/2014/}) ({Possibly a more constructive setup is} 21... Qc7 22.
Reb1 Rec8 {[%cal Yf6e8]} (22... Bd6 23. Nf5)) 22. Nf1 Qf6 23. Ra2 (23. N1d2 $5
$14) 23... Kh7 24. Ng5+ Kg8 25. Rea1 Qf4 $2 {[%mdl 4096] In my opinion the
queen swap favours White, as in the resulting endgame Black will have even
fewer chances for effective counterplay.} (25... Bh6 26. h4 b4 $5 {deserves
attention, as after} 27. Bd1 a5 28. Be2 Ba6 29. Nd2 Qf4 $1 $11 {is already
fully justified.}) 26. g3 Qxe3 27. Nxe3 Bd6 28. h4 $1 {[%cal Yc2d1,Yd1f3,Yf3g2,
Yg2h3] This opens future vistas for the bishop.} Rab8 ({Concedes the a-file,
as remaining with a passive Ra8 after} 28... Kg7 29. Bd1 {[%cal Ye3c2,Yc2a3]
forces Black to reckon with a threat against the Pb5.}) 29. Kg2 Nf6 30. axb5
axb5 31. Ra7 Re7 ({Now it's too late for} 31... Ra8 $2 32. Nxf7 $1 $18) 32.
R1a5 Bc8 33. Rxe7 Bxe7 34. f4 $1 Bd6 (34... Bd8 35. Ra7 Nd7 36. f5 Bb6 37. Ra1
$36 {and after leaving the 7th, White proceeds to pile up the pressure on the
kingside.}) 35. Ra7 (35. f5 $5 gxf5 36. Ra7 $16) 35... Nd7 (35... exf4 36. Rxf7
(36. Nxf7 fxe3 37. Nxd6 Bg4 $132 38. e5 e2 39. exf6 (39. Kf2 Rf8 $1) 39... e1=Q
40. Rg7+ Kf8 41. Rf7+ $11) 36... Nh7 $1 (36... fxe3 37. Rxf6 e2 38. Rxg6+ Kf8
39. Kf2 Bxg3+ 40. Kxe2 $16) 37. gxf4 (37. Nf5 Bxf5 38. Rxh7 Bg4 $132) 37...
Nxg5 38. Rf6 Bxf4 39. Rxf4 Nf7 40. Rf6 Ne5 41. Kg3 $14) 36. f5 Rb7 37. Rxb7 $6
(37. Ra8 $142 $1 Rb8 38. Ra1 $36 {as White's rook is more active than its
counterpart.}) 37... Bxb7 38. g4 Nf6 (38... hxg4 39. Nxg4 Kg7 40. fxg6 Kxg6 (
40... fxg6 41. Ne6+ Kh7 42. Kg3 Bc8 43. Bd1 Nb6 44. Nf6+ Kh6 45. Nd8 $5 $16 {
[%cal Yd8c6,Yd1g4]}) 41. Nh6 $1 (41. Ne3 $6 Bc8 42. Nf5 Bf8 $11) 41... f6 42.
Nf5 fxg5 43. Nxd6 Ba6 44. Kg3 $16) 39. Bd1 hxg4 40. Nxg4 Nxg4 (40... Kg7 41.
fxg6 Nxg4 42. Bxg4 fxg6 43. Bd7 Ba6 44. Be8 b4 45. Kf3 $16) 41. Bxg4 Kg7 42. h5
{[%cal Rh5h6] White doesn't want to open it up too much for the opponent's
bishops, but probably a stronger try was} (42. fxg6 $1 fxg6 (42... Kxg6 43. Bd7
{[%cal Rd7b5,Rd7e8]}) 43. Bd7 {- 40...Kg7.}) 42... gxh5 (42... gxf5 $2 43. h6+
$1 $18) 43. Bxh5 f6 44. Ne6+ Kg8 45. Be8 b4 (45... Ba6 46. Kf3 b4 47. Bd7 {
only transposes to 45...b4.}) 46. Bd7 $5 (46. Bb5 Bc8 $1 47. Bxc4 Bxe6 48. fxe6
bxc3 49. bxc3 Kf8 $11 {[%csl Rc4,Gd6] and the blockade holds - Black must just
prevent the penetration Kc6.}) 46... Ba6 47. Kf3 Kf7 48. Kg4 Ke7 49. Ba4 Bc8 $2
{Long-term pressure provokes mistakes.} ({After} 49... Kf7 {/\} 50. Kh5 Bc8 $14
{Black can fight on.}) 50. Ng7 $1 $18 {[%csl Rd6,Rf6][%cal Yg7e8] This
manoeuvre breaks down the fortress.} Bc7 51. Ne8 Ba5 {Black desperately seeks
counterplay.} (51... Bb8 52. Kh5 {[%cal Rh5g6]} Kf7 53. d6 $18) 52. d6+ Kf7 53.
Nc7 (53. d7 Ba6 54. Kh5 Bd8 55. Nd6+ Ke7 56. Nc8+ Kf7 57. Bc6 $18 {[%cal Rc6d5,
Rc8a7,Ra7c6]}) 53... Bb7 54. Bb5 bxc3 (54... Bxe4 55. Bxc4+ Kf8 56. Ne6+ Ke8
57. Bb5+ Kf7 58. Nxc5 $18 {is similar}) 55. Bxc4+ Kf8 56. bxc3 Bxe4 (56... Bxc3
57. Ne6+ Ke8 58. Bb5+ Kf7 59. Nd8+ $18) 57. Ne6+ Ke8 58. Bb5+ Kf7 59. Nxc5 Bc2
60. Nb7 Bd1+ 61. Kg3 Bb6 62. c4 Bc2 (62... Be2 63. c5 Bxb5 64. cxb6 Ke8 65. Nc5
$18) 63. Bd7 $5 ({White avoids} 63. c5 Bxc5 64. Nxc5 Bxf5 65. Nb7 $18 {with
the possibly necessity of mating with B+N.}) 63... Be4 64. c5 (64. c5 Bxb7 65.
cxb6 Kf8 66. Kf2 (66. Bc8 $18) 66... Kf7 67. Ke3 $18 {[%cal Re3d3,Rd3c5,Rd7c6]}
) 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 24th"]
[Site "Kallithea"]
[Date "2008.10.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Pavasovic, Dusko"]
[Black "Baramidze, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2597"]
[BlackElo "2557"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2008.10.17"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 127"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Ptuj Veplas Velenje"]
[BlackTeam "Hohenems"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SLO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AUT"]

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 {Breyer,G-Esser,J Budapest 1917 1-0 Gyula Breyer (1893-1921)
died very young, but he definitely deserves to be remembered. His game against
Esser (the deep 14.Kf1!!? prevents 22...Bh4 with check!) was brilliant and his
system in the Ruy Lopez was way ahead of his times and remains very much alive
even today.} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 {This standard Ruy
Lopez manoeuvre is White's main option, but also the attempt to force
queenside concessions with} (13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 {has attracted some attention
from the elite:} c6 15. b3 (15. Nf1 d5 $1 {is a fully acceptable version of
the idea from the game, but}) (15. Rb1 $5 {deserves attention:} Qc7 16. Qc2 g6
(16... c5 17. axb5 axb5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Rxe5 20. Bxb5 d5 $44 {Marin})
17. axb5 axb5 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. Nb3 Reb8 20. c4 bxc4 21. Bxc4 Ba6 22. Nbd2 Nc5
23. Bxa6 Rxa6 24. Nc4 Nfd7 25. Rd1 Ne6 26. Be3 $14 {Topalov,V (2813)
-Mamedyarov,S (2728)/Hoogeveen/2006/}) 15... g6 (15... Qc7 16. Bb2 d5 $5 17.
dxe5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Qxe5 19. Nf3 Qf4 20. exd5 Nxd5 21. c4 Nb4 22. Be5 Qh6 23.
Be4 Rad8 24. Qb1 bxc4 25. bxc4 Ba8 26. Bc3 c5 $11 {Svidler,P (2750)-Carlsen,M 
(2698)/Moscow/2006/}) 16. Qc2 Qc7 17. Ba3 Nh5 $5 $146 ({An interesting novelty,
Black first activates his Nf6 before committing his Bf8. The usual reaction was
} 17... Bg7) 18. Bf1 Nf4 19. Rad1 Ne6 20. Bb2 Bg7 21. b4 bxa4 22. dxe5 Nxe5 23.
Nxe5 dxe5 24. Nc4 c5 25. Qxa4 Bc6 26. Qa2 Bf8 $132 {Jakovenko,D (2709)-Svidler,
P (2738)/Moscow RUS-ch plof/2008/}) 13... d5 $5 {[%mdl 32] As we have already
seen above, this is a typical strategic idea and it's certainly no novelty.
However, the central break has been under a cloud for a while, so it would be
interesting to know how Baramidze meant to improve its reputation. The main
alternative, which is played far more often, is} (13... Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. b3 (
{This move has superseded the older} 15. a4 c5 16. d5 c4 $11 {, where Black
seems to be doing fine.}) {However, solid is} 15... Bg7 ({and now:} 15... a5 {
was introduced last year by Kamsky, but never really caught on mainly due to}
16. Bd2 $5 (16. a4 b4 17. cxb4 axb4 18. Bb2 Bh6 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Bd3 Nc5 $1
21. Bb5 Qxd1 22. Raxd1 c6 23. Bc4 Nfd7 24. Re2 Bf4 25. Rc2 Re7 26. Ne2 Bh6 27.
Ng3 Bf4 28. Bc1 Ba6 29. Bxf4 exf4 30. Ne2 Bxc4 31. Rxc4 Nxb3 32. Rxb4 Nbc5 $11
{Shirov,A (2739)-Kamsky,G (2714)/WCup Khanty-Mansiysk/2007/}) 16... Rb8 17. Bd3
b4 18. Qc2 d5 19. cxb4 dxe4 20. Nxe4 Bxb4 21. Bxb4 Bxe4 22. Bxa5 Bxd3 23. Qxd3
e4 24. Qc4 exf3 25. Bxc7 $14 {/+/-,Leko,P (2753)-Carlsen,M (2733)/Wijk aan Zee/
2008/}) (15... d5 $6 {is even more dangerous:} 16. Bg5 $1 h6 17. Bh4 g5 18.
Nxg5 hxg5 19. Bxg5 exd4 20. e5 $1 Rxe5 21. Rxe5 Nxe5 22. cxd4 Nc6 23. Qd3 Be7 (
23... Nb4 24. Qf3 Be7 25. Bf5 $1 $16 {Navara} Nc6 26. Re1 Nxd4 27. Qe3 Ne4 28.
Bxe7 Qxe7 29. Qxd4 Re8 (29... c5 30. Qd1 $40) 30. b4 Qg5 31. Qa7 Bc6 32. Qxc7
Qf6 33. Re3 Nxg3 34. Rxg3+ Kh8 35. Bd7 Bxd7 36. Qxd7 Rg8 37. Rxg8+ Kxg8 38.
Qxd5 $18 {Cote,J (2636)-Dubuc,S (2464)/corr/2006/}) 24. Bh6 $1 Bf8 (24... Nb4
25. Qf5 Kh8 26. Nh5 $18) (24... Bc8 $5 25. Re1 $40) 25. Qe3 Nh7 (25... Ne4 26.
Nxe4 dxe4 27. Qxe4 Bxh6 28. Qh7+ Kf8 29. Qxh6+ Ke7 30. Re1+ {1-0,Balogh,C 
(2616)-Volke,K (2454)/ECC Kallithea/2008/}) 26. Qf4 Bc8 27. Rc1 Qd6 28. Bxh7+
Kxh7 29. Rxc6 Qxc6 30. Bxf8 $16 {[%csl Rh7] ע,Bezemer,A (2364)-Pruijssers,R 
(2408)/Hilversum/2008/}) 16. d5 {and now the most topical option is} Rc8 $5 (
16... Qe7 17. c4 c6 18. Be3 Rec8 19. Rc1 a5 20. Qd2 bxc4 21. bxc4 cxd5 22. cxd5
Nc5 23. Bd3 $1 h5 24. Bxc5 dxc5 25. Qg5 Rc7 26. Nf1 $16 {Leko,P (2749)-Short,N
(2674)/Wijk aan Zee/2005/ and}) (16... Nb6 17. Rb1 $1 c6 18. c4 Qc7 19. Bd3
Nfd7 20. Be3 Nc5 21. Bf1 bxc4 22. bxc4 Nbd7 23. Qd2 Rab8 24. Bh6 Bxh6 25. Qxh6
Nf8 26. h4 cxd5 27. cxd5 Bc8 28. Rxb8 Qxb8 29. h5 Qc7 30. Nd2 $1 Bd7 31. Nc4
$36 {Leko,P (2743)-Beliavsky,A (2650)/Bled olm/2002/ These two impressive
games by Leko even forced Paul Van der Sterren to write a rather premeture
obituary for the Breyer system in a NIC Yearbook!}) {Perhaps the best way to
fight for an edge is} 17. Bg5 (17. Be3 c6 18. c4 Nb6 19. Rb1 Qc7 20. Bd3 (20.
dxc6 Bxc6 21. Bd3 bxc4 22. bxc4 Na4 23. Qc2 Nc5 24. Nd2 Nfd7 25. Bf1 Ne6 26.
Ne2 Ndc5 27. Nc3 Nd4 $15 {Kamsky,G (2726)-Harikrishna,P (2679)/RUS-chT Dagomys/
2008/}) 20... cxd5 21. cxd5 Nbxd5 $1 22. exd5 e4 23. Rc1 Qd7 24. Rxc8 Qxc8 25.
Nxe4 Nxe4 26. Bxe4 Rxe4 27. Qd3 Re7 28. Bf4 Rxe1+ 29. Nxe1 Qa8 30. Nc2 $1 Bxd5
31. Ne3 $11 {Karjakin,S (2732)-Kamsky,G (2726)/Baku/2008/}) (17. Bd3 c6 18. c4
Nc5 19. Bf1 bxc4 20. bxc4 a5 21. Bg5 h6 22. Bd2 Ba6 23. Rb1 h5 24. Bg5 Qc7 25.
Nd2 a4 26. Qf3 Nh7 27. Be3 Qa5 28. Red1 Bf6 $132 {Karjakin,S (2730)-Svidler,P 
(2727)/ECC Kallithea/2008/}) (17. Bd2 c6 18. c4 a5 19. Be3 Nc5 20. a3 bxc4 21.
bxc4 Nfd7 22. Rb1 Ba6 23. Nd2 Rf8 24. Qf3 Qh4 25. Qg4 Qxg4 26. hxg4 Bf6 27. Ne2
cxd5 28. exd5 Bd8 29. g5 Nb6 $15 {Karjakin,S (2730)-Harikrishna,P (2659)/
ESP-chT Motril/2008/}) 17... c6 18. c4 h6 19. Be3 Nb6 20. Rb1 Qc7 (20... cxd5
21. cxd5 Nbxd5 22. exd5 Nxd5 23. Bd2 f5 24. Nxf5 gxf5 25. Bxf5 Rb8 26. Rc1 $14
{Kasimdzhanov,R (2668)-Short,N (2701)/Skanderborg/2003/}) 21. dxc6 Bxc6 22.
cxb5 $5 (22. Nd2 Nbd7 23. Rc1 Qa5 24. Bb1 Nc5 25. Ne2 Ncxe4 26. cxb5 Nxd2 27.
Rxc6 Nxb1 28. Qxb1 d5 $15 {|^[+],Gashimov,V (2717)-Harikrishna,P (2668)/
ESP-chT Sabadell/2008/}) 22... axb5 23. Qd2 Kh7 24. Rbc1 Nbd7 25. Red1 Bf8 26.
b4 Nb6 27. Bb3 Nc4 28. Bxc4 bxc4 29. Rxc4 Qb7 30. Rdc1 Nxe4 31. Nxe4 Bxe4 32.
Rxc8 Rxc8 33. Rxc8 Qxc8 34. b5 Qb7 35. a4 Bxf3 36. gxf3 Qxf3 37. b6 d5 $13 {
Landa,K (2613)-Kamsky,G (2729)/ECC Kallithea/2008/ and Black's <=> came barely
in time.}) 14. exd5 {Leads to a symmetrical position.} ({Theoretically
speaking, the most testing continuation is} 14. Nxe5 $5 {Black plays mostly}
Nxe5 ({Rare, but deserving attention is} 14... dxe4 $5 15. Bg5 (15. Bb3 Rf8 16.
Ng3 Bd6 17. Bf4 Qe8 $14 {/= and}) (15. Ng3 Bd6 16. Ng4 Bxg3 17. fxg3 $13 {
are more ambitious tries, which require further practical tests.}) 15... Nxe5
16. dxe5 Nd7 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Rxe4 Nxe5 20. Qe2 f5 21. Re3 f4
22. Re4 Qg5 23. Nh2 Re7 24. Re1 Rae8 25. Nf3 Nxf3+ 26. Qxf3 Rxe4 27. Rxe4 Rxe4
28. Qxe4 h6 29. Qe8+ {1/2,Clowes,M (2335)-Zimpel,K/corr/2000/}) (14... Nxe4 $2
15. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 16. Rxe4 $16 {/\} dxe4 $2 17. Bb3+ Kf8 (17... Kf6 18. Qg4 $18)
(17... Kg6 18. Qg4+ Bg5 19. Ng3 $18) 18. Qh5 Ne5 19. dxe5 Bd5 20. e6 $18) 15.
dxe5 Nxe4 16. f3 Nc5 $142 (16... Ng5 17. Ng3 f6 18. Bxg5 fxg5 19. Qb1 Bc5+ 20.
Kh2 h6 21. Qd1 Re6 22. Nf5 Qf8 (22... h5 23. Qd2 Bf8 24. f4 gxf4 25. Qxf4 c5
26. Re3 Qc7 27. Rf1 Rae8 28. Nd6 $1 $18 {Lobron,E (2505)-Portisch,L (2635)/
Wijk aan Zee/1985/}) 23. Qd3 g6 24. Nd4 Bxd4 25. cxd4 c5 26. dxc5 Qxc5 27. Bb3
Kg7 28. Rac1 Qb6 29. Qd2 Rae8 30. f4 gxf4 31. Qxf4 Rf8 32. Qg3 $36 {[%csl Rd5,
Rg6,Rh6] ׻, Pd5, Chandler,M (2585)-Spassky,B (2580)/Bundesliga 8485/1985/})
17. b4 Nd7 (17... Ne6 18. f4 $36) 18. f4 c5 19. Qd3 g6 $142 $5 (19... Nf8 20.
bxc5 Bxc5+ 21. Be3 Rc8 22. Bd4 b4 23. Rab1 Qh4 24. Ne3 Qxf4 25. Bxc5 Rxc5 26.
Qd4 Qxd4 27. cxd4 Rc3 (27... Rc7 28. Rxb4 Ne6 29. Rd1 h5 30. Bb3 Rd8 31. Nf5 g6
32. Nd6 Bc6 33. Rb6 a5 34. Rd2 a4 35. Bd1 $16 {Erofeev,S-Tunev,E/corr/1994/})
28. Rxb4 Bc6 29. Ba4 Rd8 30. Nf5 $14 {Voss,M (2490)-Terteryants,M (2495)/corr/
1994/ White has a pleasant advantage, although with careful defence Black
managed to hold the game.}) 20. Bd2 Rc8 $13 {Black keeps the N active and this
gives him more chances for <=>.} 21. a4 Qb6 22. Kh2 cxb4 23. cxb4 Bxb4 $1 24.
Bxb4 Qf2 25. e6 (25. Bd2 Rxc2 $1 {/\} 26. Qxc2 d4 $19) 25... fxe6 26. Rac1
Qxf4+ {1/2,Salzmann,S (2318)-Zelovic,V (2389)/corr/2006/} 27. Qg3 Qxb4 28. Bxg6
$11) (14. Ng3 {is too tame:} Nxe4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Bc5 18.
Qxd8 Raxd8 {1/2,Tal,M (2620)-Spassky,B (2605)/Niksic/1983/}) ({More
interesting is} 14. dxe5 Nxe4 15. Ng3 $5 {, as after} Bc5 (15... Nxg3 $142 $5
16. fxg3 Nc5 $13) 16. Nxe4 dxe4 {White has} 17. Bg5 $1 (17. Bxe4 Bxe4 18. Rxe4
Nxe5 $11) (17. Ng5 Nxe5 18. Qh5 h6 19. Nxe4 Nd3 20. Bxd3 Qxd3 21. Qxc5 Rxe4 $11
{De Firmian,N (2520)-Smejkal,J (2560)/Vrsac/1983/}) 17... f6 18. Bb3+ Kh8 19.
exf6 Nxf6 (19... gxf6 $2 20. Qxd7 $16) 20. Nd4 Bd5 (20... Qd6 $5) 21. Bxf6 gxf6
22. Qh5 Re5 23. Qh4 Bxd4 24. cxd4 Re6 25. Rac1 c6 26. Qg4 $14 {[%csl Gg1,Rh8]
De Firmian,N (2550)-Lapshun,Y (2461)/USA-ch San Diego/2004/ White has a
long-term edge due to his less vulnerable K.}) 14... exd4 15. Nxd4 Nxd5 (15...
Bxd5 $5 {seems roughly equivalent:} 16. Bg5 Bf8 17. Ne3 Bb7 18. Ng4 Rxe1+ 19.
Qxe1 c5 20. Nf5 Qb6 21. Nxf6+ {1/2,Jansa,V (2445)-Abramovic,B (2480)/Bor/1983/}
) 16. Nf5 (16. Ne3 {is harmless:} Nxe3 17. Bxe3 Bf8 (17... g6 18. Nb3 c5 19.
Na5 $1 $14 {Chevelevitch,E (2456)-Baramidze,D (2582)/GER-ch Bad Woerishofen/
2008/}) (17... Bf6 $11) 18. Bf4 Rxe1+ 19. Qxe1 Nb6 {1/2,Tal,M (2620)-Psakhis,L
(2535)/Lvov/1984/}) 16... Bf6 (16... N7f6 $6 17. Bg5 Bf8 18. Qf3 Rxe1 19. Rxe1
Rb8 20. Qg3 g6 21. Nh6+ Kg7 22. Qh4 Qd7 23. Ne3 Qc6 24. Nef5+ gxf5 25. Qg3 Nh5
26. Bf6+ Kxf6 27. Ng8# {Sjugirov,S (2491)-Tjurin,A (2337)/Moscow/2008/}) 17.
Rxe8+ (17. N1e3 Ne5 18. Nxd5 Qxd5 19. Qxd5 Bxd5 20. Bf4 Nc4 21. Ne3 {1/2,
Bouaziz,S (2390)-Spassky,B (2605)/Reggio Emilia/1983/}) 17... Qxe8 18. N1e3
$146 {A new move, which however doesn't substantially change the character of
the position.} (18. N1g3 g6 19. Nh6+ Kh8 20. Ng4 Bg7 21. Bh6 Bxh6 22. Nxh6 Kg7
(22... f5 $5) 23. Qd2 N7f6 24. Re1 Qc6 25. Qg5 Re8 26. Nhf5+ Kh8 27. Rxe8+ Qxe8
28. Ne3 Qe6 29. Bb3 c5 $11 {Luther,T (2540)-Michalczak,T (2364)/Boeblingen/
2004/}) 18... Nxe3 (18... Nf4 19. Qg4 Ne6 $11) (18... Rd8 $5 19. Nxd5 Bxd5 $11
{/\} 20. Qxd5 $6 Qe1+ 21. Kh2 Qxf2 22. Qd1 Nf8 23. Nd4 c5 $15) 19. Bxe3 Ne5 20.
Bd4 Rd8 {A natural move, but Black had other playable options.} (20... Qc6 21.
f3 Qe6 22. Qd2 {/\Re1} Nc4 23. Qf4 Bxd4+ 24. Nxd4 (24. Qxd4 Qb6 $11) 24... Qe3+
25. Qxe3 Nxe3 $11) (20... g6 $5 21. Ng3 Bg7 22. Ne4 Rd8 23. Nc5 Bd5 $11 {/\}
24. Nxa6 $6 Bxg2 $1 25. Kxg2 Qc6+ $36) 21. Qf1 $5 g6 22. Ng3 (22. f4 Nd7 23.
Re1 Qf8 $11 {leads nowhere}) 22... Qf8 ({A human player instinctively avoids
the computer suggestion} 22... Qe7 $1 23. Re1 (23. a4 c5 24. Bxe5 Bxe5 {/\} 25.
axb5 axb5 26. Qxb5 $2 Bxg3 27. fxg3 Rd2 $19) 23... c5 $11 {/\} 24. Bxe5 Bxe5
25. f4 Qh4) 23. a4 Bd5 $2 {This P-sacrifice is hard to understand.} (23... c5
$5 24. Bxe5 Bxe5 25. axb5 Bxg3 (25... axb5 26. Qxb5 $14) 26. bxa6 Bxa6 (26...
Ba8 27. fxg3 Rd2 28. Bd1 $1 Qe8 29. Bf3 Qe3+ 30. Kh1 Rf2 31. Bxa8 Rxf1+ 32.
Rxf1 $16) 27. Rxa6 Rd2 28. fxg3 Rxc2 $44) (23... b4 24. Qe1 Qd6 25. Rd1 $14)
24. axb5 axb5 25. Qxb5 Bc4 (25... c6 26. Qe2 $16) 26. Qc5 $6 (26. Qb7 $1 {/\}
c5 27. Ne4 cxd4 28. Nxf6+ Kg7 29. Qc7 Kxf6 30. f4 $16) 26... Qxc5 27. Bxc5 Bd3
(27... Nd3 28. Ne4 $16) 28. Bxd3 (28. Ne4 Bxe4 $5 29. Bxe4 Nc4 $132) 28... Nxd3
29. Ba3 Nxf2 $2 {[%mdl 8192] A tempting tactical blow, but although Black wins
the piece back, he lands in a lost _|_. After the modest} (29... Rb8 $1 30. Ne2
c5 {White would still face serious technical problems.}) 30. Kxf2 Bh4 31. Bc5
$1 Rd3 (31... f5 32. Ra4 (32. Be3 g5 33. Ra5 f4 34. Ke2 fxe3 35. Ne4 $18) 32...
g5 33. Rxh4 gxh4 34. Nxf5 $18) 32. Bd4 (32. Kf1 $5 Bxg3 (32... Rxg3 33. Bf2 $18
) 33. Ra8+ Kg7 34. Bd4+ {[%csl Rd3][%cal Rf1e2] /\Ke2+-}) 32... f6 33. Ra8+ (
33. Kf1 c5 34. Nf5 gxf5 35. Bxc5 $18) 33... Kf7 34. Rc8 Rxg3 35. Rxc7+ Ke6 36.
Kf1 $18 {White has an extra P, 2o^ and more active pieces - the game is
decided.} Bg5 37. Rb7 (37. Rxh7 $18) (37. b4 $18) 37... f5 38. b4 Kd5 39. b5
Rd3 40. b6 (40. Rd7+ Ke4 41. h4 $5 Bxh4 42. Rxh7 $18) 40... Rd1+ 41. Ke2 Rd2+
42. Ke1 $1 Rxg2 43. Rd7+ Kc4 {Black has managed to create some <=>, but
White's P should still carry the day.} (43... Kc6 44. Rc7+ Kd5 45. Bf2 Bf4 46.
c4+ Ke4 47. Rd7 Rh2 48. b7 Rh1+ 49. Ke2 Rb1 50. c5 $18) (43... Ke4 $142 $5 44.
Bf2 $5 Rxf2 45. Kxf2 Be3+ 46. Ke2 Bxb6 47. Rxh7 g5 $16 {/+-}) 44. Be5 Be3 45.
b7 Ba7 46. Rd4+ Kb3 (46... Kb5 47. Rd8 Kc6 48. Bd4 $18) 47. Rb4+ Kc2 (47... Ka3
48. Bd6 $1 $18) 48. Ra4 1-0

[Event "Grenke Chess Classic 3rd"]
[Site "Baden-Baden"]
[Date "2015.02.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Baramidze, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2865"]
[BlackElo "2594"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2015.02.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. 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 Bg7 ({The} 15... c5 16. d5 c4 {line is more popular.}) 16. Bd3 c6 17. Bg5 ({
On the next day Anand played} 17. Be3 {against Baramidze} Qc7 18. Qd2 exd4 19.
cxd4 c5 20. d5 c4 21. Bc2 Rec8 22. axb5 c3 23. bxc3 Nxd5 24. exd5 Bxc3 25. Qd1
Bxa1 26. Qxa1 axb5 27. Qd4 $1 {with a promising position for White, later he
managed to win, Anand-Baramidze, Baden Baden 2015.}) 17... Nf8 18. Qd2 Ne6 19.
Bh6 Nd7 20. Bc2 Bxh6 21. Qxh6 Qf6 22. Rad1 Rad8 23. d5 $146 {The first new
move in the game.} (23. Rd2 exd4 24. Nxd4 Qf4 25. Qxf4 Nxf4 26. Nde2 Nxe2+ 27.
Rdxe2 Nb6 28. a5 Nc8 29. Rd1 {with a nearly equal endgame, but White is more
comfortable, N.Djukic-Nikcevic, Tivat 2011.}) 23... cxd5 24. exd5 Qf4 {A
logical decision, Black exchanges the Qs and he tries to level the endgame.}
25. Qxf4 Nxf4 26. Ne4 Bxd5 27. axb5 axb5 28. Nxd6 {So far Baramidze has done a
nice job defending and creating counterplay. His pieces are active and give
counterplay even if he loses the b5 P too.} Re6 $2 {This looks logical move is
a mistake. The R will be attackable on e6.} (28... Bxf3 29. gxf3 Re7 30. Nxb5
Rb8 31. c4 Nxh3+ 32. Kh2 Nf4 $13) ({or} 28... Rf8 $1 29. Ne4 (29. Nxb5 Rb8 $11
{and the P is regained on b2.}) 29... f5 30. Neg5 Rfe8 $132 {and Black looks
nicely placed.}) 29. Ne4 $1 {The right reply!} (29. Nxb5 {could have been met
by} Rb6 $11 {and the b2 P is lost.}) 29... f5 ({In the event of} 29... Nb6 30.
Nfg5 Re7 31. g3 Nh5 32. Bd3 $14 {and White is slightly better.}) 30. Nfg5 $1 {
A very strong intermediate move. He attacks the e6 R, moreover he protects the
h3 P, so he prepares for g3 too.} Re7 (30... fxe4 $6 {is dubious, because of}
31. Rxd5 $1 Nxd5 32. Nxe6 $16 {and White is better.}) 31. g3 $1 {Another great
answer! The N on f4 cannot move, because the B on d5 is hanging, and in the
awkward positions of Black's Rs and the pinned N on d7 his structure will be
compromised.} Bxe4 32. Bxe4 fxe4 ({In the event of} 32... Nxh3+ 33. Nxh3 fxe4
34. Ng5 $16 {and White has a wonderful position.}) 33. gxf4 Rf8 (33... exf4 34.
Rxe4 Rde8 (34... Rxe4 35. Nxe4 $16 {the pin is very unpleasant for Black.}) 35.
Rxf4 {and White is a healthy P up.}) 34. Nxe4 Rxf4 35. b4 $1 {A good move.
White fixes the b5 P. Material is still even, but White's N on e4 is monstrous
and he will win the b5 P soon.} Nf6 (35... Nb6 36. Nd6 Rf3 37. Nxb5 Rxh3 38.
Rd6 Nc4 39. Rd8+ Kf7 40. Re4 {and White's two Ps on the queenside are really
strong.}) 36. Nd6 Rf3 37. Nxb5 Rxh3 38. c4 {White's Ps are very fast, the
position is very unpleasant for Black.} Rh4 (38... Rb3 {could have been met by
the tricky} 39. Nd4 $1 {and in the event of the P being captured with} Rxb4 40.
Nc6 {and White should win the endgame.}) 39. Nd6 Nh5 40. b5 Nf4 {Black tries
to create some counterplay against White's K, but it is not dangerous.} 41. b6
Rg4+ 42. Kf1 Rh4 43. f3 {This is the point! White simply avoids the mate,
Black has no hope.} Rh1+ 44. Kf2 Rh2+ 45. Kg1 Rc2 (45... Rb2 46. Rb1 $18) 46.
Kh1 ({The careless} 46. b7 $2 {is bad, because of} Nh3+ 47. Kh1 Nf2+ 48. Kg1
Nh3+ $11 {and Black survives with perpetual checks.}) 46... Nh3 47. Ne4 {
The N comes back to defend against Nf2+. There were other winning moves too,
but this is the easiest practical reply.} Rxc4 48. Rd8+ $1 Kg7 49. Rb1 {
and Black resigned, because he can't defend against b7. Very nice technique by
Carlsen!} 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Sokolov, Andrei"]
[Black "Notkin, Maksim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2465"]
[Annotator "Vasiukov,E"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1994.09.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 044"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15. b3
g6 (15... d5 $6 16. dxe5 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Bxe4 (18. Rxe4 $6 c5 19. Rh4 h6
{/\ Bf3}) 18... Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Qxd1 (19... Rxe5 $2 20. Bxh7+ Kxh7 21. Qc2+ $18)
20. Rxd1 Rxe5 21. Bf3 $16) 16. Qc2 Nh5 17. Bb2 Bg7 18. Bf1 Qb6 (18... Nf4 19.
g3 Ne6 20. h4 Qb6 21. Qd3 {Karpov}) 19. b4 Nf4 20. Nb3 (20. Rad1 Rad8 21. g3
Nh5 22. Qb3 d5 $2 (22... Qa7 $5 {Matanovic}) 23. a5 $1 Qc7 24. Bg2 Nhf6 25.
exd5 cxd5 (25... Nxd5 $5 {Matanovic}) 26. Nxe5 Nxe5 27. dxe5 Rxe5 28. Rxe5 Qxe5
29. c4 $16 {Matanovic,A-Ivkov,B/YUG/1978/1:0/26/}) (20. dxe5 Nxe5 (20... dxe5
21. c4 $16) 21. Nxe5 dxe5 22. c4 $1 Rad8 23. axb5 $1 axb5 24. Ra5 $1 Bf8 25.
Bc3 Ne6 26. Nf3 Nd4 27. Bxd4 exd4 28. c5 Qc7 29. Ra7 $1 Qb8 30. Qa2 d3 31. Ra3
d2 32. Nxd2 Rd4 33. e5 $1 $16 {Karpov,A-Beliavsky,A/Biel/1992/1:0/39/}) 20...
Rac8 21. Rad1 Ne6 22. Na5 Ba8 23. Qb3 (23. dxe5 $2 Nxe5 24. Rxd6 Nxf3+ 25. gxf3
Be5 26. Rd7 c5 $44 27. c4 Ng5 $1 $17) 23... Rcd8 24. Qa2 c5 $2 (24... h6 $14)
25. axb5 axb5 (25... cxd4 26. bxa6 $16) (25... cxb4 26. Nc4 Qc7 27. d5 $1 $16)
26. bxc5 dxc5 27. d5 $1 Nc7 28. c4 $1 b4 29. Ra1 Rb8 30. Qa4 Qd6 31. Bd3 Nb6 (
31... Rb6 $5) 32. Qc2 f6 (32... Nd7 $5) 33. h4 Red8 34. Bf1 Nd7 35. h5 Rb6 36.
Nh4 Nf8 37. Bc1 Rdb8 38. Nb3 Na6 (38... Bb7 $2 39. h6 Bh8 40. Nxc5 Qxc5 41. Be3
$18) 39. Be3 {/\ 40.Ra6 Ra6 41.Bc5} Rc8 40. Ra5 Kf7 41. g3 Bb7 42. Bh3 Rc7 43.
h6 $1 Bh8 44. f4 Nd7 45. Be6+ Ke8 46. f5 $18 g5 47. Nf3 Qf8 48. Qh2 Ndb8 49.
Rea1 Bc8 50. Ne1 Bxe6 51. fxe6 $138 1-0

[Event "EU-ch 16th"]
[Site "Jerusalem"]
[Date "2015.03.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Volokitin, Andrei"]
[Black "Goganov, Aleksey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2646"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Volokitin,A"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2015.02.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.05.11"]
[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. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
a4 Bg7 {Meiner Meinung nach ist diese Variante sehr passiv fuer Schwarz. Mehr
prinzipiell und staerker ist die Hauptvariante-} (15... c5 $1) 16. Bd3 c6 17.
Be3 {Der Zug Lg5, der ich zweimal gespielt habe, ist auch gut. Aber entschied
ich den anderen soliden Zug zu spielen.} Qe7 ({Der andere Plan ist-} 17... Qc7)
18. Qd2 Red8 {So war in der Partie Karjakin-Sasikiran World cup 2013, Karjakin
hat zu frueh auf b5 genommen und Kein Vorteil bekommen.} 19. b4 {Der Zug sieht
sehr logisch aus. Weiss nimmt mehr Raum am Damenfluegel.} Ne8 {Die kritische
Stellung. Schwarz will den Springer auf e6 uebergehen.Ich dachte hier sehr
lang und fand die Verbesserung meiner Figuren.} 20. Bc2 $1 {Der Laeufer zieht
auf b3, wo kann er den Punkt f7 angreifen.} Nb6 {Schwarz versucht den zeitlich
schwachen Punkt c4 zu benutzen. Die anderen Varianten sind-} (20... exd4 21.
cxd4 c5 22. Bg5 $1 {Ein wichtiger Zug in vielen Varianten.Weiss hat die
Initiative. Zum Beispiel-} Bf6 23. Bxf6 Qxf6 (23... Nexf6 24. axb5 axb5 25.
Rxa8 Bxa8 26. Qg5 Kh8 27. bxc5 dxc5 28. Ra1 $16) 24. e5 dxe5 25. Be4 $3 $16) (
20... Nc7 21. Bb3 Ne6 22. Ng5 {So habe ich wahrend der Partie gerechnet.} Ndf8
(22... Nxg5 23. Bxg5 Bf6 24. Bxf6 Nxf6 (24... Qxf6 25. Re3 $1 $16) 25. f4 $36)
23. Ne2 {Mit staendigen Druck.}) 21. Bg5 $1 Bf6 {Vielleicht besser war den Zug
zurueck-} (21... Nf6 22. Bb3 bxa4 23. Bxa4 a5 24. bxa5 Rxa5 25. Bb3 Rxa1 26.
Rxa1 $14 {Aber sowieso hat Weiss einen klaren Vorteil.}) 22. Bxf6 Qxf6 23. Qh6
$1 {Nach dem Tauschen die schwarzfeldrigen Laeufers fuehlt sich den Schwarzen
Koenig nicht sicher.} exd4 {Die Stellung ist sehr unangenehm fuer Schwarz.
Positionell steht Schwarz schlecht. Aber vielleicht besser war nicht auf e5 zu
nehmen.} (23... Rac8 $5 24. Bb3 $14) 24. cxd4 {Jetzt hat Weiss sehr klaren
Plan-e5 und dann Se4.} Qg7 25. Qh4 $16 {Natuerlich muss Weiss die Damen am
Brett lassen.} Nc7 26. e5 $1 dxe5 ({Nach} 26... d5 27. a5 $1 Nc4 28. Nh2 $1 {
attackiert Weiss kostenlos.} h5 29. f4 $18) 27. Ne4 Ne6 (27... exd4 {verliert
sofort} 28. Nf6+ Kh8 29. Ng5 $1 h5 (29... h6 30. Nxf7+ Qxf7 31. Qxh6+) 30. Re7
$18) 28. dxe5 c5 {Der Versuch seine Figuren zu aktivieren.} ({Nach} 28... bxa4
29. Nfg5 $1 Nxg5 30. Qxg5 h6 31. Qh4 Nd5 32. Nd6 Rab8 33. Bxa4 $18 {Mit voller
Dominanz.}) 29. axb5 $1 axb5 30. Rxa8 Rxa8 ({Nach} 30... Bxa8 31. Nfg5 $1 Nxg5
32. Qxg5 $18) 31. bxc5 Na4 32. Nd4 $2 {Ein Fehler. Staerker war zuerst Schach-}
(32. Nf6+ $1 Kh8 33. Nd4 $1 $18) 32... Naxc5 $2 {Schwarz verliert seine letzte
Chancen die Partie zu halten.} (32... Bxe4 $1 {Die einzige Moeglichkeit auf
Remis zu hoffen.} 33. Qxe4 Rc8 34. Nxe6 fxe6 35. Bxa4 bxa4 36. Qxa4 Qe7 $1 {
Diesen Zug habe ich ubergesehen.} 37. c6 Qc5 38. Rd1 $1 Qxc6 39. Qxc6 Rxc6 40.
Rd6 $1 Rc1+ 41. Kh2 Kf7 42. Rd7+ Kg8 43. f4 $18 {Und ist dieses Turmendspiel
technisch gewonnen fuer Weiss.}) 33. Nf6+ $1 Kh8 34. Nxb5 {Jetzt ist die
Stellung voellig hoffnungslos fuer Schwarz.} Ba6 35. Nd6 Nc7 36. Rb1 N5e6 37.
Qa4 Rd8 38. Rb6 Nc5 39. Qc6 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[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 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 c5 13. b3 {Not very common but
perfectly sound. White wants to build a classical formation with B:s on b2 and
c2, Q on d2 och R:s on d1 and e1.} (13. d5) (13. Nf1) 13... cxd4 $146 {A
slightly dubious strategy that plays into Whites hands. Keeping the centre
closed looks more in tune with the wibes of the situation.} (13... Re8 {
has been played a number of times.}) 14. cxd4 exd4 15. Nxd4 Re8 16. a4 (16. Bb2
) 16... bxa4 17. bxa4 Rc8 18. Nf5 Qc7 19. Bb3 Bf8 20. Bb2 $14 {This is the
kind of position most players of the white side is looking for in the Ruy
Lopez: aggressive N on f5, long shooting B:s on b2 and b3. At least pleasant
for White.} d5 21. Rc1 Qf4 $5 {The Q is not very comfortable in front of
Whites advancing army. But the idea is to disturb White's build up on the
K-side.} (21... Qb8) 22. Rxc8 Bxc8 23. g3 Qg5 (23... Qb8 $5) 24. h4 Qg6 25. h5
$5 {Here one would expect Black to accept a roughly equal game by exchanging Q:
s.} Nxh5 (25... Qxh5 $142 26. Qxh5 Nxh5 27. Bxd5 Nc5 $13) 26. Nh4 Qg5 $2 {
Black is too generous with tempi in this game.} (26... Qh6) 27. Ndf3 Qe7 (27...
Qd8 $4 28. Qxd5 $18) 28. exd5 Qd8 29. Rxe8 Qxe8 30. Ng5 $1 $40 {White has a
dangerous attack - Black has no counterplay anywhere.} Nxg3 {Too late for
tricks - White just ignores the N and continues his play.} (30... Ndf6 31. d6
Be6 32. Nxe6 fxe6 33. Nf3 $18 {[%cal Yf3g5]}) 31. d6 $1 $18 Qe2 32. Bxf7+ Kh8
33. Qb1 Ne4 34. Qxe4 Qd1+ 35. Kh2 Bxd6+ 36. f4 Qd2+ 37. Kg3 1-0

[Event "Bermuda"]
[Site "Bermuda"]
[Date "2004.01.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Black "Vescovi, Giovanni P"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2623"]
[BlackElo "2633"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2004.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 (9... Nb8 {The Breyer variation.}) 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12.
Bc2 (12. a4 {is perhaps considered more exact and leads to the Zaitzev
variation. After the text Black has a choice.}) 12... Nb8 $5 {This way we
reach the Breyer variation in a slightly different fashion, where White´s
choices are a bit more limited than in the normal Breyer line.} 13. b3 (13. Nf1
$6 {due to the move-order this standard manoeuvre in the Breyer is a mistake
here.} exd4 $1 {[%csl Re4]} 14. cxd4 (14. Nxd4 Bxe4 15. Bg5 Bxc2 16. Qxc2 Nbd7
$17 {1/2-1/2 Ginzburg,M-Acs,P/Verdun 1995/EXT 97 (40)}) 14... Nxe4 15. d5 Nf6
16. Rxe8 Qxe8 17. Ne3 Nbd7 $15 {1/2-1/2 Romanishin,O-Razuvaev,Y/Tbilisi 1978/
URS-ch (48)}) (13. a4 Nbd7 14. Bd3 {is White's main option in this line with
the N still on d2, e.g.} c6 15. b3 Qc7 (15... g6 16. Qc2 Rc8 17. Bb2 Nh5 18.
Bf1 exd4 19. cxd4 d5 20. e5 b4 21. Nh2 c5 $36 {Bezgodov - Balashov, Perm 1997,
0-1.}) 16. Qc2 g6 17. Bb2 Rac8 18. Rad1 Bg7 19. b4 Nh5 20. Bf1 Nb6 21. a5 Nd7
22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Nxe5 dxe5 24. c4 {with a White initiative in Khalifman -
Goldin, Elista 1997, 1-0.}) 13... Nbd7 14. d5 c6 15. c4 Qc7 16. Nf1 Rec8 17.
Ne3 a5 {With the centre locked Black logically seek play on the flank.} (17...
g6 {has been played with decent result for Black, but in this position ideas
and focus of play is more important than exact move-orders.} 18. Bd2 (18. Nh2
h5 19. Nhf1 a5 20. Bd2 Bg7 21. Rc1 bxc4 22. bxc4 Nc5 $132 {1/2-1/2 Ljubojevic,
L-Beliavsky,A/Reykjavik 1991/CBM 26 (61)}) 18... bxc4 (18... Nc5 19. Ng4 Nxg4
20. hxg4 cxd5 21. cxd5 Na4 22. Bd3 Nb2 23. Qb1 Nxd3 24. Qxd3 $14 {1/2-1/2
Ljubojevic,L-Portisch,L/Tilburg 1983/MCD (34)}) 19. bxc4 Nc5 20. dxc6 Bxc6 21.
Nd5 Nxd5 22. cxd5 Bb5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Geller,E-Klarenbeek,H/Cappelle la Grande
1993/TD (64)}) 18. Bd2 bxc4 19. bxc4 Ba6 $146 (19... g6 20. Rc1 Nc5 21. dxc6
Bxc6 22. Nd5 Qd8 23. Rb1 Rcb8 24. Qe2 Bg7 $11 {0-1 Zapata,A-Bruzon,L/
Casablanca 2003 (68)}) (19... Nc5 20. Nf5 Ba6 21. Bg5 Ncd7 22. Ba4 Bb7 23. Rc1
h6 24. Bxf6 Nxf6 25. c5 $36 {1-0 Geller,E-Lukacs,P/Sochi 1984/MCD (33)}) 20.
Rc1 Nc5 21. dxc6 Qxc6 22. Nd5 Nxd5 23. exd5 Qd7 24. Bxa5 $6 {White enters a
rather risky path.} Bxc4 25. Bxh7+ $6 {Probably incorrect. White doesn't have
enough pieces to support his attack.} Kxh7 26. Rxc4 Rxa5 27. Ng5+ Kg6 $1 {
The refutation.} (27... Kg8 $2 28. Qh5 Qf5 29. Rh4 $18) 28. Rg4 Qf5 $6 {
Black is not defending well here.} (28... f5 29. Rg3 Kh6 $1 (29... Rxa2 30.
Ne6+ Kf6 31. Qh5 $40) 30. Qd2 f4 {and White is lost.}) 29. Re3 $5 (29. Ne4+ Kh7
30. Rg5 Qxe4 31. Rxe4 Nxe4 $17) 29... Ra4 $2 30. Rf3 Rf4 31. Ne6+ Kh7 32. Nxf4
exf4 33. Rgxf4 $18 {White´s speculative attack has succeeded. He is winning.}
Qg6 34. Rxf7 Kg8 35. R7f4 Be7 36. Rg3 Qh6 37. Qg4 Rb8 38. Kh2 Bf6 39. Rf5 Rf8
40. f4 Qh7 41. a4 Kf7 42. Re3 Ra8 43. a5 Qh8 44. Rg3 Rxa5 45. Qg6+ Ke7 46. Re3+
Kd8 47. Qf7 Nd7 48. Rxf6 $6 (48. Re6 $16) 48... gxf6 49. Re7 Ra7 50. Qe6 Rb7
51. Qxd6 Qh6 52. Re4 Qf8 53. Qa6 Rb6 54. Qa8+ Nb8 55. Qa7 Nd7 56. Qa8+ Nb8 57.
Qa4 Nd7 58. Re6 Qc5 59. Qe4 Rb4 {Final position looks unclear - White probably
lost on time.} (59... Rb4 60. Qh7 Qxd5 61. Qe7+ Kc7 62. Rxf6 $13) 0-1

[Event "NED-ch56"]
[Site "Leeuwarden"]
[Date "2001.06.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Van den Doel, Erik"]
[Black "Van der Sterren, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2574"]
[BlackElo "2576"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2001.06.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[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 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
b3 c5 (15... d5 16. Bg5 h6 17. Bh4 dxe4 18. Nxe4 g5 19. dxe5 $1 Nxe4 20. Bxe4
Bxe4 21. Rxe4 gxh4 22. Rd4 $16 {1-0 Polgar,J-Spassky,B/Budapest 1993/CBM 33/
[Ftacnik] (42)}) 16. d5 Nb6 17. Bd3 $5 $146 {This prevents Black from playing
a5, which has proved to be beneficial in previous games.} (17. Be3 a5 (17...
Nfd7 18. Nh2 h5 19. Qd2 a5 $13 {0-1 Rezan,S-Ladic,J/Tucepi 1996/EXT 98 (86)}) (
17... Bg7 18. Qd2 a5 19. Bg5 a4 $132 {1/2-1/2 Woodcock,C-Haygarth,M/Hastings
1965/EXT 99 (59)}) 18. Nd2 Nfd7 $13 {0-1 Hessel,M-Schmidt,A/Oberhausen 1998/
EXT 2001 (73)}) 17... c4 $2 {Superficially this looks plausible, but I think
it's a principal mistake. Black starts activities on the Q-side, but in the
end it's White who gets the play, because Black has no resources to follow up
this thrust. The P on c4 also looks quite weak.} (17... Qc7 $142) 18. bxc4 bxc4
19. Bc2 Nfd7 20. Rb1 Nc5 21. Be3 Qc7 22. Qc1 $1 {White improves his positions
before he starts a direct attack on c4 with moves like Nd2, Nf1, Bxc5 and Ne3.}
a5 {Preparing to defend c4 with Ba6.} 23. Qa3 Nbd7 24. Rb5 $5 {Now a5 is also
a problem.} Ba6 (24... Reb8 25. Nd2 f5 26. exf5 gxf5 27. Bxc5 Nxc5 28. Nxc4
Bxd5 29. Rxb8 Rxb8 30. Ne3 $16) 25. Rxa5 Be7 26. Nd2 Reb8 27. Nxc4 Qc8 {
[%cal Ye7d8] Black has managed to spark some life into his position, but the
price of two P:s was steep. Not surprisingly White has a way out of Blacks
threats.} 28. Bxc5 Nxc5 29. Rxc5 $1 dxc5 30. Nxe5 Qc7 31. Nc6 Bb7 32. Nxe7+
Qxe7 33. Qc1 Rxa2 34. Bb3 Raa8 35. e5 $16 c4 $2 36. Bxc4 Qc5 37. Ne4 $1 $18
Qxc4 38. Qh6 Ra6 39. Nf6+ 1-0

[Event "Rostov on Don"]
[Site "Rostov on Don"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dolmatov, Sergey"]
[Black "Psakhis, Lev"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1993.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ernst} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. c3 O-O 7. Re1 b5
8. Bb3 d6 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. Nd2 $146 (19. Qd2) (19. Qd2 {
Ernst}) 19... Nfd7 20. axb5 axb5 21. b3 cxb3 22. Nxb3 Nxb3 23. Bxb3 Qc7 24. Qd2
h5 25. Reb1 Rxa1 26. Rxa1 Nc5 27. Bc2 Bc8 28. Ne2 Bd7 29. Qd1 Rb8 30. Qb1 Kh7
31. Qb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novosibirsk"]
[Site "Novosibirsk"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Psakhis, Lev"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
d6 9. c3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. b3 Bf8 14. a4 (14. d5 c6
15. c4 Qc7 16. Nf1 Rec8 17. Ne3 g6 18. Nh2 h5 {Ljubojevic-Beljavskij,
Reykjavik 1991}) 14... g6 15. Bb2 exd4 $6 16. cxd4 {+/= [+]} d5 17. e5 Nh5 18.
Nf1 Ng7 19. Qd2 Ne6 20. Ne3 c5 21. dxc5 Ndxc5 22. Ng4 Bg7 23. axb5 axb5 24.
Rxa8 Bxa8 25. Nf6+ $40 Bxf6 26. exf6 Ne4 27. Qh6 Nxf6 28. Rd1 Qe7 29. Nd4 b4 $2
(29... Nxd4 30. Bxd4 Bc6 31. b4 $44) 30. Nf5 $1 $18 Qc7 31. Bxf6 Qxc2 32. Ne7+
Rxe7 33. Rc1 Qxc1+ 34. Qxc1 Re8 35. Qe3 Rc8 36. h4 Rc6 37. h5 Nf8 38. Bb2 gxh5
39. Qd4 f6 40. Qa7 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Sokolov, Andrei"]
[Black "Notkin, Maksim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1996.10.15"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 056"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O 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 d5 (14...
c6 15. b4 g6 16. Bb2 Bg7 17. Qc2 Nh5 18. Bf1 Rc8 19. Nb3 {1/2-1/2 Zelcic,
R-Palac,M/CRO-ch 1995}) 15. axb5 (15. exd5 exd4 16. Rxe8 Qxe8 17. cxd4 Nb6 $11
{1/2-1/2 Yudasin,L-Mikhalchishin,A/URS-FL Kujbyshev 1986 (30)}) 15... exd4 $2 {
A novelty, but not every new move is an improvement. This try fails tactically.
} (15... dxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Bxe4 18. Rxe4 axb5 19. Bg5 f6 20. Bh4 Rxa1
21. Qxa1 Bd6 22. Qa2+ Kh8 23. dxe5 Nxe5 {1/2-1/2 Ljubojevic,L-Portisch,L/
Bugojno 1986}) 16. e5 dxc3 17. Nb3 $1 $16 {The refutation. The double attack
on a6 and f6 gives White a clear advantage.} (17. bxc3 Nc5 18. Bf1 Nfe4 $11)
17... Ne4 18. bxa6 Bc8 (18... Bc6 19. Na5 $16) 19. bxc3 Ndc5 (19... Nxc3 20.
Qc2 (20. Bxh7+ Kxh7 21. Qd3+ Kg8 22. Qxc3 Rxa6) 20... Ne4 21. Rd1 $16) 20. Nxc5
Bxc5 21. Be3 Bxe3 22. Rxe3 Nc5 (22... Nxc3 23. Bxh7+ Kxh7 24. Rxc3 Rxa6 25.
Rxa6 Bxa6 26. Qc2+ Kg8 27. Rxc7 $16) 23. a7 c6 24. Qb1 Nxd3 25. Qxd3 Qe7 26.
Qd4 c5 27. Qxd5 Rxa7 28. Rxa7 Qxa7 29. Ng5 $1 $40 Qc7 30. Qe4 g6 31. Qh4 h5 32.
Ne4 Re6 33. Nf6+ Kg7 34. Qg5 1-0

[Event "Europe-Tartarstan m"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2001.08.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Timofeev, Artyom"]
[Black "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2521"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2001.08.15"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 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 Bg7 {This move has had a slight revival in recent years.} (15... c5 16. d5
c4 {is the standard line.}) 16. Bd3 {The best move, adding pressure to b5.} ({
After} 16. d5 Qb8 {protecting d6} 17. b3 c6 18. c4 bxc4 (18... b4 19. Be3 a5
20. Qd2 cxd5 21. cxd5 Rc8 22. Rac1 Nc5 $13 {0-1 Aarthie,R-Vladimirov,E/
Hyderabad 2000/CBM 79/[Hecht] (46)}) 19. bxc4 a5 20. Be3 (20. Ba3 Bf8 21. Rb1
Qc7 22. Qd2 Ba6 23. Bb3 Rab8 24. Rec1 Nc5 $132 {0-1 Sandipan,C-Vladimirov,E/
Kelamabakkam 2000/CBM 79 (61)}) 20... Qc7 21. Ne2 (21. Qd2 Ba6 22. Rec1 Nc5 23.
Bxc5 dxc5 24. d6 Qd8 25. Rab1 Nd7 26. Rd1 Nf8 $13 {0-1 Al Modiahki,M-Kunte,A/
Dubai 2001/CBM 83 (50)}) 21... Ba6 22. Nd2 Reb8 {Black was OK in 1/2-1/2
Grischuk,A-Vladimirov,E/Tomsk 2001/CBM 82 ext (37)}) 16... c6 17. b4 (17. Bg5
h6 18. Bd2 Kh7 19. Qc2 d5 $6 (19... Qb6) 20. exd5 Nxd5 21. h4 $1 $16 {1/2-1/2
Karpov,A-Kavalek,L/Tilburg 1979/MCL/[Minic] (44)}) 17... d5 $146 {[%mdl 8]
It's all or nothing!} (17... Nb6 18. dxe5 (18. a5 Na4 19. Ra3 exd4 20. cxd4 c5
$132 {0-1 Kveinys,A-Bronstein,D/Reykjavik 1994/CBM 39 ext (39)}) 18... dxe5 19.
a5 Nbd7 20. c4 Qe7 21. Qb3 h5 22. Be3 Nh7 23. Rac1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Yagupov,
I-Kunte,A/Biel 2001/CBM 83 ext (66)}) 18. Bg5 dxe4 $2 {Inviting Ng3 into the
game.} (18... exd4 $6 19. e5 dxc3 20. exf6 Rxe1+ 21. Qxe1 Bxf6 22. Bxf6 Qxf6
23. axb5 cxb5 24. Ne2 $16) (18... h6 $142) 19. Nxe4 exd4 20. Nd6 $1 $36 {
Black is riddled with a passive and exposed B on b7.} Rxe1+ 21. Qxe1 Qc7 (21...
Rb8 22. Nxd4 $16) 22. Qe7 Rf8 23. Ne5 $1 Bc8 24. Nxd7 Nxd7 25. Bc2 $1 {[%cal
Yc2b3,Yb3f7][%mdl 128] White builds on his attack with every move.} h6 (25...
Be5 26. Nxf7 $1 Rxf7 27. Bb3 $18) 26. Bh4 c5 (26... dxc3 27. Rd1 $18) 27. Re1
d3 (27... cxb4 28. Bb3 bxc3 29. Bxf7+ Kh8 (29... Kh7 30. Bxg6+ $1 $18) 30. Bxg6
c2 31. Ne8 $18) 28. Bxd3 cxb4 29. axb5 Qxc3 30. Re3 Ne5 31. Bf1 Qa1 32. Bf6 $1
$18 Be6 33. Rxe5 b3 34. Rxe6 Bxf6 35. Rxf6 b2 36. Rxf7 b1=Q 37. Qxf8# 1-0

[Event "USA-CHN Summit"]
[Site "Seattle"]
[Date "2001.03.18"]
[Round "4.5"]
[White "Ivanov, Alexander"]
[Black "Xie, Jun"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2582"]
[BlackElo "2557"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2001.03.14"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 082"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "US of America"]
[BlackTeam "China"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CHN"]

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 h6 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. Bc2 g6 {An unusual move. Black's
normally choses between developing Bc8 to b7 or d7, but perhaps Xie likes to
keep these options alive for some time yet.} 13. Nf1 {[%mdl 8]} (13. d5 Ne7 14.
a4 Bd7 15. b3 c5 16. dxc6 Nxc6 17. Nf1 Be6 18. Ne3 bxa4 19. b4 Qc8 20. Rxa4 Rd8
21. c4 a5 22. b5 Nb4 23. Bd2 Qc5 24. Bxb4 axb4 $13 {1/2-1/2 Galliamova,A-Xie
Jun/Kazan/Shenyang 1999/CBM 73 (36)}) 13... Bb7 14. d5 Nb8 15. b3 c6 16. c4
Nbd7 17. Ng3 Qc7 18. Be3 Rec8 19. Rc1 bxc4 20. bxc4 a5 21. Qd2 Kh7 22. Ba4 Nb6
$6 (22... c5) 23. Bxc6 $1 {This strong move gives White a clear plus. The
problem for Black is the coming push c4-c5.} Bxc6 24. dxc6 Na4 (24... Qxc6 25.
c5 $1 $16) 25. c5 $1 Nxc5 (25... dxc5 26. Qc2 Nb6 27. Bxc5 Qxc6 28. Qb3 $1 Bxc5
29. Qxf7+ Kh8 30. Nxe5 $18) 26. Nxe5 $1 Ncxe4 27. Nxe4 Nxe4 28. Qd4 dxe5 29.
Qxe4 Ra6 30. Qd5 {[%csl Rf7]} Kg8 31. a4 Rxc6 32. Rxc6 Qxc6 33. Qxa5 {Xie has
defended well, but the problems are not over. The a-P gets strong support from
the excellently placed Be3.} Ra8 34. Qb5 Qc3 $2 {This is refuted with a nice
tactical line.} (34... Qa6 $5) 35. Rc1 Qa3 36. Qxe5 Bg7 37. Qe4 $1 Rb8 $18 (
37... Qxa4 38. Rc8+ $18) (37... Rxa4 38. Qe8+ Kh7 39. Rc8 g5 40. Qg8+ Kg6 41.
Rc6+ f6 42. Rc7 Qf8 43. Rxg7+ Qxg7 44. Qe8+ Kh7 45. Qxa4 $18) 38. g3 Kh7 39.
Rc4 Qa1+ 40. Rc1 Qa3 41. Kg2 Rb4 42. Rc4 Rb2 43. Bc1 1-0

[Event "Bad Homburg"]
[Site "Bad Homburg"]
[Date "1997.08.03"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Hracek, Zbynek"]
[Black "Gabriel, Christian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1997.07.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15.
Nf1 g6 (15... Nh5 $6 16. g3 g6 17. Ne3 Ng7 18. Ng4 $16) (15... d5 16. Bg5 dxe4
17. Bxe4 $5 h6 18. dxe5 $1 hxg5 19. exf6 Nxf6 20. Nxg5 Nxe4 21. Nxe4 c5 22.
Nfg3 $16) 16. Ng3 Bg7 17. Bg5 Qc7 (17... Rb8 18. Qd2 Bc8 19. b4 Qe7 20. Bf1 Qf8
21. Bd3 h5 22. Be3 Nh7 23. axb5 cxb5 $13 {1/2-1/2 Khalifman,A-Lalic,B/
Hastings9596 1996/CBM 51 (45)}) (17... h6 18. Bd2 Qc7 (18... Qe7 19. Qc2 Qf8
20. Rad1 Rac8 21. Bc1 Rc7 22. b3 d5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Hellers,F-Giorgadze,G/EU-chT
Debrecen 1992/EU-chT (30)}) 19. Qc1 Kh7 20. Qc2 c5 21. b4 c4 22. Bf1 Nb6 23. a5
Nbd7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Ladic,J-Sentic,P/Djakovo op 1994/EXT 94op (28)}) 18. Qd2 d5
19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Qxe5 21. Bf4 Qe6 22. e5 Nd7 23. Bh6 f6 $4 (23... bxa4
$142) (23... Bh8 $142) 24. Bxg7 (24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. Bf5 $3 gxf5 26. exf6+ Nxf6 (
26... Qxf6 27. Nh5+ $18) 27. Rxe6 Rxe6 28. Nxf5+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.29"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2728"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[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 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 c5 13. d5 (13. Nf1 {is more
common, but often it's just a transposition, since d5 comes later anyway.})
13... g6 14. Nf1 a5 $146 {[%mdl 8] In the main line White often takes the
initiative on the Q-side with a timely a2-a4. So Sokolov concentrates on the
Q-side right away.} (14... Nh5 15. Bh6 Ng7 16. Ne3 Nf6 17. a4 Kh8 18. b3 Rb8
19. Qe2 Bc8 20. axb5 axb5 21. Ra7 $14 {1-0 Karpov,A-Gligoric,S/Leningrad 1973/
IZT/[ChessBase] (62)}) 15. a4 b4 {White is invited to close the Q-side.} 16.
Bd3 (16. c4 {is possible, but it gives Black a clear picture of what to do 
(play on the K-side). Judit prefers to keep more options.}) 16... Qc7 17. Ne3
bxc3 18. bxc3 c4 19. Bc2 (19. Nxc4 Ba6 $132) 19... Ba6 20. Nd2 Rfc8 21. Ba3 Bf8
22. Qf3 Bg7 23. g3 Rab8 24. Kg2 Nb6 25. g4 $1 {White must start to attack
before Black manages to open lines on the other side.} Nfd7 26. h4 Nc5 {
[%cal Yc5d3]} 27. Bxc5 $1 {Else Black jumps in on d3 with serious play coming.}
Qxc5 28. h5 Nd7 $6 (28... Bh6 $5 29. Qf6 (29. Rh1 Bf4 30. hxg6 fxg6 31. Qh3 Rc7
) 29... Nd7 30. Qh4 Bf4 31. hxg6 fxg6 32. g5 Rb2 33. Rh1 Nf8 34. Ndf1 Qc7 $15)
29. Rh1 Nf8 30. g5 $1 $14 {Black is subdued on the K-side and can only wait to
see how White is going to increase the pressure against the K.} Rb2 31. Ng4
gxh5 (31... Rxc2 32. h6 f5 (32... Bh8 33. Nf6+ $18) 33. gxf6 Bxf6 (33... Bh8 $4
34. f7#) 34. Nxf6+ Kh8 35. Nd7 $1 Nxd7 36. Qf7 Rg8 37. Qxd7 Qb6 38. Rhb1 Qd8
39. Qxd8 Rxd8 40. Rb6 Rxd2 41. Rxa6 $16) 32. Nf6+ Bxf6 33. gxf6 Ng6 (33... Rxc2
34. Qxh5 Rxd2 35. Qg5+ Ng6 36. Qxd2 Nf4+ 37. Kf3 $18 {Black is helpless
against the attack on the h-file.}) 34. Kf1 h4 35. Qh5 Kh8 36. Nf3 Rxc2 37. Rh2
$1 Rxf2+ (37... Nf4 38. Qxh4 h5 39. Qg5 Rxf2+ 40. Rxf2 Qxf2+ 41. Kxf2 Nh3+ 42.
Ke3 Nxg5 43. Nxg5 $18) 38. Rxf2 Nf4 39. Qxh4 Rg8 40. Rh2 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 "Petrov Memorial op"]
[Site "St Petersburg"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Korneev, Oleg"]
[Black "Sulskis, Sarunas"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "1996.02.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[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 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15. b3
Qc7 (15... g6 16. Qc2 Rc8 17. Bb2 Bg7 18. Rad1 (18. c4 exd4 19. Bxd4 Nh5 20.
Bxg7 Nxg7 21. b4 a5 22. cxb5 cxb5 23. Qb2 bxa4 24. Bb5 axb4 25. Qxb4 Bc6 26.
Bxc6 Rxc6 27. Qxa4 Rc8 28. Qd4 $14 {Adams,M-Motwani,P/London/1990}) (18. Bf1
Nh5 19. c4 exd4 20. Nxd4 b4 21. Rad1 c5 22. Ne2 Ne5 23. f4 Nd3 24. Qxd3 Bxb2
$13 {Leko,P-Wells,P/Budapest/1993}) 18... Qc7 19. b4 Nb6 20. a5 Nbd7 (20... Na4
$5 {/\c5 I.Gurevich}) 21. dxe5 dxe5 22. c4 $16 {1-0 Hellers,F-Morrisson,W/
Intercollegiate Chess Ch/New York/1995}) 16. Bb2 Rac8 17. Qc2 Qb8 18. Rad1 g6
19. Qb1 Nh5 20. Bf1 Bg7 21. g3 Ba8 22. axb5 axb5 23. dxe5 dxe5 24. c4 Bf8 25.
Qd3 Nc5 26. Qe2 b4 $10 27. Nh2 Rcd8 28. Ndf3 f6 29. Qc2 Rxd1 30. Rxd1 Rd8 31.
Ng4 Rxd1 32. Qxd1 Qd6 33. Qc2 Bb7 34. Bc1 Bc8 35. Kg2 Be6 36. Bd2 Qb8 37. Be2
Nd7 38. Ne1 Nc5 39. Nh6+ Kh8 40. Bg4 Nf4+ 41. gxf4 Bxh6 42. Be3 Bxg4 43. hxg4
Nd7 $2 (43... Ne6 44. f5 Bxe3 45. fxe6 Bd4 $13) 44. Qd3 $1 exf4 45. Qxd7 fxe3
46. Qxc6 Qd8 47. Qd5 Qc8 48. f3 $16 Qa6 49. e5 $1 Qa2+ 50. Kh3 Qd2 51. exf6
Qxd5 52. cxd5 {+-} Bg5 53. Kg3 Bxf6 54. Nc2 e2 55. Kf2 Kg7 56. Kxe2 Be7 57. Ne3
Kf6 58. f4 h5 59. Kf3 Bc5 60. Nc4 h4 61. g5+ 1-0

[Event "RUS-Cup4"]
[Site "Perm"]
[Date "1997.02.14"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bezgodov, Alexei"]
[Black "Balashov, Yuri S"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2510"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1997.02.02"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 058"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Balashovs play in the center in this game is worth a close study. Rather than
waiting, with a flexible P-formation: a6, b5, c6, d6 and e5, he plays actively:
exd4, d5, b4 and c5. The preliminary 18 .- exd4 is a novelty.} 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 c6 15. b3 g6 16. Qc2 Rc8
17. Bb2 Nh5 (17... Bg7 18. Bf1 (18. c4 exd4 19. Bxd4 Nh5 20. Bxg7 Nxg7 $10 {
Adams,M-Motwani,P/LondonWFW/1990/}) 18... Nh5 19. c4 exd4 20. Nxd4 b4 21. Rad1
c5 22. Ne2 Ne5 $13 {Leko,P-Wells,P/Budapest Exp 1993/[Ernst]/1-0 (54)}) 18. Bf1
exd4 $146 (18... Nf4 19. g3 Ne6 20. h4 Qb6 21. Bh3 Rcd8 22. Rad1 Bg7 23. Nf1
Ndf8 24. axb5 axb5 25. Ne3 h5 $13 {1-0 Huebner,R-Smejkal,J/BL 1989 (40)}) 19.
cxd4 d5 {Balashov tries a new and interesting strategy of making the center
static. The Black minor pieces are better placed than Whites in the ensuing
position.} 20. e5 b4 $1 $15 {Now c5 is coming. Already Blacks position is
preferable.} 21. Nh2 c5 22. Qd3 cxd4 23. Ndf3 (23. Bxd4 Nf4 24. Qg3 Ne6 $17) (
23. Qxd4 Ng7 $15 {/\Ne6}) 23... Nc5 24. Qd1 Ne4 25. Bxd4 Nf4 26. Ng4 Ne6 27.
Bb2 Bg7 28. Rc1 Nc3 $1 29. Qd2 d4 {Black has a nice aggressive position. The N
on c3 is very annoying for White.} 30. Ngh2 Rc7 31. h4 h5 32. Bc4 Rd7 33. Qd3
Kh8 34. Bxe6 $6 (34. Qd2 $142) 34... Rxe6 35. Qc4 Bh6 36. Qxb4 a5 37. Qa3 Bxc1
38. Bxc1 d3 $19 39. Bg5 Qc8 40. Bf6+ (40. Bd2 Ne2+ 41. Kh1 Nd4 42. Nxd4 Rxd4
$19) 40... Rxf6 41. exf6 d2 42. Nxd2 Rxd2 43. Qe7 Rd7 44. Qe5 Kh7 45. Qxa5 (45.
Rc1 $4 Ne2+ $19) 45... Nd5 46. Nf3 Nxf6 47. Ng5+ Kg8 48. Qe5 Qc6 49. f3 Qb6+
50. Kh2 Qf2 51. Qg3 Qd4 52. Re5 Bd5 53. Re2 Kg7 0-1

[Event "Moscow Aeroflot op-A"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2005.02.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Gyimesi, Zoltan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2602"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2005.02.15"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 106"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.06.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 (13. b4 {Fischer,
R-Spassky,B/Reykjavik m-10/1972/}) 13... Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. Bg5 h6 16. Bd2 Bg7
17. a4 c5 18. d5 c4 19. b4 cxb3 (19... Nh7 $6 20. Be3 h5 21. Qd2 Rf8 22. Ra3
Ndf6 23. Rea1 Qd7 24. R1a2 Rfc8 25. Qc1 Bf8 26. Qa1 $16 {1-0 Fischer,R-Spassky,
B/Belgrade 1992/CBM 031/[Chandler,M] (49)}) 20. Bxb3 Nc5 21. c4 $5 (21. axb5
axb5 22. Bc2 Qc7 23. Rb1 Ba6 24. Rb4 Nfd7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Thipsay,P-Sriram,J/
Calicut 2003/CBM 097 ext (35)}) 21... bxc4 (21... Qd7 22. cxb5 axb5 23. a5 Rec8
24. Bc2 Rc7 25. Ra3 Rac8 26. Nh4 Kh7 27. f4 exf4 28. Bxf4 Ng8 29. Ngf5 $13 {
1/2-1/2 Mista,A-Socko,B/Warsaw 2004/CBM 101 (51)}) 22. Bxc4 $14 {White has
more space. So at least his game is more comfortable.} Qc7 23. Qe2 Reb8 24. a5
Bc8 25. Be3 Nfd7 26. Rec1 Kh7 27. Ne1 Bf6 28. Nf3 Qd8 29. Qd2 Bg7 30. h4 $1 {
White must use a two front strategy to make the most of his mobility. Now the
threat to play h5 is quite annoying to Black who has no structurally good
answer. He decides to stop it.} h5 31. Ng5+ Kg8 32. Ra3 $1 {White is using all
that space he commands. Black has no easy way to improve his coordination.} Qe7
33. Qd1 $1 {Black now also has to watch out for a sac on h5.} Ra7 34. Rac3 Rc7
35. Be2 Rb4 36. Nxh5 $1 {[%mdl 512] Daring but logical.} gxh5 37. Bxh5 f6 38.
Bf7+ Kf8 39. Ne6+ Kxf7 (39... Nxe6 40. Rxc7 Nxc7 41. Rxc7 Qxf7 (41... Kxf7 42.
Rxc8 Nf8 43. h5 Rxe4 44. h6 $18) 42. Rxc8+ Ke7 43. Qc1 $40) 40. Nxg7 Kxg7 41.
Qh5 $18 {[%cal Ye3h6,Yc3g3] The R on the third rank decides.} Rxe4 42. Bh6+ Kh8
43. Rg3 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch m1-2"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "1997.05.23"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Black "Goldin, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1997.05.19"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Khalifman knows his ideas in the Breyer. When Black misses his chance for
equality, Khalifman turns up the pressure with every move.} 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 c6 15. b3 Qc7 16. Qc2 g6 17.
Bb2 Rac8 18. Rad1 Bg7 19. b4 (19. Bf1 Qb8 20. Qb1 Ba8 21. Qa2 Nh5 22. b4 Re7
23. c4 exd4 24. Bxd4 Bxd4 25. Nxd4 $14 {Steingrimsson,H-Hauchard,A/Reykjavik
FRA-ISD 1993/CBM 35/[Ernst]/1-0 (57)}) (19. Ba1 $5 {Hellers}) 19... Nh5 $6 (
19... Nb6 $6 20. a5 Nbd7 21. dxe5 dxe5 22. c4 bxc4 23. Bxc4 h6 24. Bc3 Rb8 25.
Qa2 Nf8 26. Nb3 $16 {1-0 Hellers,F-Morrison,W/Pan-American Intercollegiate
Chess Ch N 1995 (43)}) (19... d5 $1 {This move is the reason why 19.b4 is not
so great.} 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. dxe5 Nxe4 22. Bxe4 dxe4 23. Nxe4 Qxe5 $11 {Hellers
}) 20. Bf1 Nb6 21. a5 Nd7 {Black is doing nothing, but White has a plan.} 22.
dxe5 Nxe5 23. Nxe5 dxe5 24. c4 $16 Qe7 25. Nb3 $1 Rcd8 (25... Qxb4 $2 26. c5
$18 {ףb4}) 26. Nc5 {White has reached an ideal position in this line. Black
may not be lost, but he has an uphill struggle ahead.} Bc8 27. g3 Nf6 28. Bc1
Nd7 29. Be3 Nxc5 30. Bxc5 Qb7 31. Bb6 {The B proves to be just as irritating
as the N was.} Rxd1 32. Rxd1 Be6 33. Kh2 h5 34. h4 Kh7 35. Bc5 Qc8 (35... Bf8
36. Bxf8 Rxf8 37. cxb5 cxb5 38. Qc5 $16) 36. Bb6 Qb7 37. Bh3 $1 {Exchanging
Be6 will leave Black without defence on the d-file.} Bxc4 38. Rd7 Qa8 39. Ra7
Qb8 40. Rxa6 Qd6 41. Bc5 Qf6 42. Qd2 Bf8 43. Qg5 $18 Qf3 44. Bg2 Qe2 45. Bxf8
Rxf8 46. Qf6 Rc8 47. Rb6 Be6 48. a6 Qa2 49. Bh3 Bxh3 50. Kxh3 1-0

[Event "Capablanca Memorial-A"]
[Site "Cuba"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Magem Badals, Jordi"]
[Black "Henao, Raul Fernando"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2510"]
[BlackElo "2405"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "CUB"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Ng5 Rf8 12. Nf3 Re8 13. Nbd2 Bf8 14. Bc2 h6 15. d5
Nb8 16. b3 c6 17. c4 Nbd7 18. a4 $146 (18. Nf1 Qc7 19. Be3 Rec8 20. Rc1 Qd8 21.
Ng3 {+/= Karpov-Balashov, München 1979}) 18... bxc4 (18... Qc7 $5) 19. bxc4 a5
20. Nb3 Ba6 $6 21. Bd3 Bb7 22. Bd2 $16 cxd5 23. cxd5 Bxd5 $2 24. exd5 e4 25.
Bxa5 $1 $18 Qb8 (25... Rxa5 26. Nxa5 Qxa5 27. Bb5 exf3 28. Rxe8 Nxe8 29. Bxd7
$18) 26. Bb5 exf3 27. Rxe8 Qxe8 28. Qxf3 Qe5 29. Bc3 Qg5 30. Bc6 Rb8 31. Bxf6
Nxf6 32. a5 Qe5 33. Rb1 Qe7 34. Qe3 Qc7 35. Ra1 1-0

[Event "VAM Hoogeveen 2nd"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "1998.10.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Spassky, Boris Vasilievich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2545"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1998.10.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 exd4 $6 {Spassy
tries something new. The standard approach is to strengthen e5 by Bf8. Perhaps
he wanted to surprise his theoretically well prepared opponent.} (13... d5 $6 {
tried a couple of times by Spassky, but without much success.} 14. Ng3 (14.
dxe5 Nxe4 $11 {1/2-1/2 De Firmian,N-Smejkal,J/Vrsac 1983/MCD (59)}) (14. Nxe5
Nxe5 15. dxe5 Nxe4 16. f3 Nc5 (16... Ng5 17. Ng3 f6 18. Bxg5 fxg5 19. Qb1 $40 {
1-0 Chandler,M-Spassky,B/BL8485 1985/GER-chT (51)}) 17. b4 Nd7 18. f4 a5 19.
Qd3 g6 20. Qxb5 $16 {1-0 Kindermann,S-Spassky,B/BL8384 1984/GER-chT (51)})
14... Nxe4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Bc5 18. Qxd8 Raxd8 {1/2-1/2
Tal,M-Spassky,B/Niksic 1983/MCD (18)} (18... Raxd8 19. Bf4 {1/2-1/2 Ljubojevic,
L-Spassky,B/Niksic 1983/MCD (19)})) (13... Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. b3 {This has
been tried three times between Judit Polgar and Boris Spassky. The score is
2-1 to Judit.} (15. a4 {the standard move.}) 15... d5 (15... Bg7 16. d5 Bf8 (
16... Nb6 17. Be3 Rc8 18. Qe2 c6 19. c4 cxd5 20. cxd5 Nbxd5 $1 21. exd5 Nxd5
$132 {0-1 Polgar,J-Spassky,B/Budapest 1993/CBM 33/[Ftacnik] (74)}) 17. Bg5 h6
18. Be3 c6 19. c4 a5 20. Qd2 Kh7 21. Nh2 b4 $6 22. Ng4 Nxg4 23. hxg4 $14 {
1-0 Polgar,J-Spassky,B/Budapest 1993/CBM 33/[Ftacnik] (40)}) 16. Bg5 $1 h6 17.
Bh4 dxe4 18. Nxe4 g5 19. dxe5 $1 Nxe4 20. Bxe4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 gxh4 22. Rd4 $16 {
1-0 Polgar,J-Spassky,B/Budapest 1993/CBM 33/[Ftacnik] (42)}) 14. cxd4 d5 15. e5
Ne4 {A good post for the N - if it is allowed to stay.} 16. N3d2 $1 Nxd2 17.
Bxd2 c5 18. Ne3 g6 (18... cxd4 19. Nf5 Bc5 20. Qg4 g6 21. Nh6+ Kg7 22. Nxf7
Kxf7 23. e6+ $16) 19. Ng4 Bf8 20. dxc5 Bxc5 21. Nh6+ {[%mdl 128] The attack
begins. Quite logical given the weaknesses surrounding the black K.} Kg7 22.
Qf3 f6 (22... Nxe5 $2 23. Rxe5 Rxe5 24. Qxf7+ Kh8 25. Qxb7 $18) 23. e6 Nf8 24.
b4 Bb6 25. e7 $5 {Clearing the way for the attackers and very much in the
style of Judit Polgar. But the alternative looks quite good too.} (25. Qg4 Qc8
26. Bf5 $16) 25... Rxe7 26. Rxe7+ Qxe7 27. Re1 Qd8 28. Ng4 Nd7 (28... h5 29.
Bh6+ Kf7 30. Ne5+ Kg8 31. Nxg6 $18) 29. Qf4 Kf7 (29... Qf8 30. Re6 Rc8 31. Rd6
Bc6 32. Bc3 $40) 30. Qh6 Qg8 (30... Qh8 31. h4 Re8 32. Rxe8 Kxe8 33. Bxg6+ $18)
(30... Nf8 31. h4 Rc8 32. Bd3 Qd6 33. h5 $40) 31. Qh4 (31. h4 Re8 $1 $132)
31... Qh8 32. Nh6+ Kf8 33. Qg4 f5 (33... Ne5 34. Rxe5 fxe5 35. Qf3+ Ke8 36.
Qf7+ Kd8 37. Qxb7 $18) 34. Nxf5 Qf6 (34... gxf5 35. Bh6+ Kf7 36. Qxf5+ Nf6 37.
Qe6#) 35. Bg5 Qc3 36. Re2 Bc7 37. Ng3 Ne5 38. Qe6 Nf7 39. Be7+ Kg8 40. Nh5 $1 {
A nice touch to finish the game.} gxh5 41. Bf6 (41. Bf6 Qxb4 42. Bxh7+ Kxh7 43.
Qxf7+ Kh6 44. Qg7#) 1-0

[Event "Cannes Generations"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Gligoric, Svetozar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1998.02.21"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. c4 c6 12. Nbd2 Qc7 13. a4 $146 (13. Bc2 Qa7 14.
cxb5 (14. c5 Re8 15. Nf1 Qc7 16. cxd6 Bxd6 $13 {1/2-1/2 Rosenthal,D-Nagatz,F/
BL9192 1992/BL 90 (25)}) 14... axb5 15. Nf1 c5 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. a4 Bb7 18. Ng3
c4 $11 {1/2-1/2 Byrne,R-Abramovic,B/Reykjavik op 1982/MCD-op (21)}) 13... Rb8
14. cxb5 cxb5 15. axb5 axb5 16. Nf1 Nb6 17. Qd3 Nc4 18. Re2 d5 (18... Bd7 19.
Rc2 {/\Ne3} Qb7 20. d5 Nb6 21. Be3 $14) 19. Nxe5 Nxe4 20. Bf4 Bd6 21. Ng3 Nxg3
$6 (21... f6 $5 {The crucial move.} 22. Nxe4 dxe4 23. Nxc4 $1 (23. Rxe4 fxe5
24. dxe5 Be7 25. Bxc4+ bxc4 26. Qd5+ Kh8 27. Rxc4 Qb6 $17) 23... exd3 24. Nxd6+
Kh8 25. Re3 $16 Bf5 $1 26. Nf7+ Rxf7 27. Bxc7 Rxc7 $11) 22. Qxg3 $14 Bf5 (22...
f6 23. Nd3 Bxf4 24. Nxf4 $16) 23. Ra6 Rb6 24. Rxb6 Nxb6 25. Ng6 Bxf4 26. Qxf4
Qxf4 27. Nxf4 Rd8 28. Re5 Bd7 (28... Be4 29. f3 Nd7 30. Rg5 (30. fxe4 Nxe5 31.
dxe5 dxe4 $15) 30... h6 31. Rg3 Bf5 32. Nxd5 $14) 29. Bxd5 Kf8 30. Bf3 Be8 31.
d5 $16 Nc4 32. Re2 Ra8 33. g4 Ra1+ 34. Kg2 Rb1 35. Nd3 f6 36. Be4 Bf7 37. f3 g6
38. Kf2 Nd6 39. Nf4 Rd1 40. Rc2 f5 41. gxf5 gxf5 42. Bd3 Ke7 43. Ke2 Ra1 44.
Ke3 Kf6 45. Rc6 Ke5 46. Bxb5 $1 $18 Rb1 47. Be2 Ra1 48. Rc7 Ra8 49. Bd1 Re8 50.
Ba4 Rb8 51. b3 Rb6 52. Nd3+ Kf6 53. Rc6 1-0

[Event "HUN-ch"]
[Site "Lillafured"]
[Date "1999.02.07"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gyimesi, Zoltan"]
[Black "Sax, Gyula"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2529"]
[BlackElo "2524"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1999.02.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Hansen,LB} 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 {Hansen,LB: 'The old Breyer line is still a solid
choice for Black.'} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 {Hansen,LB: 'Here
White is at a cross road: 13.a4 or 13.Nf1?'} 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. a4 c5 {
Hansen,LB: 'This position has occurred in hundreds of games. White usually
plays 16. d5 with a slight edge. Gyimesi has a different interesting idea.'}
16. Be3 {'!?' Hansen,LB. This is quite an unusual side line. White gives a P
for some play on the white squares.} ({The main line is} 16. d5 {and it is the
best move in the position.}) 16... exd4 17. cxd4 Bxe4 {'!' Hansen,LB.} (17...
Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Bg5 Bxf3 20. Bxd8 Bxd1 21. Rxe8 Bxa4 $14) 18. Nxe4 Nxe4
19. Bxe4 Rxe4 20. dxc5 Nxc5 21. axb5 axb5 22. Qd5 {'©!' Hansen,LB.} Re8 (22...
Rc8 23. b4 Rxb4 24. Ra7 Qf6 25. Ng5 $40 {1-0 Kotronias,V-Georgiev,K/Manila
1992/TD (35)}) 23. Ng5 $146 {White has a few threats for the P and Black has
only one move - but it´s good for a draw.} (23. b4 Ne6 24. Rxa8 {1/2-1/2 Sax,
G-Beliavsky,A/Reykjavik 1988/CBM 10 (24)}) (23. b4 $5 {Hansen,LB}) 23... Ne6 $8
24. Nxe6 (24. Qxb5 Rb8 $11) 24... fxe6 25. Qxb5 Rb8 26. Qe2 Bg7 $11 27. Reb1
Rb7 (27... Rb3 28. Ra7 $14) 28. Ra6 Qb8 29. b3 Rxb3 30. Rxb3 Qxb3 31. Rxd6 Qb1+
32. Rd1 Qf5 33. Bd4 Rd8 34. Bxg7 Rxd1+ 35. Qxd1 Kxg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Groningen Festival"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1998.12.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Asrian, Karen"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1998.12.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15. b3
g6 16. Qc2 Nh5 (16... Rc8 17. Bb2 Nh5 18. Bf1 exd4 19. cxd4 d5 20. e5 b4 $15 {
Black is better because he has the break c5. 0-1 Bezgodov,A-Balashov,Y/Perm
1997/CBM 58/[Wedberg] (53)}) 17. Bb2 Nf4 18. Bf1 exd4 $5 {Piket plays
Balashovs idea in a slightly different position.} (18... Bg7 19. c4 (19. Rad1
Ne6 20. Qb1 Qc7 21. g3 bxa4 22. bxa4 d5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Aseev,K-Giorgadze,G/Lvov
1990/CBM 18 (42)}) (19. g3 Ne6 20. Rad1 Qc7 21. b4 Nb6 22. axb5 axb5 23. dxe5
dxe5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Almasi,Z-Stefansson,H/Kopavogur 1994/CBM 41 ext (35)}) 19...
exd4 20. Bxd4 Bxd4 21. Nxd4 b4 22. g3 Qf6 23. N4f3 Ne6 $11 {1-0 Timoshenko,
G-Giorgadze,G/Podolsk 1989/EXT 97 (54)}) (18... Ne6 19. Rad1 Qc7 20. Qb1 Rab8
21. Qa2 Ba8 22. Ba1 exd4 23. Nxd4 c5 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. c4 b4 26. f4 e5 $13 {
1/2-1/2 Wahls,M-Van der Sterren,P/BL9596 1996/GER-chT (41)}) 19. cxd4 Rc8 20.
g3 Ne6 21. h4 d5 22. Bh3 c5 $1 $36 23. Qd1 cxd4 24. axb5 axb5 25. Nxd4 (25.
Bxe6 fxe6 $15) 25... Nxd4 26. Bxd4 dxe4 27. Ra7 Rc7 (27... Bc6 $2 28. Bxd7 Bxd7
29. Nxe4 $16) 28. Rxb7 $5 Rxb7 29. Nxe4 Rxe4 $6 (29... Bg7 $1 30. Nd6 (30. Bxg7
Kxg7 31. Nd6 Rxe1+ 32. Qxe1 Ra7 $17) 30... Rxe1+ 31. Qxe1 Bxd4 32. Nxb7 Qc7 33.
Bxd7 Qxd7 $17) 30. Rxe4 Nc5 31. Re1 Nxb3 32. Qf3 $44 Re7 (32... Rb8 33. Bb2 $44
) 33. Rxe7 (33. Rxe7 Bxe7 34. Qxb3 Qxd4 35. Qxb5 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2609"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[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 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 Bc8 $146 (22... Nh7 23. Be3 Bf6 24. Ne2 Nf8 25. Nc1 Nfd7 26. axb5 axb5 27.
b4 $14 {1-0 Topalov,V-Van der Sterren,P/Antwerp 1997/CBM 61/[Wedberg] (55)}) (
22... Qc7 23. axb5 axb5 24. Ra7 Ra8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Seres,L-Farkas,T/Szeged 1998/
CBM 63 ext (30)}) 23. axb5 axb5 24. Ra7 Rb7 25. Ra8 Nfd7 26. Be3 Qc7 27. Rf1 $5
{Svidler shifts his attention to the K-side, obviously thinking there is not
much he can do on the other side. It looks like a very reasonable plan given
the weakness of Black's K-side P-structure.} ({Following in Topalovs footsteps
with} 27. Ne2 {(/\Nc1, b2-b4) would be the alternative.}) 27... Ra7 28. Rxa7
Qxa7 29. Ng5 Bd8 30. Kh1 Bb6 31. Qd1 f6 {Pre-empting a sacrifice on h5.} 32.
Nf3 Nf8 33. Nh4 Ncd7 34. Bc1 Re7 35. f4 {This looks like a nice attack for
White, but Black has a good defensive R on the seventh.} Rh7 36. Qf3 (36. f5 g5
37. Ng6 h4 38. Nh5 Be3 $11) (36. Nxg6 Nxg6 37. Nxh5 {is aggressive, but does
it work?} Kh8 38. Qg4 Ne7 39. Qe6 {Crazy! You work it out.}) 36... Bd8 37. Qd1
(37. f5 g5 38. Ng6 h4 (38... g4 39. Qe2 $40) 39. Nh5 Kf7 $13) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Escaldes zt"]
[Site "Escaldes"]
[Date "1998.11.12"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Dorfman, Josif D"]
[Black "Van der Sterren, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1998.11.06"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. 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. Bh6 Nh7 22.
Ra3 Rb8 23. Rea1 Bc8 24. axb5 axb5 25. Qe3 (25. Ra7 Bd7 (25... Bb7 26. Qe3 Bf6
27. Nd2 Qb6 28. b4 cxb3 29. Nxb3 Ra8 30. Rxa8 Rxa8 31. Rb1 $1 $14 {1-0 Adams,
M-Salov,V/Wijk aan Zee 1991/CBM 22/[Salov] (67)}) 26. Qe3 Bf6 27. Ne2 {1/2-1/2
Arnason,J-Hjartarson,J/Gardabaer 1991/EXT 99 (27)}) (25. Be3 Bf6 26. Ne2 Bd7
27. Ra7 Qc8 28. Bxc5 dxc5 29. Qe3 Bd8 30. R7a6 $13 {0-1 Timman,J-Portisch,L/
Brussels 1988/CBM 07 (52)}) 25... Bd7 26. Nd2 h4 27. Ne2 g5 $5 {/\Kh8,Rg8-g6
Trying to trap Bh6.} (27... Bg5 28. Bxg5 Qxg5 29. Qxg5 Nxg5 30. Ra7 $14) 28. g3
hxg3 $2 {This move spoils everything. Black is still hoping to trap the B, but
instead he should have settled for play on the g-file.} (28... Kh8 $1 29. gxh4
(29. Qf3 $2 Rg8 30. Qxf7 Be8 31. Qf5 Rg6 $19) 29... gxh4 30. Kh2 Rg8 $132) 29.
Nxg3 $1 $40 Bxh3 (29... Kh8 30. Qf3 $1 f6 31. Nf5 Rg8 32. Ra7 Rg6 33. Qh5 $16)
30. Kh2 Bd7 31. Rg1 Kh8 (31... Bf8 $142) 32. Kg2 $1 $16 {[%cal Yg1h1,Yh1h8]}
Rg8 33. Rh1 Rg6 34. Nf5 Bf8 (34... Bxf5 35. exf5 Rg8 36. f6 $18) 35. Bxf8 Qxf8
36. Qh3 Rg7 37. Nf1 Bxf5 38. Qxf5 Kg8 39. Ne3 f6 40. Ng4 $18 Qe7 (40... Rbb7
41. Raa1 Nd7 42. Rh6 Rf7 43. Rah1 $40) 41. Rxh7 Rxh7 42. Nxf6+ Kh8 43. Nxh7
Qxh7 44. Qf6+ Kg8 45. Qxd6 1-0

[Event "Drammen Smartfish Masters"]
[Site "Drammen"]
[Date "2005.01.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2581"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2004.12.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This game is no masterpiece, but it's a fighting game. The fact that young
Magnus Carlsen manages to beat the great Alexei Shirov with his own methods is
quite impressive.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1
b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1
Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. b3 c6 16. Bg5 Bg7 17. Qd2 Qc7 (17... Qe7 18. Rad1 Qf8 19.
Nf1 h6 20. Bh4 Rac8 21. N1h2 exd4 22. cxd4 c5 $132 {1-0 Karjakin,S-Sasikiran,K/
playchess.com 2004/EXT 2005 (60)}) 18. a4 d5 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (18... Rad8 19.
Bd3 Nf8 20. Qc2 Ne6 21. Be3 Nd7 22. Rec1 Qb8 23. axb5 axb5 24. b4 $14 {1-0 Acs,
P-Gabriel,C/Germany 2004/EXT 2005 (43)}) 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Qxe5 21. Bf4 (
21. f4 Qc7 22. e5 Nd7 $13) 21... Qe6 22. e5 Nd7 23. Bh6 Bh8 24. f4 Qe7 25. Re3
Nf8 26. Rf1 {White is looking for a knock out on the K-side but the black
forces are well placed to withstand any attempts to storm.} c5 27. f5 d4 $5 (
27... Bxe5 $5) 28. cxd4 cxd4 29. fxg6 $6 {[%mdl 512] A brave but incorrect
sacrifice. From a psychological point of view this move is close to a winner.}
(29. Qxd4 Bxe5 $13) 29... hxg6 $6 {Shirov accepts the calculations made by his
young adversary. But he should have taken the R.} (29... dxe3 $1 30. gxf7+ Qxf7
31. Qxe3 Qc7 $1 32. Qg5+ Ng6 33. Bxg6 Qb6+ 34. Kh1 Qxg6 $19) 30. Nf5 $5 {
Once you have your opponent on the defensive - throw everything at him. Shirov
himself has made a nice career from that strategy.} gxf5 31. Rg3+ Ng6 32. Bxf5
Qxe5 33. Rg4 Bg7 (33... Qd6 34. Qd3 Re6 35. h4 $1 $40) 34. Bxg6 fxg6 35. Rxg6
Re7 36. Rf4 Be4 $4 {The deciding mistake.} (36... Rc8 $1 37. Rfg4 Rcc7 $17) 37.
Rg5 $1 Qe6 38. Bxg7 $18 1-0

[Event "Krynica zt"]
[Site "Krynica"]
[Date "1998.09.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Hracek, Zbynek"]
[Black "Acs, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "1998.09.02"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.30"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 432]} {This game features an interesting struggle in the centre. Up to
a point it's all pretty logical. Then the random phase starts, with advantages
shifting move to move.} 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 c6 15. Nf1 (15. b3 g6 16. Qc2 Rc8 17. Bb2 Nh5 18. Bf1 exd4 19.
cxd4 d5 20. e5 b4 21. Nh2 c5 $36 {0-1 Bezgodov,A-Balashov,Y/Perm 1997/CBM 58/
[Wedberg] (53)}) 15... g6 16. Ng3 Bg7 17. Bg5 Nf8 (17... h6 18. Bd2 Qe7 19. Qc2
Qf8 20. Rad1 Rac8 21. Bc1 Rc7 22. b3 d5 $132 {1/2-1/2 Hellers,F-Giorgadze,G/
Debrecen 1992/EU-chT (30)}) 18. Qd2 Ne6 19. Be3 Nd7 20. Bf1 Qc7 21. Red1 Rad8
22. Qc2 Nb6 23. b3 exd4 24. cxd4 d5 $5 {Black treats the centre the same way
Balashov did in his game against Bezgodov above.} 25. e5 (25. a5 Nc8 26. exd5
Rxd5 27. Ne4 Qd8 $17 {[%csl Rd4] ><d4}) 25... f6 $5 {Blockade and attack.
Black grabs the initiative in the centre, but his K-side is weakened.} 26. exf6
Bxf6 27. axb5 axb5 28. h4 Nd7 29. h5 Ndf8 30. hxg6 hxg6 31. Re1 Qg7 32. Qd2 Ra8
33. Rxa8 Rxa8 34. Bh6 Qh8 35. Bxf8 Nxf8 36. Qf4 Qg7 37. Bd3 Ra2 $132 38. Nf1
Bc8 39. N1h2 Qf7 40. Ng4 Bxg4 41. Qxg4 Rb2 42. Re3 Bg7 43. g3 Bh6 44. Re1 Rxb3
45. Ne5 Qe6 46. Qd1 (46. Bxg6 Qxg4 47. Bf7+ Kg7 48. Nxg4 Kxf7 49. Nxh6+ Kg6 50.
Ng4 $13) 46... Ra3 47. Qb1 Bd2 48. Re2 Bc3 49. Kg2 (49. Nxg6 Qf6 50. Ne7+ Kh8
51. Qc2 Bxd4 $17) 49... Bxd4 50. Nxg6 Qf7 $2 (50... Qf6) 51. Ne7+ Kh8 52. Qh1+
(52. Nxc6 $16) 52... Nh7 53. Bf5 (53. Qxh7+ Qxh7 54. Bxh7 Kxh7 55. Nxc6 Bc3 56.
Re7+ Kh6 57. Rd7 $14) 53... Bc5 54. Qh4 $2 Bxe7 55. Rxe7 Qxf5 $19 56. Re8+ Kg7
57. Qe7+ Qf7 58. Qe5+ Qf6 59. Qc7+ Kh6 60. Re1 Qf3+ 61. Kg1 Qf6 62. Kg2 Ng5 63.
Qc8 Ra2 64. Rh1+ Kg7 65. Qh8+ Kf7 66. Qh5+ Qg6 0-1

[Event "Biel GM"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "2004.07.27"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Sasikiran, Krishnan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2666"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2004.07.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[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 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 c6 15. b3
g6 16. Bb2 Qb6 17. c4 $5 {[%mdl 8] A new and aggressive move.} (17. Qc2 Nh5 (
17... Rac8 18. Bf1 Nh5 19. Rab1 exd4 20. cxd4 d5 21. Ba1 c5 22. exd5 {1/2-1/2
Hort,V-Smejkal,J/Germany 1990/GER-chT (22)}) 18. Bf1 exd4 19. cxd4 d5 20. e5
Nf4 21. Nh2 Ne6 22. Ndf3 c5 $132 {1/2-1/2 Ehlvest,J-Krivonosov,O/Tallinn 1998/
CBM 62 ext (34)}) 17... Nh5 18. b4 Bg7 19. c5 {Make or break.} Qc7 20. cxd6 $5
(20. Nb3 $14) 20... Qxd6 21. dxe5 Qxb4 $1 22. Ba3 Qc3 23. Bd6 Nxe5 {Black is
taking the right decisions so far. White has exchanged his dominating position
for some unclear tactics. The black Q is in a maze and has to tread carefully
not to be trapped.} 24. Ra3 Qb2 25. Rb3 Qa2 26. Nxe5 (26. Bxe5 Bxe5 27. axb5
axb5 28. Bxb5 $2 {doesn´t work due to} cxb5 29. Rxb5 Bc3 30. Rxb7 Red8 $19)
26... Bxe5 27. Bxe5 Rxe5 28. Nc4 $1 {This spirited move decides the game - not
because its decisive, the intimidation works wonders.} Re7 $4 (28... bxc4 $1
29. Bxc4 Qxa4 30. Bxf7+ Kh8 (30... Kxf7 $2 31. Rxb7+ $18) 31. Rxb7 Qxd1 32.
Rxd1 Rxe4 33. Rc1 Rc8 34. Bd5 Nf4 $11) 29. Ra3 $18 {So the Q was lost after
all.} bxc4 30. Rxa2 Rd8 31. Rd2 Red7 32. Qf3 Rxd3 33. Rxd3 Rxd3 34. Re3 Rd7 35.
Qe2 1-0

[Event "FRA-ch"]
[Site "Aix les Bains"]
[Date "2003.08.27"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Sokolov, Andrei"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2554"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2003.08.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 097"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Ng5 Rf8 12. Nf3 Re8 13. Nbd2 Bf8 14. Bc2 Nb8 15.
a4 Nbd7 16. Bd3 c6 17. b4 Nb6 18. axb5 $5 {[%mdl 8]} (18. a5 Nbd7 19. Bb2 g6
20. Qb3 Bg7 21. Rac1 Nh5 22. Bf1 Nf4 23. c4 exd4 24. Nxd4 c5 $132 {1-0
Dervishi,E - Cobb,J/EU-chT 2001/(30)}) 18... axb5 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Nb3 {
White is relying on his pressure against e5 to hold Black down. In principle
Black would like to take and break with exd4 and c5, but it doesn´t work right
now.} Qb8 (20... exd4 21. cxd4 c5 22. Bxb5 Rxe4 23. bxc5 Rxe1+ 24. Nxe1 $16)
21. Na5 Ba8 22. Bg5 Nfd7 23. Bh4 $1 {[%mdl 2048] Sokolov want´s to add more
pressure to e5 with Bg3 to prevent all Black´s breaks in the centre. Then he
wants to start active play with c4 after due preparation.} g6 24. Bg3 Bg7 25.
Qb3 Nf8 26. c4 $1 {[%mdl 4] It´s interesting to follow how Sokolov step by
step improves his position. The pressure against the black centre is
increasing slowly but steadily.} bxc4 (26... exd4 27. c5 $16) 27. Nxc4 Nbd7 (
27... Nxc4 28. Bxc4 Ne6 29. dxe5 dxe5 30. Qc3 Nf4 31. Rd1 Qc7 32. Ng5 Rf8 33.
Qd2 $18 {[%cal Yd2d7]}) 28. Qa2 Ne6 29. Rb1 h6 30. Qa5 $1 {The pressure
against e5 is a main problem for Black and White knows how to keep it up.} Nf4
31. Bxf4 exf4 32. b5 c5 (32... cxb5 33. Rxb5 $18 {[%csl Rd6]}) 33. d5 f5 {
Bacrot correcty decides to break the game open before it´s to late.} 34. exf5
Bxd5 35. b6 Bxf3 36. gxf3 d5 37. Qb5 $1 Rd8 (37... dxc4 38. Bxc4+ Kh8 39. Qxd7
$18) 38. Na5 Ne5 39. Nc6 Nxc6 40. Qxc6 c4 41. Qe6+ Kh8 42. f6 cxd3 43. fxg7+
Kh7 44. Rd1 Kxg7 45. Qe7+ Kg8 46. Ra1 $1 $18 Re8 47. Qf6 d2 48. Qxg6+ Kf8 49.
Qf6+ Kg8 50. Kh2 Re1 51. Ra7 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2674"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[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"]

{[%mdl 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. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3
g6 15. b3 Bg7 16. d5 Qe7 17. c4 c6 18. Be3 Rec8 19. Rc1 a5 20. Qd2 bxc4 (20...
Nc5 21. Bxc5 dxc5 22. dxc6 Bxc6 23. cxb5 Bxb5 24. a4 Bc6 (24... Be8 25. Bd3 Nd7
26. Nf1 Nb6 27. Ne3 $14 {1-0 Hunt,A-Kunte,A/Edinburgh 2003/CBM 095 ext (61)})
25. Bd3 Nd7 26. Nf1 Rcb8 27. Rc3 Rb4 28. Ne3 Kh8 29. Nc4 Nf8 30. Bc2 f6 $11 {
Efimenko, Z-Socko, B/Hastings 2004/0-1}) 21. bxc4 cxd5 22. cxd5 Nc5 23. Bd3 $1
{[%mdl 4] An excellent idea. Black can exchange the B but then his Q-side is
weak.} h5 (23... Nxd3 24. Rxc8+ Bxc8 25. Qxd3 Ba6 26. Qa3 $14) 24. Bxc5 dxc5
25. Qg5 $1 {The Q is annoying on g5 since it prevents the manouvre Se8-d6.} Rc7
26. Nf1 $1 Rac8 27. N1d2 Ne8 28. Qxe7 Rxe7 29. Nc4 Ba6 (29... Ra8 30. d6 Re6
31. Ng5 Rf6 32. d7 $18) 30. Nfxe5 Bxe5 31. Nxe5 c4 32. Bxc4 Rxe5 33. Bxa6 Rxc1
34. Rxc1 Rxe4 35. f3 $1 Re5 36. Rc5 h4 (36... Nd6 37. Rxa5 $18) 37. d6 $1 {
Beautiful final touch!} 1-0

[Event "Biel GM"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "2004.07.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Sasikiran, Krishnan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2666"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2004.07.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} 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
c6 15. b3 g6 16. Bf1 {Not a novelty, but quite unusual. Whites basic central
strategy is the same though. Moves like Bb2/a3, Qc2 and Rad1 are in the
pipeline.} (16. Qc2 {is more common.}) 16... Qc7 (16... Rc8 17. Ba3 Qb6 18. Qc2
Nh5 19. Rad1 Nf4 20. Qa2 Ne6 $13 {0-1 Stefansson,H-Bologan,V/New Delhi/Teheran
2000/CBM 80 (49)}) 17. Bb2 Rac8 {Ftacnik: 'The battle is being fought in a bit
special position, since the pawn structure can take rather varied forms. It is
not easy to choose the flexible squares for pieces in order to be ready for
different alternatives. '} (17... Bg7 {Ftacnik} 18. Qc2 d5 19. exd5 Nxd5 20. c4
$14) 18. Qc2 Qb8 19. g3 (19. axb5 {Ftacnik} axb5 20. Bd3 Bg7 21. dxe5 dxe5 22.
c4 $14) 19... Bg7 20. Rad1 Ba8 {Its a game of wait and see for the moment.
Both sides are making useful moves in case the other side decides to open the
game.} (20... bxa4 $5 {Ftacnik} 21. bxa4 Qc7 $11) 21. axb5 axb5 22. b4 $1 {
White is about to create som real pressure with the typical manouvre dxe5
followed by c4.} c5 $5 {Handing the centre to White, but Blacks two connected
passed P:s are valuable too.} (22... d5 23. dxe5 Nxe5 24. Nxe5 Qxe5 25. c4 $36)
23. bxc5 exd4 (23... dxc5 {Ftacnik} 24. d5 (24. dxe5 Nh5 25. Be2 Rcd8 26. c4 b4
27. Nb3 Qc7 28. Qc1 $14) 24... Qb6 25. Rb1 $16) 24. cxd4 dxc5 25. d5 c4 26. Bc3
Qc7 27. Rb1 Rb8 28. Qa2 Nxe4 $2 {This is highly dubious. Maybe Black was
concerned about the passive B on a8.} (28... Nc5 $13) 29. Nxe4 Bxd5 30. Bxg7
Bxe4 31. Rxe4 $1 (31. Ba1 {Ftacnik} Bxf3 32. Qb2 c3 (32... f6 33. Rxe8+ Rxe8
34. Qxb5 Rc8 35. Rc1 Ne5 36. Bxe5 Qxe5 37. Bxc4+ Kh8 $11) 33. Qxc3 Qxc3 34.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 35. Bxc3 $11) 31... Rxe4 32. Bc3 Re6 {'?' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'This
mistake will be very costly, since the retreat of the rook is giving white a
precious tempo.'} (32... Nc5 {Ftacnik} 33. Bg2 Na4 34. Bf6 Ree8 35. Qd2 Re6 $13
) 33. Qd2 $1 {[%csl Rg7][%cal Yc3g7,Yd2h6,Yh6g7,Yd2d4] White has chances for
an attack - that is the factor that gives him the edge.} f6 34. Qd5 Qc6 (34...
Qd6 {Ftacnik} 35. Rxb5 Qxd5 36. Rxd5 $18) 35. Qxc6 Rxc6 36. Nd4 Rc5 37. Rxb5 $1
{The winning trick. Ftacnik: 'The rest of the game is only a matter of good
technique and the exchampion is convincingly cashing the advantage in the
style of Karpov.'} Rbxb5 38. Nxb5 Ne5 39. Nd6 Kg7 40. f4 Nd7 41. Nxc4 $18 h5
42. Kf2 Rc6 43. Bd4 Nc5 44. Kf3 Ne6 45. Bb2 Kf7 46. Ne3 Nc7 47. Bc4+ Kg7 48.
Ke4 Ne8 49. Bd4 Rc7 50. Kd3 Rd7 51. Bb5 Rd8 52. Bxe8 Rxe8 53. Nd5 Re6 54. Nxf6
$1 {Simplifying into an easily won P-ending.} Rxf6 55. g4 hxg4 56. hxg4 Kf7 57.
Bxf6 Kxf6 58. Kd4 Ke6 59. Kc5 Ke7 60. Kd5 Kd7 61. Ke5 Ke7 62. g5 1-0

[Event "Bundesliga 0203"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "2003.03.29"]
[Round "14.2"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2684"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2002.10.19"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 095"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.07.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.07.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Baden Oos"]
[BlackTeam "Porz"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 c5 ({Less common than:} 12...
Re8) 13. Nf1 Re8 14. d5 g6 15. b3 (15. Be3 Bf8 16. N1h2 Bg7 17. Ng4 Nxg4 18.
hxg4 Nf6 {1/2-1/2 Spassky,B-Gligoric,S/Bath 1973/EU-chT (18)}) (15. a4 Nb6 16.
Ne3 Nxa4 17. Bxa4 bxa4 18. Nc4 Bc8 19. Qxa4 {1/2-1/2 Georgiev,K-Sygulski,A/
Warsaw 1983/MCD (19)}) 15... Nb6 (15... a5 $5 16. Rb1 Nh5 17. Ne3 Ba6 18. c4 b4
19. g3 Bc8 20. Kh2 Ndf6 21. Ng1 Ng7 22. Rb2 Nfh5 23. Ng4 Rf8 $40 {0-1 Cervetto,
E-Slipak,S/Villa Martelli 1998/EXT 2000 (48)}) 16. Ne3 {We have a P-formation
typical of the closed Ruy Lopes. But quite often Black has a N on a5 to worry
about in these situations. Now it´s on b6 which is more flexible. Still the
only one who can be better here is White with his considerable space advantage.
} (16. a4 bxa4 17. bxa4 a5 18. Ne3 Ba6 19. Ng4 Nxg4 20. hxg4 Bc8 21. Nd2 Bg5
22. Bd3 Bd7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Torre,E-Gligoric,S/Nice 1974/EXT 2000 (48)}) 16... Bc8
17. a4 Bd7 18. a5 Nc8 19. b4 c4 {With the preliminary fighting over on the
Q-side the real game begins on the K-side.} 20. g4 h5 21. Nh2 hxg4 22. hxg4 Nh7
23. Kg2 Bg5 24. Rh1 Qf6 25. Bd2 Ne7 26. Qe2 Kg7 27. Rag1 Rh8 {Both sides mass
pieces on the K-side for the coming battle.} 28. Kf1 Bf4 29. Nf5+ $5 {[%mdl
640] In the right moment before Black has moved Ra8 to g8 with all pieces in
play.} gxf5 30. gxf5+ Kf8 31. Ng4 Qg7 32. Rh6 $5 f6 (32... Bxh6 $2 33. Bxh6 $18
) 33. Bxf4 exf4 34. e5 $1 (34. Rgh1 {just pinning Black into submission was
also interesting. One idea is to continue with f3 and then play the N to f4
via f2 and h3 after due preparation.}) 34... dxe5 $2 (34... Ng8 $142 35. exf6
Qf7 36. Rh3 Re8 37. Qd2 Ngxf6 38. Qxf4 Rg8 $13) 35. d6 Nxf5 36. Nxe5 Qxh6 (
36... fxe5 $2 37. Rxg7 Kxg7 38. Qh5 $1 $18) 37. Nxd7+ Kf7 38. Bxf5 Rae8 39. Qf3
Ng5 40. Qb7 Qh5 41. Bg4 $2 {What a pity.} (41. Ne5+ $1 Kg8 42. d7 Rd8 43. Qd5+
Kg7 44. Qd6 $1 {Nice move - easy to miss. The Q threatens to come to e7 with
deadly effect.} Rhf8 45. Ng6 $18) 41... Qh7 42. Ne5+ Kf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sarajevo Bosnia 33rd"]
[Site "Sarajevo"]
[Date "2003.05.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2677"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2003.05.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 096"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.09.25"]
[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 c5 (12... Re8 {is the main line.
}) 13. Nf1 (13. d5 {looks normal but is what Black is hoping for.} g6 {and
Black can play for Nh5 and f5. The point is that Black has avoided losing time
with Re8-f8.}) 13... Re8 14. Ng3 ({For} 14. d5 {see 1/2-1/2 Svidler,P-Sokolov,
I/Germany 2003 (42)}) 14... cxd4 15. cxd4 exd4 (15... Bf8 16. b3 exd4 17. Bb2
Rc8 18. Nxd4 d5 19. exd5 Rxe1+ 20. Qxe1 Bxd5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Sznapik,A-Kholmov,R/
Sochi 1974/EXT 2001 (38)}) 16. Nxd4 d5 $5 {[%mdl 8]} (16... Bf8 {1-0
Mihalincic,T-Njirjak,J/Tucepi 1996/EXT 98 (40)}) 17. exd5 (17. e5 $2 Bb4 $1 $17
) 17... Bxd5 18. Ndf5 Bf8 19. Be3 {White has slightly more active pieces, but
Black has a solid position.} Qc7 20. Qd2 Qb7 $1 {[%cal Yd5g2] The pressure on
the white diagonal is quite irritating for White. Shirov decides to defend
with a counter attack.} 21. Bd4 $5 Bxg2 $1 22. Qg5 g6 23. Nh6+ (23. Bxf6 Bxh3
24. Nh4 h6 25. Qf4 Nxf6 26. Qxf6 Bg7 27. Qd6 g5 $40) 23... Bxh6 24. Qxh6 {
[%cal Yg3f5] White has some black squared weaknesses to work on for the P.}
Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Re8 26. Rxe8+ Nxe8 27. Qe3 (27. Nf5 $5 gxf5 28. Qg5+ Kf8 29.
Qxg2 Qxg2+ 30. Kxg2 Nd6 31. Kf3 $13) 27... Ng7 28. Bxg7 Kxg7 29. Qg5 (29. Nf5+
{leads to a draw.}) 29... Bxh3 30. Nh5+ Kg8 31. Qd8+ Nf8 32. Be4 $2 {Now Black
gets the better of it.} (32. Nf6+ Kg7 33. Ne8+ $11) 32... Qc8 33. Nf6+ Kh8 34.
Qe7 Be6 35. Kg2 Nd7 (35... Bxa2 $17) 36. Nxd7 Bxd7 37. Qxf7 Be6 38. Qf6+ Kg8
39. a3 Bf7 40. f3 Qd7 41. b4 a5 42. bxa5 Qd2+ 43. Kh3 Qxa5 44. Qd6 Qa7 45. Kg2
Bc4 46. Bd5+ Bxd5 47. Qxd5+ Kf8 48. Qxb5 Qxa3 49. Qb8+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "POL-ch 57th"]
[Site "Plock"]
[Date "2000.05.01"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Blehm, Pawel"]
[Black "Socko, Bartosz"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2494"]
[BlackElo "2556"]
[Annotator "Wells,P"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2000.04.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[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. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
a4 c6 16. Bd3 Qc7 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bd2 Bg7 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. b4 Rad8 21. Bf1 Nb6
22. a5 Nc4 $1 {[%mdl 2080] Much as discussed in the notes to Wells - Schulte
above, I suspect it is around here that the idea of the exchange sacrifice has
to take root. The move is rich in strategical significance: of course on the
one hand the exchange of white's light-squared bishop is highly desirable -
after all it creates a hole on d3 which is crtitical to black's entire idea.
However, be in no doubt, if black cannot hold his the c4 pawn which will
result from the exchange then the move is a bad one. Moreover, any aspiration
to create counterplay on the light squares requires at the very least that the
move ...c5 can be executed. So, the justification lies very much in specifics
- see note to 25 Rec1...} 23. Bxc4 bxc4 24. Qe2 Rd3 25. Rec1 {[%csl Yb6,Rb7,
Yc5,Rc6][%cal Yd2e3,Yf3d2,Yd2c4] White covers his c-pawn, and hence threatens
Be3 putting a bind on black's queenside, and certainly preventing black's
potential light-square superiority from coming to fruition. Note that if
white's c3 pawn was already covered and he could here simply play Be3 then
black's entire play would look very dubious. IT ALL RESTS ON SPECIFICS!} c5 $8
{[%cal Gb7e4] Of course.} 26. Ne1 {[%cal Yb7e4,Gd3g3,Yf6e4]} Rxg3 $1 {A good
sacrifice, to be sure, and refreshing to see such 'Sicilian style' motifs in a
Closed Spanish. Still the most instructive thing here is to look at black's
last 5 or so moves as a whole, and to see again how the concrete aspects of
the position enabled the whole plan to hold together.} 27. fxg3 Nxe4 28. Be3
cxb4 29. cxb4 Rc8 $15 {[%csl Gc4,Ge4,Ge5][%cal Gb7e4,Gg7f8,Gf8b4] Black's
position is a picture of health. All his pieces are functioning and both his
passed pawns look potentially threatening rather than vulnerable. I am fairly
sure that he could have continued the struggle a bit longer.} 30. g4 Bf8 31.
Rab1 Ng3 32. Qf2 Ne4 33. Qe2 Ng3 34. Qf2 Ne4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Sherzer, Alex"]
[Black "Lesiege, Alexandre"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2500"]
[BlackElo "2485"]
[Annotator "Wolff,P"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
b3 $5 {Favored by Judit Polgar in her match against Spassky in Budapest 1993.
Alex Sherzer, coincidentally, happened to be in Budapest at the time, so he
may have spoken briefly with the Polgars about this line, or other matters.} d5
16. Bg5 $1 {Polgar} h6 17. Bh4 $1 g5 $146 (17... dxe4 18. Nxe4 g5 19. dxe5 Nxe4
20. Bxe4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 gxh4 22. Rd4 Re7 (22... Qc8 23. Rxd7 Bd6 24. Rxd6 cxd6
25. Qxd6 $16 {Granda Zuniga}) 23. e6 $1 fxe6 24. Ne5 $16 {Polgar,J-Spassky,B
Budapest match (8) 1993}) 18. Nxg5 hxg5 19. Bxg5 dxe4 (19... exd4 $5 20. e5
Rxe5 (20... Nxe5 21. Qxd4 {/\ Qh4,Nf5, and White has a strong attack. In this
case, keeping the pair of rooks helps White.}) 21. Rxe5 Nxe5 22. Qxd4 Qd6 $1 (
22... Bd6 23. Qh4 Ned7 24. Nf5 $18 {This is a winning attack, but White can
also win by 24.Bh7+ if he/she so chooses.}) (22... Ned7 23. Qh4 $16 {e.g.} Bg7
24. Nf5 Qf8 25. Re1 Re8 26. Rxe8 Qxe8 27. Nxg7 Kxg7 28. Bxf6+ Nxf6 29. Qg5+ Kf8
30. Qxf6) 23. Nf5 (23. Qh4 Ned7 (23... Ne4 $5)) 23... Qe6 {White's position
looks menacing, but it's not easy to find a convincing line.}) 20. Bxe4 $1 Bxe4
21. Rxe4 {Excellently done by White. The R on e4 is a powerful addition to the
attack- ing army on the kingside!} Qc8 22. Rh4 exd4 23. cxd4 Bg7 24. Nf5 Nf8
25. Qf3 $16 Re6 26. d5 Re5 27. Nh6+ $1 Bxh6 28. Bxf6 Bg7 29. Bxe5 Bxe5 30. Re1
Ng6 31. Rg4 Bg7 32. h4 $18 Kh8 33. Rge4 Qg8 34. h5 Nf8 35. Re7 Nh7 36. Qxf7
Qxf7 37. Rxf7 Bc3 38. Ree7 Nf6 39. Rxc7 Nxd5 40. Ra7 Re8 41. Rxa6 Kg8 42. Rf5
Nb4 43. Rg6+ Kh8 44. Rh6+ Kg7 45. Rg6+ Kh8 46. a3 Nd3 47. Rf3 1-0

[Event "Candidates FIDE m3"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Van der Sterren, Paul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Wolff,P"]
[PlyCount "158"]
[EventDate "1994.01.16"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Hansen,LB} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14.
Ng3 g6 15. b3 Bg7 (15... d5 16. Bg5 $1 h6 17. Bh4 dxe4 18. Nxe4 {This is the
other way to play for Black, but it has been doing well for White of late.})
16. d5 Nb6 17. Be3 (17. Qe2 $2 c6 18. c4 cxd5 19. cxd5 Nfxd5 20. exd5 e4 21.
Nxe4 Bxa1 22. Bg5 f6 23. Bh4 Bxd5 24. Rxa1 Bxe4 25. Bxe4 d5 26. Qb2 dxe4 27.
Bxf6 Qd6 28. Nh2 h5 $17 {Kovalev,A-Gabriel,C Bundesliega 1993}) 17... Rc8 18.
Qe2 c6 19. c4 cxd5 20. cxd5 Nbxd5 {! Hansen,LB} 21. exd5 Nxd5 22. Be4 $5 $146 (
22. b4 Nxb4 23. Bb3 Bd5 24. Red1 Bc4 25. Qd2 Nd3 $17 {Polgar,J-Spassky,B
Budapest Match 1993}) (22. Qd2 $5 {Hansen,LB Michalchisjin}) 22... Nc3 23. Bxb7
Nxe2+ 24. Nxe2 d5 $1 (24... Rc2 25. Bd5 $14) (24... Rb8 $2 {Hansen,LB} 25. Bd5
$16) 25. Bxc8 Qxc8 26. Rac1 Qa8 (26... Qb7 27. Bc5 b4 $44 28. Nf4 a5 $13) 27.
Bb6 d4 (27... Qb7 28. Ba5 b4 $13) 28. Ng3 f5 29. Nf1 d3 30. N3d2 Rc8 31. b4 $5
{><c5} e4 32. f3 Rxc1 33. Rxc1 Qb7 34. Be3 exf3 35. Nxf3 Bb2 36. Rc5 Ba3 37.
Rc3 (37. Bf4 $5 {Hansen,LB /\Rc7,Ng5->}) 37... Bxb4 38. Rxd3 $14 Be7 39. N1d2 {
?! Hansen,LB} Qc7 40. Bd4 Qc1+ 41. Kf2 Qc2 42. Re3 Kf8 43. a3 Qa2 44. g4 Bxa3
45. gxf5 gxf5 46. Re5 Qc2 47. Be3 Bb2 48. Rc5 Qd3 49. Rc8+ Kf7 50. Ng5+ Ke7 51.
Rc7+ Ke8 52. Ndf3 (52. Rxh7 $6 {Hansen,LB} Bd4 $1 53. Nf1 b4 $17) 52... h6 53.
Ne6 Qd6 54. Rc8+ Kf7 55. Nd8+ Kg7 56. Bf4 {?! Hansen,LB} (56. Rc7+ $5 {Hansen,
LB}) 56... Qb6+ (56... Qxf4 $4 {Hansen,LB} 57. Ne6+ $18) 57. Kg3 (57. Be3 $5 {
Hansen,LB}) 57... Bf6 58. Rb8 Bxd8 59. Rxb6 Bxb6 $10 {Black is never in danger
because his queenside pawns are so strong.} 60. Be5+ (60. Nh4 Kf6 61. Bxh6 a5
62. Nf3 (62. Bd2 b4 63. Ng2 (63. Nf3 Bc5 64. Ne1 a4 65. Nd3 Bd6+ 66. Kf3 b3)
63... Bd4 $1 {/\ ...b4-b3}) (62. Bf8 b4 63. Ng2 Kf7 64. Bd6 Ke6) 62... b4 63.
Bf8 Be3 $1 64. Ne1 Kf7 $1 (64... b3 65. Nd3 Bc1 66. Bc5) 65. Bd6 Ke6 66. Bf8 (
66. Bf4 Bxf4+ 67. Kxf4 b3 (67... a4 68. Nd3 b3 69. Nc5+ Kd5 70. Nxa4) 68. Nd3
Kf6 69. Nb2 Kg6 $10) 66... Kf7) 60... Kf7 61. Kf4 Ke6 62. Bg7 {?! Hansen,LB}
Bc7+ 63. Ke3 Bb6+ 64. Kd3 $6 {? Hansen,LB} (64. Kf4 $10 {Hansen,LB}) 64... h5
65. Bc3 {?! Hansen,LB} (65. Nd4+ $1 $10) 65... a5 66. Bd2 {Adjourned} a4 67.
Nd4+ Bxd4 68. Kxd4 a3 69. Bb4 a2 70. Bc3 b4 71. Ba1 Kd6 72. Kc4 $4 (72. h4 $1
$10 {P. Van der Sterren} Ke6 (72... b3 73. Kc4 f4 74. Kd4 $1 (74. Kxb3 f3 $19)
74... f3 75. Ke3 Kd5 76. Kxf3 Kc4 77. Ke2 Kb4 78. Kd2 Ka3 79. Kc3) (72... Kc6
73. Ke5 Kc5 74. Kxf5 Kc4 75. Ke4 Kb3 76. Kd3) (72... f4 73. Ke4 Kc5 74. Kxf4
Kc4 75. Ke3 Kb3 76. Kd2) 73. Bb2 $1 $10) 72... Kc6 $1 73. Kb3 (73. Kd4 Kb5 74.
Kd3 Ka4 75. Kc2 f4 $19) (73. Bd4 f4 74. Kb3 Kd5 $19) (73. h4 f4 74. Kd3 Kd5 75.
Bh8 f3 76. Ke3 Kc4 $19) (73. Kxb4 Kd5 74. Kc3 (74. Kb3 f4 $19) 74... Ke4 75.
Kd2 Kf3 $19 {/\ ...Kg2, ...f5-f4-f3-f2-f1} 76. Kc2 Kg2 77. Kb3 f4 78. Kxa2 f3
79. Bd4 f2 80. Bxf2 Kxf2 81. Kb2 Kg3 82. Kc2 Kxh3 83. Kd2 Kg2 $19) 73... Kd5
74. Kxa2 f4 75. Bf6 f3 76. Bh4 Kd4 77. Kb3 Ke3 78. Kxb4 f2 79. Bxf2+ Kxf2 {
The white King doesn't reach the saving square f1.} 0-1

[Event "USA-ch"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.04.05"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Zherebukh, Yaroslav"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2817"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2017.03.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 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 {The Spanish torture - this is how playing such
positions has long been characterized. In the bad old Soviet days every
Russian schoolboy was tasked to learn the classical Closed Spanish Game
first-hand for both White and Black.} h6 ({The famous game Anand-Carlsen,
Norway Chess 2015 comes to mind:} 17... Bg7 $2 18. Qd2 Rb8 {One of the
problems plaguing Black is his inabilty to get the bishop out of b7 without
surrendering the a-file to the white rook.} (18... Nc5 19. Nh2 h5 {is standard.
}) 19. Nh2 Bc8 {Magnus decided to part with the bishop, which handed White
free attacking prospects. Vishy didn't miss his chance.} 20. Ng4 Nc5 21. Nh6+
Bxh6 22. Bxh6 {1-0(47)}) 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2 h5 20. Bg5 Bg7 $2 {I wonder what
brought Fabiano Caruana to choose this opening line. It is hard to see it as
an attempt to play for a win, as the patterns of play for White have long been
mapped out and drilled into our thick heads. Anyway, Black's last move is
wrong. Leaving the knight pinned will soon prompt Fabiano to move his queen
away from the kingside.} (20... Be7 21. Ra3 Nfd7 {is the right plan.} 22. Bh6
Nb6 $1 23. a5 Nbd7 {Having forced the issue on the other side Black now
returns to his defensive duties. With good luck and some tail wind he may even
survive this.}) 21. Rf1 (21. Nh4 Qc7 22. Bh6 Bh8 23. f4 exf4 24. Qxf4 {is more
direct, albeit this kind of play may actually help Black to focus on the task
at hand, rather than sit there and wonder why he chose this way in the first
place.}) 21... Qc7 22. Bh6 Bh8 (22... Bxh6 23. Qxh6 Qe7 24. Ng5 Qf8 25. Nf5 $1
{is one of those tactical tricks White always seems to have in his possession.
Now} Rad8 26. axb5 axb5 27. Ra7 {surrenders the a-file, while the kingside
bind is impossible to break.}) (22... Nh7 {may have been best, as} 23. Nh4 Qd8
24. Nhf5 Bf6 {leads White nowhere. For now.}) 23. Ng5 {White clears out for
the f2-f4 push.} Nh7 24. Nxh7 Kxh7 25. Be3 Qe7 26. f4 exf4 27. Bxf4 ({Also
good for White was} 27. Rxf4 Be5 28. Rf3 f6 29. Ne2 $14 {Unlike similar King's
Indian structures, here White wisely kept his pawn on c3, while Black
inadvertantly surrendered the d4-square to the white knight.}) 27... Kg8 28.
Rf3 Bg7 29. Raf1 Nd7 $2 {Such a logical move, yet a decisive mistake.} 30. Bh6
$1 Bxh6 ({The desirable move} 30... Be5 {loses the f7-pawn. White may even
choose} 31. Nxh5 gxh5 ({"better" is} 31... Rf8 {but I find it hard to comment
on this.}) 32. Rxf7 Qxf7 33. Qg5+ Qg7 34. Bxg7 Bxg7 35. e5 $1 {to bring the
point home in style.}) 31. Qxh6 Qf8 32. Qd2 $2 {Probably, the only moment in
the whole game where Yaro's play can be criticized.} (32. Nf5 $1 {would have
saved Fabiano from unnecessary suffering and let the spectators back home in
time for dinner. There may follow:} Ne5 33. Rg3 Qxh6 34. Nxh6+ Kg7 (34... Kf8
35. Rxg6 $1) 35. Nf5+ Kf8 36. Nxd6 Re7 37. Rg5 Bc8 38. Rxe5 Rxe5 39. Rxf7+ Kg8
40. Rc7 {it's not entirely forced, but you get my drift.}) 32... Ne5 33. Rf6
Rad8 34. Qg5 Qg7 35. Bd1 (35. Ne2 bxa4 36. Bxa4 Rf8 37. Nd4 Bc8 38. Nc6 $18 {
as another way into Black's poorly insulated fortress.}) 35... Bc8 36. Qh4 Kf8
37. Qf4 Qg8 {It is really sad to see Fabiano reduced to such pathetic little
moves. On top of everything, he was in big time trouble.} 38. Kh1 ({Knowing
that he had the game in hand, Yaro wouldn't allow even a slightest mess:} 38.
Bxh5 gxh5 39. Nxh5 Bxh3 40. Qh6+ Ke7 41. Ng7 Bg4) 38... Re7 39. Bxh5 bxa4 (
39... gxh5 40. Nxh5 Red7 41. Re6 $1 {Piece of cake.} Qh7 42. Rh6 Qg8 43. Qf6
$18) 40. Bd1 Qg7 41. Bxa4 Qh7 42. Qg5 a5 ({Black could have made some noise:} 
42... Bxh3 43. gxh3 Qxh3+ 44. Kg1 Ng4 45. Rxf7+ Rxf7 46. Qxd8+ Kg7 47. Rxf7+
Kxf7 48. Nf1 Qf3 {but, of course,} 49. Qc7+ Kg8 50. Qb8+ Kg7 51. Qa7+ Kh6 52.
Qd4 {beats it off easily.}) 43. Kg1 Qh8 44. R1f4 Qg7 45. Rh4 Nd3 46. Rh6 Ne5 ({
Not even the last snack is afforded before the execution:} 46... Nxb2 47. Rhxg6
) 47. Rf4 Bd7 48. Qh4 Kg8 49. Qxe7 Re8 50. Qg5 Bxa4 51. Rf6 {Finally, Caruana
resigned.} 1-0

