© chesszone magazine #11, 2009...

© ChessZone Magazine #11, 2009 http://www.chesszone.org

Table of contents: # 11, 2009

News............................................................................................................................4

Tal Memorial 2009 ...................................................................................................4 European team championship..................................................................................4 FIDE Rating List (Nov, 2009) ...................................................................................5

Games .........................................................................................................................9 (01) Bologan,Viktor (2688) - Tiviakov,Sergei (2670) [B01] .......................................9 (02) Savchenko,Boris (2638) - Kamsky,Gata (2692) [C18] ....................................10 (03) Carlsen,Magnus (2772) - Topalov,Veselin (2813) [E90] .................................11 (04) Karjakin,Sergey (2722) - Chatalbashev,Boris (2556) [B09] ............................12 (05) Ivanchuk,Vassily (2756) - Svidler,Peter (2741) [A11]......................................13 (06) Carlsen,Magnus (2772) - Wang Yue (2736) [D17]..........................................15 (07) Eljanov,Pavel (2717) - Akopian,Vladimir (2698) [E04] ....................................18 (08) Aronian,Levon (2773) - Alekseev,Evgeny (2725) [E05] ..................................19 (09) Grischuk,Alexander (2733) - Aronian,Levon (2773) [D43] ..............................21 (10) Svidler,Peter (2741) - Motylev,Alexander (2710) [C42]...................................22

Editorial staff: .............................................................................................................24

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News

Tal Memorial 2009

The Tal Memorial took place 4th-19th November 2009. Kramnik took clear first place with 6/9, half a point clear of Vassily Ivanchuk and Magnus Carlsen. Aronian beat World Champion Viswanathan Anand in the final round and Magnus Carlsen won his second game in a row.

Tal Memorial Moscow (RUS), 5-14 xi 2009 cat. XXI (2764) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0

1. Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2772 * = = = = = 1 1 = 1 6 28882. Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2739 = * = = = 1 = = = 1 5,5 28463. Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 2801 = = * = = = 1 = 1 = 5,5 28394. Aronian, Levon g ARM 2786 = = = * 1 0 = = 1 = 5 28045. Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2788 = = = 0 * = = 1 1 = 5 28046. Gelfand, Boris g ISR 2758 = 0 = 1 = * = = = = 4,5 27647. Ponomariov, Ruslan g UKR 2739 0 = 0 = = = * = = 1 4 27238. Svidler, Peter g RUS 2754 0 = = = 0 = = * = = 3,5 26859. Leko, Peter g HUN 2752 = = 0 0 0 = = = * = 3 264010. Morozevich, Alexander g RUS 2750 0 0 = = = = 0 = = * 3 2640

European team championship

The 17th European Team Championship took place in Novi Sad (Serbia) October 21st-31st 2009.

Azerbaijan took first place after beating the Netherlands 2.5-1.5. They overhauled Rus-sia in the final round after they were held 2-2 by Spain. Alexander Morozevich won on board 2 but Ivan Salgado Lopez beat Evgeny Alekseev in spite of a huge rating gap to level the match. It all came to one game. With the Azerbaijan - Netherlands match tied at 1.5 each the final game saw Vugar Gashimov convert an extra pawn against Daniel Stellwagen. Ukraine team finished third.

Best players according rating perfomance No. Name Rtg Team Rp Pts. Games % Bo.1 GM Eljanov Pavel 2717 Ukraine 2823 6,0 8 75,0 1 2 GM Morozevich Alexander 2750 Russia 2820 4,5 6 75,0 1 3 GM Gashimov Vugar 2740 Azerbaijan 2813 6,5 9 72,2 2 4 GM Hammer Jon Ludvig 2585 Norway 2792 6,5 9 72,2 1 5 GM Mamedov Rauf 2626 Azerbaijan 2783 3,0 4 75,0 4 6 GM Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2721 Azerbaijan 2777 6,5 9 72,2 3 7 GM Svidler Peter 2741 Russia 2777 5,0 8 62,5 1 8 GM Petrosian Tigran L 2602 Armenia 2758 6,0 8 75,0 4 9 GM Bacrot Etienne 2709 France 2758 5,0 8 62,5 1 10 GM Navara David 2692 Czech Republic 2752 5,5 9 61,1 1 11 GM Caruana Fabiano 2662 Italy 2751 5,5 8 68,8 1

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12 GM Sargissian Gabriel 2678 Armenia 2747 5,5 8 68,8 2 13 GM Almasi Zoltan 2685 Hungary 2743 4,5 7 64,3 1 14 GM Shirov Alexei 2730 Spain 2738 5,5 9 61,1 1 15 GM Tomashevsky Evgeny 2688 Russia 2722 5,5 8 68,8 4 16 GM Jobava Baadur 2696 Georgia 2721 5,0 9 55,6 1 17 GM Fressinet Laurent 2658 France 2717 5,0 8 62,5 1 18 GM Topalov Veselin 2813 Bulgaria 2710 2,5 4 62,5 1 19 GM L'Ami Erwin 2606 Netherlands 2709 6,0 9 66,7 2 20 GM Nyback Tomi 2615 Finland 2708 6,5 9 72,2 1 21 GM Aronian Levon 2773 Armenia 2707 4,5 8 56,3 1 22 GM Fridman Daniel 2661 Germany 2703 5,5 8 68,8 2

FIDE Rating List (Nov, 2009)

Magnus Carlsen moves into second and to within 9 points of Veselin Topalov as a result of his super win in the Pearl Spring tournament. He overtakes Viswanathan Anand who will play with Carlsen in the Tal Memorial which starts in a few days. Levon Aronian gained 13 points to move within a couple of points of Anand but he drops from 3rd to 4th due to Carlsen's rise.

Vugar Gashimov enters the top 10 for the first time with a gain of 18 points. Peter Svidler re-enters the top 10 with a gain of 14 points. Radjabov and Ivanchuk drop out of the top 10 to 11th and 12th. Farrukh Amonatov, Gadir Guseinov, Dmitry Andreikin, Julio Granda Zuniga, Wesley So and Sergey Fedorchuk drop out of the top 100.

FIDE Rating List November 2009 Top 100 Rk Se09 Name Title NAT YroB se09 Rating Gms

1 1 Topalov, Veselin g BUL 1975 2813 2810 10 2 4 Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 1990 2772 2801 10 3 2 Anand, Viswanathan g IND 1969 2788 2788 0 4 3 Aronian, Levon g ARM 1982 2773 2786 13 5 5 Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 1975 2772 2772 0 6 14 Gashimov, Vugar g AZE 1986 2740 2758 11 7 9 Gelfand, Boris g ISR 1968 2756 2758 11 8 12 Svidler, Peter g RUS 1976 2741 2754 17 9 6 Leko, Peter g HUN 1979 2762 2752 10 10 10 Morozevich, Alexander g RUS 1977 2750 2750 0 11 7 Radjabov, Teimour g AZE 1987 2757 2748 10 12 8 Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 1969 2756 2739 13 13 13 Ponomariov, Ruslan g UKR 1983 2741 2739 5 14 17 Grischuk, Alexander g RUS 1983 2733 2736 13 15 11 Jakovenko, Dmitry g RUS 1983 2742 2736 10 16 15 Wang, Yue g CHN 1987 2736 2734 27 17 24 Eljanov, Pavel g UKR 1983 2717 2729 15

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18 20 Karjakin, Sergey g UKR 1990 2722 2723 12 19 21 Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar g AZE 1985 2721 2719 25 20 18 Shirov, Alexei g ESP 1972 2730 2719 18 21 22 Dominguez Perez, Leinier g CUB 1983 2719 2719 0 22 26 Movsesian, Sergei g SVK 1978 2711 2718 16 23 23 Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime g FRA 1990 2718 2718 0 24 16 Nakamura, Hikaru g USA 1987 2735 2715 17 25 19 Alekseev, Evgeny g RUS 1985 2725 2715 7 26 36 Vallejo Pons, Francisco g ESP 1982 2696 2711 20 27 44 Tomashevsky, Evgeny g RUS 1987 2688 2708 21 28 42 Wang, Hao g CHN 1989 2690 2708 13 29 29 Short, Nigel D g ENG 1965 2706 2707 16 30 39 Navara, David g CZE 1985 2692 2707 9 31 25 Malakhov, Vladimir g RUS 1980 2715 2706 26 32 31 Kasimdzhanov, Rustam g UZB 1979 2702 2705 5 33 48 Almasi, Zoltan g HUN 1976 2685 2704 15 34 28 Bacrot, Etienne g FRA 1983 2709 2700 27 35 34 Akopian, Vladimir g ARM 1971 2698 2700 7 36 50 Adams, Michael g ENG 1971 2682 2698 12 37 30 Rublevsky, Sergei g RUS 1974 2703 2697 17 38 45 Nielsen, Peter Heine g DEN 1973 2687 2697 10 39 35 Jobava, Baadur g GEO 1983 2696 2696 0 40 27 Motylev, Alexander g RUS 1979 2710 2695 23 41 38 Kamsky, Gata g USA 1974 2692 2695 16 42 53 Vitiugov, Nikita g RUS 1987 2681 2694 24 43 43 Bologan, Viktor g MDA 1971 2688 2692 24 44 52 Volokitin, Andrei g UKR 1986 2681 2691 16 45 47 Naiditsch, Arkadij g GER 1985 2685 2689 26 46 41 Miroshnichenko, Evgenij g UKR 1978 2690 2686 26 47 32 Bu, Xiangzhi g CHN 1985 2702 2682 22 48 46 Polgar, Judit g HUN 1976 2687 2680 6 49 37 Moiseenko, Alexander g UKR 1980 2694 2677 17 50 67 Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter g ROU 1976 2664 2677 14 51 54 Sargissian, Gabriel g ARM 1983 2678 2676 16 52 33 Onischuk, Alexander g USA 1975 2699 2672 18 53 56 Harikrishna, P. g IND 1986 2673 2672 16 54 68 Georgiev, Kiril g BUL 1965 2663 2672 13 55 62 Cheparinov, Ivan g BUL 1986 2667 2671 5 56 83 Efimenko, Zahar g UKR 1985 2654 2668 24 57 55 Sutovsky, Emil g ISR 1977 2676 2666 26 58 59 Kurnosov, Igor g RUS 1985 2669 2666 20 59 51 Najer, Evgeniy g RUS 1977 2681 2666 17 60 40 Ni, Hua g CHN 1983 2692 2665 35 61 57 Tiviakov, Sergei g NED 1973 2670 2664 34 62 63 Areshchenko, Alexander g UKR 1986 2667 2664 16

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63 81 Landa, Konstantin g RUS 1972 2655 2664 16 64 74 Sasikiran, Krishnan g IND 1981 2661 2664 9 65 88 Smirin, Ilia g ISR 1968 2648 2662 16 66 69 Berkes, Ferenc g HUN 1985 2663 2661 21 67 93 Riazantsev, Alexander g RUS 1985 2646 2661 16 68 78 Roiz, Michael g ISR 1983 2658 2659 3 69 85 Krasenkow, Michal g POL 1963 2651 2656 19 70 90 Lastin, Alexander g RUS 1976 2648 2656 11 71 70 Pashikian, Arman g ARM 1987 2663 2656 11 72 71 Dreev, Alexey g RUS 1969 2662 2655 44 73 92 Baklan, Vladimir g UKR 1978 2646 2655 32 74 60 Avrukh, Boris g ISR 1978 2668 2655 7 75 -- Ganguly, Surya Shekhar g IND 1983 2634 2654 25 76 95 Fier, Alexandr g BRA 1988 2644 2653 28 77 100 Kazhgaleyev, Murtas g KAZ 1973 2643 2653 15 78 77 Fressinet, Laurent g FRA 1981 2658 2653 14 79 65 Meier, Georg g GER 1987 2664 2653 10 80 49 Grachev, Boris g RUS 1986 2684 2652 23 81 72 Caruana, Fabiano g ITA 1992 2662 2652 21 82 82 Predojevic, Borki g BIH 1987 2654 2652 17 83 86 Van Wely, Loek g NED 1972 2650 2652 15 84 79 Sokolov, Ivan g BIH 1968 2657 2652 11 85 76 Milov, Vadim g SUI 1972 2659 2652 5 86 61 Timofeev, Artyom g RUS 1985 2668 2651 22 87 84 Postny, Evgeny g ISR 1981 2651 2650 26 88 -- Smeets, Jan g NED 1985 2642 2650 17 89 73 Fridman, Daniel g GER 1976 2661 2649 15 90 94 Seirawan, Yasser g USA 1960 2646 2649 1 91 -- Vescovi, Giovanni g BRA 1978 2636 2648 19 92 80 Beliavsky, Alexander G g SLO 1953 2656 2648 17 93 91 Zhigalko, Sergei g BLR 1989 2646 2646 0 94 66 Inarkiev, Ernesto g RUS 1985 2664 2645 21 95 -- Savchenko, Boris g RUS 1986 2638 2644 29 96 -- Khismatullin, Denis g RUS 1984 2614 2643 16 97 -- Socko, Bartosz g POL 1978 2637 2643 15 98 89 Kobalia, Mikhail g RUS 1978 2648 2643 9 99 -- Korobov, Anton g UKR 1985 2633 2642 14 100 58 Tkachiev, Vladislav g FRA 1973 2669 2642 14 101 87 Tregubov, Pavel V. g RUS 1971 2649 2642 11

Sources:

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1) http://www.e3e5.com 2) The Week In Chess http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/twic.html 3) ChessPro.ru http://www.chesspro.ru 4) CrestBook.com http://www.crestbook.com 5) Chessbase.com http://www.chessbase.com

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http://www.e3e5.com/

http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/twic.html

http://www.chesspro.ru/

http://www.crestbook.com/

http://www.chessbase.com/


Games (01) Bologan,Viktor (2688) - Tiviakov,Sergei (2670) [B01] 18th TCh−CRO Sibenik CRO (8), 28.09.2009 [IM Polivanov, A] 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 Lutikov's System in Scandinavian. 30 years ago this grandmaster played in such way against Kar−pov. 4.d4 c6 [4...Nf6 with further a6, b5 and Bb7 is more traditional.] 5.Ne4!? Funny method to use queen's position. If 5...Qd8 now, then Caro−Kann arise without a tempo for Black. So, Tiviakov is choosing another way. 5...Qe6 6.Qe2 Nf6 7.f3!N [Good novelty, es−pecially in comparison with insipid 7.Nxf6+ exf6] 7...g6 8.g3 White is going to disturb black queen again. 8...Nxe4?! [Can be considered as concession. 8...Nbd7! − that's suitable de−fence from Bh3: 9.Bh3 Qd5 10.Bd2! (aggres−sive 10.c4?! Qxd4 11.Be3 Qe5 12.0-0-0 Nxe4 13.Bd4 Bh6+ 14.Kc2 Qa5 15.Bxh8 Ng5 with threats Qxa2 and Nxh3 rather favoured for Black) , and only now 10...Nxe4 11.fxe4 Qb5 12.Qxb5 cxb5 , intending Nb6.] 9.fxe4 Bg7 10.Bh3 f5 11.Nf3 0-0 12.Ng5 Qd6

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13.c3 [Such feeling, that immediate 13.Bf4! looks more promising, and if 13...Qxd4 , then could follow 14.c3 Qc5 15.exf5 gxf5 (15...Bxf5 16.Bxf5 Qxf5 (to avoid Qe6+) 17.0-0-0 e5 18.Be3 with deadly Rhf1) 16.0-0-0 e5 17.Be3 Qe7 18.Qc4+ Kh8 19.Rd8!! , winning: 19...Qxd8 (19...Rxd8 20.Nf7+ Kg8 21.Nxd8+ Kf8 22.Bc5+−) 20.Qh4 h6 21.Nf7++−] 13...h6 Of course, Black is driving knight g5 away. 14.Bf4 Qd7 [14...e5 15.Qc4+ Kh8 16.Bxe5 Bxe5 17.Nf7+ Rxf7 18.Qxf7 Bg7 19.Qe8+ Qf8 20.Qxg6+−] 15.Nf3 Qe6 16.Ne5 Nd7 17.exf5 gxf5 18.0-0 Nxe5 19.dxe5 White doesn't man−age in blitzkrieg, but his advantage is mean−ingful anyway − bishops c8 and g7 are very

passive, instead of white ones... 19...Qg6 Try−ing to develop bishop by route c8−e6−d5−e4, but White will not let it happen, for sure. 20.c4 Be6 21.Bg2 Rfd8 22.b3 Rd7 23.Bf3 Bf7 Oth−erwise queen would be in exile after Bh5. 24.Rad1

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What is White going to do? It's worth to men−tion next plans: g3−g4 (after Kh1 and Rg1, let's say); b4, a4 and b5; finally, Qe3, aiming to a7 and h6, can be very useful. But first Bologan has decided to change a pair of rooks. 24...Rad8 25.Rxd7 Rxd7 26.h4 Gaining some space on king flank. 26...Qe6 27.h5 [27.g4 Bg6] 27...Rd8 Black is aspiring to double on "d"−line, because attempt to exchange the queens (after Qd7−d3, for example) can be indispensable in case of attack g3−g4 etc. 28.Re1 Be8 29.a4 Qd7!? Leaving pawn h6 without extra protection... But what about a fork? 30.Qe3 a6 [30...Qd4 31.Bd5+] 31.Kf2! [It's revealed, that after 31.Bxh6 Bxh6 32.Qxh6 Qd2 33.Qxd2 (33.Re3 Rd3) 33...Rxd2 pawn h5 becomes vulnerable: 34.Rd1 Rxd1+ 35.Bxd1 Kg7 36.a5 Kh6 37.g4 Kg5!=] 31...Kh7

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32.Be2? [White has missed an opportunity to

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conduct a scheduled 32.g4! fxg4?! (much bet−ter 32...e6 33.Rd1 Qe7 34.Rd6 (planning g4−g5) 34...Rxd6 35.exd6 Qf6 with chances for successful defence) 33.Rd1 Qc7 (33...Qc8 34.Bxg4 Qxg4 35.Qe4+!+−) 34.e6 Qc8 (34...Qa5 35.b4+−) 35.Be4+ Kh8 36.Bxh6! Bf6 (36...Rxd1 37.Bxg7+ Kxg7 38.Qg5+ , and mate is around the comer) 37.Bc2+− with coming Qe4.] 32...Qd4 Now Tiviakov has time for queen's exchange. That should improve mat−ters. 33.Qxd4 Rxd4 34.e6 Turning bishop e8 into "big pawn", but its colleague g7 breaking free now. 34...Re4?! [I'm not sure, whether it was a necessity to change rooks right now. Probably, White should do this by his own, so it's possible to make two useful moves − Bf6 and Kg7: 34...Bf6 35.Rd1 Kg7 36.Rxd4 Bxd4+ 37.Ke1 , and now simplifying 37...b5!? looks interesting.] 35.Bf3 Bd4+ 36.Kf1 Rxe1+ 37.Kxe1

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+l+-+( 7+p+-zp-+k' 6p+p+P+-zp& 5+-+-+p+P% 4P+Pvl-vL-+$ 3+P+-+LzP-# 2-+-+-+-+" 1+-+-mK-+-! xabcdefghy

37...b5? [That's a decisive mistake, though Black is in serious difficulties already, like in variation 37...Kg7 38.Kd2 Bf6 (maybe, 38...Kf6!? 39.Bxh6 Kxe6 is the best shot) 39.b4 Bg5 40.Bxg5 hxg5 41.b5! a5 (41...axb5 42.cxb5 cxb5 43.a5+−; 41...Kh6 42.bxa6 bxa6 43.a5) 42.Kd3 , moving to d4−c5−b6, and so on.] 38.cxb5 cxb5 39.a5 Pawn a6 is doomed. 39...b4 [39...Kg7 40.Bb7 Kf6 41.Bxa6 Bc3+ 42.Bd2] 40.Be2 Kg7 [40...Bb5 41.Bxb5 axb5 42.Bb8+−] 41.Bxa6 Bxh5 42.Bb7 Kf6 43.a6 [43.Bd5 Be8 44.Bc4! was a little bit more ex−act(44.a6? Bb5) ] 43...Kxe6 44.Kd2! [After 44.Bb8?! Bc3+ white king is keeping away from pawn b3 − can be a problems here.] 44...Kd7 45.Bb8 Bf7 46.Kc2 h5 47.a7 Bxa7 48.Bxa7 Kd6 49.Bf3 e5 50.Be3 Bg6 51.Kc1 h4 Desperate attempt to create pawn pair "d"+"e", but it doesn't succeed. 52.gxh4 f4 53.Bd2 Kc5 54.h5 Bh7 55.Bg4 Kd4 56.Bxb4 e4 57.Kd2 1-0

(02) Savchenko,Boris (2638) - Kamsky,Gata (2692) [C18] Open Baku AZE (9), 29.09.2009 [IM Polivanov, A] 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 cxd4 8.cxd4 [I think, choosing of that move is caused by some concrete considerations, because tradi−tional 8.Qxg7 Rg8 9.Qxh7 Qc7 10.Ne2 is much dangerous for Black.] 8...Qc7

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9.Kd1 [Yet another way to be protected from Qxc2 or Qc3 is 9.Ra2 , but after 9...Nf5 pawn d4 will hurt anyway: 10.Nf3 Nc6! (10...Qb6 is dubious due 11.Bd3! Qb1 12.0-0 Qxa2 13.Bxf5 with attack) 11.Bd2 (11.Bd3 h5 and Ncxd4) 11...Qb6! 12.Ra1 Qb2 , grabbing a material.] 9...h5! 10.Qf4 [In case of 10.Qxg7 White will be deprived of own central pawns: 10...Rg8 11.Qh7 Qc3 12.Rb1 Qxd4+ 13.Bd2 Qxe5 14.Nf3 Qf5 , and Black is better.] 10...b6N [10...Bd7 is met before, but Kamsky wants to get almost the same position with extra tempo by means threat of bishop's exchange Ba6.] 11.Bb5+ Bd7 12.Bd3 Ng6 13.Qe3 Nc6 14.Nh3?! [Weird idea. Knight should be kept at f3, for knight's g6 containment. 14.Nf3 Nce7 , and now bishop c1 can be transferred to di−agonal a3−f8 (through Bd2−b4 or a4, Ba3).] 14...Nce7 15.Ng5 Nh4! 16.Qh3 Nhf5 17.Bb2 f6

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Knight was called up to prevent long castle, but now a hunter becomes a prey.18.Nf3? [Beating a retreat. Only 18.g4! is correct here: 18...Nxd4 (18...fxg5 is weaker: 19.gxf5 g4 (19...Nxf5 20.Rg1 g4 21.Rxg4) 20.Qg3 count−ing on 20...exf5? 21.e6+−) 19.exf6 gxf6 20.Nh7 (20.Bxd4 e5 21.Qg3 h4 , winning a piece back) 20...0-0-0 21.Nxf6 e5 22.Bxd4 exd4 23.Nxh5 − Black still has to prove own compensation for a pawn.] 18...0-0-0 19.Re1 g5 20.g4? [Road to perdition. Worth to choose 20.Bxf5 Nxf5 21.Nd2 , intending to find a salvation in oppo−site−squared bishop's ending after Qc3.] 20...hxg4 21.Qxg4 Be8 Bishop goes to h5, and such horrible pin will make a situation clear: Black should win here. 22.Kc1 [22.exf6 Bh5 23.Qh3 Qf4 24.Be2 g4 25.Qf1 Nc6! with taking on d4(not 25...gxf3 26.Ba6+) ] 22...Bh5 23.Qg2 Ng6 24.exf6 Nf4 25.Ba6+ Kb8 26.Qh1

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26...b5! Kamsky has found a very elegant path to fullfill his advantage to victory. 27.Nxg5 [27.Bxb5 Rc8 28.c3 (28.Kb1 Qxc2+ 29.Ka2 Rc3) 28...Bxf3 29.Qxf3 Nxd4-+ − so the true sense of 26...b5 was to entice bishop on b5 (not distracting from point c8!).] 27...Rc8 [An−other way − pushing to c2: 27...Bg6 28.Kd2 (what else?) 28...Qa5+ with extra piece.] 28.c3 Nxd4 29.Bxc8 Rxc8 30.Re3 Qc4 [It was pos−

sible to win by force − 30...Nb3+ 31.Kc2 Bg6+ , but apparently 30...Qc4 also very strong, so Savchenko has decided to resign.] 0-1 (03) Carlsen,Magnus (2772) - Topalov,Veselin (2813) [E90] 2nd Pearl Spring Nanjing CHN (2), 29.09.2009 [IM Polivanov, A] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.h3 Very poisonous system. It's often de−scribed as formidable weapon against King's Indian in books like "Winning with 1.d4" or something like that. 6...Na6 7.Be3 With the purpose to have 9.Nd2 after 7...e5 8.d5 Nc5. 7...e5 8.d5 c6 [The main idea of 6.h3 variation is to make program advancement f7−f5 diiffi−cult by means of g2−g4 − then, after gxf5 ex−change line "g" will be opened for rook h1. So, it was the last chance for 8...Nh5 9.Nh2 Qe8 (9...Nf4?! 10.g3) 10.Be2 , and now Black can move f7−f5 at once, or after 10...Nf4 11.Bf3 − with complicate game in both cases.] 9.g4 Nc5 10.Nd2 a5

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11.a3!? [Rare continuation. Usually White pre−fers 11.Be2 in order to conduct h4, h5, g5 etc. Black react by Ne8 with f5 (despite everything), or preparing black queen's entrance to a5 after Bd7 and a4, or even immediate a4.] 11...Nfd7N [Not the best reply. I'm sure that 11...a4!? 12.Bxc5 dxc5 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.Nxa4 Bh6 15.Nc3 Rb8 16.Rb1 Qa5© , Muse−Levacic, Medulin 2002, suits Topalov's style the most; 11...Ne8 can be also considered: 12.g5 f5 13.h4 cxd5 14.cxd5 Nxe4 15.Ndxe4 fxe4 16.Nxe4 Bf5 17.f3 Qd7 with Nc7−b5−d4 or Nc7, a4, Ra5 − Rausch−Kreuzholz, BL2−Nord, 2004.] 12.Rg1 [As expected. 12.b4 gives nothing: 12...axb4 13.axb4 Rxa1 14.Qxa1 Na6 15.Qb1 c5 16.b5 Nb4 with Nb6 and f5.] 12...a4 13.Qc2 Carlsen is preparing a long castle. 13...Nb6 [Another strange decision. a5−a4 is usually made for 13...Qa5 , where queen sup−

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ports advancement b7−b5. Knight b6 looks somewhat lubberly.] 14.0-0-0 Bd7 15.Kb1 Foreboding from Rc8. 15...cxd5 16.cxd5 Rc8 17.Bb5! This exchange − one of the typical ideas for White in system 6.h3. Sometimes it can be provided by g5, h4 and Bh3, but this way also looks good. 17...Bxb5 18.Nxb5

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18...Qd7? [What a passivity? 18...Ne6! sug−gests itself: 19.Bxb6 (19.Qd3 Nf4) 19...Qxb6 20.Qxa4 Nd4! (20...Nc5 will not come off − 21.Qb4 Nd3 22.Nc4!) 21.Nxd4 exd4 , and after d4−d3 bishop g7 will awake.] 19.Nc3 Now Black has no counterplay, whereas White has outlined clear plan: g5, h4, h5 and so on. 19...Bf6 20.g5 Bd8 21.h4 Na8?! [Despairingly, Topalov chooses to give pawn a4 away. It can be given differently, but also with no effect: 21...Nb3 22.Nxb3 axb3 23.Qxb3 Nc4 24.Nb5!] 22.Bxc5 Rxc5 23.Qxa4 Qc8 24.Rc1 Nb6 25.Qd1 Qh3 26.Qf3 Qd7 [Going away empty−handed. Pawn is untouchable: 26...Qxh4 27.Rg4 Qh2 28.Rh1+−] 27.Qd3 Kg7 Black is planning to conduct f7−f6 in order to attack pawn f2. 28.Rc2 f6 29.gxf6+ Rxf6 30.h5 Rxf2 31.hxg6 h6

XABCDEFGHY 8-+-vl-+-+( 7+p+q+-mk-' 6-sn-zp-+Pzp& 5+-trPzp-+-% 4-+-+P+-+$ 3zP-sNQ+-+-# 2-zPRsN-tr-+" 1+K+-+-tR-! xabcdefghy

[31...hxg6 32.Rxg6+ Kxg6 33.Qg3+ Bg5 34.Qxf2+−] 32.Nd1!+− Knight is heading to f5.

32...Rxc2 33.Nxf2 Rc8 34.Ng4 Bg5 35.Nf3 Nc4 [35...Rc1+ 36.Rxc1 Bxc1 37.Ngxe5 dxe5 38.Kxc1+−] 36.Nxg5 hxg5 37.Ne3 [Magnus has missed an elegant combination: 37.Qh3! Rh8 38.Qxh8+ Kxh8 39.Rh1++− , but evalua−tion of position is not changed anyway.] 37...Nxe3 38.Qxe3 Qa4 [38...g4 39.Qg5 Rf8 40.Rh1! (such "shuttle" maneuver allows to gain a line "f") 40...Rh8 41.Rf1 Rf8 42.Rf5 Qe8 43.Qxg4 (only not 43.Qh5? Rxf5 44.exf5 Qb5! with perpetual check) 43...Rxf5 44.Qxf5+− , and pawn ending is coming.] 39.Qxg5 Qxe4+ 40.Ka1 Re8 41.Rc1 Topalov hasn't demon−strated own combinational gift in this game... 1-0 (04) Karjakin,Sergey (2722) - Chatalbashev,Boris (2556) [B09] 25th ECC Ohrid MKD (1), 04.10.2009 [IM Polivanov, A] 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.f4 Nf6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Bd3 Na6 [Intending c7−c5; 6...Nc6 with e7−e5 idea is also considered as primary line in Austrian Attack.] 7.0-0 c5 8.d5 Bg4 9.Bc4 [This is more accurate, than 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 (10.Rxf3 Nc7 ∆ b7−b5, e7−e6) 10...Nb4 , beating bishop d3 out.] 9...Nc7 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 a6

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In many respects, outcome of this game de−pends of whether Black will manage to arrange b7−b5.12.a4 b6 Otherwise a4−a5. 13.Qd3 This square is optimal for the queen − it pre−vents b5 and supports e4−e5 from here. 13...e6 [Black could prepare b6−b5 by means of 13...Qb8 14.Be3 Qb7 , but it's met with 15.Rab1! e6 (15...Rab8?! 16.b4 b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.Nxb5+−) 16.b4 exd5 (16...Nxe4!?) 17.exd5 cxb4 18.Rxb4 b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Bb3 , and rook b4 will switch to attack after f4−f5, Acs−Bogdanovski, Yerevan 2001.] 14.Be3!?N [Straightforward 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.Rd1 is parried by 15...d5! 16.exd5 Nfxd5

12


17.Nxd5 exd5 18.c3! (18.Bxd5+ Nxd5 19.Qxd5+ Qxd5 20.Rxd5 Rad8©) 18...Kh8! 19.Bxd5 Nxd5 20.Qf3 (20.Qxd5? Bd4+) 20...Qh4 21.Rxd5 Bh6 , and pressure on f4 gives a good play for Black; 14.f5 exf5 15.exf5 is another crucial try: 15...b5! 16.axb5 axb5 17.Rxa8 Qxa8 18.Nxb5 (18.Bxb5 Ncxd5„) 18...Nxb5 19.Bxb5 Qxd5 20.g4 Qxd3 21.Bxd3 − endgame looks much more favourable for White, but with accurate play Black can stay in the saddle − 21...Nd5 22.c3 Be5! 23.Bh6 Rb8 24.Bc4 Nf6 25.g5 d5!= , Gharamian−Maenhout, TCh−BEL 2007.Karjakin's choice (14.Be3) can be named as temporizing − first, he doesn't want to give an opportunity of break−ups b5 or d5 for Black.] 14...exd5 15.exd5 Nd7 An insurance from f4−f5, and not only. 16.Bf2 Setting "e"−file free for the rooks. 16...f5!? Risky move. Chatalbashev wants to secure point e4, but at the same time square e6 is weakened. Although, how can knight c3 reach it? 17.Rfe1 Nf6 [17...Bxc3?! 18.bxc3 Nf6 loses a pawn: 19.Bh4 Qd7 20.Bxf6 Rxf6 21.Reb1] 18.Bh4 Qd7 19.Re6!

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It's turned out, point e6 can be occupied not only by knight! Now Karjakin is threatening with rooks' doubling.19...b5? Nerves... [19...Nxe6?? 20.dxe6 Qe7 21.Nd5+−; 19...Rae8! would be a fitting rebuff: 20.Rae1 (20.Rxe8 Rxe8 21.Bxa6 makes queen d3 overladen: 21...Nh5! 22.Bb7 (22.Rf1 Bxc3 23.bxc3 Qxa4∓) 22...Nxf4 23.Bc6 Qxc6 24.dxc6 Nxd3 25.cxd3 Rc8 , and pawn c6 will fall) 20...Ne4! 21.Nxe4 fxe4 22.R6xe4 Rxe4 23.Rxe4 b5 24.Ba2 c4 25.Qd2 Qf5 , and after 26.Re7 Black may choose among drawish 26...Qxf4 and double−edged 26...Qxd5.] 20.axb5 axb5 21.Rxa8 Rxa8 22.Nxb5!? [22.Bxb5 could bring a healthy ex−tra pawn, but White really wanted to sacrifice an exchange.] 22...Nxe6 [Black has to accept the challenge: 22...Nxb5 23.Bxb5 Qa7 24.Kh2 Ne4 25.Qe2!+− with Bd3.] 23.dxe6 Qe7 24.Qxd6 Qxd6 25.Nxd6 Kf8 26.Bf2! Very im−

portant move, which provides vital square c8 for the knight. 26...Ra5 27.Nc8

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27...Ke8? [Wasting a precious time. It was necessary to make a block on e7 as soon as possible: 27...Ng8 28.c3 (28.Bh4 Bf6) 28...Ne7 29.Nb6 Ke8 , and White still has a long road to win.] 28.Bh4!+− Bishop has returned to h4 with triumph − now, attacking knight f6, it supports a pawn's e6 advancement. 28...Kd8 [28...Ng8 29.Bb5+!] 29.e7+ Kd7 [Loses at once, but 29...Ke8 is not a decision − after 30.c3 Black is in zugzwang (and b2−b4 is coming also).] 30.Bf7 Ra1+ 31.Kh2 [31.Kf2 Ne4+ 32.Ke2 also winning.] 31...Kxc8 [The last affordable try was 31...g5 32.fxg5 (32.Bxg5 Re1) 32...Ne8 33.g6 Ra6 34.Bc4 Ra5 35.Nb6+ Kc6 36.Bf7+−] 32.Bxf6 Re1 33.Be5 Clear victory by Ukrainian Grandmaster. 1-0 (05) Ivanchuk,Vassily (2756) - Svidler,Peter (2741) [A11] 25th ECC Ohrid MKD (3), 06.10.2009 [IM Polivanov, A] 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 c6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 [After 6.d4 d5 Gruenfeld Defence ap−pears, which Svidler knows very well. Maybe, therefore Ivanchuk prefers to keep English course.] 6...d5 7.Bb2 dxc4 8.bxc4 c5

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13


9.Ne5!?N Quite logical novelty − White em−barrasses knight's outlet to c6. But knight e5 can become a target itself. 9...Qc7 [9...Ng4 is pointless: 10.Nd3 Bxb2 11.Nxb2 , and Black is deprived of strong bishop.] 10.Qb3 Rd8 11.Rd1 Nbd7 12.f4 [Obligative move. 12.Nd3 with Nc3−d5 or Nf4−d5 was more carefully.] 12...Rb8 13.Na3 In order to outpost on e5 to be remained, knight b1 has developed in "lat−eral" way. 13...a6 14.d4 Having decided, that all preparations are made, Vassily has switched to actions. But Black returns the fa−vor. 14...cxd4 15.Bxd4 Nc5 16.Qe3

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16...Rxd4! [This sacrifice is stronger than 16...Ng4 17.Nxg4 Bxd4 18.Nh6+ Kg7 19.Rxd4 Rxd4 20.Qxd4+ Kxh6 21.Nc2 f6 22.Ne3 , and knight goes to d5.] 17.Qxd4 [17.Rxd4 Ng4 18.Qd2 Bf5! (instead of 18...Nxe5 19.Rd8+ Bf8 20.fxe5 Nd7 21.Re8 with unclear complica−tions) 19.Rd1 Ne6 20.Rd5 Nxe5 21.fxe5 Bxe5©] 17...Bf5 Bishop g7 at full−load − pin on diagonal a1-h8 is threatening. 18.Qe3 Nfd7 19.Nxd7 Nxd7 20.Rac1 Bb2 Black is winning exchange back. 21.Qxe7 Qa5 [That's a right choice. 21...Qb6+ also worth attention, but 22.c5! (22.Kh1? Bxc1 23.Rxc1 Nf6 with Ng4, Re8, Qb2 threats) 22...Bxa3 23.cxb6 Bxe7 24.Rc7 Rd8 25.Rxb7 makes pawn "b" very dangerous.] 22.Nc2 Bxc1 23.Rxc1 Qxa2 24.Bd5 Rf8 Such feeling, that after 14th move both sides make nearly the only continua−tions... 25.Ne3 [25.e4 Bh3 , and mate ghost on g2 will annoy.] 25...Qd2

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26.Nxf5?! [Ivanchuk is carried away too much. 26.Rf1! would put the hardest difficulties from all possible: 26...Qd4 (26...Bh3 27.f5!) 27.Kg2 (27.Bxb7?! Be6) 27...Nf6 28.Nxf5 gxf5 29.Qxb7 a5 30.Rb1! (30.Qb5 Ng4©) 30...a4 31.Bf3! (31.Qb6 Qxb6 32.Rxb6 Nxd5 33.cxd5 Ra8 , and Black should hold this) 31...Ng4! (31...Qxc4 32.Rb4 Qc2 33.Qa7±) 32.Qb6 , and now Black has to choose between 32...Qxc4!? 33.h3 h5! 34.hxg4 hxg4 35.Bb7 Qxe2+ with some compensation or endgame after 32...Ne3+ 33.Kh3 Qxb6 34.Rxb6 − pawn a4 probably will have lost. I don't even know, which evil is lesser...] 26...Qxc1+ 27.Kf2 gxf5 28.Qxd7 b6 29.Qxf5 White can set a battery after Be4, so black queen ought come back to defence. 29...Qb2 30.h4 Plans are defined − White pulls king pawns up, Black urges passer "a". 30...a5 31.h5 Qg7! [Very reasonable. In case of hazardous 31...a4?! 32.h6 a3 Black would be incurred a risk: 33.Qg5+ Kh8 34.Qe7 Kg8 (34...Rb8 35.Bxf7! a2 36.Be8+−) 35.Bxf7+! Rxf7 36.Qg5+ Rg7 37.Qd8+ Kf7 38.hxg7 Kxg7 39.Qe7+ Kg8 40.f5 , and only 40...Qd4+! 41.Kf3 Qc5!= saves Black.] 32.g4 [Ivanchuk still wants to push pawn to h6. 32.e4 a4 33.e5 a3 34.Qd3= can be proposed an al−ternative.] 32...Kh8 33.g5 h6 34.gxh6 Qxh6 Now black king is undressed enough for a draw. 35.Qe5+ Qg7 36.Qd6 Rg8

14


XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+rmk( 7+-+-+pwq-' 6-zp-wQ-+-+& 5zp-+L+-+P% 4-+P+-zP-+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2-+-+PmK-+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy

37.Ke3? [Ivanchuk conducted all game on very high level, but in the end he's made a mistake, and loses at once. White king could run away after 37.e3! a4 38.Ke2! (38.h6? takes up a vital square h6: 38...Qb2+ 39.Kf1 a3 40.h7 Re8 41.Qc6 Qc1+-+) 38...Qb2+ 39.Kd3=] 37...Qc3+ Now it's all forced. 38.Ke4 Re8+ 39.Kf5 Qh3+ 40.Kg5 Rg8+ 41.Kf6 [41.Kh6 Rg6+] 41...Qh4+ 0-1 (06) Carlsen,Magnus (2772) - Wang Yue (2736) [D17] 2nd Pearl Spring Nanjing CHN (8), 06.10.2009 [GM Aveskulov, V] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Qc7 8.g3 e5 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Bf4 Nfd7 11.Bg2 g5

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This line happens pretty often nowadays. And there is no surprise that all these moves is just the very beginning of a theory. 12.Ne3 gxf4 13.Nxf5 0-0-0 14.Qc2 Ng6 15.0-0 Kb8 16.Rfc1 a5

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17.b4!? Considering that Black is going to start an attack with h7−h5−h4 White immediately breaks the line "b" through. 17...axb4! [Another Chinese top−GM took on b4 with a bishop: 17...Bxb4?! that allowed White to get an ad−vantage 18.Nd5 Qe5 19.Nxb4 axb4 20.Rab1 Qa5 a) natural 20...Ne7?

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is being met with an unexpected 21.Qc4! Nxf5 (21...Qxf5 22.Qxb4+−) 22.Qxb4+− with a crushing attack; b) 20...c5?! weakens a big di−agonal that can be used easily by means of 21.a5 Nf6 22.a6 and Black king is in big trou−bles; 21.Nd6?! (computer stubbornly advices 21.Qc4! and states that White has a huge ad−vantage. There are exemplary variations: 21...Nb6 22.Qxb4 Qxb4 23.Rxb4 Nd5 24.Bxd5! Rxd5 25.e4! fxe3 26.Nxe3 Ra5 (26...Rd6 27.Nc4 Rd7 28.Rcb1 Ka7 29.Na5±) 27.Nc4 Ra7 28.Nd6 Ne5 29.Re4 f6 30.f4 Nd3 31.Rc3 Nb2 32.Rb4 Nxa4 33.Rxc6 Rd8 34.Nf5± and the only question that remains is whether White will take a whole point) 21...Nde5 now Black is ok 22.Nc4 Nxc4 23.Qxc4 fxg3 24.hxg3 Ne5 25.Qf4 Rhg8 26.Rxb4 Rg4 27.Rb5 Rxf4 28.Rxa5 Rf5? (28...Rc4 leads to an almost equal position: 29.Rb1 f6 30.f4 Ng4 31.Bf3 Ne3 32.Rh5 Rd7 33.Rh6 Nf5 34.Rxf6 Nxg3 35.Rxc6 (35.Bxc6 Nxe2+ 36.Kf2 Re7=)

15


35...Nxe2+ 36.Kf2 Rxa4 37.Kxe2 Rxf4 38.Rcb6 Rff7 even if White wins both of pawns and changes one pair of rooks there will be a theo−retical draw "rook+bishop vs.rook".) 29.Rac5± and White wins a knight, Caruana−Ni Hua, Dagomys, 2009.] 18.Nb5 [Nothing special is going to be after 18.Nd5? in this position: 18...Qe5 and Black is much better] 18...Qe5 19.Nbd4?! This move gives Black an initiative. [The best practical decision was 19.Bxc6!? try−ing to open up a residence of Black king 19...Rc8 a) 19...bxc6?? 20.Qxc6+− and further Nfd6 or Qa6. Black is defenceless.; b) 19...Nc5 was also possible 20.Bg2 b3 21.Qc3 Qxc3 (21...b2? this move is a mistake 22.Qa5! Rd7! the only (22...bxc1Q+? 23.Rxc1 Rd7 24.Qb6!! it is not the only winning continuation but the shortest (24.Qa7+ Kc8 25.a5+−) 24...Be7 25.Nxe7 Rxe7 26.Qa7+ Kc8 27.Rxc5++−) 23.Qa7+ Kc8 24.Qa8+ Qb8 25.Nfd6+ Bxd6 (25...Rxd6?? 26.Bxb7++−) 26.Nxd6+ Kc7! (26...Rxd6? 27.Bh3+! Kc7 28.Rxc5+ Rc6 29.Qa5++−) 27.Qa5+ b6 28.Rxc5+ Kd8 29.Rc8+ Qxc8 30.Qxb6+ Qc7 31.Nb7+ Ke7 32.Qb4+ Qd6! 33.Qxb2 Qe5 34.Qa3+ Kf6 35.Nc5±) 22.Rxc3 b2 23.Rb1 Rd2 and position is unclear.; 20.Qd2 Rxc6 21.Qxd7 Bc5 with a complicated position.] 19...Bc5! Of course! Black blocks a line "c", attacks a knight and develops a bishop. 20.Nb3 [A good alternative could be 20.Nf3!? Qe6 21.a5 Rhg8 22.a6 b3 23.Qb1 (the only possible square for a queen) 23...fxg3 24.hxg3 Nf4! (otherwise Black is bad) 25.N3d4! (25.gxf4? Qxe2 26.Kh1 (26.Rxc5? Qxf3 27.Ng3 Rxg3 28.fxg3 Qe3+ 29.Kh2 Nxc5-+) 26...b2 27.Rf1 Nf6 with a position where chances are unclear) 25...Nxe2+ 26.Nxe2 Qxe2 27.Qxb3! pawn f2 does not play a seri−ous role 27...Bxf2+ 28.Kh1! Qh5+ 29.Nh4 Qb5 30.Qa2+− and Black is lost.] 20...h5! [An in−termediate capture on g3 seems senseless since White gets a new possibility e2−e3 to restrict a Black bishop. 20...fxg3 21.hxg3 h5 22.Rab1 (22.Nxc5 Nxc5 23.Qxc5? Rd1+!-+) 22...Ba7 23.e3 h4?! 24.Nbd4 Bxd4 25.Nxd4 c5 26.Rxb4! cxb4 27.Nc6+! Ka8 (27...bxc6 28.Qxc6 Nc5 29.Qb6+ Kc8 30.Qb7#) 28.Nxe5 Ndxe5 29.a5 h3 30.a6 hxg2 31.axb7+ Ka7 32.Qc5+ 1-0 Nguen−Predojevich, Moscow, 2008.] 21.Rab1? An inaccuracy. [The right re−ply was 21.a5!? fxg3 (Black is not worst in a case of 21...h4 22.g4

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22...Bxf2+! a nice tactic 23.Kxf2 f3! 24.Bxf3 (after 24.exf3? h3-+ Black wins) 24...Qxh2+ 25.Kf1 the only possible 25...Nge5 desiring take on f3 and give a perpetual. But probably I have missed something.) 22.hxg3 h4 23.Nxc5 Nxc5 24.f4 (24.Qxc5?? Rd1+!-+) 24...b3 25.fxe5 bxc2 26.Rxc2 Nb3 27.Rb1 Rd2 28.Rxd2 Nxd2 29.Rb4 Kc7=] 21...Ba7!

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22.Bxc6!? Carlsen believes in himself and starts a calculating part of the game. Differently he would be under a strong attack. [For exam−ple here the line is 22.e3 fxe3 23.Nxe3 Bxe3 24.Re1 (24.fxe3 Qxe3+ 25.Kh1 h4 26.Re1 Qb6-+) 24...Bxf2+ 25.Qxf2 Qd6 26.Rbd1 Qc7 27.Qxf7 Nde5∓ Black is pawn up and has all the chances to realize it.] 22...fxg3! [An ordinar 22...bxc6 obiously leads to a draw: 23.Nbd4 Bxd4 24.Rxb4+ Bb6 25.Qxc6 Qxf5 26.Rxb6+ Nxb6 27.Qxb6+ Ka8 28.Qa6+ Kb8 29.Qb6+=] 23.hxg3 Rc8? [Wang Yue could not find the strongest reply to Norvegian's sacrifice. 23...Ne7! 24.Nbd4! (24.Bxd7? Rxd7-+; 24.Nxe7? Qxg3+ 25.Bg2 Qxf2+ 26.Kh2 Qh4+ 27.Bh3 Nf6-+) 24...Bxd4 25.Rxb4 Nxc6 26.Qxc6 Bb6 27.Qf3 Rhe8∓ And White has no enough compensation for the piece.] 24.Qd3 Now White is out of danger. 24...bxc6 [24...Nc5 also looks solid 25.Nxc5 Bxc5 26.Bf3

16


and due to a position of Black bishop Black is supposed to be ok 26...h4 27.Qb5 Rc7 28.g4 Rhc8 29.e3 Bf8!= decreasing a tension and equalizing.] 25.Qxd7 Rc7 [25...h4? 26.Nbd4!+−] 26.Qd3 h4 27.Nbd4 hxg3 [An−other variation of defense was 27...c5 28.Nf3 Qe6 29.N5xh4 Nxh4 30.Nxh4 Rd7 and White's extra pawn does not play a sufficient role.] 28.Rxb4+ Ka8 29.Nxg3

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White won a pawn and from now Black starts the fight for a draw. 29...Rd8 [29...c5?? 30.Qf3+ with a checkmate.] 30.e3 Nh4 Looking for a counterplay. [Piece in not being won of course 30...c5 31.Rbb1 cxd4?? 32.Rxc7 Qxc7 33.Qe4+] 31.Kf1 [31.Qc4!? was also possible 31...Bxd4 32.Qa6+ Ba7 33.Rxh4± but the move made by Carlsen is more human.] 31...Qa5? [31...Qd5 was more solid 32.Qe4 Qxe4 33.Nxe4 Bxd4 34.Rxd4 Rxd4 35.exd4 and chances for a draw/win are fifty−fifty.] 32.Rcb1? [In time troubles both opponents missed a not difficult tactic: 32.Rxc6! Rxd4 (32...Rxc6 33.Nxc6 Rxd3 34.Nxa5+−) 33.Rxd4 Rxc6 34.Rxh4+− and White is already two pawns up.] 32...Nf3? [32...Qd5! this moment was also stronger 33.Qe4 Qxe4 34.Nxe4 Bxd4 35.Rxd4 Rxd4 36.exd4 Rd7 (ther is no rook on c1) 37.Rb6 (37.Rb4 Nf3=) 37...Rxd4 38.Nc5 Rd6= and draw is coming.] 33.Nb3! White uses a moment for the changing of queens. A bishop a7 is a helpless. 33...Qd5?! [Black also could take on b4 33...Qxb4!? 34.Qxd8+ Bb8 35.Qd1 Qc4+ 36.Qe2 Qg4 with a conterplay.] 34.Qxd5 cxd5 Pawn will be less vulnerable on d5. [34...Rxd5 35.Ke2 Ne5 36.Nd2 c5 37.Rb5±] 35.Rd1 Rc2 36.Rf4 Ne5 37.Nd4 Rc4 38.Nde2? A mistake that significantly de−creases White's advantage. [The right way was 38.Rf5! Bb8 39.Rb1 Bc7 40.a5± and further Rb5, Ng3−e2−f4 with a huge advantage.] 38...Rxf4 39.Nxf4 d4 40.Nge2 [There are no guaranties for a win after 40.Ke2 Rb8 41.exd4

Rb2+ 42.Kf1 Ng4 43.Nge2 Ra2] 40...Nc6 41.e4 [Naturally White is not interested in the changing of pawns 41.exd4? Nxd4] 41...Rb8 42.Nd5 Rb2 43.Nef4 Kb7 [In a case 43...Ne5 White could reply with 44.Nd3 Nxd3 45.Rxd3 with a good chances to realize a material ad−vantage: 45...Ra2 46.Rb3 Bc5 checkmate in 1 was a threat (46...Rc2 47.Ke1±) 47.Rb5 Bf8 48.a5 Ka7 49.Nf4± and then Rf5] 44.Nd3 Rb3 45.Ke2 [More precise continutation for White was 45.f4 Ra3 46.Rb1+ Kc8 47.Nb2± and knight goes to c4] 45...Ra3 46.f4? Now this movement is not a big deal. [46.Rb1+ was bet−ter 46...Kc8 47.Rc1 Kb7 (47...Kd7 48.Nf6+ Kd6 49.f4 Na5 50.f5 Nc6 51.Ng4± and White stands to win.) 48.Nb2!± and knight moves to c4 again.] 46...Rxa4 47.Rb1+ Kc8 48.Rc1 Kb7 49.e5 [Here 49.Nb2 gives no a previous effect: 49...d3+! 50.Kxd3 Rd4+= . But even after los−ing a pawn a4 White still has a look−in.] 49...Ra3 50.Rh1 Ra5 [50...Ra2+?! 51.Kf3 Rd2 allows White king to be activated. 52.Ke4 Re2+ 53.Kf5 Rd2 54.Rb1+ Kc8 55.N3b4± and White pieces are well coodinated for a decisive as−sault.] 51.Nf6 Bb8 Black prepares a sacrifice on e5. 52.Rb1+ Kc8 53.Rc1 Kb7 54.Ne4?! [More preferable continuation is 54.Nc5+ Ka8 55.Nfd7 Ba7 56.Kd3± and the king goes to e4.] 54...Ra3! Everything is ready for a drawn com−biniation. 55.Rh1 Bxe5?! Right idea but not precise formalization. [A hundred−percent draw would come after 55...Nxe5! 56.fxe5 Bxe5 and the only White can is to transfer to an ending "rook+knight vs.rook" that is com−letely drawn. 57.Rb1+ Kc8 58.Rc1+ Kd8 59.Nxe5 Re3+=] 56.fxe5 Nxe5 57.Nd6+! Here White can continue the fight (at least for a while). 57...Ka6 [The rest is lost. 57...Kc6?? 58.Nxe5+ Kxd6 59.Nc4++−] 58.Nb4+! White creates some threats even without pawns. 58...Kb6 59.Rc1 Re3+? A big mistake. [Re−stricting 59...Ra5!= would remain White with−out even illusions of a possibility to win.] 60.Kd1 Rb3? Allows White to win immediately. [Objectively the stongest 60...Ka5 just would offer more resistance: 61.Nd5 (61.Rb1 Rh3=) 61...Re1+ (61...Ra3 62.Rb1!+− with a win.) 62.Kxe1 Nd3+ 63.Kd2 Nxc1 64.Kxc1 f5 65.Nf4 with a checkmate in 37 (see a tablebase of Nalimov).] 61.Nd5+ Ka7 62.Ra1+ Kb8 63.Kc2!+− Black rook is being pushed away from a line "b". 63...Rh3 64.Rb1+ White cre−ates irresistable threats to the black king. 64...Ka7 65.Rb7+ Ka6 [65...Ka8 66.Nc7#] 66.Rb6+ Ka5 [66...Ka7 67.Nb5+ Ka8 68.Ndc7#] 67.Rb5+ Ka4 [67...Ka6 68.Nc7+ Ka7 69.Nc8#] 68.Nb6+ Ka3 69.Rxe5 Black

17


resigned. 1-0 (07) Eljanov,Pavel (2717) - Akopian,Vladimir (2698) [E04] 25th ECC Ohrid MKD (5), 08.10.2009 [GM Aveskulov, V] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.g3

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Not the most popular line. 5...dxc4 6.Bg2 b5 [This position also was met in a game of an−other Ukrainian GM: 6...Nbd7 7.0-0 Be7 8.e4 0-0 9.Bf4 Qa5 10.a4 b6 11.Qe2 Re8 12.Bd2 Bb4 13.e5 Nd5 14.Ng5 Nf8 15.Nge4 Rd8 16.h4 Bb7 17.h5 c5 18.dxc5 Nd7 19.h6 Nxc5 20.Qg4 g6 21.Nxd5 exd5 22.Bxb4 Qxb4 23.Nd6 Qxb2 24.Qg5 Rxd6 25.exd6 f6 26.Bxd5+ Kh8 27.Bxb7 fxg5 28.Bxa8 Kg8 29.Rad1 1-0 Ponomarev−Granda Zuniga, San−Sebastian, 2009.] 7.Ne5 Nd5 8.a4 [White did not get any advantage with 8.e4 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Bb7 10.0-0 Nd7 11.Ng4 Be7 12.e5 Qb6 13.a4 a6 14.Ne3 g6 15.Rb1 Qc7 16.f4 Nb6 17.Bd2 Rd8 18.Qc2 c5 19.Bxb7 Qxb7 20.axb5 cxd4 21.bxa6 Qxa6 22.cxd4 0-0 23.Ra1 Qb7 24.Rfb1 Rxd4 25.Ng4 Qf3 and further Black managed even to win the game, Avruh−Rodshtein, Natanya, 2009.Move made by Pavel is quite logical. White wants to clarify situation on the queen side before some ac−tions in the center start.] 8...Bb4 [A comfort−able position was got by Shirov vs.Gelfand (Paris, 1992) with a series of natural moves: 8...f6!? 9.Nf3 b4 10.Ne4 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Qc2 Ba6 I can not say where White has to improve own game. I can just state that I would prefer the Black's side.] 9.0-0 0-0 [9...Nxc3? 10.bxc3 Bxc3 11.Ra3 b4 (11...Bb4 12.axb5±) 12.Rxc3 bxc3 13.Ba3±; 9...Bxc3?! 10.bxc3 Nxc3 11.Qc2 Nd5 12.axb5 cxb5 13.Ba3±] 10.axb5 Bxc3 [Black is bad after 10...cxb5? 11.Nxb5 Ba6 12.Nc3±] 11.bxc3 cxb5

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12.Ba3 Re8 13.e4! Nf6 [A capture on c3 leads to a crush: 13...Nxc3? 14.Qf3 f6 15.Nxc4 Qxd4 16.Nd6 Rf8 17.Nxb5 Nxb5 18.Bxf8 Kxf8 19.e5+−] 14.Qb1 A queen defenses on e4 and will prevent b5−b4 in future 14...a6 15.f4 White starts a mass pushing own pawns. Visually White is better. But on other hand Black has an extra pawn and pretty solid position. So, the position is very unclear in the moment. 15...Qc7 16.g4 Bb7 17.g5 Nfd7

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18.Ra2! A brilliant maneouver for a rook. 18...Nc6 19.Raf2 Rab8 20.Qd1 a5 21.Qh5 First threates are created. 21...Ndxe5! [Black is not able to push White pieces back with 21...g6? 22.Qh6 b4 because of crushing 23.f5! exf5 (23...Ndxe5?? 24.f6+−) 24.exf5 gxf5 25.Nxc6 Bxc6 26.Qxc6 Qxc6 27.Bxc6 bxa3 28.Bxd7+−] 22.fxe5 b4 23.Bb2

18


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[White does not need variation that come in a case of 23.Rxf7? Re7 24.Rxe7 Qxe7 25.Bb2 Nxd4 26.cxd4 c3 Black is better; its pawns are really good!] 23...Rbd8? White gets an ex−traordinary important temp for a development of own attack. [Black missed a right moment for a tactic. 23...Nxd4! 24.cxb4! only move that saves a balance. (24.cxd4? c3 25.Ba1 (25.Bc1 Ba6 26.Rxf7 Re7 27.Rxe7 Qxe7-+) 25...Ba6! 26.Rxf7 Re7 27.Rxe7 Qxe7 28.Rf2 Rc8-+) 24...c3 25.Bxc3! (25.Rxf7?! Re7 26.Rxe7 Qxe7 27.Bxc3 Nb5 28.Bd2 axb4 and White has to fight for a draw.) 25...Ne2+ (25...Qxc3?? 26.Qxf7+ Kh8 27.Qxe8+ Rxe8 28.Rf8+) 26.Rxe2 Qxc3 27.Qxf7+ Kh8 with an approxi−mately equal position.] 24.Rf3! g6 [24...bxc3? loses at once 25.Rh3 h6 (the only. 25...cxb2?? 26.Qxh7+ Kf8 27.Qh8+ Ke7 28.Rxf7+ Kxf7 29.g6+ checkmate in 1.) 26.gxh6 g6 27.Qg5 Qe7 28.h7+ Kh8 29.Bc1!+−] 25.Qh6 f5? [Black had to wait for Rh3 25...Rf8! 26.Rh3 (White is not checkmating after 26.Rf6? Nxd4! the only (26...bxc3? loses 27.R1f3! cxb2 28.Rh3 b1Q+ 29.Bf1+−) 27.cxd4 c3 28.R1f3 (28.Bc1 Rxd4-+) 28...cxb2 29.Rh3 b1Q+ 30.Bf1 Qxf1+ 31.Kxf1 Qc1+ 32.Kf2 Qd2+ 33.Kg3 Qe1+ 34.Rf2 Qg1+ 35.Kf3 Bxe4+ 36.Ke3 Qe1+ 37.Re2 Qc1+ 38.Kf2 Qf4+ 39.Ke1 Rfe8-+) 26...f5 27.gxf6 Rf7 White still stands to win but Black has some time to regroup own pieces (pawn h2 is blocked for a moment)] 26.gxf6 Pawn structure of White is now even more awesome! 26...Qf7 27.Qe3 The pushing of pawn "h" crushes a Black's defense. 27...Rd7

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28.h4! Pawn d4 is out of White's interest. 28...Red8 29.h5 bxc3 30.Bxc3 Nxd4 [Nothing would change if Black took on d4 with a rook. 30...Rxd4 31.Bxd4 Rxd4 32.hxg6 hxg6 33.Rh3 Rd3 34.Qc5+−] 31.Rg3+− White is unstoppa−ble. 31...Nb5 32.hxg6 hxg6 33.Qh6 Qh7 34.Rxg6+ Kh8

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35.Bxa5 Ra8 36.Qg5 Rg8 [36...Rxa5 37.f7 with a checkmate.] 37.f7 Rxf7 38.Rxf7 Rxg6 [38...Qxg6 39.Qh4+] 39.Qd8+ Rg8 40.Rxh7+ Kxh7 41.Qh4+ Kg6 42.Bd2 Black resigned. 1-0 (08) Aronian,Levon (2773) - Alekseev,Evgeny (2725) [E05] 25th ECC Ohrid MKD (5), 08.10.2009 [GM Aveskulov, V] 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 6.d4 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4

19


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8...Bd7 9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Bg5 a5 Fixing a square b4 and preparing Nb8−a6−b4 maneou−ver. [Another possibility here is 10...Bd5 tar−getting on c7−c5.] 11.Nc3 Na6 12.Bxf6 The typical catalan method. White gives Black a pair of bishops but takes a total control under the center. Black has to be very careful do not get under a continual pressure. 12...Bxf6 13.e4

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13...Nb4 14.Rfd1 [Sometime White chooses another rook to place on d1: 14.Rad1 Va−ganian−Ribli, German league, 2002.] 14...g6?! [I guess that fiancetto to b7 is more preferable: 14...b6 15.Rd2 Bb7 16.Qe2 Ba6 17.Qe3 c6 18.h4 Qc7 19.Rc1 Rad8 20.e5 Be7 21.Ng5 Rd7 22.Be4 g6 (now Black can weaken the king cover; everything is ready for a counter−play in the center) 23.b3 Qd8 with an equal game, Karpov−Milos, 2000.] 15.h4 White makes use of g7−g6 hook. 15...Bg7 [A novelty. 15...Rc8 was played in the game Lputian−S.Polgar, Wejk−an−Zee,2000.] 16.h5 b6 17.hxg6 [Of course it would be better do not take on g6 but the problem was that after 17.Nh2 White must calculate 17...gxh5 and further h5−h4. For what?] 17...hxg6 18.Nh2 White's plan is pretty clear: to cut the Black's position to 2 sides by means of e4−e5 move.

And then to bring one knight to f6. The only possible counterplay for Black is c7−c5 trying to attract the attention of White from the king side to a center. 18...Qd7 [18...Bb7 does not make any sense 19.e5 Ba6 20.Qb3 Rb8 21.Ne4 and then Nh2−g4 with an advantage.] 19.e5 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 c5 [The change of queen allows to attract White from the queen side but then the problem of pawn c7 becomes suffi−cient. 20...Qc6+? 21.Qxc6 Nxc6 22.Nb5±] 21.dxc5 Qc6+ 22.Nf3 White knight must come back. But it does not mean that Black is ok. 22...Rfd8? [22...Bxe5! was the principled reply 23.Ne4 (23.Qh4 Kg7 24.Ne4 Rh8 25.Nxe5 Rxh4 26.Nxc6 Rxe4 27.Kf3 Rc4 28.Nxb4 Rxb4 29.c6 Rc8 30.Rac1 Rc7=) 23...Bxb2 24.Rab1 Bg7 25.Rd6 Qc7 26.Rxb6 and White has a lit−tle advantage due to a pawn c5.] 23.Qh4!±

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23...Rd3 [Black would be bad after 23...Nd3 24.Ne4 bxc5 25.Rac1! and it happened so that there is no normal way to defense on c5 25...Qc7 (25...c4? 26.Nf6+ Kf8 27.Rxc4+−) 26.Nf6+ Kf8 27.Qh7 with a strong attack. Here the probable variation is: 27...Qb7 28.Qg8+ Ke7 29.Qxg7 Nxc1 30.Rh1! Qc6 (30...Rd3 31.Qxf7+!+−) 31.Rh7 Rf8 32.Qxg6±] 24.Ne4 bxc5 Black must take a pawn back. 25.Rac1 Kf8? [Black could defense a pawn with 25...Qb7!? but White still continues pressure with 26.Nfg5 Rad8 27.Re1± In any way this position is more refractory.] 26.Rxc5 Rxd1 This sacrifice gives nothing. 27.Rxc6 Nxc6 28.Nf6+− Aronian technically finishes the game. [28.Qf4! also was winning 28...Ra7 29.Qe3 Rdd7 30.Qc5+ Ne7 31.Nfg5+−] 28...Rb8 29.Qc4 Rc8 30.Ng5 Bxf6 31.exf6 Rd4 32.Qa6 Rc7 [32...Rdd8 33.Qb7 Ne5 34.Nxe6++−] 33.Qb6 Rdd7 34.Nh7+ Kg8 [34...Ke8 35.Qc5 Ne7 36.Qa3+−] 35.Qe3 Kxh7 36.g4 Nd4 37.Qh3+ Kg8 38.Qh6 Black re−signed. I think all the Black's problems were caused by its 14th move g7−g6. From that

20


White had had a clear natural plan that drived to a win. 1-0 (09) Grischuk,Alexander (2733) - Aronian,Levon (2773) [D43] 25th ECC Ohrid MKD (6), 09.10.2009 [GM Aveskulov, V] 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Ne5

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[9.Be2 is more popular. But a move made in our game is also playable. Besides there are many possible shifts of moves that drive to the same positions. By the way there are many games played here by Grischuk and Aronian (Armenian played for both sides).] 9...Bb7 10.h4 g4 11.Be2 [An extraordinary important game from last year Olympiad came here: 11.Nxg4 Nxg4 12.Qxg4 Qxd4 13.Rd1 Qf6 14.e5 Qf5 15.Qd4 Be7 16.b3 (Grischuk re−cently played 16.a4 c5 17.Qd2 a6 18.axb5 axb5 19.Nxb5 Qe4+ 20.Be2 Qxg2 21.Rh2 Qc6 22.Nd6+ Bxd6 23.exd6 Nd7 with an equality, Grischuk−Leko, Nalchik, 2009) 16...c5 17.Qe3 Nc6 18.bxc4 Nb4 and Black has got an initia−tive, Aronian−Kramnik, Dresden (ol), 2008.] 11...Nbd7 [These players played this position 8 months ago: 11...h5 (the position happened with a shift of moves) 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Qc2 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bg7 15.b3 0-0 16.bxc4 Nh7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Rad1 Qxh4 19.cxb5 cxb5 20.Nxb5 Rac8 21.Qd3 Rfd8 with unclear posi−tion, Grischuk−Aronian, Morelia, 2009] 12.Nxd7 [After 12.Nxg4 Black plays 12...b4 and captures a pawn e4 back. Black is ok there.] 12...Qxd7 13.Be5 Qe7 14.0-0 [Good 28 moves were made by Black in the next game: 14.b3 cxb3 15.axb3 a6 16.0-0 h5 17.Re1 Bg7 18.d5 0-0 19.d6 Qd8 20.b4 Bh6! (saving dark squared bishops) 21.Bg3 Nd7 22.e5 c5 23.Bd3 cxb4 24.Ne4 Rc8 25.Qb1 Bxe4 26.Bxe4 a5 27.Qa2 a4 28.Qe2 Qb6 29.Bb1 Nc5?? (an amesti! Natural 29...Qd4!-+ would put White to

unresolved problems.) 30.Qc2 Black resigned. Tregubov−Motylev, Krasnoyarsk, 2007; Also White can take a pawn back right away: 14.Bxg4!? Rg8 15.Bf3 Nd7 16.Bg3 e5 17.d5 Nc5 18.0-0 0-0-0 19.Qe2 Nd3 20.Kh2 Qb4? blocking own pawn b5 (20...cxd5!?) 21.a4 cxd5 22.axb5 d4 23.Nd5 Qxb5 24.b3± c3 25.Rfd1 f5 26.Rxd3 a6 27.Bxe5 fxe4 28.Rxc3+! 1-0 P.Smirnov−Potkin, Sochi, 2005] 14...Rg8

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White has a compensation for a pawn due to a good center and opportunity to tweak Black at the queen side. But position is very tempo and every move can become a serious mistake. 15.b3 Nd7 [Shift of moves would drive us to the same position: 15...b4 16.Na4 c3 17.Qd3 (17.Nc5 Nd7!) 17...Nd7 18.Bg3] 16.Bg3 b4 17.Na4 c3 18.Qd3 h5 [Just here a novelty is. All previous moves already were played in the game of...Grischuk: 18...e5 19.Rad1 Bg7 20.d5 Qd6 21.Bxg4 cxd5 22.exd5 0-0-0 23.a3 Ba6 24.Qe3 Black had gotten to the troubles that became fatal for it, Grischuk−Gelfand, Rapid World Cup, Odessa, 2007.] 19.a3 Russian de−cided to open up the queen side. 19...a5 20.axb4 axb4

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21.Nc5?! This move itself corrupts nothing. But the idea that is hidden is completely wrong.

21


[White could start playing in the center: 21.e5 and then f2−f3 with enough compensation.] 21...Rxa1 Black is better prepared for this tac−tic encounter. 22.Nxb7? The continuation of the miscalculation started last move. [The only right move was 22.Rxa1 Nxc5 23.dxc5 Qxc5 24.Rd1 Qe7 and here say 25.Qe3 with an evi−dent compensation.] 22...Ne5! Probably this move was overlooked by Russian. 23.Rxa1 [White could continue some fighting with 23.Nd6+!? Qxd6 24.Rxa1 Nxd3 25.Bxd6 Nc1!? (25...Bxd6 26.Bxd3 opposite squared bishops ending is not so easy for winning) 26.Bxf8 Nxe2+ 27.Kf1 Ng3+ 28.fxg3 Rxf8 here Black also needs to put some efforts to get a whole point.] 23...Nxd3 24.Ra8+ [24.Nd6+ Qxd6 See a comment to the 23th move of White.] 24...Kd7 25.Bxd3 Qf6

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26.Be5? Now game over. [The best practical chance was hidden over here: 26.Na5 Qxd4 27.Rd8+ Kxd8 28.Nxc6+ Kd7 29.Nxd4 Bd6∓ but still Black must win.] 26...Bd6!-+ A knock−out. 27.Bxf6 [27.Rxg8 Bxe5 28.dxe5 Qxe5 Uncoordinated forces of White are not able to resist against queen+pawn c3.] 27...Rxa8 28.Kf1 Ra1+ 29.Ke2 Ra2+ White re−signed.[Coming 29...Ra2+ 30.Ke1 c2 31.Bg5 Ra1+ 32.Ke2 c1Q 33.Bxc1 Rxc1 leads to hopeless position.] 0-1 (10) Svidler,Peter (2741) - Motylev,Alexander (2710) [C42] 25th ECC Ohrid MKD (7), 10.10.2009 [GM Aveskulov, V] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Nc3

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This variation becomes very popular nowa−days. All the players are tired of those long lines in the main Petrov's. And now they are looking for something more neutral do not be forced to start playing from move 25. 8...Nxc3 9.bxc3 Bg4 10.Re1 0-0 11.Bf4

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11...Rb8 [An alternative is 11...Bd6 but after 12.Bxd6 Black must take on f3 12...Bxf3 (since 12...Qxd6? is bad because of 13.Bxh7+ Kxh7 14.Ng5+±) 13.Qxf3 and White gets a good po−sition. Here a recent example is: 13...Qxd6

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14.h4 Rae8 15.h5 Re6 16.g3 Rfe8 17.Rxe6 Rxe6 18.Kg2 Ne7 19.a4 Rf6 20.Qg4 Qe6

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21.Qxe6 Rxe6 22.a5 h6 23.f4 Nc8 24.c4 dxc4 25.Bxc4 Rd6 26.Ra4 Kf8 27.Bd3 White is bet−ter, Ivanchuk−Huzman, Ohrid, 2009.] 12.h3 Bh5 Black has saved light squared bishop that keeps on White's activities at the king side. 13.Re3 Bd6 Now Black is able to change dark squared bishops. 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.Rb1 f6 [As practic shows, Black can move this pawn 2 squares forward: 15...f5 16.Qe2 Rf6 17.Re1 f4 18.Re6 Rxe6 19.Qxe6+ Qxe6 20.Rxe6 Bxf3 21.gxf3 Kf7 and Black is even better, Brkic−Huzman, Plovdiv, 2008.] 16.c4 A quite logical novelty. [Bulgarian GM played in the different way: 16.Qd2 Rfe8 17.Nh4 Rxe3 18.Qxe3 Re8 19.Qd2 Nd8 20.Nf5 (the knight is not danger−ous for Black here) 20...Qd7 21.Qf4 Bg6 22.h4 Kh8 23.Qg4 Qf7 24.Qf3 b6 25.g3 Nb7 26.Kg2 Bxf5 27.Qxf5 g6 28.Qf3 Nd6= Topalov−Kramnik, Nicce, 2008.] 16...dxc4 [Black could do not take on c4 16...Ne7 but White would increase a pressure with a natural 17.Qe2 Rfe8 18.c3 with an advantage.] 17.Bxc4+ Kh8 18.c3 White has got a pleasant position. In the same time Black has no so far any real weak−nesses. And everything was supposed just to start. But... 18...Rfe8? An unexplained mis−take. [18...a6!? was definitely better. Square b5 is defensed against Rb5. Besides Black pre−pares b7−b5 itself. White is slightly better but there is nothing special so far.] 19.Ng5! From now White gets a real advantage due to more mobility of own bishop. 19...Bg6 [19...Rxe3? is even worst 20.Qxh5 fxg5 21.fxe3±] 20.Rxe8+ Rxe8 21.Nf7+ Bxf7 22.Bxf7 Rf8 23.Bc4

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White bishop + restricting pawns c3−d4 insure White has better position. 23...Na5 On the one hand Black struggles for the light squares; on the other hand Black knight is being drived far away from the king side. [I would prefer 23...b6!? keeping on my knight.] 24.Bd3 g6 The forced. 25.Qe2 White gets back the con−trol under only file. 25...Kg7 26.h4 An assault

is started! 26...Rf7?! [Black tries to take a file "e" back. But it gives White enough time to at−tack the king. 26...b6!? was better 27.h5 c5! and Black has a counterplay that approves a location of the knight.] 27.h5 Re7 28.Qg4 Qe6 29.Qg3 Qf7

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Black has got back the control under line costliness. Knight is far away; king is ex−posed... 30.Rb5! A nice square for a rook. It goes to h5! 30...b6 31.hxg6 hxg6 32.Rh5! Po−sition of Black became a critical. White has an quantitative advantage at the king side. 32...Re8 [Now a counterplay is being late: 32...c5 33.Rh3 f5 (33...cxd4 34.Qh4+−) 34.Qh4+−] 33.Rh3+− Black is defenseless. 33...f5 [33...Rh8 was a little bit more stubborn but still lost 34.Rxh8 Kxh8 35.Bxg6+−] 34.Bxf5! An easy tactic crushes Black. 34...Nc6 [A capture of bishop loses primitively: 34...Qxf5 35.Qxc7+ Kf6 (35...Kg8 36.Qh7+ Kf8 37.Qh8+ Ke7 38.Re3++−) 36.Rf3+−] 35.Bd3 Re6 36.Qh4 Qg8 37.Bc4! The most precise. 37...Re1+ 38.Kh2 Qxc4 39.Qh8+ Kf7 40.Rh7+ Black resigned.[after 40.Rh7+ Ke6 41.Qg8+ Black lost a queen.] 1-0

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Editorial staff:

GM Valery Aveskulov (ELO 2541) IM Anatoliy Polivanov (ELO 2382)

Dmitry Posokhov (ELO 2294)

Chief editor Roman Viliavin (ELO 2248) email: [email protected]

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© chesszone magazine #11, 2009...

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