Round 3

Almasi - Svidler [B81]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 e5 8. Nf5 g6

It was mentioned many times already that this keen variation became very popular recently, there is no need to repeat it, especially since the chief generator of ideas for White A. Shirov will play soon with two staunch supporters of Black’s position in this line B. Gelfand (round 6) and L. Van Wely (round 8).

9. g5 gxf5 10. exf5 d5 11. gxf6 d4 12. Bc4 Qc7 13. Qd3 dxe3 14. O-O-O exf2 15. Bxf7+! Kxf7 16. Qd5+ Kxf6 17. Ne4+ Ke7!

The only move. Its author is L. Van Wely.

18. f6+ Ke8 19. f7+ Ke7 20. Qd2!

20... Qb6!

The position before Black’s last move was seen not long ago. After 20... Qc6? 21. Qg5+ Black suffered a crushing attack in the game Svidler - Gelfand (Biel (round 4), 2000). In our comments, this move in the game was pointed out as the strongest.

21. Qg5+ Kxf7 22. Rhf1 Bh6 23. Rxf2+ Ke8 24. Rd8+ Qxd8 25. Qxh6 Qe7!

This is stronger than 25... Qd4 which looks more active, because after 26. Qg7 Qxe4 27. Qxh8+ Kd7 28. Rd2+ Kc6 (after 28... Kc7? 29. Qd8+ Kc6 30. Rd6+ White mated) 29. Qf6+! Kb5 30. a4+! White kept a dangerous initiative. You can find a more detailed analysis of this position in our notes on the above mentioned game Svidler - Gelfand.

26. Nf6+

The basic line that we regarded last time was 26. Nd6+ Kd7 27. Rf7.

26... Kd8 27. Nd5 Qe6 28. Qg5+

In case of the strongest play from both sides, the game should end with a draw. Now White had an opportunity to force a draw with a perpetual check after 28. Qh4+ Kd7 29. Rd2 Qf7 30. Nb6+ Kc6 31. Qe4+! (but no 31. Nxa8? because of 31... Qf1+ 32. Rd1 Qf4+, exchanging queens and winning the game) 31... Kxb6 32. Qe3+ Kc7 33. Qxe5+ Kb6 34. Qd4+ Ka5 35. Qc3+. However, he wants to get more. Most likely the position still stays equal, but the probability of White’s mistake grows higher.

28... Kd7 29. Qg7+ Kc6 30. Rf6 Kxd5 31. Rxe6 Kxe6 32. Qxh8

White cannot mate with his queen only, so the black king can feel relatively safe in the centre.

32... Nd7 33. Qxh7 Nf6 34. Qc7 Kf5!

A good move: the king frees the square e6 for the bishop.

35. h4 Be6 36. Qxb7 Bd5 37. Qb6

37... Ng4!

Black positions his pieces very well, covering squares around his king. A natural 37... Rh8 allowed White to draw the game with 38. Qf2+ Ke6 39. Qb6+.

38. c4?!

White continues his combination. Maybe the advance of another pawn was preferable. In case of 38. a4 Rh8 39. Qxa6 Rxh4 40. a5 Ne3 a draw would be the most probable result.

38... Be4

Of course no 38... Bxc4?? because of 39. Qc6.

39. h5

Again 39. a4 Rh8 40. Qxa6 Rxh4 41. Kd2 looked better, maintaining an approximate equality.

39... Rh8 40. Qg6+ Kf4 41. Qf7+ Bf5 42. b4

White’s c-pawn won’t get any far alone. After 42. c5 e4 43. c6 Rh6 44. Qc4 (44. c7 is losing because of 44... Rc6+ 45. Kd2 e3+ 46. Ke2 Rc2+ 47. Ke1 Ne5) 44... Ne5 45. Qf1+ Kg5 46. Qg2+ Ng4 47. Qd2+ e3 48. Qd8+ Kf4 49. Qd4+ Kf3 the black king escaped checks and after 50. Qc5 Black won with 50... Ne5! 51. Qxe5 Rxc6+ 52. Kd1 Bg4.

42... e4 43. b5 axb5 44. cxb5 e3

45. b6?

Probably this move was the crucial mistake. After 45. Qc4+ Kg5 46. Kb2 Rxh5 (in case of 46... Ne5 there was 47. Qe2) 47. b6 Rh1 48. Ka3 (bad was 48. Qg8+ Kf4 49. Qc4+ Be4 50. Qf7+ Kg3 51. Qc7+ Kh3 as the black king escaped checks, whereafter White encountered an insoluble problem of the e-pawn) 48... Rb1 49. Qc7 Be4 50. Qd6 a draw was still possible.

45... Ne5!

The centralised position of Black’s pieces decides the game in his favour.

46. Qe7 Rxh5 47. b7 Rh1+ 48. Kb2 Rb1+ 49. Kc3 e2 50. Qh4+ Bg4 51. Qh2+ Kf5 52. Qh7+ Ng6 53. Qd7+ Kg5 54. Qd2+ Kh5 0-1 White resigned.

Markowski - Shirov [A07]

1. g3 d5 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Qa4+ Nc6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. Qxc4 e5 7. Ng5 Nh6 8. Bxc6+ bxc6

9. Nc3

A capture of the pawn 9. Qxc6+ was followed with 9... Bd7 10. Qg2 O-O 11. d3 Nf5 12. Nc3 Nd4 13. O-O h6 14. Nf3 Bc6 in the game Tukmakov - Kupreichik (Kujbyshev, 1986) which gave a fair compensation to Black.

9... O-O 10. d3 Nf5 11. O-O Nd4 12. Be3 h6 13. Nge4 Bg4 14. f3 Be6 15. Qa4 Qe7 16. f4 Bg4 17. Rae1

A necessary move. After 17. fxe5 Nxe2+ (if 17... Qxe5, then 18. Bxh6!) 18. Nxe2 Bxe2 19. Bc5 Qxe5 20. Rf2 Bxd3 21. Bxf8 Rxf8 Black had an excellent compensation for the exchange.

17... f5 18. Nf2 Bh5 19. fxe5 Qxe5 20. Bxd4 Qxd4

21. Qxd4?

White wavered. After 21. Qxc6 Rab8 22. e3 Qd6 23. Qc4+ (in case of 23. Qxd6 cxd6 24. Rb1 Rfe8 25. Rfe1 Black had at least 25... Rxb2 26. Rxb2 Bxc3 27. Rbb1 Bxe1 28. Rxe1 Bf3 with a slightly better play) 23... Kh8 Black had a compensation of two active bishops for a pawn. But now Black achieves this advantage for nothing.

21... Bxd4 22. e3 Bg7 23. Na4 Rae8 24. d4?!

After 24. Kg2 g5 25. b3 Re7 White’s position was evidently worse, but probably this is how he should have played.

24... g5 25. Nc5?!

In case of 25. Nd3 White had to reckon with the continuation 25... Rxe3!? 26. Rxe3 Bxd4 27. Rfe1 f4 28. gxf4 gxf4 29. Nxf4 Rxf4 with an extra pawn by Black, but nevertheless this line deserved attention too.

25... f4!

After this uncomplicated blow Black’s position begins to fall to pieces.

26. Nfe4

There was no 26. exf4 because of 26... Be2.

26... Bg6

In case of a more forced 26... fxe3 27. Rxf8+ Kxf8 (if 27... Rxf8, then 28. Nd7 Rf3 29. Ne5) 28. Nd7+ Kf7 29. Ne5+ Bxe5 30. dxe5 Rxe5 31. Rxe3 Bg6 32. Rf3+ Ke7 there was a position similar to the one which was regarded in our comments to White’s 25^th move.

27. exf4 Bxd4+ 28. Kg2 gxf4 29. gxf4

29. b4 looked more persistent.

29... Bxb2 30. Kf3 Bh5+ 31. Kg3 Kh7

31... Rf5 was not bad with the idea of 32... Kf7, opening the g-file for the rook.

32. f5 Rg8+ 33. Kh4 Bf7 34. Nd7 Kg7 35. Nec5 Bc4 36. Ne6+

After 36. Rxe8 Rxe8 37. Rf4 Bd5 38. Ra4 Re2 White was condemned.

36... Kf7 37. Rf4 Bd5 38. Rb1?!

The black rook should not have been allowed to get to the second horizontal. 38. Rf2 was stronger.

38... Rg2 39. Kh3 Rd2 40. Rg1 Bxa2 41. Ndc5 Be5 42. Ne4 Bxe6 43. fxe6+ Kxe6 0-1 White resigned.

Krasenkow - Movsesian [D15]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 a6 5. c5 Nbd7 6. Bf4 Nh5 7. Bd2 Nhf6 8. b4

In case of a prophylactic 8. h3 White took the chance of encountering 8...e5!

8... g6

Now 8... e5?! is evidently not good because of 9. dxe5 Ng4 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Ngxe5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Bc3 with a perceptible advantage for White.

9. Qc1 h6

In case of a natural 9... Bg7 there was 10. Bh6.

10. e3 Bg7 11. Bd3 O-O 12. O-O e5 13. Nxe5

Another capture 13. dxe5 after 13... Ng4 14. e6 allowed Black to develop a very strong attack with 14... fxe6 15. Bxg6 Rxf3 16. gxf3 Nge5 17. Bc2 Nxf3+ 18. Kg2 Qf6. If White wanted to avoid a keen play he had a quiet 13. Be2 with an approximately equal position after 13... e4.

13... Nxe5 14. dxe5 Ng4 15. Na4?

This knight is too far from the kingside here. 15. Be2 Nxe5 with a slightly better play by Black was preferable.

15... Qh4!

Trying to get as much as possible. A slightly better position after 15... Nxe5 16. Be2 did not suit Black.

16. h3 Nxe5 17. Be2

17... Bxh3!

Black engages the strength of all his pieces in the attack of White’s kingside.

18. gxh3 Qxh3

Black created a fearful threat, disguised with 19... Nf3+! 20. Bxf3 Be5.

19. f4

19. Bc3 was more stubborn, though after 19... f5 20. f4 (in case of 20. Qb2 there was a strong 20... Ng4 21. Bxg4 Qxg4+ 22. Kh2 f4) 20... Qg3+ 21. Kh1 Ng4 22. Bxg4 fxg4 23. Qd2 (if 23. f5, then 23... Bxc3 24. Nxc3 Rae8) 23... Rf5 24. Rf2 Bxc3 25. Nxc3 Re8 White’s position was still hard.

19... Qg3+

The line 19... Ng4 20. Bxg4 Qxg4+ 21. Kf2 Bf6 22. Rh1 Bh4+ 23. Rxh4 Qxh4+ 24. Kg2 Qg4+ 25. Kf2 was less promising for Black.

20. Kh1

20... d4!

Now White already cannot contain Black’s victorious onslaught.

21. Qe1

It’s hard to advise anything to White. In case of 21. fxe5 the solution was 21... Bxe5 22. Rf4 dxe3 23. Bxe3 Rae8, and in case of 21. exd4 Black won with 21... Qh3+ 22. Kg1 Ng4 23. Bxg4 Bxd4+.

21... Qh3+ 22. Kg1 dxe3 23. Bc3 Ng4 24. Bxg4 Qxg4+ 25. Kh2 Rfe8 26. Qg3 Qf5 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. Nb6 Rad8

Black’s last reserves enter the fight.

29. Rae1 Rd2+ 30. Kg1 Re4 31. a3 Qf6 32. Nc8 Qd4 33. Rf3 e2+ 34. Kg2 Rd1 35. Nd6 Qa1 0-1 White resigned.

A. Fedorov - Van Wely [B80]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 b5 8. g4 h6 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Bb7 11. Bd3 Ne5 12. Rhe1 Rc8

12... Qa5 occurred in the first round in the game A. Fedorov - Gelfand (Polanica Zdroj, 2000). L. Van Wely prefers to keep to the beaten track.

13. Kb1 Nfd7 14. f4 Nc4 15. Qe2

After 15. Bxc4 Rxc4 16. f5 e5 17. Nf3 Qa8 18. b3 Rxe4 19. Nxe4 Bxe4 20. Ng1 Be7 21. Bf2 O-O Black got a good compensation of a pawn and an active position of the pieces for the sacrificed exchange in the game Korneev - Topalov (Cala Galdana, 1999).

15... Nxe3 16. Qxe3 Qb6 17. Nd5

This sacrifice of a piece was seen more than once already. After 17. f5 e5 18. Nb3 Qxe3 19. Rxe3 Nc5 20. Na5 Ba8 21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. exd5 Be7 Black got even better chances in the game Anand - Van Wely (Wijk aan Zee, 2000).

17... Qc5

To take the sacrifice with 17... exd5 can lead Black to a crushing defeat after 18. exd5+ Kd8 19. Bxb5 axb5 20. Qe8+ Kc7 21. Qxf7 as it happened in the game Timman - Van Wely (Wijk aan Zee, 2000). Also 17... Qa7 occurred in this position.

18. b4 Qa7

19. h4

19. Nb3 was played previously, and after 19... Qxe3 20. Nxe3 g5 21. f5 Bg7 Black’s chances were preferable (Berezovich - V. Belov, Moscow, 2000).

19... e5 20. fxe5 dxe5 21. Nf5 Qxe3 22. Nfxe3 g6 23. Kb2 Be7 24. Rh1?!

A passive move. The advantage of two bishops should be taken into consideration. Better was 24. Nxe7!? Kxe7 25. c4 bxc4 26. Bxc4 with an approximate equality.

24... Nf6 25. Nxf6+ Bxf6 26. c4

If 26. Kb3, then after 26... Rd8 an intrusion to d5 with the knight is dangerous for White as he can lose a pawn.

26... bxc4 27. Nxc4 Rd8 28. Bc2 Ke7 29. h5 Rd4 30. Rxd4 exd4 31. Bd3 Bc8 32. Nb6?

Allowing Black to create a passed pawn on the h-file. The defence after 32. Rg1 Be6 was preferable for White.

32... Bxg4 33. Nd5+ Ke6 34. hxg6 fxg6 35. Nf4+ Kf7 36. e5 Bg5 37. Nxg6 Rb8 38. a3 h5 39. Nf4

If 39. Rf1+ Kg7 40. Nf4, then, apart from 40... a5, White had to reckon with an unpleasant 40... Rf8!? 41. Nd5 Rxf1 42. Bxf1 h4, as then Black’s passed pawns would cost dearly to White.

39... Bxf4 40. Rf1 Ke6 41. Rxf4 Kxe5 42. Re4+ Kd5 43. Re7 a5 44. b5 a4 45. Kc2 h4 46. Rh7 h3 47. Rh4 Bd7 48. Rh5+ Kd6 49. Bf1 Rc8+ 50. Kd2 Rc3

51. Rh6+

If 51. b6, then after 51... Rb3! (51... Rxa3 was weaker because of 52. Rh6+ Ke5 53. b7 Rb3 54. Rh5+ Kd6 55. Bb5!) 52. b7 Rb2+ 53. Kc1 Rxb7 54. Bxh3 Bxh3 55. Rxh3 Kd5 White had a losing rook endgame without a pawn, and after 56. Rh5+ Kc4 57. Ra5 Rh7 58. Rxa4+ Kc3 his position was absolutely hopeless.

51... Kd5 52. b6 Rb3 53. Rh7 Bf5 54. Rh5 Ke4 55. Rh6 Kf4 56. b7 Rxb7 57. Bxh3 Rb2+ 58. Kc1 Rc2+ 59. Kd1 Rh2 60. Rd6 Ke5

60... Rxh3 was also possible with a mate after 61. Rxd4+ Ke3 62. Rxa4 Rh1#.

61. Rxd4 Bc2+! 0-1 White resigned.

Gelfand - Ivanchuk [A31]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. g3 Qb6 6. Nc2

The continuation 6. Nb3 was proved by the same opponents in the Stein Memorial this year.

6... e6 7. Bg2 d5 8. O-O Be7

In case of 8... dxc4 White could have struggled for an advantage with 9. Nca3 or 9. Ne3.

9. cxd5 exd5

9... Nxd5 was also proved in practice in the game Topalov - Ponomariov (Las Vegas (m/4 active), 1999) where it was followed with 10. Ne3 Nxe3 11. Bxe3 Qxb2 12. Bxc6+ bxc6 13. Bd4 Qb7 14. Bxg7 Rg8 15. Bc3.

10. Nc3

10... O-O

A novelty. Black ventures a sacrifice of the pawn. In case of 10... Be6 White got a more pleasant play after 11. Ne3 d4 12. Ned5 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 Bxd5 14. Bxd5 O-O 15. Qb3 Qxb3 16. Bxb3 in the game Skembris - De Firmian (Vrnjacka Banja, 1983).

11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. Qxd5 Be6 13. Qe4 Bf6 14. a4

There seems to be no other way to complete the development. After 14. Qe3 Rfe8 Black had an excellent compensation for the missing pawn, pressing on White’s queenside.

14... Rac8

The line 14... Rfd8!? 15. a5 (the variant with 15. Be3 Qa6 16. Nb4 Qxe2 was quite harmless for Black) 15... Qb5 16. a6 Bd5 with a good compensation for the pawn deserved attention too.

15. Be3!

White still found a way to develop his pieces of the queenside.

15... Qxb2

If 15... Qa6, then after 16. Nb4 Qxe2 17. Nxc6 Rxc6 18. Bxa7 White could have created a dangerous passed pawn on the queenside.

16. Rab1 Qa2 17. Rxb7 a5!

This way only. A passive defence is impossible. After 17... Nd8 18. Nb4 Qa3 19. Rb5 Rc4 (19... Qxa4? was bad because of 20. Rh5! h6 21. Nd5) 20. Qb1 Qxa4 21. Nd5 White’s pieces became very active.

18. Rb6 Ne7 19. Nd4 Rc4

20. Rxe6!

White gets rid of his opponent’s active pieces with the help of a temporary sacrifice by an exchange.

20... fxe6 21. Bh3 Kh8!

Black is up to the mark and does not hold to the material balance. In case of a more indifferent 21... e5 to be followed with 22. Be6+ Kh8 23. Qd3 Rfc8 24. Bxc8 Nxc8 25. Nb3 Qxa4 26. Rd1 Black’s position was difficult despite the material balance.

22. Bxe6 Qxe2 23. Bxc4 Qxc4 24. Qc2 Rc8 25. Rc1 Qxc2

Black was losing in case of 25... Qd5 26. Qxc8+ Nxc8 27. Rxc8+ Bd8 28. Nc6 Qd1+ 29. Kg2 Qd5+ 30. f3 Qa2+ 31. Bf2.

26. Rxc2 Rxc2 27. Nxc2 Nd5

Now it’s evident that the pawns of the queenside will be exchanged, and the endgame with three pawns by White on the kingside against two by Black means a draw.

28. Na3

It’s curious that after 28. Bd4 Bxd4 29. Nxd4 Nc3 30. Nc6 Nxa4 31. Nxa5 a knight endgame could have arisen similar to the one which occurred between the same opponents in the second round-robin of the above mentioned Stein Memorial. The difference is that, unlike that game, it would be B. Gelfand who would have an opportunity to “torture” his opponent, being the stronger side in this case.

28... Nc3 29. Bd2 Nxa4 30. Bxa5 Kg8 31. Nc4 Nc5 32. Bb6 Nd7 33. Bc7 Kf7 34. Kg2 Ke6 35. Kf3 Bd4 36. Ne3 Nf6 37. Bd8 Nd5 38. Nc4 Bf6 39. Ba5 Bc3 40. Bd8 Bf6 41. Bb6 Be7 1/2-1/2 Draw.