Zdenko Krnic (Chief Editor) - Chess Cafe - Informant - 1-138

The Informant at ChessCafe.
com
Michael Adams Annotates:

Adams Ponomariov
Linares 2002
Chess Informant 83 has recently been released;
as usual, it offers attitude aplenty as top players
never fail to make statements even within the
constraints of the Informants trademark code
system; the disbelievers are referred to Adams
laconic + verdict after his pawn capture on
the 25th move (25. Re5+) in this months
featured game.
Our first contribution is a preview from the
forthcoming Informant 84, which will cover the
events held between February 1 and May 31,
2002. It features Michael Adams annotations of
his game from Linares where he handed Ruslan
Ponomariov his first loss since his FIDE World
Championship triumph that lifted him to sixth
place on the official FIDE Rating List for April
2002 (Adams is fifth, just a point ahead). The
young Ukrainians first outing into the world of
the elite nevertheless has proved to be a success,
as he confidently managed to snatch the silver
from the Linares mines. The wealth of the
eastern Andalucan area has attracted the great
powers throughout the history. Two roads
leading from Baeza and beda come together in
file:///C|/Cafe/informant/informant.htm (1 of 8) [05/10/2002 8:16:16 AM]
The Informant at ChessCafe.com
Linares, and they had been bringing the

Phoenician traders, or Carthaginian and Roman
conquerors to the quiet city of less than 100,000
inhabitants, otherwise famous for its bullfights.
Nowadays they annually bring the chess giants to
the chess capital of world, where Garry
Kasparov still remains the undisputed king of the
crown group, often winning it by colossal
margins. This year Kramnik was the only one
missing, as Ponomariovs last minute decision to
play brought additional weight to the event.
As far as the game itself is concerned, it was a superb display
of Michael Adams machine-like technique at his best. The
opening featured routine manoeuvres in one of the popular
lines of the Ruy Lopez, when suddenly Ponomariov became
too anxious to launch d5 hoping to get rid of the weak pawn.
Had he chosen 21 Rc8 instead, he could have probably
created enough counterpressure on Whites c-pawn to
compensate for his weaknesses. The idea backfired, as he
never got an opportunity to coordinate his pieces, which soon
made the reigning FIDE champion part with his e-pawn, and
that brings us back to the previously mentioned 25. Re5+. It is
indeed a treat to watch Adams realize his advantage in a
manner that surely made Ponomariov bitterly regret pushing his
pawn prematurely; in hindsight, one might even venture to
suggest that the entire idea that he employed was unworkable
from the theoretical point of view. However, aesthetically
speaking, Ponomariovs unfortunate choice gave Adams an
opportunity to regale all chess connoisseurs and addicts with
his truly artistic performance. For that matter a true chess fan
should never underappreciate young champions role in the
creating of the masterpiece.
We hope readers around the world enjoy this first Informant
column at ChessCafe.com.
Zdenko Krnic, Editor-in-Chief, Chess

Informant
M. Adams 2742 - R. Ponomariov 2727

C 92 - Ruy Lopez
Linares 2002
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0

Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Re8 10.d4
Bb7 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.d5 Nb8 13.Nf1 Nbd7
14.N3h2 Nc5 15.Bc2 c6 16.b4 Ncd7 17.dc6 Bc6
18.Bg5 h6 19.Bf6
19.Bh4 Qc7 20.Bf6 Nf6 21.Ng4 Ng4 22.hg4 Be7 23.Bb3 Bg5
24.Qf3 Rf8 25.Rad1 Bd7 26.Rd3 Be6 27.Red1 Rfd8 28.Ne3
Be3 29.Re3 1/2 : 1/2 Z. Almasi 2630 - A. Beliavsky 2668,
Austria 2001 - 83/(343)
19Nf6 20.Ng4 Ng4

20...Bd7!?
21.Qg4
21.hg4 d5
21...d5 N
21...a5!?; better is
21...Rc8 22.Bb3 Bd7
23.Qf3 Be6 unclear
Topalov 2718 Ivanchuk 2717,
Monaco (blindfold)
2001
22.ed5 Qd5
22...Bd5? 23.Rad1 and White is winning
23.Bb3 Qd8
23...Qd3 24.Re3 and White is superior; 23...Qd7

24.Qh5 with the initiative; better is 23...Qd6
24.Ne3 Qf6 25.Qh5 g6 26.Ng4 and White is
winning; 24...Rad8 and White is slightly better
24.Qh5 Ra7?
24...Qc7 25.Ne3 e4 (25...Rad8 26.Ng4) 26.Qg6
(26.Nf5 Ra7 27.Rad1 Kh7 and White is slightly
better; 26.Rad1!?) 26...Re7 27.Rad1 Kh8 28.Qf5
and White is superior
25.Re5
White is winning.
25Re5 26.Qe5 Qg5 27.Qg5 hg5 28.Ne3 g6

28...Be7!?
29.Rd1 Rc7 30.Kf1
30.Rd8 Kg7
30...Kg7 31.Ke2 Be7 32.Bd5 Bd7 33.Rd3 Bf6
33...Bf5 34.Nf5 gf5 35.Kd2 Bf6 36.Kc2
34.c4
34.Kd2!? Be5 35.Kc2
34...bc4 35.Bc4 Bc8
35...Bb5 36.Bb5 ab5 37.Ra3!
36.a3
36.Kd2
36...Bb2
36...Be5 37.Rd5 Bf4 38.Rc5 and White is
winning
37.Kd2 f5 38.Kc2!
38.Bd5 Bd7 (38...f4 39.Nc4 Ba1 40.Nd6 Bd7
41.Bc4 and White is winning) 39.Nc4 Bf6 and
White is superior
38...Ba3
38...Bf6 39.Kb3
39.Ra3 f4 40.Kb3 fe3 41.fe3 Re7 42.Ka4 Re5
43.Rd3 Bf5
43...Kh6 44.g4! (44.Rd6 Re3 45.Ba6 Ba6 46.Ra6
Rg3 47.b5 Rg2 48.b6 Rb2) 44...Bb7 45.Rd6 Re3
46.Ba6; 43...g4 44.hg4 Re4 45.Rc3 Rg4 46.Bd5
Bd7 47.Ka5 Rg5 48.Rc5
44.Rd2 Re3 45.Ba6 Be4
46.Rf2
46.Re2?! Re2 47.Be2
Bg2 48.Bg4 Kf6
49.Kb5 (49.b5 Ke7
50.Ka5 Kd6 51.b6
Bb7white is superior)
49...Ke7 50.Kb6 Kd6
and White is
superior; 46.b5! (G.
Kasparov) 46...Rg3 47.b6 Bg2 (47...Rg2 48.Rg2

Bg2 49.b7 Bb7 50.Bb7) 48.Rg2 Rg2 49.b7 Ra2
50.Kb5 Rb2 (50...Kf6? 51.Kb6 Rb2 52.Bb5)
51.Kc6 Rb7 52.Bb7 and White is winning.
46...Kh6
46...Rg3 47.Bf1 g4 48.hg4 Rg4 49.Ka5 g5
(49...Rg3 50.b5) 50.b5 Rf4 51.Rf4 gf4 52.Ka6 f3
(52...Kf6 53.b6 Kg5 54.b7 Bb7 55.Kb7 with the
idea Be2-f3) 53.gf3 Bf3 54.Ka7 Kf6 55.b6 Ke7
56.Ba6
47.Bf1 g4 48.hg4 Re1
Better is 48...Rg3 49.Ka5 Rg4 50.b5 and White
is winning.
49.Be2 Ra1 50.Kb3 Rb1 51.Kc3 Rc1
Better is 51...Bd5 52.b5 Kg5
52.Kd4 Bb7 53.Bf3
53.b5 Rc2 54.Ke3 Rc3
53...Ba6 54.Rb2 Bb5 55.Be2 Bc6 56.Bf3 Bb5
57.Be2 Bc6 58.Ba6
58.g3!? Rg1 59.b5 Bb7 60.Rb3 Kg5 61.b6
58...Rg1 59.b5 Bg2 60.b6 Kg5 61.Bc8 Kf4
62.Kc5
62.b7?? Bb7 63.Bb7 (63.Rb7? Rd1 64.Kc5 Rc1)
63...Rg4
62...Be4
62...Rc1 63.Kd6 Rc8 64.Rg2; better is 62...Bf3

63.Rb4 Kg3 64.Kd6 and White is winning.
63.Rb4! Ke5
63...Rc1 64.Rc4 Rc4
(64...Rf1 65.Bb7)
65.Kc4 g5 66.Kc5
Ke5 67.b7
64.b7 Rc1 65.Kb5
Bb7
65...Bc6 66.Kb6 Bb7 67.Bb7
66.Bb7 Kf6 67.Rc4 Rb1 68.Kc6 Kg5 69.Bc8
Rd1 70.Bd7 Kh4 71.Kc7 Rd2 72.Kd8 Re2
73.Rc6 g5 74.Bf5
74.Be6?? Re6 75.Re6 Kg4 76.Ke7 Kf3 77.Rf6
Ke3 78.Rg6 Kf4
74...Re3 75.Re6 Rg3?
75...Ra3 76.Ke7
76.Rh6# 1 : 0 [M. Adams]
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Viswanathan Anand Annotates:

Anand-Karpov
Prague 2002
Various sources generally agree on one thing: a
mayday distress call is used only in cases of
grave and imminent danger. Professional chess
has been chronically ill for years, and the
seemingly irreconcilable differences among the
confronting parties have brought it to the point
where an emergency call has been transmitted
over and over, but no one seemed to care.
Fortunately, the colossal efforts of Yasser
Seirawan have led to this years May (how
fitting) Prague Summit that instantly seized the
undivided attention of all chess enthusiasts
worldwide. Exceptionally far-reaching in its
implications, the ensuing agreement undoubtedly
represents a giant step ahead; however, it is still
seriously flawed because many leading
grandmasters were left out of the cycle to
determine who would become undisputed World
Champion after such a long time. It is therefore
no wonder that the importance of reaching the
long-awaited compromise overshadowed the
appeal of what would otherwise have been an
exceptionally interesting event with a starstudded field.
file:///C|/Cafe/informant/informant.htm (1 of 10) [06/15/2002 4:54:01 PM]
The Prague Eurotel Trophy Knockout

Tournament saw a major comback by two former
World Champions; Anatoly Karpov and
Viswanathan Anand pitted their wits in a
classical two-game final after successfully
steering their way through a series of knockout
rapid matches. Karpovs choice of the Petroff
Defense in this months featured game, the one
that eventually decided the event, was hardly
surprising, as he had systematically utilized it
throughout the tournament. Despite Whites
small edge from the very outset, the Petroff
offers plenty of resources for maintaining a solid
defense; Karpov wriggled brilliantly in his games
versus Short, Morozevich and Shirov,
demonstrating his consummate skill and deep
understanding of the game. Most of the time he
was the one to slightly vary his choice of
variations in the opening: in the first match
versus Short he confidently managed to quickly
neutralize the venom in the transition between
the middlegame and endgame, while Morozevich
probably pushed too hard against the seemingly
modest setup of the Petroff.
However, Shirov's uncompromising all-out
onslaught in both his games as White certainly
made Karpov fight for survival: although he
managed to win the match in the blitz tiebreak,
the fissures in his positions which called for
immediate repair were visible even to the naked
eye. Alas, misery loves company, and the
classical time format of the final games was
certainly of no help to Karpov: the shortcomings
of the variation that he was employing
throughout the tournament had nuances that
could not be ironed out quickly, which left

Anand in a rather comfortable position he had
both a target and enough time to not miss it.
This is an important principle that usually
increases the defenders vulnerability. Thus, even
the fact that it was actually Anand who was using
significantly less time during the game does not
change a thing it was "just" another display of
his legendary speed. Once he established control
over the a2-g8 diagonal, it became clear that his
bishop would cast a shadow across the board for
quite a long time. Several inaccuracies soon
made Karpov part with a pawn, and the ease with
which Anand brought the game to a conclusion
simply has to be admired. The process of
converting a material advantage into a win is
hardly ever devoid of errors, but not for the
Indian virtuoso: his flawless technique surely
instills hope that his recent poor performances
are finally behind him, and that his fans have
every right to believe that he has not had his final
say yet. Ivan Markovic, Chess Informant
Editor
Anand 2752 An. Karpov 2690
C 42 Petroff Defense
Prague (m/1), 2002

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Ne5 d6 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.d4 d5
6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 0-0
10.Nc3 Bf5 11.a3 Nc3 12.bc3 Nc6 13.Re1
RR13.cd5 Qd5 14.Re1 Rfe8N (14...Bf6
83/(289)) 15.Bf4 Rac8 16.c4 Qe4 17.Be3 Bf6
18.Ra2 b6 19.h3 Na5 20.g4 Bg6 21.g5 Be7
22.Ne5 Bd6 23.Ng6 hg6 24.c5 Bf8 25.Bg4 Rcd8
26.Rae2
A) 26...Qd5 27.Bf4 Re2
28.Qe2 c6 29.Bc7 Ra8
30.Qe5 Qe5 31.Re5A1)
31...Nc4?!
32.d5!! cd5
(32...Ne5? 33.Be5
cd5 34.c6 and
White is winning.
G. Kasparov 2838
Mi. Adams 2742,
Linares 2002) with
the idea 33.c6 Na5!
34.Bd7 Nc6 35.Bc6
Rc8= ; 35.Rd5 with
compensation; A2) 31...Nb3 with the idea
32.d5 cd5 33.c6 Nd4; B) 26...Qc6 27.cb6 :
Anand 2757 Mi. Adams 2742, Linares 2002
13...Re8!?
13...Be6 83/(290); 13Bf6 14.cd5 (14.Bf4
79/(284) 14Qd5 15.Bf4 Rac8 16.Nd2
16Rfe8N
(16Nd4;16Qd7;
16Na5) 17.Bf3
Re1 18.Qe1 Qd7
19.Ne4 Be7
20.Qd1 Bd6= N.
Short 2673 An.
Karpov 2690,
Prague (m/2) 2002;
13...dc4 14.Bc4
Bd6 RR15.Ra2 (15.Bg5!?) 15Qd7 16.Ng5
Na5N (16Bg6 80/334) 17.Bd3 b5 18.Qf3
Bg6 19.Rae2 Nc4 20.a4 a6 21.h4 h6 22.Ne4
Rae8 23.h5 Bh7 24.ab5 ab5 (Shirov 2704
An. Karpov 2690, Prague (m/3) 2002)
25. Bh6!? Be4
26.Re4 Re4 27.Qe4
f5 28.Qd5 Rf7!
(28...Kh8? 29.Bf4!)
29.Bc4 bc4 30.Qa8
Rf8 31.Qd5 Rf7=
14.Bf4
14.cd5 Qd5
13.cd5
14...dc4
14...Na5N 15.cd5 Qd5 16.Ne5 c6 17.c4 Qd8
18.Bh5 g6 19.Bg4
Bg5 20.Bg5 Qg5
21.Bf5 Qf5 22.Re3
Rad8 23.Qe1 b6
24.Rd1 f6 25.Ng4
Kf8 26. h3 h5
27.Re8 Re8 28.Ne3
and White is
superior. Shirov
2704 An. Karpov
2690, Prague (m/2) 2002.
15.Bc4 Bd6 16.Re8N
16.Bd6; RR16.Be3 Qf6 17.h3 : Smirin
2685 Dreev 2677, Sarajevo 2002
16...Qe8 17.Ng5 Bg6 18.Bd6 cd6
19.h4! (White is
slightly better.)
19Qe7
19...h6 20.h5 (20.Nh3 Na5)
20Bh5 21.Qh5 hg5 A)
22.Ra2 Qe1 (22...Qe7
23.Re2 Qf6 24.Re3 g6
25.Qh6 g4) 23.Kh2 Rf8; B)
22.Kf1 Qe7 23.Re1 Qf6
24.Re3 g6 25.Rf3 gh5
26.Rf6 Nd8 27.Rd6 Rc8 28.Bd5 Kf8 29.c4 Ke7 30.Rh6 and
White is slightly better; C) 22.Kh2! C1) 22...Qe7 23.Rh1! and
White is winning; C2) 22...Na5 23.Re1! (23.Bd5 Qd7 24.Rh1
Qf5) 23...Nc4 (23...Qd7 24.Rh1! Qf5 25.Kg1 Qb1 26.Bf1 and
White is winning) 24.Re8 Re8 25.Qg5 and White is superior;
C3) 22...Rc8 23.Re1 (23.Rh1 Ne7 24.Kg1 Kf8) 23...Ne7
(23...Qd7 24.Bd3 g6 25.Bg6! and White is superior) 24.Bd3 g6
25.Qg5 Rc7 26.Re3 and White is superior.
20.Qg4 h6 21.Nh3!
21.Nf3 Be4 22.Nd2 Bh7 23.Nf1 (with the idea
Ne3) 23...Qe4 24.Qd7 Qe7
21...Qf6 22.Re1 Bf5 23.Qf3
23.Qg3!?
23...Kf8
23...Rc8 24.Nf4 Bd7 25.Qg3! and White is
slightly better.
24.Nf4 Bd7
24...Qh4!? 25.Bf7 Qg4 26.Qg4 Bg4 27.Bd5 Ne7
(the only move) 28.Bb7 Rb8 with compensation.
25.g3! Re8 26.Re8 Be8 27.Qe4! (with the idea
Qh7) 27g5?
27...g6 28.h5 and White is slightly better.
28.hg5 Qg5?!
28...hg5 29.Nd5 Qg6 ) 30.Qg6 fg6 31.Nf6 A1) 31...Na5 32.Bd3
and White is superior; A2) 31...Ke7 32.Ne8 (32.Ne4 g4)
32...Ke8 33.Kg2 Ke7 34.Kf3 Kf6 35.Bd5 and White is slightly
better; A3) 31...Bf7 32.Nh7 Kg7 33.Bf7 Kh7 34.Bd5! (34.Kg2
Ne7=) Nd8 35.Kg2; B) 30.Qf3 Bd7 31.Bd3 and White is
slightly better.
29.Bd5! (with the idea Qb1) 29Bd7

29...Qe7 30.Qf5 and White is superior.
30.Qh7 Qf6
30...Be8 31.Qh8 Ke7 32.Bg2 and White is

winning; 30...Qg7 31.Qb1! b6 32.Qb5 Nb8
33.Qc4 and White is winning; 30...Nd8 31.Bf7
Qg7
31.Bf7
31.Qb1 b6 32.Qb5
Qf5!
31...Ne7 32.Bb3!
32.Ng6 Ng6 33.Qg8!
(33.Bg6 Qg7 34.Qg7
Kg7 35.Be4 b6 with
the idea 36.f4 Kf6 37.Kf2 Be6 38.Kf3 Bd7 39.g4
Be6 40.Kg3 Bf7 41.Kh4 Be8 42.g5 hg5 43. fg5
Kg7=) 33...Ke7 34.Bg6 Qf8 35.Qh7 Kd8 36.Be4
b6 and White is superior.
32...Bf5 33.Nh5 Bh7 34.Nf6 Bg6
34...Bf5 35.f3 Kg7? 36.Ne8
35.Ng4 Kg7 36.Ne3 Be4 37.g4 Kf6 38.Kh2 b6
39.Kg3 Kg5 40.Bf7 Kf6 41.Bc4 Kg5 42.Bb3
Kf6 43.f3 Bg6 44.f4 Be4 45.Bc4 Bc6 46.Bd3
Bb7
46...Be8 47.Kh4 Bf7 48.Bb5 A) 48...Bg6
49.Nc4!; B) 48...Nd5 B1) 49.Nd5 Bd5 50.Kh5
Kg7 51.Be8 Kf8 52.Bg6 Kg7 53.f5 Bf3
(53...Bc6? 54.f6 Kf6 55.Kh6 and White is
winning) 54.Be8 Be2 55.Bd7 Kf6 56.Bc6 Kg7
57.Bg2 Bd1 58.Bh3 (58.d5 Be2) 58...Bb3 (only
move) 59.f6 Kh7 60.g5 Bf7 61.Kh4 hg5
(61...Kg6 62.gh6 Kh6 63.Bf5) 62.Kg5 Kg8
63.Bf5 Bc4 64.Bg6 Kf8 and White is slightly

better; B2) 49.g5! 49...hg5 50.fg5 Kg6 (50...Ke7
51.Nd5 Bd5 52.Kh5 and White is winning) 51.
Bd3 Kg7 52.Nf5 Kf8 53.Nd6 and White is
winning; C) 48...Be6 49.c4 and White is
superior.
47.Kh4 Bf3?
47...Bc6
48.Nc4! (White is
winning.) 48Nd5
48...d5 49.Ne3 Bh1
50.g5 hg5 51.fg5 Kg7
52.Nf5 Nf5 53.Bf5
with the idea Kg3-f4e5
49.Kg3 Bd1
49...Bh1 50.Nd6 Nc3 51.Nc8
50.Nd6 Nc3 51.Nf5 Kg6 52.d5! Ba4 53.d6 Bd7
54.Kh4 a5 55.Ne3 Kf7
55...Kg7 56.Bf5
56.Kh5 b5 57.Kh6 Ke6 58.g5 Kd6 59.g6 1-0
[Anand]

The Most Important Novelty

of
Volume 83
Sasa Velickovic
Chess Informant
Deputy Editor-in-Chief
In the era of computer-aided analyses and powerful
headquarters assembled around the leading chessplayers
each theoretical novelty launched by high-caliber top guns
invariably provokes a tapestry of discussion among the
opening experts. Young players are particularly receptive
to the changes and innovations in the game, because they
often use their opening preparation as a shortcut to the
dizzying heights of the chess hall of fame. The
extraordinary quality of a players home analysis generates
an opportunity to leap to the forefront of the field;
otherwise, one can hardly avoid being forced down the
myriad of mind-boggling variations thoroughly prepared in
an opponents lab, as there is no doubt that the opening
usually sets the predominant tone for the entire game.
Sparked by Anands highly atypical idea that earned him the critical
acclaim of his peers who voted the 14th move of his game versus Tkachiev
(Moscow (m/1) 2001 14.Ra3!) the most important theoretical novelty of
the Chess Informant 83, this months article presents a survey of the
Arkhangelsk variation of Ruy Lopez, providing an up-to-date guide for a
practical opening repertoire tailored to fit the Informants traditional ECO
framework.
To get a feel of the range of possibilities for both sides,

please take a look at 14.Ba4: Korneevs pet move
represents Whites attempt to immediately solve the
misplacement of his white-squared bishop; tactical
complications aside, White seems to emerge with the
upper hand in the end. Moreover, Anands superb allpurpose move (14.Ra3!) seems to defy anything that Black
may throw at Whites setup. It defies the silicon logic as
well no computer program seems capable of recognizing
its strength. However, the assessments of the lines should
be used only as a starting point for ones own
investigations they should inspire researchers of all
levels to do independent work. The author would also like
to add an important note: this survey emphasizes the
importance of the move order, as it seems that 10.ab5 ab5
11.Na3 Ba6 would offer better prospects for Black
compared to the recommended line.
ANAND 2770 TKACHIEV 2632

Moscow (m/1) 2001 83/326
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 00 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8
8. c3 d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. Na3 00 11. ab5 ab5 12. Nb5 ed4 13. cd4 Bg4
14. Ra3! N [14. Ra4 82/(307)] Re8
15. Re1 d5 16. e5 Ne4 17. Be3 Ba5 18.
Na7 (the only move) Bf3! 19. gf3
[19. Qf3 Nd4! 20. Bd4 Be1] Be1 20. fe4
[20. Nc6!? Bf2 21. Bf2 Qg5 22. Kf1
Nf2 23. Kf2 Qh4! (23... Rb6 24. Qc2) a)
24. Ke3? Qh6 and Black is winning; b)
24. Ke2? Qh2 25. Kd3 Qb2 and Black is
winning; c) 24. Kg2 Re6 25. Qc2 (25.
Nb8 Rg6 26. Kh1 Qf2 and Black is
winning) Rg6 26. Qg6 hg6 27. Nb8 Qd4
and Black is superior; d) 24. Kg1 d1)
24... Rb6 25. Qc2 Rc6 26. Qc6 Qe1 27. Kg2 Qe2 28. Kg3 Qe1 29. Kg4 (29.
Kf4 Qd2 30. Kg3 Qe1=) h5! (29... Qg1 30. Kf5 g6 31. Kf6! and White is
winning) 30. Kh5 g6= with the idea 31. Kg5?! Qd2 (31... Qg1 32. Kf6 Re6
33. Qe6 fe6 34. Bc2! with compensation) 32. f4 Qg2 33. Kf6 Re6 34. Qe6
fe6 and Black is slightly better; d2) 24... Re6! 25. Ra6 (25. Bd5 Rg6 26.
Kh1 Rg2!! and Black is winning) Rg6 26. Kh1 Qg5 27. Qf1 Rc6 28. Rc6
Rb3 29. Rc7 Qf5 with compensation; e) 24. Kf1! Rb6 25. Qc2 Qh3 e1) 26.
Ke1 Qf3 27. Ne7 Kh8 28. Bd5 Qg4 29. Nc6 Qg1 30. Kd2 Qh2 31. Kc1 (31.
Kc3 Qh3 32. Kc4 Qf1=) Qg1 32. Qd1 Qh2! (with the idea 33... Qb2, 33...
Qh6) 33. Qd2 Qg1= with the idea 34. Kc2? Qg6 and Black is winning; e2)
26. Kg1 Qf3 27. Ba4! (27. Ne7 Kf8) Qg4 28. Rg3 and White is slightly
better; 27... Qf4 and White is slightly better] Na7 21. Ra7 de4 [21... Bb4
22. Bd5 and White is superior] 22. Ba4 Bf2 [22... Bb4 23. Be8 Qe8 24. Qc2
and White is slightly better] 23. Bf2 Qg5 24. Bg3! [24. Kh1 Rb2!] Red8
25. Rc7 Qe3 [25... Rb2 26. Bc2] 26. Kh1 Rd4 27. Qb3! [27. Qf1 Qf3 28.
Qf3 ef3 29. Bc2 Rd2=] Qf3 28. Kg1! Rdd8 [28... Rbd8 29. Qf3 ef3 30.
Bb3 and White is winning] 29. Qf3 ef3
30. b3 [30. Rc2!? (with the idea e6)
Rbc8 (30... Rb4 31. Bd7! g5 32. e6 fe6
33. Be6) a) 31. Bc6 (with the idea b4b5) Rd4 32. Be1! (32. Rc3 Rd1 33. Kf2
Rd2 34. Kf3 Rb2; 32. Kf2 Rb4) Rg4 33.
Kf1 Rg6 34. Be4 Rc2 35. Bc2 Rg2 36.
Bf2 Rh2 a1) 37. Be4? Rh1 38. Bg1 Rh4
39. Bf3 Rb4; a2) 37. b4 Rh1 (37... g5
38. b5 Rh1 39. Bg1 g4 40. b6 g3 41.
Be4! and White is winning) 38. Bg1
Rh4 (38... f2 39. Kf2 Rh4 40. b5 Rb4
41. Bd3) 39. b5 Rc4! (39... Rb4 40. b6
g5 41. Bc5 Rb5 42. Bd3 Rb3 43. Be4 g4 44. b7 and White is winning) 40.
Bd3 (40. Bf5 g6 41. Bd7 Rc1 42. Kf2 h5) Rc1 41. Kf2 Rc3 42. Be4 Rb3 43.
Bc6 Rb1 zugzwang; a3) 37. Be4! Rh1 38. Bg1 Rh4 39. Bd5 Rb4 40. e6 fe6
41. Be6 Kh8 42. b3 Rf4 43. Bc5 and White is slightly better; b) 31. Rc8
Rc8 32. Kf2 Rc4 33. b3 Rc3 34. Bf4! h6 35. Be3 Rc2 36. Kf3 Rh2 37. b4
and White is superior] g5! 31. Bd7 [31. Rc4] Rd7 32. Rd7 Rb3 (with
compensation) 33. Rd5! [33. Kf2 h5!] h6 [33... h5? 34. e6!] 34. Kf2 [34. h3
Rb2 35. Bf2 Re2 with counterplay] g4 35. Rd6 [35. Bf4 Kg7 36. Rd2 h5
37. Kg3 Kg6 with the idea 38. Kh4? f2! 39. Rd6 Kg7 40. Rd1 Rf3] Kg7 36.
Bf4 h5 37. Bh6 [37. Kg3? f2!] Kh7 38. Bd2 Kg7 39. Kg3 Rb1 40. Bh6
Kg8 41. Rf6 [41. Rd2 Kh7 42. Bf4 Rb4] Rb2 42. Bf4 Rb1! 43. Bg5 [43.
Rh6 Rb2; 43. Rf5 h4! 44. Kf2 (the only move) Rb2 45. Ke3 f2] Rg1=
44. Kf2 Rg2 45. Kf1 Rh2 46. Bf4 Rh1 47. Kf2 Kg7 48. Rf5
1/2 : 1/2 [Anand]
C 78
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 00 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8
8. c3 d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. Na3 00 11. ab5 ab5 12. Nb5 ed4 13. cd4 Bg4
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Ra41 Bg53 Bd54 Qf3 Nd4 Rd46 Bc6 b4 b5

Re82 h6
Bf35 Nd4 Bd4 hg5 Re5 Qe7 g67
equal
1
Ba4 e5 Ra39 Qc210 Qb3 Qe3 h3 ef611 Nd2

d58 Ne4 f6
Nb4 Ba5 b6 Bh5 Rf612 Re613
White is slightly better
2
Ra3 Re1 e5 Be3 Na7 gf317 fe418 Ra7 Ba4

Re814 d5 Ne4 Ba515 Bf316 Be1 Na7 de4 Bb419
3
1
14. Be3
a) 14... Qe8 15. h3! [15. Ba4 Ne4 16. Nc3 Nc3 17. bc3 Qe4 unclear; Almasi
Onischuk, Wijk aan Zee 1995 62/(368)] Bd7 16. Nc3 Ne4 17. Re1 Nc3
18. bc3 and White is slightly better; Anand Shirov, Groningen (m/1) 1997
71/350;
b) 14... Ne4! 15. h3 [15. Bd5 Qe8 16. h3 Bf5 17. Re1 Nb4 18. Bc4 c6! and
Black is slightly better; Nijboer Piket, Wijk aan Zee 1998 71/351] Bf5
16. Nc3 Nf6 17. Re1 h6 18. d5 Nb4 19. Bb6 Rb6 20. Nd4 Bd7= D. Saulin
Lastin, Russia 1998;
14. Re1 Nd4 [14... d5 15. ed5 Nd5 16. h3 Bh5 17. g4 Bg6 18. Nc3 Ndb4!
19. Bg5 Qd7 20. d5 Qd6! 21. Kf1! Na5 22. Be7 Qf4! with compensation;
Anand Oll, Belgrade 1999 74/364] 15. Nbd4 Bd4 16. Bf7 [16. Qd4 Rb3
17. Qc4 Qb8= Rogic Anic, Croatia 1999] Rf7 17. Qd4 Bf3 18. gf3 with
compensation; L. Hodova M. Sebag, Patras 2001;
14. Bc2
a) 14... Re8 15. Ra4 [15. h3 Bf3 16. gf3 Nh5 17. f4 Qh4 18. Qg4 Qg4 19.
hg4 Nf6 20. Ba4 Re7 21. Be3 Ne4 22. Nd6 Nd4 23. Ne4 Re4= Conquest
Flear, France 1998] Qd7 16. Qd3 Re4 17. Bg5 and White is slightly better;
Kunte Ganguly, Kolkata 2001;
b) 14... d5! 15. Bg5 [15. e5 Ne4 with compensation; Morozevich Ki.
Georgiev, Germany 1998/99 74/(364)] Bf3 16. Qf3 Bd4 17. ed5 Qd5 18.
Qd5 1/2 : 1/2 Almasi Piket, Groningen 1998 74/ (364);
14. Bg5!? h6 [14... Bf3 15. gf3 Nd4 16. Nd4 Bd4 17. Bf7 Rf7 18. Qd4 Qd7
19. Ra3 Nh5 20. Rfa1 h6 21. Bd2 Kh7 with compensation; Shirov
Topalov, Monaco (rapid) 2002] 15. Bh4
a) 15... Re8?! 16. Qd3!? [16. Re1 g5 17. Bg3 Ba5 18. Nc3 Bc3 19. bc3 Re4
20. Bc2 Re1 21. Qe1= Leko Topalov, Monaco (blindfold) 2001] Bf3
[16... g5? 17. e5 and White is winning] 17. gf3 Nd4 18. Nd4 Bd4 19. Bf7
Kf7 20. Qd4 g5 21. Bg3 and White is slightly better;
b) 15... Bf3 16. gf3 Nd4 17. Nd4 Bd4 18. Bf7 Rf7 19. Qd4 Qd7 with
compensation
2
14... Qe8 15. Bc2!? [15. Qd3 Na5 16. Bc2 Bd7 17. Nc3! Ba4 18. Ba4 Qe6
19. b4! Qc4 20. Qc4 Nc4 21. Bb5 Na5 22. e5! and White is slightly better;
Acs Blehm, Yerevan 2000 80/363] Ne4 16. Qd3! [16. Nc3 Nc3 17.
bc3and White is slightly better; U. Atakisi K. Laciner, Antalya 2002]
Nf6! 17. Bg5 Bh5 18. Bf6 Bg6 19. Qd2 gf6 20. Nc3 and White is slightly
better (Acs)
3
15. Re1 Ba5 [15... h6?! 16. Bc2 d5 17. e5 Ne4 18. Nc3 and White is
superior; Anand Piket, Dortmund 2000 79/(317); 15... Qd7 16. Bc2 d5
17. e5 Ne4 unclear; Bologan Tkachiev, Enghien-les-Bains 1999 75/308]
16. Nc3 [16. Na7 Bf3 17. gf3 Nd4! 18. Bf7 Kf7 19. Ra5 c5 with initiative
(Bologan)] Bc3 17. bc3
a) 17... Ne4 18. Re3!? [18. Re4 Re4 19.

Bd5 Re6 20. Be6 fe6= I. Markovic] d5
19. h3 Bh5 20. Ra6
a1) 20... Re6 21. Re4! Re4 [21... de4 22.
Be6 fe6 23. Rc6 ef3 24. Rc5 Qh4 25.
Qe1! fg2 26. Kg2 Rf8 27. Qe6 Bf7 28.
Qe2 and White is superior] 22. Rc6 Rb3
[22... Bf3!? 23. gf3 Rh4] 23. Qb3 Bf3
24. gf3 Re1 25. Kh2 Rc1 26. Qb7 h6 27.
Qc7 Qc7 28. Rc7 and White is slightly
better;
a2) 20... Rb6 21. Rb6 cb6 and White is slightly better; M. Skrzypnik M.
Jakubowski, Poland 2001;
b) 17... Re4 18. Be3 Bf3 19. gf3 Re8 20. Ra6 unclear (Bologan)
4
16. Bh4 Re4 17. Bf6 Qf6 18. Bd5 Bf3 [18... Rd4!? 19. Nbd4 Nd4 with
compensation] 19. Qf3 Qf3 [19... Rf4 20. Bf7 Qf7 21. Qc6 and White is
slightly better; Budylina A. Matras, Yerevan 1999] 20. gf3 Rd4 21. Nd4
Nd4 with compensation
5
16... Ne7 17. Bf6 gf6 18. Nc3 and White is slightly better (Bologan)
6
19. Bc6 hg5 20. Be8 g4 21. Qe2 c5 22. Bc6 Qb6 23. Ra8 Ra8 24. Ba8 Qb2
with compensation Almasi Piket, Monaco (blindfold) 2001 82/(307)
7
23. Ra4 Kg7 24. Qc3 Rc5 25. Qa1 Qe5 26. Qe5 1/2 : 1/2 Ye Jiangchuan
Peng Xiaomin, Shanghai 2001 82/(307)
8
14... Kh8? 15. Be3 Ne4 16. Qc2 Qe8 17. Nd6 Nd6 18. Bc6 and White is
winning; N. Bojkovic M. Makropoulou, Tbilisi 1999
9
16. Be3 f6 17. Qc1 Nb4 18. Nd2 Be2 19. Ne4 de4 20. Re1 Bd3 21. Bd2
Bb5 22. Bb4 Qd4 23. Bb5 Qb4 24. Qc4 Qc4 25. Bc4 Kh8 26. e6 f5=
Nijboer De Vreught, Wijk aan Zee 2001 80/(362)
10
17. h3 Bf3 [17... Bh5? 18. g4 Bg6 19. Nc3 and White is superior; Korneev
Campos Moreno, Linares 2000] 18. gf3 Ng5 19. f4 [19. Bg5 fg5 with
compensation] Ne6 20. Be3 fe5 [20... f5 21. Nc7!? Qc7 22. Rc3 Ned8 23.
Bc6 Nc6 24. Qc2 Rfc8 25. Rc1 Bd4 26. Bd4 Nd4 27. Rc7 Nc2 28. R7c2
Rc2 29. Rc2 Kf7 and White is slightly better; 20... Ne7!? and White is
slightly better] 21. fe5 and White is slightly better
11
21. Nc3 Bf3 22. gf3 Ng5 23. Ne2 [23. e6?! Qe7 unclear; Korneev
Stefanova, Malaga 2000]
a) 23... Nh3? 24. Kg2 Ng5 25. f4 Ne6 26. f5 Ng5 27. Rh1! Qe7 [27... c6 28.
Bd2 Bc7 29. Rb3 Na6 30. Bc6 fe5 31. de5 Rf5 32. f4 and White is winning]
28. Bd2 and White is superior;
b) 23... Ne6!? with compensation
12
21... Qf6 22. Ne5 and White is slightly better
13
23. Ne4 Re4 24. Qg3 and White is slightly better, with the idea 24... Be2
25. Re1 Bb5 26. Re4 de4 27. Bb5 Qd4 28. Qb3 Kh8 29. Be3
14
14... Ne4?? 15. Bd5 Qe8 16. Qe2 and White is winning;
14... d5!? 15. e5 Ne4 Anand
15
17... Ne5 18. de5 Be3 19. Re3 Rb5 20. Ba4 Bf3 21. Rf3 Rb2 22. Be8 Qe8
23. Rfb3! and White is superior (Anand)
16
18... Be1? 19. Nc6 Bf3 20. Qe1 and White is winning (Anand)
17
19. Qf3 Nd4! 20. Bd4 Be1 21. Nc6 Qd7 [21... Rb3 22. Qb3 and White is
slightly better] 22. Nb8 Rb8 23. Ra7
a) 23... Bb4 24. Ba4 (White is slightly better) Qe7 25. Qe3 h6 26. Bc6 Bc5
27. Bc5 Nc5 28. Bd5 Rb2 29. Ra8 Kh7 30. h3 Rb4 31. Qc3 Rb6 32. Qc2 g6
33. Bf7 Qe5
a1) 34. Bg8 Kg7 35. Ba2 and White is
slightly better; Galkin Prokopchuk,
Moscow 2002;
a2) 34. Re8! Qf5 [34... Qg5 35. Bg8
Kg7 36. Qc4 and White is winning] 35.
Bg6 Qg6 36. Re7 Kg8 37. Qc5 Rb1 38.
Kh2 Qd6 39. Qd6 cd6 40. Re6 and
White is winning;
b) 23... Qd8!?
18
20. Nc6!? Bf2 21. Bf2 Qg5 22. Kf1 Nf2 23. Kf2 Qh4! 24. Kf1! Rb6 25.
Qc2 Qh3 26. Kg1 Qf3 27. Ba4! Qg4 28. Rg3 and White is slightly better;
27... Qf4 and White is slightly better (Anand)
19
22... Bf2 23. Bf2 Qg5 24. Bg3! Red8 25. Rc7 Qe3 26. Kh1 Rd4 27. Qb3!
Qf3 28. Kg1! and White is superior; Anand Tkachiev, Moscow (m/1)
2001 83/326;
22... Bb4 23. Be8 Qe8 24. Qc2 and White is slightly better (Anand)
Sasa Velickovic

The Ten Best Games

Aleksandar Matanovic
Chess Informant
President
Selection of the best games from all the important chess events worldwide,
original classification of the openings and the chess language thats
what Chess Informant is all about. And thats how it all began 37 years ago.
The next logical step was to make a selection of the best ten games chosen
among the several hundred games filtered into each volume of the Informant
the task performed by a jury of leading grandmasters; many an expert of
outstanding integrity yet highly individual preferences have been voicing
their support for their personal favorites among the nominees throughout the
years. I remember asking grandmaster Schmid to become a member of the
jury; in reply, he asked me: I tried to do my best, but as in previous
volumes I found the selection criteria troublesome. What does best games
really mean: beautiful, brilliant, correct throughout, fine, ingenious, original
or what?
Members of the jury keep facing the same dilemma over and over again:
how to determine which one stands out as the most gracious among the
thirty ravishing beauties? Basically, they seem to rely upon widely accepted
standards; however, there is always a matter of individual taste: an old
saying claiming that of taste, there is no argument actually implies that
there are no exact parameters to weigh the abstract quality of beauty there
is always a human touch behind it. Therefore, I replied: Various criteria can
be used to select top games: correctness, new ideas, exceptional positions
which defy the usual logic of the game, and so on. The panel had to juggle
these according to their taste and naturally come up with different lists. Just
as in a beauty contest, one cant merely use a calculator, nor can one hope to
please everybody. A beauty contest, after all, led to the Trojan War.
Apart from the universal standards and their own affinities, other factors can
also influence the final choices of the jury. In chess, the players reputation
is certainly of great significance: members of the jury often display a strong
inclination towards big names. Therefore it is no wonder that if players of
modest reputation appear among the top picks their games usually possess
an extraordinary quality.
Decades have passed! Chess Informant has withstood the test of time and
computers, and the idea of selecting the best among the best seems fully
justified as ever. Among the millions of games played throughout the years,
only the best could make it to the 84 volumes of the Informant; we have thus
singled out 840 true beauties to offer all the chess connoisseurs an
opportunity to enjoy the pearls of chess creativity.
E. AGREST 2563 BACROT 2653

Leon 2001 83/467
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cd5 Nd5 5. e4 Nc3 6. bc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Rb1 0-0 9. Be2 cd4 10. cd4 Qa5 11. Bd2 Qa2 12. 0-0 Bg4 13. Bg5 h6 14.
Be3 Nc6 15. d5 Bf3 16. gf3 Nd4 17. Bd3 a5?! N [17...Qa3 79/444] 18. f4
[with the idea Rb7 and White is superior; 18. Rb7 e6 with counterplay] b5
[18...e6 19. d6 Rfd8 (19... e5?! 20. fe5 Be5 21. f4 Bg7 22. e5) 20. e5] 19.
Kh1! [file g, weak point f3] Rfc8

20. f5! Qa4! 21. Qd2! [21. fg6? Qd1 22.
gf7 Kf7 23. Rfd1 b4; 21. Qg4?! Nf5 22.
Bb5 Ne3 23. fe3 (23. Qc8 Rc8 24. Ba4
Nf1 25. Rf1 Rc4 and Black is winning)
Qc2 24. Qf4 Kh7! and Black is superior;
21. Qa4 ba4 22. fg6 fg6 23. Rb7 Rc3!
with counterplay] Nf3 22. Qe2 Ne5
[22...Nd4 23. Bd4 Qd4 24. fg6 fg6 25.
Bb5 and White is superior, weak point
Kg8] 23. fg6 Nd3 24. gf7 Kf8 [24...Kh8
25. Qd3 Rc3 26. Qb5 Qe4 27. f3 Qg6 28.
Qb6 and White is superior; 24...Kf7 25.
Qh5 (25. Bh6!?) Kg8 (25...Kf8 26. Qf5 Kg8 27. Rg1 with the idea Rg7! and
White is winning) 26. f3! Rf8 27. Rg1 Rf7 28. Rg2 with the idea Rbg1 with
attack]
25. Qg4!! and White is winning [25.
Qd3? Rc3 26. Qb5 Qe4 and Black is
superior] Ne5 [25... Qc2 26. Bd4! Nf2
27. Rf2 Qb1 28. Kg2; 25... Qc4 26. Rg1
Qc3 27. Rb3! h5 (the only move) 28.
Qh5 Qb3 29. Rg7! Kg7 (29...Qb1 30.
Kg2) 30. Bh6 Kh7 31. Bf8 mate] 26.
Qf5 Nf7 27. Rg1 [with the idea Rg7!]
Bf6 [27...Rc2 28. Rg7! Kg7 29. Rg1 Kh8
(29...Kf8 30. Bh6 Ke8 31. Rg8 mate) 30.
Qg6] 28. Rg6 Bg5 29. Bg5 hg5 30. Rg5
Qd4 31. Rbg1 Qh8 32. e5! e6 33. de6
Rc7 34. Rh5 Qe5
35. Rg8! Ke7 [35...Kg8 36. ef7] 36.
Qf7 Kd6 37. Re5 Rg8 38. Qg8 1 :
0 [E. Agrest]

Loek van Wely Annotates

Zdenko Krnic
Chess Informant
Editor-in-Chief
There is no doubt that Holland traditionally holds a prominent
place among the European organizers of top chess events.
When we reminisce about the great days of old, Tilburgs
heydays immediately spring to mind. However, Wijk aan Zee
is the only Dutch tournament that can nowadays proudly claim
the longest tradition of hosting the chess worlds elite.
Speaking of jubilees, Amsterdam hosted the tenth edition of the
chess festival; the organizers have shied away from no burden
for ten years, traditionally carrying a series of tournaments in
addition to the main event. Unfortunately, they can no longer
resort to the financial resources from their main sponsor The
Lost Boys and it seems that this year it was the last time.
Among the players who will surely miss it, one name certainly
stands out, Loek Van Wely, Hollands board one in the
forthcoming Olympiad, played as if he knew there would be no
more pushing wood under the auspices of the longtime sponsor.
Armed with his usual preparation and optimism he was
outplaying his opponents with a truly masterful hand. Despite
securing first place before the last round, we saw that his game
with Emil Sutovsky revealed the Dutchmans flying colors.
White was nagging Van Welys weak queenside pawns, but at
a cost of the misplacement of his knight. Black eventually
made several inaccuracies that could have cost him dearly had
the Israeli grandmaster not allowed a tactical blow much in a
spirit of his own superb combinative mastery. Van Wely did
not need a second invitation hungry for the kill he struck
mercilessly, leaving his opponents position in ruins from
which he could no longer save himself. His final score was 8
out of 9 a fantastic achievement leaving very little doubt
about who was the number one on the scene.

SUTOVSKY 2658 VAN WELY 2645
Amsterdam 2002
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. 0-0 Nge7 5. Re1 a6 6. Bf1 d5
7. d3 [7. ed5 23/(342)] h6 8. Nbd2 g6 N [8... b6] 9. ed5 ed5
10. d4 cd4 11. Nb3 Bg7 12. Nfd4 0-0 13. Be3 Re8 [13... Ne5?
14. Bh6!; 13... Kh7!?] 14. Qd2 Kh7 [with the idea Ne5-c4] 15.
Nc6 Nc6 16. c3 Ne5 17. Bd4 Bf5 18. Qf4 [18. f4 Nc4 19. Bc4
dc4 20. Re8 Qe8 21. Bg7 cb3 22. Bd4 ba2=] Qg5 [18... Qc7
19. Qg3 with initiative] 19. Qg5 hg5 20. Na5 b5 21. Nb7 Nc4
22. b3 Nd2 23. f3 [23. Nd6 Re1 24. Re1 Nf1 25. Kf1 Be6 weak
point Nd6; 23. Re8 Re8 24. Nd6 Re7 25. Nf5 gf5 26. Bd3 Ne4
27. f3 Nc3=] Nf1 24. Kf1 g4 25. fg4 Bg4 26. h3 Bf5 27. Nd6
Re1 28. Re1 Be6 29. Nb7 Bf8 [29... a5 30. Nc5 Re8 and Black
is slightly better] 30. b4 [weak points a5 and c5] Bf5 31. Re5
Bd3? [31... Be4! a) 32. Nc5? Bd6 33. Ne4 Be5 34. Ng5 Kg8!!
(34... Kg7 35. Be5 f6 36. Ne6 Kf7 37. Nc7 and White is
winning; 34... Kh6 35. Nf7 Kg7 36. Ne5 and White is winning)
35. Be5 f6 36. Bf6 Rf8 and Black is superior; b) 32. g4 Kg8 33.
h4 (zugzwang) Rc8 34. h5=; 34. Ke2=] 32. Kf2 Bc4 33. a3
Rc8 34. Re3 g5 35. Rf3 Rc7 36. Nc5 a5 37. Na6 Re7 38. ba5
Re2 39. Kg1 Re1 40. Kh2 Bd6 41. g3 f5?!
42. Bc5?? [42. Nb4!? f4 43.
gf4 gf4 44. a6 a) 44... Be2?
45. Kg2! Ra1 (45... Bf3 46.
Kf3 Bb4 47. ab4 and White
is winning) 46. Nc2; b) 44...
Ra1? 45. Nc2 Ra2 46. a7
Rc2 47. Kg1 and White is
winning; c) 44... Re8! c1)
45. Kg2 Kg6 46. a7 Kf5 47.
Nc6 Be2 48. Rf2 Rg8 49.
Kh1 Bd3 (49... f3 50. Bb6
and White is winning, with
the idea 51. Bd8, 51. Nd4) 50. Be5 Be4 51. Kh2 Be5 52. Ne7
Ke6 53. Ng8 f3 54. Kg1 d4 with counterplay; 47... Ke4 with
initiative; c2) 45. a7 Kg6 (45... Rg8 46. Nd3) 46. Nc6 (46. Nd3
Kf5) Kf5 47. Nb8 Rb8 48. ab8Q Bb8 with compensation; 42.
Rf5! Bd3 43. Rf7 Kg8 44. Rg7 Kf8 45. Kg2! Be4 46. Kf2 Ra1
47. Rg5 Ra2 48. Ke3 Ba3 49. Bc5 and White is winning] d4!!
43. Kg2 [43. Bd6 Bd5 44. g4 Bf3 45. cd4 (45. gf5 d3) f4]
Bd5?! [43... d3 44. Rd3 Bd3 45. Bd6 Re6 and Black is
winning] 44. Kf2 Bf3 45. Ke1 Bg3 46. Kd2 dc3 47. Kc3 Be1
48. Kd4 Ba5 (and Black is winning) 49. Bb4 Bd8 [better is
49... Bb6] 50. Kc5 Be2 [better is 50... Bg2 51. Kb5? Bf1] 51.
Nb8 Be7 52. Kd4 Bf6 53. Ke3 Bf1 54. Nd7 Bb2 55. Nf8 Kh6
56. h4 gh4 57. Bd6 Kg5 58. Kf3 Bc4 59. Be7 Kh5 60. Nd7
Bc1 61. Ne5 Bd5 62. Kf2 h3 0-1 [Van Wely]

Michael Adams Annotates:

Adams-Bareev
Halkidiki 2002
lvan Markovic
Chess Informant Editor
The Greek prefecture of Chalkidiki hosted this years
European Club Cup between 22nd and 28th of
September. The text below is generally meant only as a
brief recount of the event and is mainly focused on the
game between Michael Adams and Evgeny Bareev. The
analyzed game was played on board one during the
third round match between the eventual winners
(Bosna, Bosnia & Herzegovina) and the runner-ups
from Russia (Norilsky Nikel: Bareev, Dreev,
Zvjaginsev, Malakhov, Tregubov, Rustemov, Glek and
Dolmatov), which probably qualifies it as one of the
tournaments most important moments. Each of the 43
teams that were competing for the most prestigious
European team trophy included six players plus two
reserves. The rating favorites from France (NAO
Chess Club: Grischuk, Svidler, Lautier, Bacrot,
Fressinet, Nataf and Hauchard) led the way throughout
most of the tournament despite the absence of Vladimir
Kramnik, yet failed to triumph due to the last round loss
to Norilsky that relegated them to fourth place overall,
behind the bronze medalists from Poland (Polonia
Plus: Ivanchuk, Judit Polgar, Krasenkow, Macieja,
Kempinski, Rozentalis, Socko and Markowski). The
eventual winners were only too happy to seize the
opportunity, and the trophy deservedly went on to the
Bosnian capital, as all the playing members of the

winning team (Adams, Shirov, I. Sokolov, Movsesian,
Radjabov and Kozul; GMs Kurajica and Dizdarevic did
not play) managed to score above 50%.
Michael Adams, our hero of the day, was one of the two most
prominent absentees from the Russia vs. The Rest of the World clash
(Veselin Topalov was the other missing superstar), so there was a
certain air of expectancy regarding his performance in Greece. The
annotated game is quite representative of his turbulent play in Kalithea,
since he managed to emerge as a survivor only after some hard times
suffered during the game. His reaction to Bareevs pet French was
rather innocuous, and the meek 13. Re1? did nothing to prevent Black
from advancing his e-pawn. The Englishman immediately found
himself experiencing serious difficulties while his opponent gradually
kept improving the position. However, there were several phases to the
game that were interspersed with inaccurate choices from both sides,
and Bareev was unfortunate enough to make the last mistake, which is a
bit of a downer. After 31Red8? Adams completely turned the tables
he was back in the saddle, and after a brief exchange of a few
mandatory tactical shots, it all came down to his impeccable technique
right through the to bitter end for his opponent. What else can I say sit
back and enjoy the game
Adams Bareev 2726 Halkidiki 2002

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. ed5 Qd5 5. dc5 Bc5 6.
Ngf3 Nf6 7. Bc4 Qc6 8. Qe2 [8. 0-0] 8Nbd7 [8... 00 4/213] 9. Nb3 a6 10. a4 [10. Nc5 Nc5 11. a3 b5
12. Ba2 Bb7 13. 0-0 0-0 unclear; 11. Bg5!?] 10Bd6
11. 0-0 Qc7 N [11... 0-0] 12. a5 [12. Rd1 Ne5 13. Ne5
Be5 14. g3 unclear; Better is 12. Nbd4] 120-0 13.
Re1? [better is 13. Nbd4; 13. h3] 13e5! [13... Ng4 14.
h3 Nge5 15. Nbd2 unclear] 14. Nbd2 [14. Bd3 Re8 15.
Ra4 b5 16. ab6 Nb6 17. Rh4 e4 18. Be4 Bb7 19. Nbd2
Ne4 20. Ne4 f5 and Black is superior] 14h6 15. b3
[15. c3 Re8 16. Nf1 e4 17. Nd4 Ne5 and Black is
superior] 15Re8 16. Ne4 [16. Ba3 Ba3 17. Ra3 e4 18.
Nh4 Qc5 and Black is superior] 16Ne4 17. Qe4 Nc5?
[better is 17... Nf6 18. Qh4 e4 19. Nd2 (19. Nd4 Re5
20. Be2 Ra5 and Black is superior) Be5 20. Ra2 Bf5 21.
Nf1 and Black is superior] 18. Qh4 [18. Qg6 Be6 19.
Be6 Re6 20. Qh5 e4 and Black is superior] 18Be6 19.
Nd2? [19. Bb2 Bc4 (19... Be7 20. Be5) 20. Qc4 e4 21.
Qc3 (21. Qd4 f6 22. Qd5 Kh7 23. Nh4 Bh2 24. Kf1 Be5
and Black is winning) f6 22. Nd4 Bh2 and Black is
superior; Better is 19. Be3 Be7 (19... Rac8 20. Rad1
Be7 21. Qg3 Bc4 22. Bh6 Ne6 23. bc4 e4 24. Qg4 ef3
25. Re6 Bf8 26. Re8 Re8 27. Be3 fg2 28. Rd5 unclear)
20. Qg3 Bc4 21. Bh6 Ne6 22. bc4 Bd6 23. Rad1
unclear] 19Rad8 and Black is superior [19... Bf5!?]
20. h3 [20. Be6 Ne6 21. Nc4 Nd4 and Black is superior]
20Bf5 21. Ra2 Bg6 [21... Ne6!?] 22. Nf1 [22. Qg4
Kh7] 22Qc6 23. Ne3 [better is 23. Be3] 23Be7 24.
Qg3 [24. Qg4 Rd4 and Black is superior] 24Ne4 25.
Qf3 Bc5 [25... Bb4 26. Rf1 Rd6 and Black is superior]
26. Ra4 Bd4! [26... Kh7? 27. Bf7 Bf7 28. Qe4 Qe4 29.
Re4 and White is slightly better] 27. Nd1 Rd6 [27...
Nc3 28. Qc6 bc6 29. Nc3 Bc3 30. Rf1 Bc2 31. Ba6 Bb3
32. Ra3 Rb8 33. Be2 and Black is superior] 28. Be3
Be3 [28... Rf6 29. Qe2 Bc3 30. Rf1] 29. Qe3 [29. Re3
Red8 30. Nc3 Rf6 and Black is winning; 29. Ne3 Rf6
and Black is winning] 29Nd2! 30. Qc3 [30. Rb4 Bc2
31. Rb6 Qd7 and Black is winning] 30Be4 31. Ne3
[31. f3 Bf3 and Black is winning]
31... Red8? [31... Rg6? 32.
Qd2 Bg2 33. Bd3 and White
is superior; Better is 31...
Bg2 32. Ng2 Rg6 (32... Nf3
33. Kf1 Ne1 34. Ne1 Qh1
35. Ke2 e4 with initiative)
33. Bf7 Kf7 34. Qc6 Rc6
35. Re3 Rc2 and Black is
superior] 32. Ng4! Bg2
[32... Re8 33. Re2 Bg2 34.
Rd2 Bh3 35. Nf6 and White is superior] 33. Ne5 Nf3
34. Qf3 [34. Nf3 Bf3 35. Kh2 Rg6 and Black is
winning] 34Bf3 [34... Qf3 35. Bf7 Kh7 (35... Qf7 36.
Nf7 Kf7 37. Kg2 and White is superior) 36. Nf3 Bf3
and White is slightly better] 35. Bf7 Kh7 36. Nc6 Rc6
[better is 36... Bc6 37. Rg4 g5 38. Bc4 Rd1 39. Kf1 and
White is slightly better] 37. Rf4 Bd1 [37... Rd1 38. Rd1
Bd1 39. Rb4 and White is superior] 38. Re7 b6 [38...
Bc2 39. Rb7 and White is superior; 38... Rc5 39. b4
Rg5 40. Kh2 Bc2 41. Rb7 and White is superior] 39.
ab6 [39. Be8 Rcd6 40. Rc4 ba5 41. Rcc7 Kh8 and
White is slightly better] 39Rb6 40. Rc7 Rd2 41. c3!
a5 [41... Bb3 42. Bb3 Rb3 43. Rg4 and White is
superior; 41... Rd3 42. Kg2] 42. h4 [42. b4!? a4 43. Kg2
and White is superior] 42h5?! [42... Bb3 43. Bb3
Rb3 44. Rg4 and White is superior; Better is 42... Rd8
43. b4 ab4 (43... a4 44. h5 Bc2 45. Ra7 and White is
superior) 44. Rb4 Rb4 45. cb4 Rb8 46. h5 and White is
superior] 43. Rc5 Rd3? [43... g6 44. Ra5 Bb3 45. Bb3
Rb3 46. Rf7 (46. Ra7 Kg8 47. Rf6 Rc3 48. Rg6 Kh8 49.
Rh6 Kg8 50. Rh5 Rf3 51. Rg5 Kh8 and White is
superior) 46Kg8 47. Rc7 Rb8 48. Raa7 and White is
superior] 44. Bd5! (and White is winning) 44Kh6
[44... g6 45. Rf7 Kh6 46. Rc8; 44... Rg6 45. Kf1 Rd5
46. Rd5 Bb3 47. Rh5 Kg8 48. Ra5] 45. Rf8 Rg6 [45...
Rh3 46. Be4 g6 47. Rc7 Rh4 48. f4 Rf4 49. Rf4 Bb3 50.
Rc6] 46. Kf1 Rg4 47. Rh8 Kg6 48. Rc6 Kf5 49. Rh5
[49... Kf4 50. Rc4; 49... g5 50. Be6; 49. Be6 Ke4 50.
Bg4 hg4 51. Rc4 and White is winning] 1 : 0 [Adams]


of Volume 84
Sasa Velickovic
Chess Informant Deputy Editor-in-Chief
The Marshall Attack is a widely popular, frequently
employed opening line that has never lost its pull: it leaves
ample room for creativity on both sides, as the pendulum
of theory constantly keeps swinging to and fro. Faithful to
the trends set in modern tournament practice, top players
strive for complications in search of radical methods that
might decide theoretical discussions in their favor.
Following up the award for the novelty from his game
versus Tkachiev (Moscow (m/1) 2001 83/326),
Viswanathan Anand has produced yet another masterpiece
of analytical work combining almost ideally diligent
research with his practical experience and enthusiasm.
This second consecutive award has unraveled a
microcosm of fantastic tactical motifs based on a series of
sacrifices that eventually helped him maintain the balance
against the new FIDE World Champion Ruslan
Ponomariov in the otherwise critical line for Black.
Hoping that the following survey will be a useful aid to
your opening preparation, the Chess Informant Editorial
Board certainly looks forward to receiving new
contributions that would additionally prove (or perhaps
disprove) the viability of the variations analyzed.
Ponomariov 2727 Anand 2757

Linares 2002 84/286
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 00 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3
00 8. c3 d5 9. ed5 Nd5 10. Ne5 Ne5 11. Re5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4
14. g3 Qh3 15. Re4 g5 16. Qe2
16... f5! N 17. Bd5 (the only

move) [17. Re6?? Be6 18. Qe6
Kh8 19. Qd6 Rae8 20. Bd2 f4
21. Bd5 cd5 22. f3 g4 0 : 1
Smirin 2702 Grischuk
2669, Panormo 2001] cd5 18.
Re6 f4! 19. Rd6 Bg4 20. Qf1
(the only move) [20. Qe5 Rae8
21. Qg5 Kh8 22. Bd2 f3 and
Black is winning; 20. Qd3
Rae8 21. Bd2 (21. Nd2 Re1 22. Nf1 Bf3 and Black is
winning) Be2 and Black is winning; 20. Rh6 Rae8 21. Rh3
Re2 22. Kf1 Rfe8 and Black is winning; 20. f3 Rae8 21.
Qf1 Qf1 22. Kf1 fg3 and Black is winning] Qf1! 21. Kf1
Rae8 22. Bd2 [22. Rh6 Rf6! and Black is winning] Bh3
[22... Re2 23. gf4 gf4 24. Rd5 and White is winning; 22...
fg3 23. hg3 Re2 24. Be1 Re3 25. Nd2 Rg3 26. Rd5 and
White is winning] 23. Kg1 fg3 [23... f3 24. Rd5 Re2 25.
Rg5 Kh8 26. Re5 and White is winning; 23... Re2 24. Rd5
fg3 25. Rg5 Kh8 26. Rg3 Bd7 27. Be3 Re1 28. Kg2 Bc6
29. Kh3 Bd7 30. Kh4 and White is winning] 24. hg3 Re2
25. Be3 [25. Rh6!? Ref2! 26. Na3 Rg2 27. Kh1 Rd2 28.
Rh3 Rff2 29. b4 (29. Rb1 Kg7 30. g4 Rfe2 31. Rg3 Kg6
32. Kg1 h5 33. gh5 Kh5 with counterplay) Kg7! 30. Re1
Ra2 31. Nb1 Rfb2 32. g4 Ra1 33. Rhe3 Rbb1 34. Re7 Kf6
35. R7e6 equal] Re3! 26. fe3 Rf1 27. Kh2 g4 28. Rd5 1/2
: 1/2 [Ponomariov]

Man vs. Machine:

Tactical Showdown
The Best Game
of Volume 84
Ivan Markovic
Not so long ago an e-mail from a US chess amateur Chris
Cunliffe came to my inbox. In a short accompanying text he
mentioned that, despite being unrated, his quality of play had
been complimented by a player with an international title, and
that he more or less wanted to see how the Chess Informant
Editorial board would rate it. To be perfectly honest, when I
read the game text I noticed that Black lost an important tempo
in the opening (which immediately disqualified the game from
the theoretical point of view), so I just kept reading the game
without setting up the pieces on the board (that is, electronically
speaking, without consulting an analysis engine or anything).
As usual, my blindfold skills had failed me, so I suggested a
simple refutation without noticing Blacks pawn on f5; Mr.
Cunliffe was very kind when he mentioned in his reply that my
analysis contained an illegal move, so I decided to make up
for not being professional (to say at least) and give the game a
second chance. Since Black was on the defensive side after the
tempo loss, I shall just list first 24 moves of the game and start
from the critical position:
Multhopp 2294 Cunliffe, USA 2002
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 Qb6 7.
Bc4 e6 8. Bb3 Nc6 9. Be3 Qc7 10. Qe2 Nd4 11. Bd4 Be7 12. 00-0 b5 13. g4 0-0 14. h4 Bb7 15. h5 Rac8 16. g5 Nd7 17. g6
Nc5 18. gf7 Kf7 19. f4 Nb3 20. ab3 Bf6 21. h6 Bd4 22. Rd4
g6 23. f5 ef5 24. ef5 gf5
Black king is
extremely vulnerable
and Mr. Cunliffes
position was hanging
by a thread; therefore,
I was surprised to see
that my direct
attempts to win were
not quite successful,
as my silicon friend
defended with its usual stubbornness. Eventually
I decided to give up analysing for a while and
joined a principal discussion with a fellow
chessplayer who was pondering the difference
between human and computer tactical skills. At
the time of our conversation none of us had seen
the recent article from Nature about brain areas
that become active during a game of chess, so we
were mostly focused on the strategy vs. tactics
issues, or more specifically, whether strategy was
nothing more than the long-term tactics, and
whether or not all it would take would be more
raw power to help computers make the final
stretch. To make long story short, I shall
immediately display the most fascinating
examples that speak louder than words in support
of the computer skills.
Shredder Comet, Paderborn 2002
1. Re2! Qf4 [1... Qd3 2. f7

Qf5 3. fg8Q Kg8 4. Qd8
Kg7 5. Qd4 and White is
winning; 1... Qe7 2. Re7
Rf8 3. Rc7 Rc8 4. Rc8 Bc8
5. Bc4 g5 6. Kg1 h5 7. Kf2
Kh7 8. Ke2 Bf5 9. Bd3 and
White is winning; 1... Qc1
2. Re1 Qd2 3. Bf1 (with the
idea f7) Bd5 4. Qe5 Bf7 5.
Bc4! and White is winning]
2. Rc2 [weak point f1] Qg5
[2... Qg4] 3. h4!! Qh4 4. Kg1 Qg5 [4... Qh6 5. Rc7 Bc8 (5...
Ba8 6. f7 Rf8 7. Qe5 Qg7 8. Qe8 with the idea Rc8 and White
is winning) 6. Qg7! Rg7 7. fg7 Qg7 8. Rc8 and White is
winning] 5. Bc4 1 : 0
Galliamova 2547 Korchnoi 2617, Amsterdam 2001
1. Re6! fe6 2. Qg7? [2.Rc7!
Kd6 3. Rc6!! Kc6 (3... bc6
4. Qd8 Ke5 5. Qb8 Kf6 6.
Qf8 equal) 4. Qc8 Kd6 (4...
Kb6 5. Qd8 Kc6 6. Qc8
equal) 5. Qd8 Ke5 6. Qb8!
Kf6 (6... Kd4?? 7. Qa7 and
White is winning) 7. Qf8
equal] Rf7 3. Qg5 [3. Rc7
Kd6 and Black is winning]
Kd7 4. Re1 Qe1 5. Kg1 a6
6. h4 d4 7. b5 d3 and Black
is winning.
From what we can see from the above examples,

the tactics demonstrated by Deep Shredder are
simply monstrous from a human standpoint, as it
is hard to imagine that a mortal could ignore the
first rank threats so cold-bloodedly, only
unexpectedly to switch to 3. h4!! just to gain
some breathing space for the final blow.
On the other hand, speaking of humans and the
game between Galliamova and Korchnoi, the 3.
Rc6!! idea requires an absolutely extraordinary

vision, and a tip of the hat to the legendary GM
Mark Taimanov who managed to find it during
the post mortem analysis. Needless to say, our
German friend mocks our feeble moments of
glory, as it takes him less than a second to find it
even on my archaic Celeron. However, the idea
of an unexpected rook sacrifice produced a rare
effect upon my otherwise tormented mind, so I
came upon a solution to the position from Mr.
Cunliffe's game that is quite pleasing to the eye,
and I hope that you will like it:
25. Re1! Kg8 [25... Qd7 26.
Qe5! and White is winning;
25... Rfe8 26. Qh5 Kf8 27.
Qf5 Qf7 28. Qf7 Kf7 29.
Rf4 Kg8 (29... Kg6 30. Rg1
Kh5 31. Rf2 with the idea
Rh2 mate) 30. Rg1 Kh8 31.
Rf7 and White is winning]
26. Rg4!! fg4 [26... Kh8 27.
Rg7 Rf7 28. Qe8! and
White is winning] 27. Qg4
Kh8 28. Qd4 Kg8 29. Rg1
Kf7 30. Qg7 Ke6 31. Re1 Kf5 32. Rf1 Ke6 33. Rf8 and White
is winning.
To be perfectly objective, my solution is by no means the only
way for White to obtain a winning position, not to mention that
Mr. Cunliffe's suggested 24... Rfe8! would be clearly superior
to the pawn snatching that could have cost him dearly had his
opponent been more resourceful during the attack. In
conclusion, the alternative winning manoeuvre, Black's best
defensive resource and the remaining moves are all listed
below, but something still seems to be missing...
24... gf5? [24... Rfe8! 25.

fg6 Kg8! 26. Qf1 Bh1 27.
gh7 (27. Rg4? Qe7! weak
point e1) Kh7 a) 28. Qh1
Re6! (28... Qe7 29. Rd1!
with compensation) 29. Rg4
Rg8!; b) 28. Rg4 Rg8 29.
Qf5 Kh8 30. Qf6 Kh7 31.
Qf5 equal] 25. Qh5 [25.
Rg1! Rg8 26. Qh5 Kf6 27.
Rgd1 Ke6 28. Re1 Kf6 29.
Rde4!! Be4 30. Ne4 fe4 31.
Rf1 Ke6 32. Qf5 Ke7 33. Qf7 and White is winning] Kg8 26.
Rg1 Kh8 27. Rg7 Qc5 28. Qh4 Rc7 29. b4 Qc6 30. Qg3 Qh1
31. Rd1 Qh6 32. Rg5 Rg7 0 : 1 [Cunliffe]
So, what's missing then? If you happen to remember me
praising GM Taimanov's skills, just wait 'till you see a tactical
masterpiece created by another senior player - GM Evgeny
Vasiukov, who won Chess Informant's best game award for his
game against Van Wely. His colossal concept withstood all the
defensive resources that his formidable opponent could come
up with, so the game ended victoriously for White. Since it is
possible to successfully complete such an attack only after all
the positional factors have been correctly assessed, it seems that
only players with decades of experience are capable of
conceiving such masterpieces that require vision and depth
inaccessible even to computers. Professor John Gabrieli from
the Stanford University claims that "most of the stuff that we
think of as smart is based on experience." To me it somehow
seems too easy to atrtribute such great ideas of the two
legendary grandmasters to their experience only. Or, perhaps I
should leave it to the readers to judge...
Vasiukokv 2524 Van Wely 2697 Moscow 2002
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Qd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bc6
Bc6 7. Nc3 [7. c4 84/(163)] Nf6 8. Bg5 e6 9. 0-0-0 Be7 10.
Rhe1 0-0 11. Kb1 Qa5 12. Qd2 Qa6 13. Nd4 Rfc8 [13... Rfd8
67/(255)] 14. f4 [14. g4; 14. f3] h6 N [14... b5] 15. h4!? [15.
Bh4? Ne4] Qc4 16. g4 Kf8 17. f5! [17. Bf6 Bf6 18. g5 Bd4 19.
Qd4 Qd4 20. Rd4 equal] hg5 [17... e5?! (with the idea hg5) 18.
Bf6! Bf6 19. Nf3 with the idea g5 with attack] 18. hg5 Nd7 19.
fe6 Ne5
20. Rh1! fe6 [20... g6 21.

Rh8 Kg7 22. Rh7! Kh7
(22... Kg8 23. Rdh1) 23.
Qh2 Kg8 24. Rh1 Qf1 25.
Rf1 Bg5 26. ef7 Nf7 27.
Ne6 and White is winning;
20... Ke8 21. Rh8 Bf8 22.
e7! (22. Nf5!) Ke7 23. Nf5
Kd7 (23... Ke8 24. Qd6 Ng6
25. Ng7 mate; 23... Ke6 24.
Qd6 Bd6 25. Rd6 mate) 24.
Nd6 Qb4 25. Nc8 Bd6 26.
Nd6 Rh8 27. a3! and White is winning; 20... Ng6 21. Rdf1! Be8
22. Nd5 (with the idea Qh2-h8) Bg5 23. Qg5 Qd4 24. Qe7 Ne7
25. Rh8 Ng8 26. e7 mate] 21. b3! Qb4 22. Rh8! Kf7 23. Qf4
Bf6 [23... Kg6 24. Ne6 and White is winning]
24. Rh7!! Kg8 [24... Qc3
25. Qf6 and White is
winning; 24... Ng4 25. gf6
Nf6 26. e5 de5 27. Rg7!
Kg7 28. Ne6 Kf7 29. Qb4
Ke6 30. Qd6 Kf7 31. Rf1
and White is winning] 25.
gf6!! Kh7 26. Qg5!! Rc7
[26... g6 27. Rh1 Kg8 28.
Rh8! (28. Qh6! with the
idea 28... Rc7 29. Qh8 Kf7
30. Rh7 mate) Kf7 (28...
Kh8 29. Qh6 Kg8 30. Qg7 mate) 29. Rh7 Ke8 30. Re7 Kf8
(30... Kd8 31. Ne6 mate) 31. Qh6 Kg8 32. Qg7 mate] 27. Ne6!
Rac8 28. fg7 Kg8 [28... Be4 29. g8Q! Rg8 30. Qh5 mate] 29.
Rh1 Be4 30. Rh8 Kf7 31. Nc7 [31. g8Q and White is winning]
Qc3 32. g8Q [32. g8Q Rg8 33. Qg8 Kf6 (33... Ke7 34. Qg7)
34. Rh6 Ng6 (34... Bg6 35. Nd5) 35. Qh8] 1 : 0 [Vasiukov]

Viorel Bologan Annotates

Ivan Markovic
Picture the usual silence in a tournament hall during a double round-robin
four-player Category 16 world class event. And then, try to feel the roar of
the crowd as raging bulls charge towards the bullring in a frantic race with
death-defying young men running for their lives during the (in)famous San
Fermin festival annually held in Pamplona, Spain. Nothing in common, you
might say? Youre terribly wrong, mister and probably a patzer, too!
Seldom is the royal game of ours less then a killing field, despite the
deceptive calmness of the players hunched over the chequered board.
However, once the game is over, the losers rush out fuming in sheer despair,
whilst the winners strut their stuff complacently Once the decorum is lost,
youll get everything from a whisper to a scream!
Apart from the traditional open tournament, Pamplona 2002

chess festival boasted a main event of four 2600+ star
players: Viktor Bologan (2627), Rustam Kasimdzhanov
(2653), Francisco Vallejo Pons (2635) and Ivan Sokolov
(2684). The year of success ended somewhat unfavorably
for I. Sokolov who struggled to assert himself, drawing four
games and losing the remaining two (one against each of
the co-winners), whereas Paco Vallejo held his own
drawing all the games that he played with Black rather
quickly, while definitely living on the edge trying to
squeeze out with White all the chances that he could get;
anyway, the result was very much the same three more
draws.
The co-winners deserve the accolades as usual: I. Sokolovs
pet Ruy Lopez could not withstand the pressure exerted by
Bologan and Kasimdzhanov, so it took their two-game
clash to determine the winner. Once again the advantage of
having White pieces proved decisive, and in the end they
had to split the dough. The game that follows is quite
topical of the contemporary style: an important novelty
file:///C|/cafe/informant/informant.htm (1 of 3) [1/13/2003 2:10:04 PM]
provided a small but lasting advantage, followed by

dynamic piece play which ended in an all-out Viktor-ious
assault a great game by all means Chapeau!
Bologan 2627 Kasimdzhanov 2653 Pamplona 2002
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Ne5 d6 4. Nf3 Ne4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. 0-0 Be7 8.
c4 Nf6 9. h3 Nb4 10. Be2 dc4 11. Bc4 0-0 12. Nc3 Nbd5 13. Re1 c6 14.
Qb3 Nb6 15. Bd3 Be6 16. Qc2 h6 17. a3 Nbd5
18. Na4! N (18. Bd2 a) 18... Nc3? 19.
bc3 Qc8 (19... c5?! 20. Re6! fe6 21. Re1
and White is superior; Anand 2795 Jussupow 2640, Dortmund 1998
73/344) 20. c4 and White is slightly
better; b) 18... Rc8 b1) 19. Na4 Rc7 20.
Nc5 N (20. Re2 Bd6 21. Rae1 Nh5 22.
Bh7 Kh8 23. Bf5 Nhf4 24. Bf4 Nf4 25.
Re3 Nd5 26. R3e2 Nf4 27. Re3 1/2 : 1/2
Gelfand 2712 - Jussupow 2645, Istanbul
(ol) 2000 80/(331)) Bc8 21. Rac1 Bd6
22. Ne5 Re8 23. b4 Rce7 24. b5!? (24.
Qb2?! Nc7 25. a4 Ne6 equal; Ch. Lutz 2655 - D. Fridman 2571, Essen
2002) Be5 25. de5 Re5 26. Re5 with compensation; b2) 19. Rad1 Re8 20.
Na4 Rc7 21. Ne5 Bf8 22. Ba5 b6 23. Bd2 Qc8 24. Re2 Rd8 25. b4 and
White is slightly better; Ivanchuk 2719 - Jussupow 2610, Frankfurt 2000)
18...d7!? (18... b6 19. Ne5 and White is superior; 18... Qc7 19. Nc5 Bc5 20.
dc5 Nf4 21. Bf1 and White is slightly better) 19. Bd2 Re8 20. Rad1 (20.
Re2!? Qc7 21. Rae1 Nf4 22. Bf4 Qf4 23. Nc3!? (23. Bc4 Bc4 24. Qc4 Kf8
25. Qd3 g6 26. b4 Bg5 27. Re8 Re8 28. Re8 Ke8 29. Nc5 Nc5 30. dc5 Bd8
equal) a) 23... Kf8 (weak point e7) 24. Re6! fe6 25. Bg6 Red8 26. Re6 and
White is superior; b) 23... Qc7 24. d5 cd5 25. Nd4 and White is slightly
better) 20...Bf6 21. Ne5?! (21. Bc1 with the idea Nc3-e4 and White is
slightly better) 21...Qc7 (21... Bg5! 22. Nc5 (22. Bg5 Qg5 23. Nf3 Qf6 24.
Be4 equal) Nc5 23. dc5 Bd2 24. Qd2 Qf6 25. Bb1 Nf4 equal) 22. f4 Nf8 23.
Nc5 Rad8 24. Bc1 Bc8 (24... Bh4!? a) 25. Rf1 f6 26. Ng6 (26. Ne6 Ne6 27.
Bh7 Kh8 28. Ng6 Kh7 29. Nh4 Kg8 and Black is slightly better) Ng6 27.
Ne6 Re6 28. Bg6 Qe7 29. Qb3 Re3 30. Be3 Qe3 31. Qe3 Ne3 32. Rd3 Nf1
33. Kf1 f5 34. Bf5 Bf6 35. d5 cd5 equal; b) 25. f5 b1) 25... Bc8 26. Re4 (26.
Rf1 Bg3 27. Ne4 Be5 28. de5 Re5 29. g4 Nh7 30. Qf2 b6 and Black is
slightly better) b11) 26... Bg3 27. Rg4 Be5 28. de5 Qe5 29. Bh6 Ne3 30.
Bg7 (30. Be3 Qe3) Qd5 31. Qc3 Ng4 32. hg4 b6 33. Nb3 with
compensation; b12) 26... Be7 27. Re2 Bd6 28. Rde1 unclear; b2) 25... Be1
26. fe6 f6 27. Nf7 Ne6 28. Nd8 Nd8 29. Bc4 Nf7 30. Qf5 Qe7 31. Bd3 with
compensation) 25. Qf2 Ne6 (25... Be7 with the idea Bd6, f6 unclear) 26.
Ne4 Be7 27. Bc4!? (diagonal a2-g8) 27...Nf8 28. f5! (and White is slightly
better) 28...Nh7? (28... Nd7 a) 29. f6!? N7f6 30. Bh6 Be6 31. Ng5 Bd6 (31...
gh6 32. Ne6 fe6 33. Bd5 and White is winning) 32. Ne6 Re6 33. Bg5 Rde8;
b) 29. Bf4 Qb6 30. Nc3 (30. Nd7 Bd7 31. Be5 f6 32. Bd6 Bd6 33. Nd6 Re1
34. Re1 Kf8 unclear) N7f6 31. g4 and White is slightly better) 29. Bf4! (29.
Bh6 f6! (29... gh6 30. Qg3 Bg5 31. h4 Bf5 32. hg5 Be4 33. Re4 hg5 unclear)
30. Qg3 Bf8 31. Qg6 fe5 32. Bg5 Be7 33. f6 (33. Bh6 Bh4 34. g3 Kh8) Bf8)
29...Qb6 (29... Nf4 30. Bf7)
30. Bh6!! (and White is winning)
30...gh6 (30... f6 31. Qg3 Bf8 32. Ng6)
31. Qg3 Ng5 (31... Kf8 32. Nf7! a) 32...
Bg5 33. Nd8 Qd8 34. Ng5 Re1 (34...
Ng5 35. Re8 Qe8 36. Bd5 cd5 37. Qd6
Kg7 38. Qd5) 35. Re1 Ng5 36. Bd5 Qd5
(36... cd5 37. Qb8 Nf7 38. Rc1 Nd6 39.
Rc5) 37. Qe5; b) 32... Ng5 33. Nd8 Qd8
34. f6! Bf6 35. Bd5 cd5 36. Nf6; c) 32...
Kf7 33. Qg6 Kf8 34. Qh7 Bf6 35. Nf6
Re1 36. Kh2! Qc7 (36... Re3 37. Qh6
Kf7 38. Ng4 Re4 39. Ne5 Ke7 40. f6 Nf6
41. Qg7 Kd6 42. Nf7) 37. Qc7 Nc7 38. Nh7 Kg7 39. Re1 Rd7 (39... Kh7 40.
Re7 Kh8 41. Rc7 Bf5 42. g4 Rd4 43. gf5 Rc4 44. Kg3) 40. f6 Kh7 41. f7
Kg7 42. Re8 Rf7 43. Bf7 Ne8 44. Be8 Kf6 45. Kg3; 31... Bg5 32. h4 Bf5
(32... f6 33. Nf6 Nhf6 34. hg5 Nh5 35. Qg4 Ng7 36. gh6) 33. hg5 Be4 34.
gh6 Bg6 35. Ng6) 32. h4 f6 (32... Bf5 33. hg5 Be4 34. gh6 Bg6 35. Ng6) 33.
hg5 hg5 34. Ng6 Kf7 (34... Kg7 35. Ng5 fg5 36. Ne7 Re7 37. Re7 Ne7 38.
Qg5 Kf8 39. f6) 35. Qh3 [better is 35. Bd5 cd5 (35... Rd5 36. Qh2 Kg7 37.
Ng5 fg5 38. Re7) 36. Qh3 Kg7 (36... Bf8 37. Qh7 Bg7 38. Ng3 Re1 39.
Re1) 37. Nf2] 35...Kg7 36. Bd5 cd5 (36... Bf5!? 37. Qf5 Rd5 38. Ne7 Rf5
39. Nf5 Kg6 40. Neg3 Re5 41. Rf1 Re8 42. Rde1 Re5 43. Kh2) 37. Nf2! (37.
Ng3 Bd6 38. Nh5 Kf7 39. Re8 Re8 40. Nhf4 Kg7 41. Nh5 Kf7 42. Nhf4
equal) 37...Bd6 38. Re8 Re8 39. Ng4 Bf5 40. Qh6 Kf7 41. Nh8! (41... Rh8
42. Qf6 Kg8 (42... Ke8 43. Qh8) 43. Qg5 Kf7 44. Qf5 Kg7 45. Qf6 Kg8 46.
Qg6 Kf8 47. Rf1) 1 : 0 [Bologan]

Viswanathan Anand Annotates

Ivan Markovic
In the high noon of recent media saturation in the world of chess, almost
undivided attention has been focused on the series of Man vs. Machine
clashes. Huge interest for the Brains in Bahrain has escalated into an
overkill of the Kasparov Deep Junior coverage culminating in what was
once thought of as impossible: live broadcast of the final game on ESPN.
Between the two showdowns that were given no less than epic proportions,
Evgeny Bareevs four-game match against HiarcsX undeservedly went
almost unnoticed by the mass media. Indeed, if ever there was a need to
demythologize the existing computer frenzy, then never has it been felt as
intensely as now. Human players had constantly been burdened with the
enormous pressure and expectations, which invariably led to their
underperformance in terms of the quality of play; in contrast to that, silicon
monsters do not have a worry in the world, so it usually ends up in a nerve
wrecking experience for the best humans. Even the greatest of all was in awe
of the Juniors brute calculating force how else to explain the repetition of
moves in game five? Given the normal circumstances (i. e. any human
opponent) it is highly unlikely that Black would survive more than 10-15
moves after the semi-correct bishop sacrifice on h2 (I would personally
recommend studying the game between Van Wely and Acs from Hoogeveen
2002 as the most instructive prelude to the above-mentioned game).
So, can humans fight back? The most natural choice is to resort to the best
human performance in 2003 so far: Viswanathan Anands triumph in the
main group of the Wijk aan Zee chess festival. Unlike his stressed up
colleagues, he shows no outward sign of mounting pressure to extend his
long winning streak only the quiet confidence and sobriety possessed by
those who have mastered the art of winning. In his game versus the
unpredictable genius Alexei Shirov he had to keep sifting hard facts from
fantasy in order to tiptoe all over the mine field move by move. The former
FIDE World Champion was masterfully deploying his pieces to successfully
barricade his opponents blistering hits; Shirov kept trying, but undeterred
Anand continued to produce the moves with unerring precision until his task
was accomplished.
Shirov 2723 Anand 2753
Wijk aan Zee 2003
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. g4 Bg6 6. Nge2 c5 7. Be3 Nc6 8.
dc5 Ne5 9. Nf4 Ne7 10. Qe2 [10. Bb5 83/86] N7c6 11. 0-0-0
11...Be7 N [11...Qa5 a) 12. Bd4 Nd7!

(12...Nd4 13. Rd4 Nc6 14. Ne6! fe6 15.
Qe6 Be7 16. Bb5 and White is superior,
with the attack) 13. Ne6 fe6 14. Qe6 Be7
15. Bg7 unclear, Lukacs; b) 12. Nfd5 ed5
13. Rd5 (13. f4 0-0-0) 13...f6 14. f4 Nd7;
12...0-0-0! and Black is slightly better]
12. Nfd5?! [12. h4 Qa5 13. h5 Be4 14.
Ne4 de4 15. Kb1 Bc5 16. Bc5 Qc5 17.
Bg2] 12...ed5 13. f4? [13. Rd5 Qc8 14.
h3 f6 15. f4 Nd7 16. Bg2 0-0 and Black
is slightly better] 13...d4! 14. h4! [14.
fe5? Bg5; 14. Bd4? Nd3!; 14. Bf2 Qa5! (14...Nd3 15. cd3 dc3 16. f5 Qd5 17.
Rg1 Qa2 18. bc3 and Black is superior) 15. Nd5 (15. Bd4 Nd3! 16. Rd3 Bd3
17. Qd3 Rd8 and Black is winning) 15...Qa2 16. Ne7 Ke7! 17. fe5 (17. Bd4
Rhd8 and Black is winning) Qa1 18. Kd2 Qb2 and Black is winning]
14...Nd3! [14... Qa5 15. Bd4 (15. fe5
dc3) 15... Nd3 16. cd3 Nd4 17. Qe5 (17.
Qe1 f5) 0-0-0 (17... Nc6 18. Qg7 0-0-0
19. f5) 18. f5 and Black is slightly better;
14...Bd3 15. cd3 Nd7 16. Ne4 de3 17. d4
with compensation; 14...d3 15. cd3 Nd3
16. Rd3 Bd3 17. Qd3 Qd3 18. Bd3 0-0
with compensation] 15. cd3 h5! [15...f5
16. Bd2! dc3 17. Bc3 Bf7 (17...Qd5 18.
Bg2 Qc5 19. d4) 18. g5 (18. d4 Bd5)
18... 0-0 19. d4 Bd5 20. Bg2 and Black is
superior] 16. f5 [16. Bd2 dc3 17. Bc3
hg4] Bh7 17. Bd2 dc3 18. Bc3 0-0 19. d4
19...a5! and Black is winning [19...Re8
20. d5 Bg5 21. hg5 Re2 22. Be2 Qg5 23.
Bd2 Qe7 24. dc6 bc6 25. Rde1 Qc5 26.
Bc3 hg4 27. Bg4 and Black is slightly
better] 20. a3 [20. Bg2 Re8 21. Be4 Bf6]
Re8 21. Qc4 [21. d5 Nb4! 22. Qc4 (22.
ab4 ab4 23. Bb4 Bc5! 24. Qb5 Bb4 25.
Qb4 Ra1 26. Kc2 Rd1 27. Kd1 Qd5)
22...b5! 23. Qb3 Bc5 24. ab4 ab4; 21.
Qf3 hg4! (21...Bh4 22. Kb1 Qg5 23.
Qh3) 22. Qg4 Bf6] 21...Bh4 22. Bd3 hg4
23. Kb1 Qg5 24. Ka1 Rad8 [24...g3 25.
d5 g2 26. Qh4 (26. dc6 gh1Q 27. Rh1 bc6 28. Qh4 Qh4 29. Rh4 and Black is
superior) 26...gh1Q 27. Qh1 Ne5 28. Rg1 and Black is slightly better] 25.
Bb1 [25. Qb5 g3; 25. d5 Ne5; 25. Bc2 Ne7 (25...g3? 26. d5 g2 27. Qh4
gh1Q? 28. Qg5! and White is superior) 26. Ba5 (26. Bb3 Nd5 27. Ba5 Bf5
28. Bd8 Rd8) 26...Bf5] 25...Ne7 26. Ba5 Bf5 27. Bd8 Rd8 28. Rhf1 g6 29.
Qb3 Be6 30. Qb7 Qd5 31. Qd5 [31. Qb4 Nf5] 31...Nd5 32. Rh1 Bf2 33. c6
Rc8 34. Rc1 g3 35. Be4 Nf6 36. Bg2 Bd5 0-1 [Anand]


of Volume 85
Milan Bjelajac
Bad news for White: 2700+ and a firm hand is no
longer enough to punish Black for choosing the
Sveshnikov Sicilian. It now seems that Anands
convincing win over Kasimdzhanov in Hyderabad
proved only that 10f5 should probably be given
preference to 10Bg7, not to mention that
Jakovenkos effort versus Grischuk at Aeroflot Open
2003 in Moscow (22Qg6 instead of Kasimdzhanovs
22Qg5 makes way for the rook, followed by
23Rac8 heading for the fifth rank via c5, with the
idea Rh5 or Rg5, instead of 23f5 as seen in Senff
Halkias, Yerevan 2000) might even regain 10Bg7 its
status of a viable alternative to 10f5.
Alexei Shirov, arguably the hardest working man in
the business, was the last of the giants to pit his wits
againts the Sveshnikov variation aficionados: his win
against mighty Kramnik in Wijk aan Zee 2003 was
immediately followed by a painful loss to Grischuk
due to a horrible blunder; both games, however, hardly
yielded any advantage for White, as it could be seen
from Shirovs next round choice: he employed the
Sveshnikov himself with Black against Judit Polgar,
drawing the game effortlessly. His most recent games
from Bundesliga and Iceland seem to indicate that his
home laboratory has not produced anything tangible
for White, as we have witnessed several B 30s (3. Nc3
mostly) on his agenda ever since. If we move on to
Linares immediately, declining the Sveshnikov was the

unanimous choice among the players with White
pieces, apart from the game Leko Kramnik, which
hardly posed any problems for Black
Which brings us back to Leko again, thus
completing the full circle: the theoretical survey
presented here follows the trail of his novelty launched
in the Dortmund semifinals against Shirov. His
18Rb8! not only impressed the grandmaster jury, but
also discouraged any serious contenders: after this
game no grandmaster seemed interested in
rehabilitating 18.Kh1 (remember Shirov tried 18.Bb3
both against Kramnik and Grischuk). Such is modern
theory despite the fact that this survey can surely
offer a detailed background of the variation with
18.Kh1, it is highly unlikely that it will provide an
incentive for anyone willing to try his luck as White.
Shirov 2697 Leko 2722

Dortmund (m/1) 2002 85/139
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6.
Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bf6 gf6 10. Nd5 f5
11. Bd3 Be6 12. 00 Bd5 13. ed5 Ne7 14. c3 Bg7 15.
Qh5 e4 16. Bc2 00 17. Rae1 Qc8 18. Kh1
18...Rb8! N 19. f3 b4 20.

Nb1 (20. cb4? Bb2)
20bc3 21. bc3 Bc3 22.
Nc3 (22. Re2 Be5 23. fe4
f4) 22Qc3 23. fe4 f4!
(23...Qc2 24. ef5 equal) 24.
Bb3?! (24. Bb1! Ng6
[24...Qe5 25. Qe5 de5 26.
Bd3 equal] 25. e5! de5 26.
Bg6 fg6 27. Qe5 Qe5 28.
Re5 equal) 24Ng6 25. Rc1 Qf6! 26. Qf5 (26. Rc6!?)
26Qe7! 27. Rc4 a5! 28. h3 (28. Rfc1 Rb4 and Black
is superior) 28Rb4 29. Rb4 (29. Rfc1 Rc4 30. Rc4
Qh4 with initiative) 29ab4 (and Black is superior,
weak point e4, Kh1) 30. Bd1?! Ra8 (30...Re8 31. Bh5
Qe4 32. Bg6 hg6 33. Qf4 Qd5 34. Qb4 Re2 35. Qg4
Ra2 and Black is slightly better) 31. Rf2 (31. Bh5 Ra2
32. Bg6 hg6 33. Qf4 Re2 and Black is superior)
31Qa7! 32. Rc2 Kg7 33. Kh2 (33. Bh5? b3! 34. ab3
Qe3 and Black is winning) 33Qe3 34. Bf3 Qe1!
(and Black is winning) 35. Rc7 Qg3 36. Kh1 Ne5 37.
Bh5 Ra2 38. Rf7 Nf7 39. Qf7 Kh6 40. Qf6 Kh5 41.
Qf5 Kh6 42. Qf6 (42. Qf8 Qg7 43. Qf4 Qg5 44. Qf8
[44. Qd6 Kh5] Kh5 45. Qf7 Kh4 46. Qh7 Kg3)
42...Qg6 43. Qh4 Kg7 44. Qe7 Qf7 45. Qg5 Kf8 46.
Qd8 Qe8 47. Qf6 Kg8 (48. Qg5 Kf7 49. Qf5 Ke7 50.
Qe6 Kd8 51. Qd6 Kc8 52. Qc5 Kb7 53. Qb4 Ka8)
0 : 1 (Leko)
B 33
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7.

Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bf6 gf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. 00 Bd5 13.
ed5 Ne7 14. c3 Bg7 15. Qh5 e4 16. Bc2 00 17. Rae1 Qc8 18. Kh1
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
. . . Bb12 cb4 Nc2 Re34

Ng61 b43 Bb2 Bc3 Bg7
1
...
...
...
Re8
f47 Qf39 Re1

ef38 Re110 f4
Rh3 f4 g45 Rg3

h6 Ra7 fg4 Ne76
Nc211 Rd1 Nd4 Bg614

a512 Qc5 Bd413 fg615 equal
. . . . . . Nc2 Nb4 Qd1 b3 Nc6 Be4 a419

. . . . ..
f416 Re517 Qc4 Qc3 Ree818 a5 ba420
and White is slightly better
...
Rb8
equal
g421 cb4 gf522 Rg123 Qh6 Re424 Qh325 Qb326

b4 Nd5 Kh8 Bb2
Qc3 Qf6
Rg8 Rg127
1 18... Re8? 19. f3! b4 20. cb4! Bb2 21. fe4 Ba3 22. Ba4! Bb4 (22...f4
23. Rf4 Bb2 24. Rh4 and White is winning; At. Kolev Echavarria,
Istanbul (ol) 2000 80/151) 23. Rc1 Bc5 24. ef5 and White is
winning; Smikovski Shariyazdanov, Russia (ch) 2000 79/126
2 19. f4 b4 (19...ef3? 20. Rf3 Re8 21. Ref1 and White is superior; G.
Singh Harikrishna, Kolkata 2001) 20. cb4 (20. Nb1 bc3 21. Nc3 Bc3
22. bc3 Qc3 23. Bb1 with compensation) 20...Bb2 21. Re3 Ba3 22.
Rh3 Re8 equal; Galkin Va. Filippov, Tomsk 2001;
19. Re3 Rb8 20. f4 b4 21. cb4 Rb4 22. b3 Re8 unclear; B. Vuckovic
Krush, Bermuda 2002
3 19...Be5 20. f4 Nf4 21. Qg5 Ng6 (A. Kovalev Krasenkow, Aalborg
1995 64/168) 22. Rf5 b4 23. cb4 Bb2 24. Nc2 Re8 25. h4 and White
is superior (Krasenkow);
19...Rb8 20. Nc2 Re8 21. Nb4 h6 22. f3 and White is superior; A.
Umbach A. Zozulia, Zurich 2002
4 22. Re2 Bg7 23. f4 ef3 24. Qf3 f4 25. Ne1!? (with the idea Nd3, with
attack; weak point f4) 25...Qc4 26. Qe4 (26. Nd3 Rfe8 with
counterplay) 26...Rfc8 27. Nd3 a5 28. ba5 (Leko Krasenkow, Batumi
1999 77/149) 28...Ra5 29. Rc1 Bc3 30. Qc4 Rc4 31. Rec2 Ra3 32.
Nf2 Ne7! 33. Re2 Nd5 34. Ne4 equal (Krasenkow);
22. Rc1 Bb2 23. Rce1 Bc3 24. Rc1 Bb2 1/2 : 1/2 A. Galkin
Krasenkow, Saint-Vincent 2000
5 25. Ne3 Rc7 26. Qf5 Rc1 27. Qe4 Rf1 (27...Re8? 28. Qe8! Qe8 29.
Rc1 Nf4 30. Rf3 and White is winning) 28. Nf1 Re8 29. Qf3 (29. Qd3
Qc1 30. Rf3 Re1 31. Bc2 Nh4 32. Rf2 Nf5! with compensation)
29...Qc1 30. Bg6 (30. Bd3 Nf4 31. Rg3 Re1 32. Ba6 Nd5 with
counterplay) 30...fg6 31. Qd3 and White is slightly better (Motylev)
6 26...Rc7 27. f5 Ne5 28. f6 Bf6 29. Rf6 Rc2 30. Bc2 Qc2 31. Qh6
Rc8 32. Rg1 Qe2 33. Rf5! and White is winning (Motylev);
26...Ne7 27. f5! and White is superior; Motylev B. Lalic, Kolkata
2002 85/141
7 20. f3 b4 (20...ef3 20. f4) 21. cb4 Bb2 22. fe4 (22. Nc2?! Bc3 23.
Re2 Qc4! 24. fe4 [the only move] 24...Re4 25. Ref2 Re5! and Black is
slightly better; Bologan Va. Filippov, Russia 2001 81/126)
22...Ba3 23. ef5 Re1 24. Re1 Qc3 25. Rf1 Qc4 26. Rd1 Rf8 27. Qf3
Bb4 28. fg6 fg6 29. Qd3 equal; K. van der Weide Nunn, Paington
2000 81/(126)
8 20...Ne7 21. g4 Nd5 22. gf5 Nf6 23. Qh4 Qf5 24. Rg1 Qh5 equal; P.
Thipsay R. Ramesh, Nagpur 2002
9 21. Re8 Qe8 22. Qf3 f4 23. Bg6 hg6 24. Qf4 Be5 25. Qf3 (25. Qf2
Kg7 with compensation; E. Hossain Su. B. Hansen, Istanbul (ol)
2000] Qe7 with compensation; Konguvel Harikrishna, India (ch)
2002
10 21...f4 22. Bg6 fg6 23. Qf4 Re1 24. Qf7 Kh8 25. Re1 Qf8 26. Qf8
Rf8 27. Kg1 b4! 28. cb4 Bd4 29. Kh1 Bb2 30. Nb1 Rf4 equal; Odeev
Mehyo, Dubai 2002
11 23. Bg6 hg6 24. Qf4 Be5 25. Qe4 (25. Qf3 Kg7 with compensation;
K. Kerek A. Peter, Budapest 2000) 25...Qc5 26. Nc2 Qf2 27. Qd3 a5
with compensation; Palac Balinov, Makarska 1997
12 23...Qd8 24. Nb4 and White is slightly better; Hugentobler A.
Czebe, Zurich 2001
13 25...b4? 26. Nf5! and White is superior; Z. Almasi Krasenkow,
Malmoe 1994 61/184
14 26. cd4 Qb4 27. Qf2 Qc4 equal
15 27. Rd4 Re8 28. h3 Re5 equal (Z. Almasi)
16 20...Nf4 21. Qg5 Nd5 (21...Nd3 22. Ne3 h6 23. Qf5 Ne1 24. Re1
Re5 25. Qf4 f5 26. g4! with initiative) 22. Nd4 Ne7 23. f3 d5 24. g4!
(24. fe4 fe4 25. Qh5 Rf8 26. Nf5 Nf5 27. Rf5 Qe6 28. Rd5 f5 unclear
(Rogozenko)]
a) 24...h6 25. Qh5 b4 (25...fg4 26. fe4 Ng6 27. Rf7! and White is
winning) 26. fe4 bc3 27. e5! and White is winning;
b) 24...Kh8 25. gf5 Bd4 26. cd4 Qf5 27. Qf5 Nf5 28. fe4 Nd4 29. Rd1
Nc6 30. ed5 Ne5 31. d6 and White is superior;
c) 24...fg4 25. fe4 Ng6 (25... Qd7 26. e5! Ng6 27. e6! fe6 28. Bg6 hg6
29. Qg6 and White is winning; Zeliakov Rogozenko, WICC 2002)
26. Nf5 (26. Rf7!? Bd4 27. e5!! and White is slightly better; Nijboer
Krasenkow, Wijk aan Zee II 2002 83/127) 26...Qe6 27. Qg4 (27.
a3!? Qe5 28. Qg4) 27...d4 28. cd4 Bd4 29. Bc2! and White is superior,
with the idea Bb3; with attack (Krasenkow)
17 21...Qc4!? with the idea 22. Nc6 e3
18 24...f3? 25. Ne5 fg2 26. Kg2 Be5 27. Re4 and White is winning;
Nijboer A. Czebe, Ohrid 2001 82/(137)
19 26. Re2 b4 27. Rfe1 Kh8 28. h3 Qc5 29. Rc2 Bc3 30. Ree2 Kg7 31.
a4 Ne5 32. Ne5 de5 33. Red2 Qd6 34. Qg4 Kf8 35. Rd3 h6 equal;
Bakre Mehyo, Dubai 2002
20 26...ba4 27. ba4 Qa3 28. Qc2 (28. Bd3!? Rogozenko) Qc3 29. Qb1
and White is slightly better; R. Ramesh Al Sayed, Kolkata 2002;
26... b4!?
21 19. f3 b4 20. Nb1 (20. cb4? Bb2) 20...bc3 21. bc3 Bc3 22. Nc3 (22.
Re2 Be5 23. fe4 f4) Qc3 23. fe4 f4! (23...Qc2 24. ef5 equal)
a) 24. Bb3?! Ng6 25. Rc1 Qf6! 26. Qf5 (26. Rc6!?) 26...Qe7! 27. Rc4
a5! 28. h3 (28. Rfc1 Rb4 and Black is superior) 28...Rb4 29. Rb4 ab4
and Black is superior (weak point e4, Kh1) Shirov Leko, Dortmund
(m/1) 2002 85/139;
b) 24. Bb1! Ng6 (24... Qe5 25. Qe5 de5 26. Bd3 equal) 25. e5! de5 26.
Bg6 fg6 27. Qe5 Qe5 28. Re5 equal (Leko);
19. Bb1 b4 20. cb4
a) 20...Bb2 21. Re3 Nd5 22. Rh3 Nf6 23. Qh6 (23. Qg5 Kh8 24. Qd2)
23...Qe6 24. f3 with compensation; with attack;
b) 20...Rb4 21. b3 (21. f3!?) 21...Nd5 22. Nc4 Qe6 23. f3 Nf6
(23...Nc3!?) 24. Qh3 with compensation; B. Svensson Ma. Nielsen,
Kobenhavn 2002;
19. Bb3 a5 20. f3 b4 (20...Ng6 21. fe4 f4 22. Rf3 Re8 23. Rh3 h6 24.
Qf3 a4 25. Bc2 b4 (Sakelsek S. Barrientos, Iraklion 2002) 26. cb4
Rb4 27. b3 and White is slightly better] 21. cb4 (21. Nb1!?) 21...Rb4
22. fe4 fe4 23. Rc1 Qd7 24. Nc2 Rbb8 25. Ne3 f5 26. Bc2 Rf6
(26...Rb2 27. g4 with compensation; 26... Bb2 27. Rb1 with
compensation) 27. g4 Rbf8 equal; Bratovic Ig. Jelen, Bled (ol) 2002
22 21. Be4 fe4 22. Qd5 Rb4 23. Re4 Re4 24. Qe4 Re8! 25. Qd5 Qg4
26. Nc4 Qe4 27. Qe4 Re4 28. Nd6 Re2 equal (Leko)
23 22. Bb3 Nf6 23. Qg5 d5 24. Nc2 Qb7 with compensation; Antoniou
E. Hossain, Bled (ol) 2002;
22. Be4 Nf6 23. Qf3 Rb4 with counterplay (Leko)
24 With the idea Qh7, Rh4#; 24. Be4 Qf6 (Leko)
25 25. Rh4 Qh6 26. Rh6 Ba3 (26...f6!? 27. Nc4 Nb4 unclear) 27. f6
Nf6 28. Rf6 Bb4 with the idea 29. Rh6 f5! (Leko)
26 26. Rf1
a) 26...Qc3 27. Qc3 Nc3 28. Rh4! Ba3 (28...f6 29. Nc4 Rb4 30. Re1!)
29. f6 Rg6 30. Bg6 fg6 31. Re1 with counterplay;
b) 26...Rb4!?;
c) 26...Ba3 27. Qa3 Rbc8! 28. Bd1! Nc3 29. Re3 d5 30. Rg3! d4
(30...Ne4 31. Rg8 Rg8 32. Qe3 unclear) 31. Bf3 d3!? 32. Qb2 Qd4 33.
Qd2 (33. Rd1? Rg3!! 34. hg3 Rc4! and Black is winning; V. Topalov
Leko, Dortmund (m/2) 2001 85/140) Ne4 34. Be4 Qe4 35. f3 [35.
Kg1!? Qf5 and Black is slightly better) Qf5 and Black is slightly better
(Leko)
27 27. Kg1 Nc3 (27...Ba3 28. Qd5 Bb4) 28. Re3 d5 29. Nb1 Rg8 30.
Kf1 Nb1 31. Bb1 equal (Leko)

The Best Game

of Volume 85
Ivan Markovic
Alexey Dreev Annoates
The Gruenfeld Defence has generally been an infrequent guest at top
class events. Among those who have tried to persevere despite some
severe blows, one name certainly stands out Peter Svidler. His more
or less consistent choice of opening weapons over the years has made
him an extraordinary figure among the elite: most of his peers tend to
be "universal", or at least versatile, hoping to get the best of the modern
trends in opening theory by playing the critical positions with both
colors. On the other hand, Svidler's strength often lies in the profound
understanding of the systems he regularly employs, so we can only
hope that he will get more invitations to the super class events
(remember he emerged with 2713 Elo points on the April 2003 FIDE
rating list), where his repertoire would have to stand some severe
testing from the likes of Kasparov, Kramnik, Anand, Leko, etc.
This months featured game was voted the best game of Chess
Informant 85. I have borrowed one of the most often-cited quotes in
chess history just to demonstrate how demanding top class chess can
be. When Rudolph Spielmann claimed that a chess master "should play
like a book in the opening, like a magician in the middlegame, and like
a machine in the endgame," he was hardly referring to the game Dreev
Svidler from the European Champions Cup held in Kallithea last year.
Svidler was playing like a book, until he was faced with an unpleasant
novelty leading to many anxious moments for him in the middlegame.
Dreev's computer-like sequence surely leaves an impression of sheer
magic, as Black never managed to create some compensation for the
material losses on the ever vulnerable queenside, so there was no
endgame in sight. The game itself represents a fusion of Dreev's
outstanding opening preparation and dazzling tactical skills, once again
showing his immense strength, which should invariably place him
among the 2700+ giants, where he definitely belongs his recent
success in Dos Hermanas where he confidently withstood the favorite's
challenge, followed by the ruthless sweep of the tailenders in the final
rounds speaks strongly in his favor. Let's just hope that the organizers
of supertournaments would recognize the potential of introducing some

fresh entries to the confined circle of established superstars, as these
two fine gentlemen would certainly add to the flavor of any top class
event.
Dreev 2676 Svidler 2690

Kallithea 2002
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 c5 6. dc5 Qa5 7. Rc1
dc4 8. Bc4 0-0 9. Nge2 Qc5 10. Qb3 Nc6 11. Nb5 Qh5 12. Ng3 [12.
Nc7 Rb8 13. Bf7 47/549; 13. Nd5!?] 12Qh4 13. Nc7 g5 [13...Rb8;
13...e5]
14. Bg5! N [14. Nf5 Bf5 15. Bg3 Nd4! and Black is superior] 14Qg5
15. Na8 Bd7 16. Qb7 Rb8 17. Qc7 Ra8 [17...Rc8!? 18. Ne4 Ne4? 19.
Qd7 Rd8 20. Qc6 Qa5 21. Kf1 Qd2 22. Be2; 18...Qa5!?; 18...Qf5!?] 18.
Ba6! [Krasenkow] 18Ne8 [18...Nb4? 19. Qb7 and White is winning;
18...Nd8 19. 0-0 Ne6 20. Qb7 and White is superior; 18...Qd5!?] 19.
Qd7 Qa5
20. b4! [20. Qd2 Qa6 21. Nf5 Ne5 22. Rd1 Bf6] 20Nb4 21. 0-0 Qa6
[21...Na6 22. Qe7 and White is superior] 22. Nf5 Na2 [22...e6 23. Ng7
Ng7 (23...Kg7? 24. Qd4 and White is winning) 24. Rc7 Rf8 25. Ra7
and White is superior] 23. Rc6! Qa5 [23...Qb5 24. Ng7 (24. Nh6 Kf8
with the idea 25. Rf6? Qf1) 24..Nb4 25. Nf5 (25. Ne8!? Qc6 26. Qe7
Re8 27. Qb4) 25Nc6 26. Ne7 Kg7 27. Nc6] 24. Ne7 [24. Ng7 Kg7
25. Qb7 Rd8 26. Ra6 Qd2] 24Kf8 25. Nc8 [with the idea 26. Qb7,
26. Qe7] 25Qb4? [25...Qe5 26. Qb7 Rb8 27. Qa7 Rb2 (27...Nb4 28.
Rc5 and White is winning) 28. Nb6 Qe7 29. Nd7 Kg8 30. Rc8 (with the
idea Qa8) f5 and White is superior]
26. Rc4! [26...Qa3 27. Re4 and White is winning; 26...Qc4 27. Qe7
Kg8 28. Qe8 Bf8 29. Ne7 Kg7 30. Nf5 Kg6 31. Qa8 and White is
winning] 1 : 0 [Dreev]

The Sicilian Dragon:

Yugoslav Attack (B 78)
Ivan Markovic
The very thought of facing the sharpest lines of the Yugoslav Attack used to bring
trepidation to most players until the mid-nineties (remember, even Kasparov
successfully tried his hand at the Sicilian Dragon in his New York championship
match against Anand in 1995). However, with the benefit of hindsight we can now
state that the tables have turned and that most of the ambitious players revel at
launching (Yugoslav) attacks (no second thoughts, please) no one seems to be so
obliging about letting Black off the hook nowadays.
In the early days of the system (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6
6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 0-0 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. 0-0-0), Black's reply 10... Rc8 was
almost without exception an automatic choice. One can hardly argue that deploying
Black's queenside Rook to the half-open c-file seems most natural; however, even
in the early days, 10... Qb8 was considered a viable alternative: Blacks queen
makes way for the kingside Rook, at the same time hoping to push the b-pawn. Led
by Belarus GM Alexei Fedorov's capable hand, Black players seemed to thrive in
the ensuing complications until it became clear that White should immediately try
to exploit the weakness of the e7-pawn by playing 11. Nd5 (for instructive
examples, the reader is referred to footnote 1). An unexpected modification of the
idea came with the immediate 10... b5!?, where Black still hopes to play the
familiar sequence: Ne5, followed by Qb8 and R(f)c8. Then again, it didn't take long
to find a reliable antidote in 11. Nc6! (aimed against Ne5), which more or less
closed the chapter.
Move by move, Black's choices have been whittled down to the last possible
resource: 10... Rb8 (footnotes 36-40). This seemingly awkward crossover probably
offers more hope than any other Black's choice at the moment: supported by a
major piece, the b-pawn becomes ever-ready to march, whereas Black still holds
his trumps by keeping both his queen and the c6-knight flexible. The idea gets a
surprising twist after the logical retreat: 11. Bb3 is met by 11... Na5! Chess
Informant 86 brings GM Golubev's novelty (12. Bh6 Nb3!?N footnote 38), which
actually prevents White's lasting initiative obtained by GM Felgaer against GM
Ward in Port Erin 2002 (footnote 39). However, since it is most likely that White
players will sooner or later seek a refutation of the above-mentioned line, I'd
venture to suggest yet another idea for Black: an old and almost forgotten game
from the '75 Hungarian Championship (Sax I. Bilek, Hungary (ch) 1975 20/456)
led by transposition (Black's original choice in the game was 10... Na5) to the very
same position as in the Felgaer Ward game. Personally, I'd highly recommend the
predecessor's choice (footnote 40) with a slight adjustment: 18... Rb6 instead of the
original 18... Bb5 seems to equalize effortlessly. While I'm not quite certain of the
longevity or the soundness of the move, 10... Rb8 definitely justifies its current
vogue (at least among the Dragon aficionados) status at the moment. So far, so
good...
B 78
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 0-0 8. Qd2
Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. 0-0-0
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
...
Bb3
Bg5
Bc4
e5
Nde24
Bf6
Nb5
Nc7
Rc81
Ne52
Nc43
Rc4
de5
Rc7
ef6
Bf5
Qc75
...
...
h4
Bc4
h56
g4
Kb17
fg4
Qe2
...
...
Nc4
Rc4
Nh5
Nf6
Bg48
Ng4
Ne39
...
...
...
Bh610
Qh6
bc3
Kb113
g415
gh5
...
...
h5
Bh611
Rc3
Qa512
b514
Qc3
...
...
...
Bg5
g418
f419
Qe220
Bf622
...
...
...
Rc517
hg4
Nc4
Qc821
Bf6
Nb224 equal
...
...
...
...
Kb1
g4
h527
bc3
Nf328
...
...
...
...
b525
hg426
Rc3
Nf3
Ne429
...
...
Kb1
h431
Bh632
Bc4
Bg7
Nd534
Nf6
...
...
Re830
h5
Nc433
Rc4
Kg7
e5
Qf635
...
Bb336
Bh6
h4
Bg7
Nde2
Nd5
cb3
Qd5
Rb8
Na537
b538
e539
Kg7
b4
Nb3
Nd5
Rb640
with
compensation
and White
is slightly
better
Nh516 equal
h523
equal
and White
is slightly
better
unclear
1
10... Na5 11. Be2 [11. Bb3 Rb8 10... Rb8] Rc8 12. Kb1 Nc4 13. Bc4 Rc4 10...
Rc8; 10... b5 11. Nc6! Bc6 12. Bb5 Bb5 13. Nb5 Qb8 14. Nd4 and White is slightly
better; A. Colovic E. Gallo, Mogliano Veneto 2000; 10... Qb8 11. Nd5 Nd5 [11...
Re8 12. h4 Ne5 13. Nf6 Bf6 14. Be2 b5 15. h5 Nc4 16. Bc4 bc4 17. g4!? and White
is superior; Goloshchapov Fedorov, Dubai 2002 84/(182)] 12. Bd5 Rc8 13. h4
e6 14. Bc6! bc6 15. Nb3! a5!? [15... d5 16. c3 and White is superior; Leko
Fedorov, Batumi 1999 77/210] 16. Qd6 a4 17. Qb8 Rcb8 18. Rd7 ab3 19. a3 bc2
20. Bd4 and White is slightly better (Da Costa Junior)
2
11... Nd4 12. Bd4 b5 13. Nd5 Nd5 14. Bg7 Kg7 15. ed5 a5 16. a3 Qb6 17. Rhe1
Rfe8 18. Re2! Rc7 19. g4 Rec8 20. Qf4! Be8 21. Kb1 and White is slightly better;
Bruzon Felgaer, Bled (ol) 2002
3
12... Re8!? 13. Rhe1 [13. h4 h5 12. h4] Qa5 14. f4 Nc4 15. Qd3 b5 16. h3
(Jakovenko Sklyarov, Neftekamsk 2000) Rc5! unclear
4
15. Nb3 Rc7 16. Nb5 Bf5 [16... Rc8!? 17. Na7 Ra8 18. Bf6 Bf6 19. Qd7 Qb6
unclear; Fogarasi Payen, Budapest 1991] 17. Nc7 Qc7 18. Kb1 b6!? unclear; Mo.
Vucicevic Iv. Markovic, Jugoslavija 1986
5
19. Nc3 Rc8 20. Kb1 [20. Qd6 Qc4 21. Qe7 (Pikula Kosanovic, Jugoslavija 1996)
Bh6! 22. Kb1 Be3 with compensation; Iv. Markovic] Be6 (Kindermann Ki.
Georgiev, Dortmund 1991 51/211) 21. g4! f5 22. gf5 Bf5 23. Ne4 unclear (Ki.
Georgiev)
6
14. g4 h5 [14... Qa5 15. Nb3 Qa6 16. Bh6! Rc3 17. Bg7 Rf3 18. Bf8 Kf8 19. g5
Rb3 20. gf6 Rb5 21. Qh6 Ke8 22. Qh7 ef6 23. Qh8 Ke7 24. Rhf1 and White is
winning; Volzhin At. Schneider, Budapest 1995; 14... Qc7 15. h5 Rc8 16. hg6 fg6
17. Kb1 b5 18. g5!? Nh5 19. Nd5! Qd8 20. b3! R4c5 (the only move) 21. Nf5! and
White is superior; Rhodes Matthew Paul, corr. 2000 81/192; 14... b5 15. h5 b4
16. Nd5 e6 17. Nb4!? Qa5 18. a3 Rb8 (B. Kopp Polster, BRD 1981) 19. Kb1! and
White is superior] 15. gh5 Nh5 16. Kb1 b5 17. Ndb5 Bb5 18. Nb5 Qb8 19. Nd4
Rfc8 20. Rc1 (Ernst T. Karlsson, Stockholm 2002) d5!? 21. ed5 Qe5 22. Rhd1
Qd5 23. Qf2 Qb7 with compensation (Iv. Markovic)
7
16. Nde2 Re8 17. Bh6 Bh8 18. e5 Ng4 19. fg4 Be5 20. Bf4 Qa5 21. Be5 Qe5 22.
Qh6 Qg7 23. g5 Bc6 24. Nd5 Qh6 25. Rh6 unclear; Ciornei L. Bravo, Bad
Zwesten 1999; 16. Bh6 Ne4 17. Qe3 Rc3 18. bc3 Nf6 19. Bg7 Kg7 20. Rh2 Kh8!?
21. Rdh1 Rg8 unclear; Zaragatski Kersten, Bad Zwesten 2000; 16. Nb3 Re8 17.
Bh6 Bh8 18. Bg5 Qc8! 19. Qh2 (Nunn Khalifman, Wijk aan Zee 1991 51/213)
Rc3!? 20. bc3 Be6 21. Rd3 Qc4 with compensation (Khalifman)
8
16... Re8 17. e5! Ng4 18. fg4 Be5 [18... Bg4 19. e6! f5 20. Nd5 Bd1 21. Qd1 and
White is winning; R. Polzin Czajka, Augsburg 1995] 19. Nf3 Bc3 20. bc3 Bg4 21.
Rdf1 Qa5 22. Bd4 and White is superior; B. Mela E. Scarella, Villa Martelli
2001; 16... Qc7 17. g5! Nh5 18. Nd5 Qd8 19. b3 Rc8 20. Ne2 and White is
superior; Anand Khalifman, Moscow (rapid) 1995
9
19. Qe3 and White is slightly better; Anand Tolnai, Hilversum 1993 59/253
10
13. g4 hg4 [13... Nc4 14. Bc4 Rc4 12... Nc4] 14. h5 Nh5 15. Bh6 e6 16. Rdg1
Qf6 17. Bg7 Qg7 18. fg4 Nf6 19. g5 [19. Rh4 Rc5 20. Rgh1 Neg4 21. Nf3 Rh5 22.
Qd6 Bc6 and Black is slightly better; J. Ballester Komljenovic, Mislata 1995]
Nh5 20. Rh3 [20. Nce2 Nc4 21. Qd3 (21. Qb4?! a5! 22. Qb7 Ne5! and Black is
superior; Ljubojevic Miles, Bruxelles 1986 41/237) b5 22. Rh4 (22. Rh5? gh5
23. Nf4 Rc5 24. e5 Re5 25. Nf3 Rf5 26. Nh5 (E. Berg Asauskas, Yerevan 2000)
Qb2 27. Kd1 Bc6 28. Nf6 Kg7 29. Nh5 Kh8 and Black is winning) Qe5 and Black
is slightly better (Iv. Markovic)] Nc4 21. Bc4 Rc4 22. Rd3 with compensation; Mic.
Yeo Hodgson, England 2001; 13. Kb1 Nc4 14. Bc4 Rc4 15. Nde2 b5 16. Bh6
[16. b3 Rc8 17. Bd4 a5 18. Rhe1 a4 19. Nd5 Nd5 20. Bg7 Kg7 21. ed5 ab3 22. ab3
Qc7 unclear; Blimke T. Kosintseva, Warszawa 2001] Qa5 17. Bg7 Kg7 18. Nf4
Rfc8 19. Ncd5 Qd2 20. Rd2 Nd5 21. Nd5 Kf8 22. Re1 Rb8 equal; Anand
Kasparov, New York (m/11) 1995 64/221
11
13... Nc4 14. Bc4 Rc4 15. Bg7 Kg7 16. Kb1 [16. g4 hg4 17. h5 Rh8 18. hg6 fg6
19. f4 e5 20. Nde2 Rh1 21. Rh1 Ne4 22. Ne4 Re4 23. fe5 Re2 24. Qh6 Kf7 equal;
Sax Dely, Magyarorszag (ch) 1971] Qa5 17. Nb3 Qc7 18. g4 Rc3! 19. bc3 hg4
20. h5 gf3 21. hg6 fg6 unclear; Aroshidze R. Loetscher, Baku 2002
12
15... Qc8 16. Kb1 a5 17. f4 Nfg4 18. Qg5 a4 19. fe5 ab3 20. cb3 Nf2 21. Kb2 de5
22. Qe5 Bg4 23. Nf3 Rd8! with compensation; 1/2 : 1/2 Nolan Kafka, Scotland
(ch) 2002; 15... Qc7 16. Kb1 Rc8 17. g4 Qc3 18. gh5 Nc4 19. Bc4 Rc4 20. Rd3
Qa5! 21. Nb3 Qh5 with compensation; Susnik Fercec, Bled 2000
13
16. g4 Qc3 17. Kb1 a5 18. gh5 a4 19. hg6 ab3 20. cb3 fg6 21. h5 g5! 22. Qg5 Kh7!
and Black is slightly better; M. Golubev Dautov, USSR 1985 39/268; 16. f4
Qc3 17. Kb1 Nc4 18. Bc4 Qc4 19. f5 Rc8 20. fg6 Be6 21. Ne6 Qc2 22. Ka1 Qc3
equal; Milu Feletar, Medulin 2002
14
16... Rc8 17. g4 Qc3 15... Qc7
15
17. Ne2 Qa3 18. Nf4 Nc4 19. Nd3 Rc8 20. Qc1 Qa5 (M. Beulen Romero,
Groningen 1988) 21. Nb4!? Be6 with compensation (Sa. Velickovic)
16
19. Qd2 Qd2 20. Rd2 a5 21. a3 Nf4 and Black is slightly better; Apicella J.-R.
Koch, France (ch) 1992; 19. Rhg1 Nc4 20. Qc1 (Doghri Conquest, Kobenhavn
1982) Nf4! 21. Bc4 bc4 22. Qf4 Rb8 23. Nb3 cb3 24. cb3 Rb3 equal (Iv. Markovic)
17
13... Re8!? 14. Kb1 [14. g4 hg4 15. f4 (15. h5 Nh5 16. Rh5 gh5 17. Qh2 Rc3! and
Black is winning; Milu Feletar, Vukovar 2001) Nc4 16. Qe2 (16. Qd3 Na5 17. f5
Nb3 18. ab3 gf5 19. ef5 Qa5 20. Rhg1 Qa1 21. Nb1 (Gofshtein Kutuzovic, Nova
Gorica 1997) Kh7! and Black is superior) Na5 17. f5 Nb3 18. ab3 Qa5 19. Kb1
(Vadla Kosaric, Zagreb 1997) Rc3! 20. bc3 Qc3 21. Rd3 Qc5 and Black is
slightly better; 14. f4 Nc4 15. Qd3 Na5 16. f5 Nb3 17. ab3 gf5 18. ef5 Qa5 19. Kb1
Nd5 20. Nd5 Qd5 unclear; Rogic Kutuzovic, Hrvatska (ch) 1996] Rc5 13... Rc5
18
14. Rhe1 b5 15. f4 Nc4 16. Bc4 Rc4 17. e5 b4 18. Qd3 Rd4 19. Qd4 bc3 20. ef6
ef6 21. Qd6 fg5 22. Qd7 Qa5 23. Re8 unclear; Rowley Kudrin, Palo Alto 1981;
14. f4 Nc4 15. Qd3 Ng4 16. Bc4 Nf2 17. Qe2 Nh1 18. Bb3 a5 19. f5 [19. a4 Qb6
20. f5 Bd4 21. Rd4 Rf5 22. ef5 Qd4 23. fg6 Qg1 24. Nd1 Bg4 25. gf7 (J. Egger I.
Steinhoff, Rancagua 1993) Kg7 unclear] a4 (Adams Tiviakov, Oakham 1990
49/253) 20. Na4 Ba4 21. Ba4 Ng3 22. Qd3 Bd4 23. Qg3 with compensation
(Tiviakov)
19
15. h5 Nh5 16. Nd5 Rd5 17. Bd5 Qb6 18. Bb3 Rc8 19. Bh6 Bf6 20. Bg5 equal; Yu
Ting A. Charbonneau, Oropesa del Mar 2000
20
16. Qd3 b5 17. f5 [17. Bf6 Bf6 18. e5 de5 19. Ndb5 Qc8 20. Qd7 ef4 with
compensation; And. Rodriguez Berrocal, Villa Martelli 1995] gf5 18. ef5 Qc8 19.
Rhf1 Ne5 20. Qe3 Rc3 21. Qc3 Qc3 22. bc3 Rc8 with compensation; Sax Ki.
Georgiev, Montreal 1986 42/(245)
21
16... b5 17. f5 Qa5 18. Bf6 Bf6 19. Qg4 Ne5 20. Qg3 Rc3!? 21. Qc3 Qc3 22. bc3
Kg7 with compensation; Hasangatin Mashinskaya, Budapest 1997
22
17. f5 Nb2 18. Kb2 Rc3 19. fg6 Rb3 20. ab3 fg6 and Black is slightly better;
Fogarasi Palkovi, Budapest 1996
23
18. Nd5 Rd5 19. ed5 b5 with compensation; Ivanchuk Topalov, Beograd 1995
24
19. hg6 Rc3 20. f5 Rb3 (the only move) 21. Qg4 fg6 (the only move) 22. Qg6 Bg7
23. Qh7 Kf7 equal; Y. Gonzalez Bruzon, Cuba 2002 85/203
25
14... Re8 15. Bh6! [15. g4 hg4 16. f4 Nc4 17. Qe2 Na5 18. e5 Nb3 19. Nb3 Rc3 20.
bc3 Nh5 21. Rd6 Qc8 22. Rd7 Qd7 23. Rd1 Qc8 24. Qd3 (Vadla Kutuzovic,
Zadar 1997) Kh7! and Black is superior, weak point Bg5; 15. Rhe1 Qa5 16. f4 Nc4
17. Bc4 Rc4 18. Nb3 Qa6 19. f5 gf5! 20. Bh6 Bh6 21. Qh6 (Furhoff O. von Bahr,
Stockholm 1998) Rc3! 22. bc3 fe4 23. Rd5! Nd5 24. Qg5 equal; Iv. Markovic] Qa5
[15... Nc4 16. Bc4 Rc4 12. Kb1] 16. Bg7 Kg7 17. Rhe1 Rec8 18. f4 Neg4 19.
Nf3! and White is slightly better (with initiative in centre) Ponomariov Tiviakov,
Moscow (m/3-rapid) 2001 83/(202)
26
15... a5 16. gh5 [16. Bf6 Bf6 17. gh5 a4 18. Bd5 e6 19. hg6 ed5 20. h5 Bg5 21. f4
Nc4 22. Qg2 Ne3 23. Qg5 Qg5 24. fg5 Nd1 25. gf7 Rf7 26. Rd1 Bg4 27. Rg1 Rf4!
unclear; Henao Kudrin, New York 1992] Nh5 [16... a4 17. h6 Bh8 18. h7 Nh7 19.
Bd5 b4 20. Nce2 Ng5 21. hg5 e6 22. Rh8! Kh8 23. Nf4 Kg7 24. Be6! and White is
superior; Efimenko Bromberger, Balatonlelle 2000] 17. Nd5 Re8 18. a3 Nc4 19.
Qg2 Kf8 20. Bc4 bc4 (D. Vasiesiu Marin, Romania 1994 62/(238)) 21. Qd2!?
and White is slightly better, with the idea Bh6, Rhg1 with attack (Da Costa Junior)
27
16. f4 Nc4 17. Bc4 Rc4 18. Bf6 Bf6 19. Nde2 Bc6! 20. h5 Re4!? 21. Ne4 Be4 and
Black is superior; An. Patrascu F. Matei, Bucuresti 2002 84/186
28
18. Qe3 Ng5! 19. Qg5 Ne4 20. Qe3 [20. Qg6? Nc3 21. Kc1 d5 22. Qd3 Bd4 0 : 1
Alexei Smirnov Ad. Rodionov, Serpukhov 2002] Nc5 and Black is slightly better
(Sa. Velickovic)
29
19. Qh2 Nc3 20. Kc1 Qa5 21. hg6 Na2 22. Ba2 Qa3 23. Kd2 Qc3 equal; Lanka
Smirin, USSR 1989 47/(268)
30
12... Nc4 13. Bc4 Rc4 14. g4 Qc7 [14... Qa5 15. g5 Nh5 16. Nd5 Qd8 17. Ne2
14... Qc7; 14... b5 15. b3 Rc8 16. Ndb5 Qa5 17. a4 a6 18. Nd5 Qd2 19. Ne7 Kh8
20. Rd2 Rce8 21. Nd6 Re7 22. Bc5 Re5 23. Ba3 Be6 24. Nb7 and White is
superior; Kolev Gu. Hernandez, Barcelona 2000] 15. g5 Nh5 16. Nd5 Qd8 17.
Ne2! [weak point a7; with the idea Ng3 weak point Nh5] e6!? 18. Ndc3 d5 19. ed5
Qa5 20. Ne4 Qd5 (Ki. Georgiev Malakhov, Saint-Vincent 2000) 21. Qc1! Qc6 22.
b3 and White is superior, weak point Rc4
31
13. Bh6 Bh8 14. h4 Nc4! 15. Bc4 [15. Qd3 Ne5 equal] Rc4 16. Nde2 b5 unclear;
Ro. Perez Y. Gonzalez, Cuba (ch) 2002 84/184
32
14. g4 hg4 15. h5 Nh5 16. Bh6 e6 17. Bg7 Kg7 18. Rdg1 Rh8 19. fg4 Nf6 20. g5
with compensation; Dj. Kontic Motylev, Niksic 2000
33
14... Bh8 15. g4 Qa5 16. gh5! Nh5 17. Rhg1 (E. Perelshteyn Kudrin, USA (ch)
2003) Kh7 18. Be3 Nc4 19. Bc4 Rc4 20. Nb3 and White is slightly better (E.
Perelshteyn); 14... Qa5 15. Bg7 Kg7 16. Rhe1 Rc5 17. f4 Neg4 18. Nf3 and White
is slightly better; Zontakh Ki. Georgiev, Jugoslavija 2002 85/204
34
17. g4 hg4 18. h5 Rh8 19. fg4 Bg4 20. hg6 fg6 21. Nd5 with compensation;
Sandipan Motylev, Kolkata 2002 85/(204)
35
19. Nb3 Re6 20. Qa5 and White is slightly better; Ponomariov Tiviakov, Moscow
(m/2) 2001 83/202
36
11. h4 b5! 12. Ndb5 [12. Nc6 Bc6 13. Bb3 a5 and Black is slightly better; A.
Carvalho Romero, Lisboa 1998] Ne5 13. Be2 Qa5 14. Nd4 Rfc8 with
compensation (Iv. Markovic)
37
11... Ne5 12. f4 [12. Bh6 b5 13. h4 Nc4 14. Qg5 and White is slightly better; Bakre
Cebalo, Pula 2002] Neg4 13. h3!? [13. Bg1 b5 14. h3 b4 15. hg4 bc3 16. Qc3 Rc8
17. Qg3 Bg4 18. Re1 Qa5 19. c3 (19. Be3 h5 20. Bd2 Qb6 21. Bc3 e5! and Black is
slightly better, with initiative; Ganguly Bu Xiangzhi, Goa 2002) e5 20. fe5 de5
21. Nf3 Rc3 22. bc3 Qc3 23. Kb1 Rc8 equal; Gallagher Ch. Ward, Great Britain
(ch) 2002] Ne3 14. Qe3 and White is slightly better; M. Russell Kafka, Goa 2002
38
12... Nb3!? 13. cb3 Bh6 14. Qh6 b5 15. e5 [15. Kb1!? unclear] de5 16. Nc6 Bc6!
17. Rd8 Rfd8 18. Rd1! b4 19. Rd8 Rd8 20. Nb1 (Ni. Djukic M. Golubev,
Bucuresti 2002) Nd5!? unclear (M. Golubev)
39
13... Bh6 14. Qh6 e5 15. Nde2 b4 16. Nd5 Nb3 17. ab3 Nd5 18. Rd5 Be6 19. h5
Rb7 20. Rd3 Qe7 21. f4 and White is slightly better, with attack; Felgaer Ch.
Ward, Port Erin 2002
40
18... Bb5 19. Qd2 and White is slightly better; Sax I. Bilek, Magyarorszag (ch)
1975 20/456; 18... Rb6 19. Kb1 h5 unclear (Iv. Markovic)

A Peek into Chess Informant 87

Viktor Korchnoi Annotates
Ivan Markovic
From the moment when the realm of chess first heard the name
Korchnoi, there has always been a constant air of expectation and
excitement among the die-hard aficionados such a compulsive will to
win every single game, and the overbearing pressure he places on his
opponents even in his seventies is unparalleled in chess history.
Fischer is probably the only chessplayer who could stand any
comparison with Korchnoi in terms of total dedication to the game, but
his painfully premature withdrawal from the chess scene probably
cemented the formidable veteran's No. 1 position in the all-time
slaughterhouse leaderboard. Moreover, he seems to show no fatigue
whatsoever, as he keeps on pushing himself to the limit game after
game in his ever-continuing pursuit (does anyone dare call chess a
hobby, after all for Korchnoi it is more of an irresistible drive for
quenching the insatiable thirst).
Such an outburst of energy would sear almost anyone, so we have
decided to play it safe and choose a game that is not sizzling hot (for
the bloodthirsty crowd that might prefer some live action, just a
reminder that Enghien-les-Bains tournament is under way, and Viktor
the Terrible is among the star-studded field). Reykjavik, the capital of
Iceland, and also the venue of the greatest World Championship match
ever, seemed like a perfect place for Korchnoi: surrounded with
dormant volcanoes and frigid weather he erupted in a firework of
sacrifices to immediately serve an ice-cold defeat to the home player
GM Gretarsson in less than 25 moves. Michael Adams got burned too,
but we shall focus our attention to the last round game against the rocksolid Etienne Bacrot.
The young Frenchman tested a new idea in the opening: 10... Bg6 is a
prophylactic move that removes the bishop from the square where it
could be exposed to attack by the e-pawn. However, it turned out that
the central pawn thrust was by far less dangerous than the white bishop
ruling the h1-a8 diagonal: combined with the knight on a5 it kept
undermining Black's queenside pawns, which resulted in a series of
semi-forced awkward moves (12... Nd5, 13... f5). Bacrot hoped to

cover the weaknesses by castling queenside, but fell prey to Korchnoi's
sudden switch to a direct attack aimed at the king. The ensuing
complications and the pressure exerted were too much for the French
grandmaster, who managed to assess the consequences of his best shot
(16... Nb6!) only later during the post-game analysis (thanks to his
contribution, we can appreciate the beauty of the lines arising after 18.
Be5!). The rest was Korchnoi's impressive display of a high level of
technique, which just put icing on the cake for those who think that
the entire game was nothing more than a cakewalk for the superexperienced giant, just take a look at the complexity of the seemingly
similar lines arising after 16...Nb6! 17. Rfc1 a6: often the most
difficult moves and decisions are left behind the scene, and this time
the path to victory (or perhaps we should spell it "Viktory"?) was full
of pitfalls, which Korchnoi anticipated and avoided with great skill.
Korchnoi 2642-Bacrot 2671
Reykjavik 2003
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c6 3.d4 d5 4.Qc2 dc4 5.Qc4 Bf5 6.g3 e6 7.Bg2 Nbd7
8.Nc3 Be7 9.Qb3 Qb6 [9...Nb6] 10.Nd2
10...Bg6 N [10...0-0 11.e4!?
(11.Nc4) 11...Bg6 (11...Qd4?
12.Ne2 Qd6 13.ef5 Nc5 14.Qc3
Nd3 15.Kf1 and White is
superior) 12.Nc4 Qb3 13.ab3
Bb4 A) 14.e5? Ne4 and Black is
slightly better; B) 14.0-0 Bc3
15.bc3 Be4 (15...Ne4 16.Ba3
with compensation) 16.Na5 with
compensation; C) 14.f3 c5
15.Be3 cd4 16.Bd4 Nc5 17.Bc5
Bc5 18.Ke2 equal] 11.Nc4
Qxb3 12.axb3 Nd5 13.0-0 and White is slightly better 13...f5!?
[13...N7b6
14.Nd5 Nd5 15.Bd5 cd5 16.Nb6

Rd8 17.Ra7 and White is
slightly better; 13...a6 14.e4 Nb4
15.Bf4 with the idea Nd6 and
White is slightly better] 14.Na5
0-0-0
15.Bd5! [15.Bf4!?] 15...ed5

16.Bf4 Nb8? [16...Nf6??
17.Nc6 bc6 18.Ra7 and White is
winning; 16...Nb6! (the only
move) 17.Rfc1 a6
A) 18.b4 Bb4 19.Nc6 bc6

20.Na2 Bf8 (the only move)
21.Rc6 Kb7 22.Rc7 Kb8 A1)
23.Rg7?! Ka8 (23...Bd6 24.Bd6
Rd6 25.Nb4 and White is
superior) 24.Rc7 a5 25.Nc3 Bb4
26.Nb5 Rd7 27.Rd7 (27.Rac1
Be8 and Black is winning)
27...Nd7 28.Nc7 Kb7 29.Nd5
Bf7 and Black is slightly better;
A2) 23.Nc3 Bd6 24.Rc6 Nc8
(the only move) 25.Bg5
(25.Rd6? Rd6 26.Ra6 Rhd8 27.Nb5 Kb7 28.Rd6 Nd6 29.Nd6 Kc6
and Black is winning) 25...Rd7 26.Rca6 Ra7 and Black is slightly
better; B) 18.Nb5!? ab5 19.Nc6 bc6 20.Rc6 Kd7 21.Ra7! Ke8
22.Rb6 Rf8! (22...Rd7? 23.Rb8 with the idea Bd8 24.Bg5 h6
25.Rd8 Rd8 26.Bd8; 22...b4 23.Rbb7 with compensation) 23.Rb5
Rf7 24.Raa5 Bf6! and Black is slightly better; C) 18.Be5! (Bacrot)
C1) 18...Rhg8?!
19.b4 Bb4 20.Nc6 bc6 21.Na2

Ba5 (21...Bf8 22.Rc6 Kb7
23.Rc7 Kb8 24.Rg7 and White
is winning) 22.Rc6 Kd7 23.Rd6
Ke7 24.Rd8 Rd8 25.b4 and
White is superior; C2) 18...Bf6
19.Bf6 gf6 20.e3 and White is
superior; C3) 18...Bg5! 19.f4
(19.e3 Nd7 20.Bg7 Rhg8
unclear) 19...Bf6 20.Na4
(20.Bf6 gf6 21.Na4 and White is
slightly better) 20...Na4 21.ba4
Be5 22.de5 and White is slightly better] 17.Rfc1 Bd6 [the only
move] 18.Nd5 Bf4 19.Nf4 Rd4 20.Nc4 and White is superior
20...Bf7 [20...a6? 21.Ne6 with

the idea Nb6 mate; 20...Na6
21.e3 Rdd8 22.Ng6 hg6 23.Ne5
Rd2 24.Nc6 and White is
superior; better is 20...b5 21.Ne6
Rd7 22.Ne5 Rd6 (22...Re7?
23.Nc6 Re6 24.Nd4 Kd7 25.Ra7
and White is superior) 23.Nc5
Re8 24.f4 Re7 and White is
superior] 21.Ra7 Bc4 22.Rc4
Rd1 [22...Rd2 23.Rb4 A)
23...b5 24.Ne6 and White is
winning; B) 23...Re8 24.Rbb7 g5 25.Nd3 Ree2 26.Nc5 Rd1
(26...Rf2 27.Rc7 Kd8 28.Ne6 Ke8 29.Re7 mate) 27.Kg2 Rdd2
28.Kh3 and White is winning; C) 23...g5 24.Ne6 Re8 25.Ng5 and
White is superior] 23.Kg2 Re8 24.Rc2 Kc7 [24...Na6 25.Ra8 and
White is superior; 24...Re5!?] 25.Ra5 g6 26.Nd5 Kc8 27.Ne3 Rd4
28.Ra4 Red8 29.Rd4 Rd4 30.Nc4 [with the idea Rd2] 30...Rd1
31.Rd2 Rb1
32.b4 b5 [32...Kc7 33.b5 cb5

34.Na3] 33.Ne5 Kc7 34.h4 Kb6
35.Kf3 Na6 36.Nd7 Kc7 37.Nf8
and White is winning Nb4
38.Nh7 Nd5 39.Nf8 Nb6
40.Ng6 Nc4 41.Rc2 Nb2
42.Ne5 b4 43.Rc6 Kb7 44.h5 1
: 0 [Korchnoi]


of
Volume 86
Milan Bjelajac
Er one could almost accuse Chess Informant of treading
water when it comes to publishing articles on the most
important novelties of the past volumes. Somehow the top
vote-getters are at least nine months old, thus making an
impression that it takes a full-time pregnancy to ripen into
the winner. This time we should rewind to October 2002,
and take a trip to Hyderabad for a World Cup preliminary
group showdown. Perhaps influenced by a series of
Blacks recent successes in the Sveshnikov Sicilian,
Kasimdzhanov decided to try it against Anand, who, on
the other hand, had to bounce back from his early loss to
Sasikiran. After 22 book moves, Black was faced with a
novel pawn push 23. d7!N, and it immediately became
clear that previously employed 23. Rad1 was a move too
slow, as it allowed fortification of the e-pawn by means of
23f5. Line 1 of the article surveys the older move, albeit
only to prove it inferior, as it seems perfectly clear that the
best that White can hope for is complete equality. On the
other hand, Anands choice (line 2) is a killer not only
did he demonstrate it so aptly in the featured game, but his
analysis seems to suggest that this chapter is closed for
good. Naturally, the impact of the novelty was such that
Kasimdzhanov strayed from the path as early as move 26,
but even the later tries were doomed to failure: all of them
followed the trail of various branches of Anands
analytical masterpiece. While Morovics choice of the
inferior line seems hardly understandable, Yagupov was
quite content to follow the recommendations move by
move, which earned him two technically won positions

against Gladyszev and Ataman.
Summing it up, there isnt really much to say: all the above examples instill
little hope of improvement for Black, and seem too straightforward to be
ignored. Recent tournament practice indicates Blacks complete shift to
10f5 (instead of 10Bg7), where the battle is still ahead. Therefore, the
theoretical impact of the novelty was immense, but its practical value
proved even bigger: Kasimdzhanov was probably at his finest in
Hyderabad, and the preliminary stage win was by all means a huge asset
for Anand, as the two met again in the finals. Knockout events hardly offer
any time for mending ones repertoire, which left the young Uzbek with no
other choice but to employ the Petroff Defence in the final match, and the
outcome is well-known Great job for Anand, and more proof of his
colossal capacity for producing major innovations.
Anand 2755 Kasimdzhanov 2653

Hyderabad 2002 86/137
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6
8. Na3 b5 9. Bf6 gf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Ne7 Qe7 13. 0-0 0-0
14. c4 f5 15. Qf3 bc4 16. Nc4 d5 17. ed5 e4 18. Qe3 Bb7 19. d6 Qf6 20.
Bc2 f4 21. Qh3 Rac8 22. b3 Qg5
23. d7! N [23. Rad1 85/134] 23Rc6
[the only move; 23...Rcd8 24. Nd6! Bc6
25. Ne4 Be4 26. Be4 and White is
winning; 23...Rc5 24. Rad1 Bd5 25.
Rd5 Qd5 26. Rd1 Bd4 (26...Qa8 27.
Be4 Qe4 28. d8Q and White is
winning) 27. Qg4 Kh8 28. Qf4 Rd8 29.
Nb6 Qe6 30. Be4 Qb6 31. Rd4 Qe6 32.
Bd3 Rd7 33. Rd7 Qd7 34. Qh6!;
23...Rc4 24. bc4 Ba1 25. Ra1 Rd8 26.
Ba4 and White is superior] 24. Be4
Rh6 25. Qf5 [25. Qf3 Be4 26. Qe4
Re6! (26...Ba1 27. Ra1 Re6 28. Qd4 and White is superior) 27. Qd3 Ba1
28. Ra1 Rd8 29. Rd1 Qb5! 30. h3 Re7 31. Qf3 Rdd7 32. Rd7 Qd7 33. Qf4
with compensation] 25Qh4 26. h3 Rf6? [26...Be4 27. Qe4 Re6 28. Qd5
Ba1 29. Ra1 and White is superior; 26...Rh5 27. Qg4 Be4 28. Qh4 Rh4 a)
29. Nd6 Bc6 (29...Ba1 30. Ne8 Bg7 31. d8Q Rh6 32. Re1 Bc6 33. Kh2 Re6
34. Re6 fe6 35. Qd6 Be8 36. Qe6 Bf7 37. Qa6 and White is superior) 30.
Nf5 Ba1 31. Ra1 Rh3! (31...Bd7 32. Nh4 and White is superior) 32. Ne7
Kg7 33. Nc6 Rd3 34. d8Q Rdd8 35. Nd8 Rd8 equal; b) 29. Rad1! Rd8 30.
Rfe1 f5 31. f3 Bc3 (31...Bc6 32. Rd6 and White is superior) 32. Re2 Bc6
b1) 33. Rd6 Rd7 34. Rc6 Rd1 35. Kh2 Be1 (35...Bd4 36. g3) 36. Re1 Re1
37. Ra6; b2) 33. Rc2 Bf6 (33...Bg7 34. Nd6 Rd7 35. Rc6 Rh6 36. Rd5! Bf8
37. Nf5 and White is winning) 34. Nb6 Bb7 35. Rc7 Bf3 36. gf3 and White
is superior] 27. d8Q! [27. Qc5 Be4 28. Qf8 Bf8 29. d8Q Rg6! (and Black
is winning) 30. Qh4 Rg2 31. Kh1 Rf2 32. Kg1 Rg2 33. Kh1 Ra2 34. Kg1
Bc5 35. Qf2 Bf2 36. Rf2 Ra1 37. Rf1 Rf1 38. Kf1 Bd3; 27. Qa5 Be4 28.
d8Q f3 (28...Rg6 29. Qh4 Rg2 30. Kh1 Rf2 31. Kg1 Rg2 32. Kh1 Rf2
equal) 29. Rfe1 (29. Qf6 Bf6 30. g3 Qh3 31. Ne3 Re8; 29. Rfd1 fg2 30. f3
Qh3 and Black is superior) fg2 30. f4 Qh3 31. Re4 Qh1 32. Kf2 Qa1 33.
Kg2 Rg6 34. Qdg5 and Black is slightly better; 27. Qe5 Re6 28. Qe6 fe6
29. Bb7 Ba1 30. Ra1] 27Rd8 28. Qa5 Be4 [28...Rd7 29. Bb7 Rb7 30.
Qd8 Bf8 31. Rae1 Qh6 32. Re8 and White is winning; 31. Ne5 and White
is winning] 29. Qd8 Bf8 30. f3 Bf5 [31. Nd6 Bh3 32. Ne4 and White is
winning] 1 : 0 [Anand]
B 33
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6

8. Na3 b5 9. Bf6 gf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Ne7 Qe7 13. c4 f5 14.
0-0 0-0 15. Qf3 bc4 16. Nc4 d5 17. ed5 e4 18. Qe3 Bb7 19. d6 Qf6 20.
Bc2 f4 21. Qh3 Rac8 22. b3 Qg5
23
24
1 Rad1 d71
25
26
Nd62
b44
27
28
29
30
31
Bb36 fe3
Rf5
Nf5
Re1
Rf5
e2
Bg28 =
f5
Rcd8 Ba83 Kh85
e37
d7
Be4 Qf510
Qg4 Qh4 Rad112 Rfe1
Rc69
Rh6
Qh4
h3
Rh511
fe3
Be4 Rh4
Rd8
f3
Bc314
13
f5
and White
is superior
1
24. b4?! Kh8 25. Bb3 Bc6! [with the idea Bb5; 25...e3? 26. fe3 fe3 27.
Ne3? Rc3 and Black is superior; 27. d7 and White is superior]
a) 26. d7 Rcd8
a1) 27. Rd6?! Bd7 28. Rfd1 Qe7! 29. Ra6 [29. Nb6? Be6! and Black is
superior, I. Gurevich - Illescas Cordoba, Biel (izt) 1993 58/206] Bb5 30.
Rad6 Rc8! 31. Nb6 Rc3 32. Qh5 e3 and Black is slightly better;
a2) 27. Nd6! Qg6! 28. Ne8 Bd7 [28...Rd7!?] 29. Ng7 Qg7 unclear;
b) 26. Rfe1 Bb5 with compensation, Illescas Cordoba
2
25. Rd6 Rf7 26. Rfd1 Bf8 [26...Bf6? 27. b4 Kh8 28. Ba4 Rg7 29. Na5 Ba8
30. Bc6 and White is superior, Stillger - Blaskowski, Germany 1996] 27.
Ne5 [ 27. Na5 Bd6 28. Nb7 Rdd7 29. Nd6 Qd8 and Black is superior,
Shirov] Re7 and Black is superior, W. Hendriks - O. Lemmers, Sas van
Gent 1994
3
Nataf, A. Sokolov;
a) 25...Bc6 26. f3! [26. b4 Kh8 27. a4
Rd7 28. b5 ab5 29. ab5 Ba8 unclear,
Cheparinov - San Emeterio Cabanes,
Andorra 2002] 26...ef3 [26...e3? 27.
Bf5 and White is winning, Shirov Arizmendi Martinez, Spain 2001
83/124] 27. Bf5 Qg2 [27...Rf5!? 28.
Nf5 Rd7 29. g3! and White is slightly
better] 28. Qg2 fg2 29. Rf4
a1) 29...Be5 30. Rc4! Bd7 [30...Bf3 31.
Rd2 Bd6 32. Be6 Kg7 33. Rd6 Rf6 34.
Rc8 Bb7 35. Rd1 and White is superior] 31. Nb7 Rf5 32. Nd8 Rf1 33. Rf1
gf1Q 34. Kf1 Bb5 35. h3 Bc4 36. bc4 and White is superior;
a2) 29...Kh8 30. Rc4 Bd7 31. Nb7 Rb8 32. Rd7 Rf5 33. Nd6 Rf1 34. Kg2
Rbf8 35. Ne4 and White is slightly better;

b) 25...Rd7 26. Be4 Rd6 27. Bb7 and White is slightly better, Shirov
4
26. f3 Rd7 27. fe4 f3
a) 28. Nf5? Rd1 29. Rd1 [29. Bd1 fg2!
and Black is winning, Morovic
Fernandez - Nataf, La Habana 2002
85/134] Rf5! 30. Rd8 [the only move;
30. ef5 Qe3 and Black is winning] Rf8!
[30...Qd8?! 31. Qf5 Qd4 32. Kf1 Qa1
33. Kf2 Bd4 34. Kg3 Be5 35. Kh3 fg2
unclear] 31. Rf8 Bf8 32. Qf3 Qc5 33.
Qf2 Be4!! and Black is superior;
b) 28. Qf3 Rd6! 29. Rd6 fe4! 30. Qf8
Bf8 31. Ra6 Bd5 and Black is superior;
c) 28. Rf3 Rd6!! 29. Rd6 Qc1 30. Rf1 Qc2 and Black is slightly better,
Nataf;
d) 28. Qg3 Qe3 29. Qf2 Qf2 30. Kf2 fg2 31. Kg2 Rfd8 32. Nc4 Be4 33.
Be4 Rd1 34. Rf5 Re1 1/2 : 1/2 Shirov - Topalov, Dortmund 2002
85/(134)
5
26...Rd7 27. Bb3 Kh8 28. Ne4! fe4 29. Rd7 and White is winning,
Cifuentes Parada
6
27. Ba4 f3! with initiative, Nataf
7
27...Qg6 28. Ne8 Be5 29. Rd6! Bd6 30. Qc3 Rf6 31. Nd6 and White is
superior, Cifuentes Parada
8
31...Bg2 32. Qg2 Qf5 33. Qe2 [33. Kh1
Rd7 34. Re2 Qb1 35. Qg1 Qg1 36. Kg1
Bc3 37. a3 Rd2 equal] Qd7 34. Qe4
Qd4 35. Kg2 Rb8 equal, Kulaots Yakovich, Bergen 2002 85/(134);
31...Rf8!? Cifuentes Parada
9
23...Rcd8 24. Nd6! Bc6 25. Ne4 Be4
26. Be4 and White is winning;
23...Rc5 24. Rad1 Bd5 25. Rd5 Qd5 26. Rd1 Bd4 [26...Qa8 27. Be4 Qe4
28. d8Q and White is winning] 27. Qg4 Kh8 28. Qf4 Rd8 29. Nb6 Qe6 30.
Be4 Qb6 31. Rd4 Qe6 32. Bd3 Rd7 33. Rd7 Qd7 34. Qh6! and White is
winning;
23...Rc4 24. bc4 Ba1 25. Ra1 Rd8 26. Ba4 and White is superior, Anand
10
25. Qf3 Be4 26. Qe4 Re6! [26...Ba1 27. Ra1 Re6 28. Qd4 and White is
superior] 27. Qd3 Ba1 28. Ra1 Rd8 29. Rd1 Qb5! 30. h3 Re7 31. Qf3 Rdd7
32. Rd7 Qd7 33. Qf4 with compensation, Anand
11
26...Rf6?
a) 27. Qc5 Be4 28. Qf8 Bf8 29. d8Q
Rg6! and Black is winning, with the
idea 30. Qh4 Rg2 31. Kh1 Rf2 32. Kg1
Rg2 33. Kh1 Ra2 34. Kg1 Bc5 35. Qf2
Bf2 36. Rf2 Ra1 37. Rf1 Rf1 38. Kf1
Bd3;
b) 27. Qa5 Be4 28. d8Q f3 [28...Rg6
29. Qh4 Rg2 30. Kh1 Rf2 31. Kg1 Rg2
32. Kh1 Rf2 equal] 29. Rfe1 [29. Qf6
Bf6 30. g3 Qh3 31. Ne3 Re8; 29. Rfd1
fg2 30. f3 Qh3 and Black is superior]
fg2 30. f4 Qh3 31. Re4 Qh1 32. Kf2
Qa1 33. Kg2 Rg6 34. Qdg5 and Black is slightly better;
c) 27. Qe5 Re6 28. Qe6 fe6 29. Bb7 Ba1 30. Ra1 with compensation;
d) 27. d8Q! Rd8 28. Qa5 Be4 [28...Rd7 29. Bb7 Rb7 30. Qd8 Bf8 31. Rae1
Qh6 32. Re8 and White is winning; 31. Ne5 and White is winning] 29. Qd8
Bf8 30. f3 Bf5 (1 : 0 Anand - Kasimdzhanov, Hyderabad 2002 86/137)
31. Nd6 Bh3 32. Ne4 and White is winning;
26...Be4 27. Qe4 Re6 28. Qd5 Ba1 29. Ra1 and White is superior, Anand
12
29. Nd6
a) 29...Ba1 30. Ne8 Bg7 31. Re1 [31. d8Q Rh6 32. Re1 Bc6 31. Re1]
Bc6 32. d8Q Rh6 33. Kh2 f3 [33...Re6 34. Re6 fe6 35. Qd6 Be8 36. Qe6
Bf7 37. Qa6 and White is superior] 34. gf3 Rg6 35. Re3 and White is
slightly better, E. Hermansson - Pe. Horvath, Budapest 2003;
b) 29...Bc6 30. Nf5 Ba1 31. Ra1 Rh3! [31...Bd7 32. Nh4 and White is
superior, Anand] 32. Ne7 Kg7 33. Nc6 Rd3 34. d8Q Rdd8 35. Nd8 Rd8
equal, Morovic Fernandez - Leitao, La Habana 2003
13
30...Bc6 31. Na5 Bb5 32. a4
a) 32...Rd7?! 33. ab5 Rd1 34. Rd1 ab5 35. Rd5 [35. Rd8?! Bf8 36. Rd5 b4
37. Rg5 Kh8 38. Nc6 f6 39. Rb5 f3 40. Rf5 and White is slightly better,
Yagupov - Ataman, Istanbul 2003] f3 36. Rb5 Bc3 37. Nc6 and White is
superior;
b) 32...Bd7 33. Re7 and White is superior
14
31...Bc6 32. Rd6 and White is superior;
31...Bc3 32. Re2 Bc6
a) 33. Rd6 Rd7 34. Rc6 Rd1 35. Kh2
Be1 [35...Bd4 36. g3 and White is
winning] 36. Re1 Re1 37. Ra6 and
White is superior;
b) 33. Rc2
b1) 33...Bg7 34. Nd6 Rd7 35. Rc6 Rh6
36. Rd5! [36. Rd2 Bf8 37. Nf5 Rc6 38.
Rd7 and White is winning, Yagupov Gladyszev, Tula 2003] Bf8 37. Nf5 and
White is winning;
b2) 33...Bf6 34. Nb6 Bb7 35. Rc7 Bf3
36. gf3 and White is superior, Anand
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The Best Ten Games

of
Volume 86
Ivan Markovic
This time around Chess Informants Editorial Board has decided to treat
ChessCafes readership to an exclusive collection of no less than all the top
ten vote-getters from the latest best game poll. Our opinion is that the
nominated games were of an extraordinary quality, and that it would be a
shame to exclude any of the games which made it to the top ten.
The undisputed winner of the preceding volume was the

game Sutovsky Smirin, Israel (ch) 2002 86/119.
Sutovskys consummate attacking skills comprising both
calculation and intuition are an extraordinary gift, which he
demonstrated so aptly in the featured game two out-ofthe-blue minor piece sacrifices were soon followed by the
White rooks decisive roar. Anands defensive masterpiece
from Wijk aan Zee 2003 performed against Shirov, one of
the most imaginative players ever, took second place, and
his convincing win against Kasimdzhanov from Hyderabad
2003 preliminary group (voted the best theoretical novelty
of the volume) came ninth overall (both games have
already been presented in previous Informant @ ChessCafe
columns). Another great game from Wijk aan Zee 2003
followed: Kramnik Bareev was a brutal strangulation in
great champions trademark fashion. Peter Acs impressive
win in Hoogeveens double round robin quadruple has
earned him two places in the top ten: curiously enough,
both wins came with Black pieces (vs. Van Wely No. 4,
and vs. Khalifman No. 10).
To make a long story short, Ill just mention some of my
personal favorites (Aleksandrov Adams, No. 5,
Riazantsev Nevostrujev, No. 7, Zhang Zhong De

Vreugt, No. 8, and for the owners of the book, my special
pick: Van Oosterom Bang, No. 13) and refer the readers
to the jury list below for further details. I am generally
reluctant when it comes to statistics, so Ill just mention the
obvious: the No. 1 game is the only one with votes from all
the members of the Informants expert jury; all members of
the jury except GM Aleksandar Matanovic (Chess
Informants founder) gave their 10-point votes to the
games from top 3, and their 9-point votes to the games
from top 6 (some might call it the in-house spicing).
Viktor Korchnoi was the least successful of the jury
members (only five Top 10 picks), but isnt that path less
travelled exactly what made him such a legend?! Last, but
certainly not least, Chess Informant welcomes former
World Ladies Chess Champion Xie Jun to the jury.
Sutovsky 2657 Smirin 2683 Israel (ch) 2002 86/119

1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 Nf3 e5 4 Bc4 d6 5 d3 Be7 6 0-0 Nf6 7 Ng5 0-0 8 f4
ef4 9 Bf4 h6 10 Nf3 Be6 11 Nd5 Bd5 12 ed5 Na5 13 Nh4! b5 (a novelty)
[13...Nd5 14 Bd5 Bh4 15 Qh5 Bf6 16 Rae1 with the idea 16Bb2 17 Bh6 gh6
18 Qg6 Bg7 19 Rf7 Rf7 20 Bf7; 13g5 14 Nf5 gf4 a) 15 Re1 Re8 16 Bb5
Bf8 17 Be8 Ne8 and Black is slightly better; b) 15 Qe1 Nc4 16 dc4 (16 Ne7
Kh7 17 dc4 Re8) Re8 17 Nh6 Kg7 18 Nf5 Kg6 19 Qh4 (19 Rf4 Nh5 20 Rg4
Bg5 21 Qh4 Re4! 22 Rf1 Rf4!) Nh5 20 Qg4 Bg5 equal; with the idea Nh4f5; c) 15 Nh6! Kh7 (15Kh8 16 Rf4) 16 Nf5 Rg8 c1) 17 Qe1 Rg5! 18 Ne7
(18 Rf4 Nh5 with the idea 19 Ne7 Nf4 20 Qh4 Rh5 21 Qf6 Qf8; 18 Qe7 Rf5
19 Qf7 Kh6 20 Rf3 Qf8 21 Rh3 Kg5) Re5 19 Qh4 Kg7 20 Rf4 Qe7 21 Raf1
Nh5 22 Qg4 Qg5 23 Rf7 Kh6 (unclear) 24 Qd7 Qe3 25 R1f2 (25 Kh1??
Ng3!) Qe1 26 Rf1 Qe3 equal; c2) 17 Rf4 Rg6 18 Qf3 Nc4 19 dc4 Bf8 20
Rf1 (20 Re1) Bg7 21 Qh3 Kg8 22 Qh4; 21 Re1!; 13Nc4 77/132] 14 Nf5!!
[14 Bb5 Nd5 15 Nf5 Nf4 16 Rf4 (16 Ne7 Qe7 17 Rf4 Qe3 18 Rf2 Rfb8! 19
a4 a6) Bg5 17 Rf1 g6 18 Ng3 Qb6 19 c4 a6 20 Bd7 Qb2 21 Ne4 Qd4 22
Kh1 Nc4!? (22...Rad8) 23 Ng5 Ne3 24 Nf3 Qb2! 25 Qd2 Qd2 26 Nd2 Nf1
27 Rf1 Rab8 and Black is superior] bc4 15 Bh6! gh6 [15...Ne8 a) 16 Qg4
Bf6 17 Rae1 a1) 17 cd3 18 Re8 Qe8 (18 Re8 19 Bg7 and White is winning;
with the idea 19 Re4 20 Qe4 Bg7 21 Ne7 Kf8 22 Rf7! Kf7 23 Qe6 Kf8 24
Ng6 mate) 19 Bg7 Qe2 20 Nh6 Kh7 21 Qf5 Kg7 22 Qf6 Kh7 23 Nf5 Qe5
24 Qh4 Kg8 25 Rf3 and White is winning; a2) 17...g6! 18 Bf8 Kf8 19 Ne3
cd3 20 cd3 Rb8 and Black is slightly better; b) 16 Qe1! b1) 16 Bh4 17 Nh4
gh6 18 Ng6! cd3 (18...fg6 19 Qe6 Kg7 20 Rf8 Kf8 21 Rf1) 19 Ne7 Kh8 20
Qe3 Kh7 21 Qe4 Kh8 22 Rf5!! dc2 (22...d2 23 Rh5 Kg7 24 Nf5) 23 Rh5
Kg7 24 Qg4 Kh7 25 Qg5 and White is winning; b2) 16...Bf6
17 Bd2!! Nb7 18 Bc3! (with the idea
Bf6, Ne7) b21) 18...Rb8!? 19 Qg3 (19
Bf6 Nf6 20 Ne7 Qe7! 21 Qe7 Rfe8 22
Qc7 Rec8) Bg5 (19Bc3 20 bc3 g6 21
Rae1) 20 Rae1 (20 h4 Bf6!) cd3 (20...g6
21 Qh3) 21 h4! g6 22 hg5 gf5 23 Bf6
and White is winning; b22) 18...Bg5 19
h4! Bf6 20 Bf6 Nf6 21 Ne7 Kh7 22 Rf6!
gf6 23 Qe2 and White is winning] 16
Nh6 Kh7 [16...Kh8 17 Rf6! Bf6 18 Qh5
a) 18...Kg7 19 Nf5 Kg8 20 Rf1! Re8
(20...Qe8 21 Qg4 Kh7 22 Qh3 Kg8 23
Qg3! Kh7 24 Rf4 Bg5 25 Qg5 Qe1 26 Rf1 Qe5 27 Qh4! Kg8 28 Rf3) 21
Rf4 Re1 (21...Bg5 22 Rg4 Qf6 23 Rg5 Kf8 24 Qh4) 22 Kf2 Re5 23 Rg4
Kf8 24 Qh6 Bg7! 25 Qg7 Ke8 26 Qg8 Kd7 27 Qf7 Re7 28 Ne7 Qe7 29
Rg7! Qf7 30 Rf7 Kc8 (30...Ke8 31 Rh7 Rc8 32 Ra7) 31 Rf8 Kb7 32 Ra8
Ka8 33 g4 and White is winning; b) 18...Bd4 19 Kh1 Qe8 20 Nf5 Kg8 21
Qg4 Kh7 22 Qh4 Kg8 23 Re1 (23 Rf1 Qe2 only move 24 Re1 Qd2 25 Qg4
Kh7 26 Rd1 Qd1 27 Qd1 Rae8 28 Nd6 Rd8 29 Qh5 Kg8 30 Qg4 Kh7 31
Qh3 Kg8 32 Qg3 Kh7 33 c3 Bg7 34 dc4 and White is superior) cd3
(23...Qe1 24 Qe1 Rae8 25 Qg3 Kh7 26 Nd6) 24 cd3 Qe1 (24...Bb2 25 Ne7
Qe7 26 Qe7 Be5 27 Qc7 Bc3 28 Re4 Rae8 29 Rg4 Kh7 30 g3) 25 Qe1 Nb7
26 Qg3 Kh7 27 Qh4 Kg6 28 Qg4 Kf6 29 h4! Rg8 30 Qf3! Kg6 31 Qf4 and
White is winning]
17 Nf5!! [17 Rf6? Bf6 18 Qh5 Rh8! 19
Rf1 Qe8! and Black is winning] cd3?!
[17...Re8 18 Rf3 Bf8 (18...Kg8 19 Rh3)
19 Rh3 Kg8 20 Qf3 Bg7 21 Qg3 Ng4 22
Qg4 Qf6 23 Rg3 and White is winning;
17...Rg8 18 Qe1! Bf8 (18...Nd5 19 Qe4
Rg6 20 Qd5 Re6 21 Ne7 Re7 22 Rf6!
Kg7 23 Raf1 Qg8 24 Qh5 Kf8 25 Rg6)
19 Qh4 Kg6 20 Rae1! a) 20...Nh7 21
Qe4 Nf6 22 Qf4 Nh7 (22...Nd5 23 Nh4)
23 Ne7 Be7 24 Qf7 Kh6 25 Re7 Rg2 26
Kg2 Qg8 27 Kh1 Qf7 28 Rff7 Ng5 29
Rf6 Kh5 30 Rg7 and White is winning; b) 20...Nd5 21 Re7!! Qe7 22 Ne7
Be7 23 Qe4 Kg7 24 Qd5 Bf6 (24Raf8 25 Rf3 f5 26 dc4 ) 25 Qd6 Bd4 26
Kh1 cd3 27 c3 and White is winning] 18 Qd3 [18 Rf3 and White is
winning] Kh8 19 Rae1 Qb6 [19...Re8 20 Qc3] 20 Qh3 [20 Qg3 Rg8 21
Qh3 Nh7 22 Re7 and White is winning] Nh7 21 Re7 c4 22 Kh1 Qb2 23
Re4! Rg8 [23...Qf6 24 Rh4 Qg6 25 Rg4! (25 Qc3 f6 26 Qa5 Rae8) Qf6
(25...Rae8 26 Rg6 fg6 27 Qc3) 26 Rg7 Qg7 27 Ng7 Kg7 28 Qc3 and White
is winning] 24 Qh7! [24...Kh7 25 Rh4 Kg6 26 Rh6 Kg5 27 h4 Kg4 28 Ne3
Kg3 29 Rf3 mate] 1 : 0 [Sutovsky]
Shirov 2723 Anand 2753 Wijk aan Zee 2003 86/87
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 Bf5 4 Nc3 e6 5 g4 Bg6 6 Nge2 c5 7 Be3 Nc6 8 dc5
Ne5 9 Nf4 Ne7 10 Qe2 [10 Bb5 83/86] N7c6 11 0-0-0 Be7 (a novelty)
[11Qa5 a) 12 Bd4 Nd7! (12...Nd4 13 Rd4 Nc6 14 Ne6! fe6 15 Qe6 Be7 16
Bb5 and White is superior with attack) 13 Ne6 fe6 14 Qe6 Be7 15 Bg7
unclear P. Lukacs; b) 12 Nfd5 ed5 13 Rd5 (13 f4 0-0-0) f6 14 f4 Nd7; 12...00-0! and Black is slightly better] 12 Nfd5?! [12 h4 Qa5 13 h5 Be4 14 Ne4
de4 15 Kb1 Bc5 16 Bc5 Qc5 17 Bg2] ed5 13 f4? [13 Rd5 Qc8 14 h3 f6 15
f4 Nd7 16 Bg2 0-0 and Black is slightly better]
13d4! 14 h4! [14 fe5? Bg5; 14 Bd4?
Nd3!; 14 Bf2 Qa5! (14...Nd3 15 cd3 dc3
16 f5 Qd5 17 Rg1 Qa2 18 bc3 and Black
is superior) 15 Nd5 (15 Bd4 Nd3! 16
Rd3 Bd3 17 Qd3 Rd8 and Black is
winning) Qa2 16 Ne7 Ke7! 17 fe5 (17
Bd4 Rhd8 and Black is winning) Qa1 18
Kd2 Qb2 and Black is winning] Nd3!
[14...Qa5 15 Bd4 (15 fe5 dc3) Nd3 16
cd3 Nd4 17 Qe5 (17 Qe1 f5) 0-0-0
(17...Nc6 18 Qg7 0-0-0 19 f5) 18 f5 and
Black is slightly better; 14...Bd3 15 cd3
Nd7 16 Ne4 de3 17 d4 with compensation; 14...d3 15 cd3 Nd3 16 Rd3 Bd3
17 Qd3 Qd3 18 Bd3 0-0 with compensation] 15 cd3 h5! [15...f5 16 Bd2!
dc3 17 Bc3 Bf7 (17...Qd5 18 Bg2 Qc5 19 d4) 18 g5 (18 d4 Bd5) 0-0 19 d4
Bd5 20 Bg2 and Black is superior] 16 f5 [16 Bd2 dc3 17 Bc3 hg4] Bh7 17
Bd2 dc3 18 Bc3 0-0 19 d4 a5! (and Black is winning) [19Re8 20 d5 Bg5 21
hg5 Re2 22 Be2 Qg5 23 Bd2 Qe7 24 dc6 bc6 25 Rde1 Qc5 26 Bc3 hg4 27
Bg4 and Black is slightly better] 20 a3 [20 Bg2 Re8 21 Be4 Bf6] Re8 21
Qc4 [21 d5 Nb4! 22 Qc4 (22 ab4 ab4 23 Bb4 Bc5! 24 Qb5 Bb4 25 Qb4 Ra1
26 Kc2 Rd1 27 Kd1 Qd5) b5! 23 Qb3 Bc5 24 ab4 ab4; 21 Qf3 hg4!
(21...Bh4 22 Kb1 Qg5 23 Qh3) 22 Qg4 Bf6] Bh4 22 Bd3 hg4 23 Kb1 Qg5
24 Ka1 Rad8 [24...g3 25 d5 g2 26 Qh4 (26 dc6 gh1Q 27 Rh1 bc6 28 Qh4
Qh4 29 Rh4 and Black is superior) gh1Q 27 Qh1 Ne5 28 Rg1 and Black is
slightly better] 25 Bb1 [25 Qb5 g3; 25 d5 Ne5; 25 Bc2 Ne7 (25...g3? 26 d5
g2 27 Qh4 gh1Q? 28 Qg5! and White is superior) 26 Ba5 (26 Bb3 Nd5 27
Ba5 Bf5 28 Bd8 Rd8) Bf5] Ne7 26 Ba5 Bf5 27 Bd8 Rd8 28 Rhf1 g6 29
Qb3 Be6 30 Qb7 Qd5 31 Qd5 [31 Qb4 Nf5] Nd5 32 Rh1 Bf2 33 c6 Rc8
34 Rc1 g3 35 Be4 Nf6 36 Bg2 Bd5 0 : 1 [Anand]
Kramnik 2809 Bareev 2729 Wijk aan Zee 2003 86/100
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 de4 4 Ne4 Bf5 5 Ng3 Bg6 6 h4 h6 7 Nf3 Nd7 8 h5
Bh7 9 Bd3 Bd3 10 Qd3 Ngf6 11 Bf4 e6 12 0-0-0 Be7 13 Ne4 Ne4 14 Qe4
Nf6 15 Qd3 [15 Qe2 Qd5 16 Kb1!? (16 c4 Qe4 17 Qe4 15 Qd3) Nh5 17
Bc1] Qd5 16 c4 [16 Kb1!? Nh5 17 Bc1 Nf6] Qe4 17 Qe4 Ne4 18 Be3 (and
White is slightly better) Nd6 [18...b5 19 d5 with the initiative; 180-0-0 19
Ne5 Rhf8 20 d5; 20 g4 and White is slightly better; 18...Nf6!? 19 Ne5 Nd7
(19...Bd6) ; 180-0 49/192] 19 b3 Bf6 [19...Nf5 20 Bf4 with the idea g4;
19...b5!? 20 Ne5!? (20 c5 Nf5; 20...Ne4 and White is slightly better; 20
d5!?) bc4 21 bc4 Bf6 22 c5 Be5 23 de5 Nf5 and White is slightly better] 20
g4 (a novelty) [20 Rhe1; 20 Kc2 Nf5 21 Bc1 0-0-0 22 Bb2 and White is
slightly better] b5 21 Nd2 [21 c5 Nc8 and White is slightly better] Kd7?!
[21...0-0-0 22 Kc2 Rd7 and White is slightly better] 22 Kc2 Bd8?!
[22...Rhd8 23 Rhg1!? with the idea 23...Ke8 24 c5 Nc8 25 Ne4 Be7 26 g5
hg5 27 Bg5 Bg5 28 Rg5 with the initiative] 23 Nf3 (and White is superior)
Bf6 [23...f6 24 Ne5!] 24 Ne5 Kc7 25 c5 [25 Bf4!? Be5 (25...Kb7!?) 26 de5
Nc8] Be5 26 de5 Nc8 27 Rh3! Ne7 28 Rf3 Rhf8 29 Rd6! a5 [29...Nc8? 30
Rd4 Ne7 31 Rdf4; 29...Nd5 30 Bd2 a5 31 g5 and White is superior] 30 g5
[30 a4!? b4 (30...ba4) 31 g5] hg5 [30...Nf5 31 gh6 gh6 32 Rf5 ef5 33 Rh6
Rae8 (33...Rh8 34 Rf6) 34 Rf6 Re6 35 Rf5 and White is superior] 31 Bg5
Nf5 [31...Nd5 32 h6 and White is winning] 32 Rd1 a4 (time) 33 b4! [33
Rfd3 ab3 34 Kb3 Ra4 and White is superior] Kc8 [33...Rh8 34 Rfd3 Raf8
35 Rd7 Kb8 (35...Kc8 36 Ra7 Kb8 37 Rdd7 Rh5 38 Rdb7 Kc8 39 Rb6) 36
Bd8! Rh5 37 Bc7 Kc8 38 Bb6 Rh4 39 Rc7 Kb8 40 Rdd7 and White is
winning] 34 Rfd3 Ra7 35 Rd8 Rd8 36 Rd8 Kb7 37 Kc3 [37 Kd3 Ka6 38
Ke4 Rc7 39 Kf4 Kb7] Ka6 38 Kd3 [38 Rb8 Rc7 39 Bd8? Rd7] Rc7 39 Ke4
Kb7 40 Rd1 Kc8 [40...Rc8 41 Bd8 and White is winning] 41 Rd8 Kb7 42
Kf4 Rc8 43 Rd7 Rc7 44 Rd1 Kc8 [44...Rc8 45 Bd8 and White is winning]
45 Rd8 Kb7
46 Bf6!! g6 [46...gf6 47 ef6 Rc8

(47...Nh4 48 Kg4 Nf5 49 Kg5 and White
is winning) 48 Rc8 Kc8 49 Kg5 a)
49...Nd4 50 h6 Nf3 51 Kh5 Ne5 52 h7
Ng6 53 Kh6 Kd7 54 Kg7 (and White is
winning) e5 55 h8Q Nh8 56 Kh8 Ke6 57
Kg7 e4 (57a3 58 f3) 58 a3; b) 49Kd7 b1)
50 a3!? Nd4 (50...Ke8 51 h6 Nh6 52
Kh6 and White is winning) 51 h6 Nf3 52
Kh5 Ne5 53 h7 Ng6 54 Kh6 e5 55 Kg7
Ke6 (55...e4 56 h8Q and White is
winning) 56 f3! Kf5 57 Kf7 Nh8 58
Ke7! (58 Kg7? Ke6! (equal) 59 Kh8 Kf7 60 f4 e4 61 f5 Kf8 62 f7 e3 63 f6)
Ng6 59 Kd6 Kf6 60 Kc6 and White is winning; b2) 50 h6 Nh6 51 Kh6 e5
52 Kh7! and White is winning] 47 hg6 fg6 48 Kg5 [48Rc8 49 Rd7 Rc7 50
Rd3 and White is winning] 1 : 0 [Kramnik]
Van Wely 2681 P Acs 2591 Hoogeveen 2002 86/502
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 cd5 ed5 7 Nge2 Re8 8 0-0
Bd6 9 a3?! Ng4! 10 h3? (a novelty) [10 g3 c6; 10 Nf4! a) 10...g5 11 Nfd5!
(11 Be2 Nh2!? 12 Kh2 gf4 13 ef4 c6!? unclear) Bh2 12 Kh1 Qd6 (12...Bd6
13 e4 with the initiative; 12...Bg3 13 fg3 Qd6 14 Kg1 Qh6 15 Qg4 and
White is winning) 13 Be2! Bg1 14 Nf6 Nf6 (14...Qf6? 15 Kg1 and White is
superior) 15 Kg1 and White is slightly better; b) 10...c6! 11 h3 Bf4 12 ef4
Nh6 unclear] Nh2! 11 Re1 Nf3! [11...Bh3? 12 gh3 (12 e4!?) Nf3 13 Kg2
Ne1 14 Qe1 and White is superior] 12 gf3 Qg5 13 Kh1 Qh4! [13...Bh3? 14
Rg1 Qh4 15 Rg3 Re6 16 Kg1 and White is superior] 14 Nf4? [14 Kg1 Bh3!
(14...Qh3? 15 Nf4) 15 f4 Bg4 (with the idea Bf3) a) 16 Qa4 Re6!
(16...Nd7!? 17 Ng3 Bf4 18 Nce2 Bd6 and Black is winning; with the idea
Bf3, Nf6-g4) 17 Ng3 Rh6 (with the idea Bf3) 18 Qe8 Bf8 19 Nd5 Nc6! 20
Qe4 (20 Qa8 Qh2 21 Kf1 Bf3 and Black is winning) Qh2 21 Kf1 Re8! 22
Qe8 Bf3 and Black is winning; b) 16 Qb3 only move Bf3 17 Ng3 (with the
idea Be2) Bf4! 18 Nce2 Bd6 19 Bd2 (19 Qb7 Nd7 and Black is winning)
Nd7 20 Nf4 Nf6 21 Ng2 Qh6 (21...Qh3 22 Nf4 Bf4 23 Bf1!) 22 Be2 Bg2
(22...Be2!? 23 Re2 Ng4 with attack) 23 Kg2 Bg3 24 fg3 Ne4 25 Red1 Qg5
with attack; with the idea 26 Be1? Ng3! 27 Bg3 Re3 and Black is winning]
Bh3 15 Ncd5 [15 Nb5 Re6 16 Nd6 (16 Ne6 Qf2 and Black is winning) Rh6
and Black is winning]
15...Re6!! [15...c6? 16 Nc3! (16 e4 cd5
17 e5 unclear) Qf2 17 Qe2 Qh4 18 Nh3
Qh3 19 Kg1] 16 Ne6 Bf5! 17 Kg1 Qh2
18 Kf1 Bg3!! 0 : 1 [P Acs, Hazai]
A Aleksandrov 2621 Mi Adams 2745
Bled (ol) 2002 86/504
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5
Bd3 d5 6 Nf3 c5 7 0-0 dc4 8 Bc4 Nbd7
9 a3 Ba5 10 Qe2 cd4 [10a6 33/695]
11 ed4 Bc3!? (a novelty) [11...a6;
11...Nb6] 12 bc3 Qc7 [12...b6 13 Bf4
and White is slightly better] 13 Bd3 [13 Bb2] b6 [13...Qc3 14 Bd2 with
compensation] 14 c4 Bb7 15 Re1 Rac8 16 Bg5 [better is 16 Bb2] h6 17
Bd2 [17 Bh4 Nh5 18 Qe3 Qf4 and Black is slightly better] Rfd8 18 Rac1
[18 h3!?] Qd6 19 Bb4 Qf4 20 Qe3 Nh5 [20...Qe3 21 fe3 Nc5 (21Ne4 22
Red1 unclear) 22 Bf1 Nce4 23 Ne5 Nd7 24 Nd3 unclear] 21 Nd2?! [21 Bd2
Qe3 (21...Qd6 22 Bb4 Qf4) 22 fe3 Nc5 (22...e5 23 Bf5 and White is slightly
better) 23 Bc2 Ne4 24 Bb4 a5 (24...Rc4 25 Be4 Rc1 26 Bb7 Re1 27 Ne1
and White is slightly better; 24...Nhf6!?) 25 Be7 (25 Bd2) Re8 26 Bh4 g5
27 Bf2 unclear] Ndf6 22 Bc3 [22 Nb3 Bg2! 23 Kg2 Ng4 a) 24 Qf4 Nf4 25
Kg3 Nd3 26 Kg4 a5 and Black is winning; b) 24 Qd2 Qh2 25 Kf3 Qh3 26
Ke2 Ne5! and Black is superior with the idea 27 de5? Nf4 and Black is
winning; c) 24 Qh3 Qf2 (24...Nf2 25 Qh5 Nd3 and Black is superior) 25
Kh1 Ng3 26 hg3 (26 Qg3 Qg3 27 Bh7 Kh7 28 hg3 Nf2 29 Kg2 Nd3 and
Black is superior) Qf3 27 Kg1 Nf2 and Black is superior; d) 24 Qf3 Qh2 25
Kf1 Nf2 26 Re3 Nd3 27 Rd3 e5 (27...a5 28 Be1 a4 29 Rd2 Qf4 30 Qf4 Nf4
31 Na1 and Black is slightly better) 28 Qh3 (28 d5 e4 29 Qe4 Ng3 30 Rg3
Qg3 and Black is superior) Qh3 29 Rh3 Nf4 30 Rf3 a5 31 Be7 (31 Bd2 a4
and Black is winning) Rd7 32 de5 Nd3 33 Rd1 Rc4 34 Rfd3 Re7 and Black
is slightly better]
22...Bg2! 23 Kg2 Ng4 24 Qh3? [24
Qf3? Qh2 25 Kf1 Nf2 26 Re3 (26 Qf2
Ng3 27 Qg3 Qg3 and Black is winning)
Nd3 27 Rd3 e5 28 d5 (28 Qh3 Qh3 29
Rh3 ed4 and Black is winning) Rd6 29
Qg4 (29 Ne4 Rg6 and Black is winning)
Rf6 30 Ke1 Qh1 31 Ke2 Nf4 and Black
is winning; 24 Qf4 Nf4 25 Kg3 Nd3 26
Kg4 Nf2 (26...b5 27 c5 e5 28 de5 Rc5
29 Ne4 Rc4 30 f3 unclear) 27 Kf3 Nd3
28 Ke3 Ne1 29 Re1 f6 30 a4 (30 h4 Kf7
31 a4 g5 and Black is superior) Kf7 31
Rf1 and Black is slightly better] Qf2 25 Kh1 Qe1! (and Black is winning)
[25...Qd2 26 Qh5 (26 Qg4 Qd3 27 Qh5 Rc4 and Black is superior) Nf2
(26...Qd3 27 Qg4 Rc4 28 Red1 unclear) 27 Kg2 Qd3 28 Kf2 Rc4 29 Re3
Qh7 30 Rf3 unclear] 26 Re1 Nf2 27 Kg2 Nh3 28 Kh3 [28 Be4 Ng5] Nf4 29
Kg3 Nd3 30 Re3 Nc1 [30...Nc5 31 dc5 Rc5] 31 Bb2 Na2 32 Rb3 [32 Re5
b5 33 Rb5 Rb8; 32 Re1 b5! 33 Ra1 (33 c5 b4) bc4] b5! [32...e5 33 d5] 33
c5 [33 Rb5 Rb8; 33 cb5 Rc2 34 Nf3 Nc1] Rb8 [33...e5!? 34 Nf3 ed4] 34
Ne4 [34 c6 Rdc8 35 d5 ed5 36 Be5 (36 c7 Rc7 37 Be5 Rcc8 38 Bb8 Rb8)
Rb6 37 c7 f6] b4 35 a4 Nc3 0 : 1 [Mi. Adams]
Epishin 2606 N Short 2673 Malm 2002 86/412
1 d4 e6 2 c4 Nf6 3 Nf3 d5 4 Nc3 Be7 5 Bf4 0-0 6 e3 c5 7 dc5 Bc5 8 a3 Nc6
9 b4 Nb4 [9...Bd6 84/343] 10 ab4 Bb4 11 Qb3 a5 12 0-0-0!? (a novelty)
[12 Nd2; 12 Bd3; 12 Be5] Bd7 13 Rd4? [13 Kb1 Rc8 14 Rc1 unclear; 13
Be5 Ng4 14 Bg3 Qe7 unclear; 13 Ne5!?] Qe7 14 Be5 [14 cd5? Rfc8 15 d6
Qe8 16 Rc4 Rc4! (16b5 17 Rc7) 17 Bc4 b5 and Black is winning] Rfc8 15
Kb1
15...b5! [15...Bc3 16 Qc3 b5 17 Bd3 dc4

(17...bc4 18 Bc2 Qb4 19 Qb4 ab4 with
the initiative) 18 Bf6 Qf6 19 Bh7 Kh7
20 Qc2 Kg8 21 Rd7 b4 with attack] 16
Nb5 a4 [16...Ne4!? 17 cd5 ed5 with the
initiative] 17 Qa2 [17 Bf6 gf6 18 Qd3
Bb5 19 Rg4 Kh8 20 Rh4 f5 21 cb5 Bc3
22 Ka2 Bf6 23 Rd4 (23 Rh6 Rc3 and
Black is winning) Rc1 and Black is
winning] Bb5 18 Bf6 [18 cb5 Ne4 19
Rd3 Bc3 with the idea Qb4 and White is
winning] gf6 19 cb5 Rc3 (and Black is
winning) 20 Rd3 Rac8 21 Be2 [21 Rc3 Rc3 22 Qa4 Ra3 23 Qd1 (23 Qa6
Bc3) Bc3 24 Kc2 Ra2 25 Kd3 (25 Kc3 Qc5 26 Kb3 Qa3 mate) Qb4 and
Black is winning; 21 Qa4 Rc1 22 Kb2 e5!! (22...Qc5 23 Nd4) 23 Rd5 (23
Nh4 e4 24 Nf5 Qc5) Ba3! 24 Ka2 R8c2] Ba3 22 Qd2 [22 Rc3 Rc3 23 Qd2
Rb3! (23...Qb4 24 Ka1 Bb2 25 Qb2 Ra3 26 Qa3 Qa3 27 Kb1 Qb3 28 Ka1
Qc3 29 Ka2 Qc2 30 Ka1 Qe2 31 Rb1 with the initiative) 24 Ka2 Bb4 25
Qc1 Rc3 and Black is winning] Qb4 23 Ka1 Rc1 24 Rc1 Rc1 25 Ka2 Qc4!
26 Ka3 Ra1 27 Kb2 Qa2 28 Kc3 Qb3 0 : 1 [N Short]
Riazantsev 2537 Nevostrujev 2502 Russia (ch) 2002 86/507
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 Bg5 c5 5 d5?! b5! 6 cb5 [6 Nb5 Ne4 7 Bc1
a6 8 Qa4 (8 Na3? Bb2! and Black is winning) Bb7 9 Na3 e6 10 de6 Bc6!
and Black is superior with the idea Qa5] a6 7 e3 (a novelty) [7 ba6; 7 b6]
Qa5 8 Qd2 0-0 9 ba6 e6 (development advantage) 10 de6 de6 [file d] 11
Ne4 [11 Rd1 Nc6]
11...Ne4!? [11Qd2 12 Nd2 Nd5 with
compensation] 12 Qa5 Bb2 13 Ne2 [13
Bf6!? Bf6 14 Rc1 Ba6 15 Bd3 Nc6 16
Qa6 (16 Qa3?! Bb7 17 Qb3 Nb4 18 Nf3
Bd5 19 Bc4 Na2) Ra6 17 Ba6 Nb4 18
Bc4 Rd8 19 Nf3 Bb2 20 Ke2 Bc1 21
Rc1 equal] Ba1 14 Bh6 Ba6!?
[14...Re8!? 15 Qb6 (with the idea Qb1)
Nf6] 15 Bf8 Nc6 16 Qc7? [16 Qa3? Kf8
(16...Nb4 17 Qb4!) 17 f3 Nb4 18 Qb4
cb4 19 fe4 Bb7 and Black is winning; 16
Qb6! Nb4 (16...Rb8 17 Qb8!) 17 f3 Nd3
18 Kd1 Nef2 19 Kd2 Nb2 a) 20 Kc1 Nfd3 21 Kb1 Nc4 22 Qa6 (22 Qc6?
Na3 23 Ka1 Rb8 and Black is winning) Ra6 23 Ka1 Ne3 (23...Kf8 24 Nc1)
24 Nc1 Nc2 25 Kb1 Na3 26 Ka1 Nc2 equal; b) 20 Nd4!! Bf1 (20...Bc4 21
Qc5 Ra2 22 Nc2 and White is winning) 21 Qb7! Ra2 (21...Nc4 22 Ke1) 22
Bh6! and White is winning] Nb4 17 Bh6 [17 f3? Bb5!! 18 fe4 Nd3 19 Kd1
(19 Kd2 Ra2 20 Kd1 Ba4 mate) Ra2 20 Nd4 only move Ba4 21 Nc2 Bc2 22
Ke2 Be5 and Black is winning; 17 Bd6 Nd3 (17...Bb5 18 Nd4!) 18 Kd1 Bb5
a) 19 Nd4? Nc3 20 Kd2 Ra2 21 Nc2 Ne4 22 Ke2 Rc2 23 Kf3 Rf2 24 Kg4
24...Rf4!! 25 Bf4 (25 ef4 f5 26 Kf3 Ne1

27 Ke3 Bd4 mate) f5 26 Kh3 Ndf2 27
Kh4 Bf6 28 Bg5 Bg5 mate; b) 19 Nc1
Ndf2 20 Kc2 Ba4 21 Nb3 Bb3 22 ab3
(22 Kb3? Nd2 23 Kc2 Ra2 24 Kc1 Nb3
25 Kb1 Rb2 mate) Ra2 23 Kb1 Nc3 24
Kc1 Bb2 25 Kc2 Ba1 26 Kc1 Bb2 equal]
Be5 18 Qd7? [18 Qb6 Nd3 19 Kd1 Nef2
20 Kd2 Rb8! and Black is superior] Nd3
19 Kd1 Rb8! (and Black is winning) 20
Nd4 Rb1 [better is 20...Nef2 21 Kd2
Rb2 22 Nc2 (22 Kc3 Ne4 mate) Ne4 23
Ke2 (23 Kd1 Rb1 24 Ke2 Ne1 25 Qb5 Bb5 mate) Ne1! 24 Ke1 Bc3 25 Kd1
Rb1 mate] 21 Ke2 Ne1 22 Nb5 [22 Qb5 cd4 23 ed4 Bd4 24 Bc1 Rc1 25
Qa6 Nc3 26 Kd2 Rd1 mate] Nc3 0 : 1 [L. Winants]
Zhang Zhong 2624 De Vreught 2504 Wijk aan Zee II 2003 86/346
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Bc6 dc6 5 0-0 Be7 6 Nc3!? [6 d3 48/446; 6
Ne5!? Qd4 7 Qh5 Be6 (7...g6 8 Nf3 Qe4 9 Qa5) 8 d3] Bf6!? (a novelty)
[6...f6?! 7 d4; 6...Nf6; 6.Bd6] 7 Qe2 Be6!? [7...Bg4 8 Nd1 and White is
slightly better; 7...Ne7 8 d4! ed4 9 e5 dc3 10 ef6 gf6 11 Rd1 with attack] 8
b3 Ne7 [8...c5 9 Bb2 Bg4 (9...Ne7? 10 Na4 Qd6 11 Ba3 b6 12 d4!) 10 Nd5
and White is slightly better; 8...b6!? (De Vreugt) 9 Bb2 (9 Ba3 c5 10 Nd5
Bd5 11 ed5 Qd5 12 Ne5 Be5 13 Rae1 0-0-0; 9 Rd1 c5) Ne7 (9...c5 10 Nd5
Bd5 11 ed5 Qd5 12 Ne5 Ne7 13 Rae1 0-0 14 Nc4 Bb2 15 Qe7 and White is
superior) 10 d4 ed4 11 Rad1 Bg4 12 e5 Bf3 13 gf3 Bg5 14 Ne4 (14 f4 Bh6
15 Qe4 c5 16 Ne2 Qd5) Ng6 (14...Nf5 15 Ng3 Qd7 16 Qe4 Ng3 17 hg3 and
White is slightly better) 15 Rd4 Qe7 16 Ng5 Qg5 17 Rg4 Qe7 unclear] 9
Ba3 [9 d4?! ed4 10 e5 dc3 11 ef6 gf6 12 Ba3 Qd7 13 Rfe1 Nd5 14 Nd4 0-00] g5!? [9...Ng6?! 10 Rad1; 9Qd7?! 10 Rad1; 9...Bg4 and White is slightly
better; 9...b6 10 d4 ed4 11 e5 dc3 12 ef6 gf6 13 Be7! Qe7 14 Rfe1 (14 Rad1
Bd5 15 Qd3 0-0-0! 16 Qa6 Kb8 17 Rd4 c5) Qc5 15 Rad1 0-0 16 Nd4 with
compensation; with the idea 16...Rfe8 17 Qf3 Bd5 18 Qg3 Kh8 19 Qh4 Qf8
20 Nf5 Re6 21 Re3 Rae8 22 Rd4 a5 23 Rg4 and White is winning]
10 d4! [10 Rad1!? (Ye Jiangchuan) g4
11 d4 10 d4] g4 [10...ed4 11 Rad1 (11
e5 dc3! 12 ef6 Nd5 13 Ng5 Qf6 and
Black is slightly better) a) 11...Bg4 12
h3 Bf3 13 Qf3 Ng6 14 Ne2 b6 15 c3 c5
16 Bb2 Ne5 17 Qf5 d3 18 c4 Qd6 19
Nc1 Qe6 (19...d2 20 Nd3! and White is
winning) 20 Qe6 fe6 21 Nd3 and White
is superior; b) 11...g4 12 Nd4! and White
is slightly better 10...g4] 11 Rad1! [11
Ne5 Qd4 12 Nd3 Qc3 13 Bb2 Qb2 14
Nb2 Bb2 15 Rad1 Be5 and Black is
slightly better] ed4! [11...gf3 12 Qf3 Bg7 13 de5 with compensation; with
the idea 13...Qc8 14 Qg3 Rg8 (14...Ng6 15 f4) 15 Qh4 Bf8 16 Be7 Be7 17
Qh7 f6 18 ef6 Bf6 19 e5 Be7 20 Ne4 Bd5 21 Rd4] 12 Nd4! [12 Be7 Qe7 13
Nd4 0-0-0 14 Qe3 Kb8 unclear] Bd4 13 Na4 Ng6? [13...g3! 14 Rd4! (14
hg3 Rg8! 15 Kh1 Rg6) Qd4 15 Bb2 gf2 (15...Qd6 16 Bh8 gh2 17 Kh1 0-0-0
18 Bf6 Rd7 19 Qh5) 16 Rf2 (16 Kh1!? Qd6 17 Bh8 0-0-0 18 Bf6 Bc4 19
Qg4 Be6 20 Qh4) Qd6 17 Bh8 0-0-0 18 Bf6 Qd1 19 Qd1 Rd1 20 Rf1 Rf1
21 Kf1 and White is slightly better] 14 c3 Nf4 [14...g3 15 hg3 Bf2 16 Qf2
and White is superior] 15 Qc2 Nh3!? [15...Qg5 16 cd4 and White is
superior] 16 gh3 gh3 [16...Qg5 17 h4 and White is winning] 17 Rd3! [17
Kh1 Qg5 18 f4 Qg2 19 Qg2 hg2 20 Kg2 Rg8 21 Kh1 Bf6 (21...Bh3? 22 cd4
Bg2 23 Kg1 and White is winning) 22 f5 Bd7 unclear; with the idea 23 Nc5
0-0-0 24 c4 Be7] Rg8 18 Kh1 Qh4 19 cd4 [19 Rd4? Qg4 20 f3 Qg2 21 Qg2
hg2] Qe4 20 f3 Qh4 [20...Qg6 21 Rd2] 21 Nc5 0-0-0 22 Ne6 Rg2! 23 Qc5!
[23 Rd2 Rdg8 with the idea 24 Rfd1?? Rg1 25 Rg1 Rg1 26 Kg1 Qe1 mate]
Rdg8? [23...fe6 24 Qe5 and White is superior] 24 Qe5! [24 Qe7?? Rg1 and
Black is winning] fe6 25 Bc1! [25 Qe6!? Kb8 26 f4] Kb8 [25...Qf2 26 Qe6
Kb8 27 Qg8] 26 Rdd1 Rf8 (time) 27 Be3 Ra2 28 Qe6 Qh5 29 d5! Re8 30
dc6! Re2 31 Qh6! Qf5 32 Qg5 Qe6 33 Rd8 [33...Rd8 34 Qd8 Qc8 35 Ba7
and White is winning] 1 : 0 [Zhang Zhong]
Anand 2755 Kasimdzhanov 2653 Hyderabad 2002 86/137
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cd4 4 Nd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e5 6 Ndb5 d6 7 Bg5 a6 8
Na3 b5 9 Bf6 gf6 10 Nd5 Bg7 11 Bd3 Ne7 12 Ne7 Qe7 13 0-0 0-0 14 c4 f5
15 Qf3 bc4 16 Nc4 d5 17 ed5 e4 18 Qe3 Bb7 19 d6 Qf6 20 Bc2 f4 21 Qh3
Rac8 22 b3 Qg5
23 d7! (a novelty) [23 Rad1 85/134]
Rc6 only move [23...Rcd8 24 Nd6! Bc6
25 Ne4 Be4 26 Be4 and White is
winning; 23...Rc5 24 Rad1 Bd5 25 Rd5
Qd5 26 Rd1 Bd4 (26...Qa8 27 Be4 Qe4
28 d8Q and White is winning) 27 Qg4
Kh8 28 Qf4 Rd8 29 Nb6 Qe6 30 Be4
Qb6 31 Rd4 Qe6 32 Bd3 Rd7 33 Rd7
Qd7 34 Qh6!; 23Rc4 24 bc4 Ba1 25 Ra1
Rd8 26 Ba4 and White is superior] 24
Be4 Rh6 25 Qf5 [25 Qf3 Be4 26 Qe4
Re6! (26...Ba1 27 Ra1 Re6 28 Qd4 and
White is superior) 27 Qd3 Ba1 28 Ra1 Rd8 29 Rd1 Qb5! 30 h3 Re7 31 Qf3
Rdd7 32 Rd7 Qd7 33 Qf4 with compensation] Qh4 26 h3 Rf6? [26...Be4 27
Qe4 Re6 28 Qd5 Ba1 29 Ra1 and White is superior; 26...Rh5 27 Qg4 Be4
28 Qh4 Rh4 a) 29 Nd6 Bc6 (29...Ba1 30 Ne8 Bg7 31 d8Q Rh6 32 Re1 Bc6
33 Kh2 Re6 34 Re6 fe6 35 Qd6 Be8 36 Qe6 Bf7 37 Qa6 and White is
superior) 30 Nf5 Ba1 31 Ra1 Rh3! (31...Bd7 32 Nh4 and White is superior)
32 Ne7 Kg7 33 Nc6 Rd3 34 d8Q Rdd8 35 Nd8 Rd8 equal; b) 29 Rad1! Rd8
30 Rfe1 f5 31 f3 Bc3 (31...Bc6 32 Rd6 and White is superior) 32 Re2 Bc6
b1) 33 Rd6 Rd7 34 Rc6 Rd1 35 Kh2 Be1 (35...Bd4 36 g3) 36 Re1 Re1 37
Ra6; b2) 33 Rc2 Bf6 (33...Bg7 34 Nd6 Rd7 35 Rc6 Rh6 36 Rd5! Bf8 37
Nf5 and White is winning) 34 Nb6 Bb7 35 Rc7 Bf3 36 gf3 and White is
superior] 27 d8Q! [27 Qc5 Be4 28 Qf8 Bf8 29 d8Q Rg6! (and Black is
winning) 30 Qh4 Rg2 31 Kh1 Rf2 32 Kg1 Rg2 33 Kh1 Ra2 34 Kg1 Bc5 35
Qf2 Bf2 36 Rf2 Ra1 37 Rf1 Rf1 38 Kf1 Bd3; 27 Qa5 Be4 28 d8Q f3
(28...Rg6 29 Qh4 Rg2 30 Kh1 Rf2 31 Kg1 Rg2 32 Kh1 Rf2 equal) 29 Rfe1
(29 Qf6 Bf6 30 g3 Qh3 31 Ne3 Re8; 29 Rfd1 fg2 30 f3 Qh3 and Black is
superior) fg2 30 f4 Qh3 31 Re4 Qh1 32 Kf2 Qa1 33 Kg2 Rg6 34 Qdg5 and
Black is slightly better; 27 Qe5 Re6 28 Qe6 fe6 29 Bb7 Ba1 30 Ra1] Rd8
28 Qa5 Be4 [28...Rd7 29 Bb7 Rb7 30 Qd8 Bf8 31 Rae1 Qh6 32 Re8 and
White is winning; 31 Ne5 and White is winning] 29 Qd8 Bf8 30 f3 Bf5 [31
Nd6 Bh3 32 Ne4 and White is winning] 1 : 0 [Anand]
Khalifman P. Acs 2591 Hoogeveen 2002 86/423
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 d5 4 Nc3 c6 5 Bg5 h6 6 Bh4 dc4 7 e4 g5 8 Bg3 b5
9 Be2 Bb7 10 h4 g4 11 Ne5 Rg8 12 Ng4 Ng4 13 Bg4 Nd7 14 0-0 [14 e5
Qb6 unclear] Nf6 15 Be2! [15 Bf3 Qb6 16 a4 (16 e5 0-0-0 17 ef6 Rg3! with
counterplay) 0-0-0 17 ab5 (17 a5 Qd4 18 Qd4 Rd4 19 Be5 Rd3 20 Be2
Ng4! and Black is slightly better) cb5 unclear] Qb6?! [15...b4!? 16 Na4 Ne4
17 Bc4 Bg7 with counterplay] 16 a4! [16 e5 0-0-0! 17 ef6 Rg3 unclear] Bb4
(a novelty) [16...b4?! 17 a5 Qd8 18 e5 (18 a6!?) bc3 19 ef6 Rg3 (19...cb2 20
Rb1 c3 21 Qb3 and White is superior) 20 fg3 cb2 21 Rb1 c3 22 Qa4 and
White is superior; 16...0-0-0?! 17 a5! Qd4 18 Qd4 Rd4 19 Be5 and White is
superior] 17 Be5?! [17 Qc1 Bc3 18 bc3 Ne4 19 Qh6 c5 unclear; 17 e5! a)
17...0-0-0 18 ef6 Rg3 19 fg3 Rd4 20 a5! Ba5 (20...Qc5 21 Qe1 and White is
winning) 21 Qe1 and White is winning; b) 17...Bc3 18 bc3 Ne4 19 Qc2 with
the initiative; c) 17...Nd5 18 Ne4 with the initiative] Nd7 [17...Bc3!? 18 bc3
Ne4 19 Bf3 Nc3?! 20 Qc2 b4 21 Qh7 with the initiative; 19...c5 unclear] 18
Bf4 Rd8 [18...a6!? 19 Bh6 c5 20 Be3 cd4 (20...Bc3 21 bc3 Be4 22 f3 and
White is slightly better) 21 Bd4 Qd8! with compensation] 19 Be3?! [19 Bh6
a) 19c5 20 d5 ed5 21 Bg5 and White is superior; b) 19...Ne5 20 Qc2! (20
Be3 c5 21 d5 Bc3 22 bc3 ed5 with counterplay) Qd4 (20...Rd4 21 Be3 c5 22
ab5 and White is superior; with the idea 22...Bc3 23 Qc3 Re4 24 f3) 21 Be3
Qd6 22 ab5 cb5 23 Ra7 and White is superior; c) 19...Nf6! 20 Bg5 Rd4 21
Qc2 Nd7 22 ab5 (22 Be3 c5! with compensation; with the idea 23 ab5 Bc3
24 Qc3 Re4 and Black is superior) cb5 23 Be3 Bc3 24 Qc3!; 23...e5 with
counterplay] c5 [19...a6!? unclear] 20 ab5 [20 Nb5 Nf6!; 20 d5 Bc3 21 bc3
ed5 22 ed5 Ne5 with the initiative] Nf6! 21 dc5 Bc5 22 Bc5 Qc5 23 Qc2
Rd4 [23...Rd2? 24 Qd2 Ne4 25 Qf4 and White is winning] 24 Bf3 [24 Rfd1
Re4! (24...Ne4 25 Bf3 and White is slightly better) 25 Bf3 Re1 26 Re1 Bf3
and Black is winning] Rd3 25 Qe2
25...Rg3! [25...Nd7!? 26 Rfd1 Ne5 27
Rd3 cd3 28 Qd1 unclear] 26 Na4? [26
Ra4 Rgf3 27 gf3 Nh5 with
compensation; 26 Kh1! Rgf3 27 gf3 a)
27...Qh5 28 Kg2! (28 Rg1 Rf3 with
attack) Qg6 (28...Qh4 29 Rh1 Qg5 30
Kf1 and White is superior) 29 Kh2! (29
Kh1 Ne4!) Qh5 equal; b) 27...Nh5! 28
Rg1 Nf4 29 Rg8 Ke7 30 Qc2 Qh5? 31
Ra7 Qf3 32 Kh2 and White is winning;
30...Rf3 with compensation] Qd4 27
Rfd1 [27 Ra3 Be4! (27...Ne4 28 Rd3
cd3 29 Qe3 Qe3 30 fe3 equal) 28 Be4 Ne4 and Black is superior] Be4 28
Be4 Ne4 29 Nc3 Nd2! (and Black is winning) 30 b6 Rg2 31 Kg2 Qg7 32
Kh2 Nf3 33 Qf3 [33 Kh1 Qg4] Rf3 34 Rg1 Rf2 35 Kh1 Qd4 0 : 1 [P. Acs,
Hazai]
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Evgeny Bareev Annotates

Ivan Markovic
Media coverage of the Enghien-les-Bains 2003 supertournament seemed to
suggest that winning the event was a cakewalk for Evgeny Bareev. Indeed,
if it were only for the scoreboard, one could almost mistake Bareev for the
great Anatoly Karpov: once he tallied the four plus result after only six
rounds, all that was neeeded was to brush aside all the challenges and draw
the remaining games, which he did in convincing fashion. However, the
story of success was not at all an easy one for the Muscovite, as he had to
fight hard to earn each victory, sometimes even hanging on a thread (e.g., he
bounced back from a completely lost position against Radjabov). Bareev has
never been the kind of guy to ignore the shortcomings when celebrating his
triumphs, and the painstakingly meticulous analyses of his games from
Enghien (seven of which will be published in the upcoming Chess
Informant 88) masterfully demonstrate his cool-headed ability to sift hard
facts from often tempting fiction.
This months featured game is a perfect display of both players fighting
spirit: Bareevs persistance aside, it sure left me wondering whether
mentioning draw is a faux-pas if one is to meet Joel Lautier over the
board. It is generally well-known that opposite-colored bishops offer
additional attacking opportunities if major pieces (especially the queens) are
still on the board. Therefore, it seems that the French super-GM pinned all
of his hopes on the queen + bishop battery (which proved mighty effective
in Gelfands win over Judit Polgar from the same tournament), as he never
felt tempted to renege on that choice in the hopes of pursuing various
drawing motifs. However, while playing out Bareevs game annotations, I
almost felt as if Lautiers attempts were doomed to failure, since Blacks
counterplan was executed in a computer-like, faultless manner (not to
mention Bareevs cold-blooded pawn snatching followed by great defensive
parades). When it all boiled down to the opposite-colored bishops ending,
Bareevs fine king maneuvering overloaded Whites pieces, which enabled
him to execute a neat finish with an elegant bishops decoy sacrifice.
J. Lautier 2666 Bareev 2734

Enghien-les-Bains 2003
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bc4 Bb4 8. 00 0-0 9. Nh4 Nbd7 10. Nf5 ef5 11. Qc2 Nb6 12. Bb3 Qd7 13. a5 Nbd5 14.
f3 Rfe8 15. Nd5 Nd5 16. e4 Nf6 17. Qc4 Bf8 18. Bg5 [18. ef5 78/(373)]
18...fe4 19. fe4 Re4 20. Bf6 gf6 21. Rad1 [21. Rf6 Bg7 22. Qf7 Qf7 23. Rf7
Bd4 24. Kh1 Rae8 25. Rb7 Kh8 26. g3 R4e7 equal]
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21... Rae8 (a novelty) [21... Rd8] 22. Rf6 Re1 23. Re1 [23. Rf1 equal]
23...Re1 24. Kf2 [24. Rf1 equal] 24...Re7
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25. Kg1?! [25. a6 b5 26. Qc3 Qg4 27. Rf3 Bg7 28. Qc6 Qh4 29. Rg3 Qd4
30. Kf1 Qe5 31. Qc8 Re8 32. Qc3 Qe2 33. Kg1 Qe1 34. Qe1 Re1 35. Kf2
Rb1 36. Rf3 Rb2 37. Kf1 equal; 25. g3 Bg7 26. Rf4 Bh6 27. Rf3 Qh3 28.
Rf7 Qh2 29. Kf1 Qh1 equal] 25...Bg7 26. Rf4 Bh6 27. Rf1 Be3 28. Kh1
Bd4 29. Qc1 a6 30. h3 [30. Qg5 Bg7 (30...Kh8 31. Bf7 equal) 31. Bc4 h6
32. Qh5 equal] 30...Kh8 [30...Re3 31. Bf7 Kh8 32. Kh2 Qc7 33. Kh1 Qa5
34. Qd1 with compensation] 31. Qf4 f6 32. Qd2 [32. Rd1 c5 33. Bc4 Qe8
34. Qd2 Re3 and Black is superior] 32...Qd6 33. Qh6 [33. Bc4] 33...Qb8
34. Qd2 Qe5 35. Qh6 Rg7 36. Qd2 Re7 37. Qh6 Qb8 38. Qd2 c5 39. Bc4
[39. Re1 Qf4 and Black is winning] 39...Qg3
40. Qh6? [40. Rf6! Qe1 41. Qe1 Re1 42. Rf1 Rf1 43. Bf1 Bb2 44. Bc4 Bc3
45. Bd5 Ba5 46. Bb7 equal] 40...Re8 41. Qh5 Rb8! 42. Rf3 [42. Qf3 Qc7
(42...Qf3!? 43. gf3 Bb2 44. Rb1 Bc3 45. Bd5 Bb4) 43. Qa3 Re8 44. Qa4
Re3 45. b4 Qc8 46. Kh2 cb4 47. Qb4 Bc3 and Black is winning; 42. b3!
Be5 43. Kg1 Qh2 44. Kf2 Rd8 (44...Bd4 45. Kf3 Qc7 46. Bd3 Rg8 47. g4
Rd8 48. Kg2 and Black is slightly better) 45. Rd1] 42...Qe1 43. Rf1 Qa5
44. Qf7 [44. b4 Qc7 45. bc5 Qc5 46. Qc5 Bc5 47. Rf6 (and Black is
superior) 47...b5 48. Bd3 Rd8 49. Rf3 Rd6 50. g4 b4] Qd8 45. Bd5 [45.
Bd3 Qg8 46. Qe7 c4 47. Be4 Bb2 48. Bb7 Be5 and Black is superior]
45...Bb2 46. Rb1 [46. Bb7 Qd3 47. Rf6 Be5 48. Rf1 Qg3 49. Kg1 Qh2 50.
Kf2 Bd4 51. Kf3 Rg8 52. Ke2 Qe5 and Black is winning] 46...Be5 47.
Rb7?! [47. Be4 Qg8 (47...Qc7 48. Rb7) 48. Rb7 Qf7 49. Rf7 h5 50. Rh7
(50. Ra7 Rb4 51. Bf5 Ra4 52. g4 hg4 53. hg4 c4 and Black is winning)
50...Kg8 51. Rh5 c4 52. g4 c3 53. g5 Rb4 and Black is superior] 47...Rb7
48. Qb7 c4
49. Qa8? [49. Qf7 a5 (49...Bg3 50. Qe6 c3 51. Bb3 a5 52. Bc2 and Black is
superior) 50. g4 c3 51. Bb3 Qc8 52. Bc2 Qg8 53. Qd7 and Black is
superior] 49...Qa8 50. Ba8 f5? [50...a5 51. Bd5 c3 52. Bb3 Kg7 53. Kg1
Kf8 54. Kf2 Ke7 55. g4 (55. Ke3 Kd6 56. Kd3 Kc5 57. Kc2 Kb4 58. Bg8 h6
59. Bf7 a4 60. Be6 a3 61. Bf7 Bc7 62. Be6 Ba5 63. Bf7 Kc5 64. Kb3 Bb4
65. Bg8 Kd4 66. Kc2 Ke3 67. Bd5 Kf2 68. Kb3 Ke2 69. Kc2 h5 70. Bf7
Kf2 71. g4 h4 72. Kb3 Kg3 73. Be6 Kh3 74. g5 Kg3 75. gf6 Bd6 and Black
is winning) 55...Kd6 56. Ke3 Kc5 57. Kd3 Kb4 58. Kc2 a4 59. Be6 a3 60.
Kb1 (60. Bf7 h5 61. Be6 h4 62. Bg8 Bc7 63. Ba2 Ba5 64. Bg8 Kc5 65. Kd3
Kd6 66. Kc2 Ke5 67. Kb3 Bb4 68. Kc2 Kf4 69. Be6 Kg3 70. Kb3 55.
Ke3) h6 61. Bf5 (61. h4 Kc5 62. h5 Kd6 63. Bb3 Bd4 64. Ka2 Bc5 65. Bc2
Ke5 66. Kb3 Kf4 67. Bf5 Bb4 68. Be6 Kf3 69. Bf5 Ke3 and Black is
winning) 61...Kc4 62. Kc2 Kd4 63. Kb3 Bd6 64. Bg6 Bb4 65. Bf5 Ke5 66.
Bc8 Kf4 67. Bd7 Kg3 68. Bf5 Kh4 (68...Bf8!? 69. Kc3 Kh3 70. g5 Kg3 71.
gf6 h5 and Black is winning) 69. Be6 h5 70. Bd7 Kg5 71. gh5 Kh5 72. Bg4
Kg5 73. Bd7 (73. Be6 f5 74. h4 Kf6 75. Bc8 f4 76. Bb7 Ke5 77. h5 Kd4 78.
h6 Bf8 79. h7 Bg7 80. Ka3 Ke3 81. Kb3 Kd2) 73...Kf4 74. h4 Ke3 and
Black is winning] 51. Bd5 c3 52. Bb3 Bd4
53. g3? [53. g4! f4 (53...fg4 54. hg4 Kg7 55. Kg2 Kf6 56. Kf3 Ke5 57. g5!
a5 58. Bc2 Bc5 equal) 54. Kg2 Kg7 (54...Bf6 55. Kf3 Bg5 56. h4) 55. Kf3
a) 55...Be5 56. Bc2 a5 (56...h6 57. Ke4 Kf6 58. h4 a5 59. Bd1 Ke7 60. Bc2
Kd6 61. g5 hg5 62. hg5 equal) 57. g5 Kf8 58. Ke4 Ke7 59. h4 Kd6 60. h5
Bh8 61. Kf4 h6 62. g6 Kc5 63. Ke4 Kb4 64. Kd3 a4 65. Bb1 equal; b)
55...Be3 56. h4 Kf6 (56...h6 57. g5 h5 58. Bd1 Bd2 59. Kf2 a5 60. Bc2 Be3
61. Kf3 Kf8 62. Bd1 Ke7 63. Bb3; 57. Bc2) b1) 57. g5 Ke5 58. Bc2 a5 59.
Ke2 (59. h5 Bc5 60. Bh7 a4 61. h6 Bf8 62. Bb1 a3) 59...Bc5 60. Kf3 Bf8
61. Ke2 h5 62. gh6 Bh6 63. Kd3 f3 64. Kc3 Kf4 65. h5 equal; b2) 57. Ke4
a5 58. Ba4 Ke6 59. Bc2 Kd6 60. g5 (60. Bd1 Kc5 61. g5 Kd6) 60...Ke6 61.
Bb3 Ke7 62. h5 Bd2 63. Kf3 Kf8 64. Bc2 Kg7 65. Bb3 equal] 53...Kg7
[53...h5!]
54. Kg2 [54. g4! Kf6 55. Kg2 a) 55...f4 56. Kf3 a1) 56...Ke5 57. g5 Bc5 58.
h4 Be7 59. Bc2 a5 60. Ke2 (60. Kg4 a4 61. Ba4 Ke4) 60...Kd4 61. Kf3 a4
62. Ba4 Kd3 63. Kf4 c2 64. Bc2 equal; a2) 56...Be3 57. h4 h6 58. Ke4 (58.
Bc2 Bd2 59. Kf2 a5 60. Ke2 Ke5 61. g5 h5 62. Kf2 f3 63. g6 Kf6 64. Kf3
Be1 65. Ke3 Bh4) 58...Bf2 59. Kf4 Bh4 60. Ke4 Kg5 61. Bd1 Be1 62. Kd3
Kf4 63. Be2 a5 64. Bd1 Bd2 65. Kd4 a4 66. Ba4 Kg4 67. Bd1 Kg5 68. Ke4
h5 69. Kf3 equal; b) 55...fg4!! 56. hg4 Ke5 57. Kf3 h6 58. Ba4 Bc5 59. Ke2
Kd4 60. Kd1 Kc4 61. Kc2 Kb4 62. Bd7 a5 63. Be8 Bd6 64. Bd7 Be5 65.
Be8 a4 66. Bd7 a3 67. Be6 Bc7 68. Bf7 (68. Kb1 Kc5 69. Kc2 Ba5 70. Kd3
Kd6 71. Ba2 Ke5 72. Bb3 Kf4 73. Be6 Kg5 74. Kc2 a2 75. Ba2 Kg4 76.
Be6 Kg5 77. Kd3 h5 78. Bb3 Kf4 79. Ke2 Kg3 80. Kf1 Bb6 and Black is
winning) 68...Ba5 69. Bg8 Kc5 70. Kb3 Bb4 71. Bf7 Kd4 72. Be6 Ke3 73.
Kc2 Kf3 74. Kb3 Kf4 75. Bd7 Ke3 76. Bf5 Kd2 77. Bg6 Be7 78. Bf5 a2 79.
Ka2 c2 80. Bc2 Kc2 81. Ka1 Bf6 82. Ka2 Bb2 83. g5 h5 and Black is
winning] 54...h5! 55. Kf3 Kf6 56. Kf4 Be5 [56...Bf2!] 57. Kf3 a5 58. Bc2
Bd6 59. Bb3 Bc5 60. Kf4 [60. Bc2 Ke5 61. Ke2 Bg1 62. Kd3 Bf2 63. Kc3
Bg3 and Black is winning] 60...Bf2 61. Bc2 Be1 62. Kf3 Ke5 63. h4 [63.
Bd1 Bg3! 64. Kg3 Ke4 and Black is winning] 63...Kd4 64. Kf4
64...Bg3 0 : 1 [Bareev]

Viswanathan Anand & Viorel

Bologan Annotate
Ivan Markovic
Summers gone, yet Viorel Bologans sensational win in Dortmund has still
retained all of its poignancy and impact. The only qualifier to the
tournament which ranks somewhere between the all-invitational super-elite
Linares and the livelier and definitely more human Wijk aan Zee made a
lasting impression, and we can only hope that his breakthrough was not an
incidental one. In the post mortem interviews all the participants were
lavishing praise on the modest winner who was in full command from the
very beginning, steering his vessel to the well-deserved triumph. His
annotations to his win against Anand reveal not only great depth and skill,
but also confidence and determination displayed in his natural quiet way.
On the other hand, after two losses Anand managed to avert the catastrophe
with an outburst of energy resulting in a series of wins against Naiditsh,
Leko and finally Bologan. In preface to his seminal book The Art of Chess
Analysis Jan Timman rightfully claims that imagination takes its own
course, like time and tide, and that not only play itself, but also analysis
must be fed with inspiration. Always bearing in mind that opening
preparation is a tool, not a master, one can only admire Anands prolific
output of crushing novelties supported by hammered-out finesses and
followed by merciless executions.
What remains to be said is to weigh the theoretical impact of the featured
mirror games. While silence has prevailed after Anands iron hand blows
with the white pieces, the other game already had a notable successor in
Tseshkovsky Dreev, Russia (ch) 2003, where the rejuvenated veteran
introduced a new move (18. c4 instead of Bologans subtle 18. Rd3), which
eventually led him to success, but not without his mighty opponents
assistance.
Anand 2774 Bologan 2650

Dortmund 2003
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 de4 4. Ne4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3
Bd6 8. Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Ne4 10. Qe4 Qc7 11. 0-0 b6 12. Qg4 g5 13. Qh3
Rg8
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14. Re1! (a novelty) [14. Nd2 85/87] Bf8! [14... g4 15. Qh6 gf3 16. Re6
fe6 (16... Be7 17. Re7 Ke7 18. Bf4 and White is winning) 17. Qe6 Be7 18.
Qg8 Nf8 19. Bg6! Kd7 20. Bf5 Ke8 21. Bh6! Qd6 (21... Bf5? 22. Re1) 22.
Bf8 Bf8 23. Re1 Kd8 24. Qf7 Be7 25. Bc8 Rc8 26. Qf3 and White is
superior] 15. Qf5 [15. Re6 Kd8 only move a) 16. Bh7 a1) 16... Rh8 17. Rh6
Nf6 18. Bg5! Bh3 19. Bf6 Kc8 20. Rh3 and White is winning; a2) 16... Nf6
17. Rf6 Bh3 18. Bg8 Be6 19. Bf7 Qe7! (19... Bf7 20. Ne5) 20. Re6 Qf7 21.
Rc6 Rc8 22. Rc8 Kc8 23. Be3 Qc4 24. c3 Qe2 25. Nd2 Qd3 26. Rc1 Bd6
27. g3 and White is superior; a3) 16... Rg7 a31) 17. Rh6!? Nf6 18. Bf5 g4
19. Qg3 gf3 (19... Qg3) 20. Qc7 Kc7 21. Rf6 Rg2 22. Kf1 Ba6 23. Bd3 Bd3
24. cd3 Kd7 25. h3 Be7 26. Rf3 Rag8 27. Ke2 Rg1!; a32) 17. Qh6 fe6 18.
Bg5 Rg5 19. Ng5! (19. Qg5 Be7 20. Qg8 Nf8 21. Ne5 Bd7 22. Be4 unclear)
Bh6 20. Ne6 Ke7 21. Nc7 Rb8 22. Re1 Kf7 23. Ne6 c5 24. Nd8 Kg7 25.
Bf5 and White is superior; a4) 16... Nc5 17. Bg8 Be6 a41) 18. Qh5 Ne4 19.
Ne5 Nf6 20. Qf3 Bg7! (20... Ng8 21. Nc6 Ke8 22. d5 with compensation)
21. Nc6 Ke8 22. Nb4 Rd8; a42) 18. Qg3 Bd6 (18... Qg3 19. hg3 Nd7 20.
Bh7 Nf6 21. Bd3 Bd6) 19. Ne5 Kc8!; b) 16. Re1 Ne5! (16... Nf6 17. Qg3!
and White is superior) 17. Bf5 (17. Qg3? Nd3 18. cd3 Qg3 19. hg3 Be6) g4
18. Qh5 Nf3 19. gf3 Bf5 20. Qf5 Qd7! 21. Qd7 Kd7 22. Kg2 Bd6 and White
is slightly better; c) 16. Rh6 c1) 16... Nf6 c11) 17. Qc8 Kc8 18. Rf6 Bg7!
(18... Kb7 19. Ne5 and White is superior; 18... Bd6 19. Ng5 Qe7 20. Ba6
Kb8
21. Rd6!! Qd6 22. g3 Kc7 23. Bf4 Rg5 24. Bd6 Kd6 and White is superior)
19. Ba6 Kd8! (19... Kb8 20. Bg5! Bf6 21. Bf6 Re8 22. Re1 Re1 23. Ne1 and
White is winning) 20. Rf5 f6 21. d5 Re8! (21... c5 22. Ng5! Re8 23. Ne6 and
White is winning) 22. Be3 c5 unclear; c12) 17. Bf5 g4 (17... Bh6 18. Qh6)
18. Qh4 c121) 18... gf3 19. Rf6! (19. Qf6 Be7 20. Qf7 Rg2 21. Kh1 and
White is winning; 19... Qe7!) Rg2 20. Kh1 Bf5 21. Rf5 Kc8 22. Rf3 and
White is winning; c122) 18... Bh6 c1221) 19. Ne5 Bg7; c1222) 19. Qf6 Qe7
20. Qc6 gf3 (20... Bb7 21. Qh6 gf3 22. Bf4 Rg2 23. Kh1 and White is
winning) 21. Qd5 Kc7! (21... Ke8 22. Bh6 Rg2 23. Kh1 Bb7 24. Qb5 Kd8
25. Bf4! f6 26. Bg3 and White is winning) 22. Bh6 Rg2 23. Kh1 Rh2 24.
Kh2 Qh4 25. Kg1 Bf5!; 21. Bh6 19. Bh6; c1223) 19. Bh6 gf3 20. Qf6 Qe7
21. Qc6 Bb7 (21... Rg2 22. Kh1 Rh2 23. Kh2 Qh4 24. Kg1 Bf5 25. Qa8 and
White is winning) 22. Qb5 Rg2 23. Kh1 and White is superior; c2) 16...
Ne5! 17. Qg3! (17. Bf5? Nf3 18. gf3 Bh6 and Black is superior) Nf3 (17...
Nd3 18. Bg5 and White is winning) 18. Qf3 Bh6 19. Qf6 Qe7 20. Qh6 Kc7!
(20... Be6 21. f4! and White is superior) 21. Bd2 Be6 and White is slightly
better] Bg7 16. h4 [16. Re6? fe6 17. Qe6 Kf8 and Black is superior; 16. Bc4
Nf6 17. Qd3 Bb7 18. Ne5 Nd5 19. Bd5 cd5] Kf8 [16... gh4? 17. Bf4 Qd8
18. Re6 and White is winning] 17. Qh3 [17. Re6? a) 17... Nf6? 18. Qe5!
(18. Qf6 Bf6 19. Rf6; 18... Be6!) Qe5 19. Re5; b) 17... Ne5 18. Ne5 Be6; c)
17... Nc5! and Black is superior ] Rh8! 18. hg5 hg5 19. Qg4 c5 20. Bg5!
[20. Qg5 Bb7 21. Bf4 Qd8 22. Ne5! Ne5 (22... cd4 23. Nf7!) 23. de5 Bh6!
24. Qg4 Bf4 25. Qf4 Qh4 26. Qh4 Rh4 27. f3 Ke7 28. Kf2 and White is
slightly better] cd4 21. Rad1!! [21. Re6 Nc5 22. Be7 Kg8 and Black is
superior; 21. Be7 Kg8 22. Re4 f5! 23. Qg6 Rh6 24. Qe8 Nf8] Bb7 [weak
point e6; 21.. . Nc5 22. Bf4 Qd8 (22... e5 23. Qg7) 23. Qg3 and White is
winning; 21... a5 22. Bb5 e5 (22... Qc2 23. Nd4 Qh7 24. Ne6 fe6 25. Be7!
and White is winning; 22... Ne5 23. Ne5 Be5 24. Qe4 Bh2 25. Kf1 Bb7 26.
Qd4 and White is winning) 23. Qg3! and White is superior; 21... a6 22. Be7
Kg8 23. Bh4! with the idea Bg3 and White is superior]
22. Re6! fe6 [22... Bf3 23. Qf3 Qh2 24. Kf1 and White is winning] 23. Be7
Ke7 [23... Kf7 24. Qg6 Ke7 25. Qg7] 24. Qg7 Kd6 25. Nd4! Qc5
26. Bf5 [26. Bb5?? Rh1 27. Kh1 Qh5 28. Kg1 Qd1 and Black is winning;
26. Nb5 Kc6 27. Be2 (27. Bf1 Rh1!) Rad8 28. c4! Qe5 29. Na7 Kc5 30.
Qe7] Qe5 27. Nf3 Qd5 28. Qg3 Ke7 29. Rd5 Bd5 30. Qg5 Kd6 31. Qf4
Ke7 32. Be4 (and White is winning) Rh5 33. Nh4 Rg8 34. Ng6 Kd8 35.
Qf7 [35. g4?? Rg6] Re8 36. Bd3 [36... Rg5 37. f3 Bc6 38. c4 and White is
winning] 1 : 0 [Anand]
Bologan 2650 Anand 2774

Dortmund 2003
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 de4 4. Ne4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8.
h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bd3 10. Qd3 Ngf6 11. Bf4 e6 12. 0-0-0 Be7 13. Kb1 Qa5
14. Ne5 Rd8 [14... Ne5 15. de5 Nd5 16. Bd2 Qc7 17. c4; 17. f4 and White
is slightly better] 15. Qe2 [15. Nc4 30/200] 0-0
16. Ng6! Rfe8 (a novelty) [16... fg6 17. Qe6 Kh8 18. hg6 (18. Qe7 Nd5 19.
Bd2 Qa2 20. Ka2 Ne7 21. Bb4 c5?! 22. Bc5 Nc5 23. dc5 Rd1 24. Rd1 Rf2
25. Rd7 and White is superior; 21... Rf7 and White is slightly better) Ng8
19. Bh6! gh6 20. Rh6 Nh6 21. Qe7 Nf6 22. g7 Kg8 23. gf8Q Rf8 24. Qb7
and White is superior] 17. Ne7 Re7
18. Rd3! (and White is slightly better) Ree8 [18... Qd5 19. Rg1] 19. Rhd1
[19. Ra3 Qd5 20. Ra7 b5 unclear] Qd5 [19... Nd5 20. Bd2 Qb5 21. Qf3] 20.
Rg1 [20. f3 Nh5; 20. Qf1 Nh5; 20. Rf3!? with the idea 20... Nh5? 21. Bh6]
b5 [20... c5 21. dc5 Qc4 22. Qd2 Qc5 23. Rd1 and White is slightly better]
21. Qd2!? [weak point h6; 21. Be5 b4 22. f4 a5] a5 [21... Nh5? 22. Bh6!
gh6 23. Qh6 Ng7 24. Rh1 f6 25. Ne4 Kf7 (25... Qe4 26. Rg3 Re7 27. Qh8
Kf7 28. Rg7 mate) 26. Rg3 Rg8 27. Qg6 Ke7 28. Rh7 and White is winning;
21... c5!? 22. dc5 Qc5 and White is slightly better] 22. Ne2! [22. Qa5 Ra8]
b4?! [22... Qh5? 23. Rh3 Qf5 24. Bh6 Ne4 (24... gh6 25. Qh6 Qh7 26. Rg3
Kh8 27. Qe3 and White is winning) 25. Qe3 Nf2 26. g4 Qf6 27. Bg5 Qg6
28. Rh5 and White is winning; 22... Nh5?! 23. Bh6 gh6 24. Qh6 with attack;
22... c5!? a) 23. Bh6 Ne4; b) 23. g4 c4 24. Rh3 (24. Re3 Ne4 25. Qe1 e5)
e5!; c) 23. dc5 Qc5 24. g4 Rc8 25. g5 hg5 26. Bg5 Ne4 27. Qc1 Ne5 28.
Re3 with initiative] 23. g4 Ne4 [23... c5 24. dc5 Qc5 25. g5 Ne4 26. Qc1
hg5 27. Bg5 f6 28. Be3 Qh5 29. Qd1 Qb5 30. Nd4 Qb7 31. Bh6 with attack]
24. Qe3 Ng5
25. Rc1! and White is superior [with the idea c4; 25. Bg5 hg5 (25... Qg5 26.
f4 Qd5 27. g5) 26. f4 gf4 27. Nf4 Qg5 unclear] Nb6 [25... a4 26. c4 Qa5 27.
c5 Nh7 28. g5 hg5 29. Bg5 f6 30. Bh4 e5 31. Rg1 ed4 32. Qg3 Re7 33.
Nd4] 26. b3
26... a4? [26... Ra8 27. Bc7! (27. c4 bc3 28. Nc3 Qd8 29. Bg5 hg5 30. Ne4
a4 31. Qg5 ab3) Nc8 (27... Qb5 28. c4 bc3 29. Nc3 Qa6 30. Bb6 Qb6 31.
Na4 and White is superior) 28. c4 bc3 29. Nc3 Qd7 30. Bf4 and White is
superior] 27. Bc7 Qa5 28. f4!? [28. Bd8 Rd8 29. Nf4 (29. f4? Nd5 30. Qg1
Ne4) Ra8 30. Rd2 Nd5 31. Nd5 Qd5 32. Re2 Nf3 33. Rd1 c5] Nh7 29. g5
[29. Bd8 Rd8 30. f5 Nd5 31. Qf2 Ra8 32. Rd2 ef5 33. Qf5 Nhf6] hg5 30.
fg5 Rd7 [30... ab3 31. cb3 Ra8 32. Qd2 Rec8 33. Bb6 Qb6 34. g6 with
attack] 31. Bb6 Qb6 32. Rg1!? [32. g6 Nf6 33. h6 fg6 34. Qg5 ab3 35. cb3
Qb5 36. Qg6 Qf5] ab3 33. cb3 Qa5 34. g6 fg6 35. hg6 Nf6 36. Rg5! Rd5
37. Re5 and White is winning [with the idea Nf4] Ng4? [37... Ra8 38. Nc1
Ng4 39. Qh3]
38. Re6! Rf8 39. Qh3 Nh6 40. Rc6 Rdf5 41. d5 1 : 0 [Bologan]

The Ten Most Important Novelties

of Volume 87
Srdjan Cvetkovic
With or without the 3D goggles, many people seem overly
eager claiming that we have been living in the era of
computer chess for quite a while. While the ubiquitous
presence and the impact of the silicon beasts can hardly be
ignored, it is still the elite of the human echelons who hold
the top of the chess pyramid, despite some serious dents
stemming from the Man vs. Machine matches. The scars
have still not gone away, but the way Kasparov disposed of
Deep Junior straight from the opening in game 1 of their
epic match was definitely a giant plus for humankind; it is
most likely that Artur Yusupov had exactly that in mind
when awarding the game a maximum of 10 points, thus
making it his personal choice of the most important novelty
of Chess Informants preceding volume
Which brings us back to our main story: as usual, there
were 30 games in a fray, and a panel of 9 ultra-competent
chess experts to determine the winner. The honor went to
Peter Svidler for his win against Bartlomiej Macieja in the
German Bundesliga club competition, rounding up a series
of impressive showings. This prestigious award concludes
the year of Peters successes on a high note, ahead of the
field of more fancied players, especially if we bear in mind
that he occupies the fourth place on the list as well; this coproduction novelty was employed by the other co-author
too, but Short somehow let the win slip through his hands in
the fifth game of his match against Ehsan Ghaem Maghami,
the rising star from Iran.
file:///C|/cafe/informant/informant.htm (1 of 19) [11/14/2003 8:37:27 AM]
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For those who will wonder at the names behind the second
best novelty, it has almost become a rule that top
correspondence players often launch important novelties
prior to their over-the-board peers efforts; this time around,
the game between Giuliani and Kosebay had its star-studded
blockbuster remake in the Anand Morozevich blindfold
clash in Monaco, which clearly speaks for itself of the
featured games extraordinary importance. Number three
spot went to Etienne Bacrot, the only one to get three tens
from the jury.
The accompanying theoretical survey basically consists of
two parts: the first line generally deals with the examples
from the past, whereas the second one mainly displays
Svidlers in-depth analysis of the featured game, plus the
only follow-up so far: a game between two Hungarian
leading ladies, Ticia Gara and Nikoletta Lakos. From we
could see so far, Black side is in a dire need for
improvement in order to rehabilitate the line.
Svidler 2690 Macieja 2615

Deutschland 2002 87/171
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 a6 7. 00 Nf6 8.
Be3 Bb4 9. Na4 Bd6 10. g3 b5 11. Nb6 Rb8 12. Nc8 Rc8
13. c4! (a novelty) Nd4 [the only move; 13...bc4 14. Nc6 Qc6 (14...dc6 15.
Bc4 and White is superior) 15. Rc1 and White is superior; 13...b4 14. c5! Bc5
(14...Be5 15. Ba6 and White is superior) 15. Ba6 a) 15...Ra8 16. Nb5 Qb6
17. Bc5 Qc5 18. Nc7 Ke7 19. Na8 Ra8 20. Bb7 and White is winning; b)
15...Rb8 16. Rc1 (16. Ne6 de6 17. Bc5 Qa5) Bd4 17. Bd4 and White is
superior; c) 15...Bd4 16. Bd4 Ra8 17. Bb5 and White is slightly better] 14.
Bd4 bc4 [14...e5 15. Be3 b4 16. c5 Bc5 17. Ba6 (17. Rc1 Qb6 18. Qc2 d6) a)
17...Be3 18. Bc8 Bc5 19. Rc1! 00 (19...Qc8 20. Qd6!! Bf2 21. Kg2 and
White is winning) 20. Bb7! and White is superior; b) 17...Ra8 18. Rc1 d6 19.
Bc5 dc5 20. Bb5 Ke7 21. Qb3 and White is superior with the idea 22. Qb4,
22. Bc4, 22. f4; c) 17...Rb8 18. Rc1 d6 19. Bc5 dc5 20. Qc2 and White is
slightly better; 14...b4 15. c5 (15. Bf6 gf6 16. Qd2 h5 17. Rad1 Bc5 unclear)
a) 15...Bc5 16. Rc1 a1) 16...Qb6 17. e5 (17. Bc5 Rc5 18. Qd4 d6 19. e5 Nd5)
Nd5 18. Qc2 Nc3 19. Bc5 Ne2 20. Qe2 Rc5 21. Qe3 and White is winning;
a2) 16...d6 17. e5 and White is superior; b) 15...Be5 16. Ba6 and White is
superior] 15. Rc1 Qb8 16. Bc4 a5 [16...00 17. Bf6 gf6 18. Ba6 Rc1 19. Qc1
Qa8 20. Qc4 Rb8 21. Qe2 and White is superior] 17. Qe2 e5 [17...Be5!? 18.
Be5 Qe5 19. Be6! 00! 20. Bc4 (20. Bh3 Rc1 21. Rc1 d5 22. Rc5 a4) Rfe8
21. Rfd1 and White is slightly better] 18. Be3 00 19. Bg5 Be7 20. Rfd1
(and White is superior) Rc7 21. b3 Qb6 [with the idea Bc5-d4] 22. Bf6! Bf6
[22...Qf6 23. Bf7] 23. Rd5 a4 24. Rcd1 ab3 25. Bb3 Qa7? time [25...Qe6
26. Kg2 Rfc8 27. Rd6 Qe7 28. Qg4 Rd8 29. a4 and White is superior] 26.
Qf3 [and White is winning; weak point Bf6, f7] Re8 27. Rd6 Re7 28. h4
Qb7 [with the idea Rc6] 29. Qf5 Qa7 30. h5 [with the idea 31. h6, 31. Rf6]
1 : 0 [Svidler]
B 49
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6

7. Be2 Nf6 8. 00 Bb4 9. Na4 Bd6 10. g3
10
1 ...
b51
11
12
13
14
Nb62 Nc8 a4 Bd4

Rb8 Rc8 Nd4 e5
...
...
...
...
slightly better
...
...
15
16
17
18
Be3 Bc53 ab54 Ra5

Bc5 Qc5 ab5 Rb85
c4 Bd4 Rc1 Bc4 Qe2 Be5

Nd46 bc47 Qb8 a58 Be59 Qe510
equal
and White is
1
10...Be7?!
a) 11. Nc6 bc6 12. Nb6 Rb8 13. Nc8 [13. e5 Nd5 14. Nd5 cd5 15. Bd4 00
16. Rc1 and White is slightly better; P. Jaracz] Qc8 14. Bd4 [14. e5 Nd5 15.
Bd4 c5 16. c4 cd4 17. cd5 Rb2 18. Rc1 Qb8 19. d6 Bd8 equal; Tal
Matulovic, Beograd 1974 18/(371)] c5 15. Be5 Rb6 16. b3 [16. Qd3 d6 17.
Bc3 00 18. Rad1 d5 19. Bf6 de4 20. Qe4 Bf6 21. b3 g6 equal; A. Brkic B.
Kurajica, Bosna i Hercegovina 2002 86/(172)] 00 17. Bd3 d6 18. Bc3! d5
19. Ba5 Rc6 20. ed5 Nd5 21. Qh5 and White is slightly better; Palac P.
Jaracz, Bled 2002 86/172;
b) 11. c4! d6 [11...Ne4 12. Bf3 Nf6 13. c5 and White is superior; Gallagher
Barlov, Lenk 1989]
b1) 12. Nc6 bc6 13. c5 d5 [13...Ne4 14. cd6 Nd6 15. Bb6 with compensation]
14. Nb6 Ra7 [14...Rb8 15. e5 Nd7 16. Nd7 Qd7 17. Rb1 a5 18. a3 00 19. b4
ab4 20. ab4 Qc7 21. Bd4 f6 22. f4 Bd7 unclear; Teran Alvarez Korneev,
Dos Hermanas 2003] 15. e5 Nd7 unclear; G. Kasparov;
b2) 12. f3 Bd7 13. Rc1 00 14. Nc6 Bc6 15. Nb6 Rad8 16. b4! Qb8 17. b5
and White is superior; G. Kasparov Ju. Polgar, Linares 1997 69/173;
10...Ne4?! 11. Bf3
a) 11...f5 12. c4 [12. Be4 fe4 13. Nc6 Qc6 14. Nb6 Rb8 15. Qh5 g6 16. Qh6
Be5 17. Bf4 Bf4 18. Qf4 d6 19. Nc8 Rc8 20. Qf6 and White is superior;
Smejkal Spassov, Orebro 1966] Ne5 13. c5 Nc5 14. Rc1 Ned3 15. Rc3 Qa5
16. Nc5 Nc5 17. Nf5 and White is winning; G. Kasparov;
b) 11...Nf6 12. Nb6! [12. c4 00 13. c5 Be7 14. Rc1 and White is superior;
Mullon Beshukov, Cappelle la Grande 2000] Rb8 13. Nc6 bc6 14. Nc4
b1) 14...Ke7 15. Qe2! Ne8 16. Rad1 and White is superior;
b2) 14...Be5 15. Ne5 [15. Bd2 Rb5 16. a4 Rc5 17. Ne5 Qe5 18. Be3 and
White is superior] Qe5 16. Bf4 Qb2 17. Bb8 Qb8 18. c4 and White is slightly
better; Bologan; 17. Bd6 and White is superior; G. Kasparov;
b3) 14...Be7 15. Bf4 Qa7 16. Nd6 [16. Bb8 Qb8 17. Qd4 d5 18. Qe5 Qe5 19.
Ne5 Bb7 20. Rfe1 00 21. c4 and White is slightly better; Bologan] Kf8 17.
c4 and White is superior; Bologan Granda Zuniga, Moscow 2003 87/170
2
11. Nc6 Qc6 12. Nb6 Rb8 13. Nc8 Rc8 14. Bf3 e5 15. Bg5 Bc5 16. Qd3 00
17. c3 h6 18. Bf6 Qf6 equal; Thipsay Ganguly, Doha 2003
3
16. ab5 Be3 17. fe3 ab5 18. Bb5 00 with compensation; Shirov Anand,
Tehran (m/3) 2000 80/179;
16. Qd3
a) 16...Qb7 17. ab5 ab5 18. Qb5! [18. Ra5 Be3 19. Qe3 Qe4 20. Qe4 Ne4 21.
Rb5 f6 equal; Sadvakasov Liang Jinrong, Kolkata 2001] Qb5 19. Bb5 Be3
[19...Ne4 20. Bc5 Nc5 21. Ra7] 20. fe3 Ne4 21. Ra7 and White is superior;
Ribli;
b) 16...Be3 17. Qe3 00
b1) 18. c3 Qc6 [18...Qc5 19. Qc5 Rc5 20. f3 Rb8 21. ab5 ab5 22. Ra5 and
White is slightly better; Dolmatov Beshukov, Novgorod 1999 80/(179)]
19. ab5 ab5 20. Ra5 Rb8 21. f3 d5 22. ed5 Nd5 unclear;
b2) 18. ab5 ab5 19. c3 Rb8 20. Ra7 Qb6 21. Qb6 Rb6 22. f3 Rfb8 23. Kf2
Kf8 equal; Korneev Pogorelov, Madrid 2001
4
17. Bd3 Rb8! (Macieja) 18. ab5 ab5 19. Ra5 17. ab5
5
19. Bd3
a) 19...00
a1) 20. c3 Ne8 [20...Qc7 21. Rb5 Rb5 22. Bb5 Rb8 23. Qe2 Ne4 24. Bd7!
and White is superior; Suetin Taimanov, USSR 1968 6/480] 21. Qg4 Nc7
22. Rd1 Qb6 23. Raa1 Qc6 24. Bf1 d6 equal; Stambulian Beshukov,
Krasnodar 2001; 20...d5 equal; Z. Krnic;
a2) 20. c4 Qb4 21. Rb5 Rb5 22. cb5
a21) 22...Ne4 23. Be4 Qe4 24. Qd7 and White is slightly better; Yagupov
Landa, Tomsk 1999 80/(179);
a22) 22...d5! 23. ed5 e4 24. Bc2 Rb8 25. d6 Rd8 26. Qe2 Rd6 27. Ra1 g6 28.
Ra6 Rd2 29. Qe1 Qd4 30. Ra4 Qd6 31. Ra6 Qd4 32. Ra4 Qd6 1/2 : 1/2
Berkes Zo. Varga, Magyarorszag (ch) 2003 87/(171);
b) 19...Qb4! 20. Qa1 00 21. Rd1 Qe7! 22. Qa3 b4 23. Qb3 h5! 24. h4 [24.
Rda1 h4 and Black is slightly better; with the idea g6, Kg7, Rh8 Macieja]
Qd6 25. Kg2 Rfc8 26. f3 Kf8 27. Qa4 Qd4 28. Qb3 Qd6 29. Kf1 Kg8 equal;
Jakovenko Macieja, Batumi 2002 85/169

6
13...bc4 14. Nc6 Qc6 [14...dc6 15. Bc4] 15. Rc1 and White is superior;
13...b4 14. c5! Bc5 [14...Be5 15. Ba6 and White is superior] 15. Ba6
a) 15...Ra8 16. Nb5 Qb6 17. Bc5 Qc5 18. Nc7 Ke7 19. Na8 Ra8 20. Bb7 and
White is winning;
b) 15...Rb8 16. Rc1 [16. Ne6 de6 17. Bc5 Qa5] Bd4 17. Bd4 and White is
superior;
c) 15...Bd4 16. Bd4 Ra8 17. Bb5 (and White is slightly better; Svidler) Ne4?
18. Qg4 Qb7 19. Bc6 Qc6 20. Qg7 Rf8 21. Rac1 Qd5 22. Be3 Nd2 23. Bd2
Qd2 24. Rfd1 Qe2 25. Qd4 Qb5 26. Qd6 and White is winning; T. Gara
Lakos, Magyarorszag (ch) 2003
7
14...b4 15. c5 [15. Bf6 gf6 16. Qd2 h5 17. Rad1 Bc5 unclear]
a) 15...Bc5 16. Rc1
a1) 16...Qb6 17. e5 [17. Bc5 Rc5 18. Qd4 d6 19. e5 Nd5] Nd5 18. Qc2 Nc3
19. Bc5 Ne2 20. Qe2 Rc5 21. Qe3 and White is winning;
a2) 16...d6 17. e5 and White is superior;
b) 15...Be5 16. Ba6 and White is superior;
14...e5 15. Be3 b4 16. c5 Bc5 17. Ba6 [17. Rc1 Qb6 18. Qc2 d6]
a) 17...Be3 18. Bc8 Bc5 19. Rc1! 00 [19...Qc8 20. Qd6!! Bf2 21. Kg2 and
White is winning] 20. Bb7! and White is superior;
b) 17...Ra8 18. Rc1 d6 19. Bc5 dc5 20. Bb5 Ke7 21. Qb3 and White is
superior; with the idea 22. Qb4, 22. Bc4, 22. f4;
c) 17...Rb8 18. Rc1 d6 19. Bc5 dc5 20. Qc2 and White is slightly better;
Svidler
8
16...00 17. Bf6 gf6 18. Ba6 Rc1 19. Qc1 Qa8 20. Qc4 Rb8 21. Qe2 and
White is superior; Svidler
9
17...e5 18. Be3 00 19. Bg5 Be7 20. Rfd1 and White is superior; Svidler
Macieja, Deutschland 2002 87/171
10
19. Be6! 00! 20. Bc4 [20. Bh3 Rc1 21. Rc1 d5 22. Rc5 a4] Rfe8 21. Rfd1
and White is slightly better; Svidler
Sr. Cvetkovic
Giuliani Kosebay
corr. 2002 87/294
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Ne5 d6 4. Nf3 Ne4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. 00 00 8.
c4 c6 9. Re1 Bf5 10. Qc2 Bg6 11. c5 Bc7 12. Nc3 f5 13. Qb3! (a novelty)
[13. Ne2 81/(254)] b6 [13...Bh5 14. Ne4 fe4 15. Be4 Kh8 16. Bg5!? Qc8
(16...Qd7 17. Bc2 Bf3 18. gf3 Qh3 19. f4 Qb3 20. ab3 h6 21. Be7 and White
is superior) 17. Bb1 Bf3 18. gf3 Qh3 19. f4 Qb3 20. ab3 Na6 21. f5 and
White is superior] 14. cb6 ab6 15. Ne4 fe4 16. Be4 Be4 17. Re4 (and White
is slightly better) Qd6
18. Bg5!! Rf3 19. gf3 Qh2 20. Kf1 Qh1?! [20...Qh5!? 21. Rae1 Nd7 22. Bh4
Rf8 23. Rg4 Nf6 24. Bf6 Qh3 25. Ke2 Rf6 26. Qe3 and White is slightly
better] 21. Ke2 Qa1 22. Re8 Kf7 23. Re7 Kg8 24. Rc7! Ra2 25. Bd2 Rb2
26. Qe3 Rd2 [26...Qa6 27. Ke1 Rb1 28. Bc1 Rc1 29. Qc1 and White is
superior] 27. Qd2 Qa6 28. Qd3 c5 29. dc5 bc5 30. Qa6 Na6 31. Rc6 Nb4
32. Rc5 d4 33. Rc4 Nd5 34. Kd3 Kf7 35. Kd4 Nf6 36. Ke5 Nd7 37. Kf5
Ke7 38. Rc7 Kd6 [38...Ke8 39. f4 Ke7 40. Kg5 Kd6 41. Ra7 Ke7 42. f5 Kd6
43. f4 Ke7 44. f6! gf6 45. Kh6 f5 46. Kh7 Ke6 47. Kg6 and White is
winning] 39. Ra7 Ke7 40. f4 Kd6 41. Kg5 1 : 0 [Giuliani]
Bacrot 2653 Fressinet 2619

France (ch) 2002 87/(381)
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Ng5 hg5 10. Bg5 Nbd7 11. g3 Rg8 12. h4 Rg5 13. hg5 Nd5 14. g6 fg6
15. Qg4 Qe7 16. Bg2 Kd8
17. Bd5! (a novelty) [17. Qg6 84/(358)] cd5 18. Qg6 Rb8 19. Rh7 Qe8 20.
Qe8 Ke8 21. f4 b4 22. Ne2 Ba6 23. g4 c3 24. b3 Bd3 25. f5 Rb6 [25...ef5
26. Nf4 Be4 27. g5 and White is superior; D. Antic] 26. Nf4 Be4 27. Ke2 and
White is superior.
Svidler 2690 H. Nakamura 2504

Santo Domingo 2002 87/251
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8.
f4 Qc7 9. 00 Be7 10. Kh1 Nbd7 11. g4 h6 12. g5 hg5 13. fg5 Nh7 14. Bg4!
(a novelty) [Svidler, N. Short; 14. Nd5 83/231] 00? [14...Bc4 15. Nd5
Qd8 16. Rg1! and White is superior; 14...0-0-0 15. Be6 fe6 16. Qg4 and
White is slightly better]
15. Rg1! [weak point Nh7; 15. g6 Nhf6 16. Be6 fe6 17. Bg5 (17. Qd3 Ng4!
18. Be3 Rf1 19. Rf1 Rf8 unclear) Qc4! (17...Qc6 18. Qd3) 18. Nd2 Qc6 19.
Qe2 Ne4 20. Nde4 Bg5 21. Qd3 Rf1 22. Rf1 Nf8 23. Qd6 Qd6 24. Nd6 Be7
25. Nb7 Ng6 unclear] Nc5? [15...Qc4 16. Be3 and White is superior] 16. Nc5
Bg4 [16...Qc5 17. Be6 fe6 18. g6 Nf6 19. Bg5 Qf2 20. Qd3 and White is
winning] 17. Qg4 Qc5 18. Be3! [18. Nd5 Bd8 19. Rg2 (19. g6 Nf6 20. Nf6
Bf6) Qc8 20. Qh5 Qe6 and White is superior] Qc8 [18...Qe3 19. Nd5 Qg1
(19...Qg5 20. Ne7 and White is winning) 20. Rg1 Bg5 21. h4 Bh6 22. Ne7
Kh8 23. Nf5 and White is winning] 19. Qh5 Qe6 20. Nd5 (and White is
winning) Rfe8 [20...g6 21. Qh6 Rfc8 22. Rg3 Bf8 23. Qh4] 21. g6!? [21.
Nc7 Qg6 22. Qg6 fg6] Nf6 [21...fg6 22. Rg6 Qf7 23. Rag1 Bf8 24. Bh6] 22.
Nf6 Bf6 23. Raf1 Kf8 [23...fg6 24. Rg6 Rf8 25. Rh6! gh6 26. Qg6 Kh8 27.
Qh6 Kg8 28. Qg6 Kh8 29. Rf5 Qf5 30. ef5 with the idea Bh6] 24. Rf6!
[24...Qf6 25. Bg5 fg6 26. Qh3!; 24...gf6 25. gf7 Qf7 26. Qh6 Ke7 27. Rg7
Rh8 28. Qg6] 1 : 0 [Svidler]
Anand 2753 Leko 2736

Linares 2003 87/109
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Qc7 5. 00 Nd4 6. Nd4 cd4 7. Nd5
Nd5 8. ed5 Qc5 [8...g6]
9. c4! (a novelty) [9. Qe2] dc3? 10. Qb3! (and White is superior) a6 11. Be2
c2 [11...g6 12. dc3 (12. bc3 d6) Bg7 13. Be3 Qd6 14. c4 and White is
superior] 12. d4! Qd6 13. Bf3? [13. g3! Qf6 (13...g6?? 14. Bf4 and White is
winning; 13...e6 14. Bf3 and White is superior, with the idea Bf4) 14. Qc2 g6
(14...d6 15. Ba6! and White is winning) 15. Bf4 d6 16. Ba6! and White is
winning] g6 14. Bd2 [14. Re1 Qf6 15. Bd2 d6] Qf6 15. d6? [15. Qc2 Bg7
16. Rfe1 00 17. Qc7 d6 18. Re7 and White is superior] Qd6 16. Rfe1 a5!
17. Qc2 Bg7 18. Ba5 00? [18...Bd4! 19. Rad1 Qc5] 19. Bc3 Re8 20. Qb3
Qc7 21. a4! d6 22. a5 [and White is superior, weak point b7] Rb8 23. Rec1
Bf5 24. Bd2 Qd7 25. Be3 e5 26. de5 de5 [26...Be5 27. Bd5 and White is
superior] 27. Bd5 Be6 28. Be6 [28. Rc5!] Qe6 29. Qe6 Re6 30. b4 [30. Rc7
e4 31. Ba7 Bb2; 30. Rc4 and White is superior; 30. Ra4! and White is
superior] e4 31. Ra2 Be5 32. g3 Kf8 33. Rc4 [33. Rd2 Ke8 34. Rd5 Rd8] f5
34. Rd2 Ke8 35. Rd5 Rd8 36. Rb5 Rd7 37. Rcc5 [37. Rc8 Kf7 38. Ra8 Kf6
39. Ra7 and White is superior] Bf6 38. Rc8 Kf7 39. Kg2?! [39. Rb8! Ree7
40. Bc5 Be5 41. Ra8 Bd6 (41...Re6 42. Ra7 and White is winning) 42. Rb7
e3!! 43. Rd7 e2 44. Re7 Be7 45. Ra7 e1Q equal] Re8 40. Rc4 [40. Rbc5]
Be5 41. h4 Bf6 42. Rbc5 Bd8 43. Rc8 Re5 44. Rd8 Rd8 45. Rc7 Ke6 46.
Rb7 Red5? [46...Rd1! a) 47. a6 Ra1 48. a7 (48. b5 Rd5) Rd5 49. g4 (the only
move; 49. Rb8 Rdd1 and Black is superior) Rdd1 50. gf5 Kf5; 50...gf5; b) 47.
Rh7 Rb1 48. Bc5 (48. Rg7 Rb4 49. Rg6 Kf7 50. Rb6 Rb6 51. ab6 Rb5 with
counterplay) Rd5 with counterplay] 47. Rh7 Rb5 48. Bc5 Rd2 49. Kf1 Ra2
50. Rc7 [50. Rg7! f4 (50...Kf6 51. Bd4 Ke6 52. Rg6 and White is winning)
51. Rg6 Kf7 52. Rg4 and White is winning; 50...Rc5] f4 51. Re7 Kf6 52.
Re4 fg3 53. fg3 [53. Rf4! Ke5 54. fg3 and White is winning] g5 54. h5 [54.
hg5 Kg5 55. Re2 and White is winning] Kf5 55. Re2 Ra3 56. Kg2 Kg4 57.
h6 Rg3 58. Kf2 [58. Kh1! Rb8 59. Rg2 Rh8 60. b5 and White is winning]
Rh3 59. Re6 Rb7 60. Ke2 [60. a6 Rf7 (60...Rd7 61. a7 Rd2 62. Re2!) 61.
Ke2 Rff3 62. Be3!] Kf5 61. a6 Rh2 62. Ke3 [62. Kd3? Rd7 63. Rd6 Rd6 64.
Bd6 Rh6 65. b5 Rd6 66. Kc4 g4 67. a7 Rd8 68. b6 g3 69. b7 g2 equal] Rd7
63. Rd6 Rd6 64. Bd6 Rh6 65. a7 Rh3 66. Kd4 Ra3 67. Bc5! [the only
move; 67. Bb8 Ke6 68. Kc5 Kd7 69. Kb6 Kc8 (equal) 70. b5 g4 71. Bg3 Ra2
72. Be1 Ra1 73. Ba5?? Ra5 74. Ka5 Kb7 and Black is winning] g4 [67...Ke6
68. Bb6! Ra6 69. Kc5 g4 70. Kb5 and White is winning] 68. Kd5 g3 69. Kc6
g2 70. Kb7 Ke6 71. Bg1! [71. a8Q?? Ra8 72. Ka8 Kd5 73. Kb7 Kc4 equal]
Kd5 [71...Ra1 72. a8Q and White is winning] 72. b5 1 : 0 [Anand]
Leko 2736 Vallejo Pons 2628

Linares 2003 87/167
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Qc7 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8.
0-0-0 Bb4 9. f3 Ne5 10. Nb3 b5 11. Bd4 Be7
12. Qg5! (a novelty) [12. Kb1 84/148] Ng6 13. Qg3! Bd6!? [13...Qg3 14.
hg3 and White is slightly better] 14. Qf2 Rb8 [14...Bh2!?] 15. Kb1 00 16.
Bc5! [16. g4 b4 17. Na4 Qc6 18. Nb6 Be5 unclear] Bc5 17. Qc5 Qc5 18.
Nc5 Rb6! [18...b4 19. N3a4 a5 20. Rd6!] 19. a4! Rc6 [19...d6 20. Nb3 ba4
(20...Bd7? 21. a5 Rc6 22. Na2! and White is superior; weak point a6, d6) 21.
Na4 (21. Na5!? with initiative) Rb4 22. Rd4 (22. Nc3) Rd4 23. Nd4 and
White is slightly better] 20. Nd3! [20. Nb3 ba4 21. Na4 d5 with counterplay]
ba4 21. Na4 [21. e5?! Nd5 22. Nd5 ed5 unclear] d5 22. ed5! [22. e5?! Nd7
23. f4 Rc4! 24. b3 Rf4! 25. Nf4 Nf4 with counterplay; 22. Nb4 Rd6 23. ed5
(23. c4 Bd7!) a5 24. Nc6 Bd7 25. Nc3 Bc6 26. dc6 Rc6] Nd5 23. Ndc5 (and
White is slightly better) [weak point Bc8, a6] Ne5 [23...Ne3!? 24. Rd2 Nf1
(24...Nf4!?) 25. Rf1 and White is slightly better] 24. Rd4! Nd7 25. Nd7 Bd7
26. Bc4 Nf6 [26...Ne3 27. Bb3 and White is slightly better] 27. Re1! Rfc8
28. Bd3! [28. b3?? Rc4] Kf8 29. Re5 R8c7 time [29...Nd5!? 30. c4 (30.
Be4!? and White is slightly better) Nf6 31. c5 with initiative] 30. Ra5 Bc8
31. b4! (and White is superior) Nd5 32. Kb2 g6 [32...Ne3 33. Nc5 Ng2 34.
Ba6 Ba6 35. Ra6 and White is superior; 32...Ke7!?] 33. Kb3 Ne3 34. Nc5
Ra7 [34...Ng2!? 35. Ba6 Ba6 36. Ra6 Rc5 37. bc5 Rc5 38. c4 and White is
superior] 35. g3 Ke7 36. f4 f6 37. Be4 Rb6 38. c4 (and White is winning) e5
39. fe5 fe5 40. Rd3 Nf5 41. Na4! Re6 42. b5! Nd4 43. Kc3 1 : 0 [Leko]
J. Lautier 2670 G. Timoshenko 2539

Moscow 2003 87/463
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 00 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. 00 Nc6 8.
a3 Bc3 9. bc3 dc4 10. Bc4 Qc7 11. Bb2 e5 12. h3 Bf5 13. Qe2 Rad8
14. Bb5! (a novelty) [14. Rfd1 86/505] e4 [14...ed4?! 15. cd4 a6 16. Bc6
Qc6 17. Rfc1 with initiative] 15. Nd2 a6 16. Bc6 Qc6 17. c4! [17. a4 cd4 18.
cd4 (18. ed4 b5 equal) Nd5 equal] Rfe8 [17...cd4 18. ed4 b5 19. d5 Qd6
(19...Qb6 20. a4 with initiative) 20. Rfd1 Rfe8 21. a4 and White is slightly
better] 18. a4 [18. d5!? Qd6 19. f4 ef3 20. Rf3 and White is slightly better]
Nd7 19. Rfe1 [19. a5 Qg6! 20. Kh1 Qh6 with counterplay; 19. Qh5 Bg6 20.
Qh4 cd4 21. ed4 Ne5! with counterplay] a5!? [19...Qg6 20. Kh1 Qh6 21. Nf1
and White is slightly better] 20. Bc3 b6 21. Qh5 Bg6 22. Qh4 cd4 [22...Qc7
23. d5 a) 23...Ne5 24. Ne4 Nd3 (24...Nc4 25. Nf6 gf6 26. Qc4 with initiative)
25. d6 Rd6 (25...Qc6 26. Nf6 and White is winning) 26. Nd6 Qd6 27. Reb1
and White is slightly better; b) 23...Nb8 (with the idea Na6-b4) 24. Qf4 Qf4
25. ef4 Na6 26. g4 and White is slightly better; c) 23...f6 24. Qf4 and White
is slightly better] 23. ed4 f5?! [23...Qc7! (b8-h2) 24. Ne4 (24. Re3 f5 25. f4
ef3 26. Rf3 Re2 27. Re1 Rde8 equal) Be4 (24...Qc4?! 25. Nd6 Re1 26. Re1
Qc7 27. Nb5 Qb8 28. d5 and White is superior) 25. Re4 Qc4 26. Rae1 a)
26...Nf6 27. Re8 Re8 28. Re8 Ne8 29. Qe7 (29. Qd8 Kf8) Qe6 (29...Qa4 30.
d5 h6 31. Be5 and White is superior) 30. Qd8 and White is superior; b)
26...Rf8 27. Qg3 Qd5 (27...Nf6? 28. d5 and White is winning) b1) 28. Rg4 g6
29. Rg5 Qb3 (29...f5? 30. Rg6 hg6 31. Qg6 Kh8 32. Re7 and White is
winning) 30. d5 unclear; b2) 28. Bd2 and White is slightly better ] 24. Qg3!
Qc8?! [24...Rf8 25. d5 (25. Qf4 Nf6! (with the idea Nh5) 26. d5? Nd5; 25.
f4!?) Qc8 26. Bd4 and White is slightly better (26. Qd6 Nf6 27. Qb6 Nd5 28.
Qa5 Nc3 29. Qc3 Rd3 with compensation) f4?! 27. Qc3 and White is
superior] 25. Rab1! [with the idea Rb5 and White is superior] f4 26. Qf4 e3
27. fe3 Bb1 28. Rb1 (and White is superior) Qc6 29. Rb5?! [29. d5 Qg6
(29...Qa4? 30. Rf1 Rf8 31. Qg4 and White is winning) 30. e4 Nc5 31. e5 Qd3
(31...Na4 32. Bd4 and White is superior) 32. Qd4 and White is superior]
Qg6?! [29...Nf6! 30. Rg5 (30. d5? Nd5!; 30. e4 Ne4 31. Ne4 Re4 32. Rb6
Qc4 33. Qe4 Qc3 and White is slightly better) Ne4 31. Ne4 Qe4 and White is
slightly better] 30. e4 (and White is superior) h6 [30...Rf8 31. Qe3 and White
is superior; 31. Qg5 and White is superior] 31. Kh2! [with the idea Qg3] Rf8
32. Qg3 Qg3 33. Kg3 g5 [33...Nc5 34. dc5 Rd3 35. Kh2 Rc3 36. cb6 Rc2 37.
b7 (37. Nb3 Rc4 38. b7 Rb8 39. Na5 Rc7 and White is superior) Rb8 38. c5
and White is winning, with the idea 38...Rd2 39. c6 Rc2 40. Ra5 Rc6 41.
Ra8] 34. e5 Rf4 35. e6 [35. Rd5 Kf7 36. c5 bc5 37. Ba5 Ra8 38. Rd7 Ke8 39.
e6 Ra5 40. Nc4 Ra6 with counterplay] Nf6 36. Rb6 (and White is winning)
Rdd4 [36...Ne4 37. Ne4 Re4 38. Kf3; 36...Nh5 37. Kh2 Rf2 38. Ne4 Re2 39.
e7 Re8 40. Re6 Nf4 41. Nf6 Kf7 42. Re2 Ne2 43. Ne8 Nc3 44. Nd6 Ke7 45.
Nb7] 37. Bd4 Rd4 38. e7 Ne8 39. Nf3 [39...Rc4 40. Rb8 Kf7 41. Ne5;
39...Re4 40. Rh6 Rc4 41. Rg6 Kh7 42. Ra6 Ra4 43. Ra8] 1 : 0 [J. Lautier]
Shirov 2735 I. Sokolov 2677

Sarajevo 2003 87/325
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 00 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8.
c3 00 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 c5 13. Nf1 Re8 14.
Ng3 cd4 [14...Bf8 17/331] 15. cd4 ed4 16. Nd4 d5! (a novelty) [16...Bf8]
17. ed5 [17. e5? Bb4!] Bd5 18. Ndf5 Bf8 19. Be3 [19. Bf4 Re1 20. Qe1 Rc8]
Qc7 [19...Bb4!? 20. Re2 (20. Bd2 Qa5) Bc4 21. Bd3 Ne5 22. Bc4 Qd1 23.
Rd1 Nc4 24. Bd4 Rad8] 20. Qd2 Qb7
21. Bd4!! Bg2 22. Qg5 [22. Kh2? Bd5 23. Rg1 Ne5] g6?! [22...Bh3 23. Nh6
Kh8 24. Nf7 Kg8 25. Nf5! Qg2 (25...Bf5 26. Bb3! and White is superior, with
attack) 26. Qg2 Bg2 27. Kg2 Kf7 28. Bb3 Kg6 29. Bc2 equal; 22...Bd5 23.
Ne4 Ne4 24. Be4 Be4 25. Nh6 Kh8 26. Nf7 Kg8 27. Nh6 equal] 23. Nh6 [23.
Bf6 Nf6 24. Qf6 Bh3 25. Nh4 Bg7 26. Qf4 Bb2 unclear] Bh6 24. Qh6 Re1!
[24...Qd5 25. Nf5 Nh5 26. Re7 gf5 27. Qg5 Kf8 28. Rd7 Qd7 29. Bc5 Re7
30. Qh5 and White is winning; 24...Qf3 25. Nf5 (25. Re4!?) Nh5 26. Re7!
Ne5 (the only move; 26...Qh3 27. Qh7! Kh7 28. Rf7 Ng7 29. Rg7 Kh8 30.
Rd7 and White is winning; 26...Nf8 27. Bd1 Qh3 28. Qh7! and White is
winning) 27. Re5 Bh3 28. Be4 Qg4 29. Ng3 Re5 30. Be5 Re8 31. Rc1 Re5
32. Bf5 Qf5 33. Nf5 Bf5 34. Rc6 and White is superior] 25. Re1 Re8 26. Re8
Ne8 27. Qe3 [27. Nf5! gf5 a) 28. Bf5?! Nf8! 29. Qg5 Ng6 30. Bg6 (30. Qg2?
Qg2 31. Kg2 Nh4 and Black is winning) fg6 31. Qg2 equal; b) 28. Qg5 Kf8
29. Qg2 Qc7! (29...Qg2 30. Kg2 with initiative) 30. Bc3 (30. Bf5? Qc1 31.
Qf1 Qg5 32. Bg4 h5 33. f4 Qg6 and Black is winning) Qf4 31. Qd5 Qc1 32.
Bd1 and White is slightly better] Ng7! [27...Nef6 28. Nf5] 28. Bg7 Kg7
(equal) 29. Qg5 [29. Nf5 equal; 29. Nh5 equal] Bh3 30. Nh5 Kg8 31. Qd8
Nf8 32. Be4? time [32. Nf6 Kg7 33. Ne8 Kg8 34. Nf6 equal] Qc8 (and Black
is superior) 33. Nf6 [better is 33. Qg5] Kh8 34. Qe7 Be6 [34...Qc1! 35. Kh2
Qh6 36. Qe5 Bf5 37. Kg1 (37. Kg3? Qh3 38. Kf4 g5 39. Kg5 Ne6 and Black
is winning; 37. Kg2 Be4 38. Ne4 Qg7 and Black is winning) Be4 38. Ne8 f6
and Black is winning] 35. Kg2! Nd7 [35...Ba2 36. Qe5 Qe6 37. Qd4 Kg7
(37...Qc4 38. Qe5 equal) 38. Ne8 Kh6 39. Nf6! equal; 35...h5 36. Bb7! Qb8
37. Bd5 Qc8 38. Bb7 equal] 36. Nd7 Bd7 37. Qf7 Be6 [37...Bh3!? 38. Kg3
Be6] 38. Qf6 Kg8 39. a3 Bf7 [better is 39...Qd7] 40. f3 (and Black is slightly
better) Qd7 41. b4 a5 42. ba5 Qd2 43. Kh3 Qa5 44. Qd6 Qa7 45. Kg2
(equal) Bc4 46. Bd5 Bd5 47. Qd5 Kf8 48. Qb5 Qa3 49. Qb8 Kg7 1/2 :
1/2 [I. Sokolov]
JU. Polgar 2715 B. Gelfand 2700

Budapest 2003 87/132
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bf6 gf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. ef5 Bf5 13. Nc2 00 14. Nce3
Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. 00 Ra7 17. f4 [17. a4 83/130]
17...Ne7! (a novelty; equal) [17...e4; 17...Raf7] 18. Bc2 [18. Ne7 Re7 (with
the idea 19. fe5 Qb6) 19. Bc2 equal] Nd5 19. Nd5 a5 20. a4 [20. a3 Qc8 21.
Bb3] Qc8 [20...Rb7!?] 21. Bb3 Qc5 22. Kh1 [22. Rf2 ba4 23. Ra4 Rb7 and
Black is superior] Kh8 [22...Rb7 23. Ne3!] 23. ab5 Qb5 24. Rf2 [24. Nb4?
Bb3 25. Qb3 ab4; 24. Ra3 a4 (24...Qc5!?) 25. Nc7 Rc7 26. Be6 e4 27. Ra4
Qb2 equal] a4 25. Ba2?! [25. Rd2 Rfa8 26. Ba2 a3 27. b4 e4 28. Rc1
unclear] a3 26. Nb4? [26. b4 and Black is slightly better] ab2? [26...Qc5 27.
Nd3
27...Qf2!! 28. Nf2 ab2 29. Rb1 Ra2 30. Qd2 (30. Qd6 Ra1) a) 30...e4 31.
Nd1 (31. Rb2 e3) Bb3 32. Rb2 (32. Ne3 Rc8) e3 (32...Rb2 33. Nb2 d5 34.
Qe3) 33. Qe1 Rb2 34. Nb2 and Black is slightly better; b) 30...Bb3 31. Nd3
(31. Nd1 e4) e4 b1) 32. Nb2 e3 33. Qe2; 32...Rc8 and Black is superior; b2)
32. Rb2 Ra1 33. Nc1 Be6 34. Rb7 Rc8 35. Rg7 Kg7 36. h3 Kf7 37. Kh2 and
Black is slightly better; c) 30...ef4! c1) 31. Nd3 Rb8 32. Qe1 (32. Nb4 Rb4
33. cb4 Ra1 34. Qc2 Be5 35. b5 Ba2) Bg8 33. Nf4 Ra3 and Black is winning;
c2) 31. Nd1 Be5 32. Rb2 (32. Nb2 Rb8 and Black is winning) Ra1 33. Kg1
f3! 34. gf3 Rg8 35. Kf2 (35. Kh1 f4 and Black is winning) f4! and Black is
winning (35...Bh2 36. Qh6 Bg3 37. Ke2 Bc4 38. Kd2 unclear) 36. Rb5 Bh3
37. Ke2 Rg2 38. Nf2 Rh2 39. Rb8 Kg7 40. Rb7 Kf6 41. Kd3 d5 42. Rb2 Kf5;
c3) 31. h3 c31) 31...Rg8 32. Nd3 (32. Rb2 Ra1 33. Nd1 Be5; 32. Nd1) Bd5
33. Ne1 Be4 34. Rb2 and Black is slightly better; c32) 31...Rc8 32. Nd1 Be5
33. Rb2 Ra1 and Black is superior] 27. Rb2 Rfa8 28. Rab1! Ba2 29. Na2
Qe8 equal 1/2 : 1/2 [B. Gelfand]
S. Kristjansson 2432 Shirov 2723

Reykjavik 2003 87/302
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 ed4 4. Nd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 b6 7. Bc4 Nge7
8. 00 Bb7 9. Nb5 0-0-0 10. Bc5 bc5 11. Nd2 [11. Bd5 60/(312)]
11...Ne5! (a novelty) [11...a6] 12. f4! [12. Na7 Kb8 13. Nb5 (13. Qa4 Nc4
14. Nc4 Qa6) d5 14. ed5 (14. Bb3 de4 15. Qe2 Qg6) Nd5 15. Ne4 Qb6 16.
Qb3 Nf4 and Black is winning] Nc4 13. Nc4 d5! [13...a6? 14. Nc7!! Be4
(14...Kc7 15. e5 Qe6 16. Qd6 Qd6 17. ed6 and White is winning) 15. Nd6
Kc7 16. Ne4 Qc6 17. Re1 and White is superior] 14. Ne5 [better is 14. ed5
Rd5! 15. Qg4 (15. Na7 Kb8 16. Qa4 Qa6 17. Qa6 Ba6 18. Rfe1 Ka7 19. Re7
Bc4 20. Rc7 Kb6 21. Rf7 Rd2 22. Rg7 Rb2 and Black is superior) Kb8 16.
Rad1 a6 17. Nba3 h5 18. Qe2 unclear] a6?! [14...Kb8! 15. Qa4 a6 16. Na3
Qe6 17. ed5 Qd5 18. Qc2 Ng6 and Black is slightly better] 15. Qg4 Kb8
[15...Qe6 16. Qe6 fe6 17. Na3 unclear] 16. Na3 de4!? [16...h5 17. Nd7 (17.
Qg5 Qe6!) Kc8 (17...Ka7 18. Qh3 Qd6 19. Ne5 unclear; 17...Ka8 18. Qh3
Qd6 19. Ne5 unclear) 18. Nb6 equal] 17. Nd7 Rd7 18. Qd7 Nd5 19. Nc4
Nf4 20. Ne3?! [20. Rad1!? Qg5 21. g3!? (21. Qd2 e3 22. Ne3 Re8 23. Nd5
Re2 24. Nf4 Rd2 25. Rd2 Bc6 and Black is slightly better; 21. Rf4!? Qf4 22.
Rf1) Bc8 (21...Ne2?! 22. Kf2 Qh5 23. Qd2 Qh2 24. Ke1 Qg3 25. Ke2 and
White is superior) 22. Qf7 Ne2 23. Kf2 Qh6 24. Ke2 (24. Na5? Be6! 25. Nc6
Kc8 and Black is superior) Be6 25. Qf4 Bc4 26. Ke3! Qb6 27. Rf2 Bd3 28.
Rd3 ed3 29. Kd3 equal; 20. Rf4!? Qf4 21. Rf1 Qg5 22. Rf7 Rc8 23. Qe7 Qd5
24. b3 Qd3 25. Qc5 Qc3 unclear] Rd8 21. Qg4?! [21. Rf4 Rd7 22. Rf6 gf6
23. Rd1 and Black is slightly better; 21. Qf5 Qf5 22. Nf5 Nd3 23. Ne3 f6 24.
Rad1 Kc8 25. Rd2 and Black is slightly better] g5 (and Black is superior) 22.
Rad1 Rd3 23. Qf5 Qe7 [23...Qf5 24. Nf5 Bc8 25. Rd3 ed3 26. Ne3 unclear]
24. Rfe1 f6?! [24...h5? 25. b4 cb4 26. cb4 Qb4 27. Qg5; 24...h6! and Black is
superior, with the idea 25. b4 cb4 26. cb4 Qb4 27. Qf7 Qb6! (27...Qc5? 28.
Qg8 Ka7 29. Qc4 Qb6 30. Qc1 unclear) 28. Rd3 ed3 29. Qb3 Ne2 30. Re2
de2 31. Kf2 Qd6 and Black is winning] 25. Ng4? [25. b4! cb4 26. cb4 Qb4
27. Qf6 Qc5 28. Rd3 ed3 (28...Nd3 29. Re2 and Black is slightly better) 29.
Kh1 (29. Kf1 Bc6 30. Qb2 Bb5 31. Qd2 Ne2 32. Rb1 Nc3 and Black is
winning) Ka7 30. Qb2 and Black is slightly better] c4? [25...Rd1 26. Rd1 e3
and Black is winning] 26. Ne3 [26. Qf6 Qc5 (26...Qf6 27. Nf6 e3 28. Nd7
Ka7 29. Ne5 Ng2 30. Nd3 cd3 31. Re3 Ne3 32. Rd3) 27. Kf1 (27. Kh1 e3) e3
28. Rd3 Bg2 29. Kg1 cd3 30. Ne3 Bd5 and Black is winning] Qd6 27. g3?!
[better is 27. Kf1 Rd2 and Black is winning] Qb6 (and Black is winning) 28.
gf4 Rd1 29. Rd1 Qe3 30. Kf1 gf4 31. Qf6 Bc8 32. Qf8 [32. Rd8 Qc1 33.
Ke2 Qb2 34. Ke1 f3] Qf3 33. Ke1 e3 0:1 [Shirov]

The Ten Best Games of Volume 87

Ivan Markovic

The times might have changed as the Chess Informants best game poll had
the first-time-ever computer program entry, but it was Kasparov who firmly
held the thick end of the stick against the computer in the first game of the
Man vs. Machine match (people generally tend to be overawed by the brute
force of the computers calculating power, but No. 1 had no kid gloves for
Deep Junior). In the dawning of the new era of virtual beauty queens where
screen-deep digital models parade the VR catwalks redefining ideals of
gracefulness and charm, human creativity and passion (hand-in-hand with
common sense, one might add) prevail over the chessboard despite evermounting pressure from top computer engines beauty and silicon (beasts)
still fail to co-exist within the same sentence.
Fortunately enough, the chess world has an undisputed flesh-and-blood
queen in Judit Polgar, whose inspired attack along the h-file devastated her
young compatriots futile defensive attempts in front of the home crowd in
Budapest, Hungary. Alexei Shirovs fire on the board torched Van Welys
overoptimistic effort to put it out with gasoline, despite the Dutchmans
quality opening play garnished with an important novelty. Third place went
to Nigel Shorts win against Christopher Lutz by means of a topical piece
sacrifice which opened the door to a tense tactical struggle crowned by the
neat finish. Among the top-tenners Kramnik and Leko are the only ones with
double entries, which is definitely at odds with their peaceful reputation, as
we are led to believe by the chess media.
Finally, I would like to make a honourable mention of two underdogs that
should not be left unnoticed only because of the less fancied names: Zelcic
Okhotnik (No. 16) and Sakalauskas R. Kaminski (No. 22) are true pearls of
chess ingenuity and vigor, the latter being an unprecedented case of a
correspondence game fragment making it to the Chess Informant Editorial
Boards final selection.
The Chess Cafe

E-mail Newsletter
JU. Polgar 2715 Berkes 2578

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 de4 5. Ne4 Be7 6. Bf6 Bf6 7. Nf3 Nd7
8. Qd2 0-0 9. 0-0-0 Be7 10. Bd3 b6 11. Neg5 h6 12. Bh7!? (a novelty) Kh8
13. Be4 hg5? [13...Rb8 14. h4 Nf6 15. Bd3 Bb7 16. Ne5 Kg8 17. Qe2 with
an attack; 13...Bg5! 14. Ng5 Rb8 15. Nf3 (15. h4 Nf6) Nf6 16. Bd3 Bb7
equal]
14. g4!! [14. Ba8? g4 15. Ne5? Bg5 and Black is winning] Rb8 [14...Ba6 15.
h4 a) 15...f5 16. hg5 Kg8 17. gf5 Rf5 18. Bf5 ef5 19. Qc3! (19. Qe3 Bc4)
Bg5 20. Ng5 Qg5 21. Kb1 Rf8 (21...c5 22. Qb3 c4 23. Qa4 and White is
winning; 21...Kf7 22. Qb3 Kf6 23. Qd5 Rd8 24. Rde1 and White is winning)
22. Qb3 Rf7 23. Rh8 Kh8 24. Qf7 and White is winning; b) 15...g6 16. hg5
Kg7 17. Qf4 Rh8 (17...Bd6 18. Ne5 Be7 19. Nf7 Bd6 20. Qf3 Qe7 21. Rh7
Kh7 22. Qh3 Kg8 23. Rh1 Kf7 24. Bg6 Kg6 25. Qh5 Kg7 26. Qh7 mate) 18.
Rh8 Qh8 19. Ne5 Ne5 20. Qe5 Kg8 21. Qh8 Kh8 22. Rh1 Kg7 23. Ba8 and
White is winning; c) 15...Kg8 16. hg5 Re8 17. Bh7 Kf8 18. Bd3 and White is
winning; d) 15...gh4 16. g5 Kg8 17. Qf4 f5 18. Qh4 fe4 19. Qh7 Kf7 20. Qh5
g6 (20...Kg8 21. g6 and White is winning) 21. Qh7 Ke8 22. Qg6 Rf7 23. Rh7
Bg5 24. Ng5 Qg5 25. Qg5 Rh7 26. Qg6 Rf7 27. Qe6! Re7 (27...Kf8 28. Rh1
Nf6 29. Rh8 Ng8 30. Qe4 Rb8 31. Qg4 Rg7 32. Qf3 Ke8 33. Qb3! Kf8 34.
Qa3 and White is winning) 28. Qg6 Kd8 29. Rh1 Re8 30. Rh7 Nf8 31. Qf6
Kc8 32. Qc6 Nh7 33. Qe8 Kb7 34. Qe4 and White is winning; 14...c6 15. h4
gh4 (15...g6 16. hg5 Kg7 17. Qf4 with an attack) 16. g5 a) 16...Kg8 17. Qf4
f5 (17...h3 18. Rh3 and White is winning) a1) 18. Qh4?! Qc7! (18...fe4 19.
Qh7 Kf7 20. Qh5 g6 21. Qh7 Ke8 22. Qg6 Rf7 23. Rh7 Bg5 24. Ng5 Qg5 25.
Qg5 Rh7 26. Qg6 Rf7 27. Qe6 Re7 28. Qc6 and White is winning) 19. Bd3
Kf7 20. Qh5 g6 21. Qh7 Ke8 22. Qg6 Kd8; a2) 18. Bc6! Rb8 19. Qh4 Bd6
20. Ne5 Be5 21. de5 Kf7 22. Rd6 and White is winning; b) 16...f6 17. Nh4
Kg8 (17...fg5 18. Ng6 Kg8 19. Bc6 Rb8 20. d5 and White is winning) 18. Ng6
and White is superior] 15. h4 g6 [15...f5 16. hg5 Kg8 17. gf5 Rf5 18. Bf5 ef5
19. Qe3 Nf8 (19...Kf7 20. g6 Ke8 21. Rh8 Nf8 22. Rf8 Kf8 23. Rh1 and White
is winning) 20. Ne5 Qd5 21. Qh3 Bg5 22. Kb1 Bh6 23. Rdg1 Kh8 24. Qg3
and White is winning; 15...gh4 16. g5 f5 (16...Kg8 17. Qf4) 17. Qf4 fe4 18.
Qh4 Kg8 19. Qh7 Kf7 20. Qh5 g6 21. Qh7 Ke8 22. Qg6 Rf7 23. Rh7 Bg5 24.
Ng5 Qg5 25. Qg5 Rh7 26. Qg6 Rf7 27. Qe6 Re7 28. Qg6 Rf7 29. Qe4 and
White is superior; 15...Kg8 16. hg5 Re8 17. Qf4 Nf8 18. Rh3 and White is
superior; 15...Bb7 16. hg5 Kg8 17. Bb7 Rb7 18. Qf4 Rb8 (18...Re8 19. Kb1!
Bd6 20. Rh8 Kh8 21. Qf7 Nf8 22. Rh1 Nh7 23. g6 and White is winning) 19.
Kb1! Bd6 20. Ne5 Be5 21. de5 Re8 22. Rd3 and White is superior] 16. hg5
Kg7 17. Qf4 Bb7 [17...Bd6 18. Ne5 Be5 19. de5 Rh8 20. Rh8 Qh8 21. Bc6
Qd8 22. Kb1! a5 23. a4 Kf8 24. Rh1 and White is winning; 17...Rg8 18. Rh7
Kh7 19. Qf7 and White is winning; 17...Rh8 18. Rh8 Qh8 (18...Kh8 19. Qf7)
19. Ne5 a) 19...Ne5 20. Qe5 Kg8 21. Qc7 Bg5 22. Kb1 and White is
winning; b) 19...Qe8 20. Rh1 and White is winning; c) 19...f6 20. gf6 Bf6 21.
Rh1 Be5 (21...g5 22. Qf3 Qg8 23. Nd7 Bd7 24. Rh7 and White is winning)
22. de5 Qg8 23. Rh6 Nf8 24. Rh3 and White is winning; d) 19...Qg8 20. Rh1
Bd6 21. Rh7!! Qh7 (21...Kh7 22. Qh2 Kg7 23. Qh6 mate; 21...Kf8 22. Rh8
Qh8 23. Qf7 mate) 22. Qf7 Kh8 23. Ng6 Qg6 24. Bg6 Nf8 25. Qf6 Kg8 26.
Bf7 Kh7 27. g6 and White is winning]
18. Rh7! Kh7 19. Qh2 Kg8 [19...Kg7 20. Qh6 Kg8 21. Bg6 (21. Rh1? Bg5!
22. Ng5 Qg5 23. Qg5 Be4) Bg5 22. Ng5 Qg5 23. Qg5 fg6 24. Qg6 Kh8 25.
f3! Bf3 26. Rd2 and White is winning] 20. Rh1 Bg5 21. Ng5 Qg5 [21...Kg7
22. Ne6! Kf6 (22...fe6 23. Qh7 Kf6 24. g5! Kg5 25. Qh4 mate) 23. Nd8 Be4
24. Qf4 and White is winning] 22. f4 Qf4 [22...Qh5 23. gh5 Be4 24. hg6 Kg7
25. Qh6 Kf6 26. Qg5 Kg7 27. Rh7 Kg8 28. Qh6 and White is winning] 23.
Qf4 Be4 24. Qe4 1 : 0 [Ju. Polgar]
Shirov 2723 Van Wely 2668

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Qc7 5. 0-0 e6 6. Re1 Ng4!? 7. Bc6
bc6! [7...Qc6? 8. d4 and White is superior; 7...dc6?! 8. e5 Nh6 9. d4 and
White is slightly better] 8. e5 [8. d3!?] f6! 9. d4 (a novelty) cd4 10. Qd4 Ne5
11. Ne5 fe5 12. Re5 Be7! 13. Bg5!? [13. Bf4 d6 14. Re3 0-0 unclear] Bd6?
[13...d6 14. Be7 Qe7 15. Re3 unclear] 14. Bf4! [14. Rf5!? Rf8! 15. Ne4 (15.
Rf8 Kf8 equal) Bh2 16. Kh1 Rf5 (16...d5!? 17. Rf8 Kf8 18. g3 de4 19. Kh2
Qb6 unclear) 17. Qg7 Bd6 18. Qh7! (18. Rd1 Bf8 19. Qh7 Rg5 20. Ng5 Qf4!
21. Qg6 Ke7 equal) Rg5 19. Ng5 Qa5! 20. Qg8 Ke7 21. Rd1! Qe5! (21...Qf5
22. Qg7 Ke8 23. Rd6 Qf2 24. Rd4!? with an attack) 22. Qh7 Ke8 23. Qg6
Ke7 24. g3 Qf5 25. Qg7 Ke8 26. Rd6 Qf2 unclear] c5
15. Qe3!! [15. Re6 de6 16. Qd6 Qd6 17. Bd6 with compensation; 15. Qe4
Be5 (15...Bb7?! 16. Re6 de6 17. Qe6 Qe7 18. Qd6 Qd6 19. Bd6 c4 20. Nb5!
and White is superior) 16. Be5 d5 17. Bc7 de4 18. Ne4 with compensation]
a6 [15...Rb8 16. Nd5 (16. Rd1!?) Qb7 (16...Qc6 17. Qg3 Be5 18. Be5 Qd5
19. Qg7 Rf8 20. Bb8 and White is superior) 17. Rf5! and White is superior,
with the idea 17...Qb2 18. Re1 Qc2 19. g4 Bf4 20. Qf4 Rb1 21. Nc7 Kd8 22.
Qg5 Kc7 23. Rc5 and White is winning] 16. Nd5!? [16. Qg3!? Bb7 17. Rd1!
(17. Re6 de6 18. Bd6 Qc6 unclear) 0-0 (17...0-0-0 18. Rc5 Qc5 19. Bd6 and
White is winning) 18. Rc5 Bf4 19. Rc7 Bg3 20. hg3 Bc6 21. Ne2 and White
is superior] Qc6 [16...Qb8 17. Rf5! (17. Qg3? 0-0 18. Rae1 Qb2 19. c3 Rf4
20. Qf4 Bb7!; 17. Rg5 Bf4 18. Nf4 Qb2 19. Rf1 0-0 20. c3 Rf7 21. Nh5 Qb8
unclear) Bf4 18. Rf4 d6 19. b4! and White is superior] 17. Rg5!? [17. Rf5!?]
h6 [17...Bf4 18. Nf4 0-0 19. Qc3 and White is winning] 18. Bd6! hg5
[18...Qd6 19. Rd1 Kd8 20. Nc3 and White is winning] 19. Rd1! (and White
is winning) Rh6 [19...Qd6 20. Nf6 Ke7 (20...gf6 21. Rd6) 21. Rd6 Kd6 22.
Ne4; 19...Bb7 20. Qg5 Qd6 21. Nf6 gf6 22. Qg6 Kd8 23. Rd6 Kc7 24. Qd3]
20. Ne7 Qa4 [20...Qb5 21. Ng8] 21. Qf3 Bb7 [21...Qc2 22. Ng8] 22. Qb7
Rd8 23. Ng8 Rh8 24. Qf3 Rg8 25. Qh5 1 : 0 [Shirov]
N. Short 2686 CH. Lutz 2640

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 b5 8.
f3 Nd4 9. Bd4 Ne7 10. 0-0-0 Nc6 11. Be3 Be7 12. h4 [a novelty; 12. Kb1] 00 [12...b4!? with the idea 13. Nd5 ed5 14. ed5 b3! 15. ab3 Na5!] 13. Kb1
Rb8 [13...b4 14. Nd5 ed5 15. ed5 Re8 16. dc6 (16. Bf4?? Bd6 17. Bd6 Qd6
18. dc6 Qd2) dc6 17. Bc4 and White is slightly better] 14. h5 b4 15. Nd5!
ed5 16. ed5 b3 17. cb3 Nb4 [17...Bb4 18. Qc2!? Qe5 19. Qc1; 18. Qc1] 18.
d6! Qa5 19. a3 Qf5 20. Ka1 Nc2 [20...Bd6 21. Qd6 Nc2 22. Ka2 Ne3 23.
Bd3 with the idea Qb8] 21. Ka2 Bf6 22. Ba7 [22. Bf2!? Bg5 23. Qc3 Na3
24. ba3 Bb7] Ra8 [22...Rb7?! 23. Bf2 Bg5 24. Qc3 Bf6 25. Bd3] 23. Bd3
[23. Bf2? a5 24. Bd3 Nb4! 25. ab4 ab4 26. Kb1 Qa5; 23. Bb6!?] Qe5 24.
Qc2 Ra7 25. Rhe1 Qg5 26. Bh7 Kh8 27. Be4 (with compensation) Bb7 28.
g4 a5 29. Qf2 Be4 30. Re4 [30. Qa7? Bf3] Rb7 31. Qe2 Qb5 32. Rd3!
Rbb8 [32...Rb6!? 33. f4 a4 34. Ra4 Rd6!; 34. b4] 33. f4 Kg8 34. g5 Bd8 35.
Re5! Qa6 36. Qe4 Rb6 37. Red5 [37. h6! and White is winning Rd6 38. h7
Kh8 39. Re8 Re8 40. Qe8 Kh7 41. Rh3 Kg6 42. Qe4! f5 43. Qe8 mate] Rc6
38. h6! a4 39. hg7! ab3 40. Kb3 Kg7 41. Rh3 Rg8 42. Rh7 Kf8 43. Rf7!
Kf7 44. Qf5 Kg7 45. Qd7! Kg6 46. Qe6 [46...Kh5 47. Qh3 Kg6 48. Qh6
Kf7 49. Rf5 Ke8 50. Qe6] 1 : 0 [Golubev]
Dreev 2690 Tiviakov 2636

Dos Hermanas 2003 87/435
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cd5 Nd5 7. Bd2 Nd7 8.
Nd5 Bd5 9. Qc2 c5 10. e4 Bb7 11. d5 ed5 12. ed5 Bd6 13. 0-0-0 0-0 14.
Bb5!? (a novelty) h6 [14...Nf6 15. Bg5] 15. Bc3 [15. h4 Nf6 16. Ng5 (16.
Bc3 Nd5) Be5] Nf6 16. Bc6 Rb8 [16...Bc6 17. dc6 Rc8 18. Qa4] 17. h4 [with
the idea Ng5] Ng4 (the only move) 18. Kb1 Bc8? [better is 18...Qc7 with the
idea 19. Ng5 hg5 20. hg5 f5 21. gf6 Nf6 22. Bf6 Rf6 23. Qh7 Kf8 equal] 19.
Rde1! [with the idea Ng5; 19. Ng5 hg5 20. hg5 f5] g6 [19...b5 20. Ng5 hg5
21. hg5 f5 22. gf6 Nf6 23. Qg6 (23. Rh6!?) b4 24. ab4 cb4 25. Bd4 and
White is winning; with the idea Re4-h4; 19...Bd7 20. Ng5 hg5 21. hg5 f5 22.
gf6 Nf6 (22...Rf6 23. Qh7 Kf7 24. Bd7 Qd7 25. Re6 and White is winning)
23. Qg6 Bc6 (23...Qc8 24. Bd7 Qd7 25. Re6 Be7 26. Re3 Qe8 27. Qf5 Qc8
28. Qc8 Rbc8 29. Re7 Rf7 30. Rh8 and White is winning) 24. dc6 Re8
(24...Rf7 25. Rh3; 24...Qc7 25. Re6 Ne8 26. Qh7 Kf7 27. Rhe1) 25. Rd1! Re6
(25...Rf8 26. Rh7) 26. Rh7 Qc7 27. Rdh1 and White is winning; 19...Qc7 20.
Ng5 hg5 21. hg5 f5 22. gf6 Nf6 23. Bf6 gf6 24. Rh6 and White is winning;
19...f6 20. Qg6 b5 21. Ng5 hg5 22. hg5 Ne5 23. Qh7 Kf7 24. Rh6 and White
is winning]
20. Re6! Be6 (the only move) 21. de6 f5 (theonly move) 22. h5 gh5 [22...g5
23. e7!! Qe7 (23...Be7 24. Rd1 Qc7 25. Qb3 Rf7 26. Qe6 Bf6 27. Rd7 and
White is winning) 24. Bd5 Kh7 25. Re1 Qc7 26. Be6 and White is winning,
weak point f5] 23. Rh5 Qe7 24. Nh4 (and White is winning) Qe6 25. Nf5
Be5 [25...Rf5 26. Rf5 Be5 27. Qe4] 26. Bd5 1 : 0 [Dreev]
R. Ponomariov 2734 Kramnik 2809

Linares 2003 87/115
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bc6 dc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Nd7 8.
Be3 e5 9. Qd2 h6 10. 0-0 Qe7 11. a3 Nf8 [11...b6 83/119] 12. b4 Ne6 13.
Na4 [13. bc5 f5 with initiative] b6! [13...Nd4] 14. Nh2 [a novelty; 14. bc5 b5
15. Nc3 Nc5 16. Ne2 Ne6 unclear; 15...f5!] f5 15. f3? [15. ef5 gf5 a) 16. f3
f4 (16...c4 17. dc4 Ba6 with initiative) 17. Bf2 e4 18. fe4 Ba1 19. Ra1 Rg8
20. Kh1 Rg2 21. Kg2 Qg7 22. Ng4 Qa1 and Black is superior; b) 16. f4! ef4
17. Bf4 Ba1 18. Ra1 Rg8 19. Re1 with counterplay] f4 16. Bf2 h5! [16...cb4
17. ab4 Rb8] 17. bc5 b5 18. Nb2 g5 (and Black is superior) 19. d4?! [19. a4
g4! 20. fg4 hg4 21. Ng4 Ng5 a) 22. Qd1 f3 and Black is superior; b) 22. ab5
Bg4 (22...Rh3 23. Qd1) 23. hg4 Qe6 24. Nc4 (the only move) Qg4 25. Nd6
Kf8! 26. Be1 f3 27. Qg5 (the only move) Qg5 28. Rf3 Kg8 and Black is
superior; c) 22. Nh2 Bh3 (22...Nh3!? 23. gh3 Bh3 with an attack 24. Kh1;
22...f3!?) 23. gh3 Rh3 with an attack] ed4 [19...g4 20. d5 and Black is
slightly better; 19...Nd4 20. Bd4 ed4 21. Nd3 a5 and Black is superior] 20.
Nd3 Nc5 21. Nc5 Qc5 22. Rfd1 [22. Rad1 Qa3 23. Bd4 Bd4 24. Qd4 Qe3
25. Qe3 fe3 and Black is superior] Be6 23. Qb4 [23. Bd4 Bd4 24. Qd4 Qd4
25. Rd4 Ke7 and Black is superior with the idea 26. c3 c5 27. Rd2 Rhd8 28.
Rb2 Rab8] Qb6! [23...Qb4 24. ab4 d3 25. cd3 Ba1 26. Ra1 Rh7 and Black is
slightly better] 24. a4 [24. Qd6 c5; 24. Bd4 Bd4 25. Qd4 (25. Rd4 c5) Qd4
26. Rd4 Ke7 and Black is superior] c5 [24...a5 25. Qd6 Kf7 26. ab5 Rhd8 27.
Qc6 Qc6 28. bc6 d3 and Black is superior] 25. Qb5 Qb5 [25...Kf7 and Black
is superior] 26. ab5 Kf7 27. Ra5 Rhb8 28. Nf1 [28. Rda1 d3! 29. Ra7 Kg6
30. Rg7 (the only move) Kg7 31. Ra8 dc2! 32. Rb8 (32. Ra1 Rb5) c1Q 33.
Nf1 Bc4 and Black is winning] Be5 [28...Bc4 29. Rb1 a6 30. b6 Bb5 31. Nd2
Rb6 32. Nc4 Rc6 and Black is superior] 29. Rda1 [better is 29. Rb1 Bd7 30.
Nd2 Bc7 31. Ra6 Bb5 32. Rh6 Be5 and Black is superior]
29...d3! (and Black is winning) 30. Ra7 [30. cd3 Ba1 31. Ra1 Rb5] Kf6! 31.
Ra8 [31. cd3 Ba1] Ra8 32. Ra8 [32. Rc1 Bb2; 32. Rd1 dc2 33. Rc1 Bb3 34.
Nd2 c4 35. Nc4 Ra1] dc2 33. Rf8 Kg7 34. Re8 Kf7 35. Rf8 [35. Re7 Ke7
36. Bc5 Bd6] Kg6 36. Re8 Bc4 37. Re5 c1Q 38. Rc5 [38. Kh2 Qf1 39. Bc5
g4 40. fg4 hg4 41. hg4 Qe1] Qf1 39. Kh2 Qf2 40. Rc4 g4 0 : 1 [Kramnik]
G. Kasparov 2847 R. Ponomariov 2734

Linares 2003 87/445
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. c4 Be7 6. Nc3 Ne4 7. Bd2 Bf6 8.
0-0 0-0 9. Rc1 d5 10. cd5 ed5 11. Bf4 Nc3?! [11...Na6 46/378] 12. bc3!
Na6?! [a novelty; 12...Nd7 13. Nd2 c5 14. e4 cd4 15. cd4 Bd4 16. Rc7 Nc5
(16...Ba6? 17. Qa4) 17. Nb3 g5 18. Nc5 (18. Nd4!? gf4 19. Nf5 Qf6 20. Ne7
Kh8 21. ed5) bc5 19. Rb7 gf4 20. Qg4 Bg7 (20...Kh8 21. Qf4) 21. ed5 and
White is superior; 12...Nc6!? 13. Nd2 Na5 14. e4 de4 15. Ne4 and White is
slightly better]
13. e4! de4 [13...c5 14. ed5 (14. e5!? Be7 15. Be3) a) 14...Bd5 15. c4 Bf3 16.
Qf3 cd4 (16...Qd4 17. Qa3 and White is superior) 17. Qa8 Qa8 18. Ba8 Ra8
19. Bd6 and White is superior; b) 14...Qd5 15. c4 Qf5 16. Nh4 Qd7 17. d5
Rfe8 (17...g5? 18. Qh5 gf4 19. Be4 Rfd8 20. Qh7 Kf8 21. Nf5 and White is
winning) 18. Qd2 and White is slightly better] 14. Nd2 g5? [14...Re8 15. Re1
g5 16. Ne4 Be4 17. Be4 gf4 18. Qa4! Rb8 (18...fg3 19. hg3 Re4 20. Re4 Qc8
21. Rce1 Qb7 22. Rg4 Kf8 23. Qa3! c5 24. Qc1 Bg7 25. Rg7! Kg7 26. Qg5
Kf8 27. Qf6 Kg8 28. Re5 and White is winning; 18...Re4 19. Re4 Qc8 20.
Rce1 Qb7 21. Rf4 Kg7 22. Qd7 Qc8 23. Rg4 Kf8 24. Qd5 Qg4 25. Qa8 Kg7
26. Qb7 and White is winning) 19. Qa6 and White is superior b5? 20. Bh7]
15. Be3! [15. Ne4 Be4 16. Be4 gf4 17. Qh5 Re8 18. Qh7 Kf8 19. Bb7! a)
19...Rb8 20. Ba6 b5 21. a4 ba4 (21...c6 22. ab5 cb5 23. Qf5 and White is
winning) 22. Bc4 and White is superior; b) 19...c5 20. Ba6 cd4 21. Rfd1 and
White is superior] Re8 [15...Qe7 16. Qh5 c5 17. Rce1! cd4 (17...Rad8 18.
Bg5 Bg5 19. Ne4 Be4 20. Be4 h6 21. Bh7 Kh7 22. Re7 Be7 23. Qe2 and
White is winning) 18. Ne4 de3 19. Nf6 Qf6 20. Bb7 and White is winning]
16. f4! ef3 17. Bf3 Bd5! [17...c6 18. Be4 Kg7 19. Qh5 h6 20. Bg5 hg5 21.
Qh7 Kf8 22. Qh6 Bg7 23. Rf7! Kf7 24. Rf1 and White is winning] 18. Bd5!
Qd5 19. Rf6 Re3 20. Qg4 [20. Qf1!? Rae8 (20...Qa2 21. Rf2! and White is
winning; 20...Re6 21. Re6 Qe6 22. Re1 Qa2 23. Ne4 and White is winning)
21. Qa6 (21. Rf5 Qa2 22. Rg5 Kf8 unclear) Rc3 22. Rc3 Qd4 23. Rf2 Qc3
24. Qa7 and White is winning] Re6 [20...Rae8 21. Rf5 Qe6 22. Qg5 Qg6 23.
Qf4 h6 24. Rf1 Re1 25. Nc4 and White is winning] 21. Rf5 Qc6 22. Qg5 [22.
Rcf1! Qc3 23. Rf7 Qe3 (23...Rg6 24. Re7! and White is winning) 24. Kh1
and White is winning] Rg6 23. Qh5 Rf8 [23...Nb4 24. Rcf1 Qc3 25. Rf7
Qd4 26. R1f2 Rg7 27. Rg7 Kg7 (27...Qg7 28. a3! and White is winning) 28.
Nb3 Qd7 29. Rf4 and White is winning] 24. Nf3 f6 25. Nh4 Rg7 26. Qh6
Nb8 27. Rh5 [27. Rf2!?] f5 [only move; 27...Nd7 28. Nf5 Rgf7 29. Rg5 Kh8
30. Rg7 and White is winning] 28. Qf4 Qe4 29. Rf1 Qf4 30. Rf4 Rg4 31.
Rff5 Nd7 32. Rf8 Nf8 33. Kf2 Nd7 34. Nf5 Kh8 35. Kf3 [better is 35. Rh6
and White is winning] Rg8 36. Rh6 Rf8 37. g4 Nf6 38. c4 Kg8 [38...a6 39.
Kf4 (39. a4 c6 40. Kf4 b5 41. ab5 ab5 42. g5 Ng8 43. Rc6 Rf5 44. Kf5 Ne7
45. Ke4 Nc6 46. cb5 Na7! 47. b6 Nc8 equal) b5 40. g5 Ng8 41. Ra6 bc4 42.
Ke5 and White is winning] 39. Kf4 Rf7 40. g5 Ne8 41. Ke5 Rd7 42. Ke6
Rf7 43. Rf6 Nf6 [44. gf6 Rf8 (44...Kf8 45. Nh6 and White is winning) 45.
Nh6 Kh8 46. Ke7 Rc8 47. Nf7 Kg8 48. Nd8 and White is winning] 1 : 0 [G.
Kasparov]
Kramnik 2809 V. Topalov 2743

Monaco (blindfold) 2003 87/223
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. f4 a6 8.
Qf3 Qc7 9. 0-0-0 Bd7 10. Nb3!? [10. g4 39/290] Rc8 [a novelty; 10...Be7;
10...Na5] 11. Kb1 [11. g4 Nb4 (with initiative) 12. Kb1 Bc6; 12...d5] b5 12.
Bd3 Nb4 [12...Na5 13. Na5 Qa5 14. Ne2 and White is superior] 13. g4 Bc6
[13...Nd3 14. cd3 e5 (14...b4 15. Ne2) 15. f5 b4 16. Ne2 d5 17. Ng3 with
initiative] 14. g5 Nd7 [14...Ne4!? 15. Be4 (15. Ne4?! d5 16. Nd4 de4 17. Be4
Be4 18. Qe4 Qc4 19. b3 Qd5) d5 16. g6!! (16. Nd5 ed5 17. Bf5 d4 18. Qe2
de3 19. Qe3 Be7 20. Rhe1 unclear) hg6 (16...de4 17. Qh3 with an attack with
the idea Qh7) 17. Bg6 d4 (17...fg6 18. Nd4) 18. Qg4] 15. Qf2 g6 [15...Nd3
16. cd3 b4 17. Ne2 d5 18. Ned4 de4 19. Nc6 Qc6 20. Rc1 and White is
superior] 16. Rhf1 [16. Bd4 e5 17. fe5 Ne5 (17...de5 18. Rhf1! f5 19. gf6 ed4
20. f7 Kd8 21. Nd4 and White is superior) 18. Qf6 Rg8 and White is slightly
better] Bg7 17. f5 (and White is superior) Ne5 18. Bb6 Qd7 [better is
18...Qb7 19. Na5] 19. Be2! [with the idea Nc5] Qb7 20. Na5 [20. fe6 0-0 21.
Na5 and White is superior] Qb8 21. f6 [21. fe6 fe6 (21...0-0 22. e7 Rfe8 23.
a3 Nc2 24. Kc2 Be4 25. Kb3 Bf5 26. Ka2) 22. Qd4 Bd7 only move] Bf8 22.
a3 Nc2 23. Kc2 Be4 24. Kb3 Ba8 [24...Bf5 and White is superior] 25. Ba7
[25. Ka2 h6 26. h4 and White is superior] Qc7 26. Qb6 Qb6 27. Bb6 h6
[better is 27...Nd7 28. Bf2 h6 29. h4] 28. Nb5! Kd7 [only move; 28...ab5 29.
Bb5 Nc6 (29...Nd7 30. Rc1 Bd5 31. Ka4 Rb8 32. Rc7) 30. Rc1 Kd7 31. Rc6
Bc6 (31...Rc6 32. Rc1) 32. Nc6 Rc6 33. Rc1] 29. Bd4!? [29. Nc3 Rb8 30.
Na4 and White is superior] Bd5 30. Ka4 ab5 31. Bb5 Bc6 [31...Kc7 32. Rc1
Kb8 33. Rc8 Kc8 34. Rc1 Kb8 35. Ba6 and White is winning; better is
31...Nc6 32. Bb6 (32. Rd3!? hg5 33. Rc1) Rb8 only move (32...hg5 33. Rd5
ed5 34. Rc1 Rh4 35. b4 and White is winning) 33. Rd5 Rb6 34. Nc4! Rb8 35.
Ne5 Kc7 36. Nc6! (36. Rc1 ed5 37. Nf7 Rh7 38. Bc6 Rb2 39. Bd5 and White
is superior) Ra8 37. Na5 ed5 38. Rc1 Kb8 (38...Kd8 39. Kb4 and White is
winning, with the idea Nb7) 39. Bd7 hg5 40. Kb5 Bh6 (the only move) 41.
Bg4! Re8 42. b4 and White is winning]
32. Be5! Bb5 33. Kb5 Rc5 34. Kb6 Re5 35. Rc1 Ra5 (the only move) 36.
Rc7! [36. Ka5 d5 with counterplay] Kd8 37. Rfc1 Rc5 [37...Ra8 38. Kb7!
hg5 39. Ka8 and White is winning] 38. R1c5 dc5 39. Kc6!! [with the idea
Ra7-a8 mate] 1 : 0 [Kramnik]
ju. Polgar 2715 Leko 2746

Na3 b5 9. Bf6 gf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. Qh5 Rg8 13. g3 Rg5 14.
Qd1 Bd5 15. ed5 Ne7 16. Nb5!? (a novelty) Qb6 17. Na3! [17. Qc1 Bh6!]
Qb2 18. Nc4 Qc3 19. Kf1 Rd8 [19...Nd5 20. Be2! with compensation;
19...e4!?] 20. Rb1 e4 [20...Bh6!?] 21. Be2? [21. f4!! Rg6 (21...ed3? 22. cd3!
Rg6 23. Qa4 and White is winning; 21...ef3 22. Qf3 and White is superior)
22. Be2 and White is slightly better] f4! (with an attack) 22. Rb3 [22. Qd2?!
Nd5 23. gf4 Rf5! with the idea 24. Qc3 Nc3 25. Rb7 Rb5!; 22. Nb6 Bg7;
22...Bh6 with an attack] Qf6 23. gf4 Qf4!? [23...Rd5 24. Qb1 Qf4 25. Rb8
Nc6 26. Rd8 Nd8 and Black is slightly better] 24. Ne3 Bg7 25. Ba6 Nf5!
[with compensation, with the idea Bd4] 26. Ng2 Qe5 [26...Rg2? 27. Kg2 Bd4
28. Rf1 Nh4 29. Kh1 Nf3 30. Rf3 equal] 27. h4 Rg6 28. Rhh3 [28. Qb1] Kf8
[and Black is slightly better, with initiative; 28...Bh6!? with the idea Qg7] 29.
Qb1!? Bf6 [29...Bh6!?] 30. h5? [weak point g5] Rg8 (and Black is superior)
31. Be2? Nd4 32. Rbe3 Bg5 [32...Ne2!? 33. Re2 Qg5! 34. Rg3 (34. Rh2
Be5) Qh5 35. Rg8 Kg8 36. Re1 Kh8 37. Ne3 Bc3 38. Rd1 f5 and Black is
winning] 33. Qb6 Re8 34. Reg3
34...f5! (and Black is winning) 35. Nh4?! [35. Bd1!? f4 36. Rg5 Rg5 37. Nf4
Kg8! and Black is winning] Ne2 36. Ke2 f4 37. Rb3 f3 38. Kf1 Qd5
[38...Bh4!? 39. Rh4 e3!! (39...Rg1 40. Kg1 Qg5 41. Rg4! Qg4 42. Kf1) 40.
fe3 Rg1 41. Kg1 Qg3 42. Kf1 Qg2 43. Ke1 Qe2 mate] 39. Nf3 Qc4 40. Rd3
ed3 41. Qd6 Be7 42. Qh6 Rg7 43. Rg3 [43. Ne5 d2!] dc2 44. Kg2 Qc3 0 : 1
[Leko]
Leko 2736 T. Radjabov 2624

Linares 2003 87/276
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bc3 7. bc3 Ne4 8.
Qg4 g6 9. Bd3 Nd2 10. Kd2 c5 11. h4 Bd7 12. h5 g5 13. f4 Nc6 14. fg5
Qa5!? [14...Qg5 77/282] 15. dc5! d4 16. Nf3 0-0-0 17. Rab1! [a novelty;
17. Ke2] dc3 [17...Qc3!?] 18. Ke2 Rhg8
19. Qe4! [weak point b7] Qc7! [19...hg5 20. g4 and White is superior] 20.
g4! Ne7! 21. Bb5! [21. gh6 Bc6 with counterplay] hg5 [21...Nd5!? a) 22. gh6
f5! 23. ef6 Bb5 24. Rb5 Nf4 with counterplay; b) 22. c6 Bc6 23. Bc6 Qc6 24.
gh6 f5! 25. ef6 Qa6 26. Ke1 Nf6 27. Qf4 Rg4 28. Qf6 Re4 29. Kf2 Qe2
(29...Re2 30. Kg3 Qd6 31. Kh3 and White is winning) 30. Kg3 Rg8 31. Qg7!
and White is winning; 27...Qa2!?; 27...Nd5! equal; c) 22. Bd7 Rd7 23. gh6
f5! 24. ef6 Nf6 25. h7!! Rh8 (25...Rf8 26. Qe5; 25...Nh7 26. c6) 26. Qe5!
Rd2 27. Ke1 Qe5 28. Ne5 and White is slightly better] 22. Rb3! [22. Nd4?
Qc5! with an attack, with the idea 23. Ba6? Bc6! 24. Bb7 Kc7 25. Bc6 Rd4
and Black is winning] Nd5 [22...Nf5? 23. gf5 ef5 24. Bd7 Qd7 25. c6! and
White is winning; 22...Bc6 23. Bc6 Nc6 24. Rhb1; 22...Bb5 23. Rb5 Nd5 24.
Rhb1 b6 25. cb6 ab6 26. a4 and White is superior; 22...f5 23. ef6 Nd5
(23...Nf5 24. Bd7 Qd7 25. gf5 ef5 26. c6! and White is winning) 24. f7! (24.
Bd7 Rd7 25. c6 Qc6 26. Ne5 Qa6 27. Qc4 Qc4 28. Nc4 Nf6 29. Rc3 Rc7 30.
Nd6 Kd8 31. Rc7 Kc7 32. Nf7 Rg7 33. Ne5 Kd6) Bb5 25. Rb5 Qf7 26. Rhb1
and White is superior] 23. Rhb1 Bc6? [23...Bb5 24. Rb5 b6 25. cb6 ab6 26.
a4 and White is superior; 23...f5!! 24. ef6 Nf6 a) 25. Bd7 Rd7 26. Qe5 Ng4!
(26...Rd2 27. Ke1 Qe5 28. Ne5) 27. Qe6 Qg3!! 28. Qg8 Rd8 29. Qe6 Rd7
equal; b) 25. Qe5 Bb5 26. Rb5 Rd2 27. Ke1 Qe5 28. Ne5 and White is
slightly better] 24. Bc6 Qc6 25. Nd4! (and White is winning) Qa6 [25...Nf4
26. Kf3 Rd4 27. Qc6 bc6 28. Rb8 Kd7 29. R1b7 mate] 26. Ke1 Rd7
[26...Kb8 27. Rb7 Ka8 28. c6; 26...f5 27. gf5] 27. c6 Rc7 28. Rb7 Rb7 29.
Rb7 Nb6 [29...Qa3 30. Nb5 Qc1 31. Kf2 Qd2 32. Kg3; 29...Nc7 30. Qh7]
30. Qh7 Rf8 31. Qg7 [31. Nf5 and White is winning; 31. Rf7 and White is
winning] Qa3 32. Qf8 [32...Qf8 33. Nb5 Qc5 34. Nd6 Kd8 35. c7 Qc7 36.
Rc7 Kc7 37. h6] 1 : 0 [Leko]
Nisipeanu 2592 S. Volkov 2624

Saint-Vincent 2003 87/265
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ngf3 Be7 8.
0-0 g5 9. a3!? h5 [9...a5!? 10. h3 h5 11. g4!? (11. Re1?! cd4 12. cd4 g4 13.
hg4 hg4 14. Nh2 g3 and Black is slightly better; 11. Qa4 Nb6 12. Qc2 cd4
13. Nd4!? Ne5 14. N2f3 unclear) hg4 12. hg4 a) 12...cd4 13. cd4 Qb6 14.
Qa4 Qa7 (14...Nf8 15. b4 and White is slightly better; 14...f5!? 15. ef6 Nf6
with counterplay) 15. Kg2 Nb6 (15...Nf8 16. Rh1 and White is slightly better)
16. Qd1 Bd7 17. Nb1 and White is slightly better; b) 12...Qb6 13. Kg2!? cd4
14. Rh1 with compensation] 10. b4 g4 [a novelty; 10...cd4 11. cd4 Qb6
(11...g4 12. b5 Na5 13. Ne1 and White is slightly better) 12. Nb3 g4 13. Ne1
Rg8 (13...Nf8 14. Be3 and White is superior) 14. Bd2 and White is slightly
better] 11. b5 Nd4! [11...gf3 12. bc6 bc6 13. Qf3 and White is superior;
11...Ncb8 12. Ne1 and White is slightly better] 12. cd4 [12. Nd4? Ne5 and
Black is superior] gf3 13. Nf3 c4 (unclear) 14. Bc2 a6 15. Rb1! [15. ba6 b5!
and Black is slightly better] ab5 16. Rb5 Ba3 [16...Nb6!? 17. h4 unclear] 17.
Ng5 Bc1 18. Qc1 Nb8! [18...Nf8 19. f4 Rg8 20. h4 with an attack] 19. Nh7
(with compensation) Kd7! [19...Nc6?! 20. Nf6 Kf8 21. Bh7 Nd4 22. Qh6
Ke7 23. Nd5 Kd7 24. Rc5 and White is superior; 19...Rh7?! 20. Bh7 Nc6
(20...Qh4 21. Qb2 Nc6 22. Rb7 and White is superior) 21. Qf4 and White is
superior] 20. Nf6 Kc7
21. Be4!? [with an attack; 21. Qb2 Nc6 22. Rb1 Ra7 23. Rb6 with
compensation] Bd7 [21...Nc6! 22. Bd5 ed5 23. Nd5 Kb8 24. Qc4 Rh6!
unclear] 22. Nd5! ed5 23. Rd5 Qh4! [23...Nc6 24. Qf4!! Kc8 25. Bf5 and
White is winning] 24. Qc4 Bc6 25. Bf3 Ra4 [better is 25...Ra3 26. g3! (26.
Rd6? Rf3! and Black is winning) Qe7 27. Bg2 with compensation] 26. Qc3!
[and White is superior; 26. Qc5!? Na6! (26...b6 27. Rd7!! Kd7 28. Bc6 Nc6
29. Qd6 and White is winning) 27. Qd6 Kc8 (27...Kb6? 28. Rb1 Ka7 29.
Qc6! and White is winning) 28. Rc1 Nc7 29. Rdc5 Rd8 30. Rc6 Rd6 31. Rc7
Kd8 32. ed6 Qd4 and White is slightly better, with the idea Ra1] Rd8?!
[26...Qf4 27. Rd6 f6 28. Qb3! (28. Bc6 Nc6 29. Rb1 Qe4 unclear; 28. Rb1
fe5 29. Rb7 Kb7 30. Bc6 Kc7! 31. Ba4 Kd6 32. Qc5 Ke6 33. Bb3 equal) Rd4
29. Bc6 Nc6 30. Rf6 Qg4 31. Rb1 and White is superior] 27. Rd8 Kd8 28.
d5 Bb5 29. Rb1 Qc4 30. Qe3! Nd7 [30...Qd3 31. Qg5 Kc7 32. Rd1 Qb3 33.
e6 and White is winning] 31. Qg5 f6 32. Qg8 Kc7 33. d6 Kb6 34. Qc4 Rc4
35. e6 Ne5 36. Be2 (and White is winning) Kc6 37. Bc4 Bc4 38. d7 Nd7 39.
ed7 Kd7 40. Rb7 Ke8 41. f3 Kf8 42. Kf2 Bd5 43. Ra7 Bf7 44. Kg3 1 : 0
[Nisipeanu, Stoica]

B 12: Caro-Kann Defence, The

Advance Variation
Sasa Velickovic
Before the nineties, The Advance Variation of the Caro-Kann Defence was a
system where White was striving to positionally maintain a slight advantage
due to a favorable central pawn structure, without a risk of allowing Black
any counterplay. Nowadays, there is a palpable change in the way things
happen in this highly fashionable opening (although it seems that the
pendulum of popularity has of recently swung the other way towards the 3.
Nc3 lines), as the computer analyses inevitably led to wondrous
transformations of the critical lines. White players were the first to take
advantage of such developments, using the opening preparation as a means of
fetching them easy points by the handful. Naturally, it eventually began to
work for both sides, and White could no longer safely take the sting out of
Blacks attempts to not surrender tamely.
Given the above reasons, Chess Informant Editorial Board has decided to do
an encore after a gap of ten years from Seirawans outstanding work on the
first edition of the B 12 Monograph. The purpose of the new monograph is to
offer a detailed up-to-date coverage of the B 12 lines without unnecessary
overlaps with the previous edition. Without displaying a bias towards one
side or the other, this article previews adventurous twists and turns that may
arise in the 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Be3 Qb6 line.
The analytical work flowed from my keyboard with great ease and pleasure,
and I hope that it will bring the readers at least an inch closer to the truth.
B 12
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Be3 Qb6
10
11
12
13
14
15
Nbd23 00 Nb35 Nc5 Bc4 Nd3 Rc16 Bd5

1 c41
Qb22 Ne74 Nbc6 0-0-0 dc4 Nd5 Qa3 h67 ed58 with
compensation
2 Nc3 Nb510 Nc712 Na8 Qc1 Nd213 0015 Rfc1 Rc1

Qb29 c411 Kd7 Bc2 Bb4 Ba314 Qc1 Bc1 Ba4 unclear
... 0016 Nh418 Rb120 Ng6 Qd2 a3 f4 Bf3
Nc6 c417 Bg619 Be7 hg6 Qa5 a6 b5 Rd821 and White is
slightly better
4 ... ... Nb5 dc5 Qc223

... Qb2 Rc822 Qc2 Bc2
compensation
Rfc124
Bg625
Nfd426 Nc6
Kd727 bc6
Nd6
Rc7 with
1
7. b3 Nc6 8. 00 cd4 9. Nd4 Nd4 10. Bd4 Bc5 equal; M. Boehnisch B.
Starck, DDR (ch) 1979;
7. dc5 Bc5 [7... Qb2 (M. Cisneros Fos Santacreu, Mislata 1996) 8. Qd4
Qd4 9. Nd4 Nc6 unclear] 8. Bc5 Qc5 9. Qd4!? Nd7 10. Nc3 a6! 11. Qc5 Nc5
12. Nd4 Ne7 13. f4 h5 14. 0-0-0 Rc8 15. Rhe1 (Topalov Illescas, Leon
1996 see 67/(164)) Bg4 equal; Illescas
2
7... Bb1?! 8. Rb1 dc4 9. d5! Nd7 10. 00 Ne7 11. de6 (Lukin V. Orlov,
Saint Petersburg 1995 see 65/(125)) fe6 12. Bc4 and White is superior Lukin;
7... dc4 8. Nbd2 Bd3 9. Bd3 cd3 10. dc5
a) 10... Qb2? 11. Qa4 Nd7 [11... Nc6 12. Rb1 Qc2 13. Qa3 with the idea 00,
Rfb1] 12. 00 and White is superior, with attack; Yudasin P. Gagliardi,
Montecatini Terme 1998 ;
b) 10... Qa6 11. b4 Ne7 12. Qb3 Nd5 13. 00 Qb5 14. a3 and White is
slightly better; Kovalevskaya Zimina, Saint Petersburg 2001
3
8. 00?! Qa1? 9. Qb3 and White is winning; V. Grechihin A. Kuzin, Russia
2000; 8... Nc6! unclear Lukin
4
8... Nd7?! 9. 00 Ne7 10. dc5 Ne5 11. Ne5 Qe5 12. Nf3 Qc7 13. Nd4 a6 14.
Qa4 Qd7 15. Qd7 Kd7 16. cd5 ed5 17. Nf5 Nf5 18. Bg4 g6 19. Rab1 Kc7 20.
Bf5 gf5 21. Rb6 and White is winning; C. Pereira F. Johanson, Internet
2000;
8... Nc6 9. cd5 ed5 10. dc5 d4 [10... 0-0-0 11. 00 and White is slightly
better; A. Grosar I. Sitnik, Sentjur 1996; 10... f6 11. ef6 (11. Nb3!?) Nf6
12. Nb3 0-0-0 13. Nbd4 Nd4 14. Qd4 Qd4 15. Nd4 Bg4 16. Rc1 Be2 17. Ke2
Re8 18. Rhd1 and White is slightly better; G. Muttoni W. Whitcomb,
Internet 1998] 11. Nc4 Qb4 12. Bd2 Qc5 13. Rc1 Qd5 14. Qb3 [14. Ng5 with
initiative; R. Bagirov] Qd7 15. 00 with compensation with initiative; H.
Sislian H. Reschke, Deutschland 1996
5
10. cd5 Nd5 11. Nc4 Qc2 12. Rc1 Qd1 13. Rfd1 0-0-0 unclear; R. Bagirov
Magem, Metz 1999 see 75/108
6
14. Ng5 Rd7 15. Bd5 ed5 16. Nf4 h6 17. e6! fe6 18. Nge6 g5 19. Nf8 Rf8 20.
Ne2 equal; Macieja
7
14... Be7 15. Bd5 Qd3! [15... ed5 16. Nc5 Bc5 17. Rc5 and White is slightly
better] 16. Bc6 Qd1 17. Rfd1 bc6 18. d5! [18. Rc6 Kb7 with compensation]
Rd5 only move 19. Rd5 ed5 20. Nd4 Bd7 21. Nc6 Bc6 22. Rc6 and White is
slightly better; Volokitin Macieja, Ohrid 2001 see 82/110;
14... Kb8!? (Macieja) unclear
8
16. Nf4 g5! 17. Nh5 Be7 18. Ng7!? Bd3 19. Re1 unclear Volokitin;
16. Nc5! Bc5 17. Rc5 Kb8 18. Nd2! [18. Qd2 Be4! unclear] Qa2 19. Qf3!?
[19. Qc1 Nb4! unclear; Volokitin Macieja, Silivri 2003 see 88/71] Be6 20.
Nb1 Nb4 21. Nc3 Qa6 22. Rb1 Rc8 23. Rb4 Rc5 24. dc5 Qa3 25. Ra4 Qc3
26. Qd1 (Volokitin) Bf5 with compensation
9
7... c4 8. b3!? Bb4 9. Bd2 Qa5 10. Na4
a) 10... Bd2 11. Qd2 Nc6 [11... Qd2 12. Kd2 cb3 13. ab3 Nc6 14. Bb5 and
White is superior, with the idea Nb6, Ra7] 12. c3 [12. Qa5 Na5 13. Kd2 and
White is slightly better; Lopez Nadal Aparicio Navarro, Zaragoza 1994]
Rb8 13. 00 Nge7 14. Nh4 [14. Bd1 00 15. b4 Qd8 and White is slightly
better] 00 15. Nc5! [15. Nb2?! b5 16. g4 Be4 17. f3 Bg6 and White is
slightly better; Okhotnik W. Sapis, Marianske Lazne 1989 see 47/(181)]
Rfd8 16. g4 Bg6 17. f4 b6 18. Na4 and White is superior; W. Sapis;
b) 10... c3 11. Be3 Ba3 12. Bc1 Be7 13. Bd3 b5 14. Nc5 Bd3 15. Nd3 Nc6
16. a4 and White is slightly better; O. Coclet S. Salgaocar, corr. 1999
10
8. Bd2 Qc2 and Black is slightly better; H. Schmidt M. Breuer,
Deutschland 1999;
8. Qb1 Qb1 9. Rb1 with compensation; Comet Chess Tiger, Paderborn
1998
11
8... Na6 9. dc5 Bc2 10. Qd4 Qd4 11. Nfd4 Ba4 12. Nd6 Bd6 13. cd6 and
White is slightly better; C. Quinones J. Yanez, Peru 1997;
8... Kd7 9. Rc1 [9. dc5 Qc2 10. Qc2 Bc2 11. Rc1 Ba4 12. Nd6 Bd6 13. cd6
Nc6 14. 00 f6 15. Bd4 a6 1/2 : 1/2 F. Hindermann A. Vitouch, Tallinn
1997] c4 10. Nd6 Bd6 11. ed6 f6 12. 00 b6 13. Nh4 with compensation; B.
Galstian H. Tikkanen, Cannes 1997
12
9. Rb1 Qc2 10. Qc2 Bc2 11. Rb2 Ba4 12. Nc7 Kd7 13. Na8 Kc8 14. Ng5
[14. Bd1 Bc6 15. a4 Ba3 16. Rb1 Nd7 17. a5 Be7 unclear; Qin Kanying
Karpov, Beijing 1998] Nh6 15. Bd1 Ba3 16. Rb1 Bd1 17. Rd1 unclear; M.
Calzetta M. Vilar, Saint-Vincent 1999
13
12. Kf1 Bc3 13. Qb2 Bb2 14. Re1 Nc6 15. Bd1 Bg6 [15... Bd3 16. Be2 Bg6
17. h4 h5 18. Bc1 Bc3 19. Bd2 Bd2 20. Nd2 Nge7 and Black is superior; R.
Hasangatin A. Bayev, Moscow 1996; 17. Nh4!?] 16. Ba4 Nge7 and Black
is superior; A. Samoilov E. Bataev, Russia 2000
14
12... Bc3 13. 00 Bg6 14. Bc4 dc4 15. Nc4 Qb4 16. Bd2 Qc4 17. Bc3 Ne7
18. Qa3 Qa6 19. Ba5 and White is winning; E. Egorov A. Bayev, Russia
1999
15
13. Qb2 Bb2 14. 00 Ba1 15. Ra1 Nc6 and Black is slightly better
16
8. Na4!?
a) 8... Qa5 9. c3 cd4 10. Nd4 Nd4 [10... Nge7 11. Nc5! and White is slightly
better, with initiative] 11. Bd4 and White is slightly better; L. Pantaleoni U.
Gebhardt, corr. 1991 ;
b) 8... Qc7!? 9. Nc5 [9. dc5 Bg4!? unclear] Bc5 10. dc5 Bg4!? unclear;
8. dc5!? Bc5 [8... Qb2 9. Nb5 0-0-0 10. Nfd4 and White is slightly better
with initiative; K. Trygstad E. David, Gausdal 1997] 9. Bc5 Qc5 10. Nb5
Ke7 [10... Rd8 11. c3 Qe7 12. Qa4 a6 13. Nbd4 Qd7 14. Nc6 Ne7 15. Nfd4
Nc6 16. Nc6 Rc8 equal; A. Cioara Zs. Karacsony, Miercurea Ciuc 1998]
11. Nbd4 Nh6 12. 00 Rhc8 13. c3 Kf8 14. Nc6 bc6 15. Nd4 Qe7 16. Qd2
equal; Moroz P. Kaczorowski, Bydgoszcz 1990
17
8... cd4?! 9. Nd4 Nd4 10. Bd4 Qa5 11. Bb5 [11. Nb5!? and White is
superior] Kd8 12. g4 Bg6 13. f4 Bb4 14. f5 Bc3 15. bc3 Qb5 16. fg6 hg6 17.
Rf7 Ne7 18. Rb1 Qc6 19. Qf3 and White is superior; R. Hammel K. Kell,
Deutschland 1996;
8... Rc8 9. Na4 Qc7 10. Nc5 Bc5 11. dc5 Nge7 12. c3 00 13. Qa4 a6 14.
Rfe1 Ne5 15. Ne5 Qe5 16. Bf4 Qe4 17. Qe4 Be4 18. Bd6 Rfe8 19. g4 and
White is slightly better; E. Szalanczy J. Menzel, Dortmund 1987
18
9. b3 Qa5 [9... cb3? 10. ab3 Nge7 11. Nb5 Ng6 12. c4 Be7 13. c5 and White
is superior; Iordachescu S. Guliev, Nikolaev 1995 see 65/(125)] 10. Bd2
Bb4 11. Qe1 b5 12. a3 Bc3 13. Bc3 Qb6! [13... Qd8 14. a4! a6 15. Ra2 Nge7
16. Bb4 00 17. Bc5 and White is superior; Ibragimov Ivacic, Bled 1995
see 65/(125)] 14. Qd2 Nge7 15. Rab1 [15. Rfb1 00 16. bc4 dc4 17. a4 b4
18. Bb4 Rab8 19. a5 Qb5 20. Bc5 Qb1 21. Rb1 Rb1 22. Ne1 Bc2 unclear;
Granda Magem, Pamplona 1995/96 see 65/(125)] 00!? 16. bc4 dc4 17.
Bc4 bc4 18. Rb6 ab6 with compensation; Nijboer Magem, Linares 1995
see 65/125;
9. Rb1!? Qa5 [9... Nge7?! 10. b3 and White is superior; I. Bern I. Dahl,
Gausdal 1990; 9... Bb4 10. Nh4 and White is slightly better; An. Rodriguez
V. Llanos, Buenos Aires 1996] 10. Nh4 Bg6 11. a3 0-0-0 12. Qd2 Be7 13.
Ng6 hg6 14. b4 Qc7 15. b5 Nb8 16. b6 ab6 17. Nb5 Qd7 18. Na7 Kc7 19.
Rb2 Nc6 20. Nb5 Kc8 21. Rfb1 and White is slightly better; M. Paragua M.
Cervinka, Paris 1998
19
9... Nge7 10. b3 and White is slightly better; D. Rores J. Ragnarsson,
Internet 2000
20
10. Ng6 hg6 11. Rb1 Qa5 12. a3 Nge7 13. b4 Qd8 unclear; G. Markovic
Ma. Lazic, Jugoslavija 1995
21
16. g4 and White is slightly better; Short Burmakin, Moscow (rapid) 1995
see 65/(125)
22
9... c4 10. Nc7 Kd7 11. Na8 Bc2 12. Qc1 Qc1 13. Rac1 Bg6 14. Nh4 b5 15.
Ng6 hg6 16. a4 b4 17. Bc4 dc4 18. Rc4 Nge7 19. Rfc1 and White is superior;
A. Palecha D. Shkuran, Ukraine 2000;
9... 0-0-0 10. dc5 Qc2 11. Qe1 Qa4 [11... Qe4?? 12. Ng5 Qe5 13. Nf7 and
White is winning; V. Menoni E. Mariano, Montecatini Terme 2000] 12.
Nd6!? [12. Nbd4 Nge7 13. Bb5 with compensation; Ch. Scholz S. Prange,
Deutschland 1996] Bd6 13. cd6 with compensation, with attack
23
11. Nd6 Bd6 12. cd6 Qd1 13. Rfd1 with compensation; M. Nuding R.
Boehm, Leimen 2001;
11. Qe1
a) 11... Bd3 12. Nfd4 [12. Nbd4 Nd4 13. Nd4 see 12. Nfd4] Nd4 13. Nd4
Qc4 14. Rc1 Qa6 15. Bd3 Qd3 16. Qb4 [16. c6 b6 17. Rc3 Qa6 18. Qb1 with
compensation, with initiative; Lima M. Maia, Rio de Janeiro 1999] Qa6 17.
Nb5 and White is superior with attack; Volokitin F. Takhirov, Baku 1999 ;
b) 11... Qa4 12. Nfd4 Nd4 [12... Bg6 13. Nd6 Bd6 14. Bb5 Qa3 15. ed6 Nf6
16. Bc6 bc6 17. Ne6 fe6 18. Bc1 Qa6 19. Qe6 and White is winning; M.
Sandien H. Malkoc, Deutschland 1994] 13. Nd4 a6 14. Nf5 ef5 15. Qb1
Qd7 16. Rc1 with compensation
24
12. Rac1 Bg6 13. Nd6 Bd6 14. cd6
a) 14... Kd7 15. Nd4 Ne5 16. Rc8 Kc8 17. Rc1 Kb8 [17... Kd8 18. Rc7 and
White is winning; A. Musaeva U. Epshtein, Russia 1996] 18. Bf4 Nd7 19.
Rc7 e5 [ 19... Ngf6 20. Ba6! and White is winning] 20. Ba6 ed4 21. Rb7 Ka8
22. Rd7 Nf6 23. Rc7 and White is winning;
b) 14... f6 15. Nd4 fe5 16. Ne6 Nf6 with compensation
25
12... Be4 13. Nfd4 a6
a) 14. Nc6!? Rc6 15. Nd6 [15. Na7 Rc7 16. c6 bc6 17. Ba6 Ba3] Bd6 16. cd6
Kd7 see 14. Nd6 ;
b) 14. Nd6 Bd6 15. cd6 Kd7 16. Nc6 Rc6 17. Rc6 bc6 18. Ba6 f6 19. f3 Bg6
20. Bb7 fe5 21. Rc1 Nf6 [21... d4 22. Bd2 Kd6 23. Rc6 Kd7 24. Rc8 and
White is winning; S. Shevchenko G. Sodol, Odessa 2000] 22. Ba7 Kd6 23.
Rc6 Kd7 24. a4 and White is superior
26
13. Nd6 Bd6 14. cd6 f6 with compensation
27
13... Ne5 14. Na7 Rc5 15. Bb5 with compensation
Sa. Velickovic

ECO D, 4th Edition

Ivan Markovic

The purpose of Chess Informants Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings is to offer extensive
coverage of all the relevant opening lines (including a myriad of obscure ones) in sufficient
detail to provide end-users with enough information to employ them in contemporary
tournament practice. Since the book should appeal both to over-the-board and
correspondence chess players who often need exceptionally detailed material that can stand
the test of time, this calls for a rethoric question, what does it really take to produce a new
edition of a volume of Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings?
It is generally considered that an opening encyclopaedia should set the standard for opening
theory as a reliable reference manual at the time of its release. However, the enormity of
games available in commercial databases makes the task extremely difficult, especially in
the most fashionable lines, where grandmaster evaluations (as published in the Informants,
for instance) often become overrun by a multitude of games from recent tournament
practice, or even refuted. Therefore, all the material inherited from the previous edition
invariably undergoes serious re-examination, where critically-minded humans from the
Chess Informant Editorial Board join forces with top computer engines in the process of
rebuilding foundations for the newcoming lines, which often leads to completely new
problems, and chaos inevitably ensues. Alas, a clearcut structure should be maintained,
which calls for tough decisions and painful compromises in order to fit everything into
ECO tables and the accompanying footnotes.
To make a long story short, I should just add that the new edition is expected to bring 56
pages more than the preceding one. However, the space devoted to each ECO code is
generally in proportion to its popularity in current practice, with minor exceptions only.
During the past five years D 10 (1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 without Nf3) has reached the peak of
popularity, which has resulted in a sharp (probably the most extreme) increase in the
surveyed material: 86 lines and 455 footnotes (24 pages), make a world of difference in
comparison with the 16 lines and 79 footnotes (6 pages) covered in the third edition. The
ChessCafe readership is treated to a fragment of the highly topical line of the Slav
Defence: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Qc2 b5. For the sake of presentation, the
material previewed in the article covers the concluding seven lines (rows 80-86) in the D
10 ECO table only.
D 10
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Qc2
5
80
...
b3424 Bd3426 Nf3
10
00
Ne5428
11
f4
12
bc4
13
Rb1
b5
g6425
slightly better
Bg7
81
...
...
...
...
...
...
slightly better
The Chess Cafe

E-mail Newsletter
82 ...
...
...
Bg4
83 ...
...
better
...
...
0-0
...
...
Bd3
h3435
Nbd7434 Bh5
Nge2 Nf4
Bh5438 Bg6
84 ...
...
...
...
...
Nbd7
85 ...
...
...
...
...
...
86 ...
...
...
...
Bb7427 Nbd7
...
Nbd7
Ng3443 h3
h5444 Be6
c5
Bb2
Rfd1431 Qe2
Bb7430 Rc8432 Qc7
f4
bc4
bc4436 dc4
Ng6
hg6
bc4
Bc4
e6
Bg2
00
Nbd7440 Be7
c5445
h4
Nge2
g6
Nf4
Ng6
Bb2448
...
...
...
...
...
...
Be2
e6452
Rac1
Qb8433 and White is
Nge2 00
Bb4
00437
g3439
e6
h3
Rb8429 and White is
unclear
e4441
de4442 and White is slightly
Nf4446
Bf5
Bd3
e6447
Bd3
c5
equal

...
...
00453 e4454
Bd6
b4455
equal
424 a
6. cd5 cd5 7. a4 b4 8. Nb1 [8. Na2 e6 9. Bd2 a5 10. Nf3 Bd6 11. Bd3 00 12. 00 Ba6 and
Black is slightly better; Radziewicz Dzagnidze, Warszawa 2001] e6 9. Nd2 Bd6 10. a5
00 11. Nb3 Ra7 12. Bd3 (Karpov P. Charbonneau, Lindsborg (rapid) 2003) Rc7 13. Qe2
Ne4! unclear; Iv. Markovic
425
6... Nbd7 7. Nf3 e6 see D 45;
6... e6 7. Bd3 [7. Nf3 see D 45] bc4 [7... Bb7 8. c5 (8. Nf3 see D 45) e5 9. de5 Nfd7 10. f4
(10. e6!? fe6 11. Bh7 Bc5 unclear) Nc5 11. Nf3 unclear; Rustemov Mar. Martinez,
Internet 2000] 8. bc4 dc4 9. Bc4 c5 10. Nf3 cd4 11. ed4 (Gustafsson Gisbrecht,
Deutschland 1997) Bb7 equal
426
7. Nf3 Bf5 8. Bd3 Bd3 9. Qd3 Bg7 10. 00 00
a) 11. Bd2 Nbd7 12. cd5 cd5 13. Ne2 Ne4 14. Rfc1 e5 equal; Sargissian Motylev, Silivri
2003;
b) 11. Ne5 Nfd7! 12. Nd7 dc4 13. Nf6! [13. bc4 Nd7 14. Rd1 Nb6 15. c5 (15. cb5?! ab5
and Black is slightly better; Pushkov Prie, Paris 1998 see 73/(409)) Nc4 unclear] Bf6 14.
bc4 Nd7 15. Rd1 Nb6 16. c5 Nc4 17. e4 and White is slightly better; Iv. Markovic
427
9... Bg4 10. Ne5 Be6 see 5... g6
428
10. Bb2 Nbd7 see 9... Nbd7
429
14. cd5 cd4 15. ed4 Ne5 16. de5 Nd5 17. Ne4 and White is slightly better; Polak Abou el
Zein, Pardubice 1999
430
10... bc4?! 11. bc4 dc4 12. Bc4 c5 (B. Golubovic Bukal, Rijeka 2001) 13. dc5 Nc5 14.
Rad1 and White is superior
431
11. e4 dc4 12. bc4 e5 13. c5 ed4 14. Ne2 Qe7 15. Bd4 Rfe8 16. Ng3 Ng4 17. Bg7 Kg7
unclear; Karpov Zhang Pengxiang, Moscow (m/3-rapid) 2001;
11. Rad1 Rb8 [11... e6 12. e4 bc4 13. bc4 de4 14. Ne4 c5 (Schandorff Agdestein,
Gentoefte 1999) 15. d5! ed5 16. cd5 Ne4 17. Bg7 Kg7 18. Be4 Nf6 19. Ne5! Re8 20. Nc6!
Qd6 21. Bf3 and White is superior; Iv. Markovic] 12. c5 Qc7 13. b4 a5 14. a3 Ra8 equal;
Arlandi Hodgson, Mondariz Balneario 2000
432
11... Nb6!? 12. c5 Nbd7 13. b4 Ne8 14. Ne2 Nc7 15. a4 and White is slightly better;
Nosenko Vysochin, Kiyv 2001
433
(Tsybulnik S. Rodchenkov, Voronezh 2003) 14. a3! and White is slightly better; with the
idea e4 centre Iv. Markovic
434
7... Bh5
a) 8. a4 b4 9. Nce2 Bg6 10. Nf4 Bd3 11. Nd3 a5 12. Nf3 Nbd7 13. Bb2 e6 14. Nde5 Ne5
15. de5!? [15. Ne5 Rc8 16. Rc1 Bd6 17. cd5 ed5 18. Qf5 00 19. Nc6 Qe8 20. Na7 Rc1 21.
Bc1 Bb8 22. Nb5 Qc6 with compensation; Komarov Prie, France 2000] Nd7 16. 00 Be7
17. e4 and White is slightly better, with spatial advantage; Iv. Markovic]
b) 8. Nge2 Bg6 9. e4! e6 [9... de4 10. Ne4 Nbd7 (Najer Burmakin, Saint Petersburg 1998)
11. 00 e6 12. Bf4 Ne4 13. Be4 and White is superior; Iv. Markovic] 10. e5 Nfd7 11. c5
Be7 12. 00 and White is superior [with the idea f4 with attack] Sokolin Hauchard, New
York 1999;
7... e6 8. Nge2 see 5. Bd3
435
8. Nge2 e5 [8... e6 see 5. Bd3] 9. f3 [9. cd5 cd5 10. de5 Ne5 11. Bf5 Be2! 12. Ne2 Bb4 13.
Kf1 00 14. Bb2 Qe7 15. Rd1 g6 16. Bh3 Ra7! unclear; Morovic Nogueiras, La Habana
1999 see 76/(341)] Be6 10. c5 g6 11. 00 Bg7 12. b4 00 13. a4 Qc7 unclear; Litus
Savchenko, Alushta 1994
436
9... e6 10. c5!? Bg6 [10... Be7 11. Nf3 (11. Bd2?! Bg6 12. Nf3 Bd3 13. Qd3 b4 and Black
is slightly better; Khurtidze Zhukova, Jugoslavija 1999) Bf3 12. gf3 and White is slightly
better] 11. Bg6!? [11. Nf3 Bd3 12. Qd3 g6 equal] hg6 12. Nf3 unclear; Shirov
437
(Kozul Shirov, Plovdiv 2003) 14. Rb1! unclear; Shirov
438
7... Qd7 8. Ng3 h5 9. h3 Be6 (Lomineishvili Ruchieva, Warszawa 1996) 10. Bd3 h4 11.
Nge2 dc4 12. bc4 bc4 13. Be4 Ne4 14. Ne4 Bf5 15. 00 e6 16. Bb2 and White is slightly
better; Iv. Markovic;
7... g6 8. Nf4 Bf5 9. Bd3 Bd3 10. Nd3 Nbd7 (Tkachiev Morozevich, New Delhi (m/2)
2000 see 80/392) 11. cd5 cd5 12. a4 Rc8 13. ab5 ab5 14. Bd2 e6 15. Qa2 and White is
slightly better; Morozevich;
7... e6 8. Ng3 Bd6 [8... Nbd7 9. h3 Bh5 10. Nh5 Nh5 11. Be2 (11. g3 Nhf6 12. Bg2 Be7 13.
00 00 14. Rd1 Rc8 15. e4 (Ftacnik Sommerbauer, Leon 2001) b4 16. e5 bc3 17. ef6
Bf6 unclear, with counterplay; Iv. Markovic) Nhf6 12. 00 Be7 13. Bd3 e5 14. cd5 cd5 15.
de5 Ne5 16. Bb2 Rc8 17. Qe2and White is slightly better Kjeldsen Ye Rongguang,
Kobenhavn 1995; 8... Nh5 9. Bd3 Bd6 10. a4 bc4 11. bc4 Nd7 12. Ba3 Ba3 13. Ra3and
White is slightly better L. Hansen Sammalvuo, Reykjavik 1995] 9. h3 Bh5 10. Nh5 Nh5
11. Be2 Nf6 12. 00 00 13. Rd1 Nbd7 14. Bb2 Rc8 (Avrukh Burmakin, Ohrid 2001 see
82/325) 15. Bd3 and White is slightly better; Avrukh
439
10. Bd3 e6 see 5. Bd3

440
11... Be7 12. 00 00 13. Rd1 Nbd7 14. e4 de4 [14... b4 15. Na4 de4 16. Be4 and White is
slightly better; Lputian] 15. Ne4 Ne4 16. Be4 Rc8 17. a4! and White is slightly better;
Lputian Bareev, Elista (ol) 1998 see 74/387
441
13. Rd1 Nb6 [13... 00 see 11... Be7] 14. c5 Nbd7 15. e4 and White is slightly better;
Matveeva Botsari, Moscow (ol) 1994
442
13... bc4 14. bc4 Nb6 15. c5 Nc4 (Tkachiev Volkov, Neum (blitz) 2000) 16. Qa4 and
White is superior;
13... de4 14. Ne4 Ne4 (Ivanchuk Bareev, Muenchen 1994 see 60/(353)) 15. Be4 Rc8 16.
Rd1 and White is slightly better; Lputian
443
8. Nf4 e5 [8... e6 9. f3 Bf5! 10. e4 de4 11. fe4 Ne4 12. Ne4 Bb4 13. Kf2 e5 14. Nd6 Bd6
15. Qf5 ef4 16. Bf4 (A. Kuzmin V. Georgiev, Andorra 2000 see 79/(335)) Bf4 17. Qf4
00 18. Be2 bc4 19. bc4 c5 equal A. Kuzmin; 9. Bd3 see 5. Bd3] 9. de5 Ne5 10. h3 Be6 11.
Be2 [11. cd5 cd5 12. Ne6 fe6 13. f4] Bd6 12. Bb2 00 [12... Rc8 13. Rd1 and White is
slightly better; Morozevich] 13. 00 Ng6 14. Ng6 [14. cd5 cd5 15. Ne6?! fe6 16. Rac1 Rc8
17. Qd3 Bb8!? 18. a3!? Qd6 19. g3 Rc6!? 20. Rc2 Ne5 21. Qd4 Qc7! 22. Rfc1 Ba7 23. Qd2
(Popov Kobalia, Russia (ch-m/2) 1999 see 77/356) Qf7! with the idea Qg6, h5 and Black
is slightly better; Kobalia; 15. Ng6 see 14. Ng6] fg6!? [14... hg6 15. cd5 cd5 16. Bf3 Rc8
17. Qd2 Bb8 18. Rfd1 Qc7 19. g3 Rfd8 20. Rac1 Qd7 21. h4 and White is slightly better;
Kasparov Morozevich, Sarajevo 1999 see 75/331] 15. cd5 cd5 16. Bf3 Bb8 17. Ne2 Qd6
18. Ng3 Ra7 with counterplay; Morozevich
444
8... e5 9. h3 Be6 [9... ed4 10. hg4 dc3 11. g5 Ng4 12. g6! and White is superior; P. Nikolic
Short, London (rapid) 1994] 10. de5 Ne5 11. f4 Bd6 12. c5 Bc7 13. Nce2 Ng6 14. Nd4
Bd7 15. Bd3 and White is slightly better; S. Mohr Keitlinghaus, Deutschland 1995
445
10. e4
a) 10... b4 11. Na4 h4 12. ed5 cd5 13. Ne2 g6 14. Nf4 Bf5 15. Bd3 Bd3 16. Nd3 dc4! 17.
bc4 a5 18. 00 Bg7 19. Re1 and White is slightly better; Wells Conquest, Great Britain
2003;
b) 10... h4 11. Nge2 g6!? 12. ed5 cd5 13. cb5 ab5 14. Nb5 Rc8 with compensation; Wells;
c) 10... dc4! 11. bc4 h4 12. Nf5 Nb6 unclear, with counterplay; Iv. Markovic
446
12. g4 hg3 13. Ng3 (Krasenkow Ro. Perez, Yucatan 1999) Nh5! unclear
447
Savchenko Volkov, Elista (ol) 1998 see 73/409
448
11. g3 e5 [11... e6 12. Bg2 Be7 13. 00 00 14. Rd1 Rc8 15. e4 b4 16. Na4 Ne4 17. Be4
de4 18. Qe4 Qa5 equal; Ftacnik Movsesian, Cesko 2001] 12. Bg2 Rc8 13. c5 Be7 14.
Bb2 00 15. Ne2 Qa5 16. Bc3 Qc7 17. a4 Rfe8 equal; Radjabov Movsesian, Sarajevo
2003
449
11... e5
a) 12. de5 Ne5 13. Nd5 cd5 14. Be5 Bb4 15. Bc3 Qa5 16. Bb4 Qb4 17. Qd2 Qd2 18. Kd2
dc4 19. bc4 Rd8 20. Ke1 b4 with compensation; 13. Be2 see 11. Be2;
b) 12. c5!? Qc7 13. 0-0-0 Be7 14. Kb1 (Milov Volkov, Ohrid 2001 see 82/326) ed4!? 15.
ed4 Nf8 16. Bd3 Ne6 17. Ne2 and White is slightly better; Milov
450
12... Be7 13. c5 [13. Ne2 Qa5 14. Bc3 Bb4 equal; P. Nikolic Short, Moscow (ol) 1994
see 62/(402)] e5 14. 0-0-0 Qc7 15. Kb1 e4 16. Be2 and White is slightly better; Yevseev
Alavkin, Samara 2002
451
14. 0-0-0 e5 15. Kb1 00 unclear [with the idea Re8] Fressinet Sebag, Paris 2003
452
11... e5 12. de5 Ne5 13. Bb2 dc4!? [13... bc4?! 14. bc4 Nc4 15. Bc4 dc4 16. 00 and White
is slightly better; Karpov Bareev, Cap dAgde (m/2-rapid) 2002] 14. bc4 Bb4 15. Qb3
Qe7 equal; Huebner
453
12. a3 Bd6 [12... Rc8 13. c5 g5 14. Bb2 g6 15. 0-0-0 Bg7 16. Bd3 e5 17. Kb1 and White is
slightly better; Najer Amonatov, Moscow 2003] 13. c5 [13. e4 e5 with counterplay] Bc7
14. Bb2 e5 15. 0-0-0 Qe7 unclear; Iv. Markovic
454
13. a3 00 14. Rd1 Qe7 15. Bb2 Rfd8 16. Bf3 Rac8 equal; Malakhatko Doukhine, Saint
Petersburg 2003
455
14. ed5
a) 14... ed5 15. Na4 00 16. Bf3 Re8 17. Bg5 Qb8 18. Rfe1 Re1 19. Re1 Bh2 20. Kf1! Bf4
21. Bf6 Nf6 (Bareev Shirov, Pardubice 1994 see 61/375) 22. g3! Bd6 23. Kg2 and White
is slightly better; Bareev;
b) 14... bc3! 15. dc6 Nb8 16. Bf3 Qc7! 17. d5 00 18. Be3! [18. b4 ed5 19. cd5 Bb4 20.
Rb1 (Alterman Ye Rongguang, Beijing 1995 see 64/(342)) a5! 21. a3 Bd6 22. Qc3 Na6
23. Rb7 Qc8 24. Be3 Nc7 and Black is slightly better; Alterman] ed5 19. cd5 a5 [19... Rd8
20. Rad1 a5 21. Qc3 Nbd7 22. g3 Nb6 23. Qc2! equal; Akopian Bareev, Las Vegas (m/2)
1999 see 76/341] 20. Rfd1 [20. Qc3 Nbd7 21. g3 equal; Bareev] Rd8 21. Qc3 Nbd7 22. g3
Nb6 23. Rac1 Bb4 24. Bf4 Bd6 25. Be3 Bb4 1/2 : 1/2 Hracek Dautov, Deutschland 2000

Page 1 of 38
The 10 Best Games & 10 Most

Important Novelties of Volume 88
Sasa Velickovic
For more than a month now, there was a constant air of expectation within th
Chess Informant Editorial Board about how extraordinary this volume's voti
was going to be, since there had been a unanimous feeling that Anand's
masterpiece against Bologan, from Dortmund, stood out as a huge favorite f
both the Best Game and the Most Important Novelty titles. The subsequent
flurry of jury activity did indeed prove to be history in the making: Anand's
final score of 82 + 83 points constitutes the highest aggregate ever, thus
overtaking the number one spot from Kasparov, who achieved his accolades
amassing 75 and 78 points for his memorable double win, against no other t
Anand himself. In hindsight, the arch-rivalry does add a certain nuance to it,
but it is the shared passion for the game, which runs so deep within us, that
makes the results so exciting. If we look at all the double winners we find th
World Champions dominate the list (four champions + two championship
matches).
Timman Karpov, Montreal 1979 28/40
Psakhis Geller, Yerevan (zt) 1982 33/564
Kasparov Anand, New York (m/10) 1995 64/315
Atalik Sax, Szeged 1997 71/559
Kramnik Kasparov, London (m/2) 2000 80/477
Anand Bologan, Dortmund 2003 88/77
So Anand's double win doubles the treat for ChessCafe readers: this article
features the past double award winning games, the top contenders from Volu
88, and the accompanying Caro-Kann B17 theoretical survey to top it all off
Enjoy!
TIMMAN AN. KARPOV

Montreal 1979 28/40
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 Be7 5. d4 ed4 6. Nd4 0-0 [6... Nd4 7.
Qd4 0-0 8. Be2 d6 9. 0-0 and White is slightly better] 7. Nc6 [7. Be2] bc6 8
Be2 d5 9. 0-0 Bd6 10. b3 [10. cd5 cd5 11. b3 equal] Qe7! 11. Bb2 [11. Qc2
dc4! [a novelty; 11... Rd8 12. cd5 Qe5!? (12... cd5 13. Nb5 Ba6 14. Nd4 and
White is slightly better) 13. g3 Bh3 14. Re1 Bb4 15. Qc2 Bf5 16. Qc1 cd5 1
Bf3 and White is slightly better] 12. bc4?! [12. Bc4 Qe5! (12... Bh2 13. Kh2
Ng4 14. Kg3 unclear; 12... Ng4 13. g3 Nh2 14. Kh2 Qh4 15. Kg1 Bg3 equal
13. g3 Bh3 with initiative] Rb8 13. Qc1 Ng4 14. g3 [14. h3 Qe5 15. g3 Ne3
and Black is winning; 14. Bg4 Bg4 and Black is superior, pair of bishops] R
15. Nd1? [15. Bf3 Ne5 16. Be2]
file://C:\cafe\informant\informant.htm
3/16/2004
Page 2 of 38
15... Nh2! 16. c5 [16. Kh2 Qh4 17. Kg1 Bg3 18. fg3 Qg3 19. Kh1 Re4! (19.
Re6 20. Bf6!) 20. Rf4 Rf4 21. ef4 Qe1 22. Kg2 Qe2 and Black is winning] N
17. cd6 Ng3!! 18. fg3 Qd6 19. Kf2 [19. Kg2 Qh6 20. g4 Qg5 with attack] Q
20. Bd4 Qh2 21. Ke1 Qg3 22. Kd2 Qg2! [and Black is winning, with the id
23... Ba6 24. Nc3 c5 25. Bc5 Rbd8] 23. Nb2 Ba6 24. Nd3 [24. Qf1 Qh2 wit
the idea c5] Bd3! 25. Kd3 Rbd8 [with the idea Rd4] 26. Bf1 Qe4 27. Kc3 c
28. Bc5 Qc6 29. Kb3 Rb8 30. Ka3 Re5 31. Bb4 Qb6 [32. Qd2 Re3] 0 : 1
[Minic, Sindik]
PSAKHIS GELLER
Yerevan (zt) 1982 33/564
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 0-0 7. e3 b6 8. B
Bf6 9. cd5 ed5 10. Qd2 Be6 11. Rd1 Qe7!? (a novelty) 12. g3 c5! [12... Nd
see 33/(564)] 13. dc5 [better is 13. Bg2 Nc6 14. 0-0 equal] Rd8 14. cb6? [1
Bg2 bc5 15. 0-0 Nc6 and Black is slightly better]
14... d4! 15. Bg2 [15. Ne4 Bd5! 16. Nf6 Qf6 17. Qd4 Qf3 18. b7 Rd7!! 19. Q
Qd1! 20. Qd1 Bh1 21. f3!? Rd1 22. Ke2 Rd2! and Black is winning] Nc6 16
3/16/2004
Page 3 of 38
Nd4 Nd4 17. ed4 [17. Ba8 Ra8 18. ed4 Bd5 19. Qe2 Bh1 20. Qe7 Be7 21. b
and Black is superior] Bh3 18. Kf1 Rd4 19. Qe3?! [19. Qd4 Bd4 20. Rd4 Q
21. Rd3 (21. Rf4 Qc6! 22. Rg1 Bg2 23. Rg2 Qb6) Qf5! 22. Re3 ab6 23. Bh3
Qh3 24. Ke2 b5 25. a3 b4 and Black is winning] Qb7! 20. f3 [20. Rg1 Rd1
Nd1 Rd8 22. Nc3 Bg2 23. Rg2 Bc3 24. bc3 Qa6 25. Ke1 Qa2 and Black is
winning] Rd1 21. Nd1 Qa6! (and Black is winning) 22. Kg1 Rd8 23. Nf2 B
24. Qe1 Bf2 [25. Kf2 Qb6 26. Kf1 Bc8! with the idea Ba6] 0 : 1 [Geller]
KASPAROV 2795 ANAND 2725

New York (m/10) 1995 64/315
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Ne4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8.
Be6 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 d4 11. Ng5 dc3 12. Ne6 fe6 13. bc3 Qd3 14. Bc2!
novelty; 14. Nf3 see 26/287] Qc3 15. Nb3!! Nb3 [15... Rd8!? 16. Bd2 Rd2!
(16... Qe5? 17. Qg4! with initiative) 17. Nd2 and White is slightly better] 16
Bb3 Nd4?! [16... Rd8? 17. Qh5 g6 18. Qg4 Qe5 19. Bb2! Nd4 (19... Qb2 20
Qe6 Ne7 21. Qf7 and White is winning) 20. Rae1 Qf5 21. Qd4! Rd4 22. Bd4
and White is winning; 16... Qa1 17. Qh5 a) 17... Kd7? 18. Be6! Ke6 19. Qg
Kf7 20. Qf3 Ke6 21. Qc6 Bd6 22. ed6 Qe5 23. Bd2! Qd6 24. Re1 Kf7 25. Q
Kg6 (25... Qf6 26. Qd5 Kg6 27. Re6 and White is winning) 26. Qg4! (26. Bf
Rhe8!; 26. h4? h6! 27. h5 Kh7 28. Qe4 g6 29. Bb4 Rhe8 30. Bd6 Re4 31. Re
cd6 32. Re7 unclear) Kf7 27. Bc3! and White is winning; b) 17... g6 18. Qf3
Nd8 (18... 0-0-0? 19. Qc6 Qe5 20. Qa6 Kd7 21. Bb2! and White is winning;
18... Nd4 19. Qa8 Kf7 20. Qd8! Ne2 21. Kh1 Qe5 22. Bg5! and White is
superior) 19. Qf6 b1) 19... Qd4 20. Qh8 Qd7 (20... Qh4 21. Bc2! and White
superior) 21. Bh6 Qe7 22. Bf8 Qf8 23. Qh7 Qf7 24. Qh6 Qf5 25. Qc1 Rc8
(25... Qe5 26. Be6!) 26. Qc5 and White is superior; b2) 19... Rg8 20. Be6 b2
20... Rg7 21. Ba3 Qf1 22. Kf1 c5 (22... b4 23. Bb4 Bb4 24. Bd5 and White i
winning) 23. Bc5 Bc5 24. Qg7 Ne6 25. Qh7 Rd8 26. Qg6 Ke7 27. Qf6 Kd7
Qf3 and White is winning; b22) 20... Bg7 21. Bf7! Kd7 22. e6 Kc8 23. Qa1
Ba1 24. Bg8 Bf6 25. Re1 Nc6 26. Bh7 Ne7 27. Ba3 and White is winning; b
20... Be7 21. Bd7! Kd7 22. e6 Ne6 23. Qa1 Bd6 24. Be3 and White is super
17. Qg4!! [17. Qh5? g6 18. Qg4 Qa1 19. Be6 Qc3 20. Bd7 Kd8! and Black
winning; 17. Bg5? Nb3 18. ab3 Qe5 19. Qh5 g6 20. Qf3 Bd6! (20... Qd5? 2
Qf6) 21. Rfe1 Qh2 22. Kf1 Qh1 23. Ke2 Qh5 24. g4 Qg5 25. Qa8 Qd8 uncle
Qa1 18. Be6! [18. Be3? Ne2 19. Qe2 Qe5 20. Qf3 Bd6! and Black is winnin
Rd8 [18... Be7 19. Bg5 Qc3 (19... h5 20. Qe4 and White is winning) 20. Bd7
3/16/2004
Page 4 of 38
Kf7 21. e6 (21. Be7? Ne2! 22. Kh1 Qe5 23. Ba3 Rhd8 unclear) Kf8 22. Qh5
23. Qh6! Kg8 24. Be7 Nf5 25. Qf4 and White is winning; 18... Qc3!?] 19.
Bh6!! [19. Bg5? Qc3 20. Bd8 a) 20... Kd8? 21. Rd1 Ke7 (21... c5 22. Bc8 K
23. Qd7 Kb6 24. Qd8 with initiative) 22. Bc8 Kf7! 23. h4 Bc5 24. Qd7 Kg6
Rd4 Qe1 26. Kh2 Qe5 27. f4 Qf6 28. Qg4! Kf7 (28... Kh6 29. Rd5 g6 30. Rd
and White is winning) 29. Rd7 Be7 30. Rc7 and White is slightly better; b) 2
h5!! 21. Qg6 Kd8 22. Rd1 c5 and Black is winning] Qc3 [19... Qb2 20. Bg7
Qe2 21. Bh8 Qg4 22. Bg4 and White is winning; 19... Qf1 20. Kf1 g6 21. B
Bc5 22. Bb3! (22. Bc8? 0-0!) Nb3 (22... Rf8 23. Bd4 and White is winning)
Qe6 Be7 24. ab3 and White is winning] 20. Bg7 Qd3 21. Bh8! Qg6 [21... N
22. Kh1 Ng3 23. hg3 Qf1 24. Kh2 Qd3 (24... Qf2 25. Bf6 and White is winn
24... Rd1 25. Qh5 and White is winning) 25. Bf5 Qc4 26. f4 and White is
winning] 22. Bf6 Be7 23. Be7 Qg4 [23... Ke7 24. Qh4 Ke8 25. Bg4 and Wh
is winning] 24. Bg4 Ke7 25. Rc1! (and White is winning) c6 26. f4 a5 27. K
a4 28. Ke3 b4 29. Bd1! [29. Rc4? a3! with counterplay, with the idea 30.
Rd4?? Rd4 31. Kd4 b3 and Black is winning] a3 30. g4 Rd5 31. Rc4 c5 [31
Ne6 32. Bb3 Nc5 33. Bc2! (33. Rb4?? Rd3 34. Ke2 Rb3 and Black is winnin
b3 34. Bb3 Rd3 35. Ke2 Rb3 36. Rc5] 32. Ke4 Rd8 33. Rc5 Ne6 34. Rd5 R
35. f5 Rc4 36. Ke3 Nc5 37. g5 Rc1 38. Rd6 [38... b3 39. f6 Kf8 40. Bh5 Re
41. Kf3 Nb7 42. Ra6] 1 : 0 [Kasparov]
ATALIK 2590 SAX 2570

Szeged 1997 71/559
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bc3 6. Qc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 Nc6
e3 e5?! 9. cd5 Qd5 10. Bc4! Qa5 11. b4 Nb4 12. Qe4 Nc2 13. Ke2 Qe1 14
Kf3 Na1 15. Bb2 0-0 16. Kg3 Kh8 17. de5! [a novelty; 17. Nf3? see 70/502
Be6 (only move) 18. Nf3 Qh1 19. Ng5 g6
20. Nf7!! Rf7 21. Be6 Rg7 [21... Rf2!? 22. Kf2 Rf8 23. Kg3 Qe1 24. Kh3 K
25. Bd7 Kh6 26. e6 Rf5 27. Bf6!! Rh5 (27... Rf6 28. e7 and White is winning
28. Kg4 Rf5 29. e7 Qd1 30. Kh3! a) 30... Rh5 31. Kg3 Qe1 32. Kf4 Qf1 (32
Qf2 33. Qf3 Rh4 34. Bg4!; 32... g5 33. Ke5 Qc3 34. Qd4 g4 35. Kf4 and Wh
is winning; 32... Rh4 33. Bh4 Qh4 34. Kf3 and White is winning) 33. Qf3 an
White is winning; b) 30... Qd7 31. e8Q Rf3 (31... Rh5 32. Kg3 and White is
winning) 32. Kh4 and White is winning] 22. Bf7!! [22. Bg4?! a) 22... h5 23.
h4 (23... Kh7 24. Bh5 Kg8 25. Bg7 gh5 26. Qg6 and White is winning; 23...
24. Qg6 Ree7 25. Qg7 Rg7 26. e7 Kh7 27. Bg7 and White is winning) 24. Kh
3/16/2004
Page 5 of 38
Kh7 25. Qd4 Rag8 26. Qf6 and White is winning; b) 22... Rf8!! 23. e6 Qf1 b
24. Bf3?! Qb5 25. Ba1 Qg5 and Black is winning; b2) 24. e7?! Qf2 25. Kh3
Re8 26. Qe5 (26. Qd4 Qf7) Ree7! 27. Qe7 Qb2 and Black is winning; b3) 24
Qe5 Qf2 25. Kh3 Rfg8 26. Ba1 h5 27. Bh5 (27. Bf3 Kh7 28. e7 Rf7 with the
idea Rf3) Kh7 28. Qg5 (28. Bf3 Re7 29. Qf6 Rgg7) Qf8 (28... Qf5? 29. Qf5 g
30. Bg7 Rg7 31. Bf7 Rf7 32. ef7 Kg7 33. Kg3 c5 34. a4 b6 35. Kf3 a6 36. e4
37. Ke4 b5 38. ab5 ab5 39. g4 b4 40. h4 b3 41. Kd3 c4 42. Kc3 Kf7 43. h5 K
44. h6 Kg6 45. g5 equal) 29. Bf6 Re7 30. Be7 (30. Bg4 Re8) gh5 31. Qh5 Q
32. Qh6 Kh6 33. Bh4 c5 and Black is winning] Rf7? [22... Qd1 23. e6 Qd6
f4 (24. Kh3!?; 24. Be5 Qe7 25. h4) a) 24... Qe7 a1) 25. Qb7!? Rd8 (25... Rf8
26. Ba1 Rff7 27. ef7 Qe3 28. Qf3 Qe1 29. Qf2 Qe7 30. Qa7 Qe1 31. Qf2 Qe
32. Kf3 Qf7 33. Qb2 Qd5 34. Kf2 Qc5 35. Kf1 Qc4 36. Kg1 Qc5 37. Kh1 an
White is winning) 26. Ba1 Qa3 27. Bd4 Qe7 28. Qa7 Rd4 29. Qd4 and Whit
winning; a2) 25. Ba1 c5 26. Qe5 Rag8 27. Qf6 and White is winning; b) 24.
25. Kg4!! b1) 25... Qd1 26. Kf5 Qc2 27. Ba1 Qc5 28. Qe5 Qe5 29. Be5 and
White is winning; b2) 25... gf4 26. Kh5 Qc5 (26... fe3 27. Kh6 Qh2 28. Bh5
White is winning) 27. Qe5 Qe5 28. Be5 and White is winning; b3) 25... h5 2
Kh5 and White is winning] 23. e6 Kg8 [23... Rg7 24. e7 h5 25. Qg6 and Wh
is winning] 24. Qd4! Kf8 25. ef7 Kf7 26. Qd7 1 : 0 [Atalik]
KRAMNIK 2770 KASPAROV 2849

London (m/2) 2000 80/477
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cd5 Nd5 5. e4 Nc3 6. bc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Qa5 9. Qd2 Bg4 10. Rb1 a6
11. Rb7! [a novelty; 11. Rb3 see 54/465] Bf3 [11... Nc6!? 12. Bc4! and Wh
slightly better] 12. gf3 Nc6 13. Bc4 0-0 14. 0-0 cd4 [14... Rad8 15. d5 and
White is superior, with the idea 15... Bc3 16. Qe2 Nd4 17. Bd4 cd4 18. Re7]
cd4 Bd4 [15... Qd2 16. Bd2 Nd4 17. Kg2 e6 18. Rc1 and White is slightly
better; 15... Qh5? 16. Bd5 with the idea 16... Qf3 17. Qd1 Qd1 18. Rd1 and
White is winning] 16. Bd5 Bc3 [16... Be3? 17. Qe3 Rac8 (17... Nb4 18. Qc3
19. Be6! Qg5 20. Kh1 and White is winning) 18. Rc1 Nb4 (18... Ne5 19. Rc8
Rc8 20. Re7 and White is winning) 19. Rc8 Rc8 20. Qd2 e6 21. Be6 fe6 22.
and White is winning, with the idea 22... Rc7 23. Rb8; 16... Qd2 17. Bd2 Ne
and White is slightly better, with the idea 18. Bh6!? e6! (18... Nf3 19. Kg2 N
20. Kh3) 19. Bf8 ed5 20. Bh6 Nf3 21. Kg2 de4 22. Rfb1 Be5] 17. Qc1! [17.
Qd1 Rac8 (17... Nb4? 18. Bb6 Qa3 19. Bc5 e6 20. Be6 and White is winning
3/16/2004
Page 6 of 38
18. Qb3 (18. Bh6 Rfd8 19. Bf7 Kf7 20. Qb3 Kf6 21. f4 Qh5! 22. Bg5 Kg7 23
Qc3 Nd4; 18. Bb6 Qa3) Nd4 (18... e6 19. Be6 fe6 20. Qe6 Kh8 unclear, with
the idea 21. Bh6 Qh5 22. Bf8 Rf8) 19. Bd4 Bd4 20. Re7 Rc3 21. Bf7 (21. Qd
Qc5 22. Rd7 Bf2) Kh8 22. Qd5 Qd5 23. ed5 Rf3 with counterplay] Nd4 [17
Rac8 18. Bb6 Qb4 (18... Nd4 19. Qd1 Qb4 20. a3 Qd6 21. Bd4 Bd4 22. Qd4
23. Qf6 and White is winning) 19. a3 Qb2 20. Qb2 Bb2 21. a4 e6 22. Bc6 Rc
23. Rd1 and White is superior] 18. Bd4 [18. Qd1? e6 19. Bd4 ed5 20. Bc3 Q
21. Rb3 Qa5] Bd4 19. Re7 [19. Qc4? Qd2] Ra7 [19... Qd8 20. Qc7 and Wh
is superior] 20. Ra7 [20. Qg5?? Qd8] Ba7
21. f4! [21. Qg5 Qc5 22. f4 Kg7 23. Qe5 f6 24. Qe6 Bb6 weak point f2; 21.
Qf4 Bb8 22. Qf6 Qc7] Qd8 [21... Bb8 22. Qe3 Qc7 23. e5] 22. Qc3 [22. Qd
Qh4] Bb8 [22... Qh4 23. Qg3 Qg3 24. hg3 Rb8 25. Bb3 Rd8 26. e5 (26. Rc1
Rd2 27. Bf7 Kg7 28. Bb3 Bf2 29. Kg2) Rd2 27. Kg2 Kg7 28. Rc1 Rf2 29. K
and White is superior] 23. Qf3! [23. Qg3 Qf6!? (23... Qd6 24. f5 Qd5 25. ed
Bg3 26. fg3 Rd8 27. Rd1 Kg7) 24. e5 Qf5 25. Bc4 Rd8 with counterplay] Qh
[23... g5?! 24. fg5 (24. f5) Qg5 25. Kh1; 23... Qf6 24. e5 Qf5 25. h4!? Rc8 2
Be4 Qe6 27. Rb1 Qa2 28. Rb7 and White is superior] 24. e5 g5 25. Re1! [25
e6? fe6 26. Be6 Kg7 27. Qc3 Kh6] Qf4 [25... gf4 26. e6 fe6 27. Re6 Qg5 28
Qg2 (28. Kh1!? Kh8 29. Qc3 Qg7 30. Qg7 Kg7 31. Ra6) Qg2 29. Kg2 Kg7
Ra6] 26. Qf4 gf4 27. e6 fe6 [27... Rd8? 28. e7 Re8 29. Bc6; 27... Bd6? 28. e
Kg7 29. Re8] 28. Re6 Kg7 [28... a5 29. Re7!? (29. Ra6 Kg7 30. Ra5 Rf5 31
Rb5 and White is superior) Kh8 30. Kf1 (30. Kg2 f3! 31. Bf3 Rg8 32. Kh3 R
and White is slightly better) f3 31. h3 and White is superior] 29. Ra6 Rf5 [2
Rf6 30. Ra8 (30. Ra5!?) Rb6 31. Kg2 (31. a4 Rb2 32. a5 Bd6 33. Rc8 and
White is superior, with the idea 33... Rb5 34. a6 Rd5 35. a7 f3 36. Rg8! Kf6
Kh1!) Rb2 32. Kh3! (32. a4 Be5) f3 (32... Be5 33. f3) 33. Kg4 Bh2 (33... Be
34. Kf3 Bd4 35. Rg8 Kf6 36. Rg2 Ke5 37. Bb3 h6 38. Kg3 and White is
winning) 34. Kf3 and White is superior] 30. Be4 Re5 [30... Rb5!? 31. Kg2 (
a4 Rb2 32. a5 Be5) Rb2 32. a4 (32. Kf3 Be5) Be5 33. Rc6!? Bd4 (33... Rb4
Bc2) 34. Bc2 Ra2 35. Rc4 and White is superior] 31. f3 Re7 [31... Rb5 32. K
(32. a4 Rb2 33. h4!?) Rg5 (32... Rb2 33. Kh3) 33. Kf1 Rb5 (33... Rh5 34. Rb
Be5 35. Rb7 Kg8 36. Rb5) 34. a4 Rb2 35. h4 Be5 36. h5] 32. a4! [32. Ra8 B
33. Kg2 Be3 34. Rc8 Ra7 35. Rc2 and White is slightly better] Ra7 [32... B
33. Kg2 (33. Kf1 Be3) Be3 a) 34. a5 a1) 34... Ra7? 35. Ra7 Ba7 36. Kh3 h5
only move 37. Kg2 Kf6 (37... h4 38. Kh3 Bg1 39. a6 and White is winning)
h4! and White is winning, with the idea 38... Kg7 39. a6 Kf6 40. Kf1 Kg7 4
Ke2 Kf6 42. Bd3 Bb6 43. Bc4 Ke7 (43... Bg1 44. Kd3 Ke5 45. Bf7) 44. Kd3
Kd6 45. Ke4 Bf2 46. Kf4 Kc7 47. Kg5; a2) 34... Re5! 35. h4! (35. Ra8 Rg5
Kh3 Rh5 37. Kg4 Rh2 38. a6 Ra2) Rh5 (35... Rb5 36. Kh3) 36. Ra8 Rh4 37.
Rc8 Rh5 38. Rc7 Kf6 39. a6 Rg5 40. Kf1 Ra5; b) 34. Rc6!? Ra7 35. Bc2 an
3/16/2004
Page 7 of 38
White is superior; c) 34. Kh3! Re5! (34... Ra7? 35. Ra7 Ba7 36. Kg4 Be3 37
a5 h6 38. Kf5 and White is winning) 35. a5!? (35. Kg4 h5 36. Kh4 Bf2 37. K
and White is superior) Rh5 36. Kg4 (36. Kg2 Rg5) Rh2 37. Rd6 with initiati
Rg2 38. Kf5 and White is superior, with the idea 38... Rg6? 39. Rg6 hg6 40.
Ke6 g5 41. Bf5 and White is winning] 33. Rb6 [33. Ra7? Ba7 34. Kg2 Bb6
h4 (35. Kh3 h5 36. Kh4 Kh6 equal) Bd8 36. Kh3 h5 equal] Be5 [33... Bc7 3
Rb4 (34. Rc6 Bd8 35. Rc4 Bb6) Bd6! 35. Rc4 Rc7?! 36. Bc6 Kf6 37. Kg2 B
38. a5 Ke7 39. Kh3 (39. Re4) Kd6 40. Bb5 and White is winning; 35... Ra5!
and White is superior ] 34. Rb4 Rd7? [34... Bd6! and White is superior see
33... Bc7] 35. Kg2 Rd2 36. Kh3 (and White is winning) h5 37. Rb5 [37. Rb
Kh6!? 38. Rb6 Rd6] Kf6 38. a5 Ra2 [38... Bd4 39. Rd5 Be3 40. Rd2 Bd2 4
a6 Be3 42. Kh4] 39. Rb6 Ke7? [39... Kg7 only move 40. a6 (40. Rg6 Kf8) B
41. Rg6 Kf8 42. Bb7! (with the idea Rg5) Ra5 (42... Be3 43. Rg5 h4 44. Rg4
Ke7 45. Rh4 Bg1 46. Kg4) 43. Rd6 Bg1 44. Rd1! Be3 (44... Rg5 45. Rg1 Rg
46. a7) 45. Rd5 Rd5 (45... Ra2 46. Rh5 Bg1 47. Kg4) 46. Bd5 Kg7 (46... Ke
47. Kh4; 46... Bf2 47. Kg2 Ba7 48. h4) 47. Kg2 Kf6 (47... h4 48. Kh3 Bf2 49
Kg4) 48. h4] 40. Bd5 [40... Ra5 41. Re6 Kd7 42. Re5 Kd6 43. Rh5 Rd5 44.
Rd5 Kd5 45. Kg4] 1 : 0 [Kramnik]
ANAND 2774 BOLOGAN 2650

Dortmund 2003 88/77
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 de4 4. Ne4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3 Bd
8. Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Ne4 10. Qe4 Qc7 11. 0-0 b6 12. Qg4 g5 13. Qh3 Rg8
14. Re1! [a novelty; 14. Nd2 see 85/87] Bf8! [14... g4 15. Qh6 gf3 16. Re6 f
(16... Be7 17. Re7 Ke7 18. Bf4 and White is winning) 17. Qe6 Be7 18. Qg8 N
19. Bg6! Kd7 20. Bf5 Ke8 21. Bh6! Qd6 (21... Bf5? 22. Re1) 22. Bf8 Bf8 23
Re1 Kd8 24. Qf7 Be7 25. Bc8 Rc8 26. Qf3 and White is superior] 15. Qf5 [
Re6 Kd8 only move a) 16. Bh7 a1) 16... Rh8 17. Rh6 Nf6 18. Bg5! Bh3 19.
Bf6 Kc8 20. Rh3 and White is winning; a2) 16... Nf6 17. Rf6 Bh3 18. Bg8 B
19. Bf7 Qe7! (19... Bf7 20. Ne5) 20. Re6 Qf7 21. Rc6 Rc8 22. Rc8 Kc8 23.
Qc4 24. c3 Qe2 25. Nd2 Qd3 26. Rc1 Bd6 27. g3 and White is superior; a3)
16... Rg7 a31) 17. Rh6!? Nf6 18. Bf5 g4 19. Qg3 gf3 (19... Qg3) 20. Qc7 K
21. Rf6 Rg2 22. Kf1 Ba6 23. Bd3 Bd3 24. cd3 Kd7 25. h3 Be7 26. Rf3 Rag
27. Ke2 Rg1!; a32) 17. Qh6 fe6 18. Bg5 Rg5 19. Ng5! (19. Qg5 Be7 20. Qg
Nf8 21. Ne5 Bd7 22. Be4 unclear) Bh6 20. Ne6 Ke7 21. Nc7 Rb8 22. Re1 K
23. Ne6 c5 24. Nd8 Kg7 25. Bf5 and White is superior; a4) 16... Nc5 17. Bg
3/16/2004
Page 8 of 38
Be6 a41) 18. Qh5 Ne4 19. Ne5 Nf6 20. Qf3 Bg7! (20... Ng8 21. Nc6 Ke8 22
with compensation) 21. Nc6 Ke8 22. Nb4 Rd8; a42) 18. Qg3 Bd6 (18... Qg3
19. hg3 Nd7 20. Bh7 Nf6 21. Bd3 Bd6) 19. Ne5 Kc8!; b) 16. Re1 Ne5! (16...
Nf6 17. Qg3! and White is superior) 17. Bf5 (17. Qg3? Nd3 18. cd3 Qg3 19
hg3 Be6) g4 18. Qh5 Nf3 19. gf3 Bf5 20. Qf5 Qd7! 21. Qd7 Kd7 22. Kg2 B
and White is slightly better; c) 16. Rh6 c1) 16... Nf6 c11) 17. Qc8 Kc8 18. R
Bg7! (18... Kb7 19. Ne5 and White is superior; 18... Bd6 19. Ng5 Qe7 20. B
Kb8 21. Rd6!! Qd6 22. g3 Kc7 23. Bf4 Rg5 24. Bd6 Kd6 and White is super
19. Ba6 Kd8! (19... Kb8 20. Bg5! Bf6 21. Bf6 Re8 22. Re1 Re1 23. Ne1 and
White is winning) 20. Rf5 f6 21. d5 Re8! (21... c5 22. Ng5! Re8 23. Ne6 and
White is winning) 22. Be3 c5 unclear; c12) 17. Bf5 g4 (17... Bh6 18. Qh6) 1
Qh4 c121) 18... gf3 c1211) 19. Qf6 Qe7! (19... Be7 20. Qf7 Rg2 21. Kh1 an
White is winning) ; c1212) 19. Rf6! Rg2 20. Kh1 Bf5 21. Rf5 Kc8 22. Rf3 a
White is winning; c122) 18... Bh6 c1221) 19. Ne5 Bg7; c1222) 19. Qf6 Qe7
Qc6 gf3 (20... Bb7 21. Qh6 gf3 22. Bf4 Rg2 23. Kh1 and White is winning)
c12221) 21. Qd5 Kc7! (21... Ke8 22. Bh6 Rg2 23. Kh1 Bb7 24. Qb5 Kd8 25
Bf4! f6 26. Bg3 and White is winning) 22. Bh6 Rg2 23. Kh1 Rh2 24. Kh2 Q
25. Kg1 Bf5!; c12222) 21. Bh6 see 19. Bh6; c1223) 19. Bh6 gf3 20. Qf6 Qe
21. Qc6 Bb7 (21... Rg2 22. Kh1 Rh2 23. Kh2 Qh4 24. Kg1 Bf5 25. Qa8 and
White is winning) 22. Qb5 Rg2 23. Kh1 and White is superior; c2) 16... Ne5
17. Qg3! (17. Bf5? Nf3 18. gf3 Bh6 and Black is superior) Nf3 (17... Nd3 18
Bg5 and White is winning) 18. Qf3 Bh6 19. Qf6 Qe7 20. Qh6 Kc7! (20... Be
21. f4! and White is superior) 21. Bd2 Be6 and White is slightly better] Bg7
h4 [16. Re6? fe6 17. Qe6 Kf8 and Black is superior; 16. Bc4 Nf6 17. Qd3 B
18. Ne5 Nd5 19. Bd5 cd5] Kf8 [16... gh4? 17. Bf4 Qd8 18. Re6 and White i
winning] 17. Qh3 [17. Re6? a) 17... Nf6? 18. Qe5! (18. Qf6 Bf6 19. Rf6; 18
Be6!) Qe5 19. Re5; b) 17... Ne5 18. Ne5 Be6; c) 17... Nc5! and Black is
superior ] Rh8! 18. hg5 hg5 19. Qg4 c5 20. Bg5! [20. Qg5 Bb7 21. Bf4 Qd8
22. Ne5! Ne5 (22... cd4 23. Nf7!) 23. de5 Bh6! 24. Qg4 Bf4 25. Qf4 Qh4 26
Qh4 Rh4 27. f3 Ke7 28. Kf2 and White is slightly better] cd4 21. Rad1!! [2
Re6 Nc5 22. Be7 Kg8 and Black is superior; 21. Be7 Kg8 22. Re4 f5! 23. Q
Rh6 24. Qe8 Nf8] Bb7 [weak point e6; 21... Nc5 22. Bf4 Qd8 (22... e5 23.
Qg7) 23. Qg3 and White is winning; 21... a5 22. Bb5 e5 (22... Qc2 23. Nd4
24. Ne6 fe6 25. Be7! and White is winning; 22... Ne5 23. Ne5 Be5 24. Qe4 B
25. Kf1 Bb7 26. Qd4 and White is winning) 23. Qg3! and White is superior;
21... a6 22. Be7 Kg8 23. Bh4! with the idea Bg3 and White is superior]
22. Re6! fe6 [22... Bf3 23. Qf3 Qh2 24. Kf1 and White is winning] 23. Be7
Ke7 [23... Kf7 24. Qg6 Ke7 25. Qg7] 24. Qg7 Kd6 25. Nd4! Qc5 26. Bf5 [
Bb5?? Rh1 27. Kh1 Qh5 28. Kg1 Qd1 and Black is winning; 26. Nb5 Kc6 2
Be2 (27. Bf1 Rh1!) Rad8 28. c4! Qe5 29. Na7 Kc5 30. Qe7] Qe5 27. Nf3 Q
3/16/2004
Page 9 of 38
28. Qg3 Ke7 29. Rd5 Bd5 30. Qg5 Kd6 31. Qf4 Ke7 32. Be4 (and White i
winning) Rh5 33. Nh4 Rg8 34. Ng6 Kd8 35. Qf7 [35. g4?? Rg6] Re8 36. B
[36... Rg5 37. f3 Bc6 38. c4 and White is winning] 1 : 0 [Anand]
3/16/2004
Page 10 of 38
SAKAEV 2655 VL. BELOV 2553

Russia (ch) 2003 88/397
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cd5 Nd5 5. e4 Nc3 6. bc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 0-0 10. 0-0 Bd7 11. Rb1 a6 12. dc5 Qc7 13. Nd4! e6 [a
novelty; 13... Na5; 13... Rac8] 14. f4 Na5 15. Bd3 e5 [15... Rfd8 16. Qe1!]
3/16/2004
Page 11 of 38
16. f5!! [16. fe5 Be5 17. Bh6 (17. Nf3 Bg4) Bh2 18. Kh1 Be5! 19. Bf8 Rf8 w
compensation; 16. Ne2 a) 16... Be6 17. fe5! (17. f5 Ba2 18. f6 Bh8 19. Rb4 R
20. Qc2 Bb3 21. Qb1 Ba2 equal) a1) 17... Be5?! 18. Nf4 Ba2 19. Nd5 Bd5 2
ed5 Bh2 21. Kh1; a2) 17... Ba2 18. Ra1 Bc4 (18... Be6 19. Nf4 Be5 20. Nd5)
Nf4 Rad8 (19... Bd3 20. Nd5 Qe5 21. Qd3 Nc6 22. Bf4) 20. Bd4 Be5 21. Bc
Bf4 22. Rf4 (22. Ra5!? Be3 23. Kh1 Bd4 24. cd4 Qa5 25. Qf3 Qc7) Nc4 23.
Qg4 with initiative; a3) 17... Nc4 18. Bd4 (18. Bc4 Bc4 19. Rb4 Bb5 20. a4
equal) Be5 19. Kh1!? (19. h3 Bd4 20. cd4 Ne3 21. Qd2 Nf1 22. Kf1! f5 23. e
Bh2 (19... Bd4 20. cd4 Ne3 21. Qd2 Nf1 22. Rf1 Rad8 23. Qb2) 20. Qc1 wit
the idea Nf4; b) 16... Rad8! 17. fe5 Be5 18. h3 (18. Nf4 Bf4! 19. Rf4 Bb5; 18
Kh1 Bh2! 19. c6 Nc6 20. Bb6 Qd6 21. Bd8 Nd8 with compensation) Be6 (18
Ba4?! 19. Qa4 Rd3 20. Rf3 Re3 21. Re3 Qc5 22. Nd4 and White is superior)
Qc2 Nc4 20. Bc4 Bc4 21. Bd4 Be2 22. Qe2 Bd4 23. cd4 Rd4 equal] ed4 17
cd4 Rfe8 [17... gf5! 18. ef5 Bf6! (18... Rae8 19. f6 Re3 20. Qh5 h6 21. fg7 K
22. Rf6! Kf6 23. Qh6 Ke7 24. Qe3 Kd8 25. d5 and White is superior) 19. Rf
(19. Kh1 Bb5!; 19. Qh5 Rfe8 20. Rf3 Re3! 21. Re3 Bd4 22. Qg4 Bg7 23. Rc1
Nc6; 19. d5 Qe5 20. Qf3 Rfe8 21. Bf2 with compensation) a) 19... Rae8 20.
Kh8 21. Rh3 Re3 (21... Rg8? 22. Rh7! Kh7 23. Qh5 and White is winning) 2
Re3 Bd4 23. Rh3 f6 24. Be4! Qe5 25. Rb4 Bc5 26. Rh7! Kh7 27. Qh5 Kg7
Qg6 Kh8 29. Qh6 Kg8 30. Bd5! Qd5 31. Qg6 Kh8 32. Rh4#; b) 19... Rfe8 2
Kh1 Bc6 21. Rh3 Re3 22. Re3 and White is superior] 18. f6 Bf8 [18... Bh8
Rb6! Bb5 20. Bf4! Qd8 (20... Qc8 21. Bd6 Re6 22. e5 Nc4 23. Bc4 Bc4 24.
Bf1 25. Kf1 Ra7 26. h3 Re8 27. Kg1 with the idea Kh2, a4-a5, d5, c6, e6) 21
Rd6! Qc8 22. a4 Bd3 23. Qd3 Re6 24. Bg3! Rd6 25. Bd6 Qc6 26. Qc2 Rc8
d5 Qd7 (27... Qd6? 28. cd6 Rc2 29. d7 and White is winning) 28. e5 and Wh
is winning] 19. Qc1! [19. Qd2 Bb5 20. Bh6 Bc5! 21. dc5 Red8! and Black i
slightly better] Nc6 [19... Kh8 20. Bh6 Bg4 (20... Bh6 21. Qh6 Rg8 22. Rf4 g
23. e5! and White is winning) 21. Bf8 Rf8 22. Qh6 Rg8 23. Rf4 Qd7 24. e5
Rae8 (24... Nc6 25. Rb7! Qb7 26. Rg4 with the idea Qh7 and White is winni
25. h3 Bh5 26. Re1 and White is winning, with the idea Rh4; 19... Bb5 20. B
ab5 21. Bh6 Re4 22. Bf8 Kf8 23. Qh6 Ke8 24. Rbe1 Qc6 25. Qh7 Rd8 26. Q
Rdd4 (26... Re1 27. Qe1 Qe6 28. Qa5 and White is winning) 27. Re4 Re4 (2
Qe4 28. Re1 and White is winning) 28. Qh8 Kd7 29. Rd1 Ke6 30. Rd6 and
White is winning] 20. Kh1! [20. Bh6? Nd4 21. Bf8 Rf8 22. Qh6 Ne6 23. Bc
Qc5] h5 (only move) 21. Bf4! [21. Bh6 Kh7 22. Bf8 Rf8 23. Qe3 Rad8] Qd
[21... Qa5 22. Bd6 Bd6 23. cd6 Kh7 (23... Nd4 24. Qh6 Ne6 25. e5 and Whi
winning, with the idea Bg6) 24. Rb7 Qd8 25. Qc4 Kg8 26. e5! Na5 27. Qc1
White is winning] 22. Bd6 Kh7 23. Qe3 Bd6 [23... Bh6 24. Qf2 with the id
e5] 24. cd6 Bc8 [24... b5 25. e5 Qb6 26. Qg5 Bg4 27. Rf4 Rh8 28. Rg4! hg4
29. e6! and White is winning; 24... Qb8 25. e5 Qd6 26. Qf3 Ne5 27. Qh5 Kg
28. de5 Re5 (28... gh5 29. ed6 and White is winning) 29. Qh6 Qf8 30. Qh4 R
3/16/2004
Page 12 of 38
31. Qg3 Rh6 32. Rfe1! (32. Rb7 Rh3!) Bc6 33. Re7 and White is winning] 2
e5 Qd6 26. Bg6! fg6 27. f7 Qe7 28. fe8Q Qe8 29. Rf6 Qe7 [29... Kg7 30. R
Be6 31. d5! Bd5 32. e6 and White is winning] 30. Rbf1 Be6 31. Qe4 Bf5 [3
Rg8 32. d5 and White is winning] 32. R1f5 gf5 33. Qf5 Kg8 34. Rg6 1 : 0
[Sakaev]
RUBLEVSKY 2670 LPUTIAN 2638

Poikovsky 2003 88/243
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Be7 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bd3 c5 7. c3 Nc6 8
0 a5 9. Re1 cd4 10. cd4 Qb6 11. Nb1 Nd4 12. Nd4 Qd4 13. Nc3 Qb6 14. Q
Kf8 [14... 0-0 see 83/(246)] 15. Nb5 Nc5 16. Be3 Bd7 17. Nd6! [a novelty;
a4] Bd6 18. ed6 Qd6 19. Qg3! Qc6 [19... Ne4? 20. Bf4!; 19... Qe7 20. Bf4
21. Bd6 Ne1 22. Re1 and White is superior] 20. Rac1 b6 21. Rc3 h5 [21... f
22. Rec1 Kf7 (22... e5 23. Bc5 bc5 24. Rc5 Qd6 25. Bb5! with attack) 23. Bc
bc5 24. Rc5 Qb6 a) 25. Rc7? Rhd8! (25... Rad8 26. R1c5! and White is
winning) 26. Bh7 (26. R1c5? Ra7!) Qb2 unclear; b) 25. Rb5! b1) 25... Bb5 2
Rc7 Ke8 27. Bb5 Kd8 (27... Qb5 28. Qg7 and White is winning) 28. Rc6 Qb
29. Qg7 and White is winning; b2) 25... Qd4 26. Rb7 Rhd8 27. Bh7 Rac8 28
Bg6 Ke7 29. Re1 and White is winning, with attack; 21... Rc8 22. Rec1 Qc7
Bf4 Qd8 (23... Qa7 24. Bd6 Kg8 25. Be5 g6 26. Qf4! and White is winning)
Bd6 Kg8 25. Bc5 bc5 26. Rc5 Rc5 27. Rc5 Be8 28. Qe5! and White is super
22. h4! [22. Bd4? f6 23. Rec1 h4 24. Qf4 e5! 25. Be5 Nd3 26. Rd3 Qe6
unclear] Re8 [22... Rd8 23. Rec1 and White is superior, with attack] 23. Bd
24. Bg6 Rc8 [24... e5 25. Be8 Be8 26. Be5! fe5 27. Qe5 Bd7 28. Qb8 Bc8 2
Rf3 Kg8 30. Re7 Nd7 31. Qg3 Qh6 32. Rff7 and White is winning] 25. Rf3
Ke7 [25... e5 26. Be5 a) 26... Ne4 27. Re4! Qc1 (27... de4 28. Rf6! gf6 29. B
Qd6 30. Qd6 Kg7 31. Be4 and White is winning) 28. Kh2 de4 29. Rf6 gf6 30
Bd6 Kg7 31. Bf5 Qg5 32. hg5 Bf5 33. gf6 and White is winning; b) 26... Bg
27. Bd6 Kg8 28. Rf6! (28. Bc5 Rh6!) gf6 29. Bh5 Rh7 30. Qg4 Rg7 31. Bf7
Kh8 32. Bg6 Ne4 33. Bf4 and White is winning; 25... Ne4 26. Be4 de4 27. B
gf6 28. Rf6 Ke7 29. Qg7 Kd6 30. Rf7 Kc7 31. Rd7 Qd7 32. Rc1 Kb8 33. Q
Rc1 34. Kh2 and White is winning; 25... Be8!? 26. Bf6! gf6 a) 27. Rf6? Ke7
28. Qg5 Kd6! (28... Kd7? 29. Bf5! and White is winning) 29. Qe5 Ke7 (29...
Kd7? 30. Bf5!) 30. Qg5 (30. Bf5? Bd7!) Kd6 equal; b) 27. Qg5! Nd7 only m
(27... Ke7 28. Qf6 Kd6 29. Qh8 Bg6 30. Qe5 Kd7 31. Qg7 and White is
winning) 28. Rf6 Nf6 29. Qf6 Kg8 30. Be8 Re8 (30... Qe8 31. Re6 Rc1 32. K
Qb8 33. g3 and White is winning) 31. Re3 Qc1 32. Kh2 Qc7 (32... Qe3 33. f
zugzwang Kh7 34. Qg5 and White is winning) 33. Rg3 Qg3 34. Kg3 Rh7 35
Kh3 Rf7 (35... Rd7 36. Qg6 Kf8 37. Qh5 d4 38. Qh6 Ke7 39. Qh7 Kd8 40. Q
and White is winning) 36. Qg5 Kf8 37. Qh5 Rf2 38. Qe5 and White is winni
3/16/2004
Page 13 of 38
26. Rf6!! [and White is winning; 26... gf6 27. Bf6 Kf6 28. Qg5 Kg7 29. Bh5
Kf8 30. Qf6 Kg8 31. Qf7#; 26... Be8 27. Bc5 bc5 28. Rfe6 Qe6 29. Re6 Ke6
30. Qh3] 1 : 0 [Rublevsky]
KASPAROV 2830 GRISCHUK 2732

Rethymnon 2003 88/442
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0 5. a3 Bc3 6. Qc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8
e3 d6 9. Ne2 Nbd7 10. Qd3 Ba6!? (a novelty) 11. b4!? [11. e4?! h6 12. Bh
d5! 13. e5 g5] c5 12. b5 [12. dc5?! bc5 13. b5 Ne5 14. Qc3 Bb7] Bb7 13. N
a6 14. f3 h6 15. Bh4 Qe7?! [15... ab5!? 16. Nb5 d5 unclear] 16. Be2 cd4 17
Qd4 [17. ed4 ab5 18. cb5 g5 19. Bf2 Nh5 with counterplay] e5 [17... Nc5 18
Rd1 Rfd8 19. e4 e5 20. Qe3 and White is slightly better, with the idea 20...
Ng4? 21. Qh6!] 18. Qd1! [18. Qd2 Nc5 19. Rd1 ab5 20. Nb5 g5 21. Bg3 d5
cd5 Nd5 23. e4 (23. 0-0 Rfd8 unclear) Nf4 24. Qd6 Qd6 25. Rd6 Ne2 26. K
Ba6 27. Rb1 f6 28. Bf2 Kg7 equal] g5 19. Bg3 ab5 20. Nb5 d5 21. 0-0 Rac
22. Qb3 Qe6 23. Qb4 [23. Rfd1!? dc4 24. Qb4 with initiative; 23. cd5!? Bd
(23... Nd5 24. Bc4 Qc6 25. Rac1 Nc5 26. Qb1 Ne3 27. Na7 Qf6 28. Rfe1 Nc
29. Nc8 Bc8 30. Rc4 Bf5 31. Qa1 Qe6) 24. Qb2 Bc4 25. Rfd1 and White is
slightly better] Rc5 [23... dc4?! 24. e4 Ba6 25. Nd6 Rc5 26. Rfd1 c3 27. Ba6
28. Bc4 cd1Q 29. Rd1 and White is superior] 24. a4 Rfc8 [24... dc4 25. e4 N
26. Rfd1 and White is slightly better] 25. Rfd1 [25. Bf2 e4 26. Nd4 Qe8 27.
Nf5 (27. cd5 Nd5 28. Qd2 Nc3 29. f4 gf4 30. ef4 Nf6 unclear) Qe6 28. Nd4
Nh6? Kg7 29. Ng4 ef3 30. gf3 Ng4 31. fg4 Qe4 and Black is superior) Qe8
equal] Ba8? [25... dc4?! 26. e4 c3 27. Bf2; 25... Ba6! 26. Bf2 Bb5 27. ab5 e
with counterplay] 26. Ra3 [26. Bf2!? e4 27. cd5 Nd5 28. Qe4 Qe4 29. fe4 N
30. Nd6 and White is superior] g4 27. cd5 Rd5 28. e4 [28. Rd5!? Nd5 29. Q
(29. Qg4? Qg4 30. fg4 Rc1 31. Kf2 N5f6 32. Bf3 Ne4 33. Be4 Be4) gf3 30. g
Qg6 31. Rd3 and White is superior] Rd1 29. Bd1 gf3 30. gf3 Nc5 [30... Nh5
31. Nd6 Rc1 32. Qd2 Rb1 33. Nf5 Ng3 34. hg3 Nc5 35. Nh6 Kh7 36. Nf5 a
White is superior] 31. Qb2! Nfd7 [31... Rd8 32. Be2 and White is superior]
Qd2! Bc6 [32... Kh7 33. Nd6 Rd8 34. Nf5 Be4 35. fe4 Ne4 36. Qb4 Qf5 37
Rf3 Qg6 38. Qe7 Qg5 39. Rf7 Kg8 40. Rg7 Qg7 41. Qd8 Kh7 42. Bc2 Ndf6
Qb6 and White is winning] 33. Nd6 Ra8 34. Be2! Qf6 [34... Nb3 35. Rb3! Q
36. Bc4 Qb1 (36... Qf3 37. Nf7 and White is winning) 37. Kg2 and White is
winning] 35. Nf5 [35. Bc4!? Ne6 36. Nf5 (36. Be6? Qe6 37. Nf5 Ra4) Kh7
35. Nf5] Kh7 36. Bc4 Ne6 [36... Ra4 37. Ra4 Ba4 38. Bf7! Qf7 39. Qh6 Kg
40. Bh4 and White is winning; 36... Ra7 37. Bf7 Be4 38. fe4 Ne4 39. Qd5 Q
40. Be6 Qg6 41. Rf3 Nef6 (41... Ndf6 42. Qe5 Ng3 43. Rg3 Qb1 44. Kg2 an
3/16/2004
Page 14 of 38
White is winning) 42. Qd6 Qg7 43. Bf5 Kh8 44. Rc3 and White is superior]
Rd3! [37. Qd6 Nf4 38. Qf6 Nf6 39. Bf4 ef4 40. Bf7 Ra4] Ndc5 [37... Nd4?
Nd4 ed4 39. Rd4 Ne5 40. Be2 Nf3 (40... Ra4 41. Rd6 Qg7 42. Qc3 Ra1 43.
Ra2 44. Kf1 and White is winning) 41. Bf3 Qf3 42. Rd6 Be4 43. Rh6 Kg8 4
Qg5 Bg6 45. Rg6 and White is winning; 37... Ra4? 38. Be6 Ra1 39. Kg2 Qe
40. Qc3! (40. Rd6?? Ra2) Ra2 41. Kh1! and White is winning] 38. Rd6 Be4
[38... Ba4 39. Be5 Qg5 40. Kf2 and White is superior] 39. Be6 [39. fe4!? Ne
40. Re6 Qe6 (40... fe6 41. Qd7 Kh8 42. Qc6! Rg8 43. Be6 Ng3 44. hg3 Rd8
Kh2 and White is superior) 41. Qc2 Qf5 42. Bd3 Qc8 43. Be4 Kg8 44. Bc6!
(44. Qg2 Qc1 45. Be1 Kf8 46. Ba8 Qe1 47. Qf1 Qb4; 44. Be5 Qc2 45. Bc2 R
Ra5 45. Qg2 Kh8 (45... Qg4 46. Bf2 and White is winning) 46. Bb5 and Wh
is superior] Bf5 40. Bf7! [40. Bf5 Qf5 41. Rh6 Kg8!? (41... Kg7 42. Rb6 Ne
43. Qd5 Ra4 44. Qe5 Qe5 45. Be5 Kg6 and White is slightly better) 42. Qg2
Qb1 43. Be1 Kf8 44. Rh8 Ke7 45. Ra8 Qe1 46. Qf1 Qe3 47. Kg2 Nd3 with
compensation] Qg5?! time [40... Qg7! 41. Kh1! Qg5 (41... Ra4? 42. Be5 an
White is winning) 42. Qg5 hg5 43. Be5 and White is superior] 41. Qg5 hg5
Be5 Nd7 [42... Na4 43. h4! Ra5 44. Bd4 gh4 45. Rd8 Kh6 46. Rh8 Kg5 (46
Bh7 47. Bb3! and White is winning) a) 47. Rh5? Kf4 48. Rh4 Kg5 (48... Kf3
49. Bh5 and White is winning) 49. Rh5 Kf4 50. Kf2 Nc5 51. Rh4 Kg5 52. K
Ne4! 53. fe4 Ra3 54. Kf2 Kh4 55. ef5 Kg5 56. Be6 Ra5! 57. f6 Kg6 58. Ke3
Ra3 59. Ke4 Ra4 60. f7 Ra8 equal; b) 47. Kf2! Nc5 48. Bc3! Nd3 (48... Ra7
Rh5 Kf4 50. Rh4 Kg5 51. Rh5 Kf4 52. Bd2 Ke5 53. Bg6 Ra2 54. Rf5 Kd4 55
Rf4 Ke5 56. Ke3 and White is winning) 49. Ke3 Nf4 50. Rg8 and White is
winning; 42... Ra4 43. Rb6 and White is superior Nd7 44. Rb7! with the ide
44... Ne5? 45. Bb3 Kg6 46. Ba4 Nf3 47. Kg2 and White is winning] 43. Bc3
[43. Bd4? Ra4 44. Be8 Ra7 45. Rd5 Ra5!] Nc5 [43... Ra4? 44. Be8 Ra7 45.
Rd5! Be6 46. Rg5 and White is winning] 44. h4? [44. Bd2!?; 44. a5!! ba5 4
h4! g4 (45... gh4 see 44. h4) 46. Rd5! Na4 47. Bd4 Bg6 48. Be6 and White i
winning] gh4
45. a5! [45. Rd4 Ra4 46. Rd8 Kh6 47. Rh8 Bh7 equal] ba5? [45... Na4? 46.
Bd4 a) 46... Ra5 47. Rd8 see 42... Na4; b) 46... ba5 47. Bb3! Nb2! 48. Rf6!!
Rb8 49. Bf7! Rb5 (49... Bd3 50. Rf4 Kh6 51. Rh4 Kg5 52. Rh5 Kf4 53. Be5
White is winning) 50. Be8 Rb4 51. Bb2 Rb2 52. Rf5 and White is winning; c
46... Ra7!! 47. Rf6 (47. Bb3 Ra5 48. Rd8 Kh6 only move, equal) Ra5 48. Bc
(48. Be8 Rd5) Bc2 49. Rf4 Rf5 (49... Nc5? 50. Bf7 Kh6 51. Rh4 Kg5 52. Rg
Kf5 53. Bg6) 50. Rh4 Kg6 51. Kg2 Ra5 52. Kg3 Rg5 53. Kf2 Nc5 54. Be3 R
55. Rh6 Kg7 56. Rb6 Be4 and White is slightly better] 46. Rd5 [46. Rd4 Ra
(46... Kh6? 47. Rd5 Na4 48. Bd2 and White is winning) 47. Rf4 Bd7] Na4 4
Bd4 Bg6 48. Be6 Bc2 [48... Be8 a) 49. f4 Kh6 (49... Ra6 50. f5) 50. Rd6 Kh
51. Kh2 Rb8 52. Kh3 Nb2 53. Ra6 Nd3 54. Ra7 Kh6 55. Bf5 Bg6 56. Bg7 a
3/16/2004
Page 15 of 38
White is winning; b) 49. Rg5! Ra6 50. Bf5 Bg6 51. Rh5 Kg8 52. Rh6 Kf7 5
Bc2! Rd6 54. Bb3 Ke7 55. Be3! and White is winning] 49. f4 [49. Rd7! Kh6
50. Bf7! Bf5 (50... Rc8 51. Rd5 Bg6 52. Rd6 and White is winning; 50... Rb8
51. Be3! and White is winning) 51. Rd5 Kg5 52. Be6 Rf8 53. Bd7 and Whit
winning] Rb8 50. Rh5 [50. Kh2!?] Kg6 51. Rg5 Kh6 52. Bf7 [52. Bg7!? K
53. Be5 Rd8 (53... Rb7 54. Bg8 Kh6 55. Bd6 and White is winning) 54. f5 K
55. Rg6 Kh5 56. Rg2 Be4 57. Bf7 Kh6 58. Rg6 Kh7 59. Rg5 and White is
winning] Bd1 53. Kh2 [53. Bg7!? Kh7 54. Be5 Rd8 55. Be6! and White is
winning] Rd8 54. Bf6 Rc8 [54... Rd7 55. Be6] 55. Be6 [55. Rg6! Kh7 56. R
Kh6 57. Bg6! Bc2 (57... Rc6 58. Be4 and White is winning) 58. f5 and Whit
winning] Rc6 [55... Rc7 56. Be5 Re7 57. Bf5 Rf7 (57... Re5 58. Rg6 Kh5 59
fe5 and White is winning) 58. Kh3 Nc5 59. Kh4 and White is winning] 56. B
Kh7 57. Bf5 Kg8 58. Be4 [58. Bd7!?] Rc5 59. Bd5?! time [59. Bd4! Rg5 6
fg5 Bb3 61. g6 Kf8 62. Bb1 zugzwang (62. Kh3? Ke7 63. g7 Kd6 64. Bh7 N
Ke7 63. g7 Kd6 64. Bc2 and White is winning] Kh7 [59... Rd5! 60. Rd5 Kg
61. Rd1 a) 61... Kf6 62. Kh3! (62. Rd6? Kf5 63. Rd5 Kg4!) Kf5 (62... Nc3 6
Rd3) 63. Rd5 Ke4 64. Ra5 Nb6 65. f5 and White is winning; b) 61... Nc3 62
Rd7! Kf6 63. Kh3 Kf5 64. Rf7 Ke6 65. Rf8 a4 66. Kh4 a3 67. Kg5 and Whi
is winning] 60. Bd4 Rc2 61. Kh3 Rc7 62. Be4 Kh6 63. Rg8 1 : 0
[Kasparov]
KASPAROV 2830 CHUCHELOV 2608

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dc5 0-0 6. a3 Bc5 7. Nf3 b6 8. B
Nh5?! 9. Bg5 Be7 10. h4! Bb7 [10... Nc6!? 11. 0-0-0 (11. e4 d6) Ba6] 11. 0
0! [a novelty; 11. e4 Nc6 12. Rd1 see 84/441; 12. 0-0-0! see 11. 0-0-0] Nc6
e4 Nf6 [12... h6 13. Be7 Qe7 a) 14. g4 Qf6 15. Be2 Nf4 16. g5 (16. Rd7 Ba6
unclear) Ne2 17. Qe2 Qf4 18. Kb1 Rad8 unclear; b) 14. Nb5! and White is
slightly better ] 13. e5 Ng4 14. Bf4! [14. Bd3?! Nge5! 15. Bh7 Kh8 16. Ne5
Ne5 17. Be4 Be4 18. Qe4 f6 unclear] Rc8 [14... f6 15. ef6 Bf6 (15... Nf6 16
Ng5 with initiative) 16. Ng5! Bg5 (16... g6 17. Ne6 de6 18. Rd8 Rad8 19. Q
and White is superior) 17. Bg5 Rf2 18. Qe4 Nf6 19. Qe3 Rf5 20. Bd3 Re5 2
Qg3 with attack] 15. Kb1 f5 [15... Na5?! 16. Ng5 g6 17. f3 and White is
superior] 16. ef6 Nf6 17. Ng5 Qe8 18. Nb5!? [18. Bd3 g6 a) 19. Nh7 Kh7 2
h5 Kg7 21. Bg6 Qd8 22. Qe2 Na5 23. Bd3 with compensation; b) 19. Nb5 N
(19... e5 see 18. Nb5) 20. Nd6 Bd6 21. Bd6 Nd4 22. Qa4 Rf2 23. h5 Bc6
unclear; c) 19. h5! Nh5 20. Rh5 gh5 (20... Rf4!? 21. Rh7 Nd4 22. Qc1 Bg5 2
Rdh1 Rh4 24. R1h4 Bc1 25. Rh8 Kf7 26. Re8 Ke8 27. Kc1 and White is sligh
better) 21. Bh7 Kg7 22. Rd7!! Qd7 23. Bg8! (23. Qg6? Kh8 24. Qh5 Bg5 an
Black is winning) c1) 23... Rf4? 24. Ne6 Kf6 25. Nd5 Qd5 (25... Ke5 26. Qc
Nd4 27. Qe3 and White is winning) 26. cd5 Rg4 27. Bh7 Nd4 28. Qd2 Nb3
(28... Nf5 29. f3 and White is winning) 29. Qh6 Ke5 30. Nf4! (30. f4? Kd5 3
Qh5 Kd6 32. Qe5 Kd7 33. Bf5 Rc1 34. Ka2 Ra1 35. Kb3 Rg3 36. Kc2 Rg2
equal) Rc1 (30... Rf4 31. Qe6 Kd4 32. Qe3 Kd5 33. Qf4 Nc5 34. b4 and Whi
is winning) 31. Ka2 Nc5 32. Qh5 Rg5 33. Nd3! Kd6 (33... Nd3 34. Qe2 and
White is winning) 34. Qh2 Kd7 35. Nc1 Bd5 36. Kb1 and White is winning;
23... Rf5! 24. Be6 Nd4 c21) 25. Be5 Kh6! (25... Bf6 26. Bd4 Qd4 27. Qf5 Rh
28. f4 with attack) 26. Bd4 Qd4 27. Qf5 Bg5 28. Bc8 Bg2 unclear; c22) 25.
Nf5 26. Bd7 Rc4 27. Bf5 Rf4 28. Ne6 Kf6 29. Nf4 Kf5 equal; c23) 25. Bd7
Nc2 26. Bf5 Na3 (26... Ne1 27. Bc8 Bc8 28. g3 Nd3 29. Nd5 and White is
superior) 27. ba3 Rc4 28. Nge4 Ba3 29. f3 and White is slightly better] e5 1
Bd3 [19. Be3! d5 20. f4! (20. Rd5 Nb4 21. ab4 Bd5 22. Na7 Ra8 23. cd5 Ra
24. Bb6 and White is slightly better) a6 21. Nc3 Nd4 22. Bd4 ed4 23. Rd4 B
24. Rd1 d4 25. Nd5 and White is superior] e4! [19... ef4? 20. Bh7 Kh8 21. B
Qd8 22. Rhe1 a) 22... Na5 23. Bf7! Bg2 (23... Ne4 24. Re4 Bg5 25. hg5 Rf7
Rh1 Kg8 27. Re8 and White is winning) 24. Qg6 Rc5 (24... Rc6 25. h5 and
3/16/2004
Page 16 of 38
White is winning) 25. b4 and White is winning; b) 22... a6 23. Nd6 Bd6 24.
Qc7 (24... b5 25. Bf7 Qa5 26. Red1 and White is winning; 24... Ne7 25. Bf7
Neg8 26. Bg8 and White is winning) 25. Qd1 f3 (25... Kg8 26. Rf6 gf6 27. Q
d6 28. Bh7 and White is winning) 26. Nf3 and White is winning; c) 22... f3 2
gf3 (23. Nf3!? a6 24. Nd6) a6 24. Bf7 ab5 25. Qg6 Rg8 (25... d6 26. h5 Ne5
Re5 de5 28. Rd8 Rfd8 29. h6 and White is winning) 26. Rd5 and White is
winning; 19... g6 20. h5 ef4 (20... Nh5 21. Rh5 gh5 22. Bh7 Kg7 23. Rd7! an
White is winning) 21. hg6 a6 22. gh7 Kh8 unclear; 21. Rhe1! with attack] 20
Be2! [20. Be4? Ne4 21. Qe4 Bg5 22. Qe8 Rce8 23. Bg5 Rf2 unclear] h6 21
Nd6 Bd6 22. Bd6 hg5? [22... Ne5 23. Qc3 (23. f4!?) Nd3 24. Qd4 Qg6 25.
Nf2 26. Be7 hg5 27. h5 and White is superior; 22... Ne7 23. Nh3!?; 23. Qb3
with attack] 23. hg5 Nh7
24. Rh7! Kh7 25. Bf8 Qf8 [25... Ne5 26. Bd6 Nd3 27. f3 and White is
winning] 26. Qe4 Kg8 27. Qd5 1 : 0 [Kasparov]
SVIDLER 2723 S. VOLKOV 2620

Russia (ch) 2003 88/234
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. a3 a5 7. b3 Na6 8. Be3 R
9. Bd3 Ne7!? (a novelty) 10. 0-0 [10. dc5 Nc5 11. Bc2 (11. 0-0 Qb3) Qa6!]
11. Bf5 ef5 (unclear) 12. Re1 c4?! [12... Be6 unclear] 13. bc4 Rc4
3/16/2004
Page 17 of 38
14. e6! [14. Nfd2?! Rc8 15. c4? Qb2 and Black is superior] Be6 15. Ne5 Rc
16. Qa4 [16. c4 f6 17. Qh5 (17. Qa4 Kd8) Kd8 18. cd5 Bd5 19. Nd3 g6 20.
Qh3 Bd6 unclear] Kd8 17. c4?! [17. Nd2! Rc3 (17... f6 18. Rab1 Qd6 19. N
Qa3 20. Qb5 with attack) 18. Rab1 Qc7 19. Nb3! with attack, with the idea
Na5, 20. Bd2] f6 18. c5 [18. cd5 Bd5 19. Nc3 Bb3 20. d5 Nc5 21. Qh4 uncl
Qb2 19. Nd3 Qa1 20. Qa5 Qa2? [20... f4? 21. Nf4 Bf7 22. Nd3 and White
superior; 20... g5 21. Nc3 a) 21... b6 22. Qa6! Qc3 23. cb6 and White is
superior, with the idea 23... Rc6 24. Qa8 (24. Rc1 Qa3 25. Qa3 Ba3 26. Rc6
Bd7 27. Rf6 and White is superior) Rc8 25. b7 Bd6 26. Bd2!! Qd2 27. bc8Q
Bc8 28. Qc6 Be7 29. Rc1 and White is winning; b) 21... Qe1 22. Ne1 f4 23.
Bd2 Ke8 24. Nd3 Kf7 25. Nb4 and White is superior; better is 20... Bc8! 21
Nd2! (21. Nc3 b6 22. cb6 Qc3 23. bc7 Qc7 24. Qd5 Qd7! 25. Qa5 Ke8! and
Black is superior) b6! (21... Qa2 22. Bf4! and White is winning, with the ide
Nb4) 22. cb6 Qa3 23. bc7 Nc7 24. Qb6! Qa6 (24... Qd3 25. Rc1) 25. Qb3 w
compensation] 21. Bf4 (and White is superior) Qc4 22. Nb4 Ke8 [only mov
22... Qd4 23. Na6 Qf4 24. g3! and White is winning] 23. Bc7 [23. Na6 Re7
Nc7 Kf7 25. Bd6 Bd7 26. Be7 Be7 27. Qb6 Bc6] Kf7 [23... Nb4 24. ab4 Kf
25. Qb6 Bc8 26. Bf4 Be7 27. Qc7 Re8 28. Bd6 Be6 29. Qb7 and White is
winning] 24. Qb6 Bc8 [24... Nc7 25. Qc7 Be7 26. Qb7 and White is winnin
25. Na6 Qa6?! [25... ba6 26. Bf4 Be7 (26... Qd4 27. Qc7 Kg6 28. Be3 and
White is winning) 27. Qc7 Re8 28. Bd6 Be6 unclear; 26. Qb4 and White is
superior ] 26. Qa6 ba6 27. Nc3 and White is winning Be6 28. Rb1 Be7 29
Rb7 Re8 30. f3 [30. f4!? weak point Be6] g5 [30... Bc8 31. Rb6] 31. Ra7 f4
32. Bd6 Kf8 33. Ra6 Bd6 34. Rd6 Bf7 35. Nd5 [35. c6 Rc8 36. Rf6 (36. Nb
Be8) Ke7 37. Rh6 Bg6 38. Nd5 Kd6 39. Nb4 and White is winning, with the
idea h4] Re1 36. Kf2 Rc1 37. Ke2 [37. Nf6 Bc4 38. g4 and White is winnin
Rc2 38. Kd1?! time [38. Ke1 Rg2 39. c6 Rc2 (39... Bd5 40. Rd5 Rc2 41. Rd
Ke7 42. Rd7 Ke8 43. d5) 40. Rd8 Kg7 41. c7 Bd5 42. c8Q Rc8 43. Rc8 Bf3
a4 and White is winning] Rg2 39. c6 Bh5! 40. c7 Bf3 41. Kc1 Rg1 42. Kd2
[42. Kb2 Rg2 43. Kc3 Bg4 44. Nf6 Bf5 45. Nd7 Ke7 46. c8Q Rc2; 45. Rd5
and White is winning] Rg2 43. Ke1 Re2 [43... Bg4 44. Nf6 Bh3! 45. Nd7 K
46. c8Q Kd6 47. Qe8! Rg1 (47... f3 48. Qf8 Kd7 49. Qf3 and White is winni
47... Bd7 48. Qe5 Kc6 49. Qe4 and White is winning) 48. Ke2 Bd7 (48... Rg
49. Kf3) 49. Qe5 Kc6 50. d5 Kb7 51. Qe7 and White is winning] 44. Kf1 Rc
45. Rd8 Kf7 46. c8Q Rc8 47. Rc8 Bd5 48. a4 and White is winning Ke6 4
a5 Kd7 50. Rc3 Bb7 [50... h5 51. a6 h4 52. a7 g4 53. Ra3 Ba8 54. Rb3 g3 5
hg3] 51. Rb3 Ba6 52. Kf2 f5 53. Rb6 Bc8 54. d5 1 : 0 [Svidler]
SUTOVSKY 2639 SERMEK 2577
3/16/2004
Page 18 of 38
Terme Zrece 2003 88/49

1. e4 d5 2. ed5 Qd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 a6 6. g3 b5 7. Bg2 Bb7 8
0 e6 9. Bf4 Qb6 10. a4 Bd6 11. Be3 b4 (a novelty) 12. a5 Qa7
13. d5!! Bc5 14. de6 Be3 [14... bc3 15. ef7 Ke7 16. Re1 and White is winni
14... fe6 15. Bc5 Qc5 16. Na4 Qa5 (16... Qe7 17. Re1 0-0 18. Ng5 Bg2 19. R
Qd7 20. Qd7 Nbd7 21. Kg2 and White is superior) 17. Qe1 0-0 18. Qe6 Kh8
Ne5 Bg2 20. Kg2 and White is superior] 15. ef7 Kf7 [15... Ke7 16. Re1 and
White is winning] 16. Ne5 Ke7 [16... Ke6 17. Bb7 Qb7 18. Re1! Bf2 19. Kf
bc3 20. Nc6 Kf7 21. Re7 Kg6 22. Ne5 Kf5 23. g4 and White is winning] 17
Bb7 Qb7 18. Qd3! [18. Re1 bc3 (18... Re8 19. Re3 Kf8 20. Na4 and White i
winning) 19. Re3 Re8 20. Nd7 Kf7 21. Nf6! (21. Re8 Nbd7) Re3 22. Qh5 K
23. fe3 Qe4! 24. Rf1 Ke7 25. Qc5 Ke6 26. Rf4 Qd5 27. Qc3 Nd7; 18. Qe2
Nbd7! a) 19. Nd7 Kd7 20. Qe3 Rae8 (20... bc3 see 18. Qd3) 21. Qd3 Kc8; b
19. Qe3 Ne5 20. Qe5 Kf7] bc3 [18... Re8 19. Qe3 Nbd7 20. Nd7 Kd7 21. Q
and White is winning; 18... Qa7 19. Nd5 Nd5 20. Qd5 and White is winning
19. Qe3 Nbd7 [19... cb2 20. Nc6 Kd7 (20... Kf7 21. Qe7 Kg8 22. Nd8! Qd5
Ne6) 21. Rfd1 Kc6 22. Qc3 Kb5 23. Qb2 Kc4 24. Qd4 Kb5 25. Rab1 Ka5 2
Qa1#; 19... Re8 20. Qc5 Ke6 21. Rae1 (21. f4 Ne4) Qd5 22. Qc3 Kf5 (22... N
23. Qf3) 23. g4 Ng4 24. Ng4 Re1 25. Re1 Kg4 26. Re5] 20. Nd7! [20. Ng6
21. Nh8 Rh8 22. Qc3 and White is superior] Kd7 21. Rfd1 Kc8 22. Qe6 Kb
23. Ra3! [23. bc3? Re8 24. Qf5 (24. Qc4 Kc8) Qc6!] Re8 [23... Qe4 24. Rb
Ka7 25. Rd7!!] 24. Qf5 cb2 [24... Qc6 25. Rb3 Ka7 26. Rc3 Qb5 (26... Qb7
Qc5) 27. Rc7 Kb8 28. Rc5 Qa4 (28... Qb4 29. Rc3) 29. Rd8! and White is
winning] 25. Rb3 Ra7 26. Qd3! Ka8 27. Rb7 Rb7 28. Rb1! [28. Qa6? Kb8
29. Rb1 Re5] Rb5 29. Qc3 Reb8 30. Qc7 R8b7 31. Qd6 Ka7 32. c4 Rb4 3
Qd4 Ka8 34. Kg2 (and White is winning) h5 35. h3 Rb8 36. Qd6 Ka7 37.
time Ka8 38. Qd6 Ka7 39. Qe7 R8b7 40. Qe3 Ka8 41. c5 Rc4 42. Qe6 [42
Qe2] Rc1 [42... Rc5 43. Qa6 Kb8 44. Qd6 Rcc7 45. a6] 43. c6 Rb4 [43... Rb
44. Qc8] 44. Qc8 [44... Ka7 45. Qc7 Ka8 46. Qd8 Rb8 47. c7] 1 : 0
[Sutovsky]
FRESSINET 2595 B. GELFAND 2700

Enghien-les-Bains 2003 88/126
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8
Na3 b5 9. Bf6 gf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. ef5 Bf5 13. Nc2 0-0 14. Nce3
3/16/2004
Page 19 of 38
15. Bd3 f5 16. Qh5 e4 17. Bc2 Ne7 18. Rd1 b4! 19. Nb4 a5 20. Nbd5 Nd5
Nd5 Rb8 22. Bb3 a4 23. Ba4 Rb2 24. Bb3 Kh8! 25. 0-0 [25. Qh3 e3! with
idea 26. fe3 f4 27. Qe6 Qh4 Ch. Bauer] f4 26. Rfe1? [a novelty; 26. Nf4 Bb
27. Ng6 Kg8 28. Nf8 Bd1; 26. c4!? Rf5 (26... Be5 27. c5) 27. Qg4 Bc8!? (2
e3 28. Nf4 Rf4 29. Qf4 e2 30. Qd6 ed1Q 31. Rd1 equal) 28. Nb4 (28. Nf4? Q
29. g3 Bh6) Qf8 with compensation ; 26. Nb4!? a) 26... Bb3 27. ab3 Rb3 (2
f3 28. g3) 28. Qd5; b) 26... Rf5 27. Qg4 Bc8 with compensation] Rf5 [26...
e3?! 27. fe3 f3; 27. Re2] 27. Qg4
27... e3! [and Black is winning; 27... Re5? 28. Qf4 Rb3 29. ab3 Bd5 30. c4 B
31. c5! with counterplay] 28. Re3 [28. fe3 Rg5 29. Qf3 Bg4; 28. Kh1 Rf2 29
Ne3 fe3 30. Be6 R5f4; 28. Re2 Rb3 29. Nf4 Rd5 30. Qg7 Kg7 31. Ne6 Kg8
Rde1 Qf6 33. ab3 Rd2] fe3 [28... Bd5? 29. Qf5 Bb3 30. Rh3 Bc2 31. Rh7 K
32. Rg7] 29. Ne3 h5! [29... Bb3 30. Nf5] 30. Qg6 [30. Qh3 Bb3 31. ab3 Rff
(31... Rb5 32. c4 Ra5) 32. Qh5 Kg8 33. Qd5 Kh7 34. Qe4 (34. Qh5 Bh6) Kh
Rf6 31. Qh5 Rh6 32. Qf3 Qh4 0 : 1 [B. Gelfand]
SUTOVSKY 2657 GALLAGHER 2540

Bled (ol) 2002 88/220
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 b5 8. 0
Be7 9. Qf3 Qc7 10. Re1 Nc6 11. Nc6 Qc6 12. Bg5! [12. Qg3 see 43/(307)]
Bb7 (a novelty) 13. Bf6! gf6 [13... Bf6 14. Bd5! Qc8 15. e5! Bd5 16. Nd5 B
17. ed6 and White is superior] 14. Re3! Qc5 15. Rae1 Kf8 [15... 0-0? 16. N
and White is winning]
3/16/2004
Page 20 of 38
16. Bd5!! ed5 17. ed5 Re8 18. Qe2! Qc7 (only move) 19. Ne4! Bd8! [19...
Bd5 20. Qh5 Be4 21. Qh6 Kg8 22. Re4 and White is winning; 19... Qd7 20.
Qf3! f5 21. Qf4! h6 22. Nf6 Bf6 23. Re8 Qe8 (23... Kg7 24. Rh8 Kh8 25. Qh
24. Re8 Ke8 25. Qd6] 20. Nd6 Re7 [20... Re3 21. Qe3 h5 22. Nf5 Qd7 23. Q
b4 24. Qb4 Kg8 25. Qf4 Kf8 26. c4 and White is winning (26. Nd6!?) ] 21.
Re7! [21. Nf5 Re5] Be7 22. Nf5 Bd5 23. Qg4! [23. Qe7 Qe7 24. Ne7 Ba2!
b3 Bb1! and White is slightly better] Rg8 24. Re7 Rg4 [24... Qd8 25. Qb4!
Rg2 26. Kf1 Kg8 27. Qd2! and White is winning; 24... Qh2 25. Kh2 Rg4 26
Rd7 Bc6 27. Rd8 Be8 28. Ra8 and White is winning] 25. Rc7 Be6 [25... Rg
26. Kf1 and White is winning] 26. Ne3 Ra4! 27. a3 f5! 28. g3 f4 29. gf4 Rf
30. Ra7 Rf6?! time [30... Ra4 31. c3 and White is superior] 31. Kg2?! [31.
Ra8! Kg7 32. Ra6 Rg6 33. Ng2 and White is winning] Rg6 32. Kf3 Rh6 33
Kg3 Rg6 34. Kf4 Rf6 35. Kg3 Rg6 36. Kf3 Rh6 37. b4! Ke8 38. h4 Kd8?
[38... Rh4 39. Ra6 Kd7 40. Rb6 Rh5 and White is superior] 39. Kg3 Rg6 40
Kf4 Rf6 41. Ke5! Rf2 42. Ra6 Rf3 43. Ng2! (and White is winning) Rf5 44
Ke4 Rf2 45. Nf4 Bc8 [45... Rc2 46. Ne6 fe6 47. Ke5] 46. Ra7 Rc2 47. Rf7
48. Rh7 Bg4 49. Nh5 Rc3 50. Nf6 Bf3 51. Kd4 Ra3 52. h5 Ra6 53. Ke5 1
0 [Sutovsky]
VAN WELY 2661 SUTOVSKY 2639

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cd5 Nd5 5. e4 Nc3 6. bc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 0-0 10. 0-0 Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bf7 Rf7 13. fg4 Rf1 14. Kf
Qd7 15. h3 Nc4 16. Bf2 cd4 17. cd4 e5 18. de5? [18. Qd3! Rc8 (18... b5 19
a4) 19. Kg1 unclear] Nd2 19. Ke1
3/16/2004
Page 21 of 38
19... Bh6! [a novelty; 19... Be5 see 48/624] 20. Nd4 [20. Qc2 Rf8! (with the
idea Be3!) 21. Qc5 only move (21. Rd1 Qf7 and Black is winning) Ne4! 22.
Qc4 Kh8 23. Qe4 Qd2 24. Kf1 Be3 25. Qf3 Rf3 26. gf3 b5 and Black is
winning] Rf8 21. Qe2 [21. e6 Qc7! 22. Qc2 Qe5 23. e7 Qe7 24. Nf3 Nf3 25
gf3 Rf3 and Black is winning] Qc7! 22. Qd3 [22. Rd1 Qc3 23. Nb5 Qa5! an
Black is winning] Qe5 [22... Qa5 23. Ke2 Ne4 24. Nf3] 23. Rd1 Qa5! [23..
Ne4? 24. Qc4 Rf7 25. Nf3 unclear] 24. Ke2?! [24. Qb5 only move Qb5 25.
Nb5 Ne4 26. Bh4 (26. Ba7 Ng3! and Black is winning) g5! 27. Rd4 only mo
Re8 28. Nc7! Bg7! 29. Rd7! Re5 30. Rd8 Kf7 31. Bf2 Ke7! 32. Rd3 Nc5 33
Re3 Nd3 34. Kf1 Nf2 35. Kf2 Kd7 36. Rf3 Kc7 37. Rf7 Kc6 38. Rg7 Ra5 an
Black is superior] Qa2 25. Nc2 Qf7 [25... Nb1!? (with the idea Na3) 26. Be
only move (26. Kf1 Na3! and Black is winning) Bg7 (26... Be3 27. Ke3 Na3
Qa3 Qc2 29. Rd2 Qc7 30. Qd6) 27. Bd2 Nd2 28. Rd2 Re8 and Black is
superior] 26. Bh4 [26. Qd5 Ne4! 27. Qf7 Kf7! (27... Rf7? 28. Rd8 Rf8 29. Rf
Bf8 30. Ba7) 28. Bd4 (28. Rd7 Ke6 and Black is winning) Rc8 29. Kd3 Nc5
Black is winning] Ne4! 27. Qe4 Re8 28. Rd8 Qc4! 0 : 1 [Sutovsky]
P. NIELSEN 2636 DREEV 2698

Esbjerg 2003 88/(85)
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 de4 4. Ne4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bd3 10. Qd3 e6 11. Bf4 Ngf6 12. 0-0-0 Be7 13. Kb1 0-0 14. N
Qa5
3/16/2004
Page 22 of 38
15. g4! [a novelty; 15. Nf6 see 86/102] Ng4 16. Ne5 f5!? 17. Ng4? fe4! [17
fg4 18. Bh6!] 18. Qe4 Qf5 19. Qe2 Nf6 20. Nf6 Bf6 equal [Motylev]
MACIEJA 2634 VAISSER 2563

Silivri 2003 88/272
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bc3 6. bc3 c5 7. Qg4 0-0 8. B
Nbc6 9. Qh5 Ng6 10. Nf3 Qc7 11. Be3 c4 12. Bg6 fg6 13. Qg4 Qf7 14. Ng
Qe8 15. h4 h6 16. Nh3 a5 17. h5 gh5 18. Qe2 b5 19. Nf4 g6
20. Nh5!! [a novelty; 20. g4] gh5 21. Rh5 (and White is winning) Ra7 [21..
Kf7 22. Bh6 Rg8 23. Qf3 Ke7 24. Bg5 Rg5 25. Rh7! Kd8 26. Qf6 Ne7 27.
Qg5; 21... Qg6 22. Rh6 Qg2 (22... Qg7 23. Rh3) 23. Qh5; 21... Rf5 22. Rh6
Ra7 23. 0-0-0; 21... Ne7 22. Rh6 Kg7 23. 0-0-0 Rh8 24. Rdh1 Rh6 25. Rh6
26. Rf6] 22. Bh6 Rff7 [22... Ne7 23. Rg5 Ng6 24. Qh5 Rg7 25. 0-0-0 Rf5 2
Bg7 Kg7 (26... Rg5 27. Qg5 Kg7 28. Qf6 Kg8 29. Rh1) 27. Rh1 Rg5 28. Qh
Kg8 29. Qg5] 23. Qg4 Rg7 24. Bg7 Rg7 25. Qh4 Qh5 [25... Qg6 26. Rh8 K
27. Qf4] 26. Qh5 Bd7 27. Kd2 Rh7 28. Qg4 Rg7 29. Qf3 Rf7 30. Qe3 Rh7
31. g4 Be8 32. Qg5 Rg7 33. Qf6 1 : 0 [Macieja]
3/16/2004
Page 23 of 38
GAGUNASHVILI 2577 MACIEJA 2627

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dc5 0-0 6. a3 Bc5 7. Nf3 b6 8. B
Bb7 9. e4 h6 10. Bh4 Be7 11. Rd1 Nh5 12. Bg3 a6 13. e5! [a novelty; 13. B
see 86/499] Bf3 [13... Qc7 14. Ne4 and White is superior] 14. gf3 Qc7 [bett
is 14... f5 15. ef6 Nf6 16. Rg1 with attack] 15. f4 d6 16. f5! de5 [16... Ng3 1
hg3 de5 18. fe6 fe6 19. Rh6! gh6 20. Qg6 Kh8 21. Qh6 Kg8 22. Bh3 and W
is winning] 17. fe6 fe6 18. Qg6 Nf6 19. Rg1 Rf7 20. Bh3! Qc4 21. Rd5??
Be5 Kf8 (21... Nc6 22. Bf6 Bf6 23. Ne4 and White is winning Ne5!? 24. Nf6
Kf8 25. Qg3! gf6 26. Qg8 Ke7 27. Qa8) 22. Bf6 Bf6 23. Ne4 and White is
winning] Qc6! [21... ed5?? 22. Be6 and White is winning] 22. Re5 Nbd7 23
Re6 Qc4! 24. Re3 [24. Re4 Ne4 25. Be6 Qe6 26. Qe6 Nc3 27. bc3 (27. Qd7
Rd8; 27. Qc6 Re8!) Ba3] Nf8 25. Qd3 Qb3! [25... Qd3 26. Rd3] 26. Bg2? [
Nd1] Rd8 27. Nd5
27... Qb2!! 28. Re7? [28. Ne7 Re7 29. Qd8 Rd7 30. Qd7 N8d7 and Black is
superior] Qa1 29. Ke2 Qa2! 30. Kf1 Nd5 31. Re2 Ne3!! 32. Qe3 Rd1 33. R
Qc4 34. Qe2 Re1 [35. Ke1 Qc1 36. Qd1 Re7 and Black is winning] 0 : 1
[Macieja]
L. FILIP 2278 MADAN 2257

Iasi 2003 88/118
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8
Na3 b5 9. Bf6 gf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Ne7 Qe7 13. 0-0 0-0 14. c
15. Qf3 Qb7!? [15... bc4 see 87/(126)] 16. ef5?! [16. cb5 d5! 17. ef5 e4 18.
Qg3 Bf5 with compensation; 16. Qe2 bc4!? (16... b4 17. Nc2 f4 18. Rfd1 Be
19. b3 a5 equal) 17. Nc4 fe4 18. Qe4 (18. Be4 d5 19. Nd6 Qc6 20. Nf5 Bf5 2
Bf5 e4 equal) Qe4 19. Be4 a) 19... Be6?! 20. Ba8 (20. Nd6 Rab8 21. b3 f5 2
Bc2 e4 with compensation) Bc4 21. Rfc1 d5 22. b3 Bb3 23. ab3 Ra8 24. b4
White is superior; b) 19... Rb8!? 20. b3 (20. Rfd1 Be6 21. Bd5 Bg4 22. f3 Bh
23. Rd3 Rfc8 24. Rad1 e4 25. Ra3 ef3 26. gf3 Bb2 27. Ra6 Bf3 28. Bf3 Rc4 2
Rad6 Ba3 equal) Be6 21. Rad1 (21. Nd6 f5 22. Bc2 e4 with compensation) B
22. bc4 Rfc8 equal] Qf3 17. gf3 e4! 18. Be4
3/16/2004
Page 24 of 38
18... d5! [a novelty; 18... Rb8?! 19. Rab1 and White is slightly better] 19. B
[19. cd5? Bb2 20. Nc2 Ba1 21. Na1 Rd8 and Black is slightly better] Bf5!! 2
Ba8 Ra8 (with compensation) 21. Rae1 [21. Rad1?! Bb2 22. Nb5 (22. Nb1?
bc4 and Black is slightly better) ab5 23. cb5 Ra5 with initiative; 21. cb5 Bb2
22. Nc4 Ba1 23. Ra1 ab5 24. Nd6 Bd3 equal] Bd3 22. cb5 [22. b3 Bf8 23. N
bc4 24. bc4 Bc4 25. Nd2 (25. Nc3 Bf1 26. Kf1 Bb4 equal) Bf1 26. Kf1 Bb4
equal; 22. Re3 Bf1 23. Kf1 Bb2 24. cb5 ab5 25. Nb5 Ra2 26. Re2 Ra1 27. K
Bf6 equal] ab5 [22... Bb2 23. Re3 Bf1 24. Kf1 ab5 25. Nb5 Ra2 equal] 23. R
Bf1 24. Kf1 Bb2 25. Nb5 Ra2 (equal) 26. Kg2 Ra6 27. f4 Kg7 28. Kf3 Rh
29. Kg3 Rg6 30. Kf3 Rh6 31. Kg3 Rg6 1/2 : 1/2 [Madan]
SERGEY KARJAKIN 2560 TKACHIEV 2654

Biel (open) 2003 88/309
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. c3 d6 8. d
Bb6 9. a4 Rb8 10. ab5 ab5 11. Na3 0-0 12. Nb5 ed4 13. cd4 Bg4 14. Ra4
15. Bg5 h6 16. Bd5 Bf3 17. gf3! [17. Qf3 see 82/(307)] hg5 18. Bc6 Re6 19
Nc3 Nh5
20. Nd5! [a novelty; 20. Kh1] Nf4 21. Qd2 Nd5 22. Bd5 Rh6 [22... Re8!? 2
3/16/2004
Page 25 of 38
Bc6 Rf8 24. f4 gf4 25. Qf4 and White is superior] 23. Rfa1! Qd7 [23... Qf6
Ra8 Ra8 25. Ra8 Kh7 26. e5! de5 (26... Qf4 27. Qf4 gf4 28. Bf7 Bd4 29. e6 B
30. Re8 and White is winning, with the idea e7, Rh8) 27. Qc2 g6 28. Rf8 and
White is winning] 24. Ra8 Ra8 25. Ra8 Kh7 26. e5! de5 [26... Qh3 27. Bf7
Qh2 28. Kf1 Qh3 29. Ke2 g4 30. Qd3 g6 31. e6 Qh4 32. Qe3 gf3 33. Kd3 an
White is winning] 27. de5 Qh3 28. Bf7 [and White is winning, with the idea
Rh8!] g6 29. Bg8 [29. Rh8 Kg7 30. Rh6 Kh6 31. Qd8 Bf2 32. Kf2 Qh2 33.
Kf1] Kg7 30. e6 Qh2 [30... Qf3 31. Qd7 Kh8 32. Bf7 Qa8 (32... Kg7 33. Bg
Kg6 34. Qe8 Kf5 35. Qf8 Rf6 36. Qf6 Kf6 37. Rf8) 33. e7 Bf2 34. Kf2 Rh2
(34... Qa7 35. Kf3 g4 36. Qg4 Qb7 37. Kg3) 35. Ke3 Qa7 36. Kd3 Qa6 37.
Bc4] 31. Kf1 Rh4 32. Qd7 Kf6 33. Rf8 Ke5 34. Qb5 Kd6 35. Rd8 [35... K
36. Qg5#] 1 : 0 [Sergey Karjakin, Borovikov]
LEKO 2739 ANAND 2774

Dortmund 2003 88/229
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. B
Nbd7 9. g4 Nb6 10. g5 Nh5 11. Qd2 Be7 12. 0-0-0 Rc8 13. Rg1 0-0 14. Kb
g6 15. Qf2 Nc4 16. Bc4 Bc4 [better is 16... Rc4] 17. Na4! [a novelty; 17. Q
see 87/(249)] Be6 18. Nb6 Rc7 19. Qd2?! [19. Nc5 Qe8!; 19. Na5! f6 (19...
20. Qd2! with the idea 20... f4? 21. Bf2 Bg5 22. Nd5 and White is winning) 2
gf6 Nf6 21. Qe2 Qe8 22. c4 Qf7 and White is slightly better] Rc6! 20. Nd5
Qb4? d5!; 20. Qa5 Qc7 21. Nd5 Bd5 22. Qc7 Rc7 23. Rd5 f6 with counterp
Bd5 21. ed5 [21. Qd5 Qc8 22. c3 b5] Rc8 22. Qd3 Qd7 23. c4 [23. Nd2!] f
24. gf6 Rf6 25. Nd2
25... Rf7! [25... Qf5 26. Ne4 Rf7 27. c5! dc5 28. d6] 26. Rc1 Qf5! 27. Rc3
Qf5 Rf5 28. a4 a5 29. Rc3 with the idea Rb3; 28... Nf4 equal] b5! 28. b3?!
Qf5! Rf5 a) 29. Rgc1 bc4 30. Rc4 Rc4 31. Rc4 Nf6 32. Rc8 Kf7 33. Ra8 Nd
34. Bf2 Nc7 35. Ra7 Ne6 36. Ne4 (36. Ra6 d5 and Black is slightly better) K
37. Ra8 Kg7 38. Ra7 Rf7 and Black is slightly better; b) 29. b3! bc4 30. bc4
equal] Qh3 [weak point h2] 29. Rgc1 [29. cb5 Rc3 30. Qc3 ab5] bc4 30. Rc
Ra8! 31. Ra4?! [31. Rc7! Qh2 32. Qc4 Ng3 (32... a5 33. Qc6) 33. Qc6 Raf8
34. Qa6 Nf5] Bf8 32. a3! [32. Ra6 e4! 33. Ne4 Ra6 34. Qa6 Qf3 35. Ng5 (3
Qd3 Nf4 36. Qd4 Ne2 and Black is winning) Qe3 36. Nf7 Kf7 and Black is
superior; 32. Rcc4 Qh2 33. Rh4 Qg3 34. Qf1 Nf4 35. Rg4 Qh2 and Black is
slightly better] Nf6 [32... a5 33. Ka2] 33. Bg5! Qh2? [33... Nd7 34. Rh4! Q
35. Qf5 Rf5 36. Ne4 with counterplay] 34. Rh4 Qg2 [34... Qg3! 35. Bf6 Rf6
3/16/2004
Page 26 of 38
36. Rch1 a) 36... Rf7 37. Qe3 h5 38. Rh5 (38. R1h3 Qg2 39. Rh2 Qg3 40. R
equal) gh5 39. Rg1 h4 40. Ne4 Qg1 41. Qg1 Rg7 42. Qh1 Be7 43. Qh3 Rf8
b4; b) 36... e4! 37. Re4 (37. Qe4 Ra7 (diagonal h8-a1) 38. R4h3 Qg5) Rf7 3
Reh4 Qe5 unclear] 35. Bf6 [35. Be3! e4 (35... Qg3 36. Rch1 e4 37. Ne4 Ne4
Qe4 Qe5 equal) 36. fe4 Ng4 37. Rg1 Ne5 38. Rg2 Nd3 39. Rg1 equal] Rf6
Rg4? [36. Rch1 a) 36... e4 37. fe4 Rf7 (37... Rf2 38. R4h2! Qh2 39. Rh2 Rh
40. Nc4 and White is slightly better) 38. R4h2 Qg5 unclear; b) 36... Rf7 37.
R4h2 Qg5 38. Ne4 Qf5 39. Rh3; 36. Qe3 h5 (36... Rf4? 37. Rf4 ef4 38. Qe6
Kh8 39. Rc7 and White is superior; 36... Qg3 37. Rch1 h5 38. Rh5 gh5 39. R
Qg1 40. Qg1 and White is slightly better) 37. Rh5 gh5 38. Rg1] Qh3 (and
Black is slightly better) 37. Rcg1 Ra7 38. R1g3 Qh6 39. Ne4 Rf4 40. Rf4?
Qh1 [and Black is winning; 40... ef4 41. Rg2?? Qh1; 41. Rg1] 41. Ka2 ef4
Rg4 Bg7 43. b4 a5! 44. Kb3 ab4 45. Kb4 Qe1 46. Kb3 Qc1
0 : 1 [Anand]
MACIEJA 2627 MI. ADAMS 2719

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bc6 dc6 5. 0-0 Bg4 6. h3 h5 7. d3 Qf6 8.
Nbd2 Ne7 9. Re1 Ng6 10. d4 Nf4 11. hg4 hg4 12. g3 gf3 13. Qf3 Ne6 14. d
[14. Qf6? gf6 15. de5 Nd4! and Black is superior] Qh6 15. Nb3 g5! [15... Q
16. Kf1 Bc5 17. Qg2! (17. Nc5?? Nd4! 18. Qg2 Qh1 19. Qh1 Rh1 20. Kg2 R
and Black is winning; 17. Be3 see 23/272) Qh5 18. Nc5 and White is superi
16. Be3 [16. Kf1 Qh3 17. Qg2 (17. Ke2?? g4 18. Qc3 Qg2 and Black is
winning) Qh5 with compensation]
16... Qh3! [a novelty; 16... Bg7 17. Kf1! Be5 18. c3 Qh3 19. Ke2 g4 20. Qh
and White is superior] 17. Qg2 Qh5 18. f3!? [18. g4!? Mi. Adams; 18. Nd4
Nd4 19. Bd4 0-0-0 with compensation] Bg7 19. Kf2 Be5 20. Rh1 Qg6 21. R
Bh8 22. c3 0-0-0 23. Qh3! Bg7 24. Qf5 [24. Rh1 Rh8 25. Qf1 Rf8!] Qh5 25
Rg1 [25. Kg2?! Rh8] b6! 26. Nd2 Kb7 27. Rg2 [with the idea 28. Kg1 Rh8
Nf1 and White is superior] Qh1! 28. Rg1 [28. Qf7? Nc5 with initiative] Qh
29. Rg2 Qh1 30. Rg1 Qh2 1/2 : 1/2 [Macieja]
KHALIFMAN 2678 SHIPOV 2589

Russia (ch) 2003 88/401
3/16/2004
Page 27 of 38
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 0-0 6. Rc1 c5 7. dc5 Be6 8. N

Nc6 9. Ng5 Bg4 10. f3 e5 11. cd5 ef4 12. dc6 Qe7 13. fg4! [13. e4 see 32/5
Qe3 14. Be2 Ng4
15. Nh3! [a novelty; 15. Rf1 Rad8! (15... Nh2? 16. Qd2 Qd2 17. Kd2 Nf1 18
Rf1 bc6 19. Bc4 and White is superior) 16. Qc2 Nh2 and Black is superior]
Rad8 [15... bc6 16. Qd2!] 16. Qc2 Ne5 [16... Nh2? 17. Rh2 Qg3 18. Kf1 Qh
19. cb7 Bd4 20. Bf3! and White is superior; 16... Qe7?! 17. 0-0! Qc5 18. Kh
Ne3 19. Qb3 and White is slightly better; 16... bc6 17. Nd1 Qe5 18. Nhf2! (
0-0?! Ne3 19. Ne3 Qe3 20. Kh1 Rd2) Nf2 19. Nf2 Rfe8 20. Rd1 unclear] 17
Kf1 [17. c7!? Rd4! (17... f3? 18. cd8Q fg2 19. Qd5! and White is winning; 1
Nd3 18. Kf1 Nc1 19. cd8Q Rd8 20. Nd1!) 18. Kf1 f3 (18... Nc4!?) 19. gf3 N
20. Bf3 Qf3 21. Nf2 Rf4 with compensation] Nc6! [17... Rd2 18. Qe4 Re2 1
Qe3 Re3 20. cb7 Nd3 21. Nf4! (21. c6? Rfe8! and Black is winning) Nc1 22
Ree8 23. Ncd5 Rb8 24. Kf2 Bb2 25. Rd1 unclear] 18. Rd1 Nd4? time [18...
Qc5! with counterplay] 19. Qe4! Nf5 [better is 19... Ne6] 20. Rd8 Rd8 21. Q
fe3 [21... Ne3 22. Kf2 Bd4 23. Nf4! and White is superior] 22. g4! (and Wh
is superior) Nd4 [22... Nh4!? 23. Rg1 Rd2 24. Rg3 Bd4 25. Nd1! and White
superior] 23. Kg2 Ne2 24. Ne2 Rd2 25. Kf3 Rb2 26. Ng5 [26. a4!] Ra2 27
Rb1 Rc2? [27... Rb2!] 28. Rb7 Be5 29. h3 h5 30. Nf7 hg4 31. hg4 Bg7 32.
Ng5 Be5 33. Ra7 Rc5 34. Ra8 1 : 0 [Shipov]
B 17
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 de4 4. Ne4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6

7. N1f3 Bd6 8. Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Ne4 10. Qe4 Qc7 11. 00 b6
12
13
14
15
16
1 Re11 Qh43
Bb72 c54
Ng5
005
Ne46
Be47
Qe48 Qh4
Bh6
Nf69 Rfd810 gh611
2 Qg4
Nd2
Ne415
Nd6
Qh3
17
Be3
18
dc517
19
20
Qf612 Kh1
Bh2
Qf413
Be2
equal
f3
3/16/2004
Page 28 of 38
g514
Bb7
0-0-0
Qd6
c516
Nc5
...
3 ...
...
...
compensation
...
...
a4
0-0-019
a5
c520
ab6
ab6
Be4
cd421
4 ... ...
... ...
superior
Re1
Qf524
Bf823 Bg7
5 . . . Re130
Kf8 Bb7
Bd231 Qh4 Ne5 Qd4 Bb4

cd433 Rd8 Ke734
Nf632 c5
6 ...
...
...
...
c3
c5
7 ...
...
b3
Bb739
Bb240 Qh4 dc5 Bf643 Qf644 Qh846 Bg6

Nf6
c541 Qc542 gf6 Qh545 Ke7 Qg647 equal
Rg8
h436
c437
h425 Qh327 hg5

Kf826 Rh8 hg5
Bc2
b5
Bd2
a5
h5
Bd5
Qd618
Qc6
Ra7 Bb7
Nc5 Nb722
Qg4
c5
unclear
with
Bg528
cd429 and White is
Rad1 Qb4
Bb4 Qc535
Qh3
Rb838
equal
unclear
1
12. c4 Bb7 13. Bd2 [13. Qe2 c5 equal; Van den Doel Lobron, Leeuwarden
1997] g5 14. Bc3 Rg8 15. Rfe1 g4 16. Ne5 Be5 17. de5 Nc5 18. Qh7 0-0-0
Bf1 Rg6 20. Rad1 Rdg8 equal; S. Alho O. Sisatto, Tampere 2002;
12. a4 Bb7 13. a5 [13. Qe2 00 14. Qe4 Nf6 15. Qh4 Nd5 16. Qe4 Nf6 17. Q
1/2 : 1/2 C. Parligras A. Cioara, Romania 2000] Rd8 14. ab6 ab6 unclear;
Tosic Pavlovic, Jugoslavija (ch) 1998;
12. b3 Bb7 13. Bb2 0-0-0 [13... c5 14. Qe2 00 15. h3 Bf3 16. Qf3 cd4 17. B
Be5 18. Qe4 g6 19. Rfd1 Rfd8 20. Be5 Qe5 21. Qe5 Ne5 22. Be4 Rac8 23.
Kf8 24. f4 Nd7 25. Kf2 Ke7 equal; Belov Bagheri, Cappelle la Grande 20
14. Qe2 Kb8 15. Rfe1 Rhe8 16. Rad1 g5 unclear; Santo-Roman Miralles,
France 2003
2
12... Nf6?! 13. Qh4 Bb7 see 12... Bb7
3
13. Ne5?
a) 13... Nf6 14. Qe2 00 15. c4 [15. Bf4 c5 unclear; E. Shmirina N.
Zdebskaja, Balatonlelle 2003] c5 16. dc5 Qc5 [16... Bc5!? with the idea 17.
Rfd8 18. Bg3 Qe7 19. a3 a5] 17. Bf4 Rad8 18. Rad1 unclear; I. Zakurdjaeva
I. Makka, Baku 2002;
b) 13... c5! 14. Qg4 Ne5 15. de5 Be5 16. Qh5 [16. Bb5 Ke7 and Black is
superior; S. Petersen A. Bagheri, Plancoet 2003] g5 17. Bb5 Kf8 and Blac
superior;
13. Qe2 c5 14. Ne5 [14. dc5 Bc5 1/2 : 1/2 Anka Kallai, France 1994] cd4
3/16/2004
Page 29 of 38
Nf7 Kf7 16. Qe6 Kf8 17. Bf4 Bf4 18. Qe7 Kg8 19. Qe6 Kf8 1/2 : 1/2 Rogic
Fercec, Hrvatska (ch) 1998;
13. Qg4 g5 [13... Kf8 see 12. Qg4] 14. Qh3 0-0-0 15. a4 c5 16. a5 Kb8 17. a
ab6 18. Ba6 unclear; Zakhartsov Lastin, Russia (ch) 2003
4
13... Nf6?! 14. Bg5! [14. Ne5 0-0-0 unclear; O. Nikolenko S.
Izmukhambetov, Russia 2000] Nd5 15. Ne5 Be5 16. de5 c5 17. Rad1 and
White is slightly better; Sherbakov N. Mohota, Mumbai 2003;
13... Be7 14. Qh5 [14. Qg4 g5 unclear; Lastin Yevseev, Saint Petersburg
1998] Nf6 15. Qh3 0-0-0 16. Ne5 Bd6 unclear
5
14... Nf6 15. dc5 [15. Ne6!? fe6 16. Re6 Kd8 17. dc5 Qc5! unclear] Qc5 [15
Bc5 16. Bf4 Qc6 17. Ne4 Be7] 16. Ne4 Ne4 17. Be4 Be4 18. Qe4
a) 18... Rc8?! 19. Qg4! [19. c3?! Qc4 20. Qf3 00 1/2 : 1/2 Almasi Lalic,
Hrvatska 1996 see 67/(174)] Kf8 [19... Qb4? 20. Re4! Rc4 21. Qg7 Rf8 22.
Bd2!; 19... Be5? 20. Qh5!] 20. Be3 and White is superior;
b) 18... 00 19. Be3 Qc7 equal; Lalic
6
15. Nh7 Rfe8 16. Bh6 gh6 17. Qh6 Bh2! 18. Kh1 [18. Qh2 Qh2 19. Kh2 c4
Bf4 Lalic
7
15... Rfd8 16. Nd6 Qd6 17. Bh6!! Qd4 [17... gh6 18. Qh6 Nf8 19. Qg5 Ng6
Bg6 and White is winning] 18. Qg3 Nf8 [18... Qb2 19. c3! and White is
winning] 19. Rad1 and White is winning;
3/16/2004
Page 30 of 38
15... cd4 16. Nd6 Qd6 17. Bh6!! f5 18. Bc4 and White is superior, with the
18... Bd5? 19. Qd4 gh6 20. Re6! and White is winning
8
16. Be4 Rad8 17. Bh6 gh6 18. Qh6 f5 19. Qg6 [19. Qe6? Kg7 20. Bf5 Bh2 2
Kh1 Nf6] Kh8 20. Qh6 [20. Re3? Bh2 21. Kh1 Nf6 22. Bd3 Bf4 23. Rh3 Nh
Kg8 equal
9
16... Bh2 17. Kh1 Nf6 18. Qh4 c4 19. Be2 Bd6 20. Bh6 Nd5 21. Bg5 and
10
17... cd4 18. Bh6 Bh2 19. Kh1 gh6 20. Qf6 Qf4 21. Re6 Qf6 22. Rf6 Kg7 23
Rf5 Bc7 24. g3 and White is slightly better
11
18... Bh2 19. Qh2 Qh2 20. Kh2 gh6 21. dc5 bc5 22. Rad1 Rab8 23. b3 Nd5
Re5 and White is slightly better
12
19. Qh6?! Bh2 20. Qh2 Qh2 21. Kh2 Rd4 and Black is slightly better
13
21. Qf4 Bf4 22. dc5 bc5 equal
14
12... Rg8? (M. Zeman Meduna, Pribram 2002) 13. Bh6 and White is super
with the idea 13... Nf6 14. Qg5 Nd5 15. Bg7 Bf4 16. Qh4 and White is winn
15
15. Nc4 0-0-0
a) 16. c3 c5 17. a4 [17. Be3 Bf4! unclear; Topalov Tukmakov, Tilburg 19
see 61/134; 17. Nd6 Qd6 18. Be3 cd4 19. cd4 Nf6 unclear; Tukmakov] Bf4
Re1 [18. a5?? g4 19. Qh4 Qc6 20. f3 gf3 21. Bf4 Rg2 22. Kh1 f2 and Black
winning] Nf6 19. Be3 [19. a5 cd4 20. ab6 ab6 unclear] Kb8 [19... g4!? 20. Q
Bg5 21. Qg3 Qg3 22. hg3 Be3 23. fe3 equal] 20. a5 (1/ 2 : 1/2 Vallejo Pons
Macieja, Ohrid 2001 see 83/(91)) b5 21. Ne5 Be5 [21... a6 22. Bf1 unclear]
de5 Rd3 23. ef6 Rg6 unclear; Macieja;
b) 16. a4 Bf4!? [16... c5 17. Nd6 Qd6 18. dc5 Nc5 19. Be2 and White is
slightly better; Macieja Schandorff, Silivri 2003] 17. a5 b5 18. a6 [18. Ne3
a6!] Ba8 19. Na5 unclear;
c) 16. Nd6 see 15. Ne4;
3/16/2004
Page 31 of 38
16
17... Nf6 18. a4 a5 19. Qf3 Qe7 20. c3 Nd5 21. Qe2 Rd7 22. Rfe1 Rgd8 23.
Bd2 Qf6 24. Be4 and White is slightly better; Kulaots I. Cosma, Andorra
1999;
17... f5!? 18. Rfe1 h5 19. Bd2 c5 20. Qe3 unclear; Schmaltz Papaioannou,
Greece 2003
17
18. Rfd1!?
a) 18... cd4?! 19. Bf1 Bd5 20. Bd4 e5 21. Bb6 ab6 22. Bc4 Qe6 23. Rd5 Qh
24. gh3 f6 25. a4 Rge8 26. a5 ba5 27. Rda5 and White is winning; M. Soobi
P. MacDonald, Internet 2002;
b) 18... g4! 19. Qg3 Qg3 20. hg3 h5! [20... cd4 21. Bd4 Nc5 22. Bh7! Rge8
Bf6 Rd1 24. Rd1 Be4 25. Be4 Ne4 26. Be5 and White is slightly better] 21.
Rd2 cd4 22. Bd4 Nc5 23. Bc5 [23. Bf6 Rd5 24. Rad1 Nd3 25. Rd3 Rg6 equ
bc5 24. Rad1 Rd6 equal
18
21. Rae1 [21. Qg3 Na4 22. Rab1 Qg3 23. hg3 Kc7 24. g4 f5 25. gf5 ef5 26.
Rge8 27. Kf2 f4 28. Bd4 Re2 29. Ke2 Ba6 30. Kf2 Bf1 31. Kf1 Re8 32. b3 N
33. Re1 Re1 34. Ke1 Kd6 35. Kd2 h5 36. c4 g4 equal; F. Lukez A. Linna,
corr. 1999] Qe5 22. Bc1 unclear; C. Carroll P. MacDonald, Internet 2002
19
15... c5 16. dc5 Nc5 17. Bb5 Ke7 18. Nc4 Bf4 19. a5 Rad8 20. ab6 ab6 21. B
Bd5 22. Rfe1 Rg6 and White is slightly better; 1/2 : 1/2 Moreno Carnero
Galkin, Ohrid 2001 see 85/(87);
15... g4 16. Qh4 Be7 17. Qh5
3/16/2004
Page 32 of 38
a) 17... Nf6 18. Qe5 Qe5 19. de5 Nd5 20. Ne4 [20. a5!? and White is slightl
better; F. Volkmann Schandorff, Silivri 2003]
a1) 20... 0-0-0 21. Bh6 [21. a5?! Nb4 22. Bh6 Nd3 23. cd3 Rd3 24. ab6 ab6
Rfd1 Rd5 equal; J. Micic J. Houska, Bled (ol) 2002] Nb4 22. Rfd1 c5 23.
Nc3!? and White is slightly better;
a2) 20... h5 21. c3 0-0-0 22. Be2 and White is slightly better; Almasi Leko
Monaco (rapid) 2001 see 85/(87);
b) 17... c5!? (Ponomariov, Komarov) 18. Re1!? [18. dc5 Bc5 unclear] cd4 1
Re6 Rg5 20. Re7 Ke7 21. Qh6 Re5 22. Nb3 with compensation
20
16... Kb8?! 17. ab6 ab6 18. Nc4 Be7 19. Be2 Nf6 20. Qb3 Nd5 21. Bd2 and
White is superior; S. Grigoriants M. Ezat, Linares 2003;
16... Nf6 17. ab6 ab6 18. Nb3 g4 19. Qh4 Be7 20. Re1 Nd5 21. Qh5 and Wh
is superior; Ponomariov Galkin, Lausanne 2000; 18... Nd5!? with the idea
Nf4 Ponomariov, Komarov
21
18... g4 19. Bb7 Qb7 [19... Kb7 20. Qd3 Ra8 21. Qe4 Qc6 22. Ra8 Ra8 23.
Bc7 24. Qg4 and White is superior; Ponomariov, Komarov] 20. Qc3 Kb8 21
dc5 Nc5 22. b4 [22. Nc4!? Ne4 23. Qb3 Bc7 24. Be3 and White is superior;
Ponomariov, Komarov] Ne4 23. Ne4 Qe4 24. Qa3 and White is superior;
Ponomariov Anand, Mainz (m/1-rapid) 2002 see 85/87
22
21. Qd3 with compensation, with the idea Qa6 Ponomariov, Komarov
23
14... Bb7? 15. Re6 fe6 16. Qe6 Kf8 17. Qh6 Rg7 18. Bc4 Nf6 19. Qf6 Ke8
Bg5 1 : 0 Kovalev Ushenina, Alushta 2003;
3/16/2004
Page 33 of 38
14... g4 15. Qh6 gf3 16. Re6 fe6 17. Qe6 Be7 18. Qg8 Nf8 19. Bg6! Kd7 20
Bf5 Ke8 21. Bh6! Qd6 22. Bf8 Bf8 23. Re1 Kd8 24. Qf7 Be7 25. Bc8 Rc8 2
Qf3 and White is superior; Anand
24
15. Re6 Kd8 only move 16. Rh6 [16. Re1 Ne5! 17. Bf5 g4 18. Qh5 Nf3 19.
Bf5 20. Qf5 Qd7! 21. Qd7 Kd7 22. Kg2 Bd6 and White is slightly better] N
17. Qg3! Nf3 18. Qf3 Bh6 19. Qf6 Qe7 20. Qh6 Kc7! [20... Be6 21. f4! and
White is superior] 21. Bd2 Be6 and White is slightly better; Anand
25
16. Re6? fe6 17. Qe6 Kf8 and Black is superior;
16. Bc4 Nf6 17. Qd3 Bb7 18. Ne5 Nd5 19. Bd5 cd5 Anand
26
16... gh4? 17. Bf4 Qd8 18. Re6 and White is winning; Anand
27
17. Re6? Nc5! and Black is superior; Anand
28
20. Qg5 Bb7 21. Bf4 Qd8 22. Ne5! Ne5 [22... cd4 23. Nf7!] 23. de5 Bh6! 24
Qg4 Bf4 25. Qf4 Qh4 26. Qh4 Rh4 27. f3 Ke7 28. Kf2 and White is slightly
better; Anand
29
21. Rad1!!
a) 21... Bb7 22. Re6! fe6 23. Be7 Ke7 24. Qg7 Kd6 25. Nd4! and White is
winning; Anand Bologan, Dortmund 2003 see 88/77;
3/16/2004
Page 34 of 38
b) 21... Nc5 22. Bf4 Qd8 [22... e5 23. Qg7] 23. Qg3 and White is winning;
c) 21... a5 22. Bb5 e5 [22... Qc2 23. Nd4 Qh7 24. Ne6 fe6 25. Be7! and Wh
is winning; 22... Ne5 23. Ne5 Be5 24. Qe4 Bh2 25. Kf1 Bb7 26. Qd4 and
White is winning] 23. Qg3! and White is superior;
d) 21... a6 22. Be7 Kg8 23. Bh4! with the idea Bg3 and White is superior;
Anand
30
13. c4 Bb7 14. b3 Be7 15. Re1 c5 unclear M. Pokrupa V. Mitura, Tatransk
Lomnica 1999;
13. Qh4 Bb7 14. b3 c5 15. Be4 Be7 16. Bg5 Bg5 17. Ng5 hg5 18. Qh8 Ke7
Qg7 Be4 20. Qg5 Nf6 21. f3 Bc2 22. dc5 Rg8 23. Qd2 Qc5 24. Rf2 Bf5 1/2
1/2 David Schlosser, France 2003;
13. Bd2 c5 [13... Bb7 14. Rfe1 see 13. Re1] 14. dc5 [14. Rfe1 c4 15. Bf1 Bb
16. Rad1 Bd5 unclear; Ad. Horvath K. Tsiamis, Athens 2001] Nc5 15. Bc
16. Bf5 h5 [16... Bf5 17. Qf5 Re8 unclear] 17. Qh3 Ne6 18. Nh4 [18. Qh4?
and Black is slightly better; Lobzhanidze Galkin, Russia 1998 see 74/135;
Be6 Be6 19. Qg3 f6 20. Nh4 Kf7!? 21. Qg6 Kg8| Galkin] Nf4 [18... Ng5 19
Qg3!? Galkin] 19. Qf3
a) 19... Bb7 20. Be4 with the idea Nf5;

b) 19... Rb8 20. Rfe1!? Galkin;
c) 19... e4!? 20. Be4 [20. Qe4?! Bb7 21. Qe3 Re8 22. Qd2 Ne2 23. Kh1 Nc3
24. Qc3 Bh2 and Black is slightly better] Bg4 21. Qe3 Ne2 22. Kh1 Re8 23.
Nc3 24. Qc3 Qc3 25. bc3 with compensation
31
14. Qh4 Re8 equal; Arakhamia-Grant Speelman, England 1998 see 71/12
14. Qh3 Re8 15. Bd2 c5 equal; L. Mkrtchian S. Lalic, Istanbul (ol) 2000;
3/16/2004
Page 35 of 38
14. h4 c5 15. c3 Rd8 16. Bd2 Nf6 [16... a6 17. Rad1 b5 18. Qh3 Nf6 unclea
K. Markidis K. Nikolaidis, Greece 2001] 17. Qh3 Bf3 18. Qf3 cd4 19. cd4
Qd7 20. a4 Be7 21. Bc3 a5 22. Re5 Nd5 23. Bb5 Qd6 24. h5 Bf6 25. Re4 R
26. Rae1 1/2 : 1/2 Nevednichy I. Cosma, Romania (ch) 1998
32
14... c5 15. dc5 Nc5 16. Bc3 f5 17. Qh3 Nd3 18. cd3 and White is superior;
Gavrilakis G. Pitselis, Greece 2003
33
16... Rd8!? 17. Rad1 a5 18. Bc3 Be5 19. de5 Nd5 20. Bd2 Qe7 equal;
Yandemirov Vyzmanavin, Novgorod 1997
34
18... Bb4 19. Qb4 Kg8 20. Qf4 Nd5 21. Qg4 unclear; R. Shankar Sasikiran
Kolkata 1999
35
21. Qc5 bc5 equal; Yandemirov Kharitonov, Moscow 1996 see 68/(116)
36
15. Qh3
a) 15... Bf4 16. Ne5 Bc1 17. Nf7 Kf7 18. Qe6 Kf8 19. Qe7 Kg8 20. Rac1 an
White is superior; T. L. Petrosian Galkin, Moscow 2004;
b) 15... Ke7 16. Be4 Be4 17. Re4 Nf6 18. Re1 Rad8 19. dc5 bc5 20. Nd2 Bf
21. Nc4 Bc1 22. Rac1 Qf4 23. b3 Rd5 equal; Asrian Sargissian, Armenia (
2000;
c) 15... c4 16. Be4 Be4 17. Re4 Qc6 [17... Nf6 18. Re1 unclear; Asrian E.
Danielian, Armenia (ch) 2000] 18. Re1 unclear; Asrian Sasikiran, Yerevan
3/16/2004
Page 36 of 38
2000
37
15... Re8 16. h5 Bd5 17. Bd2 Rd8 18. Re2 Kg8 19. Qh3 Qc6 equal; Topalov
Anand, Linares 1998 see 72/129;
15... Rd8 16. Qh3 [16. Bd2 Nf6 17. Qh3 see 15... Nf6] Ke7 17. Bc4 Nf6 18
Bb3 c4 19. Bc2 and White is slightly better; Gallagher Nisipeanu, Cappell
Grande 2002 see 84/75; 16... Nf6 see 15... Nf6;
15... Nf6 16. Qh3 Rd8 17. Bd2 c4 [17... Bf3 18. Qf3 cd4 19. cd4 Qd7 equal;
Shirov Karpov, Monaco (blindfold) 1998 see 72/(129)] 18. Bc2 Bd5 19. R
b5 20. Rae1 a5 unclear; M. Zufic I. Sitnik, Opatija 2002
38
Anand Karpov, Monaco (rapid) 1998 see 72/(129)
39
13... c5 14. dc5 Nc5 15. Bb2 e5 16. Bf5 h5 17. Qh3 Ne6 18. Nh4 [18. Be6 B
19. Qg3 f6 20. Nh4 unclear; Vescovi Miton, Moscow 2004] Rh6 19. Qe3
20. Rad1 and White is slightly better; M. Geenen A. Bagheri, Belgique 20
13... Nf6 14. Qh4 Nd5 15. Ne5 c5 16. Bb2 Bb7 17. Rfe1 h5 18. c4 Nf6 19. d
bc5 20. f4 Kg8 21. Re3 Be7 22. Qh3 Rh6 23. Rae1 and White is superior; K
Markidis I. Simeonidis, Thessaloniki 2003
40
14. Re1 Nf6 15. Qh4 c5 16. Ne5 [16. dc5 Qc5 17. Be3 Qh5 18. Qh5 Nh5 19
Nd4 Nf4 20. Bf4 Bf4 21. Be4 Be4 22. Re4 Bg5 23. Rd1 Rd8 24. Ree1 Rc8 2
c4 Bf6 26. Nb5 a6 27. Nd6 Rc6 28. Rd3 Ke7 29. Nf5 Kf8 30. Ne3 g6 31. Re
Kg7 32. Rd7 a5 equal; M. Boikov A. Kovacs, Internet 2001] cd4 17. Qd4
Qc5 18. Qf4 [18. Bb2 Qd4 19. Bd4 Rd8 equal; Leko Adams, Dortmund 19
see 67/175] Qb4! 19. Re2 (1/ 2 : 1/2 Roiz Galkin, Rethymnon 2003 see 89
(65)) Qf4 20. Bf4 Rd8 21. Bd2 Ke7 equal; Roiz
41
15... Bf4?! 16. Ne5 g5 17. Qh3 Be5 18. de5 Nd5 19. Be4 c5 20. Qf3 and Wh
is superior; F. El Taher M. Ezat, Tanta 2000;
15... Ke7 16. Ne5 Rae8 [16... c5?! 17. Rae1 and White is slightly better, wit
initiative; Luther Yevseev, Groningen 1998] 17. f4 Kd8 18. Rad1 Kc8 19.
c5 20. dc5 Bc5 21. Kh1 Rd8 22. f5 ef5 23. Bf5 Kb8 24. Nd3 Qc6 25. Qg3 B
26. Be5 Ka8 27. Bd6 Qd6 28. Qd6 Rd6 29. Ne5 Rhd8 equal; F. Bellia
Arlandi, Porto San Giorgio 1997;
15... Nd5 16. Ne5 [16. Rfe1 Nf4 17. Rad1 Kg8 unclear; Arakhamia-Grant
Portisch, Roquebrune 1998] c5 unclear; Pikula Sundararajan, Biel 2000
42
3/16/2004
Page 37 of 38
16... bc5 17. Bf6 Bf3 18. Bb2 and White is slightly better; S. Brynell P.
Vernersson, Sverige (ch) 2000
43
17. Bd4!? (S. Ganguly Speelman, Gibraltar 2004) Qc7!? 18. Bf6 Bf3 equa
44
18. Be4 Be4 19. Qe4 Rc8 20. c4 f5 equal; Leko
45
18... Rg8 19. Rfe1 Bh2 20. Kf1! and White is superior; Leko
46
19. Rfe1 Bf3 [19... Rg8?? 20. Be4! and White is superior; Leko Bologan,
Wijk aan Zee 2004 see 89/65] 20. Qf3 [20. Qh8? Ke7 21. Re6 Ke6 22. Re1
Kd7 and Black is winning] Bh2 21. Kh1 Qf3 22. gf3 Bd6 23. Re4! and Blac
slightly better
47
21. Qc3 Rg8 22. g3 Qe4 23. Kg2 Be5 24. Qe3 equal; Leko

3/16/2004
Page 38 of 38

3/16/2004
Page 1 of 4
A Preview of the Anthology of Chess

Combinations, 3rd Edition
Ivan Markovic
In response to popular demand, the third edition of the Anthology of Chess
Combinations is expected to appear later this year, both in print and electron
The Chess Informant Editorial Board decided to introduce several major cha
the new edition. The main one being that it has been divided into two main
As a foundation for the first part, the previous edition of the Anthology, sup
by numerous examples from the Informant's combinations section, has been
other part has been produced to incorporate the elements of a workbook. So
recent examples have been added chronologically, without any classification
make sure that the prospective solver cannot benefit from any hints.
While a substantial increase of the material would naturally be considered a
editors opted to omit a number of old examples for newer, more challenging
teasers. It bears a certain similarity to cooking the ingredients have to be f
balanced and meticulously selected; if they do not go together in the right m
quantities, it is highly unlikely that the blend will stand serious scrutiny ove
period. The big names are included, of course, but even more interesting are
annotations to the games, as they produce an exemplary testimony to the de
some extraordinary ideas that could otherwise have been left unnoticed. It is
utmost importance when you pick examples for the final selection to choose
aesthetically pleasing ones, as a sense of delight will invariably put a smile
faces of the solvers.
It is always a tad unfair to single out any of the examples, but it's even wors
exclude them, so we have chosen our six unanimous favorites derived from
grandmaster annotations as they had originally appeared in the Informants f
article.
1. I. GLEK 2590
J. VAN MIL 2416
Belgium 2001
83/89*
2. J. LAUTIER 2687
A. GRISCHUK 2671
Wijk aan Zee 2002
83/402*
4/19/2004
Page 2 of 4
+-
1. ?
3. T. RADJABOV 2533
N. DE FIRMIAN 2545
Malmoe 2001
83/536*
4. A. ABREU 2480
S. DEL RIO ANGELIS 2
La Habana II 2002
84/180*
+-
1. ?
5. V. MILOV 2595
P. VARGA 2484
France 2002
84/366*
1. ?
1... ?
1. ?
6. G. KACHEISHVILI 2
I. GLEK 2605
Chicago 2002
85/37*
+-
1... ?
Answers:
4/19/2004
Page 3 of 4
1. I. GLEK J. VAN MIL

1. Rdf6!! f3 2. g3 Nc4 [2...Qc1 3. Rh6 Bh6 4. Rh6 Qh6 5. Qh6 and White is
3. Rh6 Kg8 [3...Bh6 4. Qh6 Kg8 (4...Rh7 5. Rf8 Rf8 6. Qf8 mate) 5. Rg6 Kf
Ke8 7. Ba4 and White is winning] 4. Rfg6 Qe5 [4...b5 5. Qh5! Qe5 6. Rh8 K
and White is winning] 5. Rh8 Kf7 6. Rg7 Qg7 7. Rc8 (and White is winnin
Glek]
2. J. LAUTIER A. GRISCHUK
1...f6!! [1...hg4 2. Rd3 Qf5 3. Rd8 Kh7 4. Bh4 g5 5. Bg3 equal] 2. gh5 [2. R
with attack (weak point Be7) RR 3. Rd8 Kh7 4. f4 a) 4...Nc3!? 5. e4 (5. Rc3
Kf2 Qb2 and Black is winning) Ne2 6. Kf2 Nf4 and Black is winning; b) 4..
h3 6. Rc7 Bd7! 7. Rc2 Bc6 (7...Ng5!? 8. Rd7 Qc2 9. Bd5 Ne6! 10. Ba3 Qe2
is winning) 8. Rc8 Ng5 9. fg5 Qc2 10. Bc6 Qb1 11. Kf2 Qf5 and Black is w
f3 Ng5 3. gh5 Qh5 4. Re6 Nf3! 5. Bf3 Qf3 6. Rd3 Qg4 and Black is winning
Kf2 a) 5...Nh4 6. Rd3 Qf5 7. Ke2 Qg4 (7...Qe6?? 8. Bd5 and White is winn
Kd2 Qg2 9. Kc3 Kf7! and Black is winning; b) 5...Ne5!? 6. Re5 only move
Black is winning, with the idea Qe2, passed d-pawn] Qh5 3. Rd3 Qe2 4. Be
Rd8 Kf7 5. Rf8 Ke7 6. Re6 Ke6 7. Re8 Kf7 8. Re4 Qa2 and Black is winnin
a-pawn] Bh3 5. Bd5 Kh7 6. Rc1 Qd3 7. Bc6 Qd2 8. Ba3 Qa2 (and Black i
winning) [A. Grischuk]
3. T. RADJABOV N. DE FIRMIAN
1. Bh7! Nh6 2. Bg6!! Bd7 3. Bf7! Be6 4. de6! Qf7 [4...Nf7 5. e7 Qe7 6. Rg
fe7 and White is winning; 4...a4 5. Bh5! a3 6. e7 Qe7 7. fe7 Ke7 8. Rg7 Kd
and White is winning] 5. ef7 Kf7 [5...Nf7 6. Rh5 a4 7. Kf2 and White is win
Rh5 Kg6 7. Rh2 (and White is winning) [T. Radjabov]
4. A. ABREU S. DEL RIO ANGELIS

1. Bc4!! d5 [1...Rc4 2. Rd4!! Rd4 (2...Qd4 3. Qd8 Kh7 4. Rd1 Qf6 5. Qf6 Nf
and White is winning) 3. Be3! Re4 4. Qe4 and White is winning, with the id
Bd5 Bg1 3. Bf7! Kh8 [3...Kh7 4. Bg6 Kg6 5. Rd6 Qd6 6. Qd6 and White is
4. Qe5 Kh7 [4...Qf6 5. Qf6 Nf6 6. Rg1 and White is winning] 5. Rd6 Be3 6
Kh6 [6...Qd6 7. Qd6 Bf5 8. Qb4 and White is winning] 7. Bg6! Bf5 [7...Qd
Kg7 9. Qh7 Kf6 10. e5! Ke5 (10...Qe5? 11. Qf7 mate) 11. Qh5 Kf6 (11...Kf
mate) 12. Ne4 and White is winning] 8. Rb6 Bg6 9. Rb7 (and White is winn
Markovic]
5. V. MILOV P. VARGA
1. Rc7!! [1. Qe6 Qe6 2. Re6 Rd3 3. Re7 Bd5 4. Rg7 Kh8 unclear] Qc7 [1...
Bh7! Kh8 (2...Nh7 3. Qg4 Kh8 4. Bg7 and White is winning) 3. Qe5 a) 3...Q
Bh6 (4...Rd7 5. Qe5 and White is winning) 5. Qb7 Nh7 6. Re6 and White is
b) 3...Qd4 4. Bf4!! (4. Qd4 Rd4 5. Bf8 Rf8 6. Rb7 Nh7 7. Re6 Nf6 unclear) B
Kh7 6. h6 Nd7 7. Qg7 and White is winning] 2. Qe6 Kh8 3. Qf7 Rg8 4. Re
Kf1 Rf2 (only move) 6. Kf2 Qh2 [6...Ng4 7. Ke1 Qg3 8. Kd2 and White is
7. Ke1 Qg3 8. Kd2 Qf2 9. Kc1 [9. Re2?? Ne4 and Black is winning] Rc8 1
Qg1 11. Kc2 Qh2 [11...Qg2 12. Kb1 and White is winning] 12. Kb1 Qg1 1
Rc7 14. Qf6 Qg7 15. Qd8 (and White is winning) [V. Milov]
4/19/2004
Page 4 of 4
6. G. KACHEISHVILI I. GLEK
1...Nf3!! 2. gf3 [2. Bf3 Rc3! 3. Kc3 Rc8 4. Kd3 (RR 4. Kb3 Qd4 5. Bb7 Qb6
Rc5 7. Qb3 Ra5 8. Kb2 Qf2 9. Kc3 Qe3 10. Kb2 Qd4 11. Qc3 Rb5 12. Kc2 R
Qc5 Qc5 14. Kb3 Qb6 15. Kc2 Qb7 16. Rad1 Qe4 17. Kc1 Qe3 18. Kb1 Qb
Qf2 and Black is winning, with the idea a5-a4-a3) Ba6 5. Ke4 Rc4 6. Qe5 B
Qe5 8. Kc4 Ba6 9. Kb3 Qd4 and Black is superior] Rc3! 3. Kc3 Rc8 4. Kd3
Bd5 5. Rgd1 Rc4 6. Kd2 Rd4 7. Ke1 Rf4 8. Rac1 Bc4 and Black is superior
Ke4 Re8 6. Kd5 Re5! 7. Qe5 Bb7 8. Kc4 Qe5 9. Rge1 Ba6 10. Kc3 Qc5 1
Qd4 12. Ba6 Qb6 13. Kc3 Qa6 (and Black is superior) [I. Glek]

4/19/2004
Page 1 of 4
B12: Caro-Kann Defense, The Advanc

Variation
Sasa Velickovic
The Chess Informant Editorial Board has decided to do an encore, after a ga
ten years from Seirawans outstanding work on the first edition of the B12
Monograph. The new CD offers detailed up-to-date coverage of the Advanc
Variation of the Caro-Kann without unnecessary overlaps with the previous
edition.
The instructive examples given in the Test Your Skills section of the
monograph are given in addition to the material presented in the ECO tables
and the complementary reference databases. The 99 instructive positions are
no means exhaustive or all-encompassing, as they mainly focus on the typic
patterns from top level practice, without any intended categorization.
Rather than having a calming effect on the already unbalanced positions, mo
of the examples seem to favor moves which put out the fire with gasoline.
Therefore, the strategic maxim of the Advance Variation of the Caro-Kann
Defense could probably be described as any waiting strategy can hardly be
recommended. However, that does not rule out positional resources since th
intermingling of subtle moves is quite typical of modern combinative play.
Given enough time, it is quite likely that an entirely new monograph would
necessary just to accommodate all the fresh ideas and re-evaluations, as wel
the inadequacies in current analyses. All things considered, another purpose
the instructive examples section might be to offer guidelines that could serv
a basis for the readers further independent research.
We shall confine ourselves to these short remarks for the time being; all else
should hopefully become clear by the examples themselves, and their intrins
didactic value. A sample of nine positions is offered in this article. Further
clarifications of the presented ideas can be found by the interested reader in
main section of the monograph, where all the lines are treated with particula
care and analyzed to a much greater extent.
1.
2.
5/14/2004
Page 2 of 4
1. ?
1. ?
3.
4.
1... ?
5.
1... ?
6.
1. ?
7.
1... ?
8.
5/14/2004
Page 3 of 4
1... ?
1... ?
9.
1... ?
Answers:
1.
1. Kd1! dc4 2. Nf3! Nd7 3. a3 Be7 4. Bc4 and White is slightly better;
Kasparov Jobava, Rethymnon 2003 see 88/66
2.
1. Nce2! Qd7 2. Bh3 0-0-0 3. 00 Kb8 4. Be3! Nc8 5. a4! and White is
superior; Nataf M. Grabarczyk, Hasselbacken 2001 see 82/107
3.
1...Nf5! 2. gf5 Qh4 3. Ke2 Bf5 4. h3 c5! 5. Nb5 Nc6 6. c3 Qd8! 7. Be3 a6 8
Nd6 Bd6 9. ed6 Qd6! 10. dc5 Qe5 11. Nd3 Bd3! 12. Qd3 0-0-0 unclear;
Sutovsky Nielsen, Bled 2002 see 86/82
4.
1...00! 2. gf5 ef5 3. Be4!? fe4 4. Bg5! Rf1 5. Qf1 hg5 6. Qf5! Qd7! 7. Qg6
Qg7 8. Qe8 Qf8 9. Qg6 Qg7 equal; Nataf Solozhenkin, France 1999 see
75/105
5.
1. 00 Ne7 2. Qa4 Kc7 3. Bf4 Bd6 4. Rac1 unclear; Fedorov Stohl, Hrvat
2002 see 85/81
5/14/2004
Page 4 of 4
6.
1...h5! 2. dc5 Bc5 3. Bc5 Qc5 4. Nf4 Nge7 equal; A. Sokolov Karpov,
Linares 1987 see 43/157
7.
1...Nb8! equal; Kamsky Karpov, Groningen 1995 see 65/120
8.
1...Qd5! 2. Nd6 Nde5 3. Rfd1 Nf3 4. Bf3 Qe5 5. Qe5 Ne5 6. Bb7 Rab8 7.
Rd2 Nc4 8. Nc4 Rb7 equal; Ivanchuk Karpov, Monaco (rapid) 1998 see 7
(120)
9.
1...c5! 2. Nc5 Qb5 3. a4! Qb4 4. e6! Bc5 5. Bg7 Rg8 6. ef7 Kf7 7. Bc3! Nc
Qf5 Kg7 9. Qg5 Kf7 equal; Gelfand Karpov, Sanghi Nagar 1995 see 63/1

5/14/2004
Sacrificing in Sarajevo
Ivan Markovic
Unfortunately this year's super tournament in Sarajevo was slightly
overshadowed by two coinciding major events: the European Individual
Championships in Antalya, Turkey, and the World Knockout Championships
for Women held in Elista. Nevertheless, the organizers of the Bosna 2004
tournament did a great job of assembling one of the strongest "in-house"
competitions ever, since all the participants were actually members of the
same club; yet they still proved very keen to compete against each other!
Finally, when the nine rounds of fighting chess had come to an end, all the
players moved on to Neum, where they successfully defended the umpteenth
title of the Bosnian Team Champions.
In the game between Bologan and Atalik, both players emphatically insisted
on the most aggressive continuations. The quiet man from Moldova struck
first by sacrificing a pawn in a blocked classical Ruy Lopez structure. Atalik
snatched it without much hesitation, and the show began! Trying to exploit
Black's somewhat weakened eighth rank, Bologan conceded another pawn in
order to create multiple threats. Atalik gladly accepted the pawn and had he
decided to simplify matters by offering to exchange queens, it is most likely
that Bologan would have faced a difficult ending. Instead Atalik discovered a
tactical resource that turned out to be a drawing continuation. Unable to
adjust to the circumstances, he pushed to win immediately after the time
control, but it misfired badly and Bologan seized upon the chance to skillfully
dismantle Black's position.
Inexperience was probably the key aspect affecting the tournament
performance of U-16 World Champion Borki Predojevic. The best lesson that
he was taught during his first over-the-board clash against a 2700+ player was
on the subject of true grit. His teacher in this instance was Nigel Short, who
had previously misstepped in his first two rounds of the tournament against
Bologan and Movsesian. The former World Champion challenger was
obviously unwilling to put up with that unfortunate "short castling" for too
long, so he opted for long castling instead (thus completely ignoring the
symbolism of connecting three zeros in a row), only to find out that he might
have pushed his luck a bit too far against the aspiring young lad. Had
Predojevic made the most of his opportunities in the second featured game,
Short could easily have been smothered, but patience has never been the
hallmark of the young gun's play. He threw all caution to the winds and
launched a highly speculative piece sacrifice. The ensuing mind-boggling
complications that the young IM had to deal with, in serious time trouble,
brought Short back into the game. Predojevic overlooked the winning
continuation, but still managed to force a draw by perpetual check.

Bologan (2665) Atalik (2554)
Sarajevo 2004
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8.
c3 0-0 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 c5 13. d5 g6 14. Nf1
Nh5 15. Bh6 Re8 16. a4!? [16. b3 see 16/264] Nb6!? [a novelty; 16... Bf6]
17. a5?! [17. Qd2 and White is slightly better; 17. Ng3 Ng3 18. fg3 Na4 19.
Ba4 ba4 20. Ra4 Bc8 21. g4 Bd7 22. Ra1 and White is slightly better] Nc4
18. b3?! [18. b4 cb4 19. cb4 Bf6 20. Ne3 Ne3 21. Be3 Nf4; 20... Rc8 unclear]
Na5 19. Ra2 Qc7 [19... Bc8? 20. Qa1 Nb7 21. Ra6 Ra6 22. Qa6 and White is
superior; 19... Qb6! 20. Qa1 (20. Qd2 Bc8 21. Rea1 Nb7 22. c4 b4 23. g4 Nf6
and Black is slightly better, with the idea 24. Ng5?! Nd8 25. f4 ef4 26. Qf4
Nd7 27. Nf3 Bf6; 20. Bg5 Bg5 21. Ng5 h6 22. Nf3 Bc8 23. Qd2 Nf4 24. Rea1
Nb7 25. h4 Kg7 26. Ne3 Bd7 27. g3 Nh5 and Black is slightly better) Bd8 21.
Qb2 Bc8 22. Rea1 Nb7 and Black is slightly better] 20. Qa1 Bd8 21. N1d2!
(with counterplay) Bc8 22. Rc1 [22. b4 cb4 23. cb4 Nc4 24. Nc4 Qc4 25.
Qb1 Qc7 and Black is slightly better] Nf4 [22... Qb6!? 23. b4 Nb7 24. c4 Bd7
25. Bd3 Nf4 26. Bf4 ef4 27. cb5 Bb5 28. Bb5 Qb5 29. Rb1 cb4 30. Nd4 Qd7
31. Rb4 Nc5 32. Nc6 with compensation] 23. Bf4 ef4 24. b4 cb4?! [24... Nc4
25. Nc4 bc4 26. Nd2 Rb8 27. bc5 Qc5 28. Ra4 Bh4 29. Rf1 Bf6 30. Rc4 Qa7
unclear] 25. cb4 Nc4 26. Bd3 Qb8 27. Bc4 bc4 28. Nc4!? (with initiative)
Re4 29. Na5 [29. b5?! Bb7 30. ba6 Bd5 31. a7 Qb4 32. Rb2 Qc5 33. Nb6
Ra7 34. Qb1 Bb6 35. Rc5 Bc5 and Black is superior, with the idea 36. Rb8?!
Kg7 37. Qd3 Ra2! (37... Bc6 38. Rc8; 37... Ra8 and Black is slightly better)
38. Qc3 (38. Qd5? Ra1 39. Kh2 Bf2 and Black is winning) f6 39. Rb2 Rc4 40.
Qd2 Ra1 41. Kh2 Bf3 42. gf3 Rd4 43. Qe2 Rdd1 and Black is winning] Ba5
[29... Qb4 30. Nc6 Qb6 31. Rb2 Qc7 32. Nd8 Qd8 33. Rc6 Re7 34. Rbb6 Rd7
35. Nd2 with compensation] 30. ba5 Qb5 31. Rd2 [31. Qf6 Qd5 32. Rd2 Qe6
33. Rd6 Qf6 34. Rf6 h6] Bb7 32. h4? [32. Rb1? Ra4; 32. Rb2 Qd7 (32... Qd5
33. Rc7 Bc8 34. Rd2 Qe6 35. Qd1 Qe8 36. Rd6 and White is slightly better)
33. Qa2 Rc8 34. Rc8 Bc8 35. Rb6 Ra4 36. Qd2 unclear] Bd5 33. h5 [33. Qf6
Qa5 34. Rcd1 Bb3 and Black is winning; 33. Rcd1 Ra4 and Black is winning]
Ra4! (and Black is superior) 34. Qf6 Bf3 35. Rdc2 [35. h6 Qe5 and Black is
winning; 35. hg6 hg6 36. gf3 Ra5 37. Rd6 Qg5 and Black is winning] Re8!
[35... Rf8 36. Rc8 (36. Rc5!?) Bg4
37. Re1! Re4!! 38. Rf8 (38. Re4? Rc8 and Black is winning) Kf8 39. Qh8
Ke7 40. Re4 Be6 unclear; 35... Bh5 36. Rc8 Qe8 37. Re8 Re8 38. Rc7 Rf8
39. Qd6 equal; 35... Qf5!? 36. Qf5 gf5 37. gf3 Ra5 38. Kh2 (38. h6? Rc5 39.
Rc5 dc5 40. Rc5 a5 and Black is winning) Rb5 39. Rg1 Kf8 40. h6 Rc5 41.
Rb2 Ke7 42. Rb7 Ke6 43. Rg7 Rf8 44. Rh7 Kf6 and Black is superior] 36. h6
Qe5 37. Rc8 Bc6 [37... Qf6?? 38. Re8 mate] 38. Qe5 [38. R1c6 Ra1 39. Kh2
Qh5 and Black is winning] de5 39. R1c6 Kf8? [39... Rf8! 40. Rc5 e4 41.
R8c6 (41. R8c7 Ra1 42. Kh2 Ra2 43. Re7 e3 44. fe3 f3) Ra1 42. Kh2 e3 43.
fe3 fe3 44. Re5 e2 45. Re2 Ra5 and Black is winning] 40. R8c7 Ra1 [40...
Re7 equal] 41. Kh2 Re6? [41... Re7 equal] 42. Rb6! (and White is winning)
e4 (only move) 43. Rb8 Re8 44. Rbb7 Re5 45. Rf7 Ke8 46. g4! [46. Kh3
Rg5!] fg3 47. Kg3 Rg5 [47... e3 48. Rh7 Rg5 49. Kh4 Rh5 50. Kg4 Rg1 51.
Kf3 Rf5 52. Ke2 Rf2 53. Ke3] 48. Kf4 Rf5 49. Rf5 gf5 50. Rh7 Rf1 51. Rb7
Rf2 52. Kg3 1 : 0 [Bologan]
Predojevic (2503) N. Short (2712)
Sarajevo 2004
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 ed4 4. Nd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 b6?! [6... Nge7 7.
g3 b6 8. Bg2 Bb7 9. 0-0 0-0 a) 10. b4 Bd4 11. cd4 Ba6! 12. Re1 Nb4 13. a3
(13. Qa4 Nd3 with the idea 14. Qa6? Ne1 15. e5 Qf5 16. Ba8 Ra8) Nd3 14.
Re2 c5 15. e5 Qe6 16. Ba8 Ra8 with compensation; b) 10. Re1! Rfe8 11. b4
Bd6 12. Nb5 Nc8 13. f4 with initiative]
7. g3! [a novelty; 7. Bc4 see 87/302; 7. b4!? a) 7... Bd4?! 8. cd4 Nb4 9. Nc3!
Ne7 10. Nb5 Na6 11. Rc1 0-0! (11... Bb7 12. d5 0-0 13. Nc7 Nc7 14. Rc7 Bc8
15. Bd3 and White is superior) 12. Qf3! (12. Nc7 Nc7 13. Rc7 Qd6 14. Rc1
Bb7 15. f3 Rfc8 16. Bc4 Qg6 17. 0-0 d5 unclear) Qf3 13. gf3 c6 14. Nd6 Nc7
15. Rg1! with compensation; b) 7... Be7 8. Nb5 Bd8 9. Nd2! (9. g3 Nge7 10.
Bg2 a5!) Nge7 (9... a6 10. Nd4 Nge7 11. g3 0-0 12. Bg2 Bb7 13. 0-0 Re8 14.
f4 and White is slightly better; 9... a5 10. ba5 Ra5 11. a4 Nge7 12. Be2 0-0
13. 0-0 and White is slightly better) 10. g3 d5 11. Bg2 de4 12. Ne4 Qg6 13. 00 Bf5 14. Ned6! cd6 15. Nd6 Kf8 16. Nf5! (16. Bc6 Nc6 17. Qd5 Bd7 18. b5
Qe6! 19. Qe6 fe6 20. bc6 Bc6 and Black is slightly better) Qf5 17. Qd6 Qc8
(17... Rc8 18. Bc6 and White is superior) 18. b5 Bc7 19. Qd1 Ne5 20. Ba8
Qa8 21. f4 Nc4 22. Bd4 Nf5 23. Qe2 Ncd6 24. Rfe1 with initiative; c) 7...
Nd4! 8. bc5 Ne6 unclear] Bb7 8. Bg2 0-0-0?! [8... Nge7 see 6... Nge7] 9. 0-0
h5! [9... Nge7 10. b4! Bd4 11. cd4 Nb4 12. Qa4 Nbc6 13. Nc3 and White is
superior] 10. b4 Bd4 [10... Bf8!? 11. h3 (11. f4 h4 12. g4 h3! 13. Bf3 Qg6
with counterplay) Qg6 12. Nd2 Nf6 13. Re1 d5 14. Nc6 Bc6 15. e5 Ne4 16.
Ne4 (16. Bd4 Nd2 17. Qd2 Be7 18. a4 and White is superior) de4 17. Qe2 h4
18. g4 f5 (18... Rd3 19. a4 Be7 20. b5 Bb7 21. a5 Rhd8 22. Bd4 and White is
superior) 19. ef6 gf6 20. Bd4 Re8 21. Qc4 Bb7 22. a4! and White is superior]
11. cd4 (and White is superior) h4 [only move; 11... Nb4? 12. Nc3 Ne7 (12...
Ba6? 13. Qa4! Bf1 14. Qa7 Qc6 15. Bf1! and White is winning) 13. Qb3
Nbc6 14. d5 Ne5 15. Nb5! Kb8 (15... a6 16. Nc7! Kc7 17. f4 and White is
winning) 16. Bd4 c5 17. Bc3 and White is winning, with the idea f4] 12. Nc3
Kb8! 13. Rc1 Rc8 14. Nd5?! [14. b5 Na5 15. Qd3 and White is superior]
Qg6 15. b5 Na5! [15... Nce7 16. Nc7! Rc7 17. Bf4 d6 18. Rc7 Kc7 19. Qc2
Kb8 20. Rc1 Ka8 21. Qc7 and White is superior]
16. Nc7!? [16. Qf3! Bd5 17. ed5 d6 18. h3! f5! (18... Nf6 19. g4 and White is
superior; 18... hg3 19. fg3 Nf6 20. Bd2!? Nb7 21. g4 and White is superior)
19. Rfe1 Nf6 20. Bd2 Nb7 21. Bf4 and White is slightly better] Rc7 17. Bf4
d6 18. Rc7 Kc7 19. Qc1!! [19. Qc2? Kb8 (19... Kd8 20. Rc1 Ke8 21. Qc7
and White is winning) 20. Rc1 (20. e5?? Qc2 and Black is winning) Ka8 21.
Qc7 Nf6 and Black is winning] Kb8! [19... Kd7? 20. Bh3 Kd8 (20... Ke8 21.
Qc7 and White is winning) 21. Bf5 Qh5 (21... Qf6 22. Bg5 and White is
winning) 22. g4 and White is winning; 19... Kd8!? a) 20. e5? d5! 21. e6 Nc4!
and Black is superior; b) 20. Qc2 Nf6 only move (20... Ne7 21. Rc1 and
White is winning; 20... Bd5!? 21. Rc1 Bc4 22. Qa4 Bd3 23. Qb4 with attack)
21. Bd6 (21. Rc1 Ne8!) Ne8! 22. Bb4 a6! 23. Ba5 (23. ba6 Ba6 24. Rc1 Nc4
25. Qb3 b5 unclear) ba5 24. ba6 Ba6 25. Rb1 hg3 26. hg3 (26. Rb8 Kd7 27.
hg3 Qc6 unclear) Qh6 (26... Kd7 27. Qa4 Ke7 28. Qa5 Rh6 29. Rb8 Qc6 30.
Qa3 Qd6 31. Qb2 with initiative) 27. f4 Qd6 28. Qd2 Ke7 unclear; c) 20.
Qa3! Ke8! (20... Ne7 21. Bd6 Nc8 22. Bf4 Nc4 (only move) 23. Qa4 N4d6 24.
d5 hg3 25. fg3 f6 26. Bd6 Nd6 27. Qa7 Qf7 28. Qb8 Nc8 29. Rc1 and White is
winning) 21. Rc1 hg3 22. fg3 Qf6 c1) 23. e5 Qe6 24. Bb7 Nb7 25. Qa7 Nd8
26. Qb6 Qa2 (26... de5 27. Qe6 Ne6 28. Be5 and White is winning) 27. h4 de5
28. Re1 (28. Rc8? Qa1 29. Kg2 Qb2 30. Kh3 Qd4 31. Qd4 ed4 32. b6 Ne7 33.
b7 Nec6 34. b8Q Nb8 35. Rb8 f6 and Black is superior) Ne7 29. Be5 Rh6!
(with counterplay) 30. Qc5 Re6!; c2) 23. Qb4! d5! (23... Kd7 24. h4! and
White is superior, with the idea Bh3) 24. ed5 (24. e5? Qe7 and Black is
superior; 24. Rc7 de4 with the idea 25. Rb7? Nb7 26. Be4 Nd8 and Black is
winning) Ne7 25. Rc7 Ng6 26. Bc1!? (with the idea Ba3, Qc3, Rc8) Rh5
(only move) 27. Qc3! (with the idea Rc8) c21) 27... Qf5 28. h4 Bd5 (28... Kf8
29. d6 and White is winning) 29. Rc8 Ke7 30. Qc7 Kf6 31. Rd8 Be6 32. d5
and White is winning; c22) 27... Kd8! 28. h4! (with the idea Bh3) Ne7 29. d6
Qd6 30. Bf4 Nd5! 31. Bd6 Nc3 32. Rc3 Rb5 33. Bb7 Nb7 34. Bf8 g6 and
White is slightly better] 20. e5! d5 [20... Nf6!? 21. ef6 Qf6] 21. e6 Ka8 22.
Qc7 Nf6 23. e7 with attack
23... Rc8? [23... Qf5! a) 24. Rc1? a1) 24... Rc8? 25. Qd8 Nc4 26. Be5 hg3!
27. hg3 (27. fg3? Qe6 28. Bf6 Qe3 and Black is winning) Qe6 28. f4!! g6
(28... Ne8 29. Rc4! dc4 30. f5! and White is winning) 29. Bf6 Qe3 (29... Qf6
30. Qc8 Bc8 31. e8Q and White is winning) 30. Kh2 Qc1 31. Qc8 Bc8 32.
e8Q and White is superior; a2) 24... Qc8! 25. Qc8 (25. Be5 Nc4 26. Qc8 Rc8
and Black is winning) Bc8 26. Be5 Be6 27. gh4 Re8 28. Rc7 Ng8 29. Bg7
Ne7 30. h5 Nf5 31. Be5 Rg8 32. Kh1 Nc4 and Black is winning; b) 24. Be5
Nc4 only move (24... Qc8 25. Qc8 Rc8 26. Bf6 gf6 27. Re1 Re8 28. Bh3 and
White is winning; 24... Rc8 25. Qd8 Qe6 26. Bf6 gf6 27. Bh3 and White is
winning) 25. Bf6! Qf6 (25... gf6? 26. Re1 and White is winning) 26. Rc1
(with the idea Rc4) Nd6!? (26... Rc8 27. Bd5! and White is winning; 26... Re8
27. Rc4 Qe7 28. Qe7 Re7 29. Rc1 and White is slightly better) 27. Rc6! b1)
27... Nb5 28. Rf6 Nc7 29. Rf7 Re8 30. Rg7 hg3 31. hg3! and White is
superior, see 27... hg3; b2) 27... hg3 28. hg3 Nb5 29. Rf6 Nc7 30. Rf7 Re8
31. Rg7 Ne6 32. Rf7 Bc6 (32... Kb8 33. f4 Kc7 34. f5 Kd6 35. f6!) 33. g4!
Kb7 (33... Ng5 34. Rf8 and White is winning; 33... a6 34. f4 Nf4 35. Rf4 Re7
36. g5 and White is superior) 34. f4 Nf4 35. Rf4 Re7 36. g5 and White is
superior; b3) 27... Bc6! 28. Qc6 Kb8 29. Bd5 hg3 30. Qa8 Kc7 31. Qc6
equal; c) 24. Re1 Rc8 (only move) 25. Qd8 h3 equal see 23... Rc8; d) 24. Qd8
Qc8 25. Bc7! (N. Short) h3! 26. Bf3 Nc4 27. Rc1 Re8 28. Be2! (28. a4?! g6!
29. a5 ba5 30. Ba5 Ng8 31. Bd5 Ne7 32. Qc8 Rc8 33. Bc4 Nf5 and Black is
slightly better) g6 29. Bc4 dc4 30. Rc4 Bd5 31. Rc1 Kb7 32. a4 Be6 33. a5
ba5 34. Qd6 Ka8 35. d5 Bd5 36. Qf6 Qe6 37. Be5 Qf6 38. Bf6 Kb7 with
counterplay] 24. Qd8 [with the idea Bh3] Qf5
25. Re1? [25. Be5! Qe6 only move (25... Ne8 26. Rc1 Nc4 27. Bd5 and White
is winning) 26. Bf6 gf6 27. Bh3! Qh3 28. e8Q a) 28... hg3 29. fg3 Rd8 (29...
Qg4? 30. Qdd7! Qd4 31. Kh1 and White is winning) 30. Qd8 Qc8 31. Qc8
Bc8 32. h4 and White is winning; b) 28... Rd8 29. Qd8 Qc8 (29... Bc8 30.
Rc1 Nc4 31. Qd5 Bb7 32. Qd8 Bc8 33. Rc4 and White is winning) 30. Qc8
Bc8 31. gh4 and White is winning] h3! [25... Ne8 26. Re5! Qb1 27. Bf1 Qa2
28. Rh5! Qc2 29. Rh8 Nf6 30. Be5 Ng4 31. Be2! and White is winning] 26.
Re5! [26. Be5? Ne8! 27. Bd5 Bd5 28. Qd5 Nb7 and Black is winning] Qb1
27. Bf1
27... a6! [equal, with the idea Ka7; 27... Ne8 28. Rd5!! (28. Rh5 and White is
winning, with the idea Rh8) Qe4! 29. Qc8!! (29. Qe8 Qh1!! and Black is
winning) Bc8 30. Rd8 Kb7 31. Re8 a6 (31... Nc4 32. Rc8 Kc8 33. Bh3 f5 34.
Bf5 Qf5 35. e8Q and White is winning; 31... Qe6 32. Bh3! Qh3 33. Rd8 and
White is winning; 31... f5 32. Be5 and White is winning, with the idea Rc8)
32. Rc8 Qe7 (32... Kc8 33. Bh3 Kb7 34. Bg2 and White is winning) 33. Rc7
Qc7 34. ba6 Kb8 35. a7 and White is winning] 28. e8Q [28. Qb6? Nc4 and
Black is winning] Ne8 29. Re8 Rd8 30. Rd8 Ka7 31. Bb8 [31... Ka8 32. Be5
Bc8 (32... Ka7 33. Bb8 equal) 33. Rc8 Kb7 34. Rc7 Ka8 35. Rc8 (35. ba6?
Nc4 and Black is winning) Kb7 36. Rc7 equal] 1/2 : 1/2 [Predojevic]

The Ten Most Important Novelties of Informant 89

Tomislav Paunovic
The voting for the Most Important Novelty brought Veselin Topalov a convincing 20-point margin of
victory. He is probably the only Top 20 player who is not a regular contributor to Informant, but he duly
deserved it. The game annotations appear in Chess Informant 89 courtesy of his opponent Ivan Sokolov.
Topalov is also the only player with two Top 10 novelties, the other being his win against Anand from Wijk
aan Zee, which finished in eighth place. Among these first eight novelties there was only one that was not
played at Wijk! The other game that received votes from all the members of the jury was Bologan - Svidler.
Dautov was credited as the author of the novelty, which helped it place second, just four points ahead of
Akopian - Kramnik.
Launching his stunning novelty, Topalov gambited his e-pawn to make way for his pieces. Acceptance of
the pawn would result in a considerable spatial and development advantage for White, who could then set
up a bind that would keep Blacks pieces inactive and probably irreparably ruin Black's position. The
Dutchman had no choice but to defend passively, at the cost of a serious positional concession; his rook
became a serious liability, without much hope of being in play.
With 17.Qb6! White pressed harder, forcing Blacks queen into the corner. He then created a rook battery
on the open e-file, in the spirit of the two weaknesses principle, thus stretching Sokolovs forces almost to
the breaking point. Topalov rushed forward with 24.Re8? hoping to exploit Blacks misplaced pieces
stranded on the queenside, but underestimated Sokolovs plan of developing counterplay by redeploying the
Black queen to the kingside. Instead, he should have nullified his opponents counterplay with 24.Qc3!,
followed by a series of exchanges that would inevitably lead to a position where Black could no longer
prevent a decisive breakthrough to the eighth rank. Sokolov quickly revealed the inadequacies of his
opponents plan, and Blacks queen soon became a nuissance. Unable to adjust, Topalov threw away the
win with 26.Be5?, when 26.Nb6! would have retained excellent winning chances.
The impact of Topalovs innovation was such that most players, including Kasparov, switched back to
5Nbd7, whereas Sokolov acknowledged the power of the winning novelty by diverging with 7Bf5 in his
later Bundesliga game against Pelletier. The accompanying theoretical survey focuses on the 5Bg4 line
where Black is still in need of a plan that would bring him closer to equalizing.
V. Topalov 2735 I. Sokolov 2706

Wijk aan Zee 2004 89/349
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5 Bg4 6. Ne5 Bh5 7. Qb3 Ra7
8. e4!! [a novelty, and White is superior; 8. Bf4 see 66/(320)] e6 [8... Ne4?? 9. Ne4 de4 10. Qh3 Bg6 11.
Bc4 and White is winning; 8... de4 9. Be2! (9. Bg5 e6 10. g4 Qd4 unclear; 9. Bc4 e6 10. Be3 with
compensation) e6 (9... Bg6 10. h4! and White is superior, with the idea 10... Qd4 11. Ng6 hg6 12. Qb6 and
White is winning) 10. g4 (10. Bh5 Nh5 11. Nc4 and White is superior, with the idea; 11... Nf6 12. Bg5) Bg6
(10... Qd4 11. Bf4 Bc5 12. 00 and White is superior) 11. Bf4 (11. h4 Qd4) Nd5 12. Nd5 ed5 13. h4 f6 14.
Ng6 hg6 15. f3 and White is superior] 9. ed5 ed5 10. Bd3 Nbd7 [10... Nfd7 11. Bf4 and White is superior,
with the idea 11... Qh4? 12. g4! Bg4 13. Ng4 Qg4 14. Bb8 Nb8 15. Qb6 Qf3 16. Kd2 and White is winning]
11. Bf4 Ne5 12. Be5 Be7 [12... Nd7 13. 00 Ne5 14. Rae1] 13. 00 00 14. Rfe1 Bg6 15. Bg6 hg6 16. Re2
Ng4
17. Qb6! (and White is winning) Qa8 (only move) [17... Qb6 18. cb6 Raa8 19. Bg7 Rfe8 20. Rae1] 18. Bc7
Bf6 19. Bd6 Rd8 20. Na4 Nh6 [20... Bd4?? 21. Qb4 Bf2 22. Rf2 Nf2 23. Nb6] 21. Qa5 Qc8 (only move)
22. h3 Qf5 [22... g5!?] 23. Rae1 Qd3 24. Re8? [24. Qc3! Qd4 (24... Qb5 25. Nb6 Nf5 26. a4) 25. Qd4 Bd4
26. Re8 Re8 27. Re8 Kh7 28. Bb8 Ra8 29. Nb6 Rb8 30. Rb8 Bc5 31. Rb7] Re8 25. Re8 Kh7 (with
counterplay) 26. Be5? [26. Nb6! and White is superior Bd4 27. Bb8 Nf5 28. Qe1! (28. Ba7? Qg3! 29. Qd2
Nh4 with attack) Bc5 29. Ba7 Qd4 30. Rb8! Nd6 (30... Bb6 31. Bb6 Qb6 32. Qe8 and White is winning) 31.
Rf8! Bb6 (31... f6 32. Nc8 and White is winning) 32. Bb6 Qb6 33. Qe7 and White is winning] Be5 27. de5
Qb1 28. Kh2 Qe4 (equal) 29. g3 Qc2 30. Kg2 Nf5 31. Qd8 Ne3 32. Kg1 Qd1 33. Kh2 Nf1 34. Kg2 Ne3
35. fe3 Qe2 1/2 : 1/2 [I. Sokolov]
Bologan 2679 Svidler 2747

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 d5 5. cd5 Nd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. e3 00 9. 00 Re8 10. d5
Na5 11. Nd4 Bd7 12. e4 c5 13. Nf3 Nbc4 14. Qc2 b5 15. b3 b4 16. bc4 Bc3
17. Bd2!! [a novelty, Dautov; 17. Bb2 see 75/416] Bg7 [17... Ba1 18. Ra1 Nb7 (18... e5 19. a3; 18... Qb6
19. Ne5 Qd6 20. f4) 19. e5 (19. Qb2 Nd6 20. Bh6 f6 21. Nd2 e5) Bf5 20. Qb2 (with compensation, Dautov)
Na5 21. Rc1 Bd3 22. Bh6 f6 23. d6 and White is superior] 18. Rac1 [18. Rab1 Nb7 19. e5 (19. Bf4 e5) Bf5]
Qb6 [18... e5 19. a3! and White is superior; 18... Nb7 19. e5 Bf5 20. Qb3 Na5 21. Qe3 and White is
superior] 19. Rfe1?! [19. Be3 e5 20. Ne1 Nb7 21. Nd3 Rac8 22. f4 ef4 23. gf4 with initiative] Rad8 [19...
Nb7 20. e5; 19... e5!? 20. a3 b3 a) 21. Qc3 Nb7 22. a4 (22. Rb1 Ba4) Nd6 (22... Ba4 23. Ra1 b2 24. Rab1)
23. a5 Qb7 24. Rb1 Rab8 25. Bc1 Qb4 (25... f5 26. Nd2 Ba4 27. Ba3 Bh6 28. f4! and White is superior) 26.
Qb4 Rb4 27. Ba3 Rc4 28. Nd2 Rc2 29. Nb3 Nb5 30. Bc5 Nc3; b) 21. Qd3! Nb7 22. Rb1 Ba4 23. Bc3 Nd6
24. Nd2 and White is slightly better] 20. h3 [20. e5 Bf5 21. Qd1 e6] e6! 21. g4 ed5 [21... Nb7 22. e5 f6 23.
ef6 Bf6 24. Ng5 e5 25. Ne4 and White is superior] 22. cd5 [22. ed5 f5] c4 23. Be3 [23. e5 c3 24. Be3 Qb5]
Qc7 [23... Qa6 24. e5! (24. Bd4 Bd4 25. Nd4 Qb6 26. Red1 Rc8) Be5 25. Ne5 Re5 26. Bc5 Re1 27. Re1
Qb5 28. Bd4 c3 29. Qc1] 24. e5 [24. Bd4 Bd4 25. Nd4 Qc5 (25... c3 26. a3 and White is superior) 26. Red1
Rc8; 24. Nd4 c3 25. a3 Nc4 26. ab4 Ne3 27. fe3 Rc8] Be5? [24... Re5 25. Ne5 Be5 26. Ba7 Bc3 27. Be3
Be1 28. Re1 and White is superior; 24... c3! (with the idea Nc4) 25. a3 (25. Qb1 Nc4 26. Qb4 Ne5 27. Ne5
Be5) Nc4 26. d6 Qb8 27. ab4 Ne5 28. Ne5 Be5 29. Bc5 Bb5 (29... Bd6 30. Qc3 Be5 31. Qa3 and White is
slightly better) 30. Re5 Re5 31. Qc3 Re6 32. Bd5 Red6 33. Bd6 Qd6 34. Rd1 Qb6 equal] 25. Ne5 Qe5?!
[25... Re5 26. Qb2 Qd6 27. Rb1 Rb8 28. Bd2 and White is superior, weak point b4] 26. Bc5! [26. Ba7? Qe1
27. Re1 Re1 28. Kh2 Rde8 29. Bf3 Bb5 30. Bc5 b3 unclear] Qe1 27. Re1 Re1 28. Kh2 Rde8 [28... b3 29.
ab3 (29. Qc3? ba2 30. Qe1 Nb3 31. Qe7 Ra8 and Black is winning) Nb3 (29... cb3 30. Qc3) 30. Ba7 Rc8
31. Qc3 and White is superior] 29. Bb4 R1e2 30. Qc3 Rf2 31. Kg3 and White is winning Ra2 [31... Rfe2
32. Bf3 R2e3 33. Qf6 Nb7 34. Bd2] 32. Qf6? (time) [32. Ba5 Rb8 33. Qe5 and White is winning] Nb7?
[32... Nb3 33. Bc3 Re3 34. Bf3 Rc3 35. Qc3 Nd2 36. Bg2 and White is superior] 33. Bf3 Rc2 [33... Re3 34.
Kf4 a5 (34... Rb3 35. Qe7 Rb4 36. Qb4) 35. Ke3 ab4 36. Qe7 and White is winning] 34. Qa6 Nd8 35. Qa7
Bb5 36. Qd4 f5 37. gf5 Nf7 [37... gf5 38. Kf4 Nf7 39. Qg1 Kh8 40. Qd1 and White is winning] 38. fg6 hg6
39. Qb6 1 : 0 [Bologan]
VL. Akopian 2693 Kramnik 2777

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. h3 Ne5
11. f3 Nbc6 12. Bf2 Be6 13. Qd2 Nd4 14. Bd4 Qa5 15. a3 00 16. h4 Ng6 17. hg5 hg5 [17... Bd4 18. Qd4
Qg5 19. Qd2 and White is slightly better] 18. b4 Qc7
19. Ne2! [a novelty; 19. Bg7 see 85/230] f6 [19... Bd4 20. Nd4 and White is slightly better; 19... Be5!? with
the idea 20. Be5 de5 21. Qg5 Rfd8] 20. Bb2 Bf7 21. Nd4 d5 [21... e6 22. g3!? with the idea Qh2] 22. ed5
Qe5 [22... Qg3 23. Kd1! Rfd8 (23... Qe5 24. c4) 24. Nf5; 22... Bd5 23. 0-0-0 (23. Nf5 Rfd8 24. Ng7 Qg3 25.
Qf2 Qf2 26. Kf2 Kg7 27. Bd3 Nf4 28. Rh7 Kf8; 23. Bd3 Nf4 24. Bh7 Kf7 25. g3 e5!) Rfd8 24. Bd3 Ne5 25.
Bf5 Nc4 26. Qe2 (26. Ne6 Be6 27. Be6 Kf8 28. Qc3 Qf4 29. Kb1 Nb2 30. Qb2 Rd1 31. Rd1 f5) Nb2 27. Kb2
Qc4 28. Qc4 Bc4 29. Be6 Be6 30. Ne6 Rd1 31. Rd1] 23. Be2 [23. Qe2 Qd5] Qd5 [23... Qg3? 24. Kf1 Nh4
(24... Nf4 25. Bd3) 25. Rh4! Qh4 (25... gh4 26. Nf5) 26. Nf5; 23... Bd5 24. 0-0-0 Qf4 25. Nf5!? (25. Bd3
Qd2 26. Rd2 Nf4) ] 24. 0-0-0 Rfc8 [24... a5!? 25. b5 Rfd8 26. Bd3 Qc5 27. Qe3 and White is slightly better;
24... Rfd8] 25. Bd3 Ne5 26. Be4 Qa2 [26... Qd7 27. Bf5 e6 28. Ne6 Be6 29. Qd7 Bd7 30. Bd7 Nd7 31.
Rd7] 27. Nf5! [27. Bb7 Nc4 28. Qc3 a) 28... Nb6 a1) 29. Bc8 Na4 30. Nf5! (30. Ne6 Nc3 31. Rd8 Be8 32.
Re8 Kf7 unclear) Nc3 31. Rd8 Bf8 32. Ne7 Kg7 33. Nf5 Kg8 (33... Kg6 34. Bc3) 34. Bc3 Rc8 35. Rc8 Be6
36. Ne7 Kg7 37. Rc7 Qa3 38. Kd2 and White is superior; a2) 29. Nc6 Rc6 (29... Na4 30. Ne7 Kf8 31. Nc8
Nc3 32. Rd8 Be8 33. Bc3 Qa3 34. Bb2 Qe3 35. Kb1 Rb8 36. Bc6 and White is winning) 30. Bc6 Rc8 31.
Qd4! with the idea 31... Rc6 32. Qd8 Bf8 33. Rh8 Kh8 34. Qf8 Kh7 35. Rh1 Kg6 36. Qh6 Kf5 37. Qh3 and
White is winning; b) 28... f5! 29. Ba8 b1) 29... Be5 30. g3 Bg3 31. Ne6 (31. Rh8 Kh8 32. Nf5 Be5 33. Qe5
Ne5 34. Be5 Kg8 35. Ne7 Kf8 36. Nc8 Qa3 37. Bb2 Qb4) Qb2 (31... Be5 32. Qe5 Ne5 33. Bd5 and White is
winning) 32. Qb2 Nb2 33. Rd8 Rd8 34. Nd8 and White is winning; b2) 29... Ra8! 30. Qb3 (30. Rd3 Rc8!)
Qb3 31. cb3 Nb2 32. Kb2 Rd8 33. Kc3 Rc8 34. Kd3 Rd8 35. Ke3? f4 36. Ke4 Bg6 37. Nf5 Rf8; 35. Kc3
equal] Nc4 28. Qc3 Rc7? [28... Nb2 29. Ne7 Kf8 30. Nc8 Qa1 31. Kd2 Nc4 32. Qc4 Qd1 33. Rd1 Bc4 34.
Bb7 Rb8 35. Kc3 and White is winning; 28... Qb2 29. Qb2 Nb2 a) 30. Kb2 Rc7 31. Ng7 Kg7 32. Rh7 Kf8
33. Rh8 Bg8 34. Bd5 Kg7 35. Rdh1 Rac8 36. Bg8 Rg8 (36... Rc2 37. Kb1) 37. R1h7 Kg6! (37... Kf8 38. c4
Rh8 39. Rh8 Kg7 40. Rb8) 38. Re7 Re7 39. Rg8 Kf5; b) 30. Rd7 Rd8 31. Rb7 Nc4 32. Re7 (32. Ng7 Kg7
33. Re7 Rh8!) Bf8 33. Ba8 Be7 34. Ne7 Kf8 35. Nc8! Rc8 36. Rh8 Bg8 37. Bd5 Kg7 38. Rg8 Rg8 39. Bc4
Ra8 40. Kb2 and White is superior; 33... Ra8; c) 30. Ne7 Kf8 31. Nc8 c1) 31... Nd1 32. Bb7 Rc8 (32... Rb8
33. Rd1 Rb7 34. Rd8 Be8 35. Re8 Ke8 36. Nd6; 32... Nf2 33. Rf1 Rb8 34. Nd6) 33. Bc8 Ne3 34. Ba6; c2)
31... Rc8 32. Rd7 (32. Bb7 Rc7) Na4 33. Bb7 and White is superior]
29. Rh7! Qb2 [29... Bf8 30. Rdh1 Be6 31. Ne7 Re7 32. Rh8 Kf7 33. Bg6 Kg6 34. Qf6 mate; 29... Kh7 30.
Ne7 Kh6 31. Rh1 Bh5 32. g4; 29... Nb2 30. Rg7 Kf8 31. Qb2 Qb2 32. Kb2 e6 33. Rf7 (33. Rh7 ef5 34. Bf5)
Rf7 34. Nd6 Rd8 35. Rd3] 30. Qb2 Nb2 31. Rg7 Kf8 32. Rh1 1 : 0 [Vl. Akopian]
Leko 2722 Bologan 2679

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 de4 4. Ne4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3 Bd6 8. Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Ne4 10.
Qe4 Qc7 11. 00 b6 12. Qg4 Kf8 13. b3 Bb7 14. Bb2 Nf6 15. Qh4 c5 16. dc5
16... Qc5! [a novelty; 16... bc5 17. Bf6 Bf3 18. Bb2 and White is slightly better] 17. Bf6 [17. Bd4!?] gf6!
[17... Bf3 18. Bd4] 18. Qf6!? [18. Be4 Be4 19. Qe4 Rc8 20. c4 f5 equal] Qh5!! [18... Rg8 19. Rfe1 Bh2
(19... Qh5 20. Be4!) 20. Kh2? Qh5 21. Qh4 (21. Nh4 Rg2 and Black is winning) Rg2 22. Kg2 Qh4 and
Black is winning; 20. Kf1! and White is superior] 19. Rfe1 [19. h3? Rg8 20. Kh1 Rg2 21. Kg2 Be5 22.
Bg6!; 20... Rg4! and Black is winning with the idea Rf4; 19. Qh8! Ke7 20. Bg6! (20. Qg7? Bf3 21. h3 Be5
22. Bg6 Bg7 23. Bh5 Bh5 and Black is winning) Qg6 (20... Bh2? 21. Kh1 Qg6 22. Qd4!) 21. Qc3 Rg8 22. g3
Qe4 23. Kg2 Be5 24. Qe3 equal] Rg8?? [19... Bf3 20. Qf3 (20. Qh8? Ke7 21. Re6 Ke6 22. Re1 Kd7 and
Black is winning) Bh2 21. Kh1 Qf3 22. gf3 Bd6 23. Re4! and Black is slightly better] 20. Be4! Rg2?! [20...
Qg4 21. Ne5! Be5 22. Qe5 Be4 23. Qe4 Rd8 24. Qg4 Rg4 25. Rad1 Rgd4 26. Rd4 Rd4 27. Kf1 Rd2 28.
Rc1 Ke7 29. Ke1 and White is winning; 20... Be7 21. Qe5] 21. Kg2 Qg4 22. Kh1! [22. Kf1 Qh3 23. Ke2
Be4 and White is superior] Be4 23. Re4 Qe4 24. Re1 Qh7?! [24... Qg4 25. Rg1 Qe4 26. Rg7 Qb7 27. Kg2
and White is winning; 24... Qd5 25. c4 Qc6 26. Re6 and White is winning; 24... Qg6!? 25. Qg6 fg6 26. Re6
Bc5 27. Ne5! (27. Rg6 Re8! 28. Rh6 Re2 with counterplay) Rd8 28. Nd3] 25. Nd4! Ke8 26. Ne6 Kd7 27.
Qf3 Rb8 28. Nd4 Rc8 29. Qh3 f5 [29... Kd8 30. Re8 Ke8 31. Qc8 Ke7 32. Nf5 Kf6 33. Nd6] 30. Nf5 1 :
0 [Leko]
And. Volokitin 2594 Ch. Lutz 2631

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. a4 Nc6 7. Be2 e6 8. 00 Be7 9. Be3 00 10. f4 Qc7
11. Kh1 Re8 12. Bg1 Nd4 13. Qd4 e5 14. Qd3 ef4 15. Rf4 Be6 16. Raf1 Nd7 17. Nd5 Qc6 18. Bd4 [18.
Qg3 Qc2! 19. Bg4 Ne5 20. Bd4 see 18. Bd4] Ne5 [18... Bg5? 19. Qg3 f6 20. Rf6! Bf6 (20... Nf6 21. Qg5
Bd5 22. Bf6 g6 23. ed5 and White is winning) 21. Bf6 Nf6 (21... g6 22. Bd3! and White is superior, with the
idea; 22... Bd5 23. ed5 Qd5 24. Bg6 and White is winning) 22. Nf6 Kh8 23. Ne8 Re8 24. Bd3 and White is
superior] 19. Qg3! [19. Qb3 a) 19... Bg5? 20. Be5 de5 21. Rf7! Bf7 22. Rf7 Kh8 (22... Kf7 23. Nb4 Qe6 24.
Bc4 and White is superior) 23. Nc7 Qe4 24. Bd3 and White is superior; b) 19... Rac8! 20. c3 Bg5 with
counterplay] Qc2 [19... Qa4? 20. Bc3 with attack]
20. Bg4! [a novelty; 20. Bh5 see 88/215] Ng6?! [20... Bg5? 21. Be6 Bf4 22. Bf7 Kf7 23. Qf4 Kg8 24. Be5
de5 25. Qf7 Kh8 26. Nc7 and White is winning; 20... Bg4? 21. Be5! de5 (21... h5 22. Bg7! Kg7 23. Rf7 Kg8
24. Qf4 and White is winning) 22. Rg4 g6 23. Qf3 (23. Qe5!? Qd3 24. Rgf4 Bh4 25. Qc7 Rf8 26. Qd7! and
White is superior) f6 24. h4! and White is superior; 20... g6? 21. Be6 fe6 22. Qh3! a) 22... ed5 23. Be5 de5
(23... Bf8 24. Rf8 Rf8 25. Qe6 and White is winning) 24. Rf7 h5 25. Qe6 and White is winning; b) 22... Bg5
23. Be5 de5 24. Rf7 h6 (24... h5 25. Qg3! and White is winning) 25. Ne7! Re7 26. Re7 Be7 27. Qe6 Kh8 28.
Qe5 Kg8 29. Qe6 Kh8 30. Qe7 and White is superior; 20... Qd3?! 21. Be6 fe6 22. Nc7! and White is
superior; 20... Bd5 21. ed5 Rf8 (21... Ng4 22. Rg4 g6 23. Qf3 with initiative) 22. Bf5 with initiative; 20...
Ng4 21. Rg4 Bg4 22. Qg4 f6 only move (22... Bf8? 23. Nf6 Kh8 24. Qf5 and White is winning; 22... g6? 23.
Qf4 f5 24. Qh6 and White is winning) 23. Qe6 Kh8 only move (23... Kf8? 24. Nf6 Bf6 25. Rf6 and White is
winning) 24. Ne7 Re7! (24... Qd3? 25. Qf6 and White is winning) 25. Qe7 Qd3 26. Rc1 Qd4 27. Qb7 and
White is slightly better] 21. Be6 [21. Bg7? Bh4! (21... Kg7?? 22. Be6 fe6 23. Rf7 Kh8 24. Qh3 Bh4 25. Nf6
and White is winning) 22. Qf3 Nf4 23. Qf4 Kg7 equal] fe6 22. Rf7 e5 (only move) [22... Bf8? 23. Nf6!! gf6
(23... Kf7 24. Nh7 Ke7 25. Qg6 Kd7 26. Nf8 and White is winning) 24. Qh3 Kf7 (24... h6 25. Qg4 Kf7 26.
Rf6 Ke7 27. Qe6 Kd8 28. Bb6 and White is winning) 25. Qh7 Bg7 26. Bf6 and White is winning] 23. Bg1
(and White is slightly better) Qe4 [23... Kh8? 24. Qf3! and White is superior] 24. Qb3 Kh8 25. Nc7 Qc6
26. Na8 Ra8 27. Qe6! Re8 (only move) 28. Qf5 Kg8 [28... d5 29. h4! with attack; 28... Qa4 29. Be3 with
initiative] 29. Qe6 Kh8 30. Qg4! Kg8 [30... d5 31. h4! Qc4 32. Qc4 dc4 33. g3! and White is superior] 31.
R7f3! Qd5 [31... d5? 32. Rc3 Qd6 33. Bc5 Qd8 34. Qe6 Kh8 35. Be7 and White is winning; 31... Qc8 32.
Qe4 Nf4 33. Rb3 and White is superior] 32. Rc3 Nf4 33. Rc8 Rc8 34. Qc8 Bf8 35. Qc2 Qc6 [35... Qd3 36.
Rc1 Qc2 37. Rc2 Ne6 38. Rc8 d5 39. Rb8 d4 40. Rb7 a5 41. Rd7! Bb4 42. Rd5 and White is superior] 36.
Qb3 and White is superior d5 [36... Kh8 37. Qf3 and White is superior] 37. Rd1! Qg6 38. Qf3 Bd6 [38...
Qc2 39. Rf1 Bd6 40. Be3 e4 41. Qg3 Qe2 (41... Qd3 42. Rc1 and White is winning) 42. Re1 and White is
winning] 39. g3 (and White is winning) e4 40. Qb3 Nd3 41. Qd5 Kh8 42. Rd2 [42... Qg4 43. Qd6 Qf3 44.
Rg2 h6 45. Qd8 Kh7 46. Qa5] 1 : 0 [And. Volokitin]
I. Sokolov 2706 Kramnik 2777

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cd5 Nd5 7. Qc2 Nc3 8. bc3 c5 9. e4 Nc6 10. Be3!?
[10. Bb2 see 87/438] Be7 [better is 10... Rc8]
11. d5! [a novelty; 11. Bd3; 11. Qa2] ed5 12. Rd1 d4 [12... 00? 13. ed5 Na5 14. c4 and White is superior]
13. cd4 00 (only move) [13... cd4?? 14. Bb5 Qc7 (14... Rc8 15. Bd4 00 16. Bg7) 15. Bf4 Qc8 16. Nd4
Bc5 17. Nf5 00 18. Qc3 f6 19. Qg3 g6 20. Bc4 Kh8 21. Bh6 and White is winning] 14. d5 [14. dc5 Qc7
15. Bc4 and White is slightly better] Nd4 15. Qb2 [15. Nd4 cd4 16. Bd4 Ba3 unclear] Re8? [better is 15...
Nf3 16. gf3 Qd6! unclear 17. f4 (17. e5 Qg6 unclear) Qg6 with the idea 18. Bd3? c4! 19. Bc2 f5! and Black
is winning] 16. Bd4 [16. Nd4? cd4 and Black is slightly better 17. Qd4 (17. Bd4 Qd5! 18. ed5?? Bb4 mate)
Bc5! 18. Qd3 Qh4 19. Bc5 bc5] cd4 17. Bb5 Ba3 (only move) 18. Qd4! (and White is superior) [18. Qa3?
Re4 19. Kf1 Qd5 and Black is slightly better, with initiative] Bc5 19. Qd3 Bb4 20. Kf1 Rf8 [20... Re7 21.
Nd4 and White is superior] 21. Nd4! [weak point c6] Qc8 [21... Bc5 22. Bc6 Bd4 23. Bb7 Rb8 24. Bc6 Be5
25. g3 and White is superior] 22. h4 Bc5 23. h5 [better is 23. Nf5! (and White is superior, with attack) g6
24. Nh6 Kg7 25. h5] Qg4 24. Nf3! Rad8 25. Rh4 Qc8 26. Bc4 (and White is superior, with initiative) b5!?
27. Bb5 Bb6 28. h6 g6 29. Qb3 Qc5 30. Qb2 f6 31. Rf4! (and White is winning) Bc7 [31... Qd6 32. g3] 32.
Rc1! Qb6 33. Rc7 Qc7 34. Rf6 Rf6 35. Qf6 Rf8 [35... Qc1 36. Ne1 Qc7 37. d6! Rd6 38. Qe5; 35... Rc8 36.
d6 Qc1 37. Ne1 Qh6 38. Bd7! Qh1 39. Ke2 Ba6 40. Kf3 Qh5 41. Kg3] 36. Qb2! Rc8 37. d6 Qc1 38. Qc1
Rc1 39. Ke2 Rc8 40. Ng5 a6 41. Ba4 1 : 0 [I. Sokolov]
D. Stellwagen 2489 L. Dominguez 2605

Wijk aan Zee II 2004 89/218
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 b5 8. 00 b4 9. Na4 Be7 10. Qf3 [10.
f4 see 87/234] Bb7
11. Be6! [a novelty; 11. Re1] fe6 12. Ne6 Qa5 13. Qb3 Rg8 [13... Bc6!? 14. Ng7 Kd8
a) 15. Qf7?! Ba4 16. Nf5 (16. Bg5 Be8! 17. Ne8 Qg5 and Black is winning) a1) 16... Qc7!? 17. e5 (17. Be3
Nc6 18. Rad1 Rf8) a11) 17... Ne8 18. ed6 Nd6 a111) 19. Rd1 Rf8 (19... Bc2 20. Bg5 Bf5 21. Qf5 Nc6 22.
Rac1 with attack) 20. Rd6 Qd6! (20... Bd6 21. Bg5 Kc8 22. Qe6 Qd7 23. Nd6 Kc7 and Black is superior)
21. Nd6 Rf7 22. Nf7 Ke8 and Black is winning; a112) 19. Qg7! a1121) 19... Rf8 20. Ne7 Rf7 21. Qh6 Ke7
(21... Re7 22. Bf4) 22. Bf4 Rf4 23. Qf4 with compensation; a1122) 19... Nf5! 20. Qh8 Be8 21. Re1! with
compensation; a12) 17... Rf8! 18. Qe6! (18. Qg7 Ne8 19. ed6 Bd6 20. Bg5 Kc8 21. Nd6 Qd6 22. Qh7 Nc6
and Black is winning) Ne8 (18... Qd7 19. ef6! Qe6 20. fe7 Qe7 21. Ne7 Ke7 and Black is superior) 19. Be3
Rf5! 20. Qf5 Bc2 and Black is winning; a2) 16... Qe5 17. Bf4 (17. f4 Qe4 and Black is winning) Rf8 (17...
Be8!?) 18. Qg7 Rg8! (18... Qe6 19. Bd6 Bd6 20. Rad1 Nbd7 21. Rd6 Qf7 22. Qg5 with compensation) 19.
Qg8 (19. Qf7 Qe4 and Black is winning) Ng8 20. Be5 de5 and Black is winning; b) 15. Nc5!! (Van Reek)
dc5 b1) 16. Qf7?! Nbd7 17. Ne6 Kc8 18. Qe7 Be4 19. Bg5 Re8 (19... Nd5 20. Qf7 with compensation) 20.
Qd6 Qb6 21. Qb6 Nb6 22. Nc5 Nbd7 and Black is slightly better; b2) 16. Rd1! b21) 16... Nfd7 17. Qf7 Be4
18. Bf4! with attack; b22) 16... Bd7 17. Qf7 and White is superior; b23) 16... Kc8 17. Qe6 Nfd7 18. Qe7
Qd8 19. Nf5 (19. Qe6 Qg8!) Qe7 20. Ne7 Kb7 21. Nf5! and White is superior; b24) 16... Kc7 17. Qf7! Ng8
18. Bg5 Kb7 19. Ne6! and White is superior; b25) 16... Nbd7 only move b251) 17. Qf7?! Be4 18. Bg5! (18.
Ne6? Kc8 19. Qe7 Re8 20. Qd6 Qb6 and Black is winning) Qb6! b2511) 19. Rd7 Kd7 20. Rd1 Bd5 21. Bf6
Qf6 22. Qd5 Kc7 23. Ne6 Kb6 and Black is winning; b2512) 19. Ne6 Kc8 20. Bf6 (20. Qe7 Re8 21. Rd7
Re7 22. Re7 Nd5 23. Re8 Kd7 24. Ra8 Qe6 and Black is winning) Nf6 (20... Bf6 21. Rd7 with attack) 21.
Qe7 Re8 22. Qc5 (22. Qf6 Qe6 23. Rd8 Kc7 24. Qe6 Re6 25. Ra8 Ba8 and Black is winning) Qc5 23. Nc5
Kc7 and Black is superior; b2513) 19. Re1!
b25131) 19... Qc6 b251311) 20. f3 Bd5 21. Qe7 Kc7 (21... Kc8 22. Rad1) 22. Rad1 Rhe8 23. Ne8 Re8 24.
Qg7 Rg8 25. Qh6 Rg6 26. Qh4 Bf3! and Black is superior; b251312) 20. Rad1! b2513121) 20... Bg2? 21.
Qe7 Kc8 22. Rd6 Qb7 23. Bf6 Bh3 24. Qe4 and White is superior; b2513122) 20... Ra7 21. f3! Bg6 (21...
Bd5 22. Qe7 Kc8 23. Bf6 and White is winning) 22. Qe7 Kc8 23. Bf6 Qf6 24. Rd7! and White is winning;
b2513123) 20... Bd6! 21. Bf6 Kc8 (21... Nf6 22. Qf6 Kc7 23. Ne6! Kb7 24. Qg7 Kb6 25. Re4 Rag8 26. Rd6
Qd6 27. Qe5 Qe5 28. Re5 and White is superior) b25131231) 22. Ne8 Rf8! 23. Nd6 Qd6! 24. Rd6 (24. Qg7
Qf6 25. Qd7 Kb8 26. f3 Ra7 and Black is winning) Rf7 25. Re4 Nf6 26. Ree6 Nd7 and Black is superior;
b25131232) 22. Bh4!! Ra7 (22... Rf8 23. Qe6 Be5 24. Re4! Qe4 25. Qd7 Kb8 26. Qe7! Rg8 27. Bg3 and
White is winning) 23. f3! (23. Qe6 Be5 and Black is superior) Bc2 (23... Bg6 24. Qe6! and White is
winning) 24. Rd2 Bg6 (24... b3 25. ab3 Bb3 26. Qb3 Bh2 27. Kh2 Qh6 28. Nf5! and White is winning) 25.
Qe6 Bh2 26. Kh2 Qe6 27. Ne6 and White is superior; b25132) 19... Kc8! 20. Qe7 Bd5 (20... Qc6 21. Rad1)
21. Nf5 (21. Rad1 Rg8 and Black is superior) b251321) 21... Rg8 22. Nd6 Kc7 23. Bf6 Rg2 24. Kf1 Rg6
(24... Rh2 25. Be5! Rh1 26. Ke2 Re1 27. Re1 and White is superior) 25. Ne8 Kc8 (25... Re8 26. Be5 Kc6 27.
Qe8 Bc4 28. Re2 and White is superior) 26. Nd6 equal; b251322) 21... Re8! 22. Nd6 Kc7 23. Ne8 Re8 24.
Qg7 Rg8 25. Qh6 Rg6 26. Qh4 Qc6! and Black is superior; b252) 17. Qe6! b2521) 17... Qb6 18. Nf5 Kc7
(18... Re8 19. Ne7 Re7 20. Qf6 and White is winning) 19. Ne7 Bb5 (19... Rhe8 20. e5 and White is winning)
20. Bf4 Kb7 21. Rd6 and White is winning; b2522) 17... Be4 18. Bg5! (18. Rd7 (Van Reek) Nd7 19. Qe4
Ra7 20. Ne6 Kc8 21. Qc6 Rc7 22. Nc7 Qc7 23. Qa6 Qb7 24. Qe6 Bf6 25. Be3 and Black is slightly better)
b25221) 18... Qb5 19. Bf6 Bf6 20. Qf6 (20. Qe4!?) Kc8 21. Qe6 Bc6 (21... Bg6 22. Rd6) 22. Ne8! and
White is superior; b25222) 18... Ra7 only move 19. Bf6 (19. Re1? Qb6 20. Re4 Qe6 21. Ne6 Kc8 and Black
is superior) Bf6 20. Qf6 Kc8 21. Qe6 with compensation] 14. a3 [14. Be3!? a) 14... Nc6 15. Nb6 Rb8 16.
Nc4! Qh5 17. Rad1 a1) 17... Bc8 18. Nd6 Bd6 19. Rd6 and White is superior; a2) 17... Ne4 18. f3 Nf6 (18...
Nc5 19. Bc5 dc5 20. Rfe1 and White is winning) 19. Nd6 Bd6 20. Rd6 Qf7 21. Re1 and White is winning;
a3) 17... Na5 18. Qa4 Bc6 19. Qa5 Qa5 20. Na5 Be4 21. Nd4 and White is superior; b) 14... Nbd7! 15. a3
Be4! (15... Rc8!?) 16. ab4 Qf5 17. Nc7 Kd8 18. Na8 Bg2! 19. Kg2 Qg4 20. Kh1 Qf3 21. Kg1 Qg4 equal]
Nc6 15. Be3 Rb8 [15... Bc8 16. Nb6 Rb8 see 15... Rb8] 16. Nb6 Bc8?! [16... ba3!? 17. Ra3 Qb4 18. Qa2
Qe4 19. f3 (19. Nc7 Kf8 20. Ne6 equal) Qg6 (19... Qe5 20. Bf4 Qh5 21. Re1 Ne5 22. Be5 de5 23. Ra5! and
White is superior) 20. Rc3!? a) 20... Nd8? 21. Rc7 Ne6 22. Qe6 Qf7 23. Qh3 Nd5 (23... g5 24. Nd7 and
White is winning) 24. Rb7 Rb7 25. Qc8 Bd8 26. Qc6 Kf8 27. Nd5 Qd7 28. Qa6 and White is superior; b)
20... Ne5 21. Rc7!? Bf3? (21... Nf3? 22. Rf3 Bf3 23. Qa4 Kf7 24. Ng5 Kf8 25. Nf3 and White is superior) 22.
Nf4 Qf7 23. Qf7 Kf7 24. gf3 and White is superior; 21... h6! unclear; 21. Bd4! with compensation] 17.
Nc7?! [17. Nc8! Rc8 18. Ng5! a) 18... Rf8 19. Qe6 Rb8 20. ab4 a1) 20... Qb4 21. Nh7 (21. Ra6 Nd8!) Nh7
22. Qg6 Kd8 23. Qh7 Qb2 24. Ra6 Qc2 25. Raa1 and White is superior; a2) 20... Qe5 21. c3 Qe6 22. Ne6
Rg8 23. Ra6 Kd7 24. Nd4 Nd4 25. Bd4 and White is superior; b) 18... d5 19. Rad1 (19. Rfd1!?) ba3 (19...
h6 20. ed5 hg5 21. d6! and White is superior) 20. ed5 Rb8 21. Qc4 Ne5 22. Qf4 Ned7 23. ba3 and White is
superior] Kf8 18. Ncd5 [18. Nc8? Qc7! and Black is superior] ba3 19. Ra3 Qb5 20. Qa2 [20. Qb5? ab5 21.
Rc3 Bb7 22. Nf6 Bf6 23. Nd7 Ke7 24. Nb8 Rb8 25. Rb3 b4 and Black is superior] Nb4 [20... Nd5!? 21. ed5
Rb6 22. Bb6 Nb4 23. Qb3 Qb6 24. c3 Bf6 (24... Nd5?! 25. Qd5 Qb2? 26. Rb3 Qe2 27. Rb8 Qg4 28. Re1
and White is winning) 25. cb4 unclear] 21. Nb4 Qb4 22. Rc3 Bd7? [22... Bb7 23. f3 Qb5 a) 24. Qe6? Qe5
and Black is superior 25. Qc4 d5!; b) 24. Rc7 d5?! 25. e5! Ne8 26. c4! dc4 (26... Qb4 27. Nd7 Kf7 28. Rc5
and White is superior) 27. Rc4 g5 28. f4 with attack; 24... Qe5!; c) 24. Rd1!? with compensation] 23. Nd7
Nd7 24. Rc7? [24. Qe6! Qb7 (24... Nf6 25. Rb3! and White is winning; 24... Rd8 25. Rc7 Qb5 26. f4! and
White is winning) 25. Bf4 Nc5 26. Qf5 Ke8 27. Qh5 g6 (27... Kd7 28. Rc5 dc5 29. Rd1 and White is
winning) 28. Qh7 Rf8 29. Qg6 Kd7 30. Qg4 and White is superior] Nf6 25. e5! de5 26. Bc5 Qc5 27. Rc5
Bc5 28. Qa6?! [28. Qe6! Re8 (28... e4 29. Ra1 Re8 30. Qc6 Be7 31. Ra6 and White is superior) 29. Qa6
and White is slightly better] Ke7 29. Re1 e4?! [29... Ng4 (Van Reek) 30. Kf1 Rgf8 31. f3 Rb2 32. Qc4 Ne3
33. Re3 Be3 34. Qc7 equal; 29... Nd7! 30. Kf1 Rgf8 31. f3 Rb2 32. Qd3 and Black is slightly better] 30. g4!
h6 31. h4 g5 [31... Rb2 (Van Reek) 32. Qc6 Rc2 33. Re4 Kd8 34. Qa8 Kc7 35. Qa5 equal] 32. Qc6 Rgc8
33. Re4 Ne4 34. Qe4 (equal) Kd7 35. Qf5 Kc6 36. Qf3 Kc7 37. Qf7 Kc6 38. Qf3 Kc7 39. Qf7 Kc6 1/2 :
1/2 [D. Stellwagen]
V. Topalov 2735 V. Anand 2766

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 b5 8. g4 Nfd7 9. Qd2 Nb6 10. a4 ba4
11. Na4 Na4 12. Ra4 Be7
13. g5! [a novelty; 13. Be2] 00 14. h4 [weak point Be7, Kg8] Bd7 [14... d5 15. ed5 Qd5 16. Bd3 and
White is slightly better; 14... Bb7 15. Nb3!? (15. h5 Nd7 16. g6 Nc5) Bc6 16. Ra1 d5] 15. Ra1 Nc6 16. Ra6
(only move) Qc7? [16... Ra6 17. Ba6 Qa8 18. Nc6 only move (18. Be2 Qa1!) Bc6 19. Be2 d5 20. ed5 Bd5
21. Kf2 and White is slightly better with the idea c4-c5] 17. Kf2 [17. Nb5 Qb8 (17... Qd8 18. Ra8 Qa8 19.
Nd6? Ne5 20. Kf2 Bc6 with compensation) 18. Rb6 Qd8 19. Nd6 and White is slightly better] Nd4 18. Bd4
e5 19. Be3 Ra6 20. Ba6 f5 (and White is slightly better) 21. gf6 [21. Qd3 a) 21... fe4 22. Qc4 Qc4 23. Bc4
Kh8 24. Bd5 Rf3 (24... ef3 25. Ra1 and White is winning) 25. Ke2 Rf8 26. Ra1 and White is superior; b)
21... Kh8 22. Kg2 Bc6] Bf6 22. Qd5 Kh8 23. Bc4? [23. Be2 and White is superior Qc2 24. Qd6 Rd8 25.
Qd2] Be8! 24. Be2 Bf7 25. Qd2 Bh5 26. b3 Qe7 27. Kg2 Qf7 [27... Bh4?? 28. Rh4 Qh4 29. Bg5] 28. Rh3
[28. c4? Qg6 29. Kh2 Bh4] Be7 29. b4 h6 30. b5 Qg6 31. Kh2 Qe6 32. Qd3 Be8 33. Qb3 [33. Qc4 Qc4 34.
Bc4 Bd7 35. Rg3 Bh4 with counterplay; 33. Qd5 Bd7 34. Qe6 Be6 35. Rg3 Bh4 36. Rg1 and White is
superior] Qc8 34. b6? [34. Kg2 Bd7 35. Rh2 and White is superior] Bf7 35. Qb1 [35. b7? Bb3 36. bc8Q
Rc8 37. cb3 Rc2 equal] Qc3? [35... Be6! a) 36. b7 Qc3! 37. Bd3 (37. b8Q Qe3 38. Rg3 Qe2 39. Rg2 Qf3
with attack) Rb8 38. Rg3 Qc6; b) 36. Rg3 Bh4 37. Rg2 unclear] 36. Bd3! Rb8 37. Qg1! Bc4? [37... Bf6!
with the idea Bc4]
38. Qg6! (and White is winning) Bd3 39. Rg3 Bf6 [39... Bf8 40. cd3 Qe1 41. Bh6 Qf2 42. Kh3 Qf1 43. Kg4
gh6 44. Kh5] 40. cd3 Rb6 [40... Qd3 41. Bh6 Rb7 42. Bg5] 41. Bb6 Qb2 42. Rg2 Qb6 43. Rc2 Bd8 44.
h5 1 : 0 [V. Anand]
A. Naiditsch 2578 Chuchelov 2603

Belgique 2003 89/115
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bf6 gf6 10. Nd5 f5
11. Bd3 Be6 12. c3 Bg7 13. Qh5 00 14. ef5 Bd5 15. f6 e4 16. fg7 Re8 17. Be2 Re5 18. Qh6 b4 19. Nc4
Bc4 20. Bc4 bc3 21. bc3
21... Qg5! [a novelty; 21... Rc5 see 22/416] 22. Qd6 [22. Qg5 Rg5 23. 0-0-0 (23. Rd1 Rc5 24. Bd5 Re8) Rc5
(23... Rg2 24. Bd5 Rc8 25. Rd2 Ne5 26. Be4 Rg4 27. Bf5 Rc3 28. Kb2 Rgc4 29. Rg1 Ng6 30. Bd3 Rc7 31.
Ba6 and White is superior) 24. Bd5 Re8 (24... Rc3 25. Kb2 Rc5 26. Be4 Rb8 27. Ka1 Nb4 28. Rd2 and
White is slightly better) 25. Bb3 (25. Rhe1 Nb4 26. Be4 Na2 27. Kd2 Kg7 28. Bd3 Rb8 equal) Na5 26. Kb2
Rb8 27. Rhe1 d5 equal] Rd8! [22... Qg2 23. 0-0-0 Qf3 24. Kc2 Rc8 25. Rhg1 Na5 26. Qd7 Ree8 27. Rg3
Qf2 28. Rd2 Qf6 29. Bd5 with initiative; 22... Rc5!?] 23. Qc6 Re6!? [23... Qd2 24. Kf1 e3 (24... Rf5 25.
Be2 e3 26. f3) 25. Qf3 and White is superior, weak point f7; 23... Rc5!? 24. Qa6 Qd2 25. Kf1 Rf5 26. Be2
Qe3 27. Bf3 Qc5 with initiative (27... Rf3 28. gf3 Qf3 29. Rg1 Rd1 30. Rd1 Qd1 31. Kg2 Qf3 32. Kf1 Qd1
equal) ] 24. Be6 (only move) [24. Qc7 Qd2 25. Kf1 e3 26. Be2 ef2 27. Qc4 Rde8 and Black is winning; 24.
Qb7 Qd2 25. Kf1 e3 26. Qf3 Qc3 and Black is winning] Qd2 25. Kf1 Qd3 [26. Ke1 equal] 1/2 : 1/2
[Chuchelov]
Sakaev 2657 McShane 2649

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cd5 Nd5 5. e4 Nc3 6. bc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 cd4 10. cd4
Qa5 11. Bd2 Qd8 12. Be3 Qa5 13. Bd2 Qd8 14. Bc3 00 15. Qd2 Bd7 16. 00 Rc8 17. Rac1 a6
18. Bb3! (a novelty) e6 [18... b5 19. d5 Bc3 (19... Ne5?! 20. Bd4 and White is superior) 20. Rc3 (20. Qc3
Na5 21. Qd4 e6 and White is slightly better) Na5 (20... Ne5 21. Rc8 Bc8 22. f4 and White is superior) 21. e5
(21. Nd4 Qb6 and White is slightly better; 21. Rc8 Bc8 22. Qd4 e6 and White is slightly better) f6 (21... Rc3
22. Qc3 and White is superior) 22. Re3! (22. ef6 ef6 and White is slightly better) a) 22... Nc4 23. Bc4 Rc4
24. e6! (24. ef6 ef6 25. Re1 and White is slightly better) Bc8 (24... Bc6 25. Rd1 Bb7 26. Rh3 and White is
winning) 25. Rd1 and White is superior; b) 22... Nb3 23. ab3 Bf5 24. Ng3 fe5 25. Re5 e6 26. Qh6 Bd3 (26...
ed5 27. Nf5 Rf5 28. Rf5 gf5 29. Qe6 Kg7 30. Qf5 and White is superior) 27. Rfe1 Rc2 28. Nh1!! and White
is superior] 19. d5 ed5 20. Bg7 [20. Bd5!? Bc3 21. Rc3 a) 21... b5 22. Rfc1 Ne7 23. Nf4 and White is
superior; b) 21... Qe7 22. f4! Be6 (22... Bg4 23. f5 with attack) 23. f5 Bd5 24. ed5 Rfd8 25. f6 Qf8 26. Ng3
Ne5 27. Rc8 Rc8 28. Ne4 with initiative; c) 21... Qh4 22. h3 (22. Rb1 b5 23. Ra3 Nb8 24. Nd4 Qe7 and
White is slightly better) b5 (22... Be6 23. Nf4 and White is superior) 23. Rfc1 (23. Rd1!? Ne7 24. Bb3 and
White is slightly better) Rfd8 (23... Ne7 24. Bb7 and White is superior) 24. Qe3 Ne7 25. Bb3 and White is
slightly better; d) 21... Be6 22. Nf4 Qg5 (22... Bd5 23. Nd5 and White is superior; 22... Qe7 23. Rfc1 and
White is superior) 23. h4! Qe5 24. h5 and White is slightly better] Kg7 21. Bd5 f6?! [21... Qf6 22. Nf4 (22.
Qe3 Be6 equal; 22. f4 Bg4 23. h3 Be2 24. Qe2 Nb4 25. Rc8 Rc8 26. Bb3 Qd4 27. Kh2 Nd3 equal) b5 (22...
Rfd8 23. Qe3 and White is slightly better) 23. Nd3 Qd4 24. Rfd1 Ne7 25. Nc5 Qd2 26. Rd2 and White is
slightly better] 22. Nf4 Qe7 23. h3 Rfd8 24. Qe3 (and White is superior) Kh8 25. Qb6 [25. Bb3 Na5 (25...
f5 26. e5 and White is superior) 26. Nd5 Qd6 and White is slightly better] Be8 26. Rb1 Rb8 27. Rfc1?! [27.
Ne6! Rd6 28. Nc5 and White is superior] Rd6 28. Qb2 Ne5 29. Rc3 Bc6 30. Bc6 Nc6 31. Nd5 Qe4?! [31...
Qe5! and White is slightly better] 32. Nf6 Qe5 33. Ne4 Re6 [better is 33... Rd5 34. Ng5 Qg5 35. Rc6 Qe5
36. Qe5 Re5 37. Ra6 and White is superior] 34. Ng5 Re7? (time) [34... Rf6 35. Nf3 (35. Nh7 Kh7 36. Rc6
Qb2 37. Rc7 Kh6 38. Rb2 b5 and White is superior) Qd6 36. Re3 and White is superior] 35. Nf3 Qf6 36.
Rc6 Qb2 37. Rb2 Rd8 38. Rcb6 1 : 0 [Sakaev]
D 15
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5 Bg4
Qb3
Ne52 e43
10
Be25 g47
Bg68
11
12
13
14
Bf4
Nd5
h4
Ng6
Nd5
ed5
f6
hg69
Ra71 Bh5
de44 e66
...
...
f310
e411 Qa412
Be213
Be314
Qc216
ed517
...
Bf5
g6
Be6
00
b515
Ne8
Bd518
Bg7
1
6... Qc8 7. Ne5 Be6 [7... Bf5 8. f3 g6 9. e4 Be6 10. Qc2 Bg7 11. Be3 00 12. Be2 and White is slightly
better; Lerner Dreev, Moscow 1985 see 39/(458)] 8. Na4 Nfd7 [8... Nbd7? 9. Bf4 and White is superior]
9. Bf4 g6 [9... f6? 10. Nd7 Nd7 11. e4 Bf7 12. ed5 Bd5 13. Bc4] 10. e3 Bg7 11. Be2 f6 [11... 00?! 12. h4
and White is superior; Huzman I. Sokolov, Silivri 2003 see 88/332] 12. Nd3 [12. Nd7 Nd7 and White is
slightly better] Bf5 and White is slightly better, I. Sokolov
2
7. h3 Bf3 8. ef3 e5 9. de5 Nfd7 and Black is slightly better; Van Wely Ju. Hodgson, Groningen 1994
3
8. Bg5 Nbd7 [8... Nfd7 9. g4 f6 10. gh5 fg5 11. Nd7 Nd7 12. Bh3 and White is slightly better; Khalifman
Miles, Hastings 1995/96] 9. f4 h6 10. Bf6
a) 10... gf6 11. Nd7 Qd7 12. e3 and White is slightly better; T. Radjabov G. Kasparov, Moscow (rapid)
2002;
b) 10... ef611. Nd7 Qd7 equal;
8. Bf4 Nbd7 [8... Nfd7?!
9. e4! e6 10. ed5 ed5 11. Bd3 Be7 12. 00 00 13. Rfe1 and White is slightly better; D. Gurevich Ju.
Hodgson, Bern 1996 see 66/(320)] 9. e3 Ne5 10. Be5 Nd7 11. Bg3 e5 12. Be2 Be2 13. Ne2 Be7 14. 00 00
equal; R. Huebner Ju. Hodgson, Deutschland 2001
4
8... Ne4?? 9. Ne4 de4 10. Qh3 Bg6 11. Bc4 and White is winning;
8... e6 9. ed5 ed5 10. Bd3
a) 10... Nbd7 11. Bf4 Ne5 12. Be5 Be7 [12... Nd7 13. 00 Ne5 14. Rae1 and White is winning] 13. 00 00
14. Rfe1 Bg6 15. Bg6 hg6 16. Re2 Ng4 17. Qb6! and White is winning V. Topalov I. Sokolov, Wijk aan
Zee 2004 see 89/349;
b) 10... Nfd7 11. Bf4 and White is superior, with the idea 11... Qh4? 12. g4! Bg4 13. Ng4 Qg4 14. Bb8 Nb8
15. Qb6 Qf3 16. Kd2 and White is winning, I. Sokolov
5
9. Bg5 e6 10. g4 Qd4 unclear;
9. Bc4 e6 10. Be3 with compensation, I. Sokolov
6
9... Bg6 10. h4! and White is superior, with the idea 10... Qd4 11. Ng6 hg6 12. Qb6 and White is winning, I.
Sokolov
7
10. Bh5 Nh5 11. Nc4 and White is superior, I. Sokolov
8
10... Qd4 11. Bf4 Bc5 12. 00 and White is superior, I. Sokolov
9
15. f3 and White is superior, I. Sokolov
10
8. Bf4 Nbd7 9. e3 Ne5 10. Be5 Nd7 11. Bg3 e5 12. Be2 Be7 13. Rd1 00 14. 00 ed4 15. ed4 Re8 equal;
Vokac Meins, Znojmo 2004
11
9. g4 Be6 10. Bf4 Bg7 11. e3 h5 12. g5 Nfd7 13. Nd3 00 14. Be2 b6 15. cb6 Nb6 16. Nc5 N8d7 17. Ne6
fe6 unclear; Veingold Epishin, Sevilla 2004
12
10. Be3 Bg7 11. Qc2 00 12. Be2 Ne8 unclear; V. Mikhalevski Ju. Hodgson, Amsterdam 1995;
10. Bf4 de4? 11. Bc4 Nd5 12. Nf7 Bf7 13. Be5 Rg8 14. fe4; 10... Bg7 unclear, I. Sokolov
13
11. Nd3!? Nfd7 [11... de4 12. fe4 Nfd7 13. Nf4 Bg4 14. h3 b5 15. Qc2 e5 16. hg4 ef4 17. e5 Nf8 18. g3! fg3
19. Be3 and White is slightly better, with initiative] 12. Nf4 b5
a) 13. Ne6 fe6 14. Qd1 e5! 15. de5 Ne5 16. ed5 Rd7 unclear;
b) 13. Qd1 Nf8 14. e5 and White is slightly better, I. Sokolov
14
12. Nd3 Nfd7 unclear, I. Sokolov
15
12... Nbd7!? I. Sokolov
16
13. cb6 Qb6 14. Nd3 and White is slightly better, I. Sokolov
17
14. Rd1 de4 15. fe4 Be5 16. de5 Qc7 [16... Rd7 17. 00 and White is slightly better] 17. 00 Nd7 unclear, I.
Sokolov
18
14... cd5 15. 0-0-0!? b4 16. Na4 Nd6 17. g4; 15. f4 and White is slightly better;
14... Bd5 15. a4 Rb7 16. ab5 ab5 17. 00 Nc7 18. f4 Be6 19. b4 [19. Bf3 Nd5 20. Nd5 Bd5 21. f5 Bf3 22.
Rf3 Qd5 23. fg6 hg6 24. Raf1 Be5 25. de5 Nd7] Nd5 20. Nd5 Bd5
a) 21. f5 Nd7 22. Bf4 e6 23. fg6 fg6 equal;

b) 21. h4 Nd7 22. h5 e6 23. hg6 hg6 24. Ra6 Ne5 25. fe5 [25. de5 Rd7] Rd7 26. Bd3 Qh4 (Y. Pelletier I.
Sokolov, Deutschland 2004 see 90/330) 27. Qf2 Qf2 28. Rf2 and White is slightly better, I. Sokolov

The Ten Best Games of Chess Informant

89
Ivan Markovicvic
If you dont believe in victory you have no business sitting down at a
chess board. - Anatoly Karpov
Nigel Short is an outstanding player who has made his mark in chess history
as one of the greats of the modern era and he shows no signs of slowing
down. His convincing victory, ahead of a highly respectable field, in Tai
Yuan was more than just a sporting success. One shining moment came as the
Commonwealth champions red-blooded mixture of creativity, vision, and
merciless execution rendered the top-rated Chinese player Ye Jiangchuan
totally helpless in the penultimate round. The Chess Informant Editorial
Board congratulates its perennial contributor on yet another masterful
creative achievement and hopes that this game will find a deserving place
among the best games of the forthcoming volume. The chess world would be
a poorer place without his great games.
The best game of Chess Informant 89 is Short's win against Pogorelov. It is a
superb showcase of his perfect fusion of enterprising opening play, enriched
with a novelty, and culminating in an irresistible attack. The enormity of his
concept is such that virtually none of my friends (candidate masters or even
better) managed to beat our reliable silicon friend with the white pieces
starting from the 22nd move, even when they were allowed to use Short's
original analysis!
As usual, the competition was fierce. Akopian's remarkable win against
Kramnik was only two points behind the winner. While Ivan Sokolov's wins
against Kramnik and Judit Polgar was more proof that Chess Informant's
panel of experts tend to appreciate heavyweight showdowns above anything
else. Anyway, the complete voting is given below, along with the fully
annotated ten best games.
N. Short 2702 R. Pogorelov 2451

Gibraltar 2004 89/145
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Qc7 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 b5 8. 00-0 Nd4 9. Bd4 Ne7?! 10. Kb1 Nc6 11. Be3 Ne5 12. f4 Nc4 13. Bc4 Qc4 14.
Bd4! (and White is slightly better) f6 [14... d6 15. Bg7!? (15. Be5 Bb7 16.
Bd6 Rd8 17. e5 and White is slightly better) Bg7 16. Qd6 a) 16... Bf6? 17.
Nd5 Bd8 (17... ed5 18. Qf6 Rg8 19. ed5 and White is winning) 18. b3! Qe4
19. Qc6 Kf8 20. Rhe1 and White is winning; b) 16... f5! 17. ef5 Kf7 18. Rhe1
Bc3 19. bc3 Re8 20. Qe5 with initiative] 15. g4! (a novelty) Be7 16. g5 0-0
[16... fg5 17. Bg7 Rg8 18. Be5 b4 19. Na4 and White is superior, weak point
Ke8] 17. b3 Qc6 18. gf6 Bf6 19. Rhg1 (and White is superior) b4
20. Nd5!! [20. Na4 Qe4 21. Bf6 Rf6 22. Nb6 Rb8 23. Nc8 Rc8 24. Rg7 Kg7
25. Qd7 Kh6 26. Qc8 and White is superior; better is 20... Rb8!?] ed5 21. e5
Be7 [21... Bd8 22. e6 Rf6 23. f5 de6 24. Qg5 and White is winning] 22. e6
Rf6 [22... Bf6 23. Rg7!! (23. e7 Re8 24. Bf6 Qf6 25. Qd5 and White is
winning) Kg7 24. Rg1 Kh8 25. f5 Bb7 26. Bf6 Rf6 27. Qg5 Rg6 28. fg6 Qe6
29. gh7 Qf7 30. Qe5 Kh7 31. Qg5 and White is winning; 22... g6 23. f5 Rf5
(23... de6 24. fg6 and White is winning) 24. Qh6 Rf6! 25. Rgf1! a) 25... Bf8
26. e7! Be7 27. Rf6 Bf6 28. Rf1 Qe6 29. Rf6 Qe7 30. Qg5 and White is
winning; b) 25... Qe6 26. Bf6 Bf6 27. Rde1 Qf7 (27... Bg7 28. Qh4 and White
is winning) 28. Rf6 Qf6 29. Re8 Kf7 30. Qf8 mate; c) 25... de6 (only move)
26. Bf6 Bf8 27. Qf4 and White is superior] 23. f5 de6 [23... h6 a) 24. Rg7
Kg7 25. Qg2 Kf8 26. Rg1 Ke8 27. Bf6 Bf6 28. Qg6 Ke7 29. Qf7 Kd8 (29...
Kd6 30. e7 Qc3 31. e8N and White is winning) 30. Qf6 Kc7 31. e7 Qf6 32.
e8N and White is superior; b) 24. h4! de6 25. Qg2 and White is winning] 24.
Rg7! Kg7 25. Qg5 Kf7 26. Rg1 Bf8 [26... Bd7 27. Qh5 Kf8 28. Bf6 Bf6 29.
Qh7 and White is winning; 26... Ke8 27. Bf6 Bf6 (27... Bf8 28. Qh5 Kd7 29.
Qf7) 28. Qf6 Kd7 (28... Qc3 29. Rg8 Kd7 30. fe6 Kd6 31. Rd8 Kc7 32. Qc3
bc3 33. e7) 29. Qg7 Kd6 30. f6 Bd7 31. f7 Qc8 32. Qd4 (32. Qh7!? and
White is superior) a5 33. Rg8 Qg8 34. fg8Q Rg8 35. Qb6 Bc6 36. Qa5 and
White is superior] 27. Qf6 Ke8 28. Rg8 Qd6 29. fe6 Qe7 [29... Be6 30. Rf8
Qf8 31. Qe6 Qe7 (31... Kd8 32. Bb6 mate) 32. Qc6 and White is winning] 30.
Qh6 Rb8 31. Bf6 [31. Qh5 Kd8 32. Qd5 Kc7 33. Qe5! Kb7 34. Qe4! Kc7 35.
Qf4 and White is winning] Qe6 32. Rf8 Kd7 33. Qg7 Kc6 34. Be5 Rb7 35.
Qh8! 1 : 0 [N. Short]
Vl. Akopian 2693 - Kramnik 2777

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8.
Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. h3 Ne5 11. f3 Nbc6 12. Bf2 Be6 13. Qd2 Nd4 14.
Bd4 Qa5 15. a3 0-0 16. h4 Ng6 17. hg5 hg5 [17... Bd4 18. Qd4 Qg5 19. Qd2
and White is slightly better] 18. b4 Qc7 19. Ne2! [a novelty; 19. Bg7 see
85/230] f6 [19... Bd4 20. Nd4 and White is slightly better; 19... Be5!? with
the idea 20. Be5 de5 21. Qg5 Rfd8] 20. Bb2 Bf7 21. Nd4 d5 [21... e6 22.
g3!? with the idea Qh2] 22. ed5 Qe5 [22... Qg3 23. Kd1! Rfd8 (23... Qe5 24.
c4) 24. Nf5; 22... Bd5 23. 0-0-0 (23. Nf5 Rfd8 24. Ng7 Qg3 25. Qf2 Qf2 26.
Kf2 Kg7 27. Bd3 Nf4 28. Rh7 Kf8; 23. Bd3 Nf4 24. Bh7 Kf7 25. g3 e5!) Rfd8
24. Bd3 Ne5 25. Bf5 Nc4 26. Qe2 (26. Ne6 Be6 27. Be6 Kf8 28. Qc3 Qf4 29.
Kb1 Nb2 30. Qb2 Rd1 31. Rd1 f5) Nb2 27. Kb2 Qc4 28. Qc4 Bc4 29. Be6
Be6 30. Ne6 Rd1 31. Rd1] 23. Be2 [23. Qe2 Qd5] Qd5 [23... Qg3? 24. Kf1
Nh4 (24... Nf4 25. Bd3) 25. Rh4! Qh4 (25... gh4 26. Nf5) 26. Nf5; 23... Bd5
24. 0-0-0 Qf4 25. Nf5!? (25. Bd3 Qd2 26. Rd2 Nf4) ] 24. 0-0-0 Rfc8 [24...
a5!? 25. b5 Rfd8 26. Bd3 Qc5 27. Qe3 and White is slightly better; 24...
Rfd8] 25. Bd3 Ne5 26. Be4 Qa2 [26... Qd7 27. Bf5 e6 28. Ne6 Be6 29. Qd7
Bd7 30. Bd7 Nd7 31. Rd7] 27. Nf5! [27. Bb7 Nc4 28. Qc3 a) 28... Nb6 a1)
29. Bc8 Na4 30. Nf5! (30. Ne6 Nc3 31. Rd8 Be8 32. Re8 Kf7 unclear) Nc3
31. Rd8 Bf8 32. Ne7 Kg7 33. Nf5 Kg8 (33... Kg6 34. Bc3) 34. Bc3 Rc8 35.
Rc8 Be6 36. Ne7 Kg7 37. Rc7 Qa3 38. Kd2 and White is superior; a2) 29.
Nc6 Rc6 (29... Na4 30. Ne7 Kf8 31. Nc8 Nc3 32. Rd8 Be8 33. Bc3 Qa3 34.
Bb2 Qe3 35. Kb1 Rb8 36. Bc6 and White is winning) 30. Bc6 Rc8 31. Qd4!
with the idea 31... Rc6 32. Qd8 Bf8 33. Rh8 Kh8 34. Qf8 Kh7 35. Rh1 Kg6
36. Qh6 Kf5 37. Qh3 and White is winning; b) 28... f5! 29. Ba8 b1) 29... Be5
30. g3 Bg3 31. Ne6 (31. Rh8 Kh8 32. Nf5 Be5 33. Qe5 Ne5 34. Be5 Kg8 35.
Ne7 Kf8 36. Nc8 Qa3 37. Bb2 Qb4) Qb2 (31... Be5 32. Qe5 Ne5 33. Bd5 and
White is winning) 32. Qb2 Nb2 33. Rd8 Rd8 34. Nd8 and White is winning;
b2) 29... Ra8! 30. Qb3 (30. Rd3 Rc8!) Qb3 31. cb3 Nb2 32. Kb2 Rd8 33. Kc3
Rc8 34. Kd3 Rd8 35. Ke3? f4 36. Ke4 Bg6 37. Nf5 Rf8; 35. Kc3 equal] Nc4
28. Qc3 Rc7? [28... Nb2 29. Ne7 Kf8 30. Nc8 Qa1 31. Kd2 Nc4 32. Qc4 Qd1
33. Rd1 Bc4 34. Bb7 Rb8 35. Kc3 and White is winning; 28... Qb2 29. Qb2
Nb2 a) 30. Kb2 Rc7 31. Ng7 Kg7 32. Rh7 Kf8 33. Rh8 Bg8 34. Bd5 Kg7 35.
Rdh1 Rac8 36. Bg8 Rg8 (36... Rc2 37. Kb1) 37. R1h7 Kg6! (37... Kf8 38. c4
Rh8 39. Rh8 Kg7 40. Rb8) 38. Re7 Re7 39. Rg8 Kf5; b) 30. Rd7 Rd8 31. Rb7
Nc4 32. Re7 (32. Ng7 Kg7 33. Re7 Rh8!) Bf8 33. Ba8 Be7 34. Ne7 Kf8 35.
Nc8! Rc8 36. Rh8 Bg8 37. Bd5 Kg7 38. Rg8 Rg8 39. Bc4 Ra8 40. Kb2 and
White is superior; 33... Ra8; c) 30. Ne7 Kf8 31. Nc8 c1) 31... Nd1 32. Bb7
Rc8 (32... Rb8 33. Rd1 Rb7 34. Rd8 Be8 35. Re8 Ke8 36. Nd6; 32... Nf2 33.
Rf1 Rb8 34. Nd6) 33. Bc8 Ne3 34. Ba6; c2) 31... Rc8 32. Rd7 (32. Bb7 Rc7)
Na4 33. Bb7 and White is superior]
29. Rh7! Qb2 [29... Bf8 30. Rdh1 Be6 31. Ne7 Re7 32. Rh8 Kf7 33. Bg6
Kg6 34. Qf6 mate; 29... Kh7 30. Ne7 Kh6 31. Rh1 Bh5 32. g4; 29... Nb2 30.
Rg7 Kf8 31. Qb2 Qb2 32. Kb2 e6 33. Rf7 (33. Rh7 ef5 34. Bf5) Rf7 34. Nd6
Rd8 35. Rd3] 30. Qb2 Nb2 31. Rg7 Kf8 32. Rh1 1 : 0 [Vl. Akopian]
I. Sokolov 2695 Ju. Polgar 2722

Hoogeveen 2003 89/430
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 d5 6. cd5 Nd5 7. Qc2 Nc3 8.
bc3 Be7 9. e4 0-0 10. Bd3 c5 11. 0-0 Qc8 12. Qe2 Ba6 13. Rd1 Rd8?! [13...
Bd3 see 88/420] 14. h4! [a novelty; with initiative; 14. Bf4; 14. Bb2] cd4 15.
cd4 Bd3 16. Rd3 Nd7 17. Bg5 f6?! [17... Bg5 a) 18. Ng5 h6 19. Qh5 hg5 20.
hg5 g6! (20... Ne5? 21. Rh3 Ng6 22. Qh7 Kf8 23. Rf3 Ke7 24. Qg7 Rf8 25. d5
with attack) 21. Qh6 Qc4! 22. Rad1 Qc2! 23. R1d2 (23. Rh3?? Qd1 24. Kh2
Qd4) Qc1 24. Rd1 (24. Kh2?? Ne5! 25. de5 Rd3 26. Rd3 Qf4) Qc2 equal; b)
18. hg5 Qa6 19. Rad1 Rac8 and White is slightly better] 18. Bf4 Qb7 [better
is 18... Qa6] 19. h5 Rac8 20. Rad1 Qa6 [better is 20... b5 with the idea Nb6
with counterplay] 21. e5 f5 22. d5! (and White is superior) ed5 [22... Nc5 23.
d6 and White is superior] 23. Nd4 [23. Qa2 (and White is superior) Qc4 (23...
Nf8 24. Rd5 Rd5 25. Qd5 Kh8 26. Qf7 Qa4 27. h6! Qd1 28. Kh2 and White is
winning) 24. Qc4 Rc4 25. Rd5 Rf4 26. Rd7 Rd7 27. Rd7 Ba3? 28. Ng5 and
White is winning] Rf8 [23... Nc5 24. Nf5 Bf8 25. Qg4! Nd3 26. Nh6 Kh8 27.
Nf7 Kg8 28. Qe6 and White is winning] 24. Qf3 [24. h6 and White is
superior] Nc5 25. h6 g5 [25... g6 26. Qd5 Kh8 27. Ne6 Nd3 28. Rd3]
26. Bg5!! Bg5 27. Qh5 Bf4 [27... Bd8 28. Nf5 Kh8 29. Nd6! Nd3 (29... Rc7
30. Rf3) 30. Nf7 Kg8 31. Nd8 Rfd8 (31... Rcd8 32. Qg5) 32. e6! and White is
winning] 28. Rf3! [28. Nf5 Rf5 29. Qf5 Nd3 30. Qe6 Kf8 31. Qf6 Ke8 equal]
Be5 29. Nf5 Qb7 [29... Rce8 30. Nd6 and White is winning; 29... Kh8 30.
Ne7 Bb2 31. Rb1! Qc4 (31... Rf3 32. Rb2 Rcf8 33. gf3 b5 34. Qe5 Qf6 35.
Qf6 Rf6 36. Rb5 and White is winning) 32. Nc8 Rc8 33. Qf7! with the idea
Qf8 and White is winning] 30. Rd5 Rce8 31. Qg5 Kh8 32. Re5 [32. Ne7!
Bb2 33. Re5! and White is winning] Re5 33. Ne7!! Re1 34. Kh2 Qb8 35.
Rg3 Re7 only move [35... Ne6 36. Qg7; 35... Qg3 36. fg3 Ne6 37. Qd2 Re4
38. Qd3! Rg4 39. Qe2 and White is winning] 36. Qe7 Ne6 (only move) 37.
Qe6 Qf4 38. a4 a6? [time; 38... Rf7] 39. Qb6 (and White is winning) Rb8
[39... Rf6 40. Qb2 Qh6 41. Kg1] 40. Qe3 Qh4 41. Rh3 Qf6 42. Qc3 1 : 0
[I. Sokolov]
I. Sokolov 2706 Kramnik 2777

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cd5 Nd5 7. Qc2 Nc3 8.
bc3 c5 9. e4 Nc6 10. Be3!? [10. Bb2 see 87/438] Be7 [better is 10... Rc8] 11.
d5! [a novelty; 11. Bd3; 11. Qa2] ed5 12. Rd1 d4 [12... 0-0? 13. ed5 Na5 14.
c4 and White is superior] 13. cd4 0-0 only move [13... cd4?? 14. Bb5 Qc7
(14... Rc8 15. Bd4 0-0 16. Bg7) 15. Bf4 Qc8 16. Nd4 Bc5 17. Nf5 0-0 18.
Qc3 f6 19. Qg3 g6 20. Bc4 Kh8 21. Bh6 and White is winning] 14. d5 [14.
dc5 Qc7 15. Bc4 and White is slightly better] Nd4 15. Qb2 [15. Nd4 cd4 16.
Bd4 Ba3 unclear] Re8? [better is 15... Nf3 16. gf3 Qd6! (unclear) 17. f4 (17.
e5 Qg6 unclear) Qg6 with the idea 18. Bd3? c4! 19. Bc2 f5! and Black is
winning] 16. Bd4 [16. Nd4? cd4 (and Black is slightly better) 17. Qd4 (17.
Bd4 Qd5! 18. ed5?? Bb4 mate) Bc5! 18. Qd3 Qh4 19. Bc5 bc5] cd4 17. Bb5
Ba3 (only move)
18. Qd4! and White is superior [18. Qa3? Re4 19. Kf1 Qd5 and Black is
slightly better, with initiative] Bc5 19. Qd3 Bb4 20. Kf1 Rf8 [20... Re7 21.
Nd4 and White is superior] 21. Nd4! [weak point c6] Qc8 [21... Bc5 22. Bc6
Bd4 23. Bb7 Rb8 24. Bc6 Be5 25. g3 and White is superior] 22. h4 Bc5 23.
h5 [better is 23. Nf5! (and White is superior, with attack) g6 24. Nh6 Kg7 25.
h5] Qg4 24. Nf3! Rad8 25. Rh4 Qc8 26. Bc4 (and White is superior, with
initiative) b5!? 27. Bb5 Bb6 28. h6 g6 29. Qb3 Qc5 30. Qb2 f6 31. Rf4!
(and White is winning) Bc7 [31... Qd6 32. g3] 32. Rc1! Qb6 33. Rc7 Qc7 34.
Rf6 Rf6 35. Qf6 Rf8 [35... Qc1 36. Ne1 Qc7 37. d6! Rd6 38. Qe5; 35... Rc8
36. d6 Qc1 37. Ne1 Qh6 38. Bd7! Qh1 39. Ke2 Ba6 40. Kf3 Qh5 41. Kg3]
36. Qb2! Rc8 37. d6 Qc1 38. Qc1 Rc1 39. Ke2 Rc8 40. Ng5 a6 41. Ba4 1 :
0 [Sokolov,I]
B. Gelfand 2709 Shabalov 2623

Bermuda 2004 89/382
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. g4 dc4 8.
Bc4 b6 9. e4 Bb7 10. e5 c5 11. ef6 Bf3 [11... Qf6? 12. Be2 Bf3 13. g5] 12.
fg7 Rg8 13. Qh7 Nf6 14. Bb5 Ke7 15. Bg5 Bf4! [15... Bh1? 16. Qh6; 15...
cd4 a) 16. Ne4 Be4 (16... Be5 17. Bc6!? with the idea 17... Bh1 18. f4! Be4
19. fe5! Bh7 20. Bf6 mate) 17. Qe4; b) 16. Qh6! Be5 17. Ne4 Be4 18. f4 Qd5
19. fe5 Qe5 20. 0-0 and White is winning; M. Golubev]
16. Qh3! (a novelty) Bh1 [16... Bg5 17. Qf3 and White is winning] 17. Bf4
Qd4 [17... Rg7 18. dc5 bc5 19. Rd1 Nd5 20. f3 and White is winning] 18.
Qg3 Ne4 19. Qh4 [19. Bg5? Ng5 20. Rd1 Qe5! 21. Qe5 Nf3; 19. Ne4!? Qe4
20. Kf1 with compensation] Qf6 [19... Nf6 20. Rd1 Qf4 21. Rd7; 19... f6 20.
Rd1] 20. g5 Qf5? [20... Qg6 21. 0-0-0 Rad8 22. Rh1 Rd4 23. Be5 and White
is winning; 20... Qg7! a) 21. Ne4 Be4 22. g6 f6 23. Bd6 Kd6 24. Qe4 Rad8!
25. Rd1 (25. Qc6 Ke5) Kc7 26. Qe6 and Black is slightly better; b) 21. 0-0-0
b1) 21... Rh8? 22. Ne4!! Rh4 (22... Rad8 23. Rd8 Rh4 24. Re8 mate) 23. Bd6
Kd8 24. Be5 Ke7 25. Bg7 Be4 26. Rd7 Ke8 27. g6! (with the idea gf7 mate)
fg6 28. Ra7 Kd8 29. Bf6 and White is winning; b2) 21... Rad8! b21) 22. g6 f6
23. Rh1 Rh8 (23... Nc3 24. bc3 Qg6 25. Be3 and White is superior) 24. Qg4
Nf2 25. Qf3 Nh1 26. Qh1 (26. Qb7?! Kf8 27. Bd6 Kg8!; 26. Bd6!? Kd6 27.
Qc6 Ke5 28. Qe4 Kd6 equal) Qg6 27. Qb7 Kf8 28. Qa7 unclear; b22) 22.
Rh1 Rh8 23. Be5! (23. Qg4 Nc3) Qe5! (23... Rh4 24. Bg7 Ng5 25. Be5! and
White is slightly better) 24. Qe4 Qg5 25. f4 Qf6 26. Kb1 Kf8 unclear] 21. 0-00 Rad8 [21... Nc3 22. Rd7 Ke8 23. bc3] 22. Rd8 [22. Rh1 Nc3 (22... Rd4 23.
Ne2! Rb4 24. Qh8) 23. bc3 Qd5 24. Qh6! Qh1 25. Kb2 and White is winning]
Kd8 [22... Rd8 23. Ne4 (23. Bd3) Qe4 24. g6 f6 25. g8N!! Rg8 26. Qh7] 23.
Bd3 Rg7 24. Ne4 [24. Qh8 Ke7 25. Bd6! Kd6 26. Qb8! Ke7 27. Qc7] Rh7
25. Bc7! [25... Kc7 26. Qg3 e5 (26... Kc6 27. Qd6 Kb7 28. Qd7) 27. Nf6 and
White is winning] 1 : 0 [B. Gelfand]
Shirov 2736 I. Sokolov 2706

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. 0-0 Bg4 6. h3 h5 7. Bc6 bc6 8.
d4 Qf6 9. Nbd2 Be6 10. Nb3 Qg6 11. Ng5! [11. Qd3 (see 26/(278)) f6!?
unclear] Bd7!? [a novelty; 11... Bc8 see 27/289; 11... Bc4 12. Re1 Be7 13.
Na5 Bg5 14. Nc4 Bc1 15. Rc1 ed4 (15... Qe6?! 16. b3 and White is superior)
16. Qd4 Ne7 17. e5!? and White is slightly better] 12. de5! [12. f4 ef4 13.
Bf4 f6 (13... Be7!? unclear) 14. Nf3 Bh3 unclear] de5 13. f4! ef4 14. Bf4 Be7
[14... f6 15. Nf3 Bh3 16. Nh4 Qg4 17. Qg4 Bg4 18. Ng6 Rh7 19. Bc7 and
White is slightly better] 15. Qd2 Rd8! [15... f6? 16. Nf3 Bh3 17. Nh4 Qg4
18. Qc3! and White is winning]
16. Nf7! [16. Qe3!? and White is slightly better] Qf7?! [better is 16... Kf7!
17. Bc7 Nf6 18. e5 Bh3 19. Bd8 Rd8 20. Qe2! (20. Qf2 Kg8 21. ef6 Bf6 with
compensation) Kg8 21. ef6 Bf6 22. Rf2! (22. c3 Rd5! with compensation)
Bb2 23. Raf1 and White is slightly better] 17. Bc7 Qe6 (only move) 18. Bd8
Bd8 19. Kh1!? [19. Nc5 Bb6 20. Qb4 Ba7! 21. Kh1 Qe7! 22. Na6 Qb4 23.
Nb4 Nf6 24. Rae1 h4! and White is slightly better] Nf6? [19... Bb6 20. Qb4
c5 21. Nc5 and White is superior; 19... Qe7! and White is slightly better] 20.
Nc5 Qe7 21. Rad1!! (and White is winning) Bc8 [21... Bg4 22. e5! Bd1 (22...
Nd5 23. Ne4 Qh4 24. Nd6 Kd7 25. c4 Bg5 26. Qd3 Bd1 27. Rd1) 23. ef6 Qc5
(23... gf6 24. Re1; 23... 0-0 24. fe7 Rf1 25. Kh2 Be7 26. Ne4) 24. Re1 Kf7 25.
Qd7 Kf6 26. Qe6 Kg5 27. Re5] 22. e5 Nd5 23. Ne4 Qe5 [23... Bc7 24. Nd6
Bd6 25. ed6] 24. Rde1 Be7 25. c4 Bb4 26. Nc3 1 : 0 [Shirov]
Sutovsky 2646 H. Nakamura 2565

Pamplona 2003 89/93
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Bc6 bc6 5. b3 d5!? 6. Qe2 Ne7 [6... a5 see
37/171] 7. Ba3!? [a novelty; 7. 0-0; 7. d3] Ng6 8. 0-0 Qa5 [8... Be7 9. ed5!
Bf6 (9... cd5 10. Bc5!) 10. Nc3! Qa5 11. de6! (11. Bb2? Ba6) Qa3 12. ef7
Kf7 13. Ne4 Ba1 a) 14. Neg5 Kf6 15. Qc4 Ke7 (15... Ne5 16. Qf4 Bf5 17.
Ne4 Ke6 18. Nfg5 and White is winning) 16. Ra1 Bd7 17. Re1 Kd8 18. Nf7
Kc7 19. Nh8 Rh8; b) 14. Nd6 Kf6 15. Ne8 Kf7! (15... Re8 16. Qe8 Bb7 17.
Qd7 Be5 18. g4! h6 19. h4 Nh4 20. Ne5 and White is winning) 16. Re1!? (16.
Nd6 Kf6 equal) Qb4 (only move) 17. Nd6 Kf6 18. Nc8 Qg4! 19. Nd6 Qg2!
20. Kg2 Nf4 21. Kf1 Ne2 22. Ke2 Rad8 unclear; c) 14. Nfg5!? Kf8 (14... Ke7
15. Ra1 Nf4 16. Qe3 Nd5 17. Qg3) 15. Ra1 c4 16. Qf3 Ke7 17. Re1 with
attack] 9. Bb2 Bd6!? 10. Bg7! [10. e5 Be7 11. d3] Nf4 11. Qe3 Rg8! [11...
d4 12. Qe1! (12. Qf4 Bf4 13. Bh8 Ba6) Rg8 (12... Ng2 13. Kg2 Rg8 14. e5
Rg7 15. Kh1 Bf8 16. d3) 13. e5 Rg7 a) 14. ed6? Rg2 15. Kh1 Ba6 16. Qe4
(16. d3 Qe1 17. Ne1 Rg7 and Black is slightly better) Bf1 17. Qc6 Kf8 18.
Qa8 Kg7 19. Nc3! Rf2!; b) 14. Qe4! Rg2 15. Kh1 and White is superior] 12.
e5 Ng2! 13. Qh6! [13. Kg2 Rg7 14. Kh1 Bf8] Ne1! [13... Bf8 14. Bf8 Ne3
15. Kh1! (15. Ng5 Qd8! 16. f4 Nf5) a) 15... Nf1 16. Bd6 Ba6 17. c4! dc4 18.
bc4 0-0-0 (18... Bc4 19. Qh4!) 19. Nc3 Bc4 20. Rb1 and White is winning; b)
15... Nf5 16. Qh7 Rf8 17. d3 and White is superior; 13... Ne3!? 14. Qh7 Rg7
15. Qg7 Bf8 16. Qg8 Nc2! (16... Nf1 17. Ng5 Qc7 18. Nh7 and White is
superior) 17. Ng5 Qc7 18. Nh7 Qe7 19. Nc3 Na1 20. Ra1 Ba6 21. Qf8 (21.
Nf8? 0-0-0!) Qf8 22. Nf8 Kf8 (22... Bd3!? 23. Na4 c4 24. Ne6 fe6 25. Nc5
and White is superior) 23. Na4 Ke7 24. f3 Rg8 25. Kf2 and White is superior;
13... Nh4 14. Nh4 Be5 (14... Bf8 15. Nf5!) 15. Nf5! Ba1 16. Qh7 Rg7 17. Ng7
Ke7 18. c3 weak point Ke7] 14. ed6 [14. Re1 Bf8 15. Qh5 Rg7 16. Kh1 Qb4]
Nf3 15. Kh1 Ba6? [15... Qd8! 16. Qh7 (16. d3? Qd6 17. Nd2 Nd2 18. Rg1
Nf3! 19. Qh7 Rg7 20. Rg7 Qf4) Kd7 a) 17. Qh5? Ba6 18. Qf7 Kd6 19. d3
Qh4 20. Qf3 Rg7; b) 17. Nc3 Ba6 18. Na4 Kd6; c) 17. d3 Qh4! (17... Ba6 18.
Bc3 Kd6 19. Qh5 Nd4 20. Bd4 cd4 21. f4 f6 22. Nd2) 18. Qh4 Nh4 19. Rg1
Nf5 20. Be5 (20. Bf6 Rg1 21. Kg1 Kd6) Rg1 21. Kg1 Nd4! 22. Bd4 cd4 23.
Nd2 Kd6 24. f4 Bd7 25. Kf2 Rh8 26. Rh1 f6; d) 17. c4!? d1) 17... Qh4 18.
Qh4 Nh4 19. Rg1 Ba6 (19... Nf5 20. Be5 Rg1 21. Kg1 Nd6 22. Nc3) 20. Nc3
Kd6 21. f4! Ng6 22. Rg6 fg6 23. Be5 Ke7 24. Na4 with compensation; d2)
17... Ba6! 18. Bb2 Kd6 19. Qh5! Nd4 20. f4 f6 21. Bd4 (21. b4? Bc4 22. bc5
Kd7) cd4 22. d3 Qe7 23. Nd2 unclear] 16. d3 Qd8
17. Nd2!! Nd2 18. Rg1 Qd6 [18... Nf3 19. Bf6 Rg1 20. Rg1] 19. Qd2 0-0-0
[19... d4 20. Qh6 (20. Rg5 h6!) Qd5 21. Rg2 Qf5 22. Re1 and White is
superior] 20. Qh6 Bb7?! [20... e5! (V. Bologan) 21. Qd6 Rd6 22. Be5 Rdg6
23. c4 and White is slightly better] 21. Bf6 Rg1 [21... d4 22. Qh7 Rg1 (22...
Qd5 23. Qe4 Rde8 24. Qd5 cd5 25. h4) 23. Rg1 Qf4! 24. Bd8 Qf3 equal; 23.
Kg1! and White is winning] 22. Rg1 Re8 23. Qh7 Qf4 24. Rg8 Qf6 25. Re8
Kd7 26. Rg8! Qf2 27. Qh3! (and White is winning) c4 [27... Qc2 28. Qh4!
Qb1 29. Kg2 Qc2 30. Qf2 and White is winning] 28. Qg2 Qf4 29. Rg3?!
[time; 29. dc4 dc4 30. h3!] Qc1 30. Qg1 Qc2 31. Qa7 Qd1 32. Kg2 [32.
Qg1] Qe2 33. Qf2 cd3 34. Qe2 de2 35. Kf2 d4 36. h4 c5 37. h5 Be4 38. Ke2
e5 39. h6 Ke6 40. a4 1 : 0 [Sutovsky]
Gagunashvili 2577 Souleidis 2382

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. cd5 Qd5 4. e3 e5 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 Bc3 7. bc3 Nf6 8.
f3 0-0 9. e4 Qd6 10. Be3 [10. d5 see 80/(389)] ed4 11. cd4 Re8 [a novelty;
11... Rd8] 12. Qd2
12... Bf5!! 13. Be2 [13. ef5 Nd5 and Black is winning; 13. e5 Ne5 and Black
is winning; 13. Ne2 Be4 with initiative] Be4 14. fe4 Ne4 [14... Re4 15. Rd1
Rae8 with compensation] 15. Qb2 [15. Qd3 Nb4] Ng3 16. hg3 Re3 [weak
point Ke1] 17. 0-0-0 [17. Rd1 Qg3 18. Kf1 Qf4 19. Bf3 Rae8 with initiative]
Nb4! [with the idea Rc3] 18. Bc4 [18. a3 Rc3! and Black is winning] b5! 19.
Bf7 Kf7 20. Qf2 Qf6 [20... Kg8! 21. Qe3 Qc6 22. Kd2 (22. Kb2 Qc2 23. Ka3
Qa4 24. Kb2 Qa2 25. Kc3 Qc2 26. Kb4 a5 27. Kb5 Rb8 28. Ka6 Qc6 29. Ka7
Qa8 mate) Qc2 23. Ke1 Qg2 and Black is winning] 21. Qf6 [21. Qe3 Qc6 22.
Kd2 (22. Kb2 Qc2) Qc2 23. Ke1 Re8 and Black is winning] Kf6 (and Black
is winning) 22. Rf1 Kg6 23. Nf3 h6 24. Nh4 Kh7 25. Rf7 Rg3 26. Rc7 Rf8
27. Ra7 Rf2 28. Kb1 Nd5 29. Ka1 b4 30. Ra5 Ra3 [31. Ra3 ba3 32. Rc1
Nc3] 0 : 1 [Gagunashvili]
Mi. Adams 2720 Zhang Zhong 2644

f3 Be7 9. Qd2 0-0 10. 0-0-0 Qc7 11. g4 Rc8 12. g5 Nh5 13. Nd5 Bd5 14.
ed5 Nd7 15. Bh3 g6 16. Kb1 Bf8 [16... a5 17. Nc1 a4 18. a3 and White is
slightly better] 17. Qc1!? [a novelty; 17. Na5 see 87/242; 17. Bg4 a) 17... Nf4
18. h4 (18. Bf4 ef4 19. Nd4 Bg7 with compensation) h5 19. gh6 Bh6 20. Rdg1
Kh8 21. Nc1 a5 (21... f5 22. h5 and White is winning) 22. Nd3 and White is
superior; b) 17... a5 18. Nc1; c) 17... Bg7!?] Nf4 [17... a5 18. Nd2 a4 19. a3
and White is slightly better] 18. Bf4 ef4 19. Nd2 [19. Bd7 Qd7 20. Qf4 Bg7
21. c3 a5 22. Nd2 Be5 with compensation] Bg7 20. Ne4 Be5 21. Rd2! [21.
Bd7 Qd7 22. h4 Rc4 and Black is slightly better] Qd8 [21... a5!?; 21... b5!?]
22. Bd7 [22. Qf1!?] Qd7 23. h4 Rc7?! [23... Rc4 a) 24. h5 Qf5 25. Rdh2 Re4
26. fe4 Qe4 (26... Qg5 27. hg6 hg6) 27. hg6 hg6 28. Qf1 Qd5 (28... Qd4 29.
c3 Qd5 30. Qh3 Kf8 31. Qd7 Qc6 unclear) 29. Qh3 Kf8 30. Qd7 f3 (30... Kg8
31. Rh7 and White is slightly better) 31. Rh7 f2 unclear; b) 24. Qf1!? Rac8
25. h5 Qf5 (25... Rb4 26. b3 Rd4 27. Rdh2 Rc7 28. hg6 fg6 29. Rh7 Qh7 30.
Rh7 Rh7 31. c3 Re4 32. fe4 Rf7 33. Qf3 b5 and White is slightly better) 26.
Rdh2 R8c7 (26... Re4 27. fe4 Qe4 28. hg6 with the idea 28... hg6 29. Qh3 and
White is winning) 27. hg6 fg6 unclear] 24. h5 Rac8 25. Rh4 Qf5 [25... Qb5
26. Nf6 (26. a3 Qb3) Bf6 27. gf6 and White is superior] 26. Rdh2 Re7 27.
a3?! [27. Qh1! Rcc7 28. a3 Bh8 29. Qd1 Qe5 30. c3 and White is superior]
b5? [27... Rc4 a) 28. Qh1 Re4 29. fe4 (29. hg6 Re3 30. Rh7 Qg6 31. R2h6
Qg5 32. Rh5 Qg6 33. R5h6 equal) Qg5 30. hg6 hg6 31. Rg2 Qf6 32. Qh3 Rc7
33. c3 Bc3 34. Rc2 f3 35. e5 de5 36. Rh2 Qf5 37. Qf5 gf5 38. bc3 unclear; b)
28. hg6 fg6 29. Qh1 b1) 29... Re4 30. fe4 Qg5 31. Rh7 Rh7 (31... f3 32. Rh8
Bh8 33. Rh8 Kg7 34. e5 Qe5 35. Qh6 Kf6 36. Rf8 Rf7 37. Qh8 Kg5 38. Qe5
de5 39. Rf7 and White is winning) 32. Rh7 and White is winning; b2) 29...
Rcc7 30. Qe1 and White is slightly better] 28. Qd2 Rc4 [28... Rec7 29. Qa5
Bh8 30. hg6 fg6 31. Qa6 Qd5 32. Qd6 Qd6 33. Nd6 Rb8 34. c3 and White is
winning; 28... Ra7 29. Qa5 Qd7 30. hg6 fg6 31. Rh7 Qh7 32. Rh7 Rh7 33.
Qa6 (33. c3 Ra8 34. Qb6 Rd7 35. Nc5 Rda7 36. Nd3 and White is winning)
Rh1 34. Ka2 Rc2 35. Nf6 Bf6 36. gf6 and White is winning]
29. Qa5! Qc8 [29... Re4?? 30. Qd8 Kg7 31. h6 mate; 29... Qd7 30. hg6 fg6
31. Qa6 Ra4 32. Qb6 b4 33. Nf6 Bf6 34. gf6 Re1 35. Ka2 h5 36. Rg2 Kf7 37.
Rh5 and White is winning; 29... Rec7 30. Qa6 and White is winning] 30.
Nf6! [30. c3 and White is superior] Bf6 31. gf6 Rec7 [31... Rd7 32. hg6 fg6
33. Qe1 Rcc7 (33... Rf7 34. Rh7) 34. Re2! (34. Qe6? Kf8 35. Rf4 Rd8 36.
Rfh4 Qe6 37. de6 Re8 and White is slightly better) Kf8 35. Rf4 and White is
winning] 32. hg6 fg6 33. Qe1! and White is winning [33. Qb6 Rd7 and White
is superior] Qf8 [33... Rc2 34. f7 Kf8 35. Rc2 Rc2 36. Qe8; 33... h5 34. Rh5
gh5 35. Qg1 Kf8 36. Rh5; 33... Rf7 34. Rh7 Rh7 35. Rh7 Kh7 36. Qe7 Kh6
37. f7; 33... Rd4 34. Qe6 Qe6 35. de6 h5 36. Rg2] 34. Qe6 Kh8 [34... Qf7 35.
Rh7 Qe6 36. de6 Rh7 37. Rh7 Kh7 38. e7] 35. Rh6 b4 [35... g5 36. Qf5 Qg8
37. Rg6; 35... a5 36. Rg6 Rc2 37. Rc2 Rc2 38. Rg7; 35... Rd4 36. Rg6] 36.
ab4 Rb4 37. Rg6 Rb8 [37... Qb8 38. c3; 37... Rcb7 38. b3 (38. c3 Rb2 39.
Rb2 Rb2 40. Kb2 hg6 and White is superior) a5 39. Rg1] 38. f7 [38. Rgh6]
Rf7 [38... Qf7 39. Qd6] 39. Qd6 Re7 [39... Qd6 40. Rd6 a5 41. Ra6 Rb5 42.
c4 Rc5 43. b3] 40. Rf6 [40. Qf6 Qf6 41. Rf6] Re1 41. Ka2 Qe8 42. Rf4 [42...
Ra1 43. Ka1 Qe1 44. Ka2 Qa5 45. Qa3; 42... Rb2 43. Kb2 Qb5 44. Rb4] 1 :
0 [Mi. Adams]
Bologan 2673 Palo 2510

Skanderborg 2003 89/63
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Be3 Qb6 7. Nc3 Qb2 8.
Qb1!! and White is slightly better [8. Nb5 see 75/(108)] Qb1 [8... Qc3 9. Bd2
Qc2 10. Qb7 and White is winning; 8... Qb4 9. a3! Qa5 10. 0-0 with
compensation] 9. Rb1 c4!? [9... b6 10. dc5 bc5 (10... Bc5 11. Bc5 bc5 12.
Nb5 Kd8 13. Nd6 Nh6 14. Rb7 Rf8 15. Ng5 Bg6 16. c4 and White is superior)
11. Rb7 a) 11... a6 12. Na4 Nc6 13. Nc5 Bc5 14. Bc5 and White is superior;
b) 11... Nd7 12. Bb5 Rd8 13. Bg5 Be7 (13... f6 14. ef6 gf6 15. Ne5) 14. Na4
a6 15. Bc6 and White is superior; c) 11... d4!? 12. Ng5 Nh6 (12... Bg6 13.
Nb5) 13. Nb5 with initiative] 10. Rb7 Nc6 [a novelty; 10... Bc2] 11. Nb5
Rb8 [11... Na5 12. Ra7 Ra7 13. Na7 Bc2 14. Bd2! Nb7 15. Bc3 and White is
superior; 11... Nd8!? 12. Ra7 (12. Rc7 Rb8) Ra7 13. Na7 Bc2 14. Kd2 Bg6
15. Kc3 Ne7 16. Nh4 Nec6 17. Ng6 Bb4 18. Kc2 hg6 19. Nb5 Ba5 20. a3
Nb7 21. h3 and White is superior] 12. Rb8 Nb8 13. Kd2 a6 14. Na7! and
White is superior [14. Nc3 Bb4 15. Rb1 Nc6 16. Nh4 Nge7 17. a3 Ba5
unclear; 14. Nd6 Bd6 15. ed6 Nf6 16. Rb1 (16. Bf4 Ne4 17. Ke3 Nc3) Ne4
17. Ke1 Nd7 18. Bf4 f6 19. Rb7 g5 20. Ra7 Rg8 unclear] Kd7 [14... Bb4 15.
c3 Be7 16. Nc8 (16. Bd1 Kd7 17. Bc2 Bc2 18. Kc2 Kc7 19. Rb1 Nd7) Kd7 17.
Ne7 Ne7 18. Nh4 Nbc6 19. Nf5 Nf5 20. Rb1 Kc7 21. Bf4 and White is
superior] 15. Rb1 Kc7 16. Ng5 Nh6 [16... Bg6 17. Bg4! Nc6 (17... h6 18.
Be6 hg5 19. Bd5 Nd7 20. Rb7 Kd8 21. Bc6 Bf5 22. Bd7 Bd7 23. Rb8 and
White is winning) 18. Be6 Na7 19. Bd5 Nb5 20. Nf7 and White is winning]
17. g4! Bg6 [17... Ng4 18. Bg4 Bg4 19. Nf7 Rg8 20. Nd6 and White is
winning]
18. Kd1! and White is winning [18. h4 Be7 19. h5 Bh5! 20. gh5 Nd7 21. f4
Ra8 22. Nh7 Ra7 23. Ng5 and White is slightly better] Be7 [18... Nc6 19.
Nc6 Kc6 20. h4] 19. Bd2 Nc6 [19... Bg5 20. Ba5 Kd7 21. Rb7] 20. Nc6 Kc6
21. h4 f5!? [21... Bg5 22. Bg5 Ng8 23. h5 h6 24. Bd2 Be4 25. f3 Bh7 26.
Rb8] 22. Ne6 [22. h5 Bf7 23. Nf7 Nf7 and White is superior] Ng4 23. f3! Nf2
24. Ke1 Bh4 25. Kf1 Bf7 [25... Nh1!? 26. Ba5 Ng3 27. Ke1 Kd7 28. Nc5
Kc8 29. Na6] 26. Nc5 [26. Ng7 Rg8 27. Nf5 Nh3 28. Be3 Bg5! with
counterplay] Nh1 27. Kg2 Ng3 28. Bd1 c3 29. Bc3 Nh5 30. Ba5 Nf4 31. Kf1
Bd8 32. c3! Ba5 33. Rb7! 1 : 0 [Bologan]

Michael Adams Annotates

Ivan Markovic
This month's article features a retrospective of Michael Adams' key wins on
his road to the finals of the World Knockout Chess Championship held in
Tripoli. The selected games demonstrate the principle ingredients of the
Cornish grandmaster's clearly defined classical positional style that has been
typical throughout his career. Analyzing his games from knockout events, one
begins to appreciate the "simplicity" of his concepts. Systematic squeezes,
usually with White, are followed by seemingly effortless draws. His
rationality of thought is almost always on course. He coolly rejects tempting
lines and directs his efforts towards finding accurate and clear-cut solutions
that bring him closer to his goal. Asrian, Hamdouchi, Nakamura, Akopian
and Radjabov all fell prey in Libya. The new FIDE World Champion
Kasimdzhanov was the only one capable of exchanging equally heavy blows
with the white pieces, and it was he who finally prevailed in the rapid tiebreaks.
Mi. Adams 2731 - Vl. Akopian 2689

Tripoli (m/1) 2004
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Nc6 7. f3 e6 8.
Qd2 Be7 9. 0-0-000 10. g4 Nd4 11. Qd4 Nd7 12. h4 [12. g5 see 88/198]
Ne5 13. Be2 b5 14. Kb1 [14. f4!? Nc6 15. Qb6 Qd7 16. Bf2 unclear] Bd7 (a
novelty) [14... Nc6 (a novelty) 15. Qd2 Qa5 16. Bd3 unclear; J. C. Ibarra
Jerez 2413 Zhigalko 2470, Chalkidiki 2003; 14... Rb8; 14... Bb7] 15. f4 [15.
g5 Qa5 (15... Nc6 16. Qd2) 16. a3 Rfb8 with initiative] Nc6 16. Qd2 [16.
Qb6? Qe8 17. Bc1 b4 18. Na4 Nb8 19. b3 Ba4 20. ba4 Qa4 and Black is
superior] Qa5 17. Bf3 [17. Bd3!? a) 17... Rfc8 18. g5 Nb4 19. Be2 Rc3 20.
Qc3 Qa2 21. Kc1 Qa4 (21... Nc2 22. Kc2 Rc8 23. Qc8 Bc8 24. Ra1 and White
is winning) 22. Qb3 Qb3 23. cb3 Bc6 24. Bf3 d5 and White is slightly better;
b) 17... Nb4 18. g5 (18. a3 Nd3 19. Nd5? Bd8 and Black is superior) Nd3 19.
cd3 b4 20. Ne2 unclear] Rfc8 18. Ne2 [18. g5!? Nb4 19. a3 (19. h5 Rc3 20.
Qc3 Qa2 21. Kc1 Nc2 22. Qc2 Rc8 23. Qc8 Bc8 and Black is slightly better)
Nc6 a) 20. h5 b4 21. ab4 Nb4 (21... Qb4 22. g6 Rab8 with initiative) 22. g6
Rab8 23. gh7 Kh7 24. h6 g6 and Black is slightly better; b) 20. Na2! Qa4 21.
h5 Rab8 (21... b4 22. ab4 a5 23. b3 Qa3 24. Qc1 ab4 25. Qa3 Ra3 unclear)
22. g6 b4 23. gh7 Kh7 24. h6 g6 25. ab4 Rb4 unclear] Qd2 [18... Qa4!?] 19.
Rd2 Na5 [19... b4!?] 20. b3 Rab8?! [20... Nc6 21. g5 a5 22. h5 a4 with
counterplay] 21. g5 Nb7 22. Rf1 [22. Ng3 Rc3] Nc5 23. Ng3 b4 [23... a5!?]
24. f5 [24. h5!?] Bb5 25. Rg1 Bf8 [25... Nd7!? 26. fe6 (26. f6 gf6 27. gf6 with
attack; 26... Bf8) fe6 27. Bg4 Nf8] 26. h5 [26. f6 Nd7 unclear] Nd7 [26...
Bc6] 27. fe6 [27. g6 hg6 28. hg6 fg6 29. fe6 Ne5 unclear] fe6 28. Bg4 (and
White is slightly better) Re8 29. Rf2 g6 [29... Ne5 30. Bh3] 30. h6 Ne5 31.
Bh3 Rb7 [31... Bd7! 32. Ne2 Be7 33. Nd4 Bd8 34. Rgf1 Bb6 35. Rf6 Rbc8
and White is slightly better] 32. Ne2 Be2 [32... Rf7 33. Nf4 Bd7 34. Rd1 and
White is superior] 33. Re2 Rf7
34. Rg3! Nd7 [better is 34... a5] 35. Bd2! (and White is superior) a5 36. c3?!
[36. a3! ba3 37. Ka2 (37. Ba5 Ra8 38. Bc3 a2 39. Ka1 Re7 40. Bb4 and White
is superior) Ne5 38. Ba5 Rf3 39. Rf3 Nf3 40. Rg2 d5 41. ed5 ed5 42. Bd7
and White is superior] bc3 37. Rc3?! [37. Bc3! a4 38. ba4 Nc5 39. a5 Rb8
40. Kc2 e5 41. Bd2 and White is superior] Nc5 38. a4? [38. Rc4!? Rb7 (38...
a4 39. ba4 and White is superior) 39. Kc2 (39. Ba5 Nb3) Rb5 40. Bc3 (and
White is superior) Be7? 41. Rc5 and White is winning; 40... e5] Rb7 [38...
e5] 39. Ka2 Rf7 [better is 39... e5] 40. Bc1 [40. Rc4 Rf3 41. Bg2 Rd3 with
counterplay] Na6 time [better is 40... e5 41. Ba3 Rf4 42. Bc5 dc5 43. Bd7
Rd8 44. Be6 Kh8 unclear; 41. Bd2 and White is slightly better] 41. Ba3 Nb4
42. Bb4 ab4 43. Rc4! [43. Rd3 Rf4] Rf3 [43... Rf4 44. Rc8] 44. Bg4 Rg3
[44... Rf4 45. e5 Rc4 46. bc4 Kf7 (46... de5 47. Re5 Kf7 48. c5 and White is
winning) 47. Rf2 Ke7 48. Rf6 de5 49. Re6 Kf7 (49... Kd8 50. Rc6 and White
is winning) 50. Rf6 Kg8 51. Kb3 and White is superior] 45. e5
45... de5 time [45... d5! a) 46. Rc8 Kf7 (46... Rc8 47. Be6 Kh8 48. Bc8 d4 49.
Rf2 Bc5 50. Rc2 Rc3 51. Rc3 dc3 52. a5 and White is winning) a1) 47. Rf2
Ke7 48. Rc7 (48. Re8 Ke8 49. Be6 Rg5 50. Bf7 Ke7 51. Bg8 Rf5 52. Rf5 gf5
53. Bh7 Bh6 54. Bf5 Bf4 equal) Kd8 49. Rfc2 (49. Rh7 Rg4 50. Rb7 unclear)
Rg2 50. Rg2 Kc7 51. Rf2 Be7 (51... Bc5 52. Rf7 Re7 53. Be6 d4 and White is
superior) 52. Rf7 Kb6 53. Rh7 Bg5 unclear; a2) 47. Be6 Re6 48. Rf2 Ke7 49.
Rcf8 Re5 50. R8f7 (50. Rh8 Reg5 51. Rh7 Kd6 52. Rb7) Kd6 51. Rh7 Reg5
52. Rb7 Rh5 53. h7 Rhh3 and White is slightly better; b) 46. Rf4! Bc5 (46...
Rc3 47. Rf6 Rc6 48. Rd2 Bc5 49. Rc2 and White is superior) 47. Rc2 Rc3
(47... Be3 48. Be6 Kh8 49. Rb4 and White is winning) 48. Kb2! (48. Rc3 bc3
49. Kb1 Be3 50. Rf6 d4 51. Kc2 Bg5 52. Re6 Rf8 unclear) Be3 (48... d4 49.
a5 and White is superior) 49. Rf6 Bg5 50. Re6 Rc2 (50... Rec8 51. Rc3 bc3
52. Kc2 Kf8 53. Rg6 hg6 54. Bc8 and White is superior) 51. Kc2 Kf7 (51...
Re6 52. Be6 Kf8 53. a5 and White is winning) 52. Re8 Ke8 53. Kd3 Bh6 54.
a5 Bf8 (54... Kd8 55. Kd4 Kc7 56. Kd5 Bf8 57. Ke6 h5 58. Be2 Bg7 59. Bf3
h4 60. Bg4 Kc6 61. Bh3 Kc5 62. a6 Kb6 63. Kd6 and White is winning) 55.
Kd4 and White is superior] 46. Re5 Bd6 [46... Rg2 47. Kb1 Rg1 48. Kc2 Rg2
49. Kc1 Rg1 50. Kd2 and White is winning] 47. Be6 [47. Re6 Re6 48. Be6
Kf8 49. Bg4 Be5 50. Re4 Rg2 51. Kb1 Bc3 and White is slightly better] Kh8
48. Rd5 Rg2 [48... Be7! 49. Bg4 Rf8 50. Re5 (50. a5 Rg1!) a) 50... Rg2 51.
Kb1 Rg1 (51... Bd6 52. Re2 Re2 53. Be2 Be7 54. Rg4 and White is winning)
52. Rc1 and White is winning; b) 50... Bd6 51. Re2 Kg8 52. Be6 Kh8 and
White is superior] 49. Kb1 Be7 50. Bg4 Rf8 [50... Rg1 51. Kc2 Rg2 52. Kc1
(52. Kd3 Rg3) Rg1 53. Kd2 Rg2 54. Ke1 Bc5 (54... Bg5 55. Kf1 and White is
winning) 55. Kd1 and White is winning] 51. a5 Rf1?! [51... Rg1 a) 52. Kc2
Rg2 53. Kd3 Rg3 54. Ke2 Rg2 55. Ke1 Rg1; b) 52. Rd1 Rd1 53. Bd1 Bg5 54.
Rb4 (54. a6 Bh6 55. a7 Be3 and Black is superior) Bh6 55. a6 Be3 (55... Ra8
56. Be2 Be3 57. Re4 Bb6 58. b4 Kg7 59. Re6 Rb8 60. b5 Bg1 and White is
superior) 56. Re4 Bf2 57. b4 Kg7 58. b5 h5 59. Kc2 Kf6 60. Rc4 and White
is superior; c) 52. Bd1! Rg5 (52... Bg5 53. Rb4 Bh6 54. Rb7 Rc8 55. Ka2 Bf8
56. b4 Rc1 57. Rd8 Rf1 58. a6 Rf2 59. Kb3 Rb1 60. Kc4 Rc1 61. Kb5 Rf4 62.
Ka5 and White is winning) 53. Rd7 Bf6 54. Rf4 (54. Rcc7 Ra5 55. Bg4 Ra6
56. Rh7 Kg8) Kg8 55. Bg4 Re5 56. a6 (56. Rd6 Re1 57. Kc2 Rc1 58. Kd3 Be7
59. Be6 Kh8 60. Rf8 Bf8 61. Rb6 Bh6 62. a6 Ra1 63. Rb8 Kg7 64. Rb7 Kf6
65. Bc4 and White is superior) Re1 57. Kc2 Rc8 58. Kd3 and White is
winning] 52. Bd1 Rff2 [52... Kg8 53. a6 Rg5 54. Rd7 (54. a7? Rd5) Bf8 55.
a7 Ra5 56. Rcc7 and White is winning] 53. Rc8 Bf8 54. Rd2! 1 : 0
T. Radjabov 2670 - Mi. Adams 2731

Tripoli (m/1) 2004
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 dc4 5. Bg2 a6 6.00 Nc6 7. e3 Bd7 8. Nc3
Nd5 9. Nd2 Nb6!? (a novelty) [9... Nc3 see 90/427] 10. Qe2 Na5 11. e4 [11.
Qh5 Bb4 (11... Nc6) 12. a3 g6 unclear] Bb4 [11... Be7 12. Qh5 Nc6 13. d5
Nb4 unclear; 11... Nc6 12. Nf3 (12. d5 Nd4 13. Qd1 e5 unclear) Be7 13. d5
Nb4 14. Ne5 ed5 15. ed500 16. Nc4 Nc4 17. Qc4 Bf5 18. Rd1 and White is
slightly better; 15... Bf5; 15... Nd3 unclear] 12. Qg4? [12. Nf3 with
compensation; 12. e5 with compensation a) 12...00 13. Nde4 Bc6 14. Qg4
(14. Qh5) Kh8 unclear; b) 12... Bc6 13. Nde4 (13. Qg4 Bg2 14. Qg7 Bf1 15.
Qh8 Kd7 16. Qd8 Rd8 17. Kf1 unclear)00 14. Qg4 Kh8 15. Be3 Nd5
unclear] Qf6! 13. Nf3 [better is 13. e5 Qg6 14. Qd1 Bc6 15. Nf3 0-0-0 16.
Be3 Kb8 and Black is slightly better] h5! [13... e5 14. de5 Bg4 15. ef6 gf6
unclear] 14. Qf4 [14. Qh3 Nc6 (14... e5 15. de5 Qf3 16. e6 Be6 17. Qe6 fe6
18. Bf3 Nc6 and Black is slightly better) 15. e5 (15. Bg5 Qg6 16. Qh4 f6 17.
Bf4 0-0-0 and Black is superior) Qg6 16. Qh4 Qg4 and Black is superior]
Qf4 15. Bf4 0-0-0 (and Black is superior) 16. Rac1 [16. Ng5? Rhf8 17. Nh7
Rg8; 16. Ne5 Be8] f6 17. h4 [17. a3 Be7 18. b4 cb3 19. Nb5 Nbc4 and Black
is winning] Kb8 18. Rc2 [18. e5 Bc6 19. ef6 gf6 20. Rfe1 Rhe8 and Black is
superior; 18. Rfd1 Bc6] Rhe8 19. Re1 [19. Rfc1 Bc6] Nc6! [19... Na4!?] 20.
Rd2 [20. Rce2 Nd4 21. Nd4 e5 and Black is winning; 20. a3 Ba5 21. Rd1
Na7 and Black is superior; 20. Rd1 Bd6 and Black is superior; 20. Rec1 Bd6
(20... Nd4 21. Nd4 e5 22. Nde2 ef4 23. Nf4 and Black is slightly better) 21. e5
Bf8 22. a3 Ne7 and Black is superior] Na7 21. Rde2 [21. Rc1 Bc6 22. Re2
Nb5 and Black is superior] Nb5 22. Bd2 Bc3? [22... a5!?; 22... Bc6 23. Nb5!
Bd2 24. Nc7 Be1 25. Ne8 Bf2 26. Kf2 Re8 27. Ke3 and Black is slightly
better; 22... Nc3 23. bc3 Ba5 and Black is superior] 23. bc3 Na4 24. Re3 [24.
Rc1 c5] c5 [24... e5!?] 25. e5! [25. Bf1 cd4 26. cd4 c3 27. Bc1 Bc6 and Black
is winning] Bc8 [25... f5 26. d5 (only move) ed5 27. e6 Bc8 28. Ng5 with
counterplay; 25... Nc7!?] 26. dc5 Nc5 27. Bf1 Na3 [27... Nd3 28. Bd3 Rd3
29. Rd3 cd3 30. ef6 gf6 31. Re3 Rd8 32. Ne1 Nc3 33. Rd3 Nd5 and Black is
slightly better] 28. Nd4? time [28. Rc1 b5 29. Nd4 Bb7 and Black is superior;
28. Rd1 a) 28... Rd5 29. Nd4 fe5 (29... Re5 30. Re5 fe5 31. Nf3 unclear) 30.
Re5 Re5 31. Bf4 with compensation; b) 28... Nc2 29. Re2 f5 30. Rc1 Na3 and
Black is slightly better]
28... Nc2! and Black is superior [28... f5? 29. Bc1 unclear] 29. Nc2 Rd2 30.
Nd4 b5 [30... Nd3 31. Bd3 (31. R1e2 Rd1 and Black is winning) cd3 and
Black is superior] 31. R3e2 [31. R1e2 Rd1 32. Re1 Re1 33. Re1 Kc7] Re2
32. Be2 [32. Re2 Bb7 and Black is winning] Rh8 33. ef6 gf6 34. f4 [34. Nc6
Kc7 35. Ne7 Rh7 36. Nc8 (36. Ng8 Nd7 and Black is winning; 36. Ng6 e5)
Kc8 and Black is superior] Na4 [34... Bb7 35. Bd1 Bd5 and Black is superior;
34... Kc7 35. Bf3 Nd3 36. Re3 e5 37. fe5 fe5 38. Nc2 Kd6 39. Nb4 Nb4 40.
cb4 and Black is superior] 35. Rc1 Kc7 36. Kf2 Nc5 [36... e5 37. fe5 fe5 38.
Nf3 Bg4 39. Ke3 Rg8 40. Bd1 e4 41. Ke4 Re8 42. Kd4 Rd8 43. Ke5 Nb2 and
Black is winning] 37. Ke3 Bb7 [37... e5 38. fe5 fe5 39. Nf3 Bg4 and Black is
winning] 38. Rg1 [38. a4 e5 (38... Rg8 39. ab5 Rg3 40. Kf2 Ne4 41. Kf1 ab5
42. Nb5 Kb6 43. Na3 Rh3 and Black is winning) 39. fe5 fe5 40. Nf5 Na4 41.
Ng7 Nb6 42. Bh5 Nd5 and Black is winning] Bd5 39. g4 hg4 40. Rg4 Kd6
41. f5 [41. Rg6 Rh4 42. Rf6 Rh3 43. Bf3 Nd3 44. Ke2 Ke7 and Black is
winning; 41. Bf3 Na4 42. Kd2 Bf3 43. Nf3 Kd5 and Black is winning] e5 42.
Nc2 [42. Nf3 Rh5 and Black is winning]
42... Be4! and Black is winning [42... Bf7 and Black is winning] 43. Re4 Ne4
44. Ke4 Rh4 45. Ke3 [45. Kf3 Rh3] Rf4 46. Nd4 [46. Nb4 a5 47. Nc2 Rf5
48. a4 ba4 49. Bc4 Kc5 50. Be6 Rg5 51. Ke4 Rg3 52. Ne3 a3 53. Kd3 f5 and
Black is winning; 46. Bf3 Rf5 47. Bb7 a5 48. Ba6 Kc5 49. Na3 Rh5 50. Bb5
(50. Nb5 Kb6 and Black is winning) Rh3 51. Kd2 Rh2 and Black is winning]
b4! 47. Ne6 bc3 [48. Nf4 ef4 and Black is winning; 47... Rf5 48. Bc4 bc3 and
Black is winning] 0 : 1
Mi. Adams 2731 - Kasimdzhanov 2652

Tripoli (m/5) 2004
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5.00 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8.
c300 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. d5 Nc4 13. a4 Bd7 14. b3 Nb6
15. a5 Nc8 16. c4!? (a novelty) [16. b4 see 89/(335)] b4 [16... Bd8!?;
Editorial comment: 16... g6 17. Nc3 Nh5 18. Ne2 Re8 19. Ra2 Bf8 20. g4
Ng7 21. Ng3 f6 22. Nh2 Re7 23. h4 Rf7 24. f4 and White is slightly better; V.
Topalov 2735 Shirov 2736, Linares 2004] 17. Nbd2 g6 [better is 17... Bd8
18. Nf1 Ne7 19. Ng3 Ng6 (19... Ne8!?) 20. Nf5 and White is slightly better]
18. Nf1 Nh5 19. Bh6 Re8?! [19... Ng7! 20. Qd2 Kh8 21. g4 Bd8 22. Ng3
Ne7 and White is slightly better, with the idea 23. Ne5?! de5 24. d6 Qb7 25.
de7 Be7] 20. Qd2 Bf8
21. g4! Ng7 [21... Nf4 22. Bf4 ef4 23. Qf4 Bg7 24. Ra2 Bc3 25. Re3 Ne7
(25... f6 26. Rc3! bc3 27. Qf6 and White is superior) 26. Ng3 f6 27. Rc3 (27.
Ne2 g5 28. Qg3 Be5 29. Ne5 fe5 30. h4 Ng6 31. hg5 Qd8 32. f4 ef4 33. Nf4
Ne5 and White is slightly better) bc3 28. Qf6 Rf8 29. Qc3 and White is
superior; 21... Bh6 22. Qh6 Nf6 23. Ng3 Re7 24. Nf5! Bf5 25. ef5 and White
is superior] 22. N3h2! and White is superior [22. Ng3 Ne7 23. Kg2 Kh8 and
White is slightly better] Qd8 [22... Ne7 23. f4 Kh8 24. f5 and White is
superior] 23. f4 ef4 [23... Be7 24. f5 and White is superior] 24. Qf4 Qe7 25.
Nf3 [25. Ng3!? Qe5 26. Qf2] f6 26. Ng3 Rd8 [better is 26... Qf7 27. Rf1 Re7
28. e5!? (28. Rf2 Ne8 with the idea 29. Raf1? g5; 28. Qd2 Ne8 29. Be3 Qg7
30. Kh2 and White is superior) a) 28... fe5 29. Qe3 Ne8 (29... Qe8 30. Ne4
Rf7 31. Nfg5 Rf1 32. Rf1 and White is winning) 30. Bg5 Qg7 31. Be7 Qe7 32.
Rf2 and White is superior; b) 28... de5 29. Qe3 Ne8 (29... f5 30. Ne5 Qe8 31.
Rae1 Nd6 32. Qf4 and White is superior) 30. Ne4 Bh6 31. Qh6 Ncd6 32. Nc5
and White is superior] 27. Rf1 Ne8 [27... Ra7!?] 28. Bf8 Qf8
29. e5! (and White is winning) de5 [29... fe5 30. Qf8 Kf8 31. Ne5 Kg8 32.
Nf7] 30. Ne5 Ncd6 31. Rae1 [31. Nd7? Rd7 32. Rae1 Re7 and White is
slightly better] Qg7 [31... Nb7 32. Ne4 Na5 33. Qf2 Nb7 34. Qh4] 32. Nd3
Rac8 33. Qf2 f5 [33... Nb7 34. Ne4] 34. Ne5 [34. Nc5!? fg4 35. Nd7 Rd7 36.
hg4 Rf7 37. Qe3] Nf6 [34... fg4 35. hg4 Rc7 36. Re2! Bc8 37. Nc6 Rdd7 38.
Qe1] 35. Nd7 Rd7 36. gf5 g5 [36... gf5 37. Kh2 Qh6 38. Bf5 Nf5 39. Nf5
Ng4 40. Kg3 Nf2 41. Nh6 Kg7 42. Nf5] 37. Re6 Kh8 [37... g4 38. hg4 Ng4
39. Qf4 Qd4 40. Qd4 cd4 41. Rf4 Ne3 42. Bd3 Rg7 43. Kf2] 38. Bd1 [38.
Qe3!? g4 39. Qe5] g4 39. hg4 Rg8 [39... Ng4 40. f6 Qg5 41. Qf4 Qf4 42.
Rf4] 40. Qf4 Ng4 41. Bg4 Qg4 42. Qg4 Rg4 43. Kh2 h5 [43... Rdg7 44. f6
Rg8 45. Rd6 Rg3 46. f7] 44. Kh3 Rd4 45. f6 Nf7 [45... Kg8 46. Re7 Rd8 47.
Rg7 Kf8 48. Nh5] 46. Rf5 1 : 0

Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu Annotates

Ivan Markovic
One of the most striking aspects of Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu's chess career is
that, apart from reaching the semifinals of the FIDE World Knockout
Championships in Las Vegas in 1999, he had practically no experience within
the confined circle of the chess elite. It is amazing that a 2700-caliber player
is still something of a dark horse to the wider chess community. His most
recent effort in Pune, India, was his first decent top-level round-robin
tournament in years. As an Elo-favorite he lived up to expectations and in his
wins over Sutovsky and Sandipan he convincingly demonstrated the skills of
a super-Grandmaster.
While Nisipeanu's theoretical preferences are not likely to be adopted by a
multitude of players, that does not mean that his home preparation is
deficient. In a rather obscure line of the Vienna Game, reached by
transposition, his powerful novelty refuted White's opening play to such an
extent that Sutovsky ought to have been content with a draw, despite being a
pawn ahead. Nisipeanu's annotations suggest that Sutovsky's best chance was
to return the pawn, because holding on to it only brought him a position
where he was soon desperately fighting for a draw. The verdict is that the line
employed by White will most likely disappear from grandmaster practice.
In the second game, Nisipeanu, again with the black pieces, showed his
outstanding capability of stirring up positionally justified complications by
means of a pawn sacrifice. In a seemingly innocuous Hedgehog battle, Black
unexpectedly advanced his h-pawn instead of employing the well-known
maneuver Qb8, Bd8-c7, Kh8, Rg8 which is aimed at supporting Black's
kingside pawn thrust. Sandipan accepted the challenge and captured the
pawn, assessing the ensuing complications as favorable for White. However,
Nisipeanu had calculated further, correctly predicting that White's misplaced
pieces on the queenside would not be able to prevent the infiltration of
Black's major pieces. Nisipeanu's use of the initiative was overwhelming as
he ingeniously created a series of tactical threats. It is obvious that
Nisipeanu's preparation is both fertile and imaginative and that it paves the
way for enterprising middlegame concepts. He is definitely a player to watch
in 2005 as he receives more invitations and the organizers finally offer him a
long-deserved chance at chess stardom.
Sandipan 2555 Nisipeanu 2686

Pune 2004
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nc6 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Nf6 7. N1c3 a6 8.

Na3 b6 9. Be2 Bb7 10. Be3 Be7 11. 00 Ne5 12. f3 00 13. Qb3 [Editorial
comment: 13. Qd2 d5 14. ed5 ed5 15. cd5 Bd5 16. f4 Nc6 17. Rad1 Nb4 18.
Nd5 Nfd5! (a novelty; 18...Nbd5 see 89/(140)) 19. Bd4 Qc7 20. Be5 Qc5 21.
Bd4 Qc7 22. Be5 Qc5 23. Bd4 : Y. Shabanov 2429 Shestoperov 2448,
Satka 2004] Ned7 14. Rfd1 Qc7 15. Rac1 Rac8 16. Kh1 Rfe8 [16...Qb8!?
17. Rd2 Bd8 with the idea Bc7, Kh8, Rg8, g5] 17. Nab1 [17. Bf1 h6
(17...Nc5 18. Qc2 Qb8 19. Qf2 and White is slightly better; 17...Kh8 18. Ne2
Rg8 19. Bd4 g5 20. g4 h5 21. h3 Kg7 22. Qe3 and White is slightly better) 18.
Bg1 Kh8 19. Ne2 Qb8 20. Nc2 Bd8 21. Nc3 Nc5 22. Qa3 Be7 23. b4 Ncd7
24. Qb3 and White is slightly better] h5 [a novelty; 17...Nc5 18. Qc2 d5
(18...Qb8 19. Qd2 d5 20. cd5 ed5 21. Bf4 Bd6 22. Bd6 Qd6 23. Nd5 Nd5 24.
ed5 Qd5 equal) 19. cd5 ed5 20. ed5 Bd6 21. Bg5 (21. Qd2 see 24/343; 21.
Bd4 Qe7) Ncd7 unclear] 18. a3 [18. Nd2 a) 18...d5 19. cd5 ed5 20. ed5 Nc5
(20...b5?! 21. Nde4 and White is superior) 21. Bc5 (21. Qc2 Nd5 22. Nd5
Bd5 23. Qf5 Rcd8 equal) Qc5 22. Nde4 Qe3 23. Re1 Ne4 (23...Nd5? 24. Ba6
and White is winning) 24. fe4 Bd6 with compensation; b) 18...h4 19. Bf1 Bd8
unclear] Qb8 19. Bf2 [better is 19. Bg1 h4 20. Qa2?! h3 21. g3 Qa8 22. Nd2
d5 and Black is superior; 20. Bf1 with the idea 20...h3 21. g3 Ne5 22. Nd2 d5
23. cd5 ed5 24. Bh3 Nd3 (24...de4? 25. Bc8 ef3 26. Bb7 Qb7 27. Qb6 and
White is winning) 25. Ra1 Rcd8 26. Nd5 Nd5 27. Qd3 Nf4 28. Qf1 Nh3 29.
Qh3 Bg5 30. Qg2 (only move) Bd2 31. Rd2 Rd2 32. Qd2 Re4 with
compensation]
19...h4! 20. Bh4 [20. Bf1 Ne5 (20...Nh5 21. Be3 g5 22. Qc2) 21. Na4 (21.
Bh4 Nfg4 with initiative) a) 21...b5 22. cb5 Rc1 23. Rc1 ab5 (23...h3 24. ba6)
24. Bb5; b) 21...h3 22. Nb6 Rcd8 23. Bd4! Nc6 (23...d5?! 24. cd5 ed5 25. f4
Neg4 26. e5 Ne4 27. Qf3 and White is superior) 24. Be3 Ne5; c) 21...Bc6!?
22. Nb6 Rc7 with compensation] Nc5 21. Qa2
21...Nfe4! 22. Ne4 [22. Be1 Nf6 with the idea d5 and Black is slightly better]
Ne4 23. Be7 Nf2 24. Kg1 Nd1 25. Bg5 (only move) d5 26. Bd1 [26. b4 Qe5
27. Qd2 Nb2 28. f4 Qe4 29. Qb2 dc4 and Black is superior; better is 26. b3
Qe5 27. Qd2 Nb2! (27...dc4 28. Bd1 cb3 29. Bb3 unclear) 28. Be3 dc4 29.
Bd4 Qd5 30. Qb2 cb3 and Black is slightly better] Qe5 27. Bd2 (only move)
dc4 (and Black is superior) 28. Rc4 [28. Kf2 Qh2 with the idea 29. Rc4 Bd5
30. Rc8 Rc8 31. b3 Qh4 32. Kg1 Qd4 33. Kf1 Rc1 and Black is winning; 28.
Bc2 Qd4 29. Kh1 (29. Kf1 Bd5 and Black is superior) Qf2 and Black is
superior] Bd5 29. Rc8 [better is 29. b3 Bc4 30. bc4 Red8 and Black is
superior] Rc8 30. b3
30...Rc1! (and Black is winning) 31. Nc3 Qd4 32. Kf1 Bb3 33. Qb3 Qd2 34.
Qb6 Rc3 0 : 1 [Nisipeanu, Stoica]
Sutovsky 2679 Nisipeanu 2686

Pune 2004
1. e4 d6 2. Nc3 e5 3. f4 ef4 4. Bc4 [4. Nf3 g5 unclear] Qh4 [4...Be6!? 5. Be6
Qh4 (5...fe6 see 46/392) 6. g3 fg3 7. Bf7 Kf7 (7...Kd8? 8. Kf1! and White is
winning) 8. Qf3 Nf6 9. hg3 Qg4] 5. Kf1 Be6 [5...Bg4!? 6. Nf3 Bf3 7. Qf3
Nc6 unclear] 6. Qe2 [6. Bb3 g5 unclear; 6. Nd5 Qd8! 7. Qe2 Nc6 (7...c6 8.
Nf4 Bc4 9. Qc4 Qf6 10. d4 g5 11. e5 de5 12. de5 Qe5 13. Nf3 with
compensation; 7...g5!? unclear) 8. Nf3 Ne5 unclear; 6. Be6 fe6 7. Nf3 Qh5 8.
d4 g5!? 9. h4 (9. Qe2 g4 10. Ne1 Bh6 and Black is slightly better) h6 10. Kg1
g4 11. Nh2 Bg7 12. Bf4 Nc6 13. Be3 Nf6 unclear] Nc6!? [6...g5?! 7. Nf3
Qh5 8. Be6 fe6 9. Qb5; 6...Bc4 7. Qc4 c6 8. Nf3 with the idea 8...Qh6 9. Qb3
b6 10. Nd5!; 6...c6 7. Nf3 Qe7 8. d4 Bc4 9. Qc4 g5 10. e5 with initiative] 7.
Nf3 Qh5 [7...Qd8?! 8. d4 Bg4 9. Qf2 and White is slightly better] 8. Nd5 [8.
d4 Bg4 9. Bb5 (9. Nd5?! Nd4 10. Nd4 Be2 11. Be2 f3! and Black is superior)
a6 10. Nd5!? (10. Bc6 bc6 11. Bf4 Ne7 12. Kf2 Ng6 13. Be3 Be7 equal) ab5
11. Nc7 Kd7 (11...Kd8 12. Na8 Nd4 13. Qf2 Nf3 14. gf3 Bf3 15. Rg1 Be4 16.
Bf4 unclear) 12. Na8 Nd4 13. Qf2 Nf3 14. gf3 Bf3 15. Nb6 Ke6! 16. Rg1
Be4 17. Bf4 unclear] 0-0-0 9. Nf4 Bc4 10. Qc4 Qg4 [10...Qc5?! 11. Qf7! (11.
Qc5 dc5 unclear) Qc2 12. Ne6 Ne5 13. Ne5 de5 (13...Nh6 14. Qf3 de5 15.
Nd8 Kd8 16. Ke2 and White is superior) 14. Nd8 Qd3 15. Ke1 Qe4 16. Kd1
Nh6 17. Re1! Nf7 18. Re4 Kd8 19. d4 and White is superior] 11. Qf7 [11. d4
Nf6 12. Qf7 Ne4 13. d5 (13. Qe6 Qe6 14. Ne6 Re8 and Black is slightly
better) Ne5 14. Qe6 Qe6 15. Ne6 Re8 16. Bf4 c6 17. Be5 de5 18. c4 Nc5 19.
Nfg5 equal; 11. d3!? Ne5 12. Ne5 de5 13. Nd5 Bd6! (13...Rd5 14. ed5! Qd1
15. Kf2 Qh1 16. Bf4!! Qa1 17. Be5 c6 18. dc6 and White is winning) 14. Kf2
Ne7 (14...Nf6 15. Nf6 gf6 16. Be3 f5 unclear) 15. Be3 (15. Ne7 Be7 and Black
is slightly better) Nd5 16. Qd5 f5 unclear] Nh6!? [a novelty; 11...Nf6 12. d3!
with the idea Qe6 and White is slightly better] 12. Qe6 Qe6 13. Ne6 Re8
(with compensation) 14. Neg5?! [14. Ned4?! Nd4 15. Nd4 Re4 16. Nf3 d5
17. d3 Re6 18. Bh6 Rh6 and Black is slightly better; 14. Nf8 Rhf8 15. d3
Ng4! (15...Nd4 16. Bh6 gh6 17. c4 Nf3 18. gf3 Rf3 19. Ke2 Rh3 20. Raf1 and
White is slightly better) 16. h3! Nge5 17. Be3! Nb4 (17...d5 18. Bc5 Rf6 19.
ed5 Nf3 20. gf3 Rf3 21. Kg2 Rf5 22. Rae1 Re1 23. Re1 Rd5 equal) 18. Ke2
Nc2 19. Rac1 Ne3 20. Ke3 equal]
14...Ng4! 15. d3 h6 16. Nh3 d5 (with initiative) 17. Nf2 [17. ed5!? Nb4 18.
c4 Nd3 19. Nf4 Nf4 (19...Ngf2!? 20. Nd3 Nd3 21. b3 Bc5 with initiative) 20.
Bf4 Bc5 21. Bd2 a5! 22. h3 Nf2 23. Rh2 Ne4 24. Be1 Rhf8 with initiative;
20...Re4 and Black is slightly better] Nf2 18. Kf2 de4 19. de4 Re4 20. Be3
[20. Re1 Bc5 21. Kf1 Re1 22. Ke1 g5! 23. h3 Nb4 24. Kd1 Rd8 25. Bd2 Be3
and Black is superior] Bd6 21. Rae1 [21. Rad1 Rhe8 22. Rhe1 Rf8!
(22...Re3?! 23. Re3 Bc5 24. Rd4! Re3 25. Ke3 Nd4 26. Nd4 Kd7 27. Ke4
equal; 22...g5 with initiative) 22. a3 g5 23. h3 Ne5 and Black is superior] Rf8
(and Black is superior) 22. Bd2 Bc5 [22...Rc4 23. c3 Ne5 and Black is
superior] 23. Kg3 Rc4 24. c3 [24. Bc3 g5! 25. h3 h5 26. Kh2 g4 27. hg4 Bd6
28. Kg1 hg4 and Black is winning] Bd6 25. Kf2 Ne5 26. Ke2 Re4 27. Kd1
Re1 28. Ne1 Rf2 [28...Ng4 29. Nd3 Bh2 and Black is superior] 29. b3 Ng4
30. h4 Nh2 [30...Nf6! 31. Rh3 Ne4 32. Rd3 Bg3 33. h5 Rd2! (33...Rf5 34.
Re3 Be1 35. Be1 Nf6 and Black is slightly better) 34. Rd2 Nc3 35. Kc2 Be1
and Black is winning] 31. c4 [time; 31. Nf3 Rg2 32. Nh2 Rh2 33. Rh2 Bh2
34. h5 Kd7 35. Ke2 Ke6 36. Be3 a6 and Black is winning]
31...Nf1! 32. Bc3 Ng3 33. Rh3 Ne4! 34. Bg7? [34. Re3 Nc3 35. Rc3 Ra2
(35...Bb4? 36. Nd3 equal) 36. Nc2 and Black is superior] Rd2 35. Kc1 Ba3
36. Kb1 Rd1 37. Kc2 Rd2 [37...Rc1 38. Kd3 Nf2?! 39. Kd2 Nh3 40. gh3
with counterplay, weak point Rc1; 38...Re1 and Black is winning] 38. Kb1
Rd1 39. Kc2 Re1 40. Bh6 Rg1 41. Be3 Rg2 42. Kd3 Nf2 43. Bf2 Rf2 (and
Black is winning) 44. h5 Rf7 45. Ke4 Bf8 46. Rd3 Rf6 47. Ke5 Bg7 48. Ke4
Bh6 49. Rg3 Kd7 50. Rd3 Ke7 51. Rd5 b6 52. Rd3 c6 53. Rg3 Rf4 54. Kd3
c5 55. Rg6 Rd4 56. Ke2 Rd6 57. Rg8 Kf6 58. Kf3 Ke5 59. Kg4 Rf6 60.
Rd8 a5 61. a4 Ke4 62. Rd7 Rf4 63. Kg3 Rf3 64. Kg4 Rb3 65. Rd6 Rg3!
66. Kh4 Bg5 0 : 1 [Nisipeanu, Stoica]

Lenier Dominguez & Andrey Volokitin

Annotate
Ivan Markovic
When I began working on this article, I caught myself in the clich of
referring to Lenier Dominguez and Andrey Volokitin as aspiring young
guns. But then Kasparovs words from a recent interview made me rethink
my perspective: First of all, what do you call young players? In my time a 20year-old was a young player, today this is already a veteran. Bacrot is not
young at 21.
I felt obliged to consider the implications of a new-world-order in chess
where Dominguez, at the tender age of 21, would be a seasoned veteran; and
Volokitin, at 18-years of age would be middle-aged at best; as would
Radjabov at 17-years-old. I shudder to think if Rublevsky, now that he is 30,
should start considering a new professional career outside of chess. Was his
impressive win at the Aeroflot Open simply a swan song, soon to be followed
by a rapid decline of his superb skills? Of course, I am being facetious, yet
the ease with which Volokitin demolished Rublevskys pet variation in the
featured game was simply overwhelming. The reigning Ukrainian champion
has definitely matured into a formidable presence and we have yet to see the
best of him.
Conversely, from an objective viewpoint the Dominguez - Radjabov, (m/4)
Tripoli 2004 game represents an uneven mixture of Whites series of tactical
attempts to fuel an all-out attack and the numerous missteps made by both
players along the way. Almighty computer engines undoubtedly could have
punished the ambitious Cubans onslaught many times over, but then
humankind would be robbed of a great delight. The accompanying analyses
produced with a little help from our friends only add to the beauty of the
game. I recall the air of excitement lingering in the Chess Informant Editorial
Board offices during the live transmission of this extraordinary game. We
were riveted to our seats in expectation as the game unfolded and I can only
hope that replaying the game recreates the same marvel.
L. Dominguez 2612 T. Radjabov 2670

Tripoli (m/1) 2004
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Qc7 5. 0-0 Nd4 6. Re1 a6 7. Bf1 e5 8.
Bc4 [RR8. d3 Be7 9. Bg5 Nf3! (a novelty; 9...d6 10. Nd4 cd4 11. Bf6 Bf6 12.
Nd5 Qd8 13. c3 and White is slightly better; 10. Bf6) 10. Qf3 d6 11. Bf6 Bf6
12. Nd5 Qd8 13. Rab1!? (13. c3 Be6 14. Nf6 Qf6 15. Qf6 gf6 16. d4 cd4 17.
cd4 Ke7 18. d5 Bd7 19. Bd3 Rac8 20. Rac1 a5! with the idea Rc5) Be6 14. b4
Bd5 15. ed5 cb4 16. Rb4 Qa5!? (16...b5 17. a4 Qa5 18. Qe4! 0-0 equal;
Yermolinsky 2546 Atalik 2570, Los Angeles (open) 2003) 17. Reb1 Qa2 a)
18. Rb7 Qc2 19. Rb8 (19. R1b6 Qc8!) Rb8 20. Rb8 Bd8 21. d4! ed4 22. Qa3
0-0 23. Qd6 Qc7 24. Qc7 Bc7 25. Rf8 Kf8 26. Ba6 equal; b) 18. c4!? 0-0 19.
Rb7 a5 b1) 20. Qf5? Qd2 21. R1b6 (21. Qd7? e4 22. Qd6 Bd4 23. Qg3 a4
and Black is winning) Rfd8 22. Rd7 Qf4 23. Qh3 e4!?; b2) 20. d4! b21)
20...ed4 21. c5 d3 (21...dc5?? 22. R7b2 Qa4 23. Bb5 and White is winning)
22. Bd3 and White is superior; b22) 20...Qd2! 21. Rd1 Qf4 22. Qf4 ef4 23. c5
a4 24. Bc4 a3 25. c6 Rfe8 26. Kf1 Kf8 27. Ba2 Re7 28. Rb3! (28. c7 Rc8 29.
Rc1 Bd4 30. Rb8 Ree8) g5 29. Rdd3 Rea7 equal; Atalik] d6 9. Ng5? [9. h3
see 84/96] h6! [a novelty; 9...Ne6] 10. Nf7?! [10. Bf7 Ke7; better is 10. Nf3
Bg4 and Black is slightly better] Rh7 11. Nd5 [11. d3 Be6 and Black is
superior] Nd5 12. c3 [12. Bd5 g6 13. d3 Ne6 and Black is superior] Nf4?!
[12...Nb6! 13. Qh5
a) 13...Nc4 14. Nd6 Ke7 15. Nc8 Rc8 16. cd4 cd4 (16...ed4 17. Qd5! Nb6 18.
Qg8) 17. d3 with compensation; b) 13...Nf3!! b1) 14. Kh1 Ne1 (14...Nc4 15.
Ne5 g6 16. Qg6 Kd8 17. Nf3 Qf7 and Black is superior) 15. Ng5 (15. Nd6
Kd7) Kd8 16. Nh7 Nc4 17. Nf8 Qe7 and Black is winning; b2) 14. gf3 g6!
15. Qg6 (15. Qh4 Nc4) Rg7 16. Nd6 Kd8 17. Nf7 Ke7 and Black is winning]
13. cd4 Be6? [13...cd4! 14. d3 Ne6 15. Ne5 de5 16. Qh5 g6 17. Qg6 Qf7 and
Black is winning] 14. Ne5! de5 15. d5 b5?! [15...Bf7 16. d4 Ng6 and Black
is superior]
16. d4!! (with compensation) bc4 [16...ed4 17. de6 bc4 18. Bf4 Qf4 19. Qa4
Ke7 20. Qd7 Kf6 21. g3 Qb8 22. Qf7 Ke5 23. f4 Kd6 24. Qd7#; 16...Bf7 17.
Bf4 ef4 18. d6! Qd6 19. e5 Qc7 20. Bd3 g6 21. e6 and White is superior] 17.
Bf4 ef4 18. de6 0-0-0 [18...cd4 19. Qh5 g6 (19...Ke7 20. Qf7 Kd6 21. e7! and
White is winning) 20. Qg6 Kd8 21. Qf5 Ke8 22. Red1 d3 23. Rac1 and White
is superior] 19. d5 (and White is slightly better) Qe5 20. Rc1 g5 21. Rc4 Rb7
22. b3 Kb8 23. Ra4 [better is 23. Qa1!? Bg7 (23...Qa1 24. Ra1 Kc7 25. Rac1
a5 26. g3 unclear) 24. Qe5 Be5 25. Rc5 Rc8 26. Rc4 and White is slightly
better] Ka7 24. Qe2 Rb6 25. Rc4 (time) Bd6 26. Qh5 Rb7 27. Qd1 f3 28.
Qf3 Qh2 29. Kf1 Qe5 [29...Rf8 30. Qh3 Qe5 31. Qc3 and White is slightly
better] 30. Qc3! (and White is superior) Rb5 [30...Qh2 31. e5 Be7 32. Rd1
Rf8 33. Qe3 and White is winning] 31. Qe5 Be5 32. Rec1 Bd6 33. Ke2 h5
34. g3 Rb7 35. Rh1 Rh7 36. Ke3 Rf8 37. b4! cb4 [37...Kb6 38. Rhc1 Rc8
39. e5 Be5 40. bc5 and White is winning] 38. Rc6 Bb8 39. d6 Kb7 40. Rhc1
Rfh8 [40...Ba7 41. Ke2 Rf2 42. Ke1 and White is winning] 41. e5! and White
is winning [41. e7?! Bd6 42. Rd6 Re7 and White is superior] h4 42. e7 h3 43.
Rc8! Rc8 44. Rc8 h2 45. Rc1 1 : 0 [L. Dominguez]
And. Volokitin 2638 Rublevsky 2686

Serbia & Montenegro 2004
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 a6 5. Be2 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. f4
0-0 9. a4 Qc7 10. Kh1 b6 11. e5 de5 12. fe5 Nfd7 13. Bf4 Bb7 14. Bd3! and
White is slightly better [14. Qe1 see 51/231] Nc5 only move [14...Nc6?? 15.
Qh5 g6 16. Ne6! fe6 (16...Qc8 17. Qh6 fe6 18. Bg6 hg6 19. Qg6 Kh8 20. Rf3
and White is winning) 17. Bg6 hg6 18. Qg6 Kh8 19. Rf3 and White is
winning] 15. Qg4 Nc6? [15...Nbd7; RR15...Nd3 (a novelty) 16. cd3 Rd8 17.
Bg3 Bc5 18. Nf3 Be7 19. Rac1 Qd7 20. d4 Ra7 21. Bf4 Bf3 22. Qf3 Nc6 23.
Be3 Rf8 24. Qg4 Kh8 25. Qh5 and White is superior; Zelcic 2521 Fercec
2474, Ljubljana 2004; 15...Re8; 15...Rd8]
16. Nd5!! [16. Bh6? Qe5 17. Nc6 Bc6 18. Rae1 f5] ed5 17. e6 [17. Bh7? Kh7
18. Nf5 (18. Ra3 Bc8 19. e6 fe6 and Black is winning) Ne6! (18...g6 19. Qh3
Kg8 20. Qh6 gf5 21. Ra3 and White is winning) 19. Rf3 Rh8 20. Ng7 Ng7 21.
Bh6 Qe5 and Black is winning] Qc8 [17...Qd8 18. Bh6! (18. Bc7?? Qc7 19.
Bh7 Kh8 20. Qh5 Bg5) Bf6 (18...g6 19. Nc6 Bc6 20. ef7 Rf7 21. Bg6 Rf1 22.
Rf1 and White is winning) 19. Bg7! Bg7 20. Bh7 Kh7 21. Qf5 Kh6 (21...Kg8
22. ef7 Rf7 23. Qf7 Kh8 24. Rf5 Qf8 25. Rh5 Bh6 26. Qg6 and White is
winning) 22. Ra3 Bf6 23. Rh3 Bh4 24. Rf4 and White is winning] 18. Bh6 g6
19. Bf8 Bf8 [19...Qf8 20. Rf7 Qh6 21. Nf5 and White is winning; 19...f5 20.
Bf5 Qf8 21. Bg6 Qg7 22. Bh7 and White is winning] 20. ef7! [20. Nc6 Qe6!
21. Qe6 fe6 with counterplay] Kh8 [20...Kg7 21. Qf4 Qd8 22. b4 Nd3 23.
Ne6 Kh8 24. cd3 and White is winning] 21. Bf5 Qc7 [21...Qd8 22. Nc6 Bc6
23. Bg6 and White is winning] 22. Bg6 Ne5 23. Qg3! (and White is winning)
Bg7 [23...Bd6 24. Qh4; 23...hg6 24. Rae1 (24. b4) Bc8 25. Re5 Kg7 26. Qg5
Qd6 27. Re6! Be6 28. Rf6 Bf7 29. Nf5 Kg8 30. Nd6] 24. Bh7 Kh7 25. Qh3
Bh6 [25...Kg6 26. Ra3 Ned3 27. Rd3 Nd3 28. Qd3] 26. Rf6 [26. f8Q] Nf7
27. Raf1 Rf8 28. Qh5 Kg8 29. Qg6 Bg7 30. Nf5 Ne6 31. Re6 1 : 0 [And.
Volokitin]


90
Ivan Markovic
Perhaps the most predictable aspect of the voting for the ten best games of
Chess Informant 90 was that all thirty of the nominated games were played
by world class grandmasters there was neither a single correspondence
masterpiece, nor a game played between mere mortals. Yet, one of the
refreshing features was that the winning game came from a rapid event and it
was from first-time contributor Francisco Vallejo Pons! Some simple advice:
play through the game and the accompanying analysis over-the-board to
experience the enormity and pure brilliance of the Spaniards concept; and
enjoy the precision and depth of the annotated variations. After 23.Nc6!,
which represents Whites best choice in the critical position, the analysis
branches several times to reach its climax 23 moves later, only to finally
finish in a drawn endgame!
Kramnik earned second place mostly by virtue of a single move (34Qc2!!),
but what a bone cruncher it was! The third slot went to my personal favorite
Alexei Shirov for his outstanding performance against Radjabov. The game
had it all from an elaborate theoretical novelty the path to the study-like
endgame was paved with tactical nuances and sizzling blows. Zvjaginsevs
triumphant concluding march of his central pawns is reminiscent of the great
LaBourdonnais victory, but the entire game has a post-neo-romantic feel. As
Suetin wrote in his postscript to Fischers My Sixty Memorable Games, the
sort of game in which, from the viewpoint of the classicists, there were many
slight mistakes and inaccuracies, but which had a unity based upon a general
idea, an original plan. Shirovs joint venture with his arch-nemesis Kasparov
completes the top five. It is an outstanding display of ultra-precise play from
both sides. Movsesians inspired win against Short adds another point to
blacks tally, making 1 - 4 on the first six boards.
Svidler 2747 Vallejo Pons 2663

Monaco (rapid) 2004 90/212
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8.
Be3 Be7 9. Qd2 0-0 10. 0-0-0 Nbd7 11. g4 b5 12. g5 b4 13. Ne2 Ne8 14.
Kb1 a5 15. Nbc1 a4 16. f4 ef4 17. Bf4 Nc5 (a novelty) 18. Bg2 [18. Qb4
Rb8! 19. Qd2 Ne4 20. Qe3 Bf5 a) 21. Nd4 Qb6 22. b3 (22. Bb5 Bg6 with the
idea Nc7) Bg6 23. h4 Qc5 and Black is slightly better; b) 21. h4 Qc8 22. Nd3
Nc7 with attack] b3 19. cb3 [19. Nd4 a) 19... ba2 20. Na2 a3 (20... Qb6 21.
Nf5) 21. b3 and White is slightly better; b) 19... bc2 20. Nc2 (20. Qc2 Bg5 21.
Bd6 Nd6 22. Qc5 Rc8 and Black is slightly better) Bg4 21. Rdf1 Nc7 unclear]
ab3 20. a3 d5!? [20... Qc8!?] 21. Nd4 [21. ed5 Bf5 22. Ka1 Nd6 a) 23. Nd4?
Nc4 24. Nf5 (24. Nc6 Nd2 25. Nd8 Nc4 and Black is winning) Nd2 25. Ne7
Qe7 26. d6 Ra3! (26... Qe6 27. Ba8 Ra8 28. Rd2 unclear) 27. ba3 b2 28. Kb2
Rb8 29. Kc2 Qe6 and Black is winning; b) 23. Bd6 Bd6 24. Nd4 Bc2 b1) 25.
Nc2 bc2 26. Rde1 (26. Qc2 Qg5 with attack) Na4! with attack; b2) 25. Rde1
Ra3! 26. ba3 Qb6 27. Qb4 only move (27. Ncb3 Nb3 28. Nb3 Qb3 29. Re3
Be5; 27. Nce2 Ra8 28. Nc2 bc2) Qb4 28. ab4 Ra8 29. Kb2 Na4 30. Ka3 Nb6
31. Kb2 Na4 equal] Nd6 [21... de4? 22. Nc6 Qd2 23. Ne7 Kh8 24. Rd2 and
White is winning; 21... Ne4? 22. Be4 de4 23. Nc6 and White is winning] 22.
ed5 [22. Bd6 Bd6 (22... Qd6 23. Nf5 Bf5 24. ef5 and White is slightly better)
23. ed5 Bg4 24. Bf3! (24. Rde1 Bh5! 25. Ncb3 Bg6 26. Ka2 Nb3 27. Nb3
Ra4! with attack, with the idea Qa8, with the idea Ba3, Qd6, Rfa8) Bf3 25.
Nf3 Qd7 with compensation] Bg4
23. Rde1 [23. Nc6! Qd7 a) 24. Qe3!? Bf5 25. Nd3! a1) 25... Nc8!? a11) 26.
Ne7 Qe7 27. Qe7 (27. d6?? Qe3 28. Be3 Nd3 29. Ba8 Nd6 30. Bc6 Nc4 and
Black is winning) Ne7 and Black is slightly better; a12) 26. Nce5 Qb7
unclear; a2) 25... Nde4 a21) 26. Ka1 Nd3 (26... Ra3 27. ba3 Ra8 28. Ndb4
and White is winning) 27. Qd3 (27. Be4 Ba3! 28. Qd3 Bd6 29. Kb1 Be4 30.
Qe4 Rfe8) Ba3 28. Be4 Be4 29. Qe4 Bd6 30. Kb1 Rfe8! 31. Qd3 (31. Qc4
Qf5) Bf4 with attack; a22) 26. Ne7 Qe7 27. Nc5 a221) 27... Nc5 28. Ka1 Ne6
(28... Ra3 29. ba3 Qa7 30. Qc1) 29. d6! and White is superior; a222) 27...
Qc5! 28. Qc5 (28. Be4 Qe3 29. Be3 Be4 30. Ka1 Bh1 31. Rh1 Rfe8 and Black
is superior) Nc5 29. Ka1 (29. Kc1?? Rac8 30. Kd2 Nd3 and Black is
winning) Nd3! a2221) 30. Bd2 Rfc8 31. Rhf1 (31. d6?? Ra3!! 32. ba3 Rc2
33. Bh3 Ra2 34. Kb1 Bg6 and Black is winning) Rc2! (31... Ra3 32. ba3 Rc2
33. Rf5 Ra2 34. Kb1 Rb2 35. Ka1 equal) 32. Rf5 Nb2! 33. Be4 Nd1 34. Bc2
bc2 35. Rf3 Rc8 36. Bc1 Rb8 and Black is superior; a2222) 30. Bd6 (weak
point a3) Rfe8 (30... Rfc8 31. Bh3!) 31. Rhf1 g6 32. Bf3 Ra6 33. Bc7 Nb4 34.
Rd2 Nc2 35. Rc2 bc2 and Black is slightly better; b) 24. Ne7 Qe7 25. Rde1
Bf5 26. Ka1 Ra3! 27. ba3 Qa7 28. Qb4 (28. Bd6?? Qa3 29. Na2 Bc2 and
Black is winning) Nc4! 29. Nb3 (29. Re7 Qe7 30. Qc4 Nd3! 31. Qb3 Nf4 and
Black is superior) Nb3 30. Qb3 Qd4 31. Ka2 b1) 31... Qf4? 32. Re2 Na3
(32... Ra8 33. Qa4!) 33. Qa3 Qc4; 33. Rf1! and White is winning; b2) 31...
Qf2 32. Ka1 Qd4 equal; c) 24. Rde1 Bf5 25. Ka1 Nde4 (25... Rfe8? 26. Ne7
Re7 27. Bd6 Qd6 28. Re7 Qe7 29. d6 and White is winning) 26. Qe3 (26. Qd4
Ra4) c1) 26... Ra4? 27. Nb3 Nb3 (27... Rfa8 28. Ne7 Qe7 29. Nc5 and White
is winning) 28. Qb3 Rfa8 29. Ne7 Qe7 30. d6 and White is winning; c2) 26...
Rfe8!? c21) 27. Be4 c211) 27... Ne4 28. Ne7 Qe7 (28... Re7 29. Qb3 and
White is superior) 29. Qb3 and White is superior; c212) 27... Be4 28. Ne7
Qe7 29. Nb3 (29. Rhf1 Ra3 30. ba3 Nd3 and Black is winning) Nd3 30. Qe4
Ra3 31. Kb1 Rb3 32. Qd3 (32. Qe7?? Rb2 33. Ka1 Ra8) Rd3 33. Re7 Re7
34. d6 Re4 and Black is slightly better; c22) 27. Ne7 c221) 27... Re7 c2211)
28. d6 Ra3! (28... Qb5 29. Qe2 Rb7 30. Qb5 Rb5 31. Re2 and White is
winning; 28... Ree8 29. Nb3 and White is winning) 29. ba3 Qa7 30. Na2 Qa3
31. Re2 Ra7 and Black is winning; c2212) 28. Nb3 Nd2! 29. Nc5 Re3 30.
Re3 (30. Nd7?? Raa3 31. ba3 Ra3 32. Kb2 Nc4 33. Kc1 Ra1 mate) Qb5 31.
d6 Rb8 32. b4 Qc4 unclear; c2213) 28. Be4! Re4 (28... Ne4 29. Qb3 and
White is superior) 29. Qc5 Rf4 30. Re7 Rc4 (30... Qa4 31. Qc6! Qc6 32. dc6
Be4 33. Re1 Bc6 34. Nb3 and White is superior) 31. Rd7 Rc5 32. Rd6 Be4
33. Rd1 and White is superior; c222) 27... Qe7 28. Nb3 (28. d6?? Ra3 29.
ba3 Qa7 and Black is winning; 28. Be4 Be4 see 27. Be4) Nd3! 29. d6! (29.
Re2 Ra3 30. ba3 Qa3 31. Ra2 Qb3 32. Be4 Qc3 33. Kb1 Be4 34. Qe4 Qb3
35. Ka1 Qa2 36. Ka2 Re4 and Black is slightly better) Ne1 30. de7 (30. Re1
Qd7 31. Nd4 Nd6 32. Ba8 Re3 33. Be3 Be4 34. Be4 Ne4 equal) Nc2 31. Ka2
Ne3 32. Be3 Re7 unclear; c3) 26... Ra3! 27. ba3 Ra8 c31) 28. Nb4?? Ra3 29.
Kb2 Qa4 30. Be4 Qb4 31. Bf5 Na4 32. Kb1 Ra1 33. Ka1 Qa3 34. Kb1 Qb2
mate; c32) 28. Be4 Be4 (28... Ra3 29. Kb2 Na4 30. Kb1 Be4 31. Qe4 Nc3 32.
Kb2 Ne4 33. Re4 and White is winning) 29. Nb3 (29. Ne7 Qe7 and Black is
winning) Ra3 30. Kb2 Na4 31. Kc1 Ra2! 32. Re2 (32. Nbd4 Qb7! 33. Ne7
Kh8! 34. Nb3 Rc2 35. Kb1 Nc3) Ba3 33. Kd1 Re2 34. Ke2 Bh1 and Black is
superior; c33) 28. Nb3 Ra3 29. Kb2 Na4 (29... Rb3? 30. Qb3 Nb3 31. Be4
Be4 32. Re4 and White is winning) 30. Kc1 Ra2!! 31. Nbd4 only move (31.
Re2?? Ba3 32. Kd1 Nac3; 31. Ne7 Qe7 32. d6 Qe6 and Black is winning; 31.
Be4 Be4 see 28. Be4) c331) 31... Bg6!? c3311) 32. Ne7 Qe7 33. Be4 Qc5! 34.
Kb1 (34. Kd1 Nc3) Qb4 35. Nb3 Ra1! 36. Ka1 Qa3 37. Kb1 Qb2 mate;
c3312) 32. Be4 Be4 33. Ne7 Qe7 34. d6 Qb7 and Black is winning; c3313)
32. Nc2! c33131) 32... Nf2 33. Qf2 Ba3 34. Na3 (34. Kd1?? Nc3) Rf2 35.
Re7 Qc8 36. Rhe1 and White is winning; c33132) 32... Ng3! c331321) 33.
N2b4?? Bb4 34. Qe8 Bf8 35. Ne7 (35. Qd7 Ba3 36. Kd1 Nc3 mate) Qe7 36.
Re7 Nc3! and Black is winning; c331322) 33. Ne7 Qe7 34. Qb3 Rc2 35. Qc2
Qa3 36. Kd2 Qb4 37. Ke3 (37. Kc1?? Qf4) Bc2 38. hg3 Qc5 39. Kf3 Qd5 40.
Kf2 unclear; c331323) 33. Qb3 Rc2 34. Qc2 Ba3 35. Kd2 Bc2 36. hg3 Bf5
unclear; c332) 31... Ba3 32. Qa3 Ra3 33. Be4 Qb7! (33... Be4 34. Re4 Ra1
35. Kd2 Rh1 36. Re7 Qc8 37. Rc7 Qe8 38. Rc8 and White is winning) 34. Bc2
(only move) Qb2 35. Kd2 Rd3! (35... Qc3? 36. Ke2 Bc2 37. Kf2 and White is
superior) 36. Ke2 Rd4 c3321) 37. Nd4 Qd4 38. Kf3 Qd5 39. Kg3 h6 40. g6
(40. Ba4 hg5) fg6 41. Ba4 g5 42. Bc1 equal; c3322) 37. Kf3 Qa3 38. Re3 Rf4
39. Kf4 Qd6 40. Kf5 Qd5 41. Kf4 Qc6 (unclear) 42. Rd1 g6 43. Rd8 Kg7 44.
Ree8 Qc7 45. Kf3 Qc3 46. Bd3 h6 equal] Qd7 24. Qb4?? [24. Ncb3? Nb3
25. Nb3 Bf5 26. Ka2 Nc4 27. Re7 (27. Qc1 Ba3 28. ba3 Ra3 29. Qa3 Na3 30.
Ka3 Qa7 31. Kb2 Qf2 and Black is winning) Qe7 28. d6 Qa7 29. Qb4 Qf2 30.
Qc4 Qg2 31. Rc1 Be6 and Black is winning; 24. Nc6! see 23. Nc6] Bf5 25.
Ka1 [25. Nf5 Qf5 26. Ka1 Rfb8 27. Qc5 Nc4! 28. Be4 (28. Re7 Qc2! 29. Be5
Na3 and Black is winning) Na3! 29. ba3 (29. Nb3 Qf4) b2 30. Kb1 (30. Ka2
b1Q 31. Bb1 Qb1 mate) bc1Q 31. Kc1 Qf4 and Black is winning]
25... Rfb8!! 26. Qc5 [26. Qc3 Nce4 27. Be4 Ne4 28. Re4 Be4 29. Bb8 Bh1
and Black is winning] Nc4! 27. d6 [27. Qc4 Ra3; 27. Qe7 Qe7 28. Re7 Ra3;
27. Re7 Na3 28. Ndb3 Nc4 29. Na2 Ra2 30. Ka2 Qa4 31. Qa3 Na3 and Black
is winning] Ra3! 28. Qa3 [28. ba3 b2 29. Ka2 b1Q mate] Na3 29. de7 [29.
Nf5 Qa4 30. Ne7 (30. Re7 Nc2 31. Kb1 Qa1 mate) Kf8 31. Nb3 Nc4 32. Kb1
Qb3 and Black is winning] Nc2 30. Nc2 [30. Kb1 Ne1] Qa4 [31. Na3 Qa3
32. ba3 b2 33. Ka2 b1Q mate] 0 : 1 [Vallejo Pons]
Leko 2722 Kramnik 2777

Linares 2004 90/124
Na3 b5 9. Bf6 gf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. 0-0 Bd5 13. ed5 Ne7 14. Qh5
e4 15. Be2 Bg7 16. c3 Rc8 [a novelty; 16... Qc8 see 89/(113); 16... 0-0 see
89/113] 17. Nc2 Rc5 18. Ne3 [18. f3!?] f4 [18... Nd5? 19. Nf5 (and White is
superior) Bc3? 20. bc3 Nf4 21. Ng7 Kf8 22. Qh6 Ne2 23. Kh1 and White is
winning] 19. Nf5 [19. Qg5 Be5] 0-0 20. a4! Nf5 [20... Re8 21. ab5 ab5 22. b4
(22. Ra7) Rc3 23. Bb5 and White is superior] 21. Qf5 Qe7 22. ab5 ab5 23.
Qf4 [23. f3 b4 24. fe4 bc3 25. bc3 Bc3 equal] Rd5 24. Rfd1 Re5 [24... Rd1
25. Rd1 b4 26. cb4 and White is slightly better] 25. Qe3 [25. Ra6 b4 (25...
d5!? 26. Rb6 e3) 26. cb4 (26. Rad6 bc3 27. bc3 e3 and White is slightly
better) d5 27. b5 and White is slightly better] f5! [25... d5 26. Ra5 (26. Ra7)
Rb8 27. b4 and White is slightly better] 26. Qb6 [26. Qf4! (and White is
slightly better) Re6!? (26... b4) 27. Bb5 Be5 28. Qe3 Kh8 29. Bc4 Rg6] f4 27.
Qd6 Qg5 28. f3 [28. Kh1!? Kh8 29. Qc6 Rg8 30. Ra8 Bf8 31. Bf1 with the
idea 31... f3 32. g3] e3 29. Ra7 [29. Kh1 Kh8] Kh8 30. Qd7 [30. Rd7!? Rg8
31. Bd3 (31. Rf7 Bf8 32. Qf6 Qf6 33. Rf6 Reg5 equal) Rge8 unclear (31...
Qh4? 32. Rg7 Rg7 33. Qb8) 32. Re1!? (32. Qd4 Qh4) Qh4 33. Re2] Rg8 31.
Qh3? [31. Qg4? Qh6; 31. Kh1! Rc5!? (31... Qg6) 32. Qh3 (32. Rd4 b4!? with
counterplay) Qg6] Qg6 32. Rad7? [32. Bd3? e2; 32. g3? fg3 33. hg3 Rh5 34.
Qg2 Be5 and Black is winning; 32. Raa1? Rh5 33. Rd6 Bf6 34. Rf6 Rh3 35.
Rg6 Rg6 and Black is superior; 32. Kh1 and Black is slightly better; better is
32. Kf1! Rh5 (32... b4 33. Ra6 Qc2 34. cb4 Rb5 35. Rad6 Rb4 36. Rd8 Bf8
equal) 33. Rd6! Rh3 (33... Qb1 34. Rd1 Rh3 35. Rb1 Rh2 36. Kg1 Rg2 37.
Kg2 Bd4 38. Kf1 Ba7 39. b4 equal; 33... Qd6 34. Qh5 Qd2 35. g4 Qc1 36.
Kg2 Qb2 37. Qb5 Qb5 38. Bb5 Bc3 equal) 34. Rg6 Rh2 35. Kg1 hg6 36. Kh2
Rd8 37. Bb5 Rd2 38. b3 Bc3 39. Re7 equal] Rh5 (and Black is winning) 33.
R7d6 [33. Qg4 Rg5 34. Qh3 Bf8 35. Bf1 e2 and Black is winning] Bf6 34.
Rf6 [34. Bd3 Qg7 35. Qg4 Rg5 and Black is winning]
34... Qc2!! [34... Rh3? 35. Rg6 Rg6 36. Rd4 Rh5 37. Rf4 Ra6 38. g4 equal]
35. Qh5 [35. Qd7 Rg2; 35. Kf1 Rh3 36. gh3 Rg2!] Qe2 36. g4 [36. Qh7 Kh7
37. Rd7 Kh8 38. Rh6 mate; better is 37... Rg7] Qf2 0 : 1 [Kramnik]
Shirov 2736 t. Radjabov 2656

Linares 2004 90/497
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 0-0 6. Nf3 e5 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 c6 13. Bb2 h6 14. Ne6 Be6
15. de6 fe4 16. Ne4 Ne4 17. Re4 d5 18. cd5 cd5 19. Re5 Be5 20. Be5 Qb6
21. Bb2! [a novelty; 21. Bd4 see 68/(546)] Kh7!? [21... Qe6?! 22. Qd4 Kf7
23. Qg7 Ke8 24. Qh6 and White is superior; 21... Qb4 22. Rb1 with
compensation] 22. Qe2!? [22. Qd2!?; 22. Qe1!?] d4!? [22... Qb4? 23. Qe5
Rg8 24. Rc1 Rac8 25. Rc8 Nc8 26. Bd5 Ne7 27. Bf3 Nf5 28. g4 Ng7 29. e7
Ne8 30. h4! and White is winning] 23. h4! [23. Rd1 Rad8 24. Qc4 Nf5
unclear] Rf6! 24. Re1 Qb4
25. a3! [25. h5?! Rf3! 26. gf3 Rg8!; 25. Rd1!? a) 25... Nf5 26. h5! Rg8 (26...
Qe7 27. Bd5 and White is superior; 26... Re8 27. Bd5 and White is superior)
27. hg6 Rgg6 28. Bh5 Re6 29. Bg6 Rg6 30. Bd4! Nd4 31. Qe4 and White is
slightly better; b) 25... Rd8 b1) 26. Qe5 Rf3! (26... Rf5 27. Qc7 with
compensation) 27. gf3 Qb2 28. Qf6 Qa3 equal; b2) 26. h5! b21) 26... gh5
b211) 27. Qe4 Ng6 28. Bh5 Qe7! (28... Qb2 29. Bg6 Rg6 30. Rb1 Qb1 31.
Qb1 and White is superior) 29. Rd4 (29. f4 Qe6 30. Qe6 Re6 31. f5 Nf4 32.
fe6 Nh5 33. Rd4 Rd4 34. Bd4 Kg6 35. Ba7 Ng7 36. e7 Kf7 equal) Rd4 30.
Bd4 Qe6 31. Bg6 Rg6 32. Qb7 Kg8 33. Qa8 Kf7 34. Qa7 Qe7 equal; b212)
27. Bh5 Ng6! 28. Rd3 (28. Qe4 Qe7!) Qc4! unclear; b213) 27. Qd3! Ng6 28.
Ba3 Qb6 29. e7 Re8 30. Qd4 Qd4 31. Rd4 Re6 32. Bh5 R8e7 33. Be7 Re7
34. f4 and White is slightly better; b22) 26... Qb6!? 27. hg6 Kg8 (27... Kg7!?
28. Bg4 Qc5 unclear) 28. Bg4 Rg6 unclear; b23) 26... Qc5!? 27. Be4! (27.
Qe4?! Nc6 28. hg6 Kg7 and Black is slightly better) Kg8 (27... Kg7 28. Bg6!
Ng6 29. hg6 Rg6 30. e7 Qc6 31. g3 Re8 32. Rd4 Kh7 33. Ba3 and White is
slightly better) 28. Bg6! Ng6 29. hg6 Qe7 30. Bd4 Re6 (30... Rg6 31. Qe5
Kh7 32. Re1 and White is slightly better) 31. Qc4! b5 32. Qb3 with
compensation] Qd6! [25... Qb6?! 26. Qe5 (26. h5 Raf8) Rf5 27. Qd4 Qd4 28.
Bd4 Nc6 29. Bc3! (29. Be3 Rf3! 30. gf3 Re8 31. Rd1 Re6 32. Kg2 equal) Rc5
30. Bb2! and White is slightly better, with the idea h5, with the idea g4, h5]
26. h5! Raf8!? [26... Re8 27. Qb5! (27. Qd3 Nc6 28. hg6 Kg8 and Black is
slightly better, with the idea 29. Bg4 Qf4 30. f3 h5! 31. Re4 Qg5 32. Bh3 Ne5
33. Re5 Qe5 34. Bd4 Qd5) Rd8 28. hg6 Ng6 29. Qb7 Qe7 30. a4!! (30. Qe4?
Rd6; 30. Qe7?! Ne7 31. Re4 Rf3 32. gf3 d3 33. Re1 Kg6 equal) Qb7 (30...
Re8? 31. Bd4 Qb7 32. Bb7 Rfe6 33. Re6 Re6 34. a5 a6 35. Bb6 and White is
superior; 30... Rd6 31. Qe7 Ne7 32. Bg4 Rg6 33. Bh3 and White is slightly
better) 31. Bb7 Ne7 32. Ba3 and White is slightly better; 26... Rd8 27. Bb7
(27. hg6 Ng6) gh5 28. Qd3 Kg8 (28... Kg7? 29. Re4 Qb6 30. Bd4 Qb7 31. Bf6
Kf6 32. Rf4 Ke5 33. Qe3 Kd6 34. Rd4 Nd5 35. e7 and White is winning) 29.
Re4! with compensation, with the idea 29... Nf5 30. Ba6!] 27. Qe4!? [27.
hg6?! Ng6 28. Qe4 Re8!; 27. Qd3 Rd8 28. hg6 Ng6 unclear; 27. Qc4!? a)
27... Rf4 28. Be4 Nc6 (28... Rh4 29. Bg6 Ng6 30. hg6 Kg6 31. g3 Rg4 32.
Qd3 Kg7 33. Re4! and White is superior) 29. hg6 Kg7 30. Bc6 bc6 31. e7
Re8 32. Re4! and White is superior; b) 27... Rd8 28. hg6 Ng6 (28... Kg6 29.
Re4 and White is superior; 28... Kg7 29. Rd1 Qe6 30. Rd4 Qc4 31. Rc4 and
White is slightly better) 29. Bb7! Qb6 30. Bf3! and White is slightly better; c)
27... Nf5 28. hg6 Rg6 29. Bb7 d3 (29... Re8 30. Qd3 Qf4 31. Bd5 and White
is superior) 30. Bd5! and White is slightly better; d) 27... Rf3! 28. gf3 gh5!
(28... Rf3? 29. Qd4 Qd4 30. Bd4 b6 31. Rc1 and White is winning; 28... Rf4?
29. Re4 Re4 30. fe4 Nc6 31. Qd5 and White is winning; 28... Rf5 29. Qd4 Rg5
30. Kf1 Qd4 31. hg6 Kg6 32. Bd4 and White is slightly better) 29. Bd4 b6 30.
Bc3 Qd5 unclear] Nc6! [27... Rd8 28. hg6 Ng6 29. Bh5! Qc6 30. Bd4 Qe4
31. Re4 Rf5 32. g4! and White is superior; 27... Re8 28. Qb7 (28. Qd4? Qd4
29. Bd4 Rf3 30. gf3 Nc6! and Black is slightly better) Re6 29. Re6 Qe6 30.
hg6 Kg6 31. Bd4 and White is slightly better] 28. hg6 Kg7 [28... Kg8 29.
Bc1! (29. Qd5 Qd5 30. Bd5 Re8; 29. Qg4 Re8 30. Qh5 Rfe6 31. Bd5 Kg7 32.
Be6 Re6 33. Re3! Rg6 34. Re4 unclear) Re8 30. Bg4 d3 (30... Nd8 31. Rd1!
Ne6 32. Rd4!) 31. Bh6! Qd4 32. Bf5! and White is superior]
29. Bc1! Qe7 [29... h5 30. Bh5 Qc5 31. Bf3 Rg6 32. Bb2 with initiative] 30.
Bh6! Kh6 31. Qh4 Kg6 32. Bc6! [32. Be4 Rf5 33. Qe7 Ne7 34. g4 Kf6 35.
gf5 b5 equal] bc6 [32... Re6 33. Qg4 Kf6 34. Qd4 and White is winning] 33.
Re5 Qe6?? [33... Re6! 34. Qh5 Kg7 35. Rg5 Qg5 36. Qg5 Rg6 37. Qe5 Kg8
38. Qd4 Rf7 39. g3 Rfg7! equal] 34. Re6 Re6 [Q 6/c] 35. Qg4! Kf7 36. Qd4
[and White is winning; Q 6/b] a6 37. g4 Rg8 38. f3 Rf6 39. Kf2 Re8 40. Qc4
Kg7 41. Qa6 Ref8 42. Qd3 c5 43. a4 Ra8 44. Qc3 Kg6 45. Qc5 Rfa6 46.
Kg3 Ra4 [Q 6/a] 47. Qd6 Kf7 48. g5! R8a6 49. Qd7 Kg6 50. f4 Ra1 51.
Qd3 Kg7 52. Qd4 Kg8 53. Kg4 R1a2 54. Qd8 Kg7 55. Qc7 Kg8 56. f5 Ra7
57. Qd8 Kg7 58. f6 Kh7 59. Qd3 Kh8 60. Kf5 Ra8 61. Qh3 Kg8 62. Kg6
R2a7 63. Qe6 Kf8 64. Qd6 Kg8 65. Qd5 Kh8 66. Qh1 1 : 0 [Shirov]
v. Malakhov 2700 Zvjaginsev 2654

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 0-0 6. 0-0 e5 7. d4 Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Nd2 a5 10. a3 Bd7 11. b3 c6 12. Bb2 Qb6 13. dc6 [13. Rc1 see
59/(657)] bc6 14. Na4 Qc7 [14... Qb8 15. f4 (15. c5 d5 16. Nb6 Ra7 17. f4
ef4 18. e5 Ne8 19. Nd7 Rd7 unclear) ef4 16. Rf4 Ne8 17. Bg7 Ng7 18. c5
(18. Rf6!?) Ne6 19. Rf2 Nc5 (19... dc5 20. Bc4 and White is slightly better)
20. Nc5 dc5 21. Bc4 and White is slightly better] 15. c5 d5 16. Nb6 Rad8 [a
novelty; 16... Ra7 17. f4 (17. ed5 cd5 18. b4 Be6 19. Nb3 ab4 20. ab4 Ra1 21.
Qa1 d4 and Black is slightly better; 17. Qc2) a) 17... ef4 18. e5 Ne8 (18...
Ne4 19. Ne4 de4 20. Nd7 Qd7 21. Rf4 and White is slightly better) 19. Nd7
Qd7 20. Bg4 Qc7 21. Nf3 and White is slightly better; b) 17... Ne4 18. Ne4
de4 19. Be5 (19. Qd6 Qd6 20. cd6 Nf5 equal; 19. fe5 Nf5 20. Qd2 Be6
unclear; 19. Nd7 Qd7 20. fe5 Nf5 unclear) Be5 20. fe5 Nf5 21. Qd2 (21.
Nc4!? Be6 22. Nd6 Ne3 23. Qd4 Nf1 24. Rf1 with compensation) Be6 22. Qc3
Qd8 (22... Qe7 23. Rf4) 23. Rad1 (23. Rae1 Qd4 24. Qd4 Nd4 25. Bd1 Bd5
equal) Qg5 equal] 17. Bc3! Ne4? [17... Be6! 18. Ba5 Qa7 19. ed5 Nfd5 (19...
Qa5? 20. b4; 19... Ned5 with compensation) 20. Nbc4 (20. Nd5 Rd5) Rd7
with compensation] 18. Ne4 de4 19. Ba5 Nf5 [19... Be6? 20. Nd5!! (20. Qc2
Rd4) Qa5 21. Ne7 Kh8 22. Nc6 Rd1 23. Na5 and White is winning; 19...
Qb7? 20. Nc4 Rb8 21. b4 Nf5 22. Nd6 Nd6 23. Qd6 and White is winning;
19... Bg4! a) 20. Bg4 Rd1 a1) 21. Rfd1 e3! 22. fe3 (22. Rd7 ef2 23. Kh1 Qb8
24. Re7 e4 25. Rf1 Qf4 26. h3 Bf6 and Black is winning) e4 and Black is
slightly better; a2) 21. Rad1 Nd5 (21... Qb7 22. Rd7 Qa6 23. b4 and White is
slightly better) 22. Nd5 Qa5 23. Ne7 Kh8 24. b4 Qa3 25. Nc6 e3 unclear; b)
20. Qe1 Be2 b1) 21. Qe2 Rd4 22. Nd5 (22. Bc3 Rd3; 22. Nc4 Qb8) Qb7 23.
Ne7 Qe7 equal; b2) 21. Nc4 Qd7 22. Qe2 (22. Bd8? Bf1 23. Be7 Bg2) Qd3
23. Rfe1 Qe2 24. Re2 Rd3 equal; b3) 21. Nd5 Nd5 (21... Qd7? 22. Ne7 and
White is winning) 22. Bc7 Bf1 23. Bd8 Bd3 24. Ba5 (24. Bg5 h6 25. Bd2 f5
with compensation; 24. Qa5 e3! 25. fe3 e4 with compensation) f5 25. Rd1 f4
with compensation, with the idea 26. Rd3 ed3 27. Qe4 Ra8! 28. b4 d2 29.
Qe2 e4 30. Qd2 e3 unclear] 20. Nc4 Qb8 21. Bd8 Rd8 22. b4? [22. Nd6 Be6
23. Bc4 Nd6 24. cd6 Rd6 25. Qc2 Bd5 26. a4 and White is superior] Be6 23.
Qe1 [23. Nd6 Bf8 (23... e3!?) 24. Qc2 Bd6 25. cd6 Bd5 26. Qc3 Nd4 with
compensation] Nd4 24. Na5 [24. Rc1? Qb5 and Black is superior; 24. Nd6
Bd5 (24... Nc2 25. Qc3 Na1 26. Ra1 Bd5 27. Bc4 Bf8 28. Bd5 cd5 29. Qe5
Bd6 30. cd6 Rd6 and White is superior) 25. Rc1 Bf8 26. Bc4 Bd6 27. cd6
Qd6 with compensation] Qc8 [24... Bh6!? 25. Bc4 Bf5 with compensation]
25. Rd1 [25. Bc4 Bf5 (25... Nc2 26. Qe4 Na1 27. Ra1 Bc4 28. Nc4 and White
is superior; 25... Bd5 26. Bd5 cd5 27. Qd1 and White is superior) 26. Qc1
and White is slightly better] Bh6! 26. Kh1 [26. Bc4 Bc4 27. Nc4 Nf3 28. gf3
Rd1 29. Qd1 Qh3 30. Ne5 Bf4 31. Qd8 Kg7 32. Ng4 ef3 33. Qd4 Kg8 34.
Nf6 Kf8 35. Nh7 Kg8 equal] Bf4 [26... Bd5? 27. Bc4 and White is superior]
27. a4? [27. Bc4 a) 27... Bf5 28. Nb3 Nc2 (28... Bg4 29. Rd4) 29. Qc3 Na3
30. Na5 and White is superior; b) 27... Bg4 28. f3 (28. Qe4? Bf3! 29. Rd4
Qh3 and Black is winning) ef3 29. g3 b1) 29... f2? 30. Rf2 Bd1 31. Qd1 Bg3
(31... Nf5 32. Qf3) 32. Rf7 (32. hg3 Qh3 33. Rh2 Qg3 34. Qg1 Qa3 unclear)
Kh8 33. Nb7 Qh3 34. Qg1 and White is winning; b2) 29... Bh3 b21) 30. gf4
b211) 30... e4 31. Rd2 (31. Qe4 Qg4) Qg4 32. Rff2; b212) 30... Bg2 31. Kg1
Bf1 32. Qf1 Qg4 33. Kh1 Qf4 (33... f2 34. Rd2 Qg1 35. Qg1 fg1Q 36. Kg1
Nf3 37. Kf2 Nd2 38. Nc6 Ra8 39. Ne5 Ra3 40. Bf7 Kf8 41. Bd5 and White is
superior; 33... e4!?) 34. Nb3 unclear; b22) 30. Rf2 Bg2 (30... Qg4 31. Bf1!
Bf1 32. Rf1 and White is superior) 31. Kg1 (31. Rg2!? fg2 32. Kg2 and White
is slightly better) Qg4 32. Qe4 Bh3 33. Nc6 Nc6 34. Rd8 Nd8 and White is
slightly better; 27. Nc4 a) 27... Ne2 28. Rd8 (28. Qe2 Rd1 29. Rd1 Qa6 and
Black is superior) Qd8 29. Qe2 Qd3 30. Qd3 ed3 31. Nd6 (31. Nb2 e4 with
compensation; 31. g3 Bc4 32. gf4 Bb3 33. b5 cb5 34. c6 Bd5 35. f3 Bc6 36.
fe5 and White is slightly better) d2 (31... Bb3 32. b5) 32. a4 Bb3 33. a5 d1Q
34. Rd1 Bd1 35. a6 and White is winning; b) 27... Bc4 28. Bc4 Qf5 29. f3 e3
30. g3 Bh6; 29. a4 and White is slightly better; c) 27... Qa8 28. g3 (28. Na5
Qc8) Bh6 29. Ne5 Qa3 30. f4 and White is slightly better] Bd5! (with attack)
28. Bc4 [28. h3 e3 29. Bg4 Qc7 (29... f5 30. Be2 g5) 30. fe3 Nc2 and Black is
superior; 28. Nc4 e3 (28... Qa6!?) 29. f3 Qf5 30. g3 (30. Kg1 Qc2 31. Bd3
Qd3 32. Rd3 Bc4 33. Re3 Nc2 and Black is winning) Nc2 31. Qc3 Bg3 32.
hg3 Qh3 33. Kg1 Qg3 34. Kh1]
28... Nf3! 29. Qe2 [29. Qc3 a) 29... Nh2 30. Qh3 Nf1 (30... Qh3 31. gh3 Nf1
32. Nc6) 31. Qc8 Rc8 32. Rf1 Bd2 33. Rb1 Rc7 and Black is superior; b) 29...
Bh2! b1) 30. Be2 Qg4 31. Bf3 ef3 and Black is winning; b2) 30. Bd5 cd5 31.
Nc6 Qg4 and Black is winning; b3) 30. Nc6 Qg4! 31. Bd5 (31. Rd5 Bf4 32.
Rd8 Kg7) Bf4 and Black is winning; b4) 30. Rd5 b41) 30... Bf4? 31. Rd8 Qd8
32. g3 Qg5 (32... Qd7 33. Kg2 Nh4 34. gh4 Qg4 35. Qg3) 33. Kg2 and White
is superior; b42) 30... Qg4? 31. Rd8 Kg7 32. Rd7 (32. Bf7 Bf4 33. Be6 Qe6
34. Qb3 Qg4 35. Qg8 Kh6 36. Qf8 Kh5 37. Qe7 Ng5 38. Kg1 Qh4 39. Qg5
Kg5 40. g3 Bg3 41. fg3 Qg3 42. Kh1 Qh3 43. Kg1 e3 and Black is winning)
Bf4 (32... Qd7? 33. Be2 and White is winning) 33. Rf7 Kh6 34. Be6 Qe6 35.
Qc4 Qg4 36. Rh7 Kh7 37. Qf7 equal; b43) 30... cd5 31. Be2 d4 32. Qa3 d3
33. Bf3 ef3 34. Kh2 Qg4 and Black is winning; b44) 30... Rd5 31. Bd5 (31.
Nc6 Qg4 and Black is winning) Qg4 (31... cd5 32. c6) 32. Qf3 ef3 33. Bf3
Qh4 and Black is winning] Nh2 [29... Bh2? 30. Bd5 cd5 31. Rd3! unclear]
30. Bd5 [30. Ba6 Qf5 (30... Qe6) 31. Nc6 Qg5 32. g3 (32. Rd5 Rd5 and Black
is winning) Nf1 (32... Nf3 33. Kg2 Bc6 34. Rd8 Qd8 and Black is superior)
33. Qf1 Bc6 34. Rd8 Qd8 35. b5 Bd5 36. gf4 Qh4 37. Kg1 e3 and Black is
winning] cd5 31. f3 [31. c6 Nf3 32. c7 Rf8 and Black is winning] Nf1 32.
Rf1 e3 (and Black is winning) 33. c6 [33. Qd3 e4 34. fe4 Qg4; 33. Rd1 d4 34.
Kg1 (34. Qd3 Qf5 35. Qf5 gf5) Qd7 35. c6 d3] d4 34. Rd1 Bg3 [34... Qf5 35.
g4 Qg5 36. Kg1 Qh4] 35. f4 e4 36. Nb3 d3 37. Qe3 Qg4 38. Rb1 Qh4 39.
Kg1 Qh2 40. Kf1 Qh1 41. Qg1 e3! 42. Qh1 e2 43. Kg1 d2 0 :
1 [Zvjaginsev]
Shirov 2736 g. Kasparov 2831

Linares 2004 90/214
f3 Nbd7 9. Qd2 b5 10. a4 b4 11. Nd5 Bd5 12. ed5 Nb6 13. Bb6 Qb6 14. a5
Qb7 15. Bc4 g6 16. Ra4 Rb8 17. Qd3 Ra8 18. Qd2 Rb8 19. Nc1 h5 20.
Nd3 Bh6 21. Qe2 [21. Qb4] 0-0 22. Nb4 Qd7!? [22... e4 see 81/225] 23. Nc6
Rb2 24. 0-0 h4! [a novelty; 24... e4] 25. Bb3 [25. Qd3 h3] h3 26. g3 e4! 27.
fe4 [27. f4 Re8 with counterplay] Qg4!? [27... Ng4 28. e5 Be3 29. Kh1 Nf2
30. Rf2? Bf2 31. Ra1 de5! 32. Qf2 Rb3 33. Ne7 Qe7 34. cb3 Rd8 and Black
is superior; 30. Kg1 equal] 28. Qd3! [28. Qe1? Rb1! 29. Qb1 Be3 30. Rf2
Qf3 31. Qf1 Ng4 and Black is winning] Qg5
29. e5! de5 30. Rh4 [30. d6? e4 31. Qd4 Ng4! (31... Bg7 32. Qb2 Qd2 33.
Rf2 equal) 32. d7 Qe3 33. Qe3 Be3 34. Kh1 Nf2 35. Kg1 Nd1 36. Kh1 Rb1
37. Ne7 Kg7 38. Nd5 Bc5 39. Rc4 Nf2 40. Kg1 Nd3 41. Rc5 Rf1 42. Kf1
Nc5 and Black is winning; 30. Qc3 e4 31. d6 (31. Kh1 Qd2 unclear) Bg7 32.
Rd4 Nd7 33. Qb2 Qe3 34. Rf2 equal] e4 31. Qd4 [31. Re4 Ne4 32. Qe4 Qd2
(32... Kh7 33. Qd4 Qh5 34. Qe5 Qg4; 34. Qd1; 32... Qe3 33. Qe3 Be3 34.
Kh1 Bc5 35. Ne5 Rd8 36. Nd3 Rb3 37. cb3 Rd5; 36. Rd1!?) 33. Qf3 Kg7 34.
Rd1 Be3 35. Kh1 Re8! 36. d6 Bf4 37. Ne7 (37. Qf1 Qc3!) Qg2 38. Qg2 hg2
39. Kg2 Bd6 40. Rd6 Re7 41. Ra6 Rb1 equal] Ng4 [31... Qe3!? 32. Qe3 Be3
33. Kh1 Bd2 34. d6! (34. Rh3 Kg7! 35. Nd4 Rd8 and Black is superior) Kg7
35. g4! e3! (35... Bf4?! 36. g5 Bg5 37. Rh3 Bd2 38. Rg3! e3 39. Nd4) 36. g5
Ne8 37. d7 Nd6 38. d8Q Rd8 39. Nd8 e2 40. Rg1 e1Q 41. Re1 Be1 42. Rh3
Ba5 43. Rd3 Bd8 44. Rd6 Bg5 45. Ra6 equal] 32. Rh6! [32. Ne7? Kh7 33.
Qe4 (33. Re1 Rb8 and Black is superior) Qh4! 34. Rf7 (34. gh4 Be3 and
Black is winning) Kh8 35. Ng6 Kg8 36. d6 Rb1! 37. Rf1 Kg7 38. Rb1 Qg5
and Black is winning] Nh6! [32... Qh6? 33. d6 Qe3 34. Qe3 Ne3 35. Rc1 and
White is winning] 33. Qb2! [33. d6? Nf5 34. Ne7 (34. Qb2 Ng3 35. Rf2 Nf5
36. Kf1 e3 37. Ne7 Kh7 38. Nf5 gf5 and Black is winning) Qe7 35. Rf5 (35.
de7 Nd4 36. ef8Q Kf8 37. Rf7 Ke8 and Black is superior) Rb1 36. Kf2 e3 37.
Ke2 Qb7 38. Rd5 Rd8 and Black is superior] Qe3 34. Rf2 Qe1 35. Rf1
Qe3 1/2 : 1/2 [G. Kasparov]
n. Short 2712 s. Movsesian 2647

0-0-0 Bb4 9. f3 Ne5 10. Nb3 b5 11. Bd4 0-0 12. Qg5 [12. Kb1 Be7] Bd6 13.
Kb1 Bb7! [a novelty; 13... h6?! 14. Qd2 Ne8 15. Qf2 and White is slightly
better; 13... Ng6] 14. Bb5 [14. f4? Ne4 15. Ne4 Be4; 14. Bd3!?] h6 15. Qe3
[15. Qg3 Nc6 16. Qf2 Nd4 17. Rd4 Be5 18. Rc4 Qb8 19. Ba4 d5 with
initiative] ab5 16. Nb5 Qc6 17. Nd6 Qd6 18. Qf4 [18. Nc5 Nc4 19. Qc3 Qc6
20. Qc4 d6 and Black is superior] Qa6 19. Be5 [19. Qe5 d6! 20. Qa5 Qa5 21.
Na5 Ra5 22. Bf6 gf6 23. Rd6 unclear] Qa2 20. Kc1 Rfc8 21. Kd2 Qa4 (with
compensation) 22. Rc1 [22. Bf6 gf6 23. Qf6 Qb4 and Black is winning] Ne8
23. Rhd1 f6 24. Bc3 d5 25. Qg4 de4 26. Qe6 Kh8 27. Nd4
27... Ra6! 28. Qe7? [28. Qg4 Rd6 29. Ke1 Rcd8 30. Qg6 unclear] Nd6 29.
Ne6 Rg8! [29... e3? 30. Ke1 Nf5 31. Qb7 Qh4 32. g3 Qh2 33. Qc8 Kh7 34.
Nf8 Kh8 35. Nh7!! and White is winning] 30. Ke1 ef3 31. Rd4 Qe8! (and
Black is winning) 32. Qe8 Re8 33. gf3 Nf5 34. Rf4 Rae6 35. Kf2 Re2 36.
Kg1 Ne3 0 : 1 [S. Movsesian]
Kulaots 2541 ALEX. Fedorov 2601

Moscow 2004 90/103
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 Be7 5. d3 Nf6 6. Ng5 0-0 7. f4 d5!? 8.
ed5 Bg4!? (a novelty) 9. Qd2 Nd4 10. h3!? Bh5 11. g4 [11. fe5 Nd7 12. 0-0
Ne5 13. Nge4 Kh8!? unclear] h6 [11... Nd7 12. 0-0 (12. Kd1!?) ef4 13. Nh7?!
Kh7 14. gh5 Ne5! with initiative; 13. Qf4 see 11... ef4; 11... ef4 a) 12. 0-0
Nd7 (12... Bg6 13. Nf3 and White is slightly better) 13. Qf4 (13. Nf3 Nf3 14.
Rf3 Ne5 with compensation) a1) 13... Nc2? 14. gh5 Na1 (14... Bg5 15. Qg5
Na1 16. Qg2 and White is superior) 15. Nf7 Qe8 16. d6 Bf6 (only move) 17.
Nd5! b5 18. Nf6 Nf6 19. d7 Nd7 20. Nd6 Kh8 21. Ne8 Rf4 22. Bf4 bc4 23.
Nd6 and White is superior; a2) 13... Bg6 14. Nge4 (14. Rf2 Nb6! 15. Nge4
Nc4 16. dc4 f5!) Nc2 15. Rb1 unclear; b) 12. Qg2 b1) 12... Bg6 13. Nf3 only
move (13. 0-0? Ng4; 13. Bf4? b5! 14. Bb3 b4 and Black is superior) Nd7
(13... b5? 14. Nd4 bc4 15. Nc6 and White is superior) 14. Bf4 Nb6 15. 0-0-0!
Nc2 16. h4 Nc4 17. dc4 Nb4 18. h5! Nd3 19. Rd3 Bd3 20. Ne5 and White is
superior; b2) 12... Nd7! 13. gh5 Bg5 14. 0-0 Ne5 15. Kh1 unclear]
12. Qg2!! [12. 0-0 hg5 a) 13. fg5?! Ng4 (13... Nh7 14. gh5 Bg5 15. Qg2 Kh8
unclear) 14. hg4 Bg4 15. Qg2 Qd7 with initiative; b) 13. fe5 Nd7 (13... Ng4?
14. hg4 Bg4 15. d6 and White is superior) 14. d6 Ne5 15. de7 Qe7 16. Bd5
(only move) Bg6 17. Rf2 Rfd8! unclear] hg5 [better is 12... ef4 13. Nf3 Bg6
14. Bf4 Bd6! 15. Bd6 Re8 with compensation; 14. 0-0 and White is slightly
better] 13. fg5 Nh7 [13... Bg6 14. gf6 Bf6 15. 0-0 and White is superior; 15.
h4!?] 14. gh5 Bg5 [14... Ng5 15. 0-0 Kh8 (with the idea f5) 16. d6 Bf6 17.
Kh1 and White is superior] 15. Rg1 [15. Bg5 Qg5 (15... Ng5 16. 0-0-0 and
White is superior) 16. Qg5 Ng5 a) 17. 0-0-0 a1) 17... a6 18. a4 (18. Ne4? Ne2
19. Kb1 Ne4 20. de4 Ng3 21. Rhe1 Nh5) b5 19. ab5 ab5 20. Nb5 Ngf3 (20...
Ra1 21. Kd2 Ngf3 22. Ke3 only move, and White is superior) 21. Kb1 and
White is superior; a2) 17... f5 18. h4 Ngf3 19. d6 Kh7 20. Bd5 weak point
Nf3; 18... Nf7! unclear; b) 17. h4 Ngf3 18. Kf2 Nd2 19. Rad1 Nc4 20. dc4
Nc2 (20... f5 21. Na4! Nc2 22. Nc5 Rfc8 23. Ne6 Rc4 24. Rhg1 and White is
superior) 21. Ne4 b6] f5! [15... Bh4 16. Kd1 Bf6 17. h6 g6 18. d6! Kh8 19.
Qb7 and White is winning, with the idea 19... Qd6 20. Bf7 Rab8 21. Qd5] 16.
h4!! [16. h6? Bh6! 17. d6 Kh8 18. Bh6 Qh4 19. Kd1 Qh6 20. Qb7 Rad8 with
attack; 16. Bg5 Qg5 17. Qg5 Ng5 18. 0-0-0 Nh3 unclear] Bf6 [16... Bh4 17.
Kd1 Qf6 (17... Bf6 18. Bh6 Qd7 19. Bg7! Qg7 20. Qg7 Bg7 21. h6 and White
is winning, weak point f3) 18. d6 (18. h6? g5! unclear) Kh8 19. Nd5 Qf7 20.
Nf4! and White is winning] 17. Bh6 [17. d6 Kh8 18. h6 Bh4 19. Kd1 g5 20.
Qb7 Qf6 with counterplay] Qd7 (only move) 18. Bg7! Qg7 [18... Bg7 19. h6
Rf7 20. d6 and White is winning, with the idea 20... Kh8 21. Bf7 Bh6 22.
Qg8 Rg8 23. Rg8 mate] 19. Qg7 Bg7 20. h6 Nf3 21. Ke2 Ng1 22. Rg1 Nf6
[22... Rf7 23. d6 Kh8 24. Bf7 Bh6 25. Nd5 and White is winning] 23. d6 Kh7
24. hg7 Rfd8 25. Nd5! (and White is winning) Nh5 [25... Ng4 26. Ne7 Kg7
(only move) 27. Nf5 Kf6 28. Ng3! Nh6 (28... Rh8 29. Ne4 Kf5 30. Bf7! and
White is winning) 29. Nh5 Kf5 30. Rg5 mate] 26. Rg5 Ng7 [26... Kh6 27.
Nc7 Ng7 28. Na8 Ra8 29. Bf7 Rd8 30. Rg6 Kh7 31. Rf6 and White is
winning, weak point Ng7] 27. Nf6 [27... Kh6 28. Bf7 with the idea Rg6 mate;
27... Kh8 28. Rg6!] 1 : 0 [Kulaots]
Motylev 2634 V. Hort 2546

Hoogeveen (open) 2003 90/233
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 c4 7. Nbd2 Bd7 8. b3

cb3 9. Nb3 Na5 10. Na5 Qa5 11. Bd2 Ne7 [11... Ba4 see 67/349] 12. Bd3
Qc7 13. 0-0 [13. Ng5!? Nf5 (13... h6 14. Nh7 and White is superior, with the
idea 14... Rh7? 15. Bh7 g6 16. h4! h5 17. g4 and White is winning) 14. Qf3!
(14. g4 Nh4 15. Nh7 Be7 unclear; 14. Qh5 g6 15. Qh3 and White is slightly
better) Be7 15. Nf7! 0-0 16. Bf5 ef5 17. Nd6 Be6 18. 0-0 Bd6 19. ed6 Qd6
20. Bf4 and White is slightly better] h6 14. Nh4!? [a novelty; 14. Ne1; 14.
Qb3; 14. Qe2] g6 [14... g5 15. Nf3 Ng6 16. Qc2 and White is slightly better]
15. g3! Nc8?! [better is 15... Bg7 16. Ng2 and White is slightly better, with
the idea 16... 0-0 17. Ne3 h5 18. g4! with initiative]
16. Bg6! Bb5 [16... fg6 17. Ng6 a) 17... Rh7 18. Qh5 Rf7 (18... Bb5 19. Rfb1
a6 20. a4 Bc4 21. Nf8 Kf8 22. Bh6 Ke7 23. Qg6 and White is winning) 19.
Nh8 (19. Bh6 Bh6 20. Qh6 Bb5 21. Rfc1) Bb5 20. f4!! (20. Rfb1 Bd3 21. Nf7
Qf7 22. Qf7 Kf7 23. Rb7 Kg6 24. a4) Bf1 21. Rf1 Bg7 22. f5 and White is
winning; b) 17... Rg8 18. Qh5 Kd8 19. Bh6!? (19. Nf8 Rf8 20. Bh6 Re8 21.
Bg5 with compensation) Bh6 (19... Be7 20. Nf4 Qc3 21. Qf7 Re8 22. Rac1
and White is superior) 20. Qh4 Ke8 21. Qh6 Ne7 22. Ne7 (22. Nf4) Ke7 23.
Qh7 Kf8 24. f4! (24. Rae1 Rg7) b1) 24... Qc8 25. f5! ef5 26. Rf5 Bf5 27. Rf1
Rg5 28. Qh8 Ke7 29. Qf6 Kd7 30. Qg5 and White is winning; b2) 24... Rg7
25. Qh8 Rg8 26. Qh6 Ke8 (26... Rg7 27. f5 ef5 28. e6 and White is winning)
27. Qh7 Rf8 28. f5 and White is superior, with attack; b3) 24... Rc8 25. f5 ef5
26. Qh6 Ke8 27. e6 Bb5 28. Qh5 Ke7 29. Rab1!! (29. Rf5 Qc3 30. Qh4 Ke8)
Bf1 30. Rb7 Qb7 31. Qf7 Kd6 32. Qb7 Rc7 33. Qb4 Ke6 34. Kf1; b4) 24...
Qd8 25. Rab1! (25. f5 ef5 26. Rf5 Bf5 27. Rf1 Rg5 28. Rf5 Rf5 29. Qf5 equal)
b6 26. c4 dc4 (26... Qe7 27. Qh6) 27. f5 (27. Qh6 Ke8 28. Qh5 Kf8 29. f5) ef5
28. d5 Qe7 29. Qh6 Ke8 (29... Qg7 30. Qf4 Qg5 31. e6 Qf4 32. Rf4 and White
is slightly better) 30. e6 with attack] 17. Qg4! fg6 [17... Ne7 18. Qe6] 18.
Ng6 Bf1 [18... Rh7! a) 19. Rfb1 Bd3 20. Qe6 Ne7 21. Nf8 Kf8 22. Bh6 Ke8
23. Qf6 Bb1 (23... Ng6 24. Rd1) 24. Rb1 (24. e6 Ng6) Kd7 25. Bf4 with
compensation; b) 19. Qe6 Ne7 (19... Re7 20. Qg8 Rf7 21. e6 Rf6 22. Bh6 Ne7
23. Qh8 Ng6 24. Qf6 and White is winning) 20. Nf8 Kf8 21. Bh6 (21. Qf6
Kg8) Ke8 22. Qf6 (22. Rfe1 Qc6 23. Qc6 Nc6 24. Bg5 and White is superior;
22. Rfb1) Kd7 23. e6 (23. Rfb1 Bd3 24. Bf4 Ng8! 25. e6 Kc6 26. Qg5 Qe7)
Kc6 24. Bf4 Qd8 25. Rfe1 and White is superior] 19. Qe6 Ne7 20. Nh8 Bd3
21. Nf7 Qd7 22. Nd6 Kd8 23. Qf6 [23. Qf7!? Kc7 24. e6 (24. Qf3 see 23.
Qf6) Qd8 25. Bf4 Kc6 26. Rc1 and White is superior, with attack] Kc7 24.
Qf3! [24. e6 Ng8!! and Black is slightly better] Ba6 25. Rb1 [25. c4!? Qe6
(only move) 26. cd5 Nd5 27. Rc1 Kd7 28. Rc5 and White is superior] Qe6
[25... Rb8 26. c4 a) 26... Bc4 27. Nc4 (27. e6) dc4 28. e6 and White is
winning; b) 26... Qe6 see 25... Qe6; c) 26... dc4 27. d5! and White is superior]
26. c4 Rd8 [26... Bg7 27. cd5 Nd5 28. Rc1 Kd7 29. Rc5 Nb6 30. d5 and
White is winning; 26... Rb8! a) 27. Qc3? dc4 28. Qa5 Kd7; b) 27. Bb4!? Kd7
(27... dc4 28. Nc4!) 28. cd5 Nd5 29. Ne4 and White is superior; c) 27. cd5
Nd5 (only move) 28. Rc1 Kd7 29. Rc5 Nf6 (29... Nb6 30. Ne4! Be7 31. d5
Qh3 32. e6 Kd8 33. Rc1 Rc8 34. Rd1 and White is winning) 30. Qf6 Qf6 31.
ef6 b6 (31... Bd6 32. Rd5 Rd8 33. Bb4) 32. Rh5! Bd6 33. Rd5! Rd8 (33... Bb7
34. Rd6 Kd6 35. Bf4) 34. Bb4 Ke6 35. Rd6! Rd6 36. f7 and White is winning]
27. Nb7! [and White is winning; 27. Rb7! and White is winning] Bb7 28.
Ba5 Kc8 29. Bd8 Nf5 30. Rb7! Kb7 31. cd5 Qc8 [31... Nd4 32. de6 Nf3 33.
Kg2 Ne5 34. e7] 32. d6 Ka6 33. Qd3 Kb7 34. Qb5 Ka8 35. Bc7 a6 36. Qc6
Qb7 37. d7 1 : 0 [Motylev]
Rublevsky 2655 K. Asrian 2599

Moscow 2004 90/75
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c4 cd4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Nd4 e6 7. Nc3 Bb4!? [7...
Bc5 see 89/58] 8. Nc6 bc6 9. Bd3 [a novelty; 9. Qa4] d4 [9... dc4 10. Bc4
Qd1 11. Kd1 and White is slightly better] 10. a3 Ba5 [10... Qa5? 11. ab4 Qa1
12. Ne4 and White is superior; 10... Be7 11. Ne4 Qa5 12. b4 Qe5 13. 0-0 Nf6
14. Qf3 with compensation, with attack] 11. b4 Bc7? [11... dc3 12. ba5 Qa5
13. 0-0 Ne7 with compensation] 12. Ne4 Be5 13. Qh5! Qc7 [13... Bc7 14.
Bg5! Ne7 15. Bf6!! Kf8 16. Ng5 Qe8 17. Bd4 and White is superior]
14. f4! Bd6 [14... Bf4 15. 0-0 Be5 (15... Qe5 16. Qf3 Bh2 17. Kh1 f5 18. g3
Ne7 19. Bf4 fe4 20. Be4 and White is winning; 15... Bc1 16. Rac1 Kf8 17.
Qc5 Ne7 18. Nd6 f6 19. Rce1 and White is superior, with attack) 16. Rf7 Bh2
17. Kh1 Qf7 18. Qh2 Qe7 19. Bg5 Nf6 20. Rf1 0-0 21. Qh4 and White is
superior, with attack] 15. Bb2 Ne7 16. 0-0 Bf4 [16... Ng6 17. Bd4 0-0 18.
Ng5 h6 19. Nf7 Nf4 20. Nh6 gh6 21. Qg4 Kf7 22. Rf4 Bf4 23. Qg7 Ke8 24.
Bg6 Rf7 25. Qg8 and White is winning] 17. Bd4 Nf5 18. Bc5 Ba6 19. Rf4!
Qf4 20. Rf1 Qh6 [20... g6 21. Nf6 Kd8 22. Qd1 Ne3 23. Qd2 and White is
winning; 20... Qc7 21. Rf5 g6 (21... ef5 22. Nd6 Kd8 23. Bf5 and White is
winning) 22. Qh4 gf5 23. Nf6 Kd8 24. Nd5 and White is winning; 20... Qe5
21. Nd6 Kd7 22. Bf5 ef5 23. Rf5 Qe1 24. Rf1 and White is winning] 21. Rf5!
Qh5 [21... ef5 22. Nd6 Kd7 23. Qf7 Kd8 24. Nb7 Bb7 25. Qe7 Kc8 26. Bf5
and White is winning] 22. Nd6 Kd7 23. Rh5 (and White is winning) Raf8
24. b5 Bc8 25. Rh4 Kc7 26. Nc8 Rc8 27. Ba7 Rhd8 28. Be4 Rd1 29. Kf2
Rcd8 30. Rh7 R8d2 31. Kg3 Ra2 32. Bc5 Rc1 33. b6 Kb7 34. Rg7 1 : 0
[Rublevsky]
Bologan 2665 N. Short 2712

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 0-0 7. e3 b6 8.
Bd3 Bb7 9. 0-0 Nbd7 10. Bg3 c5 11. cd5 Nd5 12. Nd5 ed5 13. Ne5! [a
novelty, and White is slightly better; 13. b3 see 87/(403)] Ne5 [13... cd4 14.
ed4 Ne5 15. Be5 Bd6 16. f4 f6 17. Qg4!; 13... c4!?] 14. Be5 c4 15. Bc2 f6
[only move; 15... Bd6 16. f4 (16. Qh5 Be5 17. de5 d4) a) 16... f6 a1) 17. Qh5
fe5 18. fe5 Qe8 (18... Qg5 19. Qg5) 19. Qe8 Rae8 20. ed6 Rf1 21. Rf1 Rd8;
a2) 17. Qg4! fe5 18. fe5 Qe8 19. ed6 Qe3 20. Kh1 Rf1 21. Rf1 Rf8 22. Rf8
Kf8 23. Qf5 Kg8 24. h3 and White is winning; b) 16... Be5 17. fe5 Qg5 18.
Qe2 and White is superior] 16. Bf4 f5 [16... Bd6 17. Qg4 Bf4 18. ef4 Bc8 19.
Qg6 f5 20. Rfe1 Qf6 21. Qf6 Rf6 22. Re8 Rf8 23. Re5 and White is superior;
16... Qd7 17. Qh5 f5 18. g4 fg4 19. Qg6 Qc6 20. Qh7 Kf7 21. f3 with
initiative] 17. Be5 [17. g4 Bg5 18. Be5 f4] b5 18. f4 [18. Qh5 Qe8 19. Qh3
Bc8 20. Qg3 Qf7; 18. g4 Bc8 19. gf5 Bf5 20. Bf5 Rf5 21. f4 Qe8 and White
is slightly better] Bc8 19. Rf3 [19. Qh5 Qe8 20. Qh3 a5 with the idea Ra6]
Bf6 20. Rg3 Qe8
21. h4! [with the idea h5, Rg6] a5 22. h5 Kh8 23. Qf3 Be6 24. Rg6 (and
White is superior) b4 [with the idea a4, b3; 24... Qe7] 25. b3 [25. Qg3 Qe7
(25... Ra7) 26. Ba4 Bg8] Be5? [25... Rc8 26. bc4 dc4 27. d5 a) 27... Be5 28.
fe5 Bf7 29. Qf5 Bg6 30. Qg6 Qg6 31. Bg6 a1) 31... c3 a11) 32. d6 Rfd8 33.
Rd1 Rc6 (33... a4 34. e6 b3 35. e7 and White is winning) 34. Kf2 Kg8 35.
Ke2 a4 36. Bc2; a12) 32. Bc2 Rc5 33. e4 Rc4 34. e6 Rd4 35. Rd1 Rd1 36.
Bd1 Re8 37. Bb3 and White is winning; a2) 31... b3 32. ab3 cb3 33. Ra5 Rc3
34. e6 Re3 35. Ra7 Re1 36. Kh2 Rb8 37. e7 and White is winning; a3) 31...
Rc5 32. e6 Rd5 33. e7 Rg8 34. e8Q Re8 35. Be8 and White is superior; b)
27... Bd7 28. Qg3 Rf7 29. Bf6 Rf6 30. Rg7 c3 (30... a4 31. e4 fe4 32. Re1 Bf5
33. Rb7 Qf8 34. Be4 Qc5 35. Kh2 and White is winning) 31. a3 with
initiative] 26. fe5 Rc8 27. Rf1 cb3 [27... c3 28. g4! Bf7 29. gf5 Bg6 30. hg6
Rc6 31. Qd5 and White is winning] 28. Bb3 Bf7 [28... Qd7 29. g4 fg4 30.
Qf8 Rf8 31. Rf8 Kh7 32. Kf2 Qe7 33. Bc2 and White is winning] 29. Rd6
Bh5 30. Qf4! [and White is winning; 30. Qd5 Be2 31. Re1 a4 32. Re2 Rc1
33. Kf2 ab3 34. Qb3 Qh5] Kh7 [30... Be2 31. Rh6 gh6 32. Qh6 Kg8 33. Bd5
Rf7 34. Rf5; 30... Rd8 31. e6 Be2 32. Rc1] 31. Bd5 Be2 32. Re1 Bc4 [32...
Bd3 33. e4 Rc3 34. ef5 Rf5 35. Be4 Be4 36. Qe4] 33. Bc4 Rc4 34. e4 Rc2
[34... fe4 35. Qe4 Kh8 36. e6 Qe7 37. Rd7 Qf6 38. e7 Re8 39. Rf1] 35. ef5
Ra2 36. Qe4 Qa8 [36... a4 37. f6 Kh8 38. fg7 Kg7 39. Qg4] 37. Qg4 [37.
Qa8 Ra8 38. e6 b3 (editorial comment: 38... Kg8!?) 39. e7 b2 (editorial
comment: 39... Re8!?) 40. Rd8 Ra1 41. e8Q Rd8 42. Qg6 Kh8 43. f6 Re1 44.
Kf2] Qa7 38. f6 Rf7 39. e6 Rf6 40. Rd7 1 : 0 [Bologan]

The Most Important Novelty of Chess

Informant 90
Tomislav Paunovic
With the release of its 91st Volume the Chess Informant series enters its 40th
year of existence; representing a wide spectrum of theoretically important
games on the international chess scene. As usual, the newest release brings a
retrospective of the most important novelties of the previous volume,
containing a selection of 30 games of high theoretical importance that
showcases the steady output of creativity and improvements by our
contributors.
This volumes accolades belong to Danish GM Peter Heine Nielsen, whose
star is still very much on the rise. His solution to the problem of rook
placement on the first rank in the fashionable line of the Slav Defence is both
unexpected and aesthetically pleasing, immediately followed by an all-out
raging attack. The accompanying theoretical survey highlights the impact of
his brilliant idea: although 19 Ne6 and 19 Ng6 seem more logical than
the game continuation, one can hardly recommend this line for Black without
some serious improvement. Shirovs courage under fire produced some cool
defensive play; eventually earning him a perpetual draw by the skin of his
teeth. Its a pity that somehow this game did not find its place among the
thirty best games of the previous volume.
Chess Informant has had an important role thus far on an international level,
initiating new contributors and inspiring established ones, and representing
the global scene with a rigorous selection of top class games. The period
ahead of us will show whether or not chess is destined to become just another
artifact of the past or if its vitality will prove that it is something much greater
and outlive us by many generations.
Pet. Nielsen 2638 Shirov 2736

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nc4 Qc7
8. g3 e5 9. de5 Ne5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. Bg2 g5 12. Ne3 gf4 13. Nf5 0-0-0 14.
Qc2 Nc5 15. 0-0 Ne6 16. Qe4 fg3 17. hg3 a5 [17...Nc5 with the idea 18. Qc2
Ne6 19. Rfd1 Bc5 20. Ne4 Bb4; 17...h5 18. a5 h4 19. a6 hg3 20. ab7 Kb8; 19.
Nh4!?] 18. Rfc1! [a novelty; 18. Rad1 see 89/357] Nc5 [18...Bc5? 19. b4!
Bb4 (19...ab4 20. Nb5 cb5 21. ab5 Kb8 22. b6!) 20. Nb5 with attack] 19. Qf4
h5 [19...Ne6!? 20. Qh4 Ng6] 20. b4! (and White is superior) Ne6 [20...Nb3?!
21. Nb5 Qb8 22. Na7 Qa7 23. Qe5 Nc1 24. Bh3 (24. Ne7!? Be7 25. Bh3) Ne2
25. Kg2 and White is winning; 20...ab4 21. Nb5! cb5 22. ab5 with attack] 21.
Qe4 Bb4 22. Nb5 Qb8 23. f4!? [23. Qe3 h4!? with the idea 24. Na7 Kd7 25.
Rd1 Ke8 26. Rd8 Kd8 27. Rd1 Ke8 28. Nc8 Kf8] Ng4 [23...Bc5? 24. Rc5
Nc5 25. Nbd6! Rd6 26. Qe5; 23...Nc5? 24. Nbd6! Rd6 25. Qe5] 24. Rc6! bc6
25. Qc6 Nc7 26. Nc7 [26. Rb1 Rd7! with the idea 27. Nbd6 Kd8 28. Nb7
Ke8! 29. Nfd6 Ke7 30. Nf5 Ke8 equal] Qc7 [26...Qa7 27. e3! (27. Kh1? Qc7
28. Qa6 Kd7 29. Rd1 Ke8 30. Qc6 Kf8 31. Qc7 Rd1 32. Bf1 Rf1 33. Kg2 Rf2
34. Kg1 Re2!) Qc7 28. Qa6 Kd7 29. Rd1 Ke8 30. Qc6 Kf8 31. Qc7 Rd1 32.
Bf1 Kg8 33. Kg2 Rd2!; 33. e4! and White is superior] 27. Qa6 Kd7 28. Rd1
Ke8 29. Qc6! Kf8 only move [29...Qc6? 30. Bc6 Kf8 31. Rd8 mate;
29...Rd7? 30. Rd7 Qd7 31. Qa8 Qd8 32. Bc6 Kf8 33. Qd8 mate] 30. Qc7
Rd1 31. Bf1 Kg8 only move [31...Nf6? 32. Qe5!] 32. Kg2?! [32. e4! and
White is superior]
32...Rd5!! 33. Kf3 [33. e4 Rc5! 34. Qd8 Kh7 35. Qd3 Rc3 36. Qd1 Rhc8 37.
Bd3 Rd8 38. Qh1! Rc2!! 39. Bc2 Rd2 40. Kf1 Nh2 and Black is superior]
Nh2 34. Kg2 Ng4 35. Kf3 Nh2 36. Kg2 1/2 : 1/2 [M. Golubev]
Kramnik 2777 V. Topalov 2735

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8.
c3 d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. ab5 ab5 11. Na3 0-0 12. Nb5 ed4 13. cd4 Bg4 14. Ba4
d5 15. e5 Ne4 16. Be3 f6 17. Qc2! [17. Nc7 see 89/(308)] Nb4 [17...Na5 18.
b4 Nc4 19. Bb3 and White is superior; 17...Ne7 18. ef6 gf6 19. Nd2 and
White is superior] 18. Qb3 Ba5
19. Nd2! [a novelty, and White is superior; 19. Na7] c6 20. Na7! Bf5
[20...Nd2 21. Bd2 fe5 22. Bb4 Rb4 23. Qg3 Bd7 24. Bc6 and White is
winning] 21. Ne4 Be4 22. f3! Bg6 [22...Nc2 23. Qa2 Ne3 24. Nc6 Qb6 25.
fe4 and White is superior; 22...Bc2 23. Nc6 (23. Qc3 and White is superior)
Bb3 24. Nd8 Ba4 25. Ne6 and White is superior] 23. Qa3! fe5 [23...Qb6 24.
Nc6 Nc6 25. Bc6 Qc6 26. Qa5 and White is superior] 24. Nc6 Nc6 25. Bc6
Bb4 [25...Bc7 and White is superior] 26. Qa7 [26. Qb3!? Bf7 (26...Bd2 27.
Qd5 Bf7 28. Qe5 Be3 29. Qe3 and White is winning) 27. Qd3 and White is
superior] e4 [26...Bd3 only move, and White is superior] 27. Qa2! and White
is winning [27. fe4 Be4 28. Rf8 Bf8 29. Rf1 Bd6 and White is slightly better]
Kh8 [better is 27...Rf5 28. g4! Rf3 29. Rf3 ef3 30. Qd5 Qd5 31. Bd5 Bf7 32.
Ra8] 28. Qd5 Qc7 [28...Qc8 29. Ra7! with the idea 29...ef3 30. Bh6!] 29. fe4
Bf7 [29...Rfd8 30. Bf4! Qb6 31. Bb8 Rd5 32. ed5 Qd4 33. Kh1] 30. Qd7
1 : 0 [Kramnik]
Shirov 2736 T. Radjabov 2656

Linares 2004 90/497
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 0-0 6. Nf3 e5 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 c6 13. Bb2 h6 14. Ne6 Be6
15. de6 fe4 16. Ne4 Ne4 17. Re4 d5 18. cd5 cd5 19. Re5 Be5 20. Be5 Qb6
21. Bb2! [a novelty; 21. Bd4 see 68/(546)] Kh7!? [21...Qe6?! 22. Qd4 Kf7
23. Qg7 Ke8 24. Qh6 and White is superior; 21...Qb4 22. Rb1 with
compensation] 22. Qe2!? [22. Qd2!?; 22. Qe1!?] d4!? [22...Qb4? 23. Qe5
Rg8 24. Rc1 Rac8 25. Rc8 Nc8 26. Bd5 Ne7 27. Bf3 Nf5 28. g4 Ng7 29. e7
Ne8 30. h4! and White is winning] 23. h4! [23. Rd1 Rad8 24. Qc4 Nf5
unclear] Rf6! 24. Re1 Qb4
25. a3! [25. h5?! Rf3! 26. gf3 Rg8!; 25. Rd1!? a) 25...Nf5 26. h5! Rg8
(26...Qe7 27. Bd5 and White is superior; 26...Re8 27. Bd5 and White is
superior) 27. hg6 Rgg6 28. Bh5 Re6 29. Bg6 Rg6 30. Bd4! Nd4 31. Qe4 and
White is slightly better; b) 25...Rd8 b1) 26. Qe5 Rf3! (26...Rf5 27. Qc7 with
compensation) 27. gf3 Qb2 28. Qf6 Qa3 equal; b2) 26. h5! b21) 26...gh5
b211) 27. Qe4 Ng6 28. Bh5 Qe7! (28...Qb2 29. Bg6 Rg6 30. Rb1 Qb1 31.
Qb1 and White is superior) 29. Rd4 (29. f4 Qe6 30. Qe6 Re6 31. f5 Nf4 32.
fe6 Nh5 33. Rd4 Rd4 34. Bd4 Kg6 35. Ba7 Ng7 36. e7 Kf7 equal) Rd4 30.
Bd4 Qe6 31. Bg6 Rg6 32. Qb7 Kg8 33. Qa8 Kf7 34. Qa7 Qe7 equal; b212)
27. Bh5 Ng6! 28. Rd3 (28. Qe4 Qe7!) Qc4! unclear; b213) 27. Qd3! Ng6 28.
Ba3 Qb6 29. e7 Re8 30. Qd4 Qd4 31. Rd4 Re6 32. Bh5 R8e7 33. Be7 Re7
34. f4 and White is slightly better; b22) 26...Qb6!? 27. hg6 Kg8 (27...Kg7!?
28. Bg4 Qc5 unclear) 28. Bg4 Rg6 unclear; b23) 26...Qc5!? 27. Be4! (27.
Qe4?! Nc6 28. hg6 Kg7 and Black is slightly better) Kg8 (27...Kg7 28. Bg6!
Ng6 29. hg6 Rg6 30. e7 Qc6 31. g3 Re8 32. Rd4 Kh7 33. Ba3 and White is
slightly better) 28. Bg6! Ng6 29. hg6 Qe7 30. Bd4 Re6 (30...Rg6 31. Qe5
Kh7 32. Re1 and White is slightly better) 31. Qc4! b5 32. Qb3 with
compensation] Qd6! [25...Qb6?! 26. Qe5 (26. h5 Raf8) Rf5 27. Qd4 Qd4 28.
Bd4 Nc6 29. Bc3! (29. Be3 Rf3! 30. gf3 Re8 31. Rd1 Re6 32. Kg2 equal) Rc5
30. Bb2! and White is slightly better, with the idea h5, with the idea g4, h5]
26. h5! Raf8!? [26...Re8 27. Qb5! (27. Qd3 Nc6 28. hg6 Kg8 and Black is
slightly better, with the idea 29. Bg4 Qf4 30. f3 h5! 31. Re4 Qg5 32. Bh3 Ne5
33. Re5 Qe5 34. Bd4 Qd5) Rd8 28. hg6 Ng6 29. Qb7 Qe7 30. a4!! (30. Qe4?
Rd6; 30. Qe7?! Ne7 31. Re4 Rf3 32. gf3 d3 33. Re1 Kg6 equal) Qb7
(30...Re8? 31. Bd4 Qb7 32. Bb7 Rfe6 33. Re6 Re6 34. a5 a6 35. Bb6 and
White is superior; 30...Rd6 31. Qe7 Ne7 32. Bg4 Rg6 33. Bh3 and White is
slightly better) 31. Bb7 Ne7 32. Ba3 and White is slightly better; 26...Rd8 27.
Bb7 (27. hg6 Ng6) gh5 28. Qd3 Kg8 (28...Kg7? 29. Re4 Qb6 30. Bd4 Qb7
31. Bf6 Kf6 32. Rf4 Ke5 33. Qe3 Kd6 34. Rd4 Nd5 35. e7 and White is
winning) 29. Re4! with compensation, with the idea 29...Nf5 30. Ba6!] 27.
Qe4!? [27. hg6?! Ng6 28. Qe4 Re8!; 27. Qd3 Rd8 28. hg6 Ng6 unclear; 27.
Qc4!? a) 27...Rf4 28. Be4 Nc6 (28...Rh4 29. Bg6 Ng6 30. hg6 Kg6 31. g3
Rg4 32. Qd3 Kg7 33. Re4! and White is superior) 29. hg6 Kg7 30. Bc6 bc6
31. e7 Re8 32. Re4! and White is superior; b) 27...Rd8 28. hg6 Ng6 (28...Kg6
29. Re4 and White is superior; 28...Kg7 29. Rd1 Qe6 30. Rd4 Qc4 31. Rc4
and White is slightly better) 29. Bb7! Qb6 30. Bf3! and White is slightly
better; c) 27...Nf5 28. hg6 Rg6 29. Bb7 d3 (29...Re8 30. Qd3 Qf4 31. Bd5 and
White is superior) 30. Bd5! and White is slightly better; d) 27...Rf3! 28. gf3
gh5! (28...Rf3? 29. Qd4 Qd4 30. Bd4 b6 31. Rc1 and White is winning;
28...Rf4? 29. Re4 Re4 30. fe4 Nc6 31. Qd5 and White is winning; 28...Rf5 29.
Qd4 Rg5 30. Kf1 Qd4 31. hg6 Kg6 32. Bd4 and White is slightly better) 29.
Bd4 b6 30. Bc3 Qd5 unclear] Nc6! [27...Rd8 28. hg6 Ng6 29. Bh5! Qc6 30.
Bd4 Qe4 31. Re4 Rf5 32. g4! and White is superior; 27...Re8 28. Qb7 (28.
Qd4? Qd4 29. Bd4 Rf3 30. gf3 Nc6! and Black is slightly better) Re6 29. Re6
Qe6 30. hg6 Kg6 31. Bd4 and White is slightly better] 28. hg6 Kg7 [28...Kg8
29. Bc1! (29. Qd5 Qd5 30. Bd5 Re8; 29. Qg4 Re8 30. Qh5 Rfe6 31. Bd5 Kg7
32. Be6 Re6 33. Re3! Rg6 34. Re4 unclear) Re8 30. Bg4 d3 (30...Nd8 31.
Rd1! Ne6 32. Rd4!) 31. Bh6! Qd4 32. Bf5! and White is superior] 29. Bc1!
Qe7 [29...h5 30. Bh5 Qc5 31. Bf3 Rg6 32. Bb2 with initiative]
30. Bh6! Kh6 31. Qh4 Kg6 32. Bc6! [32. Be4 Rf5 33. Qe7 Ne7 34. g4 Kf6
35. gf5 b5 equal] bc6 [32...Re6 33. Qg4 Kf6 34. Qd4 and White is winning]
33. Re5 Qe6?? [33...Re6! 34. Qh5 Kg7 35. Rg5 Qg5 36. Qg5 Rg6 37. Qe5
Kg8 38. Qd4 Rf7 39. g3 Rfg7! equal] 34. Re6 Re6 [Q 6/c] 35. Qg4! Kf7 36.
Qd4 and White is winning [Q 6/b] a6 37. g4 Rg8 38. f3 Rf6 39. Kf2 Re8 40.
Qc4 Kg7 41. Qa6 Ref8 42. Qd3 c5 43. a4 Ra8 44. Qc3 Kg6 45. Qc5 Rfa6
46. Kg3 Ra4 [Q 6/a] 47. Qd6 Kf7 48. g5! R8a6 49. Qd7 Kg6 50. f4 Ra1 51.
Qd3 Kg7 52. Qd4 Kg8 53. Kg4 R1a2 54. Qd8 Kg7 55. Qc7 Kg8 56. f5 Ra7
57. Qd8 Kg7 58. f6 Kh7 59. Qd3 Kh8 60. Kf5 Ra8 61. Qh3 Kg8 62. Kg6
R2a7 63. Qe6 Kf8 64. Qd6 Kg8 65. Qd5 Kh8 66. Qh1 1 : 0 [Shirov]
V. Milov 2680 M. Parligras 2549

Antalya 2004 90/446
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. Bg5 Bb7 6. Nd2 c5 7. d5! (a
novelty) h6 8. Bh4 ed5 9. cd5 Qe7 [9...Bc3 10. bc3 Bd5 (10...g5 11. Bg3 Nd5
12. Nc4 and White is superior) 11. e4 g5 12. ed5 (12. Bg3!?) gh4 (12...Qe7
13. Be2 gh4 14. 0-0 0-0 15. Bd3 and White is superior) 13. Qf3 with
initiative] 10. Qc2! [10. e3 Bc3 11. bc3 Bd5 and Black is slightly better] 0-0
[10...Bc3 11. bc3 Bd5 12. 0-0-0 Nc6 (12...0-0 see 10...0-0) 13. e4 Be6 14.
Ba6 (14. f4? g5 15. fg5 Ng4 and Black is superior) Rd8 15. Rde1 with
initiative, with the idea f4] 11. 0-0-0 Bc3 [11...d6 12. e4 Nbd7 13. f4 a)
13...g5 14. fg5 Ng4 15. Nf3 Ne3 16. gh6! (16. Qf2 Nd1 17. Qg3 h5 18. g6 f6
19. Nd1 Qe4 20. Qd6 unclear) f6 17. Qf2 Nd1 18. Nd1 and White is superior;
b) 13...c4! 14. Re1 Rac8 b1) 15. e5 de5 16. fe5 Ne5 17. Nc4 (17. Nf3? Bd6)
Rc4 18. Bc4 Rc8 19. Bb3 Qd6 20. Bf6 Qf6 21. Kb1 Bc3 22. bc3 Qd6 with
compensation; b2) 15. Nc4 b5 16. e5 de5 17. fe5 g5 18. ef6 Qf6 19. Bf2 bc4
unclear; b3) 15. Nf3!? and White is slightly better] 12. bc3 [12. Qc3 g5
(12...Bd5 13. e4 g5 14. Bg5 hg5 15. ed5 with initiative) 13. Bg3 Nd5 unclear]
Bd5 [12...d6 13. e4 Nbd7 14. f4 (14. f3!? and White is slightly better, with the
idea Nc4) c4 (14...g5 15. fg5 Ng4 16. Re1 hg5 17. Bg3 Nge5 18. Nf3 and
White is superior) 15. Re1 Rac8 16. Nf3 (16. e5? de5 17. fe5 Ne5 18. Nf3
Qa3) Rfe8 17. Nd4 and White is slightly better] 13. e4 Bc6 [13...Bb7 14. f4]
14. f4 d6?! [14...g5 15. fg5 a) 15...Ng4 16. Qd3 hg5 17. Qg3 f5 18. Bc4 (18.
ef5 gh4 19. Qg4 Qg7) Kh8 19. h3! and White is winning; b) 15...Ne4 16. Ne4
(16. Bc4!? hg5 17. Bg3 d5 18. Rhe1 with attack) Be4 (16...Qe4 17. Qf2 with
attack) 17. Qf2 hg5 18. Qg3 f6 19. Bc4 d5 (19...Kg7 20. Rhe1 Nc6 21. Bd5
Bd5 22. Re7 Ne7 23. Bg5 fg5 24. Qg5 Kf7 25. Qh5 and White is winning,
with attack) 20. Rd5 Bd5 21. Bd5 Kh8 22. Ba8 gh4 23. Qh4 Qh7 24. Qh7
Kh7 25. Rd1 and White is superior; 14...Qe6 15. Bc4 (15. e5 Nd5 16. Bc4 b5;
15. Re1!? with initiative) d5 (15...Be4 16. Ne4 Qc4 17. Bf6 d5 18. Nd2 Qf4
19. Rhf1 and White is superior) 16. f5 Qd6 17. Bg3 (17. Bf6 dc4 and Black is
superior) Qe7 (17...Qd7 18. ed5 Nd5 19. Rhe1 b5 20. Bd5 Bd5 21. f6 Re8 22.
Ne4 Qc6 23. Nd6 and White is superior) 18. ed5 Nd5 19. Rhe1 Qg5 20. Qd3
Nf4 21. Bf4 Qf4 22. Re7 and White is slightly better, with initiative, with the
idea 22...Qg5 23. f6! Qf6 24. Rf7 Rf7 25. Rf1] 15. Re1 [and White is
superior, with the idea e5] g5 [15...Nbd7 16. e5 de5 17. fe5 Ne5 18. Nc4 and
White is winning; 15...Qe6 16. Bc4 Qg4 17. Bf6 gf6 18. Re3 Qf4 19. Rg3
Kh8 20. Rf1 Qh4 21. Rh3 Qg5 22. Rf5 Qg2 23. Qd3 and White is winning]
16. fg5 Nh7 17. Bg3 Ng5 [17...hg5 18. e5; better is 17...Nd7 18. gh6 Ne5 and
White is superior] 18. h4 Ne6 19. Nc4 Rd8 20. Ne3 Ng7 [20...Qf8 21. Nf5 d5
22. ed5 Bd5 23. Qf2 and White is winning, with attack]
21. Bc4! and White is winning [21. Nd5 Bd5 22. ed5 Qf8 (22...Qf6 23. Bd3)
23. h5 and White is superior] Nd7 [21...Qe4 22. Qf2! d5 (22...Qg6 23. h5
Nh5 24. Nf5) 23. Bb3 (with the idea Nd5) Qd3 24. Be5 Nd7 (24...Re8 25. Bc2
Qa6 26. Nf5) 25. Bg7 Kg7 26. Nf5 Kf8 27. Rh3; 21...b5 22. Bd5 (22. Nd5
Qe6) Bd5 (22...Qf8 23. Ng4) 23. Nd5 Qe6 24. Nc7 Qg6 25. Qd3] 22. Ng4
Rf8 [22...Ne5 23. Be5 de5 24. Ref1] 23. Nh6 Kh8 24. Qd2 Ne5 25. Be5 de5
[25...Qe5 26. Nf7] 26. Ng4 [with the idea Qh6] 1 : 0 [V. Milov]
Sutovsky 2666 Stefansson 2572

Reykjavik 2004 90/272
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 ed4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc6 bc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5
8. c4 Nb6 9. Nc3 Qe6 10. Qe4 Ba6 11. b3 Bb4 12. Bd2 Bc3 13. Bc3 d5 14.
Qh4 dc4 15. Be2 Nd5 16. Bc4 g5
17. Bd5! (a novelty) cd5! [17...Qd5 18. Qg5 Rd8 19. Qg4 h5 20. Qf3 Rg8 21.
Qd5 cd5 22. g3 c5 23. Rc1 and White is superior; 17...gh4 18. Be6 fe6 19.
Rd1 and White is superior] 18. Qg5 c5 19. 0-0-0 Bb7?! 20. f4! h6 [20...d4
21. f5 Qe7 (21...Qa6 22. e6! and White is winning) 22. Qe7 (22. Bd2 Qg5 23.
Bg5 Rg8 24. h4 Bg2 equal) Ke7 23. Bb2! Bg2 24. Rhg1 Be4 25. Ba3 Bf5 26.
Rg5! Bg6 (26...Ke6 27. Rf1 Bg6 28. Rf6 Kd7 29. Rd6 Kc7 30. Bc5 and White
is superior) 27. Bc5 Ke6 28. Rd4 Rhd8 29. Rd6! Rd6 30. ed6 and White is
superior] 21. Qh5 0-0-0 [21...d4!? 22. f5 Qa6 (22...Qe7 23. Ba5! (weak point
Ke8) c4 24. e6 cb3 25. Kb2! and White is winning) 23. e6 0-0-0
a) 24. Bb2 Qa2 25. e7 (25. Rhe1 Qb3 26. e7 Rdg8 27. f6 Qc4 28. Kb1 Bd5
with attack) Be4! 26. ed8Q Rd8 27. Qe2 Qb1 28. Kd2 Qb2 29. Ke1 Qe2 30.
Ke2 Kb7 unclear; b) 24. e7! Rde8 25. f6! dc3 26. Qc5 Kb8 27. Qd6! Qd6 28.
Rd6 Bg2 29. Rhd1 and White is superior, with the idea Rd8, Kc2-c3, passed
pawn b] 22. f5 Qe7 [22...Qa6 23. Qf7 Rd7 24. Qf6 Qf6 25. ef6 d4 26. Bd2
Bg2 27. Rhg1 and White is superior] 23. e6! d4 24. Ba5 [24. f6 Qe6 25. Qc5
Kb8 26. Rd4 Rc8 27. Qb4 Qc6 28. Rc4 Qg2 with compensation] c4?
[24...Rd6 (only move) 25. ef7 (25. Qf7 Qf7 26. ef7 Rf8) Rf8 26. Rhe1 Qf7 27.
Qf7 Rf7 28. Re5 Rd5 29. Rd5 Bd5 30. g4 and White is superior] 25. Bd8
Qa3 26. Kb1 Be4 [26...cb3 27. Rc1 Kd8 (27...Kb8 28. Bc7 Ka8 29. Qe2 and
White is winning) 28. Qh4 Ke8 29. ef7 Kf8 30. Qd8 Kg7 31. Qd4 Kh7 32.
f8N! Kg8 33. Qb2 and White is winning] 27. Ka1 c3 [27...Rd8 28. Qe2 c3
29. e7 Qe7 30. Qc4 Kb8 31. Rd4 c2 32. Rd8 Qd8 33. Kb2 and White is
winning] 28. Qe2 d3 29. Rd3 [29. Be7 de2 30. Ba3 ed1R 31. Rd1 fe6 32. fe6
and White is winning] Bd3 30. Be7! Qe7 [30...Be2 31. Ba3 fe6 32. f6 Bh5
33. Rc1 and White is winning] 31. Qd3 Qf6 32. Kb1 and White is winning
fe6 33. fe6 Rd8 34. Qe4 Qf2 35. Qc6 Kb8 36. Qc3 Qf5 37. Kb2 Qe6 38.
Rc1 Qd6 39. g3 a6 40. Rc2 1-0 [Sutovsky]
T. Gelashvili 2542 Iordachescu 2627

Dubai 2004 90/447
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. c4 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Bd3 c5 6. 0-0 g6 7. d5!! [a novelty;
7. Nc3 see 84/420] ed5 [7...b5 8. cb5 (8. de6 fe6 9. cb5 d5) Nd5 9. e4 Nb4 10.
Nc3 Bg7 11. Be3 Nd3 12. Qd3 Qc7 13. Rac1 and White is slightly better] 8.
cd5 Bg7 [8...Nd5 9. Be4 (9. e4) Ne3 10. Bb7 Nd1 11. Ba8 and White is
winning; 8...Bd5 9. e4 Bc6 10. Nc3 (10. e5 Nd5 11. Re1) Bg7 11. e5 Ng4 12.
Re1 and White is superior] 9. e4 0-0 [9...d6 10. Qa4 (10. Nc3 0-0 see 9...0-0)
Nbd7 11. Na3 0-0 12. Nc4 Qe7 13. Bf4 Ne8 14. Rfe1 and White is superior]
10. Nc3 [10. e5 a) 10...Nd5 11. Be4 Ne3 12. Bb7 (12. Qd3 d5 13. ed6 Be4 14.
Qe4 Nf1 15. Qa8 Qd6 unclear) Nd1 13. Ba8 Nc6 14. Bc6 (14. Bb7 Nf2 15.
Rf2 Ne5 unclear) dc6 15. Nbd2 Nf2 16. Rf2 and White is slightly better; b)
10...Ng4 11. Bg5 (11. Re1 Bd5 12. h3; 11...d6 unclear) b1) 11...f6 12. Bh4
(12. ef6 Bf6) g5 13. ef6 (13. Bg3 fe5) Qf6 14. Ng5 (14. Bh7 Kh7 15. Ng5
Kg6! 16. Qg4 Qf4 and Black is superior) Qf4 (14...Qb2 15. Bh7 Kh8 16. Qg4
Qa1 17. Qh5 and White is winning) 15. g3 (15. Bh7 Kh8 16. g3 Nf2! unclear)
Qd4 16. Bh7 (16. Nc3 Rf2 17. Bh7 Kh8 18. Qd4 Bd4 19. Rf2 Nf2 20. Kg2 and
White is superior) Kh8 17. Nc3 and White is superior; b2) 11...Qc7 12. d6
(12. Be7 Be5 13. Bf8 Bh2 14. Kh1 Kf8 unclear) Qc8 unclear; b3) 11...Qc8] d6
11. Bf4 Na6 12. Nd2?! [12. Nb5 Nb4 (12...Ne8 and White is slightly better)
13. Bd6 (13. Nd6 Bd5! 14. ed5 Nh5 and Black is slightly better) Re8 with
counterplay; 12. Re1 and White is slightly better; 12. h3 and White is slightly
better] Nh5 13. Be3 Nb4 14. Be2 f5!! 15. ef5 [15. Bh5 f4 16. Bc5 bc5 17.
Be2 a5 and White is slightly better; 15...gh5 and Black is slightly better; 15.
a3 f4 16. Bc5 dc5 17. Bh5 gh5 (17...Nd5 18. Nd5 gh5 unclear) 18. ab4 cb4
with counterplay; 17. ab4] gf5 [15...Bc3 16. bc3 Nd5 17. Bc4 (17. fg6 Ne3
18. gh7 Kh8 19. fe3 Qg5 with compensation) Kg7 18. Bd5 Bd5 19. fg6 hg6
20. c4 and White is slightly better] 16. Bh5 f4 17. Bc5! [17. Bf4 Rf4 18. Bf3
Ba6 with initiative; 17. Nc4 Ba6! (17...fe3 18. Ne3 Qg5 19. Qg4! and White is
slightly better) 18. Be2 Bc4 19. Bc4 fe3 20. fe3 Rf1 (20...Qh4?! 21. Qe2 Be5
22. g3 and White is winning) 21. Bf1 (only move) Qg5 with initiative] dc5
18. Bf3 Kh8 [18...Ba6? 19. a3 Bf1 (19...Bc3 20. bc3 Nd5 21. c4 and White is
winning; 19...Nd3 20. d6 and White is superior) 20. Nf1 Na6 21. d6 and
White is superior; 18...Nd5 19. Qb3 Bc3 (19...Rf5 20. Nde4 and White is
superior) 20. bc3 Qd7 21. Rad1 Rad8 22. Nc4 and White is superior] 19. Qb3
[19. d6! Rb8 (19...Bf3!? 20. Nf3 c4) 20. Bb7 Rb7 21. Nce4 (21. Nde4 f3) Bb2
22. Rb1 Bd4 23. Nf3 and White is slightly better] Ba6 [19...Qd7] 20. Rfd1
Nd3 [20...Bd3 a) 21. Be4 Be4 22. Nde4 (22. Nce4 Qd5 equal) f3; b) 21. Rac1
a5 22. a3 and White is winning]
21. Nde4 [21. Be2 Nf2! (21...Qc8 22. Nde4 and White is superior) a) 22. Kf2
Bd4 23. Kf1 Qh4 24. Nce4 (24. Nde4 Qh2 25. Rd4 f3 and Black is winning)
f3 (24...Qh2) 25. Ba6 (25. Nf3 Be2 26. Ke2 Qe4 and Black is superior; 25.
gf3 Qh3 26. Ke1 Qh4 equal) Qh2 26. gf3 (26. Nf3 Qg1 27. Ke2 Qg2 and
Black is winning) b5!! (26...h5 27. Ke1 h4 28. Rdc1 h3 29. Kd1; 26...Rae8 27.
Ke1 Qf2 mate; 27. Rdc1; 26...Rg8 27. Ke1 Rg2 28. Rdc1 Re8 29. Nf1 Qh4 30.
Kd1 Re4 31. fe4 Qg4 and Black is winning; 29. Rc2 and White is winning)
a1) 27. Rdc1 Rg8 and Black is winning; a2) 27. Bb5 Rab8 28. Ke1 (28. Qd3
Rg8 29. Ke1 Qh4 and Black is winning) a6 with compensation; a3) 27. Ke1
c4 28. Nf1 (28. Nc4 Rg8 29. Qe3 Be3 30. Ne3 Rg1 and Black is winning) Qh4
29. Ke2 cb3 30. Rd4 Qh1 with attack; b) 22. Ba6 Bd4 (22...Nd1 23. Nd1 and
White is winning; 22...f3 23. Nf3) b1) 23. Nf3 Nd1 24. Nd4 cd4 25. Nd1 (25.
Rd1 dc3 26. Qc3 Qf6 equal) f3 with counterplay; b2) 23. Nb5 Be3 24. Re1
(24. Qc3 Kg8 25. Kf1 Nd1 26. Rd1 Qh4 27. Ne4 Qh2 28. Nf6 Rf6 29. Qf6 Qh1
30. Ke2 Qh5 equal) b21) 24...Ng4 25. Re3 fe3 b211) 26. Nf3? Rf3 27. gf3
Qg5 28. Qc3 (28. Nd6 Nh2 29. Kh1 Qh5 30. Qc3 Kg8 31. Kg2 Nf3 32. Qe3
Rf8 and Black is winning) Ne5 29. Kh1 (29. Kf1 Rg8 and Black is winning)
Rg8 and Black is winning; b212) 26. Qc3! Kg8 27. Nf3 Rf3 28. gf3 Qg5 29.
Qc2 and White is superior; b22) 24...Bd2 25. Re2 Be3 26. Rf2 Bf2 27. Kf2
Qh4 28. Kg1 f3 29. Qc3 Rf6 unclear; b3) 23. Kf1! b31) 23...Ng4 24. Nf3 Nh2
(24...Ne3 25. Ke2 Qe8 26. Kd2 Nd1 27. Rd1 Be3 28. Kc2 Qg6 29. Bd3 Qg2
30. Be2 Qg6 31. Rd3 and White is superior) 25. Nh2 Qh4 26. Ne4 Qh2 27.
Qh3 Qg1 28. Ke2 f3 29. Qf3 Rf3 30. Rg1 Re3 and Black is slightly better; 27.
Qf3 and White is superior; b32) 23...Nd1 24. Nd1! (24. Qd1 Qh4 25. Qf3 Qh2
unclear; 24. Rd1 Qh4 25. Nce4 Qh2 unclear) f3! 25. Nf3 Qh4 with attack]
Ne5 22. Nd2 Qg5 [22...Nd3; better is 22...Qh4!? with the idea Rf6, Rg8 with
attack] 23. Nb5! c4 24. Qa4 Bb5 25. Qb5 Rac8 ( unclear) 26. Rac1 [26. Qa4
c3 27. bc3 Rc3 28. Qe4 (28. Be4 f3 29. g3 Qg4 and Black is winning) Ra3
unclear] Rc5 27. Qa6 [27. Qb4 Nd3 28. Ne4 Nb4 29. Ng5 Bb2 30. Ne6! and
White is slightly better; 27...Qh4 and Black is superior, weak point f2] Ra5
28. Qb7 Ra2 29. d6 [29. Be4 f3 30. g3 Qg4 31. d6 Rb2 and Black is
superior] b5! 30. Qe7 h6 [30...Qe7 31. de7 Re8 a) 32. Ne4 Nd3 33. Be2 (33.
Nc5 Bb2 34. Nd3 Bc1 35. Nc1 Ra1 and Black is winning) Bb2 34. Bd3 cd3
(34...Bc1 35. Bc4 bc4 36. Rd8 Ba3 37. Re8 Kg7 38. Rg8 Kh6 39. g4 Be7 40.
Kg2 equal; 38. Kf1) 35. Rc7 Ba3 and Black is superior; b) 32. Nc4 Nf3 33.
gf3 Bf6 34. Nd6 Rg8! (34...Re7 35. Rc8 Kg7 36. Nf5 and White is superior)
35. Kf1 Be7 and Black is slightly better] 31. Be4 Rb2 32. Nf3 Nf3 33. Bf3
Qc5 34. Qc7! Qf2 35. Kh1 Qb6 36. Qe7 Qd8 37. Re1 [37. Qa7 c3 38. d7 b4
and Black is superior] Bf6 time [37...Rd2! 38. Rcd1 Rd1 39. Bd1; 38...c3 and
Black is superior] 38. Qe6 Rd2 39. Rcd1 c3 40. d7 Rd1? [40...b4 41. Rd2
cd2 42. Rd1 Qe7 43. Qe7 Be7 44. Rd2 a5 and Black is slightly better] 41.
Bd1! [with attack, diagonal b1-h7] Qb6? [41...Kg7 42. Qg4 Bg5 43. Bc2 (43.
h4 h5! 44. Qg5 Qg5 45. hg5 Rd8 46. Re7 Kg6 unclear) Rf7 44. Rd1 with
initiative; 42. Bc2 with compensation] 42. Qf5 (and White is winning) Be7
43. Qe4 Rf7 44. Qe7 Re7 45. Re7 c2 46. Bc2 1 : 0 [Iordachescu]
Rublevsky 2671 Lugovoi 2550

Russia 2004 90/204
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Be3 a6 8.
Bb3 Qc7 9. f4 Be7 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Qf3 b5 12. e5 Nd4 13. Bd4 de5 14. fe5
Nd7 15. Be6 fe6 16. Qa8 Bb7 17. Rf8 Nf8 [17...Bf8 18. Qe8 Qc6 19. Kf2
Qg2 20. Ke1 Qh1 21. Kd2 Qa1 (21...Qh2 22. Ne2 Ne5 23. Qe6 Nf7 24. Rf1
Qh6 25. Nf4 and White is superior) 22. Qe6 Kh8 23. Qd7 Qh1 24. Ne2 and
White is superior] 18. Qe8 Bc5 19. Ne2 [19. Bc5 Qc5 20. Kf1 Qe5 with
compensation] Qe5 20. Rf1 [20. Bc5 Qc5 21. Kf1 Qc2 with compensation]
Bd4 21. Nd4 Qd4 22. Kh1 Bg2 23. Kg2 [Q 9/b] Qd2
24. Kf3! [a novelty; 24. Kg3 see 48/(346)] g5!? [24...h6 25. h4 g5 26. hg5
hg5 27. Qc6 and White is winning; 24...Qc2 25. Kg3 Qd3 26. Rf3 Qd6 27.
Kh3 and White is winning] 25. Qa8! [25. h3 Qc2 26. Kg3 Qd3 27. Rf3 Qd6
28. Kg4 Qd4 29. Kg5 Qd5 equal; 25. Qb8 g4! 26. Kg3 Qe3 27. Kg2 (27.
Kg4?? Qe2 28. Rf3 h5 29. Kg3 h4 30. Kg4 Qg2 31. Kf4 Qh2 and Black is
winning) Qe2 28. Rf2 Qe4 29. Kf1 Qh1 30. Ke2 Qe4 31. Kd1 Qd4 equal]
Kg7 [25...Qc2 26. Kg3 Qc5 27. Qf3 Qe7 28. Qf6 and White is superior;
25...Qh2 26. Ke3 Qd6 (26...Qe5 27. Kd2 Qd6 28. Kc1 and White is superior)
27. Qe8 Qe5 28. Kd2 Qg7 29. c3 and White is superior] 26. Kg3 Ng6 27.
Qb7 Kh6 28. Qe4 (and White is superior) e5 29. Rf6 Qc1 30. Kg2 Kg7
[30...Qd2 31. Kh3 and White is superior; 30...Qb2 31. Ra6 and White is
superior] 31. Ra6 Nf4 32. Kf2 Qd2 33. Kg3 Nh5 34. Kg4! (and White is
winning) Qd7 [34...Nf6 35. Rf6 h5 (35...Kf6 36. Qf5) 36. Kh5 Qh2 37. Kg5
Qg3 38. Qg4] 35. Kg5 h6 36. Kh4 Qd8 37. Kh3 Nf4 38. Kg3 Qg5 39. Kf2
Qh4 40. Kf1 Qh3 41. Ke1 Qh4 42. Kd1 [42...Qg4 43. Kd2 Qd7 44. Kc1]
1 : 0 [Rublevsky]
V. Potkin 2540 A. Galkin 2602

Russia 2004 90/376
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. ed5 cd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Be7 7. cd5 Nd5 8.
Bd3 Nc6 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Re1 Nf6 11. a3 b6 12. Bg5 Bb7 13. Bc2 Nd5 14.
Qd3 g6 15. Bh6 [15. h4 see 63/369] Re8 16. Rad1 Nc3?! 17. bc3! Ba3 18.
Ng5 (with initiative) Be7
19. Nf7!! [a novelty; 19. Qg3] Kf7 [19...Qd5 20. Qh3! Kf7 21. c4 Qd6 22. c5
Qd7 23. d5 and White is winning] 20. Re6! Bf6 [20...Ke6 21. Qh3 Kf6 22.
Bb3 and White is winning; 20...Qd5 21. Rg6 Bf6 22. Rg5 and White is
winning; 20...Nd4 21. cd4 (21. Rg6 Nf3 22. gf3 Qd3 23. Rg7 Kf6 24. Rd3 and
White is slightly better) Ke6 22. Qh3 Kf6 23. Bb3 Bd5 24. Re1!! Qd6 25.
Re3! Kf7 26. Qf3 Kg8 27. Bd5 and White is winning] 21. Re8 Ke8 22.
Qc4?! [22. Re1! Ne7 only move (22...Be7 23. d5) 23. Bb3!! a) 23...Bd5 24.
Qb5 Qd7 25. Qd5 Qd5 26. Bd5 Rc8 27. Bd2 and White is winning; b)
23...Qd7 24. Re6 Bh4 25. g3 Bd5 26. Bd5 Qd5 27. Re5 Qc6 28. gh4 Kf7 29.
d5 Qf6 (29...Qd6 30. Qd4 Nf5 31. Rf5 gf5 32. Qg7 Ke8 33. Qg8 Kd7 34. Qa8
Qh6 35. Qa7 and White is winning) 30. Qe4 Nf5 31. d6 and White is
winning; c) 23...Rc8 24. Re6 Rc6 25. Ba4 Kf7 26. Rc6! Bc6 27. Bc6 Nc6 28.
Qc4 Ke7 29. Qc6] Qd6! 23. Ba4? [23. Re1 Kd7 24. Ba4 Re8 25. Re8 Ke8
26. d5 (26. Qg8 Kd7 27. d5 Kc7 28. dc6 Bc6 29. Qh7 Qe7 30. Qe7 Be7 31.
Bc2 and White is slightly better) Qc5! (26...Kd7 27. Bf4 Qc5 28. Qe4) 27.
Qc5 (27. Qe4 Qe7 28. Qb1 Qc5) bc5 28. dc6 Bc8 29. Be3 Be7 30. c7 Kf7 31.
Kf1 and White is superior] Kd8! 24. Re1 Ne7 (only move) 25. Re6 [25. Qf7
Bd5 26. Qh7 Bg8] Qd5! [25...Qa3 26. Rf6 Qa1 27. Qf1 Qa4 28. Qe1! and
White is winning] 26. Qd5 Nd5 27. Rd6? [27. c4 Be7!! 28. cd5 Bd5 29. Re5
Bf7 30. Bc6 Rc8 31. d5 with counterplay] Kc7 28. Rd7 Kc8 29. c4 Nc3
[29...b5!? 30. Bb5 a6 31. Ba4 Nc3 32. Rf7 Bd4 and Black is superior] 30. Rf7
Na4 31. Rf6 Be4 [31...Ba6!? 32. f3 (32. c5 Kd7 33. c6 Ke7 34. Bg5 h6 and
Black is winning) Bc4!? (32...Nb2 33. c5) 33. Rc6 Kd7 34. Rc4 b5 and Black
is superior] 32. Rf7 a5 33. Bf4! Nc3? time [33...Nb2! 34. f3 (34. d5 a4 35. d6
Bf5 36. Rc7 Kd8 37. Bg5 Ke8 38. Rh7 Ra6 39. Re7 Kf8 40. Bh6 Kg8 41. d7
Bd7 42. Rg7 Kf8 43. Rd7 Ke8) Bd3 a) 35. c5 bc5 36. dc5 Ra6 37. Rc7 (37.
Rh7 a4) Kd8 38. c6 Bf5 39. Rb7 Nd3 40. c7 Ke8 41. Rb8 Kf7; b) 35. d5 g5!!
36. Bg3 Nc4 37. d6 Ra6 and Black is winning] 34. Be5! b5 [34...a4 35. d5
Ne2 36. Kf1 Bd3 37. d6; 34...Bd3 35. d5 with counterplay] 35. f3 Bf5 36.
Rf8 [36. d5 Na4] Kb7 37. Rf7 1/2 : 1/2 [V. Potkin]
Shirov 2736 G. Kasparov 2831

Linares 2004 90/214
f3 Nbd7 9. Qd2 b5 10. a4 b4 11. Nd5 Bd5 12. ed5 Nb6 13. Bb6 Qb6 14. a5
Qb7 15. Bc4 g6 16. Ra4 Rb8 17. Qd3 Ra8 18. Qd2 Rb8 19. Nc1 h5 20.
Nd3 Bh6 21. Qe2 [21. Qb4] 0-0 22. Nb4 Qd7!? [22...e4 see 81/225] 23. Nc6
Rb2 24. 0-0
24...h4! [a novelty; 24...e4] 25. Bb3 [25. Qd3 h3] h3 26. g3 e4! 27. fe4 [27.
f4 Re8 with counterplay] Qg4!? [27...Ng4 28. e5 Be3 29. Kh1 Nf2 30. Rf2?
Bf2 31. Ra1 de5! 32. Qf2 Rb3 33. Ne7 Qe7 34. cb3 Rd8 and Black is
superior; 30. Kg1 equal] 28. Qd3! [28. Qe1? Rb1! 29. Qb1 Be3 30. Rf2 Qf3
31. Qf1 Ng4 and Black is winning] Qg5 29. e5! de5 30. Rh4 [30. d6? e4 31.
Qd4 Ng4! (31...Bg7 32. Qb2 Qd2 33. Rf2 equal) 32. d7 Qe3 33. Qe3 Be3 34.
Kh1 Nf2 35. Kg1 Nd1 36. Kh1 Rb1 37. Ne7 Kg7 38. Nd5 Bc5 39. Rc4 Nf2
40. Kg1 Nd3 41. Rc5 Rf1 42. Kf1 Nc5 and Black is winning; 30. Qc3 e4 31.
d6 (31. Kh1 Qd2 unclear) Bg7 32. Rd4 Nd7 33. Qb2 Qe3 34. Rf2 equal] e4
31. Qd4 [31. Re4 Ne4 32. Qe4 Qd2 (32...Kh7 33. Qd4 Qh5 34. Qe5 Qg4; 34.
Qd1; 32...Qe3 33. Qe3 Be3 34. Kh1 Bc5 35. Ne5 Rd8 36. Nd3 Rb3 37. cb3
Rd5; 36. Rd1!?) 33. Qf3 Kg7 34. Rd1 Be3 35. Kh1 Re8! 36. d6 Bf4 37. Ne7
(37. Qf1 Qc3!) Qg2 38. Qg2 hg2 39. Kg2 Bd6 40. Rd6 Re7 41. Ra6 Rb1
equal] Ng4 [31...Qe3!? 32. Qe3 Be3 33. Kh1 Bd2 34. d6! (34. Rh3 Kg7! 35.
Nd4 Rd8 and Black is superior) Kg7 35. g4! e3! (35...Bf4?! 36. g5 Bg5 37.
Rh3 Bd2 38. Rg3! e3 39. Nd4) 36. g5 Ne8 37. d7 Nd6 38. d8Q Rd8 39. Nd8
e2 40. Rg1 e1Q 41. Re1 Be1 42. Rh3 Ba5 43. Rd3 Bd8 44. Rd6 Bg5 45. Ra6
equal] 32. Rh6! [32. Ne7? Kh7 33. Qe4 (33. Re1 Rb8 and Black is superior)
Qh4! 34. Rf7 (34. gh4 Be3 and Black is winning) Kh8 35. Ng6 Kg8 36. d6
Rb1! 37. Rf1 Kg7 38. Rb1 Qg5 and Black is winning] Nh6! [32...Qh6? 33. d6
Qe3 34. Qe3 Ne3 35. Rc1 and White is winning] 33. Qb2! [33. d6? Nf5 34.
Ne7 (34. Qb2 Ng3 35. Rf2 Nf5 36. Kf1 e3 37. Ne7 Kh7 38. Nf5 gf5 and Black
is winning) Qe7 35. Rf5 (35. de7 Nd4 36. ef8Q Kf8 37. Rf7 Ke8 and Black is
superior) Rb1 36. Kf2 e3 37. Ke2 Qb7 38. Rd5 Rd8 and Black is superior]
Qe3 34. Rf2 Qe1 35. Rf1 Qe3 1/2 : 1/2 [G. Kasparov]
N. Short 2712 S. Movsesian 2647

0-0-0 Bb4 9. f3 Ne5 10. Nb3 b5 11. Bd4 0-0 12. Qg5 [12. Kb1 Be7] Bd6 13.
Kb1 Bb7! [a novelty; 13...h6?! 14. Qd2 Ne8 15. Qf2 and White is slightly
better; 13...Ng6] 14. Bb5 [14. f4? Ne4 15. Ne4 Be4; 14. Bd3!?] h6 15. Qe3
[15. Qg3 Nc6 16. Qf2 Nd4 17. Rd4 Be5 18. Rc4 Qb8 19. Ba4 d5 with
initiative] ab5 16. Nb5 Qc6 17. Nd6 Qd6 18. Qf4 [18. Nc5 Nc4 19. Qc3 Qc6
20. Qc4 d6 and Black is superior] Qa6 19. Be5 [19. Qe5 d6! 20. Qa5 Qa5 21.
Na5 Ra5 22. Bf6 gf6 23. Rd6 unclear] Qa2 20. Kc1 Rfc8 21. Kd2 Qa4 (with
compensation) 22. Rc1 [22. Bf6 gf6 23. Qf6 Qb4 and Black is winning] Ne8
23. Rhd1 f6 24. Bc3 d5 25. Qg4 de4 26. Qe6 Kh8 27. Nd4
27...Ra6! 28. Qe7? [28. Qg4 Rd6 29. Ke1 Rcd8 30. Qg6 unclear] Nd6 29.
Ne6 Rg8! [29...e3? 30. Ke1 Nf5 31. Qb7 Qh4 32. g3 Qh2 33. Qc8 Kh7 34.
Nf8 Kh8 35. Nh7!! and White is winning] 30. Ke1 ef3 31. Rd4 Qe8! (and
Black is winning) 32. Qe8 Re8 33. gf3 Nf5 34. Rf4 Rae6 35. Kf2 Re2 36.
Kg1 Ne3 0 : 1 [S. Movsesian]
D 17
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7
7. Nc4 Qc7 8. g3 e5 9. de5 Ne5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. Bg2 g5
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Ne5 Nd7 Qd4 Qf42 Qc13 00 a55

1
gf4
0-0Qd7 Bd6 Kb84 Qe7 a6

01
19
Ra4
with
compensation
Bc76
Ne3 Nf5 007 Qc2 Qe49 hg3 Rfc110 Qf411

2
20
Qh4
unclear
gf4
0-0Nc58 Ne6 fg3

0
a5
Nc5
Ne612
Ng6
1
13...Bd7 14. Qd4 Rg8
a) 15. 00 Rg6 16. Rfd1 Bg7 17. Qe4 Be6 unclear; Gostisa Tukmakov,
Slovenija 2001 see 83/374; b) 15. Qe4 Be7 [15...Be6 16. Qh7 Rg6 with
compensation; Tukmakov] 16. Bh3 0-0-0 17. Bd7 Qd7 18. Qf4 Bg5 19. Qf3
Bd2 20. Kf1 Qh3 21. Qg2 Qe6 with compensation; B. Gelfand Bareev,
Wijk aan Zee 2002 see 83/(374)
2
15. Qh8 Qd2 16. Kf1 Qb2 17. Re1 Bb4 18. Qf6 Qc2 unclear; G. Kasparov
3
16. Qh6 Bc7 17. a5 a6 18. 00 Qe6 with compensation; Je. Piket Van Wely,
Nederland 2002 see 84/313
4
16...a5 17. 00 Be5? 18. Nb5! Qe7 19. Na7 Kb8 20. Nc6 bc6 21. Qc6 Ka7
22. Qb5 and White is winning; Kramnik Morozevich, Monaco (rapid) 2002
see 84/(313)
5
18. b4!?
6
Kramnik V. Anand, Russia Rest of the World (rapid) 2002 see 85/(338)
7
14. Qc2
a) 14...Ng4?! 15. a5! fg3 16. hg3 a6 17. Ra4 Ndf6 18. Ne4 (G. Kasparov
Morozevich, Wijk aan Zee 2000 see 78/370) Nd5 19. Nc5 h5 20. 00 and
White is slightly better; G. Kasparov; b) 14...fg3 15. hg3 h5 16. Rd1 Kb8 17.
Qe4 Re8 18. 00 Be7 19. Rd7 Nd7 20. Ne7 (O. Biriukov P. Skatchkov,
Saint Petersburg 2003 see 89/(357)) Nc5 21. Nc6 bc6 22. Qc4 Ne6 unclear;
Frolyanov, P. Skatchkov; c) 14...Bb4 15. 00 fg3 16. hg3 h5 17. Rfc1! c1)
17...Nf6
c11) 18. Na2? Rd2! 19. Qb3 Ba5 20. Qa3 Nfg4! and Black is superior, with
attack; E. Vegh V. Erdos, Magyarorszag 2004 see 91/351; c12) 18. a5! a6
19. Ne4 Nd5 20. Qb3 and White is slightly better; R. Ruck Rogic,
Oesterreich 2003 see 91/(351); c2) 17...Nc5!? 18. a5 unclear; P. Lukacs, V.
Erdos; d) 14...Ng6 15. 0-0-0 Kb8 16. Ne4 Bb4 17. Rd4 a5 18. Rhd1 Nde5
unclear; B. Gelfand Morozevich, Russia 2004; e) 14...Nc5 15. 00 see 14.
00
8
14...fg3 15. hg3 h5 16. Ne4 Kb8 17. Qb3 a5 18. Rfd1 Bb4 19. Rac1 Nb6 20.
Nf6 Rd1 21. Rd1 Qc8 22. Ng7 Ka7! unclear; Hoang Thanh Trang V. Erdos,
Budapest 2004 see 91/(351)
16. Rfd1 Bc5 17. Ne4 Bb4 18. a5?! Rd1 19. Qd1 fg3 20. hg3 Ba5 21. b4 Bb6
and Black is slightly better; S. Halkias Gagunashvili, Moscow 2003 see
87/342; 18. Qb3 unclear; 16. Rad1 Bc5 17. Ne4 Bb4 18. e3 [18. Qc1 fg3 19.
hg3 Rd1 20. Rd1 Rd8 equal; Kramnik Morozevich, Astana 2001 see
81/(312)] fe3 19. fe3 Kb8 20. Nf6 a5 unclear; Bareev Morozevich, Wijk
aan Zee 2002 see 83/375; 16. Ne4 fg3 17. hg3 (Gyimesi P. Acs,
Balatonlelle 2002 see 85/ 375) Bb4 unclear
10
18. Rad1 Bb4 19. Nh6 Nc5! 20. Rd8 Rd8 21. Qh7 Bc3 22. bc3 Na4 23. Qc2
[23. f4 Nc4 24. Nf7 Kb8 25. Qg6 Rf8| R. Ponomariov, D. Komarov] Nb6
unclear; R. Ponomariov B. Gelfand, Plovdiv 2003 see 89/357
11
19. Qh4
a) 19...Nb3?! 20. Nd5! Rd5 21. Bd5 Nc1 [21...Na1!?] 22. Rc1 Qd8 23. Qd4
f6 (Palo Bromberger, Gausdal 2004) 24. f4 and White is superior; b)

19...Ng6 20. Qh5 Kb8 21. Rd1 Rd1 22. Rd1 Ne6 23. Ne4 Bb4 24. e3 Ka7
equal; M. Carlsen L. Johannessen, Gausdal 2004
12
19...Nb3? 20. Nb5 Nc1 21. Rc1 Qb8 22. Bh3 and White is superior; T.
Paunovic; 19...h5?!
20. b4! Ne6 [20...Nb3?! 21. Nb5 Qb8 22. Na7 Qa7 23. Qe5 Nc1 24. Bh3 Ne2
25. Kg2 and White is winning; 20...ab4 21. Nb5! cb5 22. ab5 with attack] 21.
Qe4 Bb4 22. Nb5 Qb8 23. f4!? Ng4 24. Rc6! bc6 25. Qc6 Nc7 26. Nc7 Qc7
27. Qa6 Kd7 28. Rd1 Ke8 29. Qc6! Kf8 (only move) 30. Qc7 Rd1 31. Bf1
Kg8 only move (Pet. Nielsen Shirov, Deutschland 2004 see 90/339) 32.
e4! and White is superior; M. Golubev; 19...Ng6!?
[ChessCafecom Home Page] [Book Review] [Columnists]

Peter Leko Annotates

Zdenko Krnic
Editor-in-Chief
Wijk aan Zee remains on the chess map of Europe as a traditional gathering
place of the worlds top players (Garry Kasparov was the only one missing),
with a supporting cast of amateur players competing in the festival groups.
All true fans of the elite summit, whether they were visitors, members of the
press, or the chessplayers themselves, breathed a sigh of relief when Corus
representatives announced that sponsorship for the main event was secured
until 2010.
Finishing first in such a prestigious event has never been an easy task. This
time it was Peter Leko who gave a great performance, in spite of the fact that
it was his first appearance after his grueling experience in Brissago against
Kramnik. Failing to win the title was certainly upsetting, yet he managed to
persevere and come back even stronger. His second round win with Black
against the unanimous pre-tournament favorite, Anand, made a clear
statement about his aspirations. Leko was the only participant that remained
undefeated throughout the tournament and he could have won the event by an
even greater margin had he managed to convert his dominant positions
against Sokolov and Topalov into full points.
Whereas Lekos win against Anand became an instant classic; the way he
outplayed Short was typical of his style: impeccable opening preparation
followed by technically superb execution. In the post-game press conference,
Leko emphasized the guidance and support that he received from his father-inlaw, Arshak Petrosian. The Armenian grandmaster was the one who
discovered the key move 23.Bd3!! and after 25.Qg5!! Black was already in
big trouble.
Linares comes next and with it so does Kasparov. We wish Peter the best of
luck, and a chance to prove his worth against the very best where he most
certainly belongs.
ANAND 2786 LEKO 2749

Wijk aan Zee 2005
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3
b5 9.Bf6 gf6 10.Nd5 f5 11.c3 Bg7 12.ef5 Bf5 13.Nc2 0-0 14.Nce3 Be6
15.Bd3 f5 16.0-0 Ra7 17.a4 Ne7 18.Ne7 Re7 19.ab5 ab5 20.Bb5 d5 21.Ra6
[21.Nc2 see 74/(178)] f4!? [21...Kh8] 22.Nc2!? [22.Re6] Bc8! [a novelty;
22...f3] 23.Ra8 Qd6! 24.Nb4 [24.Bc4 Bb7 25.Ra7 (25.Rf8 Bf8 with the idea
Rg7) Rd8 with initiative] Bb7 25.Ra7 [25.Rf8 Bf8! 26.Bc4 (26.Qa4? Rg7
27.Bc6 Qg6 28.g3 fg3 29.hg3 Bc5! and Black is winning) Rd7 27.Bb3 Kh8
with compensation] d4! (with counterplay) 26.Ba6? [26.Bc4? Kh8 27.Bd5
Bd5 28.Re7 Bg2!; 26.Bc6 Bc6 27.Re7 Qe7 28.Nc6 Qe6 with compensation;
26.Bd3!? Qc5 (26...e4? 27.Rb7 Rb7 28.Be4) 27.Rb7 (27.Qh5 Bf6) Rb7
28.Be4 with compensation; 26.Qa4!?]
26...Bg2!! 27.Bc4 [27.Qb3 Kh8!? 28.Re7 Qg6 29.f3 Bf3 30.Kf2 Qg2 31.Ke1
Bf6! and Black is winning; 27...Bd5 and Black is winning; 27.Re7 Qg6!
28.Re6 Bf6 and Black is winning] Kh8 28.Ra6 [28.Re7 Qg6! 29.Bf7 (29.Re6
Bf6 and Black is winning) Rf7 30.Re8 Bf8 and Black is winning] Qc5
29.Kg2 f3! 30.Kh1 Qc4 31.Rc6 Qb5! 32.Rd6 [32.Qd3 Qd3 33.Nd3 e4 and
Black is winning] e4 33.Rd4 Bd4 [33...Qh5!? 34.Rd5 (34.Nc6? Qg6! and
Black is winning) Be5 35.Re5 Re5] 34.Qd4 Qe5 35.Qe5 Re5 (and Black is
winning) 36.Nc2 Rb8 37.Ne3 Rc5 38.h3! Rb2 39.c4 Rg5 40.Kh2 Kg8 time
[40...h5!? 41.h4 Rg6] 41.h4 Rg6 42.Kh3 Kf7! [42...h5 43.Nd5! Kf7 44.Nf4!
Rc6 45.Nh5 Rc4 46.Kg3 and Black is superior] 43.Nf5 [43.h5 Rg5 44.Kh4
Kf6 45.Ra1 (45.Ng4 Kf5 46.Ne3 Kf4 47.Nd5 Rd5 48.cd5 Rd2 and Black is
winning) Rg8 and Black is winning] Rc2 44.Ne3 Rd2 45.c5 Ke6 46.c6 Rg8
47.c7 Rc8 48.Kg3 Rc7 49.Kf4 [49.Ra1 Ke5 50.Ra5 Kd4 51.Rd5 Kc3 52.Nd1
Kc2 53.Ne3 Kc1 and Black is winning] Rd4 50.Ra1 Rf7 51.Kg3 Rd8
52.Ra6 Ke5 53.Ng4 Kd5 54.Nf6?! [54.Ra5 Kd6 (54...Kd4 55.Ra4) 55.Ra6
Kc5 56.Ra5 Kb6 57.Re5 Rd4 and Black is winning] Rf6! 55.Rf6 Ke5 56.Rh6
Rg8 57.Kh3 e3 0-1 [Leko]
LEKO 2749 N. SHORT 2674

Wijk aan Zee 2005
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 00 9.h3 Nb8 10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.Nf1 Bf8 14.Ng3 g6
15.b3 Bg7 16.d5 Qe7 [16...Rc8 see 90/(308)] 17.c4 c6 18.Be3! Rec8 19.Rc1!
a5 20.Qd2 bc4 [a novelty; 20...b4 and White is slightly better; 20...Nc5 and
White is slightly better] 21.bc4 cd5 [21...Ba6 22.Ba4!] 22.cd5 Nc5
23.Bd3!! (and White is superior) h5 [23...Nfd7 24.Bb5 and White is superior,

with the idea 24...Ba6 25.Bc6; 23...Nd3 24.Rc8!! (24.Qd3 Rc1 25.Rc1 Bd5!!
26.ed5 e4 with counterplay) Bc8 25.Qd3 Ba6 26.Qa3 Qd8 27.Rb1 and White
is superior, with the idea Rb6, with the idea Nd2-b3] 24.Bc5 dc5 25.Qg5!!
[25.Bb5 Ne8! 26.Be8 Qe8 with the idea c4, Qf8 diagonal a3-f8, c1-h6] Rc7?!
[25...Qc7 a) 26.Qe5? Nd5! 27.Qc7 Nc7 28.Rc5 Ne6 with compensation; b)
26.Bb5 Ne8 27.Be8 Re8 28.Nf1 (28.Nd2 Kh7! with the idea Bh6) Kh7
29.Qd2 Bh6 30.Ne3 and White is slightly better; c) 26.Rc2! and White is
superior, with the idea Rec1 weak point c5, e5; 25...Qf8 26.Ne5 Nh7 27.Qf4
Bh6 28.Qf3 Bc1 29.Rc1 and White is superior] 26.Nf1! [26.Bc4? Ne8
27.Qg6!? fg6 28.d6 Kf8 29.de7 Ke7 with the idea 30.Nh4?! Kf6! unclear]
Rac8 27.N1d2 Ne8 [27...c4 28.Rc4 Qa3 29.Ne5 and White is winning]
28.Qe7 Re7 29.Nc4 Ba6 30.Nfe5! (and White is winning) Be5 31.Ne5 c4
[31...Bd3 32.Nd3 c4 33.e5] 32.Bc4 Re5 33.Ba6 Rc1 34.Rc1 Re4 35.f3!
Re5?! [35...Re7] 36.Rc5! h4 [36...a4 37.d6! Rc5 38.d7; 36...Nf6 37.Ra5;
36...Nd6 37.Ra5 Re1 (37...h4 38.Kf2) 38.Kf2 Rb1 39.Bd3 Rb2 40.Ke3 Rg2
41.Ra6] 37.d6! [37...Rc5 38.d7] 1-0 [Leko]

The Most Important Novelty of Chess Informant

91
Ivan Markov
The voting for this volumes most important novelty of the preceding Informant had me
pondering its outcome for quite some time. More often than not our highly respectable
members of the jury single out the hottest of the hotshots, and its generally one of the usual
suspects from the top 10: Anand is probably the safest bet around. However, this time a funny
thing happened on the way to the quorum: Andrey Shariyazdanov was the only candidate to
receive votes from all of the jury members making him the undisputed winner of the contest.
Second place went to Leko for his win against Anand, whereas his blitz game from Dortmund
against Bologan came third, but it was the Moldavian GM who came up with the novelty on
that occasion.
None of the above seems particularly strange until you consider that Shariyazdanovs 12.Bh6!!
is twenty-years-old (!!), and that it was previously played at least eight times. Six
correspondence games notwithstanding (for some unknown reason they never seem to get the
credit they deserve), but what about IM Simon Williams who played it against GM Howell at
the British Championships in Swansea some ten years ago, or IM Jonathan Grant who also had
no trouble winning his game five years later?! Could it be the most important, noncorrespondence, non-British novelty of the Volume? It seems that the British have something
to brag about after all, but my honorary mention this time goes to Mr. Max Aigmueller, the
true pioneer of 12.Bh6!!, at least according to my database sources.
Finally, the accompanying theoretical survey compiles all the relevant games and it seems that
12.Bh6 is by far the deadliest option at Whites disposal. I should also mention that our silicon
friends are worthy of attention and a detailed study of Shredder Nimzo from Paderborn 2000
must be beneficial. Whites initiative seems overwhelming, even if Black somehow manages
to avert the first wave of threats I see it as an improved version of Christiansen Jussupow,
New York (rapid) 1995, since the white bishop makes more sense on f4, plus it doesnt get in
the way of the h-pawn.
Shariyazdanov 2572 Riazantsev 2573

Biel (open) 2004 91/5
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 d5 4. e5 d4 5. ef6 dc3 6. bc3 Qf6 7. Nf3 e5 8. d4 ed4 9. Bg5 Qe6
10. Be2 f6?! [10... h6] 11. Nd4 Qf7
12. Bh6! (a novelty) g6 [12... Nd7? 13. Bg7! Qg7 14. Bh5 and White is winning; 12... Bd6 13.
Bh5 g6 14. Be2 Bf8 and White is superior, see 12... g6] 13. Qd2! Na6 [13... Bh6 14. Qh6 Qf8
15. Qf4 Qd6 (15... Qe7!? 16. 0-0 0-0) 16. Qd6 cd6 17. Nb5 and White is superior] 14. 0-0 Bh6
15. Qh6 Bd7 16. Bf3 [better is 16. Rab1 0-0-0 17. Qc1 and White is superior, with the idea
Qb2] 0-0-0 17. Rfb1 c6 (only move) 18. Qc1 Rhe8 [18... Qc4 19. Be2 Qa4 20. Rb3 Qa5 21.
Ra3 Qc5 22. Ba6 ba6 23. Ra6 Kb7 24. Rb1! Ka8 25. Rb4 and White is winning, with the idea
Nb3, Ra7!, Qa3 mate] 19. Qb2 Bf5? [19... Be6 20. Nc6! bc6 21. Bc6 a) 21... Re7 22. Bb5 Nc5
(22... Nc7 23. Ba4! Na6 24. Qb5 Rd6 25. c5 Bc4 26. cd6 Bb5 27. Bb5 Nc5 28. de7 Qe7 29.
Re1) 23. Bd7!! Kd7 (23... Kc7 24. Qb5 Nd7 25. Qb7 Kd6 26. Rd1 Ke5 27. Qb5) 24. Qb5 Kc7
25. Qc5 Kd7 26. Qb5 Kc7 27. Qb7 Kd6 28. Rd1 Ke5 29. Qb5 and White is winning; b) 21...
Bc4 22. Bb7 (22. Be8 Re8 23. Re1 Re1 24. Re1 and White is slightly better) Kc7 (22... Kd7 23.
Qa3 Nc7 24. Rd1 Ke6 25. Rd8 Rd8 26. Re1 Kd7 27. Rd1 Bd5 28. c4 and White is winning) 23.
Qa3 Rd1! 24. Rd1 Kb7 25. Rab1 Kc8 26. Rd4 Qe6 27. h3 and White is superior] 20. Nf5 gf5
21. Bh5 (and White is winning) Qe7 22. Be8 Re8 23. Qd2 Nc5 24. Re1 Ne4 25. Qe3 Qa3 26.
f3 Nd6 27. Qd4 Rd8 28. Rad1 Qa2 29. c5 Nf7 30. Qf6 Rg8 31. Qf5 Kb8 32. Qf4 Kc8 33.
Rd2 1 : 0 [Shariyazdanov, A. Lisenko]
Leko 2741 V. Anand 2774

Armenia Rest of the World 2004 91/155
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Qc7 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. 0-0-0 Bb4 9. f3
Na5 10. Kb1! [a novelty, with the idea Ncb5] Bc3 11. bc3! b5
12. Bf4!! Qb6 13. Nb3 Nc4 14. Qd4 d5 [14... Qd4 15. cd4 and White is slightly better] 15.
Bc4 [15. ed5? Qd4 16. Rd4 e5!] Qd4 16. cd4 [16. Bb5?! ab5 17. Rd4 Bb7 18. Nc5 Bc6; 16.
Rd4 bc4 17. Na5 with initiative] dc4? [16... bc4 17. Nc5 de4 (Shipov) 18. fe4 Nd7 a) 19. Nd7
Kd7!?; b) 19. Na4 Bb7 20. Rhe1 (20. Nc3 f6) f6 21. Bd6 Kf7 and White is slightly better; c)
19. Kb2 Nc5 20. dc5 f6 21. Bd6 with initiative] 17. Na5 Nd7 [with the idea Nb6-a4] 18. Bc7!
(and White is superior) 0-0 [18... Ra7 19. Bd6 with the idea 19... Nb6? 20. Bc5! and White is
winning; 18... f6!?] 19. d5 ed5 20. ed5 Nf6 21. Rhe1 Bd7 22. Be5 Rfe8 23. Kb2! Rac8 24.
Bf6 [24. Nb7? Nd5!; 24. Kc3!? a) 24... Rc5 a1) 25. Bf6 b4! 26. Kb4 Rb5 27. Kc3 (27. Kc4
Rc8) Re1 28. Re1 Ra5; a2) 25. Kb4! with the idea 25... Rd5 26. Bf6 Rd1 27. Rd1 gf6 28. Rd7
and White is winning; b) 24... Kf8 25. Kb4] gf6 25. Kc3 Kf8 [25... Re5 26. f4] 26. Kd4 [with
the idea c3, Nb7-c5] c3 (only move) 27. Re8 Re8 [27... Ke8 28. Re1 Kd8 29. Nb7 Kc7 30.
Nc5 and White is winning] 28. Kc3 Rc8 [28... Re2 29. Rd2 b4 30. Kd3 Bb5 31. c4 bc3 32.
Kc3 and White is winning] 29. Kb3 Ke7 30. Rd2 [30. c4!?] Kd6 31. Kb4 [31. Nb7! Ke5 32.
Kb4! Rc4 33. Ka5 and White is winning] Rb8! [weak point Na5] 32. c3 f5 33. a3 f6 34. Rd4
h5 35. g3 Be8 36. Nc6 Rc8! 37. Na5 Rb8 38. Nc6 Rc8 39. Ka5 (time) Bc6 40. dc6 Kc6 [R
7/g] 41. Rh4 Kd6 42. Kb4 Rh8 [42... a5 43. Kb5 Rc3 44. a4 Rf3 45. Ka5; 43. Kb3] 43. c4!
[43. g4 fg4 44. fg4 Rg8! 45. gh5 f5 46. h6 Ke5] bc4 44. Kc4 Ke6 45. Kb4 Rb8 46. Ka4 [46.
Ka5] Rd8 47. Ka5 [47. Rh5 f4] Rd2 [47... Rd3 48. a4 Rf3 49. Ka6 Rf2 50. a5 f4 51. gf4 Kf5
52. Ka7! (52. Kb6 Rb2) a) 52... Kg6 53. a6 f5 54. Rh3 (54. Ka8? Rf3) Rf4 55. Kb6 Rb4 (55...
Re4 56. Rc3) 56. Ka5 Re4 57. Ra3 f4 58. a7 Re8 59. Kb6 Kf5 60. a8Q Ra8 61. Ra8 f3 62. Kc5
and White is winning; b) 52... Rb2 53. a6 Kg6 54. Ka8 Rb3 55. f5 (55. a7?? f5! and Black is
winning) Kg5 56. Rc4 Kf5 57. a7 Ke5 58. Rc8 f5 59. Rb8 Ra3 60. Kb7 f4 61. a8Q Ra8 62.
Ra8 f3 63. Kc6 Ke4 64. h4 f2 65. Rf8 Ke3 66. Kd5 Ke2 67. Ke4 f1Q 68. Rf1 Kf1 69. Kf4 and
White is winning] 48. a4! [48. f4 Rd5! 49. Ka6 Rd8 50. a4 Ra8 51. Kb5 Rb8 52. Kc4 Rc8 53.
Kb4 Rb8 54. Ka3 Rh8 55. a5 (55. h3 Rg8 56. Rh5 Rg3 57. Kb4 Rf3) Kd5 56. Kb4 Rb8 57. Ka4
Kc4 58. Rh5 Rb1 59. Ka3 Kc3 60. Ka2 Rb2 61. Ka1 Rb5] f4 49. gf4 Rd6 50. Rh5 Rd4 51.
Rc5! and White is winning [51. Rh4 f5!] Rf4 52. Rc3 Rh4 [52... Rd4 53. Ra3 Rd6 54. Rb3
Kf5 55. h4 Rd4 (55... Kf4 56. Rb6) 56. Rb4 and White is winning] 53. Rb3 Kd7 [53... Kf5 54.
Rb4 Rh2 55. Ka6 Rf2 56. f4 Rf4 57. Rf4 Kf4 58. a5 f5 59. Kb5 and White is winning] 54.
Rb4 Rh2 55. Ka6 [R 5/d] Rc2 [55... Kc7 56. Rf4] 56. Kb6 Rc6 57. Kb5 Re6 58. Re4 Rd6
59. Rc4 Rd5 60. Kb4 Rd3 61. f4 Rd1 62. a5 Rb1 63. Ka4 Ra1 64. Kb5 Rb1 65. Rb4 Rf1
66. Kb6 Kc8 67. Kc6 Re1 68. Kd6 1 : 0 [Leko]
Leko 2741 Bologan 2663

Dortmund (blitz) 2004 91/(274)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Ne5 d6 4. Nf3 Ne4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 00 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nc3 12. bc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cd5 Qd5 15. Bf4 Rac8 16. h3
16... Be4! [a novelty; 16... Bf6 see 89/286] 17. Be3 Rcd8 18. Nd2 [18. Qa4 Qa5 19. Qb3 Bd5
equal; 18. Bd3!? Bf3 19. Qf3 Qf3 20. gf3 Na5 unclear] Bg6 19. Bf3 [19. c4 Qd6 20. d5 Ne5]
Qd7!? [19... Qa5 20. Qb3 Qb6 21. Qa2 Na5] 20. Qa4 Ne5! (equal) 21. Qd7 Nf3 22. Nf3 Rd7
23. Ne5 Rd5 24. Ng6 fg6 25. a4 Kf7 26. Reb1 1/2 : 1/2 [Bologan]
Ivanchuk 2716 R. Akesson 2476

Antalya 2004 91/404
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 d5 4. cd5 Nd5 5. e4 Nb6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be3 0-0 8. Qd2 e5 9. d5 c6
10. h4 h5
11. g4! [a novelty; 11. Be2 see 72/401] cd5 [11... hg4 12. h5 gh5 13. Rh5 with attack] 12. ed5
N8d7 [12... hg4 13. h5 a) 13... gf3 14. hg6 (14. h6 Bf6 15. Nf3 Bg4 16. Ng5 N8d7 17. Nce4
Bh5 18. d6 with initiative) fg6 15. Qh2 e4 16. Qh7 Kf7 17. Ne4 f2 18. Kf2! Ke7 (18... Qd5 19.
Ng5 Ke8 20. N1f3 and White is winning) 19. Kg2 and White is winning; b) 13... gh5 14. Rh5
f5 15. Bh6 Qf6 16. Bg7 Kg7 17. 0-0-0 N8d7 (17... gf3 18. Nf3 and White is winning) 18. fg4
with attack] 13. gh5 Nf6 [13... gh5 14. 0-0-0 a) 14... f5 15. Nh3 Nf6 16. Rg1 Rf7 (16... Kh8
17. Bh6 Rg8 18. Qe3 with attack) 17. Bh6 with attack; b) 14... Nf6 15. Bd3! Qe7 (15... Nfd5
16. Be4 Ne3 17. Qd8 Rd8 18. Rd8 and White is superior) 16. Bh6 with attack] 14. hg6 fg6 15.
Nh3! [15. Bc5 Nbd5 (15... Rf7 16. Nh3 Nbd5 17. Bc4 Rd7 18. 0-0-0 and White is winning) 16.
Bc4 Be6 17. Bf8 Bf8 18. Nd5 Nd5 19. Rd1 Qb6 20. Bd5 Bb4 21. Be6 Kg7 22. Qb4 Qb4 23.
Kf1 Qb2 with compensation; 15. Rd1 Bf5 16. Bd3 Nh5 17. Bf5 Rf5 with counterplay; 15. Bg5
Qd6 16. Bd3 Bf5 17. Bf5 gf5 18. h5 Nc4 with counterplay] Nfd5 16. Nd5 Qd5 17. Qd5 Nd5
18. Bc4 Be6 [18... Rd8 19. Ng5! (19. 0-0-0? Be6 20. Ng5 Ne3 21. Be6 Kf8 equal) b6 20. Rd1
Bb7 21. Rh2 Rac8 22. Bb3 Bf8 23. a3 and White is winning] 19. Ng5 Ne3 20. Be6 Kh8 21.
Kf2 Nf5 [21... Nc2 22. Rac1 Nd4 23. Rc7 Rae8 24. Bd5 and White is winning] 22. h5 Bh6
[22... Bf6 23. hg6 Kg7 24. Nh7 Bh4 25. Kg1! and White is winning] 23. hg6 Kg7 24. Nf7 Be3
25. Ke2 Ng3? [25... Kg6 (only move) 26. Bf5 (26. Ne5!? Kf6 27. Bf5 Ke5 28. Ke3 Kf5 29. Rh5
Kf6 30. f4 Rae8 31. Kf3) Kf5 27. Nd6 Ke6 28. Nb7 Bd4 29. Rac1 Rab8 30. Rh6 (30. Rc7?!
Rh8) Kf5 31. Rc7 and White is superior, with the idea 31... Bb2? 32. Rcc6!! Rb7 33. Rh5 Kf4
34. Rg6! with the idea Rg4 mate] 26. Ke3 Nh1 27. Rh1 (and White is winning) Kg6 28. Nd6
Rf6 29. Rg1 Kh7 [29... Kh6 30. Ke4! (30. Nf5 Kh7 31. Rg7 Kh8 32. Re7) Re6 31. Nf7 Kh5
(31... Kh7 32. Ng5) 32. Kf5!] 30. Ne4 Rh6 31. Rg4 Rh2 32. b4 Rf8 33. Bb3 Kh6 34. Nd6
Kh5 35. Re4 b6 36. Re5 Kh4 37. Re7 1 : 0 [Ivanchuk, Sulypa]
A. Beliavsky 2679 Sandipan 2555

Pune 2004 91/(389)
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7
10. h4 g4 11. Ne5 h5 12. 0-0 Bg7 13. Qc2! [a novelty; 13. f3 see 82/(383)] Qd4 14. Rad1
Qc5 [14... Qb6 15. Bc4! bc4 16. Nc4 with the idea Nd6]
15. Ng6!! fg6 16. Bd6 Qb6 17. e5 Kf7 18. ef6 Bf6 19. Ne4 [19. Bb8 Rab8 20. Rd7 Be7 21.
Rfd1 Rhf8 22. Ne4 with compensation] Nd7 [19... Bh4? 20. Qd2 with the idea Qf4] 20. Qc1?
[20. Qd2! with attack] c5 [20... Bh4 21. Bg3! Bg3 22. Rd7 Ke8 23. Nf6 Kf8 24. Qc3! with
attack] 21. Nf6 [21. Bg3 Bd4 22. Qf4 Kg8 and Black is superior] Nf6 22. Qf4 [22... e5! 23.
Be5 Rhd8 unclear] [A. Beliavsky]
Kramnik 2770 Leko 2741

Brissago (m/8) 2004 91/312
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 0-0 8. c3 d5 9. ed5
Nd5 10. Ne5 Ne5 11. Re5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Re4 g5 16. Qf1 Qh5!?
[16... Qh6 39/418] 17. Nd2 Bf5 18. f3! Nf6! [a novelty; 18... Be4? 19. fe4 Ne3 20. Qf3 and
White is superior with the idea 20... Ng4 21. Nf1 and White is winning] 19. Re1 Rae8 20. Re8
Re8 21. a4! Qg6! [21... b4 22. Nc4! with the idea 22... Bg3 23. hg3 Bd3 24. Nd6!! (24. Qd3?
Re1 25. Kf2 Qh1 and Black is winning; 24. g4? Ng4! and Black is winning) Bf1 25. Bf7 Qf7
26. Nf7 and White is superior] 22. ab5 [22. Ne4 Ne4 23. fe4 Be4 (23... Re4? 24. ab5 ab5 25.
Bc2 h6 26. Be4 Be4 27. b3 and White is superior) 24. Bg5! (24. ab5? Bd3 25. Bf7 Qf7 26. Qd3
Re1 27. Kg2 Qd5 28. Kh3 Rg1 and Black is winning) ba4! 25. Bc4 (25. Ra4? Rb8) Rb8!? (25...
Bd5 26. Bd5 cd5 equal) 26. Re1 Bd5 27. Bd5 cd5 28. Bc1 h5 with counterplay] Bd3 23. Qf2?
[23. Qd1 Be2! (23... ab5 24. Ne4 Be4 25. fe4 Ne4 26. Ra7) 24. Qc2 (24. Bc2? Qh5 25. Qe1
Bf3 26. Qf1 Bd5 27. Qf6 Bg3! 28. Nf3 Re1! 29. Ne1 Qh2 30. Kf1 Qh1 31. Ke2 Qe1 32. Kd3
Qe4 33. Kd2 Bf4 and Black is winning) Bd3 (24... Qh5? 25. Qf5!) 25. Qd1 equal] Re2 24. Qe2
[24. ba6!? Rf2 25. Kf2 Qh5 (25... Qh6!?) 26. Kg1 (26. Kg2 g4 and Black is winning; 26. Nf1
Ne4! 27. Ke3 Bf1 28. a7 Qh2 29. a8Q Kg7 and Black is winning; 26. Ke3 Ba6 27. Ra6 Qh2
28. Rc6 Qg3 and Black is winning) Bg3! 27. hg3 Qh3 28. a7 Qg3 29. Kh1 g4!! 30. a8Q Kg7
31. Qb7 (31. Ra5 gf3 32. Rg5 Qg5 33. Nf3 Qc1 and Black is winning) Qe1 32. Kg2 gf3 33.
Nf3 (33. Kf3 Qe2 34. Kg3 Nh5 35. Kh4 Qh2 36. Kg4 Qg3 37. Kh5 Bg6 mate) Qf1 34. Kg3
Nh5 35. Kh4 Qh1 36. Kg4 Qg2 37. Kh5 Qh3 38. Nh4 (38. Kg5 Qg3 39. Kh5 Bg6 mate) Be2
39. Kg5 Qg4 mate] Be2 25. ba6
25... Qd3!! (and Black is winning) 26. Kf2 [26. a7 Qe3 27. Kg2 Bf3! 28. Nf3 Qe2 29. Kg1
Ng4!! (29... Qf3? 30. a8Q Kg7 31. Bg5 and White is winning) 30. a8Q Kg7 31. Qc6 Qf2 32.
Kh1 Qf1 33. Ng1 Nf2 mate; 26. Ne4 Ne4 27. fe4 Qf3 28. Bg5 Bg3!] Bf3! 27. Nf3 Ne4 28.
Ke1 Nc3! [28... Ng3? 29. Bd1] 29. bc3 Qc3 30. Kf2 Qa1 31. a7 [better is 31. Bg5 Qa6] h6!
32. h4 g4 0 : 1 [Leko]
Iordachescu 2633 Ki. Georgiev 2626

Srbija i Crna Gora 2004 91/290
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. 0-0 Ne4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bc6 dc6 7. de5 Nf5 8. Qd8 Kd8 9.
Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Bf5
11. g4! [a novelty; 11. Nd4 Bg6 12. Re1 c5] Bc2 [11... Bg6 12. Re1! (12. Bg5!?) a) 12... Bc2
13. Nd4 Bg6 14. f4 (14. Rd1 see 11... Bc2) c5 (14... h5 15. f5 Bh7 16. Bg5 and White is
superior) 15. Nb3 and White is slightly better; b) 12... Nd5 13. Ne4 Nb4 (13... Be7 14. Bg5
and White is slightly better) 14. Bg5 Ke8 (14... Kc8 15. Rad1 b6 16. c3 and White is superior)
15. Rad1 b1) 15... Nc2 16. Nd6! cd6 17. ed6 Kd7 (17... Ne1 18. d7 mate) 18. Ne5 Ke6 (18...
Kc8 19. d7 and White is winning) 19. Ng6 Ne1 20. Re1 Kd6 21. Nh8 and White is winning;
b2) 15... Be4 16. Re4 h6 17. Bd2 and White is slightly better] 12. Nd4 Bg6 13. Rd1 [13. f4! c5
(13... h5 14. f5 Bh7 15. Bg5 and White is slightly better) 14. Nf3 (14. Nb3 c4 15. Nc5 Nc6! 16.
Nb7 Kc8 17. f5 Kb7 18. fg6 hg6 and Black is superior) f5 (14... Bd3 15. Rd1 c4 16. Ne1 Ke8
17. Nd3 cd3 18. Rd3 Rd8 19. Rd8 Kd8 20. Be3 and White is slightly better) 15. Be3 (15. ef6
gf6 16. f5 Bf7 17. Bf4 with compensation) b6 16. Rad1 Kc8 (16... Ke8 17. Nb5 Rc8 18. Na7
Ra8 19. Nb5 Rc8 20. e6 and White is superior) 17. Nh4! h5 (17... Kb7 18. Kg2 and White is
slightly better, with the idea Rd2, Rfd1) 18. Ng6 Ng6 19. gf5 Nh4 20. Kf2 Nf5 21. Kf3 and
White is slightly better] Kc8 [13... Ke8 14. f4 h5 15. f5 Bh7 16. Bg5 and White is slightly
better] 14. f4 c5 [14... h5 15. f5 Bh7 16. Bg5 and White is slightly better] 15. Nde2 [15. Nf3!?
f5 16. ef6 (16. Nh4!?) gf6 17. f5 Bf7 18. Bf4 development advantage (with the idea Rd2,
Rad1, with the idea Ne4) h5 19. Kf2 hg4 20. hg4 Rg8 21. Re1 with compensation, with the
idea 21... Rg4? 22. Bh6! and White is superior] f5 [15... h5 16. f5 Bh7 17. Bg5 and White is
slightly better] 16. ef6 [16. Be3 b6 (16... Nc6 17. Ng3 and White is slightly better) 17. Rd2 h5
unclear] gf6 17. f5 Bf7 18. Ne4 Nc6!? [18... Nd5 19. Nf4! Nf4 20. Bf4 Be7 only move,
unclear] 19. Nf6 [19. Be3 b6 20. Nf6 Bg7] Bg7 20. Bg5 [20. g5 Bf6 21. gf6 a5 and Black is
slightly better; 20. Ne4 Nd4 (20... Re8) 21. N2c3 Re8 22. Bd2 (22. f6 Bf8 23. Ng5 Bg6
unclear) a5 unclear] a5! [20... h6 21. Bh4 h5 22. Bg5 unclear] 21. Nf4 Ra6 22. Kg2 [22.
Kf2!?] h6 23. Bh4 Nb4 [23... Nd4 24. N6d5 Rd6 25. f6! Bf8 (25... Bd5 26. Nd5 Rd5 27. fg7
Rg8 28. Bf6 equal) 26. Ne7 Be7 27. fe7 Re8 unclear; 23... a4 24. Rac1 unclear] 24. Ne4? [24.
N6d5? Bb2 25. Rab1 Bd4 26. Ne7 Kb8 27. a3 Nc2 and Black is winning; 24. Rd7! Bf6 only
move (24... Rf8 25. Ng6 and White is superior) 25. Rf7 Bh4 (25... Bb2 26. Re1 and White is
superior) 26. Ng6 Rd8 (26... Rg6 27. fg6 and White is slightly better) 27. Nh4 Rd2 28. Kg3
Rb2 29. Rf8 equal] Bb2 [24... Nc2 25. Nc5 Rc6 (25... Rb6 26. Rd7 Na1 27. Rf7 Rb2 28. Kf3
Bd4 29. Nce6 Nc2 only move 30. Rc7 Kb8 31. Rd7 and White is superior; 25... Na1 26. Na6
Bb2 27. Nc5 Nc2 28. Rd2 Bc1 29. Rc2 Bf4 30. Bg3 and White is slightly better) 26. Rd7! Rf8!
(26... Rc5 27. Rf7 Na1 28. Rg7 and White is superior; 26... Na1 27. Rf7 Bb2 28. Nfe6 and
White is slightly better, with the idea Bg3) 27. Ng6 (27. Be7 Na1 28. Bf8 Bf8 29. Rf7 Bc5 and
Black is superior) Bg6 28. Rg7 a) 28... Bf5 29. Be7 Re8 30. gf5 Ne3! 31. Kh1 Nf5 32. Rag1
Ng7 (32... Ne7? 33. Re7 and White is winning; 32... b6? 33. Rg8 and White is winning) 33.
Rg7 b6 34. Nd3 equal; b) 28... Na1 29. Nd7! (29. Be7 Re8 30. fg6 b6 and Black is superior)
Rf5 (29... Re8 30. fg6 with compensation) 30. gf5 Bf5 31. Ne5 Rc2 32. Kf3! b5 33. Rg1 Rb2
34. Ra1 Bh3 equal] 25. Nc5 Rc6 [25... Rd6!? 26. Rab1 (26. Rd6 cd6 27. Ne4 Ba1 28. Nd6 Kd7
29. Nf7 and Black is slightly better) Ba2 27. Rd6 cd6 (27... Bb1 28. Re6) 28. Rb2 dc5 and
Black is slightly better, with the idea 29. Ra2 Na2 30. Ng6 Rh7!] 26. Rab1 Be5 27. Nfe6 b6!
[27... Bd6 and Black is slightly better] 28. Nd8 Be8 [28... Ba2 29. Nc6 Nc6 30. Ne6 Bb1 31.
Rb1 a4 and Black is superior] 29. Nd3 [29. Nce6!?] Rc2 30. Kf3 Nd3 31. Rd3 h5 [31... Ra2
and Black is superior] 32. g5 Rf8 [32... Rc4! 33. Bg3 Rf8 34. f6 Bg6 (34... Bf6!? 35. gf6 Bg6
36. Ke3 Rf6 and Black is winning) 35. Be5 (35. Ne6 Bf6 36. Nf8 Bd3 37. gf6 Bb1 38. f7 Rc5
and Black is winning) Bd3 36. Ne6 Be4 37. Kf2 Bb1 (37... Rf7 38. Rg1 with counterplay) 38.
Nf8 Ba2 39. g6 Rc5 40. Ba1 Rf5 41. Kg3 a4 and Black is winning] 33. f6 Bg6 [33... Rc4 34.
Ne6 Bg6 35. Re1 equal] 34. Ne6 Re8? [34... Bd3 35. Nf8 Rh2! 36. Re1 Rh3 37. Kg2 Rh2 38.
Kg1 Bd6 and Black is winning] 35. Ng7 Rg8 [35... Bd3! 36. Ne8 Rh2 37. Re1 Rh3 38. Kg2
Rh4 (38... Rh2 39. Kg1 Rh4 40. Re5 with counterplay) 39. Re5 Bg6 40. Kf3 unclear] 36. Re3
[36. Re1!? Bd3 37. Re5 Bg6 38. Nf5 and White is superior] Bd4 37. Rbe1 [37. Nf5 a) 37...
Be3 38. Ne7 Kb7 39. Ke3 (39. Ng8 Bc5 and Black is winning) Rc3 40. Kd2 Rd3 41. Ke2 Re8
42. Rb3 Rb3 43. ab3 Bf7 44. Kd2 Bb3 45. g6 a4 46. Kc3 Be6 and Black is winning; b) 37...
Bf5 38. f7 b1) 38... Rd8 39. Re8 Bg7 40. g6 Rc3 41. Kf2 Bb1 42. Rd8 Kb7 43. Bf6 (43. Rg8
Bd4 44. Ke2 Re3 45. Kd2 Rf3 46. f8Q Rf8 47. Rf8 Bg6 48. Bf6! and Black is slightly better)
Bf6 44. Rb8 (44. f8Q Bd8 45. Qd8 Bg6 46. Qd5 equal) Kb8 45. f8Q Kb7 46. Qf6 Rc6 equal;
b2) 38... Rf8! 39. Re8 Kb7 40. Rf8 Rc3 41. Kf4 Bb1 42. Rb8 Kb8 43. f8Q Kb7 with
counterplay] Be3 38. Re3 Ra2 39. Ne6
39... Bf7? [39... Ra1 40. Nf4 Rf1 41. Bf2 (41. Kg3 a4 42. Nd5 Re8 43. Ne7 Re7 44. fe7 Kd7
and Black is winning) Bf7 42. Re7 (42. h4 a4 43. Ke2 Bc4 44. Kf3 Rd8 45. g6 Rd2 46. Nh3
Rd6 and Black is winning, with the idea 47. f7 Rf6; 42. g6 Bg6 43. Ke2 Rf2 44. Kf2 Rf8 and
Black is winning) Rg5! (42... Bc4 43. g6 Rf8 44. f7 Kd8 45. g7 Rf7 46. g8Q Ke7 47. Qc8 Kd6
48. Qd8 Kc6 49. Qe8 Kd6 50. Qd8 equal) 43. Rf7 Rf5 44. Ke4 Rf4 45. Kf4 Rf2 46. Kg5 a4
47. Rf8 Kb7 (47... Kd7 48. Ra8 Ke6 and Black is winning) 48. Rd8 a3 49. Kg6 b5 and Black is
winning] 40. Nf4 Rd2 [40... Ra1 41. Re7 Rf1 42. Ke3 Re8 (42... Be8!? 43. f7 Bf7 44. Rf7 a4
45. g6 a3 46. g7 Kb7 47. Bf6 Re8 48. Re7 Rg8) 43. g6 (43. Re8 Be8 44. g6 Rf4 45. g7 Bf7 46.
Kf4 Kd7 and Black is winning) Re7 44. fe7 Be8 45. g7 Rg1 46. Bf6 Kd7 47. Kf2 Rg7 48. Bg7
Ke7 equal] 41. g6! Rg6 42. Re7 Rd7 43. Rf7 Rf7 44. Ng6 a4 45. Ne5 (equal) a3 [45... Rf8
46. f7 a3 47. Be7 a2 48. Bf8 a1Q 49. Be7 equal] 46. Nf7 a2 47. Nd6 Kd7 48. f7 a1Q 49. f8Q
Qf1 50. Bf2 Qh3 51. Ke2 Qe6 52. Be3 Qd6 1/2 : 1/2 [Iordachescu]
Bakre 2492 B. Kadziolka 2298

Pardubice 2004 91/191
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 0-0 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4
Bd7 10. 0-0-0 Rc8 11. Bb3 Nd4 12. Bd4 b5 13. Ba7 [13. Nd5 Nd5 14. Bg7 Kg7 15. ed5 a5
16. a3 b4 17. ab4 ab4 18. Qb4 Kg8 19. Rhe1 Rb8 20. Qc3 Re8 see 90/(188); 20... Qb6] b4 14.
Nd5 Nd5 15. ed5 Qa5 16. Bd4
16... Rc2!! [a novelty; 16... Ba4; 16... e5; 16... Bd4] 17. Bc2 [17. Kc2? Bf5 and Black is
winning; 17. Qc2!? Rc8 18. Qc8 Bc8 19. Kb1 Bf5 20. Ka1 Bd4 21. Rd4 Qc5 22. Rhd1 (22.
Rc4 Qf2 23. Rb4 Qg2 and Black is superior; 22. Rd2 Qe3 23. Rhd1 h5 and Black is slightly
better) Bc2 23. Bc2! (23. Rc4?! Qc4 24. Bc4 Bd1 25. a3 ba3 26. ba3 Kg7 27. Kb2 Kf6 28. Bb3
Be2 29. a4 Ke5 30. Kc3 Ba6 with the idea Bb7 and Black is superior) Qc2 24. R4d2 Qc5 25.
Re2 Kf8 26. Rde1 Qd5 27. Re7 h5 28. R7e2 Kg7 29. Re7 Qd2 30. R7e2 Qd4 31. Re4 Qd2 32.
R4e2 equal] Qa2 18. Qf2?! [18. Qb4? Bh6 19. Rd2 Qa1 20. Bb1 Bf5 and Black is winning;
18. Bg7? Qa1 19. Bb1 Rc8 20. Bc3 Bf5 and Black is winning; 18. b3? Rc8 19. Bg7 (19. Qf2
Bd4 20. Rd4 Qa1 21. Kd2 Rc2!! and Black is winning) Bf5 20. Bb2 Qb3 and Black is winning;
18. Qe3 Rc8 19. Kd2 Rc2!! 20. Kc2 Qc4 21. Kd2 Bd4 22. Qe7 (22. Qd3 Qd5 23. g4 Bb5 and
Black is winning) Bb5 with compensation] Rc8 19. Kd2 Rc2!! 20. Kc2 Qc4 21. Kd2 [21. Bc3
Bf5 and Black is winning] Bd4 22. Qe2 Bc3!! 23. Ke3 Qc5 24. Ke4 Bf5 25. Kf4 Be5 26. Kg5
f6 27. Kh4 g5 [28. Kh5 Bg6 29. Kh6 (29. Kg4 Qc8 mate) Qc8 with the idea Qf8 mate] 0 : 1
[B. Kadziolka]
Fe. Peralta 2541 V. Spasov 2524

Lorca 2004 91/484
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 0-0 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 Ng4 8. Bg5 f6 9. Bh4 Nc6
10. d5 Ne7 11. Nd2 h5 12. h3 Nh6 13. g4 hg4 14. hg4 Nf7 15. Qc2 Bd7 16. 0-0-0 Nc8 17.
Bg3 Bh6 18. f4! [a novelty; 18. Rh2 81/(472)] Bf4 [18... ef4 19. e5 Kg7 (19... f5 20. e6 fg3
21. gf5 and White is superior) 20. ef6 Qf6 21. Nce4 Qe7 (21... Qe5 22. Bh4! g5 23. Nf3! Qe7
24. Neg5 and White is winning) 22. Bh4 g5 only move
23. Bg5!! Ng5 (23... Bg5 24. Rh7! Kh7 25. Ng5 and White is winning) 24. Ng5! Qg5 25. Nf3!
Qe7 26. g5 Qe3 27. Kb1 and White is superior] 19. Bf4 ef4 20. e5 Ne5 21. Rh6 Qe7 [21... f5
22. Rdh1 Qf6 23. Rh7! a) 23... Rf7 24. Nde4! and White is winning; b) 23... fg4 24. Nce4 Qf5
25. Bd3! with attack; c) 23... Nb6 24. Nde4! fe4 25. Ne4 Qg7! (25... Qd8 26. g5!) 26. Rg7 Kg7
27. Ng5 Rh8 (27... f3 28. Bf3! Rf3 29. Nf3 Nf3 30. c5! Nd5 31. Qe4 Bc6 32. Qf3 Nf6 33. Qe3
Bh1 34. Qe7 and White is winning) 28. Rf1 and White is superior; d) 23... Nf7 24. Nf3! Nb6
(24... fg4? 25. Ne4 Qf5 26. Qc3 and White is winning; 24... Ne7? 25. Bd3 Rae8 26. Qh2 g5 27.
Rf7! Rf7 28. Ng5 fg4 29. Ne6! and White is winning) 25. Bd3 Rae8 26. gf5 Bf5 27. Ne4 Be4
28. Be4 and White is superior] 22. Rdh1 Qg7 23. Nf3 Ne7 [23... f5 24. Ne5 (24. Ng5!?) Qe5
(24... de5 25. c5 and White is superior) 25. Bd3 fg4!? (25... Ne7 26. Qh2) 26. Rg6! (26. Bg6
Ne7!) Kf7 27. Nb5! and White is superior, with the idea 27... Rh8 28. Rh8 Qh8 29. Qd2 Bb5
30. Qf4 Ke8 31. Rh6! Qg7 32. Rh7 Qg8 33. Qf6! and White is winning] 24. Ne5 fe5 [24... de5
25. c5!] 25. Bd3 Bg4 26. Bg6 Bf5 [26... Bf3 27. Rh8 Qh8 28. Rh8 Kh8 29. Qh2 Kg7 30. Qh7
Kf6 31. Bh5! and White is winning; 26... Rf6 27. Rh8 Qh8 28. Rh8 Kh8 29. Qh2 Kg7 30. Qh7
Kf8 31. Qh8 Ng8 32. Bh7 Kf7 33. Ne4 Rf5 (33... Rg6 34. Bg6 Kg6 35. Qh4! Bd7 36. c5 and
White is winning) 34. Bf5 Bf5 35. Qh5 Bg6 36. Ng5 Kf6 (36... Kg7 37. Ne6 Kf7 38. Qh8 and
White is winning) 37. Qh4 and White is superior] 27. Rh8 (and White is winning) Qh8 28.
Rh8 Kg7 29. Bf5 Rh8 30. Qg2 Kf6 31. Be6 Ng6 32. Ne4 Kg7 33. Bf5 Rh6 34. Qg5 Rf8 35.
Nf2! 1 : 0 [Fe. Peralta]
T. Radjabov 2670 Mi. Adams 2731

Tripoli (m/1) 2004 91/423

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 dc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. 0-0 Nc6 7. e3 Bd7 8. Nc3 Nd5 9. Nd2
Nb6!? [a novelty; 9... Nc3 90/427] 10. Qe2 Na5 11. e4 [11. Qh5 Bb4 (11... Nc6) 12. a3 g6
unclear] Bb4 [11... Nc6 12. Nf3 (12. d5 Nd4 13. Qd1 e5 unclear) Be7 13. d5 Nb4 14. Ne5 ed5
15. ed5 0-0 16. Nc4 Nc4 17. Qc4 Bf5 18. Rd1 and White is slightly better; 15... Nd3 unclear;
15... Bf5] 12. Qg4? [12. Nf3 with compensation; 12. e5 with compensation a) 12... 0-0 13.
Nde4 Bc6 14. Qg4 (14. Qh5) Kh8 unclear; b) 12... Bc6 13. Nde4 (13. Qg4 Bg2 14. Qg7 Bf1
15. Qh8 Kd7 16. Qd8 Rd8 17. Kf1 unclear) 0-0 14. Qg4 Kh8 15. Be3 Nd5 unclear] Qf6! 13.
Nf3 [better is 13. e5 Qg6 14. Qd1 Bc6 15. Nf3 0-0-0 16. Be3 Kb8 and Black is slightly better]
h5! [13... e5 14. de5 Bg4 15. ef6 gf6 unclear] 14. Qf4 [14. Qh3 Nc6 (14... e5 15. de5 Qf3 16.
e6 Be6 17. Qe6 fe6 18. Bf3 Nc6 and Black is slightly better) 15. e5 (15. Bg5 Qg6 16. Qh4 f6
17. Bf4 0-0-0 and Black is superior) Qg6 16. Qh4 Qg4 and Black is superior] Qf4 15. Bf4 0-00 (and Black is superior) 16. Rac1 [16. Ng5? Rhf8 17. Nh7 Rg8; 16. Ne5 Be8] f6 17. h4 [17.
a3 Be7 18. b4 cb3 19. Nb5 Nbc4 and Black is winning] Kb8 18. Rc2 [18. e5 Bc6 19. ef6 gf6
20. Rfe1 Rhe8 and Black is superior; 18. Rfd1 Bc6] Rhe8 19. Re1 [19. Rfc1 Bc6] Nc6! [19...
Na4!?] 20. Rd2 [20. Rce2 Nd4 21. Nd4 e5 and Black is winning; 20. a3 Ba5 21. Rd1 Na7 and
Black is superior; 20. Rec1 Bd6 (20... Nd4 21. Nd4 e5 22. Nde2 ef4 23. Nf4 and Black is
slightly better) 21. e5 Bf8 22. a3 Ne7 and Black is superior; 20. Rd1 Bd6 and Black is
superior] Na7 21. Rde2 [21. Rc1 Bc6 22. Re2 Nb5 and Black is superior] Nb5 22. Bd2 Bc3?
[22... a5!?; 22... Bc6 23. Nb5! Bd2 24. Nc7 Be1 25. Ne8 Bf2 26. Kf2 Re8 27. Ke3 and Black
is slightly better; 22... Nc3 23. bc3 Ba5 and Black is superior] 23. bc3 Na4 24. Re3 [24. Rc1
c5] c5 [24... e5!?] 25. e5! [25. Bf1 cd4 26. cd4 c3 27. Bc1 Bc6 and Black is winning] Bc8
[25... f5 26. d5 (only move) ed5 27. e6 Bc8 28. Ng5 with counterplay; 25... Nc7!?] 26. dc5
Nc5 27. Bf1 Na3 [27... Nd3 28. Bd3 Rd3 29. Rd3 cd3 30. ef6 gf6 31. Re3 Rd8 32. Ne1 Nc3
33. Rd3 Nd5 and Black is slightly better] 28. Nd4? time [28. Rc1 b5 29. Nd4 Bb7 and Black is
superior; 28. Rd1 a) 28... Rd5 29. Nd4 fe5 (29... Re5 30. Re5 fe5 31. Nf3 unclear) 30. Re5 Re5
31. Bf4 with compensation; b) 28... Nc2 29. Re2 f5 30. Rc1 Na3 and Black is slightly better]
28... Nc2! and Black is superior [28... f5? 29. Bc1 unclear] 29. Nc2 Rd2 30. Nd4 b5 [30... Nd3
31. Bd3 (31. R1e2 Rd1 and Black is winning) cd3 and Black is superior] 31. R3e2 [31. R1e2
Rd1 32. Re1 Re1 33. Re1 Kc7] Re2 32. Be2 [32. Re2 Bb7 and Black is winning] Rh8 33. ef6
gf6 34. f4 [34. Nc6 Kc7 35. Ne7 Rh7 36. Nc8 (36. Ng8 Nd7 and Black is winning; 36. Ng6 e5)
Kc8 and Black is superior] Na4 [34... Bb7 35. Bd1 Bd5 and Black is superior; 34... Kc7 35.
Bf3 Nd3 36. Re3 e5 37. fe5 fe5 38. Nc2 Kd6 39. Nb4 Nb4 40. cb4 and Black is superior] 35.
Rc1 Kc7 36. Kf2 Nc5 [36... e5 37. fe5 fe5 38. Nf3 Bg4 39. Ke3 Rg8 40. Bd1 e4 41. Ke4 Re8
42. Kd4 Rd8 43. Ke5 Nb2 and Black is winning] 37. Ke3 Bb7 [37... e5 38. fe5 fe5 39. Nf3
Bg4 and Black is winning] 38. Rg1 [better is 38. a4 e5 (38... Rg8 39. ab5 Rg3 40. Kf2 Ne4 41.
Kf1 ab5 42. Nb5 Kb6 43. Na3 Rh3 and Black is winning) 39. fe5 fe5 40. Nf5 Na4 41. Ng7 Nb6
42. Bh5 Nd5 and Black is winning] Bd5 39. g4 hg4 40. Rg4 Kd6 41. f5 [41. Rg6 Rh4 42. Rf6
Rh3 43. Bf3 Nd3 44. Ke2 Ke7 and Black is winning; 41. Bf3 Na4 42. Kd2 Bf3 43. Nf3 Kd5
and Black is winning] e5 42. Nc2 [42. Nf3 Rh5 and Black is winning] Be4! [42... Bf7 and
Black is winning] 43. Re4 Ne4 44. Ke4 Rh4 45. Ke3 [45. Kf3 Rh3] Rf4 46. Nd4 [46. Nb4 a5
47. Nc2 Rf5 48. a4 ba4 49. Bc4 Kc5 50. Be6 Rg5 51. Ke4 Rg3 52. Ne3 a3 53. Kd3 f5 and
Black is winning; 46. Bf3 Rf5 47. Bb7 a5 48. Ba6 Kc5 49. Na3 Rh5 50. Bb5 (50. Nb5 Kb6
and Black is winning) Rh3 51. Kd2 Rh2 and Black is winning] b4! 47. Ne6 bc3 [48. Nf4 ef4
and Black is winning; 47... Rf5 48. Bc4 bc3 and Black is winning] 0 : 1 [Mi. Adams]
A 18
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 d5 4. e5 d4 5. ef6 dc3 6. bc3 Qf6 7. Nf3 e5
8. d4 ed4 9. Bg5 Qe6 10. Be2 f6 11. Nd4 Qf7
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Bh41 Bh52
Qe2
Bf3
Rfe1
Rad1
Bg3
Be5
Bc5
g6
Be73
Be5
Re8
Re55
c6
00
Bd6
Bf4
Qa47
Nb3
Nc5
Qb4
Bd6
c59
cd6
00
Na6
Nc5
b68
Ne4
Nd6
00
Be610
Qc115
004
20
equal
Bc56 c6
Bh6
Qd212
00
Qh6
Rab114
g611
Na613
Bh6
Bd7
0-0-0
and White
is slightly
better
and White
is superior
1
12. 00 fg5 13. Bg4 Na6 see 12. Bg4; 12. Bg4 Na6 a) 13. Bc8 Rc8 14. 00 Be7 [14... fg5 see
13. 00] a1) 15. Nf5? fg5 16. Ne7 Ke7 17. f4 [17. Re1 Kf8 18. Qg4 Rb8 19. Re5 h5 20. Qg5
Rh6 21. Rae1 Rf6 and Black is winning; A. Nowicki Szafraniec, corr. 1992] Rhd8! 18. Qg4
[18. Qf3? g4!; 18. Qe2 Qe6 19. Qh5 Qg6!] Qc4 19. Rae1 Kd6 and Black is superior; a2) 15.
Be3! 00 [15... Qc4 16. Nf5 Kf7 17. Ne7 Ke7 18. Qh5 with attack] 16. Nf5 unclear; b) 13. 00
fg5 14. Bc8 Rc8 15. Qg4 Rd8 16. Rae1 Be7 b1) 17. Ne6 h5 [17... Rd6 18. Ng5 Qg6 (Federl
Lindsay, USA 1988) 19. f4! with attack, weak point Ke8] 18. Qe4 Rd6 19. Qb7 Kd7 20. Qb5!
Kc8 21. c5 Re6 22. c6 with compensation; Morlo Muench, Wallertheim 1994; b2) 17. Nf5
h5 18. Qe4 Rd7 19. Ne7 Re7 20. Qb7 00 21. Re7 Qe7 22. Qa6 Qc5 with compensation
2
13. 00 00 14. Re1 Na6 15. Bd3 unclear; L. Christiansen Ar. Jussupow, New York (rapid)
1995
3
14... Kf8 15. Bf3 Kg7 16. 00 Re8 17. Qd2 c6 18. Rae1 [18. Rfe1 Be7 (L. Christiansen
Gulko, USA (ch) 1994 see 63/(12)) 19. Re3! Na6 20. Rae1 Bd7 21. Nb5 and White is superior,
with attack; Seirawan] Nd7 19. Re8 Qe8 20. Nc6 bc6 21. Bc6 Rb8 22. Rd1 and White is
superior; Hauchard Lepelletier, France (ch) 1995
4
16. Nb5?! 00! 17. Nc7 Bd6!
5
Gulko Zagrebelny, Yerevan (ol) 1996 see 67/(21)
6
12... c6?! 13. Bg4! Na6 14. 00 Be7 15. Bc8 Rc8 16. Nf5 00 17. Ne7 Qe7 18. Bd6 and White
is winning; O. Renet Van Gisbergen, Groningen (open) 1993 see 57/(17)
7
13. Nb5 Na6 14. Qd5 00 15. Nc7 Nc7 16. Bc7 Be6 17. Qc5 Rfc8 and Black is slightly better;
Ar. Jussupow; 15. 00 see 13. 00; 13. Bh5 g6 14. Qe2 [14. Bf3 Qc4 15. Ne2 c6 16. 00 Kf7
17. Rb1 Be7 18. Nd4 with compensation; Ce. Roos Kohlweyer, St. Ingbert 1994] Qe7 15.
Qe7 Be7 16. Bf3 c6 17. Rb1 Kf7 18. Bb8 Rb8 19. Bc6 [19. Nc6? Bf5!] Be6 20. Bd5 Bd5 21.
cd5 Rhd8 22. 00 Bc5 equal; K. Gierth Ju. Hess, corr. 1998; 13. Nb3 Na6 14. Nc5 Nc5 15.
Be3! Ne4B 16. Bd3 f5!? 17. f3 Nf6 18. 00 00 19. Re1 Be6 20. Bd4 [20. Qc2 Nd7 21. c5 b6
22. cb6 ab6 23. Bb5 equal; Al. Onischuk Riazantsev, Russia 2004 see 91/(5)] Rad8 21. c5 b6
22. Qe2 Rfe8 23. Bb5 Nd7 24. cb6 ab6 25. a4 Bd5 26. Qb2 (Va. Salov Ar. Jussupow,
Madrid 1995 see 63/12) Bc4! equal; Va. Salov; 13. 00 00 a) 14. Nb5 Na6 15. Qd5 c6 16.
Qf7 Rf7 17. Nd6 Re7 18. Rfe1 Re6! [18... g5 19. Nc8 Rc8 20. Bg4 Re1! 21. Re1 Rd8 22. Bc1
Kg7 23. Bf5 (Schwartzman G. Timoshenko, Bucuresti 1993 see 59/20) h6!? 24. h4 Bd6 with
the idea Nc5 equal; G. Timoshenko] 19. Rad1 Re2! 20. Re2 Bg4 equal; U. Nilsson Burri,
corr. 2000; b) 14. Re1 Na6 15. Qc2 Bd7 [15... Rd8?! 16. Rad1 Bb6 17. Bf3 and White is
superior, with the idea 17... g5?! 18. Nc6! and White is winning; Shredder Nimzo, Paderborn
2000] 16. Bd3 and White is slightly better, with initiative
8
16... Qe7 (C. Rasmussen W. Kruszynski, Norresundby 1992) 17. Be3 Ne4 18. f3 Ng5 19.
Kf2 and White is slightly better; Nogueiras
9
18. Bf3 c5 19. Qa4 Bd7 20. Qc2 f5 21. Be4 Qe6 22. f3 fe4 23. Qe4 and White is slightly
better; Nogueiras
10
21. a4 Rad8 22. Qd4 (Nogueiras G. Timoshenko, Cappelle la Grande 2004 see 90/(10)) Rd7
with the idea Rfd8 Nogueiras; 21. Rfe1 Rad8 22. Bd3 Rfe8 23. Qe4 f5 24. Qc6 Rc8 [S.
Sorensen Pijl, corr. 1998] 25. Qa4 Red8 26. Ba6 Rc3 27. Rad1 and White is slightly better;
Nogueiras
11
12... c5? a) 13. Nb5 Bf5 [13... Na6? 14. Bg7! and White is winning; Aigmueller J. Mueller,
corr. 1985] 14. 00 Qd7 15. Bf4 Na6 16. Re1 Kf7 17. Bf3 and White is winning; Ni Hua A.
Aleksandrov, Kolkata 2004; b) 13. Bg7!! Bg7 [13... Qg7 14. Bh5 Ke7 15. Nb5 Nd7 16. Qd6
Kd8 17. Qc7 Ke7 18. 0-0-0 Qh6 19. f4 Qh5 20. Nd6 Bh6 21. Rhe1 Kf8 22. Qd8 Kg7 23. Re7
Kg6 24. Qh8 Bf4 25. Kb2 and White is winning] 14. Bh5 cd4 15. Bf7 Kf7 16. Qh5 Kf8 17.
cd4 and White is winning; 12... Bd6 13. Bh5 g6 14. Be2 Bf8 and White is superior, see 12...
g6; 12... Be7 13. Bh5 g6 14. Be2 Na6 15. Rb1 f5 16. 00 Nc5 17. Nb5 Ne6 18. Bf3 and White
is winning; Kaatz Schaar, corr. 1991; 14... Bf8 and White is superior, see 12... g6
12
13. Bf8 Kf8 a) 14. 00 Kg7 15. Bf3 [15. Re1?! Re8 16. Bf3 Re1 17. Qe1 c6 18. Rd1 Na6 19.
Rd3 Bd7 20. Re3 Re8 and Black is slightly better; Wrba Bellmann, corr. 1999] Re8 16. Bd5
Qf8 17. Re1 c6 18. Bf3 Re5 unclear; Rayschutt Caissa, corr. 2001; b) 14. h4 h5 [14... Kg7
15. h5 Na6 16. Qd2 and White is superior; Djabri S. Goldshtein, corr. 1999; 14... c5 15. Nb5
Nc6 16. h5 and White is superior; J. Grant M. Ford, Grangemouth 2000] 15. 00 Kg7 16. f4
Nc6 17. Nc6 bc6 18. Qa4 and White is superior; Si. Williams J. Howell, Great Britain (ch)
1995
13
13... Bh6 14. Qh6 Qf8 [14... Na6 15. 00 Bd7 see 13... Na6] 15. Qf4 Qd6 [15... Qe7 16. 00
00 17. Bf3 with initiative] 16. Qd6 cd6 17. Nb5 and White is superior; Shariyazdanov, A.
Lisenko
14
16. Bf3 0-0-0 17. Rfb1 c6 18. Qc1 with attack; Shariyazdanov Riazantsev, Biel (open) 2004
see 91/5; 16. Nb5!? 0-0-0 [16... Bb5? 17. cb5 Nc5 18. Bg4 and White is winning; B.
Schumacher Murach, corr. 1986] 17. Qe3! weak point a7

15
with the idea Qb2 Shariyazdanov, A. Lisenko

The Ten Best Games of Informant 91

Ivan Markov
Today's computer engines lure us into a wilderness of mind-boggling
variations we would not have dreamt of entering only a decade ago.
Chessplayers respond to this by delving in and refining a myriad of lines until
they are ready for use in tournament practice. Then it usually takes some
patience until an unsuspecting victim comes along and the fruits of laborious
home analysis can finally be reaped The first part of that scenario took
place in the eighth game of the Kramnik Leko title match held in Brissago,
Switzerland last year. What happened next, however, was nothing less than a
contemporary recurrence of the David vs. Goliath myth. Leko rose above
Kramnik's home preparation; creating a masterpiece with such an impact that
it is reminiscent of the groundbreaking Capablanca Marshall game that
gave birth to the Marshall Attack. Capablanca's ingenuity dealt a crushing
blow to the newborn variation, but the enormity of Leko's over-the-board
conception restores the balance after so many years. Thus, the jury of experts
voted this game to be well-above the competition.
The paucity of fighting games in the Brissago match left much to be desired,
but the climactic finish redeemed the champion. The fifteenth game was an
interlude to what was to follow and a sign that Kramnik was ready to give his
best when he needed it most. His defense of the title in the sixteenth game
finally proved him worthy of holding it: maintaining the initiative from the
beginning until the very end, Kramnik's play was energetic, well-timed, and
concrete. This game topped the first official readers' poll in Chess Informant
history. Moreover, the readers' correctly predicted 9 out of 10 of the best
games, only leaving out the underdog Bakre Kadziolka. This was better
than any GM member of the jury. Here's the readers' top ten voting in
descending order:
Kramnik Leko 1:0, Brissago (m/16) 2004

Kramnik Leko 0:1, Brissago (m/8) 2004
Anand Rublevsky 1:0, Dortmund 2004
Morozevich Bologan 1:0, Russia 2004
Radjabov Adams 0:1, Tripoli (m/1) 2004
Volokitin Rublevsky 1:0, Serbia & Montenegro 2004
Short Ye Jiangchuan 1:0, Taiyuan 2004
Adams Kasimdzhanov 1:0, Tripoli (m/3) 2004
Sutovsky Kovacevic 1:0, Bosnia & Herzegovina 2004
Bruzon Ramirez 1:0, La Habana 2004
Here's an additional list of my personal favorites:
Bakre Kadziolka 0:1 (This young lady also made it into the Top 10
in the voting for the most important novelties of Informant 91. As a
Dragon player myself, I am full of praise for her.)
Nataf Volokitin 0:1 (I saw this game firsthand during our national
team championships and the young Ukrainian champion's
determination, energy and quality of preparation were phenomenal;
making him the undisputed man of the event.)
Peralta Spasov 1:0 (Watch out for this guy his Dos Hermanas 2005
"+1" score is just a glimpse of what he's capable of!)
Miroshnichenko Krasenkow 1:0 (Krasenkow paid the greatest of
compliments to this game by annotating it himself few top GMs
would swallow their pride to annotate such a painful loss.)

Brissago (m/8) 2004 91/312

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 0-0 8.
c3 d5 9. ed5 Nd5 10. Ne5 Ne5 11. Re5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3
Qh3 15. Re4 g5 16. Qf1 Qh5!? [16...Qh6 see 39/418] 17. Nd2 Bf5 18. f3!
Nf6! [a novelty; 18...Be4? 19. fe4 Ne3 20. Qf3 and White is superior, with
the idea 20...Ng4 21. Nf1 and White is winning] 19. Re1 Rae8 20. Re8 Re8
21. a4! Qg6! [21...b4 22. Nc4! with the idea 22...Bg3 23. hg3 Bd3 24. Nd6!!
(24. Qd3? Re1 25. Kf2 Qh1 and Black is winning; 24. g4? Ng4! and Black is
winning) Bf1 25. Bf7 Qf7 26. Nf7 and White is superior] 22. ab5 [22. Ne4
Ne4 23. fe4 Be4 (23...Re4? 24. ab5 ab5 25. Bc2 h6 26. Be4 Be4 27. b3 and
White is superior) 24. Bg5! (24. ab5? Bd3 25. Bf7 Qf7 26. Qd3 Re1 27. Kg2
Qd5 28. Kh3 Rg1 and Black is winning) ba4! 25. Bc4 (25. Ra4? Rb8) Rb8!?
(25...Bd5 26. Bd5 cd5 equal) 26. Re1 Bd5 27. Bd5 cd5 28. Bc1 h5 with
counterplay] Bd3 23. Qf2? [23. Qd1 Be2! (23...ab5 24. Ne4 Be4 25. fe4 Ne4
26. Ra7) 24. Qc2 (24. Bc2? Qh5 25. Qe1 Bf3 26. Qf1 Bd5 27. Qf6 Bg3! 28.
Nf3 Re1! 29. Ne1 Qh2 30. Kf1 Qh1 31. Ke2 Qe1 32. Kd3 Qe4 33. Kd2 Bf4
and Black is winning) Bd3 (24...Qh5? 25. Qf5!) 25. Qd1 equal] Re2 24. Qe2
[24. ba6!? Rf2 25. Kf2 Qh5 (25...Qh6!?) 26. Kg1 (26. Kg2 g4 and Black is
winning; 26. Nf1 Ne4! 27. Ke3 Bf1 28. a7 Qh2 29. a8Q Kg7 and Black is
winning; 26. Ke3 Ba6 27. Ra6 Qh2 28. Rc6 Qg3 and Black is winning) Bg3!
27. hg3 Qh3 28. a7 Qg3 29. Kh1 g4!! 30. a8Q Kg7 31. Qb7 (31. Ra5 gf3 32.
Rg5 Qg5 33. Nf3 Qc1 and Black is winning) Qe1 32. Kg2 gf3 33. Nf3 (33.
Kf3 Qe2 34. Kg3 Nh5 35. Kh4 Qh2 36. Kg4 Qg3 37. Kh5 Bg6#) Qf1 34. Kg3
Nh5 35. Kh4 Qh1 36. Kg4 Qg2 37. Kh5 Qh3 38. Nh4 (38. Kg5 Qg3 39. Kh5
Bg6#) Be2 39. Kg5 Qg4#] Be2 25. ba6
25...Qd3!! (and Black is winning) 26. Kf2 [26. a7 Qe3 27. Kg2 Bf3! 28. Nf3
Qe2 29. Kg1 Ng4!! (29...Qf3? 30. a8Q Kg7 31. Bg5 and White is winning)
30. a8Q Kg7 31. Qc6 Qf2 32. Kh1 Qf1 33. Ng1 Nf2#; 26. Ne4 Ne4 27. fe4
Qf3 28. Bg5 Bg3!] Bf3! 27. Nf3 Ne4 28. Ke1 Nc3! [28...Ng3? 29. Bd1] 29.
bc3 Qc3 30. Kf2 Qa1 31. a7 [better is 31. Bg5 Qa6] h6! 32. h4 g4 0 : 1
[Leko]

Brissago (m/14) 2004 91/74

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h6 5. g4 Bd7 6. Nd2 [a novelty; 6. h5 see
66/90] c5 [6...e6 7. Nb3 c5] 7. dc5 e6 [7...Qc7 unclear] 8. Nb3 Bc5 9. Nc5
Qa5 10. c3 Qc5 11. Nf3 [11. Be3 Qc7 12. f4 h5] Ne7 12. Bd3 Nbc6
[12...Qc7 13. Qe2 Nbc6 unclear, with the idea14. Bf4 d4 15. Nd4 Nd4 16.
cd4 Nd5] 13. Be3 Qa5 14. Qd2 [14. Qe2 Ng6 15. b4 Qa3! 16. 0-0 (16. Bd2
Nf4!) Nge5 17. Ne5 Ne5] Ng6 [14...d4! 15. cd4 (15. Nd4 Ne5 16. Be2 Qd5;
15. Bd4 Nd4 16. cd4 Qd5 17. Rh3 Bb5 unclear) Nb4 16. 0-0 Bb5 with
counterplay] 15. Bd4 Nd4 [15...Qc7 16. Qe3 and White is slightly better] 16.
cd4 Qd2 [16...Qb6 17. 0-0-0 Bb5 18. Bb5 Qb5 19. Kb1 and White is slightly
better] 17. Kd2 (and White is slightly better) Nf4 18. Rac1! [18. Bf1 h5 19.
g5 Rc8 20. Ke3 Ng6 21. Bd3 Ne7] h5 [18...Nd3 19. Kd3 and White is
slightly better] 19. Rhg1! Bc6 [19...Nh3?! 20. Rg3! Nf2 21. gh5 and White is
superior] 20. gh5 Nh5 21. b4! a6 [21...Kd8 22. b5 Be8 23. Ke3 g6 24. Rc3
and White is superior; 21...Ke7 22. b5 Bd7 23. Rc7 b6 (23...Rab8 24. b6) 24.
Ng5 Rhc8 25. Rgc1 f6 26. Nh3 and White is superior] 22. a4! [22. Ke3 g6 23.
Nd2 Ng7] Kd8 [22...Ba4 23. Rc7 Bb5 24. Rb7 (24. Bb1!?) Bd3 25. Kd3;
22...Ke7! 23. b5 ab5 24. ab5 Bd7 25. Rc7 b6 (and White is slightly better) 26.
Ng5 Rhc8 a) 27. Rb7 Nf4!? (27...Rcb8 28. Rb8 Rb8) 28. Nf7 Ra2 29. Ke3
Nd3 30. Rg7 Rc3 31. Ng5 Kf8 32. Rgd7 Ne5 33. Kf4 Nd7 34. Rd7 Re2; b)
27. Rc8 Rc8 28. Nf7 Kf7 29. Bg6 Kf8 30. Bh5 Rc4] 23. Ng5 Be8 24. b5! Nf4
[better is 24...ab5 25. Bb5 b6 (25...Rf8 26. Be8 Ke8 27. Rc7 Ra4 28. Rb1 Rd4
29. Ke3 Rc4 30. Rcb7 Rc3 31. Kd2 Rc8 32. Ra7 and White is winning;
25...Nf4 26. Ke3) 26. Be8 (26. Ke3 Ra7 27. Rc3 and White is superior) Re8
(26...Ke8 27. Rc7 and White is winning) 27. Nf7 Kd7 28. Nd6 Rf8 and White
is superior] 25. b6 Nd3 [25...f6 26. Nf3 and White is winning Nd3 27. Kd3
Bh5 28. Rg7!] 26. Kd3 Rc8 [26...Rh4 27. Rc7 Rc8 28. Nf7 and White is
winning] 27. Rc8 Kc8 [R 9/i] 28. Rc1 Bc6 29. Nf7 Rh4 30. Nd6 Kd8
[30...Kd7 31. Nb7 Rh3 32. Ke2 and White is winning] 31. Rg1 [31. Ke3 Rh3
32. f3] Rh3 32. Ke2 Ra3 [32...Rh7 33. a5 Ke7 34. Ke3 Kf8 35. Rc1 and
White is winning] 33. Rg7 Ra4 [33...Ra2 34. Ke3 Ra3 35. Kf4 Ra4 36. Kg5
Rd4 37. Kf6 Rf4 38. Ke6 and White is winning]
34. f4! Ra2 [34...Rd4 35. f5 ef5 36. e6 Re4 37. Ne4 de4 38. Rc7 and White is
winning] 35. Kf3 Ra3 36. Kg4 Rd3 [36...Ra1 37. Nb7 Bb7 38. Rb7 Rg1 39.
Kh5 a5 40. Ra7 Rb1 41. Kg6 Rb6 42. Kf7 and White is winning] 37. f5 Rd4
[37...ef5 38. Kf5 Rh3 (38...Bd7 39. e6 Rf3 40. Kg4) 39. e6] 38. Kg5 ef5 39.
Kf6 Rg4 40. Rc7 Rh4 41. Nf7 1 : 0 [Kramnik]
And. Volokitin 2638 Rublevsky 2686

Serbia & Montenegro 2004 91/207
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 a6 5. Be2 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. f4
0-0 9. a4 Qc7 10. Kh1 b6 11. e5 de5 12. fe5 Nfd7 13. Bf4 Bb7 14. Bd3!
(and White is slightly better) Nc5 only move [ [14...Nc6?? 15. Qh5 g6 16.
Ne6! fe6 (16...Qc8 17. Qh6 fe6 18. Bg6 hg6 19. Qg6 Kh8 20. Rf3 and White
is winning) 17. Bg6 hg6 18. Qg6 Kh8 19. Rf3 and White is winning] 15. Qg4
Nc6? [a novelty; 15...Nbd7]
16. Nd5!! [16. Bh6? Qe5 17. Nc6 Bc6 18. Rae1 f5] ed5 17. e6 [17. Bh7? Kh7
18. Nf5 (18. Ra3 Bc8 19. e6 fe6 and Black is winning) Ne6! (18...g6 19. Qh3
Kg8 20. Qh6 gf5 21. Ra3 and White is winning) 19. Rf3 Rh8 20. Ng7 Ng7 21.
Bh6 Qe5 and Black is winning] Qc8 [17...Qd8 18. Bh6! (18. Bc7?? Qc7 19.
Bh7 Kh8 20. Qh5 Bg5) Bf6 (18...g6 19. Nc6 Bc6 20. ef7 Rf7 21. Bg6 Rf1 22.
Rf1 and White is winning) 19. Bg7! Bg7 20. Bh7 Kh7 21. Qf5 Kh6 (21...Kg8
22. ef7 Rf7 23. Qf7 Kh8 24. Rf5 Qf8 25. Rh5 Bh6 26. Qg6 and White is
winning) 22. Ra3 Bf6 23. Rh3 Bh4 24. Rf4 and White is winning] 18. Bh6 g6
19. Bf8 Bf8 [19...Qf8 20. Rf7 Qh6 21. Nf5 and White is winning; 19...f5 20.
Bf5 Qf8 21. Bg6 Qg7 22. Bh7 and White is winning] 20. ef7! [20. Nc6 Qe6!
21. Qe6 fe6 with counterplay] Kh8 [20...Kg7 21. Qf4 Qd8 22. b4 Nd3 23.
Ne6 Kh8 24. cd3 and White is winning] 21. Bf5 Qc7 [21...Qd8 22. Nc6 Bc6
23. Bg6 and White is winning] 22. Bg6 Ne5 23. Qg3! (and White is winning)
Bg7 [23...Bd6 24. Qh4; 23...hg6 24. Rae1 (24. b4) Bc8 25. Re5 Kg7 26. Qg5
Qd6 27. Re6! Be6 28. Rf6 Bf7 29. Nf5 Kg8 30. Nd6] 24. Bh7 Kh7 25. Qh3
Bh6 [25...Kg6 26. Ra3 Ned3 27. Rd3 Nd3 28. Qd3] 26. Rf6 [26. f8Q] Nf7
27. Raf1 Rf8 28. Qh5 Kg8 29. Qg6 Bg7 30. Nf5 Ne6 31. Re6 1 : 0 [And.
Volokitin]
V. Anand 2782 Rublevsky 2686


1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 a6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Bd3 Nf6 7. 0-0 Bc5 8.
Nb3 Be7 9. Be3 [9. f4 see 82/211] d6 10. a4 b6 11. a5 (a novelty, unclear)
[11. Qe2; 11. f4] b5 12. Bb6 Qc6! [12...Qd7?; 12...Qb7 13. e5 de5 14. Nc5
Qc6 15. Be2!] 13. f4 Nbd7 14. Nd4 Qb7 15. e5 de5 [15...Nb6 16. ab6 a)
16...de5 17. fe5 Qb6 18. Bb5 (18. Kh1 Nd7 see 16...Qb6) Nd7; b) 16...Qb6
17. Kh1 (17. Bb5 Nd7 18. Na4 Qc7 19. Bc6 Rb8 unclear) b1) 17...de5 18. fe5
Nd7 b11) 19. Be4 Bb7 20. Bb7 Qb7 21. Qg4! g6 (21...0-0 22. Ne6 fe6 23.
Qe6 Kh8 24. Qe7 Rfe8 25. Qf7 and White is superior) 22. Ne6 fe6 23. Qe6
with attack; b12) 19. Qf3 Qd4! (19...0-0 20. Ne6!) 20. Nb5 (20. Qa8 0-0 and
Black is slightly better) Qe5 (20...ab5 21. Ra8 0-0 22. Rc8 Ne5 23. Rf8 Bf8
24. Qe4 and White is superior) 21. Qa8 0-0 22. Na7!; b2) 17...Nd7 18. ed6
Bd6 (18...Qd4 19. Nb5!) 19. Be4 Rb8 20. Nc6 Bc7 21. Qg4 Kf8 22. Nb8 and
White is superior] 16. fe5 Ne5 17. Rf6 gf6?! [17...Nd3! 18. Rf7 Kf7 19. Qd3
Bf6 20. Ne4 Qd5; 20. Rf1 with compensation] 18. Be4 Qb8 19. Nc6 Nc6 20.
Bc6 Kf8 21. Qf3 Ra7 22. Qe3 Rc7? [22...Rb7 23. Qh6 Kg8] 23. Qf4? [23.
Qh6 Kg8 24. Ne4 Rc6 25. Ra3! a) 25...Bb7 26. Bd4! (26. Rg3? Qg3 27. hg3
Rb6!) Rc2 27. Nf6 Bf6 28. Qf6 Rg2 29. Kf1 e5 30. Be5 Qe5 31. Qe5 and
White is winning; b) 25...Rc2 26. Bd4! (26. Rg3 Qg3 27. hg3 and White is
superior) Rg2 27. Kg2 Bb7 28. Rg3 Qg3 29. Kg3 Be4 30. Bf6 Bf6 31. Qf6
and White is superior] Rb7 24. Qh6 Kg8 25. Bd4 e5 [25...Qd6 26. Rd1 Qc6
27. Rd3 Qc7 28. Ne4 and White is winning; 25...Qc7 26. Ne4 e5 27. Ra3 Bf5
28. Rg3 Bg6 29. Bd5! Bd8 30. Bc5 Qc5 31. Nc5 and White is winning] 26.
Be3 [26. Bf2! a) 26...Qc7 27. Bb7 Bb7 28. Rd1 Qa5 29. Kh1! (29. Rd3 Qa1
30. Nd1 Be4) b4 30. Rd3 Qa1 31. Bg1 Qe1 32. Rd1! and White is winning; b)
26...Qd6 27. Bb7 Bb7 28. Rd1 Qe6 29. Rd3! and White is winning; c)
26...Bf5 27. Nd5 and White is superior] Qd6 27. Bb7 Bb7 28. Rd1 Qe6 29.
b4 [29. Kh1 a) 29...Bf8 30. Rd8 Qe7 31. Rb8 Qd6 32. Rb7!! (32. Re8 b4)
Bh6 33. Bh6 f5 34. Rb6 Qb6 35. ab6 f6 36. Nd5 Kf7 37. Nb4 Rd8 38. Be3 f4
39. Bg1 Rd7 40. Na6 and White is winning; b) 29...Qg4 30. Rd2 Qf5 (30...b4
31. Nd5 Bd5 32. Rd5 Qe6 33. Rd3) 31. Nd5 Bd5 32. Rd5 Qe6 33. Rd3 f5 34.
Qe6 fe6 35. Rd7 Kf7 36. Bg5 Re8 37. Ra7 e4 unclear; 29. Rd3 Qg4 30. Nd5
Bd5 31. Rd5 Qe6 (31...Qb4 32. Bd2 Qg4 33. Rd3! and White is winning) 32.
Rd3 f5 33. Qe6 fe6 34. Rd7 unclear] Qg4 [29...Bc6 30. Bc5 and White is
winning; 29...f5 30. Qe6 fe6 31. Rd7 Bb4 32. Na2 Ba5 33. Rb7 f4 34. Bc5
and White is superior, weak point Kg8, Rh8] 30. Rd2 Qb4 31. Ne2
31...f5?! [31...Be4 a) 32. Ng3 Bg6 33. Nh5 (33. h4 f5) Bh5 34. Qh5 h6; b) 32.
c3 b1) 32...Qc4? 33. Ng3 Bg6 34. Rd7 Qe6 35. Ra7 b11) 35...Bd8 36. Bc5
Qe8 37. Ra8 f5 38. Kh1 f6 (38...f4 39. Bb6 and White is winning) 39. Ra7 and
White is winning; b12) 35...Qd6 36. Ra8 Bf8 37. h4 b4 38. Kh2 (38. Bg5? fg5
39. Nf5 Qc5 40. Kh2 Bf5 and Black is winning) c3 39. Bg5!! fg5 40. Nf5 Bf5
41. Qd6 and White is winning; b2) 32...Qa5 33. Rd7 Qa3 (33...Bf8 34. Qf6
Bg6 35. Rd8 and White is winning) 34. Rc7 Bg6 35. Rc8 Bf8 36. h4 Qe7 37.
Nd4 Be4 (37...ed4 38. Bd4) 38. h5 a5 (38...Qd6 39. Bg5! and White is
winning) 39. Nb5 a4 40. Bc1 Bf5 41. Rb8 Qc5 42. Kh1 Bc8 43. Qf6 e4 44.
Rc8 Qc8 45. Qg5 Bg7 46. h6 Qf8 47. Ba3 f6 48. Bf8 fg5 49. hg7 and White
is winning; b3) 32...Qb1 33. Kf2 b31) 33...Bg6 34. g4 (34. h3 Qf5 35. Kg1
Qc8) Bd3 35. Ng3 e4 36. Kg2! Bf8 37. Qf6 h6 38. Nh5 and White is winning;
b32) 33...Bd3! b321) 34. Ng3 b3211) 34...Bc4 35. h3! (35. Rd7 Qa2 36. Bd2
Bc5 37. Kf3 Bd5 38. Kg4 Be6 39. Kh4 Qc4 and Black is winning; 36. Rd2
equal) Be6 (35...Qg6 36. Rd7 and White is winning) 36. Rd8!; b3212) 34...f5
b32121) 35. Rd3 Qd3 36. Nh5 Qc2 37. Bd2 (37. Ke1 Qg2) Bc5 38. Ke1 Qe4
39. Kf1 Qc4 40. Ke1 Qh4 41. Kd1 Qg4 42. Kc2 Be7 and Black is winning;
b32122) 35. Qc6 f4 36. Qe8 Kg7 37. Qe7 fe3 38. Ke3 Qe1 39. Kd3 and
White is winning; 35...Bh4! b321221) 36. Rd3 Qd3 (36...Bg3 37. hg3 Qd3
38. Bh6 Qd8 39. Qa6 f4 40. Ke1! and White is superior) 37. Bh6 Qd8 38.
Kg1 (38. Ke2 Bg5 39. Bg5 Qg5 40. Qe8 Kg7 41. Qe5 f6 and Black is slightly
better) f4; b321222) 36. Qe8 Kg7 37. Qe5 f6; b322) 34. h3 b4 (34...Be2 35.
Re2 Qg6 36. Rd2; 35...f5) b3221) 35. Ng3 Bf8 (35...bc3 36. Nh5 and White is
winning) 36. Qh4 bc3 37. Qg4 Bg6 38. Nh5 cd2 39. Nf6 Kg7 40. Ne8 equal;
b3222) 35. cb4 Be2 36. Re2 (36. Ke2 Qb4) Qb4 (36...Qf5 37. Kg1 Bf8 38.
Rd2!! Bh6 39. Bh6 Qc8 40. Rd3 and White is winning; 36...f5 37. Bc5 Bc5 38.
bc5 Qb4 39. Re5 Qd4 40. Qe3 and White is winning) 37. Rc2 Qb7 38. Bb6!
(38. Rc4 f5 39. Bb6 Qa8) Bf8 (38...Qb8 39. Rc3 and White is winning) 39.
Qf6 Qe7 40. Qf5 h5 41. Rc7 and White is superior; 31...Qg4 32. Ng3 a)
32...Bc8 33. Nh5 Qg6 34. Rd6!! (34. h3 f5) Bb7 35. g3 and White is winning;
b) 32...Bc6 33. Nf5 Qf5 34. Rd8 Bd8 35. Bc5 Be7 36. Be7 Qc8 37. h3 (37.
Bf6 Qg4) Be4 38. c3 Bg6 39. Bf6 Qf8 40. Qf8 Kf8 41. Bh8 equal] 32. Ng3!
(and White is winning) f4 [32...Qg4 33. Nf5!! Qf5 34. Rd8 Bd8 35. Bc5 and
White is winning] 33. Nf5! [33. Nh5 Qb1 34. Kf2 fe3 (34...Bh4 35. g3 fe3 36.
Ke2 Bf3 37. Kf3 and White is winning) 35. Ke2 Bf3 36. Kf3 (36. gf3 Qg1 and
Black is winning) Qf1 37. Ke3 Qe1 38. Kf3 Qf1 39. Rf2 e4 40. Kg4 Qd1 41.
Rf3 f5 42. Kh3 and White is winning] Qb1 34. Kf2 fe3 35. Ke2! 1 : 0 [V.
Anand]
Bakre 2492 B. Kadziolka 2298

Pardubice 2004 91/191
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 0-0 8.
Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. 0-0-0 Rc8 11. Bb3 Nd4 12. Bd4 b5 13. Ba7 [13.
Nd5 Nd5 14. Bg7 Kg7 15. ed5 a5 16. a3 b4 17. ab4 ab4 18. Qb4 Kg8 19.
Rhe1 Rb8 20. Qc3 Re8 see 90/(188); 20...Qb6] b4 14. Nd5 Nd5 15. ed5 Qa5
16. Bd4
16...Rc2!! [a novelty; 16...Ba4; 16...e5; 16...Bd4] 17. Bc2 [17. Kc2? Bf5 and
Black is winning; 17. Qc2!? Rc8 18. Qc8 Bc8 19. Kb1 Bf5 20. Ka1 Bd4 21.
Rd4 Qc5 22. Rhd1 (22. Rc4 Qf2 23. Rb4 Qg2 and Black is superior; 22. Rd2
Qe3 23. Rhd1 h5 and Black is slightly better) Bc2 23. Bc2! (23. Rc4?! Qc4
24. Bc4 Bd1 25. a3 ba3 26. ba3 Kg7 27. Kb2 Kf6 28. Bb3 Be2 29. a4 Ke5 30.
Kc3 Ba6 with the idea Bb7 and Black is superior) Qc2 24. R4d2 Qc5 25. Re2
Kf8 26. Rde1 Qd5 27. Re7 h5 28. R7e2 Kg7 29. Re7 Qd2 30. R7e2 Qd4 31.
Re4 Qd2 32. R4e2 equal] Qa2 18. Qf2?! [18. Qb4? Bh6 19. Rd2 Qa1 20.
Bb1 Bf5 and Black is winning; 18. Bg7? Qa1 19. Bb1 Rc8 20. Bc3 Bf5 and
Black is winning; 18. b3? Rc8 19. Bg7 (19. Qf2 Bd4 20. Rd4 Qa1 21. Kd2
Rc2!! and Black is winning) Bf5 20. Bb2 Qb3 and Black is winning; 18. Qe3
Rc8 19. Kd2 Rc2!! 20. Kc2 Qc4 21. Kd2 Bd4 22. Qe7 (22. Qd3 Qd5 23. g4
Bb5 and Black is winning) Bb5 with compensation] Rc8 19. Kd2 Rc2!! 20.
Kc2 Qc4 21. Kd2 [21. Bc3 Bf5 and Black is winning] Bd4 22. Qe2 Bc3!! 23.
Ke3 Qc5 24. Ke4 Bf5 25. Kf4 Be5 26. Kg5 f6 27. Kh4 g5 [28. Kh5 Bg6 29.
Kh6 (29. Kg4 Qc8#) Qc8 with the idea Qf8#] 0 : 1 [B. Kadziolka]
Sutovsky 2661 - A. Kovacevic 2559

Bosnia & Herzegovina 2004 91/249
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 de4 5. Ne4 Be7 6. Bf6 Bf6 7. Nf3 0-0 8.
Bd3 Nd7 9. Qe2 c5 10. 0-0-0 cd4 11. g4 Be7 [a novelty; 11...g6] 12. h4 Qc7
13. Kb1 [13. g5! Ne5 (13...Qf4 14. Kb1 b6 15. h5 with attack) 14. Ne5 (14.
Nf6? gf6 15. Bh7 Kh7 16. Ne5 Qe5 17. Qh5 Kg8!) Qe5 15. Qg4 Kh8 16. f4
with initiative] b6
14. Nfg5!? [14. g5 Bb7 15. h5 Ne5 unclear; 14. Neg5!? Nf6 a) 15. Nh7? Nh7
16. Bh7 Kh7 17. Qe4 Kg8 with the idea 18. Qa8? Bb7, with the idea 18. Ng5
g6; b) 15. Nd4 Bd7! (15...Bb7 16. Rhe1 (with the idea Nde6!) Bb4 17. c3 Bc5
18. Qc2 h6 19. Nge6 fe6 20. Ne6 Qf7 21. g5 and White is superior) 16. Nge6!
(16. Ngf3 Nd5) fe6 17. g5 Bc5 only move (17...e5? 18. gf6 Bf6 19. Qe4! ed4
20. Qh7 Kf7 21. Rhe1 Rg8 22. b3!! b5 23. Be4 Bc6 24. Qh5 Kf8 25. Qc5!
Be7 26. Qf5!! Bf6 27. Bc6 Qc6 28. Re6 Qc7 29. Rd4; 29. Rde1 and White is
winning) 18. Ne6 Be6 19. Qe6 Qf7 20. Qf7 Kf7 21. gf6 Kf6 and White is
slightly better] Bb7?! [14...h6 15. Nf3! (15. Ng3?! Nc5 16. Nh7 Rd8 17. g5
Nd3 18. Qd3 a5! 19. gh6 Ba6 20. Qf3 Kh7 21. hg7 Kg7 and Black is
superior) Ne5 (15...Bb7 16. g5 h5 17. g6! with attack) 16. Ne5 Qe5 17. g5
with attack] 15. Nh7! Kh7 16. Nf6 Kh8 17. g5 Nf6 [17...g6 18. h5 Bh1 a) 19.
hg6? Qh2! 20. f4 Qh3! (20...Qh4 21. Qg4! and White is winning) 21. Qg4
Bg2! and Black is winning; b) 19. Rh1 b1) 19...Kg7 20. hg6 Nf6 (20...Rh8
21. Nh5 Kg8 22. g7 and White is winning) 21. gf6 Bf6 22. Rh7 Kg8 23. Qh5
fg6 24. Qg6 Qg7 (24...Bg7 25. Rh8 Kh8 26. Qh7#) 25. Rg7 Bg7 26. Qe6 and
White is winning; b2) 19...Nf6 b21) 20. gf6 Bf6 b211) 21. hg6 Kg8 22. g7
(22. Qh5 fg6) Rfe8 and Black is winning; b212) 21. Qf3 Kg7! 22. h6 Kh7 23.
Qf6 Rg8 and Black is superior; b22) 20. hg6! Kg8
21. f4!! Qf4 (21...fg6 22. Qe6 Kg7 23. Rh6 Rf7 24. Rg6 Kf8 25. Bc4 Bd8 26.
gf6 and White is winning) 22. gf6 Qf6 (22...Bf6 23. Qh5 and White is
winning) 23. gf7 Rf7 24. Qg2 Rg7 25. Qa8 Qf8 26. Qe4 and White is
winning] 18. gf6 g6 [18...Qf4? 19. Qh5 Qh6 20. fg7 Kg7 21. Rhg1 and White
is winning] 19. fe7 Qe7 20. Rhg1! [20. Be4 Be4 21. Qe4 Qf6 and White is
slightly better] Qf6! [20...e5 21. Rg5 e4 22. Rdg1! Kg7 (22...ed3 23. Qh5) 23.
Bc4 Rac8 24. Qg4 Rc6 25. h5 and White is winning] 21. Rg3 e5 22. Rdg1 e4
23. Bc4! [weak point f7] Qh4?! [23...d3! a) 24. Qe3 dc2 25. Kc1 (25. Kc2
Kg7 unclear) Kg7 26. h5 Rad8 27. hg6 Rd1 28. Kc2 Rg1 29. Rg1 fg6 30.
Kb1 with compensation; b) 24. cd3! ed3 25. Bd3 Rae8 26. Qd2 Kg7 27. h5
and White is superior] 24. Qf1!! [24. Qd1 e3!] Kg7 [24...Qf6 25. Bf7 (25.
Qg2!?) Rf7 26. Rg6 Qg6 27. Rg6 Rh7 28. Qd1 Rd8 29. Rg1 and White is
winning] 25. Bf7! Rf7 [25...Kf7 26. Qc4 Ke8 27. Rg6 Qf2 28. Qe6 Kd8 29.
Qd6 Kc8 30. Rg8 Qe1 31. Re1 Rg8 32. Rh1 and White is winning; 25...Qg3!
26. Rg3 Rf7 27. Qg2! (27. Qc4? Rf2 28. Qd4 Rf6 and White is slightly better)
Rf6 28. Rh3! Rh8 (28...Bc8 29. Rh4 Bf5 30. Qh2 g5 31. Qc7 Rf7 32. Qe5 Kg6
33. Qd6 Rf6 34. Rh6 Kh6 35. Qf6 Bg6 36. Qd4 and White is winning) 29. Rh8
Kh8 30. Qh2 Kg7 31. Qe5! (31. Qc7 Rf7 32. Qe5 Kh6 33. Qd4 and White is
superior) d3 32. cd3 ed3 33. Kc1 Bf3 34. Kd2 Be2 35. b4] 26. Rg6 Kf8 27.
Qc4 Qf4 [27...d3 28. Qb4 Ke8 29. Re6 and White is winning] 28. Qe6 1 :
0 [Sutovsky]
N. Short 2684 Ye Jiangchuan 2681

Taiyuan 2004 91/206
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 a6 7. 0-0 Nf6 8.
Kh1 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Nc6 bc6 11. Qd3 0-0 12. b3 Bb7 [a novelty; 12...c5 see
83/(210)] 13. Bb2 c5 14. Rae1 Rae8!? [14...d5 15. e5 Nd7 16. Qh3 and
15. Qh3!! [15. Qg3 d5 16. e5 Nd7 equal] Ne4 [15...d5 16. e5 Nd7 17. Bd3
and White is slightly better] 16. Bd3 Nf6 [16...d5 17. Ne4 de4 18. Be4 Be4
19. Re4 Qd8 (19...Rd8? 20. Qg3 g6 21. Qc3 f6 22. Re6 and White is winning)
20. Qg3 Bf6; 20. Qe3! and White is slightly better, weak point a6, c5] 17.
Re3 [17. Nd5?! Bd5 18. Bf6 g6 and Black is slightly better] g6 [17...Rd8? 18.
Nd5! Bd5 19. Bf6 g6 (19...h6 20. Qh6! gh6 21. Rg3#) 20. Qh7! Kh7 21. Rh3
Kg8 22. Rh8#; 17...h6! 18. Rg3 Kh8 19. Nd1! (19. Rg7 Kg7 20. Qg3 Kh8 21.
Qh3 Kg7 equal) Rg8 20. Ne3 Qd8! (20...d5 21. Bf6 Bf6 22. Ng4 and White is
winning) 21. Rg5! a) 21...Ref8? 22. Bf6 Bf6 23. Rh5 and White is winning;
b) 21...Bc8? 22. Rh5! Nh5 23. Qh5 b1) 23...Bf6 24. Qf7 e5 (24...Bb2 25. Qg6
and White is winning) 25. fe5 de5 26. Qg6 e4 27. Rf6 ed3 28. Qh6 gh6 29.
Rh6#; b2) 23...e5 24. fe5 Bf8 (24...Bg5 25. Qf7 and White is winning) 25. e6
Re6 (25...Qg5 26. Qg5 hg5 27. Rf3! Be6 28. g4 and White is winning) 26. Qf5
Rg6 27. Qf7 Rg5 28. Rf6! and White is winning; c) 21...Qa8!! c1) 22. Rh5
Nh5 23. Qh5 e5 24. Qf5 g6 (24...e4 25. Bc4 with compensation) 25. Qh3 Rg7
26. fe5 Bg5 27. Ng4 with compensation; c2) 22. Bf6 Bf6 23. Rh5 g6 24. Rh6
Kg7 25. Rh7 (and White is slightly better) Kf8 26. Re1 with initiative; c3) 22.
Rf3!! Bf3 23. gf3 (with attack) Qd8 (23...d5 24. Bf6! Bf6 25. Ng4! Bg5 26.
fg5 and White is winning; 23...c4 24. Nc4 Rd8 25. Ne3 (with attack) Qa7 26.
Rh5! Nh5 27. Qh5 e5 28. Ng4 Bf8 29. fe5 and White is winning) 24. Rh5 Nh5
25. Qh5 Bf6 26. Qf7 e5 27. Qg6 e4 28. fe4 Be5 (28...Bb2 29. e5) 29. fe5 de5
30. Ng4 and White is winning] 18. Nd1 c4! [18...d5 19. Be5 Qc6 (19...Qd8
20. Qh6 and White is winning) 20. Qh4 c4 (20...Nh5? 21. Qh5; 20...Ne4? 21.
Qh7) 21. Be2 and White is superior] 19. bc4 Qc5 20. f5! [20. Qh6? Qh5!] e5
[20...ef5 21. Re7 Re7 22. Bf6 Re6 23. Qh4 and White is winning; 20...Bd8
21. Qh6 Qc6 (21...ef5 22. Bf6 Bf6 23. Rh3) 22. Be4 (22. Rg1? ef5 23. Bf6 Bf6
24. Rh3 Qg2! 25. Rg2 Re1) Qc4 23. Rg1 Be4 24. Bf6 Bf6 25. Rh3 Bg2 26.
Rg2 Bh4 27. Ne3! and White is winning] 21. Rg3 Be4 [21...Rb8 22. Bc3] 22.
Ne3 [22. Bc1!?] Bd3 23. cd3 Kh8 24. Bc1 [24. fg6 fg6 25. Rg6 Nh5! 26. Rh6
Rf1 27. Nf1 Rf8 28. Rh7 (28. Ne3 Qb4) Kh7 29. Qh5 Kg7 30. Qg4 equal]
Rg8 [24...Nh5 25. Rgf3 Nf4 26. Rf4! ef4 27. Bb2 Kg8 28. Qh6 f6 29. fg6 and
White is winning; better is 24...Qd4 25. Ng4 e4 (25...Ng4 26. Rg4 and White
is superior) 26. Qh6! a) 26...Rg8 27. Nf6 Bf6 28. Qh7! Kh7 29. Rh3 Bh4 30.
Rh4 Kg7 31. f6 Qf6 (31...Kf8 32. Bh6 Rg7 33. Bg7 Kg8 34. Rh8#) 32. Bh6
Kh7 33. Rf6; b) 26...ed3 27. Nf6 Qf6 28. Rh3 Qg7 29. Qg7 Kg7 30. Bh6 Kg8
31. Bf8 Bf8 32. Rd3; c) 26...Ng8 27. Qf4 and White is superior] 25. fg6 fg6
26. Nd5! Nd5 [26...Nh5 27. Rgf3 and White is winning] 27. Qh7! [27...Kh7
28. Rh3 Kg7 29. Bh6 Kh8 30. Bf8 Bh4 31. Rh4#] 1 : 0 [N. Short]
Bruzon 2602 - Al. Ramirez 2542

La Habana 2004 91/330
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Qc2 Bg4 6. f3 Bh5 7. Qb3 b5 8. cd5
cd5 [8...Nd5 see 80/(390)] 9. g4 Bg6 10. g5 [a novelty; 10. h4] Nfd7 11. h4!
h6 [11...e6 12. h5 Bf5 13. e4 de4 14. fe4 Bg4 15. Rh4 and White is winning;
11...Nb6 12. a4! Qd6 (12...b4 13. a5! and White is superior) 13. ab5 (13. Kf2)
Qg3 14. Ke2 a5 15. Nd5 N8d7 16. Nb6 Nb6 17. Qc3 Rc8 18. Qa5 and White
is superior] 12. h5! hg5 [12...Bh7 13. Qd5 Ra7 14. g6 and White is superior]
13. hg6!! and White is superior [13. Qd5 Nb6 14. Qg5 e6 unclear] Rh1 14.
Qd5 Qc7 [14...e6 15. Qa8 Rg1 16. Kf2 Rh1 17. Bg2 Rh6 18. gf7 Kf7 19. Bd2
and White is superior] 15. gf7 Kd8
16. Nh3!! Ra7 17. f4! Qc6 18. Ng5 Qh6 [18...Qd5 19. Nd5 and White is
winning, with the idea Bd2, Rc1, weak point Kd8, Bf8, e6] 19. Bd2 Qh4 20.
Ke2 Kc8 21. Nb5!! Rh2 [21...ab5 22. Rc1 Rc7 23. Rc7 Kc7 24. Ba5 Kc8 25.
Bg2 and White is winning; 21...Qg4 22. Kd3 and White is winning] 22. Kd3
ab5 23. Ne6! and White is winning [23. Ba5? Rc7! 24. Bc7 Qf2] Rd2
[23...Na6 24. Rc1 Nc7 (24...Kb8 25. Nf8) 25. Ba5] 24. Kd2 Qf2 25. Be2 Nb6
26. Rc1 Nc4 27. Rc4 bc4 28. Qc5 Kb7 29. Nd8 Ka8 30. Qd5 Nc6 31. Qc6
Kb8 32. Qb6 Ka8 33. Nc6 1 : 0 [Bruzon]
J. Van Oosterom - Nimtz

corr. 2004 91/203
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. g4
h6 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. 0-0-0 Bb7 11. h4 b4 12. Na4 Qa5 13. b3 Rc8 14. Rg1
Nc5 [14...Ne5?! 15. g5 hg5 16. hg5 Nfd7 17. g6 and White is superior;
14...g6 15. g5 hg5 16. hg5 Nh5 17. Kb1 and White is slightly better] 15. g5
hg5 [15...Nfd7?! 16. g6 Na4 17. ba4 Qa4 (17...f5 18. Ne6 Qa4 19. Bd4 and
White is superior) 18. gf7 Kf7 19. Kb1 Rc3 20. Bh3 Nc5 21. Nb3 and White
is superior; 15...Na4 16. ba4 hg5 17. hg5 Nd7 18. g6 f5 (18...Qa4 19. gf7 Kf7
see 86/223) 19. Ne6 Qa4 20. Bd4?! Qa2 21. ef5 Bd5! 22. Nf8 Nc5 23. Qe3
Kf8 24. Bg7 Kg8! 25. Kd2 Rh2 26. Rg2 Rg2 27. Bg2 Ne4 equal; 20. Kb1!
see 15...hg5] 16. hg5 Nfd7 17. g6 f5!? [a novelty; 17...Na4 18. gf7 Kf7 19.
ba4 Qa4 see 15...Na4] 18. Kb1 Na4 [18...fe4 19. Nc5 Nc5 20. Rg5 and White
is superior] 19. ba4 Qa4 [19...Nc5 20. Nb3 unclear] 20. Ne6 Ne5 [20...fe4?
21. Rg5! ef3 22. Bd4 and White is winning] 21. Rg3! [21. Nf8 Nf3 22. Qd6
Qc2 equal; 21. Ng5 Be7 22. ef5 Bg5 23. Bg5 Bd5 equal] Nf3 [21...fe4?! 22.
Bc5! (and White is superior) ef3?! 23. Qf4 Qd7 24. Bh3 and White is
winning; 21...Rh1!? 22. Bc5 Rf1 23. Rf1 Qb5! unclear] 22. Rf3 Be4
23. Bc5!! [23. Nc5!? Rc5 24. Bc5 Bf3 25. Re1 Be4 26. Bd3 Qc6 27. Be4 fe4
28. Bd4 Kd7 29. Qf4 d5 30. Rf1 Be7 31. Bg7 Rc8 unclear; 23. Nd4 Bd5
(23...Rc2 24. Nc2 b3 25. ab3 Qb3 26. Ka1!? Bf3 27. Rb1 Qa4 28. Kb2 Be7
29. Ra1 Qg4 30. Bd4 and White is slightly better) 24. Bc4 Bc4 25. Nb3 Qc6!
26. Rf5 Be7 27. Re1 (27. Bg5 Rh1 28. Be7 Ke7 29. Rf4 Rd1 30. Qd1 Qg2
unclear) Rh4 28. Bg5 Re4 29. Na5 Re1 30. Qe1 Ba2 31. Ka1 Qd7 32. Ka2
Qa4 33. Kb1 Qc2 equal] Bf3 [23...Qd7 24. Ng5! Bf3 (24...Rc5 25. Ne4 fe4
26. Rf7 and White is winning) 25. Re1 Be7 26. Bd6 Rd8 27. Bc5!! (27. Bb4?
Qb7 28. Ba6 Rd2 29. Bb7 Rh1 equal) Be4 (27...Qd2 28. Re7 Kf8 29. Ne6 Kg8
30. Rg7#; 27...Qc7 28. Qe3 Be4 29. Ne4 fe4 30. Bb6 Qc6 31. Bd8 Rh2 32.
Bd3 Kd8 33. Be4 and White is superior) 28. Ne4 fe4 29. Qf4 Qd1 30. Rd1
Rd1 31. Kb2 Bc5 32. Be2 Bd4 33. Kb3 Rh3 34. c3! Rc3 35. Kb4 Rb1 36.
Ka4 and White is superior] 24. Re1 [24. Ng7? Kd7 25. Nf5 Bd1 26. Qd1 b3!
27. ab3 Qf4 and Black is winning] Be4 [24...Rh1 25. Qf4! Rf1 26. Ng7 Kd8
27. Bb6 Rc7 28. Bc7 Kc7 29. Qc4 and White is winning] 25. Bd3 Qc6!
[25...Rh4 26. Qf2 Rh1 27. Be4 Re1 28. Qe1 fe4 29. Qe4 Kd7 30. Qb7 Ke6
31. Qc8 Qd7 32. Qa6 Kf6 33. Bb4 and White is superior; 25...Rc5 26. Nc5
Qa5 (26...dc5 27. Be4 fe4 28. Rd1 and White is winning) 27. Ne4 fe4 28. Re4
Be7 29. Qe1 and White is superior] 26. Be4 [26. Qf4?! Rh1 27. Rh1 dc5 28.
Be4 Qe4 29. Qe4 fe4 30. Nf8 Rc6! 31. Nh7 Rg6 equal; 26. Re4?! fe4 27. Qf4
Qd7 28. Qe4 Qe7 equal] fe4 27. Qf4 Be7 [27...Kd7 28. Qf5 and White is
winning] 28. Rd1! [28. Qf7?! Kd7 29. Qf5 Rh5 30. Qh5 Ke6 31. Qg4 Ke5
equal] Bf6! [28...Kd7 29. Qf5 Qa4 30. Ng7 Kc7 31. Qe4 dc5 32. Qe7 Kb6
(32...Kb8 33. Qd6 Kb7 34. Nf5 and White is superior) 33. Nf5 Rhe8 (33...Qe8
34. g7 Rg8 35. Re1 Qe7 36. Ne7 Rcd8 37. Ng8 Rg8 38. Re6 Kc7 39. Rg6 and
White is winning) 34. Qf6 Rc6 35. Nd6 and White is superior] 29. Ng7 Bg7
30. Qf7 Kd8 31. Qg7 Qc5 32. Qh8 Kc7 [32...Kd7 33. Qh7 Kc6 34. g7 Qc4
35. Qf5 Kb7 36. Rd2 and White is superior] 33. g7 Kb7 [33...Kb6 34. Qh2
and White is superior] 34. Qh2 Rg8? [34...Qc3! 35. Rg1 (35. Qg2 Rg8 36.
Qe4 Kb8 37. Rd6 Rg7 38. Qf4 Rc7 equal) Rg8 36. Qd6 Rg7 37. Rg7 Qg7 38.
Qb4 Ka7 39. Qe4 and White is slightly better] 35. Qh7 (and White is
superior) Qc4 36. Qg6 Rc8 37. Qg2 Qe6 [37...Kc7 38. Re1 Re8 39. Qg5!]
38. Rf1 Qd5 39. Re1 Re8 40. Qg6 Rg8 41. Re4 a5 42. Qg2! Qc6?!
[42...Ka6 43. Qf1 Kb6 (43...Kb7 44. Re7 Kb6 45. Rf7 Qc6 46. Qd3 and White
is superior) 44. Rg4 Qe5 (44...Kc7 45. Qg1 Qc5 46. Rg5 and White is
winning) 45. Qg1 Ka6 (45...Qc5 46. Rg5 and White is winning) 46. Rg5! Qf6
47. Rg3 Qe7 48. a4! and White is superior] 43. Rg4! Qg2 44. Rg2 (and
White is winning) Kc6 45. Kc1 Kd5 [45...Kb5 46. Kd2 Ka4 47. Rg5] 46.
Kd2 Ke4 47. Rg1 (zugzwang) d5 48. Rg2 [48. Rg6? Kf5 49. Rg2 Kf6 equal]
Kf3 49. Rg6 [49...Ke4 50. Rg1 Ke5 (50...a4 51. Rg2 Kf3 52. Rg6 Ke4 53.
Rg1 d4 54. Rg2 Kf3 55. Rg6 Ke4 56. Rg1) 51. Kd3 Ke6 52. Kd4 Kf7 53. Rg2
Ke6 54. Kc5 Kf7 55. Kb5 Rb8 56. Ka5 Kg8 57. Ka4 Rb7 58. Kb3 Rb8 59.
Rg5 Rb5 60. Ka4 Rc5 61. Rg2 Rc4 62. Kb5 Re4 63. Kc5] 1 : 0 [J. van
Oosterom]
Morozevich 2732 - Bologan 2665

Russia 2004 91/72
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bf4 Ne7 6. Qd3 b6 7. Nge2 Ba6 8.
Qe3 0-0 9. 0-0-0 c5!? 10. a3 [10. dc5 Bc5 (10...bc5!?) 11. Qd2 Nbc6 12. ed5
ed5 13. Bg5 Rc8 unclear; 10. ed5 ed5 11. dc5 Bc5] Bc3 11. Qc3 [11. Nc3
Bf1 12. Rhf1 Nbc6 13. dc5 d4 14. Qe2 Ng6 15. Bg3 bc5 and Black is slightly
better] Be2! [11...Nd7 12. Bd6] 12. Be2 c4 (and Black is slightly better) 13.
h4 b5 [a novelty; 13...Nbc6 14. h5 b5 15. h6 g6 16. g4 Nc8 17. Qe3 Nb6 18.
Bg5 f6 19. Bh4 Qd7 and Black is slightly better] 14. Qe1 Nbc6 15. h5 Qd7
[15...f5 a) 16. Qh4 fe4 (16...Qd7 17. Be3 fe4 18. fe4 de4 19. Qe4) 17. fe4 de4
18. Bg5; b) 16. h6 g6 17. Qh4 fe4 18. fe4 de4 19. Bg5; 15...a5 16. g4 b4 17.
h6 g6] 16. g4 [16. h6 g6 17. Qh4 f6 18. c3 a5] f6 17. Bf1 Rad8 [17...de4 18.
fe4 Nd4 19. h6 g5 20. Bd2 Nec6; 17...a5 18. Bh3 b4 19. h6 (19. a4 Nd8 20.
b3 cb3 21. cb3 Rc8 22. Kb2 Rc3 23. Rc1 Rc1 24. Bc1 Ndc6 and Black is
winning) g6; 17...Nd4!? 18. Rd4 (18. Qf2 e5 19. Be3 de4 20. Bd4 ed4 21. Rd4
Qc7 and Black is slightly better) e5 19. Rd1 ef4 20. Qd2 Rad8 21. Qf4 Qe6]
18. Bh3 de4? [18...a5 19. g5 f5 20. e5 b4 and Black is slightly better] 19. fe4
Nd4 20. g5 f5 [20...fg5 21. Bg5 Qe8 22. h6 g6 23. Rd4 Rd4 24. Be6 Kh8 25.
Qg3 Nc6 26. Qc7 and White is winning] 21. Kb1 [21. h6 Nec6 22. hg7 Qg7
23. ef5 ef5 24. Kb1 and White is superior] Qc6 22. h6! fe4 23. Qc3 e3!
[23...Qb6 24. Rd4 Rd4 25. Bc7!] 24. Rd4! [24. Qe3 Ndf5 25. Bf5 Nf5 26.
Qa7 and White is superior] Qh1 [24...b4 25. ab4 Qh1 26. Ka2] 25. Ka2 Qh3
26. Rd8 gh6 [26...Nf5 27. Rf8 Kf8 28. hg7 Ng7 29. Qf6 Kg8 30. Be5 Ne8
31. Qh8 Kf7 32. g6! Kg6 33. Qe8 Kf5 34. Qb5 and White is winning] 27. gh6
Qg4
28. Qh8! 1 : 0 [Bologan]

9.Nbd2!? in the C02 French Defense

Milan Bjelajac
International master Misha Pap achieved a very nice win against GM Dragan
Kosic at the International Open tournament in Bosnjaci. Aside from the great
aesthetic quality of the game, it also contained a very important theoretical
novelty.
IM Pap played a variation of the French Defense (C02) that sacrifices the d4pawn and after the tactical continuation 9.Nbd2!? he introduced the novelty
15.Ne5!?, which is an improvement on 15.Re1 as played in Ji. Nun
Schimttdiel, Prague 1990.
Because the theory of 9.Nbd2!? is still developing, and the strong interest
shown among French Defense practitioners, we present this theoretical survey
to give a complete history on the status of this continuation.
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 cd4

7. cd4 Bd7 8. 00 Nd4 9. Nbd2!?
9
10
11
...
Nd42
Qe23
12
Nb3
13
14
15
16
17
Bf4
Rad14
Rd3
Nd4
Rd4
Bb5
Qd4
Be25
Rfe1
Bb1
Qd3
equal
Bc51
Bd4
Ne7
Nc6
Nb4
...
Nd4
Nf36
Be38
Qb310 Rac1
Nd3
with
compensation
Ne7 Qd4
Qb67 Qd89 Nc6
Qb8
Be7
00
g611
...
Nf3
Be313 Nd4
Qd2
Bf5
Rac1
Rc2
gf5
Be7
Rc815
Nd4
3
Nh6 Qd4
Qb612 Qd814 g6
Nf5
...
Nd4
Qd3
Be3
Rfc117 Bd4
Bc5
Bd6
Nf3 Bb516
Bd3
Bc5
Ne7
Bd4
Qd8
00
f618
...
Be3
Rc1
Nc5
Bc5
Ne5!?21 Qb322 Ba3
Nc6 Nge719 Qc7
Ng6
Bc520 Nge5
Nf3
Nb3
5
Qe5
b623
Qf4!24
with
compensation
with
compensation
with
compensation
1
9... h6 10. Nd4 Qd4 11. Nf3 Qa4 [11... Qb6 see 9... Nf3] 12. Qe2 Ne7 13. b3
Qa5 14. Bd2 Qd8 15. b4 Nc6 16. Rab1 Be7 17. Rb3 Rc8 18. a3 00 [18... Kf8
19. Bc3 g6 20. Qd2 d4 21. Ba1 Kg7 22. Be4 (and White is slightly better)
Nun,Ji Mojzis,J, Hradec Kralove 1992] 19. Bb1 with compensation, with
attack
2
10. b3 Ne7 11. Bb2 Nef5 12. Bf5? Nf5 [and Black is superior] Brauer,H
Tabibzada,A, Neumuenster 1998; 12. a4!?; 10. b4 Qb4 11. Rb1 [11. Nd4 Bd4
12. Rb1 Qc3 13. Qe2 Bb6 14. Kh1 Ne7 15. Nb3 Qb4 16. Be3 Qh4 17. Nc5?!
Bc6 18. a3 d4 0 : 1 Klimes,M Kubala,P, Plzen 1997; 17. f4!?] Qc3 12. Nb3
Nf3 13. Qf3 Bf8 14. Bb2 Qc7 15. Rfc1 Bc6 16. Nd4 with compensation
3
11. Nf3 Ne7 [11... Bc5 see 9... Nf3] 12. Nd4 Qd4 13. Kh1 Qe5 14. Re1 Qf6 15.
Qh5 h6 16. Re3 Ng6 17. Qd5 Bc6 18. Qc5 Ne7 19. Re2 00 20. Qh5?! Rfd8
21. Bc2 Rd5 22. Qh3 Bb5 0 : 1 Brady,C O'Kearney,S, Ireland (ch) 1997; 20.
Be3!?; 12. a4!? with compensation
4
14. Bg3? Nd3 15. Qd3 Bb2 16. Rab1 Bb5 [and Black is winning] Scherber,P
Lenhardt,M, Dortmund (open) 1993
5
18. Rc1 Kd7 19. Rd2 Bb5 20. Rdc2 Bc6 21. Be3 equal
6
11. Qe2 Nc6 12. Nf3 Qg4 13. h3 Qh5 14. a3 Be7 15. b4 00 16. b5 Na5 17.
Kh2 f6 [and Black is slightly better] Baron Rodriguez,Je Ramon Perez,J,
Aragon 2003
7
11... Qa4 12. b3 Qa5 13. Bd2 Qd8 14. Re1 h6 15. b4! a6 16. a4 Nc6 17. Rb1
Be7 18. b5 ab5 19. ab5 Na5 20. Nd4
a) 20... Nc4 21. Bc4 dc4 22. Qg4 g6 23. Qe4 Bc8 24. b6! (and White is
superior) Qd5 25. Nb5 Qe4 26. Re4 Ra2 27. Rc4 Bd7 28. Bc1! [28. Nc7 Kf8
with the idea Kg7; 28. Be3 Bb5 29. Rc8 Bd8 30. Rb5 Ra1 31. Rc1 Rc1 32. Bc1
Kd7] 00? 29. Nc3! Rc2 30. Bh6 Ra8 31. Rc7 Rd8 32. h3 Bc6 33. Re7 Rc3 34.
Bg5 [and White is winning] Nun,Ji Razuvaev,Yuri, Sochi 1989; 20. Bb5 only
move; b) 20... 00!? 21. Qg4 [21. Re3!?] Bg5 22. f4 Be7 23. f5 Bg5 unclear
Knaak,R
8
12. Ng5 h6 13. Nh7 Bb5 14. Nf8 Kf8 15. Re1 Bd3 16. Qd3 Ng6 17. b3 Kg8
18. Bb2 Qd8 19. g3 h5 20. f4 Ne7 21. h3 Nf5 22. Kg2 Rc8 23. Re2 Rh6 [and
Black is slightly better] Novy,V Hadraba,V, Klatovy 2003; better is 23. Rac1
9
12... Qb2 13. Rb1 Qa2 14. Ra1 Qb2 15. Bd4 Qb4 16. Rb1 Qa5 17. Rb7 with
compensation, development advantage; 12... Qc7 13. Rc1 Nc6 14. Qc2 [14.
Bb5 Be7 15. Bc5 Bc5 16. Rc5 00 17. Bc6 Bc6 18. Qe2 Rac8 19. Rfc1 Qb6
20. R1c3 Bd7 21. Qc2 Rc5 22. Rc5 Bb5 [and Black is slightly better] Haba,P
Goloshchapov,A, Cappelle la Grande 1998] h6 15. a3 g5 [unclear] Sylbing,G
L'Ami,E, Soest 1999
10
13. Nd4 Nc6 14. f4 Bc5 [and Black is slightly better] Brady,C Hynes,K,
Ireland (ch) 1992; 13. b4!? with compensation, development advantage
11
18. Bh6 Rc8 [18... f6 19. Bf8 Qf8 20. a3 [and White is slightly better] Nun,Ji
Karnik,P, Pardubice 1992] 19. Qe3 with compensation
12
11... Qa4 12. Bc2 Qa5 13. Nd4 [with compensation] Pucovski,M Petkovic,R,
Backa Palanka 2001
13
12. a4 a5 13. Ng5 Be7 14. Nh7 Nf5 15. Ng5 Rc8 16. Bf5 ef5 17. Nf3 [ 17. Qd5
Qg6 with compensation with attack] Rc4 18. Be3 [18. Qd5 Rg4!?] d4!? [18...
Qg6!?] 19. Bd4 Qh6 [unclear] 20. Rc1!? Ba4 21. Rc4 Bd1 22. Rd1 00 [22...
Qe6 with the idea 23. Rc7 Qb3] 23. Rc7 [with compensation] Nun,Ji
Pastircak, CSSR 1989; 12. b4 Be7 [12... Bb5!?; 12... Nf5!?] 13. Be3 Qb4 [13...
Qd8 14. Bh6 gh6 15. Rb1 a6 16. a4 Rc8 17. Re1 Rc3 18. b5 [and White is
slightly better] Tleptsok,R Dydy,K, Maikop 2004] 14. Rb1 with
compensation, development advantage
14
12... Bc5 13. Bh6 gh6 14. Qd2 Bf8 15. Rac1 Bg7 16. Rc3 00 17. Rb3 Qc7 18.
Bb1 Bc6 19. Re1 Rae8 20. Nd4 [and White is slightly better] Nun,Ji Haba,P,
Cesko 1998; 12... Qb2 13. Rb1 Qa2 14. Rb7 Ng4 15. Bd4 with compensation,
development advantage
15
18. Rfc1 [with compensation] Humphrey,J Sedina,E, Mount Buller 2004
16
10... Nh6 see 9... Nh6; 10... Ne7 see 9... Ne7; 10... Rc8 11. Ng5 Nh6 12. Nh7
a) 12... Be7 13. Bh6 gh6 14. Qg4 [and White is superior, with attack, weak
point Rh8, Ke8] Pap,M Jurkovic,A, Bizovac 2004; b) 12... Bb5 13. Bh6 gh6
14. Bb5 Qb5 15. Rc1 b1) 15... Bc5 16. Nf6 Ke7 17. Qf3 [and White is
superior, with attack, weak point Ke7] Smerdon,D West,G, Melbourne 2004;
b2) 15... Rc1 16. Qc1 Bg7 17. Qc8 Ke7 18. Qc7 Qd7 19. Qc5 Kd8 20. Nf6 and
White is slightly better, weak point Kd8; 10... Bc5 a) 11. Qe2 Ne7 12. b4 Qb4
13. Rb1 Qa5 14. Bd2 [14. Rb7 with compensation] Qc7 15. Rfc1 b6 16. Rb4
Bc6 17. Rg4 [with compensation] Novy,V Blecha,Mil, Cesko 2002/03; b) 11.
b4 Be7 12. Be3 Qd8 13. Nd4 [with compensation] Pucovski,M
Milosavljevic,Z, Srbija i Crna Gora 2003; c) 11. a3 a5 12. Ng5 Bb5 [12... Nh6
13. Nh7 Nf5 14. Qh5 [and White is slightly better, development advantage]
Smerdon,D Ly,M, Mount Buller 2004] 13. Qh5! g6 14. Qf3 Nh6 15. Bb5
Qb5 16. Ne6 and White is slightly better, development advantage; 15. Ne6!?;
10... h6 a) 11. b4 a1) 11... Ne7 12. Be3 Qd8 [12... Qb4 13. Rb1 with
compensation, development advantage] 13. b5 g6 14. a4 Bg7 15. Qd2 g5 16.
Qb4 [with compensation, development advantage] Nun,Ji Prandstetter,E,
CSSR 1989; a2) 11... Bb5 12. Be3 Qa6 13. Bb5 Qb5 14. Nd4 Qd7 15. Qd3
Ne7 [15... Bb4 16. Rab1 Bf8 17. Rfc1 Ne7 18. Qb5 with compensation] 16. b5
Ng6 17. f4 Bc5 18. Kh1 Bd4 19. Bd4 00 20. g4 Rfe8 21. Rae1 Qc7 and Black
is slightly better Klimes,M Rozmbersky,D, Cesko 1996; b) 11. a4 a5 12. Be3
Qb2 [12... Bc5 13. Bc5 Qc5 14. Qd2 (with compensation) Tempelaar,P Al,A,
Nederland 1994; 14. Qb3!?] 13. Rb1 [13. Nd4!?] Qa3 14. Nd4 Qa4 [14... Ba4
15. Bb5 and White is winning] 15. Qa4 [15. Qf3!? with the idea 15... Bc6 16.
Rb7] Ba4 16. Rb7 with compensation
17
14. b4!? Bd4! [14... Qb4 15. Nb5 and White is slightly better, weak point Ke8;
15. Rab1!?; 14... Bb4 15. a3!?; 15. Nb5!?] 15. Bd4 Qd8 16. Rac1 Qd7 17. Rc3
00 [and Black is slightly better] Pace,C Sosa,N, Bled (ol) 2002; 17. f4!?
18
17... Re8 18. Rc7 Nf5 19. Qa3 with the idea Rac1 with compensation; 17... f6
18. Rc7 Nf5 19. Qb5 [with compensation] Brady,C Clarke,T, Ireland (ch)
1995
19
10... Qc7 11. Bf4
a) 11... f5 12. Rc1 Nh6 13. Re1 g6 14. Nbd4 [with compensation, weak point
e6, Bd7] Pribik,P Krecmer,M, corr. 1989; b) 11... Nge7 12. Rc1 [12. Bg3 g6
13. Bf4 Bg7 14. Rc1 h6 15. Re1 a6 16. h4 (with compensation) Smerdon,D
Vaidya,C, Kochi 2004] Ng6 13. Bg3 Qb6 14. h4! h5 15. Bg6 fg6 16. Bf4 [with
compensation] Nun,Ji Bashkov,V, Ostrava 1991
20
13... Be7
a) 14. Nd7 Qd7 15. Bb5 00 16. h4 Bh4 [16... a6 17. Bc6 bc6 18. h5 Nh8 19.
Qa4 Rfc8 20. Nd4 (and White is slightly better) Wittmann,R Wiley,T,
Stuttgart 2001] 17. Qa4 with compensation; b) 14. b4 b1) 14... Qb8!? 15. Re1
Bc8 16. Na6 [16. b5 Nce5 17. Ne5 Ne5 18. Bf4 Bd6 19. Be5 Be5 20. Qh5 Bf4
21. Rc2 g6 22. Qd5 00 23. Qf3 Bh2 24. Kh1 Bd6 (and Black is slightly better)
Baron Rodriguez,Je Matamoros Franco,C, Malaga 2005; 16. Bb5!?] ba6 17.
Rc6 with compensation, development advantage; b2) 14... a6 15. a4 [with
compensation] 00?! 16. b5 ab5 17. ab5 Nce5 18. Ne5 Ne5 19. Ne6 [and
White is superior] Santos,Carlos P Santos,A, Portugal 1993; 15... Qb8; 15...
Bc5; b3) 14... Bc5 15. Bc5 Nge5 16. b5 Nd3 17. Qd3 Na5 18. Rfe1 b6 [ 18...
Qf4 19. Qd5 Qc1 20. Qd6 and White is superior] 19. Bb4 Qb7 20. Nd4 Nc4
[20... g6? 21. Qf3 1 : 0 Nun,Ji Brodsky,M, Pardubice 1994] 21. Qg3 and
White is superior; Better is 17... Ne5
21
15. Re1 Rc8 16. Ba3?! Nd3 17. Qd3 Ne5! 18. Rc7 Nd3 [and Black is superior]
Nun,Ji Schmittdiel,E, Prague 1990
22
16. Re1!?; 16. Qd2!?
23
16... Qc7; 16... Rb8
24
18. g3 Qd4! [18... Qf3? 19. Rc6 Bc6 20. Rc1! and White is winning] 19. Rfd1
[19. Bb5 Ne5 and Black is slightly better] Ne5 20. Bb5 Qe4 21. Rc3 with
compensation; 18. Bb5!? Ne5 [18... Na5 19. Bd7 Kd7 20. Qb5 Kd8 21. Rfd1
and White is superior] 19. Bd7 Nd7 20. Rc2 f6 21. Rfc1 Kf7 22. g3 Qh6 23.
Rc7 with compensation; 18. Rfe1!? a) 18... Kd8? [weak point Kd8] 19. g3 Qf6
[19... Qf3 20. Re3] 20. Bd6! a1) 20... Nd4? 21. Bc7! [21. Qd5?? Bc6! and
Black is winning] Ke8 22. Qd5 [and White is superior, weak point Ke8] Nf3
[22... Rc8 23. f4 Nc6 24. Rc6 Qe7 25. Qf3 Bc6 26. Qc6 Qd7 27. Qd7 Kd7 28.
Be5 and White is winning] 23. Kf1 [only move] Rc8 [only move] 24. Bb5 Qe7
[24... Nd2 25. Kg2 Qe7 26. Qb7! and White is winning; 24... Nh2 25. Kg2 Qf3
26. Qf3 Nf3 27. Bd7 Kd7 28. Red1 Ke7 29. Kf3 and White is winning; 24...
Bb5 25. Qb5 Ke7 26. Qb4 Ke8 27. Qa4 Ke7 28. Bd6 Kd6 29. Rcd1! and White
is winning] 25. Bb6!! [and White is winning, weak point Ke8] Pap,M
Kosic,M, Bosnjaci 2005 see 92/258; a2) 20... h5!? 21. Bb5 Rc8 22. Qa4 e5 23.
Rc6!? Bc6 24. Be5 Qg6 25. Bc6 Rc6 26. Qa7 with attack; a3) 20... Rc8 21.
Qa3 e5 [21... Nd4? 22. Rc8 Bc8 23. Qa7 and White is winning] 22. Ba6 with
initiative; b) 18... Rc8 19. Bb5 [with compensation] Pap,M

Veselin Topalov: Bulgaria's Newest

Sports Star
Zdenko Krnic
Editor-in-Chief
Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is becoming one of the world's leading chess
centers, in large part because of Veselin Topalov, who will be the top ranked
player on the next rating list, and the Women's World Champion Antoaneta
Stefanova.
Topalov has become Bulgaria's newest sports star thanks to his shared first
place, with Kasparov, in Linares and his victory at the recently completed
MTel Masters double round robin tournament in Sofia. New rules were
introduced in Sofia to increase the fighting spirit of the players and to reduce
the number of draws. The reaction of the six top grandmasters was mostly
positive. They played under the following conditions:
Draw offers are not allowed.

A player can claim the draw only in case of perpetual check, threefold
repetition, or if the position is a theoretical draw.
Only the arbiter can claim a technical draw after first consulting with
the GM advisor (in this case it was Zurab Azmaiparashvili).
Topalov's performance at this tournament was truly impressive. He was

theoretically very well prepared, and he strived for complicated positions
with many tactical possibilities. His fighting spirit, even during the early
phase of the game, was very attractive to the chess fans.
We are pleased to offer to our readers, from the forthcoming Informant #93,
two brilliant wins by one of the most serious candidates for the chess throne.
It is surely interesting that these games were annotated by his opponents,
Anand and Ponomariov, rather than Topalov himself.
Because Topalov finished the first half of the tournament with one loss and
four draws, he had to play aggressively to fight for the top spot. His first
victim was Anand, who awarded a question mark to his move 10Bb7,
because after the excellent novelty 11.Neg5 Black got into serious trouble.
11.Bg2 was played in the game Seirawan - Browne, USA (ch) 1981, and
Browne gave 10Bb7 an exclamation mark in his notes to that game (see
32/602).
In the next to last round, Topalov brilliantly avenged his earlier loss to
Ponomariov. They played a popular variation of the Queen's Indian Defense

with 8.Rc1, which was also played in the games Bologan Tkachiev, France
2004 and Topalov Gelfand, Monaco (blindfold) 2005. This is an interesting
idea compared to 8.Rg2 which was introduced into practice by Bologan.
Showcasing his excellent preparation, Topalov needed only five moves from
the novelty 10.e5 to gain a decisive advantage; previously 10.Bd3 had been
played. Topalov's further realization of his advantage was impressive as well.
V. Topalov (2778) V. Anand (2785)

Sofia 2005
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 c6 8. e4
d5 9. Qc2 de4 10. Ne4 Bb7? 11. Neg5! [a novelty; 11. Bg2 see 32/602] c5
[11... h6 12. Nf7 Kf7 13. Ne5 Kg8 (13... Kf8 14. Bh3 Qd4 15. Ng6 Ke8 16. 00 Qe4 17. Qe4 Ne4 18. Rfe1! c5 19. Bg2 Bf6 20. Re4!! Kd7 21. Re6 Bg2 22.
Rf6 gf6 23. Nh8 and White is superior) 14. Bh3 (14. Bc3 c5 15. Bh3 Be4) Qd4
15. Be6 Kf8 16. Ng6 Ke8 17. 0-0-0! Qa1 18. Qb1 Ba3 19. Kc2 Qb1 20. Kb1
and White is superior] 12. d5 (only move) ed5 13. cd5 h6 [13... Bd5 14. 0-00 h6 15. Bc3 hg5 16. Bf6 gf6 17. Bc4 and White is superior] 14. Nf7 Kf7 15.
0-0-0 Bd6 16. Nh4 Bc8 [16... Na6 17. Bc3!?; 17. Bh3 with attack] 17. Re1
Na6 [17... Re8 18. Bb5 Re7 19. Bc3!]
18. Re6! Nb4 [18... Nc7 19. Bc4 b5 20. Bc3! with attack] 19. Bb4 cb4 20.
Bc4 b5 [20... Kg8 21. Nf5! Be6 (21... Bf8 22. d6 and White is winning) 22.
de6 Be7 23. Rd1 Qf8 (23... Qc7 24. Rd7 and White is winning) 24. Rd7 Re8
25. Nh4 Nh7 26. Qg6 Ng5 27. f4 (27. Nf5 Nf3) b5 28. Nf5 bc4 (28... Rh7 29.
Bd3! and White is winning) 29. Ng7 Rh7 30. Ne8 Kh8 31. Nc7 and White is
slightly better; 28. Bd5!? and White is winning; 28. Bb5 and White is
winning] 21. Bb5 Be7? [21... Kg8! a) 22. Nf5 Be6 (22... Bf8 23. Bc4!) 23.
de6 Rc8 24. Bc4 Be7; b) 22. Bc4! Be6 23. de6 Be7 24. Rd1 Qe8 25. Rd7! and
White is superior] 22. Ng6 (and White is winning) Nd5 23. Re7? [23. Re5
Bb7 24. Nh8 Qh8 25. Qf5 Bf6 26. Qe6 Kf8 27. Qe8! Re8 28. Re8 Kf7 29.
Rh8 and White is winning] Ne7 24. Bc4 Kf6! 25. Nh8 Qd4 26. Rd1 Qa1 27.
Kd2 Qd4 28. Ke1 Qe5 29. Qe2 Qe2 30. Ke2 (and White is superior) Nf5 31.
Nf7 a5 [31... Be6 32. Be6 Ke6 33. Nd8! and White is superior] 32. g4 Nh4
33. h3 Ra7 34. Rd6 Ke7 35. Rb6 (and White is winning) Rc7 36. Ne5 Ng2
37. Ng6 Kd8 38. Kf1 Bb7 39. Rb7 Rb7 40. Kg2 Rd7 41. Nf8 Rd2 42. Ne6
Ke7 43. Ng7 Ra2 44. Nf5 Kf6 45. Nh6 Rc2 46. Bf7 Rc3 47. f4 a4 48. ba4
b3 49. g5 Kg7 50. f5 b2 51. f6 Kh7 52. Nf5 1 : 0 [V. Anand]
V. Topalov (2778) R. Ponomariov (2695)

Sofia 2005
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 0-0 8.
Rc1!? [8. Bg2 see 92/486] c6 9. e4 d5 10. e5! [a novelty; 10. Bd3?! dc4 11.
bc4 e5 and Black is slightly better] Ne4 11. Bd3 Nc3 [11... Nd2 12. Qd2 dc4
13. bc4 Nd7 14. 0-0 Bb7 15. Qe3 Re8 16. Rfe1 and White is slightly better,
centre] 12. Rc3! c5 13. dc5 bc5? [13... d4! 14. Rc1 bc5 15. Be4 (15. h4 Bb7)
Nd7 a) 16. h4 Qc7 17. Bg5 (17. Bh7 Kh7 18. Ng5 Kg8 19. Qh5 Qe5 20. Kf1
Nf6 and Black is winning) Rae8; b) 16. Qc2 f5 17. ef6 Nf6; c) 16. Ba8 Qa8
17. 0-0 Qc6 with compensation; d) 16. 0-0 Qc7 17. Re1 Bb7 unclear] 14. h4!
[with the idea Bh7 with initiative] h6 15. Bb1! (and White is winning) f5
[15... Nd7 16. Bh6 gh6 17. Qd3 f5 18. ef6 Rf6 19. Qh7 Kf8 20. Ng5 hg5 21.
hg5] 16. ef6 Bf6 17. Qc2 d4
18. Ng5! [18. Qh7 Kf7 19. Rc1 Bb7 with counterplay] hg5 19. hg5 dc3 20.
Bf4!? [20. Rh8 Kf7 21. Qg6 Ke7 22. gf6 gf6 23. Rh7 Kd6 24. Bf4 Kc6 25.
Qe4 Kb6 26. Bc7 Qc7 27. Rc7 Kc7 28. Qa8 and White is winning] Kf7 [20...
Bd4 21. Qg6! Bf2 22. Ke2 and White is winning, with the idea Rh8] 21. Qg6
Ke7 22. gf6 Rf6 23. Qg7 Rf7 24. Bg5 [24. Qg5!? Kd7 25. Qd8 Kd8 26. Be4
Nc6 27. Rh8 Kd7 28. Ra8 e5 29. Be3 Bb7 30. Rh8 Kc7 31. Bc5 Nd4 32.
Rh7! Rh7 33. Bh7 and White is winning] Kd6 25. Qf7 Qg5 26. Rh7! [weak
point Kd6] Qe5 [26... Qc1 27. Ke2 Qd2 28. Kf3 Qd1 29. Kg2 and White is
winning] 27. Kf1 Kc6 28. Qe8 Kb6 29. Qd8 Kc6 30. Be4 1 : 0 [R.
Ponomariov, D. Komarov]

Highlights from the Anthology of Chess

Combinations
Zdenko Krnic
Editor-in-Chief
The third edition of the Anthology of Chess Combinations will be available by
the end of August, and the new edition features several major changes
introduced by the Chess Informant Editorial Board. The main one being that
it has been divided into two main parts: educative and practical examples. As
a foundation for the first part, the previous edition of the Anthology has been
used with our original classification keys pertaining to fundamental tactical
motifs. All the material inherited from the previous edition underwent
rigorous re-examination by critically-minded experts from the Editorial Board
armed with top-level computer engines to ensure the high-quality of the
examples.
The second part has been produced to incorporate the elements of a workbook
with some of the more recent examples divided into three groups to maintain
a clear-cut structure. Each group has three levels of difficulty without any
classification keys, thereby prohibiting the prospective solver from benefiting
from any hints. Our editors also opted to omit a number of old examples for
newer, more challenging brain teasers.
The big names are included, of course, but even more interesting are their
annotations to the games, as they produce an excellent testimony to the depth
of some extraordinary ideas that could otherwise have been left unnoticed.
We hope that the third edition of the Anthology of Chess Combinations will
help readers develop a greater appreciation for the art of combinative chess
and a fundamental understanding of how it can be achieved. I have chosen
four examples from the rich treasury of material, which will confirm that the
efforts of the Chess Informant Editors will receive a positive response from
the readers.
The position below could have appeared in the 23rd game of the Karpov
Kasparov match in 1986. After an extraordinary queen sacrifice, I. Zaitsev,
Karpovs trainer at the time, showed that upon 8.Rh7 the best possibility for
Black would be to find salvation in a weaker ending with two knights vs. the
bishop pair.
Karpov - Kasparov
London/Leningrad (m/23) 1986 42/39*
1. Qe6!! Ke6 [1... Kf8 2. Bd5 and White is winning; I. Zaitsev] 2. Bd5 Kf5 3.
Rf3 Kg4 [3... Kg5 4. Bc1 Kh5 5. Rf4 Bf6 (5... g5 6. Bf7 Kh6 7. Rh4 mate) 6.
Rh4 Bh4 7. Bf3 mate; I. Zaitsev] 4. Rf4 Kg5 [4... Kh5 5. Rh4 Kg5 6. f4 Kf5
7. e4 mate; I. Zaitsev] 5. Bg7 [with the idea 6. h4 Kh5 7. Bf3 mate; 5. Bc1??
Bb2 and Black is winning] Ne5 6. Rh4 [with the idea 7. Bh6 Kf6 8. Rf4
mate, 7. f4 Kf5 8. e4 mate] Ne3! 7. Be6 Rf8 8. Rh7 [with the idea h4 mate]
Chess is a magical game and this was confirmed when I found a unique
defense for Black: 8Ng2!! [8... Nf5 9. f4 Kg4 10. Rh4 mate; 8... Rf4 9. h4
Rh4 10. Rh4 Qf8 11. f4 Qf4 12. gf4 Kh4 13. Bc8 and White is superior; I.
Zaitsev] 9. Kg2 Rf2! 10. Kf2 Ng4 11. Kg1 Nh2 12. Kh2 Blacks great
sacrifice of material has destroyed Whites dangerous f- and h-pawns, and
now White has to find out how to hold a draw. The idea is 13.Rh4 as Black
cannot stop Rg4-h4 with perpetual check. 12... Rc5 13. Rh4 Rf5 Black
covered the h3-c8 diagonal, but after 14. Kh3 perpetual check is
unavoidable. [Z. Krnic]
I first met Vladimir Kramnik at the Dortmund tournament in 1992. With his
brilliant performance in the Open tournament and subsequent meteoric rise,
he announced his entrance into the elite of world chess. During that same year
he won the tournament in Chalkidiki ahead of Lautier. Their individual game
was published in Informant 55/23 with annotations by Kramnik. After many
adventures, the game ended in a draw, but he estimated the position below as
winning for Black. Now IM Sasa Velickovic has shown that White can force
a perpetual check with 4.Nd5.
Lautier Kramnik
Chalkidiki 1992 55/23
1... de2! 2. Ne3 Qf3 3. Re5 Rd8! [3... Qf1?? 4. Rg1 Qf2 5. Qe1 and White is
winning; Lautier Kramnik] 4. Nd5! [4. h4 Qh3 5. Kg1 Rd1 6. Kf2 e1Q 7.
Qe1 Qh4 and Black is winning; 4. Rd5 Re8! (4... Qf1 5. Rg1 Qf3 6. Rg2 Qf1
equal) 5. Qe1 Qe3 6. Rdg5 Rc8! 7. R5g3 Qe4! and Black is winning, with the
idea Rc1 Kramnik] Qf1 [4... Rc8 5. Qf4 Qd5 6. h3 Rc1 7. Qc1 Qe5 8. Qe1] 5.
Rg1 Qf3 equal [Sa. Velickovic]
We can immediately recognize the position below as arising from the Sicilian
Dragon. The game was annotated for Informant by grandmaster Rowson, who
mentioned only 21.f4 Kh7 with winning position for Black. Yet, while
working on the manuscript for Informant 84, IM Ivan Markovic, an expert in
the Dragon Variation, felt that some good attacking possibilities for White
were hidden in the position. After 1.Rg6! Kh7 2.Rg5 Kh6 3.Qd2 e6 we reach
a critical position where he shows that 4.Rh5 leads to equality, while 4.Ne2
leads to a superior position for White. In rechecking this example for the new
edition of the Anthology of Chess Combinations, he found a brilliant winning
combination for White. Namely, 4.Nf5! ef5 5.Rf5 Kg6 6.Rg5 Kh6 and from
the following analyses we can see that the position is hopeless for Black.
Rowson j. Shahade
Reykjavik 2002 84/183*
1. Rg6! Kh7 [1... fg6?? 2. Nf6 mate] 2. Rg5 Kh6 3. Qd2 e6 4. Nf5! [4. Rh5
Kh5 5. Nf4 (5. Nf5? ef5 6. Nf6 Kh4 7. Qh6 Kg3 8. Nh5 Kg2 9. Qd2 Kh3 and
Black is winning, with the idea Be5) Kh4 6. Ng2 (6. e5!? Rg8 7. Qf2 Kg5 8.
Qe3 Kh4 9. Qf2 equal) Kg3 (6... Kh5?? 7. Nf5!! and White is winning) 7. Ne1
Rg8 8. Ne2 Kh3 (8... Kf2 9. Nd3 Kg2 10. Nd4 Kh1 11. Nf2 Kg1 12. Nh3 Kh1
equal) 9. Qh6 Qh4 10. Nf4 Kg3 11. Ne2 Kh3 equal; 4. Ne2!? ed5 5. Rd5 Kg7
6. Rg5 Kh7 (6... Kf8? 7. Qd6 Re7 8. Qh6 Bg7 9. Rg7 and White is winning) 7.
Rh5 Kg8 8. Qh6 (8. Rh8!? Kh8 9. Qh6 Kg8 10. Qg6 Kh8 11. Qh5! Kg7 12.
Qf7 Kh8 13. Nf4 Re6 only move 14. Ne6 Be6 15. Qe6 Rc7 and White is
superior) Bg7 9. Rg5 Qg5 10. Qg5 and White is superior] ef5 5. Rf5! Kg6
[5... Kg7 6. Rh5 Re6 7. Qd4 Rf6 (7... f6? 8. Qg1 Kf7 9. Rh7) 8. Rh8! Kh8 9.
Nf6 and White is winning] 6. Rg5 Kh6
7. Ne7!! Qe7 8. Bf7! Kh7 [8... Qf7? 9. Rh5! and White is winning; 8... Nf4 9.
Qf4 Kh7 10. e5!! d5 only move 11. Rh5 (11. Bd5 Qg5 only move 12. hg5 with
attack) Kg7 12. Bd5 Rc6 only move (12... Be6 13. Qg3 Kf7 14. Rh7) 13. Rg5!
Rg6 (13... Qg5 14. Qf7! Kh6 15. hg5 Kg5 16. f4! Kh4 17. Qd7) 14. Rg6 Kg6
15. h5! Kh5 only move (15... Kg7 16. Qg3; 15... Kh7 16. Qe4) 16. Bf7 Qf7
17. Qf7 Kh6 18. Qd7 Re5 19. c4 and White is winning] 9. Rh5 Kg7 10. Be8
Qe8 [10... Kg8 11. Bd7 Rc5 12. Qh6 Bg7 (12... Rh5 13. Be6!) 13. Be6 Kf8
14. Qf4 Ke8 (14... Bf6 15. Rh8 Kg7 16. Qh6 mate) 15. Rc5 dc5 16. Qb8 Qd8
17. Bf7 Ke7 18. Qb7 Kf8 19. Bd5 and White is winning] 11. Qg5 Qg6 12.
Qe7 Kg8 13. Rg5 Qg5 14. hg5 Bh3 15. f4 and White is winning [Iv.
Markovic]
This is a critical moment from a game played at the Aeroflot tournament last
year. In the annotations, published in Informant 90/86, grandmaster
Magomedov estimates that the position is winning for White after 3.Rd3.
However, Chess Informant Editor IM Sasa Velickovic gives a detailed
analysis proving that instead of 5Bd7?? Black could defend his position by
playing 5Kf7, etc.
Vescovi Miton
Moscow 2004 90/86
1. Be5!! [1. Ng6 Kf7 2. Nh8 Rh8 with compensation; Magomedov] fe5 [1...
Rh6 2. Bf4! g5 3. Qf3!; 1... Bf7 2. Rd7! a5 (2... Re8 3. Bd6 Kg8 4. Bc5 Qc5 5.
Ra7) 3. Qf3 Re8 4. Bf6 Qf2 (4... gf6 5. Qf6 Rh7 6. Rf7 Rf7 7. Ng6 Qg6 8.
Qg6) 5. Qf2 Bf2 6. Rf2 Re1 7. Rf1 Rf1 8. Kf1 gf6 9. Rb7 Magomedov] 2.
Qf3 Ke7 3. Rd3! Rhd8 [3... Raf8? 4. Ng6 (4. Qb7?! Ke8 5. Qc6 Kf7 6. Rf3
Ke7) Ke8 5. Qc6 Kf7 6. Ne5 Kf6 7. b4! and White is winning] 4. Ng6 Ke8 5.
Qc6 Kf7 [5... Bd7?? 6. Qd5 Bf8 7. Ne5 1 : 0 Vescovi Miton] 6. Ne5 Kf6
[6... Ke7 a) 7. Qb7 Kf6 (7... Ke8?? 8. Qe4! and White is winning) 8. Qf3 Bf5
9. g4!! hg4 10. Ng4 Kg5 11. h4 Kg6 12. Ne5 Kf6 13. Ng4 equal; b) 7. Qc7
Ke8 (7... Kf6?? 8. Rf3 Bf5 9. Qf7 Ke5 10. Rf5! Qf5 11. Re1 Qe4 12. Qg7 and
White is winning) 8. Qc6 Ke7 equal] 7. Rf3 Ke7 [7... Ke5?? 8. Re1 Kd4 9.
Qe6 and White is winning] 8. Re1 [8. Qb7!? Ke8 9. Re1 (9. Qc6 Ke7 equal)
Rac8 10. Nc6! (10. Qg7 Rd1 11. Qh8 Ke7 12. Qf6 Kd6 13. Nc4 Kc7 14. Qe6
Bb4 15. Rfe3 Be1 16. Re1 Rcd8) Qe2 11. Re3 Qe3 12. fe3 Bd5 13. Qg7 (13.
Nd8 Bb7 14. Nb7 Ba3) Rc6 14. Qe5 Be6 15. Qh5 Bf7 16. Qh8 Bf8 17. Qe5
Be7 18. Qb5 Rdd6! (18... Rdc8 19. Rc1 Bd5 20. b4) 19. Rc1 (19. e4 Kf8 with
compensation) Bd5 20. Rd1 Bc4 21. Qh5 Bf7 22. Rd6 Rd6 with
compensation] Rd1 [8... Rac8?? 9. Rf7! Bf7 10. Ng6 mate] 9. Rf7 [9. Qb7
equal; 9. Qc7 equal] Bf7 10. Qb7 Ke8 11. Qa8 Ke7 12. Qa7 Ke8 13. Qf7
Kd8 14. Nc6 Kc8 15. Ne7 Kc7 16. Nd5 Kc6 17. Qe8 Kb7 18. Qd7 Kb8 19.
Qc7 Ka8 20. Qc8 Ka7 equal [Sa. Velickovic]


Zdenko Krnic
Editor-in-Chief
Although the Olympiad in Calvi has long been over, it is not forgotten. In
Informant 92 we reminisce over the most beautiful moments by which this
Olympiad will be remembered, especially the convincing victory of the
Ukrainian Mens team. Its nearly impossible to point to an Olympiad at
which such a young team was so superior to its rivals.
Vassily Ivanchuk was truly a great leader, he was a shining example to his
young teammates with his fighting spirit and inspired performance. It is a
credit to Ivanchuks creativity that two of his games lead the list of the ten best
games chosen by the Informant 92 jury members.
Curiously, the first ten games were selected from only three events: the
European Club Cup in Cesme (3 games), the Calvi Olympiad (3 games), and
a further four games from the strongest tournament in this period Wijk aan
Zee. The most successful jury member was Larry Christiansen who voted for
eight out of the top ten games.
Ivanchuk 2705 T. Radjabov 2663

Calvia (ol) 2004 92/114
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. N1c3 a6 7. Na3 b5 8.
Nd5 Nce7 9. Nb4! [a novelty; 9. Bg5 see 89/101; 9. c4 see 89/102] Bd7
[9...Nf6!? 10. c4 Ne4 11. cb5 unclear] 10. c4 a5 [10...Nf6 11. cb5 Ne4 12. Na6
d5 unclear] 11. Nbc2 Nf6 [11...b4 12. Nb5 Bb5 13. cb5 Nf6 14. Ne3! (14. a3
b3 15. Ne3 Ne4 16. b6 Qb6 17. f3 Nf5! 18. Qd5 Ne3 19. Qa8 Ke7 20. fe4 Nc2
21. Kd1 Na1 unclear) Ne4 15. b6! Qb6 16. f3 Nf6 17. Nc4 and White is
superior] 12. Nb5 Bb5 [12...Ne4 13. Qd6!] 13. cb5 Ne4 14. Be3 [14. g3 d5 15.
Bg2 Nf5 16. 0-0 Bc5 17. Qg4 with initiative; 14. Bd3 d5 (14...Nc5!?) 15. 0-0
and White is slightly better] d5! [14...g6 15. b6 Bg7 16. Bb5 Kf8 17. b7 Rb8
18. f3 Nf6 19. Ba6 and White is superior] 15. b6! f5!? [15...Nd6 16. f4! ef4
(16...e4 17. Nd4 Qd7 18. Rc1 and White is superior) 17. Bf4 Qb6 18. Bd6 Qd6
19. Bb5 Kd8 20. 0-0 with initiative, with the idea 20...Qb6 21. Nd4 and White
is superior; 15...Qd7 16. Bd3 (16. a4 Nd6 17. Na3 d4 18. Nb5 Nd5! unclear)
Nd6 17. Rc1 Rb8 (17...d4 18. Bd2 e4 19. Nd4! ed3 20. Rc7! and White is
winning) 18. Na3 Nc6 19. Bc5 with initiative] 16. Qe2 [16. b7 Rb8 17. Ba6 d4
18. Nd4 ed4 19. Qa4 Kf7 20. Bf4 with compensation; 16. Bb5!? Kf7 17. f3
Nf6 (17...Nd6 18. Bc6! Nc6 19. Qd5 and White is superior) 18. f4 ef4
(18...Ng4 19. fe5 Ne3 20. Ne3 Qb6 21. Qd3 Qe6 22. 0-0 g6 23. Rae1 with
attack) 19. Bd4! Ne4 20. 0-0 with initiative]
16...Kf7?! [16...f4 17. f3 fe3 18. Qb5! (18. fe4 Qb6 19. Qb5 Qb5 20. Bb5 Kd8
21. Ne3 and White is slightly better) Kf7 19. fe4 Rb8 20. Qa5 and White is
superior; 16...Nd6 17. Rd1 Kf7 (17...Rc8 18. g3 Nc4 19. Bg2 e4 20. 0-0 and
White is slightly better) 18. g3 (18. f4!? ef4 19. Bd4 Nc6 20. Qd2 Nd4 21. Qd4
Rb8 22. Qd5 Kg6 23. Bd3 Qh4 24. Kf1 Rb6 25. b3 unclear) Rb8 19. Bg2 and
White is slightly better; 16...d4 17. Qb5 Kf7 18. 0-0-0 with attack; 16...Rc8 17.
f3 Nc5 18. Qb5 Nd7! 19. Qa4 d4 20. Bb5! Nd5 21. b7 Rb8 22. Bd2 with
initiative; 16...g6! a) 17. f3 Nd6 18. Bg5 (18. f4 Bg7 19. Rd1 Rc8 20. fe5 Be5
unclear) e4 19. Bf6 Rg8 20. fe4 de4 21. Rd1 Qb6 22. Be5 Nec8 23. Qd2 with
initiative; b) 17. Qb5 Kf7 18. b7 Rb8 19. Ba7 Nd6 (19...Bh6 20. Bb8 Bd2 21.
Kd1 Qb8 with compensation) 20. Bb8 Nb5 21. Be5 Nd6 22. Bh8 Nb7 unclear]
17. 0-0-0 Qd7 [17...f4 18. f3 Nf6 (18...Nc3 19. bc3 fe3 20. Qe3 Rb8 21. Bc4
and White is superior) 19. Bf2 Qd6 20. Qb5 (20. g3 Ng6 21. Kb1 Be7 unclear)
Nc6 21. Bc4 Rd8 22. Rd2 and White is slightly better; 17...d4 18. Nd4! ed4
19. Rd4 with attack; 17...g6 18. g4 f4 19. Bg2 fe3 20. Be4 Qb6 21. Bd5 (21.
Rd5 Rb8 22. Ne3 Qc7 23. Kb1 Nd5 24. Nd5 with attack) Nd5 22. Rd5 ef2 23.
Rf1 Bh6 24. Kb1 with attack] 18. Kb1 Qe6?! [18...Rb8!? 19. f3 Nf6 a) 20.
f4!? ef4 21. Bd4 Ne4 22. Ne1!? (22. Qf3 Qd6 23. Bb5 with compensation; 22.
Qb5 Qb5 23. Bb5 with compensation) Nc6 23. Qb5 Qe6 24. Nf3 with
initiative; b) 20. Qb5 Qb5 (20...Qe6 21. Qa5 Nc6 22. Qb5 and White is slightly
better) 21. Bb5 Nc8 22. b7 Nd6 (22...Rb7 23. Bc6 Rc7 24. Bd5 and White is
slightly better) 23. Bc6 d4 24. f4 de3 25. fe5 Nb7 26. ef6 and White is slightly
better] 19. f3 Nd6 [19...Nf6 20. Qb5! (20. f4 ef4 21. Bd4 Ne4 22. Qf3 Ng6 23.
h4 Bd6 unclear) Rb8 21. f4 ef4 22. Bf4 Rb6 23. Qa5 Rb7 24. Bd3 and White
is slightly better] 20. f4! Nc4 [20...e4 21. Nd4 Qd7 22. Qd2 g6 23. Rc1 and
White is slightly better] 21. fe5 Rb8
22. g4!! [weak point Kf7] f4 [22...Qe5 23. Bd4 Qe2 24. Be2 Nb6 25. gf5 and
White is superior] 23. Qf3 g5 [23...Ne3 24. Qf4 Kg8 25. Ne3 Qb6 26. Qd4 and
White is winning] 24. Bc4 dc4 25. h4 Qc6 [25...Ke8 26. Bf2 Bg7 27. hg5 Qe5
28. Bd4 Qg5 29. Rh5 Qg6 30. Qf4 and White is winning] 26. e6! Kg6
[26...Ke8 27. Qf2 (27. Qc6 Nc6 28. Bf2 Rg8 29. hg5 Rg5 30. Rh7 and White is
winning) Qe6 28. Bd4 Rg8 29. hg5 and White is winning] 27. Qf2! Qe6 28.
Bd4 Bg7 29. hg5 Rbd8 30. Rde1 Qd6 31. Bc5 Qd2 32. Re6 1:0 [Ivanchuk]
Morozevich 2758 Ivanchuk 2705

Calvia (ol) 2004 92/68
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. f4 e6 5. Nf3 c5 6. Be3 cd4 7. Nd4 Ne7 [a
novelty; 7...Bg6] 8. Bb5 [8. c4!?] Nd7 [8...Nbc6 9. 0-0 Bg6!?] 9. 0-0 a6 10.
Be2 [10. Ba4!? Rc8!? (10...b5 11. Bb3 Bg6 12. f5 with initiative) 11. Bb3 (11.
Nd2 h5 with counterplay) Nc5 unclear]
10...g5! 11. g4!? [11. fg5 a) 11...Ne5 12. Nc3 Bg7 13. Nf5 Nf5 14. Rf5 ef5 15.
Nd5 with initiative; b) 11...Qc7 b1) 12. Nc3 Bg6 13. Ndb5 ab5 14. Nb5 Qb8
(14...Qe5 15. Bd4 and White is winning) 15. Nd6 Kd8 16. Nf7 Bf7 17. Rf7
Nf5 (17...Ne5 18. Rf6 with compensation) 18. Rf5 ef5 19. Bf4 Qc7 and Black
is superior; b2) 12. Nd2!? Bg7 (12...Ne5 13. c4 with initiative) 13. c4 (13. Bd3
Bd3 14. cd3 Ne5 15. Rc1 unclear) Be5 14. N2f3 unclear; c) 11...Bg7 12. Nd2
(12. Nf5 Nf5 13. Rf5 ef5 14. Nc3 with compensation) Ne5 13. c4 unclear; d)
11...Bg6!? unclear] gf4! [11...Be4 12. f5 ef5 13. e6 with attack] 12. gf5 Nf5
[12...fe3 13. fe6 fe6 (13...Ne5 14. ef7 Nf7 15. Nc3 with initiative) 14. Bh5 (14.
Ne6 Qb6 15. Bh5 Ng6 and Black is winning) Ng6 15. Qg4 Nde5 (15...Qe7 16.
Bg6 hg6 17. Qg6 Kd8 18. Ne6 Kc8 19. Nc3 and White is superior) 16. Qe6
Qe7 17. Nc3 Qe6 18. Ne6 Bd6!? (18...Kd7 19. Nf8 Raf8 20. Nd5 Ke6 21. Ne3
Nf4 22. Bf3 Nh3 23. Kg2 Rhg8 24. Bg4 Ng4 25. Ng4 and White is superior) 19.
Nd5 Kd7 20. Rf6 Rag8 with counterplay] 13. Nf5 fe3!? [13...Rg8 14. Kh1 fe3
15. Ne3 with initiative; 13...Qg5 14. Kh1 (14. Ng3 fe3!) fe3 15. Nd6 Bd6 16.
ed6 with initiative] 14. Nc3! [14. Nd6 Bd6 15. ed6 Qb6 (15...Qh4!?) 16. Nc3
Ne5 17. Kh1 0-0-0 with initiative; 14. Ng3 Qb6 with compensation] Rg8 15.
Kh1 Qg5! 16. Bf3?! [16. Ng3!? 0-0-0 (16...Qe5!?) 17. Rf7 h5 18. Bh5 Ne5
with compensation] Ne5 [16...Qf5 17. Bh5!; 16...0-0-0 17. Nd6 Bd6 18. ed6
Qe5 unclear] 17. Qe2 Qf5 18. Bd5 Qh3 [18...Qg4 19. Qe3 0-0-0 20. Rg1 (20.
Bb7? Kb7 21. Rg1 Bc5!) ed5 21. Rg4 Ng4 and White is slightly better] 19.
Bb7 Ra7?! [19...Rd8! 20. Qa6 (20. Rad1 Rd1 21. Rd1 f5! 22. Qa6 Kf7!! and
Black is superior) Bd6 21. Nb5 Bb8 (and Black is superior) 22. Bc6 Nc6 23.
Qc6 Rd7 24. Qc8 Ke7 25. Rf7 Kf7 26. Qd7 Kf6 27. Qd4 Be5 and Black is
winning] 20. Bf3 [20. Bg2 Qg4 and Black is superior] Bh6?! [20...Nf3 21. Rf3
Qg4 and Black is superior; 20...Be7 21. Qe3 Nf3 22. Qf3 Qf3 23. Rf3 Rc7 and
Black is superior] 21. Ne4! Ke7 [21...Rg6! 22. Bh5! (22. Nd6 Kf8!; 22. Rad1
f5 23. Nd6 Kf8! and Black is superior) Rg7 23. Nf6 (23. Rad1 Ke7!! 24. Rf6
Bg5 25. Qe1 Nc6 and Black is winning; 24...Qh4 and Black is winning; 23.
Rf6 Qh4? 24. Re6; 23...Bg5!) Ke7! 24. Rad1 Qh4!! and Black is superior] 22.
Qe1! f5 [22...f6 23. Qb4 Kf7 24. Bh5 Qh5 25. Nf6 and White is winning] 23.
Qb4 Kf7 24. Qd4? [24. Nd6! Kf6 25. Ne4 Kf7 equal] Nf3 25. Qf6 [25. Qa7
Kg6! 26. Rg1 Kh5! 27. Qf7 (27. Nf6 Kh4 and Black is winning) Kh4 28. Qe7
Rg5 and Black is winning] Ke8 26. Qe6 Kf8 27. Qf6 Rf7 28. Qd6 Kg7 29.
Rg1 Kh8 30. Nf6 0:1 [Ivanchuk]
V. Anand 2786 Leko 2749

Na3 b5 9. Bf6 gf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. ef5 Bf5 13. Nc2 0-0 14. Nce3
Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. 0-0 Ra7 17. a4 Ne7 18. Ne7 Re7 19. ab5 ab5 20. Bb5 d5
21. Ra6 [21. Nc2 see 74/(178)] f4!? [21...Kh8] 22. Nc2!? [22. Re6] Bc8! [a
novelty; 22...f3] 23. Ra8 Qd6! 24. Nb4 [24. Bc4 Bb7 25. Ra7 (25. Rf8 Bf8
with the idea Rg7) Rd8 with initiative] Bb7 25. Ra7 [25. Rf8 Bf8! 26. Bc4
(26. Qa4? Rg7 27. Bc6 Qg6 28. g3 fg3 29. hg3 Bc5! and Black is winning)
Rd7 27. Bb3 Kh8 with compensation] d4! (with counterplay) 26. Ba6? [26.
Bc4? Kh8 27. Bd5 Bd5 28. Re7 Bg2!; 26. Bc6 Bc6 27. Re7 Qe7 28. Nc6 Qe6
with compensation; 26. Bd3!? Qc5 (26...e4? 27. Rb7 Rb7 28. Be4) 27. Rb7
(27. Qh5 Bf6) Rb7 28. Be4 with compensation; 26. Qa4!?]
26...Bg2!! 27. Bc4 [27. Qb3 Kh8!? 28. Re7 Qg6 29. f3 Bf3 30. Kf2 Qg2 31.
Ke1 Bf6! and Black is winning; 27...Bd5 and Black is winning; 27. Re7 Qg6!
28. Re6 Bf6 and Black is winning] Kh8 28. Ra6 [28. Re7 Qg6! 29. Bf7 (29.
Re6 Bf6 and Black is winning) Rf7 30. Re8 Bf8 and Black is winning] Qc5 29.
Kg2 f3! 30. Kh1 Qc4 31. Rc6 Qb5! 32. Rd6 [32. Qd3 Qd3 33. Nd3 e4 and
Black is winning] e4 33. Rd4 Bd4 [33...Qh5!? 34. Rd5 (34. Nc6? Qg6! and
Black is winning) Be5 35. Re5 Re5] 34. Qd4 Qe5 35. Qe5 Re5 [and Black is
winning; R 9/n] 36. Nc2 Rb8 37. Ne3 Rc5 38. h3! Rb2 39. c4 Rg5 40. Kh2
Kg8 time [40...h5!? 41. h4 Rg6] 41. h4 Rg6 42. Kh3 Kf7! [42...h5 43. Nd5!
Kf7 44. Nf4! Rc6 45. Nh5 Rc4 46. Kg3 and Black is superior] 43. Nf5 [43. h5
Rg5 44. Kh4 Kf6 45. Ra1 (45. Ng4 Kf5 46. Ne3 Kf4 47. Nd5 Rd5 48. cd5 Rd2
and Black is winning) Rg8 and Black is winning] Rc2 44. Ne3 Rd2 45. c5
Ke6 46. c6 Rg8 47. c7 Rc8 48. Kg3 Rc7 49. Kf4 [49. Ra1 Ke5 50. Ra5 Kd4
51. Rd5 Kc3 52. Nd1 Kc2 53. Ne3 Kc1 and Black is winning] Rd4 50. Ra1
Rf7 51. Kg3 Rd8 52. Ra6 Ke5 53. Ng4 Kd5 54. Nf6?! [54. Ra5 Kd6
(54...Kd4 55. Ra4) 55. Ra6 Kc5 56. Ra5 Kb6 57. Re5 Rd4 and Black is
winning] Rf6! 55. Rf6 Ke5 56. Rh6 Rg8 57. Kh3 e3 0:1 [Leko]
Sasikiran 2668 Krasenkow 2676

Calvia (ol) 2004 92/43
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Bd6 5. Qc2 f5 6. Bd3 Nf6 7. Nge2 0-0 8. f3
Nbd7 [8...Qe7 see 91/44] 9. Bd2 dc4 10. Bc4 Nb6 11. Bb3 Kh8 12. a3 [a
novelty; 12. 0-0-0] e5 13. 0-0-0 Qe7 14. h3 Bd7 15. Kb1 a5 16. g4 Nfd5
[16...e4!? 17. f4!? fg4 18. hg4 Bg4 19. Rdg1 with compensation] 17. e4!? Nc3
[17...fe4 18. Ne4] 18. Bc3 fe4 [better is 18...a4 19. Ba2 fe4 20. Qe4 Rae8
equal] 19. Qe4 Be8? [19...ed4 20. Nd4 (20. Qd4 Bc5 21. Qd3 Rad8! with the
idea Bf5) Qe4 21. fe4 Be5 22. Nf5 Bc3 23. bc3 with initiative; 19...Rae8!? 20.
Ba5 Nd5 with counterplay]
20. de5!! Bg6 21. ed6 Be4 22. Ka1 Qe8 23. fe4 [and White is superior, with
the idea e5, with the idea Ng3-f5, with the idea Nd4-f5] a4 [23...Qe4 24. Ng3
Qf3 25. Nf5 and White is winning; 23...Nd5 24. ed5 (24. Bd5 cd5 25. e5 and
White is superior) Qe2 25. dc6 bc6 26. Rhe1 Qb5 27. Ba2 and White is
winning, with the idea Re7] 24. Ba2 Rf3 [24...Qe4 25. Ng3 Qf3 26. Nf5 Rf5
27. gf5 Nd5 (27...Qf5 28. Rdf1 Qe4 29. Rhg1 and White is winning) 28. Bd5
cd5 29. Rhg1 and White is winning; 24...Nd5 25. ed5 (25. Bd5!? cd5 26. e5
and White is superior) Qe2 26. Rhe1 Qf3 27. dc6 bc6 28. d7 Rfd8 29. h4! and
White is winning, with the idea h5-h6; 24...Nd7 25. Nd4 Rf6 26. Nf5 and
White is superior] 25. e5! Nd5 [25...Rc3 26. Nc3 Qe5 27. Rhe1 Qg3 28. Re7
Qh3 29. d7 and White is winning] 26. Bd5 cd5 27. Rd5 Qf7 28. Rdd1 Qc4
29. e6!! Qe2 [29...Rc3 30. Nc3 Qe6 31. d7 Rd8 32. Rhe1 Qf7 33. Re8 Re8 34.
d8Q and White is winning] 30. d7 Rd3 [30...Rd8 31. Rhe1 and White is
winning] 31. Rde1 1:0 [Krasenkow]
V. Anand 2786 R. Ponomariov 2700

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 Qb6 7. Nb3 e6 8. Bf4
Nbd7 [8...d5 see 88/(224)] 9. g4 [a novelty; 9. Qd2] Be7 10. Qe2 [10. g5?!
Nh5 11. Bd2 h6!] h6 11. h4 Qc7 12. 0-0-0 b5 13. a3 Rb8 14. Qg2 Nc5
[14...b4 15. ab4 Rb4 16. g5 Nh5 17. Bd2 unclear] 15. g5 Nh5 16. Be3 Na4
[16...Nb3 17. cb3 b4 18. ab4 Rb4 19. Bc4 and White is slightly better, with the
idea Kb1, Rc1] 17. Rd3 [17. Na4?! ba4 18. Nd2 (18. Nd4 Qb7 19. c3 e5 20.
Nf5 Bf5 21. ef5 Ng3! 22. Ba6 Qa6 23. Qg3 Qe2 24. Qf2 Rb2 and Black is
superior) d5 19. ed5 ed5 and Black is slightly better] g6 [17...Nc5 18. Rd4] 18.
Kb1 Bb7 [with the idea e5] 19. Be2 e5 20. Qf2! [with the idea gh6; 20. gh6
Nf4 21. Bf4 ef4 22. Qh2 (22. Qg4 Bf6!) Bf6 with counterplay; 20. Na4 ba4 21.
Rc3 Bc6 22. Na5 Qa5 23. Rc6 Nf4 24. Bf4 ef4] Bc6? [20...hg5 21. hg5 Rc8
with the idea 22. f4?? Be4 and Black is winning] 21. gh6! (and White is
superior) Nb6 [21...Nf4 22. Bf4 ef4 a) 23. Nd4 Bf6 (23...Rh6 24. Nc6 Qc6 25.
Nd5 and White is superior) 24. h5 (24. Nc6 Qc6 25. Nd5 Bb2) Rh6 25. Nc6
Qc6 26. Nd5 Bb2 27. Qh4! Kf8 unclear; b) 23. Qd4! Rh6 24. Qg7 Bf8 25. Qf6
Be7 26. Qf4 g5 27. Qd2 and White is superior; 21...b4 22. ab4 Rb4 23. Na4
Ba4 24. Rc3 Qb7 25. Bc4 and White is superior]
22. f4! Nf6 [22...Nf4 23. Bf4 ef4 24. Qf4 Nc4 (24...Bf8 25. h5 Rh6 26. Nd5
Bd5 27. ed5 Bg7 28. Rg1! and White is winning) 25. Nd5 Bd5 26. ed5 Ne5 27.
Nd4! a) 27...Qc5 28. Nc6 Nd3 29. Bd3 Rb7 30. Re1 Qd5 (30...Kf8 31. Bg6
Qd5 32. Nb4 Qc4 33. Re4 and White is winning) 31. Qf6! and White is
winning; b) 27...Bf8 28. h5! (28. Nc6 Bh6 29. Qf6 Rh7 30. Ne5 Bg7 31. Qf7
Qf7 32. Nf7 Kf7 33. Rf3 and White is superior) Bh6 29. Qf6 and White is
winning; c) 27...Nd3 28. Bd3 and White is winning, with the idea Re1] 23. fe5
de5 24. Rf1 (and White is winning) 0-0 [24...Nbd7 25. Nc5 (25. Rd7 Bd7 26.
Nd5 Nd5 27. Qf7 Kd8 28. ed5 Rf8 29. h7!) Nc5 26. Bc5 Bc5 27. Qc5 Nd7 28.
Rd7!; 24...Rh7 25. Nc5] 25. Nc5 Bb7 [25...Ra8 26. h5! Nc4 27. hg6 Ne3 28.
Qe3 fg6 29. Ne6] 26. Ne6 [26. h5 Bc8 and White is superior] fe6 27. Bb6 Qc6
28. Qg1 Kh7 29. Rdf3! Qe8 [29...Ba8 30. Ba5 with the idea Bb4] 30. Bc5
Bc5 31. Qc5 Nd7 32. Qe3! [32. Rf8 Nc5 33. Re8 Re8] Qe7 33. Qg5! Qg5 34.
Rf7! [34. hg5 Rf3 35. Rf3 Rf8 36. b4 (36. Rf8 Nf8) Rf4 37. Rd3] Rf7 35. Rf7
Kh8 36. hg5 Bc6 37. b4 Nf8 38. Rf6! Kg8 39. Bg4 Bd7 40. Kb2 Re8 41. Nd1
Re7 42. Nf2 Be8 43. Rf3 [43. Nd3 Nh7 44. Ne5 Nf6 45. gf6 Rc7 46. Be6 Kh7
47. f7 Bf7 48. Nf7 Re7 49. Bd5] Rf7 44. Rf7 Kf7 45. Kc3 Nh7 46. Nh3 Bc6
47. Kd3 Ke7 48. Ke3 Kd6 49. Be2 Ke7 50. Bd3 Kd6 51. Kf3 Ke7 52. Kg4
Nf8 53. Ng1 Nh7 54. Nf3 Kd6 55. Kg3 [55. Nd2 with the idea c4] Be8 56.
Kf2 Bc6 57. Ke3 Bd7 58. c4 bc4 59. Bc4 Bc8 60. a4 Bb7 61. a5 Bc8 62.
Bd3 1:0 [Anand]
Huzman 2581 Shirov 2726

Cesme 2004 92/371
1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. cd5 cd5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 Bf5 7. e3 e6 8. Bb5
Nd7 9. Qa4 Rc8 10. Bc6?! Rc6 11. Qa7?! Qc8 12. Qa5 Bd3! with
compensation [12...Ra6 see 46/483] 13. Kd2?!
13...b6!! [a novelty; 13...Ra6; 13...Bc4; 13...Ba6; 13...Bg6] 14. Qa7? [14. Qa4
a) 14...Rc4!? 15. Qa7! (15. Qd1 Qa6! with compensation) Bb4 16. Rhc1 a1)
16...Be4?! 17. a3 Bc3 18. Rc3 Rc3 19. bc3 0-0 (19...Qc4? 20. Qd7 Kd7 21.
Ne5 and White is superior) 20. Bd6! Re8 (20...Qc4 21. Rd1!) 21. Qc7! Qa6 22.
Qd7 Qd3 23. Ke1 Qc3 24. Nd2 Qa1 25. Ke2 Ra8 26. Qc6 Rd8 27. Qb6 Rc8
28. Qb7 Qc1 29. Ne4 de4 30. Qe4 and White is slightly better; a2) 16...Bg6!!
17. a3 (17. Ke2 0-0 18. Kf1 Bc3 19. Rc3 Rc3 20. bc3 Qc3 21. Re1 Qc6! and
Black is slightly better; RR 17. Ne5!?) Bc3 18. Rc3 Rc3 19. bc3 0-0 with
initiative, with the idea 20. Bd6 Re8 and Black is superior, with the idea 20.
Nh4 Qc6 21. Ng6 fg6 22. Qc7 Qc7 23. Bc7 Rf2 and Black is superior; b)
14...b5!? 15. Qa5 Bc4! (15...b4? 16. Kd3 bc3 17. bc3 and White is slightly
better) 16. Nb5 Bb5 17. Qb5 Rb6 18. Qd3 Rb2 19. Ke1 Nf6! and Black is
slightly better] Bb4 15. Rhc1 Bb5!! 16. Kd1 [16. a3 Bc3 17. bc3 (17. Rc3 Rc3
18. bc3 Qc4! and Black is winning) 0-0 and Black is winning] Bc3 17. bc3
[17. Rc3 Rc3 18. bc3 Qc3 and Black is winning] Ba6!! (and Black is winning)
18. a4 [18. c4 dc4 (18...Bc4 19. Qa3 f6 and Black is superior) 19. d5 Rc5!] 0-0
19. a5 [19. Ne1 e5! 20. Be5 f6 21. Bg3 Rf7] b5 20. Ne1 [20. Ne5 Rc7] g5! 21.
Bg3 f5 22. Nd3 f4 23. ef4 Rc7 24. Qc7 Qc7 25. fg5 Qc4 26. Nb4 e5 27. Na6
ed4 28. Nc7 dc3 29. a6 Nc5 30. a7 Qf1 0:1 [Shirov]
Morozevich 2741 V. Anand 2786

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4. e3 h6 5. Bh4 cd4 6. ed4 b6 [6...Be7 see
63/52] 7. Bf6?! Qf6 8. g3 [a novelty; 8. Bd3] Nc6 9. c3 g5 10. Nbd2 [10. Bg2
Ba6 with initiative] Bb7 11. Bg2 0-0-0 [11...d5 12. 0-0 Bd6 equal] 12. a4 h5!
13. a5 [13. b4 h4 with counterplay; 13. Ne4 Qg6 14. Neg5 a) 14...Ba6 15. Bf1
(15. a5 ba5) Bf1 16. Rf1 Bh6 17. h4 f6 18. Nh3 e5 and Black is slightly better;
16. Kf1 and White is slightly better; b) 14...h4 15. Qe2! (15. Nh3 Ba6 16. Nd2
Bh6 with compensation) f6 16. Nh3 and White is slightly better] Na5 14. b4
[14. 0-0 a) 14...Kb8 15. b4 Nc6 16. Qa4 and White is superior; b) 14...h4 15.
Ne5 Bg2 (15...d6 16. Bb7 Kb7 17. Nec4 Nc4 18. Nc4 d5 19. Qa4! with attack)
16. Kg2 d6 b1) 17. Nec4 hg3 18. fg3 (18. hg3 Nc4 19. Nc4 Qf5) Qh6 19. Rh1
(19. h4 gh4 20. Na5 hg3) Qh3 20. Kg1 Nc6; b2) 17. Ng4 Qf5 (17...Qe7 18. b4
Nc6) 18. b4 Nc6 19. Qe2; c) 14...Nc6! 15. Ne5! Ne5 16. de5 Qe5 17. Ra7 Bg2
(17...d5 unclear) 18. Kg2 Qd5 19. Kg1 (19. Qf3 Qf3 20. Nf3 f6!) h4 20. Qa4
c1) 20...Bc5? 21. Ne4 hg3 22. Ng3 Qf3 (22...Kb8 23. b4!) 23. b4 (with attack)
Rh2 24. Ra8 Kc7 25. Qa7 Kd6 26. bc5 Ke7 27. Kh2 Ra8 28. Qb6 Rh8 29. Kg1
and White is winning; c2) 20...Kb8! 21. Ne4 (21. Qa6 Bc5 22. c4 Qc6 and
Black is winning; 21. Ra1 hg3 22. Ra8 Kc7) hg3 (21...f5 22. Nf6 and White is
winning) 22. Ng3 (22. Rd1 gf2 23. Kf1 Qd1 24. Qd1 Ka7 unclear; 22. Ra1 gf2
23. Kf2 Bc5 24. Ke1 Rh2! 25. Ra8 Kc7 26. Ra7 Kb8 equal; 22. hg3 f5 23. Ra1
Bc5 24. Ra8 Kc7 25. Rd8 Rd8 equal) c21) 22...Qc6? 23. Qa6 Bc5 (23...b5 24.
Qa5 Bc5 25. Ra6 Qb7 26. b4 and White is winning) 24. b4; c22) 22...Bd6 23.
Rd1 (23. Qa6 Qc6 24. Ra1 f5 25. b4 Bg3 26. fg3 f4) Qc6 24. Rd6 Qd6 25. Qa6
Qc6 (25...Qd1 26. Kg2 Qd5 27. f3 Qc6 28. b4 g4! and Black is winning; 27.
Kg1 equal) 26. b4 b5 27. Qa5 d6 28. Ra6 Qf3 29. Qb5 Kc8 30. Qa4! Kb8 31.
Rb6 Kc8 32. c4! (32. Qa7 Qd1 33. Nf1 Qg4 equal) Rh2 33. Qa6 Kd7 34. Rb7
Ke8 35. Kh2 Qf2 36. Kh3 unclear] Nc6 15. Nc4 [15. 0-0 h4 16. Ne5 Ne5 17.
de5 Qe5 18. Bb7 (18. Ra7 d5) Kb7 19. Qa4 Qb8 unclear] b5! [15...g4 16.
Nfe5] 16. 0-0? [16. Na5 a) 16...Na5 17. Ra5 a6 (17...g4? 18. Nh4 Bg2 19. Ng2
Qf3 20. Qf3 gf3 21. Nh4 and White is superior) 18. 0-0 h4 19. Ne5 d5 20. Nd3
unclear; b) 16...g4! 17. Nh4 (17. Nc6 see 16. Nce5) a6 weak point Nh4; 16.
Nce5 g4 (16...h4 17. 0-0) 17. Nc6 a) 17...gf3 18. Na7 Kb8 19. Bf1 a1) 19...h4
20. Nb5 a11) 20...hg3 21. Qa4 gf2 (21...g2 22. Qa7 Kc8 23. Qb6 Qf4 24. Ra8!
Ba8 25. Na7 mate; 21...e5 22. Qa7 Kc8 23. Qa5! and White is winning) 22.
Kd1 and White is winning; a12) 20...e5 21. Qa4 Qb6 (21...ed4 22. Qa7 Kc8
23. Qa5 Qe6) 22. c4! d6 (22...ed4 23. c5) 23. c5 dc5 24. bc5 Bc5 25. dc5 Qc5
unclear; a2) 19...e5 20. Nb5 Re8 (20...Qe6 21. d5 Qd5 22. Qa4 Rh6 23. Qa5!
Qe4 24. Kd2 and White is winning) 21. d5 e4 (21...Qb6 22. Qf3) 22. Qa4 Qb6
23. c4 unclear; b) 17...Bc6! 18. Ra7 Kb8 19. Qa1 gf3 20. Qa5 Bd6 21. Qb6
Kc8 22. 0-0 (22. Bf1 Qg5; 22. Qa6 equal) fg2 23. Qa6 (23. Rfa1 Qf3! and
Black is superior) Kb8 24. Qb6 equal] bc4 [16...g4? 17. Nfe5 bc4 18. Qa4!]
17. b5 [17. Ne5 a) 17...Ne5 18. Bb7 Kb7 19. Qa4 Nf3 (19...Ra8 20. de5 Qd8
21. Rfd1 Kc8 22. Qa6 Kc7 23. Rd4 with attack) 20. Kg2 Nd2 21. Qa7 Kc8 22.
Qa6 Kc7 equal, with the idea23. Qa5 Kc8 24. f3 e5; b) 17...d5! 18. f4 (18. Nc6
Bc6 19. Ra7 Rd7 and Black is superior) Qe7 (18...g4 19. b5 Ne5 20. fe5 Qg5
21. Ra7 Rd7 22. Qa4 with attack) 19. b5 (19. Qa4 Qc7! 20. b5 Ne5 21. fe5
Qb6 22. Rf7 Rd7 and Black is winning) Ne5 20. fe5 Qc7 21. Ra7 Qb6 and
Black is winning] Nb8! [weak point Kc8; 17...Nd4 18. Nd4 Bc5; 18. cd4!] 18.
Ra7
18...d5! [18...Bf3 a) 19. Bf3 a1) 19...d5 20. Qa4 Qf3 21. b6 a11) 21...Bd6
a111) 22. Qb5 Rdg8! (22...Rd7 23. Rd7 Nd7 24. Qc6 Kd8 25. Qd6 Qc3 26.
Rb1! and White is winning) 23. Rd7 Nd7 24. Qc6 Kd8 25. Qd6 Qc3 26. Rb1
Ke8 27. b7 Nb8 28. Qb8 Kd7 29. Qe5 Rb8 and Black is winning; a112) 22.
Rb1 Rdg8 23. Rd7!! Nd7 24. Qc6 Kd8 25. Qd6 Ke8! 26. b7 Nb8 27. Qb8 Ke7
28. Qc7 Kf6 29. b8Q Rb8 30. Rb8 Rb8 31. Qb8 Kf5! and Black is superior;
a12) 21...Rd7 22. Rc7 (22. Rd7 Nd7 23. Qc6 Kd8 24. b7 h4! 25. Rb1 hg3 26.
b8Q Nb8 27. Rb8 Ke7 and Black is winning) Rc7 23. bc7 Kc7 24. Rb1 Nc6 25.
Qa8 Bb4! 26. Qh8 Qc3 and Black is winning; a2) 19...Re8! 20. Qa4 Bd6 (with
the idea Kd8-e7) 21. Qa5 Qf3 and Black is winning; b) 19. b6 Re8 20. Bf3
Bd6 and Black is superior, with the idea Kd8-e7; c) 19. Qa4 c1) 19...Bg2 c11)
20. Kg2 c111) 20...Qf5 21. Qc4 (21. b6 Qd5 22. Kg1 Re8 23. Rb1 Bd6) Nc6
22. bc6 Qe4 (22...Qd5 23. Qd5 ed5 24. c7 and White is winning) 23. Kg1 Qc6
24. Qa2 d5 (24...Bd6 25. Ra8 Bb8 26. Rb1 Kc7 27. Qa5 Kd6 28. Ra6 and
White is winning) 25. c4 Qc4 26. Qa1! and White is winning; c112) 20...Re8
21. Qc4 Kd8 22. Qc7 Ke7 23. Rb7 Qf5!; 23. Qc5 equal; c113) 20...d5 21. b6
c1131) 21...Bd6 22. Rb1! Rd7 23. Rd7 Nd7 24. Qc6 Kd8 25. Qd6 e5 26. Qd5
ed4 27. Qa8 Ke7 28. Re1 (28. Qa3 Ke6) Kd6 29. Qa3 Nc5; c1132) 21...Rd7
22. Rd7 (22. Rb1 Kd8 23. Rd7 Nd7 24. Qa8 Ke7 25. b7 Qh6 26. b8Q Nb8 27.
Rb8 Kf6 and Black is winning) Nd7 23. Qc6 Kd8 24. Ra1 (24. b7 Ke7 25. Qd7
Kd7 26. b8Q Bd6 and Black is winning) e5 and Black is superior; c12) 20.
Qc4! Bc6 21. bc6 (21. b6 Re8) dc6 22. Rb1 Qf5 23. Rb8 Kb8 24. Ra8 Ka8 25.
Qa6 equal; c2) 19...d5! 20. b6 c21) 20...Bd6? 21. Rb1 c211) 21...Bg2? 22. Rc7
Bc7 23. b7 mate; c212) 21...Rdf8 22. Rc7! Bc7 (22...Kd8 23. Qa7 Ke8 24.
Qb8 Qd8 25. Qb7! and White is winning) 23. bc7 and White is winning; c213)
21...Rd7 (only move) 22. Rd7 Nd7 23. Qc6 Kd8 24. Qd6 and White is
superior; c22) 20...Rd7! 21. Rd7 (21. Rc7 Rc7 22. bc7 Kc7 23. Qa7 Kc8 24.
Rb1 Bd6; 21. Rb1 Kd8 22. Rd7 Nd7 23. Qa8 Ke7 24. Qa3 Ke8 25. Qa8 Qd8
26. b7 Bd6 and Black is winning) Nd7 22. Qc6 (22. Qa7 Bd6) Kd8 c221) 23.
Ra1 e5 (23...Bg2 24. Ra7 and White is winning) 24. Qf6 (24. Qc7 Ke7 25. b7
Bg7 26. Bf3 Qd6) Nf6 25. Ra8 Ke7 26. Bf3 ed4 27. b7 Nd7 and Black is
superior; c222) 23. b7 Ke7! 24. Qd7 Kd7 25. b8Q Bd6 26. Qb7 Ke8 (26...Bc7
27. Qb5 Ke7 28. Qb7 Re8 29. Qc7 Kf8 and Black is slightly better) 27. Bf3
Kf8 and Black is superior] 19. Ne5 Rd7! 20. Qa4 [20. f4 g4] Qd8! [with the
idea Qb6] 21. Nc4 [21. Nd7 Nd7 22. b6 a) 22...Bd6 23. Rb7! Kb7 24. Qa7
Kc6 25. Qa4 Kb7 equal; b) 22...Qb6 23. Qa1 b1) 23...Nc5 24. dc5 Bc5 25. Ra8
Ba8 26. Qa8 Qb8 27. Qc6 Qc7 28. Qa8 equal; b2) 23...Kb8 24. Ra2 Qc6 25.
Rb1 Kc8 26. Rab2 (26. Ra7 Nb6) Qa6 27. Ra2 Qd6 28. Ra8 Nb8 29. Ra7 Bc6
30. Rb6! Be7 31. Ra8 Kd7 32. Ra7 Kc8 equal; b3) 23...Qc6 24. Rb1 Nb6 25.
Qa5 (25. Bf3 Bd6 26. Qa5 Bc7) Kc7 26. Bf3 (with the idea Bd1-a4) Be7 27.
Bd1! (27. Rb5 g4 28. Bd1 Ra8; 28...e5!?) b31) 27...Ra8? 28. Ra8 Ba8 29.
Bh5!; b32) 27...Bd8 28. Ba4 Qd6 29. Qa6 and White is winning; b33) 27...e5
28. Ba4 Qe6 (28...Qf6 29. Qd5! and White is winning; 28...Qh6 29. Qd5! and
White is winning) 29. Bd7 Qg6 30. Bf5 Qc6 31. Bd7; b34) 27...g4 28. Ba4
Qd6 29. Rb5 Rb8 30. Rc5 Kd8 31. Rb5 Bc8 32. Rc5 Bb7 33. Rb5 equal; c)
22...Nb6! 23. Qa5 Bd6 24. Rb1 Bc7 25. Qc5 Qf8 26. Bf3 g4 27. Bd1 f5 and
Black is superior] dc4 22. Qc4 Qc7 23. Bb7 Kd8 24. Qe2 Bd6 [24...Qc3 25.
Qe5 Qd4 26. Qb8 Ke7 27. b6 Qb6 and Black is winning, with the idea Bg7]
25. Rfa1 [25. Qf3 Ke7 26. Rfa1 Qb6 and Black is winning] Qc3 26. d5??
Rb7! 27. de6 Ra7 28. Ra7 fe6 29. Qe6 Qe5 30. Re7 Qa1 31. Qe1 Qe1 32.
Re1 Nd7 33. Kg2 Nc5 34. Rd1 Kd7 35. Rd5 Ne6 36. Kf3 Rf8 37. Ke2 Ke7
38. h4 g4 39. Rh5 Bc5 40. Re5 Rf2 41. Kd3 Kf6 0:1 [V. Anand]
Ju. Polgar 2728 I. Sokolov 2685

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8.
c3 0-0 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 c5 13. d5 g6 14. Nf1
a5!? [a novelty; 14...Nh5 see 90/308] 15. a4 b4 16. Bd3 [16. Ne3!?] Qc7
[16...Ba6 17. Ba6 Ra6 18. N3d2 and White is slightly better] 17. Ne3 [17.
N3d2!?] bc3 [17...c4 18. Nc4 bc3 19. b3] 18. bc3 c4 19. Bc2 [19. Nc4 Ba6
(19...Ne4? 20. Re4 Bd5 21. Ne3 and White is superior) 20. Na3 (20. Nb2 Qc3)
Qc3] Ba6 20. Nd2 [20. Ng4!?] Rfc8 21. Ba3 Bf8 22. Qf3 Bg7 [22...h5!?
unclear; 22...Bh6!?] 23. g3 [23. g4?! Bh6] Rab8 24. Kg2 Nb6?! [24...h5!] 25.
g4! Nfd7 26. h4 Nc5 27. Bc5 Qc5 28. h5 [better is 28. g5] Nd7? [28...Bh6!
29. hg6 (29. Rh1 Bf4 30. hg6 fg6) a) 29...hg6 30. Rh1 Bf4 a1) 31. Qh3 Kf8 32.
Qh8 Ke7 33. Qh4 Kd7 34. Qf6 Rf8 35. Rh3 (35. Rh7?! Be3 36. Rf7 Rf7 37.
Qf7 Kc8 38. fe3 Qe3) Kc7; a2) 31. g5! Kf8 (31...Kg7 32. Rh7! Kh7 33. Qh3
Kg8 34. Rh1 and White is winning; 31...Bg5 32. Rh8! Kh8 33. Qf7 Bh4 34.
Rh1 g5 35. Qf6 Kg8 36. Nf3 and White is winning) 32. Rh7 with attack; b)
29...fg6!] 29. Rh1 Nf8 30. g5 Rb2? [30...Qc7 only move]
31. Ng4! gh5? [31...Rc2? 32. h6 f5 33. gf6 Bf6 34. Nf6 Kh8 35. Ne8 Kg8 36.
Qf6 Qa7 37. Nd6 Rd2 38. Rh3 Rb8 39. Rf3 and White is winning; 31...Nd7
32. hg6 (32. Rac1!?) fg6 33. Rh7! Rf8 (33...Kh7 34. Qf7!) 34. Qh3 Rf4 35.
Rc1 Nf8 36. Rh4 Bc8 37. Qg3 and White is superior] 32. Nf6 [32. Nh6? Bh6
33. gh6 Ng6 34. Qf6 Kf8 35. Rac1 Ke8 unclear] Bf6 33. gf6 Ng6 [33...Rc2 34.
Qh5 Rd2 35. Qg5 Ng6 36. Qd2 Nf4 37. Kf3 Kh8 38. Rh6 and White is
winning] 34. Kf1 h4 [34...Kf8 35. Qh5 Rc2 36. Qh7 Ke8 37. Qg8 Nf8
(37...Kd7 38. Qf7 Kd8 39. Rh8 Nh8 40. Qe7 mate) 38. Qf8! and White is
winning] 35. Qh5 Kh8 [35...Kf8 36. Qh7 Rc2 37. Rh4 and White is winning]
36. Nf3 [36. Rc1 Qa3 37. Nf3 Rc2 38. Rc2 Qa1 39. Ne1 and White is superior]
Rc2 37. Rh2! Rf2 [37...Nf4 38. Qh4 h5 39. Qg5 Rf2 40. Rf2 Qf2 41. Kf2 Nh3
42. Ke3 Ng5 43. Ng5 Kg8 44. Rh1 and White is winning] 38. Rf2 Nf4 39.
Qh4 Rg8 [39...Qe3 40. Ng5 h5 41. Rf4 Qf4 42. Qf4 ef4 43. Nf7 and White is
winning] 40. Rh2 [40...h5 41. Qh5 Nh5 42. Rh5 mate] 1:0 [Ju. Polgar]
Rublevsky 2649 G. Kasparov 2813

Cesme 2004 92/105
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. 0-0 Nge7 5. c3 a6 6. Ba4 c4 7. Qe2 b5 8.
Bc2 Ng6 9. b3 Qc7 10. bc4 Nf4 11. Qe3 bc4 12. Ba3 Be7 13. Be7 Ne7 14.
Na3 0-0 [14...e5? 15. Nc4! Qc4 16. Ne5 Ne2 17. Kh1 Qb5 18. Nf3 and White
is winning] 15. Rab1!? [a novelty; 15. e5 Nfg6 16. Qd4 Bb7 (16...Nc6? 17.
Qd6!) 17. Nc4 Bd5! with compensation; 15. Rfe1 see 56/(172)] f5 16. Qb6
Qb6 17. Rb6 fe4 18. Be4 d5 19. Bc2 Neg6 [19...Nh3 20. Kh1 e5 21. Ne5 Rf2
22. Rf2 Nf2 23. Kg1 Ng4 24. Ng4 Bg4 25. Ba4 and White is slightly better]
20. Bg6 [20. Re1? e5! 21. Bg6 (21. Ne5 Nh4!) Ng6 22. Ne5 (22. Nc2 Rf6) Re8
23. Nf3 Bg4 equal] Ng6 21. Nc2 e5!? [21...Bd7 22. Rfb1 and White is
superior] 22. Ne3 Bf5! [22...e4 23. Nd4 Nf4 24. f3 and White is superior] 23.
Nf5!? [23. Re1 Bd3! (23...Be4? 24. Ng5) 24. Nd5 e4 25. Nd4 (25. Ng5 Rf5 26.
Nc7 Rg5! 27. Na8 Nh4 with initiative) Rfb8 26. Rb8 Rb8 27. Nb4 a5 with
compensation; 23. Nd5 Be4 24. Ne3 Bf3 25. gf3 Rf4 26. Rc6 Nh4 27. Nc4
Nf3 28. Kg2 Raf8 29. h3 Rc4 30. Rc4 Nd2 31. Rc6 Nf1 32. Kf1 Rf3 33. Kg2
Rd3 equal] Rf5 24. Rfb1 Raf8?! [24...Nf4? a) 25. Rb8 Rb8 26. Rb8 Kf7 27.
g4! (27. Rb7 Kf8 28. g4 Nh3 29. Kg2 Rf4 30. Kg3 Nf2 31. Ne5 g5 equal) Rf6
(27...Ne2 28. Kg2 Rf4 29. Ne5 Kf6 30. Re8 and White is superior) 28. Ne5 Ke6
29. Nf3 Nh3 30. Kg2 Nf4 31. Kf1 and White is superior; b) 25. g4! Rff8 26.
Ne5 Rae8 27. Nd7 Rf7 (27...Nh3 28. Kg2 Nf4 29. Kf3 Rf7 30. Rb8 and White
is superior) 28. Rb8 Rfe7 29. Kf1 and White is superior; better is 24...Rf6 25.
Rf6 (25. a4 and White is slightly better) gf6 26. g3 and White is slightly better]
25. Ra6 e4 26. Nd4 Rf2 27. Ne6 R2f6 only move [27...Rd2? 28. Nf8 Nf8
(28...Kf8 29. Rb8 Kf7 30. Rb7 Ne7 31. Raa7 and White is winning) 29. Ra8 e3
30. Rf1 and White is winning; 27...R8f5 28. Rb8 Nf8 (28...Kf7 29. Ng5 and
White is winning) 29. Rf8 Rf8 30. Nf8 Rf8 31. Rd6? e3! (31...Rf5 32. Rd7 and
White is superior) 32. de3 Re8 33. Kf2 Ra8 34. Rd5 Ra2 35. Kf3 Rc2 equal;
31. a4 and White is superior] 28. Nf8 Ra6 29. Ng6 hg6 [R 7/h; 29...Rg6 30.
Kf2 and White is superior]
30. Kf2! Ra2 [30...d4 31. cd4 Ra3 32. Rc1 Rd3 33. Ke2 Rd4 34. Rc3 Kf7 35.
a4! and White is winning] 31. Ke3 [R 6/e] Kf7 32. Rb7 Kf6 33. Rb6 Kf7
[33...Kf5 34. Rd6 Ke5 35. Rg6 Ra7 36. Rg5 Ke6 37. h4 and White is superior]
34. Rd6 Ra5 35. h4 g5 [35...Rb5 36. g4 Ra5 37. g5 Rb5 38. Kf4 and White is
winning] 36. hg5 Ke7 37. Rc6 Ra1 [37...d4 38. Kd4 Rg5 39. Rc4 Rg2 40. Ke3
and White is winning] 38. Kd4 Rd1 39. Kd5 e3 [39...Rd2 40. Ke4 Rg2 41.
Kf5 and White is winning] 40. Re6 Kd7 41. Re3 Rd2 42. Kc4 Rg2 43. Re5
[R 5/d] Kd6 44. Ra5 Rg4 45. Kb3 Rg1?! [better is 45...Ke6 46. c4 g6 47. Kb4
and White is superior] 46. Kb4 Rb1 47. Kc4 Ke6 [47...Rg1 48. Ra6 Ke7
(48...Ke5 49. Rg6 and White is winning) 49. g6 and White is winning] 48. Ra6
Kf5 49. g6 (and White is winning) Rg1 50. Kb5 Ke5 [50...Rg6 51. Rg6 Kg6
52. c4 Kf7 53. c5 Ke7 54. Kb6; 50...Rb1 51. Kc5 Rg1 52. c4 Rc1 53. Rc6 Ke5
54. Kb6] 51. c4 Rb1 52. Kc6 Rg1 [52...Kf5 53. Kd7 Rc1 54. Rc6 Ra1 55. c5]
53. Kd7 Rd1 [53...Rc1 54. Rc6] 54. Ke7 Rb1 55. Ra5 Kd4 56. Kf8 Rb7 57.
Rf5 1:0 [Rublevsky]
G. Kasparov 2813 Shirov 2726

Cesme 2004 92/334
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Ne4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8.
de5 Be6 9. Be3 Be7 10. c3 Qd7 11. Nbd2 Rd8 12. Re1 0-0 13. Bc2 f5 14. ef6
Nf6 15. a4 [15. Ng5 Bf5 16. Bf5 Qf5 17. Qb1 Ng4 (17...Qd7 see 91/(300)) 18.
Qf5 Rf5 19. Ne6 Rd7 20. Nf3 Ne3 21. Re3 Kf7 22. a4 and White is slightly
better; 15...Bg4!?] Ng4?! [a novelty; 15...Bd6 see 91/300; 15...Bf5!? 16. Bf5
Qf5 17. Qe2 and White is slightly better] 16. ab5 ab5 17. Bd4! [17. Ra6!?]
Nd4 [17...Bf5 18. Bf5 Rf5 19. h3 Nf6 20. Qe2 and White is superior;
17...Rde8!? 18. h3 Nd4 19. Nd4 Bh4 20. Re6 Bf2 21. Kh1 Bd4 22. Qg4 Qe6
23. Qd4 c6 and White is slightly better] 18. Nd4 [18. cd4!? Rde8 19. Qb1 Bf5
20. Bf5 Rf5 21. h3 (21. Qd3 Rff8 22. h3 Nh6 23. Ne5 Qf5 24. Qf5 Nf5 25. Nd7
Rf7 26. Nf3 and White is superior) Nf6 22. Ne5 Qc8 23. Nc6 Bd6 24. Re8 Ne8
25. Qd3 and White is superior] Qd6! [18...Bh4? a) 19. Ne6 Bf2 20. Kh1 Be1
21. Qe1 (21. Qg4 Bd2 22. Bh7 Kh8) Rde8 22. Qh4 Re6 23. Qh7 Kf7 24. Rf1
Rf6 25. Bf5 Rf5 26. Rf5 Nf6 27. Nf3 with attack; b) 19. Re6 Bf2 20. Kh1 h5
(20...Ne3 21. Qe2 and White is winning) 21. Re2 and White is winning] 19.
N2f3 Bd7
20. h3! [20. Qd3?! g6 21. h3 Nf2 22. Kf2 c5! (22...Bh4 23. Kg1 Be1 24. Ne1!)
23. Re7 Qe7 24. Ne2 (24. Nb5? Rf3!) Bf5 with counterplay] Nf2! [20...Nf6 21.
Ng5 and White is superior] 21. Kf2 Bh4 [21...c5! 22. Re7! Qe7 23. Ne2 (23.
Nb3? Rf3!) d4 (23...Bc6 24. Qd3 g6 25. b4 and White is superior, with the idea
25...d4 26. bc5 Qh4 27. Ng3) 24. cd4 Bc6 25. Ra3 and White is slightly better]
22. Kg1 Be1 23. Qe1 c5 24. Nb3! [24. Qh4 h6 25. Nb3 Rde8 26. Qf2 and
White is superior; 25...Ra8 and White is slightly better] Bh3 [24...Ra8 25. Rd1
and White is superior] 25. Ng5! [25. Qh4 Bf5 26. Bf5 Rf5 27. Ra6 Qf8
unclear; 25. Bh7 Kh7 26. Qh4 Qh6 27. Ng5 Kg8! 28. Qh6 gh6 29. Nh3 and
White is slightly better] Bf5 26. Bf5 Rf5 27. Qe6 Qe6 28. Ne6 Re8 29. Nbc5
(and White is superior) Re5 30. Ra6!? [30. Nd4 Re1 31. Re1 Re1 32. Kf2 Rb1
33. b4 and White is superior] Re2 31. b4 Rc2 32. Ra7 Rc3?! time [32...g6 33.
Rg7 Kh8 34. Rb7 Rc3 35. Ng5 Re1 (35...h5? 36. Nce6 and White is winning)
36. Kh2 h6; 35. Rb5 and White is superior] 33. Rg7 Kh8 34. Rd7 Rc4 35.
Ng5 Rb4 36. Nce6 Rh4 37. g3! [37. Rg7? Re6 38. Ne6 Re4 39. Re7 Kg8
equal] Rh5 38. Kg2 b4? [38...d4 (only move) 39. g4 Rh4 40. Kg3 Rh1 41.
Nd4 b4 (41...Rg1 42. Kf2 Ree1 43. Ngf3 Rgf1 44. Kg3 Re8 45. Nf5 Rf8 46. Ng5
and White is winning) 42. Nf5 b3 a) 43. Rb7 b2 44. Rb2 h5 45. Kg2 Rhe1
(45...Rc1? 46. Rb7 and White is winning) 46. Nf7 Kg8 47. N7h6 Kf8 48. gh5
R1e2 49. Re2 Re2 50. Kg3 Ra2; b) 43. Nf7 Kg8 44. N7h6 Kh8 45. Rb7 b2
(45...Ra1 46. Rg7! and White is winning; 45...Ra8 46. Nf7 Kg8 47. Ng5 and
White is winning) 46. Rb2 Rg1 47. Kf4 (47. Kf2? Rg2!! 48. Kg2 Re2 equal)
Rf1 48. Kg5 Rfe1 49. Rb7 R8e6 50. Kf4 Rf1 51. Kg3 Rg1 52. Kf2 Rge1 53.
Nf7 Kg8 54. Ng5 and White is winning] 39. Nf7 Kg8 40. Nf4! 1:0 [G.
Kasparov]

The Most Important Novelty of Informant

92
Milan Bjelajac
From the moment Ruslan Ponomariov played the important theoretical novelty
16 Qe4!? against Boris Gelfand at the European Team Championship in
Plovdiv, developments in this variation of the Slav Defense [D17] came along
very quickly. Soon P. H. Nielsen played 18 Rfc1! against Shirov during the
Bundesliga and improved Whites game so much that the move was selected as
the most important theoretical novelty of Chess Informant 90.
Now we have Informant 92 in our hands with the game L. Johannesen Shirov,
which was also played during the Bundesliga, where White proved the
advantage of his position even further with 18 Nb5!!. It is interesting that this
continuation was recommended by P. H. Nielsen himself and we have a feeling
that the winning novelty of Chess Informant 92 is the final word in this
continuation of the Slav Defense [D17].
L. Johannessen 2519 A. Shirov 2726

Deutschland 2004 92/(387)
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nc4 Qc7 8.
g3 e5 9. de5 Ne5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. Bg2 g5 12. Ne3 gf4 13. Nf5 0-0-0 14. Qc2
Nc5 15. 0-0 Ne6 16. Qe4 fg3 17. hg3 a5
18. Nb5!! [a novelty; P. H. Nielsen; 18. Rfc1 see 90/339] cb5 19. ab5 Nc5
[19...Nd7 20. Ra5 Kb8 21. Rfa1 Nb6 22. Ra7 Rd7 (22...Rd1 23. Kh2! and White
is winning) 23. Nd4 Nd8 24. Nc6! and White is winning; 19...b6 20. Rfc1 Nc5
21. Qe3 Ng4 22. Qc3 (22. Qg5 h5 23. b4 f6 24. Qg6 and White is superior) Rg8
23. b4 Rg5 24. Qc2 and White is superior] 20. Qe3 Ng4 [20...Nc4 21. Qc3 and
White is winning; 20...Ncd7 21. Rfc1 Bc5 22. Rc5 Nc5 23. b6! Qb6 24. Qe5
Qc7 25. Ne7 Kb8 26. Nc6! bc6 27. Qc5 and White is superior] 21. Qc3 Qe5 22.
Qf3 Qe4 [22...Nh6 23. Rfc1 Rd7 24. Ra5 Qf5 25. Ra8 Kc7 26. Qb7 Kd6 and
White is superior; 22...Nf6 23. Ra5 and White is superior] 23. Qe4 Ne4 24. Be4
Bb4 25. Rfd1? [25. b6 Kb8 26. Rac1 Rc8 27. Rfd1 and White is winning] Kc7
26. Kg2 Kb6 and White is superior [P. H. Nielsen]
G. Kasparov 2813 A. Dreev 2698

Russia (ch) 2004 92/421
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. h4 g4 11. Ne5 h5 12. f3!? Nbd7 13. fg4 hg4 [13...Ne5 see
91/388] 14. 0-0 Ne5 15. Be5
15...Nd7!! [a novelty; 15...Rh6 16. Bf4 b4 17. Bg5! bc3 18. bc3 Rg6 19. Rf6
Rf6 20. e5 Be7 21. ef6 Bf6 22. Rb1 and White is superior] 16. Bh8 Qh4 17. Bg4
Qh8 18. e5 Ne5? [18...0-0-0! 19. Qe2 c5 20. Nb5 a6! 21. Rf7 (21. Na3? cd4 22.
Nc4 d3 23. Qd3 Bc5 and Black is winning; 21. Nd6 Bd6 22. ed6 Qd4 23. Rf2
Ne5) ab5 22. Be6 cd4 23. Bd7 Rd7 (23...Kb8!? unclear) 24. Qg4 Bc6 25. Rd7
Bd7 26. e6 d3 27. ed7 Kd8 unclear] 19. de5 Bc5 20. Rf2 Qe5 21. Qe2 [21.
Qe1?! Qf4! 22. Ne4 Bf2 23. Nf2 0-0-0 24. Bf3 Qd2] Qe2 22. Be2 Rd8 23. Kf1
[23. Rd1!? Rd1 24. Bd1 f5 25. Bf3 a6 26. a4 Ke7 (26...e5 27. ab5 ab5 28. Nb5
cb5 29. Bb7 b4 30. Bc8 f4 31. Bf5 Ke7 32. Kf1 Bf2 33. Kf2 Kd6) 27. ab5 ab5 28.
Nb5 cb5 29. Bb7 b4 30. Kf1 Bf2 31. Kf2 c3 (31...Kd6 32. Ke3 e5 33. Bc8 f4 34.
Ke4 c3 35. bc3 bc3 36. Kd3 e4 37. Kc3 Ke5 38. Kc4 Kf6 39. Kd4 f3 40. g3 f2 41.
Bh3 Kg5 42. Ke3 and White is winning) 32. bc3 bc3 33. Ke3 e5 34. Kd3 Kf6 35.
Kc3 Kg5 36. Kd2 Kf4 37. Ke2 Kg3 38. Kf1 e4 39. Bc6 Kf4 40. Kf2 Kg4 41.
Bd5 Kf4 42. Bc4 Kg5 43. Be2 (43. Bd5 Kf4 44. Bb7 Kg4) f4 44. Ba6 Kf5 45.
Bb7 Ke5 equal; 26. g4!] Bf2 24. Kf2 Ke7 25. Ke3 [25. g4 a6 26. Ne4 f5 27.
Nc5 Bc8] a6 26. Rd1 [26. g4 c5 27. Rd1 Rh8 with counterplay; 26. Bf3! Rd3
27. Ke2 f5 28. Rh1 Kd6 29. Rh7 Bc8 30. g4! (30. Nd1 Kc5) Bd7 (30...fg4 31.
Bg4 Rd4 32. Bf3 Kc5 33. Ne4 Kb6 34. Rh8 Bd7 35. Nf6 Kc7 36. Rh7 and White
is winning) 31. g5 Be8 32. Nd1 and White is superior] Rd1 27. Bd1 f5 [NB 8/g]
28. g4! fg4 29. Bg4 Kd6 30. Ne4 Kd5 31. Bf3! [31. Be6?! Ke6 32. Nc5 Kd5 33.
Nb7 c5 equal] Bc8 32. Bh5 a5 33. Bf3 e5 34. Ng5 Kc5 35. Ne4 (time) Kd5 36.
a3?! [36. Ng5 Kc5 37. Ke4 c3 38. bc3 Kc4; 36. Bg2! a) 36...b4 37. Ng5 Kc5 38.
Be4 (38. Ke4 c3 39. bc3 bc3 40. Kd3 Kb4 equal) a4 39. Nf7 Be6 40. Ne5 a1)
40...Bd5 41. Bb1 Kd6 42. Ng4 Kc5 (42...c5 43. Nf6 Bh1 44. Ne4 Kd5 45. Nf2
Bg2 46. Bc2 b3 47. ab3 cb3 48. Bd3 c4 49. Be4 Be4 50. Ne4 and White is
winning) 43. Nf6 Be6 44. Ne4 Kd5 45. Bc2 Bf5 46. Nf6 Ke6 47. Bf5 Kf5 48.
Ne4 Ke5 49. Nc5 and White is winning; a2) 40...a3 41. ba3 ba3 42. Bb1 c3 43.
Nd3 Kb5 (43...Kc4? 44. Nf4 Bf7 45. Bf5 Kc5 46. Be6 Be6 47. Ne6 Kc4 48. Nd4
c2 49. Ne2! and White is winning) 44. Ne1 c5 45. Nc2 Bf5 46. Ke2 Ka4 47. Kd1
Bg4 48. Kc1 Be6 49. Ne1 Kb4 50. Nd3 Kb5 51. Nf4 Bf7 52. Bd3 Kb4 53. Kb1
Bg8 54. Be4 Kc4 55. Bf5 Kd4 56. Ne2 Ke5 57. Bg6 and White is winning; b)
36...a4 37. a3 and White is superior; c) 36...Ba6 37. Ng5 Kd6 (37...Kc5 38. Nf7)
38. Nf7 Ke6 39. Nd8 Kd6 40. Bf3 c5 41. Nf7 Ke6 42. Ng5 Kd6 43. Ba8 Kc7 44.
Nf7 and White is superior] Ba6 37. Bh5 [37. Ng5 Kc5 38. Nf7 c3 39. bc3 b4 40.
a4 bc3 41. Ne5 (41. Bd1 Bc8 42. Bc2 Kb4 43. Ne5 Be6 44. Nc6 Ka3) Kb4 42.
Bc6 Bf1!] Bc8 38. Bf3 Ba6 39. Ng5 Kc5 40. Be2 Bc8 41. Nf7 [41. Ke4!? b4 42.
Ke5 (42. a4 c3) Kb5! (42...ba3? 43. ba3 Kb5 44. Bd1 and White is winning;
42...c3? 43. Ne4 Kb6 44. bc3 ba3 45. Bc4 Ba6 46. Ba2 Bd3 47. Nd6 Kc5 48.
Nb7 Kb6 49. Kd4 and White is winning) 43. a4 Ka4 44. Bc4 b3 45. Nf7 (45. Ne4
Kb4 46. Kd4 a4 47. Nc5 a3) Kb4 46. Nd6 a4 47. Bd3 c5 equal] b4 42. Ne5 Be6
[42...c3? 43. bc3 ba3 44. Bc4 and White is winning] 43. a4! c3? [43...Bd5 a) 44.
Bd1 b3 45. Be2 (45. Kd2 Kb4) c3 46. bc3 b2 47. Nd3 Kc4 48. Nb2 Kc3 49. Nd3
Bc4; b) 44. Nd7 Kd6 45. Nf6 Kc5 46. Ne4 (46. Bd1 b3 47. Ne4 Be4 48. Ke4 c3;
46. Nd5 cd5 47. Bh5 b3; 46. Bg4 b3; 46. Kd2 Kd4) Be4! 47. Ke4 b3 48. Ke3
Kb4 49. Kd2 c3 50. bc3 Ka4 51. Kc1 (51. Bf3 Ka3 52. Bc6 b2 53. Be4 a4 54. c4
Kb4) Ka3 52. Kb1 c5 53. Bc4 a4 (53...b2 54. Ba2 c4! 55. Bc4 a4) 54. Be6 b2 55.
Ba2 c4 equal] 44. Nd3! Kb6 [44...Kc4 45. Nc1! (45. Nf4 Kb3) Kc5 46. bc3 bc3
47. Nd3 and White is winning] 45. bc3 Bb3 46. c4! (and White is winning) Ba4
[46...Bc4 47. Kd4 Bf7 48. Nc5 Bg8 49. Bd1] 47. Kd4 Bc2 48. c5 Kc7 49. Bf3
Bb3 50. Be4 Ba4 51. Kc4 Bc2 52. Bf3 Ba4 53. Ne5! Kb7 54. Be4 Kc7 55. Nf3
Bd1 56. Nd4 Ba4 57. Bc2! Bc2 58. Nc2 Kd8 59. Nd4 1 : 0 [G. Kasparov]
V. Kramnik 2754 A. Grischuk 2710


1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 c5 6. e5 Nfd7 7. ed6 cd4 8. Nb5 00 9. Nc7
9...Nc5! [a novelty; 9...ed6 10. Na8 and White is superior] 10. Na8 [10. Nd4 a)
10...Qd6!? (A. Grischuk) 11. Ndb5 Qd1 12. Kd1 a6 13. Na8 ab5; b) 10...ed6 11.
Na8 Re8 12. Be2 Bd4 13. Qd4 Bg4 14. Be3 Nc6 unclear] Qd6 11. Bd3 [11.
Bc4] Nc6 ( unclear) 12. 0-0 Be6 [12...Bd7 13. Ng5 Ra8 14. Ne4 Ne4 15. Be4;
12...Nd3 13. cd3 Bf5 unclear] 13. Ng5 [13. f5 Bd5] Bd5 14. f5 Ra8 15. fg6! [15.
Qg4?! Ne5; 15. Qe1?! Nd3 (15...h6 16. Ne4 Be4 17. Be4 g5 unclear) 16. cd3 gf5
17. Rf5 Nb4; 15. Bf4 Qd7 and Black is slightly better] hg6 16. Qg4 Nd3 [16...f6
17. Bg6 and White is winning] 17. cd3 f6 18. Nf3 [18. Ne4 f5! 19. Nd6 fg4 20.
Nb7 Nb4 21. Nc5 Rc8 22. Bd2 Nc2 23. b4 Na1 24. Ra1 Be5 and Black is
slightly better] Bf7 [18...g5 19. Nd4!] 19. Nh4 [better is 19. Bd2 unclear] Ne5
[19...f5 20. Qh3 e5 21. Nf3 with attack; 19...e5 20. Bd2 Ne7 21. a3 a5 unclear;
19...Nb4! 20. Bd2 (20. Rf3!?) Nd3 21. Ng6 f5 22. Qe2 Qg6 23. Qd3 Bd5 and
Black is slightly better] 20. Qg3 Qd7 [20...Qa6 21. Bf4!; 20...Qe6!? 21. Bd2
Qg4 22. Qg4 Ng4 23. Nf3 e5] 21. Bf4 g5 [21...Ng4 22. h3 g5 23. hg4 and White
is superior] 22. Bg5 [22. Be5 gh4 23. Qf2 Rd8 unclear] fg5 23. Nf5 Bg6
[23...Bf6?! 24. h4! Be6 25. hg5 with attack; 23...Ng6!? 24. Qg5 (24. Ng7 Kg7
25. Qg5 Rh8 unclear) Bf6 25. Qg3 (25. Qh5 Ne5) Kf8 26. Rae1 unclear] 24.
Ng7 Nf7 25. Rf7 Kf7 26. Qe5 Bd3 [26...Qd6!? 27. Rf1 Kg8 28. Qd6 ed6 29.
Nf5 Re8 30. Nd4 Bd3 31. Rf3 Be4 32. Rg3 Re5 and White is slightly better] 27.
Rd1 [27. Re1!? Qd6 28. Qg5 Qf6 (28...Rg8 29. Qd2 Rg7 30. Qd3) 29. Ne6 Qg5
30. Ng5 Kf6 31. Ne6 Bc4 32. Nd4 Ba2] Rg8 [27...Qb5 28. Qd4 and White is
slightly better] 28. Rd3 Rg7 29. Rd4 [29. Rf3 Kg8 30. Qb8 Kh7 31. Rh3 Kg6
32. Qh8 unclear] Qe6 30. Qe6 Ke6 31. Rb4 [31. Ra4 a6 32. Rb4 b5 33. a4 ba4
34. Ra4 Kf5 35. Ra6 e5 36. Rd6 (36. b4 Rb7) Rb7 37. Rd2 g4 38. Kf2 Rb3
equal] b6 32. Ra4 a5 33. b4 ab4 [time; 33...Kf5! 34. ba5 ba5 35. Ra5 e5 36. a4
Rc7 equal] 34. Rb4 Kf5 [better is 34...Kd5 35. Rg4 (35. Rb6 e5 36. a4) e5 36.
h4 Ra7 37. Rg5 Ra2 38. h5] 35. Rb6 [R 6/c] e5 36. a4 Ke4 [better is 36...Ra7
37. Rb4] 37. Rb3 [better is 37. a5 (and White is winning) Kd3 (37...Rc7 38.
Rb1; 37...Ra7 38. a6 Ke3 39. Kf1 e4 40. Ke1 Kd3 41. Rb3 Kc4 42. Ra3 Kd4 43.
Ke2) 38. a6 Rc7 39. Rb1 Ra7 40. Ra1 Ke2 41. Ra2 Ke1 42. g4 e4 43. Kg2] Ra7
(only move) 38. Ra3 Ra5 39. h3 Kf4 [39...Kd4 40. Kf2 e4 41. g3] 40. Kf2 Ke4
41. g3 g4!? [41...Kd4 42. Kf3 e4 43. Ke2 Kd5 44. Ke3 Ke5 45. Ra1 Rc5
(45...Kf5 46. Kd4; 45...Kd5 46. Rd1 Ke5 47. Rd4) 46. a5 Rc3 47. Kd2 Rg3 48.
a6 Rd3 49. Ke2 Rd8 50. a7 Ra8 51. Ke3 and White is winning] 42. hg4 [42. h4
Kd4 (42...Kf5 43. Ke3 Kg6 44. Kd3 Kf5 45. Kc4 e4 46. Kd4 and White is
winning) 43. h5 (43. Ke2) e4 44. h6 a) 44...Rh5 45. a5 e3! (45...Rh6 46. a6 Rh2
47. Kg1 Rh8 48. a7 Ra8 49. Kf2 Rf8 50. Ke2 Ra8 51. Ra4 and White is winning)
46. Kg2 Rh6 47. a6 Rb6 48. a7 Rb2 49. Kf1 Rb1 50. Ke2 Rb2 51. Kd1 Rb1 52.
Kc2 e2 53. Rd3 Kc5 54. a8Q e1Q 55. Rd5 Kb6 56. Rd6 and White is winning;
b) 44...Rf5 45. Kg2 (45. Ke2 Rh5 46. a5 Rh2 47. Kf1 e3 48. a6 Rh1) e3 46. h7
Rf8 47. a5 e2 48. h8Q Rh8 49. Kf2 Re8 50. Ke1 Kc5 51. a6 and White is
winning] Kd4 [42...Kd5 43. Ke3 Ke6 44. Kd3 Kf6 45. Kc4 Kg5 46. Kb4] 43. g5
Kd5 44. Ke3 Ke6 45. Ke4 Kf7 46. Kd3 [better is 46. Kf5 Kg7 47. g6 Kg8 48.
Kg5 Kg7 49. Ra1 e4 (49...Kg8 50. Kh6 e4 51. Rb1 Ra8 52. a5 e3 53. a6 e2 54.
a7 and White is winning) 50. Kf4 Kg6 51. Ke4 and White is winning] Kg6 47.
Kc4 Kg5 [R 5/j] 48. Kb4
48...Ra6!! [48...Ra8 49. a5 e4 50. Kc4! (and White is winning) Rd8 (50...e3 51.
Kd3 Kg4 52. Ke3) 51. a6 Kg4 52. a7] 49. a5? [49. Kc5! (and White is winning)
Kg4 (49...Ra5 50. Kb6 Ra8 51. a5; 49...e4 50. Kd4 Kf5 51. a5 Rd6 52. Ke3) 50.
a5 e4 51. Kd4 e3 52. Ke3 Kg3 53. Ra4 Kh3 54. Kd3 Kg3 55. Kc4] e4 50. Kc4
[50. Kb5 Re6 51. a6 (51. Re3 Re5 52. Kb4 Re6) e3 52. a7 e2 53. Ra1 Re8 54.
Re1 Re5 55. Kb4 Re4 56. Kb3 Re3 57. Kb2 Re8 equal; 50. Re3 Re6; 50. Kc3
Rd6 51. Ra4 Rd5 52. Kc4 Rd8] Rd6! (equal) 51. a6 [51. Kc5 Rd3 52. Ra1
Kg4!! 53. a6 Kg3 54. a7 Rd8 55. a8Q Ra8 56. Ra8 e3 57. Re8 Kf2; 51. Re3 Kf5
52. Re1 Rd3 53. Ra1 Rg3 54. a6 Rg8 55. a7 Ra8 equal] e3 52. a7 [52. Kb5 Re6]
e2 53. a8Q [53. Ra1 Rd8 54. Kb5 Kg4 55. Re1 Kf3 equal] e1Q [Q 9/d] 54. Ra5
[54. Qg8 Rg6 55. Qd8 Rf6 56. Ra5 Kg4 57. Qd4 Kh3 58. Rh5 (58. Qh4 Kg2 59.
Ra2 Rf2 60. Rf2 Qf2) Kg2 59. Qf6 Qe2 60. Kb3 Qh5 equal] Kg4 55. Qg8 Kf3
[only move; 55...Kh3?? 56. Rh5 Kg2 57. Qa8 Kf2 58. Rh2 Kg3 59. Rg2 Kf4 60.
Qf8] 56. Qf7 [56. Qf8 Kg2 57. Ra2 Rd2 equal] Kg2 57. Ra2 Kg1 [only move;
57...Rd2?? 58. Qd5] 58. Qa7 Kf1 59. Qf7 Kg1 60. Qa7 Kf1 61. Ra1 Rd1 62.
Qf7 Kg1 63. Qa7 [63. Rd1 Qd1 64. Qf4 Kg2 equal] Kf1 64. Rd1 Qd1 65. Qd4
Qa4 66. Kd3 Qb3 67. Qc3 Qd5 1/2 : 1/2 [V. Kramnik]
A. Huzman 2581 A. Shirov 2726

Cesme 2004 92/371
1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. cd5 cd5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 Bf5 7. e3 e6 8. Bb5

Nd7 9. Qa4 Rc8 10. Bc6?! Rc6 11. Qa7?! Qc8 12. Qa5 Bd3! [with
compensation; 12...Ra6 see 46/483] 13. Kd2?!
13...b6!! [a novelty; 13...Ra6; 13...Bc4; 13...Ba6; 13...Bg6] 14. Qa7? [14. Qa4
a) 14...Rc4!? 15. Qa7! (15. Qd1 Qa6! with compensation) Bb4 16. Rhc1 a1)
16...Be4?! 17. a3 Bc3 18. Rc3 Rc3 19. bc3 0-0 (19...Qc4? 20. Qd7 Kd7 21. Ne5
and White is superior) 20. Bd6! Re8 (20...Qc4 21. Rd1!) 21. Qc7! Qa6 22. Qd7
Qd3 23. Ke1 Qc3 24. Nd2 Qa1 25. Ke2 Ra8 26. Qc6 Rd8 27. Qb6 Rc8 28. Qb7
Qc1 29. Ne4 de4 30. Qe4 and White is slightly better; a2) 16...Bg6!! 17. a3 (17.
Ke2 0-0 18. Kf1 Bc3 19. Rc3 Rc3 20. bc3 Qc3 21. Re1 Qc6! and Black is slightly
better; RR17. Ne5!?) Bc3 18. Rc3 Rc3 19. bc3 0-0 with initiative, with the idea
20. Bd6 Re8 and Black is superior, with the idea 20. Nh4 Qc6 21. Ng6 fg6 22.
Qc7 Qc7 23. Bc7 Rf2 and Black is superior; b) 14...b5!? 15. Qa5 Bc4! (15...b4?
16. Kd3 bc3 17. bc3 and White is slightly better) 16. Nb5 Bb5 17. Qb5 Rb6 18.
Qd3 Rb2 19. Ke1 Nf6! and Black is slightly better] Bb4 15. Rhc1 Bb5!! 16.
Kd1 [16. a3 Bc3 17. bc3 (17. Rc3 Rc3 18. bc3 Qc4! and Black is winning) 0-0
and Black is winning] Bc3 17. bc3 [17. Rc3 Rc3 18. bc3 Qc3 and Black is
winning] Ba6!! (and Black is winning) 18. a4 [18. c4 dc4 (18...Bc4 19. Qa3 f6
and Black is superior) 19. d5 Rc5!] 0-0 19. a5 [19. Ne1 e5! 20. Be5 f6 21. Bg3
Rf7] b5 20. Ne1 [20. Ne5 Rc7] g5! 21. Bg3 f5 22. Nd3 f4 23. ef4 Rc7 24. Qc7
Qc7 25. fg5 Qc4 26. Nb4 e5 27. Na6 ed4 28. Nc7 dc3 29. a6 Nc5 30. a7 Qf1 0
: 1 [A. Shirov]
P. Leko 2749 P. Svidler 2735

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3
Be7 9. Qd2 0-0 10. 0-0-0 Nbd7 11. g4 Qc7 12. Kb1 b5 13. g5 Nh5 14. Nd5
Bd5 15. ed5 Nb6 16. Rg1! Rab8 17. Rg4! g6 [17...Nc4? 18. Bc4 bc4 19. Qc3;
17...Rfc8 see 36/324]
18. h4! [a novelty, and White is slightly better; 18. Bb6; 18. Na5 Nd5 19. Qd5
Qa5 unclear] Ng7?! [18...f5!? 19. gf6 Nf6 20. Bb6 Qb6; 19. Rb4! and White is
slightly better, with the idea 19...Rfc8 20. Na5!, with the idea 19...Nc4 20. Bc4
(20. Qc3? a5? 21. Na5! Qa5 22. Rc4!; 20...Na3!) bc4 21. Na5! and White is
superior, with the idea 21...Qa5? 22. Rb8 Qd2 23. Rf8 and White is winning;
18...Rfc8 19. Na5! Nd5 20. Qd5 Qa5 21. Bc4! Rf8 22. f4 Qc7 23. Bb3 a5 24.
Qe4 a4 25. Bd5 with initiative] 19. Bb6! Qb6 20. Na5 Rfc8 21. Nc6 [21. Bd3!?
with the idea Nc6] Rc6 22. dc6 Nf5 [22...Qc6!?] 23. Re4 Qc6 24. Bg2! (and
White is superior) Rd8 [24...Qc5 25. f4 Nh4 26. fe5 Ng2 27. ed6 and White is
winning] 25. f4 Qc5 [25...Qc7 26. h5] 26. Qe1! Rc8 27. c3 [27. Rd2!? ef4 28.
Bh3] b4 28. Rb4 [28. fe5? bc3 29. Qc3 Qc3 30. bc3 Rc3 31. ed6 Bd6 32. Re8
Kg7 and White is slightly better] Ne3 29. Rd2 a5 30. Re4 [30. Rb7!? Bg5!?
(30...Ng2 31. Rg2 Qc6 32. Re7 Qg2 33. fe5 Rb8 34. b3 a4 35. ed6 ab3 36. Re8
and White is winning) 31. fg5 Ng2 32. Qf2 Qf2 33. Rf2 Nf4 and White is
superior] Nc4 31. Rc4!? [31. Rde2 a4? 32. fe5 de5 33. Re5 and White is
winning; 31...Bf8 with the idea a4] Qc4 32. fe5 Qe6!? [32...de5 33. Qe5 Bf8 34.
Bd5 Qf1 (34...Qh4 35. Rh2 and White is winning) 35. Kc2] 33. Re2 [33. Qf1?
de5 34. Bh3 Qc4!] d5 34. Qf1 Qa6 [34...Rd8 35. Bh3 Qc6 36. e6] 35. Rd2
[time; 35. Rf2!? Qf1 36. Rf1] Qc4 36. Rd4 [36. Qe1!?] Qf1 37. Bf1 Rd8 38. b4
[38. Bg2 Bc5 39. Rd5 Rd5 40. Bd5 Bf2] ab4 39. cb4 Bf8 40. Bg2 [40. a4 Bg7]
Re8 41. Bd5 Re5 42. a4 Kg7 [42...Bb4 43. Bf7 Kf7 44. Rb4 Ke6 45. Rd4! (45.
Rb6 Kd7 46. Rb7 Ke6 with the idea 47. Rh7? Ra5) h6 46. gh6 Rh5 47. Kc2 Rh6
48. a5 Rh5 49. Ra4 g5 50. a6 and White is winning] 43. Bb3 h6 [43...f6 44. a5!
and White is winning, with the idea 44...Bb4 45. Rb4 Ra5 46. Rb7] 44. gh6 Kh6
45. Bf7 g5 46. h5 Re7 [46...Rf5 47. Bg6 Rf4 48. Rf4 gf4 49. b5 f3 50. Kc2 f2
51. Bd3 Kh5 52. b6 and White is winning] 47. Bg6 Ra7 48. b5 Bc5 49. Rc4 Bf2
50. Kc2 Re7 51. Kb3 Re5 52. Re4 Rc5 [52...Re4 53. Be4 Kh5 54. Kc4 Kg4 55.
Kd5 Kf4 56. Bh1 and White is winning] 53. Kb4 Rc1 54. Ka5 Rg1 55. b6 g4
56. b7 Rb1 57. Re2 1 : 0 [P. Leko]
Z. Almasi 2631 Ye Jiangchuan 2681

Tripoli (m/1) 2004 92/168
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Qc7 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. 00-0 Bb4 9. f3 Ne5 10. Nb3 b5 11. Qe1 Rb8 12. Qg3 Be7
13. f4! [a novelty; 13. Kb1 see 90/(156)] Nc4 14. e5! Nh5 15. Qf2 [15. Qf3?
Bb7] Ne3 16. Qe3 g6?! [16...Bb7 17. Be2 (17. Ne4 f5 18. Nd6 Bd6 19. Rd6 Rc8
unclear) g6 18. Bh5 (18. Bf3 Bf3 19. Qf3 Rc8 20. Kb1 unclear) gh5 19. Ne4 and
White is slightly better] 17. g4 Ng7 [17...Bb7 18. Rg1 (18. Ne4 f5 19. gf5 gf5 20.
Nd6 Bd6 21. ed6 Qc6 22. Qe5) Ng7 19. Bg2] 18. Bd3! [18. Ne4 Bb7 19. Nd6
Bd6 20. ed6 Qc6 and White is slightly better] Bb7 19. Rhf1 0-0 [19...f5 20. ef6
Bf6 21. f5 with attack] 20. f5 (with attack) ef5 21. gf5 Bb4 (only move) 22. f6
[22. Ne4 Qe5 23. fg6 Be7 24. gf7 and White is superior] Ne6
23. Rf5!! Rfe8 [only move; 23...Bc3 24. bc3 Qc3 25. Qh6 Qb4 26. Kb2 and
White is winning; 23...gf5 24. Bf5 and White is winning] 24. Rh5! Bf8 (only
move) 25. Rg1 [25. Rh4 d6 (25...Nc5) 26. ed6 Bd6 27. Bb5] Ng7? [25...b4? 26.
Ne2 Rbc8 (26...Nc5 27. Nc5 Qc5 28. Qg3 and White is winning) 27. Qh3 and
White is winning; 25...d6 a) 26. Qg3 de5 (26...Nc5? 27. Qh4 Nb3 28. cb3) 27.
Rh7 e4 28. Qh3 Qf4 29. Nd2 Qf6 30. Nce4 Be4 31. Ne4 Qe5 ( unclear) 32.
Rf7?? Kf7 33. Qh7 Qg7 and Black is winning; 26...Qb6!?; b) 26. Qf2 de5 27.
Qh4 e4; 27...Qb6; c) 26. Rg4 de5 27. Qh3 Qd8 28. Bg6 (28. Qh4 Bg7! 29. fg7
Qh4 30. Rhh4 f5; 28. Rh7 Qf6 29. Nd2 Bg7 30. Nde4 Qd8 31. Rgh4 f5) fg6 29.
Rf5 Nf4; d) 26. Be4 Be4 27. Qe4 de5 28. Nd5 Qa7; e) 26. Ne2 de5 27. Qh3 Qd8
(27...e4 28. Rh7 Bg7 29. Bb5 with attack; 27...h6 28. Bg6 fg6 29. Rg6 Kf7 30.
Rgh6 with attack; 29. Qf5 with attack) e1) 28. Bg6 fg6 29. Rf5 (29. Rh7 Qf6)
Ng5 30. Rgg5 Bd5; e2) 28. Rf1 gh5 29. Bh7 Kh7 30. Qf5 Kg8 31. Rg1 Ng7; e3)
28. Qh4 Bg7 29. fg7 Ng7] 26. fg7 [26. Rh7 a) 26...Kh7 27. Qh3 a1) 27...Kg8
28. Rg6 fg6 (28...Qe5 29. Rg7 Bg7 30. Qh7 Kf8 31. Qg7 mate) 29. Bg6 and
White is winning; a2) 27...Nh5 28. Qh5 Bh6 29. Kb1 Rg8 30. Rg3 Qc8 31. Rh3
Qf8 32. Nc5 and White is winning; b) 26...Qe5 27. Qh3 Qe3 28. Qe3 Re3 29.
fg7 Kh7 30. gf8Q Rf8 and White is slightly better] Bg7 27. Qf2! b4 [27...Re5
28. Rh7!; 27...gh5 28. Qf6] 28. Ne2 [28. Rh7 Kh7 29. Qf7 Qe5; 28...Qe5] Bd5
29. Nf4! Bb3 30. ab3 Re5 31. Bc4! Rf8 32. Kb1 [32. Re5?! Qe5 33. Nd3 Qa5
34. Kb1 d5; 32. Nd5 Qd6 33. Re5 Qe5 34. c3 and White is winning] Rh5 33.
Nh5 Bb2 34. Kb2 Qe5 35. Kb1 Qh5 36. Qd2 a5 37. Rf1 Qh3 38. Qd6 1 : 0
[Z. Almasi]
S. Mamedyarov 2657 P. H. Nielsen 2648

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bc4 cd4 8. Nd4
Bc3 9. bc3 Qa5 10. Bb5 Bd7 11. Bf6 gf6 12. Qb3 0-0 13. 0-0 Bb5 14. Nb5 Nc6
15. c4 Rad8 16. Qg3 Kh8 17. Qh4 Kg7 18. f4
18...Qd2 [a novelty; 18...Rd3 see 92/(419)] 19. e5 [19. Rf3 Rg8 with
counterplay; 19. c5 Qb4 20. Rf3 Ne7 21. Rh3 h5!] fe5 20. Qg5 Kh8 21. Qf6
Kg8 22. Qg5 [22. Rf3 Rd3! equal] Kh8 23. Qf6 Kg8 24. Rae1 a6 25. Qg5 Kh8
26. Qf6 Kg8 27. Re4 Qc2 [27...ab5 28. f5 (28. Qg5 equal) ef5 29. Rf5 Qd1 30.
Rf1 Qh5 31. Re3 bc4 32. Rg3 Qg6 33. Rg6 hg6 34. h4 with counterplay] 28.
Qg5 Kh8 29. Qf6 Kg8 30. Nc3 Rd2 31. Qg5 Kh8 32. Qf6 Kg8 33. Qg5 Kh8
34. Qf6 1/2 : 1/2 [P. H. Nielsen]
C. Padurariu 2169 A. Madan 2197

Romania 2004 92/225
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be2 a6 7. Be3 Be7 8. f4
Qc7 9. a4 0-0 10. 0-0 Nc6 11. Kh1 Re8 12. a5 Na5 13. e5 de5 14. fe5 Qe5 15.
Bf4 Qc5 16. Na4 Qa7 17. Bc7 b5 18. Nb6 Qc7 19. Na8
19...Qc5!! [a novelty; 19...Qd8 see 81/(211)] 20. Ra5 [20. c3 Nc4 21. b4 (21.
Bc4 bc4 22. b4 cb3 23. Qb3 e5 and Black is winning) Qd6 22. Bc4 bc4 23. Qf3
e5! 24. Qc6 ed4 25. Rf6 Qc6 26. Rc6 Bb7 27. Rc4 Ba8 28. Rd4 (28. Re1 f5 29.
Rd4 Be4 and Black is winning) Bf6 29. Rc4 Kf8 30. Kg1 Bb7 and Black is
winning; 20. Nb5 a) 20...Nc6 21. Nbc7 Rd8 22. Bd3 Bd6 23. Rf6 Qe5
(23...gf6?! 24. Qg4 Qg5 25. Qg5 fg5 26. Na6 Ba6 27. Ra6 Nb4 28. Ra5 Nd3 29.
cd3 Be7 and Black is superior) 24. Qg1 (24. Rh6 gh6 25. Qg4 Kh8 26. Qh4 Bc7
27. Nc7 Qc7 28. Qf6 Kg8 29. Re1 Qe7 30. Qh6 f5 and Black is winning) Qf6 25.
Na6 Ba6 26. Ra6 Nb4 27. Ra5 Nd3 28. cd3 Qb2 and Black is winning; b)
20...Rd8 21. Qe1 Nc4 22. Nbc7 (22. Bc4 Qc4 23. Nbc7 Bb7 and Black is
winning) Ne3 23. Na6 Qe5 24. Ra5 Qb2 25. Rf3 Nfg4 26. Rf4 Qc2 27. Rg4 Ng4
28. Bg4 Bb7 and Black is winning; 20. Bf3 Nc4 21. Nc6 Bb7 (21...Ne3 22. Qd3
Nf1 23. Nc7 Nd5! 24. Nd5 ed5 25. Ne7 Re7 26. Rf1 Be6 and Black is winning)
22. Ne7 Qe7 23. Bb7 Qb7 24. b3 Ne3 25. Qf3 Nfd5 26. Nb6 Nf1 27. Rf1 f6 28.
c4 Qb6 29. cd5 ed5 30. Qd5 Qe6 and Black is winning; 20. b4 Qb4 21. Nb6 (21.
c3 Qc3 22. Rf3 Qc5 23. Ra5 Rd8 24. Rd3 Ne4 and Black is winning) Bb7 22.
Bf3 Bc5 23. c3 Qc3 24. Ne2 Bf3 25. Rf3 Qe5 26. Rf6 (26. Ra5 Bb6 27. Ra6 Ng4
28. Nf4 Nf2 29. Rf2 Bf2 30. Nd3 Qf5 and Black is winning; 26. Nd7 Nd7 27. Ra5
Bd6 28. Ng3 Nc5 and Black is winning) Nb3! 27. Rb1 (27. Ra6 Qf6 28. Nd7
Qb2 and Black is winning) gf6 28. Nd7 Rd8 29. Ne5 Rd1 30. Rd1 fe5 and Black
is winning] Rd8 [20...Bb7 21. Bf3 (21. Bb5? Rd8! 22. Ba6 Bg2 23. Kg2 Qa5 24.
Qd3 Ra8 and Black is superior) Bf3 22. Rf3 (22. Nf3 Ra8 23. c3 Ng4 24. Qe2
Bd8 25. Raa1 Qe3 26. Rae1 Bb6 27. h3 Qe2 28. Re2 Ne3 29. Rfe1 Nd5 and
Black is slightly better) Ra8 23. c3 Bd8 24. Ra1 Bc7 unclear] 21. c3 [21. Bf3 a)
21...e5 22. c3 see 21. c3; b) 21...Rd4 22. Qe2 Bd6 23. Ra3! Nd5 24. Bd5 Qd5
25. Qf2 (25. Nb6? Rd2 26. Nd5 Re2 27. Re3 Rd2 28. Nc3 Rc2 29. Rd1 Be7 30.
Re2 Re2 31. Ne2 e5 and Black is superior) f5 (25...Rf4!?) 26. Nb6 Qe5 27. Rg3
Bb7 28. Nd7 Qf4 29. Qf4 Rf4 30. Rf4 Bf4 and Black is slightly better; c)
21...Qd4 22. Qd4 Rd4 23. Raa1 c1) 23...e5 24. Nb6 (24. Rfe1 e4 25. c3 Rd2 26.
Be4 Ne4 27. Re4 Bf8 28. Re8 Bb7 29. Rb8 Be4! and Black is superior) Bf5 25.
Ra6 (25. Rfe1 e4 26. Be2 Rd2 27. Ra6 Rc2 28. Ra8 Bf8 29. b4 Rb2 30. g4 and
Black is slightly better) Bc2 26. Rc1 Rd2 27. b3!! Bf5 (27...e4 28. Ra2 ef3 29.
Rac2 fg2 30. Kg1 Rd3 31. Rc3 Rc3 32. Rc3 g6 33. Kg2 equal; 27...Bb3? 28. Ra8
Bf8 29. Rcc8 h6 30. Rf8 Kh7 31. Rfd8 Rb2 32. Ra1 e4 33. Bd1 Be6 34. Kg1 g5
35. Rc1 and White is superior) 28. Ra8 Bf8 29. Rc5 Be6 30. Re5 Rb2 31. h3
Rb3 32. Nd5! Rb1 33. Kh2 Bd5 34. Bd5 equal; c2) 23...Rd6! 24. Rfd1 Nd5! 25.
Bd5 ed5 26. Nc7 d4 27. Re1 Kf8 28. Re2 Rd7 29. Na8 Bb7 30. Nb6 Rc7 and
Black is superior; 21. Nb3 Rd1 (21...Qe5!?) 22. Nc5 Rf1 23. Bf1 Bc5 24. Nc7
Bb6 25. Ra6 Ba6 26. Na6 Ne4 27. Bb5 Nf2 28. Kg1 Nd1 29. Kf1 Ne3 30. Ke2
Nc2 and Black is superior] e5 22. Nb3 [only move; 22. Bf3 ed4 23. cd4 Rd4
(23...Qa7 24. Qe2 Bb4 25. Raa1 Bd7 26. Qe5 Ra8 27. Ba8 Qa8 28. Rf6! gf6 29.
Qf6 Bf8! 30. Ra6 Qe4 and Black is superior) a) 24. Qc1 a1) 24...Ne4 25. Ra1
(25. Qc5 Nc5 26. Rc1 Bf5 and Black is superior) Bb7 26. Qc5 Bc5 27. Rac1 Bd6
28. Nb6 Rd2 29. Nc8 Be5 and Black is superior; a2) 24...Rc4 25. Qe1 Ng4! 26.
Bg4 Rg4 and Black is winning; b) 24. Qb3 g5! 25. Qe3 (25. g3 g4 26. Bg2 Rd2
and Black is winning) 26. Bc6 Rc4 and Black is winning; c) 24. Qe2 Qb4
(24...Bd6 25. Qe3 Qb4 26. Rc1 Bf5 27. Rca1 Rh4 and Black is winning) 25. Rfa1
Rd2 26. Qe1 Ng4! 27. Bg4 Bg4 28. Ra6 Bh3!! 29. gh3 Qf4 30. Qd2 Qd2 and
Black is winning; d) 24. Qe1 Ng4 d1) 25. Ra3 Qd6 26. Bg4 Bg4 27. Qe3 Be6
and Black is superior; d2) 25. Nb6 Nh2! 26. Nc8 (26. Kh2 Rh4 27. Qh4 Bh4 28.
Nc8 Qc7 29. Kh1 Qa5 and Black is winning) Qc8 27. Kh2 (27. Qe7 Nf1 28. Ra6
Ng3 29. Kh2 Nf5 and Black is winning) Rh4 28. Kg1 Bc5 29. Rf2 Bb4 30. Qa1
(30. Qe3 Ba5 31. Bd5 Kh8 and Black is winning) Rc4 31. Ra6 Rc1 32. Kh2 (32.
Rf1 Qc5 33. Kh1 Ra1 34. Rfa1 g6 and Black is winning) Qc7 33. g3 Ra1 34. Ra1
g6 35. Bd5 Qe5 and Black is winning; d3) 25. Ra1 d31) 25...Be6 26. Rc1 (26. h3
Ne5 27. Ra6 Bc4 28. Rg1 Nd3 29. Qe3 Rd8 30. Qc5 Bc5 31. Rb1 b4 32. Ra5 b3
and Black is superior) Bc4 27. Bg4 Rg4 28. Rf3 Rg6 29. Re3 Qc6 and Black is
superior; d32) 25...Ne5 d321) 26. Rc1 Rc4 27. Rc4 bc4 28. Bd5 (28. Be4 Be6
29. Qg3 Qd6 and Black is winning) Qd5 29. Nb6 Qe6 30. Nc8 Bf6 and Black is
winning; d322) 26. Qf2 Bd6 27. Rae1 Be6 28. Be4 Ng4 29. Qh4 f5 and Black is
winning; d323) 26. Nb6 Nf3 27. Rf3 (27. gf3 Bb7 28. Rc1 Qh5 29. Qe2 Bb4! 30.
Rcd1 Rd1 31. Qd1 h6 and Black is winning) Bb7 28. Rc1 (28. Rc3 Rg4 and
Black is winning) Qg5 29. Rg3 (29. Rf2 h6 30. Rc7 Qe5! and Black is winning)
Qd2 30. Qd2 (30. Qf1 Bd8 31. Nc8 Bh4 32. Rgc3 Rg4 and Black is winning)
Rd2 31. Nc8 Bh4 32. Rg4 (32. Re3 h6 33. b4 Bg2 34. Kg1 Bf2 35. Kg2 Be3 36.
Kf3 Bg5 and Black is winning) Bf6 33. b4 h5 and Black is winning; 22. Qc1 ed4
23. cd4 (23. Bf3 Bd6 24. cd4 Qd4 25. Rd1 Qe5 26. g3 Bg4! and Black is
winning) Qd4 24. Qc3 (24. Bf3 Ne4 and Black is winning) Qc3 25. bc3 Ne4 and
Black is winning; 22. Qb3 ed4 23. cd4 (23. Bf3 d3 24. Qd1 Qa7 and Black is
winning) Qd4 24. Bf3 Bd6 25. Qc2 (25. Rd1 Re8! 26. Raa1 Qh4 and Black is
winning) Qh4 26. g3 Bg3 27. Nb6 Bf5 and Black is winning] Rd1 [22...Qc6!?
23. Qe1 (23. Qc1 Qa8 24. Bb5 Qd5 25. Ba4 Qc4 26. Qe1 Bb7 and Black is
slightly better; 23. Qc2 Bb7 24. Bf3 e4 25. Be2 Ra8 26. Raa1 Qc7 and Black is
slightly better) Be6 (23...Bb7?! 24. Bf3 e4 25. Be2 Ra8 26. Nd4 Qc7 27. Ra1
Nd5 28. Nf5 with counterplay) a) 24. Nd2 e4 25. Nf3!? (25. Nc7? Qc7 26. Ra6
b4! 27. c4 Qe5 28. Ra2 Bd6 and Black is superior; 25. Bd1 Ra8 26. Ra1 Rd8 27.
Nb3 Bc4 28. Na5 Qe6 29. Nc4 bc4 30. Be2 Nd7 31. Ra4 Ne5 and Black is
slightly better) ef3 26. Bf3 Nd5 27. c4! Qc4 (27...bc4 28. Bd5 Bd5 29. Qe7 Ra8
30. Qg5 equal) 28. Ra6 Nb4 29. Re6 Qe6 30. Qe6 fe6 31. Nc7 Rd2 32. b3 e5
and Black is slightly better; b) 24. Qa1 Bb3 25. Ra6 Qe4 (25...Qc5 26. Qe1 Ne4
27. Rf3 f5! with initiative) 26. Bf3 Qd3 27. Re1 e4 28. Be2 Qd2 and Black is
slightly better; c) 24. Bf3 e4 25. Bd1 Ra8 (25...Qa8 26. Nd4 Bc8 27. Bb3 Qb7
28. Nf5 Bf5 29. Rf5 Qb6 unclear; 25...Bb3 26. Bb3 Ra8 27. Qe2 Bd6 28. Raa1
Bc7 29. Rad1 Re8 30. Rf5 with counterplay) 26. Nd4 Qd6 27. Ne6 Qe6 28. Bc2
Rd8 with initiative] 23. Nc5 Rd2! [23...Rf1 24. Bf1 Bc5 25. Nc7 Bb6 26. Ra6
Ba6 27. Na6 Ne4 28. Bb5 Kf8 29. g3 Ke7 30. Kg2 equal] 24. Bb5? [time; 24.
Na6? Re2 25. N8c7 (25. b4 Bb7 26. Rb5 Bg2 27. Kg1 Ng4! and Black is
winning) Rb2 26. Rfa1 Bb7 27. Rb5 Bg2 28. Kg1 Rb5 29. Nb5 Bb7 and Black is
superior; 24. Nb6 Bc5 (24...Bd8? 25. Nc8 Ba5 26. b4 Bb4 27. cb4 Re2 28. Kg1
and White is superior) 25. Nc8 Re2 26. b4 Bf8 27. Ra6 Ne4 with compensation;
24. b4 a) 24...Bc5 25. bc5 (25. Bb5 ab5 26. bc5 Bb7 27. Rb5 Bg2 28. Kg1 Nd7
29. Rd1! Rd1 30. Kg2 equal) Re2 26. c6 (26. Rd1!?) Nd5 27. Rd1 f6 28. Raa1
Be6 29. c7 Nc3 30. Rd6 Bf5 31. Nb6 Ne4 32. Rd8 Kf7 33. c8Q Bc8 34. Nc8
Nc5 unclear; b) 24...Re2 25. Nb6 Bf5 26. Ra6 Bc5 27. bc5 Be4 28. Rfa1 Bg2
29. Kg1 Kf8 30. R1a2 Ra2 31. Ra2 Bf3 equal] ab5 [24...Bc5 25. Bc4 Bd6 26.
Ba6 Be6 27. Nb6 Bc7 28. Rb5 e4 with compensation] 25. Rb5 Bc5 26. Rc5 Bb7
27. Nb6 h5! 28. Nc4 Re2 29. Rd1 [29. Ne5 Bg2 30. Kg1 Bf1 31. Kf1 Rb2 and
Black is superior; 29. Re5 Bg2 30. Kg1 Bf1 31. Kf1 Rh2 and Black is superior]
Rg2 [29...Ng4 30. Kg1 Rg2 31. Kf1 Nh2 32. Ke1 f6 33. Rd7 Ba6 and Black is
superior] 30. Rd8 Kh7 31. Nd6 Bf3 32. h3 e4! (and Black is winning) 33. b4
[33. Rf5 Rb2 34. Kg1 Kg6 35. c4 Rg2 36. Kf1 Rh2 37. c5 Rh3 and Black is
winning] Kg6 34. Rf5 [34. c4 Rd2 35. Kg1 e3 and Black is winning] Rg5 35.
Rf3 ef3 36. Nc4 Ne4 37. Ne3 f5 38. Rd4 f4 39. Re4 fe3 40. Re3 f2 0 : 1 [A.
Madan]
G. Antal 2450 E. Vegh 2309

Magyarorszag 2005 92/171
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 a6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Be3 Nf6 8. 00 Ne5 9. h3 Bc5 10. Kh1 d6 11. f4 Ng6 12. Qe1 0-0 13. f5 Ne5 14. Qh4 Bd7
15. Rf3
15...Nd3! [a novelty; 15...Nf3 see 90/158] 16. cd3 [16. Rg3 Nf4!! (16...Ne8!?
17. f6 g6 18. cd3 Qb6 19. Nce2 Qb2) a) 17. Qf6 Nh5 a1) 18. Rg7 Ng7 19. Bh6
Bd4 (19...Ne8 20. Qg5 Kh8 and Black is winning) 20. Qd4 f6 and Black is
winning; a2) 18. Qg5 Ng3 19. Qg3 Qb6 20. f6 g6 21. Qg5 Kh8 22. Qh6 Rg8 23.
Rd1 g5 and Black is winning; b) 17. Qf4 Nh5 18. Qg5 Ng3 19. Qg3 see 17. Qf6;
c) 17. Bf4 Bd4 18. e5 c1) 18...de5? 19. Rg7 and White is winning; c2) 18...Be5
19. Be5 de5 20. Rg7 (20. Qf6 g6 21. fg6 fg6 22. Rg6 equal) Kg7 21. Qg5 equal;
c3) 18...Ne8 19. Ne4 (19. f6 g6 20. Ne4 Qc2 21. Ng5 h5 and Black is winning)
c31) 19...ef5? 20. Rg7! Kg7 (20...Ng7 21. Nf6) 21. Qh6 Kg8 22. Ng5 and White
is winning; c32) 19...de5? 20. Rg7! Kg7 21. Qh6 Kg8 22. Nf6 Nf6 23. Qg5 Kh8
24. Qf6 Kg8 25. Bh6 e4 26. Qg5 Kh8 27. f6 and White is winning; c33) 19...f6!
20. ef6 Bf6 21. Nf6 Rf6 and Black is winning] Qb6 17. e5?! [17. Rg3 Bd4 a)
18. e5 a1) 18...Be3 19. ef6 (19. Qf6 g6 20. fg6 fg6 21. Rg6 hg6 22. Qg6 Kh8 23.
Qh5 Kg7 24. Qg4 Kh7 and Black is winning) g6 20. Re3! Qe3 21. Re1 g5 22.
Qh6 Qe1 23. Kh2 Qe5 24. g3 Qf6 25. Qf6 d5 26. Qg5 and White is superior; a2)
18...Nh5! a21) 19. Rg7 Ng7 20. Ne4 f6 21. Bd4 (21. Nf6 Rf6 22. Bd4 Nf5 23.
Qg4 Rg6 24. Bb6 Rg4 25. hg4 Nh6 and Black is winning) Qd8 22. ef6 e5 23.
Qg5 Rf7 24. Nd6 Qf6 25. Qf6 Rf6 26. Be5 Rd6 27. Bd6 Nf5 and Black is
winning; a22) 19. Qh5 Be3 20. Ne4 (20. f6 g6 and Black is winning) Kh8! 21.
Qg4 Bh6! 22. f6 Rg8 23. Nd6 Raf8 and Black is winning; b) 18. Qf6 Bf6 19.
Bb6 ef5 and Black is superior; 17. Qf2 Rae8 (17...e5!?) 18. fe6 (18. Rf1 e5 19.
Nb3 Be3 20. Qe3 Qe3 21. Re3 b5 with initiative) fe6 19. Rf1 e5 20. Nd5 (20.
Nf5 Bf5 21. Bc5 Qc5 equal) Qd8 21. Nf6 Rf6 22. Rf6 Qf6 equal; 17. Nce2 a)
17...e5 a1) 18. Bg5 Ne4 (18...Qb2 19. Bf6! and White is winning) 19. de4 f6
unclear; a2) 18. Bh6! Ne8 19. f6! gh6 20. Qh6 d5 21. Rg3 Kh8 22. Rg7 Nf6 23.
Rf1 Rg8 24. Rf6 Rg7 25. Rb6 Bb6 26. Qb6 and White is winning; b) 17...Qb2
18. Raf1 ef5 (18...e5 19. Bh6!) 19. Rg3 (19. Bc1 Qa2 unclear) Ne8 20. Qe7 (20.
ef5 f6 unclear) fe4! unclear] de5 18. Rg3 ef5 19. Bg5 [19. Bh6 Ng4! (19...g6!?)
20. hg4 fg4! 21. Nd5 Qd8! 22. Bg5 f6 23. Bf6 gf6 and Black is winning; 19. Nf5
Bf5 20. Na4 a) 20...Qb4 21. Rg7 Kh8 (21...Kg7 22. Bh6 and White is winning)
22. Qf6 Be7 23. Qe5 Qd6 24. Qd6 Bd6 25. Bd4 f6 26. Rb7 Bd3 27. Nb6 and
White is superior; b) 20...Qc6! 21. Nc5 (21. Bc5 Rfe8 and Black is superior) b6
(21...Bg6 and Black is superior) 22. Bg5 (22. Nb3 Nd5 and Black is superior)
Nd5 and Black is superior] Kh8 [19...Be7 20. Nb3 f4 and Black is winning;
19...f4! 20. Bf6 fg3 21. Nd5 (21. Ne4 Rfe8 22. Qg3 Bf8 and Black is winning)
Qb2 22. Rf1 Bh3!! (22...Qd2 23. Qg3 Qh6 24. Be5 Qg6 and Black is winning)
23. Qh3 (23. Ne3 Qd2! 24. Qg5 Bg2 25. Kg1 Qe3 26. Qe3 Bd4 and Black is
winning) Qd4 24. Qg3 g6 and Black is winning] 20. Nf5 Bf5 [20...Ng8!?] 21.
Na4 Qb4 22. Nc5 Qh4 23. Bh4 b6 [23...Nd5! 24. Nb7 Bg6 and Black is
superior] 24. Bf6 gf6 25. Ne4 Be4 26. de4 Rad8 27. Rf1 Rd6 [27...Rd2 28. b4
(28. Rb3 Rg8) Ra2 29. Rf6 Re2 30. Rb6 Re4 and Black is slightly better] 28.
Rgf3 Kg7 29. Rg3 Kh8 30. Rgf3 Kg7 31. Rg3 1/2 : 1/2 [E. Vegh]
P. Svidler 2735 E. Sutovsky 2697

Calvia (ol) 2004 92/236
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3
Nbd7 9. Qd2 b5 10. 0-0-0 Be7 11. g4 b4!? [11...h6 see 83/(226)] 12. Ne2 [12.
Nd5 Bd5 13. ed5 Nb6 unclear; 12. Na4!? d5 (12...Qb8!? 13. g5 Nh5 14. Na5
Qc7 15. Qb4 d5 16. Qb7 Qb7 17. Nb7 d4 18. Bd2 0-0 19. b3 and White is
slightly better) 13. g5 Ne4 (13...d4 14. Bd4 Ne4 15. fe4 ed4 16. h4 unclear) 14.
fe4 d4 15. Nd4 ed4 16. Qd4 Bg5 unclear] a5 13. Kb1 [13. g5?! a4 14. gf6? ab3
15. fe7 Qc7! and Black is winning (15...ba2 16. ed8Q Rd8 17. Qb4 a1Q 18. Kd2
and White is winning) 16. Kb1 bc2 17. Qc2 Ba2 18. Kc1 Bb3!! 19. Qc7 Ra1 20.
Kd2 Rd1 mate]
13...h6! [a novelty, with the idea d5; 13...Nb6] 14. Ng3 a4 15. Nc1 d5 [15...a3
16. b3 d5 17. Nf5 unclear; 17. Nh5!? unclear] 16. Nf5 Bf5 [16...0-0? 17. Bh6
gh6 18. Qh6 Bf5 19. gf5 Qb6 20. Bb5 and White is winning] 17. gf5 d4
[17...de4 18. fe4 a3 (18...Ne4 19. Qg2 with attack) 19. Bb5 ab2 20. Nb3 Qc7 21.
Rhg1 with initiative] 18. Bf2 0-0 19. Rg1 Kh8 20. Bb5! [with the idea 21. Bd7
Nd7 (21...Qd7 22. Nd3) 22. f4; 20. Nd3 b3 21. cb3 ab3 22. a3 Qb6 with attack;
20. Bd3 Nh5 21. Ne2 b3 with attack] Nc5 [20...Nb6 (with the idea Ra5) 21.
Qe2! Nh5 22. Nd3 with the idea f4; 20...Qc7!? 21. Bd7 Nd7 22. f4 Rfc8!
(22...Bf6 23. fe5 Ne5 24. Bd4 with the idea 24...Nf3? 25. Qh6) 23. fe5 Bg5 24.
Qe2 Bc1 25. Rc1 a3 unclear] 21. Nd3 a3? [21...Nd3 22. cd3 Nh5 23. h4! and
White is slightly better, with the idea Bc4, Rg4, Rdg1; 21...Qc7 a) 22. Ne5?!
Qe5 23. Bg3 (RR 23. Bd4! Qb8 24. e5) Nce4 24. Be5 Nd2 25. Rd2 Ra5!; b) 22.
Bg3 Nd3 23. cd3 Nh5 (unclear, with the idea Bg5) 24. h4?! b3 25. a3 Qa5! 26.
Qa5 Ra5 27. Bc4 Ng3 28. Rg3 Bh4] 22. Ne5 (and White is superior) ab2
[22...Qb8 23. Bc4!? (23. Nc6 Qb5 24. Ne7 ab2 25. Bd4 Qa6 26. Bb2 Qa2 27.
Kc1 Nb3 28. cb3 Rac8 29. Nc8 Rc8 30. Qc2 Rc2 31. Kc2 and White is superior)
Qe5 24. Bd4 (24. Bg3 Nce4 25. Be5 Nd2 26. Rd2 and White is slightly better)
Qc7 25. Qg2!? (25. e5 Ncd7 26. ef6 Bf6 and White is slightly better) Rg8 26.
Bf7 ab2 27. Bg8 Rg8 28. e5 Nd5 29. f6 Bf8 30. Qg6! (with the idea f7) Nf4
(only move) 31. Qf5 g5 32. h4 with attack] 23. Bd4 [and White is winning, with
the idea Bc4] Ra2 (only move) 24. Ka2 Qa5 25. Kb2 Qb5 26. Rg7! Kg7 27.
Ng4 Rh8 28. Nf6 Bf6 29. Rg1?! [29. Qg2 Kh7 30. Bf6 Rg8 31. Qg8 Kg8 32.
Rd8] Kh7 30. Bf6 Na4 31. Kc1 [31...Rg8 32. Rg8 Qf1 33. Qd1] 1 : 0 [P.
Svidler]
D 17
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7
7. Nc4 Qc7 8. g3 e5 9. de5 Ne5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. Bg2 g5
12
13
14
Ne5 Nd7
Qd4
15
16
17
Qf42 Qc13 00
18
a55
19
20
Ra4
with
Qd7
Bd6
Kb84 Qe7
a6
Ne3 Nf5
007
Qc2
Qe49 hg3
Nb510 ab5
Bc76
Qe3
and White is
superior
compensation
0-001
gf4
gf4
0-0-0
Nc58 Ne6
fg3
a5
...
...
...
hg3
Rfd1 Rd8
...
...
...
...
fg3
a5
h513
cb5
Qd8
Nc511 Ng412
Rd1
e4
Qf614 h415
with
compensation
1
13...Bd7 14. Qd4 Rg8 15. Qe4 [15. 00 Rg6 16. Rfd1 Bg7 17. Qe4 Be6 unclear;
Gostisa Tukmakov, Slovenija 2001 see 83/374] Be7 [15...Be6 16. Qh7 Rg6
with compensation; Tukmakov] 16. Bh3 0-0-0 17. Bd7 Qd7 18. Qf4 Bg5 19.
Qf3 Bd2 20. Kf1 Qh3 21. Qg2 Qe6 with compensation; B. Gelfand Bareev,
Wijk aan Zee 2002 see 83/(374)
2
15. Qh8 Qd2 16. Kf1 Qb2 17. Re1 Bb4 18. Qf6 Qc2 19. Ne4 [19. g4 Be6 20.
Be4 Qc3 21. Qc3 Bc3 22. Rc1 Bd2 23. Rc2 Bg4 and Black is slightly better; P.
Dias J. Gomez Esteban, Portugal Espana 2003] Be6 1/2 : 1/2 V. Makarov
O. V. Ivanov, Kharkiv 2003
3
16. Qh6 Bc7 17. a5 a6 18. 00 Qe6 with compensation; Je. Piket Van Wely,
Nederland 2002 see 84/313
4
16...a5 17. 00 Be5? 18. Nb5! Qe7 19. Na7 Kb8 20. Nc6 bc6 21. Qc6 Ka7 22.
Qb5 and White is winning; Kramnik Morozevich, Monaco (rapid) 2002 see
84/(313)
5
18. e4 Be6 19. Qe3 f6 20. Rfe1 Bc5 21. Qf4 Bd6 equal; L. Wu Woodward,
Great Britain 2004; 18. b4!?
6
Kramnik Anand, Russia Rest of the World (rapid) 2002 see 85/(338)
7
14. Qc2
a) 14...Ng4?! 15. a5! fg3 16. hg3 a6 17. Ra4 Ndf6 18. Ne4 (Kasparov
Morozevich, Wijk aan Zee 2000 see 78/370) Nd5! 19. Nc5 h5 20. 00 and
White is slightly better; Kasparov; b) 14...fg3 15. hg3 h5 16. Rd1 Kb8 17. Qe4
Re8 18. 00 Be7 19. Rd7 Nd7 20. Ne7 (O. Biriukov P. Skatchkov, Saint
Petersburg 2003 see 89/(357)) Nc5 21. Nc6 bc6 22. Qc4 Ne6 unclear;
Frolyanov, P. Skatchkov; c) 14...Bb4 15. 00 fg3 16. hg3 h5 17. Rfc1! c1)
17...Nf6 18. a5! [18. Na2? Rd2! 19. Qb3 Ba5 20. Qa3 Nfg4! and Black is
superior, with attack; E. Vegh V. Erdos, Magyarorszag 2004 see 91/351] a6
19. Ne4 Nd5 20. Qb3 and White is slightly better; R. Ruck Rogic, Oesterreich
2003 see 91/(351); c2) 17...Nc5!? 18. a5 unclear; P. Lukacs, V. Erdos; d)
14...Ng6 15. 0-0-0 Kb8 16. Ne4 Bb4 17. Rd4 a5 18. Rhd1 Nde5 unclear; B.
Gelfand Morozevich, Russia 2004; e) 14...Nc5 15. 00 see 14. 00
8
14...fg3 15. hg3 h5 16. Ne4 Kb8 17. Qb3 a5 18. Rfd1 Bb4 19. Rac1 Nb6 20. Nf6
Rd1 21. Rd1 Qc8 22. Ng7 Ka7! unclear; Hoang Thanh Trang V. Erdos,
Budapest 2004 see 91/(351)
9
16. Ne4 fg3 17. hg3 (Gyimesi Acs, Balatonlelle 2002 see 85/375) Bb4
unclear; 16. Rfd1 Bc5 17. Ne4 Bb4 18. Qb3 [18. a5?! Rd1 19. Qd1 fg3 20. hg3
Ba5 21. b4 Bb6 and Black is slightly better; S. Halkias Gagunashvili, Moscow
2003 see 87/342] a5 unclear; Jo. Simon Jadrijevic, Zagreb 2002; 16. a5 a6 17.
Ra4 fg3 18. hg3 Kb8 19. e3 Nc5 20. Rh4 Ng6 21. Rh5 Ne6 22. Ra1 Qd7! 23.
Ne4 Qd3 24. Qd3 Rd3 25. Bf1 Rb3 26. Ra2 (Sasikiran Enam. Hossain, New
Delhi 2005 see 92/388) Rb4! 27. Nc3 Ng7 28. Ng7 Bg7 equal; Enam.
Hossain; 16. Rad1 Bc5 17. Ne4 Bb4
a) 18. e3 fe3 19. fe3 Kb8 20. Nf6 a5 21. g4 [21. Nd4 Bc5 22. Kh1 Bd4 23. ed4
Nd4 24. Qc3 Ne6 25. Rfe1 Ng6 26. b4 with compensation; Korotylev P.
Smirnov, Russia 2004] Be7 [21...Nd7 unclear] 22. Ne7 Qe7 23. Qc3 Nc5!
[23...Qc5 24. Rc1 Qc3 25. Rc3 (Bareev Morozevich, Wijk aan Zee 2002 see
83/375) Rd2! 26. Rf5 Ng6 unclear] 24. Rd4 Ned3 unclear; Bareev; b) 18.
Qc1 b1) 18...fg3 19. hg3 Rd1 [19...Kb8 20. Qh6 Ng6 unclear; J. Lautier] 20.
Rd1 Rd8 equal; Kramnik Morozevich, Astana 2001 see 81/(312); b2) 18...Ng6
19. Qc4 a5 20. e3 [20. Bh3 Kb8 21. Nf6 unclear; J. Lautier] fe3 (equal) 21. Ne3
[with the idea Bh3; 21. fe3 Rd1 22. Rd1 Rd8 equal; J. Lautier] Kb8 equal;
Beliavsky J. Lautier, Cesme 2004 see 92/387
10
18. Rad1 Bb4 19. Nh6 Nc5! 20. Rd8 Rd8 21. Qh7 Bc3 22. bc3 Na4 23. Qc2
[23. f4 Nc4 24. Nf7 Kb8 25. Qg6 Rf8| R. Ponomariov, D. Komarov] Nb6
unclear; R. Ponomariov B. Gelfand, Plovdiv 2003 see 89/357; 18. Rfc1 Nc5 a)
19. Qh4 a1) 19...Nb3?! 20. Nd5! Rd5 21. Bd5 Nc1 [21...Na1!?] 22. Rc1 Qd8 23.
Qd4 f6 (Palo Bromberger, Gausdal 2004) 24. f4 and White is superior; a2)
19...Ng6 20. Qh5 Kb8 21. Rd1 Rd1 22. Rd1 Ne6 23. Ne4 Bb4 24. e3 Ka7 equal;
M. Carlsen L. Johannessen, Gausdal 2004; b) 19. Qf4 b1) 19...Nb3? 20. Nb5
Nc1 21. Rc1 Qb8 22. Bh3 and White is superior; T. Paunovic; b2) 19...h5?! 20.
b4! Ne6 [20...Nb3?! 21. Nb5 Qb8 22. Na7 Qa7 23. Qe5 Nc1 24. Bh3 Ne2 25.
Kg2 and White is winning; 20...ab4 21. Nb5! cb5 22. ab5 with attack] 21. Qe4
Bb4 22. Nb5 Qb8 23. f4!? Ng4 24. Rc6! bc6 25. Qc6 Nc7 26. Nc7 Qc7 27. Qa6
Kd7 28. Rd1 Ke8 29. Qc6! Kf8 (only move) 30. Qc7 Rd1 31. Bf1 Kg8 (only
move; P. H. Nielsen Shirov, Deutschland 2004 see 90/339) 32. e4! and White
is superior; M. Golubev; b3) 19...Ne6 20. Qh4 Ng6 unclear; b4) 19...Ng6!?
11
19...Nd7 20. Ra5 Kb8 21. Rfa1 Nb6 22. Ra7 Rd7 [22...Rd1 23. Kh2! and White
is winning] 23. Nd4 Nd8 24. Nc6! and White is winning; 19...b6 20. Rfc1 Nc5
21. Qe3 Ng4 22. Qc3 [22. Qg5 h5 23. b4 f6 24. Qg6 and White is superior] Rg8
23. b4 Rg5 24. Qc2 and White is superior; P. H. Nielsen
12
20...Nc4 21. Qc3 and White is winning; 20...Ncd7 21. Rfc1 Bc5 22. Rc5 Nc5
23. b6! Qb6 24. Qe5 Qc7 25. Ne7 Kb8 26. Nc6! bc6 27. Qc5 and White is
superior; 20...Ng4 21. Qc3 Qe5 22. Qf3 a) 22...Qe4 23. Qe4 Ne4 24. Be4 Bb4
25. b6 [25. Rfd1? Kc7 26. Kg2 Kb6 and White is superior; L. Johannessen
Shirov, Deutschland 2004 see 92/(387)] Kb8 26. Rac1 Rc8 27. Rfd1 and White
is winning; b) 22...Nh6 23. Rfc1 Rd7 24. Ra5 Qf5 25. Ra8 Kc7 26. Qb7 Kd6
and White is superior; c) 22...Nf6 23. Ra5 and White is superior; P. H. Nielsen
13
17...Rd1 18. Rd1 h5 19. Qd2 [19. Ne4 Ne4 20. Qe4 Bb4 21. Qh4 Kb8 22. Qf6
Rg8 23. Qh6 Ng4 24. Qh5 Qe5 with compensation; Sasikiran Sturua, Dubai
2002] Ne6 20. Ne4 Bb4 21. Qe3 Kb8 [21...Rd8 22. Rd8 Qd8 23. Qh6 Qd1 24.
Bf1 Qd5 unclear] 22. Bh3 [22. Nf6 Ng4 23. Ng4 hg4 unclear, with the idea 24.
Qe4 Nc5 25. Qg4 Na4 Gagunashvili] Rd8 23. Rd8 Qd8 24. Qh6 Qd1 25. Bf1
Qd5 equal; Xu Jun Gagunashvili, Calvia (ol) 2004 see 92/(387)
14
19...Qc7 see 17...Rd1
15
21. f4 Ng6 22. e5 Qe6 unclear; Ivanchuk B. Gelfand, Russia 2005 see
93/317; 21. Nh4 Rh4! 22. gh4 Qh4 23. Ne2 Ne6 [23...Ng4 24. Nd4! and White
is superior; Dreev] 24. Qc3! Bc5 25. Qg3 Qg3 26. Ng3 Nf4 with compensation;
B. Gelfand

Victor Bologan Annotates

Zdenko Krnic
Editor-in-Chief
The idea for this article occurred to me as I followed the recently completed
World Championship tournament in San Luis. The chess world not only got a
new undisputed World Champion in Veselin Topalov, but we have been set on
the path towards a healthy future with regards to fighting for the world
championship throne. It was very encouraging that 24 out of the 56 games were
decisive and it proved that the elite players can engage in uncompromising
battles.
The theoretical preparations and chess creativity were on a high level, as
confirmed in the 11th round game Anand Kasimdzhanov. In a Najdorf
Sicilian, the following continuation was played: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4
4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Be3 Nbd7 9.Qd2 b5 10.0-0-0 Nb6
11.Qf2 Nc4 12.Bc4 bc4 13.Na5!!. This is an important novelty, instead of
13.Nc5, that Bologan had prepared against Gelfand at the Spanish Team
Championship in Merida this year. Bologan shows in his annotations to this
game, which will be published in Informant 94, that White has a slightly better
position, even though he only managed to draw. Kasimdzhanov played the
dubious novelty 13Rc8?! (compared to Gelfands 13Nd7) and, after the
further weak move 17Ng4?, Anand won quickly. Future chess events will
provide an answer as to whether Black can fight to equalize in this
continuation.
Bologan 2700 B.Gelfand 2724

Espana 2005
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 Nbd7
9.Qd2 b5 10.0-0-0 Nb6 11.Qf2 Nc4 12.Bc4 bc4
13.Na5!! [a novelty; 13.Nc5 see 93/203] Nd7 [13...Qa5 14.Bb6 Qb4 15.a3 and
White is winning; 13...Be7 14.Nc6; RR 13...Rc8?! 14.Bb6 Qd7 15.g3! g6
16.Rd2 Bh6 17.f4 Ng4? (17...0-0 18.Rhd1 Ne8) 18.Qf3 Rb8 19.h3 Nf6?
(19...Nh2) 20.Bc5 ef4 21.gf4 Rc8 22.Bd6 Qd8 23.Bb4 Qb6 24.a3 and White is
winning; Anand 2788 Kasimdzhanov 2670, San Luis 2005] 14.Nc6 Qc7
15.Nb4 Qb7 16.Nbd5 Rb8 17.b3 (and White is slightly better) cb3 18.cb3 Be7
19.Kb2 [19.Qg3 g6 20.Ne7 Ke7 21.Rd3 Rhc8 22.Qh4 Ke8 23.Kd2 and White
is slightly better; 19.Ne7 Ke7 20.Nd5 (20.Rd3 Qb4 21.Kd2 d5) Bd5 21.Rd5
Rhc8 22.Kb2 h6 23.Rhd1 Rc6 24.Qd2 Qc7 25.Rc1 Nb6 26.Rc6 Qc6 27.Bb6
Rb6 28.Qc2 and White is slightly better] Bd8 20.Rd3 [20.Qg3 g6 21.f4 Ba5
22.fe5 Bc3 23.Kc3 de5 24.Qh4 Bd5 25.Rd5 0-0 26.Qe7 Qc6 27.Kb2 Nf6;
20.Rc1 0-0 21.Rhd1 and White is slightly better] 0-0 21.g4 Kh8 [21...Ba5
22.Ne7 Kh8 23.Ncd5 and White is slightly better] 22.Rc1 Ba5 23.Rc2 Rfc8
24.Na4 Qb5 25.Rc8 Rc8 26.Rd1 Nc5?! [26...Rb8 27.Nac3 Qc6 and White is
slightly better] 27.Nc5 dc5
28.a4! Qc6 [28...Qb7 29.Bc5] 29.Qc2 Bd8 30.Rc1! Bd5 31.ed5 Qd5 32.Qe4
Qd7 [32...Qe4 33.fe4 Be7 34.b4 Rb8 35.Bc5 Bc5 36.Rc5 Rb4 37.Kc3 Rb8
38.Rc6 and White is superior; 32...Qd6 33.b4 Rb8 34.Bc5 Qd7 35.Kb3 and
White is superior] 33.Bc5 h6 34.Rc2 Rb8 35.Ka2 Bf6 36.Ba3 Bg5 37.Bb2 f6
38.h3 (and White is superior; time) Qf7 39.Qd3 Qb7 40.Rc5 Bh4 41.Rd5
[41.Ra5 Ra8 42.Rd5 Bf2 43.f4! Bd4 44.Qe4 Qc8 45.fe5 Be5 46.Be5 fe5 47.Re5
and White is winning] Bf2 42.Rd7 Qc8 43.Rd6 a5 44.f4 [44.Rd5 Be1 45.h4
Bh4 46.Ra5 and White is superior] Bc5 45.Rd5 [45.Ra6 ef4 46.Ra5 Qf8] ef4
46.Rf5 [46.Rh5 Qf8 47.Bf6 Qf6 48.Rc5 equal] Qc7
47.Qd5? [47.g5 hg5 48.h4 Qd6 49.Rd5 and White is winning] Bb4 48.Qe6
Bc3! (and Black is winning) 49.Qe4 Bb2? [49...Rd8] 50.Kb2 Rc8 51.Qc4 Qc4
52.bc4 Rc4 53.Ra5 f5 54.Rf5 Ra4 55.Rf8 Kh7 56.Rb8 1/2 : 1/2 [Bologan]

The Year of Veselin Topalov

Zdenko Krnic
Editor-in-Chief
Only a month has passed since the FIDE World Championship tournament in
San Luis ended and already a new cycle will soon begin with 128 participants
in a knock-out tournament in far distant Siberia. The tournament in San Luis
was undoubtedly the best move FIDE could make in order to ensure a healthy
future for the world championship.
We have witnessed many discussions as to whether Topalov is the legitimate
world champion and whether he should play a reunification match against
Kramnik to prove that he is the strongest player at the moment. But his results
at Linares, Sofia and San Luis confirm that this is the year of Veselin Topalov.
Informant 94 features many of the high-quality games from this exceptionally
well-fought struggle for the championship. The game I have chosen below,
with annotations by GM Sergey Shipov, shows how theoretically well-prepared
Topalov was for the tournament of his life.
The Najdorf Sicilian was played frequently at San Luis and the fourth round
game Kasimdzhanov Anand saw 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3
a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Bg7 10.h3 Ne5 11.Nf5 Bf5 12.ef5
Nbc6 13.Nd5 e6 14.fe6 fe6 15.Ne3 0-0 16.Be2 Be7 17.0-0 Rad8 18.Bh5! Kh8
19.Re1 d5 20.a4! with a small advantage for White, after which Anand suffered
his first defeat of the tournament.
It would be interesting to know whether Anand knew about the game
Cheparinov I.C.Ibarra Jerez, Roquetas de Mar 2004 where Black continued
15Qa5 16.c3 Nf3! (a novelty) 17.Qf3 Bc3 18.Kd1 Bb2?! 19.Rc1! Bc1
20.Nc4! Qa2 21.Qf6 with an unclear position, while 18Qa4 19.Nc2 Bb2
transposes to the game which is the subject of this article. The young Bulgarian
grandmaster Ivan Cheparinov was a member of Topalovs team in San Luis
and his contributions were very important.
A crucial moment was the fifth round game Svidler Topalov. This important
victory gave Topalov additional self-confidence and he ended the tournament
undefeated with 6 wins and 8 draws. After Svidlers 14.Ne3 a new move
followed at once: 14Qa5 (14Qb6 was played in the game A.Sokolov
Sutovsky, Greece 2004 91/216) 15.c3 Nf3! 16.Qf3 Bc3 17.Kd1 Qa4! (But
this key move is the real novelty, played as a result of home preparation
17Bb2 18.fe6 fe6 transposes to the Cheparinov game, while 18Qa4!
19.Kd2 Qb4 20.Kd1 fe6 would be even better) 18.Nc2 Bb2 19.fe6 fe6 20.Qb3
Qb3 21.ab3 Ba1 22.Na1 Ke7 and the position is equal.
Svidler 2738 V.Topalov 2788

San Luis 2005 94/180
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5
9.Bg3 Bg7 10.h3 Ne5 11.Nf5 Bf5 12.ef5 Nbc6 13.Nd5 e6 14.Ne3 [14.fe6 fe6
15.Ne3 (15.Qh5? Nf7 16.Qg6 Bb2 17.Qe6 Kf8 18.Rb1 Qa5 19.Kd1 Re8 and
Black is superior; Kasimdzhanov) a) 15...Qa5 16.c3 Nf3! (a novelty; 16...0-0-0;
16...d5) 17.Qf3 Bc3 18.Kd1 Qa4 (18...Bb2?! 19.Rc1! Bc1 20.Nc4! Qa2 21.Qf6
unclear; I.Cheparinov 2550 J.C.Ibarra Jerez 2417, Roquetas de Mar 2004)
19.Nc2 Bb2 see 14.Ne3; b) 15...0-0 16.Be2 Qe7 17.0-0 Rad8 18.Bh5! (weak
point g6; 18.c4 see 87/240) Kh8 (a novelty; 18...d5) 19.Re1 d5 20.a4! and
White is slightly better; Kasimdzhanov 2670 V.Anand 2788, San Luis 2005
see 94/179] Qa5 [a novelty; 14...Qb6 see 91/216] 15.c3 [15.Qd2 Qd2 16.Kd2
Ke7 equal]
15...Nf3! 16.Qf3 [16.gf3? Bc3 17.bc3 Qc3 18.Qd2 (18.Ke2 Nd4 and Black is
winning) Qa1] Bc3 17.Kd1 (only move)
17... Qa4! [17...Bb2 18.fe6 Qa4! (18...fe6?! see 14.fe6) 19.Kd2 Qb4 20.Kd1 fe6
unclear] 18.Nc2 [18.Kc1?! Bb2 19.Kb2 Qb4 20.Kc1 Nd4 21.Qd1 Rc8!?
(21...Qc3 22.Kb1 equal) 22.Bc4 Qc3 23.Kb1 Rc4 24.Nc4 Qc4 with
compensation] Bb2 19.fe6 fe6 20.Qb3 [20.Qg4?! Nd4! (20...Qg4 21.hg4 Ba1
22.Na1 and White is slightly better) 21.Rc1 (only move) Rc8 22.Bd3 Ke7
(22...Kd7 23.Re1 Rc3 24.Qe4! Bc1 25.Qb7 Rc7 26.Qb6 unclear) 23.Re1 Rc3
(23...Qa2 24.Re4 e5 25.Rd4!) 24.Kd2 (24.Qe4? Bc1 25.Qb7 Kf6 and Black is
winning) Qa5 25.Bd6! Kd7 (25...Kd6? 26.Qd4) 26.Bb4 Rc2 27.Rc2 Qb4
28.Kd1 Nc2 29.Qe6 Kc7 30.Qe7 Kb8 31.Bc2 Qb6 and Black is slightly better,
weak point Kd1; 20.Rc1!? Bc1 (20...Ke7 21.Qb3 Qb3 22.ab3 Bc1 23.Kc1 and
White is slightly better; 20...Rc8 21.Bd3!) 21.Kc1 Qc2 22.Kc2 Nd4 23.Kd2 Nf3
24.gf3 e5! weak point Bg3] Qb3 21.ab3 Ba1 22.Na1 Ke7 (equal) 23.Bd3
[23.Kd2 Rac8 24.f3 Nb4! weak point Na1] Rac8 [23...Nb4 24.Be4! (24.Bb1
a5! 25.Re1 a4 with initiative) d5 25.Bf3 a5 26.Nc2 and White is slightly better]
24.Re1 [24.Nc2 Na5! 25.Nd4! (25.b4 Nc4 26.Ke2 Nb2 and Black is slightly
better) e5 26.b4 Nc4 27.Nf5 Kf6 28.Ke2 d5 29.f3 e4! 30.fe4 de4 31.Bc4 Rc4
32.Ne3 Rc6 equal] Nd4! [weak point Na1] 25.f3! [25.Nc2 Nb3 26.Bf5 e5
27.Bc8 Rc8 and Black is slightly better] Rc3 26.Kd2 Rhc8 27.Rb1! [27.Bc4
R8c4 28.bc4 Rc4 and Black is slightly better] R3c5 28.b4 [28.Bf2 Rd5!] Rd5!
29.Bf2 [29.Be4? Nf3 30.Ke2 Rd2 31.Kf3 Rc3 32.Kg4 Rd4 33.Re1 Rb4! and
Black is winning] Kd7 [29...Nc6!? 30.Ke2 Ne5 31.Be4 Rb5 32.Nc2 d5 33.Bh7
a5 with initiative] 30.Be3 [30.Nb3? Nc6 31.Ke2 Nb4 32.Be4 Na2! 33.Bd5 Nc3
34.Kf1 Nb1 35.Bb7 Rb8 36.Na5 Kc7 and Black is superior; 30.Be4?! Nf3
31.Ke3 Rc3 32.Ke2 Rd2 33.Kf1 Rf2! (33...Nd4 34.Be1!) 34.Kf2 Nd2 35.Re1
Ne4 36.Re4 d5 37.Re2 Kd6 38.Nc2 Rc4 and Black is slightly better] Nf5
31.Bf2 Nh4!? [31...Nd4 equal] 32.Bh4 gh4 [weak point g2] 33.Nc2! h5
34.Re1?! [34.b5! with the idea 34...a5 35.Ra1 b6 36.Ra4! with the idea Ne3, f4f5 with initiative] Rg8 35.Kc3 [35.Re2!?] a5!
36.Bc4? Time [36.ba5! Rg2 37.Nd4! Ra5 (37...Rc5 38.Kb4 Rb2 39.Ka3 Rf2
40.Bb5 Rb5 41.Nb5 Rf3 42.Kb4 Rf4 43.Kb3 Rf3 44.Kb4 equal) 38.Ne6 Rg3
(38...Re5 39.Nf4!) 39.Nd4 Rh3 40.Rb1 (40.Bf5? Rf5!) Rg3! (40...Kc7 41.Nb5)
41.Rb7 Kc8 and Black is slightly better] Rc8! [weak point Bc4] 37.Ne3
[37.Kb3 a4! and Black is winning; 37.ba5 Rdc5 38.Ne3 d5 and Black is
winning] Rb5! 38.Kd3 Rb4 (and Black is winning) 39.Be6 Ke6 40.Nc2 Kd5
41.Nb4 ab4 42.Re7 b5 43.Rh7 Rc3 44.Kd2 Rc4! [45.Rh5 Kc6 46.Rh8 b3
47.Re8 Kc5! with the idea Kb4] 0 : 1 [Shipov]


93
Zdenko Krnic
Editor-in-Chief
Larry Christiansen voiced the difficulty faced by members of the Chess
Informant jury for selecting the ten best games of Informant 93 when he wrote:
Lots of great games in 93. Still, the members of the jury were almost
unanimous that the best game was Topalov Anand from Sofia. It received 81
out of 90 points, with seven members of the jury giving it a full 10 points.
Topalovs game against Ponomariov from Sofia is also in the top ten. Third
place was awarded to Kasparovs victory against Kasimdzhanov at Linares,
which was also voted as the most important theoretical novelty. Meanwhile,
Ivanchuks high quality performances were acknowledged by having three of
his games among the top ten.
V.Topalov 2778 V.Anand 2785

Sofia 2005 93/439
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Nc3 c6 8.e4 d5
9.Qc2 de4 10.Ne4 Bb7? 11.Neg5! [a novelty; 11.Bg2 see 32/602] c5 [11...h6
12.Nf7 Kf7 13.Ne5 Kg8 (13...Kf8 14.Bh3 Qd4 15.Ng6 Ke8 16.0-0 Qe4 17.Qe4
Ne4 18.Rfe1! c5 19.Bg2 Bf6 20.Re4!! Kd7 21.Re6 Bg2 22.Rf6 gf6 23.Nh8 and
White is superior) 14.Bh3 (14.Bc3 c5 15.Bh3 Be4) Qd4 15.Be6 Kf8 16.Ng6
Ke8 17.0-0-0! Qa1 18.Qb1 Ba3 19.Kc2 Qb1 20.Kb1 and White is superior]
12.d5 (only move) ed5 13.cd5 h6 [13...Bd5 14.0-0-0 h6 15.Bc3 hg5 16.Bf6 gf6
17.Bc4 and White is superior] 14.Nf7 Kf7 15.0-0-0 Bd6 16.Nh4 Bc8 [16...Na6
17.Bc3!?; 17.Bh3 with attack] 17.Re1 Na6 [17...Re8 18.Bb5 Re7 19.Bc3!]
18.Re6! Nb4 [18...Nc7 19.Bc4 b5 20.Bc3! with attack] 19.Bb4 cb4 20.Bc4 b5
[20...Kg8 21.Nf5! Be6 (21...Bf8 22.d6 and White is winning) 22.de6 Be7
23.Rd1 Qf8 (23...Qc7 24.Rd7 and White is winning) 24.Rd7 Re8 25.Nh4 Nh7
26.Qg6 Ng5 27.f4 (27.Nf5 Nf3) b5 28.Nf5 bc4 (28...Rh7 29.Bd3! and White is
winning) 29.Ng7 Rh7 30.Ne8 Kh8 31.Nc7 and White is slightly better;
28.Bd5!? and White is winning; 28.Bb5 and White is winning] 21.Bb5 Be7?
[21...Kg8! a) 22.Nf5 Be6 (22...Bf8 23.Bc4!) 23.de6 Rc8 24.Bc4 Be7; b)
22.Bc4! Be6 23.de6 Be7 24.Rd1 Qe8 25.Rd7! and White is superior] 22.Ng6
(and White is winning) Nd5 23.Re7? [23.Re5 Bb7 24.Nh8 Qh8 25.Qf5 Bf6
26.Qe6 Kf8 27.Qe8! Re8 28.Re8 Kf7 29.Rh8 and White is winning] Ne7
24.Bc4 Kf6! 25.Nh8 Qd4 26.Rd1 Qa1 27.Kd2 Qd4 28.Ke1 Qe5 29.Qe2 Qe2
30.Ke2 (and White is superior) Nf5 31.Nf7 a5 [31...Be6 32.Be6 Ke6 33.Nd8!
and White is superior] 32.g4 Nh4 33.h3 Ra7 34.Rd6 Ke7 35.Rb6 (and White
is winning) Rc7 36.Ne5 Ng2 37.Ng6 Kd8 38.Kf1 Bb7 39.Rb7 Rb7 40.Kg2
Rd7 41.Nf8 Rd2 42.Ne6 Ke7 43.Ng7 Ra2 44.Nf5 Kf6 45.Nh6 Rc2 46.Bf7
Rc3 47.f4 a4 48.ba4 b3 49.g5 Kg7 50.f5 b2 51.f6 Kh7 52.Nf5 1:0 [V. Anand]
E.Sutovsky 2669 Iv.Sokolov 2685

Great Britain 2005 93/277
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Ne4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.de5 Be6
9.Nbd2 Nc5 10.c3 Bg4 11.Bc2 Ne6 12.Re1 Bc5 13.Nf1 Bh5 14.b4!? [a
novelty; weak point b5, diagonal a3-f8] Bb6 15.Ng3 [15.a4!? Ne7 16.Be3 Be3
17.Ne3 and White is slightly better] Bg6 16.h4!? [16.Nf5 0-0 17.a4 and White
is slightly better] d4! 17.Bg5! [17.h5 Bc2 18.Qc2 Qd5 unclear] Bc2 18.Qc2
Qd5 19.Nh5 Qc4? [19...h6! 20.Bf6!? (20.Nf4 Qd7 21.Ne6 Qe6 22.Bf4 0-0
equal) Kf8! 21.Qf5 (21.Ng7? Ng7 22.e6 Re8! 23.e7 Kg8 and Black is superior)
gf6 22.Nf6 Ne7! (22...Qc4 23.Nd2! Qc3 24.Nde4 Qb4 25.Nd7 Ke7 26.Nb6 cb6
27.Rec1! Rac8 28.a3! Qb3 29.Qf6 Kd7 30.Qf7 Ne7 31.Nf6 Kd8 32.Rc8 Kc8
33.Qe7 and White is winning) 23.Qg4 Qd8 24.cd4 Nd5 25.Qe4 c6 26.Rac1 with
compensation]
20.Nd2! d3 [20...Qc3 21.Ng7! (21.Qe4 Ng5 22.hg5 0-0-0! unclear) Ng7

22.Qe4 0-0 23.Rac1 Qb4 24.Rc6 and White is superior; 20...Qd5 21.Ne4 and
White is superior] 21.Qd1! [21.Nc4 dc2 22.Nb6 cb6 23.Rac1 Rc8 and White is
slightly better] Qd5 [21...Qc3!? 22.Rc1 Qd4 23.Ng7! (23.Be3 Qd5 24.Bb6 cb6
25.Ne4 0-0-0! with counterplay) Ng7 24.Rc6 Qf2 25.Kh2 Qd4 26.Ne4 and
White is superior] 22.Ne4 Kf8 23.Nef6!! gf6 24.Nf6 Qc4 [24...Qd8 25.Bh6
Ke7 26.Qf3 d2 27.Qc6! de1Q 28.Re1 and White is winning] 25.Re4 Ncd4
[25...Bd4 26.Bh6 Ke7 27.cd4 and White is winning] 26.Bh6 Ke7 27.cd4 Nd4!?
[27...Qc2 28.Qf3 and White is winning] 28.Rc1 Qa2 29.Rd4 Rhd8! [29...Rad8
30.Rf4 d2 31.Bg5! dc1Q 32.Qc1 Kf8 33.e6! Qe6 34.Re4 and White is winning]
30.Rf4 d2 31.Rc3! [31.Bg5!? dc1Q 32.Qc1 Kf8 33.e6! and White is winning]
Qa4 32.Ng8 (time) Ke8 [32...Rg8 33.Qd2 and White is winning] 33.Nf6 Ke7
34.Nd5! Rd5 35.Rf7! Kd8 [35...Kf7 36.Qf3 Ke8 37.Qf8 Kd7 38.Qf5 Ke7
39.Bg5 Ke8 40.Qe6 Kf8 41.Bh6 mate] 36.Rf8 Ke7 37.Bg5! [37...Kf8 38.Qf3
Ke8 (38...Kg8 39.Qd5 Kg7 40.Bh6! Kh6 41.Qe6) 39.Qh5 Kd7 40.Qg4 and
White is winning] 1:0 [E. Sutovsky]
R.Kasimdzhanov 2678 G.Kasparov 2804

Linares 2005 93/385
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dc4 7.Bc4 b5 8.Bd3
Bb7 9.0-0 a6 10.e4 c5 11.d5 Qc7 12.de6 fe6 13.Bc2 c4 14.Nd4 Nc5 15.Be3 e5
16.Nf3 Be7 17.Ng5
17...0-0! [a novelty; 17...h6 see 81/(368)] 18.Bc5 [18.b4 cb3 (18...h6 19.Bc5
hg5 20.Be7 Qe7 21.a3 Rad8 22.Qe2 g4 23.Rad1 Rd4 unclear) 19.Bb3 Nb3
20.Qb3 Qc4 21.Qc4 bc4 22.Rab1 Bc6 unclear] Bc5 19.Ne6 Qb6 20.Nf8 Rf8
21.Nd5 [21.Kh1 Bf2 22.Qe2 Bd4 23.Nd5 Bd5 24.ed5 Qd6 unclear; 21.a4 a)
21...b4 22.Nd5 Nd5 23.ed5 Bf2 24.Kh1 b3 25.Be4 Qe3 26.Bf3 e4 27.Bg4 Qc5
28.Be6 Kh8 29.d6 e3 30.d7 Qb6 31.Bc4 (31.Rc1 Qe6 32.d8Q Bg2 33.Kg2 Qe4
equal) Bg2 32.Kg2 Qg6 33.Kh3 Qh6 equal; b) 21...Bf2 22.Kh1 Bd4 23.ab5 ab5
with compensation; 21.Qe2 Qe6 22.Kh1 (22.h3 Bd4 with compensation) Ng4
(22...Bd4) 23.Nd1 Bd4 24.h3 Nf6 25.Rc1 g6 26.b3 Nh5 unclear] Bd5 22.ed5
Bf2 23.Kh1 e4 24.Qe2? [24.d6 e3 25.Bf5 (25.d7 g6!; 25.b3 c3 26.b4 Rd8
27.Bb3 Kh8) a) 25...Qc5 26.d7 Rd8 (26...Qf5 27.d8Q Rd8 28.Qd8 Kf7 29.Qb6
and White is superior) 27.Qf3 Qe5 28.Rf2 ef2 29.Qf2 Nd7 30.Bh7 Kh8 31.Bf5
Qf6 32.Qg3 and White is slightly better; b) 25...g6 26.Bh3 Kg7 (26...Qc5 27.d7
Qe7 28.Qf3 Kg7 29.Rfd1 Rd8 30.Rd4) 27.d7 Ne4 28.Qd5 Nd2 29.Rfd1 Qf6
30.Bg4 h5 31.Be2 Rd8 32.a4 Qb2 33.ab5 Qb5 34.Qd4 Kh7 35.Qf6 with
initiative; 27...Nh5 unclear; 24.a4 a) 24...Rd8 25.ab5 ab5 26.Qe2 e3 27.b3 c3
28.Rfd1 (28.d6 Rd6 29.Ra8 Kf7 unclear) g6 29.d6 Kg7 30.Qd3 b4 31.Ra6 Qc5
32.Rda1 Qe5 unclear, with the idea 33.Ra7 Nd7 34.R1a5 Qe6; b) 24...Bd4
25.ab5 ab5 26.Qe2 Bb2 27.Rad1 Bd4 28.Be4 Re8 29.Rf6 Qf6 30.Bh7 Kf8
31.Be4 Qe5 32.Qf3 Kg8 33.Rf1 Qe4 34.Qf7 equal] e3 25.Rfd1? [25.Rad1 Qd6
26.Bf5 Kh8 27.Rf2 ef2 28.Qf2 Re8 and Black is superior; 25.b3 Nd5 26.bc4
Nf4 27.Qf3 bc4 28.Qe4 Qh6 29.Qc4 Kh8 30.Rab1 unclear; 25...c3 and Black is
slightly better] Qd6 26.a4 [26.b3 c3 27.Bf5 g6 28.Be6 Kg7 29.Rac1 Ne4 and
Black is superior] g6! 27.ab5 ab5 28.g3 Nh5! [28...Qe5? 29.d6 Nh5 30.d7 Ng3
31.hg3 Qg3 32.Bf5 equal] 29.Qg4
29...Bg3! [29...Re8 30.Kg2 e2 31.Kf2 ed1Q 32.Qd1 Rf8 33.Kg2 Nf6 and Black
is superior] 30.hg3 [30.Qe6 Qe6 31.de6 e2 (31...Bh4!?) 32.hg3 Ng3 33.Kg2
ed1Q 34.Rd1 Nh5 and Black is winning; 30.Rg1 a) 30...Bh2 31.Bg6 Ng3
(31...hg6 32.Qg6 Qg6 33.Rg6 Kh7 34.Re6 Bf4 and Black is winning) 32.Rg3
Bg3 33.Bh7 Kh7 34.Ra7 Kh6 35.Qh3 Kg6 36.Qh7 Kf6 37.Ra6 Qa6 38.Qh6
Ke5 39.Qa6 Rf1 40.Kg2 e2 41.Qe6 Kd4 42.Qe2 Rf2 and Black is winning; b)
30...Bf2! 31.Qh5 Bg1 32.Rg1 Rf1! and Black is winning] Ng3 31.Kg2 [31.Kg1
e2 32.Re1 Qc5 33.Kh2 Qf2 34.Kh3 Nh5 35.Qe6 Kg7 and Black is winning]
Rf2 32.Kh3 Nf5 33.Rh1 h5! 34.Qg6 Qg6 35.Rhg1 Qg1 36.Rg1 Kf7 0:1 [G.
Kasparov]
Iv.Sokolov 2662 A.Shirov 2714

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 dc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.ef6
gh4 10.Ne5 Qf6 11.a4 Bb7 12.ab5 [12.Be2 see 67/506] cb5 [12...c5] 13.Bc4
a6 14.Nb5 ab5 [a novelty; 14...Bb4] 15.Bb5 Kd8 16.Ra8 Ba8 17.Qa4 Bd6!
[only move; 17...Bd5 18.Qa7 Kc8 19.Bd7 Nd7 20.Qd7 Kb8 21.Qb5 Kc7 22.0-0
Qg5 23.g3 and White is winning; 17...Bg2 18.Qa7 Kc8 (18...Bd6 19.Nf7 Qf7
20.Qf7 Rf8 21.Qe6 Bb4 22.Kd1 Bh1 23.Qb6 Ke7 24.Qc7 Kf6 25.Qe5 Kf7
26.Bc4 Kg6 27.Bd3 Kf7 28.d5 and White is winning) 19.Bd7 Nd7 20.Qd7 Kb8
21.f3! Bf3 (21...Bb4 22.Kf2 Bf3 23.Nf3 Qe7 24.Qb5 Qb7 25.Qe5 and White is
winning) 22.Qb5 Kc7 (22...Ka7 23.Rf1 Qe7 24.Kf2 and White is winning)
23.Rf1 Qg5 24.Rf3 Qc1 25.Ke2 Qc2 26.Kf1 Qd1 27.Kg2 Rg8 28.Kh3 and
White is winning] 18.Nc4! [18.Qa8 Be5 19.de5 Qe5 20.Be2 Qb2 21.0-0 Ke7
22.Qe4 Nd7 23.Qh4 Kf8 equal] Bc7 [18...Bg2! 19.Nd6 Bh1 20.Qa7 Qg6!
21.Nf7 Kc8 22.Nd6 Kd8 23.Qb8 (23.Kd2 Rf8) Ke7 24.Qh8 Qb1 25.Kd2 Qb2
equal] 19.Qa8 Qg5
20.Qb7! [20.Qf3 Qb5 21.Qf6 Kd7 22.Qf7 Kc8 23.Qe6 Kb7 24.0-0 Rd8 and
Black is slightly better] Qc1 21.Ke2 Qh1 [21...Qc2? 22.Nd2 and White is
superior] 22.Ne5 Qc1 [22...Rf8? 23.Nc6 Nc6 24.Qc6 Kc8 (24...Ke7 25.Qc7 Kf6
26.Qe5 Kg6 27.Bd3 f5 28.Qe6 and White is winning) 25.Qa8 Bb8 26.Bc6 Kd8
27.Qb8 Ke7 28.Qb4 and White is winning; 22...Rh7! 23.Nc6 Nc6 24.Qc6 Ke7
(24...Kc8? 25.Qe8 Kb7 26.Bc6 Kb6 27.Qa8 and White is winning) 25.Qc7 Kf8
26.Bd3 Rh8 27.Be4 Qa1 28.Qb8 Kg7 29.Qe5 Kg8 30.d5 Qa6 31.Kf3 Qb5
32.Kf4 Qc5 33.de6 Qf2 34.Bf3 Qd2 35.Kg4 Qg5 36.Qg5 hg5 37.e7 f5 38.Kf5
Kf7 equal] 23.Nf7 (and White is slightly better) Ke7 24.Nh8 Qb2 [24...Qc2?
25.Ke3 Qb3 26.Ke4 Qc2 27.Bd3] 25.Kf3 Qc3 26.Kg4 Qd4 27.Kh3 [27.Kh5??
Qe5 28.Kg6 Nd7! and Black is winning, with the idea 29.Bd7 Qf5 30.Kh6 Bf4
31.Kg7 Be5 32.Kh6 Kf6] Qb6 [27...Qc3?! 28.f3 Kf6? 29.Qe4 and White is
winning, with the idea 29...Kg7 30.Bd3; 27...Qd6! 28.g3 and White is slightly
better] 28.Qc8 (and White is superior) Qb5 29.Qc7 Nd7 30.Ng6 Kf6 31.Nh4
Qd3 32.f3 Ne5 33.Qc1! Nf7 34.Qb2 e5 35.Qb6 Kg7 36.Kg3 Qc4 [36...Ng5
37.h3! Ne4 38.Kh2 and White is winning, with the idea 38...Nd2 39.Qe6]
37.Qg6 (and White is winning) Kf8 38.Qf6 Kg8 39.Ng6 e4 40.Nf4 [40.Qf4
and White is winning] ef3 41.Ne6 1:0 [Iv. Sokolov]
V.Topalov 2778 R.Ponomariov 2695

Sofia 2005 93/440
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Rc1!?
[8.Bg2 see 92/486] c6 9.e4 d5 10.e5! [a novelty; 10.Bd3?! dc4 11.bc4 e5 and
Black is slightly better] Ne4 11.Bd3 Nc3 [11...Nd2 12.Qd2 dc4 13.bc4 Nd7
14.0-0 Bb7 15.Qe3 Re8 16.Rfe1 and White is slightly better, centre] 12.Rc3! c5
13.dc5 bc5? [13...d4! 14.Rc1 bc5 15.Be4 (15.h4 Bb7) Nd7 a) 16.h4 Qc7
17.Bg5 (17.Bh7 Kh7 18.Ng5 Kg8 19.Qh5 Qe5 20.Kf1 Nf6 and Black is
winning) Rae8; b) 16.Qc2 f5 17.ef6 Nf6; c) 16.Ba8 Qa8 17.0-0 Qc6 with
compensation; d) 16.0-0 Qc7 17.Re1 Bb7 unclear] 14.h4! [with the idea Bh7
with initiative] h6 15.Bb1! (and White is winning) f5 [15...Nd7 16.Bh6 gh6
17.Qd3 f5 18.ef6 Rf6 19.Qh7 Kf8 20.Ng5 hg5 21.hg5] 16.ef6 Bf6 17.Qc2 d4
18.Ng5! [18.Qh7 Kf7 19.Rc1 Bb7 with counterplay] hg5 19.hg5 dc3 20.Bf4!?
[20.Rh8 Kf7 21.Qg6 Ke7 22.gf6 gf6 23.Rh7 Kd6 24.Bf4 Kc6 25.Qe4 Kb6
26.Bc7 Qc7 27.Rc7 Kc7 28.Qa8 and White is winning] Kf7 [20...Bd4 21.Qg6!
Bf2 22.Ke2 and White is winning, with the idea Rh8] 21.Qg6 Ke7 22.gf6 Rf6
23.Qg7 Rf7 24.Bg5 [24.Qg5!? Kd7 25.Qd8 Kd8 26.Be4 Nc6 27.Rh8 Kd7
28.Ra8 e5 29.Be3 Bb7 30.Rh8 Kc7 31.Bc5 Nd4 32.Rh7! Rh7 33.Bh7 and
White is winning] Kd6 25.Qf7 Qg5 26.Rh7! [weak point Kd6] Qe5 [26...Qc1
27.Ke2 Qd2 28.Kf3 Qd1 29.Kg2 and White is winning] 27.Kf1 Kc6 28.Qe8
Kb6 29.Qd8 Kc6 30.Be4 1:0 [R. Ponomariov, D. Komarov]
A.Dreev 2704 L.Dominguez 2661

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4 dc4 8.Bc4 e5
9.Bd2 0-0 [9...ed4 see 92/429] 10.0-0-0!? [a novelty; 10.g5] ed4 11.Nd4 Ne5
12.Be2 Neg4 [12...Nfg4 13.Ne4; 12...Bg4 13.f4! Be2 (13...Ng6 14.Bg4 Ng4
15.Nf5; 13...Ng6 14.Bg4 Ng4 15.Rhg1 Nf6 16.Nf5 with attack) 14.Nce2 Ng6
(14...Neg4 15.Nf5 with compensation) 15.e4 with compensation] 13.Rhg1 Nf2
14.Rdf1 Nh3 15.Rg2
15...Be5 [15...g6!? 16.Bc4 Kh8 (only move; 16...Bc7? 17.Ne4 Ne4 18.Qe4 and
White is winning) 17.Ne4!? (17.Rf6? Qf6 18.Ne4 Qe7) Ne4 18.Qe4 a) 18...Ng5
19.Qh4 f6 20.Bc3 Be5 21.Nc6 bc6 22.Be5 fe5 23.Rf8 Qf8 24.Qg5 Bh3
(24...Bf5 25.e4) 25.Rf2! Qd6 26.Rd2 Qf8 27.Qe5 Qg7 28.Qa5! Qe7 29.e4 and
White is superior; b) 18...Qe7 19.Qe7 Be7 20.Bc3 Kg8 (20...f6 21.Ne6) 21.Nf5
Bf5 22.Rf5 b1) 22...Rae8 23.Kd2 Bh4 24.Bb4 Be7 (24...Re4 25.Bf8 Rc4 26.Bh6
f6 27.Kd3 Rb4 28.Rf3 Ng5 29.Rf6 Nf7 30.Rf4 and White is superior) 25.Be7
Re7 26.Rf3 Re4 27.Kc3 Rh4 28.Rgg3 and White is superior; b2) 22...b5
23.Bb3 Rae8 24.Kd2 (24.Rh5 Ng5 25.Rhg5 Bg5 26.Rg5 Re3 27.Rc5 Rc8) c5
b21) 25.Rh5? c4 26.Bc2 (26.Bd1 Rd8 27.Ke2 Nf2 28.Rf2 b4 29.Be5 Rd1) b4
27.Bd4 b3 28.ab3 Bb4 29.Kc1 Nf4 30.ef4 Re1 31.Bd1 Rd8; b22) 25.a3! c4
26.Bc2 (26.Ba2 Rb8) Rb8 (26...f6 27.Rb5 Ng5 28.Rg4 with compensation)
27.Rh5 Nf2 28.Re5 Bh4 29.Rh5 Be7 equal] 16.Nf3 Qe7 [16...Bc7 17.Bd3
(17.Ne4 Bf5) a) 17...Qe7 18.Bf5!? Bf5 (18...g6 19.Bc8 Rac8 20.Qf5 Qe6
21.Nd4 Qf5 22.Rf5 and White is winning) 19.Qf5 Qe6 20.Nd4 Qf5 21.Rf5 Kh8
22.Rf3 and White is winning; b) 17...Kh8!? 18.Bf5 h6 unclear] 17.Bd3!
[17.Ne5 Qe5 18.Bd3 a) 18...Re8 19.Bf5 (19.Nd1 Ne4) h6 20.e4 Ng5 (20...Kh8
21.Qd3) 21.h4! (21.Bg5 hg5 22.Rg5 Bf5 23.Rff5 Qd4) Nge4 22.Ne4 Ne4
23.Bh7! Kf8!? (23...Kh7 24.Bc3; 23...Kh8 24.Be4 Qe4 25.Qe4 Re4 26.Rf7 Bg4
27.Bc3 Rg8 28.Rb7 and White is slightly better) 24.Re1 f5 25.Bb4 c5 26.Re4
Qe4 27.Qc5 (27.Bc5 Kf7 28.Bg6 Kg8 29.Be8 Qe8 and Black is slightly better)
Re7 28.Rd2 Kf7 29.Rd8 Qh1 (29...Qe3 30.Qe3 Re3 31.Rf8 Ke6 32.Re8) 30.Kc2
Qg2 31.Kc1 Qf1 32.Kc2 equal; b) 18...Rd8! 19.Bf5 h6 20.e4 Kf8 and Black is
slightly better] g6! [17...Bc7 18.Bf5!] 18.Bc4!? [18.Ne5 Qe5 19.Bg6 fg6
20.Rg6 Kh8 (20...hg6 21.Qg6 Kh8 22.Qh6 equal) 21.Rh6 Ng5 (21...Qe7
22.Nd1! and White is winning) 22.Qg6 Bg4 23.Rf6 Rf6 24.Qf6 equal] Ng4?
[18...Bc7 19.Rg6 (19.Nd4!?; 19.e4!?) hg6 20.Qg6 Kh8 21.Qh6 Nh7 22.Bd3 f6
23.Nh4 Qg7 (23...Rg8 24.Rf6 N3g5 25.Ng6 Rg6 26.Rg6 Nf3 27.Nd5! cd5
28.Bb4 Qf7 29.Rf6) 24.Ng6 Kg8 25.Bc4 Rf7 26.Ne7 Kf8 27.Ng6 Ke8 (27...Kg8
equal) 28.Qh5 N3g5 29.Nf4 unclear, with the idea h4] 19.Ne5 Ne5 20.Ne4
Kh8 [20...Nc4 21.Nf6 Kh8 22.Qc4 and White is winning] 21.Nf6! [21.Bc3?
Bf5] b5 [21...Qc5 22.Be2 Qc2 23.Kc2 Nd7 24.Ne4 and White is winning]
22.Be2 Nd7 [22...b4 23.Qe4 a5 24.Qh4 and White is winning] 23.Bc3 Qe3
24.Kb1 Nf6 25.Rf6 Kg8
26.Rgg6! fg6 27.Rg6 Kf7 28.Rg7 Ke6 [28...Ke8 29.Bh5 Kd8 30.Qd1 and
White is winning] 29.Bg4 Kd5 30.Qd1 Ke4 [30...Kc5 31.b4 Kb6 (31...Kc4
32.Qb3 Kd3 33.Qc2 Kc4 34.Bd2) 32.Bd4 Qd4 33.Qd4 Ka6 34.Bc8 Rfc8
35.Qe3 and White is winning] 31.Re7 Kf4 32.Re3 Bg4 [32...Ke3 33.Qd4 mate]
33.Qd4 Kg5 34.Qg7 Kh5 35.Qh7 Kg5 36.Re5 Rf5 37.Bd2 1:0 [A. Dreev]
Ba.Jobava 2637 V.Ivanchuk 2739

La Habana 2005 93/428
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Bg5 h6 5.Bh4 Be7 6.Nc3 c5 [6...d5 see 48/566]
7.e4 [7.d5 Nd5! 8.Nd5 Bh4 9.Nh4 Bb7 10.Nf5 ef5 11.e3 0-0 12.Be2 Nc6 13.00 Re8 and Black is slightly better] cd4 8.Nd4 d6 9.Ndb5 [a novelty; 9.Bd3 Bb7
10.0-0 0-0 11.Rc1 Nc6 12.Nc6 Bc6 equal; 9.Qc2] a6 [9...0-0 10.e5 de5 11.Bf6
Qd1 (11...Bf6 12.Qf3) 12.Rd1 Bf6 13.Nc7 and White is superior] 10.Bf6
[10.e5!? a) 10...ab5 11.ef6 (11.Qf3 Ra5 12.ef6 Bf6 13.Bf6 Qf6 14.Qf6 gf6
15.Nb5 Ke7 equal) gf6 (11...Bf6 12.Bf6 Qf6 13.Qd6 Nd7 14.Qc6 Rb8 15.Qb5 00 16.Be2 and White is slightly better) 12.Nb5 a1) 12...Bb7 13.Bg3 e5 14.Nc3
Nc6 (14...f5 15.f3 Nd7 16.Bd3 f4 17.Bf2 Nc5 18.0-0 and White is slightly better)
15.f3 (15.Nd5 Nd4!; 15.Bd3 Nd4 16.Be4 Be4 17.Ne4 d5!) f5 16.Bd3 Nd4
17.Ne2 Ne2 18.Qe2 and White is slightly better; a2) 12...Nc6 13.Bg3 Ne5 14.f4
Nc6 15.f5 Ne5 16.fe6 Be6 unclear; b) 10...de5!? 11.Bf6 b1) 11...Bf6 12.Qf3
ab5 (12...e4 13.Qe4 ab5 14.Qa8 Bc3 15.bc3 Qc7 16.Qf3 bc4 17.Qg3! Qg3
18.hg3 and White is superior) 13.Qa8 Nd7 14.Nb5 0-0 15.Rd1 (15.Qf3 e4!) e4
and White is slightly better; b2) 11...Qd1 12.Rd1 ab5 13.Bg7 Rg8 14.Bh6 bc4
15.Bc4 and White is slightly better; b3) 11...ab5 12.Bg7 Rg8 13.Qf3 Nc6!
14.Bh6! (14.Qc6 Bd7! 15.Qe4 Rg7 16.cb5 Qb8 with compensation) Bb7 15.cb5
Na5 with compensation]
10...Bf6! [10...gf6 11.Nd4 Qc7 12.Qg4 Nc6 13.Nc6 Qc6 14.Qg7 Rf8 15.Qh6
Bb7 unclear] 11.Nd6 Ke7! [11...Kf8 12.f4 Bc3 13.bc3 Nd7 14.e5 and White is
superior] 12.Nc8 Qc8 13.Na4 [13.Be2 Bc3 14.bc3 Rd8 15.Qb3 Nd7 with
counterplay; 13.Qc2 Qc5 14.Bd3 (14.Be2 Nc6 15.0-0 Nd4 with compensation)
Nc6 15.a3 Rhd8 16.0-0 Nd4 17.Qd1 Kf8 with initiative] Rd8 14.Qb3 Nd7!
15.Qa3 [15.Qb4 Nc5!] Nc5 16.Be2 [16.Nb6 Qc6 17.Na4 Qa4 18.Qc5 Ke8
19.Be2 Bb2 with attack] Qc6 17.Nc5 Qc5 18.b4?! [18.Qc5 bc5 19.Rd1!
(19.Rb1 Rab8 20.b3 Bc3 21.Kf1 Rd2 and Black is superior) Bb2 20.0-0 Bd4
and Black is slightly better] Qg5 19.Rd1 [19.Rb1 Qg2 20.Bf3 Qg5 21.Kf1 Bd4
(21...Rd2 22.b5 Ke8 with initiative) 22.Rg1 Qd2 23.Be2 Qf4 24.Qf3 and Black
is slightly better] Qg2 20.b5 Ke8 21.Rd8 Rd8 22.Bf3 Qg5 23.ba6 [23.Kf1 ab5
24.Rg1 Qe5 25.cb5 Qb5 and Black is superior] Qd2 24.Kf1 Bd4 25.Be2 Bc5!
26.Qg3 [26.Qb3 Qf4 27.Qf3 Qf3 28.Bf3 Rd2 29.Be2 Ra2 30.Rg1 g6 and Black
is superior] Qa2 27.Qg7? [27.Rg1 g6 28.Qf4 Qa6 29.Kg2 (29.Qh6 Qa1 30.Kg2
Qb2 and Black is winning) Qa2 and Black is superior; 27.a7 Qa7 28.Qg7 Qa2
29.Qg3 Qb1 30.Kg2 Qe4 and Black is superior] Rd1 28.Kg2 Rh1 29.Qh8 Kd7
30.a7 Qe2 0:1 [V. Ivanchuk]
V.Ivanchuk 2711 L.Van Wely 2679

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.g4 e5 8.Nf5 g6 9.g5
gf5 10.ef5 d5 11.Qf3 d4 12.0-0-0 Nbd7 13.Bd2 Qa5 14.a3! [a novelty; 14.gf6
see 84/198] dc3 15.Bc3 Qa4 [15...Qb6!?] 16.gf6 Qf4 [16...Bh6 17.Kb1 Qf4
18.Qd3 Bg5 19.Bg2 with attack] 17.Qf4 ef4 18.Bc4! [18.Bg2!? a) 18...Bc5
19.Rhe1 Kd8 20.Re7 Kc7 (20...Ra7 21.Rf7 b6 22.Be5 h6 23.Rg7 Rf8 24.b4 Bf2
25.Bd6 and White is winning) 21.Be5 and White is superior; b) 18...Rb8
19.Rhe1 Kd8 20.Re7 Be7 (20...Rg8 21.Rf7 Rg2 22.Rf8 Kc7 23.Re8 and White is
winning) 21.fe7 Ke7 22.Bh8 f6 23.Bg7 Ne5 24.Be4 and White is slightly
better] Bc5 19.Rhe1 Kd8
20.Re7!! Rf8 21.Bb4 [21.Bf7 b6 (21...Kc7 22.Be5 Kb6 23.Red7 Bd7 24.Rd7
Rad8 25.Bc7 Kc6 26.Rd8 Kc7 27.Rf8 Bf8 28.c3 Kd6 29.Be6 and White is
winning) 22.Be6 Be7 (22...Ra7 23.Rh7 Bf2 24.Be5 Be3 25.Kb1 f3 26.Bd6 and
White is winning) 23.Bd7 Bd7 24.fe7 Ke7 25.Bb4 Kf6 26.Bf8 Bf5 27.Bh6 Re8
28.Bf4 Re2 29.Rd6 Kf7 30.Rb6 Rc2 31.Kd1 and White is superior] Bb4 22.ab4
b5 23.Bf7 Ra7 24.Be6 h6 [24...h5! a) 25.Rg7 Rf6 26.Rg8 Kc7 27.Rd3 Nb6
28.Rc3 (28.Bc8 Ra8 and White is superior) Kd6 29.Bc8 Ra8 30.f3 Nc8
31.Rgc8 Rc8 32.Rc8 Rf5 and White is superior; b) 25.Rh7 Rf6 26.Rh8 Kc7
27.Rd3 Nb6 28.Rc3 Kd6 29.Bc8 Ra8 30.b3 Nc8 31.Rhc8 Rc8 32.Rc8 Ke5 and
White is superior] 25.Rh7 [25.Rg7 Rf6 26.Rg8 Kc7 27.Rd3 Nb6 28.Rc3 Kd6
29.Bc8 Ra8 30.Be6 Rg8 31.Bg8 Nd5 32.Rd3 Rf5 33.Bd5 Rd5 34.Kd2 and
White is winning] Rf6 26.Rh8 Kc7 27.Rd3! [27.Bd7 Bd7 28.Rd7 Kd7 29.Rh7
Kd6 30.Ra7 Ke5 31.f3 Kf5 and White is superior] Nf8? [27...Nb6! 28.Bc8 Ra8
29.Rc3 Kd6 30.h3 Nc8 31.Rcc8 Rc8 32.Rc8 Ke5 and White is superior] 28.Rc3
Kb6 29.Bc8 Rc7 30.Rc7 Kc7 31.Ba6 Kb6 32.Bc8 f3 [32...Kc7 33.Be6 Ne6
34.fe6 Re6 35.Rf8 Re1 36.Kd2 Rh1 37.Rf7 Kc6 (37...Kd8 38.Rf4 Rh2 39.Rf5
and White is winning) 38.Rf6 Kd5 39.Rh6 Ke4 40.Ke2 and White is winning]
33.b3 Kc7 34.Be6 Ne6 35.fe6 Re6 36.Rh7 Kc6 37.Rf7 Re1 [37...Re4 38.Rf3
Rb4 39.Rf6 Kc5 40.Rh6 Rf4 41.h4 Rf2 42.Rg6 and White is winning] 38.Kb2
Rh1 39.Rf6 Kd5 40.Rf3 (and White is winning) Rh2 41.Rf5 Kc6 42.c4 h5
43.Rc5 Kd6 44.Rb5 h4 45.Rh5 h3 46.Kc3 Rh1 47.b5 h2 48.Kb4 1:0 [V.
Ivanchuk]
R.Kasimdzhanov 2678 V.Anand 2786

Linares 2005 93/140
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 Bg4 5.d3 e6 6.Nbd2 Nc6 7.Nf1 d5 8.ed5
Nd5! [a novelty; 8...ed5 see 92/(175)] 9.Qa4 Bh5 10.Ng3 [10.Ne5 Be2 11.Ke2
(11.Nc6 Qd7 12.Ke2 Ne7! and Black is slightly better) Rc8 and Black is
slightly better] Nb6 11.Qd1?! [11.Qb5 a6 12.Qb3 Bg6 13.0-0 Be7 14.Bg5 Bg5
15.Ng5 0-0 16.N5e4 equal] Bg6 12.0-0 Be7 (and Black is slightly better) 13.a4
0-0 14.a5 Nd5 15.Qa4 Qc7 [15...a6 16.d4 cd4 17.Nd4 Nd4 18.Qd4 equal]
16.d4 cd4 17.Nd4 Nd4 18.Qd4 f5! 19.Qa4 [19.Qc4? f4 20.Qc7 Nc7 21.Nh1
and Black is slightly better; 19.Bf3 Rad8 20.Re1 f4 21.Nf1 Ne3 22.Be3 Rd4
23.Bd4 and Black is slightly better] Rad8 20.Rd1 [20.Bf3 e5; 20.Re1 e5
(20...a6 21.Qc4! equal) 21.Bc4 Kh8 and Black is slightly better]
20...f4! 21.Ne4 Qe5 22.Bf3 b5! [22...Nf6? 23.Rd8 Bd8 24.Nf6 Rf6 25.Bd2 and
White is slightly better; 22...Be4 23.Qe4 (23.Be4 Nc3 24.Bh7 Kh7 25.bc3) Qe4
24.Be4 Nc3 25.Rd8 Rd8 26.Bf3! equal; 22...Nb4 23.cb4 (23.Rd8? Rd8; 23.Re1
Nd3 24.Re2) Be4 24.Re1 Rd4 25.Bd2 Rd2 26.Re4 Qb2 27.Re6 (27.Rf1 Bh4)
Bh4 28.Kh1 Bf2 29.Rf1 with compensation] 23.Qc2 [23.ab6 Nb6 24.Qc2 Be4
and Black is winning; 23.Qd4 Qb8 and Black is winning] Nf6! 24.Nf6 [24.Re1
Ne4 25.Qe2 Qf5 and Black is winning] Qf6! [24...Bf6 25.Qb3] 25.Qb3 Rd1
26.Qd1 Rd8 27.Qe2 [27.Qb3 Qe5! and Black is winning] Bd3 28.Qe1 e5 [and
Black is superior, weak points Bc1, Ra1] 29.Be2 Be2 30.Qe2 e4! 31.g3 e3!
[31...f3? 32.Qe1 Qe6 33.Be3 a6 and Black is slightly better] 32.fe3 [32.gf4 Qg6
33.Kf1 ef2 34.Kf2 Bc5 35.Be3 Re8 36.Bc5 Re2 37.Ke2 Qh5 and Black is
winning] f3! [32...fg3 33.hg3 (33.Bd2? Qf2) Qg6 and Black is superior]
33.Qb5 [33.Qf1 f2 34.Qf2 (34.Kg2 Qc6 35.Kh3 Qf3) Rd1 35.Kg2 Qc6 36.Kh3
Qe6 37.Kg2 Qe4 38.Kh3 g5 39.Qe2 h5! 40.Qh5 Qf5 41.g4 Qf3 mate] f2
34.Kg2 Rf8! 35.Qd5 Kh8 36.Kf1 Qh6 37.Bd2 [37.h4 Qg6 38.Bd2 Qg3
39.Qg2 Qh4 and Black is winning] Qh3 38.Qg2 Qf5 [39.Ke2 Qb5 and Black is
winning] 0:1 [V. Anand]
E.Sutovsky 2669 V.Ivanchuk 2711

Moscow 2005 93/120
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.Qe2 Bd6 8.Nf3
Nc6 9.0-0 b5 [a novelty; 9...Ng4; 9...b6] 10.Re1 Ng4 11.Nd5?! [11.h3 Nge5
12.Ne5 Ne5 13.a3 Bb7 14.Be3 0-0 with counterplay; 11.g3 Bc5 12.Nd1 d6
equal] ed5 12.ed5 (only move) Ne7 13.Bf4 [13.Bg5 f6 14.Bf4 Ne5 15.Ne5 Be5
16.Be5 fe5 17.Qh5 g6 18.Qg5 d6 19.f4 0-0 20.fe5 Nd5 and Black is winning]
Qc5 [only move; 13...Bb7 14.Qe7!] 14.Nh4! h5! [14...Nh6 15.Bh6 gh6 16.Nf5
Kf8 17.Qd2 Nf5 18.Bf5 Kg7 19.Re4 with attack]
15.b4?! [15.Qf3 a) 15...0-0 16.h3 Ng6! (16...Bf4? 17.hg4 Bd6 18.Re7 Be7
19.Qf5!! and White is winning) 17.Bg6 (17.Bd6 Qd6 18.hg4 Nh4 19.Qh3 Ng6
20.gh5 Nf4 and Black is winning) a1) 17...fg6 18.Ng6 Bf4 19.Nf8 Nf2!
20.Ng6!! (20.Qf2 Bh2 21.Kf1 Qf8 and Black is superior) Ne4 21.Kh1 Ng3
equal; a2) 17...Bf4 a21) 18.Bf5 Bg5! (18...Nf2 19.Qf2) 19.hg4 Bh4 20.gh5 d6
and Black is winning; a22) 18.Bh5 Nf6 a221) 19.Qf4 Nh5 20.Qg5 (20.Qe5 Nf6
21.Nf5 d6 22.Ne7 Kh8 23.Qg3 Qc2 and Black is winning) g6 21.Nf5 (21.Ng6
fg6 22.Qg6 Ng7 and Black is winning) d6 and Black is superior; a222) 19.Nf5
Bd2 20.Re2 Qc2 21.Bg4 (21.Nd4 Qh7) d6 22.Nd4 Qb2 23.Nb3 Bg4 24.hg4
Rac8 25.Rd2 Qe5 and Black is superior; b) 15...Bf4! 16.Qf4 g5! 17.Qf3 gh4
18.d6 Qd6 19.Qa8 Qh2 20.Kf1 Kd8! (20...0-0?! 21.Re7 Qh1 22.Ke2 Qa1
23.Qe4!! unclear) 21.Qa7 Rh6! and Black is winning; 15.Bd6 Qd6 16.g3 Kd8
17.b3 (with the idea c4; 17.Qf3 Ne5 18.Qf4 f6 19.Rad1 Bb7 and Black is
superior) b4 (17...Bb7 18.c4 Rc8 19.Rac1 unclear) 18.a3 ba3 19.c4 Bb7 20.b4
and Black is slightly better] Qb4 16.Bd2 Bh2 17.Kh1 Qc5! 18.f4 [18.Nf5 Be5!
19.f4 Qf2 20.Qf2 Nf2 21.Kg1 Nd3 22.cd3 Ba1 23.Ne7 Bd4 24.Kf1 Kf8 25.Bb4
Bb7 26.Nf5 (26.Ng6 Kg8) Kg8 27.Nd4 Bd5 and Black is winning] Bg3 [18...g6
19.Rab1!] 19.Nf5 [19.Qe7 Qe7 20.Re7 Ke7 21.Nf5 Ke8 22.Ng3 Nf2 23.Kh2
Nd3 24.cd3 and Black is winning] Nf2! [19...Be1 20.Re1 0-0 (20...Nf2 21.Kh2
Nd3 22.cd3 Bb7 23.Ne7 with attack) 21.Ne7 Kh8 unclear] 20.Kg1 Nh3 21.Kh1
Nf2 22.Kg1 Nd3 23.Be3
23...Nf4! [23...Qd5?! 24.Bd4!! Bh4 (24...Qd4 25.Nd4 Ne1 26.Nf5 with attack)
25.Qe7 Be7 26.Re7 Kf8 27.Bg7 Kg8 28.Re8 Kh7 29.Rh8 Kg6 30.Bf8! (30.Bc3
Qf5 31.Rg8 Kh6 32.Rh8 Qh7 33.Rh7 Kh7 and Black is superior) Kf5 (30...Qf5?
31.Rh6 mate) 31.Rh5 Ke4 32.Rd5 Kd5 33.Rd1 equal] 24.Qf3 [24.Bc5 Ne2
25.Re2 d6 26.Re7 (26.Ne7 Bg4 27.Re3 Kd7 28.Bd4 Bf4 29.Re4 Bg5 30.Nc6 Bf5
31.Re2 Rhe8 32.Re8 Re8 and Black is winning) Kf8 27.Nd6 Ke7 28.Nc8 Kd8
and Black is winning] Qd5 25.Qg3 Nf5! 26.Bf4 Kf8 27.Qa3 d6 28.Rad1 Qc6
(and Black is winning) 29.Re2 [29.Bd6 Kg8] Be6 30.Bd6 Kg8 31.Be5 Rh6
32.Red2 Rg6 33.g3 Kh7 34.Rd8 Qb6 0:1 [V. Ivanchuk]


Informant 93
Milan Bjelajac
The winning novelty of Chess Informant 93 was prepared in the modern
chess laboratory: man + computer. Garry Kasparov explained his discovery
in New in Chess 3/2005:
17...0-0! A strong novelty, and I have to give co-authorship to the
computer program Deep Junior and my second, Yury Dokhoian.
Thats nothing unusual in this day and age, but we came upon the
move in a less than usual way. We were looking at the Meran in our
preparation for my 2003 match against Deep Junior since its
trainer, Boris Alterman, is an aficionado. When we reached the
position after 17.Ng5 we saw our version of the program was
suggesting castles. We thought this might mean an opportunity with
the white pieces since the computer was giving up an exchange. Then
Yury pointed at Juniors evaluation, which was showing a plus for
Black! This caused us to look at the position with fresh eyes. The more
we looked at it, the more we found dynamic possibilities for Black in
just about every line. Whites pieces are limited and he must find a
plan quickly. I was sure hed take the exchange, but Kasimdzhanov
was less sure. After I moved I was walking around the stage and saw
him coming back to the board. When he saw the position on the
monitor he stopped briefly when he saw I had castled
Kasimdzhanov 2678 G. Kasparov 2804

Linares 2005 93/385
Bb7 9.0-0 a6 10.e4 c5 11.d5 Qc7 12.de6 fe6 13.Bc2 c4 14.Nd4 Nc5 15.Be3
e5 16.Nf3 Be7 17.Ng5
17...0-0! [a novelty; 17...h6 see 81/(368)] 18.Bc5 [18.b4 cb3 (18...h6 19.Bc5
hg5 20.Be7 Qe7 21.a3 Rad8 22.Qe2 g4 23.Rad1 Rd4 unclear) 19.Bb3 Nb3
20.Qb3 Qc4 21.Qc4 bc4 22.Rab1 Bc6 unclear] Bc5 19.Ne6 Qb6 20.Nf8 Rf8
21.Nd5 [21.Kh1 Bf2 22.Qe2 Bd4 23.Nd5 Bd5 24.ed5 Qd6 unclear; 21.a4 a)
21...b4 22.Nd5 Nd5 23.ed5 Bf2 24.Kh1 b3 25.Be4 Qe3 26.Bf3 e4 27.Bg4
Qc5 28.Be6 Kh8 29.d6 e3 30.d7 Qb6 31.Bc4 (31.Rc1 Qe6 32.d8Q Bg2
33.Kg2 Qe4 equal) Bg2 32.Kg2 Qg6 33.Kh3 Qh6 equal; b) 21...Bf2 22.Kh1
Bd4 23.ab5 ab5 with compensation; 21.Qe2 Qe6 22.Kh1 (22.h3 Bd4 with
compensation) Ng4 (22...Bd4) 23.Nd1 Bd4 24.h3 Nf6 25.Rc1 g6 26.b3 Nh5
unclear] Bd5 22.ed5 Bf2 23.Kh1 e4 24.Qe2? [24.d6 e3 25.Bf5 (25.d7 g6!;
25.b3 c3 26.b4 Rd8 27.Bb3 Kh8) a) 25...Qc5 26.d7 Rd8 (26...Qf5 27.d8Q
Rd8 28.Qd8 Kf7 29.Qb6 and White is superior) 27.Qf3 Qe5 28.Rf2 ef2
29.Qf2 Nd7 30.Bh7 Kh8 31.Bf5 Qf6 32.Qg3 and White is slightly better; b)
25...g6 26.Bh3 Kg7 (26...Qc5 27.d7 Qe7 28.Qf3 Kg7 29.Rfd1 Rd8 30.Rd4)
27.d7 Ne4 28.Qd5 Nd2 29.Rfd1 Qf6 30.Bg4 h5 31.Be2 Rd8 32.a4 Qb2
33.ab5 Qb5 34.Qd4 Kh7 35.Qf6 with initiative; 27...Nh5 unclear; 24.a4 a)
24...Rd8 25.ab5 ab5 26.Qe2 e3 27.b3 c3 28.Rfd1 (28.d6 Rd6 29.Ra8 Kf7
unclear) g6 29.d6 Kg7 30.Qd3 b4 31.Ra6 Qc5 32.Rda1 Qe5 unclear, with the
idea 33.Ra7 Nd7 34.R1a5 Qe6; b) 24...Bd4 25.ab5 ab5 26.Qe2 Bb2 27.Rad1
Bd4 28.Be4 Re8 29.Rf6 Qf6 30.Bh7 Kf8 31.Be4 Qe5 32.Qf3 Kg8 33.Rf1
Qe4 34.Qf7 equal] e3 25.Rfd1? [25.Rad1 Qd6 26.Bf5 Kh8 27.Rf2 ef2
28.Qf2 Re8 and Black is superior; 25.b3 Nd5 26.bc4 Nf4 27.Qf3 bc4 28.Qe4
Qh6 29.Qc4 Kh8 30.Rab1 unclear; 25...c3 and Black is slightly better] Qd6
26.a4 [26.b3 c3 27.Bf5 g6 28.Be6 Kg7 29.Rac1 Ne4 and Black is superior]
g6! 27.ab5 ab5 28.g3 Nh5! [28...Qe5? 29.d6 Nh5 30.d7 Ng3 31.hg3 Qg3
32.Bf5 equal] 29.Qg4
29...Bg3! [29...Re8 30.Kg2 e2 31.Kf2 ed1Q 32.Qd1 Rf8 33.Kg2 Nf6 and
Black is superior] 30.hg3 [30.Qe6 Qe6 31.de6 e2 (31...Bh4!?) 32.hg3 Ng3
33.Kg2 ed1Q 34.Rd1 Nh5 and Black is winning; 30.Rg1 a) 30...Bh2 31.Bg6
Ng3 (31...hg6 32.Qg6 Qg6 33.Rg6 Kh7 34.Re6 Bf4 and Black is winning)
32.Rg3 Bg3 33.Bh7 Kh7 34.Ra7 Kh6 35.Qh3 Kg6 36.Qh7 Kf6 37.Ra6 Qa6
38.Qh6 Ke5 39.Qa6 Rf1 40.Kg2 e2 41.Qe6 Kd4 42.Qe2 Rf2 and Black is
winning; b) 30...Bf2! 31.Qh5 Bg1 32.Rg1 Rf1! and Black is winning] Ng3
31.Kg2 [31.Kg1 e2 32.Re1 Qc5 33.Kh2 Qf2 34.Kh3 Nh5 35.Qe6 Kg7 and
Black is winning] Rf2 32.Kh3 Nf5 33.Rh1 h5! 34.Qg6 Qg6 35.Rhg1 Qg1
36.Rg1 Kf7 0-1 [G. Kasparov]
Ivanchuk 2711 Van Wely 2679

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.g4 e5 8.Nf5 g6
9.g5 gf5 10.ef5 d5 11.Qf3 d4 12.0-0-0 Nbd7 13.Bd2 Qa5
14.a3! [a novelty; 14.gf6 see 84/198] dc3 15.Bc3 Qa4 [15...Qb6!?] 16.gf6
Qf4 [16...Bh6 17.Kb1 Qf4 18.Qd3 Bg5 19.Bg2 with attack] 17.Qf4 ef4
18.Bc4! [18.Bg2!? a) 18...Bc5 19.Rhe1 Kd8 20.Re7 Kc7 (20...Ra7 21.Rf7 b6
22.Be5 h6 23.Rg7 Rf8 24.b4 Bf2 25.Bd6 and White is winning) 21.Be5 and
White is superior; b) 18...Rb8 19.Rhe1 Kd8 20.Re7 Be7 (20...Rg8 21.Rf7 Rg2
22.Rf8 Kc7 23.Re8 and White is winning) 21.fe7 Ke7 22.Bh8 f6 23.Bg7 Ne5
24.Be4 and White is slightly better] Bc5 19.Rhe1 Kd8
20.Re7!! Rf8 21.Bb4 [21.Bf7 b6 (21...Kc7 22.Be5 Kb6 23.Red7 Bd7 24.Rd7
Rad8 25.Bc7 Kc6 26.Rd8 Kc7 27.Rf8 Bf8 28.c3 Kd6 29.Be6 and White is
winning) 22.Be6 Be7 (22...Ra7 23.Rh7 Bf2 24.Be5 Be3 25.Kb1 f3 26.Bd6 and
White is winning) 23.Bd7 Bd7 24.fe7 Ke7 25.Bb4 Kf6 26.Bf8 Bf5 27.Bh6
Re8 28.Bf4 Re2 29.Rd6 Kf7 30.Rb6 Rc2 31.Kd1 and White is superior] Bb4
22.ab4 b5 23.Bf7 Ra7 24.Be6 h6 [24...h5! a) 25.Rg7 Rf6 26.Rg8 Kc7
27.Rd3 Nb6 28.Rc3 (28.Bc8 Ra8 and White is superior) Kd6 29.Bc8 Ra8
30.f3 Nc8 31.Rgc8 Rc8 32.Rc8 Rf5 and White is superior; b) 25.Rh7 Rf6
26.Rh8 Kc7 27.Rd3 Nb6 28.Rc3 Kd6 29.Bc8 Ra8 30.b3 Nc8 31.Rhc8 Rc8
32.Rc8 Ke5 and White is superior] 25.Rh7 [25.Rg7 Rf6 26.Rg8 Kc7 27.Rd3
Nb6 28.Rc3 Kd6 29.Bc8 Ra8 30.Be6 Rg8 31.Bg8 Nd5 32.Rd3 Rf5 33.Bd5
Rd5 34.Kd2 and White is winning] Rf6 26.Rh8 Kc7 27.Rd3! [27.Bd7 Bd7
28.Rd7 Kd7 29.Rh7 Kd6 30.Ra7 Ke5 31.f3 Kf5 and White is superior] Nf8?
[27...Nb6! 28.Bc8 Ra8 29.Rc3 Kd6 30.h3 Nc8 31.Rcc8 Rc8 32.Rc8 Ke5 and
White is superior] 28.Rc3 Kb6 29.Bc8 Rc7 30.Rc7 Kc7 31.Ba6 Kb6 32.Bc8
f3 [32...Kc7 33.Be6 Ne6 34.fe6 Re6 35.Rf8 Re1 36.Kd2 Rh1 37.Rf7 Kc6
(37...Kd8 38.Rf4 Rh2 39.Rf5 and White is winning) 38.Rf6 Kd5 39.Rh6 Ke4
40.Ke2 and White is winning] 33.b3 Kc7 34.Be6 Ne6 35.fe6 Re6 36.Rh7
Kc6 37.Rf7 Re1 [37...Re4 38.Rf3 Rb4 39.Rf6 Kc5 40.Rh6 Rf4 41.h4 Rf2
42.Rg6 and White is winning] 38.Kb2 Rh1 39.Rf6 Kd5 40.Rf3 (and White
is winning) Rh2 41.Rf5 Kc6 42.c4 h5 43.Rc5 Kd6 44.Rb5 h4 45.Rh5 h3
46.Kc3 Rh1 47.b5 h2 48.Kb4 1-0 [Ivanchuk]
Vallejo Pons 2686 Kasimdzhanov 2678

Linares 2005 93/387
1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 e6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bf6 Bf6 7.Qc2 0-0 8.0-0-0
c5 9.dc5 d4 10.Nd4 [10.Ne4 see 81/372] Bd4
11.Qe4! [a novelty; 11.e3] Nc6 [11...e5 12.e3 f5 13.Qf3 and White is

superior] 12.e3 f5 [12...Be3 13.Qe3 and White is superior] 13.Qf3 Qg5 14.h4
Be3 15.Qe3 Qe3 16.fe3 Ne5 17.Be2 Bd7 18.Rd6 Kf7 19.Bf3 [19.Rhd1 Bc6
20.g3 a5 21.b3 g5 with counterplay] Rac8 [19...Bc6 20.Bc6 bc6 21.b3 and
White is superior] 20.Rhd1 [20.Bb7? Rc5 with the idea 21.Rhd1 Bc8!] Rc7
[20...Bc6 21.Bc6 Rc6 22.Rc6 bc6 23.b3 and White is slightly better] 21.b4
Ke7 [21...b6 22.cb6 ab6 23.c5! Rb8 (23...bc5 24.b5 and White is superior)
24.a4 Ke7 25.Be2 and White is slightly better] 22.Nb5 Bb5 23.cb5 b6
[23...f4! 24.R1d4! (24.ef4?! Nf3 25.gf3 Rf4) a) 24...fe3 25.Re4 Rf5 (25...Nf3
26.Rde6 Kd8 27.gf3 and White is superior) 26.b6 ab6 27.Rb6 and White is
superior; b) 24...b6 25.c6 fe3 26.Kd1 and White is slightly better] 24.c6 g5
[24...f4 25.ef4! with the idea 25...Nf3? 26.Rd7] 25.R6d4 Kf6 26.a4 Ng6
[better is 26...g4 27.Be2] 27.hg5 hg5 28.Rd7 Rfc8 29.R1d6 g4 [29...Ne5?
30.Rc7 Rc7 31.Bd5 Re7 32.Be6!] 30.Bd1 [30.Bd5?? Rd7] Nf8 31.Rc7 Rc7
32.Bb3 [32.e4! and White is winning] Ke7 33.Rd1 Nh7 34.Rh1 Nf6 35.Rh6
[time; 35.Rh8!] Rc8 36.Kc2 [36.Rg6! a6 (36...Kf7 37.Rg5 and White is
winning) 37.ba6 Rc6 38.Kb2 and White is winning] Kf7 37.Bc4 Rd8 38.Rh1
Ke7 39.a5 Rb8 40.Kb3 Rd8 41.ab6 ab6 42.Ra1 Ne4 43.Ra7 Kf6
44.Rd7! (and White is winning) Rh8 [44...Nd2?? 45.Rd2 Rd2 46.c7] 45.Bd3
[45.Be2!] Nf2 46.Bc2 [46.Be2!] g3 47.Rb7 Ng4 48.Rb6 Rc8 [48...Ne3 49.c7
Rc8 50.Rc6 Nd5 51.Bd3! Ke5 52.Bc4] 49.Ra6 Ne3 50.b6! Nc2 51.b7 Rc6
[51...Nd4 52.Kb2 Rc6 53.b8Q Ra6 54.Qh8] 52.b5! Rc5 53.Rb6 Nd4 54.Kb4
Rb5 55.Rb5 Nc6 56.Kc3 f4 57.Rc5 f3 58.Rc6 fg2 59.b8Q g1Q 60.Qf4 1-0
[Vallejo Pons]
V.Anand 2785 R.Ponomariov 2695

Sofia 2005 93/249
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Ne5 d6 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.c4
Nb4 9.Be2 0-0 10.Nc3 Be6 11.Ne5
11...Bd6! [a novelty; 11...Bf6?! 12.f4! c5 13.Ne4 de4 14.d5 Bf5 15.a3 Nd3
16.Nd3 ed3 17.Bd3 Bd4 18.Kh1 Qf6 19.Rb1 Qg6 20.Bf5 Qf5 21.Bd2 and
White is superior] 12.a3!? [12.Bf3 f6 a) 13.cd5 Nc3 14.bc3 Nd5 15.Qb3
(15.Nc4 Nc3 16.Qd3 Nd5) Be5 16.de5 fe5 17.Qb7 Rb8 18.Qa7 Nc3 unclear;
b) 13.Nd3 Nc3 14.bc3 Nd3 15.Qd3 dc4 16.Qe4 Qc8 (16...Bc8 17.Qd5 Kh8
18.Qc4 c6 19.Qd3 Be6 equal) 17.Re1 Bf7 18.Qb7 Qb7 19.Bb7 Rab8 20.Bf3
Rfd8 with counterplay; 12.f4!? a) 12...Bf5 13.g4 Bc8 14.a3 Nc3 15.bc3 Nc6
16.cd5 Ne7 17.Bf3 and White is superior; b) 12...c5 13.Ne4 de4 14.d5 (14.a3
cd4 15.ab4 Be5 16.fe5 d3 17.Bg4 Qd4 18.Kh1 e3) Bc8 15.a3 and White is
slightly better; c) 12...f6! 13.Ne4 (13.f5? fe5 14.fe6 ed4 with initiative;
13.Nf3 c5 14.Be3 Qe7; 13.a3 fe5 14.fe5 Rf1 15.Bf1 Be5 16.de5 Nc3 17.bc3
Nc6 18.cd5 Qd5 19.Qd5 Bd5 20.Bf4 Rf8 21.Bg3 Be6 with counterplay) de4
14.Ng4 Bg4 (14...f5 15.Ne5 c6 16.Be3 and White is slightly better; 14...b5
15.c5 Be7 16.f5 Bf7 17.Bb5 Rb8 18.Qa4 Rb5 19.Qb5 Nc2 20.Be3 Ne3 21.Ne3
Qd4 22.Rfe1 Bc5 23.Rad1 Qe5 24.Kh1 and White is slightly better) 15.Bg4 f5
16.Be2 c5 17.d5 Qf6 (17...b5?! 18.cb5 Qf6 19.Qb3 Nd3 20.Be3 Qb2 21.Bd3
Qb3 22.ab3 ed3 23.Ra6 and White is superior) 18.Qb3 (18.a3 Nd3; 18.Rf2
Qd4 19.Qb3 a5 20.a4 g6 21.Be3 Qg7 equal) a5 (18...Nd3!?) 19.a3 Nd3
20.Bd3 Qd4 21.Rf2 Qd3 22.Qd3 ed3 23.Rf3 Rfe8 24.Bd2 b5 with
counterplay, with the idea 25.Rd3?! bc4 26.Rc3 Rab8 27.Re1 Re1 28.Be1
Bf4 29.Rc4 Be3 30.Bf2 f4 31.Be3 fe3 32.Rc2 (32.Kf1 Rb2 33.Rc5 Rf2) Kf7
33.Kf1 Kf6 34.Ke2 Ke5 35.Ke3 Rb3 and Black is slightly better] Be5 13.ab4
Bf6 14.Ne4 [14.Bf3 c6; 14.cd5 a) 14...Bf5 15.Bd3 (15.g4 Bg6 16.f4 Nc3
17.bc3 Be4 18.c4 b5 19.g5 Be7 20.Qb3 Qd7 21.f5 bc4 22.Bc4 Bf5 with
counterplay) Nc3 16.bc3 Bd3 17.Qd3 Qd5 18.Ra5 Qd7 19.Bf4 a6 20.Rh5 g6
21.Qg3 c6 22.Be5 Be5 23.Re5 Rfe8 24.Rfe1 Re5 25.Qe5 Qd8 and White is
slightly better; b) 14...Bd5 15.Bd3 Nc3 16.bc3 c6 17.Bd2 Re8 unclear] de4
15.Be3 [15.d5 Bf5 16.Ra3 (16.c5 Be5 17.Qb3 Qh4 18.g3 Qf6 with
counterplay, with the idea 19.Ra2?! c6! 20.d6 Be6 21.Bc4 Bh3 22.Re1 b5
23.Bf1 Be6 24.Qa3 Ba2 25.Qa2 Bd4 26.Bf4 a5 and Black is superior) Be5
17.f4 (17.b5 Bd6) ef3 18.Raf3 Be4 with counterplay] c6 16.Qd2 [16.Qc2 Re8
17.Rfd1 a6] Qd6 [16...a6!? with the idea 17.f3 ef3 18.Rf3 Bg4] 17.Rfd1
[17.d5 Rfd8; 17.f4!? ef3 18.Rf3 (with the idea Rf6 with initiative) Be7 19.b5!
cb5 20.d5 Bg4 21.c5 Qd7 22.Rf2 Be2 23.Re2 b6 24.c6 Qc7 25.Bf4 Bd6
26.Bd6 Qd6 27.Qd4 and White is superior] Rfd8 18.b5 cb5 19.d5 Bd7
[19...Qe5!? 20.Bf4 Qf5 21.Bc7 Rdc8 22.Bd6 (22.de6 Rc7 23.Ra7 Rac8) Bd7
23.c5 unclear] 20.c5 Qe7! [20...Qe5?! 21.Bd4 Qd4 22.Qd4 Bd4 23.Rd4 b6
24.b4 bc5 25.bc5 Rac8 26.Rc1 Be6 27.Rcd1 Bf5 28.c6 and White is superior]
21.Ra3 [21.Qc2 a5 unclear] Bc6! 22.d6 Qe5 23.b4 Qb2 (with counterplay)
24.Qb2 Bb2 25.Ra5! a6 [25...Bc3? 26.Bb5 Bb4 27.Bc6 Ba5 28.Bb7 Rab8
29.Be4 and White is winning] 26.Rb1 Be5 27.f4! ef3 28.Bf3 Rac8 29.Ra3 f6
[29...g6!? unclear] 30.Bg4 Bd7 31.Bf3 Bc6 32.Bg4 Bd7 33.Bf3 Bc6 1/2-1/2
[R. Ponomariov]
Khalifman 2662 Motylev 2665

Moscow 2005 93/366
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5
9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.a4 b4 12.e5
12...g4! [a novelty; 12...Nh5 see 79/399] 13.Nh4 [13.Ne1 bc3 14.ef6 cb2
15.Rb1 Ba6 16.Rb2 a) 16...Nf6 17.Be5 Bg7 18.Rc2 with compensation; b)
16...c5!? 17.Rc2 (17.d5 Nf6) h5; c) 16...h5 17.Bh4 (17.Qc2 h4 18.Bf4 Qf6
and Black is superior) Rb8 18.Rb8 (18.Rc2 Rb4) Qb8 19.Qc2 Qb4 20.Qe4
Bb7 and Black is superior] bc3 14.ef6 cb2 15.Rb1 Ba6 16.Bg4 [16.Rb2!?
Nf6 17.Rc2] Nf6! [16...c3 17.Be6! a) 17...Nf6 18.Qb3 fe6 19.Qe6 Be7
20.Qc6 (20.Rfe1) Kf7 21.Qa6 unclear; b) 17...Qf6 18.Re1 fe6 19.Qh5 Qf7
(19...Kd8 20.Qa5 Nb6 21.Qa6 with attack) 20.Re6 Be7 21.Re7 Ke7 22.Nf5
Kf8 23.Bd6 Kg8 24.Ne7 Kf8 (24...Kg7 25.Qg4) 25.Nf5 Kg8 equal] 17.Be2
Bg7 [17...Ne4?! 18.Bf3; 17...c5!? 18.Be5 Rg8] 18.Be5! [18.Rb2 Ne4 and
Black is superior] 0-0 19.Nf3 [19.Qc2!? Nd5 20.Nf3 Be5 21.Ne5 (21.de5
Rb8 22.Bc4 Bc4 23.Qc4 Qe7 and Black is superior, with the idea 24.Qg4 Kh7
25.Qe4 Kh8) Nf4 (21...Rb8 22.Bc4 Bc4 23.Nc4) 22.Bc4 Bc4 (22...Qd4
23.Ba6 Qe5 and Black is slightly better) 23.Nc4 Rb8 24.g3 Nh3 25.Kg2 Ng5
26.h4 Qd5 27.f3 and Black is slightly better; 19.Rb2 Nd5] Nd5 20.Qc2
[20.Bg7 Kg7 21.Qc2 Nf4 22.Bc4 (22.Rb2 Ne2 23.Qe2 c3 and Black is
winning) Bc4 23.Qc4 Rb8 and Black is superior] Qa5 [20...Be5!? 21.Ne5
(21.de5 Rb8 and Black is superior) Nf4 22.Bc4 Bc4 23.Nc4 Qd4 and Black is
superior] 21.Bc4?! [21.Bg7 Kg7 22.Rb2 c3 (22...Nc3 23.Re1 Ne2?! 24.Re2
c3? 25.Re5; 23...c5 unclear) 23.Ra2 and Black is slightly better] Nc3
[21...Bc4! 22.Qc4 Rab8! 23.Bb8 Rb8 and Black is superior; S.Shipov]
22.Ba6 [22.Bc7? Qc7 23.Qc3 Bc4 24.Qc4 Rab8 and Black is superior] Nb1
23.Bd3 [23.Bb7 Rab8 24.Bb8 Rb8 25.Rb1 Rb7 and Black is superior] Nc3?
[23...Be5! a) 24.Ne5 Nd2! 25.Nc6 Rfc8!! 26.Ne7 (26.Rd1 Rc6 27.Qc6 Rb8
and Black is winning) Kg7 27.Nc8 Rb8 and Black is winning; b) 24.de5 Nc3
25.Qb2 Rfd8 (25...Nd5 26.Qd4 Qb4 27.Bc4 with counterplay) 26.Qd2
(26.Qc2 Qc5!) Qc5 and Black is superior] 24.Qb2 c5 [24...Be5 25.Ne5 with
initiative] 25.Qd2! Rac8 [25...cd4 26.Qf4 f6 27.Bd4 with initiative] 26.Qf4!
c4 [26...f6 27.Qg4] 27.Qg4 f6 28.Qe6 [28.Bc4 Rc4 29.Qe6 Kh8 30.Qc4 fe5
31.de5 Be5 and Black is superior] Kh8 29.Bc2 fe5 30.Ne5 Ne2 31.Kh1 Nf4
32.Ng6 Ng6 33.Qg6 Kg8 34.Qe6 Kh8 35.Qg6 Kg8 36.Qe6 1/2-1/2
[Motylev]
Al.Onischuk 2638 Y.Shulman 2550

Minneapolis 2005 93/338
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e4 de4 5.Ne4 Bb4 6.Bd2 Qd4 7.Bb4 Qe4 8.Be2
Na6 9.Bd6 b6 10.Nf3 Bb7 11.0-0 c5? [11...Rd8 see 43/486]
12.Nh4! [a novelty; 12.Re1] Qh4?! [12...Qc6 13.Bf3 Qd7 14.Nf5! 0-0-0

(14...f6 15.Ng7) 15.Be5 Qd1 16.Bb7 Kb7 17.Rad1 Nf6 18.Nd6 and White is
superior; 12...0-0-0 13.Bf3 Qc4 14.Bb7 Kb7 15.Qf3 Qd5 16.Qf7 Ka8 17.Qg7
Qd6 18.Qh8 Qe7! 19.Rad1 Rf8 20.Qe5 Qh4 21.Qe6 Nc7 22.Qc6 Kb8 23.Rd7
and White is slightly better; 17.Rad1 and White is superior] 13.Qa4 Kd8
14.Rad1 Kc8 15.Qe8 Qd8 16.Qd8 Kd8 17.Bf8 Kc7 [17...Ke8 18.Bg7 f6
19.Bh8 Ke7 20.Rd2 and White is winning] 18.Bg7 Nf6 [only move; 18...Ne7
19.Be5] 19.Bf6 Rhg8 20.g3 Nb8 [20...Nb4 21.Be5 Kc8 22.f4 Nc6 23.Bh5
and White is winning] 21.Be5 Kc8 22.f4 (and White is winning) Bc6 23.Rd6
Rd8 24.f5 Rd6 25.Bd6 Nd7 26.fe6 fe6 27.Rf7 Kb7 28.Rh7 Be4 29.Re7 Rh8
30.Rd7 Kc6 31.Be5 1-0 [Al. Onischuk]
Grischuk 2704 Bareev 2715

Russia (ch) 2004 93/70
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.ed5 cd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 dc4 7.Bc4 Qd4 8.Qd4
Nd4 9.0-0-0 e5 10.f4 Bg4 11.Nf3 Nf3 12.gf3 Bf3 [12...Be6 13.Bb5 Nd7
14.Rhe1 f6 15.Bh4 with initiative] 13.fe5 Bh1 14.ef6 Rc8? [14...h6 only
move] 15.Re1! [15.Bd3 Bd5 16.Kb1 Rc3 17.bc3 g6 unclear] Kd7
16.Rd1 [a novelty; 16.Bf7] Bd6 [16...Ke8 17.Bd3! (17.Bf1 g6) a) 17...Bd5

18.Kb1 h6 (18...Rc3 19.bc3 a6 20.Bf5 g6 21.Rd5 gf5 22.Be3 and White is
winning) 19.Nd5 hg5 20.Bb5 Kd8 21.Ne7 Kc7 22.Rc1 Kb6 23.Rc8 Kb5
24.Rf8 Rf8 25.fg7 and White is winning; b) 17...Bf3 18.Re1 Kd7 19.Bf5 Kc7
20.Re3! Bh1 21.Bf4 Bd6 22.Re7 Kc6 23.Bd7 Kc5 24.Be3 Kc4 25.Kc2! Be7
26.fe7 Be4 (26...Bc6 27.a3!!) 27.Ne4 Kd5 28.Kd3 f5 29.Bf5 and White is
winning; c) 17...Rc3 18.bc3 Bc6 19.Bc4 Ba3 20.Kc2 g6 21.Re1 Kd8 22.Bf7
and White is superior] 17.Be2! gf6 [17...Rc5 18.Bf4 Bd5 19.Bd6 Kd6 20.fg7
Rg8 21.Bf3 and White is superior] 18.Bf6 Bg2 [18...Rhg8 19.Rh1 Rg6
20.Bd4 Bc5 21.Rd1 and White is superior] 19.Be5 Ke6 20.Bd6 Rhd8 21.Bg3
[21.Rg1? Rd6 22.Rg2 f5 and White is slightly better] Rd1 22.Kd1 a6
23.Kd2 (and White is superior) Kf5?? 24.Bd3 Kg4 25.Nd1! Kg5 26.Bh7
Rf8 27.Bd3 f5 28.h4 Kh5 29.Be2 (and White is winning) Kg6 30.Bf4 Be4
31.Nc3 Bc6 32.a3 Re8 33.h5 Kf6 34.h6 Kg6 35.Bd3 Re7 36.Bc2 Bf3
37.Bd3 Re8 38.Bc4 Bc6 39.Be2 Re7 40.Bd3 Re8 41.a4?! [weak point a4]
Rd8 42.Ke3 Re8 43.Kd2 Rd8 44.Ke3 Re8 45.Kf2 Rd8 46.Bc2 Re8 47.Be3
Re7 48.Ne2 Be4 49.Bb3 Re8 50.Nd4 Kh7 51.Bf4 Rc8 52.Nf3 Bb1 53.Ne5
Rd8 54.Bf7 Rd6 55.Be8 1-0 [Grischuk]
Bacrot 2715 Dreev 2704

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5
9.Be2 Bb7 10.h4 g4 11.Ne5 h5 12.f3!? Nbd7 13.fg4 hg4 14.0-0 Ne5 15.Be5
Nd7 16.Bh8 Qh4 17.Bg4 Qh8 18.e5
18...0-0-0! [a novelty; 18...Ne5 see 92/421] 19.Qe2 [19.Rf7 Ne5 20.Be6 Kb8
21.Rf5 Nd3 and Black is superior] c5 20.d5 [20.Nb5 a6! 21.Rf7 ab5 22.Be6
cd4 23.Bd7 Rd7 24.Qg4 Bc6 25.Rd7 Bd7 26.e6 d3 27.ed7 Kd8 28.Qg5 Be7
29.Qd5 (29.Qb5 Qd4 30.Kh1 Qh4 31.Kg1 Qd4 equal) Qb2 30.Re1 Qa3
equal] Ne5 21.de6 Ng4 [21...fe6?! 22.Nb5 (22.Be6 Kb8 23.Nb5 Bg7 with
compensation) a6 23.Rad1 ab5 24.Be6 Kc7 25.Rd8 Kd8 26.Rf8 Qf8 27.Qe5
Bc6 28.a3 and White is superior] 22.Qg4 Qd4 23.Qd4 cd4 24.Nb5 fe6
[24...a6 25.Rf7 ab5 26.e7 Be7 27.Re7 equal] 25.Rac1 Bh6!? [25...e5!?
26.Rc4 Kb8 with compensation; 25...Bd5 26.Rf8 Rf8 27.Nd4 and Black is
slightly better] 26.Rc4 Kb8 27.Re1! [27.Rf7 Be3 28.Kh2 Rh8 29.Kg3 Rg8
30.Kh4 d3 and Black is superior] Be3 [27...d3 28.Re6 d2 29.Nc3 equal]
28.Re3 de3 29.Rd4! Rf8 [29...Rg8 30.Kf1 a6 31.Nc3 Rg2 32.Rd6 e5 33.Re6
equal] 30.Rd1 a6 [30...Rg8 31.Kf1] 31.Nc3 Rf2 [31...Rg8 32.Kf1 Rg2
33.Rd6 e5 34.Re6 Rb2 35.Re5 equal] 32.Rd6 e5 33.Re6 Rf5 34.Rg6 Rf2
35.Rg5 Rb2 36.Re5 Rg2 1/2-1/2 [Dreev]
Dautov 2609 Korchnoi 2617

Schweiz 2005 93/444
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Re1
7...a5! [a novelty; 7...d6 see 91/(449); 7...Na6 see 91/449] 8.Nc3 [8.d5?! ed5
9.Nh4 Bb4 10.Bd2 Bc5 11.Nc3 Ne4! and Black is slightly better; 8.Bg5 d6
(Korchnoi; 8...h6 9.Bf6 Bf6 10.e4 d6 11.Nc3; 8...Ne4 9.Be7 Qe7 10.Nfd2 Nd2
11.Bb7 Ra7 12.Qd2 Rb7 13.Nc3 d6 14.e4 and White is slightly better) 9.Nc3
Ne4 10.Be7 Qe7 11.Qc2 Nc3 12.Qc3 f5 equal] Ne4 9.Ne4 [9.Nd2!? Nc3
10.bc3 Bg2 11.Kg2 f5! (11...Nc6 12.e4 with the idea Nf1) 12.e4 fe4 13.Ne4
Qe8 14.Qg4 Qf7 15.Be3 Nc6 equal] Be4 10.d5 Na6 [10...ed5 11.cd5 c6
12.d6 Bf6 13.Nd2 Bg2 14.Kg2 Re8 15.e4 and White is slightly better]
11.Nd4 Bg2 12.Kg2 Bb4! [12...c6!? (Korchnoi) a) 13.dc6 Rc8 14.Qa4
(14.cd7 Qd7 with compensation) Nc5 15.Qb5 Bf6 equal; b) 13.de6 fe6 14.e4
Nc5 15.e5 and White is slightly better] 13.Bd2 [13.Rf1?! Re8 14.e4 ed5
15.ed5 Qf6 16.Be3 (16.Qg4 c6 with counterplay) Re4 equal] e5! 14.Bb4
[14.Nb5?! c6; 14.Nf5 g6 15.Nh6 Kg7 16.Ng4 Bd2 17.Qd2 d6 equal] Nb4
[14...ab4 15.Nc2 a) 15...c5 16.a3 ba3 17.Ra3 Nc7 18.Qd3 Ra3 19.Qa3
(19.ba3 Ne8 20.Rb1 Nd6 equal) f5 20.b4 Qe7 equal; b) 15...Qe7 16.d6!?
(16.e4 f5 17.d6 Qf6 18.Qd5 Kh8 with initiative) Qe6! (16...cd6 17.Qd2 Qe6
18.Ne3 with compensation) 17.dc7 Qc4 18.Qd7 Nc7 equal] 15.Nb5 c6
16.Nc3 [16.Nd6? Qf6 17.Ne4 Qg6 and Black is superior] f5 17.Qd2 Qf6
18.Rad1 e4 [18...Rae8 19.a3 Na6 20.Na4 Rb8 (20...c5 21.d6! with the idea
Qd5-b7) 21.dc6 dc6 22.Qd6 b5 23.cb5 cb5 24.Nc3 and White is slightly
better] 19.a3 Na6 20.dc6?! [20.Na4!? Rab8 21.dc6 dc6 22.Qd6 b5 23.cb5
cb5 24.Nc3 b4 25.Qf6 Rf6 26.Nd5 Rf7 equal; 20.f3! ef3 (20...Nc5 21.fe4 Ne4
22.Ne4 fe4 23.Qd4 and White is slightly better) 21.ef3 Nc5 22.dc6 dc6
23.Qd6 Rad8 24.Qf6 gf6 and White is slightly better] dc6 21.Qd6 [21.Qe3
Nc5 22.b4 ab4 23.ab4 Ne6 (23...Ra3? 24.Nd5) 24.Rd6 Rfd8 25.Red1 Rd6
26.Rd6 Rd8 equal] Nc5 22.Qf6 Rf6 23.b4 ab4 24.ab4 Ne6 [24...Nb3?!
25.Rd7 Ra3 26.Red1 and White is slightly better] 25.Rd7 [25.b5 Ra3 26.Nb1
Ra4 27.bc6 Rc4 28.Rc1 Rc1 29.Rc1 Nc5 30.Nc3 Rc6 31.Nd5 Kf7 32.Nb6
equal; 25.Ra1 Rff8 26.b5 cb5 27.cb5 Ra1 28.Ra1 Rc8 29.Nd5 Rc5 equal]
Ra3 26.Rc1 Rf7 [26...Rb3 27.b5 cb5 28.Nb5 Rb4 equal] 27.Rd6 Rf6 28.Rd7
[28.Kg1 Nc7 29.Rf6 gf6 equal] Rf7 29.Rd6 Rf6 30.Rd7 Rf7 31.Rd6 Rf6 1/21/2 [Dautov]
L.Dominguez 2661 Al.Onischuk 2652

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5 6.c3 b5 7.Bc2 d5 8.ed5
Qd5 9.a4 b4 10.d4 ed4 11.Bb3
11...Qh5! [a novelty; 11...Qd8 see 91/296] 12.cd4 Be7 [12...Bd6!?] 13.Ne5

Qd1 [13...Ne5 14.Qh5 Nh5 15.de5 f6 16.Bd5 (16.Bd1 g6 17.Re1) Rb8
17.Bf3 g6 18.Bh5 gh5 19.Bf4 unclear] 14.Rd1 Ne5 15.de5 Ng4 [16.Bd5 Rb8
17.Bf4 g5 18.Bg3 h5 19.h3 h4 unclear]
[L. Dominguez]
D 48
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dc4 7.Bc4 b5
8.Bd3 Bb7 9.0-0 a6 10.e4 c5 11.d5 Qc7 12.de6 fe6
13.Bc2 c4 14.Nd4 Nc5 15.Be3 e5 16.Nf3
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Ne4
Re1
Be4
Ng5
Qf3
Qa83
Qa6
Nf7
Nce41 Ne4
Bd62 Be4
Bd3
0-00
Kd7
Rb8
Rhf84
...
Bc56 Ne6
Nf8
Nd57 ed5
Kh1
a48
...
1
Ng5
and
White's
slightly
better
equal
Be7
0-05
16...Rd8 17.Qe2
Bc5
Qb6
Rf8
Bd5
Bf2
e4
Bd49
a) 17...Be7 18.a4! Nce4 only move [18...b4 19.Qc4 bc3 20.b4 with attack]
19.Ne4 Be4 20.Be4 Ne4 21.ab5 ab5 22.Ra7 Qb8 [22...Qd6 23.Bd4! Ng5
24.Ne5 0-0 25.Nc6! and White is winning; B.Alterman - Ch.Gabriel, Bad
Homburg 1997 see 79/416] 23.Nh4! and White is superior; B.Alterman;
b) 17...Ne6 18.a4 Nd4! 19.Bd4 ed4 20.Nd5 Qc5 (only move) 21.Ng5! d3
22.Nf6 gf6 23.Qh5 Kd7 24.Qh3 Ke8 (only move) 25.Ne6 [25.Qh5 Kd7
equal; Yevseev - R.Sherbakov, Russia 2002 see 84/369] Bc8! unclear;
21...Qd6!? unclear; Better is 18.Rad1 with the idea Nd5 and White is slightly
better; R.Sherbakov
2
18...Bb4? 19.Be4 Be4 20.Bd2! Bd2 21.Re4 and White is superior; B.Gelfand
3
22.Nf7 (D.Taylor - T.Winkler, Internet 1998) Kb8!? [Huzman; 22...e4

23.Qh3 Kb7 24.Nh8 Rh8 25.Bd4 Rd8 26.Qh7 Be5 unclear] 23.Nh8 Rh8 with
compensation; B.Gelfand
4
25.Nd6 Qd6 26.Qa5 and White is slightly better; B.Gelfand - Bareev,

Novgorod 1997 see 70/415
5
17...Qc6 18.Nd5 h6 19.Bc5 Bc5 20.Ne6 Kf7 21.Nc5 Qc5 22.Nf6 gf6
(Schlecht - Mark.Schaefer, Deutschland 1998) 23.Qh5 and White is slightly
better; Y.Kruppa, D.Komarov;
17...h6 18.Bc5 hg5 19.Be3 g4 20.Qe2 0-0-0 21.a4 b4 22.Nd5 Nd5 23.ed5
Bd5 24.Qg4 Kb8 25.Rad1 and White is slightly better; Y.Kruppa - D.Collas,
Cappelle la Grande 2001 see 81/(368)
6
18.b4 cb3 [18...h6 19.Bc5 hg5 20.Be7 Qe7 21.a3 Rad8 22.Qe2 g4 23.Rad1
Rd4 unclear] 19.Bb3 Nb3 20.Qb3 Qc4 21.Qc4 bc4 22.Rab1 Bc6 unclear; G.
Kasparov
7
21.Kh1 Bf2 22.Qe2 Bd4 23.Nd5 Bd5 24.ed5 Qd6 unclear;

21.a4 b4 [21...Bf2 22.Kh1 Bd4 23.ab5 ab5 with compensation] 22.Nd5 Nd5
23.ed5 Bf2 24.Kh1 b3 25.Be4 Qe3 26.Bf3 e4 2.Bg4 Qc5 28.Be6 Kh8 29.d6
e3 30.d7 Qb6 31.Bc4 [31.Rc1 Qe6 32.d8Q Bg2 33.Kg2 Qe4 equal] Bg2
32.Kg2 Qg6 33.Kh3 Qh6 equal;
21.Qe2 Qe6 22.Kh1 [22.Rae1 Bd4 with compensation; Wirig - R.Huebner,
France 2005; 22.h3 Bd4 with compensation] Ng4 [22...Bd4 with
compensation] 23.Nd1 Bd4 24.h3 Nf6 25.Rc1 g6 26.b3 Nh5 unclear; G.
Kasparov
24.Qe2? e3 25.b3 [25.Rfd1? Qd6 26.a4 g6! and Black is superior;

Kasimdzhanov - G. Kasparov, Linares 2005 see 93/385; 25.Rad1 Qd6
26.Bf5 Kh8 27.Rf2 ef2 28.Qf2 Re8 and Black is superior] Nd5 26.bc4 Nf4
27.Qf3 bc4 28.Qe4 Qh6 29.Qc4 Kh8 30.Rab1 unclear; 25...c3 and Black is
slightly better;
24.d6 e3 25.Bf5 g6 [25...Qc5 26.d7 Rd8 27.Qf3 Qe5 28.Rf2 ef2 29.Qf2 Nd7
30.Bh7 Kh8 31.Bf5 Qf6 32.Qg3 and White is slightly better] 26.Bh3 Kg7
27.d7 Nh5 unclear; G. Kasparov
9
24...Rd8 25.ab5 ab5 26.Qe2 e3 27.b3 c3 28.Rfd1 [28.d6 Rd6 29.Ra8 Kf7
unclear] g6 29.d6 Kg7 30.Qd3 b4 31.Ra6 Qc5 32.Rda1 Qe5 unclear; G.
Kasparov;
24...Bd4 25.ab5 ab5 26.Qe2 Bb2 27.Rad1 Bd4 28.Be4 Re8 29.Rf6 Qf6
30.Bh7 Kf8 31.Be4 Qe5 32.Qf3 Kg8 33.Rf1 Qe4 34.Qf7 equal; G. Kasparov

The Birth of a Novelty

Ivan Markovic
As a longtime friend and mentor of Bosnian GM Borki Predojevic, I have
enjoyed the privilege of accompanying him on several occasions as his
second during 2005. Upon Borkis second appearance at the prestigious GM
tournament in Sarajevo (the capital of Bosnia & Herzegovina) it was
necessary to prepare for his game versus Viorel Bologan. This was by no
means an easy task because of the Moldavian grandmasters broad arsenal
with black, therefore we divided our duties. My young protg mainly dealt
with 1e5, while I had to cover Bologans favorite Sicilian responses and I
focused my work on the following line: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 a6
5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.Qe2 Bd6.
Borkis initial intention was to employ this line as a part of his black
repertoire, following in the footsteps of Svidler, Ivanchuk and Rublevsky.
Whites previous attempts included 8.g4, 8.Nf3 and 8.Bd2, yet none of these
proved particularly dangerous. Observing the position with fresh eyes, the
impulse to try 8.Ndb5 kept tickling my fancy. Stunning sacrifices such as this
need some justification and I was rather skeptical about the idea because
several top grandmaster games had already been played in this line. So I
tested it with a little help from Junior 9, but the midnight hour had already
arrived when I became convinced that it might be worth Borkis attention.
Fortunately, my pupils undying passion for analysis kept him wide awake
and he enthusiastically embraced the idea. His brain was working at warp
speed, and his tactical prowess and attacking skills were as sharp as ever. As
the night wore on I was becoming increasingly useless, but somewhere
around 3 AM he had it all worked out, so that we could finally get some
sleep.
Unfortunately, his game against Bologan took an entirely different course and
the novelty had to lay dormant until round 12 of the World Junior
Championship held in Istanbul. In hindsight, I cant help but feel that an
innocent bystander became the victim of our deadly preparation; for young
Evgeny Romanov had to face the crushing novelty at the worst of times he
was fighting for a GM norm. The game should be appreciated for its pure
quality and hopefully ChessCafe readers will enjoy it as much as I did.
Borkis extensive accompanying analysis is as honest as it can be and leaves
nothing to be desired.
Predojevic 2558 - E.Romanov 2479

Istanbul 2005
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.d4 cd4 5.Nd4 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.Qe2 Bd6
8.Ndb5! [a novelty; 8.Nf3 see 94/117; 8.g4 see 94/118] ab5 9.Nb5 Qa5
[9...Bb4?? 10.c3 and White is winning; 9...Qb6 10.Nd6 Qd6 11.e5 Qe7
12.ef6 Qf6 13.0-0 0-0 14.c3 and White is slightly better, with the idea a4, b4
with initiative] 10.Bd2 Bb4 [10...Qb6 11.e5 Be7 12.ef6 Bf6 13.0-0 0-0
14.Bb4 and White is superior] 11.Bb4 Qb4 12.c3 Qc5 [12...Qa4 13.e5 Nd5
14.Nd6 Ke7 15.Bb5 Qh4 (15...Qf4 16.g3 Qh6 17.Qc4 and White is superior)
16.g3 Qh3 17.Qc4 Nc6 (17...Qg2 18.0-0-0 Na6 19.Qh4 f6 20.c4 and White is
winning) 18.Qc5 Ne5 19.Nc4 Kf6 20.Qd4 d6 21.f4 and White is superior;
12...Qa5 13.e5 Ng8 14.Nd6 Kf8 15.Nc8 Nc6 16.Nd6 Qe5 17.Qe5 Ne5
18.Be4 and White is slightly better] 13.e5
13...Ng4! [13...Nd5 14.Nd6 a) 14...Kf8 15.Qf3 a1) 15...f6 16.Qh5 Ke7

17.Qf7 Kd8 18.Qg7 Re8 19.Ne8 Ke8 20.ef6 and White is winning; a2)
15...f5 16.Bf5! ef5 17.0-0-0! Ne7 (17...g6 18.Rd5 Qc6 19.g4 Ra2 20.gf5 and
White is winning; 17...Kg8 18.Qf5 Nf6 19.Qf4 h6 20.ef6 and White is
winning) 18.Qh5 a21) 18...g6 19.Qh6 Kg8 20.Ne8 Kf7 (20...Qe5 21.Rhe1
and White is winning) 21.Qg7 Ke8 22.Qh8 Kf7 23.Rd6 Ra6 24.Rf6 and
White is winning; a22) 18...Ng6 19.Qf5 Ke7 20.Qg5 Ke6 21.g3!! Ra2
(21...Qf2 22.Rhf1 and White is winning; 21...Rf8 22.f4 Rf4 23.gf4 Qe3 24.Kb1
Qf4 25.Qg2 and White is winning; 21...Ne5 22.Rhe1 Qd6 23.Rd6 Kd6 24.Qe5
Kc6 25.b4 d5 26.Qg7 Rd8 27.Qe7 Rd6 28.b5 Kc5 29.Qc7 and White is
winning) 22.Qf5 Ke7 23.Qf7 Kd8 24.Qa2 Rf8 25.f4 and White is winning;
a3) 15...Nf6 16.Qf4 Nc6 17.ef6 Ne5 18.fg7 Kg7 19.Qg3 and White is
superior; b) 14...Ke7 15.Qh5! g6 (15...f6 16.Qf7 Kd8 17.Qg7 Re8 18.Ne8 Ke8
19.Bh7 and White is winning) 16.Bg6!! fg6 17.Qh4 Kf8 18.Rd1! (with the
idea Rd5) Ra4 19.Qa4 Kg7 20.0-0 and White is superior] 14.Qg4?!
[14.Nd6?! Kf8! (14...Ke7 15.Qg4 Qe5 16.Ne4 and White is superior) 15.Qg4
Qe5 16.Ne4 f5 17.Qg5 Nc6 18.f4 Qd5 19.Nf2 Ra2 and Black is slightly
better; 14.f4! a) 14...Nh6 15.b4 Qc6 16.Be4 Qb6 17.Nd6 Kd8 (17...Ke7 18.a4
and White is superior; 17...Kf8 18.Nc8 Qc7 19.Nd6 Qc3 20.Kf2 Qd4 21.Kg3
Ra3 22.Bf3 and White is superior) 18.a4 with the idea a5 and White is
superior; b) 14...f5 b1) 15.Nd6 Kf8 16.h3 Nh6 17.g4 Nf7 18.Nc8 Qc8 19.gf5
ef5 20.Bf5 with compensation; b2) 15.h3 Nh6 16.b4 Qb6 (16...Qc6 17.Qh5
Kf8 18.Nd6 Qc3 19.Ke2 g6 20.Qh6 Kg8 21.Ne8 and White is winning)
17.Nd6 (17.Qh5 Ke7 18.Nd6 Qe3 19.Be2 Qg3) Ke7 18.Nc4 Qc7 19.0-0 (with
the idea Qh5) b5 20.Nd6 Qc3 21.Rac1 Qd4 22.Kh1 and White is superior;
19...Nf7 unclear; b3) 15.b4! Qc6 (15...Qb6 16.Nd6 Ke7 17.Bf5!) 16.h3 Nf6
(16...Nh6 17.Qh5 Kf8 18.Nd6 Qc3 19.Ke2 g6 20.Qh6 and White is winning)
17.ef6 gf6 18.Qh5 Kf8 19.0-0 and White is superior; c) 14...h5! c1) 15.h3
Ne3 16.Nd6 Ke7 17.Qf2 c11) 17...Na6 18.Ba6 Ra6 19.Ke2 Rb6 20.b3 and
White is winning; c12) 17...Qb6 18.Qh4 f6 19.Qg3 g5 20.Nc8 (20.Ne4 Qb2
21.ef6 Kd8) Rc8 21.ef6 Kf7 22.Bg6!; c13) 17...Ra5! 18.b4 Qc3 19.Ke2 Nc2
20.ba5 Na1 21.Qe1 Qe1 22.Re1 Nc6 23.Ra1 Na5 24.Ke3 Nc6 25.h4 with
compensation; c2) 15.b4 Qb6 16.Nd6 Ke7 17.Nc4 Qc6 18.h3 Nh6 19.0-0
with attack] Qe5
15.Kd2! [15.Kf1 0-0 16.h4 (16.Re1 Qc5 17.h4 Ra2 18.Rh3 f5!) f5 17.Qd4
Nc6 18.Qe5 Ne5 19.Be2 and White is slightly better; 15.Qe2 Qe2 16.Ke2
Ke7 17.a4 (with the idea a5, b4) Nc6 18.b4 b6! 19.f4 Ba6 20.Kd2 and White
is slightly better] 0-0 16.Qh4 [16.f4 Qf6! and White is slightly better] g6
[16...h6 17.Rhe1 Qg5 18.Qg5 hg5 19.Nd6 and White is superior; 16...f5
17.Rhe1 Qc5 18.Qd4 Qd4 19.cd4 and White is superior] 17.f4 [better is
17.Rhe1 Qg7 18.Nd6 Nc6 19.f4 with initiative] Qg7 [17...Qd5! 18.Qg5
(18.c4? Qg2 19.Kc3 Ra2! and Black is superior; 18.g4 Ra2 19.Ra2 Qa2 and
Black is superior) Qc6 (18...Qg5 19.fg5 d5 20.Rhf1 Nc6 21.a3 Bd7 22.Rf6
and White is slightly better) 19.Nd4 Qb6 20.Kc2 Nc6 21.Qf6 d6 22.Rhe1 and
White is slightly better] 18.g4 (with attack) Ra4 [18...d5?! 19.f5! g5 20.Qh5
Nd7 (20...e5 21.f6 and White is winning) 21.h4 ef5 22.hg5 and White is
superior] 19.Rhf1 Nc6 [19...Rf4? 20.Rf4 g5 21.Qh7 and White is winning]
20.b3 [time; better is 20.Nd6 e5 21.f5 g5 22.f6 gh4 23.fg7 Kg7 24.Be4 Ne7
25.c4 and White is superior] Ra5 21.a4 [21.b4 Ra4 22.Nd6 Ra3! with
counterplay, weak point c3; 21.Nd6 Rd5!] f6! [21...d5 22.f5 g5 (22...ef5
23.gf5 g5 24.f6 gh4 25.fg7 Kg7 26.b4 Ra8 27.Nc7 Rb8 28.Nd5 and White is
superior) 23.Qg3 e5 (23...f6 24.fe6 Be6 25.Rae1 Ne5 26.h3 with the idea
Nd4) 24.f6 Qh6 25.b4 Ra8 26.Nc7 Be6 27.Na8 and White is superior]
22.Rae1 d5
23.g5! [23.Qg3? (with the idea g5) e5!; 23.f5 g5 24.Qg3 e5 and Black is
slightly better] Bd7 [23...fg5 24.fg5 e5 25.Qh6! (25.Rf8 Qf8 26.Rf1 Qe7) Qh6
26.gh6 Be6 27.Nd6 Ra7 28.Bb5 Rf1 29.Rf1 and White is slightly better]
24.Qg3 Nd8?! [24...fg5 a) 25.Qg5 (with the idea h4-h5) d4 26.c4 Nb4; b)
25.fg5 e5 26.Nd6!? with initiative, with the idea 26...Raa8 27.Nb7 Be6
28.Nc5 Qe7 29.b4, with the idea 26...Qe7 27.Rf8 Qf8 28.Re5! Ne5 29.Qe5
Bc6 (29...Qf3 30.Qe7 Qf4 31.Kc2 Qh2 32.Kb1 Qg1 33.Kb2 Qf2 34.Bc2 Bh3
35.Qd8 Qf8 36.Qa5 Qd6 37.Qa8 and White is winning) 30.Ne4! and White is
superior; RR 30.Bf5! and White is winning] 25.Nd4 Ra8 26.h4 (and White is
superior, greater board room) Rc8 27.h5 f5 [27...gh5 28.Rh1 Be8 (28...fg5
29.Rh5 h6 30.fg5 Nf7 31.g6 Ng5 32.Reh1 e5 33.Rh6 ed4 34.Qg5 dc3 35.Kc1
and White is winning) 29.Ne6 Ne6 30.Re6 fg5 31.Qg5 Qg5 (31...Rf4 32.Qf4
Qg2 33.Re2 Qh1 34.Qg5 and White is winning; 31...Bg6 32.Bg6 and White is
winning) 32.fg5 Rf2 33.Re2 Rf4 34.Ke3 and White is superior] 28.Qe3 Re8
29.Qe5 Qe5 30.Re5 Nf7 [30...Nc6 31.Re3 gh5 32.Rh1 and White is superior]
31.Re3 e5 [31...Nd6 32.hg6 hg6 33.Rh1 Kg7 34.Reh3 Rh8 35.Rh8 Rh8
36.Rh8 Kh8 37.Nf3 and White is superior; 31...gh5 32.Rh3 e5 33.fe5 and
White is superior] 32.hg6 hg6 33.fe5 Re5 [33...Ne5 34.Rfe1 Nf7 35.Re8 Re8
36.Re8 Be8 37.Nf3 Bc6 38.Ke3 and White is superior, with the idea 38...d4
39.Nd4 Ng5 40.Nc6 bc6 41.a5 Ne6 42.a6 Nc7 43.a7 Kf7 44.Ba6 Ke6 45.Bb7
Kd6 46.a8Q Na8 47.Ba8 Kc7 48.Kf4 and White is winning; 33...Ng5 34.Rg3
and White is winning] 34.Re5 Ne5 35.Nf3! Nf7 [35...Nd3 36.Kd3 and White
is superior; 35...Nf3 36.Rf3 Kf7 37.Rh3 Kg7 38.Rh4 and White is superior]
36.Re1 Re8 [36...Bc6 37.Re6 Kg7 38.Nh4 Nh8 39.Re7 and White is
winning] 37.Re8 Be8 [NB 9/c] 38.Ke3 Kf8 39.Kd4 Ke7
40.Kc5! Nd6 41.a5 Kd7 [41...Ne4 42.Kb6 Kd6 (42...Kd7 43.Bb5 and White
is winning; 42...Kd8 43.Kb7 Nc5 44.Kb6! Nd3 45.a6 and White is winning)
43.b4 (43.Be4 de4 44.Nd4 f4 45.Kb7 f3 46.a6 f2 47.a7 f1Q 48.a8Q Bc6!
49.Nc6 Qb5 50.Ka7 Qc5 equal) Bc6 44.Nd4 and White is winning] 42.Kd5
[42.Bb5! Nb5 43.Kb5 Kc7 (43...Kd6 44.Kb6 Bc6 45.Nd4 with the idea b4-b5
and White is winning) 44.Kc5 f4 45.Ne5 and White is winning] Bf7 43.Ke5
Bb3 44.Kf6 Ne4 45.Kg6 [45.Be4? fe4 46.Nd4 Bd1! (46...e3?? 47.Nb3 and
White is winning; 46...Bc4 47.Nc2 and White is winning) 47.Kg6 e3 a)
48.Kh7 e2 49.Nf3 Kc6 50.g6 Kb5 51.g7 Bb3 a1) 52.Nd4 Ka4 53.Nb3?? e1Q
54.g8Q Qh1 55.Kg7 Qg2 56.Kf8 Qg8 57.Kg8 Kb3 58.Kf7 Kc3 59.Ke6 Kb4
60.Kd5 Ka5 and Black is winning; 53.Ne2 equal; a2) 52.g8Q Bg8 53.Kg8
Ka5 54.Kf7 Kb5 55.Ke6 Kc4 56.Ke5 Kc3 57.Ke4 Kc2 58.Ke3 Kd1 59.Kd3
equal; b) 48.Kf5 e2 49.Nf3 Kc6 50.g6 b1) 50...Kb5 51.g7 Bb3 52.Nd4 Ka4
53.Ne2 (53.Nb3? e1Q 54.g8Q Qc3 equal) Ka5 54.Ke4 b5 55.Kd4 Bg8
56.Nf4 Ka4 (56...b4 57.c4 b3 58.Nd3 with the idea Kc3 and White is
winning) 57.Nd5 Kb3 58.Nf6 Bf7 59.g8Q Bg8 60.Ng8 b4 61.c4 Kc2 62.Nf6
b3 63.Ne4 b2 64.Nc3 and White is winning; b2) 50...Bc2! 51.Kf6 Bg6
52.Kg6 Kc5 53.Kf5 Kc4 54.Ke5 Kc3 55.Kd6 Kb4 equal; c) 48.Kf6 e2 49.Nf3
Kd6 50.g6 Kc5 51.g7 (51.Ke5 Bb3 52.Kf4 Kc4 equal) Bb3 52.Ke5 Bg8
53.Ke4 Kc4 equal] Nc3 46.Bf5 Kd6
47.Nd2! (and White is winning) Bd5 48.Kf6 Ne2 49.Ne4 Kc6 50.Ke5 Nc1
51.Nc3 [51.Bd7 Kd7 52.Kd5 Ne2 53.Kc5 Kc7 54.Nf6 and White is winning]
Bf7 52.Be4 Kc7 53.Nb5 Kb8 54.Nd6 Bh5 55.Nb7 Nb3 56.Bd5 Nd2 57.Nd8
[57.Nc5 and White is winning] Ka7 58.Kf4 Bg6 59.Ke3 Nf1 60.Kd4 Ng3
61.Kc5 Ka6
62.Nc6?? [62.Kb4 and White is winning; 62.Nb7 and White is winning] Ne4
63.Be4 Be4 [equal; NB 3/g2] 64.Kd6 Kb5 65.Kc7 Ka6 [65...Bc6?? 66.a6
and White is winning] 66.Kd6 Kb5 67.Ne7 Ka5 [NB 3/e] 68.Ke5 Bh7
69.Kf6 Kb6 70.Ng6 Bg8 71.Nf8 Kc7? [71...Kc6! 72.Ke7 Kd5 73.g6 Ke5
74.Nd7 Kf5 75.g7 Be6 76.Kf8 Kg6 77.Ne5 Kf6 equal] 72.Ke7 (and White is
winning) Kc6 73.g6 Kd5 74.Nd7! Kd4 [74...Ke4 75.Kf6 Kf4 (75...Bb3
76.Nc5; 75...Ba2 76.Ne5 Kf4 77.Nf7 Bb1 78.g7 Bh7 79.Nd6 Bg8 80.Ke7 Kg5
81.Kf8 Bh7 82.Kf7 Bg6 83.Kg8) 76.Ne5 Bb3 77.Nf7 Bc2 78.g7 Bh7 79.Nd6
Bg8 80.Ke7 Kg5 81.Kf8 Bh7 82.Kf7 Bg6 (82...Bb1 83.g8Q) 83.Kg8 Bd3
84.Nf7 Kf6 85.Kh8] 75.Kf6! Bb3 [75...Kd5 76.Ne5 with the idea Nf7, Kg7]
76.Ne5 Bc2 77.g7 Bh7 78.Nf3 Ke3 79.Ng5 Bg8 80.Ke7 [80...Kf4 81.Kf8
Bb3 82.Nf7] 1-0 [Predojevic, Iv.Markovic]

The Best of Chess Informant Garry

Kasparov
Zdenko Krnic
Editor-in-Chief
In 2006, Chess Informant will celebrate its 40th anniversary, and we couldnt
have done it without the contributions of the leading chess players from
around the world. In April of this year, we will be releasing a CD titled The
Best of Chess Informant Garry Kasparov. He is a player with whom we
have had three decades of superlative cooperation, and we are pleased to
offer our faithful readers 13 of his best games (his lucky number) selected by
Kasparov himself.
In the introduction to the CD, Kasparov wrote:
We are all Children of the Informant
Today, looking down from the crest of the computerized 21st Century,
it is possible to fully assess the enormous, genuinely revolutionary
role played by the Chess Informant. This periodical, which began
publication in Belgrade, 1966, laid the basis for a chess information
system. Already in the 70s it, along with the 5-volume Encyclopedia
of Chess Openings, became a sort of bible for top-ranked chessplayers
the world over.
I believe it was no accident that it was precisely Yugoslavia that gave
birth to both the Informant and the Encyclopedia, organized according
to Rabars A-B-C-D-E classification. That countrys team, led by the
gifted Svetozar Gligoric, became Olympic Champion in 1950, and
won prizes in many Olympiads thereafter. Chess gained unusual
popularity in Yugoslavia, and in the latter half of the 20th century, it
assumed the role of a genuine chess Mecca: where else could you find
so many international tournaments?!
Ultimately, the growth of both tournaments and strong players created
a need for information about the most important games and opening
novelties that gradually ended up fundamentally changing our entire
system of preparation. Who could have predicted then that a new
epoch was beginning in chess? Did Tigran Petrosian, sarcastically
referring to the younger generation as the Informants children,
realize that there was no longer any way back. Only forward to
computer databases and programs, to the Internet epoch, when the
shelf-life of a novelty would be measured no longer in months, but
literally in hours
My chess youth and mature years came just at the period of the Chess
Informants peak popularity. I remember how, in 1973, with beating
heart, I opened my first fount of all wisdom Volume 15. And how
later, having learned from my teachers (and especially from Mikhail
Botvinnik) how to analyze deeply, and diligently work out urgent
opening problems, I carefully studied each new volume, feasting on
everything that seemed the most theoretically valuable and interesting.
This enormous flow of information offered the richest trove of
material for research and directed preparation, both for tournaments
and for particular opponents.
Of course, any player may come up with an interpretation of his own
creative endeavors: through these same years, the many volumes of
Informants have published dozens, hundreds of my games, too. The
best of them you will find collected on the accompanying CD.
Kasparov 2595 Pribyl 2395

Skara 1980 29/565
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.e4 Nc3 6.bc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 b6?!
8.Bb5! c6 9.Bc4 0-0 10.0-0 Ba6 [10...Bb7 11.Qe2 c5 12.Bg5! and White is
superior] 11.Ba6 Na6 12.Qa4?! [12.Bg5! Qd7 13.Qd2 and White is slightly
better] Qc8 13.Bg5 Qb7 14.Rfe1 e6 [14...Rfe8!?] 15.Rab1 c5 [15...h6
16.Be3! with the idea c4 and White is superior] 16.d5! [16.Red1 f5! unclear]
Bc3 17.Red1 ed5 18.ed5 Bg7 [18...Nb4? 19.a3 Nd5 20.Qc4 and White is
winning; 18...Nc7 19.Be7 Rfe8 20.Qd7 and White is superior] 19.d6 f6
20.d7!! [20.Bf4 Rae8! unclear] fg5 [20...h6? 21.Bf4 Rad8 22.Qc4 Rf7 23.h4!
Nb4 24.Rb4 cb4 25.Bc7 b5 26.Qf7 Kf7 27.Bd8 and White is winning;
20...Rad8? 21.Qc4 Kh8 22.Ne5! fe5 23.Bd8 Rd8 24.Qe6! (24.Qf7 Qc6!) Qb8
25.Rb3! c4 26.Rh3 Nc5 27.Qg6 h6 28.Rg3 and White is winning; 20...Kh8
21.Bf4 Nb4 22.Rd6 Rad8 23.a3 Qe4 24.Rbd1 Qf4 25.ab4 Qb4 26.Qa7 and
White is superior; 20...Nb4 21.Qb3 Kh8 22.Ne5! fe5 23.d8Q Rad8 24.Rd8
Rd8 25.Bd8 and White is superior] 21.Qc4 Kh8 22.Ng5 Bf6! [22...Bd4?
23.Rd4! cd4 24.Qd4 Kg8 25.Ne6 and White is winning] 23.Ne6 Nc7!
[23...Nb4 24.Qf4! Nc6 (24...Nd5 25.Qd6! and White is winning) 25.Nf8 Rf8
26.d8Q! Nd8 27.Rd8 and White is winning; 23...Qc6 24.Nf8 Rf8 25.Qa6 Bd4
26.Qa7! and White is winning] 24.Nf8 Rf8 25.Rd6! [25.Qc5 Qg2! 26.Kg2
bc5 27.Rb7 Ne6 28.Rd6 Nf4 29.Kf1 Bd8 30.Ra7 and White is slightly better]
Be7 [25...Qb8 26.Rbd1 Qd8 27.Rc6! Bg7 28.h4 (zugzwang) Bd4 29.Rd4 cd4
30.Qd4 Kg8 31.Qc4 and White is winning; 25...Bd8 26.h4 b5 (26...Qa6
27.Qc3 Kg8 28.Qc2! with the idea Rg6 and White is winning) 27.Qc3
(27.Qc5 Qe4!) Kg8 28.Re1! Bh4 29.Qd3! Bf2 30.Kh1 Be1 31.d8Q Rd8
32.Rd8 Kg7 33.Rd7 Kh6 34.Qe3 and White is winning] 26.d8Q!! Bd8
[26...Rd8 27.Rd8 Bd8 28.Qf7 Qd5 (only move) 29.Qd5 Nd5 30.Rd1 and
White is winning] 27.Qc3 Kg8 28.Rd7 Bf6 29.Qc4 Kh8 30.Qf4! (and White
is superior) Qa6? [30...Bg7 31.Qc7 Qc7 32.Rc7 Bd4 33.Rf1 a5 (33...a6
34.Rc6! Rf6?! 35.Rf6 Bf6 36.Re1! and White is winning) 34.a4! and White is
superior] 31.Qh6! 1-0 [Kasparov]
Korchnoi 2635 Kasparov 2675

Luzern (ol) 1982 34/115
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 c5 5.d5 d6 6.Nc3 0-0 7.Nf3 e6 8.0-0 ed5
9.cd5 a6 10.a4 Re8 11.Nd2 Nbd7 12.h3 Rb8 13.Nc4 Ne5 14.Na3 Nh5 15.e4
Rf8 16.Kh2 f5?! [16...Bd7!? 17.f4 b5 unclear] 17.f4 b5 18.ab5 ab5 19.Nab5
fe4 20.Be4! [a novelty; 20.Na7 e3! unclear see 33/124; 20.Nd6 Ng3!?
(20...Qd6 21.Ne4 Qb6 22.fe5 Rf1 23.Qf1 Be5 unclear) 21.Kg3 Qd6 22.Ne4
Qb6 unclear] Bd7! 21.Qe2! [21.Na7?! Ra8! and Black is superior; 21.Nd6?!
Rb6!! 22.fe5 Be5 23.Nc4 Bg3 24.Kg1 (24.Kg2? Bh3! and Black is winning)
Bh3 with attack; 21.Na3 Qc8 22.Bg2 Bg4!? 23.Qd2 Bf5 unclear] Qb6
22.Na3! Rbe8 23.Bd2? [23.Be3?! Nf7! 24.Nc4 Qd8 unclear; 23.fe5?! Be5
24.Rf8 Rf8 25.Nc4 Bg3! 26.Kg1 Qd8 with attack; 23.Qg2! and White is
superior] Qb2! 24.fe5? [24.Rfb1? Nf3! and Black is winning; 24.Ra2! a)
24...Qb8 a1) 25.fe5? Rf1 26.Qf1 (26.e6 Ref8! and Black is winning) Be5
27.Be1 (27.Ne2 Ng3! 28.Ng3 Qb3 and Black is winning) Bc3 28.Bc3 Re4
29.Nc4 (29.Rf2 Re3! and Black is winning) Bb5 30.Qa1 (30.Rb2 Qe8!) Bc4
31.Ra8 Re2 32.Kg1 Rg2!! 33.Kh1 Ng3 34.Kg2 Bd5 and Black is winning;
a2) 25.Qg2 Nf7! and Black is slightly better; b) 24...Qb4! 25.Rb1 (25.Nc2
Qc4 26.fe5 Qe2 27.Ne2 Rf1 and Black is superior) Qd4 26.Qg2 (26.Nc2 Nf3!
and Black is superior; 26.Rc2 Nd3!! 27.Nab5 Bb5 28.Rb5 c4 and Black is
superior) Nc4 27.Nc4 Qc4 28.Bf3 Bc3 29.Rc2 Qd3! 30.Bc3 Bh3!! 31.Kh3
Nf4! 32.gf4 Rf4 33.Kg3 Ref8 34.Rf1 h5! and Black is superior] Be5 25.Nc4
25...Ng3! (and Black is winning) 26.Rf8 Rf8 27.Qe1 (only move) Ne4
28.Kg2 Qc2 29.Ne5 (only move) Rf2? [29...Nd2! 30.Nd7 Nf3 31.Qe2 Nh4!
32.Kg1 (32.Kh2 Rf2 and Black is winning) Qc3 33.Qe6 Kh8 34.Nf8 Qg3 and
Black is winning] 30.Qf2! [30.Kg1 Rd2 31.Qe4 (31.Ne4 Rg2 and Black is
winning) Qc3 32.Ra8 Kg7 and Black is winning] Nf2! [30...Bh3? 31.Kg1
Nf2 32.Ra2 Qb3 33.Ra8 Kg7 34.Ra7 Kf6 (34...Kf8?? 35.Bh6 Ke8 36.Ra8
Ke7 37.Bg5 mate) 35.Nf3! (unclear) Nd3? 36.Ne4 Kf5 37.Nd6 Kg4 38.Nh2
Kg3 39.Ne4 and White is winning] 31.Ra2! Qf5! 32.Nd7 Nd3 33.Bh6! Qd7
34.Ra8 Kf7 35.Rh8? [time; 35.Ne4! g5!! a) 36.Bg5 h6! 37.Rd8 (37.Bh6 Kg6
and Black is winning) Qa4! 38.Nd6 Kg7 and Black is winning; b) 36.Rg8!?
Nf4 37.Kg1 Nh5! 38.Rg5 Qh3 39.Nd6 Ke7 and Black is winning; c)
36.Ra6!? Nf4 37.Kf2 Nd5! 38.Nd6 Kg6 39.Ne4 Kf5 and Black is winning; d)
36.Rf8! Ke7 37.Rh8 (37.Rg8 Nf4 38.Kf2 Nh3 39.Kg3 Qf5! 40.Rg7 Kd8 and
Black is winning) Nf4! (37...Qf5? 38.Bg5 Kd7 39.Rh7! and White is winning)
38.Kf2 Nh3 39.Kg3 Qf5 40.Bf8! Kd8! (40...Kd7? 41.Rh7! Kd8 42.Be7 Kc7
(only move) 43.Bd6 Kc8 44.Rh8 equal) 41.Bd6 Kd7 42.Rh7! Qh7! 43.Nf6
Kd6 44.Nh7 c4! 45.Nf6 (45.Kh3 c3 46.Ng5 c2 47.Ne4 Ke7! 48.d6 Kd8! and
Black is winning) Nf4! 46.Ne4 Kd5 47.Ng5 c3! and Black is winning] Kf6!
(and Black is winning) 36.Kf3?? Qh3 0-1 [Kasparov]
Kasparov 2690 L. Portisch 2600

Niksic 1983 36/608
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.a3 d5 6.cd5 Nd5 7.e3 Nc3 8.bc3
Be7 9.Bb5 c6 10.Bd3 c5 11.0-0 Nc6 12.Bb2 Rc8 13.Qe2 0-0 14.Rad1
Qc7?! [14...cd4 see 34/605] 15.c4! (a novelty) cd4 [15...Bf6?! 16.d5 Ne5
17.Ne5 Be5 18.Bh7! and White is winning; 15...Na5 16.d5! ed5 17.cd5 c4
(17...Bd5 18.Bh7 Kh7 19.Rd5 and White is superior) 18.Bf5 Rcd8 19.e4 and
White is superior] 16.ed4 Na5 17.d5! ed5 [17...Nc4 18.Qe4! g6 19.Bc4 Qc4
20.Qe5 f6 21.Qe6 Rf7 22.Rc1 Qa6 23.d6 Rc1 24.Rc1 Bd8 25.Ng5! fg5
26.Rc7!! Bc7 27.Qe8 Rf8 28.Qe5 and White is winning] 18.cd5 Bd5 19.Bh7
Kh7 20.Rd5 Kg8 [20...Qc2 21.Rd2! Qc5 22.Ne5! and White is winning]
21.Bg7!! [21.Ng5? Qc2! unclear] Kg7 22.Ne5! Rfd8 [only move; 22...f5
23.Rd7 Qc5 24.Nd3 and White is winning; 22...Rcd8 23.Qg4 Kh7 24.Nd7!
and White is winning; 22...Qc2 23.Qg4 Kh7 24.Rd3 Rc6 25.Qf5! and White
is winning; 22...Rh8 23.Qg4 Kf8 24.Qf5 f6 25.Re1 Nc6 (25...Qc1 26.Rdd1
and White is winning) 26.Nd7 Kf7 27.Re7! and White is winning] 23.Qg4
Kf8 24.Qf5! [24.Nd7 Rd7 25.Rd7 Qe5 and White is slightly better] f6
[24...Bd6 25.Qf6! a) 25...Kg8 26.Qg5 Kf8 27.Qh6 Kg8 (27...Ke8 28.Re1 and
White is winning) 28.Ng4! Bh2 29.Kh1 and White is winning; b) 25...Nc4
26.Ng6 Ke8 27.Re1 Kd7 28.Re7 Kc6 29.Rc7 Kc7 30.Qf7 Kb8 31.h4 and
White is winning] 25.Nd7 [25.Ng6? Kg7! (25...Ke8? 26.Qh5!! Rd5 27.Ne5
and White is winning) 26.Nf4 Rd5 27.Qg6 Kh8 28.Qh6 (28.Ne6 Rg5!) Kg8
equal] Rd7 26.Rd7 Qc5 27.Qh7 Rc7 28.Qh8! [28.Rd3? Qf2!! 29.Kf2
(29.Rf2? Rc1 and Black is winning) Bc5 30.Kg3 Rh7 31.Rf6 equal] Kf7
29.Rd3 Nc4 30.Rfd1! Ne5? [30...Bd6! 31.Rd5! Qc6 (31...Qa3? 32.Rd6! Nd6
33.Qh7 and White is winning) 32.h4 and White is superior] 31.Qh7 Ke6
[31...Kf8 32.Rd8 and White is winning] 32.Qg8 Kf5 33.g4! Kf4 34.Rd4 Kf3
35.Qb3 [35... Qc3 36.Qd5 and White is winning] 1-0 [Kasparov]
Karpov 2720 Kasparov 2700

Moscow (m/16) 1985 40/202
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Nf6 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3
d5 9.cd5 [9.ed5 ed5 10.Nd5 Nd5 11.cd5 (11.Qd5? Bb4 12.Bd2 Qe7 13.Be2
Bg4) Bb4 12.Bd2 Qd5 equal] ed5 10.ed5 Nb4 11.Be2!? [a novelty; 11.Bg5
Nbd5 12.Nd5 Qd5 13.Bf6 (13.Qd5 Nd5 14.0-0-0 Be6 15.Bc4 Nc7! equal)
Qd1 14.Rd1 gf6 equal] Bc5! [11...Nbd5 12.0-0 Be7 (12...Ba3? 13.Qa4)
13.Nd5 Nd5 14.Bf3 Be6 15.Nc2 and White is slightly better] 12.0-0 0-0
13.Bf3 [13.Bg5 Nbd5 14.Nd5 Qd5 15.Bf6 Qd1 equal] Bf5 [weak point Na3]
14.Bg5 [14.Be3 Be3 15.fe3 Qb6 with counterplay] Re8! [14...b5? 15.Be4!]
15.Qd2 [15.Nc4 Bd3 16.a3 Bc4 (16...Bf1? 17.ab4 Bc4 18.bc5 and White is
superior) 17.ab4 Bb4 18.Re1 unclear] b5 16.Rad1 [16.Qf4 Bg6 17.Bf6 Qf6
18.Qf6 gf6 equal]
16...Nd3! 17.Nab1? [17.Be2? Nf2 18.Rf2 b4; 17.d6! Qd6!? (17...b4? 18.Ba8
Qa8 19.Na4 ba3 20.Bf6 gf6 21.Nc5 Nc5 22.Qd5 and White is superior;
17...Ra7 18.Nd5) 18.Ba8 Ra8 with compensation] h6! 18.Bh4 b4! 19.Na4
[19.Ne2 g5! 20.Bg5 Nf2 and Black is superior] Bd6 20.Bg3 [20.Qc2? Rc8
21.Qb3 Nf4 22.Rc1 Rc1 23.Rc1 g5 24.Bg3 g4 and Black is winning] Rc8
[20...Ne4?! 21.Be4 Be4 22.Qe3! unclear; 20...Bg3!? 21.fg3 (with the idea
Be2; 21.hg3 Qa5 22.b3 Rad8) Qd7! 22.b3 (22.Be2? Qa7) Nd5 23.Nb2 Qa7
24.Kh1 Nb2 (24...Rad8? 25.Bd5 Rd5 26.Rf5!) 25.Qb2 (25.Bd5? Nd1 26.Rf5
Rad8! 27.Qd1 Qd7) Ne3 26.Ba8 Nd1 27.Rd1 Qa8 and Black is superior]
21.b3 [with the idea Nb2]
21...g5!! 22.Bd6 [22.Nb2? Nb2 23.Qb2 g4; 22.Be2? Ne4; 22.h4 Ne4
(22...g4? 23.Be2 Ne4 24.Qh6 unclear; 22...Nf4!?) 23.Be4 Be4 24.hg5
(24.Bd6 Qd6 25.hg5 Nf4!; 24.Qe3 Bf4! 25.Qd4 gh4) Bg3 25.fg3 Qd5 26.gh6
(26.Qe3? Bg2) Rc6! with attack] Qd6 23.g3 [23.Be2 Nf4 24.Bc4 Ng4 25.g3
Rc4! 26.bc4 Re2 27.c5 (27.Qd4 Be4) Qg6 28.gf4 Qh5 and Black is winning]
Nd7! 24.Bg2 [24.Nb2 Qf6!! a) 25.Nd3 Bd3 26.Bg4 (26.Qd3 Ne5 and Black
is winning) Ne5 27.f4 Ng4 28.Qd3 Qb6 and Black is winning; b) 25.Nc4
N7e5 26.Ne5 (26.Be2 Bh3) Ne5 27.Bg2 (27.Be2 Bd3! and Black is winning)
Bd3 28.f4 (28.Rfe1 Nf3) Rc2 29.Qe3 Bf1 30.Rf1 gf4 and Black is winning]
Qf6! 25.a3 a5 26.ab4 ab4 27.Qa2 Bg6 28.d6 [28.Nd2 Re2 and Black is
winning; 28.Bh3 Rcd8 with the idea N7e5 and Black is winning] g4!
[28...Qd6? 29.Nd2] 29.Qd2 Kg7 30.f3 [30.f4 Bf5!] Qd6 31.fg4 Qd4 32.Kh1
Nf6 33.Rf4 [33.h3 Re3! (33...Ne4? 34.Qd3 Nf2 35.Rf2 Bd3 36.Rfd2) 34.Rf4
Qe5 and Black is winning] Ne4 34.Qd3 Nf2 35.Rf2 Bd3 36.Rfd2 Qe3!
37.Rd3
37...Rc1!! 38.Nb2 Qf2! 39.Nd2 Rd1 [39...Re2!] 40.Nd1 Re1 0-1 [Kasparov]
Kasparov 2740 Karpov 2705

London/Leningrad (m/16) 1986 42/440
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 00 9.h3 Bb7 10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.a4 h6 13.Bc2 ed4 14.cd4 Nb4
15.Bb1 c5 16.d5 Nd7 17.Ra3 c4 18.Nd4 Qf6!? [a novelty; 18...Ne5 see
39/(432)] 19.N2f3 Nc5 [19...Nd3!? 20.Bd3 (20.Rd3!? cd3 21.ab5 with
compensation) b4! 21.Bc4! (21.Ra1?! cd3 22.Qd3 Nc5 23.Qc4 a5! 24.Nb5
Rac8 and Black is slightly better) ba3 22.b3 unclear] 20.ab5 ab5 21.Nb5
[21.Ra8? Ra8 22.Nb5 Ra1 23.Nc3 Nbd3 24.Rf1 Nb3 and Black is superior]
Ra3 22.Na3 Ba6 [22...Nbd3 23.Bd3 Nd3 24.Re3! Ba6! (24...Nb2?! 25.Bb2
Qb2 26.Nc4 and White is superior) a) 25.Qa4 Ra8 26.Bd2 Qb2 (26...Nb2
27.Qc2 Nd3 28.Nc4 Qa1 29.Ne1! and White is superior) 27.Nc4 Qb1 28.Be1
Nc5 29.Qc6 Rc8 30.Qb6 Rb8 31.Qb1 Rb1 with compensation; b) 25.Qc2!?
and White is slightly better ] 23.Re3 Rb8! [23...Ncd3? 24.Bd3 cd3 25.Qa4
Rb8 26.Bd2! Qb2 27.Re1! and White is superior; 23...Nbd3? 24.Bd3 cd3
25.b4 Ne4 26.b5 (26.Qa4? Rc8) Bb7 27.Rd3! Nc3 28.Bb2 Nd1 29.Bf6 Nf2
30.Kf2 gf6 31.Nc4 and White is superior; 23...g6? 24.Bd2! Qb2 25.Bc3 Qa3
26.Qd4 Re5 27.Ne5 Nb3 (27...Bg7 28.Qd2! and White is superior) 28.Qa7!
de5 29.Rf3 and White is superior] 24.e5! [24.Rc3? Nbd3! (and Black is
superior) 25.Nc4? Qc3! and Black is winning; 24.Ne1?! Nbd3! 25.Nd3 cd3
with compensation] de5 25.Ne5 Nbd3? [25...Ncd3! 26.Ng4! (26.Bd3 Nd3
27.Rd3 cd3 28.Nd7 Qd6 29.Nb8 Qb8 30.Qa4 equal) Qd4! 27.Nc2! Nc2
28.Bc2 Qd5? 29.Nf6! gf6 30.Rg3 with the idea Qg4 and White is winning;
28...Bc5! unclear] 26.Ng4? [26.Nac4? Qf2 27.Kh1 Nf4! 28.Qf3 Qf3 29.Rf3
Nd5 and Black is slightly better; 26.Qc2! Rb4 (only move) 27.Nc6 Rb7
28.Re8! g6! a) 29.Bh6? Rb2 30.Bf8 Kh7 31.Bc5 Rc2? 32.Bd4! and White is
winning; 31...Nc5! and Black is superior; b) 29.Be3! Rb2 30.Bd4 Rc2 31.Bf6
Rc1 32.Kh2 Nd7 33.Bd4 b1) 33...Kh7 34.Rd8 Bd6 35.f4!! (35.g3? N7e5!
36.Rd6 Nf3 37.Kg2 Nde1 38.Kh1! equal) Bf4 36.g3 and White is winning;
b2) 33...c3 34.Bd3! Bd3 35.Rd8 c2! 36.Nc2 Rc2 37.Rd7 and White is
superior] Qb6! [26...Qf5?! 27.Rf3 Qd5 a) 28.Bh6?! Rb2? 29.Nf6! gf6 30.Rg3
and White is superior; 28...Qe6?! unclear; b) 28.Ba2! Qe6 29.Re3 Qd5
30.Nc4! (and White is superior) Bc4 31.Nf6! gf6 32.Rg3 Bg7 33.Qg4 Ne6
34.Bc4 and White is winning] 27.Rg3 g6! [27...Kh8?! 28.Nh6! Ne4! 29.Nf7
Kg8 30.Re3! Nef2! 31.Qh5! Bc5 32.Ng5! Be3 33.Qh7 Kf8 34.Qh8 Ke7
35.Qg7 Kd6 36.Qf6 Kd7 37.Qf7 Kc8 38.Qe8 Kb7 39.Qe7 Qc7 40.Qe3 and
White is slightly better; 27...Ne4!? 28.Re3! (28.Nh6? Kh7 and Black is
superior; 28.Nc4!? Bc4 29.Rd3 Bd3 30.Qd3 unclear) Nef2 29.Nf2 Nf2
30.Kf2 Ba3 31.Qc2! f5! 32.ba3 Qb1 33.Qb1 Rb1 34.Bd2 equal] 28.Bh6
[28.Nh6? Bh6 29.Bh6 Qb2 and Black is superior] Qb2 29.Qf3! Nd7?!
[29...Qa3 30.Nf6 Kh8 31.Qh5! (31.Bf8 Rf8 32.Rg4! Qc1 33.Kh2 Kg7! 34.Nh5
Kg8 equal) Rb1 (31...Bd6? 32.Bf8! and White is winning; 31...Bg7? 32.Qh4!
and White is winning) 32.Bc1! (32.Kh2? Rh1!! 33.Kh1 Nf2 and Black is
winning) Kg7 33.Ne8 Kg8 34.Nf6 equal; 29...Bd6!? 30.Bg5 unclear] 30.Bf8
Kf8 [30...Rf8?! 31.Nh6 Kg7! (31...Kh7? 32.Nf7 Qa3 33.Qe4! Qc1 34.Kh2
Qh1! 35.Kh1 Nf2 36.Kg1 Ne4 37.Be4 Rf7 38.Rg6! Nc5 39.Bc2! Kh8 40.Rc6
and White is winning) 32.Nf5 Kh7 33.Qe3! gf5 34.Qg5 Qf2 35.Kh2 Qf4
36.Qh5 Qh6 37.Qf5 Kh8 38.Qd7 Qf4 39.Qg4 Qg4 40.Rg4 and White is
slightly better]
31.Kh2! Rb3! [31...Qa3? 32.Nh6 Qe7 33.Rg6 Ke8! 34.Bd3! cd3 (34...fg6
35.Bg6 Kd8 36.Nf7 Kc8 37.d6 and White is winning; 34...Qe5 35.g3 fg6
36.Bg6 Ke7 37.d6! Ke6 38.Bf5 and White is winning) 35.d6 Qe5 36.g3 fg6
37.Qf7 Kd8 38.Qg8 Nf8 39.Nf7 and White is winning; 31...Kg7?! 32.Nc4!
Qb1 33.Nd6 N3e5 34.Ne5 Ne5 35.Qe3! Qb2 36.Nf5 Kf8 37.f4! Re8 38.fe5
Qe5 39.Qc5 Kg8 40.Nh6 Kg7 41.Ng4 and White is superior; 31...Qc1 32.Bd3
cd3 33.Nf6! Ne5 34.Qe4 d2 (34...Qc7 35.Qd4! and White is superior) 35.Qe5
d1Q 36.Qb8 Kg7 (36...Bc8 37.Re3! Qd4 38.Qd6 Kg7 39.Ne8 Kh7 40.Nb5
and White is superior) 37.Ne8! Kh7 38.Re3! Qd4 39.Qd6 and White is
superior] 32.Bd3 cd3? [32...Rd3 33.Qf4 Qa3 34.Nh6 Qe7 35.Rg6 Qe5
36.Qe5! Ne5 37.Ra6 Rd5 38.Ra8! Ke7 39.Nf5 Ke6 40.Ne3 and White is
slightly better; 32...Ra3! 33.Qf4 Rd3 34.Qd6 Kg7 35.Qd7 Rg3 36.fg3 Bb7!
(36...c3? 37.Qc7! c2 38.Ne5 Qb7 39.Qc3! c1Q! 40.Qc1 Qd5 41.Qa1! Qe6
42.Nd7 f6 43.Nc5 and White is winning; 36...Qd4? 37.Qc6! c3 38.Qa6 c2
39.Qa3 Qd2 40.Qb2 Kg8 41.Nf6 Kf8 42.Qb8! Kg7 43.Nd7! and White is
winning) 37.h4! Ba8!! 38.Qd8 Qd4 39.Qa8 Qg4 40.Qa1 Kf8! (only move)
41.d6 Ke8 42.Qa4 Kd8 43.Qa5 Ke8 44.Qb5 Qd7 45.Qe5 Qe6 equal] 33.Qf4
Qa3? [time; 33...Ra3? 34.Rf3! Qb8 (34...f6 35.Qd6 Ke8 36.Nf6 Nf6 37.Re3
and White is winning; 34...f5 35.Qd6 Ke8 36.Re3 Kd8 37.Ne5 Bb5 38.Nc6
Bc6 39.dc6 Qb8 40.Re8! Ke8 41.cd7 and White is winning; 34...Ke8 35.Qf7
Kd8 36.d6 Qh8 37.Nf6 and White is winning; 34...Ke7 35.Qf7 Kd6 36.Qe6
Kc7 37.Rf7 Bb5 38.Ne5 d2 39.Rd7 Bd7 40.Qd7 Kb6 41.Nc4 and White is
winning) 35.d6 Qe8 36.Re3! Qc8 37.Re7 Bc4 38.Qh6 Kg8 39.Rd7 and White
is winning; 33...d2! 34.Nh6 Nf6! 35.Qd6 (35.Rb3 Qb3 36.Qf6 Qd5 37.Nf7
d1Q 38.Nd6 Kg8 39.Qg6 Kf8 40.Qf6 Kg8 41.Nf5!? Qf5!! 42.Qf5 Qd6 equal)
Ke8 36.Qa6!! d1Q 37.Qa8 Kd7! 38.Nc4 Qba1! 39.Qc6 Ke7 40.Qc7 Nd7
41.Nf5! Kf6 42.Qd8 Kf5 43.Qg5 Ke4 44.Rb3 Kd4 45.Qf4 Kc5 46.Rf3 and
White is superior, with attack] 34.Nh6 Qe7 35.Rg6 Qe5 36.Rg8 Ke7 37.d6!
(and White is winning) Ke6 38.Re8 Kd5 39.Re5 Ne5 40.d7 Rb8 41.Nf7 1-0
[Kasparov]

London/Leningrad (m/22) 1986 42/575
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bf6 Bf6 7.e3 0-0 8.Rc1 c6
9.Bd3 Nd7 10.0-0 dc4 11.Bc4 e5 12.h3 ed4 13.ed4 Nb6 14.Bb3 Bf5 15.Re1
a5 16.a3 Re8 17.Re8 Qe8 18.Qd2 Nd7!? [a novelty; 18...a4 19.Ba2 Qd7]
19.Qf4! [19.Re1 Qb8! equal] Bg6 20.h4! [20.Re1 Qd8 21.Na4 Bh5!] Qd8
21.Na4 h5! [21...Bh5? 22.g4 Bg6 23.h5 Bh7 24.Ne5 and White is winning;
21...Qb8?! 22.Qg4 Nf8 23.h5 Bh7 24.Nc5 and White is superior] 22.Re1
b5!? [22...Qb8 23.Qe3 (23.Ne5 Be5 24.de5 b5!) Qd6 24.Nc3 and White is
slightly better] 23.Nc3 Qb8 24.Qe3! [24.Ne5 Be5 25.de5 Nc5 26.Ba2 b4!
(26...Nd3? 27.Qg5 Ne1 28.Qg6 and White is superior) 27.Qg5 (27.Qg3? Bc2!
and Black is superior) a) 27...Kh7? 28.Ne2 Nd3 (28...ba3 29.Nf4! Qb2
30.Ng6 fg6 31.Bb1 and White is winning) 29.Nf4! Nf4 (29...Ne1? 30.Ng6 fg6
31.Bf7 Kh8 32.Bg6 Qd8 33.Qh5 Kg8 34.Bf7 Kf8 35.Bc4 Qe8 36.Qh8 Ke7
37.Qg7 Kd8 38.Bf7! and White is winning) 30.Qf4 and White is superior; b)
27...b3! 28.Bb1 Bb1 29.Nb1 (29.Rb1 Nd3 30.e6 Qe5!) Nd3 30.Re3 (30.Re2
Qd8!) Nb2 31.Rg3 Qf8! (31...g6? 32.e6 and White is superior) 32.Rb3 Rb8
unclear] b4 [24...a4 25.Ba2 b4 26.Ne4 ba3 27.ba3 and White is slightly
better] 25.Ne4 ba3 [25...Be4? 26.Qe4 and White is superior, with the idea
26...ba3?! 27.Qc6! ab2 28.Qd5! and White is winning] 26.Nf6 Nf6 27.ba3
Nd5! [27...Ng4?! 28.Qc3 Qd6 29.Ne5 (29.g3!? and White is superior) Re8
30.g3! (30.Ng4? Re1 31.Qe1 hg4 32.Qe8 Kh7! unclear; 30.f3?! Ne5 31.de5
Qd3! unclear) Qf6 31.Re2 and White is superior] 28.Bd5 cd5 29.Ne5 Qd8!
[29...Qd6 30.Rc1! and White is superior] 30.Qf3 [30.Qf4!?] Ra6 [30...Rc8!?]
31.Rc1 Kh7?! [31...Qh4!? 32.Qd5 Kh7 (only move) 33.Nf3 (33.Rc8? Rb6;
33.g3?! Be4!) Qg4 34.Ng5 Kh6 35.Nf7 Bf7 36.Qf7 Rf6 (36...Qd4? 37.Rc8 g6
38.Qf8 Qg7 39.Qf4 g5 40.Qb8 and White is winning) 37.Qc4 (37.Qd5 Rf2!
38.Kf2 Qf4 39.Qf3 Qc1 40.Qe3 Qe3 41.Ke3 g5 42.d5 Kg6 43.d6 Kf6 44.d7
Ke7 45.Ke4 Kd7 46.Kf5 g4 47.Kg5 Kc6 48.Kh5 Kb5 49.Kg4 Ka4 equal) Rg6
38.g3! (38.Qd5?! Rg5! 39.Qa8 Qd4 40.Qh8 Kg6 41.Rc6 Kf7 42.Qc8 Re5
equal) h4 a) 39.Qg8 Rd6! (39...hg3? 40.Qh8 Kg5 41.Rc5 Kf4 42.Qb8 and
White is winning) 40.Rc7 Qd4 unclear, with the idea 41.Qh8 Kg6 42.Qf8
Rd5!; b) 39.Qc8 Qc8 40.Rc8 hg3 41.Rh8 Kg5 42.fg3 Rd6 equal; c) 39.Rc3!
and White is slightly better, with the idea 39...Qd1 40.Kg2 h3?! 41.Kh2 Rf6
42.Rc2 and White is superior] 32.Qh3! Rb6 [32...Re6 33.Rc5 and White is
superior] 33.Rc8 Qd6 34.Qg3 a4? [34...Qe6 35.Rc5 and White is superior;
34...Rb1 35.Kh2 Qa6 36.Re8! (36.Rf8 Qf1 37.Qf3 a4! 38.Nf7 Bf7 39.Qf7 Qg1
40.Kg3 Rb3 41.f3 Qe1 equal) Qb5 (36...Qf1 37.Qf3 a4 38.Nf7 Bf7 39.Qf7
Qg1 40.Kg3 Rb3 41.f3 and White is winning) 37.Ra8! and White is superior]
35.Ra8! Qe6! [35...Ra6 36.Nf7! Bf7 37.Qd3 and White is winning; 35...Rb3
36.Rh8! Kh8 37.Nf7 and White is winning] 36.Ra4 [36.Qg5 Ra6!] Qf5
37.Ra7! Rb1 38.Kh2 Rc1 [with the idea Qb1] [38...Rb2 39.Nf3! f6 40.Qc7
and White is winning] 39.Rb7 Rc2 40.f3 [40.Nf3 f6! with the idea 41.Qd6
Qg4!] Rd2
41.Nd7!! [41.Rb4? f6! and White is slightly better] Rd4 42.Nf8 Kh6
43.Rb4!! Rc4 [43...Rb4 44.ab4 d4 45.b5 d3 46.b6 d2 47.b7 d1Q 48.b8Q Qc1
49.Ng6 Qg6 50.Qh8 Qh7 51.Qgg7 mate; 43...Rd1 44.Rb8 Bh7 45.Qg5 Qg5
46.hg5 Kg5 47.Nh7 and White is winning; 43...Rd3 a) 44.Qe1? Qc8!!
(44...Bh7? 45.Rb6 g6 46.Qc1 Kg7 47.Ne6! fe6 48.Qc7 Qf7 49.Qe5 Kh6
50.Re6 Ra3 51.Re7 Qe7 52.Qe7 Ra8 53.g4 hg4 54.fg4 Bg8 55.g5 Kh5 56.Kg3
Ra2 57.Qf8 and White is winning) 45.Qe7 Qf5! unclear, with the idea 46.f4
Qf6!; b) 44.Rb8 Bh7 45.Qg5 Qg5 46.hg5 Kg5 47.Nh7 Kh6 48.Nf8 Ra3
49.Rd8 and White is winning; c) 44.a4! Re3 45.Rb8 Bh7 (45...Qe5 46.Qe5
Re5 47.Nd7 Re7 48.Rh8 Bh7 49.Nf8 and White is winning) 46.Qg5 Qg5
47.hg5 Kg5 48.Nh7 and White is winning] 44.Rc4 dc4 45.Qd6! c3 46.Qd4
[46.Qd4 Bh7 47.Qc3 Bg8 (47...g5 48.Qe3 f6 49.hg5 fg5 50.Nh7 Kh7 51.Qe4
and White is winning) 48.Qe3 g5 49.Qg5 Qg5 50.hg5 Kg5 51.a4 f5 52.a5
Bc4 53.Nd7 Kf4 54.Nc5 Ke5 55.a6 Kd6 56.a7 Bd5 57.Nd3 Kc7 58.Nf4 and
White is winning] 1-0 [Kasparov]
Kasparov 2775 Salov 2630

Barcelona 1989 47/55
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.Nc3 c5 4.e4 d6 5.d4 cd4 6.Nd4 Bb7 7.Qe2 Nbd7 8.g3
Rc8?! [8...e6] 9.Bg2 a6 10.0-0 Qc7?! [10...e6] 11.b3 e6
12.Nd5! [a novelty; 12.Bd2 see 31/(82)] Qb8 [12...ed5 13.ed5 Kd8 14.Bb2
and White is slightly better] 13.Rd1! g6 [13...ed5 14.ed5 Kd8 15.Nc6 Bc6
16.dc6 Nc5 17.b4 and White is superior; 13...e5 14.Nf6 Nf6 15.Nf5 g6
16.Bg5 Nd7 17.Nh6 and White is superior] 14.Bg5! [14.Bh3?! Bg7 15.Be6
fe6 16.Ne6 Kf7 unclear] Bg7 [14...ed5 15.ed5 Be7 16.Nc6 (16.Re1 0-0) Bc6
17.dc6 Ne5 18.f4 h6 19.fe5 de5 20.Be3 and White is winning] 15.Bf6! Nf6
[15...Bf6? 16.Nf6 Nf6 17.e5! de5 (17...Bg2 18.ef6 Bh3 19.Qe3 Qb7 20.f3 and
White is superior) 18.Bb7 Qb7 19.Qe5 Ke7 (19...Qe7 20.Nc6!!) 20.Ne6 fe6
21.Rd6 with attack] 16.Nb6 Rd8? [16...Rc7 and White is superior] 17.e5!
Bg2 [17...de5 18.Nc6 Bc6 19.Bc6 Ke7 20.c5! Qc7 21.Qa6 Rd1 (21...Qc6
22.Qa7 Nd7 23.Rd6 and White is winning) 22.Rd1 Qc6 23.Qa7 (23.Nd5) Ke8
24.Nc4 and White is winning] 18.ef6 Bf6 19.Ne6! fe6 20.Qe6 Be7 21.c5!
Bb7 22.Re1 Qc7 23.c6! Bc6 24.Rac1 Rd7 25.Nd7 Qd7 26.Qc4! [26.Qe7
Qe7 27.Re7 Ke7 28.Rc6 and White is winning in ending] Bb7 [26...Bb5
27.Qc8 and White is winning] 27.Qc7 Rf8 [27...Bd5 28.Qb8 Kf7 29.Qh8
Qh3 30.Re7! Ke7 31.Rc7 Ke6 32.Qc8 and White is winning] 28.Qb8 Kf7
29.Rc7! 1-0 [Kasparov]

New York/Lyon (m/2) 1990 50/388
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 00 9.h3 Bb7 10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.a4 h6 13.Bc2 ed4 14.cd4 Nb4
15.Bb1 ba4 16.Ra4 a5 17.Ra3 Ra6 18.Nh2 g6 19.f3! [a novelty; 19.f4 see
47/435; 19.Ng4 see 47/434] Qd7?! [19...c5 20.d5 and White is slightly
better; 19...Bg7 20.Nc4 Qa8 21.d5 Rd8 unclear] 20.Nc4 Qb5 21.Rc3! Bc8
[21...d5 22.Na3 with the idea e5 and White is superior; 21...Rc6 22.Na3 Qb6
23.Be3 and White is superior] 22.Be3 c6?! [22...Qb8!? with the idea d5]
23.Qc1 [with the idea Na3] [23.Qd2!?] Kh7 24.Ng4! Ng8?! [24...Bg4 25.hg4
d5 26.Na3 and White is superior; 24...Ng4 25.hg4 d5 (25...Be6 26.Na3 Qb8
27.Kf2 Bg7 28.Qd2) 26.Ne5 de4 (26...Be6 27.Kf2 de4 28.Bh6 Bh6 29.Rh1
and White is winning) 27.Nf7 a) 27...ef3 28.gf3 (28.Bh6? Re1 29.Qe1 Qe2;
28.Ne5? c5!) Nd5 29.Bh6 Re1 30.Qe1 Qb2 31.Bf8 Qc3 32.Qh4 Kg8 33.Qh8
Kf7 34.Bg6! and White is winning; b) 27...Nd5 28.Bh6 and White is
winning; c) 27...Nd3 28.Bd3 ed3 29.Ne5 and White is superior]
25.Bh6! [25.Bf4 and White is superior] Bh6 26.Nh6 Nh6 27.Nd6 Qb6
28.Ne8 [28.Rc5!? Rd8 29.e5 and White is superior, with attack] Qd4 29.Kh1
Qd8 30.Rd1! Qe8 31.Qg5 Ra7 [31...Bd7 32.f4 f5 33.Rc5! and White is
winning] 32.Rd8 Qe6 33.f4 Ba6 [33...Rd7 34.f5 gf5 35.ef5 Qe1 36.Kh2 Qe5
37.Rg3 and White is winning; 33...f6 34.Qc5! Rd7 35.Rd7 Qd7 36.Qa5 and
White is winning] 34.f5 Qe7 35.Qd2! Qe5 [35...Nd5 36.fg6 fg6 37.ed5 Qd8
38.Bg6! and White is winning; 35...Ng8 36.Qd4 Rc7 37.e5 Nd5 38.fg6 fg6
39.Bg6! Kg7 40.Rd5 cd5 41.Rg3 and White is winning] 36.Qf2 Qe7
[36...Re7 37.Rc5 and White is winning] 37.Qd4 Ng8 38.e5 Nd5 39.fg6 fg6
40.Rc6 Qd8 41.Qa7 [41.Rg6 Kh8 42.Qa7 and White is winning] Nde7
42.Ra6 Qd1 43.Qg1 Qd2 44.Qf1 1-0 [Kasparov]

Linares 1993 57/576
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2 Nbd7 8.Qd2
c6 9.Rd1 a6 10.de5 [10.d5 cd5 11.Nd5! and White is slightly better; 10...c5!
with counterplay] Ne5! [a novelty; 10...de5? see 51/(597)] 11.b3 b5! 12.cb5
[12.c5? d5 13.ed5 b4! and Black is superior; 12.Qd6 Qd6 13.Rd6 bc4 and
Black is slightly better] ab5 13.Qd6 Nfd7 14.f4?! [14.Nd4?? Ra6! and Black
is winning; 14.Bg1 b4 15.Na4 Ra4 16.ba4 Qa5 17.Bd4 c5 with initiative;
14.Qd2!? b4 15.Nb1!? (15.Na4 Ra4 16.ba4 Nc4 17.Qc1 Ne3 18.Qe3 Qa5
with compensation) ; 14.a4!? ba4 15.Na4 Ra4 16.ba4 Nc4 17.Qd3 Nb2
18.Qc2 Nd1 19.Qd1 Qa5 20.Kf2 Ne5! (20...Rd8 21.Qc2 Nb6 22.Qc6 Na4
23.Nf4; 20...Nc5 21.Nd4 Rd8 22.Nc6 Rd1 23.Na5 Na4 24.Rg1 Bc3 25.Bb5!)
21.Nf4 f5 22.ef5 Bf5] b4! 15.Nb1? [15.Qb4? c5! 16.Bc5 Nc5 17.Rd8 Ned3
and Black is winning; 15.Na4 Ra4! 16.ba4 Nc4 17.Qd3 Nb2 (17...Ne3!?
18.Qe3 Qa5 with initiative) 18.Qc2 Nd1 19.Qd1 Qa5 and Black is superior;
15.fe5! bc3 16.Nc3 (16.e6 fe6 17.Qe6 Kh8 and Black is winning) a)
16...Qa5!? 17.Qc6 (17.Bd2 Ne5 with initiative 18.Na4; 17.b4 Qa3 18.Bd4
Re8) Ne5 (17...Bb7 unclear) 18.Qc5 unclear; b) 16...Be5 17.Qc6 (only move;
17.Qd2 Bc3 18.Qc3 Qh4 and Black is superior) Bc3 (17...Qa5 18.Bd2!;
17...Qh4 18.Kd2! Rb8 unclear; 17...Bb7!? 18.Qb7 Bc3 19.Kf2 Ra2 20.Kg1
Nc5 21.Rd8 Nb7 22.Rf8 Kf8 equal) 18.Qc3 Qh4 19.Kd2! (19.g3 Qe4 20.Rg1
Ra2 and Black is superior; 19.Bf2 Qe4 20.Qe3 Re8 21.Qe4 Re4 22.Be2 Ba6!
23.Rd2 Rae8 24.0-0 Be2 25.Rd7 Bf1 26.Kf1 Re2 and Black is superior) b1)
19...Nf6 20.Kc1 Ne4 21.Qe5 Bf5 22.g3 (22.Bd4 f6 23.Bc4 Kh8 24.Qe7 Qg5!
and Black is winning) Qg4 23.Bd4 (23.Bc4 Rfe8 24.Qf4 Ra2 25.Qg4 Bg4) f6
24.Bc4 Kh8 25.Qf4 Qf4 26.gf4 Ra2 unclear; b2) 19...Ra2 20.Kc1 b21)
20...Qe4? 21.Bh6 Ne5 b211) 22.Bf8? Bf5 23.Bd3 Qe3 (23...Qd3? 24.Rd3
Nd3 25.Kb1 Nb4 equal) 24.Kb1 Rg2 25.Bh6 Bd3 26.Rd3 Qd3 27.Qd3 Nd3
28.Rd1 Rh2! and Black is winning; b212) 22.Bd3!; b22) 20...Nf6! 21.Kb1
Ne4 22.Qe5 Ra3 unclear; 21...Ra8! and Black is slightly better] Ng4 16.Bd4
[16.Bg1!? Ra2 17.h3 Qh4 18.g3 Re2 19.Ke2 (19.Be2 Qg3 20.Kf1 Ba6 21.Ba6
Qf3 22.Ke1 Qh1 and Black is winning) Qg3 a) 20.Rd3 a1) 20...Ba6 21.hg4
(21.Qd7 Nf6 22.Qd4 Nh5 23.Qe3 Rd8 and Black is winning) Nf6 22.Nd2 Nd5
23.Nc4 Bc4 24.bc4 Nc3 (24...Nf4 25.Kd2 Qg4) 25.Rc3 (only move; 25.Kd2
Ne4 26.Kc2 Qe1) Bc3 26.Be3 Ra8 27.Kd3? Qf3! and Black is winning; a2)
20...Qh4! 21.Bg2 Nge5 22.fe5 Ne5 23.Nd2 (23.Rd2 Qg3!) Ba6 24.Nc4 Bc4
25.bc4 Nd3 26.Qd3 Ra8 and Black is winning; b) 20.Qd3 Qf4 21.hg4 Ne5
22.Qe3 Qg4!? (22...Bg4 23.Ke1 Nf3 24.Kf2 Qe3 25.Ke3 Ng1 and Black is
superior) 23.Ke1 (23.Kf2 f5!) Nf3 24.Kf2 Ng1 25.Rd2 Bf6! (25...f5? 26.Rg1
fe4 27.Ke1) 26.Rg1 Bh4 27.Rg3 Bg3 28.Qg3 Qe4 and Black is superior; c)
20.hg4 Nf6 c1) 21.Qd3 Bg4 22.Kd2 Ne4 (22...Qf4 23.Be3 Ne4 24.Kc1 Qf3
with initiative) 23.Qe4 (23.Kc1 Bd1) Rd8 24.Bd3 Bd1 25.Kd1 Rd3 26.Kc2
Rb3 (and Black is superior) 27.Qe8 Bf8 28.Rh7 Qd3 29.Kc1 Rb1 mate; c2)
21.Bf2 Bg4 (21...Qg4 22.Ke1 Ne4) 22.Ke1 Qf3 23.Rh2 Ne4 and Black is
superior] Bd4 17.Qd4 [17.Nd4 Ra2 18.Rd2 (18.Nc6 Qh4 19.g3 Nh2!!
20.Qd3 Qf6 21.Nb4 Ne5! and Black is winning) Ra1 19.Bd3 Qb6 20.0-0 Nc5
(20...Rd8 21.Bc4 Nde5 22.fe5 Rd6 23.ed6 Ne5 and Black is superior) 21.Bc2
(21.Qc6 Qc6 22.Nc6 Nd3 23.Ne7 Kg7 24.Nc8 Ne3) Ba6 22.Re1 (22.Rfd1
Ne6) Rd8 and Black is winning] Ra2 18.h3 [18.Qb4 Ne3 19.Rd2 Nc2 and
Black is winning] c5 19.Qg1 [19.Qd3 Ba6 20.Qf3 (20.Qd7 Qh4 21.g3 Re2
22.Be2 Qg3 23.Kd2 Qe3 24.Kc2 Qe2 and Black is winning) Nde5 21.fe5 Ne5
22.Qe3! (22.Rd8 Nf3 23.gf3 Rd8 and Black is winning 24.Nc1 Rc2) Nd3
23.Rd3 a) 23...Bd3!? 24.Nd2 (24.Nc1 Bf1 25.Na2 Bg2 26.Rh2 Qh4! and
Black is winning) Re8 25.Ng3; b) 23...Qd3 24.Qd3 Bd3 25.Nc1! (25.Nd2 Rd8
26.Nc1 Rd2!) Bb1 26.Na2 Ba2 27.Bc4 Bb1 28.e5 Bf5 29.Kd2 Re8 30.Re1 h5
and Black is winning] Ngf6 20.e5 Ne4 21.h4?! [21.Qe3 Bb7 22.Nd2
(22.Nc1? Qh4; 22.h4 Qe7 with the idea Re8, Ne5) Nd2 23.Rd2 Rd2 24.Qd2
Nb6! (24...Qh4 25.g3 Qe7 26.Rg1 Ra8; 24...Qe7! and Black is superior)
25.Qd8 Rd8 26.Nc1 Nd5 27.Nd3 Ne3 and Black is winning] c4! 22.Nc1
[22.bc4? Qa5 23.Qe3 b3 24.Nec3 (24.Nd2? Ndc5) Ndc5 25.Be2 Rc2;
22.Qe3!? c3 23.Qe4 c2! 24.Rd2 (24.Rc1 Nc5 and Black is winning) Nc5!
25.Rd8 Ne4]
22...c3!! 23.Na2 c2 24.Qd4 [24.Rc1 Ne5! 25.Rc2 (25.fe5? cb1Q 26.Rb1

Qd2; 25.Qe3?! cb1Q 26.Rb1 Ng4 and Black is winning) Bg4 26.Rd2 (26.Be2
Nd3 27.Bd3 Qd3 and Black is winning; 26.Nd2 Nd3 27.Bd3 Qd3 28.Ne4 Qe4
29.Kd2 Qf4 and Black is winning) Nd2 27.Nd2 (27.fe5 Ne4 28.Be2 Be2
29.Ke2 Ng3 30.Kf3 Nh1 and Black is winning) Re8 28.fe5 Re5 29.Kf2 Qd2
30.Kg3 Re3 31.Kh2 Rh3 mate] cd1Q 25.Kd1 [25.Qd1 Ng3 26.Rh3 Nf1
27.Kf1 (27.Qd4 Ne5!) Nc5 28.Qd8 Rd8 29.Re3 Rd1 30.Re1 Ba6 31.Kf2 Nd3
and Black is winning] Ndc5! 26.Qd8 Rd8 27.Kc2 [27.Ke1 Bg4 28.Be2 Be2
29.Ke2 Ng3; 27.Kc1 Nf2 28.Rg1 Rd1 29.Kb2 Ncd3] Nf2 [28.Rg1 Bf5
29.Kb2 Nd1 30.Ka1 (30.Kc1 Nb3 mate) Nb3 mate] 0-1 [Kasparov]
Kasparov 2805 Shirov 2740

Horgen 1994 61/178
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bf4 e5 8.Bg5
a6 9.Na3 b5 10.Nd5 Be7 11.Bf6 Bf6 12.c3 Bb7 13.Nc2 Nb8 [13...Ne7
14.Nf6 gf6 15.Bd3 and White is slightly better; 13...0-0 14.h4!?] 14.a4 ba4
15.Ra4 [15.Nce3 see 55/194] Nd7 16.Rb4!? [a novelty; 16.Nce3] Nc5?!
[16...Bc6?! 17.Rc4! Bd5 18.Qd5 0-0 19.Rc6 and White is superior;
16...Rb8!?]
17.Rb7!! Nb7 18.b4 Bg5 [18...0-0 19.Nce3] 19.Na3! 0-0 20.Nc4 a5 [20...f5
21.Bd3 f4 22.Qg4 and White is superior] 21.Bd3 ab4 22.cb4 Qb8
[22...Ra2?! 23.0-0 Qa8 24.Ncb6 Qa3 25.Bc4 Rd2 26.Qg4 and White is
superior; 22...Bh6!? 23.0-0 Qh4?! 24.g3 Qh3 25.Be2!; 23...Qg5] 23.h4! [23.00? Nd8! 24.Ncb6 Ra7 and Black is slightly better] Bh6 [23...Bd8 24.g3 Qa7
25.0-0 Qd4 26.Qb3 and White is superior] 24.Ncb6 Ra2 25.0-0 Rd2 26.Qf3
Qa7 27.Nd7 [27.Bb5! Nd8 28.Nd7 Ne6 29.Ne7! (29.Nf8 Kf8 30.Rc1 Qb8
31.Qc3 g6 equal) Kh8 30.Nf8 Qe7 31.Ne6 a) 31...fe6? 32.Rc1! (32.Ra1 g6
33.Ra8 Kg7 34.Qa3 Qh4 35.Qa7 Kf6 36.Re8 Rd1 37.Bf1 Kg5 unclear) Qd8
33.Rc6 and White is superior; b) 31...Qe6 32.Bc6 and White is slightly
better] Nd8? [27...Rd8? 28.Ne7 Kh8 29.Qf7 Rd3 30.Nf8 and White is
winning; 27...Nc5? 28.bc5 Qd7 29.c6 Qa7 30.c7 and White is winning;
27...Ra8! 28.N7b6! (28.Ne7 Kh8 29.Qf7 Rd3 30.Nf8 Qa2 31.Qf5 g6 32.Nfg6
hg6 33.Qg6 Qd2 34.Qf7 Bg7 35.Nf5 Bf8 36.Qh5 equal) a) 28...Rd8?! 29.Bb5;
b) 28...Rb8?! 29.Nc4! Nd8 (29...Ra2? 30.Ne7 Kf8 31.Nc6 Qa8 32.Nb6 and
White is winning) 30.Nd2 Bd2 31.b5 and White is superior; c) 28...Rf8
29.Bb5! see 27.Bb5] 28.Nf8 Kf8 29.b5! Qa3 [29...Qd4! 30.Rd1! (30.Qf5
Ke8) Rd1 31.Qd1 Ne6 32.b6 Nc5 33.Bc2 Qd1 34.Bd1 Ke8 35.Bg4 Nd7
(35...Kd8 36.Nb4! and White is winning) 36.b7 Nb8 37.Be2 Kd8 38.Bb5 Bc1
39.h5 Ba3 40.Kh2 Bc5 41.Kg3 Ba7 42.f3 Nd7 43.Bd7 Kd7 44.h6! gh6
45.Kg4 Kc6 46.Kh5 Kb7 47.Kh6 Kc6 48.Kg7! Kc5 (48...f5 49.ef5) 49.Kf7
Kd4 50.Kg7 Kd3 51.Kh7 Ke2 52.Kg6 Kf2 53.g4 Kf3 54.Kf5 and White is
winning] 30.Qf5! Ke8 [30...Rd3 31.Qd7 and White is winning] 31.Bc4 Rc2
[31...Qc5 32.Qh7! Kd7 33.Qf5 Ke8 34.Bb3 Rb2 35.Bd1 and White is
winning] 32.Qh7! Rc4 33.Qg8 Kd7 34.Nb6 Ke7 35.Nc4 Qc5 36.Ra1! Qd4
[36...Qc4 37.Ra7 Ke6 38.Qe8 and White is winning] 37.Ra3! [37.Ra8? Ne6!
(37...Qd1? 38.Kh2 Bf4 39.g3 Bg3 40.Kg2 and White is winning) 38.Re8 Kf6
39.Re6 Ke6 40.Qc8 Kf6 unclear] Bc1 38.Ne3! 1-0 [Kasparov]
Kasparov 2795 Anand 2725

New York (m/10) 1995 64/315
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Ne4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.de5
Be6 9.Nbd2 Nc5 10.c3 d4 11.Ng5 dc3 12.Ne6 fe6 13.bc3 Qd3 14.Bc2! [a
novelty; 14.Nf3 see 26/287] Qc3 15.Nb3!! Nb3 [15...Rd8!? 16.Bd2 Rd2!
(16...Qe5? 17.Qg4! with initiative) 17.Nd2 and White is slightly better]

16.Bb3 Nd4?! [16...Rd8? 17.Qh5 g6 18.Qg4 Qe5 19.Bb2! Nd4 (19...Qb2
20.Qe6 Ne7 21.Qf7 and White is winning) 20.Rae1 Qf5 21.Qd4! Rd4 22.Bd4
and White is winning; 16...Qa1 17.Qh5 a) 17...Kd7? 18.Be6! Ke6 19.Qg4!
Kf7 20.Qf3 Ke6 21.Qc6 Bd6 22.ed6 Qe5 23.Bd2! Qd6 24.Re1 Kf7 25.Qf3
Kg6 (25...Qf6 26.Qd5 Kg6 27.Re6 and White is winning) 26.Qg4! (26.Bf4?
Rhe8!; 26.h4? h6! 27.h5 Kh7 28.Qe4 g6 29.Bb4 Rhe8 30.Bd6 Re4 31.Re4
cd6 32.Re7 unclear) Kf7 27.Bc3! and White is winning; b) 17...g6 18.Qf3
Nd8 (18...0-0-0? 19.Qc6 Qe5 20.Qa6 Kd7 21.Bb2! and White is winning;
18...Nd4 19.Qa8 Kf7 20.Qd8! Ne2 21.Kh1 Qe5 22.Bg5! and White is
superior) 19.Qf6 b1) 19...Qd4 20.Qh8 Qd7 (20...Qh4 21.Bc2! and White is
superior) 21.Bh6 Qe7 22.Bf8 Qf8 23.Qh7 Qf7 24.Qh6 Qf5 25.Qc1 Rc8
(25...Qe5 26.Be6!) 26.Qc5 and White is superior; b2) 19...Rg8 20.Be6 b21)
20...Rg7 21.Ba3 Qf1 22.Kf1 c5 (22...b4 23.Bb4 Bb4 24.Bd5 and White is
winning) 23.Bc5 Bc5 24.Qg7 Ne6 25.Qh7 Rd8 26.Qg6 Ke7 27.Qf6 Kd7
28.Qf3 and White is winning; b22) 20...Bg7 21.Bf7! Kd7 22.e6 Kc8 23.Qa1
Ba1 24.Bg8 Bf6 25.Re1 Nc6 26.Bh7 Ne7 27.Ba3 and White is winning; b23)
20...Be7 21.Bd7! Kd7 22.e6 Ne6 23.Qa1 Bd6 24.Be3 and White is superior]
17.Qg4!! [17.Qh5? g6 18.Qg4 Qa1 19.Be6 Qc3 20.Bd7 Kd8! and Black is
winning; 17.Bg5? Nb3 18.ab3 Qe5 19.Qh5 g6 20.Qf3 Bd6! (20...Qd5?
21.Qf6) 21.Rfe1 Qh2 22.Kf1 Qh1 23.Ke2 Qh5 24.g4 Qg5 25.Qa8 Qd8
unclear] Qa1 18.Be6! [18.Be3? Ne2 19.Qe2 Qe5 20.Qf3 Bd6! and Black is
winning] Rd8 [18...Be7 19.Bg5 Qc3 (19...h5 20.Qe4 and White is winning)
20.Bd7 Kf7 21.e6 (21.Be7? Ne2! 22.Kh1 Qe5 23.Ba3 Rhd8 unclear) Kf8
22.Qh5 g6 23.Qh6! Kg8 24.Be7 Nf5 25.Qf4 and White is winning;
18...Qc3!?] 19.Bh6!! [19.Bg5? Qc3 20.Bd8 a) 20...Kd8? 21.Rd1 Ke7 (21...c5
22.Bc8 Kc7 23.Qd7 Kb6 24.Qd8 with initiative) 22.Bc8 Kf7! 23.h4 Bc5
24.Qd7 Kg6 25.Rd4 Qe1 26.Kh2 Qe5 27.f4 Qf6 28.Qg4! Kf7 (28...Kh6
29.Rd5 g6 30.Rd7 and White is winning) 29.Rd7 Be7 30.Rc7 and White is
slightly better; b) 20...h5!! 21.Qg6 Kd8 22.Rd1 c5 and Black is winning] Qc3
[19...Qb2 20.Bg7 Qe2 21.Bh8 Qg4 22.Bg4 and White is winning; 19...Qf1
20.Kf1 g6 21.Be3 Bc5 22.Bb3! (22.Bc8? 0-0!) Nb3 (22...Rf8 23.Bd4 and
White is winning) 23.Qe6 Be7 24.ab3 and White is winning] 20.Bg7 Qd3
21.Bh8! Qg6 [21...Ne2 22.Kh1 Ng3 23.hg3 Qf1 24.Kh2 Qd3 (24...Qf2
25.Bf6 and White is winning; 24...Rd1 25.Qh5 and White is winning) 25.Bf5
Qc4 26.f4 and White is winning] 22.Bf6 Be7 23.Be7 Qg4 [23...Ke7 24.Qh4
Ke8 25.Bg4 and White is winning] 24.Bg4 Ke7 [R 9/i] 25.Rc1! (and White is
winning) c6 26.f4 a5 27.Kf2 a4 28.Ke3 b4 29.Bd1! [29.Rc4? a3! with
counterplay, with the idea 30.Rd4?? Rd4 31.Kd4 b3 and Black is winning] a3
30.g4 Rd5 31.Rc4 c5 [31...Ne6 32.Bb3 Nc5 33.Bc2! (33.Rb4?? Rd3 34.Ke2
Rb3 and Black is winning) b3 34.Bb3 Rd3 35.Ke2 Rb3 36.Rc5] 32.Ke4 Rd8
33.Rc5 Ne6 34.Rd5 Rc8 35.f5 Rc4 36.Ke3 Nc5 37.g5 Rc1 38.Rd6 [38...b3
39.f6 Kf8 40.Bh5 Re1 41.Kf3 Nb7 42.Ra6] 1-0 [Kasparov]
Kasparov 2812 Topalov 2700

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 Bg7 5.Qd2 c6 6.f3 b5 7.Nge2 Nbd7 8.Bh6
Bh6 9.Qh6 Bb7 [9...Qa5 10.Nc1 and White is slightly better; 9...e5 see
60/(109)] 10.a3 [a novelty; 10.Nc1] e5 11.0-0-0 Qe7 12.Kb1 a6 [12...a5?!
13.Nc1 b4 14.de5! de5 15.Na4 ba3 16.b3 and White is superior] 13.Nc1 0-00 14.Nb3 ed4! 15.Rd4 c5 16.Rd1 Nb6! 17.g3 [17.a4?! b4 18.a5 bc3 19.ab6
Nd7 and Black is slightly better; 17.Na5 d5 18.Nb7 (18.g3 d4 unclear) Kb7
19.ed5 Nbd5 20.Nd5 Nd5 21.Bd3 f5 22.Rhe1 Qc7 23.Bf1 c4 unclear] Kb8
18.Na5 Ba8 19.Bh3 d5 20.Qf4 Ka7 21.Rhe1 d4 [21...de4? 22.fe4 and White
is superior with the idea 22...Rhe8 23.Nd5] 22.Nd5 [22.Na2 Rhe8 unclear]
Nbd5 23.ed5 Qd6
24.Rd4!! cd4? [24...Bd5?! 25.Rd5! Nd5 26.Qf7 Nc7 27.Re6 Rd7 28.Rd6 Rf7
29.Nc6 Ka8 30.f4 and White is slightly better; 24...Kb6! a) 25.Qd2? Nd5!
26.Rd3 c4 27.b4 Ka7 and Black is superior; b) 25.b4?! b1) 25...Nd5 26.Qd6
Rd6 27.bc5 (27.Rd3? c4) Kc5 28.Nb3 Kb6 29.Kb2 Rhd8 30.Red1 Bc6 31.f4
Kc7 equal; b2) 25...Qf4 26.Rf4 Nd5 27.Rf7 cb4 28.ab4 Nb4 29.Nb3 Rd6 and
Black is slightly better; c) 25.Nb3! Bd5! (25...cd4? 26.Qd4 Kc7 27.Qa7 Bb7
28.Nc5 Rb8 29.Re7 and White is winning; 25...Nd5? 26.Qf7 Rhf8 27.Qg7
Rg8 28.Qh6 Qf8 29.Rh4 and White is superior) 26.Qd6 Rd6 27.Rd2 Rhd8
28.Red1 equal] 25.Re7! [25.Qd4? Qb6 26.Re7 Nd7 and Black is superior]
Kb6 [25...Kb8 26.Qd4! Nd7 27.Bd7 Bd5 28.c4! Qe7 29.Qb6 Ka8 30.Qa6
Kb8 31.Qb6 Ka8 32.Bc6! Bc6 33.Nc6 and White is winning] 26.Qd4 Ka5
[26...Qc5 27.Qf6 Qd6 28.Be6!! Bd5 (28...Rhe8 29.b4! and White is winning)
29.b4! Ba8 30.Qf7 Qd1 31.Kb2 Qf3 32.Bf5 and White is winning] 27.b4
Ka4 28.Qc3 [28.Ra7! Bb7 (28...Nd5 29.Ra6!! Qa6 30.Qb2 Nc3 31.Qc3 Bd5
32.Kb2 and White is winning; 28...Bd5 29.Qc3 Rhe8 30.Kb2 Re2 31.Qc7!
and White is winning) 29.Rb7 Qd5 (29...Nd5 30.Bd7! Rd7 31.Qb2 Nb4
32.Rd7 Qc5 33.Rd4 Rc8 34.Qb3 and White is winning) 30.Rb6 a5 (30...Ra8
31.Qf6 a5 32.Bf1 Rhb8 33.Rd6 and White is winning) 31.Ra6 Ra8 32.Qe3!!
Ra6 33.Kb2 ab4 34.ab4 Qa2 35.Ka2 Kb4 36.Kb2 Rc6 37.Bf1 Ra8 38.Qe7
Ka5 39.Qb7 and White is winning] Qd5 [28...Bd5 29.Kb2 and White is
winning] 29.Ra7! [29.Qc7? Qd1 equal] Bb7 30.Rb7 Qc4 [30...Rd6 31.Rb6!!
and White is winning; 30...Rhe8! 31.Rb6 Ra8 32.Bf1!! (32.Be6? Re6 33.Re6
Qc4! 34.Qc4 bc4 35.Rf6 Ka3 36.Rf7 Re8 and Black is superior) a) 32...Red8
33.Rc6! Nh5 (33...Nd7 34.Rd6!) 34.Rc5 Rac8 35.Kb2! and White is winning;
b) 32...Nd7 33.Rd6! Rec8 34.Qb2 and White is winning; c) 32...Re6 33.Re6
fe6 34.Kb2 and White is winning; d) 32...Re1! 33.Qe1 Nd7 34.Rb7!! Qb7
(34...Ne5 35.Qc3 Qf3 36.Bd3 Qd5 37.Be4 and White is winning) 35.Qd1!
Ka3 36.c3 and White is winning; 30...Ne4! 31.fe4 Qc4 a) 32.Qe3? Rc8
33.Bc8 Rc8 34.Qc1 Qd4! equal; b) 32.Qc4? bc4 33.Kb2 f5 (33...a5 34.Bd7
Rd7 35.Rd7 ab4 36.Ra7 Kb5 37.Rb7 and White is winning) 34.ef5 b1)
34...Rd6 35.fg6 c3 (35...hg6 36.Bd7 and White is winning) 36.Ka2 hg6
37.Bf1 and White is winning; b2) 34...c3 35.Kc3 Ka3 36.f6 Rd6 37.f7 Rc6
38.Kd4 Rc2 39.Bf1 and White is superior; c) 32.Ra7!! Rd1 (32...Ra8 33.Qe3
and White is winning) 33.Kb2 Qc3 34.Kc3 Rd6 35.e5 Rb6 36.Kb2 Re8
37.Bg2! Rd8 (37...Re5 38.Bb7 and White is winning) 38.Bb7 Rd7 39.Bc6!!
Rd8 (39...Rd2 40.Be8 and White is winning) 40.Bd7 and White is winning]
31.Qf6 Ka3 [31...Rd1! 32.Kb2 Ra8 33.Qb6! Qd4 (33...a5 34.Bd7 and White
is winning) 34.Qd4 Rd4 35.Rf7 (35.Bd7!? Rd2 36.Bc6 f5 37.Rb6 Ra7 38.Be8
Rd4 39.f4 Rc4 40.Bf7 Rb4 41.ab4 Rf7 42.c3 Ra7 43.Re6 and White is
winning) a5 36.Be6 ab4 37.Bb3 Ka5 38.ab4 Kb6 (38...Rb4 39.c3 and White is
winning) 39.Rh7 Rc8 40.h4 and White is winning] 32.Qa6 Kb4 33.c3! Kc3
34.Qa1 Kd2 [34...Kb4 35.Qb2 Ka5 36.Qa3 Qa4 37.Ra7 and White is
winning] 35.Qb2 Kd1 36.Bf1! Rd2 37.Rd7! Rd7 38.Bc4 bc4 39.Qh8 Rd3
40.Qa8 c3 41.Qa4 Ke1 42.f4 f5 43.Kc1 Rd2 44.Qa7 1-0 [Kasparov]
Kasparov 2812 Svidler 2713

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dc4 6.Qc4 0-0 7.e4 a6 8.e5 b5
9.Qb3 Nfd7 10.e6 fe6
11.Be3! [a novelty; 11.Qe6 see 71/(504)] Nb6 [11...Nf6 12.a4! and White is
slightly better] 12.h4! Nc6 [12...Nd5 13.h5 Ne3 14.fe3 c5 15.hg6 hg6 16.0-00 with attack] 13.h5 Rf3 [13...Nd4 14.Nd4 Bd4 15.0-0-0 Be3 16.fe3 Qe8
17.hg6 hg6 18.Qb4 and White is superior] 14.gf3 Nd4 15.Rd1! c5 [15...Nf3
16.Ke2 Nd4 17.Bd4 Bd4 18.hg6 Qd6 (18...hg6 19.Qc2 and White is winning)
19.Ne4 Qe5 20.Qf3 hg6 21.Rg1 and White is winning] 16.Bd4! [16.hg6 Nf3
17.Ke2 Nd4 unclear] cd4 [16...Bd4 17.Ne2 c4 18.Qe3 and White is winning]
17.hg6 h6! [17...hg6 18.Qc2 Qe8 19.Bd3 dc3 20.Bg6 Qf8 21.Bh7 Kh8
22.Be4 Kg8 23.Ba8 Na8 24.Qh7 Kf7 25.bc3 Nb6 26.Rg1 Nd7 27.Rd4 Qh8
28.Rh4 and White is winning] 18.Rh5! [18.f4 Qd6 19.Bg2 Ra7 20.Rh4 and
White is superior] Qe8 [18...Ra7 19.Ne2 Nc4 20.Nd4! Bd4 (20...Rd7 21.Nc6)
21.Bc4 bc4 22.Qe3! and White is winning] 19.Ne2 Qg6 20.Rh1 [20.Rh3?
Qf7; 20.Rh4!?] Kh8 21.Rg1 Qf7 [21...Qf6 22.Rd4 Bb7 23.Rdg4 Bd5 24.Qd3
and White is winning; 21...Qh5!? 22.f4 Nd5 23.Qg3 Qf7 24.Bg2 and White is
superior] 22.Nd4 Nd5 23.Qd3! [23.Qc2 e5! 24.Nb5 (24.Qc6 Rb8; 24.Nc6
Bb7 25.Qc5 Qf6 with counterplay) Bb7 unclear] Bd7 [23...e5! 24.Nc6 Bb7
(24...Be6?! 25.Qe4 Nf6 26.Qh4) 25.Qd5 Qd5 26.Rd5 Bc6 27.Rd3 and White
is superior] 24.Qe4 Rc8 25.Bd3 Nf6 26.Qh4 Rc5?! [26...Nd5 27.Rg6 Qf4
28.Rg4 Qf6 29.Qg3 Nb4 (29...Rf8 30.Be4 and White is superior, with the
idea 30...Nf4? 31.Rf4 Qf4 32.Qf4 Rf4 33.Ne2 and White is winning) 30.Be4
e5 31.Rg6 Qf7 32.Ne2 and White is superior] 27.Ne2 Nd5 [27...e5 28.Nc3
and White is winning] 28.Rg6 Qf8 29.Qe4 Qf7 [29...Qf5 30.Rg7! and White
is winning] 30.Kd2! Nf6 31.Qe3 [31... Rd5 32.Rdg1 Nh5 33.Qh6!] 1-0
[Kasparov]

The Best Game and the Most Important

Novelty of Volume 94
Sasa Velickovic
San Luis, the pleasant tourist resort in Argentina, will be marked forever on the
chess map as the venue of a fierce battle for the World Champion title. Topalov
proved untouchable, but Anand, in his manner, gave us something special from
his creativity. As a player of a quick and devastating thought, he successfully
advanced a splendid idea of grandmaster Arthur Jussupow, and it brought Anand
a precious point towards the vice champion title. For the first time in the history
of Chess Informant the jury has awarded both the best game and the most
important novelty to the very same player. As for the continuation 19Qb6,
which is rarely played by the top players, it offers great possibilities for both
sides, and I am convinced that it deserves further tests in the near future.
V. Anand 2788 Mi. Adams 2719

San Luis 2005 94/267
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0
9.h3 Bb7 10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.a4 h6 13.Bc2 ed4 14.cd4 Nb4 15.Bb1 c5
16.d5 Nd7 17.Ra3 c4 18.ab5 ab5 19.Nd4 Qb6 20.Nf5 Ne5 21.Rg3 g6 22.Nf3
Ned3
23.Qd2! [a novelty, Ar.Jussupow; 23.Be3 see 46/(464)] Bd5? [23...Nc1? 24.Rc1

(24.Nh6 Bh6 25.Qh6 Ncd3 26.Bd3 Nd3) Kh7 25.Qb4 gf5 26.Qc3! Qd8 27.Qd4
and White is winning; 23...Ra1 24.Nh6! Bh6 25.Qh6 Qf2 26.Kh2 Ne1 (26...Nc1
27.e5! Rb1 28.e6! and White is winning) 27.Rg6 fg6 28.Qg6 Kf8 29.Bh6 Ke7
30.Bg5 Kf8 31.Qd6 Kg8 32.Qg6 Kf8 33.Bh6 Ke7 34.Qe6 Kd8 35.Bg5 Kc7
36.Bf4 Kd8 37.Qd6 Kc8 38.Qc7 mate; 23...Ne1! a) 24.N3h4 Nbd3! 25.Ng6
(25.Nh6 Bh6 26.Qh6 Qf2 27.Kh2 Ne5 28.Bd2 Ra1 29.Be1 Qf6! and Black is
winning) fg6 26.Rg6 Kf7 27.Nh6 Ke7! (27...Bh6 28.Qh6 Qf2 29.Kh1) 28.Qg5
Kd7 29.Be3 Qa5 30.Ng4 Kc7 and Black is superior; b) 24.Ne1 Nd5! (24...Ra1!?
25.Nh6 Bh6 26.Qh6 Nd5! equal see 24...Nd5) 25.Nh6 (25.ed5? Ra1 26.Bc2 Qa5)
Bh6 26.Qh6 b1) 26...Ne7? 27.Be3 and White is winning; b2) 26...Qd4 27.e5!
Ne7 (27...Re6 28.Nf3 Qd1 29.Kh2) 28.Bg6! Ng6 29.Rg6 fg6 30.Qg6 Kh8
31.Bg5! Qe5 (31...Rf8 32.Bf6 Rf6 33.ef6) 32.Bf6 Qf6 33.Qf6 Kh7 34.Nc2 and
White is winning; b3) 26...Ra1! 27.Rg6 fg6 28.Qg6 Kf8 29.Bh6 Ke7 30.ed5 Bd5
31.Bg5 Kd7 32.Bf5 Re6!; 29.Qf5 equal] 24.Nh6! Bh6 25.Qh6 Qf2 [25...Be4
26.Ng5 (26.Be3 Bf3 27.Bd3 Nd3 28.Bb6 Re1 29.Kh2) Qf2 27.Kh2 Ne1 28.Qh7
Kf8 29.Ne4 Qd4 30.Rg6! Re4 31.Be4 Qe5 32.Kh1 Nf3 33.Bf3 and White is
winning] 26.Kh2 Ne1 [26...Nc1 27.ed5! Ncd3 (27...Re1 28.Bg6!) 28.Re6! and
White is winning]
27.Nh4 (only move) Ned3 [27...Re6 28.ed5 Rf6 29.Ng6 fg6 30.Rg6 Rg6 31.Qg6
Kf8 32.Qd6 Kg8 33.Qg6 Kf8 34.Bh6 Ke7 35.Bg5 Kd7 36.Qe6 Kc7 37.d6! Kb7
(37...Kb6 38.Be3) 38.Be4 Kb6 39.Ba8 and White is winning; 27...Nf3 28.Nf3
Be4 29.Be4 Re4 30.Ng5 and White is winning; 27...Ra7 28.Nf5! (28.Ng6? Qg3!
29.Kg3 fg6) Qg3 (only move) 29.Ng3! Bc6 30.Bg5 Re6 31.e5! de5 32.Nh5! and
White is winning] 28.Ng6 Qg3 29.Kg3 fg6 30.Qg6 Kf8 31.Qf6 Kg8 32.Bh6
[32... Ra7 33.Qg6 and White is winning] 1-0 [V. Anand]
Svidler 2738 V. Topalov 2788

San Luis 2005 94/180
9.Bg3 Bg7 10.h3 Ne5 11.Nf5 Bf5 12.ef5 Nbc6 13.Nd5 e6 14.Ne3 Qa5 (a
novelty) 15.c3 [15.Qd2 Qd2 16.Kd2 Ke7 equal] Nf3! 16.Qf3 [16.gf3? Bc3
17.bc3 Qc3 18.Qd2 (18.Ke2 Nd4 and Black is winning) Qa1] Bc3 17.Kd1 (only
move) Qa4! [17...Bb2 18.fe6 Qa4! (18...fe6?! see 94/(179)) 19.Kd2 Qb4 20.Kd1
fe6 unclear] 18.Nc2 [18.Kc1?! Bb2 19.Kb2 Qb4 20.Kc1 Nd4 21.Qd1 Rc8!?
(21...Qc3 22.Kb1 equal) 22.Bc4 Qc3 23.Kb1 Rc4 24.Nc4 Qc4 with
compensation] Bb2 19.fe6 fe6 20.Qb3 [20.Qg4?! Nd4! (20...Qg4 21.hg4 Ba1
22.Na1 and White is slightly better) 21.Rc1 (only move) Rc8 22.Bd3 Ke7
(22...Kd7 23.Re1 Rc3 24.Qe4! Bc1 25.Qb7 Rc7 26.Qb6 unclear) 23.Re1 Rc3
(23...Qa2 24.Re4 e5 25.Rd4!) 24.Kd2 (24.Qe4? Bc1 25.Qb7 Kf6 and Black is
winning) Qa5 25.Bd6! Kd7 (25...Kd6? 26.Qd4) 26.Bb4 Rc2 27.Rc2 Qb4 28.Kd1
Nc2 29.Qe6 Kc7 30.Qe7 Kb8 31.Bc2 Qb6 and Black is slightly better, weak
point Kd1; 20.Rc1!? Bc1 (20...Ke7 21.Qb3 Qb3 22.ab3 Bc1 23.Kc1 and White is
slightly better; 20...Rc8 21.Bd3!) 21.Kc1 Qc2 22.Kc2 Nd4 23.Kd2 Nf3 24.gf3
e5! weak point Bg3] Qb3 21.ab3 Ba1 22.Na1 Ke7 (equal) 23.Bd3 [23.Kd2 Rac8
24.f3 Nb4! weak point Na1] Rac8 [23...Nb4 24.Be4! (24.Bb1 a5! 25.Re1 a4 with
initiative) d5 25.Bf3 a5 26.Nc2 and White is slightly better] 24.Re1 [24.Nc2
Na5! 25.Nd4! (25.b4 Nc4 26.Ke2 Nb2 and Black is slightly better) e5 26.b4 Nc4
27.Nf5 Kf6 28.Ke2 d5 29.f3 e4! 30.fe4 de4 31.Bc4 Rc4 32.Ne3 Rc6 equal]
24...Nd4! [weak point Na1] 25.f3! [25.Nc2 Nb3 26.Bf5 e5 27.Bc8 Rc8 and Black
is slightly better] Rc3 26.Kd2 Rhc8 27.Rb1! [27.Bc4 R8c4 28.bc4 Rc4 and
Black is slightly better] R3c5 28.b4 [28.Bf2 Rd5!] Rd5! 29.Bf2 [29.Be4? Nf3
30.Ke2 Rd2 31.Kf3 Rc3 32.Kg4 Rd4 33.Re1 Rb4! and Black is winning] Kd7
[29...Nc6!? 30.Ke2 Ne5 31.Be4 Rb5 32.Nc2 d5 33.Bh7 a5 with initiative] 30.Be3
[30.Nb3? Nc6 31.Ke2 Nb4 32.Be4 Na2! 33.Bd5 Nc3 34.Kf1 Nb1 35.Bb7 Rb8
36.Na5 Kc7 and Black is superior; 30.Be4?! Nf3 31.Ke3 Rc3 32.Ke2 Rd2 33.Kf1
Rf2! (33...Nd4 34.Be1!) 34.Kf2 Nd2 35.Re1 Ne4 36.Re4 d5 37.Re2 Kd6 38.Nc2
Rc4 and Black is slightly better] Nf5 31.Bf2 Nh4!? [31...Nd4 equal] 32.Bh4 gh4
[weak point g2] 33.Nc2! h5 34.Re1?! [34.b5! with the idea 34...a5 35.Ra1 b6
36.Ra4! with the idea Ne3, f4-f5 with initiative] Rg8 35.Kc3 [35.Re2!?] a5!
36.Bc4? [time; 36.ba5! Rg2 37.Nd4! Ra5 (37...Rc5 38.Kb4 Rb2 39.Ka3 Rf2
40.Bb5 Rb5 41.Nb5 Rf3 42.Kb4 Rf4 43.Kb3 Rf3 44.Kb4 equal) 38.Ne6 Rg3
(38...Re5 39.Nf4!) 39.Nd4 Rh3 40.Rb1 (40.Bf5? Rf5!) Rg3! (40...Kc7 41.Nb5)
41.Rb7 Kc8 and Black is slightly better] Rc8! [weak point Bc4] 37.Ne3 [37.Kb3
a4! and Black is winning; 37.ba5 Rdc5 38.Ne3 d5 and Black is winning] Rb5!
38.Kd3 Rb4 (and Black is winning) 39.Be6 Ke6 40.Nc2 Kd5 41.Nb4 ab4
42.Re7 b5 43.Rh7 Rc3 44.Kd2 Rc4! [45.Rh5 Kc6 46.Rh8 b3 47.Re8 Kc5! with
the idea Kb4] 0-1 [Shipov]
Leko 2763 V. Anand 2788

San Luis 2005 94/229
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Ne5 d6 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.c4 Nb4
9.Be2 0-0 10.a3 Nc6 11.cd5 Qd5 12.Nc3 Nc3 13.bc3 Bf5 14.Re1 Rfe8 15.Bf4
Rac8 16.h3 Be4 17.Nd2 (a novelty)
17...Bg2! 18.Bg4 [18.Bc4? Qf5 19.Qg4 Bh3 and Black is winning; 18.Kh2? Qf5
and Black is superior; 18.c4?! Qf5! 19.Bg4 Qf4 20.Bc8 Rc8 21.Kg2 Qd4 and
Black is superior] Bh1! [18...f5?! 19.Be2; 18...Ra8 19.c4 Qd4 20.Be3] 19.f3
Bh4! [19...f5 20.Bh5 g6 21.Kh1 gh5 22.Qb1! (A.Huzman) b6 23.Be5 Ne5
24.Re5 Qf7 25.Rf5 Qg6 26.Qd3 and White is superior] 20.Rf1 [20.Bc8 Re1
21.Qe1 Be1 22.Re1 g5! 23.Kh1 gf4 24.Bb7 Qb5 and Black is superior; 20.Re4 f5
21.Kh1 fg4 22.hg4 Ne7 (22...Rf8!?) 23.Qe2 (23.Qb3 Qb3 24.Nb3 Nd5 25.Bd2
Re4 26.fe4 Nf6! and Black is slightly better) Rf8! and Black is slightly better,
weak point Kh1; 20.Re2 f5 (20...Nd4!?) 21.Bh5 (21.Re8 Re8 22.Bh5 Re1 23.Qe1
Be1 24.Re1 g6 and Black is superior) Re2 22.Qe2 Nd4 23.cd4 Qd4 24.Kh2 Qf4
25.Kh1 Rd8 a) 26.Rg1 Kh8! (26...Qd2 27.Qc4) 27.Nc4 Bf6 28.Bf7 g6; b) 26.Qe6
Kh8 27.Nc4 Qg3 28.Qf5 g6 29.Qe5 Qe5 30.Ne5 Re8 31.Ng6 hg6 32.Bg6 Re3
33.Be4 b5 34.Rc1 equal; 20.Re8 Re8 a) 21.Qb3 Qb3 22.Nb3 f5 23.Bh5 g6
24.Kh1 gh5 25.Nc5 b6 26.Na6 Re2 27.Rg1 (27.Nc7 Ne7) Kf7 28.Nc7 Ne7!; b)
21.Kh1 Re1 22.Qe1 Be1 23.Re1 f5 24.Re8 Kf7 25.Rc8 fg4 26.Rc7 Kg8 27.hg4
h5 unclear] f5 [20...Ra8? 21.Qb3 and White is superior] 21.Bh5 g6 22.Kh1 gh5
23.Rg1 Kh8! [23...Kf7 24.Qb1 (24.Qf1 Ne7 25.Nc4 Ng6) Ne7 25.Be5 Rg8
26.Qd3] 24.Qf1 [24.Qb1 b6 (24...Bf2 25.Qb7 Bg1 26.Be5 Kg8 27.Rg1 Kf8
28.Bc7 Ne7 29.Qa6 Qc6 30.Qc6 Nc6 31.Bf4 with compensation) 25.Qd3 (25.a4?!
Bf6 26.Qb5 Ne7; 25.Bh6?! Rg8 26.Qd3 Ne7) Bf6 26.Nc4 (26.Rg5 Bg5 27.Bg5
Re6; 26.Qc4 Ne7 27.Bg5 Bg7 28.Rae1 Qc4 29.Nc4 Ng6) b5 27.Nd2 a6 and Black
is slightly better; 24.Nf1 Bf2 (24...Re1!? 25.Ne3 Rg1 26.Kg1 Qg8) 25.Rg2 Re1
26.Qe1 (26.Bg5 Qd6 27.Qe1 Be1 28.Re1 h6) Be1 27.Re1 Rg8! and Black is
slightly better; 24.Qc2 Bf6 (24...Re2 25.Qd3) 25.Qd3 Ne7 and Black is slightly
better, with the idea Ng6; 24.Rb1 Bf2 25.Bg5 (25.Rb7? Nd4 and Black is
superior; 25.Rf1 Be3 26.Be3 Re3 and Black is superior; 25.Rg2 Re1 26.Qe1 Be1
27.Re1 Rg8 and Black is slightly better) Re6 (25...Qd6 26.Nc4 Qg6 27.Rg2 Re1
28.Qe1 Be1 29.Re1 with compensation) 26.Rg2 h6! 27.Rf2 (27.Bh6 Re1 28.Qe1
Be1 29.Re1 Rg8! 30.Bg5 b5) hg5 28.Rg2 Rg8 29.Qg1 g4 unclear; 24.Qb3 Qb3
25.Nb3 b6!? 26.d5 (26.Rg2 Bf6 27.Rag1 Ne7 equal) Ne5 27.Nd4 Ng6 (27...Bf2
28.Rg5 Bd4 29.cd4 Ng6 equal, with the idea 30.Bh2?! f4!) 28.Bg5 Bg5 (28...Bf2
29.Bf6 Kg8 30.Rg5) 29.Rg5 Re3 equal; 24.Bg5 Bg5 25.Rg5 Rg8 equal] Bf6
25.Rb1?! [25.Bg5 Bg5 (25...Bg7 26.Rb1!) 26.Rg5 Rg8 27.Qg2 Qe6 with the idea
Ne7; 25.Qc4 Ne7 26.Bg5 equal] Ne7! [with the idea Ng6 and Black is slightly
better] 26.Bg5 Bg5! [26...Bg7 27.Qb5] 27.Rg5 Rg8! 28.Rg8 [28.Rh5 Qf7
29.Rh6 Ng6 30.Nc4 Qe7! (30...Qg7 31.Rh5 Nf4 32.Rf5 Qg3 33.Ne5!) 31.Rb7
(31.Ne5 Ne5 32.de5 Qe5 and Black is superior) Qg5 and Black is superior] Rg8
29.Qe2 Ng6 [and Black is slightly better, weak point f4, h4] 30.Rb5? [30.Qc4
Qc4 (30...Qd8!?) 31.Nc4 b6 and Black is slightly better] Qc6! 31.Rf5?! [31.Rc5
Re8! 32.Qf1 (32.Qf2 Qa4!) Qd7 and Black is superior] Qc3 32.Rd5 Qa3 (and
Black is winning) 33.Kh2 Qf8 34.Qe6 Qf4 35.Kh1 Rf8 36.Qe2 h4 37.Rd7 Rf7
38.Rd8 Kg7 39.Ne4 Qf3 40.Qf3 Rf3 41.Nc5 b6 42.Ne6 Kf6 43.Nc7 Rh3
44.Kg1 Rd3 45.Nb5 Kg5 46.Na7 h3 47.Nc6 Kg4 48.Ra8 Kg3 49.Ra1 h2
50.Kh1 Nf4 51.Ne5 Re3 52.Rd1 Kh3 [52...Nh3 53.Nd3 Re2! 54.Rf1 Rg2]
53.Nf7 Rg3 [with the idea Ne2, Rg1] 0-1 [V. Anand]
Alexander Moiseenko 2665 Svidler 2725

Russia 2005 94/369
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 Ne4 5.Bh4 Nc3 6.bc3 dc4 7.e3 Be6 8.Nf3 Bg7
9.Rb1 b6 10.Nd2 0-0 11.Be2 c5!? 12.Bf3
12...cd4! [a novelty; 12...Bd5 13.Be7!] 13.cd4 [13.ed4?! Bd5 with the idea
14.Be7?? Qe7] Nd7 [13...Bd5? 14.Be7] 14.Ba8 [14.d5 Bf5 15.e4 Rc8!? (15...c3
16.Nc4 Rc8 17.Ne3 g5 18.Bg5 Bg6 19.d6 Bf6 unclear) 16.Qc2 (16.ef5 c3) c3
17.Nb3 g5 18.Bg5 Bg6 19.Be2 (19.d6 Nf6) Nf6 20.Bd3 Nd5 21.ed5 Qd5 with
initiative] Qa8 15.0-0 c3 16.Nf3 [16.Nb3? Qe4 and Black is winning] Rc8
[16...Ba2?! 17.Rc1 Rc8 18.Qa4 Be6 19.Be7 and White is slightly better] 17.Qa4
Nf6 18.Rfc1 [18.Bf6 ef6 19.Rfc1 Bd5 20.Ne1 f5 with initiative, with the idea
21.Qa3?! Bf8; 18.Qa3!? Nd5 (18...Ne4!? 19.Be7 Bd5 with compensation) 19.Be7
Ne7 20.Qe7 Bf8 21.Qh4 c2 22.Rbc1 Ba3] Nd5 [with the idea Bf5; 18...Bf5?!
19.Bf6! ef6 20.Rb3 c2 21.Rb2 and White is slightly better; 18...Bd5 19.Ne1 with
the idea f3, Bf2] 19.Qc2 [19.e4?! Nf4 20.Qc2 Bc4] a5 20.a3 Qa6! [20...Bf5
21.e4 Nb4 22.ab4 Be4 23.Qa4 Bb1 24.Rb1 c2 25.Rc1 ab4 26.Qb4 Bh6 27.Bg5
Qf3! 28.Bh6 (28.gf3 Bg5) Qd1 29.Qe1 Qe1 30.Re1 b5 31.Kf1 b4 32.Bc1 Rc4
(32...e6 33.Ke2 b3 34.Kd2 Rc4 35.Re3 Rd4 36.Rd3 and White is winning) 33.Bb2
e6 34.Ke2 and White is superior] 21.Bg3 Bh6 22.Re1 b5 23.e4 b4! [with the idea
ba3, Nb4 and Black is winning] 24.Ne5! [24.ed5 Bf5 and Black is winning] Bd2
[24...ba3? 25.ed5 Bf5 26.Qb3 Bb1 27.d6 e6 28.Nf7! and White is winning]
25.Rf1 [only move; 25.Red1? Qe2 (with the idea Ne3) 26.ed5 Bf5 27.Qb3 Bb1
28.d6 Qd1 29.Qd1 c2 and Black is winning; 25.ed5? Bf5 26.Qb3 Bb1 27.d6 e6
28.d7 Be1 29.dc8Q Qc8 30.Qb1 c2 31.Qc1 Bd2 and Black is winning] Qb5!
[with the idea 26...Ne3 27.fe3 b3; 25...Ne3? 26.fe3 b3 27.Rb3 Bb3 28.Qb3 Be3
29.Bf2 and White is winning; 25...Qe2? 26.ed5 Bf5 27.Qb3 (27.Qd1 Qd1
28.Rbd1 c2 29.Nc6 cd1Q 30.Rd1 unclear) c2 28.d6 cb1Q 29.Rb1 Bb1 30.Qf7
Kh8 31.h3! Be4 32.Kh2! and White is superior; 25...ba3? 26.ed5 Bf5 27.Qb3 c2
28.Rbc1 and White is superior] 26.a4 [26.ed5 Bf5! 27.Qb3 Bb1 28.d6 Ba2! 29.d7
Rd8 30.Qa2 b3 and Black is winning] Qb7 (and Black is winning) 27.Nf3
[27.Nd3 Nf6! (27...Ne3? 28.fe3 Qe4 29.Nb4) 28.Nc5 (28.d5 Nd5! 29.ed5 Bf5!
and Black is winning) Rc5 29.dc5 Ne4] Bh6 28.h4 Nb6 [28...Nf6?! 29.d5 Nd5
30.Nd4 and Black is superior] 29.d5 Bd7 30.Ra1 Na4 [30...Ba4!? 31.Ra4 Na4
32.Qa4 c2] 31.Nd4 Qb6 32.Nb3 Bb5 [with the idea Nb2] 33.Rfb1 Nc5
[33...Nb2? 34.Rb2] 34.Nc5 Rc5 35.Be5 Rc8 36.Rd1? [time; 36.h5 Bg7] a4
37.d6 b3 38.d7 Bd7 39.Qd3 Bb5 40.Qh3 Qe6 0-1 [Svidler]
Prusikin 2554 Korchnoi 2615

Schweiz 2005 94/418
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 Nf6 5.a3 Bc3 6.bc3 c5 7.cd5 ed5 8.Bd3 Qa5?!
9.Ne2 [9.Bd2 Ne4 equal] cd4 10.ed4 0-0 11.0-0 Nc6 [11...Bg4 12.f3 Bh5 13.Rb1
Qc7 14.Qb3 b6 15.Nf4 and White is winning] 12.f3 Re8 [a novelty; 12...h6 see
45/684] 13.Bg5 Nd7 14.Bd2 Nf8 15.Nf4 Ng6 16.Nh5! Qc7 17.Qc2 Rf8 [only
move; 17...Nce7 18.Bh6! gh6 19.Qd2 Kh8 20.Qh6 Rg8 21.Nf6 and White is
winning; 17...Bd7 18.f4! and White is superior] 18.Rae1 Na5?! [18...Bd7 19.Qc1
(19.f4 f5) Kh8 20.Bh6 gh6 21.Qh6 Rg8 22.Nf6 Rg7 23.Bf5!! with attack]
19.Bg5!! [and White is winning; 19.Bh6? gh6 20.Qd2 f5 and Black is winning]
Nc4 [19...Bd7 20.Bf6 gf6 21.Qd2 Kh8 22.Qh6 Rg8 23.Re7; 19...f6 20.Bf6! gf6
21.Bg6 f5 (21...hg6 22.Qg6 Kh8 23.Qh6 Kg8 24.Nf6) 22.Be8 f4 23.Qf2 Qd8
24.Nf4! Re8 25.Qg3; 19...Qc6 20.Bf6! gf6 21.Qd2; 19...f5 (only move) 20.g4! h6
21.Bf5 Bf5 22.gf5 hg5 23.fg6 Qd6 24.h4 gh4 25.f4 Nc4 26.f5 Rae8 27.f6]
20.Bf6!! gf6 21.Qc1! [21.Nf6 Kg7 22.Nd5 Qc6 23.Nb4 Qc7 equal] f5 [21...Kh8
22.Qh6 Rg8 23.Re8] 22.Bc4! dc4 23.Nf6 Kg7 24.Qg5! Qc6 [24...h6 25.Nh5 Kh7
26.Qf6 Rg8 27.Qg7!! (27.Re8) Rg7 28.Nf6 Kh8 29.Re8; 24...Qd8 25.Nh5 Kh8
26.Qh6 Rg8 27.Re8!!; 24...h5 25.Nh5 Kh7 26.Qf6 Kh6 (26...Rg8 27.Re8 Be6
28.Ra8) 27.f4 Rg8 28.Re8] 25.Nh5 Kh8 26.Qh6 Rg8 27.Re8!! Qe8 [27...Nf8
28.Nf6!] 28.Nf6 Qe3 29.Qe3 f4 30.Qe4 Rd8 31.d5 Kg7 32.Qd4 Kh6 33.g4 a5
34.h4 Nh4 35.Kf2 Ra6 36.Rh1 Kg6 37.Rh4 [37...Rf6 38.Rh6 Kh6 39.Qf6 mate]
1-0 [Prusikin]
Sutovsky 2674 Kramnik 2744

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 d6 5.0-0 g6 6.d4 Bd7 7.Re1 Bg7 8.d5 Ne7
9.Bd7 Nd7 10.Be3! [a novelty; 10.c4 h6 11.Nc3 f5 12.ef5 Nf5! 13.Ne4 0-0
equal; 10.a4 see 92/322] f5?! [10...h6 11.Nfd2 f5 12.f3 0-0 (12...f4 13.Bf2 g5
14.c4 h5 15.Nc3 Nf6 16.c5 with initiative) 13.c4 and White is slightly better]
11.Ng5 Nf8 12.ef5 gf5 [12...Nf5 13.Qd3 and White is superior] 13.f4! Qd7 14.c4
Neg6 15.Nc3 [15.fe5!? Be5 16.Nc3 0-0-0 17.Nf3 and White is superior] h6
[15...0-0-0? 16.Ba7 Nf4 17.Be3 N8g6 18.Nb5 and White is winning with the idea
Qa4; 15...e4 16.Qb3 b6 17.Nb5 and White is superior] 16.Nf3 e4 17.Nd4 h5
18.Ncb5! Kf7 [18...a6 19.Nf5! ab5 (19...Qf5 20.Nc7 Kf7 21.Na8) 20.Ng7 Qg7
21.Bd4 Qh7 22.Re4 Ne7 (22...Kf7 23.Qb3! Ne7 24.Rae1 Nf5 25.Bh8 Qh8 26.cb5)
23.Qc2! Nfg6 (23...Rg8 24.Bf6) 24.Bh8 Qh8 25.cb5 and White is winning]
19.Ne6! Ne6 20.de6 Ke6 21.Qd5 Ke7 22.c5?! [22.Nc7?! Qc7 23.Qf5 Rh6!
(23...Nf8 24.Bf2! Nd7 25.Qe4 Kf8 26.Qe7 Kg8 27.Qe6 Kf8 28.Bh4 and White is
winning) 24.Rad1! (24.Qe4 Kf8 25.f5 Re8 unclear) Nf8 25.Qg5 (25.Qe4 Re6
26.Qf3 Nd7 unclear) Ke8! (25...Kf7 26.Qd5! Ke8 27.f5 and White is winning)
26.f5 Kf7! unclear; 22.Rad1! a) 22...c6 23.Qd6 Qd6 24.Nd6 Rhf8 (24...Ke6
25.Nb7 Rhb8 26.Rd6 Kf7 27.Rd7) 25.Nb7 Rfb8 26.Bc5 (26.Na5!? Rb2 27.Nc6
Kf8 28.Rd5) Kf7 27.Rd7 Kg8 28.g3 Bb2 29.Nd6 Nf8 30.Re7 Bf6 31.Rf7 Bc3
32.Re3 Ne6 33.Rc3 Nc5 34.Rf5 and White is winning; b) 22...Rhd8 23.Qb7 c6
24.Qd7 Rd7 25.Nd6 and White is winning; c) 22...Rhb8 23.Nc7! Qc7 24.Qf5
Nh4 (24...Nf8 25.Bf2) 25.Qe4 Kf8 26.f5 Bf6 27.Bf2 Re8 28.Qf4 and White is
winning] c6 [22...Rhd8? 23.cd6 cd6 24.Nd6 and White is winning, with the idea
24...Qd6 25.Bc5 Bd4 26.Qd4!] 23.cd6! [23.Qd6 Qd6 24.Nd6 Ke6 equal] Kf8
[only move; 23...Ke8 24.Nc7 Qc7 25.Qe6! and White is winning; 23...Kd8
24.Qb3 cb5 25.Rac1 Bf8 (25...Rc8 26.Rc8 Kc8 27.Rc1 Kb8 28.Qa3!) 26.Red1
Bd6 27.Bc5 Rc8 28.Rd6 Qd6 29.Rd1 Qd1 30.Qd1 Ke8 31.Qd6 Rc6 32.Qb8 Kd7
33.Qb7 Rc7 34.Qd5 and White is winning] 24.Qb3 cb5 25.Rac1 Qf7 26.Qb5 a6!
[26...Kg8 27.Rc7 Qe6 28.Qb7 and White is winning] 27.Qb6 Kg8? [27...Bf6!
28.Rc7 Qe6 29.Rd1 Rd8 unclear] 28.Red1 Kh7 [better is 28...Qd7 29.Rc7 Qb5
30.d7 Kh7 31.Rd6! a) 31...Qe2 32.h3! Ne7 (32...Nh4 33.Rh6!) 33.Re6! h4
34.Re7 Qe1 35.Kh2 Qg3 36.Kh1 Qe1 37.Bg1 and White is winning; b) 31...Qb6
32.Bb6 Nf4 (32...Rhd8 33.Rb7 Nf4 34.Bd8 Rd8 35.Rc7! Be5 36.Rc8 Bd6 37.Rd8)
33.Be3!! Ne2 (33...Ng6 34.Bg5) 34.Kf1 f4 35.Bb6 f3 36.Rb7 Rad8 37.Bd8 Rd8
38.gf3 ef3 39.Rc7 Be5 40.Rc8 and White is winning] 29.Rc7 Qf8 30.Bd4 Rg8
31.Qb7 (and White is winning) e3 [31...Rb8 32.Bg7! Rb7 33.Bf8 Rc7 34.dc7 Rf8
35.Rd8] 32.Rf7! [32.Bg7?? Rg7 33.Rg7 Qg7 34.Qa8 e2 35.Re1 Qd4 36.Kh1
Qd1?? 37.Qa7! Kh6 38.Qf2! and White is winning; 36...Qf2! and Black is
winning] Rb8 [32...e2 33.Re1 Kh6 34.Bg7 Rg7 35.Rf8 Rb7 36.Ra8] 33.Qd7
Rd8 34.Qf5! Qf7 [34...Qd6 35.Qh5 mate] 35.Qf7 Rd6 36.Kf1 Nf4 37.Qf5!
[37.Qf4!? Rf8 38.Qf8 Bf8 39.Ke2 Bh6 40.Rd3] Rg6 [37...Ng6 38.Qh5 Bh6
39.Be3! Rd1 40.Ke2] 38.Qf4 Rf8 39.Qf8 Bf8 40.Be3 Re6 41.Kf2 Kg6 42.Rd5
Be7 43.Bc5 Bf6 44.b3 Be5 45.g3 h4 46.gh4 Bh2 47.h5 Kh7 48.Kf3 Be5 49.Rd7
Kh6 50.Kg4 Bg7 51.Rd6 1-0 [Sutovsky]
Ivanchuk 2752 Sergey Volkov 2622

Saint-Vincent 2005 94/213
1.e4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.Bg5 de4 5.Ne4 Be7 6.Bf6 gf6 7.Nf3 f5 8.Nc3 a6
9.g3 b5 [9...Bf6 see 79/(265); 9...c5 see 79/265] 10.Bg2 Bb7 11.0-0 c5 [11...Qd6]
12.d5! b4 [12...0-0 13.de6 fe6 14.Re1 and White is superior] 13.de6! bc3 14.ef7
Kf8 [14...Kf7 15.Ne5 Kf6 16.Qh5! and White is winning with the idea 16...Ke5
17.Bb7 Ra7 18.Rad1!] 15.Qe2 cb2 [a novelty; 15...Nc6] 16.Rad1 Qb6 [16...Qc8
a) 17.Qe5 Kf7 18.Ng5 Bg5 19.Bb7 Nc6!! (19...Qb7 20.Qh8 and White is
winning) 20.Qb2 (20.Qd5 Qe6!) Rb8 21.Qb3 Kg7 22.Bc8 Rb3 23.Bd7 (23.Rd7
Be7!) Rb2 equal; b) 17.Rfe1 Be4 (17...Nc6 18.Ne5!) 18.Ne5 Ra7 19.Be4 fe4
20.Qe4 Rb7 21.Qe3! with attack] 17.Rfe1 Qf6 [17...Be4 18.Ne5 and White is
superior]
18.c3! Be4 [18...Nc6 19.Qb2 Rb8 20.Ng5!? (20.Nh4! with the idea 20...c4
21.Qb6 with attack) Ba8 (20...Qg5 21.Bc6 and White is winning) 21.Ne6 Kf7
22.Qd2 Ne5 (22...Rhc8 23.Bd5!) 23.Ba8 Ra8 24.Qf4 Ng6 25.Qc4 Ne5 26.Re5
Qe5 27.Nd8 Kg6 28.Qf7 Kh6 29.Nc6 Qg7 (29...Qf6 30.Rd6!! Qd6 31.Ne7 and
White is winning) 30.Qf5 Qf6 31.Ne7 Qf5 32.Nf5 Kg6 33.Rd5 and White is
slightly better] 19.Nh4! [weak point Be4] Nc6 [19...Bg2 20.Ng2 Nc6 21.Qb2
Rd8 22.Rd8 Nd8 23.Nf4 Qf7 24.Qb8 with attack] 20.Be4 fe4 21.Qe4 Rd8
[21...Rb8 a) 22.Rb1!? c4 (22...Rb6 23.Nf5 h5 24.Qd5 zugzwang) 23.Nf5 Rb5!
24.Ne7 Ne7 25.a4 Rb3 26.Re2 Ng6 27.Rbb2 (27.Reb2 Qc3 28.Rb3 cb3 29.Qb7
h5 30.Rb3 Qe1 31.Kg2 h4 with initiative) Kg7 28.Qc4 unclear; b) 22.Nf5 Kf7
23.Rd7 (23.Qd5 Kf8 24.Re6 Qf7 25.Rb1 Nd8 26.Qe5 Qe6 27.Qh8 Kf7!! 28.Qh7
Kf8 equal) b1) 23...Kf8 24.Rb1 (24.Kg2 b1Q 25.Rb1 Rb1 26.Qb1 Qe6 27.Rc7
Rg8 28.Ne7 Ne7 29.Qh7 Qd5 30.Kg1 Qd1 equal) Rg8 (24...c4 25.Rc7! Rb5 26.g4
and White is superior) 25.Rc7 Rg6 (25...Rb6 26.Rb2 Rb2 27.Rc6 and White is
winning; 25...Qe5 26.Re7 Qe4 27.Re4 Rg5 28.g4 and White is superior) 26.Ne7
Ne7 27.Re7 and White is superior; b2) 23...Rhe8 24.Nd6 Kf8 25.Ne8 Re8
26.Rb7 with initiative, with the idea 26...Qc3? 27.Re3!] 22.Rb1 Rd2 [22...Rb8
23.Re2 with initiative] 23.Nf3 Rd6 24.Rb2 Kf7 25.Rb6 Ke8? [25...Kg7! 26.Kg2
(26.Rc6 Rc6 27.Qg4 Kf8 28.Ne5 Rd6 29.Nd7 Rd7 30.Qd7 equal; 26.Nh4 Rf8
27.f4 Rf7 with counterplay; 26.Qg4 Qg6 27.Qc4 Qf6 28.Qg4 equal; 26.Ra6 Rf8
27.Re3 Kh8 28.Kg2 Bd8 unclear) Re8 27.Nh4 with compensation] 26.Re3 Rf8
[26...h5 27.Ra6 with initiative] 27.Qh7 Rf7 28.Qg8 Rf8 29.Qc4 a5 [29...Ne5
30.Rb8 Rd8 31.Rd8 Kd8 32.Ne5 Qf2 33.Kh1 and White is winning] 30.Kg2! Rf7
[30...Qf5 31.g4 Qc8 (31...Qf4 32.Qf4 Rf4 33.Kg3 and White is winning) 32.h3
with attack] 31.Qc5 Kf8 32.Qh5 Kg8 33.Qg4 [33.Rb5! Rg7 34.h4 and White is
superior] Rg7 34.Qc4 Rf7 35.Qg4 Rg7 36.Qc8 Bf8 37.Re8 Rg6? [37...Rf7
38.Qg4 Rg7 39.Qh5 and White is superior] 38.h4! Qf7 39.Rb7 Qf6 40.Ng5 Ne5
[40...Rd8 41.Qc7! Rg7 42.Qg7 Qg7 43.Rg7 Kg7 44.Ne6 Kf7 45.Nd8 Ke8
46.Nc6] 41.Rf7 1-0 [Ivanchuk]
Kasimdzhanov 2670 V. Anand 2788

San Luis 2005 94/179
9.Bg3 Bg7 10.h3 Ne5 11.Nf5 Bf5 12.ef5 Nbc6 13.Nd5 e6 14.fe6 fe6 15.Ne3
[15.Qh5? Nf7 16.Qg6 Bb2 17.Qe6 Kf8 18.Rb1 Qa5 19.Kd1 Re8 and Black is
superior] 0-0 16.Be2 Qe7 17.0-0 Rad8 18.Bh5! [weak point g6; 18.c4 see
87/240] Kh8 [a novelty; 18...d5] 19.Re1 d5
20.a4! Nc4? [20...Nd7 21.Nd5? Qc5; 21.c4! and White is superior; 20...Qb4
21.Qb1; 20...Qf6! 21.a5 (21.Ng4 Ng4 22.Bg4 e5; 21.Rb1 Ng6 22.Ng4 Qf5 23.Bg6
Qg6 24.b4 b5 unclear) Ng6 22.Ng4 Qf5 23.Bg6! (23.Qd3 Nf4) Qg6 24.Ra3 Rde8
25.Ne5?! Ne5 26.Be5 Be5 27.Re5 Rf2 28.Kf2 Qf6 29.Kg1 Qe5 30.Qh5 Re7;
25.Qd2 and White is slightly better] 21.Nc4 dc4 22.Qg4 (and White is superior)
Qb4 [22...Nd4 23.c3 Nf5 24.Bh2 (24.Qc4 Ng3 25.fg3 and White is superior Qd6
26.Kh2) b5 25.Re2 Rd5 26.Rae1 e5 27.Qe4 and White is superior] 23.Qe6 Rd2
[23...Nd4 24.Qe4 Qb2 25.Bg6 Qc2 26.Qc2 Nc2 27.Bc2 Ba1 28.Ra1 and White is
winning; 25.Be5! and White is winning] 24.Rad1 [24.c3!? Qb2 25.Bf3! (25.Rab1
Qc3) Qc3 26.Bc6 bc6 27.Rac1 Qf6 (27...Rc2 28.Be5 Qe5 29.Rc2 Qe6 30.Re6 c3
31.Rc6 a5 32.Rc5) 28.Qc4 h5 29.Qc6 and White is superior] Nd4 [24...Rc2
25.Bf3 and White is winning] 25.Qe4 Nf5!? [25...Rd1 26.Rd1 Qb2 27.Bg6 Qb6
28.c3 Ne2 29.Qe2 Qg6 30.Qc4 and White is superior] 26.Be5 [26.Bh2!? Rd1
(26...Rf2 27.Kf2 Nd6 28.Qf3 Rf3 29.Bf3 and White is winning) 27.Rd1 Qa4
28.Bg4 and White is superior] Rf2 27.Bf3! [27.Kf2?? Qc5] Rd2 [27...Qc5
28.Rd5 Qa7 29.Kh1 and White is winning; 27...Qb6 28.a5 Qa7 29.Kh1 and
White is winning] 28.Bg7 Kg7 [28...Ng7 29.Rd2 (29.Qg6 Nf5) Qd2 30.Rd1 Qb4
31.Qg6 Nf5 32.Be4 Qc5 33.Kh1 Qe5 34.Bf5 Qf5 35.Qh6 Kg8 36.Qd6 and White
is winning; 31.Qb7 and White is winning] 29.Qe5 [29.Qb7 Qb7 30.Bb7 Rfd8
31.Rd2 Rd2 and White is superior] Rf6 30.a5! [30.Rd2 Qd2 31.Bb7 and White is
superior] Nh4!? [30...Rdd6 31.c3 Qa4 (31...Qb2 32.Rb1 and White is winning)
32.Rd6 Nd6 33.Rf1 Qe8 34.Qf6! and White is winning; 30...b5 31.c3 Qd6
(31...Qb2 32.Bd5 b4 33.Qc7 Kg6 34.Qd8 Re2 35.Be4 and White is winning)
32.Rd2 Qd2 33.Rd1 Qe3 34.Qe3 Ne3 35.Rd7 Kf8 36.Rb7 Ke8 37.Rb6 Rb6
(37...Ke7 38.Rf6 Kf6 39.Bb7 Nf5 40.Ba6 Nd6 41.Bb7!) 38.ab6 Kd8 39.Kf2 Nf5
40.g4 Nd6 41.Ke3 Kc8 42.Kd4 and White is winning] 31.Qc7 [time; 31.Qe7?
Qe7 32.Re7 Kf8 equal; 31.Be4? Qd6 32.Qd6 Rfd6 33.Rd2 Rd2 34.g3 Ng6
35.Bb7 Rc2 36.Ba6 c3 and White is slightly better] Rf7 32.Qe5 Rf6 33.Bh5!
(and White is winning) Ng6 [33...Rg2 34.Kh1 Qf8 35.Rf1] 34.Bg6 Rd1 35.Rd1
Kg6 36.Qe4 Kg7 37.Rd7 Kg8 [37...Kf8 38.Qe5; 37...Rf7 38.Qe5 Kg8 39.Rd8
Rf8 40.Qe6] 38.Qh7 1-0 [Kasimdzhanov]
SergeY Karjakin 2635 T. Radjabov 2673

Warszawa 2005 94/97
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5
9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bf6 Bf6 11.c3 Bg5 12.Nc2 Ne7 13.h4 Bh6 14.a4! [14.Ncb4 see
78/154] ba4 15.Ncb4 [a novelty; 15.Ra4] Bd7 [15...0-0 16.Qa4 a5 (16...f5
17.Qa5!) 17.Bb5 and White is slightly better]
16.Ra4!! [16.Ne7! Qe7 17.Nd5 Qd8 18.Ra4] Nd5 [16...a5!? 17.Ne7 ab4 18.Ra8
Qa8 19.Nd5 0-0 20.cb4 Rc8! (20...Bc6 21.Bc4 Bd5 22.Bd5 Qa6 23.Rh3! and
White is slightly better) 21.Ne7 Kh8 22.Nc8 Qe4 23.Be2 Qb4 24.Kf1 Bc8
25.Qd5 and White is slightly better] 17.Nd5 Ba4 [17...a5 18.b4 and White is
slightly better] 18.Qa4 Kf8 19.b4! a5 20.b5 Rb8 [20...g6 21.b6!] 21.g3! g6
[21...Qc8 22.Bd3 Qc5 23.0-0 g6 24.Rb1 Kg7 25.b6 Rhd8 26.Rb5 Qc6 27.Ra5
Rb6 28.Bb5 Qb7 29.c4 Qb8 30.Nb6 Qb6 31.Kg2; 21...Qc8! 22.Bd3 Qc5 23.0-0
and White is slightly better] 22.Bh3 Kg7 23.0-0 Rf8 24.Ra1 (and White is
superior) Kh8 [24...f5 25.ef5 gf5 26.Bf5! and White is superior] 25.Qa5 Qe8
26.c4 f5 [26...Ra8 27.Qa8 Qa8 28.Ra8 Ra8 29.b6 and White is winning] 27.Qc7
Qf7 [27...Rc8 28.Qd6 Rc4 29.ef5 Qb5 30.Ra7 and White is winning] 28.ef5 Qc7
29.Nc7 gf5 30.Ra6 (and White is winning) Rf7 31.Nd5 Bf8 32.Rc6 f4 33.Be6
Rg7 34.g4 Re8 35.Bf5 Be7 36.h5 Bg5 37.b6 e4 38.Rc8 Rc8 [38...Rd8 39.Ne7!
Rc8 40.Nc8 e3 41.Kf1] 39.Bc8 e3 40.fe3 fe3 41.b7 1-0 [Sergey Karjakin]
V. Anand 2785 Kasimdzhanov 2670

Leon (m/2-rapid) 2005 94/162
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f3 b5 8.Qd2 Nbd7
9.g4 h6 10.0-0-0 Bb7 11.h4 b4 12.Na4 Qa5 13.b3 Nc5 14.a3 Rc8 15.Qb4 Qc7
16.Kb1 Nfd7 17.Nb2 d5 18.Qd2 de4 19.f4 Nf6 20.Be2! [20.Bc4 see 80/220;
20.Rg1!?] Nd5 21.Nc4 [a novelty; 21.b4] Nd7?! [21...Be7 22.g5; 21...Rd8]
22.g5! Ne3 [22...hg5 23.hg5 (23.fg5) Rh1 24.Rh1 g6 25.Rh8! with attack]
23.Qe3 Bd5 24.Rhf1 [24.g6!? f5 (24...fg6? 25.Qg3 and White is winning) 25.Nf5
Bc4 26.Qe4! a) 26...Qc6 27.Qc4 Qc4 28.Bc4 Rc4 (28...ef5 29.Bf7 Kd8 30.Be6
Rc7 31.Rd5 and White is winning) 29.bc4 (29.Ng7 Bg7 30.bc4 Ke7 with the idea
Nc5) ef5 30.Rhe1 Be7 31.Rd3 and White is superior; b) 26...Nf6! 27.Qc4 Qc4
28.Bc4 (28.Ng7 Bg7 29.Bc4 Ke7 30.Rhe1 Rc6 31.f5 Rd8 unclear) ef5 29.Ba6
Rd8 (29...Rb8 30.Rhe1 Ne4 31.Rd5) 30.Bb5 Ke7 and White is slightly better]
Bc5 25.Qc3! hg5
26.Nf5! Bc4? [26...gf4! 27.Ng7 (27.Qg7 Rf8 28.Qg5 f6) Ke7 a) 28.Rd5 ed5
29.Nf5 Ke6 30.Bg4 dc4 (30...Rhg8 31.Bh3 dc4 32.Ne3) 31.Ne3 Kd6 32.Rd1 Kc6
33.Rd7 Qd7 34.Bd7 Kd7 35.Nc4 and White is slightly better; b) 28.Nf5! ef5
29.Rd5 f3 (29...Rh4 30.Qg7!; 29...f6 30.Qh3 with attack) 30.Bf3!] 27.Ng7 Ke7
28.Bc4 (and White is winning) Rhg8 [28...gh4 29.Ne6!; 28...gf4 29.Ne6 Qc6
30.Nc5 Nc5 31.Qe5 Ne6 32.Rf4] 29.hg5 [29.fg5 Ne5 30.Rf7! Kf7 31.Ne6] e3
30.f5 Ne5 [30...e2 31.Be2 Ba3 32.fe6!] 31.fe6 Rg7 [31...e2 32.Rf7 (32.Nf5 Kf8
33.Be2) Nf7 33.Rd7 Qd7 34.Qf6 Kf8 35.ed7 e1Q 36.Ka2] 32.Rd7! Nd7 33.Qg7
[33...Ne5 34.ef7 Rf8 35.Qf6 Kd7 36.Qe6 Kd8 37.Rd1 Nd7 38.g6!] 1-0 [V.
Anand]
C 92
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6
8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Bb7 10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.a4 h6
13.Bc2 ed4 14.cd4 Nb4 15.Bb1 c5 16.d5 Nd7
17.Ra3 c4 18.ab5 ab5 19.Nd4 Qb6
20
21
N2f3
Ra82
Nc51
Ra83
22
Be3
23
Bd3
24
Rf14
25
Qc2
26
b3
27
28
Qb1
Rb1
Qb1
cb35
equal
Nbd3
Nd3
Qa6
Qa4
Qa2
Nf5
2
Rg3
b3
Bd3
b4
Nb3
Nc1
Nd3
Nc5
Black is
superior
g66
Ra17
Nd38
cd3
Nf69
Rc110
Ne4
Bd511 dc512
...
Nf1
ba3
ed514
Qe1
Bf515
Be3
Qd2
Qc3
...
Ra313
Qd8
c316
Qf617
...
Rg318 Nf320
Qh6
Rg6
Qg6
equal
Nd5
Re1
gf5
Ne5
Qd222 Ne124 Nh626
equal
Ne5
g619
Ned321
Ne123 Nd525 Bh6
Ra127
fg6
Kf828
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0
9.h3 Bb7 10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.a4 h6 13.Bc2 ed4 14.cd4 Nb4
15.Bb1 c5 16.d5 Nd7 17.Ra3 c4 18.ab5 ab5 19.Nd4 Qb6
20.Nf5 Ne5 21.Rg3 g6 22.Nf3 Ned3 23.Be3
23
24
25
...
Bh630 Re232
Qd829
Qf631
Re4
...
Nh6
Bh6
26
Re4
27
28
Rf4
Rd4
Qf5
Qd5
Qe633
Bd3
Re2
Bg536
29
Bf8
30
31
Bd3
Rd3
Kf8
Nd3
cd334
Be337
Bh6
Re4
equal
equal
...
Bh6
Qf635
Nd3
b4
...
...
...
...
...
Qg7
Re4
Qh6
Bd538
Qd439
Nd4
Nb5
Nd641
Bd5
Re642
equal
...
...
...
...
Nb2
Qd440
Nd3
1
20...Ne5 21.Be3 [21.Ne5 de5 22.Nf5 Ra3 23.ba3 Na6 24.d6 Nc5 25.Qg4 Kh8
26.Rd1 Bc6 unclear; G.Marcotulli N.Polevoy, corr. 2003]
a) 21...Nf3? 22.Nf3 Qc7 23.Nd4 and White is superior; Th.Greiner

S.Schneider, corr. 1996;
b) 21...Ra3 22.ba3 Nbd3 [22...Na6!? with the idea 23.Ne5 de5 24.Ne6 Qd6
25.Nf8 Rf8 unclear, with the idea f5] 23.Ne5 de5 24.Nf5 Qa5 25.Bd3 cd3 unclear
2
21.Nf5? Ra3 22.ba3 Nbd3 and Black is slightly better; E.Yildiz A.Aslan, Izmir
2002
3
21...Ba8 22.b3 Nbd3 23.Bd3 Nd3 24.Re3 Bb7 25.Qc2 Nc1 26.bc4 bc4 27.Qc1
Rc8 28.Rc3 g6 29.Kh2 Qb4 30.Nc6 Bc6 31.Rc4 Bd7 32.Rc8 Bc8 33.Qc8 Qe4
34.Qa8 equal; A.Mikhailov E.Bang, corr. 1993
4
24.Re2?! Qa6 25.Rc2 b4 26.Nd2 b3 27.Rc4 Nb2 28.Qb3 Nc4 29.Nc4 Re8 30.f3
Rc8 31.Na3 Ra8 32.Nc4 Bc8 33.Kh2 Qa2 34.Nb6 Qb3 35.Nb3 Rb8 36.Nc8 Rc8
37.Nd4 g6 and Black is slightly better; N.Joao De Oliveira, corr. 1999
5
28...Ba6? 29.bc4 bc4 30.Ra1 and White is slightly better; Camejo de Almeida
M.Ramirez, corr. 2003;

28...c3 29.Ne1! Nc5 [29...Ne1? 30.Re1 b4 31.Nc2] 30.f3 b4 31.Ndc2! [31.Nec2 Nd3 equal] f5!
32.ef5 Bd5 33.Nb4 Bb3 34.Bd4 d5 35.Bc3 Bc4 36.g4 [36.Nc6 Nb3 37.g4 Bc5 38.Kg2 Re8!
with counterplay, with the idea 39.Ne5 d4 40.Nc4 dc3 41.Rb3 Re2!] Nb3 37.Ned3 d4 38.Be1
Re8 with counterplay;
28...cb3! 29.Rb3 Nc5 30.Rb5 Ba6 31.Ra5 Ne4 32.Nb5 Bb7 33.Ra8 Ba8 34.Nc7 Bb7 35.Nd4
Nc3 36.Bf4 Bd5 37.Ne8 equal
6
20...Ra3? 21.ba3 Nd3 22.Bd3 cd3 23.Nh6! gh6 24.Qg4 Bg7 25.Qd7 Kf8 26.Nf3 [26.Qf5 b4
27.ab4 Qb4 28.Nf3 and White is winning; J.Gdanski M.Grabarczyk, Polska (ch) 1991] Rd8
27.Qf5 Kg8 28.Qh5 and White is winning; M.Voss J.Reim, corr. 1990
7
21...Kh7 22.Nf3 [22.Nf1 Ne5 23.Be3 Qc7 unclear; N.Andersson A.Kazoks, corr. 1986]
a) 22...Nd3? 23.Bd3 cd3 24.Qd3 [24.Qd2 and White is superior; P.Konguveel S.Rathore,
India (ch) 1999] Nc5 25.Qd4 and White is superior; Zontakh D.Nestorovic, Beograd 1993;
b) 22...Ra1 23.Be3 b1) 23...Nc5?! 24.Qd4; b2) 23...Qc7?! 24.Qd2 Nd3 [24...gf5?? 25.Bh6 1-0
F.Ferretti Gh.Zei, corr. 1999] 25.Bd3 Re1 26.Ne1 cd3 [ 26...gf5 27.Bc2 fe4 28.Bd4 and
White is superior] 27.Nh6 Bh6 [27...Ne5? 28.Ng4 and White is winning] 28.Bh6 Re4 29.Rd3
and White is superior, with the idea 29...Re1 30.Qe1 Kh6 31.Qe8 Nf6 [31...Qc1 32.Kh2 Qf4
33.Rg3] 32.Qf8 Kh7 33.Rc3 Qd7 34.Rf3; b3) 23...Qa5!? unclear;
21...Ne5 see 20...Ne5
8
22...Ne5? 23.Bb2 Nbd3 24.Bd4 Rb1 25.Nb1 Qa5 26.Rf1 Kh7 27.Ne3 and White is winning;
J.Siekaniec P.Czarnolewski, corr. 1992
9
24...Ne5 25.Nb3 Rb1 26.Nd2 Rb4 27.Nf1 Rb1 28.Nd2 Ra1 29.Nb3 Rb1 30.Nd2 equal;
L.Hyldkrog E.Kramer, corr. 1990
10
25...Ra2 26.Be3 Qc7 27.Nh6 Bh6 28.Bh6 Kh7 29.Bg5 Ne4 30.Qd3 and White is superior;
S.Wisloff E.Kramer, corr. 1995
11
27...Ng3 28.Nh6 Bh6 29.Re8 Kh7 30.Qf3 Nf5 31.g4 Ng7 32.Re7 and White is slightly better
12
29.Qd5 Qe6 30.Qe6 Re6 31.Rg4 Nf6 32.Re6 fe6 33.Rg6 Kf7 34.Nh4 c4 35.Rg3 Bb4 and
Black is superior
13
21...gf5? 22.Rg3 Kh7 23.Qh5 Ne5 24.ef5 Bd5 25.Re5 1-0 E.Binder I.Tsymbalov, corr. 1990;
21...Kh7?
a) 22.Nh6 Bh6 23.Bh6 Kh6 [23...Ra3? 24.ba3 Nd5 25.ed5 Re1 26.Qe1 Kh6
27.Qe8 and White is winning; T.Utasi T.Papagorasz, Eger 1988] 24.Qd2 Kg7
25.Qb4 Qc5 26.Qc3 Ne5! 27.Ra8 Ra8 28.b4!? cb3 29.Qb3 Ra3 30.Qd1 b4
31.Ne3 Ba6 with compensation; O.Efimov, J.Feigelson;
b) 22.Qd2! Ra3 23.ba3 Nd3 24.Bd3 cd3 25.Nh6 and White is superior; O.Efimov
J.Feigelson, USSR 1988 see 45/412
14
23.Nh6 Bh6 24.Bh6 Nc3 25.Qg4 Nf6 26.Qh4 Nfe4 unclear; O.Efimov,
J.Feigelson
15
25.Qe8 Nf6 26.Qb8 Nd7! 1/2-1/2 M.Muneret G.Cesbron, corr. 2000;
25.Be3!? with the idea Ng3 O.Efimov, J.Feigelson
16
27...Qf6 28.Be4 and White is slightly better; J.Olano G.Terminali, corr. 2002
17
29.Qc2 Bd5 30.Bh7 Kh8 31.Be4 1/2-1/2 H.Kuipers A.Fedorko, corr. 1998
18
21.Ra8? Ba8 22.b3 Nbd3 23.Rf1 c3 24.Nf3 Nc1 25.Ne5 de5 26.Qc1 b4 27.Qe3
Qe3 28.Ne3 Bb7 29.Bc2 Ra8 30.Nc4 f6 31.g4 Bc5 32.Kg2 Kf7 and Black is
superior; F.Huybrecht M.Samraoui, corr. 2001
19
21...Nbd3? 22.Bd3 Nd3 23.Nh6 Kh7 24.Rd3! cd3 25.Nf7 Kg6 26.Qf3 and White
is winning; F.Hemmer T.Varley, corr. 1994;
21...Kh7? 22.Nf3! Nbd3 [22...Ned3 23.Be3 Qc7 24.Ng5! hg5 25.Qh5 Kg8
26.Bg5 and White is winning; O.Efimov, J.Feigelson] 23.Be3
a) 23...Qa5 24.Bd3 Nd3 25.Bh6! gh6 26.Ng5! Kg6 27.Qh5!! (1-0

A.Marcinkiewicz W.Zundel, corr. 2002) Kh5 28.Nh7! Qd8 [28...Qe1 29.Kh2
Be7 30.Ng7 Kh4 31.Rg4#] 29.Rg8 and White is winning;
b) 23...Qc7 24.Ne5 [24.Bd3 Nd3 25.Bh6 g6 26.Bf8 Rf8 27.Qd2 1-0 Kotronias
A.Fox, Cork 2005] Ne5 [24...Ne1 25.Ng4! and White is winning; O.Efimov,
J.Feigelson] 25.f4 Ng6 26.Qh5 Qa5 27.Rf1 b4 28.e5 and White is winning
20
22.Qh5? Kh7 and Black is superior; I.Privara E.Kramer, corr. 1998;
22.Nf1? Ned3 [22...Nbd3 23.Be3 Qd8 24.Re2 Ra1 25.Bd4 Kh7 26.b3 Rb1
27.Qb1 Nf4 unclear; Wang Zili Yang Wuming, China 1987] 23.Be3 Qd8
24.Bd2 [24.Bd3 Nd3 and Black is superior; J.Toothill G.Blomstrand, corr.
1999] Ne1 25.Bb4 Nd3 26.Bd3 cd3 27.Qd3 Qb6 and Black is superior;
M.Fernandez C.Giobbi, corr. 2003
21
22...Nbd3 23.Be3 Qa5 24.Re2 Kh7 25.N5d4 Qb4 26.Bd2 Qc5 27.Be3 Qb4 equal; A.Bauer
K.Leander, corr. 1995

22
Ar.Jussupow; 23.Re2? Kh7 24.Be3 Qa5 25.N5d4 Re4 and Black is winning; F.Dias de
Cerqueira, corr. 2002; 23.Bd3? Nd3 24.Qd2 Ne1 25.Nh6 Bh6 26.Qh6 Nf3 27.gf3 Qd4 and
Black is winning; H.Araujo "Tornado", corr. 2004
23
23...Bd5? 24.Nh6! Bh6 25.Qh6 Qf2 26.Kh2 Ne1 27.Nh4 and White is winning; V.Anand
Mi.Adams, San Luis 2005 see 94/267;
23...Nc1? 24.Rc1 Kh7 25.Qb4 gf5 26.Qc3! Qd8 27.Qd4 and White is winning;
23...Ra1 24.Nh6! Bh6 25.Qh6 Qf2 26.Kh2 Ne1 [26...Nc1 27.e5! Rb1 28.e6! and White is
winning] 27.Rg6 fg6 28.Qg6 Kf8 29.Bh6 Ke7 30.Bg5 Kf8 31.Qd6 Kg8 32.Qg6 Kf8 33.Bh6
Ke7 34.Qe6 Kd8 35.Bg5 Kc7 36.Bf4 Kd8 37.Qd6 Kc8 38.Qc7 mate; V.Anand
24
24.N3h4 Nbd3! 25.Ng6 fg6 26.Rg6 Kf7 27.Nh6 Ke7! 28.Qg5 Kd7 29.Be3 Qa5 30.Ng4 Kc7
and Black is superior; V.Anand
25
24...Ra1!? 25.Nh6 Bh6 26.Qh6 Re5!? 27.Nf3 Rb1 28.Rg6 fg6 29.Qg6 Kf8 30.Ne5 Rc1 31.Kh2
Qf2 32.Qd6 Kg7 33.Qg6 equal; J.Elburg; 26...Nd5! equal see 24...Nd5
26
25.ed5? Ra1 26.Bc2 Qa5 V.Anand
27
26...Ne7? 27.Be3 and White is winning;
26...Qd4
27.e5! Ne7 [27...Re6 28.Nf3 Qd1 29.Kh2] 28.Bg6! Ng6 29.Rg6 fg6 30.Qg6 Kh8 31.Bg5! Qe5
[31...Rf8 32.Bf6 Rf6 33.ef6] 32.Bf6 Qf6 33.Qf6 Kh7 34.Nc2 and White is winning; V.Anand
28
29.Bh6 Ke7 30.ed5 Bd5 31.Bg5 Kd7 32.Bf5 Re6!; 29.Qf5 equal; V.Anand
29
23...Qc7? 24.N3h4!? Kh7 25.Bh6 Bh6 26.Nh6 Kh6 27.Qd2 Kh7 28.Nf5! and White is
winning; O.Efimov, J.Feigelson
30
24.Bd4? Ne1 25.Qe1 Ra1 26.Qc1 Re4 27.Nh6 Bh6 28.Qh6 Rb1 29.Kh2 Rd4 30.Nd4 Bd5 and
Black is winning; M.Meertens S.Just, corr. 1995
31
24...Ne1!?
a) 25.Ne1? Ra1! a1) 26.Bd2 Nd5! 27.Nc2 [27.ed5 Qf6 and Black is winning] Rb1 28.Qb1 Nf6
and Black is winning; F.Wantiez H.Daurelle, corr. 2003; a2) 26.Qd4!? Rb1 27.Bf8 Re1
28.Kh2 Re5 29.Nd6 Qf8 30.Qe5 Bd5 31.Ne8 Be6 32.Nf6 Kh8 33.Nd5 Kh7 34.Nf6 equal;
26...Re5!! and Black is winning;
b) 25.Bf8 Nf3? 26.Qf3 Kf8 27.Nh6 with attack; 25...Kf8 and Black is winning;
c) 25.Qd2!! Nf3 [25...Qf6 26.Bf8 with compensation see 24...Qf6] 26.gf3 Bh6 [26...Ra1
27.Bf8 Rb1 28.Kh2 Re5 29.Qh6 Qf8 30.Rg6 fg6 31.Qg6 equal] 27.Nh6 Kg7 [27...Kf8?
28.Qf4; 27...Kh7? 28.Nf7 Qh4 29.Qb4 Ra1 30.Qd6] 28.Nf5 equal
32
25.Bf8? Kf8 and Black is superior; Yang Xian Lin Ta, China 1988 see 46/(464);
25.Qd2!? Ne1 [25...Qb2? 26.Qb2 Nb2 27.Bf8 Rf8 28.Nd6 and White is winning; H.Hofstetter
J.Bokar, corr. 2005] 26.Bf8 Nf3 27.Rf3 with compensation; D.Fleetwood S.Busemann,
corr. 2002
33
28...Qc5 29.Be3 1/2-1/2 J.Maia J.Tait, corr. 2000
34
32.Qd3 Ra1 1/2-1/2 J.Krebs D.Reppmann, corr. 1995

35
25...Ne1 26.Ne1 Ra1 27.Bg5! Qa5 28.Bd2 with compensation; D.Gutsche J.Nielsen, corr.
2000
36
28.Qc2
a) 28...Ba6 29.e5 [29.Qb1 c3 30.bc3 bc3 31.Rc2 Re4 32.Be3 Rc4 33.Rg4 Rg4 34.hg4 Ne5
35.Ne5 Qe5 36.Qb4 Bb7 37.Qc3 Qd5 38.f3 Qd1 1/2-1/2 J.Tilghman S.Busemann, corr.
2000] de5 30.Nd2 with compensation; J.Tait H.Hofstetter, corr. 2002;
b) 28...Ra1 29.Kh2 Ba6 30.e5 de5 [30...Ne5 31.Nd4 unclear; L.Danek D.Reppmann, corr.
1999] 31.Nd2 unclear; U.Strautins J.Tait, corr. 2002
37
29.Rg4? Nb2 [29...Ra2 unclear; J.Simmelink K.Mueller, corr. 2001] 30.Qd4

Qd4 31.Nd4 f5 and Black is winning; Dj.Petrovic A.Samraoui, corr. 2003;
29.Nh4 Nb2 30.Qc1 with compensation; J.Claridge A.Samraoui, corr. 2003;
29.Qc2 Ba6 30.e5 Ne5 31.Ne5 Re5 32.Re5 Qe5 33.Bd2 Rb8 34.Rg5 Qf6 1/2-1/2
S.Goerlinger S.Kramer, corr. 2002
38
32.Rd4 Bf3 [32...Qh5 33.Qb1 Bf3 34.Rf3 Qc5 35.Rc4 Qc4 36.Qd3 d5 37.Kh2
equal; E.Liebert Ph.Chopin, corr. 2004] 33.Rf3 Qg7 34.Rfd3 cd3 35.Qd3 Ra1
36.Kh2 b3 37.Rb4 Qb2 38.Qd6 1/2-1/2 J.Marcinkiewicz S.Busemann, corr.
2001
39
28.Bg5 Qf3 29.Qf1 Qh5 30.Rb2 c3 31.Rb1 Re4 32.Qd3 Re5 33.Bf6 Rd5 34.Qc3
Rc8 35.Re1 Qh6 36.Qa1 with compensation; S.Sacerdotali H.Daurelle, corr.
2002;
28.Qb1 Na4 29.Rc2 Nc5 30.Qb5 Ba6 31.Qc6 Bb7 32.Qb5 1/2-1/2 A.Hagstroem
M.Samraoui, corr. 2004
40
28...Ra1? 29.Kh2 Qd4 30.Nd4 Nd3 31.Nb5 Bd5 32.Nd6 Re6 33.Rc2 Rd6 34.ed5 Rd5 35.Rc4
Nf2 36.Rf3 Nd3 37.Rc8 Kh7 38.Rf7 Kh6 39.Rh8 Kg5 40.Kg3 Ra4 41.h4 Rh4 42.Rh4 Ne5
43.Rff4 Rd3
a) 44.Kh2?? Nf3! 45.gf3 1/2-1/2 J.Dolezel P.Hlubina, corr. 1997;

b) 44.Kf2 Rd2 45.Kf1 and White is winning
41
31.Rge3 Be6 32.Nd6 Red8
a) 33.Nb5?? Ra5 34.Nc7 Kh7 and Black is winning; J.Franzen S.Webb, corr. 1999;
b) 33.e5 Ne5 34.Re5 Rd6 35.Rc5 equal;
31.f3 Reb8 32.Nd6 Be6 unclear; F.Gerhardt S.Just, corr. 1995
42
32.Rc2 Be4 33.Nc4 Rc8 34.Ne3 [34.f3 Nb4 35.Re2 Rc4 36.fe4 Rce4 1/2-1/2 S.Teichmeister
M.Voss, corr. 2002] Rc2 35.Nc2 Rb6 1/2-1/2 B.Benko H.Daurelle, corr. 2004

Chess Informant and the Olympiads

Zdenko Krnic
Editor-in-Chief
During the coming days, the Turin Olympiad will be the epicenter of chess
activity, as chess players gather together to meet old friends and get the
opportunity to make new ones. From the huge number of high quality games
from past Olympiads, many remain recorded as permanent pearls in the rich
treasure of chess creativity.
In the year when Chess Informant celebrates its 40th anniversary, it is
interesting to recall that the first volume was initially promoted at the 1966
Olympiad in La Habana. Since then, Chess Informant has published 4,739
games from the Olympiads, 300 of which were from the Olympiads in
Manila 1992, Moscow 1994, Yerevan 1996, Istanbul 2000 and Calvi 2004.
This month we present four games from the Olympiads; each was chosen as
the best game of the Informant in which they were published. I would like to
point out that Fischers victory against Unzicker, where he demonstrated that
White can put Black into great difficulties in a Ruy Lopez Exchange
variation, was a revolutionary idea at the time. The three other games are
notable for their numerous sacrifices and combinational play. Lets hope that
Turin will supply similar gems!
L.Portisch S.Johannessen
La Habana (ol) 1966 2/526
b4 9.Ne4 Bb7 10.Nf6! Nf6 11.Qa4 Be7 12.Bd2 a5 13.e4! (and White is
superior) 0-0 14.e5 Nd7 15.Qc2 h6 16.h4! c5 17.Rh3 Bf3
18.Bh6!! Bh4 [18...gh6 19.Rg3 Kh8 20.Qd2 Bg5 21.hg5 and White is
winning; 18...Bg4 19.Rg3 f5 20.Rg4! fg4 21.Bh7 Kh8 22.Bg7!! Kg7 23.Qg6
Kh8 24.Bg8! and White is superior] 19.gf3 gh6 20.Ke2! Ne5 21.de5 Qd4
22.Rh4! (and White is winning) Qh4 23.Rg1 Kh8 24.Qc1! f6 25.Rg6! 1-0
[V.Sokolov]
R.Fischer W.Unzicker
Siegen (ol) 1970 11/221
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bc6 dc6 5.0-0 f6 [5...Bg4!?] 6.d4 ed4 [6...Bg4
7.de5 and White is slightly better] 7.Nd4 Ne7 8.Be3 Ng6 9.Nd2! [a novelty;
9.Nc3 see 10/288] Bd6 10.Nc4 0-0 11.Qd3! (and White is slightly better)
Ne5 12.Ne5 Be5 [12...fe5 13.Qb3 Kh8 14.Ne6 Be6 15.Qe6 and White is
superior] 13.f4! Bd6 [13...Bd4 14.Bd4 and White is superior] 14.f5 Qe7
15.Bf4 Bf4 16.Rf4 Bd7 17.Re1 Qc5 18.c3 Rae8 19.g4 Qd6 20.Qg3 Re7?!
[20...c5!?] 21.Nf3 c5
22.e5!! (and White is superior) fe5 23.Rfe4 Bc6 24.Re5 Rfe8 25.Re7 Re7
26.Ne5 h6 27.h4 Bd7 28.Qf4 Qf6 29.Re2!! Bc8 [29...Qh4? 30.Ng6 and
White is winning] 30.Qc4 Kh7 31.Ng6 Re2 32.Qe2 (and White is winning)
Bd7 33.Qe7 Qe7 34.Ne7 g5 35.hg5 hg5 36.Nd5! Bc6 37.Nc7 Bf3 38.Ne8
Kh6 39.Nf6 Kg7 40.Kf2 Bd1 41.Nd7! c4 [41...Bg4 42.f6 Kg8 43.f7! and
White is winning] 42.Kg3 1-0 [V.Sokolov]
Lj.Ljubojevic A.Miles
Malta (ol) 1980 30/421
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2
Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.h4 Rc8 11.Bb3 h5 12.0-0-0 Ne5 13.Bg5 Rc5 14.f4 Nc4
15.Qd3 b5 16.e5 [16.f5? see 30/(421)] Ng4 17.Ne4 Rc8! [a novelty; 17...Rd5
see 28/419] 18.ed6 f6 19.Rhe1 [19.de7? Qe7 20.Rhe1 fg5 21.Ng5 Qf6 and
Black is winning; 19.Nb5? Bb5 20.Qd5 Kh8 21.Qb5 fg5! (with the idea
22...Bb2 23.Kb1 Na3) 22.Bc4 (22.Qg5 ed6 23.Qg6 Qe8) Rb8 23.Qg5 Bb2
24.Kd2 Qb6 and Black is winning, with attack; 19.Ng3!?] ed6 [19...fg5?
20.Ng5 ed6 21.Qg6 and White is winning, with attack; 19...e6? 20.Nf6! and
White is superior, with attack] 20.Nd6 Kh7! 21.f5 [21.Nc8? Nf2 and Black is
winning; 21.Ne6 Be6 22.Re6 Nf2 and Black is winning] Nd6 22.fg6 Kh8
23.Bf4 [23.Ne6 Be6 24.Re6 fg5 25.Rd6 Qe7 and Black is winning] Ne5
24.Be5 fe5 25.Nf3 [25.Qe2 Bg4; 25.Ne6 Be6 26.Be6 Qf6! 27.Qd6 (27.Qe2
Bh6 28.Kb1 Qe6 and Black is winning) e4! and Black is winning, with attack]
e4 26.Qd6 ef3 27.Re7
27...Bg4! 28.Qe5 Qd1!! 29.Kd1 fg2 30.Kd2 Rfd8 31.Bd5 Rd5 0-1
[Sr.Cvetkovic]
V.Ivanchuk 2705 T.Radjabov 2663

Calvia (ol) 2004 92/114
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.N1c3 a6 7.Na3 b5 8.Nd5
Nce7 9.Nb4! [a novelty; 9.Bg5 see 89/101; 9.c4 see 89/102] Bd7 [9...Nf6!?
10.c4 Ne4 11.cb5 unclear] 10.c4 a5 [10...Nf6 11.cb5 Ne4 12.Na6 d5 unclear]
11.Nbc2 Nf6 [11...b4 12.Nb5 Bb5 13.cb5 Nf6 14.Ne3! (14.a3 b3 15.Ne3 Ne4
16.b6 Qb6 17.f3 Nf5! 18.Qd5 Ne3 19.Qa8 Ke7 20.fe4 Nc2 21.Kd1 Na1
unclear) Ne4 15.b6! Qb6 16.f3 Nf6 17.Nc4 and White is superior] 12.Nb5
Bb5 [12...Ne4 13.Qd6!] 13.cb5 Ne4 14.Be3 [14.g3 d5 15.Bg2 Nf5 16.0-0
Bc5 17.Qg4 with initiative; 14.Bd3 d5 (14...Nc5!?) 15.0-0 and White is
slightly better] d5! [14...g6 15.b6 Bg7 16.Bb5 Kf8 17.b7 Rb8 18.f3 Nf6
19.Ba6 and White is superior] 15.b6! f5!? [15...Nd6 16.f4! ef4 (16...e4
17.Nd4 Qd7 18.Rc1 and White is superior) 17.Bf4 Qb6 18.Bd6 Qd6 19.Bb5
Kd8 20.0-0 with initiative, with the idea 20...Qb6 21.Nd4 and White is
superior; 15...Qd7 16.Bd3 (16.a4 Nd6 17.Na3 d4 18.Nb5 Nd5! unclear) Nd6
17.Rc1 Rb8 (17...d4 18.Bd2 e4 19.Nd4! ed3 20.Rc7! and White is winning)
18.Na3 Nc6 19.Bc5 with initiative] 16.Qe2 [16.b7 Rb8 17.Ba6 d4 18.Nd4
ed4 19.Qa4 Kf7 20.Bf4 with compensation; 16.Bb5!? Kf7 17.f3 Nf6
(17...Nd6 18.Bc6! Nc6 19.Qd5 and White is superior) 18.f4 ef4 (18...Ng4
19.fe5 Ne3 20.Ne3 Qb6 21.Qd3 Qe6 22.0-0 g6 23.Rae1 with attack) 19.Bd4!
Ne4 20.0-0 with initiative] Kf7?! [16...f4 17.f3 fe3 18.Qb5! (18.fe4 Qb6
19.Qb5 Qb5 20.Bb5 Kd8 21.Ne3 and White is slightly better) Kf7 19.fe4 Rb8
20.Qa5 and White is superior; 16...Nd6 17.Rd1 Kf7 (17...Rc8 18.g3 Nc4
19.Bg2 e4 20.0-0 and White is slightly better) 18.g3 (18.f4!? ef4 19.Bd4 Nc6
20.Qd2 Nd4 21.Qd4 Rb8 22.Qd5 Kg6 23.Bd3 Qh4 24.Kf1 Rb6 25.b3 unclear)
Rb8 19.Bg2 and White is slightly better; 16...d4 17.Qb5 Kf7 18.0-0-0 with
attack; 16...Rc8 17.f3 Nc5 18.Qb5 Nd7! 19.Qa4 d4 20.Bb5! Nd5 21.b7 Rb8
22.Bd2 with initiative; 16...g6! a) 17.f3 Nd6 18.Bg5 (18.f4 Bg7 19.Rd1 Rc8
20.fe5 Be5 unclear) e4 19.Bf6 Rg8 20.fe4 de4 21.Rd1 Qb6 22.Be5 Nec8
23.Qd2 with initiative; b) 17.Qb5 Kf7 18.b7 Rb8 19.Ba7 Nd6 (19...Bh6
20.Bb8 Bd2 21.Kd1 Qb8 with compensation) 20.Bb8 Nb5 21.Be5 Nd6
22.Bh8 Nb7 unclear]
17.0-0-0 Qd7 [17...f4 18.f3 Nf6 (18...Nc3 19.bc3 fe3 20.Qe3 Rb8 21.Bc4 and
White is superior) 19.Bf2 Qd6 20.Qb5 (20.g3 Ng6 21.Kb1 Be7 unclear) Nc6
21.Bc4 Rd8 22.Rd2 and White is slightly better; 17...d4 18.Nd4! ed4 19.Rd4
with attack; 17...g6 18.g4 f4 19.Bg2 fe3 20.Be4 Qb6 21.Bd5 (21.Rd5 Rb8
22.Ne3 Qc7 23.Kb1 Nd5 24.Nd5 with attack) Nd5 22.Rd5 ef2 23.Rf1 Bh6
24.Kb1 with attack] 18.Kb1 Qe6?! [18...Rb8!? 19.f3 Nf6 a) 20.f4!? ef4
21.Bd4 Ne4 22.Ne1!? (22.Qf3 Qd6 23.Bb5 with compensation; 22.Qb5 Qb5
23.Bb5 with compensation) Nc6 23.Qb5 Qe6 24.Nf3 with initiative; b)
20.Qb5 Qb5 (20...Qe6 21.Qa5 Nc6 22.Qb5 and White is slightly better)
21.Bb5 Nc8 22.b7 Nd6 (22...Rb7 23.Bc6 Rc7 24.Bd5 and White is slightly
better) 23.Bc6 d4 24.f4 de3 25.fe5 Nb7 26.ef6 and White is slightly better]
19.f3 Nd6 [19...Nf6 20.Qb5! (20.f4 ef4 21.Bd4 Ne4 22.Qf3 Ng6 23.h4 Bd6
unclear) Rb8 21.f4 ef4 22.Bf4 Rb6 23.Qa5 Rb7 24.Bd3 and White is slightly
better] 20.f4! Nc4 [20...e4 21.Nd4 Qd7 22.Qd2 g6 23.Rc1 and White is
slightly better] 21.fe5 Rb8
22.g4!! [weak point Kf7] f4 [22...Qe5 23.Bd4 Qe2 24.Be2 Nb6 25.gf5 and
White is superior] 23.Qf3 g5 [23...Ne3 24.Qf4 Kg8 25.Ne3 Qb6 26.Qd4 and
White is winning] 24.Bc4 dc4 25.h4 Qc6 [25...Ke8 26.Bf2 Bg7 27.hg5 Qe5
28.Bd4 Qg5 29.Rh5 Qg6 30.Qf4 and White is winning] 26.e6! Kg6 [26...Ke8
27.Qf2 (27.Qc6 Nc6 28.Bf2 Rg8 29.hg5 Rg5 30.Rh7 and White is winning)
Qe6 28.Bd4 Rg8 29.hg5 and White is winning] 27.Qf2! Qe6 28.Bd4 Bg7
29.hg5 Rbd8 30.Rde1 Qd6 31.Bc5 Qd2 32.Re6 1-0 [V.Ivanchuk]

Alexey Shirov Annotates

Zdenko Krnic
Editor-in-Chief
Grandmaster Bagirov once told me to remember the name of a young man
whose combinational ability is equal to the famous Pirate of Riga Mikhail
Tal. His name is Alexey Shirov. And soon afterwards, young Shirov became
an excellent contributor to Chess Informant. One only has to recall his
47Bh3!! against Topalov in Linares 1998, one of the most paradoxical
moves in the history of chess.
His great imagination, brilliant ability and high quality preparations can be
best seen in the column The Best of Chess Informant A. Shirov published in
Informant 95. While most of Shirovs brilliant combinations derived from
1.e4 openings, his game against Volokitin from the Russian Team
Championship in Sochi comes to us from 1.d4.
Shirov annotated the game in Informant 96 and it contains an important
opening novelty and a brilliant queen sacrifice. It is a pity that he made
several mistakes in the ending, which allowed Volokitin to save the draw.
Shirov 2699 And. Volokitin 2660

Russia 2006
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bc3 6.Qc3 b6 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.e3
d6 9.Ne2 Nbd7 10.Qd3 c5 11.Nc3 Qe7
12.Be2! [a novelty; 12.Rd1 see 88/439] Bg2 13.Rg1 Bb7 14.0-0-0 (with
compensation) Rfc8?! [14...Kh8 15.dc5!? Nc5 16.Qd6 Qd6 17.Rd6 Nfe4
18.Ne4 Ne4 19.Rd7 and White is slightly better] 15.d5! [15.Bh6 g6 unclear]
ed5 [15...Ne5 16.Qc2 ed5 17.cd5 and White is superior] 16.cd5 a6
17.Qf5! [17.Bg4!? Ne5 18.Qc2 Neg4! (18...Re8 19.Bf5 Nf3 20.Bf6 Qf6
21.Rg3! and White is slightly better) 19.Rg4 Qe5 (19...Re8? 20.Rf4 and
White is winning) 20.Bf6 Qf6 21.Ne4 Qe7 22.Rdg1 g6 23.Rf4 f5 24.Rf5 Rf8
25.Rfg5! and White is slightly better, with the idea 25...Rae8? 26.Rg6! hg6
27.Rg6 Kh8 28.Nd6! and White is winning] b5 18.Bd3 g6 [18...Qe5? 19.Bf4
Qf5 20.Bf5 and White is winning] 19.Ne4! [19.Qh3?! b4 20.Ne4 c4 21.Bc2
c3! (21...b3?! 22.Qh4! bc2 23.Rd4! Qe4 24.Re4 Ne4 25.Qe4 Nc5 26.Qf5! and
White is superior) a) 22.b3 ba3 23.Kb1 (23.Nf6 Nf6 24.Kb1 Qd7 with the
idea 25.Qh6 Ne8) Qe4! 24.Be4 Ne4 and Black is slightly better; b) 22.bc3 b3
23.Qh4 bc2 24.Rd4 Ne4 25.Be7 Nc3 26.Kc2 Ne2 27.Kd1 Ng1 28.Qg4 Ne5
29.Qg1 Nf3 30.Qg4 Nd4 31.Qd4 Rc7 unclear; c) 22.Qh4! cb2 23.Kb1 b3!
(23...Rc2? 24.Bf6 Rc1 25.Rc1 bc1Q 26.Rc1 Nf6 27.Nf6 Kg7 28.Nh5 Kf8
29.Qe7 Ke7 30.Rc7 Kf8 31.Rb7 gh5 32.ab4 and White is superior) 24.Bd3
Kg7 unclear] gf5
20.Bf6? [20.Nf6! a) 20...Qf6 21.Bf6 Kf8 22.Bh4 and White is winning; b)

20...Kg7 b1) 21.Nh5 Kf8 22.Bf5! (22.Be7 Ke7 23.Bf5 Rh8 and White is
slightly better) Qe5 23.Bd7 Rc7 24.Bf4 Rd7 25.Be5 de5 26.e4 and White is
superior; b2) 21.Ng8!? Qg5 (21...Qe8 22.Bh6 Kh8 23.Nf6 Nf6 24.Bg7 Kg8
25.Bf6 Kf8 26.Bf5 Qd8 27.Bd8 Rd8 28.Bh7 Ke7 29.e4 and White is superior)
22.Rg5 Kh8 23.Ne7! and White is superior; c) 20...Nf6 21.Bf6 Kf8 22.Rg8!
Kg8 23.Be7 f6 24.Bf5 Kf7 25.Bd6 Re8 26.Bc5 Bc8 (26...h5 27.Be6 Re6
28.de6 Ke6 29.Rd6 and White is superior) 27.Bh7 Rh8 28.Bc2 Rh2 29.Rg1
Rh6 30.Kd2 and White is superior] Kf8 21.Be7 Ke7 22.Ng3 Nf6? [22...Bd5?
23.Nf5 Ke6 24.Bc2 Nf6 25.e4 Be4 26.Nd6 Bc2 27.Kc2 and White is
winning; 22...Ne5! 23.Bf5 (23.Nf5 Kd7 24.Be4 and White is slightly better)
Rh8 24.Bh3! and White is slightly better] 23.Nf5 Kd7 24.e4 Rg8 25.Nh6
Rg1 26.Rg1 (and White is winning) Rf8 27.Rg7 Ke7 28.Nf5 Kd7 29.Kd2
Bc8 30.b4! [30.Ke3 Kc7 31.Nh6 Bd7 and White is superior; 30.f3 h5 31.Ke3
Ne8 32.Rh7 Kd8 33.Rh5 (33.Ng3 Nf6 34.Rh6 Ke7 and White is superior) Bf5
34.Rf5 Ke7 and White is superior] c4 31.Bc2 h5
32.h4? [32.f3 h4 33.a4!] Kc7 33.Nh6 Ng4! 34.Nf7?! [34.Ng4 hg4 35.Bd1
Kd8 36.Bg4 Bg4 37.Rg4 Rh8! and White is slightly better] Nf2 35.Ne5 Kb6
36.a4 a5 37.ba5 Ka5 38.Nc6 [38.Rf7 Rf7 39.Nf7 ba4 40.Nd6 Ba6 unclear;
38.Nf7 Ng4 39.ab5 Kb4 unclear] Kb6 39.a5 Kc5 40.Rc7
40...Ng4?? [40...Bg4 41.Na7 Kb4 42.Nc6 equal] 41.Kc3?? [41.Bd1! and

White is winning] Rf3 42.Kb2 Rf2 43.Ne5 Kb4 44.Nc6 Kc5 45.Ne5 Kb4 [Shirov]


Informant 95
Sasa Velickovic
Of particular interest to our readers is the high quality game Van Wely
Radjabov, where Van Wely surprised his opponent in a well-known position
by playing 13.Ne6. In similar positions, Whites knight would only jump to
the e6-square after Black played h6.
Van Wely probably estimated in his home analyses that it would be better to
give Radjabov the chance to go wrong, and the game continuation proved
him right. With its many subtle changes, it is no wonder that this was selected
among the ten best games of the previous volume. Im sure we will soon
learn if Black has better possibilities.
Van Wely 2648 T.Radjabov 2704

Khanty-Mansiysk (m/1) 2005 95/405
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7
9.b4 Nh5 10.Re1 f5 11.Ng5 Nf6 12.f3 Kh8
13.Ne6!? [a novelty; 13.Be3 see 89/488] Be6 14.de6 fe4 15.fe4 Nc6 16.Nd5
Ne4 [16...Ng8 17.b5 Nd4 18.e7 Ne7 19.Bg5 Nd5 20.Bd8 Nc3 21.Qd3 Nce2
22.Re2 Ne2 23.Qe2 Rad8 24.Qe3 and White is superior] 17.Bf3 Nf6
[17...Ng5 18.Bg5 (18.b5!? Nf3 19.gf3; 18.Bg4!?) Qg5 19.e7 Ne7 20.Nc7 e4
21.Re4 Rf3 22.Na8] 18.b5 Nd5?! [18...Ne7 19.Nf6 Rf6 20.Bb7 Rb8 21.Bd5
and White is superior; 21.Be4 and White is superior] 19.bc6 Nb6 [19...e4
20.cb7 Rb8 21.cd5 ef3 22.gf3 Ba1 (22...Be5 23.Rb1 Qh4 24.Re5 de5 25.Be3
and White is winning) 23.e7 Qe8 24.ef8Q Qf8 25.Qa4 and White is winning;
19...Nc3 20.cb7 Rb8 21.Qc2 e4 22.Be4 and White is superior] 20.cb7 Rb8
21.c5! e4 [21...dc5 22.Qd8 Rfd8 23.e7 Re8 24.Bg5 h6 25.Bc6] 22.Re4 dc5
23.Qd8 Rfd8
24.Bg5! Re8 [24...Ba1 25.Bd8 Rd8 26.e7 Re8 27.Re2 and White is winning]
25.Rd1 Bd4 26.Red4 cd4 27.e7 [27.Bf6 Kg8 28.Rd4 Re6 29.Rd8 Re8
30.Re8 Re8 31.Bc6 Rb8 32.Be5 Nd7 33.Bc7 Kf7 34.Kf2! and White is
winning] h6 28.Bf6 [28.Bc6 hg5 29.Be8 Nd5 30.Rd4 Ne7 31.Rd7! Re8
32.Re7 and White is winning] Kg8 29.Rd4 Kf7 30.Rd8! (and White is
winning) Nd7 [30...Kf6 31.Re8 Re8 32.Bc6 Rb8 33.e8Q Re8 34.Be8]
31.Bh4 g5 32.Rd7 Ke6 33.Bg4 Kf6 34.Be1 Rb7 35.Bc3 Kg6 36.Bf3 Rb1
37.Kf2 Rc1 38.Rc7 Kf5 39.Bh5 Rc2 40.Kf3 1-0 [Van Wely]
Bareev 2675 Sergey Karjakin 2658

Beer-Sheva 2005 95/328
a6 9.e4 c5 10.e5 cd4 11.Nb5 ab5 12.ef6 gf6 13.0-0 Qb6 14.Qe2 Ba6 15.a4
Nc5 [15...ba4 16.Ra4 Nc5 17.Ba6 Na4 18.Bb5 Ke7 19.Nd4 Qd4 20.Rd1 Qa7
21.Bf4 Rd8 22.Rd8 Kd8 23.Qd3 and White is winning; 15...Rd8 16.Bd2 and
White is superior; 15...Bc5 16.a5 Qb8 17.Bd2 and White is superior] 16.ab5
Bb7 17.Ra8 Ba8
18.Nd4! [a novelty; 18.Bf4 see 61/486] Qd6 19.b6! Nd3 [19...Qd4 20.Bb5
Ke7 21.Be3 Qd5 22.f3 Qe5 23.Rd1 and White is winning] 20.Qd3 Qb6
21.Be3 [21.Qc4!? Bc5 22.Be3 with initiative] Qb7 22.f3 [22.Nf3? Rg8 with
attack] Be7 23.Bh6 [23.Rc1! 0-0 24.Nc6 Re8 25.Rc4 f5 26.b4 Bf6 27.b5 Bg7
28.Rc1 and White is superior] Bf8 24.Be3 Be7 25.Bh6 Bf8 26.Nf5!? Qd5!
[26...ef5 27.Qf5! Qd5 (27...Qb6 28.Kh1 Qe6 29.Qb5 and White is winning;
27...Be7 28.Bg7 Rg8 29.Qh7 and White is superior) 28.Qc8 Qd8 29.Rc1 Qc8
30.Rc8 Kd7 31.Rf8 Rf8 32.Bf8 and White is superior] 27.Qd5 [27.Ng7 Kd7
with counterplay, with the idea Bc5] Bd5 28.Bf8 Rf8 29.Ne3 (and White is
slightly better) Bc6 30.Rc1 Bd7 31.Rc7 Ke7 32.Rb7! [with the idea Nc4]
Rc8 [32...Kd6 33.b4 and White is slightly better] 33.b3 Kd8! 34.Ng4 Ke7
35.Nf6 Kf6 36.Rd7 [with the idea Rd3] Rc3! [R 6/f] 37.Rb7 h5 38.h4 Kg6
39.b4 Rb3 40.Rb8 Rb2 41.b5 Kg7 42.b6 e5 43.b7! f5 44.Kf1 e4 45.Ke1
Kh7? [45...Rb6 equal] 46.Kd1? [46.Rf8 Rb7 47.Rf5 ef3 48.Rh5 Kg6 49.Rg5
Kf6 50.g3 and White is winning] Kg7 47.Kc1 Rb6 48.Kd2 Rb5 49.Kc3
[49.Ke3 Rb4 only move, equal] Rb6 50.Kd4 Rb5 (only move) 51.Kc4 Rb1
52.Kd5 e3 (only move) 53.Re8 Rb7 54.Re3 Rb2 55.Ke5 Rg2 56.Kf5 Rg3
57.Ra3 [better is 57.Kf4] Kh6 58.Kf4 Rh3 - [Sergey Karjakin]
Predojevic 2558 E.Romanov 2479

Istanbul 2005 95/115
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.d4 cd4 5.Nd4 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.Qe2 Bd6
8.Ndb5! [a novelty; 8.Nf3 see 94/117; 8.g4 see 94/118] ab5 9.Nb5 Qa5
[9...Bb4?? 10.c3 and White is winning; 9...Qb6 10.Nd6 Qd6 11.e5 Qe7
12.ef6 Qf6 13.0-0 0-0 14.c3 and White is slightly better, with the idea a4, b4
queen's side initiative] 10.Bd2 Bb4 [10...Qb6 11.e5 Be7 12.ef6 Bf6 13.0-0 00 14.Bb4 and White is superior] 11.Bb4 Qb4 12.c3 Qc5 [12...Qa4 13.e5 Nd5
14.Nd6 Ke7 15.Bb5 Qh4 (15...Qf4 16.g3 Qh6 17.Qc4 and White is superior)
16.g3 Qh3 17.Qc4 Nc6 (17...Qg2 18.0-0-0 Na6 19.Qh4 f6 20.c4 and White is
winning) 18.Qc5 Ne5 19.Nc4 Kf6 20.Qd4 d6 21.f4 and White is superior;
12...Qa5 13.e5 Ng8 14.Nd6 Kf8 15.Nc8 Nc6 16.Nd6 Qe5 17.Qe5 Ne5
18.Be4 and White is slightly better] 13.e5
13...Ng4! [13...Nd5 14.Nd6 a) 14...Kf8 15.Qf3 a1) 15...f6 16.Qh5 Ke7

17.Qf7 Kd8 18.Qg7 Re8 19.Ne8 Ke8 20.ef6 and White is winning; a2)
15...f5 16.Bf5! ef5 17.0-0-0! Ne7 (17...g6 18.Rd5 Qc6 19.g4 Ra2 20.gf5 and
White is winning; 17...Kg8 18.Qf5 Nf6 19.Qf4 h6 20.ef6 and White is
winning) 18.Qh5 a21) 18...g6 19.Qh6 Kg8 20.Ne8 Kf7 (20...Qe5 21.Rhe1
and White is winning) 21.Qg7 Ke8 22.Qh8 Kf7 23.Rd6 Ra6 24.Rf6 and
White is winning; a22) 18...Ng6 19.Qf5 Ke7 20.Qg5 Ke6 21.g3!! Ra2
(21...Qf2 22.Rhf1 and White is winning; 21...Rf8 22.f4 Rf4 23.gf4 Qe3 24.Kb1
Qf4 25.Qg2 and White is winning; 21...Ne5 22.Rhe1 Qd6 23.Rd6 Kd6 24.Qe5
Kc6 25.b4 d5 26.Qg7 Rd8 27.Qe7 Rd6 28.b5 Kc5 29.Qc7 and White is
winning) 22.Qf5 Ke7 23.Qf7 Kd8 24.Qa2 Rf8 25.f4 and White is winning;
a3) 15...Nf6 16.Qf4 Nc6 17.ef6 Ne5 18.fg7 Kg7 19.Qg3 and White is
superior; b) 14...Ke7 15.Qh5! g6 (15...f6 16.Qf7 Kd8 17.Qg7 Re8 18.Ne8 Ke8
19.Bh7 and White is winning) 16.Bg6!! fg6 17.Qh4 Kf8 18.Rd1! (with the
idea Rd5) Ra4 19.Qa4 Kg7 20.0-0 and White is superior] 14.Qg4?!
[14.Nd6?! Kf8! (14...Ke7 15.Qg4 Qe5 16.Ne4 and White is superior) 15.Qg4
Qe5 16.Ne4 f5 17.Qg5 Nc6 18.f4 Qd5 19.Nf2 Ra2 and Black is superior;
14.f4! a) 14...Nh6 15.b4 Qc6 16.Be4 Qb6 17.Nd6 Kd8 (17...Ke7 18.a4 and
White is superior; 17...Kf8 18.Nc8 Qc7 19.Nd6 Qc3 20.Kf2 Qd4 21.Kg3 Ra3
22.Bf3 and White is superior) 18.a4 with the idea a5 and White is superior; b)
14...f5 b1) 15.Nd6 Kf8 16.h3 Nh6 17.g4 Nf7 18.Nc8 Qc8 19.gf5 ef5 20.Bf5
with compensation; b2) 15.h3 Nh6 16.b4 Qb6 (16...Qc6 17.Qh5 Kf8 18.Nd6
Qc3 19.Ke2 g6 20.Qh6 Kg8 21.Ne8 and White is winning) 17.Nd6 (17.Qh5
Ke7 18.Nd6 Qe3 19.Be2 Qg3) Ke7 18.Nc4 Qc7 19.0-0 (with the idea Qh5) b5
20.Nd6 Qc3 21.Rac1 Qd4 22.Kh1 and White is superior; 19...Nf7 unclear;
b3) 15.b4! Qc6 (15...Qb6 16.Nd6 Ke7 17.Bf5!) 16.h3 Nf6 (16...Nh6 17.Qh5
Kf8 18.Nd6 Qc3 19.Ke2 g6 20.Qh6 and White is winning) 17.ef6 gf6 18.Qh5
Kf8 19.0-0 and White is superior; c) 14...h5! c1) 15.h3 Ne3 16.Nd6 Ke7
17.Qf2 c11) 17...Na6 18.Ba6 Ra6 19.Ke2 Rb6 20.b3 and White is winning;
c12) 17...Qb6 18.Qh4 f6 19.Qg3 g5 20.Nc8 (20.Ne4 Qb2 21.ef6 Kd8) Rc8
21.ef6 Kf7 22.Bg6!; c13) 17...Ra5! 18.b4 Qc3 19.Ke2 Nc2 20.ba5 Na1
21.Qe1 Qe1 22.Re1 Nc6 23.Ra1 Na5 24.Ke3 Nc6 25.h4 with compensation;
c2) 15.b4 Qb6 16.Nd6 Ke7 17.Nc4 Qc6 18.h3 Nh6 19.0-0 with attack] Qe5
15.Kd2! [15.Kf1 0-0 16.h4 (16.Re1 Qc5 17.h4 Ra2 18.Rh3 f5!) f5 17.Qd4
Nc6 18.Qe5 Ne5 19.Be2 and White is slightly better; 15.Qe2 Qe2 16.Ke2
Ke7 17.a4 (with the idea a5, b4) Nc6 18.b4 b6! 19.f4 Ba6 20.Kd2 and White
is slightly better] 0-0 16.Qh4 [16.f4 Qf6! and White is slightly better] g6
[16...h6 17.Rhe1 Qg5 18.Qg5 hg5 19.Nd6 and White is superior; 16...f5
17.Rhe1 Qc5 18.Qd4 Qd4 19.cd4 and White is superior] 17.f4 [better is
17.Rhe1 Qg7 18.Nd6 Nc6 19.f4 with initiative] Qg7 [17...Qd5! 18.Qg5
(18.c4? Qg2 19.Kc3 Ra2! and Black is superior; 18.g4 Ra2 19.Ra2 Qa2 and
Black is superior) Qc6 (18...Qg5 19.fg5 d5 20.Rhf1 Nc6 21.a3 Bd7 22.Rf6
and White is slightly better) 19.Nd4 Qb6 20.Kc2 Nc6 21.Qf6 d6 22.Rhe1 and
White is slightly better] 18.g4 (with attack) Ra4 [18...d5?! 19.f5! g5 20.Qh5
Nd7 (20...e5 21.f6 and White is winning) 21.h4 ef5 22.hg5 and White is
superior] 19.Rhf1 Nc6 [19...Rf4? 20.Rf4 g5 21.Qh7 and White is winning]
20.b3 time [better is 20.Nd6 e5 21.f5 g5 22.f6 gh4 23.fg7 Kg7 24.Be4 Ne7
25.c4 and White is superior] Ra5 21.a4 [21.b4 Ra4 22.Nd6 Ra3! with
counterplay, weak point c3; 21.Nd6 Rd5!] f6! [21...d5 22.f5 g5 (22...ef5
23.gf5 g5 24.f6 gh4 25.fg7 Kg7 26.b4 Ra8 27.Nc7 Rb8 28.Nd5 and White is
superior) 23.Qg3 e5 (23...f6 24.fe6 Be6 25.Rae1 Ne5 26.h3 with the idea
Nd4) 24.f6 Qh6 25.b4 Ra8 26.Nc7 Be6 27.Na8 and White is superior]
22.Rae1 d5 23.g5! [23.Qg3? (with the idea g5) e5!; 23.f5 g5 24.Qg3 e5 and
Black is superior] Bd7 [23...fg5 24.fg5 e5 25.Qh6! (25.Rf8 Qf8 26.Rf1 Qe7)
Qh6 26.gh6 Be6 27.Nd6 Ra7 28.Bb5 Rf1 29.Rf1 and White is slightly better]
24.Qg3 Nd8?! [24...fg5 25.fg5 (25.Qg5 d4 26.c4 Nb4) e5 26.Nd6!? with
initiative with the idea 26...Raa8 27.Nb7 Be6 28.Nc5 Qe7 29.b4, with the
idea 26...Qe7 27.Rf8 Qf8 28.Re5! Ne5 29.Qe5 Bc6 (29...Qf3 30.Qe7 Qf4
31.Kc2 Qh2 32.Kb1 Qg1 33.Kb2 Qf2 34.Bc2 Bh3 35.Qd8 Qf8 36.Qa5 Qd6
37.Qa8 and White is winning) 30.Ne4! and White is superior; RR 30.Bf5!
and White is winning] 25.Nd4 Ra8 26.h4 (and White is superior) Rc8 27.h5
f5 [27...gh5 28.Rh1 Be8 (28...fg5 29.Rh5 h6 30.fg5 Nf7 31.g6 Ng5 32.Reh1
e5 33.Rh6 ed4 34.Qg5 dc3 35.Kc1 and White is winning) 29.Ne6 Ne6 30.Re6
fg5 31.Qg5 Qg5 (31...Rf4 32.Qf4 Qg2 33.Re2 Qh1 34.Qg5 and White is
winning; 31...Bg6 32.Bg6 and White is winning) 32.fg5 Rf2 33.Re2 Rf4
34.Ke3 and White is superior] 28.Qe3 Re8 29.Qe5 Qe5 30.Re5 Nf7
[30...Nc6 31.Re3 gh5 32.Rh1 and White is superior] 31.Re3 e5 [31...Nd6
32.hg6 hg6 33.Rh1 Kg7 34.Reh3 Rh8 35.Rh8 Rh8 36.Rh8 Kh8 37.Nf3 and
White is superior; 31...gh5 32.Rh3 e5 33.fe5 and White is superior] 32.hg6
hg6 33.fe5 Re5 [33...Ne5 34.Rfe1 Nf7 35.Re8 Re8 36.Re8 Be8 37.Nf3 Bc6
38.Ke3 and White is superior, with the idea 38...d4 39.Nd4 Ng5 40.Nc6 bc6
41.a5 Ne6 42.a6 Nc7 43.a7 Kf7 44.Ba6 Ke6 45.Bb7 Kd6 46.a8Q Na8 47.Ba8
Kc7 48.Kf4 and White is winning; 33...Ng5 34.Rg3 and White is winning]
34.Re5 Ne5 35.Nf3! Nf7 [35...Nd3 36.Kd3 and White is superior; 35...Nf3
36.Rf3 Kf7 37.Rh3 Kg7 38.Rh4 and White is superior] 36.Re1 Re8 [36...Bc6
37.Re6 Kg7 38.Nh4 Nh8 39.Re7 and White is winning] 37.Re8 Be8 [NB 9/c]
38.Ke3 Kf8 39.Kd4 Ke7 40.Kc5! Nd6 41.a5 Kd7 [41...Ne4 42.Kb6 Kd6
(42...Kd7 43.Bb5 and White is winning; 42...Kd8 43.Kb7 Nc5 44.Kb6! Nd3
45.a6 and White is winning) 43.b4 (43.Be4 de4 44.Nd4 f4 45.Kb7 f3 46.a6 f2
47.a7 f1Q 48.a8Q Bc6! 49.Nc6 Qb5 50.Ka7 Qc5 equal) Bc6 44.Nd4 and
White is winning] 42.Kd5 [42.Bb5! Nb5 43.Kb5 Kc7 (43...Kd6 44.Kb6 Bc6
45.Nd4 with the idea b4-b5 and White is winning) 44.Kc5 f4 45.Ne5 and
White is winning] Bf7 43.Ke5 Bb3 44.Kf6 Ne4 45.Kg6 [45.Be4? fe4 46.Nd4
Bd1! (46...e3?? 47.Nb3 and White is winning; 46...Bc4 47.Nc2 and White is
winning) 47.Kg6 e3 a) 48.Kh7 e2 49.Nf3 Kc6 50.g6 Kb5 51.g7 Bb3 52.g8Q
(52.Nd4 Ka4 53.Nb3?? e1Q 54.g8Q Qh1 55.Kg7 Qg2 56.Kf8 Qg8 57.Kg8
Kb3 58.Kf7 Kc3 59.Ke6 Kb4 60.Kd5 Ka5 and Black is winning; 53.Ne2
equal) Bg8 53.Kg8 Ka5 54.Kf7 Kb5 55.Ke6 Kc4 56.Ke5 Kc3 57.Ke4 Kc2
58.Ke3 Kd1 59.Kd3 equal; b) 48.Kf5 e2 49.Nf3 Kc6 50.g6 b1) 50...Kb5
51.g7 Bb3 52.Nd4 Ka4 53.Ne2 (53.Nb3? e1Q 54.g8Q Qc3 equal) Ka5
54.Ke4 b5 55.Kd4 Bg8 56.Nf4 Ka4 (56...b4 57.c4 b3 58.Nd3 with the idea
Kc3 and White is winning) 57.Nd5 Kb3 58.Nf6 Bf7 59.g8Q Bg8 60.Ng8 b4
61.c4 Kc2 62.Nf6 b3 63.Ne4 b2 64.Nc3 and White is winning; b2) 50...Bc2!
51.Kf6 Bg6 52.Kg6 Kc5 53.Kf5 Kc4 54.Ke5 Kc3 55.Kd6 Kb4 equal; c)
48.Kf6 e2 49.Nf3 Kd6 50.g6 Kc5 51.g7 (51.Ke5 Bb3 52.Kf4 Kc4 equal) Bb3
52.Ke5 Bg8 53.Ke4 Kc4 equal] Nc3 46.Bf5 Kd6 47.Nd2! (and White is
winning) Bd5 48.Kf6 Ne2 49.Ne4 Kc6 50.Ke5 Nc1 51.Nc3 [51.Bd7 Kd7
52.Kd5 Ne2 53.Kc5 Kc7 54.Nf6 and White is winning] Bf7 52.Be4 Kc7
53.Nb5 Kb8 54.Nd6 Bh5 55.Nb7 Nb3 56.Bd5 Nd2 57.Nd8 [57.Nc5 and
White is winning] Ka7 58.Kf4 Bg6 59.Ke3 Nf1 60.Kd4 Ng3 61.Kc5 Ka6
62.Nc6?? [62.Kb4 and White is winning; 62.Nb7 and White is winning] Ne4
63.Be4 Be4 equal [NB 3/g2] 64.Kd6 Kb5 65.Kc7 Ka6 [65...Bc6?? 66.a6 and
White is winning] 66.Kd6 Kb5 67.Ne7 Ka5 [NB 3/e] 68.Ke5 Bh7 69.Kf6
Kb6 70.Ng6 Bg8 71.Nf8 Kc7? [71...Kc6! 72.Ke7 Kd5 73.g6 Ke5 74.Nd7
Kf5 75.g7 Be6 76.Kf8 Kg6 77.Ne5 Kf6 equal] 72.Ke7 (and White is
winning) Kc6 73.g6 Kd5 74.Nd7! Kd4 [74...Ke4 75.Kf6 Kf4 (75...Bb3
76.Nc5; 75...Ba2 76.Ne5 Kf4 77.Nf7 Bb1 78.g7 Bh7 79.Nd6 Bg8 80.Ke7 Kg5
81.Kf8 Bh7 82.Kf7 Bg6 83.Kg8) 76.Ne5 Bb3 77.Nf7 Bc2 78.g7 Bh7 79.Nd6
Bg8 80.Ke7 Kg5 81.Kf8 Bh7 82.Kf7 Bg6 (82...Bb1 83.g8Q) 83.Kg8 Bd3
84.Nf7 Kf6 85.Kh8] 75.Kf6! Bb3 [75...Kd5 76.Ne5 with the idea Nf7, Kg7]
76.Ne5 Bc2 77.g7 Bh7 78.Nf3 Ke3 79.Ng5 Bg8 80.Ke7 [80...Kf4 81.Kf8
Bb3 82.Nf7] 1-0 [Predojevic, Iv.Markovic]
Iv.Sokolov 2696 Harikrishna 2673

Hoogeveen 2005 95/(282)
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nc4 Qc7 8.g3
e5 9.de5 Ne5 10.Bf4 Nfd7 11.Bg2 g5 12.Be5 Ne5 13.Qd4 f6 14.0-0-0
14...Rd8! [a novelty; 14...Be7 see 95/(282)] 15.Qe3 Be7 16.Rd8 Kd8 17.Ne5
Qe5 18.Qa7 Ba3 19.Rd1 Kc8 20.Qd4 Qd4 21.Rd4 Bc5 22.Rd2 Be6 with
compensation
Ulibin 2536 E.Berg 2531

Santa Cruz de La Palma 2005 95/(195)
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.c3 c5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.Ne2 cd4 8.cd4 f6
9.ef6 Nf6 10.Nf3 Bd6 11.0-0 Qc7 12.Bg5 0-0 13.Bh4 Nh5 14.Qc2 h6
15.Bg6 Rf3 16.gf3 Bh2 17.Kh1 Nf4 18.Ng3
18...e5! [a novelty; 18...Qb6 see 86/272] 19.Kh2 Qd6 20.Bh7 Kh8 21.de5
Ne5 with compensation.
R.Ponomariov 2704 Bareev 2675

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.Qd2 b5
9.a3 Bb7 10.g3
10...Qa5! [a novelty; 10...c4; 10...g6; 10...Qb6] 11.Ra2!? [11.a4?! Be7

(11...b4 12.Ne2) 12.Bg2 Nb6 13.b3 cd4 14.Nd4 Bb4 15.Nc6 Bc6 16.Bd4 Rc8
17.0-0 Bd7 18.Rf3 (18.ab5 Bc3 19.Ra5 Bd2 20.Ra6 Bb5 21.Rb6 Bf1 22.Bf1 00) ba4 with counterplay; 11.Rb1 b4 12.ab4 Qb4 13.Bg2 Nb6 14.b3 Rc8 with
counterplay; 11.Bg2 b4 12.Ne2 cd4 with the idea13.Ned4 ba3 14.c3 ab2
15.Qb2 Qc7 16.0-0 Bc5] Rc8 [11...g5!? 12.Bh3 (12.Ng5 cd4 13.Bd4 Nd4
14.Qd4 Bc5 15.Qd3 d4 16.b4 Bb4 17.ab4 Qb4 with initiative) gf4 (12...h5
13.Ng5 cd4 14.Bd4 Nd4 15.Qd4 Bc5 16.Qd3 d4 17.Be6 and White is
winning) 13.gf4 Rg8 14.f5 (14.Rg1 Rg1 15.Bg1 Bh6 unclear, weak point
Ra2) Nce5 15.de5 d4 16.fe6 fe6 17.Be6 Bf3 18.Qf2 Ne5 19.Bg8 Bh1 20.Qf5
Bg7 21.Bh6 Bh6 22.Qe5 Kf8 23.Be6 Qd8 24.Nd5 Qh4 25.Kf1 Bd5 26.Bd5
Rd8 27.Qh8 Ke7 28.Qe5 Kf8 equal; 11...Qc7 12.Bg2 Nb6 (12...b4 13.ab4
cd4 14.Nd4 Bb4 15.0-0 Nb6 16.Nc6 Qc6 17.Bd4 Nc4 18.Qf2 and White is
superior) 13.b3 b4 14.Ne2 (14.ab4 cd4 15.Nd4 Bb4 16.0-0 Rc8 17.Nc6 Qc6
18.Qf2 Bc3 19.Bb6 0-0 20.Bd4 Rc7 with counterplay) c4 (14...cd4 15.Ned4
ba3 16.f5 ef5 17.0-0 Nd4 18.Nd4 g6 19.e6 Bg7 20.ef7 Kf7 21.g4 with
initiative) 15.a4 Na5 16.Qd1 0-0-0 17.0-0 g6 unclear] 12.Bg2 b4 [12...Qb6
13.Ne2; 12...Nb6 13.b3 cd4 14.Nd4 Nd7 (14...Ne5 15.b4 Nbc4 16.ba5 Nd2
17.Bd2 Nc4 18.Nb1 Bc5 19.Nb3 Ba7 20.c3 0-0 21.a4 ba4 22.Ra4 and White
is superior) 15.Nc6 Rc6 16.b4 Qc7 17.Ne2 Nb6 18.Bb6 Qb6 19.Nd4 Rc4
20.c3 Be7 21.Bf1 Rc7 22.Bd3 0-0 23.0-0 Rfc8 24.Rf3 f6 with counterplay]
13.ab4 Qb4 14.0-0 cd4?! [14...Nb6! 15.Qf2 (15.b3 cd4 16.Nd4 Bc5 17.Nc6
Rc6 with counterplay, weak point Nc3) Nc4 16.Ra4 Qb2! 17.Rb1 Qc3
(17...cd4 18.Rb2 de3 19.Qe1 Nb2 20.Qb1 Na4 21.Qb7 and White is winning)
18.Rb3 Qb3 19.cb3 Ne3 20.Qe3 a) 20...Nd4 21.Nd4 cd4 22.Qd2 Be7
(22...Bc5 23.Bf1 d3 24.Kg2 Be3 25.Qb4 Rb8 26.h4 with the idea 26...d2
27.Ba6 d1Q 28.Bb5 Kd8 29.Qd6 Kc8 30.Qd7#) 23.Bf1 Rc3 24.b4 0-0 25.Qd4
Rfc8 26.Qb6 with initiative; b) 20...cd4 21.Qd2 b1) 21...a5 22.f5! (22.Bf1
Bb4 23.Qd1 0-0 24.Bd3 h6 unclear) ef5 23.Qg5 with initiative; b2) 21...Be7
22.Bf1 (22.Bh3 0-0 23.f5 f6) 0-0 23.b4 (23.Ba6 Ba6 24.Ra6 Nb4 25.Ra5 Rc2
26.Qd4 Rfc8 and Black is superior) Rb8 24.Nd4 Nd4 25.Qd4 Bc6 26.Ra6
Rb4 27.Qf2 Rc8 28.Rb6 equal] 15.Nd4 Nd4 16.Bd4 Bc5 17.Rd1 Bd4
18.Qd4 Rc4 19.Qf2! [19.Qa7 a) 19...Qc5 20.Qc5 Nc5 21.Bf1 (21.Ra5 Nd7
22.Bf1 Rb4 23.Ba6 Ba6 24.Ra6 Rb2 25.Ra8 Rb8 26.Rb8 Nb8) Rb4 22.Ne2
and White is slightly better; b) 19...Ke7 20.Bf1 Qc5 21.Qc5 Rc5 22.Ba6 Ba6
23.Ra6 Rb8 with compensation] 0-0 20.Bf1 Rc7 21.Qd4 a5? [21...Qe7
22.Ba6 Ba6 23.Ra6 Rb8 24.Rd6! and White is slightly better, with the idea
24...Qe8 25.Ra1 Rc4 26.Qa7! and White is superior]
22.Qb4! ab4 23.Nb5 Rc2 24.Nd4 (and White is superior) Rcc8 [24...Rc7
25.Ra7 Ra8 26.Ra8 Ba8 27.Ra1 Bb7 28.Nb5! Rc2 29.Ra7 Bc8 30.Nd6 and
White is superior] 25.Ra7 Nc5 26.Rc1 Ba8 27.Ba6! [27.Ra8 Ra8 28.Rc5
Ra2 with counterplay] Na6 28.Rc8 Rc8 29.Ra6 [weak point Ba8] g5 [R 9/i]
30.b3! [30.fg5 Bb7 31.Rb6 Rc4! 32.Nb5 Bc6 33.Nd6 Rc1 34.Kf2 d4 with
counterplay, passed pawn d] gf4 31.gf4 Bb7 32.Rb6 Rc7 33.Kf2 Bc8
34.Rc6! (and White is winning) Rc6 35.Nc6 Bb7 [35...Kf8 36.Ke3 Bb7
37.Nb4 Ke7 38.Kd4 Kd7 39.Kc5 Kc7 40.Nc2 Ba6 41.Nd4 Bd3 42.b4 Kb7
(42...Bg6 43.Nb5 Kb7 44.Nd6 Kc7 45.b5 h6 46.b6 Kb8 47.h3 Bh5 48.f5 Ka8
49.fe6 fe6 50.Nb5 Kb7 51.Nd4 Bf7 52.Nc6) 43.Nc6 (43.b5) Kc7 44.Ne7 and
White is winning, with the idea Ng8-f6-e8-d6, b5] 36.Nb4 d4!? 37.Nc2 d3
38.Nb4 d2 39.Ke2 Kg7 40.Kd2 Kg6 41.Ke3 Kf5 42.Nd3 Bc6 43.b4 Kg4
44.Nf2 Kf5 45.h3!? [45.Nd1 Kg4 46.Nc3 Kh3 47.b5 Ba8 48.Ne4 h5
(48...Kh2 49.Nf6 h6 50.Ng4 and White is winning) 49.Ng5 Kh2 50.Kf2 and
White is winning] h5 46.h4 Ba4 47.Kf3 Bc6 48.Kg3 Ba4 49.Nd3 Bc6
50.Ne1 f6 51.Nf3 fe5 52.Ne5 Ba4 53.Nc4 Kf6 54.Kf3 Bb5 [54...Bc6 55.Ke3
Ba4 56.Nd6 e5 57.Ne4 Kf5 58.Ng3 Kg4 59.f5 and White is winning] 55.Nd6
Bc6 56.Ke3 e5 57.b5 1-0 [R.Ponomariov]
Kobese 2400 El Gindy 2524

Lusaka 2005 95/(183)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Be3 d5 8.ed5
ed5
9.Qe2!! [a novelty; 9.Bb5 Bd7 10.0-0 Be7 (10...Bb4) 11.Nf3 (11.Qf3;

11.Bc6; 11.Re1) Be6 12.Ng5 a6 13.Ne6 fe6 14.Bc6 bc6 15.Bd4 0-0 16.Qe2
Qd6 17.Rae1 c5] Be7! [9...dc4 10.0-0-0! Nd4 (10...Bd7 11.Nc6 bc6 12.Bc5
Be7 13.Rhe1 Ng8 14.Qc4) 11.Bd4! (11.Rd4? Qa5 12.Rd5 Qa6 and Black is
winning) Be6 (11...Qe7? 12.Bf6 gf6 13.Qh5 Be6 14.Qb5 Bd7 15.Qb7 and
White is winning) 12.f4 Qe7 13.Bf6 gf6 14.Rhe1 Rd8 (14...Qc5 15.g4 Bh6
16.g5 fg5 17.Qh5 and White is winning) 15.f5 Bf5 16.Qh5 Be6 (16...Rd1
17.Kd1 Be6 18.Nd5 and White is winning) 17.Qb5 Rd7 18.Nd5 Bh6 19.Kb1
Qd8 20.Nf6 Qf6 21.Qd7 Kf8 22.Qd6 a) 22...Kg8 23.Rf1 Qh4 24.Qb8 Bf8
25.Rd8 Kg7 26.Qe5 Kg6 27.Rd4 and White is winning; b) 22...Kg7 23.Rf1
Qh4 (23...Qg5 24.Rf3) 24.Qe5 Kg8 25.Rf3; c) 22...Qe7 23.Re6 fe6 24.Rf1]
10.0-0-0 0-0 11.Nf3 Be6 12.Ng5 Qa5 13.Ne6 fe6 14.Bb3 Bb4 [14...Rae8!
15.Bg5 (15.Bd2 Nd4) Kh8 16.Kb1 Nd7 17.Be7 Re7 18.f3 Nc5 unclear]
15.Nb5 a6 16.Nd4 Rae8 17.g4 with attack [El Gindy]
Sutovsky 2654 A.Stefanova 2494

Hoogeveen 2005 95/259
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 00 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.d5 Bd7 13.b3 Rfe8
14.Kh2! [a novelty; 14.Nbd2; 14.Qe2 see 95/(259)] g6 15.g4 h5 [15...c4

16.b4 Nb7 17.a4 a5 18.Be3 and White is slightly better] 16.g5 Nh7 [with the
idea f6] 17.Rg1! c4 18.b4 Nb7 19.Nbd2 [19.a4!? a5 20.Be3 and White is
slightly better] Qc8?! [better is 19...a5 20.Nf1 ab4 21.cb4 with attack, with
the idea Ne3-f5, with the idea Ng3-h5] 20.Rg3 h4? [20...a5 21.Nf1 with
attack] 21.Nh4 Bg5 22.Ndf3 Bf6 [22...Bc1? 23.Qc1 Qd8 24.Qh6 and White
is winning] 23.Qg1! Qd8 24.Bh6! a5 [24...Kh8? 25.Rg6! fg6 26.Ng6 Kg8
27.Nge5 Ng5 28.Bg5 and White is winning; 24...Nf8 25.Ng5 and White is
winning]
25.Rg6! fg6 26.Qg6 Kh8 27.Qf7?! time [27.Ng5! Ng5 28.Bg5 Bg5 29.Qh5!
Kg7 30.Rg1 Rg8 only move 31.Rg5 Kf6 (31...Qg5 32.Qg5 Kf7 33.Qh5 Kf6
34.Bd1! ab4 35.Qh6 Ke7 36.Qh7) 32.Qh6 Kf7 33.Qh7 Kf6 34.f4! Qf8
(34...ab4 35.Nf5 Qf8 36.Rg8 Qg8 37.Qe7 Kg6 38.Qg5 Kf7 39.Nh6; 34...ef4
35.e5! de5 36.Rh5!) 35.Rg8 Qg8 36.fe5 de5 (36...Kg5 37.Qe7 Kh6 38.Qd7)
37.Qd7 and White is winning] Rg8 28.Rg1 Qe7 29.Ng6 Rg6 30.Qg6 (and
White is superior) Rf8 (only move) 31.Nh4 [31.ba5!? Na5 32.Nh4 with
attack] Be8 32.Qg4 ab4 33.cb4 Qf7 34.Bf8 Qf8 35.Nf5 Bg5?! time
[35...Bd7! a) 36.Qh5!? Be8 (36...Nd8 37.Rg6 Bf5 38.ef5 and White is
superior) 37.Qe2 Bg5 38.a4 and White is superior; b) 36.Qg6 Be8 37.Qg3
Bg5 (37...Bd7 38.Nh4 Be8 39.Kh1 Bg5 40.Nf5 Bd7 41.h4 see 37...Bg5)
38.Kh1 Bd7 39.h4 b1) 39...Bf4 40.Qg7 Qg7 41.Rg7 Nf8 (41...Bf5 42.Rb7
Bg4 43.Rb5 Bf3 44.Kg1 Nf6 45.Rb8 Kg7 46.b5 and White is winning) 42.Rf7!
Kg8 43.Re7 and White is winning; b2) 39...Bf6 40.Qg6! b21) 40...Bf5 41.ef5
Nd8 (41...Bh4 42.f6! Nf6 43.Rg4! Bf2 44.Rg2 and White is winning) 42.a4
ba4 43.Ba4 and White is superior; b22) 40...Be8 41.Qg4 Bd7 42.Qh5! Be8
43.Qf3 Bd7 44.Rg6 and White is superior; b23) 40...Nd8!? b231) 41.a4 ba4
(41...Bf5 42.ef5 ba4 43.Ba4 and White is superior) 42.Nd6 Bh4 43.f4 (43.Nc4
Bf2 44.Ne5 Bg1 45.Nd7 Qf1! 46.Qe8 Kg7 47.Qe5 Kh6 48.Bd3! Qd3 49.Qf4
Kg7 50.Qe5 Kf7 51.Qh5 Kg7 52.Qe5 equal; 43.Qh5 Qd6 44.Qh4 Nf7
unclear) a3 44.f5 c3 45.Nc4 Be8 46.Ne5 Bf6 47.Qg3 Qh6 48.Kg2 Qd2
49.Kh1 Qh6 equal; b232) 41.Nd6 Be7! 42.Nf5 Bf5 43.ef5 (43.Qf5 Qf5 44.ef5
Nf6 45.Rd1 Nf7 unclear) Nf6 44.a3 Nf7 45.Re1 Bd8! and White is superior]
36.h4 Bf6 37.Nh6 Bg7 38.Nf5 Bf6 39.Rg3! Bd7 40.Ra3! (and White is
winning) Nd8 [40...Bd8 41.Ra8 Nf6 42.Qg6 Bf5 43.Qf5] 41.Ra7 Bf5 42.Qf5
Nf7 43.Kg2! [43.Qg6!? Be7 44.Kg2! (44.Qe6?? Nh6! and Black is winning)
Nf6 45.Rb7] Qg7 44.Kf1 Nf8 [44...Nh6 45.Qc8 Qg8 46.Qg8 Kg8 47.a4]
45.Bd1 Ng6 [45...c3 46.Qc8] 46.Qc8 Bd8 [46...Kh7 47.Bg4 (47.Qe8 Ngh8
48.Qb5) Nf4 48.Qd7] 47.Rf7 Qf7 48.Qd8 Kh7 49.Bg4 Qf4 50.Bf5 Kh6
51.Qd6 1-0 [Sutovsky]
Or.Perez 2439 A.Colovic 2418

La Habana II 2005 95/(185)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Be3 Be7
9.Qd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 Nbd7 11.g4 Nb6 12.h4 Rc8 13.Kb1 Qc7 14.h5 Nfd7
[14...h6? see 92/237]
15.Rh2! [a novelty; 15.g5 f5! with counterplay] Nc4 16.Bc4 Qc4 17.g5 (and
White is superior) f5? 18.Na5 Qc7 19.Nd5 Bd5 20.Qd5 Kh8 21.ef5 and
White is winning [Motylev]
Predojevic 2558 M.Drasko 2528

Srbija i Crna Gora 2005 95/191

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.Be2 Nge7 7.Na3 Ng6 8.h4
cd4 9.cd4 Bb4?! 10.Kf1 Ba3 [10...h6 see 90/231] 11.ba3 h6 12.Rb1 Na5
13.Bd3! [a novelty; 13.Bd2] Bc6 [13...Qc7 14.Rh3!] 14.h5 Ne7 15.Nh4 (and
White is superior) Kd7 [15...0-0? 16.Bh6 (16.g4 f5 17.ef6 Rf6 18.g5 hg5
19.Bg5 Rf7 20.Ng6 and White is winning) gh6 17.Qg4 (17.Qd2 Kg7 18.Rh3
f5 19.ef6 Rf6 20.Rg3 Kf7 21.Ng6 Ng6 22.Qh6 with attack) Kh8 18.Ng6 fg6
19.hg6 Nf5 (19...Kg7 20.Rh6 Rh8 21.Qh4 and White is winning; 19...Rf2
20.Kf2 Qf8 21.Ke2 and White is winning) 20.Bf5 Rf5 21.Rh6 Kg8 22.Qh3
Kf8 23.Rh8 Ke7 24.Qh7 and White is winning; 15...Qc7! 16.Qg4 0-0-0
17.Qg7?? Bb5! 18.Bb5 Qc2 and Black is winning; 17.Rh3! and White is
superior] 16.Qg4 Rg8 [16...Qf8 17.Rh3 f5 18.ef6 gf6 19.Re3 and White is
superior] 17.Bh7!? [17.Rh3 and White is superior, with the idea Rf3] Rc8
18.Bg8 Qg8 19.Rh3 [19.Be3 Qh7 20.Re1 Bb5 21.Kg1 Nc4 22.Rh3 Na3
23.Rg3 and White is superior] Qh7 20.Ra1 Bb5 21.Kg1 Bd3 22.Rg3 g5
23.hg6 Ng6 24.Ng6 Bg6 25.Qh4 Rc4 26.Bh6 Nc6 27.Rd1 Ne5 28.Qf6 Nc6
29.Be3 Qh5 30.Re1 Qf5 31.Qg7 Rc2 32.Rf3 Qh5 33.Rc1 Rc1 34.Bc1 (and
White is winning) Bf5 35.Bf4? [35.Be3 and White is winning] Be4! with
counterplay [35...Qg6 36.Qf8 Nd4 37.Qd6 Ke8 38.Qb8 Ke7 39.Bd6 Kf6
40.Be5 and White is winning] 36.Rg3 Qd1 37.Kh2 Qh5 38.Rh3 Qf5?
[38...Qg6! 39.Qg6 Bg6 40.Be3 (40.Be5 Ke7 41.Rf3 Bf5 with counterplay,
with the idea f6) Bb1 with counterplay] 39.Bg3 (and White is winning) Qg6
40.Qf8 e5 [40...Ne7 41.Qb8] 41.Rh6 1-0 [Predojevic]
E 97
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 00 6.Be2 e5 7.00 Nc6
8.d5 Ne7 9.b4 Nh5 10.Re1 f5 11.Ng5 Nf6 12.f3 Kh8
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
c51
1
Ne6 de6
h62
Be6 d53
Qd5
Bc4
Rd16 Rd8
Nfd5
Qd55
Nd5
Nb4
Rfd8 Rd87
Rb1
b5
b610
Bb6
Bc7
Qb3
unclear
h68
Be6 c69
Ne6 de6
3
Nd54
with
compensation
Be3 Ne6 de6

2
ed5
fe4
Ne8
Nc7
ab6
Nc8
Qc7
b611
Nd5
Bf3
b5
Nf6
Bb7
Be415
White is
superior
Be6 fe4
Nc6 Ne412 Nf613 Ne714 Rf6
Rb8
1
13.Rb1 h6 14.Ne6 Be6 15.de6 fe4 16.fe4 Nc6 17.Nd5 Ng8!? 18.Bd3 [18.Qd3
Nd4 19.Qh3 Re8 20.Bg4 c6 21.Nc3 Qe7 22.b5 Kh7 and Black is slightly
better; Jar.Fiala S.Lakatos, corr.2003; 18.Be3 Nd4 and Black is slightly
better; V.Annaev K.Sakai, corr.2004] Nd4 19.Qg4
19...g5! 20.Qh3 c6 21.Ne3 Qf6 22.Ng4 Qe7 23.Be3 Ne6 and Black is slightly
better; R.Ponomariov T.Radjabov, Wijk aan Zee 2003 see 86/532;
13.a4 Ne8 unclear; A.Shneider A.Volokitin, Alushta 2001;
13.Qb3 h6 14.Ne6 Be6 15.de6 Ne8 unclear; H.Rau Al.Hort, Deutschland
2003
2
13...a5
a) 14.ba5 dc5! 15.a6 b6 unclear; T.Kotanjian S.Voitsekhovsky, Saint

Petersburg 2002;
b) 14.cd6! cd6 15.ba5 Qa5 16.Bd2 and White is slightly better; B.Avrukh;
13...Nh5!? unclear; A.Shneider Efimenko, Istanbul 2003;
13...dc5!? 14.bc5 h6 15.Nh3 [15.Ne6 Be6 16.de6 Qd4 17.Qd4 ed4 18.Nb5
fe4 and Black is slightly better; Z.Gyimesi T.Radjabov, Moscow 2005] fe4
16.fe4 Bh3 17.gh3 c6!?
3
15...Nc6? (T.Garcta D.Christen, Internet 2003) 16.cd6 [16.Nd5!?] Qd6
[16...cd6 17.Nd5 and White is superior] 17.Qd6 cd6 18.Nb5 and White is
superior; B.Avrukh
4
17.Bb2 Nb4! 18.Qb3 Nbc6 19.Nb5 a6 20.Rad1 Qb8 21.Nd6!? cd6 22.cd6
Ng8! and Black is slightly better; B.Avrukh
5
17...Nd5
a) 18.Bc4 Nb4 19.Qb3 Nc6 20.Qb7 Na5 21.Qb5 Qd4 22.Be3 Qc4 23.Qa5
Qe6 24.Qc7 Rfc8 25.Qa5 and White is slightly better;

b) 18.Qb3! c6 19.Bc4 Qe7 [19...a5 20.Bb2 and White is slightly better; Knoll
W.Uhlmann, Ansfelden 2003] 20.Bd5 [20.Bb2!? Qe6 21.Re2 with
compensation, with the idea Rae1] cd5 21.Qd5 Rad8 22.Qb3 Rfe8 23.Bb2
Qe6 24.Qe6 Re6 25.Rad1 and White is slightly better; B.Avrukh
6
20.Rb1 Nc6!= Rechlis B.Avrukh, Israel 2003 see 87/487
7
22.e7 [22.Rb1 Bf8!] Re8 23.Rb1 a5 24.a3 Nc6 25.Rb7 Re7 26.Be3 e4|;
26.Kf2 with compensation; B.Avrukh
8
13...Ne8 14.Rc1 and White is slightly better; V.Kramnik V.Ivanchuk,
Monaco (blindfold) 2000;
13...Neg8 14.c5 Bh6?! 15.ef5 gf5
16.f4! and White is slightly better; Je.Piket Ju.Polgcr, Aruba (m/3) 1995 see
65/578; 14...Qe7 Je.Piket;
13...Bh6 14.Nf7 Rf7 15.Bh6 f4 unclear; A.Al Khateeb T.Habermehl,
corr.1997;
13...f4 14.Bf2 Ne8 unclear; I.Ivakhinova N.Aliavdin, Serpukhov 2003;
13...Nh5!? 14.Rc1!? [14.c5 unclear] Nf4 15.Bf1 h6 [15...a5!? I.Farago]
16.Bf4 (only move) ef4 17.Ne6 Be6 18.de6 unclear; I.Farago Hazai,
Magyarorszag 2003 see 89/488
9
15...Qc8? 16.Nd5 Neg8 17.ef5 gf5 18.Qd3 and White is superior;
Ch.Gokhale Myo Zaw Min, Kuala Lumpur 1993
10
18.bc6 bc6 19.Rb7 Ne6 20.Qa4 Nd4! and Black is slightly better; R.Markus
Dembo, Budapest 2002 see 84/484
11
Dembo
12
16...Ng8 17.b5 Nd4 18.e7 Ne7 19.Bg5 Nd5 20.Bd8 Nc3 21.Qd3 Nce2
22.Re2 Ne2 23.Qe2 Rad8 24.Qe3 and White is superior; Van Wely
13
17...Ng5 18.Bg5 [18.b5!? Nf3 19.gf3; 18.Bg4!?] Qg5 19.e7 Ne7 20.Nc7 e4
21.Re4 Rf3 22.Na8 Van Wely
14
18...Nd5?! 19.bc6
a) 19...e4 20.cb7 Rb8 21.cd5 ef3 22.gf3 Ba1 [22...Be5 23.Rb1 Qh4 24.Re5
de5 25.Be3 and White is winning] 23.e7 Qe8 24.ef8Q Qf8 25.Qa4 and White
is winning;
b) 19...Nb6 20.cb7 Rb8 21.c5! and White is winning; Van Wely
T.Radjabov, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/1) 2005 see 95/405;
c) 19...Nc3 20.cb7 Rb8 21.Qc2 e4 22.Be4 and White is superior; Van Wely
15
Van Wely; 21.Bd5 and White is superior

What a Victory!
Milan Bjelajac
Alexey Dreev had three losses, seven draws and only one victory at the latest
Russian Championship. However, his only victory, against Evgeny Bareev,
was voted the best game for the period October December 2005 by the
Chess Informant expert jury. With its extraordinary beauty, it joins the list of
games that leaves its mark on the history of chess. We hope you enjoy it.
Dreev 2694 Bareev 2675

Russia (ch) 2005 95/329

a6 9.e4 c5 10.e5 cd4 11.Nb5 ab5 12.ef6 gf6 13.0-0 Qb6 14.Qe2 Ba6 15.a4
Bg7 (a novelty) 16.a5 Qd6 17.Qe4 Rd8 18.Qg4 Kf8 19.Bf4 Ne5 20.Qh5
Rc8 [20...b4 21.Be5 fe5 22.Ng5 Rd7 23.Rac1!; 20...Qd5 21.Be5 fe5 22.Ng5
Rd7 23.Be4 Qd6 24.Rfc1; 20...Nf3 21.Qf3 Qd5 (21...e5 22.Bd2) 22.Qd5
(22.Be4 Qd7 23.Bc6 Qe7 24.Qd3!?) Rd5 23.Rfc1 Ke7 24.Rc6 Ra8 25.Be4
Rd7 26.Rb6 Raa7 27.Bb8 Bb7 28.Bb7 Rab7 29.Bd6 Kd8 30.Rb7 Rb7 31.a6
Ra7 32.Bc5 Ra8 33.Bd4] 21.Rae1!? [21.Rac1!?] Rc5 22.b4! Rc3 23.Be5 fe5
24.Ng5 Qe7 [24...Rc7 25.f4]
25.f4! e4 [25...f5 26.Bf5! (26.Bb1!?) ef5 27.fe5 Kg8 28.Rf5 h6 29.Ne4 Bc8
30.Nf6 Bf6 31.Rf6 Rh7 32.Rg6 Rg7 (32...Kh8 33.e6) 33.Rh6 Rh7 34.Rh7
Qh7 35.Qe8 Kg7 36.Rf1 and White is winning] 26.Be4 [26.f5?! ed3 27.fe6 f6
28.Re4 (with the idea Rd4-d8) Rc4; 28.Re5!?] h6 27.Nf3 Qb4 28.Ne5 Qe7
[28...Rc7 29.Bg6!]
29.Bg6! b4 30.Bf7 Bf1 [30...Be5 31.fe5 Bf1 32.Rf1 and White is winning]
31.Ng6 Kf7 32.Ne7 Ke7 33.Qg4! 1-0 [Dreev]
A.Volokitin 2671 H.Nakamura 2660

Lausanne (m/1) 2005 95/198
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 de4 4.Ne4 Bd7 5.Nf3 Bc6 6.Bd3 Nd7 7.0-0 Ngf6
8.Ng3 Be7 9.Re1 Bf3 10.Qf3 c6 11.c3 0-0 12.Bf4 Re8 13.Rad1 Qb6
[13...Nf8 see 80/291] 14.Bc1 c5?! [a novelty; 14...Rad8 15.Bc2 Bd6 16.Ne4
Ne4 17.Re4 and White is slightly better] 15.dc5 Nc5 [15...Bc5 16.Nh5! a)
16...Be7? 17.Bh7 Kh7 18.Rd7 Nd7 19.Qf7 Bf8 20.Re3 and White is winning;
b) 16...Nh5 17.Bh7 Kh7 18.Qh5 Kg8 19.Rd7 Bf2 20.Kh1 Rf8 21.Bh6!! Be1
(21...gh6 22.Re4 e5 23.Rg4; 21...e5 22.Bg7 Kg7 23.Re4 Qh6 24.Rg4 Kh7
25.Qf5 Kh8 26.Rg5) 22.Bg7 Kg7 23.Qg5 Kh7 24.Rd3 Qf2 25.Rh3 Qh4
26.Rh4 Bh4 27.Qh4 and White is winning; c) 16...Rad8! 17.Nf6 Nf6 18.b4
Be7 19.a3 and White is superior] 16.Bc2 Rad8 17.Rd8 Bd8 [17...Rd8 18.Nf5
ef5 19.Re7 g6 20.Re1 Nfe4 21.Qe3 and White is superior] 18.Nh5 Nh5
[18...Be7? 19.Nf6 Bf6 20.Qf5! and White is winning; 18...Ncd7 19.Rd1 Rf8
20.Rd7!? Nd7 21.Qd3 g6 22.Qd7 gh5 23.Bh6 Bh4! 24.g3 Rd8 25.Qa4 Be7
26.Qe4 f5 27.Qe5 Bf8 28.Bb3 Re8 29.Bf8 Kf8 30.Qf6 Kg8 31.Qf5 and
White is superior]
19.Bh7!! Kh7 20.Qf7 Rf8! [20...Qc6 21.Re5 Nf6 22.Re3 Kh8 23.Rh3 Nh7
24.Qg6 Kg8 25.Rh7 Bf6 26.Qh5 Kf8 27.Rh8 Ke7 28.Re8 Qe8 29.Qc5 and
White is winning; 20...Re7 21.Qh5 Kg8 22.Be3 Qb2 23.Qc5 Qa2 24.Qa7 and
White is winning; 20...Nf4 21.Bf4 Re7 22.Qh5 Kg8 23.Be3; 20...Ng3 21.hg3
Re7 22.Qh5 Kg8 23.Be3] 21.Qf8 Nd3 22.Qf3! Nhf4 [22...Qb5 23.Re6! Nf6
24.Bg5! Nb2 25.Bf6 Bf6 26.Qe4 Kh6 27.h4 Qd3 28.Qb7 Nc4 29.Qe4 and
White is winning; 22...Ne1 23.Qh5 Kg8 24.Qe2 Ng2 25.Kg2 and White is
superior] 23.Bf4 Ne1 24.Qe4 Kh8 25.b3 Qa6 26.Qe1 Qa2 27.Qd1 Bb6
28.Bg3 Qb2 29.c4 Qc3 30.Kh1 e5 [Q 8/i] 31.h3 [31.h4! Bd4 32.Kh2 Kg8
33.h5! Kh8 34.Qb1! a6 35.Qg6 Qb3? 36.h6 gh6 37.Bh4 and White is
winning] Bd4 32.Kh2 Kg8 33.Qb1! a6 34.Bh4 Qd2 35.Qg6 Qf4 36.Bg3
Qf7 37.Qg5? [37.Qe4! Bf2 38.Be5 and White is superior] Qe6? [37...b5!
38.Be5 Be5 39.Qe5 bc4 40.bc4 Qc4 with counterplay] 38.Qd8 Kh7 39.Qh4
Kg8 40.Qe4 b5? [40...Qb6 41.f4 ef4 42.Bf4 and White is superior] 41.f4!
(and White is winning) bc4 42.fe5 Bc5 43.bc4 a5 44.Qa8 Kh7 45.Qa5!
[45.Qd5? Qd5 46.cd5 Kg6! 47.e6 Kf6! with counterplay] Qc4 46.e6 Kg6
[46...Qc1 47.Qe1 Qa3 48.Qe4 Kg8 49.h4] 47.Qc7 Qd4 48.h4 Qg1 49.Kh3
Qh1 50.Bh2 Qc1 51.Qe5 Qa3 52.Bg3 Kh7 53.h5 Be7 54.Qf5 Kh8 55.Qg6
Bf8 56.Kh2 Qc5 57.h6! gh6 58.Bh4 Qd6 59.Kh3 [59.g3! Bg7 60.Bf6 Bf6
61.Qf6 Kh7 62.Qf7 Kh8 63.e7 Qd2 64.Kh3 Qd7 65.Kh4 Qd4 66.g4 and
White is winning] Bg7 60.Qe4 [60.Qe8 Kh7 61.Qd7 Qa3 62.Bg3 and White
is winning] Kg8 61.Qf5? [61.e7 Qd7 62.g4 Kf7 63.Qc4 Kg6 64.Qf4 Bd4
(64...Qd3 65.Bg3 Qd7 66.e8Q Qe8 67.Qf5#) 65.Qf8 and White is winning]
Qa3 62.Bg3 Qe7 63.Bh4 Qa3 64.Qf3! Qc1 [64...Bb2 65.Qa3! Ba3 66.Kg4
Kg7 67.Kf5 Bb2 68.Bg3 Ba3 69.Be5 Kf8 70.Bf6 Bc1 71.g4 Ke8 72.Kg6 Bd2
73.Bg7 Ke7 74.Bh6 Bc3 75.Kf5 and White is winning] 65.e7 [65.Qf7! Kh8
66.Bg3! Qc4 67.Qd7 and White is winning] Qc8 66.Kh2 Qe6 [66...Qc7
67.g3 Qc2 68.Kh3 Qc8 69.g4 and White is winning] 67.Qh5! Qe5 68.Qe5
Be5 69.Bg3 Bg3 70.Kg3 Kf7 71.Kg4 Ke7 72.Kh5 Kf6 73.Kh6 Kf5 74.Kh5
Kf6 75.g4 Kg7 76.Kg5 Kh7 77.Kf6 Kh6 78.g5 Kh7 79.Kf7 Kh8 80.Kg6 10 [A. Volokitin]
Bacrot 2725 Rublevsky 2652

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Nc6 bc6 7.Bd3 d5 8.0-0
Nf6 9.Re1 Be7 10.e5 Nd7 11.Qg4 g6 12.Na4 Qa5 [12...c5 see 91/(151)]
13.Bh6 [13.c3 c5 14.Bc2 Bb7 15.Bh6 Bc6 16.Qd1 Rb8 17.Rb1 Qc7 18.c4 d4
19.Be4 Be4 20.Re4 Qc6 21.Re1 f5! equal] Qb4 14.Qb4 Bb4 15.c3 Ba5
16.b4 Bc7 17.f4 a5 18.b5 Nb6 19.Nb6 [a novelty; 19.Nc5 Nd7 equal] Bb6
20.Kf1 cb5 [20...c5 21.a4 and White is slightly better] 21.Bb5 Bd7 22.Rab1
Rb8?! [22...Bb5 23.Rb5 Bc7! 24.c4 (24.Rd1 Kd7 25.c4 Kc6 26.a4 dc4
27.Rd4 Rhb8 28.Rc4 Kd7 equal) dc4 25.Rc5 (25.Rc1 Kd7 26.Rc4 Rhb8
27.Rbc5 Ra7 equal) 0-0-0 26.Rc4 (26.Rc1 Rd4 equal) Rd7 (26...Kb7 27.Rb1
Bb6 28.f5 Rd3 29.Ke2 Ra3 30.Rc2 and White is slightly better) 27.Bg5 Kb7
28.Bf6 Rb8 equal] 23.c4 Ba7 [23...dc4? 24.Bc4 Ba4 (24...Bc6 25.Rec1 and
White is superior) 25.Re4! and White is superior, with the idea 25...Bc2
26.Rd4 Bb1 27.Bb5 Ke7 28.Rd7 Ke8 29.Ra7 Kd8 30.Bg5 Kc8 31.Bd7#;
23...d4? 24.Ba6! Bc6 25.c5 Ba7 26.Rb8 Bb8 27.Rd1 and White is superior]
24.Ba6 [24.Rec1?! Bb5 25.cb5 Kd7 26.a4 (26.Rc6 Rhc8!) Rhc8 27.Ke2 Bc5
equal] Bc6 [24...dc4? 25.Rb8 Bb8 26.Rb1 Bc7 27.Rb7 Bd8 28.Bc4
zugzwang] 25.cd5 ed5 [25...Bd5? 26.Rb8 Bb8 27.Rc1! and White is
winning] 26.f5! Rb1 [26...gf5 27.Be3 Rb1 28.Rb1 see 26...Rb1] 27.Rb1
Kd7?! [27...gf5 28.Be3 Kd7 29.Ba7 Ra8 30.Bd3 Ra7 31.Bf5 Ke7 32.Rb6
(32.Bh7 Ke6 33.Re1 Rb7 equal) Rc7 33.Ke2 and White is slightly better]
28.Rc1! gf5 [28...Ba4 29.Bc8! (29.e6 fe6 30.f6 Bb8!) Rc8 30.e6 fe6 31.fe6
Ke6 32.Rc8 and White is superior] 29.Bd3 Re8 [29...Rb8 30.Bf5 Kc7 31.e6!;
29...Bd4 30.Bg7 Re8 31.e6] 30.Bf4! Bd4?! [time; 30...Kc7 31.Bb5 Re6
32.Bc6 Rc6 33.e6 Kb7 34.Rc6 Kc6 35.ef7 Bc5 36.Bh6 and White is winning;
30...Re7 31.Bf5 Kc7 32.e6 (32.Bh7 Bd4 33.Bd3 Kb6 34.Rb1 Kc5 35.Bd2 and
White is superior) Kb7 33.Rb1 Ka8 34.Bd6 Re6 35.Be6 fe6 36.Ke2 and
White is superior] 31.Bf5 Kc7 32.e6 Kb6 33.Rb1 (and White is winning)
Kc5 [33...Bb5 34.Bd3] 34.ef7 Rf8 35.Rc1 Kb6 36.Be6 Bc5 37.Bh6 Bb5
38.Ke1 Bb4 39.Kf2 Rd8 40.Rc8 1-0 [Rublevsky]
Bruzon 2677 M.Carlsen 2570

Skanderborg 2005 95/105
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3 Nc6 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.0-0 Nge7 7.c3 0-0 8.d4 cd4
9.cd4 d5 10.e5 f6 11.Re1 [11.ef6 Bf6 12.Bh6 Re8 13.Nc3 Nf5 14.Be3 equal]
fe5 12.de5 Rf5! [a novelty; 12...h6 see 86/144] 13.Bf4 [13.Bh3 Ne5 14.Bf5
(14.Nd4 Rf7 development advantage) Nf3 15.Qf3 Nf5 16.Nc3 Qf6 with
initiative; 13.Nc3 Ne5 14.Ne5 Re5 15.Re5 Be5 16.Bg5 Qc7 and Black is
slightly better] Qf8 14.Qd2 [14.Nc3 Rf4! 15.gf4 Qf4 16.Ne2 Qb4 with
compensation] g5! [14...h6!?] 15.Ng5 Ng6 16.Nc3 [16.Bh3 Rf4! (16...Nce5
and Black is slightly better; 16...Rg5 17.Bg5 Nge5 18.Bg2 Nc4 and Black is
slightly better) 17.Be6 (17.Ne6? Nge5 18.Nf8 Nf3 19.Kg2 Bh3 20.Kh3 Nd2
21.gf4 Nf3 and Black is winning) Be6 (17...Kh8? 18.gf4 Be6 19.Ne6 Qf5
20.Qd5 Rg8 21.Kh1 Nf4 22.Nf4 Qf4 23.Qe4 Qf2 24.Qe2 Qf5 25.Nc3 and
White is superior) 18.Ne6 Nge5! 19.Nf8 (19.Qf4 Nf3 20.Kh1 Qf4 21.gf4 Ne1
and Black is winning) Nf3 20.Kg2 Nd2 21.gf4 Nc4! (21...Bb2 22.Nd2 Ba1
23.Ne6 Bc3 24.Rd1 Ne7 and Black is slightly better, ending) 22.Ne6 Bb2
23.Nd2 Ba1 (23...Nd2 24.Rad1 Bc3 and Black is superior) 24.Nc4 dc4
25.Ra1 Re8 26.Nc7 Re2 and Black is superior, ending] Nf4 17.gf4 Rf4
18.Nd5!? ed5 19.Qd5 [19.Bd5 Kh8 20.e6 Rg4 21.Kh1 Ne7 22.Nf7 Kg8
23.Rac1 with compensation] Kh8 20.e6 Qe7 [20...Rd4 21.e7! Ne7 22.Nf7
Kg8 23.Nh6 Kh8 24.Nf7 equal; 20...Bb2 21.Nf7 Rf7 only move 22.ef7 Ba1
23.Re8 Bg4 24.Qe4 Bh5 25.Rf8 Rf8 26.Qb1 Bg7 27.Qb7 Nd4 unclear]
21.Rad1 Nd4 22.Kh1! Rb8? [22...Rf5? 23.Nf7 Kg8 24.Qd6! Qd6 25.Nd6
Rf2 26.e7 Bd7 27.Bd5 Kh8 28.Re4 Nc6 29.Nf7 Rf7 30.Bf7 and White is
slightly better; 22...a5!?; 22...Bf6 23.Nf7 Kg7 24.Bh3 with compensation]
23.Re5!! Nc6 [23...b5 24.Rd4 Rd4 (24...Bb7 25.Rf4 Bd5 26.Nf7 Kg8 27.Bd5
Be5 28.Ne5 h5 29.Rf3 and White is winning) 25.Nf7 (25.Qd4 Qg5! unclear)
Kg8 (25...Qf7 26.ef7 Rd5 27.Re8 Bf8 28.Rf8 Kg7 29.Rg8 Kf7 30.Bd5 Kf6
31.b4 and White is winning) 26.Qd4 Be6 27.Nh6 Bh6 28.Re6! Bg7 only
move 29.Qd5 Qf7; 27...Kh8; 23...Be6 24.Ne6 Ne6 25.Re6 Qf8 26.b4 Rf2
(26...Rb4 27.Qh5 Qf4 28.Rde1 and White is superior; 26...Qb4 27.Be4 and
White is slightly better) 27.a3 b6 28.Qh5 and White is slightly better] 24.Rf5
(with attack) Be6 [24...Rg4? 25.Bh3 Rg5 (25...Rb4 26.Nf7 Kg8 27.Rg5 and
White is winning) 26.Rg5 Bf6 27.Rh5 b6 28.Qf5 Rb7 29.Rg1 and White is
winning] 25.Ne6 Rf5 [better is25...Nb4 26.Qc5 Qc5 27.Rc5 Rf2 28.Rb5!
(28.Ng7 Kg7 29.Rc7 with initiative) Rg8 (28...Rb2 29.Rb7 Rg8 30.Ng5 Rf8
31.Nf7 Kg8 32.Nd6 Rff2 33.Rg1 and White is superior) 29.Rb4 Rg2 30.Kg2
Bf8 31.Rg4 Rg4 32.Kh3 Rg8 33.Rd7 and White is superior] 26.Qf5 Bb2
27.Be4! [and White is winning, weak point h7; 27.Rb1 Re8 28.Be4! Bd4
29.Rg1 with the idea Rg7 and White is winning] Rg8 28.Rd3 Ne5 [28...Rg6
29.Rh3 Qe6 30.Rh7 Kg8 31.Qg6 Qg6 32.Bg6 and White is winning] 29.Rb3
Qh4 [29...Rg6 30.Rb7 Nd7 (30...Qe6 31.Rb8 Qg8 32.Rg8 Kg8 33.Qc8 and
White is winning) 31.Nf8! Qf8 32.Qf8 Nf8 33.Bg6 and White is winning]
30.Rh3 1-0 [Bruzon]
A.Galkin 2599 V.Yemelin 2540

Russia 2005 95/177
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f4 Nbd7 7.Be2 e6 8.Bf3
Be7 [8...g6 see 65/(231)] 9.g4!? h6 10.Qe2 [10.h4 g6!? 11.g5 hg5 12.hg5
Rh1 13.Bh1 Nh5 14.Bf3 Nf4 (14...e5 15.Ne6 fe6 16.Bh5 Nf8 17.Bg6 Ng6
18.Qh5) 15.Bf4 e5] g6 [10...Qc7 a) 11.h4 g6 12.g5 hg5 13.hg5 Rh1 14.Bh1
Nh5 15.Bf3 Qc5!? (15...Nf4 16.Bf4 e5 17.Nd5!) 16.Nb3 (16.Bh5 Qd4; 16.Be3
Nf4) Qg1; b) 11.Be3!? with the idea 0-0-0] 11.Be3! [a novelty; 11.Nb3] e5
[11...Qc7 12.0-0-0!?]
12.0-0-0! [12.Nf5? gf5; 12.Nb3 ef4!? 13.Bf4 Ne5] ed4 [12...ef4 13.Bf4 Ne5
(13...Qc7 14.h4) 14.Be5!? de5 15.Nc6 Qc7 16.Ne7 Qe7 17.Nd5 (17.h4 Be6)
Nd5 18.ed5 0-0 (18...Qd6 19.Rde1 f6 20.Qe4 with initiative; 19.h4!?;
18...Bd7 19.d6 Qg5 20.Kb1 with the idea 20...0-0-0? 21.Qc4) 19.h4 with
initiative; 19.d6 with initiative; 12...Qc7 13.g5!? (13.Nb3 ef4 14.Bf4 Ne5
15.h3) hg5 14.fg5 Nh7 (14...ed4 15.Bd4 Ne5 16.gf6 Bf6 17.Nd5 Bg5 18.Kb1
with attack) 15.Nd5 with initiative] 13.Bd4 ( with compensation, with
initiative) Qa5 [13...g5 14.e5!; 13...0-0 14.h4 with attack] 14.e5 [14.h4 Ne5!?
15.fe5 de5] de5 15.fe5 Nh7 [15...Ne5 16.Be5 and White is superior, with
initiative; 15...0-0 16.ef6 Bf6 (16...Qg5 17.Be3!? Qf6 18.Bh6) 17.Nd5
(17.h4!? and White is superior) Bd4 18.Rd4 with initiative, with the idea
18...Qa2 19.Ne7 Kh7 20.Nc8 Nc5 (20...Rac8 21.Rd7 Qa1 22.Kd2 Qb2
23.Qd3 Qb4 24.c3 Qb2 25.Qc2) 21.Nd6 Qa1 22.Kd2 Qb2 23.Rd5 Qb4 24.c3
Qb2 25.Ke1 Qc3 26.Kf2 and White is superior; 15...Ng8!? a) 16.Nd5 Qa2
17.Ne7 (17.Nc7 Kf8 18.Na8 Bg5 19.Be3 Ne5!? 20.Bg5 Qa1 21.Kd2 Qa5)
Ke7 18.e6 Qa1! (18...Ndf6 19.Bc5 Ke8 20.Rd8! Kd8 21.ef7 Qf7 22.Bb6 and
White is winning) 19.Kd2 Qa5 20.Bc3 Qg5 21.Ke1 Ndf6 22.Bb4 Ke8 23.ef7
(23.Rd8 Kd8 24.ef7 Nd7 25.Qe8 Kc7 26.fg8Q Rg8 27.Qg8 Qe3 28.Be2 Qc1)
Kf7 24.Qc4 Ke8 25.Qe2 equal; b) 16.Kb1!? with compensation, with attack;
c) 16.e6 Ndf6 17.ef7 Kf7 18.Rhe1!? with attack] 16.Nd5! [16.e6 Ndf6 17.ef7
Kf7 18.Rhe1 Re8; 16.h4] Qa2 [16...Bd8 17.e6 Ndf6 18.e7; 16...Bg5 17.Kb1
0-0 18.h4 with attack] 17.Ne7 Ke7 [17...Qa1 18.Kd2 Qa5 19.Bc3] 18.e6 Qa1
[18...Qe6 19.Qe6 fe6 20.Bh8 and White is winning; 18...Ndf6 19.Bc5 Ke8
20.ef7 Kf7 21.Qe7 Kg8 22.Rd8 and White is winning] 19.Kd2 Qa5 20.Bc3
Qg5 21.Ke1 fe6 [21...Ndf6 22.Bb4 Ke8 23.ef7 Kf7 24.Qe7 Kg8 25.Rd8 and
White is winning] 22.Bh8 Ndf6 23.h4! Qf4 24.Qh2!? [24.Rf1!?] Qe3
[24...Qh2 25.Rh2 and White is winning; 24...Qb4 25.c3 and White is
winning; 24...Qf3 25.Qd6 Ke8 26.Qd8 Kf7 27.Qc7 Bd7 (27...Kf8 28.Rd8 Ne8
29.Qg7#) 28.Rd7 Ke8 (28...Kg8 29.Rd8 Rd8 30.Qg7#; 28...Kf8 29.Rd8 Rd8
30.Qd8 Kf7 31.Rf1 Qe4 32.Kd1 Qg4 33.Kc1 and White is winning; 28...Nd7
29.Qd7 Kf8 30.Rf1 and White is winning) 29.Re7 Kf8 30.Rf1 and White is
winning] 25.Be2 Bd7 26.Qd6 Kf7 [26...Ke8!? 27.Rf1!? (27.Qd4 Qg3
28.Qf2) Bb5 28.Rd2 and White is winning] 27.Rf1! Bb5 [27...Rh8 28.Qd7]
28.c4 Rh8 [28...Bc4 29.Qc7 and White is winning; 28...Bc6 29.Qc7 and
White is winning] 29.Qc7 Kg8 [29...Ke8 30.Rd8#] 30.Rd8 [30...Be8 31.Re8
Ne8 32.Qf7#] 1-0 [A.Galkin]
Grischuk 2720 Kamsky 2690

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.h3
Bb7 9.d3 d6 10.a3 h6 11.Nc3! Re8 12.Nd5 Nd5 [12...Bf8 see 91/305]
13.Bd5 Qc8 14.c3 Nd8 15.d4 Bf6 [a novelty; 15...c6 16.Ba2 Qc7 and White
is slightly better; 15...ed4] 16.Nh2 ed4 17.Ng4 Bg5 [17...Bd5 18.Nf6 gf6
19.ed5 Re1 20.Qe1 Qf5 21.Bh6 Kh7 22.Bd2 Qd5 23.Qe7! Kg7 24.Qe2! and
White is superior] 18.cd4 Bd5 19.ed5 Re1 20.Qe1 Kf8 21.Bg5 hg5 (and
White is superior) 22.Qe3 [better is22.Rc1 Qd7 23.Qc3] f6 23.Re1 Qd7
24.h4 Nf7 25.Qe6 Rd8 [25...Qe6 26.de6 Nh6 27.Ne3 gh4 28.Rc1 c5 29.dc5
dc5 (29...Rc8 30.c6 Ke7 31.Nd5 Ke6 32.Nb6 Rc7 33.Na8 Rc8 34.c7) 30.Rc5
Re8 31.Rc6 and White is superior] 26.h5 f5? [26...Qe6 27.de6 Re8 28.d5
Ne5 29.Ne5 fe5 30.Kh2 (30.Rc1 c5 31.dc6 Ke7 32.Kh2 Ke6 33.Kg3 Kf5) Ke7
31.Kg3 c6 32.dc6 and White is superior]
27.Nf6! (and White is winning) gf6 [27...Qe6 28.de6 gf6 29.e7] 28.Qf6 Re8
29.Re6 [with the idea h6] Qd8 [29...Re7 30.h6 Ke8 31.h7] 30.Qf5 g4
[30...Qd7 31.h6 c6 32.Qf6] 31.Rf6 Re7 [31...Qe7 32.Qg6 (32.h6!?) Qe1
33.Kh2 Re7 34.h6 Qe4 35.Rf7] 32.h6 Qd7 33.Qg6 [33.h7!? Re1 34.Kh2 Qf5
35.Rf5 (35.h8Q?? Ke7) Kg7 36.Rf7!] 1-0 [Grischuk]
Dreev 2705 Art.Minasian 2597

Warszawa 2005 95/56
1.d4 d6 2.e4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bg5 Bg7 5.f4 c6 6.Nf3 Qb6 [6...0-0 see
93/(57)] 7.Qd2! [7.b3; 7.Rb1] Qb2 [7...Bg4 8.Bc4 Bf3 9.gf3 Nh5 10.0-0-0
Nd7 11.f5 h6 12.Bh4 g5 13.Bf2 Qa5 14.h4 and White is superior] 8.Rb1 Qa3
9.Bd3 Qa5 [a novelty; 9...0-0 10.e5 de5 11.fe5 Nd5 12.Rb3 Qa5 13.Nd5 and
White is superior; 9...h6; 9...b6; 9...Nbd7] 10.0-0 Qc7 11.e5! Nd5 12.Ne4!?
[12.Nd5!? cd5 13.f5 with attack] f5 [12...Bf5? 13.ed6 ed6 14.Rb7; 12...f6
13.Bf6!! (13.Bh4 0-0 14.c4 Nb6 15.c5 dc5 16.Nc5 Nd5 17.f5 gf5 18.Bg3) a)
13...Bf6 14.ef6 Nf6 15.Nf6 ef6 16.Rbe1 and White is winning; b) 13...ef6
14.Nd6 Kf8 15.c4 (15.f5!?) Ne7 16.Ng5! (16.f5) fg5 17.fg5 Kg8 18.Qf4 Nf5
19.Nc8 Qc8 20.g4! and White is winning; c) 13...Nf6 14.ef6 ef6 15.Qb4! 0-0
16.Nd6 b5 17.f5; 12...0-0 13.c4 a) 13...Nb6?! 14.ed6 ed6 15.Nf6 Bf6
(15...Kh8 16.f5!) 16.Bf6 N8d7 17.Be7 Re8 18.Rbe1 with the idea 19.Bd6,
19.f5; b) 13...f6 14.cd5 fg5 15.Neg5 (with initiative) cd5 16.Nh7!? Kh7
17.Ng5 Kg8 18.Bg6 with attack; 12...de5 13.fe5 a) 13...0-0 14.c4 Nb6
15.Bf4!? Qd8! (15...Be6?! 16.Nf6! Kh8 17.Ng5 with attack) 16.Bh6 f6
17.Bg7 Kg7 18.ef6 ef6 19.Qf4 and White is superior; b) 13...f5 14.ef6 ef6
15.Bh6 0-0 16.c4 b1) 16...Bh6 17.Qh6 Nb6 (17...Qf4? 18.Nfg5 and White is
winning; 17...Nf4? 18.Nh4 and White is winning) 18.Rfe1 with initiative; b2)
16...Nb6 17.Bf4 Qd8 18.Nd6 with initiative]
13.Be7!! [13.Nf2 with compensation] Ne7 [13...fe4 14.Bd6 e3 15.Qe1 Qd8

16.Ng5 with initiative; 13...de5 14.Bd6 Qd8 15.fe5 fe4 16.Be4 with
initiative] 14.Nd6 Kf8 15.Ng5 [with the idea Rb7] b6 16.Qb4! [with the idea
Qb3] h6 17.Qb3 Nd5 18.Ngf7 Be6 [18...Rh7 19.Nc8 Qc8 20.Nd6 Qd7
(20...Qe6 21.g4! and White is winning) 21.Bc4 Qe6 22.Bd5! Qd5 (22...cd5
23.c4!) 23.Qg3 Qe6 24.c4 with attack, with the idea d5; better is18...Rg8
19.Nc8 Qc8 (19...Qf7 20.Qa3 Ne7 21.Bc4) a) 20.Bc4 Kf7 (20...Qe6 21.Nd8)
21.Bd5 cd5 22.Qd5 Ke7 23.Qa8 Nc6 24.Qc8 Rc8 25.Rfd1 Na5 unclear; b)
20.Nd6 Qe6 (20...Qd7 21.Bc4 Qe6 22.Qa3 with attack) b1) 21.c4 b11)
21...Nc7 22.g4! Ne8 23.gf5 gf5 24.Bf5 Be5 (24...Qe7 25.Nc8) 25.Kh1 Qd6
26.fe5 Qd4 27.Be6 and White is winning; b12) 21...Ne7 22.d5 (22.Qa3!?
Nd7 23.Qa6) Qd7 unclear 23.dc6 (23.Qa3 Qc7) Qe6 24.Qa3 Nbc6 25.c5; b2)
21.g4! with initiative ] 19.Nh8 Bh8 20.c4 Ne7 21.g4! [weak point f5] Nd7
22.Qa3! c5 [22...Kg8 23.Nf5! Nf5 24.gf5 gf5 25.Qe7 and White is winning]
23.d5 Nd5 [23...Ne5 24.Nb5] 24.cd5 Bd5 25.Rbd1 1-0 [Dreev]
Van Wely 2648 T.Radjabov 2704

9.b4 Nh5 10.Re1 f5 11.Ng5 Nf6 12.f3 Kh8 13.Ne6!? [a novelty; 13.Be3 see
89/488] Be6 14.de6 fe4 15.fe4 Nc6 16.Nd5 Ne4 [16...Ng8 17.b5 Nd4 18.e7
Ne7 19.Bg5 Nd5 20.Bd8 Nc3 21.Qd3 Nce2 22.Re2 Ne2 23.Qe2 Rad8 24.Qe3
and White is superior] 17.Bf3 Nf6 [17...Ng5 18.Bg5 (18.b5!? Nf3 19.gf3;
18.Bg4!?) Qg5 19.e7 Ne7 20.Nc7 e4 21.Re4 Rf3 22.Na8] 18.b5 Nd5?!
[18...Ne7 19.Nf6 Rf6 20.Bb7 Rb8 21.Bd5 and White is superior; 21.Be4 and
White is superior] 19.bc6 Nb6 [19...e4 20.cb7 Rb8 21.cd5 ef3 22.gf3 Ba1
(22...Be5 23.Rb1 Qh4 24.Re5 de5 25.Be3 and White is winning) 23.e7 Qe8
24.ef8Q Qf8 25.Qa4 and White is winning; 19...Nc3 20.cb7 Rb8 21.Qc2 e4
22.Be4 and White is superior] 20.cb7 Rb8
21.c5! e4 [21...dc5 22.Qd8 Rfd8 23.e7 Re8 24.Bg5 h6 25.Bc6] 22.Re4 dc5
23.Qd8 Rfd8 24.Bg5! Re8 [24...Ba1 25.Bd8 Rd8 26.e7 Re8 27.Re2 and
White is winning] 25.Rd1 Bd4 26.Red4 cd4 27.e7 [27.Bf6 Kg8 28.Rd4 Re6
29.Rd8 Re8 30.Re8 Re8 31.Bc6 Rb8 32.Be5 Nd7 33.Bc7 Kf7 34.Kf2! and
White is winning] h6 28.Bf6 [28.Bc6 hg5 29.Be8 Nd5 30.Rd4 Ne7 31.Rd7!
Re8 32.Re7 and White is winning] Kg8 29.Rd4 Kf7 30.Rd8! (and White is
winning) Nd7 [30...Kf6 31.Re8 Re8 32.Bc6 Rb8 33.e8Q Re8 34.Be8]
31.Bh4 g5 32.Rd7 Ke6 33.Bg4 Kf6 34.Be1 Rb7 35.Bc3 Kg6 36.Bf3 Rb1
37.Kf2 Rc1 38.Rc7 Kf5 39.Bh5 Rc2 40.Kf3 1-0 [Van Wely]
Ba.Jobava 2601 A.Beliavsky 2631

Khanty-Mansiysk (m/4-rapid) 2005 95/367
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 b6 4.Bg5 Bb7 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Nd2 h6 7.Bh4 0-0 8.e4!
g5 9.Bg3 Be4 10.h4 Bg6 11.hg5 hg5 12.Qf3 [12.f4!? Bd6 13.Qf3 Nc6
14.Nb5 Bb4! and Black is superior] Nc6 [12...c6 13.Bd3 Bd3 14.Qd3 Bc3
15.bc3 d6 16.Ne4 and White is superior] 13.Bc7 [13.Be5 Nh7! 14.Bd3 Bc3
15.bc3 Ne5 16.de5 f5 and Black is superior] Qe7 [13...Nd4!? 14.Qh3 Bh5!?
15.Nde4! Nc2 16.Kd2 Na1 17.Bd8 Ne4 18.Ke3! and White is superior] 14.a3
[a novelty; 14.Bd3; 14.Be5 Ne5 15.de5 Nh7 16.Bd3 Qc5 17.Bg6 fg6 18.Qe3
Rf5 19.Nf3 Qc4 20.a3 with compensation] Nd4 15.Qh3 Nh7 [15...Nc2
16.Kd1 Nh7 17.ab4 see 15...Nh7] 16.ab4!? [16.Bd3 Bc3 17.bc3 Nf5 unclear]
Nc2 17.Kd1 Na1 18.Bd3 f5!? [18...g4 19.Qg3 f5 20.Bd6 Qg5 unclear]
19.Qh6 Rf6 20.Be5 Raf8 [20...a5 21.Na4! ab4 22.Nb6 and White is superior]
21.g4!? [21.Ke2 and White is superior] Qb4 22.f4! (and White is superior)
gf4 23.g5 Kf7 24.gf6 Rg8 25.Nb5! Nf6 26.Qh4 [26.Nd6! Ke7 27.Qh4 and
White is winning] Ne8 27.Nf3 a6 28.Bc3! Qa4 29.Ke2 ab5 30.Ne5 Kf8
31.Nd7 (and White is winning) Kf7 32.Ne5 Kf8 33.Nc6 1-0 [A. Beliavsky]
Ni Hua 2603 Mchedlishvili 2564

Beer-Sheva 2005 95/376
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bc3 5.bc3 c5 6.e3 b6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.Ne2 Nc6
9.e4 Ne8 10.0-0 Ba6 11.f4 f6 12.e5 [12.f5 Nd6 (12...cd4 see 39/685) 13.Rf3
cd4 14.cd4 Bc4 15.a4 Bd3 16.Qd3 with compensation] Rc8 13.Qc2! [a
novelty; 13.d5?! Na5 14.Ng3 Bc4 15.Bc4 Nc4 16.de6 de6 17.Qb3 Qd5
18.Rd1 Na5 and Black is slightly better; 13.Be3] f5? [13...h6!?; 13...g6!
14.d5 (14.Be3 Na5 15.Ng3 f5 and Black is slightly better) Na5 15.f5 ef5
16.Bh6 Rf7 (16...Ng7?! 17.e6 Qe7 18.Nf4 with attack) 17.e6 de6 18.de6 Re7
19.Rad1 unclear] 14.d5! Na5 15.d6 Bc4 16.Bc4 Nc4 17.Qd3! (and White is
superior) b5 [17...Na5 18.c4 with initiative] 18.a4 a6 19.ab5 ab5 20.Ra7
Ra8 21.Rb7 Rb8 22.Rb8 Qb8 23.Be3 Qb6 [23...Qc8!? 24.Ra1 and White is
superior] 24.Nc1! g5 25.Nb3 gf4 26.Bc5 Qc6 27.Bd4 Ng7 [27...Qd5 28.Qf3
and White is superior]
28.Qf3!! Qf3? [28...Ra8 only move 29.Qc6 dc6 30.Rf4 h5 and White is
superior] 29.gf3 Rc8?! [29...Ra8 30.Nc5 Ra7 31.Ne6 (31.Rb1? Nd2 32.Rb5
Nf3 33.Kf2 Nh2) Ne6 32.Ba7 Ne5 33.Kg2 and White is superior] 30.Ra1
(with initiative) Kf7 31.Ra7 Ke8 32.Kf2 Nh5 33.Ke2! (greater board room)
Nb2 [33...Ng7 34.Nc5 Rc5 (34...Ne5 35.Rc7 and White is winning) 35.Bc5
Ne5 36.Ra8 Kf7 37.Rd8 and White is winning] 34.Nc5 Rd8 35.Ne6! (and
White is winning) de6 36.Re7 Kf8 37.Rh7 1-0 [Ni Hua]

Ponomariov Recommended - Karjakin

Applied
Milan Bjelajac
This month we have selected a very interesting game from the next to last
round of the NH Chess Tournament in Amsterdam. The Scheveningen team
tournament was held August 19 29, 2006 between the Rising Stars and
the Experience teams.
The Rising Stars consisted of Carlsen, Karjakin, Smeets, Stellwagon, and
Wang Hao, and they beat the Experience team of Andersson, Beliavsky,
Ljubojevic, Nunn, and Jussupow with a final score of 28-22.
Curiously, Jussupow played the same variation of the French Defense as
black in his games against Stellwagen (1st round), Smeets (5th round) and
Wang Hao (7th round), all very successfully.
The ex-FIDE World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov, who was Sergey
Karjakins second at this tournament, took up the challenge and found the
solution 13.Rb1!. It can be seen from Karjakins annotations that the
preparations for this game were extremely thorough.
S. Karjakin 2679 A. Jussupow 2617

Amsterdam 2006
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Ne7 5.a3 Bc3 6.bc3 c5 7.Qg4 0-0 8.Bd3
Nbc6 9.Qh5 Ng6 10.Nf3 Qc7 11.Be3 Nce7 12.h4 Bd7 [12...Nf5]
13.Rb1! [a novelty; R.Ponomariov;

13.Qg5 f6 14.ef6 gf6 15.Qh6 (15.Qg3 see 87/(277)) cd4 (a novelty; 15...Rf7)
16.h5 Qc3 17.Ke2 Nf5 18.Bf5 de3 19.Bd3 Bb5 20.Bb5 Qc2 21.Ke3 Ne7
22.Bd3 d4 23.Ke4 Qf2 and Black is winning; J.Smeets 2532 Ar.Jussupow
2617, Amsterdam 2006;
13.dc5 b6 14.Qg5 bc5 (a novelty; 14...Nf5) 15.h5 h6 16.Qg3 c4 17.Bg6 fg6
18.Nd4 g5 19.f4 gf4 20.Bf4 Nf5 21.Nf5 Rf5 and Black is superior;
Stellwagen 2575 Ar.Jussupow 2617, Amsterdam 2006;
13.Qg4 f5 14.Qh3 cd4! 15.cd4 Bb5! a) 16.0-0 Bd3 17.cd3 h6 18.h5 Nh8
19.Rfb1 (a novelty; 19.Kh1) Rac8 20.Bd2 Nc6 21.a4 Kh7 22.a5 Qd7 23.g3
Rc7 24.Kg2 Rfc8 equal; Wang Hao 2610 Ar.Jussupow 2617, Amsterdam
2006; b) 16.Bb5!? Qa5 17.Bd2 Qb5 18.h5 Nh8 19.Bb4 Rfe8 b1) 20.Qh4 Qd7
21.Rh3 Nf7 (a novelty; 21...Rac8 see 89/(270)) 22.Rg3 Kh8 23.0-0-0 Ng8
24.Ng1 a5 25.Be1 Qa4 and Black is superior; A.Delchev 2661 E.Berg
2540, Kusadasi 2006; b2) 20.h6 g6 21.Qh4 Qd7 22.Qf6 Nc6 23.Bd6 Na5
24.Ng5! and White is slightly better; 23...Qf7!]
13...b6?!
[13...f5? 14.ef6 gf6 (14...Rf6 15.Bg5 and White is superior) 15.Qh6 Rf7
16.h5 Nf8 17.Rh3 and White is superior;
13...cd4 14.cd4 Nf5 15.Ng5 (15.0-0!? h6 16.Bd2 Nge7 17.Qg4 a6 18.Qf4
Ng6 19.Qh2 h5 20.Bb4 Rfc8 21.Bd6 Qc6 22.Bc5 and White is superior) h6
16.Ne6 fe6 17.Qg6 Qc3 18.Bd2 Qd4 19.0-0 b6 (19...Qe5 20.Rfe1 and White
is superior) 20.Bh6! Qe5 (20...Nh6 21.Qh7 Kf7 22.Bg6 Ke7 23.Qg7 Nf7
24.Qf6 Ke8 25.Rb4 Qc5 26.Rf4 Qe7 27.Qg7 and White is winning) 21.Rfe1
Qf6 22.Qf6 Rf6 23.Bg5 Rff8 24.c4 and White is superior;
13...Nf5!? 14.Ng5! (14.0-0!?) h6 15.Ne6 Be6 (15...fe6 16.Qg6 cd4 17.Bd4
and White is winning) 16.Bf5 cd4! (16...Bf5?! 17.Qf5 cd4 18.cd4 Qc3
19.Ke2! Qa3 20.Qd3 Qd3 21.Kd3 and White is superior) 17.cd4 Qc3
a) 18.Bd2? Qd4! 19.Be6 Qe4! 20.Kd1 Qg2 and Black is superior;

b) 18.Ke2 Qc8! 19.Be6 (19.g4 Ne7) Qc2 20.Kf3 fe6 21.Kg3 Nf4! 22.Qd1
Ne2 23.Kh2 Qd1 24.Rbd1 Rac8;
c) 18.Kf1! Bf5 (18...Qa3?! 19.Bd3 and White is superior) 19.Qf5 Qa3
20.Kg1! c1) 20...b6 21.Bh6! (21.Rh3 with initiative) gh6 22.h5 Ne5 (22...Ne7
23.Qf6 Kh7 24.Rh3 Qa2 25.Rg3 and White is winning) 23.de5 Qe7 24.Rh3
Qe6 25.Rg3 Kh8 26.Qe6 fe6 27.Rg6 and White is superior; c2) 20...Ne7 c21)
21.Qg4 Qa6 c211) 22.Rh3 Qe6 23.Qe6 (23.Rg3 Nf5 24.Bh6 Qg6 25.Qg6 fg6
26.Rg6 Nh6 27.Rb7 Rf7 28.Rf7 Kf7 29.Ra6 Nf5 and Black is slightly better)
fe6 24.Rb7 Nf5 with counterplay; c212) 22.Qd7 Qe6 23.Rb7 Nf5 and White
is slightly better; c22) 21.Qd7! Rad8 (21...b6 22.Rh3 Rad8 23.Qg4 Qa2
24.Re1 and White is superior; 21...Rfd8 22.Qb7 Nf5 23.Rh3 and White is
superior) 22.Qb7 Nf5 23.Rh3 Qa4 (23...Rb8 24.Qb8 Rb8 25.Rb8 Kh7 26.Kh2
Qc3 27.Rb7 Nd4 28.Bd4 Qd4 29.Rf7 Qe5 30.Rg3 a5 31.f4 Qb2 32.c3 Kh8
33.Rfg7 Qb8 34.f5 Qf8 35.R7g6 a4 36.f6 a3 37.f7 Kh7 38.Rf6 a2 39.Rg8 and
White is winning) 24.c3 and White is superior;
13...c4!? (Seirawan) 14.Bg6! (14.Be2?! f6 15.ef6 Rf6 unclear) fg6 15.Qg4 a)
15...h6 16.h5 g5 17.Ng5! hg5 18.h6 g6 (18...Nf5 19.hg7 Ng7 20.Bg5 Ba4
21.Bf6 Bc2 22.Qh3 Kf7 23.Bg7 Kg7 24.Qh6 Kf7 25.Qh7 and White is
winning) 19.h7 Kh8 20.Bg5 Nf5 21.Bf6 Rf6 22.ef6 and White is superior; b)
15...Rf5 16.h5 gh5 17.Rh5 Rh5 18.Qh5 Be8 (18...Nf5 19.Ng5 and White is
superior; 18...Rf8 19.Kd2 Nf5 20.Rh1 h6 21.Qg6 and White is superior)
19.Qh3 Nf5 20.Ng5 Bg6 (20...h6 21.Ne6 and White is superior) 21.Ne6 and
White is superior; c) 15...Nf5 16.h5 with initiative;
13...Qa5 14.Bd2 c4 15.Bg6 fg6 16.Qg4 Qa3 17.h5 with initiative]
14.Qg4!
[14.Qg5 h6 15.Qg4 (15.Qg3 Nf5 16.Bf5 ef5 17.h5 f4 18.Bf4 Nf4 19.Qf4 cd4)
f5 16.ef6 Rf6 17.h5 cd4 18.cd4 Nf4 with counterplay]
14...f5 15.Qh3 cd4?! 16.cd4 (and White is superior) Ba4 17.h5 Nh8
[17...Bc2 18.hg6 and White is winning]
18.Bd2! Rac8
[18...Bc2 19.Rc1 and White is winning]
19.Qh4 Qd7 20.Rb2 Nc6?!
[20...h6 21.Rg1! Rc7 22.g4 fg4 23.Qg4 Nf5 24.Nh4 and White is winning]
21.g4! (and White is winning) Qe7

[21...fg4 22.Qg4 Rf3 23.Qf3 Nd4 24.Qg4 Nc2 25.Kf1 Na3 26.Rg1 Bc2
27.Rc2 Nc2 28.Bh6 and White is winning]
22.Qe7!
[22.gf5 Qa3 23.Rg1! a) 23...Rc7 24.f6 Qb2 25.fg7 Rg7 26.Rg7 Kg7 27.Bh6
and White is winning; b) 23...Qb2 24.Rg7 Kg7 25.Bh6 Kg8 26.Qg5 Ng6
(26...Kf7 27.Qf6 Ke8 28.Qf8 Kd7 29.Qg7 Ne7 30.fe6 Kd8 31.Bg5 and White
is winning) 27.hg6 and White is winning; c) 23...Bc2 24.Rc2 Qd3 25.Rg7 and
White is winning; d) 23...ef5 24.Rb1 Rc7 and White is superior]
22...Ne7 23.Ng5 Bd7
[23...Rfe8 24.gf5! Nf5 25.Ne6 and White is winning]
24.Bb4 Rfe8 25.Be7 Re7 26.gf5 ef5 27.Nh3! [and White is winning, weak
point f5, d5, Bd7, Nh8] Be6

[27...Nf7 28.Kd2 and White is winning; 27...g6 28.Nf4 Be6 29.hg6 hg6
30.Rh8 Kh8 31.Ng6 and White is winning]
28.Nf4 Kf7 29.Kd2 Rd7 30.a4! Ke7 31.a5 ba5 32.Ra2 Nf7 33.Rg1 Rg8
34.Ne6!
[34.Ra5 Nd8 and White is winning]
34...Ke6 35.Ra5 Rb8
[35...Nh6 36.Ra6 and White is winning]
36.Ra6 Rb6 37.Rb6 ab6 38.Bb5!
[38.Rg7?? Ne5]
38...Re7 39.Rg7 Nh6 40.Re7 Ke7 41.f3 Nf7
[41...f4 42.Bd3 Nf7 43.Bh7 Ng5 44.Bg8 Nf3 45.Kc3 Nh4 46.Bd5 f3 47.Kd3
f2 48.Ke2 Nf5 49.Kf2 Nd4 50.h6 Kf8 51.Be4 and White is winning]
42.Ke3 Ng5 43.Bd3 Ke6 44.c3 h6 45.Bc2 1-0 [Sergey Karjakin]

World Champion Kramnik Annotates

Zdenko Krnic
Vladimir Kramnik had an unpromising start to 2006, as he had to withdraw
from the Wijk aan Zee tournament because of health problems that needed
serious medical treatment. Once he had recovered and was eager for some
chess ambience, he played at the Olympiad in Turin, but, despite his
extraordinary play and the best result on the first board, Russia did not join
the teams fighting for medals.
Things began to turn around at his favorite tournament, Dortmund, where he
sealed his seventh triumph with a victory against Leko in the last round,
proving that he gives his best performances in decisive games. Let us
remember that he retained his world championship title in Brissago by also
beating Leko in the last round.
Kramnik carried his good form into the reunification match for the chess
crown against Veselin Topalov, who deservedly won the title of FIDE world
champion with his uncompromising style of play in San Luis. Kramnik was
the strongest possible opponent for Topalov, as he had a plus score from their
previous encounters.
Topalovs catastrophic start gave rise to some non-chess antics that
jeopardized the continuation of the match. Kramnik lost one game by forfeit
and played one game less with the white pieces, and still managed to win the
match in the playoff. Thus he demonstrated that he rightfully wears the world
championship crown. Not only did he win at the chessboard, but he was the
moral victor as well.
This month Kramnik annotates a decisive game against Leko from the
Dortmund tournament, in which he demonstrates his greatest strength: subtle
positional play and a conversion of the advantage in the ending. This was
also on display in the second and fourth playoff games against Topalov.
Chess Informant 97 contains three other games annotated by Kramnik, each
from the Turin Olympiad.

Dortmund 2006
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bc3 6.Qc3 b6 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.f3
h6 9.Bh4 d5 10.e3 Nbd7 11.cd5 Nd5 12.Bd8 Nc3 13.Bh4 Nd5 14.Bf2 c5
15.e4 Ne7 16.Ne2 Rac8 17.Nc3 cd4 18.Bd4 Nc5 19.Rd1 Rfd8 20.Be3 Rd1
21.Kd1 e5
22.b4! [a novelty; 22.Kc2 see 96/396] Ne6 23.Kc2 Nc6 [23...f5 24.Kb2 and
White is slightly better] 24.Kb2 Kf8! [24...Ncd4 25.Bd3 Nf4 (25...Kf8
26.Rd1 and White is slightly better) 26.Bf4 ef4 27.Rd1 and White is slightly
better, with the idea 27...Nc6 28.Nd5!] 25.Bc4 [25.g3 Ncd4 26.Bh3 Rd8
equal, weak point f3; 25.Bd3 Nf4 26.Bf4 ef4 27.Rd1 Ne5 equal] Ncd4
26.Be6 [26.Ba2 Ba6! 27.Rc1 (27.Be6 Ne6 28.b5 Bb7) g5 28.Be6 Ne6 29.b5
Bb7 equal; 26.Bd3 Nf4! 27.Bf4 ef4 28.Rd1 Nc6 29.Nd5 g5 equal] Ne6
27.Nb5 Ra8
28.a4! [28.Rc1 Ba6 29.Nc7 (29.Nd6 Rd8 30.Nf5 Bb5) Nc7 30.Rc7 Bf1 equal;
28.Nd6 Ba6 29.b5 Rd8! 30.Nf7 Kf7 31.ba6 Rd3 32.Re1 Nc7 equal] Ba6
[28...Bc6!? 29.Nc3 Rd8 30.b5 Be8] 29.Na3! [29.Nc3 Bc4! equal] Rc8?
[29...Bd3! 30.Rd1 Rd8 a) 31.Kc3 Be2 32.Rd8 Nd8 33.Nc4 Bf1 34.g3 f6
35.f4 (35.Nd6 Bh3) Bg2 36.fe5 fe5 37.Ne5 Be4 and White is slightly better;
b) 31.b5 Ke7 32.Kc3 Be2 33.Rd8 Nd8 34.Nc4 Bf1 35.g3 f6 36.f4 and White
is slightly better] 30.b5 Bb7 31.Rc1 Rc1 32.Kc1 [and White is superior; NB
9/c] Ke7 33.a5 [33.Nc4 f6 34.a5 Nc7 35.ab6 ab6 36.Na3 Na8 and White is
slightly better] ba5 34.Ba7 f5!? [34...Nf4 35.g3 Nh3 36.Nc4 and White is
superior; 34...a4 35.Nc4 f6 36.Kb2 and White is superior] 35.ef5 Nf4 36.g3
Nh3 [36...Ne2 37.Kd2 Bf3 38.Ke3 and White is winning; 36...Nd5 37.Kd2
Kf6 (37...Bc8 38.Nc4 a4 39.g4 and White is superior) 38.Nc4 and White is
superior] 37.Nc4 [37.Be3!? Bf3 (37...Bd5 38.Kb2 Kd7 39.Kc3 Bf3 40.Nc4)
38.Nc4 Kf6 (38...a4!?) 39.Nd6 (39.Na5 Kf5 40.b6 Kg4 41.Kd2 h5 42.b7 Bb7
43.Nb7 Kf3) a4 40.b6 Ng5 41.g4 Nf7 42.b7 Bb7 43.Nb7 h5] Ng5 [37...Bf3
38.Ne5 Be4 39.Nc4 and White is superior; 37...a4 38.Be3 Bf3 39.Ne5 Be4
40.b6 Kf6 41.Nc4 Bd5 42.Bd4 Kg5 43.Nd6; 39...Bd5 and White is superior]
38.Na5 [38.f4!? ef4 39.gf4]
38...Bd5? time [38...Bf3! 39.Kd2! (39.b6 Kf6 40.b7 Bb7 41.Nb7 Kf5 42.Kd1
Kg4; 39.Be3 Nf7 40.b6 Nd8 41.Kd2 Kf6 42.g4 Bg4 43.b7 Nb7 44.Nb7 Bf5
45.Nd6) a) 39...Nf7 40.Ke3 Bd5 41.Bc5 Kf6 42.b6 Nd8 43.g4 h5 44.h3 Bg2
45.Kf2 Bh3 46.g5 Kf7 (46...Kf5 47.Be7 and White is winning) 47.Bd6 Bf5
48.Bc7 and White is winning; b) 39...Kf6 40.Ke3 Bd5 41.b6 (41.g4 h5 42.b6
hg4 43.b7 Bb7 44.Nb7 Nf3 45.Nd6 g6 equal) Kf5 42.b7 Bb7 43.Nb7 Kg4
44.Kf2! (44.Nc5 Kh3 45.Bb8 Kh2 46.Be5; 44...Nf3; 44.Bb8 Nf3 45.Nc5 Nh2
46.Be5 h5 47.Ne4 g5 equal 48.Bc7 Kf5) Kh3 45.Nd6 Kh2 46.Be3 (and White
is superior) Nh3 (46...Ne6 47.Nc4 Kh3 48.Ne5 h5 49.Ng6) 47.Kf3 h5 48.Ne4
Ng1 49.Bg1 Kg1 50.Ng5 Kh2 51.Kf2 e4 52.Ne4 h4 53.g4; c) 39...Bd5
40.Ke3 Ne4 41.Bb8 (41.g4 Kf6 42.h3 h5 equal; 41.b6 Nc5 42.Bb8 Kf6 43.g4
Nd7 44.Bc7 Kg5) Kf6 42.Nc6 Kf5 43.Ne5 and White is superior] 39.b6 Nf3
40.h3! (and White is winning) Ng5 [40...Kf6 41.b7 Bb7 42.Nb7 Kf5 43.Nd6
Ke6 44.Ne4 Kd5 45.Nc3 Kc4 46.Kc2] 41.b7 Bb7 42.Nb7 Nh3 [NB 8/f]
43.Bb6 [43.Be3 Kf6 44.Nd6 g6 45.fg6 (45.g4 gf5 46.gf5 Nf4 47.Kd2 Nd5
48.Bf2 e4 49.Bd4 Kg5) Kg6 46.Kd2 Kh5 47.Ne4 Kg4 48.Bh6; 43.Kd2 Kf6
44.Nd6] Kd7 [better is 43...Kf6 44.Nd6 Kg5 45.Bd8 Kg4 46.Be7! Ng1
(46...e4 47.Bf8 e3 48.Bg7 e2 49.Kd2 Kf3 50.Bc3 Kf2 51.Ne4 Kf1 52.Ke3 e1Q
53.Be1 Ke1 54.f6; 46...Kg3 47.Bf8 e4 48.Bg7 e3 49.Bh6) 47.Kd2 Kg3 48.Bf8
Kf4 49.Bg7 Nf3 50.Kc3] 44.Be3 Ke7 [44...Kc6 45.Nc5 Kd5 46.Kd2 e4
47.Ne6 g6 48.Nf4 Nf4 49.Bf4] 45.Nc5 g6 [45...Kf6 46.g4 e4 47.Ne4 Ke5
48.Ng3 Nf4 49.Kd2] 46.fg6 Kf6 47.Bh6 Kg6 [47...Nf2 48.g7 Kf7 49.Ne6]
48.Be3 [48...Kf5 49.Kd2 Kg4 50.Ne4 Kf3 51.Kd3] 1-0 [Kramnik]

Who will Win?

Zdenko Krnic
Informant 97 is almost ready for publication. We are just waiting for the vote
of one jury member for the ten most important theoretical novelties of the
preceding volume. His verdict will be the tie-breaker in a race between
Anand and Topalov.
In the tenth round at Wijk aan Zee, Topalov played a modern variation of the
Queens Indian Defence [E15] and uncorked some startling home preparation
in the form of the exchange sacrifice 18.Re4!!, instead of 18.Ne4, as played
in the game Kramnik Leko, Dortmund 2004. His victim, Aronian, could
only congratulate him on an effective victory.
In the penultimate round of Wijk aan Zee, Anand repeated the same variation
against Topalov that Ivan Sokolov had used in the seventh round. In the
earlier game, Topalov played a new continuation, 12.Na3, in a popular
variation of the Ruy Lopez [C78] and won without much difficulty. The
visitors in the tournament hall were curious as to what Anand had prepared
for Black, and they did not have to wait long. Instead of 12...Qe8?!, as played
by Sokolov, Anand found the brilliant piece sacrifice 12Nce5! 13.h3 d6!!.
Topalov dared not accept it and the game soon ended in a draw.
Who will win? Anands 12Nce5 or Topalovs 18.Re4, the answer can be
found in Informant 97.
V.Topalov 2801 V.Anand 2792

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.a4 Rb8 8.c3 00 9.d4 Bb6 10.ab5 ab5 11.de5 Ng4 12.Na3 (a novelty)
12...Nce5! [RR 12...Qe8?! 13.Nd4 Nge5 14.Nab5 d6 15.Ba4 Bd7 16.b3 Ne7
17.Kh1 and White is superior, V.Topalov 2801 Iv.Sokolov 2689, Wijk aan
Zee 2006] 13.h3
13...d6!! [Ganguly; 13...Nf3 14.Qf3 Ne5 15.Qg3 d6 16.Nb5 Bf2 17.Rf2 Rb5
18.Bg5 Nf3 19.Qf3 Rg5 20.Ra8 (20.Bf7 Kh8 21.Qe3 and White is superior)
Re5 21.Bf7 Kh8 22.Qg3! Re4 23.Bh5 and White is winning, with the idea
Bg4] 14.Qe2 [14.hg4 Bg4 a) 15.Bg5? Bf3 16.Bd8 Bd1; b) 15.Be3?! Qf6
16.Bg5 Bf3 17.Bf6 Bd1 and Black is slightly better; c) 15.Bf4 Bf3 16.gf3
Qh4 equal, with the idea 17.Be5 de5 18.Qd7 Qg3; d) 15.Bd5 Nf3 16.gf3 Qh4
17.fg4 (17.Bf4? Bh3 18.Qd2 Qh5 and Black is superior) Qg3 equal; e)
15.Nc2 Bf3 16.gf3 Qf6! (16...Qh4 17.Kg2) e1) 17.Nd4 Qg6 18.Kh2 Qh5
19.Kg3 Qg6 equal, with the idea 20.Kh4? Qg2 and Black is winning; e2)
17.Ne1 Qg6 18.Kh2 (18.Ng2 Qg3) Qh5 19.Kg3 Kh8 (19...Qg6 equal, with
the idea 20.Kh4?! Rbe8 21.Bf4 Kh8 with attack) 20.f4 (20.Qd2 g5; 20.Be3 f5)
Qg6 21.Kh4 Qh6 (21...Qf6 equal) 22.Qh5 g5 23.fg5 Ng6 24.Kg4 Ne5 equal;
e3) 17.f4 Qg6 18.Kh1 Qh6 19.Kg2 Qg6 20.Kh3 Qh6 21.Kg3 Qg6 22.Kh4
Qh6 equal, with the idea 23.Qh5? Nf3 24.Kg4 Nh2 25.Kh4 Qh5 26.Kh5 Nf1
and Black is winning; e4) 17.Kh1 Rbe8 (17...Nf3 18.Kg2 Nh4 19.Kg3 and
White is superior) 18.Ne1 Re6! e41) 19.Ng2 Qg6 20.f4 (20.Nf4 Qh6 21.Kg2
Qg5 22.Kh2 Rf6! 23.Nh3 Qh5! 24.f4 Ng4 25.Kg3 Rg6 and Black is winning)
Ng4 and Black is superior; e42) 19.Be6 fe6 20.Ng2 Qg6! equal; e5) 17.Ne3
Qg6 18.Kh2 Qh5 19.Kg3 Qg6 20.Ng4 h5; e6) 17.Kg2 Qg6 equal; e7) 17.Kh2
Rbe8 (17...Nf3? 18.Kg3! with the idea 18...Bf2? 19.Kf2) 18.Ne1 (18.Nd4 Bd4
19.cd4 Nf3 equal, with the idea 20.Kg3? Re4! and Black is superior)
18...Re6! e71) 19.Be6 fe6 e711) 20.Be3? Qh4 21.Kg2 (21.Kg1 Rf6) Rf6
22.Rg1 Be3 23.fe3 (23.Ra8 Kf7 24.fe3 Ng4!) Ng4! 24.Qe2 Nh2! and Black is
winning; e712) 20.Kh3 Qg6 equal see 19.Kh3; e72) 19.Kh3 Qg6 20.Be6
(20.Ng2 Qh5 21.Nh4 Ng6 and Black is winning) fe6 21.f4 Qh6 22.Kg2 Qg6
23.Kh1 Qh6 (23...Qe4?! 24.Kh2 Rf6 25.Ra8 only move Qa8 26.fe5) 24.Kg1
Qh3 25.fe5 Qf1! 26.Kf1 Rf2 27.Kg1 Rd2 28.Kf1 Rf2 equal; 14.Nc2 Nf3
15.Qf3 Ne5 16.Qg3 Qf6?! 17.Nb4; 16...Be6 equal] Nf3 15.Qf3 Ne5 16.Qg3
Be6 (equal) 17.Be6 fe6 18.Nb5 Rf2 19.Rf2 Bf2 20.Qf2 Rb5 21.Qe2 Rb8
22.Bf4 Qf6 23.Rf1 - [V.Anand]
V.Topalov 2801 Aronian 2752

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 c6 8.Bc3 d5
9.Ne5 Nfd7 10.Nd7 Nd7 11.Nd2 0-0 12.0-0 Nf6 13.e4 b5 14.ed5 ed5
15.Re1 Rb8 16.c5 Bc8 17.Nf3 Ne4
18.Re4!! [a novelty; 18.Ne5 see 91/(446)] de4 19.Ne5 Qd5 20.Qe1! [20.Qe2
Bf5 21.g4 Bg6 with the idea 22.f3? Bc5] Bf5 21.g4! Bg6 22.f3 b4 [22...Bc5!?
23.dc5 Qc5 24.Kh1 ef3 25.Bf3 Rfe8] 23.fe4 Qe6 24.Bb2 [24.Bb4? Bf6!
25.Bc3 Be5 26.de5 Qg4 and Black is superior] Bf6
25.Nc6! [25.d5 Qe7! 26.d6 Qe6 27.Ng6 Bb2 28.Nf8 Kf8 unclear] Qc6 26.e5
Qa6 27.ef6 Rfe8 28.Qf1 Qe2 29.Qf2! [29.Qe2 Re2 30.Bc1 gf6] Qg4 30.h3!
Qg5 [30...Qh5 31.Re1] 31.Bc1 Qh5 32.Bf4 Rbd8? [32...Rbc8] 33.c6 Be4
34.c7 Rc8 35.Re1 (and White is winning) Qg6 [35...Bg2 36.Re8 Re8 37.Qg2
Qd1 (37...g6 38.Qg4 Qg4 39.hg4 Rc8 40.Bd6) 38.Kh2 g6 39.Qe4!; 35...Qf5
36.Bg3 Qg6 (36...Qf2 37.Kf2 Bg2 38.Re8 Re8 39.Kg2 gf6 40.d5 Rc8 41.Bd6)
37.Re4 Re4 38.d5]
36.Re4 Re4 37.d5 Rce8 38.d6 Re1 39.Kh2 Qf5 40.Qg3 g6 41.Qg5 [41.Qg4
Qc5 42.d7 Qg1 43.Kg3 R1e3 44.Kh4 and White is winning] Qg5 42.Bg5
Rd1 43.Bc6 Re2 44.Kg3 1-0 [Z.Krnic]

The Fighter: Topalov

Zdenko Krnic
Last month we presented the games of Topalov and Anand as candidates for
the most important theoretical novelty of Informant 96. Well, their rivalry
was broadened to include the selection of the best game, and it is curious that
once again the games in question were played at Wijk aan Zee.
In the end, the game Topalov Aronian was voted as the best of Volume 96,
beating Karjakin Anand by a margin of five points. Closer scrutiny of the
best ten games shows that Topalovs win against Nisipeanu and his losses to
Vallejo, Adams and Svidler have all been selected. This is a testament to just
what a fighter Topalov is. But not only did he win for best game, his game
against Aronian was also selected as the most important theoretical novelty of
the previous volume.
The next Wijk aan Zee tournament will soon begin with Topalov and Anand
as the two highest rated players. Will they able to repeat their previous
achievement or will Kramnik act as a spoiler?
V. Topalov 2801 L. Aronian 2752

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 c6 8.Bc3 d5
9.Ne5 Nfd7 10.Nd7 Nd7 11.Nd2 0-0 12.0-0 Nf6 13.e4 b5 14.ed5 ed5
15.Re1 Rb8 16.c5 Bc8 17.Nf3 Ne4
18.Re4!! [a novelty; 18.Ne5 see 91/(446)] de4 19.Ne5 Qd5 20.Qe1! [20.Qe2
Bf5 21.g4 Bg6 with the idea 22.f3? Bc5] Bf5 21.g4! Bg6 22.f3 b4 [22...Bc5!?
23.dc5 Qc5 24.Kh1 ef3 25.Bf3 Rfe8] 23.fe4 Qe6 24.Bb2 [24.Bb4? Bf6!
25.Bc3 Be5 26.de5 Qg4 and Black is superior] Bf6 25.Nc6! [25.d5 Qe7!
26.d6 Qe6 27.Ng6 Bb2 28.Nf8 Kf8 unclear] Qc6 26.e5 Qa6 27.ef6 Rfe8
28.Qf1 Qe2 29.Qf2! [29.Qe2 Re2 30.Bc1 gf6] Qg4 30.h3! Qg5 [30...Qh5
31.Re1] 31.Bc1 Qh5 32.Bf4 Rbd8? [32...Rbc8] 33.c6 Be4 34.c7 Rc8 35.Re1
(and White is winning) Qg6 [35...Bg2 36.Re8 Re8 37.Qg2 Qd1 (37...g6
38.Qg4 Qg4 39.hg4 Rc8 40.Bd6) 38.Kh2 g6 39.Qe4!; 35...Qf5 36.Bg3 Qg6
(36...Qf2 37.Kf2 Bg2 38.Re8 Re8 39.Kg2 gf6 40.d5 Rc8 41.Bd6) 37.Re4 Re4
38.d5]
36.Re4 Re4 37.d5 Rce8 38.d6 Re1 39.Kh2 Qf5 40.Qg3 g6 41.Qg5 [41.Qg4
Qc5 42.d7 Qg1 43.Kg3 R1e3 44.Kh4 and White is winning] Qg5 42.Bg5
Rd1 43.Bc6 Re2 44.Kg3 1-0 [Z.Krnic]
Sergey Karjakin 2660 V. Anand 2792

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 Be7
9.Qd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 Nbd7 11.g4 b5 12.g5 b4 13.Ne2 Ne8 14.f4 a5 15.f5 a4
16.Nbd4 ed4 17.Nd4 b3 18.Kb1 bc2 19.Nc2 Bb3 20.ab3 ab3 21.Na3 Ne5
22.h4 Ra5 23.Qc3? [a novelty; 23.Qe2 see 93/200] Qa8 24.Bg2 [24.Rd4 d5
with initiative]
24...Nc7!! 25.Qc7 [only move; 25.Bb6 Ra3 26.ba3 Nb5 and Black is
winning] Rc8! 26.Qe7 [26.Qb6 Nc4! and Black is winning] Nc4! [and Black
is winning; 26...Ra3?? 27.ba3 Qa3 28.Qa7! and White is winning] 27.g6
[27.Bc5 Ra3 28.ba3 Rc5 29.a4 Na3 30.Kb2 Rc2 31.Ka3 Qb8!; 27.Bd4 Ra3
28.ba3 Na3 29.Kb2 Nc4 30.Kc3 (30.Kb3 Qa3 31.Kc2 Ne3 32.Kd2 Rc2
33.Ke1 Qb4) Qa2! 31.Bc5 Qc2 32.Kd4 dc5 33.Kd5 Ne3 34.Kd6 Nd1] hg6
28.fg6 Na3 29.ba3 Ra3 30.gf7 Kh7 31.f8N Rf8 32.Qf8 [32.Qd6 Ra1 33.Kb2
Ra2 34.Kb1 Rc2!] Ra1 33.Kb2 Ra2 34.Kc3 [34.Kb1 Qf8 35.Bh3 Qa8
36.Bf5 Kh8 37.Rc1 Ra1 38.Kb2 Qa3 39.Kc3 b2] Qa5 35.Kd3 [35.Kb3 Qa4
36.Kc3 Rc2 37.Kd3 Qc4#] Qb5 36.Kd4 Ra4 37.Kc3 Qc4 0-1 [V.Anand]
V. Topalov 2801 F. Vallejo Pons 2650

Morelia/Linares 2006 96/321
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5
9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 h5 12.Nd7 Qd7 13.Be5 Rh6 14.f3 (a
novelty) Qe7 [14...h4 15.f4!? unclear] 15.a4 [15.f4!? g4 16.f5 0-0-0 17.fe6
fe6 unclear] a6 [15...Nd7!?] 16.Qc2 [16.Qd2 Nd7; 16.ab5 cb5 17.Nb5 ab5
18.Bc4 Qd7 unclear] Rd8 [16...Nd7!?] 17.Rad1 Nd7 18.Bc7 [18.f4 Ne5
19.fe5 Bg7 unclear; 18.Bg3 e5 19.d5 (19.de5 h4!) h4 20.Bf2 Qb4 with the
idea Bc5] Rc8 19.Bg3 e5 20.d5 [20.Bf2 Bg7; 20.de5 Ne5 (20...h4!? 21.Bf2
Qe5) 21.ab5 cb5 22.Nd5 Bd5 23.Rd5 Nc6 unclear; 21...ab5 with the idea
22.Qd2 Rd6!] b4 [20...Qb4 21.Bf2; 20...Qf6!? 21.dc6 Bc5 22.Bf2 Bc6]
21.dc6 Rhc6 [21...Bc6 22.Nd5 Bd5 23.Rd5 with compensation] 22.Nd5 Qe6
23.Qd2?! [23.h4!? gh4 24.Bh4 a5?! 25.f4 and White is slightly better;
24...Bd6 unclear] h4! 24.Bf2 c3! 25.bc3 [25.Qg5 cb2 unclear] bc3 26.Qg5?
[26.Qc2 Bc5 with initiative] c2 27.Rc1 h3 28.g3 Qh6! [and Black is superior;
28...Bh6?! 29.Qg8 Nf8 30.Be3 unclear] 29.Qf5 [29.Qh6 Bh6 30.Be3 Bf8
31.f4 Ba3 32.Bg4 Bc1 33.Rc1 Rc4 34.Bh3 Bd5 35.ed5 e4 and Black is
winning] Qd2 30.Rfe1 Ba3 31.f4! [31.Be3 Bc1 32.Bd2 Bd2 33.Rf1 c1Q
34.Rc1 Rc1 35.Kf2 Be1 36.Ke3 Bd5 37.ed5 Bg3 and Black is winning] Bc1
32.Bh5
32...Rg6! 33.Bg6 Bd5 34.ed5 Qe1! [34...fg6?? 35.Qg6 Kd8 36.Bb6 Rc7
37.Qg8 Ke7 38.Qh7 equal] 35.Be1 Be3 36.Kf1 c1Q 37.Qf7 Kd8 (and Black
is winning) 38.Ke2 [38.d6 Qc4] Bb6 39.Bd2 Qc4 [39...Qh1! 40.fe5 Qh2
41.Kd1 Qg1 42.Ke2 Qg2 43.Kd1 h2 and Black is winning] 40.Kf3 e4!
41.Kg4 [41.Be4? Ne5] Kc7 [41...e3! 42.Bc3 Qc3 43.d6 (43.Bf5 Nf6) Nf6
44.Kh3 Rc5! and Black is winning] 42.a5 [42.Bf5 Qe2 (42...Qd5 43.Qd5 Nf6
44.Kh3 Rh8 45.Kg2 Nd5 46.Be4 Ne3 47.Be3 Be3 and Black is superior)
43.Kg5 Rd8 44.Bd7 (44.a5 Bd4) Qd2 45.Bc6 Kd6 46.Qe6 Kc5 47.Qe7 Rd6
48.Qe4 Bd8 49.Kh5 Rd5! 50.Qd5 Qd5 51.Bd5 Kd5 52.Kg4 Ke4 53.Kh3 Kf3
and Black is winning] Bd4 43.Bf5 Rg8 44.Kh4 Rh8 45.Kg5 Qb5 46.Be6 e3
[46...Rd8 and Black is winning] 47.Be1 e2 48.g4 Rf8 49.Qh7 Be3 50.Kh4
Bf4 51.g5 Qa4 52.Kh5 Bh2 53.Bh3 Be5 54.Qd3 Rh8 55.Kg6 Nf8 56.Kf7
Kd8! 0-1 [F.Vallejo Pons]
Mi. Adams 2707 V. Topalov 2801

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 7.0-0 Be7 8.a4 Nc6
9.Be3 0-0 10.f4 Qc7 11.Kh1 Re8 12.Bf3 Bf8 13.Qd2 Na5 14.b3 Rb8
[14...d5?! 15.e5 Bb4 16.Ncb5 Bd2 17.Nc7 Be3 18.ef6 Bd4 19.Rad1 Rd8
20.Na8 and White is superior] 15.Rad1 [15.Rae1!? Nc6] Nc6 [a novelty;
15...b6 16.e5! de5 17.fe5 Nd7 18.Bh5 (18.Qf2!? Ne5 19.Bf4 f6 20.Ne4 Bb7
21.Qg3 Be4 22.Be4 with compensation) a) 18...g6 19.Qf2 Re7 (19...Ne5
20.Ne4 Kh8 21.Nf6 and White is winning) 20.Bg5 Ne5 21.Be7 Be7 22.Qg3
and White is superior; b) 18...Ne5! 19.Bf4 g6 20.Ne4 Bg7 21.Nf3 f6 22.Bg4
with compensation] 16.Bf2?! [16.e5 de5 17.Nc6 bc6 18.fe5 Nd5 unclear;
16.Qf2! a) 16...Bd7 17.e5 de5 18.Nc6 Bc6 (18...bc6 19.fe5 Qe5 20.Bd4 Qc7
21.Bf6 gf6 22.Ne4 Be7 23.Nf6 Bf6 24.Be4 and White is winning) 19.Bb6 Qe7
20.fe5 Nd5 21.Nd5 ed5 22.Bd5 Bd5 23.Rd5 Qe6 24.c4 and White is superior;
b) 16...Nd7 b1) 17.Nce2 Nd4 18.Nd4 b6 19.e5 Bb7 (19...de5 20.fe5 with
initiative) 20.Bb7 Qb7 21.ed6 Bd6 22.f5 e5 unclear; b2) 17.f5 Nce5; b3)
17.Nde2 b6; b4) 17.e5! de5 (17...Nd4 18.Bd4 de5 19.fe5 and White is
superior Ne5? 20.Bh5 and White is winning) 18.Nc6 bc6 19.fe5 Ne5 20.Qg3
f6 21.Ne4 Kh8 22.Bf4 and White is superior; c) 16...Nd4 c1) 17.Rd4 Qc3
18.Rc4 Ne4 (18...Qa5 19.Bb6 Ne4 unclear) 19.Be4 Qf6 unclear; c2) 17.Bd4!
e5 18.Ba7 Ra8 (18...Qc3 19.Bb8 ef4 20.Bd6 and White is winning) 19.fe5 de5
(19...Re5 20.Bd4) 20.Nd5 Nd5 21.ed5 Ra7 (21...e4 22.Bh5 g6 23.Bb6 and
White is superior; 21...Bf5 22.Bb6 Qc2 23.d6 Qf2 24.Rf2 e4 25.Be2 Bd7
26.Bc4 and White is superior; 21...f5 22.Bb6 Qd6 23.c4 e4 24.c5 Qf6 25.Be2
and White is superior) 22.Qa7 Bc5 23.d6 and White is superior] Nd7
[16...Bd7!? 17.Bh4 Be7 18.Nde2 Ne4 (18...Red8 19.Bf6 Bf6 20.Qd6 and
White is slightly better) 19.Ne4 Bh4 20.Qd6 Qd6 21.Nd6 Red8 22.Rd2 Be7
23.Rfd1 and White is slightly better] 17.Bg3 Nd4 18.Qd4 b5! [18...b6 19.e5
de5 20.fe5 and White is superior] 19.ab5 ab5 20.b4 [20.e5?! b4! 21.Ne4 d5
22.Nd6 (22.Ng5 Ba6 and Black is slightly better) Bd6 23.ed6 Qc2 unclear]
g6? [20...Qc4! a) 21.Be2 Qd4 22.Rd4 Ba6 23.f5 Rb6! (23...Ne5? 24.fe6 fe6
25.Rf8 and White is winning) 24.fe6 fe6 unclear; b) 21.Qc4 bc4 22.b5 Bb7
and White is slightly better] 21.e5 d5 [21...de5 22.fe5 Bg7 23.Ne4 (23.Be2
Be5 24.Nb5 and White is superior) Be5 a) 24.Be5 Qe5 25.Qe5 (25.Qa7 with
initiative) Ne5 26.Nf6 Kf8 27.Ne8 Ke8 and White is superior; b) 24.Nf6! Bf6
25.Bc7 Bd4 26.Rd4 e5 27.Re1 and White is winning; 21...Rb6 (Topalov,V)
22.ed6 Qb8 (22...Rd6? 23.Nb5) 23.f5 gf5 24.Qe3 Bd6 (24...Bb7 25.Qb6! Nb6
26.d7 f4 27.Bf4 e5 28.de8Q Qe8 29.Bb7 ef4 30.Rf4 Qe5 31.Rg4 Kh8 32.Rg3
and White is winning) 25.Nd5 Bg3 26.Qg5 Kh8 27.Nb6 and White is
superior]
22.f5 gf5 [22...Qb6 23.fe6 fe6 24.Nd5 and White is winning; 22...Qc4 23.fe6
fe6 24.Nd5 Qd4 25.Rd4 ed5 26.Bd5 Kh8 27.Bf7 (27.e6 Bg7 28.ed7 Bd7 and
White is superior) Re7 28.e6 Ra8 29.Rdd1 and White is winning] 23.Nd5
Qc4 24.Qd2 [24.Qe3!? Bb7 (24...h6 25.Nf6 Nf6 26.ef6 and White is winning)
25.Nf6 Nf6 26.Qg5 Kh8 27.ef6 (27.Qf6 Kg8 28.Bh5 Qc7 and White is
slightly better) Bf3 28.gf3 h6! (28...Rbd8 29.Bd6! Rd6 30.Rg1 and White is
winning) 29.Qh5 f4 30.Bf2 and White is superior; 24.Nf6! Nf6 25.ef6 Qd4
26.Rd4 a) 26...e5 27.Re1 a1) 27...Bb7 28.Re5 (28.Be5 Ra8 29.Bb7 Re5 and
White is superior) Bf3 29.gf3 Re5 30.Be5 Rc8 31.c3 and White is winning;
a2) 27...Be6 28.Re5 Rec8 29.Bf4 Rb6 30.g3 h6 31.Be2 and White is
winning; b) 26...Rb6 27.Re1 Ra6 (27...Bb7 28.Bc7 Bf3 29.Bb6 Be4 30.Bc5
and White is winning) 28.Be5 (and White is winning) Ra7? 29.Bc6] h6
[24...Bb7? 25.Ne3 and White is winning; 24...ed5? 25.Qg5 (25.Bd5?) Kh8
26.Bd5 Qg4 27.Qg4 fg4 28.Bf7 and White is winning] 25.h3! [25.Qf2 ed5
26.Bd5 Qg4 27.Bc6 and White is superior] ed5 [25...Kh8 26.Nf6 Nf6 27.ef6
e5 28.Bd5 Qc7 29.Qe2 f4 (29...Rb6 30.Rfe1 and White is winning; 29...Kg8
30.Qh5 Be6 31.Be6 Re6 32.Rf5 and White is winning) 30.Bf4 and White is
winning] 26.Bd5 Qb4 27.c3 Qc5 [better is 27...Qe7 28.Rf5 a) 28...Nb6
29.Bf7 Qf7 (29...Kh7 30.Rf6 Bg7 31.Qc2 Kh8 32.Rdd6 and White is winning;
29...Kh8 30.Rf6 and White is winning) 30.Rf7 Kf7 31.e6 Be6 32.Bb8 Rb8
33.Qf4 and White is winning; b) 28...Ne5 29.Re5 Be6 30.Be6! (30.Re6 fe6
31.Bb8 Rb8 32.Qf4 Rd8 33.Be6 Kh8 34.Rd8 Qd8 35.Bd7 Bg7 36.Bb5 Qd1
37.Bf1 Bc3 38.Qh6 Kg8 and White is superior) fe6 31.Qe2 Bg7 32.Rb5 Rb5
33.Qb5 Bc3 (33...Rd8 34.Rd8 Qd8 35.c4 and White is winning) 34.Bh4 Qf7
35.Rf1 Qg6 36.Rf3 Bg7 37.Rg3 Qf7 38.Bf6 Qf6 39.Qe8 Kh7 40.Kh2 Qf5
41.Qd7 Qf6 42.Qd3 and White is winning] 28.Rf5 Re6 [28...Re7 29.e6 fe6
30.Be6 Re6 31.Rc5 and White is winning; 28...Kh8 29.Rf7 Rb6 30.Bf2 Qa3
31.Qd3 Bg7 32.Bb6 and White is winning; 28...Nb6 29.Bf7 Kh8 30.Rf6 and
White is winning; 28...Ne5 29.Re5 Re5 30.Be5 Rb6 31.Qf4 Qe7 32.Rf1 Be6
33.Bd4 and White is winning] 29.Rf7 [29.Qf4 Bb7 30.Rf7 Bd5 31.Qf5 Bg7
32.Rd7 Rf8 33.R7d5 and White is winning] Nb6 [29...Kf7 30.Qf4 Ke8
(30...Ke7 31.Bh4 and White is winning) 31.Be6 and White is winning]
30.Rdf1 [30.Qf4! Bg7 (30...Nd5 31.Rd5 and White is winning) 31.Rf1
(31.Bb3 and White is winning) Nd5 32.Qg4 and White is winning] Nd5
[30...Bg7 31.Qf4 (31.Bb3 and White is winning) Nd5 32.Qg4 and White is
winning] 31.Rf8 Qf8 32.Rf8 Kf8 33.Qd5 Ke8 34.Bh4 Bd7 35.Bf6 b4
[35...Rbb6 36.Qa8 Kf7 37.Qd8 Bc6 38.Qh8 and White is winning] 36.Qe4
[36.Qd3 Rf6 37.ef6 bc3 38.Qe4 Kd8 39.f7 and White is winning] Bc8 37.cb4
Rb7 38.Qg6 Kd7 39.Qh6 Kc7 40.Qf4 Kb8 41.h4 Rc7 42.h5 1-0
[Mi.Adams]
V. Ivanchuk 2729 F. Vallejo Pons 2650

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 dc4 6.e4 b5 7.a4 c6 8.e5 h6
9.ef6 hg5 10.fg7 Rg8 11.g3 Bb7 12.Bg2 c5 13.0-0 g4 [13...Rg7 14.dc5 with
initiative] 14.Nh4 [14.Ne5? Bg2 15.Kg2 cd4 with initiative] Bg2 15.Ng2
Rg7 [a novelty; 15...cd4 see 62/467] 16.ab5 [16.dc5!? Qd1 17.Rfd1 Bc3
18.bc3 ba4 19.Ra4 Nd7 20.Ne3 f5 21.Rc4 unclear] cd4 [16...Nd7 17.Ne4 a)
17...Qe7 18.Ne3 cd4 (18...f5 19.Nc5 Bc5 20.Nf5 ef5 21.Re1 Bb6 22.Qc2 Nf6
23.Qf5 Bd4 24.Re7 Re7 25.Ra6 Bb2 26.b6 and White is winning) 19.Qd4 f5
20.Ra4 fe4 21.Rb4 with attack; b) 17...Qc7 18.d5 b1) 18...Ne5 19.de6 Nf3
20.Kh1 fe6 21.Nf6 Kf8 22.Ng4 and White is superior; b2) 18...f5 19.Nc3
(19.de6 fe4 20.ed7 Qd7 21.Ne3 Qd1 22.Rfd1 c3 and White is slightly better)
Ne5 20.f4 Nf3 21.Rf3 gf3 22.Qf3 and White is superior; b3) 18...0-0-0!?
19.d6 Qb7 20.Qe2 Kb8 unclear] 17.Ne4 f5? [17...Qb6!? a) 18.Nf4 a1) 18...f5
19.Qc2!! Nd7 (19...Re7 20.Qc4 fe4 21.Qb4 with attack) 20.Qc4 Ne5 21.Qb4
fe4 22.Ra6 with attack; a2) 18...Nd7 19.Ra6 Qb5 20.Qd4 e5 21.Qd5 Qd5
22.Nd5 Rb8 23.Ra7 f5 24.Nb4 fe4 25.Nc6 equal; b) 18.Rc1 b1) 18...f5
19.Rc4 Be7 20.Nf4 fe4 21.Qc2 (21.Rc8 Kd7 22.Qc2 d3 23.Qc4 with attack)
d3 (21...Nd7 22.Qe4!) 22.Qc3 Rh7 23.Qe5 Qb7 24.Qe6 Nd7 25.Nd5 and
White is winning; b2) 18...Be7 19.Rc4 Nd7 20.f4 (20.Rd4 Ne5 21.Kh1 Qb5
22.Nh4 unclear) b21) 20...d3 21.Kh1 Qb5 22.Qd3 Rd8 23.Rd1 Kf8 (23...Ne5
24.Qd8 Bd8 25.Nd6) 24.Rd4 Qd3 25.R4d3 Ke8 and White is slightly better;
b22) 20...Rd8 21.Nf2 Nf6 unclear; b23) 20...gf3 21.Qf3 Rd8 22.Qh5 d3
23.Kh1 Nf8 unclear; c) 18.Qa4 a5 19.Rfc1 Nd7 20.Rc4 Rb8 21.Nf4 (21.Rb4
ab4 22.Qb4 Kd8 23.Rc1! Qb5 24.Qd4 Qb2 and Black is superior) Kf8
22.Rac1 unclear; 17...Be7! 18.Re1 (18.Qa4 Nd7 19.Qc4 Ne5!; 18.Nd2 c3
19.bc3 dc3 20.Ne4 Qd1 21.Rfd1 Nd7 22.Nc3 Bf6 23.Rac1 equal) Qb6 19.Rc1
Nd7 20.Nd2 c3 21.bc3 dc3 22.Rc3 Qb5 23.Qc2 with compensation]
18.Nf4!! Kf7 [18...Re7 19.Ng5 e5 20.Qc2!! ef4 (20...Qc8 21.Nd5 Rg7 22.h4
gh3 23.Qe2!! and White is winning) 21.Qc4 Bd6 22.Qg8 Kd7 23.Qd5 and
White is winning; 18...fe4 19.Ne6 Qf6 20.Ng7 Qg7 21.Qa4 (21.Qe2 Qe7
22.Qc4 Nd7 23.Ra6 Nb6 24.Qg8 Kd7 25.Qg6 Qe6 26.Qg7 Be7 27.Qd4 Ke8
28.Re1 with attack) Qe7 22.b6! Nd7 (22...Kf8 23.Qa7!! Ra7 24.ba7 and
White is winning) 23.Qc6; 18...Qb6 a) 19.Nd2 a1) 19...Qb5 20.Ne6 Re7
21.Nd4 Qd5 22.Nf5 Qf5 (22...Qd2 23.Qg4 and White is winning) 23.Qa4 and
White is winning, with the idea 23...Nd7 24.Qb4 Ne5 25.Nc4 Nf3 26.Kh1
Kf8 27.Nd6 Qh5 (27...Qd5 28.Ra5!) 28.h4!; a2) 19...Bd2 20.Qd2 Nd7
21.Ra6 Ne5 22.Qb4 (22.f3 Qb5 23.Re6 Kf7 24.fg4 with attack) Qb7 23.Re6
Re7 24.Re5 Re5 25.Qc4 Rd8 26.Qg8 Kd7 27.Qg7 Re7 28.Qd4 Kc8 29.Qc5
Kb8 30.Qf5 and White is superior; b) 19.Qc2! b1) 19...Nd7 20.Qc4 fe4
21.Ne6 Re7 22.Nc7 Kf8 23.Na8 Qc5 24.Rfc1 and White is winning; b2)
19...fe4 20.Qe4 Qb7 21.Qd4 Re7 22.Qh8 Kf7 23.Rfe1 Nd7 24.Qh7 Ke8
25.Qg8 Nf8 26.Ne6 and White is winning; b3) 19...Rf7 20.Qc4 (20.Rfd1 fe4
21.Qe4 Qb7 22.Qe6 Be7 23.Rd4 with attack) fe4 21.Qb4 a5 22.Qe1 with
attack; b4) 19...Kf7 20.Qc4 fe4 21.Qb4 Rg5 22.Rfc1 a5 23.Qd2 Nd7
24.Ne6!; b5) 19...a5!? 20.Qc4 (20.Nf6 Kf7 21.N6d5 Qc5 22.Nb4 Qb4 23.Ra4
Qb5 24.Rc4 with attack) fe4 21.Ne6 Rd7 22.Rfe1 with attack] 19.Rc1!
[19.Qc2 Qc7 20.Ra4 a5!] fe4 [19...a5 20.Rc4 fe4 (20...e5 21.Rc7 Qc7
22.Qb3) 21.Rd4 Qc8 22.Re4 Nd7 23.Re6 Nf8 24.Rc6 with attack; 19...Qb6
20.Rc4 fe4 (20...Nd7 21.Qb3 fe4 22.Rc6 Qb8 23.Ne6 and White is winning)
21.Rd4 Be7 22.Re4] 20.Rc4 Bc5 [20...a5 21.Rd4 Qc8 22.Re4 Nd7 23.Re6
Nf8 24.Re5 Kg8 25.Qd5 Kh8 26.Rh5 Nh7 27.Ne6 Qg8 28.b6 and White is
winning; 20...Ba5 21.Rd4 Qc8 22.Re4 Nd7 23.Re6 Qb7 24.Rc6 and White is
winning] 21.Rc5 Nd7 [21...Qd6 22.Rc8 a5 23.Re1 Qe5 24.Rd8 and White is
winning] 22.Rh5! Nf6 [22...d3 23.Qb3 Qe7 24.Re1 Nf6 25.Re5 Kg8 26.Ne6
Qf7 27.Qc3 Rg6 28.Ng5 and White is winning; 22...Qb6 a) 23.Rh6 Ne5
(23...Rb8 24.Re6!) 24.Qe2 Rb8 (24...Nf3 25.Kh1 Re8 26.Qe4 and White is
superior) 25.Rc1 d3 26.Qe4 d2 27.Rd1 Nf3 28.Kh1 Ng5 29.Qe2 Qb7 30.Ng2
Qf3 31.Rd2 Qe2 32.Re2 Rb5 33.Ne3 and White is superior; b) 23.Qb3 Re8
(23...Nc5 24.Rc5 Qc5 25.Qe6 Kf8 26.Qf6 Kg8 27.Qg7 Kg7 28.Ne6 and White
is winning; 23...Rc8 24.Re1 Rc5 25.Rc5 Nc5 26.Qc4 Qd6 27.Rd1 d3 28.b4
and White is winning) 24.Rc1! Nf8 25.Rf5 Kg8 26.Nh5 and White is
winning] 23.Re5 Qd6 [23...Kg8 24.Qb3 Qe8 25.Ne6 Kh8 26.Rc1 Rd7
27.Rc6 d3 28.Nf4 and White is winning] 24.Re6 [24...Qd7 25.Qb3] 1-0
[V.Ivanchuk]
V. Anand 2792 B. Gelfand 2723

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Be3
Nbd7 9.Qd2 b5 10.0-0-0 Nb6 11.Qf2 Nc4 12.Bc4 bc4 13.Na5 Qd7 14.Rd2
(a novelty) Be7 15.Rhd1 Rb8?! [15...0-0] 16.Bc5! Qc7 [16...0-0 17.Bd6 Bd6
18.Rd6 Qc7 19.Nc6 and White is winning] 17.Rd6! Qa5 [only move; 17...00 18.Rc6!] 18.Re6 fe6 19.Be7 (and White is superior) Rb7 [19...Ke7?
20.Qa7! and White is winning; 19...Kf7 20.Bf6 Rb7 (20...gf6 21.Rd7 Ke8
only move 22.Qa7 Qb4 23.a3! Qb2 24.Kd2 Qa3 25.Qb8 Kd7 26.Qh8 and
White is winning) 21.Bh4 Qb4 22.Kd2 Qb2 23.Qe3 Rd7 24.Ke1 Rd1 25.Kd1
and White is winning] 20.Bd6 Nd7 [20...Kf7 21.f4 ef4 22.e5 and White is
winning] 21.Qh4 [21.Qg3 Kf7 22.Qg5 Qd8 23.Qd8 Rd8 24.Be5 Rc8] Qd8
[21...Nf6 22.Qg5!] 22.Qh5 [22.Qd8 Kd8 23.Be5 Ke7 24.Bd6 Kf7 25.Rd4
Rc8 26.e5 Rc6 27.f4 and White is superior] g6 23.Qh6 Qf6 24.Ne2 Kf7
[24...g5 25.Qf6 Nf6 26.Be5 Ke7 27.Rd6 Ra8 (27...Rb5 28.Bf6 Kf6 29.Nd4
Re5 30.Ra6 and White is winning) 28.Nd4!] 25.h4! g5 [25...Qg7 26.Qe3 Qf6
27.Rh1 Rc8 28.g4 Rc6 29.Ba3 and White is superior] 26.hg5 Qh6 27.gh6
Rg8 28.g4 Rg6 29.Rh1 Rb6 30.Ba3 [30.Bc7 Rb5 (30...Rc6? 31.Ba5 with the
idea Bc3 and White is superior) 31.Nc3 Rc5 (31...Rb7 32.Ba5 Nb8! 33.Nd1
Nc6 34.Bc3 Nd4) ] Rf6 31.Rh3 Kg6 [31...Nb8 32.Bc5!] 32.Kd2 [32.Nc3 Rf7
33.Nd1 Nf6 34.Bc5 (34.Ne3 Rc7 35.Bf8 Kf7 36.Bg7 Rb5) Rb5 35.Be3 and
White is superior] Rf7 33.Ke3 [33.Nc3 Nf6 34.Ke2 Rc6 35.Nd1 with the
idea Ne3] Nf6 34.Nc3 Rd7 35.Rh1 Rc6 36.Na4?! [36.Ke2 Ng8 37.Rh5 Nh6
38.Re5 and White is superior] Rb7 37.Nc3 Rb8 38.Nd1 Ng8 39.Rh5 Nh6
40.Re5 Nf7 [40...Rb5 41.Rb5 ab5 42.Nc3 Rb6 43.Kd4! b4 44.Kc5 and White
is winning] 41.Rh5 Rb5 42.Rh1 [42.Rb5 ab5 43.Nc3 Rb6 44.Kd4 Rb7
45.Kc5 Ne5] e5 43.Nc3 Rb7 44.Nd5 Re6 45.Bb4 Kg7 [45...Rb4!
(Huzman,A) 46.Nb4 Rb6 47.c3 a5 48.Nd5 Rb2 49.a4 Ra2 50.Rb1 Ra4
51.Rb6 Kg7 52.Ne7 with initiative] 46.Rh2 [46.Bc3 Rh6 47.Rf1 (47.Rh6
Kh6 48.f4 ef4 49.Kf4 Kg6 and White is slightly better) Rh2 48.f4 Rc2 49.fe5
Rc3 50.bc3 Ne5 51.Kd4 and White is superior] Ng5 47.Bc3 Kg8 48.Rf2 Rf7
49.Rf1 [49.Ke2! Nh3 50.Rf1 Nf4 51.Nf4 Rf4 52.Rh1!] Re8 50.Ke2 [with the
idea Ne3-f5] Ref8 51.Be5 Ne4 [51...Nf3 52.Nf6! (52.Bf6? Nd4) Rf6 53.Bf6
and White is winning] 52.Ke3 Nc5 [52...Nd2 53.Rf2 (53.Kd2 Rd8 54.Kc3
Rd5 55.Bd4! and White is winning) Nf3 54.Nf6 Rf6 55.Bf6 and White is
winning] 53.f4 Re8 54.Kd4 Nd7 55.Re1 [55.Bc7 Re2 56.Kc3 Nf6 57.Nf6
Rf6] Re6 [55...Ne5 56.fe5 Rf2 57.e6!] 56.Re2?! [56.Kc4! Ne5 57.fe5 Rf2
58.Kd3 Rf3 59.Ke4 Rf2 60.Rh1! (60.Ne3 Rb6 61.b3 Rb4 62.Kd3) Rc2
(60...Re2 61.Ne3) 61.Kf5! Rg6 62.Nf6 Rf6 63.Kf6 Rb2 64.Rd1 (64.e6 Kf8
65.Rh7 Rf2) Rf2 65.Ke7 Kg7 66.e6 Ra2 67.Kd8 and White is winning]
56...Ne5 [56...Rg7! 57.Rg2 (57.g5 Ne5 58.Re5 Re5 59.Ke5 and White is
slightly better) Ne5 58.fe5 a) 58...Rg5 59.Nf6 Kf7 60.Re2 (60.Rf2!? Kg6
61.Re2) Rf6 (60...Kg6 61.Re4!) 61.ef6 Rg4 62.Kc5! Kf6 a1) 63.Kb6 c3 64.b3
h5 a11) 65.Ka6 h4 a111) 66.Kb5 h3 67.Rh2 Rh4 68.a4 Kf5 69.a5 Kg4 70.b4
(70.a6 Rh5 71.Kb4 Rh6 72.Kc3 Ra6 73.b4 Rh6 74.b5 Kg3 equal) Kg3 71.Rh3
Rh3 72.a6 Kf4 73.a7 Rh8 74.Ka6 Ke3 75.b5 Kd2 76.b6 Kc2 77.b7 Kd2
78.b8Q Rb8 79.ab8Q c2 equal; a112) 66.a4 Kg5 67.Rh2 (67.Kb5 h3 68.Rh2
Kh4 equal) Rd4 (67...Rb4 68.Ka5 Rb8 69.b4 Kg4 70.b5 Kg3 71.Rh1 h3 72.b6
Kg2 73.Rh3 Kh3 74.Kb5 and White is winning) a1121) 68.Rh1 Rd2 69.b4
Rc2 70.b5 Rb2 71.b6 c2 72.b7 h3 (72...Rb1 73.Rc1 Rc1 74.b8Q) 73.Ka7!
(73.a5 Rb1) h2 74.b8Q Rb8 75.Kb8 Kf4 76.a5 Kf3 77.Rc1 Ke3 equal;
a1122) 68.Rh3 Kg4 69.Rc3 h3 70.Rc8 (70.Rh3 Kh3 71.c4 Kg4 72.Kb5 Rd7
73.c5 Rb7 74.Kc4 Kf5 75.b4 Ra7 76.b5 Ke6 77.Kb4 Kd5 equal) Rd6 71.Kb7
Rh6 72.Rg8 Kf3 73.Rg1 h2 74.Rh1 Kg2 75.Rh2 Rh2 76.a5 (76.c4 Kf3! 77.a5
Rb2 equal) Rh7 77.Kb6 Rh6 78.Kb5 Rh5 79.Ka4 Kf3 80.a6 Ke3 81.a7
(81.b4 Kd4 82.a7 Rh8 83.Kb5 Kc3 equal; 81.c4 Rh7 82.Kb5 Kd4 83.c5 Kd5
84.b4 Rg7 85.Kb6 Rg6 equal) Rh1 (81...Rh8 82.Ka5 Rh5! equal) 82.Kb5
Ra1? 83.Kb6 Kd2 84.c4 and White is winning; 82...Rh5 equal; a12) 65.Re3!
h4 66.Rc3 Rg3 a121) 67.Rc4 Rg6 68.Ka6 (68.Ka5 Rh6 69.Rf4 Ke5 70.Rf1
h3) h3 69.Kb5 Rg5 70.Kb6 Kg7 71.Rh4 Rg6; a122) 67.Rc8 Kg7 68.Rd8 h3
69.Rd1 Rg6 70.Kb7 h2 71.Rh1 Rg2 72.c4! (72.a4 Rc2 73.a5 Rb2 74.Ka6
Kf6) Ra2 73.c5 a5 (73...Kf6 74.c6 Rb2 75.Kc8 a5 76.c7 Ke7 77.Re1 and
White is winning) 74.c6 Rb2 75.Rh2!! Rh2 76.c7 Rc2 77.c8Q Rc8 78.Kc8
and White is winning; a2) 63.Rh2! a21) 63...Kg6 64.Kb6 Rg1 (64...c3 65.b3
Rd4 66.Rh3 Rd6 67.Kc7 Rf6 68.Rc3 h5 69.Kb7 h4 70.Rh3 Kg5 71.c4 Kg4
72.Rh4 Kh4 73.c5 Rf7 74.Kb6! Rf2 75.c6 Ra2 76.c7 Rc2 77.Kb7 and White is
winning) 65.a4! Ra1 66.a5 h5 67.Ka6 Kg5 68.Kb5 (68.Kb6 Rb1 69.c3 Re1
70.a6 Re6 71.Kb5 Re5 72.Kc4 Ra5 73.b4 Ra6 74.b5 and White is winning) h4
69.b4! (69.Kc4 Ra5 70.b4 Ra1 71.Kb5 Kg4 72.c4 Kg3 73.Rb2 h3 74.c5 h2
75.Rh2 Kh2 76.c6 Rc1 77.Kb6 Kg3 78.b5 Kf4 equal) Kg4 70.Kc4 Kg3
71.Rd2 h3 72.Kb5 h2 73.Rh2 Kh2 74.c4 Kg3 75.c5 Kf4 76.c6 Ke5 77.Kb6
Kd6 78.b5 Rh1 79.a6 and White is winning; a22) 63...Kg7! a221) 64.a4
a2211) 64...c3 65.b3 Rg5 66.Kb6 Rg6 67.Ka5 Rc6 68.b4 and White is
winning; a2212) 64...h6 65.Kb6 (65.a5 Rg5!) Rg6 66.Kb7 and White is
superior; a2213) 64...Rf4 a22131) 65.a5 Rf5 66.Kc4 Ra5 67.Kd4 Kf6 68.Rh7
Ke6; a22132) 65.c3 Kg6 66.Kb6 (66.Rg2 Kf5 67.Kb6 h5 68.Ka6 h4 69.a5 h3
70.Rh2 Kg4 71.Kb5 Kg3 72.Rh3 Kh3 73.a6 Kg4 74.a7 Rf8 75.Kc4 Ra8
equal) a221321) 66...Rf6 67.Kb7 h5 68.Rh4 Kg5 69.Rc4 h4 70.Re4 h3 71.b4
h2 72.Re1 Kh4 a2213211) 73.c4 Kg3 74.Rh1 (74.c5 Rf4 75.b5 ab5 76.ab5
Kg2 equal) Rf4 75.Ka6 Rc4 76.Ka5 Rh4 77.b5 Kg2 78.Rh2 Rh2 79.b6 Kf3
80.b7 Rb2 81.Ka6 Ke4 82.a5 Kd5 83.Ka7 Kc6 84.a6 Kc7 equal; a2213212)
73.a5! Kh3 74.Rh1 Kg2 75.Rh2 Kh2 76.c4; a221322) 66...Rf8! 67.Ka6 Rb8
equal; a22133) 65.Kb6 a221331) 65...Rf6 66.Kb7 Kg6 67.Rh4 a2213311)
67...h5 68.Rc4 Kg5 69.Rd4 h4 70.b4 (70.c4 a5 71.c5 Rf2 72.b4 Rf7 73.Kb6
ab4 74.c6 b3 75.c7! Rc7 76.Kc7 h3 77.Rd2 Kf4 78.a5 Kg3 79.Rd3 and White
is winning) h3 71.c4 h2 72.Rd1 Rf4 73.Ka6 Rc4 74.Ka5 Rh4 75.Rh1 Kf6
76.b5 Ke6 (76...Ke5 77.Kb6! and White is winning) 77.Kb6 Kd7 78.Kb7! and
White is winning; a2213312) 67...a5 68.Rc4 h5 a22133121) 69.c3 Kg5 70.b4
h4 71.b5 (71.Rd4 ab4 72.cb4 Rf4) h3 72.Re4 h2 (RR 72...Rf4) 73.Re1 Rh6
74.Rh1; a22133122) 69.b4 ab4 70.a5 Rf7 71.Kb6 Rf6 72.Kb5 Kg5 73.a6 h4
74.a7 Rf8 75.Rb4 h3 76.Rb1 Kg4 77.c4; a2213313) 67...c3 a22133131)
68.bc3 h5 69.c4 Kg5 70.Rh2 Rf5 71.Ka6 Rc5 (71...h4 72.Kb6 Kg4 73.c5 Kg3
74.Rh1 Rf4 75.Kb5 Kg2 76.Rh4 Rh4 77.c6 Rh3 78.c4 and White is winning)
72.a5 Rc4 (72...h4 73.Kb6 Rc4 74.Kb5! Rc3 75.a6 Kg4 76.a7 Ra3 77.Kb6 h3
78.Kb7 Kg3 79.Rh3 Kh3 80.a8Q Ra8 81.Ka8 Kg4 82.c4 Kf5 83.c5 and White
is winning) 73.Kb5 a221331311) 73...Rc8 74.c4! Rb8 75.Ka6 (75.Ka4 Rc8
76.Rc2 Kf5 77.a6 Ke5 78.Kb5 Kd6 79.a7 Kc7 80.Ka6 Rh8) h4 76.c5 Ra8
77.Kb5 Rb8 78.Kc4 Ra8 79.Ra2 h3 80.c6; a221331312) 73...Rc3;
a22133132) 68.b4 h5 69.Rc4 Kg5 70.b5 ab5 71.ab5 h4 72.Rc3 Rh6 73.Rh3
Kg4 74.Rh1 and White is winning; a221332) 65...Rf8! 66.Kb7!! (66.Ka6?
Rb8 67.Rh4 Rb2 68.Rc4 h5 69.Rh4 Rc2 70.Rh5 Kf6 equal) a5 67.Rh4 c3
68.bc3 and White is superior; a222) 64.Kb6 Rg6 65.Kb7 a5 (65...Rf6 66.Rh4
c3 67.bc3 Rf2 68.a4 Rc2 69.c4 Kg6 70.a5 h5 71.Rd4! Kg5 72.Rd5 Kg4 73.c5
Rb2 74.Ka6 Rc2 75.Rd4 Kg3 76.Kb5 h4 77.a6 Rb2 78.Rb4 Ra2 79.c6 Ra1
80.c7 Rc1 81.a7 and White is winning) 66.Rh4 c3 67.bc3 Rg2 68.a4 Rc2
69.c4 Kg6 70.Kb6 h5 71.c5 Kg5 72.Rh1 Rb2 73.Ka5 Rc2 74.Kb4 h4 75.a5
Rb2 76.Kc4 Rc2 77.Kb5 Rb2 78.Kc6 Ra2 equal; 66.a4!; a223) 64.b4 cb3
65.ab3 Rg3 66.Kb6 (66.b4 Rg5 67.Kc6 Rg4 68.c3 Rc4 69.Kb7 Rc3 70.Ka6
Kg6 71.b5 h5 72.b6 Ra3 73.Kb7 Kg5 equal) Rg6 67.Kb7 (67.Ka5 Rc6 68.c4
Kg6) a5 68.c4 (68.Rh5 Rg2 69.Rc5 Kg6 70.c4 h5 71.Ka6 h4 72.Ka5 h3
73.Rc8) Rg3 69.Rb2 Rc3 70.Kb6 a4 71.ba4 Rc4 72.a5 and White is winning;
b) 58...Kh8 59.Nf6 Rge7!; 59.c3; 59.g5 and White is superior] 57.fe5 Rg7
58.Nf6 Kf7 59.Kc4 Rg5 [59...Rf6 60.ef6 Rg4 61.Kd5 and White is winning]
60.Kd4 Rb6 61.c4 Ke6 62.b3 Rb8 63.Re4 h6 [63...Rd8 64.Nd5 a5 65.Rf4
and White is winning] 64.Nd5 Rbg8 65.Nf4 Ke7 66.e6 [66...Rg4 67.Nd5
Kd6 68.c5 and White is winning] 1-0 [V.Anand]
V. Topalov 2804 L.-D. Nisipeanu 2695

Bucuresti (m/2) 2006 96/310
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 c5 6.dc5 Na6 7.cd5 Nd5 8.Nd5
ed5 9.e4! [a novelty; 9.e3 see 95/(301)] 0-0 [9...Nc5?! 10.ed5 0-0 11.Be2 and
White is superior; 9...Qa5?! 10.Bd2 Qc5 11.Rc1 and White is superior;
9...de4 10.Qd8 Bd8 11.Bb5 Bd7 12.Bd7 Kd7 13.Rd1 Ke6 (13...Ke8 14.c6
bc6 15.0-0 Nc5 16.Rfe1 with compensation) 14.Nd4 Kf6 unclear] 10.ed5
[10.Ba6 Qa5 with compensation] Bc5 [10...Qa5 11.Qd2 Nb4 a) 12.Rc1 Bc5
with compensation a1) 13.a3?! Re8 14.Be3 Re3! (14...Be3 15.fe3 Re3
16.Kf2) 15.fe3 Be3 16.Rc8 Rc8 17.Qb4 Qd5 and Black is superior; a2)
13.Be2 Rd8 14.a3 Rd5 15.Rc5 Qc5 16.ab4 Rd2 17.bc5 Rb2 18.Bd3 Bd7 19.00 Bb5 unclear; b) 12.Bc4! Nc2 13.Ke2 Qd2 14.Kd2 Na1 15.d6 and White is
superior] 11.Be2 Bb4 [11...Nb4 12.d6 Be6 13.0-0 Nd5 14.Bg3 Bd6 15.Nd4
Bg3 16.hg3 Qb6 and White is slightly better]
12.Kf1! [12.Nd2 Qd5 13.0-0 Qd4 unclear] Bd6 [12...Bf5 13.d6 Re8 (13...Nc5
14.Bg5 and White is superior) 14.a3 with the idea b4 and White is slightly
better; 12...Re8!?] 13.Bg5! [13.Bg3 Nb4 (13...Nc7 14.Qd3!) 14.a3 Bg3
15.hg3 (15.ab4 Bd6 with compensation) Nd5 equal] Qa5 [13...Qd7 14.Nd4!
Nc7 15.Qb3 (15.Bf3 Be5 with initiative) Bc5 (15...Be5 16.Nf3 and White is
slightly better) 16.Rd1 and White is slightly better] 14.a3 Nc7 15.Bc4 b5!
[15...Re8 16.b4 Qb6 17.Be3 Re3 18.fe3 Qe3 19.Qd4 and White is superior]
16.b4 Qb6 17.Bb3 a5! [17...Re8 18.Rc1! (18.Be3 Re3 19.fe3 Qe3 with
compensation; 18.Qd2 Bg4 with compensation) Bd7 (18...Bb7 19.Qd3 Qa6
20.Ba2 h6 21.Bd2 Rad8 22.Bb1 g6 23.Ba2! and White is superior) 19.Qd3 a5
20.Be3 Qb8 21.Ng5 and White is superior] 18.Be3 [18.Rc1 a) 18...Qb7
19.Nd2 (19.Rc6 Ra6 unclear) Re8 20.Qf3 a1) 20...ab4 21.Ne4 Re4 (21...Be5
22.Nc5 and White is superior) 22.Qe4 ba3 23.Bf4! a2 (23...Bf4 24.Rc7 and
White is winning) 24.Ba2 Ra4 25.Rc7 Re4 26.Rb7 Bf4 27.Ra7 and White is
superior; a2) 20...h6 21.Be3 ab4 22.Ne4 (22.ab4 Bb4 23.Ne4 Ra3 unclear,
with the idea 24.Nf6 gf6 25.Qg3 Kh7 26.Rc7 Rb3!) Re4 23.Qe4 ba3 24.Rc6
Ra6 25.Qh4 and White is slightly better; b) 18...Bb7 19.Be3 Qa6 b1)
20.Bc5?! Rad8! (20...ab4 21.ab4 Rad8? 22.Ra1 and White is winning)
21.Ng5 Bc5 22.Rc5 Ne6 and Black is superior; b2) 20.Ng5 Rad8 21.Qc2 f5
22.Qe2 with initiative, with the idea 22...Rd7 23.Rc6! Qa8 24.Bb6 Re8
25.Qd3 Rde7 26.Be3 and White is superior] Qb7 [18...Qb8 19.Nd4 (19.Bc5
Na6!) ab4 20.Nc6 Qb7 21.ab4 Ra1 22.Qa1 Bd7 unclear] 19.Bc5! [19.Ng5
ab4 20.Qd3 f5! (20...g6 21.Ne4 Bf5? 22.Nf6 Kh8 23.Qd4 and White is
winning) 21.Ne6 Re8 unclear] Bc5! [19...Rd8 20.Ng5 (with attack) Bc5?
21.Qh5! and White is winning; 19...Ra6 20.Ng5 with the idea Ne4 with
initiative] 20.bc5 a4 21.Ba2 b4 [weak point Rh1] 22.ab4 [22.Bc4 Ra5 23.c6
Qb6 with compensation] Qb4 [22...Qb5 23.Kg1 Qb4 a) 24.Rc1 Bg4

(24...Ra5) 25.Qd2 (25.Qd4 Qa3 with counterplay) Na6 26.Rc4 Qd2 27.Nd2
Be2 unclear, with the idea 28.Ra4? Nc5 29.Ra8 Ra8 30.Bb1 Rb8 and Black is
superior; b) 24.d6 Nb5 25.Rc1 Nc3 26.Qd2 Na2 27.Qa2 Ra5 (27...Be6
28.Qd2) 28.Qc2 (28.Qd2? Rc5! 29.Qb4 Rc1 30.Ne1 Re8 and Black is
superior) a3 with counterplay; c) 24.Qd4 Na6 25.c6 Qd4 26.Nd4 Nb4 equal,
weak point Kg1] 23.Qd4! [23.Rc1 Ra5! 24.Qd2 Rc5 25.Qb4 Rc1 26.Ne1
Ba6 27.Kg1 Re8 28.g3 (28.g4?! Rce1 29.Kg2 R1e4! and Black is slightly
better) Nd5 (28...Rce1? 29.Kg2 Rh1 30.Kh1 Bb5 31.Qc5 and White is
winning) 29.Bd5 Ree1 30.Kg2 Rh1 31.Qa4 Bf1 only move 32.Kf3 Rc8
33.Bf7! Kh8 34.Qd7 and White is slightly better; 24...Na6 equal ] Na6 24.c6!
[24.Qb4 Nb4 25.Ke2 Re8! (25...Ba6 26.Ke3 Nc2 27.Kf4 Na1 28.Ra1 and
White is slightly better) 26.Kd2 Nd5 equal] Qd4 25.Nd4 Nb4 26.Ke2! [26.d6
Rd8 27.d7 Bd7 28.cd7 Rd7 29.Nf3 Na2 30.Ra2 Rd1 31.Ne1 Re8 32.Re2
Ra8! (32...Kf8 33.Re8 Ke8 34.Ke2 Rb1 35.Rf1 a3 36.Nc2 a2 37.Re1) 33.f4
Ra1! (33...a3?! 34.Ra2 and White is superior) 34.Kf2 a3 35.Rf1 a2 equal]
Na2 27.Ra2 Ba6 28.Kd2 Bc4 29.Ra3 Bd5 30.c7 Be6 [with the idea Bd7,
Rfc8 weak point c7; 30...Bg2 31.Rc1 Bb7 and White is slightly better]
31.Nb5 Bd7 32.Nd6 g6? [32...Ra6 33.Rd3 a3 34.Nc4 Bf5 35.Ra3 (35.Rd6
Ra7 equal) Rc6 36.Ne3 Be6 37.Rc1 Rc1 38.Kc1 Rc8 39.Rc3 Kf8 40.f4
(40.Nc2 Ke7 41.Nb4 Bd7 with the idea Kd6 equal) Ke7 41.f5 Bd7 42.f6
(42.Kd2 Kd6 43.Nc4 Kc7 44.Ne5 Kd6 45.Nf7 Ke7 equal) gf6 43.Nd5 Kd6
44.Nf6 Bc6 equal] 33.Rc1 Kg7 34.Rc4 Ra6 35.Rd4 [35.c8N?! Rd8] Ra7
36.Ne8! Re8 37.Rd7 Raa8 38.Kc3 (and White is winning) Kf6 39.Kb4 Ke6
40.Rd4 Ke5 41.Rc4 Rec8 42.Kb5 Kd5 43.Rc2 1-0 [L.-D.Nisipeanu,
V.Stoica]
P. Leko 2740 G. Kamsky 2686

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 00 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.Nbd2 Bd7 13.Nf1 Rac8 14.Ne3 cd4
15.cd4 Nc6 16.d5 Nb4 17.Bb1 a5 18.a3 Na6 19.b4 ab4 20.ab4 Qb7 21.Bd2
Bd8 22.Bd3 Bb6 23.Nc2 h6? [23...Kh8! see 51/(372)] 24.Nh4! [a novelty;
and White is superior, weak point Kg8] [24.Na3; 24.Qe2] Nh7 25.Qf3
[25.Qh5!? Bd8 26.Nf5 Bf5 27.Qf5 Bg5 28.Ne3 and White is superior] Ng5
[25...Bd8 26.Nf5 Bf5 27.Qf5 Bg5 28.Ne3 and White is superior] 26.Qg3 Nc7
[26...Bd8 27.Ne3 (27.f4? ef4 28.Bf4 Rc3! with counterplay) g6 28.Ng4 Bg4
29.Qg4 and White is superior] 27.Ne3! [27.Bg5 hg5 28.Qg5 Ne8 and White
is superior] Ra8 [27...g6 28.Nef5! gf5 29.Bg5 hg5 (29...Kh7 30.Nf5 Bf5
31.Qh4 and White is winning) 30.Qg5 Kh8 31.Nf5 Bf5 32.ef5 Bf2 (32...f6
33.Qh6 Kg8 34.Qg6 Kh8 35.Re4 and White is winning) 33.Kf2 Qb6 34.Kf1
Qd4 35.Qf6 Kg8 36.Be4 and White is winning, with the idea 36...Nd5?
37.Qg5 Kh8 38.Qh6 Kg8 39.f6; 27...Ne8!? 28.Nef5 and White is superior]
28.Nef5 Ra1 29.Ne7!? [29.Ra1 Ra8 30.Ra8 Qa8 31.Nd6! Qa1 32.Kh2 and
White is superior, with the idea 32...Qb2?! 33.Bg5 hg5 34.Qg5 Qf2 35.Nf3!
Qe3 36.Qd8 Ne8 37.Qd7 Nd6 38.Qd6 Qf4 39.Kh1 Qc1 40.Bf1 Qf1 41.Kh2
Be3 42.Qb8 Kh7 43.Qe5 and White is winning] Kh8 [29...Kh7 30.Ra1 f6
31.Nhf5 Bf5 32.Nf5 Ne8 33.h4 Nf7 34.h5 Ng5 35.Rc1 and White is superior,
with the idea Rc6; 35.Qg4!?] 30.Ra1 Nh7
31.Qf3!! [with the idea Qf7] Nf6 [31...Ne8 32.Qf7!! and White is winning;
31...Be8 32.Nhf5 and White is winning] 32.Bh6 Ra8! 33.Rf1 [33.Bg7!! Kg7
a) 34.Nef5 Kf8! 35.Nd6 Bf2!! (35...Ra1 36.Kh2 Qa7 37.Qf6 and White is
winning) 36.Kh2 Bh4 37.Nb7 Ra1; b) 34.Nhf5! b1) 34...Kf8 35.Nd6 Ra1
36.Kh2 Ke7! (36...Qa7 37.Qf6 Be8 38.Ng6 Kg8 39.Qh8#) 37.Nb7 Nce8
38.Nc5 and White is winning; b2) 34...Bf5 35.Nf5 Kh7 (35...Kf8 36.Nd6!!
Ra1 37.Kh2 Qa7 38.Qf6 Ne8 39.Qh8 Ke7 40.Nc8 and White is winning)
36.Nd6 (36.Ra8!? Qa8 37.Nd6 and White is winning) Ra1 37.Kh2 Qa8
38.Qf6 Qf8 39.Nf7 and White is winning, with the idea d6, with the idea Be2g4-f5] Nce8 34.Bc1 Ra1! 35.Nhf5 [35.Nef5!? Qc7 36.Bd2] Qc7 36.Bd2
[36.Bg5! Rf1 37.Bf1 Nh7 38.Bh4! Nef6 39.Nh6! Be8 40.Nc6! and White is
winning] Rf1 37.Kf1 g6! (and White is superior) 38.Ne3 [38.Nh6!? Kg7
39.g4] Kg7 39.g4? (time) Nh7? [39...Kf8 40.Ng6 fg6 41.g5 and White is
superior; 39...Be3!! a) 40.Be3 Qc3 41.Kg2 Qb4 42.Nc6 Qa4! (42...Bc6
43.dc6 and White is slightly better) 43.g5 Nh5 44.Nd8 f6 45.Ne6 Be6 46.de6
Qb3 equal; b) 40.Qe3 Kf8 41.Nc6 Bc6 42.dc6 Qc6 and White is slightly
better] 40.Kg2 [40.Qe2? Qd8! 41.Nc6 Qh4; 40.Nd1!? and White is superior,
with the idea Bh6!; 40.Nc4!! and White is winning, with the idea 40...bc4?
41.Bh6! Kh6 42.Qf7] Qb7? [with the idea Bd8; 40...Nef6; 40...Nhf6]
41.Nc4!! (and White is winning) g5 [41...bc4 42.Bh6! Kh6 43.Qf7; 41...Bg4
42.Bh6 (42.hg4 bc4 43.Bh6! Kh6 44.Qf7 Qe7 45.Qe7 cd3 46.Qe8 d2 47.Qa4)
Kh6 43.Qf7 Bh3 44.Kg3; 41...Bd8 42.Na5 Ba5 (42...Qa6 43.Nac6) 43.Bh6!;
better is 41...Nhf6 42.Nb6 Qb6 43.Qe3] 42.Na5 Qa8 43.Nf5 Kf8 44.h4 Bd8
45.Nh6 f6 46.hg5 f5 1-0 [P.Leko]
P. Svidler 2765 V. Topalov 2801

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Ne4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bc6 dc6 7.de5 Nf5
8.Qd8 Kd8 9.Nc3 Ne7 10.h3 Ng6 11.Bg5 Ke8 12.Rad1 Bd7 13.Nd4 h6
14.Be3 h5!? [a novelty; 14...Bb4 15.Ne4 (15.f4 see 84/271) c5 16.Ne2
(16.Nf3 Bb5 17.c3 Bf1 18.Kf1 Ba5 19.Nc5 Bb6 and Black is slightly better;
16.Nb3 Bb5 17.c3 Bf1 18.Kf1 c4 19.Nd4 Ba5 20.Nf5 Bb6 21.Ng7 Kf8 22.Nf5
Be3 23.Ne3 Ne5 and Black is slightly better) Bb5 17.N4g3 Ne5 18.c3 Ba5
19.Bc5 f6 equal] 15.f4 h4 [15...Bc5 16.Ne4 Bd4 17.Rd4 Bf5 (17...Nh4 18.f5!
Nf5 19.Rd7 and White is superior; 17...b6 18.f5 Ne5 19.f6) 18.Ng3 Bc2
19.Rd2 h4 20.Rc2 hg3 21.Rf3 Nh4 22.Rg3 Nf5 23.Rf3 and White is slightly
better; 18...Ne7!? unclear] 16.f5!? Ne5 17.f6 [17.Bf4 f6 18.Rfe1 Kf7 19.Be5
fe5 20.Re5 Bd6 and Black is slightly better] Rh5?! [17...gf6 18.Ne4 Be7
19.Nf6 Bf6 20.Rf6 Rh5 21.Nf3 (21.Rh6 Rh6 22.Bh6 c5 23.Re1 cd4 24.Re5
Be6 and Black is slightly better) Nf3 22.Rf3 Be6 23.Rf4 Rd8 24.Rd8 Kd8
25.a3 equal] 18.Ne4 g6 [18...c5!? 19.fg7 (19.Ne2 Bc6 20.N2c3 g6 21.Bf4 Rd8
22.Rde1 Kd7 unclear; 19.Nb3 Bc6 20.Nbc5 Bc5 21.Nc5 gf6 22.Rf6 Ke7
equal) Bg7 20.Nc5 Nc4 21.Nd7 Ne3 22.Rfe1 Kd7 23.Re3 Rd5 24.Red3 Bf6
25.c3 and White is slightly better] 19.Bf4 c5 [19...Bd6 20.g4! (20.Rfe1 Kf8
21.Nd6 cd6 22.Nb3 Be6 23.Rd6 Nc4 24.Rd4 c5 unclear) hg3 21.Ng3 Rh3
22.Rde1 Kf8 23.Re5 Be5 24.Be5 and White is superior] 20.Nf3?! [20.Ne2 a)
20...Bc6 21.g4 hg3 22.N2g3 Be4 23.Rde1! (23.Nh5 Nf3 24.Rf3 Bf3 25.Ng7
Bg7 26.fg7 Ke7 equal) Bc2 24.Nh5 gh5 25.Re5 Kd7 26.Rh5 and White is
superior; b) 20...Nc4 21.Rfe1 (21.Bc7!?) Kd8 22.Ng5 Kc8 23.b3 and White
is superior; c) 20...Rf5! 21.Rde1! (21.g4 hg3 22.N2g3 Rf4! 23.Rf4 Bh6 with
counterplay) Kd8 22.g4 hg3 23.N2g3 Rf4 24.Rf4 Bh6 25.Rf2 and White is
superior] Nf3 21.Rf3 Be6 [with the idea Rd8] 22.Rfd3! c4 23.R3d2 [23.Rd4
c6! (23...Bc5 24.Nc5 Rc5 25.Bc7! Rc7 26.Rh4 and White is winning) 24.Bd6
(24.Ng5?? Bc5 and Black is winning) Bh6] c6 24.Ng5 [weak point Rh5] Bc5
25.Kh2 Bd5 [25...c3 26.bc3 Ba2 27.Rd7 b5 28.Rc7 with initiative] 26.Re2
Kf8? [26...Kd7 27.Rde1!? (27.Nf7 Rf8 28.Ne5 Kc8 29.Ng4 Rf5 unclear) Rf8
28.Re7 Be7 29.Re7 Kc8 30.Rc7 Kd8 31.Rb7 Re8 32.Rb8 (32.Nf7 Bf7 33.Rf7
Rf5 34.Bh6 Re1 and Black is superior) Kd7 33.Rb7 equal] 27.Rde1 (and
White is superior) b5 [27...c3!? 28.b3 b5] 28.c3 a5 29.a3 Rc8 30.g4?!
[30.Re5 (zugzwang, with the idea g4) a4 (30...Bd6?? 31.Re8 and White is
winning) 31.g4 hg3 32.Kg3 with the idea h4] hg3 31.Kg3 Be6! [with the idea
Kg8, Bf8-h6] 32.h4 Kg8 33.Re5 [33.Re6 fe6 34.Re6 Rg5! 35.hg5 Kf7
36.Re1 Re8 37.Rh1 Kg8! and White is slightly better, with the idea 38.Rh6?!
Bf8 39.Rg6? Kf7] Bf8! [33...Bd6 34.Re6! Bf4 35.Kf4 fe6 36.Kg4! Kf8
37.Rd1! (37.Re6 Rc7 38.Rd6 Ke8 39.Ne6 Rch7! 40.Ng7 Kf7 41.Nh5 Rh5
42.Rc6 a4 equal) Ke8 38.Rd6 e5 39.Re6! (39.f7 Ke7 40.Rg6 Rg5 41.Rg5 Kf7
42.Re5 Rd8 equal) Kd7 40.Re7 Kd6 41.Rg7 Rch8 42.Nf7 Ke6 43.Nh8 Rh8
44.Kg5 Rh5 45.Kg6 Rh4 (R 6/g) 46.Re7 Kd6 47.Re8 Rg4 48.Kh6 Rf4
49.Kg7 Rg4 50.Kf8 e4 51.f7 Kd7 52.Re5 Kd8 (52...Kd6 53.Re7 with the idea
Ke8 and White is winning; 52...Rg2 53.Re4 Rb2 54.Rg4! b4 55.Kg7 Rf2
56.ab4 ab4 57.cb4 and White is winning) 53.Re7 a4 54.Re6 Kd7 55.Re8
(zugzwang) Rg2 (55...Kd6 56.Re7 and White is winning) 56.Re4 Rb2 57.Rg4
and White is winning] 34.Ne6 time [34.Re6 fe6 35.Rd1 Bh6! 36.f7 (36.Rd7
Bg5 37.Rg7 Kh8 38.hg5 e5 39.Be3 Rg8 40.Rc7 with compensation) Kg7
37.Be5 Kf8 38.Bd6 (38.Rd7? Bg5 39.Bd6 Be7! 40.Re7 Rd5) Kg7 39.Rf1 Bg5
40.f8Q Rf8 41.Bf8 Kg8 42.hg5 Rg5 43.Kh3 Rh5 44.Kg3 Rg5 45.Kh4 Rh5
equal, with the idea 46.Kg4? Rf5 and Black is winning] fe6 [34...Re5 35.Be5
fe6 36.Rd1 and White is winning] 35.Rd1 Rh7! 36.Re6 Rb7 (and White is
slightly better) 37.Re4 Kf7 38.Bg5 Re8 39.Re8 Ke8 [R 9/k] 40.Kg4 [with
the idea 41.h5 gh5 42.Kf5] Rh7? time [40...Rd7? 41.f7 and White is
winning; 40...Kf7! 41.Rd8 b4 42.ab4 ab4 43.Rd4 bc3 44.bc3 Rb5! 45.Rc4
Rc5 equal] 41.Re1! Kd7 [41...Kf7 42.a4! Bd6 43.Ra1 Bc7 44.Rd1 Ke6
45.Re1 Kd7 46.Bc1! with the idea Kg5 and White is winning] 42.a4! ba4
[42...Bd6 43.Ra1 Bc7 44.Rd1 Ke6 45.Re1 Kd7 46.Bc1! and White is
winning] 43.Re5 c5 44.Bf4! (and White is winning) Rh8 (only move) 45.Bg3
[45.h5!? gh5 46.Rh5 Rg8 47.Rg5 Rh8 48.Kf5] Bh6 46.Re7 Kc6 47.Bf4!
[47.f7? Rf8 48.Be5 Kd5 (48...Bc1 49.Rc7 Kd5 50.Bg7 Rf7 51.Rf7 Bb2 52.Ra7
a3 53.Ra5 Ke4 54.Kg5 Kd3 55.Kg6 and White is winning) 49.h5 gh5 50.Kh5
Bc1 51.Bg7 Rf7 52.Rf7 Bb2 53.Ra7 a3 54.Ra5 Ke4 unclear] Bf4 48.Kf4
Rh5! [48...Rh4 49.Ke5 (49.Kg5!? Rh5 50.Kg6 Rh2 51.Re5! Rg2 52.Rg5 Rb2
53.f7 Rb8 54.Re5 Rf8 55.Re2!) Rh5 (49...Rh2 50.f7 Re2 51.Kf6 Rf2 52.Kg7
a3 53.ba3 Kb5 54.Re4) 50.Ke6 Rh2 51.f7 Re2! (51...Rb2 52.Rc7! Kc7
53.f8Q) 52.Kf6 Rb2 53.Kg7 Rb8 (53...Rf2 54.Re6) 54.Kg6 Rf8 55.Re2!]
49.Re5!! Rh4 50.Kg5 Rh5 51.Kg6 Re5 52.f7 Re6 [52...a3 53.ba3 Re6
54.Kg5 Re5 55.Kg4 Re4 56.Kf3 Re1 57.Kf2] 53.Kg5 Re5 54.Kg4 Re4
55.Kg3 [55.Kf3!? Re1 56.Kf2 Rb1 57.f8Q Rb2 58.Ke3] Re3 [55...a3 56.f8Q
a2 57.Qc8! (57.Qa8? Kb5 58.Qb7 Ka4 59.Qe4 Kb3! equal) Kb6 58.Qd8 Kb5
59.Qd7 Kb6 60.Qa4] 56.Kf2 a3 57.f8Q [Q 2/n] ab2 [57...a2 58.Qc8!
(58.Qa8? Kb5 59.Qh1 Rh3 60.Qa1 a4! 61.Qa2 Rh1! equal) Kb6 59.Qd8 Kb5
60.Qd7 Kb6 61.Qa4] 58.Qc8 Kb5 59.Qb7 Ka4 60.Ke3 Ka3 61.Qb5!
[61.Kd2? a4 62.Kc2 b1Q equal] a4 62.Qc5 Kb3 63.Qb4 Kc2 64.Qa4 Kc3
65.Qa5 [65.Qb5?? b1Q 66.Qb1 equal] Kc2 66.Qf5 Kc1 67.Qf1 1-0
[P.Svidler]
V. Ivanchuk 2729 L. Van Wely 2647

Monaco (blindfold) 2006 96/163
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f3 Be7 8.Qd2
Nc6 9.0-0-0 0-0 10.g4 Nd4 11.Bd4 b5 12.g5 Nd7 13.h4 Bb7 14.a3 [14.Bh3
see 69/(216)] Rc8 15.Rg1 Ne5 [15...d5!? with the idea 16.ed5 e5! unclear]
16.Qe3 Nc4 [16...Qc7 17.h5 Nc4 18.Bc4 Qc4 19.Bf6 with attack] 17.Bc4
Rc4 18.h5! [a novelty; 18.Kb1; 18.Rg2] Re8 [18...b4 19.ab4 Rb4 20.Bf6 Re8
21.Be7 Qe7 22.h6! Qc7 (22...g6 23.Nd5! ed5 24.Qc3 and White is winning)
23.hg7 Rc8 24.Rh1 with attack; 18...Qc7 19.Bf6 Rc8 20.Be7 Qe7 21.h6
(21.Rg2?! d5! with the idea 22.ed5 Rc3) g6 22.Rd4 and White is slightly
better] 19.Kb1 Qc7? [19...b4? 20.ab4 Rb4 21.g6 fg6 22.hg6 h6 23.Bc5 Rc4
24.Bd6 Bd6 25.e5 Rf8 26.Rd6 Qa5 27.Re6 and White is winning; 19...Bf8
20.g6 (20.Rg2 Qc7 21.g6 fg6 22.hg6 h6 unclear; 20.h6 g6 21.Bf6 Qa5 with
counterplay) fg6 21.hg6 h6 and White is slightly better] 20.b3 Rc6
21.Nd5!! ed5 [21...Qd8 22.Nf6] 22.ed5 Rc2 [22...Rc5 23.g6 and White is
winning] 23.g6 hg6 [23...fg6 24.Qe6 Kf8 25.hg6 Bf6 26.gh7] 24.hg6 Rf8
25.gf7 Rf7 26.Bg7 Rg7 27.Qe6 Kh8 28.Rg7 Kg7 29.Rg1 1-0 [V.Ivanchuk]
E 15
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4 6.Bd2 Be7
7.Bg2 c6 8.Bc3 d5 9.Ne5 Nfd7 10.Nd7 Nd7
11.Nd2 00 12.00 Nf6 13.e4 b5
14
Re1
1
16
17
Qc21 Rad12 Be44
18
19
20
21
22
Qc3
Qc25
Nf3
bc4
c57
White is
slightly better
Rc8
Nd53
Nc3
Bf6
g66
bc4
...
Rad1
Bf1
bc4
Ne4
Re4 Red4
...
Rb8
Qc89
bc410
c5
Ne411
cd4
Bb7
Bg212
ed5
Re1
c514
Nf3
Re416
Ne5
Qe1
g4
f3
Rb8
Bc815
Bg6
b417
de4
...
15
Qa5
Rfd88
Bg2
equal
ed513
1
15.Rc1 Rc8 16.c5
Ne4
de4
Qd5
Bf5
with
compensation
a) 16...Nd5 17.Re4 Nc3 18.Rc3 f5 19.Re6 Qd4 20.Rc1 Bc5 21.Qe2 (An.Karpov
L.Portisch, Rotterdam 1989 see 47/638) Ba3 with the idea 22.Nf3 Qb2 equal L.Portisch;
b) 16...b4 17.Bb2 Bd3 18.Ne4 Be4 19.Be4 Qd7 20.Rc4 a5 21.Bc1 Nd5 22.Bd5 ed5 23.Rc2
Bf6 equal; Ar.Jussupow An.Karpov, London (m/1) 1989 see 48/688
2
16.Ne4!? bc4 17.Nc5 [17.Bb2!?]
a) 17...Qb6 a1) 18.b4?! Rcd8 19.a3 Nd5 20.Bb2 Bf6 21.Rad1 g6 22.h4 Bc8 [ 22...Bb5!?]
23.Qc4 a5 equal; De.Antic N.Ostojic, Jugoslavija 1999 see 77/(506); a2) 18.Rab1 Bc5
19.bc4 Bc4 [19...Qd8 20.dc5 and White is superior] 20.Rb6 Bb6 21.Bb4 c5 22.Ba3 and
White is superior;
b) 17...Bc5 18.dc5 Qd3 [18...Nd5 19.Be5 with compensation] 19.Qb2 with compensation;
c) 17...Bb5 18.b4 with compensation;
d) 17...cb3! 18.ab3 Bb5 19.Ra7 Ra8 20.Ra8 Qa8 21.Ra1 (De.Antic N.Nikcevic,
Jugoslavija 1999 see 77/506) Qb8 22.Bb2 Rd8 23.Nd3 Bd3 [23...Nd5 24.Ne5 equal]
24.Qd3 Nd5 25.Be4 h6 26.Qc4 Qb7 27.Bc2 Bf6 equal; De.Antic
3
16...h6 17.Bf1 Qd7 18.Ne4 Ne4 19.Qe4 bc4 20.bc4 Bf6 21.Bb4 Rfd8 22.Bc5! and White
is superior; A.Beliavsky M.Chandler, Moscow 1990 see 49/605
4
17.Bb2!? f5 [17...Nb4 18.Qe4 bc4! 19.bc4 Na2 20.Ra1 Nb4 21.Bc3 and White is superior;
Dydyshko Huzman, Batumi 1999 see 77/(506)] 18.cd5 cd5 19.Qb1 b4 20.Nf1 Qb6 21.f3
[21.Ne3!? f4 22.Ng4 Bd6 with compensation] Bf6 22.Ne3
22...Rc3! 23.Bc3 bc3

a) 24.Nc2? (An.Karpov Ju.Polgar, Buenos Aires 2000 see 79/482) Bd4! 25.Nd4 e5
26.fe4 ed4 27.Kh1 [27.ed5 d3 28.Kh1 c2 29.Qc1 cd1Q 30.Rd1 Re8 and Black is slightly
better] fe4 with compensation;
b) 24.fe4 fe4 25.Nc2! Bd3! 26.Bf1 Bd4 27.Kh1 Rf3! 28.Be2 Be2 29.Re2 e5 with
compensation Ju.Polgar
5
19.c5 Bd4 20.Qc2 f5
a) 21.Nf3 fe4 22.Nd4 Qf6 23.b4 [23.Qe4 e5 24.Qe5 Qf2 25.Kh1 b4 equal] Rcd8! 24.Qe4
[24.Nc6 Rd1 25.Rd1 Bb7 and Black is slightly better] e5 25.Qe5 Qf2 26.Kh1 Bc8 27.Ne6
Be6 28.Qe6 Kh8 29.Rd8 Qf3 equal;
b) 21.Bg2 Qf6 22.b4 Rcd8 23.Nf3 Bc3 24.Re3 Rd1 25.Qd1 Bc8 26.Qb3 Ba1 27.Rd3!?
[27.Ne1?! Kh8 unclear; An.Karpov Ehlvest, Sanur 2000 see 78/479] Rd8 28.Rd8 Qd8
29.Nh4 Kh8 30.Bc6 a6 31.Nf3 Bf6 32.Qe3 Qc7 33.Bd5 Qe7 34.Bb3 e5 35.Qd2 and White
is slightly better An.Karpov
6
19...bc4 20.Bh7 [20.bc4 (I.Novikov Fusthy, Cattolica 1993 see 58/567) Qd4 21.Bh7 Kh8
22.Be4 and White is slightly better, with the idea Qa4 I.Novikov, M.Gurevich] Kh8
(H.Olafsson L.Portisch, Manila (ol) 1992 see 55/522) 21.Be4! and White is slightly
better, with the idea 21...Bd4 22.Nf3!? cb3 23.Qb3 c5
7
22.Re3 1/2 : 1/2 V.Anand Mi.Adams, Wijk aan Zee 1998 see 71/(544);
22.Ne5 Be5 only move 23.de5 Rfd8! 24.c5? Bb5! and Black is superior; R.Kempinski
Dydyshko, Swidnica 1998 see 73/(590); 24.Bf3 equal, with the idea 24...Rd1 25.Rd1 Qe5
26.Qa4! Dydyshko
8
23.Qc1
a) 23...Bb5?! 24.h4 Rd7 25.Ne5 Rd4 [25...Be5 26.de5 Rd1 27.Rd1 Qa2 28.Rd7 Rf8
29.Qf4 a5 30.h5 Qe2 31.h6 Qh5 32.Kg2 and White is winning; Ovsejevitsch
D.Komarov, Donetsk (zt) 1998 see 74/531] 26.Rd4 Be5 27.Rd7 and White is superior;
b) 23...Qa2 24.Qf4 Bg7 [24...Kg7 25.h4 with the idea h5-h6] 25.h4 Qb2 26.Rb1 Qc3
27.Rec1 Qa5 28.Ra1 Qb5 29.h5 and White is superior D.Komarov;
c) 23...Rd7!? 24.h4 Qd8 25.Rd2! Bb5 26.Qc3 and White is slightly better; An.Karpov
Mi.Adams, Dos Hermanas 1999 see 75/463
9
16...h6?! 17.Bf1 bc4 18.bc4 Qc7 [18...Bb4?! 19.Bb4 Rb4 20.a3! Rb6 21.Ne4 and White is
slightly better; Z.Almasi Palac, Pula 1999 see 77/507] 19.Qa4 Bb7 20.Ne4 and White is
slightly better Z.Almasi;
16...Qc7?! 17.Ne4 [17.Bf1 bc4 18.bc4 c5 19.dc5 Bb7! equal; J.Timman V.Anand, Wijk
aan Zee 2001 see 80/533; 19.d5! with initiative V.Anand] bc4
a) 18.Nf6 Bf6 19.bc4 c5 equal; An.Karpov Leko, Linares 2001 see 81/(432);
b) 18.bc4! b1) 18...Bc4 19.Nf6 gf6 [19...Bf6 20.Bd2 Bd5 21.Bd5 ed5 22.Bf4 and White is
superior] 20.Bd2 Bd5 21.Bd5 ed5 22.Bf4 Bd6 23.Bh6 Rfd8 24.Qf5 and White is superior;
b2) 18...Ne4 19.Be4 f5 [19...Bc4? 20.Bh7 Kh8 21.Re5! Rb5 22.d5!! and White is superior;
Sakalauskas R.Kaminski, corr.2003 see 87/443; 19...h6 20.Qa4] 20.Bd3 Bc8 21.c5 and
White is superior Sakalauskas
10
17...Rd8?! 18.Ne4 Ne4 19.Re4 and White is superior; Adianto Sendur, Istanbul (ol)
2000 see 80/(533)
11
19...cd4
a) 20.Bd4 Ne4 21.Qe4 Bb7 22.Qe5 Bf6 23.Qc5 Bd4 24.Qc8 Rfc8 25.Rd4 Bc6 1/2 : 1/2
An.Karpov V.Anand, Monaco (rapid) 2001 see 81/(432);
b) 20.Nf6 Bf6 21.Bd4 Bd4 22.Rd4 Qc5 23.Red1 g6 [23...Bb7 24.Bg2 Bg2 25.Kg2 equal
De.Antic] 24.Qc3 Rbc8 25.h4 h5 equal; Kallai Mi.Adams, France 2001 see 81/432
12
23.Kg2 Rb7 24.Qd3 Qc6 25.Qf3 Qf3 26.Kf3 Rc8 [26...Rc7?! 27.Ba5 Rc5 28.Bd2 and
White is slightly better; De.Antic A.Beliavsky, Jugoslavija 2001 see 82/462] 27.Ke2
[27.Rd7 Rd7 28.Rd7 Rc4 29.Re7 Rc3 30.Ke2 g5 equal] h5 28.Rd7 Rcc7 29.Rc7 Rc7
30.Kd3 Rd7 31.Kc2 Rd1 32.Kd1 Bc5 33.f3 Kf8 equal; 23...Qc6! De.Antic
13
14...cd5 15.c5 [15.Re1 bc4 16.bc4 Bc4 17.Nc4 Qc8 18.Qa4 Rb8 19.Qa7 Qc4 20.Rec1
Bb4!? 21.Bf1 Qc3 22.Rc3 Bc3 with compensation; N.Ibraev N.V.Pedersen, Bled (ol)
2002; better is 17...Qc7! with the idea 18.Qa4 Rfc8! D.Tyomkin] b4 16.Bb4 Bf1 17.Bf1
with compensation; V.Anand Mi.Adams, Wijk aan Zee 2005 see 92/487
14
16.cd5
a) 16...b4 17.d6! Bd6 18.Bb2 and White is slightly better; Lputian Gershon, Athens
2005 see 93/(442);
b) 16...Nd5 17.Bb2 Re8 18.Ne4 Bc8 19.Nc5 1/2 : 1/2 Z.Izoria A.Naiditsch, SaintVincent 2005;
c) 16...cd5 17.b4! Bc8 [17...Rc8?! 18.a3 Bb7 19.Nb3 and White is slightly better; Lputian
T.Gelashvili, Athens 2005 see 93/442] 18.Nb3 Ne4 unclear T.Gelashvili
15
16...b4 17.Bb2 Bb5 18.a3 [18.Nf3 Re8 19.Ne5 Nd7 20.Nd3 a5 21.a3 ba3 22.Ra3 a4!
equal; Khurtsidze Alexey Alexeev, Alushta 2006] ba3 19.Ra3 a6 20.Nb1 Nd7 21.Nc3
Bf6 22.Bc1 and White is slightly better; S.Ionov Melia, Cappelle la Grande 2005
16
18.Ne5 Nc3 19.Qd3 Qc7 20.Qc3 Re8 equal; Kramnik Leko, Dortmund 2004 see
91/(446)
17
23.fe4 Qe6 24.Bb2 [24.Bb4? Bf6! 25.Bc3 Be5 26.de5 Qg4 and Black is superior Z.Krnic]
a) 24...Rfd8 25.Rc1 Bf6 26.Nc6! Qc6 27.e5 Qa6 28.ef6 Re8 [28...Qf6 29.Qd2 with the
idea 29...Qh4 30.d5 and White is superior, passed pawns c, d] 29.Qf2 and White is
superior; Leitao Fier, Santos 2006;
b) 24...Bf6
b1) 25.d5 Qe7! 26.d6 Qe6 27.Ng6 Bb2 28.Nf8 Kf8 unclear Z.Krnic;
b2) 25.Nc6! Qc6 26.e5 Qa6 27.ef6 Rfe8 28.Qf1 Qe2 29.Qf2! [29.Qe2 Re2 30.Bc1 Be4
31.Bf1 Rc2 32.Bf4 Rd8 33.Be5 gf6 34.Bf6 Re8 35.g5 Bd5 36.Be5 Re5! 37.de5 Rc5 with
compensation; H.Banikas And.Sokolov, Greece 2006] Qg4 30.h3! Qg5 31.Bc1 Qh5
32.Bf4 Rbd8? 33.c6 Be4 34.c7 Rc8 35.Re1 and White is winning; V.Topalov Aronian,
Wijk aan Zee 2006 see 96/384; 32...Rbc8 with compensation Z.Krnic.

The Best of Chess Informant - Anatoly Karpov

Zdenko Krnic
We have published 97 volumes of Chess Informant, spanning a period of forty years, and it was
as far back as our second volume in 1966 that Anatoly Karpov first made his appearance in our
pages. Since then we have published 1,600 of his games, 559 of which were annotated by
Karpov himself. Now we are pleased to announce the release of a new CD: The Best of Chess
Informant Anatoly Karpov.
Presented below are his fourteen games that were voted as the best game of the volume in which
it appeared, along with a table of the jurys voting. In analyzing these games we can conclude
that despite his narrow opening repertoire, Karpov was always excellently theoretically
prepared. This is evident from the second game from his match against Korchnoi in 1974, when
he introduced the novelty 19.Qd3, followed by 20.g5!!, after which he won the game without
any serious resistance from his opponent. I was also deeply impressed by the exchange sacrifice
18.Rd5 against Sax in Linares in 1983.
Karpov will be remembered in chess history as the champion with the greatest number of
tournament wins. His zenith came in 1994 at Linares, where he scored 11 out of 13, achieving
the highest single-tournament performance rating ever. He also defeated Topalov with beautiful
combinatory play.
Karpovs first chess idol, the great Jos Ral Capablanca, had a far reaching influence on his
style of play. Legendary champion Mikhail Tal once said: Many of Karpovs intentions
become understandable to his opponents only when salvation is no longer possible. And
Karpovs long-standing coach Semen Furman once stated: I was very glad of Karpovs natural
gift for subtle positional feeling, masterly endgame play and technically accurate conduct of the
game.
18
EDITORIAL SELECTION
KARPOVKORCHNOI
433
10
10
10
10
BROWNEBISGUIER
252
10
QUINTEROSPORTISCH
600
BROWNEPOLUGAEVSKY 473
GELLERSPASSKY
453
JANSASMYSLOV
311
PETROSIANBRONSTEIN
647
KORCHNOIKARPOV
569
PLANINECTIMMAN
234
10
10
10
10
89
66
58
38
35
30
26
24
18
SPASSKYCHEBANENKO
178
17
Karpov 2700 Korchnoi 2670 [B78]

Moscow (m/2) 1974 18/433
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 0-0 9.Bc4 Bd7
10.h4 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.0-0-0 Nc4 13.Bc4 Rc4 14.h5 Nh5 15.g4 Nf6 16.Nde2! Qa5
[16...Re8 17.e5 de5 18.g5 and White is superior] 17.Bh6 Bh6 [17...Bh8 18.Bf8 Kf8 and White
is slightly better] 18.Qh6 Rfc8 19.Rd3 [a novelty; 19.Rd5 Qd8 20.g5 Nh5 21.Nf4 Qf8 22.Qf8
Kf8 23.Nh5 gh5 24.Rh5 Kg7 and White is slightly better] R4c5? [19...Qd8 20.e5 (20.g5 Nh5
21.Nf4 Qf8 22.Qf8 Kf8 23.Nh5 gh5 24.Rh5 Kg7 and White is slightly better) de5 21.g5 (21.Ng3
Qf8 22.Qf8 Rf8 23.g5 Bc6 24.gf6 ef6 and Black is slightly better) Nh5 22.Ng3 Qf8 23.Qf8 Kf8
24.Nh5 Bf5 25.Ng3 Bd3 26.cd3 Rf4 equal]
20.g5!! and White is winning [20.Nd5 Rc2] Rg5 [20...Nh5 21.Nf4 Rg5 22.Ncd5 and White is
winning] 21.Rd5! Rd5 22.Nd5 Re8 23.Nef4 [with the idea 24.Nf6 gf6 25.Nd5] Bc6 [23...Be6
24.Ne6! (24.e5? de5! 25.Nf6 ef6 26.Nh5 gh5 27.Rg1 Bg4 28.fg4 Qc5) fe6 25.Nf6 ef6 26.Qh7
Kf8 27.Qd7! and White is winning]
24.e5!! Bd5 [24...de5 25.Nf6 ef6 26.Nh5! and White is winning] 25.ef6 ef6 26.Qh7 Kf8 27.Qh8
[27... Ke7 28.Nd5 Qd5 29.Re1] 1-0 [Botvinnik]
20
EDITORIAL SELECTION
KARPOVSPASSKY
601
10
PORTISCHGLIGORIC
10
10
59
702
BRONSTEINKEENE
535
53
10
10
39
GUFELDSMYSLOV
200
10
35
TAIMANOVVAGANIAN
26
34
KARPOVANDERSSON
385
29
ROMANISHINPETROSIAN
32
28
KORCHNOIPETROSIAN
540
10
27
UHLMANNLJUBOJEVIC
66
10
26
BELIAVSKYGELLER
71
25
Karpov 2705 Spassky 2625 [E18]

USSR 1975 20/601
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.Nc3 0-0 7.Qc2 d5 8.cd5 Nd5 [8...ed5!?] 9.0-0
Nd7 [9...Nc3 10.bc3 Nd7 11.Ng5 Bg5 12.Bb7 and White is superior] 10.Nd5 ed5 [10...Bd5
11.e4 Bb7 12.Rd1 c5 13.d5! (13.dc5 Qc8! 14.c6 Bc6 15.Nd4 Bb7 16.Qc8 Rfc8 17.Ne6 Nf6
equal) ed5 14.ed5 Bf6 15.h4 and White is superior] 11.Rd1 Nf6 [11...c5 12.dc5 bc5 and White
is superior] 12.Ne5 c5 13.dc5 Bc5 [13...bc5 14.Bg5! with the idea Nd3-f4] 14.Nd3 Bd6
[14...Rc8 15.Nc5 Rc5 16.Qa4 and White is slightly better] 15.Bf4 (and White is slightly better)
Re8 16.e3 Ne4 17.Bd6 Qd6 18.Nf4 Rac8!? [18...Rad8] 19.Qa4 Qe7
20.Qa7! [20.Be4 Qe4 21.Rd4 Qc2 22.b3] Nf2 21.Nd5! [21.Kf2? Qe3 22.Kf1 Rc2 and Black is
winning] Bd5 22.Qe7 Nd1 [22...Re7 23.Rd5 Ng4 24.Bh3 (24.e4 Ne3 25.Rb5 and White is
superior) Ne3 25.Bc8 Nd5 26.Rd1 and White is superior] 23.Rc1! Rb8 only move [23...Rcd8
24.Qd8 Rd8 25.Rd1; 23...Ra8 24.Bd5 Re7 25.Ba8 Re8 26.Bc6] 24.Qb4 Bg2 25.Kg2 Ne3
26.Kg1 Re6 27.Qf4 Rd8 28.Qd4 Rde8 29.Qd7 Ng4 30.Rc8 Nf6 [30...Re1 31.Kg2 R1e2
32.Kh3 Nf2 33.Kh4 R2e4 34.g4 Rg4 35.Qg4 and White is winning] 31.Re8 Re8 32.Qb7 Re6
33.Qb8 Ne8 34.a4 g6 35.b4 Kg7 36.Qb7 h5 37.h3 Kf6 38.Kg2 Rd6 39.a5 ba5 40.ba5 Re6
41.a6 Nc7 42.a7 Re7 43.Qc6 Ke5 44.Kf3 1-0 [Karpov]
23
EDITORIAL SELECTION
TATAIKARPOV
86
10
10
10
76
PLANINECGLIGORIC
237
10
49
SMEJKALLJUBOJEVIC
75
10
10
41
BRONSTEINUHLMANN 232
10
10
10
32
KARPOVLIBERZON
415
32
TIMMANPOMAR
195
30
AUGUSTINNUNN
235
28
STEANUNGUREANU
506
27
JANOSEVICBARETIC
236
24
TALVADASZ
157
22
Tatai 2480 Karpov 2690 [A34]

Las Palmas 1977 23/86
1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.g3 g6 6.Bg2 Bg7 7.Qa4 Nc6 8.Ng5 e6 9.Nge4 Nb6!
10.Qb5 c4 11.Na4 0-0 12.Nb6 ab6 13.Qc4 e5 14.Qc2 [RR 14.d3 Be6 15.Bg5! Qd7 16.Qc1
Be.Larsen] Nd4 15.Qb1 [15.Qd1? Be6 with the idea Bb3 and Black is winning] f5 16.Nc3 e4
17.d3 b5 18.Be3 [RR 18.de4 b4 19.Nd5 b3 20.0-0 Be.Larsen] b4 19.Nd1 Re8 20.de4 fe4
21.Bd4 [21.Be4? Re4 22.Qe4 Bf5 and Black is winning] Qd4 22.a3 [22.Qc2!?] Bg4 23.Qc2
23...Qd3! 24.ed3 [24.Ne3 Qc2 25.Nc2 Bb2 and Black is winning; 24.Rc1 ba3 and Black is
winning; 24.Qd2 Qd2 25.Kd2 Rad8 26.Ke1 Bf3 27.Rg1 (27.ef3 ef3 28.Kf1 fg2 29.Kg2 b3) Bg2
28.Rg2 Rc8 and Black is superior] ed3 25.Kd2 Re2! 26.Kd3 Rd8 27.Kc4 Rc2 28.Kb4 Rcd2
29.f3 Bf8 30.Ka5 Bd7! 0-1 [Karpov]
28
EDITORIAL SELECTION
40
10
10
59
POLUGAEVSKYTAL
98
10
10
10
52
GUFELDIVANOVIC
359
10
10
47
ADORJANRIBLI
452
10
41
MILESADORJAN
78
35
TSESHKOVSKYKUPREICHIK
382
34
PORTISCHBALASHOV
661
31
CHIBURDANIDZERODRIGUEZ 450
26
274
21
POKOJOWCZYKTIMOSCENKO 435
10
19
TIMMANKARPOV
TIMMANSMYSLOV
Timman 2625 Karpov 2705 [A28]

Montreal 1979 28/40
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e3 Be7 5.d4 ed4 6.Nd4 0-0 [6...Nd4 7.Qd4 0-0 8.Be2 d6 9.0-0
and White is slightly better] 7.Nc6 [7.Be2] bc6 8.Be2 d5 9.0-0 Bd6 10.b3 [10.cd5 cd5 11.b3
equal] Qe7! 11.Bb2 [11.Qc2] dc4! [a novelty; 11...Rd8 12.cd5 Qe5!? (12...cd5 13.Nb5 Ba6
14.Nd4 and White is slightly better) 13.g3 Bh3 14.Re1 Bb4 15.Qc2 Bf5 16.Qc1 cd5 17.Bf3 and
White is slightly better] 12.bc4?! [12.Bc4 Qe5! (12...Bh2 13.Kh2 Ng4 14.Kg3 unclear; 12...Ng4
13.g3 Nh2 14.Kh2 Qh4 15.Kg1 Bg3 equal) 13.g3 Bh3 with initiative] Rb8 13.Qc1 Ng4 14.g3
[14.h3 Qe5 15.g3 Ne3! and Black is winning; 14.Bg4 Bg4 and Black is superior, pair of
bishops] Re8 15.Nd1? [15.Bf3 Ne5 16.Be2] Nh2! 16.c5 [16.Kh2 Qh4 17.Kg1 Bg3 18.fg3 Qg3
19.Kh1 Re4! (19...Re6 20.Bf6!) 20.Rf4 Rf4 21.ef4 Qe1 22.Kg2 Qe2 and Black is winning] Nf1
17.cd6
17...Ng3!! 18.fg3 Qd6 19.Kf2 [19.Kg2 Qh6 20.g4 Qg5 with attack] Qh6 20.Bd4 Qh2 21.Ke1
Qg3 22.Kd2 Qg2! and Black is winning [with the idea 23...Ba6 24.Nc3 c5 25.Bc5 Rbd8]
23.Nb2 Ba6 24.Nd3 [24.Qf1 Qh2 with the idea c5] Bd3! 25.Kd3 Rbd8 [with the idea Rd4]
26.Bf1 Qe4 27.Kc3 c5! 28.Bc5 Qc6 29.Kb3 Rb8 30.Ka3 Re5 31.Bb4 Qb6 [32.Qd2 Re3] 0-1
[D.Minic, Sindik]
29
EDITORIAL SELECTION
KARPOVHUEBNER
374
10
10
10
10
10
KASPAROVPRIBYL
565
10
74
10
47
SEIRAWANKORCHNOI 39
74
TALPOLUGAEVSKY
392
40
WEDBERGOGAARD
348
10
35
MILESANDERSSON
24
TALPOLUGAEVSKY
393
10
23
MEDNISERMENKOV
302
20
BUKICCEBALO
142
17
TSEITLINROGULJ
114
16
Karpov 2725 Huebner 2600 [B85]

Bad Kissingen 1980 29/374
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 7.0-0 Be7 8.f4 0-0 9.Kh1 Nc6 10.Be3
Bd7 11.Qe1 Nd4 12.Bd4 Bc6 13.Qg3 b5 14.a3 g6?! [14...Qc7 15.Rac1 see 25/509; 14...Qd7!?]
15.Bf3 Qd7 16.Rad1 Qb7 17.f5! e5 [17...Ne4? 18.Ne4 Be4 19.f6 Bd8 20.Qh4 and White is
winning] 18.Be3 b4 19.ab4 Qb4
20.Bg5! [with the idea Qh4] Qb2 21.Rd3 [with the idea 22.Rb1 Qc2 23.Bd1] Qc2 22.Bd1 Qb2
23.Bf6! [23.Qh4?! Ne4!] Bf6 24.Rd6 Bb5 [24...Bh4? 25.Qh4 Qc3 26.Qh6 and White is
winning] 25.Rf2 Qc1? [25...Qa1!? 26.fg6!? (26.Rf6?! Rac8) Bg7 27.gf7 Kh8 28.h3 and White is
superior] 26.Rf6 Rac8 [26...Rad8 27.fg6 Rd1 28.Nd1 Qd1 29.Rf1 Bf1 30.gf7 Kh8 31.Qe5 Bg2
32.Kg2 Qg4 33.Kf2 Qg7 34.h4 and White is winning] 27.Rc2! Qa1 [27...Rc3 28.Rc1 Rc1
29.Rd6 Ba4 30.Qe1 Rb8 31.f6 and White is winning] 28.fg6 hg6 [28...Rc3 29.gf7 Kh8 30.Qe5
Ra3 (30...Re3 31.Qa1 Re1 32.Rf1 mate) 31.Rb2 and White is winning] 29.Rd6 Rc7 30.Qe5
Rfc8 31.Qd5! [31.Rcd2? Qc3] Kg7 [31...Rc3 32.Rg6 and White is winning] 32.Qd4 Kh7
33.Nb5 1-0 [Parma]
34
EDITORIAL SELECTION
KARPOVHUEBNER
186
SEIRAWANKARPOV
10
10
66
523
10
10
50
KORCHNOIKASPAROV 115
10
10
50
437
10
42
64
37
TIMMANTORRE
ADORJANHULAK
TALCHANDLER
506
30
KASPAROVNUNN
127
26
HUEBNERSMYSLOV
572
26
LJUBOJEVICPORTISCH 361
10
24
421
20
PSAKHISGELLER
Karpov 2700 Huebner 2620 [B19]

Tilburg 1982 34/186
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 de4 4.Ne4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bd3
10.Qd3 Ngf6 11.Bf4 e6 12.0-0-0 Be7 13.Ne5 0-0 14.c4 [14.Qe2 see 31/186] c5 (a novelty)
15.d5 [15.Qe2; 15.Qc3] Ne5 [15...ed5 16.Nf5 and White is superior] 16.Be5 Ng4 17.Bg7!?
[17.f4 Nf2 (17...Bd6 18.Bd6 Qd6 19.Qf3 and White is superior; 17...ed5 18.Qd5 Qd5 19.Rd5
and White is slightly better; 17...Bf6 18.Bf6 and White is slightly better) 18.Qc3?! Nd1 19.Rd1
f6! 20.de6 Qb6! (20...Qc8? 21.Rd7! and White is superior) 21.Nf5 Qe6 22.Ne7 Qe7 23.Bd6 Qe4
24.Bf8 Qf4 and Black is superior; 18.Qe2 with compensation] Kg7 [17...Bg5!?] 18.Qe2 Bg5
[18...Nf6 19.de6 Qc7 20.Nf5 with the idea g3 and White is superior] 19.Kb1 Nf6 20.de6 Qc8
21.e7 Re8
22.Rd6!! Qg4 [22...Bf4 23.Rf6 Bg3 (23...Kf6 24.Qf3 and White is winning) 24.Qf3! and White
is superior] 23.Qe5 Kg8 24.Re1 Nd7 [24...Nh5 25.Nf5 (25.Re4 Nf4 26.Nf5 f6 27.Qf6 Bf6
28.Nh6 Kg7 29.Ng4 Be7 30.Rd7 Ng6 31.f4 and White is superior) Bf4 26.Qd5! and White is
winning] 25.Rd7! [25.Qf5 Qf5 26.Nf5 Nb6 27.Re4 (27.b3 Kh7 28.g3 Nc8 29.Rd7 Rb8 30.f4 and
White is superior) Be7 28.Re7 Nc4 29.Rh6 and White is superior] Qd7 26.Nf5 f6 [26...Qd3
27.Ka1 Qd4 (only move) 28.Nd4 Re7 29.Qe7 Be7 30.Nf5 and White is winning; 30.Re7 and
White is winning] 27.Qd5 Qd5 28.cd5 Bf4 29.g3 Bc7 30.Kc2 [30.Nh6? Kh7 31.Nf5 Rad8!] b5
31.Nh6 Kh7 32.Nf5 Rg8 33.d6 Ba5 34.Re6 Rg5 35.Rf6 Rh5 36.d7 Rh2 37.Ne3 1-0 [Karpov]
35
EDITORIAL SELECTION
299
KARPOVSAX
POLUGAEVSKYFTACNIK 50
10
10
10
10
10
10
87
10
10
62
10
40
548
36
66
30
BELIAVSKYKASPAROV
697
KASPAROVBELIAVSKY
SMYSLOVHUEBNER
470
30
TUKMAKOVRAZUVAEV 621
27
SEIRAWANKULIGOWSKI 63
21
KULIGOWSKINUNN
702
17
HORTRIBLI
312
16
ROMANISHINKARPOV
Karpov 2710 Sax 2560 [B81]

Linares 1983 35/299
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.g4 h6 7.Rg1 Be7 8.Be3 Nc6 9.Qe2 Bd7 [a
novelty; 9...Nd4 see 34/291] 10.h4 Nd4 11.Bd4 e5 12.Be3 Bc6 13.Qd3! Qa5 [13...Nh7 14.g5
hg5 15.Nd5 and White is slightly better] 14.0-0-0 Ne4 [14...0-0-0 15.g5 d5 16.gf6 de4 17.fe7
ed3 18.ed8Q with the idea Bd3; 17.Qc4!?] 15.Ne4 d5 16.Qb3! [16.Nd2 Qa2 17.Nb3 a5; 16.Qd2
Qa2 (16...Qd2 17.Nd2 d4) 17.Nc3 Qa1 18.Nb1] de4 17.Bc4 Rf8 only move [17...0-0 18.g5 with
attack]
18.Rd5! [18.g5 hg5 19.hg5 a) 19...Rc8 20.g6 fg6 21.Be6 with the idea 21...Ba4 22.Qb7!; b)
19...Qb4 20.g6! fg6 (20...Qb3 21.gf7 Rf7 22.ab3) 21.Qb4 Bb4 22.Rg6; c) 19...g6 (only move)
20.Bd5 and White is slightly better] Bd5 [18...Qc7 19.Rgd1] 19.Bd5 Rd8 [19...Qb4 20.Bb7 Qb3
21.ab3 Rb8 22.Bc6 Kd8 23.Ba7 Kc7 24.Bb8 Rb8 25.Be4 and White is superior, ending] 20.Bc4!
Bb4! [20...Bd6 21.Qb7 Qc7 22.Qe4 and White is superior] 21.c3 b5! 22.Be2 Bd6 23.Qd5!
Ke7?! [23...Qc7 24.Bb5 (24.g5) Ke7 25.Qe4] 24.Bc5! Bc5 only move [24...f6 25.Bc4! Rd7
26.Rd1 and White is winning] 25.Qe5 Kd7 26.Qc5 Qc7 27.Qf5 Ke7 [27...Kc6 28.Qb5 Kd6
29.Qb4 and White is winning] 28.Qe4 Kd7 29.Qf5 Ke7 30.Re1 Rd6 31.Bc4 Kd8 32.Bb5 a6
33.Ba4! [diagonal a4-e8] g6 34.Qf3! Kc8
35.Re7! Rd1 [35...Qe7 36.Qa8 Kc7 37.Qa7 Kd8 38.Qb8 mate] 36.Kd1 Qe7 [36...Rd8 37.Rd7
Rd7 38.Bd7 Qd7 39.Kc1 and White is winning] 37.Qa8 Kc7 38.Qa7 Kd6 39.Qb6 [39... Kd5
40.Qd4 Ke6 41.Bb3 mate] 1-0 [Karpov]
38
EDITORIAL SELECTION
KARPOVKASPAROV
562
DZINDZICHASHVILIBELIAVSKY 11
10
10
58
10
10
53
10
10
48
SPEELMANUHLMANN
807
KASPAROVKARPOV
416
41
LJUBOJEVICBELIAVSKY
410
10
38
MILESTIMMAN
37
32
KORCHNOIPOLUGAEVSKY
29
SUBAPORTISCH
53
27
LJUBOJEVICPORTISCH
464
23
TIMMANPORTISCH
370
23
Karpov 2705 Kasparov 2715 [D55]

Moscow (m/27) 1984 38/562
1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bf6 Bf6 7.e3 0-0 8.Qc2 c5 9.dc5 dc4 (a
novelty) 10.Bc4 Qa5 11.0-0 Bc3 [11...Qc5 12.Ne4 Qe7 13.Nf6 Qf6 14.Rfd1 and White is
superior] 12.Qc3 Qc3 13.bc3 Nd7 14.c6 bc6 15.Rab1 Nb6 16.Be2 c5 17.Rfc1! and White is
slightly better [greater board room; 17.Ne5 Bb7 18.Nd7 Rfc8 19.Nb6 ab6 equal] Bb7?! 18.Kf1
Bd5 [18...Bc6!? 19.Ne5 Ba4 20.Bb5 Bb5 21.Rb5 Rac8 22.Nd3 c4 23.Nb2! and White is slightly
better] 19.Rb5 Nd7 [19...Ba2? 20.c4 and White is winning] 20.Ra5 Rfb8 21.c4 Bc6
22.Ne1! (and White is superior) Rb4 [22...Rb2 23.Nd3] 23.Bd1! Rb7 24.f3 Rd8 25.Nd3 g5
26.Bb3 [26.Nc5? Nc5 27.Rc5 Rb2 28.Rc6 Rdd2 equal] Kf8 27.Nc5 Nc5 28.Rc5 Rd6 29.Ke2
Ke7 30.Rd1 Rd1 31.Kd1 Kd6 32.Ra5 f5 33.Ke2 h5 34.e4!? [34.Kd3 with the idea e4 centre]
fe4 35.fe4 Be4 36.Rg5 Bf5 37.Ke3 h4 38.Kd4 e5 39.Kc3 Bb1 40.a3 Re7 41.Rg4 h3 [41...e4
42.Bd1 Rf7 43.Kd4 Rf2 44.c5 Ke7 45.Bb3 Rd2 46.Kc3 Rd3 47.Kb2 e3 48.Ba4 and White is
winning] 42.g3 Re8 43.Rg7! (and White is winning) Rf8 44.Ra7 Rf2 45.Kb4 Rh2 [45...Rb2
46.c5 Kc6 47.Ra6 Kc7 48.Kc4 Bc2 49.Bc2 Rc2 50.Kd5 Rh2 (50...Rd2 51.Ke5 and White is
winning) 51.Ra7 Kb8 (51...Kc8 52.Rh7 Rh1 53.Kd6 h2 54.Rh8 Kb7 55.c6 and White is winning)
52.Rh7 Rh1 53.Ke4 h2 54.Kf3 e4 55.Kg2 Rc1 56.Kh2 Rc5 57.Re7 Rc4 58.g4 and White is
winning] 46.c5 Kc6 47.Ba4 Kd5 48.Rd7 Ke4 49.c6 Rb2 50.Ka5! Rb8 51.c7 Rc8 52.Kb6 Ke3
53.Bc6 h2 54.g4 Rh8 55.Rd1 Ba2 56.Re1 Kf4 57.Re4 Kg3 58.Re5 Kg4 59.Re2 1-0 [E.Geller]
45
EDITORIAL SELECTION
KARPOVKASPAROV
564
10
10
50
VLADIMIROVEPISHIN
271
10
44
KORCHNOITIMMAN
553
10
42
BELIAVSKYKASPAROV
581
10
40
KASPAROVSOKOLOV,A
16
10
40
HJARTARSONKORCHNOI 387
32
474
10
26
HJARTARSONNOGUEIRAS 342
25
KASPAROVANDERSSON
SOKOLOV,APORTISCH
410
24
PSAKHISSPEELMAN
454
10
23
Karpov 2715 Kasparov 2750 [D87]

Belfort 1988 45/564
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.e4 Nc3 6.bc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.00 Bg4 11.f3 Na5 12.Bf7 Rf7 13.fg4 Rf1 14.Kf1 Qd6 15.e5 Qd5 16.Bf2 Rd8
17.Qa4! (a novelty) b6 18.Qc2! Rf8 [18...Qc4 19.dc5; 19.Qe4! weak point c6] 19.Kg1 Qc4!
20.Qd2 [20.Qe4!? Bh6; 20...Nc6 with the idea Ne5 unclear] Qe6 [20...Bh6 21.Qh6 Qe2 22.Qe3
and White is slightly better; 20...Qf7 21.Ng3 with the idea 22.Ne4, 22.Qe2 and White is slightly
better] 21.h3 Nc4 22.Qg5! [and White is superior, with the idea 23.Nf4, 23.Bh4] h6 23.Qc1 Qf7
[23...Qd5 24.Qc2! and White is superior; 23...h5!? and White is superior, with counterplay]
24.Bg3 g5?! [24...Qd5!? 25.Nf4 Qe4 26.Ne6 a) 26...Rc8 27.Qb1! with the idea 27...Qe3 28.Bf2
Qc3 29.Qg6 Qa1 30.Kh2 and White is winning; b) 26...Ne3 27.Qd2 (only move) Nc4 (27...cd4
28.cd4 Rc8 29.Re1 Rc2 30.Re3 Qc6 31.d5 and White is winning) 28.Qe1 Ne3 29.Qe2 cd4
30.Nf8 (30.cd4? Rc8!) Bf8 (30...d3 31.Qf2 and White is winning) 31.cd4 Qd4 32.Re1 and White
is superior; c) 26...cd4!? c1) 27.cd4 Ne3 28.Qb2 (28.Qd2 Nc4 29.Qe1 Ne3 30.Qe2 Rc8 31.Rd1
Rc2 32.Rd2 Rc1) Rc8; c2) 27.Nf8 Ne3 28.Qd2 dc3 29.Qe2 and White is superior, with the idea
29...Bf8 30.Qf3] 25.Qc2 Qd5 26.Bf2 b5 27.Ng3 Rf7 [27...b4 28.Nf5 Rf7 29.e6 Qe6 30.Re1
Qd7 31.cb4 and White is winning] 28.Re1 [28.Rc1 and White is superior] b4 29.Qg6 Kf8
[29...bc3 30.Nf5 Kf8 31.e6 Rf5 32.gf5 Nd6 33.dc5 and White is winning] 30.Ne4 [30.Nf5 e6
31.Nh6 Rf4 32.Qg5 and White is superior] Rf2 31.Kf2 bc3 32.Qf5 Kg8 33.Qc8 Kh7 34.Qc5
Qf7 35.Kg1 c2 36.Ng3 Bf8 37.Nf5 (and White is winning) Kg8 38.Rc1 1-0 [I.Zaitsev]
46
EDITORIAL SELECTION
KARPOVJUSSUPOW
529
10
63
MALANIUKIVANCHUK
745
10
10
10
61
KASPAROVSMIRIN
825
10
10
60
ANDERSSONGREENFELD 40
52
10
45
79
TALSPEELMAN
73
10
28
KASPAROVCAMPORA
527
23
JUSSUPOWSOKOLOV,A
650
16
KARPOVPORTISCH
734
10
15
TSATURIANBANGIEV
341
15
HOIGULKO
Karpov 2725 Jussupow 2620 [D36]

USSR (ch) 1988 46/529
1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.cd5 ed5 6.Bg5 c6 7.Qc2 g6 8.e4 Ne4 [a novelty;
8...de4] 9.Be7 Ke7 [9...Qe7? 10.Nd5 and White is winning] 10.Ne4 de4 11.Qe4 Be6 12.Bc4
Qa5 13.Kf1! (and White is slightly better) Qf5 14.Qe3 Nd7 [14...Kf6? 15.d5 Bd5 16.Bd3 and
White is winning; 14...Kf8 15.Be6 Qe6 16.Qh6 Kg8 17.g3 Nd7 18.Kg2 and White is superior]
15.Re1 Rae8 [15...Kf6 16.Be6 fe6 17.h4 with the idea Qh6, Ng5, Rh3 and White is superior;
15...Kd6 16.Be6 fe6 17.Ng5 Rhe8 18.Nh7 e5 19.Ng5 Kc7 with compensation; 16.d5! with
attack]
16.d5! [16.Be6 fe6 17.Qa3? Kf6 18.Qa7? Qb5 19.Kg1 Ra8 and Black is winning; 16.Qa3 Kf6
17.Bd3 Qd5 18.Qa7 Bg4 with initiative; 16.Ng5 Kd8! (16...Kf6 17.Be6 fe6 18.Ne4 Ke7 19.h4
and White is superior) 17.Be6 (17.Ne6 fe6 18.Be6 Qb5 19.Kg1 Nf8? 20.d5!; 19...Re7! with
compensation) fe6 18.Ne6 Kc8 19.Qb3 Re7 with initiative] cd5 17.Bb5! [17.Nd4 Qe5! 18.Qa3
(18.Qe5 Ne5 19.Bb5 Nd7 and Black is slightly better) Qd6 equal] a6?! [17...Kf8?! 18.Qc3 with
the idea Nd4-e6, Bd7; 17...d4!? and White is slightly better, Karpov] 18.Qa3 Kd8 [18...Kf6?
19.Bd7 Bd7 20.Qc3 and White is winning] 19.Qa5! Ke7 [19...Kc8 20.Rc1 Kb8 21.Qc7 Ka8
22.Nd4 a) 22...Qf6 23.Ba6 Rb8 (23...ba6 24.Nc6 and White is winning) 24.Qa5 Qd4 25.Bb7
Kb7 26.Rc7 mate; b) 22...Qe5 23.Qe5 Ne5 24.Be8 Re8 25.Rd1 and White is superior] 20.Qb4
Kf6 [20...Kd8?! 21.Nd4 (21.Be2 and White is superior) Qf6 22.Ba6! ba6 23.Rc1! Reg8 24.Rc6!
(with the idea Ra6-a8) Qe5 25.Re6! and White is winning] 21.Qd4 [21.Bd7? Qd3!] Ke7 22.Bd3
Qh5 23.h4! Kd8 24.Ng5 Rhf8 25.Be2! [25.Qf4 Bf5?! 26.Be2! Re2 27.Re2 Bd3 28.g4!; 25...h6
with counterplay] Qh6 26.Bf3 Re7 only move [26...Kc8 27.Rc1 Kd8 (27...Kb8 28.Qf4 with the
idea Ne6 and White is winning) 28.Bd5 Bd5 29.Qd5 and White is winning] 27.Qb4 [with the
idea Bd5] Nf6 28.Qd6 Rd7 29.Qf4 Ng8 [29...Qg7 30.Re6 and White is winning] 30.Bg4 Kc8
31.Be6 (and White is winning) fe6 32.Rc1 Kd8 33.Ne6 Ke7 34.Qf8 Qf8 35.Nf8 Kf8 36.Rh3
Ne7 37.h5 Kg7 38.h6 Kf6 39.Rf3 Ke6 40.Re1 Kd6 41.Rf6 Kc7 42.g4 Nc6 43.Re8 1-0
[I.Zaitsev]
48
EDITORIAL SELECTION
KARPOVADORJAN
689
10
10
10
57
PORTISCHNUNN
796
10
54
KASPAROVHJARTARSON 551
53
PIKETKASPAROV
819
10
41
SHORTLJUBOJEVIC
310
39
JUSSUPOWKARPOV
80
10
28
VELIKOVDORFMAN
64
10
10
26
POLUGAEVSKYTORRE
505
26
BELIAVSKYTIMMAN
725
23
KASPAROVVAGANIAN
42
10
22
Karpov 2755 Adorjan 2530 [E15]

Luzern 1989 48/689
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 c6 8.0-0 d5 9.Bc3 0-0 10.Ne5
Nfd7 11.Nd7 Nd7 12.Nd2 Rc8 13.e4 b5 14.Re1 de4 15.Be4 bc4 16.bc4 Nb6 [a novelty;
16...c5] 17.c5! (and White is slightly better) Nd5 18.Qc2 g6 19.Nf3 Bf6 [19...Nf6!? 20.Ne5
(20.Bd3?! Bd3 21.Qd3 Bc5 and Black is slightly better; 20.Qa4 Ne4 21.Re4 Qd5 with the idea
Qc4 equal) Ne4 21.Qe4 Qd5 22.Qd5 cd5 23.Rab1 and White is slightly better] 20.Ne5! Qc7
[20...Be5 21.de5 and White is superior, with the idea Bd2, with the idea h4-h5] 21.h4 Rfd8
22.Bd2 Bg7 [with the idea 23...Nb4 24.Bb4 (24.Qc3 Be5 25.de5 Nd3 unclear) Rd4 25.Nc6 Re4]
23.Rad1! [with the idea h5 with initiative] Ne7 24.Qc3! [with the idea Qa3] Bb5 [24...Rd4!?
25.Qd4 (25.Bf4?! Rd1 26.Rd1 Rd8) Be5 (25...Rd8? 26.Ba5! and White is winning) 26.Qe3 and
25.Bc2! (and White is superior) Nf5 26.Bf4 Qb7 27.a4 Ba6 28.Be4 Qa8 29.h5 (and White is
superior) g5 [29...Ne7 30.hg6 hg6 31.Qf3 and White is superior, with initiative] 30.Bg5 f6 31.h6
[31.Qb3 Rd5 unclear] Nh6 [31...Bh8 32.g4 Ne7 33.Qc2 and White is winning] 32.Bh6 Bh6
33.Qb3! (and White is winning) Re8 34.Ng4 Kg7 [34...Bg7 35.Bf5 and White is winning]
35.Kg2 f5 36.Nh6 Kh6 37.Bf5 ef5 38.Qf7 1-0 [Karpov]
55
EDITORIAL SELECTION
KARPOVSHIROV
436
10
10
10
64
KASPAROVNIKOLIC
372
61
FISCHERSPASSKY
178
10
10
10
10
58
FISCHERSPASSKY
358
48
ROGERSMILOS
124
10
42
ROHDEPOLGAR,S
33
34
KASPAROVIVANCHUK 46
21
SHIROVGEORGIEV,K
538
21
KRAMNIKULIBIN
494
20
LAUTIERBOLOGAN
595
20
Karpov 2715 Shirov 2710 [D46]

Biel 1992 55/436
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Be2 0-0 8.0-0 dc4 9.Bc4 b5
10.Be2 Re8 [a novelty; 10...Bb7 see 52/422] 11.Rd1 [11.a3!?] Qc7 12.b3 e5 13.h3 Bb7 14.Bb2
a6 15.de5! Ne5 16.a4! and White is slightly better [16.Ng5 c5 17.a4 b4 (17...Qc6 18.e4! and
White is superior) 18.Nce4 Ne4 19.Ne4 Bf8 20.Ng5 and White is superior; 17...h6!] Rad8
[16...b4 17.Nb1 and White is superior] 17.Ng5! Qe7 [17...Bb4 18.Nce4 Ne4 19.Qe4 and White
is winning; 17...Bf8 18.Nd5 and White is winning] 18.Nce4 Ne4 19.Ne4 Bb4 20.Ng3! and
White is superior [20.Bc3 Bc3 21.Qc3 Bc8 and White is slightly better] f6 [20...Qe6 21.Rd8
Rd8 22.Qe4; 20...g6 21.Rd8 Qd8 22.Rd1 Qe7 23.Qe4 f5 24.Qf4 Bd6 25.Qh6 and White is
superior, with the idea Nf5] 21.Be5! Qe5 [21...fe5 22.Bf3 and White is superior] 22.Bd3 h6
[22...g6 23.Bg6 hg6 24.Qg6 Kh8 25.Qh6 (25.Nf5 Bf8; 25.Nh5 Qg5) Kg8 26.Nh5!] 23.Bg6!
[23.Bh7 Kh8 24.Bg6] Rf8 24.Nf5 c5 [24...Bc8 25.Nh4 (25.Nd4) Qg5 26.Bh7 Kf7 27.Nf3 and
White is winning] 25.ab5 ab5 26.Ra7 Qc7 [26...Qe4 27.Qe4! Rd1 28.Kh2 Be4 29.Rg7 Kh8
30.Rh7 Kg8 31.Nh6 mate; 26...Rd1 27.Qd1 Qb8 28.Qd5 and White is winning; 26...Qb8 27.Ne7
Kh8 28.Bf5 Qa7 (28...Rd1 29.Qd1 Rd8 30.Qg4 Qa7 31.Qg6 and White is winning) 29.Ng6 Kg8
30.Be6 and White is winning] 27.Nh4 Rd1 28.Qd1 Ra8 [28...Rd8 29.Qg4 Qb6 30.Rb7 Qb7
31.Qe6 Kf8 32.Bh5 and White is winning]
29.Qg4! (and White is winning) Qc6 [29...Ra7 30.Qe6 with the idea Qe8 mate] 30.Rb7 Qb7
31.Qe6 Kh8 32.Be4 [32... Qa6 33.Ng6 Kh7 34.Ne5 Kh8 35.Nf7 Kg8 36.Nh6 Kh8 37.Qg8 Rg8
38.Nf7! mate] 1-0 [Karpov]
56
EDITORIAL SELECTION
KARPOVKAMSKY
527
10
10
10
10
55
KRAMNIKLPUTIAN
449
10
46
POLGAR,JSPASSKY
388
43
CHERNINSTOHL
543
34
NUNNKRAMNIK
219
10
30
WAHLSJUSSUPOW
333
10
29
IVANCHUKKAMSKY
379
28
TUKMAKOVKHENKIN 471
10
26
369
26
GIORGADZEADORJAN 535
SHORTTIMMAN
26
Karpov 2715 Kamsky 2655 [D79]

Moscow 1992 56/527
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 c6 5.Bg2 d5 6.cd5 cd5 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Ne5 e6 9.0-0 Nfd7 10.f4
Nc6 11.Be3 Nb6 12.Bf2 Bd7 13.e4 Ne7 14.Nd7 Qd7 15.e5 Rac8 [a novelty; 15...Rfc8 see
44/(557)] 16.Rc1 a6 17.b3!? Rc7 18.Qd2 Rfc8 19.g4 Bf8 20.Qe3! [20.Ne2 Rc1 21.Rc1
(21.Nc1 Qc7 with counterplay) Rc1 22.Nc1 Nc6 23.Nd3 and White is slightly better] Nc6 21.f5
Ba3 [21...ef5 22.gf5 Qf5 23.Bh3 Qh5 24.Bc8 Bh6 25.Qh3 Bc1 26.Qh5 gh5 27.Bb7 and White is
superior] 22.Rcd1 Nb4
23.Qh6! [23.Nb1 Nc2! 24.Qh6 Bf8] Qe8 [23...Nc2 24.Ne2 and White is superior; 23...Qe7
24.Nb1 Bb2 25.Bh4 Qf8 26.Qd2 Rc2 27.Qe1] 24.Nb1! Bb2 25.Qd2 Nc2 [25...a5 26.a3
(26.Qb2? Rc2 27.Qa3 Ra2) Nc2 (26...Rc2 27.Qe1 Qb5 28.ab4 Re2 29.Qe2 Qe2 30.ba5 Nd7
31.Rd2 and White is winning) 27.Qa5 and White is superior] 26.Kh1 Qe7 27.Bg1 Nd7 28.Rf3
Qb4 [28...b5 29.Rh3 Qf8 30.Rf1 and White is superior] 29.Qh6! [29.Qf4 Bd4 30.Bd4 Nd4
31.Rd4 Rc1 32.Rf1 Rf1 33.Bf1 Qe1 34.Nd2 Ne5 with counterplay] Qf8 30.Qg5! Qg7 31.Qd2
b6 32.Rdf1 a5 33.h4 Nb4 34.a3 Rc2 35.Qf4 Nc6 36.Bh3! Nd8 37.Be3 b5 38.R3f2! (and White
is superior) b4 39.ab4 ab4 40.Rc2 Rc2 41.Rf2 Rf2 42.Qf2 Ba3 [42...Bc3 43.f6 Qf8 44.Qc2 and
White is winning] 43.Qc2 Ne5 [43...Nb8 44.Nd2 (44.Qc8!? Nbc6 45.Bg5 Qf8 46.Bd8 Nd8
47.Nd2 Bb2 48.Nf3 and White is winning) Ndc6 45.Nf3] 44.de5 Qe5
45.Qc8! Qe4 46.Bg2 Qb1 47.Kh2 Bb2 48.Qd8 Kg7 49.f6 Bf6 50.Bh6 Kh6 51.Qf6 Qc2 52.g5
Kh5 53.Kg3 [53.Kh3? Qf5 54.Qf5 gf5 55.Bf3 Kg6] Qc7 54.Kh3 1-0 [Karpov]
60
EDITORIAL SELECTION
KARPOVTOPALOV
40
ANANDKAMSKY
257
KASPAROVIVANCHUK 420
10
64
10
10
10
57
10
10
56
KASPAROVSHORT
280
10
56
KASPAROVANAND
208
40
KRAMNIKKASPAROV 571
10
28
LEMPERTTIVIAKOV
496
25
POLGAR,JSHIROV
203
24
LAUTIER,JANAND
458
19
TOPALOVBAREEV
281
17
Karpov 2740 Topalov 2640 [A 33]

Linares 1994 60/40
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3 cd4 4.Nd4 e6 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 Bc5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Nc3 0-0 9.0-0 d6
10.Bf4 [10.Bg5] Nh5 [10...Na5 11.Na5 Qa5 12.Bd6! Rd8 13.Be7 and White is superior] 11.e3!
[a novelty; 11.Qd2 Nf4 12.gf4 and White is slightly better; 12.Qf4 and White is slightly better;
11.Be3 see 35/57] Nf4 12.ef4 Bd7 13.Qd2 Qb8 14.Rfe1! [with the idea f5] g6 15.h4 [15.Rad1
Rd8 16.Ne4 Be8 17.Qc3 b5 with counterplay; 16.h4!?] a6 [15...h5 16.Rad1 Rd8 17.f5 gf5
18.Qh6 and White is superior] 16.h5 [16.Nd5 ed5! 17.cd5 Bf6! and White is slightly better] b5
[16...Ra7 17.h6 b5 18.Nd4 and White is superior] 17.hg6 hg6 18.Nc5! dc5 [18...Be8 19.Ne6!?
(19.Na6 Ra6 20.cb5 Rb6 21.bc6 and White is superior) fe6 20.Re6 Rf6 21.Rae1 Re6 22.Re6 Bf7
23.Qe3 Qc8 24.Bc6 and White is winning] 19.Qd7 Rc8
20.Re6! and White is superior [with initiative; 20.Bc6 Ra7 21.Qd3 Rc6 22.cb5 c4 23.Qf3 Rc8
with compensation] Ra7 21.Rg6 fg6 [21...Kf8 22.Qh3 fg6 23.Qh8 Kf7 24.Bd5 mate; 21...Kh7
22.Qh3 Kg6 23.Be4 Kg7 24.Qh7 and White is winning] 22.Qe6 Kg7 23.Bc6 Rd8 24.cb5 Bf6
(only move) 25.Ne4 Bd4 26.ba6 [26.Qg4 ab5 27.f5 Rd6 28.Nd6 Qd6 29.Bb5 Rf7; 26.Kg2 ab5
27.Rh1 Rh8 28.Rh8 Qh8 29.Be8 and White is winning; 26.f5 gf5 27.Qf5 and White is winning]
Qb6 27.Rd1 Qa6 28.Rd4 Rd4 29.Qf6 Kg8 30.Qg6 Kf8 31.Qe8 Kg7 32.Qe5 [32.Nc5 Rd1
33.Kh2 Qf1 34.Qe5 Kh6 35.Qg5 Kh7 36.Be4 Kh8 37.Qh5 Kg7 38.Qe5 and White is winning]
Kg8 33.Nf6 Kf7 34.Be8 Kf8 35.Qc5 Qd6 36.Qa7 Qf6 [36...Rd1 37.Kg2 Rg1 38.Kh3
(38.Kg1?? Qd1 39.Kg2 Qh1 equal) Rh1 39.Kg4 and White is winning] 37.Bh5 Rd2 38.b3 Rb2
39.Kg2 1-0 [Karpov]

"ChessCafe" is a registered trademark of Russell Enterprises, Inc
Kramnik-Topalov, Elista 2006

Zdenko Krnic
Chess Informant 98 will soon be available. It covers the period from September 1 to
December 31, 2006, during which the most important event was undoubtedly the world
championship match between Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov. Volume #98 provides
annotations to all fifteen games and this month we are pleased to present Kramniks
annotations to the fourteenth game (the second rapid game).
This game exemplifies Kramniks approach to the match. His main task was to avoid the
type of complicated positions in which his opponent excels. As white, Kramnik sought a
slight opening advantage that could later be converted into a better endgame at an
appropriate moment, where he could then bring about victory with his skillful play.
In the fourteenth game, after the exchange of queens, Kramnik subtly attacked the queenside
with both bishops via the maneuver Bb2-c1-e3. Topalovs only serious mistake was 31...b4,
which enabled Kramnik to win an important point without much difficulty.
Kramnik 2743 V.Topalov 2813 [D 45]

Elista (m/14-rapid) 2006
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.b3 0-0 8.Be2 b6 9.0-0 Bb7 10.
Bb2 Re8 11.Rad1 Qe7 12.Rfe1 Rac8!? [12...Rad8 equal, see 90/(391)] 13.Bd3 [a novelty;
13.e4 Ne4 14.Ne4 de4 15.Qe4 Bb4 16.Rf1 Nf6 17.Qh4 Ba3 equal] e5 [13...c5 14.cd5 ed5 15.
Bf5] 14.e4 dc4 [14...ed4 15.ed5 and White is superior] 15.Bc4 b5 16.Bf1 [16.Bd3 a6 17.a4
(17.Ne2?! c5 18.d5 c4!) Rcd8 18.Ne2; 17...g6! with the idea 18.Ne2 ed4] g6
17.Qd2!? [with the idea de5; 17.de5 Ne5 18.Nd4 Rcd8 unclear (18...Ned7) 19.f4 Neg4 20.e5
Bc5 21.Ne4 Ne4 22.Re4 Bb6!; 17.g3 ed4!? (17...a6) 18.Nd4 b4 19.Na4 c5] Rcd8 18.Qg5 a6
19.h3 [19.g3! and White is slightly better, with the idea 19...ed4 20.Nd4 Ne5 21.Bg2] ed4 20.
Nd4 [20.Rd4!? Ne5 21.Red1 unclear ] Qe5 21.Qe5 Ne5 [21...Be5?! 22.Nf3! Bc7 (22...Bc3
23.Bc3 Ne4 24.Ba5) 23.e5 Nh5 24.Ne4 and White is superior] 22.Nc2 g5!? [22...Bc5 equal]
23.Bc1 [23.Ne3!?] h6 24.Be3 c5 25.f3 Bf8 [25...Ng6! unclear, with the idea Be5] 26.Bf2
Bc8 27.Ne3 Be6 28.Ned5 Bd5 [better is 28...Nd5 29.ed5 Bf5 30.a4!? (30.Ne4 Be4 31.Re4 f5
32.Re2 c4) c4 31.bc4 bc4 32.Ne4] 29.ed5 Ned7 [29...Bd6?! 30.a4 and White is superior; 29...
c4 30.Bd4 Nfd7 31.Ne4 Bg7 32.Bf2 and White is slightly better] 30.Re8 Re8 31.a4 b4? [31...
c4! 32.bc4 bc4 and White is slightly better] 32.Ne4 (and White is superior) Ne4 33.fe4 Nf6
[33...Re4 34.Ba6 Bd6 35.a5 and White is winning; 33...a5 34.Bb5 Rd8 35.Bg3 and White is
winning; better is 33...Ra8 34.d6 Bg7 35.Bc4 and White is superior] 34.d6 Ne4 35.d7 Rd8
36.Ba6 (and White is winning) f5 [36...Nc3 37.Rd2 Ne4 38.Rd3; 36...Bg7 37.Bc8 Nf2 38.
Kf2 Bd4 39.Rd4 cd4 40.a5] 37.a5 [37.Bc8? Nd6!] Bg7 [37...Kf7 38.Bc8 Nd6 (38...Bd6 39.
g4) 39.Rd6 Bd6 40.a6 Bb8 41.Bc5 Ke6 42.a7] 38.Bc4 Kf8 39.a6 Nf2 [39...Ke7 40.a7 Nf2 41.
Kf2 Bd4 42.Rd4 cd4 43.Bd5] 40.Kf2 Bd4 41.Rd4 cd4 42.a7 Ke7 43.Bd5 Kd7 44.a8Q Ra8
45.Ba8 1-0 [Kramnik]

"ChessCafe" is a registered trademark of Russell Enterprises, Inc
The Most Important Theoretical Novelty of Informant 97

Milan Bjelajac
In the fourth round of the 37th Chess Olympiad in Turin last year, the young Ukrainian grandmaster Andrei
Volokitin played an exceptionally attractive knight sacrifice against Alexei Barsov. This game was voted as
the most important theoretical novelty of Chess Informant 97.
Volokitins detailed annotations of this game prove that this exceptional position offers important
possibilities for both sides. Therefore, we eagerly anticipate seeing it utilized in the games of the worlds
leading chess players.
A.VOLOKITIN 2660 BARSOV 2525

Torino (ol) 2006 97/197 [C19]
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bc3 6.bc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 0-0 8.Bd3 Nbc6 9.Qh5 Ng6 10.Nf3 Qc7 11.
Be3 Nce7 12.h4 Nf5 13.Bd2 f6 [13...c4 see 94/218]
14.Ng5!! [a novelty; 14.Qg4] fg5 only move 15.hg5 cd4 [15...Kf7 16.Qh7 cd4! see 15...cd4] 16.Qh7 Kf7 17.
cd4 Ne5! [17...Rh8? 18.Qg6 Kg6 19.Rh8 Qb6 20.c3 Kf7 21.g6 Kg6 22.g4 and White is winning] 18.Be2 [18.
Bf5!? ef5 19.Qh2 Nd3! 20.cd3 Re8 21.Kf1 Qh2 22.Rh2 Bd7 equal; 19.Rh6 and White is slightly better]
Nc6! 19.Bh5 Ke7 20.g4 Ncd4 21.gf5 Qe5? [21...Kd8! 22.f6 (22.0-0 Nf5 23.Bb4 Qf4! 24.Bf8 Qg5 equal)
gf6 23.Qh6 Qd6! 24.g6!? Nf5 25.Qh7!! (25.Qf4 Qf4 26.Bf4 e5 unclear) Qe5 26.Kf1 Qa1 27.Kg2 Qa3 (27...
Qd4 28.g7 Re8 29.Bc3 Qc3 30.Be8 Ne7 31.g8Q Ng8 32.Qg8 Kc7 33.Qg7 Kb8 34.Rh8 Qc2 35.Bd7 Qe4
equal) 28.g7 Qe7 (28...Ng7? 29.Qg7 Bd7 30.Rb1 and White is superior) 29.gf8Q Qf8 30.Bg6 Bd7 (30...Ne7
31.Bb4 with initiative) 31.Bf4 Rc8 32.Qh8 Qh8 33.Rh8 Ke7 34.Rh7 equal] 22.Kf1 (and White is winning)
Kd8 23.f6! Nf5 24.Re1 Qd4 25.Bb4 1-0 [A.Volokitin]
Van Wely 2655 R.Antonio 2539

Torino (ol) 2006 97/(404) [E37]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.a3 Bc3 6.Qc3 Ne4 7.Qc2 c5 8.dc5 Nc6 9.cd5 ed5 10.Nf3 Bf5 11.
b4 d4 12.g4 Bg6 13.Qc4 d3 14.Bg2 Qf6 15.Ra2 Ne5
16.g5! [a novelty; 16.Qb5 see 76/(489)] Nc4 [16...Qf5 17.Qd4 Nc6 unclear] 17.gf6 Nc3?! [17...Nf6 18.Nd2
Nd2 19.Rd2 0-0-0 20.0-0 Nd5! 21.ed3 Nf4 with compensation] 18.fg7 Rg8 19.Ra1 0-0-0 20.Bh3! Kb8?
[20...f5 21.e3 Rg7 (21...Ne4 22.Nd2 and White is superior) 22.Nd2 and White is superior] 21.Bf4 Ka8 22.
Rc1 de2 [22...Ne2 23.Rc4 and White is winning] 23.Rc3 1-0 [Van Wely]
B.Gelfand 2727 P.H.Nielsen 2646

Torino (ol) 2006 97/308 [D37]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c5 7.dc5 Bc5 8.a3 Nc6 9.Qc2 Qa5 10.Nd2 Bb4 11.cd5
ed5 12.Bd3
12...Nh5! [a novelty; V.Anand] 13.Bg3 [13.Nb3 Bc3 14.bc3 Qd8 15.Bh7 Kh8 16.Bd3 Nf4 17.ef4 Re8 with
initiative; 13.Bh7 Kh8 14.Bd3 Nf4 15.ef4 Nd4! 16.Qd1 Re8 17.Kf1 Bc3] h6 14.0-0 Bc3 15.Nb3 Qb6 16.
Qc3 Ng3 17.hg3 Rd8 18.Nc5 d4 19.ed4 Nd4 20.Rfe1 Be6 21.Ne6 Ne6 equal [P.H.Nielsen]
Sergey Karjakin 2679 Bologan 2645 Tomsk (rapid) 2006

97/65 [B17]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 de4 4.Ne4 Nd7 5.Ng5 Ngf6 6.Bd3 e6 7.N1f3 Bd6 8.Qe2 h6 9.Ne4 Ne4 10.Qe4 Qc7
11.0-0 b6 12.Qg4 Kf8 13.b3 Bb7 14.Bb2 Nf6 15.Qh4 c5 16.dc5 Qc5 17.Bf6 gf6 18.Qf6 Qh5
19.Be2! [a novelty; 19.Rfe1 see 89/65] Bf3 [19...Rg8 20.g3 Rg6 21.Qh4! Qh4 22.Nh4 Rf6 23.Rad1 and
White is slightly better] 20.h3! [20.g3 Be2! 21.Qh8 Ke7 22.Qa8 Bf3 23.Qa7 Kf8! 24.Qb6 Qh3 25.Qd6 Kg8
26.Qd8 Kg7 27.Qd4 e5 28.Qe5 Kh7 29.Qe4 Be4 30.f3 Bc2 and Black is slightly better] Qe5 [20...Be2? 21.
Qh8 Ke7 22.Qa8 and White is winning] 21.Qe5 Be5 22.Bf3 (and White is slightly better) Ba1 [22...Rc8 23.
Rae1 and White is slightly better] 23.Ba8 [R 9/j] Bc3 24.Be4 Ke7 25.f4 f5 26.Bd3 Kf6 27.Rf3 Rd8 28.Kf1
Bb4 29.Ke2 Rd7 30.g3 Rd8 31.Rf2! Rg8 32.Kf3 Rd8 [32...h5 33.Re2 and White is slightly better] 33.Re2
Rd4 34.Bc4 Rd6 35.g4 fg4 36.Kg4? [36.hg4 and White is slightly better] Bc3 37.Re3 Bd2 38.Re4 Bc3 39.
Kh5 [39.a4!?] b5! [39...Bd2 40.Kh6 e5!] 40.Bd3 [40.Bb5? Rd5] Rd5 41.Kg4 [41.Kh6?! Kf7 (41...Bd2!?) 42.
Be2 Bg7 43.Kh7 Rd8 44.Bh5 Kf6 45.Re6 Ke6 46.Kg7 Kf5 47.h4 b4! 48.Bf7 Rd4! 49.h5 Rf4 equal] a5 42.
Kf3 b4 43.Re2 Rh5 44.Bc4 e5! 45.Kg4 Rf5 46.fe5 Be5 47.Bd3 Rg5 [47...Rf4 48.Kh5 Rf3 49.h4 and White
is slightly better] 48.Kf3 Rg3 49.Ke4 Rh3?? 50.Rf2 Ke6 51.Bc4 1-0 [M.Golubev]
Riazantsev 2594 D.Jakovenko 2662

Moscow 2006 97/313 [D39]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 dc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5 c5 7.e5 cd4 8.Qa4 Nc6 9.0-0-0 Bd7 10.Ne4 Be7 11.
ef6 gf6 12.Bh4 Rc8 13.Kb1 Na5 14.Qc2 e5 15.Nd4 ed4 16.Rd4 Qb6 17.Rd5 Be6 [17...c3 18.Nc3 Be6 19.
Qa4 Nc6 20.Rb5 Qc7 21.Bd3 a6 22.Rh5 Rd8 23.Be4 and White is superior; 17...Bc6 18.Nd6 Bd6 19.Rd6 a)
19...0-0 20.Bf6 Rfe8 21.Bd3 cd3 (21...Be4 22.Be4 Qd6 23.Bh7 Kf8 24.Qc3 and White is superior) 22.Qd2
Re3 (22...Be4 23.Rb6 ab6 24.b3 and White is winning) 23.Rc1!!; b) 19...Qc5 20.Qd2 Be4 21.Ka1 c3 (21...00 22.Bf6) 22.Qc3 0-0 23.Qc5 Rc5 24.Bd3 f5 25.b4 Rc6 26.Rd7 Bd3 27.Rd3 Nc4 28.Rd7 and White is
superior]
18.Rh5! [a novelty; 18.Qa4 see 59/(447)] Bg4 19.Qa4! [19.Rh6 Rc6 20.f3 Bf5 21.Bf2 a) 21...Qb5 22.Rh5!?
(22.g4?! Bg6) Be4 23.Rb5 Bc2 24.Kc2 and White is slightly better; b) 21...Be4 22.fe4 Bc5 23.Be1 Bb4 24.
Bc3 Bc3 25.Qc3 Qd8 26.Be2 and White is slightly better; c) 21...Qc7! 22.Bg3 (22.Be2 Bg6 weak point Rh6)
Qb6 23.Bf2 (23.Be1 Bg6 24.Ba5 Qa5 25.Bc4 f5) Qc7 equal] Nc6 20.Rb5 Qd4 21.f3 Be6 [21...0-0?? 22.Bf2
and White is winning] 22.Bf2 [22.Rb7 0-0 with counterplay] Qd7 23.Bc4 Bc4?! [23...Ne5 24.Be6 fe6 25.
Rd1 Qc6 26.Nc3 and White is superior; 23...Rd8 24.Rh5 Bc4 25.Qc4 Qd3 26.Qd3 Rd3 27.Bc5! Bc5 28.Nc5
Rd2 29.Rc1! 0-0 30.g4 Ne5 31.Ne4 Rg2 32.Nf6 Kg7 33.Re5 Kf6 34.Rf5 Kg7 35.Rc7 and White is winning;
23...a6 24.Rc5 (24.Rb3 Na5!) a) 24...0-0 25.Rd1 Qc7 (25...Qe8 26.Qc2) 26.Be6 fe6 27.Rcc1 and White is
superior; b) 24...b5 25.Be6 Qd3 (25...Qe6 26.Qa6 0-0 27.Rc3 Bb4 28.Rb3 f5 29.Nc5 Bc5 30.Bc5 and White
is superior) 26.Qc2 Qc2 27.Rc2 fe6 28.Rhc1 Kd7 29.Rd1 Kc7 (29...Ke8 30.Nd6 Bd6 31.Rd6) 30.Bc5! Bc5
31.Nc5 Kb6 32.Nd7 Kb7 33.Nf6 Rhd8 34.Rcd2 Rd2 35.Rd2 and White is winning; c) 24...f5 25.Rd1 Qc7 26.
Bg3 f4 (26...Qb6 27.Nd6 Bd6 28.Bd6 and White is winning) 27.Be6 fe6 28.Bf2 Bc5 29.Bc5 Rd8 30.Nd6 Rd6
31.Rd6 0-0 32.Re6 Nd8 33.Bd6 Qb6 34.Qc4 Ne6 35.Qe6 Rf7 36.Qe8 Kg7 37.Be5 and White is winning; d)
24...Bc4 25.Qc4 0-0 26.Rd5 Qe6 27.Nc5 Nb4 (27...Bc5 28.Rc5 Ne5 29.Qe4 and White is superior) 28.Ne6
Rc4 29.Rd4 Rd4 30.Nd4 Bc5 31.Rc1 Ba7 32.Bg1 and White is superior] 24.Qc4 0-0 [24...Nb4? 25.Nf6 Bf6
26.Re1 Be7 (26...Kf8 27.Qb4) 27.Re7 Ke7 28.Qb4 and White is winning]
25.Bh4! f5? [25...Nb4?? 26.Nf6 Bf6 27.Bf6 Rc4 28.Rg5#; 25...Nd4? 26.Rd5! Qc6 (26...Rc4 27.Rd7 Nf5 28.
Bf2 and White is winning) 27.Qc6 Nc6 28.Bf6 Bf6 29.Nf6 Kg7 30.Ne4 and White is winning; 25...a6 a) 26.
Rh5 Qe6! 27.Qc3 (27.Qc2 Qa2! 28.Ka2 Nb4 29.Kb1 Nc2 30.Nf6 Kg7 31.Nh7 Rfe8 32.Be7 Re7 33.Ng5 Re2
with initiative; 27.Rc1 Nb4! 28.Bf6 Bf6 29.Qb4 Rc1 30.Kc1 Bg7 with counterplay) Ne5 (27...Nb4 28.Nf6 Bf6
29.Qb4 Qe2 30.a3 Bg7 31.Re1 Qd3 32.Ka2 Rc2 33.Rg5) 28.Qe3 Nc4! (28...Rfd8 29.Qh6 Ng6 30.Qh7 Kf8 31.
Qh6 Kg8 32.Re1 Qc4) 29.Qh6 Na3 equal; b) 26.Qd5! Rfd8 (26...Qd5 27.Rd5 f5 28.Nf6 Kg7 29.Rf5 Kg6 30.
Rf4 Ne5 31.Nh7! and White is winning) 27.Qd7 Rd7 28.Rf5 Nd4 29.Bf6 Bf6 30.Rf6 Ne6 31.Rc1 and White
is superior] 26.Be7 [26.Nf6 Bf6 27.Bf6 Ne7! (27...Qe6?? 28.Qg4 and White is winning) 28.Qf4 Rc6] Qe7
27.Rf5 Qe6 28.Qe6 fe6 29.Rf8 [29.Rg5 and White is winning] Kf8 [R 9/h] 30.Ng5! [30.Nd6? Rd8 31.Nb7
Rd2] Ke7 31.Re1 e5 32.f4 Rg8 [32...Kf6 33.Ne4 Kg6 34.Nd6 and White is winning; 32...Rf8 33.g3 h6 34.
Nf3 Rf5 35.Kc2] 33.g3 Kf6 34.Ne4! Kg6 35.fe5 Ne5 36.Nd6 Nf3 37.Re6 Kh5 38.Re7 h6 39.Ne4 Kg6 40.
h3! [40.Rb7 Re8 41.Nc3 Nh2 42.Ra7 Nf1] Ng1 [40...Rg7 41.Rg7 Kg7 42.Kc2 and White is winning] 41.
Rb7 Nh3 42.Ra7 Kf5 43.Re7 Rg4 44.Nd6 Kf6 45.Re3 Ng5 46.b3 Rd4 47.Nc4 Ne6 48.Kc2 Rg4 49.Kc3
Nc7 50.Nb6 Nb5 51.Kb2 Nd6 52.a4 Nf5 53.Rf3 Ke6 54.a5 Nd4 55.Re3 Kd6 56.a6 Nc6 57.Rc3 Rg8 58.
Ka3 Na7 59.Ka4 Re8 60.b4 h5 61.b5 Rh8 62.Ka5 Rg8 63.Rd3 1-0 [Riazantsev]
Rublevsky 2687 Mamedyarov 2699

Foros 2006 97/215 [C48]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Nd4 5.Ba4 c6 6.Ne5 d5 7.d3 Bd6 8.f4 Bc5!? [8...de4 see 58/(347)] 9.
ed5
9...0-0! [a novelty; 9...b5] 10.Ne4 [10.dc6 bc6 a) 11.Kf1 Re8 12.Nc6 Qd6 13.Ne5 Re5! 14.fe5 Qe5 a1) 15.
h3 Nf5 16.Ne2 Nd5 17.d4 Nde3 18.Be3 Ne3 19.Ke1 Ng2 20.Kf2 Bb7! (20...Qe3 21.Kg2 Bb7 22.Kf1 Qf3 23.
Ke1 Qh1 24.Kd2 Qh3 25.Qg1) 21.dc5 (21.Qd2 Qf6 22.Kg1 Nh4 23.Rf1 Nf3 24.Rf3 Qf3 25.Rh2 Bd6) Qe3 22.
Kf1 Qf3 23.Kg1 Nf4 24.Nf4 Qh1 25.Kf2 Qh2 26.Ke1 Qg3 27.Kd2 Qf4 28.Kc3 Qa4 and Black is winning;
a2) 15.Qe1 Qf5 16.Qf2 Qf2 17.Kf2 Nc2 18.Kg3 (18.Ke2 Bg4 19.Kd2 Na1 20.b3 Bb4 21.Bb2 Rd8 22.Re1
Bf5) Na1 19.Bg5 Bd6 20.Kf2 (20.Kf3 Bb7 21.Ke2 Rb8 22.Ra1 Bg2 23.Bb3 Bh2) Ng4 21.Ke2 Rb8! 22.Ra1
Rb2 23.Bd2 Bf4 24.Ne4 Ne5 25.h3 Ba6 and Black is winning; b) 11.Nc6 Nc6 12.Bc6 Bg4 13.Qd2 (13.Bf3
Re8 14.Kf1 Qd4 15.Qd2 Rad8 with the idea 16.h3?! Nh5! 17.Ne4 Re4 18.Be4 Ng3 19.Ke1 Nh1 and Black is
winning) Rc8 b1) 14.Be4 Ne4 b11) 15.de4 Qh4 16.Kf1 (16.g3 Qh3 17.Rf1 Rcd8 18.Nd5 Rfe8 19.e5 Qh5! 20.
c4 Re5 21.fe5 Qe5 22.Qe3 Rd5! with the idea 23.Qe5? Rd1#) Be6! 17.Qe1 (17.Nd5 Bd5 18.ed5 Rfe8 19.d6
Rcd8; 17.b3 Rfd8 18.Qe1 Qe1 19.Ke1 Bb4) Bc4 18.Ne2 Qf6 19.e5 Qg6 20.b3 Be2 21.Qe2 Bd4 and Black is
winning; b12) 15.Ne4 Re8 16.Kf1 Qh4 17.Qe1 Qh5! (17...Qe1? 18.Ke1 f5 19.h3 Bh5 20.g4 fe4 21.gh5 ed3
22.Kd1 dc2 23.Kc2 Bg1 24.Kd1 Rcd8 25.Bd2 Be3 26.Rh2 Bf4 27.Rf2 Be3 28.Re2 Rf8 29.Re3 Rf2 30.Re2 Rf1
equal) 18.Qd2 (18.h3 f5; 18.Be3 Be3 19.Qe3 f5) Bf3! 19.Ng3 Qd5 and Black is winning; b2) 14.Bf3 Re8 15.
Kd1 (15.Ne4? Ne4 16.de4 Qh4 17.Kf1 Rcd8 18.Qe1 Qe1 19.Ke1 Re4! 20.Kf1 Bf3 21.gf3 Rd1 22.Kg2 Re2;
15.Kf1 Bf3 16.gf3 Nd5 17.Qg2 Bd4! with the idea 18.Ne4? Bb2!) Be3 (15...Bf3 16.gf3 Nd5 17.Nd5 Qd5 18.
Qg2 Rc6 19.Bd2 Rg6 20.Qf1 Rb6 with attack) 16.Qe3 Re3 17.Be3 Nd5 18.Nd5 Bf3 19.gf3 Qd5 20.Rf1 a6
and Black is slightly better; c) 11.Be3 Nc2 12.Bc2 Be3 13.Qf3 Bd4 14.0-0-0 (14.Nc6? Bc3 15.bc3 Qc7 16.
Ba4 Bg4 17.Qf2 Rae8 18.Kf1 Bd7 19.Qf3 Re6 and Black is winning) Qd6 15.Qc6 (15.Rhe1 Be6) Be5 16.Qa8
Bc3 17.bc3 Qc7 18.Qf3 Bg4 19.Qe3 Bd1 20.Rd1 Qc3 21.Qe5 Qc6 with compensation] Ne4 11.de4 Qh4!
[11...cd5? 12.c3 Ne6 13.ed5 Nc7 14.b4 Bb6 15.d6 Ne6 16.d7 and White is winning; 11...b5 12.Be3! Nc2 13.
Bc2 Be3 14.Qd3 Bf4 15.Nc6 Qb6 16.Rf1 Bh2 17.e5 g6 18.0-0-0 with attack] 12.g3 [12.Kf1 a) 12...cd5 13.
Be3 de4 14.Bd4 Qf4 15.Ke1 Rd8 16.c3 (16.Bc5 Rd1 17.Rd1 Be6 18.Bd4 Rd8 and Black is winning) Be6! 17.
g3 (17.Bb3 Bd4 18.cd4 Qe3 19.Qe2 Qd4 20.Be6 fe6 21.Nc4 Rac8 22.Ne3 Qb4 23.Kf1 Rd2 24.Qe1 Qb5 and
Black is winning) Qg5 18.Qc1 Qe7 19.Bc5 Qc5 20.Qf4 Qb6 21.Bb3 Bb3 22.ab3 f6 23.Ng4 Qb3 24.Qf2 Rd3
with attack; b) 12...Nb3 13.Nd3 Na1 14.Nc5 Bg4 15.Qe1 Qe1 16.Ke1 b5 17.h3 (17.Bb3 cd5 18.h3 Nb3 19.
ab3 Be6 20.f5 Bc8 21.g4 de4) ba4 18.hg4 cd5 19.ed5 Rac8 20.Na4 Rc2 and Black is superior] Qh3 13.Be3
[13.Qd2!? Bg4! 14.Rf1 Rfe8! 15.b4! Bb6 16.Bb2 Nf3 17.Rf3 Bf3 18.d6 Bh5 19.d7 Re7 20.b5 c5 21.Bb3
Rd8 22.Bd5 Bc7 23.Nc6!! bc6 24.bc6 Rb8! (24...Bg4 25.Qc3 Qh6 26.h4 Qg6 27.Kf2 Bd7 28.cd7 Rdd7 29.h5
Qh6 30.Kg2 with compensation; 24...Qf5 25.Qc3 Re4 26.Kf1! Rf4 27.gf4 Qf4 28.Ke1 Qh4 29.Kf1 Qf4 equal)
25.Qc3 Re5! (25...Qg4 26.Kf1 Rb2 27.Qb2 Qe2 28.Kg1 Qe3 29.Kg2 equal) 26.Qe5 Be5 27.Be5 Qh2 28.Bc4
Rd8!! (28...Qg3? 29.Kd2 Rd8 30.Bd3 Qg4 31.Rb1! Rf8 32.Kc3 Qe6 33.Rb8 Rb8 34.Bb8 Qf6 35.Be5 Qd8 36.
c7 Qd7 37.Ba6 f6 unclear; 28...Qc2? 29.c7! Rb1 30.Rb1 Qb1 31.Kf2 Qc2 32.Kg1 Qd1 33.Bf1 Qd7 34.Ba6
Qd1 35.Bf1 equal) 29.Bd3! (29.c7 Qg1 30.Kd2 Rd7 31.Bd3 Qf2 32.Kc3 Rc7) c4! 30.c7 Qg1! 31.Kd2 c3! 32.
Bc3 Qf2 33.Kc1 Qe3 34.Bd2 Qg1 35.Be1 (35.Kb2 Qb6) Qe1 36.Kb2 Qb4 37.Kc1 Qa3! 38.Kb1 Qf8 39.Ba6
Rb8 40.cb8Q Qb8 41.Kc1 Qd6 42.Bb5 Kf8 43.Rb1 Bg4 44.f5 Qh6 45.Kb2 Ke7 and Black is winning] Qg2
[13...Nc2? 14.Bc2 Be3 15.Qe2 and White is slightly better] 14.Rg1 [14.Rf1 f6! 15.Bd4 (15.Nf3 Re8! 16.Nd2
Bf5! 17.Rg1 Qh2 18.Nf1 Bb4 19.c3 Qb2 20.cb4 Re4 and Black is winning; 15.Qd2 Qe4 16.Qd3 Qe3! 17.Qe3
Nc2 18.Bc2 Be3 19.Nc4 Bc5 20.0-0-0 Bg4 21.Rd2 Bb4 22.Rd4 Be2 23.Rf2 Bc5 and Black is superior) Qe4
16.Qe2 Qd4 17.Bb3 fe5 18.c3 Qe3 19.d6 Kh8 20.Qe3 Be3 21.fe5 Bh3 22.Rf8 Rf8 a) 23.e6 Rf1 24.Ke2 Ra1
25.e7 Bg4! (25...Bd7? 26.Be6 and White is winning) 26.Ke3 Re1 (26...Bd7? 27.Ke2! and White is winning)
27.Kf4 Bd7 and Black is winning; b) 23.Ke2 Bc5 24.Re1 Rf2 25.Kd1 Rb2 26.Re4 h5 27.e6 Bd6 28.e7 Be7
29.Re7 Bg4 30.Kc1 Rh2 and Black is superior] Qe4 15.Kf2 [15.Qd3 Nc2! 16.Bc2 Qd3 17.Bd3 Be3 18.Rg2
cd5 and Black is superior]
15...Re8! [15...f6 16.Nc4! b5 17.c3 (17.Nd2? Qe3! 18.Ke3 Re8 19.Ne4 Bf5 20.Kf2 Be4 and Black is
winning) Nf5 (17...ba4 18.Bd4 Qd5 19.Ne3 Bd4 20.cd4 unclear) 18.Bc5 Qc4 19.Bf8 Kf8 20.Bb3 Qc5 21.
Ke2 Qe7 22.Kd2 Qe3 23.Kc2 Nd4! (23...Ng3? 24.Kb1 Ne4 25.a4 and White is superior) 24.Qd4 Bf5 25.Kd1
Bg4 26.Kc2 Bf5 equal] 16.Qd3 [16.dc6 Re5! 17.fe5 Bg4 18.Qd3 Qf3 19.Ke1 Rd8! 20.cb7 Qb7 21.Rd1 Bd1
and Black is winning; 16.Re1 Bh3 17.Nf3 Nf3 18.Qf3 Qa4 and Black is winning; 16.c3 Re5! 17.fe5 Bg4 18.
cd4 Bd1 19.Rgd1 cd5 20.Rac1 Bb6 and Black is winning] Re5 17.fe5 Qf3 18.Ke1 Bf5 19.Rf1 [19.Qd2 Nc2!
20.Bc2 Bb4 21.Qb4 Qe3 22.Kf1 Bh3 23.Rg2 Qf3 24.Ke1 Qg2 25.Qe4 Qg1 26.Kd2 Qh2 27.Kc3 Bg2 and
Black is winning] Bb4! [19...Bd3 20.Rf3 Nf3 21.Kf2 Be4 22.Bc5 Bd5 23.Bd6 Nh2 24.Ke3 f6 25.ef6 Re8
and Black is superior] 20.c3 Bd3 21.Rf3 Nf3 22.Kf2 Nh2 23.cb4 Ng4 24.Kf3 Ne5 25.Kf4 Ng6 26.Kf3 cd5
27.Rc1 Ne5 28.Kf4 Ng6 29.Kf3 b5 30.Bb3 Bc4 31.Bc2 Ne5 32.Kf4 f6 33.Rd1 Ba2! 34.b3 Rc8 35.Bc5 a5
36.Bf5 Bb3 37.Rb1 Bc2! 38.Be6 [38.Bc8 Bb1 39.ba5 Nd3 and Black is winning; 38.Bc2 ab4 and Black is
winning, with the idea 39.Rc1 Rc5 40.Bh7 Kh7 41.Rc5 Nd3] Kh8 39.Ra1 Re8 40.ba5 Nd3 41.Kf3 Nc5 42.
Bd5 b4 43.a6 Na6 0-1 [Mamedyarov]
Wojtaszek 2605 Macieja 2585

Polska (ch) 2006 97/381 [E15]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 c6 8.Bc3 d5 9.Ne5 Nfd7 10.Nd7 Nd7 11.
Nd2 0-0 12.0-0 Rc8 13.e4 b5 14.Re1 de4 15.Ne4 bc4 16.Qe2 Nf6 17.Nc5 Bc5 18.dc5 Qe7
19.b4! [a novelty; 19.Qe5 see 97/(381)] Rfd8 [19...Nd5?! 20.Bd5 cd5 21.Qe5 f6 22.Qe6 Qe6 23.Re6 and
White is superior] 20.Qb2! Ne8 21.a4 h6 22.Re2?! [22.Rab1 and White is superior] Rd3 23.Be4 Rd7 24.
Ree1 Bb7 25.Qa2 Ba6 26.Rab1 Nf6 27.Bg2 Nd5 28.Be5 Qf8 [28...Qg5 29.h4 and White is superior; 28...f6
29.Bd6 Rd6 30.cd6 Qd6 31.Qd2 and White is superior] 29.Rec1 Rb7 30.Qa3 Qd8 31.h4! [weak point g5]
f6?! [31...Qd7 and White is slightly better] 32.Bd6 c3?! [better is 32...Qd7] 33.Rc3! Nc3 34.Qc3 Qd7 [34...
Rd7 35.Rd1! Be2 36.Re1 Bg4 37.Qc4 h5 38.Qa6! and White is superior] 35.Rb2 Qf7? [35...Kh8 36.Rd2
and White is superior] 36.b5 cb5 37.Qa5 ba4 38.Qa6 Rb2 39.Qc8 Kh7 40.Qa6?! [40.c6 Qh5 41.c7 Qd1 42.
Kh2 Rf2 (42...Qd6 43.Qd8 and White is winning) 43.Qb7 Qc2 44.g4! a3 45.c8Q Rg2 46.Kh3 and White is
winning] Rb1? [40...Qg6 41.Qa4 Qb1 42.Bf1 Qe1 43.Qf4 and White is winning] 41.Kh2 Qg6 42.Qa4 Rb2
43.Qd4 Re2 44.c6 e5 45.Qa7 Rc2 46.c7 1-0 [Macieja]
Sergey Karjakin 2679 A.Jussupow 2617

Amsterdam 2006 97/199 [C19]
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Ne7 5.a3 Bc3 6.bc3 c5 7.Qg4 0-0 8.Bd3 Nbc6 9.Qh5 Ng6 10.Nf3 Qc7 11.
Be3 Nce7 12.h4 Bd7 [12...Nf5]
13.Rb1! [a novelty; R.Ponomariov] b6?! [13...f5? 14.ef6 gf6 (14...Rf6 15.Bg5 and White is superior) 15.
Qh6 Rf7 16.h5 Nf8 17.Rh3 and White is superior; 13...cd4 14.cd4 Nf5 15.Ng5 (15.0-0!? h6 16.Bd2 Nge7 17.
Qg4 a6 18.Qf4 Ng6 19.Qh2 h5 20.Bb4 Rfc8 21.Bd6 Qc6 22.Bc5 and White is superior) h6 16.Ne6 fe6 17.
Qg6 Qc3 18.Bd2 Qd4 19.0-0 b6 (19...Qe5 20.Rfe1 and White is superior) 20.Bh6! Qe5 (20...Nh6 21.Qh7
Kf7 22.Bg6 Ke7 23.Qg7 Nf7 24.Qf6 Ke8 25.Rb4 Qc5 26.Rf4 Qe7 27.Qg7 and White is winning) 21.Rfe1 Qf6
22.Qf6 Rf6 23.Bg5 Rff8 24.c4 and White is superior; 13...Nf5!? 14.Ng5! (14.0-0!?) h6 15.Ne6 Be6 (15...fe6
16.Qg6 cd4 17.Bd4 and White is winning) 16.Bf5 cd4! (16...Bf5?! 17.Qf5 cd4 18.cd4 Qc3 19.Ke2! Qa3 20.
Qd3 Qd3 21.Kd3 and White is superior) 17.cd4 Qc3 a) 18.Bd2? Qd4! 19.Be6 Qe4! 20.Kd1 Qg2 and Black
is superior; b) 18.Ke2 Qc8! 19.Be6 (19.g4 Ne7) Qc2 20.Kf3 fe6 21.Kg3 Nf4! 22.Qd1 Ne2 23.Kh2 Qd1 24.
Rbd1 Rac8; c) 18.Kf1! Bf5 (18...Qa3?! 19.Bd3 and White is superior) 19.Qf5 Qa3 20.Kg1! c1) 20...b6 21.
Bh6! (21.Rh3 with initiative) gh6 22.h5 Ne5 (22...Ne7 23.Qf6 Kh7 24.Rh3 Qa2 25.Rg3 and White is
winning) 23.de5 Qe7 24.Rh3 Qe6 25.Rg3 Kh8 26.Qe6 fe6 27.Rg6 and White is superior; c2) 20...Ne7 c21)
21.Qg4 Qa6 c211) 22.Rh3 Qe6 23.Qe6 (23.Rg3 Nf5 24.Bh6 Qg6 25.Qg6 fg6 26.Rg6 Nh6 27.Rb7 Rf7 28.Rf7
Kf7 29.Ra6 Nf5 and Black is slightly better) fe6 24.Rb7 Nf5 with counterplay; c212) 22.Qd7 Qe6 23.Rb7
Nf5 and White is slightly better; c22) 21.Qd7! Rad8 (21...b6 22.Rh3 Rad8 23.Qg4 Qa2 24.Re1 and White is
superior; 21...Rfd8 22.Qb7 Nf5 23.Rh3 and White is superior) 22.Qb7 Nf5 23.Rh3 Qa4 (23...Rb8 24.Qb8
Rb8 25.Rb8 Kh7 26.Kh2 Qc3 27.Rb7 Nd4 28.Bd4 Qd4 29.Rf7 Qe5 30.Rg3 a5 31.f4 Qb2 32.c3 Kh8 33.Rfg7
Qb8 34.f5 Qf8 35.R7g6 a4 36.f6 a3 37.f7 Kh7 38.Rf6 a2 39.Rg8 and White is winning) 24.c3 and White is
superior; 13...c4!? (Y.Seirawan) 14.Bg6! (14.Be2?! f6 15.ef6 Rf6 unclear) fg6 15.Qg4 a) 15...h6 16.h5 g5 17.
Ng5! hg5 18.h6 g6 (18...Nf5 19.hg7 Ng7 20.Bg5 Ba4 21.Bf6 Bc2 22.Qh3 Kf7 23.Bg7 Kg7 24.Qh6 Kf7 25.
Qh7 and White is winning) 19.h7 Kh8 20.Bg5 Nf5 21.Bf6 Rf6 22.ef6 and White is superior; b) 15...Rf5 16.
h5 gh5 17.Rh5 Rh5 18.Qh5 Be8 (18...Nf5 19.Ng5 and White is superior; 18...Rf8 19.Kd2 Nf5 20.Rh1 h6 21.
Qg6 and White is superior) 19.Qh3 Nf5 20.Ng5 Bg6 (20...h6 21.Ne6 and White is superior) 21.Ne6 and
White is superior; c) 15...Nf5 16.h5 with initiative; 13...Qa5 14.Bd2 c4 15.Bg6 fg6 16.Qg4 Qa3 17.h5 with
initiative] 14.Qg4! [14.Qg5 h6 15.Qg4 (15.Qg3 Nf5 16.Bf5 ef5 17.h5 f4 18.Bf4 Nf4 19.Qf4 cd4) f5 16.ef6
Rf6 17.h5 cd4 18.cd4 Nf4 with counterplay] f5 15.Qh3 cd4?! 16.cd4 (and White is superior) Ba4 17.h5
Nh8 [17...Bc2 18.hg6 and White is winning] 18.Bd2! Rac8 [18...Bc2 19.Rc1 and White is winning] 19.Qh4
Qd7 20.Rb2 Nc6?! [20...h6 21.Rg1! Rc7 22.g4 fg4 23.Qg4 Nf5 24.Nh4 and White is winning]
21.g4! Qe7 [21...fg4 22.Qg4 Rf3 23.Qf3 Nd4 24.Qg4 Nc2 25.Kf1 Na3 26.Rg1 Bc2 27.Rc2 Nc2 28.Bh6 and
White is winning] 22.Qe7! [22.gf5 Qa3 23.Rg1! a) 23...Rc7 24.f6 Qb2 25.fg7 Rg7 26.Rg7 Kg7 27.Bh6 and
White is winning; b) 23...Qb2 24.Rg7 Kg7 25.Bh6 Kg8 26.Qg5 Ng6 (26...Kf7 27.Qf6 Ke8 28.Qf8 Kd7 29.
Qg7 Ne7 30.fe6 Kd8 31.Bg5 and White is winning) 27.hg6 and White is winning; c) 23...Bc2 24.Rc2 Qd3 25.
Rg7 and White is winning; d) 23...ef5 24.Rb1 Rc7 and White is superior] Ne7 23.Ng5 Bd7 [23...Rfe8 24.
gf5! Nf5 25.Ne6 and White is winning] 24.Bb4 Rfe8 25.Be7 Re7 26.gf5 ef5 27.Nh3! [and White is
winning, weak point f5, d5, Bd7, Nh8] Be6 [27...Nf7 28.Kd2; 27...g6 28.Nf4 Be6 29.hg6 hg6 30.Rh8 Kh8
31.Ng6] 28.Nf4 Kf7 29.Kd2 Rd7 30.a4! Ke7 31.a5 ba5 32.Ra2 Nf7 33.Rg1 Rg8 34.Ne6! [34.Ra5 Nd8 and
White is winning] Ke6 35.Ra5 Rb8 [35...Nh6 36.Ra6 and White is winning] 36.Ra6 Rb6 37.Rb6 ab6 38.
Bb5! [38.Rg7?? Ne5] Re7 39.Rg7 Nh6 40.Re7 Ke7 41.f3 Nf7 [41...f4 42.Bd3 Nf7 43.Bh7 Ng5 44.Bg8 Nf3
45.Kc3 Nh4 46.Bd5 f3 47.Kd3 f2 48.Ke2 Nf5 49.Kf2 Nd4 50.h6 Kf8 51.Be4 and White is winning] 42.Ke3
Ng5 43.Bd3 Ke6 44.c3 h6 45.Bc2 1-0 [Sergey Karjakin]
A.Volokitin 2662 Morozevich 2731

Biel 2006 97/253 [C92]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Re8 10.d4 Bb7 11.
Nbd2 Bf8 12.a4 Na5 13.Ba2
13...ed4! [a novelty; 13...c5 see 97/(253)] 14.cd4 c5 15.b4? [15.dc5?! dc5 16.e5 Nd5 and Black is slightly
better; 15.Ng5?! c4 16.Bb1 b4 17.e5 de5 18.de5 h6! and Black is slightly better; 15.d5 b4 (15...Nd7!?) 16.
Bb1 (16.Qc2!?) c4 17.b3 c3 18.Nf1 Nd7 19.Bc2 unclear] cb4 16.Ng5 Nc4 [16...b3!? 17.Nb3 Nc4 18.Nd2 h6
19.Ngf3 Ne4 (19...Be4!? 20.Nc4 bc4 21.Bc4 Bf3 22.gf3 Re1 23.Qe1 d5 and Black is slightly better) 20.Bc4
(20.Nc4?! Nc3! 21.Qb3 Na2 22.Re8 Qe8 23.Qa2 Bd5 24.Nd6 Qe6 and Black is superior) bc4 21.Nc4 Rc8
and Black is slightly better] 17.ab5 ab5 18.Nc4
18...Ra2! 19.Ra2 bc4 20.Qa4!? [20.d5 h6 21.Ra4! hg5 (21...Qc8 22.Nf3 Re4 23.Re4 Ne4 24.Rb4 Nf2 25.
Qd4 Nd3 26.Rc4 Nc1 27.Qe4 Qa8 28.Rc1 Bd5 29.Qf4 and Black is slightly better) 22.Bg5 Qc8 23.Bf6 gf6
24.Rb4 f5! 25.ef5 Re1 26.Qe1 Bd5 27.Qd2 and Black is slightly better] b3 [20...d5 21.e5 h6 22.Rae2 hg5 23.
ef6 Re2 24.Re2 Qf6 25.Re8 Bc6 26.Rf8 Kf8 27.Qb4 and Black is slightly better; 20...Qa8 21.Bd2! (21.Qb4
Qa2 22.Qb7 Re7 23.Qc8 h6 24.Nf3 Re4 and Black is superior) b3 22.Raa1 Qa4 23.Ra4 Rc8 (23...h6 24.Rc4
hg5 25.Rb4 with counterplay) 24.Rb4! Ba8 25.d5 and Black is slightly better] 21.Rae2 Qc7 [21...d5!? 22.e5
Qd7 23.Qd7 (23.Qa5 Ne4 24.Ne4 de4 and Black is slightly better) Nd7 24.Nf7!? Kf7 (24...Bb4!? 25.Nd6
Rb8) 25.e6 Re6 26.Re6 Bb4 and Black is slightly better] 22.d5 Rb8 23.Re3 Nd7 [23...Ra8!? 24.Qb5 Ra2!
25.Nf3 Ba6 with initiative] 24.Rc3 Nc5! [24...Rc8 25.Be3 and White is slightly better] 25.Rc4 h6 26.Nf3
Qb6 27.Qa1 [27.Rc5!? dc5 28.Bb2 Ra8 29.Qd7 Ra2 30.Ne5 Qf6! and Black is slightly better] f5! 28.Be3?
[28.Rd4! fe4 29.Nd2 Ra8! (29...Nd3? 30.Ree4 b2 31.Bb2 Qb2 32.Qb2 Nb2 33.Rb4 and White is slightly
better) 30.Qb1 Nd3 31.Ree4 Nc1 32.Qc1 b2 33.Qc2 Rc8 34.Qd3 Rc1 35.Kh2 b1Q 36.Nb1 Qb1 and Black is
slightly better] fe4 29.Re4 Bd5 30.Bc5? [30.Rd4 and Black is superior] dc5 (and Black is winning) 31.R4e3
b2? time [31...c4 and Black is winning] 32.Qb1 Qa7 33.Re8? time [33.Qc2!] Ba2 34.Qa2 Qa2 35.Rb8 c4
36.Nd4 c3 37.Ne6 Qe6? [37...Qa1 and Black is winning; 37...c2 and Black is winning] 38.Re6 c2 39.Reb6
c1Q [Q 8/b] 40.Kh2 Qf4 41.Kg1 Qc1 42.Kh2 Kh7 43.Rb2 Bc5! [43...Bd6 44.g3 Bb8 45.Rb8 and Black is
superior] 44.R8b3? [44.R8b5! Bd4 45.Re2! Qf1 46.Rbb2! and Black is superior] Qe1! (and Black is
winning) 45.Kg3 Bd4 46.Rb1 Qf2 47.Kh2 Be5 48.Kh1 Qf4 49.Kg1 Qh2 50.Kf2 Bd4 51.Kf3 h5 52.Rb5
Kh6 53.Rd5 Ba7 54.Rbd1 h4 55.R5d2 Qe5! 56.Rd6 g6 57.R1d3 Qg3 58.Ke2 Qg2 59.Kd1 Bb8 0-1
[Morozevich, Al.Kuzmin]
Iordachescu 2603 A.Maksimenko 2499

Srbija 2006 97/170 [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Bg7 10.h3 Ne5 11.f3
Nbc6 12.Bf2 Be6 13.Qd2 Nd4 14.Bd4 Qa5 15.h4 0-0 16.hg5 hg5 17.a3 Ng6 18.b4 Qc7 19.Ne2
19...Rfc8!! [a novelty; 19...f6? see 89/225] 20.c3 [20.Rc1 a) 20...Bc4!? 21.Bg7 Kg7 22.Qg5 (22.Ng3) Be2
(22...Rh8!? 23.Rh8 Rh8 with compensation) 23.Be2 Qc3 24.Kf2 Qa3 equal; b) 20...Bd4 21.Nd4 Qc3 22.Rh5
(22.Ne6 fe6 23.Rh5 Kf7 24.Rg5 Qa3 25.c4 a5 with counterplay) g4 (22...Bd7 23.Rg5 Qa3 24.Nf5 Kf8 25.Rg6
Bf5 26.Qh6 Ke8 27.Rg8 Kd7 28.Rc8 Rc8 29.ef5 and White is winning) 23.Rg5 (23.Ne6 fe6 24.Rg5 Kf7 25.
Rg4 Qa3 26.c3 Rh8 unclear) Bd7 (23...Qd2 24.Kd2 Bd7 25.Nf5 Kf8 26.Rg4 and White is superior) 24.Nf5
Kf8 25.Rg4 Ke8 26.Rg5 (26.Rg3 Qa3 27.Ne3) Qa3 27.Ne3 Be6 28.c3 a5 29.Bb5 Kf8 30.Nf5; 29...Kd8
equal; 20.Bg7 Kg7 21.Qg5 (21.Nd4 Qc3) Qc2 22.Qh6 Kg8 23.Rd1 Bc4 (23...Bb3 24.Rd2 Qb1 25.Kf2 Rc2
26.Nd4 Rd2 27.Qd2 and White is slightly better) 24.Nd4 Qc3 25.Kf2 with attack; 23...Qb2 with counterplay]
Bc4 [20...Bd4!? 21.cd4 Qc2 22.d5 Bd7 23.Nd4 Qd2 24.Kd2 Kg7 equal] 21.Rc1 [21.Ng3 Bf1 22.Kf1 Bd4
(22...Qc4 23.Kg1 e5 24.Be3 Qc3 25.Qc3 Rc3 26.Bg5 f6 27.Bd2 Rd3 unclear) 23.cd4 Qc3 24.Qc3 Rc3 25.
Nf5 a5 26.b5 a4 unclear; 21.Rh5 e5 22.Bf2 Nf4 23.Nf4 gf4 24.Rc1 a5 unclear] Be2 [21...e5 22.Bf2 Bf6 (22...
d5 23.Qg5 and White is superior) 23.Ng3 and White is slightly better; 21...d5 22.Qg5 Be2 23.Bg7 Kg7 24.
Be2 Rh8 25.Rh8 Rh8 26.ed5 and White is slightly better; 21...f6 22.Ng3 and White is slightly better] 22.Be2
Bd4 23.Qd4 a5! 24.Kd2 [24.b5 Qc5 and Black is slightly better; 24.c4 ab4 25.ab4 Ra4; 24.Kf2 ab4 25.cb4
(25.ab4 Ra2) Qc1 26.Rc1 Rc1 27.Qd2 Rc7 28.Qg5 Ra3 29.f4 Rc2 30.f5 Raa2 31.fg6 Re2 32.Kf3 Rf2 33.
Ke3 equal] ab4 [24...d5 25.ed5 e5 (25...Rd8 26.c4) 26.Qd3; 24...Qd7 25.Qd5 ab4 26.ab4; 24...Qd8!? a) 25.
Bd3 ab4 26.ab4 e5 27.Qe3 d5 (27...Ra2 28.Rc2) 28.ed5 Qd5 29.c4 Qd7 30.g3 Ra2 and Black is superior; b)
25.Rc2 ab4 26.ab4 e5 27.Qe3 d5; c) 25.g3! ab4 26.ab4 Ra3 (26...e5 27.Qd5) 27.Rh5 with counterplay] 25.
cb4 [25.ab4 Ra2 26.Rc2 Rca8] Qd8 26.Rc8 Rc8 27.Rc1 Rc1 [27...Ra8 28.Rc3 and White is slightly better]
28.Kc1 Nf4 (equal) 29.Bf1 [29.Bc4 Qc7 (29...Ng2 30.e5 Nf4 31.Qg1 unclear) 30.Kb2 e5 31.Qc3 Ng2 and
Black is superior] e5! 30.Qe3 d5 31.ed5 [31.g3 d4 (31...Ne6) 32.Qd2 Nh5 33.Qh2 Ng7 unclear] Qd5 32.
Kb2 b5 33.g3 Ne6 34.Bd3 Nd4 35.Be4 [35.Qg5 Kf8 and Black is superior] Qd8 36.g4 [36.f4 gf4 37.gf4 f5
38.Bb1 e4 and Black is slightly better] Kg7 37.Qd2 [37...Qf6 38.Qc3 Qh6 and Black is slightly better] -
[Iordachescu]
C19
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bc3 6.bc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 0-0
8.Bd3 Nbc6 9.Qh5 Ng6 10.Nf3 Qc7 11.Be3 Nce7 12.h4
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
...
a41
ef6
0-0
Bg6
Rfe12
a5
Ne5
Qg4
Bd7
f6
Rf6
c4
Ng6
Raf83
Qc84
Be8
Rf55
...
Bd2
Ng56
hg5
Qh7
cd48
Be2
Bh5
Bb4
Nf5
f6
fg5
cd47
Kf7
Ne59
Nc410
Ke7
Kd711
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bh5
g4
and White is
slightly better
and White is
superior
equal
...
...
...
...
...
...
Nc6
Ke7
Ncd412
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bf5
Rh613
Rg6
...
...
...
...
...
...
ef5
Ng414
Re815
and White is
slightly better
1
13.Rb1 (R.Ponomariov) a) 13...b6?! 14.Qg4! f5 15.Qh3 a1) 15...cd4?! 16.cd4 and White is superior Ba4 17.
h5 Nh8 [17...Bc2 18.hg6 and White is winning] 18.Bd2! Rac8 [18...Bc2 19.Rc1 and White is winning] 19.
Qh4 Qd7 20.Rb2 h6 [20...Nc6?! 21.g4! and White is winning; Sergey Karjakin - Ar.Jussupow, Amsterdam
2006 see 97/199] 21.Rg1! Rc7 22.g4 fg4 23.Qg4 Nf5 24.Nh4 and White is winning; Sergey Karjakin; a2)
15...h6 (R.Ris - Delemarre, Nederland 2006) 16.h5 Nh8 17.g4 and White is slightly better; M.Bjelajac; b)
13...c4!? (Seirawan) 14.Bg6! [14.Be2?! f6 15.ef6 Rf6 unclear] fg6 15.Qg4 Nf5 16.h5 with initiative; c) 13...
Qa5 14.Bd2 c4 15.Bg6 fg6 16.Qg4 Qa3 17.h5 with initiative; Sergey Karjakin
2
17.Qg5 e5 18.de5 Rf3 19.gf3 Rf8 with compensation, with attack; V.Anand - Lputian, New Delhi (m/2)
2000 see 80/316
3
17...Qd6 18.Bg5 Rf5 19.Qg4 Nh8 20.Ne5 Nf7 21.Bf4 and White is slightly better; Smirin - Dolmatov,
Moscow 2003 see 89/(270)
4
18...Rf3!? 19.gf3 e5 with compensation; L.Dominguez
5
21.f3?! Ne5 22.de5 a6 [22...Re5? 23.Ba7 Bh5 24.Qg3 Re1 25.Re1 Bg6 26.Bd4 and White is superior; L.
Dominguez - Matamoros Franco, Rio de Janeiro 2003 see 89/270] 23.Qg3 Bb5 24.Kf2 Qc7 25.Bd4 h5
equal; 21.Nf3 Nf4 22.Bf4 Bh5! 23.Qg3 Rf4 24.Ng5 Bg4 25.f3 h6 unclear; 21.Ng6! Bg6 22.f3 R5f6 23.Re2
Bf5 24.Qg3 Qc6 25.Qe1 and White is slightly better, with the idea Bf2-g3-e5 L.Dominguez
6
14.Qg4 fe5 15.h5 Nge7 [15...Nf4 16.Ne5 Nd3 17.cd3 cd4 18.cd4 Qb6 19.Rc1 and White is slightly better]
16.Ne5 Nc6 17.Nc6 bc6 18.h6 and White is slightly better; M.Gongora
7
15...Kf7 16.Qh7 a) 16...Rh8? [16...Bd7? 17.Rh6 Nge7 18.Rf6 Ke8 19.Rf8 Kf8 20.g4 and White is winning]
17.Qg6 Kg6 18.Rh8 a1) 18...Qb6 19.g4 cd4 20.gf5 ef5 21.Be2 Kf7 22.g6 Ke6 [22...Ke7 23.Bg5 Kd7 24.0-00 d3 25.Rd3 Qf2 26.Rd5 Kc6 27.Rd6 Kc7 28.Bd8 and White is winning] 23.cd4 Qd4 24.Rd1 Qe4 25.c4 d4
26.f3 Qc2 27.Bf4 Qc3 28.Kf2 and White is winning; a2) 18...Kf7 19.g6! Kg6 20.g4 Kf7 21.gf5 ef5 22.0-0-0
cd4 23.cd4 Rb8 24.Rg1 Bd7 25.Rh7 Rg8 26.Be2 and White is superior; b) 16...cd4! see 15...cd4
8
17.Rh6?? Qe5 18.Kf1 dc3 and Black is winning
9
17...Bd7? 18.Rh6 and White is winning; 17...Rh8? 18.Qg6 Kg6 19.Rh8 Qb6 [19...b6 20.Be2! Nd4 21.Bh5
Kf5 22.Rf8 Ke4 23.f3 Nf3 24.Rf3 and White is winning] 20.c3 Kf7 21.g6 Kg6 22.g4 Qb2 23.gf5 ef5 24.Rb1
Qa3 25.Ke2 and White is winning
10
18...Ng6? 19.Bh5 Nfe7 20.Rh3! Qc2 21.Rc1 Qe4 22.Re3 Qg2 23.Bg6 Ng6 24.Rc7 Ke8 [24...Ne7 25.Bb4
and White is winning] 25.Qg6 Kd8 26.Rf7 Qg1 27.Ke2 Qg4 28.f3 Qg2 29.Kd1 Rf7 30.Qf7 Qf1 31.Be1 Bd7
32.Qf8 Be8 33.Re6 and White is winning; 18...Nd7
19.0-0!! with attack a5 [19...Ke8 20.Rae1 Nb6 21.Bb4 Nd6 22.f4! a5 23.Bc5 Na4 24.Bb5! Nb5 25.Bf8 Kf8
26.f5 and White is winning] a) 20.Bh5 Ke7 21.g4 Ng3! [21...Nd6 22.Qg7 Kd8 23.Rae1 Qc2 24.Re6 Nc4 25.
Re7 and White is superior] 22.Qg7 Kd8 23.Rfe1 [23.g6 Ne4 24.Bh6 Rf3! equal] Nh5 24.gh5 Qc2 25.Re6
Qd2 26.Qe7 Kc7 27.Qd6 Kd8 equal; b) 20.Rfe1! Ke7 21.g4 Nd6 22.Bd3 Nc4 23.Qg7 Rf7 24.Re6 Ke6 25.
Qh6 Ke7 26.Re1 Kd8 27.g6 and White is winning
11
20...Ncd6? 21.g4 and White is superior; 20...Kd7 21.Bf8 Nce3! 22.fe3 Qc3 23.Kd1 Qa1 24.Kd2 Qh1 25.
Be8 Ke8 26.Qh1 Kf8 27.g6 Ke7 [27...Nh6 28.g4 Bd7 29.g5 Ng8 30.c4 and White is superior] 28.Qh8 Kf6
29.g4 Nh6 30.g5 Kg5 31.Qg7 Ng4 32.Qf7 Nh6 33.Qe8 Kf6 34.c4 and White is superior; A.Volokitin
12
20...e5?! 21.gf5 Kd8 22.Bg6 Nd4 23.f6 gf6 24.Qh6 Rg8 25.Bh7 Rg7 26.gf6 Rf7 27.Bg6 Qc4 28.0-0-0 Qa2
29.Ba5 b6 30.Bc3 Ne2 31.Kd2 Nc3 32.Bf7 and White is winning; 20...Ncd4 21.gf5
a) 21...Qe5? 22.Kf1 Nf5 [22...Kd8 23.f6! and White is winning; A.Volokitin - Barsov, Torino (ol) 2006 see
97/197] 23.Re1 Qd4 24.Bb4 Nd6 25.Re2 and White is winning; b) 21...Nf5? 22.Bb4 Kd8 23.0-0-0 Nd6 24.
Qg6!! [24.Rd3 a5 25.Rc3 Qe7 26.Bd6 Qd6 27.Qg7 Bd7 28.Bg6 Ra6 29.Rh8 Qf4 30.Kb2 Rh8 31.Qh8 Ke7
with counterplay] a5 [24...Bd7 25.Rd5 ed5 26.Bd6 Qc3 27.Bf8 Qa1 28.Kd2 Qh1 29.Bg7 Qh2 30.Qf6 Kc7
31.Bf7 and White is winning] 25.Bd6 Qd6 26.Rd5! Qd5 27.Rd1 Ra6 28.Rd5 ed5 29.Qg7 Rf2 30.Qh8 Kc7
31.Qe5 Rd6 32.Qc3 Kd8 33.Qg3 Rf1 34.Kd2 and White is winning; c) 21...Kd8! 22.f6 [22.0-0 Nf5 23.Bb4
Qf4! 24.Bf8 Qg5 equal] gf6 23.Qh6 Qd6! [23...Qc5 24.gf6 Bd7 25.f7 and White is slightly better, with the
idea 25...Nc2 26.Kf1 Na1 27.Bb4 and White is winning; 23...Qe7 24.Bd1 Nf5 25.gf6 Qd6 26.Qf4 and White
is slightly better] 24.g6!? Nf5 [24...e5 25.Qh7! and White is superior] 25.Qh7!! [25.Qf4 Qf4 26.Bf4 e5
unclear] Qe5 26.Kf1 Qa1 27.Kg2 Qa3 [27...Qd4 28.g7 Re8 29.Bc3 Qc3 30.Be8 Ne7 31.g8Q Ng8 32.Qg8
Kc7 33.Qg7 Kb8 34.Rh8 Qc2 35.Bd7 Qe4 equal] 28.g7 Qe7 [28...Ng7? 29.Qg7 Bd7 30.Rb1 and White is
superior, with the idea 30...Kc7? 31.Rb7 Kb7 32.Qd7 Kb8 33.Qe6 Qa4 34.Qd5 and White is winning] 29.
gf8Q Qf8 30.Bg6 Bd7 [30...Ne7 31.Bb4 with initiative] 31.Bf4 Rc8 32.Qh8 Qh8 33.Rh8 Ke7 34.Rh7 equal;
A.Volokitin
13
19.Qh2 Nd3! 20.cd3 Re8 21.Kf1 Qh2 22.Rh2 Bd7 equal
14
19...Ke8? 20.Bb4 Kd8 [20...a5 21.Bc5 Qf7 22.g6 Qe6 23.Kf1 and White is winning] 21.Rd6 Nd7 22.0-0-0
with attack
15
21.Kf1 Qc4! 22.Kg1 Qd4 23.Rf1 [23.Rg7? Qg7 24.g6 Kf6 25.Bg5 Kg5 26.Qg7 f4! and Black is slightly
better] Be6 only move [23...Bd7?? 24.Rg7 Qg7 25.g6 Kf6 26.Bg5 Kg5 27.Qg7 and White is winning] 24.
Bb4! a) 24...Rac8 25.Re6 Ke6 26.Qg6 Nf6 [26...Kd7 27.Qd6#] 27.Re1 Kd7 28.Qg7 Kc6 29.Re8 Re8 30.Qf6
Qf6 31.gf6 and White is winning; b) 24...Bd7 only move 25.Bc5 Qc3 26.Bb4 Qd4 equal; 21.Kd1! Rg8 only
move 22.f3 [22.Qh5 Ke7 23.Qh7 Kf7 equal] a) 22...Qc4 23.Kc1! [23.fg4 Qf1 24.Be1 f4 25.Rf6 Ke7 26.Kd2
Bg4 27.Rb1 Qe2 28.Kc3 Rac8 29.Kb3 Qc4 30.Kb2 Qc2 31.Qc2 Rc2 32.Kc2 gf6 33.Rb7 Ke6 34.gf6 Kf6 35.
Bd2 Bf5 equal] Ne3 [23...Qd4 24.Rb1 and White is superior] 24.Be3 Qc3 25.Rf6 Ke7 26.Qg8 Qe3 27.Kb2!
[27.Kb1 gf6 28.gf6 Kf6 29.Qf8 Kg6 30.Ka2 Qc3 equal] Qd4 28.c3 Qf2 29.Kb3 gf6 30.gf6 Kf6 31.Rh1 Qb6
32.Ka2 Qf2 33.Ka1 and White is superior; b) 22...Qh2 23.Rf6 Ke7 24.Bb4 Kd7 25.Qh2 Nh2 26.Rd6 Kc7 27.
Rg6 f4 28.Bd6 Kd8 29.Bf4 Ke7 30.Kd2 Bf5 31.Rd6 Rac8 32.Re1 Kf7 33.Re5 and White is slightly better; A.
Volokitin

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The Best of the Best

Zdenko Krnic
Vladimir Kramnik achieved one of the best performances of his career at the Turin Olympiad, where he
scored the top first board result. The game he won against Bruzon, played in a combinatory style, was
selected as the best game of Informant 97, ahead of the game Rublevsky Mamedyarov by a margin of three
points.
We will soon be releasing a new CD, The Best of Chess Informant Vladimir Kramnik, and, as an
introduction to Kramniks creative output, I would like to present my foreword from the CD.
A while ago, back then in 1989, the editorial work on Chess Informant 47 was in full swing. As
many times before, a large shipment from Moscow had just arrived with contributions from Soviet
players. Among the heaps of material, a notebook with many annotated games caught the eye of our
Editorial Board. The games were neatly handwritten, which obviously took a lot of time and patience.
Fourteen-year-old elementary school pupil who wrote that was none other than todays World
Champion; we could hardly imagine at the time that the future would bring regular worldwide emailing service.
As one of the most talented juniors he was awarded an early admittance into the famous Botvinniks
school for gifted young players. Mikhail Moiseevich insisted upon absolute commitment to the
analytical work, based on his firm belief that one can benefit most from thorough understanding of
his own games. Apart from his extraordinary gift, probably most of Kramniks fundamentals stem
from this school.
Many wrote about Kramniks play. His greatest strength lies in subtle positional outmaneuvering of
the opponent and subsequent conversion of the advantage in the ending. His harmonious piece
coordination is astounding, and his mental stability guarantees his best performance in decisive
games.
I first met Vladimir Kramnik at the Dortmund tournament in 1992. With his brilliant performance in
the Open tournament and subsequent meteoric rise, he announced his entrance into the elite of world
chess. A few months later he won his gold medal as first reserve for the Russian team in the Manila
Olympiad. Later that year he became a Grandmaster, which was a mere formality, as he was
obviously destined for greatness. Nowadays, Dortmund is one of his favorite venues, as he managed
to conquer it seven times so far.
For Chess Informants 35th anniversary, Kramnik wrote: Chess Informant has had great importance
and influence to the development of world chess. As for me, I have always been cooperating with
Chess Informant and eagerly expecting appearance of every new volume. In a month or so the work
on Informant 99 shall enter the final phase. To my great satisfaction, Vladimirs annotated games
from Wijk aan Zee and Monaco have already arrived. It is my sincere hope that this CD, which
covers his creative opus, will contribute to the development of many young generations to come.
KRAMNIK 2729 BRUZON 2652 [D 52]

Torino (ol) 2006 97/326
1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 Qa5 7.cd5 Nd5 8.Qd2 Bb4 9.Rc1 h6 10.Bh4 0-0 11.
a3 Bc3 12.bc3 Qa3 13.e4 [13.Bd3!?] Ne7 14.Bd3 Ng6 15.Bg3 e5 16.0-0 [a novelty; 16.h4 see 87/400] Re8
17.Rfe1 [17.h4?! ed4 18.cd4 Nf6 unclear] Qa5 [17...a5 18.h4 ed4 19.cd4 Nf6 20.Ra1 and White is superior;
17...Qe7] 18.Qb2 Qd8 19.Bb1! a5 [19...Qf6 20.Qd2! (20.Ba2 Nf4! 21.Qd2 g5 unclear) a5 21.h4] 20.Rcd1
a4 21.Ba2 Qe7 [better is 21...Qa5] 22.Qc1 Ra5 [22...b5 23.h4 ed4 24.Nd4!]
23.Qd2! [with the idea c4] ed4 [23...b6 24.h4 a) 24...ed4 25.Nd4 a1) 25...Nge5 26.Nf5 Qc5 27.Nd6 Rf8
(27...Rd8 28.Bf4 and White is superior) 28.Bf4 and White is superior; a2) 25...Qc5 26.Nf5 Nde5 (26...Nge5
see 25...Nge5) 27.Nd6 and White is superior; b) 24...h5 25.Ng5 Rf8 26.de5 Nde5 27.f4 and White is
superior; c) 24...Nf6 25.Ne5 Ne5 26.Be5 Re5 27.de5 Qe5 and White is slightly better; better is 23...Ra6 and
White is slightly better] 24.Nd4 (and White is superior) Qc5 [24...Nde5 25.f4 and White is superior; 24...
Qg5 25.f4 Qc5 26.Bf2 Qf8 27.Nf5 and White is superior] 25.Bc7 [25.Nf5 Nde5 26.Nd6 Rd8 unclear] Ra8
[25...Ndf8 only move 26.Ba5 Qa5 27.f4 and White is superior]
26.Bf7!! Kf7 27.Qa2 Kf8 [27...Kf6 28.Bd8!! a) 28...Ke5 29.Nf3 (29.Qf7 and White is winning) Kf4 30.Qd2
Kg4 31.h3 Kh5 32.g4 mate; b) 28...Ne7 29.Qe6 Kg5 30.Nf3 Kf4 31.g3 Kf3 32.Rd3 Qe3 33.Rde3 mate; c)
28...Rd8 29.Qe6 Kg5 30.Nf3 Kf4 31.g3 Kf3 32.Rd3 Qe3 33.Rde3 mate; 27...Ke7 28.Qe6 Kf8 29.Bd6 and
White is winning] 28.Ne6 Re6 29.Qe6 Ne7 [29...Qg5 30.Rd7 (30.Re3 and White is winning) Bd7 31.Bd6
Ne7 32.Qd7 and White is winning] 30.Re3 Ke8 31.Rf3 Qh5 32.Bd6 1-0 [Kramnik]

The Best of Chess Informant: Viswanathan Anand

Zdenko Krnic
Work on the new CD The Best of Chess Informant Viswanathan Anand is in full swing. So this seems like
the proper time to examine the creative output of the current top rated player in the world. With the release
of Chess Informant 98 we have published 1,009 of Anands games, 436 of which were annotated by him.
Over the years, five of his games (presented below) received best game awards, and the last two games on
the list also received the award for the most important theoretical novelty:
Anand Ftacnik, Biel (izt) 1993 58/254
Anand Karpov, Las Palmas 1996 68/346
Anand Lautier, Biel 1997 - 70/89
Anand Bologan, Dortmund 2003 88/77
Anand Adams, San Luis 2005 94/267
Anand has the exceptional ability to intuitively find the best move in any given position in the shortest
amount time. The stories of him using only fifteen minutes or half an hour to beat an elite grandmaster are
legend. To further illustrate his rich contribution to chess, we also offer a small sampling of combinations
and endings from the Play like Anand section of the CD.
Anand 2725 Ftacnik 2535

Biel (izt) 1993 58/254 [B80]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f3 b5 8.g4 h6 9.Qd2 Bb7 10.h4 b4 [a novelty;
10...Be7 11.0-0-0 and White is slightly better; 10...Nbd7] 11.Nce2 d5 [11...e5 12.Qb4! Qd7 (12...Qc7 13.
Qa4 Nbd7 14.Nf5 and White is superior) 13.Nb3 d5 14.Nc5 and White is superior] 12.e5 Nfd7 13.f4! (and
White is slightly better) Nc5 14.Bg2! [14.Ng3 Be7] Nbd7 15.0-0-0 Be7 [15...a5 16.Kb1 weak point b5; 15...
Qb6 16.g5 h5 17.g6! fg6 18.Bh3 weak point e6] 16.g5! [16.f5?! Ne5 17.Nf4 unclear] h5 [16...g6? 17.h5! and
White is superior] 17.f5! [17.Kb1 Qb6 18.g6 fg6 19.Bh3 Nf8 unclear] Ne5 18.Nf4! [18.fe6 Nc4 (18...fe6 19.
Nf4 and White is winning) 19.ef7 a) 19...Kf8?! 20.Qe1 Qa5 (20...Ne3 21.Nf4 and White is winning) 21.Kb1
Ne3 22.Nf4 a1) 22...Ng2 23.Ng6 Kf7 24.Qe7 Kg6 25.Rhf1! Nh4 (25...Rhe8 26.Qf7 Kh7 27.Qh5 Kg8 28.g6;
25...Rhf8 26.Rf8 Rf8 27.Qf8) 26.Qf7 Kh7 (26...Kg5 27.Rg1) 27.Qh5 Kg8 28.Qf7 Kh7 29.Rh1 and White is
winning; a2) 22...Nd1 23.Ng6 Kf7 24.Qe7 Kg6 (24...Kg8 25.Nf5 Rh7 26.Rf1 with the idea Qf8!) 25.Qd6
a21) 25...Kf7 26.g6 Ke8 (26...Kg8 27.Bd5 Bd5 28.Qd5 Kf8 29.Qf7 mate) 27.Nf5 and White is winning; a22)
25...Kh7 26.g6 Kg8 (26...Kh6 27.Nf5 mate) 27.Bd5 and White is winning; b) 19...Kf7 20.Qe1 Re8! 21.Bf4
Kg8 unclear] Nc4 19.Qe2 Qa5 [19...e5 20.Nd5! Ne3 (20...Bd5 21.Nc6 Bg2 22.Nd8 Bh1 23.Bc5 and White is
winning) 21.Qe3 Bd5 22.Nc6 Bg2 23.Nd8 Bh1 24.Qe5 and White is winning, with the idea 24...Rd8 25.Rd8
Kd8 26.Qb8 Kd7 27.Qh8 g6 28.Qh7] 20.Kb1 Nb2 [20...e5 21.Nd5 Ne3 22.Qe3 Bd5 23.Bd5 ed4 a) 24.Qd4
0-0-0 (24...0-0 25.f6 Bd6 26.g6! and White is winning) 25.Qg7 and White is superior; b) 24.Rd4! and White
is winning]
21.fe6!! [21.Kb2 Na4 22.Kc1 Nc3 23.Qd3 e5 and Black is superior] 0-0-0 [21...fe6 22.Kb2 Na4 23.Kc1 Nc3
24.Qd3 weak point g6; 21...Nd1 22.ef7 Kf7 (22...Kd7 23.Rd1 and White is winning) 23.Rd1 and White is
winning, with attack, with the idea 23...Ne4 24.Be4 de4 25.Qc4 Ke8 26.Nfe6] 22.Kb2 Na4 23.Kc1 b3 [23...
Nc3 24.Qd3] 24.Nb3! [24.cb3 Ba3 25.Kc2 Qc7 26.Kb1 Nc3] Ba3 25.Kb1 Nc3 [25...Qc3 26.Bd4] 26.Ka1
Qa4 27.Qd3 Bb4 28.Nc1 Kb8 29.Bd4! [29.ef7 and White is winning] Rc8 30.Be5! [30.ef7] Ka7 [30...Ka8
31.Nd5 and White is winning, diagonal h1-a8] 31.Qe3 Rc5 32.Rd3 Qc2 33.Bc3! Bc3 34.Rc3 Qc3 35.Qc3
Rc3 36.ef7 Rf8 37.g6 1-0 [V.Anand]
Anand 2735 Karpov 2775

Las Palmas 1996 68/346 [D21]
1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 e6 3.c4 dc4 4.e4 b5 5.a4 c6 6.ab5 cb5 7.b3 Bb7 [7...Nf6 see 44/(462)] 8.bc4 Be4 9.cb5 Nf6
10.Be2 [a novelty; 10.Bd3] Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Nc3 Bb7 13.Ne5 a6 [13...Bb4 14.Bb2 Bc3 (14...a6 15.Bf3) 15.
Bc3 a6 (15...Qd5 16.Nf3 and White is slightly better) 16.Ba5 Qd5! 17.Bf3 Qb5; 16.Bf3! and White is
slightly better] 14.Bf3 Nd5 [14...Bf3 15.Qf3 Qd4 16.Re1! Bb4 (16...Nd5 17.Bb2!) 17.Bb2] 15.Nd5 ed5 16.
Rb1! [16.Qb3 ab5 17.Ra8 Ba8 18.Qb5 and White is slightly better] Qb6
17.Be2!! ab5 18.Rb5 Qc7 19.Bf4 Bd6 20.Bd3 Ba6 21.Bh7! [21.Rd5 and White is superior] Kh7 22.Qh5
Kg8 23.Rb3 Be5? [23...Bc8?! 24.Rg3 Qe7 25.Bh6! (25.Bg5 Qe6 26.Bh6 Be5 27.de5 g6 28.Bf8 Kf8 unclear)
Be5 26.de5 g6 27.e6!! (Dzindzichashvili) Be6 (27...Qe6 28.Bf8 and White is winning) 28.Qe5 f6 29.Rg6 and
White is winning; 23...f6! 24.Rh3 fe5 25.de5 Qc4! (25...Rf4 26.e6 Kf8 27.Qh8 Ke7 28.Qg7 Ke6 29.Re1! Re4
30.Rh6 and White is winning) a) 26.Qh7 Kf7 27.e6 Kf6 (27...Ke6 28.Re1! and White is winning; 27...Ke8 28.
Qg6 Kd8 29.Bg5 Kc8 30.Rc1 and White is superior) a1) 28.Rh6? gh6 29.Qh6 Kf5 (29...Ke7 30.Bg5 and
White is winning) 30.g4 Ke4 31.Re1 Qe2! (31...Kd3 32.Qg6 Kd4 33.Bd6) 32.Re2 Be2 33.Bd6 Ra1 34.Kg2
Bf1! 35.Kg3 Rf3 36.Kh4 Rh3 and Black is winning; a2) 28.Bg5 Ke6 29.Re1 Kd7 30.Qg7 Kc6 31.Rc3 Nd7
32.Rc4 Bc4 unclear; b) 26.Re1! Qf4 27.Qh7 Kf7 28.ed6 b1) 28...Re8 29.Qh5 g6 30.Re7!! Re7 (30...Kf6 31.
Qf3! and White is winning) 31.Qh7 Kf6 (31...Kf8 32.de7 Ke8 33.Qg6 Ke7 34.Rh7 and White is winning) 32.
Qe7 Kf5 33.Qf8! Ke5 34.Re3 and White is winning; b2) 28...Nc6 29.Rf3 Qf3 30.gf3 Bc4 31.Kh1 and White
is winning; 31.h4 and White is winning] 24.Rh3 f6 25.de5 (and White is winning) Qe7 [25...Qc4 26.Re1!
Qf4 27.Qh7 Kf7 28.e6 Ke8 29.Qg6] 26.Qh7 Kf7 27.Rg3 Ke8 [27...Rg8 28.Qg6 Kf8 29.ef6] 28.Rg7 Qe6 29.
ef6 Nc6 30.Ra1 Kd8 31.h4 Bb7 32.Rc1 Ba6 33.Ra1 Bb7 34.Rd1 Ba6 35.Qb1! Rf6 36.Bg5 time 1-0 [V.
Anand]
Anand 2765 Lautier 2660

Biel 1997 70/89 [B01]
1.e4 d5 2.ed5 Qd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c6 [5...Nc6 see 70/(89)] 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.Ne5 e6 8.g4 Bg6 9.h4
Nbd7 10.Nd7 Nd7 11.h5 Be4 12.Rh3 Bg2 13.Re3 Nb6 [13...b5 14.Bd3 b4 15.Ne4 and White is slightly
better] 14.Bd3 [14.Bb3?! c5!] Nd5 15.f3! [a novelty; 15.Rg3?! see 67/124] Bb4 [15...Nc3 16.bc3 Qc3 17.
Bd2 Qd4 18.Kf2 Bf3 19.Kf3 Bc5 20.Kg2 and White is slightly better] 16.Kf2! Bc3 [16...Nc3 17.bc3 Bc3 18.
Rb1 Bd4 19.Kg2 Be3 20.Be3 and White is superior] 17.bc3 Qc3 18.Rb1 Qd4 [18...Bf3 19.Qf3 Qd4 20.Rb7
and White is superior] 19.Rb7 Rd8 [19...Bh3 20.Rf7! c5 21.Rf5!! (Lautier) Ne3 22.Be3 Qb2 23.Rc5 0-0 24.
Kg3! and White is winning; 19...Nf4 20.Kg3 (20.Qe1 Qf6 21.Kg3 and White is superior; 20.Be2 and White
is superior) Qd6 21.Ba3! Nh5 (21...Qa3 22.Be4! and White is winning) 22.Kg2 Qg3 23.Kf1 and White is
winning]
20.h6!! gh6? [20...Ne3 only move 21.Be3 Qe5 22.hg7 Rg8 23.Qc1 (23.Bh6 Qh2!; 23.Qg1 Bf3 24.Kf3 and
White is superior) Bf3 (23...Qh2 24.Bf4 Qh3 25.Qa3! and White is winning) 24.Qa3 Qh2 25.Kf3 Qh3 26.
Ke2 Qg4 27.Kd2 Qh4 28.Qc3 c5 29.Ra7 and White is superior] 21.Bg6!! Ne7 [21...Qe3 22.Be3 fg6 23.Bc5
and White is winning; 21...Qf6 22.Bf7 Qf7 23.Rf7 Ne3 24.Qd8! (24.Qe2 Nd1 25.Kg2 Kf7 and White is
slightly better) Kd8 25.Be3 Bh3 26.Ra7 and White is winning] 22.Qd4 Rd4 23.Rd3! Rd8 24.Rd8 Kd8 25.
Bd3! [25...Bh1 26.Bb2 Re8 27.Bf6 and White is winning] 1-0 [V.Anand]

Dortmund 2003 88/77 [B17]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 de4 4.Ne4 Nd7 5.Ng5 Ngf6 6.Bd3 e6 7.N1f3 Bd6 8.Qe2 h6 9.Ne4 Ne4 10.Qe4 Qc7
11.0-0 b6 12.Qg4 g5 13.Qh3 Rg8 14.Re1! [a novelty; 14.Nd2 see 85/87] Bf8! [14...g4 15.Qh6 gf3 16.Re6
fe6 (16...Be7 17.Re7 Ke7 18.Bf4 and White is winning) 17.Qe6 Be7 18.Qg8 Nf8 19.Bg6! Kd7 20.Bf5 Ke8
21.Bh6! Qd6 (21...Bf5? 22.Re1) 22.Bf8 Bf8 23.Re1 Kd8 24.Qf7 Be7 25.Bc8 Rc8 26.Qf3 and White is
superior]
15.Qf5 [15.Re6 Kd8 only move a) 16.Bh7 a1) 16...Rh8 17.Rh6 Nf6 18.Bg5! Bh3 19.Bf6 Kc8 20.Rh3 and
White is winning; a2) 16...Nf6 17.Rf6 Bh3 18.Bg8 Be6 19.Bf7 Qe7! (19...Bf7 20.Ne5) 20.Re6 Qf7 21.Rc6
Rc8 22.Rc8 Kc8 23.Be3 Qc4 24.c3 Qe2 25.Nd2 Qd3 26.Rc1 Bd6 27.g3 and White is superior; a3) 16...Rg7
a31) 17.Rh6!? Nf6 18.Bf5 g4 19.Qg3 gf3 (19...Qg3) 20.Qc7 Kc7 21.Rf6 Rg2 22.Kf1 Ba6 23.Bd3 Bd3 24.
cd3 Kd7 25.h3 Be7 26.Rf3 Rag8 27.Ke2 Rg1!; a32) 17.Qh6 fe6 18.Bg5 Rg5 19.Ng5! (19.Qg5 Be7 20.Qg8
Nf8 21.Ne5 Bd7 22.Be4 unclear) Bh6 20.Ne6 Ke7 21.Nc7 Rb8 22.Re1 Kf7 23.Ne6 c5 24.Nd8 Kg7 25.Bf5
and White is superior; a4) 16...Nc5 17.Bg8 Be6 a41) 18.Qh5 Ne4 19.Ne5 Nf6 20.Qf3 Bg7! (20...Ng8 21.
Nc6 Ke8 22.d5 with compensation) 21.Nc6 Ke8 22.Nb4 Rd8; a42) 18.Qg3 Bd6 (18...Qg3 19.hg3 Nd7 20.
Bh7 Nf6 21.Bd3 Bd6) 19.Ne5 Kc8!; b) 16.Re1 Ne5! (16...Nf6 17.Qg3! and White is superior) 17.Bf5 (17.
Qg3? Nd3 18.cd3 Qg3 19.hg3 Be6) g4 18.Qh5 Nf3 19.gf3 Bf5 20.Qf5 Qd7! 21.Qd7 Kd7 22.Kg2 Bd6 and
White is slightly better; c) 16.Rh6 c1) 16...Nf6 c11) 17.Qc8 Kc8 18.Rf6 Bg7! (18...Kb7 19.Ne5 and White is
superior; 18...Bd6 19.Ng5 Qe7 20.Ba6 Kb8 21.Rd6!! Qd6 22.g3 Kc7 23.Bf4 Rg5 24.Bd6 Kd6 and White is
superior) 19.Ba6 Kd8! (19...Kb8 20.Bg5! Bf6 21.Bf6 Re8 22.Re1 Re1 23.Ne1 and White is winning) 20.Rf5
f6 21.d5 Re8! (21...c5 22.Ng5! Re8 23.Ne6 and White is winning) 22.Be3 c5 unclear; c12) 17.Bf5 g4 (17...
Bh6 18.Qh6) 18.Qh4 c121) 18...gf3 19.Rf6! (19.Qf6 Be7 20.Qf7 Rg2 21.Kh1 and White is winning; 19...
Qe7!) Rg2 20.Kh1 Bf5 21.Rf5 Kc8 22.Rf3 and White is winning; c122) 18...Bh6 c1221) 19.Ne5 Bg7;
c1222) 19.Qf6 Qe7 20.Qc6 gf3 (20...Bb7 21.Qh6 gf3 22.Bf4 Rg2 23.Kh1 and White is winning) c12221) 21.
Qd5 Kc7! (21...Ke8 22.Bh6 Rg2 23.Kh1 Bb7 24.Qb5 Kd8 25.Bf4! f6 26.Bg3 and White is winning) 22.Bh6
Rg2 23.Kh1 Rh2 24.Kh2 Qh4 25.Kg1 Bf5!; c12222) 21.Bh6 see 19.Bh6; c1223) 19.Bh6 gf3 20.Qf6 Qe7 21.
Qc6 Bb7 (21...Rg2 22.Kh1 Rh2 23.Kh2 Qh4 24.Kg1 Bf5 25.Qa8 and White is winning) 22.Qb5 Rg2 23.Kh1
and White is superior; c2) 16...Ne5! 17.Qg3! (17.Bf5? Nf3 18.gf3 Bh6 and Black is superior) Nf3 (17...Nd3
18.Bg5 and White is winning) 18.Qf3 Bh6 19.Qf6 Qe7 20.Qh6 Kc7! (20...Be6 21.f4! and White is superior)
21.Bd2 Be6 and White is slightly better] Bg7 16.h4 [16.Re6? fe6 17.Qe6 Kf8 and Black is superior; 16.Bc4
Nf6 17.Qd3 Bb7 18.Ne5 Nd5 19.Bd5 cd5] Kf8 [16...gh4? 17.Bf4 Qd8 18.Re6 and White is winning] 17.
Qh3 [17.Re6? a) 17...Nf6? 18.Qe5! (18.Qf6 Bf6 19.Rf6; 18...Be6!) Qe5 19.Re5; b) 17...Ne5 18.Ne5 Be6; c)
17...Nc5! and Black is superior] Rh8! 18.hg5 hg5 19.Qg4 c5 20.Bg5! [20.Qg5 Bb7 21.Bf4 Qd8 22.Ne5!
Ne5 (22...cd4 23.Nf7!) 23.de5 Bh6! 24.Qg4 Bf4 25.Qf4 Qh4 26.Qh4 Rh4 27.f3 Ke7 28.Kf2 and White is
slightly better] cd4
21.Rad1!! [21.Re6 Nc5 22.Be7 Kg8 and Black is superior; 21.Be7 Kg8 22.Re4 f5! 23.Qg6 Rh6 24.Qe8
Nf8] Bb7 [weak point e6; 21...Nc5 22.Bf4 Qd8 (22...e5 23.Qg7) 23.Qg3 and White is winning; 21...a5 22.
Bb5 e5 (22...Qc2 23.Nd4 Qh7 24.Ne6 fe6 25.Be7! and White is winning; 22...Ne5 23.Ne5 Be5 24.Qe4 Bh2
25.Kf1 Bb7 26.Qd4 and White is winning) 23.Qg3! and White is superior; 21...a6 22.Be7 Kg8 23.Bh4! with
the idea Bg3 and White is superior] 22.Re6! fe6 [22...Bf3 23.Qf3 Qh2 24.Kf1 and White is winning] 23.Be7
Ke7 [23...Kf7 24.Qg6 Ke7 25.Qg7] 24.Qg7 Kd6 25.Nd4! Qc5 26.Bf5 [26.Bb5?? Rh1 27.Kh1 Qh5 28.Kg1
Qd1 and Black is winning; 26.Nb5 Kc6 27.Be2 (27.Bf1 Rh1!) Rad8 28.c4! Qe5 29.Na7 Kc5 30.Qe7] Qe5 27.
Nf3 Qd5 28.Qg3 Ke7 29.Rd5 Bd5 30.Qg5 Kd6 31.Qf4 Ke7 32.Be4 (and White is winning) Rh5 33.Nh4
Rg8 34.Ng6 Kd8 35.Qf7 [35.g4?? Rg6] Re8 36.Bd3 [36...Rg5 37.f3 Bc6 38.c4 and White is winning] 1-0
[V.Anand]
Anand 2788 - Adams 2719

San Luis 2005 94/267 [C92]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Bb7 10.d4 Re8 11.
Nbd2 Bf8 12.a4 h6 13.Bc2 ed4 14.cd4 Nb4 15.Bb1 c5 16.d5 Nd7 17.Ra3 c4 18.ab5 ab5 19.Nd4 Qb6 20.
Nf5 Ne5 21.Rg3 g6 22.Nf3 Ned3
23.Qd2! [a novelty; Jussupow; 23.Be3 see 46/(464)] Bd5? [23...Nc1? 24.Rc1 (24.Nh6 Bh6 25.Qh6 Ncd3 26.
Bd3 Nd3) Kh7 25.Qb4 gf5 26.Qc3! Qd8 27.Qd4 and White is winning; 23...Ra1 24.Nh6! Bh6 25.Qh6 Qf2
26.Kh2 Ne1 (26...Nc1 27.e5! Rb1 28.e6! and White is winning) 27.Rg6 fg6 28.Qg6 Kf8 29.Bh6 Ke7 30.Bg5
Kf8 31.Qd6 Kg8 32.Qg6 Kf8 33.Bh6 Ke7 34.Qe6 Kd8 35.Bg5 Kc7 36.Bf4 Kd8 37.Qd6 Kc8 38.Qc7 mate;
23...Ne1! a) 24.N3h4 Nbd3! 25.Ng6 (25.Nh6 Bh6 26.Qh6 Qf2 27.Kh2 Ne5 28.Bd2 Ra1 29.Be1 Qf6! and
Black is winning) fg6 26.Rg6 Kf7 27.Nh6 Ke7! (27...Bh6 28.Qh6 Qf2 29.Kh1) 28.Qg5 Kd7 29.Be3 Qa5 30.
Ng4 Kc7 and Black is superior; b) 24.Ne1 Nd5! (24...Ra1!? 25.Nh6 Bh6 26.Qh6 Nd5! equal see 24...Nd5)
25.Nh6 (25.ed5? Ra1 26.Bc2 Qa5) Bh6 26.Qh6 b1) 26...Ne7? 27.Be3 and White is winning; b2) 26...Qd4 27.
e5! Ne7 (27...Re6 28.Nf3 Qd1 29.Kh2) 28.Bg6! Ng6 29.Rg6 fg6 30.Qg6 Kh8 31.Bg5! Qe5 (31...Rf8 32.Bf6
Rf6 33.ef6) 32.Bf6 Qf6 33.Qf6 Kh7 34.Nc2 and White is winning; b3) 26...Ra1! 27.Rg6 fg6 28.Qg6 Kf8 29.
Bh6 Ke7 30.ed5 Bd5 31.Bg5 Kd7 32.Bf5 Re6!; 29.Qf5 equal] 24.Nh6! Bh6 25.Qh6 Qf2 [25...Be4 26.Ng5
(26.Be3 Bf3 27.Bd3 Nd3 28.Bb6 Re1 29.Kh2) Qf2 27.Kh2 Ne1 28.Qh7 Kf8 29.Ne4 Qd4 30.Rg6! Re4 31.
Be4 Qe5 32.Kh1 Nf3 33.Bf3 and White is winning] 26.Kh2 Ne1 [26...Nc1 27.ed5! Ncd3 (27...Re1 28.Bg6!)
28.Re6! and White is winning] 27.Nh4 only move Ned3 [27...Re6 28.ed5 Rf6 29.Ng6 fg6 30.Rg6 Rg6 31.
Qg6 Kf8 32.Qd6 Kg8 33.Qg6 Kf8 34.Bh6 Ke7 35.Bg5 Kd7 36.Qe6 Kc7 37.d6! Kb7 (37...Kb6 38.Be3) 38.
Be4 Kb6 39.Ba8 and White is winning; 27...Nf3 28.Nf3 Be4 29.Be4 Re4 30.Ng5 and White is winning; 27...
Ra7 28.Nf5! (28.Ng6? Qg3! 29.Kg3 fg6) Qg3 only move 29.Ng3! Bc6 30.Bg5 Re6 31.e5! de5 32.Nh5! and
White is winning] 28.Ng6 Qg3 29.Kg3 fg6 30.Qg6 Kf8 31.Qf6 Kg8 32.Bh6 [32...Ra7 33.Qg6 and White is
winning] 1-0 [V.Anand]
1) Anand 2610 Morovic 2530

Novi Sad (ol) 1990 50/195
White to Move
2) Anand 2710 Topalov 2635

Las Palmas 1993 58/368
White to Move
3) Anand 2725 Gelfand 2700

White to Move
4) Ivanchuk 2740 Anand 2770

Linares 1998 72/208
Black to Move
5) Anand 2781 Adams 2716

Linares 1999 75/18
White to Move
6) Anand 2525 Spassky 2580

Cannes 1989 47/441
White to Move
7) Anand 2635 Dreev 2625

Madras (m/2) 1991 51/277
White to Move
1) 1.Qe6! Rff8 2.c8Q! [2...Rc8 3.Qe7] 1-0

2) 1.Qb1!! h5 2.Kf2 h4 3.Be5! Qg2 4.Ke3 1-0
3) 1.Nef6! [1...gf6 2.Rg4 and White is winning] 1-0
4) 1...Rc2! 2.Kc2 Qa2 3.f4 Rc8 4.Kd2 Bf4 5.Ke2 Qb2 6.Kf3 Rc1 0-1
5) 1.Rd7! Rd7 2.Bh3 Rf7 [2...Re7 3.Bg4 Qg5 4.Rg1 Kh8 5.Bd4! and White is winning] 3.Bg4 Qg5 4.Be6!
Rfb7 5.Rg1 Qd8 [5...Qh5? 6.Bg4 and White is winning] 6.Qf1! Ra6 7.Qh3 Ra2 8.Be5 Rd2 [8...g5 9.Qh4!]
9.d4 Rd3 10.Bf5 Kg8 [10...Kh8 11.Bc8 Rf3 12.Qe6] 11.Bc8! Nf3 [11...Rf7 12.Be6] 12.Qe6 1-0
6) 1.Nd3!! [1.a6?? Na6 equal] Nd3 2.a6 Be8 3.Nd5 [3...Ke5 4.Ne7 and White is winning] 1-0
7) 1.Qg1 Rg2 2.a5 Rg1 3.Kg1 Kg7 4.a6 Bb8 5.Kh1 Kg8 6.Kg1 Kf8 7.Kh1 Ke8 8.g5 f5 9.g6 f4 10.g7 Kf7
11.g8Q Kg8 12.a7 Ba7 -

2007 Russell Enterprises, Inc All Rights Reserved
The Pearl in the Endings

Part One
Zdenko Krnic
Many of us have probably forgotten that there once was a time when chess games were adjourned; moves
were sealed in envelopes, and then the positions were subjected to hours and hours of analysis with the help
of seconds, which was especially precious in endings. Nowadays, chess players must play the game till the
end and display all their knowledge on the spot, without the help of seconds or a powerful computer.
Well, in order to preserve all these wonderful endings, Chess Informant is preparing a new CD dedicated to
all the endgames published in Informants 5 98, a total of 2,479 examples. This month we are pleased to
present ten pearls from this treasury for your enjoyment.
1.B.Rogulj M.Andres
Jugoslavija 1968
Chess Informant 5/ending 23
White to move
As long ago as 1917 Grigoriev showed how White can achieve a draw in such positions. This was also
displayed in Wijk aan Zee this year in the game Radjabov Karjakin, where Black sacrificed a bishop to
obtain the Grigoriev position and hold draw without difficulty. 1.Rf3? [1.Ra3! Qf6 2.Ka2 Qh6 3.Kb2! Qh1 4.
Rd3 Qa8 5.Ra3! equal] a3! 2.Ka2 Qc4 3.Rb3 Ka4 4.Ka1 a2 0-1 [R.Maric]
2.R.Calvo Minguez D.Byrne

Palma de Mallorca 1968
Black to move
Although Black is a pawn up in an opposite-color bishop ending, he is the one fighting to prevent a white
pawn from promoting. However, zugzwang prevents him from succeeding and the final position shows the
beauty of our ancient game. 1...Kd6 [1...Bd4 2.Ka6 Kd6 3.a5! e5 4.Kb7 Kc5 5.Be2!! g4 6.a6 g3 7.a7 g2 8.
a8Q with the idea Qf8 mate] 2.Ka6 Kc5 3.a5 d4 4.Be6 d3 5.b6 Kb4 6.Bf5! d2 7.Bg4 Bf4 8.b7 Bc7 9.Bd1!
Kc5 10.Ka7 Kb5 11.a6 Ka5 12.b8Q!! (and White is winning) Bb8 13.Kb7! Kb5 14.Bg4 [14...Ka5 15.Be2!
and White is winning] 1-0 [R.Maric]
3.Y.Sakharov E.Vasiukov
USSR (ch) 1968
White to move
White missed a very nice checkmate: 1.Ne3? [1.Ke3! g5 2.Kf3 Ke6 3.Kg4 Kf6 4.Nd2 Kg6 5.Ne4 Kh6 6.Kf5
Kh5 7.Nf6 Kh6 8.Ng4 Kh5 9.Kf6!! d2 10.Kg7 d1Q 11.Nf6 mate] Ke5 2.Kg4 Kd4 3.Nd1 Ke4! 4.Nb2 d2 5.
Nd1 Ke5 6.Nf2 Ke6 7.Kh4 Kf5 8.Kg3 g5 9.Kf3 Kg6! 10.Ke2 Kh5 11.Kd2 Kh4 12.Ke1 Kg3 13.Kf1 Kh2
- [Y.Averbakh]
4.I.Zaitsev N.Karaklajic
Smederevska Palanka 1971
White to move
White can win this position only by advancing his h-pawn; however, it is important that the bishop is
situated on f2, not on g3. 1.h4? [1.Be1 Be7 2.Bf2! Bd8 3.h4 a) 3...Be7 4.f5! ef5 (4...Kf7 5.h5 Bg5 6.Bg3 Bd8
7.Bf4 with the idea h6! and White is winning) 5.Kf4 with the idea h5! and White is winning; b) 3...Kh5 4.f5
Kg4 5.fe6 g5 6.hg5 Kg5 7.b4!! ab4 8.Bc5!! bc5 9.a5 Kg6 10.e7! and White is winning] Kh5! 2.f5 Kg4!! 3.
f6 g5!! equal [3...gf6?? 4.ef6 Kg3 5.Ke5 Kh4 6.Ke6 Bf6 7.Kf6 and White is winning] 4.hg5 Kg5 - [R.
Maric]
5.Lj.Ljubojevic W.Browne
Amsterdam 1972
Black to move
This example shows that even top grandmasters can err in simple winning endings. 1...f5?? [1...Kd5!! 2.b4
(2.Kb4 Kd4 and Black is winning) f5 3.b5 f4 4.b6 Kc6! 5.Ka6 f3 6.b7 f2 7.b8Q f1Q 8.Ka5 Qa1 and Black is
winning] 2.Kb4! equal [2...f4 3.Kc3 equal] - [R.Maric]
6.A.Rosmuller R.Maric
Strasbourg 1973
White to move
Although White is two pawns up, he can win only by playing 1.Rc7. However, to realize this advantage it is
necessary that he play several only moves. 1.c7? [1.Rc7! Ke6 2.Rc8 Kf7 3.c7 Kg7 4.g4 hg4 (4...Kh7 5.gf5
gf5 6.Rf8 Rc7 7.Rf5 Kh6 8.Re5 and White is winning; 4...Rc3 5.gf5 gf5 6.Kg2 Rc2 7.Kf1 Rc1 8.Ke2 Rc5 9.
Ke3 Rc1 10.Kd4 Rc2 11.Ke5 Rc5 12.Ke6 and White is winning) 5.fg4 Rc3 a) 6.Kg2? fg4 7.h5!? gh5 8.f5 h4
9.f6 Kf7 10.Rh8 h3! 11.Kh2 Rc2 12.Kg3 (12.Kg1 Rc1 13.Kf2 h2! 14.Kg2 h1Q 15.Rh1 Rc2 16.Kg3 Kf6
equal) h2! 13.Rh2 Rc3 14.Kg4 Kf6 equal; b) 6.Kh2!! fg4 7.h5!! gh5 8.f5 h4 9.f6 Kf7 10.Rh8 Rc2 11.Kg1
Rc1 12.Kf2 g3 13.Kg2 Rc2 14.Kh3 Rh2 15.Kg4 g2 16.Kf5!! g1Q 17.Rf8 Kf8 18.c8Q Kf7 19.Qe6! Kf8 20.
Qe7 Kg8 21.f7 and White is winning] Ke6 2.g4 [2.Rb6 Kf7 equal] fg4 - [R.Maric, B.Milic]
7.Pape Roth
Deutschland 1972
White to move
We can see from this example that salvation can be found in tournament practice in a studious way as well. 1.
d6!! ed6 2.Kd3! Bg3 3.a5 d5 4.a6 Bb8 5.a7 Ba7 - [R.Maric]
8.S.Makarychev Y.Averbakh
USSR 1973
Black to move
In the endings of opposite-color bishops many brilliant moves leading to victory can be hidden. This
example is an immeasurable contribution to the theory of such endings. 1...Bg1! 2.Ke2 [2.Kg1 Ke3 with the
idea Kd2, c2 and Black is winning] Kg3 3.Kf1 Bf2 4.Bc2 f5! 5.Bb1 [5.Bf5 Kf4 6.Be4 Ke3 and Black is
winning] f4 6.Bg6 Be3 7.Bc2 h5 8.Bf5 c5 9.Bg6 h4! 10.Bf5 g4!! (and Black is winning) 11.hg4 [11.fg4 f3
12.gf3 Kh3 13.g5 Kg3 14.g6 Bd4 and Black is winning] h3 12.gh3 Kf3 13.g5 Kg3 14.g6 Bd4 15.h4 f3 16.
h5 Bg7 17.Ke1 f2 [18.Kf1 Kf3 19.Bb1 Ke3 20.Bf5 c4 21.Bb1 Kd2 and Black is winning] 0-1 [N.Minev]
9.D.Levy - G.Bonner
Edinburgh 1972
Black to move
Black showed that it is very important to give check at the right moment. The brilliant key move of Black's
defense is 3a6!!. 1...Rh5! 2.Kd6 [2.Kf6 Kf4 3.g7 Rh6! equal] Kd4 [2...Ke4? 3.g7! Rh6 4.Kc5 and White
is winning] 3.Kc6 a6!! [3...Kc4 4.Kb7 Rh6 5.Ka8 and White is winning] 4.Kb6 [4.Kb7 Ke5 equal] Rh6! 5.
Ka5 [5.Kb7 Ke5! equal] Kc4! [6.g7 Rh5 7.Ka6 Rh6 equal] - [N.Minev]
10.V.Lukov - S.Duriga
Polska 1975
White to move
The black king and knight fight feverishly to prevent the promotion of the white pawn, but they ultimately
fail because of White's final stroke 11.Bf5!!. 1.Ke5! [1.Kd6? Kf6 equal] h5 [1...Kh4 2.Kd6 and White is
winning] 2.Ba4 h4 3.Bd7! h3 4.Bh3 Ne8 5.Be6! Kh6 [5...Nf6 6.Bf7 Ng4 7.Kd6! Nf6 8.Ke6 Nh5 9.Bg6! and
White is winning] 6.Bd7 Ng7 7.Kf6 g5 8.Kf7 Kh7 9.Kf8 Kg6 10.Bg4 Kf6 11.Bf5!! g4 12.Bg4 Kg6 13.Bd7
Kh7 [13...Kf6 14.Bf5 and White is winning] 14.Kf7 Kh6 15.Bg4! Kh7 16.Be2 [16...Kh6 17.Bd3 and White
is winning; 16...Kh8 17.Bd3 and White is winning] 1-0 [R.Maric]

The Most Important Novelty of Chess Informant 98

Sasa Velickovic
Although it may seem that the move 10.c4 does not bring an advantage for White in the Scheveningen
variation of Sicilian Defense, Morozevichs winning novelty, 15.Rc1!, could change current opinion. By
opening the position and moving the knight from the edge of the board, after 10bc3 11.Nc3, White
emphasizes the weakness of Blacks queens wing. Then upon introducing the rook into the game before
castling, White has achieved an important tempo for his queenside actions. Therefore, the interesting reply
10...Qc7 could be an important move for Black to prove that he has the better chances in this closed position.
Morozevich 2747 Grischuk 2710

Moscow 2006 98/156 [B80]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e6 7.Be3 b5 8.Qd2 b4 9.Na4 Nbd7 10.c4 bc3 11.Nc3
Bb7 12.Be2 d5 13.ed5 Nd5 14.Nd5 Bd5
15.Rc1! [a novelty; 15.0-0 see 98/155] Qb8 16.a3 Bd6 17.Nf5! 0-0 [17...Bh2 18.f4 (18.Ng7 Ke7 19.Nf5 ef5
20.Qd5 Qg3 21.Kd2 Rhd8 22.Qf5 and White is superior) ef5 19.Qd5 Bg3 20.Kf1 Bf4 21.Rh3! with attack;
17...Be5! 18.f4 g6 19.fe5 gf5 20.0-0 Ne5 21.Rc5 with initiative] 18.Nd6 Qd6 19.0-0 (and White is superior)
a5 20.a4 Rfd8 21.Bb5 h6 22.Rc3 Nf8 [22...Nf6 23.Rd1 and White is superior] 23.Rfc1 Ng6 24.Qf2 Rdb8
25.Rc7 Qb4 26.Qd2! Rb5? [26...Qh4 27.Ra7 Ra7 28.Ba7 Ra8 29.Bb6 Qh5 and White is superior] 27.ab5
Qb5 28.Rc8 Rc8 29.Rc8 Kh7 30.Rc5 Qb7 31.Ra5 (and White is winning) Ne5 32.Qc2 Kg8 33.Rc5 Nc6 34.
h3 f5 35.Qc3 1-0 [Morozevich, Al.Kuzmin]
Motylev 2662 Belozerov 2518

Russia 2006 98/154 [B80]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.f3 Be7 8.Qd2 0-0 9.g4 d5 10.g5 Nd4 11.Qd4
Nh5 12.0-0-0 [12.f4 see 69/216] Bg5
13.Kb1! [a novelty; V.Potkin; 13.ed5] Be3 [13...de4? 14.Qe5!; 13...e5 14.Qe5 Be3 15.Qh5 and White is
slightly better] 14.Qe3 Qf6 15.ed5 Nf4 16.d6 Bd7 17.Bb5! Bb5 [17...Rfd8 18.Ne4 Qe5 19.Bd7 Rd7 20.Qc5
Nd5 21.Rhe1 (21.c4 f5 only move, unclear) Qf4 (21...Qh2 22.c4 Nb6 23.Qd4 and White is superior) 22.c4
and White is slightly better] 18.Nb5 Nd5 [18...a6 19.Nc7 Rad8 20.d7 and White is superior] 19.Qe4! Rfd8
[19...a6 20.Nc7 Nc7 21.dc7 Qe7 22.Qb7 Rac8 (22...Rfc8 23.Rd8! Rd8 24.c8Q and White is winning) 23.Qa6
Qc7 24.Qe2 and White is superior] 20.Nc7 Rac8 21.Nd5 ed5 22.Rd5 [22.Qd5 Rd7 23.Rhe1 g6 24.Qd4 Qd4
25.Rd4 Rc6 26.Red1 f5 27.c4 Kf7 28.b4 b6 unclear] Rd6 23.Rd6 Qd6 24.Qb7 [Q 9/e] Qc5 [24...Re8!? 25.
Qa7 (25.a3 and White is slightly better) Qh2 26.Rd1 Qd2 27.Qg1 and White is slightly better] 25.Qe4 Rd8
26.a3 h5 27.Re1 Rd2 [27...Qf2 28.Qe2 with the idea 28...Rd2 29.Qf2 Rf2 30.c4 and White is winning] 28.
Re2 Re2 29.Qe2 [Q 4/f] g5 30.c4 [30.b4!? Qg1 31.Kb2 g4 32.fg4 hg4 33.Qd2 and White is winning] g4
[30...a5 31.Ka2 (31.Qe8!? Kg7 32.Qb5) Kf8 32.Kb3 and White is winning] 31.fg4 Qg1 32.Ka2 [32.Kc2 hg4
33.b4 Qd4 (33...f5 34.c5 and White is winning) 34.c5 Kf8 35.Qd3 (35.Kb3 f5 36.c6 Qd5 37.Qc4 and White is
winning) Qf2 36.Kb3 Qh2 37.Qd8 Kg7 38.Qd4 and White is winning] hg4 33.Qe5 [better is 33.b4 Qd4 (33...
f5 34.c5) 34.c5 Kf8 35.Kb3 f5 36.c6 Qd5 37.Qc4 and White is winning] Qc1! 34.Kb3 [34.Qd4 f5 35.c5 f4
with counterplay; 34.Qd5!? Qf4 (34...Qc2 35.Qg5 Kf8 36.Qg4 and White is winning) 35.c5 Kf8 36.c6 Qc7
37.Kb3 and White is winning] Qd1 35.Kb4 Qd2 36.Kb5 [36.Ka4!? Qd7 37.Qb5 Qd2 38.Qb8 Kg7 39.b4
and White is winning] f5 [36...Qd7 37.Kc5 f5 38.Qd5 Qd5 39.Kd5 and White is winning] 37.c5 [37.b4? f4
38.Qe6 Kf8 39.Qg4 Qe3 unclear; better is 37.Qf5 Qb2 38.Ka4 Qh2 39.Qg4 Kf8 40.Qc8 Ke7 41.Qb7 Ke6 42.
Qc6 Ke7 43.Ka5 and White is winning] f4 38.c6 f3 39.c7 [39.Qe6 Kh7 40.Qf7 Kh6 41.Qf6 Kh5 42.c7 Qd7
43.Qc6 a6 44.Kb6 Qc6 45.Kc6 f2 46.c8Q f1Q] Qd7 40.Kc5 [40.Ka6 f2 41.Qg5 Kh7 42.Qh4 Kg6 43.Qf2
Qc7 44.b4 Qb8! and White is superior] f2 41.Qd5 Qd5 42.Kd5 f1Q 43.c8Q [Q 4/c] Kf7 [43...Kh7 44.Qg4
Qb5 45.Ke6] 44.Qe6 Kf8 45.Qe5 Kf7! 46.Qe6 [46.Kd6!? Kg6 47.Kc7 Qf2] Kf8 47.Qg4 Qb5 48.Ke4?? [48.
Ke6 Qc6 49.Kf5 Qb5 (49...Qd7 50.Kg5 Qe7 51.Kf4 Qd6 52.Ke3 Qh2 53.Qf4 Qf4 54.Kf4 Ke7 55.Ke5 Kd7 56.
Kd5 Kc7 57.Kc5 Kb7 58.Kb5 and White is winning) 50.Kg6 Qe8 51.Kg5 Qe7 52.Kf4 Qd6 53.Ke4 Qe7 (53...
Qh2 54.Qf4 Qf4 55.Kf4 see 49...Qd7) 54.Kf3 Qb7 55.Kg3 Qb2 56.Qb4 and White is winning] Qb2 [ and
White is slightly better; Q 4/b] 49.Qf5 Kg8 50.Qd5 Kh7 51.Qf5 Kg8 52.Qg4 Kf7 53.Qf4 Kg8 54.Qd6 a5
55.Kf5 Qf2 56.Kg6 Qc2 [56...Qg2! 57.Qg3 Qc6 and White is slightly better] 57.Kf6 Qf2 58.Ke7 Qh4 [58...
Qf7!? 59.Kd8 a4] 59.Kd7 Qa4 60.Kc7 Qe4 61.Kb6 Qf5 [61...a4?? 62.Qb8 Kf7 63.Qb7 and White is
winning]
62.a4! [62.Qc5? Qf6 63.Ka5 Qd8 equal] Kf7 [62...Qf2 63.Ka5 and White is winning; 62...Kh7 63.Qc5 Qb1
64.Ka5 and White is winning] 63.Qc7 [63.Qc5!? Qe6 64.Ka5] Ke8 64.Qc5 Qh3 [64...Qe6 65.Qc6 Kd8! 66.
h4; 65.Ka5 and White is winning] 65.Qe5 Kd7 66.Qc7 Ke8 67.Qe5? [67.Ka5! and White is winning] Kd7!
[67...Kd8 68.Qa5! Qh2 69.Kb7 Ke8 70.Qb5 Kf7 71.a5 and White is winning] 68.Ka5 [Q 3/f; 68.Qc7! Ke8
69.Ka5! Qf3] Kc6 [68...Kc8! 69.Kb6 only move Qh6! 70.Kb5 only move Qh3 71.a5! Qd3 72.Kc5 Qc2 73.
Kd5 a) 73...Qd3 74.Qd4! Qf3 75.Kd6 Qf8 76.Kc6 Qe8 77.Kb6 Qe6 78.Kb5 Qh3 79.Qf4 Qd7 80.Kb4 Qb7
(80...Kb7 81.h4) 81.Kc3 Qh1 82.Qc4 only move Kb8 83.h4 only move; b) 73...Qg2 74.Kd6 Qd2 75.Kc6
only move Qd7 76.Kc5 (76.Kb6?? Qd6!) Qh3 77.Kb6 Qh6 78.Kb5 Qh7 79.Qf4! Qb7 80.Ka4 Qd7 81.Kb4
Qb7 82.Kc3 Qh1 83.Qc4 only move Kb8 84.h4 only move] 69.Qe4? [69.Qb8 only move] Kc5? [69...Kc7!
equal 70.Qe5 Kb7 only move] 70.Qe7? [70.Qb4!; 70.Qe5; 70.Qc2] Kc6 71.Qe4 Kc5? 72.Qc2! Kd5 [72...
Kd6! 73.Kb5] 73.Kb4! Qg4! 74.Ka3! Kd6! 75.Qd3! Kc6! 76.Qc3! Kd7! 77.a5! Qe2 [77...Qf4!] 78.h4!
Qd1 [78...Qe7!] 79.Qg7 [79.Kb4!; 79.Qc4] Ke6! 80.Qg6! Ke7 [80...Kd7] 81.Qe4 [81.a6!] Kd6 [81...Kf8!;
81...Kf7] 82.Qb4 [82.a6!] Kc7 [82...Ke5!] 83.Qc4 [83.Qc5!] Kd6! 84.Kb4 [84.a6!] Qe1! 85.Ka4! Qh1
[85...Qa1!] 86.Qd4! Kc6! 87.a6! Qf1 [87...Qc1!] 88.Qc3 [88.a7!] Kb6! 89.Qb4! Kc6! 90.Qb7! Kc5 [90...
Kd6!] 91.Qc7! Kd5! 92.Qd7 [92.a7!] Kc5 [92...Ke4!] 93.Qe7 [93.Qc7!] Kc6! [93...Kd5! 94.Ka5!] 94.Qe6
[94.Qe4!; 94.Qb7!] Kc5! 95.Qc8 [95.Qe3!] Kb6 [95...Kd6!] 96.Qb7 Kc5 97.Qc7! Kd5! 98.a7! Qa1 time
[99.Kb5 Qf1 100.Kb6 Qb1 101.Ka6 Qf1 102.Kb7 Qb1 103.Kc8 and White is winning] 1-0 [Motylev]
Nisipeanu 2693 R.Ruck 2523

Hrvatska 2006 98/171 [B87]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 b5 8.Bg5 Be7 9.Qf3 Qc7 10.0-0-0 Nbd7 11.
Bf6 [11.Rhe1 see 97/166; 11.e5 see 97/167] Nf6 [11...Bf6 12.Be6 fe6 13.Ne6 Qc6 14.Nd5 Kf7 15.Ng5 Ke8
(15...Kf8 16.Qh5 g6 17.Qh6 Kg8 18.Nh7! Rh7 19.Qg6 Kh8 20.Nf6 Nf6 21.Qf6 Rg7 22.Rd6 and White is
winning) 16.Qh5 (16.Nf6) g6 17.Qg4 and White is winning] 12.g4 Nd7 [12...0-0 13.g5 Nd7 14.g6 Nc5 15.
gh7 Kh8 16.Rhg1 Bd7 17.Qe3 unclear; 12...b4! 13.Nce2 Bb7 14.Ng3 d5 15.ed5 Bd5 16.Bd5 Nd5 17.Ndf5 00 and Black is slightly better]
13.Be6! [a novelty; 13.Qg3] Ne5 14.Nd5 Qc5 15.Bf7 Nf7 16.Qg3 Bf6 17.Nb3 Qa7 18.f4 (with initiative) 00 19.Nf6 [better is 19.g5 Bd8 20.g6 hg6 21.Qg6 Nh8 22.Qd6 and White is superior] gf6 20.h4 (with attack)
Re8 [20...Bb7! 21.g5 (21.Rhe1 Rae8 22.g5 fg5 23.hg5 Be4 24.g6 unclear) fg5 22.hg5 Be4 23.g6 Rac8 24.
gf7 (24.gh7!? Kh8 25.Rdg1 Ng5 only move 26.Qg5 Bh1 27.Rh1 Qf2 unclear) Kh8 25.Rh2 Qf7 26.Rf2 and
White is slightly better] 21.g5 f5 22.g6 (and White is superior) hg6 [22...Nh6 23.Qg5 Qg7 24.Rd6 and White
is winning] 23.Qg6 Kf8 24.ef5 [24.Nd4! Re4 25.Rhg1 Rd4 26.Qg7 Ke7 27.Rd4 and White is superior] Qe3
25.Kb1 Qf4 26.Nd4 Re4? time [26...Qh6 27.h5 Re4! unclear, with the idea 28.f6 Rg4] 27.Rhg1 [27.Ne6!
Be6 28.fe6 Ne5 29.e7 Ke7 30.Qd6 Ke8 31.Qe6 Kf8 32.Rhg1 Nf7 33.Qg6 and White is winning] Rd4 28.
Qg7 Ke7 29.Rd4 Qf5 30.Re1 Kd7 31.Rdd1! (and White is winning) Qh5 32.Rf1 Ke8 33.Rde1 1-0
[Nisipeanu]
Leko 2741 B.Gelfand 2733

Moscow 2006 98/294 [D19]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bc4 Bb4 8.0-0 Nbd7 9.Qe2 Bg4 10.h3 Bf3 11.Qf3
0-0 12.Rd1 Rc8 13.e4 e5 14.Be3 Qa5
15.Qf5! [a novelty; 15.Ne2 see 92/391] ed4 [15...Bc3?! 16.bc3 Qc3 17.Rac1 Qa5 (17...Qb2 18.Rb1) 18.Bg5!
with initiative; 15...Rfe8] 16.Qa5 Ba5 17.Bd4 Rfe8 18.f3 a6 [18...Bb6 19.a5 Bd4 20.Rd4 and White is
slightly better] 19.Kf2 [19.g4] Ne5 20.Be2 [20.Bf1! and White is slightly better] Rcd8 21.Be3 h5! (with
counterplay) 22.g4!? [22.g3] hg4 23.hg4 Ng6! [weak point f4; 23...Bc3?! 24.bc3 Neg4? 25.fg4 Ne4 26.Kf3
Rd1 27.Bd1 and White is superior] 24.Rd8! Rd8 25.Kg3! Re8 [25...Bc7! 26.f4 Ba5!! 27.Kf3 (27.e5 Bc3 28.
bc3 Ne4 29.Kf3 Nc3; 27.Bf3 Bc3 28.bc3 Rd3 29.Kf2 Rc3) Nh4 equal] 26.Rd1! Bc7 27.Kf2 Re7 28.Bf1! [28.
g5 Nh5 with counterplay] Nf4 [28...Rd7! 29.Rd7 (29.g5 Rd1 30.Nd1 Nh5 31.Bh3 b5 equal) Nd7 30.Ne2!?
weak point f4, with the idea g5, Bh3] 29.g5! [29.Ne2 g5! unclear] Nh7? [29...N6h5 30.Bc5 Re5 31.Rd7 Rc5
32.Rc7 b5 a) 33.ab5 ab5 34.Nb5 Rc2 (34...Rb5 35.Bb5 cb5 36.Ke3 Ng2 37.Ke2! Ngf4 38.Kd2 Ne6 39.Rb7
Ng5 40.Rb5 f6 41.Ke3 and White is slightly better) 35.Ke3 Rb2 36.Nd6 Rb3 37.Kd2 Rf3 38.Bc4 with
initiative; b) 33.Nd5!? Nd5 (33...ba4 34.Rc6! Rc6 35.Ne7) 34.ed5 Rd5 35.Rc6 Rd2 (35...Rg5? 36.a5!; 35...
ba4 36.g6) 36.Ke3 Rb2 37.a5! Rb3 38.Bd3 Kf8 39.Ra6 Nf4 40.Kf4 Rd3 41.Rb6 and White is slightly better;
29...Nd7 30.Ne2! Ne2 31.Be2 and White is slightly better] 30.Bf4? [30.e5!! and White is superior, with the
idea 30...Be5? 31.Rd8 Nf8 32.Bc5 and White is winning] Bf4 31.Rd8 Nf8
32.g6! b5 [32...Rd7! 33.Rd7 Nd7 34.Bc4 Ne5; 33.Re8 b5 34.Ne2 Bd6; 33.Ra8 with initiative] 33.Bh3! [33.
Ra8 Rd7!] fg6 34.Ra8 ba4? time [34...Kf7 a) 35.Ra6 ba4 36.Na4 (36.Rc6 Rb7 37.Na4 Be5; 36.Bf1 Rb7 37.
Bc4 Ke7 38.Na4) Rc7 37.Nc5 Be5 38.Nd3 Bd4 39.Kg3 c5; b) 35.a5! Bc1 (35...Nd7 36.Ra6 Ne5; 36.Ne2) 36.
b3 Bd2 37.Ne2 Ba5 38.Ra6 and White is slightly better] 35.Bf1! Kf7 36.Bc4 Ne6 37.Ne2? time [37.Ra6!
Ke8 (37...Kf8 38.Ra8 Kf7 39.Ne2) 38.Rc6 Nd4 39.Rc8 Kd7 40.Ra8 and White is superior] Bd6! [37...Be5 38.
f4 Bb2 39.f5] 38.f4 Kf6? [38...Rb7!! 39.f5 (39.Ra6 Ke7 equal) gf5 40.ef5 Kf6 41.fe6 (41.Be6 g6 equal)
Rb4! equal] 39.e5 Be5 40.fe5 Ke5 41.Be6?! [41.Ra6! Rb7 42.Be6! (42.Rc6 Nf4!) Ke6 see 41.Be6] Ke6 [41...
Re6! 42.Ra6 c5 43.Ra4 Rb6 44.Ra2 and White is superior] 42.Ra6 [R 8/f6] Rb7 43.Nf4! Ke5 44.Ke3 c5 45.
Nd3 Kd5 46.Ra5! Kd6 47.Ra4 Kd5 48.Ra5 [48.Rg4! Rb3 49.Rg5 Kd6 50.Rg6 Kd5 51.Rg4 and White is
winning, zugzwang] Kd6 49.Ra4 [49.Ra6! Kd5 50.Rg6 Rb3 51.Rg4! and White is winning] Kd5 50.Kd2
[50.Rg4! see 48.Rg4] c4 51.Nb4 [51.Rb4! Rb4 52.Nb4 Kc5 (52...Ke4 53.Kc3 g5 54.Kc4 g4 55.Nc2 g3 56.
Ne1 Ke3 57.Kd5!! Ke2 58.Ke4!! and White is winning) 53.Nc2 g5 54.Ne3 Kb4 (54...Kd4 55.Nf5 Ke4 56.Ng7
g4 57.Nh5 Kf5 58.Kc3 Kg5 59.Ng3 Kf4 60.Nf1 and White is winning) 55.Kc2 g6 56.Ng4 Kb5 57.Kc3 Kc5
58.Ne5 Kb5 59.Nc4 g4 60.Ne3 g3 61.Kd3 Kb4 62.Ke2 Kb3 63.Nd1 and White is winning] Ke4 52.Kc3 g5
53.Nc6 g4 54.Rc4 Kf5 55.Nd4 Kf4 56.Nc6 Kf5 57.Nb4 g3? [57...Re7! and White is superior 58.Rc5 (58.
Nd5 Re2) Ke4 59.Kd2! Kf3 60.Rf5 Kg2 61.Nd3 (61.Nd5 Rb7 62.b4) Rb7 62.b4 g3 63.Ke3 g6 64.Rg5 Re7
65.Kd2 Kh2 66.Ne5 and White is winning] 58.Nd5 (and White is winning) Ke5 59.Ne3 Rf7 60.Rg4 Rc7 61.
Nc4 Kf5 62.Rg3 g5 63.Rf3 Ke4 64.Rf7 Rc8 [64...Rf7 65.Nd6 Kf4 66.Nf7 g4 67.Kd2 g3 68.Ke2 Ke4 69.
Nd6 Kd5 70.Nf5 Kc4 71.Ne3 Kb3 72.Nd1] 65.Rg7 Kf4 66.Kd3 Rd8 67.Ke2 Re8 68.Kf2 Rb8 69.Rf7 Ke4
70.Rd7 g4 71.b3 Rb4 72.Nd2 Kf4 73.Rd3 Kf5 74.Kg3 Ke5 75.Nc4 Ke4 76.Re3 Kd4 77.Kg4 Rb8 78.Kf3
Rh8 79.Ke2 1-0 [Leko]
Shirov 2720 D.Jakovenko 2671

Espana 2006 98/259 [C92]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Re8 10.d4 Bb7 11.Ng5
Rf8 12.Nf3 Re8 13.a4 h6 14.Nbd2 Bf8 15.Bc2 ed4 16.cd4 Nb4 17.Bb1 c5 18.d5 Nd7 19.Ra3 f5 20.g4 f4
21.Nb3 c4 [21...Ne5!? 22.Bf4 Nc4 (22...Nf3 23.Qf3 Nd5 24.Bd2 and White is slightly better) 23.ab5 ab5 24.
Ra8 Ba8 25.Bc1 and White is slightly better]
22.Bd2! [a novelty; 22.Nbd4 Nc5 23.ab5 (23.Bf4 see 61/353) ab5 24.Ra8 Ba8 25.Nb5 Nbd3 26.Bd3 Nd3 27.
Re2 h5! with compensation] a5?! [22...cb3 23.Bb4 a5 24.Bd2! (24.Bc3!? b4 25.Rb3 and White is slightly
better) b4 25.Rb3 Qf6 (25...Nc5 26.Bf4 and White is superior) 26.Bc3! Ne5 27.Be5 de5 28.Bd3 and White is
slightly better] 23.Nbd4 (and White is superior) Nc5 24.ab5 Nbd3 25.Bd3 cd3! [25...Nd3 26.Rd3 cd3 27.
Bf4 and White is winning] 26.Nc6! [26.Bf4 Qf6 27.Bc1!? and White is superior] Qb6 27.Nfd4 Ne4 28.Rd3
Qc5? [28...g5! 29.f3 a) 29...Nf6?! 30.Re8 Re8 31.Qc2!! Nd5 32.Ba5 Qc5 33.Rc3! (33.Qc5 dc5 34.Nf5 Ne3!
and White is slightly better) Re1 34.Kf2 Nc3 35.Ke1 and White is winning; b) 29...Nd2 30.Rd2 Bg7 31.Re8
Re8 32.Kg2 and White is superior] 29.Bf4 a4 [better is 29...Qd5 30.Rde3 Nf6 31.Re8 Re8 32.Re8 Ne8 33.
Qb3 Qb3 34.Nb3 and White is winning] 30.Rde3 (and White is winning) Nf6 31.Re8 Re8 32.Re8 Ne8 33.
Qa4 [33.Qe1! Nf6 34.Ne6] Nf6 34.Ne6 [better is 34.Be3 Qd5 35.Qa7] Qd5 35.Ned8! Bc8 36.b6 Ng4 37.
hg4 Bg4 38.Nd4! [38.Qd4?! Qh5!] Qe4 39.Qb3 d5 40.Qe3 Qg6 41.b7 Bd6 42.Bd6 Bf3 43.Kf1 Qb1 44.
Qe1 Qd3 45.Kg1 1-0 [Shirov]
A.Shabalov 2605 De Firmian 2560

Foxwoods 2006 98/(183) [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Qd2 Be7 9.f3 0-0 10.0-0-0 Nbd7 11.
g4 b5 12.g5 b4 13.Ne2 Ne8 14.f4 a5 15.f5 a4 16.Nbd4 ed4 17.Nd4 b3 18.Kb1 bc2 19.Nc2 Bb3 20.ab3 ab3
21.Na3 Ne5 22.h4
22...Ra4! [a novelty; 22...Ra5 see 96/183] 23.h5 Qa8 24.h6 Qe4 25.Bd3 Nd3 26.Qd3 f6 27.g6 hg6 28.fg6
f5 29.Nb5 Qd3 30.Rd3 with compensation
P.Tregubov 2596 Greet 2439

Fuegen 2006 98/(388) [E15]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2 c5 6.d5 ed5 7.cd5 Bb7 8.Bg2 Bd5 9.Nc3 Bc6 10.e4 d6 [10...Be7
see 97/375] 11.Bf4 Nh5
12.0-0-0! [a novelty; 12.Be3] Nf4 13.gf4 Be7 14.e5 0-0 15.h4 Qc7 16.Ng5 g6 17.Bd5 de5 18.Nh7! Kh7 19.
h5 Kg7 20.hg6 fg6 21.Rdg1 Qd6 22.fe5 1-0
Bologan 2659 J.Timman 2565

Barcelona 2006 98/248 [C83]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Ne4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.de5 Be6 9.Nbd2 Be7 10.c3 0-0 11.
Bc2 f5 12.Nb3 Qd7 13.Nbd4 Nd4 14.Nd4 c5 15.Ne6 Qe6 16.f3 Ng5 17.a4 Rad8 18.ab5 ab5 19.Ra7!? c4
20.Be3! [a novelty; 20.Rb7? Qc6 21.Re7 Qc5 and Black is winning; 20.Kh1 Bc5 21.Rc7 (21.Rg7 Kg7 22.
Bg5 Rd7) Bb6 22.Rg7 Kg7 23.Bg5 Rd7 unclear] b4 [20...Qe5!? 21.Re1 (21.Qd2!? f4 22.Bd4 Qd6 23.Rfa1
with initiative) Qd6 22.Rb7 Ne6 23.Rb5 and White is slightly better; 20...f4!? 21.Bf2 b4 22.Qd4 b3 23.Bb1
and White is slightly better] 21.Qd2! [weak point d5; 21.cb4 d4! 22.Bd4 Bb4 23.Kh1 Rf7 24.Rf7 Nf7 25.f4
Bc5 26.Bc5 Rd1 27.Rd1 g5 unclear; 21.Qd4!?] f4 [21...b3 22.Re7 Qe7 23.Bg5 Qa7 24.Kh1 bc2 25.Bd8 Rd8
26.Qc2 and White is winning; 21...bc3 22.bc3 f4 23.Bf2 Nf7 24.Qf4 Ne5 25.Qe3 and White is superior] 22.
Bf2 b3 23.Bb1 (and White is superior) Qf7 24.Qd4 [24.Rd1!? Ne6 25.Bb6 Rb8 26.Qf2 Rb6 27.Qb6 Bc5 28.
Qc5 Nc5 29.Rf7 Kf7 30.Rd5 Na4 31.Rd2 and White is superior] Ne6 25.Qb6 Rb8 [25...Ra8! 26.Rb7 (26.
Ra8 Ra8 27.Rd1 Rd8 28.Qc6 Nf8 29.Bb6 Rd7 and White is superior) Rfc8 27.Bf5! Qf5 28.Re7 Re8 29.Qc6
and White is superior] 26.Qa5 [26.Qc6!? Rfd8 27.Rd1 Rbc8 28.Qb6 Rb8 29.Qa5] Rfd8 27.Rd1 Qf8 28.Rd5
(and White is winning) Nc5 [28...Bc5 29.Bc5 Nc5 30.Be4 Ne4 31.fe4 f3 32.e6] 29.Be4 Ne4 30.fe4 Rbc8 31.
Qa6 Re8 32.Rdd7 Red8 33.Re7 Rd1 34.Be1 1-0 [Bologan]
M.Carlsen 2698 S.Karjakin 2672

Cap d'Agde (m/2-rapid) 2006 98/181 [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nf3 Be7 8.Bc4 0-0 9.0-0 Be6 10.Bb3 Nc6 11.
Qe2 Na5 12.Rfd1 Nb3 13.cb3 Qe8! 14.Ne1
14...Ng4! [a novelty; 14...h6?! see 98/(181)] 15.Nc2 [15.Nd5 Bd5 16.ed5 f5 and Black is slightly better; 15.
Rac1] f5 16.f3 Ne3 [16...Nf6 17.Nb4 fe4 18.fe4 Qg6 19.Qd3 Rf7 unclear] 17.Ne3 fe4 18.Ne4?! [18.fe4 Qg6
19.Ned5 (19.Ncd5 Bg5 with counterplay) Bh4 with counterplay; 19.Rf1 unclear] Rd8 19.Nd5 Qf7 20.Qd3
Bd5! 21.Qd5 Qd5 22.Rd5 Kf7 23.Rad1 Ke6 (equal) 24.b4 Rc8 25.b5 Rc2 26.ba6 [26.Nd6 ab5 (26...Rd8
27.Re5! Ke5 28.Nf7 Kf6 29.Nd8 Rb2 30.Nb7 ab5) 27.Nb5 Rb2 28.Nc7 Kf6 29.R5d2] ba6 (and Black is
slightly better) 27.Ra5 Rb8! 28.b3 [28.Ra6 Rbb2 and Black is winning] Rb6 [28...Rc6] 29.Kf1 Rbc6!? 30.
h3 [30.b4 Rb2 31.a3 Rcc2 32.Ra6 Rg2 33.Nd6 unclear; 30...h5 and Black is slightly better] h5! 31.Rd3?!
[31.b4 g5 32.a3 Ra2 33.Rd2 and Black is slightly better] g5 32.Rd2 Rd2 33.Nd2 d5 34.Ra4 a5! (and Black
is superior) 35.Ke2 Bd8 36.Kd3? [36.Kd1 only move, and Black is superior] Rc1! 37.b4 ab4 38.Rb4 Rg1
39.g4 Rg3 40.Rb8 [40.gh5 Rh3] e4! 41.Ke2 [41.Kc2 Bc7 42.Rb7 Bf4 43.fe4 hg4 44.ed5 Ke5 45.hg4 (45.
Re7 Kd6 46.Rf7 Bd2 47.Kd2 gh3 and Black is winning) Rg2 and Black is winning] Rg2 [41...Bc7] 42.Kf1
Rd2 43.Rd8 hg4! 44.hg4 [44.fe4 gh3 and Black is winning] ef3 45.Re8 Kd6 46.Rf8 Ra2 47.Rf5! Ke6!
[47...d4?? 48.Rf3] 48.Rg5 [48.Rf3 Ra4 and Black is winning] d4 49.Rf5 d3 50.Ke1 [50.Rf3 Ra1 and Black
is winning] Re2! 0-1 [Sergey Karjakin]
Grischuk 2710 Va.Filippov 2562

Fuegen 2006 98/320 [D38]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 d5 5.cd5 ed5 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.e3 c5 8.Bd3 Qa5 9.Qc2 c4 10.Bf5 0-0 11.00 g6?! 12.Bd7 Nd7 13.e4 Nb6 14.e5 Bf5 15.Qd2 Rfe8 [15...Na4 16.a3 Bc3 17.bc3 Qc3 18.Qf4 and White is
winning] 16.a3 Bf8
17.a4! [a novelty, and White is superior, weak points Nb6, Qa5, d5, Kg8; 17.Ne4 Qd2 18.Nf6 Kh8 19.Bd2
Na4!? (19...Re7 see 90/(372)) 20.Ne8 (20.Nd5 Red8 with the idea Nb2) Re8 with compensation, weak point
b2] Nd7 18.h3 a6 19.g4 Be6 20.Bh6 Bb4 [20...f6 21.ef6 Nf6 22.Bf8 Rf8 23.Ne5 and White is superior] 21.
Ng5 Qb6 22.a5!? Ba5 23.f4 f5 24.ef6 Bf7 25.f5 Bb4 time 26.fg6 hg6 27.Bg7 (and White is winning) Ne5
28.Qf2 1-0 [Grischuk]
B80
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e6 7.Be3 b5
8.Qd2 b4 9.Na4 Nbd7 10.c4 bc31 11.Nc3 Bb7
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Bc4
Be23
Rc14
a3
Rc3
e55
0-0
Bf4
Rfc16
Qc72
d5
Bb4
Bc3
Qb8
Ne5
0-0
Nfd7
Be2
ed5
Nd5
0-0
Nf57
Ng3
Qb48
Kh1
Qa49
with compensation
equal
d5
Nd5
Bd5
Qb8
Qe5
Bb4
Qe3
Rb8
Rb210
...
...
...
Rc1
a3
Nf5
f4
fe5
0-0
...
Qb811
Bd6
Be512
gf5
Ne513

...
...
g6
...
4
0-0
Rac114
Nb3
Qd4
Rfd1
Na417
Rc1
Qd2
Be7
0-0
Ne5
Rb815
Nfd7
Rc816
Rc1
Nc6
Qb8
1
10...Qc7!? 11.Rd1!? [11.Be2 Rb8 12.Rd1 Be7 1/2 : 1/2 A.Brkic - Palac, Hrvatska 2007] Be7 [11...Nc5 12.
Nc5 dc5 13.Bf4 and White is slightly better; 11...Rb8 12.Qf2 and White is slightly better] 12.Qf2 and White
is slightly better
2
12...d5!? 13.ed5 Nb6 14.Bb3 Nfd5 15.Nd5 [15.Bg5!? Qd7 unclear] Bd5
a) 16.0-0 Bb3 [16...Bd6 equal; Morozevich, Al.Kuzmin] 17.ab3 Nd5 18.Rfc1!? Bd6 unclear;
b) 16.Rc1!? Bb3 17.ab3 [17.Nb3 Qd2 18.Nd2 Nd5 equal] Nd5 18.Nc6 Bb4!? 19.Nb4 Qh4 20.Ke2 Qb4 21.
Qb4 Nb4 22.Rc4 Nd5 equal; Sasikiran
3
13.Bb3
a) 13...Be7? 14.Be6! [14.0-0 0-0 15.Rac1 and White is slightly better; Leko - B.Gelfand, Dortmund 2006 see
97/154] fe6 15.Ne6 Qc4 16.Ng7 Kf7 17.b3!? [17.Nf5 Ne5 18.Rd1! Qe6 19.Bd4 Bf8 20.0-0 Rg8 21.Ne2! and
White is superior, with the idea Nf4] Qc6 [17...Qb4 18.Nf5 Rac8 19.Bd4 and White is superior] 18.Nf5 d5
19.0-0 Rhe8 20.Rac1 Qe6 21.Bd4 and White is superior; Leko;
b) 13...Nc5 14.Rc1! Nb3 15.Nb3 Qd7 16.Na5 and White is slightly better;
c) 13...Rc8!? 14.0-0 Qb8 15.Ba4!? [15.Ne6!? fe6 16.Be6 with compensation] Be7 16.Bg5 [16.g4!?] Rc7! 17.
Rac1 [17.Bf6?! Bf6 and Black is slightly better; M.Al-Modiahki - Sasikiran, Doha (rapid) 2006 see 98/157]
0-0 18.Nce2 Rfc8 equal; Sasikiran
4
14.ed5 Nd5 15.Nd5 Bd5 16.Rc1 Qb7 17.0-0 Bb4 18.Qc2 0-0 19.Qc7 Rfc8 20.Qb7 Bb7 21.a3 Be7 equal;
Sasikiran
5
17.ed5 Nd5 18.Rc2 Ne3 19.Qe3 0-0 20.0-0 Nf6 equal; Sasikiran
6
Sasikiran
7
16.Rac1!? Bb4 17.Qc2 Qe5 18.Bf2 Bd6 19.g3 0-0 unclear; N.Guliyev - A.Bellaiche, Paris 2006 see 98/(155)
8
18.Qd4!? Ftacnik
9
20.Qd6 Rb6 21.Qc7 Rc6 22.Qb7 Rc2 23.Qa6 0-0 with compensation; V.Anand - V.Topalov, Sofia 2006 see
97/(154)
10
21.Ba6 Qd2 22.Ne2 Ra2 23.Ra2 Qa2 24.Qa2 Ba2 25.Ra1 Bd5 26.Bb5 Ke7 27.Bd7 Kd7 28.Ra7 Ke8 29.Nc3
Rf8 equal; Zontakh - Panarin, Voronezh 2006 see 98/155
11
15...Bd6 16.Nf5 Be5 17.f4 Qf6 18.0-0 Qf5 19.fe5 Qg6 20.Bd3 Qh5
a) 21.Qb4 and White is superior; P.Smirnov - Hillarp Persson, Dresden 2007;

b) 21.Rc7!? Qe5 [21...Ne5 22.Qb4 Nd7 23.Qd6 Rd8 24.Ba6 Qg4 25.Rf2 Qd1 26.Bf1 and White is winning]
22.Rfc1 Qd6 [22...Rd8 23.Ba6 0-0 24.Bf4 and White is winning] 23.Rc8 Ke7 24.R8c7 and White is
superior, with the idea 24...Ke8 25.b4 [25.Qa5!?] Rd8 26.b5 Bg2 27.ba6 Qd5 28.a4! and White is winning,
with the idea Bb5.
12
17...Bh2 18.f4 [18.Ng7 Ke7 19.Nf5 ef5 20.Qd5 Qg3 21.Kd2 Rhd8 22.Qf5 and White is superior] ef5 19.Qd5
Bg3 20.Kf1 Bf4 21.Rh3! with attack; Morozevich, Al.Kuzmin;
17...0-0 18.Nd6 Qd6 19.0-0 and White is superior; Morozevich - Grischuk, Moscow 2006 see 98/156.
13
21.Rc5 with initiative [Morozevich, Al.Kuzmin] Qd6 [21...Rg8 22.Rd5 ed5 23.Qd5 Rg6 24.Bh5 Ng4 25.
Bg4 Rg4 26.Rf5 and White is winning; 21...Nd7 22.Rd5 ed5 23.Qd5 and White is winning]
22.Rf5! Rg8 [22...Nd7 23.Rcd5 ed5 24.Rd5 and White is winning; 22...ef5 23.Rd5 Qe6 24.Qd4 f6 25.Rd6
Qe7 26.Bh5 Ng6 27.Rf6 Rd8 28.Rg6 Rd4 29.Re6 Kd7 30.Re7 Ke7 31.Bd4 and White is winning] 23.Rf2
and White is superior, with the idea 23...Ng4 24.Bg4 Rg4 25.h3! Re4 [25...Rg6 26.Qd4] 26.Qc3
14
14.Rfc1 Qb8 15.b4 Ne5 16.Rab1 and White is slightly better; Mekhitarian - O.Zambrana, Sao Paulo (zt)
2007.
15
15...Rc8 16.Na4!? and White is superior.
16
17...Kh8?! 18.Qd2 Rg8 19.Kh1 g5 20.Bd4 Rg6 21.Na4 and White is superior; Dominguez Perez - Sasikiran,
Foros 2007;
17...Nc6 18.Qd2 and White is slightly better.
17
18.f4 Nc6 19.Qd2 Rc7 and White is slightly better.

A Brilliant Attack
Milan Bjelajac
The former European Champion, L. D. Nisipeanu, achieved such an exceptional victory against Kiril
Georgiev at the European Team Championship that it was voted as the best game of volume 98 by the Chess
Informant jury.
Although playing as black, the Romanian grandmaster sacrificed a knight early in the game (15Nf2!) and
began a direct attack on the white king. After just several more moves, Nisipeanu reinforced the pressure
with the extraordinary 20Bh2!!, cutting off the white kings escape route. The further tactical strokes 21
Qc7! and 24c4! completely destroyed Whites defenses and gave Nisipeanu a beautiful victory.
Ki.Georgiev 2680 Nisipeanu 2690

Fuegen 2006 98/375 [E10]
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.d5 b5 5.de6 fe6 6.cb5 d5 7.g3 a6 8.ba6 Bd6 9.Bg2 0-0 10.0-0 Nc6 11.b3 Ba6
12.Bb2 Qe8! [a novelty; 12...Qe7 see 97/(359)] 13.Nbd2 Rd8 [13...Qh5 14.Re1 Bc7! (14...Ng4 15.h3 Nf2
16.Kf2 Nd4 17.Kg1 Nf3 18.ef3 Bg3 19.Re6 Bf4! 20.Nf1 d4 21.b4 and White is superior) 15.Rc1 Bb6 16.a3
Bb5 with compensation] 14.Re1 Ng4?! [14...Bc7! 15.Rc1 Bb6 with compensation] 15.h3 [15.e4?! a) 15...
c4?! a1) 16.ed5 Nf2 17.Qe2 c3 (17...Bc5 18.Qe6 Qe6 19.Re6 equal) 18.Qf2 cb2 19.Rab1 Nb4 20.Qb6 Qe7!
with attack; a2) 16.Bh3! c3 17.Bc3 d4 18.Bb2 Nge5 19.Ne5 Ne5 20.Bd4 Bb8! (20...Bb4 21.Be5 Rd2 22.Qg4
and White is winning) 21.Be3 Ba7!! (21...Rd2 22.Bd2 Nf3 23.Kh1 Qh5 24.Be6 Kh8 25.h3 and White is
winning) 22.Ba7 Rd2 23.Qc1 Nf3 24.Kh1 Qh5 (24...Bd3 25.Bg2 Rc2 26.Qa3 Qh5 27.h3) 25.Be6 Kh8 26.h3
Ne1 27.Bg4 Qe5 28.Qe1 Bb7 unclear; b) 15...d4! 16.Bf1 c4! 17.bc4 Bb4 with initiative]
15...Nf2! [15...Nge5 16.Ne5 Ne5 17.f4 Nc6 18.e4 and White is superior; 15...Nh6 16.Rc1 Qf7 17.a3 with the
idea e4 and White is superior] 16.Kf2 Nd4! [16...Qg6 17.g4 e5 (17...h5 18.gh5! Qg3 19.Kg1 Rf3 20.Nf3 Rf8
21.Rf1) 18.e4 Nb4 19.Kg1 Nd3 20.Qc2 h5 a) 21.ed5 hg4 22.hg4 Rf4 (22...Qg4 23.Re4 and White is
superior) 23.Nc4 Rg4 unclear; b) 21.gh5 Qh5 22.ed5 c4 (22...Rf6 23.Re4) 23.bc4 Nf4 24.Be5 and White is
winning; 16...e5 17.e4 c4 18.Kg1 de4 19.Re4 Rf3 20.Bf3 (20.Qf3 Bc5 21.Kh1 Rd2 22.Rb1 Rd3 23.Qg4 c3
unclear) Bb4 21.Nc4 Rd1 22.Rd1 Bc5 23.Kg2 Bb7 24.Ne5 Nb4 25.a3 and White is winning] 17.g4 [17.Nf1
a) 17...e5 18.Kg1 Qg6 a1) 19.Kh1 e4 20.N3h2! (20.Nd4 Rf1 21.Bf1 Qg3 22.Nf3 d4 and Black is superior)
Bg3 21.Ng3 Qg3 22.Bd4 cd4 23.Qd4 Rf2 24.Rg1 Be2 25.Nf1 Qh4 26.Qe5 and White is superior; a2) 19.
Rc1 Kh8 20.Qd2 Nf3 21.ef3 Bf1 22.Rf1 Qg3 23.f4 and White is winning; b) 17...Qg6! b1) 18.Kg1 b11) 18...
Rf3 19.ef3 Bf1 20.Kf1 Nf3 21.Bf3 Qg3 22.Re6 Rf8 23.Rf6! and White is winning; b12) 18...Nf3 19.ef3 Bf1
20.Rf1 Qg3 b121) 21.Re1 Rde8! (21...Rf5 22.Re6 Rdf8 23.Qe2 d4 24.Rd6 Qd6 25.Qc4 Kh8 26.b4 and White
is slightly better) 22.Qd3 Rf7 (22...c4 23.bc4 dc4 24.Qe3 Rf5 25.Rad1 and White is superior) 23.Re2 Ref8
24.Rf2 Rf5 25.Rd1 Qh2 26.Kf1 Bg3 27.Rc2 Rf3 28.Bf3 Qh1 29.Ke2 Qh2 equal; b122) 21.Rf2 c4 22.bc4
Bc5 23.Bd4 dc4 24.Bc5 Rd1 25.Rd1 Rc8 26.Bd6 and White is winning; b13) 18...Be2 19.Re2 Nf3 20.Kh1
Ng5 (20...Bg3 21.Re3 Nh4 22.Rg3 Rf1 23.Bf1 Qg3 24.Qg4 and White is winning; 20...Rf5 21.Rf2 and White
is superior) 21.Be5 and White is superior; b14) 18...Nc2 19.Nh4 Rf1 20.Rf1 Qg3 21.Rf3 Qh2 22.Kf2 Na1
23.Nf5! (23.Qa1 Be7 and Black is superior) ef5 24.Qd5 Kh8 25.Qf5 Rg8 26.Ba1 Be2 27.Qg5! Bf3 28.Bg7
equal; b2) 18.Bd4 cd4 19.Qd4 e5 b21) 20.Qd5 Kh8 21.Rac1 (21.Kg1? Bc7! and Black is superior, weak
point Qd5) Bc7 22.Qc6 Bb6 23.e3 Rd6 with attack; b22) 20.Qg4! b221) 20...Qf6 21.Kg1 e4 22.Ng5 Rde8
(22...Bc8 23.Qh4 Bf5 24.Ne4 and White is superior) 23.Nh7! Kh7 24.Qh5 Qh6 25.Qh6 and White is
superior; b222) 20...Bc5 21.e3 Qg4 (21...Qf6 22.Kg1 e4 23.Nd4 Bd4 24.ed4 Qd4 25.Kh1 Qe5 26.Rac1 and
White is superior) 22.hg4 e4 23.Rac1 Ba3 24.Rc7 d4 (24...Bc8 25.N1h2 ef3 26.Bf3 d4 27.ed4 Rd4 28.Kg2;
24...ef3 25.Bf3) 25.ed4 Rd4 26.Re3 b2221) 26...ef3 27.Rf3 Bd6 28.Rc6 Bb5 29.Rf8 Kf8 30.Rb6 Bf1 31.Bf1!
(31.Kf1 Bg3 and White is slightly better) Rd2! (31...Bc5 32.Rb5 Ba7 33.Kf3 Rd2 34.Ra5 and White is
winning) 32.Kf3 (32.Ke3 Bc5 33.Kd2 Bb6 34.b4 Ke7 35.a4 Kd6 36.a5 Bf2 equal; 32.Ke1 Rd4) Bc5 33.Rb8
Ke7 34.Bc4 Ra2 35.Rb7 Kd6 36.Rg7 Ra7 37.Ra7 Ba7 38.g5 and White is superior; b2222) 26...Bd6 27.Rc6
and White is slightly better] h5 18.g5! [18.e4? hg4 19.hg4 Nf3 20.Nf3 Bh2!! 21.Qc1 Qg6 22.Rh1 Bf4 23.
Qc3 de4 and Black is winning; 18.Kg1 hg4 19.hg4 Qg6 20.Bd4 cd4 21.Nf1 Rf4 22.g5 Rdf8 with attack] Qf7
[18...Nf5] 19.e3? [19.Nf1? Be2! 20.Re2 Nf3 21.Bf3 Qf3 22.Kg1 c4! 23.Bd4 Qh3 24.Rg2 Rf4 and Black is
superior; 19.Kg1! a) 19...Qf4 20.Bd4! (20.Nf1 Be2 21.Re2 Nf3 22.Kh1 Ng5 23.Bc1 Qf5 24.Bg5 Qg5 25.Re6
Be5 26.Rb1 Rf2 27.Bd5 Kh8 28.Be4! Rdf8 29.Qc1! Bf4 30.Qc4 Bb8 31.Rg6 Qf4 32.Ng3 Qd2 33.Qc5 R8f5!!
equal) cd4 21.Nf1 e5 22.Qd2 Qf7 23.b4 Bb8 24.a4 (24.Rac1 Bc4 25.Kh1) e4 25.Nd4 Qc7 26.e3 and White is
winning; b) 19...Nf3 20.ef3 (20.Nf3 Qf4 21.Qc1 Qg3 22.Rf1 Be2 23.Qe1 Rf3 24.Rf3 Qh2 25.Kf2 Bf3 26.Qe6
Kh7 27.Qf5 Kg8 28.Qf3 Rf8 29.Bf6 gf6 30.g6 Kg7 unclear) Qf4 21.Nf1 Qg5 (21...Bf1? 22.Kf1 and White is
winning) 22.Re6 Bc8 23.Rd6 Rd6 24.Qd2 and White is slightly better] Nf3 20.Nf3
20...Bh2!! (and Black is superior) 21.Bf1 [21.Rh1 d4! (21...Qc7? 22.Rh2 Qh2 23.Bf6! and White is winning)
22.ed4 Qf4 23.Rh2 Qh2 and Black is winning; 21.Bf6 (only move) Qc7 22.Nh2 Qh2 23.Qh5 Rf6! 24.gf6
Rf8 25.f7 (only move) Rf7 26.Qf7 Kf7 and Black is superior] Qc7! 22.Ba6 Qg3 23.Ke2 Qg2 24.Kd3 c4! 25.
Kc3 Rf3 26.Qd4 [26.Re2 Re3! 27.Kd2 (27.Re3 d4 28.Kc4 Qd5 29.Kd3 de3 and Black is winning) Qg5!! 28.
Re3 d4 29.Kc2 de3 and Black is winning] Rf2 (and Black is winning) 27.Qb6 Be5 28.Kb4 Rb8 29.Bb7
Bb2 (time) 30.Qe6 (time) Kh8 31.Kc5 Ba1 32.Bd5 Qg5 33.Ra1 c3 34.h4 Qh4 35.e4 c2 36.Rc1 Qg5 37.
Qh3 Qc1 0-1 [Nisipeanu]
Shirov 2720 Aronian 2741

Moscow 2006 98/255 [C89]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.ed5 Nd5 10.Ne5 Ne5 11.
Re5 c6 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Re4 g5 16.Qf1 Qh5 17.Nd2 Bf5 18.f3 Nf6 19.a4 Ne4 20.Ne4
Qg6!? [a novelty; 20...Be4 see 97/(245)] 21.Nd6 Qd6 22.Bg5 Qg6N 23.Qc1 Bd3 24.ab5?! [24.Bf4 with the
idea Be5] ab5 25.Ra8 Ra8 26.Kf2 [26.Bf4!? with the idea Be5] Bc4! 27.Bc4 [27.Bc2? Qe6 28.Be3 Qh3 29.
Kg1 Ra2 30.Bf2 h6! 31.Bb1 (31.Qe1 Qe6 32.Qe6 Be6 and Black is winning; 31.Be4 Rb2 32.f4 Rb3 33.Bg2
Qf5 34.Qe3 Rb1 35.Be1 Bd5 and Black is winning) Rb2 32.Bf5 Qf5 33.Qb2 Qf3 34.Qd2 Bd5 35.Kf1 Qg2 36.
Ke2 Bc4 37.Ke3 Qh2 38.Qd1 (38.Kf4 Qh5 39.Qe3 Be6 40.Qe5 Qg4 41.Ke3 Qd1 42.Kf4 Qd3 43.Qe1 Kf8
and Black is winning) Qh3 39.Qf3 Bd5 40.Qf4 Qh1 41.Qg4 Kf8 42.Qc8 (42.Kd2 Qb1 43.Qc8 Ke7 44.Qc7
Ke6 45.Qe5 Kd7 46.Qe1 Qb2 47.Ke3 Qc2 48.Kf4 Be6 and Black is winning) Ke7 43.Qc7 Ke6 44.Qc8 Kf6
45.Qh8 Ke7 46.Qe5 Kd7 and Black is winning] bc4 28.g4 Re8 29.Bf4 Qd3 30.Kg3 [30.Be5!? f6 31.Bf6
Qe2 32.Kg3 Re3 33.Qh1 Qb2 (33...Rd3 34.h4) 34.Bg5 Re2 35.Qf1] Qe2 31.Qb1? [31.Be5 f6 32.Bf6 see 30.
Be5] Qe1 32.Qe1 Re1 [R 2/l] 33.Bd6 Rg1 34.Kf2 Rb1 35.Ba3 Kg7 36.Kg3 [36.h4 h5 37.Kg3 Kg6 38.Kg2
f5 (38...hg4 39.fg4 f5 40.h5 Kg5 41.gf5 Kh5 and Black is winning) 39.gh5 Kh5 40.Kg3 Kg6 41.Kf4 Kf6 42.
Bd6 Rb2 43.h5 Rh2 44.Be5 Ke6 45.Kg5 Rh3 46.h6 Kf7 47.f4 Ke6 48.Kg6 Rg3 49.Kh5 Kf7 50.Kh4 Rg4 51.
Kh5 Rg1 52.Bc7 Rg3 53.Ba5 Kg8 54.Bb4 Kh7 55.Ba5 Rg4 56.Bc7 Rg6 57.Bb6 Rh6 58.Kg5 Rh3 59.Ba5
Rh1 60.Bc7 Rc1 61.Ba5 Rb1 62.Bc7 Rb3 63.Ba5 Kg7 and Black is winning] Kg6 37.h3 h5 (zugzwang) 38.
Kh4 [38.Kf4 h4! and Black is winning; 38.h4 hg4 (38...f5? 39.gh5 Kh5 40.Kf4 Kh4 41.Kf5 Re1 42.f4 Kh5 43.
Bc5 Re2 44.Ba3 Kh4 45.Kg6 Re6 46.Kf7 Re2 47.Kg6 Rg2 48.Kf5 Re2 equal) 39.fg4 (39.Kg4 Rg1 40.Kf4 Kf6
41.Bd6 Rg2 42.Ba3 Ke6 43.h5 f6 44.h6 Rh2 45.Bf8 Rb2 46.Kg3 Rb1 47.Kg2 Rb8 48.Ba3 Kf7 and Black is
winning) f5 40.d5 (40.h5 Kf6 41.gf5 Kf5 42.h6 Kg6 43.Kf4 Re1 and Black is winning) cd5 41.h5 Kf6 42.Bc5
fg4 43.Kg4 Rb2 44.Bd4 Kf7 45.Kf5 Re2 and Black is winning]
38...Rg1! (and Black is winning) 39.Bc5 [39.gh5 Kf5; 39.f4 hg4 40.hg4 f5] Rg2 40.Ba3 f6! (zugzwang) 41.
gh5 Kf5 42.f4 Rg8 43.Bd6 Ke6 44.h6 [44.Ba3 Kf7 45.Bd6 Rg2 46.Ba3 Kg7 zugzwang] Kd6 [R 0/j] 45.
Kh5 f5 46.h7 Rh8 47.Kg6 Ke7 48.Kg7 Ke8 49.Kg6 [49.Kh8 Kf7 50.h4 Kf8 51.h5 Kf7 52.h6 Kf8] Kf8 50.
h4 Ke7 51.Kg7 Ke8 52.Kg6 Kf8 53.h5 Ke7 54.Kg7 Ke8 55.Kg6 Kf8 56.h6 Ke8 57.Kf6 Rh7 58.Kg6 Rf7!
[59.h7 Rf8 60.Kg7 Rh8] 0-1 [Z.Krnic]
Bologan 2659 R.Vaganian 2587

Fuegen 2006 98/218 [C19]
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bc3 6.bc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 0-0 8.Bd3 Nbc6 9.Bg5 Qa5 10.Ne2 Re8!? [a
novelty; 10...Ng6] 11.h4 [11.0-0!? c4 12.Bf6 Ng6 13.Bg6 fg6 14.Bg5 Rf8] Nd4! [11...cd4 12.Qg3 Kh8 13.
h5 Nf5 (13...h6 14.Bd2 dc3 15.Bc3 Qc5 16.Qf4) 14.Bf5 ef5 15.h6 g6 16.Bf6 Kg8 17.0-0 dc3 18.Nf4 Be6 19.
Rfd1 Qc5 20.Nh5 Qc4 21.Bh4 with attack] 12.Rh3 Ne2? [12...Ndf5 13.h5 c4 14.Bf5 ef5 15.Qf4 h6 16.Bf6!;
12...Nef5! 13.Bf6 (13.Kf1 Ne2 14.Be2 b6 15.h5 Ba6 16.Ba6 Qa6 17.Kg1 Qc4; 13.Rg3 Ng3 14.Qg3 Kh8) 13...
Kh8 14.Qh5 (14.Bf5 Nf5) 14...gf6 (14...Bd7 15.Bf5 Nf5 16.g4 gf6 17.gf5 Qd8 18.Rg3 Qe7 19.Qh6 Rg8 20.00-0) 15.Qf7 Rg8 (15...Bd7 16.Qf6 Kg8 17.Rg3 Ng3 18.Bh7 Kh7 19.Qf7 equal) 16.Qf6 Rg7 17.Qf8 equal] 13.
Ke2 [13.Bf6 Ng6] Ng6 [13...Qc7 14.Bf6 Ng6 15.h5 gf6 16.hg6 Qe5 17.Kf1 Qg5 18.gf7 Kf7 19.Rh7 Kf8 20.
Qh3 e5 21.Rh8 Ke7 22.Qh7 Kd8 23.Re8 Ke8 24.Bg6 Kd8 25.Qf7 and White is superior]
14.h5! (with attack) Ne5 [14...c4 15.hg6 cd3 16.cd3 fg6 17.Rh7 Kh7 18.Bf6 and White is winning; 14...Qc3
15.hg6 fg6 16.Bg6 Qe5 17.Re3 Qa1 18.Bh7 and White is winning] 15.Qg3 Nd3 [15...Ng4! (only move) 16.
Qg4 f5 (16...e5 17.Bf5 Bf5 18.Qf5 f6 19.Bd2 and White is superior) 17.Qg3 Qc3 (17...c4 18.Bf6 and White is
winning; 17...e5 18.Bf6 Qc7 19.Qg5 h6 20.Qg6) 18.Bb5 Qc2 19.Bd2 and White is superior] 16.Bf6 Nf4 17.
Kd2 Ng6 18.hg6 fg6 19.Rh7!! [19...Kh7 20.Rh1 Kg8 21.Qg6 Re7 22.Bg7 Rg7 23.Qe8#] 1-0 [Bologan]
V.Topalov 2813 Kramnik 2743

Elista (m/15-rapid) 2006 98/281 [D12]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6 7.Be2 Nbd7 8.0-0 [8.Bd2 see 91/336, 337] Bd6 9.
g3 dc4 [a novelty; 9...Ne4; 9...Qe7; 9...0-0] 10.Bc4 Nb6 [10...Bh5 11.f3] 11.Be2 0-0 12.Ng6 hg6 13.e4 e5
14.f4 ed4 15.Qd4 Qe7 16.Kg2 [16.Be3 Rad8 17.e5 Rfe8 18.Bf2 Bb4 19.Qe3 g5 20.Qf3 unclear] Bc5 [16...
Rad8 17.Qe3 Bc5 18.Qf3 Rd7 19.e5 Nfd5 20.Ne4 and White is slightly better] 17.Qd3 Rad8 18.Qc2 Bd4
19.e5 Nfd5 20.Rf3 Nc3 [20...g5! 21.Qf5 gf4 (21...g6 22.Qh3 gf4 23.gf4 Rfe8 24.Rd3 c5 25.Rg3 Kg7 26.f5
Be5 27.Qh6 Kg8 28.fg6 f6; 21...Rfe8 22.Ne4 gf4 23.gf4 Qh4 24.Rh3 Qe1 25.Qh7 Kf8 26.Qh8 Ke7 27.Qh4
equal) 22.gf4 Rfe8 23.Qh5 (23.Ne4 see 21...Rfe8) g6 24.Qh6 Qf8 equal] 21.bc3 Bc5 22.Bd2 Rd7 23.Re1
Rfd8 24.Bd3 Qe6 [24...Nd5 25.e6 (25.Re2 Nc7 26.g4 Qh4 equal) fe6 26.Re2 Qf6 27.Bg6 and White is
slightly better] 25.Bc1 [25.Re2 f5] f5 26.Qe2 [26.g4! fg4 27.Rg3 Be7 28.Bg6 Bh4 29.Bh7 Kh8 30.Bf5 Qd5
31.Kg1 Bg3 (31...Rc7 32.Rd3 Be1 33.Rd5 cd5 34.Qd1) 32.hg3 Rc7 33.Qh2 with attack] Kf8 27.Rd1 Qe7 28.
h4 Rd5 29.Qc2 Nc4 30.Rh1 Na3 [30...Be3 31.Bc4 Rd2 32.Bd2 Rd2 33.Qd2 Bd2 34.Rd1 and White is
winning] 31.Qe2 Qd7 32.Rd1 b5
33.g4! fg4 34.Rg3 Ke7 [34...Nc4 35.e6 Qe7 36.Re1; 34...Qe6 35.Rf1; 34...Nb1 35.e6 (35.Bb2 Na3 36.e6
Qe7 see 35.e6) Qe7 36.Bb2 Na3 37.Re1 Nc4 38.Bc1 Qh4 (38...Nd6 39.Bg6 Nf5 40.Bf5 Rf5 41.Qg4 Rdd5 42.
c4 bc4 43.Bb2 Ke8 44.Bg7 and White is winning) 39.Rg4 Qe7 40.Bc4 bc4 41.Rg6 and White is superior] 35.
f5 (and White is winning) gf5 36.Bg5 Ke8 37.e6 Qd6 [37...Qc7 38.Rg4! a) 38...fg4 39.Bg6 Kf8 40.Rd5 cd5
(40...Rd5 41.e7 Be7 42.Qe6) 41.Qg4 Be7 42.Qf3; b) 38...Be7 b1) 39.Bf4 Bd6 40.Rg6 Kf8 (40...Bf4 41.Qh5)
41.Qh5 Kg8 42.Bd6 R8d6 43.Rg5 Re6 44.Bf5 Rf5 45.Rf5 Nc4; b2) 39.Rf4 Bg5 40.Qh5 Kf8 41.Rf5 Rf5 42.
Qh8 Ke7 43.Qg7 Ke6 44.Bf5 Kf5 45.Qg5] 38.Bf5 Rd1 39.Bg6 Kf8 40.e7 Qe7 41.Be7 Be7 42.Bd3 Ra1 43.
Qb2 Rd1 44.Qe2 Ra1 45.Qg4 Ra2 46.Kh3 Bf6 47.Qe6 [47.Qb4] Rd2 48.Bg6 R2d7 49.Rf3 b4 50.h5 1-0
[Bareev]
Smirin 2659 A.Volokitin 2645

Fuegen 2006 98/225 [C42]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Ne5 d6 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 0-0 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.a3
Nc3 12.bc3 Nc6 13.Re1 Re8 14.cd5 Qd5 15.Bf4 Rac8 16.h3 Be4 17.a4!? [a novelty; 17.Qa4 see 97/(207)]
Na5? [17...Bd6] 18.Ne5! c5 [18...f6? 19.c4 Qd8 20.Bg4 fe5 21.Re4 ef4 22.Be6 Kh8 (22...Kf8? 23.Qh5) 23.
Bc8 Qc8 24.Qe1 Nb3 25.Rb1 and White is winning; 18...Bg2? 19.c4 Qe4 20.Bh5 Qf4 21.Bf7 Kf8 22.Be8
Qg5 (22...Bh3 23.Re3 and White is winning) 23.f4 Qg3 24.Qg4 and White is winning; 18...Rcd8!?] 19.Bg4
Rcd8 [19...f5 20.Bh5 (20.Re4!? fe4 21.Bc8 Rc8 22.Qg4) g6 21.f3 gh5 22.fe4 fe4 23.Qh5 cd4 24.Re4! Bf6
(24...Qe4 25.Qg4 Bg5 26.Qg5 Kf8 27.Rf1 and White is winning) 25.Qg4 Bg7 26.Bh6 Rc7 27.Rf1! (27.Nd7
Qd7 28.Qg7 Qg7 29.Re8 Kf7 30.Bg7 Ke8 31.Bd4 and White is superior) Re5 (27...d3 28.Nd7 and White is
winning) 28.Bg7 and White is winning] 20.Qe2 [20.f3? Bg6 21.Ng6 hg6 22.Bc7 f5] f5 [20...Bg2 21.Rad1
Bh1 22.Qf1 c4 23.Nf7! and White is winning] 21.Bh5! [21.f3 Bd3!] g6 22.f3! gh5 [22...cd4 23.fe4 fe4 24.
Qg4! Bf6 25.Ng6 hg6 26.Bg6 Kh8 27.Rab1 a6 28.Rb6 Nc6 29.Be8 Re8 30.Qg6 and White is winning; 22...
Bd3!? 23.Qd3 gh5 24.Qf5 cd4 25.cd4 and White is superior] 23.fe4 Qe4 [23...fe4 24.Qh5 cd4 (24...Bf6 25.
Re4 Nc4 26.Rae1 and White is winning) 25.Re4! dc3 26.Bh6 and White is winning] 24.Qf2 Qd5 25.Qg3
Kh8
26.Ng6!! hg6 27.Qg6 Nc6 28.Re6 [28.Qh5!? Kg8 29.Qg6 Kh8 30.Qh6 Kg8 31.Re6 and White is winning]
Qe6 (only move) 29.Qe6 Bf8 30.Qf5 cd4 31.Qh5 Kg8 32.Bg5 1-0 [Smirin]
Ivanchuk 2741 P.Eljanov 2658

Fuegen 2006 98/26 [A35]
1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 e6 5.g3 Bb4 6.Nc3 Qa5 7.Ndb5 Nf6 [7...d5 see 75/37] 8.a3 [a novelty; 8.
Bg2] Bc3 9.Nc3 Ne4!? [9...0-0] 10.Bd2 Qf5 11.f4 [11.f3 Nd2 12.Qd2 0-0 13.0-0-0 Na5 14.Qd3 Qd3 15.ed3
b6 equal] Nc3 [11...d5!?; 11...Na5!? 12.Bg2 Nd2 13.Qd2 Nb3 14.Qd6 Na1 15.Nb5 a) 15...Nc2 16.Kd2! Kd8
17.Qc7 Ke7 18.Nd6 Qg6 19.Be4 f5 20.Bc2 and White is superior; b) 15...Qb1 16.Kf2 Qb2 17.Rd1 (17.Nc7
Kd8 18.Na8 Nc2 19.Rd1 Qa3 20.c5 Qe3! 21.Kf1 Qc3 with counterplay) f5 18.Bb7 Bb7 19.Qd7 Kf8 20.Nc7
Qf6 21.Na8 Ba8 22.Qc8 Kf7 23.Qh8 Be4 24.Rd7 Kg6 25.Qe8 Kh6 26.Rd6 and White is superior; c) 15...
Kd8 16.e4! (16.Kf2 Nb3 equal) c1) 16...Qg6 17.0-0 Nb3 18.Kh1! Qh5 (18...h5 19.Qc7 Ke7 20.f5 Qh6 21.e5
ef5 22.Nd6 g6 23.Rf5 Rf8 24.Rf4 with attack; 18...Qf6 19.Qc7 Ke7 20.e5 Qg6 21.Qd6 Kd8 22.g4! Qg4 23.
Qb4 with attack) 19.f5! Qh6 20.Qb4 Qe3 21.fe6 Nc5 22.e7 Ke7 23.Nc7 and White is winning; c2) 16...Qh5
17.e5 (17.0-0 Nb3 18.e5 Qe2 19.Qc7 Ke7 20.Qd6 equal) Nb3 (17...Nc2 18.Kf2 f6 19.Nc7 Nd4 20.Re1!! Rb8
21.Re4 and White is winning) 18.Qb4 Nc1 19.Qa5 Ke7 20.Qd2 Qe2 (20...Nb3 21.Qb4) 21.Qe2 Ne2 22.Ke2
f6 23.h4 with compensation] 12.Bc3 Qe4 [12...0-0 13.Bg2 Qc5 14.Qd3 and White is superior] 13.Rg1 Qe3
14.Rg2 0-0 [14...d5 15.Bg7 Rg8 16.Bc3 dc4 17.Qa4! Qc5 (17...Bd7 18.Qc4 0-0-0 19.Bf6 Rde8 20.Rf2 and
White is superior; 17...e5 18.Qc4 e4 19.Rd1 and White is superior) 18.Qc2 Rg6 19.e4 b5 20.0-0-0 a5 21.f5
Rg4 22.h3 with attack] 15.Qd6 b6 [15...e5 16.fe5 (16.Rd1!?) Re8 17.Rf2 Ne5 18.Be5 Re5 19.Bg2 Re6 20.
Qc7 Re7 21.Bd5 d6 (21...Qb6 22.Qb6 ab6 23.Kd2 Kf8 24.g4 h6 25.h4 d6 26.Raf1 f6 27.g5 and White is
winning) 22.Bf7 and White is winning]
16.g4! Ba6 [16...e5 17.f5 Bb7 18.Rg3 Qg5 19.e3 Rfe8 20.0-0-0 Nd4 21.Kb1 Be4 22.Ka2 Nc6 23.Bd3 and
White is superior] 17.Rg3 Qc5 [17...Qe4 18.b3 Rac8 19.f5 (19.Bg2 Qc2 20.Qd1 Qg6 21.Qb1 and White is
superior) e5 20.Bg2 Qc2 21.Qd1 and White is superior] 18.Qc5 bc5 19.e4 [and White is slightly better; 19.
e3 Bb7 20.0-0-0 Rad8 21.b4 and White is superior] f6 [19...e5 20.0-0-0 Rad8 21.fe5 Rfe8 22.Rd5 and White
is winning] 20.0-0-0 [20.Rd1! e5 21.fe5 fe5 (21...Ne5 22.g5 Rae8 23.Rd6 Bc4 24.gf6 g6 25.Rd7 Nd7 26.Bc4
and White is winning) 22.Rd7 Rad8 23.Rd8 Rd8 24.b4 Nd4 25.bc5 Bb7 26.Bd3 and White is superior] e5 21.
Rd6! [21.Rd7 ef4 22.Rf3 Ne5 23.Be5 fe5 24.Rd5 Rfe8 25.Rc5 Rac8 with compensation] ef4 22.Rf3 Rad8
23.Rf4 Kf7? [23...Bb7 a) 24.b4 Ne5 25.bc5 (25.h3 Nf7 26.Rd2 Ng5 with counterplay) Ng6 26.Rf2 Be4 and
White is slightly better; b) 24.Bh3 Ne5 25.g5 b1) 25...Ng6 26.Rf5 (26.Rg4 fg5 27.Rg5 Be4 with counterplay)
Be4 27.Rc5 Nf4 28.Bd7 Nd3 29.Rd3! Bd3 30.Be6 Kh8 31.gf6 gf6 32.Rc7 and White is winning; b2) 25...
Nf7! 26.Rd7 Rd7 27.Bd7 Ng5 28.e5! and White is slightly better] 24.b4! Ke7 25.Rd5 [25.bc5 a) 25...Rb8
26.Kc2 (26.Kd2 h6 27.Rf5 Rb3 and White is superior) Bb7 27.Bd3 Nd8 28.e5 Ne6 29.ef6 gf6 30.Rf2 Nc5
and White is superior; b) 25...Bb7 26.Rf5 h6 27.h4 Ke8 28.g5 and White is superior] cb4 26.ab4 Bb7 27.c5
a6 28.Rd6 Rb8 [28...Ne5 29.Rb6 Ng6 30.Rf2 Rb8 31.Ba6 and White is winning] 29.Rf2! Ne5 30.Rfd2
Bc6?! [30...Be4 31.Ba6 (31.Be5? fe5 32.Rd7 Ke8 33.Ba6 Rf6 with counterplay) Bc6 32.g5 Bb5 33.Bb5 Rb5
34.Rf2 Rb7 35.h4 and White is superior] 31.Ba6 Nf7 [31...Ng4 32.b5 Bb5 33.Bb5 Rb5 34.Rd7 Ke8 35.c6
Rc5 36.Kb2 Rc6 37.Bb4 and White is winning] 32.R6d5! [32.b5 Rb5 33.Bb5 Bb5 34.Rb6 Bc6 and White is
superior] Bd5 33.ed5 Ne5 34.b5 (and White is winning) Ra8 35.g5 h6 36.gf6 gf6 37.Bb4 Kf7 38.c6 Rg8 39.
c7 Rg1 40.Kc2 Rg4 41.Kb3 1-0 [Ivanchuk, Sulypa]
Morozevich 2747 Shirov 2720

Pamplona 2006 98/355 [D90]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.Bd2 Nb6 6.Nf3 Bg7 7.Rc1 0-0 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 g5 10.Bg3 c5 11.d5
[11.dc5 Bc3 12.Rc3 Qd1 13.Kd1 Na4 14.Rc2 Bf5 unclear] e6 [11...Bc3!? 12.Rc3 Nd5 13.Rc5 Nf6! 14.Qd8
(14.Qc2? Na6 and Black is superior) Rd8 15.Bc7 (15.e3 Nc6 equal) Rd5! 16.Rd5 Nd5 17.Bg3 Nc6 equal]
12.d6! [12.de6 see 29/(580)] Nd5?! [a novelty; 12...Nc6 13.e3 (13.e4 f5! and Black is slightly better) f5!? 14.
Bb5 Bd7 15.0-0 a6 16.Be2 (16.Bc6 Bc6 unclear, with the idea 17.Ne5?! f4) e5 with counterplay] 13.h4! [13.
Nd5 ed5 a) 14.Rc5?! Qb6! 15.Rc2 (15.Rd5 Qb2 16.e3 Bc3 17.Nd2 Be6 with initiative) Bf5 with initiative; b)
14.Qd5 Bb2 (14...Be6 15.Qb7 Qb6 with compensation) 15.Rc5 (15.Rc2!?) Na6 16.Rb5 Bc3 17.Kd1 Bd7
with compensation] g4 14.Ne5 [14.Nd2!? Nc3 15.bc3 f5 16.e3 e5 (16...Nc6 17.Be2 and White is slightly
better) 17.Nc4 f4 18.Qd5 Kh8 19.Bh2 Nc6 20.Bd3 Bd7 21.a4 Qh4 22.g3 fg3 23.Bg3 Qf6 24.Rh5 with
compensation] Qd6? [14...Nc3 15.bc3 (15.Rc3 Nd7) Nd7 16.Nd7 (16.Ng4? f5 and Black is superior) Bd7 17.
e4 f5 18.Qd2!? and White is slightly better]
15.e4! [15.Ng6 Qb6! 16.Nf8 Qb2 17.Nd5 ed5 with compensation] f5!? [15...Be5 16.Nb5! Qb6 17.Be5 and
White is winning; 15...Re8 16.Nf7 Qf8 17.Nd5 ed5 18.Nd6 Bd4 19.Rc5! Bc5 20.Qd5 Be6 21.Qc5 Re7 and
White is superior] 16.ef5 [16.Ng6!? f4 17.Nf4 Rf4 18.ed5! (18.Bf4?! Qf4 19.ed5 Bd4) Bc3 19.Rc3 Re4 20.
Be2 Qd5 (20...e5 21.Re3 Rd4 22.Qc2 Nd7 23.0-0 and White is superior) 21.Rd3! Rd4 22.Rd4 Qd4 23.Qc2
Nc6 24.0-0 with attack; 16.ed5! f4 (16...Be5 17.Nb5 Qd5 18.Qd5 ed5 19.Be5 Re8 20.Nc7 Re5 21.Kd2 and
White is winning) 17.Nc4 a) 17...Qd8 18.Bh2 Qh4 (18...ed5 19.Qd5 Qd5 20.Nd5 Re8 21.Be2 f3 22.Nce3 and
White is winning; 18...Bc3 19.Rc3 ed5 20.Ne5 and White is winning) 19.g3 fg3 20.fg3 Qf6 21.Qd2 and
White is winning; b) 17...Qd7! 18.Bh2 Bc3 19.Rc3 (19.bc3 ed5) ed5 20.Ne5 Qe6 and White is superior] Be5
17.Nb5 Qc6 18.Be5 ef5 19.Nd6! Nb6 [19...a6?! 20.Bc4 Be6 21.Qd2 Kh7 22.Rd1 Nc7 23.0-0 Nd7 24.Rfe1
and White is superior] 20.f3! Be6 21.Bb5 Qd5 22.Qe2!? [22.Qd5 Bd5 23.Rc5 Nc6 24.Bc3 and White is
slightly better] N8d7 [22...Nc6?! 23.Bc6 bc6 24.Rd1 Qa2 25.fg4 and White is superior; 22...Bd7 23.Rd1
Bb5 (23...Qa2 24.0-0 Bb5 25.Qb5 Nc6 with compensation 26.Bc3) 24.Nb5 Qa2 25.Nc7 Nc6 26.Na8 Re8 27.
f4 Ra8 28.0-0 and White is slightly better] 23.Bf4 gf3? [23...Rf6 24.Rd1 Qa2 25.0-0 a6 26.Bd7 Nd7 27.Qd2
with compensation; 23...a6 24.Rd1 (24.Bc4 Nc4 25.Rd1 Nd6! 26.Rd5 Bd5 with counterplay; 24.Bd7 Bd7
25.0-0 Qd4 26.Qe3 Rf6 unclear) Qa2 25.Bd7 Bd7 26.0-0 with compensation] 24.gf3 Kh7 25.Rd1! [25.Bd7
Nd7 26.b3 Rf6 27.Rd1 Qc6 28.Rg1 with initiative] Qa2 26.Kf2 Rf6 [26...Rg8 27.Rhe1 Nf8 28.h5 and White
is superior] 27.Rhg1 Raf8 [27...Qb3!? 28.Be5 Ne5 29.Qe5 Qc2 30.Ke1 Qb3 31.Rd2 and White is superior;
27...Rg8!? 28.Rg8 Kg8 29.Ne8! and White is superior] 28.Be5! Ne5 29.Qe5 Nd7 [29...Bd7 30.Bc4! Nc4 31.
Nc4 Qc4 32.Rd7 Kh8 33.Rg6 and White is winning; 29...Qb3 30.Ne8! and White is winning; 29...Na4 30.
Rd2 Nb2 31.Rb2 Qd5 32.Re2 and White is winning] 30.Bd7! (and White is winning) Bd7 31.Ne4! fe4 [31...
R6f7 32.Nf6! Rf6 33.Rd7 R8f7 34.Qf6!] 32.Rd7 Kh8 [32...R6f7 33.Rg7; 32...R8f7 33.Qe4 Kh8 34.Rd8 Rf8
35.Rf8 Rf8 36.Qe5] 33.Rg6! [33.Rgg7?? e3! 34.Kg2 Qb1 and Black is superior] 1-0 [Morozevich, Al.
Kuzmin]
Iv.Sokolov 2670 Ju.Polgar 2710

Hoogeveen 2006 98/411 [E49]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.a3 Bc3 7.bc3 dc4 8.Bc4 c5 9.Ne2 Qc7 10.Ba2 b6 11.0-0
Ba6 12.Re1 Nc6 13.Ng3 Rad8 [13...Rfd8 see 89/(463)] 14.Bb2 [14.Nh5 Nh5 15.Qh5 Bd3] e5 15.Qc2 [a
novelty; 15.Rc1 Na5 16.Qf3 Rfe8 17.e4 Bc4; 15.d5! Na5 (15...e4 16.c4) 16.e4 Bc4] Rd7 [15...cd4 16.cd4
ed4 17.Bd4; 15...Na5!? 16.de5 Bd3 17.Qc1 Qe5 18.c4 Qe6 19.e4 with initiative] 16.Rad1 Rfd8 17.h3 [17.
Ne4!? Ne4 18.Qe4 Ne7; 17.Bb1 g6] c4!? [17...Na5 18.de5 Qe5 19.c4 Qe6 20.Bb1] 18.a4? [18.Bb1! g6 19.
a4!?; 19.Qe2] Re8! 19.Ba3 [19.e4? ed4 20.cd4 Nb4 21.Qb1 c3 and Black is superior; 19.Ne4!? Ne4 20.Qe4
Bb7 21.Bb1 g6; 20...g6] e4 20.Bb1 Rd5 21.Ne2 Rg5 22.Nf4 Bc8 [22...Qd7!?] 23.Qe2 [23.Ba2!? a) 23...Nd5
24.Bc4 Nf4 25.ef4 Qf4 26.Re3; b) 23...Ne7!? 24.Be7 Re7 25.d5 Ne8 26.d6 Nd6 27.Nd5 Qb7 28.Ne7 Qe7 29.
Qd2 (29.Bc4 Bh3 30.Bf1 h6) Rg6 with compensation; c) 23...Na5 24.d5 Bb7 25.d6 Qd7 unclear] Qd7 24.
Qc4 Na5 25.Qb4? [25.Qe2! Qa4 (25...Nd5 26.Bb4! Nc6 27.Rc1!) 26.Bb4 Nc6 27.Bc2 Qa6 unclear] Nd5 26.
Nd5 Qd5 [26...Rg2 27.Kg2 Qh3 28.Kg1 Qg4 29.Kf1 Ba6 30.Bd3 ed3 31.Nc7! Bc4 32.Rd2 Qh3 33.Kg1
Qg4 equal] 27.h4 [27.Kh2 Bh3! 28.gh3 (28.Qb5 Qd8 and Black is winning) Qf5 29.f4 Rh5 and Black is
winning; 27.Qd6 Qf5 28.Kh1 (28.h4 Rg6 29.Qf4 Nc4 and Black is winning) Nc4 29.Qc6 Bd7! 30.Qc4 Rg2
31.Kg2 Qf3 32.Kh2 Bh3 33.Rg1 Be6 and Black is winning] Rg4 28.Qb5
28...Qd8! 29.g3 [29.Bd6 Bd7] a6 30.Qb4 [30.Qh5 Nc4 31.Bc1 g6 32.Qh6 Nd6 with the idea Nf5] Qh4 31.
Be4 Rg3! 32.fg3 Qe4 33.Rd2 [33.d5 Nc4 34.Rd4 Qf3 35.Qc4 Qg3 36.Kf1 Bh3 37.Ke2 Re3 38.Kd2 Qe1 39.
Kc2 Re2 and Black is winning] Qf3 34.Kh2 Qh5 35.Kg1 Qf3 36.Kh2 Bf5 37.e4 Be4 38.Re4 Qe4 39.d5
Nc4 0-1 [Ju.Polgar]
V.Anand 2779 Macieja 2622

Deutschland 2006 98/75 [B19]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 de4 4.Ne4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bd3 10.Qd3 e6 11.
Bf4 Qa5 12.Bd2 Bb4 13.c3 Be7 14.c4 Qc7 15.0-0-0 Ngf6 16.Rde1 [16.Rhe1 see 97/66] b5 17.c5 0-0 18.
Ne2 [a novelty; 18.Re2; 18.Qc2] Rfe8 19.g4 e5 [19...Ng4 a) 20.Reg1 Nf2 21.Qc2 Nh1 22.Bh6 (22.Bf4 Qd8
23.Bh6 Bf6 24.Bg7 Bg7 25.h6 Qf6 26.Rg7 Kf8 27.Ng5 Qh6) a1) 22...Bf6 23.Bg7 Bg7 24.h6 Ng3 (24...Nf6
25.Rg7 Kf8 26.Ne5 Re7 27.Nf4 and White is winning) 25.Rg3 Qg3 26.h7 Kh8 27.Ng3 and White is slightly
better; a2) 22...Ng3 23.Rg3 Qg3 24.Ng3 gh6; b) 20.Rhg1 Ndf6 21.Rg2 Bf8 22.Reg1 e5 23.Qf5 (23.Rg4 e4!)
Qc8 24.Qc8 Rac8 25.Rg4 Ng4 26.Rg4 ed4 27.Ned4 and White is superior] 20.Qf5 ed4 21.g5 hg5 22.Bg5
22...Nh7? [22...Nd5 23.Reg1! Bg5 (23...Bf8 24.h6 g6 25.h7 Kh8 26.Qf7 Bg7 27.Nf4 Nf4 28.Bf4 and White is
winning) 24.Qg5!; 22...d3! a) 23.Reg1 de2 24.Bh6 Bf8 25.Bg7 a1) 25...Bg7 26.h6 e1Q 27.Ne1 Re1 28.Re1
Bh8 (28...Bf8 29.Reg1 Kh8 30.Qg5!) 29.h7 Kf8 30.Rhg1; a2) 25...e1Q 26.Ne1 Re1 27.Re1 Kg7 28.h6 Kh8
29.Qg5 Nh7!; b) 23.Nf4 b1) 23...Nc5 24.h6 d2 (24...Qc8 25.h7 Kh8 26.Ng6! fg6 27.Ne5! and White is
winning; 24...Qd7 25.h7 Kh8 26.Ng6!! fg6 27.Ne5 and White is winning) 25.Nd2 Qd7 26.Qd7 Ncd7 27.hg7
and White is superior; b2) 23...Bc5 24.Re8 Re8 25.h6 d2 26.Kc2 Bf8 27.h7 Kh8 28.Nh4!! Qf4 29.Bf4 Re1
30.Bd2 Rh1 31.Bg5 with initiative; b3) 23...d2 24.Nd2 Bc5 25.h6 (25.Nd3 Re1 26.Re1 Bd4) Re5 26.Qh3 g6
27.h7 Kh8 28.Qh4 Rf5 b31) 29.Ne4 Ne4 30.Re4 Bf2 31.Qf2 Rg5 32.Qd4 (32.Re7 Qb6 33.Qb6 Nb6 34.Rf7
Nd5) Ne5; b32) 29.Re6 Bf2 30.Qh6 (30.Qf2 Rg5 31.Rf6 Nf6 32.Ne6 Qe5 33.Nf3 Rg1! 34.Rg1 Qe6 35.Ng5
Qc4 36.Kb1 Kg7 37.Rf1 Qd3 38.Ka1 Qd6) Ng4 31.Ng6 fg6 32.Qg6 Raf8 33.Re7 Qe5!! 34.Re5 Nde5 35.
Qh5 Be3 36.Be3 Rh5 37.Rh5 equal; c) 23.Ned4! Nd5 (23...Nc5 24.h6! and White is winning; 23...Bc5 24.
Bf6! d2 25.Nd2 Qd6 26.Bg7 Kg7 27.Qg4 Kh8 28.Nf5 and White is superior) c1) 24.Bd2 Bf6 25.Reg1 Nc5;
c2) 24.h6 Bg5 25.Ng5 Re1 26.Re1 Qf4 (26...N7f6) 27.Qf4 Nf4 28.h7 Kh8 29.Rh1 Rf8 30.Nc6 f6 31.Ne4
Nc5! 32.Nc5 Rc8 and Black is slightly better; c3) 24.Reg1 Bg5 (24...Nc5 25.Bh6 Bf6 26.Bg7 Bg7 27.h6 Qf4
28.Kb1 and White is winning) 25.Rg5 Qf4 c31) 26.Kd1 Nf8 (26...Re4 27.h6 Qf5 28.Rf5 g6 29.h7 Kg7 30.Rf7
Kf7 31.Ng5 Kg7 32.Ne4 and White is superior) 27.h6 g6 28.h7 Kh8 (28...Nh7 29.Rg6 fg6 30.Qg6 Kf8 31.
Rg1! and White is winning) 29.Ne5! Re7 30.Qf4 Nf4 31.Nec6 and White is slightly better; c32) 26.Kb1 d2
(26...f6 27.Rg4! Qf5 28.Nf5 and White is superior) 27.Qf4 Nf4 28.Nd2 Re5! 29.Rhg1 Rg5 30.Rg5 and White
is slightly better] 23.Bf4! Qc8 24.Ned4 Nc5 25.Qc2 Bf8 [25...Qg4 26.Be5! (26.Bd2 Bf8) Ng5 27.Reg1 (27.
h6 Nf3) Qe4 28.h6! Nd3 29.Kb1 Nf2 30.Rh5] 26.Reg1 Re4 27.Be5! f6 [27...Rg4 28.Nf5 Rc4 29.Nh6 Kh8
30.Nf7 Kg8 31.Bc3! and White is winning] 28.h6 fe5 29.hg7 Be7 30.Ne5 Bd6 31.f4 Be5 32.fe5 1-0 [V.
Anand]
Dominguez Perez 2655 Ivanchuk 2741

Barcelona 2006 98/59 [B06]
1.e4 g6 2.d4 d6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Be3 a6 5.f4 b5 6.Bd3 Bb7 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.e5 Nh6 9.Qe2 Nb6 10.0-0-0 [a
novelty; 10.a4] Qd7 11.Rhg1 0-0 [11...b4 12.Ne4 0-0 (12...Qa4 13.Kb1 Bd5 14.b3 Qd7 15.Bd2 a5 16.f5
with initiative) 13.Kb1 (13.g4 Ng4 14.Bd2 f5 unclear) f5 14.Ned2 Ng4 unclear] 12.g4 Ng4 13.Ng5 [13.f5
Ne3 14.Qe3 b4 15.Ne4 Nd5 16.Qd2 b3!? 17.cb3 a5 unclear] Ne3 14.Qe3 e6 [14...b4!? 15.e6 fe6 16.Ne2 Rf5
17.Ne6 Nd5 18.Qe4 unclear] 15.Qh3 h6
16.Nf7!! Qf7 [16...Rf7 17.Rg6 Nd5 (17...b4 18.f5! Re8 19.f6 bc3 20.Rdg1 cb2 21.Kb2 and White is winning;
17...de5 18.de5 Nd5 19.Nd5 Bd5 20.Rdg1 Kf8 21.Rh6 and White is winning; 17...Re8 18.Rdg1 Kf8 19.Rh6
de5 20.de5 Qd4 21.Ne2 Qf2 22.Rhg6 and White is winning) 18.Nd5 Bd5 19.Rdg1 Kf8 20.Rh6 Bh6 21.Qh6
Ke7 (only move) 22.Qh4 Kf8 23.Bg6 and White is winning] 17.Rg6 Qf4 18.Kb1 Rf7 [18...Bf3 19.Qe6 (19.
Rf1 Rae8 20.Rg3 Nc4 21.Bc4 bc4 22.Rff3 Qd4 unclear) Rf7 (19...Kh8? 20.Rg7! Be4 21.Be4 and White is
winning) 20.Rf1 Kf8 21.Qh3 Nc4 22.Bc4 bc4 23.e6 Rf5 24.Nd5 Bg4 25.e7 Kf7 26.Rg7 Kg7 27.Rf4 Bh3 28.
Rf5 Bf5 29.Nc7 Kf6 30.Na8 Ke7 31.Nb6 and White is winning] 19.Rdg1 [19.Ne2! Qf2 20.Rdg1 Kf8 21.
Rg7 Rg7 22.Rf1 Qf1 23.Qf1 Kg8 24.ed6 cd6 25.Qf4 and White is superior] Kh8? [19...Bf3! 20.Be2 Kf8
(only move) 21.Bf3 Qf3 22.Qf3 Rf3 23.Rg7 de5 24.de5 Rf1 25.Rf1 Kg7 equal] 20.R6g4? [20.Ne2! Qd2 21.
R1g5! Qg5 22.Rg5 de5 23.de5 Nc4 24.Rg7 Kg7 25.Nd4 and White is winning] Qd2 21.Qh5 Raf8 [21...
Kg8? 22.Nb5! Qf2 (22...ab5 23.Qf7! Kf7 24.Rg7 Ke8 25.Bb5 c6 26.Rg8 Kd7 27.R1g7#) 23.Qh6 Qg1 24.Rg1
ab5 25.Qh7 Kf8 26.Bg6 Rf2 27.Bf5! and White is winning] 22.a3 Re7 23.Rg7 Rg7 24.Rg7 Rf1 25.Bf1 [25.
Ka2 Kg7 26.Qg6 Kf8 (only move) 27.Bf1 Qg5 28.Qg5 hg5 29.ed6 cd6 equal] Kg7 26.Bd3 Qg5 27.Qe8 de5
28.de5 Qe5 29.Qe7 Kg8 30.Qe8 Kg7 31.Qe7 Kg8 32.Bh7 Kh8 33.Bg6 Qg7 (only move) 34.Qd8 [34.Qe6
Bc8 35.Qe8 Qg8 36.Qe4 Bd7 37.b3 and White is slightly better] Qg8 35.Qf6 Qg7 36.Qd8 Qg8 37.Qc7 Nd5
[37...Qg6 38.Qb8 Bc8 (38...Qg8 39.Qb7 Na4 40.Na4 ba4 41.Qa6 Qg4 42.Qd6 and White is superior) 39.
Qb6 Qf6 40.Na2 Qe7 41.Nb4 Kg7 42.b3 and White is superior] 38.Qe5 Qg7 39.Qb8 Qg8 40.Qe5 Qg7 41.
Qe6 Qf6 42.Qf6 Nf6 [NB 9/c] 43.Bf5! (and White is superior) Kg7 44.Kc1 Ne8 45.Ne4 Be4 46.Be4 [NB 4/
c] Nd6 47.Bd3 a5 48.Kd2 Kf6 49.Ke3 Ke5 50.Kf3 b4 51.ab4 ab4 [NB 4/b] 52.Kg4 Kf6 53.Kf4 Ke6 54.b3
Kf6 55.Bc4 Nf5 56.Ke4 h5 57.Be2 h4 58.Bg4 Nd6 59.Kf4 Nb7 60.Bf5 Nc5 61.Kg4 h3 62.Bh7 Ne6 63.
Bd3 Ke5 64.Kh3 Nf4 65.Kg4 Nd3 66.cd3 Kd4 67.h4 Kc3 68.h5 Kb3 69.h6 1-0 [Dominguez Perez, J.
Ibarra]
[ChessCafe Home Page] [Book Review] [Columnists]

The Pearl in the Endings

Part Two
Zdenko Krnic
In June 2007, we announced the release of a new CD containing all the endgames published in Informants 598. However, we have managed to include the examples from Informant #99 as well, so that the CD now
offers 2,494 endings published over the span of forty years in Informants 5-99. This CD comes with fully
searchable endgame classification keys that can be used in the training mode for testing yourself or a
student. Here we have selected ten new examples for your enjoyment.
M.Chiburdanidze I.Chikovani
USSR 1976 21e/8
R 6/f
Ex-World Champion Maya Chiburdanidze is a pawn up in the rook ending, and 1.b5 would have forced
Black to find the best possible moves to avoid defeat. However, she does not suspect that there are hidden
dangers for White and she allows Black to weave a mating net after several brilliant moves.
1.Ke2?? [1.b5! Rh8! (1...Rb8 2.Rb3 Rb6 3.Ke2 Kf5 4.Kf3 Kg5 5.Rb2 Kf5 6.Rb1 Kg5 7.Ke2 Kf5 8.Kd3 with
the idea c4 and White is winning) 2 Rb3 Rh1 3.Ke2 Rg1 4.b6 Rg2 5.Kd3 f3 6.b7 f2 7.Rb1 Rg1 8.b8Q Rb1 9.
Qb1 g2 10.Ke2 g1Q 11.Qf1 and White is slightly better] Rh8! 2.b5 [2.Ra7 Rh1 3.Rg7 Kf5 and Black is
winning; 2.Ra1 Kg4! 3.b5 Rh2 4.Rg1 f3 and Black is winning] Rh2 3.Kf3 Rh1 4.b6 Re1! 5.c4 dc4 6.b7
Rb1 7.Rc3 [7.Ke4 Kg4! 8.b8Q Re1 and Black is winning] Kf5 8.Rc4 Rb2! 0-1 [E.Gufeld]
A.Petrosian V.Tseshkovsky
USSR 1976 22e/20
R 0/c1
It often happens in tournament practice that one of the players errs in his calculations and resigns a game in a
drawn position, or agrees to a draw in a winning position. In this next example, Arshak Petrosian played 1.
Kf5 against Tseshkovsky and the players agreed to a draw, but later analysis proved that Black could have
won via a knight promotion.
1.Kf5 [1... b3! 2.Rd8 Kc5! 3.Rc8 Kd4 4.Rd8 Ke3 5.Rb8 b2 6.Ke5 Kf3! 7.Kf5 Ke2 8.Ke4 Kd1 9.Kd3 c2 10.
Rh8 c1N!! and Black is winning] - [A.Kapengut]
E.Mnatsakanian L.Vogt
Stary Smokovec 1979 29e/1
P 1/a3
Mnatsakanian resigned, thinking that the distant passed f-pawn would ensure Black's victory. Yet, he was
wrong, because the white king had time to stop the promotion of the a-pawn.
0-1 [1.Ke2 Ke5 2.Kd3 Kd5 (2...f5 3.c4 equal) 3.c4! Kc5 4.Kc3 a5 5.Kd3 f5 (5...Kb4? 6.Kd4 Ka4 7.c5 Kb5 8.
Kd5 and White is winning) 6.Kc3 f4 7.Kd3 f3 8.Ke3 Kc4 (8...Kb4 9.c5 equal) 9.Kf3 Kb4 10.Ke3 Ka4 11.
Kd2 Kb3 12.Kc1 equal] [N.Minev]
Z.Krnic G.Flear
Wijk aan Zee II 1988 45e/27
NB 5/b
The author of this article accepted a draw offer from the English grandmaster Flear at the reserve
grandmaster tournament in Wijk aan Zee in 1988 after Black played 1...Ke6. However, during the post
mortem, with the help of legendary champion Mikhail Tal, we found that White could have won.
1...Ke6 [2.Kf4! (only move) Nc8 (2...Kf7 3.Ke5 and White is winning) 3.Kg5 Kf7 4.Kh6! a) 4...Nb6 5.Kh7
Nc8 (5...Nd5 6.Ba7 Nf6 7.Kh8 and White is winning) 6.a4! Nb6 (6...a6 7.Bc5 and White is winning, see 4...
a6) 7.a5 Nc8 (7...Nc4 8.a6 and White is winning) 8.h4 and White is winning, zugzwang; b) 4...a6 5.Bc5 Kf6
6.h4 Kf5 (6...Kf7 7.Kh7 a5 8.a4 zugzwang Kf6 9.Kg8 Kf5 10.Kf7 Kg4 11.Ke8 Kh4 12.Kd7 Kg4 13.Kc8 Kf5
14.Kb7 Ke6 15.Bb6 and White is winning) 7.Kg7 Kg4 8.Kf7! Kh4 9.Ke6 Kg4 10.Kd7 Kf5 11.Kc8 Ke6 12.
Kb7 Kd5 13.Be7 a5 (13...Ke6 14.Bb4 and White is winning) 14.a4 and White is winning] - [G.Flear]
L.Shamkovich M.Ginsburg
USA 1976 23e/6
R 5/a
It is obvious that White must check the black king, but from which square? GM Shamkovich chose the
wrong one; however, his opponent erred in turn and White won the game.
1.Re8? [1.Ra6! Kf5 2.f7 Rb8 3.Rf6! Kg4 4.Re6 Kf4 5.Re8 Rb7 6.Kf6 Rf7 7.Kf7 e4 8.Ke6! e3 9.Kd5 and
White is winning] Kf5 2.f7 Rb7?? [2...Rg1 3.Kf8 Rh1! equal] 3.Kg8 Rf7 4.Kf7 e4 5.Re7!! Kf4 6.Ke6! e3 7.
Kd5 Kf3 8.Kd4 1-0 [L.Shamkovich]
N.Weinstein M.Rohde
Lone Pine 1977 24e/14
P 3/c2
In the 1970s, one of the most popular and biggest open tournaments was in Lone Pine. The pawn ending in
the game between Weinstein and Rohde was not so complicated, but Black chose the wrong breakthrough
1...h4??, instead of the correct 1...f4!!, and lost the game.
1...h4?? [1...f4!! 2.gf4 (2.a5 ba5 3.ba5 h4 and Black is winning) gf4 3.Kd4 e3! 4.fe3 f3 5.gf3 h4 and Black
is winning] 2.gh4 gh4 3.Kd4 Ke6 4.a5 ba5 5.ba5 Kd6 6.a6 Kc6 7.Ke5 Kb6 8.Kf5 Ka6 9.Ke4 1-0 [J.Acers]
G.Moehring Z.Kaikamdzhozov
Zamardi 1978 25e/2
Q 8/c
It does not seem as if White should have problems realizing the advantage of his passed pawn. However, in
order to win, he must sacrifice both his pieces (2.Qf6! and 9.Qh3!!).
1.f7! Ng7 2.Qf6!! [2.Ng7 Kg7 equal] Kh5 3.Kh3 Ne8 [3...Qc8 4.Kg2! Qf8 5.Kg3 and White is winning,
zugzwang] 4.Qf5 [4.fe8Q Qe8 5.Qd6 Qh8 and White is winning] Kh6 5.Qe6 Kh7! [5...Kg7 6.fe8N! and
White is winning] 6.fe8Q Qf3 7.Kh4 Qf2 8.Kh5 Qh2 9.Qh3!! Qh3 10.Kg5 Qg3 11.Kf6 Qf3 12.Ke7 Qb3
[12...Qe4 13.Kd6 with the idea Qe5 and White is winning] 13.Qh5 Kg7 14.Qg4! [14...Kh7 15.Kf7 and
White is winning] 1-0 [Z.Kaikamdzhozov, G.Moehring]
L.Alburt K.Lerner
USSR 1978 25e/15
NB 2/k
Danger lurks in knight endings when one side can sacrifice his piece to create a passed pawn. In this
example, grandmaster Alburt sacrificed his knight (1.Nc5) and a pawn (2.b4!) and then won the game in a
queen ending by the effective 16.Qd1!.
1.Nc5! bc5 2.b4! ab4 [2...cb4 3.c5 b3 4.Kb3 Ne4 5.Kc4 and White is winning] 3.a5 e4 4.a6 Kf2 5.a7 e3 6.
a8Q e2 7.Qf8 e1Q 8.Qf6 [Q 4/j] Kg3 9.Qg5 Kh3 10.Qd2 Qa1 11.d7 Qa4 12.Kb1 Qb3 13.Kc1 Qa3 14.
Kd1 Qb3 15.Ke2 Kg4 16.Qd1! [16.d8Q? Qf3 17.Ke1 Qh1 equal] Qc4 17.Ke3 1-0 [M.Yudovich sr.]
Y.Estrin G.Zaichik
USSR 1978 27e/11
R 5/e
This rook ending seems very difficult for Black. 1...Rf5 is no good because of 2.Re4 and the b-pawn will
decide the game. One of the rules in such endings is that weaker side defend by moving the rook as far as
possible from the opponent's passed pawns. So Black played 1...Ra8?, but lost the game. The correct defense
was to stop the passed f-pawn by 1...Ra7! and 5...Rd6! to achieve a draw.
1...Ra8? [1...Ra7! 2.f6 Rd7 3.Ke5 e3 4.Kf5 e2 5.Kg6 Rd6! 6.Re8 Rb6 7.Kg7 Rb3 8.f7 Rb7 equal] 2.f6 Rd8
3.Ke5 Rf8 [3...e3 4.f7 e2 5.Kf6 and White is winning] 4.Re7 1-0 [E.Ubilava]
Mi.Knezevic R.Vaganian
Yerevan 1980 30e/17
R 8/g1
It is well-known in the theory of rook endings that rook and bishop against rook should be a draw. Yet, it is
also known that in practice the stronger side always attempts to realize the advantage hoping for a mistake
from the opponent. The next example is a fine illustration of this. In order to play such endings precisely
great theoretical knowledge is necessary.
1...Kd5 2.Kf1 Ke4 3.Rh3 Be3 4.Rh4 Kf3 5.Rh3 Kf4 6.Ke1 Ke4 7.Kf1 Rf2 8.Kg1 Kf4 9.Rh7 Ke4 10.Rh3
Kd3 11.Rh2 Ra2 12.Kh1 Bf2 13.Kg2 Ke2 14.Rh7 Ra1 15.Re7 Be3 16.Rf7 Rg1 17.Kh3 Bf2 18.Rf5 Rg8
19.Rf7 Rg3 20.Kh2 Kf1 21.Rf4 Ra3 22.Rf5 Ra4 23.Rf3 Rh4 24.Rh3 Rf4 25.Kh1?? [25.Rh7 equal] Bg3!
(and Black is winning) 26.Rh7 [26.Rg3 Rh4 and Black is winning] Ra4?? [26...Rg4! 27.Rf7 Bf4 with the
idea Rg1 mate] 27.Rf7 Bf4 28.Ra7! (equal) Rd4 29.Ra4! - [Mi.Knezevic]


Sasa Velickovic
Prior to the World Championship tournament in Mexico, Vishy Anand stated that he was looking forward to
clashing with the leaders of the chess world in the hope of once again becoming world champion. However,
it is his stability over many years that sticks in my mind: his play, his results and rating! So many brilliant
victories, beautiful games and important theoretical novelties! He is truly the complete package.
Indicative of his good form leading up to Mexico is his beautiful game from the Morelia/Linares tournament
at the beginning of this year. As white against Magnus Carlsen, his refined opening play virtually destroyed
Blacks defenses. Heres to a long-lived championship title!
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DGT Product Line
V. Anand 2779 M. Carlsen 2690

Morelia/Linares 2007 99/247 [C96]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4
Nd7 12.d5!? Nb6 13.Nbd2 g6 14.b4 cb4 15.cb4 Nac4 16.Nc4 Nc4 17.Bb3 [a novelty; 17.Bh6 see 99/(247)]
Nb6 18.Be3! [18.Bh6?! Re8] Bd7 19.Rc1 Rc8 [19...Qb8!? with the idea Qb7, Rac8] 20.Rc8 Bc8 21.Qc2
Bd7 22.Rc1 Na8 [22...Qb8? 23.Qc7 Rc8 24.Qb8 Rb8 25.Bb6 Rb6 26.Rc7 and White is winning; 22...Nc8
23.Qc7 and White is slightly better] 23.Qd2! [23.Ne1 Bg5 24.Qd2 (24.Bg5 Qg5 with the idea 25...Rc8, 25...
Bh3) Be3 25.Qe3 Qb8 (25...f5 26.Nf3 fe4 27.Ng5 and White is superior) 26.f4 and White is slightly better]
Qb8 [23...Nb6!?; 23...f6 24.Ne1 with the idea Nd3-c5] 24.Bg5 Bg5 [24...f6? 25.Ne5!! de5 (25...fe5 26.Be7;
25...fg5 26.Nd7) 26.d6 Rf7 27.de7 fg5 28.Qd7 and White is winning; 24...Bd8 25.Bd8 Qd8 26.Qh6 a) 26...
Qf6 27.Ng5 Qg7 28.Qh4 Rc8 (28...Re8 29.Ne6!; 28...Kh8 29.Nh7! Qh7 30.Qe7) 29.Rc8 Bc8 30.Nh7!; b)
26...f6 27.Rc6! Bc8 28.h4! Rf7 29.h5 Rg7 (29...g5 30.Ng5 fg5 31.Rd6 and White is superior) 30.hg6 hg6 31.
Nh4 g5 32.Nf5 Bf5 33.ef5 and White is superior; 24...Qd8! 25.Qe3 (25.Be7 Qe7 26.Qe3 Rc8!) Bg5 26.Ng5
Qe7 27.f4 with initiative] 25.Ng5 Rc8? [25...Nb6 26.f4 h6 27.Ne6 Rc8 28.Rf1! with attack] 26.Rf1! h6
27.Ne6! [27.Nf3 Kg7 equal] Kh7! [27...g5 28.Ng5 hg5 29.Qg5 Kf8 30.f4! ef4 31.Qf4 Be8 32.Qf6! Nb6 33.
e5 and White is winning; 27...fe6!? 28.de6 Be8 a) 29.e7!? Kg7 (29...Kh8 30.Qh6 mate) 30.Qd5 Rc4 (30...
Bd7 31.Qf7 Kh8 32.Qg6 and White is winning) 31.Bc4 bc4 32.Qc4 Nc7 33.Rc1 Nb5 34.Qc8 Qc8 35.Rc8
Kf7 36.Ra8 Nc3 37.Ra6 Ke7 (37...Ne4 38.a4 and White is superior) 38.f3 g5 and White is slightly better; b)
29.Qh6 Nb6 b1) 30.f4 Qa7 31.f5 Nc4 32.Kh1 (32.Kh2 Qe3 33.Qh4 g5 34.Qh6 Nd2) Qe3 33.Qh4? b2) 30.e7
Nc4 31.Qf8 Kh7 b21) 32.f4 Qa8 33.Rf3!! (33.f5 gf5 34.Rf5 Qe4 35.Rf6 Qe3 36.Kh2 e4 37.Rf4 and White is
winning) Qe4 (33...Qa7 34.Kh2) 34.f5 gf5 35.Rg3! and White is winning; b22) 32.Bd1! Bc6 33.Qf7 Kh6 34.
f4 Rg8 35.fe5 Ne5 36.Qf8 Kh7 37.Rf4! Rf8 38.ef8Q Qf8 39.Rf8 and White is winning] 28.f4 Qa7 [28...fe6
29.de6 Be8 30.f5 and White is superior] 29.Kh2 Be8 30.f5! [30.fe5? fe6! 31.ed6 e5 with counterplay] gf5 31.
ef5 [31.Ng5 Kg8 32.ef5 and White is winning] f6 [31...fe6 32.de6 Qd4 a) 33.Qd4 ed4 34.f6 (and White is
superior) Nb6 35.f7 Bf7 36.ef7 (36.Rf7 Kg6 37.Rf4 d5 38.e7 Re8 39.Bc2 Kg7 40.Rg4 Kh8 41.Rg6 Nc4) Rf8
(with the idea d5, Nc4) 37.Be6 Nc4 38.Rd1 Ne5 39.Rd4 Nf7 40.Rf4! (40.Bf7? Rf7 41.Rd6 Rf4! 42.a3 a5 43.
ba5 Ra4) Kg7 41.Bf7 Rf7 42.Rf7 Kf7 43.Kg3 Ke6 44.Kf3 Ke5 45.g4 d5 46.h4 d4 47.g5 hg5 48.hg5 Kf5 49.
g6 Kg6 50.Ke4 and White is winning; b) 33.Qe1 e4 b1) 34.f6 Qe5 35.Kh1 (35.Qg3 Qg3 36.Kg3 Nb6) Bg6
36.f7 Rf8 37.Qh4 d5!; b2) 34.Qh4! Qe5 35.Kg1 e3 36.Qe7 Qg7 37.Qg7 Kg7 38.f6 Kg8 39.Rf3 and White is
winning] 32.Re1! [32.Rf3 Bf7 33.Rg3 Rg8 34.Rg8 Bg8 35.Qc3 Qb7 36.Qg3 Qf7 37.Bd1 and White is
winning; 35...Nb6] Nc7 [32...Nb6!? 33.Re4 h5! (33...Bf7 34.Rg4 Rg8 35.Rh4 h5 36.Bd1 and White is
winning; 33...Nc4 34.Nf8!) 34.Rh4 (34.Qe1 Nc4 35.Bd1 and White is winning) Qb7 35.Qf2 and White is
winning] 33.Rc1! Bd7 34.Rc3 e4 [34...Ne6 35.fe6 (35.de6 Rc3 36.ed7 Rh3 37.gh3 Qd7 38.Qd5 Qg7 39.Qd6
Qg5 and White is winning) Rc3 36.Qc3!? (36.ed7 Rh3 37.gh3 Qd7 38.Qc2 f5 39.Qc6 Qe7 and White is
superior) Be8 37.Qc8 Qe7 38.Bc2 Kg7 39.Bd3 and White is winning; 34...Ne8 35.Rg3 Be6 36.Rg6! and
White is winning] 35.Rg3 [35.Qc1 Ne6 36.fe6 Rc3 37.Qc3 Be8 38.Qf6 and White is winning] Ne6 [35...Rg8
36.Rg8 Kg8 37.Qh6] 36.de6 Be8 37.e7! Bh5 [37...Qe7 38.Bg8 Kh8 39.Qh6] 38.Qd6 [38... Re8 39.Qf6 Qe7
40.Bg8 and White is winning] 1-0 [V.Anand]
V.Kramnik 2766 V.Anand 2779

Wijk aan Zee 2007 99/344 [E05]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.0-0 dc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.Qc4 b5 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.Bd2 Ra7 11.
Rc1 Be4 12.Qb3 Nc6 13.e3 Qa8 14.Qd1 Nb8 15.Ba5 Rc8 16.a3! [a novelty; 16.Bb6 see 99/(344)] Bd6
[16...c5?! 17.Nbd2 Bd5 18.Bb6 and White is superior; 16...Nbd7 17.b4 Bd6 (17...e5 18.Nbd2 Bd5 19.de5
Ne5 20.Ne5 Bg2 21.f3 and White is superior) 18.Nbd2 Bd5 19.Qf1] 17.Nbd2 Bd5 18.Qf1! [with the idea
Ne1] Nbd7 [18...Nc6 19.Bc3 Ne7 20.b4 and White is slightly better] 19.b4 e5 20.de5 Be5 [20...Ne5 21.Ne5
Be5 22.Ra2! and White is slightly better] 21.Ne5 Ne5
22.f3! Nc4?! [22...Nc6 23.e4 Be6 a) 24.f4 Rd8! 25.e5 Rd2 26.Bc6 (26.Rc6 Rg2 27.Qg2 Bd5) Qd8 27.ef6
Qd4 28.Kh1 Bd5 29.Bd5 Qd5 equal; b) 24.Qf2 Na5 25.ba5 and White is slightly better; 22...Re8 23.e4 Bc4
24.Nc4 Nc4 25.Rc4 bc4 26.Qc4 and White is slightly better; 22...Bc4 23.Nc4 (23.f4 c6; 23.Qd1 Nd3 24.Nc4
bc4 25.Rc4 Nb2 26.Qc2 Nc4 27.Qc4) Nc4 24.Rc4 (24.f4 Nd5) bc4 25.Qc4 (and White is slightly better) c6
26.Bh3 Re8 27.e4] 23.Nc4 Bc4 24.Qf2! [and White is superior; 24.Rc4 bc4 25.Qc4 see 22...Bc4] Re8 25.e4
c6 26.Rd1 Rd7 27.Rd7 [27.Bh3 Be6 28.Be6 fe6 29.Rd7 Nd7 30.Qd4 Nf8 31.Rd1 Qb7 32.Qd6 Ng6 and
White is slightly better] Nd7 28.Rd1 Qb7 [28...Ne5 29.f4 Bb3 30.Rb1 Nd3 31.Qd4 Bc2 32.Rf1 and White is
superior] 29.Rd6 [29.Qd4 and White is superior] f6 30.f4 [better is 30.Qd4 Ne5 (30...Nf8 31.Qc5 f5 32.Qc6
and White is winning) 31.f4 Nf7 (31...c5 32.bc5) 32.Rd7 and White is superior] Re6 31.Rd2 [31.e5 Rd6 32.
ed6 Qc8 33.Bc7! (33.Qe3 Nf8 34.Qc5 Qe6) Bd5 34.Bd5 cd5 35.Qf3 Qa8 36.Qe3 Qf8 37.Qe6 Qf7 38.f5 d4
and White is slightly better; 31.Re6 Be6 32.Qd4 Nf8] Re7 32.Qd4 Nf8 33.Qd8 Rd7 [33...Bf7 34.Rd6 Re6
(34...Rd7 35.Rd7 Qd7 36.Qd7 Nd7 37.Bh3 Be8 38.Bc7 Kf7 39.Kf2 and White is superior) 35.Re6 Be6 36.
Bc7 Qc8 37.Qc8 Bc8 38.Kf2 Ne6 39.Bb6 and White is superior; 33...Kf7!? with the idea 34.e5 Ne6] 34.Rd7
Qd7 35.Qd7 Nd7 [NB 9/d] 36.e5! [36.Bh3 Nf8 37.Bc8 Bd3 38.e5 fe5 39.fe5 Kf7 40.Kf2 Ne6 41.Ke3 Bc4
42.Ba6 Ke7 43.Bc8 Bd5 and White is slightly better] fe5 [36...Bd5 37.Bh3 (37.e6 Be6 38.Bc6 Nb8 39.Bb7
Bd7! 40.Bd5 Kf8 41.Bc7 Nc6 42.Bb6 and White is superior) Nf8 38.ef6 gf6 39.Bc8 and White is superior]
37.Bc6 Nf6 [37...Nb8 38.Bb7 ef4 39.Bc7 Nd7 40.Bf4 and White is winning] 38.Bb7 [38.fe5? Bd5 equal] ef4
[38...e4 39.Bb6! Nd5 40.Bd4 e3 41.Ba6 Kf7 42.Kg2 (42.Bc8) h5 43.Kf3 e2 44.Kf2 g6 45.Ke1 and White is
winning] 39.gf4 Nd5 40.Kf2! [40.Ba6 Nf4 41.Kf2 (41.a4 Ne2 42.Kf2 Nc3 43.ab5 Nb5 equal) Nd5 and
White is slightly better] Nf4? [40...Bb3! 41.Ba6 Ba4 42.Kf3 (42.Bb7 Nf4 43.Ke3 g5) Nc3 43.Ke3 Nb1 44.
Kd4 Na3 45.Kc5 Kf7 and White is superior] 41.Ke3 (and White is winning) g5 [41...Ne2 42.Kd2! (42.Ba6
Nc3 43.Kd4 Na4 and White is superior) Kf7 (42...Nf4 43.Ba6 Nd5 44.a4) 43.Ba6 Nd4 44.Bb6! Nf3 45.Kc3
Nh2 46.a4 Ng4 (46...Ke6 47.a5; 46...h5 47.Bb7 and White is winning) 47.a5 Nf6 48.Kd4 and White is
winning] 42.Ba6 Kf7 [42...Ne2 43.Kd2 g4 44.a4 g3 45.hg3 Ng3 46.Bc7 Ne4 47.Kc2 Kf7 48.a5 Nf6 49.Bc8
and White is winning] 43.a4 Ke7 [43...Ke6 44.Bb5 Bb5 45.ab5 Kd5 46.Bc7 Ne6 47.b6 Kc6 48.Ke4 and
White is winning] 44.Bb5 Bb5 45.ab5 Kd7 [NB 4/b] 46.Ke4 Ne2 [46...Nh3 47.Kf5 h5 48.Kg6 h4 49.Kf5
Ng1 50.Bb6 Nf3 51.h3 and White is winning] 47.Bb6 g4 [47...Nc3 48.Kf5] 48.Bf2 Nc3 49.Kf5 Nb5 50.Kg4
Ke6 [50...Nd6 51.Bg3 Ne4 52.Kf5 Nc3 53.Kg5 (and White is winning) Nd5 54.Be1] 51.Kg5 Kf7 52.Kf5
Ke7 [52...Nc3 53.Bc5 Nb5 54.Ke5 Na3 55.Kd6 h5 56.Kc6 and White is winning] 53.Bc5 [53...Kd7 54.Kf6;
53... Kf7 54.Ke5] 1 : 0 [V.Kramnik]
V.Kramnik 2766 M.Carlsen 2690

Monaco (rapid) 2007 99/295 [D44]
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 dc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5 b5 7.a4 c6 8.e5 h6 9.ef6 hg5 10.fg7 Rg8 11.g3 Bb7
12.Bg2 c5 13.0-0 g4
14.ab5!! [a novelty; 14.Nh4 see 96/325] gf3 [14...Bc3 15.bc3 gf3 16.Bf3 Bf3 17.Qf3 Qd5 18.Qd5 ed5 19.
dc5 Rg7 20.Rfe1 Kd7 21.Re5 and White is superior; 14...Rg7 15.Ne5 Bg2 16.Kg2 cd4 17.Qa4 dc3 (17...Bc3
18.b6 Kf8 19.bc3 Qb6 20.Qc4 and White is superior) 18.b6 Nd7 19.Rfd1 f6 (19...f5?! 20.Rd7 Rd7 21.Rd1
ab6 22.Qc6) 20.Nd7 Rd7 21.bc3 Bc3 22.Rd7 Qd7 23.Qd7 Kd7 24.Ra7 Kc6 25.Ra8 Kb6 26.Re8 and White
is superior] 15.Bf3 Bf3 [15...Qc7 16.b6 (16.dc5 Bc5 17.b6) Qb6 17.dc5 Bc5 18.Na4 Bf3 19.Qf3 Qc6 20.Qc6
Nc6 21.Nc5 and White is superior, with the idea 21...Rg7 22.Rfc1 Ne5 23.f4 Nf3 24.Kg2 Nd2 25.Rd1 Nb3
26.Nb3 cb3 27.Rd3] 16.Qf3 Nd7 [16...Bc3 17.bc3 (17.Qa8 Bd4 18.Ra7 Rg7 19.Rd1 and White is superior)
Qd5 18.Qd5 ed5 19.dc5 Rg7 20.Rfe1 Kd8 21.Re5 and White is superior] 17.dc5 Bc3 [17...Rg7 18.Rfd1 Bc5
19.Rd7 and White is winning; better is 17...Nc5 18.Qc6 Nd7 a) 19.Rfd1 Rc8 20.Ra7 Rc6 21.bc6 Nb6 (21...
Rg7 22.Rdd7 Qc8 23.Ne4 and White is winning) 22.Rd8 Kd8 23.Rf7 Be7 24.Nb5 and White is superior; b)
19.Nd5 Rc8 (19...ed5 20.Rfe1 Be7 21.Re7 and White is winning) 20.Nf6 Ke7 21.Ng8 Qg8 22.Qb7 Bd6 23.
Ra7 Rc7 24.Qa8 and White is superior] 18.bc3 (and White is winning) Nc5 19.Rfd1! [19.b6 Ke7] Qc8 (only
move) 20.Rd6! Qb7 [20...Ke7 21.Rc6 Qb7 22.Qf4 Nd7 23.Qh4; 20...Nb3 21.b6!; 20...Qb8 21.Rb6! Qd8 22.
Rc6 Qd3 23.Qh5] 21.Qh5 Rc8 22.Rc6! Nd3 [22...Rc6 23.bc6 Qb2 (23...Qc6 24.Qh8) 24.Qh8 Qa1 25.Kg2
Kd8 (25...Rh8 26.gh8Q Ke7 27.c7; 25...Ke7 26.Qg8 Qd1 27.Qf8 Kf6 28.g8Q) 26.Qg8 Kc7 27.Qf7] 23.Rc8
[23.Re6 Kd8 24.Qh4 and White is winning] Qc8 24.Ra7 1-0 [V.Kramnik]
I.Nepomniachtchi 2587 F.Vallejo Pons 2679

Moscow 2007 99/199 [C22]
1.e4 e5 2.d4?! ed4 3.Qd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd2 0-0 7.0-0-0 Re8 8.Qg3 Ne4 9.Ne4 Re4! 10.Bf4
Qf6 11.Nh3 d6 12.Bd3 Nd4! 13.Kb1 [13.Bg5 Qe6! 14.c3 Qa2 15.cd4 Rd4 16.Bh7 Kh7 17.Rd4 Qa1 18.Kc2
Bf5 19.Kb3 Be6 20.Kb4 Qb2 and Black is winning; 20.Kc2; 13.c3 Ne2 14.Be2 Re2 15.Rde1 Re1 16.Re1
Bh3 and Black is superior] Ne2 14.Qf3 [14.Be2 Re2 and Black is winning]
14...Ba3!! [a novelty; 14...Rf4?! 15.Nf4 Nf4 16.Qe4 and White is slightly better] 15.ba3?! [better is 15.Bc1
Qf3 16.gf3 and Black is superior] Nc3 (and Black is winning) 16.Kc1 Na2 17.Kb1 Nc3 18.Kc1 Bh3! 19.
Be4 Bg2!! 20.Qg2 [20.Bh7 Kh7 21.Qg2 Qf4 22.Kb2 Nd1 23.Rd1 Qe5 24.Kb3 Qb5 25.Kc3 Re8 and Black is
winning] Qf4 21.Kb2 Ne4 [21...Qe4?! 22.Qe4 Ne4 23.Rde1 and Black is superior] 22.Rd4 Qf6 [and Black
is winning; better is 22...d5!? 23.Rg1 Qf6 24.c3 and Black is winning] 23.Qe4 c5 24.Re1 h5! 25.Qf4 Qd4
[25...cd4 26.Qf6 gf6 27.Re4 and Black is superior] 26.Qd4 cd4 27.Re7 b6 28.a4 g5 29.Kb3 Kg7 30.Rc7
[30.Re4 Kf6] Re8 31.Ra7 Re2 32.Rb7 Rf2 33.Rb6 Rh2 34.a5 Re2 35.a6 [35.Rd6 Re8] Re8 36.a7 Ra8 0-1
[F.Vallejo Pons]
V.Ivanchuk 2750 V.Topalov 2783

Morelia/Linares 2007 99/169 [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nf3 Be7 8.Bc4 0-0 9.0-0 Be6 10.Be6 [10.Bb3
see 98/181] fe6 11.Na4!? Ng4 [11...Ne4 12.Nb6 Ra7 13.Qd3 Nc5 (13...Nf6 14.Ng5) 14.Bc5 dc5 15.Qb3 and
White is superior] 12.Qd3 Ne3 [12...b5 13.Nb6 with the idea 13...Rf3 14.Na8 Ne3 15.fe3 Rf1 16.Qf1 Nd7
17.a4 Bg5 18.ab5 Qa8 19.Qc4 (19.ba6 Be3 20.Kh1 Nf6 21.Qc4 Ne4 22.Qe6 Kh8 23.h3 Qf8 24.a7 Qf1 25.Rf1
Ng3 26.Kh2 Nf1 equal) Kf7 (19...Nc5 20.Kh1 Be3 21.Qe2! and White is superior) 20.Qc6 Qa7 21.Kh1 a5 22.
Qd6 Be7 23.Qc6 and White is superior] 13.Qe3 b5 14.Nb6 Ra7 [a novelty; 14...Rf3 15.gf3 Bg5 16.f4! (16.
Qb3) Bf4 17.Qb3 Qb6 18.Qe6 Kf8 19.Rfd1 Bh2 20.Kg2 and White is winning] 15.Nd5 Rb7 [15...Nc6 16.
Qd3 Qd7 17.Ne7 Qe7 18.Rfd1 Rd8 19.c4 and White is slightly better] 16.Qd2 Nc6 17.Rad1 [17.Qc3 Qc8
18.Ne7 Re7 19.Rad1 Rd8 20.Rd3 (20.Rd2 Rc7!) Nd4 21.Nd4 Rc7 22.Qb3 ed4 23.Rd4 Rc2 24.Rfd1 Rc1 and
White is slightly better] Rd7 [17...Bh4 18.Nb4 Nb4 19.Nh4 (19.Qb4 Be7) Qh4 20.Qb4 d5 21.Qd6 and White
is superior] 18.Qc3 Nb8 [18...ed5 19.Qc6 d4 20.Qa6 Rc7 21.Qa3 Qe8 22.Rd3 Qf7 23.c3 d5 24.Qa5 Bf6 25.
Nd2 and White is superior] 19.Ne7 Qe7 20.Rd3?! [20.Rd2! Rfd8 (20...Rc7 21.Qa3 Rc5 22.Rfd1 Nc6 23.c3
and White is superior) 21.Qa3 Rc8 22.Rfd1 Rc4 (22...Rc5 23.h4 h6 24.h5 Qd8 25.c3 a5 26.Qb3 Kf7 27.a4
and White is superior) 23.Rd6 Rc2 24.h4 Rd6 25.Qd6 Qd6 26.Rd6 Nc6 27.b3 Kf8 28.Re6 Nb4 29.Re5 Ra2
30.Ng5 and White is superior] h6 [20...Rc7 a) 21.Qa3 Rc2 22.Ne5 Nc6 23.Nf3 d5 24.ed5 ed5 (24...Qa3 25.
Ra3 ed5 26.Ra6 Rc8 27.h3 Rb2 28.Rc1 and White is superior) 25.Qb3 Nb4 26.Rc3! (26.Rd4 Rc4? Qe4 27.
Rc2 Nc2 28.Rd1 Rd8 29.h3 and White is slightly better; b) 21.Qd2 Nc6 22.c3 (22.Rd6 Nd4!) Rd7 23.Rd1
Rfd8 24.Qg5 and White is slightly better] 21.Rfd1 Rfd8 [21...Rc7 22.Qd2 Nc6 23.h3 (23.c3 Na5 24.h4 Nb7
25.Qe3 Rf4 26.g3 Rf8 27.Kg2 and White is slightly better) Rd7 24.Qc3 Rc7 25.Qa3 and White is superior]
22.h4! Kh7 23.R1d2 Qf8 24.Qb3 Qe8 25.a4 Qg6 26.ab5 ab5 27.Re3 [27.Qb4 Ra7 28.Rd6 Ra1 29.Kh2
Qg4 30.Qc3 Rd6 31.Rd6 Qf4 32.g3 Qe4] Na6 [27...Ra7 28.Re1 Nd7 29.Qb5 Rb8 30.Qc4 and White is
superior] 28.Qb5 Nc5 29.Qc4 [29.Qc6! Ra7 30.Rd6 Rd6 31.Qd6 Ne4 32.Qe5 Ra1 33.Re1 and White is
winning] Ra7 30.Re1 [30.Ne5 Ra1 31.Kh2 de5 32.Rd8 Qf6 33.Qc5 Qh4 34.Rh3 Qf4 35.g3 Qc1 36.Kg2 Qf1
37.Kf3 Re1 38.Rh6 Kh6 39.Rh8 Kg6 40.Qe5 Qe2 41.Kg2 Qf1 equal; 30.b4 Nb7 31.Qc6 and White is
winning] Qe8 31.b4 Na4 32.Qb3 Nb6 33.Red1 Rad7 34.Qd3 [34.b5 Qe7 35.h5!? (35.Qb4 Rc8 with the
idea 36.Rd6? Nc4!) Rc8 36.Ra1 Nc4 37.Rdd1 d5 38.ed5 ed5 39.Nd2 Nb6 40.Qh3 and White is superior; 34.
Rd3! Qf7 (34...Qe7 35.Rc3 Rb7 36.Rc6 Nd7 37.Qd3 Nb8 38.Rc4 and White is winning) 35.b5 Qg6 36.Re1
Ra8 37.Rc3 and White is winning] Rc8 35.c3 Ra7 36.Qe3 Ra6 37.Qe2 Nc4 38.Ra2 Rac6 39.Ra7 R6c7 40.
Rda1 Qf7? [40...Kg8 a) 41.Ne1 Qf7 42.R7a6 (42.Rc7 Qc7 43.Qg4 Re8 44.Nd3 Nb6 45.Qg6 Kf8 46.h5 Qc3
47.Ra7 Re7 48.Re7 Ke7 49.Qg7 Kd8 and White is superior) Rb7 43.Nd3 Nb6 44.Rc1 Qc7 and White is
superior; b) 41.Qd3 Qf7 42.R7a6 Qd7 43.Ra8 (43.g3 Qf7 44.Kg2 and White is superior) Qc6 (43...Ra8 44.
Ra8 Rc8 45.Rc8 Qc8 46.h5 Qc7 47.Nh4 and White is winning) 44.Rc8 Rc8 45.h5 Qe8 (45...d5 46.ed5 ed5 47.
Ra7! and White is winning) 46.Nd2 Nd2 47.Qd2 Qc6 48.Rd1 (48.Rc1 d5 and White is superior) Qe4 (48...
Rd8 49.Qd3 Qe8 50.Qc4 and White is winning) 49.Qd6 and White is winning] 41.Qc4 1-0 [V.Ivanchuk]
M.Ahn 2302 T.Ruck 2334

Belgique 2007 99/212 [C45]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 ed4 4.Nd4 Bc5 5.Nb3 Bb6 6.Nc3 [6.a4 a6 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Bd3 d6 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4
Be6 11.Nd5 Bd5 12.ed5 Ne5 unclear; 10...g5 unclear] Nf6 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 d6 9.a4
9...Ne4!! [a novelty; 9...a6] 10.Bd8 [10.Qe2 Qh4 11.Ne4 Bg4 and Black is winning; 10.Ne4 Qh4 and Black
is superior] Bf2 11.Ke2 Bg4 12.Kd3 Ne5! [12...Bd1?! 13.Ne4 Nb4 14.Kd2 Bc2 15.Nf2 Kd8 16.Nd4 and
White is slightly better] 13.Ke4 f5 14.Kd5 [14.Kf4 Ng6 mate] Rd8! 15.Qg4 only move [15.Be2 Kf7 with
the idea c6] c6 16.Ke6 0-0!! 17.Nd5 [17.Qe2? Rf6 18.Ke7 Rd7 19.Ke8 Rf8 mate; 17.Qc4 Rf7! 18.Nd5 Ng6!
19.Ne7 Ne7 20.Qb4 (20.Rd1 Ng6 21.Qc6 Nf4 mate) Ng6 21.Qd6 Rf6 mate; 17.Qf5 Rfe8 mate] fg4! 18.Bd3
g6 [weak point f5; 18...Rde8! a) 19.Ne7 Kh8 20.Kd6 Rf6 21.Kc7 (21.Ke5 Re7 mate) Re7 22.Kd8 (22.Kb8
Rf8 mate) Rd7 23.Ke8 Re6 24.Kf8 Rd8 mate; b) 19.Kd6 Rd8 20.Ke5 (20.Ke6 Rd5 21.Bh7 Kh7 22.Rad1 Rf6
23.Ke7 Ng6 24.Ke8 Rf8 mate) Rd5 21.Ke4 g5!] 19.Rhf1 Kg7 20.Nd4 [20.Rf2 Rf2 21.Rf1 Nd3 and Black is
winning] Rfe8 21.Ne7 Bh4! 22.Bg6 [22.Ndf5 gf5 23.Kf5 Re7 24.Kf4 Nd3 25.cd3 h5 with the idea Rf8
mate] Re7 23.Kf5 Rf8 24.Ke4 Ng6 [24...d5! 25.Ke3 Nc4 26.Kd3 Re3 mate] 25.Kd3 Ne5 26.Kc3 Bf2 0-1
[R.Ruck, T.Ruck]
V.Ivanchuk 2750 L.Aronian 2744

Morelia/Linares 2007 99/289 [D38]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.cd5 ed5 7.Qc2 c5 8.a3 Bc3 9.Qc3 h6 10.Bf6 Qf6 11.
e3 0-0 12.Be2 b6 13.0-0 Bb7 14.Rfc1! [a novelty, with the idea dc5, b4 with initiative; 14.b3 see 79/392]
Rac8 [14...c4 15.b3 b5 16.a4? a6 17.Ne5 and White is slightly better] 15.dc5 Qc3 [15...bc5 16.Qf6 (16.
Bb5!?) Nf6 17.b4 c4 18.Nd4 and White is slightly better] 16.Rc3 Rc5
17.Rcc1! [17.Rac1 Rfc8 18.Rc5 Rc5 19.Rc5 bc5 equal] Rfc8 18.Rd1 (and White is slightly better) Rc2 [18...
Kf8 19.Nd4 Ne5 20.Kf1 and White is slightly better; 18...Nf8 19.Nd4 Ne6 20.Bg4 and White is slightly
better] 19.Bb5 Nf8 [19...Nc5 20.Rab1 Ne4 21.Bd3 R2c5 22.Nd4 and White is slightly better] 20.Rab1 R2c7
21.Ba4! [with the idea Bb3 with attack, weak point d5] Ne6 22.Bb3 Kf8 23.h3 [23.Bd5 Bd5 24.Rd5 Rc1 25.
Rd1 Rd1 26.Rd1 Rc2 27.Rb1 Ke7 with compensation] Rc5 24.Kh2 Ke7 25.Rd2 Rb5 [25...f5!? 26.Kg3 g5
27.Nd4 Kf6 28.h4 and White is slightly better] 26.Ba2 Rbc5 27.Ne1! a5 28.Rbd1 Rd8 [28...Rb5 29.Nd3
Nc5 30.Nf4 Ne4 31.Nd5 Bd5 32.Rd5 Rb2 33.Rd7 Kf6 34.Rf7 Kg6 and White is slightly better; 29.e4!] 29.
Kg3 Rb5? [29...g5] 30.f3! Rc8 [30...Kf6 31.e4! d4 (31...g5 32.ed5 Nf4 33.d6 and White is superior) 32.Bc4
Rg5 33.Kf2 and White is superior] 31.Nd3 [31.e4 Nc5 32.ed5 Kd6 33.Bc4 Ne4 34.fe4 Rc4 35.e5 Kd7 and
White is superior] d4 [31...Nc5 32.Nf4 and White is superior; 31...a4 32.Nb4 Nc7 33.Rc1 Rc5 34.Rc5 bc5
35.Nd5 Bd5 36.Bd5 Nd5 37.Rd5 and White is superior; 33.e4 and White is superior] 32.Be6 Ke6 [better is
32...fe6 33.ed4 Rg5 34.Kf2 Rd5 35.Ne5 Rdd8 and White is superior] 33.Nf4 Ke7 34.Rd4 Rc7 35.R1d2
Rbc5 36.e4 Rc4 [36...Rc2!?] 37.Rd6 R4c6 38.e5! Rc2 [38...Rc5 39.e6! fe6 40.Re6 Kf7 41.Rb6 and White is
winning] 39.Rc2 Rc2 40.Rb6 (and White is winning) Bc6 41.b4 g5 42.Nh5 ab4 43.ab4 Bd5 44.Ng7 Re2 45.
Nf5 Ke8 46.Nh6 Be6 47.Rb5 Rb2 48.Rb8 Kd7 49.Rg8 1-0 [V.Ivanchuk]
L.Aronian 2744 V.Anand 2779

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qc2 dc4 5.Qc4 Bf5 6.g3 Nbd7 7.Nc3 e6 8.Bg2 Be7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Re1 Ne4 11.
Qb3 Qb6 12.Nh4 Bh4 13.gh4 Nef6 14.e4 [14.Qb6 see 92/395] Bg6 15.Qb6 ab6 16.Bf4 Rfe8 17.Rad1 [a
novelty; 17.Bd6] b5 [17...e5!? a) 18.Bg5 ed4 (18...h6 19.de5 Ne5 20.Bf6 gf6 21.f4? 19.Rd4 Nc5; b) 18.de5
Ne5 19.Be5 Re5 20.f4 Ree8 21.Kf2 and White is slightly better] 18.Bd6 e5 19.d5 Nh5 20.Bf1 f6 [20...Nf4]
21.b3 Nf4 22.a4 ba4 23.ba4 Bf7 24.Rb1 Ra7 [24...cd5 25.Rb7 d4 26.Nb5 Nf8 27.Nc7 Reb8 28.Rb8 Rb8 29.
a5 Rd8 30.Bf8 (30.a6 Rd6 31.a7 Rd8 32.Ra1 d3 33.a8Q Ra8 34.Ra8 Bb3 35.Rd8 Bc4 with the idea Kf7) Kf8
31.a6 Ne6 32.Rc1! (32.Nd5 Nc5 33.a7 Ra8 34.Ra1 Bd5 35.ed5 d3 36.f3 d2 37.Be2 Nb3 38.Ra6 Nd4 39.Kf2
Nb5 40.Rb6 Na7 41.Ra6 Rc8 42.Ra7 Rc1) Nc7 33.Rc7 and White is superior] 25.Red1 Rc8 26.Ne2 Ne2 27.
Be2 cd5 28.ed5 Nf8 29.Bb5 Raa8 30.Be7 Ng6 31.d6 Ne7 32.Bd7 Nc6? [32...Ng6 33.Bc8 Rc8 34.Rb7 Be6
35.a5 Nh4 36.d7 (36.a6 Nf3 37.Kg2 Nd4) Rd8 37.Rd6 (37.Rb8 Rb8 38.d8Q Rd8 39.Rd8 Kf7 40.a6 Bg4 41.
a7 Bf3 equal) Bf5 (37...Kf7 38.a6 Nf3 39.Kh1! Bf5 40.a7 Be4 41.a8Q Nh4 42.Kg1 Ra8 43.d8Q Bb7 44.Qd7
Kf8 45.f4!) 38.a6 Be4 39.Rb4 Nf3 40.Kf1 Nd4 41.a7 Kf7 42.Rb8 Ke7 43.Rd8 Kd8 44.Ra6 Kd7 45.a8Q Ba8
46.Ra8 Ke6 equal; 32...Nf5!! a) 33.Bc8 Rc8 34.Rb7 (34.d7 Rd8 35.Rb7 Nd4 36.Rdb1 Kf8 and Black is
superior) Bh5 35.d7 Rd8 36.Rc1 Nd6 37.Rbc7 Kf7 and Black is slightly better; b) 33.Bf5 Rd8 34.Rb7 Ra4
equal]
33.Rb7! [33.Bc8 Rc8 34.Rb7 Rd8] Nd4 [33...Bh5!? 34.Rdb1! (34.Rc1 Rd8 35.Bc6 Rd6) Bf3 35.Be6 Kh8 36.
Bc8 Rc8 37.a5 Na5 38.Rb8 Rg8 39.d7 Nc6 40.Re8 Bh5 41.Rc8 Bg4 42.Rbb8! Be6 43.Rg8 Bg8 44.Rc8 and
White is winning] 34.Bc8 Rc8 35.Rdb1! Rf8 [35...Nf3 36.Kh1 Bd5 37.Rb8 and White is winning] 36.Rb8
Be8 [36...Be6 37.a5 Bf5 a) 38.R1b7 Rb8 (38...Be4 39.d7!) 39.Rb8 Kf7 40.a6 Ke6; b) 38.Rf8! Kf8 39.Rb7
Ke8 40.a6 Nf3 41.Kg2 Be4 42.Rg7 Nh4 43.Kh3 Nf5 44.d7 Kd8 45.Rh7 Ne7 46.a7 Kd7 47.Kg4! and White
is winning] 37.a5 (and White is winning) Nf3 38.Kf1! Nd2 39.Ke1 Nb1 40.a6 Bc6 41.a7 Kf7 42.d7 Ke7 43.
Rf8 Kd7 44.a8Q [44.Rf7 Kd6 45.Rg7 h5 46.Rg3! with the idea Rb3] Ba8 45.Ra8 h5 [45...Ke7 46.Ra7 Kf8
47.f3! (47.Ra5 Kf7 48.Ke2 e4 49.Rc5 Ke6 50.Ke3 f5 51.h5) e4 48.Ra1 Nc3 49.Kd2 Nb5] 46.Ra7 Ke6 47.
Rg7 Kf5 [47...Na3 48.Rh7] 48.Rg3 [with the idea Rb3] 1-0 [V.Anand]
V.Topalov 2783 A.Shirov 2715

Wijk aan Zee 2007 99/329 [D89]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.e4 Nc3 6.bc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 Bg4 11.f3
Na5 12.Bd3 cd4 13.cd4 Be6 14.d5 Ba1 15.Qa1 f6 16.Qd4 Bf7 17.Bh6 Re8 18.Bb5 e5 19.Qf2 Re7 20.f4
ef4 21.Qf4 Qb6 22.Kh1 Bd5 23.ed5 Qb5 24.Qf6 Qe8 25.Qd4 Rd8 [a novelty; 25...Rc8 see 99/(329)] 26.h3
Rf7 27.Rf7 Qf7 28.Qc3 b6 29.Ng3 Nb7? 30.Ne4 Qe7 [30...Nc5 31.Nf6 Kh8 32.Ng4 Kg8 33.Bg5 Qf1 34.
Kh2 and White is winning] 31.Nf6 Kf7 32.Nh7 Kg8 33.Nf6 Kf7 34.Ng4 Kg8 [34...Rd5 35.Qg7 Ke6 36.Qg6
Kd7 37.Nf6 and White is winning; 34...Ke8 35.Bf4 Nc5 36.Kh2] 35.Qd2 [35.Bc1!? with the idea Bb2] Re8
36.Qf4 Qd6
37.Qf2! [and White is winning; 37.Qd6? Re1! 38.Kh2 Nd6 39.Bf4 Ne4 and Black is winning] Qc5 38.Qg3
Qd4 [38...Qd6 39.Qc3; 38...Qe7 39.Qf3 (39.Qf4 Qd6 40.Qf2 Qc5 41.Qf1 Qe7 42.Nf6 Kf7 43.Ne8 Ke8 44.
Qf4) Rc8 40.Qf4 Qd6 41.Qd4 Qe7 42.Nf6 Kf7 43.Ne4 Kg8 44.d6] 39.Kh2 Nd8 40.Qd6 Ne6 41.Be3 1-0 [Z.
Krnic]
P.Svidler 2728 S.Karjakin 2678

Wijk aan Zee 2007 99/170 [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.0-0-0 Be7 10.f3 b5 11.
g4 b4 12.Nd5 Bd5 13.ed5 Nb6 14.Na5 [14.Qb4 see 95/(185)] Nbd5 15.Nc6 Qc7 16.Nb4 [a novelty; 16.
Ne7] Nb4 17.Qb4 0-0 18.g5? [18.Qb6 unclear] Rfc8 19.Qa4?! [19.Bd3? Rab8 a) 20.Qh4 Rb2!! 21.Qc4 (21.
Kb2 Qc3 22.Kb1 d5 and Black is winning) Qb7 22.Qc8 Qc8 23.gf6 Bf6 24.Kb2 e4 25.Kc1 ed3 26.Rd3 Qf5
and Black is winning; b) 20.Qc3 Qc3 21.bc3 Nd5 22.Bh7 Kh7 23.Rd5 Rc3 and Black is superior; 19.Qc4
(only move) Qc4 20.Bc4 Rc4 21.gf6 Bf6 (21...gf6 22.Rhg1 Kh8 23.Bh6) 22.Rd6 Kf8 equal]
19...Rab8!! 20.Bd3?! [20.Qc4? Qb7 and Black is winning; 20.gf6? Rb4 and Black is winning; 20.Bc4 (only
move) Qc4 (20...Nd7 21.Bb3 Nc5 22.Bc5 Bg5 23.Kb1 Qc5 24.Qa6 unclear; 20...Ng4 21.fg4 Qc4 22.Qc4 Rc4
23.h3 and Black is slightly better) 21.Qc4 Rc4 22.gf6 Bf6 23.Rd6 e4 24.c3 Ra4 25.a3 ef3 26.Rf1 Be5 27.
Rd7 Bh2 28.Rf3 f6 and Black is slightly better] Nd7 (and Black is winning) 21.Qe4 g6 22.Ba6 [22.h4 Rb2
23.Kb2 Qc3 24.Kc1 d5; 22.Rde1 Nc5] Rb4! 23.Qd3 [23.c4 Qc6 24.Bc8 Rc4 25.Kb1 Re4 26.Bd7 Qd7 27.
fe4 Qa4] Rcb8 24.b3 Nc5! 25.Bc5 Qc5 26.Qd5 Qa7! 27.Bc4 Bg5 [27...Rc8! 28.a3 Qa3 29.Kd2 Bg5 30.Ke1
Rbc4 31.bc4 Qe3 32.Kf1 Rc4 33.Qd3 Rc2 34.Qe3 Be3 35.Rd6 Bd4] 28.Kb2 Ra4 29.a3 [29.Ra1 Ra5! (29...
e4 30.Rhf1 e3) 30.Qe4 (30.Qd6 Be7 31.Qd3 Ba3 32.Kb1 Ra4) Ra3 31.Qd5 Ra8 32.b4 Bf6] Ra5 30.Qe4 [30.
Qd6 Be7] Be3 [30...Ra3? 31.Ra1 Ra8 32.Qa8 Qa8 33.Ra3 Qf3 34.Rf1 and Black is superior; 30...Kg7] 31.
c3?! [31.Rd6 Bc5 (31...Bd4 32.Rd4 ed4 33.Qf4 and Black is superior) 32.Rd5 Ba3 33.Kb1 Bc5 34.Qe5 Ra8
35.Kb2 Ra1 36.Rc5 Rh1 37.Kc3 Rf8] Ra3! 32.Ra1 Ra8 [33.Qb1 Ra1 34.Qa1 Bc1! 35.Rc1 Qf2 36.Rc2 Qc2
37.Kc2 Ra1; 33.Qa8 Qa8 34.Ra3 Qf3 35.Rf1 Qg2 36.Kb1 d5] 0-1 [Sergey Karjakin]

The Most Important Novelty of Volume 99

Zdenko Krnic
After seven years on the chess throne, Vladimir Kramnik has passed the crown to a new champion:
Viswanathan Anand. However, the final result of the tournament in Mexico was no surprise, as Kramnik
achieves his best results in matches. Now the chess world eagerly awaits the proposed match between Anand
and Kramnik.
Last month the best game of Informant 99 was presented in which Anand won against his young rival
Magnus Carlsen. Therefore, it is interesting that a rapid game played in Monaco between Kramnik and
Carlsen was voted as the most important theoretical novelty of Informant 99, where Kramnik made a
brilliant piece sacrifice. The fact that the novelty Kramnik played against Anand in Wijk aan Zee came in
second is a testament to Kramniks creativity during the past year. Furthermore, the interconnection of these
players bears witness to how new rising star Carlsen is jeopardizing the positions of both Anand and
Kramnik.

The Complete
DGT Product Line
1.Kramnik 2766 M.Carlsen 2690

Monaco (rapid) 2007 99/295 [D44]
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 dc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5 b5 7.a4 c6 8.e5 h6 9.ef6 hg5 10.fg7 Rg8 11.g3 Bb7
12.Bg2 c5 13.0-0 g4
14.ab5!! [a novelty; 14.Nh4 see 96/325] gf3 [14...Bc3 15.bc3 gf3 16.Bf3 Bf3 17.Qf3 Qd5 18.Qd5 ed5 19.
dc5 Rg7 20.Rfe1 Kd7 21.Re5 and White is superior; 14...Rg7 15.Ne5 Bg2 16.Kg2 cd4 17.Qa4 dc3 (17...Bc3
18.b6 Kf8 19.bc3 Qb6 20.Qc4 and White is superior) 18.b6 Nd7 19.Rfd1 f6 (19...f5?! 20.Rd7 Rd7 21.Rd1
ab6 22.Qc6) 20.Nd7 Rd7 21.bc3 Bc3 22.Rd7 Qd7 23.Qd7 Kd7 24.Ra7 Kc6 25.Ra8 Kb6 26.Re8 and White
is superior] 15.Bf3 Bf3 [15...Qc7 16.b6 (16.dc5 Bc5 17.b6) Qb6 17.dc5 Bc5 18.Na4 Bf3 19.Qf3 Qc6 20.Qc6
Nc6 21.Nc5 and White is superior, with the idea 21...Rg7 22.Rfc1 Ne5 23.f4 Nf3 24.Kg2 Nd2 25.Rd1 Nb3
26.Nb3 cb3 27.Rd3] 16.Qf3 Nd7 [16...Bc3 17.bc3 (17.Qa8 Bd4 18.Ra7 Rg7 19.Rd1 and White is superior)
Qd5 18.Qd5 ed5 19.dc5 Rg7 20.Rfe1 Kd8 21.Re5 and White is superior] 17.dc5 Bc3 [17...Rg7 18.Rfd1 Bc5
19.Rd7 and White is winning; better is 17...Nc5 18.Qc6 Nd7 a) 19.Rfd1 Rc8 20.Ra7 Rc6 21.bc6 Nb6 (21...
Rg7 22.Rdd7 Qc8 23.Ne4 and White is winning) 22.Rd8 Kd8 23.Rf7 Be7 24.Nb5 and White is superior; b)
19.Nd5 Rc8 (19...ed5 20.Rfe1 Be7 21.Re7 and White is winning) 20.Nf6 Ke7 21.Ng8 Qg8 22.Qb7 Bd6 23.
Ra7 Rc7 24.Qa8 and White is superior] 18.bc3 (and White is winning) Nc5 19.Rfd1! [19.b6 Ke7] Qc8 (only
move) 20.Rd6! Qb7 [20...Ke7 21.Rc6 Qb7 22.Qf4 Nd7 23.Qh4; 20...Nb3 21.b6!; 20...Qb8 21.Rb6! Qd8 22.
Rc6 Qd3 23.Qh5] 21.Qh5 Rc8 22.Rc6! Nd3 [22...Rc6 23.bc6 Qb2 (23...Qc6 24.Qh8) 24.Qh8 Qa1 25.Kg2
Kd8 (25...Rh8 26.gh8Q Ke7 27.c7; 25...Ke7 26.Qg8 Qd1 27.Qf8 Kf6 28.g8Q) 26.Qg8 Kc7 27.Qf7] 23.Rc8
[23.Re6 Kd8 24.Qh4 and White is winning] Qc8 24.Ra7 1-0 [Kramnik]
2.Kramnik 2766 V.Anand 2779

Wijk aan Zee 2007 99/344 [E05]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.0-0 dc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.Qc4 b5 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.Bd2 Ra7 11.
Rc1 Be4 12.Qb3 Nc6 13.e3 Qa8 14.Qd1 Nb8 15.Ba5 Rc8
16.a3! [a novelty; 16.Bb6 see 99/(344)] Bd6 [16...c5?! 17.Nbd2 Bd5 18.Bb6 and White is superior; 16...
Nbd7 17.b4 Bd6 (17...e5 18.Nbd2 Bd5 19.de5 Ne5 20.Ne5 Bg2 21.f3 and White is superior) 18.Nbd2 Bd5 19.
Qf1] 17.Nbd2 Bd5 18.Qf1! [with the idea Ne1] Nbd7 [18...Nc6 19.Bc3 Ne7 20.b4 and White is slightly
better] 19.b4 e5 20.de5 Be5 [20...Ne5 21.Ne5 Be5 22.Ra2! and White is slightly better] 21.Ne5 Ne5 22.f3!
Nc4?! [22...Nc6 23.e4 Be6 a) 24.f4 Rd8! 25.e5 Rd2 26.Bc6 (26.Rc6 Rg2 27.Qg2 Bd5) Qd8 27.ef6 Qd4 28.
Kh1 Bd5 29.Bd5 Qd5 equal; b) 24.Qf2 Na5 25.ba5 and White is slightly better; 22...Re8 23.e4 Bc4 24.Nc4
Nc4 25.Rc4 bc4 26.Qc4 and White is slightly better; 22...Bc4 23.Nc4 (23.f4 c6; 23.Qd1 Nd3 24.Nc4 bc4 25.
Rc4 Nb2 26.Qc2 Nc4 27.Qc4) Nc4 24.Rc4 (24.f4 Nd5) bc4 25.Qc4 (and White is slightly better) c6 26.Bh3
Re8 27.e4] 23.Nc4 Bc4 24.Qf2! [and White is superior; 24.Rc4 bc4 25.Qc4 see 22...Bc4] Re8 25.e4 c6 26.
Rd1 Rd7 27.Rd7 [27.Bh3 Be6 28.Be6 fe6 29.Rd7 Nd7 30.Qd4 Nf8 31.Rd1 Qb7 32.Qd6 Ng6 and White is
slightly better] Nd7 28.Rd1 Qb7 [28...Ne5 29.f4 Bb3 30.Rb1 Nd3 31.Qd4 Bc2 32.Rf1 and White is
superior] 29.Rd6 [29.Qd4 and White is superior] f6 30.f4 [better is 30.Qd4 Ne5 (30...Nf8 31.Qc5 f5 32.Qc6
and White is winning) 31.f4 Nf7 (31...c5 32.bc5) 32.Rd7 and White is superior] Re6 31.Rd2 [31.e5 Rd6 32.
ed6 Qc8 33.Bc7! (33.Qe3 Nf8 34.Qc5 Qe6) Bd5 34.Bd5 cd5 35.Qf3 Qa8 36.Qe3 Qf8 37.Qe6 Qf7 38.f5 d4
and White is slightly better; 31.Re6 Be6 32.Qd4 Nf8] Re7 32.Qd4 Nf8 33.Qd8 Rd7 [33...Bf7 34.Rd6 Re6
(34...Rd7 35.Rd7 Qd7 36.Qd7 Nd7 37.Bh3 Be8 38.Bc7 Kf7 39.Kf2 and White is superior) 35.Re6 Be6 36.
Bc7 Qc8 37.Qc8 Bc8 38.Kf2 Ne6 39.Bb6 and White is superior; 33...Kf7!? with the idea 34.e5 Ne6] 34.Rd7
Qd7 35.Qd7 Nd7 [NB 9/d] 36.e5! [36.Bh3 Nf8 37.Bc8 Bd3 38.e5 fe5 39.fe5 Kf7 40.Kf2 Ne6 41.Ke3 Bc4
42.Ba6 Ke7 43.Bc8 Bd5 and White is slightly better] fe5 [36...Bd5 37.Bh3 (37.e6 Be6 38.Bc6 Nb8 39.Bb7
Bd7! 40.Bd5 Kf8 41.Bc7 Nc6 42.Bb6 and White is superior) Nf8 38.ef6 gf6 39.Bc8 and White is superior]
37.Bc6 Nf6 [37...Nb8 38.Bb7 ef4 39.Bc7 Nd7 40.Bf4 and White is winning] 38.Bb7 [38.fe5? Bd5 equal] ef4
[38...e4 39.Bb6! Nd5 40.Bd4 e3 41.Ba6 Kf7 42.Kg2 (42.Bc8) h5 43.Kf3 e2 44.Kf2 g6 45.Ke1 and White is
winning] 39.gf4 Nd5 40.Kf2! [40.Ba6 Nf4 41.Kf2 (41.a4 Ne2 42.Kf2 Nc3 43.ab5 Nb5 equal) Nd5 and
White is slightly better] Nf4? [40...Bb3! 41.Ba6 Ba4 42.Kf3 (42.Bb7 Nf4 43.Ke3 g5) Nc3 43.Ke3 Nb1 44.
Kd4 Na3 45.Kc5 Kf7 and White is superior] 41.Ke3 (and White is winning) g5 [41...Ne2 42.Kd2! (42.Ba6
Nc3 43.Kd4 Na4 and White is superior) Kf7 (42...Nf4 43.Ba6 Nd5 44.a4) 43.Ba6 Nd4 44.Bb6! Nf3 45.Kc3
Nh2 46.a4 Ng4 (46...Ke6 47.a5; 46...h5 47.Bb7 and White is winning) 47.a5 Nf6 48.Kd4 and White is
winning] 42.Ba6 Kf7 [42...Ne2 43.Kd2 g4 44.a4 g3 45.hg3 Ng3 46.Bc7 Ne4 47.Kc2 Kf7 48.a5 Nf6 49.Bc8
and White is winning] 43.a4 Ke7 [43...Ke6 44.Bb5 Bb5 45.ab5 Kd5 46.Bc7 Ne6 47.b6 Kc6 48.Ke4 and
White is winning] 44.Bb5 Bb5 45.ab5 Kd7 [NB 4/b] 46.Ke4 Ne2 [46...Nh3 47.Kf5 h5 48.Kg6 h4 49.Kf5
Ng1 50.Bb6 Nf3 51.h3 and White is winning] 47.Bb6 g4 [47...Nc3 48.Kf5] 48.Bf2 Nc3 49.Kf5 Nb5 50.Kg4
Ke6 [50...Nd6 51.Bg3 Ne4 52.Kf5 Nc3 53.Kg5 (and White is winning) Nd5 54.Be1] 51.Kg5 Kf7 52.Kf5
Ke7 [52...Nc3 53.Bc5 Nb5 54.Ke5 Na3 55.Kd6 h5 56.Kc6 and White is winning] 53.Bc5 [53...Kd7 54.Kf6;
53... Kf7 54.Ke5] 1-0 [Kramnik]
3.Sutovsky 2637 Sakaev 2633

Dresden 2007 99/211 [C43]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Ne4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Ne5 Nd7 6.Nc3 Nc3 7.bc3 Ne5 8.de5 Be7 9.Qh5 Be6 10.Rb1 Qd7
11.Bg5! 0-0-0? [11...b6?! 12.Bb5! c6 13.Be7 cb5 14.Bd6 and White is superior; 11...c6 12.Be7 Qe7 13.0-0
and White is slightly better; 11...g6 12.Qh4 Bg5 13.Qg5 Qe7 14.Qh6 0-0-0 15.0-0 and White is slightly
better]
12.Bb5! [a novelty; 12.0-0] c6 13.Ba6!! Bg4 [13...g6 a) 14.Qe2?! Bg5 15.0-0! Qc7! (15...Be7 16.Rb7 Qb7
17.Rb1 Qa6 18.Qa6 Kd7 19.Rb7 Ke8 20.Qa7 and White is winning) 16.Rb7 Qb7 17.Rb1 Qa6 18.Qa6 Kd7
19.Qa7 (19.Rb7 Ke8) Ke8 20.Qc5 Be7 21.Qc6 Kf8 unclear; b) 14.Bb7 Qb7 15.Rb7 gh5 16.Re7 and White is
superior] 14.Qf7! [14.Rb7? Bh5 15.Rb4 Kc7 16.Rb7 Kc8 equal; 14.Bb7? Kc7 15.Qh4 Bg5 16.Qg5 Rb8 17.
Qf4! Qf5 18.Qb4 Qe5 19.Kd2 Rhe8 20.Qg4 h5! 21.Qg3 (21.Qb4 Qg5 22.Kd3 Qf5 23.Kd2 Qf2 with attack)
Rb7 22.Qe5 Re5 23.Rb7 Kb7 24.Rb1 Kc7 equal] Bg5 15.Rb7 Qf7 16.Rf7 Kb8 17.0-0 Bc8 (only move) 18.
Rb1 Ka8 19.Bc8 Rc8 20.Rbb7 Rce8 21.Ra7 Kb8 22.Rfb7 Kc8 23.Rg7 Kb8 24.g3! Bd2 [24...Re5 25.f4
Re1 26.Kf2 and White is winning] 25.Rgb7 Kc8 26.Rc7 Kb8 27.Rcb7 time [27.Rab7 Ka8 28.f4 Bc3 29.
Rh7 and White is winning] Kc8 28.Rf7 Kb8 29.Rab7 Ka8 30.Ra7 Kb8 31.Rab7 Ka8 32.Rbc7?! [32.f4
Bc3 33.Rh7 and White is winning] Bc3 33.f4 Bd4 34.Kg2 Rc8? time [34...h5! and White is superior] 35.
Rh7 Rh7 36.Rc8 [36.Rh7 Rb8 37.e6 and White is winning] Kb7 37.Rg8 Kb6! 38.h4 Ra7! 39.e6 [39.h5
Ra2 40.h6 Rc2 41.Kh3 Rc1 with counterplay] Kc5 40.Rd8! Bf6 41.Rd7 Ra2 [41...Rd7 42.ed7 Kd6 43.a4!
Kd7 44.a5 c5 45.h5 and White is winning] 42.Rf7 [42.e7 Rc2 43.Kf1 Rc1 44.Ke2 Be7 45.Re7 Kd6 46.Re8
and White is winning] Rc2 43.Kf3 Bd4 44.f5 Rf2 [44...Rc3 45.Kg4 Bf2 46.h5 Rg3 47.Kf4 Rg1 48.e7 Re1
49.f6 Bd4 50.Kf5 Kd6 51.h6 and White is winning] 45.Kg4 Re2 46.h5 Kd6 47.h6 c5 48.h7 Rh2 49.Kg5 c4
50.e7 Kd7 51.f6 c3 52.Rf8 Bf6 53.Kf6 Rh6 54.Ke5 Re6 55.Kd4 1-0 [Sutovsky]
4.Motylev 2647 Ch.Lutz 2580

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.f4 Bb4 8.Bd3 Qb6 9.Nf5! Qa5
10.Ng7! [a novelty; 10.Ng3] Kf8 11.Bd2! Kg7 12.a3 Be7 [12...Bf8? 13.Nd5 Qd8 14.Bc3 and White is
winning] 13.Nd5 Qd8 14.Ne7 Qe7 [14...Ne7 15.e5 Ne8 (15...Nfd5 16.c4) a) 16.Qg4!? Ng6 17.0-0-0 f5 (17...
Qh4 18.Qf3 see 16.Qh5) 18.ef6 Nf6 19.Qg3 d6 20.Bc3 with initiative; b) 16.Qh5 Ng6 17.0-0-0 f5 (17...Qh4
18.Qf3 with attack) 18.g4 Qh4 19.Qh4 Nh4 20.gf5 ef5 (20...Nf5 21.Bf5 ef5 22.Bc3 and White is winning) 21.
Rhg1 with attack; 20...Kf7! unclear; 18.h4 with attack] 15.e5 Ne8 16.Qh5! d5 [16...f5 17.g4! Qf7 18.Qh3
fg4 19.Qg4 Kf8 20.0-0-0; 16...d6 17.ed6! see 16...d5; 16...f6 17.Bc3 d5 18.ed6 Nd6 see 16...d5]
17.g4?! [17.0-0-0? f5! 18.g4 Qf7 a) 19.Qg5 Qg6 20.Qh4 Qh6 21.Qg3 Rg8? 22.gf5 Kh8 23.f6!! Nf6 (23...
Rg3 24.hg3 and White is winning) 24.ef6! Rg3 25.hg3 Qf6 26.Rh7 Kg8 27.Rdh1 with the idea R1h6 and
White is winning; 21...Kf7! unclear; b) 19.Qh4 Rg8 20.Rdg1 Kh8 and Black is slightly better; 17.f5? ef5; 17.
ed6! Nd6 (17...Qd6 18.Bc3 f6 19.0-0-0 Qd5 20.Qg4 Kf8 21.Qh4 and White is winning) 18.Bc3 f6 (18...e5 19.
fe5 f6 20.0-0!) 19.g4!! (19.Qg5 Kf7 20.Qh5 Kg7) e5 (19...Nb5 20.Bb5 ab5 21.g5 e5 22.gf6 and White is
winning) 20.g5!! a) 20...ef4 21.Kd1 and White is winning; b) 20...fg5 21.fe5 (21.Rg1) Ne5 22.0-0! Bg4
(only move) 23.Qg4 and White is winning; c) 20...f5 21.Qh6 (21.fe5) Kg8 22.Rg1 and White is winning; d)
20...Nf7 21.0-0-0 (21.gf6 Qf6 22.fe5 Re8 23.Rg1 Kf8 24.0-0-0 Qh6 25.Qh6 Nh6 26.Rdf1 Nf7 27.Bh7 Be6 28.
Rf6 Ke7 29.Rg7 Rf8 30.h4 and White is superior) f5 (21...fg5 22.Rhg1 g4 23.Rdf1 with attack) 22.Rhg1 and
White is superior] Kg8! [17...b5 18.0-0-0 b4 19.f5!; 18...Kg8 see 17...Kg8; 17...Bd7!? 18.0-0-0 f6 19.Rde1
with compensation] 18.0-0-0 h6 [18...b5!? a) 19.Kb1!? b4 20.f5 f6 (20...ba3 21.f6 Qb7 22.b3 a2 23.Kb2
Qb6 24.Rhe1 and White is winning) 21.ef6 (21.g5 fe5 22.f6 Qf7 23.Qh6) Nf6 22.Qg5 Qg7 23.Qh4 h6 24.ab4
with compensation; b) 19.f5 Ne5 20.Bc3 Nd3 (20...d4 21.Bd4 Nd3 22.Rd3 e5 23.Re1 f6 24.g5 with attack)
21.Rd3 e5 22.Rd5 f6 23.Rhd1 Qf7 24.Qh6 with compensation] 19.Rde1 [19.Rhg1 Ng7 20.Qh3 Bd7 21.Rde1
f6 22.ef6 Qf6 23.Qg3 with compensation] Bd7 [19...b5 20.Rhg1! (20.Kb1?! b4 21.a4 b3; 20.f5 Ng7 21.Qh3
ef5 22.gf5 Ne5 23.Rhg1 f6 24.Bc3 Ra7 unclear) b4 21.a4 Ng7 (21...b3 22.g5 and White is superior) 22.Qh3
b3 23.f5 with attack] 20.Qh3 [20.Rhg1 Ng7 21.Qh3 f6 22.ef6 Qf6 23.Qg3 with compensation] Ng7 [20...
b5?! 21.f5! b4 22.f6 and White is superior (22.a4?! b3) ba3? 23.fe7 a2 24.Bh7 Rh7 25.Qa3 and White is
winning; 20...f6!? (E.Gleizerov) 21.Kb1 with compensation; 21.Qg3 with compensation] 21.Qg2 Rc8 [21...
f6 22.ef6 Qf6 23.h4 with compensation; 23.Rhf1 with compensation] 22.Kb1! [22.f5? ef5 23.gf5 Ne5] f5!?
[22...f6 23.ef6] 23.ef6 [23.gf5!? ef5 24.Rhg1 Be6 25.Qh3 Kh7 26.Rg4 with compensation] Qf6 24.h4?! [24.
Rhf1! and White is superior] h5! [24...Qf7 25.h5 Ne7; 25.Rhf1 with attack] 25.f5! [25.g5? Qf7 weak point
f5] hg4 [25...ef5 26.gf5 and White is winning] 26.Bg5 Qd4? [26...Qf7! a) 27.fe6 Be6 28.Rhf1 Qd7 29.Rf6
Re8 30.Bg6 Nd4 31.Be8 Ne8 32.Qf2 Nf6 33.Qf6 Qg7 (only move) a1) 34.Re6 Ne6 (34...Qf6 35.Rf6 g3 36.
Rg6 Kf7 37.Rf6 Ke8 38.c3 equal) 35.Qe6 Qf7 36.Qg4 Kh7 and Black is slightly better; a2) 34.Qf4 Rh5 35.
Bf6 Rf5 36.Qb8 Qf8 37.Qf8 Kf8 38.Bd4 Kf7 and Black is slightly better; b) 27.f6 Nh5! (27...Nf5 28.Qg4
Qh5 29.Qg2 and White is superior) 28.Qg4 e5 b1) 29.Bf5 Bf5 30.Qf5 Re8 (30...Rc7 31.Rhg1 Kf8 32.Re5
Ne5 33.Qe5 Qd7 34.Bd2) 31.Rhg1 Kf8 and Black is superior; b2) 29.Qg2 Kf8 (29...Rh7!?) 30.Rhg1 e4 31.
Qd2 Be6 unclear; b3) 29.Qg1 Kf8 30.Qc5; 29...Rh7! unclear] 27.f6! [27.fe6! a) 27...Be6 28.h5! Bf5 29.Bf5
Nf5 30.Rhf1 Rf8 31.Rf4 Qg7 32.Qg4 (32.Rg4 Kh7) Ncd4 33.c3 Qh7 34.Ka2 and White is winning; b) 27...
Ne6 28.Be3 Qg7 29.h5 with attack] Nf5! [27...Nh5 28.Be3! Qf6 (28...Qa4 29.b3) 29.Qg4 Qg7 (29...Ng7 30.
Ref1 Qe7 31.Bg5 and White is winning) 30.Qd1! and White is winning] 28.Rd1! time Qe5 time [28...Nd6 a)
29.Be3!? Qf6 30.Qg4 (E.Gleizerov) Kf7 (30...Qg7 31.Qf4 e5 32.Qh2 and White is winning) 31.Bg5 Qg7 32.
Qf4 Nf5 33.Bf5 ef5 34.Rd5 Kg8 35.Qd6 and White is winning; b) 29.Bh7 Rh7 30.Rd4 Nd4 31.Qg4 e5 32.
Qg3 b1) 32...Re8 33.Be3 Kh8 34.Bd4 Nf5 35.Be5!! (35.f7!! Ng3 36.Be5) Ng3 36.f7 Rg7 37.fe8Q Be8 38.
Bg7 Kg7 39.Rg1 and White is winning; b2) 32...Nf7 33.Be3 Kh8 34.Bd4 ed4 35.Qf4 and White is superior]
29.Bf5! [29.Qg4 Kf7 30.Rde1 Qd6 31.Bf4 Rcg8 32.Qf5 ef5 33.Bd6 Kf6 and White is slightly better] Qf5
[29...ef5 30.Rhe1 Qd6 31.Rd5 Qc7 32.Bf4! Qf4 33.Rd7 Rh4 (33...Qc4 34.Qd2) 34.Qd5 Kh8 35.Qf7 and
White is winning] 30.Rhf1 Qg6 31.f7 Kf8 [31...Kg7 32.Qg4 and White is winning] 32.Rf6 Qh7 33.Qd2!
Qe4 [33...Qh5 34.Rdf1 Kg7 35.f8Q Rcf8 36.Qf2 and White is winning; 33...Kg7 34.Rdf1 Rcf8 (34...Qh5 see
33...Qh5) 35.R6f2 Qh5 36.Bf6 Kh7 37.Qd3 Qg6 38.Qg3 e5 39.h5 Qe4 40.Bh8 Kh8 41.Qh4 and White is
winning] 34.Bh6 [better is 34.Rdf1! and White is winning] Ke7 35.Qg5 Kd6 36.f8Q Rcf8 37.Bf8 Kc7 38.
Bg7 Rg8 39.Rf4?? [39.Rg6 Kc8 (39...Be8 40.Be5) 40.Qg4 and White is winning] Qh7?? [39...Rg7! 40.Qg7
Qf4 41.h5 Ne5 (41...Qe5 42.Qe5 Ne5 43.h6 equal) 42.h6 Nf7 43.h7 equal] 40.Rg4 Kc8 41.h5 e5 42.Qg6 1-0
[Motylev]
5.Nepomniachtchi 2587 Vallejo Pons 2679

Moscow 2007 99/199 [C22]
1.e4 e5 2.d4?! ed4 3.Qd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd2 0-0 7.0-0-0 Re8 8.Qg3 Ne4 9.Ne4 Re4! 10.Bf4
Qf6 11.Nh3 d6 12.Bd3 Nd4! 13.Kb1 [13.Bg5 Qe6! 14.c3 Qa2 15.cd4 Rd4 16.Bh7 Kh7 17.Rd4 Qa1 18.Kc2
Bf5 19.Kb3 Be6 20.Kb4 Qb2 and Black is winning; 20.Kc2; 13.c3 Ne2 14.Be2 Re2 15.Rde1 Re1 16.Re1
Bh3 and Black is superior] Ne2 14.Qf3 [14.Be2 Re2 and Black is winning]
14...Ba3!! [a novelty; 14...Rf4?! 15.Nf4 Nf4 16.Qe4 and White is slightly better] 15.ba3?! [better is 15.Bc1
Qf3 16.gf3 and Black is superior] Nc3 (and Black is winning) 16.Kc1 Na2 17.Kb1 Nc3 18.Kc1 Bh3! 19.
Be4 Bg2!! 20.Qg2 [20.Bh7 Kh7 21.Qg2 Qf4 22.Kb2 Nd1 23.Rd1 Qe5 24.Kb3 Qb5 25.Kc3 Re8 and Black is
winning] Qf4 21.Kb2 Ne4 [21...Qe4?! 22.Qe4 Ne4 23.Rde1 and Black is superior] 22.Rd4 Qf6 [and Black
is winning; better is 22...d5!? 23.Rg1 Qf6 24.c3 and Black is winning] 23.Qe4 c5 24.Re1 h5! 25.Qf4 Qd4
[25...cd4 26.Qf6 gf6 27.Re4 and Black is superior] 26.Qd4 cd4 27.Re7 b6 28.a4 g5 29.Kb3 Kg7 30.Rc7
[30.Re4 Kf6] Re8 31.Ra7 Re2 32.Rb7 Rf2 33.Rb6 Rh2 34.a5 Re2 35.a6 [35.Rd6 Re8] Re8 36.a7 Ra8 01 [Vallejo Pons]
6.M.Carlsen 2690 Ivanchuk 2750

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.e4 Nc3 6.bc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 Na5 11.
Bd3 b6 12.Rc1 cd4 13.cd4 e6 14.Qd2 Bb7 15.h4 Qe7 16.h5 Rfc8
17.e5! [a novelty; 17.Bg5 see 37/525] Rc1? [17...Qd8 18.Bg5 a) 18...Qd5 19.f3 Nc4 (19...Qd7 20.Bf6 Rc1
21.Rc1 Rc8 22.Rc8 Qc8 23.Qg5 with attack) 20.Bc4 Rc4 21.Rc4 Qc4 22.Rc1 and White is slightly better; b)
18...Qd7 19.f3 (19.Bf6 Bf6 20.ef6 Qd5) Rc1 20.Rc1 Rc8 21.Rc8 Bc8 22.Qf4 Nc6! with counterplay, weak
point d4] 18.Rc1 Rc8?! [18...Qd7 19.Bg5 Rc8 20.Rc8 Qc8 21.Bf6 Nc6 22.Bg7 Kg7 23.Be4 Ne7 and White
is slightly better] 19.Rc8 Bc8 20.Bg5 Qc7? [20...Qd7! 21.Bf6 Nc6 22.Bg7 Kg7 23.Qf4 Qd8 and White is
slightly better] 21.Bf6 [21.Nc3 Bb7 22.Nb5 Qd7 23.Nd6 and White is superior] Nc6 [21...Bf6 22.ef6 Qd8 23.
Qg5 h6 (23...Nc6 24.hg6 fg6 25.Bg6!) 24.Qh6 Qf6 25.hg6 and White is winning; 21...Bf8 22.Qg5 with
attack] 22.Qg5 [22.Bg7 Kg7 23.h6 Kg8 24.Qc3 Bb7 25.Be4 Qd7 26.Qf3! and White is superior, zugzwang]
h6 [22...Nb4 23.Bg7 Kg7 24.Qf6 Kf8 25.Bg6! hg6 26.h6 and White is winning] 23.Qc1 g5 [23...Qd7 24.hg6
fg6 25.Nf4 Nd4 26.Ng6 Kf7 27.Ne7 and White is winning] 24.Bb5 Bd7 25.d5! ed5 26.Nd4 (and White is
winning) Bf6 27.ef6 Qd6 28.Bc6 Qf6 29.Bd7 Qd4 30.g3 Qc5 31.Qc5 bc5 32.Bc6 d4 33.Bb5 Kf8 34.f4 gf4
35.gf4 1-0 [Ivanchuk, Sulypa]
7.Kramnik 2766 Ivanchuk 2750

Monaco (rapid) 2007 99/10 [A17]
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bc3 6.Qc3 d6 7.b4 a5 8.Bb2 e5 9.g3 [9.e3 see 76/15] ab4 10.
ab4 Ra1 11.Ba1
11...b5!? [a novelty; 11...b6] 12.cb5 [12.Bg2 bc4 13.Qc4 Be6 14.Qc2 Na6 15.Bc3 Nd5 with initiative] Bd7
[12...Nd5 13.Qb3 Bb7 14.e4 Nf6 15.d3 Qd7 (15...d5 16.Be2 de4 17.de4 Ne4 18.0-0! and White is slightly
better) 16.Qc4 c6 17.bc6 Nc6 with compensation] 13.e3 [13.d4 e4 14.Nd2 a) 14...Bb5 15.d5 e3 (15...Re8 16.
Bg2 e3 17.fe3 Nbd7 18.0-0 Be2 19.Rc1 and White is slightly better) a1) 16.Qe3 Nd5 17.Qd4 Nf6 (17...Qf6
18.Qf6 Nf6 19.e4 Bf1 20.Kf1 Nc6 21.b5 Na7 22.b6 cb6 23.Bf6 gf6 24.Kg2 Rb8 25.Nc4 Nc8 26.Rb1 b5 27.
Kf3 equal) 18.Ne4 Nbd7 19.Bg2 Re8 20.0-0 Be2 21.Re1 (21.Rc1 with compensation) Ba6 22.h3 with
compensation; a2) 16.fe3 Nbd7 17.Bg2 Ne5 18.Nf3 Nd5 19.Qd4 Nf3 20.Bf3 Nf6 21.Kf2 and White is
slightly better; b) 14...d5 15.e3 Qc8 b1) 16.h3 Qb7 17.Qc5 c6 with counterplay; b2) 16.Qc5 Bh3 (16...Bg4
17.h3!) 17.Bh3 (17.Qa7 Bf1 18.Kf1 Qh3 19.Ke2) Qh3 18.Qc7 Rc8 (18...Ng4!?) 19.Qb7 Rc1 20.Ke2 Qg4 21.
f3 ef3 22.Nf3 Rc2 23.Kd1 Qf5 24.Ne1 Rc8 and Black is superior; b3) 16.Bb2!? Qb7! (16...Bh3 17.Bh3 Qh3
18.Qc7 Qg2 19.Rf1 Ng4 20.Ke2 Nh2 21.Rc1 Ng4 22.Qf4 f5 23.Rf1 and White is slightly better) 17.Qc5 c6 18.
b6 Bf5 with counterplay] Qc8 14.Be2 Qb7 15.d3 [15.0-0? Bg4 16.Kg2 Ne4 with attack] Bb5 16.0-0 Nc6 17.
Rb1? [17.Nd2 Ne7 18.Rc1 Ra8 19.Bf3 Nfd5 20.Qb3 Ba4 21.Qc4 Ra6 22.d4 Rc6 23.Qf1 Rc1 24.Qc1 ed4 25.
Bd4 Qb4 and Black is slightly better] Qa6! 18.Qb3 [18.Bb2 Nd5 19.Qd2 Ndb4 20.Ra1 Qb7 21.Ne1 Ra8 and
Black is superior; 18.Nd2 Nd5 19.Qb3 Ndb4 and Black is superior] Ra8 (and Black is superior) 19.Nd2 Qa2
20.Bc3 Qb3 21.Rb3 Ra2 22.Bf1? [22.Rb2 Rb2 23.Bb2 Nb4 and Black is superior] Nd5 23.Bg2 Nce7 24.
Bb2 Ba4 25.Ra3 Rb2 26.Ra4 Nb6 (and Black is winning) 27.Ra7 Rd2 28.Rc7 Kf8 29.Rb7 Rd1 30.Bf1
Nec8 31.b5 Ra1 32.Rc7 g6 33.h4 Rb1 34.d4 ed4 35.ed4 Ne7 36.Kg2 h5 37.Rb7 Nbd5 38.Rb8 Kg7 39.
Rd8 Rb2 40.Kg1 Nf5 41.Bc4 Rb1 42.Kh2 Nf6 43.f3 Rb2 44.Kh3 Nd4 0-1 [Ivanchuk]
8.Ivanchuk 2750 Aronian 2744

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.cd5 ed5 7.Qc2 c5 8.a3 Bc3 9.Qc3 h6 10.Bf6 Qf6 11.
e3 0-0 12.Be2 b6 13.0-0 Bb7
14.Rfc1! [a novelty; with the idea dc5, b4, with initiative, file a; 14.b3 see 79/392] Rac8 [14...c4 15.b3 b5
16.a4 with initiative (file a) a6 17.Ne5 and White is slightly better] 15.dc5 Qc3 [15...bc5 16.Qf6 (16.Bb5!?)
Nf6 17.b4 c4 18.Nd4 and White is slightly better] 16.Rc3 Rc5 17.Rcc1! [17.Rac1 Rfc8 18.Rc5 Rc5 19.Rc5
bc5 equal] Rfc8 18.Rd1 (and White is slightly better) Rc2 [18...Kf8 19.Nd4 Ne5 20.Kf1 and White is
slightly better; 18...Nf8 19.Nd4 Ne6 20.Bg4 and White is slightly better] 19.Bb5 Nf8 [19...Nc5 20.Rab1 Ne4
21.Bd3 R2c5 22.Nd4 and White is slightly better] 20.Rab1 R2c7 21.Ba4! [with the idea Bb3 with attack,
weak point d5] Ne6 22.Bb3 Kf8 23.h3 [23.Bd5 Bd5 24.Rd5 Rc1 25.Rd1 Rd1 26.Rd1 Rc2 27.Rb1 Ke7 with
compensation] Rc5 24.Kh2 Ke7 25.Rd2 Rb5 [25...f5!? 26.Kg3 g5 27.Nd4 Kf6 28.h4 and White is slightly
better] 26.Ba2 Rbc5 27.Ne1! a5 28.Rbd1 Rd8 [28...Rb5 29.Nd3 Nc5 30.Nf4 Ne4 31.Nd5 Bd5 32.Rd5 Rb2
33.Rd7 Kf6 34.Rf7 Kg6 and White is slightly better; 29.e4!] 29.Kg3 Rb5? [29...g5] 30.f3! Rc8 [30...Kf6 31.
e4! d4 (31...g5 32.ed5 Nf4 33.d6 and White is superior) 32.Bc4 Rg5 33.Kf2 and White is superior] 31.Nd3
[31.e4 Nc5 32.ed5 Kd6 33.Bc4 Ne4 34.fe4 Rc4 35.e5 Kd7 and White is superior] d4 [31...Nc5 32.Nf4 and
White is superior; 31...a4 32.Nb4 Nc7 33.Rc1 Rc5 34.Rc5 bc5 35.Nd5 Bd5 36.Bd5 Nd5 37.Rd5 and White
is superior; 33.e4 and White is superior] 32.Be6 Ke6 [better is 32...fe6 33.ed4 Rg5 34.Kf2 Rd5 35.Ne5 Rdd8
and White is superior] 33.Nf4 Ke7 34.Rd4 Rc7 35.R1d2 Rbc5 36.e4 Rc4 [36...Rc2!?] 37.Rd6 R4c6 38.e5!
Rc2 [38...Rc5 39.e6! fe6 40.Re6 Kf7 41.Rb6 and White is winning] 39.Rc2 Rc2 40.Rb6 (and White is
winning) Bc6 41.b4 g5 42.Nh5 ab4 43.ab4 Bd5 44.Ng7 Re2 45.Nf5 Ke8 46.Nh6 Be6 47.Rb5 Rb2 48.Rb8
Kd7 49.Rg8 1-0 [Ivanchuk]
9.Werle 2556 Naiditsch 2654

Dresden 2007 99/361 [E14]
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.d4 e6 6.e3 cd4 7.ed4 Be7 8.Bd3 b6 9.0-0 Bb7 10.Ne5 0-0 11.Qh5
g6 12.Qh3 Nc6 13.Bh6
13...Nd4! [a novelty; 13...Re8] 14.Bf8 Bf8 15.Nd5 [15.Rad1 Nf4 16.Qg3 Bh6 17.f3 Nd3 18.Nd3 (18.Rd3
Ba6 and Black is winning) Nf5 19.Qh3 Be3 20.Kh1 (20.Nf2?! Qc7 21.Nce4 Kg7 22.b3 Rc8 and Black is
superior) Qe7 21.Rfe1 Rd8] Qd5 16.Rfe1 Bb4! 17.Be4 [17.Re3 Rf8 (17...Rd8? 18.Nf7 and White is
superior) 18.Bc4 Qc5 19.Rd1 Nf5 20.Re2 Nd4 21.Re3 equal] Qe5 18.Bb7 Be1 19.Ba8 Ne2! 20.Kh1 [20.
Kf1 Qb5 a) 21.Ke1 Nd4 22.Qg4 (22.Kd2 Qb2 23.Kd3 Qa1 and Black is winning) Qb2 23.Rd1 (23.Qd1 Nc2
and Black is winning) Qb4 24.Kf1 Qc4 25.Kg1 Ne2 and Black is winning; b) 21.Qg4 Nd4 22.Kg1 Bf2 23.
Kh1 Qb2 and Black is superior] Bf2 21.Rf1?! [21.Qf3 Bh4 22.g3 a) 22...Bg3 23.hg3 Ng3 24.Kg1 Ne2 25.
Kg2! (25.Kf2? Qb2 and Black is superior; 25.Kf1 Ng3 26.Kg1 equal) Qb2 26.Re1 Nf4 27.Kh1 g5; b) 22...
Bf6 23.Re1 Nd4 24.Re5 Nf3 25.Re3 Nd4 equal] Bg3!! 22.Bf3 [22.hg3?? Ng3 23.Kg1 Qd4 24.Rf2 Ne2 25.
Kf1 Qd1 mate] Bh2 23.Be2 Qe2 24.Qf3 Qf3 25.Rf3 Bd6 (and Black is superior) 26.Kg1 [26.Rd3 Bc5 27.g4
Kg7 28.Kg2 a5 and Black is superior] Bc5 27.Kf1 h5 28.Ke2 Kg7 29.Kd3 f5 30.Kc4 a5 31.a3 g5 32.b4
ab4 33.ab4 g4 (and Black is winning) 34.Rf1 Be7 35.Kb5 h4 36.Rb1 f4 37.Kb6 f3 38.gf3 g3 39.Kc6 g2 40.
b5 Bd8 0-1 [Naiditsch]
10.Th.Luther 2580 And.Sokolov 2585

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Qd2 Be7 8.f3 0-0 9.g4 a6 10.0-0-0 Nd7 11.h4
Nde5 12.Qg2 Qc7
13.Nf5! [a novelty; 13.g5 see 52/216] b5 [13...ef5 14.gf5 (14.Nd5 Qa5 15.gf5 Qa2 16.f6 Bf6 17.Nf6 Kh8 and
Black is superior) Kh8 15.Nd5 with compensation] 14.f4 Nc4 [14...b4 15.fe5 bc3 16.ed6 Qb7 17.Ne7 Ne7
18.b3 and White is superior] 15.Bc4 bc4 16.Ne7 Ne7 [16...Qe7 17.Qe2 and White is superior] 17.f5! [17.
Kb1 Rb8 18.Ka1 d5!] Rb8 18.f6 Nc6 [18...gf6? 19.Bh6 Qb7 20.Qf1 and White is winning] 19.fg7 [19.Qd2
Qb7 20.Bb6 gf6 with counterplay] Rd8 20.g5 [20.Kb1 Qa5 21.Qd2 (21.Ka1 Rb2!) Qa3 22.b3 cb3 23.ab3
Ne5 with counterplay] Qb7 21.Na4 [21.g6!? fg6 22.Na4! (22.h5 Qb2 23.Kd2 d5 24.hg6 h5 25.ed5 Nb4 with
attack) Nb4 23.h5 (23.Nb6 e5 24.h5 Bf5 with counterplay) Na2 24.Kd2 (24.Kb1? Nc3!) Qb4 25.Ke2 (25.c3?
Qb2!) Qa4 26.hg6 h6 27.Qf3 Rb7 28.Bh6 and White is winning] Ne5 [21...c3 22.g6 cb2 23.Kb1 fg6 24.h5
Ne5 25.hg6 Ng6 26.Rh7 Kh7 27.Rh1 Kg8 28.Qg6 Qg7 29.Qh5 and White is superior; 21...Nb4 22.g6!] 22.
Nb6?! [22.g6? Ng6; 22.Bd4!? Bd7 (22...Qb5 23.Nc3 Qb2 24.Kd2 Bd7 25.h5 and White is superior) 23.
Nc5!] Qc6?! [22...Qc7] 23.Nc8?! [23.Bd4! c3 (23...Ng6 24.h5 Nf4 25.Qf3 e5 26.Nc8 Rdc8 27.Bc3 and
White is superior) 24.Be5 cb2 25.Kb1 Qb6 26.g6 with attack] Rdc8 24.Bd4 [24.Kb1 a5 25.h5 c3 26.b3 a4
27.Rd4 (27.g6 ab3 28.gh7 Kh7 29.ab3 Rb3 30.cb3 c2 31.Kc1 cd1Q 32.Kd1 Qc3 and Black is winning) ab3
28.ab3 Ra8 29.g6 Qc5! and Black is winning] Nd3! 25.cd3? [25.Kd2 Nb2 26.Bc3! (26.g6 c3 27.Ke1 fg6 28.
h5 g5 and Black is winning) Na4 (26...Nd1 27.Rd1 e5 28.h5 with compensation) 27.Rh3 Nc3 28.Rc3 and
Black is slightly better] cd3 26.Bc3 [26.Kb1 Qc2] Qc3 27.bc3 Rc3 28.Kd2 Rc2 29.Kd3 Rg2 30.Rb1 [30.
Ke3 Ra2 31.Rd6 Rb3 32.Kf4 Kg7 and Black is winning] Rb1 31.Rb1 Ra2 32.h5 Kg7 33.h6 [33.Rb8 h6 34.
gh6 Kh6 35.Rb7 Kg7 36.h6 Kg6 37.h7 Rh2 38.Ra7 Kf6 and Black is winning] Kg6 34.Rf1 Ra3 35.Ke2
Ra2 36.Ke3 Ra3 37.Ke2 e5 38.Rf5 Rg3 39.Rf6 Kg5 40.Rd6 f6 41.Ra6 Rh3 42.Ra7 Rh6 43.Kf3 Rh3 44.
Kg2 Re3 45.Ra4 Kf4 46.Ra6 Rg3 47.Kf2 Rg6 0-1 [And.Sokolov]

The First Hundred Informants

Aleksandar Matanovic
Forty-two years ago an idea was born:
To select the most distinguished chess games from all major events;
To establish a chess language an international code akin to those used in mathematics and
music, equally understandable to chessplayers all over the globe;
To substitute traditional opening names with a classification of chess openings based on
evaluation of all the available hitherto played games.
Having delved into an adventure that has spanned more than four decades, little did we know that we were
trailblazing a path towards an era yet to come the information era. With no support from our chess
organization or any financial backup (in spite of the fact that Belgrade was a true chess center at the time),
and led only by our firm belief that we were doing the right thing, our enthusiasm gave birth to the first
volume of Chess Informant in 1966.
Chessplayers all over the world would finally have access to information they needed. The Chess Bible
kept spreading the word to the disciples the Chess Informant generation: we have a language of our own
Gens una sumus!
The statistics speak volumes about the energy and knowledge found between the covers of one hundred
Informants. We have published a total of 101,033 games, along with a selection of 3,128 combinations,
2,503 endings and 108 studies. Viktor Korchnoi has had the most games appear in Chess Informants an
awe inspiring total of 1,709, closely followed by Jan Timmans 1,703 over-the-board battles. The longest
game to appear was Van der Wiel Fedorowitz, Graz 1981 it took 143 moves to determine the outcome!
Among the openings, we also have a record: there were 1,498 ECO B33 games (the Lasker-Pelikan Sicilian,
Sveshnikov variation). World Champions, both men and women, from Max Euwe to Viswanathan Anand,
appear in exactly 10,639 games, heading an impressive list of more than 3,000 different contributors.
We had thus created a foundation that led to many more publications:

The Complete
DGT Product Line
Five volumes of Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings;

Five volumes of Encyclopaedia of Chess Endings;
Anthology of Chess Combinations;
Small Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings;
1,234 Chess Problems;
Monographs of Chess Openings, etc.
From all the games ever published in Chess Informant, the Editorial Board and a jury of leading
grandmasters chose the ten best games from each volume, and among them a golden winner for each
volume. These 1,000 games (100 of them are golden) have been compiled in a book that will soon be
available. They represent the hallmark of an era heralding some of the greatest achievements in chess, and
the crowning of the creative efforts of thousands of chessplayers.
All that we have achieved, we have done together!
Here are some statistics that may be of interest to our readers:
In the 100 volumes of Chess Informant 101,033 games were published, 63,667 main games, 37,366
additional games, 3,128 combinations, 2,503 endings and 108 studies.
The largest number of games in a single volume was published in Volume 46 (834 main games and 853
additional games).
The number of published games in a five-year period each:
1966-1970
7,111
1971-1975
7,280
1976-1980
8,778
1981-1985
12,176
1986-1990
14,394
1991-1995
15,908
1996-2000
15,955
2001-2005
15,231
2006-2007
4,200
Of 101,033 published games, 66,858 are complete games. The following results were achieved in these
games:
White wins
30,017
Draw
21,146
Black wins
15,695
The number of complete games according to the number of moves is:

1-10
28
11- 20
3,607
21- 30
14,007
31- 40
21,127
41- 50
16,053
51- 60
7,099
61- 70
3,188
71- 80
1,141
81- 90
385
91-100
127
101-110
56
111-120
31
121-130
131-140
141-150
The shortest game, which ended in a draw on the 7th move, is Rublevsky Dreev, Elista (m/2) 1998, 72/
(133). The shortest decided game is Neelakantan Nagendra, India 1988, 47/(217), won by White in 9
moves. The longest game, which ended in a draw after 143 moves, is Van der Wiel Fedorowicz, Graz
1981, 32/264.
The following first moves were played in the complete games:
1-0
0-1
1.e4
30,699
13,950
9,281
7,468
1.d4
24,694
10,928
8,229
5,537
1.c4
5,695
2,607
1,784
1,304
1.Nf3
5,274
2,314
1,750
1,210
320
144
73
103
1.g3
1.b3
97
46
11
40
1.f4
43
14
20
1.c3
22
10
1.b4
1.d3
1.g4
Total
66,858
30,017
21,146
15,695
The number of games according to the main classification codes of Openings:

A
15,655
32,267
16,082
17,646
19,383
Of the 500 codes comprised in the Classification of Openings, the largest number of games was played in
the following codes:
B 33
1,498
E 12
1,421
D 85
1,256
E 15
1,239
B 22
1,169
E 97
1,059
A 30
1,008
C 42
1919
B 07
1862
About 11,000 chess players have had their games published in Chess Informant.
Players who have had more than 640 published games: Korchnoi (1,709 games), Timman (1,703), Beliavsky
(1,620), Karpov (1,611), Kasparov (1,193), Portisch (1,184), Shirov (1,151), M. Gurevich (1,087), Anand
(1,052), Ivanchuk (1,047), Gelfand (1,007), Miles (999), Ljubojevic (990), Iv. Sokolov (985), Short (967),
Tal (963), Adams (937), Polugaevsky (887), Larsen (887), Jussupow (879), Kramnik (876), Tukmakov
(860), Romanishin (850), Hort (831), Van Wely (829), Gligoric (828), Hbner (802), Andersson (795), Piket
(779), Vaganian (777), Spassky (760), Sax (760), Bareev (751), Leko (739), Gulko (732), Lautier (719), Van
der Wiel (701), Ftacnik (693), Geller (687), Topalov (676), Nunn (671), Nikolic (665), Uhlmann (663),
Khalifman (645), Psakhis (641).
The number of published games of World Champions: Euwe (2 games), Botvinnik (72), Smyslov (604), Tal
(963), Petrosian (531), Spassky (760), Fischer (221), Karpov (1,611), Kasparov (1,193), Kramnik (876),
Khalifman (645), Anand (1052), Ponomariov (308), Kasimdzhanov (256), Topalov (676), Gaprindashvili
(185), Chiburdanidze (262), Xie Jun (146), Zsuzsa Polgar (201), Zhu Chen (33), Stefanova (37), Xu Yuhua
(5).
Over 3,000 chess players annotated the published games. The number of games annotated by World
Champions: Euwe (1), Botvinnik (29), Smyslov (128), Tal (367), Petrosian (509), Spassky (17), Fischer
(10), Karpov (579), Kasparov (620), Kramnik (409), Khalifman (209), Anand (456), Ponomariov (136),
Kasimdzhanov (117), Topalov (55), Gaprindashvili (61), Chiburdanidze (127), Xie Jun (29), Zsuzsa Polgar
(99), Zhu Chen (7), Stefanova (2).
From the book 1,000 Best Games 100 Golden Games that will be available at the beginning of next year
we have selected five golden games. The games of Korchnoi, who has the greatest number of published
games in all hundred volumes, as well as three ex-world champions Kasparov, Karpov, Kramnik and the
current world champion Anand.
Korchnoi 2645 Spassky 2610

Beograd (m/7) 1977 24/535 [D58]
1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 0-0 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 b6 8.Rc1 Bb7 9.Bf6 Bf6 10.cd5 ed5 11.b4
[a novelty] c6 [11...c5!?; 11...Re8] 12.Be2 Nd7 13.0-0 a5 14.b5 c5 (equal) 15.dc5 [15.Re1!? with the idea
15...c4 16.Nd2 with the idea Bf3] Nc5 16.Nd4 Qd6 17.Bg4!? Rfd8 18.Re1 Ne6 19.Be6!? fe6 20.Nc6!
(unclear) Bc6 [20...Rd7 21.e4!] 21.bc6 Bc3 [21...Qb4!? 22.a3! Qa3 23.c7 Rdc8 24.Nb5 with compensation]
22.Rc3 Rac8 23.Qc2 e5!? 24.c7 Rd7 25.Rc1 d4 26.Rc6 Qd5 27.Qb1!! d3 28.Qb6 d2 29.Rd1 Qa2 [29...
Qd3 30.Qa6!]
30.h3!! and White is winning [30.Qb7 Qa4!! (30...Qa1? 31.Qc8 Kh7 32.Rh6! Kh6 33.Qh8 Kg6 34.Qe8 Kh6
35.Qe6 Kh7 36.Qh3 Kg6 37.Qg4 Kh7 38.Ra1 and White is winning) 31.Qc8 Kh7 32.Qg8 (32.Rh6 gh6 and
Black is winning) Kg8 33.c8Q Kh7 34.Rc2 Qa1! and Black is winning] Qa4 31.Rd2! Rd2 32.Qb7 [32.
Qb8!? Rb8 33.cb8Q Kh7 34.Rc8] Rdd8 33.cd8Q Rd8 34.Rc7 Qa1 35.Kh2 e4 36.Qe4 Qf6 37.f4 Qf8 38.
Ra7 Qc5 39.Qb7 Qc3 40.Qe7 Rf8 41.e4 Qd4 42.f5 h5 43.Ra5 Qd2 44.Qe5 Qg5 45.Ra6 Rf7 46.Rg6 Qd8
47.f6 h4 48.fg7 1-0 [Stean]

Moscow (m/16) 1985 40/202 [B44]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Nf6 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 d5 9.cd5 [9.ed5 ed5 10.Nd5 Nd5
11.cd5 (11.Qd5? Bb4 12.Bd2 Qe7 13.Be2 Bg4) Bb4 12.Bd2 Qd5 equal] ed5 10.ed5 Nb4 11.Be2!? [a
novelty; 11.Bg5 Nbd5 12.Nd5 Qd5 13.Bf6 (13.Qd5 Nd5 14.0-0-0 Be6 15.Bc4 Nc7! equal) Qd1 14.Rd1 gf6
equal] Bc5! [11...Nbd5 12.0-0 Be7 (12...Ba3? 13.Qa4) 13.Nd5 Nd5 14.Bf3 Be6 15.Nc2 and White is
slightly better] 12.0-0 0-0 13.Bf3 [13.Bg5 Nbd5 14.Nd5 Qd5 15.Bf6 Qd1 equal] Bf5 [weak point Na3] 14.
Bg5 [14.Be3 Be3 15.fe3 Qb6 with counterplay] Re8! [14...b5? 15.Be4!] 15.Qd2 [15.Nc4 Bd3 16.a3 Bc4
(16...Bf1? 17.ab4 Bc4 18.bc5 and White is superior) 17.ab4 Bb4 18.Re1 unclear] b5 16.Rad1 [16.Qf4 Bg6
17.Bf6 Qf6 18.Qf6 gf6 equal] Nd3! 17.Nab1? [17.Be2? Nf2 18.Rf2 b4; 17.d6! Qd6!? (17...b4? 18.Ba8 Qa8
19.Na4 ba3 20.Bf6 gf6 21.Nc5 Nc5 22.Qd5 and White is superior; 17...Ra7 18.Nd5) 18.Ba8 Ra8 with
compensation] h6! 18.Bh4 b4! 19.Na4 [19.Ne2 g5! 20.Bg5 Nf2 and Black is superior] Bd6 20.Bg3 [20.
Qc2? Rc8 21.Qb3 Nf4 22.Rc1 Rc1 23.Rc1 g5 24.Bg3 g4 and Black is winning] Rc8 [20...Ne4?! 21.Be4 Be4
22.Qe3! unclear; 20...Bg3!? 21.fg3 (with the idea Be2; 21.hg3 Qa5 22.b3 Rad8) Qd7! 22.b3 (22.Be2? Qa7)
Nd5 23.Nb2 Qa7 24.Kh1 Nb2 (24...Rad8? 25.Bd5 Rd5 26.Rf5!) 25.Qb2 (25.Bd5? Nd1 26.Rf5 Rad8! 27.Qd1
Qd7) Ne3 26.Ba8 Nd1 27.Rd1 Qa8 and Black is superior] 21.b3 [with the idea Nb2]
21...g5!! 22.Bd6 [22.Nb2? Nb2 23.Qb2 g4; 22.Be2? Ne4; 22.h4 Ne4 (22...g4? 23.Be2 Ne4 24.Qh6 unclear;
22...Nf4!?) 23.Be4 Be4 24.hg5 (24.Bd6 Qd6 25.hg5 Nf4!; 24.Qe3 Bf4! 25.Qd4 gh4) Bg3 25.fg3 Qd5 26.gh6
(26.Qe3? Bg2) Rc6! with attack] Qd6 23.g3 [23.Be2 Nf4 24.Bc4 Ng4 25.g3 Rc4! 26.bc4 Re2 27.c5 (27.Qd4
Be4) Qg6 28.gf4 Qh5 and Black is winning] Nd7! 24.Bg2 [24.Nb2 Qf6!! a) 25.Nd3 Bd3 26.Bg4 (26.Qd3
Ne5 and Black is winning) Ne5 27.f4 Ng4 28.Qd3 Qb6 and Black is winning; b) 25.Nc4 N7e5 26.Ne5 (26.
Be2 Bh3) Ne5 27.Bg2 (27.Be2 Bd3! and Black is winning) Bd3 28.f4 (28.Rfe1 Nf3) Rc2 29.Qe3 Bf1 30.Rf1
gf4 and Black is winning] Qf6! 25.a3 a5 26.ab4 ab4 27.Qa2 Bg6 28.d6 [28.Nd2 Re2 and Black is winning;
28.Bh3 Rcd8 with the idea N7e5 and Black is winning] g4! [28...Qd6? 29.Nd2] 29.Qd2 Kg7 30.f3 [30.f4
Bf5!] Qd6 31.fg4 Qd4 32.Kh1 Nf6 33.Rf4 [33.h3 Re3! (33...Ne4? 34.Qd3 Nf2 35.Rf2 Bd3 36.Rfd2) 34.Rf4
Qe5 and Black is winning] Ne4 34.Qd3 Nf2 35.Rf2 Bd3 36.Rfd2 Qe3! 37.Rd3 Rc1!! 38.Nb2 Qf2! 39.Nd2
Rd1 [39...Re2!] 40.Nd1 Re1 0-1 [Kasparov]
Karpov 2740 Topalov 2640

Linares 1994 60/40 [A33]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3 cd4 4.Nd4 e6 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 Bc5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Nc3 0-0 9.0-0 d6 10.Bf4 [10.Bg5]
Nh5 [10...Na5 11.Na5 Qa5 12.Bd6! Rd8 13.Be7 and White is superior] 11.e3! [a novelty; 11.Qd2 Nf4 12.
gf4 and White is slightly better; 12.Qf4 and White is slightly better; 11.Be3 see 35/57] Nf4 12.ef4 Bd7 13.
Qd2 Qb8 14.Rfe1! [with the idea f5] g6 15.h4 [15.Rad1 Rd8 16.Ne4 Be8 17.Qc3 b5 with counterplay; 16.
h4!?] a6 [15...h5 16.Rad1 Rd8 17.f5 gf5 18.Qh6 and White is superior] 16.h5 [16.Nd5 ed5! 17.cd5 Bf6! and
White is slightly better] b5 [16...Ra7 17.h6 b5 18.Nd4 and White is superior] 17.hg6 hg6 18.Nc5! dc5 [18...
Be8 19.Ne6!? (19.Na6 Ra6 20.cb5 Rb6 21.bc6 and White is superior) fe6 20.Re6 Rf6 21.Rae1 Re6 22.Re6
Bf7 23.Qe3 Qc8 24.Bc6 and White is winning] 19.Qd7 Rc8
20.Re6! [and White is superior, with initiative; 20.Bc6 Ra7 21.Qd3 Rc6 22.cb5 c4 23.Qf3 Rc8 with
compensation] Ra7 21.Rg6 fg6 [21...Kf8 22.Qh3 fg6 23.Qh8 Kf7 24.Bd5 mate; 21...Kh7 22.Qh3 Kg6 23.
Be4 Kg7 24.Qh7 and White is winning] 22.Qe6 Kg7 23.Bc6 Rd8 24.cb5 Bf6 (only move) 25.Ne4 Bd4 26.
ba6 [26.Qg4 ab5 27.f5 Rd6 28.Nd6 Qd6 29.Bb5 Rf7; 26.Kg2 ab5 27.Rh1 Rh8 28.Rh8 Qh8 29.Be8 and
White is winning; 26.f5 gf5 27.Qf5 and White is winning] Qb6 27.Rd1 Qa6 28.Rd4 Rd4 29.Qf6 Kg8 30.
Qg6 Kf8 31.Qe8 Kg7 32.Qe5 [32.Nc5 Rd1 33.Kh2 Qf1 34.Qe5 Kh6 35.Qg5 Kh7 36.Be4 Kh8 37.Qh5 Kg7
38.Qe5 and White is winning] Kg8 33.Nf6 Kf7 34.Be8 Kf8 35.Qc5 Qd6 36.Qa7 Qf6 [36...Rd1 37.Kg2 Rg1
38.Kh3 (38.Kg1?? Qd1 39.Kg2 Qh1 equal) Rh1 39.Kg4 and White is winning] 37.Bh5 Rd2 38.b3 Rb2 39.
Kg2 1-0 [Karpov]
Kramnik 2729 Bruzon 2652

Torino (ol) 2006 97/326 [D52]
1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 Qa5 7.cd5 Nd5 8.Qd2 Bb4 9.Rc1 h6 10.Bh4 0-0 11.
a3 Bc3 12.bc3 Qa3 13.e4 [13.Bd3!?] Ne7 14.Bd3 Ng6 15.Bg3 e5 16.0-0 [a novelty; 16.h4 see 87/400] Re8
17.Rfe1 [17.h4?! ed4 18.cd4 Nf6 unclear] Qa5 [17...a5 18.h4 ed4 19.cd4 Nf6 20.Ra1 and White is superior;
17...Qe7] 18.Qb2 Qd8 19.Bb1! a5 [19...Qf6 20.Qd2! (20.Ba2 Nf4! 21.Qd2 g5 unclear) a5 21.h4] 20.Rcd1
a4 21.Ba2 Qe7 [better is 21...Qa5] 22.Qc1 Ra5 [22...b5 23.h4 ed4 24.Nd4!] 23.Qd2! [with the idea c4] ed4
[23...b6 24.h4 a) 24...ed4 25.Nd4 a1) 25...Nge5 26.Nf5 Qc5 27.Nd6 Rf8 (27...Rd8 28.Bf4 and White is
superior) 28.Bf4 and White is superior; a2) 25...Qc5 26.Nf5 Nde5 (26...Nge5 see 25...Nge5) 27.Nd6 and
White is superior; b) 24...h5 25.Ng5 Rf8 26.de5 Nde5 27.f4 and White is superior; c) 24...Nf6 25.Ne5 Ne5
26.Be5 Re5 27.de5 Qe5 and White is slightly better; better is 23...Ra6 and White is slightly better] 24.Nd4
(and White is superior) Qc5 [24...Nde5 25.f4 and White is superior; 24...Qg5 25.f4 Qc5 26.Bf2 Qf8 27.Nf5
and White is superior] 25.Bc7 [25.Nf5 Nde5 26.Nd6 Rd8 unclear] Ra8 [25...Ndf8 (only move) 26.Ba5 Qa5
27.f4 and White is superior]
26.Bf7!! Kf7 27.Qa2 Kf8 [27...Kf6 28.Bd8!! a) 28...Ke5 29.Nf3 (29.Qf7 and White is winning) Kf4 30.Qd2
Kg4 31.h3 Kh5 32.g4 mate; b) 28...Ne7 29.Qe6 Kg5 30.Nf3 Kf4 31.g3 Kf3 32.Rd3 Qe3 33.Rde3 mate; c)
28...Rd8 29.Qe6 Kg5 30.Nf3 Kf4 31.g3 Kf3 32.Rd3 Qe3 33.Rde3 mate; 27...Ke7 28.Qe6 Kf8 29.Bd6 and
White is winning] 28.Ne6 Re6 29.Qe6 Ne7 [29...Qg5 30.Rd7 (30.Re3 and White is winning) Bd7 31.Bd6
Ne7 32.Qd7 and White is winning] 30.Re3 Ke8 31.Rf3 Qh5 32.Bd6 1-0 [Kramnik]

Biel 1997 70/89 [B01]
1.e4 d5 2.ed5 Qd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c6 [5...Nc6 see 70/(89)] 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.Ne5 e6 8.g4 Bg6 9.h4
Nbd7 10.Nd7 Nd7 11.h5 Be4 12.Rh3 Bg2 13.Re3 Nb6 [13...b5 14.Bd3 b4 15.Ne4 and White is slightly
better] 14.Bd3 [14.Bb3?! c5!] Nd5 15.f3! [a novelty; 15.Rg3?! see 67/124] Bb4 [15...Nc3 16.bc3 Qc3 17.
Bd2 Qd4 18.Kf2 Bf3 19.Kf3 Bc5 20.Kg2 and White is slightly better] 16.Kf2! Bc3 [16...Nc3 17.bc3 Bc3 18.
Rb1 Bd4 19.Kg2 Be3 20.Be3 and White is superior] 17.bc3 Qc3 18.Rb1 Qd4 [18...Bf3 19.Qf3 Qd4 20.Rb7
and White is superior] 19.Rb7 Rd8 [19...Bh3 20.Rf7! c5 21.Rf5!! (J.Lautier) Ne3 22.Be3 Qb2 23.Rc5 0-0
24.Kg3! and White is winning; 19...Nf4 20.Kg3 (20.Qe1 Qf6 21.Kg3 and White is superior; 20.Be2 and
White is superior) Qd6 21.Ba3! Nh5 (21...Qa3 22.Be4! and White is winning) 22.Kg2 Qg3 23.Kf1 and
White is winning]
20.h6!! gh6? [20...Ne3 (only move) 21.Be3 Qe5 22.hg7 Rg8 23.Qc1 (23.Bh6 Qh2!; 23.Qg1 Bf3 24.Kf3 and
White is superior) Bf3 (23...Qh2 24.Bf4 Qh3 25.Qa3! and White is winning) 24.Qa3 Qh2 25.Kf3 Qh3 26.
Ke2 Qg4 27.Kd2 Qh4 28.Qc3 c5 29.Ra7 and White is superior] 21.Bg6!! Ne7 [21...Qe3 22.Be3 fg6 23.Bc5
and White is winning; 21...Qf6 22.Bf7 Qf7 23.Rf7 Ne3 24.Qd8! (24.Qe2 Nd1 25.Kg2 Kf7 and White is
slightly better) Kd8 25.Be3 Bh3 26.Ra7 and White is winning] 22.Qd4 Rd4 23.Rd3! Rd8 24.Rd8 Kd8 25.
Bd3! [25...Bh1 26.Bb2 Re8 27.Bf6 and White is winning] 1-0 [Anand]

The Best of Chess Informant - Viswanathan Anand

Zdenko Krnic
In the 1980s in India, chess information was very difficult to come by. You had to wait for a month or sometimes
two before you could get the Chess Informants. If I was at an international event sometimes we used to wait in line
just to look at the latest games or read the latest informant.
My parents were aware of that. My mother travelled with me to Thessaloniki in 1984.This was the first time I was
to play on the Indian team. When we saw that I would share the hall with other great legends, my mother was
extremely proud that I was to play there. I casually mentioned to her that I would never even dream that my games
could be published in the Informant. She chased Milutin and persevered until he agreed to have a game of that
Indian boy who played fast. If I am not mistaken they carried a game of mine from Thessaloniki. The first game I
did for them was with Deen Hergott.
This was the first game I analysed for Chess Informant. Over the years I have used Chess Informant for the quality
of the analysis and reference material like ECOs and ECEs. When I played in the World Junior in Kiljava 1984,
there was a big queue outside the door of Mark Condie because he had a copy of the latest Informant 36! I
remembered seeing the game Tukmakov - Dreev there before giving it to the next boy in the queue. This was game
36/449. Viswanathan Anand
This is how the current world champion Viswanathan Anand describes the beginning of our twenty-five
year collaboration in the foreword of our latest CD: The Best of Chess Informant Viswanathan Anand. From the
rich treasury of Anands creative output, this article brings you a small sampling of what the CD has to offer for
your chess enjoyment.
Anand has provided an enormous contribution to the development of chess theory. From the abundance of novelties
he introduced, the eighth game of his match against Kasparov in New York 1995 is very important, as he played
the move 9g5 for the first time in a very popular variation of the Scotch game. In the thirteen years that
followed, many games were played in this continuation, all of which can be found in the theoretical survey below.
C45
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 ed4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc6 bc6 6.e5 Qe7
7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Ba6 9.b3 g5

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
h41
Bb2
Nd23
hg55
Qg4
0-0-0
Nf3
Kb2
gf6
Bg7
0-0-02
Rde84
Nf4
Be5
f6
Bb2
Ne6
Qf66
Ba3
ed68
Be2
cd5
Ke2
Rc19
Rc6
Nd2
Kd3
d67
Qe2
Bg7
Be2
Ba1
0-0-010
Rd711
Re8
Re512
g3
Bb2
Nd213
Qh515
h4
Kd1
a317
Rg119
Bd3
Bg7
0-0
f614
Nb4
g416
c5
Bb718
Nc6
f520
...
...
Nd221
Nf323
a325
ab426
Qe3
Bc3
Bb4
...
0-0-0
Nb422
Rhe824
g4
gf3
Qb4
Re5
Re327
...
...
Bg2
0-0
Qe5
Be5
cd5
Kf1
Nc330
The Complete
DGT Product Line
equal
equal
and White is
slightly better
with
compensation
unclear
...
...
Rde828
Be529
Qe5
Re5
Bf1
cd5
c631
1
10.Qe4 Bg7 11.Bb2 Nf4 12.h4 0-0-0 equal, see 10.h4
2
11...Nf4 12.Qe3 h6
a) 13.g3 Ng6 14.f4 gf4 15.gf4 h5 [15...Nh4 16.Nd2 c5 17.Qg3 Ng6 18.Bg2 0-0-0 19.Qf3 c6 20.Ne4 Nh4 21.Qh3 Ng2 22.
Qg2 Rhg8 unclear; Duarte Hungaski, Mar del Plata 2006] 16.Bd3 Bh6 17.e6 0-0 18.Rg1 Qe6 19.Qe6 de6 20.Nd2 Kh7 21.
Ne4 Bf4 22.Ng5 Bg5 23.Rg5 Kh6 24.Bf6 with compensation; Van der Wiel M.Erwich, Amsterdam 2002;
b) 13.Nd2 Ng6 14.Nf3 gh4 [14...g4 15.h5 gf3 16.hg6 fg6 17.gf3 and White is superior; Ten Hertog Mannion, Cappelle
la Grande 2006] 15.0-0-0 0-0 16.Qd4 Rad8 17.Qa7 Ne5 18.Qc7 Nf3 19.Bg7 Qg5 20.Kc2 Kg7 21.gf3 d5 22.Rd4 Bc8 23.
Rhh4 and White is superior; Smeets Timman, Amsterdam 2002;
11...h6 12.Qe4 [12.Nd2 0-0-0 13.0-0-0 Rde8 14.g3 Nb6 15.f4 Bb7 16.hg5 hg5 17.Rh8 Bh8 18.Nf3 gf4 19.gf4 and White
is slightly better; Dworakowska Vijayalakshmi, Moscow 2001] Nb6 13.hg5 hg5 14.Rh8 Bh8 15.Nd2 d5 16.Qe3 dc4 17.
Nc4 Bc4 18.Bc4 Nc4 19.bc4 and White is slightly better; Smeets Jonkman, Amsterdam 2002
3
12.Qe4 Nf4 13.hg5 Qg5 14.Nd2 d5 15.Nf3 Qg4 16.Nh2 Qg5 17.Nf3 Qg4 equal B.Savchenko Khruschiov, Moscow 2005
4
12...Nb4 13.0-0-0 c5 [13...Na2 14.Kb1 Nb4 15.Qe3 (G.Staf D.Borisenkov, corr.2003) c5 16.hg5 with the idea f4 and White
is superior; G.Giorgadze] 14.a3 Nc6 15.hg5 Qg5 16.Rh5 Qe7 17.f4 and White is superior; S.Bermudez Murillo, San Jose
(zt) 2004
5
13.0-0-0 Nf4 14.Qe4 Be5 1/2 : 1/2 St.Kristjansson Belov, Hastings 2005/06
6
19.Kb1 Bb7 20.Bd3 Reg8 21.Qh4 Qh4 22.Nh4 c5 23.Rh2 Nf4 24.Bf5 Bc6 25.Rd2 Re8 26.Rh1 Re7 equal; Palac G.
Giorgadze, Pula 1997 see 70/299
7
10...c5 11.g3 Nb4 12.Bg2 0-0-0 13.0-0 Bg7 14.Bb2! with the idea a3 and White is superior; Anand;
10...Qa3 11.Na3 Bb4 12.Qd2 Bd2 13.Kd2 Nf4 14.h4 g4 15.g3 Ng6 16.Re1 h5 17.c5 Bf1 18.Rhf1 and White is slightly
better; Ganguly Vladimirov, Hyderabad 2000
8
11.Qe4?! Bg7 12.Bb2 Nb4 13.a3 f5 [13...d5? (Sutovsky Azarov, Internet 2004) 14.Qe2! and White is winning] 14.Qf5 Be5
15.Be5 Rf8 16.Qe4 Rf4 17.Qe2 Nd3 18.Qd3 Qe5 19.Be2 Qa1 and Black is superior; H.Tiemann K.Sakai, corr.2001
9
15.dc6 cd6 16.Nd2 Be5 17.Ne4 Ke7 18.Ng5 Rac8 19.Nf3 Ke6 20.Rc1 Rc7 21.g3 h6 22.Nd2 Rhc8 23.f4 Bg7 24.f5 Kf5 25.
Nc4 Rc6 26.Nd6 1/2 : 1/2 Charbonneau Khassanov, Canada (m/1) 2000
10
15...cd5 16.Rc7 and White is superior;
15...cd6 16.Rc6 Be5 17.Nd2! with the idea Nc4 and White is superior;
15...Be5 16.Rc6 Bd6 17.Bd6 cd6 18.Na3 Kd7 19.Nc4 and White is superior; Anand
11
16...Rhe8 17.Kd3 Rd7
a) 18.Nc3 Re5 [18...Bc3?! 19.Kc3 Re5 20.Kc4 Re4 21.Kd3 Re5 22.Kc4 Re4 1/2 : 1/2 Kasparov Anand, New York (m/8)
1995 see 64/293] 19.Nb5 Rd5 20.Kc4 Rd2 21.Bc5! Be5! unclear; Anand;
b) 18.Nd2 see 16...Rd7
12
18...Be5 19.Nc4
a) 19...Bh2 20.g3 Kb7 21.Na5 Kc8 22.Rc1 with the idea Rh1 and White is winning;
b) 19...Kb7 20.g3! f6 21.Bc5 cd6 22.Be3! g4 23.Na5 Ka8 24.Ra6 Ree7 [24...Rb8 25.Nc6 Rbb7 26.b4 f5 27.a4 Bf6 28.Kc4 h5
29.b5 Rdc7 30.b6 Rc8 31.Kb5 h4 32.Na7 1 : 0 Ganguly Vijayalakshmi, Kolkata 2000] 25.b4 f5 26.b5 Rf7 27.b6 h5
(Szieberth Peredy, Magyarorszag 1996 see 69/298) 28.ba7 with the idea Nc4 and White is winning;
c) 19...Kd8 20.Bb4! cd6 21.Bd6 Bd6 22.Nd6 Re5 23.Kd4 f6 24.b4 Rc7 25.Ra6 Re2 26.Ne4 and White is superior; Szieberth;
18...Re5! 19.Nc4 Rd5 20.Ke4 Rd4 21.Ke3! f5! 22.Bc5 Re4 23.Kd3 Kb7 24.Rc7 Rc7 25.dc7 Kc7 26.Ba7 Rh4! [26...Re1 27.
a4 (Motylev Shirov, Moscow (m/2) 2001 see 83/301) Rc1 28.Bb6 Kb8 equal] 27.h3 g4 28.hg4 Rg4 29.Ne3 Rg8 30.Bd4
Bd4 31.Kd4 Rd8 32.Ke5 Rd2 equal Shirov
13
12.Bg2 Rae8 [12...f6 13.Qd2! Nb6 14.0-0 fe5 15.Ba3 d6 16.Bc6 and White is superior; Makropoulou B.Trabert, Pula 1997
see 71/(320)] 13.0-0 Be5 [13...Nb6 14.Re1 f6 unclear; G.Livshits Jirka, Olomouc 2001] 14.Qe5 Qe5 15.Be5 Re5 16.cd5
Bf1 17.Kf1 cd5 18.Nd2 c6 19.Nf3 Rf5 20.Nd4 Rf6 21.Re1 Kg7 22.Re7 1/2 : 1/2 A.Murariu Zhao Zong-Yuan, Oropesa
del Mar 1998
14
12...Nb4 13.0-0-0 Na2 14.Kb1 Nb4 15.h4 Rae8 (Kotrotsos Kokolias, Athens 2004) 16.hg5 Qg5 17.Ne4 Qg6 18.Rh4
and White is superior; 15...d5!?;
12...Rfe8 13.0-0-0 Nb6 14.f4 gf4 15.gf4 f6 16.Re1 fe5 17.fe5 and White is slightly better; Nataf Pelletier, Bermuda 1999
15
13.ef6 Bf6 14.Qe7 Ne7 15.Bf6 Rf6 16.Bh3 and White is slightly better
16
14...Qe8 15.Qe8 Rae8 16.0-0-0 Na2 17.Kb1 Nb4 18.Ne4 fe5 19.Rd7! Bc8 20.Rc7 Bf5 21.Bg2 Nd3 22.Ba3 and White is superior
17
16.Bg2 Rae8 17.Be4 f5 18.Bf5 Rf5 19.Qf5 Rf8
a) 20.Qg5 Qg5 21.hg5 Rf2 22.Bc3 Bb7 with compensation Ganguly Vladimirov, Kolkata 2001; 21...Nd3 and Black is superior;
b) 20.Qg4! Nd3 21.Kc2 Nf2 22.Qg5 Qg5 23.hg5 Nh1 24.Rh1 equal; Postny
18
16...Nc6? 17.Bd3 f5 18.Bf5 Be5 19.Re1 d6 20.Be4 Bb7 21.Qg4 Qg7 22.Bd5 Kh8 23.Be5 de5 24.Qg7 Kg7 25.Ne4 and White
is winning; Kasparov P.Nikolic, Linares 1997 see 69/299
19
17.f3 Nc6 18.Bd3 f5 19.Bf5 Rf5 20.Qf5 gf3 21.Qf3 Na5 22.Qf1 Rf8 23.Qe1 Bh1 24.Qh1 Nc6 25.Qd5 Kh8 26.Nf3 Ne5 27.
Ne5 d6 28.Ke2 and White is slightly better
20
19.Bf5 Be5 20.Re1 d6 21.Qg4 Kh8 22.Be5 Ne5 23.Qh5 Qg7 24.Ra2 and White is slightly better; Kasparov
21
12.Qe4 f5 13.Qf5 Rhf8 14.Qe4
a) 14...Qb4 15.Nd2 Nc3 [15...Rf2 16.Kf2 Qd2 17.Qe2 and White is superior; Sax Bacrot, Balatonbereny 1996] 16.Qe3
Be5! 17.Ba3! Qa3 18.Qa7 Qb4 19.Qa8 Qb8 20.Qa6 Qb7 21.Qb7 Kb7 with compensation;
b) 14...Nf6 15.Qe2 Ng4! 16.Qg4 Be5 17.Qe2 Bb2 18.Qe7 Rde8 19.Qe8 Re8 20.Kd2 Ba1 21.Bd3 Bd4 22.f3 h6 23.Nc3
Kd8 equal Charbonneau Khassanov, Canada (m/3) 2000
22
12...Rde8 13.0-0-0 Nb6 14.f4 Kb8 15.Kb1 Bb7 16.Ne4 h6 17.Qc2 Rhg8 18.Bg2 gf4 19.gf4 c5 20.Ng3 and White is
superior; Nataf Je.Netzer, France 2004;
12...f5 13.ef6 Qe2 14.Be2 Nf6 15.0-0-0 Rhe8 16.Bd3 Re7 17.Rde1 Rde8 18.Re7 Re7 19.f3 and White is slightly
better; Maksimenko Jenni, Deutschland 2006;
12...Rhe8 13.0-0-0 Nb6
a) 14.f4 gf4 15.gf4 f6 16.ef6 Bf6 17.Qe7 Bb2 18.Kb2 Re7 19.Bh3 [19.a4 Kb8 20.a5 Nc8 21.c5 Kb7 equal Hector
Timman, Malmoe 2001 see 82/(296)] Rf8 20.Rhe1 Re1 21.Re1 Kd8 22.f5 and White is slightly better; Rublevsky
Ponomariov, Foros 2006;
b) 14.h4 g4 [14...Be5 15.Qe5 Qe5 16.Be5 Re5 17.hg5 Rg5 18.Rh7 and White is superior; A.Bartsch W.Clews, corr.2001]
15.Qg4 Be5 16.Qf5 and White is slightly better
23
13.Kd1 c5 [13...d5? 14.a3 dc4 15.ab4 Qb4 16.Kc1 and White is winning] 14.Bg2 Bb7 15.Bb7 Kb7 16.f4 [16.a3 Nc6 17.f4
d6 and Black is superior; Bohlke M.Poulsen, Kobenhavn 2003] d6 17.Qe4 (Gaston Verat, Paris 2001) Nc6 and Black
is superior;
13.0-0-0 Na2 14.Kb1 Nb4 15.Qe3 c5 16.Ne4 Bb7 17.Bh3 f5 18.Bf5 Rhf8 19.Bh3 Be5 20.Rhe1 Bd4 1/2 : 1/2
Arizmendi Martinez Je.Baron Rodriguez, Espana 2003;
13.Qe4 Rhe8 [13...Bb7 14.Rg1? c5 15.Qf5 Rhe8 16.f4 gf4 17.gf4 Qh4 18.Kd1 Bh6 19.Rg4 Qh2 and Black is superior;
Rantanen O.Sepp, Suomi 1997; 14.Bg2 equal] 14.f4 gf4 15.gf4 f5 16.Qf5 Rf8 17.Qh7 Rf4 18.Rg1 Qc5 19.Rg7 Qe3 20.
Kd1 Rf2 21.Bc1 Qd4 22.Bh3 Qe5 23.Re7 Qa1 24.Rd7 Rdf8 25.Rd8 Kb7 26.Rf8 Rf8 27.Qe7 Na2 28.Qf8 Qc1 29.Ke2
(Simacek Jenni, Brno 2006) Qg1 and White is slightly better; 18...Rf7 with compensation
24
13...g4? 14.Nh4 Qg5 [14...Be5 15.Qe5 Qe5 16.Be5 Rhe8 17.Kd2 Re5 18.a3 and White is winning] 15.a3 Nd5 [15...Be5 16.
f4! Bb2 17.fg5 Rhe8 (Wang Hao Jenni, Calvia (ol) 2004) 18.Kd2 Re2 19.Be2 Ba1 20.Ra1 and White is winning] 16.Qd2
and White is superior;
13...c5 14.Bg2 g4 [14...Rhe8 15.0-0 Bb7 16.Rfe1 Kb8 17.Qd2 h6 18.a3 Nc6 19.Rad1 Qf8 20.h3 Qh8 21.b4 and White is
slightly better; Goloshchapov Sepman, Saint Petersburg 1996; 14...Bb7 15.a3 Nc6 16.0-0 h5 17.Rfe1 h4 18.Bc3 Rde8 19.
Rad1 hg3 20.hg3 Nd8 21.Rd3 Ne6 22.Red1 and White is slightly better; Kovchan Potapov, Noyabrsk 2003] 15.Nh4 Be5
16.0-0 Rhe8 17.Rae1 (K.van der Weide C.Richter, Nederland 2005) Bd6 equal
25
14.Bh3
a) 14...c5 15.0-0 [15.Bg4 f6 16.Bh5 fe5 17.Be8 Re8 18.0-0 Bb7 19.Rfe1 e4 20.Rad1 g4 21.Nh4 e3 22.Bg7 Qe4 23.fe3 Qh1
24.Kf2 Qh2 25.Kf1 Qg3 26.Ng2! Re7 27.Qf2 (only move) Qf2 28.Kf2 g3 29.Kg1 Rg7 unclear; Motylev Jakovenko,
Russia (ch) 2001] h5 16.Bg2 Bb7 17.Rfe1
a1) 17...f6 18.Qd2 fe5 19.Ne5 [19.Be5 g4 20.Bb2 Qf8 21.Re8 Re8 22.Bg7 Qg7 23.Re1 Re1 24.Ne1 Qa1 25.Qe2 Bf3 26.Bf3
gf3 27.Qe4 c6 28.Kf1 Qa2 1/2 : 1/2 Nataf E.Perelshteyn, Montreal 2005] Bg2 20.Kg2 Qf6 21.a3 Na6 22.Rad1 and White
is slightly better;
a2) 17...d6 18.Qf1 Qf8 19.Rad1 1/2 : 1/2 Nataf Mikhalevski, Montreal 2005;
b) 14...h5! 15.a3
b1) 15...g4 16.ab4 gf3 17.Qf3 Qb4 18.Kf1 Bb7 19.Ra7 c5 20.Ra8 Ba8 21.Qa8 Qb8 22.Qa1 Qb7 [22...c6? 23.e6 Bb2 24.ed7
Rd7 25.Qb2 and White is winning; Baklan N.V.Pedersen, Bruxelles 2000] 23.Bg2 c6 unclear;
b2) 15...Nd5! 16.Qd2 g4 17.cd5 Qc5 and Black is superior; G.Jones Gajewski, Hersonissos 2007
26
15.Nh4 Be5 16.0-0-0 Na2 17.Kc2 Qf6 18.Be5 Re5 19.Qd2 Rde8!! 20.Kb1! Re2! 21.Qd7 Kb7 22.Be2 Re2 23.Rd2 Qf2!
with compensation; Macieja Kallio, Stockholm 1999/2000 see 78/334
27
19.fe3 Ba1 20.Bh3 Be5 21.0-0 Bb7 22.Rd1 c5 23.Bc5 Bc6 24.Kf2 with compensation; Rublevsky A.Onischuk, Foros 2007
see 100/(215)
28
12...h5 13.0-0 Kb8 14.Nd2 Nb6 15.Rfe1 d5 16.Nf3 c5 17.Qe3 Bh6 18.Qc3 d4 19.Qa5 Bb7 20.Ba3 Bf8 21.Rad1 and White
is superior; Voitsekhovsky D.Lobzhanidze, Moscow 1999;
12...Rhe8 13.0-0 Be5 14.Qe5 Qe5 15.Be5 Re5 16.cd5 Bf1 17.Kf1 cd5 18.Nc3 [18.Nd2 g4 19.f4 Rh5 20.Kf2 c6 21.Nf1
Rg8 equal Ju.Zorko De Val, Nova Gorica 2004] c6
a) 19.Rd1 Kc7 [19...Rde8 20.Bf3 R8e6 21.b4 Rh6 22.Kg2 Rhe6 23.Kf1 Rh6 24.Kg2 Rhe6 25.Kf1 1/2 : 1/2 Bergstrom
Landgren, Sverige 2002] 20.Bf3 Rb8 21.Rd4 a5 22.Ra4 Rbe8 23.Ra5 Re1 24.Kg2 f5 25.h3 Ra1 26.Ne2 Kd6 unclear;
M.Erwich Jonkman, Amsterdam 2002;
b) 19.Rc1 Kb8 20.Bf3 [20.Na4 Kc7 21.Nc5 Rde8 22.Bf3 Kd6 23.Nb7 Kc7 24.Nc5 equal Fercec Nikcevic, Cannes 1996] f5
21.h3 Rg8 22.Ne2 Kc7 23.Rd1 g4 24.Bg2 a5 25.Nf4 Rge8 26.f3 a4 1/2 : 1/2 Kotsur Tishin, Tula 2001
29
13...Nb6 14.Re1 f6 [14...Bb7 15.Nd2 Kb8 16.Rac1 h5 17.h3 Rh6 18.Nf1 and White is slightly better; Kotsur E.
Egorov, Yekaterinburg 1997] 15.e6 Qe6 16.Qe6 Re6 17.Re6 de6 18.Bc6 Rd8 equal Galyas Van Zyil, Duisburg 1992
30
18.Nd2 g4 19.b4 Rhe8 20.Nb3 c6 21.Nd4 Kc7 22.Rc1 Kd6 equal; A.Murariu Slavina, Budapest 2005
31
19.Ne2 h5 20.Nd4 f6 21.Rc1 Kb7 22.f4 Ree8 23.Kf2 h4 24.g4 Kb6 unclear, with counterplay; R.Mamedov Jenni, Calvia
(ol) 2004;
19.Rc1 Kd8 [19...Kb7 20.Na4 Re7 21.Nc5 Kb6 22.Bf3 d6 23.Nd3 a5 24.Bg2 Ra8 25.a4 Raa7 26.Bf3 h6 27.h3 f6 28.
Kg2 1/2 : 1/2 Kreiman G.Giorgadze, Ubeda 1999]
a) 20.Bf3 h5 21.Be2 Ke7 [21...h4 22.g4 f5 23.Na4 Rhe8 24.Bf3 unclear; Markus Lanin, corr.2002] 22.Bd3 f5 23.Ne2
h4 unclear; Ruan Lufei N.Kosintseva, China Russia 2007;
b) 20.h3 h5 [20...Rhe8 21.Bf3 Ke7 22.Na4 Kd6 23.Nb2 R5e7 24.Nd3 a5 25.Bg4 Rf8 26.Bf5 h6 equal; Macieja
Delchev, Budapest 2000] 21.Na4 Kc7 [21...f5 22.f4 Re3 23.Rc3 Rc3 24.Nc3 gf4 25.gf4 Kc7 unclear; Afromeev Tishin,
Tula 2004] 22.Nb2 h4 23.Nd3 Ree8 24.g4 Kd6 unclear; Protaziuk Potapov, Pardubice 2005
It is well-known that Anand calculates very quickly and can find even the most hidden tactical
opportunities straightaway. In the position below, although Lautier did not find the best possible defense after
the introductory sacrifice 1.h6!!, the move 2.Bg6!! impressed me greatly.

Biel 1997 70/89
Ic
1.h6!! gh6? [1...Ne3 (only move) 2.Be3 Qe5 3.hg7 Rg8 4.Qc1 (4.Bh6 Qh2!; 4.Qg1 Bf3 5.Kf3 and White is
superior) Bf3 (4...Qh2 5.Bf4 Qh3 6.Qa3! and White is winning) 5.Qa3 Qh2 6.Kf3 Qh3 7.Ke2 Qg4 8.Kd2 Qh4 9.
Qc3 c5 10.Ra7 and White is superior] 2.Bg6!! Ne7 [2...Qe3 3.Be3 fg6 4.Bc5 and White is winning; 2...Qf6 3.Bf7
Qf7 4.Rf7 Ne3 5.Qd8! (5.Qe2 Nd1 6.Kg2 Kf7 and White is slightly better) Kd8 6.Be3 Bh3 7.Ra7 and White
is winning] 3.Qd4 Rd4 4.Rd3! Rd8 5.Rd8 Kd8 6.Bd3! [6...Bh1 7.Bb2 Re8 8.Bf6 and White is winning] 1-0 [Anand]
In the next position, Anand capitalized on his attacking position through a series of combinatory moves.

New Delhi (m/2) 2000 80/379
Ic
1.Nf6! Re5 [1...Rd8 2.Nh7! Kh7 3.g6! Kg8 (3...fg6 4.Qh4 and White is winning) 4.Qh4 fg6 5.Qd8 and White
is winning] 2.g6! fg6 [2...gf6? 3.Qf6 Bg7 4.Qd8 and White is winning; 2...h6 3.gf7! (3.Nh7 Kg8! 4.Bc2 with the
idea Rb1 and White is slightly better) g5 (3...Rf7? 4.Qh6!) 4.Ne8 Bf5 5.Nc7 gf4 6.Rg8 Kh7 7.Ne8! Bh3 8.Kh3 Rh5
9.Kg4 Rg5 10.Kf3 Rg6 11.e5 and White is winning; 2...hg6 3.Qh4 Rh5 4.Nh5 gh5 5.Bc2! (5.Qh5 Kg8 6.Bc2 Nb4
7.Rb1 Nc2 8.Rb2 cb2 9.Rb3 Nd4) g6 6.Rb1 Qa2 7.Qd8 Kg7 8.Rb8! and White is winning] 3.Nd7! Be7 4.Ne5 de5
5.Qf7 h6 6.Qe8 1-0 [Anand]
In the position below, the move 1.Qd6 looks very attractive; however, Black wins by a knight sacrifice and
king breakthrough. It is necessary that White first plays 1.Kg1!! and gets the escape square f1.
Anand 2720 Shirov 2740

Buenos Aires 1994 62/163
1.Kg1!! [1.Qd6? Ndf3 2.Kh1 Kf4!! (2...Rg2 3.Qf6 Kh5 4.Qf3 equal) 3.gf3 Nf3 4.Qd3 Ra2 5.Qf1 Kg3! and Black
is winning, with the idea h5; 1.Qh7? Rg2 2.Kh1 Kf4 and Black is superior] Kf4 2.Qd6 Rg2 3.Kf1 Ndf3 4.
Ne5! (equal) Rg1 5.Kf2 Rg2 - [Anand]
After a brilliant novelty in a well-known position of the Ruy Lopez, Anands attack was indefensible.
Anand 2788 Adams 2719

San Luis 2005 94/267
1.Nh6! Bh6 2.Qh6 Qf2 [2...Be4 3.Ng5 (3.Be3 Bf3 4.Bd3 Nd3 5.Bb6 Re1 6.Kh2) Qf2 4.Kh2 Ne1 5.Qh7 Kf8 6.
Ne4 Qd4 7.Rg6! Re4 8.Be4 Qe5 9.Kh1 Nf3 10.Bf3 and White is winning] 3.Kh2 Ne1 [3...Nc1 4.ed5! Ncd3 5.
Re6! and White is winning] 4.Nh4 (only move) Ned3 [4...Re6 5.ed5 Rf6 (5...Re2 6.Bg6) 6.Ng6 fg6 7.Rg6 Rg6 8.
Qg6 Kf8 9.Qd6 Kg8 10.Qg6 Kf8 11.Bh6 Ke7 12.Bg5 Kd7 13.Qe6 Kc7 14.d6! Kb7 (14...Kb6 15.Be3) 15.Be4 Kb6
16.Ba8 and White is winning; 4...Nf3 5.Nf3 Be4 6.Be4 Re4 7.Ng5 and White is winning; 4...Ra7 5.Nf5! (5.Ng6?
Qg3! 6.Kg3 fg6) Qg3 (only move) 6.Ng3! Bc6 7.Bg5 Re6 8.e5! de5 9.Nh5! and White is winning] 5.Ng6 Qg3 6.
Kg3 fg6 7.Qg6 Kf8 8.Qf6 Kg8 9.Bh6 [9...Ra7 10.Qg6 and White is winning] 1-0 [Anand]
Today much has changed in the approach to chess compared to the first half of the last century. The following
example well illustrates how the current generation of chess players unhesitatingly sacrifices material to obtain
the initiative.
Anand 2770 Kamsky 2790

Monaco (blindfold) 1998 72/(152)
1.b4!? ab4 2.a5 ba5 3.Bc5 Bh6! 4.Qb1 Qc7 5.Ra4 Bd2 6.Nd2 Rfb8 7.Qa1 Qd8 8.Rb1 Kf7 9.h4! with compensation
Anand has achieved many victories because of his attacking style. The next two examples show that he is a
great master of defense as well. In the position below, it seems that there is no salvation for White. However, by
a series of brilliant moves, Anand found a solution.
Anand 2720 Kamsky 2695

Sanghi Nagar (m/1) 1994 61/345
1.Ra8 [1.Be3? Qf3 and Black is winning] Kf7 2.Ng5! Kg6 [2...Qg5? 3.Qe2! and White is winning] 3.Be3 Ne3 4.
Rf1 only move [4.Re8 Ng4! and Black is winning; 4.Rc8 Kg5 5.Rc7 Qf3 and Black is winning; 4.Ra6 Kg5 5.h4 Kh6
6.Rc6 g6] Kg5! [4...Nf1 5.Kf1 (5.Nf3!? Nh2 6.Nh2 Rf2 7.Kf2 Qh2 8.Ke1) Rb2 6.Nf3 and White is superior] 5.Re8!
[5.h4 Kh6 6.fe3 Qg4 7.e4 fe4 and Black is winning] f4 6.Qe4 [6.h4!? Kh6 7.Qe4 g6 (7...Rb2 8.Qc6 g6 9.Qc7 Qf3
10.Qf4 Qf4 11.gf4 Nf1 12.Kf1) 8.Qe7 (8.fe3 Re3 9.Qc6 Rg3 10.Kf2 Rd3!) Qf3 a) 9.Qf8 Kh5 10.Re3 Re3 11.Qg7
fg3! 12.Qh7 Kg4 13.Qd7 (13.Qg6 Kh3!) Kh4 14.Qh7 Kg5 15.fe3 Qe3 16.Kh1 Qe4 17.Kg1 Bf4!; b) 9.Qg5 Kg7 10.
Re7 Kg8 11.Re8 equal] fg3 [6...Qh2!? 7.Kh2 Nf1 8.Kg2 Re4 9.Re4 Nd2 10.Re6 and White is superior; 6...g6!?] 7.
h4! Qh4 8.Qh4 Kh4 9.Re4! [9.Re3?? gf2; 9.fe3 Kh3] Kh3 10.Re3 Rb2 11.Re7! Bf4 12.fg3 [12.Rg7? gf2 13.Rf2
Rb1 14.Rf1 Be3] Rg2 13.Kh1 Rh2 14.Kg1 Rg2 15.Kh1 Rh2 16.Kg1 Bg5 17.Re5 Rg2 18.Kh1 - [Anand]
In the next game, Anand is three pawns down, but by reducing the material and creating an impenetrable blockade,
he forced Short to accept a draw, despite his material advantage.
Short 2690 Anand 2765

1...ab4! 2.Bb4 ba4 3.Ra4 Rg4 4.Ra6 Kb5 5.Ra5 Kc6 6.Re4 Rg2 7.Rf4 Rgg8! 8.Kc4 Ra8! 9.Ra8 Ra8 10.Re4
Rg8 - [Anand]
The following two examples illustrate that it is sometimes possible to win in the ending via tactical means.
Anand 2525 Spassky 2580

Cannes 1989 47/441
NB 9/b
1.a5 Nb4 2.b3 Bf7 3.Nd3!! [3.a6?? Na6 equal] Nd3 4.a6 Be8 5.Nd5 [5...Ke5 6.Ne7 and White is winning] 10 [Anand]
Anand 2753 Morozevich 2678

Monaco (blindfold) 2003 87/(294)
R 9/i
1.Rh6! Kh6 2.Nf5 Kh5 3.Nd4 Bc4 4.b4 Kg4 5.Kd2 Kf4 6.b5 Bb5 7.Nb5 h3 8.g4 Kg4 9.Ke3 Kh4 10.Nd4 Kg4
11.Ne2 Kf5 12.Kf3 Ke5 13.Kg4 d4 14.Ng1 d3 15.Nh3 d2 16.Nf2 Kd4 17.Nd1 1-0
The following examples show that world champions are human too.
Kasparov 2780 Anand 2670

Dortmund 1992 54/(369)
1...f5?? 2.ed5 1-0
Anand 2765 Hbner 2580
1.Kd2? [1.Kb2? Rh7 2.Re2 Rf7 3.Rf2 Kd4 with the idea Ke3 equal; 1.Kd3 Ra3 (1...Ra2? 2.Re8 and White is
winning) 2.Ke2 Ra2 3.Kf1 Rh2 4.Re2 Rh8 unclear; 1.Kb4! a) 1...Rb7 2.Ka5 Rf7 (2...Rh7 3.Re8 and White is
winning; 2...Kd6 3.Re4 and White is winning) 3.Kb6 Rh7 4.Re8 and White is winning; b) 1...Rf7 2.Kb5 (2.Rd3 Ke5
3.Kc5 Rc7 4.Kb6 Rh7 5.Rd2 Rf7 6.Rf2 Kd4 equal) Rf6 (2...Rb7 3.Ka6 Rf7 4.Kb6 see 1...Rb7) 3.Rc3 and White
is winning] Ra2 equal [Hbner]


Zdenko Krnic
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1. P.H. Nielsen 2649 Ivanchuk 2729

La Habana 2007 100/418 [E20]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.Nc3 cd4 5.Nd4 Bb4 6.g3 Ne4 7.
Qd3 Bc3 8.bc3 Nc5 9.Qf3 d6 10.Ba3 [10.Bg2 see 99/373]
10...0-0 11.Rd1 [a novelty; 11.Bg2; 11.Nb3!?] 11...Qa5! 12.Nb5
[12.Bc5 dc5 13.Nb3 Qa2 14.Nc5 Qc4 15.Qe3 Nc6 and Black is
superior] 12...Bd7! [12...Nba6 13.Bc5 Nc5 14.Bg2 (14.Nd6 Bd7 15.
Bg2 Bc6 16.e4 f5 17.Qe3 with counterplay) 14...d5 15.0-0 Bd7 16.
Qe3] 13.Bb4 [13.Bc5 dc5 14.e4 (14.Nd6 Bc6?! 15.e4 see 14.Nd6;
14...Qa2!) 14...Bc6 15.Nd6 (15.Be2 Nd7 16.Qe3 Nf6 17.f3 Bb5 18.
cb5 c4 and Black is slightly better) 15...Nd7 16.Qe3 Nb6 17.Be2
(17.f3 Rad8 18.Be2 Na4 and Black is superior) 17...Na4 18.Rd3
Rad8 19.0-0 Nc3 20.Bh5! Na4 21.e5 with compensation] 13...Qa2
14.Bc5 [14.Rd6 Bc6 15.Qf4 Nba6 (15...Bh1 16.Bc5 Nc6 17.Rd2
Qb3 18.Bf8 Rf8 19.f3 with counterplay) 16.Bc5 Nc5 17.f3 Qa5 18.
Bg2 Na4 and Black is superior; 14.Qe3 Bc6 15.f3 a5 16.Bc5 dc5 17.
Nd6 Nd7 and Black is superior; 14.Nd6 a) 14...Nba6 15.Qe3 Bc6 16.
f3 Na4! (16...Ba4 17.Rd2 Qb1 18.Kf2 with counterplay) 17.Qc1 Qb3
with initiative; b) 14...Bc6 15.e4 Nbd7 16.Bg2 Nb3 17.Qe2 Qe2 18.
Ke2 a5 and Black is slightly better] 14...dc5 15.Nc7 [15.e4 Nc6
16.Qe2 (16.Rd7? Ne5!) 16...Qa5 17.Qb2 (17.Rd7? a6 18.Nd6 Ne5!
19.Rb7 Qc3 20.Kd1 Rfd8 and Black is winning) 17...Rad8 18.Be2
Ne5 and Black is superior; 15.Qe3 Bc6 16.f3 Nd7 17.Nd6 Nb6 and
Black is superior]
15...Ba4! 16.Rc1 Nc6 [16...Bc6 17.e4 Qa3 18.Qe3 Be4 19.Rg1

Nc6 20.Na8 Ra8 21.Be2 a5 22.f3 Bg6 and Black is superior] 17.
Na8 Qa3! [17...Rd8 18.Qe3 Na5 19.Bh3 Nb3 20.0-0 Nc1 21.Rc1
Ra8 22.Qc5 Qe2 23.Bg2 and Black is slightly better] 18.Qe3 [18.
Rb1 Bc2 19.Bg2 Bb1 20.0-0 Ba2 21.Nc7 Bc4 and Black is winning;
18.Qf4 e5 19.Qe3 Na5 and Black is winning] 18...Na5 19.f3 Nc4
20.Qf4 b5! 21.Rb1 [21.Nc7 e5 22.Qg5 h6 and Black is winning]
21...Qc3 22.Kf2 Nd2 and Black is winning 23.Re1 Ra8 24.Bg2
c4 25.Qc7 [25.Rc1 Qa5 26.Qe3 Rd8 27.f4 Qc7 28.Qc3 a5] 25...
Qd4 26.e3 Qd8 27.Qe5 Rc8 28.Qc3 Qd3 29.Qa5 c3 30.Re2
Nb3 31.Qa7 c2 0-1 [Ivanchuk]
2.Sandipan 2563 Tiviakov 2648

Ottawa 2007 100/413 [E17]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.d5
ed5 8.Nh4 c6 9.cd5 Nd5 10.Nf5 Nc7 11.e4 d5 12.Nc3 Bf6 13.
ed5 cd5 14.Bf4 Nba6 15.Re1 Qd7 [better is 15...Bc8 see
31/618] 16.Bh3 Ne6?! [16...Kh8 see 30/631; better is 16...Qd8]
17.Ne4 Bb2 18.Rb1 [a novelty; 18.Ng5] 18...Bc8 [18...Bc6 19.
Ng5 Bf6 20.Re6 fe6 21.Nh6 Kh8 22.Be6; 18...Bd4 19.Ng5 Bf6 20.
Re6 fe6 21.Nh6 Kh8 22.Be6; 18...Rad8!? 19.Ng5 Bf6 20.Nh6 gh6
21.Ne6 Bc8] 19.Ng5 Bf6 20.Qh5 Bg5 [20...Ng5 21.Bg5 Qc6 22.
Bf6 Qf6 23.Ne7] 21.Bg5 Re8 [21...Kh8 22.Bf6! (22.Ng7? Ng7 23.
Bf6 Qh3 24.Qg5 Qg4) 22...gf6 23.Qh6 Rg8 (23...Qd8 24.Re6 Rg8
25.Re8 and White is winning) 24.Qf6 Rg7 25.Ng7 Qd8 26.Qd8 Nd8
27.Bc8 Rc8 28.Nf5 and White is winning]
22.Bf6!! (and White is winning) gf6 [22...Nac7 23.Ng7 Ng7 24.

Qh6; 22...g6 23.Qh6 Nac5 (23...Bb7 24.Rbd1) 24.Rbd1 Qc7 25.
Rd5] 23.Qh6 Nac5 [23...Bb7 24.Qf6 (24.Rbd1 d4 25.Re6 fe6 26.
Rd4) 24...Nac5 25.Nh6 Kf8 26.Be6 Ne6 27.Nf5 Kg8 28.Re6 fe6 29.
Nh6#] 24.Rbd1! Qb7 [24...Qc7 25.Rd4 Ne4 26.Ree4 de4 27.Re4]
25.Rd4 [25.Qf6] 25...Ne4 26.Ree4! de4 27.Qf6 Qc7 28.Nh6
Kf8 29.Qh8 Ke7 30.Nf5# 1-0 [Sandipan]
3.Shirov 2699 Ivanchuk 2729

Foros 2007 100/263 [C91]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Be7 7.
d4 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.Re1 Bg4 10.Be3 ed4 11.cd4 d5 12.e5 Ne4
13.Nc3 Nc3 14.bc3 Qd7 15.h3 Bh5 16.g4 Bg6 17.Nd2 a5! [a
novelty; 17...Na5 see 25/345] 18.f4 [18.a4 b4 19.Rc1! (19.c4 dc4
20.Bc4 Nd4 and Black is superior) 19...bc3 20.Rc3 Bb4 21.Rc1 f6
22.f4 fe5 23.de5 Kh8 24.Rf1 (24.f5?! Ne5 25.fg6 Qd6 26.Kg2 Ng6
with attack) 24...d4 25.Nf3 unclear] 18...a4 19.Bc2 Bc2 20.Qc2
f5! [20...f6 21.Rab1 fe5 22.fe5 h5 23.Qg6 hg4 24.Qg4 (24.hg4 Ra6
25.e6 Qd6 with initiative) 24...Qg4 25.hg4 Rab8 26.Kg2 Kf7 equal]
21.ef6 [21.Rf1 Nd8 (21...fg4 22.f5 gh3 23.Kh2! b4 24.Rf3 bc3 25.
Qc3 Bb4 26.Qd3 Ne7 27.Raf1 with initiative) 22.Kh2 g6 and Black is
slightly better] 21...Bf6 22.Nf3 [22.Kg2 Rae8 (22...h5 23.g5 Be7
24.Qg6! Bd6 25.Nf3 Bf4 26.Bf4 Rf4 27.Qh5 with attack, with the
idea g6) 23.Bf2 Na5 24.Nf3 Nc4 25.f5 Qc6 26.Qd3 a3 27.Rab1 Nb2
(27...Re4 28.Nd2 Nd2 29.Qd2 Rfe8 30.Qd3 equal) 28.Qc2 (28.Qd2
Re4) 28...Qc4 29.Nd2! Qc6 (29...Qa2? 30.Ra1!) 30.Nf3 equal] 22...

Rae8 23.Bf2?! [23.Ne5 Be5 24.de5 g5!? 25.Qd2! h5!? (25...gf4 26.
Bf4 Rf7 27.Rab1 h5 28.Rb5 hg4 29.Rd5 Qe6 30.h4 unclear) 26.gh5
Qh3 27.Qd5 Re6 28.Qg2 Qg2 29.Kg2 gf4 30.Bd4 Rf5 31.Rab1 b4
and Black is slightly better; 23.Kg2 Na5 24.Rad1 (24.f5 Qc6 25.g5
Nc4 26.Bf4 Re4! and Black is superior; 24.g5 Nc4 25.Qd3 Nb2 26.
Qc2 Nc4 27.Bf2 Be7 and Black is slightly better; with the idea Bd6)
24...Nc4 25.Bc1 Qc6 equal; 23.f5 Re4 24.Nd2 Re7 25.g5 Re3 26.
Re3 Bg5 27.Rf3 Qe7 with compensation] 23...h5! 24.Qg6 [24.g5?!
Qh3 25.Nh4 Qg4 26.Kh1 Be7 27.Qg6 Qf4 and Black is superior; 24.
f5 hg4 25.hg4 g6 26.Bh4 gf5 27.Re8 Qe8 28.Bf6 Rf6 29.g5 Qe3 30.
Kg2 Rg6 31.Qf5 Ne7 equal] 24...Re4! 25.Re4?! [25.g5 Rf4!; 25.
Nd2! Re1 (25...Rf4 26.Bg3 b4 27.Bf4 bc3 28.Nf3 and White is
winning) 26.Re1 hg4 (26...b4 27.cb4 hg4 28.hg4 Qd6 29.Kg2 Qf4
30.Be3 Qd6 31.Nf3 equal) 27.hg4 Ne7 28.Qh5 g6 29.Qh3 Nc6 30.
Nf3 b4 31.cb4 Nb4 32.Ne5 Be5 33.fe5 Qf7 34.Re2 Qf4 and Black is
slightly better] 25...de4 26.Nh2? [26.Ne5 Be5 27.fe5 hg4 28.hg4
Qd5! and Black is superior; 26.Ng5 Bg5 27.Qg5 a) 27...hg4 28.hg4
Rf6 (28...b4 29.d5 bc3 30.dc6 Qd2 31.Be1 Qe3 32.Bf2 equal) 29.f5
Ne7 (29...b4 30.Qe3 g6 31.Qe4 gf5 32.gf5 Rf5 33.Qg4 Qg7 34.Qg7
Kg7 35.cb4 Nb4 equal) 30.Bg3 Nd5 31.Be5 Rh6 32.Re1 e3 unclear;
b) 27...Qd6! 28.f5 hg4 29.hg4 b4! with initiative]
26...Nd4!! 27.cd4 [27.Re1 Nf3 28.Nf3 ef3 and Black is winning]

27...Bd4 28.Rb1 e3 [28...Bf2?! 29.Kf2 Rf4 30.Kg3 Qd2 31.Rf1! h4
32.Kh4 Qh2 33.Qe8 Kh7 34.Qh5 equal] 29.Bg3 [29.Be1 Rf4 30.
Rb4 c5 31.Rd4 cd4 and Black is winning] 29...h4! 30.Bh4 [30.Nf3
hg3 and Black is winning] 30...Rf4 31.Qd3 Qd5 32.Nf1 [32.Re1
Rf2!] 32...Rf2! 33.Ne3 Rg2! 34.Kh1 Qf3 0-1 [Ivanchuk]
4.P.Eljanov 2686 Sergey Karjakin 2686

Foros 2007 100/279 [D15]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Nc3 b5 6.c5 Nbd7 7.a3!?

a5! 8.Bd3 e5 9.de5 Ng4 10.e6 fe6 11.Nd4 Nc5 12.Be2
12...Nf2!! [a novelty; 12...Ne5 see 99/(264)] 13.Kf2 Bd6 14.

g3?! [14.Nc6 0-0 15.Bf3 (15.Kg1 Qh4 16.g3 Qf6 and Black is
slightly better) 15...Qh4 (15...Qc7 16.Nd4) 16.g3 (16.Kg1) 16...
Qh3 with compensation] 14...0-0 15.Kg2 Bd7 16.Bd2?! [16.Rf1
Rf1 17.Bf1 Qf6 and Black is slightly better; 16.Nb3! Nb3 17.Qb3 e5
with counterplay, with the idea Qc8, Bh3] 16...e5 17.Nb3 [17.Nf3
a4 18.Qc2 Qe8 19.Raf1 Bf5 20.Qd1 Qd7 and Black is superior] 17...
Ne6! [with the idea Ng5, weak point Kg2] 18.Bg4 a4 19.Nc1 Qg5
[19...Nc5! and Black is superior] 20.h4 [20.e4 Nf4! 21.Bf4 Qg4 22.
Qg4 Bg4 and Black is winning] 20...Qg6 21.h5? [21.Bh5! a) 21...
Qf5 22.Qf3 (22.Rf1 Nf4 23.ef4 Qh3 24.Kf2 ef4 and Black is winning)
22...Qc2 23.Qd1 equal; b) 21...Qf6! 22.Rf1 Qe7 and Black is
slightly better] 21...Qg5 22.Rh4 [22.e4 Nf4 23.Bf4 Qg4 24.Qg4
Bg4 25.Rh4 d4 26.N3a2 Be6 27.Bd2 Bc4 and Black is winning] 22...
e4 23.Qe1 Nc5 [and Black is winning; weak point Ra1, Nc1, Bd2,
d3, f3] 24.Bd7 [24.Bd1 Rf1! 25.Kf1 Bg3 26.Rg4 Qf5 27.Kg2 Be1
28.Be1 Rf8 29.Be2 Nd3 30.Bg3 Ne5 31.Rh4 Nf3; 24.Be2 Rae8 25.
h6 g6] 24...Nd7 25.N1e2 Ne5 26.Qh1 Nf3 27.Qh3 Qf6 28.Nf4
Nd2 0-1 [Sergey Karjakin]
5.Grischuk 2717 Rublevsky 2680 Elista

(m/1) 2007 100/155 [B85]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 d6 7.0-0
Nf6 8.Be3 Bd7 9.a4 Be7 10.f4 Nd4 11.Qd4 Bc6 12.b4 0-0 13.
b5 Be8 14.e5 Qc7 15.b6 Qc6 16.Bf3! [a novelty; 16.ed6 see 95/
(179)] 16...d5 17.Rae1!? Nd7 [17...Rc8? 18.ef6 Bf6 19.Nd5! ed5
(19...Bd4? 20.Ne7 Kh8 21.Bc6 and White is winning) 20.Qd5 Qa4
(20...Qd5 21.Bd5 Bc6 22.c4 and White is superior) 21.Qb7 Bb5 22.
Be2 (22.Rf2? Rce8!) 22...Rc2 23.Bb5 ab5 24.Qd7 Rd8 25.Bc5! Qa8
26.b7 Qb8 27.Bd6 Rd7 28.Bb8 h6 29.Bc7 Bd4 30.Kh1 Ba7 31.b8Q
Bb8 32.Bb8 Rdd2 33.Rg1 and White is superior; 17...Rd8? 18.f5
(18.ef6 Bf6 19.Nd5 ed5 20.Qc5 Qc5 21.Bc5 Ba4 22.Bf8 Kf8 23.Rd1
Rd6 with compensation) 18...Qc8 (18...ef5 19.ef6 Bf6 20.Nd5 Bd4
21.Ne7 Kh8 22.Nc6 Be3 23.Re3 Bc6 24.Bc6 bc6 25.Rf5 and White is
superior) 19.a5 Nd7 (19...ef5? 20.ef6 Bf6 21.Nd5 Bd4 22.Ne7 Kh8
23.Nc8 and White is winning) 20.fe6 fe6 21.Nd5 ed5 22.Qd5 Kh8
23.Qb7 Qc3 24.e6 Bh4 25.Qc7 Be1 26.Qc3 Bc3 27.e7 and White is
superior] 18.Nd5! [18.f5? Bc5 19.Qf4 Qb6 20.f6 gf6 21.ef6 Kh8 22.
Bd5 ed5 23.Nd5 Qc6 24.Ne7 Be7 25.fe7 Rg8 26.Bd4 f6] 18...ed5
19.Bd5 Qc5!? [19...Qc2 20.Rc1! Qe2 (20...Qf5 21.Bb7 Rb8 22.
Bc8!? Rc8 23.Rc8 Nb6 24.Re8 Re8 25.Qb6 and White is superior)
21.Bb7 (21.e6 Nf6!) 21...Rd8 22.Bf3 Qa2 23.Qc4 Qa3 24.Rc3 Qb2
25.b7 and White is superior; 19...Qc8 20.f5 (20.e6? Nf6 and Black
is superior; 20.Rf3? Bc5 21.Qe4 Be3 22.Qe3 Qc5 and Black is
superior; 20.Qe4? Nc5 and Black is superior) 20...Bc5 a) 21.Qf4?
Kh8 (21...Nb6? 22.f6 and White is winning) 22.Rf3 f6 23.Rh3 g5!
24.fg6 Bg6 25.e6 Ne5 unclear; b) 21.Qe4! Be3 b1) 22.Qe3? Qc5 23.
Qc5 (23.e6 Qd5 24.e7 Rc8 and Black is superior) 23...Nc5 24.e6
b11) 24...Bc6 25.ef7 (25.Bc6 bc6 26.a5 fe6 27.Re5 Nb7 and Black
is slightly better) 25...Rf7 26.Bf7 Kf7 27.a5 Kf6 and Black is slightly
better; b12) 24...fe6 25.fe6 Rf1 26.Rf1 Bc6 27.Bc4 g6 28.e7 Kg7
29.g4 Nd7 30.Rf7 Kh6 31.h4 g5 32.hg5 Kg5 and Black is slightly
better; b2) 22.Re3 22...Qc5 23.a5! (and White is superior with
attack) 23...Qa5 (23...Rd8? 24.c4 Qa5 25.f6 Qb6 26.Kh1 Nc5 27.
Qh4 Ne6 28.Rg3 and White is winning) 24.f6 Qb6 25.Kh1 Nc5 26.
Qg4 Ne6 27.Be6 g6 28.Rb3 Qe6 29.Qg5 Kh8 30.Qh6 Rg8 31.Rh3
Qh3 and White is superior; 19...Bc5 20.Bc6 Bd4 21.Bd4 bc6 22.b7
Rb8 23.Rb1 c5 24.Be3 and White is superior; 19...Qh6 20.a5 with
compensation, with initiative] 20.e6! [20.Bb7? Qd4 21.Bd4 Rb8
22.Ba6 Nc5!] 20...Qd4 [20...fe6? 21.Be6 Rf7 (21...Kh8? 22.Bd7
Qd4 23.Bd4 and White is winning) 22.Qe4 Qd6 23.Bf2!? Rb8 (23...
Bf8 24.Qb7 Rb8 25.Qa7 and White is winning) 24.Bf7 Kf7 25.Re3!?
(25.a5 and White is superior) 25...Nb6 26.Rfe1 Nd5 27.Qf5 Kg8 28.
Re6 Qd7 29.Qe5 Rd8 30.c4 Bf7 31.cd5 Be6 32.Qe6 Qe6 33.de6 and
White is superior] 21.Bd4 Nf6 [21...Bf6 22.Bf6 Nf6 23.Bb7 Rb8 24.
e7 Rb7 25.ef8Q Kf8 26.a5 and White is superior] 22.Bb3 [22.ef7?
Rf7! (22...Bf7? 23.Bb7 and White is superior) ] 22...Rd8 [22...fe6?
23.Re6 and White is winning] 23.Bf6 [23.ef7? Bf7 24.Re7 Rd4 25.
Rb7 Bb3 26.cb3 a5 27.Rc1 Rb4 (27...Rf4? 28.Ra7 and White is
slightly better) 28.Rcc7 Ne8 29.Rc6 Rff4 and Black is slightly
better] 23...Bc5 [23...Bf6? 24.e7 Be7 25.Re7 Bc6 26.Rfe1 and
White is superior] 24.Kh1 gf6 25.e7 Be7 26.Re7 Bc6
27.Rc7! [27.Rfe1 Rd2 28.R7e2 Rd4!? with compensation] 27...

Rd2 28.Re1 Rf2? time [28...Rg2?? 29.Rc6; 28...Rfd8? 29.Bf7 (29.
Rf7 Kh8 30.Rf6 Bg2 31.Kg1 Bf3 32.h3 and White is superior) 29...
Kh8 30.Bh5! Bg2 31.Kg1 Rg8 32.Bf7 Rgd8 33.c4! Bf3 34.Bd5 Bd5
35.cd5 and White is winning; 28...Bg2?! 29.Kg1 Bf3 30.Re3 Bc6 31.
Ree7 Kh8 32.Bf7 and White is superior; 28...Kg7!? (Sherbakov,R)
29.h3 (29.f5? Re8 30.Rf7 Kh6 31.Rf6 Kg7 32.Rf7 Kh6 33.Rc1 Bg2
34.Kg1 Bf3!) 29...Bg2 30.Kg1 Kh6 31.Re3 (31.Bf7 Rfd8 with
compensation) 31...Bc6 32.Rd3 Rg8 33.Kf1 Rh2 34.Rf7 and White
is slightly better] 29.h3 Rf4 30.Ree7 Rf1 31.Kh2 Rf2 32.Rc6!
bc6 33.Rf7 (and White is winning) Rf4 [33...Rf7 34.b7] 34.c3
Re4 35.Re7 1-0 [Rublevsky]
6.Mi.Adams 2734 Nisipeanu 2693

100/181 [C07]
Sofia 2007
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.ed5 Qd5 5.Ngf3 cd4 6.Bc4 Qd6

7.0-0 Nf6 8.Nb3 Nc6 9.Nbd4 Nd4 10.Nd4 a6 11.Re1 Bd7 12.
Bg5! Qc5? [12...Be7?! 13.Nf5 Qd1 14.Ng7 Kf8 15.Rad1 with
initiative; better is 12...0-0-0 see 98/205] 13.Be6! [13.Bf6 gf6 14.
Be6!] 13...fe6 14.Bf6 gf6 15.Ne6 Be6 16.Re6 Be7 [a novelty;
16...Kf7 17.Qd7 Be7 (17...Kg6 18.Rae1 Qf5 19.R1e3 and White is
winning) 18.Rae1 Rhe8 19.Qb7 and White is superior]
17.b4! [17.Qe2 Rf8 (17...Kf7 18.Re1 Rae8 19.Qe4 and White is

slightly better) 18.Qe4 (18.Re1 Rf7 and Black is slightly better) 18...
Rf7 19.Qb7 Rd8 20.Qa6 Kf8 and White is slightly better] 17...Qc3!
[17...Qc4 18.Qd6 and White is winning; 17...Qb4 18.Rb1 Qc4 19.
Qd6 and White is winning; 17...Qc7 18.Qh5 Kf8 19.Rae1 Re8 20.
Rf6 and White is winning; 17...Qb5 a) 18.c4 Qd7 (18...Qc4 19.Qd6
and White is winning) 19.Qh5 Kf8 20.Rae1 Re8 21.Qh6 Kf7 22.g3
and White is superior; b) 18.Qg4! 18...Rf8 (18...Kf7 19.Re7 Ke7 20.
Qg7 Kd6 21.Rd1 Kc6 22.Qf6 Kc7 23.Qd6 Kc8 24.Rd5 and White is
winning) 19.Rae1 and White is winning] 18.Re3 Qc7 [only move;
18...Qc4 19.Qd6 and White is winning; 18...Qb2 19.Qe1 and White
is winning; 18...Qc6 19.Qe2 and White is winning] 19.Qh5 Kf8
[19...Kd8 20.Rd1 Kc8 21.Qf5 Kb8 22.Rd7 and White is winning] 20.
Rae1 Re8 [only move; 20...Bb4 21.Re8 Kg7 22.Qg4 Kf7 23.Rh8
Rh8 24.Qb4 and White is winning; 20...Bd6 21.Re6 Qc3 22.g3 and
White is winning] 21.Qh6 [21.Rg3 Rd8! (21...Qf4 22.Ree3 Rd8 23.
Rg7! and White is winning) 22.Qh6 Ke8 23.Qf6 Rf8 24.Qg7 and
White is superior] 21...Kf7 22.Qh5 Kf8 23.Qh6 Kf7 24.c3! [24.
Rg3 Reg8 25.Qh5 Kf8 26.Rge3 Bd6 27.Re8 Kg7 28.Qg4 Kf7 equal]
24...Rhg8 [24...b5 25.Qh5 Kf8 26.Rg3 Qf4 (26...Rd8 27.Qh6 Ke8
28.Qf6 Rf8 29.Qa6 and White is winning) 27.Ree3 Rd8 28.Rg7 and
White is winning; 24...Qc4!? 25.h3 (25.a3? Qg4! 26.Rg3 Bd6; 25.
Rg3 Rhg8 26.Qh7 Kf8 27.Qh6 Kf7; 25.Re7 Re7 26.Re7 Ke7 27.Qg7
Ke6 28.Qh8 Qc3 29.Qe8 Kd6 30.Qf8 Kd7 31.g4 and White is
superior) 25...Qa2 a) 26.Qh5 Kf8 27.Qh4 Rg8 (27...Kf7 28.Qd4
Rhf8 29.Qd7 and White is winning) 28.Qh6 Rg7 29.Re7 Ree7 30.
Re7 Ke7 31.Qg7 Qf7 32.Qg3 and White is superior; b) 26.Rg3 26...
Rhg8 27.Qh7 Kf8 28.Qh6 Kf7 29.Rge3 Qc2 30.Qh5 (30.Re4 Qc3 31.
Re7 Re7 32.Qh7 Rg7 33.Re7 Ke7 34.Qg7 Ke6 and White is
superior) 30...Kf8 31.Qd5 Rg7 (31...b5 32.Re7 and White is
winning; 31...Qg6 32.Qb7 Rg7 33.c4 Qg5 34.c5 and White is
winning) 32.Qb7 Qg6 33.c4 and White is winning] 25.Qh7 Rg7 26.
Qh5 Kf8 27.g3 Qd7 [27...Rd8 28.Qh8 Rg8 29.Qh6 and White is
winning] 28.Re6 Rg5 29.Qh8 Kf7 30.Qh7 Rg7 [30...Kf8 31.h4
Rg7 32.Qh8 Rg8 33.Qh6 and White is winning] 31.Qh5 Rg6 [31...
Kg8 32.Rf6 and White is winning; better is 31...Kf8 32.h4! (32.c4
Rg5! 33.Qh8 Rg8 34.Qh6 Rg7 35.c5 Kg8 36.Qh5 Rf8) 32...Kg8 33.
Rf6 and White is winning] 32.c4 [better is 32.f4 Bc5 (32...Kg7 33.
f5 Rg5 34.Qe8 Qe8 35.Re7 Qe7 36.Re7 and White is winning) 33.
bc5 Re6 34.Re6 Qe6 35.f5 Qe1 36.Kg2 and White is winning] 32...
Kg7 33.Qd5 [better is 33.c5 Rg5 (33...Qd8 34.a4 Qd7 35.b5 and
White is winning) 34.Qe8 and White is winning] 33...Qc7 34.Qe4
Kf7 35.c5 Qd7 [35...Rh6 36.Rb6 Rb8 37.c6 Rhh8 (37...Qb6 38.
Qe7 Kg6 39.Qe4 Kg7 40.Qg4 Kf8 41.Qf4 and White is winning) 38.
Rb7 Rb7 39.cb7 Rb8 40.Qh7 Kf8 41.Re7 and White is winning] 36.
Qf5 Kg7 37.Qe4 Kf7 38.Qf5 Kg7 39.Qh5 [39...Qd8 40.a4 Qd7
41.b5 ab5 42.ab5 Qc7 43.c6 bc6 44.bc6 Qa7 45.Kg2 Qc7 46.f4 and
White is winning] 1-0 [Mi.Adams]
7.A.Onischuk 2663 Shabalov 2606

USA (ch) 2007 100/331 [D44]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bg5 dc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5
h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Ng5 hg5 10.Bg5 Nbd7 11.ef6 Qa5 12.Be2 [12.
g3 see 81/(362)] 12...Bb7 13.0-0 0-0-0 14.Qc1!? c5 15.Rd1 [a
novelty; 15.dc5] 15...cd4?! [15...Bd6 16.h4 cd4 17.Rd4 Be5
unclear 18.Qe3!? (18.Rd1 Kb8 19.a3 Qb6 20.Qe3 Qe3 21.fe3 a6
equal) 18...Bd4 19.Qd4 a6 (19...e5 20.Qd6 b4 21.Rc1! with attack;
19...Kb8 20.Qd6 Ka8 21.b4! Qb6 22.Qb6 Nb6 23.Nb5 and White is
slightly better) 20.Ne4 Be4 21.Qe4 with compensation] 16.Rd4
Bc5?
17.b4!! Qb4 [17...Bb4 18.Nb5 Qb5 19.Rc4 Kb8 20.Rb1! and White
is winning; 17...Qc7 18.Bf4 (18.Rh4? Rh4 19.Bh4 Rg8 20.Bg3 Rg3
21.hg3 Qg3 22.Qf1 Bb6 with initiative) 18...Qc6 19.Bf3 Bd4 (19...
Qf3 20.gf3 Bd4 21.Nb5 Nb6 22.Nd4 Rd4 23.Bg3 and White is
winning) 20.Bc6 Bc6 21.a4 Rdg8!? (21...a6 22.ab5 ab5 23.Nb5!

Bb5 24.Ra5 and White is winning) 22.Bg3 Ne5 23.ab5 Rg3!? (23...
Nf3!? 24.Kf1 Nh2 25.Bh2 Rh2 26.bc6 Rh1 27.Ke2 Rc1 28.Rc1 Rg2
29.Ne4 and White is superior) 24.hg3 Nf3! 25.Kf1 Rh1 26.Ke2 Rc1
27.Rc1 Ne5! 28.bc6 Nd3 29.Rh1! Bc3 30.Rh8 Kc7 31.b5 Bf6 32.Rh7
Bd4 (32...Ne5 33.f4) 33.Rf7 Kc8 34.g4 and White is superior] 18.
Rb1 Qb1 [18...Qa5 19.Rb5 Qc7 20.Bf4 e5 21.Rc4 ef4 22.Ne4 and
White is winning] 19.Qb1 Bd4 20.Nb5 Ne5 21.Bf4! (and White is
winning) Nc6 [21...Rh4 22.Qc1] 22.Nd6 Rd6 23.Bd6 c3 24.Bf3
Bb6 25.Bb4! Bd4 [25...Nb4 26.Qb4 Bf3 27.Qc3] 26.Bc3 [26...Bc3
27.Qc1] 1-0 [A.Onischuk]
8.I.Ivanisevic 2595 Miladinovic 2605

Srbija 2007 100/342 [D47]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dc4 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bc4 e6 5.Nf3 a6 6.0-0 b5 7.Bb3
Bb7 8.Nc3 Nbd7 9.Re1 c5 10.e4 cd4 11.Nd4 Ne5! [11...Bc5 12.
e5 Ne5 13.Ne6! Qd1 14.Ng7 Kf8 15.Nd1 Nf3 16.gf3 Kg7 17.Re5 and
White is slightly better; 11...Nc5 12.e5 with initiative (12.Bg5 see
66/(380)) 12...Nb3 (12...Nfe4 13.Bc2 Nc3 14.bc3 Qd5 15.Qg4 h5
16.Qh3) 13.ab3 Nd5 (13...Nd7 14.Qg4) 14.Ne4] 12.Nd5!? [a
novelty; 12.f3; 12.Bf4] 12...Bc5 13.Bf4 [13.Bg5!?] 13...ed5?
[better is 13...Nfd7] 14.ed5 0-0 15.Re5! [15.Be5 Bd5 16.Bd5
Qd5 17.Nf5 Rad8! equal] 15...Bd6 16.Nf5 Be5 17.Be5 Bc8 [only
move; 17...Rc8 18.Qd4 and White is superior]
18.Ng7! Ng4 [18...Kg7 19.Qh5! h6 20.Re1 Bd7 (with the idea

Rc8; 20...Ra7 (with the idea Rc7) 21.Qh4! and White is winning) 21.
g4! Re8 (21...Rg8 22.g5 hg5 23.Bc2! and White is winning) 22.g5
Re5 23.gf6 Qf6 24.Qe5 and White is superior] 19.Bd4 Qh4 20.h3
Nf6 21.Rc1 [with the idea 22.Rc6, 22.Rc3] 21...Kg7 22.Rc3
[better is 22.Rc6 Be6 23.Rc3! and White is winning] 22...Re8 [22...
a5 23.Rg3 Kh8 24.Be5! and White is winning] 23.Rg3 Kh8 24.Bc3

[with the idea Qh5!] 24...b4 25.Qd4 Re1 26.Kh2 1-0 [I.
Ivanisevic]
9.I.Rogers 2526 R.Berzinsh 2429

Great Britain 2007 100/430 [E38]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 c5 5.dc5 Bc5 6.Nf3 Qb6 7.
e3 Qc7 8.a3 b6 [8...a6 see 55/550] 9.b4 Be7 10.Bb2 a6 11.Be2
[11.Ne4!? Ne4 (11...Bb7!?) 12.Qe4 f5! 13.Qe5 (13.Qa8 Bb7 and
Black is slightly better) 13...Qe5 14.Be5 0-0 15.Rd1 and White is
slightly better] 11...Bb7 12.0-0 d6 13.Rac1 Nbd7 14.Rfd1 Rc8
15.Qb1 Qb8 16.Qa1 [a novelty; 16.Nd2; 16.Nd4] 16...0-0 17.
Rd4!? Qa8 18.Rcd1 Rfe8! 19.Ne1!? Ne5 [19...Bf8! 20.f3 (20.
Bf3?! Bf3 21.Nf3 e5 22.Rh4 Qb7 and Black is slightly better) 20...d5
equal] 20.Na4! Ned7 [20...Qa7 21.Rd6!? Bd6 22.Rd6 with
compensation] 21.Rd6! Bd6 22.Rd6 Qb8 [22...Rc6 23.Rd2 with
compensation] 23.Rb6! Nb6 [23...e5 24.c5! Nb6 25.Nb6 Rcd8 26.
Nc4 e4 (26...Nd7 27.Nd3 f6 28.Nd6 and White is superior) 27.Be5
Re5 28.Ne5 and White is slightly better] 24.Nb6 Rcd8 25.Be5!
Qa7 26.c5 Rd2 27.Kf1 Bc6? [27...a5! 28.Bf6! (28.b5?! Ne4!) 28...
gf6 29.Qc3 Re2 30.Ke2 Ba6 31.Kf3 and White is slightly better] 28.
Bf6 gf6 29.Qf6 Bb5 30.Bb5 ab5 31.Nf3 Rc2 [31...Rdd8 32.Ke2!
Qa3 (32...Qe7 33.Qe7 Re7 34.Nd4 and White is superior) 33.Ne5
with attack] 32.Nd4 [32.Qg5! Kf8 (only move; 32...Kh8 33.Qe5
Kg8 34.Nd5! and White is winning) 33.Ne5! Rd2 34.Qh6 Kg8 35.
Ng4 and White is winning] 32...Qa3!? [32...Ra2 33.Nd5!! Qb8
(33...ed5 34.Nf5 and White is winning; 33...Ra1 34.Ke2 Ra2 35.Kf3
Qa8 36.c6 and White is winning) 34.Nf4 Qd8 35.Nh5 Qf6 36.Nf6 Kf8
37.Ne8 Ke8 38.Nb5 and White is superior] 33.Qg5 Kh8 34.Qe5
Kg8
35.g4!! [35.Nc2 Qd3 36.Ke1 Qc2 37.Nd7 Qc1 38.Ke2 Qc2 equal,
with the idea39.Kf3?? Qd1 and Black is winning] 35...Qa1 [35...
Qd3 36.Kg2 Rc1 37.Nd7 Qf1 38.Kg3 Qg1 39.Kh4 Qf2 40.Kh5 and
White is winning; 35...f6!? 36.Qf6 Rf2! (RR36...Qd3!? 37.Kg2 Qe4
38.Kg3 Rc1) 37.Kf2!! (37.Qf2 Rf8 38.Nf3 Qb4 39.Nd7 and White is
superior) 37...Rf8 38.Qf8! Kf8 39.c6 and White is winning] 36.Kg2
Rc1 37.Nd7! Rg1 38.Kh3 Qf1 39.Kh4 Qf2 40.Kh5! [40.Kg5? h6!
41.Kh5 Rh1 42.Nf6 Qf6! 43.Qf6 Rh2 and Black is superior] 40...f6
[40...Ra8 41.Nf6 (RR41.Nc6!) 41...Kf8 42.Qd6 Kg7 43.Ne6! and
White is winning; 40...Rf1 41.Nf5! Qf5 42.gf5 Rf5 43.Qf5 ef5 44.Nf6
and White is winning] 41.Nf6 Kf7 [41...Kf8 42.Nf5! and White is
winning] 42.Ne8 1-0 [I.Rogers]
10.Sergey Karjakin 2686 Van Wely 2674

Foros 2007 100/168 [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nf3
Be7 8.Bc4 0-0 9.0-0 Nc6 10.Re1 b5 11.Bf1 Rb8 12.Bg5 Ng4
13.Bc1!? [13.Bd2 see 99/(169)] 13...Qb6 14.Qd2 Nf6 15.h3?!
[15.Nd5! Nd5 16.ed5 Na5 17.Qb4 Qc7 (17...Re8 18.a4 and White is
superior; 17...Bd8 18.a4 Qc7 19.ab5 ab5 20.Nd2 and White is
slightly better) 18.a4 and White is slightly better] 15...Re8! [a
novelty; equal; 15...Be6] 16.Qd1 [16.Nd5 Nd5 17.ed5 Nd4 18.Nd4
ed4 equal] 16...h6 [16...Nd4 17.Be3 Nf3 18.Qf3 Qc7 19.Bd3
equal] 17.b3 Bf8 18.a4 b4 19.Nd5 Nd5 20.ed5 Na5 [20...Ne7
21.a5 Qb7 22.Bc4 Bd7 23.Be3 Bb5 24.Bb6 unclear] 21.Be3 Qc7?!
[21...Qb7! (weak point Nf3, d5) 22.g4!? with counterplay] 22.Nd2!
[ and White is slightly better, with the idea Nc4, Rc1, c3] 22...f5
[22...g6 23.Nc4 Bg7 (23...Kh7 24.Rc1 and White is slightly better)
24.Rc1 and White is slightly better] 23.Nc4 Be7? [23...g6 24.Rc1
and White is slightly better] 24.Qh5 Rf8 [24...Bd7 25.Bh6 gh6 26.
Qg6 Kf8 27.Be2 and White is superior] 25.Na5 Qa5 26.Bh6! gh6
27.Qg6 Kh8 28.Qh6 Kg8 29.Qg6 Kh8
30.Re3!! [30.Re5 Qd8 unclear] 30...f4 31.Re5 de5 32.Qh6 Kg8

33.d6! (and White is winning) Rf7 [33...Kf7 34.Qh7; 33...Bb7 34.
de7 Rfe8 35.Bc4 Bd5 36.Qg6 Kh8 37.Qh5] 34.Bc4 [34.Qg6 Kf8 35.
Bc4] 34...Bf5 [34...Qd8 35.de7 Qe7 36.Qg6 Kh8 37.Bf7 Qf8 38.
Re1] 35.de7 [35.Qh5] 1-0 [Sergey Karjakin]

The 1,000 Best of the Best

Zdenko Krnic
Check out these

USCFSales.com:
The manuscript for our new book, crowning forty-two years of Chess
Informant, is in its final phase. The foreword gives a foretaste of the
inexhaustible source of chess creativity that you will be able to enjoy for many
years:
In the second half of 20th century, the game of chess swept around the
world. The Royal Game had become a game of the people. Chess
Informant appeared, collecting some of the most precious games created
by chess players. From millions of games played at some of the most
important tournaments worldwide, 101,031 games have been published
in the first 100 volumes of Chess Informant (1966-2008). In addition,
each volume featured the ten best games of the previous volume, as
selected and voted by a jury of grandmasters. Now we are proud to
present a new book, featuring the complete collection of these ten best
games from Chess Informant 1,000, the Best of the Best. 1,000 stands
alone as a unique tribute to excellence in chess.
ECO A E (CD)
Eighty-five members of the jury selected the 1,000 Best of the Best games,
among which are the greatest names of chess: Euwe, Botvinnik, Smyslov, Tal,
Petrosian, Karpov, Anand, Chiburdanidze, Xie Jun, Judit Polgar, Pirc,
Lilienthal, Flor, Kotov, Bondarevsky, Najdorf, Korchnoi, Larsen, Gligoric,
Ljubojevic, and Bronstein to name just a few. All the games are annotated, and
all the golden games (the winning game from each volume) are illustrated by a
photograph or a caricature of the winner.
If you buy the book, you can participate in a contest and vote for the ten best
games out of the 100 golden games and win some of the valuable Chess
Informant product prizes valued at 10,000 EUR. The task before you is not an
easy one, but it will offer you hours and hours of enjoyment.
Play through and download the

games from ChessCafe.com in the
DGT Game Viewer.
The Complete
DGT Product Line
On this occasion we present five of the winning 100 games, one from each
decade. The unforgettable Bobby Fischer showed in his victory against
Unzicker that beauty in chess is not only found in material sacrifice, but also in
subtle positional play. In the seventies, Ljubomir Ljubojevic announced his
superb talent in the game against Durao. The great champion Garry Kasparov
achieved fifteen winning games during his fruitful career, only one ahead of his
rival Anatoly Karpov. Kasparov himself could not decide which of the two
chosen games was more favorable to him. Finally, reigning champion Anand is
represented by a game from the first decade of this century that illustrates the
cavalier approach of the current generation to material.
1.Fischer W.Unzicker
Siegen (ol) 1970 11/221 [C69]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bc6 dc6 5.0-0 f6 [5...Bg4!?] 6.d4 ed4 [6...Bg4 7.de5
and White is slightly better] 7.Nd4 Ne7 8.Be3 Ng6 9.Nd2! Bd6 10.Nc4 0-0 11.Qd3!
(and White is slightly better) Ne5 12.Ne5 Be5 [12...fe5 13.Qb3 Kh8 14.Ne6 Be6 15.
Qe6 and White is superior] 13.f4! Bd6 [13...Bd4 14.Bd4 and White is superior] 14.f5
Qe7 15.Bf4 Bf4 16.Rf4 Bd7 17.Re1 Qc5 18.c3 Rae8 19.g4 Qd6 20.Qg3 Re7?! [20...
c5!?] 21.Nf3 c5
Anthology of Chess
Combinations (CD)
The Best of Chess Informant Viswanathan

Anand (CD)
22.e5!! (and White is superior) fe5 23.Rfe4 Bc6 24.Re5 Rfe8 25.Re7 Re7 26.Ne5 h6
27.h4 Bd7 28.Qf4 Qf6 29.Re2!! Bc8 [29...Qh4? 30.Ng6 and White is winning] 30.
Qc4 Kh7 31.Ng6 Re2 32.Qe2 (and White is winning) Bd7 33.Qe7 Qe7 34.Ne7 g5 35.
hg5 hg5 36.Nd5! Bc6 37.Nc7 Bf3 38.Ne8 Kh6 39.Nf6 Kg7 40.Kf2 Bd1 41.Nd7! c4
[41...Bg4 42.f6 Kg8 43.f7! and White is winning] 42.Kg3 1-0 [V.Sokolov]
2.Ljubojevic 2565 J.Durao 2330

Orense 1974 17/286 [C64]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.0-0 Nd4 5.Nd4 Bd4 6.c3 Bb6 7.d4 c6 8.Ba4 d6 9.
Na3 Bc7 [9...Nf6 10.Bg5 (10.Bc2 Be6 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bf6 Qf6 13.d5 Bd7 14.Nc4 Bc7
15.Qd3 and White is slightly better) h6 11.Bf6 Qf6 12.d5 Bd7 13.Nc4 Bc7 14.dc6 bc6
15.Qd3 and White is slightly better] 10.d5! [and White is slightly better; 10.f4 Qh4!?;
10.Bc2!?] Bd7 [10...b5? 11.Bb3 Bb7 12.dc6 Bc6 13.Bd5 and White is superior] 11.
dc6 bc6 [11...Bc6?! 12.Bc6 bc6 13.Qg4 and White is superior] 12.Nc4 Qe7 13.f4!
Nf6 14.fe5 de5 15.b3! (and White is superior) Bb6 [15...Ne4?! 16.Ba3 and White is
superior] 16.Kh1 Ne4 17.Ba3! Qe6 [with the idea 18...Ng3 19.hg3 Qh6 mate; 17...
Qh4 18.Qd3! Nf2 19.Rf2 Qf2 20.Nd6 Kd8 21.Rf1 with the idea Nf7 and White is
winning; 17...Bc5 18.Bc5 Qc5 19.Rf7!! Kf7 20.Qd7 Kg6 21.Qg4 Ng5 22.h4 h6 23.b4
and White is winning; 23.Re1 and White is winning] 18.Qd3! f5 [18...Nf2? 19.Rf2
Bf2 20.Nd6 Kd8 21.Qf3 and White is winning] 19.Rae1! [with the idea Re4, Nd6 and
White is winning] Bc7 [19...0-0-0? 20.Nb6 with the idea Qa6 and White is winning]
20.Rf5!! (and White is winning) Qf5 21.Re4 [with the idea 22.Bc6 Bc6 23.Re5 Qe5
24.Ne5 Be5 25.Qf5 and White is winning] 0-0-0 [21...Rd8 22.Qe2] 22.Nd6 Bd6 23.
Qa6! [23.Bd6?! Be8! 24.Qa6 Kd7 25.Bc5 Qe4 26.Qa7 Ke6 27.Qe7 Kf5 28.Qd8
unclear] Kc7 [23...Kb8 24.Bd6 Ka8 25.Bc6] 24.Qa7 Kc8 25.Bb5!! [25...cb5?? 26.
Qa6 Kc7 27.Bd6 mate; 25...Rdf8 26.Bd6! Qf1 27.Bf1 Rf1 28.Qg1 Rg1 29.Kg1 with
the idea Re5 and White is winning] 1-0 [Z.Krnic]
3.Karpov 2720 Kasparov 2700

Moscow (m/16) 1985 40/202 [B44]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Nf6 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 d5 9.cd5
[9.ed5 ed5 10.Nd5 Nd5 11.cd5 (11.Qd5? Bb4 12.Bd2 Qe7 13.Be2 Bg4) Bb4 12.Bd2
Qd5 equal] ed5 10.ed5 Nb4 11.Be2!? [11.Bg5 Nbd5 12.Nd5 Qd5 13.Bf6 (13.Qd5
Nd5 14.0-0-0 Be6 15.Bc4 Nc7! equal) Qd1 14.Rd1 gf6 equal] Bc5! [11...Nbd5 12.0-0
Be7 (12...Ba3? 13.Qa4) 13.Nd5 Nd5 14.Bf3 Be6 15.Nc2 and White is slightly better]
12.0-0 0-0 13.Bf3 [13.Bg5 Nbd5 14.Nd5 Qd5 15.Bf6 Qd1 equal] Bf5 [weak point
Na3] 14.Bg5 [14.Be3 Be3 15.fe3 Qb6 with counterplay] Re8! [14...b5? 15.Be4!] 15.
Qd2 [15.Nc4 Bd3 16.a3 Bc4 (16...Bf1? 17.ab4 Bc4 18.bc5 and White is superior) 17.
ab4 Bb4 18.Re1 unclear] b5 16.Rad1 [16.Qf4 Bg6 17.Bf6 Qf6 18.Qf6 gf6 equal]
Nd3! 17.Nab1? [17.Be2? Nf2 18.Rf2 b4; 17.d6! Qd6!? (17...b4? 18.Ba8 Qa8 19.Na4
ba3 20.Bf6 gf6 21.Nc5 Nc5 22.Qd5 and White is superior; 17...Ra7 18.Nd5) 18.Ba8
Ra8 with compensation] h6! 18.Bh4 b4! 19.Na4 [19.Ne2 g5! 20.Bg5 Nf2 and Black
is superior] Bd6 20.Bg3 [20.Qc2? Rc8 21.Qb3 Nf4 22.Rc1 Rc1 23.Rc1 g5 24.Bg3 g4
and Black is winning] Rc8 [20...Ne4?! 21.Be4 Be4 22.Qe3! unclear; 20...Bg3!? 21.
fg3 (with the idea Be2; 21.hg3 Qa5 22.b3 Rad8) Qd7! 22.b3 (22.Be2? Qa7) Nd5 23.
Nb2 Qa7 24.Kh1 Nb2 (24...Rad8? 25.Bd5 Rd5 26.Rf5!) 25.Qb2 (25.Bd5? Nd1 26.Rf5
Rad8! 27.Qd1 Qd7) Ne3 26.Ba8 Nd1 27.Rd1 Qa8 and Black is superior] 21.b3 [with
the idea Nb2]
21...g5!! 22.Bd6 [22.Nb2? Nb2 23.Qb2 g4; 22.Be2? Ne4; 22.h4 Ne4 (22...g4? 23.Be2
Ne4 24.Qh6 unclear; 22...Nf4!?) 23.Be4 Be4 24.hg5 (24.Bd6 Qd6 25.hg5 Nf4!; 24.
Qe3 Bf4! 25.Qd4 gh4) Bg3 25.fg3 Qd5 26.gh6 (26.Qe3? Bg2) Rc6! with attack] Qd6
23.g3 [23.Be2 Nf4 24.Bc4 Ng4 25.g3 Rc4! 26.bc4 Re2 27.c5 (27.Qd4 Be4) Qg6 28.
gf4 Qh5 and Black is winning] Nd7! 24.Bg2 [24.Nb2 Qf6!! a) 25.Nd3 Bd3 26.Bg4
(26.Qd3 Ne5 and Black is winning) Ne5 27.f4 Ng4 28.Qd3 Qb6 and Black is
winning; b) 25.Nc4 N7e5 26.Ne5 (26.Be2 Bh3) Ne5 27.Bg2 (27.Be2 Bd3! and Black
is winning) Bd3 28.f4 (28.Rfe1 Nf3) Rc2 29.Qe3 Bf1 30.Rf1 gf4 and Black is
winning] Qf6! 25.a3 a5 26.ab4 ab4 27.Qa2 Bg6 28.d6 [28.Nd2 Re2 and Black is
winning; 28.Bh3 Rcd8 with the idea N7e5 and Black is winning] g4! [28...Qd6? 29.
Nd2] 29.Qd2 Kg7 30.f3 [30.f4 Bf5!] Qd6 31.fg4 Qd4 32.Kh1 Nf6 33.Rf4 [33.h3
Re3! (33...Ne4? 34.Qd3 Nf2 35.Rf2 Bd3 36.Rfd2) 34.Rf4 Qe5 and Black is winning]
Ne4 34.Qd3 Nf2 35.Rf2 Bd3 36.Rfd2 Qe3! 37.Rd3 Rc1!! 38.Nb2 Qf2! 39.Nd2 Rd1
[39...Re2!] 40.Nd1 Re1 0-1 [Kasparov]
4.Kasparov 2812 Topalov 2700

Wijk aan Zee 1999 74/110 [B07]
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 Bg7 5.Qd2 c6 6.f3 b5 7.Nge2 Nbd7 8.Bh6 Bh6 9.
Qh6 Bb7 [9...Qa5 10.Nc1 and White is slightly better] 10.a3 e5 11.0-0-0 Qe7 12.Kb1
a6 [12...a5?! 13.Nc1 b4 14.de5! de5 15.Na4 ba3 16.b3 and White is superior] 13.Nc1
0-0-0 14.Nb3 ed4! 15.Rd4 c5 16.Rd1 Nb6! 17.g3 [17.a4?! b4 18.a5 bc3 19.ab6 Nd7
and Black is slightly better; 17.Na5 d5 18.Nb7 (18.g3 d4 unclear) Kb7 19.ed5 Nbd5
20.Nd5 Nd5 21.Bd3 f5 22.Rhe1 Qc7 23.Bf1 c4 unclear] Kb8 18.Na5 Ba8 19.Bh3 d5
20.Qf4 Ka7 21.Rhe1 d4 [21...de4? 22.fe4 and White is superior] 22.Nd5 [22.Na2
Rhe8 unclear] Nbd5 23.ed5 Qd6
24.Rd4!! cd4? [24...Bd5?! 25.Rd5! Nd5 26.Qf7 Nc7 27.Re6 Rd7 28.Rd6 Rf7 29.Nc6
Ka8 30.f4 and White is slightly better; 24...Kb6! 25.Nb3! (25.Qd2? Nd5! 26.Rd3 c4
27.b4 Ka7 and Black is superior; 25.b4?! Qf4 26.Rf4 Nd5 27.Rf7 cb4 28.ab4 Nb4 29.
Nb3 Rd6 and Black is slightly better) Bd5! (25...cd4? 26.Qd4 Kc7 27.Qa7 Bb7 28.
Nc5 Rb8 29.Re7 and White is winning; 25...Nd5? 26.Qf7 Rhf8 27.Qg7 Rg8 28.Qh6
Qf8 29.Rh4 and White is superior) 26.Qd6 Rd6 27.Rd2 Rhd8 28.Red1 equal] 25.Re7!
[25.Qd4? Qb6 26.Re7 Nd7 and Black is superior] Kb6 [25...Kb8 26.Qd4! Nd7 27.
Bd7 Bd5 28.c4! Qe7 29.Qb6 Ka8 30.Qa6 Kb8 31.Qb6 Ka8 32.Bc6! Bc6 33.Nc6 and
White is winning] 26.Qd4 Ka5 [26...Qc5 27.Qf6 Qd6 28.Be6!! Bd5 (28...Rhe8 29.b4!
and White is winning) 29.b4! Ba8 30.Qf7 Qd1 31.Kb2 Qf3 32.Bf5 and White is
winning] 27.b4 Ka4 28.Qc3 [28.Ra7! Bb7 (28...Nd5 29.Ra6!! Qa6 30.Qb2 Nc3 31.
Qc3 Bd5 32.Kb2 and White is winning; 28...Bd5 29.Qc3 Rhe8 30.Kb2 Re2 31.Qc7!
and White is winning) 29.Rb7 Qd5 (29...Nd5 30.Bd7! Rd7 31.Qb2 Nb4 32.Rd7 Qc5
33.Rd4 Rc8 34.Qb3 and White is winning) 30.Rb6 a5 (30...Ra8 31.Qf6 a5 32.Bf1
Rhb8 33.Rd6 and White is winning) 31.Ra6 Ra8 32.Qe3!! Ra6 33.Kb2 ab4 34.ab4
Qa2 35.Ka2 Kb4 36.Kb2 Rc6 37.Bf1 Ra8 38.Qe7 Ka5 39.Qb7 and White is winning]
Qd5 [28...Bd5 29.Kb2 and White is winning] 29.Ra7! [29.Qc7? Qd1 equal] Bb7 30.
Rb7 Qc4 [30...Rd6 31.Rb6!! and White is winning; 30...Rhe8! 31.Rb6 Ra8 32.Bf1!!
Re1! (32...Red8 33.Rc6! Nh5 34.Rc5 Rac8 35.Kb2! and White is winning; 32...Nd7 33.
Rd6! Rec8 34.Qb2 and White is winning; 32...Re6 33.Re6 fe6 34.Kb2 and White is
winning) 33.Qe1 Nd7 34.Rb7!! Qb7 35.Qd1! Ka3 36.c3 and White is winning; 30...
Ne4! 31.fe4 Qc4 a) 32.Qe3? Rc8 33.Bc8 Rc8 34.Qc1 Qd4! equal; b) 32.Qc4? bc4 33.
Kb2 f5 34.ef5 c3 (34...Rd6 35.fg6 c3 36.Ka2 hg6 37.Bf1 and White is winning) 35.
Kc3 Ka3 36.f6 Rd6 37.f7 Rc6 38.Kd4 Rc2 39.Bf1 and White is superior; c) 32.Ra7!!
Rd1 33.Kb2 Qc3 34.Kc3 Rd6 35.e5 Rb6 36.Kb2 Re8 37.Bg2! Rd8 (37...Re5 38.Bb7
and White is winning) 38.Bb7 Rd7 39.Bc6!! Rd8 40.Bd7 and White is winning] 31.
Qf6 Ka3 [31...Rd1! 32.Kb2 Ra8 33.Qb6! Qd4 34.Qd4 Rd4 35.Rf7 (35.Bd7!? Rd2 36.
Bc6 f5 37.Rb6 Ra7 38.Be8 Rd4 39.f4 Rc4 40.Bf7 Rb4 41.ab4 Rf7 42.c3 Ra7 43.Re6
and White is winning) a5 36.Be6 ab4 37.Bb3 Ka5 38.ab4 Kb6 (38...Rb4 39.c3 and
White is winning) 39.Rh7 Rc8 40.h4 and White is winning] 32.Qa6 Kb4 33.c3! Kc3
34.Qa1 Kd2 [34...Kb4 35.Qb2 Ka5 36.Qa3 Qa4 37.Ra7 and White is winning] 35.
Qb2 Kd1 36.Bf1! Rd2 37.Rd7! Rd7 38.Bc4 bc4 39.Qh8 Rd3 40.Qa8 c3 41.Qa4
Ke1 42.f4 f5 43.Kc1 Rd2 44.Qa7 1-0 [Kasparov]
5.Anand 2774 Bologan 2650

Dortmund 2003 88/77 [B17]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 de4 4.Ne4 Nd7 5.Ng5 Ngf6 6.Bd3 e6 7.N1f3 Bd6 8.Qe2 h6 9.
Ne4 Ne4 10.Qe4 Qc7 11.0-0 b6 12.Qg4 g5 13.Qh3 Rg8 14.Re1! Bf8! [14...g4 15.
Qh6 gf3 16.Re6 fe6 (16...Be7 17.Re7 Ke7 18.Bf4 and White is winning) 17.Qe6 Be7
18.Qg8 Nf8 19.Bg6! Kd7 20.Bf5 Ke8 21.Bh6! Qd6 (21...Bf5? 22.Re1) 22.Bf8 Bf8 23.
Re1 Kd8 24.Qf7 Be7 25.Bc8 Rc8 26.Qf3 and White is superior] 15.Qf5 [15.Re6 Kd8
only move a) 16.Bh7 Nc5 (16...Rg7 17.Qh6 fe6 18.Bg5 Rg5 19.Ng5! Bh6 20.Ne6 Ke7
21.Nc7 Rb8 22.Re1 Kf7 23.Ne6 c5 24.Nd8 Kg7 25.Bf5 and White is superior) 17.Bg8
Be6 18.Qg3 (18.Qh5 Ne4 19.Ne5 Nf6 20.Qf3 Bg7! 21.Nc6 Ke8 22.Nb4 Rd8) Bd6
(18...Qg3 19.hg3 Nd7 20.Bh7 Nf6 21.Bd3 Bd6) 19.Ne5 Kc8!; b) 16.Re1 Ne5! (16...
Nf6 17.Qg3! and White is superior) 17.Bf5 g4 18.Qh5 Nf3 19.gf3 Bf5 20.Qf5 Qd7!
21.Qd7 Kd7 22.Kg2 Bd6 and White is slightly better; c) 16.Rh6 c1) 16...Nf6 17.Bf5
g4 (17...Bh6 18.Qh6) 18.Qh4 Bh6 (18...gf3 19.Rf6! Rg2 20.Kh1 Bf5 21.Rf5 Kc8 22.
Rf3 and White is winning) 19.Bh6 gf3 20.Qf6 Qe7 21.Qc6 Bb7 (21...Rg2 22.Kh1 Rh2
23.Kh2 Qh4 24.Kg1 Bf5 25.Qa8 and White is winning) 22.Qb5 Rg2 23.Kh1 and
White is superior; c2) 16...Ne5! 17.Qg3! (17.Bf5? Nf3 18.gf3 Bh6 and Black is
superior) Nf3 (17...Nd3 18.Bg5 and White is winning) 18.Qf3 Bh6 19.Qf6 Qe7 20.
Qh6 Kc7! (20...Be6 21.f4! and White is superior) 21.Bd2 Be6 and White is slightly
better] Bg7 16.h4 [16.Re6? fe6 17.Qe6 Kf8 and Black is superior; 16.Bc4 Nf6 17.
Qd3 Bb7 18.Ne5 Nd5 19.Bd5 cd5] Kf8 [16...gh4? 17.Bf4 Qd8 18.Re6 and White is
winning] 17.Qh3 [17.Re6? Ne5 18.Ne5 Be6; 17...Nc5! and Black is superior] Rh8!
18.hg5 hg5 19.Qg4 c5 20.Bg5! [20.Qg5 Bb7 21.Bf4 Qd8 22.Ne5! Ne5 (22...cd4 23.
Nf7!) 23.de5 Bh6! 24.Qg4 Bf4 25.Qf4 Qh4 26.Qh4 Rh4 27.f3 Ke7 28.Kf2 and White
is slightly better] cd4 21.Rad1!! [21.Re6 Nc5 22.Be7 Kg8 and Black is superior; 21.
Be7 Kg8 22.Re4 f5! 23.Qg6 Rh6 24.Qe8 Nf8] Bb7 [21...Nc5 22.Bf4 Qd8 (22...e5 23.
Qg7) 23.Qg3 and White is winning; 21...a5 22.Bb5 e5 (22...Qc2 23.Nd4 Qh7 24.Ne6
fe6 25.Be7! and White is winning; 22...Ne5 23.Ne5 Be5 24.Qe4 Bh2 25.Kf1 Bb7 26.
Qd4 and White is winning) 23.Qg3! and White is superior; 21...a6 22.Be7 Kg8 23.
Bh4! with the idea Bg3 and White is superior]
22.Re6! fe6 [22...Bf3 23.Qf3 Qh2 24.Kf1 and White is winning] 23.Be7 Ke7 [23...
Kf7 24.Qg6 Ke7 25.Qg7] 24.Qg7 Kd6 25.Nd4! Qc5 26.Bf5 [26.Bb5?? Rh1 27.Kh1
Qh5 28.Kg1 Qd1 and Black is winning; 26.Nb5 Kc6 27.Be2 (27.Bf1 Rh1!) Rad8 28.
c4! Qe5 29.Na7 Kc5 30.Qe7] Qe5 27.Nf3 Qd5 28.Qg3 Ke7 29.Rd5 Bd5 30.Qg5
Kd6 31.Qf4 Ke7 32.Be4 (and White is winning) Rh5 33.Nh4 Rg8 34.Ng6 Kd8 35.
Qf7 [35.g4?? Rg6] Re8 36.Bd3 [36...Rg5 37.f3 Bc6 38.c4 and White is winning] 10 [Anand]


Part Two
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USCFSales.com:
Zdenko Krnic
This month we present five games from the 100 Golden Games that are
serious candidates for the ten best games ever published in Chess
Informant. A criterion for selection was that each game is less than
twenty-five moves.
The first volume of Chess Informant was printed in 1966 and promoted at
the Olympiad in La Habana, and the best game of Informant #2 was
played at that Olympiad. Grandmaster Portisch, a player of subtle
positional style, brought a valuable point to his team by way of effective
sacrifices.
ECO A-E (CD)
1. L.Portisch S.Johannessen
La Habana (ol) 1966 2/526 [D47]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dc4 7.Bc4 b5 8.
Bd3 b4 9.Ne4 Bb7 10.Nf6! Nf6 11.Qa4 Be7 12.Bd2 a5 13.e4! (and
White is superior) 0-0 14.e5 Nd7 15.Qc2 h6 16.h4! c5 17.Rh3 Bf3
Anthology of Chess
Combinations (CD)
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18.Bh6!! Bh4 [18...gh6 19.Rg3 Kh8 20.Qd2 Bg5 21.hg5 and White is
winning; 18...Bg4 19.Rg3 f5 20.Rg4! fg4 21.Bh7 Kh8 22.Bg7!! Kg7 23.
Qg6 Kh8 24.Bg8! and White is superior] 19.gf3 gh6 20.Ke2! Ne5 21.de5
Qd4 22.Rh4! (and White is winning) Qh4 23.Rg1 Kh8 24.Qc1! f6 25.
Rg6! 1-0 [V.Sokolov]
Tigran Petrosian was one of the best defensive players; he had a gift for
sensing the hidden dangers in a position, and he was nearly invincible in
defending difficult positions. He lost just one or two games per year. Yet
it was only an imprecise opening move that enabled Spassky to create an
irresistible attack in the nineteenth game of their 1969 match.
2. B.Spassky T.Petrosian
Moscow (m/19) 1969 7/428 [B94]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.Bc4 Qa5 8.
Qd2 h6?! 9.Bf6! Nf6 10.0-0-0 e6 [and White is superior; 10...e5!? 11.Nf5
Bf5 12.ef5 Be7 13.Kb1 Rc8 14.Bb3 Rc3! 15.Qc3 Qc3 16.bc3 Ne4 with
compensation] 11.Rhe1 Be7 12.f4 0-0 13.Bb3 Re8 14.Kb1 Bf8
The Best of Chess Informant

Viswanathan Anand (CD)
15.g4!! Ng4 [15...Nd7 16.h4 Nc5 17.g5 and White is superior] 16.Qg2
Nf6 17.Rg1! Bd7 18.f5 Kh8 19.Rdf1 Qd8? [19...e5 20.Ne6! fe6 21.fe6
Be6 22.Rf6 and White is winning; 19...Qe5!? and White is superior] 20.
fe6 fe6 [20...Be6 21.Ne6 fe6 22.e5 de5 23.Ne4! and White is winning] 21.
e5! de5 22.Ne4 Nh5 23.Qg6 ed4 [23...Nf4 24.Rf4 ef4 25.Nf3 Qb6 26.
Rg5!! Bc6 27.Nf6 and White is winning] 24.Ng5 [24...hg5 25.Qh5 Kg8
26.Qf7 Kh7 27.Rf3 and White is winning] 1-0 [E.Geller]
In 1970 the best players of the world gathered in Belgrade to challenge
the USSR team. Larsen, believing he had the best results at the time,
demanded to play first-board ahead of Fischer, and Fischer agreed!
Perhaps it was because of this responsibility that Larsen lost as white in a
miniature against the official world champion.
3. Be.Larsen B.Spassky
World USSR 1970 9/25 [A01]
1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nf3 e4 5.Nd4 Bc5 6.Nc6 dc6 7.e3 Bf5 8.
Qc2 Qe7 9.Be2 0-0-0 10.f4? [and White is superior, with the idea 11.Bf6
Qf6 12.Nc3] Ng4! 11.g3 h5 [11...Rd2 12.Nd2 Ne3 13.Qc3 Rd8 unclear]
12.h3 [12.Nc3 Rd2! and Black is winning]
12...h4! 13.hg4 [13.Bg4 Bg4 14.hg4 hg3 15.Rg1 Rh1! 16.Rh1 g2 17.Rg1
Qh4 18.Ke2 Qg4 19.Ke1 Qg3 20.Kd1 (20.Ke2 Qf3 21.Ke1 Be7 and Black
is winning) Qf2 21.Qe4 Qg1 22.Kc2 Qf2 and Black is winning] hg3 14.
Rg1 Rh1 15.Rh1 g2 16.Rf1 [16.Rg1 Qh4 17.Kd1 Qh1 18.Qc3 Qg1 19.
Kc2 Qf2 20.gf5 Qe2 21.Na3 Qd3 (21...Bb4 and Black is winning) 22.Qd3
ed3 23.Kc3 Be3 (23...a5 24.Nc2!) 24.de3 d2 25.Rd1 Rh8 and Black is
winning] Qh4 17.Kd1 gf1Q [18.Bf1 Bg4] 0-1 [B.Spassky]
Emil Sutovsky brings about a tactical conflict in a position whenever it is
possible. In the following game, he demonstrates his combinatory talent
by exploiting the constantly weak square f5.
4. E.Sutovsky 2657 I.Smirin 2683
Israel (ch) 2002 86/119 [B30]
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 e5 4.Bc4 d6 5.d3 Be7 6.0-0 Nf6 7.Ng5 0-0 8.f4
ef4 9.Bf4 h6 10.Nf3 Be6 11.Nd5 Bd5 12.ed5 Na5 13.Nh4! b5 [13...Nd5
14.Bd5 Bh4 15.Qh5 Bf6 16.Rae1 with the idea 16...Bb2 17.Bh6 gh6 18.
Qg6 Bg7 19.Rf7 Rf7 20.Bf7; 13...g5 14.Nf5 gf4 a) 15.Re1 Re8 16.Bb5
Bf8 17.Be8 Ne8 and Black is slightly better; b) 15.Qe1 Nc4 16.dc4 (16.
Ne7 Kh7 17.dc4 Re8) Re8 17.Nh6 Kg7 18.Nf5 Kg6 19.Qh4 (19.Rf4 Nh5
20.Rg4 Bg5 21.Qh4 Re4! 22.Rf1 Rf4!) Nh5 20.Qg4 Bg5 equal, with the
idea Nh4-f5; c) 15.Nh6! Kh7 (15...Kh8 16.Rf4) 16.Nf5 Rg8 c1) 17.Qe1
Rg5! 18.Ne7 (18.Rf4 Nh5 with the idea 19.Ne7 Nf4 20.Qh4 Rh5 21.Qf6
Qf8; 18.Qe7 Rf5 19.Qf7 Kh6 20.Rf3 Qf8 21.Rh3 Kg5) Re5 19.Qh4 Kg7
20.Rf4 Qe7 21.Raf1 Nh5 22.Qg4 Qg5 23.Rf7 Kh6 (unclear) 24.Qd7 Qe3
25.R1f2 (25.Kh1?? Ng3!) Qe1 26.Rf1 Qe3 equal; c2) 17.Rf4 Rg6 18.Qf3
Nc4 19.dc4 Bf8 20.Rf1 (20.Re1) Bg7 21.Qh3 Kg8 22.Qh4; 21.Re1!]
14.Nf5!! [14.Bb5 Nd5 15.Nf5 Nf4 16.Rf4 (16.Ne7 Qe7 17.Rf4 Qe3 18.
Rf2 Rfb8! 19.a4 a6) Bg5 17.Rf1 g6 18.Ng3 Qb6 19.c4 a6 20.Bd7 Qb2 21.
Ne4 Qd4 22.Kh1 Nc4!? (22...Rad8) 23.Ng5 Ne3 24.Nf3 Qb2! 25.Qd2
Qd2 26.Nd2 Nf1 27.Rf1 Rab8 and White is superior] bc4 15.Bh6! gh6
[15...Ne8 a) 16.Qg4 Bf6 17.Rae1 a1) 17...cd3 18.Re8 Qe8 (18...Re8 19.
Bg7 and White is winning, with the idea 19...Re4 20.Qe4 Bg7 21.Ne7 Kf8
22.Rf7! Kf7 23.Qe6 Kf8 24.Ng6 mate) 19.Bg7 Qe2 20.Nh6 Kh7 21.Qf5
Kg7 22.Qf6 Kh7 23.Nf5 Qe5 24.Qh4 Kg8 25.Rf3 and White is winning;
a2) 17...g6! 18.Bf8 Kf8 19.Ne3 cd3 20.cd3 Rb8 and Black is slightly
better; b) 16.Qe1! b1) 16...Bh4 17.Nh4 gh6 18.Ng6! cd3 (18...fg6 19.Qe6
Kg7 20.Rf8 Kf8 21.Rf1) 19.Ne7 Kh8 20.Qe3 Kh7 21.Qe4 Kh8 22.Rf5!!
dc2 (22...d2 23.Rh5 Kg7 24.Nf5) 23.Rh5 Kg7 24.Qg4 Kh7 25.Qg5 and
White is winning; b2) 16...Bf6 17.Bd2!! Nb7 18.Bc3! (with the idea Bf6,
Ne7) b21) 18...Rb8!? 19.Qg3 (19.Bf6 Nf6 20.Ne7 Qe7! 21.Qe7 Rfe8 22.
Qc7 Rec8) Bg5 (19...Bc3 20.bc3 g6 21.Rae1) 20.Rae1 (20.h4 Bf6!) cd3
(20...g6 21.Qh3) 21.h4! g6 22.hg5 gf5 23.Bf6 and White is winning; b22)
18...Bg5 19.h4! Bf6 20.Bf6 Nf6 21.Ne7 Kh7 22.Rf6! gf6 23.Qe2 and
White is winning] 16.Nh6 Kh7 [16...Kh8 17.Rf6! Bf6 18.Qh5 a) 18...Kg7
19.Nf5 Kg8 20.Rf1! Re8 (20...Qe8 21.Qg4 Kh7 22.Qh3 Kg8 23.Qg3! Kh7
24.Rf4 Bg5 25.Qg5 Qe1 26.Rf1 Qe5 27.Qh4! Kg8 28.Rf3) 21.Rf4 Re1
(21...Bg5 22.Rg4 Qf6 23.Rg5 Kf8 24.Qh4) 22.Kf2 Re5 23.Rg4 Kf8 24.
Qh6 Bg7! 25.Qg7 Ke8 26.Qg8 Kd7 27.Qf7 Re7 28.Ne7 Qe7 29.Rg7! Qf7
30.Rf7 Kc8 (30...Ke8 31.Rh7 Rc8 32.Ra7) 31.Rf8 Kb7 32.Ra8 Ka8 33.g4
and White is winning; b) 18...Bd4 19.Kh1 Qe8 20.Nf5 Kg8 21.Qg4 Kh7
22.Qh4 Kg8 23.Re1 (23.Rf1 Qe2 only move 24.Re1 Qd2 25.Qg4 Kh7 26.
Rd1 Qd1 27.Qd1 Rae8 28.Nd6 Rd8 29.Qh5 Kg8 30.Qg4 Kh7 31.Qh3 Kg8
32.Qg3 Kh7 33.c3 Bg7 34.dc4 and White is superior) cd3 (23...Qe1 24.
Qe1 Rae8 25.Qg3 Kh7 26.Nd6) 24.cd3 Qe1 (24...Bb2 25.Ne7 Qe7 26.Qe7
Be5 27.Qc7 Bc3 28.Re4 Rae8 29.Rg4 Kh7 30.g3) 25.Qe1 Nb7 26.Qg3
Kh7 27.Qh4 Kg6 28.Qg4 Kf6 29.h4! Rg8 30.Qf3! Kg6 31.Qf4 and White
is winning] 17.Nf5!! [17.Rf6? Bf6 18.Qh5 Rh8! 19.Rf1 Qe8! and Black is
winning] cd3?! [17...Re8 18.Rf3 Bf8 (18...Kg8 19.Rh3) 19.Rh3 Kg8 20.
Qf3 Bg7 21.Qg3 Ng4 22.Qg4 Qf6 23.Rg3 and White is winning; 17...Rg8
18.Qe1! Bf8 (18...Nd5 19.Qe4 Rg6 20.Qd5 Re6 21.Ne7 Re7 22.Rf6! Kg7
23.Raf1 Qg8 24.Qh5 Kf8 25.Rg6) 19.Qh4 Kg6 20.Rae1! a) 20...Nh7 21.
Qe4 Nf6 22.Qf4 Nh7 (22...Nd5 23.Nh4) 23.Ne7 Be7 24.Qf7 Kh6 25.Re7
Rg2 26.Kg2 Qg8 27.Kh1 Qf7 28.Rff7 Ng5 29.Rf6 Kh5 30.Rg7 and White
is winning; b) 20...Nd5 21.Re7!! Qe7 22.Ne7 Be7 23.Qe4 Kg7 24.Qd5
Bf6 (24...Raf8 25.Rf3 f5 26.dc4) 25.Qd6 Bd4 26.Kh1 cd3 27.c3 and
White is winning] 18.Qd3 [18.Rf3 and White is winning] Kh8 19.Rae1
Qb6 [19...Re8 20.Qc3] 20.Qh3 [20.Qg3 Rg8 21.Qh3 Nh7 22.Re7 and
White is winning] Nh7 21.Re7 c4 22.Kh1 Qb2 23.Re4! Rg8 [23...Qf6 24.
Rh4 Qg6 25.Rg4! (25.Qc3 f6 26.Qa5 Rae8) Qf6 (25...Rae8 26.Rg6 fg6 27.
Qc3) 26.Rg7 Qg7 27.Ng7 Kg7 28.Qc3 and White is winning] 24.Qh7!
[24...Kh7 25.Rh4 Kg6 26.Rh6 Kg5 27.h4 Kg4 28.Ne3 Kg3 29.Rf3 mate]
1-0 [E.Sutovsky]
Women's World Champions Vera Menchik, Nona Gaprindashvili and
Maya Chiburdanidze each left their mark in chess history. But Judit
Polgar's achievements will not be overcome for a long time.
5. Ju.Polgar 2715 F.Berkes 2578
Budapest 2003 87/278 [C13]
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 de4 5.Ne4 Be7 6.Bf6 Bf6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.
Qd2 0-0 9.0-0-0 Be7 10.Bd3 b6 11.Neg5 h6 12.Bh7!? Kh8 13.Be4 hg5?
[13...Rb8 14.h4 Nf6 15.Bd3 Bb7 16.Ne5 Kg8 17.Qe2 with attack; 13...
Bg5! 14.Ng5 Rb8 15.Nf3 (15.h4 Nf6) Nf6 16.Bd3 Bb7 equal]
14.g4!! [14.Ba8? g4 15.Ne5? Bg5 and Black is winning] Rb8 [14...Ba6

15.h4 a) 15...f5 16.hg5 Kg8 17.gf5 Rf5 18.Bf5 ef5 19.Qc3! (19.Qe3 Bc4)
Bg5 20.Ng5 Qg5 21.Kb1 Rf8 (21...c5 22.Qb3 c4 23.Qa4 and White is
winning; 21...Kf7 22.Qb3 Kf6 23.Qd5 Rd8 24.Rde1 and White is winning)
22.Qb3 Rf7 23.Rh8 Kh8 24.Qf7 and White is winning; b) 15...g6 16.hg5
Kg7 17.Qf4 Rh8 (17...Bd6 18.Ne5 Be7 19.Nf7 Bd6 20.Qf3 Qe7 21.Rh7
Kh7 22.Qh3 Kg8 23.Rh1 Kf7 24.Bg6 Kg6 25.Qh5 Kg7 26.Qh7 mate) 18.
Rh8 Qh8 19.Ne5 Ne5 20.Qe5 Kg8 21.Qh8 Kh8 22.Rh1 Kg7 23.Ba8 and
White is winning; c) 15...Kg8 16.hg5 Re8 17.Bh7 Kf8 18.Bd3 and White
is winning; d) 15...gh4 16.g5 Kg8 17.Qf4 f5 18.Qh4 fe4 19.Qh7 Kf7 20.
Qh5 g6 (20...Kg8 21.g6 and White is winning) 21.Qh7 Ke8 22.Qg6 Rf7
23.Rh7 Bg5 24.Ng5 Qg5 25.Qg5 Rh7 26.Qg6 Rf7 27.Qe6! Re7 (27...Kf8
28.Rh1 Nf6 29.Rh8 Ng8 30.Qe4 Rb8 31.Qg4 Rg7 32.Qf3 Ke8 33.Qb3!
Kf8 34.Qa3 and White is winning) 28.Qg6 Kd8 29.Rh1 Re8 30.Rh7 Nf8
31.Qf6 Kc8 32.Qc6 Nh7 33.Qe8 Kb7 34.Qe4 and White is winning; 14...
c6 15.h4 gh4 (15...g6 16.hg5 Kg7 17.Qf4 with attack) 16.g5 a) 16...Kg8
17.Qf4 f5 (17...h3 18.Rh3 and White is winning) a1) 18.Qh4?! Qc7! (18...
fe4 19.Qh7 Kf7 20.Qh5 g6 21.Qh7 Ke8 22.Qg6 Rf7 23.Rh7 Bg5 24.Ng5
Qg5 25.Qg5 Rh7 26.Qg6 Rf7 27.Qe6 Re7 28.Qc6 and White is winning)
19.Bd3 Kf7 20.Qh5 g6 21.Qh7 Ke8 22.Qg6 Kd8; a2) 18.Bc6! Rb8 19.
Qh4 Bd6 20.Ne5 Be5 21.de5 Kf7 22.Rd6 and White is winning; b) 16...f6
17.Nh4 Kg8 (17...fg5 18.Ng6 Kg8 19.Bc6 Rb8 20.d5 and White is
winning) 18.Ng6 and White is superior] 15.h4 g6 [15...f5 16.hg5 Kg8 17.
gf5 Rf5 18.Bf5 ef5 19.Qe3 Nf8 (19...Kf7 20.g6 Ke8 21.Rh8 Nf8 22.Rf8
Kf8 23.Rh1 and White is winning) 20.Ne5 Qd5 21.Qh3 Bg5 22.Kb1 Bh6
23.Rdg1 Kh8 24.Qg3 and White is winning; 15...gh4 16.g5 f5 (16...Kg8
17.Qf4) 17.Qf4 fe4 18.Qh4 Kg8 19.Qh7 Kf7 20.Qh5 g6 21.Qh7 Ke8 22.
Qg6 Rf7 23.Rh7 Bg5 24.Ng5 Qg5 25.Qg5 Rh7 26.Qg6 Rf7 27.Qe6 Re7
28.Qg6 Rf7 29.Qe4 and White is superior; 15...Kg8 16.hg5 Re8 17.Qf4
Nf8 18.Rh3 and White is superior; 15...Bb7 16.hg5 Kg8 17.Bb7 Rb7 18.
Qf4 Rb8 (18...Re8 19.Kb1! Bd6 20.Rh8 Kh8 21.Qf7 Nf8 22.Rh1 Nh7 23.
g6 and White is winning) 19.Kb1! Bd6 20.Ne5 Be5 21.de5 Re8 22.Rd3
and White is superior] 16.hg5 Kg7 17.Qf4 Bb7 [17...Bd6 18.Ne5 Be5 19.
de5 Rh8 20.Rh8 Qh8 21.Bc6 Qd8 22.Kb1! a5 23.a4 Kf8 24.Rh1 and
White is winning; 17...Rg8 18.Rh7 Kh7 19.Qf7 and White is winning;
17...Rh8 18.Rh8 Qh8 (18...Kh8 19.Qf7) 19.Ne5 a) 19...Ne5 20.Qe5 Kg8
21.Qc7 Bg5 22.Kb1 and White is winning; b) 19...Qe8 20.Rh1 and White
is winning; c) 19...f6 20.gf6 Bf6 21.Rh1 Be5 (21...g5 22.Qf3 Qg8 23.Nd7
Bd7 24.Rh7 and White is winning) 22.de5 Qg8 23.Rh6 Nf8 24.Rh3 and
White is winning; d) 19...Qg8 20.Rh1 Bd6 21.Rh7!! Qh7 (21...Kh7 22.
Qh2 Kg7 23.Qh6 mate; 21...Kf8 22.Rh8 Qh8 23.Qf7 mate) 22.Qf7 Kh8 23.
Ng6 Qg6 24.Bg6 Nf8 25.Qf6 Kg8 26.Bf7 Kh7 27.g6 and White is
winning] 18.Rh7! Kh7 19.Qh2 Kg8 [19...Kg7 20.Qh6 Kg8 21.Bg6 (21.
Rh1? Bg5! 22.Ng5 Qg5 23.Qg5 Be4) Bg5 22.Ng5 Qg5 23.Qg5 fg6 24.
Qg6 Kh8 25.f3! Bf3 26.Rd2 and White is winning] 20.Rh1 Bg5 21.Ng5
Qg5 [21...Kg7 22.Ne6! Kf6 (22...fe6 23.Qh7 Kf6 24.g5! Kg5 25.Qh4
mate) 23.Nd8 Be4 24.Qf4 and White is winning] 22.f4 Qf4 [22...Qh5 23.
gh5 Be4 24.hg6 Kg7 25.Qh6 Kf6 26.Qg5 Kg7 27.Rh7 Kg8 28.Qh6 and
White is winning] 23.Qf4 Be4 24.Qe4 1-0 [Ju.Polgar]

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Zdenko Krnic
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USCFSales.com:
The Slav Defense has always been a favorite opening among the world's top chess players, including
several world champions. It seems that after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3, the continuation 4dc4 has
been played so much that players such as Shirov, Morozevich, Gelfand, Grischuk, Kamsky, etc. have
begun looking for new ideas in the very popular 4a6 variation.
The great Ukrainian hope, Sergey Karjakin, recently proved that extraordinary opening preparation is
necessary to break into the world's elite. The game he won against Eljanov at Foros in 2007 was voted as
the most important theoretical novelty of Informant 100. The move 12Nf2!! was a bolt from the blue
and the result of good home preparation as compared to the game Lputian Jakovenko, Fuegen 2006.
White undoubtedly missed several opportunities for defense and made it much easier for Black to achieve
an important victory, but it is understandable after such a shock in the opening.
ECO A-E (CD)
Anthology of Chess
Combinations (CD)

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
The Complete
DGT Product Line
1. P.Eljanov 2686 Sergey Karjakin 2686

Foros 2007 100/279 [D15]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Nc3 b5 6.c5 Nbd7 7.a3!? a5! 8.Bd3 e5 9.de5 Ng4 10.e6 fe6 11.Nd4
Nc5 12.Be2
12...Nf2!! [a novelty; 12...Ne5 see 99/(264)] 13.Kf2 Bd6 14.g3?! [14.Nc6 0-0 15.Bf3 (15.Kg1 Qh4 16.g3
Qf6 and Black is slightly better) Qh4 (15...Qc7 16.Nd4) 16.g3 (16.Kg1) Qh3 with compensation] 0-0 15.
Kg2 Bd7 16.Bd2?! [16.Rf1 Rf1 17.Bf1 Qf6 and Black is slightly better; 16.Nb3! Nb3 17.Qb3 e5 with
counterplay, with the idea Qc8, Bh3] e5 17.Nb3 [17.Nf3 a4 18.Qc2 Qe8 19.Raf1 Bf5 20.Qd1 Qd7 and
Black is superior] Ne6! [with the idea Ng5 weak point Kg2] 18.Bg4 a4 19.Nc1 Qg5 [19...Nc5! and Black
is superior] 20.h4 [20.e4 Nf4! 21.Bf4 Qg4 22.Qg4 Bg4 and Black is winning] Qg6 21.h5? [21.Bh5! a) 21...
Qf5 22.Qf3 (22.Rf1 Nf4 23.ef4 Qh3 24.Kf2 ef4 and Black is winning) Qc2 23.Qd1 equal; b) 21...Qf6! 22.
Rf1 Qe7 and Black is slightly better] Qg5 22.Rh4 [22.e4 Nf4 23.Bf4 Qg4 24.Qg4 Bg4 25.Rh4 d4 26.N3a2
Be6 27.Bd2 Bc4 and Black is winning] e4 23.Qe1 Nc5 [and Black is winning, weak point Ra1, Nc1, Bd2,
d3, f3] 24.Bd7 [24.Bd1 Rf1! 25.Kf1 Bg3 26.Rg4 Qf5 27.Kg2 Be1 28.Be1 Rf8 29.Be2 Nd3 30.Bg3 Ne5 31.
Rh4 Nf3; 24.Be2 Rae8 25.h6 g6] Nd7 25.N1e2 Ne5 26.Qh1 Nf3 27.Qh3 Qf6 28.Nf4 Nd2 0-1 [Sergey
Karjakin]
2. Grischuk 2717 Rublevsky 2680
Elista (m/1) 2007 100/155 [B85]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 d6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Be3 Bd7 9.a4 Be7 10.f4 Nd4 11.
Qd4 Bc6 12.b4 0-0 13.b5 Be8 14.e5 Qc7 15.b6 Qc6
16.Bf3! [a novelty; 16.ed6 see 95/(179)] d5 17.Rae1!? Nd7 [17...Rc8? 18.ef6 Bf6 19.Nd5! ed5 (19...Bd4?
20.Ne7 Kh8 21.Bc6 and White is winning) 20.Qd5 Qa4 (20...Qd5 21.Bd5 Bc6 22.c4 and White is superior)
21.Qb7 Bb5 22.Be2 (22.Rf2? Rce8!) Rc2 23.Bb5 ab5 24.Qd7 Rd8 25.Bc5! Qa8 26.b7 Qb8 27.Bd6 Rd7 28.
Bb8 h6 29.Bc7 Bd4 30.Kh1 Ba7 31.b8Q Bb8 32.Bb8 Rdd2 33.Rg1 and White is superior; 17...Rd8? 18.f5
(18.ef6 Bf6 19.Nd5 ed5 20.Qc5 Qc5 21.Bc5 Ba4 22.Bf8 Kf8 23.Rd1 Rd6 with compensation) Qc8 (18...ef5
19.ef6 Bf6 20.Nd5 Bd4 21.Ne7 Kh8 22.Nc6 Be3 23.Re3 Bc6 24.Bc6 bc6 25.Rf5 and White is superior) 19.
a5 Nd7 (19...ef5? 20.ef6 Bf6 21.Nd5 Bd4 22.Ne7 Kh8 23.Nc8 and White is winning) 20.fe6 fe6 21.Nd5 ed5
22.Qd5 Kh8 23.Qb7 Qc3 24.e6 Bh4 25.Qc7 Be1 26.Qc3 Bc3 27.e7 and White is superior] 18.Nd5! [18.f5?
Bc5 19.Qf4 Qb6 20.f6 gf6 21.ef6 Kh8 22.Bd5 ed5 23.Nd5 Qc6 24.Ne7 Be7 25.fe7 Rg8 26.Bd4 f6] ed5 19.
Bd5 Qc5!? [19...Qc2 20.Rc1! Qe2 (20...Qf5 21.Bb7 Rb8 22.Bc8!? Rc8 23.Rc8 Nb6 24.Re8 Re8 25.Qb6
and White is superior) 21.Bb7 (21.e6 Nf6!) Rd8 22.Bf3 Qa2 23.Qc4 Qa3 24.Rc3 Qb2 25.b7 and White is
superior; 19...Qc8 20.f5 (20.e6? Nf6 and Black is superior; 20.Rf3? Bc5 21.Qe4 Be3 22.Qe3 Qc5 and
Black is superior; 20.Qe4? Nc5 and Black is superior) Bc5 a) 21.Qf4? Kh8 (21...Nb6? 22.f6 and White is
winning) 22.Rf3 f6 23.Rh3 g5! 24.fg6 Bg6 25.e6 Ne5 unclear; b) 21.Qe4! Be3 b1) 22.Qe3? Qc5 23.Qc5
(23.e6 Qd5 24.e7 Rc8 and Black is superior) Nc5 24.e6 b11) 24...Bc6 25.ef7 (25.Bc6 bc6 26.a5 fe6 27.Re5
Nb7 and Black is slightly better) Rf7 26.Bf7 Kf7 27.a5 Kf6 and Black is slightly better; b12) 24...fe6 25.fe6
Rf1 26.Rf1 Bc6 27.Bc4 g6 28.e7 Kg7 29.g4 Nd7 30.Rf7 Kh6 31.h4 g5 32.hg5 Kg5 and Black is slightly
better; b2) 22.Re3 Qc5 23.a5! (and White is superior, with attack) Qa5 (23...Rd8? 24.c4 Qa5 25.f6 Qb6 26.
Kh1 Nc5 27.Qh4 Ne6 28.Rg3 and White is winning) 24.f6 Qb6 25.Kh1 Nc5 26.Qg4 Ne6 27.Be6 g6 28.Rb3
Qe6 29.Qg5 Kh8 30.Qh6 Rg8 31.Rh3 Qh3 and White is superior; 19...Bc5 20.Bc6 Bd4 21.Bd4 bc6 22.b7
Rb8 23.Rb1 c5 24.Be3 and White is superior; 19...Qh6 20.a5 with compensation, with initiative] 20.e6! [20.
Bb7? Qd4 21.Bd4 Rb8 22.Ba6 Nc5!] Qd4 [20...fe6? 21.Be6 Rf7 (21...Kh8? 22.Bd7 Qd4 23.Bd4 and White
is winning) 22.Qe4 Qd6 23.Bf2!? Rb8 (23...Bf8 24.Qb7 Rb8 25.Qa7 and White is winning) 24.Bf7 Kf7 25.
Re3!? (25.a5 and White is superior) Nb6 26.Rfe1 Nd5 27.Qf5 Kg8 28.Re6 Qd7 29.Qe5 Rd8 30.c4 Bf7 31.
cd5 Be6 32.Qe6 Qe6 33.de6 and White is superior] 21.Bd4 Nf6 [21...Bf6 22.Bf6 Nf6 23.Bb7 Rb8 24.e7
Rb7 25.ef8Q Kf8 26.a5 and White is superior] 22.Bb3 [22.ef7? Bf7? 23.Bb7 and White is superior; 22...
Rf7!] Rd8 [22...fe6? 23.Re6 and White is winning] 23.Bf6 [23.ef7? Bf7 24.Re7 Rd4 25.Rb7 Bb3 26.cb3 a5
27.Rc1 Rb4 (27...Rf4? 28.Ra7 and White is slightly better) 28.Rcc7 Ne8 29.Rc6 Rff4 and Black is slightly
better] Bc5 [23...Bf6? 24.e7 Be7 25.Re7 Bc6 26.Rfe1 and White is superior] 24.Kh1 gf6 25.e7 Be7 26.Re7
Bc6 27.Rc7! [27.Rfe1 Rd2 28.R7e2 Rd4!? with compensation] Rd2 28.Re1 Rf2? time [28...Rg2?? 29.Rc6;
28...Rfd8? 29.Bf7 (29.Rf7 Kh8 30.Rf6 Bg2 31.Kg1 Bf3 32.h3 and White is superior) Kh8 30.Bh5! Bg2 31.
Kg1 Rg8 32.Bf7 Rgd8 33.c4! Bf3 34.Bd5 Bd5 35.cd5 and White is winning; 28...Bg2?! 29.Kg1 Bf3 30.
Re3 Bc6 31.Ree7 Kh8 32.Bf7 and White is superior; 28...Kg7!? (R.Sherbakov) 29.h3 (29.f5? Re8 30.Rf7
Kh6 31.Rf6 Kg7 32.Rf7 Kh6 33.Rc1 Bg2 34.Kg1 Bf3!) Bg2 30.Kg1 Kh6 31.Re3 (31.Bf7 Rfd8 with
compensation) Bc6 32.Rd3 Rg8 33.Kf1 Rh2 34.Rf7 and White is slightly better] 29.h3 Rf4 30.Ree7 Rf1
31.Kh2 Rf2 32.Rc6! bc6 33.Rf7 (and White is winning) Rf4 [33...Rf7 34.b7] 34.c3 Re4 35.Re7 1-0
[Rublevsky]
3. Laznicka 2594 S.Atalik 2564
Polanica Zdroj 2007 100/338 [D45]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.e4 Ne4 8.Ne4 de4 9.Qe4 c5 10.Bg5 Be7 11.
Be7 Qa5 12.Ke2 Ke7 13.g3 cd4 14.Bg2 Nf6 15.Qd4 Rd8 16.Qf4 Bd7 17.Ne5
17...Ba4! [a novelty; 17...Be8 see 100/337] 18.b3 [18.b4 Qb6; 18.Qe3 Kf8 (18...Nd7?? 19.Qg5 Ke8 20.Nf7
and White is winning; 18...Qb4 19.b3 Be8 20.Rhd1 and White is superior) 19.Rhe1 Nd7 20.Qa3 Kg8 21.
Nd7 Rd7 22.Kf1 Rd2 23.Rad1 Rad8 24.Rd2 Rd2 25.b4 Qb6 26.c5 Qb5 27.Kg1 Rd4 with initiative; 18.
Rhe1 Qb6 19.b3 Bc6 20.Nc6 bc6 21.Rad1 Rac8 22.Kf1 c5 equal] Rd2 19.Qd2 [19.Kf1!? a) 19...Be8 20.
Bb7 (20.Qe3 Rad8) Rad8 21.Bc6 Qc5 22.Be8 Ke8 23.Re1 Ra2 24.Kg2 Rdd2 25.Rhf1 and White is slightly
better; b) 19...Qc3!? b1) 20.Bb7? Rb8 21.Kg2 Rb7 22.ba4 (22.Rac1 g5 23.Rc3 gf4 24.ba4 Rbb2 and Black
is superior; 22.Rhc1 g5 23.Qf6 Kf6 24.Ng4 Kf5 25.Rc3 Bc6 26.Kh3 h5 27.Ne3 Kg6 28.Rc2 Rbd7 and Black
is superior) g5 23.Qf3 (23.Qg5 Rf2) Rf2! 24.Kf2 Rb2 25.Kf1 Qe5 and Black is superior; b2) 20.Re1 Be8
21.Bb7 Rad8 b21) 22.Nf3 Ra2 23.Qc7 Rd7 24.Qc5 Kd8 25.Qc8 Ke7 b211) 26.Ne5 b2111) 26...Rf2!? 27.
Kf2 Rd2 28.Kf1 (28.Re2 Re2 29.Ke2 Qe5 with compensation) Qd4 equal; b2112) 26...Rd6 27.Kg2 Qb3 28.
Bf3 Kf8 and Black is superior; b212) 26.Qc5 equal; b22) 22.Kg2! Ra2 23.Re3 Qb4 24.Bf3 Rdd2 25.Rf1
Kf8 and White is slightly better] Qe5 20.Qe3 Qb2 21.Qd2 - [S.Atalik]
4. Evgeny Alekseev 2679 Morozevich 2762
Russia 2007 100/319 [D38]
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.d4 d5 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.Nc3 Nbd7 6.e3 c5 7.cd5 ed5 8.Bd3 Qa5 9.Qc2 c4 10.Bf5 0-0
11.0-0 Re8 12.Nd2 g6 13.Bh3 Kg7 14.Bh4 [14.Rae1 Nb6 15.Bc8 Rac8 16.f3 (16.Bf6 see 44/496) Rc6 17.
e4 de4 18.Bf6 Rf6 19.fe4 Rf1 20.Rf1 Qg5 unclear]
14...Nb6!? [a novelty; 14...Bc3] 15.Nb3!? [15.Bf6 Kf6 16.Bc8 Rac8 17.a3 (17.e4?! de4 18.Nde4 Kg7 and
Black is slightly better) Bc3 18.bc3 equal] cb3 16.ab3 Bc3 17.Ra5 Ba5 18.Bf6 Kf6 19.Qc5 Bh3! [19...Bd2
20.Rd1 Be6?! 21.Qd6! Rac8 22.Qe5 Ke7 23.Be6 f6! (23...fe6?! 24.Qg7 Kd6 25.Qh7 and White is superior)
24.Qg3 Ke6 25.Qh3 f5 26.Qh7 Kf6 27.g4 (27.h4 Re7 28.Qh6 Bb4 29.h5 Rg8 30.Rc1 Rd7 with counterplay)
Bb4 (27...Bc1? 28.g5! Kg5 29.Qg7! with attack) 28.f3! (28.g5?! Kg5 29.Qg7 Re7; 28.gf5 gf5 29.Qh6 Kf7
30.Qf4 Nd7! 31.Qf5 Nf6 32.Kh1 Bd6 with counterplay) Rh8 29.g5! Kg5 30.Qg7 with initiative] 20.gh3
Bd2 21.Rd1 Be3 22.fe3 Re3 23.Qc7 Kg7 24.Rf1 Rf8 25.Qb7 [25.h4!?] Rb3 26.Qa7 Rb2 27.Rf2 [27.Qb7
Rb3 28.Rf2 Rb1 29.Kg2 Rb3 30.h4 h5 equal] Rb1 28.Kg2 Nc4! (with initiative) 29.Qe7 Rb3 30.Rf3 Rb2
31.Rf2 Rb6 32.Re2 Rf6 33.Rf2 Rd6 [33...Re6? 34.Rf7! Rf7 35.Qe6 and White is slightly better] 34.Kg3
Kg8 35.Rf6 [35.Rf3 Re6 with initiative] Rf6 36.Qf6 Ne3 37.Qe5 Nf5 38.Kf2 Rd8 39.Kg1 h5 40.Kf2 Ng7
41.Qc7 Ne6 42.Qa5 Rc8 43.Qd5 Rd8 and Black is superior 0-1 [Morozevich, Al.Kuzmin]
5. J.Timman 2560 Mi.Adams 2724
London 2007 100/417 [E19]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Nc3 Ne4 8.Qc2 Nc3 9.Qc3 c5 10.Rd1 d6 [10...
cd4 11.Nd4 and White is slightly better] 11.b3 Bf6 12.Bb2 Qe7 13.Qc2 Nc6 14.e4 e5 15.d5 Nd4 16.Bd4
ed4 17.Rab1 [17.Qd3 see 29/528] Rae8 18.Ne1
18...g5! [a novelty; 18...g6 19.Nd3 Bg7 20.Re1 Bc8 21.f4 (21.b4) Qc7 unclear] 19.Nd3 Bc8 20.Rf1?! [20.
f4 gf4 21.gf4 a) 21...Bg7 22.Re1 (22.Qf2 Kh8 23.Re1 Bf6 with initiative) Qh4 23.Qf2 Qh6 24.Kh1 Kh8 25.
e5 Bf5 26.Be4 Bh3 unclear; b) 21...Kh8 22.Kh1 Rg8 23.Rg1 Bh4 and Black is slightly better; better is 20.
b4 Bg7 21.Re1 unclear] Bg7 21.Rbe1? [21.b4 f5 with initiative; 21.f4 gf4 22.gf4 f5 23.Rbe1 (23.e5 de5 24.
fe5 Be5 25.Rbe1 Qd6 and Black is superior) fe4 24.Be4 Qh4 and Black is slightly better; better is 21.Rfe1
g4 22.b4 with counterplay] g4! 22.Qd2 [22.f4 gf3 23.Rf3 Bh6 and Black is superior; better is 22.Nf4! Be5
(22...Qg5 23.h4 gh3 24.Bh3 Bh3 25.Nh3 Qg4 26.Kg2 unclear; 22...Bh6!? 23.Nd3 Qg5 24.Re2 Bg7 and
Black is slightly better) 23.Nd3 Qg5 24.Ne5 de5 (24...Re5 25.f4 gf3 26.Rf3 f5 27.Ref1 Rfe8 28.ef5 Qf6 29.
g4 Re2 unclear) 25.f4 gf3 26.Rf3 Bg4 27.Rf2 Kg7 and Black is slightly better] Qf6 23.Re2 [23.Qf4 Qg6
24.Re2?? Bh6] Re7 24.b4 Rfe8 25.Rfe1 [better is 25.bc5 bc5 26.Rb1] Qg6! [25...h5 26.bc5 bc5 27.e5
unclear] 26.Nf4 [26.bc5 bc5 27.e5 Be5 and Black is superior] Qg5 27.bc5 bc5 28.Qc2 [28.Nd3? Qd2 29.
Rd2 Ba6 30.Rc2 f5 and Black is winning] Be5 [better is 28...h5 29.h4 gh3 30.Nh3 Qh6 and Black is
superior] 29.h4 [better is 29.Nd3 Bg7 (29...h5 30.Ne5 Re5 31.Qa4 Qe7 and Black is slightly better) 30.Nf4
h5 and Black is superior] gh3 30.Nh3 Qh5 31.Nf4 [31.Kh2 Bg4 32.Rd2 f5 and Black is winning] Bf4 32.
gf4 f6! (and Black is winning) 33.Rd2 [33.f5 Bf5; 33.Qd3 Rg7 34.f5 Kh8 35.f3 Reg8 36.Rf2 Rg3] Rg7 34.
Rd3 Qg4 35.Rg3 Qf4 36.Qa4 Rf8 [36...Ree7 37.Qa5 Rg3 38.Qd8 Kf7 39.fg3 Qg3 40.Rf1 Bh3 41.Rf2 d3
42.e5 (42.Qh8 Qg6) Qe5 43.Bh3 Qg3 44.Bg2 d2 45.Rf1 Qe1 and Black is winning] 37.Rg7 Kg7 38.Qa7
Kh8 39.Qa3 [39.Rb1 Rg8 40.Rb3 Qe4 41.Rg3 Qe1 42.Kh2 Bg4 43.f3 (43.Qc7 Qf2 44.Qd6 h5 45.a4 Kh7
and Black is winning) Bf5 44.Rg8 Kg8 45.Qb8 Kf7 46.Qd6 (46.Qc7 Kg6 47.Qd8 d3 and Black is winning)
d3 and Black is winning] Rg8 40.Kf1 Bg4 [better is 40...Qh2! 41.Bf3 (41.Qf3 Rg2 42.Qf6 Kg8 43.Qd8 Kf7
and Black is winning) Rg3 42.Ke2 (42.Qa8 Qh3 43.Ke2 Rf3; 42.Rb1 Rg1 and Black is winning) d3! 43.
Qd3 Bg4 44.Bg4 Rd3 45.Kd3 Qf2 46.Re3 Qa2 and Black is winning] 41.Qb3 [41.Qg3 Be2 and Black is
winning; 41.Qd3 Qh2 42.Rb1 (42.a4 Bh5 43.Qh3 Qh3 44.Bh3 d3 and Black is winning) f5 43.ef5 Qg2 44.
Kg2 Bf5 and Black is winning; 41.Bh3 Bf3 42.Qd3 f5 43.ef5 Qh2 44.Qf3 Rg1 45.Ke2 Qe5 and Black is
winning] Qd2 [41...Qh2 42.a4 Bh5 43.Qh3 Qh3 44.Bh3 d3 and Black is winning] 42.Qg3 [42.a4 d3 and
Black is winning; 42.f3 Bd7 43.Re2 Qc1 44.Re1 (44.Kf2 Bh3 and Black is winning) Qg5 45.Qc2 (45.Re2
Bh3 and Black is winning) d3 46.Qf2 Qh6 47.Rd1 Bh3 and Black is winning; 42.Bh3 Bh5 43.Be6 d3! 44.
Bg8 Be2 45.Kg2 (45.Re2 de2 46.Kg2 e1Q and Black is winning) Qg5 46.Kh3 Qg4 47.Kh2 Bf3 and Black
is winning] Be2 [43.Re2 Qc1] 0-1 [Mi.Adams]
6. Shirov 2699 Ivanchuk 2729
Foros 2007 100/263 [C91]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Be7 7.d4 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.Re1 Bg4 10.Be3 ed4 11.
cd4 d5 12.e5 Ne4 13.Nc3 Nc3 14.bc3 Qd7 15.h3 Bh5 16.g4 Bg6 17.Nd2
17...a5! [a novelty; 17...Na5 see 25/345] 18.f4 [18.a4 b4 19.Rc1! (19.c4 dc4 20.Bc4 Nd4 and Black is
superior) bc3 20.Rc3 Bb4 21.Rc1 f6 22.f4 fe5 23.de5 Kh8 24.Rf1 (24.f5?! Ne5 25.fg6 Qd6 26.Kg2 Ng6
with attack) d4 25.Nf3 unclear] a4 19.Bc2 Bc2 20.Qc2 f5! [20...f6 21.Rab1 fe5 22.fe5 h5 23.Qg6 hg4 24.
Qg4 (24.hg4 Ra6 25.e6 Qd6 with initiative) Qg4 25.hg4 Rab8 26.Kg2 Kf7 equal] 21.ef6 [21.Rf1 Nd8 (21...
fg4 22.f5 gh3 23.Kh2! b4 24.Rf3 bc3 25.Qc3 Bb4 26.Qd3 Ne7 27.Raf1 with initiative) 22.Kh2 g6 and Black
is slightly better] Bf6 22.Nf3 [22.Kg2 Rae8 (22...h5 23.g5 Be7 24.Qg6! Bd6 25.Nf3 Bf4 26.Bf4 Rf4 27.Qh5
with attack, with the idea g6) 23.Bf2 Na5 24.Nf3 Nc4 25.f5 Qc6 26.Qd3 a3 27.Rab1 Nb2 (27...Re4 28.Nd2
Nd2 29.Qd2 Rfe8 30.Qd3 equal) 28.Qc2 (28.Qd2 Re4) Qc4 29.Nd2! Qc6 (29...Qa2? 30.Ra1!) 30.Nf3
equal] Rae8 23.Bf2?! [23.Ne5 Be5 24.de5 g5!? 25.Qd2! h5!? (25...gf4 26.Bf4 Rf7 27.Rab1 h5 28.Rb5 hg4
29.Rd5 Qe6 30.h4 unclear) 26.gh5 Qh3 27.Qd5 Re6 28.Qg2 Qg2 29.Kg2 gf4 30.Bd4 Rf5 31.Rab1 b4 and
Black is slightly better; 23.Kg2 Na5 24.Rad1 (24.f5 Qc6 25.g5 Nc4 26.Bf4 Re4! and Black is superior; 24.
g5 Nc4 25.Qd3 Nb2 26.Qc2 Nc4 27.Bf2 Be7 and Black is slightly better, with the idea Bd6) Nc4 25.Bc1
Qc6 equal; 23.f5 Re4 24.Nd2 Re7 25.g5 Re3 26.Re3 Bg5 27.Rf3 Qe7 with compensation] h5! 24.Qg6 [24.
g5?! Qh3 25.Nh4 Qg4 26.Kh1 Be7 27.Qg6 Qf4 and Black is superior; 24.f5 hg4 25.hg4 g6 26.Bh4 gf5 27.
Re8 Qe8 28.Bf6 Rf6 29.g5 Qe3 30.Kg2 Rg6 31.Qf5 Ne7 equal] Re4! 25.Re4?! [25.g5 Rf4!; 25.Nd2! Re1
(25...Rf4 26.Bg3 b4 27.Bf4 bc3 28.Nf3 and White is winning) 26.Re1 hg4 (26...b4 27.cb4 hg4 28.hg4 Qd6
29.Kg2 Qf4 30.Be3 Qd6 31.Nf3 equal) 27.hg4 Ne7 28.Qh5 g6 29.Qh3 Nc6 30.Nf3 b4 31.cb4 Nb4 32.Ne5
Be5 33.fe5 Qf7 34.Re2 Qf4 and Black is slightly better] de4 26.Nh2? [26.Ne5 Be5 27.fe5 hg4 28.hg4 Qd5!
and Black is superior; 26.Ng5 Bg5 27.Qg5 a) 27...hg4 28.hg4 Rf6 (28...b4 29.d5 bc3 30.dc6 Qd2 31.Be1
Qe3 32.Bf2 equal) 29.f5 Ne7 (29...b4 30.Qe3 g6 31.Qe4 gf5 32.gf5 Rf5 33.Qg4 Qg7 34.Qg7 Kg7 35.cb4
Nb4 equal) 30.Bg3 Nd5 31.Be5 Rh6 32.Re1 e3 unclear; b) 27...Qd6! 28.f5 hg4 29.hg4 b4! with initiative]
Nd4!! 27.cd4 [27.Re1 Nf3 28.Nf3 ef3 and Black is winning] Bd4 28.Rb1 e3 [28...Bf2?! 29.Kf2 Rf4 30.
Kg3 Qd2 31.Rf1! h4 32.Kh4 Qh2 33.Qe8 Kh7 34.Qh5 equal] 29.Bg3 [29.Be1 Rf4 30.Rb4 c5 31.Rd4 cd4
and Black is winning] h4! 30.Bh4 [30.Nf3 hg3 and Black is winning] Rf4 31.Qd3 Qd5 32.Nf1 [32.Re1
Rf2!] Rf2! 33.Ne3 Rg2! 34.Kh1 Qf3 0-1 [Ivanchuk]
7. An.Karpov 2668 Ki.Georgiev 2660
Valjevo 2007 100/429 [E37]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.a3 Bc3 6.Qc3 Ne4 7.Qc2 c5 8.dc5 Nc6 9.cd5 ed5 10.Nf3 Qf6 11.
e3 Bg4 12.Be2 0-0
13.Bd2! [a novelty; 13.0-0 see 98/407] Rfe8 [13...Ne5 14.Bc3 Nc3 15.Qc3 (RR 15.Ne5!?) Bf3 16.gf3 Nf3
17.Bf3 Qf3 18.Rg1 g6 19.Rd1 and White is slightly better] 14.Bc3 [14.0-0 see 13.0-0] Nc3 15.Qc3 Qc3 16.
bc3 Rac8 17.Rb1! (and White is slightly better) Nd8 18.Kd2 Re7 [18...Rc5 19.Bb5 Re7 20.Nd4 and White
is slightly better] 19.Rb4! Be6 [19...Bf3 20.Bf3 Rc5 21.Rhb1 b6 22.Rb5 and White is slightly better] 20.
Nd4 Rc5 21.a4 Bd7 22.Ra1 g6 23.a5 a6 24.Bf3 [24.g4!? with the idea h4, g5] Re5 25.Rb6 (and White is
superior) Kf8 (only move) 26.g4 Ke8 27.h4 Rc7 28.Be2! [28.g5 Ne6] Re7 29.Rd6! Ne6 30.Rd5 Nc5 31.f3
Be6 32.Re5 [32.Rd6 Bg4!] f6 [32...Nd7 33.Ne6 fe6 34.Re4 Nc5 35.Rb4] 33.Ne6 Nb3 34.Ke1 fe5 35.Nc7
Rc7 36.Ra3 Nc5 37.g5 [37.Bc4 Ne4; 37.Kd2 h6 38.Kc2 g5 39.Ra1 and White is superior] h6 38.gh6 Rh7
39.Kf2 Rh6 40.Kg3 Rh7! 41.Ra1 Nb3 42.Ra3 [42.Rb1 Na5 43.Rb6 Rc7 44.Rg6 see 42.Rd1; 42.Rd1! Na5
(42...Rd7 43.Rd7 Kd7 44.Kg4 and White is winning) 43.Rd6 (43.Rd5 Nc6 44.Rd6) Rc7 44.Rg6 Rc3 45.h5
and White is superior] Nc5 43.Ra2 Rc7 44.Kg4 Ke7 45.c4 Kf6 [45...Rd7!?] 46.Rd2 Rd7 47.Rd7 [47.Rd1
Rd1 48.Bd1 Nd3 49.Bc2 Nb2 50.c5 Nc4 51.Be4 Na5 52.Bd5 Nc6 equal] Nd7 48.Bd3 b6 [48...e4 49.Be4
Ne5 50.Kf4 Nc4 51.Bb7 and White is winning; 48...Nc5 49.Be4 and White is winning] 49.ab6 Nb6 50.c5
Nd5 51.e4 Nc7 52.Bc4 a5 53.f4 a4 54.f5 gf5 [54...a3 55.fg6 Kg6 56.h5 Kf6 57.h6 Kg6 58.h7 Kh7 59.Kf5]
55.ef5 e4 56.h5 e3 57.h6 Na6 58.c6 a3 59.Kf3 Nc7 60.Ke3 1-0 [An.Karpov]
8. Artyom Timofeev 2658 Iv.Sokolov 2655
Sarajevo 2007 100/252 [C88]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.h3 Bb7 9.d3 d5 10.ed5 Nd5 [10...
Nd4!? 11.Ne5 (11.Nc3; 11.c4) Nb3 12.ab3 Qd5 13.Nf3 Bd6 14.Nc3 Qh5 with compensation] 11.Ne5 Nd4
[11...Ne5?! 12.Re5 Bf6 13.Re1 c5 14.Nd2! Nf4 15.Ne4 Ng2 16.Kg2 c4 a) 17.dc4 Be4 18.f3 Bc6 19.Qd8
Rfd8 20.cb5 ab5 21.c3 Rd3 22.Re3 (22.Be3 Re8) Re3 23.Be3 Re8 24.Re1 Bh4 25.Re2 Bg5 26.Kf2 Bh4 27.
Kg2 Bg5 equal; b) 17.Qf3! Be4 18.Re4 cb3 19.ab3 and White is superior] 12.Nc3 Nb3 13.ab3
13...Nb4 [a novelty; 13...Bh4; 13...Bf6] 14.Bd2 f6! 15.Ng4 [15.Nf3?! Bf3 16.gf3 Qd7 with initiative] f5 16.
Ne5 Bd6 (with compensation) 17.Na2? Be5! 18.Re5 Nc6 19.Re1 f4 (and Black is superior) 20.Bc3! [20.
f3? Nd4 21.Nc3 Bf3! 22.gf3 Qg5 23.Kf1 Qg3 24.Ne4 Qh3 25.Kf2 Qh2 26.Kf1 Rae8! and Black is winning
27.Ra6 (27.Bc3 Nc2) Re4 28.de4 Qh3 29.Kf2 Qg3 30.Kf1 Nf3] f3 21.Re4 a5! 22.b4 ab4 23.Nb4 Ra1 24.
Qa1 Nb4? [24...Ne7! 25.Rg4 Ng6 26.Qa2 (26.Qa7 Qa8! and Black is superior 27.Qa8 Ra8 28.d4 Ra1 29.
Kh2 fg2 30.d5 Nf4 31.Rg7 Kf8 32.Rg2 Ng2) Rf7 27.Qa7 Qc8 28.d4 Nf4! and Black is superior 29.d5 h5! 30.
Rf4 (30.Rg5? fg2) Rf4] 25.Rb4 [25.Bb4 c5? 26.Bc5 Qg5? 27.Rg4 Qc5 28.Rg7 Kg7 29.b4 and White is
winning; 25...Rf7 equal] fg2 26.Rg4 Rf7 27.Qa7 (equal) Bf3 [27...Qa8 equal] 28.Rg3 Bd5? [28...Qa8
equal] 29.Qd4? [29.Bg7! Rf3! (29...Rg7 30.Rg7 Kg7 31.Qd4 Kf7 32.c4 and White is winning) 30.Bc3 (30.
Bf6?? Rg3 31.Bd8 Rh3 32.f3 Bf3 33.Kf2 Rh1 and Black is winning) Rg3 31.fg3 and White is slightly better]
Qd7 30.f3 h6 31.Kg2 Kh7 32.b4 c6! (with compensation) 33.Kf2 time Qc7 34.Qg4 g5! 35.Qd4 Bf3! 36.
Qh8! Kg6 37.Be5? [37.Rf3! Qh2 38.Ke3 Re7 39.Be5! Qe5 40.Qe5 Re5 and Black is slightly better] Qa7
(and Black is winning) 38.Bd4 Bd5 39.Kg1? [39.Ke2 Qa2 40.Kd2 Bb3 41.Bb2 Qb1! 42.Qc3 (42.cb3 Rf2
43.Ke3 Qe1 44.Kd4 Qb4 45.Ke5 Re2) Bc2! 43.Qc6 Kh5 44.Qe8 Bb3! 45.Qe2 Kg6 46.Qe4 Rf5 47.Qc6 (47.
Qe8 Bf7) Kh7! 48.Qb7 Bf7 and Black is winning] Qa2! 40.Rg2 Bg2 0-1 [Iv.Sokolov]
9. Predojevic 2609 Morozevich 2762
Sarajevo 2007 100/154 [B83]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be2 Be7 7.Be3 0-0 8.f4 e5 9.Nb3
9...b6! [a novelty; 9...ef4 see 24/449] 10.Bf3 [10.f5?! Bb7 a) 11.Bf3 Nbd7 12.g4 Rc8 13.g5 (13.Qd3 Rc3!
14.bc3 d5 15.ed5 e4 16.Be4 Ne4 17.Qe4 Re8 and Black is superior, with attack) Rc3! 14.bc3 Ne4 and
Black is superior; b) 11.Qd3 d5 and Black is slightly better] Nbd7 11.0-0 Bb7 12.Qe1!? Rc8 13.Rd1 Re8
14.Qg3 Bf8 [with the idea Rc3] 15.fe5 [15.Nd2!?] de5 [15...Ne5 16.Nd4 and White is slightly better; 15...
Rc3 16.bc3 de5 (16...Ne5 17.Bd4 and White is slightly better) 17.Rf2 see 15...de5] 16.Rf2 [16.Rd2 Rc3 17.
bc3 Qc8 18.Qh3 Qc3 19.Rd3 Qc7 20.Rfd1 Nc5 21.Rc3 Nfe4 22.Be4 Be4 unclear] Rc3! 17.bc3 Qc8 (with
compensation) 18.Rfd2 [18.Bg4?! Ng4 19.Qg4 Nf6 20.Qc8 Rc8 and Black is superior] Be4 19.c4! time [19.
Qh3 Bf3 20.gf3 Re6 with compensation] Bf5 20.c5!? bc5 [20...Nc5 21.Nc5 Bc5 22.Bc5 Qc5 23.Qf2
unclear] 21.c4 Nb6 [21...e4 22.Be2 Ne5 23.h3 unclear] 22.Bg5 Nfd7 23.Bg4 (with counterplay) Be6 24.
Qh3 [24.Na5?! f5 25.Be2 Qa6 with initiative] h6 25.Be3 Qc6 26.Be6 Re6 27.Na5 Qa4 28.Nb7 Be7 [28...
e4!? with initiative] 29.Nd6 Bd6 30.Rd6 Nf8? [30...Rd6 31.Rd6 Qa3 32.Qf3 Qc3 equal, with counterplay]
31.Rd8! (and White is superior) Qa5 [with the idea Nbd7; 31...Qc4 32.Qf3 and White is superior] 32.Qf3
Nbd7 33.Qa8 [33.R1d7? Qe1 34.Qf1 Qe3 35.Kh1 Rf6 36.Qd1 g5 with counterplay] Rd6 34.Rf1 Qa3?!
[34...Rd3 35.Bf2 Qb6 36.Rc8 and White is superior] 35.Bf2 f5? [35...f6 36.Rc8 Kf7 37.Rc7 and White is
superior] 36.Qc8 (and White is winning) Qa5 [36...Rd3 37.Qc6] 37.Re1?? [37.Bc5 and White is winning]
e4 38.h3 Rd3 39.Kh2?! [39.Rf8 Nf8 40.Qf5 and White is superior] Qd2?! [39...Qc3! with initiative] 40.
Bc5! (equal) Qe1 41.Rf8 [41.Rd7 Qg3 42.Kh1 Qe1 43.Kh2 Qg3 equal] Kh7 [41...Nf8 42.Qf8 Kh7 43.Qf5
Kh8 44.Qf8 Kh7 45.Qf5 equal] 42.Rh8 Kg6 43.Qe8 Kg5 44.Qe7 only move [44.Be7? Kf4 45.Qg6 Rd1 46.
Bd6 Ke3 and Black is winning] Kf4 [44...Kg6 equal] 45.Bd6 [45.Qg7!? Nc5 46.Qh6 Ke5 47.Qg7 Kf4 48.
Qc7 Ke3 49.Qc5 Ke2 unclear] Rd6 46.Qd6 Ne5 47.Re8 Qg3 48.Kh1 Qe1 [48...Qc3?? 49.Qe5 Qe5 50.g3
and White is winning] - [Predojevic]
10. I.Ivanisevic 2595 Matulovic 2389
Srbija 2007 100/(281) [D17]
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.d4 d5 4.Nc3 dc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.g3 e6 [6...Na6 see 45/(433)] 7.Bg2 Bb4 8.0-0 Ne4 [better
is 8...0-0 9.Ne5 Nbd7 10.Nc4 Nb6 11.Ne5 a5 see 96/284]
9.Nh4! [a novelty; 9.Na2; 9.Bd2] Nc3 [9...Bc3 10.Nf5 ef5 11.bc3 and White is superior] 10.bc3 Bc3 11.
Nf5 ef5 12.Rb1 0-0 13.Qc2 Bd4 14.Ba3 Re8 15.Rfd1 Qf6 16.Qc4 Bb6 17.a5! Ba5 18.Rb7 Qe6 [18...Bb6
19.Bb2 Qg6 20.Rd6 Re6 21.Bd5 Rd6 22.Bf7 and White is winning] 19.Qe6 Re6 [19...fe6 20.Bb2 e5 21.f4?
Bb6 22.Kf1 Bd4! 23.Bd4 ed4 24.Rd4 a5 equal; 21.e3! with the idea Bf1-c4] 20.e3 Na6 21.Rdd7 and White
is winning [Matulovic]
D15
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6
5
10
11
12
13
c5
a31
Bd3
Nbd7
a52
e53
e3
de5
e64
Nd4
Be2
Kf2
Nc5
Nf25
Bd66
1
b5
Ng4
fe6
with
compensation
7.b4 a5 8.ba5
a) 8...e5?! 9.Bd2 e4
a1) 10.Ng5 Ra5 11.a4 ba4 12.Ra4 Ra4 13.Qa4 Qc7 [13...Nb8? 14.Qa7 (S.Atalik - T.Reiss, Augsburg
2004/05 see 92/(377)) Nfd7 (only move) 15.Nh3 Be7 16.Na2 0-0 17.Ba5 Qe8 18.Bc7 Nf6 19.Qb8 Bh3 20.
Qe8 Ne8 21.Bg3 Bd7 22.Ba6 and White is superior] 14.f3 h6 15.Nh3 ef3 16.gf3 and White is slightly
better; S.Atalik;
a2) 10.Ng1 Ra5 11.a4 ba4 12.Ra4 Ra4 13.Qa4 Qc7 14.Na2 Be7 15.Nb4 Nb8 16.Ne2 and White is slightly
better; Dreev - Korotylev, Russia (ch) 2004 see 92/377;
b) 8...Qa5 9.Bd2 b4 10.Nb1 Ne4 11.a3 [11.Be2 e5 12.0-0 Be7 unclear; Iv.Sokolov] Rb8 [11...Nd2 12.Nfd2
Rb8 13.Be2 e5 14.0-0 Be7 15.Nb3 Qc7 16.a4! 0-0 17.a5 Nf6 18.Ra4 Bf5 19.N1d2 Rfe8 20.a6 ed4 21.ed4
(Ki.Georgiev - Erenburg, Gibraltar 2005 see 92/378) Bf8! 22.Re1 h5! with counterplay, with the idea g6,
Bh6 Ki.Georgiev] 12.Ra2 Nd2 13.Qd2 Ra8! 14.Be2 e5 15.0-0 Be7 16.Rb2 ba3 17.Qa5 Ra5 18.Ra2 Ba6 19.
Ba6 Ra6 20.Ra3 equal; 1/2 : 1/2 Aronian - Iv.Sokolov, Goeteborg 2005 see 94/(291);
7.h3 Qc7 8.g4 g6 [8...e5 9.g5 Ng8 10.e4 b4 11.Na4 (Sakaev - Iv.Sokolov, Cesme 2004 see 92/376) Ne7 12.
Bd3!? with initiative; Sakaev] 9.a3 Bg7 10.b4 e5 11.a4 e4 12.Nd2 Rb8 13.Bb2 0-0 14.Be2 Ne8 15.ab5 ab5
16.Qb3 Qd8 17.0-0-0 Qh4 18.Rdf1 Nc7 unclear; M.Kobalia - D.Jakovenko, Moscow 2005 see 94/291;
7.Bd3 e5 8.Ne5 Ne5 9.de5 Ng4 10.f4 Bc5 11.Qf3 Qb6 12.Nd1 [12.Ke2 Nh6 13.h3 a5 14.Bd2 Ba6 unclear;
B.Gelfand - Iv.Sokolov, Espana 2005 see 94/292] Nh6 13.f5 Qc7 14.Bd2 0-0 15.Rc1 Bb6 16.f6 Re8
unclear; Bacrot - Sergey Karjakin, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/3-rapid) 2007 see 101/(300);
7.Be2 a5 8.0-0 g6 9.Ne5! Ne5 10.de5 Nd7 11.e4 b4 [11...d4 12.Qd4 e6 13.Be3 Bc5 14.Qd2 Be3 15.Qe3
Qc7 16.Rac1 Qe5 17.f4 Qc5 18.Qc5 Nc5 19.Nb5 cb5 20.Rc5 and White is superior; V.Milov - D.
Jakovenko, Espana 2007 see 101/(300); 11...e6 12.Be3 Nc5 13.Rc1 with initiative] 12.Na4 de4 13.e6 fe6
14.Qc2 with compensation; V.Milov
2
7...e5 8.de5 Ne4 9.e6 fe6 10.Ne4 de4 11.Nd4 Nf6 12.b4 Qc7 13.Bb2 e5 14.Nb3 Be7 15.Be2 0-0 16.0-0 Be6
unclear; B.Damljanovic - D.Solak, Srbija (ch) 2007 see 99/(264)
3
8...g6 9.0-0 Bg7 10.e4 and White is slightly better; V.Milov
4
10.Nd4 Nge5 [10...Nde5!?] 11.Be2
a) 11...Qc7 12.e4 de4 13.Ne4 Nc5 [13...Bc5 14.f4 Ng6 15.Nc5 Nc5 16.0-0 0-0 17.f5 Ne5 18.Qc2 with
initiative] 14.Qc2 Ne4 15.Qe4 with compensation;
b) 11...Bb7 12.f4 Nc4 [12...Ng6?! 13.Bb5 Rc8 14.Bd3 Bc5 15.0-0 0-0 16.Rb1 (V.Milov - D.Jakovenko,
Kemer 2007 see 101/301) Re8 17.b4 ab4 18.ab4 Bd4 19.ed4 Qf6 20.Ne2 and White is slightly better] 13.
Nd5 Nc5 14.Nc3 unclear; V.Milov
5
12...Ne5 13.f4 Nc4 14.b3 Nd6 15.Nc6 Qb6 16.Nd4 Bd7 17.0-0 and White is slightly better; Lputian - D.
Jakovenko, Fuegen 2006 see 99/(264)
6
14.g3?! 0-0 15.Kg2 Bd7

a) 16.Bd2?! e5 17.Nb3 [17.Nf3 a4 18.Qc2 Qe8 19.Raf1 Bf5 20.Qd1 Qd7 and Black is superior] Ne6! 18.
Bg4 a4 19.Nc1 (P.Eljanov - Sergey Karjakin, Foros 2007 see 100/279) Nc5! and Black is superior;
b) 16.Rf1 Rf1 17.Bf1 Qf6 and Black is slightly better;
c) 16.Nb3! Nb3 17.Qb3 e5 with counterplay, with the idea Qc8, Bh3;
14.Nc6 0-0
a) 15.Kg1 Qh4
a1) 16.g3?!
a11) 16...Bg3? 17.Ne7! Kf7 [17...Kh8?? 18.Ng6 hg6 19.hg3 and White is winning] 18.Nf5! ef5 19.Qd5
Be6 20.Qc5 Be1! 21.Qc7 Kg8 22.Qf4 and White is slightly better;
a12) 16...Qf6! 17.Qe1 [17.Qf1 Qg6 and Black is superior, with the idea Nb3] Nb3 18.Rb1 (Krasenkow - Y.
Gozzoli, Polska 2007 see 101/300) b4! 19.Nb5 Bc5 and Black is superior, with attack;
a2) 16.Bf3!? Ne4!? 17.Qe2 Ba6 18.Be4 de4 19.g3 Bg3 20.hg3 Qg3 21.Qg2 Qe1 22.Kh2 Qh4 equal;
Krasenkow;
b) 15.Bf3 Qh4 16.g3 Qh3 with compensation; Sergey Karjakin
T.Paunovic


Part Three
Check out these

USCFSales.com:
Zdenko Krnic
Our latest book, 1000 The Best of the Best, has finally reached the
American market. It celebrates the publication of 100 volumes of Chess
Informant and 42 years of publishing. In it we invite readers to choose the
ten best games from the 100 golden games. The task is exceptionally
difficult. How should one choose the ten best games from 100 chess
brilliancies? Among the 100 winners from these 100 volumes are 42
different players:
15 wins: Kasparov
14 wins: Karpov
6 wins each: Anand, Ivanchuk
5 wins: Kramnik
4 wins: Tal
3 wins each: Dreev, Fischer, Geller, Spassky
2 wins each: Leko, Miles, Portisch, Short, Smyslov, Topalov
1 win each: Agrest, Atalik, Botvinnik, Bronstein, Gelfand, Gipslis,
M. Gurevich, Jussupow, Kantsler, Korchnoi, Kuligowski, Larsen,
Ljubojevic, Nataf, Nisipeanu, Nunn, Petrosian, Pinter, Polgar, A.
Sokolov, Sutovsky, Vaganian, Vallejo Pons, Vasiukov,
Velimirovic, Zvjaginsev.
This month we present five new pearls played by grandmasters who were
neither world champions, nor among the top players.
the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
The Complete
DGT Product Line
ECO A-E (CD)
Anthology of Chess
Combinations (book)
Polish grandmaster Adam Kuligowski was one of the best young players
in the 1970s. He retired from chess very early, but his beautiful game
against his countryman Schmidt will remain forever in the annals of chess
history.
Wl.Schmidt 2505 Kuligowski 2325
Polska 1978 25/645 [E20]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3 c5 5.Nf3 Ne4 6.Qd3 d5!? 7.dc5 [7.cd5]
Qa5 8.Nd2? [8.cd5 Qc5 9.Be3 Qd5 10.Qd5 ed5 11.Rc1 equal] Nc5! 9.
Qe3 0-0 10.cd5 ed5! 11.Nd5 Nc6 12.Bg2
12...Bh3!! [12...Bg4 13.0-0 Rfe8 14.Qg5 Be2 15.Nf6 Kh8 16.Ne8 Re8 17.

Nf3 Nd3 unclear] 13.Bh3 [13.Ne7 Ne7 14.Bh3 Nd5 15.Qd4 Rad8; 13.0-0
Bg2 14.Kg2 Rae8 15.Qg5 (15.Qf4 Ne6; 15.Nc4 Qd8) f6] Rae8 14.Qg5
Re5 15.Nf6 Kh8 16.Qh4 gf6 17.Qf6 Kg8 18.Bf5 Ne6! (and Black is
winning) 19.Bd3 Rd8 20.Kd1 Rd3!! 21.ed3 Bd2 22.Bd2 Qd5 23.Re1
Re1 24.Be1 Qd3 25.Bd2 Ncd4 26.b3 [26.Qe5 Qc2 27.Ke1 Nf3] Qf1 27.
Be1 Qe2 0-1 [Wl.Schmidt]
Turkish grandmaster Suat Atalik is one of the few grandmasters whose
game was voted as the best game and the most important theoretical
novelty. There is no doubt that this victory against Sax was the result of
home analysis on the weakness of the f7-square.
S.Atalik 2590 Gy.Sax 2570
Szeged 1997 71/559 [E37]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.a3 Bc3 6.Qc3 Ne4 7.Qc2 Nc6 8.
e3 e5?! 9.cd5 Qd5 10.Bc4! Qa5 11.b4 Nb4 12.Qe4 Nc2 13.Ke2 Qe1 14.
Kf3 Na1 15.Bb2 0-0 16.Kg3 Kh8 17.de5! Be6 (only move) 18.Nf3 Qh1
19.Ng5 g6 20.Nf7!! Rf7 21.Be6 Rg7 [21...Rf2!? 22.Kf2 Rf8 23.Kg3 Qe1
24.Kh3 Kg7 25.Bd7 Kh6 26.e6 Rf5 27.Bf6!! Rh5 (27...Rf6 28.e7 and
White is winning) 28.Kg4 Rf5 29.e7 Qd1 30.Kh3! a) 30...Rh5 31.Kg3
Qe1 32.Kf4 Qf1 (32...Qf2 33.Qf3 Rh4 34.Bg4!; 32...g5 33.Ke5 Qc3 34.
Qd4 g4 35.Kf4 and White is winning; 32...Rh4 33.Bh4 Qh4 34.Kf3 and
White is winning) 33.Qf3 and White is winning; b) 30...Qd7 31.e8Q Rf3
(31...Rh5 32.Kg3 and White is winning) 32.Kh4 and White is winning]
22.Bf7!! [22.Bg4?! a) 22...h5 23.e6! h4 (23...Kh7 24.Bh5 Kg8 25.Bg7 gh5

26.Qg6 and White is winning; 23...Re8 24.Qg6 Ree7 25.Qg7 Rg7 26.e7
Kh7 27.Bg7 and White is winning) 24.Kh3 Kh7 25.Qd4 Rag8 26.Qf6 and
White is winning; b) 22...Rf8!! 23.e6 Qf1 b1) 24.Bf3?! Qb5 25.Ba1 Qg5
and Black is winning; b2) 24.e7?! Qf2 25.Kh3 Re8 26.Qe5 (26.Qd4 Qf7)
Ree7! 27.Qe7 Qb2 and Black is winning; b3) 24.Qe5 Qf2 25.Kh3 Rfg8
26.Ba1 h5 27.Bh5 (27.Bf3 Kh7 28.e7 Rf7 with the idea Rf3) Kh7 28.Qg5
(28.Bf3 Re7 29.Qf6 Rgg7) Qf8 (28...Qf5? 29.Qf5 gf5 30.Bg7 Rg7 31.Bf7
Rf7 32.ef7 Kg7 33.Kg3 c5 34.a4 b6 35.Kf3 a6 36.e4 fe4 37.Ke4 b5 38.ab5
ab5 39.g4 b4 40.h4 b3 41.Kd3 c4 42.Kc3 Kf7 43.h5 Kf6 44.h6 Kg6 45.g5
equal) 29.Bf6 Re7 30.Be7 (30.Bg4 Re8) gh5 31.Qh5 Qh6 32.Qh6 Kh6 33.
Bh4 c5 and Black is winning] Rf7? [22...Qd1 23.e6 Qd6 24.f4 (24.Kh3!?;
24.Be5 Qe7 25.h4) a) 24...Qe7 a1) 25.Qb7!? Rd8 (25...Rf8 26.Ba1 Rff7 27.
ef7 Qe3 28.Qf3 Qe1 29.Qf2 Qe7 30.Qa7 Qe1 31.Qf2 Qe7 32.Kf3 Qf7 33.
Qb2 Qd5 34.Kf2 Qc5 35.Kf1 Qc4 36.Kg1 Qc5 37.Kh1 and White is
winning) 26.Ba1 Qa3 27.Bd4 Qe7 28.Qa7 Rd4 29.Qd4 and White is
winning; a2) 25.Ba1 c5 26.Qe5 Rag8 27.Qf6 and White is winning; b)
24...g5 25.Kg4!! b1) 25...Qd1 26.Kf5 Qc2 27.Ba1 Qc5 28.Qe5 Qe5 29.
Be5 and White is winning; b2) 25...gf4 26.Kh5 Qc5 (26...fe3 27.Kh6 Qh2
28.Bh5 and White is winning) 27.Qe5 Qe5 28.Be5 and White is winning;
b3) 25...h5 26.Kh5 and White is winning] 23.e6 Kg8 [23...Rg7 24.e7 h5
25.Qg6 and White is winning] 24.Qd4! Kf8 25.ef7 Kf7 26.Qd7 1-0 [S.
Atalik]
French grandmaster Igor Nataf did not hide his pleasure when I
personally informed him that his victory against Nunn was voted as the
best game of Volume 75.

Nunn 2600 I.A.Nataf 2475
France 1999 75/144 [B32]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Be7 7.N1c3 a6 8.
Na3 f5!? 9.Bd3!? f4 [weak point Bc1; 9...fe4!?] 10.g3!? Nf6!? [10...fg3
11.hg3 unclear] 11.gf4 ef4 12.Bf4 0-0 (unclear) 13.Bg3 [13.Qd2?! Ng4!
(and Black is slightly better) 14.0-0-0? (14.Bg3? Nf2!! 15.Bf2 Rf2 16.Kf2
Bg5!! and Black is winning) Rf4! 15.Qf4 Bg5 and Black is winning] Ng4!
[with attack, weak point f2] 14.Be2! [14.h3?? Nf2!! 15.Bf2 Rf2 16.Kf2
Bh4 17.Ke2 (17.Kg2 Qg5 18.Kf1 Qf4 19.Ke2 Nd4 mate) Nd4 18.Kd2 (18.
Ke3 Qg5 19.Kd4 Qc5 mate) Qg5 mate; 14.Nc2? Nf2! 15.Bf2 Rf2 16.Kf2
Bh4 and Black is winning; 14.Qd2? Nf2! 15.Bf2 Rf2 16.Kf2 (16.Qf2 Bh4
and Black is winning) Bg5! (16...Bh4? 17.Kg2 and White is winning,
weak point g5) 17.Qc2 Bh4! and Black is winning; 14.0-0!?]
14...Nf2!! (and Black is winning) 15.Qd5! [15.Bf2?! Rf2! a) 16.Kf2? Bh4

17.Kg2 (17.Ke3 Qg5 18.Kd3 Nb4! 19.Kd4 Qc5 mate) Qg5 and Black is
winning; b) 16.Qd5 Rf7!? and Black is slightly better; 16...Kh8!] Kh8!
[15...Rf7?? 16.Bf2 and White is winning] 16.Bf2 Nb4!! [16...Bh4? 17.
Bg3! and White is winning; 16...Rf2? 17.Kf2! Nb4 (17...Bh4? 18.Kg2!
and White is winning, with the idea Rhg1, Kh1) 18.Qf7!! Bh4 19.Kf3! and
White is winning] 17.Qh5 [17.Qd4? Rf2! 18.Kf2 Bh4 and Black is
winning, with the idea Qg5; 17.Qd2? Rf2!! 18.Kf2 Bg5!! (with the idea
Bh4; 18...Bh4? 19.Kg2 Bg5 20.Qd4 Bf6 21.Qe3 Bg5 22.Qf3 and White is
winning) 19.Qd4 Bh4! (19...Bf6!? 20.Qe3 Bd4! 21.Qd4 Qh4 equal) 20.
Kf3!? (20.Kg2 Qg5 and Black is winning) a) 20...Nc6?! 21.Qe3 Qf6 22.
Kg2 Qg6 23.Kf1 Qf6 24.Bf3! (24.Qf3? Bh3 25.Kg1 Qd4 and Black is
winning) Bh3 25.Ke2 Nd4 26.Kd1 Nf3 27.Kc2 and White is winning; b)
20...Bh3! (with the idea Qf8) 21.Nd5 Qg5! (21...Qf8 22.Nf4 Qf4!? 23.Kf4
Rf8 unclear) 22.Nf4 Rf8! 23.Qd6 Bg4 24.Ke3 Rf4 25.Qf4 Bf2! and Black
is winning] Rf2!! 18.Kf2 Bh4 19.Kg2 [only move; 19.Ke3 g6! 20.Qf3
(20.Qh6 Bg5 and Black is winning) Qg5! 21.Qf4 (21.Kd4? Qc5 mate)
Qc5! (J.-M.Degraeve; 21...Bf2? 22.Kf3 Bg4 23.Qg4 Rf8 24.Kg2! and
White is winning) 22.Kf3 (22.Kd2 Bg5 and Black is winning) Qf2 mate]
g6! 20.Qf3 [20.Qh6? Bg5 and Black is winning] Qg5 21.Kf1 (only move)
Bh3!! 22.Qh3 Rf8 23.Bf3 Qe3! [with the idea Qf2 mate] 24.Qh4 (only
move) Nd3!! [24...Rf3 25.Kg2 and White is winning; 24...Qf3 25.Kg1
Qe3 26.Kg2 equal] 25.Nd5 [weak point Qe3; 25.Qg3? Rf3 26.Kg2 Rg3!?
27.hg3 Qd2 28.Kh3 Nf2! 29.Kh2 (29.Kh4 Qh6 mate) Nh1 30.Kh1 Qb2
and Black is winning; 26...Nf4! and Black is winning, Nunn] Qf3 [25...
Rf3 26.Kg2 Qe2 27.Kg1 g5 and Black is winning] 26.Kg1 Nf2!! [with the
idea Qh1 mate] 27.Kf1 [27.Nf6 Nh3! (27...Rf6?! 28.Qf6 Qf6 29.Rf1!
unclear) 28.Qh3 Qh3 29.Nd5 (29.Rf1 Kg7! 30.Nd5 Qg4 mate) Qg4 mate;
27.Qf6 Rf6 28.Nf6 Nh3 mate] Qh1 28.Ke2 Qa1 0-1 [I.A.Nataf]
Israeli grandmaster Boris Kantsler can be proud of his victory against
Boris Gelfand in one of his favourite openings: the King's Indian Defence.
B.Gelfand 2712 Kantsler 2507
Israel 2001 81/489 [E98]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5
Ne7 9.Ne1 Ne8 10.Be3 f5 11.f3 f4 12.Bf2 h5 13.c5 g5 14.a4 Ng6 15.a5
Rf7 16.cd6 [16.c6!?] Nd6 [16...cd6?! 17.Nb5 a6 18.Nc3 Nf6 19.Na4 and
White is superior] 17.Nd3 [17.Nb5 Nb5 18.Bb5 g4 unclear] Bf6 [with the
idea Rg7, Nf8, g4; 17...Bh6!?] 18.Nc5 Nf8 19.Nb5 Rg7 20.a6 ba6 [20...
b6 21.Nb7 Qe7 (21...Nb7?! 22.ab7 Bb7 23.Na7 with initiative) 22.Rc1
Nb5 23.Bb5 g4 24.d6 cd6 25.Nd6 Be6 26.Nf5 Bf5 27.ef5 (27.Qd5? Be6
28.Qa8 gf3) Rd8 unclear; 27...Kh8!?] 21.Na6 [21.Nd6 cd6 22.Ne6 Ne6
23.de6 Be6 (23...Qe7 24.Qd5 unclear) 24.Ra6 Be7 25.Ra7 Ra7 26.Ba7 g4
with initiative; 25.Bc5!?] g4 22.Na7 g3 23.Bc5
23...Bh3!! 24.gh3? [24.hg3!? Bg2 (24...Rg3 25.Rf2 unclear) 25.Kg2 Rg3

26.Kf2 (26.Kh1 Rh3 equal) Bh4 unclear] Qd7 25.Bd3 [only move; 25.
Kg2? Ng6 and Black is winning; 25.hg3? Qh3 and Black is winning] Qh3
26.Qe2 Ng6 27.Qg2 Qd7 28.Nc7 [28.Rfc1 Nh4 29.Qf1 Nf3!! 30.Qf3
Qh3 and Black is winning] Nh4 29.Qe2 Qh3! [29...Qc7 30.Nc6] 30.Ne6
[30.Bd6 Ng2!! 31.Qg2 gh2 and Black is winning; 30.Na8 Ng2!! 31.Rfc1
Qh2 32.Kf1 Qh1 33.Bg1 Nh4 34.Ke1 (34.Rc2 g2 35.Kf2 Nhf5 36.Qd2
Nd4 and Black is winning) Nf3 35.Kd1 Qg1 36.Qf1 (36.Kc2 Nd4 and
Black is winning) Qh2 37.Rc2 (37.Qf3 g2 and Black is winning) g2 38.
Rg2 Rg2 39.Qf3 Rf2 and Black is winning] Ng2!! 31.Rfc1 Qh2 32.Kf1
Qh1 33.Bg1 Nh4! 34.Ng7 Nf3 [35.Qc2 Qg1 36.Ke2 Qf2 37.Kd1 Qe1
mate; 35.Qg2 Nh2 and Black is winning] 0-1 [Kantsler]
At the end of his career, Russian grandmaster Evgeny Vasiukov played a
game against Van Wely in the manner of a young man at the height of his
creativity.
Vasiukov 2524 Van Wely 2697
Moscow 2002 84/163 [B53]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Qd4 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bc6 Bc6 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.
Bg5 e6 9.0-0-0 Be7 10.Rhe1 0-0 11.Kb1 Qa5 12.Qd2 Qa6 13.Nd4 Rfc8
14.f4 [14.g4; 14.f3] h6 15.h4!? [15.Bh4? Ne4] Qc4 16.g4 Kf8 17.f5! [17.
Bf6 Bf6 18.g5 Bd4 19.Qd4 Qd4 20.Rd4 equal] hg5 [17...e5?! (with the
idea hg5) 18.Bf6! Bf6 19.Nf3 with the idea g5, with attack] 18.hg5 Nd7
19.fe6 Ne5
20.Rh1! fe6 [20...g6 21.Rh8 Kg7 22.Rh7! Kh7 (22...Kg8 23.Rdh1) 23.
Qh2 Kg8 24.Rh1 Qf1 (only move) 25.Rf1 Bg5 26.ef7 Nf7 27.Ne6 and
White is winning; 20...Ke8 21.Rh8 Bf8 22.e7! (22.Nf5!) Ke7 23.Nf5 Kd7
(23...Ke8 24.Qd6 Ng6 25.Ng7 mate; 23...Ke6 24.Qd6 Bd6 25.Rd6 mate)
24.Nd6 Qb4 25.Nc8 Bd6 26.Nd6 Rh8 27.a3! and White is winning; 20...
Ng6 21.Rdf1! Be8 22.Nd5 (with the idea Qh2-h8) Bg5 23.Qg5 Qd4 24.
Qe7 Ne7 25.Rh8 Ng8 26.e7 mate] 21.b3! Qb4 22.Rh8! Kf7 23.Qf4 Bf6
[23...Kg6 24.Ne6 and White is winning] 24.Rh7!! Kg8 [24...Qc3 25.Qf6
and White is winning; 24...Ng4 25.gf6 Nf6 26.e5 de5 27.Rg7! Kg7 28.
Ne6 Kf7 29.Qb4 Ke6 30.Qd6 Kf7 31.Rf1 and White is winning] 25.gf6!!
Kh7 26.Qg5!! Rc7 [26...g6 27.Rh1 Kg8 28.Rh8! (28.Qh6! with the idea
28...Rc7 29.Qh8 Kf7 30.Rh7 mate) Kf7 (28...Kh8 29.Qh6 Kg8 30.Qg7
mate) 29.Rh7 Ke8 30.Re7 Kf8 (30...Kd8 31.Ne6 mate) 31.Qh6 Kg8 32.
Qg7 mate] 27.Ne6! Rac8 28.fg7 Kg8 [28...Be4 29.g8Q! Rg8 30.Qh5
mate] 29.Rh1 Be4 30.Rh8 Kf7 31.Nc7 [31.g8Q and White is winning]
Qc3 32.g8Q [32...Rg8 33.Qg8 Kf6 (33...Ke7 34.Qg7) 34.Rh6 Ng6 (34...
Bg6 35.Nd5) 35.Qh8] 1-0 [Vasiukov]

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USCFSales.com:
ECO E, 4th Edition

Zdenko Krnic
The draft of a new Volume E of the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings is drawing to a close. In
comparison with the third edition, published in 1998, this new edition offers extensive coverage of all
relevant opening lines (Catalan, Queens-, Nimzo- and Kings-Indian Defenses) in sufficient detail to
provide readers with enough information to employ them in contemporary tournament practice. This
new volume is also expected to be about 150 pages longer more than the preceding one.
I would like to highlight two important principles we adhere to in preparing these publications. The first
is that we explore the material via a system of elimination, from the weakest or less frequently used
lines we progress to those played most often. In addition, each opening code is concluded with the best
play from both sides. The second important principle is that a given position can only be shown in one
place, no matter what move-order is used. For instance, in our opinion, the two sequences below,
featuring a white fianchetto, g3 and Bg2, with a black pawn on d5 exemplifies the Catalan opening:
ECO A-E (CD)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4 4.Bd2 Bd2 5.Qd2 d5 6.g3 ... E11.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Nf3 Bb4 5.Bd2 Bd2 6.Qd2 ... E01.
This month we present ChessCafe.com readers with a fragment from this topical line. For the sake of
presentation, the material previewed in the article only covers the concluding four lines (rows 9-12) in
the E01 ECO table.
E01
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
The Complete
DGT Product Line
10
11
Anthology of Chess
Combinations
10
11
12
Nf3
Bd2
Qd2
Bg2
0-0
Qc265
cd567
Nc3
e3
Bb4
Bd2
0-062
Qe763
Rd864
Nc666
ed5
Bg468
a669
...
...
...
...
0-070
Rc172
Qe374
a4
Na3
...
...
...
Nbd7
c671
Qe773
dc475
Re8
e576
...
...
...
...
...
Qc2
Nbd2
b479
a3
...
...
...
...
...
b677
Bb778
a580
Qe781
...
...
Nbd2
Bg282
0-0
Rc1
Ne585
cd5
Re1
...
...
0-0
Qe783
b684
Bb7
Na686
ed5
c587
White
is
slightly
better
equal
equal
12
White
is
slightly
better
62
6...dc4 7.Na3 Qd5 8.Bg2 Ne4 9.Qc2 Qa5 10.Nd2 Nd2 11.Qd2 Qd2 12.Kd2 Ke7 13.Nc4 Rd8 14.Kc3
Nd7 equal; Rashkovsky - Azmaiparashvili, Strumica 1995; 7.Bg2 see E04; 6...Nbd7 7.Bg2 c6 8.Qc2 [8.
Na3 Ne4 9.Qd3 Qa5 10.Nd2 Nd2 11.Qd2 Qd2 12.Kd2 Ke7 13.Rhd1 Nf6 14.Rac1 and White is slightly
better; Karpov - Andersson, Bruxelles 1988 see 45/588] 0-0 9.Nbd2 b6 10.e4 de4 11.Ne4 Ne4 12.Qe4
Bb7 13.0-0 Rb8 14.Qe3 c5 15.dc5 Nc5 16.Rfd1 Qc7 17.b4 Nd7 18.Rd4 Nf6 19.Qe5! and White is
slightly better; Karpov - Serper, Dortmund 1993 see 57/483; 6...c6 7.Qc2 Nbd7 [7...Qa5 8.Nbd2 dc4 9.
Qc4 Nbd7 10.Bg2 0-0 11.0-0 Re8 12.Qc2 Qc7 13.Nc4 b6 14.Rac1 Bb7 15.e4 and White is slightly
better; Tkachiev - Kurajica, Solin 1999] 8.Bg2 see 6...Nbd7
63
7...dc4 see E04; 7...b6 8.cd5 ed5 9.Nc3 Bb7 see E16; 7...c6 8.0-0 Nbd7 see 7...Nbd7
64
8...dc4 9.Na3 see E04; 8...c6 9.Qc2 [9.Rc1 Nbd7 see 7...Nbd7] dc4 [9...Nbd7 see 7...Nbd7] 10.Nbd2 b5
11.b3 cb3 12.Nb3 Bd7 13.Ne5 Rc8 14.Rfc1 Be8 15.Qd2 a6 16.Rc2 Ra7 17.Rac1 with compensation;
Tregubov - Dyachkov, Russia 2004; 8...b6 9.cd5 ed5 10.Nc3 Bb7 see E16
65
9.Rc1 c6 [9...Nc6 10.Qc3 dc4 (10...Ne4 11.Qe3 Nd6 12.cd5 Nf5 13.Qf4 ed5 14.Nc3 Be6 15.e3 and
White is slightly better; Notkin - Jankovskis, Passau 1994 see 60/(478)) 11.Na3 Nd5 12.Qc4 and White
is slightly better; Notkin] 10.Qe3 Bd7 11.Nbd2 Be8 12.Nb3 [12.a3 a5 13.c5 a4 14.Ne5 Nfd7 15.Nd3 f6
16.Bh3 Bf7 17.f4 Re8 18.Nf3 b6 19.cb6 Nb6 20.Nd2 Ra5 21.Rc3 and White is slightly better; Timman P.Nikolic, Reykjavik 1988] Nbd7 [12...Na6 13.a3 Rac8 (Razuvaev - Kholmov, Moscow 1991 see 52/
(504)) 14.c5! and White is slightly better; Kholmov] 13.Na5 Rab8 14.Rab1 Rdc8 15.cd5 Nd5 16.Qd2 c5
17.e4 and White is slightly better; Kasparov - Timman, Beograd 1989 see 48/662
66
9...Na6 10.a3 dc4 11.Qc4 c5 12.dc5 Qc5 13.Nbd2 Bd7 14.b4 Qc4 15.Nc4 Bb5 16.Rfc1 Rac8 17.Nfe5
and White is slightly better; Kasparov - Ljubojevic, Tilburg 1989
67
10.Rd1 Bd7 [10...Nb4 11.Qb3 b6 (11...dc4 12.Qc4 c5 13.a3 Na6 14.Nc3 Bd7 15.Ne5 Be8 16.dc5 Nc5
17.b4 and White is superior; Khalifman - Timoscenko, Sverdlovsk 1987 see 44/625) 12.cd5 ed5 13.Nc3
Bb7 14.Rac1 c5 15.a3 Na6 16.e3 Ne4 17.dc5 Nac5 18.Qc2 Rac8 19.b4 Nc3 20.Qc3 Ne4 and White is
slightly better; Bareev - Kholmov, Sochi 1988] 11.Nbd2 Nb4 [11...Be8 12.Rac1 Rac8 13.a3 and White
is slightly better; Gulko - Andersson, Reykjavik 1991 see 52/(504)] 12.Qb3 c5 13.cd5 cd4 14.Nd4 Nfd5
15.a3 Nc6 16.Nc4 Rac8 17.Nc6 Bc6 18.Ne3 -, Adorjan - Korchnoi, Polanica Zdroj 1992 see 55/
(493)
68
11...Ne4 12.e3 Nc3 13.bc3 Na5 14.Ne5 f6 15.Nf3 Be6 16.Rfe1 Qd7 17.Nd2 Rac8 18.Nb3 and White is
slightly better; Pinter - Pal Petran, Szirak 1987 see 40/628
69
13.Rac1 Na7 14.Ne5 c6 15.Na4 Nb5 16.Ng4 Ng4 17.Qf5 Nf6 18.Nc5 and White is slightly better;
Timman - Korchnoi, Tilburg 1986 see 46/(652)
70
8.Qc2 b6! 9.cd5 Nd5 10.0-0 c5! [10...Bb7 11.e4 N5f6 12.Nc3 c5 13.Rad1 cd4 14.Nd4 Qe7 15.Rfe1 and
White is slightly better; Karpov - Andersson, Osterkars Havsbad (m/1) 1995 see 67/(571)] 11.Nc3 Bb7
[11...Nc3 12.Qc3 Bb7 13.Rfd1 Qe7 14.Rac1 Rfc8 15.Qe3 (with the idea d5) cd4?! 16.Nd4 and White is
slightly better; Stohl - Andersson, Praha 1996 see 67/571; 15...Kf8 equal] 12.Rfd1 Rc8 equal; Stohl
71
8...b6 9.cd5 ed5 10.Nc3 Bb7 see E16; 8...Qe7 9.Qc2 [9.Rc1 c6 see 8...c6] c5 10.cd5 Nd5 11.Nc3 Nb4
12.Qb3 cd4 13.Nd4 Nf6 14.a3 Na6 15.Qc2 and White is slightly better; Ikonnikov - Roktim, Vlissingen
2006; 9...c6 see 8...c6; 8...dc4 9.Na3 e5 10.Nc4 e4 [10...ed4 11.Nd4 Nb6 12.Na5! c5 13.Ndb3 Qd2 14.
Nd2 Re8 15.e3 Nbd5 16.e4 Nc7 17.e5 (Shipov - V.I.Ivanov, Russia 1996 see 68/(441)) Nfd5 18.Rfe1
and White is slightly better; Shipov] 11.Ng5 [11.Nfe5 Nb6 12.Na5 Re8 13.Rfd1 c6 14.Nb3 Nbd7 15.
Nc4 Nb6 16.Ne5 Nbd7 17.Qf4 Qe7 18.Nd7 Bd7 19.Nc5 Bg4 20.Re1 Rad8 equal; Dautov - Brenke,
Lippstadt 2000] Re8 12.Qf4 Nf8 13.Rad1 Ne6 14.Ne6 Be6 15.b3 Bd5 16.Ne3 Qd6 17.Qd6 cd6 18.Rc1
and White is slightly better; Graf - G.Kern, Bad Zwesten 2006
72
9.Ne5 Ne5 10.de5 Nd7 11.f4 Nb6 12.Na3 Qe7 13.Rac1 Rd8 14.Rfd1 Bd7 15.c5 Nc8 16.e4 b6 17.Qd4
Rb8 18.b4 bc5 19.bc5 Qf8 equal; Dorfman - Spassky, France 2002; 9.Na3 b6 10.Rac1 Bb7 11.Rfd1
Qe7 12.Ne5 Rac8 13.f4 Rfd8 14.Rc2 Ne5 15.fe5 Nd7 16.Rdc1 f6! unclear; Ilincic - Andersson, Beograd
2000; 9.b3 b6 10.Qb2 Bb7 11.Nbd2 c5 12.Rac1 Qe7 13.cd5 Bd5 14.Rfe1 cd4 15.Nd4 Bg2 16.Kg2 Rfc8
equal; Sosonko - P.Nikolic, Nederland (ch) 1998
73
9...b6 10.cd5 [10.Na3 Bb7 11.Ne5 Ne5 12.de5 Nd7 13.f4 Qe7 14.cd5 ed5 15.Nc2 Rad8 (15...f6?! 16.e6!
Nc5 17.f5 and White is superior; Ivanisevic - Kosic, Srbija i Crna Gora 2005) 16.Nd4 and White is
slightly better] cd5 11.Na3! [11.Nc3 Ba6 12.a4 Bc4 13.Nb5 Qe7 14.Na3 Ne4 15.Qd1 Ba6 equal;
Portisch - Spassky, Reykjavik 1988 see 46/(646)] Ba6 12.Ne5 Ne5 13.de5 Nd7 14.f4 and White is
slightly better; Nogueiras - Andersson, Sarajevo 1985 see 39/582; 9...Re8 10.Na3 [10.Qe3 dc4! 11.Rc4
e5 12.de5 Ne5 13.Rd4 Qb6! 14.Qc3 (Dokhoian - Andersson, Wijk aan Zee 1990 see 49/(581)) Neg4! 15.
Nbd2 c5 16.Rd3 Re2 17.Nc4 Qc7 and Black is superior; Dokhoian; 10.Qc3 dc4 11.Qc4 e5 12.de5 Ne5
13.Ne5 Re5 14.Nc3 Be6 15.Qb4 Qb6 16.a3 Bb3 17.e3 Rd8 18.Qb6 ab6 19.Ne2 Rd2 20.Nd4 Bd5 21.
Rc2 -, Dautov - Bl.Kovacevic, Warszawa 2005] Qe7 11.Rc2 [11.e3 Rd8 12.Qc3 a5 13.Ne5 Ne5 14.
de5 Nd7 15.e4 de4 16.Be4 Qc5 17.Re1 Ne5 18.Bh7 Kh7 19.Re5 Qd4 equal; Borovikov - Cifuentes, Dos
Hermanas 2004] Ne4 12.Qe3 Nd6 13.Rac1 Nb6 14.Nd2 Nf5 15.Qd3 Rd8 16.e3 and White is slightly
better; Bocharov - Bl.Kovacevic, Warszawa 2005
74
10.Qf4 Ne4 [10...Rd8 11.Nbd2 Nf8 12.e4 Bd7 13.e5 Ne8 14.c5 a5 15.Qe3 Rdb8 16.Ne1 and White is
slightly better; Pinter - Bischoff, Oesterreich 2003; 10...Re8 11.Nbd2 Nf8 (11...e5 12.de5 Ne5 13.Ne5
Qe5 14.Qe5 Re5 see 10.Qe3) 12.Ne5 N6d7 13.Nd3 Ng6 14.Qc7 Nf6 15.Qe7 Re7 16.f4 and White is
slightly better; Markus - Kosic, Bosna i Hercegovina 2004 see 91/(437)] 11.Nc3 f5 12.a3 g5 13.Qc7
Qg7 14.b4 Rf7 unclear; Bosboom - Ikonnikov, Dieren 2004
75
10...b6 11.cd5 Nd5 12.Qg5 Bb7 13.Qe7 Ne7 14.Nbd2 Rfd8 15.Nc4 c5 16.Nd6 Bf3 17.Bf3 Rab8 18.Nb5
a5 19.dc5 Nc5 20.Rd1 and White is slightly better; Portisch - Andersson, Bruxelles 1988 see 45/(589);
10...Re8 11.Nbd2 e5 [11...a5 12.h3 a4 13.g4 h6 14.Rab1 Nf8?! 15.Qa3! and White is slightly better;
Piket - Sunye, Manila (ol) 1992 see 55/493; 14...Nh7 with the idea Nhf8-g6 Piket] 12.de5 Ne5 13.Ne5
Qe5 14.Qe5 Re5 15.cd5 Nd5 16.e4 Nb6 [16...Nc7 17.Nc4 Re7 18.Na5 Kf8 19.b4 Rb8 20.a4 Be6 21.
Rab1 a6 22.f4 and White is slightly better; Karpov - Andersson, Belfort 1988 see 45/589] 17.f4 Re7 18.
a4 a5 19.Nb3 f6 and White is slightly better; Karpov - Andersson, Thessaloniki (ol) 1988 see 46/646;
10...Rd8 11.cd5 Nd5 12.Qa3 Kf8 [12...h6 13.e3 Kf8 14.Qe7 Ne7 15.Nbd2 e5 16.Nc4 ed4 17.Nd4 Nf6
equal; Spassky - Andersson, Belfort 1988] 13.Qd3 N5f6 14.Rd1 Kg8 15.Nc3 b6 16.e4 Bb7 17.e5 Ne8
18.Qe3 c5 equal; Speelman - Andersson, Bruxelles 1988
76
13.Nc4 e4 14.Nfe5 Ne5! 15.de5 Ng4 16.Qe4 Ne5 17.Rd1 f5! 18.Qe5 Qe5 19.Ne5 Re5 20.e4 [20.Rd8
Kf7 21.e4 Re8 22.Re8 Ke8 23.a5 Ke7 equal; Bacrot - Andersson, Pamplona 1997/98 see 71/527] Kf7
21.f4 Re8 22.e5 a5 23.Rab1 Be6 24.b4 ab4 25.Rb4 Ra7 equal; Bacrot
77
9...Qe7 10.Nbd2 e5 11.cd5 cd5 [11...Nd5 12.e4 N5f6 13.Rfe1 Rd8! 14.Rad1 and White is slightly
better; Karpov - Andersson, Reykjavik 1991 see 52/504] 12.e4 de4 13.Ne4 ed4 14.Rfe1 Ne4 15.Re4
Qc5 16.Qd2 Nf6 17.Rd4 and White is slightly better; Rychagov - Kholmov, Russia 2003
78
10...c5 11.dc5 Nc5 12.b4 Ncd7 13.cd5 Nd5 14.Qb2 Qe7 15.Nd4 Bb7 16.Rac1 and White is slightly
better; Azmaiparashvili - Andersson, Elista (ol) 1998
79
11.Rfd1 Qe7 12.e4 de4 13.Ne4 c5 14.Nf6 Nf6 15.Qe2 cd4 16.Nd4 Bg2 17.Kg2 a6 18.Kg1 Rac8 19.b3
h6 20.Nf3 Rfd8 21.Ne5 Qc7 equal; Ftacnik - Andersson, Manila (ol) 1992 see 55/(493); 11.Rad1 Qe7
12.Rfe1 c5 13.cd5 Nd5 14.a3 cd4 15.Nd4 Rac8 16.Qb1 Rfd8 equal; Kaidanov - Andersson, Bled (ol)
2002
80
11...dc4 12.Nc4 Qe7 13.e4 c5 14.e5 Nd5 15.bc5 bc5 16.Nd6 Ba6 17.Rfc1 and White is slightly better;
Schandorff - Nielsen, Kobenhavn 1998
81
12...ab4 13.ab4 Qe7 [13...dc4 14.Nc4 Qc7 (14...c5 15.dc5 bc5 16.b5! and White is slightly better; Van
Wely - Andersson, Ter Apel 1995) 15.e4 and White is slightly better (with the idea e5, weak point d6)
Gavrikov - Wirthensohn, Arosa 1996 see 67/572] 14.c5 Ba6 unclear; 12...Qe7 13.Qb2 [13.c5 Ba6 (13...
ab4 14.ab4 bc5 15.dc5 Rfb8 16.e4 Ba6 17.Rfb1 e5! 18.Ra5 Bb5 equal; Dautov - Short, Bled (ol) 2002
see 86/465) 14.Rfe1 ab4 15.ab4 Bb5 16.Bf1 Rfc8 17.Ra2 Rab8 18.Ra7 Qd8 19.Rea1 h6 20.Nb1 Bc4 21.
Nfd2 b5 equal; Babula - Bischoff, Deutschland 2005] Rfb8 14.cd5 [14.Rfc1 c5 15.bc5 bc5 16.dc5 Nc5
17.cd5 Bd5 18.Qd4 -, Psakhis - Andersson, Polanica Zdroj 1997] cd5 15.Rfc1 ab4 16.ab4 Ra1 17.
Ra1 Ra8 18.Ra8 Ba8 19.Ne5 Bb7 equal; Vaganian - Parligras, Goeteborg 2005
82
7.Qc2 b6 8.cd5 ed5 9.Rc1 Na6 10.Bg2 c5 11.0-0 Bb7 12.b3 Qe7 13.Rfe1 Rfe8 14.Qb2 and White is
slightly better; Agdestein - Hjartarson, London 1986
83
7...b6 8.0-0 Bb7 and White is slightly better, see E16; 7...c6 8.0-0 b6 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.e4 Na6 11.e5 Nd7
12.cd5 cd5 13.Qa4 Rc8 14.Rfc1 Qe7 15.Bf1 Ndb8 16.a3 and White is slightly better; Lalic - Lobron,
Solingen 1988; 7...Nbd7 8.0-0 c6 [8...b6 9.Qc2 Bb7 and White is slightly better, see E16] 9.Qc2 b6 10.
e4 Bb7 11.e5 Ne8 12.cd5 cd5 13.Rfe1 a5 14.Bf1 Rc8 15.Qb3 and White is slightly better; Stohl - Bl.
Kovacevic, Hrvatska 2003
84
8...Nc6 9.Rc1 Ne4 10.e3 Nd2 11.Nd2 Rd8 12.cd5 ed5 13.Rc5 Be6 14.Qb3 Rab8 15.Rfc1 and White is
slightly better; Meduna - Ambroz, CSSR (ch) 1980; 8...Nbd7 9.Rc1 c6 10.Qc2 e5 11.cd5 Nd5 12.e4
Nb4 13.Qb3 a5 14.a3 Na6 15.de5 Ne5 16.Ne5 Qe5 17.Nc4 Qc7 18.Qc3 Nc5 19.e5 and White is slightly
better; Van Wely - Timman, Dordrecht (rapid) 1998
85
10.cd5 ed5 11.Qa4 and White is slightly better; Salov - I.Sokolov, Amsterdam 1996 see 67/(572)
86
10...Nbd7?! 11.Nd7 Qd7 12.Qc2 Rac8 13.c5! c6 14.Qa4 Ba8 15.e4 and White is superior; Kramnik - J.
Polgar, Dortmund 1997 see 70/458

87
13.e4! de4 [13...cd4 14.ed5 and White is superior] 14.Ne4 Ne4 15.Be4 Be4 16.Re4 cd4 17.Qd4 Nc5 18.
Re3 and White is slightly better; Kramnik

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ECO E, 4th Edition

Part Two
Zdenko Krnic
The forthcoming 672-page, fourth edition of ECO E is thirty percent larger (144 pages) than the
previous edition. It offers an abundance of new material in openings such as the Catalan, Queens
Indian Defense and Mar del Plata variation of the Kings Indian Defense.
In this article I wish to present a line that is rarely seen in practice, but our analysis shows that Black
has very good prospects for counterplay on the kings wing. After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6
5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Ne8, our main continuation is 10.Be3 f5 11.f3 f4 12.Bf2
g5 13.c5 h5 14.a4 Rf6.
Here, 15.a5 Rg6 16.cd6 Nd6 was previously the most popular line of play, but after the match Shaked
Babula in Las Vegas, 1999, White tried to get an initiative on the queens wing by 15.cd6 Nd6 16.Nb5
a6 17.Nd6 cd6 18.Nd3 Rg6 19.Qb3 g4 10.Qb6 Qf8 21.Rfc1. Now, instead of Babulas 21Qf6,
Black achieves a satisfactory result with 21g3 22.Be1 gh2 23.Kh2 Qf6.
ECO A-E (CD)
E98
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5
7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
...
f42
Bf4
Qd2
cd54
Nd3
Nf2
Be3
Bf4

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
equal
Ne81
ef4
c63
cd5
f5
fe4
e3
Nf5
h65
...
Nd3
f46
Nf48
Ne4
Kh1
Bd3
a410
Ng5
...
f5
ef47
fe49
Nf5
Qe7
Be5
Nf6
Ng411
...
Be3
f3
Bf2
c513
a415
a5
cd6
Nd3
...
f5
f412
g5
h514
Ng616
Rf717
Nd6
Bf618
...
...
...
...
...
...
a5
cd6
Nb520
...
...
...
...
...
Rf6
Rg6
Nd619
g421
...
...
...
...
...
...
cd6
Nb5
Nd6
Nd622
a623
cd624
The Complete
DGT Product Line
unclear
Anthology of Chess
Combinations
White
is
slightly
better
unclear
...
...
...
...
...
...
unclear
9...c5 10.f4 [10.Nd3 Ne8 11.f4 (11.Bd2 f5 12.f3 f4 13.g4 h5 14.h3 Kf7! unclear; Lazarev - Uhlmann,
Hartberg 1991 see 52/656) b6 12.fe5 de5 13.b4 cb4 14.Nb4 and White is slightly better; R.Weinstein Avner, Krakow 1964] ef4 11.Bf4 Ne8 12.Nd3 f6 13.Qd2 Bd7 [13...Kh8 14.Rab1 Ng8 15.b4 b6 16.bc5
bc5 17.Nb5 Rf7 18.Bd1! and White is superior; Korchnoi - Ciocaltea, Nice (ol) 1974 see 17/684] 14.
Rab1 g5 15.Bg3 Ng6 16.Nd1 Qe7 17.N1f2 Bh8 18.h3 Ng7 19.b4 b6 20.bc5 bc5 21.Bg4 f5 22.ef5 Nf5
23.Rbe1 and White is superior; Sosonko - Ro.Gunawan, Surakarta/Denpasar 1982; 9...c6 10.Be3 a6 11.
Rc1 cd5 12.cd5 b5 13.Nd3 Bd7 14.f3 Ne8 15.Qb3! and White is slightly better; Lalic - Murrey,
Cappelle la Grande 1998 see 72/550
2
10.b4 f5 11.f3 f4 12.c5 Rf7 13.Nd3 h5 14.a4 g5 15.Nf2 Bf8 16.a5 Ng6 17.Ba3 Rg7 18.h3 Nh4 unclear;
Ikonnikov - A.Odeev, Voroshilovgrad 1989; 10.f3 f5 11.g4 [11.Nd3 see 10.Nd3; 11.Be3 see 10.Be3]
Kh8 [11...c5 12.Rb1 Bd7 13.Nd3 f4 14.b4 b6 15.bc5 bc5 16.Bd2 Bf6 17.Kg2 h5 18.h3 Rf7 unclear;
Neikirkh - Penrose, Madrid 1960; 11...Nf6 see E99] 12.Ng2 Ng8 13.h4 Nh6 14.Bg5 Qd7 15.Qd2 Nf7
16.Be3 Nf6 17.g5 Nh5 18.ef5 Qf5 19.Ne4 (Andronis - Sofronie, Kallithea 2006) Bd7 unclear
3
11...h6 12.Nc2 [12.Be3 f5 13.Bd4 g5 14.Nf3 Nf6 (A.Lavrov - Galkin, Rostov on Don 1996 see 69/
(552)) 15.Bd3 fe4 16.Ne4 Nf5 17.Nf6 Bf6 18.Bf6 Qf6 19.Qd2 Bd7 equal; Galkin; 12.Nf3 f5 13.e5 g5
14.ed6 cd6 15.Be3 f4 16.Bf2 Nf5 unclear; Wells - Kupreichik, Bad Woerishofen 1997 see 69/552] f5
13.ef5 g5 14.Be3 Nf5 15.Qd3! Qe7 16.Bd2 Be5 17.Rf2 Neg7 18.Raf1 Bd7 19.g3 and White is slightly
better; Al.Gavrilov - Navrotescu, Eforie-Nord 1996 see 69/(552); 11...f5 12.Qd2 Nf6 13.ef5 Nf5 14.
Nc2 h5 15.Bg5 Rf7 16.Bd3 Qf8 17.Bf5 [17.h3 c5! equal; Hillarp Persson - Hjartarson, Gausdal 1996]
Bf5 18.Nd4 and White is slightly better
4
13.ed5 Nf5 14.Nd3 Bd7 15.Rae1 Qb6 16.Kh1 Nf6 17.b3 Rfe8 equal; P.Cody - V.Pankratov, corr.1996
5
18.Bd3 g5 equal; Jussupow - Kupreichik, Eupen 1996 see 66/534
6
11.ef5 Nf5 [11...gf5 12.f4 e4 13.Nf2 c5 14.dc6 (14.Be3 Nf6 15.Kh1 Kh8 16.Rg1 and White is slightly
better; Szilagyi - Beni, Marianske Lazne 1956) bc6 15.Be3 Ng6 16.Qa4 Bd7 17.Rfd1 Qb8 18.Rd2 Rf7
19.g3 a5 20.Qd1 and White is slightly better; Ra.Cruz - Benko, Mar del Plata 1965] 12.f3 Nf6 unclear
see 9...Nd7; 11.f3 f4 [11...h5 12.c5 Kh7 13.cd6 cd6 14.Nf2 f4 15.Bd2 g5 16.Rc1 Ng8 17.a4 Nh6 18.
Nb5 Rg8 19.h3 Bf8 unclear; B.Maksimovic - Kupreichik, Jugoslavija 1993 see 58/680] 12.g4 h5 13.h3
Bf6 14.Bd2 Bh4 [14...Kg7 15.Be1 Rh8 16.Kg2 unclear; Gelfand - J.Polgar, Linares 1994 see 60/588]
15.Be1 Be1 16.Qe1 g5 unclear; Miladinovic - Gabriel, Pula 1997 see 70/(562); 11.Bd2 Kh8 [11...fe4
12.Ne4 c6 13.dc6! bc6 14.Bc3 and White is slightly better; Akopian - Dimitrov, Linares 1996 see
66/535; 11...c5 12.Rb1 b5 13.cb5 fe4 (Pogorelov - Zulfugarli, Ubeda 2001 see 81/488) 14.Ne1 Bb7 15.
Nc2 and White is slightly better; Pogorelov; 11...f4 12.Bg4 g5 13.c5 Ng6 14.h3 Bg4 15.Qg4 Rf7 16.
Rac1 Nf6 17.Qd1 h5 unclear; Ftacnik - Sikora-Lerch, CSSR 1984; 11...Nf6 12.f3 see E99] 12.f3 f4 13.
c5 h5 14.Rc1 g5 15.cd6 cd6 16.Nf2 Rf6 unclear; Piket - J.Polgar, Monaco (rapid) 1994 see 60/(588)
7
11...fe4 12.Ne4 c6 13.dc6 Nc6 14.Be3 Nd4 equal; Enklaar - Ghitescu, Amsterdam 1971
8
12.Bf4 fe4 [12...Bc3?! 13.bc3 fe4 14.Nb4 Nf5 15.Qd2 and White is slightly better; Al.Gavrilov Galkin, Saint Petersburg 1994 see 62/614] 13.Ne4 Nf5 14.Bg5 Nf6 15.g4 Nd4 16.Ndf2 Qe7 1/2 : 1/2
Petrosian - Tal, Bled 1961
9
12...Bc3?! 13.bc3 fe4 14.Ne6! Be6 15.Rf8 Kf8 16.de6 and White is superior; Peng Zhaoqin Kotronias, Wijk aan Zee 1995 see 65/587; 12...Nf6?! 13.ef5 Nf5 14.g4! Ne7 15.Nb5! and White is
superior; Kozul - Cvitan, Osijek 1992 see 56/(710); 12...Be5 13.Nd3 Bd4 (Yermolinsky - Van Wely,
Wijk aan Zee 1997 see 68/(550)) 14.Kh1 unclear
10
16.g3 Neg7 17.Ng2 Qe8 18.Rb1 Bd7 19.b3 c5 20.Re1 Qc8 equal; Yermolinsky - Rogozenko, Bad
Zwesten 1997
11
Atalik - Nijboer, Wijk aan Zee 1997 see 68/550
12
11...c5 12.dc6 bc6 13.Qd2 Be6 14.Rd1 Qc7 15.f4 [15.b4 Rd8! unclear; Shirov - Uhlmann, Deutschland
1994 see 60/589] fe4 16.Ne4 Nf5 17.fe5 Be5 18.Nd3 Bg7 19.Nf4 Ne3 20.Qe3 Bf5 unclear; Pogorelov Kaminski, Zaragoza 1996; 17.Ng5!? and White is slightly better; 11...Kh8 12.c5 [12.a4 Ng8 13.a5 (13.
Nd3 f4 14.Bf2 h5 15.c5 g5 unclear; Gelfand - J.Polgar, Dos Hermanas 1995 see 63/550) Bh6 14.Bf2
Ngf6 15.Nd3 Nh5 16.c5 Nef6 unclear; Gelfand - J.Polgar, Dos Hermanas 1996 see 66/536] Ng8 13.a4
[13.b4?! f4 14.Bf2 g5 15.g4 fg3 16.hg3 Bh3 17.Ng2 Qf6 unclear; Schmidt - J.Polgar, Polska 2002 see
85/492] Bh6 14.Bf2 Ngf6 15.a5 Bd7 16.Nd3 Qe7 17.Qb3 and White is slightly better; Ostenstad Djurhuus, Norge (ch) 2002 see 85/(492); 11...Nf6 see E99
13
13.a4 h5 14.a5 Rf6 15.c5 see 13.c5
14
13...Ng6 14.a4 [14.cd6 Nd6 15.Nd3 and White is slightly better; Ivanchuk - Van Wely, Monaco (rapid)
1997 see 70/(562)] Rf7 15.Nd3 [15.cd6 cd6 16.a5 Nf6 (16...h5 17.Nb5 a6 18.Nc3 Nf6 19.Na4 Nd7 20.
Nb6 and White is superior; OKelly - Ghitescu, Sandefjord 1975 see 19/632) 17.Kh1 Bf8 18.Nb5 Bd7
19.Na7 g4 20.Bb6 Qe8 21.Qb3 Rg7 22.Nb5 Rc8 with compensation; Narciso - Illescas, Espana (ch)
1999] Bf8 16.a5 and White is slightly better; Korchnoi - Van Wely, Antwerpen 1997 see 70/562
15
14.cd6 cd6 15.a4 Nf6 [15...Ng6 16.Nb5 a6 17.Na3 Nf6 18.Nc4 g4 19.Qb3 g3 unclear; Shirov Kasparov, Manila (ol) 1992 see 55/648] 16.a5 Bd7 17.Qb3 g4! 18.Qb7 g3! 19.hg3 fg3 20.Bg3 Ng6 21.
Nd3 h4 22.Bh2 Nh5 unclear; Bilinskas - V.Gurevich, Lubniewice 1998 see 73/(689); 14.Rc1 Ng6 [14...
Rf6 15.Nb5 a6 16.Na7 Bd7 17.c6 bc6 18.Nc6 Nc6 19.dc6 and White is superior; D.Gurevich Rubsamen, Las Vegas 2007] 15.a4 Bh6 [15...Rf7 16.cd6 cd6 17.Nb5 a6 18.Na3 Rb8 19.Nc4 b5 20.Nb6
Rb6 21.Rc8 Qc8 22.Bb6 Nf6 23.Qc2 Qb8 24.a5 and White is superior; Farago - Szekely,
Magyarorszag 1987] 16.Nd3 Rf7 (Sanchez de Ybarguen Gutierrez - Tay jr., corr.1999) 17.cd6 cd6 18.
Kh1 unclear
16
14...dc5?! 15.Bc5 Rf6 16.Nd3 Rg6 17.Bf2! and White is superior; Gelfand - Topalov, Wijk aan Zee
1996 see 65/588; 14...Kh8 15.a5 dc5 16.Bc5 Nd6 17.a6 [17.Nd3 Ng8 18.b4 Nh6 19.Nf2 Rg8 unclear;
Illescas - Topalov, Madrid 1993 see 58/(680)] ba6 18.Ba6 Bd7 19.Nd3 g4 20.Kh1 Ng6 21.Bg1 Nh4 22.
Nc5 and White is slightly better; Ikonnikov - Gallagher, Geneve 1994 see 60/(589)
17
15...Bh6 16.Nb5! [16.b4?! Kh7 17.cd6 cd6 18.Nb5 g4 19.fg4 hg4 20.Bg4 Bg4 21.Qg4 Nf6 22.Qf5 (22.
Qf3 Qd7! 23.Na7! Ng4 unclear; Korchnoi - Kasparov, Debrecen 1992 see 56/710) f3 23.Nf3 Nd5 24.
Bh4 Rf5 25.Bd8 Rf4 unclear; Zueger - Cvitan, Bern 1993 see 57/(623); 16.Kh1 Kh7 17.cd6 cd6 18.
Nb5 a6 19.Nc3 Nf6 20.Na4 g4 21.Nb6 Rb8 22.Nc8 Qc8 and White is slightly better; Kozul - Cvitan,
Zagreb 1993 see 57/(623)] a6 17.Na3 Kh8 18.Nc4 Rg8 19.Ra3 and White is superior; Korchnoi Shirov, Buenos Aires 1993 see 57/623; 15...Nf6 see E99
18
18.Nc5 Nf8 19.Nb5 Rg7 20.a6 ba6 21.Na6 g4 22.Na7 g3 23.Bc5 Bh3!! unclear; Gelfand - Kantsler,
Israel 2001 see 81/489; 19.Qb3 and White is slightly better; Korchnoi - Relange, Cannes 1996
19
16...cd6 17.Nb5 a6 18.Bb6 Qd7 19.Qb3 g4 20.Rc1 Bf8 21.Nc7 Nc7 22.Rc7 and White is slightly
better; R.Odendahl - Kupreichik, Deutschland 1992 see 57/(622)
20
17.h3 Kh8 18.Nd3 Ng8 19.Nc5 Qe7 20.Ra3 Nh6 21.Nb5 g4 22.fg4 hg4 23.Nd6 cd6 24.Ne6 Be6 25.
de6 f3 unclear; Korchnoi - J.Polgar, Monaco (blindfold) 1994 see 60/(589); 17.Nd3 g4 18.Bh4 Qf8 19.
g3 Bf6 20.fg4 hg4 unclear; Shirov - Nunn, Amsterdam 1995 see 64/562
21
18.Na7 Bd7! with compensation; Nunn; 18.Nd6 cd6 19.Bh4 Qf8 [19...gf3 20.Bf3 Bg4 21.Nd3 Qd7 22.
Qa4 and White is slightly better; Di.Becker - Kupreichik, Eupen 1993 see 57/(622)] 20.Qa4! Bf6 21.
Bf6 Rf6 22.Rc1 Ng6 unclear; Ftacnik - Wojtkiewicz, Budapest 1993 see 57/622
22
15...cd6 16.a5 Nc7 17.Nd3 Rg6 18.Kh1! g4 19.g3! h4 20.fg4 hg3 21.hg3 and White is slightly better;
Vera - Perez Merlos, Espana 2004 see 91/494
23
16...Rg6 17.Nd3 [17.Rc1 Ne8 18.Na7 Bd7 19.Qb3 Kh7 with compensation; Ringwelski - C.Stefan,
corr.2000] g4 18.Bh4 a6 19.Nd6 Qd6 20.Qc2 Bf6 21.Be1 Rg7 unclear; Gladyszev - Aquettaz, Val
Thorens 2002
24
18.a5 Rg6 19.Bb6 Qf8 20.h3 [20.Rc1 g4 21.Nd3 (Krivoshey - Karner, Oberwart 2001) Bf6 unclear]
Bf6 21.Nd3 (Nickl - Bonstingl, Oesterreich (ch) 1993) g4 22.fg4 hg4 23.hg4 Qg7 24.Nf2 Bh4 25.Rc1
Bf2 26.Rf2 Bg4 27.Bg4 Rg4 28.Rc7 Kf7 unclear; 18.Nd3 Rg6 19.Qb3 g4 20.Qb6 Qf8 21.Rfc1 g3 [21...
Qf6 22.Be1 (22.Rc2 Qg5 23.Be1 (Shaked - Babula, Las Vegas (m/1) 1999 see 77/582) gf3 24.Bf3 Bg4
unclear, with the idea 25.Kf1 Bf3 26.gf3 Nf5! 27.ef5 Qf5 with the idea e4 Babula) Kh7 23.Rc7 gf3 24.
Bf3 Bg4 25.Kf1 Re8 26.Qb7 Bf3 27.gf3 Qg5 28.Nf2 Qg1 29.Ke2 Bf6 unclear; Shaked - Babula, Las
Vegas (m/4) 1999 see 77/(582)] 22.Be1 gh2 23.Kh2 Qf6 24.Rc2 Bh6 [24...Qg5 25.Bf1 Bg4 26.Qb7
Rf8 27.Nf2 Rf7 unclear; An.Zawadka - J.Monacell, corr.2000] 25.Rac1 Bg5 26.Bf1 Bh4 unclear; An.
Zawadka - Desmoitier, corr.2000

Check out these r> bestselling

titles from USCFSales.com:
Milan Bjelajac
Viswanathan Anand showed that he was in good spirits and had great
ambitions to fight for the World Championship title in Mexico City. His
victory against Aronian in the second round of this tournament was voted
as the best game of Volume 101.
Anand, as black in a very popular variation of Semi-Slav Defense, played
the very strong novelty 17c5!. It came as such a surprise to Aronian
that he followed up with the unnecessary 19.Kh1?! and the weak 21.
Nd5?. Anand began a strong counter-attack with the excellent 22Be5!
and kept an initiative until the end of the game.
ECO A-E (CD)
There are also many other interesting and beautiful games in Volume 101.
Of note are the games IvanchukBacrot, BruzonIvanchuk, and Kramnik
Aronian. The former received just slightly fewer points than Aronian
Anand. We hope you enjoy these fine achievements.
Anthology of Chess
Combinations

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Viswanathan Anand
1. Aronian 2750 V.Anand 2792

Mexico City 2007 101/337 [D43]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3
b5 9.Ne5 h5 10.h4 g4 11.Be2 Bb7 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Qc2 Ne5 14.Be5 Bg7
15.Rad1 0-0 16.Bg3 Nd7 17.f3 c5! [a novelty; 17...Qb6 see 93/368] 18.
dc5 [18.Nb5 cd4 19.Nd4? Qb6 20.Bf2 g3! 21.Be3 Qd8 with the idea 22.
Bg5? Bd4 23.Rd4 Qb6 and Black is winning; 18.d5 Be5 19.f4 Bd4 weak
point Be2] Qe7 19.Kh1?! [19.Bd6 Qh4 20.g3 Qh3 21.Rf2 Ne5!; 19.Rd6
a6! 20.c6 Bc6 21.Rc6 Ne5 22.Rb6 Qa7 23.Bf2 g3 24.Be3 Qe7! and Black
is superior; 19.fg4 Qc5 20.Bf2 Qc6 21.gh5 Ne5 with compensation; 19.
Rf2!?] a6 20.a4 Bc6 21.Nd5? [21.Rd6 Be5 22.Rd7 Bd7 23.Be5 Qh4 24.
Kg1 g3 and Black is superior; 21.ab5 ab5 22.Nd5 ed5 23.ed5 Be5 24.f4
Bg7 25.dc6 Nc5 26.Rd5 Ra2; 25...Nf6; 21.fg4! hg4 22.Nd5 ed5 23.ed5
Nc5 (23...Be5? 24.Rf5!) 24.dc6 Ne4] ed5 22.ed5
22...Be5! 23.f4 Bg7 24.dc6 [24.Rfe1 Qc5 (24...Nc5 25.Bc4) 25.dc6 Qc6
a) 26.Bd3 Nc5 27.Bh7 Kh8 28.ab5 ab5 29.Qf5 Na4 (29...Nd3? 30.Qh5)
30.Qh5 Qh6 31.Qh6 Bh6 32.Be4 Nb2 33.Rd6 Bg7 34.Ba8 Ra8; b) 26.b3
Nc5 27.ab5 ab5 28.bc4 Ne4 (28...b4 29.Rd5 b3 30.Qf5) 29.Kh2 Ng3 30.
Kg3 Ra3 and Black is superior] Nc5 [24...Nf6 25.f5 Qc5 26.Bd6 Qc6 27.
Bf8 Rf8] 25.Rd5 Ne4 26.Be1 Qe6 27.Rh5 [27.ab5 Qd5 28.Bc4 Qd4 29.
b6 (29.Bd3; 29.ba6 Rfe8 30.b3 g3 and Black is winning) Nd6 and Black
is winning] f5! [weak point Rh5; 27...Qg6 28.f5 Qh5 29.Qe4] 28.Kh2
Rac8 29.Bb4 Rfe8 30.ab5 ab5 31.Re1 Qf7 32.Rg5 Ng5 33.fg5 [33.hg5
Qh5 (33...Bd4 34.Bf1 Be3 and Black is winning) 34.Kg3 Re3 35.Kf2
Bd4?? 36.Bc4!; 35...Re4! and Black is winning] Rc6 [33...Re3? 34.Bc4!]
34.Bf1 [34.Rf1 Rce6 35.Bd1 Qc7 36.g3 Re3 and Black is winning] Re1
35.Be1 Re6 36.Bc3 Qc7 37.g3 Re3 38.Qg2 [38.Qf2 f4] Bc3 39.bc3 f4 40.
Qa8 Kg7 41.Qa6 fg3 [42.Kg1 Qf7 43.Qh6 Kg8] 0-1 [V.Anand]
2. Ivanchuk 2787 Bacrot 2695
Hersonissos 2007 101/299 [D15]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.c5 Nbd7 6.Bf4 Nh5 7.Bd2 Nhf6 8.
Qc2 g6 9.g3 [9.e4 see 96/279] e5 10.de5 Ng4 11.e6 Nc5 12.ef7 Kf7 13.e4
Bg7 14.Bg2 Bc3! [a novelty; 14...Re8] 15.Bc3 de4 16.Bh8 [16.Nd2 a)
16...e3 17.0-0 a1) 17...ed2 18.Bh8 Qh8 19.Qc5 and White is superior; a2)
17...Bf5 18.Ne4 ef2 19.Rf2 Nf2 20.Qf2 Nd3 21.Qe3 Re8 22.Rd1 Re4 23.
Be4 Qe7 24.Rd3 Qe4 (24...Be4 25.Rd1 and White is superior) 25.Rd7
Ke6 26.Qd2 Qb1 27.Kf2 Qc2 and White is slightly better; a3) 17...ef2 18.
Rf2 Nf2 19.Bh8 Nh3 20.Kh1 Nf2 equal; b) 16...Nd3 17.Kf1 Ndf2 18.Qb3
Be6 19.Qb7 Qe7 20.Qe7 Ke7 21.Bh8 Rh8 22.Ne4 Nh1 23.Bh1 Rb8 24.b3
Nh2 25.Kg1 Ng4 and Black is slightly better; c) 16...Qd3! 17.Qd3 Nd3 18.
Ke2 Re8 and Black is slightly better] Nd3 17.Kf1 [17.Ke2 ef3 18.Bf3
Qh8 19.Qb3 Kf8 20.Kd3 Bf5 21.Ke2 Qd4 22.Bg4 Bg4 23.Kf1 Qe4 with
attack] ef3 18.Bf3 Ngf2 19.Qb3 Ke7 20.Bg7 [20.Qa3 c5 21.Re1 Ne1 22.
Qc5 Qd6 (22...Ke8 23.Qe3 Qe7 24.Kf2 Qe3 25.Ke3 Nf3 26.Kf3 equal) 23.
Bf6 Ke6 24.Qd6 Kd6 25.Kf2 Nf3 26.Kf3 equal] Bh3! [20...Nh1 21.Bh1
Bh3 22.Kg1 and White is slightly better] 21.Bg2? [21.Kg1! a) 21...b5? 22.
Qc3 Qd6 23.Bh6 Nh1 (23...Qf6 24.Re1 Kf7 25.Re3 Qc3 26.bc3 and White
is superior) 24.Kh1 Kd7 25.Qg7 Kc8 26.Be3 with initiative; b) 21...Qd7
22.Bh6 Re8 23.Bg5 Kf8 24.Bh6 equal] Qd7 22.Bh3 [22.Re1 Ne1 23.Bh3
Nh3 and Black is winning] Qh3 23.Kg1
23...Qf5! [23...Qg4? 24.Re1! Ne1 25.Kf2! and White is winning] 24.

Qb7?! [24.Re1!? a) 24...Ne1 25.Qb7 Kd6 26.Qb4 Kd5 (26...Kc7 27.Qe7;
26...c5 27.Qb6 Kd5 28.Qb7 Ke6 29.Qb3 Qd5 30.Qd5 Kd5 31.Kf2 equal)
27.Qd4 Ke6 28.Qc4 (28.Qf2 Qe4 29.Qf6 Kd5 30.Qg5 Kc4 31.Qf4 Qf4 32.
gf4 Nd3 33.Kg2 Nf4 34.Kf3 Ne6 35.Bc3 and Black is superior) Kd7 (28...
Ke7 29.Qb4) 29.Qd4 Kc7 30.Qf2 Qe4 31.Qf4 Qf4 32.gf4 Nd3 33.Kg2
Nf4 34.Kf3 Ne6 35.Bc3 and Black is superior; b) 24...Kd6! 25.Re3 Rd8
26.Bd4 b5 27.h3 (27.Kg2 Kc7 and Black is winning) Rf8 28.Kg2 h5 29.
a4 (29.Qa3 b4 30.Qb3 Kc7 31.h4 c5 32.Bg7 Rf7 and Black is winning)
Kc7 (29...c5 30.Bg7 Rf7 31.ab5 ab5 and Black is superior) 30.ab5 Ng4
31.Re7 Kd8 32.hg4 Qf3 33.Kh2 Ke7 and Black is superior; 24.h4 Qf3 25.
Re1 (25.Rh2 Qg3 26.Kf1 Qf3 and Black is winning) Ne1 26.Qf3 Nf3 27.
Kf2 Nd2 and Black is superior] Kd6 25.Qb6 Qf3 26.Qd4 Kc7 27.Be5
Kc8 0-1 [Ivanchuk, Sulypa]
3. Bruzon Batista 2607 Ivanchuk 2787
Merida (m/1) 2007 101/218 [C43]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Ne4 4.de5 Bc5 5.Qd5 [5.Bc4] Bf2 6.Kd1!? [6.
Ke2 f5 7.Nbd2 c6 8.Qd3 Qe7 unclear] f5! [6...Nc5?! 7.Bg5 c6 8.Qd2 Ne4
9.Bd8 Nd2 10.Nbd2 Kd8 11.Ne4 Bb6 12.Nd6 with initiative] 7.Bc4 Qe7
[7...Rf8 8.Nc3 c6 9.Ne4 cd5 10.Nd6 Ke7 11.Bg5 Rf6 12.Bd5 Nc6!
unclear] 8.Nc3 [a novelty; 8.Nbd2 c6 9.Qd3 Bc5 10.Rf1 (10.Ne4 fe4 11.
Qe4 d5!) Nf2 11.Rf2 Bf2 12.Qf5 unclear; 8.Rf1 a) 8...Nc6 9.c3 (9.Nc3
Nb4!) Bb6 10.Nbd2 Nc5 11.Nb3 Ne6 12.Kc2 with compensation; b) 8...
c6 9.Qd3 Bb6 10.Nc3 with compensation] c6 9.Qd3 b5! [9...Bb6 10.Rf1!
Nf2 11.Rf2 Bf2 12.Ke2 Bc5 13.Bg5! with attack; 9...Na6 10.Ba6 ba6 11.
Rf1! with initiative] 10.Bb3 a5!? [10...Na6 11.Ne4 fe4 12.Qe4 Nc5 13.
Qe2 Nb3 14.ab3 Bc5 15.Bg5 Qf7 16.Be3 with compensation] 11.a4 b4!
[11...ba4 12.Ra4 Na6 13.Ne4 fe4 14.Qe4 Nc5 15.Bg5 Ne4 (15...Qf8 16.
Qe2 Na4 17.Ba4 with compensation) 16.Be7 Ke7 17.Re4 equal] 12.Ne4
fe4 13.Qe2 [13.Qe4 d5 14.Qf4 Nd7 and Black is slightly better] d5 14.
ed6 [14.Qf2 ef3 15.Qf3 (15.gf3? 0-0 with initiative) Qh4! (with the idea
Bg4) 16.e6 (16.h3 Rf8 with initiative) Rf8 17.Qg3 (17.Qe3 Rf6! with
initiative) Qh5 18.Ke1 Ba6 and Black is superior] Qd6 15.Bd2 e3 16.Rf1
[16.Bc4 Ba6!] Ba6 17.Bc4 Bc4 18.Qc4 Ra7! [with the idea Re7; 18...Nd7
19.Ke2 ed2 20.Rf2 unclear] 19.Ke2 Re7 20.Be1 [20.Rad1 Qg6 21.Rf2
ef2 22.Kf2 Rf8 and Black is winning]
20...Qg6! [weak points c2, g2] 21.g3 (only move) Re4! 22.Qd3 [22.Qa2
Be1 23.Rae1 Rf8 24.Nh4 Qg4 25.Rf3 Rf3 26.Nf3 Re6 and Black is
winning, zugzwang] Nd7! 23.Rd1 [23.Bf2 Nc5! (23...ef2? 24.Kf2 Nc5 25.
Qd2 0-0 26.Kg1 with counterplay) 24.Qd1 Qe6 (24...Qh6 25.Bg1 0-0 with
attack) 25.Be3 (25.Bg1? Qc4) Re3 26.Kf2 0-0 27.Kg1 Re2 and Black is
winning] 0-0! and Black is winning [23...Qf5? 24.Bf2 ef2 25.Kf2 0-0 26.
Qd7 Qf3 27.Kg1 equal] 24.Qd7 Qh5 25.g4 Qh3 26.Ng5 Qg2 27.Bf2 Rf2
28.Rf2 ef2 0-1 [Ivanchuk]
4. Kramnik 2769 Aronian 2750
Mexico City 2007 101/419 [E15]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 c6 8.Bc3
d5 9.Ne5 Nfd7 10.Nd7 Nd7 11.Nd2 0-0 12.0-0 Rc8 13.e4 de4 14.Ne4 b5
15.Re1 bc4 16.Bf1 Nb6
17.Rb1! [a novelty; 17.Nc5 see 95/(370)] Nd5 [17...c5 18.dc5 Bc5 19.
Qh5 Qd5 20.Qh4 and White is superior; 17...Rb8 18.bc4 (18.Nc5 Bb5 19.
a4 Nd5 20.Ba1 c3 21.ab5 cb5 22.b4 a5 23.Bg2 ab4 24.Bd5 and White is
superior) Nc4 (18...Bc4 19.Rb6 and White is superior) 19.Rb8 Qb8 20.
Nc5 Nb2 21.Bb2 Bf1 22.Ba3 Bh3 23.Qh5 (23.Nd7 Qb7) Bf5 24.Nd7 and
White is superior] 18.Ba1 Bb4 [18...Qa5 19.bc4 Nb6 20.Qc2 and White is
superior; 18...Rb8 19.bc4 (19.Nc5) Rb1 20.Qb1 and White is superior] 19.
Nc5! [19.bc4 Be1 20.Qe1 Nb6 21.Qc3 with initiative] Be1 [19...Qa5 20.
bc4! Be1 21.Qe1 Qe1 22.Re1 Nc7 23.Bc3 and White is superior, with the
idea Ba5; 19...Nc3 20.Bc3 Bc3 21.Re4 and White is superior, with the
idea 21...Qa5 22.b4 Qa2 23.Na6 Qa6 24.Qc2] 20.Qe1 cb3 [20...Nc7 21.
bc4 and White is superior] 21.Na6 [21.Ba6 ba2 22.Rb2 Rb8 23.Ra2 Nb4
and White is slightly better] ba2 22.Rb2 Nc7 [22...Re8 23.Ra2 Re7] 23.
Ra2 (and White is superior) Na6 [better is 23...Nb5!?] 24.Ra6 Qd7 [24...
c5 25.Qe5! c4 (25...cd4 26.Bd4 f6 27.Qe6 Kh8 28.Be3 Re8 29.Qb3 and
White is winning; 25...Qd5 26.dc5 and White is winning, with the idea
26...Qe5 27.Be5 Rc5 28.Bd6) 26.d5 Qf6 27.Qf6 gf6 28.Bf6 ed5 (28...c3
29.Ra4 Rfe8 30.Rg4 Kf8 31.Rg7 and White is winning) 29.Bh3 and White
is superior] 25.Qc3 f6 26.Qc5 Rf7 27.Bc3 Qb7 [27...Kh8 28.Bc4; 27...
Qd5 28.Bc4 Qc5 (28...Qe4 29.Ra1) 29.dc5 Re7 30.Ra7 Kf8 31.Ra6 and
White is superior] 28.Qc4 Qd7 29.Bg2 Kh8 30.Bc6 Qb7 31.Kg2! (and
White is winning) h6 [31...Re7 32.Bb4 Ree8 33.Bd6 Red8 34.Qa4 Qb1

35.Be7 Rg8 36.Bc5] 32.d5 Qb8 [32...ed5 33.Bb7 Rc4 34.Bd5] 33.de6
Re7 34.Bb4 Rec7 35.e7 1-0 [Kramnik]
5. M.Carlsen 2714 Mi.Adams 2729
Khanty-Mansiysk (m/1) 2007 101/434 [E36]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.a3 Bc3 6.Qc3 dc4 7.Qc4 b6 8.
Bf4 Ba6 9.Qc7 Qc7 10.Bc7 0-0 [a novelty; 10...Nbd7 see 101/(434)] 11.
Nf3 Rc8 12.Bf4 Nbd7 13.Nd2!? Rc2 [better is 13...Nh5! unclear] 14.Rb1
[14.e4 Bf1 15.Rf1 Rb2 and Black is slightly better] Rac8
15.Nb3! and White is slightly better [15.Kd1 Ng4!? 16.Bg3 f5; 15...Nh5
unclear] Bc4 [15...Nd5 16.Bd2 f5 17.Na1 R2c7 18.e3 Bf1 19.Kf1 e5 20.
de5 Ne5 21.Ke2 and White is superior] 16.Na1 Ba2 17.Nc2 Bb1 18.Na1
Nd5 19.Bd2 e5 20.e3 [20.de5 Ne5 21.e3 Bd3 (21...Nd3 22.Bd3 Bd3 23.f3
and White is slightly better) 22.Be2 and White is slightly better] ed4 21.
ed4 Nb8 [21...Re8 22.Kd1; 21...Nf8 22.Ba6 (22.f3 Ne6 23.Ba6 Rd8 24.
Kf2 Bf5 25.g4 Bg6 26.Bc4 Nd4 27.Rd1 Ne6 28.Bc1 Ndc7 29.Rd8 Nd8 and
White is slightly better) Re8 23.Kd1 Ne6 and White is slightly better] 22.
f3 Nc6 [22...Bf5!?] 23.Bc4 [23.Kf2 (M.Carlsen) Ba2 24.b3 Nd4 25.Bc4
and White is superior; better is 23...Bf5 and White is slightly better] Rd8
[23...Ncb4 (M.Carlsen) 24.b3 Nd3 25.Kf1 Nc7 26.Ke2 Re8 27.Be3 Nf4
28.Kf2 Nd3 29.Bd3 Bd3 30.Rd1 and White is superior] 24.Kf2 Bf5 25.
Nb3 Be6 26.Rc1 f6 27.a4 a5?! [27...Kf7 28.Re1 Nce7 29.g3 Nc7 and
White is slightly better] 28.Bc3 Bf7 [28...Kf7 29.Re1 Nce7 30.Nd2 and
White is superior] 29.Nd2 Nde7 30.Bf1! [30.Rd1 Bc4 31.Nc4 Nd5 and
White is slightly better] Nd4 31.Re1 Ndc6 32.Nc4 Nd5 33.Rb1 Kf8 [33...
Bg6 (M.Carlsen) 34.Rd1 Bc2 35.Rd5 (35.Rd2 Bb3 36.Nb6 Nb6 37.Rd8
Nd8 38.Ba5 Na4 39.Bd8 Nb2 equal) Rd5 36.Ne3 Bb3 37.Nd5 Bd5 and
White is slightly better; 33...Be8 34.Be1 and White is slightly better] 34.
Be1 Ke7?! [34...Bg6 35.Rd1 (35.Rc1 Ncb4) Bc2 36.Rd2 Ba4 37.Nb6 Bb3
38.Nd5 Rd5 and White is slightly better] 35.Kg1 Nb8? [35...Bg6 36.Rc1
Ncb4 37.Bf2 and White is superior; 35...Ne5 36.Ne5 fe5 37.Bh4 (37.Bf2
Rc8 unclear; 37.Rc1 Kd6 38.Bf2 Be8 39.b3 Rb8 and White is slightly
better) Nf6 38.Re1 Kd6 39.Bg3 Re8 and White is slightly better] 36.Bf2?
[36.Nb6! (M.Carlsen) Nb6 37.Ba5 a) 37...N8d7 38.Bb4 Ke6 39.Re1 a1)
39...Kf5 40.Bd3 Kg5 41.Re7 Nb8 42.Bd2 Kh5 43.g4 Kh4 44.Be1 Kg5 45.
h4 Kh6 (45...Kf4 46.Kg2 and White is winning) 46.Bd2 g5 47.Rf7 Rd3 48.
Rf6 Kg7 49.Rb6 Nd7 50.Bc3 Rc3 51.Rb7 Rd3 52.a5 and White is
winning; a2) 39...Ne5 40.Ba5 (40.f4?! Rd4 41.Bc5 Rf4 42.Bb6 Ra4 43.b3)
Rb8 41.f4 Nd5 42.fe5 fe5 43.Bb5 Be8 44.Bc4 and White is winning; a3)
39...Kd5 40.Bb5! f5 41.a5 Nc8 42.b3 and White is winning; b) 37...Rd6
38.Bb4 Nc6 39.Bd6 Kd6 40.Ra1 and White is superior] Nd7 37.Re1 Kf8
38.Rd1 Ke7 39.Re1 Kf8 40.Nd6 Ne5? [40...Nc5? 41.Nf7 Kf7 42.Bc5
bc5 43.Bc4 Rd7 44.Rd1 Ke6 45.f4 g5 46.g3 and White is winning; 40...
Bg8 41.Bb5 Ne5 42.Ne4 Rc8 and White is slightly better] 41.Nf7 Kf7 42.
Rd1 Ke7 43.f4 Ng4 44.Re1 Kf8 [44...Kd6 45.Bd4 Nf4 46.Bb6 Rb8 47.
Rd1 Ke6 48.Ba5 (48.Bc7 Rb4 49.b3 Ne5 50.Rb1 Nc6 and White is
superior) Rb2 49.Bd2 and White is superior] 45.Bd4 Rd6 46.h3 Nh6
[better is 46...Nf4 47.Re4 (47.Rd1? Ke7 48.hg4 Ne6 equal) Ne6 48.Re6
Re6 49.hg4 Re4 50.Bb6 Ra4 and White is superior] 47.Rd1 Nf5 [47...Ne7
48.Rd3] 48.Bf2 Ke7? [48...h5 49.g4 (49.g3 Ke7 and White is superior)
hg4 50.hg4 Nf4 51.Rd6 Nd6 52.Bb6 Nb7 53.Ba6 Nd5; 53.Bc4 and White
is superior] 49.g4 Nh6 [49...Nfe3? 50.Re1 Re6 51.f5 Re5 52.Bg3 Re4 53.
Bg2 and White is winning] 50.f5 Nf7 51.Bg2 Nf4 52.Rd6 Nd6 [NB 9/d]
53.Bb6 Nc4 54.Bc5 Kd7 55.Bf1 [better is 55.b3 Ng2 56.Kg2 Nd2 57.b4
Ne4 58.Bf8 Ke8 59.ba5! and White is winning] Nb2 56.Bb5 Kd8 [better
is 56...Kc7 a) 57.Bf8 a1) 57...Nh3 58.Kh2 Nf2 59.g5 fg5 60.Bg7 Nbd1 61.
Bd4 (61.f6 Ng4 62.Kg1 Ne5) Kd6 62.f6 Ng4 63.Kg1 and White is
winning; a2) 57...g6 58.Bg7 gf5 59.Bf6 Na4 60.Ba4 Nh3 61.Kg2 fg4 and
White is superior; b) 57.Kh2 Nd1 58.Bf8 g5 59.fg6 hg6 60.h4 and White
is superior] 57.Bb6 Ke7 58.Kh2! and White is winning [58.Ba5 Nh3 59.
Kh2 Ng5 60.Bb4 Kd8 61.a5 Nf3 62.Kg3 Nd4 63.Bf1 Nc6 64.a6 Kc7 65.
Bf8 g6 66.g5 and White is winning] Nd5 59.Ba5 Kd6 60.Bd2 Kc5 61.
Kg3 Nc7 62.Be3 Kb4 63.Bd2 Kc5 [63...Kb3 64.Bf4! Nd5 65.a5 Kb4 66.
Bc6 Nf4 67.a6] 64.Bc1 Nc4 65.Bc4 Kc4 [NB 4/d] 66.Bd2 Na6 67.a5
Kb5 68.Kf3 Nc5 69.Bc3 h6 [69...Na4 70.Be1 Nc5 71.Ke3] 70.Ke3 Kc4
71.Bd4 Na6 72.Ke4 Nb4 73.h4 Kb5 74.Bc3 Na6 75.Kd5 Nc5 76.Bd4
Nd3 77.Ke6 1-0 [Mi.Adams]
6. Kasimdzhanov 2690 Predojevic 2645
Deutschland 2007 101/305 [D17]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nc4 Qc7 8.
g3 e5 9.de5 Ne5 10.Bf4 Nfd7 11.Bg2 g5 12.Ne3 gf4 13.Nf5 0-0-0 14.
Qc2 Ng6?! 15.0-0 fg3 16.hg3 h5 17.Rfc1! Kb8 18.b4! h4 19.Nb5! [a
novelty; 19.b5 see 101/304] Qc8!? [19...Qb6 20.a5!! Qb5 (20...Qa6 21.
Nbd6 Bd6 22.Nd6 and White is winning) 21.Nd4 Qg5 22.Nc6 Kc7 23.
Qe4! and White is winning; 19...Qe5 20.Nbd4! (with attack) Rc8 21.b5
hg3 (21...c5 22.Nc6 bc6 23.bc6 Nb6 24.a5) 22.bc6 gf2 23.Kf1 Bc5 (23...
Nc5 24.Rab1 b6 25.a5 Nf4 26.ab6 Ng2 27.c7 Kb7 28.ba7 Kc7 29.Qd2) 24.
Nf3 and White is superior] 20.Qb3!! [20.Nfd6? Bd6 21.Nd6 Qc7 22.Nf7
hg3 with attack a) 23.Nd8 gf2 24.Kf2 Qf4 25.Bf3 Nde5; b) 23.Nh8 gf2
(23...Nh4!?) 24.Kf2 Nge5!? with compensation; c) 23.Qg6 gf2 24.Kf1
Ne5 25.Ne5 Qe5] h3 [20...hg3 21.Qg3 Nde5 22.Qe3 Bc5 (22...c5 23.bc5)
23.Qc5 (and White is superior) cb5 24.Qe3 (24.ab5 Qc5 25.bc5 Nf4) Qe6
(24...Qf5 25.ab5; 24...Nc4 25.Qg3 Nge5 26.Rc4 Qf5 27.Rc5 f6 28.Rb5) 25.
ab5 Qb6 26.Qb6 ab6 27.Rd1 Nf4 28.e3 and White is superior] 21.Qe3! c5
[21...Nb6 22.Na7 Ka7 23.a5 Kb8 24.ab6 Bb4 25.Ne7! (and White is
winning) Be7 26.Qb3; 21...Nc5 22.Be4 cb5 23.bc5 b4 24.c6 and White is
winning; 21...Bc5 22.bc5 hg2 23.Nfd6 Rde8 24.Qd4 and White is
winning] 22.Be4! Nf6 23.bc5 Ng4
24.c6!! Rd1 [24...Ne3 25.c7 Ka8 (25...Qc7 26.Rc7 Nd5 27.Rd1 and White
is winning) 26.cd8R Qd8 a) 27.Rab1 Nd5 (27...Nf5 28.Nc7 Qc7 29.Rc7
Nd6 30.Rcb7 Nb7 31.Rb7 f5 32.Bd5 a6 33.Kh2 Rh6 34.f4 and White is
winning) 28.Rd1 and White is superior (28.Nc7 Nc7 29.Bb7 Kb8 equal)
Nge7 29.Ne7 Qe7 30.Bd5; b) 27.Nc7 Kb8 28.Rab1! (28.Na6?! ba6 29.
Rab1 Qb6) Qc7 29.Rc7 Kc7 30.Rb7 Kc8 31.Ne3 Bc5 32.Rf7 Ne5 33.Rf5
Be3 34.fe3 h2 35.Kh1 Ng4 36.Rf3 Kc7 37.Bf5 Ne5 38.Rf4 and White is
winning] 25.Rd1 Ne3 26.Ne3 bc6 27.Rab1 cb5 [27...h2 28.Kh1 Qh3 29.
Nd6 Kc7 30.Rb7 Kd8 31.Bf5] 28.Rb5 Kc7 29.Nd5 1-0 [Kasimdzhanov]
7. V.Anand 2792 Svidler 2735

Mexico City 2007 101/263 [C89]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.
c3 d5 9.ed5 Nd5 10.Ne5 Ne5 11.Re5 c6 12.Re1 Bd6 13.g3 Bf5 14.d4
Qd7 15.Be3 Rae8 16.Nd2 Bg4 17.Qc2 Bf5 18.Qc1 Re7 [18...Re6 see
92/342] 19.Nf3! [a novelty; 19.Nf1 Rfe8 20.Qd2 Bh3 21.Bc2 Bf1 22.Rf1
Ne3 equal] Bg4 20.Nh4 Rfe8 21.Qd2 h6 22.Qd3 g6 23.Bd1 Bh3 [23...h5
24.Bf3; 23...Ne3 24.fe3 Bd1 25.Rad1 Re4!? with compensation] 24.Bf3
g5 25.Ng2 Bf5 26.Qd1 Nf6 [26...Be4 27.Be4 Re4 28.Bd2] 27.a4! [27.
Bd2 Ne4 28.Ne3 Bg6 29.a4 f5 with counterplay] Ne4 28.ab5 ab5 29.
Ra6! Qb7 [29...Bg6!? 30.d5 c5 31.Be2 Nf6 32.Bb5 Qb5 33.Rd6 Ne4 34.
Rc6 Qb2 35.c4 and White is slightly better] 30.Qa1 Bc8 [30...Qd7! 31.
Rd1 Bh3! (31...Bg4 32.Bg4 Qg4 33.Rc6 Bg3 34.hg3 Ng3 35.fg3 Re3 36.
Rh6 Rg3 37.Rh2; 35.Re1! and White is winning) 32.Ne1 f5; 31.Bc1! and
White is slightly better, with the idea Ne3] 31.Ra8 Bb8 32.Bc1! Nf6 [32...
Ba7? 33.Rc8! and White is winning] 33.Re7 Re7
34.Qa3! [34.Bc6? Qc6 35.Rb8 Kg7 36.d5 Qd5 37.Bg5 hg5 38.Rc8 Re2
and White is slightly better] Rd7 [34...Re8 35.Ne3] 35.Ra5 [35.h4! Ba7
36.Rc8 Qc8 37.hg5 hg5 38.Bg5 Nh7 39.Bh4 and White is winning] Ba7
36.Ne3 (and White is winning) Qc7 [36...Re7 37.Bc6; 36...Rc7 37.Qd6]
37.Nf5 c5 38.Nh6 Kh7 39.Bg5 1-0 [V.Anand]
8. Svidler 2735 Grischuk 2726
Mexico City 2007 101/163 [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.
Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Bg7 10.h3 Ne5 11.Nf5 Bf5 12.ef5 Nbc6 13.Nd5 e6 14.fe6
fe6 15.Ne3 Qa5 16.c3 Nf3 17.Qf3 Bc3 18.Kd1 Qa4 19.Nc2 Bb2
20.Rc1! [a novelty; 20.Qb3 see 94/180] Bc1 [20...0-0-0 21.Qg4! Qg4

(21...Nd4 22.Bd3 and White is superior) 22.hg4 Bc1 23.Kc1 and White is
superior; 20...Rc8 21.Bd3 Bc1 22.Qf6 Kd7 23.Kc1 see 20...Bc1; 20...
Ke7!? 21.Qb3 Qb3 22.ab3 Bc1 23.Kc1 Rac8 24.Kb2 and White is slightly
better] 21.Qf6 [21.Kc1?? Qc2 22.Kc2 Nd4] Kd7 [21...Bb2 22.Qb2 0-0-0
and White is slightly better] 22.Kc1 Qa2 [22...Rac8 23.Bd3 Nb4 (23...
Qa2 see 22...Qa2) a) 24.Qf7?! Kd8! (24...Kc6 25.Nb4 Qb4 26.Qe6 Kb6
27.Kd1) 25.Qf6 Kd7; b) 24.Qg7 Kc6 25.Nb4 Qb4 26.Qb2 Kd7 27.Kb1
Qb2 28.Kb2 Rc6 29.h4 and White is slightly better] 23.Bd3 Rac8?! [23...
Rhc8! 24.Rd1 Ne7! 25.Rd2! (25.Bd6 Nd5! 26.Be5 Nf6 27.Bc4 Ke7 28.
Ba2 Ne4 with counterplay) Rc6 26.Kd1! Rac8 27.Ne3 with initiative,
with the idea Ke2] 24.Rd1 d5 [24...Ne7? 25.Bb5! and White is winning]
25.Bf5 Rhe8 26.Qf7! [26.Re1? d4! unclear] Kd8 27.Re1 (and White is
superior) Qa3 [27...Re7 a) 28.Qg8 Re8 29.Qg6 Ne7 a1) 30.Qe6? Qa1 31.
Kd2 Qc3 (31...Rc2? 32.Bc2 Qd4 33.Ke2! Ng6 34.Bc7! Kc7 35.Qe8 and
White is winning) 32.Kd1 Qc6 unclear; a2) 30.Qf6! Qa3 31.Kd1 Qc3 32.
Nd4 and White is superior; b) 28.Qf6!? (Grischuk) ef5 29.Bd6! Kd7 30.
Be7 Kc7 31.Qf5 and White is winning; 27...Qa1 28.Kd2! (28.Na1 Ne5 29.
Kd2 Nf7 30.Be6 Rc6 unclear) Qc3 (28...Qa5 29.Kd1 and White is
winning) 29.Kc3 (29.Kd1?! Re7 30.Qg8 Re8 31.Qg6 Ne7 32.Qe6 Qc6
unclear) Ne5 30.Kd2 Nf7 31.Re6 and White is superior] 28.Na3 [28.
Kd1!? Qe7 (28...Qf8 29.Qf8 Rf8 30.Be6 and White is superior) 29.Qg6 e5
30.Nd4! and White is superior] Ne5 29.Kd2 Nf7 30.Be6 Rc6? time [30...
b5! 31.Bc8 (31.Bf7 Re1 32.Ke1 b4 with counterplay) Re1 32.Ke1 Kc8 33.
Nc2 and White is superior] 31.Bf7 Re1 32.Ke1 (and White is winning)
b5 [32...Rc3 33.Bd6 Kd7 34.Bf8] 33.Kd2 b4 34.Nc2 b3 35.Nd4 Rb6 36.
Kc1 a5 37.Bd5 a4 38.Be5 b2 39.Kb1 a3 40.Ba2 Rb7 41.Bd6 Rd7 42.
Nb5 1-0 [Svidler]
9. Kramnik 2785 Evgeny Alekseev 2716
Moscow 2007 101/45 [A60]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.d5 ed5 5.cd5 b5 6.e4 Ne4 7.Qe2 Qe7 8.Bg2
Nd6 9.Be3 b4 [9...Na6] 10.Bc5 Qe2 11.Ne2 Na6 12.Bd6 [a novelty; 12.
Bd4 Nf5 13.0-0 see 23/124; 13.Nd2 and White is slightly better] Bd6 13.
Nd2 Rb8 [13...Bb7 14.Nc4 Bc5 15.0-0 0-0 16.d6 (16.Na5 Rab8) Bg2 17.
Kg2 and White is slightly better] 14.Nc4 Be7 [14...Bc5 15.d6 Bb7 16.Bb7
Rb7 and White is slightly better] 15.d6 Bf6 16.Nf4 Nc5 17.0-0 [17.Nd5
Ba6 18.Nf6 gf6 19.Kd2!? Kd8; 17.0-0-0 0-0 18.Nd5 Ba6 with
counterplay] Ba6 [17...0-0 18.Nd5 Bd8 19.Rfe1 and White is superior] 18.
Nd5 [18.Rfe1 Ne6 19.Ne5 and White is slightly better] 0-0 [18...Bc4 19.
Nf6 gf6 20.Rfc1 and White is superior; 18...Kd8 19.Nf6 gf6 20.Rfd1 (and
White is superior) Bc4 21.Rdc1] 19.Nf6 gf6 20.Bd5 [20.Rfd1!? Bc4 21.
Rdc1 Be6 22.Rc5 with the idea 22...Rb6 23.f4!] Na4? [20...Rfc8 21.Rfd1
(21.b3 Na4 22.Rfe1 Nc3) Na4 22.Rd4 Bc4 23.Bc4 Nb2 24.Bb3 Rc3 and
White is slightly better; 20...Rfe8 21.Rfd1 Re2 22.b3 and White is
slightly better]
21.Rfc1! Rfe8 [21...Rfc8 22.Ne3 Nb2 23.Rc7! Rc7 (23...Bb5 24.Rac1

Re8 25.Ra7 Rb6 26.Nf5 and White is superior) 24.dc7 Rc8 25.Rc1 Na4
26.Nf5 Nc3 27.Ne7 Kf8 28.Nc8 Bc8 29.Bf3 and White is superior; 21...
Bc4 22.Rc4 Rb6 23.Rd4 and White is superior] 22.Ne3 Rb6 [22...Nb2 23.
Rc7 Bb5 24.Ra7 and White is superior] 23.Rc7! Rd6 [23...Bb5 24.Bc4
and White is winning] 24.Rd1 (and White is winning) Kh8 [24...Kf8 25.
Nf5 Rd5 26.Rd5 Re1 27.Kg2] 25.Nf5 Rb6 26.Bf7 Nb2 [26...Rf8 27.Bb3
(27.Ra7 Bb5 28.Rd4 Nb2 29.Rb4) Bb5 28.Nd6 Nb2 29.Rd2] 27.Rdd7
Re1 28.Kg2 Bf1 29.Kf3 Be2 30.Kf4 Rb8 [30...Nd3 31.Rd3] 31.Bc4 1-0
[Kramnik]
10. Sutovsky 2656 Miton 2648

Montreal 2007 101/270 [C92]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.
c3 0-0 9.h3 Bb7 10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.a4 Na5 13.Bc2 b4 14.Bd3
bc3 15.bc3 d5?! 16.Qc2! [a novelty; 16.ed5?! see 100/266] de4 [16...ed4
17.e5 dc3 18.Qc3 c5 19.ef6 Re1 20.Ne1 c4 21.Be2 d4 22.Qg3 and White
is superior; 16...Bd6 17.de5 Be5 18.Ne5 Re5 19.Nf3 Re4 (19...Rh5 20.e5
Ne4 21.Rb1 and White is superior) 20.Be4 de4 21.Nd2 and White is
superior; 16...c5! 17.ed5 cd4! (17...ed4 18.Re8 Qe8 19.c4 and White is
superior) 18.c4 (18.cd4 Rc8 19.Qb1 ed4 20.Re8 Qe8 21.Bb2 Bc5 22.Nd4
Qd8! equal) Qc7 19.Rb1 and White is slightly better] 17.Ne4 Ne4 [17...
Be4 18.Re4!] 18.Re4! g6 [18...Be4 19.Be4 ed4 20.Bh7 Kh8 21.Qf5! g6
(21...Nc6 22.Qh5 and White is winning) 22.Qf7 Bg7 23.Bg6 and White is
winning; 18...c5 19.Rg4 (19.Re5!? Bf3 20.Re8 Qe8 21.gf3 and White is
superior) Bf3 (19...g6 20.Ne5 Bg7 21.Nf7! Kf7 22.Bg6 and White is
winning) 20.Bh7 Kh8 21.gf3 and White is superior] 19.Bg5! [19.Re5?!
Bf3 20.Re8 Qe8 21.gf3 Qe6 22.Kg2 Nb3 and White is slightly better]
Qd6 [19...f6 20.Bh4 Be4 (20...Qd6 21.Rg4 and White is winning; 20...g5
21.de5! gh4 22.Rg4 Bg7 23.Bh7 Kh8 24.Nh4 and White is winning) 21.
Be4 ed4 22.Ba8 Qa8 23.Bf6 Qd5 (23...dc3 24.Qa2!) 24.cd4 and White is
winning] 20.de5 [20.Re5 Bf3 21.Ra5 Bb7 and White is superior] Qe6
[20...Qc5 21.e6! Re6 22.Re6 fe6 23.Be3! Qc6 24.Bd4 Bg7 25.Bg7 (25.
Bg6? hg6 26.Qg6 e5!) Kg7 26.Re1 and White is winning] 21.Nd4 Qd5
22.Bf6! c5
23.c4! Nc4 [23...Qd7 24.e6 fe6 25.Rg4 Qf7 26.Be5 Bg7 27.Bg6 hg6 28.
Rg6 and White is winning] 24.Nf3! [24.Bc4? Qe4 25.Qe4 Be4 26.e6 fe6
27.Ne6 Kf7! and Black is superior] Na5 25.Rh4! Bg7 [25...c4 26.Bg6 fg6
27.Qg6 hg6 28.Rh8 Kf7 29.Ng5 mate] 26.Be4 Qd7 [26...Qb3 27.Qd2!
Bf6 28.ef6 Qe6 29.Qf4!! Be4 (29...Qe4 30.Qh6) 30.Ng5 Qf5 31.Rh7! Qf4
32.Rg7 Kf8 (32...Kh8 33.Nf7 mate) 33.Nh7 mate] 27.Bg7 Be4 [27...Kg7
28.Qc1 h5 29.Rh5! gh5 (29...Rh8 30.Rh8 Rh8 31.Qc3 and White is
winning) 30.Qg5 Kf8 31.Qh6 Ke7 32.Bb7! Nb7 33.Qf6 Kf8 34.Nh4! Qd3
35.Nf5 and White is winning] 28.Qc1! Bf3 29.Qh6 f5 30.Qh7 Kf7 31.gf3
Rg8 32.Bf8! 1-0 [Sutovsky]


Zdenko Krnic
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USCFSales.com:
Germany is the center of the chess world at the moment, with the match for the World
Champion between Anand and Kramnik underway in Bonn. Anand had to win in
Mexico City last year in order to qualify for this match, while Kramnik only had to play
in the Candidates tournament.
Last months column showed the very high quality of the games played in Mexico City,
and the best game of Informant 101 was Aronian-Anand. This month we are pleased to
present the game Kramnik-Aronian from Mexico City, which was selected as the most
important theoretical novelty of Informant 101. It is interesting that both Anand and
Kramnik achieved their victories against the same opponent.
ECO A-E (CD)
Kramniks new move 17.Rb1 in a popular variation of Queens Indian Defense

received only two more points than the high quality game Kasimdzhanov-Predojevic.
Later Anatoly Karpov twice tried to improve Blacks game in this variation, but he was
defeated both times. I believe that many games will be played with 17.Rb1, where
Black must prove that the position offers good chances for an equal game.

Vladimir Kramnik

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
Viswanathan Anand
The Complete
DGT Product Line
1. Kramnik 2769 Aronian 2750

Mexico City 2007 101/419 [E15]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 c6 8.Bc3 d5 9.Ne5
Nfd7 10.Nd7 Nd7 11.Nd2 0-0 12.0-0 Rc8 13.e4 de4 14.Ne4 b5 15.Re1 bc4 16.Bf1
Nb6
17.Rb1! [a novelty; 17.Nc5 see 95/(370)] Nd5 [17...c5 18.dc5 Bc5 19.Qh5 Qd5 20.Qh4
and White is superior; 17...Rb8 18.bc4 (18.Nc5 Bb5 19.a4 Nd5 20.Ba1 c3 21.ab5 cb5
22.b4 a5 23.Bg2 ab4 24.Bd5 and White is superior) Nc4 (18...Bc4 19.Rb6 and White is
superior) 19.Rb8 Qb8 20.Nc5 Nb2 21.Bb2 Bf1 22.Ba3 Bh3 23.Qh5 (23.Nd7 Qb7) Bf5
24.Nd7 and White is superior] 18.Ba1 Bb4 [18...Qa5 19.bc4 Nb6 20.Qc2 and White is
superior; 18...Rb8 19.bc4 (19.Nc5) Rb1 20.Qb1 and White is superior] 19.Nc5! [19.bc4
Be1 20.Qe1 Nb6 21.Qc3 with initiative] Be1 [19...Qa5 20.bc4! Be1 21.Qe1 Qe1 22.Re1
Nc7 23.Bc3 and White is superior, with the idea Ba5; 19...Nc3 20.Bc3 Bc3 21.Re4 and
White is superior, with the idea 21...Qa5 22.b4 Qa2 23.Na6 Qa6 24.Qc2] 20.Qe1 cb3
[20...Nc7 21.bc4 and White is superior] 21.Na6 [21.Ba6 ba2 22.Rb2 Rb8 23.Ra2 Nb4
and White is slightly better] ba2 22.Rb2 Nc7 [22...Re8 23.Ra2 Re7] 23.Ra2 (and
White is superior) Na6 [better is 23...Nb5!?] 24.Ra6 Qd7 [24...c5 25.Qe5! c4 (25...cd4
26.Bd4 f6 27.Qe6 Kh8 28.Be3 Re8 29.Qb3 and White is winning; 25...Qd5 26.dc5 and
White is winning, with the idea 26...Qe5 27.Be5 Rc5 28.Bd6) 26.d5 Qf6 27.Qf6 gf6 28.
Bf6 ed5 (28...c3 29.Ra4 Rfe8 30.Rg4 Kf8 31.Rg7 and White is winning) 29.Bh3 and
White is superior] 25.Qc3 f6 26.Qc5 Rf7 27.Bc3 Qb7 [27...Kh8 28.Bc4; 27...Qd5 28.
Bc4 Qc5 (28...Qe4 29.Ra1) 29.dc5 Re7 30.Ra7 Kf8 31.Ra6 and White is superior] 28.
Qc4 Qd7 29.Bg2 Kh8 30.Bc6 Qb7 31.Kg2! (and White is winning) h6 [31...Re7 32.
Bb4 Ree8 33.Bd6 Red8 34.Qa4 Qb1 35.Be7 Rg8 36.Bc5] 32.d5 Qb8 [32...ed5 33.Bb7
Rc4 34.Bd5] 33.de6 Re7 34.Bb4 Rec7 35.e7 1-0 [Kramnik]
2. Kasimdzhanov 2690 Predojevic 2645
Deutschland 2007 101/305 [D17]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nc4 Qc7 8.g3 e5 9.de5
Ne5 10.Bf4 Nfd7 11.Bg2 g5 12.Ne3 gf4 13.Nf5 0-0-0 14.Qc2 Ng6?! 15.0-0 fg3 16.hg3
h5 17.Rfc1! Kb8 18.b4! h4
19.Nb5! [a novelty; 19.b5 see 101/304] Qc8!? [19...Qb6 20.a5!! Qb5 (20...Qa6 21.
Nbd6 Bd6 22.Nd6 and White is winning) 21.Nd4 Qg5 22.Nc6 Kc7 23.Qe4! and White
is winning; 19...Qe5 20.Nbd4! Rc8 21.b5 hg3 (21...c5 22.Nc6 bc6 23.bc6 Nb6 24.a5)
22.bc6 gf2 23.Kf1 Bc5 (23...Nc5 24.Rab1 b6 25.a5 Nf4 26.ab6 Ng2 27.c7 Kb7 28.ba7
Kc7 29.Qd2) 24.Nf3 and White is superior] 20.Qb3!! [20.Nfd6? Bd6 21.Nd6 Qc7 22.
Nf7 hg3 a) 23.Nd8 gf2 24.Kf2 Qf4 25.Bf3 Nde5; b) 23.Nh8 gf2 (23...Nh4!?) 24.Kf2
Nge5!? with compensation; c) 23.Qg6 gf2 24.Kf1 Ne5 25.Ne5 Qe5] h3 [20...hg3 21.
Qg3 Nde5 22.Qe3 Bc5 (22...c5 23.bc5) 23.Qc5 (and White is superior) cb5 24.Qe3 (24.
ab5 Qc5 25.bc5 Nf4) Qe6 (24...Qf5 25.ab5; 24...Nc4 25.Qg3 Nge5 26.Rc4 Qf5 27.Rc5
f6 28.Rb5) 25.ab5 Qb6 26.Qb6 ab6 27.Rd1 Nf4 28.e3 and White is superior] 21.Qe3!
c5 [21...Nb6 22.Na7 Ka7 23.a5 Kb8 24.ab6 Bb4 25.Ne7! (and White is winning) Be7
26.Qb3; 21...Nc5 22.Be4 cb5 23.bc5 b4 24.c6 and White is winning; 21...Bc5 22.bc5
hg2 23.Nfd6 Rde8 24.Qd4 and White is winning] 22.Be4! Nf6 23.bc5 Ng4 24.c6!! Rd1
[24...Ne3 25.c7 Ka8 (25...Qc7 26.Rc7 Nd5 27.Rd1 and White is winning) 26.cd8R Qd8
a) 27.Rab1 Nd5 (27...Nf5 28.Nc7 Qc7 29.Rc7 Nd6 30.Rcb7 Nb7 31.Rb7 f5 32.Bd5 a6
33.Kh2 Rh6 34.f4 and White is winning) 28.Rd1 and White is superior (28.Nc7 Nc7 29.
Bb7 Kb8 equal) Nge7 29.Ne7 Qe7 30.Bd5; b) 27.Nc7 Kb8 28.Rab1! (28.Na6?! ba6 29.
Rab1 Qb6) Qc7 29.Rc7 Kc7 30.Rb7 Kc8 31.Ne3 Bc5 32.Rf7 Ne5 33.Rf5 Be3 34.fe3 h2
35.Kh1 Ng4 36.Rf3 Kc7 37.Bf5 Ne5 38.Rf4 and White is winning] 25.Rd1 Ne3 26.
Ne3 bc6 27.Rab1 cb5 [27...h2 28.Kh1 Qh3 29.Nd6 Kc7 30.Rb7 Kd8 31.Bf5] 28.Rb5
Kc7 29.Nd5 1-0 [Kasimdzhanov]
3. Svidler 2735 Grischuk 2726
Mexico City 2007 101/163 [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3
Bg7 10.h3 Ne5 11.Nf5 Bf5 12.ef5 Nbc6 13.Nd5 e6 14.fe6 fe6 15.Ne3 Qa5 16.c3 Nf3
17.Qf3 Bc3 18.Kd1 Qa4 19.Nc2 Bb2
20.Rc1! [a novelty; 20.Qb3 see 94/180] Bc1 [20...0-0-0 21.Qg4! Qg4 (21...Nd4 22.Bd3
and White is superior) 22.hg4 Bc1 23.Kc1 and White is superior; 20...Rc8 21.Bd3 Bc1
22.Qf6 Kd7 23.Kc1 see 20...Bc1; 20...Ke7!? 21.Qb3 Qb3 22.ab3 Bc1 23.Kc1 Rac8 24.
Kb2 and White is slightly better] 21.Qf6 [21.Kc1?? Qc2 22.Kc2 Nd4] Kd7 [21...Bb2
22.Qb2 0-0-0 and White is slightly better] 22.Kc1 Qa2 [22...Rac8 23.Bd3 Nb4 (23...
Qa2 see 22...Qa2) a) 24.Qf7?! Kd8! (24...Kc6 25.Nb4 Qb4 26.Qe6 Kb6 27.Kd1) 25.Qf6
Kd7; b) 24.Qg7 Kc6 25.Nb4 Qb4 26.Qb2 Kd7 27.Kb1 Qb2 28.Kb2 Rc6 29.h4 and
White is slightly better] 23.Bd3 Rac8?! [23...Rhc8! 24.Rd1 Ne7! 25.Rd2! (25.Bd6
Nd5! 26.Be5 Nf6 27.Bc4 Ke7 28.Ba2 Ne4 with counterplay) Rc6 26.Kd1! Rac8 27.Ne3
with initiative, with the idea Ke2] 24.Rd1 d5 [24...Ne7? 25.Bb5! and White is winning]
25.Bf5 Rhe8 26.Qf7! [26.Re1? d4! unclear] Kd8 27.Re1 (and White is superior) Qa3
[27...Re7 a) 28.Qg8 Re8 29.Qg6 Ne7 a1) 30.Qe6? Qa1 31.Kd2 Qc3 (31...Rc2? 32.Bc2
Qd4 33.Ke2! Ng6 34.Bc7! Kc7 35.Qe8 and White is winning) 32.Kd1 Qc6 unclear; a2)
30.Qf6! Qa3 31.Kd1 Qc3 32.Nd4 and White is superior; b) 28.Qf6!? (Grischuk) ef5 29.
Bd6! Kd7 30.Be7 Kc7 31.Qf5 and White is winning; 27...Qa1 28.Kd2! (28.Na1 Ne5 29.
Kd2 Nf7 30.Be6 Rc6 unclear) Qc3 (28...Qa5 29.Kd1 and White is winning) 29.Kc3 (29.
Kd1?! Re7 30.Qg8 Re8 31.Qg6 Ne7 32.Qe6 Qc6 unclear) Ne5 30.Kd2 Nf7 31.Re6 and
White is superior] 28.Na3 [28.Kd1!? Qe7 (28...Qf8 29.Qf8 Rf8 30.Be6 and White is
superior) 29.Qg6 e5 30.Nd4! and White is superior] Ne5 29.Kd2 Nf7 30.Be6 Rc6?
time [30...b5! 31.Bc8 (31.Bf7 Re1 32.Ke1 b4 with counterplay) Re1 32.Ke1 Kc8 33.
Nc2 and White is superior] 31.Bf7 Re1 32.Ke1 (and White is winning) b5 [32...Rc3 33.
Bd6 Kd7 34.Bf8] 33.Kd2 b4 34.Nc2 b3 35.Nd4 Rb6 36.Kc1 a5 37.Bd5 a4 38.Be5 b2
39.Kb1 a3 40.Ba2 Rb7 41.Bd6 Rd7 42.Nb5 1-0 [Svidler]
4. Ivanchuk 2787 Bacrot 2695
Hersonissos 2007 101/299 [D15]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.c5 Nbd7 6.Bf4 Nh5 7.Bd2 Nhf6 8.Qc2 g6 9.g3
[9.e4 see 96/279] e5 10.de5 Ng4 11.e6 Nc5 12.ef7 Kf7 13.e4 Bg7 14.Bg2
14...Bc3! [a novelty; 14...Re8] 15.Bc3 de4 16.Bh8 [16.Nd2 a) 16...e3 17.0-0 a1) 17...
ed2 18.Bh8 Qh8 19.Qc5 and White is superior; a2) 17...Bf5 18.Ne4 ef2 19.Rf2 Nf2 20.
Qf2 Nd3 21.Qe3 Re8 22.Rd1 Re4 23.Be4 Qe7 24.Rd3 Qe4 (24...Be4 25.Rd1 and White
is superior) 25.Rd7 Ke6 26.Qd2 Qb1 27.Kf2 Qc2 and White is slightly better; a3) 17...
ef2 18.Rf2 Nf2 19.Bh8 Nh3 20.Kh1 Nf2 equal; b) 16...Nd3 17.Kf1 Ndf2 18.Qb3 Be6
19.Qb7 Qe7 20.Qe7 Ke7 21.Bh8 Rh8 22.Ne4 Nh1 23.Bh1 Rb8 24.b3 Nh2 25.Kg1 Ng4
and Black is slightly better; c) 16...Qd3! 17.Qd3 Nd3 18.Ke2 Re8 and Black is slightly
better] Nd3 17.Kf1 [17.Ke2 ef3 18.Bf3 Qh8 19.Qb3 Kf8 20.Kd3 Bf5 21.Ke2 Qd4 22.
Bg4 Bg4 23.Kf1 Qe4 with attack] ef3 18.Bf3 Ngf2 19.Qb3 Ke7 20.Bg7 [20.Qa3 c5 21.
Re1 Ne1 22.Qc5 Qd6 (22...Ke8 23.Qe3 Qe7 24.Kf2 Qe3 25.Ke3 Nf3 26.Kf3 equal) 23.
Bf6 Ke6 24.Qd6 Kd6 25.Kf2 Nf3 26.Kf3 equal] Bh3! [20...Nh1 21.Bh1 Bh3 22.Kg1
and White is slightly better] 21.Bg2? [21.Kg1! a) 21...b5? 22.Qc3 Qd6 23.Bh6 Nh1
(23...Qf6 24.Re1 Kf7 25.Re3 Qc3 26.bc3 and White is superior) 24.Kh1 Kd7 25.Qg7
Kc8 26.Be3 with initiative; b) 21...Qd7 22.Bh6 Re8 23.Bg5 Kf8 24.Bh6 equal] Qd7 22.
Bh3 [22.Re1 Ne1 23.Bh3 Nh3 and Black is winning] Qh3 23.Kg1 Qf5! [23...Qg4? 24.
Re1! Ne1 25.Kf2! and White is winning] 24.Qb7?! [24.Re1!? a) 24...Ne1 25.Qb7 Kd6
26.Qb4 Kd5 (26...Kc7 27.Qe7; 26...c5 27.Qb6 Kd5 28.Qb7 Ke6 29.Qb3 Qd5 30.Qd5
Kd5 31.Kf2 equal) 27.Qd4 Ke6 28.Qc4 (28.Qf2 Qe4 29.Qf6 Kd5 30.Qg5 Kc4 31.Qf4
Qf4 32.gf4 Nd3 33.Kg2 Nf4 34.Kf3 Ne6 35.Bc3 and Black is superior) Kd7 (28...Ke7 29.
Qb4) 29.Qd4 Kc7 30.Qf2 Qe4 31.Qf4 Qf4 32.gf4 Nd3 33.Kg2 Nf4 34.Kf3 Ne6 35.Bc3
and Black is superior; b) 24...Kd6! 25.Re3 Rd8 26.Bd4 b5 27.h3 (27.Kg2 Kc7 and
Black is winning) Rf8 28.Kg2 h5 (zugzwang) 29.a4 (29.Qa3 b4 30.Qb3 Kc7 31.h4 c5
32.Bg7 Rf7 and Black is winning) Kc7 (29...c5 30.Bg7 Rf7 31.ab5 ab5 and Black is
superior) 30.ab5 Ng4 31.Re7 Kd8 32.hg4 Qf3 33.Kh2 Ke7 and Black is superior; 24.h4
Qf3 25.Re1 (25.Rh2 Qg3 26.Kf1 Qf3 and Black is winning) Ne1 26.Qf3 Nf3 27.Kf2
Nd2 and Black is superior] Kd6 25.Qb6 Qf3 26.Qd4 Kc7 27.Be5 Kc8 0-1 [Ivanchuk,
Sulypa]
5. Leko 2755 Shirov 2739
Moscow 2007 101/247 [C78]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.c3 d6 8.a4 Rb8 9.d4
Bb6 10.Na3 0-0 11.ab5 ab5 12.Nb5 Bg4 13.Bc2 Bf3 14.gf3 Nh5
15.f4! [a novelty; 15.Kh1 see 91/297] Nf4 16.Bf4 ef4 17.Qg4 Qf6 18.b4 (and White is
slightly better) Ne7 19.Na3 Ng6 20.Nc4 Bd4!? [20...Qe6? 21.Qe6 fe6 22.e5! d5 23.Bg6
hg6 24.Nd2 and White is superior; 20...Ra8 21.Ra8 Ra8 22.e5 de5 23.Bg6 Qg6 24.Qg6
hg6 25.Ne5 and White is slightly better] 21.cd4 Qd4 [21...Rb4? 22.e5] 22.Na5! Qd2
23.Bb3 [23.Qd1! a) 23...Qc3 24.Qd3 Qd3 (24...Qf6 25.Nc6 Rb6 26.b5 with the idea 26...
Rc6 27.bc6 Ne5 28.Qh3! and White is winning) 25.Bd3 Ne5 26.Bc4 Rb4 27.Bd5; b)
23...Qd1 24.Rfd1 Rb4 25.Rdb1 and White is slightly better] Ne5 [23...Rb4 24.Rfd1
Qc3 25.Rac1 Qf6 26.Bd5 Ne5 27.Qh3; 25.Bd5 with the idea Nc6] 24.Nc4 Ng4? [24...
Qf2! 25.Rf2 Ng4 26.Rf4 Rb4! and White is slightly better] 25.Nd2 Rb4 26.Rfc1! (and
White is winning) Ne5 [26...Rd4 27.Rc7! Rd2 28.Rf7!; 26...c5 27.Bd5] 27.Rc7 g5 [27...
Rd4 28.Nc4 Nf3 29.Kg2] 28.Bd5! g4 [28...Rfb8 29.Nc4 Rb1 30.Rb1 Rb1 31.Kg2 f3 32.
Kh3; 28...Rb2 29.Nc4 Rc2 30.Raa7] 29.Nc4 h5 30.Ne5 de5 31.Re7 1-0 [Leko]
6. Morozevich 2758 V.Anand 2792
Mexico City 2007 101/360 [D48]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dc4 7.Bc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.0-0
a6 10.e4 c5 11.d5 c4 12.Bc2 Qc7 13.de6 fe6 14.Nd4 Nc5 15.Be3 e5 16.Nf5
16...g6! [a novelty; 16...Nce4 see 99/(309); 16...Rd8 see 99/309] 17.Nh6 Bg7 18.Qf3
Ne6 19.Qh3 Bc8 [19...Nd4!? 20.Rac1 (20.Bd4 ed4 21.Nd5 Bd5 22.ed5 Bh6 23.Qh6 d3
and Black is slightly better; 20.Bd1 Qd7 21.Qh4 0-0-0) Qd7 21.Qh4 0-0-0 unclear] 20.
Qh4 [20.Qg3!? Nh5 a) 21.Qf3 Nhf4 22.Nd5 Qb7 23.Bf4 (23.g3 Ng5) ef4 24.Nf5 0-0 25.
Ng7 Nd4 26.Qd1 Qg7 27.f3 Bb7 and Black is slightly better; b) 21.Nd5 Ng3 22.Nc7
Nc7 23.fg3 Be6 and Black is slightly better; c) 21.Qh4 Bf6 22.Qg4 Nef4 23.Qf3 Bg5
24.Nd5 Qg7 with counterplay] Qe7 21.Rfe1 Nd5! 22.Qe7 Ne7 23.Nd5 Bb7 (and Black
is slightly better) 24.Ng4 Nd4 [24...Bd5 25.ed5 Nd5 26.a4; 24...Nd5!? 25.ed5 Bd5 26.
Bb6 0-0 and Black is slightly better] 25.Bd1 [25.Nc7 Kd7 26.Bd4 ed4 27.Na8 Ra8 and
Black is superior] Nd5 26.ed5 0-0-0 27.Bg5 Rd5 28.b3 c3 29.Ne3 Rc5 30.Rc1 [30.Be7
Rc6 31.Bg4 Kb8 32.Bd7 Rc7 33.Bd6 Rd8 34.Bc7 Kc7 and Black is superior] Rc7 31.
b4 Kb8 32.h3 h6 [32...Rf8! and Black is winning] 33.Bh4 Nf5? 34.Nf5 gf5 35.Bc2
(and Black is superior) Rc4 [35...Bc8 36.f3 with the idea Bf2] 36.Be7 e4 37.Bb3 Rd4
38.Bc5 Rd3 39.Be6 Bc8 40.Bb3 [40.Bf7 Be5] Re8?! [40...Bf6 with the idea h5-h4] 41.
Bf7 Re5?! [with the idea Rc5; 41...Red8] 42.Be3 Re7 43.Bg6 Be6 44.h4! Ba2 45.Bf5
Bd5 46.Bc5 [46.g4!? Kb7] Re8 47.f3 Kb7 [47...Bd4? 48.Bd4 Rd4 49.Rc3 Rb4 50.fe4]
48.fe4 Bc6 49.Kf2 [49.Re2 Rd2] Rd2 50.Ke3 [50.Kf3 Re5! 51.g4 a5 52.Red1 Rd1 53.
Rd1 Rc5 54.bc5 b4 and Black is winning] Be5 [50...Re5 51.Rc3!] 51.Kf3 Red8 52.
Re3! [with the idea Rc3] Rg8 53.g4 Rh2 54.h5 [54.Rd3 Rh4 (54...h5 55.g5 Rh4 56.g6
Re8! 57.Re3) 55.Bd4 Rh3 56.Ke2 Rd3 57.Be5 Rh3 58.Rc3 Rc3 59.Bc3 and Black is
slightly better] Rd8! 55.g5 (only move) Rh5? [55...hg5 56.Rec3 (56.Kg4 Rg2 57.Kf3
Rdd2 and Black is winning) Be8! 57.Bg4; 55...Rdd2! 56.Rec3 (56.Ree1 hg5 57.Be3 Be8
and Black is winning) Rhg2! and Black is winning] 56.Be7 Re8? [56...Rd2! 57.Rec3
Rhh2! 58.Bf6 (58.Rc6 Rd3) Rdf2 59.Ke3 Bf4 60.Kd4 Rd2 61.Rd3 Rd3 62.Kd3 Bc1 63.
g6 Rd2 64.Kc3 (64.Ke3 Be8 65.g7 Bf7) Rg2 and Black is winning] 57.Kg4 Rh2 [57...
Rg5 58.Bg5 Rg8 59.Rec3 Rg5 60.Kh4 Bc3 61.Rc3 and Black is slightly better] 58.Bf6
Rg2 [58...Rg8 59.Be5 Rg5 60.Kf3 Rf5 61.Kg3 Rfh5 62.Rcc3 R2h3 63.Kf4 R3h4 64.
Kg3 Re4 65.Re4 Be4 66.Bf4!] 59.Kh3 Rh2 60.Kg4 Rg2 61.Kh3 - [V.Anand]
7. Inarkiev 2674 Aronian 2741
Khanty-Mansiysk (m/3-rapid) 2007 101/340 [D43]
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7
10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7 12.Nd7 Nd7 13.Bd6 a6
14.Re1! (a novelty) c5!? 15.dc5 Rc8 16.a4! b4 [16...Nc5 17.ab5 ab5 18.Nb5 Ne4 19.
Bh5 and White is winning] 17.c6 Bc6 18.Nd5! Ne5 19.Be7 Qd7? [19...Qa5 (only
move) 20.Bb4 Qd8] 20.Nf6 Ke7 [20...Bf6 21.Bf6 and White is winning] 21.Nd7 Bd7
(and White is superior) 22.Qd2 [22.a5!? Bb5 23.Qd2 c3 24.bc3 Rhd8 25.Qa2 bc3] a5
23.Rad1?! [weak point a4; 23.h4 g4 24.Red1; better is 23.Red1! Rhd8 24.Qd6 Ke8 25.
Qb6 and White is superior, with the idea 25...Ra8 26.h3!? with the idea g3, f4] Rhd8
[23...Ba4 24.Qd6 Kf6 25.Ra1 Rhd8 26.Qb6 Bb3 and White is superior; 23...Rc6!? (with
the idea 24...Rb8, 24...Rc8, 24...Ra8) 24.f4?! gf4 (24...c3?! 25.bc3 bc3 26.Qc1 gf4 27.
Qa3 Kd8 28.Bb5 Rc7 29.Qd6 and White is winning) 25.Qf4 Rhc8 26.Rf1 Rc5 unclear]
24.Qd6 Ke8 25.Qb6 Ra8 [25...c3!? 26.bc3 bc3 27.Qa5 Nc6 28.Qb6 c2 29.Rc1 Bc3 30.
Rf1 Nd4 31.Bh5 Rb8 32.Qc5 Rbc8 33.Qa3 Bd2 unclear] 26.Rd6 [26.Ra1?! Nc6; 26.
h3?! (with the idea g3, f4) Rdb8 27.Qe3 Ba4 unclear; 26.h4!? g4] Rdb8 time [26...
Bf8?! 27.Rd5!! (27.Rd2 Rdc8) ed5 28.Qf6 Be6 29.Qe5 and White is winning] 27.Qc5
time Rc8 28.Qb6 Rcb8 [28...Ba4 29.Ra1] 29.Qe3 Rc8!? [29...Ba4? 30.Ra1 Bb5 31.
Rb6 Nd7 32.Rb8 Rb8 33.Qa7 Bb2 34.Rd1! Be5 35.Bc4! Ba4 36.Bb3! and White is
winning] 30.h4 [30.Ra1!? c3 (30...Ng6 31.Rc1 Bb2 32.Rc4 Ba4 33.Qb6 and White is
winning) 31.bc3 Rc3 32.Qb6 Rcc8 33.Rdd1 and White is superior] Ke7 31.Rb6 [31.
Rdd1 Ba4 32.Ra1 Bb3 33.hg5 hg5 34.Qg5 Bf6 35.Qe3 Nd7 unclear] g4 32.f4?! [32.
Ra1! Kf8 (32...Nc6? 33.Rd1!) 33.Rb7 and White is superior] gf3 33.gf3 Ba4 [33...Nc6?
34.Rd1 and White is winning] 34.f4? [34.Ra1! c3 (34...Bd7 35.f4 Nc6 36.e5 and White
is winning; 34...Nd7 35.Ra4 c3 36.Rb7 see 34...c3; 34...Bc6 35.Qc5 Ke8 36.Ra5 Ra5 37.
Qa5 c3 38.bc3 bc3 39.Rb1 and White is winning) 35.Rb7 Nd7 36.Ra4 cb2 37.Bd3 Rc3
38.Qd2 Bd4 39.Kh1 Be3 40.Qb2 Rd3 41.Qe2 and White is winning] Nd7! 35.e5 [35.
Rb7? Bb2!] Nb6?! [35...c3!] 36.Qb6 Kf8 [36...c3!?] 37.Bh5? [37.Bf3! Rab8 38.Qa5
and White is superior, with the idea 38...Be8 39.Qa7!] c3 38.f5?? [38.bc3 bc3 (38...
Rc3? 39.Qb7! and White is winning) 39.Qd4 unclear; 39.Rc1 unclear; 39.f5!?] cb2 39.
Qd6 [39.Qb7 Be8 40.f6 Rc1 41.Bf7 Re1 42.Kh2 Rh1 43.Qh1 Bf6 44.ef6 Kf7 45.Qg2
Kf6 46.Qb2 and Black is superior] Kg8 40.Bf7 Kh8! and Black is winning [40...Kf7?
41.Qe6 Kf8 42.f6 Re8 unclear] 41.f6 Rc1 42.fg7 [42.Bg6 Bf8 43.Qd2 Rac8 and Black
is winning] Kg7 43.Qe7 Re1 44.Kh2 Rh1! 45.Kg3 Rg1 46.Kh2 b1Q 47.Be8 Kh8 48.
Qf6 Rg7 0-1 [Inarkiev]
8. Dreev 2607 D.Jakovenko 2710
Russia (ch) 2007 101/430 [E32]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bc3 6.Qc3 b6 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.e3 d6 9.Qc2
Nbd7 10.Rd1 Rc8 11.Ne2 c5 12.Nc3 cd4 13.Rd4 Rc5 14.Bh4 Qa8 15.Be2 d5
16.Qd1! [a novelty; 16.b4 see 101/(430)] e5 [16...dc4?? 17.Rd7] 17.Rd2 d4 18.ed4 ed4
19.Rd4 Bg2 20.Rg1 Bh3 [better is 20...Re8 21.Rd7 Nd7 22.Qd7 Bf3 (22...Rc4 23.Bf6!)
23.Bf6 (23.Kf1!? Be2 24.Ne2 Rc4 25.Bg5!? Qe4 26.Nc3 and White is slightly better) g6
24.Kf1 Be2 25.Ne2 Rc4 26.Nc3 and White is slightly better] 21.Rd6 [21.b4! Re5 (21...
Rcc8 22.Qd3 Be6 23.Bf3! Qb8 24.Bg3 Ne5 25.Qe3 and White is winning) 22.Bf6 Nf6
23.Qd3! Bg4 24.Qg3 Re6 25.h3 Nh5 26.Qg4 Rg6 27.Qh5 Rg1 28.Kd2 and White is
winning] Rc6 22.Qd4 Rd6 23.Qd6 Be6 [23...Qb8 24.Nb5 Qd6 25.Nd6 and White is
superior] 24.Qd4 [24.Qg3!? g6 25.Qf4 Kg7 (25...Ne8 26.Be7) 26.f3] Kh8 25.f3! [with
the idea 26.Kf2, 26.Ne4] Rg8 [25...Bf5 26.Nd5] 26.Kf2 Bf5 [better is 26...a6 and White
is superior] 27.Nb5 Bg6 28.Nd6 [with the idea Rg6] Qf8 29.Re1 Ne8 [29...Qe7 30.Bf1
Ng4!; 30.Kg2!] 30.Nc8 Nef6 31.Nd6 [31.Na7 Qb8!] Ne8 32.Ne8 time [32.Nb5 and
White is superior] Qe8 33.Bd3 Qc8 34.Bg6 fg6 [34...hg6? 35.Re7] 35.Re7 Nc5 36.b4!
Ne6 37.Qe4 Re8 [37...g5 38.Qe6 gh4 39.Qc8 Rc8 40.Ra7 Kg8 41.c5 bc5 42.b5 and
White is winning] 38.Qb7! (and White is winning) Nd4 [38...Qd8 39.Re8 Qe8 40.Qa7
Nd4 41.Qe7] 39.Bf6! Nf5 40.Rg7 Qb7 [40...Re2!? 41.Ke2 Qc4 42.Kd2 Qa2 43.Kd3
Qb1 44.Kc4 Qa2 45.Kb5 Qe2 46.Kc6 Qe6 47.Kc7 Qd6 48.Kc8 Qf8 equal; 41.Kf1!] 41.
Rb7 Kg8 42.Ra7 Rc8 43.c5 bc5 44.b5 Nd6 45.a4 1-0 [Dreev]
9. Sergey Karjakin 2694 Evgeny Alekseev 2716
Khanty-Mansiysk (m/4-rapid) 2007 101/165 [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.f3 Be6 9.Qd2
Nbd7 10.g4 0-0 11.0-0-0 Qc7 12.Kb1 b5 13.g5 Nh5 14.f4 ef4 15.Bf4 Nf4 16.Qf4
Rac8 17.Nd4 Nb6 18.Bd3 Qc5
19.Nf5! [a novelty; 19.Nd5 see 97/(172)] Rce8? [19...Rfe8 20.Ne7 Re7 21.e5! and
White is superior; 19...Bd8!] 20.Ne7 Re7 21.e5! (and White is superior) d5 [21...de5 22.
Qh4 f5 23.gf6 gf6 24.Ne4 Qc6 25.Nf6 Rf6 26.Rhg1 and White is winning; 21...Qe5 22.
Qh4 g6 23.Rhe1 and White is superior] 22.h4! Nc4 [22...Nd7 23.Rde1 b4 24.Ne2 a5 25.
Nd4 and White is superior; 22...b4 23.Ne2 Nc4 24.Nd4 and White is superior] 23.h5
d4? [23...Qe3 (only move) 24.Qh4 Rb7 (24...Rfe8 25.h6 g6 26.Rhe1 and White is
superior; 24...Rc7 25.h6 g6 26.Rhe1 Qf3 27.Qd4 and White is superior) 25.Rhe1 Qc5
26.Ka1 Rc8 27.h6 g6 28.Bc4 bc4 29.Qf4 Qb4 30.Rb1 Qe7 31.Red1 and White is
superior] 24.h6! (and White is winning) g6 [24...Qe5 25.Bh7 Kh7 26.hg7 Kg7 27.Qh4
Bf5 (27...Rc8 28.Qh6 Kg8 29.Qf6 Qf6 30.gf6) 28.Qh6 Kg8 29.Nd5 Bc2 30.Ka1 f5 31.
gf6 Rh7 32.Rdg1 Kf7 33.Rg7 Ke8 34.Rh7 Bh7 35.Qh7 d3 36.Qe7 Qe7 37.fe7] 25.Nd5
[25.Bc4 Bc4 26.Ne4 Qe5 (26...Qc6 27.Rd4) 27.Qe5 Re5 28.Nf6 Kh8 29.Nd7] Qd5
[25...Nd2 26.Kc1; 25...Na3 26.Kc1] 26.Bc4 Qc4 27.Qf6 1-0 [Sergey Karjakin]
10. Kramnik 2769 Leko 2751
Mexico City 2007 101/398 [E05]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.0-0 dc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.Qc4 b5 9.Qc2
Bb7 10.Bd2 Be4 11.Qc1 Qc8 12.Bg5 Nbd7
13.Qf4!? [a novelty; 13.Nbd2 see 101/(398)] Bb7 [13...c5] 14.Rc1 Bd6 [14...c5?! 15.
dc5; 14...Nd5 15.Qh4 (15.Qd2 f6 16.Bf4) f6 16.Bd2 and White is slightly better] 15.
Qh4 h6 16.Bf6 Nf6 17.Nbd2 Re8 18.e4 [18.Nb3 e5 19.de5 (19.Nc5 Bc5 20.Rc5 ed4 21.
Rac1 Qd8 equal) Be5 20.Ne5 Bg2 21.Nf7 Kf7 22.Kg2 Re4 23.Qh3 Re2 equal; 18.
Qh3!?; 18.Rc2!?] Nd7 [18...e5 19.de5 Be5 20.Ne5 Re5 21.Qf4 and White is slightly
better] 19.Nb3 a5! equal [19...e5?! 20.Na5 Rb8 21.Bh3 and White is superior] 20.Nc5
[20.a4! ba4 21.Ra4 Bb4 22.Qf4 c5! 23.Nc5 Nc5 24.dc5 Re7! 25.Ne5 Rc7 equal; 20.Bf1
a4 (20...b4 21.Bb5 c6) 21.Nbd2 Ra5 unclear] Be7 21.Qf4 e5?! [21...Bc5?! 22.dc5 e5 23.
Qe3 Bc6 24.Nh4 and White is slightly better; 21...Nc5! 22.dc5 e5! 23.Qe3 (23.Ne5 Bf6
24.c6 Be5 25.cb7 Qb7 26.Qd2 a4) Qe6 and Black is slightly better] 22.Ne5 Ne5 23.de5
Bg5 24.Qf3 Bc1 25.Rc1 Re5 26.Qc3! f6 [better is 26...Re7 27.Nb7 Qb7 28.e5 Qa7 29.
Ba8 Qa8 30.Qd4! and White is slightly better (30.Qc5 Qe8 31.Re1 Qd7) Qe8 31.Rc5
Rd7 32.Qe4 a4 33.Kg2] 27.Qb3 Kh8? [27...Kh7 (only move) 28.Qb5 (28.Qf7!? Bc6 29.
Nd3 Be8 30.Qf8) Ra7 29.Qd3 and White is slightly better] 28.Qf7! Bc6 (only move) 29.
Nd3 (and White is winning) Re6 (only move) 30.Nf4! [30.Bh3 Bd7 31.Nc5 Re7! 32.
Qe7 Bh3 33.Nd3 Qd8] Rd6 (only move) 31.Ng6 [31.e5? fe5 32.Bc6 ef4 33.Ba8 Qa8 34.
Qc7 Rd2 equal] Kh7 32.e5 fe5 [32...Rd7 33.Ne7 Re7 34.Qe7 Bg2 35.ef6 Qf8 36.Kg2
and White is winning; 32...Bg2 33.ed6 Be4 34.Rc7 Qg8 35.Qg8 Rg8 36.d7 and White
is winning; 32...Be8 33.Nf8 Kh8 34.Qe7 fe5 35.Ba8 Qa8 36.Ne6! and White is
winning] 33.Bc6 Rf6 [33...Rg6 34.Be4 Raa6 35.Rc7 Qg8 36.Qd7 and White is
winning] 34.Qd5 Qf5 35.Ba8 Qf2 36.Kh1 Qb2 37.Qc5! Kg6 38.Be4 Kh5 39.Rb1 [39.
Qe3 and White is winning] 1-0 [Kramnik]
E15
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4 6.Bd2 Be7
7.Bg2 c6 8.Bc3 d5 9.Ne5 Nfd7 10.Nd7 Nd7 11.Nd2 0-0
12.0-0 Rc8 13.e4 b5 14.Re1 de4
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Be41
bc43
d5
Bd5
Ne4
Nc3
Qd3
Rad1
bc42
c54
ed5
Bf6
Bc3
Nb6
Qf6
Rfe85
Ne4
Qe2
Nc57
bc4
Bd5
Nd7
Nf8
Qd2
bc4
Nf66
Qb68
Nd5
cd5
Qd6
Bc4
Rf8
...
Bf1
Rb110
Ba1
Nc5
Qe1
Na615
Rb216
...
Nb6
Nd511
Bb412
Be113
cb314
ba2
23
and
White
is
slightly
better
Rab19
and
White
is
slightly
better
and
White
is
slightly
better
1
15.c5? f5 16.f3 b4! 17.Bb4 Ne5! and Black is superior; An.Karpov - J.Timman, Zwolle
(m/2) 1993 see 59/564
2
15...c5
a) 16.d5 ed5 17.Bd5 Bf6 18.Rc1 [18.Bf6 Nf6 19.cb5 Bb5 20.Bg2 Qa5 equal; Chernin J.Timman, Amsterdam 1987 see 44/664] bc4 19.Nc4 Nb6 20.Nb6 ab6 21.Qf3 Rc7 22.
Rcd1! Bc3 23.Qc3 (Chuchelov - Ch.Lutz, Deutschland 1994 see 60/(490)) Rd7 24.Qe5!
Qf6 25.Qf6 gf6 26.Bc6 Rd1 27.Rd1 Bc8 28.Rd6 Be6 29.Kg2 and White is slightly
better; Chuchelov;
b)b) 16.cb5 Bb5 17.d5 ed5 18.Bd5 Nb6 19.Bg2 (Shipov - Gagarin, Moscow 1994 see
60/490) c4 20.Qg4 Bf6 21.Bf6 Qf6 22.bc4 Nc4 23.Ne4 Qg6 24.Qf4 and White is
slightly better; Gagarin, S.Kiselev
3
16.Nc4
a) 16...Nf6 17.Ba5! [17.Bg2 c5 unclear; .Pieniazek - Alek.Shneider, Cappelle la Grande

1995] Qd7 18.Ne5 Qb7 19.Bg2 Qb5 20.Qd2 and White is slightly better;
b)b) 16...Nb6 17.Nb6 [17.Ne5 Nd5 18.Bd2 c5 unclear; 17.Ba5!?] ab6 18.Qc2 [18.Qh5
h6 19.Rad1 Bf6 unclear; Mi.Adams] h6 19.a4 Qc7 unclear; V.Anand - Mi.Adams,
Linares 2005 see 93/443
4
16...Nb6 17.c5 Nd5 18.Qc2 g6 19.Nf3 and White is slightly better; An.Karpov - An.
Adorjan, Luzern 1989 see 48/689
5
22...Rfd8? 23.Re4! and White is superior; V.Neverov - Vl.Gurevich, Azov 1995 see 63/
(451);
22...Rfe8 and White is slightly better; Vl.Gurevich
6
16...c5 17.dc5 Nc5 18.Nc5 Rc5 19.b4 Rb5 20.Rad1 Qc7 21.a4 Rb4 22.Qg4 g6 23.Qd4
e5 24.Qe5 Qe5 25.Re5 Rb3 26.Re7 Rc3 27.Ra7 Bc8 28.Ra1! and White is slightly
better; Bologan - Sergey Karjakin, Foros 2006 see 97/(381);
16...Rb8
a) 17.Nc5!? Nc5 [17...Qc8? 18.bc4 and White is slightly better; T.Radjabov - Sergey
Karjakin, Wijk aan Zee 2007 see 99/366] 18.dc5 with compensation; Sergey Karjakin;
b)b) 17.Bf1 Bb4 [17...Nb6?! 18.Nc5! Bb5? 19.a4 Nd5 (Macieja - M.Carlsen, Torino
(ol) 2006 see 97/382) 20.Ba5! Qa5 21.ab5 and White is winning; 18...Qc8 only move;
Macieja] 18.Qd2 and White is slightly better; Shirov - Sergey Karjakin, Foros 2006 see
97/(382)
7
17.Red1 Ne4 18.Be4 Qd6 19.bc4 Bf6 20.Qh5 h6! unclear; Khalifman - Ch.Lutz,
Groningen 1993 see 59/565
8
17...Bc5 18.dc5 Qe7 19.b4! [19.Qe5 cb3 20.ab3 Bb5 unclear; M.Dziuba - Macieja,
Polska (ch) 2006 see 97/(381)] Rfd8 [19...Nd5?! 20.Bd5 cd5 21.Qe5 f6 22.Qe6 Qe6 23.
Re6 and White is superior] 20.Qb2 Ne8 21.a4 h6 22.Re2?! Rd3 23.Be4 Rd7 24.Ree1
and White is slightly better; Wojtaszek - Macieja, Polska (ch) 2006 see 97/381; 22.
Rab1 and White is superior; Macieja
9
D.Komarov
10
17.Nc5 Nd5 18.Qf3 Nc3! 19.Qc3 Qb6! [19...Bc5 20.dc5 Qc7 21.Rad1 Rcd8 22.bc4 and
White is slightly better; D.Komarov] 20.b4 1/2 : 1/2 D.Komarov - P.Smirnov, SaintVincent 2005 see 95/(370)
11
17...Rb8
a) 18.Nc5 Nd5 [18...Bb5 19.a4 Nd5 20.Ba1 c3 21.ab5 cb5 22.b4 a5 23.Bg2 ab4 24.Bd5
and White is superior] 19.Ba1 Bc5 20.dc5 Qa5 21.bc4 Rb1 22.Qb1 Nf6 23.Bd4 Rd8 24.
Rd1 and White is slightly better; Kasimdzhanov - An.Karpov, Bastia (rapid) 2007;
b) 18.bc4 Nc4 [18...Bc4 19.Rb6 and White is superior] 19.Rb8 Qb8 20.Nc5 Nb2 21.
Bb2 Bf1 22.Ba3 Bh3 23.Qh5 Bf5 24.Nd7 and White is superior; Kramnik;
17...Qd5 18.a4! and White is slightly better, with initiative; Bacrot - An.Karpov,
Ajaccio (blitz) 2007
12
18...Rb8 19.bc4 Rb1 20.Qb1 and White is superior; Kramnik
13
19...Nc3 20.Bc3 Bc3 21.Re4 and White is superior;
19...Qa5 20.bc4! Be1 21.Qe1 Qe1 22.Re1 Nc7 23.Bc3 and White is superior, with the
idea Ba5 Kramnik
14
20...Nc7 21.bc4 and White is superior; Kramnik
15
21.Ba6 ba2 22.Rb2 Rb8 23.Ra2 and White is slightly better; Kramnik
16
Kramnik - Aronian, Mexico City 2007 see 101/419

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Top TNT
Zdenko Krnic
Chess databases grow rapidly from year to year, leaving chess players with the
dilemma of selecting the most important material in the most economical amount of
time. With our new product, Top TNT, Chess Informant has sorted the wheat from
the chafe.
Top TNT #1 covers the period from May 1 August 31, 2008. Each game contains a
precisely defined novelty with additional information from Chess Informants and
Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings. In all 1,158 games from 28 tournaments are
sorted chronologically by ECO classification, or you can play them by looking
through the crosstable of that tournament.
ECO A-E (CD)
In addition, three theoretical articles survey the openings played most often during
this period:
C 67 Spanish, Berlin Defense: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Ne4
E 05 Catalan: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 dc4 5.Nf3 Be7
E 34 Nimzo-Indian Defense: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 (without
5.cd5, 5.a3 and 5.cd5 without 5...ed5)
The material on this CD is presented in four formats: CI Expert, PGN, ChessBase

and Chess Assistant.

Vladimir Kramnik

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
Viswanathan Anand
The Complete
DGT Product Line
C67
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Ne4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bc6 dc6
7.de5 Nf5 8.Qd8 Kd8 9.Nc3 Ke8 10.h3 Be7
11
12
13
Ng5
h6
Bg5
14
15
Nf3
Rad1
Ng5
h5
Ke7
16
17
18
19
Ne6
Rd3
Rfd1
Rd3
fe6
Rad8
Rd3
equal
Bg5
Be6
h4
g4
Nh4
Rd1
Kg2
Nh4
Bh4
Be7
h5
...
...
Kg2
f3
...
...
h5
Be6
...
...
...
Bf4
...
...
Be7
Be6
f3
hg4
ef6
Be3
Rh1
hg4
f5
gf6
Kf7
Be6
Be3
a4
Rad1
Rd8
Rd1
a5
12
b6
Rd8
Kd8
Ke7
Rfd1
Ne2
f3
Nd4
hg4
equal
7
13
10
equal
11
equal
14
a5
h5
15
Rd8
hg4
16
Bc8
11.Ne2 h5!? [11...Nh4 12.Nh4 Bh4 13.Bf4 Be7 14.Rad1 Bd7 15.Rd2 Rd8 16.Rfd1
h6 17.Kh2 a6 18.f3 Bc8 19.Rd8 Bd8 20.g4 h5 21.Kg2 and White is slightly better;
Bruzon Batista Su.B.Hansen, Esbjerg 2002; 11...Be6 12.Ned4 Nd4 13.Nd4 Bd7 14.
Be3 c5 15.Ne2 Rd8 16.Nf4 Bf5 17.c4 and White is slightly better; O.Wegener E.
Degtiarev, Deutschland (ch) 2004; 11...b6 12.g4 Nh4 13.Nh4 Bh4 14.Nf4 g6 15.Kg2
f5 16.ef6 Bf6 17.Re1 Kf7 18.Nd3 and White is slightly better; Grischuk Ki.
Georgiev, Kallithea 2002 see 85/313] 12.Bg5 Be6 13.Nf4 Bd5 14.Be7 Ke7 15.Ng5
Nd4 16.Rfd1 Ne6 17.Nge6 Be6 18.h4 g6 19.f3 a5 equal; Felgaer M.Neubauer,
Torino (ol) 2006.
11.Bf4 Be6 12.g4 Nh4 13.Nh4 Bh4 14.Kg2 Be7 see 11.g4.
2
11...h5 12.Rad1 Be6 13.Rd2 Rd8 14.Rd8 Kd8 15.Rd1 Ke8 16.Be7 [16.g3 f6 17.Bf4
1/2 : 1/2 Inarkiev Bologan, Poikovsky 2008] Ke7 17.Ng5 h4 18.Ne2 Ra8 [18...g6
19.Nf4 Ng7 20.Kf1 Bf5 21.Rd2 Ne6 22.Nfe6 Be6 23.b3 a5 24.Ke2 Bd5 25.Ke3 b5
equal; Gufeld A.Gorbatow, Moscow 1992] 19.Nf4 a5 20.Nfe6 fe6 21.a4 b5 equal;
Zagrebelny A.Gorbatow, Russia 1996.
3
13.Nge4 b6 14.Rfd1! Ke7!? [14...Ne7 15.f4 Ng6 16.Rf1 h5 17.Rae1 Bf5 18.Ng3
Ne7 19.Nf5 Nf5 20.Kf2 and White is slightly better; G.Kasparov Kramnik, Wijk
aan Zee 2001 see 80/356] 15.Kh2
15... h5 [15...g5 16.Ne2 Be6 17.g4 Nh4 18.Nd4 Bd7 19.Ng3 Rhe8 20.Rd3 Kf8 21.
Re1 equal; Ch.Lutz V.Topalov, Dortmund 2002 see 85/(313)] 16.Ne2 Re8! 17.Nf4
Kf8 18.Nh5 Re5 19.Nhg3 Be6 20.Rd2 1/2 : 1/2 V.Anand Kramnik, Leon (m/6rapid) 2002 see 85/(313).
4
15.Rd2 Rd8 16.Rd8 Kd8 17.Ne2 Ke7 18.Nf4 g6 19.Re1 1/2 : 1/2 Goloshchapov
Kritz, Deutschland 2003.
15.Ne2 g6 [15...Be6 16.Nf4 g6 17.Ng5 Ng7 equal; P.Czarnota J.Coleman, Brno
2004] 16.Nf4 Ng7 17.Rd2 Rd8 18.Rfd1 Rd2 19.Rd2 a5 20.Ng5 a4 21.a3 Ra5 22.Re2
Rb5 23.c3 Ne6 24.Nfe6 Be6 25.f4 Rd5 equal; P.Haba M.Neubauer, Oesterreich
2007.
5
15...a5 16.Rd2 g6 17.Nce4 a4 18.g4 hg4 19.hg4 Ng7 20.Nf6 Ne6 21.Ne6 Be6 equal;
Shirov Wang Hao, Poikovsky 2008.
6
20.Ne4 b6 21.f4 a5 22.Kf2 a4 23.c4 Ra8 24.Kf3 c5 25.a3 Rf8 26.Rd2 Nh6 equal;
Shirov Evgeny Alekseev, Moscow 2008.
7
13...h5 14.f3 Be6 15.Kg2 Rd8 16.Be3 and White is slightly better; Mi.Adams
Zhou Jianchao, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/1) 2007 see 101/235.
8
14...Bd7 15.Be3 b6 16.Ne2 Rd8 17.f3 h5 18.Ng3 g6 19.Ne4 Be6 20.b3 a6 21.Rd8
Bd8 22.Rd1 Be7 23.Kg3 and White is slightly better; K.Landa Su.B.Hansen,
Helsingor 2008.
14...Be6 15.Be3 a5 16.Ne2 h5 17.f3 a4 18.Nf4 g6 19.Rd2 Rd8 20.Rd8 Kd8 21.Rd1
Ke8 22.Ne6 fe6 23.Rd4 b5 24.Rd3 Rh7 25.b3 ab3 26.cb3 Ba3 27.Bg5 Rd7 28.Rd7
Kd7 equal; Sergey Karjakin Wang Yue, Sochi 2008.
9
15...a5 16.Ne2 a4 17.Nd4 Ra5 18.Bf4 hg4 19.hg4 Rd5 20.c4 Rd8 21.b3 Bc5 22.Be3
Bd4 23.Bd4 Be6 24.Kg3 Rh7 [24...b6!?] 25.Be3 f6 26.Rd8 Kd8 27.ef6 gf6 28.Bd4
Rh6 29.Re1 Kd7 30.f4 and White is slightly better; I.Khairullin Kritz, Plovdiv
2008.
10
20.Bf4 f5 21.g5 Rh1 22.Rh1 Rg8 23.Rh7 Ke8 24.Kf2 Bf7 25.Bc7 Bg5 26.Be5 1/2 :
1/2 Konguvel Th.Ravi, India (ch) 2008.
11
14...Be7 15.Be3 Be6 16.b3 [16.Rad1 a5 17.a4 and White is slightly better; Andrei
Sokolov C.Marcelin, France (ch) 2002 see 86/(344)] b6 17.Rad1 Rd8 18.Ne2 c5
19.Nf4 hg4 20.hg4 Rd1 21.Rd1 Bc8 22.Nd5 Bd8 23.c4 f6 24.ef6 gf6 25.Bf4 Rh7 26.
Kg3 and White is slightly better; N.Guliyev H.Knoll, Wien 2006.
14...a5 15.a4 b6 16.Rd1 Be7 17.Ne2 Bd7 18.Bf4 c5 19.Bg3 Rd8 20.c4 Bc8 21.b3
Rd1 22.Rd1 hg4 23.hg4 Bd8 24.Nf4 Rh7 25.Re1 Rh6 26.Nh5 Rh7 27.Rh1 Kf8
equal; Kotronias Kritz, Port Erin 2007.
12
15...b6 16.Rad1 and White is slightly better; Nisipeanu Ki.Georgiev, Bled (ol)
2002 see 86/344.
15...Rd8 16.Rfd1 f6 17.Rd8 Kd8 equal; J.M.Lopez Martinez Oms Pallisse,
Barcelona 2008.
13
16.g5?! Bf5 17.Rac1 Rd8 and Black is slightly better; Ter-Sahakyan Kritz, Plovdiv
2008.
14
15...Rd8 16.f3
a) 16...h5 17.Ne2 [17.b3 b6 18.Ne4 a5 equal; O.Korneev R.Fontaine, Cap d'Agde

2002 see 86/(345)] c5 18.Ng3 hg4 19.hg4 Rd1 [19...c6 and White is slightly better;
K.Sakai J.Weisskohl, corr.2004] 20.Rd1 and White is slightly better; Leko Mi.
Adams, Wijk aan Zee 2004 see 89/303.
b) 16...Rd7 17.Ne2 c5 18.Ng3 g6 19.Ne4 h6 20.Nf6 Bf6 21.ef6 Kd8 22.a3 Kc8 23.
Kg3 h5 24.Rd7 Kd7 25.Re1 a5 26.Re5 b6 27.h4 a4 equal; Dominguez Perez
Evgeny Alekseev, Biel 2008.
15
17...a4 18.Nd4 Rd8 19.Ne6 fe6 20.Rd8 Kd8 21.Rd1 Kc8 22.Be3 b5 23.f4 hg4 24.
hg4 g6 25.Rh1 Rh1 26.Kh1 c5 27.Kg2 c4 equal; Sutovsky A.Onischuk, Poikovsky
2008.
16
20.Ne2 Rd1 21.Rd1 c5 22.Nc3 Be6 23.Nd5 Bd8 24.c4 b6 25.a4 Rh7 equal;
Dominguez Perez Evgeny Alekseev, Biel (m/2-playoff) 2008.


Milan Bjelajac
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USCFSales.com:
Early this year, at the traditional tournament in Wijk aan Zee, the Bulgarian grandmaster
Veselin Topalov played the very attractive novelty 12.Nf7!? against Vladimir Kramnik.
Obviously, other chess players found this sacrifice appealing as well, and the same
position appeared in the encounter between Timman and Ljubojevic, where an
improvement was found for Black.
The first impression was that this novelty would be short-lived. However, after the game
Shirov Karjakin, which was published in Informant 103, Karjakin reaffirmed the value
of 12.Nf7 in his annotations. The Chess Informant jury would seem to agree as they
voted this the best theoretical novelty of Volume 102.
ECO A-E (CD)

Vladimir Kramnik

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
Viswanathan Anand
The Complete
DGT Product Line
1. V.TOPALOV 2780 KRAMNIK 2799

Wijk aan Zee 2008 102/333 [D43]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7
10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7
12.Nf7!? (a novelty) Kf7 13.e5 Nd5 [13...Rf8!? 14.ef6 Nf6 15.Be5 Kg8 16.Qc2 Qe7 17.
Rae1 with compensation] 14.Ne4 Ke7 15.Nd6 Qb6 16.Bg4 Raf8 [16...Rhg8!? 17.Qc2
Nf8] 17.Qc2 Qd4? 18.Qg6 Qg4 19.Qg7 Kd8 20.Nb7 Kc8 21.a4! (with initiative) b4 22.
Rac1 c3 [22...Rfg8!? 23.Qf7 Rf8 24.Nd6 Kc7 25.Qg6 Rhg8 26.Qb1 and White is
slightly better] 23.bc3 b3? [23...Rfg8 and White is slightly better; 23...bc3!? with the
idea 24.Rb1 c2] 24.c4! Rfg8 25.Nd6 Kc7 26.Qf7 Rf8 27.cd5? [27.h3! Rf7 28.hg4 Nf4
29.Nf7 Ne2 30.Kh2 Nc1 31.Rc1 b2 (31...Rb8 32.Rb1 Nc5 33.f4 gf4 34.Bf4 Rf8 35.Be3
and White is winning) 32.Rb1 Rb8 33.f4! gf4 34.Bf4 Rf8 (34...Nc5 35.Nh6 Na4 36.g5
and White is winning) 35.Rb2 Rf7 36.Kg3 and White is winning] Rf7 28.Rc6 Kb8 29.
Nf7
29...Re8? [29...Qe2!! 30.Rc3! (30.Nh8? Qf1! 31.Kf1 b2; 30.Rb1? Qa2) b2 31.Rb3 Ka8
32.Nh8 Nc5! 33.Rb5! (33.Rb4?! a5!; 33.Rb2 Qb2 34.de6 Ne6) Na4 (33...a6 34.Rc5 Qf1
35.Kf1 b1Q 36.Ke2 Qe4 37.Kf1 equal) 34.Rb2 Qb2 35.de6 Qb6 36.e7 Qe6 unclear] 30.
Nd6 Rh8 31.Rc4! (and White is winning) Qe2 32.de6 Nb6 33.Rb4 Ka8 34.e7 [34.Rb3
Qg4 35.e7 Qe6 36.Rc3 Qe7 37.Rfc1 and White is winning] Nd5 35.Rb3 Ne7 36.Rfb1
Nd5 37.h3 h5 [37...Nf4 38.Bf4 gf4 39.Nb5! Qe5 40.Rc1 Rb8 (40...a6 41.Nc7 Ka7 42.
Rc6; 40...Kb7 41.Nc7 Kc8 42.Na6 Kd7 43.Rb7 Kd6 44.Nb4) 41.Nc7 Qc7 42.Rc7 Rb3
43.Rc4 f3 44.g4! and White is winning] 38.Nf7 Rc8 39.e6 a6 [39...Nf4 40.Ng5] 40.Ng5
h4 41.Bd6 Rg8 42.R3b2 Qd3 43.e7 Nf6 44.Be5 Nd7 45.Ne6 1-0 [Krasenkow]
2. IVANCHUK 2751 SERGEY KARJAKIN 2732
Nice (rapid) 2008 102/180 [B87]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 b5 8.Bg5 Be7 9.Qf3
Qc7 10.e5 Bb7 11.ed6 Bd6 12.Qe3 Bc5 13.0-0-0 Nc6
14.Qe6!? [a novelty; 14.Bf6 see 98/(169)] fe6 15.Ne6 Qe5 [15...Qb6 16.Ng7 Kf8 17.
Ne6 Kf7 (17...Ke8 18.Nc5 Qc5 19.Rhe1 Ne7 20.Bf6 Rd8 21.Nd5 Bd5 22.Be7 Qe7 23.
Bd5 and White is winning) 18.Nc5 Kg6 19.Rd6!! Qc5 (19...Kg5 20.Rf6!! Kf6 21.Nd5
Kg7 22.Nb6 and White is winning) 20.Rf6 Kg7 21.Bh6 Kf6 22.Ne4 Kg6 23.Nc5 and
White is superior; 15...Bb6 16.Rhe1 a) 16...Qb8 17.Nc7 Kf8 18.Ne6 Ke7 19.Ng7 Kf8 20.
Bh6 (20.Bf6 Qf4 21.Kb1 Qf6 22.Ne6 Kf7 23.Nf4 equal) Ng4 21.Ne6 Ke7 22.Bg5 Ke8
23.Nd5!! and White is superior; b) 16...Qh2 17.Ng7 (17.Nc7 Kf8 18.Ne6 equal) Kf8 18.
Bf6 Qf4 (18...Na5 19.Ne6 Kf7 20.Bh8 Nb3 21.ab3 Rh8 22.Rd7 Kg6 23.Rb7 with
initiative) 19.Kb1 Qf6 20.Ne6 Kf7 (20...Qe6 21.Re6 with compensation) 21.Nf4 Kf8 22.
Ne6 equal; 15...Bd6 16.Rhe1 (16.Nc7 Bc7 17.Rhe1 Ne7 18.Bd5 Ra7 19.Bb7 Rb7 20.
Bf6 gf6 21.Nd5 Be5 22.f4 Bb8 23.Nf6 Kf7 24.Nh5 Rg8 25.g3 unclear) a) 16...Qb8 17.
Ng7 Kf8 18.Ne6 (18.Bf6 Na5 19.Re8 Qe8 20.Ne8 Bf4 21.Kb1 Nb3 22.ab3 Rg8 23.Ng7
Bg2 24.Rd7 unclear) Kf7 19.Bf6 Kf6 20.Ne4 Ke7 21.Nd6 and White is superior; b) 16...
Kd7!! 17.Nc7 (17.Bf6 gf6 18.Nc7 Kc7 19.Nd5 Kb8 20.Nb6 Bf4 21.Kb1 Ra7 22.Nd7
Kc7 23.Nf6 unclear) Kc7 18.Rd6! Kd6 19.Bf4 Kd7 20.Rd1 Ke7 21.Re1 equal; 15...Qe7
16.Rhe1 Qe6! 17.Re6 (17.Be6 Ne7 18.f3 Rd8 and Black is superior) Ne7 a) 18.Bf6 gf6
19.Bd5 Bd5 20.Nd5 Rd8 21.Ne7 Kf7! (21...Be7 22.Rd8 Kd8 23.Ra6 Kd7 and Black is
slightly better) 22.Rde1 Rde8 and Black is superior; b) 18.f3 Rd8 and Black is slightly
better; c) 18.Rde1! Kd7 (18...Rd8 19.a4 b4 20.Bf6 gf6 21.Ne4 Be4 22.R1e4 f5 23.Re2
with compensation) 19.Rd1 Kc8 20.Re5! Bb4 21.a3 Ng6! (21...Bc3 22.Re7 and White is
winning) 22.Be6 Kc7 23.ab4 Ne5 24.Bf4 Bg2 25.Be5 Kb6 26.Ne2 with compensation]
16.Ng7 [16.Rhe1!? Qe1 17.Re1 Be7 18.Ng7 Kd8 19.Re7 (19.Nf5 Rf8 20.Bh6 unclear;
19.f3!?) Ke7 (19...Ne7 20.Bf6 Kd7 21.g4 Rhf8 22.g5 Kd6 23.Ne6 unclear) 20.Nh5 Kd6
21.Bf4 (21.Nf6 Na5 and Black is slightly better; 21.Bf6 Rhe8 22.Ng7 Re1 23.Kd2 Rh1
and Black is slightly better) Ke7 (21...Kc5 22.Nf6) 22.Bg5 equal] Kf8 17.Ne6 Kf7 [17...
Ke8 18.Rhe1 Qg5 (18...Qe1 19.Nc7 Kf8 20.Re1 and White is winning) 19.Ng5 Ne7 20.
Re6 Bf2 21.Re2 Bc5 22.Rf1 Bd4 23.Nf7 Rf8 24.Nd6 and White is winning; 17...Ke7 18.
Rhe1 Bf2 19.Re5 Ne5 20.Ng7 Nc4 21.Bc4 bc4 22.Rf1 Raf8 23.Rf2 Rhg8 24.Nf5 Kd7
25.Bh6 unclear] 18.Rhe1 Qe1? [18...Bf2! 19.Re5 Ne5 20.Nd8 Kg6 21.Bf6 Kf6 22.Nb7
Rhf8 23.Ne4 Kg7 24.h3!? with compensation; 24.Kb1 with compensation; 18...Qg5 19.
Ng5 Kg6 20.Nce4 Be7 (20...Ne4 21.Ne4 Bb4 22.c3 Be7 23.Bc2 and White is superior)
21.Nf7! a) 21...Rhf8 22.Ned6 Bd6 23.Nd6 Bc8 (23...Na5 24.Be6 Bc6 25.f4 Nh5 26.b4
and White is superior) 24.Re3 with attack, with the idea Rg3; b) 21...Rhe8 22.Rd3 (22.
Ned6 Bd6 23.Nd6 Re1 24.Re1 Bc8 25.c3 Bd7 26.Bc2 Kg7 27.a4 equal; 22.Nfd6 Ne4 23.
Bf7 Kf6 24.Re4 Red8 25.Rf4 Kg7 26.Rg4 equal) Ne4 23.Re4 Bg5 24.Ng5 Kg5 25.Rd5
Kg6 26.Rg4 Kf6 27.Rf4 Ke7 (27...Kg6 28.Rd6 and White is winning) 28.Rh5 and
White is superior] 19.Nc5 Kg6 20.Re1 Kg5 21.Nb7 Nd4 22.Nd6 Rhf8 23.f3 [23.Re7!]
b4 [23...Ra7!] 24.Nce4 Ne4 25.Re4 Nb3 26.ab3 [R 9/n] a5 27.Rg4 Kf6 28.Ne4 Ke5 29.
Rh4 a4 30.ba4 Ra4 31.Nc5! and White is winning [31.Rh7?! Rd8 32.Re7 Kf5 33.Nd2
Ra1 34.Nb1 b3! 35.Re1 (35.c3?? Rb1 36.Kb1 Rd1 mate) bc2 36.Kc2 Rc8 37.Kd3 Rd8
equal] Ra1 32.Kd2 Rg8 33.g3 Rf1 34.Ke2 Rb1 35.Rb4 Kd5 36.Ne4 Kc6 37.h4 Rh1
38.Rc4 Kb6 39.b4 Rd8 40.Rc5 Ra8 41.c3 Ra2 42.Ke3 Re1 43.Kf4 Rf1 44.Rh5 Ra8
45.Rh6 Kb5 46.Nd6 Ka4 47.Rh7 Kb3 48.Rc7 Rd8 49.Nf5 1-0 [Ivanchuk]
3. B.GELFAND 2737 V.ANAND 2799
Nice (blindfold) 2008 102/346 [D47]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dc4 7.Bc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.a3
Bd6 10.0-0 0-0 11.Qc2 a6 12.b4 a5 13.Rb1 ab4 14.ab4 Qe7 15.e4 e5 16.de5 Ne5 17.
Ne5 Be5 18.Ne2 Qe6 [18...Rfd8 see 99/302] 19.f4 Ra2 20.Qd1
20...Ba1!! [a novelty; 20...Bc7 21.Nc3 and White is slightly better] 21.e5? c5! 22.ef6
[22.Ra1 Ra1 23.ef6 Qd5! 24.Rf3 c4 and Black is superior] Bd4 23.Rf2 only move [23.
Kh1 Qh3! 24.Rg1 Bg1 25.Qg1 Qd3 and Black is winning] Bf2 [23...Qg4 24.Qf1 Bf2 25.
Qf2 c4 26.h3 Qh5 27.Qg3 g6 and Black is superior] 24.Kf2 Qd5 25.Bb2 [25.Bh7 Kh7
26.Qd5 Bd5 27.bc5 Rc8! (27...Bc4 28.Rb2 Rfa8 29.Nc3 Rb2 30.Bb2 b4 and Black is
winning) 28.Rb2 Rb2 29.Bb2 Rc5 and Black is winning] Qg2 26.Ke1 c4 27.Bc2 Bf3
[27...Re8 28.Be5 gf6 29.Qd7 Bc6] 28.fg7 Re8 29.Be5 f6 30.Bh7 Kh7 31.g8Q Kg8 0-1
[V.Anand]
4. RUBLEVSKY 2695 EFIMENKO 2660
Russia 2008 102/179 [B86]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 Nbd7 8.Bg5 Qa5 9.
Qd2 Be7 10.0-0-0 Nc5 11.Rhe1 h6? 12.Bf6 Bf6
13.Nf5! [a novelty; 13.f4 see 100/163, 164] 0-0 [13...Nb3 14.cb3 a) 14...ef5 15.ef5 Kf8
16.Qd6 Kg8 17.Re8 Kh7 18.Rh8 Kh8 19.Rd5 Bc3 (19...b5 20.b4 and White is winning)
20.Qf8 Kh7 21.Ra5 Ba5 22.f6 gf6 23.Qf7 Kh8 24.Qf6 Kh7 25.Qf7 Kh8 26.Qh5 and
White is winning; b) 14...0-0 15.Nd6 Rd8 (15...Bc3 16.bc3 and White is superior) 16.
e5? Be5 17.b4 Bc3 18.ba5 Bd2 19.Rd2 Rb8 20.Red1 e5 equal; 16.f4 and White is
superior see 13...0-0; 13...ef5 14.ef5 a) 14...Kf8? 15.Qd6 Kg8 16.Re8 Kh7 17.Rh8 Kh8
18.Qf8 Kh7 19.Bf7 and White is winning; b) 14...Kd8? 15.Qd6 Bd7 16.Nd5 Rc8 (16...
Nb3 17.ab3 Qa1 18.Kd2 Qa5 19.b4 and White is winning) 17.Nf6 gf6 18.Qf6 Kc7 19.
Qd6 Kd8 20.Ba4 b5 21.Re5 and White is winning; c) 14...Be6 (only move) 15.fe6 Nb3
16.cb3 0-0 17.Qd6 and White is slightly better] 14.Nd6 Rd8 15.f4 Nb3 [15...Be7 16.e5
and White is superior; 15...Bc3 16.Qc3 Qc3 17.bc3 Bd7 18.f5 Bc6 19.g4 and White is
superior] 16.cb3 Be7 [16...e5 17.Qf2 ef4 (17...Bg4 18.Nc4 Qc7 19.Nd5 and White is
superior) 18.e5 Be7 19.h4!? (19.Kb1 Bd6 20.ed6 Qf5 21.Ka1 Be6 22.Rd4 g5 23.Ne4
and White is slightly better) Be6 20.Qf4 Rd7 21.Kb1 Rad8 22.b4 Qc7 23.Nce4 and
White is superior] 17.e5 Bd6 18.ed6 b5 19.Qd4!? Rb8 [19...b4? 20.Re5!] 20.b4 Qb6
21.Qc5 (and White is superior) Bd7 22.Re5 Bc6 [22...Rdc8 23.Qb6 Rb6 24.Rc5 Rbc6
25.Ne4 and White is superior] 23.g3 Bf3 24.Rd2 Bg4 25.d7 Qb7 26.Qd6 Bf5 [26...f6
27.Rc5 e5 28.Rc7 Qh1 29.Kc2 Bf5 30.Kb3 and White is superior] 27.b3 Kh7 28.Kb2
Ra8 29.Qe7 f6 30.Rc5 Qh1 31.Rf5! ef5 32.Nd5 Kg6 33.Nc7 Rac8 [33...Rab8 34.Ne6
Qe1 35.Nf8 and White is winning] 34.Rc2 (and White is winning) Rc7 35.Rc7 Qg2 36.
Rc2 Qa8 37.Re2 a5 38.ba5 Qa5 39.g4! fg4 [39...Ra8 40.Qe8 Kh7 41.a4 ba4 42.gf5 ab3
43.Qg6 Kh8 44.Re8] 40.Qe8 Kh7 [40...Kf5 41.Qe4 mate] 41.f5 1-0 [Rublevsky]
5. KRAMNIK 2799 ARONIAN 2739
Wijk aan Zee 2008 102/330 [D43]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7
10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7 12.Nd7 Nd7 13.Bd6 a6 14.a4 e5 15.Bg4 ed4 16.e5 c5 17.Re1
Ne5 18.Be5 0-0 19.Bg7 Kg7 20.Ne2 f5 21.Bh5 f4 22.b4 cb3 23.Qb3 Qd5 24.Qh3 Bc8
25.Nc3! [a novelty; 25.Qd3 see 97/318] dc3 [25...Qb7 26.Qd3 Bf5 27.Qe2 dc3 28.Qe5
Kh7 29.Bf3 Qf7 30.Ba8 Ra8 31.ab5 and White is winning; 25...Qc6 26.Bf3! Qg6 27.g4!
Ra7 28.Nd5 Raf7 29.Qf1 and White is superior; 25...Qd6 26.Qf3 and White is superior;
25...Qf7 26.Qf3 Bb7 27.Qe2 Qc7 28.Qe7 Qe7 29.Re7 and White is superior; 25...Bh3
26.Nd5 Bf5 27.Re7 Kh8 28.Nc7 and White is superior] 26.Qc3 Qd4 27.Qf3 Ra7 [27...
Rb8 28.Qc6 Kg8 (only move) 29.Rad1 Qg7 (only move) 30.Re8 Re8 31.Qe8 Qf8 32.
Bf7 Kg7 33.Qe5 Kf7 34.Qb8 and White is superior] 28.ab5 [28.Qc6?! Bf5 29.ab5 Rf6]
Qf6 [28...Rf6 29.Rad1 Qc4 (only move) 30.Rd8 and White is superior] 29.Qa3! Qb6
[29...Rb7 30.ba6 Ra7 31.Be2 and White is superior Ba6 32.Bc4! Rfa8 33.Qc5] 30.Qc3
Kg8 31.Re5! Qf6 [31...ab5 32.Ra7 Qa7 33.Rc5 and White is winning; 31...Qb5 32.Rc5
Qb8 33.Re1 Rg7 34.Rc6 and White is winning] 32.Qc5 Rd7 only move [32...Rg7 33.
ba6 Ba6 34.Ra6! Qa6 35.Qf8!] 33.h4 [33.Bg4 Rdd8 34.Bc8 Rc8 35.Qd5 Kh8 36.ba6
Qa6!; 33.b6 Rd6 34.Rb1 and White is superior] gh4 34.Bg4? [34.ba6! Ba6 (34...f3 35.
Bf3 Ba6 36.Bd5 Kg7 37.Qd4 and White is winning) 35.Bg4 Rd6 (only move) 36.Rae1!
and White is winning] Rdd8 [34...Qg7 35.Be6! Kh8 (only move) 36.Bd7 Bd7 37.Kh2 f3
38.Rg1 ab5 39.gf3 and White is superior] 35.Bc8 Rc8 time 36.Qd5 Qf7 (only move) 37.
ba6 [37.Re6 a5 38.Ra5 Rcd8 39.Rg6 Kh7 40.Qf7 Rf7 41.Raa6 and White is superior]
Qd5 38.Rd5 Rf7 [R 9/s] 39.a7 [better is 39.Rh5 Kg7 40.Rh4 Ra8 41.Rh5 and White is
superior] Ra8 40.Rda5 Kh7 [40...h3 41.g3!? (41.gh3 Kh7 42.R1a3 f3) fg3 42.fg3 Kh7
43.Kh2] 41.R1a3 [41.Kh2!? f3 (only move) 42.gf3 Rf3 43.Kg2 Rb3 44.R1a3 Rb2] h3!
[41...Kg7? 42.Kh2 Kh7 43.Kh3] 42.gh3 [42.g3!? fg3 43.fg3] f3 43.Kh2 Rg7! 44.h4
Rg2 45.Kh3 Rg7! [45...Rf2 46.Rb3 Rg2 47.Rb8 Rg8 48.Ra8 Ra8 49.Kg3 and White is
winning] 46.Ra6 Rf7 47.R3a5 [47.Kg4 Rg8 48.Kh3 (48.Kh5? Rf5 mate) Ra8] Rg7 48.
h5 Rf7 49.Kg4 Rg8 50.Kh3 Ra8 51.Kg4 Rg8 52.Rg6 Ra8 53.Raa6 Raa7 54.Rh6 Kg8
55.Rag6 Rg7 56.Kf3 Rg6 57.Rg6 [57.hg6? Ra3 58.Kg2 Ra6 (58...Kg7 59.Rh3) 59.Rh3
Rg6 60.Rg3 Kf7 61.Rg6 Kg6 equal] Kf7 58.Rg4 Ra1 59.Kg3 Rh1 60.Rh4 Ra1 61.Rb4
Kg7 62.Rb6 Rg1 63.Kf4 Rh1 64.Kg5 Rg1 65.Kf5 Rh1 66.h6 Kh7 67.Ra6 Rf1 68.f4
Rb1 69.Re6 Ra1 70.Rf6 Re1 71.Kg4 Ra1 72.f5 Rg1 73.Kf4 Rf1 74.Ke5 Re1 75.Kd6
Rf1 76.Ke7 Rf2 77.Rf8 Re2 [77...Kh6! 78.f6 (78.Kf6 Kh7 79.Ra8 Rf1 equal) Ra2
equal] 78.Kf7 Ra2 79.Rd8 Ra7 80.Kf6 Ra1 81.Rd2 Rb1 82.Ra2 Rb3 83.Rh2 Rb1 84.
Rh4 Rb8 85.Kg5 Rg8 86.Kf4 Ra8 87.Kg5 Rg8 88.Kf6 Ra8 89.Re4 Ra1 90.Re8 Ra2
91.Re1 Ra3 92.Rh1 Ra2 93.Kg5 Rg2 94.Kf4 Rf2 95.Ke4 Re2 96.Kf3 Ra2 97.Ke4
Re2 98.Kd4 Rd2 99.Ke3 Ra2 100.f6 Ra7 [100...Ra3 101.Kd4 Ra4 102.Kc5 Ra5 103.
Kd6 Ra6 equal] 101.Rf1 Kg6 102.Ke4 Ra4 103.Kd5 Kf7? time [103...Ra5 104.Kc6
Ra7! (104...Ra6 105.Kb7 Rd6 106.Kc7 Rf6 107.h7) 105.Kd6 Ra6 equal] 104.Rh1 and
White is winning Ra5 105.Kc4 Ra4 106.Kb5 Ra8 107.h7 Rh8 108.Rh6 Rb8 109.Kc6
Rc8 110.Kd6 1-0 [Kramnik]
6. V.TOPALOV 2780 IVANCHUK 2751
Morelia/Linares 2008 102/(188) [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 Nbd7 9.g4 b5
10.g5 b4 11.Nd5 Nd5 12.ed5 Bf5 13.Bd3 Bd3 14.Qd3 Be7 15.h4 a5 [15...0-0 see
86/247]
16.a3! [a novelty; 16.Rg1; 16.a4; 16.Nd2] a4 17.Nd2 [17...ba3 18.Ra3 and White is
slightly better, weak point a4]
7. V.ANAND 2799 KRAMNIK 2799
Wijk aan Zee 2008 102/221 [C42]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Ne5 d6 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.Nc3 Nc3 6.dc3 Be7 7.Bf4 0-0 8.Qd2 Nd7 9.00-0 Nc5 10.Be3 Re8 11.Bc4 Be6 12.Be6 Ne6 13.h4 Qd7 14.Qd5 Qc6 15.Qf5 Qc4 16.
Kb1 g6 17.Qh3 h5 18.Nd2 Qe2 19.Rde1 Qg4 20.Qh2 d5 21.f3 Qa4 22.g4 Bd6 23.Qf2
23...hg4! [a novelty; 23...Ng7 see 101/(209)] 24.fg4 [24.h5 g3 and Black is slightly
better] Qg4 25.Reg1 [25.h5 Bg3 26.Qg2 unclear; 25.Ref1 Re7 26.h5 (26.Rhg1 Qh5
unclear) Qg3 equal] Qh5 26.Nf3 Re7! 27.Bg5 [27.Ng5 Ng7; 27.Nd4 Nd4 28.cd4 Rae8
29.Rg5 Qh6 and Black is slightly better; 27.Bc1 Bc5 28.Nd4 Rae8 and Black is slightly
better] Ree8 [27...Bc5!? 28.Nd4 (28.Qf1 Bg1 29.Be7 Re8 30.Bg5 Bc5 31.Ne5 Ng5 32.
hg5 Qh1 33.Qh1 Re5 and Black is slightly better) Ree8 unclear] 28.Be3! [28.Rf1 Nc5
(28...f5) 29.Nd2 f5 and Black is slightly better; 28.Nd4 Nd4 29.Qd4 (29.cd4 Re2 and
Black is superior) Re5 and Black is slightly better] Re7 29.Bg5 Rd7!? [29...Ree8 equal;
29...Bc5 unclear] 30.Nd4 Nd4 [30...Nc5!? 31.Qe3 (31.Nf5 Ne4 32.Qd4 Bf8 33.Ng3
Qf3) Bf8 unclear] 31.Qd4 [31.cd4 Re8 and Black is slightly better, with the idea 32.Re1
Re4 33.Rhf1 f5] Bf8 [31...c6 unclear] 32.Qe3 [32.Re1 Bg7 33.Bf6 c5 34.Qa4 Rd6 35.
Bg7 Kg7 36.Rhf1 d4 37.Qb3 Rd7 38.cd4 cd4 unclear] c6 [32...Rd6 33.Rf1 (33.Qf4) c6
34.Rhg1 with initiative; 32...Bg7 33.Qh3 (33.Re1 unclear) Rd6 34.Bf4 (34.Re1 d4) Rf6
(34...Re6? 35.Rg5 Qe2 36.h5 and White is superior) 35.Bc7 Qf5 36.Qh2 Re8 (36...Qf2
equal) 37.h5 Qh5 38.Qh5 gh5 39.Rh5 Rg6 equal] 33.Qh3 Rd6 34.Bf4 [34.Re1!?
(Aronian) d4 35.c4; 34...b5!? with the idea d4] Re6 [34...Rf6!? 35.Rg5 Qh7 (35...Qe2?
36.h5 Rf4 37.hg6 Bh6 38.a3 f6 39.Qh6 and White is winning) 36.Bc1 (36.Be5 Re6 37.
h5 Rae8) Bh6 37.Re5 Bc1 38.Rc1 unclear] 35.Rg5 Qh8 36.h5 Rae8 37.Bd2 [37.Bc1?
Re1 38.Re1 Re1 39.Qg3 Rc1 40.Kc1 Bh6 41.hg6 fg6 and Black is superior] Bc5 [with
the idea Be3] 38.Rg3 Re2 39.Kc1! [39.hg6 Qh3 40.Rgh3 fg6 41.Rh8 Kg7 42.R1h7 Kf6
43.Re8 Re8 44.Rb7 g5 45.Rh7 Kg6 and Black is superior; 39.Bc1 Re1 and Black is
slightly better; 39.Qf1 Rf2 40.Qc1 Qe5 41.Rgh3 Re6 and Black is slightly better] Qg7
[39...Rf2!? 40.hg6 (40.b4 Bb4 41.hg6 Ba3 42.Kd1 Qh3 43.Rgh3 Ree2 equal) Qh3 41.
Rgh3 Ree2 equal] 40.a3!? [40.Rf3?! g5! 41.h6 Qg6; 40.Rf1 Rf2 41.Rf2 Bf2 42.Rf3 Bc5
unclear; 40.Qd7 R2e7 41.Qg4 Re4 equal] Bd6? [40...R8e6 41.hg6 fg6 42.Rg2 R2e4 43.
Kb1 Be3; 40...a6 41.hg6 fg6; 40...a5 41.hg6 fg6 42.Qg4 R8e6 unclear] 41.Rgg1 [41.
Rg4!] Bc5 [41...R2e6 42.Kb1; 41...Rd2 42.Kd2 Bf4 43.Kd1 g5 44.Qd7 Qf8 45.Qf5] 42.
Rg3 Bd6 43.Rg4! [43.Rf3 gh5 and Black is slightly better; 43.Rgg1 equal] R8e6? [43...
Rd2 44.Kd2 g5 45.Rf1 and White is superior; better is 43...R2e6 44.Kb1 Be5 45.Qd3;
45.Ka2 and White is slightly better] 44.hg6 Rg6 45.Rg6 fg6 46.Be3! [46.Qc8?! Bf8 47.
Bh6 Qe7! 48.Kd1 (48.Bf8? Re1) Rf2 49.Re1 Qh7] Qe5 (only move) 47.Qh7 Kf8 48.
Bd2! [48.Rf1 Ke8 49.Qg6 (49.Bd2 Be7 50.Qg6 Kd7 51.Qg8 a6 equal) Kd8 50.Qg8 Qe8
51.Qe8 Ke8 52.Ba7 and White is slightly better] Qf6 only move [48...Be7 49.Qg6 Bf6
50.Rf1 Ke7 51.Qh7 Bg7 52.Qh4 Ke8 53.Qg4 Rd2 54.Kd2 and White is winning] 49.
Qb7 [49.Bh6 Ke8 50.Qb7 and White is superior] Rh2 50.Re1 [50.Qa8 Kg7 51.Qa7 Qf7
52.Qd4 Qf6 53.Rh2 Bh2 54.Bg5 and White is superior] Qf2! [50...Bg3 51.Qc8 Kg7 52.
Qd7 Qf7 53.Bh6! Rh6 54.Re7 and White is winning; 50...Bf4 51.Bf4 Qf4 52.Kb1 Qf2
53.Rc1 Qb6 54.Qd7 and White is winning] 51.Kb1? [51.Qc8? Kg7 52.Qd7 Kg8 53.Qe6
Kg7 54.Qd7 Kg8 equal; 51.Rd1! Qf6 52.Qa8 (52.Qc6? Rd2 53.Qa8 Kf7 54.Qa7 Kg8 55.
Kd2 Qg5 56.Ke2 Qg4 equal) Kg7 53.Qa7 Kg8 54.Qa6 and White is superior] Qd2 52.
Rf1 Kg8! [52...Bf4 53.Qb8 Kg7 54.Rf4 Qe1! (54...Qc2 55.Ka2 Kh6 56.Qh8 Kg5 57.
Qe5 Kh6 58.Rb4 g5 59.Rb8 and White is winning) 55.Ka2 Qe7! 56.Ra4 Rh8 and White
is superior] 53.Qf7 Kh8 54.Qg6 [54.Qe8? Kg7 55.Rf7 Kh6 56.Qh8 Kg5 57.Qf6 Kh5!
(57...Kh6 equal) 58.Rh7 Kg4 59.Qg6 Kf3 and Black is superior] Qg2 (only move) 55.
Qe8 Qg8 56.Qc6 Bf8! [56...Rh6 57.Rd1 and White is slightly better; 56...Be5 57.Rf5
and White is slightly better] 57.Qa8 [57.a4 unclear] Bc5 58.Qg8 [58.Qc6 Bf8 59.Qa8
equal] Kg8 59.Rf5 Rd2 [59...Bb6 60.Rd5 Kf7 61.c4 Ke6 equal] 60.c4 Kg7 61.b4 Be7
equal - [Kramnik]
8. SUTOVSKY 2642 M.PARLIGRAS 2574
Moscow 2008 102/136 [B45]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nc6 bc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 Bb7 9.c4
Nb4 10.c5 Qb8 11.Bf4 Ba6 [11...f5!? 12.Nd6 (12.Qh5 g6 13.Nf6 Kf7 14.Qd1 Nd5 and
Black is slightly better) Bd6 13.ed6 Ba6 14.Be5 0-0 15.Ba6 Na6 16.Qd4 Qb5 unclear]
12.Ba6 Na6 13.0-0! [13.Qd4 Qb4 14.Qb4 Nb4 15.Ke2 Nd5 equal] Nb4! [13...Nc5 14.
Nc5 Bc5 15.Rc1 Be7 16.b3 with compensation Qc7 17.Rc3 0-0 18.Qh5 with attack; 13...
Qb4 14.Re1 Nc5 15.Qc2! a) 15...Be7 16.Rad1 Rd8 17.Bd2! Qa4 18.b3 Qa3 19.Bc3 Ne4
(19...0-0 20.Nf6 and White is winning) 20.Re4 Qc5 21.Qd2! with the idea Bb4 and
White is superior; b) 15...Ne4 16.Re4 Qb5 17.Rd1 with compensation Be7 18.Re3! Rd8
(18...Qb4 19.Rf3! Rd8 20.a3 Qb7 21.Rg3 g6 22.Bh6 and White is superior) 19.Rg3 g6
20.Rgd3 0-0 21.b3! (21.Rd7 Rd7 22.Rd7 Rd8! equal 23.Re7?? Qb2 and Black is
winning) c5 22.Bh6 Rfe8 23.Qc3! and White is superior]
14.Nc3!! [a novelty; 14.Qg4!? Nd5 15.Bg3 h5! 16.Qg5 Qb2 unclear 17.Rab1 Qc2 18.
Rfe1 Rh6! 19.Rb7 (19.Nd6 Bd6 20.ed6 Kf8 unclear) h4 20.Bh4! Rg6 21.Ra7 Rb8 22.
Rb7 Ra8 23.Ra7 Rb8 equal; 14.Qh5 see 101/(111)] Bc5 15.Qg4 Kf8 [15...Bf8 16.Qg3
h5 17.h4 Nd5 18.Nd5 cd5 19.Rac1 with attack] 16.Ne4 h5 [16...Be7 17.Nf6!] 17.Qd1
Be7 18.Qd7 Nd5 19.Bg5! Qe5 20.Be7 Ne7 21.Rfe1 [21.Nd6 Qa5! 22.Rfd1 Qd8 equal]
Qb8! 22.Rad1 h4 23.Ng5 Rh6 [23...Qe8! 24.Qb7 Qb8 25.Rd7 Qb7 26.Rb7 Rh5 27.f4
a6! 28.Kf2 Rd8 29.Re5 and White is slightly better] 24.Re3! Qe8 25.Rf3 Qd7 [25...Nf5
26.Rfd3! and White is superior] 26.Rd7 Ke8 27.Rb7 Rf6 [27...Rd8 28.Kf1 Rf6 29.Ra7
and White is superior] 28.Rd3 Rd8 [28...Rf5 29.Rdd7 and White is superior] 29.Rd8
Kd8 30.Ra7 (and White is superior) Rf5 31.Ne4 Rf4 [better is 31...Nc8 32.Rb7 Rd5 33.
Kf1 Rd7 34.Rd7 Kd7 35.a4 and White is superior] 32.Ra8 time [32.f3!] Kc7 33.f3 h3
[33...Nd5!? 34.Kf2! Nf6 35.Ke3 Rf5 (35...e5 36.g3; 35...Nd5 36.Ke2) 36.Nf6 Rf6 37.
Ra4 and White is superior] 34.Ra7 Kd8 35.Ra8 Kc7 36.Ra7 Kd8 37.a4 hg2 38.Kg2
Rf5 [better is 38...Nf5 39.Ng5 Nd6 40.b3 and White is superior] 39.Ra8 Kc7 40.Ra7
Kd8 41.b4 Rd5 42.Nc5 Rd2 43.Kg3! Ke8 [43...Nf5 44.Kh3 and White is winning] 44.
a5 Nd5 [44...Nf5 45.Kh3 Rf2 46.a6 a) 46...Rf3 47.Kg4 Ra3 48.Rc7 (48.Rb7 Nd6 49.
Rc7 Nb5 50.Rc6 and White is winning) Ne3 49.Kg5 Nd5 50.Rb7 and White is winning;
b) 46...g5! 47.Ne4! (47.Ra8 Ke7 48.a7 Rf3 49.Kg4 Ra3 unclear) Rf3 48.Kg4! Rf4 49.
Kg5 Re4 50.Rb7 Nh4! 51.h3!! (51.a7 Nf3 52.Kh6 Rh4 53.Kg7 Rg4 54.Kh8 Rh4 55.Kg7
equal) Kf8 52.Kf6! (52.a7?? Nf3 53.Kf6 Rf4 mate) Rf4 53.Ke5 Ng6 54.Kd6 Rd4 55.
Kc7 Rd3 56.a7 Ra3 57.Rb8 Ke7 58.a8Q Ra8 59.Ra8 Ne5 60.h4 and White is winning]
45.Rb7 g5 46.Ne4 (and White is winning) Ra2 47.Ng5 Ra4 48.Nf7 Nb4 49.h4 Nd5 50.
h5 Ra5 51.h6 Ne7 52.Nd6 Kd8 53.Nf7 time Ke8 54.h7 Ng6 55.Nd6 Kd8 56.Nf7 Ke8
57.Nd6 Kd8 58.Kg4 Rd5 59.Rg7 1-0 [Sutovsky]
9. LEKO 2753 T.RADJABOV 2735
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5
Be7 10.Bf6 Bf6 11.c3 0-0 12.Nc2 Bg5 13.a4 ba4 14.Ra4 a5 15.Bc4 Rb8 16.b3 Kh8 17.
Nce3 Be3 18.Ne3 Ne7 19.0-0 f5 20.ef5 Bf5 21.Ra2 Be4 22.Rd2 Rb6
23.Re1! [a novelty, and White is slightly better, with the idea Bf1, Nc4 weak point d6,
Be4; 23.Be6] Qb8! [23...Qc7 24.Bf1! and White is slightly better, with the idea Nc4] 24.
Qa1 Qc7! [24...d5 25.Nd5 Bd5 26.Bd5 Nd5 27.Rd5 Rb3 28.Ra5 Qb6 29.Ra2] 25.Red1
[25.Qa3!? Rd8 26.Red1 h6 and White is slightly better] h6 [25...Rd8? 26.Qa5! Ra8 27.
Rd6! and White is winning; 25...d5!? 26.Nd5 (26.Qa3 Rbf6 27.Bd5 Nd5 28.Nd5 Bd5 29.
Rd5 Rf2 equal) Bd5 27.Bd5 Nd5 28.Rd5 Rb3] 26.h3!? Bb7? [26...d5! 27.Nd5 Nd5 28.
Bd5 Bd5 29.Rd5 Rb3 30.Qa5 Qa5 31.Ra5 Rc3 32.Re5 Rc2] 27.Qa3 Rd8 28.Be6! Qc3
[28...d5 29.Bd5 Rd5 30.Nd5 Nd5 31.Rd5 Bd5 32.Rd5 Qc3 33.Qf8 Kh7 34.Qf5 Rg6 35.
g3! and White is winning; 28...Rc6 29.Nc4! (29.c4 Rc5 and White is slightly better) d5
30.Bd5 (30.Qa5? Rc4!) Rd5 31.Rd5 Nd5 32.Rd5 Rg6 33.Qf8 Kh7 34.Rd8 Rg2 35.Kf1
and White is winning] 29.Rd6 Rbd6 [29...Rdd6? 30.Rd6 Qb4 31.Qb4 Rb4 32.Rd8 Kh7
33.Re8 and White is winning] 30.Rd6 Qe1? [30...Qc7 31.Rd8 (31.Nc4 Rd6 32.Qd6
Qd6 33.Nd6 Bd5 34.Bd5 Nd5 35.Nf7 Kg8 36.Ne5 and White is superior) Qd8 32.Qc5
Ng6 33.Bf5 Nh4 34.Bc2 and White is superior] 31.Kh2 Re8 32.Rd7 and White is
winning [32.Rd8? Rd8 33.Qe7 Qd2! and White is superior] Nc6 [32...Qf2 33.Re7 Qf4
34.Kh1 Re7 35.Qe7 Qe3 36.Qe8 Kh7 37.Bg8; 32...Ng6 33.Bf7 Qf2 34.Bg6 Qe3 35.Rb7
Qf4 36.Kg1 Qe3 37.Kh1] 33.Bf7 [33.Rb7 Nd4 34.Re7 and White is winning] Ra8 [33...
Rb8 34.Rb7; 33...Qf2 34.Be8 Nd4 35.Rf7 Nf3 36.Rf3 Bf3 37.Qf8 and White is winning]
34.Rb7 [34.Bg6 Qf2 35.Rf7] Qf2 35.Bd5 Rc8 [35...Qf4 36.g3 (36.Kh1 Qe3 37.Bc6
Rd8 38.Rd7 Rd7 39.Bd7 and White is winning) Qe3 37.Bc6 e4 38.Qb2 and White is
winning] 36.Rf7 Qe3 37.Bc6 1-0 [Leko]
10. B.GELFAND 2723 SHIROV 2740
Russia 2008 102/352 [D85]
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.Qa4 Bd7 6.Qb3 Nb6 7.d4 Be6? [7...Bg7 see
102/356] 8.Qc2 Bg7 9.e4 Bg4 [9...0-0 see 74/13] 10.Ne5! Be5 [10...Be6 11.Be3] 11.de5
Nc6 12.Bb5 [12.Bh6 Nb4 13.Qb1 Qd4 unclear] Bd7 [12...0-0 13.Bc6 bc6 14.Bh6 Re8
15.h3 Be6 16.Ne2 and White is superior]
13.Bc6! [a novelty; 13.e6; 13.Be3 Ne5 14.0-0-0 c6 15.Be2 Qc7 unclear] Bc6 14.Be3
Qd7 15.Rd1 Qe6 16.0-0 0-0 17.f4 Rad8? [17...f6 a) 18.f5 gf5 (18...Qe5 19.b4 and
White is winning) 19.Rf5 (19.Bh6 fe4 20.Bf8 Rf8 with compensation) Nc4 (19...fe5 20.
Rg5 Kh8 21.Re5) 20.Qb3 fe5 21.Rg5 Kh8 22.Re5 Qe5 23.Bd4 Qd4 24.Rd4 Ne3|; b) 18.
ef6 ef6 19.f5 gf5 20.Rf5 and White is superior] 18.Bd4 f5 [18...Qc4 19.b3 (19.Qf2) Qb4
20.Ne2 and White is superior] 19.ef6 ef6 20.f5 gf5 21.Rf5 [21.Qf2?! Be4 22.Qg3 Kf7
equal] Be8 [21...Nc4 22.Qf2] 22.Qf2 [22.Nd5? Nd5 23.ed5 Rd5 24.Rd5 Qd5 25.Bc5
Qc6! equal; 22.Bc5! Rd1 23.Qd1 Bg6 (23...Rf7 24.Qg4 Rg7 25.Qf4 Nd7 26.Ba7 and
White is winning) 24.Bf8 Bf5 25.Bh6 Bg6 (25...Be4 26.Qd8 Kf7 27.Qf8 Kg6 28.Qg7
Kh5 29.Be3) 26.Qd8 Be8 27.Qc7 and White is winning] Bg6 23.Rf4 Nd7 24.Rf1 Ne5
[better is 24...c6 25.Ba7] 25.Nd5 Nd3 26.Rf6 [26.Nf6? Qf6 and White is superior] Rf6
[26...Nf2 27.Re6] 27.Nf6 Kf7 28.Qe3 c5 29.Nh7 Ke8 30.Nf6 Ke7 31.Bc5 Nc5 32.Qc5
Qd6 33.Qg5 Qd4 34.Kh1 1-0 [B.Gelfand]
D43
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dc4
7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7
11.Ne5 Bg7 12.Nf7 Kf7 13.e5
13
14
15
16
17
18
...
Ne4
Nd6
Bg43
Qc2
Rad16
19
20
21
with
compensation
1
Nd51
Ke7
Qb62
Raf84
Rhg85
...
...
...
...
Bh5
Qg4
2
...
...
...
h5
Raf8
Bh6
h4
c5
hg5
g6
Bg7
Kd88
and Black is
slightly better
1
13...Rf8!? 14.ef6 Nf6 15.Be5 [15.Bf3 Qd7 16.Qe2 Kg8 17.Rad1 with compensation; Jha
Sriram - Ch.Mehar, Nagpur 2008] Kg8 16.Qc2 Qe7 17.Rae1 with compensation;
Krasenkow
2
15...Rb8 16.Bg4 c5
a) 17.f4 Ne3 18.fg5

a1) 18...Nf1 19.Qf1 Qf8 [Beckhuis - Steingrimsson, Plovdiv 2008 see 102/(333); 19...
Rf8 20.Qb1!] 20.g6! with compensation
a2) 18...Rf8! 19.Rf8 Qf8 20.Qd2 cd4 21.Qd4 Ng4 22.Qg4 Ne5 23.Be5 Be5 24.Nb7 Bb2
and Black is superior; Krasenkow;
b) 17.Be6!? Ke6 18.Qh5 with compensation; Bjelajac
3
16.Qc2 Qd4 17.Rad1 Qb6 18.Qg6 Be5 19.Bg4 Nf8 20.Qf7 Kd6 21.Be5 Ke5 22.Qg7
Kd6 23.Qh8 Qc7 24.Qh6 Qe7 25.Rfe1 Rd8 26.f4 gf4 27.Qf4 Kd7 28.Qf2 Kc7 and
Black is superior; Shabalov - Sammour-Hasbun, Internet 2008
4
16...Rhg8!? with the idea 17.Qc2 Nf8 Krasenkow
5
17...Qd4? 18.Qg6 Qg4 19.Qg7 Kd8 20.Nb7 Kc8 21.a4! and White is slightly better; V.
Topalov - Kramnik, Wijk aan Zee 2008 see 102/333
6
18.a4? Ba8 19.Rfe1 [with the idea Be6] Nc7! and Black is superior; J.Timman Ljubojevic, Wijk aan Zee 2008 see 102/334;
18.Qg6!? Nc7 19.Qe4
a) 19...Ba8?! 20.f4
a1) 20...Nf6? 21.ef6 Bf6 22.fg5 Qd4 23.Kh1 Qe4 24.gf6 Rf6 25.Ne4 Rf1 26.Rf1 Rg4 27.
Bd6 and White is winning; Vitaliy Kiselev - Gundavaa, Moscow 2008 see 102/(334); 22.
Rad1 and White is winning, with attack;
a2) 20...c5 21.Qh7 with attack;
a3) 20...Kd8!?;
b) 19...Nd5!?;
c) 19...Ne8!?;
d) 19...Kd8!? Krasenkow;
18.Rad1 with compensation; J.Timman
7
19...Rhg8 20.hg5 Bg5
a) 21.Ne4?! Ne3! 22.Qg5! Rg5 23.Bh4 Kd8 only move [23...Nf1? 24.Bg5 Nf6 25.ef6
Kd8 26.Nc5 and White is superior] 24.fe3 Rh8 25.Bg5 Kc7 equal; Shirov - Sergey
Karjakin, Foros 2008 see 103/303;
b) 21.Bh4 Bf6 22.Qe4!
b1) 22...Rh8 23.ef6 N7f6 24.Nb7 Kd7 [24...Qb7 25.Rfe1 Qd7 26.Bf3 Qd6 27.a4! Nf4
28.Bf6 Kf6 29.g3 and White is slightly better] 25.Bf6 Nf6 26.Qe5 Qb7 27.Bf3 Kd8 28.
Rfe1 Qh7 29.g3 [29.g4 Nd5 30.Bg2 Qh4 31.Qd6 Kc8 32.Qc6 Nc7 33.Qb7 Kd7 equal]
Nd7 [29...Nd5 30.Qd6 Qd7 31.Qb8 Ke7 32.Qe5 and White is slightly better] 30.Qe4
Qe4 31.Be4 Kc7 32.a4 a6 and White is slightly better;
b2) 22...Bh4 23.Qh4
b21) 23...N5f6 24.Bf3 Rh8 25.ef6 Nf6 26.Qg3 Rhg8 [26...Rfg8 27.Qe5 Nd7 28.Nf5 Kf7
29.Qd6 Qd8 30.Ng3 Nf6 31.Qe5 and White is slightly better] 27.Qh2 Rd8 [27...Rh8 28.
Qe5 Nd7 29.Nf5 Kd8 30.Qe6 c5 31.Qb6 ab6 32.Bb7 Rf5 33.Rad1 and White is slightly
better] 28.Nb7 Qb7 29.a4 and White is slightly better;
b22) 23...N7f6
b221) 24.Rfe1 Kd7 [24...Rh8 25.Qg5] 25.ef6 Rf6 26.Nb7 Qb7 27.Bg4 Rgg6 28.Re5 and
White is slightly better, with the idea 28...Qb6 29.Rae1;
b222) 24.Nb7 Rh8 25.Nc5 Rh5 26.ef6 Nf6 27.Qg3 Kf7 [27...Qb8 28.Rae1] 28.Rae1
Rfh8 29.f3 Rh1 30.Kf2 Rf1 31.Rf1 Qb8 32.Qb8 Rb8 33.Re1 Re8 34.f4 and White is
slightly better; Sergey Karjakin
8
22.a4 [22.Nf7 Kc8] b4!? and Black is slightly better; Sergey Karjakin


102
Check out these

USCFSales.com:
Zdenko Krnic
Two games published in Informant 102 stand out by their beauty and
theoretical importance. The game Topalov Kramnik, published in last
months article, was voted as the most important theoretical novelty by a
small margin over the game Ivanchuk Karjakin. However, the jury for
selecting the best game reversed the order and preferred Ivanchuk
Karjakin. The game that came in third on both lists, Gelfand Anand is
also very impressive.
In modern tournament practice, when the top chess players are extremely
well-prepared in the openings, Topalovs knight sacrifice, 12.Nf7, and
Ivanchuks queen sacrifice, 14.Qe6, give us new hope that ideas and
creativity can still surmount the brute calculation of the machines. It is
quite unpleasant to be the black player when the opponent makes a bolt
from the blue in a rapid game.
ECO E (4th ed.)

Vladimir Kramnik

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
Viswanathan Anand
The Complete
DGT Product Line
1. Ivanchuk 2751 Sergey Karjakin 2732

Nice (rapid) 2008 102/180 [B87]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 b5 8.Bg5
Be7 9.Qf3 Qc7 10.e5 Bb7 11.ed6 Bd6 12.Qe3 Bc5 13.0-0-0 Nc6
14.Qe6!? [a novelty; 14.Bf6 see 98/(169)] fe6 15.Ne6 Qe5 [15...Qb6 16.
Ng7 Kf8 17.Ne6 Kf7 (17...Ke8 18.Nc5 Qc5 19.Rhe1 Ne7 20.Bf6 Rd8 21.
Nd5 Bd5 22.Be7 Qe7 23.Bd5 and White is winning) 18.Nc5 Kg6 19.Rd6!!
Qc5 (19...Kg5 20.Rf6!! Kf6 21.Nd5 Kg7 22.Nb6 and White is winning) 20.
Rf6 Kg7 21.Bh6 Kf6 22.Ne4 Kg6 23.Nc5 and White is superior; 15...Bb6
16.Rhe1 a) 16...Qb8 17.Nc7 Kf8 18.Ne6 Ke7 19.Ng7 Kf8 20.Bh6 (20.Bf6
Qf4 21.Kb1 Qf6 22.Ne6 Kf7 23.Nf4 equal) Ng4 21.Ne6 Ke7 22.Bg5 Ke8
23.Nd5!! and White is superior; b) 16...Qh2 17.Ng7 (17.Nc7 Kf8 18.Ne6
equal) Kf8 18.Bf6 Qf4 (18...Na5 19.Ne6 Kf7 20.Bh8 Nb3 21.ab3 Rh8 22.
Rd7 Kg6 23.Rb7 with initiative) 19.Kb1 Qf6 20.Ne6 Kf7 (20...Qe6 21.
Re6 with compensation) 21.Nf4 Kf8 22.Ne6 equal; 15...Bd6 16.Rhe1 (16.
Nc7 Bc7 17.Rhe1 Ne7 18.Bd5 Ra7 19.Bb7 Rb7 20.Bf6 gf6 21.Nd5 Be5 22.
f4 Bb8 23.Nf6 Kf7 24.Nh5 Rg8 25.g3 unclear) a) 16...Qb8 17.Ng7 Kf8 18.
Ne6 (18.Bf6 Na5 19.Re8 Qe8 20.Ne8 Bf4 21.Kb1 Nb3 22.ab3 Rg8 23.Ng7
Bg2 24.Rd7 unclear) Kf7 19.Bf6 Kf6 20.Ne4 Ke7 21.Nd6 and White is
superior; b) 16...Kd7!! 17.Nc7 (17.Bf6 gf6 18.Nc7 Kc7 19.Nd5 Kb8 20.
Nb6 Bf4 21.Kb1 Ra7 22.Nd7 Kc7 23.Nf6 unclear) Kc7 18.Rd6! Kd6 19.
Bf4 Kd7 20.Rd1 Ke7 21.Re1 equal; 15...Qe7 16.Rhe1 Qe6! 17.Re6 (17.
Be6 Ne7 18.f3 Rd8 and Black is superior) Ne7 a) 18.Bf6 gf6 19.Bd5 Bd5
20.Nd5 Rd8 21.Ne7 Kf7! (21...Be7 22.Rd8 Kd8 23.Ra6 Kd7 and Black is
slightly better) 22.Rde1 Rde8 and Black is superior; b) 18.f3 Rd8 and
Black is slightly better; c) 18.Rde1! Kd7 (18...Rd8 19.a4 b4 20.Bf6 gf6 21.
Ne4 Be4 22.R1e4 f5 23.Re2 with compensation) 19.Rd1 Kc8 20.Re5! Bb4
21.a3 Ng6! (21...Bc3 22.Re7 and White is winning) 22.Be6 Kc7 23.ab4
Ne5 24.Bf4 Bg2 25.Be5 Kb6 26.Ne2 with compensation] 16.Ng7 [16.
Rhe1!? Qe1 17.Re1 Be7 18.Ng7 Kd8 19.Re7 (19.Nf5 Rf8 20.Bh6 unclear;
19.f3!?) Ke7 (19...Ne7 20.Bf6 Kd7 21.g4 Rhf8 22.g5 Kd6 23.Ne6 unclear)
20.Nh5 Kd6 21.Bf4 (21.Nf6 Na5 and Black is slightly better; 21.Bf6 Rhe8
22.Ng7 Re1 23.Kd2 Rh1 and Black is slightly better) Ke7 (21...Kc5 22.
Nf6 with initiative) 22.Bg5 equal] Kf8 17.Ne6 Kf7 [17...Ke8 18.Rhe1
Qg5 (18...Qe1 19.Nc7 Kf8 20.Re1 and White is winning) 19.Ng5 Ne7 20.
Re6 Bf2 21.Re2 Bc5 22.Rf1 Bd4 23.Nf7 Rf8 24.Nd6 and White is
winning; 17...Ke7 18.Rhe1 Bf2 19.Re5 Ne5 20.Ng7 Nc4 21.Bc4 bc4 22.
Rf1 Raf8 23.Rf2 Rhg8 24.Nf5 Kd7 25.Bh6 unclear] 18.Rhe1 Qe1? [18...
Bf2! 19.Re5 Ne5 20.Nd8 Kg6 21.Bf6 Kf6 22.Nb7 Rhf8 23.Ne4 Kg7 24.
h3!? with compensation; 24.Kb1 with compensation; 18...Qg5 19.Ng5
Kg6 20.Nce4 Be7 (20...Ne4 21.Ne4 Bb4 22.c3 Be7 23.Bc2 and White is
superior) 21.Nf7! a) 21...Rhf8 22.Ned6 Bd6 23.Nd6 Bc8 (23...Na5 24.
Be6 Bc6 25.f4 Nh5 26.b4 and White is superior) 24.Re3 with attack, with
the idea Rg3; b) 21...Rhe8 22.Rd3 (22.Ned6 Bd6 23.Nd6 Re1 24.Re1 Bc8
25.c3 Bd7 26.Bc2 Kg7 27.a4 equal; 22.Nfd6 Ne4 23.Bf7 Kf6 24.Re4 Red8
25.Rf4 Kg7 26.Rg4 equal) Ne4 23.Re4 Bg5 24.Ng5 Kg5 25.Rd5 Kg6 26.
Rg4 Kf6 27.Rf4 Ke7 (27...Kg6 28.Rd6 and White is winning) 28.Rh5 and
White is superior] 19.Nc5 Kg6 20.Re1 Kg5 21.Nb7 Nd4 22.Nd6 Rhf8
23.f3 [23.Re7!] b4 [23...Ra7!] 24.Nce4 Ne4 25.Re4 Nb3 26.ab3 [R 9/n]
a5 27.Rg4 Kf6 28.Ne4 Ke5 29.Rh4 a4 30.ba4 Ra4
31.Nc5! (and White is winning) [31.Rh7?! Rd8 32.Re7 Kf5 33.Nd2 Ra1
34.Nb1 b3! 35.Re1 (35.c3?? Rb1 36.Kb1 Rd1 mate) bc2 36.Kc2 Rc8 37.
Kd3 Rd8 equal] Ra1 32.Kd2 Rg8 33.g3 Rf1 34.Ke2 Rb1 35.Rb4 Kd5
36.Ne4 Kc6 37.h4 Rh1 38.Rc4 Kb6 39.b4 Rd8 40.Rc5 Ra8 41.c3 Ra2
42.Ke3 Re1 43.Kf4 Rf1 44.Rh5 Ra8 45.Rh6 Kb5 46.Nd6 Ka4 47.Rh7
Kb3 48.Rc7 Rd8 49.Nf5 1-0 [Ivanchuk]
2. V.Topalov 2780 Kramnik 2799
Wijk an Zee 2008 102/333 [D43]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3
b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7
12.Nf7!? [a novelty; 12.Nd7 see 102/332] Kf7 13.e5 Nd5 [13...Rf8!? 14.
ef6 Nf6 15.Be5 Kg8 16.Qc2 Qe7 17.Rae1 with compensation] 14.Ne4
Ke7 15.Nd6 Qb6 16.Bg4 Raf8 [16...Rhg8!? 17.Qc2 Nf8] 17.Qc2 Qd4?
18.Qg6 Qg4 19.Qg7 Kd8 20.Nb7 Kc8 21.a4! (with initiative) b4 22.
Rac1 c3 [22...Rfg8!? 23.Qf7 Rf8 24.Nd6 Kc7 25.Qg6 Rhg8 26.Qb1 and
White is slightly better] 23.bc3 b3? [23...Rfg8 and White is slightly
better; 23...bc3!? with the idea 24.Rb1 c2] 24.c4! Rfg8 25.Nd6 Kc7 26.
Qf7 Rf8 27.cd5? [27.h3! Rf7 28.hg4 Nf4 29.Nf7 Ne2 30.Kh2 Nc1 31.
Rc1 b2 (31...Rb8 32.Rb1 Nc5 33.f4 gf4 34.Bf4 Rf8 35.Be3 and White is
winning) 32.Rb1 Rb8 33.f4! gf4 34.Bf4 Rf8 (34...Nc5 35.Nh6 Na4 36.g5
and White is winning) 35.Rb2 Rf7 36.Kg3 and White is winning] Rf7 28.
Rc6 Kb8 29.Nf7
29...Re8? [29...Qe2!! 30.Rc3! (30.Nh8? Qf1! 31.Kf1 b2; 30.Rb1? Qa2)

b2 31.Rb3 Ka8 32.Nh8 Nc5! 33.Rb5! (33.Rb4?! a5!; 33.Rb2 Qb2 34.de6
Ne6) Na4 (33...a6 34.Rc5 Qf1 35.Kf1 b1Q 36.Ke2 Qe4 37.Kf1 equal) 34.
Rb2 Qb2 35.de6 Qb6 36.e7 Qe6 unclear] 30.Nd6 Rh8 31.Rc4! (and
White is winning) Qe2 32.de6 Nb6 33.Rb4 Ka8 34.e7 [34.Rb3 Qg4 35.
e7 Qe6 36.Rc3 Qe7 37.Rfc1 and White is winning] Nd5 35.Rb3 Ne7 36.
Rfb1 Nd5 37.h3 h5 [37...Nf4 38.Bf4 gf4 39.Nb5! Qe5 40.Rc1 Rb8 (40...
a6 41.Nc7 Ka7 42.Rc6; 40...Kb7 41.Nc7 Kc8 42.Na6 Kd7 43.Rb7 Kd6 44.
Nb4) 41.Nc7 Qc7 42.Rc7 Rb3 43.Rc4 f3 44.g4! and White is winning] 38.
Nf7 Rc8 39.e6 a6 [39...Nf4 40.Ng5] 40.Ng5 h4 41.Bd6 Rg8 42.R3b2
Qd3 43.e7 Nf6 44.Be5 Nd7 45.Ne6 1-0 [Krasenkow]
3. B.Gelfand 2737 V.Anand 2799
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dc4 7.Bc4 b5 8.
Bd3 Bb7 9.a3 Bd6 10.0-0 0-0 11.Qc2 a6 12.b4 a5 13.Rb1 ab4 14.ab4
Qe7 15.e4 e5 16.de5 Ne5 17.Ne5 Be5 18.Ne2 Qe6 [18...Rfd8 see 99/302]
19.f4 Ra2 20.Qd1
20...Ba1!! [a novelty; 20...Bc7 21.Nc3 and White is slightly better] 21.

e5? c5! 22.ef6 [22.Ra1 Ra1 23.ef6 Qd5! 24.Rf3 c4 and Black is superior]
Bd4 23.Rf2 only move [23.Kh1 Qh3! 24.Rg1 Bg1 25.Qg1 Qd3 and Black
is winning] Bf2 [23...Qg4 24.Qf1 Bf2 25.Qf2 c4 26.h3 Qh5 27.Qg3 g6
and Black is superior] 24.Kf2 Qd5 25.Bb2 [25.Bh7 Kh7 26.Qd5 Bd5 27.
bc5 Rc8! (27...Bc4 28.Rb2 Rfa8 29.Nc3 Rb2 30.Bb2 b4 and Black is
winning) 28.Rb2 Rb2 29.Bb2 Rc5 and Black is winning] Qg2 26.Ke1 c4
27.Bc2 Bf3 [27...Re8 28.Be5 gf6 29.Qd7 Bc6] 28.fg7 Re8 29.Be5 f6 30.
Bh7 Kh7 31.g8Q Kg8 0-1 [V.Anand]
4. P.Haba 2544 Gyimesi 2600
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 de4 4.Ne4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.
h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bd3 10.Qd3 e6 11.Bf4 Qa5 12.Bd2 Bb4 13.c3 Be7 14.c4
Qc7 15.0-0-0 Ngf6 16.Rhe1 b5 17.c5 0-0 18.Kb1 [18.Nf5 see 97/(66)]
Rfd8 [18...Rad8 19.Qa3!? and White is slightly better] 19.Qc2 [19.Qe2!?]
Nf8 [a novelty; 19...Bf8; 19...a5] 20.Ne2! N8h7 [20...Nd5 21.g4 and

White is superior; 20...a5 21.g4 with initiative; 20...Nh5 21.g4 Nf6 22.
Rh1!? (22.g5 hg5 23.Ng5 Rd5 24.Rh1 Qd7 25.Rh3 g6 26.Rdh1 with
compensation) Nd5 23.g5 (23.Rdg1!?) hg5 24.Bg5 Bg5 25.Ng5 Nf4 26.
Rdg1 with compensation] 21.Bf4 [21.Ne5!? with the idea g4; 21.g4!?]
Qb7?! [21...Qc8 22.Ne5 and White is superior, with the idea 22...Nh5? 23.
Bh6! gh6 24.Nf7! and White is winning; 21...Qd7 22.Ne5 Qe8 23.g4 Nd5
24.Bd2 and White is slightly better] 22.Ne5 (and White is superior) a5?!
[22...Nh5 23.Bh6! (23.Nf7 Rf8 24.Nh6! gh6 25.Qg6 Ng7 26.Qh6 Bf6 27.
g4 Ne8 28.g5 and White is superior) f6 24.Bg7! Ng7 25.Ng4 Nf5 26.Nf4
Nf8 27.d5!! and White is winning; 22...Rf8 23.g4 Nd5 24.Bd2 and White
is superior; 22...Nf8 23.g4 and White is superior]
23.Bh6! (and White is winning) gh6 [23...Nh5 24.Rh1 N5f6 25.Bg7! Kg7
26.Rd3 Rh8 27.Rg3 Kf8 28.Nf4 with the idea Nf7] 24.Nf7! Nf8 25.Nh6!
Kg7 26.Nf4 [26.Ng3 Rd5 27.Re6! Kh6 28.Re5! Re5 29.de5 Kg7 30.Nf5
Kh8 31.ef6 Bf6 32.Qe4 and White is winning] Kh6 [26...Qd7? 27.Ne6!]
27.Ne6 N6h7 [27...Nh5 28.g4 Bh4 29.f4!] 28.Re5! [28.d5!? Gyimesi,Z]
Bg5 29.f4! Bf4 30.Nf4 [30.Rf1!?] Ng5 [30...Re8 31.Ne6!; 30...Qf7 31.
Rf5 Qg8 32.Qc1 Kg7 33.d5!] 31.Qc1 [31.Qd2 Qg7 32.Rde1!; 31.Rg5!?
Kg5 (31...Qh7 32.Rg6! Ng6 33.hg6) 32.Ne6! Kh6 33.Rf1] Nfh7 32.Nh3
[32.Re6!? Kg7 33.Qe3 (33.h6 Kf7 34.Qc2) Ne6 34.Ne6] Rg8 33.Re6
Kh5 34.Ng5 [34.g4! Kg4 35.Qf4 Kh5 36.Ng5] Ng5 [34...Kg4 35.Rh1!]
35.Rh1 Kg4 36.Rh4! Kh4 37.Qf4 Kh5 38.g4 1-0 [P.Haba]
5. V.Anand 2799 V.Topalov 2780
Wijk an Zee 2008 102/190 [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3
h5 9.Nd5 Bd5 10.ed5 Nbd7 11.Qd2 g6 12.0-0-0 [12.Na5 see 91/224]
Nb6 [a novelty; 12...Bg7; 12...Rc8] 13.Qa5 [13.c4 Rc8 14.Kb1 Nc4 15.
Bc4 Rc4 16.Na5 Rc8! (16...Ra4 17.Nb7 Qc7 18.Qc2 Qc2 19.Kc2 Rb4 20.
Na5 Kd7 21.Bg5 Bg7 22.Bf6 Bf6 23.Nc6 Rc8 24.Rhe1) 17.Nb7 Qd7 18.
Na5] Bh6 14.Bh6 Rh6 15.Kb1 Rc8 [better is15...Nbd7 16.Qd2 (16.Qb4
Qb6; 16.c4 Qa5 17.Na5 0-0-0) Rh7] 16.Qb4! [16.c4 Nc4 17.Bc4 Rc4 18.
Qd2 Rh7] Kf8 [16...Nfd5 17.Rd5 Nd5 18.Qd2 Nf4 19.g3 Qf6 20.gf4 Qf4
21.Qf4 ef4 22.h4 and White is superior, with the idea 22...f6 23.Nd4 Rd8
24.Bd3 and White is superior; 16...Qc7 17.c4 Nbd7 (17...h4 18.Qd2 Rh8
19.Bd3 Kf8 20.Rc1) 18.Rc1 h4 19.Bd3 Kf8 20.g4 with initiative] 17.c4
Kg7 18.g3! Rh8 [18...h4 19.g4 Nh7 20.Be2 (20.c5? dc5 21.Nc5 Nd5)
Ng5 21.c5 dc5 22.Nc5 Nd5 23.Qc4!] 19.Rc1 Qc7 20.Bh3! Rce8 21.Rhd1
Re7 [21...e4! 22.c5 (22.f4 e3) Nbd5 23.Rd5 Nd5 24.Qd4 Nf6 25.cd6 Qb8
a) 26.Nc5 ef3 27.Rf1 Qd8 a1) 28.Nd7 Re4 29.Qc3 Rhe8 30.Rf3 Kh6!!
(30...Re1 31.Kc2 R8e2 32.Kb3 Kh6 33.Qf6) 31.Nf6 (31.Qf6 Qa5 32.a3
Qd5 and Black is winning) Re1 32.Kc2 R8e2 33.Kb3 Rb1 and Black is
superior; a2) 28.Rf3 Re1 29.Kc2 Re2 30.Kd1 Rhe8 31.Nd7 Re1; b) 26.d7
Re7 27.Rc8 Rd7! 28.Rh8 Rd4 29.Rb8 Rd1 30.Kc2 Rh1 with counterplay]
22.a3 [22.c5 Nbd5 23.Rd5 Nd5 24.Qd2 a) 24...dc5 25.Rc5 Qb6 26.Rd5
(26.Qd5 Rd8 27.Qe4 Rd1 28.Rc1 Rc1 29.Nc1 Qg1 30.Qd5 Qh2 31.Qd8
Qh3 32.Qe7 Qg3) h4 (26...Qg1 27.Nc1 h4 28.Rd8) 27.Qg5 f6 (27...hg3
28.Qe7 Qg1 29.Kc2 gh2 30.Qe5 Kh7 31.Qe7 Kg7 32.Nd4! Ra8) 28.Qg4
Qg1 29.Nc1; b) 24...Qc6 (V.Topalov) 25.Na5 Qc7 equal] Rd8 [22...e4?
23.c5 Nbd5 24.Rd5 Nd5 25.Qd4 and White is winning; 22...h4 23.g4 Nh7
24.c5 and White is superior] 23.Nd2 Nbd7 24.Qc3 a5? [24...Qb6 25.Ne4
Ne4 26.fe4 Nc5 27.Qf3 a5 28.Rf1 Rde8 29.g4 Nb3 30.Rc2 h4 31.Qf6
Kg8 32.Qh4 Qe3 equal; 25.Bd7 and White is slightly better; 24...Nh7 25.
f4 (25.Bd7 Qd7 26.f4 Nf6 27.fe5 Qf5) Ndf6 (25...f5 26.fe5 Ne5 27.Nf3
Kg8 28.Nd4 with the idea 29.Ne6, 29.Bf5) 26.Nf3 Ne4 27.Qc2 ef4 28.gf4
and White is slightly better; 24...Nc5 25.b4 (25.f4 ef4 26.gf4 Rde8) Ncd7
26.g4 hg4 27.fg4 a5 28.g5 Nh5 29.Ne4 and White is slightly better] 25.
Bd7 Nd7 [25...Qd7 26.Qa5] 26.f4 Nf6 [26...f5 a) 27.h3? Nf6 28.Nf3 Ne4
29.Qe1 Nc5 30.g4 hg4 31.hg4 fg4 32.Nh2 Qd7 and Black is slightly
better; b) 27.Nf3 Nc5; c) 27.Nb3 Nc5 (27...b6 28.fe5 Ne5 29.Nd4 and
White is superior) 28.Na5 Rde8 with compensation; d) 27.fe5! Ne5 28.
Nf3 with the idea Nd4] 27.Rf1 b6 [27...e4 28.Rce1 Rde8 29.f5 g5 30.Qe3
and White is superior; 27...b5!] 28.h3 Qd7 [28...b5!? 29.fe5 (29.f5 b4 30.
ab4 ab4 31.Qf3 Rf8 32.g4) Re5]
29.f5! Rf8 [29...gf5 30.Qe3 (30.Nf3 f4 31.gf4 Qf5 32.Ka1! Qf4 33.Qe1
with attack) Nh7 31.Nf3 f4 32.gf4 Qf5 33.Ka1 Qf4 34.Qb6 and White is
winning] 30.Qe3 e4 [30...b5 31.g4 hg4 32.hg4 Ng4 33.Qg5 Nf6 34.Rf3!
and White is winning] 31.g4 hg4 [31...Re5 32.g5 Nh7 33.f6 (33.fg6 fg6
34.Rf8 Nf8 35.Ka2 Qe7 36.Qb6 e3 37.Nf3) Kg8 34.h4 b5 35.Rf4 and
White is winning, weak Nh7] 32.hg4 Re5 33.Rf4 [33.g5? Nh5 34.f6 Kg8]
Qd8 [33...g5 34.Rf2 Nh7 35.Rh1 and White is winning] 34.g5 Nh5 35.f6
Kg8 36.Re4 Rfe8 37.Ka2 a4 38.Rc3 Qc7 39.Qd4 Qc5 40.Qc5 [40...bc5
41.Rce3 Re4 42.Re4 Kf8 43.Re8 Ke8 44.Ne4 Kd7 45.b4 ab3 46.Kb3 Nf4
47.a4 Nd3 48.a5 Ne5 49.Nd2 Kc7 50.Ka4 and White is winning] 1-0 [V.
Anand]
6. Shirov 2755 V.Anand 2799
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.
Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Rhe1 Qb6 12.Nb3 Rc8 [12...b4 see
101/178] 13.Qh3 [a novelty; 13.Kb1] Rc3! 14.bc3 Qc7 15.Kb1 Be7 16.
e5 de5 17.f5?! [17.fe5! a) 17...Nd5 18.Be7 Ke7 19.Rd2 (19.Qh4 Ke8 20.
Rd2 Ne5) a1) 19...Ne5 20.Qg3 Nd3 (20...Nc4 21.Qg5 Kf8 22.Bc4 bc4 23.
Nc5 h6 24.Qh4! Nc3 25.Ka1 Bd5 26.Re6!) 21.Qc7 Nc7 22.cd3; a2) 19...
Nc3 20.Kb2 (20.Ka1 Bd5 21.Qh4) Ne5; b) 17...Ne5 18.Qg3 (18.Bf4 Bd6
19.Bb5 ab5 20.Rd6 Qd6 21.Be5 Qd5 22.Qh4) Bd6 19.Bf6 gf6 20.Qg7 (20.
Be4!?) Rf8 21.Qf6 Bg2 22.Bf5 b1) 22...Bd5 23.Rd5 (23.Be4) ed5 24.Nd4
Qe7 25.Qg7 and White is superior; b2) 22...Nc4! 23.Rd6! Qd6 24.Be6
Be4 25.Bf7 Rf7 26.Re4 Re7 equal] Nd5 18.Be7 [18.Bd2 a) 18...N7b6 19.
fe6 Na4 20.Ka1 Ndc3 21.ef7 Kf8 22.Nd4! Bc8 (22...ed4 23.Re7 and
White is winning) 23.Ne6 Be6 24.Qe6; b) 18...ef5 19.Bf5 N7b6] Ke7 19.
fe6 fe6?! [19...N7f6; 19...Nc3! 20.Kc1 (20.Ka1 Nd1!) Nf6 (20...Nd1 21.
ed7 Nc3 22.Qg3! and White is winning) a) 21.Qg3 Nd1 22.Rd1 (22.Qg7
Nf2!) g6 23.ef7 Kf7; b) 21.Rd2 e4 22.ef7 Rc8 (22...Kf7 23.Bc4!; 22...Qd6
23.Rf2 Kf7 24.Qh5; 23...Bd5) 23.Be2 Bd5 24.Bg4] 20.Qg3 g6 [20...Nc3
21.Ka1 Kf7 22.Rd2 (22.Rf1 Nf6 23.Rde1 Na4 24.Qe5 Qe5 25.Re5 Bg2
with compensation) Nd5 23.Rf2 N5f6 unclear] 21.Rd2 [21.Qh4 N7f6]
Rc8 [21...Nc3 22.Ka1 Rc8 23.Qg5 Nf6 24.Rf2 Ncd5 25.Re5 Qc3 26.Kb1]
22.Qg5? [22.Qh4 N7f6 (22...Ke8 23.Qh7 and White is winning) 23.Rf2

e4 24.Be4 Nc3 25.Kc1 Qe5 26.Rf6 Na2 27.Kd2 Rd8 28.Bd3 Qc3 29.Ke3
Qe5 equal] Ke8 23.Qg4? [23.Rf2 e4!; 23.Bg6 hg6 24.Qg6 Ke7 25.Qg7
Kd6; 23.Qh6! N7f6 (23...Nc3 24.Ka1 Nf6 25.Qh4 Ncd5 26.Qg5 Nd7 27.
Be4 Qc3 28.Kb1 Qb4 29.Bd5 ed5 30.Rde2 e4) 24.Kc1 unclear] Nc3 24.
Ka1 Bd5 25.Re3 [25.Qb4 a5 with the idea 26.Qa5 Ra8!] Nf6 26.Qh4
Qe7 [26...Qg7!?] 27.Bf1 [27.Qg3 Bb3 (27...e4 28.Be2 b4) 28.Bg6 hg6 29.
cb3 Nfe4 30.Qg6 Qf7 31.Qf7 Kf7 32.Rc2 Rc5] Bb3 28.cb3 Nce4 29.Rb2
[29.Re4 Qa3 30.Bd3 (30.Rb2 Rc1 31.Rb1 Rc2 and Black is winning) Qc1
31.Bb1 Qd2] Rc1 30.Rb1 Qc5 0-1 [V.Anand]
7. B.Gelfand 2723 Evgeny Alekseev 2711
Russia 2008 102/328 [D43]
b5 9.Ne5 Bb7 10.h4 g4 11.Ng4!? Nbd7 12.Nf6 Nf6?! [a novelty; 12...
Qf6 see 102/(328)] 13.Qf3! Rg8 [13...b4?! 14.Na4 Qd4 (14...c5 15.Be5
Ne4 16.Bh8 Qa5 17.b3 and White is winning) 15.Be2 c5 (15...Be7? 16.e5
and White is winning) 16.Rd1 Be4 17.Rd4 Bf3 18.Bf3 cd4 19.Ba8] 14.
Be2 a6? [14...Be7!?; 14...b4! 15.Na4 c5 unclear] 15.Rd1 [15.0-0!? with
the idea 15...b4 16.Na4 c5 17.d5 ed5 18.ed5] Nd7 [15...Be7!?; better
is15...h5 weak point g4] 16.0-0 [16.Qf4!? b4 (16...Qf6? 17.Qc7) 17.Na4
Qa5 18.b3 c3 19.0-0 with initiative] Qf6 17.Qe3 0-0-0 [17...c5!? 18.d5 00-0 19.b3 (19.e5 Qf5) b4 (19...cb3 20.ab3 e5 and White is superior) 20.
de6 (20.Na4 ed5 21.ed5 c3) fe6 21.Na4 c3 22.a3! and White is superior]
18.b3 cb3? [18...b4 19.Na4 c3 20.a3 (20.d5 c5) a5 21.ab4 ab4 22.d5 c5
23.d6 and White is winning; 18...c5! 19.e5 cd4 20.Rd4 Qf5 21.Ne4 Be4
22.Qe4 Qe4 23.Re4 Nc5!? 24.Re3 Rd2 25.bc4 b4 with compensation; 19.
d5 see 17...c5] 19.ab3 Be7 [19...Bb4 20.Rc1 and White is superior] 20.
Rc1 [20.e5 Qg6 (20...Qf5 21.Bd3 Qg4 22.Ne4) 21.Bf3!?] Qh8 21.Bh2?
[21.Nb5!? ab5 22.Bb5 Rg3! 23.fg3 Ba3 24.Rc2 Nb8 25.e5 Qg7 unclear M.
Notkin; 21.Qf4 Rg3 22.Qg3 Qd4 23.Rfd1 Qe5?? 24.Rd7; 23...Qf6 with
counterplay; 21.Rfd1 and White is winning with the idea Qf4] Qg7 [21...
Bh4?? 22.Qf4] 22.Bf3 e5 23.Nd5 Bd6! [23...Bh4 24.de5 (24.Qc3!? with
the idea 25.Qa5, 25.Nb4, 25.de5 M.Golubev; 24.Nb4 Bg5 25.Rc6! Bc6 26.
Qc3 Qf6 27.Nc6 and White is winning) Ne5 25.Be5 Qe5 26.Qa7 and
White is winning] 24.Qc3! [with the idea Qa5, with the idea Nb4, with
the idea Ne3-f5; 24.Qd2 Qf8] Rde8?! [24...ed4? 25.Bd6! dc3 26.Ne7
mate; 24...f6 25.Qa5 Qf8 26.Rc6! Bc6 a) 27.Rc1?! Nb8 28.Rc6 Nc6 29.
Qa6 Kd7 30.Nb6 (30.Qb7 Ke6 31.Nf4 ef4 32.d5 Ke5) Kc7 31.Nd5 equal
M. Notkin; b) 27.Qa6! Bb7 28.Qa7 Bd5 29.Rc1 Bc4 30.bc4 Re8 31.c5
and White is winning; 24...Qf8 25.de5; 24...Kb8! 25.Nb4 (25.Ne3 Bc7 26.
Nf5 Qf6 27.d5 and White is superior) a) 25...c5 26.dc5 Bc5 (26...Nc5 27.
Rfd1) 27.Rfd1 and White is winning; b) better is25...Rc8! 26.Nd3 (26.Ra1
Ka7!!) f6 and White is superior]
25.Qa5! and White is winning [25.Qc6?! Bc6 26.Rc6 Kb7 27.Rd6 f6 28.
Rc1 Rc8; 28.Ra1 with attack] Re6 [25...Qf8 26.Rc6 Bc6 27.Rc1 Nb8 28.
de5 Re5 29.Rc6 Nc6 30.Qa6 Kd7 31.Qb7 Ke6 32.Qc6 and White is
winning; 25...Kb8 26.Rc6 Bc6 27.Qa6 Rc8 28.Ra1 Rc7 29.Nc7 Kc7 30.
d5 Bb7 31.Rc1 Bc5 32.Qb5 and White is winning; 28.Rc1 and White is
winning] 26.Rc6!! Bc6 27.Rc1! [27.Qa6? Bb7 unclear] Nb8 [27...Kb7 28.
Rc6 Kc6 29.Qa6 Nb6 30.Qb6 Kd7 31.Qb7 and White is winning Golubev,
M] 28.Rc6! Nc6 29.Qa6 Kd8 [29...Kb8 30.Qb5 Ka7 31.Qb6 Ka8 32.Qc6
Kb8 (32...Ka7 33.Qb6 Ka8 34.Be5! Be5 35.Nc7 Bc7 36.e5) 33.Qb5 Ka8
34.Nb6 Ka7 35.Nd7] 30.Qb6 Kd7 [30...Ke8 31.Qc6 Kf8 32.Be5 (32.de5
Qh8 33.Nf4 Rgg6 34.Ng6 fg6 35.Qd5 and White is winning) Qg6 (32...
Be5 33.Qc8 Re8 34.Qc5 Re7 35.Qe7 mate) 33.Nf4 and White is winning]
31.Qb7 Kd8 [31...Ke8 32.Qc6 see 30...Ke8] 32.Nb6! [32.Qc6?! f6
unclear] f5 [32...Bc7 33.Qc8 Ke7 34.Nd5; 32...Ke8 33.Qc8 Nd8 34.Qd7]
33.Qc8 Ke7 34.Qd7 [34.Nd5 Kf7 35.Bh5 Rg6 36.Qc6 and White is
winning] Kf8 35.Qe6 Qe7 [35...Qg6 36.Nd7 Kg7 37.Qg6 Kg6 38.ef5 Kf5
39.Bc6] 36.Qh6 Rg7 37.Nc8 1-0 [B.Gelfand]
8. Sergey Karjakin 2732 Bu Xiangzhi 2708
Russia 2008 102/185 [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.f3
Be6 9.Qd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 a5 11.Bb5 Na6 12.Qe2 a4 13.Ba4 Qb8 14.g4
Rc8 15.g5 Nh5 16.Bb5 Nc7! [a novelty; 16...Nb4 a) 17.a3 Bb3 18.ab4
Ra1 (18...Be6 see 98/(184)) 19.Kd2 Ra2 with attack; b) 17.Kb1 Rc3 18.
bc3 Na2 (18...Ra2 19.cb4 Bb3 20.Bc4 Rc2 21.Qd3) 19.Kb2 Nf4 20.Qd2
d5 21.Ra1 d4 22.Bd4 b1) 22...Qc7 23.Ra2 Ra2 24.Ka2 Qa5 25.Kb2 Qb5
(25...Qa3 26.Kb1 ed4 27.c4; 25...Ba3 26.Kb1 Qb5 27.c4 Bc4 28.Bb2) 26.
Be3; b2) 22...ed4 23.Ra2 dc3 24.Qc3 Ra2 25.Ka2 Bg5 26.Qc5] 17.Kb1
Nb5 18.Qb5 Bc4 19.Qd7 [19.Qb4 Qc7 20.Qb6 Qd7 21.Bc1 (21.Nd5 Bd8
22.Qb4 Be2) Rc6 22.Qf2 b5 23.Nd5 Bd5 24.Rd5 b4] Rc7 20.Qg4 [20.
Qh3 Nf4 21.Bf4 Be6 22.Qf1 Rc3 23.bc3 Qa7] Nf4 21.Bf4 Be6 22.Qg1
Rc3 23.bc3 ef4 (with compensation) 24.h4! [24.Rd4 b5 25.Qc1 Bg5 26.
Rhd1 Be7 and Black is superior] b5 25.h5 Qb7 [25...f6!? 26.g6 (26.h6
g6) h6] 26.h6 [26.g6 Qa6 (26...h6 27.Qd4 Ra4 28.Qd2) 27.gh7 Kh7 28.h6
g6 29.Qd4 Qa2 30.Kc1 Bf8] Qa6 27.Nc1 only move [27.Qd4 Qa2 28.Kc1
Bf8; 27.hg7 Qa2 28.Kc1 Bb3 29.Qh2 h6 30.gh6 Kh7 31.Rdg1 Bf6 32.
g8Q Rg8 33.Rg7 Kh8] Bf8 28.Qd4 [28.Rd4 Ba2 (28...g6!?) 29.Na2 Qa2
30.Kc1 d5 with attack] Qa3! 29.Qb4 only move [29.Rh4 Ra4 30.Qb6
Ba2 31.Na2 b4! 32.cb4 (32.hg7 Bg7 33.g6 Qa2 34.Kc1 Qa3 35.Kd2 Qc3
36.Ke2 hg6) Qa2 33.Kc1 Qa3 34.Kd2 Qf3] Ba2 30.Na2 Qa2 31.Kc1 d5
32.Qd4 [32.Qb3 Qa1 33.Kd2 (33.Qb1 Qa7) Qa7] Ra4!? [32...de4 33.Qe4
(33.hg7 Bg7 34.Qe4 Bc3 35.Qh7 Kf8 36.Qh6 Bg7 37.Qd6 Kg8; 33.fe4 g6)
Ra4 (33...Ra6 34.hg7 Qa3 35.Kd2 Rd6 36.Ke2 Re6 37.gf8Q Qf8 equal)
34.Qe5 Ra8 unclear] 33.Qe5? [33.Qd3 de4 34.fe4 Qa3 35.Kd2 g6 with
compensation; 33.Qd5 Rc4 34.Kd2 Qa7 (34...Qb2 35.Ke2 Qc2 36.Qd2
Re4 37.Kf2; 35...Rc3) 35.Rhe1 Qf2 36.Re2 Qf3 37.Qd3 Qg4]
33...d4! (and Black is winning) 34.Kd2 Qb2 35.Ke2? time [35.Qc7 Rc4
36.Qf4 Bd6 37.e5 dc3 38.Ke1 Rf4 39.ed6; 37...Be5; 35.Qf4 Ra2 36.Rc1
(36.Ke1 Qc2 37.Qd2 Qc3 38.Qc3 dc3) Qc3 37.Kd1 d3 38.Qd2 dc2 39.
Ke2 Qc7] Qc2 36.Rd2 d3 0-1 [Bu Xiangzhi, Wang Hao]
9. Alexander Moiseenko 2643 V.L.Ivanov 2495
Moscow 2008 102/287 [D17]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Nh4 Bd7 7.e4 e6 8.Bc4
[8.g3 see 94/293] Ne4 9.Ne4 Qh4 10.Qf3 Bb4 11.Kf1 Qe7 [a novelty;
11...h6] 12.Bg5 Qf8 [12...f6 13.Nf6 gf6 14.Bf6 Rf8 15.Be7 Rf3 16.Bb4
and White is winning] 13.Qg3 f5 14.Nc5! [14.Qc7? fe4 15.Qb7 Qf5 16.
Be3 c5 17.Qa8 0-0 with compensation] Bc5 15.dc5 Qc5 16.Rc1 [16.Qc3
h6 (16...Rg8 17.Qb3) 17.Be3 (17.b4 Qf8 18.Bf4 Na6) Qe7 18.Bd4 Na6
(18...0-0 19.Bc5 and White is superior) 19.Bg7 Rg8 20.Bh6 Qh4 21.Bd2
and White is slightly better; 16.Qb3 0-0 17.Be3 Qd6 18.Qb7 f4 19.Ba7
Na6 20.Qa6 Qc7 21.Qb6 Qa7 22.Qa7 Ra7 23.Ke2 and White is slightly
better] Qb4 17.h4 0-0 18.h5 b5 [18...Qb2 19.h6 g6 20.Rd1 b5 (20...f4 21.
Bf4 Qb4 22.Rc1 b5 23.Be3 bc4 24.Qe5 Qe7 25.Bd4 and White is winning)
21.Be2 b4 22.Qd6 and White is winning] 19.h6! Qb2 [19...bc4 20.hg7
Rf7 21.Rh7! Kh7 (21...Qb3 22.Bf6 and White is winning; 21...Qb2 22.
Rh8 Kg7 23.Qh4 and White is winning) 22.Be7! Rg7 23.Qh4 Kg8 24.Bb4
and White is winning; 19...g6 20.Qe5 Rf7 21.Be3 c5 22.Bc5 Nc6 23.Be6
Be6 24.Qe6 Qe4 25.Qe4 fe4 26.Rh4 and White is superior; 19...Rf7 20.
Be2 with attack] 20.hg7 Qg7 21.Be2 Na6 22.Qh4 e5
23.Rd1!! [23.Bh6 Qf6 24.Bf8 Qh4 25.Rh4 Rf8 26.ab5 cb5 27.Rh6 and
White is slightly better] Be6 [23...Nc5 24.Be7 and White is winning] 24.
Rd6! Bd5 [24...e4 25.ab5 Nc5 26.Bh6 Qa1 27.Rd1 Qf6 28.Bf8 Qh4 29.
Rh4 Rf8 30.bc6 and White is winning] 25.ab5 Nc5 [25...Nc7 26.bc6 (26.
Rh3 f4 27.bc6 Rab8 28.Rd3) Rab8 27.Kg1 Ne6 (27...Rb1 28.Kh2 Rh1 29.
Kh1 and White is winning) 28.Rd5 Ng5 29.Rd7 Rf7 30.Qc4 and White is
winning] 26.bc6 (and White is winning) Ne6 [26...Bg2 27.Kg2 Ne4 28.
Bc4 Kh8 29.Rd7 Qg5 30.Qg5 Ng5 31.Rh5] 27.Rd5 Ng5 28.Rd7 Qg6 29.
Bc4 Kh8 30.Qg5! 1-0 [Alexander Moiseenko]
10. Leko 2753 Mamedyarov 2760
Wijk an Zee 2008 102/243 [C72]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.0-0 Bd7 6.d4 ed4 7.Nd4 b5 8.
Nc6 Bc6 9.Bb3 Nf6 10.c4! [10.Nc3 see 96/238] Be7 11.Nc3 0-0 12.Re1
Re8 13.Bf4! (and White is slightly better) Rb8 [a novelty; 13...Nd7 14.
cb5 ab5 15.Qh5!] 14.Qc2! b4?! [14...Nd7 15.cb5 ab5 16.Bd5!; 14...Bf8!?
and White is slightly better] 15.Nd5 Nd7 16.Be3! [16.Ba4?! Ba4 17.Qa4
Nc5 18.Qc6 Nd3!; 16.Bd2 a5 a) 17.Ba4 Ba4 18.Qa4 Nc5 (18...Ne5!?) 19.
Qa5 c6! with counterplay, with the idea 20.Qd8 Bd8 21.Nb4 Ba5 22.a3
Nb3!; 19.Qc6 unclear; b) 17.a3 ba3! 18.Ra3 Nc5 with counterplay] Bf8
17.f3 [17.a3!?] Ba8 18.Rad1 [18.Qd2 a5] c6 19.Nf4 Qc7
20.Nd3!! [and White is superior, with the idea c5] a5 [20...Ne5 21.c5;
20...c5 21.Ba4 with the idea Nf4] 21.c5! Bb7 [21...Rbd8 22.Bg5!; 21...
Nc5 22.Nc5 dc5 23.Bc5 Bc5 24.Qc5] 22.Bf4 Ba6? [22...Ne5 23.cd6 Bd6
24.Ne5 Be5 25.Be5 Re5 26.f4 Re7 27.Qc5] 23.cd6 Bd6 24.Bd6 Qd6 25.
Ne5! (and White is winning) Qe5 26.Rd7 Red8 27.Red1 1-0 [Leko]

Check out these

USCFSales.com:
Top TNT 2
Zdenko Krnic
The latest CD, Top TNT 2, covers the period from September 1 December 31, 2008.
In all 1,154 games from nineteen of the most important events are presented. The
development of chess theory is dictated by the worlds leading chess players and the
Slav Defense was the most popular choice for Black during this period; so much so
that we had to divide the material into articles:
[D12] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4 5.Qb3 Qb6

[D17] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nc4 Qc7 8.
g3 e5 9.de5 Ne5 10.Bf4 Nfd7 11.Bg2 g5 with the latest material on all three
possible continuations after 12.Ne5, 12.Be5, and 12.Ne3.
ECO E (4th ed.)
The material on this CD is presented in four formats: CI Expert, PGN, ChessBase, and
Chess Assistant.

Vladimir Kramnik

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
The Complete
DGT Product Line

Viswanathan Anand
D17
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nc4 Qc7
8.g3 e5 9.de5 Ne5 10.Bf4 Nfd7 11.Bg2 g5
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Ne5
Nd7
Qd4
Qf42
Qc13
0-0
a55
Ra4
gf4
0-0-01
Qd7
Bd6
Kb84
Qe7
a6
Bc76
Be5
Qd4
0-0-07
Ne39
Qe4
Rd2
h4
hg513
Bh314
Ne5
f6
Be78
Be610
Bb3
0-011
Bc512
fg5
Rf715
Ne3
Nf5
Qc2
0-017
hg3
Rfc1
b419
Nb520
Qb3
with
compensation
equal
and White is
superior
3
gf4
0-0-0
Ng616
fg3
h518
Kb8
h4
Qc821
hg322
...
...
...
0-023
hg3
Rac125
Nd5
Qe4
Nde7
...
...
Kb8
fg3
h524
h4
Qc8
Ng6
Be726
equal
...
...
0-0
Qc2
Qe427
hg3
Nb529
ab5
Qe3
and White is
superior
5
...
...
Nc5
Ne6
fg3
a528
cb5
Nc5
Ng430
...
...
...
...
hg3
Rfd131
Rd833
Rd1
Qd234
and White is
slightly better
6
...
...
...
fg3
a5
h532
Qd8
Qf6
Be735
...
...
...
hg3
Ne437
Qb3
Rfd1
Rac1
Nf6
...
...
fg3
h536
Kb838
a539
Bb4
Nb6
Rd140
equal
1
13...Bd7 14.Qd4 Rg8 15.Qe4 [15.0-0 Rg6 16.Rfd1 Bg7 17.Qe4 Be6 unclear; Gostisa Tukmakov, Slovenija 2001 see 83/374] Be7 [15...Be6 16.Qh7 Rg6 with
compensation; Tukmakov] 16.Bh3 0-0-0 17.Bd7 Qd7 18.Qf4 Bg5 19.Qf3 Bd2 20.Kf1
Qh3 21.Qg2 Qe6 with compensation; B.Gelfand - Bareev, Wijk aan Zee 2002 see 83/
(374)
2
15.Qh8 Qd2 16.Kf1 Qb2 17.Re1 Bb4 18.Qf6 Qc2 19.Ne4 Be6 -, V.Makarov - O.
Ivanov, Kharkiv 2003;
15.Qd7 Rd7 16.gf4 Bb4 with compensation; A.Dragomirescu - G.Swathi, Malinska
2005
3
16.Qh6 Kb8 [16...Bc7 17.a5 a6 18.0-0 Qe6 with compensation; Je.Piket - Van Wely,
Nederland 2002 see 84/313] 17.0-0 Qe6 18.Qe6 Be6 with compensation; R.Ruck Skoberne, Budapest 2008
4
16...a5 17.0-0 Be5? 18.Nb5! Qe7 19.Na7 Kb8 20.Nc6 bc6 21.Qc6 Ka7 22.Qb5 and
White is winning; Kramnik - Morozevich, Monaco (rapid) 2002 see 84/(313); 17...
Kb8 Z.Krnic
5
18.b4!?
6
Kramnik - V.Anand, Russia - Rest of the World (rapid) 2002 see 85/(338)
7
14.Ne3
a) 14...Be6 15.a5 [15.0-0-0 see 14.0-0-0; 15.Qe4 (Kacheishvili - Andriasian, Dresden

2007) 0-0-0 16.f4 gf4 17.gf4 Qb6 18.fe5 f5! 19.Nf5 Qb2 with counterplay] a6 16.0-0
[16.Ne4!? Rd8 17.Qc3 Vitiugov] Rd8 17.Qa4 Nd7! 18.Qc2 Bc5 19.Nf5 0-0 Vitiugov Sakaev, Russia (ch) 2007 see 101/(303);
b) 14...Bg6 15.0-0-0 Qb6 16.Ne4 Be7 17.Nd6 [17.f4 Qd4 18.Rd4 gf4 19.gf4 Nd7 20.
Nd6 Bd6 21.Rd6 0-0-0 equal; Evgeny Alekseev - Bu Xiangzhi, Russia - China 2007]
Bd6 18.Qd6 Kf7 19.h4 Rhd8 20.Qa3 gh4 21.gh4 h5 22.Qc3 a5 equal; Sakaev - Bu
Xiangzhi, Rusia 2008
8
14...Be6 15.f4! [15.Ne3 (B.Gelfand - M.Kobalia, Internet (m/3-blitz) 2004 see 94/
(297)) Bb3 16.Rd2 Rd8 17.Qd8 Qd8 18.Rd8 Kd8 19.Nf5 Bb4 20.Nd4 Bc4 and Black
is slightly better, pair of bishops; Dominguez Perez, Ibarra] gf4 16.gf4 Nc4 17.Qf6
Bf7 18.Qh8 Qf4 19.Kb1 Bg6 20.Ka1! [20.Ka2?! Ne3 21.Bh3 Nd1 22.Rd1 Rd8 23.Rf1
Qc4 24.Ka1 Qc5 unclear; B.Gelfand - Morozevich, Monaco (blindfold) 2005 see 94/
(297)] Ne3 (Ba.Jobava - M.Carlsen, Warszawa 2005 see 94/297) 21.Rhf1 Nf1 22.Rf1
Qd6 23.Ne4 Be4 only move 24.Be4 0-0-0 25.Qh7 and White is slightly better;
Dominguez Perez, Ibarra;
14...Nc4 15.Qc4 Bd6 16.Be4 Bh3 17.Qd3 Be5 18.Bf5 Bf5 19.Qf5 Qc8 20.Qe4 0-0 21.
h4 g4 22.Rd2 Qe6 unclear; Ba.Jobava - Kulaots, Istanbul 2004 see 94/(296);
14...Rd8 15.Qe3 Be7 16.Rd8 Kd8 17.Rd1 [17.Ne5 Qe5 18.Qa7 Ba3 19.Rd1 Kc8 20.
Qd4 Qd4 21.Rd4 Bc5 22.Rd2 Be6 with compensation; Ivan Sokolov - Harikrishna,
Hoogeveen 2005 see 95/(282)] Kc8 18.Be4 [18.Ne5 Qe5 19.Qa7 Ba3 20.Qd4 Qd4 21.
Rd4 Bc5 22.Rd2 Be6 23.e3 Kc7 24.Be4 h5 with compensation; Ftacnik - Bu
Xiangzhi, Torino (ol) 2006] Be4 19.Qe4 h5 20.Ne3 Kb8 21.Qf5 Rd8 22.f4 Rd1 23.
Kd1 Qb6 24.Qe6 Qe3 25.Qe7 Qd4 26.Kc2 gf4 27.Qf6 f3 28.ef3 Qd3 29.Kb3 Nf3
equal; Aronian - Bu Xiangzhi, Nanjing 2008
9
15.Ne4 Rd8 16.Qc3 (V.Mikhalevski - M.Rodshtein, Israel (ch) 2004 see 94/(296))
Nc4! 17.Qc4 Qe5 18.Rd8 Kd8 19.Rd1 Kc8 and Black is slightly better, pair of
bishops; Dominguez Perez, Ibarra;
15.Ne5 Qe5 16.Qe5 fe5 17.Be4 Be6 18.f3 Rd8 19.g4 0-0 20.Rd8 Rd8 21.Rd1 Rd4 22.
e3 Rd1 23.Kd1 a5 equal; Rowson - L.Johannessen, Calvia (ol) 2004 see 94/(296)
10
15...Bg6
a) 16.Bh3 Qb6 17.Qb6 ab6 18.f4 Bc5 19.Nc2 Bc2 20.Kc2 Nc4 21.Kb3 Ne3 22.Rd3 (Z.
Izoria - Vl.Akopian, Saint-Vincent 2005 see 94/(296)) gf4 23.gf4 Rd8 24.Ne4 Rd3 25.
ed3 Kf7 26.Re1 Re8 equal; Dominguez Perez, Ibarra;
b) 16.Ne4 Qa5
b1) 17.Nc4 Nc4 18.Qc4 Bf7 19.Qc2 Qb4 [19...Bd5!?] 20.Rd3 0-0 21.Rhd1 Rad8 22.
Rd8 Rd8 23.Rd8 Bd8 24.Nc3 Bc7 25.Be4 h6 26.Bg6 Be5 equal; C.Ward - N.Pert,
Great Britain 2006;

b2) 17.Nd6 Bd6 18.Qd6 Qa4 19.Qe6 Kf8 20.Qf6 Nf7 unclear; Z.Krnic;
c) 16.Be4 Qb6 17.Bg6 hg6 18.Qe4 Qb4 19.Rd4 Qb3 20.f4 gf4 21.gf4 Rh4 22.Rhd1
Kf7 23.Ng2 Rg4 24.h3 Rg2 25.fe5 Rg3 26.ef6 Rc3 27.bc3 Qc3 equal; Adianto - Zhou
Jianchao, Asia (ch) 2007
11
17...Nd7 18.Nf5 Nc5 19.Qe3 Qe5 20.Be4 Ne4! 21.Ne4 [21.Qe4 Qe4 22.Ne4 Bd5 23.
f3 Rd8 24.Rhd1 b6 25.Rd3 f7 26.Nc3 Be6 27.Nd4 Bd7 28.Ndb5 Bf5 equal] Bd5 22.
Ned6 Bd6 23.Nd6 Ke7 24.Nf5 [24.Qe5? fe5 25.e4 Kd6 (and Black is superior) 26.
Rhd1 Rac8 27.Kb1 Rhf8 28.ed5 c5 and Black is superior; H.Tikkanen - P.Haba, Ceska
Trebova 2007 see 100/281] Ke6 25.Qd3! Rad8 26.Nd4 Kf7 27.Rhd1 Be4 28.Qb3 Kg6
unclear; P.Haba
12
18...gh4? 19.Qh4 Rf7 20.Nf5 Kh8 21.Be4! and White is superior; Ba.Jobava Grischuk, Calvia (ol) 2004 see 94/296
13
19.Ng4?! (F.Elsness - O.Hole, Norge (ch) 2005 see 94/(296)) Ng4 20.Qg4 Bf2 and
Black is slightly better; Dominguez Perez, Ibarra
14
20.Rh5 Ng6 21.Rg5 Rae8 22.Rc5 Re4 23.Ne4 unclear; Vescovi - Paragua, Torino (ol)
2006
15
20...Kh8 21.Bf5 Be3 22.fe3 Bg8 23.Qc2 Rad8 24.Rd8 Rd8 25.Ne4 Qg7 26.Rh5 h6 27.
Ng5 Nc4 28.Bd3 Ne3 29.Qd2 Rd5 30.Qe3 Rg5 31.Rh4 and White is slightly better;
Aronian - Bu Xiangzhi, Stepanakert 2005 see 95/(282);
20...Rf7 21.Nf5 Kh8 22.f4 gf4 23.gf4 Nc4 24.Rd4! Nb6 [24...Raf8 25.Rc4 Bc4 26.
Qc4 Rf5 27.Bf5 Rf5 unclear; Vitiugov] 25.Qd3 Raf8 26.e3 unclear; Vitiugov Sakaev, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/2) 2007 see 101/303
16
14...Ng4 15.a5! fg3 16.hg3 a6 17.Ra4 Ndf6 18.Ne4 (G.Kasparov - Morozevich, Wijk
aan Zee 2000 see 78/370) Nd5 19.Nc5 h5 20.0-0 and White is slightly better; G.
Kasparov;
14...Bb4 15.0-0 fg3 16.hg3 h5 17.Rfc1 Nc5 [17...Nf6 18.a5! a6 19.Ne4 Nd5 20.Qb3
and White is slightly better; R.Ruck - Rogic, Oesterreich 2003 see 91/(351)] 18.a5
unclear; P.Lukacs, V.Erdos;
14...Nc5 15.0-0 see 14.0-0
17
15.a5 a6 16.0-0 h5 17.Rfc1 Kb8 18.b4 h4 19.Nd5 [19.Rab1 hg3 20.hg3 fg3 21.fg3
Qe5 and Black is superior; Cebalo - Ni Hua, Reggio Emilia 2008] Qe5 20.gf4 Nf4 21.
Nf4 Qf4 22.e3 Qg5 23.h3 Rg8 24.f4 Qf6 unclear; Z.Krnic
18
16...a5 17.Rfc1 Kb8 18.Rab1 Bc5 19.b4 ab4 20.Na2 Qa5 21.Nb4 Bb4 22.Nd6 Nge5
23.Nb7 Kb7 24.Qe4 Ka7 25.Rb4 Rb8 26.Qe3 Rb6 27.Rd4 Nb8 28.Re4 Nbd7 29.Bh3
h5 30.Bd7 Nd7 31.Re7 Rd8 32.Rd1 Qa4 33.Rdd7 Rd7 34.Rd7 Ka6 35.Rf7 h4 36.Rf8
Qd1 37.Kg2 Rb3 38.Ra8 Kb5 39.Rb8 Kc4 40.Qe6 1-0 Cebalo - An.Stojanovic, Bled
2008; 29...Rd8!? Z.Krnic
19
18.Nb5 Qb6 19.Nbd6 Bd6 20.Nd6 Nde5 21.Nf7 [21.Nb7? Qb7 22.Ra3 Rd4 and Black
is superior; Dao Tien Hai - Bu Xiangzhi, Doha 2006 see 101/(304)] Nf7 22.Qg6 h4
with compensation; Rmus - Predojevic, Beograd 2006 see 101/(304)

20
19.b5 hg3 [19...cb5 20.Nb5 Qc2 21.Rc2 hg3 22.Ng3 Nf4! 23.Rd1 a6 24.Nd4 Ng2 25.
Kg2 Be7 26.e3 Ne5 27.f4 Ng4! 28.Kf3 Nh2 equal; P.H.Nielsen - Predojevic, Kemer
2007 see 101/304] 20.bc6? gf2 21.Kf1 Qh2! 22.c7 Qc7 and Black is winning;
Predojevic; 20.Ng3
21
19...Qb6 20.a5!! Qb5 21.Nd4 Qg5 22.Nc6 Kc7 23.Qe4! and White is winning
22
20...h3 21.Qe3! c5 22.Be4! Nf6 23.bc5 Ng4 24.c6!! Rd1 [24...Ne3 25.c7 a8 26.cd8R
Qd8 27.Nc7 b8 28.Rab1! Qc7 29.Rc7 c7 30.Rb7 c8 31.Ne3 Bc5 32.Rf7 Ne5 33.
Rf5 Be3 34.fe3 h2 35.h1 Ng4 36.Rf3 c7 37.Bf5 Ne5 38.Rf4 and White is winning]
25.Rd1 Ne3 26.Ne3 bc6 27.Rab1 cb5 28.Rb5 Kc7 29.Nd5 1-0 Kasimdzhanov Predojevic, Deutschland 2007 see 101/305;
20...hg3 21.Qg3 Nde5 22.Qe3 Bc5 23.Qc5 cb5 24.Qe3 Qe6 25.ab5 Qb6 26.Qb6 ab6
27.Rd1 Nf4 28.e3 and White is superior; Kasimdzhanov
23
15.Rd1 Ng6 16.Qb3 Bc5 17.0-0 Nf6 18.Qc4 Qe5 19.Nh6 fg3 20.hg3 Qh5 21.Bf3 Qg5
22.Kg2 Qh6 23.Qc5 Nf4 24.Kg1 Nh3 equal; A.Korobov - M.Ragger, Beijing (rapid)
2008;
15.gf4 Nc4 16.0-0-0 [16.e3 Nc5 (A.Schenk - J.Gustafsson, Lippstadt 2003) 17.Rd1
Rd1 18.Nd1 Qa5 19.Qc3 Qc3 20.bc3 Na4 and Black is slightly better; P.Eljanov] Qf4
17.e3 Qc7 18.Ne4 Qe5 19.Nd4 Ncb6 20.f4 Qc7 21.Ng5 Nc5 22.Kb1 Nd5 23.Bd5 Rd5
24.e4 Rd7 25.e5 h6 26.Ne4 Ne4 27.Qe4 Bc5 equal; Mamedyarov - J.Smeets, Dresden
(ol) 2008;
15.0-0-0 fg3 [15...Ng6 16.Ne4 Bb4 17.Rd4 a5 18.Rhd1 and White is slightly better; A.
Korobov - M.Paragua, Beijing (rapid) 2008] 16.hg3 Bb4 17.f4 Ng4 18.Ne4 Qb6 19.
Kb1 Nc5!? 20.Rd8 Rd8 21.Nc5 Bc5 22.Rh7 Nf2! 23.Ka2! Qb4! 24.Qb3! Rd2 25.Qb4
Bb4 26.Kb3 a5 27.Rf7 Nd1 28.Bf3 Rb2 29.Kc4 Rc2 30.Kd4 Nb2 31.g4!? Rc4 32.Ke5
Bc3 33.Ke6 Rf4 34.g5 Na4 35.g6 Nc5 36.Kd6 (P.Eljanov - Morozevich, Beer-Sheva
2005 see 95/282) Ne4! 37.Be4 Re4 38.e3 a4 39.g7 Be5! 40.Kc5 Bg7 41.Nd6 Rg4 42.
Kb6 Rb4 43.Kc5 Rg4 equal; P.Eljanov
24
16...Nf6 17.Rad1 Bc5 18.e3 Rd1 19.Rd1 Rd8 equal; Adly - Frhat, Tanta City 2003
25
17.Rfc1 Nf6 18.a5 (Babula - M.Ragger, Deutschland 2008) a6 equal;
17.Rfd1 Ng6 18.Rac1 h4 19.Nb5 Qb6 20.Nbd4 Bb4 [20...hg3 21.a5 gf2 22.Kf1 Qc7
23.Qb3 Qh2 24.Nf3 Qf4 25.a6 Bb4 26.N5d4 c5 27.Qd5 Qc7 28.Qf7 Nge5 29.Ne5 Qe5
30.Qf3 Qc7 31.Ne6 Ne5 32.Rd8 Rd8 33.Qe4 1-0, S.Ernst - J.Smeets, Wijk aan Zee III
2004] 21.Qb3 -, E.Romanov - A.Gubajdullin, Saint Petersburg 2007
26
21.Ne7 Ne7 22.Qe7 hg3 23.Qd6 Qc7 24.Qc7 Kc7 25.fg3 Ne5 equal; F.Berkes - D.
Stellwagen, Paks 2008

27
16.Ne4 fg3 17.hg3 (Gyimesi - P.Acs, Balatonlelle 2002 see 85/338) Bb4 unclear;
16.Rfd1 Bc5 17.Ne4 Bb4 18.Qb3 [18.a5?! Rd1 19.Qd1 fg3 20.hg3 Ba5 21.b4 Bb6 and
Black is slightly better; S.Halkias - Gagunashvili, Moscow 2003 see 87/342] a5 19.
Rac1 Rd1 20.Rd1 Rd8 equal; Simon - Jadrijevic, Hrvatska (ch) 2002;
16.Rad1 Bc5 17.Ne4 Bb4 18.Qc1 [18.e3 fe3 19.fe3 Kb8 20.Nf6 a5 unclear; Bareev Morozevich, Wijk aan Zee 2002 see 83/375] Ng6 [18...fg3 19.hg3 Rd1 20.Rd1 Rd8
equal; Kramnik - Morozevich, Astana 2001 see 81/(312)] 19.Qc4 a5 20.e3 fe3 21.Ne3
Kb8 equal; A.Beliavsky - J.Lautier, Izmir 2004
28
17...h5 18.b4! h4 19.Nb5! cb5 20.Rfc1 Nc6 21.ab5 hg3 22.bc6! gf2 23.Kf2! b6 24.
Ra6!! Bb4! 25.Qb4 Rd4! [25...Nd4 26.Ne7 Kb8 27.e3! and White is superior; A.
Volokitin - Inarkiev, Poikovsky 2008 see 103/266] 26.Rc4 [26.Qc3 Qf4 27.Ke1 Qf5
28.Ra7! Qg5 29.Ra8 Kc7 30.Rh8 Qg2 31.Qe3 and White is superior] Qf4 27.Ke1 Rc4
28.Nd6 Kd8 29.Nf7! Qf7 30.Qc4 and White is superior; A.Volokitin
29
18.Rad1 Bb4 19.Nh6 Nc5! 20.Rd8 Rd8 21.Qh7 Bc3 22.bc3 Na4 unclear; R.
Ponomariov - B.Gelfand, Plovdiv 2003 see 89/357;
18.Rfc1 Nc5 19.Qf4 Ne6!? [19...h5 20.b4! and White is superior; P.H.Nielsen Shirov, Deutschland 2004 see 90/339] 20.Qh4 Ng6 M.Golubev
30
21.Qc3 Qe5 [21...Ne4 22.Be4 Qc3 23.bc3 b6 24.Nd4 Nf6 25.Bf3 and White is
superior; Shirov - Harikrishna, Foros 2006] 22.Qf3 and White is superior; L.
Johannessen - Shirov, Deutschland 2004 see 92/(387)
31
17.Rfc1 Kb8 18.Rab1 Ne6 19.Qe4 Nc5 20.Qc2 Ne6 21.Qe4 Nc5 22.Qc2 -,
Grischuk - Inarkiev, Elista 2008;
17.Rad1 h5 18.Rd8 Qd8 19.Rd1 see 17.Rfd1
32
17...Rd1 18.Rd1 h5 19.Qd2 Ne6 20.Ne4 Bb4 21.Qe3 Kb8 22.Bh3 Rd8 23.Rd8 Qd8 24.
Qh6 Qd1 25.Bf1 Qd5 26.Bg2 Qd1 equal; Xu Jun - Gagunashvili, Calvia (ol) 2004 see
92/(387)
33
18.Ne4 Ne4 19.Be4 Bb4 20.Rd8 Qd8 21.Kg2 Qf6 22.e3 Ng6 23.Rh1 Kb8 24.b3 h4 25.
Nh4 Nh4 26.Rh4 Rh4 27.gh4 Qh4 equal; Riazantsev - Lastin, Russia (ch) 2008
34
20.e4 h4 21.f4 Ng6 22.e5 Qe6 unclear; Ivanchuk - B.Gelfand, Russia 2005 see 93/317;
20.e3 Kb8 21.Ne2 Ne6 22.Ned4 Bb4 23.Ne6 fe6! 24.Nd4 Rd8 25.Rf1 Rc8 26.Qh7
Nc4! equal; B.Avrukh - Fressinet, Deutschland 2008 see 102/289

35
21.Bh3 Kb8 22.Qe3 Ng6 [22...Re8 23.g2 a8 24.Rd4 b6 25.Ne4 Ne4 26.Qe4 Bc5 27.
f4 Bd4 28.Nd4 b7 29.Bf5 c7 30.fe5 Re5 31.Qf4 and White is winning] 23.Ne7 Qe7
24.Qe7 Ne7
a) 25.Rd6?! h4 [25...c7 26.Rf6 Rh7 equal] 26.g4 Ne6 unclear; B.Gelfand - Vl.
Akopian, Yerevan (m/1-rapid) 2008 see 103/265;
bb) 25.Rd4 Ng6 26.Bf5 and White is slightly better; B.Gelfand
36
15...Kb8 16.Rc1 [16.Qc2 see 14.Qc2] Nc5 17.Qc2 a5 18.Rfd1 Rd1 19.Rd1 Ne6 20.
Ne4 Bb4 21.Nf6 Rd8 equal; Shirov - Morozevich, Monaco (rapid) 2005
37
16.Rc1 Kb8 17.Qc2 Nf6 18.Rfd1 Rd1 19.Qd1 Bc5 equal; Zivanic - Muratovic, Zenica
2003
38
16...Nc5 17.Qc2 Ne4 18.Qe4 a5 19.Rad1 Bc5 20.Qc2 Qb6 21.e3 Kb8 equal; N.
Kelecevic - Tukmakov, Winterthur 2003;
16...h4!? 17.Nh4 Rh4 18.gh4 Ng4 19.Ng3 Bc5 20.e3 Ne3 21.fe3 Qg3 22.Qe1 Qg4
with compensation; P.Lukacs, V.Erdos
39
17...Nc5 18.Nc5 Bc5 19.Qc3 Be7! unclear, with the idea h4 P.Lukacs, V.Erdos
40
20...h4 21.gh4!? [21.Nh4 Be7! unclear] Ng6 22.Qg3 unclear; P.Lukacs, V.Erdos;
20...Rd1 21.Rd1 Qc8 22.Ng7 Ka7 23.Ngh5 Qf5 24.Be4 Qh3 (Hoang Thanh Trang - V.
Erdos, Budapest 2004 see 91/(351)) 25.Bg2 [25.Bf3!?] Qf5 26.Be4 Qh3 equal; P.
Lukacs, V.Erdos.

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Caro-Kann B12
Sasa Velickovic
The first monograph published by Chess Informant appeared in 1993 on the
Caro-Kann B12. It was written by GM Yasser Seirawan and it coincided with
a great expansion of that opening in practice. It was well received at the time
and a new edition, written by myself, appeared on CD a few years ago. Since
then many leading chess players have contributed to the development of the
ideas in this opening. Numerous games and an abundance of material deserve
our attention, and, with this in mind, a new edition of the Monograph B12 is
forthcoming.
ECO E (4th ed.) CD
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Nd7

6.0-0 h6 7.Nbd2 Ne7 8.Nb3
8
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
...
Bd21
c42
cd5
ef6
Bc3
Bd3
Bf5
Qe2
g5
Bg7
f63
cd54
Bf6
0-0
Bg7
Nf5
Re85
...
Bd2
Rc17
g4
Nh4
f4
a4
Be310
Nd2
Bh7
Nf56
Be7
Nh4
Bh4
a58
Be49
0-0
Bh7
...
...
c411
Na5
Nc4
Na5
b4
Bf3
Qb3
...
Ng6
dc412
Rb813
Nb614
Nh4
Nf3
Nd5
Be715
equal
...
...
Rc1
c416
Bc417
g318
Re1
Na5
b4
...
...
Be7
dc4
0-0
Re819
Bf8
Rb8
Ne720
...
c3
a422
a5
Bd2
Nc5
dc5
Nd4
Nf5
...
Nf521
a6
Rc8
c5
Bc523
Nc5
0-0
Bf524
...
a425
a5
c428
Be3
Nbd2
Nc4
Bd3
Qd3
Nc8
Be726
a627
Na7
dc429
0-0
Nb5
Bd3
Qc730
The Complete
DGT Product Line

Viswanathan Anand
equal
Top TNT, Vol. 2
unclear
3
the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
White's
slightly
better
White's
slightly
better
unclear
9.Ne1 c5 10.Nc5 [10.c3 Bg6 11.Nc5 Nc5 12.dc5 Nc6 equal; G.Timoshenko S.Sulskis, Tallinn 2007 see 101/(73)] Nc5 11.dc5 Nc6 12.Bd3 Be4 13.Qe2
[13.f3 Bc5 14.Kh1 Bf5 15.Bf5 ef5 16.Nd3 Bb6 17.f4 g4 18.Bd2 h5 19.Bb4 h4
20.c3 h3 1/2 : 1/2 Sergey Karjakin - Nisipeanu, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/1) 2007
see 101/73] Bc5 14.Be4 de4 15.Qe4 Qd4 16.Qf3 0-0-0 17.Be3 Ne5 18.Qf6
Qd6 19.Bc5 Qc5 20.Nd3 Nd3 21.cd3 Qf5 22.Rac1 Kb8 23.Qf5 ef5 24.Rfd1
Rd5 25.Kf1 Re8 equal; Vachier-Lagrave - I.Cheparinov, Cap dAgde (rapid)
2008
2
10.Na5 Rb8 11.c4 b6 [11...Be4!?] 12.Nb3 dc4 [12...0-0 13.Rc1 dc4 14.Rc4
Be4 15.h4 g4 16.Ne1 Bd5 17.Rc3 c5 18.Bg4 cd4 19.Rg3 Ne5 20.Bh3 N7g6
21.h5 f5 22.Nd4 Bc4 23.Nec2 Bf1 24.Kf1 Qh4 25.hg6 Rbd8 26.Bc3 Nc6 27.
Rd3 Ne5 28.Rd2 Nc4 29.Re2 e5 30.Qd3 and White is winning; S.Movsesian S.Grigoriants, Plovdiv 2008] 13.Bc4 Nd5 14.Rc1 and White is slightly better
3
10...Be4!?
4
11...Nd5!?
5
16...Qf6 17.Qb5 [17.Rae1 and White is slightly better] g4 [17...Rf7? 18.Qb7
Raf8 19.Qc6 and White is superior; Li Chao - A.Bagheri, Beijing (rapid)
2008] 18.Nfd2 Nb6 19.Rae1 and White is slightly better;
16...Re8 17.h3 and White is slightly better
6
9...Qc7 10.Rc1 g5 11.h3 Ng6 12.a4 Be7 13.a5 and White is slightly better;
Solodovnichenko - Thejkumar, New Delhi 2009;
9...Nc8 10.a4 [10.Bd3?! Bd3 11.cd3 a5 12.Qc2 Qc7 13.Rfe1 Be7 14.Rac1 0-0
15.a4 Re8 16.g3 Nb8 17.h4 Bf8 18.h5 Ne7 19.Kg2 b6 20.Bf4 Na6 and Black
is slightly better; Debashis - Mahjoob, New Delhi 2008] Be7 [10...Ncb6 11.
Bd3 Bd3 12.cd3 Be7 13.Be3 0-0 14.Nfd2 a5 15.f4 Bb4 16.f5 ef5 17.Rf5 Qe7
18.Qg4 Kh7 unclear; N.Kosintseva - Gunina, Russia (ch) 2008] 11.a5 0-0 12.
Ne1 c5 13.f4 c4 14.Nc1 Be4 15.g4 f6 16.Bf3 Bf3 17.Nf3 f5 unclear; Hedman
- Kolbus, Stockholm 2008/09
7
10.Na5 Qb6 11.Nb3 a5 [11...Qd8 12.Ba5 b6 13.Bd2 Be7 14.c4 0-0 15.cd5
cd5 16.Ba6 and White is slightly better; Vysochin - Charochkina, Zvenigorod
2008] 12.a4 Bb4 13.c3 Be7 14.c4 dc4 15.Bc4 Bb4 16.Bc3 0-0 17.Qd2 Ne7
equal; Kritz - Velicka, Differdange 2008
8
13...Be7 14.f5 and White is slightly better; Wang Hao - Darban,
Visakhpatnam 2008
9
14...Be7 15.f5 Bg5 16.fe6 fe6 17.c4 and White is slightly better; Daniil
Dubov - Bryakin, Herceg Novi 2008;
14...0-0 unclear
10
15.f5? ef5 16.gf5 Ne5 17.Nc5 Nd7
11
10.Re1 Be7 11.g3 0-0 12.c4 dc4 13.Bc4 Nb6 14.Bf1 Nd5 15.a3 Rb8 16.Rc1
Re8 17.Na5 Nf8 equal; G.Timoshenko - Da.Magalashvili, Kavala 2008;
10.a4 Be7 11.a5 0-0 12.c4 Nh4 [12...dc4 13.Bc4 Qb8 14.Re1 Rd8 15.Qe2
Kh8 16.Rac1 a6 17.g3 Bf8 18.h4 and White is slightly better; Efimenko Jorczik, Deutschland 2008] 13.Nh4 Bh4 14.Bb4 Be7 15.Bc3 dc4 16.Bc4 b5
17.ab6 ab6 18.Qf3 Qc7 equal; A.Orsini - Fe.Peralta, Argentina (ch) 2008
12
10...Be7 11.cd5 cd5 12.Na5 Rb8 13.Qb3 0-0 14.Rfc1 and White is slightly
better; A.Gara - Prohaszka, Magyarorszag 2008
13
11...Qb8 12.Nc4 Be7 13.h4 Nb6 14.Nb6 ab6 15.h5 Nf8 16.Qb3 Nd7 equal;
Vila Gazquez - J.M.Lopez Martinez, Sants 2008;
11...Qc7 12.Nc4 Nb6 13.g3 Nc4 14.Bc4 Ne7 15.Re1 Qd7 16.Bb4 Nd5 17.Bf8
Rf8 18.Qd2 0-0-0 19.b4 Bf5 20.Rac1 Kb8 equal; N.Mikkelsen - Danin,
Vladimir 2008
14
12...Nh4 13.Nh4 Qh4 14.f4 Nb6 15.Nb6 ab6 16.Be3 and White is slightly
better; Lastin - J.Timman, Baku 2008
15
17.Rac1 0-0 18.a3 Qd7 19.Rfd1 Rfd8 equal; Nidjat Mamedov - Ba.Jobava,
Baku 2008
16
11.Na5 Rb8 equal; I.Khairullin - Rodshtein, Moscow 2008
17
12.Na5 Qb8 [12...Rb8 13.Bc4 Nb6 14.Bd3 Nf8 15.Be2 Nfd7 16.b4 0-0 17.
Ne1 Nd5 18.a3 equal; V.Malakhov - Saltaev, Kallithea 2008] 13.Nc4 Nb6 14.
Qb3 Nc4 15.Rc4 0-0 16.Bd3 Rd8 17.Be3 Rd7 equal; Herrera Delgado - V.
Burmakin, Sevilla 2008

18
13.Qe2 Nb6 14.Bd3 Nd5 15.Rfd1 Kh8 16.g3 a5 equal; M.Antipov - Danin,
Zvenigorod 2008
19
13...Nb6 14.Bd3 Qd7 15.Re1 Rfd8 16.Ba5 Qe8 17.Bf1 Rd7 18.Qe2 Nd5 19.
Red1 Rc8 equal; Oleksienko - Margvelashvili, Kavala 2008
20
17.Bf1 Nd5 18.a3 N7b6 equal; V.Malakhov - Ba.Jobava, Kallithea 2008
21
9...Qb6 10.a4 a5 11.Ne1 Qc7 12.f4 Nc8 13.Be3 Ncb6 14.Nd2 Be7 15.g4 and
White is slightly better; Arakhamia-Grant - Kadimova, Kusadasi 2006 see 96/
(71);
9...Ng6 10.Be3 Be7 11.Ne1 0-0 12.f4 f5 13.c4 Nh8 14.Rc1 and White is
slightly better; Vehi Bach - Butuc, La Massana 2008;
9...a5 10.a4 Nf5 11.Bd3 Bg6 12.g3!? [12.Bf4 Nh4 13.Ne1 Qb6 14.Bg6 Ng6
15.Be3 c5 16.dc5 Nc5 17.Nc5 Bc5 18.Bc5 Qc5 19.Nd3 Qc4 20.Kh1 0-0 21.f4
Ne7 22.Qf3 Rab8 equal; K.Zhukov - S.Slugin, Saint Petersburg 2008] Be7 13.
Ne1 0-0 14.Ng2 c5 15.Bb5 c4 16.Nd2 and White is slightly better;
9...Qc7 10.Bd2 g5 11.Ne1 Nf5 12.Rc1 and White is slightly better; Du.
Popovic - Mio.Perunovic, Srbija 2008;
9...Rc8 10.g3! [10.Bd2 Ng6 11.Be3 Be7 12.Ne1 c5 13.f4 0-0 14.Nf3 c4 15.
Nc1 b5 16.Qd2 a5 17.Bd1 f5 18.Ne2 b4 19.h3 Rb8 unclear; G.Kasparov Vallejo Pons, Linares 2003 see 87/(73)]
a) 10...a6 11.Nc5! Nc5 12.dc5 Qc7 13.b4 Be4 14.Re1 Bh7 15.h4 Ng6 16.Qd4
Be7 17.h5 [17.Qg4?! Bf8 unclear; Polivanov - Zavgorodniy, Kramatorsk
2003 see 88/(64)] Nf8 18.Qg4 and White is superior;
b) 10...Nf5 11.Bd3 Bg6 12.Ne1 Be7 13.Ng2 0-0 [13...c5 14.Nc5 Bc5 15.dc5
Ne5 16.Qa4 with initiative] 14.Nf4 Bh7 15.Qf3! and White is slightly better;
A.Polivanov;
c) 10...Qc7 11.h4 a6 12.Nc5! Nc5 13.dc5 Ng6 14.Qd4 Be7 15.h5 Nf8 16.b4
Nd7 17.Bf4 0-0 18.Qe3 Rfe8 19.c4! and White is slightly better; Polivanov Zdebskaja, Kramatorsk 2003 see 88/64
22
10.g4 Ne7 11.Nh4 h5 12.gh5 Nf5 13.Nf5 Bf5 14.Bf4 Qb6 15.Bg4 Bg4 16.
Qg4 Qb5 17.Rad1 a5 18.Rd2 0-0-0 with compensation; Ad.Horvath - R.Ruck,
Magyarorszag 2006 see 96/(71)
23
13...Nc5 14.dc5 Bc5 15.b4 Be7 16.Qa4!? [16.b5 0-0 17.ba6 ba6 18.Ba6 Ra8
19.Qe2 Qc7 20.Nd4 Nd4 21.cd4 Qa7 22.Bd3 Qd4 23.Bh7 Kh7 24.a6 and
White is slightly better] Qd7 17.b5! Ra8 18.Rfb1 with initiative; Yevseev
24
17.Be3 Qc7 18.f4 Qe7 19.Bd4 Rc7 20.Ra3 Rfc8 21.Qd2 Bh7 22.Qe3 and
White is slightly better; P.Smirnov - Yevseev, Moscow 2006 see 96/71
25
9.Bd2 Be7 10.Na5 [10.Rc1 0-0 11.c4 dc4 12.Na5 Rb8 13.Nc4 Ndb6 equal; M.
Baba - Loo Pak Kwan, Kuala Lumpur 2008] Rb8 [10...Qc7 11.c4 dc4 12.Nc4
Ndb6 13.Ba5 Qd7 equal] 11.c4 dc4 12.Nc4 0-0 13.Ne3 Bg6 [13...Be4!? Roiz]
14.Bc3 Ncb6 equal; E.Berg - Roiz, Plovdiv 2008 see 102/85;
9.Be3!?
a) 9...Be7 10.Nfd2 [10.Ne1 Ncb6 11.Bd3 Bd3 12.Nd3 Qc7 13.Qg4 g6 14.Qe2
Nc4 15.Nd2 Nd2 16.Qd2 c5 17.c3 c4 18.Ne1 Bf8 19.g3 Qc6 20.Ng2 b5 21.h4
0-0-0 22.Bf4 Nb6 unclear; Edouard - Rodshtein, La Massana 2008] 0-0 11.f4
Ncb6 12.a4 a5 13.c3 f6 14.ef6 Nf6 15.Nc5 Bc5 16.dc5 Nbd7 17.b4 Ne4 18.
Ne4 Be4 19.Qe1 Qe7 20.Qg3 Bf5 21.Bd4 and White is slightly better; Sergey
Karjakin - I.Cheparinov, Sochi 2008;
b) 9...Qc7!? [with the idea c5] 10.Nh4 Bh7 11.f4 Be7 [11...Ne7!? unclear 12.
g4 0-0-0] 12.Nf3 a5!? unclear 13.a4 Ncb6
26
9...a5 10.Bd2 Qb6 11.Ne1 Bb4 12.Bd3 Bd2 13.Qd2 Ne7 equal; Arngrimsson
- P.Prohaszka, Budapest 2008;
9...Ncb6!? Roiz
27
10...0-0 11.Be3 a6 [11...Qc7 12.Nfd2 c5 13.c4 cd4 14.Nd4 dc4 15.Nf5 ef5 16.
e6 fe6 17.Bc4 Rf6 18.Rc1 Qa5 19.Ne4 and White is superior; Debashis - M.
Sumit, New Delhi 2009] 12.Ne1 f6 13.f4 fe5 14.fe5 Bg5 15.Qd2 Be3 16.Qe3
Ne7 17.Nd3 and White is slightly better; Vallejo Pons - V.Anand, Leon
(rapid) 2008
28
11.Be3!? Qc7 [11...Na7!? unclear] 12.Nfd2 c5!? [12...Na7 13.f4 0-0 14.c4
Bh7 15.c5 Nb5 16.g4 f6 17.Nf3 fe5 18.fe5 Rf7 19.Bd3 and White is slightly
better; Motylev - Rodshtein, Moscow 2008 see 102/(85)] 13.c3 c4 14.Nc1 b6
15.ab6 Ncb6 16.b4 cb3 17.Ncb3 0-0 unclear
29
12...0-0 13.Nfd2 dc4 14.Nc4 Be4 [14...Nb5!? with the idea Nc7-d5 unclear]
15.Nc5 Bc5 16.dc5 Bd5 17.Nb6 Ne5 18.Na8 Qa8 19.Bf4 Ng6 20.Bd6 Rd8 21.
Bd3 Nc8 22.Bg6 [22.Bc7!?] Nd6 23.cd6 fg6 24.Qg4 Kh7 25.Qg3 Qb8 26.d7
Qg3 27.fg3 Rd7 28.b4 g5 29.Rad1 Rc7 30.Rc1 Rd7 31.Rcd1 Rc7 32.Rc1 1/2 :
1/2 Vachier-Lagrave - Hi.Nakamura, Cap dAgde (m/2-rapid) 2008
30
17.Rfd1 Rad8 18.Rac1 c5 19.Qe4 cd4 20.Nd4 Nd4 21.Bd4 Qb8 22.Be3 Rfe8
23.h4 Nf8 unclear; Vachier-Lagrave - Hi.Nakamura, Cap dAgde (m/4-rapid)
2008

Sicilian Defense: Lasker/Sveshnikov Variation B33

Milan Bjelajac
Check out the

April $9.95 Sale at
ChessCafe.com:
The Informant database contains hundreds of thousands of annotated games and the
Lasker/Sveshnikov variation of the Sicilian Defense [B33] can be found in 1,521 of
them. Formerly known as the Lasker-Pelikan Variation, this opening enjoyed a
resurgence of popularity because of the efforts of GM Sveshnikov in the 1970s. Top
players such as Kasparov, Anand, Kramnik, Topalov, Ivanchuk, Shirov, and Leko
have all had this powerful weapon for Black in their repertoire. With its increase in
popularity there has been an increase of theoretical material; however, there is still
plenty to be said. It is our pleasure to present just a small part of a very popular
continuation from the Monograph that we are preparing on this opening.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bf6
Bf6 11.c3 0-0 12.Nc2 Bg5 13.a4 ba4 14.Ra4 a5
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Bb5
Ncb42
Ne7
Nc64
Qd56
Qd3
Ne77
0-0
Qb5
Ne71
Bd73
Be7
Qe85
Be6
Bd7
Qe7
Bb58
Rab89
Bc4
Ra2
Nce312
Ne3
b314
ef5
Nd5
0-0
Qd3
Rb810
Qh811
Be313
Ne7
f5
Nf5
Bb7
Rc8
Rc515
...
b3
0-017
ef519
Nce3
Be221
Nc422
Qh1
Ra325
equal

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unclear
with
compensation
3
...
Qh816
f518
Bf5
Bg620
Bf7
e423
Bg824
Chess Informant 85
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Ne726
1
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15...Bb7 16.Nce3 Be3 17.Ne3

a) 17...Ne7 18.0-0 Rb8 19.Qd3 Qb6 20.Bc4! [20.c4 Bc6! equal; G.Kasparov] Bc6 21.
Ra2 Rfd8 22.b3 and White is slightly better; G.Kasparov - Van Wely, Wijk aan Zee
1999 see 75/148;
b) 17...Qb6 18.Qd3 Ne7 19.0-0 Rfd8 20.Bc4 Bc6 21.Ra2 Qb7 22.Nd5 Bd5 23.Bd5
Nd5 24.Qd5 [24.ed5 g6 25.Rfa1 Rdc8 26.h3?! Rab8 and Black is slightly better; Xie
Jun - Valerij Filippov, Shanghai 2000 see 78/159; 26.h4!? Valerij Filippov, Al.
Khasin] Qd5 25.ed5 Qf8 equal; Li Qun - Valerij Filippov, Shenyang 1999 see 78/(159)
2
16.Ne7 Qe7 [16...Be7 17.Ne3 Rb8 18.Qe2 Qb6 19.c4 Be6 20.0-0 and White is slightly
better; Shirov - Van Wely, Monaco (rapid) 2003] 17.Nb4 Bg4 18.Qa1 Qb7 19.Bc6
Qb6 20.Ba8 [20.h3!? Van Wely] Qb5 21.f3 ab4 22.fg4 Qd3 23.Qd1 Qe3 24.Qe2 Qc1
25.Qd1 Qe3 26.Qe2 Qc1 27.Qd1 Qe3 -, K.Landa - Van Wely, Deutschland 2004
see 91/109
3
16...Be6 17.Ne7 Qe7 18.Bc6 Rac8 19.Ra5 Rc6 20.Nc6 Qb7

a) 21.Qd6?! Rd8! 22.Ra7 [22.Qc5? Bd2 23.Qf1 Bg5! 24.Nd8 Qe4 25.Ra1 Bc4 26.Qg1
Bd5 and Black is winning] Rd6 23.Rb7 Rc6 24.Rb8 Bc8 equal;
b) 21.h4 Bf6 22.Qd6 Rc8 23.Ra6 Qh8 (Slobodjan - Gerald Loew, Deutschland (ch)
1998 see 76/(153)) 24.Ra4! h6 [24...Qb2? 25.0-0 Qb6 26.Rfa1 and White is winning]
25.Ne5 Qb5 26.Nf7 Bf7 27.Rb4 Qe8 28.Qd3 and White is superior; Brenke;
16...Nd5 17.Nd5 f5 18.ef5 Bf5 19.0-0 Rb8! 20.Qe2 Qh8 21.Rfa1?! Be6! 22.Ne3!? [22.
Bc4 Bd5 23.Bd5 Qb6 24.Rf1 Qc5! 25.c4 Bd8! and Black is slightly better] Qb6 [22...
d5!?] 23.Ra5 e4! with compensation; E.Espinosa - A.Gonzalez Perez, Cuba 2003 see
89/110; Better is 21.Bc4 with the idea b4 Dominguez Perez;
16...Bh3 17.Ne7 [17.gh3 ab4 18.Nb4 Ra4 19.Ba4 f5! with attack, weak point f2, Qe1
Leko] Qe7 18.Bc6 Rac8 19.Ra5 Bg2 20.Rg1 Bh3 21.Qh5 Bh4 22.Qh6 g6 23.Ra6 Be6
24.Nd5 Qd8 25.Qe2 unclear; R.Moeller - Karl Gross, corr. 2001
4
18.Bd7 ab4 19.Bc6 Ra4 20.Qa4 bc3 21.bc3 Qb8 22.0-0 Bd8 -, Svidler - Ivanchuk,
Polanica Zdroj 2000 see 80/(147)
5
18...Bc6?! 19.Bc6 Rb8 20.Ra2 Qb6 21.Bd5 and White is slightly better; Motylev Agamaliev, Bydgoszcz 1999 see 80/(147)
6
19.Ne7 Qe7 20.Bd7 Qd7 21.0-0 -, Tiviakov - Cifuentes Parada, Hoogeveen 2000
see 80/147
7
21.Qd5 Be6 22.Qd3 Bd7 -, Ju.Polgar - Shirov, Wijk aan Zee 2003
8
22...Rfb8 23.Bd7 Qd7 24.Ra2 a4 25.Rd1 Qc6 26.Qd6 Qe4 equal; J.S.Morgado
9
24.Qe2 Qb7 25.Ra5 Qb2 26.Qd3 Rb6 equal; Cs.Balogh - P.Horvath, Magyarorszag
2003
10
15...Bd7 16.0-0 [16.Ra2 a4 17.0-0 Na5 18.Bd3 Nb3 19.Nce3 Nc5 20.Bc2 Be3 21.Ne3
Be6 22.Ra1 Qb6 23.Qd2 g6 unclear; Be.Lindberg - D.Berczes, Balatonlelle 2007] Rb8
[16...Nb4!? 17.Ra3 Rc8 18.cb4 ab4 19.Ra6! Rc4 20.Rd6 and White is slightly better;
A.Volokitin - T.Radjabov, Biel 2006; 16...Ne7 17.Ra2 Rc8 18.Ne7 Qe7 19.Bd5 Rc5
20.b3 Rc3 21.Ra5 Be6 22.Nb4 Rfc8 23.Ra1 Qd7 24.Qe2 Bd5 25.Nd5 Rb3 26.Rab1
Rb1 27.Rb1 g6 28.g3 Qg7 29.Qg2 Bd8 equal; V.Anand - T.Radjabov, Mainz (m/1-
rapid) 2006 see 97/(86)] 17.Ra2 Qh8 18.Nce3 g6 19.Qd3 f5 20.b3 Bh6 [20...f4 21.Nc2
f3 22.g3 and White is slightly better; with the idea Rfa1 V.Anand] 21.Rd1 Qh4 22.f3
Qg5 23.Nf1 Qd8 24.Qh1 Be6!? [24...f4?! 25.Nd2 Bg5 26.Bb5! and White is superior;
V.Anand - T.Radjabov, Wijk aan Zee 2007 see 99/92] 25.Nde3 Bc4 26.Qc4 Qb6 27.
Rd6 Be3 28.Rc6 Qb3 29.Qb3 Rb3 equal; D.Rogozenco
11
16...Be6 17.0-0 Qd7 18.b3 [18.Qd3 Qh8 19.Nde3 Rfc8 20.Rd1 Be7 21.Na3 Nd8 22.
Be6 Ne6 23.Nac4 Nf4 24.Qf1 Qc6 25.f3 a4 26.g3 Ne6 27.Qd3 and White is slightly
better; E.Matsuura - Lujan, Callao 2007] Qh8 19.Qe2 f5 20.ef5 Bf5 21.Nce3 Bg6 22.
Rd1 Bd8 23.Bb5 Qb7 24.Ba4 [with the idea Nc4] Ne7 25.Ne7 Be7 26.Rad2 Bf7 27.
c4! [27.Nc4 Qc7! equal] Qc8 28.Ra2!? [with the idea Bb5; 28.Nd5 Bg5 29.Ra2 Qc5
30.g3 and White is slightly better; Kramnik - Leko, Monaco (rapid) 2005 see 93/99]
Qc5 29.Nf5 Bc4 30.Qg4 Rf5 31.Qf5 and White is slightly better; Kramnik
12
17.h4 Bh6 18.Nce3 Be3 19.Ne3 Ne7 equal; K.Asrian - Khalifman, Bled (ol) 2002;
17.0-0
a) 17...g6 18.b4 ab4 19.cb4 f5 20.Qe1 [20.f3 Ne7 unclear; 20.ef5 Bf5 21.b5 Ne7 22.
Ncb4 Qc8 23.Qb3 Nd5 24.Nd5 Qc5 unclear; D.Rogozenco] Bb7 unclear; N.Sorsa Holmsten, Turku 2000;
b) 17...f5 18.ef5 Bf5 19.Nce3 Bg6 20.f3 Ne7 21.Qe2
b1) 21...Be3 22.Qe3 [22.Ne3 d5 23.Rd1 Bf7 unclear] Bf7 23.Rd1 Qc8 24.Qe4 Qc5 25.
Qh1 Nd5 26.Bd5 Bg6 27.Qe2 [27.Qc4 Qe3 equal] e4! 28.Be4 Rbe8 29.Qd3 Be4 30.
fe4 Rf4 with compensation; Cifuentes Parada;
b2) 21...Rc8 22.b3 Bf7 23.Rd1 Be3
b21) 24.Qe3 Bd5 25.Bd5 Nf5 26.Qd2 Qb6 27.Qh1 Ne3 28.Rc1 Rb8 [28...Nd5 29.Qd5
Rc5 30.Qe6 equal] 29.c4 Qd4! 30.Qd4 ed4 unclear;
b22) 24.Ne3 Qb6 25.Qh1 d5 26.Nd5 (-, Dominguez Perez - Alej.Ramirez,
Guayaquil 2003 see 89/(110)) Bd5 27.Bd5 Nd5 28.Rd5 Rc3 29.Ra1 Rb3 30.Qe1
equal; Dominguez Perez
13
17...g6
a) 18.0-0 f5 19.Qa4 Bd7 20.Bb5 Nb4 [20...Rb5 21.Qb5 Nb4 22.Qa5 Na2 23.Qa2 fe4
24.b4 Be6 25.c4 and White is superior; V.Anand - G.Kasparov, Linares 2005 see
93/100] 21.Bd7 Na2 22.Bb5 Be3 [22...f4 23.Nc4 f3 24.g3 Nc1 25.Na5 Ne2 26.Be2 fe2
27.Re1 Rb2 28.Nc4 Rb8 29.Qa6 Be7 30.Re2 Qc8 31.Qc8 Rfc8 32.Nb2! with
compensation, with the idea Nd3-b4] 23.Ne3 fe4 24.Bc4 Rb2 25.Ba2 Qf6 26.Nd1 Rd2
27.h3 d5 28.Qa5 e3 29.Ne3 Rf2 30.Re1! d4 31.cd4 ed4 32.Ng4 Rg2 33.Qg2 Qf3 34.
Qh2 Qf4 equal; 28...Qd8!? equal; D.Rogozenco;
b) 18.h4 Bh4 19.g3 Bf6 [19...Bg5 20.f4 ef4 21.gf4 Bh4 22.Qf1 f5 23.b4 fe4 24.Rah2
g5 25.b5 Ne5 26.Qd4 Rb7 27.Rh4 gh4 28.Qe2 Re8 29.fe5 Re5 30.Nf4 Qg5? 31.Qd6
and White is winning; Kramnik - Van Wely, Monaco (rapid) 2005 see 93/(101); 30...
Bd7! unclear; 30.b6! and White is superior; Kramnik] 20.b3 Bg7 21.f4 ef4 22.gf4 Re8
23.Qf3 [23.Rah2!? with the idea 23...h6 24.Qf3 Qg8 25.Qg2 a4 26.b4] Qg8 24.Rah2
h5 25.Rh5?! gh5 26.Qh5 with compensation; R.Ponomariov - Kramnik, Wijk aan Zee
2005 see 92/119; 25.Qg2! and White is slightly better, with initiative R.Ponomariov
14
19.0-0 f5 20.ef5 Nf5 21.Nf5 [21.Nd5 Ne7 equal; Sergey Karjakin] Bf5 22.b3 [ 22.Bd5
Rb5 23.c4 Rb4 24.Qd2 Qb6 equal; Korbut - Rybenko, Dresden 2007; 22.Qd5 Rc8!
equal, with the idea Rc5, weak point Bc4 D.Rogozenco] Be4 23.Bd5 Bd5 24.Qd5 Qc7
25.Qa5 Qa5 26.Ra5 Rb3 -, Kulaots - Bromberger, Gausdal 2006
15
23...Nh4 24.Rd1 h6 25.Qg3 Nf5 26.Qg4 Rc5 27.Rad2 Bc8 28.Qe4 Bb7 29.h3!? [29.
Qg4 equal] Nh4! equal; Sergey Karjakin - V.Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 2006 see 96/101;
23...Rc5 24.Rd1 [24.b4 ab4 25.cb4 Rc8 with counterplay, with the idea 26.Ba6 Bd5
27.Qd5 Rb8] Qg5 [24...Qh4 25.h3 e4 26.Qe2 Ne7 equal; S.Kudrin - Daniel Fernandez,
USA (ch) 2006; 25...Bc6 unclear] 25.Qd2 Qg6 26.Qd3 Rfc8 [26...Qg5 equal] 27.Qe4
Qg5 unclear; Sergey Karjakin
16
16...Be6 17.Qa1 g6 18.0-0 Qd7 19.Rd1 f5 20.ef5 gf5 21.b4 and White is slightly
better; An.Karpov - E.Sveshnikov, USSR (ch) 1973 see 16/358
17
17.Qe2 f5 18.h4 Bf6 19.ef5 Bf5 20.Nce3 Bd7

a) 21.Bd3 Ne7! 22.Ne7 Qe7 23.Nd5 Qf7! 24.Ra5 [24.Qe4?! g6 25.h5 Bg5! 26.f4 Bf5
with the idea 27.hg6 Qg6 28.fg5 Qg5! Kramnik] Bd8 25.Ra7 Qd5 26.Rd7 Rb3 equal;
Ju.Polgar - Kramnik, Wijk aan Zee 2005 see 92/120;
b) 21.Qc2 e4 [21...Ne7 22.Ra2 Bc6 unclear; Nisipeanu - Volzhin, Dubai 2002 see 84/
(114)] 22.Qe4 Ne5 23.Ra1 [23.Ra3 Nc4 24.Qc4 Be5 25.Qd3 Bb5 26.Qd2 Rb7 27.g3
Rf3 28.c4 Bc6 29.Qa5 Qa5 30.Ra5 Rb3 31.0-0 and White is slightly better; Ivanchuk Shirov, Cesme 2004; 23...Re8 with compensation; D.Rogozenco] Re8 24.Nf6 Qf6 25.
Qd4 Bc6 26.Bd5 Rb4 27.Qd2 Bd5 28.Qd5 Rb3 [28...Nf3? 29.Qe2 Qc3 30.Qf3 and
White is winning; P.Charbonneau - T.Radjabov, Calvia (ol) 2004] 29.0-0 [29.Qb3?
Nd3 and Black is winning] Rc3 equal; D.Rogozenco;
17.Nce3 g6
a) 18.Qe2!? f5 19.h4 Be3 20.Qe3 fe4 21.h5 g5 22.Qe4 Ne7 [22...Bb7 23.Qe3 e4 24.00 Ne5 25.Rfa1 and White is slightly better; V.Anand - Shirov, Morelia/Linares 2008
see 102/116] 23.Ne7 Qe7 24.Ra5 Rf4 25.Qe2 Qc7 unclear; with counterplay; 24.0-0
V.Anand;
b) 18.h4 Bh4 19.g3 Bg5 20.f4 ef4 21.gf4 Bh4 22.Qd2 Ne7 [22...f5 23.Bd3 with
compensation; R.Ponomariov - Van Wely, Espana 2006 see 98/95] 23.Qc1 Nd5 24.
Nd5 Be6 25.Qd4 Qg8 26.Qb1 Bd5 27.Qd5 Bf6 28.Qc2 Qb6 equal; D.Jakovenko Shirov, Foros 2007
18
17...g6 18.Qd3 f5 19.Rd1 [19.f3 Bd7 20.Raa1 Bh6 21.Rad1 Qh4 22.Qe2 Qh5 23.Na3
Nd8! unclear; R.Kalod - V.Babula, Cesko (ch) 1997] Bh6 20.Nde3 Rf6 21.f3 Ne7 22.
Rda1 Bb7 23.Ra5 fe4 24.fe4 Rf4 unclear, with counterplay; Bologan - J.-M.
Degraeve, Belfort 1998
19
18.Re1 fe4 19.Re4 Bf5 20.Re2
a) 20...Bg6 21.Qe1 Qd7 22.Nce3 e4 23.Rea2 Bd8 24.b4 ab4 25.cb4 Ne5 26.Ra7 Rb7
27.Qa1 Bh4 unclear; Abrahamyan - A.Hairapetian, Yerevan 2007;
b) 20...Bg4!? 21.f3 Bd7 [21...Bh5 unclear; Daulyte - Ks.Novak, Torino (ol) 2006] 22.
Ra1 a4! 23.ba4 Na5 24.Bb5 Bb5 25.ab5 Rb5 26.Qd3 Qd7 equal;
c) 20...Qd7 21.Nce3 Bg6 22.Rea2 e4 23.Bf1 Qf7 [23...Bd8?! 24.b4! ab4 25.cb4 Ne5
26.Qd4 and White is superior; Ivanchuk - Johannessen, Saint-Vincent 2005 see 95/94]
24.Bc4 [24.R4a3 Bh4 25.g3 Bg5 with counterplay] Qd7 25.h3 [25.Qe2 Bh4 26.g3 Bg5
weak point f3] Bh4 26.Rd2 Qd8 27.Bf1 Ne5 unclear, with counterplay; Ivanchuk,
Sulypa
20
19...Be6 20.Qd3 Qd7 21.Rd1 Qf7 22.Ra2 Qh5 23.Qe2 [23.Nf1 e4! Suetin, A.Goldin]
Qf7 24.Nf1 Bd8! 25.Ng3 Ne7 26.Ne7 Qe7 27.Ne4 [27.Rb2 Qf7! Li Zunian] Rb3 28.
Bb3 Bb3 29.Rd6 Ba2 30.Qa2 Bc7 equal; Mokry - Li Zunian, Thessaloniki (ol) 1984
see 38/(206)
21
20.Re1 e4 [20...Qd7 21.Ra2 Bf7 22.Nf1 Bh4 23.g3 Bg5 24.Nd2 Bd2 25.Rd2 and
White is slightly better; A.Savanovic - M.Gavric, Bijeljina 2001 see 80/148; 20...Rb7
21.Bd3 Bd3 22.Qd3 Be3 23.fe3 Rb3 24.Qc4 Rb2 25.Qc6 Qg5 26.Nf4 (only move) ef4
27.Rf4 Rfb8 -, V.Anand - Kramnik, Wijk aan Zee 2005] 21.Nf1 Ne5 22.Ng3 Bh4
23.Ne4 Be4 24.Re4 Bf2 25.Qh1 Qg5 26.Be2 Bc5 27.Rf4 Ng6 28.Rf3 Rbe8 29.Rf8
Rf8 30.Ra5 Nh4 31.g3 [31.Bf3? Nf3? 32.gf3 h6 33.Ra1 and White is superior;
Dominguez Perez - Alej.Ramirez, Buenos Aires 2003; 31...h6 and Black is superior]
Nf5 with compensation; D.Rogozenco
22
21.Bf3 Be3 22.fe3 Bg8 equal; H.Stefansson - Valerij Filippov, Kallithea 2002
23
21...Nd4 22.cd4 Bd5 23.de5 de5 24.Na5 Rf4 25.Rf4 [25.Bc4 Rd4 26.Qe2 Be4!? with
compensation] ef4 26.Nc4 Qg8? 27.Qd3 and White is superior; Motylev - Kishnev,
Neum 2000 see 79/123; 26...Be6 with compensation; Kishnev
24
22...Be6!? with the idea 23.Bg4 Bg8
25
23.f4 ef3 24.Rf3 Re8 25.Rd3 Rb5 with initiative

26
23...Rf5 24.Nce3 Be3 25.Ne3 Rc5 26.c4 Qf6 equal;

23...Ne7
a) 24.Nce3 Be3!? [24...Nd5 25.Nd5 Rf5 26.c4 Bd5 27.cd5 Qb6 equal; Leko - B.
Gelfand, Polanica Zdroj 1998 see 73/193] 25.Ne3 d5 and Black is slightly better;
Chorfi - R.G.Alvarez, corr. 2001;
b) 24.Ne7 Be7 [24...Qe7 25.Na5 d5 26.b4 Rb6 27.Nb3 Rbf6 28.Qe1 Bf4 with
compensation; B.Gelfand, Huzman] 25.Na5 Qc7 26.b4 d5 with compensation; Leko.


103
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The members of the jury for the selection of the best game of Informant
103 had a very tough choice. There were many high-quality games to
choose from and any one of them could have claimed the prize. The vote
was so close that a winner was not established until we received the very
last ballot.
During the normal course of voting two or three games usually establish
themselves as clear favorites. Never before was the difference so tight
that the winning game, Volokitin Inkariev, only received forty out of
eighty possible points. It is also a curiosity that Vladimir Kramnik
featured in the games positioned from second to fifth places with two
victories and two losses. Special mention should be paid to the opening of
Bulgarian grandmaster Popchev, whose 14Bc3!! and 18Bh3 should
be an inspiration to every chess player.
Informant 84 (CD)
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Informant 94 (CD)
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1. A. Volokitin (2672) Inarkiev (2675)

Poikovsky 2008 103/266 [D17]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nc4 Qc7 8.
g3 e5 9.de5 Ne5 10.Bf4 Nfd7 11.Bg2 g5 12.Ne3 gf4 13.Nf5 0-0-0 14.
Qc2 Nc5 15.0-0 Ne6 16.Qe4 fg3 [16...f3?! 17.ef3 Nc5 (17...Nd3 18.
Rad1! Nb2 19.Rd8 Qd8 20.Bh3 and White is superior) 18.Qc2 Ned3 19.
Bh3 and White is superior; 16...Ng4 17.b4! a) 17...Ng5 18.Qc4! (18.Qf4?!
Qf4 19.gf4 Ne6 20.e3 Bb4 with counterplay) Qe5 19.Rad1! Rd1 (19...Bb4
20.Qb4 Qf5 21.Nb5! cb5 22.Qe7! Rd7 23.Rd7 Qd7 24.Rc1 and White is
winning) 20.Rd1 Nf2! 21.Rd5! (21.Kf2? Qf5 with counterplay) Qc7 22.
Qd4! Nfh3 (22...Rg8 23.Kf2! cd5 24.Nd5 fg3 25.hg3 Ne6 26.Qa7 and
White is winning) 23.Bh3 Nh3 24.Kg2 Rg8 (RR 24...fg3!?) 25.Re5 and
White is superior; b) 17...Nf6 b1) 18.Qc4 Qe5! 19.a5! (19.e4 f3! 20.Bf3
Ng5 21.Bg2 Qe6!) a6 20.Bc6! Kb8! b11) 21.Bb7?! Kb7 22.b5 Qc5! 23.
ba6 (23.Qb3 Ka8 24.Rab1 Rb8 and Black is superior) Ka8 24.Qa4 Rc8!
and Black is slightly better; b12) 21.b5! Qf5 22.ba6! (22.Bb7? Qc5! 23.
Qc5 Bc5 and Black is slightly better) Qc5! 23.Qc5 Nc5! 24.Rab1 Ne8! 25.
Na4 Ka7 26.Nc5 Bc5 27.ab7 and White is slightly better; b2) 18.Qb1!
Qe5 19.Rc1 and White is slightly better b21) 19...Kb8 20.b5! c5 21.b6! a6
22.e3! b211) 22...fg3 23.hg3 c4 24.Nb5! Bc5 25.Rc4 ab5 26.ab5 Bb6 27.
Qa2 Nc7 28.Rc7 Kc7 29.Rc1 Bc5 (29...Kb8 30.Bb7 and White is winning)
30.b6 and White is winning; b212) 22...fe3 23.f4! Nf4 24.gf4 Qf4 25.
Rd1! (and White is superior) Qf2 26.Kh1 Rd2 27.Ne3! Qe3 28.Rd2 Qd2
29.Qf1 and White is winning, with the idea 29...Qc3 30.Qf4 Ka8 31.Bb7
Kb7 32.Qc7 Ka8 33.Qa7 mate; b22) 19...Ng4 20.b5! c5 (20...Bc5? 21.bc6
b6 22.Ne4 and White is superior) 21.b6! a6 22.e3! fe3 23.f4 Nf4 (23...
Qb8 24.Nd5 and White is winning) 24.gf4 Qf4 25.Qe4! Qe4 26.Ne4 and
White is superior; c) 17...Qe5 18.Qe5 Ne5 19.b5 and White is slightly
better, with the idea 19...cb5 20.Nb5! Kb8 21.Rab1 Bc5 22.Nc3! b6 23.a5
and White is superior] 17.hg3 h5 [a novelty; 17...a5 see 92/(387)] 18.b4!
[18.Nb5 cb5 19.ab5 a) 19...Bc5 20.b4 Bf2! with counterplay; 20.Rfc1! a1)
20...Kb8 21.b6! Bf2 (21...ab6 22.Qa4 Kc8 23.b4 with attack) 22.Kf1 Qb6
23.Qe5 Ka8 24.e3 Bg3 25.Ng3 and White is superior; a2) 20...Ng4 21.e3
Kb8 22.b4 Ng5 23.Qb1 Rd2 24.Rc5 Qd7 25.Rc2 and White is slightly
better; b) 19...Nc5! 20.Qe3 (20.b6 Ne4 21.bc7 Kc7 22.Be4 Kb6 23.Ne3 a6
with counterplay) Kb8! 21.b4 Ng4! with counterplay] h4 [18...Ng5 19.
Qe3! Bb4 20.Rac1! Qa5 21.Nb5 f6 22.Qa7 Qa7 23.Na7 Kb8 24.Nc6! bc6
(24...Nc6 25.Rb1! and White is superior) 25.f4 Ngf7 26.fe5 Ne5 27.Bc6
and White is superior] 19.Nb5! cb5 [19...Qb8 20.f4! (20.Na7? Qa7 21.
Qe5 Bb4 22.Nh4 Bd6 23.Qc3 Nd4 with compensation) Ng4 21.Rad1! Rd1
22.Rd1 h3 23.Nbd6 (23.Bh1!? cb5 24.Rc1 Kd7 25.Qd3 Bd6 26.Qb5 Kd8
27.Qd3 Kd7 28.Rd1 and White is superior) Bd6 24.Nd6 Kc7 25.Nf7 h2
26.Kf1 Ne3 27.Qe3 h1Q 28.Bh1 Rh1 29.Kg2 Rd1 30.Qe5 Kc8 31.Qe6
Kc7 and White is superior] 20.Rfc1 Nc6 21.ab5 hg3 22.bc6! gf2 23.Kf2!
b6
24.Ra6!! [24.Rd1 Rd1 25.Rd1 Qf4! 26.Qf4 Nf4 and White is slightly
better] Bb4! [24...Bc5 25.bc5 Nc5 26.Rc5 bc5 27.Ne7 Kb8 28.Nd5 and
White is winning; 24...Rg8 25.Rca1 Bc5 26.Kf1! and White is winning]
25.Qb4 Nd4 [25...Rh5 26.Ra5! Kb8 27.Bf3! Rh2 28.Kf1 Rdh8 29.Ke1
and White is winning; 25...Rd4! a) 26.Qa3? Qf4! 27.Qf3 Qc1 28.Nd4
Qc5! (28...Nd4? 29.Qf6 Rd8 30.Ra7 and White is winning) 29.e3 Nd4 30.
ed4 Qd4 31.Qe3 Qb2 equal; b) 26.Qc3 Qf4 27.Ke1 Qf5 28.Ra7! Qg5 29.
Ra8 Kc7 30.Rh8 Qg2 31.Qe3 and White is superior; c) 26.Rc4 Qf4 27.
Ke1 Rc4 28.Nd6 (28.Qc4 Qf5 29.Ra7 Qb1 30.Kf2 Qf5 31.Bf3 Nc7 32.Qd4
Qc5 33.Bg4! f5 34.Qc5 bc5 35.Bf5 Kd8 and White is slightly better) Kd8
29.Nf7! Qf7 30.Qc4 and White is superior] 26.Ne7 Kb8 27.e3! Rh6?
[27...Rh2 28.Ra7? Ka7 29.Qa4 Kb8 30.Ra1 Rg2! 31.Kg2 Qe7 equal; 28.
Ra2! and White is winning; 27...Rh3 28.Bh3! Qh2 29.Bg2 Qh4 30.Kf1
Qf6 31.Nf5! Qf5 32.Ke1 and White is winning; 27...Rh4 28.Ra7! Ka7
(28...Rf4 29.Ke1 and White is winning) 29.Ra1 Kb8 30.Qa3! Rf4 31.ef4
Qf4 32.Bf3! Qh2 33.Kf1 Qh3 34.Bg2 Qa3 35.Ra3 and White is winning;
27...Rh5 28.ed4! Qf4 29.Ke2 Qg4 30.Ke3 Qg5 31.Kf3 Qf6 32.Ke2 and
White is winning] 28.Nd5! [28.ed4 Qf4 29.Ke2 Re6 30.Kd3 Qg3 31.Kc4
Rd4 32.Kd4 Qe3 33.Kc4 Qe2 34.Kb3 Re3 35.Rc3 Qd1 36.Ka2 Re2 37.
Qb2 Rb2 38.Kb2 Qe2 39.Rc2 Qb5 40.Kc1 and White is superior] Nc6
[28...Rd5 29.Qf8 Rd8 30.Qh6 and White is winning] 29.Qf4! Qf4 30.ef4
(and White is winning) Rh2 31.Ra2 Rg8 32.Kf1 Nd4 33.Ne7 [33.Nb4! a5
34.Na6 Ka7 35.Rc7 Ka6 36.Bb7 Ka7 37.Rh2] Rgh8 34.Nc6 Nc6 35.Rc6
R2h6 36.Rac2 Rc6 37.Rc6 Rd8 38.Rf6 Rd7 39.Bf3 Kc7 40.Bh5 a5 41.
Rf7 a4 42.Ke2 a3 43.Rd7 Kd7 44.Bf7 Kd6 45.Kd3 Kc5 46.f5 b5 47.
Ba2 1-0 [A.Volokitin]
2. Kramnik (2788) Shirov (2741)
Moscow 2008 103/320 [D47]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dc4 7.Bc4 b5 8.
Bd3 Bb7 9.a3 b4 10.Ne4 Ne4 11.Be4 ba3 12.0-0 Bd6 13.Nd2!? [13.b3
see 98/339] Qc7 [a novelty; 13...Nf6 14.Bf3!; 13...ab2 14.Bb2 0-0 (14...
Qc7 15.Nc4) 15.Qc2 Nf6 16.Bf3 and White is slightly better; 13...0-0 14.
b3 Qc7 (14...Ba6 15.Re1 Qa5 16.Ba3! Ba3 17.Nb1; 14...Qb8 15.h3 c5 16.
Ba3 and White is slightly better) 15.h3 (15.Nc4) c5 16.Ba3 and White is
slightly better]
14.Nc4! Bh2 15.Kh1 Nb6! [15...ab2 16.Bb2 Bd6 17.Nd6 Qd6 18.Qg4
Rg8 19.Ba3 Nf6 20.Qh4 and White is superior; 15...Bd6 16.Nd6 Qd6 17.
b3 Rb8 18.Ba3 c5 19.Bb7 Rb7 20.Qc2 and White is slightly better, with
the idea 20...0-0 21.dc5 Qc6 22.Rfd1 Rc8 23.Rd4] 16.Nb6 [16.b3 Nc4 17.
bc4 Bd6 equal] ab6 [16...Qb6? 17.Kh2 ab2 18.Bb2 Qb2 19.Rb1 and
White is winning] 17.g3 Bg3 18.fg3 Qg3 [better is 18...a2! 19.b3 unclear]
19.Qh5 (and White is slightly better) Ra5? [19...Qc7 20.Ra3 Ra3 21.ba3
c5 and White is slightly better; 19...g6 20.Qh2 Qh2 21.Kh2 f5 22.Bg2 (22.
Bf3) ab2 (22...a2 23.Rf2 with the idea b3) 23.Ra8 Ba8 24.Bb2 0-0 (24...
Kd7 25.Ra1 Rb8 26.Ra7 Bb7 27.d5 ed5 28.Be5 Kc8 29.Bb8 Kb8 30.Ra1
and White is superior) 25.Ra1 Bb7 26.Ra7 Rf7 27.Kg3 g5 28.Bf3 h6 29.
Bh5 Rd7 and White is slightly better] 20.Qf7 Kd8 21.Bg2 Rg5 [21...Ba6
22.Rf3 Qe1 23.Kh2] 22.Qf3! [22.Rf2 c5! 23.e4 Qh4 24.Kg1 Rg2 25.Rg2
Qe4 26.Rg7 Qd4 27.Kf1 Qd3 28.Ke1 Qe4 29.Kf1 equal] Qf3 [22...Qh4
23.Qh3 Qh3 24.Bh3 and White is superior] 23.Bf3 [23.Rf3 c5 24.Rf2 and
White is superior] ab2 [23...Rf8 24.Ra3 c5 25.e4 Rg6 26.dc5 and White is
superior] 24.Bb2 (and White is superior) Rf8 25.Be4 Rf6 26.Rf6 gf6 27.
Kh2 Kc7 [27...Rb5!?] 28.Bc3 e5?! [better is 28...Kc8 29.Bd3 and White
is superior] 29.de5 fe5 30.Rf1 (and White is winning) Kd6 [30...Bc8 31.
Rf7 Bd7 32.Rh7] 31.Rf7 Bc8 32.Rh7 [32.Rf6 Be6 33.Bc6 Kc6 34.Re6
Kd5 35.Rb6 Ke4 36.Bd2 Kf3 37.Rf6 Ke2 38.Bc1] Be6 33.Rh6 c5 34.Bd3
Kd7 35.Bb5 Ke7 36.e4 Rg4 [36...Kf7 37.Rh7 Kf6 38.Rb7 Rh5 39.Kg2
Rh4 40.Bc6 Rh3 41.Be1 c4 42.Rb6 and White is winning] 37.Bc6 Rg5 38.
Be1! Rg4 39.Bg3 Bc4 40.Be5 Bd3 41.Bd6 Kf7 42.Bd5 Kg7 43.Re6 c4
44.Kh3 Rg1 45.Be5 Kf8 46.Rb6 1-0 [Kramnik]
3. Morozevich (2788) Kramnik (2788)
Moscow 2008 103/310 [D45]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4 Ng4 8.
Rg1 Nh2!? 9.Nh2 Bh2 10.Rg7 Nf8 11.Rg2 [11.Qd1 with the idea 11...
Ng6 12.Qf3] Bd6 12.e4 [12.Bd2 see 54/(430)] Ng6 [a novelty; 12...de4]
13.Bg5 [13.cd5 ed5! 14.e5 Be7 15.Bd3 Nh4 16.Rg3 h5 and Black is
superior] Be7 [13...f6!?] 14.Be7 Qe7 15.0-0-0 de4 16.Ne4 [16.d5 ed5 17.
cd5 Bh3! and Black is slightly better] f5 17.Nd2!? [17.Nc5 b6 18.Qa4
Qc7 19.Nd3 Bb7 and Black is slightly better] c5 [17...Bd7 18.c5 0-0-0 19.
Nc4 with compensation] 18.dc5 [18.Qb3 cd4 19.Nf3 b6 (19...e5?! 20.Re1
with compensation) 20.Nd4 0-0 with compensation; 18.Nb3 cd4 19.Nd4
Bd7 20.Rg3 unclear] Bd7 19.b4 0-0-0! [19...a5 20.b5 Qc5 21.Nb3 with
compensation] 20.Rg3 e5 [20...Nf4 21.Qc3 e5 unclear] 21.Rd3 [21.Nb1!?
Be6 22.Nc3 Rd1 23.Qd1 Rd8 24.Qa4 Kb8 25.Nb5 a6 26.Nd6 e4 27.b5
Qf6 unclear] Be6? [21...Nf4?! 22.Rd6 and White is superior; 21...e4 22.
Rd6 Ne5 a) 23.b5 Nf7 24.Qa4 (24.Nb3 Nd6 25.cd6 Qe5 26.c5 Kb8 27.c6
Bc6 28.bc6 Rd6 and Black is slightly better) Nd6! (24...Kb8 25.Rd5 with
attack) 25.Qa7 Qe5 a1) 26.Nb3? Qc3 27.Kb1 Nb5! and Black is winning;
a2) 26.cd6 Qd6 27.Ne4 (27.c5? Qb8 28.Qa5 Be6 29.c6 Rd6 and Black is
winning) Qf4 28.Nd2 and Black is slightly better; a3) 26.Qa8 Kc7 27.b6
Kc6 28.Qa4 Kc5 29.Qa5 Bb5 30.cb5 (30.Kb1 Ra8 31.Nb3 Kc6 32.cb5
Kd7 33.Qd2 Rhd8 34.Qh6 Ke7 and Black is superior) Qf4 31.Kb1 Kd5!
32.Ne4 (32.Nc4!? Ke6 33.Ne3) Ke6 33.Nc5 Kf7 34.Qc3 Rhe8 and Black
is slightly better; b) 23.Nb3 Nf7 24.R6d5 Be6 unclear] 22.Ra3 (and
White is winning) a6 [22...Kb8 23.Qa4 a6 24.c6 Bc8 25.c5; 22...Bd7 23.
Ra7 Kb8 24.Ra5 e4 25.Qc3; 22...Qd7 23.Ra7 Kb8 24.Ra3 e4 25.b5 Qe7
26.b6! Bd7 27.Qc3 Qc5 (27...Bc6 28.Ra5) 28.Ne4! fe4 (28...Qb6 29.c5
Qc7 30.Nd6 Bc6 31.Ra5) 29.Rd5 Qb6 30.Qg3] 23.c6 bc6 [23...Qb4 24.
cb7 Kc7 25.Ra6 Bd7 26.a3! Qb7 27.c5] 24.c5 Qg5 [24...Rd4 25.Ra6 Rb4
26.Rc6 Kb8 27.a3 Rb7 28.Ba6] 25.Ra6 Kd7
26.Bc4! Bc4 27.Qc4 Ne7 28.Kc2 Ke8 29.Nf3 Qf6 30.Rd6 Rd6 31.cd6 10 [Morozevich]
4. A. Naiditsch (2624) Kramnik (2788)
Dortmund 2008 103/199 [C42]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Ne5 d6 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.
Re1 Bg4 9.c4 Nf6 10.Nc3 Bf3 11.Qf3 Nd4 12.Qd1 Ne6 13.cd5 Nd5 14.
Bb5 c6 15.Nd5 cb5 16.Bf4 Nf4 17.Re7 Kf8 18.Re5 Qd6 19.Qd2! [a
novelty; 19.Rf5 Rd8 20.Ne3 Qd1 21.Rd1 Rd1 22.Nd1 Ne6 23.Rb5 b6
equal] Ng6?! [19...Ne6 20.Rae1 with attack; 19...Qe5 20.Qb4 Ke8 21.
Qb5 (21.Re1?! Ne2 22.Kf1 Rc8! 23.f4 Qd5 24.Re2 Kd7 25.Rd2 Rc5 and
Black is slightly better) Kd8 (21...Kf8 22.Qc5 and White is winning) 22.
Rd1 Ne2 23.Kh1 Nd4 24.Qb7 Rc8 (24...Rb8 25.Qa7 with attack) 25.h3!
unclear] 20.Ree1 f6 [20...Rd8 21.Rad1 with the idea 21...Ne7 22.Qe3
Nd5 23.Rd5 Qd5 24.Qe7 Kg8 25.Qe8 and White is winning] 21.Rad1 [21.
Qd3!? Rd8 (21...Re8 22.Re8 Ke8 23.Qb5 Qc6 24.Qb3 and White is
superior) 22.Qb3! Rd7 (22...Ne5 23.Rad1 Qc5 24.Nf4 and White is
winning; 22...Qd5 23.Rad1 Qb3 24.Rd8 Kf7 25.Rd7 Kf8 26.ab3 and
White is winning) 23.Rad1 Qc6 24.Nb4 Rd1 25.Rd1 Qc4 26.Qe3 Qb4 27.
Rd8 Kf7 28.Rd7 Ne7 29.a3 Rd8 30.Rd8 Qb2 31.Rd1 and White is
superior] Kf7
22.Qe3! Rhe8 [22...Rhd8 23.Ne7] 23.Ne7! Qe7 24.Qb3 Kf8 25.Re7 Re7
26.Qb5 (and White is winning) Rae8 27.g3 Ne5 28.Kg2 Nc6 29.b4 a6 30.
Qb6 h6 31.a4 Ne5 32.Qc5 Kg8 33.b5 ab5 34.ab5 Nf7 35.h4 Kh8 36.
Rd2 Kg8 37.Kh3 Kh8 38.f4! Kg8 39.h5 Kh8 40.Qf5 Nd8 41.Rd7 Ne6
42.Qd5 1-0 [A.Naiditsch]
5. Kramnik (2788) Van Wely (2676)
Dortmund 2008 103/283 [D30]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.b3 Nbd7 6.Bb2 b6 7.Bd3 Bb7 8.0-0
Bd6 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.Ne5 Qe7 11.Qf3!? [11.f4 see 102/(304)] Rfd8 [11...
Bb4 12.Rad1 Ne5 13.de5 Nd7 14.Qh3 h6 15.f4 Nc5 16.Bc2 with attack]
12.Qh3 [a novelty; 12.e4] h6 13.f4 Bb4 [13...c5!? a) 14.Rf3?! dc4 15.Rg3
cd3 16.Nd7 (16.Qh6 Ne8 17.Nd7 Qd7 18.dc5 Bf8) Nd7 17.dc5 Be5! 18.
fe5 Kh7; b) 14.cd5 Nd5; c) 14.Rad1 and White is slightly better] 14.Ndf3
Ne4 15.Nd7 [15.f5!? ef5 16.Qf5 Ndf6 17.Nh4] Rd7 16.Ne5 Rc7? [16...
Rdd8 17.Be4 (17.f5 ef5 18.Qf5 f6) de4 18.f5 (18.c5 bc5 19.a3 Ba5
unclear) a) 18...f6 19.fe6! Re8 (19...fe5 20.Rf7 Qg5 21.Rb7 and White is
superior) 20.d5 cd5 21.Ng4 and White is superior; b) 18...ef5 19.Qf5 f6
20.Ng4 (20.Ng6 Qe8 with the idea 21.Rf4 Bc8! 22.Qe4 Qe4 23.Re4 Kf7
24.a3 Bd6 25.Nh4 g5 26.Nf3 Bf5 and Black is superior) Bc8 21.Qg6 Bg4
22.Qg4 and White is slightly better] 17.Be4 de4
18.c5! bc5 [better is 18...f6 19.Nc4 (19.a3 Bc5 20.dc5 fe5 21.Be5 and
White is slightly better) Ba6 20.Rfc1 (and White is superior) bc5 21.a3
Bc4 22.Rc4 Ba5 23.dc5 f5 24.b4 Rb7] 19.a3 Ba5 20.dc5 [20.Nc4 Bb6]
Qc5 [20...Rcc8 21.f5 and White is superior] 21.b4 Qb5 22.Qg3 [22.f5 f6
23.Ng4 e5 24.Be5 and White is superior] Bb6?! [22...f6 23.Ng4 Kh7 24.
Rfb1 (24.Bf6 Bb6 25.Bc3 Qd3 26.Rac1 and White is superior) Bb6 25.a4
Qb4 26.a5 and White is superior; 22...f5 23.Qg6 Re7 24.a4 (24.Rad1 and
White is superior) Qb6 25.Nc4 (25.Bd4 Qb4 26.Rab1 Qd6 27.Rfd1) Qb4
26.Ba3 Qc4 27.Be7] 23.Nd7 g6 [23...Be3 24.Kh1 and White is winning;
23...f6 24.Nf6 Kf8 25.Ne4 Qe2 26.Bd4 Bd4 27.Rae1 Be3 28.Kh1 Qc4 29.
Qe3 and White is winning] 24.Nf6 [24.Nb6 Qb6 25.f5 ef5 26.Rf5 and
White is winning] Kf8 25.Be5 [25.f5 ef5 26.Qd6 Re7 27.Nh7 Ke8 28.
Bf6] Rcc8 26.Qh4 h5 [26...Be3 27.Kh1 c5 28.Bd6 Kg7 29.Ng4] 27.Nh7

[27.Nd7 Ke8 28.Bd6] Ke8 28.Bd6 Rc7 29.Rfd1 1-0 [Kramnik]
6. Kamsky (2723) Leko (2741)
Moscow 2008 103/47 [A47]
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 c5 4.e3 Be7 5.c3 b6 6.a4!? a6!? 7.Nbd2 Bb7 8.
Bd3 cd4 9.ed4 [9.cd4 Nc6] d6 10.0-0 [10.Bf6 Bf6 11.Be4 Qc7 equal]
Nbd7 11.Re1 0-0 12.Nc4! [12.Nf1 see 43/(60)] Qc7 13.Ne3 Rfe8 14.Rc1
[a novelty; 14.Qc2] e5!? [14...Bf8] 15.Bb1 [15.c4 e4 16.Nd5 Nd5 17.cd5
Qd8 18.Re4 Bd5 19.Re7 Re7 20.Be7 Qe7 equal] b5!? with counterplay
[15...Bf8] 16.c4! ba4! [16...bc4? 17.Nc4 e4 18.Ncd2! and White is
superior] 17.Nf5 [17.Nd5 Nd5 18.cd5 Qd8 19.Be7 Re7 20.de5 Ne5 equal;
17.c5!? a) 17...dc5 18.Ne5! a1) 18...Ne5 19.de5 Rad8 (19...Qe5 20.Nf5
Qc7 21.Re7) 20.Qa4 with initiative; a2) 18...g6! 19.Qa4 (19.Nd3!?; 19.
h4!?) Ne5 20.de5 Qe5 21.Nf5 Qd5 22.f3 (22.Be4 Ne4 23.Ne7 Re7 24.Be7
Nf2!! 25.Kf2 Qd2 26.Re2 Qc1 27.Bf6 unclear) gf5 23.Bf6 Bc6 24.Qh4
Bf6 25.Qf6 equal; b) 17...e4 18.c6 (18.cd6 Qd6 19.Nf5 Qb6) ef3! (18...
Bc6 19.Be4!! Ne4 20.Nd5 Qb7 21.Ne7 Re7 22.Be7 and White is superior)
19.Qf3 Bc6 (19...Rac8 20.Bf5! Bc6 21.d5) 20.d5 Qa5 (20...Ne5 21.Qd1)
21.Bf6 Nf6 22.dc6 d5 unclear] Bf8 18.c5 dc5 19.de5? [19.Bf6 Nf6 20.
de5 equal] Ne5 20.Re5 [20.Bf6 Nf3 (20...Bf3 21.gf3 gf6; 20...Ng4!?) 21.
gf3 Re1 22.Qe1 Qf4! 23.Be4 Be4 24.fe4 gf6 and Black is superior; 20.
Ne5 Re5 21.Bf6? Re1 22.Qe1 Qc6!] Re5 21.Bf6
21...Rf5! 22.Bf5 Qf4! 23.Nh4 [23.Qc2 Bf3 (23...gf6 24.Bh7 Kh8; 23...g6
24.Nh4 gf5 25.Re1) 24.gf3 gf6 25.Bh7 Kg7 26.Be4 Rb8 and Black is
superior] Qh6!! [23...gf6 24.g3 unclear] 24.Qc2! [24.Bg7 Bg7 25.g3
Bd4] Qf6 [24...Re8!? 25.Bd7 Re2 26.Nf5 Qf4 (26...Qg6 27.Ne7 Be7 28.
Qg6 hg6 29.Kf1 Re4 30.Be7 Re7 31.Ba4 and Black is slightly better) 27.
Qe2 Qc1 28.Qf1 Qd2 29.Ba4 (29.Bg7 Bg7 30.Ng7 Kg7 31.Ba4 Qb2) gf6
30.Qd1 and Black is superior] 25.Bh7 Kh8 26.Be4! Rb8 [26...Be4! 27.
Qe4 Rb8 (27...Qb2? 28.Ng6!! Kg8 29.Rf1 Rb8 30.Qh4! fg6 31.Qc4 equal)
28.Qa4 (28.Nf3 Qb2 29.Rf1 Rb4 30.Qe8 Kg8 31.Ne5 Rb7 32.Nd7 Rd7 33.
Qd7 a3 34.Qa7 a2 35.Qa6 g6 and Black is winning) Qb2 29.Ng6 (29.Rf1
Qb4!) Kg8] 27.Bb7 Rb7 28.Qa4 Qb2 [28...Rb4 29.Qe8] 29.Rf1 Qb5!
[29...Qb4 30.Qa6!] 30.Qf4 [30.Qe4! and Black is superior] Qd3! 31.g3
[31.Nf3 Rb1 32.Nd2 Rf1 33.Nf1 Kg8] Kg8 [31...c4 32.Nf3 c3 33.Ne5
Qd5 34.Ng6 Kg8 35.Nf8 c2! 36.Qa4 Qd3 37.Qe8 Rb1 38.Ne6 Kh7 39.
Ng5 Kg6 40.Qf7 Kh6! and Black is winning] 32.Qc1 time [32.Nf3!?] c4
33.Rd1 Qb3 34.Kg2 c3 35.Rd8 Rc7 time [35...c2? 36.Rc8 Qd5 37.Nf3
Rb3 38.Qf4] 36.Nf5 Qb7 [36...c2! 37.Qg5 f6 38.Qg6 c1Q and Black is
winning] 37.f3 [37.Kh3 Qb6 (37...Rc8? 38.Nd6! Qb2 39.Qf4 Rd8 40.Qf7
equal) 38.Qg5 Qf6 and Black is winning] Qb2 38.Qb2 cb2 39.Rb8 Rc2
[39...Rc5! and Black is winning] 40.Kh3 a5 [40...Rc5!] 41.Ne3 Rf2 [41...
Kh7!? 42.Nc2 Bb4 43.Na3 Ba3 44.Rb3 a4 45.Rb7 Bb4! 46.Rb4 a3] 42.
Nc4 [42.Nd1 a4 43.Nf2 a3] a4 43.Nb2 a3 44.Nc4 a2 45.Ra8 f6 (and
Black is winning) 46.Kg4 [46.Ne3 Kf7 47.Nd1 Rc2] Kf7 47.Kf5?! Rf3
48.Ke4 Ra3 0-1 [Leko]
7. N. Nestorovic (2422) Popchev (2410)
Stara Pazova 2008 103/62 [B06]
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Be3 d5 5.Nf3 [5.ed5 see 48/(171)] de4 6.
Ne4 Nh6 [a novelty; 6...e5!?] 7.d5 Nb4 8.Qd2 a5 9.a3 Qd5! 10.ab4 Qe4
11.Bd3 Qe6 12.0-0-0 0-0! 13.Bh6 ab4 14.Qe3
14...Bc3!! 15.bc3 bc3 16.Ba6 Qe3 17.Be3 [17.fe3 Ra6 18.Kb1 Re8 19.
Rd3 Bf5 20.Rc3 Rea8 21.Re1 Ra1 22.Kb2 R8a2 23.Kb3 Be6 24.Kb4 Ra4
25.Kc5 Ra5 26.Kd4 Rd5 27.Ke4 Ra4 28.Nd4 c5 and Black is winning]
Ra6 18.Kb1 Bh3!! 19.Nd4 Rb6 20.Nb3 Rb3! 21.cb3 Bf5 22.Kc1 Ra8 01 [Popchev]
8. D. Stellwagen (2616) Bareev (2655)
Amsterdam 2008 103/75 [B19]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 de4 4.Ne4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5
Bh7 9.Bd3 Bd3 10.Qd3 e6 11.Bd2 Ngf6 12.0-0-0 Qc7 13.Ne4 0-0-0 14.
g3 Ne4 15.Qe4 Nf6 16.Qe2 Rd5 17.c4! Rh5 18.Bf4 Qd8 19.Rhe1! [a
novelty; 19.Ne5 see 103/(75)] Bb4 [19...Rf5 a) 20.d5!? a1) 20...ed5 21.
Ne5 Qc7 (21...Qe8 22.Qc2) 22.Qd3 Rf4 23.gf4 Bd6 24.Qf5 Kb8 25.Rg1
and White is superior; a2) 20...cd5! 21.cd5 (21.Ne5 Qc7; 21.Kb1 Bd6 22.
Ne5 Nh5 23.cd5 Nf4 24.gf4 Be5 25.fe5 Qb6) Rd5 22.Rd5 Qd5 23.Kb1
Bd6 24.Ne5 Be5 25.Be5 b5 (only move) 26.Rc1 Kb7 27.Rc7 Ka8 28.a4
ba4 29.Qa6 Qd1 30.Ka2 Qb3 equal; b) 20.Ne5 Nd7 (20...Qe8 21.d5 g5 22.
dc6 gf4 23.cb7 Kb7 24.Qf3 Kc7 25.g4 Ng4 26.Rd7 and White is winning)
21.d5 Ne5 22.Be5 Bd6 23.Bd6 (23.de6 Re5 24.Qe5 Be5 25.Rd8 Rd8 26.
Re5 fe6 equal) Qd6 24.de6 Qe7! (24...Qe6 25.Qd3 Re5 26.Re5 Qe5 27.
Qd7 Kb8 28.Qf7 and White is slightly better) 25.Qg4 (25.Rd7 Qe6 26.Qe6
fe6 27.Rg7 and White is slightly better) g6 26.ef7 (26.Rd7 Qc5 27.Rf7 Qf2
28.Re2 Qg1 29.Kc2 Rd8 30.Rd7 Rd7 31.ed7 Kd7 32.Qg6 Rf2 equal; 26.
Qd4 Rf8 27.Qa7 fe6) Qf7 27.Qd4 (27.Rd6 Re8 28.Re8 Qe8 29.Qg6 Qg6
30.Rg6 Rf2 31.Rh6 Rg2 equal) Rf8 28.Qa7 Qc4 29.Kb1 Qb4 equal; 28.f4
and White is slightly better] 20.Ne5 Qe7 [20...Rf8 21.Rg1 Rf5 22.Be3 h5
23.f3 Qc7 24.g4 hg4 25.fg4 Re5 26.de5 Qe5 27.g5 (27.Qd3!? Be7 28.Qd4
and White is slightly better) a) 27...Nd7 28.Qd3 Nb6 (28...Nc5 29.Qd4
and White is superior) 29.g6 and White is superior; b) 27...Bc5 28.Rge1
Be3 29.Qe3 Qe3 30.Re3 Nd7 31.Rh1 and White is superior] 21.Rg1 g5
[21...Rf5 22.Be3 h5 23.f3] 22.g4 Rh3! [22...Ng4 23.Bg3 Nf6 24.Nf7!
Rh7 (24...Qf7 25.Qe5 and White is winning) 25.Qe5 Rf7 26.Qb8 Kd7 27.
Qb7 Ke8 28.Qb8 Kd7 29.Qa7 Ke8 30.Qb8 Kd7 31.Qb7 Ke8 32.Qc6 Kf8
33.a3 Ba3 34.Qa8 Kg7 35.Qa3 and White is winning] 23.Qf1
23...Ra3! 24.ba3 Ba3 25.Kc2 gf4 26.Rd3 Bd6 27.Qc1! h5 28.gh5 [28.g5
Be5 29.de5 Ne4 (29...Ng4 30.Qf4 Qc5) 30.f3 Nc5 unclear] Rh5 29.Qf4
c5? [29...Rf5 a) 30.Qh4 Rh5 equal; b) 30.Qh2!? b1) 30...c5? 31.Qh8 Kc7
32.Qa8! Rf2 33.Kb1 cd4 34.Rb3 Bb4 35.Nd3 (35.c5 Ne4 36.Rb4 Nc3 37.
Kc1 Na2 38.Kb1 Nc3 equal) Ne4 36.Nf2 Nd2 37.Kc2 Qc5! 38.Qg8!! Qc4
39.Kd1 Nb3 40.Qg3 and White is winning; b2) 30...Nh5 31.f3 and White
is slightly better, with the idea 31...c5? 32.Rg8 Kc7 33.Qd2 and White is
winning; b3) 30...Rh5 31.Rh3 and White is superior; b4) 30...Kc7! (with
compensation) 31.f4? Be5 32.de5 Qc5!; c) 30.Qe3 c5 31.Nf3 Qc7 (31...
b5!?) 32.Kb1 and White is slightly better] 30.Rg5! (and White is
superior) Rg5 31.Qg5 cd4 32.f4! [32.Rd4 Be5 33.Qe5 Nd7] Bc7 [32...
Be5 33.fe5 Qc5 34.Qf6 Qc4 35.Kd2 Qa2 36.Ke1 Qb1 37.Ke2 Qc2 38.
Rd2 Qe4 39.Kf1 Qh1 40.Kf2 Qh2 41.Ke1 and White is winning] 33.Rh3
Bd8 34.Rh8 Kc7 35.Nf7! (and White is winning) Qf7 36.Qc5 Kd7 37.
Qd4 Nd5 38.cd5 ed5 39.Qd3 Bf6 (time) 40.Qf5 Kd6 41.Rh6 Ke7 42.
Rh7 Bg7 43.Qg5 1-0 [D.Stellwagen]
9. Ivanchuk (2781) Kamsky (2723)
Moscow 2008 103/339 [D92]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Rc1 dc4 7.e4 Bg4 8.
Bc4 Nfd7 9.Be2 [9.Be3 see 67/(551)] Nc6 [9...Bf3 10.Bf3 e5 11.de5 Be5
12.Be5 Ne5 13.Be2 Qd1 14.Rd1 c6 15.f4 Ned7 16.e5 and White is
superior] 10.Be3 [10.d5 Bf3 11.Bf3 Nd4 12.0-0 c5 with counterplay] Nb6
[10...Bf3!? 11.gf3 e6 12.h4 Nb6 and White is slightly better] 11.d5 Bf3
12.gf3 Ne5 [12...Nb8 13.Qb3 c6 14.0-0 cd5 15.Nd5 and White is slightly
better] 13.Qb3! [a novelty; 13.Bd4] c6 [13...f5? 14.Nb5!; 13...Qd7!?] 14.
f4 Ned7 15.0-0 [15.dc6 bc6 16.h4 h5 17.e5 Rb8! 18.Qc2 a) 18...Nd5 19.
e6 (19.Nd5 cd5 20.b3 Nb6 with counterplay) fe6 20.Qg6 Rf6 21.Qh5 Nf4
22.Bf4 Rf4 23.Rg1 and White is slightly better; b) 18...e6 19.Rd1 Nd5 20.
Ba7 Rb4 21.Nd5 cd5 22.Bd4 Qb8 with compensation, with the idea Bh6]
Qe8? [15...cd5 16.Nd5 e6 (16...e5 17.fe5 Ne5 18.f4 Nc6 19.Rfd1 Nd5 20.
Rd5 Qe7 21.e5 and White is superior) 17.Nb6 Nb6 18.a4 Qh4 19.a5 Nd7
20.e5 g5 21.Rc4 Qh3 (21...gf4 22.Bf4 b6 23.Qe3 and White is superior)
22.Kh1 gf4 23.Rf4 Ne5 24.Rg1 with initiative] 16.a4! cd5 17.Nb5! [17.
Nd5 Nd5 18.Qd5 Nb6 19.Qb7 Qa4 with counterplay] Rc8 [17...d4 18.
Nc7! Qd8 19.Na8 de3 (19...Na8 20.Bd2 b6 21.e5 and White is superior)
20.Nb6 ef2 21.Kf2! Bd4 22.Kg2 ab6 23.Qd5 and White is superior] 18.
Rc8 Qc8 19.e5!? [19.Na7 Qb8 20.Bb6 Nb6 21.Qb6 Qf4 22.Qe3! Qe3 23.
fe3 Ra8 24.Nb5 Ra4 25.ed5 Bb2 and White is superior] a6 [19...Qc6! 20.
Na7 (20.Rc1 Nc4 21.Na7 Qe6 22.Bc4 dc4 23.Qb7 g5 24.Qc6 gf4 25.Qe6
fe6 26.Bd4 Ne5 27.Be5 Be5 28.Rc4 Bb2 29.a5 and White is superior) Qe6
(20...Qa4 21.Qa4 Na4 22.Bb5 Nab6 23.Rc1 and White is superior, with
the idea Rc7) 21.Nb5 (21.Rd1 g5!) Qh3 a) 22.Qb4 Ne5 23.Bb6 Ng4 24.
Bg4 Qg4 equal; b) 22.f3 g5 23.Nc3 (23.fg5 Be5 24.f4 Bb2! 25.Rf3 Qg4 26.
Kh1 Bg7 with counterplay) Nc4! unclear; c) 22.Nd4 Ra8 23.Bf3 and
White is superior, with the idea 23...Ra4?! 24.Bg2 Qh5 25.e6! fe6 26.Ne6
and White is winning]
20.Na7! Qc7 [20...Qd8 21.a5 Nc4 22.Bc4 dc4 23.Qb7 and White is
superior; 22.Qb7 and White is superior] 21.Rc1 Qd8 [21...Nc4 22.Bc4
dc4 23.Rc4 Qb8 24.Rb4 b6 25.Nc6 Qe8 26.Qc4 and White is superior] 22.
a5 Nc4 23.Bc4 dc4 24.Qb7 g5 [24...Nb8 25.h3 g5 26.Rc4 gf4 27.Bf4
Qd3 28.Rc8 and White is winning] 25.Nc6 Qe8 26.Rc4 [26.Qa6 gf4 27.
Bf4 and White is winning] gf4 27.Bf4 Kh8 28.Bg3 Rg8 29.Kf1 e6 30.
Rd4 [30.Qa6 Nb8 31.Qa8 and White is winning] Nc5 31.Qb6 Nd7 32.
Qc7 Nb8 33.Nd8! Qb5 34.Kg1 h6 35.Nf7 Kh7 36.Qc2 1-0 [Ivanchuk]
10. Evgeny Alekseev (2708) Dominguez Perez (2708)
Biel 2008 103/173 [B91]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.g3 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.
Bg2 b5 9.h3 Nbd7 10.g4 b4 11.Nd5 Nd5 12.ed5 a5 13.0-0 [13.Ng3 see
79/229] h5! [a novelty; 13...0-0; 13...Ba6] 14.gh5 [14.Ng3 hg4 15.hg4
Bg5 16.Bg5 Qg5 17.Nf5 Qf6 18.f4 g6 19.fe5 Ne5 20.g5 Qd8 21.Ng7 Ke7
and Black is superior; 14.g5 Bg5 15.f4 Bf6 16.fe5 Ne5 17.Nd4 Ba6 and
Black is slightly better] Rh5 15.Nd4!? [15.a3] Nf6 [weak point h3] 16.
Nc6 Qc7 17.Qf3 Bf5 [17...e4! 18.Qg3 (18.Qb3 Bb7 19.a3 ba3 20.Ra3
Rd5 and Black is slightly better) Rd5 19.Ne7 Ke7 20.Be3 Kf8 and Black
is slightly better] 18.Re1 Qd7 [18...Bc2 19.Qg3 Kf8 20.Bg5 Qd7 21.h4
unclear] 19.a3 b3 20.cb3 Bh3 21.Bd2 Bg2 22.Kg2 [22.Qg2? Qf5 23.
Rac1 Ng4 24.f3 Nh2 25.Rc3 Bg5 with attack] Rf5 23.Qd3 Nh5 24.Rh1
g6 25.b4 Bg5 26.b5 [26.ba5?! Bd2 27.Qd2 Rf4 28.Rh3 Qg4 29.Kh2 Rf3
30.Rf3 Qf3 31.Qe3 Qd5 and Black is superior] Bd2 27.Qd2 Rf4 28.Rh3
Kf8! [with the idea Kg7; 28...Qg4 29.Kh2 Qf5 30.Rf1 Kf8 31.b6 unclear]
29.Rah1 [29.f3 Kg7 30.Rah1 Qf5 31.Kf2 (31.b6 Rc4 32.Kg1 Rc2 and
Black is winning) Rc4 32.Rh5 gh5 33.Rg1 Kh7 34.Rg5 Qf4 35.Qf4 ef4 36.
Rh5 Kg6 37.Rh2 Rc2 38.Kg1 Rc1 39.Kf2 Rb1 and Black is winning]
Qg4 30.Kf1 [30.Kh2? Qf5 31.Rf1 Kg7 32.b6 (32.Kg2 Rg4 33.Kh2 Nf4
and Black is winning) Rh8 and Black is winning]
30...Ng3! (and Black is winning) 31.Rg3 (only move) Qg3 32.b6 Qf3 33.
Rh2 [33.Rh8? Kg7 34.Ra8 Rh4!] Kg8 [33...Qb3! 34.Rh8 Kg7 35.Ra8
Qh3 36.Ke1 Qh1 37.Ke2 Qf3 38.Ke1 Re4 39.Qe3 Re3 40.fe3 Qe3 41.
Kd1 Qb6] 34.b7 Re8 35.b4 [35.b8Q?? Rb8 36.Nb8 Rd4] ab4 [35...Qa3]
36.ab4 Qg3 37.Rh1 [37.Rg2 Qa3 38.Kg1 (38.b8Q Rb8 39.Nb8 Rb4 40.
Rg3 Qa1 41.Kg2 Rb8) Qa1 39.Kh2 Qf1 40.f3 (40.b8Q Rh4 41.Kg3 Rg4)
Qb5 41.b8Q Rb8 42.Nb8 Qb8] Qf3 38.Rh2 Qg3 39.Rh1 Qb3 40.b8Q
Rb8 41.Nb8 Rb4 [41...Qf3 42.Rh2 Rd4] 42.Nd7 [42.Qh6 Qd1 43.Kg2
Rg4 44.Kh2 Qf3] Qc4 43.Kg2 Qg4 44.Kh2 Qh5 45.Kg2 Rg4 [46.Kf3
Qh1 47.Kg4 f5 48.Kg5 Kg7] 0-1 [Dominguez Perez, J.Ibarra]


Informant 103

North America:
Milan Bjelajac
Naiditsch prepared and played an exceptionally strong move, 19.Qd2!, in
a quiet variation of the Russian Defense at the very strong tournament in
Dortmund, and the Chess Informant jury has chosen it as the best
theoretical novelty of Volume 103.
Kramnik was, no doubt, very surprised and responded with the dubious
19Ng6?!. However, analysis by Naiditsch in Informant 103, as well as
the game Smirnov - Neelotpal, Pardubice, shows that the correct
continuation for Black was to accept the rook sacrifice with an unclear
position that offers mutual chances for both sides.
Informant 84 (CD)
Only $5.95!
Still, it is understandable that Kramnik wished to avoid Naiditsch's home

preparations. Nevertheless, even 19Ng6 was thoroughly analyzed by
Naiditsch, as is evident by his extremely strong move 22.Qe3!. From
there the rest of the game was just a matter of technique for White.
Informant 94 (CD)
Only $5.95!

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
The Complete
DGT Product Line
Informant 95 (CD)
Only $5.95!
1. A. Naiditsch (2624) V. Kramnik (2788)

Dortmund 2008 103/199 [C42]
Re1 Bg4 9.c4 Nf6 10.Nc3 Bf3 11.Qf3 Nd4 12.Qd1 Ne6 13.cd5 Nd5 14.
Bb5 c6 15.Nd5 cb5 16.Bf4 Nf4 17.Re7 Kf8 18.Re5 Qd6
19.Qd2! [a novelty; 19.Rf5 Rd8 20.Ne3 Qd1 21.Rd1 Rd1 22.Nd1 Ne6 23.
Rb5 b6 equal] Ng6?! [19...Ne6 20.Rae1 with attack; 19...Qe5 20.Qb4
Ke8 21.Qb5 (21.Re1?! Ne2 22.Kf1 Rc8! 23.f4 Qd5 24.Re2 Kd7 25.Rd2
Rc5 and Black is slightly better) Kd8 (21...Kf8 22.Qc5 and White is
winning) 22.Rd1 Ne2 23.Kh1 Nd4 24.Qb7 Rc8 (24...Rb8 25.Qa7 with
attack) 25.h3! unclear] 20.Ree1 f6 [20...Rd8 21.Rad1 with the idea 21...
Ne7 22.Qe3 Nd5 23.Rd5 Qd5 24.Qe7 Kg8 25.Qe8 and White is winning]
21.Rad1 [21.Qd3!? Rd8 (21...Re8 22.Re8 Ke8 23.Qb5 Qc6 24.Qb3 and
White is superior) 22.Qb3! Rd7 (22...Ne5 23.Rad1 Qc5 24.Nf4 and White
is winning; 22...Qd5 23.Rad1 Qb3 24.Rd8 Kf7 25.Rd7 Kf8 26.ab3 and
White is winning) 23.Rad1 Qc6 24.Nb4 Rd1 25.Rd1 Qc4 26.Qe3 Qb4 27.
Rd8 Kf7 28.Rd7 Ne7 29.a3 Rd8 30.Rd8 Qb2 31.Rd1 and White is
superior] Kf7
22.Qe3! Rhe8 [22...Rhd8 23.Ne7] 23.Ne7! Qe7 24.Qb3 Kf8 25.Re7 Re7
26.Qb5 (and White is winning) Rae8 27.g3 Ne5 28.Kg2 Nc6 29.b4 a6 30.
Qb6 h6 31.a4 Ne5 32.Qc5 Kg8 33.b5 ab5 34.ab5 Nf7 35.h4 Kh8 36.
Rd2 Kg8 37.Kh3 Kh8 38.f4! Kg8 39.h5 Kh8 40.Qf5 Nd8 41.Rd7 Ne6
42.Qd5 1-0 [A.Naiditsch]
2. A. Shirov (2740) Sergey Karjakin (2732)
Foros 2008 103/303 [D43]
b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7 12.Nf7 Kf7 13.e5 Nd5 14.Ne4
Qb6 15.Nd6 Ke7 16.Bg4
16...h5! [a novelty; 16...Raf8 see 102/333] 17.Bh5 Raf8 18.Qg4 [18.a4]

Bh6 19.h4 [19.Rad1 c5 20.Bg6 Nf4 21.Bh4 gh4 22.Qh4 Nf6] Rhg8 [19...
c5! 20.hg5 Bg7 21.g6 Kd8 22.a4 (22.Nf7 Kc8) b4!? and Black is slightly
better] 20.hg5 [20.Qe4 Rg7 21.hg5 Bg5 22.f4 Bf6 (22...N7f6 23.ef6 Bf6
24.Nb7 Qb7 25.f5 Kd8 with counterplay) 23.Bg6 Kd8] Bg5 21.Ne4?! [21.
Bh4 Bf6 22.Qe4! a) 22...Rh8 23.ef6 N7f6 24.Nb7 Kd7 (24...Qb7 25.Rfe1
Qd7 26.Bf3 Qd6 27.a4! Nf4 28.Bf6 Kf6 29.g3 and White is slightly better)
25.Bf6 Nf6 26.Qe5 Qb7 27.Bf3 Kd8 28.Rfe1 Qh7 29.g3 (29.g4 Nd5 30.
Bg2 Qh4 31.Qd6 Kc8 32.Qc6 Nc7 33.Qb7 Kd7 equal) Nd7 (29...Nd5 30.
Qd6 Qd7 31.Qb8 Ke7 32.Qe5 and White is slightly better) 30.Qe4 Qe4 31.
Be4 Kc7 32.a4 a6 and White is slightly better; b) 22...Bh4 23.Qh4 b1)
23...N5f6 24.Bf3 Rh8 25.ef6 Nf6 26.Qg3 Rhg8 (26...Rfg8 27.Qe5 Nd7 28.
Nf5 Kf7 29.Qd6 Qd8 30.Ng3 Nf6 31.Qe5 and White is slightly better) 27.
Qh2 Rd8 (27...Rh8 28.Qe5 Nd7 29.Nf5 Kd8 30.Qe6 c5 31.Qb6 ab6 32.
Bb7 Rf5 33.Rad1 and White is slightly better) 28.Nb7 Qb7 29.a4 and
White is slightly better; b2) 23...N7f6 b21) 24.Rfe1 Kd7 (24...Rh8 25.
Qg5) 25.ef6 Rf6 26.Nb7 Qb7 27.Bg4 Rgg6 28.Re5 and White is slightly
better, with the idea 28...Qb6 29.Rae1; b22) 24.Nb7 Rh8 25.Nc5 Rh5 26.
ef6 Nf6 27.Qg3 Kf7 (27...Qb8 28.Rae1) 28.Rae1 Rfh8 29.f3 Rh1 30.Kf2
Rf1 31.Rf1 Qb8 32.Qb8 Rb8 33.Re1 Re8 34.f4 and White is slightly
better] Ne3! [21...Qd4 22.Rad1 Ne5 23.Rd4 Ng4 24.Bd6 Kd7 (24...Kd8
25.Ng5 Rg5 26.Bf8 and White is superior) 25.Bf8 Ngf6 26.f4 Bh4 27.f5
ef5 28.Nc5 and White is superior] 22.Qg5! [22.Qh3 Ng2! (22...Nf5 23.
Ng5 Rg5 24.Bh4 Rfg8) 23.Qg2 c5 24.d5 Bd5 25.Rad1 Qc6 26.Rd5 (26.
Rfe1 Rf5 and Black is superior) ed5 27.Ng5 Qh6 28.Bg4 Rg5 29.Bd7 Kd7
30.Qd5 Ke8 31.Qa8 Kf7 32.Qa7 Kg8 33.Qc5 Qh3 34.Qd5 Kg7 and Black
is slightly better] Rg5 23.Bh4 Kd8 only move [23...Nf1? 24.Bg5 Nf6 25.
ef6 Kd8 26.Nc5 and White is superior] 24.fe3 Rh8 25.Bg5 Kc7 26.Bg4?
[26.Rf7 Rh5 27.Nf6 Rg5 28.Nd7 Rf5 a) 29.Rh7 Qa5 30.Nc5 Kb8 31.e4
Qd2 32.Rb7 Kc8 (32...Ka8 33.ef5 Qd4 34.Kh1 Qh4 35.Kg1 equal) 33.ef5
Qd4 34.Kh1 Qc5 35.Rh7 ef5 36.e6 equal; b) 29.Rf5 Kd7 30.Rf7 Kc8 31.
Rf8 Kc7 32.Raf1 Qa5 33.R1f7 Kb6 34.Rb8 Qd2 35.Rbb7 Ka5 36.Ra7
Kb4 equal; c) 29.Rf1 Rf7 30.Rf7 Qa5 31.Nc5 Kb8 32.Rb7 Kc8 33.Rh7
Qe1 (33...Qa2 34.Rh8 Kc7 35.Rh7 equal) 34.Kh2 Qe3 35.Rh8 Kc7 36.
Rh7 Kd8 37.Ne6 Ke8 38.Nc7 Kf8 39.e6 Qf4 40.Kh1 equal] c5 27.dc5
Nc5? [27...Qa5 a) 28.Nd6 Bc6 (28...Rg8!? and Black is superior) 29.Bh3
(29.Be6 Qd2 and Black is winning) Qd2 30.Rf2 Qd5 31.e4 Qc5 and Black
is superior; b) 28.Rf7 Be4 29.Rd1 Kb8 30.Rfd7 Qa2 31.R7d2 Re8 and
Black is superior] 28.Rf7 Kb8 29.Nd6 Rg8 30.Raf1 [30.Rd1 Bc6 31.
Rdf1 Nd7 32.Be6 Qe3! 33.Be3 Rg2 34.Kh1 Rf2 equal] Rg5 31.Rf8 Kc7
32.R1f7 Nd7 33.Rd7 Kd7 34.Rf7 Kd8 [34...Kc6 35.Bf3 Kc5 36.Rb7
Qa5 37.Ne4 Kb4 38.Ng5 Qa2 39.Ne6 and White is superior] 35.Rf8 Kd7
36.Rf7 - [Sergey Karjakin]
3. Rauf Mamedov (2617) Dm. Kokarev (2579)
Plovdiv 2008 103/181 [B97]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Qd3
Qb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.f5 Nc6 11.fe6 fe6 12.Nc6 bc6 13.Be2 Be7
14.Bh5! [a novelty; 14.0-0 see 86/256] g6 15.e5!! Nd5! [15...Nh5 16.Be7

Nf4 17.Qf3 Ng2 (17...Nd5 18.0-0! Ne7 19.Qf7 Kd8 20.ed6 Qd6 21.Qf6
Qc5 22.Kh1 Rg8 23.Ne4 Qa7 24.Rbd1 Bd7 25.Ng5 and White is winning)
18.Kf2! and White is winning; 15...de5 16.Rb3 e4 (16...Qa5 17.Bg6 hg6
18.Qg6 Kd7 19.Bf6 Bf6 20.Qf6 and White is winning) 17.Qh3 Qa5 18.
Bg6 Kd7 19.Bf6 Bf6 20.Be4 Kc7 21.0-0 Bd4 22.Kh1 Bd7 23.Qd3 e5 24.
Ne2 and White is winning] 16.Rb3! [16.Bg6? hg6 17.Qg6 Kd7 18.Nd5
cd5 19.Be7 Qe3 20.Kd1 Qd4 21.Kc1 Qe3 22.Kd1 equal] Qa5 [16...Qc5
17.Ne4 a) 17...Nb4 18.Rb4 Qb4 19.c3 Qa3 20.Be7 Ke7 (20...gh5 21.0-0!
and White is winning) 21.ed6 Ke8 22.0-0 gh5 (RR 22...Rf8 only move) 23.
d7 (RR 23.Qd4!) Bd7 24.Nf6 Kf7 25.Qd7 Kg6 26.Qe6 and White is
winning; b) 17...Qa5 18.Bd2 Qa2 19.ed6 and White is winning] 17.Be7
Ne7 18.ed6 Qh5 19.de7 Qh4 20.g3 Qe7 21.0-0 [21.Ne4? 0-0!] Rf8 22.
Ne4 e5 [22...Rf1!? 23.Qf1 e5 24.Rd3! and White is superior] 23.Nd6 Kd8
24.Rfb1 Qe6 25.c4 Ke7 26.Rb7! Bb7 27.Rb7 Kd8 28.Qa3 a5 29.Qc5 10 [Rauf Mamedov]
4. D. Stellwagen (2616) E. Bareev (2655)
Amsterdam 2008 103/75 [B19]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 de4 4.Ne4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5
Bh7 9.Bd3 Bd3 10.Qd3 e6 11.Bd2 Ngf6 12.0-0-0 Qc7 13.Ne4 0-0-0 14.
g3 Ne4 15.Qe4 Nf6 16.Qe2 Rd5 17.c4! Rh5 18.Bf4 Qd8
19.Rhe1! [a novelty; 19.Ne5 see 103/(75)] Bb4 [19...Rf5 a) 20.d5!? a1)

20...ed5 21.Ne5 Qc7 (21...Qe8 22.Qc2) 22.Qd3 Rf4 23.gf4 Bd6 24.Qf5
Kb8 25.Rg1 and White is superior; a2) 20...cd5! 21.cd5 (21.Ne5 Qc7; 21.
Kb1 Bd6 22.Ne5 Nh5 23.cd5 Nf4 24.gf4 Be5 25.fe5 Qb6) Rd5 22.Rd5
Qd5 23.Kb1 Bd6 24.Ne5 Be5 25.Be5 b5 only move 26.Rc1 Kb7 27.Rc7
Ka8 28.a4 ba4 29.Qa6 Qd1 30.Ka2 Qb3 equal; b) 20.Ne5 Nd7 (20...Qe8
21.d5 g5 22.dc6 gf4 23.cb7 Kb7 24.Qf3 Kc7 25.g4 Ng4 26.Rd7 and White
is winning) 21.d5 Ne5 22.Be5 Bd6 23.Bd6 (23.de6 Re5 24.Qe5 Be5 25.
Rd8 Rd8 26.Re5 fe6 equal) Qd6 24.de6 Qe7! (24...Qe6 25.Qd3 Re5 26.
Re5 Qe5 27.Qd7 Kb8 28.Qf7 and White is slightly better) 25.Qg4 (25.Rd7
Qe6 26.Qe6 fe6 27.Rg7 and White is slightly better) g6 26.ef7 (26.Rd7
Qc5 27.Rf7 Qf2 28.Re2 Qg1 29.Kc2 Rd8 30.Rd7 Rd7 31.ed7 Kd7 32.Qg6
Rf2 equal; 26.Qd4 Rf8 27.Qa7 fe6) Qf7 27.Qd4 (27.Rd6 Re8 28.Re8 Qe8
29.Qg6 Qg6 30.Rg6 Rf2 31.Rh6 Rg2 equal) Rf8 28.Qa7 Qc4 29.Kb1 Qb4
equal; 28.f4 and White is slightly better] 20.Ne5 Qe7 [20...Rf8 21.Rg1
Rf5 22.Be3 h5 23.f3 Qc7 24.g4 hg4 25.fg4 Re5 26.de5 Qe5 27.g5 (27.
Qd3!? Be7 28.Qd4 and White is slightly better) a) 27...Nd7 28.Qd3 Nb6
(28...Nc5 29.Qd4 and White is superior) 29.g6 and White is superior; b)

27...Bc5 28.Rge1 Be3 29.Qe3 Qe3 30.Re3 Nd7 31.Rh1 and White is
superior] 21.Rg1 g5 [21...Rf5 22.Be3 h5 23.f3] 22.g4 Rh3! [22...Ng4 23.
Bg3 Nf6 24.Nf7! Rh7 (24...Qf7 25.Qe5 and White is winning) 25.Qe5 Rf7
26.Qb8 Kd7 27.Qb7 Ke8 28.Qb8 Kd7 29.Qa7 Ke8 30.Qb8 Kd7 31.Qb7
Ke8 32.Qc6 Kf8 33.a3 Ba3 34.Qa8 Kg7 35.Qa3 and White is winning] 23.
Qf1 Ra3! 24.ba3 Ba3 25.Kc2 gf4 26.Rd3 Bd6 27.Qc1! h5 28.gh5 [28.g5
Be5 29.de5 Ne4 (29...Ng4 30.Qf4 Qc5) 30.f3 Nc5 unclear] Rh5 29.Qf4
c5? [29...Rf5 a) 30.Qh4 Rh5 equal; b) 30.Qh2!? b1) 30...c5? 31.Qh8 Kc7
32.Qa8! Rf2 33.Kb1 cd4 34.Rb3 Bb4 35.Nd3 (35.c5 Ne4 36.Rb4 Nc3 37.
Kc1 Na2 38.Kb1 Nc3 equal) Ne4 36.Nf2 Nd2 37.Kc2 Qc5! 38.Qg8!! Qc4
39.Kd1 Nb3 40.Qg3 and White is winning; b2) 30...Nh5 31.f3 and White
is slightly better, with the idea 31...c5? 32.Rg8 Kc7 33.Qd2 and White is
winning; b3) 30...Rh5 31.Rh3 and White is superior; b4) 30...Kc7! (with
compensation) 31.f4? Be5 32.de5 Qc5!; c) 30.Qe3 c5 31.Nf3 Qc7 (31...
b5!?) 32.Kb1 and White is slightly better] 30.Rg5! (and White is
superior) Rg5 31.Qg5 cd4 32.f4! [32.Rd4 Be5 33.Qe5 Nd7] Bc7 [32...
Be5 33.fe5 Qc5 34.Qf6 Qc4 35.Kd2 Qa2 36.Ke1 Qb1 37.Ke2 Qc2 38.
Rd2 Qe4 39.Kf1 Qh1 40.Kf2 Qh2 41.Ke1 and White is winning] 33.Rh3
Bd8 34.Rh8 Kc7 35.Nf7! (and White is winning) Qf7 36.Qc5 Kd7 37.
Qd4 Nd5 38.cd5 ed5 39.Qd3 Bf6 (time) 40.Qf5 Kd6 41.Rh6 Ke7 42.
Rh7 Bg7 43.Qg5 1-0 [D.Stellwagen]
5. L. Dominguez Perez (2695) B. Predojevic (2651)
Sarajevo 2008 103/169 [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.
Qd2 Nbd7 9.f3 b5 10.0-0-0 Be7 11.g4 b4 12.Nd5 Bd5 13.ed5 Nb6 14.
Na5 Nbd5
15.Nc4! [a novelty; 15.Nc6 see 99/170] h6 [15...Ne3 16.Qe3 (16.Ne3 0-0

17.Nf5 d5 unclear) Qc7 17.g5 Nd7 18.f4 0-0 19.h4 unclear] 16.h4 Ne3
[16...Qc7] 17.Ne3 d5 18.Nd5 Nd5 19.Qd5 Qd5 20.Rd5 (and White is
slightly better) Bf6 21.Ra5 Ke7 22.Ra6 Ra6 23.Ba6 Rd8 24.Bd3 Kd6
25.h5! Bg5 26.Kb1 Be3 [26...Kc5 27.Re1 Bf6 28.Kc1 Bg5 29.Kd1 Bf4
30.Ke2 Ra8 31.Ra1 f6 32.a4 and White is slightly better] 27.Re1 Bd4 28.
Be4 Ke6 29.Rd1 Rb8 [29...Rd6 30.Rd3 Bc5 31.Rd6 Kd6 32.c3 bc3 33.
bc3 and White is slightly better] 30.Rd3 Rb6 31.Kc1 Kf6 [31...Ra6 32.
Rb3 Bc5 33.Kb1 Rd6 34.c3 Rb6 35.cb4 Rb4 36.Rc3 and White is
superior] 32.c3 bc3 33.bc3 Bc5 34.Rd7 Ke6 [34...Ra6 35.Bd5 Ra7 36.
Ra7 Ba7 37.Kc2 g6 38.a4 gh5 39.gh5 Ke7 40.Kb3 and White is superior]
35.Bf5 Kf6 36.Be4 Ke6 37.Rd8 Kf6 38.Kc2 g6? [38...Ra6 39.Kb3 Ra3
40.Kc4 Be7 41.Rd2 and White is superior] 39.a4 [39.hg6 fg6 40.Rg8 Kg5
41.a4 and White is winning] gh5 40.gh5 (time) Bf2 (time) 41.Rd5 (and
White is winning) Ke6 42.a5 Ra6 43.Rb5 f5 44.Bd3 [better is 44.Bd5
Kd6 45.Bb7 Ra7 46.a6 Be3 47.Rd5 Ke6 48.c4] Rc6 45.Kb3 Kf6 46.Rd5
Re6 47.a6 Kg5 [47...e4 48.fe4 fe4 49.Bc4 Be3 50.Kb4 Re7 51.Be2 Re6
52.Rd8] 48.Rd7 e4 49.fe4 fe4 50.Be2 Kf6 51.Rh7?! [51.a7 Re8 52.Bc4
Kg5 53.Rf7 Be3 54.Bd5] Kg5? [51...Be3 52.Kb4 Re7 53.Rh8 Ke5 54.
Rg8 Rc7] 52.Rg7 Kf6 53.Rg6 Ke5 54.Kb4 Rd6 55.Kb5 Rd2 56.Bc4
Rc2 57.Rg2 e3 1-0 [L.Dominguez Perez, J.Ibarra]
6. V. Ivanchuk (2781) G. Kamsky (2723)
Moscow 2008 103/339 [D92]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Rc1 dc4 7.e4 Bg4 8.
Bc4 Nfd7 9.Be2 [9.Be3 see 67/(551)] Nc6 [9...Bf3 10.Bf3 e5 11.de5 Be5
12.Be5 Ne5 13.Be2 Qd1 14.Rd1 c6 15.f4 Ned7 16.e5 and White is
superior] 10.Be3 [10.d5 Bf3 11.Bf3 Nd4 12.0-0 c5 with counterplay] Nb6
[10...Bf3!? 11.gf3 e6 12.h4 Nb6 and White is slightly better] 11.d5 Bf3
12.gf3 Ne5 [12...Nb8 13.Qb3 c6 14.0-0 cd5 15.Nd5 and White is slightly
better]
13.Qb3! [a novelty; 13.Bd4] c6 [13...f5? 14.Nb5!; 13...Qd7!?] 14.f4 Ned7

15.0-0 [15.dc6 bc6 16.h4 h5 17.e5 Rb8! 18.Qc2 a) 18...Nd5 19.e6 (19.
Nd5 cd5 20.b3 Nb6 with counterplay) fe6 20.Qg6 Rf6 21.Qh5 Nf4 22.Bf4
Rf4 23.Rg1 and White is slightly better; b) 18...e6 19.Rd1 Nd5 20.Ba7
Rb4 21.Nd5 cd5 22.Bd4 Qb8 with compensation, with the idea Bh6]
Qe8? [15...cd5 16.Nd5 e6 (16...e5 17.fe5 Ne5 18.f4 Nc6 19.Rfd1 Nd5 20.
Rd5 Qe7 21.e5 and White is superior) 17.Nb6 Nb6 18.a4 Qh4 19.a5 Nd7
20.e5 g5 21.Rc4 Qh3 (21...gf4 22.Bf4 b6 23.Qe3 and White is superior)
22.Kh1 gf4 23.Rf4 Ne5 24.Rg1 with initiative] 16.a4! cd5 17.Nb5! [17.
Nd5 Nd5 18.Qd5 Nb6 19.Qb7 Qa4 with counterplay] Rc8 [17...d4 18.
Nc7! Qd8 19.Na8 de3 (19...Na8 20.Bd2 b6 21.e5 and White is superior)
20.Nb6 ef2 21.Kf2! Bd4 22.Kg2 ab6 23.Qd5 and White is superior] 18.
Rc8 Qc8 19.e5!? [19.Na7 Qb8 20.Bb6 Nb6 21.Qb6 Qf4 22.Qe3! Qe3 23.
fe3 Ra8 24.Nb5 Ra4 25.ed5 Bb2 and White is superior] a6 [19...Qc6! 20.
Na7 (20.Rc1 Nc4 21.Na7 Qe6 22.Bc4 dc4 23.Qb7 g5 24.Qc6 gf4 25.Qe6
fe6 26.Bd4 Ne5 27.Be5 Be5 28.Rc4 Bb2 29.a5 and White is superior) Qe6
(20...Qa4 21.Qa4 Na4 22.Bb5 Nab6 23.Rc1 and White is superior, with
the idea Rc7) 21.Nb5 (21.Rd1 g5!) Qh3 a) 22.Qb4 Ne5 23.Bb6 Ng4 24.
Bg4 Qg4 equal; b) 22.f3 g5 23.Nc3 (23.fg5 Be5 24.f4 Bb2! 25.Rf3 Qg4 26.
Kh1 Bg7 with counterplay) Nc4! unclear; c) 22.Nd4 Ra8 23.Bf3 and
White is superior, with the idea 23...Ra4?! 24.Bg2 Qh5 25.e6! fe6 26.Ne6
and White is winning] 20.Na7! Qc7 [20...Qd8 21.a5 Nc4 22.Bc4 dc4 23.
Qb7 and White is superior; 22.Qb7 and White is superior] 21.Rc1 Qd8
[21...Nc4 22.Bc4 dc4 23.Rc4 Qb8 24.Rb4 b6 25.Nc6 Qe8 26.Qc4 and
White is superior] 22.a5 Nc4 23.Bc4 dc4 24.Qb7 g5 [24...Nb8 25.h3
(weak point g4) g5 26.Rc4 gf4 27.Bf4 Qd3 28.Rc8 and White is winning]
25.Nc6 Qe8 26.Rc4 [26.Qa6 gf4 27.Bf4 and White is winning] gf4 27.
Bf4 Kh8 28.Bg3 Rg8 29.Kf1 e6 30.Rd4 [30.Qa6 Nb8 31.Qa8 and White
is winning] Nc5 31.Qb6 Nd7 32.Qc7 Nb8 33.Nd8! Qb5 34.Kg1 h6 35.
Nf7 Kh7 36.Qc2 1-0 [V.Ivanchuk]
7. E. Iturrizaga (2470) L. Bruzon Batista (2607)
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.e4 de4 8.
Ne4 Ne4 9.Qe4 c5 10.Bg5 Be7 11.Be7 Qa5 12.Ke2 Ke7 13.g3
13...Qb4! [a novelty; 13...cd4 see 100/337] 14.b3 (only move) Qa3 15.
Bh3 Qb2 16.Ke3 [16.Kd3 Qf2 (16...Rd8 17.Rhb1 Qf2 18.Rf1 Qb2 equal)
17.Rhf1 Qb2 18.d5 Rd8 19.Rfb1 Qf2 20.Rf1 equal] Qc3 [16...Rd8!?] 17.
Ke2 [17.Qd3 cd4 18.Nd4 Qd3 19.Kd3 e5 20.Bd7 Bd7 21.Rhe1 Kf6 22.
Nf3 Rhe8 equal] Qb2 18.Ke3 Rd8 19.Rhd1 [19.d5?! Nf6 20.Qb1 (20.
Qe5 Qe5 21.Ne5 ed5 and Black is slightly better) Qc3 21.Qd3 Qd3 22.
Kd3 ed5 23.Bc8 Rac8 24.Rhe1 Kf8 and Black is slightly better] Nf6
(equal) 20.Qe5 Rd5!? [20...Qc3 21.Ke2 Qc2 22.Rd2 (only move) Qe4 23.
Qe4 Ne4 24.Rd3 cd4 25.Rd4 Rd4 26.Nd4 e5 27.Bc8 Rc8 28.Nf5 Kf6 29.
Ne3 equal] 21.cd5 only move [21.Qf4? Rh5! 22.Bg4 cd4 23.Qd4 Qd4 24.
Rd4 e5 and Black is winning; 21.Qc7? Bd7 22.dc5 Rc8 23.Qb7 Qc3 24.
Ke2 Qc2 25.Rd2 Qe4 26.Kf1 (only move) Rd2 27.Qe4 Ne4 28.Nd2 Nd2
29.Ke2 Ne4 30.b4 Nf6 and Black is superior] Nd5 (only move) 22.Kd3
(only move) [22.Ke4?? Qe2 mate] f6 [22...Nb4 23.Ke3 (only move; 23.
Kc4?? Qc2 24.Kb5 Bd7 25.Ka5 b6 mate; 23.Ke4?? Qc2! 24.Kf4 Nd5 25.
Kg4 f6 and Black is winning) Nd5 (23...Nc2?? 24.Ke2 Na1 25.Rd2 Qa3
26.dc5 and White is winning) 24.Kd3 Nb4 25.Ke3 equal] 23.Qe2 [23.Qe4
Nb4 (23...Bd7 24.Rac1) 24.Ke3 Nd5 equal] Nb4 24.Ke3 Qc3?? [24...Nd5
only move, equal] 25.Kf4! and White is winning [25.Ke4 b6 26.Rac1 Na2
27.Rc3 Nc3 28.Ke3 Ne2 29.Ke2 Bb7 30.dc5 bc5 31.Rc1 and White is
superior] e5 [25...cd4 26.Rac1 d3 27.Rc3 Nd5 28.Ke4 (only move) de2 29.
Rdc1 Nc3 30.Rc3 and White is winning; 25...h5 26.Rac1 g5 27.Ke4 Na2
(27...f5 28.Bf5 (only move) ef5 29.Ke5 Na2 30.Rc3 Nc3 31.Qc4 and White
is winning) 28.Rc2 Qb3 29.Rd3 Qd5 30.Ke3 Nb4 31.Rc5 and White is
winning] 26.de5 g5 27.Ng5 only move [27.Ke4?? Bh3 28.ef6 Kf6 29.Rd6
Kg7 and Black is winning] fg5 28.Kg5 Bh3 29.Rac1 Rg8 30.Kh4 Bg4 31.
Rd7 [31.Qb5!] Ke6 [31...Ke8 32.Rc3 Be2 33.Rb7 Rg4 34.Kh3 h5 35.Kg2
Nd5 36.f3 Rg5 37.f4 and White is winning] 32.Rd6 [32.Qe4!] Ke7 33.
Qe4 Qf3 34.Qh7 Qf7 35.Qf7 Kf7 36.Rc5 Nc6 37.h3 Be6 38.g4 1-0 [L.
Bruzon Batista]
8. S. Movsesian (2670) Z. Ilincic (2548)
Bosna i Hercegovina 2008 103/233 [C88]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.
h3
8...a5! [a novelty; 8...Bb7 see 102/253] 9.d3 [9.c3 a4 10.Bc2 a) 10...Bb7

11.d4 ed4 a1) 12.cd4 Nb4 13.e5 Nc2 14.Qc2 (14.ef6 Ne1 15.fe7 Nf3 16.
Qf3 Qe7 17.Qb7 Qe1 18.Kh2 Qc1 and Black is winning) Nd5 15.Nc3 Nc3
16.Qc3 Bd5 and Black is slightly better; a2) 12.e5 Nd5 13.Qd3 g6 14.Qb5
Nb6 15.Nd4 and White is superior; b) 10...d5! b1) 11.ed5 Qd5 12.d4 ed4
(12...e4 13.Ng5 Bf5 14.Qe2 Rfe8 15.Ne4 and White is slightly better) 13.
cd4 Rd8 14.Nc3 Qh5 equal; b2) 11.d4 b21) 11...ed4 12.e5 Ne4 13.Nd4
Nd4 14.cd4 Bf5 15.Nd2 Bb4 16.Ne4 Be4 (16...Be1 17.Nf6 gf6 18.Bf5 and
White is winning) 17.Bd2 Bc2 18.Qc2 Bd2 19.Qd2 and White is slightly
better; b22) 11...Ne4 12.de5 Rb8! (12...Bf5 13.Nbd2 Bc5 14.Ne4 de4 15.
Qd8 Rad8 16.Bf4 ef3 17.Bf5 and White is slightly better) 13.Nbd2 f5 14.
ef6 Nf6 equal] a4 10.Bd5 Nd5! 11.ed5 Nb4 12.Nc3 [12.c4 d6 13.Qd2 (13.
a3 Na6 14.cb5 Nc5 with compensation) c5 14.dc6 (14.a3 Na6 15.cb5 Nc7
and Black is slightly better) Qa5! 15.c7 (15.cb5 Qb5 16.Na3 Qb8 17.c7
Qb7 and Black is slightly better) bc4 16.dc4 Qc5 equal] Bb7 13.Ne5 [13.
Re5 d6 14.Re4 Nd5 15.Nb5 Bf6 with compensation] d6! 14.Nf3 [14.Ng4
f5 15.Nh2 Nd5 16.Nb5 Bf6 with compensation] Bf6! 15.Nb5 [15.d4 Qd7
equal] Bd5 16.Nh2 [16.a3 Bf3 17.gf3 Nd5 and Black is slightly better]
a3! 17.c3 [17.Na3 Ra3 18.ba3 Nc2! 19.Qc2 Ba1 20.Ng4 c5 equal] ab2
[17...Na2 18.Na3 Ra3 19.ba3 Bc3 20.Bd2 Ba1 21.Qa1 Qa8 22.Bh6! with
attack] 18.Bb2 c6 19.Qd2! [19.Na3 Na2 and Black is slightly better; 19.
a3 Na6 20.Nd4 Qb6 21.Qc2 Bd4 22.cd4 Rfb8 equal] Na2 [19...Ra2 20.
Ra2 Na2 21.c4 cb5 22.cd5 Bb2 23.Qb2 Qa5 24.Ra1 Ra8 25.Nf1 equal] 20.
c4 cb5 21.cd5 Qa5 22.Qa5 [22.Qe2 Bb2 (22...Nc3 23.Bc3 Qc3 24.Ra8
Ra8 25.Qe8 Re8 26.Re8 mate) 23.Qb2 Qb4! 24.Qb4 Nb4 25.Ra8 Ra8 26.
Rb1 Nd5 27.Rb5 Nf4 and Black is slightly better] Ra5 23.Bf6 gf6 24.Ng4
Kg7 [24...Rfa8 25.Nf6 Kg7 26.Ne8 Kg6 27.Nd6 and White is superior]
25.Ne3 Kg6 26.Reb1 [26.g4 b4 27.Nf5 Rfa8 28.f4 h5 29.Nd6 Rd5 30.gh5
Kh5 31.Re8 Re8 32.Ne8 Ra5 (32...Rd8 33.Ra2 Re8 equal) 33.Nf6 Kh4 34.
Kg2 b3 35.Rb1 Rb5 equal]
26...Rc8! [26...f5 27.Nc2 Rfa8 28.Nd4 equal] 27.Kh2! [27.Rb3 Rc1 28.
Rc1 Nc1 and Black is slightly better] Rc3 28.Rb2 Rca3 29.g4 Nc3 30.
Ra3 [30.Rc1 R5a4 and Black is slightly better] Ra3 [R 9/h] 31.Kg2 [31.
Nf5 Nd5 32.Rb5 Nf4 (32...Rd3 33.Rd5! Rd5 34.Ne7 and White is
winning) 33.Kg3 Nd3 34.Nh4 Kg7 35.f3 Ne5 36.Rd5 Nc4 37.Rd4 Rc3
equal] Ra4 32.Rb3 [32.Nf5 h5 33.Nd6 hg4 34.Nb5 (34.hg4 Rg4 35.Kf3
Rd4 equal) gh3 35.Kh3 Nb5 36.Rb5 Rd4 37.Kg3 Kf5 equal] b4 33.Rb2
[33.Kf3 h5 34.gh5 Kh5 35.Nc4 Nd5 36.Ke4 Nc3 37.Kd4 Nd1 38.Nd6
Nf2 equal] f5! 34.Nf5 [34.gf5 Kf6 35.Kf3 h5 and Black is slightly better]
Nd5 35.Kf3 Kf6 [35...Ra6 36.Ne3 Ne3 37.fe3 Rb6 38.Rb3 equal] 36.Ke4
[36.Nd6 Ke5 37.Nf5 (37.Nf7 Kd4 38.Re2 b3 39.Re4 Kc3 40.Ra4 b2 41.
Ra3 Kb4 42.Ra7 Kb3! and Black is superior) Ra3 38.Re2 Kf6 39.Nd4!
(39.Rd2 Ke5 equal) Nb6! (39...Rd3 40.Ke4 Nf4 41.Rb2 Rd1 42.Rb3! and
White is superior) 40.Rc2! (40.Ke4 b3 and Black is slightly better) Na4
41.Rc4 Rd3 42.Kf4 (42.Kg2 Nc3 43.Rb4 Nd5 equal) Rh3 43.g5 Ke7 44.
Nf5 Kd7 45.Rb4 Nc5 equal] Nc3 37.Kd4 Nd1 38.Rb3 [38.Rb1 b3 39.
Kd5 Nc3 and Black is winning] Nf2 39.Nd6 Ra3 40.Rb4 Rd3 41.Kc5
Nh3 42.Rb6 Nf4 [42...Rf3 43.Kd5 Kg5 44.Rb7 equal] 43.g5! Ke6 [43...
Kg5 44.Nf7 Kf5 45.Nh6 Ke4 46.Rb7 equal] 44.Nf7! Kf7 45.Rf6 Kg7 46.
Rf4 Kg6 [46...Rg3 47.Kd4 Rg5 48.Ke3 h5 49.Kf2 equal] 47.Rg4 Kf5 48.
Rg1 Rd7 49.Kc4 Rg7 50.Kd3 h5 51.Ke3 h4 52.Kf3 Rg5 53.Rg5 Kg5 [Z.Ilincic]
9. A. Onischuk (2664) E. Perelshteyn (2552)
USA (ch) 2008 103/341 [D97]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5 5.Qb3 dc4 6.Qc4 0-0 7.e4 a6 8.
Be2 b5 9.Qb3 Nc6 10.e5 Be6 11.ef6 Bb3 12.fg7 Kg7 13.ab3 Nd4 14.
Nd4 Qd4 15.0-0 Qb4 16.Bf3 Qb3 17.Nd5! e6
18.Ra3!? [a novelty; 18.Nc7] Qa3 [18...Qc4 19.Rc3 Qa4 (19...Qa2 20.

Nb4 Qa4 21.Nc6! and White is superior) 20.b3 Qa2 21.Nb4 Qa5 22.Bb2
and White is superior] 19.ba3 ed5 20.Bb2 f6 [20...Kg8!? 21.Rc1 c5 (21...
Rac8 22.Rc6!?) 22.Rc5 Rac8 23.Rd5 Rfd8 24.Rd8 Rd8 25.Kf1 Rd2 26.
Bc3 Ra2 27.Bb4 a5 28.Ba5 Ra3 29.Bd2 and White is slightly better] 21.
Rc1 c6? [21...c5 (only move) 22.g4 Rac8 23.Bd5 h6 24.h4 g5 25.hg5 hg5
26.f4!? gf4 27.g5 and White is slightly better; 26.Be4 and White is
slightly better] 22.Rc6 g5 [22...Rac8 23.Bf6 Kh6 24.g4 and White is
winning] 23.Bd5 (and White is winning) Rad8 24.Bf3 Rc8 25.Bf6 Kg6
26.Be4 Kh5 [26...Kf7 27.Bg5] 27.Rc8 Rc8 28.Kf1 Rc7 29.Ke2 a5 30.
Kd2 b4 31.a4 Rf7 32.Bd4 Rd7 33.Kd3 Rc7 34.h3 g4 35.hg4 Kg4 36.f3
Kg5 37.Be5 Rc8 38.Bh7 b3 39.Be4 Rc2 40.f4 Kg4 41.Bd5 1-0 [A.
Onischuk]
10. I. Cheparinov (2687) B. Gelfand (2720)
Sochi 2008 103/198 [C42]
Re1 Bg4 9.c3 f5 10.Qb3 0-0 11.Nbd2 Na5 12.Qa4 Nc6 13.Bb5 Bh4 14.
g3 Bf6 15.Bc6 bc6 16.Qc6
16...Rb8! [a novelty; 16...Re8 see 74/330, 331] 17.c4? [17.Ne5 Be5 18.
de5 Rb6 19.Qa4 Ng5 with attack; better is 17.Qe6] f4! [17...Nd2? 18.Nd2
Bd4 19.Nb3 and White is slightly better; 17...Re8 18.Ne5 (18.cd5 Nd2 19.
Re8 Qe8 20.Nd2 Qe1 21.Nf1 Be2 and Black is winning; 18.Kg2!?) Be5 19.
de5 Re5 20.cd5 Rb6 21.Qc2 Qd5 (21...Ng3 22.Re5 Ne2 23.Kf1 and White
is winning) 22.Ne4 equal] 18.Ne4 [18.Ne5? Be5 19.de5 Nf2! and Black is
superior, with the idea 20.Kf2 fg3 21.Kg3 Qg5 and Black is winning; 18.
cd5!? Nd2 (18...Nf2? 19.Kf2 fg3 20.hg3 Bd4 21.Kg2 and White is
winning) 19.Nd2 fg3 20.hg3 Bd4 21.Ne4 and Black is slightly better] de4
[18...Bf3 19.Qd5 Qd5 20.Nf6 Rf6 21.cd5 and White is slightly better] 19.
Qe4 [19.Ne5 fg3 (19...Be5 20.de5 fg3 21.fg3 Qd4 22.Be3 Qb2; 21.hg3
see 19...fg3) 20.hg3 (20.Ng4 gf2 21.Nf2 Bd4 22.Be3 Be3 23.Re3 Rf2) Be5
21.de5 Bf3 with attack] Bf3 20.Qf3 fg3 [20...Bd4 21.gf4] 21.hg3 [21.Qg3
Bh4 and Black is winning] Bd4 22.Bf4 Rb2 23.Rf1! Rf2 [23...g5 24.Qg4
Kh8 25.Be3 equal; 23...Qd7 24.Qd5 Qd5 25.cd5 and Black is slightly
better] 24.Rf2 Ba1 25.Kg2 Be5 [25...Bd4 26.Re2] 26.Qe4 Bf4 27.Rf4
Qd2 28.Kh3 Qd7 [28...Rf4 29.gf4 Qd7 30.Kg3 c6 31.a4 and Black is
superior] 29.Kh2 Rd8? [29...Rf4 30.Qf4 g6 31.Qe3; 30...h6 and Black is
superior; 29...Rb8 30.Qf5; better is 29...Qd2] 30.Qf5! c6?! [30...Qd6 31.
Qf7 Kh8 32.Qd5; 30...g6 31.Qf6; better is 30...h6 31.Qd7 Rd7 32.Rf5
Rd2 33.Kh3 Ra2 34.Rc5 Kf7 35.Rc7 Kf6 36.c5 h5 and Black is slightly
better] 31.Kh3 Qe7 32.Re4 Qf7 33.Rf4 Rf8 34.Qf7 Rf7 35.Rd4 (equal)
h6 36.Rd8 Kh7 37.Rc8 Rf2 38.Rc6 Ra2 39.c5 Rc2 40.Ra6 Rc5 41.Ra7
- [B.Gelfand]
C42
Re1 Bg4 9.c4 Nf6 10.Nc3 Bf3 11.Qf3 Nd4
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Qd11
Bf5
Qa4
Be6
Qc4
Qe6
Be3
Qd65
Ne62
dc43
c6
fe6
0-04
Rf7
Qd6
...
cd5
Bb5
Nd5
Qh5
Ne76
Qb5
Be3
Qb3
...
Nd5
c6
cb5
0-0
Qe7
Rfd8
a67
Rac88
...
...
...
...
Bf4
Re7
Re5
Qd210
Qb4
...
...
...
...
Nf49
Kf8
Qd6
Qe511
Ke812
equal
equal
unclear
1
12.Qg3 dc4
a) 13.Qg7? Nf3! [13...Rg8 14.Qf6 cd3 and Black is superior; Kurth Hameister, corr.1988] 14.Kh1 [14.gf3 Rg8 and Black is winning] Rg8 15.
Qf6 Ne1 and Black is winning;
b) 13.Bc4 0-0 14.Bg5 Bd6 [14...Nc2? 15.Re7! Qe7 16.Nd5 and White is
winning; H.Chomocki - J.Bysina, corr.1992]
b1) 15.Qh4?! h6 16.Bf6 Qf6 17.Qf6 gf6 18.Re4 [18.Rad1 Nc6 and Black
is slightly better; An.Karpov] c5 and Black is slightly better; Lobron - An.
Karpov, Hannover 1983 see 36/389;
b2) 15.Qh3! Qd7 16.Qh4 Nf5 17.Qh3 Nd4 equal; G.Lawton - M.Condie,
Great Britain (ch) 1985
2
12...c6 13.Be3 Ne6 14.cd5 Nd5 15.Nd5 Qd5 16.Qc2 with compensation;
Tinture - H.Neussner, corr.1997
3
13...d4 14.Ne2 d3 15.Nf4 Nd4 16.Bd3 0-0 17.Be3 [17.Bd2!? with the idea
Nh5 Tsaturian]
a) 17...Bc5!?
a1) 18.b4 Bb4 19.Bd4 Be1 and Black is winning;

a2) 18.Nh5 g6 19.Nf6 [19.Bg5 gh5 20.Bf6 Qf6 21.Qh5 Qg7 22.Qc5 Nf3
and Black is slightly better] Qf6 equal;
a3) 18.Qb1 Qd6
a31) 19.Rd1 Qe5 20.Bh7 Nh7 21.Nd3
a311) 21...Ne2!? 22.Kh1 [22.Kf1 Qh2 23.Nc5 Nf4 24.Bf4 Qf4 and Black
is slightly better] Ng3 23.hg3? Qh5 24.Kg1 Be3 25.fe3 and Black is
slightly better; 23.Kg1 equal;
a312) 21...Qf5 22.Nc5 Nc2 and Black is slightly better; Morozevich - B.
Gelfand, Mexico City 2007 see 101/213
a32) 19.Nd5 Nd5 20.cd5 [20.Bh7 Kh8 21.cd5 g6 22.Qe4 Nf5 and Black is
superior] g6 equal; B.Gelfand;
a4) 18.a3!? with the idea 18...a5 19.Nh5 g6 20.b4!! ab4 21.ab4 and White
is superior; Mi.Marin;
b) 17...Bb4 18.Rf1 c5 equal; Ju.Polgar - Shirov, Praha (m/4) 1999 see 76/
(297)
4
16...Nd5 17.Re6 0-0 18.Be3 Bf6 [18...Qd7 19.Re5 b5 20.Qb3 Rf5 21.Nd5
cd5 22.Rf5 Qf5 23.Qb5 and White is superior; 18...Kh8 19.Nd5 cd5 20.
Qd3 Bf6 21.Rd1 Bb2 22.Qd5 Qd5 23.Rd5 b6 24.Re7 and White is
slightly better; Magem Badals - B.Lalic, Seville 2000 see 77/(301)] 19.
Bc5 [19.Re1 Bc3 20.bc3 Qd7 and White is slightly better; Ar.Jussupow]
Rf7 20.Rae1 [20.Rd6 Qc7 21.Re1 Bc3 22.bc3 Re7 23.Rd8 Rd8 24.Re7 b5
25.Qb3 Qf4 unclear, with counterplay; Magem Badals - Illescas Cordoba,
France 2000] Bc3 21.bc3 and White is slightly better; Shirov - Ar.
Jussupow, Batumi 1999 see 77/301
5
- V.Anand - Kramnik, Mainz (m/10-rapid) 2001
6
17.Be3 Bg5 18.Rad1 [with the idea Nb6] Be3 19.Re3 Rc8! [19...Qg5 20.
Qg5 Ng5 21.f4 and White is slightly better, with initiative; K.Kononen - I.
Hartio, Suomi 2004]
20.f4 Rc5 only move 21.b4 [21.Re5? Rd5! and Black is winning; B.
Gelfand - Ar.Jussupow, Horgen 1994 see 61/302; 21.Red3? Rd5! and
Black is superior, with the idea 22.Qd5 Qb6] Rc4 22.f5 [22.Red3? Nf4 23.
Nf4 Qb6] Rh4 only move 23.Qe2 Nd4 24.Qf2 Qd5 25.Qh4 Nf3 and Black
is slightly better; 25...Ne2 and Black is slightly better;
20.Rh3 h6 [20...Ng5 21.Rg3 h6 unclear] 21.Rg3 Kh8 unclear;
20.Red3 with compensation; Ar.Jussupow
7
19...Qd7 20.Qd7 Rd7 21.Rad1 and White is slightly better; An.Karpov;
19...h6 20.Rac1 a6 21.Qe5 Qd6 22.Qd6 Rd6 23.Red1 Rd1 24.Rd1 h5 25.
f3 Rc8 26.Rd7 Rc7 27.Rc7 Nc7 28.g4 Nd5 29.Bd2 hg4 30.fg4 f5 31.gf5
Kf7 equal; Ehlvest - Erenburg, New Yersey 2008
8
21.Rac1 h6 22.h3 Nd4! - G.Kasparov - An.Karpov, Moscow (m/15)
1985 see 40/385;
21.a4!? An.Karpov;
21.h3
a) 21...h6 22.Rad1
a1) 22...Rd1 23.Rd1 b5 24.Rd3 Rc6 25.Qd5! Rc2!? [25...Qe8 26.Rd2 and
White is slightly better; Ivanchuk - Kramnik, Dortmund 2008 see
103/200] 26.Qa8 Kh7 [26...Qf8 27.Qa6 Rb2 28.Rd7 and White is slightly
better] 27.Qe4 Kg8? 28.Ra3 Rb2 29.Ra6 and White is winning; 27...g6
and White is slightly better;
a2) 22...b5!? with the idea 23.a4 ba4 24.Qa4 Qb7 with counterplay, weak
point b2 Ivanchuk;
b) 21...Rc6 22.Rad1 h6 23.Rd8 Nd8 24.Rd1 Rd6 25.Rc1 Rc6 equal; P.
Smirnov - K.Landa, Russia (ch) 2008
9
16...Bd6 17.Qg4 [17.Bd6 Qd6 18.Nf6 Ke7 19.Nd5 Kf8 20.Qf3 with
compensation] 0-0 only move 18.Re6 Bf4 19.Nf4 equal; 19.Ne7 equal;
An.Karpov
10
19.Qd4 f6 [19...Ne6 20.Qe3 h5 21.Re1 Kg8 22.f4 (with compensation,
with initiative) 1-0 K.Kostadinov - Uvanov, corr.1987] 20.Qf4 Qe5 21.
Qb4 Kf7 22.Qb3 Kg6 23.Rd1 Rhe8 and Black is superior; U.Kaminski - J.
Howell, Deutschland 1992;
19.Rf5 Rd8 20.Ne3 [20.Qf3 Nd5 21.Rd1 Qe6 22.Rfd5 Rd5 23.Qd5 Qd5
24.Rd5 Ke7 25.Rb5 b6 equal; B.Lelumees - M.Kobrin, Patras 1999] Qd1
21.Rd1 Rd1 22.Nd1 Ne6 23.Rb5 b6 24.Nc3 Ke7 - Kasimdzhanov - Ar.
Jussupow, Essen 2001
11
19...Ng6?! 20.Ree1 f6 [20...Rd8 21.Rad1 with the idea 21...Ne7 22.Qe3

Nd5 23.Rd5 Qd5 24.Qe7 Kg8 25.Qe8 and White is winning]
a) 21.Qd3!? Rd8 [21...Re8 22.Re8 Ke8 23.Qb5 Qc6 24.Qb3 and White is
superior] 22.Qb3! Rd7 [22...Qd5 23.Rad1 and White is winning] 23.Rad1
Qc6 24.Nb4 Rd1 25.Rd1 Qc4 26.Qe3 Qb4 27.Rd8 Kf7 28.Rd7 Ne7 29.a3
Rd8 30.Rd8 Qb2 31.Rd1 and White is superior;
b) 21.Rad1 Kf7 22.Qe3! Rhe8 23.Ne7! Qe7 24.Qb3 Kf8 25.Re7 Re7 26.
Qb5 and White is winning; A.Naiditsch - Kramnik, Dortmund 2008 see
103/199
19...Ne6 20.Rae1 with attack; A.Naiditsch
12
21.Re1?! Ne2 22.Kf1 Rc8! 23.f4 Qd5 24.Re2 Kd7 25.Rd2 Rc5 and Black
is slightly better;
21.Qb5 Kd8 [21...Kf8 22.Qc5 and White is winning] 22.Rd1 Ne2 23.Kh1
Nd4 24.Qb7 Rc8 [24...Rb8 25.Qa7 with attack; A.Naiditsch] 25.h3!
unclear; P.Smirnov - Neelotpal, Pardubice 2008


North America:
Top TNT 3
Zdenko Krnic
The latest CD, Top TNT 3, covers the top tournaments played from
January 1 to April 30, 2009. In all 1,142 games from nineteen of the most
important events are presented. In addition, the latest achievements in the
development of chess theory are presented in the four most often played
openings: B90, C88, D15 and D43.
Similar to the previous period, the Slav Defense [D15] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.
Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.e3 b5 6.b3 Bg4 is at a peak of popularity. However,
the leading players may be tiring of the continuations 7.h3 and 7.Be2, as
they have tried to make something of the rarely played continuation 7.
Bd2. This move was played for the first time by Morozevich against
Ivanchuk in Wijk aan Zee. In the first of ten lines surveyed in this article,
the games clearly demonstrate that Black has no trouble keeping an equal
position.
Informant 84 (CD)
Only $5.95!
D15
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.e3 b5 6.b3 Bg4
7
10
11
12
13
14
15
Bd21
h3
Qf3
Na4
Qd13
ed4
g35
Bg2
0-0
1
the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
The Complete
DGT Product Line
equal
Nbd72
Bf3
b4
e5
ed44
Ne4
Bd6
Ndf6
a56
h3
gf3
c58
f4
Ne410
Bg2
f3
Bf3
Qe2
Bf3
e67
Nbd7 Ne49
de4
f5
ef3
Rc8
Nf611
...
Qf3
de513
Bd2
Bc3
Bb4
Bc414
a3
Bd6
...
e512
Bb4
Bc3
Ne4
bc4
Qb615
a5
...
...
Bd2
Bd318
Rc1
Bc3
Qd1
bc4
Informant 94 (CD)
Only $5.95!
equal
and White
is slightly
better
16
Nd6
Ra1
equal
...
e6
Bb417 Qa519
Bc3
Qa2
dc4
bc4
Qb320
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.e3 b5 6.b3 Bg4

7.Be2 e621 8.0-022 Nbd723
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Bb224 Ne526
Ne2
cd5
Rc1
Nc627
Nf4
Ne5
f3
Bd625
Be2
Qc7
cd5
Qb8
Qb7
0-0
Rfc8
Rc128
h3
Bb2
Nh431
f3
Ng632
cd5
Bd3
a4
Ra4
Be4
Bg6
hg6
cd5
0-0
ba4
Qb633
equal
equal
Bf529 Bd630
...
Bd3
Bg635
Qd3
cd5
a4
Ne2
Bd2
Rfc1
...
Bg634
hg6
Be7
cd5
b436
0-0
Qb6
Rfc837
...
Bb238
Ne5
Ne2
bc4
Bh5
Bd639
Be2
bc440
0-0
Qc7
Ne4
Rfc8
Be743
...
...
...
...
cd5
Rc1
Nd745
f3
e447
...
...
...
Qc7
cd5
Qb844
Kd7
Qb746
de448
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
e4
d5
...
...
...
...
...
...
Nd7
de449
0-050
equal
Qc241 Nd342 Rfd1
c5
unclear
unclear
10
equal
Informant 95 (CD)
Only $5.95!
7.Qd2 Bf3 8.gf3 Nbd7 9.Bb2 e6 10.c5 a5 11.a4 b4 12.Ne2 g6 13.Nf4 Qc7
14.Nd3 Nh5 15.f4 Be7 16.0-0-0 Bh4 17.Be2 Ng7 18.Kb1 f5 19.Ka2 Nf6
20.f3 Nd7 21.Rdg1 Nh5 equal; Aronian - Sergey Karjakin, Nice
(blindfold) 2009;
7.Bb2 e6 8.Be2 see 7.Be2
2
7...e6 8.h3 Bf3 9.Qf3 see 7.h3
3
11.Rc1 Bd6 12.cd5 cd5 13.de5 Ne5 14.Qd1 0-0 equal; M.Carlsen - Wang
Yue, Linares 2009
4
11...Ne4 12.Bd3 Nd2 13.Qd2 ed4 14.0-0 [14.cd5 cd5 15.0-0 Bd6 16.Bf5
Nf6 17.Qd4 0-0 18.Rac1 g6 19.Bd3 a5 20.Rc6 Re8 21.Qb6 Qb6 22.Nb6
Rad8 23.Bb5 Re6 equal; Kramnik - Sergey Karjakin, Nice (rapid) 2009]
Bd6 [14...Be7?! 15.cd5 cd5 16.Bf5 Rb8 17.Qd4 Nf6 18.Rac1 0-0 19.Rc6
and White is superior; Evgeny Alekseev - Svidler, Nalchik 2009] 15.cd5
cd5 equal, see 14.cd5
5
13.Bd3 (Legky - R.Vidonyak, Lviv 2009) Nd2 14.Qd2 Bd6 equal
6
16.cd5 cd5 17.Nc5 0-0 18.Rc1 Re8 19.Re1 Qb6 20.Qc2 Nd2 21.Re8 Re8
22.Qd2 Rc8 23.Nd3 Rc1 24.Nc1 Ne4 25.Qd3 Nc3 26.a4 g6 equal;
Aronian - Svidler, Nalchik 2009
7
8...Nbd7
a) 9.Bb2 dc4 10.bc4 e5 11.cb5 ab5 12.de5 Ne5 13.f4 Qd1! [13...Ned7 14.
Bg2 Ba3 15.Qc1! Bb2 16.Qb2 Rc8 17.a4 ba4 18.0-0 0-0 19.Ra4 and
White is slightly better; Bareev - Ivan Sokolov, Sarajevo 2003 see 87/
(337)] 14.Kd1 Ned7 equal; Ivan Sokolov;
b) 9.f4
b1) 9...bc4 10.bc4 dc4 11.Bc4 e6 12.Rb1 [12.Bd2 Bb4 13.0-0 0-0 14.Ne4
a5 15.Bb4 ab4 16.Nf6 Nf6 17.Qf3 Nd5 18.Rfc1 Ra5 19.Rab1 Qd6 -,
Van der Sterren - Shirov, Biel (izt) 1993 see 58/(402)] Be7 13.0-0 0-0 14.
Qf3 c5 15.dc5 Nc5 16.Ba3 [16.Rd1 Qc7 17.Bb2 Rfc8 18.Bf1 Rab8 19.
Ba1 and White is slightly better; Arencibia Rodriguez] Ncd7 17.Bb2 and
White is slightly better; Arencibia Rodriguez - Bareev, Kitchener 2006
see 97/280;
b2) 9...e6 10.c5 see 8...e6
8
9.Qc2 Nbd7 10.f4 bc4 11.bc4 Bb4 12.Bd2 0-0 13.c5 Bc3 14.Bc3 Ne4 15.
Bd3 f5 16.h4 Ndf6 17.f3 Nc3 18.Qc3 Qc7 19.Rb1 Rfb8 20.Kd2 and
White is slightly better; M.Gurevich - R.Kozlov, Torino (ol) 2006 see 97/
(280); 16...Qc7 equal
9
10...g6 11.Bd3 Nh5 12.Bb2 a5 13.Qc2 Bg7 14.0-0-0 and White is slightly
better; Sakaev - Rublevsky, Saint Petersburg 1993 see 56/420;
10...Be7 11.Bd3 g6 12.Qc2 0-0 13.Bb2 a5 14.Ne2 Nh5 15.Ng1 f5 16.Nf3
Bh4 17.Rg1 Rf7 18.Rg2 Kf8 19.Be2 Ng7 20.0-0-0 a4 [20...b4 21.Kd2 and
White is slightly better, with the idea Ra1, a3 M.Gurevich] 21.b4 and
White is slightly better; M.Gurevich - Postny, Kusadasi 2006 see 97/
(280);
10...Ng8 11.Bb2 Ne7 12.a4 (-, Bareev - Shirov, Muenchen 1993 see
57/(369)) g6 equal; Shirov
10
11.Bd2 Nc3 12.Bc3 a5 13.Bd3 f5 14.h4 Nf6 15.h5 Ne4 equal; Ivanchuk B.Gelfand, Dresden (ol) 2008
11
16.Bd2
a) 16...Nd5 17.e4! Qh4 18.Kd1! Nf4 19.Qe1! Ng6 20.ef5 Qd4 21.Qe6
Ne7 only move 22.Re1!! [22.Ke2 Qd7 and White is superior; Vallejo
Pons - Ivan Sokolov, Selfoss 2003 see 89/352] Qa1 23.Ke2 Qd4 24.Bh5
g6 [24...Kd8 25.Ba5] 25.fg6 Qc5 26.Kf1! and White is winning; Ivan
Sokolov;
b) 16...Qd7 17.Rg1 Kf7 18.0-0-0 g6 [18...Be7 19.Rg3 Rhe8 20.Rdg1 Bf8
21.Bh5 Nh5 22.Qh5 Kg8 23.Bc3 Re7 24.h4 Rf7 25.Qe2 Qd5 26.h5 Rf6
27.Qh2 Kf7 equal; Orzech - Kindermann, Deutschland (tch) 2008] 19.
Kc2 Be7 -, J.Gustafsson - Ni Hua, Reggio Emilia 2008/09
12
8...bc4 9.bc4 e5 10.Rb1! [10.c5 Nbd7 11.Be2 g6 12.0-0 Bg7 13.Rb1 0-0
14.Bd1 Ne8! 15.Ne2 Nc7 16.Ba4 Nb5 unclear; J.Pinter - V.Komliakov,
Manila (ol) 1992 see 56/(419)] Qa5 [10...Nbd7 11.Bd2 Qe7 12.Be2 and
White is superior; A.Chernin - Vi.Gavrikov, Tilburg 1992 see 56/419] 11.
Qf5!! Nbd7 12.Bd2 Bb4 (Gleizerov - Bereziuk, Katowice 1992) 13.Rb4!
Qb4 14.Nd5 Qd6 15.Bb4 Qb8!? 16.Nf6 Nf6 17.Ba3 with compensation,
with initiative; A.Chernin
13
9.c5 Nbd7 10.Be2 g6 equal; Semkov - L.Spassov, Sitges 1993
14
13.bc4 Qb6 14.a3 a5 15.cd5! [15.e6 Ra7! and Black is superior;
Ovsejevitsch - V.Komliakov, Mikolaiv 1993] cd5 16.Bd2! Qb2 17.Rd1
Nc6 (Dlugy - Bologan, New York 1993 see 57/369) 18.Bd3 Ne5 19.Qe2
0-0 20.0-0 Qa3 21.Be4 de4 22.Qb5! with the idea Ra1 equal; Bologan
15
13...Ng5 14.Qe2 dc4 15.Rd1 Nd7 16.Qc4 c5 17.Bc3 0-0 18.0-0 Ne6 19.f4
g6 20.Rd6 and White is superior; Markos - Timoscenko, Slovensko (ch)
2006
16
16.ed6
a) 16...dc4 17.Qe4 Kd8 18.Qc4 [18.bc4 Re8 19.Qh7 (Prusikin - P.

Neuman, Deutschland 2006 see 96/(281)) Qd4 20.0-0 Qf6 21.Qc2 Nd7 22.
Rfd1 Re6 unclear] Ra7 19.0-0 Rd7 20.Rfd1 Qb5 21.Qd4 f6 22.b4 and
White is slightly better;
b) 16...0-0 17.Be2 Qc5 [17...Qb3 18.0-0 Nd7 19.e4 and White is slightly
better; Tkachiev - Alexei Kornev, Moscow 2005 see 96/281] 18.0-0 Qd6
19.e4 [19.Rfc1 Nd7 20.Qf5 Nf6 21.Qc2 Rfc8 22.Qc5 and White is
slightly better] Nd7 20.ed5 cd5 (Tkachiev - Bacrot, Espana 2007) 21.Bb5
Nf6 22.Rfc1 and White is slightly better; Prusikin
17
9...Nbd7 10.Bd3
a) 10...Ba3 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rad1 [12.Rfd1 Re8 13.Be1 e5 14.cd5 cd5 15.
de5 Ne5 16.Qf4 Qe7 17.Bf1 Rad8 equal; Ch.Bauer - I.Dorfman, France
(ch) 2002] Rc8 13.Qe2 Re8 14.c5 Bb4 15.a3 Bc3 16.Bc3 e5 17.de5 Ne5
18.Bf5 Ra8 19.Bd4 and White is slightly better; Morozevich - Ivanchuk,
Wijk aan Zee 2009;
b) 10...Bd6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfd1 Qe7 13.c5 Bc7 14.e4 de4 15.Be4 Ne4 16.
Ne4 (Roiz - Rodshtein, Beer-Sheva (rapid) 2007) e5 equal;
c) 10...Bb4 11.0-0 0-0 12.Qe2 Qe7 13.Qe1 bc4 14.bc4 c5 15.dc5 dc4 16.
Bc4 Qc5 17.Bb3 Rfc8 18.Na4 Bd2 19.Qd2 Qa3 equal; T.Gelashvili Abergel, Cappelle la Grande 2009
18
10.Qd1 0-0 11.Be2 bc4 12.bc4 c5! 13.cd5 [13.dc5? d4! 14.ed4 Qd4 and
Black is superior; Oll - V.Anand, Biel (izt) 1993 see 58/402] cd4 14.ed4
Bc3! 15.Bc3 Nd5 16.Qd2 Nc3 17.Qc3 Nd7 equal; A.Mirzoev - Rodney
Perez Garcia, Elgoibar 2002
19
10...0-0 11.0-0 Nbd7 12.a3 Ba5 13.cd5 cd5 14.b4 Bc7 15.a4 ba4 16.Ra4
Bd6 17.Rb1 a5 18.ba5 Ra5 19.Ra5 Qa5 equal; D.Bocharov - Matlakov,
Russia 2008
20
16.Qb3 cb3 17.Ke2 Nbd7 18.Rhb1 c5 19.Ra6 Ra6 20.Ba6 0-0 21.Rb3
Rb8 22.Rb8 Nb8 23.Bd3 cd4 24.Bd4 Nc6 equal; LAmi - Laznicka,
Liverpool 2008
21
7...Nbd7 8.h3 Bf5!
a) 9.Nh4 Ne4! 10.Ne4 [10.Nd5?! cd5 11.Nf5 e6! 12.Ng3 Bb4 13.Kf1 Ng3
14.fg3 0-0! with compensation; Pr.Nikolic - Illescas Cordoba, Wijk aan
Zee 1997 see 68/342] Be4 11.0-0 e6 12.Nf3 equal; Illescas Cordoba;
b) 9.g4 Bg6 10.Ne5 Ne5 11.de5 Ne4 12.Ne4 Be4 13.f3 Bg6 14.cd5 cd5
15.a4 b4 unclear; Kramnik - Sasikiran, Dresden (ol) 2008;
c)) 9.Bb2 e6 see 7...e6;
d) 9.0-0 e6 see 7...e6
22
8.Ne5 Be2 9.Qe2 Bb4 [9...Nbd7 10.0-0 Ne5 11.de5 Nd7 12.cd5 cd5 13.
Bb2 Bb4! 14.Rfd1 0-0 15.a4 ba4 16.Na4 Qe7 17.e4 de4 18.Qe4 Rab8
equal; Epishin - Shirov, Las Palmas 1994 see 60/361; 9...Be7 10.0-0 0-0
11.Bb2 Nfd7 12.Nd7 -, B.Gulko - N.Short, New York (m/8) 1994 see
61/(386)] 10.Bd2 Qa5 11.Rc1 Ne4 12.Ne4 de4 13.Rc2! [13.f3 f6 14.Ng4
ef3 15.gf3 0-0 16.Nf2 Nd7 17.Nd3 Bd2 18.Qd2 Qb6 19.0-0 c5 and Black
is slightly better; At.Kolev - Ivan Sokolov, Burgas 1993 see 58/(403)] 0-0
14.Qg4 Bd2 15.Rd2 Qc3! 16.Ke2 f5 17.Qh4 Ra7! 18.c5! Rc7 19.Rf1
Nd7! 20.Qe7 Ne5 21.Qc7 Nc4! 22.Rfd1 f4! 23.ef4 e3! 24.bc4 ed2 25.Rd2
Qc4 26.Ke3 Qc3 27.Ke2 Qc4 equal; Vyzmanavin - Ivan Sokolov, Burgas
1993 see 58/403;
8.Bb2 Nbd7 9.h3 Bf5 10.c5 [10.0-0 Bd6 see 8.0-0] Be7 11.b4 a5 12.a3
Ne4! [12...ab4 13.ab4 and White is slightly better; Ivan Sokolov - Bacrot,
Albert (m/4) 2004 see 90/335] 13.Na2 [13.Ne4 de4 14.Ne5 Ne5 15.de5
Qd1 16.Kd1 ab4 17.ab4 Ra1 18.Ba1 Kd7 equal; Ivan Sokolov] a4 14.Nc1
h5! 15.Nd3 h4 16.Nde5 Qc7 17.Nd7 Qd7 18.Bd3 f6 19.Qc2 Bd8 equal;
Ivan Sokolov - Bacrot, Albert (m/6) 2004 see 90/(335);
8.h3 Bh5 [8...Bf3 9.Bf3 Be7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Qc2 Nbd7 12.a4 Rc8 13.ab5
ab5 14.c5 e5 15.Bd2 Ra8 unclear; B.Gulko - N.Short, New York (m/10)
1994 see 61/(386)] 9.Ne5 Be2 10.Ne2 Bb4 11.Bd2 Bd6 12.0-0 0-0 13.cd5
cd5 14.Rc1 Nbd7 15.Nc6 Qb6 16.Ba5 Qb7 17.Nb4 Rac8 18.f3 Nb8 19.
Qd2 Nfd7 20.Rfd1 h6 equal; An.Karpov - Ivan Sokolov, Hoogeveen 2003
see 89/(353)
23
8...Be7 9.Bb2 [9.h3 Bh5 10.Ne5 Be2 11.Qe2 0-0 12.Rd1 Nfd7 13.Nd7
Nd7 14.e4 and White is slightly better; Notkin - Chuprikov, Russia 1995]
0-0 10.Ne5 [10.cd5 cd5 11.Ne5 Be2 12.Ne2 Ra7 13.Nf4 Qb6 14.Rc1 Rc7
15.Rc7 Qc7 16.Qb1 Rc8 17.Rc1 Qb7 18.Rc2 Ne8 equal; S.Savchenko Bareev, Russia 1995] Be2 11.Ne2 Qb6 12.cd5 cd5 13.Rc1 b4 (I.Farago Gofshtein, Bratto 1998 see 73/418) 14.Nf4 and White is slightly better;
Gofshtein, Kantsler;
8...Bd6 9.h3 Bh5 10.Bb2 Nbd7 see 8...Nbd7
24
9.a4 b4 10.Nb1 a5 11.Nbd2 Bd6 12.Bb2 Qb8 13.h3 Bh5 14.Qc2 0-0 15.e4
e5 unclear; R.Kempinski - M.Kobalia, Linares 2001 see 81/308
25
9...Qb8 10.cd5 cd5 11.h3 Bh5 12.Ne5 Be2 13.Qe2 Bd6 14.Nd7 Nd7 15.
e4 0-0 16.Rac1 b4 17.Na4 Qb5! 18.Rfe1 de4! 19.Qe4 (T.Radjabov - A.
Delchev, Leon 2001 see 83/371) Rac8 20.Rc8 Rc8 21.Rc1 Rc1 22.Bc1
Qd5 23.Qd5 ed5 24.Be3 unclear; T.Radjabov;
9...Be7 10.Ne5 Be2 11.Ne2
a) 11...Ne5 12.de5 Nd7 13.cd5 cd5 14.Rc1! [14.Nd4 Qb6 15.Rc1 0-0 16.
Rc6 Qb7 17.Qc2 and White is slightly better; Morovic Fernandez Gomez Baillo, Argentina (ch) 1995] 0-0 15.Rc6 Qb8 16.f4 Qb7 17.Qc2
Rfc8 18.Rc1 Bc5 19.Rc8 Rc8 20.Bd4 Rc7 21.g4! and White is slightly
better; Z.Ilincic - M.Tosic, Bosna i Hercegovina 2001 see 82/340;
b) 11...Qb6 12.Qc2 0-0 (B.Avrukh - Sakaev, Bugojno 1999 see 77/366)
13.cb5 cb5 14.Rfc1 Bd6! 15.Qc6 Be5 16.de5 Qc6 17.Rc6 Ng4 18.Rc7
Rfd8 unclear; B.Avrukh

26
10.h3 Bf5 see 9.h3; 10...Bh5 see 9.h3
27
14.f4? 0-0 15.Rc6 Rc8 16.Qc2 Rc6 17.Qc6 Ra7 18.Rc1 Nb6 19.Qc2 Rc7
20.Qd1 Qc8 and Black is slightly better; B.Avrukh - Dautov, Istanbul (ol)
2000 see 80/398
28
18.Qc1 Rc8 19.Qd2 (Mozetic - Matulovic, Beograd 2001 see 81/(308))
Rc7! 20.g4 Qc8 21.Rf2 Nf8! with the idea N6d7 equal; Matulovic
29
9...Bf3 10.Bf3 Bb4 11.Bd2 Be7 12.e4 [12.a4 b4 13.Ne2 a5 14.Rc1 0-0 15.
Nf4 Bd6 16.Nd3 Qe7 equal; Stohl - Vl.Sergeev, Slovensko 1994 see 63/
(328)] b4 13.ed5 bc3 14.dc6 cd2 15.cd7 Nd7 16.Ba8 Qa8 17.Qd2 and
White is slightly better; B.Finegold - Ren.Gonzalez, USA (ch) 2006
30
10...Be7 11.Bd3 Bd3 12.Qd3 0-0 13.Nd2 -, Malaniuk - Dreev,
Yerevan (ol) 1996
31
11.Bd3 Bg6 12.Qe2 [12.Bg6 hg6 13.Qd3 Qb8 14.cd5 cd5 15.Rfc1 0-0 16.
Rc2 -, T.Nyback - Sasikiran, Warszawa 2008] 0-0 13.Bg6 hg6 14.
Rfd1 Rc8 15.Rac1 Qe7 (Ba.Jobava - B.Avrukh, Ohrid 2001 see 82/339)
16.e4 Bf4 17.e5 Ne4! 18.Ne4 Bc1 19.Nd6 Bb2 20.Nc8 Rc8 21.Qb2 bc4
22.bc4 Rb8 23.Qc3 equal; B.Avrukh
32
13.f4 Ne4! 14.Ng6 Nc3 15.Bc3 hg6 16.Bd3 f5 equal; H.Stefansson - Van
den Doel, Antwerpen 1998 see 73/417
33
18.Qa1 Rfb8 19.Ra6 Ra6 20.Qa6 Qa6 21.Ba6 Rb3 equal; P.Haba Khalifman, Deutschland 2002
34
10...Bd6 11.Bf5! [11.Qe2 Bd3 12.Qd3 b4 13.Na4 Ne4 (Riazantsev Bologan, Moscow 2002 see 84/311) 14.Bd2!? and White is slightly
better; Bologan] ef5 12.Qc2 b4 (Harikrishna - Sadykov, Iraklion 2002) 13.
Na4 g6 14.c5 Bc7 15.Bd2 a5 16.a3 ba3 17.Ra3 and White is slightly
better; Bologan;
10...Bb4 11.Bb2 [11.Ne2 Bd3 12.Qd3 0-0 13.Bb2 Qb8! equal; B.Avrukh
- Malakhatko, Athens 2003 see 88/335] Bd3 [11...0-0 12.Bf5 ef5 13.cd5
cd5 14.Qd3 and White is slightly better; Ivan Sokolov - S.Movsesian,
Sarajevo 2003 see 87/338] 12.Qd3 0-0 13.Rfc1 Bd6 14.Rc2! 14...Rc8 15.
Rac1 dc4 16.bc4 b4 17.Ne4 Ne4 18.Qe4 Qa5 (B.Gelfand - P.Acs,
Budapest 2003 see 87/337) 19.Qd3 Rfd8 20.e4 and White is slightly
better; B.Gelfand;
10...Bd3 11.Qd3 Be7 12.Bb2 Qb8 13.cd5 cd5 14.Rac1 0-0 15.Ne2 Qb7
equal; D.Jakovenko - Rublevsky, Russia 2005 see 94/(291)
35
11.Qc2 Bh5 12.Nd2 Rc8 13.c5! e5 14.f4! e4 15.Nde4 de4 16.Ne4 Ne4 17.
Be4 with compensation; Riazantsev - Sakaev, Moscow 2005 see 93/311
36
14...ba4!? 15.Ra4 Qb6 16.Ba3 Ba3 17.Ra3 0-0 18.Rfa1 Rfb8 19.Nd2 a5
Sergey Karjakin, V.Borovikov
37
Aronian - Sergey Karjakin, Moscow 2004 see 90/(336)
38
10.Nd2 Bg6! 11.a4 b4 12.Na2 a5 13.Bb2 Bd6 14.Nc1 0-0 15.Nd3 Ne4
equal; Wl.Schmidt - S.Berezjuk, Katowice 1992 see 56/(418);
10.Ne5 Be2
a) 11.Qe2 Ne5 [11...Rc8 12.Bb2 Bd6 13.Nd7 Qd7 14.e4 de4 15.Ne4 Ne4
16.Qe4 0-0 17.Qg4 f5 18.Qe2 and White is slightly better; L.Portisch - A.
Murariu, Bazna 2008] 12.de5 Nd7 13.cd5 cd5 14.Bb2 Bc5 15.Qg4 0-0 16.
Ne2 Qb8 17.Qg3 Rc8 equal; Tibensky - Vl.Sergeev, Stary Smokovec
1996;
b) 11.Ne2
b1) 11...Ne5 12.de5 Nd7 13.cd5! cd5 14.Bb2 Bc5 15.Nf4! 0-0 16.Qg4
Qe7 17.Nh5 g6 18.Nf6 Nf6 19.ef6 Qd6 20.Qg5 Rfc8 21.Be5 Qf8 22.a4!
and White is slightly better; Vl.Belov - Zapolskis, Karvina 1992 see
56/418; 14...Be7 see 10.Bb2;
b2) 11...Qc7 12.Bb2 Bd6 [12...Ne5 13.de5 Nd7 14.cd5 cd5 15.Rc1 Qb7
16.Qc2 Bc5 and White is slightly better; Chekhov] 13.cd5 cd5 14.Rc1 see
10.Bb2;
b3) 11...dc4 12.Nd7 Qd7 13.bc4 c5 14.Bb2 cd4 15.Bd4 bc4 equal; A.Graf
- V.Komliakov, Mikolaiv 1993
39
10...Qb6 11.cd5 cd5 12.Ne5 Be2 13.Ne2
a) 13...Be7?! 14.Rc1 0-0 [14...Ne5 15.de5 Nd7 16.Nf4 0-0 17.Qg4 and
White is superior; J.Hjartarson - M.Manninen, Reykjavik 1995 see 63/
(328)] 15.Qc2 [15.Rc6?! Qb7 16.Qc2 Rfc8 17.Rc1 Rc6 18.Qc6 Qc6 19.
Rc6 Kf8 20.Nf4 Ke8 21.Nfd3 b4 22.f3 a5 23.Kf1 Ne5 24.de5 Nd7 25.
Ke2 Kd8 equal; V.Neverov - Keitlinghaus, Lazne Bohdanec 1996] Qb7
16.Qc7 (B.Gelfand - Bareev, Monaco (blindfold) 2003) Ra7 17.Qb7 Rb7
18.Rc6 and White is superior; R.Huebner;
b) 13...Bd6 14.Rc1 Qb7 15.Qc2 and White is slightly better; J.Hjartarson;
10...Qb8
a) 11.c5 a5 [11...Be7?! 12.b4 0-0 13.g4?! Bg6 14.Nd2 a5 15.a3 Ne4!
equal; V.Malakhov - Ni Hua, Russia - China 2004 see 91/345; 13.a4 and
White is slightly better; Ni Hua] 12.a3 Be7 13.b4 a4 14.Ne5 Be2 15.Ne2
Qc7 equal; Jan Smejkal - Keitlinghaus, Cesko 1994;
b) 11.Ne5 Be2 12.Qe2 Ne5 13.de5 Nd7 14.cd5 cd5 15.Rfd1 Ne5 [15...
Be7 16.Qg4 g6 17.Ne2 Ne5 18.Qf4 f6 19.e4 and White is superior; T.
Radjabov - F.Braga, Bled (ol) 2002] 16.e4 d4 17.Rd4 and White is
slightly better; R.Vaganian - Stef.Pedersen, Deutschland 2004;
10...Be7 11.Ne5 Be2 12.Ne2
a) 12...Rc8 13.cd5 [13.Rc1? bc4 14.bc4 0-0 15.Qa4 Ne5 16.de5 Nd7 17.
cd5 cd5 18.Bd4 Bc5 19.Bc5 Nc5 20.Qa3 Nd7 21.Rc8 Qc8 22.Rc1 Qb7
equal; Kaidanov - Nikolai Andrianov, Los Angeles 2003 see 89/(353)]
cd5 14.Rc1 Ne5 15.de5 Ne4 16.Rc8 Qc8 17.f3 Nc5 18.Qd4 Nd7 19.Rc1
Qb7 20.Qc3 0-0 21.Qc7 and White is superior; Kaidanov;
b) 12...Ne5 13.de5 Nd7
b1) 14.Nd4 Qb6 15.Qg4 0-0! 16.cd5 cd5 17.f4 Kh8 18.Kh1 Rac8 19.Rad1
b4 20.h4 Rfe8 [with the idea f5] 21.e4!? de4 22.f5 Nc5! [22...Ne5 23.Qe4
and White is slightly better; Ivan Sokolov - Franco Ocampos, Espana
2003 see 87/340] 23.f6 gf6 24.ef6 Bf8 unclear; Ivan Sokolov;
b2)2) 14.cd5 cd5 15.Nd4 [15.Nf4 Qb8 16.Nh5 g6 17.Nf6 Nf6 18.ef6 Bd6
equal; Cifuentes Parada - Franco Ocampos, Dos Hermanas 2003] Qb6 16.
f4 [16.Rc1 0-0 17.Rc6 Qb7 18.Qc2 Ra7!! and Black is slightly better;
Krasenkow - Epishin, Brno 1994 see 61/386] 0-0 17.Qg4 unclear see 14.
Nd4
40
12...Rc8 13.Qd3 0-0 14.Rfc1 Ne4 15.cd5 cd5 16.Rc8 Qc8 17.Rc1 Qb7 18.
Nd7 [18.Qc2?! Nb6 (S.Kiselev - M.Makarov, Russia (ch) 1994 see 61/
(386)) 19.Qc6 Qb8 20.Nd7 Nd7 21.Qd7 a5 equal; M.Makarov] Qd7 19.
Qc2 and White is slightly better; Stohl - Velicka, Slovensko 1995
41
14.Rb1 Qc7 15.Nd7 Qd7 16.Qa4 Rfb8 17.Bc3 Qc8 18.Rfc1 Rb1 19.Rb1
Rb8 20.Rb3 dc4 equal; Epishin - Bareev, Russia (ch) 2004 see 92/(380);
14.Rc1 Qb8 15.Nd7 Nd7 16.Ba1 [16.Rb1 Qc7 17.c5 Be7 18.Bc3 Rfb8 19.
Qd3 Rb5 20.a4 Rb1 21.Rb1 Rb8 equal; P.Haba - S.Movsesian, Cesko
2005 see 92/(380)] Rc8 17.Nc3 Nf6 18.Qe2 Qa7 19.Rc2 h6 equal; S.
Atalik - Buhmann, Polanica Zdroj 2007 see 100/280
42
15.cd5?! cd5 16.Qc7 Bc7 17.Rfc1 Rfc8 18.Nf4 [18.Nc6?! Bd6 and Black
is slightly better, with the idea Nb6 Dautov] Ne5 19.de5 Nd7 20.Nd3 Bb6
equal; Cs.Horvath - Dautov, Magyarorszag - Deutschland 2004 see 91/
(346)
43
18.f3 Ng3! 19.Ng3 Qg3 20.Bc3 e5 unclear; Ki.Georgiev - S.Movsesian,
Calvia (ol) 2004 see 92/380
44
14...Qb7 15.Qc2 0-0 16.Qc6 Qc6 17.Rc6 and White is superior; A.Graf D.Rogozenco, Bucuresti 1993
45
15.Nc6 Qb7! [15...Qb6 16.Qd2 b4! 17.Rc2 0-0 18.Ne5 Rfc8 19.Rfc1 Qb7
equal; Morovic Fernandez - P.Charbonneau, Buenos Aires 2003 see 88/
(334)] 16.Qd3 0-0 17.Rc2 Nb6 [17...Rac8 18.Rfc1 Nb8 19.Nb8 Rc2 20.
Qc2 Rb8 21.Qc6 and White is slightly better; A.Onischuk - V.Malakhov,
Poikovsky 2004 see 90/336] 18.Qd2 Rac8 19.Rfc1 Nfd7 equal; A.
Onischuk
46
16...Ke7 17.Qd3 Qb7 see 16...Qb7
47
17.Nf4 Bf4 18.ef4 Nh5 19.f5 ef5 20.Qd2 with compensation; Khalifman V.Malakhov, Russia 2004 see 90/(336);
17.Qd3 Ke7 18.Nc3! [18.Rc2 Rac8 19.Rfc1 Rc2 20.Qc2 Kd7 equal;
Hauchard - Prie, France (ch) 1998 see 73/(417)] b4 19.Na4 Rhc8 20.Nc5
Qb5! 21.Qd2! Nd7 22.e4! Kf8! 23.Nd7 Qd7 equal; Estremera Panos Rustemov, Bilbao 2003 see 89/(353)
48
18.d5! Qd5 19.fe4

a) 19...Qd1?! 20.Rcd1 Ne4
a1) 21.Rf7 Kc6 22.Nd4 Kb6 23.Ne6 Rhe8 24.Ng7 Rf8 25.Bd4 Ka5 26.
Rd7 [26.Rb7?! Kb4! unclear; Ivan Sokolov - Rustemov, Deutschland
2003 see 87/339] Rac8! [26...Rfd8 27.Rb7 Bc5 28.Ne6 Bd4 29.Rd4 Rd4
30.Nd4 and White is superior; Sakalauskas - J.Gunnarsson, Plovdiv 2003

see 89/353] 27.Ne6 Rg8 [with compensation, with the idea Rc2] 28.Bf2
Nf2 29.R1d6 Nh3 30.Kh2 Nf2 31.Ra7 Ng4 32.Kh3 Nf2 33.Kh2 [33.Kh4
Rg2 34.Raa6 Kb4 35.Rd4 Kc3 36.Rad6 Rcg8 and Black is superior] Ng4
equal; Sakalauskas;
a2) 21.Rf4!? f5 22.Re4 fe4 23.Be5 Rhd8 24.Rd6 Ke7 25.Rb6 and White
is superior; Rustemov;
b) 19...Qe4 20.Qd2 [20.Rc3? Rhd8 21.Ng3 Qg6 22.Rd3 Ke7 and Black is
winning; Estremera Panos - Prie, Montpellier 2003] Rad8! unclear;
Rustemov
49
16...Nb6?! 17.e5 Be7 18.Nf4 g6 19.Nd3 0-0 20.Qd2 Rc8 21.Rc8 Qc8 22.
Rc1 Qe8 23.Bc3 Rc8 24.Ba5 Nd7 25.Bc7! (S.Atalik - H.Banikas, Athens
2003 see 88/(334)) Nc5 26.Nc5 Rc7 27.b4! and White is superior; S.
Atalik;
16...0-0 17.e5 Be7 18.Ng3 Qb6 19.Qg4 Rac8 20.Nh5 g6 21.Nf4 Rc1 22.
Rc1 Rd8 23.h4 and White is superior; Ivan Sokolov - St.Kristjansson,
Reykjavik 2003
50
18.de6 Nc5! 19.Nf4 [19.Qd4 Ne6 20.Qe4 Re8 21.Rfe1 Qa7 22.Qf3 Bc5
23.Ng3 Bd4 equal; V.Malakhov - Grischuk, Poikovsky 2004] Ra7! [19...
fe6 20.Qg4 e5 21.Ne6 Ne6 22.Qe6 Kh8 23.Rc6 (Sasikiran - Sakaev,
Kobenhavn 2003 see 88/334) Rf6 24.Qd5 Qf8 25.Qe4 b4 26.Bc1! and
White is slightly better, with the idea Be3 Sasikiran]
a) 20.Qd5 Bf4 21.Rc5 e3 22.Bd4 [22.Kh1!? ef2 23.Rf2 fe6 24.Qe6 Raf7
25.Be5 Qa7! Sasikiran] ef2 23.Rf2 fe6 24.Qe6 Raf7 25.Rf5 Qd6 26.Qd6
Bd6 27.Rf7 Rf7 28.Rf7 Kf7 equal; Bu Xiangzhi - Ni Hua, Taiyuan 2004
see 91/(346);
b) 20.Bd4 Bf4 21.Bc5 Bc1 22.Bf8 [22.Ba7 Qa7 23.ef7 Rf7 24.Qc1 Qc7
25.Qb2 Rd7 26.Qe2 Qf4 27.Rd1 Rd1 28.Qd1 h6 29.Kf1 Qe5 equal;
Gyimesi - S.Movsesian, Hrvatska 2004 see 91/(346)] Qf8 23.Qc1 Re7 24.
ef7 Rf7 equal; Vassia - Borroni, corr.2004;
c) 20.Nh5 Ne6 [20...fe6?! 21.Bd4! Rc7 22.Qg4 and White is superior; P.
Acs - S.Movsesian, Tripoli (m/1) 2004 see 91/346] 21.Nf6 gf6 22.Qg4
Ng5 23.Bf6 h6 24.Rc6!
c1) 24...Be5?! 25.h4 Bf6 [25...Bh2? 26.Kh1 Qf4 27.Qh5! and White is
winning; P.Acs - S.Movsesian, Tripoli (m/4-rapid) 2004 see 91/347] 26.
Rf6 Qc8 27.Rf5 f6! 28.hg5 hg5 29.Qe4 and White is slightly better; P.
Acs, Hazai;
c2) 24...Bh2 25.Kh1 Be5 26.h4 Bf6 27.Rf6 Qc8! 28.Qg3 [28.Rf5 f6 29.
hg5 hg5 30.Qe4 Rh7 31.Kg1 Qc7 unclear; P.Acs, Hazai] Qb8 29.Qg4 , Morovic Fernandez - R.Leitao, Santos 2004 see 91/(347)


104

North America:
Sasa Velickovic
It seldom happens that one plays a normal continuation in a tranquil
position and then sees a series of beautiful and unexpected moves that
cause consternation. However, when that happens, you peacefully
accept a loss as an inevitable truth. That must have been how the
upcoming star Vachier-Lagrave felt when confronted with an avalanche
of ideas from grandmaster Akopian during the Dresden Olympiad.
Everything that can be experienced in a game can be seen in this duel, and
both players enjoyed it, without regard to the final result, as they offered
the chess world the enjoyment of yet another memorable game. The
Chess Informant jury found it remarkable as well, given that it beat out
the fifth match game from the Anand-Kramnik match in Bonn to be
chosen as the Best Game of Volume #104. Lets enjoy it together!
Informant 84 (CD)
Only $5.95!
Informant 94 (CD)
Only $5.95!

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
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1. Vl.Akopian (2679) M.Vachier-Lagrave (2716)

Dresden (ol) 2008 104/52 [B84]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.Be2 Qc7 8.a4
b6 9.f4 Bb7 10.Bf3 Nbd7 11.Qe2 g6 12.0-0 e5
13.Rad1!! [a novelty; 13.Nb3 see 104/(52)] Be7 [13...Bg7 14.Ndb5! ab5

15.Nb5 Qb8 16.Nd6 Ke7 17.Qd3 Rd8 (17...Bd5!? 18.Nb5 Bc6 19.Qa3
Kd8 20.Nd6 Ra4 21.Nf7 Kc7 22.Qd6 Kb7 23.fe5 and White is winning) 18.
Qa3! Nc5 19.fe5 Ra4 20.Bc5! Ra3 21.Ba3 with attack; 13...ed4 14.Bd4 a)
14...Bg7 15.e5 de5 (15...Bf3 16.Qf3 and White is superior) 16.fe5 Ng8 17.
Bb7 Qb7 18.Ne4 with attack; b) 14...0-0-0 15.e5 de5 16.fe5 Ne8 17.Bb7
Kb7 18.Rf7 with attack; c) 14...Be7 15.e5 de5 (15...Bf3 16.Qf3 and White
is superior) 16.fe5 with attack] 14.fe5 Ne5? [14...de5! 15.Nd5!? Nd5 16.
ed5 0-0 (16...ed4? 17.Bd4 Rg8 18.d6 and White is winning) 17.Nc6 Bd6
and White is slightly better] 15.Bh6 Bf8 16.Bf8 Kf8 17.Qe3! h6? [17...
Kg7 only move 18.Be2 (18.Qg5 Qc5! 19.Kh1 Nf3 equal) Rhe8 (18...Qc5
19.Kh1 and White is slightly better) 19.Rf6!? Kf6 20.Qh6 Ke7 unclear; 19.
Rf4 and White is slightly better]
18.Bh5!! Qe7 [18...Kg7 19.Bg6! Ng6 (19...Kg6 20.Qg3 Nfg4 21.h3 Rag8
22.hg4 Kh7 23.Rf4 and White is superior) 20.Nf5 Kg8 21.Nd6 Ng4 22.
Qg3 h5 23.h3 N4e5 24.Nf7! Qf7 25.Rf7 Kf7 26.Rd6! with attack] 19.
Bg6! Ng6 [19...fg6 20.Rf6 Qf6 21.Rf1 Qf1 22.Kf1 Re8 23.Nf3 Nf3 24.
gf3 and White is superior] 20.Nf5 Qe5 21.Qb6 Be4 [21...Ng4 only move
22.Qd6 Kg8 23.h3! Qd6 24.Nd6 Ne3 25.Nb7 Rb8 26.Nd6 Nd1 27.Nd1
and White is superior] 22.Qd6 Qd6 23.Nd6 Bc2 24.Rf6! Ra7 [24...Bd1
25.Rf7 Kg8 26.Nd5! and White is winning] 25.Rd2 Kg7 26.Rf3! [26...
Bb3 27.Nf5 Kh7 28.Rh3 and White is winning] 1-0 [I.Rogers]
2. V.Kramnik (2772) V.Anand (2783)
Bonn (m/5) 2008 104/116 [D49]
Bd3 a6 9.e4 c5 10.e5 cd4 11.Nb5 ab5 12.ef6 gf6 13.0-0 Qb6 14.Qe2
Bb7 15.Bb5 Rg8!? [a novelty; 15...Bd6 see 104/(116)] 16.Bf4 [16.g3 Ra5
17.Nd4 Qd4 18.Rd1 Qd1 19.Qd1 Rb5 and Black is superior; 16.Rd1 Ra5
17.Bd7 (17.a4 Rb5 18.ab5 Ne5 with attack) Kd7 18.Rd4 Qd4 19.Nd4 Bg2
equal] Bd6 17.Bg3 [17.Bd6 Qd6 18.Rfd1 Kf8 (18...e5 19.Rd4 Qd4 20.
Nd4 Bg2) 19.Bd7 (19.Rd4 Rg2 20.Kf1 Qc5 21.a4 Ne5 22.Qe3 Qc2!) Qd7
20.Rd4 Qd4 21.Nd4 Bg2 (21...Rg2 22.Kf1 Rh2 23.Qd2 Rh1 24.Ke2 Ba6
25.Ke3 Ra1 26.Qc3 unclear) 22.Qe3 Bh3 23.Qg3 e5 equal] f5 18.Rfc1
[18.Ne5 d3! 19.Bd7 Ke7 20.Qd3 Be5 21.Qb5 Qb5 22.Bb5 f4 23.Bh4 f6
24.g3 fg3 25.hg3 Bd5 and Black is slightly better] f4 19.Bh4
19...Be7! 20.a4 Bh4 21.Nh4 Ke7!? 22.Ra3?! [22.b4? Rg2! 23.Ng2 Rg8
24.f3 d3 25.Qf2 Bf3 26.Qb6 Rg2 27.Kf1 Nb6 28.Bd3 Nd5 and Black is
superior; 22.g3! fg3 23.hg3 Rg5 a) 24.Qd2 Rag8 25.Ra3 (25.Qb4 Kf6 26.
Rc4 Rg4) Qd6; b) 24.Bd7 Rag8! 25.a5 Qd6 26.Ra3 Rg3 27.fg3 Rg3 28.
Rg3 Qg3 29.Ng2 Bg2 equal, with the idea 30.Qf2 Qg5] Rac8 23.Rc8 Rc8
24.Ra1 Qc5! 25.Qg4 [25.Qd2 Qd6 26.Rd1 (26.Rc1 Rc1 27.Qc1 Ne5)
Ne5 27.Kf1 f3 with initiative] Qe5 [25...Qc2 26.Qf4 d3 27.Nf5 ef5 28.
Re1 Kf8 (28...Kd8 29.Qf5 Bc6 30.Bd3 Qd2 31.Re3 f6 unclear) 29.Qh6
Kg8 30.Bd7 d2 equal] 26.Nf3 Qf6 27.Re1 [27.Nd4? Qd4 28.Rd1 Nf6 and
Black is winning; 27.Qg5 Qg5 28.Ng5 Ne5 and Black is superior; 27.Qh4
Qh4 28.Nh4 Ne5 with counterplay; 27.Rd1 Ne5 28.Ne5 Qe5; 27.Bd7!?
Kd7 28.Nd4 Ke7 29.Rd1 Rc4] Rc5 28.b4 [28.h3 h5] Rc3 29.Nd4?? [29.
Bd7 Kd7; 29.Qh5 d3 (29...Bf3 30.gf3 Qg6 31.Qg6 hg6 32.a5 Rb3 33.a6
Rb4 34.Bc6 Nb6 35.a7 Rb2) 30.Rd1 Bf3 31.Qf3 Qd4 32.Bd3 Qb4 33.Qe2
Nf6; 30...Be4] Qd4 30.Rd1 Nf6 (and Black is winning) 31.Rd4 Ng4 32.
Rd7 Kf6 33.Rb7 Rc1 34.Bf1 Ne3 35.fe3 fe3 0-1 [V.Anand]
3. L.Aronian (2757) A.Volokitin (2659)
Kallithea 2008 104/130 [D94]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.h3?! 0-0 7.Bd3 Be6?!
[7...Nbd7 8.0-0 (8.cd5 see 56/(560)) Re8 9.cd5 cd5 10.Qb3 e5! equal; 7...
c5 see 103/(340)] 8.Ng5 [a novelty; 8.cd5; 8.Qb3; 8.b3; 8.Qe2] Bf5 9.Bf5
gf5 10.Qb3 [10.cd5 Nd5 11.Nd5 Qd5 12.0-0 Nd7 equal] Qb6 [better is
10...Qd7 11.Bd2 dc4 12.Qc4 Na6 13.Nf3 Ne4 equal] 11.Qc2! [11.g4!?
fg4 12.hg4 Na6 13.cd5 Qb3 14.ab3 Nb4 15.Ke2 cd5 16.f3 Rfc8 equal] e6
12.g4!? h6 [12...Na6 13.gf5 Nb4 14.Qe2 h6 15.Nf3 ef5 16.c5 and White
is superior] 13.Nf3 fg4 14.hg4 [14.Ne5 gh3 15.c5 Qc7 16.e4 de4 17.Rh3
with compensation] Ng4 15.e4! [15.c5 Qc7 16.e4 f5 17.e5 b6 and Black
is superior] dc4 [15...Na6!? 16.a3 dc4 17.e5 f5 18.ef6 Rf6 19.Qe4 Rf3!?
20.Qf3 Qd4 21.Be3 Ne3 22.Qe3 Qe3 23.fe3 Nc5 and Black is slightly
better] 16.e5 Nd7 [16...f5 17.ef6 Rf6 18.Qe4 Rf3 19.Qf3 Qd4 20.Be3 Ne5
21.Qh5 and White is superior] 17.Be3 [17.Rg1 f5 18.ef6 Ndf6 19.Qg6
Rf7 20.Rg4 Ng4 21.Qg4 Raf8 22.Bh6 Qb2 23.Rc1 Kh8 24.Qh3! equal] f5
18.0-0-0 c5 19.d5 f4? [19...Nde5 20.Ne5 Ne5 21.Bh6 Rf7 22.Bg7 Rg7 23.
Rh6 with compensation; 19...Rae8!? 20.Rhg1 ed5 21.Nd5 Qc6 22.Qc4
Kh8 and Black is slightly better]
20.Ng5! hg5 21.Qh7 Kf7 22.Ne4 [22.Qh5 Kg8 23.Qh7 Kf7 equal; 22.
de6! Qe6 23.Ne4 Ke8 24.Qg7 Nge5 25.Bc5 Nd3 26.Rd3 cd3 27.Re1! and
White is superior] ed5 23.e6 [23.Ng5 Ke8 24.Qg7 Nge5 25.Bf4 and
White is superior] Ke6 24.Qg7 [24.Ng5 Kd6 25.Qg7 Qc6 26.Nh7 fe3 27.
Qg4 Kc7 28.Nf8 Rf8 29.fe3 and White is superior] Ngf6! 25.Bc5 [25.Ng5
Kd6 26.Bf4 Kc6 27.Rhe1 Kb5 28.Re6 Qa5 unclear] Nc5 26.Nc5 [26.Nf6
Nd3 27.Rd3 cd3 28.Re1 Kf5 29.Qh7 Kf6 30.Qh6 Kf5 31.Qh7 equal]
Qc5?? [26...Kd6 27.Na4 Qc6 28.Nc3 Rae8 29.Rh6 Kc5 30.Qg5 with
initiative] 27.Rde1 Kf5 [27...Kd6 28.Qe7 Kc6 29.Re6 and White is
winning] 28.Rh5! (and White is winning) Nh5 29.Re5 Kg4 30.Qg5 Kf3
31.Qh5 Kf2 32.Qe2 1-0 [A.Mikhalchishin]
4. V.Kramnik (2772) V.Anand (2783)
Bonn (m/10) 2008 104/143 [E20]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 cd4 6.Nd4 0-0 7.Bg2 d5 8.cd5
Nd5 9.Qb3 Qa5 10.Bd2 Nc6 11.Nc6 bc6 12.0-0 Bc3 13.bc3 Ba6 14.
Rfd1 Qc5 15.e4 Bc4 16.Qa4 Nb6 17.Qb4 Qh5 18.Re1!? [a novelty; 18.
Bf4 see 103/(376)] c5 [18...Rfd8?! 19.Be3 and White is superior] 19.Qa5
[19.Qa3 Rfc8 20.Be3 Bb5!? 21.Qa5 Be2] Rfc8 [19...Bd3 20.Be3 Nc4 21.
Qc5 e5 22.Rad1; better is 20...Rfc8] 20.Be3 Be2 [20...Bd3!? 21.e5! Nc4
22.Qa4 Ne5 (22...Qe5 23.Bf4) 23.Qd1 Qd1 (23...Qf5 24.Bc5 and White is
slightly better) 24.Rad1 c4 25.Bf4 Nc6 26.Rd2 a5 27.Rb2 Ra6] 21.Bf4!
[21.h3 Nc4 22.Qa6 Ne3 23.Re2 Ng2 24.Kg2 Qe5 equal] e5 [21...Nc4?!
22.Qa6 Bd3 23.Rad1 with the idea 23...Be2 24.Re2! Qe2 25.Rc1! Rd8 26.
Bf1 and White is winning; 21...h6 22.h3; 21...Bd3 22.Rad1 (22.h3) Be2
23.Rc1 Bd3 24.h3 and White is slightly better; 21...Bf3 a) 22.Qa6 Bg2
(22...f6 23.a4 e5 24.Be3 Bg2 25.Kg2 Qf7 26.Rab1 and White is slightly
better) 23.Kg2 e5 24.Be3 Qg6 25.f3 Qc6 26.a4 and White is slightly
better; b) 22.Qb5 f6 (22...Bg2 23.Kg2 f6 24.Red1) 23.Bd6 (23.Rab1 Bg2
24.Kg2 Qf7) Bg2 24.Kg2 and White is slightly better] 22.Be3 [22.Be5!?
Nc4 23.Qa6 Qe5 24.Re2 Qc3 25.Ree1 Ne5 26.Rec1 Qd4 27.Rd1 Qc3 28.
Rac1 Qb2 29.Qd6 (29.Rb1 Qc3 30.Rb7 c4 31.Ra7 Rab8) c4 30.Rb1 Qc3
31.Rdc1 Qa5 32.Qd5 and White is slightly better] Bg4 [22...Nc4 23.Qa6
Ne3 24.Re2 and White is slightly better; better is 22...f6 23.h3 (23.Bc5
Nc4 24.Qb5 Rab8 25.Qd7 Rc5 26.Rab1 Rb6 27.Bh3 Kf8 28.Rb6 ab6 29.
Be6 Qe8 30.Qe8 Ke8 31.Re2 Nd6 32.Re3 Nb5 and White is slightly
better) Bd3 24.Bc5 Nc4 25.Qb5 Qf7 26.Be7! and White is slightly better]
23.Qa6! [23.Bc5 Nc4 24.Qb5 Nd2 (24...Be6!?) 25.Bd6 Nc4 26.Be7 f6 27.
Bb4 a5 equal] f6?! [23...Bh3 24.a4 and White is superior; 23...Be6! 24.
Bf1 Bh3! (24...Qf3 25.a4 Qe4 26.Bf4 Qc2 27.Be5 Re8 28.a5 Nd7 29.Bd6
and White is superior) 25.a4 (25.Bh3 Qh3 26.a4 and White is slightly
better) Bf1 26.Qf1 Qf3 27.a5 Nd7 28.Qg2 Qg2 29.Kg2 and White is
slightly better] 24.a4 (and White is superior) Qf7 [24...Be6?! 25.a5 Bc4
26.Qb7 and White is winning] 25.Bf1 Be6 [25...Kh8 26.a5 Nd7 27.Rab1
(27.Bc4 Qh5 28.Bd5) Bf3 28.Rb7 (28.Bc4 Qh5 29.Bd5 and White is
superior Qh3 30.Qf1) Be4 29.Ra7 and White is superior; 25...c4 26.Bb6
(26.a5 Nd7) ab6 27.Qb6] 26.Rab1! [26.Reb1!] c4?! [26...Nc4? 27.Rb7;
26...Bc4? 27.Bc4 Qc4 28.Rb6; 26...Kh8 27.a5 Na4 (27...Nc4 28.Rb7 Qg8
29.Bh6! gh6 30.Bc4 and White is winning) 28.Rb7 Qg8 29.Rc1 and White
is winning; 26...Rab8 27.a5 (27.Rb5 Nc4 28.Reb1 Rb5 29.Rb5 Ne3 30.fe3
and White is superior) Nc4 28.Rb8 Rb8 29.Bc5 Nd2 30.Bg2 Rc8 31.Qa7
Qa7 32.Ba7 Nc4 and White is superior; 26...Re8 and White is superior]
27.a5 Na4 28.Rb7 Qe8 29.Qd6! and White is winning [29...Qc6 30.Qe7;
29...Nc3 30.Re7; 29...Rd8 30.Qb4; 29...Bf7 30.Qb4] 1-0 [V.Kramnik]
5. M.Carlsen (2775) L.Aronian (2737)
Bilbao 2008 104/114 [D47]
Bd3 Bb7 9.a3 b4 10.Ne4 Ne4 11.Be4 ba3 12.0-0 Nf6 13.Bd3 ab2 14.
Bb2 a5 15.d5!? [a novelty; 15.Qa4 see 101/(358)] Nd5 [15...ed5 16.Qa4
with compensation, with initiative] 16.Ne5 (with compensation,
development advantage) Nf6 [16...Be7 17.Qh5! with the idea 17...g6 18.
Bg6 fg6 19.Ng6 with attack] 17.Qa4 Bb4?! [17...Qd5 18.Be2 with the
idea Bf3; 17...Qc7 18.Rfc1 with compensation] 18.Nc6 Bc6 19.Qc6 Ke7
20.Rfd1 Rc8 21.Qf3 Qb6 22.Bd4 Qb8 23.Ba6 Rcd8 24.Bb7 h5?! [24...
e5 25.Bb6 with compensation, weak point Ke7] 25.h3 h4
26.Rab1! (and White is winning) e5 [26...Rh6 27.Rb4! ab4 28.Bc5 Ke8

29.Bc6] 27.Rb4! ab4 28.Bc5 Ke6 29.Ra1 Rd6 30.Bd6 Kd6 31.Qc6 Ke7
32.Ra8 Qd6 33.Qd6 Kd6 34.Rh8 b3 35.Ba6 Nd7 36.Rh4 Nc5 1-0
[Bjelajac]
6. V.Anand (2783) V.Kramnik (2772)
Bonn (m/6) 2008 104/146 [E34]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cd5 Qd5 6.Nf3 Qf5 7.Qb3 Nc6
8.Bd2 [8.a3 see 81/(441)] 0-0
9.h3! [a novelty; 9.e3] b6 [9...Rd8!? 10.g4 Qg6 11.Rc1] 10.g4 Qa5 11.
Rc1 Bb7 12.a3 Bc3 13.Bc3 Qd5 14.Qd5 Nd5 15.Bd2 Nf6 [15...Rfd8 16.
e3 (16.Bg2 Na5 17.Ba5 Nf4! with counterplay; 16.Rg1 Rac8 17.Bg2 Nb8
with the idea Nd7) Rac8] 16.Rg1 Rac8 [16...Rfd8 17.g5 Ne8 18.e3 and
White is slightly better] 17.Bg2 Ne7 [17...Nb8 18.Bf4; 17...Ba8! 18.Bg5
(18.g5 Ne4 19.Bf4 Na5 with counterplay) Na5 (18...Ne4 19.Be3 Ne7 20.
Ng5 Ng5 21.Bg5 f6 22.Ba8 Ra8 23.Bf4 Rfd8 24.g5 Ng6 25.gf6 Rd4 26.
Be3 Rd7 27.fg7 Kg7 28.b4) 19.Bf6 gf6 20.Nd2 Bg2 21.Rg2 Rfd8 (21...c5
22.dc5 bc5 23.Ne4) 22.b4 (22.e3 c5 23.dc5 Rd2 24.Kd2 Nb3 equal) Nb7
23.Nb3 a5 24.e3 (24.ba5 Na5 25.Na5 ba5 26.e3 c5 27.dc5 Rd5 equal) ab4
25.ab4 Rd5 with the idea Rb5] 18.Bb4 c5 [18...Rfe8 19.Ne5 Bg2 20.Rg2
and White is slightly better] 19.dc5 Rfd8 20.Ne5 Bg2 21.Rg2 bc5 [21...
Nc6 22.cb6 Ne5 23.Rc8 Rc8 24.b7 Rb8 25.Bd6 Nf3 26.ef3 Rb7 with
compensation; 22.Nd3 and White is slightly better] 22.Rc5 Ne4 23.Rc8
Rc8 24.Nd3 Nd5 25.Bd2 Rc2 26.Bc1 f5 [26...Nc5 27.Kd1 Nd3 28.ed3
Rc8 29.g5! with the idea Rg4-c4 and White is superior] 27.Kd1 Rc8 28.
f3 Nd6 29.Ke1 [29.e3 Nc4 30.Re2 Rd8 31.Kc2 Rc8 32.Kb3 Na5 33.Ka4!
(33.Ka2 Rc3 34.Rd2) Nc6 34.Bd2 and White is slightly better] a5 30.e3
[with the idea Re2, e4] e5 31.gf5 e4 32.fe4 Ne4 33.Bd2 [33.Ke2! Nd6 34.
Rg4 Nf5 35.Ra4] a4? [33...Re8! 34.Nf4! (34.Ba5? Ne3 35.Rh2 Nc4) Re5
(34...Nf4 35.ef4 and White is superior) 35.Nd5 Rd5 36.Bc3 Nc3 37.bc3
Rd3; 35.Ne6] 34.Nf2 Nd6 [34...Nd2 35.Kd2 Rb8 36.Nd3 Re8 37.Rg4
Ne3 38.Ra4 Nf5 39.b4 and White is winning] 35.Rg4 [35.Ke2 Rc2 36.
Nd1 Nf6 37.Kd3 Rc5 38.Nc3 and White is winning] Nc4 36.e4 [36.Nd1!]
Nf6 37.Rg3 Nb2 [37...Ne4 38.Ne4 Re8 39.Bc3 Re4 40.Kf2 Ne5 41.f6 g6
42.Rg5 a) 42...Nd7 43.Kf3 Re6 (43...Rc4 44.Rd5 and White is winning)
44.Ra5 and White is winning; b) 42...Nd3 43.Kf3 and White is winning]
38.e5 Nd5 [better is 38...Re8 39.e6 Nc4 40.Bc3 (40.Bh6 g6) Nd6! 41.Ng4
only move Nh5 42.Nh6 Kf8 43.Rg5 g6 44.fg6 only move (44.Rh5 gh5 45.
Bb4 Kg7 46.Bd6 Kh6 47.Bf4 Kg7 48.Bg5 h6 49.Bh4 Kf8!) Re6 45.Re5!
Rg6 46.Rh5 and White is winning] 39.f6 Kf7 [39...g6 40.Ne4 Nc4 41.e6
and White is winning] 40.Ne4! Nc4 [40...Ke6 41.fg7 Ne7 42.Ng5 Kd5 43.
Nh7 and White is winning] 41.fg7 Kg8 [41...Rg8 42.Nd6 Nd6 43.ed6
Ke6 44.Bh6 Kd6 45.Rf3 and White is winning] 42.Rd3 Ndb6 [42...Nd2
43.Kd2 Nb6 44.Rg3 Nd5 45.Nf6 Nf6 46.ef6 and White is winning] 43.
Bh6 Ne5 44.Nf6 Kf7 45.Rc3! Rc3 46.g8Q Kf6 47.Bg7 [47...Kf5 48.Qh7
Ke6 49.Qh6 and White is winning; 47...Ke7 48.Qf8! (48.Be5 Re3) Kd7
49.Qf5 and White is winning] 1-0 [V.Anand]
7. M.Carlsen (2775) V.Ivanchuk (2781)
Bilbao 2008 104/104 [D37]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c5 7.dc5 Bc5 8.Qc2
Nc6 9.a3 Qa5 10.0-0-0 Be7 11.h4 Rd8 12.Nd2 a6!? 13.Be2 [a novelty;
13.g4 see 104/(104)]
13...b5! 14.cd5 [14.cb5?! ab5 a) 15.Bb5 Bd7 (15...Bb7!?) 16.Nb3 Qb6

a1) 17.Kb1 Nb4 18.Qe2 (18.ab4 Bb5) Ne4 19.ab4 Nc3 20.bc3 Bb5 21.
Qb2 Ra4 and Black is superior; a2) 17.a4 Rdc8 18.Kb1 e5 with initiative;
b) 15.Nb5 e5 16.Bg3 (16.Qc6 Bd7 17.Qc2 Bb5 and Black is winning) Ba6
with initiative; 14.Bf3 b4! (14...Bb7!?; 14...Qb6 15.cd5 ed5 16.Nb3 Be6
with initiative; 14...bc4 15.Nc4 Qc5 16.Na4 Qb5 17.Ncb6!) 15.Nb3 Qb6
a) 16.cd5 ed5 17.Nd5 Nd5 18.Bd5 (18.Rd5 Be6 19.Rd8 Rd8 20.Qc6 Rc8
and Black is winning) Rd5 19.Rd5 ba3 and Black is superior; b) 16.Na4
Qa7 17.c5 e5 18.Bg5 e4 19.Be2 ba3 20.ba3 Rb8 and Black is superior]
ed5 [14...Nd5 15.Nd5 ed5 16.Bd3!? (16.Qc6 Bf5 17.Bc7 Qa3 18.Nb1 Qa1
19.Bd3 Bd3 20.Rd3 Rdc8 with compensation, with the idea 21.Rc3 b4 22.
Rc2 b3 23.Rc3 Bb4 with attack) Be6 17.Bh7 (17.Kb1 Rac8!) Kh8 18.Kb1
Rac8 19.Nf3 b4 20.Ng5 Bf6 with attack] 15.g4?! [15.Bf3?! Be6 16.Nb3
Qb6 17.Nd4 Nd4 18.Rd4 Rac8 and Black is superior; 15.Nb3 Qb6 16.
Nd4 Nd4 17.Rd4 Bc5 18.Be5 Bd4 19.Bd4 with compensation] Be6 16.
Nb3 [16.g5 Ne4 17.Nde4 (17.Nb3 Qb6 18.Ne4 de4 19.Rd8 see 16.Nb3)
de4 18.Rd8 Rd8 19.Rd1 (19.Ne4 Rc8 20.Kb1 b4 with initiative) Rc8 and
Black is slightly better] Qb6 (with attack) 17.g5 [17.Kb1 Rac8 18.f3 b4
with attack] Ne4 18.Ne4 de4 19.Rd8 Nd8!? [19...Rd8?! 20.Kb1 (20.Rd1?
Rc8) Rc8 21.Rc1 equal; 19...Qd8 20.Kb1 (20.Nc5 Bc5 21.Qc5 Rc8 22.
Rd1 Nd4 23.ed4 Bb3 24.Rd2 f5 25.gf6 gf6 26.Be3 and Black is superior)
Qd5 21.Nc1 Rc8 22.Qd1 Qc5 23.Nb3 Qf5 with initiative] 20.Kb1 [20.
Bc7 Qa7 21.Ba5 (21.Be5 Rc8 22.Bc3 Nc6 with attack) Rc8 22.Bc3 b4 23.
ab4 Bb4 24.Nd4 and Black is slightly better; 22...Nc6 with the idea b4
with attack] Rc8 21.Qd1 [21.Qe4? Bb3 22.Qe7 (22.Bd3 Qg6 and Black is
winning) Qc6 23.e4 a) 23...Ne6 24.Rc1 Bc2 (24...Qe4 25.Ka1 Rc1 26.Bc1
Qc6 and Black is winning) 25.Ka1 Nf4 26.Bd1; 25...Nd4 and Black is
winning; b) 23...Qc2 24.Ka1 Ne6 25.Bg4 Qe4 and Black is winning] Nc6
22.h5 a5! 23.g6 [23.h6 a) 23...g6 24.Nd2 (24.Nd4 Rd8 and Black is
slightly better) b4 25.a4 b3 with attack; b) 23...a4 24.Nd4 Rd8 25.hg7 b4
26.Qa4 (26.ab4 a3! 27.ba3 Nd4 28.ed4 Bb4 and Black is winning) Nd4
27.ed4 ba3 28.Qb5 Qd4 29.Be3 (29.Rd1 a2) Qg7 and Black is winning]
a4 24.Nd2 [24.Nd4 Nd4 25.ed4 (25.Qd4 Qc6 and Black is winning) Qc6
26.Bg4 f5 27.d5 Qd5 28.Qd5 Bd5 29.Rd1 (29.Bf5 Rf8 and Black is
winning) Be6 30.Be2 and Black is superior; 25...b4 ] b4 25.gf7 [25.Nc4
Bc4 26.Bc4 ba3 a) 27.Qc2 h6 (27...Kh8! 28.h6 hg6 29.hg7 Kg7 30.Qc3
Nd4 31.Be5) 28.Bf7 Kh8 29.Be5 Bf8! 30.Bc3 (30.Qe4 Ne5 31.Qe5 Rc5
and Black is winning) Ne5 31.Ba2 a1) 31...Nd3 32.Bd5 Rc7 (32...ab2? 33.
Bg7!!) 33.Rh4 Nb2 34.Ka1 Nd3 and Black is winning; a2) 31...Bb4 32.
Bd4 Rc2 33.Bb6 Rb2 34.Ka1 Nd3 35.Bd4 Rf2 36.Rd1 and Black is
superior; b) 27.Bf7 Kh8 28.Qc2 Nd8 29.Qd2 Bf6 and Black is winning]
Bf7 26.Nc4 [26.Bc4 ba3 27.Bf7 Kf7 28.Nc4 Qb5 29.Qd7 Qc4 30.Qc8
Qd3] Qb7! [26...Qc5 27.Bd6!] 27.Qa4 ba3 28.Na3 Ba3 29.Qa3 Nb4! 30.
b3 Nd3 31.Bd3 ed3 32.Rc1 d2 [33.Rc8 Qc8 34.Qd6 Qc1 35.Ka2 Qc2] 01 [V.Ivanchuk]
8. V.Topalov (2791) P.Svidler (2727)

Nanjing 2008 104/125 [D87]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.e4 Nc3 6.bc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 Bd7 11.Rb1 Qc7 12.Bd3 [12.Qd2!? Rad8 13.
Bh6 Na5 14.Bd3 e5 15.Bg7 Kg7 16.Qe3! and White is slightly better]
Rfd8 13.h3 [a novelty; 13.Qc1 see 94/366; 13.f4 cd4 14.cd4 Bg4 15.d5
Nd4 16.Qd2 Ne2 17.Be2 and White is slightly better] Be8 [13...e5 14.d5
Na5 15.Qd2 b6 16.f4 Nb7 17.f5 with initiative] 14.d5 Ne5 15.c4 [15.f4
Nd3 16.Qd3 b5 17.c4 a6 18.Rfc1 Rac8 19.Qd2 b4 unclear] e6 [15...b6 16.
f4 Nd3 17.Qd3 e6 18.e5 and White is superior] 16.Nf4 [16.Nc3 Qa5! (16...
Nc4 17.Bc4 Bc3 18.Qb3 and White is superior) 17.Rb3 a6 18.f4 Nd3 19.
Qd3 b5 with initiative] Rab8 [16...Nd3 17.Qd3 b6 18.Qc2 and White is
slightly better; 16...Rd6!? V.Topalov] 17.Be2 [17.Qc2!? Nd3 18.Nd3 and
White is slightly better; V.Topalov] Rd6 [17...Nc6 18.Qc1 Nd4 19.Bd3
(19.Bd4 cd4 20.de6 d3 21.Nd3 fe6 with compensation; V.Topalov) e5 20.
Ne2 and White is slightly better] 18.Qc2 Ra6
19.Rb5 Bf8 [19...Bb5 20.cb5 Rd6 (20...Ra3 21.Bc1 Ra5 22.de6 and
White is superior) 21.Qc5 Qc5 22.Bc5 and White is superior] 20.a4 Bb5
[20...Rc8 21.Qa2 Bb5? 22.cb5 Rd6 23.de6 fe6 24.Ne6 Qf7 25.Bc4 Nc4
26.Ng5 and White is winning; 21...Be7] 21.cb5 Rd6 22.Qc3 [22.Qc5 Qc5
23.Bc5 Rd7 24.Ba7 Ra8 25.b6 Bh6 26.g3 and White is superior] Bg7 23.
Qc5 Rc8 [23...Qc5 24.Bc5 Rd7 25.de6 fe6 26.Ne6 and White is superior]
24.Qa7 b6 [24...Qd8!? 25.Bc5 Ra8 26.Qa8 Qa8 27.Bd6 Qa4 28.Rc1 h6
29.de6] 25.Qc7 Rc7 26.Rd1 Bf6 [26...g5 27.Nh5 h6 28.f4 and White is
superior] 27.de6 Rd1 28.Bd1 fe6 29.Bb3 1-0 [A.Mikhalchishin]
9. V.Kramnik (2772) N.Short (2642)
Dresden (l) 2008 104/88 [D07]
1.d4 Nc6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 Bg4 4.Nc3 e6 5.cd5 ed5 6.Bf4 Bd6 [6...Nf6 see
98/270; 6...Bf3 see 98/271] 7.Bg3 Nge7 [7...Bf3 8.gf3 see 6...Bf3] 8.e3
Qd7 9.a3 [a novelty; 9.Bd3 Nb4!? 10.Bb1 c6 11.a3 Na6; 9.Be2] 0-0 10.
Bd3 (and White is slightly better) a6 [10...h6 11.Qc2] 11.Bd6 Bf3 [11...
Qd6? 12.Bh7 Kh7 13.Ng5 Kg6 14.Qg4 f5 15.Qf4 Qf4 16.ef4 and White is
superior] 12.Qf3 Qd6 13.Qg3! [13.0-0 Nd8! 14.b4 Ne6] Rfd8 [13...Qd7
14.Na4 b6 15.Nc3 (and White is slightly better) Nd8 16.0-0 Ne6 17.Rfd1]
14.b4 g6 15.Na4 Nc8 [15...b6 16.Rc1 and White is superior] 16.Rc1!
[16.0-0 Qg3 17.hg3 Nb8! 18.Nc5 Nd6 19.Rfc1 c6] Ra7 [16...b5 17.Nc5
Qg3 18.hg3 Nd6 19.Ne6 fe6 20.Rc6 and White is superior] 17.0-0 [17.
Nc5 Qg3 18.hg3 N6e7 19.g4 Nd6 and White is slightly better] b5?! [17...
Qg3 18.hg3 Nd6 19.g4 Ne8 and White is slightly better] 18.Qd6 Rd6 19.
Nc3! [19.Nc5 Nb6! 20.Na6 Nc4 21.a4 ba4 22.Bc4 dc4 23.b5 Ne7 24.Rc4
c6 unclear] N6e7 [19...Nd8 20.Bb5 (20.a4 ba4 21.Na4 and White is
superior) ab5 21.Nb5 c6 22.Na7 Na7 23.a4 and White is superior]
20.Bb5! and White is superior [20.a4 c6 21.Ra1 and White is slightly

better] ab5 21.Nb5 Rda6 22.Na7 Ra7 23.Rc5! Nb6 [23...Ra3 24.Rc7 and
White is superior] 24.Ra1 Kf8 25.a4 Ke8 26.a5 Nc4 27.Ra2 [with the
idea e4; 27.e4 Nd2!; 27.g4!] f5! 28.Kf1 Kd7 29.Ke2 Nd6 [29...c6 30.f3
and White is superior; 29...Kd6 30.a6 and White is superior] 30.b5 Nc4
31.Ra4 [31.a6] Kd8 [31...Na5 32.Rc2 and White is winning] 32.a6 Nb6
33.Ra1 Nec8 34.h3! h5?! [34...Nd7 35.Kd3!? (35.Rc2) Nc5 36.dc5 and
White is superior] 35.g4! hg4 36.hg4 fg4 37.Rg1 [37.Rh1 Ne7 38.Rh8
Kd7 39.Rb8 Kd6 40.Rb7! Rb7 41.ab7 Nd7 42.Rc1 and White is winning]
Ne7 (time) 38.Rg4 Na4 39.Rh4! c6 [39...Nc5 40.Rh8 Kd7 41.dc5 Ke6 42.
Kd3 and White is winning] 40.Rh8 Kc7 41.Rc2 (and White is winning)
Nb6 [41...Kd6 42.Rd8 Kc7 43.Re8 Kd6 44.Re7 Ke7 45.Rc6 Ra8 46.b6]
42.Rh7 Kb8 43.bc6 Rc7 44.Kf3 Ka7 45.Ra2 Nbc8 46.Rb2 Ka6 [46...
Rc6 47.Rb7 Ka6 48.Rbe7 Ne7 49.Re7; 46...Nb6 47.Kg4 Ka6 48.Kg5] 47.
Rh1! 1-0 [V.Kramnik]
10. Hi.Nakamura (2704) L.Bruzon Batista (2622)
Dresden (l) 2008 104/94 [D15]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dc4 5.a4 e6 6.e4 Bb4 7.e5 Nd5 8.Bd2
b5 9.ab5 Bc3 10.bc3 cb5 11.Ng5 Nc6 12.Qh5 Qe7 13.Ne4!? [a novelty;
13.Be2 see 102/284] 0-0 14.Bg5 [14.Be2 b4 unclear] f6! [14...Qc7 15.Nf6
(15.Be2) gf6 16.Bf6 Nf6 17.Qg5 (17.ef6 Kh8) Kh8 18.Qf6 Kg8 19.Qg5
Kh8 equal] 15.ef6 [15.Bh4 Qc7 16.ef6 Qf4! and Black is superior] gf6 16.
Bh6 Rd8 [16...Bd7! 17.Bf8 (17.Be2) Rf8 18.Be2 f5 19.Qg5 (19.Ng3 Nc3
20.0-0 Be8 21.Qf3 Nd5 and Black is superior) Qg5 20.Ng5 h6 21.Nf3
Nc3 22.Ne5 Rd8! and Black is slightly better] 17.Be2 e5 [better is 17...
Qf7 18.Qh4 Qg6 19.Bf3 Nce7 20.Nf6 Nf6 21.Ba8 Nf5 22.Qg5 Nh6 23.
Qg6 hg6 24.Ra7 b4 25.g4 Nf7 (25...Nhg4?! 26.h3 Nh6 27.Rg1 with
attack) 26.cb4 e5 27.de5 Ne5 and Black is slightly better] 18.0-0 Qf7 19.
Qh4 Bf5 20.Ra6 [20.Bh5 Bg6 21.Ra6 Rac8 22.Bg4 Rc7 23.Re1 with
compensation] Be4
21.Rc6! [21.Qe4 Nc3 22.Qg4 Kh8 23.Rc6 Rg8 24.Bc4 (24.Qf3?! Ne2 25.
Qe2 Qd5 and Black is winning) bc4 25.Qf3 Ne2 26.Kh1 Nd4 27.Rf6 Nf3
28.Rf7 Nd4 29.Re1 Rge8 and Black is slightly better] Nf4 [21...Qg6!?] 22.
Rf6! Ne2 23.Kh1 Qb7 24.Qg5 Bg6 [24...Kh8 25.f3 Bg6 26.Qe5 Kg8 27.
Qe2 Re8 28.Qd2 Qd5 29.Qf4 with attack] 25.Rg6 [25.Re1 Nf4 (25...Nc3
26.Re5! and White is winning) 26.Re5 Qg2 27.Qg2 Ng2 28.Kg2 a5 29.h4
Kh8! 30.h5 Bd3 31.Bg5 b4 32.cb4 ab4 33.Rf3 Rg8 34.Kh2 Rgf8 35.Bf6
Rf6 36.Rf6 c3 37.Rb6 Rc8 38.Re1 c2 39.Rc1 Rc4 unclear] hg6 26.Qg6
Kh8 27.Bg5 [and White is superior, weak point Kh8] Rf8 28.Bf6 Rf6 29.
Qf6 Kg8 30.Qe6 [30.Qe5 Nc3 31.Qg3 Qg7 32.Qc3 Rd8 33.Rd1 Qf6 34.
Kg1 a6 35.g3 and White is slightly better] Qf7 [30...Kh7 31.Qe5 b4 (31...
Nc3 32.Re1! Qg7 33.Qh5 Kg8 34.Re3 and White is winning) 32.Qe2 (32.
f4!?) b3 33.Qc4 a5 34.Qd3 Kh8 35.d5 b2 36.d6 Rb8 37.Rb1 and White is
winning; 30...Kf8 31.Qe5 Qh7 32.Qe2 Qd3 33.Qe1 Re8 34.Qc1 and
White is superior] 31.Qg4 Qg7 [31...Kf8 32.Qe2 ed4 33.Qe5 Re8 34.Qh8
Qg8 35.Qd4 and White is superior] 32.Qe2 ed4 33.cd4 [33.Qe6 Qf7 (33...
Kh8? 34.Re1 Rg8 35.g3 Qg6 36.Qe5 Qg7 37.Qb5 and White is winning)
34.Qg4 Qg7 35.Qf5! Rd8 36.Qb5 dc3 37.Qc4 Kf8 38.Qc5 Kg8 39.h3 and
White is winning] Rd8 34.Rb1 Qd4 35.Qe6 Kg7 36.Qe7 Kh8 37.h3 a6
[37...c3 38.Rb5 Qd1 39.Kh2 Qd6 40.Qd6 Rd6 41.Rc5 Rd3 42.h4 and
White is winning] 38.Re1! (and White is winning) c3 39.Re5 Qd1 40.
Kh2 Qd6 41.Qh4 Kg7 42.Qg3 [42.f4] Kf6 43.f4 c2 44.Qg5 Kf7 45.Qf5
Kg7 46.Qc2 Rf8 47.Rg5 Kf7 48.Qh7 Ke8 49.Re5 Kd8 50.Qb7 1-0 [L.
Bruzon Batista]


Informant 104

North America:
Zdenko Krnic
When Garry Kasparov left the chess scene there were only three players
that could succeed him on the chess throne: Anand, Kramnik, and
Topalov. These three are still in their prime and have achieved a wealth of
experience in matches; it seems that none of the teen rising stars can
imperil their status in the coming years.
Anand, the oldest among these three, dedicated everything to his match
against Kramnik in Bonn. He organized a team of ambitious and devoted
grandmasters to craft a new repertoire and his efforts paid off
enormously. Instead of 1.e4 and Kramniks favourite Russian Defence,
Anand looked for an advantage in the closed systems. His deep
preparation paid off handsomely, while Kramniks completely failed.
Informant 84 (CD)
Only $5.95!
The idea Anand used in the sixth game of the match, in a very popular
variation of Nimzo-Indian Defense, impressed the jury of Chess
Informant to such an extent that they voted 9.h3 as the most important
theoretical novelty of Chess Informant 104.
Informant 94 (CD)
Only $5.95!

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
The Complete
DGT Product Line
Informant 95 (CD)
Only $5.95!
1. V. Anand (2783) V. Kramnik (2772)

Bonn (m/6) 2008 104/146 [E34]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cd5 Qd5 6.Nf3 Qf5 7.Qb3 Nc6
8.Bd2 [8.a3 see 81/(441)] 0-0
9.h3! [a novelty; 9.e3] b6 [9...Rd8!? 10.g4 Qg6 11.Rc1] 10.g4 Qa5 11.
Rc1 Bb7 12.a3 Bc3 13.Bc3 Qd5 14.Qd5 Nd5 15.Bd2 Nf6 [15...Rfd8 16.
e3 (16.Bg2 Na5 17.Ba5 Nf4! with counterplay; 16.Rg1 Rac8 17.Bg2 Nb8
with the idea Nd7) Rac8] 16.Rg1 Rac8 [16...Rfd8 17.g5 Ne8 18.e3 and
White is slightly better] 17.Bg2 Ne7 [17...Nb8 18.Bf4; 17...Ba8! 18.Bg5
(18.g5 Ne4 19.Bf4 Na5 with counterplay) Na5 (18...Ne4 19.Be3 Ne7 20.
Ng5 Ng5 21.Bg5 f6 22.Ba8 Ra8 23.Bf4 Rfd8 24.g5 Ng6 25.gf6 Rd4 26.
Be3 Rd7 27.fg7 Kg7 28.b4) 19.Bf6 gf6 20.Nd2 Bg2 21.Rg2 Rfd8 (21...c5
22.dc5 bc5 23.Ne4) 22.b4 (22.e3 c5 23.dc5 Rd2 24.Kd2 Nb3 equal) Nb7
23.Nb3 a5 24.e3 (24.ba5 Na5 25.Na5 ba5 26.e3 c5 27.dc5 Rd5 equal) ab4
25.ab4 Rd5 with the idea Rb5] 18.Bb4 c5 [18...Rfe8 19.Ne5 Bg2 20.Rg2
and White is slightly better] 19.dc5 Rfd8 20.Ne5 Bg2 21.Rg2 bc5 [21...
Nc6 22.cb6 Ne5 23.Rc8 Rc8 24.b7 Rb8 25.Bd6 Nf3 26.ef3 Rb7 with
compensation; 22.Nd3 and White is slightly better] 22.Rc5 Ne4 23.Rc8
Rc8 24.Nd3 Nd5 25.Bd2 Rc2 26.Bc1 f5 [26...Nc5 27.Kd1 Nd3 28.ed3
Rc8 29.g5! with the idea Rg4-c4 and White is superior] 27.Kd1 Rc8 28.
f3 Nd6 29.Ke1 [29.e3 Nc4 30.Re2 Rd8 31.Kc2 Rc8 32.Kb3 Na5 33.Ka4!
(33.Ka2 Rc3 34.Rd2) Nc6 34.Bd2 and White is slightly better] a5 30.e3
[with the idea Re2, e4] e5 31.gf5 e4 32.fe4 Ne4 33.Bd2 [33.Ke2! Nd6 34.
Rg4 Nf5 35.Ra4]
33...a4? [33...Re8! 34.Nf4! (34.Ba5? Ne3 35.Rh2 Nc4) Re5 (34...Nf4 35.
ef4 and White is superior) 35.Nd5 Rd5 36.Bc3 Nc3 37.bc3 Rd3; 35.Ne6]
34.Nf2 Nd6 [34...Nd2 35.Kd2 Rb8 36.Nd3 Re8 37.Rg4 Ne3 38.Ra4 Nf5
39.b4 and White is winning] 35.Rg4 [35.Ke2 Rc2 36.Nd1 Nf6 37.Kd3
Rc5 38.Nc3 and White is winning] Nc4 36.e4 [36.Nd1!] Nf6 37.Rg3 Nb2
[37...Ne4 38.Ne4 Re8 39.Bc3 Re4 40.Kf2 Ne5 41.f6 g6 42.Rg5 a) 42...
Nd7 43.Kf3 Re6 (43...Rc4 44.Rd5 and White is winning) 44.Ra5 and
White is winning; b) 42...Nd3 43.Kf3 and White is winning] 38.e5 Nd5
[better is 38...Re8 39.e6 Nc4 40.Bc3 (40.Bh6 g6) Nd6! 41.Ng4 only move
Nh5 42.Nh6 Kf8 43.Rg5 g6 44.fg6 only move (44.Rh5 gh5 45.Bb4 Kg7
46.Bd6 Kh6 47.Bf4 Kg7 48.Bg5 h6 49.Bh4 Kf8!) Re6 45.Re5! Rg6 46.
Rh5 and White is winning] 39.f6 Kf7 [39...g6 40.Ne4 Nc4 41.e6 and
White is winning] 40.Ne4! Nc4 [40...Ke6 41.fg7 Ne7 42.Ng5 Kd5 43.
Nh7 and White is winning] 41.fg7 Kg8 [41...Rg8 42.Nd6 Nd6 43.ed6
Ke6 44.Bh6 Kd6 45.Rf3 and White is winning] 42.Rd3 Ndb6 [42...Nd2
43.Kd2 Nb6 44.Rg3 Nd5 45.Nf6 Nf6 46.ef6 and White is winning] 43.
Bh6 Ne5 44.Nf6 Kf7 45.Rc3! Rc3 46.g8Q Kf6 47.Bg7 [47...Kf5 48.Qh7
Ke6 49.Qh6 and White is winning; 47...Ke7 48.Qf8! (48.Be5 Re3) Kd7
49.Qf5 and White is winning] 1-0 [V.Anand]
2. V. Topalov (2777) V. Anand (2798)
Bilbao 2008 104/140 [E15]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2 Bb7 6.Bg2 c5 7.d5 ed5 8.cd5
Nd5 9.0-0 Be7 10.Rd1 Qc8 11.a3 Nf6
12.Bg5!? [a novelty; 12.Nc3 see 98/385] d5?! 13.Bf6 Bf6 14.Nc3 Bc3 15.
bc3 Na6?! 16.Nh4 g6 17.Bd5 Bd5 18.Rd5 0-0 19.Rad1 (and White is
superior) Nc7 20.Rd7 Ne6 21.Qe4 Qe8 [21...Qa6 22.Rf7 Rf7 23.Qa8 Nf8
24.Rd3 Qa3 25.Qd5 and White is superior; 25.Nf3!?] 22.Nf3 c4? [22...
Rd8 23.Qb7 and White is superior; 22...Nd4 23.Ne5! and White is
superior] 23.Qh4! and White is winning [23.Qc4 Nc5] Nc5 24.Re7 Rd8
[24...Qa4 25.Rd6!] 25.Rf1 1-0 [RR]
3. M. Carlsen (2775) L. Aronian (2737)
Bilbao 2008 104/114 [D47]
Bd3 Bb7 9.a3 b4 10.Ne4 Ne4 11.Be4 ba3 12.0-0 Nf6 13.Bd3 ab2 14.
Bb2 a5
15.d5!? [a novelty; 15.Qa4 see 101/(358)] Nd5 [15...ed5 16.Qa4 with

compensation, with initiative] 16.Ne5 (with compensation, development
advantage) Nf6 [16...Be7 17.Qh5! with the idea 17...g6 18.Bg6 fg6 19.
Ng6 with attack] 17.Qa4 Bb4?! [17...Qd5 18.Be2 with the idea Bf3; 17...
Qc7 18.Rfc1 with compensation] 18.Nc6 Bc6 19.Qc6 Ke7 20.Rfd1 Rc8
21.Qf3 Qb6 22.Bd4 Qb8 23.Ba6 Rcd8 24.Bb7 h5?! [24...e5 25.Bb6 with
compensation, weak point Ke7] 25.h3 h4 26.Rab1! (and White is
winning) e5 [26...Rh6 27.Rb4! ab4 28.Bc5 Ke8 29.Bc6] 27.Rb4! ab4 28.
Bc5 Ke6 29.Ra1 Rd6 30.Bd6 Kd6 31.Qc6 Ke7 32.Ra8 Qd6 33.Qd6
Kd6 34.Rh8 b3 35.Ba6 Nd7 36.Rh4 Nc5 1-0 [RR]
4. L. Aronian (2757) V. Kramnik (2772)
Dresden (ol) 2008 104/107 [D43]
b5 9.Ne5 Bb7 10.h4 g4 11.Ng4 Ng4 12.Qg4 Qd4 13.Rd1
13...Qf6! [a novelty; 13...Qg7 see 104/106] 14.e5 [14.a4] Qf5 15.Qd4

Be7 16.b3? [better is 16.a4 unclear] c5 17.Qe3?! [17.Qd2 a6 18.bc4 b4
19.Ne2 Qe4 and Black is slightly better; 17.Qf4 Qf4 18.Bf4 a6 19.bc4 b4
and Black is slightly better] Nc6! (and Black is superior) 18.bc4 [18.Nb5
Nd4! and Black is superior] Nb4 19.Qf4 Nc2 20.Ke2! [20.Kd2 0-0-0 21.
Kc1 Rd1 22.Nd1 Qg6! 23.Qd2 Nb4 and Black is winning] Qf4 [20...Nd4
21.Rd4 cd4 22.Qf5 ef5 23.Nb5 and Black is slightly better] 21.Bf4 bc4
[21...Nd4!? 22.Rd4 cd4 23.Nb5 Rb8 24.Kd3 Bc5 and Black is superior]
22.f3 Nd4 [22...Nb4 23.Kf2 Nd5 24.Bd2 and Black is slightly better; 22...
Ba6 23.Kf2 Nb4 24.Ne4 Nd3 25.Ke3 0-0-0 26.Bd3 cd3 27.Rb1 Rd5 and
Black is superior] 23.Kf2 Bd5 24.h5 Rb8 25.Be2 Rb2 [25...Bd8 26.Rb1
Rb6; 25...Kf8! 26.Rd2 (26.Rh3 Kg7 27.Rg3 Kh7) Kg7 27.Rc1 Bd8 and
Black is superior] 26.Rd2 Rd2 27.Bd2 f6?! [27...Kd7 28.Bd1 Kc7 and
Black is superior; 27...Bd8 28.Rb1 Bc7 29.Nd5 ed5 30.Rb7 Be5 31.Ra7 00 32.Rd7 Ra8 33.Rd5 Ra2 34.Bc4 Rd2 35.Ke3 Rc2 36.Bd3 Rg2 37.Re5
Rg5 and Black is superior] 28.ef6 Bf6 29.Rb1 (with counterplay) Ne2
[29...Kd7 30.Bd1! Kd6 31.g4 with counterplay] 30.Ne2 [30.Ke2 Kd7! 31.
Nd5 ed5 32.Rb7 Kc6 33.Ra7 Bb2 34.Ra6 Kb5 and Black is superior, with
the idea 35.Rh6 Re8 36.Kd1 c3] 0-0? [30...Kd7 31.Bc3 Rf8 (31...e5 32.
Nf4) 32.Bf6 Rf6 and Black is slightly better] 31.Bh6 Bh4 32.Kg1 Rf5 33.
Rb8 Kh7 34.Bd2 Rh5 35.Bc3 Bg5 36.Kf2 [36.g4 Rh4 37.Rh8 Kg6 38.
Rg8 Kh6 equal] Bh4 [36...Bh6 37.Rb5] 37.Kf1 [better is 37.Ke3 Bg5 38.
Nf4 Bf4 39.Kf4 Rf5 40.Ke3 and White is slightly better] Bg5 38.Ng3
Rh4 39.Rh8 Kg6 40.Rg8 Kh6 41.Rh8 [41.Ke2 Rd4! 42.Bd4 cd4] Kg6 [V.Kramnik]
5. B. Gelfand (2720) S. Rublevsky (2699)
Espana 2008 104/97 [D20]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dc4 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 Bb4 5.Nc3 ed4 6.Nd4 Ne7 7.Bc4 Nbc6 8.
Be3 0-0 9.a3 Bc3 10.bc3 Na5 11.Be2 Ng6 12.0-0 Qe7
13.Qa4! [a novelty; 13.Qc2 see 54/377] b6 14.Nf5 Bf5 15.ef5 Ne5 16.
Rad1 Rad8 17.h3 Rd6?! [17...Nb7 with the idea 18.Qa7?! Nc5 weak
point Qa7] 18.Rd4 Nac6 [18...Qd7 19.Qd7 (19.Qc2!?) Rd7 20.Rd7 Nd7
21.Rd1 and White is superior] 19.Rd6 [19.Re4?! Qf6] cd6 [19...Qd6 20.
Qe4 Rd8 21.Rd1 and White is superior] 20.Rd1 Rc8 [20...Rd8 21.Qe4]
21.Qe4 h6 [21...Qc7 22.f6!] 22.Ba6 [22.f4? Nc4! 23.Qe7 Ne7; 22.Qd5!

Na5 23.Ba6 (23.Bd4 Nec6 24.Ba6 Rd8; 23.Qd6 Qd6 24.Rd6 Nac4 25.Rd5
Ne3 26.Re5 Nc2 and White is slightly better) Rc7 (23...Rc3 24.Bd2 Rc5
25.Qa8 Kh7 26.Bb4 and White is superior) 24.Qd6 Qd6 25.Rd6 Rc3 26.
Rd8 Kh7 27.a4 and White is superior] Rc7?! [22...Rd8! a) 23.f4 d5! 24.
Rd5 Nf3!; b) 23.Bb5 Na5 24.Bd4 (24.Bf4 Rc8; 24.Qd5 Qb7) f6 25.f4 (25.
Re1 Qf7) d5 26.Qe2 Nec6 with counterplay; c) 23.Bf4 d5!? 24.Qa4 (24.
Rd5 Rd5 25.Qd5 Qa3 26.Bb5 Qc3 27.Be3 with compensation) f6 and
White is slightly better; d) 23.Qd5 Qf6 and White is slightly better] 23.
Qd5 and White is superior [23.f4? Nc4 24.Qe7 Ne7] Kh7 [23...Na5 24.
Qd6 Qd6 25.Rd6 Rc3 26.Rd8 Kh7 27.a4 and White is superior; 23...Nb8
24.Bb5 Rc3 25.Qd6] 24.Bf4 [24.Qd6?? Rd7; 24.Be2 Na5 25.Qd6? Qd6
26.Rd6 Nac4 equal; 25.Bf4!?] Qf6 [24...Nb8 25.Bb5 Rc3 26.a4 Rc5 27.
Qd6 Qd6 28.Rd6 and White is superior] 25.Be2 [25.Qd6? Rd7; 25.Bf1!?]
Rd7 26.Bb5 [26.Be5 Qe5 27.Qe5 Ne5 28.f4 Nc6 29.Bb5 Rc7 30.Rd6 Na5
and White is slightly better] Rc7 27.Rd2 Ne7 [27...Rc8 28.Bg3 Ne7 29.
Qd6 Qd6 30.Rd6 Nf5 31.Rd5 (31.Be5 Nd6 32.Bd6 Rc3 33.a4 and White
is superior) f6 (31...Ng3 32.Re5) 32.Be5 fe5 33.Bd7 and White is
superior] 28.Qd6 Qd6? [28...Rc5 29.a4 Nf5 (29...Qf5 30.Be3) 30.Qf6 (30.
Be5 Nd6 31.Bf6 Nb5 32.Be7 Re5 33.Bb4 a5 equal) gf6 31.Be5!? Re5 (31...
fe5 32.Bd3) 32.Rd7 Kg7 (32...Re7? 33.Bd3!) 33.Ra7 Nd6 34.Bd3 Re1
(34...Rd5 35.Be2) 35.Kh2 Rd1 36.Be2 Rd2 37.Bh5 Rf2 38.Rd7 and White
is superior] 29.Rd6 Rc5 [29...Rc3 30.Be5 Rc5 31.Bd3 Re5 32.f6 Ng6 33.
Rd7 and White is winning] 30.a4 Nf5 [30...f6 31.Be5 Re5 32.Rd7] 31.
Be5! Re5 [31...Nd6 32.Bd6 Rc3 33.Bb8 and White is winning] 32.Rd7
a5 [32...Kg8 33.Ra7 Nd6 34.Ra8 Kh7 35.Bd3; 32...Re7 33.Bd3! g6 (33...
Rd7 34.Bf5) 34.Bf5 Re1 35.Kh2 gf5 36.Rf7 Kg6 37.Ra7] 33.Bd3 g6 34.
Rf7 Kg8 35.Rf6 Ne7 36.Rb6 Kf7 37.Rb5 Re1 38.Kh2 Rc1 39.Rc5 Kf6
40.Be4 Nf5 41.Bf5 gf5 42.g4 1-0 [B.Gelfand]
6. B. Gelfand (2719) A. Naiditsch (2678)
Dresden (ol) 2008 104/105 [D39]
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.d4 d5 4.Nc3 dc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5 c5 7.Bc4 cd4 8.
Nd4 Bc3 9.bc3 Qa5 10.Bb5 Nbd7 11.Bf6 Qc3 12.Kf1 gf6 13.h4 a6 14.
Rh3 Qb4 15.Be2 Ne5
16.h5!? [a novelty; 16.Rb1 see 97/(314)] Bd7? [16...b6?! 17.f4 Nc4 18.
Nc6 Nd2 19.Kg1 Qc5 (19...Qe4 20.Qd2 Qc6 21.Rc3) 20.Kh1 Qc6 21.
Qd2; 16...0-0 17.Rb1 Qd6 18.Qd2 with attack; 16...Qd6! unclear] 17.Rb3
Qd6 18.Rb7 Rd8 19.Nb3 [19.Nf3!? Bc6 (19...Qc6 20.Qb3) 20.Qd6 Rd6
and White is slightly better] Qc6? [19...Bc6 20.Qd6 Rd6 21.Rb8 (21.
Rc7!?) Rd8 22.Rb4 and White is superior] 20.Rb4 Qc7 [20...Qa8 21.Qc2]
21.Rc1 Nc6 [21...Bc6 22.Qc2] 22.Kg1 [22.g3 with the idea 22...e5 23.
Qc2! and White is superior] Qf4 [22...Qe5 23.Rc5] 23.Rbc4 0-0 [23...
Rg8? 24.Nc5 Ne5 25.Rd4 Ke7 26.Rc3] 24.R1c3 [24.Nc5 Ne5 25.Rd4?
Ba4!; 25.Nb7; 24.e5! Qe5 25.Qd2! f5 (25...Ne7 26.Rd4 Nd5 27.Bf3) 26.
Nc5 Be8 27.Nd3 and White is winning] a5? [24...Be8 25.Qc1 Qc1 26.
Rc1 Ne5 27.Rb4 Bb5 (27...Nd3 28.Bd3 Rd3 29.h6) 28.Bb5 ab5 29.Rb5
and White is superior] 25.Qc1?! [25.Rf3 Qh6 26.Rd3 Ne5 27.Rg3 Kh8 28.
Rd4 a4 29.Nc5 Rc8 and White is superior; 25.e5! Qe5 26.Qd2! (26.Rd3
Nb4!) Ne7 27.Re3 Qb8 28.Rg3 and White is winning] Qc1 26.Rc1 Ne5?
[26...Nb4! 27.Na5 Ra8 28.Rb4 Ra5 29.Rc2 (29.h6 Ra2 30.Bh5 Ra5!) Kg7
and White is superior] 27.Rd4 and White is winning [27.R4c3!? a4 28.
Nc5 Be8 29.Rd1] a4 [27...Bc6 28.Rd8 Rd8 29.f4 a4 30.fe5 ab3 31.Rc6;
27...Nc6 28.Rd7 Rd7 29.Rc6 a4 30.Nc5 (30.Nc1!?) Rd2 31.Bc4] 28.Nc5
[28.Na5!?] Bc6 [28...Bc8 29.Rd8 (29.Rcd1 Rd4 30.Rd4 and White is
winning) Rd8 30.Na4 and White is winning] 29.Rd8 Rd8 30.f4 Rd2 [30...
Nd7 31.Ne6] 31.fe5 Re2 32.ef6 h6 33.Rd1 Kh7 34.Rd8 Be4 [34...Ra2 35.
Ne6] 35.Kf1 1-0 [B.Gelfand]
7. A. Morozevich (2787) A. Riazantsev (2656)
Russia (ch) 2008 104/60 [C13]
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 de4 5.Ne4 Be7 6.Bf6 Bf6 7.Nf3 0-0 8.
Qd3 Nd7 9.0-0-0 b6 10.h4 Bb7 11.Kb1 [11.Neg5 see 80/(304)] Qe7
12.Nfg5! [a novelty; 12.Neg5] Rfd8?! [12...g6] 13.Nc5! Nf8 14.Nb7 Rd4

15.Qf3 Rd1 16.Qd1 h6 17.Ne4 Bb2! (only move) 18.c3! and White is
slightly better [18.Kb2 Qb4 with the idea Qe4 with compensation] Ba3 19.
Qb3 Bd6 20.g3 f5 21.Nbd6 cd6 22.Nd2 d5 23.Qb4 Qc7 24.Bd3 Nd7 25.
f4! [25.Qe7 Qc6 with the idea Nc5] Nc5 26.Bc2 b5 27.Rc1 a5 28.Qd4
Rc8 29.g4! Ne4 [29...fg4 30.f5!] 30.Ne4 fe4 31.f5! (and White is
superior) Qd6 [better is 31...Qc3 32.Qc3 Rc3 33.fe6 Kf8] 32.fe6 Qe6 33.
Bb3 Rd8 34.Rd1 Kh8 35.g5 e3 36.Bc2 1-0 [RR]
8. B. Predojevic (2634) K. Sasikiran (2684)
Hrvatska 2008 104/56 [B96]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.
Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.Bf6 Nf6 11.e5 Bb7 12.Qh3 de5 13.Ncb5 Qb6 14.
fe5 Ne4 15.Bc4
15...Bc5! [a novelty; 15...Nf2 see 94/(189)] 16.Ne6 (only move) fe6?

[16...ab5! 17.Bb5 Bc6 18.Ng7 Kf8 19.Ne6 fe6 20.Rhf1 Bf2 21.Qh6 Kf7
22.Bc6 Qc6 23.Rf2 Nf2 24.Qf6 Kg8 25.Qg5 Kf7 26.Qf6 equal] 17.Nd6
Nd6 18.Qe6 Kd8 19.ed6 Re8 20.Qg4! and White is superior [with the
idea Qg5, weak point Kd8; 20.Qf7?! Ra7 21.d7 (21.Qg7 Bd6) Rf8 22.Qg7
Qf6 only move (22...Qg6? 23.Qe5 and White is winning) 23.Qg3 Qf4 and
Black is slightly better] Be3 [20...Bc6 21.Qg7 Ra7 22.Qf6 Kc8 23.Rhe1
Re1 24.Re1 Rd7 25.Be6 Bd6 26.Bd7 Bd7 27.Rd1 and White is superior]
21.Kb1 Qc5 22.Qg7? [22.Bf7! Qg5 (only move) 23.Qb4 Bc6 (23...Qb5
24.Qb5 ab5 25.Be8 and White is winning) 24.Be8 and White is winning]
Qc4 23.b3?! [23.Qb7 Ra7 24.Qf3 a) 24...Bf4 (K.Sasikiran) 25.b3! (25.
Rd3 Be5 26.Re1 Rf7 27.Qa8 Qc8 28.Qd5 Qb7 29.Qa5 Kd7 unclear) Qe4
26.Qf2 Be3 (26...Rb7 27.Rd4 and White is winning; 26...Qe3 27.Qh4 Kc8
28.Rhe1 and White is winning) 27.Qf6 Kc8 28.Rhe1 and White is
winning; b) 24...Rf7 25.Qa8 Qc8 26.Qd5 Rf2 27.Qb3 Kd7 28.Rhe1 and
White is superior, with attack] Qc5 24.Qb7 Ra7 25.Qf3 Bd4! [weak
point Qf3, diagonal a1-h8] 26.Rd3 Bg7 27.Rhd1 Qe5 28.c3 Qe4 29.Qe4
Re4 30.c4 Re5 unclear - [B.Predojevic]
9. V. Kramnik (2772) A. Shirov (2726)
Dresden (ol) 2008 104/115 [D47]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dc4 7.Bc4 b5 8.
Bd3 Bb7 9.e4 b4 10.Na4 c5 11.e5 Nd5 12.0-0 cd4 13.Nd4 Be7 14.Re1 00 15.Qg4 Re8 16.Bb5 [16.Bh6 see 103/321] Kh8
17.Bd2! [a novelty; 17.Nc6 Qc7 18.Ne7 Re7 19.Qc4 Qa5 equal] a6 [17...
Rc8] 18.Bc6 Bc6 [18...Qc7 19.Rac1!] 19.Nc6 Qc7 20.Rac1 [20.Ne7 Re7
21.Bb4 Ne5 22.Re5 Qe5 23.Be7 Ne7 24.Qf3 Rf8 equal, with the idea 25.
Qb7 Qd6 26.Qb6 Qb6 27.Nb6 Rb8] Qb7 21.Ne7 [21.b3 Bf8! 22.Na5 Qb5
equal] Re7 22.b3 [with the idea Nb2-c4] a5 23.Nb2! [23.Qf3 Rc8 24.Rc4
Kg8 equal] N7b6 24.Nc4 [24.Nd3 Rc7 25.Nc5 Qa7 26.Ne4 Rc1 27.Bc1
Qc7 28.Nd6 Nc3 29.a4 Nbd5 equal] Nc4 25.bc4 f5 [25...Nb6 26.Re3!
Nd7 27.Rh3 Nf8 28.Bg5 Rd7 29.Bf6! Ng6 30.Qh5 Qg2 31.Kg2 Nf4 32.
Kf3 Nh5 33.Rh5 gf6 34.ef6 Rd3 35.Ke4 Ra3 36.Rc2 and White is
superior; better is 25...Nc7 26.Bg5 Rd7 and White is slightly better, with
the idea 27.Re3 Qc8! 28.Rh3 Qf8 29.c5 Nd5] 26.Qh4 [26.ef6 Nf6 27.Qg5
and White is slightly better] Nb6 27.Re3! Rf7 28.Rh3 [28.Rd3 (with the
idea Rd6) Nd7! 29.c5 Ne5 30.Rd6 Qc8 31.Bg5 Rd7] g6 [28...h6 29.Bh6!
(29.Qh5) gh6 30.Qh6 Rh7 31.Qf6 Qg7 32.Rh7 Kh7 33.Qe6 Qg5 34.Qf7
Kh6 35.Re1! Rg8 36.g3 Qg6 37.Qc7 Rg7 38.Qc5 Qe6 39.Qa5 and White
is superior] 29.Rd3! Nd7 [29...Re8 30.Bh6 and White is superior] 30.Rd6
and White is superior [30.c5 Ne5 31.Rd6 Qe4 32.Qe4 fe4] Qe4 31.Qe4
[31.Bf4 Rg8 32.f3] fe4 32.Be3 [32.Re6! Nc5 (32...Rf5 33.c5 Ne5 34.c6)
33.Rd6 Kg8 34.Be3 Nd3 35.e6 Rf6 36.Rd1 and White is superior, with
the idea 36...Re8 37.Ra6 Rfe6 38.Ra5] Kg8 33.Re6 [33.Bd4 Rc8 34.c5
(34.Re6 Nc5) Nb8! 35.Re6 Nc6 36.Bb2 Re7 37.Re7 Ne7] Rf5 34.c5 [34.
Bd4 Kf7 35.Rc6 Ne5 36.Rc7 Kg8 37.Be5 Re5 38.Rd1 e3 39.fe3 Re3]
Ne5 35.c6 [better is 35.h3 Kf7 36.Rb6 and White is slightly better, with
the idea 36...Rc8 37.Rc2] Kf7 36.Rd6 Rf6! 37.Rf6 [37.Rd5 Rc6! 38.Re5
Rc1 39.Bc1 Rd8] Kf6 38.c7 Rc8 39.Rc5 [39.f3 Nd3! (39...ef3 40.Bd4) 40.
Rc6 Ke5 41.Rc4 ef3 42.gf3 Nb2 equal] Nd3 40.Ra5 Rc7 41.h4 h5 42.
Ra6 Kf7 43.Kh2 Rc3 44.Kg3 - [V.Kramnik]
10. Rauf Mamedov (2631) Bo. Vuckovic (2561)
Dresden (ol) 2008 104/183 [B19]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 de4 4.Ne4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 Nd7 7.h4 h6 8.
h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bd3 10.Qd3 e6 11.Bd2 Ngf6 12.0-0-0 Be7 13.Qe2 0-0 14.
Nf1
14...Nb6!? [a novelty; Milos Pavlovic; 14...Qb6 see 103/72; 14...c5 see

103/(72)] 15.Kb1 [15.c4 c5 16.dc5 Nbd7 17.g4 (17.Ne5 Ne5 18.Qe5 Qc8
19.Be3 Ng4 and Black is slightly better) Nc5 18.Bc3 Qc7 and Black is
slightly better; 15.g4 Qd5 a) 16.b3 Qe4 (16...Ng4 17.Rg1 Qh5 18.Ng3
unclear; 16...a5 17.g5 hg5 18.h6 Qe4 19.Ne3 Nfd5 and Black is slightly
better) 17.Re1 Qe2 18.Re2 a5 and Black is slightly better; b) 16.Kb1 Nc4
(16...Ng4 17.Rg1 Nc4 18.Bc1; 16...Qb5 17.Qb5 cb5 18.Re1 unclear; 16...
Qe4!?) 17.Ne3 Ne3 18.fe3 b5 unclear] Na4! [15...Qd5!?] 16.Ka1 [16.b3
a) 16...Qb6? 17.Qc4 and White is superior; b) 16...Nb6!? 17.g4 a5 18.g5
hg5 19.h6 (19.Ng5 a4) g6 20.Ng5 a4 unclear; c) 16...Ba3 17.c4 (17.c3
Nb6 18.Ne5 Be7 19.g4 Nfd7 20.f4 Ne5 21.de5 a5 22.Ng3 a4 23.b4 c5 24.
g5 hg5 25.h6 g6 26.bc5 a3 unclear) b5! (17...c5 18.ba4 Qb6 19.Kc2 Qb2
20.Kd3 e5 21.Ng3 and White is superior) 18.ba4 bc4 19.Kc2 (19.Ka1 Rb8
20.Bc1 Bb4 21.Qc4 Ne4 unclear) Qd5 (19...Rb8 20.Qc4 Ne4 21.Rb1 Nf2
22.Rh4 Rb1 23.Kb1 Qc7 and White is slightly better) 20.Qe5 Qd7 21.Ne3
c5 with compensation; 16.Ne3 c5 17.dc5 Qc7 unclear; 16.Qc4 b5 (16...
Nb6 17.Qe2 equal) 17.Qc6 Rc8 18.Qa6 (18.Qb5? Nb2! 19.Qb2 Rb8 and
Black is superior) Ng4 19.Ba5 Qd7 20.Rd2 Nb2! 21.Ne5! Qd5! 22.Ng4
Nc4 23.Nge3 Na3 24.Kb2 Qa8! 25.d5 ed5 26.Nd5 Bc5 unclear] c5 17.
Bc1 [17.b3 Nb6 18.dc5 Bc5 19.Bh6 Nbd5 with compensation] Qc7 18.g4
[18.dc5 Rfd8 19.N1d2 Qc5 20.c3 Rd5 and Black is slightly better] Rad8
19.g5 hg5 20.Ng5 [20.h6 g6 21.Ng5 cd4 22.Nh2 Nh7 unclear] cd4 21.
Rg1 Rd5! 22.h6 g6 23.Ng3 Nc5 [23...Rc8!? 24.Ne6 fe6 25.Qe6 Kh8 and
Black is slightly better] 24.h7 Kh8 [24...Nh7 25.Nh7 Kh7 26.Rh1 Kg8 27.
f4 Bf6 28.Qh2 Rc8 29.f5 ef5 30.Bg5 Bg7 and Black is superior] 25.f4
Qd6 26.Qh2 d3 (and Black is superior) 27.c4 Rd4 28.Qh6 d2 29.Bd2
Rd2 30.Rd2 [30.Qf8 Bf8 31.Nf7 Kh7 32.Nd6 Rd6 and Black is superior]
Qd2 31.f5 Qd8 [better is 31...Qf2 32.Rh1 Qg3 33.fg6 (33.Qf8 Bf8 34.Nf7
Kg7 35.h8Q Kf7 and Black is winning) fg6 34.Qg6 Qf2 35.Nf7 Rf7 36.
Qf7 Qg2 37.Rd1 Qg7 and Black is winning] 32.fg6 fg6 33.Qg6 Qe8 34.
Qc2 Nfd7 35.N3e4 Ne4 36.Ne4 Qf7 37.a3 Bf6 38.Qg2 Qg7 [38...Bd4 39.
Rd1 e5 and Black is winning] 39.Qf2 Qe7 [39...Be5! 40.Rg7 Rf2 41.Rd7
Rb2 and Black is winning] 40.Nf6 Nf6 41.Qa7 e5 (and Black is superior)
42.Qe3 Nh7 43.Rh1 Rf5 44.Qe4 Qf7 45.Qd3 Kg7 46.Qh3 Qg6 47.c5
Nf6! 48.Rc1 Qg4 49.Qh1 Qf3 50.Rg1 Kf7 51.Qh8 Qc6 52.Qg7 Ke6 53.
Rd1 Qc5 54.Qb7 e4 (and Black is winning) 55.Qb3 Rd5 56.Re1 Qf2 57.
Qh3 Ke7 58.Qc3 Qc5 59.Qb3 Qb5 60.Qc2 Qd3 61.Qc7 Rd7 62.Qf4
Qc2 63.Ka2 Rd1 64.Qe5 Kf7 65.Rd1 Qd1 66.Qc7 Ke6 67.b3 Qd2 0-1
[Bo.Vuckovic]
E34
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cd5 Qd5 6.Nf3 Qf5
7
1
Qb31 Bd22 h33
10
11
12
13
14
15
g4
Rc1
a3
Bc3
Qd5
Bd2
Nc6
0-0
b64
Qa5 Bb7 Bc3 Qd5
Nd5
Nf65
...
a3
e37 Be28 ed4 0-0 Rd1
Bd3
Be211
and White is
slightly better
c5
Ba56 Nc6 cd4 0-09 Nd5 Bb6 Qh510 Qf512
equal
7.Qa4 Nc6 8.a3 Bc3 9.bc3 Nd7 equal; Romanishin

2
8.a3?! Ba5 [8...Bc3 9.Qc3 Ne4 10.Qe3 0-0 11.g3 Qa5 12.Bd2 Nd2 13.
Qd2 Qb6 14.Qc3 Rd8 15.e3 e5! 16.Ne5 Ne5 17.de5 Bg4 18.Bd3 Rd5
equal; Stohl - Cao Sang, Magyarorszag 2001 see 81/(441)] 9.e3 0-0 10.
Qb5 e5 11.Bd3 Qg4 12.0-0 a6 13.Qb3 (A.Beliavsky - N.Short, Las Vegas
(m/1) 1999 see 76/(486)) ed4 and Black is slightly better; A.Beliavsky
3
9.e3
a) 9...Bd6 10.Nb5 Ne4 11.Bd3 Nd2 12.Nd2 Qg5 13.0-0 Qe7 14.a3 a6 15.
Nd6 cd6 16.Qb6 and White is slightly better; Dao Thien Hai - Korchnoi,
Moscow (ol) 1994;
b) 9...Rd8 (Ivanchuk - V.Anand, Monaco (blindfold) 1996) 10.Bb5! and
White is slightly better; Ivan Sokolov;
c) 9...a6 10.Be2 Bd6 11.Nh4! Qg5 12.g3 Ne8 13.f4 Qd8 14.Nf3 and
White is slightly better; Kobalia - Sadvakasov, Russia 2005
4
9...Bc3 10.Bc3 Ne4 11.g4 Qd5 12.Bg2 [12.Qd5 ed5 13.Rc1 f5 14.gf5 Bf5
15.Nd2 Rae8 16.Ne4 Be4 17.Rh2 Nd8 18.Kd2 Ne6 19.h4 h5 20.f3 Bf5 21.
Re1 c6 22.e3 Rf7 23.Be2 g6 24.Bd1 and White is slightly better; Arun
Prasad - Turova, Dubai 2009] Nc3 13.bc3 Ne7 14.0-0 and White is
slightly better; Bareev - Jan Timman, Leon (rapid) 2008 see 104/(146);
9...a5 10.g4 Qg6 11.a3 Bc3 12.bc3 a4 13.Qb2 Qe4 14.Bg2 Qd5 15.0-0
Na5 16.Ne5 Qb3 17.Qc1 and White is slightly better; E.Gasanov - P.
Maletin, Russia 2009;
9...Rd8!? 10.g4 Qa5 [10...Qg6 11.Rc1 V.Anand] 11.e3 e5 12.Bc4 ed4 13.
Bf7 Kf8 14.ed4 Rd7 15.Bc4 b5 16.Be2 Nd4 17.Nd4 Rd4 18.0-0-0 Bb7 19.
Be3 Rdd8 20.Rhg1 and White is slightly better; Laznicka - S.Azarov,
Ostrava 2009
5
15...Rfd8!? 16.e3 Rac8 V.Anand;
15...Nf6 16.Rg1 and White is slightly better; V.Anand - Kramnik, Bonn
(m/6) 2008 see 104/146
6
8...Bc3 9.Qc3 Nbd7 10.g3 Ne4 [10...cd4 11.Nd4 Qd5 12.Nf3 b6 13.Bg2
Ba6 14.0-0 Rc8 unclear; Chernin - Spraggett, Bern 1995] 11.Qe3 b6! 12.
dc5 Ndc5 13.b4 Na4 14.Bh3 Qd5 15.Bg2 Bb7 16.Nd2 f5 17.Ne4 fe4 18.00 0-0 19.Rb1 Rac8 20.Bb2 Nb2 21.Rb2 Rfd8 22.Rb3 Qd4 23.Bh3
(Bareev - A.Beliavsky, Linares 1994 see 60/508) Qe5 equal; Bareev
7
9.Qb5 Nc6 10.Qc5 Qc5 11.dc5 Ne4 12.Bd2 Nc5 13.b4 Nb3 14.Rd1 Nd2
15.Nd2 Bc7 equal; Romanishin;
9.Qc4!? Bc3 [9...Nc6 10.dc5 Qd5 11.Nd2 Qc4 12.Nc4 Bc3 13.bc3 Ne4
14.g3 Nc5 15.Be3 and White is slightly better; Alterman - Yudasin, Israel
1996 see 66/463; 9...Nbd7 10.b4 and White is slightly better; Ivan
Sokolov] 10.Qc3 see 8...Bc3
8
10.Bb5 0-0 11.Bc6 bc6 12.0-0 Ba6 equal; Yudasin
9
11...Qe4 12.Bd2 Bc3 13.bc3 0-0 14.Be3 Na5 15.Qb5 b6 16.Nd2 Qg6
unclear; A.Onischuk - N.Short, Wijk aan Zee 1995; 12.Qd1! and White is
slightly better; Yudasin;
11...Qd5 12.Bc4 Qe4 13.Be3 (Shabalov - Romanishin, Bad Godesberg
1994 see 59/590) Nd5 14.0-0 Bc3 15.bc3 Ne3 16.Rfe1 Qc2 17.fe3 Qb3
18.Bb3 Na5 19.Ba2 b6 equal; Romanishin
10
Rechlis - Yudasin, Israel (ch) 1994 see 62/(556)
11
15.Be3 Rd8 16.Bg5 f6 unclear
12
Yudasin
T.Paunovic

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Small Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, 3rd

Edition
Purchases from our shop help

keep ChessCafe.com freely
accessible:
Zdenko Krnic
Informant at
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The first edition of the Small Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings was published
in 1999, with the idea to collect the complete theory of the opening in one
volume to allow club and tournament players to be well prepared in short
order and avoid unexpected surprises in the opening. The second edition was
published in 2003, and enjoyed great popularity with chess fans. Thus, we are
pleased to announce the forthcoming publication of a third edition at the
beginning of 2010.
The manuscript is in full swing and we are glad to present to our readers one
of the most popular continuation in the King's Indian Defense: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4
g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.b4 Nh5 10.
Re1.
B33 Lasker Sveshnikov
E97
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5
7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.b4 Nh5 10.Re1
10
11
12
13
14
...
Bf1
ba52
Nd23
a45
15
16
Ra37 Nb5
17
18
g39
Be210

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.

unclear
1
Nf41
a5
Ra5
c54
Ra66
Kh88 Ng8 Nh5 Nhf611
...
Ng512
f3
f5
Nf613
Nh514
Nf4
Kh8
Be6
fe4
Nf5
Nh320
...
...
Bf3
Be321
Ne6
de6
Ne4
Be4
cd5
...
...
c6
h622
Be6
fe4
Ne4
d5
cd523
c515 Bc416 Ne617 de6 Re418
g319
unclear
equal
10...c6 11.Qb3 cd5 [11...Nf4 12.Bf4 ef4 13.Rad1 cd5 14.Nd5 Nd5 15.Rd5
Qe7 unclear; R.Molo - V.Aleshnya, corr.1998] 12.cd5 f5 13.Ng5 (A.Alpert De Groot, corr.1999) Nf4 14.Bf4 ef4 15.Bf3 h6 16.Ne6 Be6 17.de6 Rc8 18.
Rac1 fe4 19.Be4 Bc3 20.Rc3 Rc3 21.Qc3 d5 22.Bf3 Qd6 unclear; V.
Anthology of Chess
Combinations
Nevednichy;
10...a5 11.ba5 Ra5 12.a4 c5 13.Ra3 Nf6 14.Bf1 [14.Bb2 Kh8 15.Nd2 Nd7 16.
Nb5 Ra6 17.Qc2 f5 18.ef5 gf5 19.Bd3 Nf6 20.f3 unclear; Y.Pelletier Dydyshko, Batumi 1999; 14.Nh4 Ne8 15.g3 f5 16.ef5 gf5 17.f4 Ng6 18.Ng2
Nf6 unclear; Krasenkow - Alexei Fedorov, Leon 2001 see 83/577] Ne8 15.g3
f5 equal; Zhu Chen - R.Ponomariov, Dubai (m/1-rapid) 2002
2
12.Ba3 ab4 [12...f5 13.c5 fe4 14.Ne4 Bg4 15.ba5 Nf5 16.Qb3 Bh6 unclear;
Watanabe - De.Frolov, Budapest 1996 see 68/(547)] 13.Bb4 Bg4 14.Re3 [14.
h3 Bf3 15.Qf3 c5! 16.dc6 Nc6 equal; Kramnik - B.Gelfand, Dortmund 1996
see 67/688] f5 15.h3 Bh5 16.g3 Qd7 [16...g5!? unclear; Veingold - T.
Franssila, Jarvenpaa 1998] 17.gf4 ef4 18.Re1 c5 19.dc6 Nc6 20.Qd5 Rf7 21.
Ng5 Nb4 22.Qf7 Qf7 23.Nf7 Bc3 24.Nd6 Nc2 25.Rec1 Ba1 26.Rc2 fe4 27.
Nb7 equal; J.Halldorsson - J.Krebs, corr.1999
3
13.a4 c5 14.Ra3 [14.Rb1 h6 15.Nd2 Ra6 16.Nb3 g5 17.a5 equal; Ivan
Sokolov - Glek, Wijk aan Zee 1997 see 68/548] Ra6 15.Nb5 Bd7 unclear;
Gofshtein - Alb.David, Tel Aviv 1997
4
13...Ra8
14.c5!? [14.a4 Nh5! 15.Ba3 c5! 16.dc6 bc6 17.Ndb1 c5 18.Nb5 Ra6 19.Ra2
Bh6! 20.N1c3 Ng7 21.Nd5 Ne6 22.Bb2 Bg7 equal; Werle - Bologan, Wijk
aan Zee 2007 see 99/411] dc5 15.Nc4 Bd7 16.Rb1 b6 17.a4 Nc8 18.a5 ba5 19.
Be3 Nd6 20.Bc5 Nc4 21.Bc4 Re8 22.g3 with compensation; R.Ponomariov Bologan, Foros 2006 see 97/(429)
5
14.Bb2 Ra6 15.Nb5 f5 16.g3 Nh5 17.ef5 Nf5 18.Ne4 Nf6 19.Bg2 Ne4 20.Be4
Nd4 21.Bd4 cd4 22.a4 Kh8 unclear; Krasenkow - K.Urban, Augustow 1996
see 68/547;
14.Rb1 Ra6 15.g3 [15.Rb3 h6 16.g3 Nh5 17.Be2 Nf6 18.Nf3! Nh7 19.Bd2 f5
20.Qb1! unclear; Tukmakov - To.Christensen, Kobenhavn 1996 see 67/687]
Nh5 16.Bg2 Nf6 17.Rb3 Nd7 18.Ra3 Ra3 19.Ba3 f5 unclear; G.Prakash Sasikiran, Guntur 2000 see 78/(528)
6
14...h6 15.Nb3 Ra6 16.a5 b6 17.Nb5 f5 18.g3 Nh5 19.Bd2 fe4 20.ab6 Ra1 21.
Qa1 Nf5 unclear; Epishin - D.Pikula, Biel 1996 see 67/679;
14...Kh8 15.Ra3 Ng8 16.Nb5 Nh6 17.Nf3
17...Ra6! 18.Bf4 ef4 19.e5 Nf5! 20.ed6 Nd6 21.Nd2 (P.Eljanov - Alexei
Fedorov, Dubai 2004 see 91/493) g5! 22.Nd6 Rd6 23.Ne4 Rh6 24.Qf3 Be5!
unclear; P.Eljanov
7
15.Nb3 f5 16.g3 Nh5 17.Be2 [17.ef5 Nf5 18.Ne4 Bh6 19.Bh6 Nh6 20.Bg2
Nf7 equal; Se.Ivanov - O.Renet, Budapest 1996] Nf6 18.Bg5 h6 19.Bf6 Rf6
20.a5 Qf8 21.Ra2 Kh8 unclear; Malakhatko - M.Golubev, Ukraine (ch) 1997
see 69/547
8
15...Bd7 16.Nb5 Qc8 17.Bb2 g5 unclear; Zagorskis - Sh.Safin, Elista (ol)
1998;
15...g5 16.Nb5 [16.g3 Nh3 17.Bh3 Bh3 18.Qh5 Qd7 19.Qg5 h6 20.Qe3 f5
with compensation; Kramnik - G.Kasparov, Novgorod 1997 see 70/552] g4
17.g3 Nfg6 18.Be2 Qd7 unclear; Benkovic - Sofronie, Bucuresti 1998
9
17.Bb2 h5 18.Kh1 h4 unclear; Kasimdzhanov - Sh.Safin, Tashkent 1998 see
73/683
10
18.Bg2 Bh6! 19.Bb2 (Stohl - M.Muse, Deutschland 1998 see 72/(542)) Ng7
20.Rf1 f5 21.ef5 gf5 22.f4 e4 unclear; Stohl;
18.Bb2 Nhf6 19.Nf3 Ng4 unclear; S.Ionov - Dolmatov, Russia (ch) 2001 see
81/(486)
11
19.Bb2 Re8 unclear;
19.f4 ef4 20.gf4 unclear; Iskusnyh - V.Zaitsev, Russia 1998
12
11.c5 fe4 12.Ne4 Nf4 13.Bf4 Rf4 14.Nfd2 dc5 15.Bc4 Kh8 16.Nc5 Nd5 17.
Nde4 c6 18.b5 Rf8 19.Rb1 (Kramnik - B.Gelfand, Novgorod 1996 see
67/680) Qc7! 20.bc6 bc6 unclear; Kramnik
13
11...Nf4 12.Bf4 ef4 13.Rc1 Bf6 14.Ne6 Be6 15.de6 Bc3 16.Rc3 fe4 17.Bg4
[ 17.Bf1 e3 18.fe3 Nc6 19.ef4 Rf4 20.g3 Qf6 21.Rce3 Rd4 22.Qe2 Ne5
unclear; M.Ghorbani - M.Al-Modiahki, Genting Highlands 1998] h5 18.Bh3
[18.Bh5 gh5 19.Qh5 equal; N.Wright - G.Canfell, Australia (ch) 2004] e3 19.
fe3 c6 20.Kh1 d5 21.ef4 Rf4 22.cd5 cd5 23.Rf3 Qd6 24.a3 Rf3 25.Qf3 Rf8 26.
Qd3 Qf4 equal; V.Aleksandrov - Dyachkov, Samara 2003
14
12...Kh8 13.Be3 [13.b5 Ne8 14.Be3 Bf6 15.Ne6 Be6 16.de6 Ng7 17.Bh6 Ne6
18.Bf8 Qf8 with compensation; M.Carlsen - Ivanchuk, Foros 2008 see 103/
(405); 13.Ne6 Be6 14.de6 Nh5 15.g3 Bf6 16.ef5 Nf5 17.g4 e4 unclear; I.
Cheparinov - T.Radjabov, Sofia 2008 see 103/(405); 13.c5 h6! 14.Ne6 Be6 15.
de6 d5! 16.ed5 Nfd5 17.Nd5 Qd5! 18.Qb3 Qb3 19.ab3 Nc6 20.Ra4 Rfe8 21.
Bc4 a6 equal; Grischuk - T.Radjabov, Linares 2009 see 105/184] Nh5 [13...
Bh6 14.Nf7 Rf7 15.Bh6 f4 16.Bg5 Neg8 17.g4 h6 18.Bh4 g5 19.Bf2 h5 20.h3
Rh7 21.c5 Ne7 22.Kg2 Ng6 23.Rh1 unclear; B.Gelfand - T.Radjabov, Sochi
2008 see 103/(405)] 14.c5 Nf4 15.Rc1 fe4 16.Nge4 Nf5 17.Bf2 Nd4 18.Bf1
a6 19.Ne2 Nde2 20.Be2 Bf5 21.Bf1 g5 unclear; Bareev - I.Cheparinov,
Amsterdam 2008 see 103/405;
12...h6 13.Ne6 Be6 14.de6 c6 15.Kh1 [15.Be3 Kh7 16.Rc1 Ne8 17.Qb3 Nc7
18.c5 d5 19.ed5 Ned5 20.Nd5 cd5 21.Rcd1 d4 22.Bc4 Re8 unclear; K.
Kolehmainen - G.Staf, corr.2003] Ne8 16.Qb3 Nc7 17.c5 d5 18.ed5 cd5 19.
Bb2 Qe8 [ 19...b6 20.c6 Kh7 21.Rad1 Nc6 22.Nd5 Ne6 23.Nb6 Qb6 24.Qe6
Rfe8 1/2 : 1/2 Van Wely - Nijboer, Nederland (ch) 2006 see 97/(429); 19...
Qc8!? 20.Nb5 a6 21.Nd6 Qe6 22.Nb7 Rab8 23.Nd6 Nc6 24.a3 Kh7 25.Qa4
Qd7 26.Rad1 Rfd8 unclear; Bareev - Polzin, Rethymnon 2003] 20.Nd5 [20.
Rad1 unclear; Van Wely - D.Stellwagen, Nederland (ch) 2005 see 94/450]
Ncd5 21.Rad1 Kh7 22.Bc4 Nf6 23.Be5 b5 24.Bf1 with compensation; Van
Wely - Kotronias, Goeteborg 2005 see 94/(450)
15
13.g3 Bf6 14.Ne6 [14.ef5!? gf5 15.Qd2 Ng7 unclear; W.Wokurka - U.
Mehlhorn, corr.2003] Be6 15.de6 f4 16.Kg2 c6 17.Qd2 Qc7 unclear; G.
Henrich - S.Giannetto, corr.2003
16
14.Qb3 fe4 15.fe4 Kh8 16.Bf4 ef4 17.Rad1
17...Nf5!? [17...Nc6 18.Nf7 Rf7 19.dc6 Rf8 unclear; Y.Pelletier - Smirin, Biel
2002 see 85/487] 18.ef5 Qg5 19.Nb5 unclear; Gyimesi - G.Timoshenko,
Nagykanizsa 2003 see 89/489
17
15.Rb1!? dc5 16.bc5 Ned5 17.Nd5 Qg5 18.Nf4 ef4 19.e5 with compensation;
Van Wely - D.Stellwagen, Maastricht (m/1) 2005
18
17.fe4 Nc6 18.cd6 cd6 19.Nb5 Qe7 20.Qd6 Qg5 with compensation;
Berkvens - Efimenko, Hengelo 2001 see 83/(579)
19
18.Bf4 ef4 19.Nd5 Re8 20.Nf4 c6 21.e7 Re7 22.Ne6 Qb8 equal; Van Wely T.Radjabov, Monaco (blindfold) 2007 see 100/(450)
20
19.Kg2 Ng5 20.Rg4 Nf3 21.Kf3 e4 22.Ne4 Ba1 23.Bg5 Ne7 24.Kg2 Be5
unclear; Van Wely - T.Radjabov, Biel 2007 see 100/450
21
13.Rb1 h6 14.Ne6 Be6 15.de6 fe4 16.Ne4 Ne4 17.Be4 d5 18.Bc2 Qd6 19.
Qg4 h5 20.Qh3 unclear; Bareev - T.Radjabov, Sarajevo 2003 see 87/489;
13.Ba3 cd5 14.ed5 [14.cd5 h6 15.Ne6 Be6 16.de6 unclear; Shariyazdanov Cebalo, Hrvatska 2003 see 88/487] e4 15.Be2 equal; L.Portisch - Peter Acs,
Rethymnon 2003 see 88/488;
13.b5 cd5 14.cd5 h6 15.Ne6 Be6 16.de6 Rc8 [16...fe4 17.Ne4 Ne4 18.Be4 d5
19.Ba3 de4 20.Qd8 Rfd8 21.Be7 Re8 22.Bc5 Re6 23.Be3 with compensation;
Rashkovsky - Jenni, Biel 2001] 17.Bb2 fe4 18.Ne4 Ne4 19.Re4 d5 20.Re5
Be5 21.Be5 Qb6 22.Bb2 Rf4 [22...Rc4 23.Qe2 Qc7 24.Qe3 unclear; Peng
Zhaoqin - Li Shilong, Wijk aan Zee 2008] 23.Qe2 d4 24.Re1 with
compensation; R.Ponomariov;
13.Qb3
a) 13...Kh8 14.Bb2 [14.Rd1 fe4 15.Nce4 cd5 16.cd5 Ne4 17.Ne4 Nf5 unclear;
Bacrot - Kasimdzhanov, Moscow (m/1-rapid) 2002 see 85/485] fe4!? 15.Nce4
cd5 16.cd5 Ne4 17.Re4 Rf5! 18.Ne6 Be6 19.de6 d5 unclear; Szeberenyi Prusikin, Budapest 2003 see 87/488;
b) 13...h6 14.Ne6 Be6 15.de6 Qc8 16.b5 [16.Rd1 Rd8 17.b5 Qe6 18.Ba3 with
compensation; Bacrot - T.Radjabov, Bled (ol) 2002 see 87/(488)] Qe6 17.Ba3
c5 18.ef5 gf5 19.Bb7 Rab8 (A.Korobov - Yevseev, Russia 2008) 20.Bf3 e4
unclear;
13.Bb2 h6 14.Ne6 Be6 15.de6 fe4 16.Ne4 Ne4 17.Re4 d5 18.cd5 cd5 19.Re5
Be5 20.Be5 Qb6 [20...Rc8 21.Qd2 Kh7 unclear; N.Nogin - V.Moliboga,
Ukraine 2005] 21.Bb2! [21.Qd2 Qe6 unclear; J.S.Morgado - M.Chovanec,
corr.2004 see 94/448] Rad8! [21...Kh7!? unclear; Shirov - T.Radjabov,
Linares 2004 see 90/497] 22.Qe1!? [22.Qd2!? with compensation; Buhmann Tr.Nedev, Hersonissos 2007 see 102/(419)] Rd6 23.Rd1 Re6 24.Qc3 Ref6 25.
Qd2 Rf4!? 26.Be5 unclear; V.Golod - Huschenbeth, Hamburg (m/4) 2008 see
102/419
22
13...f4 14.Bc1 h6 15.Ne6 Be6 16.de6 Qc7!? 17.b5 Rfd8 18.Ba3 Qc8 19.bc6
bc6 20.c5 Qe6 21.cd6 Nc8 22.Qa4 Nd6 23.Bd1 Kh8 24.Bb3 with
compensation; 1/2 : 1/2 V.Golod - Kantsler, Givatayim 1998 see 73/(680);
13...Kh8 14.b5 [14.a4 Ne8 15.b5 h6 16.Ne6 Be6 17.de6 Nc7 unclear;
Tukmakov - I.-A.Nataf, Koszalin 1999 see 78/(527); 14.Qb3 h6 15.Ne6 Be6
16.de6 fe4 17.Ne4 Ne4 18.Be4 Qc8 19.b5 Qe6 unclear; Zontakh - Y.Shulman,
Beograd 1998 see 71/ 622] cd5 15.cd5 fe4 16.Nge4 Nf5 17.Nf6 [17.a4 Ne4 18.
Ne4 Ne3 19.Re3 Bf5 20.Rc3 a6 21.Rb1 Qa5 22.Rc4 Bh6 equal; Bareev Cvitan, Bosna i Hercegovina 1999 see 76/554] Bf6 18.Ne4 Ne3 [18...Bh4 19.
a4 Ne3 20.Re3 Bf5 equal; Kantsler - B.Avrukh, Tel Aviv 2001 see 83/(582)]
19.Re3 Bf5 20.Rc1 Bg5 21.Ng5 Qg5 equal; A.Delchev - Ivanchuk, Leon
2001 see 83/582
23
19.Bc5 de4 20.Qd8 Rfd8 21.Be7 Re8 22.Bc5 Re6 23.Re4 equal; S.Joksic Jenni, Biel 2002;
19.Bc2 b6 20.Qg4 e4 21.Rad1 Qc7 22.Bb3 Rf5 23.Re2 [23.Bd4 Bd4 24.Rd4
Qc3 25.Qd1 Raf8 26.Re2 Qc7 unclear; Iskusnyh - Motylev, Moscow 1999 see
75/(532); 23.Rd2 Qc3 24.Qd1 Rd8 25.b5 equal; Xu Jun - Ye Jiangchuan,
Shanghai 2001] h5 [23...Qc3 24.b5 Raf8 unclear; V.Mikhalevski - Alb.David,
Vlissingen 2000 see 80/(597)] 24.Qh4 Bf6 25.Qg3 Be5 equal; Xu Jun - R.
Ponomariov, Shenyang 2000 see 80/(597)
Sasa Velickovic
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent responses
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The Ten Best Games of Chess

Informant 105

accessible:
Zdenko Krnic
The young Cuban grandmaster Leinier Dominguez Perez has soared
like a meteor and crossed the magic boundary of 2700 rating points.
Thus, he has become a welcome participant in the strongest
tournaments. One aspect of his play that enables him to stay in the
chess elite is his exceptionally thorough theoretical preparation.
Informant at
ChessCafe
Although the nominees for Best Game included top players such as
Anand, Kramnik, Carlsen, and Ivanchuk, the Chess Informant jury
awarded the prize, by a decisive margin, to the victory of
Dominguez over Morozevich at the tournament in Wijk aan Zee. I
cannot help but admire the impressive move 13.Na4, and I can only
imagine Morozevich's shock at that moment.

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
Anthology of Chess
Combinations
1. L. Dominguez Perez 2717 A. Morozevich 2771

Wijk aan Zee 2009 105/73 [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3
Be6 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.f3 b5 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.g4 Nb6 12.g5 b4 [12...
Nh5 see 101/(166)]
13.Na4!! [a novelty; 13.Nb1] Ne4 [13...Na4 14.gf6 Qf6 (14...gf6 15.

Qb4 Qc7 16.Rd2 and White is slightly better; 16.Bd3 and White is
superior) 15.Ba6 Rb8 16.Na5 and White is superior] 14.fe4 Na4 15.
Qb4 Qc7 16.Rd2 Bd7 [16...Nc5 17.Nc5 dc5 18.Qa4 Qc6 19.Qa6 c4
20.Qc6 Rc6 21.c3 and White is slightly better] 17.Qa5 Qc6 [17...
Qa5 18.Na5 Be7 19.Rg1 Nc5 20.Bc5 Rc5 21.b4 Rc7 22.Ba6 and
White is slightly better] 18.Ba6 Rb8 [18...Qe4?? 19.Bc8! Qh1 (19...
Bc8 20.Qb5 Ke7 (only move) 21.Re1 and White is winning) 20.Rd1
Qc6 21.Bd7 Qd7 (21...Kd7 22.Qa4 Qa4 23.Nc5 and White is
winning) 22.Qa8 Ke7 (only move) 23.Na5! and White is winning;
18...Ra8 19.Bb5 Qe4 (19...Ra5? 20.Bc6 Ra6 21.Bb7 and White is
winning) 20.Bd7 Kd7 21.Qb5 (21.Qa4? Ra4 22.Nc5 Ke7! 23.Ne4
Re4 24.Rd3 Ke6 and Black is slightly better) Qc6 22.Qc6 Kc6 23.
Rf2 and White is slightly better] 19.Rd5! [and White is slightly
better, with the idea Re5, weak point Ke8, Rb8, Na4] Be7 (only
move) 20.Ba7 Ra8 [20...Bg5 21.Kb1 Bd8 22.Qd2 Rb3 23.ab3 Qa6
24.Be3 and White is slightly better] 21.Bb5 Qb7 22.Qa4 Ra7 23.
Na5 Qc7 [23...Bg5 24.Kb1 Qc7 25.Rhd1 0-0 26.Bd7 Qd7 27.Qd7
Rd7 28.Nc4 and White is superior] 24.Rhd1 Bb5?! 25.Qb5 Kf8
only move [25...Qd7?? 26.Qb8 Bd8 27.Rd6 and White is winning]
26.Kb1! (and White is superior) g6 27.Nc4 Rb7 28.Qa4 Qb8 [28...
Kg7 29.Nd6 Bd6 30.Rd6 h6 31.Rd7 Qb6 32.Rb7 Qb7 33.Rd7 Qb6
34.gh6 Rh6 35.b4 Rh2 36.Qb3 Rf2 37.a4 and White is superior] 29.
b3 Ra7 30.Qc6 Rc7 31.Rb5! Qa7 [31...Rc6 32.Rb8 Kg7 33.Rh8
Kh8 34.a4 and White is winning] 32.Qd5 Qf2 33.Qd2 (and White
is winning) Qf3 [33...Qd2 34.Rd2 Bg5 35.Rd6 Bf4 36.Rd8 Kg7 37.
Rh8 Kh8 38.h3] 34.Nd6 Bg5 35.Nf5! Rc8 36.Rb8! 1-0 [L.
Dominguez Perez, J. Ibarra]
2. V. Topalov 2796 G. Kamsky 2725
Nice (rapid) 2009 105/48 [B42]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 a6 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.0-0 d6 7.c4 b6 8.
Nc3 Bb7 9.a4 Be7 [9...Nc6 10.Nc6 Bc6 11.Qf3! g6 12.Bg5 Bg7 13.
Rfd1 h6 14.Bh4 0-0 15.Bc2 Qe7 16.Rd2 Rfd8 17.Rad1 and White is
slightly better] 10.a5 ba5 11.Qa4 Nbd7! [a novelty; 11...Nfd7 12.
Be3 (12.Nb3 Nc6!) 0-0 13.Qa5 Qa5 14.Ra5 Rc8 15.Be2 Ne5 (15...
Bf6?! 16.Ra3 Kf8 17.Rd1 Ke7 18.f3 Nc6 19.Nc6 Bc6 20.b4 Bb7 21.
Na4 Rc6 22.Ra2 Rc7 23.c5 and White is slightly better) 16.Ra4 (16.
b3 d5!) Nbd7 17.f3 Rab8 (17...Nb6 18.Nf5!) 18.b3 Nc5 19.Ra3
Ncd7 (with the idea d5) 20.Ra2 Nc6 21.Nc6!? (21.Nc2 see 99/
(100)) Bc6 22.Rb1 and White is slightly better] 12.Nb3! 0-0 13.Na5
Qc7 14.f3 [14.Nb7 Qb7 15.Qc2 Rfc8 with counterplay; 14.Rd1 Nc5
(14...Rab8 15.Nb7 Rb7 16.Qa6! and White is slightly better) 15.Qc2
Rab8 16.b4 Nd3 17.Qd3 Ba8 18.Bf4 e5 19.Bg5 Rb4 20.Bf6 Bf6 21.
Qd6 Qd6 22.Rd6 Bd8 23.Ra6 Ba5 24.R6a5 Rc4 25.Ra8 Rc3 equal]
Rab8! 15.b4?! [15.Nb7 Qb7 16.Qa6?! Qa6 17.Ra6 Nc5 18.Ra7
Bd8! 19.Bc2 Bb6 and Black is slightly better, with initiative; 15.
Be3 and White is slightly better] Ba8 [15...Ne5 16.Be2 d5 17.Nb7
Rb7 18.ed5 Bb4 19.Ne4 and White is slightly better] 16.Kh1 [16.
Ba3 Ne5 17.Be2 d5! 18.ed5 ed5 19.Nd5 Nd5 20.cd5 Bd5 and Black
is slightly better, with initiative] d5! 17.c5 [17.ed5 Bb4! 18.Ne4
Ne4 19.Be4 Nc5 20.Qa2 f5 21.Bc2 Bc3 and Black is winning] Qe5
18.Bd2 [18.Qa3! Qd4 19.Rd1 Rb4 20.e5!! unclear] Qd4 19.Qc2
Ne5! 20.Ba6 [20.Be2 de4 21.Nb3 Qb4! 22.Nd5 Qb3] de4 21.Ne2
Qd8 22.f4? [22.fe4]
22...Nf3! [22...Nd3!? 23.c6 Qb6 24.b5 Nf2 25.Rf2 Qf2 26.Be1 Qf1
27.Ng1 Nd5] 23.Bc3 [23.gf3? ef3 24.Ng3 f2 25.c6 Qd5 and Black
is winning] Ng4 24.c6 [24.gf3 Ne3! 25.Qd2 ef3 26.Ng3 f2 27.c6
Qa5!!; 24.Rad1!? Qc7 25.Qa4! Rbd8 26.Rd8 Rd8 27.h3 (27.gf3 ef3
28.c6 Rd6!) Ne3 28.Rc1 Nd5!] Nfh2 25.Rfd1 Bd6 26.Be1 [26.Kg1
Qh4 27.Qe4 Qf2 28.Kh1 Bb4! 29.Bb4 Rb4! 30.Qb4 Nf3! and Black
is winning] Qf6 27.Rd6? [27.Qe4? Qh6 28.Kg1 Bb4! 29.Bb4 Rb4
30.Qb4 Nf3 and Black is winning; 27.Qc3! e5 28.Rd6! Qd6 29.fe5
Ne5 (29...Qh6 30.Qh3) 30.Bg3 Nhg4 31.b5] Nf3! 28.Ng1 [28.gf3
Qh6 29.Kg1 Qh2 30.Kf1 Ne3 mate] Ne1 29.Qe2 [29.Re1 Qh4] Qf4
30.g3 Qh6 0-1 [S. Shipov]
3. V. Ivanchuk 2779 Sergey Karjakin 2706
Wijk aan Zee 2009 105/75 [B92]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 cd4 5.Nd4 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3
Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Be3 Be6 10.Qd2 Nbd7 11.a4 Qc7 12.Rfd1 Rac8
13.a5 Nc5 14.Nc5 dc5 15.Qe1 Rfd8 [15...c4 see 75/(243)] 16.Rd8
Rd8 17.f3 c4 18.Na4 Nd7 19.Qc3!? f6 [a novelty; 19...Rc8; 19...
Qc6!? with the idea 20.b3 cb3 21.Qc6 bc6 22.cb3 Bb3 23.Kf2 (23.
Ba6 Ba4 24.Ra4 Bc5 25.Kf2 Be3 26.Ke3 Nc5 and Black is winning)
Bb4 24.Ba6 Ba5 25.Bb7 Ba4 26.Ra4 Bb6 equal] 20.b3 [20.b4!?]
Rc8 21.b4 Qc6 22.Qa3 f5? [22...Qb5 23.c3 Rd8 24.Rd1 Bf7 25.
Qa2 Rc8 26.Bf2 Bf8 27.Nb2 Be7 28.Rd2! Nf8! (28...Bf8? 29.Bd1!
and White is winning) 29.Qa4 and White is slightly better] 23.b5!
[23.ef5 Bf5 24.Nb2 c3 25.Nc4 Kh8 26.Qc3 e4 27.Bd4 ef3 28.gf3
Bf6 29.Bf6 Nf6 with compensation] ab5 24.Qe7 ba4 25.Rd1 Nf8
26.Rd6 Re8 27.Rc6 Re7
28.Bc5!! Rd7 [28...Re8 29.Rc7 Rc8 (29...fe4 30.Rb7 Ra8 31.Rb5

Nd7 32.Bb4 ef3 33.Bf3 and White is superior) 30.Rc8 Bc8 31.ef5
Bf5 32.Bc4 Be6 33.Bd3 and White is slightly better] 29.Rb6 fe4 30.
fe4 [30.a6!? ba6 31.fe4 c3 32.Rb8 Rf7 33.Bd6 and White is
superior] c3 [30...Kf7 31.Kf2 (and White is winning) c3 (31...Ng6
32.Re6!) 32.Bf8] 31.Kf2 Ba2 32.a6 ba6 33.Rb8 Rf7 34.Ke3
(zugzwang) g6 [34...h6 35.Bd6 zugzwang] 35.Bd6 Rf6 36.Rd8 a3
37.Ba3 Kg7 38.Bd6 Rf7 39.Be5 Kh6 40.Ba6 Ne6 41.Rc8 1-0 [V.
Ivanchuk]
4. V. Anand 2791 T. Radjabov 2761
Linares 2009 105/45 [B33]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5
a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Bf6 gf6 10.Nd5 Bg7 11.Bd3 Ne7 12.Ne7 Qe7 13.0-0
0-0 14.c4 f5 15.Qf3 d5 16.cd5 fe4 17.Be4 Rb8 18.Rfd1 f5 [18...
Qd7 see 96/103] 19.d6 Qf6 20.Bc6 Be6 21.Bd5 Rbd8 22.Qb3 Bf7
23.Nc2 Rd6 24.Bf7 Rf7 25.Rd6 Qd6 26.Ne3 f4 27.Rd1 Qg6 28.
Nd5 Bf8 [a novelty; 28...Kh8] 29.f3 Kh8 30.Nc3 Rg7 [30...Bc5 31.
Kf1 Bd4 32.Ne4 Rc7 33.g4 fg3 34.hg3 Qg8 35.Qg8 Kg8 36.b3 Rc2
equal] 31.Rd2 Bc5 32.Kf1 Bd4 33.Ne4 Rc7 [33...Qh6 34.Rc2!] 34.
Rc2 Rc6 35.Qd3 [35.g4 fg3 36.hg3 Rc2 37.Qc2 Qe6 (37...Qf7 38.
Qc8 Kg7 39.Ng5 Qc4 40.Qc4 bc4 41.Ne6 Kf6 42.Nd4 ed4 43.Ke2
a5 44.b3 cb3 45.ab3 Ke5 46.Kd2 Kd5 47.Kd3 h5 equal) 38.b3 (38.
Ng5 Qc4 39.Qc4 bc4 40.Nf7 Kg7 41.Nd6 Bb2 42.Nc4 Bd4 43.Ke2
h5 equal) Qh3 39.Ke1 (39.Qg2 Qh6) h5 with counterplay] Kg7
[35...Qh6 36.Ng5] 36.b3 [36.g4 fg3 37.hg3 Rc2 38.Qc2 Qf7 39.Ng5
Qc4 40.Qc4 bc4 a) 41.b3? c3 42.Ne6 Kf6 43.Nd4 ed4 44.Ke2 c2 45.
Kd2 d3 46.b4 (46.f4 Kf5 47.b4 Ke4 48.a4 Kf3) Ke5 47.a4 Kd4 48.
b5 ab5 49.ab5 Kc5 and Black is winning; b) 41.Ke2 Bb2 42.Kd2
equal] h6? [36...Qh6! 37.Qd2 (37.h3 Qg6 equal) Rc2 38.Qc2 Qh2
39.Qc7 Kg8]
37.g4! fg3 38.hg3 [and White is superior, with the idea g4, Ng3-f5]
Qe6 39.Kg2 Qc8 [39...Rc2 40.Qc2 h5 41.Ng5 and White is

superior] 40.Rc6 Qc6 [Q 8/f] 41.Qd2 Qe6 [41...h5 42.Qg5 Qg6 43.
Qe7 Qf7 44.Qd6 Qg6 45.Qd7 Qf7 46.Qc6 Qg6 47.Nd6 and White is
superior] 42.g4 Qc6 43.Ng3 Kh7 44.Nf5 Bb6 45.Qd3 Kh8 46.Qe2!
Bc7 [46...Qc5 47.Kh3 and White is winning] 47.Qd2 Kh7 48.Ne7
(and White is winning) Qc5 [48...Qd6 49.Qc2 e4 (49...Kh8 50.Nf5
Qb6 51.Qe4) 50.Qe4 Kh8 51.Qe3] 49.Qd3 Kh8 50.Qd7 e4 51.Qe8
Kg7 52.Nf5 Kf6 53.Qe4 Bb6 54.Kh3! h5 55.g5 Kg5 56.Ne7 Kf6
[56...Qg1 57.Qg6 Kf4 58.Qf6 Ke3 59.Qb6] 57.Nd5 Kg7 58.Qe5
Kh6 59.Qf6 Kh7 60.Qf7 Kh6 61.Ne7 1-0 [V. Anand]
5. E. Bacrot 2722 I. Lysyj 2620
Moscow 2009 105/83 [C13]
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 de4 5.Ne4 Be7 6.Bf6 Bf6 7.Nf3 00 8.Qd2 b6 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.0-0-0 Nd7 11.h4 c5 12.Nfg5 Be7 13.dc5
Qc7 14.Nd6 Nf6
15.Qe3! [a novelty; 15.Ndf7 see 105/(83)] h6 [15...bc5? 16.Ndf7!

Rf7 17.Qe6 and White is winning] 16.Kb1 [16.Bg6!?] bc5 17.Ndf7
Rf7 [17...hg5 18.Ng5 with attack, weak point Kg8] 18.Qe6 Bd5
(only move) 19.Bh7! Nh7 20.Qd5 Ng5 [20...Raf8 21.Nf7 Rf7 22.
g4! and White is superior] 21.Qa8 Rf8 22.Qd5 Nf7 23.Qd7! Qd7
24.Rd7 Bf6 25.c3 [25.Ra7 and White is winning] Re8 [25...a6 26.
Ra7; 26.f4!?] 26.Ra7 (and White is winning) Re2 27.Rc7 Ne5 28.
Rc5 Nd3 29.Rb5 Nf2 30.Rc1 Bh4 31.a4 Bg5 32.Rc2 Re1 33.Ka2
Nd3 34.a5 1-0 [RR]
6. M. Carlsen 2776 V. Anand 2791
Linares 2009 105/146 [D45]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4
Ng4 8.Rg1 Qf6 9.Rg4 Qf3 10.Rg7 Nf6 11.h3 Qf5 [a novelty; 11...
h6 see 104/265] 12.Qf5 ef5 13.cd5 cd5 14.Nb5 Bb4 15.Bd2 Bd2
16.Kd2 Ke7 17.Bd3 Be6 18.Nc7!? Rag8 19.Ne6 Ke6 20.Rg8
Ng8?! [20...Rg8 21.Rc1 Rg2 22.Ke2 Rh2 equal, with counterplay;
M.Carlsen] 21.Ke2 Ne7 22.Kf3 Rc8 23.a4 Rc7 24.a5 h6 25.h4 Kf6
[R 9/i]
26.h5! (and White is superior) Nc8 27.Kf4 Nd6 28.Rg1 Rc8 29.f3
Ke6 [29...a6!?] 30.Rg7 Rh8 31.Bc2 Rc8 32.Bb3 Rh8 33.Rg1 Rc8
34.Rg7 Rh8 35.Rg2 Rc8 36.Rg1 (zugzwang) Ne8! [36...a6 37.Rg7
Rh8 38.Rg2 Rc8 39.Rg1 and White is superior, zugzwang] 37.e4
[37.Rg8?? Nf6 38.Rc8 Nh5 mate] fe4 38.fe4 Nf6 39.e5 Ne4 [39...
Nh5 40.Ke3 and White is winning, weak point Nh5] 40.Ke3 b6 41.
ab6 ab6 42.Kd3 Nf2 43.Ke2 Ne4 44.Ke3 f6 45.Rg6 Rc1 46.Rh6?!
[46.ef6 Re1 47.Kd3 Nf6 48.Bd5 Kf5 49.Bf3 and White is superior;
M.Carlsen] Rh1 47.Bc2 Rh3? [47...Re1 48.Kd3 (48.Kf3 Rf1 49.
Kg4 Rg1) Rh1 and White is slightly better] 48.Kf4 Rh4 49.Kf3
Nd2 50.Ke2? [50.Kg3 Rd4 51.Rf6 Ke5 52.Rf5 Ke6 53.h6 Rc4 54.
Bd3! (54.h7 Rc2) Rd4 (54...Rc8 55.h7 Rh8 56.Rg5 Ne4 57.Be4 de4
58.Rh5 and White is winning) 55.h7 Rd3 56.Kg4 and White is
winning; M.Carlsen] Rh2 51.Kd1 Nc4 52.Rf6 Ke7 53.Bg6 Rd2 54.
Kc1 Rd4 55.b3 Ne5 56.Rb6 Rh4 57.Bf5 Nf3? [57...Rh1! 58.Kc2
(58.Kb2 Nc4!! 59.bc4 Rh5) Nf3 M.Carlsen] 58.h6! Nd4 59.h7! [59.
Bd3 Nb3!] Nf5 60.Rb8! Nd4 61.Kb2! Kd6 62.h8Q Rh8 63.Rh8
(and White is winning) Kc5 64.Rh5 Nc6 65.Rh4 Nb4 66.Ka3 d4
67.Rh5 Nd5 68.Kb2 Kc6 69.Ka3 Kc5 70.Rh4 Nb4 71.Rh8 Nc6
[better is 71...Nc2; 71...Nd5] 72.Rh5 Kd6 73.b4 d3 74.Rh3 Ne5 75.
Kb3 d2 76.Kc2 Nc6 77.Rh4 Kd5 1-0 [RR]
7. M. Prusikin 2529 A. Braun 2558
Deutschland (ch) 2009 105/304 [E15]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2 c5 6.d5 ed5 7.cd5 Bb7
8.Bg2 Nd5 9.0-0 Nc7 10.Nc3 Be7 11.Rd1 [11.e4 see 97/(375)] Qc8
12.Bg5! [a novelty; 12.e4] f6 only move [12...Bf3 13.Bf3 Bg5 14.
Ba8 Na8 15.Qe4 and White is winning; 12...Bg5 13.Ng5 Bg2 14.
Kg2 and White is superior] 13.Bf4 Ne6 14.Nd5! Nc6 [14...Nf4 15.
gf4! Bd5 16.Rd5 Nc6 17.Rd2! and White is slightly better] 15.Rac1
[15.Ne7!? Ke7 16.Bd6 Kf7 17.Rac1 and White is slightly better]
Kf7? [15...0-0! 16.Ne7 (16.Nh4?! Rf7! equal) Ne7 17.Bd6 Re8 18.
b4 cb4 19.Qb3 Nc6 20.Bb4 Kh8 21.e3 and White is slightly better]
16.h4! g6 17.h5 g5 18.Be3 Qg8
19.b4! [19.Qf5?! Rd8!] cb4 [19...d6 (only move) 20.Qf5 Rd8 21.
Ng5 Ng5 22.Nf6 Bf6 23.Bd5 Ke7 24.Bg5 Bg5 25.Bg8 Rdg8 26.bc5
bc5 27.Rc5! and White is winning] 20.Nf6!! Kf6 21.Rd7 Bc8 [21...
Qc8 22.Qb2 Kf7 23.Ne5 and White is winning; 21...Rb8 22.Qb2
Kf7 23.Rc6 Bc6 24.Ne5 Kf8 25.Nc6 Re8 26.Ne7 and White is
winning] 22.Qc6 Bd7 23.Bd4 1-0 [M. Prusikin]
8. A. Motylev 2676 S. Azarov 2600
Budva 2009 105/26 [B01]
1.e4 d5 2.ed5 Qd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.h3 Bh5 7.g4
Bg6 8.Ne5 e6 9.Bg2 c6 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.f4 [11.Qe2 see 44/130]
Bb4?! [11...Ne5? 12.de5 Nd7 13.f5; 11...Be7 12.Nd7!? (12.Qe2
Qb4 13.Qf2) Nd7 (12...Kd7 13.d5) 13.d5 with attack; 11...0-0-0! a)
12.Qe2 Qb6 a1) 13.Be3 Ne5! (13...Qb2 14.Nc6 with initiative) 14.
de5 Qb2 and Black is slightly better; a2) 13.Nc4 Qa6 unclear; b) 12.
Qf3 Qb6 13.Be3 h5!? unclear; c) 12.Qe1!? c1) 12...Qb6 13.Be3
c11) 13...Qb2? 14.Rb1 Qa3 (14...Qc2? 15.Rf2) 15.Bc6 (15.Rb7 Ne5
16.Rb3) bc6 16.Nc6 and White is superior; c12) 13...Ne5 14.de5
Bc5 15.Bc5 Qc5 16.Kh1 (16.Qf2 Qf2 17.Rf2 Nd7 and White is
slightly better) Ne8 (16...Nd7 17.f5 ef5 18.gf5 Bh5 19.Qh4 g6 20.e6
and White is slightly better) 17.f5 ef5 18.gf5 Bh5 19.Qh4 g6 20.
Rae1 and White is slightly better; c2) 12...Ne5 13.de5 Ne8!? (13...
Nd5 14.f5 Nc3 15.fg6 Bb4 16.Bg5 and White is superior; 13...Nd7
14.f5 ef5 15.gf5 Bh5 16.Qh4 g6 17.e6 fe6 18.fe6 Ne5 19.Bf4 with
initiative) 14.f5 ef5 15.gf5 Bh5 and White is slightly better] 12.
Nd7! Kd7 [a novelty; 12...Nd7 13.d5! Bc3 (13...Qc5 14.Kh1 and
White is superior; 13...0-0-0 14.f5 and White is superior) 14.bc3
Qc3 15.dc6 bc6 16.Qd6 (16.f5 Qa1 17.fg6 hg6 18.Bc6 0-0-0!
unclear) 0-0-0 17.Bb2 Qc5 (17...Qe3 18.Rf2 and White is superior)
18.Qc5 Nc5 19.Bg7 Rhg8 20.Be5 and White is superior]
13.f5! [13.d5 a) RR 13...Kc7 14.f5! (14.dc6 Rad8 with counterplay)

ef5 15.gf5 Bh5 (15...Qc5 16.Kh1 Bh5 17.Bf4 Kc8 18.dc6 bc6 19.
Qd3 and White is winning) 16.Bf4 Bd6 (16...Kc8 17.dc6 bc6 18.
Qd3 Rd8 19.Qg3 Qf5 20.Be5 and White is superior) 17.Bd6 Kd6 18.
Qe1 Qb6 19.Kh1 cd5 20.Qg3 Kd7 21.Nd5 Nd5 22.Bd5 and White is
superior; Sasa Velickovic; b) 13...cd5 14.f5 Bc3! 15.fg6 (15.bc3
ef5) Be5 16.g5 Qc5 17.Kh1 hg6 18.gf6 gf6 unclear; 16.gf7! and
White is slightly better] ef5 14.d5! c5 [14...Rad8 15.dc6 Kc7 16.Bf4
Bd6 and White is superior; 14...Kc8! 15.Bg5!? (15.gf5 Bh5 16.dc6
bc6 17.Qd3 Rd8 18.Qg3 Rb8 19.Kh1 and White is slightly better; 15.
dc6 bc6 16.Kh1 Ne4 17.Bf4 with initiative) Ne4 (15...Bc3 16.bc3
Qc5 17.Kh1 Ne4 18.Bh4 Nc3 19.dc6! bc6 20.Qd3 and White is
superior) 16.Bh4! (with attack) Bc3 17.bc3 Nc3 18.Qd2 Qc5 (18...
cd5 19.gf5 Bh5 20.Rae1 and White is superior) 19.Bf2 Qc4 20.dc6
bc6 21.Rfd1 and White is superior] 15.Bg5! [15.gf5? Bh5 16.Qd3
Rae8 unclear; 15.d6!? c4 16.Qf3 Qb6 (16...Rab8 17.gf5 Bh5 18.Qg3
Rhe8 and White is slightly better) 17.Be3 fg4 18.hg4 Bc5 19.Bc5
Qc5 20.Kh1 Rab8 and White is slightly better] f4 [15...Bc3 16.bc3
Qc3 (RR 16...fg4 17.Bf6 gf6 18.Qg4 f5 19.Rf5! Bf5 20.Qf5 and
White is winning; Sasa Velickovic) a) RR 17.Bf6 Qf6 18.gf5 Bf5 19.
Qf3 g6 (19...Qd4 20.Kh1 Bg6 21.d6! Rab8 22.Rab1 and White is
winning) 20.d6! Qd4 21.Kh1 Rab8 22.Rab1 Rhe8 23.Rfd1 Qe4 24.
Qb3 and White is winning; Sasa Velickovic; b) 17.Rb1 b6 18.Qe2
and White is superior; 15...fg4 16.Bf6 gf6 17.Qg4 f5 18.Rf5 Bf5 19.
Qf5 and White is winning] 16.Rf4 [RR 16.Ne2!? and White is
superior; Sasa Velickovic] Rae8 [16...Bc3 17.bc3 Qc3 a) RR18.Rb1
Rab8 (18...b6 19.Qf1 Bc2 20.Qb5 Kd8 21.Qc6 and White is
winning) 19.Qf1!? and White is superior; Sasa Velickovic; b) 18.
Qf1! and White is superior] 17.Bf6 [17.d6!? c4 18.Bf6 gf6 19.Rc4
and White is superior] gf6 18.Qf3 c4! 19.d6! Qb6 20.Kh1 Bc3 [20...
Bd6 21.Rc4 and White is superior] 21.Qc3 Re3 [RR 21...Re2 22.
Rc4! Rc2 23.Qf6 Qd8 (23...Rc4 24.Qe7 Kc8 25.d7 Kb8 26.Qe5 and
White is winning) 24.Qe5 Rc4 25.Qb5 and White is winning; Sasa
Velickovic] 22.Qc4 [22.Qf6 Rhe8 23.Rc4 (23.Raf1 R8e6 24.Qg7
Re1) Re1 24.Re1 Re1 25.Kh2 (25.Bf1 Qd6 26.Rd4?? Rf1) Qd6 26.
Qd6 Kd6 27.Bb7 Rb1 and White is superior] Rc8! 23.Qa4 Kd8 24.
Rf6 [24.Rb4 Bc2! 25.b3 (25.Rb6 Ba4 26.Rb7 Rc2 with counterplay)
Qa6 (25...Rh3!? 26.Bh3 Qe3 27.Bg2 Qh6 28.Kg1 Qe3 29.Kh2! Qe5
30.Rf4 Qa1 31.Qa5 b6 32.Qa7 Qe5 33.Qb6 Kd7 34.Qd4 Bg6 and
White is slightly better) 26.Rb7 (RR 26.Qa6!? ba6 27.Rf1 Sasa
Velickovic) Qa4 27.ba4 Ba4 28.Rf7 Bc6 and White is slightly
better] Qb2 25.Qa5! [25.Raf1? Qa3!] Kd7 time [25...b6 26.Qg5!
Qa1 (26...Rh3 27.Bh3 Qa1 28.Rf1 f6 29.Qe3 Qe5 30.Qe5 fe5 31.Rf8
Be8 32.g5 Rc3 33.Bf5 and White is winning; 26...h6 27.Qe3 and
White is winning; RR 26...Rc5 27.Rf5 f6 28.Qe3 Qa1 29.Rf1 Qe5 30.
Qf3 Rc2 31.Rd1 Qe2 32.Qf6 Kd7 33.Qg7 Kd8 34.Qg8 Kd7 35.Qd5
and White is winning; Sasa Velickovic) 27.Rf1 f6 28.Qe3 Qe5 29.
Qe5! (29.Qb3 Rc2 30.Qg8 Qe8 31.Qg7 Qe2 32.Qf6 and White is
superior; RR 29.Qf3 Rc2 and White is winning see 26...Rc5) fe5 30.
Rf8 Kd7 31.Rc8 Kc8 32.Bc6 Bc2 33.g5! Bd3 34.Kg2 b5 35.h4 Bc4
36.h5 Ba2 37.Bb5 Bb1 38.Kf3 a5 39.Bc6 and White is winning] 26.
Raf1 (time) Rc2 27.R6f2! [27.Qd5?! Rc1; 27.Rf7! Bf7 28.Rf7 Ke8
a) 29.d7? Kf7 30.Qd5 Re6 (30...Kg7 31.Qg5 Kf7 32.Bd5 Re6) 31.
Qh5 (31.d8N? Ke7) Kg7 32.Qg5 Kf7 equal; b) 29.Rf1 Rg2 30.d7
Kd7 31.Rd1 Kc6 32.Qd5 Kb6 33.Qd6 Kb5 34.Rd5 Ka4 35.Rd4 Ka5
36.Qc5 and White is winning; c) 29.Rf5!? and White is winning; d)
29.Qh5! Rc1 30.Rf1 Kd7 31.Qf5! (31.Qh7? Kd8 equal) Kd6 32.Qf4
and White is winning] Qc3 [27...f6 28.Bc6!! Kc6 (28...bc6 29.Qc7
Ke6 30.Qe7 Kd5 31.Qe3 and White is winning; 28...Kd6 29.Qd5
and White is winning) 29.Qc7 Kd5 (29...Kb5 30.Qb7 Kc5 31.Qb2
and White is winning) 30.d7!! Be4 31.Kg1 and White is winning;
27...h6 28.Bc6!! and White is winning; 27...Qa3 28.Qb5 Kd8 29.
Qg5 Kd7 30.Rf7 and White is winning] 28.Rf7! [28.Qb5 Kd8 29.
Qg5 f6] Bf7 29.Rf7 Ke8 30.d7! [30.Qh5 Rc1] Kf7 31.Qc3 1-0 [A.
Motylev]
9. A. Volokitin 2671 M. Kobalia 2634

Budva 2009 105/86 [C41]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 ed4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7 6.Bf4 0-0 7.Qd2
d5 8.Ndb5 Bb4! [8...c6 9.Nc7 d4 10.Na8 dc3 11.Qd8 Rd8 12.bc3
Ne4 13.Bd3 and White is superior] 9.0-0-0 [9.Nc7 Ba5 10.Na8 Ne4
11.Bc7 (11.Ne4 Bd2 12.Nd2 Qf6 13.Bb8 Bg4 and Black is superior)
Nd2 12.Bd8 Rd8 13.0-0-0 Bc3 14.bc3 Ne4 with counterplay; 9.
ed5!?] c6 10.Nc7 Ne4 11.Qe3 [11.Qd4 Bc3 12.bc3 Qe7 13.Kb2 g5
unclear] Nc3 12.bc3 Ba3 13.Kd2!? [a novelty; 13.Kb1 Na6 14.Na8
Qa5 with counterplay; 14...b5 see 56/(324)] Nd7 14.Na8 Bc5! 15.
Qg3? [15.Qd3! Nf6 16.f3 Bd7 17.Nc7 Bb6 with compensation] Nf6
16.Bd3 [16.f3 Nh5 17.Qg5 Nf4 18.Qf4 Bd6 19.Qd4 Qg5 and Black
is winning; 16.Re1! Ne4 17.Re4 de4 18.Ke1 h5!? 19.Nc7 h4 20.
Qg5 Qg5 21.Bg5 Bd6 and Black is superior]
16...Nh5! 17.Bc7 [17.Qg5 Nf4 18.Qf4 Bd6! 19.Qd4 (19.Qe3 Re8

and Black is winning) c5! 20.Qa4 (20.Qd5 Bf4 21.Ke2 Qd5 22.Bh7
Kh7 23.Rd5 Bg4 24.f3 Be6 25.Rc5 Ra8 and Black is winning) Bd7
21.Bb5 Qg5 22.Ke1 Bb5 23.Qb5 Qg2 24.Rf1 Qe4 25.Qe2 Re8!
(and Black is winning) 26.Rd2 (26.Qe4 Re4 27.Kd2 Bf4 28.Kd3 c4
mate; 26.Qe3 Bf4) Qa4] Qf6! [17...Ng3? 18.hg3 Qg5 19.Bf4 Qf6 20.
Bh7 Kh8 21.Bd3 equal] 18.Qe5 [18.Qf3 Qg5 19.Ke1 Bg4 and
Black is winning; 18.Be5 Ng3 19.Bf6 Nh1 and Black is winning]
Qh6 19.Ke1 [19.f4 f6! 20.Qe2 Nf4 and Black is winning] Bd7!
[19...Bg4 20.Bf5!] 20.Bf5 [20.Kf1 Re8 21.Qe8 Be8 22.g3 Qe6 and
Black is winning] Re8 21.Bd7 Re5 22.Be5 Qg5! 23.Kf1 [23.Bd4
Bd4 24.cd4 Qe7 25.Kd2 Qd7 and Black is winning] Qe5 24.Re1
Qc3 25.Nc7 Nf6 26.Bf5 Qd2 27.Re2 Qc1 28.Re1 Qf4 0-1 [M.
Kobalia]
10. V. Kramnik 2759 P. Leko 2751
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dc4 7.e4 g5 8.
Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7 12.Nd7 Nd7 13.Bd6
a6 14.a4 e5 15.Re1! Qf6 16.Ba3 Bf8 17.Bg4 Rd8 18.ab5 ab5 [a
novelty; 18...cb5?! see 105/(142)] 19.Bf8 Kf8! [19...Nf8 20.Ra7!
Rd4 21.Qa1] 20.Bd7 Rd7! [20...ed4 21.e5 Qe7 22.e6 dc3 23.Qd4 f6
24.bc3 and White is superior] 21.de5 Qe6 [21...Rd1 22.ef6 Re1 23.
Re1 Kg8 24.e5 and White is slightly better] 22.Qh5 Qe5
23.f4! Qf4 [23...Qc5 24.Kh1 Qf2 unclear; 23...Qe7 unclear, with the
idea 24.e5 gf4 25.e6 fe6 26.Qe5 Rg8] 24.Rf1 Qe5 [24...Qh4 25.Qg6
g4 26.Rad1] 25.Rf5 Qe6 [25...Qd4 26.Kh1 Rh7 unclear] 26.Raf1
Kg7? [26...Rh7! unclear] 27.Ne2! Rf8 [27...c5 28.Ng3] 28.Ng3 c5?
[28...Qg6 29.Qg4 and White is superior] 29.Rf6 (and White is
winning) Qf6 30.Rf6 Kf6 31.Qh6 Ke7 32.Nf5 Ke8 33.Nd6 Ke7
[33...Rd6 34.Qd6 Bc8 35.Qb8 Ke7 36.Qe5 Be6 37.Qc5 Ke8 38.Qb5
Ke7 39.Qg5 Kd6 40.h4] 34.e5 Rg8 35.Qf6 Kf8 36.e6 1-0 [V.
Kramnik]
Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! Pertinent

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The Most Important Novelty of Informant

105

accessible:
Zdenko Krnic
Informant at
ChessCafe
In last month's column we presented the ten best games of Chess

Informant #105. The winner of which was Dominguez's game
against Morozevich from Wijk aan Zee 2009. Well, it was this very
same game that the Chess Informant jury voted as the most
important theoretical novelty of Chess Informant #105, topping the
chart by a twenty point margin over its nearest rival.
Since we annotated that game last month, I would like to bring to
the attention of our readers three games by players who do not
happen to be among the chess world's elite, yet still received votes
from our jury.
The game Sjugirov M. Brodsky, where White found 19.Rd6! in

the poisoned pawn variation of the Najdorf, was voted as seventh.
Incidentally, this same move was later played by Shirov, who
achieved an effective victory as a result.
I was also very impressed by the novelty 12.dc5 followed by the
sacrifice 13.Bh7!!, which the French grandmaster Eric Pri played
in two games.

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
The novelty 34Kd5! was played by GM Marin in the ending of

bishop plus three pawns versus six pawns. Marin showed that this
ending is not lost for Black, as was the case in the game I. Novikov
Tukmakov (34e4 35.Bc6 Ke5 36.h4!+-) from the 1984 USSR
Championship.
Informant 1-100 (CD)
1. L. Dominguez Perez 2717 A. Morozevich 2771

Wijk aan Zee 2009 105/73 [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3
Be6 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.f3 b5 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.g4 Nb6 12.g5 b4 [12...
Nh5 see 101/(166)]
13.Na4!! [a novelty; 13.Nb1] Ne4 [13...Na4 14.gf6 Qf6 (14...gf6 15.

Qb4 Qc7 16.Rd2 and White is slightly better; 16.Bd3 and White is
superior) 15.Ba6 Rb8 16.Na5 and White is superior] 14.fe4 Na4 15.
Qb4 Qc7 16.Rd2 Bd7 [16...Nc5 17.Nc5 dc5 18.Qa4 Qc6 19.Qa6 c4
20.Qc6 Rc6 21.c3 and White is slightly better] 17.Qa5 Qc6 [17...
Qa5 18.Na5 Be7 19.Rg1 Nc5 20.Bc5 Rc5 21.b4 Rc7 22.Ba6 and
White is slightly better] 18.Ba6 Rb8 [18...Qe4?? 19.Bc8! Qh1 (19...
Bc8 20.Qb5 Ke7 (only move) 21.Re1 and White is winning) 20.Rd1
Qc6 21.Bd7 Qd7 (21...Kd7 22.Qa4 Qa4 23.Nc5 and White is
winning) 22.Qa8 Ke7 (only move) 23.Na5! and White is winning;
18...Ra8 19.Bb5 Qe4 (19...Ra5? 20.Bc6 Ra6 21.Bb7 and White is

winning) 20.Bd7 Kd7 21.Qb5 (21.Qa4? Ra4 22.Nc5 Ke7! 23.Ne4
Re4 24.Rd3 Ke6 and Black is slightly better) Qc6 22.Qc6 Kc6 23.
Rf2 and White is slightly better]
19.Rd5! [and White is slightly better, with the idea Re5, weak point
Ke8, Rb8, Na4] Be7 (only move) 20.Ba7 Ra8 [20...Bg5 21.Kb1
Bd8 22.Qd2 Rb3 23.ab3 Qa6 24.Be3 and White is slightly better]
21.Bb5 Qb7 22.Qa4 Ra7 23.Na5 Qc7 [23...Bg5 24.Kb1 Qc7 25.
Rhd1 0-0 26.Bd7 Qd7 27.Qd7 Rd7 28.Nc4 and White is superior]
24.Rhd1 Bb5?! 25.Qb5 Kf8 only move [25...Qd7?? 26.Qb8 Bd8
27.Rd6 and White is winning] 26.Kb1! (and White is superior) g6
27.Nc4 Rb7 28.Qa4 Qb8 [28...Kg7 29.Nd6 Bd6 30.Rd6 h6 31.Rd7
Qb6 32.Rb7 Qb7 33.Rd7 Qb6 34.gh6 Rh6 35.b4 Rh2 36.Qb3 Rf2
37.a4 and White is superior] 29.b3 Ra7 30.Qc6 Rc7 31.Rb5! Qa7
[31...Rc6 32.Rb8 Kg7 33.Rh8 Kh8 34.a4 and White is winning] 32.
Qd5 Qf2 33.Qd2 (and White is winning) Qf3 [33...Qd2 34.Rd2
Bg5 35.Rd6 Bf4 36.Rd8 Kg7 37.Rh8 Kh8 38.h3] 34.Nd6 Bg5 35.
Nf5! Rc8 36.Rb8! 1-0 [Dominguez Perez, J.Ibarra]
2. B. Gelfand 2733 Sergey Karjakin 2721
Nalchik 2009 105/124 [D15]]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.e3 b5 6.c5 Nbd7 7.a3 a5
8.Qc2! [a novelty; M.Rodshtein; 8.Bd2 see 102/283] Qc7 [8...e5 9.

de5 Ng4 10.Nd4 Nde5 11.Ncb5 and White is superior; 8...g6!? 9.e4
de4 10.Ne4 Bg7 unclear] 9.e4 Ne4 10.Ne4 de4 11.Qe4 Nf6 12.Qe5
Qe5 13.Ne5 Bb7 14.a4! [weak point c4] b4 15.Bf4 [15.Bc4 Nd5]
Nd7? [15...Nd5 16.Bg3 g6] 16.Nc4 [16.d5?! Ne5 17.Be5 f6 18.Bg3
cd5 19.Bb5 Kf7 20.c6 Bc8 unclear] Ba6 [16...g6 17.Bc7 and White
is superior] 17.Nb6 [17.d5!? cd5 18.Nb6 Ra7 (18...Bf1 19.Na8 Bg2
20.c6 and White is winning; 18...Nb6 19.cb6 and White is superior)
19.Nd5 Bf1 20.Kf1 a) 20...e6?! 21.Nc7 Kd8 22.c6; b) 20...e5 21.
Be3 Nc5 22.Rc1 (22.Ke2!? with compensation) Rd7 (22...Nb3 23.

Rc8 Kd7 24.Nb6 Ke6 25.Ke2) 23.Nb6 Nb3 24.Nd7 Nc1 25.Ne5 and
White is slightly better; c) 20...Nc5 21.Ke2 (21.Be3 e6; 21.Nc7 Kd8
22.Nb5 Rd7 23.Ke2 e5) e6 22.Nc7 Ke7 23.Rhd1 (23.Nb5!?) Nb3 24.
Rab1 with compensation] Ra7 18.Ba6 Ra6 19.Nc4 [weak point a5]
Ra7 20.0-0-0 e6 21.Be5!? [21.Rhe1 a) 21...Nf6?! 22.Bb8 Rb7 (22...
Ra6 23.Bc7) 23.Be5 Ra7 24.f4; b) 21...Be7 22.Be5 0-0 23.f4 Rd8
24.Kc2 (24.f5 ef5) g6 25.g4 and White is slightly better] Nf6 [21...
Ne5 22.Ne5 Rc7 23.f4 g6 24.Nc4 Ra7 25.g4 Bh6 26.Rhf1 Ke7 27.
Kc2 and White is slightly better] 22.Bb8 [22.Bf6?! gf6 23.Kc2 h5
and White is slightly better] Rb7 23.Bg3 Ra7 24.Bb8 Rb7 25.Be5
Ra7 26.f4!? Nd5 [26...Ne4 27.Rhe1 f5 28.g4 Nf2 (28...Kf7 29.Re2
and White is winning) 29.gf5! Nd1 30.Kd1 and White is winning;
better is 26...Be7 27.f5 (27.Bf6 Bf6 28.Nd6 Kf8 29.g4 and White is
slightly better) ef5 28.Rhf1 Nd5 29.Rf5 (29.Bg7 Rg8 30.Bh6 Rg2 31.
Rf5 Rh2) f6 30.Bb8 Ra8 31.Bg3 (with the idea Nb6) Bd8 and White
is slightly better] 27.Rhe1 f6 [27...Kd7 28.Bb8 Rb7 (28...Ra8 29.
Ne5) 29.Bd6 (29.Ne5 Kc8 30.Nc6 Rb8 31.Nb8 Kb8 32.f5 Nc7) f6 30.
Bf8 Rf8 31.b3 Ra7 32.g3 and White is superior] 28.Bd6! [28.Bb8
Ra8 29.Bd6 Bd6 30.Nd6 Kd7 31.g3 b3 32.Rd3 Rhb8 33.Rf1 Rb4 34.
Rff3 Ra4 35.Rb3 Rd4 36.Rb7 Nc7 equal] Kd7 [28...Bd6 29.Nd6
Kd7 30.g3] 29.g3 [29.Nb6!? Nb6 30.cb6 Bd6!? (30...Rb7 31.Bc5
Bd6 32.g3 h5 33.Re2 h4 34.Rde1 hg3 35.hg3 Rh5 and White is
slightly better) 31.ba7 Bf4 32.Kc2 Ra8 33.Re4 Bd6 34.Rde1 e5!?
(34...Ra7 35.Re6 Be5 36.R6e5 fe5 37.Re5 and White is slightly
better Kd6 38.Kd3 Rf7 39.Ra5 Rf2 40.Rg5 Rb2 41.Rg7; 38...h6) 35.
Rh4 h6 36.Rg4 g5 37.Rd1 Ke6 and White is slightly better] Bd6 30.
Nd6 [weak point e6] b3! [weak point b4] 31.Re2 [31.Re4 f5] Rb8
32.Rde1 Rb4 [32...Nb4 33.Kd2 Nc2 34.Rd1 Nd4 (34...Rb4 35.Kc3
with the idea 35...Ra4 36.Kb3 and White is winning; 34...g6 35.Kc3
and White is superior) 35.Re4 Nc2 36.Nc4! (with the idea Kc3)
Nb4 (36...Ke7 37.Kc3 and White is superior) 37.Rde1 e5 38.fe5 f5
39.e6 Ke7 40.Rh4 Kf6 41.Ne5 and White is superior] 33.Re6 [33.
f5?! Ra4 (33...ef5? 34.Re8 Ra4 35.Kb1 Rd4 36.Rg8 Rg4 37.Rf8 and
White is winning) 34.fe6 Kd8 35.Kb1 g6 unclear] Ra4 34.Kb1 Ra8!
[34...Rd4 35.Re8 (and White is winning) h5 36.Rg8 Ne7 37.Rg7
Kd8 38.Nf5]
35.Ne8?! [35.Nb5? cb5 36.Rd6 Kc7 37.Rd5 Rd8 and Black is

slightly better; 35.Nf5! Kc7 (35...g6?! 36.Ne7 Rd4 37.Rd6 Kc7 38.
Rc6 Kb7 39.Rd6 Re8 40.c6 Ka8 41.c7) a) 36.Ng7 Rd4 (36...Kb7 37.
Nf5 Ra2 38.Ne3; 36...Rd8 37.R1e4 Rc4 38.Ne8 Kb8 39.Nd6 Rc2 40.
Re2) 37.Rf6 Kb7 38.Rfe6 Rg8 and White is slightly better; b) 36.
Ne7! Nb4 37.R1e3 Rd8 38.Nf5! and White is winning, with the idea
38...Rd5 39.Nd6] Rd4 36.Rd6 [36.Ng7 Rc4 (36...Rd2!? 37.Rd6
Kc8 38.Re8 Kb7 39.Rd7 Ka6 40.Ra8 Kb5 41.Rb8 Kc4 42.Rd5 cd5
43.Kc1 Rc2 44.Kd1 a4! 45.c6 Kd3 46.Ne6 Rc6 47.f5 Rc2 48.Nf4
Ke4 49.Re8 Kf3 equal, with the idea 50.Re2 a3 51.ba3 Ra2 and
Black is winning) 37.Rd6 Kc7 38.Ne6 Kb7 equal] Kc8 37.Rc6 Kb7
38.Rce6 Rd3? [38...Rd2! 39.c6 (39.Nd6 Kc7 40.Nb5 Kb7 equal; 39.
Ng7 a4; 39.Rc1 Rh2 40.c6 Ka7 see 39.c6) Ka7 40.Rc1 Rh2 a) 41.c7
Rc2 42.Rc2 bc2 43.Kc2 (43.Kc1 Kb7 44.Ng7 Kc7) Nc7 44.Re7 Re8
45.Rc7 Kb6 equal; b) 41.Ng7 Rc8 42.Rd6 Nb4 equal] 39.c6 Ka7 40.
c7 [40.Rc1 a4 41.c7 see 40.c7] a4 [40...Rd2 41.Rc1 Rc2 42.Rc2 bc2
43.Kc2 Rc8 44.Kd2 Nc7 45.Re7 Kb6 46.Ng7 and White is winning;
40...Rc8 41.Rc1 and White is winning] 41.Rc1 (and White is
winning) a3 [41...Nb6 42.Rb6 Re8 43.Rb4 Rc8 44.Ra4 Kb7 45.Rb4
Ka7 46.f5 Rd7 47.Rb3 Rcc7 and White is superior; 42.Ng7] 42.ba3
[42.c8Q?? a2 (42...Rc8 with the idea 43.Rc8 Rd1 44.Rc1 a2 45.Ka1
Rc1 mate) 43.Ka1 Rc8 and Black is winning; 42.Nd6 a2 43.Ka1
Nb6] Nc3 43.Rc3 Rc3 44.Kb2! [44.Nd6 Rc7 45.Nb5 Kb7 46.Nc7
Kc7 with counterplay] Re8 [44...Rc5 45.Nd6 Rc7 46.Nb5 Kb7 47.
Nc7 Kc7 48.Re7 Kd6 49.Rg7] 45.Kc3 1-0 [B.Gelfand]
3. R. Kasimdzhanov 2695 B. Gelfand 2733
Nalchik 2009 105/140 [D43]]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dc4 7.e4 g5 8.
Bg3 b5 9.Ne5
9...Nbd7!? (a novelty) 10.Nc6 [10.Nd7!?] Qb6 11.d5 [11.Ne5 Bb7

12.f3 Rd8 with counterplay] Bb7 12.a4 a6 13.Be2 [13.h4!?] Bg7
[13...Ne4? 14.Ne4 ed5 15.Ne5 and White is superior; 13...Bc6 14.
dc6 Qc6 15.e5 with compensation] 14.de6 Bc6 15.ed7 Nd7 16.ab5
[16.Nd5 Bd5 17.Qd5 Rd8 and Black is superior; 16.Qd6!? (M.
Golubev) Rd8 17.ab5! ab5 18.0-0 with the idea 18...Nc5?? 19.Ra8!!
Ra8 20.Nd5 and White is winning] ab5 17.Ra8 Ba8 18.0-0 Ne5
[18...Nc5 19.Nd5 Bd5 20.Qd5 0-0 21.Bd6 and White is superior] 19.
Nd5 [19.h4 0-0 20.hg5 hg5 21.Qd2 Qg6 equal] Qc5 [19...Bd5? 20.
Qd5 0-0 21.Be5 Rd8 22.Bc7! Qc7 23.Qb5 and White is superior] 20.
Kh1? [20.Qd2 0-0 21.h4 equal; 20.b4! Qd6 with counterplay] 0-0
21.f4 gf4 22.Bf4 [22.Rf4 f5]
22...f5! (and Black is superior) 23.b4? [23.Be3 Qd6 24.b3!? (24.

Qa1 Bd5 25.ed5 Qd5 and Black is superior; 24.Nf4 Qd1 25.Rd1
Be4 26.Ne6 Ra8 27.Ng7 Kg7 and Black is superior) fe4 25.Rf8 Kf8
26.bc4 Nc4 27.Qf1 Kg8 28.Bc4 bc4 29.Nb6 Qd3 (29...c3 30.Qc4!
Kh7 31.Na8 Qd3 32.Qc5 equal; M.Golubev) 30.Qf5 Bb7 31.Nc8
Bc8 32.Qc8 Kf7 33.Qf5 Bf6 34.Qh5 Ke7 35.Bc5 Kd7 and Black is
superior] Qd6 24.Bf3 fe4 [24...Rd8 and Black is winning] 25.Be4
Rd8 26.Rf2 [26.Bg5 hg5 27.Qh5 Qh6; 26.Qh5 Bd5 27.Rd1 Be4
(27...Qe6 28.Be5 Rf8 and Black is winning) 28.Rd6 Rd6 29.Be5
Bg6 and Black is winning] c3 27.Rf3 Bd5 28.Rd3 Nd3 0-1 [B.
Gelfand]
4. L. Dominguez Perez 2717 Sergey Karjakin 2706
Wijk aan Zee 2009 105/71 [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bc1
Nf6 8.Be3 Ng4 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Bg7 12.h3 Nf6 13.Qe2
Nc6 14.Nc6 bc6 15.e5 de5 16.Be5 0-0
17.g4! [a novelty; 17.h4 see 89/(226)] a5 18.h4 [18.Bg2!?] Bg4

[18...Ng4 19.Bg7 Kg7 20.hg5 hg5 21.f3 Nh6 unclear] 19.f3 Bf5 20.
hg5 hg5 21.Qe3 a4 [21...Bc2 22.Qg5 Bg6 23.Rd1 Qc8 24.Bh3 a)
24...Qb7? 25.Be6! fe6 26.Qg6 Qb2 27.Bd4 (RR 27.f4 and White is
winning; Sergey Karjakin) e5 28.Rd2 Qc1 29.Nd1 Qd2 (only move)
30.Kd2 ed4 31.Nf2 and White is superior; b) 24...Nh7 25.Qg1 e6 26.
Bg7 (RR 26.Rd6!? with the idea Be6) Kg7 27.Qd4 Kg8 28.Rg1 and
White is slightly better] 22.Qg5 Bg6 23.Bd3 a3 24.b4 [RR 24.0-00! ab2 25.Kb1 Qa5 26.Bc4! e6 27.f4 Nh7 28.Rh7 Be5 (28...Kh7 29.
Ne4 and White is winning) 29.f5 and White is winning; Sergey
Karjakin] Qb6
25.Rh4? [25.Ke2!! Qb4 (25...Nh7?? 26.Rh7! Kh7 27.Rh1 Kg8 28.

Bg7 Kg7 29.Qh6 Kf6 30.Ne4 Ke6 31.Nc5 and White is winning) 26.
Rab1 Qc5 27.f4 (27.Bf6 Qg5 28.Bg5 Bc3 29.Rb7 Ra5 30.f4 Bd3 31.
Kd3 Bf6 equal) Rad8 28.Bf6 Qg5 29.Bg5 a) 29...Bc3 30.f5 Rd3
(30...Bh7 31.Rbg1 Kh8 32.Be7 Rfe8 33.f6 and White is winning) 31.
Kd3 Bf6 32.fg6 Bg5 33.gf7 Kf7 34.Rhf1 Bf6 35.Rb6 Rd8 36.Kc4
Rd4 37.Kb3 and White is winning; b) 29...Rd3 30.cd3 Bc3 31.Rhg1
and White is superior] Nh7! 26.Rh7 Kh7 27.0-0-0 [RR 27.Kd2!
Qf2 (27...Be5 28.Rh1 Kg7 29.Bg6 Bc3 30.Kc3 fg6 31.Qe7 Rf7 32.
Qe5 Rf6 33.Qe7 equal) 28.Ne2 Qf3 29.Bg7 Kg7 30.Nf4 Rad8 31.
Re1 Rd3 32.cd3 Rd8 33.Qe5 Kg8 34.Re3 Qf2 35.Re2 equal; Sergey
Karjakin] Qb4 (and Black is slightly better) 28.Rh1 Kg8 29.Bg7?
[29.Bg6 a) 29...Qb2?? 30.Kd2 fg6 (30...Rad8 31.Ke2! fg6 32.Qg6
Rf6 (only move) 33.Qh7 Kf7 34.Rg1 Rg8 35.Bf6 ef6 36.Qh5 Kf8 37.
Qc5 Kf7 38.Qa7 Ke6 39.Kd3! Rd8 40.Kc4 and White is winning) 31.
Qg6 Rf6 (only move) 32.Qh7 Kf7 (32...Kf8 33.Rg1 Bh6 34.Ke2!
Ke8 35.Rb1 and White is winning) 33.Rg1 Rg8 34.Bf6 ef6 35.Qh5
Ke7 36.Qc5 Kf7 37.Qc4 Kf8 38.Rb1 Bh6 39.Kd3 and White is
winning; b) 29...fg6 30.Qg6 Rf6 31.Qd3 (only move) Kf7 32.Rg1
Ra5 33.Bf6 Qf4 34.Kd1 Qf6 b1) 35.Kd2? Rc5! 36.Ne4 Qh6 37.Ke2
Qh2 38.Kf1 Rc2 and Black is winning; RR 39.Ng5 Ke8 (39...Kg8
40.Qb3 Kh8 41.Nf7 Kh7 42.Qd3 Kg8 43.Nh6 Qh6 44.Qc2) 40.Qg6
Kd8 41.Qd3 Kc8 42.Qa6 Kc7 (42...Kb8 43.Qb6 equal) 43.Qa7
equal; b2) 35.Qc4 (only move) Kf8 (35...e6 and Black is superior)
36.Ne2 Qf3 37.Qf4 Qf4 38.Nf4 Kf7 and Black is superior] Kg7 30.
Qh6 Kf6 (only move, and Black is winning) 31.Ne4 [31.Bg6 fg6
(31...Qb2?? 32.Kd2 fg6 33.Qf4 Kg7 (only move) 34.Qe5 Rf6 (only
move) 35.Qe7 Rf7 36.Qe5 Rf6 37.Qe7 equal) 32.Ne4 Ke6! (32...
Ke5?? 33.Qg5 Rf5 (only move) 34.Qg3 Kd5 35.Qg6 Qb2 36.Kd2
Qd4 37.Ke2 Rf3 38.Rh5 e5 39.Kf3 Qd1 40.Ke3 Qe1 equal) 33.Qg6
Kd7 (only move) 34.Rd1 Kc7 35.Qg3 Kb6 36.Qg1 c5 37.Rd3 Rg8
38.Qe3 Qb2 39.Kd2 Rg2 40.Nf2 (40.Ke1 Qb1 41.Rd1 Qb4 42.c3
Qc4) Qb4 41.Ke2 (41.Kc1 Rg1 42.Nd1 Re1 43.Qh6 Kc7 44.Qh2
Kc6 45.Qh6 e6) Qc4 42.Kd1 Rh8] Ke6 32.Rd1 [32.Qh3 f5 33.Qg3
Kd7 34.Qg6 fe4 35.Qe4 Qe4 36.Be4 Rh8] Qb2 33.Kd2 Kd7 34.
Qf4 Rfd8 35.Ke2 Ke8 36.Rh1 Ra5 37.Qc7 Rad5 38.Ke3 [38.Qc6
Kf8 39.Ke3 Kg7] Kf8 [38...Rd3! 39.cd3 Be4 40.fe4 Qd4 41.Kf4
Qf2 42.Kg4 Qg2] 39.c3 Rd3 40.Kf4 f6 41.Rh8 Kf7 0-1 [L.
Dominguez Perez, J.Ibarra]
5. M. Carlsen 2776 V. Kramnik 2759
Nice (blindfold) 2009 105/177 [E32]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Bd3?! Nc6 [RR
6...c5 7.a3 Ba5 8.Nge2 (8.d5; 8.dc5) Nc6 9.dc5 dc5 10.0-0 Ne5 11.
Rd1 Qe7 12.Bf4 Bc7 13.Be5 Be5 14.f4 Bc3 15.Nc3 e5 with
counterplay; A.Beliavsky] 7.Nge2
7...Ba5! [a novelty; 7...e5] 8.0-0 [8.a3 Bb6 9.d5 (9.Be3 Ng4 and
Black is slightly better) Ne5 and Black is slightly better] Bb6 9.d5
[9.Be3 Ng4 10.Na4 e5 11.Nb6 Qh4 12.h3 Ne3 13.fe3 ab6 14.a3
Qg5 and Black is slightly better] Nb4 10.Qd2 ed5 [10...Ng4 11.Bb1
Qh4 12.Qf4] 11.cd5? [11.Nd5 Nfd5 12.cd5 Nd3 13.Qd3 f5 14.Be3

fe4 15.Qe4 and Black is slightly better; 11.ed5 Nd3 12.Qd3 Ng4
and Black is slightly better] Ng4 12.Bb1 [12.h3 Ne5 13.Bb1 Bh3 14.
Na4 Qh4 15.Qf4 Qg4 16.Ng3 Qf4 17.Bf4 Bd7 and Black is
superior] Qh4 13.Qf4 f5 14.ef5? [14.Qg3 Qg3 15.Ng3 fe4 16.Nge4
Bf5 and Black is superior] Bf5 (and Black is winning) 15.h3 [15.
Bf5 Rf5 16.Qg3 Nf2 17.Be3 Be3! with the idea 18.Qh4 Nd1!] Bf2
16.Kh1 Bd7 17.Qg5 Bc5! 18.Rf8 Rf8 19.Ng1 Rf1 20.Bh7 Kh8 0-1
[V.Kramnik]
6. Sergey Karjakin 2706 A. Morozevich 2771
Wijk aan Zee 2009 105/53 [B48]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2
Nf6 8.0-0-0 Be7 9.f3 0-0 10.g4 b5 11.g5 Ne8 12.h4 Ne5 13.Kb1
Bb7 14.h5 Rc8
15.Qg2! [a novelty; 15.Bd3 see 103/(123)] b4 16.Na4 f5 17.gf6 Nf6

18.Bd3 Rf7 19.b3 Rcf8 20.Rdg1 Ne8 21.Rh3 Bf6 22.Nb2 Nc6?
[22...Nd3 23.cd3 Nd6 and White is slightly better; Sergey Karjakin]
23.Nc6 Qc6 [23...Bc6!?] 24.Nc4 d5 25.ed5 ed5 26.h6 [26...dc4 27.
Bh7 Kh8 28.Be4 and White is winning; 26...g6 27.Bg6 hg6 28.Qg6
Kh8 29.Qg7! and White is winning] 1-0 [RR]
7. S. Sjugirov 2491 M. Brodsky 2572
Saint Petersburg 2008 105/(77) [B97]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 cd4 5.Nd4 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6
8.Qd2 Qb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.e5 de5 11.fe5 Nfd7 12.Ne4 h6 13.Bh4
Qa2 14.Rd1 Qd5 15.Qe3 Bc5 16.Ne6 Bb4 17.c3 Qe6 18.cb4 0-0
19.Rd6! [a novelty; 19.Be2 see 103/183] Qe5 20.Bc4 Nc6? 21.0-0

Qh5 22.Bf6 Nf6 23.Nf6 gf6 24.Rff6 Ne5 25.Rh6 Nc4 26.Qe7 1-0
8. E. Prie 2491 Th. Bonn 2230

Rochefort 2008 105/(261) [D02]
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 e6 3.e3 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d5 6.Nbd2 Bd6 7.Bg3 00 8.Bd3 Qe7 9.Ne5 Nd7 10.Nd7! [10.Nc6 bc6 11.Qa4 e5! (11...Bb7
12.Bd6 Qd6 13.Qa3 with the idea Nb3) 12.Qc6 Rb8 with
compensation; 10.h4 see 100/270] Bd7? [10...Qd7 (only move) 11.
dc5 (11.Bd6? Qd6 12.dc5 Qc5 13.Bh7 Kh7 14.Qh5 Kg8 15.Ne4 g6!
(equal) 16.Qg5 Qe7 17.Nf6 Kg7 18.Nh5 Kh7 19.Nf6) Bc5 12.0-0
and White is slightly better] 11.Bd6! Qd6
12.dc5! [a novelty; 12.Qh5; 12.f4] Qc5 13.Bh7!! [G.Alan] Kh7 14.

Qh5 Kg8 15.Ne4! Qc4 [15...Qa5 16.Ng5 Rfd8 17.Qf7 Kh8 18.0-0
d4 (18...Ne5 19.Qh5 Kg8 20.f4) 19.Qh5 Kg8 20.Qh7 Kf8 21.Qh8
Ke7 22.Qg7 Kd6 23.Nf7 Kc7 24.Nd8 Rd8 25.ed4; 15...g6 16.Nc5
gh5 17.Nd7 Rfd8 18.Nf6; 15...Qb5 16.Ng5 Rfe8 (16...Rfd8 17.Qf7
Kh8 18.Qg6 Kg8 19.0-0-0 d4 20.Qh7 Kf8 21.Qh8 Ke7 22.Qg7 Kd6
23.Nf7 Kc7 24.Nd8 Rd8 25.ed4) 17.Qf7 Kh8 18.Qd7 Re7 19.Qd6
Qb2; 18.0-0-0! with the idea 18...Re7? 19.Qh5 Kg8 20.Qh7 Kf8 21.
Qh8 mate; 15...Qb6 16.Ng5 Rfe8 17.Qf7 Kh8 18.0-0-0 Qc7 (18...
Qd8 19.Qh5 Kg8 20.Qh7 Kf8 21.Qh8 Ke7 22.Qg7 Kd6 23.Nf7) 19.
f4 Ne7 (19...Nd8 20.Qg6 Kg8 21.f5) 20.Rhf1] 16.Ng5 Rfd8 [16...
Rfe8 17.Qf7 Kh8 18.Qd7 Ne5 (18...Re7 19.Qd6) 19.Nf7; 16...Qd3
17.e4 Rfd8 18.Qf7 Kh8 19.Rd1 Qc4 20.Qg6 Kg8 21.Qh7 Kf8 22.
Qh8 Ke7 23.Qg7 Kd6 24.b3 Qb5 25.Nf7 Kc7 26.Qg3 Kb6 27.a4
Qa6 28.Nd8 Rd8 29.Ra1; 18.Rd1] 17.Qf7 Kh8 18.Qh5 Kg8
19.Qf7 [19.Rd1!! a) 19...Qa2 20.0-0 Qb2 21.f4 Qc2 (21...Qc3 22.

Qf7 Kh8 23.Rf3 e5 24.f5) 22.f5! ef5 (22...e5 23.Qh7 Kf8 24.Rd5) 23.
Rd5 (and White is winning) Qc3 (23...Ne7 24.Re5 Re8 25.Re7! Re7
26.Qh7 Kf8 27.Qh8 mate) 24.Qh7 Kf8 25.Rdf5 Bf5 (25...Ke7 26.
Rf7 Kd6 27.Ne4) 26.Qf5 Qf6 27.Qe6 Rd1 28.Nh7 mate; b) 19...Be8
20.Qh7 Kf8 21.Qh8 Ke7 22.Qg7 Kd6 23.b3 Qh4 24.g3 and White is
winning; c) 19...b5 c1) 20.Qh7 Kf8 21.Qh8 Ke7 22.Qg7 Kd6 23.b3
Rg8; c2) 20.Rd2 c21) 20...a5 21.Qh7 Kf8 22.Qh8 Ke7 23.Qg7 Kd6
24.b3 Qh4 (24...Rg8 25.Qg8 Rg8 26.bc4 Rg5 27.cb5) 25.g3 Qh5 26.
c4 bc4 27.bc4; c22) 20...Rab8! 21.Qh7 Kf8 22.Qh8 Ke7 23.Qg7
Kd6 24.b3 Qh4 (24...Rg8 25.Qg8 Rg8 26.bc4 Rg5 27.f4 Rg8 28.cd5
ed5 29.e4) 25.g3 Qh5; c3) 20.h4 b4 (20...e5 21.Qf7 Kh8 22.Qg6
Kg8 23.h5; 20...Qa2 21.Qf7 Kh8 22.Qg6 Kg8 23.h5 Ne5 24.Qh7
Kf8 25.h6 Ke7 26.Qg7 Kd6 27.Ne4 Kc6 28.Qe5 de4 29.h7 Qb2 30.
h8Q Rh8 31.Rd6 Kb7 32.Rd7 Ka6 33.Rh8; 20...Ne5 21.Qh7 Kf8 22.
Rd4) 21.Qf7 Kh8 22.Qg6 Kg8 23.h5; d) 19...Rac8] Kh8 20.h4! Ne5
[20...Qg4 21.Qg6 Kg8 (21...Qf5 22.Nf7 Kg8 23.Nh6) 22.Qh7 Kf8
23.Qh8 Ke7 24.Qg7 Kd6 25.Nf7] 21.Qh5 Kg8 22.0-0-0! [22.Rd1
Nd3 23.Kd2 Nb2] Qa2! [22...Ba4 23.Rd4 Qa2 24.Qh7 Kf8 25.Rf4
Ke8 (25...Ke7 26.Qg7 Kd6 27.Qe5! with the idea 27...Ke5 28.Nf7
mate) 26.Qg8 Kd7 27.Qe6 Kc7 28.Qe5 Kc6 29.Qf5; 22...Rdc8 23.
Rd4 Qa2 24.Qh7 Kf8 25.Rf4 Ke7 26.Qg7 with the idea 26...Kd8 27.
Ne6! Be6 28.Rf8 mate; 22...Re8 23.Qh7 (23.f4 Qa2 24.Qh7 Kf8 25.
fe5 Qa1 26.Qb1 Qb1 27.Kb1 Ke7 28.Rhf1 Rf8 29.Rf4; 23.Rd4 Qa2
24.Qh7 Kf8 25.Rf4 Ke7 26.Qg7 Kd8 27.Qe5 Qa1 28.Kc2 Ba4 29.
Ra4 Qa4 30.Kb1 Qg4 31.e4 Kd7 32.f3 Qg2 33.Rd1 Qe2 34.Rd4
(with attack) Rac8 35.Ne6 with the idea 35...Re6 36.Rd5 Ke7 37.
Qg7 Ke8 38.Qd7 Kf8 39.Rf5; 23.Kb1 Qg4 24.Qh7 Kf8 25.Qh8 Ke7
26.Qg7 Kd6 27.c4 Rac8 28.f4 Qf5 29.e4) Kf8 24.Qh8 Ke7 25.Qg7
Kd6 26.b3 Nd3 (26...Qc3 27.Kb1 with the idea 27...Rac8 28.Ne4)
27.Kb1 Qa6 28.Qd4 Nc5 29.h5 and White is winning] 23.Qh7 Kf8
24.Qh8 Ke7 25.Qg7 Kd6 26.Ne4 Kc6 27.Qe5 Qa1 28.Kd2 Qb2
29.Ke1 Rac8? [29...a5 30.h5! a4 31.Rh4 a3 32.Qd6 Kb5 33.Nd2
Ra4 34.Ra4 Ka4 35.Qc7 a2 36.Qd8 a1Q 37.Qa8; 30...b6 with the
idea 31.h6? de4!! 32.h7 Be8 33.h8Q Rd1 34.Kd1 Qb1 35.Kd2 Qb2
equal] 30.Nd6 Rc7 [30...Rf8 31.Rf1 Rcd8 32.Nc4 Qa2 33.Qd6 Kb5
34.Na3 Ka5 35.Qb4 Ka6 36.Rd2 Qa1 37.Ke2] 31.Nc4 Qc2 [31...
Qa2 32.Qd6 Kb5 33.Na3 Ka4 34.Qb4 mate; 31...Qb3 32.Na5] 32.
Qd6 1-0 [E.Prie]
9. M. Prusikin 2529 A. Braun 2558
Deutschland (h) 2009 105/304 [E15]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2 c5 6.d5 ed5 7.cd5 Bb7
8.Bg2 Nd5 9.0-0 Nc7 10.Nc3 Be7 11.Rd1 [11.e4 see 97/(375)] Qc8
12.Bg5! [a novelty; 12.e4] f6 only move [12...Bf3 13.Bf3 Bg5 14.

Ba8 Na8 15.Qe4 and White is winning; 12...Bg5 13.Ng5 Bg2 14.
Kg2 and White is superior] 13.Bf4 Ne6 14.Nd5! Nc6 [14...Nf4 15.
gf4! Bd5 16.Rd5 Nc6 17.Rd2! and White is slightly better] 15.Rac1
[15.Ne7!? Ke7 16.Bd6 Kf7 17.Rac1 and White is slightly better]
Kf7? [15...0-0! 16.Ne7 (16.Nh4?! Rf7! equal) Ne7 17.Bd6 Re8 18.
b4 cb4 19.Qb3 Nc6 20.Bb4 Kh8 21.e3 and White is slightly better]
16.h4! g6 17.h5 g5 18.Be3 Qg8 19.b4! [19.Qf5?! Rd8!] cb4 [19...
d6 (only move) 20.Qf5 Rd8 21.Ng5 Ng5 22.Nf6 Bf6 23.Bd5 Ke7
24.Bg5 Bg5 25.Bg8 Rdg8 26.bc5 bc5 27.Rc5! and White is
winning] 20.Nf6!! Kf6 21.Rd7 Bc8 [21...Qc8 22.Qb2 Kf7 23.Ne5

and White is winning; 21...Rb8 22.Qb2 Kf7 23.Rc6 Bc6 24.Ne5
Kf8 25.Nc6 Re8 26.Ne7 and White is winning] 22.Qc6 Bd7 23.Bd4
1-0 [M.Prusikin]
10. Y. Shulman 2639 Mi. Marin 2556
Reykjavik 2009 105/284 [D85]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.e4 Nc3 6.bc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5
8.Rb1 0-0 9.Be2 Nc6 10.d5 Ne5 11.Ne5 Be5 12.Qd2 e6 13.f4 Bg7
14.c4 Re8 15.e5 f6 16.d6 fe5 17.Bb2 ef4 18.Bg7 Kg7 19.0-0 Rf8
20.Rf4 Rf4 21.Qf4 Qf6 22.Qe4 Rb8 23.Rf1 Qd4 24.Qd4 cd4 25.
c5?! [25.Rb1 Bd7 26.Bf3 b6 27.c5 Rc8 see 25.c5] Bd7 26.Bf3
Rc8?! [26...Bc6 27.Rb1 Rf8! 28.Bc6 (28.Rb7? Bb7 29.Bb7 d3 30.
Bc6 d2 31.Ba4 e5! 32.c6 Kf7 33.c7 Ke6 34.d7 d1Q 35.Bd1 Kd7 and
Black is winning) bc6 29.Re1 Rf5 and Black is slightly better] 27.
Rb1 b6 28.c6 Bc6 29.Rc1 Bd7 30.Rc8 Bc8 31.Bc6 Kf6 32.d7 Bd7
33.Bd7 [NB 1/h] Ke5! [33...e5 see 37/(523)] 34.Kf2
34...Kd5! [a novelty; 34...Kd6] 35.Ke2 e5 36.Bc8 time b5 time

[36...e4! 37.Bb7 Ke5 38.a4 (38.h4 b5! equal, with the idea b4, weak
point c3) g5! 39.g3 h5 40.Kd2 h4 41.Kc2 hg3 42.hg3 Kf5 43.Bc8
Ke5 44.Kb3 Kd5 45.Bb7 Ke5 46.Kc4 d3 47.Kc3 Kf5 48.Kd2 Kg4
49.Be4 Kg3 50.Bd3 g4 51.Bf5 Kf3 52.Ke1 g3 53.Kf1 Ke3 54.Kg2
Kd4 55.Kg3 Kc5 56.Kf3 Kb4 57.Bd7 a6 equal] 37.Bb7 Kc4 38.
Kd2 [38.Ba6!? a) 38...e4? 39.a4 Kc3 40.Bb5 a5 41.g4 g5 42.h3 h6
43.Ba6 (zugzwang) Kc2 (43...Kb4 44.Bb7!) 44.Bb7! e3 (44...d3 45.
Ke3 d2 46.Be4! Kc1 47.Bf3 and White is winning) 45.Ba6 Kc3 46.
Bd3 zugzwang (46.Kf3? Kd2 47.Ke4 e2 48.Be2 Ke2 49.Kd4 Kf3 50.
Kc4 Kg3 51.Kb5 Kh3 52.Ka5 Kg4 53.Kb6 Kf4! and Black is slightly
better) Kb4 47.Kf3 Ka4 48.Ke4 Kb4 49.Kd4 a4 50.Ke3 a3 51.Bb1
Kb3 52.Bg6! and White is winning; b) 38...Kc5 39.Kd3 Kb6 40.Bc8
Kc5 41.Ke4 Kc4 42.Ba6 (42.Ke5?! d3 43.Ke4 Kc3) Kc5 43.a3 Kb6
44.Bc8 Kc5 45.Ke5?! d3 with counterplay] a5 [38...g5!? 39.Ba6] 39.
Be4 Kb4 [39...b4!? (Y.Shulman) 40.h4 (40.Bc2 Kd5 41.Bb3 Ke4 42.
Bc4 Kf4 43.Kd3 a4 with counterplay) b3 41.ab3 Kb3 42.g4 a4 43.h5
gh5 44.g5 a3 45.Bh7 Kb2 46.Bg8 h4 47.g6 e4 48.Bd5 h3 49.g7 a2
50.Ba2 h2 51.g8Q h1Q 52.Qb8! Ka1 53.Bc4! equal] 40.h4 Ka3 41.
g4! Ka2 42.h5! [42.g5? b4 43.h5 b3 44.hg6 hg6 45.Bg6 a4!] b4
[42...gh5? 43.g5 and White is winning] 43.hg6? [43.Bg6 a4 (43...
hg6? 44.hg6 b3 45.g7 b2 46.g8Q Ka1 47.Qa8 b1Q 48.Qa5 Kb2 49.
Qb4 Ka2 50.Qb1 Kb1 51.Kd3! and White is winning; M.Golubev)
44.g5! (44.Bh7 Kb2 45.h6 a3 46.Bg8 b3 47.h7 a2 48.h8Q a1Q 49.
Qe5 Qc1 50.Ke2 Qc3 equal) b3! 45.Bh7 a3 46.g6 Kb2 (only move)
47.g7 a2 48.g8Q a1Q 49.Qg2!? (M.Golubev) Qc1 50.Ke2 (50.Kd3?
Qc2! and Black is winning) Qe3 51.Kd1 Kc3 (with the idea d3) 52.
Qc6 Kb2 53.Qe4 Qc1 54.Ke2 Qc2 55.Kf3 Qc3 56.Kg4 Qc8 57.Bf5
(57.Qf5 Qc2) Qg8 58.Kh4 Qd8 59.Kh3 with initiative] hg6 44.Bg6
b3 45.g5 a4!! and Black is superior [45...b2? 46.Be4 and White is
winning] 46.Bf7?! [46.Be4 Kb2! 47.g6 a3 48.g7 a2 49.g8Q a1Q and

Black is superior] Ka1! (and Black is winning) 47.g6 b2 48.g7 b1Q
49.g8Q e4 50.Qe8 a3 51.Qa4 Qb2 52.Ke1 e3 53.Qd1 Qb1 54.Ke2
Qd1 55.Kd1 Kb2 0-1 [Mi.Marin]
B 90
8...Nc6 9.f3 d5! 10.ed5 Nd5 11.Nd5 Qd5 12.Qd5 Bd5 13.0-0-0 0-00 14.Bb6 Rd6! 15.Bd3 g6 16.Rhe1 Bb3 17.ab3 Nb4 equal; Tiviakov
- Va.Loginov, Russia (ch) 1996 see 68/(227)
2
9...Rc8 10.f5 Bb3 11.ab3 d5 12.ed5 Bb4 equal; E.Gonzales Hmadi, Thessaloniki (ol) 1984 see 38/(347);
9...Qc7 10.0-0-0
a) 10...Be7 11.h3 [11.Kb1 0-0 12.h3 b5 13.g4 (Vitiugov Petkevich, Cappelle la Grande 2008 see 102/186) b4 14.Nd5 Bd5
15.ed5 a5 unclear; Vitiugov] b5 12.g4 h6 13.Nd5 Bd5 14.ed5 Rc8
15.Rh2! (M.Kobalia - P.Anisimov, Russia 2006 see 98/187) 0-0 16.
Qg2 ef4 17.Bf4 Ne5 18.g5 hg5 19.Bg5 and White is slightly better;
M.Kobalia;
b) 10...b5 11.Kb1 Rc8 12.h3 h5 13.Bd3 Be7 14.Rhe1 (Svidler -
Khismatullin, Russia (ch) 2006 see 98/188) h4 unclear

3
10.f5 Bc4 11.0-0-0 Be7 12.Kb1 0-0
a) 13.g4?! Ng4 14.Rg1 Ne3 15.Qe3 Bb3! 16.ab3 [16.Qh6? Bc2 17.
Kc2 Bf6 and Black is slightly better; Nisipeanu - Sergey Karjakin,
Khanty-Mansiysk (m/2) 2007 see 101/171] Kh8 17.Nd5 with
compensation; Sergey Karjakin;
b) 13.h3 a5 14.g4 Bf1 15.Rhf1 b4 16.Nd5 (Bruzon Batista - Vera
Gonzalez-Quevedo, La Habana 2002 see 85/234) Ne4 17.Qg2 a4 18.
Nc1 Ndc5 19.Nd3 Rc8 20.N3b4 unclear; Bruzon Batista
4
17.Rhe1 Bf6 18.g5 Nec4 19.Bc4 Nc4 20.Qc1 Bd4 21.Rd4 Qb6 22.
Rd3 Rfe8 equal; Svidler - R.Ponomariov, Wijk aan Zee 2007 see 99/
(176)
5
10.g4 Nb6 11.g5 Nfd7 12.Nd5 [12.Na5 Rc8 13.0-0-0 Qc7 14.Kb1
Be7 15.Nd5 Nd5 16.ed5 Bd5 17.Qd5 Qa5 18.c4 0-0 19.cb5 ab5 20.
Bb5 Nb6 21.Qb3 Rb8 22.Bd2 Qa7 unclear; Lukianov - Kuporosov,
USSR 1988 see 46/(328); 12.f4 g6! 13.0-0-0 Nc4 14.Bc4 bc4 15.
Nd4!? ed4 16.Bd4 f6! unclear; Leko - Shirov, Sarajevo 1999 see
75/240] Rc8 [12...Bd5 13.ed5 Rc8 14.Na5 (Shirov - B.Gelfand,
Madrid 1996 see 66/225) Nd5 15.Nb7 Ne3 16.Nd8 Nc2 17.Kd1
Na1 18.Nb7 Nc2 unclear; B.Gelfand] 13.0-0-0 Bd5 14.ed5 Nc4 15.
Qf2 Be7 16.h4 h6 17.gh6 gh6 (Ju.Polgar - B.Gelfand, Novgorod
1996 see 67/331) 18.f4 Bh4 19.Qe2 Qc7 20.Bg1 with
compensation; Ju.Polgar
6
15.0-0-0 h5 16.Kb1 g6 17.Qe2 Bg7 18.g4 (Sandipan - Sutovsky,
Pune 2004 see 91/221) hg4! 19.fg4 Rh4! unclear; Sutovsky
7
15...Be7 16.Ra4 Rb8 17.Nc1 Bd8
a) 18.Nd3 Ba5! [18...Nd5 19.Ne5 de5 20.Qd5 Qd5 21.Bd5 0-0 22.
Ke2 and White is slightly better; Tiviakov - De Firmian, Polanica
Zdroj 1995 see 67/(332)] 19.Ra5 Qc7 20.Ra6 Qc4 21.Rd6 0-0 22.00 Nd5 equal; Shirov - B.Gelfand, Wien 1996 see 67/ 332;
b) 18.b3 0-0 [18...Qa7?! 19.Nd3 Qd4 20.Nb4 Qd2 21.Kd2 Rb4 22.
Rb4 Ba5 23.Kc3 Kd7 24.Ra1 Bb4 25.Kb4 and White is superior;
Hracek - Ch.Lutz, Bad Homburg 1997 see 70/(246)] 19.Na2 e4 20.
Nb4 [20.Kd1 ef3 21.gf3 Nd7 22.Rb4 Qc7 23.Ra4 Qc8 24.Be2 Nc5
25.Rg4 Bf6 26.Nb4 Na4 27.Nc6 Nc3 28.Qc3 Bc3 29.Ne7 Kh8 30.
Nc8 Rfc8 31.Rc4 1/2-1/2 Shirov - R.Ponomariov, Moscow 2006 see
98/(183)] Re8 21.Kd1 e3 22.Qc3 e2 23.Be2 Nd5 24.Nd5 Qd5 25.
Qd2 Qc5 26.Ba6 (N.-Costel Burnoiu - N.Grigore, Romania (ch)
2001 see 81/(224)) Qc6 27.Bd3 Qa4 28.ba4 Rb1 29.Qc1 Rc1 30.
Kc1 Ba5 and White is slightly better; Nisipeanu, V.Stoica
8
17.Nc1 h5 18.Na2 [18.Nd3 Bh6 19.Qb4 Qc7 20.Qa3 0-0 21.Nf2 (Ju.
Polgar - Shirov, Linares 2001 see 81/224) Qa7 22.0-0 Nd7 unclear;
Ju.Polgar] Bh6 19.Qe2 [19.Qd3 0-0 20.Kd1 Qa7 21.h3 Qf2 22.Rb4
e4 23.fe4 Ne4 and Black is superior; Iordachescu - C.Navrotescu,
Bucuresti 2001 see 81/(225)] 0-0 [19...Qd7 20.b3 0-0 21.0-0 e4 22.
fe4 Ng4 23.Nb4 f5 24.Nc6 fe4 25.Nb8 Qa7 equal; V.Anand - V.
Topalov, Bastia (m/2-rapid) 2003 see 89/(233); 19...b3!? 20.Bb3
Nd7! 21.Rb4 Qc7 22.Rb8 Nb8 23.Ba4 Kf8 24.b4 Qa7 with
compensation; I.-I.Taras - Madan, Romania 2004 see 90/215] 20.
Nb4
a) 20...Qd7 21.Nc6 Rb2 22.0-0 h4! 23.Bb3 h3 24.g3 e4! 25.fe4 Qg4
26.Qd3! Qg5 27.e5! de5 28.Rh4 e4 29.Qd4 Ng4 30.Rh6! Nh6! 31.
Qb2 Qe3 32.Rf2 Qe1 33.Rf1 Qe3 1/2 : 1/2 Shirov - G.Kasparov,
Linares 2004 see 90/214;
b) 20...e4 21.0-0 ef3 22.Qf3 [22.gf3? Rfe8 23.Qg2 Qd7 24.b3 Re5
25.Kh1 Rbe8 and Black is superior, with attack; V.Anand - B.
Gelfand, Monaco (blindfold) 2001 see 81/(225)] Ng4 23.Nc6 Qb2!
24.Nb8 Qb8 25.Bd3 Qe8 26.Re4 Qd8 27.Qg3 Qa5 equal; Shirov - B.
Gelfand, Monaco (blindfold) 2001 see 81/225
9
11...Nfd7 12.f4 Rc8 [12...Na4 13.Na4! ba4 14.f5 Bb3 15.cb3 ab3 16.
ab3 Be7 17.Kb1 0-0 18.g4 a5 19.Bb5! Rb8 20.Ba4 and White is
slightly better; Peter Acs - Hracek, Plovdiv 2003 see 89/233] 13.f5
Bc4 14.Bc4 Rc4 15.Qd2 (Svidler - B.Gelfand, Rest of the World Armenia 2004 see 91/219) b4 16.Nd5 Nd5 17.Qd5 Qc7 unclear;
Svidler
10
13.Nc5
a) 13...Qc7 14.Ne6 [14.N5a4 Rb8 15.g4 Qc6 16.g5 Nd7 unclear;
Tiviakov - Van Wely, Nederland 1998 see 74/282] fe6 15.Qg3 Rb8
16.Qh3 Qc8 (Peter Acs - Ch.Lutz, Budapest 2003 see 87/247) 17.
g4! g6 18.f4 and White is slightly better, with attack;
b) 13...Be7 14.N5a4 [14.h4 Qc8 15.N5a4 Rb8 16.g4 Qc6 17.Nb6
Bd8 18.Ncd5 (V.Anand - Svidler, Dortmund 2004 see 91/220) Bb6
19.Nb6 0-0 and Black is slightly better] Rb8 15.Nb6 0-0 16.Kb1
Rb7 17.Ncd5 Nd5 18.Nd5 Rb5 equal; Yu.Quesada Perez - Sergey
Karjakin, Calvia (ol) 2004 see 93/203
11
13...Rc8 14.Bb6 Qd7 15.g3 g6 16.Rd2 Bh6 17.f4 and White is
slightly better; V.Anand - Kasimdzhanov, San Luis 2005 see 94/
(185);
13...Nd7 14.Nc6 Qc7 15.Nb4 and White is slightly better; Bologan B.Gelfand, Espana 2005 see 94/185
12
14.g4 Be7 15.g5 Nh5 16.Nd5 Qa4! unclear; I.Cheparinov - K.
Lahno, Wijk aan Zee II 2006 see 96/(187)
13
V.Anand - B.Gelfand, Wijk aan Zee 2006 see 96/187
14
11...Nb6 12.g5
a) 12...Nh5 13.Na5 Qc7 14.Kb1 Be7 15.Nd5 Nd5 16.ed5 Bd7 17.c4
0-0 18.cb5 [18.Rc1 Nf4 19.h4 and White is slightly better; M.
Kobalia - Dvoirys, Russia (ch) 1998 see 73/302] ab5 19.Bd3 Qb8
20.Be4!? [20.Rc1 Qa8 21.a3 Nf4 22.Bf4 ef4 23.h4 Rc5 24.Be4 f5
25.Bc2 Kh8 (Dominguez Perez - Farley, Santo Domingo (zt) 2007
see 101/(166)) 26.Nc6! Bc6 27.dc6 Qc6 28.Qf4 Rc4 29.Qe3 Bd8 30.
Bb3 Rc5 31.Qf4 and White is superior, with the idea h5-h6 with
attack; 21...f5 unclear;] Bd8 21.Nc6 Qb7 22.Qb4 and White is
slightly better; Dominguez Perez;
b) 12...b4
b1) 13.Nb1 Nfd7 14.Ba6 [14.Qb4!? d5 15.Bb6 Nb6] Nc4 15.Bc4
Rc4 16.Qd3 Qa8 and Black is slightly better; Leko - Morozevich,
Yerevan (rapid) 2008;
b2) 13.Na4!! Ne4 14.fe4 Na4 15.Qb4 Qc7 16.Rd2 Bd7 17.Qa5 Qc6
18.Ba6 Rb8 19.Rd5! Be7 20.Ba7 (Dominguez Perez Morozevich, Wijk aan Zee 2009 - 105/73) Bg5 21.Kb1 Bd8 22.
Qd2 Rb3 23.ab3 Qa6 24.Be3 and White is slightly better;
Dominguez Perez
15
16.Bc4 bc4 17.Nc1 Be7 18.h4 (Zagrebelny - D.Kayumov, AlmaAta 1995 see 65/245) Nc5! 19.Bc5 Rc5 20.Ne2 0-0 21.Nc3 f5
unclear; Zagrebelny
16
17.f4 Bg7 [17...ef4?! 18.Bc4! bc4 19.Nd4 Ne5 20.Nc6 Qd7 21.Bf4
Bg7 22.Be5 Be5 23.Qe2 Rc6 24.dc6 Qc6 25.c3 and White is
slightly better; Rodney Perez Garcia - I.Cheparinov, Ferrol 2001 see
82/229] 18.h4 ef4 19.Qf4 Qf6 equal; A.Skripchenko - A.Naiditsch,
Dortmund (m/10) 2001 see 82/(229)
T.Paunovic


The Greatest Tournaments 2001-2009

Zdenko Krnic
Chess Informant is finalizing the manuscript of its new book, The
Greatest Tournaments 2001-2009. The tournaments presented in
this book all fulfill the following criterion:
Informant at
ChessCafe
minimum category is 17
it must be a round-robin tournament
minimum number of players 6
time limit: regular tempo of play.
Chess Informant
5-99 Endings Section
by Chess Informant
There are total of eighty-six tournaments outlined in the book,

seventeen of which were played in 2009. Each tournament is
represented by a winning game, the best game played at the
tournament, and the game with the most important theoretical
novelty, as well as a selection of the most beautiful combinations
and tactical solutions in endings.
Fans of chess statistics can find plenty of interesting data. The
tournament played in Bilbao in 2008, at Category 21, is one of the
strongest in the book. We have chosen the following games for our
readers: the winning game of the tournament: Topalov Anand, the
most beautiful game of the tournament: Carlsen Radjabov, and the
most important theoretical game: Carlsen Ivanchuk.
BILBAO 2008
the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
Grand Slam Final cat. XXI (2769)
Informant 1-100 (CD)
Three points for a win and one for a draw
TOPALOV ANAND [E15]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2 Bb7 6.Bg2 c5 7.d5 ed5
8.cd5 Nd5 9.0-0 Be7 10.Rd1 Qc8 11.a3 Nf6
12.Bg5! [a novelty; 12.Nc3 see 98/385] d5 [better is 12...0-0] 13.

Bf6 Bf6 14.Nc3 Bc3 15.bc3 Na6 [15...Nd7 16.e4! with the idea 16...
de4 17.Bh3 Bc6 18.Rd7! Bd7 19.Qe4 Be6 20.Ng5 and White is
winning; 15...0-0 16.Ng5 g6 17.Bd5 Bd5 18.Rd5 Nc6 19.Rad1 with
initiative] 16.Nh4 g6 [16...Qe6 17.Nf5 0-0-0 18.Ng7 Qg6 19.Nf5
and White is slightly better] 17.Bd5 Bd5 [17...0-0? 18.Ng6!] 18.
Rd5 0-0
19.Rad1 (and White is superior) Nc7 20.Rd7 Ne6 21.Qe4 [21.

Qa4!? with the idea 21...c4 22.R7d6] Qe8 [21...Nd4 22.Qe7 Nc6 23.
Qf6 Nd4 24.Re7 Nc6 25.Ng6! hg6 26.Re4 Qf5 27.Qc6 and White is
superior; 21...Qa6 22.Rf7! Rf7 (22...Kf7 23.Rd7 Kf6 24.Nf3 and
White is winning) 23.Qa8 Nf8 24.Rd3 Qa3 25.Qd5 and White is
superior] 22.Nf3 c4 [22...Rd8 23.Qb7 and White is winning; 23.Ne5
and White is winning; 22...Nd4 23.Ne5 (23.Re7 Qa4!) Nc6 24.f4!
Ne5 25.fe5 Qe6 26.R1d6 Qh3 (26...Qa2 27.e6 and White is
winning) 27.Rc7 and White is winning] 23.Qh4! and White is
winning [23.Qc4 and White is winning] Nc5 [23...Rd8 24.Ne5] 24.
Re7 Rd8 25.Rf1! 1-0 [Topalov]
CARLSEN RADJABOV [B78]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0
8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rb8 11.Bb3 Na5 12.Kb1 b5 13.h4
[13.Bh6 see 99/(153)] Nc4 14.Bc4 bc4 15.Ka1 h5 16.Rb1 Qa5 [a
novelty; 16...Re8] 17.Bh6 Bh6 18.Qh6 Rb6 19.g4 [19.Qg5 Ra6 20.
Qa5 Ra5 equal] hg4 20.Qe3 [20.h5 g5! with the idea 21.Nf5 Bf5 22.
Qg5 Kh7 with initiative] Rfb8 [20...Qh5!?] 21.h5 g5 [21...Nh5 22.
fg4 (22.Nd5 Ra6 23.a3 c3!) Bg4 23.Rh4 Bd7 unclear] 22.fg4 Ng4
23.Qd2 f6 24.Nf3! [with the idea e5] Ra6?! [24...Kh8!] 25.Rhg1
[25.e5!? Bc6 26.ef6 Bf3 27.Rhf1 with the idea 27...Nf6 28.Rf3 Ne4
29.Qe3 Nc3 30.Qe6 Kh8 31.Qh6] Rb4 [25...Rbb6!? 26.a3 Qc5
unclear] 26.a3 Be6? [26...Qc5 27.e5! (27.Qd5 Qd5 28.Nd5 Rb8 29.
Ne7 Kg7 and Black is slightly better) Qe3 28.Qd5 Kg7 29.ef6 ef6
30.Rbe1 Qc3 31.Re7 Kh6 32.Rh7! equal]
27.e5! de5 28.Ng5 Bf5 [28...Ra4 29.Qc1] 29.Nge4 Kh7 [better is

29...Kf7 30.Rg3 and White is superior] 30.Qe2 Nh6 31.Rg3 Be6
[better is 31...Rb8] 32.Rg6 [32.Qg2! Nf5 33.Rg7!! Ng7 34.Qg6
Kh8 35.Qh6 Kg8 36.Rg1 Kf7 37.Rg7 Ke8 38.Nf6 and White is
winning] Nf5 [32...Bf5 33.Qg2 Be4 34.Qe4 Qa3!! 35.ba3 Ra3 36.
Na2 Ra2! 37.Ka2 Ra4 38.Kb2 c3 39.Kc3 Re4 40.Rb7 Ng8 41.Ra7
Rh4 42.Rg1 Rh5 43.Kb4 and White is superior] 33.Qg4 Nh4 34.
Ng5! fg5 35.Qg5 Ng6 36.Qg6 Kh8 37.Rg1 1-0 [Timman]
CARLSEN IVANCHUK [D37]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c5 7.dc5 Bc5
8.Qc2 Nc6 9.a3 Qa5 10.0-0-0 Be7 11.h4 Rd8 12.Nd2 a6!? [with
the idea b5; 12...dc4 see 99/281] 13.Be2 [a novelty; 13.g4!?]
13...b5! 14.cd5 [14.cb5?! ab5 a) 15.Bb5 Bd7 (15...Bb7!?) 16.Nb3

Qb6 a1) 17.Kb1 Nb4 18.Qe2 (18.ab4 Bb5) Ne4 19.ab4 Nc3 20.bc3
Bb5 21.Qb2 Ra4 and Black is superior; a2) 17.a4 Rdc8 18.Kb1 e5
with initiative; b) 15.Nb5 e5 16.Bg3 (16.Qc6 Bd7 17.Qc2 Bb5 and
Black is winning) Ba6 with initiative; 14.Bf3 b4! (14...bc4 15.Nc4
Qc5 16.Na4 Qb5 17.Ncb6!; 14...Qb6 15.cd5 ed5 16.Nb3 Be6 with
initiative; 14...Bb7!?) 15.Nb3 Qb6 a) 16.cd5 ed5 17.Nd5 Nd5 18.
Bd5 (18.Rd5 Be6 19.Rd8 Rd8 20.Qc6 Rc8 and Black is winning)
Rd5 19.Rd5 ba3 and Black is superior; b) 16.Na4 Qa7 17.c5 e5 18.
Bg5 e4 19.Be2 ba3 20.ba3 Rb8 and Black is superior] ed5 [14...Nd5
15.Nd5 ed5 16.Bd3!? (16.Qc6 Bf5 17.Bc7 Qa3 18.Nb1 Qa1 19.Bd3
Bd3 20.Rd3 Rdc8 with counterplay, with the idea 21.Rc3 b4 22.Rc2
b3 23.Rc3 Bb4 with attack) Be6 17.Bh7 (17.Kb1 Rac8!) Kh8 18.
Kb1 Rac8 19.Nf3 b4 20.Ng5 Bf6 with attack] 15.g4?! [15.Bf3?!
Be6 16.Nb3 Qb6 17.Nd4 Nd4 18.Rd4 Rac8 and Black is superior;
15.Nb3 Qb6 16.Nd4 Nd4 17.Rd4 Bc5 18.Be5 Bd4 19.Bd4 with
counterplay] Be6 16.Nb3 [16.g5 Ne4 17.Nde4 (17.Nb3 Qb6 see 16.
Nb3) de4 18.Rd8 Rd8 19.Rd1 (19.Ne4 Rc8 20.Kb1 b4 with

initiative) Rc8 and Black is slightly better] Qb6 [with attack] 17.g5
[17.Kb1 Rac8 18.f3 b4 with attack] Ne4 18.Ne4 de4 19.Rd8 Nd8!?
[19...Rd8?! 20.Kb1 (20.Rd1? Rc8) Rc8 21.Rc1 equal; 19...Qd8 20.
Kb1 (20.Nc5 Bc5 21.Qc5 Rc8 22.Rd1 Nd4 23.ed4 Bb3 24.Rd2 f5
25.gf6 gf6 26.Be3 and Black is superior) Qd5 21.Nc1 Rc8 22.Qd1
Qc5 23.Nb3 Qf5 with initiative] 20.Kb1 [20.Bc7 Qa7 21.Ba5 (21.
Be5 Rc8 22.Bc3 Nc6 with attack) Rc8 22.Bc3 b4 23.ab4 Bb4 24.
Nd4 and Black is slightly better; 22...Nc6 with the idea b4 with
attack] Rc8 21.Qd1 [21.Qe4? Bb3 22.Qe7 (22.Bd3 Qg6 and Black
is winning) Qc6 23.e4 Ne6 (23...Qc2 24.Ka1 Ne6 25.Bg4 Qe4 and
Black is winning) 24.Rc1 Bc2 (24...Qe4 25.Ka1 Rc1 26.Bc1 Qc6
and Black is winning) 25.Ka1 Nf4 26.Bd1; 25...Nd4 and Black is
winning] Nc6 22.h5
22...a5! 23.g6 [23.h6 a) 23...g6 24.Nd2 (24.Nd4 Rd8 and Black is

slightly better) b4 25.a4 b3 with attack; b) 23...a4 24.Nd4 Rd8 25.
hg7 b4 26.Qa4 (26.ab4 a3! 27.ba3 Nd4 28.ed4 Bb4 and Black is
winning) Nd4 27.ed4 ba3 28.Qb5 Qd4 29.Be3 (29.Rd1 a2) Qg7 and
Black is winning] a4 24.Nd2 [24.Nd4 Nd4 25.ed4 (25.Qd4 Qc6 and
Black is winning) Qc6 26.Bg4 f5 27.d5 Qd5 28.Qd5 Bd5 29.Rd1
(29.Bf5 Rf8 and Black is winning) Be6 30.Be2 and Black is
superior; 25...b4] b4 25.gf7 [25.Nc4 Bc4 26.Bc4 ba3 27.Qc2 (27.
Bf7 Kh8 28.Qc2 Nd8 29.Qd2 Bf6 and Black is winning) h6 (27...
Kh8 28.h6 hg6 29.hg7 Kg7 30.Qc3 Nd4 31.Be5) 28.Bf7 Kh8 29.
Be5 Bf8! 30.Bc3 (30.Qe4 Ne5 31.Qe5 Rc5 and Black is winning)
Ne5 31.Ba2 Nd3 (31...Bb4 32.Bd4 Rc2 33.Bb6 Rb2 34.Ka1 Nd3 35.
Bd4 Rf2 36.Rd1 and Black is supe9rior) 32.Bd5 Rc7 (32...ab2? 33.
Bg7!!) 33.Rh4 Nb2 34.Ka1 Nd3 and Black is winning] Bf7 26.Nc4
[26.Bc4 ba3 27.Bf7 Kf7 28.Nc4 Qb5 29.Qd7 Qc4 30.Qc8 Qd3 and
Black is winning] Qb7! [26...Qc5 27.Bd6!] 27.Qa4 ba3 28.Na3
Ba3 29.Qa3 Nb4! 30.b3 Nd3 31.Bd3 ed3 32.Rc1 d2 [33.Rc8 Qc8
34.Qd6 Qc1 35.Ka2 Qc2] 0-1 [Ivanchuk]


The Greatest Tournaments 2001-2009

Part Two
Zdenko Krnic
Our latest book, The Greatest Tournaments 2001-2009, will be
available in March 2010. As a follow-up to last month's column, we
would like to present more information on its contents.
Informant at
ChessCafe
The tournaments are presented in chronological order. Along with a

crosstable of the event, each tournament is represented by the best
game of the tournament winner, the best game played at the
tournament, and the game with the most important theoretical
novelty. There is also a selection of game fragments, the most
beautiful combinations and endings.
The following symbols are used to identify each category:

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
King the best game of the tournament winner

Queen the best game of the tournament
Rook the most important theoretical game
Bishop Exceptional fragment (initiative, attack, defense,
etc.)
Knight Combination
Pawn Ending
Informants 104-106
There are three tables of statistics given at the end of the book. The
first, the tournament category statistics, shows that Dortmund 2001
had an average rating of 2756, while seven years later, the
organizers of the tournament in Bilbao managed an average rating
of 2769. This means that Bilbao 2008 tops the list of strongest
tournaments.
The second table is the tournament winner statistics. The most
successful player was Veselin Topalov, with an impressive
collection of twelve victories.
Winner Statistics: Topalov 12
2001 DORTMUND
2002 CANNES
2005 LINARES
2005 SOFIA
2005 SAN LUIS
Chess Informant
2006 WIJK AAN ZEE

2006 SOFIA
2007 WIJK AAN ZEE
2007 SOFIA
2007 VITORIA-GASTEIZ
2008 BILBAO
2008 NANJING
Garry Kasparov, Levon Aronian, and, of course, Magnus Carlsen

also achieved brilliant results. Even though he retired from chess in
2005, Kasparov had six top results. Meanwhile, Aronian only made
his debut in the top tournaments in 2005, yet won seven first place
victories in a very short time. Carlsen, to his credit, achieved that
many first place triumphs in an even shorter time span.
Winner Statistics: Kramnik 8
2001 DORTMUND
2003 LINARES
2004 LINARES
2006 DORTMUND
2007 DORTMUND
2007 MOSCOW
2009 DORTMUND
2009 MOSCOW
The third table provides statistics on all the tournament participants:

134 of them! Peter Leko was the most frequent participant. Out of
the eighty-six tournaments, he took part in thirty-four of them.
Ivanchuk follows with twenty-eight, with Svidler and Topalov at
twenty-six, etc.
Participant Statistics: Leko
Another interesting fact is that during the period 2001-2004, only

twenty Category 17 (or higher) tournaments were organized. In the
following four-year period, 2005-2008, there were forty-nine of
them. An increase of almost 150%. The most fruitful year was
2009, with seventeen tournaments of the highest category!
These facts justify our hope that chess will continue to grow as a
sport and that future tournaments will provide further magnificent
duels between the best players. In the end, dear readers, we hope
that you will enjoy this book for years to come.
Since Topalov won twelve tournaments in this time span, we have
chosen just a few of his numerous chess pearls to bring to your
attention this month.
Topalov Anand [E15]
Sofia 2005 93/439
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Nc3 c6
8.e4 d5 9.Qc2 de4 10.Ne4 Bb7 11.Neg5! [a novelty; 11.Bg2 see
32/602] c5 [11...h6 12.Nf7 Kf7 13.Ne5 Kg8 (13...Kf8 14.Bh3 Qd4
15.Ng6 Ke8 16.0-0 Qe4 17.Qe4 Ne4 18.Rfe1! c5 19.Bg2 Bf6 20.
Re4!! Kd7 21.Re6 Bg2 22.Rf6 gf6 23.Nh8 and White is superior)
14.Bh3 Qd4 15.Be6 Kf8 16.Ng6 Ke8 17.0-0-0! Qa1 18.Qb1 Ba3 19.
Kc2 Qb1 20.Kb1 and White is superior] 12.d5 (only move) ed5 13.
cd5 h6 [13...Bd5 14.0-0-0 h6 15.Bc3 hg5 16.Bf6 gf6 17.Bc4 and
White is superior] 14.Nf7 Kf7 15.0-0-0 Bd6 16.Nh4 Bc8 [16...Na6
17.Bc3!?; 17.Bh3 with attack] 17.Re1 Na6 [17...Re8 18.Bb5 Re7
19.Bc3!]
18.Re6! Nb4 [18...Nc7 19.Bc4 b5 20.Bc3! with attack] 19.Bb4 cb4

20.Bc4 b5 [20...Kg8 21.Nf5! Be6 22.de6 Be7 23.Rd1 Qf8 (23...Qc7
24.Rd7 and White is winning) 24.Rd7 Re8 25.Nh4 Nh7 26.Qg6
Ng5 27.f4 (27.Nf5 Nf3) b5 28.Nf5 bc4 (28...Rh7 29.Bd3! and
White is winning) 29.Ng7 Rh7 30.Ne8 Kh8 31.Nc7 and White is
slightly better; 28.Bd5!? and White is winning; 28.Bb5 and White is
winning] 21.Bb5 Be7? [21...Kg8! 22.Bc4! Be6 23.de6 Be7 24.Rd1
Qe8 25.Rd7! and White is superior] 22.Ng6 (and White is winning)
Nd5 23.Re7? [23.Re5 Bb7 24.Nh8 Qh8 25.Qf5 Bf6 26.Qe6 Kf8 27.
Qe8! Re8 28.Re8 Kf7 29.Rh8 and White is winning] Ne7 24.Bc4
Kf6! 25.Nh8 Qd4 26.Rd1 Qa1 27.Kd2 Qd4 28.Ke1 Qe5 29.Qe2
Qe2 30.Ke2 (and White is superior) Nf5 31.Nf7 a5 [31...Be6 32.
Be6 Ke6 33.Nd8! and White is superior] 32.g4 Nh4 33.h3 Ra7 34.
Rd6 Ke7 35.Rb6 (and White is winning) Rc7 36.Ne5 Ng2 37.Ng6
Kd8 38.Kf1 Bb7 39.Rb7 Rb7 40.Kg2 Rd7 41.Nf8 Rd2 42.Ne6
Ke7 43.Ng7 Ra2 44.Nf5 Kf6 45.Nh6 Rc2 46.Bf7 Rc3 47.f4 a4 48.
ba4 b3 49.g5 Kg7 50.f5 b2 51.f6 Kh7 52.Nf5 1-0 [Anand]
Topalov I.Sokolov [D15]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.c5 Bg4 6.Ne5 Bh5 7.Qb3
Ra7
8.e4!! and White is superior [a novelty; 8.Bf4 see 66/(320)] e6 [8...

Ne4?? 9.Ne4 de4 10.Qh3 Bg6 11.Bc4 and White is winning; 8...de4
9.Be2! (9.Bg5 e6 10.g4 Qd4 unclear; 9.Bc4 e6 10.Be3 with
compensation) e6 (9...Bg6 10.h4! and White is superior, with the
idea 10...Qd4 11.Ng6 hg6 12.Qb6 and White is winning) 10.g4 (10.
Bh5 Nh5 11.Nc4 and White is superior with the idea 11...Nf6 12.
Bg5) Bg6 (10...Qd4 11.Bf4 Bc5 12.0-0 and White is superior) 11.
Bf4 (11.h4 Qd4) Nd5 12.Nd5 ed5 13.h4 f6 14.Ng6 hg6 15.f3 and
White is superior] 9.ed5 ed5 10.Bd3 Nbd7 [10...Nfd7 11.Bf4 and
White is superior, with the idea 11...Qh4? 12.g4! Bg4 13.Ng4 Qg4
14.Bb8 Nb8 15.Qb6 Qf3 16.Kd2 and White is winning] 11.Bf4 Ne5
12.Be5 Be7 [12...Nd7 13.0-0 Ne5 14.Rae1] 13.0-0 0-0 14.Rfe1 Bg6
15.Bg6 hg6 16.Re2 Ng4 17.Qb6! and White is winning [I.Sokolov]
Topalov Ivanchuk
Bilbao 2008
1.Be8! Be7 2.Re1 Bg5 3.g3! a4 4.h4 Bf6 5.Re6 1-0

Topalov Lutz
1.Nf6! (and White is winning) gf6 2.Rd8 Rd8 3.Rd8 Kh7 4.Qf8
Kg6 [4...h5 5.Qh8 (5.g4!? hg4 6.fg4 Kg6 7.Qg8 Kh6 8.Qh8 Kg5 9.
Qg7 and White is winning; Topalov) Kg6 6.Rg8 Kf5 7.Rb8 and
White is winning] 5.Qg8 Kh5 6.Qg7! [with the idea 7.g4, 7.Rh8] f5
7.Rd4 Bc8 8.g3 1-0 [Lutz]
Timman Topalov
1...Qc4!! (and Black is winning) 2.Qa8 Ke7 3.Qa7 Bc7 0-1


The Best of Chess Informant: Magnus

Carlsen
Zdenko Krnic
It was in Chess Informant #76 that we introduced the feature "The
Best of Chess Informant." It was our wish to present the best
achievements of the leading players to our readers. That first
column was devoted to Garry Kasparov, who was the number one
player at that time.
Informant at
ChessCafe
In Chess Informant #107, we present a selection of the creative

output from the world's new number one, Magnus Carlsen. We are
certain that he has begun his ascent to the world championship title.
Among the examples offered for your enjoyment, I would like to
draw your attention to the very instructive rook ending that Carlsen
won versus Hracek. I recommend that all aspiring players study this
example carefully, as it contains many of the motifs necessary for
understanding how to play rook endgames a pawn up.
With 1.b7! the pawn arrives at the seventh rank only when win is
certain, though there is still a long way to go. Upon 2.g3! a path is
opened for the white king to attack the black rook via the maneuver
Kf1-e1-d1-c1. The final blow comes with 14.f4! when White
creates a nice mating net.
Informants 104-106
M. Carlsen (2625) A. Beliavsky (2626) [C78]

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bb7 7.d3
Bc5 8.Nc3 [8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 0-0 10.Nc3 Be7!] d6?! 9.a4 [9.Be3 0-0
10.a3 Nd4] Na5 10.Ba2 [10.ab5 Nb3 11.cb3 ab5 12.Ra8 Ba8 13.
Nb5 h6 with compensation] b4 11.Ne2 Bc8!? [a novelty; 11...0-0!?
12.Bg5 h6 13.Bh4 a) 13...g5?! 14.Ng5 hg5 15.Bg5 d5 (15...b3? 16.
Ng3! with attack) 16.Ng3 de4 17.Nh5 Be7 18.Bf6 Bf6 19.Qg4 Kh8
20.Qf5 Bc8! 21.Qf6 Qf6 22.Nf6 ed3 23.cd3 b3 24.Bb1 Nc6! with
compensation; b) 13...Bc8!? M.Carlsen; 11...d5 see 69/319] 12.c3
[12.Be3 Be3 13.fe3 Be6! equal] bc3 13.bc3 Bb6 [13...Be6 14.d4
Ba2 15.Ra2 Bb6 16.Bg5 and White is slightly better] 14.Ng3 Be6?!
[14...0-0 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bh4 Bg4 17.h3 Bf3 18.Qf3 g5 19.Nh5 Nh5
20.Qh5 Qf6 21.Bg3 Kg7 22.Rab1 Qg6 equal] 15.d4 Ba2 [better is
15...0-0 16.de5 de5 17.Ne5 Qd1 18.Rd1 Rad8 19.Re1 Rfe8 with
compensation] 16.Ra2 0-0?! [16...Nc6 17.a5! Na5 (17...Ba5? 18.
Qa4 Qd7 19.d5 and White is winning) 18.de5 de5 19.Rd2 and
White is superior; 16...ed4!? 17.cd4 0-0 18.Re2 and White is
slightly better] 17.Bg5 ed4? [17...h6 18.Bh4 ed4 19.cd4 Re8 20.Re2
and White is superior]
Chess Informant
18.Nh5! (and White is winning) dc3 19.Nh4! [19.Bf6 gf6 20.Qc1

Kh8 21.Qc3 Rg8 22.Nf6 Rg6 23.e5! d5 24.Nh4 Rg7 25.Nf5 Rg6 26.
Qh3 Rf6 27.ef6 Qf6 28.Re1] Kh8 20.Nf5 [20...Nc4 21.Nfg7 Nh5 22.
Bd8 Ng7 23.Bf6] 1-0 [A. Beliavsky]
M. Carlsen (2581) N. Ibraev (2476) [E38]
Calvia (ol) 2004
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 c5 5.dc5 Bc5 6.Nf3 Qb6 7.e3
Qc7 8.b3 b6 9.Bb2 Bb7
10.Nb5!? [a novelty; 10.Rd1 see 52/564] Qd8 [10...Qc8 11.0-0-0 a)

11...0-0 12.Ng5 (12.Bd3?! a6 with counterplay) h6 (only move) 13.
Bf6 hg5 14.Bg5 a6 15.Nc3 b5 with counterplay; 14.Be5! and White
is slightly better, weak point d6; b) 11...a6!? with the idea 12.Nd6
Bd6 13.Rd6 Qc7] 11.0-0-0 [weak point d6] 0-0 [11...a6 12.Nd6 (12.
Bf6 gf6 13.Nd6 Bd6 14.Rd6 Qc7 unclear) Bd6 13.Rd6 Ne4 14.Rd1
0-0 15.Bd3 f5 and White is slightly better] 12.Ng5 [with the idea
Bf6, weak point h7] Re8! [12...h6?? 13.Bf6 with the idea 13...Qf6
14.Qh7#; 12...g6? 13.Qc3 Be7 14.Nd6 Qc7 (14...Bc6? 15.Nde4 Be4
16.Ne4 Kg7 17.g4! h6 18.f4 and White is winning, with the idea g5)
15.Nge4 and White is superior] 13.h4 [13.Bf6!? Qf6 a) 14.Nc7?
Qg5 15.Ne8 Qe5! (weak point Ne8) 16.Qb2 (16.Kb1 Nc6 with
initiative) Ba3! 17.Qa3 Qc3 18.Kb1 Be4 19.Bd3 Bd3 20.Rd3 Qd3
21.Kc1 Nc6 and Black is slightly better; b) 14.Qh7 Kf8 15.Nc7
Na6!? unclear] e5!? [13...h6?! 14.Nc7!! and White is winning; P.
H. Nielsen - S. Collas, France 2005] 14.Nd6 Bd6 15.Rd6 h6 16.
Qf5!? Nc6?? [16...hg5? 17.hg5 Ne4 (17...Be4 18.Qh3 Nh7 19.Bd3
and White is winning) 18.Qh7 Kf8 19.Ba3 Nc5 (only move) 20.
Qf5! Kg8 21.Rh7! Be4 (21...Ne6 22.Qh3 f5 23.g6 and White is
winning) 22.Rdh6!! f6 (22...Bf5 23.Rh8#) 23.gf6 Qf6 (23...Bf5 24.
Rg7 Kf8 25.Rh8#) 24.Rh8 Kf7 25.Rf6 gf6 26.Qh5 Bg6 27.Rh7 and
White is winning; 16...Qe7! 17.Rd2 (17.Ba3?! Na6 with the idea
Nc5) g6 18.Qh3 hg5 19.hg5 Nh5 20.Rh2 with compensation, with
the idea g4]
17.Rf6!! [17...gf6? 18.Qh7 Kf8 19.Qf7#; 17...hg5 18.hg5 gf6 19.gf6

and White is winning; 17... Qf6 18.Qh7 Kf8 19.Ne4! and White is
winning] 1-0 [V. Golod]
M. Carlsen (2776) A. Grischuk (2733)
Linares 2009
White to Play
1.Rf6! gf6 2.Nd7 f5 3.c4 a5 [3...Bg7 4.Nb8 Rb8 5.c5 Bf6 6.Ba6 and
White is winning] 4.c5 Bg7 5.Nb8 Rb8 6.Ba6!! Bf6 7.Bb7 Rb7 8.
c6 Rb6 9.Rc1 Bb2 10.d7 1-0 [A. Giri]
M. Carlsen (2698) Z. Hracek (2614)
Deutschland 2006
White to Play
1.b7! (and White is winning) Kf6 [1...Kd7 2.Rf8 Rb7 3.Rf7 Kc8 4.
Rb7 Kb7 5.Kf2 Kc6 6.g5 h5 (6...hg5 7.Kg3 and White is winning) 7.
g3 Kc5 8.f4 and White is winning] 2.g3! g5 [2...h5 3.gh5 gh5 4.f4
ef4 5.e5 Kg7 6.gf4 and White is winning, with the idea 6...h4 7.f5
h3 8.f6 Kh7 9.e6] 3.Kf1 Rb1 4.Ke2 Rb2 [4...Ke7 5.Kd3 Kd7 (5...
Kf6 6.Kc4 Rc1 7.Kd5 Rd1 8.Kc6 Rc1 9.Kd7 Rb1 10.Ke8 Kg7 11.
Ke7 and White is winning) 6.Rf8 Rb7 7.Rf7 Kc6 8.Rb7 Kb7 9.f4
and White is winning, with the idea 9...ef4 10.gf4 gf4 11.Ke2 with
the idea Kf3-f4] 5.Kd3 Rb3 6.Kc4 Rb1 7.Kc5 Rc1 8.Kd6 Rd1 9.
Kc6 Rc1 10.Kd7 Rb1 11.Ke8 Kg7 [11...Rb2 12.Kf8 Kg6 (12...Rb3
13.Rc8 Rb7 14.Rc6#) 13.Ke7 Kg7 see 11...Kg7] 12.Ke7 Rb2 13.
Kd6 Kf6 [13...f6 14.Re8 (14.Rd8 Rb7 15.Rd7 Rd7 16.Kd7 Kh7 17.
Kd6 and White is winning; 14.Rc8 Rb7 15.Rc7 Rc7 16.Kc7 and
White is winning) Rb7 15.Re7 Re7 16.Ke7 and White is winning]
14.f4! ef4 [14...Rd2 15.Kc6 Rc2 16.Kd5 Rd2 17.Kc4 Rc2 18.Kd3
Rb2 19.fe5 Kg7 20.Kc4 and White is winning; 18.Kb3 and White is
winning] 15.gf4 gf4 16.Rg8! (and White is winning) Rb6 17.Kc7
Rb7 18.Kb7 f3 19.Kc6 Ke5 [19...f2 20.Kd6 f1Q 21.e5] 20.Re8 Kf4
21.Kd5 f6 [21...Kg4 22.Rf8] 22.Rf8 1-0 [C. D. Meyer]



Informant 106
Sasa Velickovic
Informant at
ChessCafe
It is very seldom that a player plays two beautiful games at the same
tournament that captures the attention of the esteemed members of
the Chess Informant jury, not to mention that these games were
played against the same opponent. However, former world
champion Vladimir Kramnik achieved just that with two brilliant
inspirational victories against the "young German hope" Naiditisch
at Dortmund. One was voted the best game of Chess Informant 106,
and the other placed third in the voting. Yet, if the tallies had been
reversed, it still would have been deserving. All Quiet on the
Western Front, Kramnik won Dortmund again.
Informants 104-106

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
Chess Informant
1. A. Naiditsch (2697) Kramnik (2759)

Dortmund 2009 106/81 [C42]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Ne5 d6 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.0-0 00 8.c4 c6 9.Re1 Bf5 10.c5?! [10.Qb3 see 101/210] Bc7 11.Nc3
Nd7! 12.Qc2 [12.Ne4 de4 13.Be4 Be4 14.Re4 Nc5 15.Re1 Ne6 and
Black is slightly better; 12.Be4 de4 13.Ng5 Nf6 14.Nce4 Ne4 15.
Ne4 Bh2 16.Kh2 Qh4 17.Kg1 Be4 and Black is slightly better; 12.
Bg5 Ng5 13.Bf5 Nf3 14.Qf3 g6 equal] Re8 13.Be3 [a novelty; 13.
Ne4 de4 14.Be4 Qe7 15.Ng5 Nf6 16.f3 Ne4 17.fe4 Bg6 18.Qf2 f6
19.Nf3 Be4 20.Nd2 f5 21.Ne4 fe4 and Black is slightly better; 13.
Bg5 Ng5 14.Re8 Qe8 15.Ng5 Bd3 16.Qd3 Nf8 equal; 13.b4 see 90/
(263)] h6 [13...Qf6 14.Ng5 Qg6 15.Nce4 Be4 16.Ne4 de4 17.Bc4
Nf6 and Black is slightly better] 14.b4 [14.Nd2 Qh4 15.g3 Qe7 and
Black is slightly better] Ndf6 15.h3 Qd7 16.Ne2? [16.Ne5 Re5 17.
de5 Be5 18.Ne2 Bh3! (18...Ba1 19.Ra1 Bh7 and Black is slightly
better) 19.f3 (19.Nd4 Qg4 20.f3 Qg3 21.fe4 Ng4) Ba1 20.Ra1 Re8!
21.Bd4 (21.Rf1 Ng3 22.Ng3 Re3 23.Qd2 d4 24.gh3 Qh3 and Black
is superior) Ng5 (21...Nh5) 22.Bf6 (22.Nf4 Ne6) Bg2! 23.Bg5 (23.
Bf5 Re2 24.Qe2 Qf5) Bf3 24.Bf5 Re2 25.Qd3 Qe8 26.Qf3 hg5 and
Black is superior; Better is 16.Nd2 Bh3 (16...Rad8 and Black is
slightly better) 17.Nce4 de4 18.Ne4 Nd5 19.gh3 Nb4 (19...Qh3 20.
Nd6 Qg4 21.Kf1 equal) 20.Nf6 gf6 21.Bh7 Kg7 22.Qf5 Qf5 23.Bf5
Nd5 and Black is slightly better]
[FEN "r3r1k1/ppbq1pp1/2p2n1p/2Pp1b2/1P1Pn3/
3BBN1P/P1Q1NPP1/R3R1K1 b - - 0 16"]
16...Bh3! (and Black is superior) 17.Ne5 [17.gh3 Qh3 18.Ng3 (18.

Ne5 Be5 19.de5 Re5 and Black is winning) Ng3 19.fg3 Bg3 20.Bf1
(20.Bf2 Bf4 21.Qb3 Ng4; 20.Qg2 Qg2 21.Kg2 Be1 22.Re1 Ng4 23.
Bf4 Re1 24.Ne1 Re8) Qh5 (20...Qg4 21.Bg2 Be1 22.Re1 Qg3 23.Bf2
Re1 24.Be1 Qg4 and Black is superior) 21.Ne5 Be5 (21...Qh4 22.
Qe2 Re6) 22.de5 Re5 23.Bg2 Rae8 24.Bf2 Ng4] Be5 [17...Re5 18.
de5 Be5] 18.de5 Re5 19.f3 [19.Nd4 Bg2 20.f4 Rh5 21.Qg2 Rh4 22.
Kf1 Rg4 23.Qh2 Ng3 24.Kg1 Re8 and Black is winning] Rae8!
[19...Ng5 20.Bf4! Ree8 21.Bg5 hg5 22.gh3 Qh3 23.Nd4 Qg3 24.
Kf1] 20.Bf4 [20.fe4 de4 21.Bc4 Bg2 22.Kg2 Rh5! 23.Ng3 Qh3 24.
Kg1 Qg3 25.Qg2 Rh3 26.Bf1 Ng4 27.Bf4 Qf4 28.Qh3 Qf2 29.Kh1
Qe1 30.Re1 Nf2 31.Kg1 Nh3 32.Bh3 g6 and Black is superior] Rh5
[20...Bg2 21.Kg2 Ng5 and Black is superior, with the idea 22.Rh1
Ng4! 23.Raf1 Ne3 24.Be3 Re3] 21.fe4? [21.Nd4 (only move) Rh4;
21...Ng5 and Black is superior] de4 22.Bc4 Bg2! 23.Ng3 Bf3 (and
Black is winning) 24.Qb3 [24.Nh5 Nh5 25.Bh2 Qg4 26.Kf1 e3]
Rh4 [better is 24...Qh3 25.Bf7 Kh7 26.Qc2 Qg3!] 25.Bd6 Qh3 26.
Bf7 Kh7 27.Qb2 Ng4 0-1 [Kramnik]
2. A. Beliavsky (2662) Hi. Nakamura (2710)
Amsterdam 2009 106/168 [E97]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6
8.d5 Ne7 9.Nd2 Ne8 10.b4 f5 11.c5 Nf6 12.f3 f4 13.Nc4 g5 14.a4
Ng6 15.Ba3 Rf7 16.a5?! [16.b5 see 85/490] h5 17.b5 [17.cd6 cd6
18.b5 Bf8 19.b6 a6 20.Rc1 g4 with initiative] dc5 [17...Bf8? 18.b6!
dc5 (18...ab6) 19.bc7 Qc7 20.d6 with compensation] 18.b6 [a
novelty; 18.Bc5!? g4 19.Qb3 (19.d6) g3 20.b6 unclear] g4! [18...
ab6 19.ab6 cb6 20.Qb3 Ra6 21.Rfb1 and White is superior] 19.bc7
[19.Bc5!? g3 20.Kh1] Rc7 20.Nb5
[FEN "r1bq2k1/ppr3b1/5nn1/PNpPp2p/2N1Ppp1/
B4P2/4B1PP/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 20"]
20...g3!! [20...Rf7 21.Nbd6 and White is superior] 21.Nc7 [21.h3!?

Bh3 22.gh3 (22.Qb3!?) Qc8 23.Nc7 Qh3 24.Rf2 gf2 25.Kf2 Qg3 26.
Kf1 Ne4 27.fe4 Qh3 28.Ke1 Qc3 29.Qd2 Qa1 30.Bd1 Rb8 31.Bc5
and White is slightly better] Ne4! 22.Ne6 [22.Na8?? Qh4 23.h3 Bh3
and Black is winning; 22.fe4!? Qh4 23.h3 Bh3 24.gh3 Qh3 25.Rf2
gf2 26.Kf2 Qg3 (26...f3!? 27.Qh1 and White is superior) 27.Kf1 f3
28.Na8 fe2 29.Qe2 Nf4 30.Qe3 Qg2 31.Ke1 Qh1 32.Kd2 Qa1 33.d6
and White is superior] Be6 23.de6 gh2 24.Kh2 Qh4 25.Kg1 Ng3
26.Bc5 e4 27.Ra4! Rc8 [27...Qg5 28.Ba7 Ra7 29.Nd2 Qc5 30.Kh2
e3 31.Ne4 Nf1 32.Bf1 Qe7 33.Qd5 and White is slightly better] 28.
Ba7 [28.e7?! Ne7 29.Ba7 b5!? 30.Rb4 bc4 31.Bc4 Kh8 32.fe4 Nc6
with attack] b5! 29.Rb4? [29.Ra3 bc4 30.fe4 Qh1 31.Kf2 Ne4 32.
Ke1 Qh4 33.Bf2 Qe7 with attack] bc4 [29...Rd8!?] 30.Bc4 [30.Rc4
Rd8 31.Qc2 Qh1 32.Kf2 Nf1 33.Qe4 Ng3 and Black is winning]
Qh1 [30...e3 31.e7 Kh7 32.Be3 Qh1 33.Kf2 fe3 34.Ke3 Nf5 and
Black is winning] 31.Kf2 e3 (and Black is winning) 32.Be3 fe3 33.
Ke3 Nf1 34.Bf1 Qg1 0-1 [A. Beliavsky]
3. Kramnik (2759) A. Naiditsch (2697)
Dortmund 2009 106/128 [D39]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 dc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5 c5 7.Bc4 cd4
8.Nd4 Bc3 9.bc3 Qa5 10.Bb5 Bd7 11.Bf6 gf6 12.Bd7 Nd7 13.0-0
a6 14.Rb1 Qc7 15.Qh5 Nc5 16.Rb4 Qe5 17.Qh6 Rc8! 18.Nf3! [a
novelty; 18.a4 see 106/(128)] Qc3 19.Rd4 Ke7 20.e5 Nd7 21.Qh4
[FEN "2r4r/1p1nkp1p/p3pp2/4P3/3R3Q/
2q2N2/P4PPP/5RK1 b - - 0 21"]
21...Rhg8! [21...Rhd8 22.ef6 Nf6 23.Rf4 Rg8 24.Ng5 Rg6 25.Ne4

Qe5 26.Nf6 Rf6 27.Rf6 Qf6 28.Qb4 Ke8 29.Qb7 Rc2 30.Qa6 and
White is superior; 21...b5 22.h3] 22.Kh1 [22.Rfd1 Rgd8 23.Rd7
Rd7 24.Qf6 Ke8 25.Qh8 Ke7 26.Qf6 Ke8 equal] b5! [22...h5 23.h3
(23.Rfd1 Rgd8) Rg2 24.Kg2 Rg8 25.Kh2 Qf3 26.ef6 Nf6 27.Rg1
Rg1 28.Kg1 e5 29.Rc4 and White is slightly better; 22...Rcd8 23.
Rc4 Qa5 (23...Qd3 24.Re1) 24.Rb4 (and White is slightly better)
Qd5 25.Rf4 Rg6 26.Rd4 Qa2 27.Rfd1] 23.h3 [23.Rfd1 Rgd8 24.
R4d3 Qc7 25.Rd7 Rd7 26.Qf6 Ke8 equal] Rc4 [23...Rgd8 24.ef6
(24.Re1 Rc4; 24.Rf4 Rc4 25.Nd4 Ke8 26.ef6 Nf8!! 27.Ne2 Rf4 28.
Qf4 Ng6 29.Qe4 Qf6 30.Qc6 Kf8 31.Qa6 Qb2 and Black is slightly
better) Nf6 25.Rf4 Rc4! (25...Rg8 26.Rd1! Rg6 27.Rfd4) 26.Nd4!
Qd4 27.Rd4 Rdd4 28.Qg3 Ne4 29.Qb8 Nc5 equal] 24.Rd7! [24.
Qh7 Rd4 25.Qg8 Rd5 26.ef6 Nf6 27.Qa8 Qa3 and Black is slightly
better] Kd7 25.Qf6 Qd3 [25...Ke8 26.Rd1 (26.Ng5 Rg5 27.Qg5
Qd3 28.Kg1 Rc2) Rc8 27.Ng5 Qc7 (27...Rg5 28.Qg5 a5 29.Kh2 and
White is slightly better) 28.Ne4 Kf8 29.Nd6 (29.Ng5 Ke8) Rb8 30.
Rd4 Rg7 31.Rg4 Rg4 32.hg4 Kg8 equal] 26.Qf7 Kc6 27.Qe6 [27.
Rg1 Rc8 28.Qa7 b4 29.Qa6 Kd7 unclear] Kb7 28.Re1 [28.Qg8 Qf1
29.Kh2 Qf2 30.Qh7 Kb6 31.Qg6 Ka5 32.e6 Qb6 unclear] Rg6 [28...
Rg7?! 29.Qf6 Qg6 30.g4 Rf7 31.Qg6 hg6 32.Kg2 and White is
superior; 28...Rgc8 a) 29.Qh6 Qg6 30.Qd2 Rc2 31.Qe3 R8c3 32.
Qd4 Qd3; b) 29.Kh2 Rc2! (29...Rc1 30.Rc1 Rc1 31.Ng5) 30.Qe7
R8c7 31.Qh4 R7c4 32.Qg3 Re2 33.Re2 Qe2; c) 29.Qf6 c1) 29...Rc2
30.Kg1 (30.e6 Rf2 31.Qf7 Kb8 32.e7 Re2 33.Re2 Qe2) Re2 31.Re2
Qe2 32.e6; c2) 29...Rc1 30.Rc1 Rc1 31.Kh2 Rc6 32.Qf4 Rc4
unclear; 28...Qg6?! 29.Qd7 Kb8 30.g4 Rf8 31.Re3 Rc7 32.Qd5 and
White is superior] 29.Qf7 Rc7 30.Qf4 [30.Qb3 Rc3 31.Qb4 Rc4 32.
Qf8] Rc4 31.Qf8 Rc8 32.Qe7 Rc7 33.Qh4 Qc4 [33...Qd5 34.Qd4
Qa2 35.Nd2 Rgc6 36.Ne4 and White is slightly better; 33...Rcg7!
34.Qd4 Qd4 35.Nd4 Rg2 36.e6 Rf2 37.e7 Rgg2 (37...Rg8 38.e8Q
Re8 39.Re8 Ra2 40.Re7 Kb6 41.Rh7 a5 equal) 38.e8Q (38.Nf3
Rg8!) Rh2 39.Kg1 Rfg2 40.Kf1 Rf2 41.Kg1 Rhg2 42.Kh1 equal] 34.
Nd4 Qa2 [34...Rd7 35.Qe4 Kb6 36.Rd1! (and White is superior)
Qd5 (36...Qa2 37.f4 Qd5 38.Qe2) 37.Qd5 Rd5 38.f4 Rg8 39.e6] 35.
Qe4 [35.e6 Qd5 36.f3 (36.Qe4 Qe4 37.Re4 Rc4 38.e7 Rg8 39.f4
Re8 40.f5 Rd4 41.Rd4 Re7 42.g4 a5 43.f6 Rf7) Rg8 37.e7 Re8 38.
Qf6 Rd7 39.Nf5 unclear] Kb6 [35...Kb8 36.e6 Qf2 37.Rd1! Rcg7
38.Qe5 Rc7 39.Nc6 Ka8 40.Qe4 and White is winning] 36.Qe3
Kb7? [36...Qd5 37.Ne6 Kb7 38.Nf4 Qc5 39.Ng6 Qe3 40.Re3 hg6
41.e6 (41.f4 b4 42.g4 Kc6 43.f5 gf5 44.gf5 Kd7 45.Rd3 Ke8) Re7 42.
f4 Kc6 43.g4 Kd6 44.f5 gf5 45.gf5 a5 46.Kg2 b4 (equal) 47.f6 (47.
Kf3 a4 48.Re4 a3 49.Rb4 Ra7 50.Rb1 a2 51.Ra1 Ke5 52.e7 Re7 53.
Ra2 Kf5) Re6 48.Rd3 Kc6 49.f7 Rf6 50.Rf3 Rf7 51.Rf7 b3 52.h4 a4
53.h5 b2 54.Rf1 a3 55.h6 a2 56.h7 a1Q 57.h8Q Qf1 58.Kf1 b1Q 59.
Ke2] 37.Qf3 [37.Nb3 Qa3 38.e6 and White is superior] Kb6 [37...
Ka7 38.e6 (and White is winning) Qd2 39.Qe3 Qe3 40.Re3 Rg8 41.
f4 Rc1 (41...Rc4 42.Rd3) 42.Kh2 Rf1 43.f5 Rf2 44.Rg3 Rc8 45.e7]
[FEN "8/2r4p/pk4r1/1p2P3/3N4/5Q1P/
q4PP1/4R2K w - - 0 38"]
38.Nb3!! [38.e6 Qd2 39.Rd1 (39.Qe3 Qe3 40.Re3 Rg8 41.f4 Kc5!
42.Nf5 b4 43.e7 Re8) Rc1 40.Rc1 Qc1 41.Kh2 Qc7 42.g3 Rg8 43.
Qe4 Qc5 unclear] Rc2 [better is 38...Qa3 39.e6 and White is
winning, with the idea 39...Rgg7 40.Qe3 Kb7 41.f4 Qb2 42.Re2
Qc3 43.Qc3 Rc3 44.f5 Rb3 45.f6 Rc7 46.e7] 39.Qe3 Kb7 40.e6
Rf2 41.Qe4 Kb6 42.Qd4 1-0 [Kramnik]
4. F. Berkes (2647) Lysyj (2617)
Martuni 2009 106/288 [E27]
1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 0-0 5.a3 Bc3 6.bc3 Ne8 7.e4 b6 8.
Bd3 Ba6 9.Nh3 Nc6 10.e5 Na5 11.Ng5 [a novelty; 11.Qc2; 11.
Qe2] f5 [11...g6? 12.Ne4 d5 13.Bg5 with the idea 13...Qd7 14.cd5
Bd3 15.de6 and White is superior] 12.f4 h6 [12...Bc4 13.Bc4 Nc4
14.d5!? h6 15.de6 c6 16.ed7 hg5 17.Qe2 and White is slightly
better] 13.Qh5! hg5 [13...Bc4 14.Bc4 Nc4 15.0-0 (RR 15.h4!) c6 16.
Rf3 Nc7 17.Qg6 hg5 18.Rh3 Qe7 19.fg5 with attack] 14.fg5 g6
(only move) 15.Qg6 Ng7 16.Qh6! Qe7 17.g6 Ne8 18.0-0! Qg7
[18...Bc4 19.Bc4 Nc4 20.Rf3 d6 21.Rh3 Qg7 22.Qh5 de5 (22...f4 23.
Qg4! Rf5 24.Rh7 and White is winning) 23.Bh6 Nf6 24.Qe2 Qg6 25.
Bf8 b5 26.Bc5 and White is superior] 19.Qg5 [19.Qh5? Qh8 20.
Qg5 Ng7 21.Rf3 Qh5 22.Qe7 Bb7 and Black is superior] Nb3 [19...
d6 20.Bf4 Bc4 21.Rf3 Bd3 22.Rd3 Nc6 23.Re1 with attack] 20.Rf3!
Na1 21.Rh3 Nf6 22.Rh6! [22.ef6 Rf6 23.Rh6 Nb3 24.Bf4 d6 25.
Qh5 Bb7 26.Bg5 Raf8 and Black is superior] Bb7 [22...Ne4 23.Qh5
Nf6 24.ef6 Rf6 25.Bg5 and White is winning] 23.Bf4! [23.ef6 Rf6
24.Qh5 Nb3 25.Bg5 Raf8 26.h4 Be4 27.Bf6 Rf6 28.Be4 fe4 29.Qg5
e3! and Black is winning] d6
[FEN "r4rk1/pbp3q1/1p1ppnPR/4PpQ1/
2PP1B2/P1PB4/6PP/n5K1 w - - 0 24"]
24.h4!! Bc6 [24...Be4 25.Be2 Nb3 26.ef6 Rf6 27.h5 Rff8 28.Rh7
Qf6 29.h6 Qg5 30.Rg7 Kh8 31.Rh7 equal; 29.Qh6 and White is
superior] 25.ef6 Qf6 [25...Rf6 26.h5 Rff8 27.Rh7 Qf6 28.Qh6 and
White is winning] 26.Qg3! [26.g7 Qg5 27.gf8Q Rf8 28.Bg5 and
White is superior] Be8 [26...Qg7 27.Rh7 Qf6 28.h5 e5 29.de5 Qe6
30.Qg5 and White is winning] 27.h5 Nb3 28.Rh7 1-0
[Mikhalchishin]
5. Morozevich (2751) Vachier-Lagrave (2703)
Biel 2009 106/69 [B80]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e6 7.Be3 b5 8.
Qd2 Nbd7 9.g4 h6 10.0-0-0 b4 11.Nce2 Qc7 12.h4 d5 13.Nf4! [a
novelty; 13.Bh3 see 94/161] e5! [13...de4 14.Nfe6! fe6 15.Ne6 Qc6
16.Nf8 Nf8 17.Qb4 with compensation, with attack] 14.Nfe6! fe6
15.Ne6 Qa5 16.ed5 Qa2 17.Qd3 Kf7? [RR 17...Ke7? 18.d6! Kf7
19.Qc4! Qc4 20.Bc4 Kg6 (20...Rb8 21.Ng5 Ke8 22.Bf7 Kd8 23.
Ne6#) 21.h5 Kh7 22.g5 and White is winning; 17...e4 18.Qd4! Bd6
19.Bc4 b3! 20.f4 Qa1 21.Kd2 Qa5 22.c3 Qa2 23.Ke2!; 17...Bb7! a)
18.g5!? e4! 19.Nc7!? (19.Qc4 Qc4 20.Bc4 hg5 21.hg5 Rh1 22.Rh1
Nd5 23.Bd5 Bd5 24.Nc7 Kf7 25.Nd5 ef3 26.Rf1 equal) Kd8 20.Ne6
Ke8 21.Qd4!? hg5 22.Nf8 Nf8 23.Bc4 Qa5 24.Bg5 N8d7 25.fe4
Qa1! 26.Kd2 Qa5; b) 18.Qg6 Ke7 19.d6! Ke6 20.Bh3! Qa1! (20...
Bd5? 21.g5 Kd6 22.gf6 Nf6 23.Rd5!) 21.Kd2 Qa5! 22.Kc1 Qa1
Vachier-Lagrave] 18.g5! [18.Nd8 Ke7 19.Nc6 Kd6 20.Nd8 equal]
Nd5 19.Bh3! Ne3 [19...N7f6 20.Nd8 Kg8 21.gf6 Nf6 22.Bf1! Be6
23.Ne6 Qe6 24.Qc4 (24.Bh3!? with compensation, with attack) Qc4
25.Bc4 Kh7 26.Bd3! and White is superior] 20.Nd8 Ke7! [RR 20...
Ke8 21.Bd7 Kd8 22.Bc8! (22.Be6?! Nd5 23.Bd5 Qa1 24.Kd2 Qb2
25.Ba8 and White is superior) a) 22...Nd5 23.Be6 Rb8 24.Qe4! Qa1
(24...Rb5 25.Qe5! and White is winning) 25.Kd2 Qb2 26.Ke2!; b)
22...Kc8 23.Qd8 Kb7 24.Rd7 Kc6 25.Rc7 Kb6 26.Rc8 Kb5 27.Ra8
(27.Qd7 Ka5 28.Qc7 Kb5 29.Qb7 Ka5 30.Ra8) Qa1 28.Kd2 Nc4 29.
Ke2 Qh1 30.Qd7! Kb6 31.Rb8! Kc5 (31...Ka5 32.Rb5!! ab5 33.
Qa7#) 32.Rc8 Kb6 33.Rc6 Ka5 34.Qc7 and White is winning;
Vachier-Lagrave] 21.Nc6 Kf7
[FEN "r1b2b1r/3n1kp1/p1N4p/4p1P1/1p5P/
3QnP1B/qPP5/2KR3R w - - 0 22"]
22.g6! [RR 22.Be6!! a) 22...Qe6 23.Nd8 Ke7 24.Ne6 Ke6 (24...Nd1

25.Rd1 and White is winning) 25.Qe3; b) 22...Ke6 23.Qg6 Nf6 24.
gf6 gf6 25.Qe8 Kf5 26.Nd4! Kf4 27.Ne2 Kf5 (27...Kf3 28.Qc6 and
White is winning) 28.Rd4!! with the idea 29.Rf4, 29.Ng3 VachierLagrave] Kg8 [only move; 22...Kf6 23.Qd6! and White is winning]
23.Qe3 Bc5 24.Qe4! [RR 24.Be6 Qe6 25.Qc5 Bb7 (25...Qg6 26.
Rd7 Kh7 27.Ne5 and White is winning) 26.Ne7 Kf8 27.Rd7 Qd7 28.
Nc6 Kg8 29.Qc4 Kf8 30.Rd1! Qc7 31.Qc5 Ke8 32.Rd6 and White
is winning; Vachier-Lagrave] Nf8 25.Rd8 Bb7 [RR 25...Bh3 26.
Ra8 Be6 27.Qe5! Qd5 28.Re1! Qc6 29.Qe6 Qe6 30.Re6 and White
is winning; Vachier-Lagrave] 26.Ra8? [RR 26.Rf8! Bf8 (26...Kf8
27.Qf5 Kg8 28.Qe5 and White is winning; 26...Rf8 27.Qe5 Bc8 28.
Bc8 Rc8 29.Qc5 and White is winning) 27.Qe5 Bc8 28.Qe8 and
White is winning; Vachier-Lagrave] Ba8 27.h5! [RR 27.Rd1?? Bc6
28.Qc6 Be3 29.Rd2 Qa1#; 27.Bf1!? Bc6 28.Bc4 Ne6! 29.Qf5! Be3
30.Kd1 Bf3 31.Qf3 Qb1 32.Ke2 Qc2 33.Ke3 Qg6 34.Rf1 VachierLagrave] Rh7! 28.Re1 Bc6 29.Qc6 Bd4 30.Kd2?! [RR 30.Kd1!
Bb2 31.Bf5 Bc3 32.Ke2! Be1 33.Qc8! Kh8 34.Qf8 Qg8 35.Qg8
Kg8 36.gh7 Kh8 37.Ke1 and White is winning; Vachier-Lagrave]
Qb2 31.Qc4 Kh8 32.Kd3! a5?! [32...Qa3 33.Ke4 Qa5 34.gh7 (34.
Rd1!?) Kh7 35.Bf5 Kh8 36.Qc8 Bc5 37.Rd1] 33.Qc8? [RR 33.f4!
Bf2 (33...Qc3 34.Qc3 Bc3 35.Re4! Kg8 36.Rc4 and White is
winning) 34.Ke2! Qa3 35.Kf2 Qh3 36.Re5 Qh4 37.Ke2 Qd8 38.Qf7
Qc8 39.Re8 and White is winning; Vachier-Lagrave] Qa3 34.Ke4
b3 35.cb3 a4! 36.Rb1 [36.ba4 Qb4 37.Rd1 (37.Rc1 Bc5 equal) Ba7
equal] Qb4 37.Qc4 Qb7 38.Qd5 Qb4 39.Qc4 Qd2 40.Bg4?? [40.
Qc8 Qe2 41.Kd5 Qf3 (41...Qb5 42.Ke4 equal) 42.Kc4 (42.Kd6 Qf6
equal) a3 43.Rf1 Qc3 44.Kd5 Qb3 45.Ke4 Qe3 equal] a3! 41.Qf7
Qc2 42.Kd5 Qc5 43.Ke4 a2 44.Rc1 a1Q 45.Rc5 Bc5 46.Qd5! Qe1
47.Kd3 Qd1 48.Kc4 Qd5 49.Kd5 [R 9/t] Ba3? [49...Ng6 50.hg6
h5 and Black is winning] 50.Bf5 Kg8 51.Ke5 Rh8 52.Kd5
[FEN "5nkr/6p1/6Pp/3K1B1P/8/
bP3P2/8/8 b - - 0 52"]
52...Nh7!! [52...Ng6?? 53.Bg6 Kf8 54.Ke6 equal] 53.gh7 [R 8/e]

Kf7 54.Bg6 Kf6 55.f4 Bc1 56.f5 [56.b4 Bf4 57.b5 Rd8 (57...Rb8 58.
Kc6 Ke7 59.b6 Bg3 and Black is winning) 58.Kc6 Ke6 59.b6 (59.
Bd3 g5 60.hg6 Be5 61.Bc4 Ke7 and Black is winning) Rc8 60.Kb7
Rb8 61.Kc6 Ke7 62.b7 Rd8 and Black is winning] Bd2 57.Kd6 Be1
58.Kd7 Bb4 59.Kc7 Ke5 60.Kd7 Ba3 61.Kc6 Kd4 62.Kc7 Kc3 63.
Kd7 Kb4 [63...Kb3 64.Bf7 Kc3 65.Bg8 Kd4 66.Ke6 Ke4 67.f6 gf6
68.Kf6 Bb2 69.Kg6 Kf4 70.Kh6 (70.Ba2 Rf8 and Black is winning)
Kf5 71.Bb3 Kf6 and Black is winning] 64.Kd6 Kb3 65.Kd5 Bb2
66.Kd6 [66.Ke4 Kc4 67.Bf7 Kc5 68.Bg8 Bf6 69.Ke3 Kd6 70.Ke4
Bb2 71.Kf4 Ke7 72.Ke4 Kf6 73.Kf4 Bc1 74.Kg4 Bd2 75.Kf3 Kf5
76.Bf7 g5 and Black is winning] Bf6 67.Kc5 Kc3 68.Kd6 Kd4 69.
Kc6 [69.Ke6 Kc5 70.Kf7 Kc6 71.Ke6 Rd8 72.Kf7 Kd6 and Black is
winning] Rd8 [69...Ke5 and Black is winning] 70.Kb6 [70.Kb5
Kd5 71.Bf7 Kd6 72.Bg6 Rc8 73.Kb4 (73.Kb6 Rb8 74.Ka7 Kc7 and
Black is winning) Kd5 74.Bf7 Kd4 75.Bg6 (75.Bg8 g5 76.fg6 Rb8
and Black is winning) Rb8 76.Ka5 Kc4 77.Ka6 (77.Bf7 Kc5 78.Ka4
g5 and Black is winning) Kc5 78.Ka7 Rd8 79.Ka6 (79.Kb7 Be5 80.
Ka6 Bd6 81.Kb7 Rb8 82.Ka7 Bc7 and Black is winning) Be5 80.
Kb7 Rb8 81.Ka7 Bc7 82.Bf7 Kc6 83.Bg8 Rd8 84.h8Q Bb6 85.Ka6
Ra8#] Kd5! 71.Kc7 Kc5 72.Bf7 [72.Kb7 Be5 73.Ka7 (73.Ka6 Bd6
74.Bf7 Kc6 and Black is winning) Rd7 74.Ka6 Bb8 and Black is
winning] g5! 73.fg6 Rd6 74.Be8 Be5 75.Kb7 Rb6 76.Kc8 Kd6 0-1
[Sasa Velickovic]
6. Kasimdzhanov (2672) I. Cheparinov (2678)
Jermuk 2009 106/135 [D46]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bd3 00 8.0-0 dc4 9.Bc4 a6 10.Rd1 b5 11.Be2 Qc7 12.Ne4 Ne4 13.Qe4
Bb7 14.Bd3 g6 15.Qh4 c5 16.Ng5 h5 17.g4! [a novelty; 17.Ne4 see
106/134] Nf6! [17...cd4 18.gh5 Ne5 19.Be4 and White is superior]
18.gh5 Nh5 19.Be2 Kg7! [19...Nf6 20.dc5 Qc5 21.Bd2 b4 22.Rac1
and White is superior] 20.dc5 Be5! [20...Qc5 21.Bd2 with
initiative] 21.f4 Bf6 22.Bd2 Qc5? [22...Bb2! 23.Rac1! Rad8 (23...
Bc1? 24.Bc1! Qc5 25.Bh5 gh5 26.Qh5 Qc2 27.Ne6 and White is
superior) 24.Rc2 Bf6 25.c6 Bc6 26.Bf3 Rd6 27.Qe1! Rfd8 28.Rdc1
Qe7 29.Bc6 Bg5 30.Bb4 Bh4 with compensation] 23.Rac1 Qd5 24.
Qh3! Rh8 (only move) 25.Bc3! Qa2
[FEN "r6r/1b3pk1/p3pbp1/1p4Nn/5P2/
2B1P2Q/qP2B2P/2RR2K1 w - - 0 26"]
26.Rd7? [26.Ra1 Qb3 27.Ne6 Qe6 28.Qe6 fe6 29.Rd7 Kh6 30.Bf6
Nf6 31.Rb7 Nd5 equal; 26.Nf7!! a) 26...Bc3 27.Nh8 Qb2 28.Rd7
Kh8 29.Bh5 Bg2! 30.Qe6! a1) 30...Bc6 31.Rh7! Kh7 32.Bg6! Kh6
(32...Kh8 33.Qh3 Kg7 34.Qh7 and White is winning) 33.Be4 and
White is winning; a2) 30...Qc1 31.Kg2 Qc2 32.Kh1! Qb1 33.Bd1
and White is winning; b) 26...Nf4 27.Bf6 Kf7 (27...Kf6 28.Qf1! and
White is winning) 28.Rc7 Kf6 29.Qf1! Rh4 30.Rb7 Qb2 31.ef4 and
White is winning; c) 26...Kf7 27.Rd7 Kg8 28.Qg4 Rh6 29.Rb7 Bc3
30.Rc3 Nf6 31.Qg5 and White is winning] Bc3 27.Qe6! Qe6 28.
Ne6 Kh6! 29.Rc3 [29.Ng5 Bc8 30.Nf7 Kg7 31.Rc7 Ba5! 32.Re7
Bb4! equal, with the idea 33.Nd6 Kf6 34.Rcc7 Bd6 35.Rf7 Ke6 36.
Bg4 Kd5 37.Bf3 Ke6] Bc8! [29...fe6 30.Rb7 and White is slightly
better] 30.Rc8 Rhc8 [30...Rac8 31.Ng5 Nf6 32.Ra7 Ra8 33.Rb7
Rab8 equal] 31.Rf7!? [31.Ng5 Nf6 equal] Re8?! [31...Rc2! 32.Ng5
Ng7 33.Bd3 Rb2 (33...Rd2 34.Rd7 Rb2 35.Rd6 Rc8 36.Rg6 Kh5 37.
Rg7 Rc1 38.Bf1 Rbb1 39.Nf3 Rf1 40.Kg2 Kh6 41.Rg3 unclear) 34.
Rf6 Nf5 35.Bf5 Rd8! 36.Bg4 Rdd2 37.Bh3 Rd1 38.Bf1 Rbb1 39.
Ra6 Rf1 40.Kg2 b4 41.Ra7 Rg1 42.Kf3 Rg5 equal] 32.Ng5 Ng7 33.
Kf2 Rf8? [33...Rad8 34.h4 Rd6 35.Kf3 with initiative] 34.Rd7!
[and White is superior, weak point d3, d8] Rf6 35.Bd3! b4 36.h4!
a5 37.h5 a4 [37...gh5 38.Nf7 Rf7 39.Rd6?? Ne6; 39.Rf7 and White
is winning] 38.hg6 a3 39.Nf7 Kh5 [39...Rf7 40.gf7 a2 41.Rd6 and
White is winning] 40.Ne5! Rg6 [40...Rg8 41.Be2 Kh6 42.Rd1 and
White is winning] 41.Bg6 Kh6 42.ba3 1-0 [Kasimdzhanov]
7. M. Carlsen (2770) V. Topalov (2812)
Sofia 2009 106/129 [D43]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bf6 Qf6 7.e3 Nd7
8.Bd3 dc4 9.Bc4 g6 10.0-0 Bg7 11.e4 0-0 12.e5 Qe7 13.Qe2 b5 14.
Bd3 Bb7 15.Be4 [15.Rac1 see 87/(380)] Rfd8?! [a novelty; 15...
Rab8] 16.Rac1 Rab8 17.Rfd1 a6 18.h4 [18.Nb1!? with the idea
Nd2-b3 with initiative] Ba8 19.Rc2?! [19.h5 g5 20.Nh2 with the
idea Ng4 M.Carlsen] Rdc8 20.Rdc1 Qf8! 21.a4 c5 [better is 21...b4
with the idea c5 with initiative] 22.ab5 cd4 23.Nd4 Be4? [23...ab5
24.Ba8 Ra8 25.f4 Qd8! with the idea 26...Ne5, 26...g5 with
counterplay; M.Carlsen] 24.Ne4 Rc2 25.Rc2 ab5 26.Nc6 Rb6 27.f4
Qa8 [27...Nb8 28.Na7! Qb4 29.Rc7 and White is superior] 28.Ne7
Kh7 29.h5 Ra6 30.hg6 fg6
[FEN "q7/3nN1bk/r3p1pp/1p2P3/4NP2/
8/1PR1Q1P1/6K1 w - - 0 31"]
31.Rc7! (and White is winning) Ra1 32.Kf2? [better is 32.Kh2 Qd8

33.Qd3 Qe7 34.Nf6!] Qd8 33.Qd3! Qe7 34.Rd7 [34.Nf6 and White
is winning] Qh4 35.Kf3 Qh5 36.Kg3 1-0 [RR]
8. Kasimdzhanov (2672) Aronian (2768)
Jermuk 2009 106/132 [D46]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dc4 7.Bc4 b5
8.Bd3 Bd6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Qc2 Bb7 11.a3 a6 12.b4 a5 13.Rb1 ab4
14.ab4 Qe7 15.e4 e5 16.Ne2 Bb4 17.Ng3 g6 [17...ed4!? 18.e5 Ne5
19.Ne5 c5 unclear] 18.de5 Ng4 19.e6! [a novelty; 19.Bg5 see
102/342] fe6 [19...Nde5 20.ef7 Rf7 21.Ng5 Rf6 22.Bb5! and White
is slightly better] 20.Bg5 Qc5?! 21.Qb3 Nde5 22.Qe6 Rf7 23.Ne5
Ne5 24.Be2 Qd6 [24...Bc8!? 25.Qb3 Ba5 26.Be3 (26.Ra1 Nc4
unclear) Qe7 27.Qb2! Bc7 28.Ra1 Ra1 29.Ra1 Be6! unclear] 25.
Qb3! [25.Qd6 Bd6 26.f4 Bc5 27.Kh1 Be3! 28.Rb3 Bd2 29.Rb2 Be3
equal] Bc5 26.Rbd1 Ra3 [26...Qf8 27.Kh1 Nc4 28.e5!! Ne5 29.f4
Nc4 30.f5 and White is superior] 27.Qc2 Bd4 28.Be3! Re3?! [28...
c5! 29.Bb5 h5 (with counterplay) 30.Bd4 cd4 31.f4 d3 32.Qb1 Ng4
(32...Nc4 33.Bc4 Qd4 34.Kh1 Qc4 35.f5 and White is superior) 33.
Bd3 h4 34.Be2 Qc5 35.Kh1 Ne3 36.Rd8 Kh7 37.Rc1 (37.f5 gf5 38.
Rf5 Nf5 39.ef5 Rc7!! 40.f6 Qc2 41.Rd7 Kh8 42.Rd8 equal) Qe7 38.
Qb2 Qd8 39.Qa3 Qb6 40.Nf1 Ng2 41.Kg2 Be4 42.Bf3 Bf3 43.Kf3
Qb7 44.Ke3 h3! 45.Rc5 Qg2 unclear] 29.fe3 Be3 30.Kh1 Qe7?
[30...Qe6?! 31.Rd8 Kg7 32.Qc3 and White is superior; 30...Qa3! 31.
Rd8 Kg7 32.Rf7 Kf7 33.Qd1! Bb6 34.Rb8 Qe7 a) 35.Qb3 Kf6 36.
Qg8 Kg5 37.Rf8 Bc8! 38.Re8 (38.Rc8 Qc5 39.h4 Kh4 40.Qh7 Kg3
41.Qh2 Kf2 unclear) Qc5 39.Re5 Qe5 40.Qc8 Qa1 41.Nf1 Qe1 42.
Qg4 Kf6 43.h4 Qf2 unclear; b) 35.Bg4 Ba7 36.Qb3 Kg7 37.Rg8
Kf6 38.Nh5 gh5 39.Bh5 Qc5 40.Qd1 Qg1 41.Qg1 Bg1 42.Kg1 c5
and White is slightly better]
[FEN "6k1/1b2qr1p/2p3p1/1p2n3/4P3/4b1N1/
2Q1B1PP/3R1R1K w - - 0 31"]
31.Rf7! Nf7 [31...Kf7? 32.Qb3; 31...Qf7 32.Qc3! Bf4 33.Rf1 and

White is winning] 32.Qb3! Bb6 33.Bg4! Kh8! 34.Rd7 Qc5 35.Qb1
[35.Ne2! Qf2 36.h3 Ne5 37.Rb7 and White is winning] Ne5 [35...
Bc8 36.Rf7 Bg4 37.Qa1 Qd4 38.Qa8 Bd8 39.Rf8 Kg7 40.Qd8 and
White is winning] 36.Rb7 Ng4 37.h3! Nf6 [37...Ne5 38.Qa1! Bd8
(38...Qd4 39.Qf1! Qf2 40.Rb6! Qb6 41.Qf8#) 39.Rb8 and White is
winning; 37...Nf2 38.Kh2 Qd4 39.Qc1! Nd3 40.Rb8 Kg7 41.Nf5
gf5 42.Qg5 Kf7 43.Rb7 and White is winning] 38.e5 [38.Qa1! Qd4
39.Qa8 Ng8 40.Rb6 Qb6 41.Qa1 and White is winning] Qe5 39.
Rb6 Qg3 40.Qa1! Qf4 [40...Qd6 41.Rb7! Qe6 42.Qd4 and White is
winning] 41.Rb7! 1-0 [Kasimdzhanov]
9. G.-G. Grigore (2542) Sanikidze (2559)
Baia Sprie 2009 106/273 [D93]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c5 7.dc5 Qa5
8.Rc1 dc4 9.Bc4 Qc5 10.Bb3 Nc6 11.0-0 Qa5 12.h3 Qa6 13.e4
Rd8 14.Nd5 Nd5 15.ed5 Bb2 [a novelty; 15...Bf5] 16.Qc2! Bc1?
[16...Nd4! (T.Sanikidze) 17.Nd4 (17.Qb2?! Ne2 18.Kh1 Nf4 and
Black is slightly better) Bd4 18.Qd2 Bf6 19.Rc7 Qb6 20.Rfc1 with
compensation] 17.Qc1! Nb4 [17...Na5? 18.Be5 f6 (18...Nb3 19.Qh6
f6 20.Ng5 and White is winning) 19.Qh6 fe5 20.d6 Nb3 21.Ng5 Qc4
22.Qh7 Kf8 23.Qe7 Kg8 24.Qh7 Kf8 25.Qh8 Qg8 26.Qf6 Ke8 27.
Qe7#] 18.Qc5 Qb6? [18...Nd3 19.Qe7 Bf5 (19...Bh3 20.Bh6 Re8 21.
Qh4 Bd7 22.Qd4 and White is winning) 20.Be3 Re8 21.Qh4 with
compensation] 19.Qe7 Nd5 20.Bd5 Rd5 21.Qe8 Kg7 22.Bh6! Kh6
23.Qf8 Kh5 24.Qf7 Kh6 25.Qf8 Kh5
[FEN "r1b2Q2/pp5p/1q4p1/3r3k/8/
5N1P/P4PP1/5RK1 w - - 0 26"]
26.Qg7! [26.g4? Bg4 27.hg4 Kg4 28.Nh2 Kg5 (only move) 29.
Qa8? Rd8! and Black is winning; 26.Qf4 g5 27.Qf7 Kh6 28.Qd5
and White is superior] h6 27.Qe7 Qd8 28.Qe2 [28.Qe4! Bh3 29.
gh3 g5 (29...Rg5 30.Kh1) 30.Nh4!! and White is winning] g5 [28...
Qg8 29.Qe4! and White is winning; 28...Bh3 29.Ne5 Kh4 30.Qe4!
(30.g3? Kg5 31.Nf7 Kf6 32.Nd8 Rad8 and White is slightly better)
Kg5 31.Nf7 Kf6 32.Nd8 Rad8 33.gh3 and White is winning] 29.
Ne5 g4 30.hg4 Kh4 31.Kh2 Qc7 32.f4 1-0 [G.-G. Grigore]
10. Hi. Nakamura (2710) A. Beliavsky (2662)
Amsterdam 2009 106/86 [C54]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 d6 5.c3 Nf6 6.h3 a6 7.Bb3 Ba7
8.Nbd2 Be6 9.Bc2 [9.Nc4!?] 0-0 10.0-0 Nd7 [10...Re8 11.Re1 d5
12.Nf1 h6 13.Ng3 and White is slightly better; 10...h6 see 77/(321)]
11.Nc4 Nb6 [a novelty; 11...f5? 12.Ng5 Qe7 13.Ne6 Qe6 14.Ne3
and White is superior; 11...Kh8!?; 11...h6] 12.Ne3 d5 13.Qe2 [13.
d4 ed4 14.cd4 de4 15.Be4 Nd5 16.Re1 f5!? unclear] Re8 [13...f6!?
14.Bd2 Qd7 equal] 14.g4?! [14.Bd2 h6 15.Rfe1 Qd7 16.Bb3 Rad8
equal] f6 [14...g6 15.Bb3 f6 16.Bd2 Kg7 17.Rad1 a5 and Black is

slightly better] 15.Rd1 g6 16.b3?! [16.c4 dc4 17.dc4 Nd4 18.Nd4
ed4 19.c5 Nd7 20.Rd4 Bc5 21.Rd1 c6 22.b4!? Bf8 23.Bb3 Qe7 and
Black is slightly better] d4! (and Black is superior) 17.cd4 ed4 18.
Ng2
[FEN "r2qr1k1/bpp4p/pnn1bpp1/8/3pP1P1/
1P1P1N1P/P1B1QPN1/R1BR2K1 b - - 0 18"]
18...Nd5! 19.Qd2 [19.Bd2 Nc3 20.Bc3 dc3 21.Ne3 Qd6 and Black
is superior] Nc3 20.Re1 Nb4!? [20...b5 21.Nf4 Bf7 22.Bb2 b4 and
Black is superior] 21.Bb1 [21.Bb2 Nca2 22.Nf4 Nc2 23.Qc2 Nb4
and Black is superior] Qd7 22.Bb2 Nb1 [22...h5!?] 23.Rab1 Na2
24.Ba1 Nc3 25.Bc3 dc3 26.Qc3 Rad8 27.Red1 c6 28.Ne3 Qd6 29.
Qd2 Qf4 30.Qe2 h5! 31.gh5 Bh3 [31...gh5 32.Kh1 Kh7 33.Ng2
Qh6 and Black is superior] 32.Kh1 [32.hg6 Qh6! 33.Nh2 Qg6 34.
Kh1 Qh6 35.Rg1 Kf7 and Black is superior] g5 [32...Bg4! 33.Ng4
Qg4 34.Rg1 Qh5 35.Kg2 Rd5! and Black is winning] 33.Nh2 Kf7!
34.Rg1 Rh8 35.Rg3 Be6 [35...Qh4! and Black is winning] 36.Neg4
Bg4 37.Qg4 Qg4 38.Ng4 Rh5 39.Kg2 Ke6 40.e5 f5 41.Nf6 Rh4 42.
Rg5 Rd3 43.Nh5 Ke5 44.Re1 Re4 45.Re4 Ke4 46.Ng3 Ke5 47.b4
[47.Rf5 Ke6 48.Rf3 Rf3 49.Kf3 a5 and Black is winning] Rd4 (and
Black is winning) 48.Rf5 Ke6 49.f4 Rb4 50.Re5 Kf7 51.Rf5 Ke7
52.Re5 Kd8 53.Kf3 Bb8 54.Rf5 Ke7 55.Ne4 Rb5! 56.Rc5 a5 57.
Rc3 Rf5 58.Rb3 b5 59.Rc3 Rf4 60.Ke3 Kd7 61.Rd3 Kc8 62.Rc3
Kb7 63.Nc5 Ka7 64.Ne6 Rf6 65.Rc6 a4 66.Kd3 Be5 67.Nd8 Rd6
68.Rd6 Bd6 69.Nf7 Bf4 70.Kc3 Kb6 71.Kb4 Kc7 0-1 [A.
Beliavsky]



Informant 106
Sasa Velickovic
Informant at
ChessCafe
The game Morozevich Vachier-Lagrave, Biel 2009 was chosen as

the most important theoretical novelty of Chess Informant 106, but
my secret hope was that it would win best game as well. This game
shows that the best defense to a premature attack against White's
queenside castling is a development advantage, combined with
constant threats and sacrifices in center. In such sharp and doubleedged variations everything depends on just one move.
ECE: Rook Endings

by Chess Informant
Grandmaster Morozevich played brilliantly for much of the game

and just missed the opportunity to create a so-called "evergreen
game." Frustrated by his mistakes, with chaos overwhelming the
beauty of his ideas, a draw was not an acceptable outcome for
Morozevich. The battle raged to the bitter end, and it is my
impression that Grandmaster Morozevich sacrificed his own
feelings as a gift to this magnificent clash.
The harmony of the unusual ending served to complete this
masterpiece. If one side had played irreproachably from the
beginning to end, this game would have been voted the best. Many
of us were strongly affected by this game. Grandmaster Jan Timman
even composed a study in its honor: it is our pleasure to present it to
you here.
ECE: Queen Endings

by Chess Informant

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
ECE: Minor Piece Endings

by Chess Informant
1. A. Morozevich (2751) M. Vachier-Lagrave (2703)

Biel 2009 106/69 [B80]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e6 7.Be3 b5 8.
Qd2 Nbd7 9.g4 h6 10.0-0-0 b4 11.Nce2 Qc7 12.h4 d5
[FEN "r1b1kb1r/2qn1pp1/p3pn1p/3p4/
1p1NP1PP/4BP2/PPPQN3/2KR1B1R w kq - 0 13"]
13.Nf4! [a novelty; 13.Bh3 see 94/161] e5! [13...de4 14.Nfe6! fe6

15.Ne6 Qc6 16.Nf8 Nf8 17.Qb4 with compensation, with attack] 14.
Nfe6! fe6 15.Ne6 Qa5 16.ed5 Qa2 17.Qd3 Kf7? [RR 17...Ke7? 18.
d6! Kf7 19.Qc4! Qc4 20.Bc4 Kg6 (20...Rb8 21.Ng5 Ke8 22.Bf7 Kd8
23.Ne6#) 21.h5 Kh7 22.g5 and White is winning; 17...e4 18.Qd4!
Bd6 19.Bc4 b3! 20.f4 Qa1 21.Kd2 Qa5 22.c3 Qa2 23.Ke2!; 17...
Bb7! a) 18.g5!? e4! 19.Nc7!? (19.Qc4 Qc4 20.Bc4 hg5 21.hg5 Rh1
22.Rh1 Nd5 23.Bd5 Bd5 24.Nc7 Kf7 25.Nd5 ef3 26.Rf1 equal) Kd8
20.Ne6 Ke8 21.Qd4!? hg5 22.Nf8 Nf8 23.Bc4 Qa5 24.Bg5 N8d7 25.
fe4 Qa1! 26.Kd2 Qa5; b) 18.Qg6 Ke7 19.d6! Ke6 20.Bh3! Qa1!
(20...Bd5? 21.g5 Kd6 22.gf6 Nf6 23.Rd5!) 21.Kd2 Qa5! 22.Kc1 Qa1
M.Vachier-Lagrave] 18.g5! [18.Nd8 Ke7 19.Nc6 Kd6 20.Nd8
equal] Nd5 19.Bh3! Ne3 [19...N7f6 20.Nd8 Kg8 21.gf6 Nf6 22.
Bf1! Be6 23.Ne6 Qe6 24.Qc4 (24.Bh3!? with compensation, with
attack) Qc4 25.Bc4 Kh7 26.Bd3! and White is superior] 20.Nd8
Ke7! [RR 20...Ke8 21.Bd7 Kd8 22.Bc8! (22.Be6?! Nd5 23.Bd5
Qa1 24.Kd2 Qb2 25.Ba8 and White is superior) a) 22...Nd5 23.Be6
Rb8 24.Qe4! Qa1 (24...Rb5 25.Qe5! and White is winning) 25.Kd2
Qb2 26.Ke2!; b) 22...Kc8 23.Qd8 Kb7 24.Rd7 Kc6 25.Rc7 Kb6 26.
Rc8 Kb5 27.Ra8 (27.Qd7 Ka5 28.Qc7 Kb5 29.Qb7 Ka5 30.Ra8)
Qa1 28.Kd2 Nc4 29.Ke2 Qh1 30.Qd7! Kb6 31.Rb8! Kc5 (31...Ka5
32.Rb5!! ab5 33.Qa7#) 32.Rc8 Kb6 33.Rc6 Ka5 34.Qc7 and White
is winning; M.Vachier-Lagrave] 21.Nc6 Kf7
[FEN "r1b2b1r/3n1kp1/p1N4p/4p1P1/
1p5P/3QnP1B/qPP5/2KR3R w - - 0 22"]
22.g6! [RR 22.Be6!! a) 22...Qe6 23.Nd8 Ke7 24.Ne6 Ke6 (24...Nd1

25.Rd1 and White is winning) 25.Qe3; b) 22...Ke6 23.Qg6 Nf6 24.
gf6 gf6 25.Qe8 Kf5 26.Nd4! Kf4 27.Ne2 Kf5 (27...Kf3 28.Qc6 and
White is winning) 28.Rd4!! with the idea 29.Rf4, 29.Ng3 M.VachierLagrave] Kg8 only move [22...Kf6 23.Qd6! and White is winning]
23.Qe3 Bc5 24.Qe4! [RR 24.Be6 Qe6 25.Qc5 Bb7 (25...Qg6 26.
Rd7 Kh7 27.Ne5 and White is winning) 26.Ne7 Kf8 27.Rd7 Qd7 28.
Nc6 Kg8 29.Qc4 Kf8 30.Rd1! Qc7 31.Qc5 Ke8 32.Rd6 and White
is winning; M.Vachier-Lagrave] Nf8 25.Rd8 Bb7 [RR 25...Bh3 26.
Ra8 Be6 27.Qe5! Qd5 28.Re1! Qc6 29.Qe6 Qe6 30.Re6 and White
is winning; M.Vachier-Lagrave] 26.Ra8? [RR 26.Rf8! Bf8 (26...
Kf8 27.Qf5 Kg8 28.Qe5 and White is winning; 26...Rf8 27.Qe5 Bc8
28.Bc8 Rc8 29.Qc5 and White is winning) 27.Qe5 Bc8 28.Qe8 and
White is winning; M.Vachier-Lagrave] Ba8 27.h5! [RR 27.Rd1??
Bc6 28.Qc6 Be3 29.Rd2 Qa1#; 27.Bf1!? Bc6 28.Bc4 Ne6! 29.Qf5!
Be3 30.Kd1 Bf3 31.Qf3 Qb1 32.Ke2 Qc2 33.Ke3 Qg6 34.Rf1 M.
Vachier-Lagrave] Rh7! 28.Re1 Bc6 29.Qc6 Bd4 30.Kd2?! [RR 30.
Kd1! Bb2 31.Bf5 Bc3 32.Ke2! Be1 33.Qc8! Kh8 34.Qf8 Qg8 35.
Qg8 Kg8 36.gh7 Kh8 37.Ke1 and White is winning; M.VachierLagrave] Qb2 31.Qc4 Kh8 32.Kd3! a5?! [32...Qa3 33.Ke4 Qa5 34.
gh7 (34.Rd1!?) Kh7 35.Bf5 Kh8 36.Qc8 Bc5 37.Rd1] 33.Qc8? [RR
33.f4! Bf2 (33...Qc3 34.Qc3 Bc3 35.Re4! Kg8 36.Rc4 and White is
winning) 34.Ke2! Qa3 35.Kf2 Qh3 36.Re5 Qh4 37.Ke2 Qd8 38.Qf7
Qc8 39.Re8 and White is winning; M.Vachier-Lagrave] Qa3 34.
Ke4 b3 35.cb3 a4! 36.Rb1 [36.ba4 Qb4 37.Rd1 (37.Rc1 Bc5 equal)
Ba7 equal] Qb4 37.Qc4 Qb7 38.Qd5 Qb4 39.Qc4 Qd2 40.Bg4??
[40.Qc8 Qe2 41.Kd5 Qf3 (41...Qb5 42.Ke4 equal) 42.Kc4 (42.Kd6
Qf6 equal) a3 43.Rf1 Qc3 44.Kd5 Qb3 45.Ke4 Qe3 equal] a3! 41.
Qf7 Qc2 42.Kd5 Qc5 43.Ke4 a2 44.Rc1 a1Q 45.Rc5 Bc5 46.Qd5!
Qe1 47.Kd3 Qd1 48.Kc4 Qd5 49.Kd5 [R 9/t] Ba3? [49...Ng6 50.
hg6 h5 and Black is winning] 50.Bf5 Kg8 51.Ke5 Rh8 52.Kd5
Nh7!! [52...Ng6?? 53.Bg6 Kf8 54.Ke6 equal] 53.gh7 [R 8/e] Kf7
54.Bg6 Kf6 55.f4 Bc1 56.f5 [56.b4 Bf4 57.b5 Rd8 (57...Rb8 58.Kc6
Ke7 59.b6 Bg3 and Black is winning) 58.Kc6 Ke6 59.b6 (59.Bd3 g5
60.hg6 Be5 61.Bc4 Ke7 and Black is winning) Rc8 60.Kb7 Rb8 61.
Kc6 Ke7 62.b7 Rd8 and Black is winning] Bd2 57.Kd6 Be1 58.
Kd7 Bb4 59.Kc7 Ke5 60.Kd7 Ba3 61.Kc6 Kd4 62.Kc7 Kc3 63.
Kd7 Kb4 [63...Kb3 64.Bf7 Kc3 65.Bg8 Kd4 66.Ke6 Ke4 67.f6 gf6
68.Kf6 Bb2 69.Kg6 Kf4 70.Kh6 (70.Ba2 Rf8 and Black is winning)
Kf5 71.Bb3 Kf6 and Black is winning] 64.Kd6 Kb3 65.Kd5 Bb2
66.Kd6 [66.Ke4 Kc4 67.Bf7 Kc5 68.Bg8 Bf6 69.Ke3 Kd6 70.Ke4
Bb2 71.Kf4 Ke7 72.Ke4 Kf6 73.Kf4 Bc1 74.Kg4 Bd2 75.Kf3 Kf5
76.Bf7 g5 and Black is winning] Bf6 67.Kc5 Kc3 68.Kd6 Kd4 69.
Kc6 [69.Ke6 Kc5 70.Kf7 Kc6 71.Ke6 Rd8 72.Kf7 Kd6 and Black is
winning] Rd8 [69...Ke5 and Black is winning] 70.Kb6 [70.Kb5
Kd5 71.Bf7 Kd6 72.Bg6 Rc8 73.Kb4 (73.Kb6 Rb8 74.Ka7 Kc7 and
Black is winning) Kd5 74.Bf7 Kd4 75.Bg6 (75.Bg8 g5 76.fg6 Rb8
and Black is winning) Rb8 76.Ka5 Kc4 77.Ka6 (77.Bf7 Kc5 78.Ka4
g5 and Black is winning) Kc5 78.Ka7 Rd8 79.Ka6 (79.Kb7 Be5 80.
Ka6 Bd6 81.Kb7 Rb8 82.Ka7 Bc7 and Black is winning) Be5 80.
Kb7 Rb8 81.Ka7 Bc7 82.Bf7 Kc6 83.Bg8 Rd8 84.h8Q Bb6 85.Ka6
Ra8#] Kd5! 71.Kc7 Kc5 72.Bf7 [72.Kb7 Be5 73.Ka7 (73.Ka6 Bd6
74.Bf7 Kc6 and Black is winning) Rd7 74.Ka6 Bb8 and Black is
winning] g5! 73.fg6 Rd6 74.Be8 Be5 75.Kb7 Rb6 76.Kc8 Kd6 0-1
[Sasa Velickovic]
2. R. Kasimdzhanov (2672) L. Aronian (2768)
Jermuk 2009 106/132 [D46]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dc4 7.Bc4 b5
8.Bd3 Bd6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Qc2 Bb7 11.a3 a6 12.b4 a5 13.Rb1 ab4
14.ab4 Qe7 15.e4 e5 16.Ne2 Bb4 17.Ng3 g6 [17...ed4!? 18.e5 Ne5
19.Ne5 c5 unclear] 18.de5 Ng4
[FEN "r4rk1/1b1nqp1p/2p3p1/1p2P3/
1b2P1n1/3B1NN1/2Q2PPP/1RB2RK1 w - - 0 19"]
19.e6! [a novelty; 19.Bg5 see 102/342] fe6 [19...Nde5 20.ef7 Rf7

21.Ng5 Rf6 22.Bb5! and White is slightly better] 20.Bg5 Qc5?! 21.
Qb3 Nde5 22.Qe6 Rf7 23.Ne5 Ne5 24.Be2 Qd6 [24...Bc8!? 25.
Qb3 Ba5 26.Be3 (26.Ra1 Nc4 unclear) Qe7 27.Qb2! Bc7 28.Ra1
Ra1 29.Ra1 Be6! unclear] 25.Qb3! [25.Qd6 Bd6 26.f4 Bc5 27.Kh1
Be3! 28.Rb3 Bd2 29.Rb2 Be3 equal] Bc5 26.Rbd1 Ra3 [26...Qf8
27.Kh1 Nc4 28.e5!! Ne5 29.f4 Nc4 30.f5 and White is superior] 27.
Qc2 Bd4 28.Be3! Re3?! [28...c5! 29.Bb5 h5 (with counterplay) 30.
Bd4 cd4 31.f4 d3 32.Qb1 Ng4 (32...Nc4 33.Bc4 Qd4 34.Kh1 Qc4
35.f5 and White is superior) 33.Bd3 h4 34.Be2 Qc5 35.Kh1 Ne3 36.
Rd8 Kh7 37.Rc1 (37.f5 gf5 38.Rf5 Nf5 39.ef5 Rc7!! 40.f6 Qc2 41.
Rd7 Kh8 42.Rd8 equal) Qe7 38.Qb2 Qd8 39.Qa3 Qb6 40.Nf1 Ng2
41.Kg2 Be4 42.Bf3 Bf3 43.Kf3 Qb7 44.Ke3 h3! 45.Rc5 Qg2
unclear] 29.fe3 Be3 30.Kh1 Qe7? [30...Qe6?! 31.Rd8 Kg7 32.Qc3
and White is superior; 30...Qa3! 31.Rd8 Kg7 32.Rf7 Kf7 33.Qd1!
Bb6 34.Rb8 Qe7 a) 35.Qb3 Kf6 36.Qg8 Kg5 37.Rf8 Bc8! 38.Re8
(38.Rc8 Qc5 39.h4 Kh4 40.Qh7 Kg3 41.Qh2 Kf2 unclear) Qc5 39.
Re5 Qe5 40.Qc8 Qa1 41.Nf1 Qe1 42.Qg4 Kf6 43.h4 Qf2 unclear;
b) 35.Bg4 Ba7 36.Qb3 Kg7 37.Rg8 Kf6 38.Nh5 gh5 39.Bh5 Qc5 40.
Qd1 Qg1 41.Qg1 Bg1 42.Kg1 c5 and White is slightly better]
[FEN "6k1/1b2qr1p/2p3p1/1p2n3/4P3/
4b1N1/2Q1B1PP/3R1R1K w - - 0 31"]
31.Rf7! Nf7 [31...Kf7? 32.Qb3; 31...Qf7 32.Qc3! Bf4 33.Rf1 and

White is winning] 32.Qb3! Bb6 33.Bg4! Kh8! 34.Rd7 Qc5 35.Qb1
[35.Ne2! Qf2 36.h3 Ne5 37.Rb7 and White is winning] Ne5 [35...
Bc8 36.Rf7 Bg4 37.Qa1 Qd4 38.Qa8 Bd8 39.Rf8 Kg7 40.Qd8 and
White is winning] 36.Rb7 Ng4 37.h3! Nf6 [37...Ne5 38.Qa1! Bd8
(38...Qd4 39.Qf1! Qf2 40.Rb6! Qb6 41.Qf8#) 39.Rb8 and White is
winning; 37...Nf2 38.Kh2 Qd4 39.Qc1! Nd3 40.Rb8 Kg7 41.Nf5
gf5 42.Qg5 Kf7 43.Rb7 and White is winning] 38.e5 [38.Qa1! Qd4
39.Qa8 Ng8 40.Rb6 Qb6 41.Qa1 and White is winning] Qe5 39.
Rb6 Qg3 40.Qa1! Qf4 [40...Qd6 41.Rb7! Qe6 42.Qd4 and White is
winning] 41.Rb7! 1-0 [R.Kasimdzhanov]
3. R. Kasimdzhanov (2672) I. Cheparinov (2678)
Jermuk 2009 106/135 [D46]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bd3 00 8.0-0 dc4 9.Bc4 a6 10.Rd1 b5 11.Be2 Qc7 12.Ne4 Ne4 13.Qe4
Bb7 14.Bd3 g6 15.Qh4 c5 16.Ng5 h5
[FEN "r4rk1/1bqn1p2/p2bp1p1/1pp3Np/
3P3Q/3BP3/PP3PPP/R1BR2K1 w - h6 0 17"]
17.g4! [a novelty; 17.Ne4 see 106/134] Nf6! [17...cd4 18.gh5 Ne5

19.Be4 and White is superior] 18.gh5 Nh5 19.Be2 Kg7! [19...Nf6
20.dc5 Qc5 21.Bd2 b4 22.Rac1 and White is superior] 20.dc5 Be5!
[20...Qc5 21.Bd2 with initiative] 21.f4 Bf6 22.Bd2 Qc5? [22...Bb2!
23.Rac1! Rad8 (23...Bc1? 24.Bc1! Qc5 25.Bh5 gh5 26.Qh5 Qc2 27.
Ne6 and White is superior) 24.Rc2 Bf6 25.c6 Bc6 26.Bf3 Rd6 27.
Qe1! Rfd8 28.Rdc1 Qe7 29.Bc6 Bg5 30.Bb4 Bh4 with
compensation] 23.Rac1 Qd5 24.Qh3! Rh8 (only move) 25.Bc3!
Qa2
[FEN "r6r/1b3pk1/p3pbp1/1p4Nn/5P2/
2B1P2Q/qP2B2P/2RR2K1 w - - 0 26"]
26.Rd7? [26.Ra1 Qb3 27.Ne6 Qe6 28.Qe6 fe6 29.Rd7 Kh6 30.Bf6
Nf6 31.Rb7 Nd5 equal; 26.Nf7!! a) 26...Bc3 27.Nh8 Qb2 28.Rd7
Kh8 29.Bh5 Bg2! 30.Qe6! a1) 30...Bc6 31.Rh7! Kh7 32.Bg6! Kh6
(32...Kh8 33.Qh3 Kg7 34.Qh7 and White is winning) 33.Be4 and
White is winning; a2) 30...Qc1 31.Kg2 Qc2 32.Kh1! Qb1 33.Bd1
and White is winning; b) 26...Nf4 27.Bf6 Kf7 (27...Kf6 28.Qf1! and
White is winning) 28.Rc7 Kf6 29.Qf1! Rh4 30.Rb7 Qb2 31.ef4 and
White is winning; c) 26...Kf7 27.Rd7 Kg8 28.Qg4 Rh6 29.Rb7 Bc3
30.Rc3 Nf6 31.Qg5 and White is winning] Bc3 27.Qe6! Qe6 28.
Ne6 Kh6! 29.Rc3 [29.Ng5 Bc8 30.Nf7 Kg7 31.Rc7 Ba5! 32.Re7
Bb4! equal, with the idea 33.Nd6 Kf6 34.Rcc7 Bd6 35.Rf7 Ke6 36.
Bg4 Kd5 37.Bf3 Ke6] Bc8! [29...fe6 30.Rb7 and White is slightly
better] 30.Rc8 Rhc8 [30...Rac8 31.Ng5 Nf6 32.Ra7 Ra8 33.Rb7
Rab8 equal] 31.Rf7!? [31.Ng5 Nf6 equal] Re8?! [31...Rc2! 32.Ng5
Ng7 33.Bd3 Rb2 (33...Rd2 34.Rd7 Rb2 35.Rd6 Rc8 36.Rg6 Kh5 37.
Rg7 Rc1 38.Bf1 Rbb1 39.Nf3 Rf1 40.Kg2 Kh6 41.Rg3 unclear) 34.
Rf6 Nf5 35.Bf5 Rd8! 36.Bg4 Rdd2 37.Bh3 Rd1 38.Bf1 Rbb1 39.
Ra6 Rf1 40.Kg2 b4 41.Ra7 Rg1 42.Kf3 Rg5 equal] 32.Ng5 Ng7 33.
Kf2 Rf8? [33...Rad8 34.h4 Rd6 35.Kf3 with initiative] 34.Rd7!
[and White is superior, weak point d3, d8] Rf6 35.Bd3! b4 36.h4!
a5 37.h5 a4 [37...gh5 38.Nf7 Rf7 39.Rd6?? Ne6; 39.Rf7 and White
is winning] 38.hg6 a3 39.Nf7 Kh5 [39...Rf7 40.gf7 a2 41.Rd6 and
White is winning] 40.Ne5! Rg6 [40...Rg8 41.Be2 Kh6 42.Rd1 and
White is winning] 41.Bg6 Kh6 42.ba3 1-0 [R.Kasimdzhanov]
4. B. Gelfand (2733) L. Aronian (2754)
Nalchik 2009 106/126 [D39]
a6 14.Rb1 Qc7 15.Qh5 Nc5 16.Rb4 Qe5 17.Qh4 Rd8 18.Nf3 Qc3
19.e5
[FEN "3rk2r/1p3p1p/p3pp2/2n1P3/
1R5Q/2q2N2/P4PPP/5RK1 b k - 0 19"]
19...Rg8! [a novelty; 19...f5 see 101/(335)] 20.Qh7 Ke7 21.Rf4 f5

22.Qh4 Ke8 23.g3 Ne4 24.Re4 fe4 25.Qe4 Rd5 26.Qf4 Qc2 27.
Ng5 Qf5 [27...Qg6? 28.Ne4 and White is superior; 27...Rf8!? 28.
Qh4 with the idea Nh7 equal] 28.Qf5 ef5 29.Nh7 Rg6 [29...Re5??
30.Nf6 Kf8 31.Nd7] 30.Nf6 Rf6 31.ef6 Rd6 32.Re1 Kf8 33.Re5
Rf6 - [RR]
5. P. Eljanov (2693) Ivan Sokolov (2669)
Sarajevo 2009 106/113 [D15]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.e3 b5 6.c5 g6 7.Ne5 Bg7 8.
Be2 Nfd7 9.f4 Ne5 10.fe5 f6 [10...0-0 see 103/(263)] 11.ef6 ef6 12.
e4 b4
[FEN "rnbqk2r/6bp/p1p2pp1/2Pp4/1p1PP3/
2N5/PP2B1PP/R1BQK2R w KQkq - 0 13"]
13.Na4! [a novelty; 13.Nd5] de4 14.Nb6 Ra7 15.Qb3 Re7 16.Nc8

Qc8 17.Bf4! f5 18.0-0-0 and White is superior, with attack
6. A. Motylev (2677) S. Rublevsky (2702)
Poikovsky 2009 106/56 [B46]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Nc6 bc6 7.Bd3
d5 8.0-0 Nf6 9.Re1 Be7 10.e5 Nd7 11.Qg4 g6 12.b3 c5 13.Bh6
Qa5 14.Na4! c4 15.Bf1 Bb7
[FEN "r3k2r/1b1nbp1p/p3p1pB/q2pP3/
N1p3Q1/1P6/P1P2PPP/R3RBK1 w kq - 0 16"]
16.Qh3! [a novelty, and White is slightly better; 16.Qg3 see 103/

(119)] Bc6 17.Nc3! [17.Bg7?! Rg8 18.Qh7 0-0-0 with
compensation] Bb4 [17...d4 18.Ne2 Qe5 19.bc4 and White is
superior] 18.a3! Bc3 19.b4 Bb4 20.ab4 Qb4 21.Reb1 [21.Bg7 Rg8
22.Qh7 Rg7 23.Qg7 Qb2! unclear] Qc5 [21...Qe7 22.Bg7 Rg8 23.
Qh7 Rg7 24.Qg7 and White is slightly better] 22.Bg7 Rg8 23.Qh7
0-0-0 [23...Ke7 24.Bh6 g5 25.Ra6! and White is superior; 23...Rg7
24.Qg7 a5 25.c3 and White is slightly better] 24.Ra6 Kc7 25.Rba1!
[25.Bh6 Rh8! (25...g5!?) 26.Qg7 Rb8 (26...Rdg8 27.Qf7 Rf8 28.Bf8
Rf8 29.Rc6 Qc6 30.Qg6) 27.Rba1 (27.Rb8 Rb8 28.Qf7 Rb1 29.Qe6
c3 30.Qd6 Kb7 and Black is slightly better) Qd4!?; 27...Qf8 and
White is slightly better] Qd4! [25...g5 26.R1a5 (26.c3 Bb7 27.Ra7
and White is superior) Qb4 27.Bf6 (27.c3 Qc3 28.Bf6) Rdf8 (27...
Nf6 28.Qf7 Nd7 29.c3! Qc3 30.Qe6 and White is winning) 28.c3
Qc3 29.Be7 Bb7 30.Bd6 Kc8 31.Qb1 Ba6 32.Ra6 Qb3 33.Qa1 and
White is winning] 26.Ra7 Bb7 [26...Kb8? 27.Bf6 Nf6 28.Qf7 Nd7
29.Qe6 Ne5 30.Qe7 Rd7 31.Qb4 Kc8 32.Ra8 Ba8 33.Ra8 Kc7 34.
Rg8 and White is winning] 27.c3! Qe4! [27...Qc3 28.Rb1 Nc5 29.
Bh6 and White is winning] 28.Bf6 [28.R1a4!? Kb8 (28...Nc5 29.
Bf6) 29.Bf6 Rdf8 30.Qh6 and White is superior] Nf6 [28...Rdf8!?
29.Be7 Qe5 (29...Rh8 30.Qg7 Qe5 31.Qe5 Ne5 32.Bf8 Rf8 33.Rb1
Rb8 34.h4 and White is superior) 30.Bf8 (30.Rb1!? Rh8 31.Rbb7
Kc6 32.Rc7 Kb5 33.Rab7 Ka6 34.Qh8 Rh8 35.g3 Rb8 36.Ra7 Kb5
37.Bb4 Rd8 38.Rd7 Rd7 39.Rd7 and White is superior) Rf8 31.Rb1
Nc5 32.Qh4 g5 33.Qg4 and White is superior] 29.ef6
[FEN "3r2r1/Rbk2p1Q/4pPp1/3p4/
2p1q3/2P5/5PPP/R4BK1 b - - 0 29"]
29...Rgf8 [29...Rdf8! 30.Qh6 (30.Qh3 Rh8 31.Qg3 e5 with the idea

Qf4 unclear) g5 (30...Rh8 31.Qc1) 31.Qh5! a) 31...Rh8 32.Qg5
Rfg8 33.Qd2!? (33.Qe3 Qe3 34.fe3 and White is slightly better)
Qh4 34.h3 Qh3 35.Qf4 e5 (35...Kc8 36.f3! and White is winning) 36.
Qe5 Kc6 37.R1a6 Ba6 38.Ra6 Kb7 39.Qd5! Ka6 40.Bc4 Ka7 41.
Qc5 (41.Qd4 Kb7 42.Bd5 Ka6 43.Qa4 Kb6 44.Qc6 Ka5 45.Qc7
Ka4 46.Qc4 Ka5 47.Qb4 Ka6 48.Bc4 Ka7 49.Qe7 see 41.Qc5) Kb7
42.Bd5 Ka6 43.Qc6 Ka5 44.Qc7 Ka4 45.Qc4 Ka5 46.Qb4 Ka6 47.
Bc4 Ka7 48.Qe7! Kb6 49.Qd6 Kb7 50.Bd5 Kc8 51.Qc6 Kd8 52.
Qb6 Kd7 53.Bc6 Ke6 54.Bb5 Ke5 (54...Kf5 55.Bd7; 54...Kd5 55.
Qd4) 55.Qd4 Ke6 56.Bd7#; b) 31...g4 32.Qh6! and White is
superior; c) 31...Qe5 32.g3 Rh8 33.Qd1 Ra8 34.Qa4 Ra7 35.Qa7
with initiative; 32.h4!? and White is superior] 30.Qh6 g5 31.Qg5
Rg8 32.f3? [32.Qc1 d4 33.Kh1 and White is superior; 32.Qd2! d4
33.f3 (33.Kh1 Ra8 and White is superior) Qf3 34.Rb1 Rb8 35.cd4
c3 36.Rc1 and White is winning] Rg5 [32...Qd4 33.cd4 Rg5 34.Rb1
Rb8 35.g4 Rg6 36.Kf2 and White is superior] 33.fe4 Kb8 34.ed5
(time) ed5 (time) 35.R7a2?! [35.R7a5 Rg6 36.Rb5 Rd7 37.Rab1
Rf6 38.Be2 and White is superior] Rg6 36.Re1 Rf6 (and White is
slightly better) 37.Re7 Bc8?! [37...Rc6 38.Rf7 d4 39.cd4 Rd4 and
White is slightly better; 37...Rc8!?] 38.Rb2 Ka8 39.Rd2 [39.Be2
and White is superior] Rdd6 40.Re5? [40.h4 Rde6 41.Re6 Be6 42.
Be2 and White is superior] Bb7 41.Re7?! [41.h4] Rb6 42.Re8 Ka7
43.Ra2 Ra6!? 44.Ree2 Ra2 45.Ra2 Ra6 46.Rf2 [46.Ra6 Ba6 47.
Kf2 d4! equal] Ra1? [46...d4! 47.cd4 Ra1 48.Rf7 Kb8 49.Kf2 c3 50.
Bd3 c2 51.Bc2 Ra2 equal] 47.Rf4! [47.Rf7? d4!] Rc1 48.h4! Rc3
49.h5 Re3 50.h6 Re8 (time) 51.Rf7 (time) Rh8 52.Rf6 Bc8?
[better is 52...Rg8 53.Rd6 and White is superior (53.h7? Rh8 54.Rf7

Kb6 55.g4 d4 56.Bc4 Be4) Kb8? 54.h7 Rh8 55.Rd7 and White is
winning] 53.Be2? [53.Kf2 Kb7 54.Ke3 Kc7 55.Kd4 and White is
winning] Kb7? [53...Kb8! 54.Kf2! (54.g4? c3) Kc7 55.Bf3!? Rd8
(55...d4 56.g4 c3 57.g5 and White is winning; 55...c3 56.Ke3 d4 57.
Kd3 Bd7 58.Be4 and White is winning) 56.Ke2 d4 57.h7 Bd7 58.
Be4 c3 59.Rg6 Bb5 60.Kf3 and White is winning] 54.Bf3! (and
White is winning) Rd8 55.h7 c3 56.Bd5 Kc7 57.Rc6 Kd7 58.Bg8
Kc6 59.h8Q c2 60.Qc3 Kb7 61.Qc2 1-0 [A.Motylev]
7. B. Predojevic (2652) P. Harikrishna (2686)
Sarajevo 2009 106/38 [B12]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.Be3 cd4 7.Nd4 Ne7 8.
c4 Nbc6 9.Qa4 a6 10.Nc3 dc4 11.0-0-0 Qc8 12.Nf5 Nf5 13.Bb6
Bb4
[FEN "r1q1k2r/1p3ppp/pBn1p3/4Pn2/
Qbp5/2N5/PP2BPPP/2KR3R w kq - 0 14"]
14.f4! [a novelty; 14.Rd8 see 106/(38)] 0-0 15.Bf3 Bc3?! [15...Nfe7

unclear, with the idea Rb8, Ba5] 16.bc3 Nfe7 17.g3!? [17.Qc4 and
White is superior] Na7! [17...Nd5 18.Bd5 ed5 19.Rd5 Qg4 20.Rhd1
and White is superior, with initiative; 17...Re8!? 18.Kb2 (18.Qc4?!
Ne5) Na7 (18...Nd5 19.Bd5 ed5 20.Rd5 and White is superior) 19.
Rd2 Nd5 20.Bd5 ed5 21.Rhd1 Qe6 22.Qa5! (22.Ba7 b5 23.Qa5 Ra7
24.Rd5 and White is slightly better) Nc8 23.Bd8 Nd6! (23...b5 24.
Rd5; 23...Na7 24.Qd5 and White is superior) a) 24.Qd5 Rad8 25.
Qe6 Re6 26.ed6 (with the idea Ka3-b4) Kf8 27.Ka3 Ke8 28.d7 Ke7
29.Kb4 Rc6 30.a4 Rc7 equal; b) 24.ed6! Rad8 25.Rd5 Qd7 26.Qc7
and White is superior, with initiative] 18.Qd7 [18.Qa3 Nd5 19.Ba7
Ra7 20.Bd5 ed5 21.Rd5 b5 22.Rhd1] Nd5 (only move) 19.Qc8 Nc8
20.Bd5 Nb6? [20...ed5! a) 21.Bc7 Ne7 22.Bd6 Rfe8 (22...Rae8? 23.
Rhe1 and White is superior) 23.Be7 Re7 24.Rd5 f6 equal; b) 21.Bc5
Rd8 22.Rd2 (22.Kc2!? b6 23.Bf2 Ra7 24.Rd2 Rad7 25.Rb1 b5 26.
a4 ba4 27.Ra1 f6 28.ef6 gf6 29.Ra4 with initiative) b6 23.Bb4! (23.
Ba3 Na7 24.Rhd1 Nb5 25.Bb2 Nc7 26.Ba3 Nb5 equal) a5 (23...Na7
24.Kc2!) 24.Ba3 Na7 25.Kc2 d4! (25...Nb5 26.Be7 Rd7 27.Rb1! d4
28.cd4 c3 29.Rb5 cd2 30.Bd6 Rb7 31.Kd2 and White is superior,
with the idea d5 with initiative) 26.Rd4 Nb5 (26...Rd4 27.cd4 Nb5
28.Bd6 Nd4 29.Kc3 Ne2 30.Kc4 Rc8 31.Kb5 Rc2 32.a3 Rb2 33.Ka6
and White is superior) 27.Rd8 Rd8 28.Bb2 and White is slightly
better] 21.Bb7 (and White is superior) Ra7 22.Bf3 g5 23.Kc2 [23.
fg5 Rc8 24.Rhe1 Nd7 25.h4 Rc5 and White is slightly better] Rc8
24.Rd4 Rc5 25.Rb1 Rb5 [25...Nd5 26.Bd5 ed5 27.Rb8 Kg7 28.f5
Rb5 29.Rb5 ab5 30.Kb2 Rd7 31.Rd2! and White is winning, with
the idea Ka3-b4] 26.Rb4!? [26.Rd6 Rb1 27.Kb1 Na4 28.Kc2 gf4 29.
gf4] gf4 27.gf4 Kg7 28.Bc6! and White is winning [28.Rd6 Nc8 29.
Rc6 Ne7 30.Rcc4 Nd5 31.Bd5 Rd5 and White is superior] Rb4 29.
cb4 [R 9/i] a5?! [29...Rc7 30.Bf3 with the idea 30...c3 31.Rd6 Nc4
32.Rc6] 30.b5 f6 31.Rd6 fe5 32.Be4! Nc8 33.Re6 [33.Rc6 Ne7 34.
Re6 Kf7 35.b6 Rd7 36.Re5] Rf7 34.fe5 Rf2 35.Kc3 Ra2 36.b6 Ra3
37.Kd4 1-0 [B.Predojevic]
8. M. Carlsen (2770) L. Dominguez Perez (2721)
Sofia 2009 106/151 [D97]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Qb3 dc4 5.Qc4 Bg7 6.Nf3 0-0 7.e4
Nc6 8.Be2 e5 9.d5 Nd4 10.Nd4 ed4 11.Qd4 c6
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/pp3pbp/2p2np1/3P4/3QP3/
2N5/PP2BPPP/R1B1K2R w KQ - 0 12"]
12.d6! [a novelty; 12.Qd1 see 41/(553)] Nd5?! [12...Nd7 13.Qe3

(13.Qd2 Nc5 14.0-0 Re8 15.f3 b5 unclear) Be5 14.0-0 Bd6 15.Rd1
Qc7 16.Kh1 and White is slightly better; 12...Re8 13.Bg5 (13.e5
Nd5 14.f4 f6 unclear; 13.Qd3 b5 14.a3 Be6 unclear) Ne4 14.Qg7
(14.Qe4 f6 15.Qb4 fg5 16.0-0-0 Be5) Kg7 15.Bd8 Nc3 16.bc3 Rd8
17.0-0-0 Be6 18.Rd2 b5 19.Bf3 Rab8 20.Rhd1 Rb6 equal] 13.Qd3
Nc3 [13...Nb4 14.Qd1 Be5 15.a3 Na6 16.0-0 Be6 17.Be3 Bd6 18.
Qc2 and White is slightly better] 14.bc3 Qf6 [14...Be5] 15.Bb2
Rd8 16.Rd1 Qe6 17.f4 Qa2 18.Rd2 and White is superior [L.
Dominguez Perez]
9. K. Sasikiran (2684) B. Macieja (2606)
Warszawa 2008 106/127 [D39]
a6 14.Rb1 Qc7 15.Qh5 Nc5 16.Rb4 Qe5 17.Qh4 Qg5 18.Qh3
[FEN "r3k2r/1p3p1p/p3pp2/2n3q1/
1R1NP3/2P4Q/P4PPP/5RK1 b kq - 0 18"]
18...h5! [a novelty; 18...Rg8 see 106/(127)] 19.f4 Qg4 20.Qe3 Rg8

21.Rb2 Rc8 22.Rd2 h4 23.Nf3 h3 24.g3 Kf8 25.Rd4 Kg7 26.Rfd1
-
10. M. Carlsen (2776) V. Topalov (2796)

Nice (blindfold) 2009 106/17 [A33]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.Nc3 cd4 5.Nd4 Nc6 6.a3 Be7 7.e4 0-0
8.Nc2 b6
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/p2pbppp/1pn1pn2/8/2P1P3/
P1N5/1PN2PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQ - 0 9"]
9.f4 [a novelty; 9.Be2 see 106/(17)] Bb7 10.Bd3 [10.e5 Ne8 11.Bd3
d6 unclear; 11...f6 unclear] Rc8 11.Qe2 d6 12.0-0 Na5 [12...a6!?;
12...Re8!?] 13.Be3 a6 [13...Ba6 14.Nb5 d5 (14...Bb5 15.cb5 and
White is slightly better, weak point c6) 15.cd5 ed5 (15...Bb5 16.Bb5
Ne4 17.de6 and White is superior) 16.e5 (16.Na7 Bd3 17.Qd3 Ra8
equal) Bb5 17.Bb5 Ne4 18.Rad1 and White is slightly better] 14.
Nd4 [14.e5 de5 15.fe5 Nd7 16.Rad1 Qc7 equal] Qc7 15.Rac1 Qb8
[15...Nc4?! 16.Nb1] 16.b4 Nc6 17.f5 Nd4 18.Bd4 Ba8 [18...ef5 19.
Rf5 with attack; 18...e5 19.Bf2 (19.Be3 b5 and White is slightly
better) b5 and White is slightly better] 19.fe6 fe6 20.e5 de5 21.Be5
Qb7 22.Bf6 Bf6 23.Qe6 and White is superior [RR]
B80
[FEN "r1b1kb1r/2qn1pp1/p3pn1p/3p4/
1p1NP1PP/4BP1B/PPPQN3/2KR3R b kq - 0 13"]
13...e5? 14.Nf5 [14.g5!?] d4 [14...de4 15.g5 and White is superior]

15.Bf2 Nc5 16.Kb1 Be6 17.Nc1 and White is superior; A.Sermier Q.Didier, France 2004;
13...Ne5 14.Bf4! [14.g5? Nc4 15.Qd3 Nd7 16.Nf4?? Nde5 and

Black is winning; J.Ashwin - H.Banikas, Rethymon 2009; 14.ed5?!
Nc4 15.Qd3 Ne3 16.Qe3 Nd5 and Black is slightly better] de4 [14...
Bd6? 15.Be5 Be5 16.g5 and White is winning] 15.g5 [15.Nc6 Nd3
16.Qd3 Qf4 17.Nf4 ed3 18.Nd3 Bb7 19.Nde5 and White is slightly
better] Nd5 16.fe4 and White is slightly better;
13...de4 14.g5 ef3 [14...hg5 15.hg5 ef3 (Sergey Karjakin Ivanchuk, Kallithea 2008) 16.Bf4 Qb6 17.Ng3 and White is
superior, with attack] 15.Bf4! e5 [15...Qb6 16.Ng3 Nd5 17.g6 with
compensation, with attack] 16.gf6 fe2 17.Qe2 gf6 18.Rhe1 with
compensation; Alexei Fedorov
2
14...e5 15.Nf5 Bf5 16.ef5 d4 [16...Bc5 17.Bc5 Qc5 18.g5 Nfd7 19.
f4 e4 20.Nd4 a5 21.Kb1 Rc8 22.Qg2! and White is superior, with
initiative; Alexei Fedorov - Annaberdiev, Abu Dhabi 2005 see
94/161] 17.Nd4 [17.Bf2 Bc5 unclear] ed4 18.Qd4 Nbd7 19.Bf4 Qc6
20.Rhe1 Kd8 21.Bf1!? with compensation; Alexei Fedorov
3
16.g6? e5 17.gf7 Kf7 and Black is superior; J.Bittencourt - Rob.
Molina, Brasil (ch) 2009
4
18.Qg5!?
5
Alexei Fedorov - J.Ashwin, Dubai 2009
6
14...Qa5
a) 15.Nb3 Qa2 16.g5 [16.ed5 Bb7] hg5 17.hg5 Nb6;
b) 15.Kb1!? ed4 16.ed5 Bb7 17.Nd4 Qd5?! 18.Qe2! Kd8 19.Bh3
Qc5 20.g5 hg5 21.Bd7 Nd7 22.Rhe1 Bd6 23.Qd3! Bd5 24.Nb3 Qc6
25.Bd6 Qd6 26.Qd5 Qd5 27.Rd5 Kc7 28.hg5 Rhe8 29.Red1 and
White is winning; Hiarcs - Jonny, Pamplona 2009 see 107/(228);
17...Bd5!? unclear
7
16.Nf3 Ng4 [16...Ne4? 17.Qe3 Bb7 18.Bh3 with compensation,
with attack]
[FEN "r1b1kb1r/2qn1pp1/p6p/4p1P1/
1p4nP/5N2/PPPQN2B/2KR1B1R w kq - 0 17"]
a) 17.g6
a1) 17...f6 18.Ned4
a11) 18...Qb6? 19.Bc4! Nh2 [19...ed4 20.Rhe1 Kd8 21.Nd4 Nge5
22.Ne6 Ke8 23.Qd5 and White is winning; Krisz.Szabo - E.Kislik,
Budapest 2009 see 107/228] 20.Bf7 Kd8 [20...Ke7? 21.Qb4!! Qb4
22.Nc6#] 21.Ne6 Ke7 22.Rh2 and White is superior, with attack,
with the idea 22...f5 23.Ne5 Ne5 24.Re2 and White is winning;
a12) 18...Nh2 19.Qh2! [19.Rh2? ed4? 20.Re2; 19...Nb6] Bb7 [19...
Nb6 20.Bh3! with compensation] 20.Ne6!? [20.Qh3 with
compensation, with the idea 20...ed4 21.Nd4; 20.Bh3 with
compensation, with the idea 20...Bf3 21.Bd7 Qd7 22.Nf3 Qe6 23.
Rhe1 Bd6 24.Nd4 Qa2 25.Nb3 Ke7 26.Rd6 Kd6 27.Qg1] Qb6 [20...
Qc6 21.Bh3!? with compensation] 21.Bh3 Bf3 [21...Nc5 22.Ne5!]
22.Nc7 Qc7 23.Bd7 Kd8 [23...Ke7? 24.Qh3 and White is superior]
24.Bc6 Kc8 25.Qh3 Kb8 26.Qf3 Ra7 27.Rd7 Qb6 28.Rhd1 Be7
[28...Rd7 29.Rd7 Qg1 30.Qd1 Qd1 31.Kd1 and White is superior]
29.Ra7 Qa7 30.Rd7 Qg1 31.Rd1 Qc5 32.Rd7 equal;
a2) 17...fg6!? 18.Qd3 [18.Bh3 Nh2 19.Bd7 Qd7 20.Qd7 Bd7 21.
Rh2 e4 22.Ne5 Bf5 23.Nf4 g5! 24.hg5 Be7] Qc6 19.Ned4! with
compensation; 18...Qb6! and Black is superior;
b) 17.Bh3!? Nh2 [17...b3 18.ab3 Nc5 19.Nc3! Nh2 20.Qh2 unclear,
with the idea 20...hg5 21.Nd5] 18.Rh2 (with compensation) Ra7
[18...Rb8 19.Bd7] 19.Ng3
8
17.Be2 gf6 18.Bh5 Rb8 19.Ne6 Qc4 20.Qd5! [20.Nf8?? and Black
is winning; Aroshidze - H.Banikas, Kavala 2009 see 107/(228)]
Qd5 21.Nc7 Kd8 22.Nd5 with compensation
9
19.Bh3 Bh1 20.Ne6 Qc8 equal see 19.Ne6
10
[FEN "r3kb1r/1bqn1p2/p3Np1p/4p2Q/
1p5P/8/PPP4B/2KR1B1R b kq - 0 19"]
19...Qb6? 20.Rd7!
a) 20...Qe3 21.Kb1 Kd7 22.Qf7 Be7 23.Bb5 ab5 24.Rd1 Bd5 [24...
Kc8 25.Qe7 and White is winning] 25.Nf8!! and White is winning;
b) 20...Kd7 21.Qf7 Be7 22.Bg1! Qd6 [22...Qc6 23.Rh2! and White
is winning] 23.Bc5 Bh1 [23...Raf8 24.Nf8 Rf8 25.Bh3 Kd8 26.
Bb6!! Qb6 27.Rd1 Qd4 28.Rd4 ed4 29.Qe6 and White is winning]
24.Bd6 Kd6 25.Ng7 Bd8 26.Ne8 [26.Nf5 Kc6 27.Qe6 Kb7 28.Nd6
Kc7 29.Nf7 Rg8 30.Qd6 Kb7 31.Nd8 Rgd8 32.Qe7 Kc6 33.Qf6
Rd6 34.Qe5 and White is superior] Re8 [26...Kc6 27.Nf6 and White
is winning] 27.Qe8 Be7 28.Qg6 Bd5 29.Qh6 and White is winning;
19...Qc6? 20.Bh3
a) 20...Nc5 21.Nc5 Qc5 22.Qf5 Qe7 [22...Qb5 23.Qf6 and White is
winning; 22...Bc8 23.Qf6 and White is winning] 23.Rhe1 Bc8 24.
Qf3 Bb7 25.Bd7! Qd7 26.Qf6 and White is winning;
b) 20...Bd6
b1) 21.Rd6 Qh1 22.Rd1 Qh2 23.Ng7 Kf8 [23...Kd8 24.Qf7 Qh3 25.
Ne6 Kc8 26.Qd7 Kb8 27.Qc7 Ka7 28.Qc5 equal] 24.Qf7! Kf7 25.
Rd7 equal;
b2) 21.Rhf1!? Rc8 22.Rd2 with compensation;
b3) 21.Rhg1! Rc8 [21...Ke7 22.Rg7 Raf8 23.Nf8 Rf8 24.Bg2 and
White is winning] 22.Bf5 Rf8 [22...e4 23.Qf7! Kf7 24.Rg7 Ke8 25.
Bg6#; 22...Nf8 23.Rg7 Rc7 24.Nc7 Qc7 25.Rd6 Bf3 26.Qf3 Qd6 27.
Qb7 and White is winning] 23.Nf8 Nf8 [23...Kf8 24.Qh6 Ke7 25.
Rg7 Rf8 26.Bg6 and White is winning] 24.Bc8 Bc8 25.Qh6 Bf5 26.
Rd2 and White is winning
11
20.Rg1
a) 20...Nb6 21.Bh3 Qc4 [21...Be4 22.Rd8 Qd8 23.Nd8 Rd8 24.Re1
and White is winning] 22.Be5 fe5 23.Qe5 and White is winning;
b) 20...Be4 21.Rd2
[FEN "r1q1kb1r/3n1p2/p3Np1p/4p2Q/
1p2b2P/8/PPPR3B/2K2BR1 b kq - 0 21"]
b1) 21...Bc5? 22.Rg7 and White is winning;

b2) 21...Nc5? 22.Rd8 Qd8 23.Nd8 Rd8 24.Be5 Rd5 25.Bc4 and
White is winning;
b3) 21...Ke7? 22.Nf8 Rf8 23.Bh3 Ra7 24.Rgd1 f5 25.Bf5 Nf6 26.
Bc8 Nh5 27.Bg4 Nf4 28.Bf4 ef4 29.Re1 f5 30.Bf5 Rf5 31.Re4 Kf8
32.Rb4 f3 33.Rf2 and White is winning;
b4) 21...Nb6? 22.Rd8 Qd8 23.Nd8 Rd8 24.Qe2! h5 [24...Rd4 25.
Rg4 f5 26.Be5 Rc4 27.Qe1 Rc2 28.Kd1 and White is winning] 25.
Qe4 Bh6 26.Rg5 Nd7 27.Bh3 Rg8 [27...fg5 28.Bd7 Kd7 29.Qd5
and White is winning] 28.Bd7 Kd7 [28...Rd7 29.Be5 Bg5 30.Bf4
and White is winning] 29.Qh7 Bg5 30.hg5 Ke6 31.gf6 and White is
winning;
b5) 21...Ra7! 22.Bh3
b51) 22...b3!? 23.ab3 Bb4 24.Re2 Qc6 25.Bf5! Bf5 [25...Bf3?? 26.
Qf7!! Kf7 27.Rg7 Ke8 28.Bg6#] 26.Ng7 Kf8 27.Nf5 with
compensation;
b52) 22...Qc4!
b521) 23.Kb1
b5211) 23...Qc6 24.Nf8 unclear,;
b5212) 23...Bd5 24.Rd5! Qd5 25.Rd1 Qc4 [25...Qe4 26.Bf5 Qc4 27.
Bg1 Rb7 28.Qf3 with compensation] 26.Bg1 Rb7 27.Bg2 e4 28.
Nd4 Rg8 29.Qf5 Rc7 30.Qe4 Ne5 31.Bh3 with compensation;
b5213) 23...b3!! 24.ab3 Qb3 25.Rg3! Qb4 and Black is winning;
b522) 23.Nf8 Rf8 [23...Nf8? 24.Be5! Qa2 25.Rd8! Ke7 26.Bf6! Kf6
27.Rf1 Ke7 28.Qe5 Kd8 29.Qb8 and White is winning; 23...Kf8 24.
Qg4 Ke8 25.Qg7 Rf8 26.Rgd1 f5 27.Be5 Qa2 28.b3 with
compensation, with attack] 24.Qh6 f5! [24...Rc7 25.Bd7 Rd7 26.
Qf6 Rd2 27.Qe5 Kd7 28.Kd2 Qc2 29.Ke1 Re8 30.Qd6 Kc8 31.Qb8
equal] 25.Kb1 Rc7 26.Rc1 Rg8! [26...b3? 27.ab3 Qb3 28.Qd6 Qb7
29.Be5 Rc6 30.Qd4 Rc5 31.Bf4 and White is superior] 27.Qh7 Nf6
28.Qh6 Qe6! and Black is superior
12
22.Bd7 Qd7 23.Rd7 Kd7 24.Qf7 Kd6 25.Qg7 Raf8 26.Qg1 equal
13
13...de4 14.Nfe6! fe6 15.Ne6 Qc6 16.Nf8 Nf8 17.Qb4 with
compensation, with attack
14
17...Kf7? 18.g5! Nd5 19.Bh3! and White is superior; Morozevich Vachier-Lagrave, Biel 2009 see 106/69
15
18.Qg6 Ke7 19.d6 Ke6 20.Bh3 Qa1 [20...Bd5? 21.g5 Kd6 22.gf6
Nf6 23.Rd5!] 21.Kd2 Qa5 equal 22.Kc1 Qa1 Vachier-Lagrave
16
19.Qc4 Qc4 20.Bc4 hg5 21.hg5 Rh1 22.Rh1 Nd5 23.Bd5 Bd5 24.
Nc7 Kf7 25.Nd5 ef3 26.Rf1 equal; Vachier-Lagrave
17
22.Nf8 Nf8 23.Bc4 Qa5 24.fe4!? [24.Bg5 N8d7 25.fe4 Qa1! 26.Kd2
Qa5 Vachier-Lagrave]
[FEN "r3kn1r/1b4p1/p4n2/q2P2p1/
1pBQP2P/4B3/1PP5/2KR3R b - - 0 24"]
a) 24...gh4 25.Rhg1 with compensation, with the idea 25...Rh7 26.

Kb1! N8d7 [26...Rc8 27.Bb3 N8d7 28.e5 Nd5 29.Qg4! g5 30.Qe6
Re7 31.Qg6 Kd8 32.Bg5 Qc5 33.Qd6 and White is winning] 27.e5
Nd5 28.Qg4 Nf8 [28...Ne5 29.Qe6 Ne7 30.Bg5 Qc5 31.Rge1 and
White is winning] 29.Rgf1 Rd8 [29...Ne3 30.Bf7 Ke7 31.Qg5#; 29...
g6 30.Rf8! Kf8 31.Qg6 and White is winning] 30.Bd3 Ne7 [30...b3
31.cb3 Nc3 32.bc3 Rd3 33.Rf8 Kf8 34.Qf5 Kg8 35.Qe6 and White
is winning] 31.Qf4 Kd7 32.Bh7 Bd5 33.Qg4 and White is winning;
b) 24...Rh4 25.Rh4 gh4 26.Kb1! with compensation
b1) 26...N8d7 27.Bb3! Qc7 [27...Rc8 see 26...Rc8] 28.d6! Qa5 29.
Qc4 Be4 [29...Kd8 30.Bd4!! and White is winning] 30.Qf7 Kd8 31.
Bd4!! Qf5 32.Be6 and White is winning;
b2) 26...Rc8 27.Bb3 N8d7 [27...Qc7 28.d6! Qa5 29.e5 and White is
winning; 27...Qb5 28.Qe5 Kd8 29.Qg5! Rc7 30.e5 Qe2 31.ef6! Qd1
32.Ka2 g6 33.f7 Kc8 34.Qe5! and White is winning] 28.e5 Nd5 29.
Qg4! Ne5 [29...Kd8 30.Qe6 and White is winning] 30.Qg7 Qc7 31.
Qh8 [31.Ba4 Bc6 32.Bc6 Qc6 33.Qe5 Ne7 34.Qh8 Kf7 35.Qh7 Ke8
36.Bg5 and White is winning] Kd7 [31...Kf7 32.Rf1 Ke6 33.Qh6
Kd7 34.Qg7 Ne7 35.Rd1 and White is winning] 32.Qh7 Ke6 33.
Qh6 Kd7 34.Ba4 Ke7 35.Bg5 Kf7 36.Bb3 and White is winning
[Sasa Velickovic]
Jan Timman
White to Play
[FEN "3R1nk1/6pr/3K1b1p/7P/4P1P1/p6B/P7/8 w - - 0 1"]
1.g5!! Bd8 2.g6 Rh8 [2...Ng6 3.hg6 Rh8 4.Kd7] 3.Bf5! Nh7! [3...
Ng6 4.Bg6] 4.gh7 Kf7 [4...Rh7 5.Bg6!] 5.Bg6 Kf6 6.e5 Kg5 7.Kd7
Rf8 8.Bf7! [8.Kd6 Ba5 9.Ke7 Bb4 10.Kd7 Bc5! 11.Kc6 Be7 12.Bf7
Rh8 13.Bg6 Bb4 14.Kd7 Rf8 15.Ke6 Kf4 16.Kd5 Bc3 17.e6 Bb4 18.
Kc6 Ke5 and Black is winning, with the idea Kf6] Rf7 9.Ke8! [9.
Kd8 Rf8 10.Ke7 Rh8 11.Kf7 Rh7 12.Kg8 g6! 13.Kh7 gh5 14.Kg7
Kf5 and Black is winning] Re7 10.Kf8! [10.Kd8 Ra7 and Black is
winning] Re5 11.h8Q Bf6 12.Qh7 Kh5 13.Qd3 equal.


Modern Chess Theory: Grnfeld Defense

Zdenko Krnic
Beginining with Volume #104 of Chess Informant, we introduced a
new feature that gives an overview of select openings at the peak of
their popularity. In Chess Informant #107, we present a favorite
opening of many leading players: the Grnfeld Indian Defense.
Informant at
ChessCafe
Naturally, the world's top players are the ones who dictate "chess
fashion." A decade ago, few would have seriously considered the
continuation 5.Bd2 in the Grnfeld Exchange Variation, but now we
are able to properly assess this popular continuation. The material is
presented in the same way as in the Encyclopedia of Chess
Openings, with the final line representing best play, for both white
and black. This being the game Anand - Svidler, Moscow 2009 (see
107/143).
D85
Best of Chess Informant:

Viswanathan Anand
by Chess Informant

Vladimir Kramnik
by Chess Informant

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.

Garry Kasparov
by Chess Informant
[FEN "rnbqkb1r/ppp1pp1p/6p1/3n4/3P4/
2N5/PP1BPPPP/R2QKBNR b KQkq - 0 5"]
5...c5 6.dc5 [6.e4 Nc3 7.Bc3 cd4 8.Qd4 Qd4 9.Bd4 f6 10.Bc4 e5 11.
Be3 Bd7 12.0-0-0 Bc6 13.Bd5 Nd7 14.Ne2 Rc8 15.Kb1 Bc5 equal;
Tukmakov - Khenkin, Burgas 1993 see 58/(504)] Bg7 7.Rc1 0-0 8.
Nf3 Na6 9.e4 Ndb4 10.a3 Nd3 11.Bd3 Qd3 12.Be3 Bc3 13.Rc3
Qe4 14.0-0 Bg4 15.Bh6 Rfd8 16.Qc1 and White is superior;
Sakalauskas - Zjukin, Tallinn 2006
2
6.Nf3 Bg7 see D 90
3
7...h6 8.Bh4 0-0 9.Rc1 [9.Nf3 see D 90] g5 10.Bg3 c5! 11.dc5 [11.
Nf3 see D 90] Bc3! 12.bc3 [12.Rc3 Qd1 13.Kd1 Na4 14.Rc2 Bf5
15.Rd2 Nc6 16.Ne2 Nc5 17.f3 (P.Eljanov - Sutovsky, Russia 2005
see 93/396) Rfd8! 18.Nd4 Nd4 19.ed4 Nd7! and Black is slightly
better, with the idea Nf6-d5] Qd1 13.Rd1 Na4 14.Ne2 Nc6 15.h4
e5! 16.hg5 hg5 17.Rd6 f6
[FEN "r1b2rk1/pp6/2nR1p2/2P1p1p1/n7/
2P1P1B1/P3NPP1/4KB1R w K - 0 18"]
18.Nd4!! ed4 19.cd4 with compensation; Sutovsky;

7...0-0 8.Nf3 see D 90
4
8.Bb5 Nc6 9.dc5 Nd7 10.Nf3 h6 11.Bh4 0-0 12.Nd4 Nc5! 13.Nc6
bc6 14.Qd8 Rd8 15.Be7 cb5 16.Bc5 Be6 17.0-0 Rd2 18.a4! b4! 19.
Bb4 Rb2 20.Ba5 a6! with compensation; Gladischev - Dvoirys,
Israel 1999 see 76/(423)
5
12...a6 13.Ba4 h6 14.Bh4 g5 15.Bg3 Nf6 16.Bc6 bc6 17.Rd4 Be6
18.a3 Nd7 19.h4 Rg8 20.hg5 hg5 21.Nf3 f6 22.Nd2 Nc5 equal;
Hauchard - Jan Gustafsson, New York 1999
6
13...a6 14.Ba4 e6 15.Rd6 Nc5 16.Bc6 bc6 17.Ne2 Bd7 equal; Milos
Pavlovic - Pe.Popovic, Srbija i Crna Gora 2006;
13...e6 14.Rd6 (M.Turov - Krasenkow, Russia 2008) Nc5 15.Rc6
[15.Bc6 bc6 16.Ne2 Bd7 equal] bc6 16.Bc6 Ke7 17.Ba8 Nd3 18.
Ke2 Ba6 unclear
7
7...c5 8.dc5 Bc3 9.bc3 Qd1 10.Rd1 N6d7 11.Bb5 a6 12.Ba4 Nc6
[12...f6?! 13.Bb8 Rb8 14.Ne2 e6 15.Nd4 Ke7 16.Nb3 and White is
superior; Wang Yue - Morozevich, Wijk aan Zee 2009 see 105/
(158)] 13.Bc7 0-0 14.Bb6 Nce5 15.Nf3 Nb6 16.cb6 Nc4 17.Rb1
Bf5 18.Rb4 Rfc8 19.Bb3 Nd6 20.Ne5 Rc3 21.0-0 Kg7 equal; M.
Muzychuk - B.Bok, Wijk aan Zee III 2010

8
8...Bg4 9.h3 Bf3 10.Qf3 c6 11.Be2 N8d7 12.0-0 e5 13.de5 Ne5 14.
Qe4 Qe7 15.Rfd1 Rad8 [15...f5 16.Qc2 g5 17.Bh2 f4 18.ef4 gf4 19.
Re1 and White is slightly better] 16.Rac1 f5 [16...h6?! 17.Bg3 f5 18.
Qc2 and White is slightly better; Rodshtein - Roiz, Maalot-Tarshiha
2008 see 102/350] 17.Qc2 Nf7 18.Qb3 Be5 19.Be5 Qe5 20.Qa3
Nc8 equal; Roiz
9
9...N6d7 10.Nd5! e5 [10...Bb2 11.Bc7 Qe8 12.Rb1 Bg7 13.Bb5 Nc6
14.Nd4 e6 15.Nc3 Nc5 16.Bd6 and White is superior; Dreev - B.
Lalic, Hrvatska 2007 see 104/(276)] 11.Bg3! Nc6
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/pp1n1pbp/2n3p1/2PNp3/
8/4PNB1/PP3PPP/R2QKB1R w KQ - 0 12"]
a) 12.b4?! Nf6 13.Nf6 Qf6 14.b5 e4 15.Nd4 Nd4 16.ed4 Qd4 17.
Qd4 Bd4 18.Rc1 e3 unclear;
b) 12.Rc1 Nf6 13.Nf6 Qf6 14.Bd3 [14.Bb5 Bg4 15.Bh4 Qh4 16.
Nh4 Bd1 17.Bc6 bc6 18.Kd1 Rab8 19.b3 a5 with counterplay ; 14.
Bh4 Qf5 (Stajner - Mikhalchishin, Slovenija 2008 see 104/276) 15.
Bb5 and White is slightly better] Bg4 [14...e4?! 15.Be4 Qb2 16.0-0
and White is superior; V.Malakhov - R.Ponomariov, KhantyMansiysk (m/4-rapid) 2009 see 107/144] 15.Be4 and White is
slightly better;
c) 12.Bh4 Qa5 [12...Nf6 13.Nf6 Bf6 14.Qd8 Bd8 15.Bd8 Rd8 16.
Bb5 and White is superior] 13.Qd2 Qd2 14.Nd2 Nc5 15.Ne7 Ne7
16.Be7 Na4 17.Bf8 Bf8 18.b3 and White is superior; Mikhalchishin
10
12.Bg5 Re8 13.Bb5 a6 14.Ba4 (Khalifman - Kojovic, Budva 2009)
Nc6 15.Rd5 e6 16.Rd6 Nc5 17.Bc6 bc6 18.Rc6 Ne4 19.0-0 f6 20.
Bh4 g5 21.Bg3 e5 with compensation
11
14.Ba4 Nc6 15.Nd4 [15.Rd5 Nf6 16.Bc6 bc6 17.Rd4 Rb8 with
compensation] Nc5
a) 16.Bc6 bc6 17.0-0 a5 [17...Ne4!?] 18.c4 e5 19.Nb3 Nb3 [19...
Nb7 20.e4 Be6 equal; G.Sargissian - Li Chao, Khanty-Mansiysk
(m/2) 2009 see 107/(144)] 20.ab3 a4 and Black is slightly better;
bb) 16.Nc6 Be6 17.Rd4 Na4 18.Ne7 Re7 19.Ra4 f6 equal;
Mikhalchishin
12
7...c5 8.d5 Bc3 9.bc3 0-0 10.Nf3 [10.Bc4 see 7...0-0] Bg4 11.Be2
see 7...0-0
13
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/ppp1ppbp/6p1/8/3PP3/
2B5/PP3PPP/R2QKBNR w KQ - 0 8"]
8.Qd2 c5 [8...Nd7 9.Nf3 e6 10.Rc1! b6 11.Bb5 Bb7 12.Qe3 a6 13.

Ba4 Rc8 14.0-0 b5 15.Bd1! and White is superior; V.Ruban Epishin, Novosibirsk 1993 see 58/504] 9.dc5 Qd2 10.Kd2 Rd8 11.
Kc2 Bc3 12.Kc3 Be6 13.Nf3 Nd7 14.b4 a5 15.Bb5 Nf6 16.Rhe1
ab4 17.Kb4 Ba2 18.Re2 Be6 19.Ra8 Ra8 20.Ne5 Ra1 equal; Dreev
- Roiz, Russia 2009 see 105/(158);
8.Bc4
a) 8...Nd7 9.Ne2 c5 10.d5 Ne5 11.Bb3 e6 12.0-0 Qh4! [12...c4?! 13.
Bc4! Nc4 14.Bg7 Kg7 15.Qd4 Qf6 16.Qc4 ed5 17.ed5 Qb2 18.Nd4
and White is slightly better; Grischuk - Krasenkow, Saint-Vincent
2005 see 94/360] 13.f3 Rd8 equal; Krasenkow;
bb) 8...c5 9.d5 Bc3 10.bc3 Qd6 [10...e5 11.de6 Be6 12.Be6 fe6 13.
Qd8 Rd8 14.Nf3 Nc6 equal; Dreev - Leon Hoyos, Reggio Emilia
2008/09 see 104/121; 13.Nf3!?] 11.Qe2 Qe5 12.Qe3 f5 13.Nf3 Qe4
14.Qe4 fe4 15.Ng5 Bf5 16.0-0-0 Nd7 17.d6 Kg7 18.Ne4 Ne5 19.
de7 Rfe8 20.Nd6 Nc4 21.Nc4 Re7 22.Nd6 b6 1/2 : 1/2 Zhou Weiqi
- Sutovsky, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/1) 2009 see 107/(143)
14
9...e6 10.Qd2 c5 11.dc5 Qd2 12.Kd2 Rd8 13.Kc2 Rc8 14.b4 a5 15.
a3 b6 16.Rhd1 Ra7 17.Kb2 Bc3 18.Kc3 Bf3 19.gf3 Nd7 20.Kb3
bc5 21.b5 Kf8 22.Rd6 Ke7 23.Rad1 and White is superior; Lputian
- Donchev, Debrecen 1992 see 56/(529)
15
10...e6 11.0-0 ed5 12.ed5 Nd7 13.Rc1 Qb6 14.Re1 Rfe8 15.Ng5
Be2 16.Re2 Nf6 17.Re8 Re8 18.Qa4 Rd8 19.b3 Rd5 20.Bf6 Qf6 21.
Qe8 Bf8 22.Qf8 Kf8 23.Nh7 Kg7 24.Nf6 Kf6 equal; Dreev - B.
Gulko, Barcelona 2008 see 104/(121)
16
12...Qd6 13.Rb1 b6 14.0-0 Nd7 15.g3 h5 16.Bg2 e5 17.de6 Qe6 18.
f4 Rad8 (Rychagov - Artyom Timofeev, Russia (ch) 2007 see 101/
(369)) 19.Qa4 and White is superior
17
15.Qb3 e5 16.Rfb1 Rb8 17.Qa3 b6 18.Rd1 Nf6 19.Qc3 Rfd8 20.a4

Qe7 21.g3 Ne8 22.Bg2 Nd6 equal; T.Radjabov - Kamsky, Sochi
2008 see 103/(331)
18
8.Rc1?! Nc6 9.d5 Ne5 10.Bd4 e6 11.f4 Ned7 12.Bg7 Kg7 13.Nb5!
ed5 14.Nc7 Rb8 15.e5 [15.Nd5 Nf6 16.Nc3 Qe7 17.e5 Nh5 with
attack] Nc4! [15...Qe7? (V.Erdos - F.Berkes, Magyarorszag 2005
see 95/336) 16.Nf3! Rd8 17.Be2 Nf8 18.0-0 and White is superior]
16.Bc4 dc4 17.Rc4 b5 18.Rc2 Bb7 with attack; F.Berkes, Csom;
8.a4 a5 9.Be2 Nc6 10.d5 Nb4 unclear; Alburt - J.Benjamin, New
York 1993 see 57/451;
8.f4 see D 70
19
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/ppp1ppbp/1n4p1/8/3PP3/
2N1B3/PP2BPPP/R2QK1NR b KQ - 0 8"]
8...c6 9.Nf3 Be6 10.b3 Bg4 11.Rc1 N8d7 12.0-0 Re8 13.h3 Bf3 14.
Bf3 e6 15.Qd2 Qe7 16.Bg5 and White is slightly better; Tyrtania D.Muse, Deutschland 1994 see 61/(502);
8...Nc6 9.Nf3 [9.d5 Ne5 10.Bd4 c5 11.Bc5 Nec4 12.Bc4 Nc4 13.
Qb3 Nb2 14.Qb2 Qc7 15.Bb4 a5 16.Nge2 ab4 17.Qb4 Bg4 18.f3
Bd7 19.0-0 b5 with compensation; Kacheishvili - Svidler, Szeged
1994 see 61/502] e5 10.d5 and White is slightly better; Ivanchuk - J.
Isaev, Elista (ol) 1998 see 73/528; 9...Bg4 see D 90;
8...f5 9.ef5 Bf5 10.Qb3 Kh8 11.Nf3 Nc6 12.d5 Ne5 13.Rd1 [13.Nd4
a5 1/2 : 1/2 Miton - Aronian, Moscow 1997] Nf3 [13...Qc8 14.0-0
c6 15.Nd4 and White is slightly better; Korchnoi - B.Spassky, Saint
Petersburg (m/2) 1999] 14.Bf3 e6 unclear; A.R.Salem - Shirov,
Dresden (ol) 2008
20
9.d5 c6 10.Qb3! cd5 11.ed5 e4! 12.Rd1 Na6 unclear; Korchnoi Svidler, Dos Hermanas 1999 see 75/419;
9.de5 Be5 10.Nf3 Bc3 [10...Bg7 11.Qc2 Bg4 12.Rd1 Qe7 13.0-0
and White is slightly better; Cebalo - V.Mikhalevski, Zuerich 1999
see 77/451] 11.bc3 Qd1 12.Kd1 Bg4 13.h3 Bf3 14.Bf3 [14.gf3!?]
Nc6 equal
21
15.f4 Nc6 16.e5 Na7 17.Na7 Ra7 18.Rc1 c6 equal; Korchnoi Illescas Cordoba, Dos Hermanas 1999 see 75/(419)
22
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/ppp1ppbp/1n4p1/1B6/
3PP3/2N1B3/PP3PPP/R2QK1NR b KQ - 0 8"]
8...N8d7 9.Nf3 c6 10.Be2 e5 11.0-0 ed4 12.Bd4 Qe7 13.Bg7 Kg7

14.Qd4 and White is slightly better; Zakharevich - P.Eljanov, Saint
Petersburg 2001 see 83/(462);
8...Bd7 9.Be2 Nc6 10.f4 [10.Nf3 Bg4 see D 90] Na5 11.Qc2 f5 12.
e5 Be6 13.Nf3 Nd5 14.Nd5 Bd5 15.h4! (Zakharevich - Akhromeev,
Voronezh 2003 see 88/(392)) h5 unclear;
8...Be6 9.Nf3 [9.d5 Bd7 10.Be2 c6 11.Nf3 cd5 12.ed5 Bg4 equal;
Zakharevich - Najer, Russia 2001 see 82/(407)] Nc4 [9...Bc4 10.
Bc4 Nc4 11.Qb3 Ne3 12.fe3 b6 13.e5 c5 14.e6 fe6 15.Ng5 and
White is superior; Najer - S.Kudrin, Philadelphia 2007 see 101/
(369)] 10.Bc4 Bc4 11.h4 [11.Qa4 Ba6 12.0-0-0 Nd7 13.h4 Nb6 14.
Qb3 Nc4 15.h5 Ne3 16.fe3 c5 17.hg6 hg6 18.e5 cd4 19.ed4 Rc8 20.
Kb1 Qd7 unclear; Tkachiev - Macieja, Santo Domingo 2002 see 88/
(392)] Nd7 12.h5 c5 13.d5 (Conquest - Arakhamia-Grant, Great
Britain (ch) 2003 see 88/392) Qa5 14.hg6 hg6 15.Qc2 [15.Qd2
Rfe8! 16.Bh6 Bh8 unclear] Ne5 16.Ne5 Be5 17.Rh3 b5 18.f4 Bg7
unclear; Arakhamia-Grant;
8...a6 9.Be2 f5 [9...Nc6 10.d5 Ne5 11.Bd4 c5 12.Bc5 Nec4 13.Qb3
Qc7 14.Bb6 Nb6 15.Rc1 Qf4 16.Rd1 Nd7 17.Qb4! Qd6 18.Qd6 ed6
19.Nf3 Nc5 20.Nd4 Re8 21.f3 f5 22.ef5 Bf5 23.Kf2 and White is
slightly better; Zakharevich - S.Klimov, Saint Petersburg 2005 see
94/(361)] 10.ef5 Bf5 11.Bf3 Nc6 12.Nge2 Qd6 13.0-0 Rad8 14.Qb3
1/2 : 1/2 Dreev - Svidler, Russia (ch) 2005 see 95/(336);
8...Qd6 9.Nge2 c6 10.Bd3 e5! 11.de5 [11.f4 ed4 12.e5 Qb4 13.a3
Qe7 14.Nd4 Rd8! 15.Qe2 f6! 16.Nf3 fe5 17.Ne5 Re8 18.0-0-0
N8d7 with counterplay ] Qe5 12.0-0 [12.Bd4 Qe7 13.Bg7 Kg7
(Shirov - Ivanchuk, Foros 2008 see 103/331) 14.0-0 Rd8 15.Qc2
N8d7 equal; Ivanchuk] Rd8 13.Qc2 N8d7 14.a4 Nc5 15.a5 Nd3 16.
ab6 Nb4 17.Qa4 a5 unclear; Dreev - S.Grigoriants, Budva 2009 see
105/158
23
9.Nge2 a6 10.Bd3 Nc6 11.ef5 Bf5 12.Bf5 Rf5 13.0-0 e6 14.Qb3
Qe7 15.Rad1 Rd8 equal; Manolache - C.Lupulescu, Bucuresti 2002
see 85/(403);
9.ef5 Bf5 10.Nf3 a6 11.Be2 Nc6 12.Qb3 Kh8 13.d5 Ne5 14.Ne5
Be5 15.g4 Bd7 16.h4 e6 17.h5 g5 unclear; Fressinet - P.Negi, Cap
d'Agde (rapid) 2006;
9.Nh3 a6 10.Be2 Nc6 11.d5 Ne5 12.Qb3 Kh8 13.0-0 Ng4 unclear;
Dreev - Danin, Moscow 2007;
9.Qb3 Kh8 10.ef5 Bf5 11.Nf3 Qd6 12.0-0 c6 13.Be2 N8d7 equal;
Li.Toth - Szeberenyi, Budapest 2005
24
10.Bc1 a6 [10...Bg4 11.Qb3 Kh8 12.Ne5 Be5 13.de5 a6 14.Be2 Be2
15.Ne2 Nc6 16.Bf4 Nd4 17.Nd4 Qd4 18.Be3 Qe4 19.0-0 and White
is slightly better; Alexa.Zubarev - P.Eljanov, Kharkiv (rapid) 2002
see 85/403] 11.Be2 Nc6 12.d5 Ne5 unclear; P.Eljanov, Alexa.
Zubarev
25
12...Nd4!? 13.Nd4 Bd4 14.0-0 e5 unclear; Mikhalchishin
26
Ki.Georgiev - Mikhalchishin, Hrvatska 2007 see 101/369
27
8...c6 9.Nf3 Be6 10.Be2 Bc4 11.0-0 N8d7 12.Bg5 Be2 13.Qe2 Re8
14.Rac1 Nf8 15.Rfd1 and White is slightly better; G.Beikert - Jan
Banas, Viernheim 1992 see 56/(529);
8...Nc6 9.Nf3 f5 see 8...f5
28
9.ef5 Bf5 [9...gf5 10.Qd2 f4 11.Bf4 Qd4 12.Qd4 Bd4 13.Bg3 and
White is slightly better; G.Beikert - Piesina, Daugavpils 1992 see
56/529] 10.Nf3 Nc6 11.Be2 e5 12.de5 Qd1 13.Rd1 Ne5 equal; V.
Ruban - Leko, Tilburg 1993 see 59/(497)
29
9...f4 10.Bd2 Nc6 11.Qb3 [11.d5 Ne5 12.Ne5 Be5 13.Qb3 Qd6!
unclear; Zimmerman - S.Atalik, Bled 1999 see 75/(418)] Kh8 [11...
e6 12.Ne2 Nd4 13.Ned4 Bd4 14.0-0-0 c5 15.Bc3 Qc7 16.Nd4 cd4
17.Rd4 f3 18.g3 Bd7 19.h4 and White is superior; Zsinka - Vereci,
Magyarorszag 2009] 12.Ne2 a5 13.Bc3 and White is slightly better;
Zimmerman - Th.Giraud, Sautron 2005
30
10.e5 f4 11.Bc1 h6 [11...Be6 12.Be2 Bd5 13.Nd5 Qd5 14.b4! Rad8
15.Bb2 Nb4 16.0-0 Qd7 17.Ng5 e6 18.Bg4 Rfe8 19.h4! N4d5 (Da.
Lima - Vera Gonzalez-Quevedo, Leon 1996 see 67/(538)) 20.h5 h6
21.Ne4 gh5 22.Bh5 Rf8 23.Nc5 Qc8 24.Qg4! and White is superior;
Da.Lima] 12.b3 g5 [12...Bf5 13.Bf4! Nb4 14.Rc1 Nc2 15.Rc2 Bc2
16.Qc2 Rf4 (Gadjily - Nidjat Mamedov, Moscow 2000) 17.Ne2!
with compensation; S.Atalik] 13.Bd3 [13.Bb2?! Bf5 14.Rc1 e6 and
Black is slightly better; Vera Gonzalez-Quevedo - S.Atalik, La
Habana 1999 see 75/418] Nb4 14.Be4 Bf5 unclear; S.Atalik
31
[FEN "r2q1r1k/ppp1p2p/1n4p1/3Pbb2/8/
1QN1B2P/PP3PP1/3RKB1R b K - 0 14"]
14...a5 15.g4! Bd7 [15...Bc8 16.Bg2 and White is superior;

Predojevic - Rade, Bosna i Hercegovina 2005 see 94/361] 16.Bg2
(Chabanon - Al.Spielmann, Paris 2005 see 94/(361)) Qe8! 17.0-0
Ba4 18.Na4 Qa4 19.Qa4 Na4 20.Bd4 and White is superior;
Predojevic;
14...Qc8 15.Bd3 Bd3 [15...e6?! 16.Bf5 ef5 17.0-0 Qd7 18.Bc5 Rfe8
19.Nb5! and White is superior; Ivan Sokolov - Krasenkow,
Deutschland 2005 see 94/(361)] 16.Rd3 Qf5 17.Rd1 and White is
slightly better; Predojevic;
14...Bg7 15.Bd3 Bd3 16.Rd3 Qd6 17.0-0 c5 18.Qb5! c4 19.Rd2 and
White is slightly better; Gleizerov - De.Prasad, Dubai 2005 see 94/
(361);
14...Qd6 15.Bd3 e6 [15...Bd3 16.Rd3 c5 17.Qc2 and White is
slightly better; G.Tunik] 16.Bf5 ef5 17.0-0 a6 18.Rfe1 Rfe8 19.Na4
Na4 20.Qa4 and White is slightly better; G.Tunik - E.Kanter, Russia
2008 see 102/(351)
32
9.de5 Be5 10.Nf3 Bc3 11.bc3 Qd1 12.Kd1 Re8 13.Bd3 Be6 14.Kc2
Bc4 15.Nd2 Bd3 16.Kd3 Nc6 17.Kc2 f6 [17...Rad8 18.Rad1 Ne5 19.
Nb3 Rd1 20.Rd1 Nec4 21.Bb6 ab6 22.Rd7 Rc8 23.Nd4 Kf8 24.Nb5
c6 25.Nd4 Rb8 26.Nf3 Ke8 27.Rd4 b5 equal; Nyzhnyk Grandelius, Herceg Novi 2008 see 105/(158)] 18.Rad1 Kf7 19.Rhe1
Rad8 20.f3 Ne5 21.Nb3 Nbc4 22.Bc1 Nd6 23.Rd5 Nec4 24.Red1 f5
25.Rc5 fe4 26.Rc7 Kg8 27.fe4 Re4 equal; Nyzhnyk - Kovchan,
Kharkiv (m/3) 2009 see 105/(158)
33
10.Nd4 Qe7 11.Qc2 Bd7 equal; A.Sokolovs - Ostenstad, Debrecen
1992 see 56/(529)
34
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/ppp2pbp/1n4p1/8/3BP3/
2N2N1P/PP3PP1/R2QKB1R b KQ - 0 10"]
10...Nc6 11.Bg7 Kg7 12.Bb5 Bd7 13.0-0 Qe7 14.Nd5 Nd5 15.ed5
Ne5 16.Ne5 Bb5 17.Re1 Qd6 18.Qb3 Ba6 19.Qc3 f6 20.Ng4 Rae8
21.Rac1 Re1 22.Re1 and White is slightly better; Laylo - D.Navara,
Khanty-Mansiysk (m/2) 2009 see 107/(143); 13...Re8!?;
10...Qe7 11.Bg7 Kg7 12.Qd4 f6 13.Be2 Nc6 14.Qe3 Be6 15.b3 a5
16.0-0 a4 17.Rab1 ab3 18.ab3 Rfd8 19.Nb5 Bf7 [19...Ra2!?] 20.
Rfc1 Nc8 21.Bc4 Nd6 22.Nd6 Rd6 23.Bf7 Kf7 24.b4 Rad8 equal;
Laylo - D.Navara, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/3-rapid) 2009 see 107/
(143)
35
11...Qe7 12.Qe3 [12.0-0-0!?] f5 13.Be2 fe4 14.Ne4 Bf5 [14...Qb4
15.Nc3 Qb2 16.Rb1 Qa3 17.0-0 with compensation, with the idea
17...Bf5?! 18.Rb6! ab6 19.Bc4 Kg7 20.Qd4 Rf6 21.Nd5 Qd6 22.g4]
15.Nc5 Qe3 16.fe3 N8d7! 17.Nb7 Rae8 18.0-0 [18.Kf2!? Nd5 19.
Bc4 Ivan Sokolov] Re3 equal; Ivan Sokolov - Sutovsky, Goeteborg
2005 see 94/(362)
36
12...Be6 13.Rd1 Qe7 14.Bd3 Nc4 [14...Nb4!? 15.Bb1 Bc4 16.b3
Ba6 unclear] 15.Qc1 Qb4 16.b3 N4e5 17.Ne5 Ne5 18.0-0 Rad8 19.
Bb1 Qc5! 20.Qb2 [20.Na4 Qc1 21.Rc1 c6 22.Nc5 Bc8 equal; Ivan
Sokolov] Nc6!?; 20...Nf3 equal; Ivan Sokolov - P.Eljanov,
Goeteborg 2005 see 94/362
37
13...f5 14.Bc6 bc6 15.0-0 [15.ef5 Qe3 16.fe3 Bf5 equal; Gleizerov Iordachescu, Khanty-Mansyisk 2007 see 102/351] f4 16.Qe2 and
White is slightly better; Gleizerov
38
15.b3! a6 16.Be2 Nc6 17.0-0 f6 18.Rfe1 Rad8 19.Bf1 Bf7?! 20.
Nh2! [with the idea f4, Ng4] Be6 21.f4 and White is slightly better;
V.Anand - Svidler, Moscow 2009 see 107/143; 19...Rd6 equal.
Download a complete index of the ECO Classification System.


Studies from Chess Informant 107

Zdenko Krnic
Informant at
ChessCafe
The main goal of Chess Informant is to present chess players all

over the world with the latest creative achievements. We have
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issues. For instance, Chess Informant began publishing a section of
problems and studies in Volume #89, edited by well known expert
Yochanan Afek. This decision was perhaps unjustifiably overdue;
however, with the release of Volume #107, we have now published
171 examples.
ECO A
by Chess Informant
It is our pleasure this month to present nine examples from Volume

#107. By the way, in 1997 we published the book 2,345 - Anthology
of Chess Problems by chess problem grandmasters Milan
Velimirovic and Marjan Kovacevic. They selected 2,345 problems
with mate in two, three, four, and five moves.
1. J. RUSINEK
Prize Probleemblad 2007/08
White to Play and Draw
ECO B
by Chess Informant

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
Studies 2.0
by Convekta
2. O. PERVAKOV
1st Pr. Vlasenko-70 JT 2009
White to Play and Win
3. E. EJLAZJAN
2nd Pr. Vlasenko-70 JT 2009
4. S. DIDUKH
3rd Pr. Vlasenko-70 JT 2009
5. A. SOCHNEV
4th Pr. Vlasenko-70 JT 2009
6. E. VLASAK
1st-2nd Pr. Reti MT 2009
7. Y. AFEK
2nd HM Reti MT 2009
8. N. RJABININ
1st-2nd Pl. Moscow (ch-open) 2009
9. V. KALASHNIKOV
3rd Pl. Moscow (ch-open) 2009
Solutions
1. J. RUSINEK
1.h7 Bg7 [1...a2 2.h8Q a1Q 3.Qa1 Na1 4.Kf8 equal] 2.Kg7 a2 3.
Bd4 [3.h8Q? a1Q 4.Kh7 Qh1 and Black is winning] Nd4 [main 3...
Rd4 4.Ra7 Rd7! 5.Rd7 a1Q 6.Kg8 Qa8 7.Kg7 Qa1 8.Kg8 positional
draw] 4.Ra7 [4.h8Q? a1Q 5.Qg8 Rc5! 6.Kh7 Rg5 7.Qc8 Kh4 and
Black is winning] Rc7! 5.Rc7 Nf5 [main 5...a1Q 6.h8Q Ne6 7.Kg8
Qa8 8.Kh7 Ng5 9.Kg7 Qa1 10.Kg8 Qa2 11.Kf8 Qa3 12.Re7 equal]
6.Kg8! Nh6 7.Kh8! a1Q 8.Rg7 Kf4 equal.
2. O. PERVAKOV
1.Rgg5!! [1.Rg1? Qh8] f3! [1...Qh8 2.Rge5 and White is winning;
1...e2 2.Ra5! and White is winning] 2.Rg4! [2.Ra5? Qa5 3.Ra5 Ka5
4.Kd3 f2 5.Ke2 Kb4 6.h6 Kc3 7.h7 f1Q! 8.Kf1 Kd2 equal] Ka3 3.
Kc2! a4 4.Rc3 Ka2 5.Rb4 a3 6.Kc1! [thr.7.Rc2 Ka1 8.Rb1#] Qh8!
7.Rc2 Qb2 8.Rcb2! [8.Rbb2!? ab2 9.Rb2 Ka3 10.Kd1 Kb2 11.h6 f2
equal] ab2 9.Kc2!! [9.Rb2? Ka3 equal] b1Q 10.Rb1 f2! 11.h6 e2
12.Ra1! Ka1 13.h7 e1N! [13...Ka2 14.h8Q e1N 15.Kc3 f1Q 16.Qa8
and White is winning] 14.Kb3 f1Q 15.h8Q Kb1 16.Qb2#.
3. E. EJLAZJAN
1.Nd4 Kf7! [1...Kf6 2.Ne3 f1Q 3.Nf1 f2 4.Kh2 equal; 1...Kd7 2.
Ne3 Ng4 3.Nf1 equal] 2.Ne3 [2.Nd6? Kg8 3.Rg5 Kh8 4.Rg1 fg1Q
5.Kg1 c2 and Black is winning] Ng4! [2...f1Q 3.Nf1 Ng4 4.Nf3 Bf3
5.Kg1 c2 6.Rc5 equal] 3.Nf1 Bd3 4.Rb7 Kf6 5.Ng3 [5.Rb6? Kg5 6.
Nf3 Kf4 and Black is winning] f1Q 6.Nf1 Be4! 7.Rb6 Ke5 [7...Kf7
8.Re6 c2 9.Nc2 Ke6 10.Nd4 Ke5 11.Nf3 equal] 8.Nf3! Bf3 9.Kg1
c2 10.Rb1! cb1Q equal [10...cb1N 11.Nd2! Nd2 equal].
4. S. DIDUKH
1.Bf8! [1.Kb6? c4? 2.Kc5 Be7 3.Kd5 Bb4 and Black is winning]
Bf2 2.e3!! [2.Kb6? c4 3.Ka5 Nc2 4.Kb5 c3 5.Kc4 Be1 6.Bg7 Ne3 7.
Kd3 Nd5 8.Bf8 Nf4 9.Kc2 Ne6 10.Bb4 Nd4 11.Kd3 Nb5 and Black
is winning] Be3 3.Kb6 c4 4.Ka5 Nc2 5.Kb5 c3 6.Kc4 Bd2 7.Bg7
Ne3 8.Kd3 Nd5 9.Bc3! Bc3 10.Kc4 equal.
5. A. SOCHNEV
1.c6! Rh7 2.Kb8 [2.Kb6? Nf7 3.c7 Nd6 4.Kc6 Nc8 5.Kb7 Rh8 and
Black is winning] Rh8 3.c7 Nc6 4.Kb7 Na5 5.Kb6 Nc4 6.Kc5 Ne3
7.Kd6!! [7.Kc6? Ke7 8.Kb7 Nf5 9.Nc6 Kf6 10.c8N Ke6 and Black
is winning] Nf5 8.Kd7 Ne7 [8...Rh7 9.Kc6 Ne7 10.Kb7 Rh8 11.
Nd5 equal] 9.Nc6 Nc8 10.Nb4 Ne7 11.Nc6 Nc8 12.Nb4 Ke5
[II.12...Na7 13.Nd5 Ke5 14.Ne7 Rh7 15.Kd8 Kd6 (15...Nc6 16.Nc6
Kd6 17.c8N equal) 16.c8N equal] 13.Nd5!! [13.Nd3? Kd5 14.Nf4
Kc5 15.Ne6 Kb5 16.Nd8 Nb6 and Black is winning] Kd4 [13...Kd5
equal; 13...Rg8 14.Ne7 equal] 14.Ne7 Ne7 15.Ke7 Kd5 16.Kd7
Rh7 17.Kd8 Kd6 18.c8N equal.
6. E. VLASAK
1.a4! [1.Rg1? Bb2 2.Kb2 Rg7 3.Rg2! Kb6 4.Kc3 Kc5 5.Kd3 Kd5
and White is winning, zugzwang] Rb7! [1...ba4 2.Rf5 Kb4 3.Rg5
equal; 1...Ka4 2.Rf4 b4 3.Rg4 equal; 1...Bb2 2.Kb2 ba4 3.Rf5 Kb4
4.Rg5] 2.Bg7 ba4! [2...Rg7 3.ab5 equal] 3.Bb2! a3 4.Rf5 [4.Ka2?
a) 4...Rb2? 5.Ka3 Rf2 6.Ra1 (6.Re1? Rf3 7.Kb2 Kb4) Rf3 7.Kb2
Kb4 8.Kc2 Kc4 9.Kd2 Kd4 10.Ra4 equal; b) 4...ab2! 5.Kb1 Rb4!
(5...Rb3 6.Rf8 Kb4 7.Rb8 Kc3 8.Rb3 Kb3 equal) 6.Rf3 Rg4 7.Rf1
Kb4 8.Kb2 Kc4 9.Kc2 Kd4 10.Kd2 Ke4 11.Ke2 Rf4 and Black is
winning] Ka4 5.Rf4 Ka5 6.Rf5 [6.Ka2? ab2 7.Kb1 Rb4! and Black
is winning] Ka6 7.Rf6! [7.Ka2? ab2 8.Kb1 Rb3 9.Rf8 Kb7 and
Black is winning] Ka7 8.Ka2! ab2 9.Kb1 Rb3! [9...Rb4 10.Rf3
Rg4 11.Rf1 Kb6 12.Kb2 Kc5 13.Kc3 equal] 10.Rf4!! [10.Rc6? Rb6
11.Rc2 Kb7 12.Rg2 Rb3 and Black is winning] Kb6 11.Rc4! equal.
7. Y. AFEK
1.Kg3!! [1.Kh3? Kc4! 2.Kg3 Kb5 3.Nc7 Kb4 4.Nd5 Ka3 5.Nc3
Kb2 6.a4 Kc3 7.a5 Kd4! 8.a6 Ke3 9.a7 f2 equal] h2! 2.Kh2 Kc4 3.
Kg1! Kb5 4.Nc7 Kb4 5.Nd5 Ka3 6.Nc3 Kb2 7.a4! Kc3 8.a5 Kd4!
9.a6 Ke3 10.Kf1 and White is winning.
8. N. RJABININ
1.e7 Rc8 2.Kd1! Bh4 3.Rh3! [3.Rf8? Be7 4.Rc8 Bd6 equal] g5 4.
Rf3! g4 5.Rf7! Kg6 6.Rf8 Be7 7.Rc8 Bd6 8.Rc6 and White is
winning.
9. V. KALASHNIKOV
1.a6 Bd5 2.Bc8 Bc4 3.a7 Bd5 4.Kf4! Kc3 5.Bg4! [5.Ke5? Ba8! 6.
Ke6 Kb4 7.Kd7 c5! 8.Kc7 c4 9.Bb7 c3 10.Ba8 c2 equal] Ba8 6.Bf3
c6 7.Ke5 Kb4 8.Kd6 Ka5 9.Kc7 Ka6 10.Kb8 Bb7 11.Bg4! c5 12.
Bc8 and White is winning.
Edited by Yochanan Afek


Purchases from our

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ChessCafe.com freely
accessible:
Small Encyclopaedia of Chess

Openings, Third Edition
The Marshall Attack
Sasa Velickovic
Informant at
ChessCafe
[Find us on Facebook.]
This month we offer admirers of the ancient game of chess an

excerpt from the Small Encyclopedia of Chess Openings. The third
edition of which is soon to be published. The attractive themes
inherent in the Marshall Attack will surely satisfy those who revere
this line in the Spanish Game. This variation has undergone
immense scrutiny, yet it always brings unexpected and
inexhaustible possibilities to light.
C89
ECO A
by Chess Informant
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7

6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3
2
the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
...
ed51
Ne5
Re5
d32
Re1
Qf3
g3
Bd54
d5
Nd5
Ne5
c6
Bd6
Bf5
Qh43
Qh3
cd55
...
...
...
...
...
...
g3
Re4
Nd2
...
...
...
...
...
Qh4
Qh3
Qf56
Qg67
equal
equal
ECO B
by Chess Informant
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3
0-0 8.c3 d5 9.ed5 Nd5 10.Ne5 Ne5 11.Re5 c6
12.d4 Bd6 13.Re18 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3
15
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Re49 Qf111 Nd2
f3
a414
Ne4
Nd6
Bg5
Re1
equal
g510 Qh512 Bf513 Nf6

Be3
16
Qd3
Nd2 Bc218
Ne4 Qg615 Qd6 Rfe816 Qg617

gf4
Bg3
Bb321
Qg5
Kh822
f3
Bf2
Bh319
Nf420
Bf4
Bd5 Qf123
a424
Ra425 Raa1
equal
Bg4 Rae8 Qh5
...
f5
...
...
...
...
f5
Kh8
cd5
Qh5
ba4
g5
Re626
...
...
...
Qf127
f3
Ne4
fe4
Bd129
Bc2
...
...
Qh5
Bf528
Qg6
f530
f4
equal
unclear
Re6
Be4
Re4
Understanding the
Marshal Attack
by David Vigorito
...
...
...
...
...
...
a4
ab5
Qh531 ab5
Nf132 Qd233 Bc235

Bf5 Rfe834
Bh3
Qd1
equal
Bg436
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/2p1bppp/p1n2n2/1p1pp3/
4P3/1BP2N2/PP1P1PPP/RNBQR1K1 w - d6 0 9"]
9.d3 de4 10.de4 Qd1 11.Bd1 Bb7 [11...Rd8 12.Bc2 Bg4 13.Nbd2
Nd7 14.h3 Be6 15.Nf1 Nc5 16.Be3 Nd3 17.Reb1 Nf4 equal; Ki.
Georgiev - Aronian, Silivri 2003] 12.Nbd2 Rfd8 13.Bc2 Nd7 equal;
LAmi - Nyback, Istanbul 2005; 9.d4 ed4 [9...de4 10.Ne5 Ne5 11.
de5 Qd1!? 12.Bd1 Nd7 13.Bc2 (13.Re4!? Nc5 14.Rd4!? Re8 15.Bf3
Bb7 16.Bb7 Nb7 17.Bf4 g5! equal; J.Michielsen - Atalik, Ottawa
2007 see 100/257) Ne5 14.Be4 Rb8 15.Bf4 Bd6 16.Be5 Be5 17.Bh7
Kh7 18.Re5 Rd8 with compensation; Morozevich - Shirov, Moscow
2006 see 100/(257)] 10.e5 Ne4 11.cd4 Bg4 [11...Bb4 12.Re3 Na5
13.Bc2 f5 14.Re2 Be6 15.Nbd2 Be7 16.Nf1 Nc4 17.a4 Nb6 18.a5
Nd7 19.Ne1 c5 20.Nd3 g5 21.dc5 Ndc5 unclear; Nijboer Onischuk, Wijk aan Zee 2005 see 92/340] 12.Nc3 Bf3 13.gf3 Nc3
14.bc3 f5 15.Kh1 Kh8 16.Rg1 Na5 17.Bc2 Qd7 18.Bg5 Bg5 19.Rg5
Nc6 20.Qc1 Qe6 21.f4 Ne7 22.a4 c6 23.Bd3 Rac8 24.Qe3 Rb8
equal; Ivanchuk - Jakovenko, Moscow 2007 see 101/(263)
2
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/4bppp/p1p5/1p1nR3/8/
1BP5/PP1P1PPP/RNBQ2K1 w - - 0 12"]
12.g3 Bd6 13.Re1 Ra7 [13...Re8 14.d4 Re1 15.Qe1 Ra7 16.Be3
Re7 17.Nd2 Qe8 18.Nf1 unclear; Anand - Aronian, Morelia/Linares
2008 see 102/257] 14.d4 Re8 15.Re8 Qe8 16.Nd2 Re7 17.Nf3 f6 18.
Kg2 Bg4 19.h3 Bh5 20.Bd2 Re2 21.g4 Bg4! 22.hg4 Qe4 23.Qh1
Rd2 24.Re1 Qg4 25.Kf1 Rb2 26.Bd5 cd5 27.Ne5 Be5 28.Qd5 Kf8
29.de5 equal; Almasi - Jakovenko, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/2) 2007
see 101/(263); 12.Bd5 cd5 13.d4 Bd6 14.Re3 Qh4 15.h3 Qf4 [15...
g5 16.Qf3 (16.b3 f5 17.Qf3 Bb7 with compensation; Anand - Nunn,
Wijk aan Zee 1990 see 49/403) Be6 17.Qf6 Rfe8 18.Na3 Qh5 19.
Bd2 Be7 20.Qe5 Rad8 21.f4 Qg6 22.fg5 Bf5 23.Qg3 Be4 24.Rf1
Bd6 25.Qh4 Re6 26.Re2 Rde8 27.Rfe1 f6 28.Rf2 Be7 29.gf6 Rf6
30.Ree2 Rf2 31.Qf2 Rf8 with compensation; Wolff - Hellers, New
York 1990] 16.Re5 Qf6 17.Re3 [17.Re1 Qg6 18.Qf3 Be6 19.Be3
Rac8 20.Nd2 b4 21.cb4 Bb4 22.a3 Bd6 23.Rac1 Rc2! 24.b4 Rc1 25.
Rc1 Qd3 26.Rc6 Bb8 27.a4 equal; J.Polgar - Almasi, Groningen
(m/2) 1997 see 71/362] Bf5 18.Nd2 Rae8 19.Nf1 Qg6 with
compensation; Kveinys - Beliavsky, Plovdiv 2003 see 90/(302)
3
14...Qd7 15.Bd5 cd5 16.Bf4 Rfe8!? 17.Nd2 Bf4 18.Qf4 Bd3 19.
Nb3 Qc6 20.Qd2 Bg6 21.Nd4 Qd6 22.h3 h6 23.Re2 Re4 24.Rae1
Rae8 equal; Fressinet - Hamdouchi, Belfort 2003 see 90/(302); 14...
Re8 15.Re8 Qe8 16.Nd2 Qe1 17.Nf1 Bg6 18.g3 [18.Bd5 cd5 19.
Qd5 Rd8 20.Bg5 Qa1 21.Bd8 Bf8! with compensation; C.A.Estevez
- Jaime, corr.1993/95 see 65/(336)] b4 equal; Team Ojjeh - Team
Nataf, corr.2003 see 89/319
4
[FEN "r4rk1/5ppp/p1pb4/1p1n1b2/8/
1BPP1QPq/PP3P1P/RNB1R1K1 w - - 0 16"]
16.Be3 Bd3 17.Nd2 Qf5 18.Qf5 [18.Rad1 Rfe8 19.Qf5 Bf5 20.Bd5
cd5 21.Nb3 Be6 22.Bc5 Bc7 23.Nd4 Rac8 24.b4 Bd7 equal; J.
Polgar - Leko, Wijk aan Zee 2008 see 102/(258)] Bf5 19.Bd4 Rfd8
20.a4 Bf8 21.Ne4 h6 22.h4 Bg6 23.Rad1 Bh5 24.Rc1 Nb4 25.Re3
Nd5 26.Ree1 Nb4 27.Re3 -, Ivanchuk - Aronian, Nice
(blindfold) 2008 see 102/(258); 16.Nd2 Rae8 17.Ne4 Bg4 18.Qg2
Qg2 19.Kg2 f5 20.Bf4 [20.h3 Bh5 21.Bf4 Bf4 22.gf4 fe4 23.de4
Bf3! 24.Kf3 Rf4 25.Kg3 Rfe4 equal; Nakamura - Aronian, Gibraltar
2005 see 93/(285)] Bf4 21.gf4 fe4 22.de4 Bf3! 23.Kf3 Rf4 24.Kg3
Rfe4 25.Re4 Re4 26.f3 Re5! 27.c4 bc4 28.Bc4 a5 29.Rc1 Kf8 [29...
Rg5 30.Kf2 Rh5 equal; Naiditsch - Kasimdzhanov, France 2005 see
93/285] 30.Bd5 Rg5 31.Kf4 Rd5 32.Rc6 Rd2 33.Ra6 Rh2 34.Ra5
Rb2 35.a4 Kf7 36.Kf5 g6 37.Ke5 Re2 38.Kf4 h5 39.Ra7 -, J.
Polgar - Svidler, San Luis 2005 see 94/(263)
5
17.Be3 Bd3 18.Qd5 Rad8 19.Qf3 Bc4 [19...Qf5 20.Qf5 Bf5 21.Nd2
Rfe8 22.Bd4 f6 23.Nb3 Kf7 with compensation; Kasimdzhanov Onischuk, Calvia (ol) 2004 see 92/(342)] 20.Nd2 Be6 21.Bd4 Bb8
[21...Be7 22.Qg2 Qh5 23.Re5 Qg6 24.Ne4 Rd7 25.Nc5 Bc5 26.Rc5
Rfd8 with compensation; Naiditsch - Ivanchuk, Cesme 2004 see 92/
(342); 21...h6 22.a3 Bb8 23.Qg2 Qf5 24.f3 Rfe8 25.Ne4 Bd5 26.
Re2 Re6 27.Rae1 -, Kasimdzhanov - Adams, Linares 2005 see
93/(285)] 22.Qg2 [22.Ne4 Bd5 23.Bg7 Kg7 24.Qf6 Kg8 25.Qg5
Kh8 26.Qf6 Kg8 -, Bacrot - Aronian, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/1)
2005 see 95/(255)] Qh5 23.f3 Qg6 24.a3 h5 25.Re2 Rd5 26.Rae1
Rfd8 27.Ne4 Bd6 28.Qf2 Rf5 29.Nd6 -, Anand - Aronian, Nice
(rapid) 2008 see 102/(258); 17.Qd5 Rad8 18.Qg2 Qg2 [18...Qh5 19.
Be3 Bh3!? 20.Qh1 f5 21.Bb6 (21.f4 Bc7 22.Nd2 Rd3 23.Nb3
unclear; Shirov - Jakovenko, Russia 2008 see 102/(258)) Rd7 22.
Qd5 Kh8 23.Nd2 Bg3 24.Qd7 Bf4 25.Qb7 Bd2 26.Bd4 Rg8 27.Re7
Bc1 28.Re1 Bf4 29.Re3 Be3 30.Be3 h6 31.Qc7 Re8 32.Bd4 Re7 33.
Qg3 Kh7 34.f3 Rf7 35.f4 Re7 36.Be5 Bg4 37.Kf2 Bd1 38.d4 Qe2
-, Sutovsky - Jakovenko, Poikovsky 2008 see 103/(236)] 19.Kg2
Bd3 20.Be3 Be4 21.f3 Bc6 22.Nd2 Rfe8 23.Bd4 [23.Nb3 f6 24.Nd4
(24.Kf2 Bc7 with compensation; Leko - Sargissian, Yerevan (m/2rapid) 2008 see 103/(236)) Bb7 25.g4 Bc5 26.b4 Bd4 27.Bd4 Re1
28.Re1 Kf7 29.Bc5 Rd7 30.h4 Bd5 31.a3 Be6 32.Bd4 Bc4 with
compensation; Naiditsch - Bacrot, Dortmund 2009 see 106/(101)]
Re1 [23...h5 24.Kf2 f6 25.Re8 Re8 26.Nf1 Kf7 27.Ne3 Rd8 28.a3
Bc7 29.Re1 Rd7 30.Nc2 Bd6 with compensation; Leko - Aronian,
Yerevan (m/1-rapid) 2008 see 103/236] 24.Re1 f6 25.Kf2 [25.Nf1
h5 26.Bb6 Re8 27.Ne3 Kf7 with compensation; Bacrot - Sargissian,
France 2008 see 103/(236)] h5 26.Ne4 Bf8 27.Re2 Kf7 28.Nc5 Bc5
29.Bc5 Rd7 30.Bd4 a5 31.b3 -, Leko - Naiditsch, Dortmund
2008 see 103/(236)
6
[FEN "r1b2rk1/5ppp/p1pb4/1p1n4/4R3/
1BPP2Pq/PP3P1P/RNBQ2K1 b - - 0 15"]
15...Qd7 16.Nd2 f5 17.Re1 Kh8 18.Qh5 [18.f4 Qa7 19.d4 Nf6 20.
Nf3 c5 21.Be3 c4 22.Bc2 g6 23.Ne5 Bb7 24.Qd2 unclear; Liang
Jinrong - Peng Xiaomin, China (ch) 1992 see 54/335] Nf6 19.Qh3
[19.Qh4 c5 20.Nf3 Bb7 21.Ng5 h6 22.Bd2 Qc6 23.f3 c4! 24.Bd1
cd3 25.Ne6 Rf7 26.Kg2 Bc5 27.Ng5 Rff8 28.Ne6 Ng4! 29.Nf8 Rf8
30.b4 Bd6 with compensation; Benjamin - Kamsky, USA (ch) 1991
see 52/345] c5 20.Nf3 Bb7 21.Nh4 Nh5 unclear; Kotronias - I.
Sokolov, Gibraltar 2009 see 105/(108); 15...Nf6 16.Rh4 Qf5 17.Bc2
[17.Nd2 g5 18.Rh6 Ng4 19.Ne4 Nh6 20.Nd6 Qg6 21.Ne4 Ng4 22.
Bg5 Bf5 23.Bf4 Rad8 24.Qe2! Rfe8 25.Re1 Kg7 26.f3 Ne5 27.Bc2
c5! unclear; Svidler - Adams, Elista (ol) 1998 see 73/395] Qg6 18.
Nd2 [18.d4 Bf5 19.Bf5 Qf5 20.Bf4 Be7 21.Be5 Nd5 unclear;
Ragger - Beliavsky, Oesterreich 2008 see 102/259] Bg4 19.Nf3 [19.
f3 Bf5 20.Ne4 Rad8 21.d4 Rfe8 22.Nf6 Qf6 23.Be4 h6 unclear; J.
Geller - Naiditsch, Moscow 2008 see 102/(259)] Rfe8 20.Kg2 Nd5
21.d4 Bf5 22.Bf5 Qf5 23.Bd2 Nf6 24.Bf4 Bf8 25.Bd2 Bd6 equal;
Leko - Adams, Madrid 1998 see 73/(395)
7
17.Nf1 f5 18.Rd4 f4 19.Rd5 cd5 20.Bd5 Be6 21.Ba8 Ra8 22.Qf3
Rf8 23.Qe4 Bf5 24.Qd5 Kh8 25.a4 unclear; Timman - Huebner,
Tilburg 1985 see 40/421; 17.a4 Nf6! 18.Re1 Bg4 19.f3 Bh3 20.Kh1
[20.Nf1 Rae8 unclear; Zontakh - Pavlovic, Podgorica 1993 see 58/
(368)] Qh5 unclear; Goloshchapov - Azarov, Cappelle la Grande
2006 see 96/261; 17.Re1 f5 [17...Bg4 18.f3 Bh3 19.Ne4 Rae8 20.
Re2 h5 21.Bg5 Bc7 22.Qd2 Kh8 23.Rae1 f6 24.Nf2 Re2 25.Re2
Bf5 26.Bd5 cd5 27.Bf4! Bf4 28.Qf4 Bd3 29.Rd2 unclear; Anand Adams, Groningen (m/4-rapid) 1997 see 71/363] 18.a4 [18.Nf3 f4
19.Ne5 Be5 20.Re5 fg3 21.hg3 Bg4 22.Qe1 Bf3 23.Bd2 Rae8
equal; Leko - Svidler, Dortmund 1998 see 73/394; 18.f4 Bf4 19.Qf3
Bb8 20.Bd5 cd5 21.Nb3! Qf7! 22.Nd4 Ba7 23.Bf4 Bd7 24.Re5 b4
25.Rae1 Rae8 26.Kf1 bc3 -, Leko - Adams, Linares 1999 see 75/
(317); 18.Qf3 Kh8 19.Bd1 f4 20.g4 h5 21.h3 Nf6!? 22.Qg2 hg4 23.
hg4 Bg4 24.Re6 Qh5 25.Bg4 Ng4 26.Rd6 Rae8 27.Ne4 Ne5 28.f3
Nf3 29.Kf2 Nh4! 30.Qh1! g5 31.b4 g4 32.Bb2 g3 33.Kg1 Nf3 34.
Kg2 Nh2 35.c4 Kg8 equal; J.Polgar - Adams, Dos Hermanas 1999
see 75/317] Rb8 19.ab5 ab5 20.Ne4 [20.Nf3 f4 21.Ne5 Be5 22.Re5
fg3 23.fg3 Bg4 24.Qe1 Bh3 25.Be3 Rf1 26.Qf1 Bf1 27.Rf1 Rf8 28.
Rf8 -, Anand - Adams, Dos Hermanas 1999 see 75/(317); 20.
Ra7 unclear; Morozevich - Grischuk, Dubai (m/4-blitz) 2002 see 84/
(285)] fe4 21.de4 Bg4 22.Qd4 Bf3! 23.ed5 c5 24.Qh4 Rbe8 25.Bd2
[25.Be3 equal; Anand - Adams, Dortmund 2000 see 79/324] Be4 26.
Re2 Qf5 27.Bf4 c4 28.Re4 Re4 29.Bc2 Bf4 30.Be4 Qe4 31.gf4 , Anand - Khalifman, New Delhi (m/1) 2000 see 80/(371)
8
13.Re2 Qh4 [13...Bc7 14.Nd2 Qd6 15.Nf1 f5 16.a4 Kh8 17.Bd2 f4
18.f3 g5 19.ab5 g4 20.Re5 Qg6 21.Rd5 gf3 22.Qf3 Bg4 23.Qf2 cd5
unclear; Kindermann - Blatny, Biel 1991; 13...Bg4 14.f3 Bf5 15.g3
Qc7 16.Kf2 Qd7 17.Bd5 cd5 18.Nd2 Bd3 19.Re3 Bg6 20.Nf1 a5 21.
a3 -, Anand - Aronian, Mexico City 2007 see 101/(265)] 14.g3
Qh3 [14...Qh5 15.Nd2 Bh3 16.f3 Bc7 17.Ne4 Qf3 18.Ng5 Qh5 19.
Nh3 Qh3 20.Bd2 Rae8 21.Qf1 Qd7 22.Rae1 Re2 23.Qe2 equal;
Ehlvest - P.Nikolic, Zagreb (izt) 1987 see 44/414] 15.Nd2 Bf5 16.
a4 Bd3 17.Re1 Rae8 18.Nf3 Re1 19.Qe1 h6 20.ab5 ab5 21.Ne5 Re8
22.Qd1 Be5 23.de5 Qf5 24.Bd5 cd5 25.g4 Qg6 26.Bf4 Qe4 27.h3
h5 28.Bg3 Be2 29.Qd4 -, Anand - Khalifman, Reggio Emilia
1991/92
9
[FEN "r1b2rk1/5ppp/p1pb4/1p1n4/3P4/
1BP3Pq/PP3P1P/RNBQR1K1 w - - 0 15"]
15.Qf3 Bg4 16.Qg2 Qh5 17.Be3 Bh3 18.Bd1 Qd1 19.Rd1 Bg2 20.
Kg2 f5 with compensation; Naiditsch - Onischuk, Montreal 2009
see 106/(101); 15.Bd5 cd5 16.Qf3 Bf5 [16...Bg4 17.Qd5 Rad8 18.
Qg2 Qh5 with compensation; Feigelson - Besman, Vladimir 1976]
17.Qg2 Qh5 18.Qd5 Rad8 19.Qc6 Rde8 unclear; Astapov - Kolker,
Saratov 1978; 15.Qe2 Bd7 16.Qf1 Qf5!? [16...Qh5 17.Nd2 Rae8 18.
Ne4 Bh3 19.Bd1 Qf5 20.Qd3 Qg6 21.Bd2 Bf5 22.Bf3 Bf4 23.Bf4
Nf4 24.Qd2 Nh3 25.Kg2 Re4 26.Be4 Be4 27.Re4 Qe4 28.Kh3 Re8
29.Qf4 Qe2 30.Kg2 h6 31.b4 Qc2 equal; Volokitin - Fressinet,
Hersonissos 2007 see 101/(265)] 17.Be3 Rae8 18.Nd2 h5 19.Qg2
h4 20.Qf3 Ne3 21.Re3 Re3 22.fe3 Qg6 23.Kg2 Bg4 24.Qf2 c5 25.
Rc1 Bf5 26.e4 Be4 27.Ne4 Qe4 28.Qf3 Qf3 29.Kf3 hg3 30.hg3 Re8
31.Rd1 c4 32.Bc2 Re6 equal; Alekseev - Aronian, Nalchik 2009 see
105/(108)
10
15...Qd7 16.Nd2 Bb7 17.Re1 c5 18.Ne4 c4 19.Bc2 Be7 20.Ng5 Bg5
21.Bg5 Rae8 22.f3 h6 23.Bd2 f5 24.Re5 f4 25.Qe2 unclear; Nunn I.Sokolov, Wijk aan Zee 1991 see 51/349
11
16.Qe1 h6 17.Nd2 Bf5 18.f3 Kg7!? unclear; Anand - Bacrot, Sofia
2006 see 97/244; 16.Qe2 f5 17.Bd5 cd5 18.Re6 f4 19.Rd6 Bg4 20.
Qf1 Qf1 21.Kf1 Rae8 22.Bd2 Bh3 23.Kg1 fg3 24.hg3 Re2 25.Be3
Re3! 26.fe3 Rf1 27.Kh2 g4 28.Rd5 -, Ponomariov - Anand,
Linares 2002 see 84/286; 16.Qf3 Bf5 17.Bd5 [17.Bc2 Bf4 18.Nd2
unclear; Wang Zili - Ye Jiangchuan, China (ch) 1988; 17.Nd2 Rae8
18.Bd5 cd5 19.Re3 Re3 20.Qe3 f6 21.Nf1 Bg6 22.f3 Re8 23.Qf2
Bd3 24.Be3 Bf1 25.Rf1 Bg3 26.hg3 Re3 27.Qe3 -, Lima Grischuk, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/2) 2007 see 101/(265)] cd5 18.Re3
Rad8 [18...Be4 19.Re4 de4 20.Qf6 Qg4 21.Qg5 Qg5 22.Bg5 f5 23.
Nd2 unclear; Blackstock - M.Radojcic, Hastings 1970/71] 19.Nd2
Rfe8 20.b3 Kg7 21.Bb2 Bg4 22.Qg2 Qg2 23.Kg2 Re3 24.fe3 Re8
25.Re1 Bf5 26.Kf2 Bd3 27.Rd1 -, Leko - Adams, Wijk aan Zee
2001 see 80/(371)
12
16...Qf1 17.Kf1 Bf5 18.Nd2 Rad8!? [18...h6 19.Re1!? Rae8 20.Nf3
g4! 21.Bh6 gf3 22.Bf8 Rf8 23.Bd1 Bh3 24.Kg1 Bg2 unclear;
Volokitin - Sargissian, Deutschland 2005 see 97/(245)] 19.f3 [19.
Re1 Rde8 20.Nf3 g4 21.Bh6 gf3 22.Bf8 Rf8 23.Bd1 Bg4 24.a4 Rd8
25.ab5 ab5 26.Ra6 c5 27.dc5 Bc5 28.Rc6 Ba7 29.Ra6 Bc5 30.Rc6
-, Karjakin - Grischuk, Torino (ol) 2006 see 97/(245)] Be4 20.
fe4 Nc7 21.a4 [21.Kg2 unclear; Almasi - Harikrishna, Paks 2006
see 98/(255); 21.Nf3 h6 22.Be3 Kg7 23.Kf2 Rfe8 24.Bc2 equal;
Grigoriants - Lalic, Cappelle la Grande 2007 see 99/240] h6 22.Kg2
Rd7 23.h4 gh4 24.e5 Be7 25.gh4 Kg7 26.ab5 ab5 27.Ne4 with
compensation; Jakovenko - Zhang Zhong, Russia - China (m/2)
2006 see 97/(245)
13
[FEN "r1b2rk1/5p1p/p1pb4/1p1n2pq/3PR3/
1BP3P1/PP1N1P1P/R1B2QK1 b - - 0 17"]
17...f5!? 18.Bd1 Qh6 [18...Qg6!? 19.Re1 f4 20.Ne4 fg3 21.hg3 Be7

22.Qg2 Bf5 with compensation; Beliavsky] 19.Re1 f4 20.Ne4 Bc7
21.Bd2 [21.Bf3 Bh3 22.Qd3 Rf7 23.Bd2 Raf8 24.Bh1 Rg7 25.Bf3
Rgf7 26.Bh1 Rg7 27.Bf3 Rgf7 -, Svidler - Leko, Morelia/
Linares 2007 see 99/(241)] Kh8 22.Qe2 Bf5 23.Qh5 Qh5 24.Bh5
Be4 25.Re4 fg3 26.fg3 Nf6 27.Re7 Bg3 28.hg3 Nh5 29.Kg2 g4
equal; Vallejo - Sargissian, Espana 2007 see 101/(265)
14
19.Re1 Rae8 20.Re8 Re8 21.a4 Qg6 22.ab5 Bd3 equal; Kramnik Leko, Brissago (m/8) 2004 see 91/312; 19.Qg2 Qg6 20.Re3 Rae8
21.Ne4 Ne4 22.g4 Ng3 23.hg3 Bd3 [23...Bb1 24.Qe2 Re3 25.Qe3
h6 26.Qe1 Bc2 27.Bc2 Qc2 28.Qe4 Qd1 29.Kg2 Kg7 30.Qe3 Bg3
31.Kg3 Re8 32.Qe8 -, Anand - Aronian, Wijk aan Zee 2007 see
99/(241)] 24.Bd2 Re3 25.Be3 Re8 26.Re1 c5 27.dc5 Bc5 28.Qd2
Be3 29.Re3 Qb6 30.Kf2 Rd8 31.Qe1 Re8 32.Qd2 Rd8 33.Bc2 Bg6
34.Qe2 Re8 35.Bg6 hg6 36.Qd2 Rd8 37.Qe2 Re8 38.Qd2 Rd8 -,
Svidler - Aronian, Morelia/Linares 2007 see 99/241
15
20...Be4 21.fe4 Kg7 22.Bd2 f6 23.Qf5 Qe2 24.Bc2 Rf7 25.e5 Qd2
26.Qh7 Kf8 27.Qh8 Ke7 28.ed6 Kd6 29.Qa8 Qe3 30.Kh1 Qf3 31.
Kg1 -, Kurnosov - Azarov, Kusadasi 2006 see 97/(245)
16
22...Qg6 23.Qc1 Bd3 unclear; Shirov - Aronian, Moscow 2006 see
98/255
17
24.Be7 Ra7 25.Bc5 Raa8 26.Be7 Ra7 27.Bc5 -, Shirov - Leko,
Moscow 2006 see 98/(255)
18
[FEN "4rrk1/5ppp/p1pb4/1p1n3q/3P2b1/
1BPQB1P1/PP1N1P1P/R3R1K1 w - - 0 18"]
18.Qf1 Re7 19.a4 Rfe8 20.Bd5 Qd5 21.ab5 ab5 22.Qg2 [22.f3 Bd7
23.Ne4 Bf5 24.c4 bc4 25.Nc3 Qe6 26.Bf2 Qd7 27.Re7 Be7 28.Qc4
Be6 29.Qa4 Rb8 30.d5 -, D.Chuprov - Sargissian, Moscow 2009
see 105/(110)] Qg2 23.Kg2 h5 [23...f6 24.b3 h5 25.c4 Bb4 26.Ra2
Bf5 27.Rc1 g5 28.h3 Kf7 29.Nf1 Rd7 30.Kh2 Bd3 31.Ra6 Re6 32.
Ra8 Re8 33.Ra6 Re6 34.Ra8 Re8 -, Inarkiev - Leko, Elista 2008
see 105/(110)] 24.Ra5 h4 25.Rea1 hg3 26.hg3 equal; Bacrot Aronian, Nalchik 2009 see 105/110
19
19...Bf3 20.Nf3 Qf3 21.Bd2 Qd3 22.Bd3 f4 23.Re8 Re8 24.Kf2 fg3
25.hg3 c5 26.c4 Nb6 27.cb5 c4 28.Bf1 ab5 29.Bg2 and White is
slightly better; Ponomariov - Leko, Moscow 2008 see 103/(238)
20
20...Qg6!? 21.Re8 Re8 22.Re1 Re1 23.Be1 h5 24.Bb3 Kh7 25.Bf2
Nf4 26.Qe3 h4 27.Nf1 Nd5 28.Qd3 Nf4 29.Qe3 Nd5 30.Qd3 Nf4
31.Qe3 -, Ponomariov - Gustafsson, Espana 2008 see 105/(109)
21
23.Nf1 h5 24.Kf2 h4 25.Re8 Re8 26.Re1 hg3 27.hg3 Rd8 28.Ke2
Bf1 29.Rf1 Re8 30.Kd1 Qg3 31.Qf5 Re1! 32.Re1 Qf3 33.Re2 Qf1
34.Re1 Qf3 -, Efimenko - Sargissian, Dresden (ol) 2008 see 105/
(109)
22
24.Nf1 h5 25.Re8 Re8 26.Bf7 Re7 27.Bh5 Bf1 28.Qf1 Be3 29.Kh1
Qh5 30.Be5 [30.Qg2 f4 31.Bf2 Qd5 32.Bh4 Re8 33.Bg5 a5 34.Re1
Rf8 35.a3 Qf5 36.h4 a4 with compensation; Ni Hua - Sargissian,
Dresden (ol) 2008 see 105/109] Re6 31.Re1 f4 32.Re2 Rg6 33.Rg2
Qh3 34.Qe2 Qf5 -, Landa - Amonatov, Moscow 2009 see 105/
(109)
23
20.a4 ba4 21.Qa6 Re3 [21...Re6 22.Qf1 Qh5 23.Qf2 Qe8!? 24.c4
Bb4 25.cd5 Rd6 26.Rec1 Bd2 27.Bd2 Qb5 28.Bc3 Re8 with
compensation; Salai - R.Berzinsh, Sala 1994 see 61/344] 22.Re3
Bf4 23.Nf1 Be3 24.Ne3 Bf3 25.Qd6 Re8 26.Ra4 Qh5 27.Qd7 Be4
with compensation; Salai - Pavlovic, Novy Smokovec 1990
24
21.Qg2 g5 22.Qd5 Rd8 23.Qc6 gf4 24.Bf4 Bf4 25.gf4 Rc8 26.Qd5
Rce8 with compensation; Eubanks - Hurt, corr.1990
25
[FEN "4rr1k/6pp/p2b4/3p1p1q/p2P1Pb1/
2P1B1P1/1P1N3P/R3RQK1 w - - 0 22"]
22.Qa6 Re6 23.Qb5 Rh6 24.Nf1 Bf3 25.Qd3 Qg4 26.Qd2 g5 27.
Ra4 Rg6 28.Ra6 gf4 29.Rd6 fg3 30.hg3 Rd6 31.Bf4 Rg6 32.Nh2
Qh5 33.Nf3 Qf3 34.Qg2 Qg2 35.Kg2 Rb6 equal; Den Broeder Van Oosterom, corr.1981; 22.Qg2 Re4 23.Ne4 fe4 24.Qf1 Bf3 25.
Qa6 Qh3 26.Re2 Be2 27.Qe2 g5! 28.Ra4 gf4 29.Bf4 Bf4 30.gf4 e3!
31.Kh1 Rf4 32.Ra8 Kg7 33.Qg2 Qg2 34.Kg2 Rf2 equal; Hindle - P.
Littlewood, England 1987 see 44/418
26
24.fg5 Rfe8 25.Qf2 f4 26.gf4 Bh3 27.Ra6 Re3 28.Re3 Qg4 29.Qg3
Qd1 30.Qe1 Qg4 equal; Liang Jinrong - Blatny, Novi Sad (ol) 1990
see 50/378
27
18.Bd5 cd5 19.a4 f5 [19...ba4 20.c4 unclear; Villalonga - Roche,
corr.1983] 20.Qf1 [20.ab5 Rfe8 21.Qf1 f4 22.Qh3 Bh3 23.ba6 fe3
24.fe3 Bf5 25.Ra5 Bd3 26.a7 Ra8 27.Rea1 Re3 28.Rd5 Re6 29.b4
g6 30.b5 Bf8 unclear; Matsukevich - Arkhipov, corr.1983] Qh5 21.
f4 Rfe8 22.Bf2 [22.Qf2 h6 23.ab5 ab5 with compensation; Albrecht
- Dintheer, corr.1963] ba4 [22...Re2 23.Qg2 unclear; Kogan Mitchell, corr.1967/68] 23.Qg2 Qf7 24.Nf3 Re1 25.Re1 Bf3 26.Qf3
Re1 27.Be1 Qe6 -, Oliveau - Van der Weijer, corr.1986
28
[FEN "5rk1/5ppp/p1pbr3/1p1n3q/3P2b1/
1BP1BPP1/PP1N3P/R3RQK1 b - - 0 19"]
19...Rf6 20.Qg2!? [20.Bd1 Re8 21.Bf4 Re1 22.Qe1 Re6 23.Be5

Bh3 24.Qf2 Be5 25.f4 Bd4 26.Bh5 Bf2 27.Kf2 Nf6 28.Bf3 Kf8
equal; Jakovenko - Svidler, Russia (ch) 2007 see 101/(265); 20.Qe2
Bf3 21.Nf3 Rf3 22.Bd5 Qd5 23.Bf2 Rf6 24.b3 Qf5 equal; Anand Ivanchuk, Bilbao 2008 see 104/(85)] Bh3 21.Qf2 Bf5 22.a4 Bd3 23.
ab5 ab5 24.Qg2 Bb8 25.g4 Qg6 26.Bd5 cd5 27.Nb3 and White is
superior; Naiditsch - Sargissian, Kallithea 2008 see 104/85; 19...
Ne3 20.Qf2 Nd5 21.fg4 Qg4 22.Qf3 Qg5 23.Re6! fe6 24.Ne4! Qg6
25.Qe2 Nf4 26.Qc2 and White is slightly better; Kramnik - Aronian,
Yerevan (m/1-rapid) 2007 see 100/260
29
22.Bf2 Rfe8 23.Re4 Re4 24.Re1 Qg6 25.Re4 Qe4 26.Qe1 Qe1 27.
Be1 Ne3 28.Bd2 Nc4 29.Bc1 f5 30.Bc2 g6 31.Kg2 [31.b3 Nb6 32.
c4 Be7 33.Kf2 Kf8 34.Bd3 bc4 35.bc4 c5 36.Be3 Nd7 37.Ke2 cd4
38.Bd4 Bc5 equal; M.Neubauer - Ragger, Oesterreich (ch) 2007 see
100/(260)] Kf7 32.Kf3 Ke6 33.h3 c5 34.b3 Nb6 35.dc5 Bc5 equal;
E.Perelshteyn - Onischuk, USA (ch) 2007 see 100/(260)
30
24.Bd2 Rg4 25.Re2 unclear; Bacrot - Jakovenko, Kallithea 2008 see
104/(85)
31
18...f5 19.ab5 f4 20.Bf4 Bf4 21.Re6 Be6 22.ba6 Bd2 23.Qd2 Nc7
24.Qc2 Ra8 25.a7 Qh6 26.Be6 Qe6 27.c4 Qd6 28.Qe4 Qb4 29.b3
Qc3 30.Ra4! Qb3 31.Qc6 and White is superior; De Oliveira Maffei, corr.1999 see 83/337; 18...ba4 19.Ra4 f5 20.Qf1 Qh5 21.
Ra6 f4 22.Bf4 Bh3 23.Re6 Bf1 24.Nf1 Bf4 25.Rac6 Qf3 26.Bd5
Qd5 27.gf4 Qf3 28.d5 equal; Ivanchuk - Short, Riga 1995 see 65/
(336)
32
[FEN "5rk1/5ppp/2pbr3/1p1n3q/3P2b1/
1BPQB1P1/1P1N1P1P/R3R1K1 w - - 0 20"]
20.Ne4 Bf5!? 21.Bd2 Re4 22.Re4 Nf6 23.f3 Qg6 24.Qf1 Ne4 25.
fe4 Be4 26.Bf4 Bd3 27.Qf2 Bf4 28.Qf4 h6 29.Qf2 Re8 30.Re1 Re1
31.Qe1 Be4 32.Qf2 -, Svidler - Kamsky, Groningen 1995 see 66/
(304); 20.Qf1 Rfe8 [20...Bh3 21.Bd1 Qf5 22.Qe2 c5 23.Nf1 cd4 24.
cd4 Nb4 25.Ra3 Nc6 26.Rd3 Bb4 27.d5 Be1!? 28.de6 fe6 unclear;
Real - Farinas, corr.1993/95 see 66/(304)] 21.Bd5 Qd5 22.h3 [22.c4
Qf5 23.c5 Bh3! 24.Qe2 Bf4! 25.Qf3 g5 26.Ra3! Bg4 27.Qg2 Bh3
28.Qf3 -, Dzenis - Petraitis, corr.1989/90 see 56/(379)] Bh5
[22...Bf5 23.Qg2 Qg2 24.Kg2 R6e7 25.b3 f6 26.Ra2 Be6 27.c4 Bb4
28.Rc1 Bf5 29.g4 Bd3 with compensation; Leko - Kasimdzanov,
Linares 2005 see 93/(286)] 23.Qg2 Qg2 24.Kg2 f5 25.Nf3 f4 26.
Bd2 fg3 27.Re6 Re6 28.Ra8 Bf8 29.Ne5 gf2 30.Kf2 Re8 31.Ra6
Bd6 32.Bf4 Be5 33.Be5 Re6 equal; J.Polgar - Adams, San Luis
2005 see 94/(263)
33
21.Qd1 Bg4 22.Qd2 Qh3 23.Bd1 Bd1 24.Rad1 f5 25.f4 g5 26.Qg2
[26.fg5 f4! 27.Bf4 Bf4 28.gf4 Nf4 29.Ng3 Qg4 30.Re6 Nh3 31.Kg2
Nf4 equal; Ljubojevic - P.Nikolic, Beograd 1991 see 53/(341)] Qg2
27.Kg2 Rfe8 28.Bd2 Re1 29.Re1 Re1 30.Be1 gf4 31.Kf3 fg3 32.
hg3 Kf7 equal; Karpov - Short, Tilburg 1991 see 53/341
34
21...Be4 22.Bc2 f5 23.Bd1 Qh3 24.f3 f4 25.fe4 fg3! 26.Qg2! gh2 27.
Kh1 Qg2 28.Kg2 Re4! 29.Bb3 h1Q 30.Kh1 Rh4 31.Kg2 Rg4 equal;
Rubinchik - Vitomskis, corr.1989/91 see 53/340
35
22.Bd5 cd5 23.Bf4 Re1 24.Re1 Re1 25.Qe1 Be4 26.Nd2 Bf4 27.
Ne4 de4 28.gf4 Qg4 29.Kf1 -, Ivanchuk - I.Sokolov, Biel 1989
see 48/(465)
36
24.Qd3 Qh3 25.Bd2 Re2 26.Re2 Be2 27.Re1 Bd3 28.Re8 Bf8 29.
Bd3 Qd7 30.Re1 -, Svidler - Jakovenko, Foros 2008 see 103/
(238)


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accessible:
Small Encyclopaedia of Chess

Openings, Third Edition
Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation
Sasa Velickovic
Informant at
ChessCafe
A close friend of mine, who is an international master, recently said

to me that "The small one is simply great. When I am going to a
tournament, I only travel with my darling. Because I feel safe!" I
was confused as to whether he had begun a relationship with
someone, when he explained, "My travel companion is the Small
Encyclopedia of Openings! When I look into the main variations,
my opponents, whatever their strength, are not able to gain an
advantage at the very beginning of game."
He is right. The Small ECO is an important weapon in the arsenal of
tournament players, be it at the club or international level. The third
edition of the Small Encyclopedia of Openings collects the best
lines from Volumes A, B, C, D and E in one handy reference work.
This month, we present an excerpt from the Exchange Variation of
the Ruy Lopez.
ECO A
by Chess Informant
C69
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bc6 dc6 5.0-0 f6

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
d4
de51
10
11
12
Rd1
Rd33
Nbd2
Nc45
Nfe56
Re3
Nc4
Bg4 Qd1 fe52
Bd6
Nf64
0-0
Be2
Bc4
Bc57
13
14
a4
a5
Kf713
c414
ECO B
by Chess Informant
equal
...
Nd4 Nb38 Rd1
f3
Be311 Nc312
unclear
ed4
c5
Qd1
Bg49
Be610
b6
Bd6
1
Ruy Lopez Exchange
byKrzystof Panczyk
& Jacek Ilczuk
[FEN "r2qkbnr/1pp3pp/p1p2p2/4p3/
3PP1b1/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w kq - 0 7"]
7.c3 Bd6 [7...ed4 8.cd4 Qd7 9.h3 Be6 10.Nc3 0-0-0 11.Bf4 g5 12.
Bg3 g4 13.d5 cd5 14.ed5 Bd5 15.Nd5 Qd5 16.hg4 Qd1 17.Rfd1
Rd1 18.Rd1 Nh6 equal; Petrushin - Yudasin, USSR 1981 see
32/424; 7...Ne7 8.h3 Bf3 9.Qf3 ed4 10.Rd1 Qd7 11.cd4 f5! 12.Nc3
fe4 13.Qh5 Ng6 14.d5! Be7 15.Be3 0-0 16.Rac1 c5 17.Ne4 Rf5 18.
Qg4 Ne5 19.Qe2 b6 equal; Rozentalis - R.Berzins, Tallinn 1998 see
73/380] 8.Be3 Qe7 [8...Ne7 9.Nbd2 ed4 10.cd4 f5 11.e5 Bb4 12.
Qb3 Nd5 13.Bg5 Qc8 14.Nc4 Bf3 15.Qf3 Qe6 unclear; L.-A.
Schneider - Carlhammar, Sverige (ch) 1987] 9.Nbd2 0-0-0 10.de5
fe5 11.b4 Nf6 12.a4 c5 13.Rb1 cb4 14.Qc2 Bf3 15.Nf3 [15.gf3 g5
16.cb4 g4 17.b5 gf3 18.Nf3 ab5 19.ab5 Rhg8 20.Kh1 Ng4! 21.Ra1
Kd7 22.Qe2! Qf6 equal; Ivanchuk - Grischuk, Rest of the World Russia 2002 see 86/347] a5 16.cb4 Bb4 17.Rfc1 Kb8 18.Bd2 with
compensation; Ivanchuk, Sulypa
2
8...Bf3 9.gf3 fe5 10.Be3 Nf6 11.Nd2 0-0-0 12.Nc4 Re8 13.Rd3 Re6
14.Kf1 Be7 15.Ke2 Nh5 16.Rg1 Rf8 equal; Iskov - Smyslov,
Kobenhavn 1980
3
9.Nbd2 0-0-0 10.Re1 Bd6 [10...Re8 11.h3 Bh5 12.g4 (12.b3 Nf6 13.
Bb2 Nd7 equal; Zhang Zhong - Short, Taiyuan 2004 see 91/294)
Bf7 13.Ng5 Bg6 14.Ndf3 h6 15.Nh4 Bh5 16.Ngf3 Bf7 17.Bd2 Bd6
18.Bc3 g6 19.Rad1 Nf6 equal; Maze - Winants, Belgique 2006] 11.
h3 Bh5 12.Nh4 Bf7 13.Ndf3 h6 14.b3 [14.Bd2 g6! 15.Bc3 Re8 16.
Nh2 Nf6 17.Ng4 Ng4 18.hg4 h5 19.g5 Rhf8 equal; S.Kasparov Dobrev, Guben 2004 see 90/(289)] g6 15.Bb2 Re8 16.c4 c5 17.Nh2
Ne7 18.f4 Nc6 19.N4f3 Rhf8 20.fe5 Ne5 21.Ne5 Be5 22.Be5 Re5
23.Ng4 Ree8 24.Rf1 Be6 equal; Poulsen - Dervishi, Calvia (ol)
2004
4
10...b5 11.b3 Ne7 12.Bb2 Ng6 13.g3 0-0 14.Kg2 Rf6 [14...c5 15.c4
Rab8 equal; Timman - Kasparov, Hilversum (m/5) 1985 see
40/399] 15.Ng1 [15.h3 Bd7 16.Ng1 c5 equal; Nunn - Portisch, Wijk
aan Zee 1985 see 39/403] Raf8!? 16.f4 ef4! 17.Bf6 gf6 18.Ngf3
Kf7! 19.a4 Rg8 20.Kf2 -, R.Milu - Marin, Romania 2006 see
98/241
5
11.b3 0-0-0 12.Bb2 Rhe8 13.Re1 b5 14.a3 Rd7 15.h3 Bh5 16.Nh4
Bf7 17.Nf5 Bf8 equal; Van der Wiel - P.Nikolic, Nederland (ch)
1998 see 74/(359)
6
12.Nce5 Bh5! 13.Be3 Rae8 14.Nc4 Ne4 15.Nd6 cd6 16.Nd2 d5 17.
Ne4 Re4 equal; Shur - R.Berzins, Naberezhnie Chelny 1993
7
[FEN "r4rk1/1pp3pp/p1p2n2/2b5/2N1P3/
4R3/PPP2PPP/R1B3K1 w - - 0 15"]
15.Rf3 Ne4 16.Be3 Rf3 17.gf3 Nd6 equal; Kasparov - Tal, USSR
(ch) 1978; 15.Re2 Rae8 16.Be3 Re4 17.Bc5 Re2 18.Bf8 Kf8 19.
Rc1 Re4 20.Nd2 Re2 equal; Topalovic - Mikhalchishin, Opatija
2003; 15.Re1 Ng4 [15...Rae8 16.Be3 Be3 17.Re3 Re4 18.Re4 Ne4
19.f3 Nd6 20.Ne3 Re8 21.Kf2 Kf7 22.Rd1 a5 23.f4 h5 24.Kf3 b5
25.b3 Kf6 26.h3 g6 27.Rd3 b4 28.g4 and White is slightly better;
Radjabov - Grischuk, Odessa (m/2-rapid) 2008 see 104/(235); 15...
b5 (B.Socko - Beliavsky, Dresden (ol) 2008 see 104/235) 16.Ne5
Rae8 17.Nd3 Ne4 18.Nc5 Nc5 19.Bd2 and White is slightly better;
Beliavsky] 16.Be3 Be3 17.Ne3 Nf2 18.Nc4 Rae8 19.e5 Ng4 20.h3
Nh6 21.Rad1 Re6 22.Rd7 Rf7 23.Rd8 Rf8 24.Rd7 Rf7 -,
Kovalevskaya - Zhao Xue, Russia - China 2008 see 104/(235)
8
8.Ne2 Qd1 9.Rd1 Bd7 10.Nbc3 0-0-0 11.Be3 Re8 12.Rd2 Bc6 13.
Rad1 b6 14.f3 [14.a4!? (Radjabov - Jakovenko, Odessa (m/1-rapid)
2008 see 102/(241)) b7!? equal] Ne7 15.Nf4 Ng6 16.Ncd5 [16.
Ng6 hg6 17.Nd5 Bd5 18.Rd5 Bd6 19.Rd6! cd6 20.Rd6 Kb7! 21.
Rd7 Kc6 22.Rg7 Rhg8 equal; Macieja - Naiditsch, Kusadasi 2006
see 96/237] Ne5 17.b3 a5 [17...c4 18.Kf2 Kb7 19.g4 a5 20.h4 Ba3
21.Nh5 Rhg8 22.Bd4 Bd5 23.ed5 Re7 equal; Vescovi - Onischuk,
Poikovsky 2003 see 87/308] 18.Nh5 c4 19.a4 Kb7 20.Kf2 cb3 21.
cb3 Nd7 22.g4 Nc5 equal; Kasimdzhanov - Grischuk, Tripoli (m/1)
2004 see 91/(294)
9
9...Be6 10.Bf4 c4 11.Nd4 [11.Na5 b6 12.Nc6 Bd7 13.Nd4 0-0-0 14.
Nd2 Re8 15.f3 b5 16.a4 Bc5 17.Be3 Ne7 18.ab5 ab5 19.b3 Nc6 20.
c3 cb3 21.N2b3 Bb6 equal; Petrushin - Kharitonov, Aktjubinsk
1985] 0-0-0 12.Nc3 Bf7 13.Nf5 Rd1 14.Rd1 Ne7 15.Ne3 b5 16.a4
b4 17.Ncd5 Nd5 18.ed5 Bc5 19.Nc4 Rd8 20.Ne3 Be3 21.Be3 Rd5
equal; Udartsev - Mishin, corr.1988
10
10...Bd7 11.Nc3 0-0-0 12.Bf4 c4 13.Na5 Bc5 14.Kf1 b5 15.Nd5 [15.
a4 Ne7 16.ab5 Bb5 17.Bd2 Rhe8!? 18.Nb5 ab5 19.b3 cb3 20.Nb3
Bb6 21.Bc3 Rd1 22.Rd1 c5 equal; Vachier-Lagrave - Bacrot, Cap
dAgde (rapid) 2006 see 98/(241)] Ne7 16.Bc7 Nd5 17.Rd5 Kc7 18.
Rc5 Kb6 19.b4 cb3 20.Nb3 Be6 21.Rc3 a5 [21...Rd6 22.a4 Bc4 23.
Kf2 Rc8! 24.ab5 ab5 25.Rb1 b4 26.Re3 Bb3! 27.Reb3 Rc2 equal;
Shirov - Adams, Tilburg 1996 see 68/293] 22.a4 Rc8 23.Rc8 Rc8
24.ab5 [24.Nd4 Bc4 equal; Rogers - Slobodjan, Deutschland 1998]
Bb3! 25.cb3 equal; Macieja - Miton, Polska (ch) 2008 see 102/241
11
[FEN "r3kbnr/1pp3pp/p3bp2/2p5/4P3/
1N3P2/PPP3PP/RNBR2K1 w kq - 0 11"]
11.Nc3 Bd6 12.e5 fe5 13.Ne4 Bb3! 14.ab3 Ke7! 15.Be3 b6 16.b4
cb4 17.Bb6 Nf6 18.Nd6 cd6 19.Bc7! Ne8 20.Ba5 Rf8 21.Bb4 Rf4!
unclear; Motwani - Agdestein, Novi Sad (ol) 1990 see 50/355; 11.
Bf4 c4 12.Nd4 [12.Na5 Bc5 13.Kf1 Bb6 14.b4 cb3 15.ab3 Ba5!
equal; Sion Castro - Izeta, Salamanca 1990 see 51/(314)] 0-0-0 13.
Nc3 Bf7 14.Nf5 [14.a4 (Nadanian - Seredenko, corr.1992 see 57/
(333)) Ne7 equal] Rd1 15.Rd1 g6 16.Ne3 Bc5 17.Kf2 Ne7 18.Ke2
Rd8 19.Rd8 Kd8 20.Ng4 Ng8 equal; Teterev - Maiorov, Belarus
(ch) 2006
12
12.a4 Ne7 [12...c4 13.Nd4 0-0-0 14.Nc3 Bf7 15.a5 b5 16.Ndb5 Rd1
17.Rd1 ab5 18.Nb5 Be7 19.a6 Be8 20.a7 Bc6 21.Ra1 Ba8 22.Ra4
unclear; Malisauskas - Yandemirov, Katowice 1993 see 57/333] 13.
Bf4 c4 14.Nd4 0-0-0 15.Nc3 Bd7 16.Bg3 f5 equal; Berkvens - Van
Beek, Nederland 2001
13
13...Ne7 14.a5 Bb3 15.cb3 b5 equal; Poutiainen - A.Petrosian,
Yerevan 1976
14
15.Nd4 b5 16.b3! [16.Ne6 Ke6 17.Nd5 (17.Ne2 Ne7 18.Bf4 Be5 19.
Nd4 Kf7 20.Be5 fe5 21.Nf5 Nf5 22.ef5 Rad8 equal; Malisauskas Psakhis, Moscow 1989 see 47/(409)) Ne7 18.Ne7 Be7 19.Kf2 Rhd8
equal; Van der Kleij - Pantaleoni, corr.1989] cb3 17.cb3 Ne7!? 18.
Rac1 Rhd8 19.Ne6 Ke6 20.Nd5 unclear; Predojevic - Sasikiran,
Sarajevo 2006 see 97/224



Informant 107
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The best female chessplayer ever, Judit Polgar, was eliminated from
the World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk by none other than the winner
of this strong event - Boris Gelfand. In their mini-match, Gelfand
surpassed Polgar after the tie-break in the third knockout round with
an overall score of 3-1. Judit's only victory came in the second
game, but this game was really something! In fact, it was voted as
the best game of Chess Informant 107. The esteemed expert jury
was comprised of Beliavsky, Christiansen, M. Gurevich,
Matanovic, Mikhalchisin, Ribli, and Speelman.
In her comments, Polgar demonstrates that dynamic tactical
elements dominated the game. There were a few mistakes; Black
was already in time-trouble at the twentieth move! However, this
takes nothing away from Polgar's creative masterpiece. Judit
crowned her attack with the beautiful 27.Qf4!!, a move that will
surely find its place in chess anthologies.
Informants 104-106
Chess Informant

the games from
DGT Game Viewer.
1. Ju.Polgar (2680) - B.Gelfand (2758)

Khanty-Mansiysk (m/2) 2009 - 107/83 [C24]
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Qe2 Be7 5.Nf3 00 6.Bb3 d6 [6...d5!?]
7.00 Nbd7 8.c3 a5!? [8...Nc5!?] 9.a4 b5 A novelty. [9...Nc5!? 10.
Bc2 b6 11.Nbd2 Ba6; 9...Qc7] 10.Bc2 Ba6 [10...Nc5?! 11.ab5 cb5
12.d4] 11.ab5 [11.Nbd2 b4!?] cb5 [11...Bb5?! 12.c4 Ba6 13.Bd2!]

12.Nbd2 Qc7 [12...Qb6!?] 13.d4 a4?! [13...b4! 14.c4 Nb6! 15.Ra5
a) 15.de5 de5 16.Ra5 Nbd7 (16...Nc4 17.Ra6 Nd2 18.Ra8 Nf3 19.
Qf3 Ra8 20.Bb3 Ra1) 17.Ra4 (17.Ra1? Bc4) Rfb8! (17...Nc5 18.
Rb4 Qa5 19.Rb5 Bb5 20.cb5 with compensation.) 18.Qd1 Nc5 19.
Ra1 b3 20.Bb1 Nfd7 Black is superior; b) 15.Bd3 a4!; c) 15.b3 a4;
15...Nc4 16.Ra6 Nd2 17.Ra8 Nf3 18.Qf3 Ra8 19.Bb3] 14.Bd3 Rfb8
15.Nh4 g6 16.f4 [16.Ndf3!?] ef4 [16...ed4!? 17.cd4 Qb6 unclear.]
17.Ndf3 [17.Qf3? b4; 17.Rf4 Nh5 18.Rg4 Ndf6; 17.Nb1 Nh5 18.
Nf5 Bf8] Nh5 18.Bd2 [18.g4? fg3 19.Ng5 Ndf6] Nb6 [18...Qb6!?
19.g4 fg3 20.Ng5 b4 21.Nf5 (21.Rf7 Bd3 22.Qd3 Ne5 Black is
winning; 21.Ba6 Qa6 22.Qf3 Qc4 23.Nf7 Bh4 24.Nh6 Kh8) Bg5 22.
Bg5 gf5 23.Ba6 (23.Qh5 bc3 24.bc3 Bd3 25.Rf5 Ne5) Ra6 24.Qh5
bc3 25.bc3 Qb2!] 19.g4! fg3 20.Ng5 Nc4? Time [20...gh2 21.Qh2;
20...d5 21.e5 a) 21.Rf7? gh2; b) 21.Nf5 Bg5 22.Bg5 gh2 23.Kg2 f6
24.Nh6 Kg7 25.Bf6 Nf6 26.e5 (26.Rf6 Kf6 27.Rf1 Kg7 28.Rf7 Qf7
29.Nf7 Kf7); 21...Bg5 22.Bg5 Bc8! (22...gh2 23.Qh2) 23.Rf6 a) 23.
Qf3 Be6 (23...Bh3 24.hg3 Bf1 25.Rf1 Ng7) 24.hg3 a3 25.g4 Ng7 26.
Bh6 (26.Nf5 Bf5 27.gf5 ab2) Qe7; b) 23.Bb5 Nc4 24.Bc4 Qc4; c) 23.
Nf5 Bf5 24.Rf5 a3; 23...Nf6 24.Bf6 Nd7 (24...a3 25.Qd2 White is
winning.); 20...Bg5 21.Bg5 Bc8!? a) 21...Nc4 22.Nf5 see 20...Nc4;
b) 21...f6 22.Bf6 Rf8 23.Bg5 (23.e5 Rae8 24.Bg6 hg6 25.Ng6 Nf6
26.Nf8 Qg7 Black is winning.) Nc4 24.Bh6 gh2 25.Qh2 unclear; c)
21...d5!?; 22.Nf5 Bf5 23.Rf5 a3 24.Rb5 ab2 25.Ra8 Ra8 26.Rb2
Ra3 Black is superior.] 21.Nf5 [21.Rf7! gh2 a) 21...Nd2 22.Nf5!
White is winning; b) 21...Rf8 22.Rh7 Nd2 (22...Rf2 23.Ng6 Re2 24.
Be2; 22...gh2 23.Kh2 Nd2 24.Rh5 gh5 25.Rg1) 23.Ng6 Bg5 (23...
Nf3 24.Kh1) 24.Rc7 Rf2 25.Qh5 Nf3 26.Qf3 Rf3 27.Bb1!! White is
winning; c) 21...Qd8 22.Rh7 Bg5 c1) 22...gh2 23.Kh2 Bg5 (23...Nf6
24.Bc4 bc4 25.Rh6 White is winning.) 24.Ng6 White is winning; c2)
22...Nd2 23.Ng6 Bg5 24.Rh8 Kg7 25.Rd8 Bd8 26.Qh5 White is
winning; 23.Ng6 Qf6 (23...Kh7 24.Qh5 Kg7 25.Bg5) 24.Ne7! Kf8
(24...Kh7 25.e5) 25.Bg5 Qg5 26.Rf1 Ke8 27.Nd5 gh2 28.Kh2 Qg3
29.Kh1 Qh3 30.Kg1 White is winning; 22.Kh2] Bg5?! [21...Nd2!
22.Nh6 (22.Qd2 gf5; 22.Nf7 gh2 23.Qh2 Kf7) Kh8! (22...Kg7 23.
Rf7 Kh6 24.h4 Nf3 25.Nf3) 23.Nhf7 (23.Rf7 Bg5 24.Rc7 Bh6 25.hg3
(25.Qg4 Bc8) Ng3 (25...Rf8 26.Kg2 Rf3 27.Qf3 Nf3 28.Kf3 Rb8!
with idea 29.b3 Rf8 30.Kg2 Bc8 31.ba4 ba4 32.Ra4 Be3 33.Ra2
Bg4) 26.Qg4 Nh5 27.Qd7 Nf6 28.Qc6 unclear.) 23...Kg8 24.Qd2
Bg5 25.Qg5 (25.Ng5 Qd7 unclear.) gh2 26.Kh2 Rf8 27.Nh6 Kh8
(27...Kg7 28.Nf5 Kh8 29.Ne7 Nf4! 30.Rf4 Rf4 31.Ng6 hg6 32.Qf4
Kg7 33.Rf1 Qe7) 28.Be2 Qb7 29.Bh5 b4!! 30.Rf8 Rf8 31.Qe3 gh5
32.d5 Qg7 33.Ra4 Qe5 34.Kg1] 22.Bg5 f6 [22...gf5 23.Qh5 Nb2 24.
Qh6 f6 25.Bf6 Bc8 26.Rf3 White is winning; 22...gh2 23.Kh2 (23.
Qh2!?); 22...Kh8 23.Nh6 f6 24.Rf6] 23.Bh4 [23.Nh6 Kg7] gh2
[23...Rf8 24.hg3; 23...a3!?] 24.Qh2 Rf8 [24...gf5! 25.Rf5 (25.Kh1
fe4 26.Be2 Ng7) Ng7 (25...Qf7 26.Kh1) 26.Rf6 Rf8 27.Rh6 Qd7 28.
Qg2 Ne3 29.e5! Ng2 30.Bh7 Kf7 31.Bg6 Ke6 32.Be4 Kf7 33.Bg6
equal.] 25.Be2 [25.Bc4 bc4 26.Qd6] gf5? [25...Nd2! 26.Bh5 Nf1 27.
Qg2 (27.Rf1 b4! 28.Nh6 Kg7 29.Rf2 bc3 30.bc3 Qc3 unclear.) Kh8
28.Bg6 Ne3 29.Ne3 hg6 30.Qg6 Qg7 31.Qg7 Kg7 32.Nf5 Kh7 33.
Nd6 with compensation.] 26.Bh5 fe4? [26...Qg7 27.Kh1 Bb7 28.d5
Qe7! 29.Rae1 fe4 30.Qg2 Kh8 31.Re4 Ne5 32.Ref4 with attack.]
[FEN "r4rk1/2q4p/b2p1p2/1p5B/
p1nPp2B/2P5/1P5Q/R4RK1 w - - 0 27"]
27.Qf4!! [27.Bf6 Rf6 28.Rf6 Qg7 29.Qg2 Qg2 30.Kg2 Nb2] f5

[27...Qg7 28.Kh2 Kh8 29.Rg1 Qe7 30.Raf1] 28.Kh1 Kh8 29.Rg1
Rf7 [29...Nb6 30.Qh6 Nd5 31.Rg2 f4 32.Rag1 Qd7 33.Bg4 Qg7 34.
Qg7 Kg7 35.Be6 Kh8 36.Bd5] 30.Bf7 Qf7 31.Qh6 Rf8 32.Rg6 1-0
[Ju.Polgar]
2. V. Kramnik (2772) - R. Ponomariov (2739)
Moscow 2009 - 107/126 [D38]
1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.cd5 ed5 7.e3
c5 8.dc5 Qa5 9.Rc1 Ne4 [9...Bc3!? 10.bc3 00] 10.Qd5 Nc3 11.
bc3 Bc3 12.Kd1 00 13.Bc4 Nf6 [13...Nc5!? 14.Be7 Bb4! 15.Bf8
Be6 16.Qd4 Rf8] 14.Bf6 Bf6 15.Ke2 b5!? A novelty. [15...Bg4] 16.
c6! [16.Qa8?! bc4 17.Qe4 c3 with compensation; 16.Bb3 Ba6! (16...
Be6 17.Qe4 Rae8 18.Qc2 b4 19.Be6 Re6 20.Qc4 Bc3 21.Rhd1
White is slightly better.) 17.Ne5 (17.Rhd1?! b4 18.Bc4 Rad8 19.Qe4
Qa2 20.Rc2 Qa5; 17.Rc2?! b4 18.Bc4 Rad8 19.Qe4 Rfe8 20.Qf4
Qc5; 17.Nd4?! Rad8 18.Qf5 b4 19.Kf3 Bd4 20.ed4 Rd4; Weak
point Kf3; 17.Ng5 Rad8 18.Qf5 b4 19.Kf3 Bb7 20.Kg3 Qc7 21.f4
Bg5 22.Qg5 Rd2 23.Rc2 Rfd8 with initiative; 17.Kf1 Rad8 18.Qf5
b4 19.Kg1 Bd3 20.e4 unclear; Weak point Rh1) 17...b4 18.Kf3
Only move. Rad8 19.Nd7 Bc3 (With idea Bb5) 20.Rhd1 (20.c6 Bb5
21.e4 Qa6! 22.Qf5 g6 23.Qf4 Bc6 24.Nf8 Rd3 25.Kg4 Qc8 26.Ne6
Bd7! With attack.) Bb5 21.Qb7 Bd7 22.Rd7 Qc5 equal; 16.cb6 Qd5
(16...ab6 17.Rhd1; 16...Qb6?! 17.Rb1) 17.Bd5 Ba6 18.Bc4 ab6 19.
a4! (19.Ba6 Ra6 20.Rc2 Rfa8) Bb2 20.Rc2 Rfc8 21.Nd2 White is
slightly better.] Ba6 17.Qf5 [17.Bb3? b4 18.Ke1 Qa3! Black is
winning. (18...Bc3); 17.Bd3? Rad8 18.Qb3 Rd3! 19.Kd3 b4 20.Kc2
Qf5 Black is winning; 17.Rhd1 Bc3! 18.Qd3! (18.Bd3 Rad8 19.Qc5
(19.Qe4 Rd3 20.Rd3 b4) Rd3 20.Rd3 Qa2 21.Rd2 b4 22.Ke1 Qb3!?
23.c7 Bd2 24.Nd2 Qd3 25.Rc4 (25.Nc4? b3) Rc8 (25...Bc4? 26.Qf8
Kf8 27.c8Q Ke7 28.Qc4) 26.Qb4 h5 (26...Bc4 27.Nc4 a5 28.Qb7
Qc3 29.Kd1 Qd3 30.Ke1 equal.) 27.Qb8 Kh7 28.Kd1 Rb8 29.cb8Q
Bc4 Black is slightly better.) Bb2 (18...bc4 19.Qc3 White is
superior.) 19.Ng5 g6 20.Bf7 Rf7 21.Nf7 b4 a) 21...Bc1? 22.Nh6
Kf8 23.Qd6 Kg7 24.Qe7! Kh6 25.Qh4 Kg7 26.Rd7; b) 21...Qa2? 22.
Nh6 Kg7 (22...Kh8 23.Qd2) 23.Qd7 Kh6 24.Qh3 Kg7 25.Rd7 Kf8
26.Kf1!! Bc1 27.Qh6! (27.Qh7 Bb2! 28.Qh6 Ke8 29.Qg6 Kf8 30.g4
Re8=) Ke8 28.Qh7 Qc4 29.Kg1 White is winning; c) 21...Kf7? 22.
Qb3; 22.Rc4 Kf7 23.c7 Bf6 unclear (23...Rc8? 24.Qd7 Kf8 25.Qc8!
Bc8 26.Rd8 Ke7 27.Rc8 White is winning.); 17.Qc5 Be7]
[FEN "r4rk1/p4ppp/b1P2b2/qp3Q2/
2B5/4PN2/P3KPPP/2R4R b - - 0 17"]
17...Qa3 [17...Rfd8 18.Rhd1 Rd1 19.Rd1 Qc3 20.Bf7! Kf7 21.Ng5

Kf8 22.Rd6! White is winning. Qe5 23.Nh7 Kf7 24.Ng5 Kf8 25.
Rf6! gf6 26.Ne6 Ke7 27.Qh7! Ke6 28.Qd7 Mate; 17...Rad8 18.c7!
Rd6 (18...Qc7? 19.Bd3) 19.Rhd1 White is superior. (19.Bf7 Kf7!
(19...Rf7 20.c8Q Bc8 21.Rc8 Rf8 22.Rf8 Kf8 23.Rc1!) 20.Ng5 Ke7
21.Qe4 Kd7 22.Qf5 Ke7); 17...Bb2!? 18.Rc2 (18.Ng5?! g6 19.Bf7
Kh8 20.Qf4 b4 21.Kf3 Be5 (21...Rae8) 22.Qe4 (22.Qh4? Qd5)
Rae8) g6 19.Qc5 (19.Qg5 Qa3 20.Bb5? Rab8 21.Bc4 Qa4 Black is
winning.) Ba3 20.Qg5 Be7 unclear; 17...g6!? 18.Qf6 bc4 19.Nd4 a)
19.Qc3 Qd5 20.c7 (20.Nd4 Qg2 with counter-play.) Rac8 21.Rhd1
Qe6 22.Kf1 Rc7 with counter-play; b) 19.Ne5 c3 20.Kf3 Rae8 21.
Nd7 Re6 22.Qd4 Rc6! 23.Nf6 (23.Nf8? Rc4 Black is winning.) Kh8
24.Nd5 f6 25.Rc3 Rc3 26.Nc3 Qh5 27.Kg3 Qg5 equal; 19...Rae8
(19...c3 20.Kf3 Rae8 21.Kg3) 20.h4 (20.Kf3? Re6! 21.Qf4 Kg7! with
idea Rf6) c3 21.Kf3 Re6 22.Qf4 Bd3 unclear (22...Kg7 23.Kg3 Rf6
24.Qg5)] 18.Bd3 [18.Bb5?? Qb2] Rfd8 19.c7 [Better is 19.Qh7 Kf8
20.c7 Qa2 21.Kf1! (21.Rc2 Qc2! 22.Bc2 b4 23.Bd3 Bd3 24.Qd3
Rd3 25.Kd3 Rc8 26.Rc1 Bc3; 21.Nd2 Rd3 22.Qd3 b4 23.c8Q Bc8
with compensation.) Rd3 22.Qh8 Ke7 23.Qa8 White is winning.
Rc3 24.Qd8 Ke6 25.Rc3 Qa1 (25...b4 26.Rd3 Qb1 27.Ne1) 26.Ke2
Qc3 27.Rb1] Qa2 20.Nd2 [20.Kf1? Rd3 21.Qd3 b4 22.Kg1 Only
move. (22.c8Q Rc8 23.Rc8 Bc8 Black is winning.) Rc8 Black is
superior.] Rd3 [20...b4? 21.cd8Q Rd8 22.Ba6 Qa6 (22...Rd2 23.
Ke1) 23.Nc4 Bc3 24.Qf4 Rc8 25.Rhd1 g6 26.Rd7 White is
winning.] 21.Qd3 [21.Kd3 b4 22.Ke4 (22.Nc4? Bc4 23.Rc4 Qb3)
Qd2 23.c8Q Rc8 24.Rc8 Bd8! (24...Bc8 25.Qc8 Bd8 26.Ra1! b3 27.
Rb1! f5 28.Ke5) 25.Kf3 Bc8 26.Qc8 Qd5 equal.] b4 22.Kf3! [22.
Rc4 Bc4 23.Qc4 Qc4 24.Nc4 Rc8] Bb7 [Better is 22...Qa5 23.Qd6
(23.Qe4 Rc8 unclear 24.Rhd1 Qh5 25.Kg3 Qg5 equal 26.Qg4? Qg4
27.Kg4 Be2) Bb7 (23...Bc3 24.e4! Qh5 25.g4 Qh3 26.Qg3 Qh6 (26...
Qg3 27.hg3 Bd2 28.Ra1! with idea Rhd1 White is winning.) 27.
Nb3 White is superior.) 24.e4 (24.Ke2 Ba6 25.Ke1 Rf8) Qa3 25.
Ke2 (25.Kf4 Re8 unclear.) Ba6 26.Rc4! Qa5! (With idea Be5) (26...
Bc4 27.Nc4 Qa2 28.Nd2 Qe6 (28...Qc2 29.Ra1!) 29.Qb4 White is
superior.) 27.Ke3 Qa3 28.Kf4 Bc4 29.Nc4 Qa2 30.Qc5 Rc8
unclear.] 23.Kg3 [23.e4!? Qa5 (With idea Bc3) (23...Qa3 24.Qa3
ba3 25.Rb1 Bb2 26.Nc4 f5 27.Rhd1 White is winning; 23...Qe6 24.
Qb5) 24.Qd7 Bc3 (24...Qa3 25.Ke2 Ba6 26.Kd1) 25.Rc3!? (25.c8Q
Rc8 26.Qb7 Qh5 27.Ke3 Qg5 28.f4 Bd2 29.Kd2 Qf4 30.Kd3 Rd8 31.
Kc4 White is superior.) bc3 26.Rb1! Qh5 27.g4 Qh3 28.Ke2 Ba6 29.
Kd1 Rf8 30.Rb8 g6 31.Rf8 Kf8 32.Qd6 Kg7 33.Qa6 Qg4 34.f3 Qd7
35.Qe2 White is superior. cd2? 36.Qc4 White is winning; 23.Ne4!?
Qe6 (23...Re8? 24.Kg3) 24.Qc4! Bc3! (24...Qf5? 25.Ke2) 25.Qe6
fe6 26.Rhd1 Rf8 27.Kg4! Be4 28.Rd8 Bb7 29.Rcd1 Bf6 (29...b3?
30.Rb8 Bc8 31.Rd8) 30.f4 (30.Rf8? Kf8 31.Rd8 Ke7 32.c8Q Bc8 33.
Rc8 b3; 30.Rb8 Bc8 31.Rb4 h5! Black is superior.) b3 (30...Kf7 31.
R1d7 Be7 32.Rf8 Kf8 33.Rd8 Kf7 34.Rb8 Ba6 35.c8Q Bc8 36.Rc8
Bd6 37.Kf3 White is superior.) 31.e4 e5 32.f5 with idea Bb8 White
is slightly better.] h5 [23...Qa5 24.f4 Rc8 25.Rhd1! h5 (25...Rc7 26.
Nb3 White is winning.) 26.Ne4 Be4 27.Qe4 Rc7 (27...Bc3 28.Rd7)
28.Rc7 Qc7 29.Qb4 White is winning; 23...Qe6 24.f3 Rc8 25.Kf2

Bc6 White is superior. (25...Qe7 26.Qb5; 25...Qb6 26.Nc4! Qc7 27.
Nd6 Qd7 28.Nb7!)] 24.h3 [24.f4! Qe6 25.Kf2! (25.h3 Rc8) Bh4
(25...Rc8 White is superior.) 26.g3! Bh1 27.gh4 Bb7 28.Qd8 Qe8 29.
Qe8 Re8 30.Nc4 Re6 31.Na5 Bc8 32.Nc6 White is superior.] Qa5
25.f4 Rc8 26.Nc4 Qa6 [26...Qb5; Weak point d7; 26...Qc7! 27.Nd6
Qd8 White is slightly better.] 27.Ne5 [27.Qd7! b3 (27...Qa2 28.
Rhg1) 28.Rhd1 (28.Nd6? Qe2! Black is winning.) b2 29.Rc2 Bc6 30.
Qd6 Qb7 31.Nb2 Rc7 32.Nd3 White is winning.] Qd3 28.Nd3 Bc3
29.Rhd1 [29.Nb4? Bb4 30.Rhd1 Ba5 (30...Kf8)] a5 30.Nc5 [30.
Nb4!? ab4 (30...Bb4? 31.Rd8 Kh7 32.Rc8 Bc8 33.Rd1) 31.Rd8 Kh7
32.Rc8 Bc8 33.Rd1 b3 (33...h4!?) 34.Rd8 b2 35.Rc8 Be1! (35...b1Q
36.Rh8 Kh8 37.c8Q Kh7 38.Qc3) 36.Kh2 b1Q 37.Rb8 Bg3! 38.
Kg3 Qe1 39.Kf3 Qd1 40.Kg3 Qe1 41.Kh2 h4 42.Rh8 Kg6 43.f5
Kf6 44.c8Q Qg3 45.Kg1 Qe1 equal.] Rc7 31.Na4 Be4 32.Rd6? [32.
Kf2] Kh7? [32...Bc2! 33.Nc3 (33.Rc2 Be1 34.Rf2 Rc2 Black is
winning.) Rc3 34.Rb6 Rc4 (34...Re3 35.Kf2 Rc3 36.Rb5 b3 37.Ra1)
35.Rb8 Kh7 36.Rb5 a4 (36...b3 37.Rh5 Kg6 38.Ra5 b2 39.Rc2 Rc2
(39...b1Q? 40.Rg5 Kh6 41.Rc4) 40.Rb5 equal.) 37.Rc2 Rc2 38.Rb4
a3 39.Ra4 a2 Black is slightly better.] 33.Ra6 h4 34.Kh2 [34.Kh4?
Bf6; 34.Kf2 Rd7 35.Nc3 bc3 36.Rc3 Rd2 equal.] Rd7 35.Nc5 Re7
36.Ra5 Bd2 [36...Bg6] 37.Rc4
[FEN "8/4rppk/8/R1N5/1pR1bP1p/
4P2P/3b2PK/8 b - - 0 37"]
37...f5? [37...Bc6? 38.Nb3; 37...Bg6? 38.f5 Bf5 39.Nb3; 37...Bd5?

38.Rd4; 37...Bb1!?; 37...b3! 38.Rb5 (38.Nb3 Ba5 39.Na5 White is
slightly better.) Bc6 (38...Bd5 39.Rd4 Bc6) 39.Rb6 (39.Rb3 Bd5)
Re3! (39...Ba5!? 40.Rb3 (40.Rc6 b2) Bd5 41.Ra4 Bb3 42.Ra5
White is slightly better.) 40.Rc6 (40.Rb3? Re2; 40.Nb3 Be1) b2 41.
Rb6 Be1! 42.g4 (42.Ne4?? Bg3 43.Ng3 hg3 44.Kg1 Re1Mate; 42.
Kg1 Bg3 43.Re4 Rc3 44.Kf1 Rc1 45.Ke2 b1Q 46.Rb1 Rb1 equal.)
hg3 43.Kh1 Re2 44.Ne4 Rh2 45.Kg1 Bf2 46.Nf2 gf2 47.Kf1 Rh1
48.Kf2 b1Q 49.Rb1 Rb1 equal.] 38.Ne4 fe4 [R 9/o] 39.Rh5 [39.
g3!? b3 (39...Rb7? 40.Rh5 Kg8 (40...Kg6 41.Rc6! Kf7 (41...Kh5 42.
g4 Mate.) 42.Rf5) 41.Rc8 Kf7 42.Rf5 Kg6 (42...Ke7 43.Rc4 b3 44.
Re4 Kd6 45.Rd4 Ke6 46.Re5 Kf6 47.Rd2 b2 48.Rd1+-) 43.g4 Be3
44.Rcf8 Rb6 45.Rh5! (With idea f5 Mate) Bf4 46.Rf4 b3 47.Rf1
Rc6 48.Kg2 White is winning.) 40.Rh5 Kg8 41.Rc8 Kf7 42.Rf5
Kg6 43.Rc6! Kh7 (43...Kf5 44.g4 Mate.) 44.Rb6 Be3 45.Rb3 Bf2
with counter-play.] Kg6 40.Rg5 [40.Rh4 b3 41.Rc8!? (41.Rc6 Kf7
42.Rb6 Be3 43.Rb3 Bd2 equal) Be3 (41...b2 42.Rf8 Rf7 43.Rg4 Kf6
44.Rb8) 42.Rf8 Rf7 (42...b2? 43.f5 Kg5 44.Rg4 Kh5 45.f6! gf6 46.
Rh8 Bh6 47.Rgg8! with idea g4 White is winning.) 43.Rg4 Kf6 44.
Rb8 Bd4 45.Rb3 e3 equal.] Kf6 [40...Kf7!? 41.g3 (41.g4)] 41.Rc6
Kf7 42.Rf5 Kg8 [42...Ke8?! 43.Rc8 Kd7 44.Rc4] 43.g4 [43.Rc8!?
Kh7 44.Rh5 Kg6 45.Rh4 b3 (45...Be3 46.Rf8! Rf7 47.Rg4 Kf6 48.
Rf7 Kf7 49.f5 b3 50.Re4 Bd2 51.Re6 Ba5 52.Re3 b2 53.Rb3 Bc7 54.
g3 Be5 55.Kg2 White is winning.) 46.Rf8! (46.Rb8 Be3 47.Rb3
Bd2 48.Rb6 Kf5 with counter-play. (48...Kf7? 49.f5 e3 50.Re6 Re6
51.fe6 Ke6 52.Kg1 White is winning.)) Rf7 47.Rb8 Be3 48.Kg3 Bd4
49.Rb3] Re8! [43...Be3 44.Rc8 Kh7 45.Rh5 Kg6 46.Rf8; 43...hg3
44.Kg3 Be3 45.Rc8 Kh7 46.Rh5 Kg6 47.Kg4] 44.Re5 Rb8 [44...
Re5 45.fe5 Be3 46.Rc4 (46.e6 Kf8) Bd2! (46...b3 47.e6 Kf8 (47...
Bf4 48.Kg2 b2 49.e7 Kf7 50.Re4 Ke8 51.Rb4 Be5 52.Rb7) 48.Re4
Bc5 49.Rf4 Ke8 50.Rf7 Be7 51.Rf3 b2 52.Rb3 Bf6 53.Rb7 White is
winning.) 47.Re4 (47.e6 Kf8 48.Re4 Ke7 49.Kg2 (49.Re5?? Bf4) b3
50.Re5 b2 51.Rb5 Bc3 52.Rb6 Bd4 equal.) Kf7 (47...b3 48.e6 Kf8
49.e7 Ke8 50.Re6 White is winning.) 48.Rc4 Ke6 49.Rc5 Bf4 50.
Kg2 Be5 51.Rb5 Bc3 equal.]
[FEN "1r4k1/6p1/2R5/4R3/1p2pPPp/
4P2P/3b3K/8 w - - 0 45"]
45.g5 [45.Rce6! Kf8 a) 45...b3 46.Re8 Re8 47.Re8 Kf7 48.Rb8 Be3
49.Rb7 Kf6 50.f5 White is winning; b) 45...Kh7 46.Re8 Re8 (46...
Be3 47.Rb8 Bf4 48.Kg2 Be5 49.Rb4; 46...Rb7 47.Rh5 Kg6 48.Rf8)
47.Re8 b3 48.Kg2! Be3 (48...b2 49.Rb8 Be3 50.Rb2 Bf4 51.Rb4) 49.
Re4 Bc5 50.Re8 Bd6 51.Re3 b2 52.Rb3 White is winning; 46.g5 b3
(46...Be3 47.Rf5 Kg8 48.Re4 b3 49.g6! b2 50.Rb5 Bf4 51.Kg2 White
is winning; 46...g6 47.Rf6 Kg7 48.Re7 Kh8 49.Rg6 b3 50.Rh6 Kg8
51.f5 b2 52.f6 b1Q 53.Rg7 Kf8 54.Rh8 Mate.) 47.Rf5 Kg8 48.g6
Bb4 49.Rfe5 Kf8 (49...Bf8 50.Re8) 50.Rh5 Kg8 51.Ree5! b2 52.
Rb5 Rc8 (52...Rb5 53.Rb5 b1Q 54.Rb8 Bf8 55.Rb1) 53.Rb4 Rc2 54.
Kg1 Rc1 55.Kf2 b1Q 56.Rb1 Rb1 57.Rh4 White is winning.] Kh7
[45...b3 46.g6] 46.Re7 Be3 [46...b3]
[FEN "1r6/4R1pk/2R5/6P1/
1p2pP1p/4b2P/7K/8 w - - 0 47"]
47.Rcc7 (47.Rh6 Kg8 48.Rg6 Bc3 equal.) Be3 a) 47...b2? 48.Rg7

Kh8 49.Rh7 Kg8 50.Rcg7 Kf8 51.f5! b1Q 52.f6 White is winning.;
b) 47...Bc3 48.Rb7 (48.Rc3 b2 49.Rcc7 b1Q 50.Rg7 Kh8 equal)
Rd8 49.Re4 (49.Rb3 Rd2 50.Kg1 Rd1 51.Kf2 Rd2 52.Ke1 Rd7 53.
Rc3 Re7 White is slightly better; 49.Red7 Rd7 50.Rd7 b2 51.Rb7
Bd2 52.Rb2 Be3 53.f5 Bg5 54.Rb4 Bf4 55.Kg2 Kh6 56.Re4 Kg5 57.
Kf3 Bg3 equal.) Rd2 50.Kh1 b2 51.Rc4! (Weak point Bc3) Rc2
(51...Rd3 52.f5) 52.Rc6 (52.Rb2? Rc1 53.Kg2 Bb2) Rc1 53.Kg2
Ba5 54.Ra6 Bc3 55.Rab6 White is winning; 48.Rg7 Kh8 49.Rh7
(49.Rb7 Bf4 50.Kg2 Rc8! (50...Rb7 51.Rb7 b2 52.Rb2 Kg7 see 49.
Rh7) 51.Rgd7 Rc2 52.Kf1 Rc1 53.Ke2 Rc2 54.Ke1 Rc1 55.Rd1
Rd1 56.Kd1 Bg5 57.Rb3 Kg7 58.Rb4 Bf4!? (58...e3) 59.Re4 Bg3
60.Ke2 Kf6 61.Kf3 Kf5 equal.) Kg8 50.Rcg7 Kf8 51.Rb7 (51.f5 Bf4
52.Kg2 Rc8 53.Rh8?? Kg7 54.Rc8 b2) Bf4 52.Kg2 Rb7 (52...Kg8!?
53.Rhg7 (53.Rb8? Kh7 54.Rb3 Kg6 55.Rb4 Kg5 56.Re4 Bg3 57.Kf3
Kf5 equal.) Kh8 54.Rge7) 53.Rb7 b2 (53...Bg5 54.Rb3 Ke7 55.Rb4)
54.Rb2 Kg7 55.Rb6! (55.Rb4 Kg6 56.Re4 Kg5 57.Kf3 Bg3) Bg5 56.
Re6 e3 (56...Bf4 57.Re4 Bg3 58.Kf3 Kf6 59.Kg4 White is winning.)
57.Kf3 Kf7 58.Re4 (58.Ra6? e2 59.Ke2 Bf4) Kf6 59.Kg4 Bh6 60.
Re8 (60.Kh4? Kf5) Kf7 61.Re5 Kf6 62.Re4 White is winning.
Zugzwang.] 47.Rh6 [47.Re4 b3] Kg8 48.Rg6 Bd4 [48...b3 49.Rgg7
Kh8 see 46...b3; 48...Bf4 49.Kg2 Rc8 50.Re4 (50.Rgg7 Kh8) Kf7!]
49.Rge6 [49.f5 Kf8 (49...b3? 50.f6) 50.Re4 (50.f6 gf6 51.Rgg7 (51.
gf6 Bf6) fg5 52.Ref7 Ke8 53.Re7 Kf8 equal.) b3 51.Rh4 (51.Rd4 b2
52.Rd1 b1Q 53.Rb1 Rb1 equal.) Rb4 52.Rh8 (52.Rd4 Rd4 53.Rb6
Rf4 equal.) Ke7 (52...Kf7? 53.Re6 White is winning.) 53.Rh7 Kf7
(53...b2 54.f6 Kf7 55.fg7 Bg7 56.Rhg7 Kf8 57.Rg8 Kf7 58.R6g7 Ke6
59.Re8 Kd5 60.Re1 White is winning.) 54.Re6 Rb8 55.g6 Kg8 56.
Rh4 b2 57.Rhe4 Kf8 58.Rh4 Kg8 equal.] Kh7 [49...b3 50.g6 Rf8 51.
Re4 b2 52.Rb7; 49...Bc5! 50.Re8 Re8 51.Re8 Kf7 52.Re4 b3 53.
Re1 b2 54.f5 (54.Rb1 Bd4 55.Kg2 Ke6 56.Kf3 Kf5 equal.) g6! 55.f6
(55.Rb1 gf5 56.Rb2 Kg6) 55...Be3 56.Rb1 Bg5 57.Rb2 Kf6 equal.]
50.f5 Bc5 [50...Ra8 51.Re4 (51.f6 Ra2 52.Kh1 Ra1 53.Kg2 Rg1
(53...Ra2? 54.Kf1 Ra1 55.Ke2 Ra2 56.Kd1 Ra1 57.Kc2 Ra2 58.
Kb3) 54.Kh2 Rg5 55.f7 Rf5 56.Re4 Rf2 57.Kh1 Rf1 equal.)]
[FEN "1r6/4R1pk/4R3/2b2PP1/
1p2p2p/7P/7K/8 w - - 0 51"]
51.Re8 [51.Rd7! Kg8 52.f6 gf6 53.gf6 Ra8 a) 53...b3 54.f7 Kf8 55.
Rg6; b) 53...e3 54.f7 Kf8 55.Kg2 (55.Rg6? Be7 56.Rg8 Kf7 57.Rb8
e2 58.Re7 Ke7 59.Rb7 equal.); 54.Re5! (54.Re4 Ra2 55.Kh1 Ra1 56.
Kg2 Ra2 57.Kf3 Rf2 58.Kg4 Rf6; 54.f7 Kg7 55.Re8 Ra2) Bb6 55.
Re4 Ra2 56.Kh1 Ra1 57.Kg2 Ra2 58.Kf3 Rf2 59.Kg4 Rf6 60.Rb4
White is winning.] Re8 52.Re8 [R 2/j] b3 [52...e3 53.Kg2 b3 54.
Kf3 g6 (54...b2 55.g6 Kh6 56.Kg4! with idea Rh8 Mate.) 55.f6 b2
56.Rb8 Bd4 57.Ke2 White is winning; 52...g6! 53.f6 b3 54.Kg2
Bd6 55.Re4 b2 56.Re1 Bf4 57.Re7 Kg8 58.Rb7 Bg5 59.Rb2 Kf7
equal.] 53.Kg2
[FEN "4R3/6pk/8/2b2PP1/
4p2p/1p5P/6K1/8 b - - 0 53"]
53...Be3 [53...b2 54.Rb8 Bd4 55.Kf1 Be5 56.Rb7 Kg8 57.Ke2 Bd4
(57...g6 58.fg6 Bf4 59.Rb2 Kg7 60.Rb6 Bg5 61.Re6 White is

winning.) 58.Kd2 Kf8 59.Kc2 (With idea Rb4) e3 60.Rb4 e2 61.Rb8
(61.Kd2?? Bc3) Ke7 62.Kd2 Be3 63.Ke2 Bg5 64.Rb2 Kf6 65.Rb5
White is winning; 53...g6 54.Rc8! (54.f6 Bd6) b2 (54...Bd6 55.Rd8)
55.Rc7 Kg8 56.Rb7 gf5 57.Rb2 White is winning. Weak point Kg8;
53...Bd6! 54.Re4 b2 55.Re1 Bf4 56.Rb1 Bc1 57.Kf3 g6 58.Ke4 gf5
59.Kf5 Kg7 60.g6 Kf8 61.Kf6 Kg8 62.g7 Bd2! equal.] 54.Re4 Bg5
55.Rb4 g6 56.Rb7 Kh6 57.fg6 [57.Rb6!? Bd8 58.Rg6 Kh5 (58...
Kh7 59.Kf3 b2 60.Rg1 Bg5 61.Rd1 Bc1 62.Rd7 Kh6 63.Rb7) 59.Kf3
b2 60.Rg1 Bg5 61.Rb1 Bc1 62.Ke4 Kh6 63.Ke5 Kg7 64.f6 Kf7 65.
Kf5 Kf8 66.Ke6 Ke8 67.f7 Kf8 68.Kf6 Be3 (68...Bd2 69.Rg1) 69.
Rd1 Bb6 70.Ke6 Kg7 71.Rb1 Bd4 72.Ke7 White is winning.] Kg6
58.Kf3 Bd2 59.Kg4 Be1 60.Rb3 (White is winning.) Bg3 [60...Kf6
61.Rf3] 61.Rf3 Be1 62.Re3 Bf2 63.Re6 Kf7 64.Kf5 Bg3 65.Re4
Bf2 66.Kg5 Bg3 67.Re2 (Zugzwang.) Kg7 68.Re7 Kf8 69.Kf6 Bf2
70.Re6 Bg3 71.Kg6 Bh2 72.Re4 Bg3 73.Kf6 Bf2 74.Kg6 Bg3 75.
Re2 Bd6 76.Kg5 Bg3 [76...Be7 77.Kg4 Kf7 78.Re4 Ke8 79.Kf5
Kd7 (79...Kf7 80.Ra4 Bf6 81.Ra7 Be7 82.Rb7 Kf8 83.Ke6 Bg5 84.
Rd7 Be3 85.Rf7 Ke8 86.Rh7) 80.Kg6 Bd8 81.Kf7 Kd6 82.Rd4 Kc7
83.Ke6 Kc8 84.Rc4 Kb7 85.Kd7 Bg5 86.Rb4 Ka7 (86...Ka6 87.
Rg4) 87.Ke6 with idea Kf5-g4, Rb5-h5-h4] 77.Kf6 Bf4 78.Re4
Bd6 79.Rd4 [79.Rh4?? Be7] Bc7 80.Kg6 Bg3 81.Re4 (Zugzwang.)
1-0 [M.Notkin]
3. V. Anand (2788) - P. Leko (2752)
Moscow 2009 - 107/132 [D43]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dc4 7.e4 g5 8.
Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.00 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7 12.Nd7 Nd7 13.Bd6
a6 14.a4 e5 15.Bg4 ed4 16.e5 c5 17.Re1 Ne5 18.Be5 00 19.Bg7
Kg7 20.Ne2 f5 21.Bh5 f4
[FEN "r2q1r2/1b4k1/p6p/1pp3pB/P1pp1p2/
8/1P2NPPP/R2QR1K1 w - - 0 22"]
22.Nd4! A novelty. [22.b4 see 102/330] cd4 23.Re6 Bc8? [23...Rf6

24.Qe1 (24.Qe2 Bd5 25.Re7 Kg8 (25...Kf8 26.Re1 d3 27.Qe5 Qd6
28.Re8 Kg7! 29.Qe7 Bf7 30.Ra8 d2 equal.) ) Bd5 25.Re7 Kg8 26.
ab5 Qd6 27.ba6 Ra6 28.Re8 Rf8 29.Rf8 Kf8 30.Qe8 Kg7 31.Ra6
Qa6 32.Qe5 Kh7 equal.] 24.Rg6 Kh7 25.ab5 Rf6 [25...Ra7 26.Rc6
d3 27.Qd2 Rf6 28.Rc4 Bf5 (28...Rd6 29.Qc3 White is superior.) 29.
h3 White is slightly better.] 26.Rf6 Qf6 27.Qc2! Bf5 28.Qc4 Rc8
29.Qd5 ab5 30.h3! White is superior. Kh8 [30...Rc7 31.Ra8 Be6
32.Qd6 Rd7 33.Qc6 Re7 34.Ra6 d3 35.Qd6 Kg7 36.Bg4 d2 37.Qd2
Qe5 38.Qd8 Bg4 39.hg4 Rc7 40.Kh2 Only move. White is
winning.] 31.Qb5 Rf8 [31...Be6 32.Qb6! (32.Ra6 f3) Qe5 (32...f3
33.Re1 White is winning.) 33.Ra5 Rb8 (33...Qe1 34.Kh2 Qe4 35.
Ra6 White is winning.) 34.Qa7 Rb5 35.Bg6 White is winning.] 32.
Ra6 Qg7 33.Rd6! d3 34.Qb6 Qe5 [34...Kh7 35.Rc6 d2 36.Rc7 Rf7
37.Rf7 Qf7 38.Bf7 d1Q 39.Kh2 White is winning.] 35.Bg6! d2 [35...
Bg6 36.Rg6 d2 37.Rh6 Kg8 38.Qd6! (38.Qg6 Qg7 39.Qg7 Kg7 40.
Rd6 Rb8 41.Rd2 Kg6) Qd6 39.Rd6 Rb8 40.Rd2 Kf7 41.Kf1 Kg6 42.
Ke2 Kh5 43.Kd1 Kh4 44.Kc2 Rc8 45.Kb1 Rb8 46.Rd3 Re8 47.Kc1
White is winning.] 36.Bf5 Qf5 37.Qd4 Kh7 38.Qd2 Rf7 39.f3 h5

40.Rd5 Qg6 41.Qa5! (White is winning.) Rg7 42.h4 Qb1 43.Kh2
Qb2 44.Rg5 Rg5 45.Qg5 1-0 [V.Anand]
4. S. Fedorchuk (2619) - Ivan Sokolov (2652)
Khanty-Mansiysk (m/2) 2009 - 107/206 [B29]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.ed5 Nd5 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Qe2 [6.Ne5
see 66/126] Nb4 7.Bd7 Qd7 8.d3 f6 A novelty. [8...N8c6 equal.] 9.
a3 N4c6 10.Ne4 e5 11.c3 Na6 12.b4 Nc7 13.d4! [13.bc5? 000
Black is slightly better; 13.00 000 14.Rd1 c4 15.Ne1! White is
slightly better. (15.d4 Qd5 unclear (15...f5? 16.Bg5! fe4 17.Ne5))
Qf7 (15...f5 16.Bg5 fe4 17.dc4 Qf5 18.Bd8 Nd8 19.Nc2 Nde6 20.
Re1) 16.Be3 Qg6 17.f3 f5 with counter-play.] cd4 14.cd4 f5 [14...
Nd4 15.Nd4 Qd4 16.Bb2 Qb6 (16...Qd7 17.Rd1 with initiative.) 17.
Qh5 g6 18.Nf6 Kf7! (18...Qf6 19.Qe5 Qe5 20.Be5) 19.Qe5 Bg7
20.000 Rhd8 21.Qf4 (21.Qg3 Bf6 22.Bf6 Kf6 23.Rd8 Rd8 24.
Qh4 g5 25.Qh6 Ke7 26.Qg7 Ke8 (26...Kd6? 27.Qf6 Ne6 28.Re1
Re8? 29.Rd1 White is winning. Kc6 30.Qf3 Kc7 31.Qf7) 27.Re1
Ne6 28.Qg8 Ke7 29.Qg7 (29.Qg5 Kd7) Ke8 equal.) Qc6 (21...Ne6?
22.Qf3) 22.Kb1 Ne6 23.Qe5 Rac8 24.Rd8 Qc2 25.Ka2 Rd8 26.Rc1
Qf2 27.Rc7 Nc7 28.Qc7 Ke6 29.Qc4 (29.Qd8 Qb2 30.Kb2 Bf6) Ke7
30.Qc7 equal.]
[FEN "r3kb1r/ppnq2pp/2n5/4pp2/1P1PN3/
P4N2/4QPPP/R1B1K2R w KQkq - 0 15"]
15.Ne5!! [15.Ng3 e4 Black is slightly better.] Ne5 16.Ng3! Qd4

17.00! Qa1 18.Bf4! Qa3 19.Qe5 Be7 20.Nf5 (White is superior.)
Qb4 21.Re1 Nd5 22.Ng7! Kf7 23.Qd5 Kg7 24.Bd2 (White is
winning.) Qc5 25.Bc3 Kf8 26.Qf3 Kg8 27.Qg4 Qg5 28.Qe6 Kf8
29.h4 Qh4 30.Qf5 Ke8 31.Bh8 Qb4 32.Re4 1-0 [Ivan Sokolov]
5. A. Morozevich (2750) - V. Kramnik (2772)
Moscow 2009 - 107/172 [E36]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 00 5.a3 Bc3 6.Qc3 d5 7.Nf3
dc4 8.Qc4 b6 9.Bf4 [9.Bg5 see 106/(166)] Ba6 10.Qc2 Nbd7 11.e4
Bf1 12.Kf1 [12.Rf1] c5 A novelty. [12...Qc8] 13.Bd6 Re8 14.e5
Nd5 15.h4 cd4 16.Ng5 [16.Nd4 Qc8 with idea Qa6, Rac8] f5! 17.
Qc4?! [17.ef6 N5f6! 18.Qc4 Qc8 19.Qd4 Qc6 with idea h6, Rad8,
e5; 17.Qd1 h6 18.Nf3 Qc8! unclear; M.Notkin] Qc8! 18.Qd4 Nc5
19.Rd1 Nb3 20.Qd3 Nc1! 21.Qb5 [21.Qf3 Qc4 22.Kg1 Ne2 23.
Kh2 (23.Kf1 Ndf4 Black is winning.) Qh4 24.Nh3 Nef4 Black is
superior.] Qc2! 22.Rd5 a6! [22...ed5? 23.Qd5 Kh8 24.Nf7 Kg8 25.
Nh6 Kh8 26.Qg8! Rg8 27.Nf7 Mate.] 23.Qb6 Qc4 24.Kg1 ed5
[Better is 24...Qd5! with idea 25.Qc7 Ne2 26.Kh2 h6 27.Qf7 Kh8
28.Qg6 Qg2! 29.Kg2 Nf4] 25.g3 h6 26.Nf3? [26.Qb7! hg5 27.e6!!
Ne2 28.Kh2 Re6! M.Notkin (28...Kh7 29.Qf7 Qg4 30.Be5 Rg8 31.
Kg2 Nf4 32.Kg1 Qd1 33.Kh2 Qh5 34.gf4 Qf7 35.ef7 Rgf8 36.hg5
Rf7 37.Kg3 Kg6 38.Rc1 with compensation.)] f4 27.g4 Qe4 28.Kg2
Nd3 29.Qb3 Qc4 30.Qb7 [Better is 30.Qd1]
[FEN "r3r1k1/1Q4p1/p2B3p/3pP3/2q2pPP/
P2n1N2/1P3PK1/7R b - - 0 30"]
30...Nf2! (Black is winning.) 31.Kf2 Qc2 32.Kg1 [32.Kf1 Qd3!]

Qd1 33.Kf2 Qh1 34.e6 Rac8 35.Qf7 Kh8 36.Bc5 Qc1 [36...Rc5?
37.Qe8 Kh7 38.Ng5! equal.] 37.b4 Qc2 38.Kg1 Qe2 39.Nd4 Qg4
40.Kf2 Qh4 41.Ke2 f3 42.Kf3 Rf8 43.Bf8 Rc3 44.Kg2 Qg3 45.
Kf1 Rc1 0-1 [RR]
6. V. Kramnik (2759) - M. Carlsen (2772)
Dortmund 2009 - 107/121 [D37]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 00 6.e3 c5 7.dc5 Bc5
8.a3 Nc6 9.Qc2 Qa5 10.Rd1 Be7 11.Be2 dc4 12.Bc4 Nh5 13.00
Nf4 14.ef4 g6 15.g3
[FEN "r1b2rk1/pp2bp1p/2n1p1p1/q7/2B2P2/
P1N2NP1/1PQ2P1P/3R1RK1 b - - 0 15"]
15...Rd8! A novelty. [15...Bf6 see 95/306] 16.Rd8 Qd8 17.Rd1

Bd7 18.f5 gf5 [18...ef5 19.Qb3 Rb8 (19...Qe8 20.Bf7 Qf7 21.Qb7
White is winning.) 20.Bf7 White is slightly better.] 19.Qd2 Qb6?!
[19...Be8 20.Qh6 Qa5 21.Nd5 (21.Ng5 Qe5 equal.) ed5 equal V.
Kramnik] 20.Qh6 [20.Qd7?? Rd8; 20.Na4 Ne5!] Be8 21.Ng5 Bg5
22.Qg5 Kf8 23.Qh6 Kg8 24.Qg5 Kf8 25.Rd6 Qc7? [25...Rd8
equal; 25...Qc5 equal V.Kramnik] 26.Qh6 Ke7 27.Qh4 Kf8 28.
Qh6 Ke7 29.Nb5 Qa5 30.b4 Nb4 31.Re6! fe6 32.Qe6 Kd8 33.Qf6
Kc8 34.Qf5 Kd8 35.Qf6 Kc8 36.ab4 1-0 [RR]
7. Sergey Karjakin (2723) - D. Navara (2707)
Khanty-Mansiysk (m/2) 2009 - 107/82 [C10]
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 de4 4.Ne4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nf6 Nf6 7.Be3
Nd5 8.Bd2 c5 9.Bb5 Bd7 10.Bd7 Qd7 11.c4 Nb6 12.Rc1 Be7 13.
dc5 Bc5 14.b4 Be7 15.c5 Nd5 16.Ne5 Qc7 17.Qa4 Kf8
[FEN "r4k1r/ppq1bppp/4p3/2PnN3/QP6/
8/P2B1PPP/2R1K2R w K - 0 18"]
18.Nd3! A novelty. [18.Nc4 see 107/(82)] a6 19.00 Rd8 20.Qb3

h5 21.a4 h4 22.h3 (White is slightly better.) Rh5 23.b5 Bg5 [Better
is 23...Nf6 with small advantage.] 24.b6! Qb8 [24...Qc6 25.Ne5
Qe8 26.Bg5 Rg5 27.Nf3 Rh5 28.c6 bc6 29.Rc5 White is superior.]
25.Bg5 Rg5 26.c6 bc6 27.Rc5 e5 28.a5 (White is superior.) [Passed
pawn b] Qd6 29.Rfc1 Ne7 30.Ne1 Rf5 31.Qc4 Rf4 32.Qa6 Rf2 33.
Qd3! [33.Kf2 Qd4 34.Kf1 Nf5 with counter-play.] Qd3 34.Nd3
Ra2 35.Ne5 Rdd2 36.R5c2! Rdc2 37.Rc2 Rc2 38.b7 Rb2 39.Nd7
Ke8 40.Nb6 1-0 [RR]
8. V. Kramnik (2772) - Ni Hua (2665)
London 2009 - 107/114 [D15]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Nf3 b5 6.b3 Bg4 7.h3 Bf3 8.
Qf3 e5 9.de5 Bb4 10.Bd2 Bc3 11.Bc3 Ne4 12.Bb4 bc4 13.Qg4!
[13.Bc4 see 96/281] c5 Only move. 14.f3! cb4 [14...Nc6?! 15.fe4
Nb4 16.Qg7 Rf8 17.ed5] 15.fe4 00 A novelty. [15...c3] 16.ed5 cb3
[16...Qd5 17.Bc4 Qe5 18.00 Nc6 White is slightly better. ] 17.
Qd4! [17.Bc4 b2 18.Rb1 Nd7] Nd7 [17...ba2 18.Bc4 Qg5 19.00
Nd7 20.e6 White is superior.] 18.ab3 [18.e6?! b2 19.Rb1 Rc8] Qg5
19.Qf4 Qe5 [Better is 19...Qg6] 20.Qe5 Ne5 21.Ba6 Rfc8 [21...Ra7
22.Ra4 Rd8 23.Ke2 (23.e4 Nd7 24.Bd3 Ra4 25.ba4 Nc5 26.Kd2
Na4 White is slightly better. 27.Rb1 Rb8) Rd5 24.Bb5 Ra4 25.ba4
Rc5 26.Rb1 Rc2 27.Kf1 Nc4 28.Bc4 Rc4 29.Ke2 White is superior;
Better is 21...Rfd8 22.Ke2 Rd5 23.Bb7 Ra1 24.Ra1 Rd8 25.Ra5 (25.
Ra4 Nd3 26.Bd5 Kf8 27.Bc4 Ne5 28.Rb4 Ra8 29.Bd5 Ra2 30.Kd1
Ke7 31.Ra4 Rb2 White is slightly better. ) f6 26.Rb5 and white is
superior.] 22.Kd2 Rc3 23.Rhb1 [23.Bc4 Rc8 24.Rhc1 Rc1 25.Rc1
Kf8 26.e4 Ke7 27.Bb5 Rc1 28.Kc1 Kd6 29.Kd2 Kc5 30.Be8 f6 31.
Ke3 g6 32.h4 h6] f5 [Better is 23...Rd8 24.Ra5 Kf8 (24...Nc6 25.
Rb5 Ne7 26.Bb7) 25.Be2 Nd7 26.Rb5 Nf6 and white is superior. 27.
Bf3 Re8 28.Rb4 Ree3] 24.Ra4 Rc5 25.e4! fe4 26.Ke3 Rc2 [26...
Rd8 27.Rb4 Rcd5 28.Re4 Rc5 29.b4 White is winning. Rc3 30.Kf2
Rc2 31.Kg1]
[FEN "r5k1/6pp/B7/3Pn3/Rp2p3/
1P2K2P/2r3P1/1R6 w - - 0 27"]
27.Bd3! Ra4 28.Bc2 Ra2 29.Be4 (White is winning.) Kf7 30.Rc1

[30.Kd4 Nd7 31.Re1 Nf6 32.Bf3 Rc2 33.d6 Rc3 34.Re7 Kf8 35.
Rc7] 30...Kf6 31.Rc2 Ra1 32.Kd4 [Better is 32.Bh7 Re1 33.Kd4
Rd1 34.Kc5 g6 35.Bg8 Nd3 36.Kc6] Rd1 33.Kc5 h5 34.Rf2 Ke7
35.Re2 Nd7 [35...Rc1 36.Bc2] 36.Kc6 [36.Kb4 Kd6 37.Bf3 Ne5 38.
Bh5 Rd5 39.Be8; 36.Kb5! Kd6 37.Bf3] Rc1 37.Bc2 Kd8 38.Kd6
Nf6 39.Ke6 h4 40.d6 Rf1 41.Re5 Rf2 [41...Ne8 42.Rb5 Rf6 43.
Ke5 Nd6 44.Rb4 Kc7 45.Rf4 Rh6 46.b4 Kb6 47.Bd3] 42.Bf5 [42.
Bd3] g6 [42...Ne8 43.d7 Nf6 44.Rc5 Nd7 45.Rd5 Kc8 46.Kd6] 43.
Bg6 Nd7 44.Rg5 Rf6 45.Kd5 Nb6 46.Kc6 Nc8 47.Kc5 Nd6 48.
Bd3 1-0 [V.Kramnik]
9. A. Grischuk (2736) - A. Riazantsev (2661)
Russia (ch) 2009 - 107/35 [B04]
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 de5 5.Ne5 g6 6.Bc4 Be6 7.00
Bg7 8.Re1 00 [Better is 8...c6 9.Nd2 Nd7 10.Nef3 Nc7] 9.Nd2
Nd7 10.Nef3 N7f6 [10...Nf4!? 11.Bf1 c6 12.Nb3 Nd5 13.Re6 fe6
14.Ng5 with compensation.]
[FEN "r2q1rk1/ppp1ppbp/4bnp1/3n4/2BP4/
5N2/PPPN1PPP/R1BQR1K1 w - - 0 11"]
11.Re6!! A novelty. [11.Bf1 c6 12.c4 Nb6 (12...Nc7 see 26/158) 13.

b3 and White is slightly better.] fe6 12.Ng5 Qd6 13.Qe1 b5 [13...c6
14.Ndf3 b5 15.Bb3 Nc7 16.Be6 Ne6 17.Ne6 Rfc8 18.Bf4 White is
superior.] 14.Bb3 a5 15.a4 ba4 [15...c6 16.Ndf3 Rfc8 17.Ne6
White is superior.] 16.Nc4! Qc6 17.Ra4 Ra6 18.Ra5 White is
superior. [18.Ne5 Qb6 19.Bc4 Ra7 20.Nd3 Qc6 21.b3 and White is
superior.] Rfa8 [18...Ra5 19.Na5 Qb6 20.Ne6 Ra8 21.Bd2] 19.Bd2
Bh6 20.h4 Bg5 21.hg5 Nd7 [21...Nh5 22.Rc5 Qd7 23.Ne5 Qd6 24.
Qe4 White is superior.] 22.Ra6 [22.Ba4 Qc4 23.Bd7 Kf7 24.Bb5
Ra5 25.Bc4 Ra1 26.Bc1] Qa6 23.Na5 c5 [23...Rb8 24.Ba4 Nf8 25.
b3 White is superior.] 24.Ba4 [24.Bd5 ed5 25.Qe7 White is
winning.] Ra7 25.Bd7 Rd7 26.dc5 (White is winning.) Nc7 27.c4
Qa8 28.c6 Rd3 29.Bc3 Qf8 30.Qe5 Rd1 31.Kh2 1-0[A.
Mikhalchishin]
10. A. Fier (2644) - J. Ryan (2292)
Sabadell 2009 - 107/239 [C06]
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Ngf3
cd4 8.cd4 a5 [8...f6 see 76/267] 9.00 Nb6 10.Re1 Bd7 11.Nf1 Be7
12.Ng3 h5 13.Be3 h4 A novelty. [13...Nb4; 13...a4] 14.Ne2 Nb4 15.
Bb1 Nc4 16.Bc1 a4 17.Nf4 a3 18.b3 Nb2? [18...Nb6 unclear.] 19.
Qe2!? [19.Qd2 g5 (19...Nc6 20.Ng6! Bb4 21.Qf4 with initiative.) 20.
Ng5 Bg5 21.Qb4 White is superior.] g5!
[FEN "r2qk2r/1p1bbp2/4p3/3pP1p1/1n1P1N1p/
pP3N2/Pn2QPPP/RBB1R1K1 w kq g6 0 20"]
20.Ng6! [20.Nd3 Bb5 Black is winning.] fg6 21.Bg6 Kf8 22.Ng5!

Bg5 23.Qf3 Kg7 24.Qf7 Kh6 25.f4 Be7 26.g4! hg3 [26...Qf8 27.
g5] 27.h4!! Bh4 [27...Rc8 28.Bc2! Rc2 29.f5 White is winning.] 28.
Kg2! Rc8! 29.Bd2 Be8! [29...Nc2 30.Be4! de4 31.f5] 30.f5 Qg5
[30...Bg5 31.Rh1 Mate.] 31.Bg5 Kg5 32.Qg7 [32.Qe6 Rc2 33.Kg1
N2d3 unclear.] Rc2 33.Kg1 Kg4 34.fe6 [34.Bh5 Kh5 35.Qh8 Kg4
unclear.] Rf2? [34...Bg6! 35.Qg6 Bg5 unclear.] 35.Bd3 Kh3 36.Bf1
Rf1 37.Rf1 Bb5 38.Qh8 N4d3 39.e7 g2 40.Rf3 Kg4 41.Qf8 1-0 [R.
Disconzi da Silva]



Informant 107
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Informant at
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During thier game in Moscow 2009, Vishy Anand surprised Peter Leko with
the sacrifice, 22.Nd4!. This improvement over Kramnik - Aronian, Wijk aan
Zee 2009 was chosen as the most important theoretical novelty of Chess
Informant #107, even though the Chess Informant jury well understood that
with correct play chances would be equal. The World Champion continues to
surprise the chess world with his deep preparation.
The runner-up for most important theoretical novelty was the blitz game (!)
between Morozevich and Ponomariov, also from Moscow 2009. After 11.f4!,
followed with 12.e5!, the ball is again in Black's court in the highly
theoretical English attack. At third place in the juries voting is Aronian's 10.
Bb5!, as played in a Chebanenko Slav against Grischuk, Bilbao 2009. This
seems to secure White his usual small edge.
Informants 104-106
Chess Informant

the games from
ChessBase Game Viewer.
Greatest Tournaments
2001-2009
1. V. Anand (2788) P. Leko (2752)

Moscow 2009 107/132 [D43]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.
Be2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7 12.Nd7 Nd7 13.Bd6 a6 14.a4 e5 15.Bg4
ed4 16.e5 c5 17.Re1 Ne5 18.Be5 0-0 19.Bg7 Kg7 20.Ne2 f5 21.Bh5 f4
[FEN "r2q1r2/1b4k1/p6p/1pp3pB/P1pp1p2/
8/1P2NPPP/R2QR1K1 w - - 0 22"]
22.Nd4! [a novelty; 22.b4 see 102/330] cd4 23.Re6 Bc8? [23...Rf6 24.Qe1
(24.Qe2 Bd5 25.Re7 Kf8 26.Re1 d3 27.Qe5 Qd6 28.Re8 Kg7! 29.Qe7 Bf7 30.
Ra8 d2 equal; 25...Kg8) Bd5 25.Re7 Kg8 26.ab5 Qd6 27.ba6 Ra6 28.Re8 Rf8
29.Rf8 Kf8 30.Qe8 Kg7 31.Ra6 Qa6 32.Qe5 Kh7 equal] 24.Rg6 Kh7 25.ab5
Rf6 [25...Ra7 26.Rc6 d3 27.Qd2 Rf6 28.Rc4 Bf5 (28...Rd6 29.Qc3 and White
is superior) 29.h3 and White is slightly better] 26.Rf6 Qf6 27.Qc2! Bf5 28.
Qc4 Rc8 29.Qd5 ab5 30.h3! (and White is superior) Kh8 [30...Rc7 31.Ra8
Be6 32.Qd6 Rd7 33.Qc6 Re7 34.Ra6 d3 35.Qd6 Kg7 36.Bg4 d2 37.Qd2 Qe5
38.Qd8 Bg4 39.hg4 Rc7 40.Kh2 only move, and White is winning] 31.Qb5
Rf8 [31...Be6 32.Qb6! (32.Ra6 f3) Qe5 (32...f3 33.Re1 and White is winning)
33.Ra5 Rb8 (33...Qe1 34.Kh2 Qe4 35.Ra6 and White is winning) 34.Qa7 Rb5
35.Bg6 and White is winning] 32.Ra6 Qg7
[FEN "5r1k/6q1/R6p/1Q3bpB/3p1p2/
7P/1P3PP1/6K1 w - - 0 33"]
33.Rd6! d3 34.Qb6 Qe5 [34...Kh7 35.Rc6 d2 36.Rc7 Rf7 37.Rf7 Qf7 38.Bf7
d1Q 39.Kh2 and White is winning] 35.Bg6! d2 [35...Bg6 36.Rg6 d2 37.Rh6
Kg8 38.Qd6! (38.Qg6 Qg7 39.Qg7 Kg7 40.Rd6 Rb8 41.Rd2 Kg6) Qd6 39.Rd6
Rb8 40.Rd2 Kf7 41.Kf1 Kg6 42.Ke2 Kh5 43.Kd1 Kh4 44.Kc2 Rc8 45.Kb1
Rb8 46.Rd3 Re8 47.Kc1 and White is winning] 36.Bf5 Qf5 37.Qd4 Kh7 38.
Qd2 Rf7 39.f3 h5 40.Rd5 Qg6 41.Qa5! (and White is winning) Rg7 42.h4
Qb1 43.Kh2 Qb2 44.Rg5 Rg5 45.Qg5 1-0 [V. Anand]
2. A. Morozevich (2750) R. Ponomariov (2739)
Moscow (blitz) 2009 107/73 [B80]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be3 a6 7.f3 b5 8.Qd2 Nbd7
9.g4 h6 10.0-0-0 Ne5
[FEN "r1bqkb1r/5pp1/p2ppn1p/1p2n3/3NP1P1/
2N1BP2/PPPQ3P/2KR1B1R w kq - 0 11"]
11.f4! [a novelty; 11.a3 see 107/72] Neg4 [11...Ng6 12.e5 Ng4 (12...de5 13.
Bg2! Ra7 14.Ne6! Qd2 15.Rd2 Rd7 16.Rd7 Bd7 17.Nc7 Kd8 18.fe5 Ng4 19.
Bb6 Kc8 20.Na6 and White is superior) 13.Rg1 Ne3 14.Qe3 b4 15.Nd5! and
White is superior] 12.e5! b4 [12...Bb7 13.ef6 Bh1 14.Be2 Nf6 (14...b4 15.Bg4
bc3 16.Qc3 Rc8 17.Qd3 Bd5 18.Ne6 Be6 19.f5! with attack) 15.Rh1 b4 16.
Nd1 d5 17.Nf2 Qc7 18.Bf3 a5 19.Nd3 and White is superior; 12...de5! 13.fe5
a) 13...Ne5?! 14.Qg2 Bd7 15.Bf4 a1) 15...Ng6?! 16.Ne6! Nf4 (16...Be6 17.
Rd8 Rd8 18.Bc7 Rc8 19.Nb5 and White is winning) 17.Nf4 and White is
winning; a2) 15...Neg4 16.h3 and White is superior; b) 13...Nd7! 14.Bg2 Ne3
15.Qe3 Rb8 16.Nc6 Qg5 17.Qg5 hg5 18.Nb8 Nb8 19.Rd3 f5 20.ef6 (20.
Rhd1!? Be7 21.h3) gf6 21.Rhd1 Be7 22.Ne4 and White is slightly better] 13.
ef6 bc3 [13...Bb7 14.Na4 Bh1 15.Be2 Ne3! (15...Nf6 16.Rh1 and White is
superior) 16.Qe3 Qf6 17.Rh1 d5 18.Rf1! (18.Nc6 Bd6 19.Rf1 Rc8 20.Ba6 Rc7
21.Nd4 0-0 and White is slightly better) Bd6 19.Nb6 (19.f5 Be7 20.Nb6 Rb8
21.Nd7 Qg5 22.Rf4 e5) Bc5 20.Na8 Bd4 21.Qb3 0-0 22.Nc7 a5 23.Kb1 g6 24.
Nb5 Bc5 25.Qa4 and White is superior] 14.Qc3 Nf6 [14...Ne3 15.Qe3 Qf6 16.
Bg2 Rb8 17.Bc6 Bd7 18.Bd7 Kd7 19.Qa3! Rb6 20.Qa4 Kd8 21.f5 with
attack; 14...Bb7?! 15.Ne6! Qf6 16.Nc7 Kd7 17.Qa5 and White is winning] 15.
Bg2 (and White is superior) Bd7!? [15...d5 16.f5 Bd7 17.fe6 fe6 18.Bf4 Rc8
19.Qd3 Bc5 20.Qg6 Kf8 21.Rhg1 with attack] 16.Ba8 Qa8 17.Rhg1 Ne4
[17...Qc8 18.Qc8 Bc8 19.c4 Bb7 20.b4 and White is superior] 18.Qa5 [18.
Qd3! d5 19.Nb3 and White is superior] g6 19.Ne2 [19.Rd3 Qc8! (19...Bg7 20.
Ra3 and White is superior) 20.Kb1 Be7 and White is slightly better] Bg7?!
[19...Be7!? 20.Nc3 0-0 21.f5 ef5 22.Bh6 Rc8 and White is slightly better] 20.
Bd4 (and White is superior) 0-0?! [20...Bd4 21.Rd4 0-0 22.Ng3 and White is
superior] 21.Bg7 Kg7 22.Qb4 Rc8 23.Qd4 Kh7 24.Ng3 Ng3?! [24...Bc6 25.
Nh5 Rg8 26.Nf6 Nf6 27.Qf6 Qa7 and White is superior] 25.hg3 Qc6?! [25...
Bc6!? 26.Qd6 Qb7] 26.c3 d5?! 27.Rh1 h5 28.g4 (and White is winning) Qc4
29.Qf6 Qa2 30.Qf7 Kh8 31.Qd7 Rb8 32.b4 Qa1 33.Kd2 Qa2 34.Ke3 Qc2
35.Qc7 Rf8 36.Qe5 Kg8 37.Rd2 1-0 [A. Morozevich]
3. L. Aronian (2773) A. Grischuk (2733)
Bilbao 2009 107/113 [D15]
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.e3 a6 5.Nc3 b5 6.c5 Nbd7 7.a3 a5 8.Bd3 e5 9.
de5 Ng4
[FEN "r1bqkb1r/3n1ppp/2p5/ppPpP3/6n1/
P1NBPN2/1P3PPP/R1BQK2R w KQkq - 0 10"]
10.Bb5! [a novelty; 10.e6 see 101/300; 10.Nd4 see 101/301] cb5 11.Qd5 Rb8
[11...Ra6 12.h3 Nh6 13.c6 unclear] 12.h3 b4 13.ab4 ab4 14.Ne4 Nc5 15.Qd8
Kd8 16.Nc5 Nf2 17.Kf2 Bc5 and White is slightly better. [RR]
4. V. Kramnik (2772) P. Svidler (2754)
Moscow 2009 107/148 [D85]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.e4 Nc3 6.bc3 Bg7 7.Be3 c5 8.Rc1
Qa5 9.Qd2 0-0 10.Nf3 Bg4 11.d5 Na6 [11...Nd7 see 31/(512); 11...Bf3 see
82/408]
[FEN "r4rk1/pp2ppbp/n5p1/q1pP4/4P1b1/
2P1BN2/P2Q1PPP/2R1KB1R w K - 0 12"]
12.h4! [a novelty, with the idea h5, with the idea Nh2, h5; 12.Ba6; 12.Be2; 12.
Ng5] f5 [12...e6? 13.Nh2; 12...Rad8 13.h5 and White is superior (13.Nh2 Bc8
14.h5) Bh5 14.Bh6 Qa4 15.Bd3; better is 12...h5 13.Ng5 and White is slightly
better] 13.ef5 Bf5 [13...gf5 14.Bf4; 14.h5 with the idea 14...f4 15.Bf4 Bc3 16.
Rc3! (16.Qc3 Qc3 17.Rc3 Rf4 and White is slightly better) Rf4 17.Rh4 (and
White is superior) Re4 18.Re3 Qd2 19.Kd2 Bf3 20.Rhe4 Be4 21.Re4 Kf7 22.
Ba6 ba6 23.Kc3] 14.h5 [14.Bh6 Rad8 15.Bg7 Kg7 16.h5 and White is
superior] Rad8 15.hg6 [15.Bh6! (and White is superior) Bh6 16.Qh6 Rd6 17.
hg6 Bg6 18.Ne5 Qa2 19.Be2] Bg6 16.Bh6 [16.Bd3; 16.Nh4] Bh6 17.Rh6
Rf6 18.Ne5 Qa4 [18...Nc7! 19.Ng6 (19.Bc4 b5! 20.Nc6 Qa4! 21.Bb5 Qb5 22.
Nd8 Qd7 23.Nb7 Qb5) hg6 20.Qg5 Rd5 21.Rg6 Kf7 22.Bc4 Rg6 23.Bd5 Nd5
24.Qd5 Kg7 25.Kf1 Qa6 26.c4 Qc6 equal] 19.Qe3! [19.f3?! Re6!] Qf4 only
move [19...Nc7 20.Bc4] 20.Qf4 Rf4 21.Ng6 hg6 22.Rg6 Kf7 23.Rg5 Re4
[better is 23...Nc7 24.c4 e6 and White is superior] 24.Be2 Kf6 25.Rh5 Kg6
26.g4 (and White is winning) Rf8 [26...c4 27.f3 Rf4 28.Kf2] 27.Rd1 [with the
idea d6] Rf6 28.Rh8 Kg7 29.Rd8 Rb6 [29...Rd6 30.Rc8 Rh6 31.Rd3 Ra4 32.
Re3] 30.f3 Re3 31.Rd3 [31.Kd2 Re5 32.Bd3 Rb2 33.Bc2 and White is
winning] Re5 32.Kf2 Rh6 33.Bf1 Rh2 [33...Rd6 34.Rd6 ed6 35.Re3 Re3 36.
Ke3] 34.Kg3 Ra2 35.d6 ed6 36.R3d6 Re7 37.R6d7 1-0 [V. Kramnik]
5. A. Grischuk (2736) A. Riazantsev (2661)
Russia (ch) 2009 107/35 [B04]
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 de5 5.Ne5 g6 6.Bc4 Be6 7.0-0 Bg7 8.Re1 00 [better is 8...c6 9.Nd2 Nd7 10.Nef3 Nc7] 9.Nd2 Nd7 10.Nef3 N7f6 [10...
Nf4!? 11.Bf1 c6 12.Nb3 Nd5 13.Re6 fe6 14.Ng5 with compensation]
[FEN "r2q1rk1/ppp1ppbp/4bnp1/3n4/2BP4/
5N2/PPPN1PPP/R1BQR1K1 w - - 0 11"]
11.Re6!! [a novelty; 11.Bf1 c6 12.c4 Nb6 (12...Nc7 see 26/158) 13.b3 and
White is slightly better] fe6 12.Ng5 Qd6 13.Qe1 b5 [13...c6 14.Ndf3 b5 15.
Bb3 Nc7 16.Be6 Ne6 17.Ne6 Rfc8 18.Bf4 and White is superior] 14.Bb3 a5
15.a4 ba4 [15...c6 16.Ndf3 Rfc8 17.Ne6 and White is superior] 16.Nc4! Qc6
17.Ra4 Ra6 18.Ra5 and White is superior [18.Ne5 Qb6 19.Bc4 Ra7 20.Nd3
Qc6 21.b3 and White is superior] Rfa8 [18...Ra5 19.Na5 Qb6 20.Ne6 Ra8 21.
Bd2] 19.Bd2 Bh6 20.h4 Bg5 21.hg5 Nd7 [21...Nh5 22.Rc5 Qd7 23.Ne5 Qd6
24.Qe4 and White is superior] 22.Ra6 [22.Ba4 Qc4 23.Bd7 Kf7 24.Bb5 Ra5
25.Bc4 Ra1 26.Bc1] Qa6 23.Na5 c5 [23...Rb8 24.Ba4 Nf8 25.b3 and White is
superior] 24.Ba4 [24.Bd5 ed5 25.Qe7 and White is winning] Ra7 25.Bd7
Rd7 26.dc5 (and White is winning) Nc7 27.c4 Qa8 28.c6 Rd3 29.Bc3 Qf8 30.
Qe5 Rd1 31.Kh2 1-0 [A. Mikhalchishin]
6. D. Howell (2597) V. Kramnik (2772)
London 2009 107/84 [C42]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Ne5 d6 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Re1
Bg4 9.c3 f5 10.Qb3 0-0 11.Nbd2 Na5 12.Qa4 Nc6 13.Qb3 Na5 14.Qc2 Nc6
15.b4 a6 16.Rb1 b5 17.a4 Rb8 18.ab5 ab5 19.Ne5 [19.Nf1 see 94/227] Ne5
20.de5
[FEN "1r1q1rk1/2p1b1pp/8/1p1pPp2/1P2n1b1/
2PB4/2QN1PPP/1RB1R1K1 b - - 0 20"]
20...Nf2 [a novelty; 20...c5 21.f3 Qb6 unclear] 21.Kf2 Bh4 22.Kf1 only move
[22.g3 f4 23.Kg2 fg3 24.hg3 Bg3! 25.Bh7 Kh8 26.Rh1 (26.Kg3 Qg5) Qg5!!
and Black is superior] Be1 23.Ke1 Qh4 24.g3 Qh2 25.Nf1 Qc2 [25...Qh5 26.
Bf4 c6 unclear] 26.Bc2 Rbe8 27.Bd3! [27.Bf4 h6 28.Kf2 g5 29.Be3 Re5 30.
Bd3 Ra8 31.Rb2 c6] Re5 28.Kf2 f4?! [28...Ra8 29.Bb5 Ra2 30.Rb2 Rb2 31.
Bb2 c6 32.Bd3; 28...c6 29.Ra1 Rfe8 30.Bf4 R5e6 31.Nd2 h6 equal] 29.gf4
(and White is slightly better) Bf5 [29...Rh5 30.Bb5 Rh3 31.Bc6; 29...g5 30.
Ra1 gf4 31.Bb5; 29...c6 30.Ra1] 30.Bf5 Ref5 31.Ng3 R5f6 32.Kf3 Rc6 [32...
g5 33.Ne2] 33.Bd2 g5 [33...Rc4 34.Ne2 Ra8 35.Nd4 Ra2 36.Ke3; 33...Ra6 34.
Be3 g6 35.Bc5 Re8 36.Ne2] 34.Ne2 [34.Rg1 h6 35.Ne2 Rc4 36.Nd4 c5 37.
bc5 b4 equal, with the idea 38.Ne2 bc3] gf4 35.Nd4 Rg6 [better is 35...Rh6
36.Rg1 Kh8 37.Bf4 Rhf6 38.Rg4 c6 39.Kg3 Re8 40.Nf3 Rf5 41.Nd4 Rf6] 36.
Nb5 Rg3 37.Kf2 Rd3 [37...Rf7 38.Nd4 Rd3 39.Rg1 Kf8 40.Nf3 Re7 41.Ra1
and White is superior] 38.Rg1 time [38.Ke2! Rh3 39.Nc7 f3 40.Kf2 and
White is superior, with the idea 40...Rh2 41.Ke3] Kh8 39.Ke2 [39.Bc1 c6 40.
Nd4 Rf6 41.Ke2 (41.Re1 Kg8) Rg3 42.Rf1 Rc3] Rg3 [39...Rh3 40.Nc7 f3 41.
Kd1 d4 42.cd4 Rg3 43.Rf1] 40.Kf2 [40.Rf1!? with the idea 40...f3 41.Kf2
Rg2 42.Ke3 c6 43.Nd4 Re8 44.Kd3 f2 45.Nf3] Rg1 [40...Rd3 41.Bc1] 41.
Kg1 c5! 42.Nd6! [42.bc5 Rc8 43.Nd4 Rc5 44.Kf2 Rc4 45.Kf3 Kg7 46.Kf4
Kf6 47.Be1 h5] cb4 43.cb4 Kg7! [43...d4 44.b5 Rf6 45.Nc4 Rf5 46.b6 Rb5
47.Bf4 Rb4 48.Bd2! Rb3 49.Ba5!] 44.Bc3 Kg6 45.b5 Rd8 46.Be5 Rb8 [46...
d4? 47.b6 d3 48.Kf2] 47.Bd4 Rd8! 48.Be5 [48.Bc5 Kf6 49.b6 Ke6 equal]
Rb8 49.Kf2 [better is 49.Bf4 h5! 50.Kf2 (50.Be3 Kf6 51.Ba7 Rg8 52.Kh2
Ke6) h4 51.Ke3 Kh5 52.Be5 Kg4 53.Kd4 h3 54.Kd5 Kf3 55.Kc6 Kg2 56.Nc4
Rb5 equal, with the idea 57.Kb5 h2 58.Ne3 Kf3] Rb6 50.Kf3 Kg5 51.Nf7
Kg6 52.Nd6 Kg5 53.Nf7 Kg6 - [V. Kramnik]
7. An. Karpov (2619) V. Anand (2788)
Bastia/Ajaccio (m/4-rapid) 2009 107/(171) [E36]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bc3 6.Qc3 d5 7.cd5 Ne4 8.Qc2
ed5 9.Bf4
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/ppp2ppp/8/3p4/3PnB2/P7/
1PQ1PPPP/R3KBNR b KQ - 0 9"]
9...Nc6! [a novelty; 9...Bf5 see 106/166] 10.e3 g5 11.Bg3 f5 12.0-0-0 f4 13.f3

Nd6 14.ef4 gf4 15.Bf2 Bf5 16.Qc5 Ne7 unclear
8. L. Aronian (2773) Sh. Mamedyarov (2721)
Ohrid 2009 107/167 [E04]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Nf3 dc4 5.Bg2 a6 6.Ne5 Bb4 7.Bd2 Qd4 8.Bb4
[8.Qa4 see 98/(366)] Qe5
[FEN "rnb1k2r/1pp2ppp/p3pn2/4q3/1Bp5/
6P1/PP2PPBP/RN1QK2R w KQkq - 0 9"]
9.Na3! [a novelty; 9.Qc2] Nc6 [9...Qb2 10.Rb1 Qa2 11.Qc1 a5 12.Bc5 Nbd7
13.Rb2 Qb2 14.Qb2 Nc5 15.Qe5 and White is slightly better] 10.Bc6 [10.Bc3
Qc5 11.Qa4 Nd5 12.Qc4 Qc4 13.Nc4 Nc3 14.Bc6 bc6 15.bc3 a5 16.Rb1 f6 17.
f4 e5 18.fe5 Be6 and Black is superior] bc6 11.Bc3 Qd5 [11...Qc5 12.Qd4
Qd4 13.Bd4 Bb7 14.f3 Rd8 15.Bf6 gf6 16.Nc4 and White is slightly better]
12.f3! e5 13.e4 Qc5 14.Qd2 Be6 15.0-0-0 (with compensation) Rb8 16.Qg5
[16.Nc2 0-0 17.h4 Nd7 18.g4 Qb6 19.h5 Nc5 and Black is superior] h6
[16...0-0 17.Bd4! Qb4 18.Be5 h6 19.Qf4 with compensation] 17.Qe5 Qe3

[17...Qe7 18.g4 0-0 19.g5 Ne8 20.gh6 with attack] 18.Rd2 Qf3 19.Re1 0-0 20.
Nc2 Rfe8 [20...c5 21.Qf4 Qf4 22.gf4 Rfd8 23.Rg2 Nh5 24.f5 Bd7 25.Ne3
with compensation] 21.Nd4 Qg4 22.Nc6 Rbc8? [22...Rb5 23.Qf4 Nd7 24.
Nd4 Rh5 unclear] 23.Qf4! Qf4?! [23...Nh7 24.h4 Nf8 25.Qg4 Bg4 26.Rd4
Be6 27.Bb4 with initiative] 24.gf4 Nh5 25.Rf2 Bd7 26.Ne5 Bb5 27.f5 Rcd8
[27...Nf6 28.Rg2 Nh5 29.Rf2 Nf6 equal] 28.Ng4 Rd3 [28...f6 29.Rg1 Kh7 30.
e5 fe5 31.Ne5 with initiative] 29.e5 Rh3?! [29...Bc6 30.e6 f6 31.Ne3 and
White is superior] 30.Rg1 Kh7 31.Kd1? [31.e6! fe6 32.f6! g5? 33.Bb4! and
White is superior] Bc6 32.Ke2? [32.Kc1] Be4 (and Black is superior) 33.Ke1
Bf3 34.Ne3 Nf4 35.Rd2 [35.Kf1 Nd3 36.e6 f6 37.Rd2 Be4 and Black is
superior] Nd3 36.Kf1 Ne5 37.Rd7 Bc6 (and Black is winning) 38.Rf7 Rf3 39.
Ke2 Re3 0-1 [A. Mikhalchishin]
9. V. Kramnik (2772) V. Anand (2788)
Moscow 2009 107/146 [D85]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.e4 Nc3 6.bc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Rb1 00 9.Be2 cd4 10.cd4 Qa5 11.Bd2 Qa2 12.0-0 Bg4 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bh4 g5 15.
Bg3 Nc6 16.d5 Rad8 17.Rb7 e6 18.Bc7
[FEN "3r1rk1/pRB2pb1/2n1p2p/3P2p1/
4P1b1/5N2/q3BPPP/3Q1RK1 b - - 0 18"]
18...Bf3! [a novelty; 18...ed5 see 56/547] 19.Bf3 Rd7 20.dc6 [20.Qb1 Qb1 21.
Rfb1 Rc8] Rd1 21.Rd1 Qc2 22.Bd6 g4 23.Bg4 Qc6 24.Rc7 [24.Ra7 Ra8
equal] Qb6 25.Rd7 Rd8 26.Bc7 Rd7 27.Bb6 Rd1 28.Bd1 ab6 29.Kf1 -
[RR]
10. M. Carlsen (2772) Wang Yue (2736)
Nanjing 2009 107/116 [D17]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nc4 Qc7 8.g3
e5 9.de5 Ne5 10.Bf4 Nfd7 11.Bg2 g5 12.Ne3 gf4 13.Nf5 0-0-0 14.Qc2 Ng6
15.0-0 Kb8 16.Rfc1 a5 17.b4! ab4! 18.Nb5 Qe5 19.Nbd4 Bc5 20.Nb3?! [20.
Nf3! (M.Carlsen) Qf6 21.a5 with attack]
[FEN "1k1r3r/1p1n1p1p/2p3n1/2b1qN2/
Pp3p2/1N4P1/2Q1PPBP/R1R3K1 b - - 0 20"]
20...h5! [a novelty; 20...fg3 21.hg3 h5 22.Rab1 Ba7 23.e3 and White is
slightly better] 21.Rab1 [21.Nc5?! Nc5 with the idea 22.Qc5? Rd1 and Black
is winning; better is 21.a5 fg3 22.hg3 h4 23.Nc5 Nc5 24.f4! b3 25.fe5 bc2
equal] Ba7 22.Bc6!? [22.a5 fg3 23.hg3 h4 with attack] fg3 23.hg3 Rc8? [23...
bc6? 24.Nbd4! Bd4 25.Rb4! Bb6 26.Qc6 and White is winning; 23...Ne7!! 24.
Nbd4 (24.Ne7 Qg3! and Black is winning) Bd4 25.Rb4 Nc6 26.Qc6 Bb6! 27.
Qf3 and Black is superior] 24.Qd3! bc6 [24...Nc5!? 25.Nc5 Bc5 26.Bg2 (26.
Bb7 equal) h4 with counterplay] 25.Qd7 Rc7 only move [25...Rcd8 26.Qc6
Qf5 27.Rc5!! Qb1 28.Kh2 and White is winning; 25...Rhd8 26.Qf7 Rf8 27.
Qg6 Rf5 28.Nd4!! Bd4 29.Rb4 Ka8 30.Rd4! and White is winning] 26.Qd3
h4 27.Nbd4 hg3 [better is 27...c5 28.Nf3 Qe8! unclear] 28.Rb4 Ka8 29.Ng3
Rd8 [29...Nf4 30.Qf3! Bd4 31.Rc6! and White is winning] 30.e3 Nh4 [30...c5
31.Rbb1! (with the idea Qc4) cd4?? 32.Rc7 Qc7 33.Qe4] 31.Kf1! Qa5?! [31...
Qd5 32.Qe4 and White is superior] 32.Rcb1? time [32.Rc6! Rd4 33.Rd4! Rc6
(33...Bd4 34.Ra6 and White is winning) 34.Rh4 and White is winning] Nf3!
33.Nb3! Qd5! time [33...Rd3 34.Na5 with the idea 34...Nd2 35.Ke2 and
White is superior] 34.Qd5 cd5 35.Rd1 Rc2 36.Rf4 Ne5 37.Nd4 Rc4 38.Nde2
Rf4 39.Nf4 d4 40.Nge2 Nc6 41.e4 (and White is slightly better) Rb8! 42.Nd5
Rb2 43.Nef4 Kb7 44.Nd3 Rb3 45.Ke2 Ra3 46.f4 [46.Rb1 Kc8 47.Rc1 Kb7
48.Rc4 Ra2 49.Kd1 Ra3 50.N3f4 (50.Kc2 Rd3! 51.Rc6 Rf3 equal) d3 with
counterplay] Ra4 47.Rb1 Kc8 48.Rc1 Kb7 49.e5 Ra3 50.Rh1 Ra5 51.Nf6
Bb8! 52.Rb1 Kc8 53.Rc1 Kb7 54.Ne4 Ra3! [54...Be5? 55.fe5 Ne5 56.Nec5!
and White is winning] 55.Rh1 Be5! [55...Ne5 56.fe5 Be5 and White is
slightly better] 56.fe5 Ne5
[FEN "8/1k3p2/8/4n3/3pN3/r2N4/4K3/7R w - - 0 57"]
57.Nd6! [57.Ne5 Re3 equal] Ka6! 58.Nb4 Kb6?! [58...Ka5! 59.Rb1 Rh3
equal] 59.Rc1! Re3? [59...Ra5! equal] 60.Kd1 Rb3?! [60...Ka5 61.Nd5 Re1!
62.Ke1 Nd3 63.Kd2 Nc1 64.Kc1 f5 65.Nf4 and White is superior] 61.Nd5
Ka7 62.Ra1 Kb8 63.Kc2! (and White is winning) Rh3 64.Rb1 Ka7 65.Rb7
Ka6 66.Rb6 Ka5 [66...Ka7 67.Nb5 Ka8 68.Ndc7 mate] 67.Rb5 Ka4 68.Nb6
Ka3 69.Re5 1-0 [Ian Rogers]
D43
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 c6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5
9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7 12.Nd7 Nd7 13.Bd6 a6
14
1
2
3
15
16
17
Bh51
Bf8
e53
b34
18
bc4
Bf82
Rf8
Qb6
0-0-0
Ne5
a4
d58
b4
Bb4
Bd6
e5
c5
cb49
a5
...
Bg4
e5
...
ed4
c5
19
20
21
22
c5
Ne4
Nd6
cd6
Qa55
Qb46
Rd6
Nd77
Nb5
Bc410
Qb311
Rfc1
b4
Rc8
Rc4
Nb612
Rc113
Re114
Be5
Bg7
Ne2
Bh5
Nd415
Ne5
0-0
Kg7
f5
f4
cd416
compensation
compensation
equal
[FEN "r2qk2r/1b1n1pb1/p1pBp2p/1p4p1/
2pPP3/2N5/PP2BPPP/R2Q1RK1 w kq - 0 14"]
14.e5 c5 15.Bh5 Bf8 [15...cd4 16.Qg4 Nf8 17.Qd4 and White is superior] 16.
d5!? [16.Bf8!? Nf8! 17.Bf3 Bf3 18.Qf3 Ng6 19.Qc6 Kf8 20.dc5 Ne5 with
counterplay] Bd6
a) 17.Bf7? Kf7 18.de6 Kg7 19.Qd6 [19.ed6 Ne5 20.f4 Nd3 21.Qh5 Qf6 22.f5
Bc6 and Black is superior] Nf8 20.e7 Qd6 21.ed6 Nd7 and Black is superior;
Z.Izoria Erenburg, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/3-rapid) 2005;
b) 17.ed6 0-0 unclear; Ch.Lutz;
14.Re1
a) 14...Bf8 15.Bg3 Bg7 16.Bd6 Bf8 17.Bf8 [17.Bg3 Bg7 18.e5! c5!? 19.d5 00 unclear; T.Radjabov Aronian, Sofia 2008] Rf8?! 18.b3 c5 [18...b4 19.Na4
c3 20.a3 a5 21.d5! with compensation, with attack; T.Radjabov V.Anand,
Wijk aan Zee 2008 see 102/331] 19.d5 [19.bc4?! Qa5] b4 20.Na4 c3 21.a3
with compensation; 17...Kf8! V.Anand;
b) 14...c5 15.dc5 Rc8 16.a4 b4 [16...Nc5 17.ab5 ab5 18.Nb5 Ne4 19.Bh5 and
White is winning] 17.c6 Bc6
[FEN "2rqk2r/3n1pb1/p1bBp2p/6p1/
Ppp1P3/2N5/1P2BPPP/R2QR1K1 w k - 0 18"]
b1) 18.Bb4 Qb6 19.Ba3 Bd4 20.Bc4 [20.Rf1 Ne5 with counterplay] Ne5 [20...
Bf2 21.Kh1 Be1 22.Qd6 with compensation; 21...Bb7 unclear] 21.Ba6!? Bf2
22.Kh1 Rd8 [22...Qa6? 23.Qd6 with the idea 23...Ng6 24.Nd5! with attack;
Krasenkow] 23.Qe2 Be1 24.Re1 with compensation; Mamedyarov Jan
Gustafsson, Dortmund 2008;
b2) 18.Nd5!
b21) 18...Ne5?! 19.Be7 Qd7? 20.Nf6 Ke7 [20...Bf6 21.Bf6 and White is
winning] 21.Nd7 Bd7 and White is superior; Inarkiev Aronian, KhantyMansiysk (m/3-rapid) 2007 see 101/340; 19...Qa5 only move, with the idea 20.
Bb4 Qd8 Inarkiev;
b22) 18...Bb2 19.Be7 Qe7 20.Ne7 Ke7 with compensation; 19.Bb4!?
Krasenkow
2
14...e5 15.f4 gf4 [15...ed4 16.Qg4 Nf8 17.fg5 Qd6 18.Rf7! and White is
superior; Pashikian Deepan Chakkravarthy, Yerevan 2006 see 98/(325)] 16.

de5 Be5 17.Bf7 Kf7 18.Qh5 Ke6 19.Rad1 with compensation, with attack; E.
Agrest Kulaots, Torino (ol) 2006 see 98/(325)
3
16.d5 cd5 [16...Qe7 17.b3 with compensation; G.Gajewski Dreev, Dresden
2007 see 102/(332)] 17.ed5 Nf6! 18.Re1!? [18.de6?! Qd1 19.Bf7 Ke7 20.
Rad1 Rfd8 21.Ne2 Be4 22.f4 b4! and Black is slightly better; T.Radjabov
Van Wely, Wijk aan Zee 2008 see 102/332] Bd5 [ 18...Ke7 19.Bf3 b4 20.d6
Qd6 21.Qd6 Kd6 22.Bb7 bc3 with counterplay] 19.Nd5 Qd5 20.Qd5 Nd5 21.
Re6 Kd7 22.Rh6 equal; Van Wely
4
[FEN "r3kr2/1b1n1p2/pqp1p2p/1p2P1pB/
2pP4/2N5/PP3PPP/R2Q1RK1 w q - 0 17"]
17.Ne4 0-0-0 18.Nd6 Kb8 19.b3!? [19.Nf7 Rf7 20.Bf7 Ne5 21.Qh5 Rd4 22.
Be6 c5 23.Qh6 Ka7 with compensation, with attack; T.Radjabov V.Anand,
Mainz (m/3-rapid) 2006 see 98/(325)] f6 [19...c3!?] 20.bc4 fe5
a) 21.a4?! ed4!? [21...Qd4 22.ab5 ab5 23.Nf7 Rc8 24.Nd6 equal] 22.ab5 cb5
23.Nb7 Kb7 24.cb5 ab5 25.Bf3 Kc7 with compensation; S.Ernst Van Wely,
Nederland 2006 see 98/325;
b) 21.c5! Qa7 [21...Qc7 22.de5 unclear] 22.Rc1 with compensation; Van
Wely
5
19...Qc7 20.a4 with compensation; D.Rogozenco
6
20...Nc4 21.Be2 f5 22.Bc4 fe4 23.Be6 Kb8 24.Re1 Qc3 25.Re4 Qb2 26.f3
Rf4 equal; P.Eljanov V.Anand, Kemer 2007 see 101/(339)
7
23.a4 Qd6 24.Bf3 [24.Qc2 Qd4 25.ab5 ab5 26.Rfd1 unclear] Nb6 25.ab5 cb5
[25...ab5? 26.Qc2 and White is superior] 26.Bb7 Kb7 27.Qh5 [27.Qf3 Qd5 28.
Qf6 with initiative; 27...Nd5!] Nd5!? 28.Qh6 Nf4 29.Kh1! [29.Qg5?? Ne2 30.
Kh1 Qh2! and Black is winning] Qd5 30.f3 Rd8 with compensation; Kramnik
V.Anand, Mexico City 2007;
23.Qd3!? D.Rogozenco
8
15.Re1
[FEN "r2qk2r/1b1n1pb1/p1pB3p/1p2p1p1/
P1pPP3/2N5/1P2BPPP/R2QR1K1 b kq - 0 15"]
a) 15...ed4 16.e5! and White is superior, with the idea 16...dc3 17.Bh5 Nf8 18.
Qf3 Qd7 [18...Ng6 19.Qf5 Rf8 20.Bg6 and White is winning, with the idea
20...Bc8 21.e6] 19.e6 Ne6 20.Re6 Kd8 [20...Qe6 21.Bf7!] 21.Bf7 c2 22.
Rae1;
b) 15...Qb6 16.Bg4! and White is superior, with the idea 16...Qd4 17.Bd7 Kd7
18.Qh5 Ke8 [18...Kd6 19.Qf7] 19.Red1 Qb6 20.a5 Qd8 21.Bc5 Qc7 22.Rd6
Bc8 23.Rad1;
c) 15...Qf6 16.Ba3 Bf8 [16...ed4?! 17.e5] 17.Bg4 Rd8 18.ab5 ab5 [18...cb5?!
19.Nd5 Bd5 20.ed5 and White is superior; Kramnik Shirov, Moscow (m/1blitz) 2007 see 105/(142)] 19.Bf8 Kf8! [19...Nf8 20.Ra7! with the idea 20...
Rd4 21.Qa1] 20.Bd7 Rd7! [20...ed4 21.e5 Qe7 22.e6 dc3 23.Qd4 f6 24.bc3
and White is superior] 21.de5 Qe6 [21...Rd1 22.ef6 Re1 23.Re1 Kg8 24.e5
and White is slightly better] 22.Qh5 Qe5 23.f4! Qf4 [23...Qc5 24.Kh1 Qf2
unclear; 23...Qe7 unclear, with the idea 24.e5 gf4 25.e6 fe6 26.Qe5 Rg8] 24.
Rf1 Qe5 25.Rf5 Qe6 [25...Qd4 26.Kh1 Rh7 unclear] 26.Raf1 (Kramnik
Leko, Nice (blindfold) 2009 see 105/142) Rh7! unclear; Kramnik
9
16...cb3?! 17.ab5 b2 18.Ra2 Qb6 19.ba6 Qd6 20.ab7 Ra2 21.Na2 Qb6 22.Qc2
Qb7 23.Rb1 and White is superior [passed pawn d, weak point c5] S.
Bromberger Porper, Gausdal 2007 see 101/(339);
16...Qb6!? 17.bc5 Nc5 18.Bc5 Qc5 19.ab5 ab5 20.Ra8 Ba8 21.Qa1 0-0 22.
Qa5 Rb8 23.Rb1 Bf8 24.Rb5 [24.Nb5 f5 25.Qa6 Kh8 26.Nc3 Rb1 27.Nb1
Qb4 28.Qa8 Qb1 29.Bf1 Qb4 30.ef5 c3 31.Qc6 e4 with compensation;
Evgeny Alekseev Bareev, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/1) 2007 see 101/(339)] Rb5
25.Qb5 Qb5 26.Nb5 Bb7 27.Bc4 Ba6 28.Kf1 Bb5 29.Bb5 Bc5 equal, bishops
of opposite color; Jan Gustafsson Aronian, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/2) 2007
see 101/(339)
10
20.Bg4!? Ba6 21.Na7 Qb6 22.Nc6 with compensation, with attack; Ch.Lutz
11
21.Rc1 Rc1 22.Qc1 Qb6 [22...f6!? with the idea 23.Bc7 Qa8 24.Nd6 Kf8 Ch.
Lutz] 23.Nc7 Kd8 24.Nb5 Ke8 25.Nc7 - Z.Izoria Erenburg, KhantyMansiysk (m/2) 2005
12
21...Qc8? 22.Bc7! Qc7 [22...Rc7 23.Nd6 Ke7 24.Nc8 Rhc8 25.d6! Kd6 26.
Qf7 and White is winning] 23.Nc7 Rc7 24.Rac1 Nc5 25.Qh3! and White is
superior; Jan Gustafsson Rodshtein, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/2) 2007 see
101/339;
21...Rc8 22.Rac1! Bf8 23.Rc8 Qc8 24.Qe3! and White is superior; Zhao Jun
P.Harikrishna, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/4-rapid) 2007 see 101/(339)
13
22...Re4 23.Qd3 f5 24.Rc7 and White is superior;

22...Rc1 23.Rc1 Na8 24.Qe3 with compensation, with attack; Bjelajac
14
17.f4!? dc3 18.bc3 Bf8 19.Qe2 with compensation; E.Bacrot Aronian, Novi
Sad 2009;
17.Bf3!? Ne5! [17...Ra7? 18.Bb7 Rb7 19.Ne4! with compensation, with
attack; A.Iljin Nepomniachtchi, Dresden 2007] 18.Bb7 [18.Be5? Bf3 and
Black is winning] Qd6 19.Ba8 0-0! [19...Qd8 20.ab5 Qa8 21.Ra6 Qb7 22.Qa4
0-0 23.Ra7 with initiative] 20.Bf3 [20.Be4 b4 with initiative] Nf3 21.gf3 b4
with compensation; 21...Qf4!? with initiative; Stohl
15
22.b4
[FEN "r2q1r2/1b4k1/p6p/1pp3pB/PPpp1p2/
8/4NPPP/R2QR1K1 b - b3 0 22"]
a) 22...cb3 23.Qb3 Qd5 24.Qh3 Bc8

a1) 25.Qd3 Bf5 26.Qd2 Qd7 27.Bf3! [27.Rac1 Rac8 28.h4 Kh8! equal; T.
Radjabov V.Anand, Mainz (m/7-rapid) 2006 see 97/318] Rac8 28.ab5 ab5
29.h3 unclear; V.Anand;
a2) 25.Nc3! dc3 [25...Qb7 26.Qd3 Bf5 27.Qe2 dc3 28.Qe5 Kh7 29.Bf3 Qf7
30.Ba8 Ra8 31.ab5 and White is winning; 25...Qc6 26.Bf3! Qg6 27.g4! Ra7
28.Nd5 Raf7 29.Qf1 and White is superior; 25...Qd6 26.Qf3 and White is
superior; 25...Qf7 26.Qf3 Bb7 27.Qe2 Qc7 28.Qe7 Qe7 29.Re7 and White is
superior; 25...Bh3 26.Nd5 Bf5 27.Re7 Kh8 28.Nc7 and White is superior] 26.
Qc3 Qd4 27.Qf3 Ra7 [27...Rb8 28.Qc6 Kg8 (only move) 29.Rad1 Qg7 (only
move) 30.Re8 Re8 31.Qe8 Qf8 32.Bf7 Kg7 33.Qe5 Kf7 34.Qb8 and White is
superior] 28.ab5 [28.Qc6?! Bf5 with the idea 29.ab5 Rf6] Qf6 [28...Rf6 29.
Rad1 Qc4 (only move) 30.Rd8 and White is superior] 29.Qa3! Rb7 [29...Qb6
30.Qc3 Kg8 31.Re5! and White is winning Kramnik Aronian, Wijk aan Zee
2008 see 102/330] 30.ba6 Ra7 31.Be2 and White is superior, with the idea
31...Ba6 32.Bc4! Rfa8 33.Qc5 Kramnik;
b) 22...d3! 23.bc5! de2? 24.Qe2 and White is superior, with the idea Rad1-d6;
23...b4! unclear; V.Anand
16
23.Re6
a) 23...Bc8 24.Rg6 Kh7 25.ab5 Ra7 [25...Rf6 26.Rf6 Qf6 27.Qc2 Bf5 28.Qc4
Rc8 29.Qd5 ab5 30.h3! and White is superior; V.Anand Leko, Moscow
2009 see 107/132] 26.Rc6 d3 27.Qd2 Rf6 28.Rc4 Bf5 [28...Rd6 29.Qc3 and
White is superior] 29.h3 and White is slightly better; V.Anand;
b) 23...Rf6 24.Qe1 [24.Qe2 Bd5 25.Re7 Kf8 26.Re1 d3 27.Qe5 Qd6 28.Re8
Kg7! 29.Qe7 Bf7 30.Ra8 d2 equal; V.Anand] Bd5 25.Re7 Kg8 26.ab5 Qd6 27.
ba6 Ra6 28.Re8 Rf8 29.Rf8 Kf8 30.Qe8 Kg7 31.Ra6 Qa6 32.Qe5 Kh7 equal;
V.Anand

A Fine Old Gentleman is Back

Josip Asik
Informant at
ChessCafe
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the games from
Purchases from our

accessible:
Chess Informant 108 has just recently been published and will soon be
available from our U.S. distributor, ChessCafe.com. The publication has
come a long way since 1966, which, by the way, was before I was born. My
first memory of Chess Informant dates back to the late 1980s when I began
to play chess "seriously." It was not the book that first caught my attention,
but a paper brochure. It was a surprisingly rich advertisement one that holds
your attention for some time. In my case, even months. Like a Russian
matryoshka doll, you had to open it, then open other parts and so on. On these
pages there were games and examples from Informants, Encyclopedias, and
other publications, as well as advanced coverage of the famous ECO codes. I
would swear that this flyer is still stored away in an old box of stuff.
I was infatuated with the clear structure of chess openings that was so beyond
my knowledge at that time. Even though I grew up in the neighborhood where
the Informant headquarters were located in Belgrade, the Informant books
were not easily accessible. For us chess kids from the block, they were a
distant objet du dsir, an expensive entrance fee to world-class chess. Among
those waiting for every new edition were the greatest chess players of the day,
hoping to receive it before any others. Information is always power and the
Internet was still in the future.
The first precious Informant I finally owned was No.47. I still have it and it
still looks delicious. Big, fat, and tasty! OK, I never really wanted to eat it!
Perhaps it is just nostalgia, but I fondly recall the first successful ideas that
were gleaned from Informant pages. For example, the Scotch variation 1.e4
e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 ed4 4.Nd4 Bc5 5.Nc6 Qf6 6.Qd2 Qc6 7.Bd3 Nf6 8.00 0
0 9.b4!N, from the game Smagin Hjartarson in 1991 (Informant 51/(301)),
followed by many other of Smagin's games that opened a whole new world
for me. I also remember some nice wins because of my better theoretical
preparation: my own Informant secrets. One influential variation in the
Queen's Indian Defense came from the game Brenninkmeijer Van Der Wiel
(Informant 51/529): 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.Nc3
Ne4 7.Bd2 Bf6 8.00 00 9.Rc1 c5 10.d5 ed5 11.cd5 Nd2 12.Nd2 d6 13.
Nde4 Be5!?N followed by annotations that make the whole idea so clear.
I guess that many readers have their own Informant stories. It is such stories
that led to a loyal readership who stayed with us through thick and thin. As an
amateur chess player who spent many tournament days with professionals, my
story was crowned by one "whole" game published in Informant 100. When
the Editorial board informed me that my win against Alexander Graf was
chosen for publication, I felt that a circle had been completed. However, now
a new Informant story has begun as I have been appointed the Director of
Chess Informant. The burden of generations who loved this publication is
now on my shoulders.
Behind the scenes, there is a brand new energy buzzing through the Informant
offices like bees in a hive. There are many grandmaster-newcomers to
challenge the ideas of the Informant "old school," and this is occurring in an
atmosphere of great enthusiasm. A fine old gentlemen is preparing a
comeback, so don't be surprised if you soon meet a youngster with grandpa's
genes. We promise, "with a little help from our friends," to keep to tradition
and present interesting instructive material for new generations as we prepare
to broach new horizons.
Informant 108 is dedicated to the memory of IM Zdenko Krnic. He tragically
Informants 104-106
Chess Informant
2001-2009
lost his life in a traffic accident while returning home from work. His
unfinished papers, with games and variations from this current volume, were
scattered across the crosswalk where the accident occurred.
The editorial board would like to present a selection of the best combinations,
endings, and studies from Informant 108.
Combinations
1. P. MEISTER F. BINDRICH
Deutschland 2010
Id
[FEN "r2n4/ppq2kpN/8/8/3P2Q1/
2P5/P4r2/2KR1B2 w - - 0 1"]
2. ZHAO XUE CMILYTE

Russia 2010
Ih
Black to Play and Win
[FEN "6k1/3qppb1/2p4p/3bP1p1/3P4/
2N1B2P/1PQR1PPK/r7 b - - 0 1"]
3. BADEV P. G. ARNAUDOV
Bulgaria (ch) 2010
III h
[FEN "6k1/5p1p/2r5/1Nb1K3/PpB2pq1/
1P4P1/3Q3P/4R3 b - - 0 1"]
Endings
1. KRASENKOW D. SWIERCZ
Polska (ch) 2010
R 9/e
[FEN "4k3/R6p/5bpP/3Pp3/p1B5/
p1n5/6P1/7K w - - 0 1"]
2. T. GELASHVILI ADAM HORVATH

Rijeka 2010
Q 4/d
Black to Play and Draw
[FEN "8/5K2/3Q2pk/P6p/4q2P/6P1/8/8 b - - 0 1"]
3. PIA CRAMLING ARAKHAMIA-GRANT

Rijeka 2010
Q 7/g
[FEN "Q7/1P3pk1/6p1/8/p5bp/6q1/6P1/7K b - - 0 1"]
Studies
1. V. ABERMAN
5th Pl. World Cup 2010
[FEN "8/7q/4k3/7B/5K2/5Q2/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
2. V. NEISHTADT
1st HM World Cup 2010
[FEN "Nn3k2/5p2/4PP2/2q1N3/2B5/8/RpK5/b7 w - - 0 1"]
3. V. VLASENKO
2nd HM World Cup 2010
[FEN "8/6R1/pk5K/8/P7/8/4B1bp/8 w - - 0 1"]
Combinations Solutions
1. P. MEISTER F. BINDRICH
1.Bc4! Qc4 [1...Ke7 2.Re1 Kd6 3.Re6 and White is winning] 2.Qd7 Kg8 [2...
Kg6 3.Rg1 Kh7 (3...Kh5 4.Qh3 mate) 4.Qg7 mate] 3.Qe8 Rf8 [3...Kh7 4.Rh1
and White is winning] 4.Nf6 [4.Qf8 Kh7 5.Rh1 and White is winning] 1-0
[Perun]
2. ZHAO XUE CMILYTE
1...Rh1!! 2.Kg3 Bg2!! 0-1 [RR]
3. BADEV P. G. ARNAUDOV
1...Re6!! 2.Be6 Qe6 3.Kf4 Qh6 0-1 [RR]
Endings Solutions
1. KRASENKOW D. SWIERCZ
1.d6! a2 2.Bf7! Kf8 3.Be6! a1Q 4.Kh2 Ke8 5.Rg7!! Bg7 6.hg7 Qf1 7.g8Q
Qf8 8.d7 1-0 [RR]
2. T. GELASHVILI ADAM HORVATH
1...Qf5! 2.Kg8 Qe6! - [RR]
3. PIA CRAMLING ARAKHAMIA-GRANT
1...Bf3! 0-1 [RR]
Studies Solutions
1. V. ABERMAN
1.Bg4! [1.Qc6? Ke7 2.Qc7 Kf8! 3.Qh7 equal] Ke7! [1...Kd6 2.Qa3 Kc6 3.
Qa6 Kc5 4.Qa5 Kd6 5.Qb6 Kd5 6.Be6] 2.Qa3! [2.Qb7? Kf6 3.Qb2 Kf7 4.
Qb7 Kf6 5.Qh7 equal] Ke8 3.Qa8 Kf7 4.Qa7! Kf6! 5.Qd4 Kf7 6.Qd7 Kf6 7.
Qd6! Kg7 8.Kg5! Kh8 9.Bf5! Qg8 10.Bg6 and White is winning
2. V. NEISHTADT
1.Nd7! Nd7 2.e7 Ke8 3.Nc7! Qc7 4.Ra8 Nb8 5.Kb1! Qb6! [5...Qb7 6.Bd5
equal; 5...Kd7 6.Bb5 Kd6 7.e8N and White is winning] 6.Rb8! Qb8 7.Bb3!
Qb5 [7...Qb3 equal] 8.Ba4! Qd7! [8...Qa4 equal] 9.Bc2! Qa7 10.Ba4 Qd7 11.
Bc2 equal
3. V. VLASENKO
1.a5! [1.Rg6? Kc7 2.Rg7 Kd8 3.Rg8 Ke7 4.Rg7 Kf8 5.Bh5 Bd5! 6.Rf7 Bf7 7.
Bf3 Ke7 8.Kg5 Kd6 9.Kf4 Bd5 10.Kg3 Bf3 11.Kh2 Kc5 and Black is
winning] Kc6 [1...Ka5 2.Rg5 equal] 2.Rg6 Kc7 3.Rg7 Kd8 4.Rg8 Ke7 5.Rg7
Kf8 6.Bh5! Bd5! [6...h1Q 7.Rf7 Ke8 8.Rf1 Qh5 9.Kh5 Bf1 10.Kg4 equal] 7.
Rf7! Bf7 8.Bf3 Ke7 9.Kg5 Kd6 10.Kf4 Bd5 11.Kg3 Bf3 12.Kh2 Kc5 13.
Kg3! equal

The Ten Best Games of Chess Informant 108

Eruption
Sasa Velickovic
Informant at
ChessCafe
The proceedings at the outset of the World Championship match between

Anand and Topalov, played in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, were
reminiscent of the duel between Fischer and Spassky in Reykjavik in 1972.
Despite the enormous distance that separates the venues of the two matches,
their common denominator is Iceland. In 1972, the entire world awaited the
stormy Cold War confrontation of East and West awakened by the match. In
2010, the eruption was the awakening of the volcano Eujafjallajkull. The
tumultuous atmosphere caused by Anand's delayed arrival, the resulting oneday postponement of the match, Topalov's excellent victory in the first (and
most beautiful) game of the match, and Anand's quick recovery in the second
game, were all evocative of the events in 1972.
Purchases from our

accessible:
Informants 104-106
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Chess Informant

the games from
2001-2009
1. V. Topalov (2805) V. Anand (2787)

Sofia (m/1) 2010 108/124 [D87]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.e4 Nc3 6.bc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2
Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 Na5 11.Bd3 b6 12.Qd2 e5 13.Bh6 cd4 14.Bg7 Kg7 15.
cd4 ed4 16.Rac1 Qd6 [16...Bb7 see 103/(334)] 17.f4 f6 18.f5 Qe5 19.Nf4 g5
[FEN "r1b2r2/p5kp/1p3p2/n3qPp1/3pPN2/
3B4/P2Q2PP/2R2RK1 w - - 0 20"]
20.Nh5!! [a novelty; 20.Nd5? Rf7 21.h4 h6 and Black is superior] Kg8 [20...
Kh8 21.h4 Rg8 22.Nf6! Qf6 23.e5! Qe5 24.f6 Be6 25.f7 Rgf8 26.Rce1 Qd5
27.Be4 Nc4 28.Qf2 (28.Qd3 Qc5 29.Ba8 Ne3 30.Rf6) Rf7 29.Bd5 Rf2 30.Ba8
Rf1 31.Rf1 d3 32.hg5 d2 33.Rf8 Kg7 34.Rd8 Kg6 35.Bf3 b5 36.Kf2 Kg5 37.
Be2 Kf4 38.Bc4 Bc4 39.Rd2 Ke4 (E.Sutovsky) 40.Rd7 a5 41.a3 b4 (41...a4??
42.Rh7 Kd3 43.g4 Kc2 44.g5 Kb2 45.Rh3 and White is winning) 42.ab4 ab4
43.Rh7 Kd4 equal; 22.Qe1! with the idea Nf6 A.Khalifman] 21.h4 h6 22.hg5
hg5 23.Rf3 [23.Nf6!? Qf6 (23...Rf6? 24.Qg5 Kf7 25.Qh4 Nc6 26.g4! and
White is winning) 24.Rc7 Re8!? (24...Rf7 25.e5 Qe5 26.Qg5 Qg7 27.Qd8 Qf8
28.Qg5 equal; E.Sutovsky) 25.Rf3 with compensation, with the idea 25...Re7
26.Re7 Qe7 27.f6 Qc5 28.Rf5!? (28.Rg3 g4 29.Qh6 Kf7 30.Qg7 Ke6 31.Rg4
Bb7) Bf5 29.Qg5 Kf7 30.ef5 (30.Qg7 Ke6 31.ef5 Ke5) Rg8 31.Qh5 Kf6 (31...
Kf8 32.Qh6 Ke8 33.f7 Kf7 34.Qe6 Kf8 35.Qf6 Ke8 36.Qe6 equal) 32.Qh6 a)
32...Ke5? 33.Qe6 Kf4 34.Qg8 Qc3 35.Qb8! Kg5 (35...Ke3 36.Qg3 Kd2 37.f6
and White is winning) 36.Qg3 Kf6 37.Qg6 Ke5 38.Qe6 Kf4 39.f6 Qd3 40.f7
Qd1 41.Kf2 Qd2 42.Qe2 and White is winning; b) 32...Kf7 33.Qe6 Kf8 34.
Qf6 Ke8 35.Qe6 equal] Kf7?? [23...Bd7! a) 24.Rh3 Rac8 25.Nf6 Qf6 26.Rc8
Rc8 27.e5 Qe5 28.Qg5 Kf8 29.Be4!? (29.Rh7 Qe3 30.Qe3 de3 31.Rd7 Rc1 32.
Kh2 Rd1 33.Rd8 Ke7 34.Rd4 Kf8 equal) Be8 30.Bd5 Qe1 31.Kh2 Qe5 32.Kg1
equal; b) 24.Rg3 Kf7! (24...Rac8 25.Nf6 Qf6 26.Re1 Rfe8 27.e5 Re5 28.Qg5
Qg5 29.Rg5 Kf7 30.Re5 Kf6! A.Khalifman) 25.Bc4 Nc4 26.Rc4 Rh8 27.Rd4
Be8 28.Rd7 (28.Rh3 Kg8 29.g4 Bh5 30.gh5 Re8 equal) Kf8 29.Nf6 (29.Qb4
Qc5 30.Qc5 bc5 31.Nf6 Bd7 32.Nd7 Ke7 equal) Qf6 30.Qb4 Kg8 31.e5 Qf5
32.Qc4 (32.Rc7 Bf7 33.Rf7 Kf7 34.Rf3 Qf3 35.gf3 Rh6 equal) Kf8 33.Qb4
equal; E.Sutovsky]
[FEN "r1b2r2/p4k2/1p3p2/n3qPpN/
3pP3/3B1R2/P2Q2P1/2R3K1 w - - 0 24"]
24.Nf6!! (and White is winning) Kf6 [24...Qf6 25.Rc7 (25.Rh3 Nc6 26.Rc6!
Qc6 27.Qg5 and White is winning; A.Khalifman) Ke8 26.Bb5 Kd8 27.Rfc3!
(E.Sutovsky) a6 (27...Rb8 28.Rc1 a6 29.Qb4 ab5 30.e5 and White is winning)
28.Ba4 b5 29.R3c5 Nb7 (29...Nc4 30.Rc4! bc4 31.Qa5 and White is winning)
30.R5c6 Nd6 31.Qa5 Ke8 (31...Bd7 32.Rd7 Kd7 33.Qc7 Ke8 34.Rd6 Qd6 35.
Qd6 ba4 36.e5 and White is winning) 32.Qb6 d3 33.Bd1 Qa1 34.Rc1 and
White is winning] 25.Rh3 Rg8 [25...Qf4 26.e5! a) 26...Ke5 27.Re1 Kd5 (27...
Kf6 and White is winning, see 26...Qe5) 28.Be4 Qe4 29.Re4 Ke4 30.Qe2 Kd5
31.Qf3 and White is winning; b) 26...Qe5 27.Re1 (27.Rh6 Kf7 28.Rh7 Kf6 29.
Re1 Qf4 30.Qb4 Rf7 31.Rf7 Kf7 32.Qe7 Kg8 33.Qe8 Kh7 34.Qg6 Kh8 35.Re8
mate) Qf4 28.Qe2 and White is winning] 26.Rh6 Kf7 27.Rh7 Ke8 28.Rcc7
Kd8
[FEN "r1bk2r1/p1R4R/1p6/n3qPp1/
3pP3/3B4/P2Q2P1/6K1 w - - 0 29"]
29.Bb5!! Qe4 [29...Qc7 30.Qd4 Bd7 31.Rd7 Kc8 32.Rc7 Kc7 33.Qd7 Kb8 34.
Ba6 and White is winning] 30.Rc8! 1-0 [Sasa Velickovic]
2. B. Gelfand (2761) Hi. Nakamura (2708)
Bursa 2010 108/160 [E97]
9.Nd2 Ne8 10.b4 f5 11.c5 Nf6 12.f3 f4 13.Nc4 g5 14.a4 Ng6 15.Ba3 Rf7 16.
b5 dc5 17.Bc5 h5 18.a5 g4 19.b6 g3 20.Kh1 Bf8 [20...Nh7 see 71/623] 21.d6
[21.Bg1!?] ab6 22.Bg1 [22.ab6 Ra1 23.Qa1 cd6 24.Rd1 Rd7 25.Bg1 d5] Nh4
[a novelty; 22...gh2] 23.Re1
[FEN "r1bq1bk1/1pp2r2/1p1P1n2/P3p2p/
2N1Pp1n/2N2Pp1/4B1PP/R2QR1BK b - - 0 23"]
23...Ng2!! 24.dc7? [24.Kg2 Rg7! 25.dc7 (25.hg3 Qd7!) gh2 26.Kh1 (26.Kh2?
Ng4 27.fg4 Qh4 28.Kg2 hg4 and Black is winning) hg1Q 27.Rg1 Qc7 unclear]
Ne1! 25.Qe1 [25.cd8Q g2 mate] g2! 26.Kg2 Rg7 27.Kh1 Bh3! 28.Bf1 Qd3!!
29.Ne5 [29.Ne3 Bf1 30.Qf1 Qf1 31.Nf1 Rc7] Bf1 30.Qf1 Qc3 31.Rc1 Qe5
32.c8Q Rc8 33.Rc8 Qe6 0-1 [E. Grivas]
3. V. Gashimov (2759) A. Grischuk (2736)
Bursa 2010 108/75 [B97]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Qd3
Qb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.f5 Be7 11.fe6 fe6 12.Be2 Qa5 13.Bd2 Qc7 14.g4 h6 15.
Qh3 Rh7?! [a novelty; 15...Nc6 16.Nc6 Qc6 17.g5 Ne4 18.Qh5 Kd7 19.Bf3
d5 20.Be4 de4 21.Rd1 with compensation; 15...g5] 16.Rf1 [16.g5!? hg5 17.
Ne6 Qc6 18.Qf5] Nc6 17.Nc6 Qc6 18.e5 de5 19.Bd3 e4 20.Ne4! Ne4
[FEN "r1b1k3/1p2b1pr/p1q1p2p/8/4n1P1/
3B3Q/P1PB3P/1R2KR2 w q - 0 21"]
21.Qh5?! [21.Qe3! Nd2 (21...Bh4 22.Kd1 Nf6 23.Bg6 Ke7 24.Rb6 and White
is winning; 21...Nf6 22.Bg6 Kd8 23.Qd3 Bd7 24.Bh7 and White is superior)
22.Bg6 Kd8 23.Qd2 Bd7 24.Bh7 Rc8 25.Kf2] Kd7 22.Rd1 Rh8! 23.Bf4? [23.
Rf7 Nd6 24.Bb4 with compensation, with the idea 24...Rf8 25.Bd6 Rf7 26.
Qf7 Qc3 27.Kf2 Kd6 28.Bg6 Kc7 29.Qe7 Kb6 30.Rd6 Ka7 31.Bd3 Qd2
equal] Bb4! 24.c3 Nc3 25.Bd2 Qd5! 26.Rf7 Kc6 27.Rc1 Kb6?! [27...Qd3!
28.Qe5 a5! 29.Bc3 Kb6 and Black is winning] 28.Be3?! [28.Rc3 Bc3 29.Bc3
Rd8! (29...Qh5?! 30.gh5 Rd8 31.Be4 Rd7 32.Rg7 Rg7 33.Bg7 Bd7 34.Bh6
with compensation) 30.Qd5 ed5 and Black is superior] Ka5! 29.a3 Ka4! 30.
ab4 Qd3 31.Qa5 Kb3 32.Rc3 Qc3 [32...Kc3?? 33.Qa3 Kc2 34.Rc7 Kb1 35.
Rc1 mate] 33.Bd2 b6! 34.Qb6 Qe5 35.Kd1 Bb7! 36.Qb7 Rhd8 37.Rf3 Ka2
38.Rf2 Kb1 39.Qf3 Rac8 [with the idea Rc1 mate] 40.Qb3 [40.Qa3 Rc3]
Qb2 41.Qb2 Kb2 0-1 [E. Grivas]
4. V. Topalov (2805) V. Anand (2787)
Sofia (m/12) 2010 108/114 [D56]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0-0 7.e3 Ne4 8.Be7
Qe7 9.Rc1 c6 10.Be2 Nc3 11.Rc3 dc4 12.Bc4 Nd7 13.0-0 b6 14.Bd3 c5 15.
Be4 Rb8 16.Qc2 Nf6!? [16...a5 see 87/(401)] 17.dc5 Ne4 18.Qe4 bc5 19.
Qc2 [19.b3 Bb7 20.Qf4 Bf3 21.Qf3 Rfd8 equal] Bb7 20.Nd2 [20.e4 f5] Rfd8
21.f3 Ba6 [a novelty; 21...Qd6] 22.Rf2 Rd7 23.g3 Rbd8 24.Kg2 Bd3 25.Qc1
Ba6 26.Ra3?! [26.Qc2 Bd3 equal] Bb7 27.Nb3 Rc7 28.Na5 Ba8 29.Nc4 e5
30.e4 f5! 31.ef5? e4 32.fe4?? [32.Kg1 ef3 33.Re3 Qg5 and Black is slightly
better] Qe4 33.Kh3 Rd4 34.Ne3
[FEN "b5k1/p1r3p1/7p/2p2P2/3rq3/
R3N1PK/PP3R1P/2Q5 b - - 0 34"]
34...Qe8! (and Black is winning) 35.g4 h5 36.Kh4 [36.g5 Qe4] g5 [36...hg4?

37.Ng4; 36...Qd8 37.f6 hg4] 37.fg6 Qg6 38.Qf1 Rg4 39.Kh3 Re7! [39...Qg5
40.Rf8 Kg7 41.Qf2 Re4! 42.Ra8 Re3 43.Qg3 Qg3 44.hg3 Ra3 45.ba3 c4] 40.
Rf8 Kg7 [40...Kh7 41.Rh8 Kh8 42.Qf8 Qg8 (only move) 43.Qe7 Qc8] 41.
Nf5 Kh7 [41...Kf8?? 42.Ne7 with the idea 42...Ke7 43.Ra7 and White is
winning] 42.Rg3 Rg3 43.hg3 Qg4 44.Kh2 Re2 45.Kg1 Rg2 46.Qg2 Bg2 47.
Kg2 [47.Rf7 Kg6 48.Rg7 Kf5 49.Rg4 hg4 50.Kg2 Ke4 51.Kf2 Kd3] Qe2 48.
Kh3 c4 49.a4 a5 50.Rf6 Kg8 (zugzwang) 51.Nh6 Kg7 52.Rb6 Qe4 53.Kh2
Kh7 54.Rd6 Qe5 55.Nf7 [55.Rb6 h4] Qb2 56.Kh3 Qg7 [57.Rd7 Qg4] 0-1
[V. Anand]
5. V. Anand (2790) V. Kramnik (2788)
Wijk aan Zee 2010 108/81 [C42]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Ne5 d6 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.c4
Nb4 9.Be2 0-0 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.a3 Nc3 12.bc3 Nc6 13.Re1 Re8 14.cd5 Qd5
15.Bf4 Rac8 16.h3 Be4 17.Qc1 [a novelty; 17.Be3 see 102/(223); 17.a4 see
102/(223)] Na5 18.Qe3 Bf8? [18...Bd6 19.Ne5] 19.c4! Qd8 20.Ne5 Bf5 21.
Qc3 b6 22.Rad1 [22.c5! Be6 23.Ba6 Ra8 24.Bb5 Re7 25.Rad1 Bd5 26.Bd3
with initiative] Qf6 [22...f6 23.Ng4 Bd6 24.Bd6 cd6 25.Ne3 Be6 equal; 23.
Nd3] 23.Qg3?! [23.c5! a) 23...Bh3 24.Qg3! (24.Qh3 Qf4 25.Bd3 g6 26.Re4)
Bf5 25.Bg5 Qe6 26.Bh5 g6 (26...Bg6 27.Bg4 Qd5 28.Bc8 Rc8 29.Ng6 and
White is winning) 27.d5 and White is winning; b) 23...Be6 24.Qg3 and White
is superior] Nc6 [23...c5 24.d5 Bd6 25.Bh5 g6 26.Re3 Be5 27.Be5 Re5 28.
Re5 Nc4 29.Rf5! Qf5 30.Bg4 Qc2 31.d6 and White is winning] 24.Ng4 Qg6
25.d5 [25.Bc7 a) 25...Bc2 26.Rd2 Na5 27.c5! Nb3 28.Rc2 Qc2 29.Nh6 (29.
Nf6 Kh8 30.Ne8 Re8 31.Be5) Kh8 30.Nf7 Kg8 31.Nh6 Kh8 32.Be5 Nd4 33.
Nf7 (33.Bd4 Re2 34.Re2) Kg8 34.Bd4 Re2 35.Re2 Qd1 36.Kh2 Qd4 37.Ng5
bc5 38.Qf3; b) 25...Re4 26.d5 (26.Bf3 Re1 27.Re1 h5 with counterplay) Nd4
27.Bf1 Bg4 28.Re4 Qe4 29.hg4 Ne2 30.Be2 Qe2 31.Rf1 Re8 32.Qf3 Qc4 33.
d6 Qb5 34.Rd1 and White is slightly better] Na5 [25...Bc2 26.Rd2 (26.Rc1
Nd4) Na5 27.Rc2 (27.Bc7 Nc4) Qc2 28.Nh6 Kh8 29.Nf7 Kg8 30.Ne5 with
initiative] 26.Bc7 Bc2? [26...Bc5! 27.Bf1 h5 28.Re8 (28.Ne3 Qg3 29.Bg3
Bd7) Re8 29.Ne3 Qg3 30.Bg3 Bd7] 27.Rc1 Nb3 28.Rc2! Qc2 29.Nh6 Kh8
30.Nf7 Kg8 31.Nh6 Kh8 32.Nf7 Kg8 33.Nh6 Kh8
[FEN "2r1rb1k/p1B3pp/1p5N/3P4/2P5/
Pn4QP/2q1BPP1/4R1K1 w - - 0 34"]
34.Be5! Qg6 [34...Qd2 35.Nf7 Kg8 36.Bc3! Qc2 37.Nd6 and White is
winning] 35.Bg4 [35.Qg6 hg6 36.d6 Re5 37.Nf7 Kg8 a) 38.d7 Ree8 39.Ng5
Nd4 (39...Nc5 40.dc8Q Rc8 41.Bf3) 40.c5 Ne2 41.Re2 Red8 42.dc8Q Rc8 43.
cb6 ab6; b) 38.Ne5 Bd6 39.Ng6 and White is superior] Rc4 [35...Rcd8 36.
Qb3 Qh6 (36...Bd6 37.Be6) 37.Be6 and White is superior; 36.Nf5 and White
is superior] 36.Qb3 Re5 37.Re5 Rc1 38.Kh2 Bd6 39.f4 and White is winning
[39.Qe3 gh6 40.f4 and White is winning] Be5 40.fe5 gh6 [40...Qe4 41.d6 (41.
Nf5 Qe5 42.Qg3 Qd5 43.Qb8 Qg8 44.Qa7 Qf8 45.Qb6 Rc3 46.a4 h5) Qf4 42.
Qg3 Rh1 43.Kh1 Qg3 44.Nf7 Kg8 45.e6 (45.d7 Qe1 46.Kh2 Kf7 47.d8Q Qe5
48.g3 Qb2 49.Kg1 Qa3 50.Qd5) Qe1 46.Kh2 Qc1 47.d7 Qf4 48.Kg1 Qc1 49.
Kf2 Qd2 50.Be2 Qf4 51.Bf3 Qd4 52.Kg3] 41.Qe3 Qb1 42.d6 Rh1 43.Kg3
Re1 44.Qf4 Rf1 45.Bf3 1-0 [V. Anand]
6. L. Aronian (2782) M. Carlsen (2813)
Nice (blindfold) 2010 108/162 [E99]
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.d4 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7
9.Ne1 Nd7 10.Nd3 f5 11.Bd2 Nf6 12.f3 Kh8 13.g4 c6 14.Kg2 b5 [14...Bd7
see 16/679] 15.b3 a5 16.Nf2 b4 17.Na4
[FEN "r1bq1r1k/4n1bp/2pp1np1/p2Ppp2/
NpP1P1P1/1P3P2/P2BBNKP/R2Q1R2 b - - 0 17"]
17...Bb7! [a novelty; 17...c5] 18.Rc1? [18.Kg1; 18.Bd3] fe4 19.fe4 cd5 20.
ed5 Ned5! 21.cd5 Nd5 22.Kg1 e4! 23.Ne4 Bd4 24.Rf2 [24.Kg2 Qe7! 25.Bf3
Rf3 26.Qf3 Nf6 27.Rce1 Be4 28.Re4 Ne4 M.Carlsen] Rf2 25.Nf2?? [25.Bg5
Bf6 26.Nf6 Ne3!! 27.Qd4 Rg2 28.Kh1 Re2 29.Ne4 Kg8 30.Bd8 Rc8!! 31.Qe3
Re3 32.Rc8 Re4 33.Ba5 Bc8 M.Carlsen] Qh4 26.Qe1 Rf8 27.Bf3 Rf3 28.
Qe4 Qf2 0-1 [RR]
7. L.-D. Nisipeanu (2661) D. Reinderman (2576)
Rijeka 2010 108/191 [B04]
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 Bg7 7.Ng5 e6 8.Qf3 00 9.Qh3 h6 10.Nf3 de5 11.de5 Nc6 12.Bh6 Ne5 13.Ng5! [13.Ne5 see 32/
(156)] Nd3 [a novelty; 13...Qf6] 14.cd3 Bb2 15.Nd2 Ba1 16.0-0 Bd4 [16...
Bg7 17.Nde4 Qd4 18.Bg7 Qg7 19.Nf6 Qf6 20.Qh7 mate; 16...Qf6 17.Nh7
Qh8 18.Bf8 Bd4 19.Nf3 c5 20.Nfg5 and White is winning; 16...Bb2!? 17.
Nde4! Re8 (17...Qd4 18.Nh7 Rd8 19.Qh4 and White is winning) 18.Nh7! (18.
Nf7!?) Nd5 (18...Nd7 19.Bg5 f6 20.Qh6 fg5 21.Qg6 Bg7 see 16...Bd4) 19.Bg5
f6 20.Qh6 fg5 (20...Kf7 21.Bf6 Bf6 see 16...Bd4) 21.Bd5 Re7 22.Qg6 Rg7 23.
Nef6 Bf6 see 16...Bd4] 17.Nde4! [17.Bf8? Kf8 (17...Qg5 18.Nf3 Qf6) 18.Qh4
Ke8] Re8 [17...Nd5 18.Bg7 and White is winning]
[FEN "r1bqr1k1/ppp2p2/1n2p1pB/6N1/
3bN3/1B1P3Q/P4PPP/5RK1 w - - 0 18"]
18.Nf7!? [18.Nh7! a) 18...Kh7 19.Bg5 Kg8 (19...Kg7 20.Qh6 Kg8 21.Bd8

Rd8 22.Qh4 and White is winning) 20.Bd8 Rd8 21.Qh4 and White is winning;
b) 18...Nd7 19.Bg5 f6 20.Qh6 Kf7 (20...fg5 21.Qg6 Bg7 22.f4!! and White is
winning) 21.Bf6!! Bf6 22.Nhg5 Bg5 23.Ng5 Kf6 24.Qh4! Qe7 (24...Rh8 25.
Qf4 Ke7 26.Qf7 Kd6 27.Qe6 Kc5 28.Rc1 Kb4 29.Qc4 Ka5 30.Qa4 Kb6 31.
Qb4 Ka6 32.Bc4 b5 33.Qb5 mate) 25.Ne6 Kf7 26.Nf8! Kg7 27.Qh7 Kf6 28.
Qg6 and White is winning; c) 18...Nd5 19.Bg5 f6 20.Qh6 c1) 20...fg5 21.Bd5
Re7 (21...ed5 22.Qg6 Kh8 23.Nhf6 and White is winning) 22.Qg6 Rg7 23.
Nef6 Bf6 24.Nf6 Kf8 25.Qh6 Kf7 26.Nh5 Rg8 27.f4!! and White is winning;
c2) 20...Kf7 21.Bf6!! Bf6 22.Nef6 Rh8 (22...Rg8 23.Bd5 ed5 24.Ng8 Qg8 25.
Re1 and White is winning; 22...Nf6 23.Ng5 Ke7 24.Qg7 Kd6 25.Nf7 and
White is winning) 23.Ng4 Qg8 (23...Ke7 24.Bd5 ed5 25.Qg7 Kd6 26.Qe5 Kc6
27.Rc1 Kb5 28.Qb2 Ka6 29.Qa3 Kb6 30.Rb1 Kc6 31.Ne5 mate) 24.Bd5 Qh7
25.Qf4 and White is winning] Qd7? [18...Kf7 with the idea 19.Bg5!? Qd7
(19...Re7!?) 20.Qh7 Bg7 21.Bh6 Qd4 (21...Rg8? 22.Ng5 Kf6 23.Re1 and
White is winning) 22.Ng5 Kf8 23.Qg6 Re7 24.Nh7 Kg8 25.Ng5 Kf8 equal] 19.
Be3!! Kf7 [19...Bg7 20.Neg5 and White is winning; 19...Bb2 20.Neg5 and
White is winning] 20.Qh7 Bg7 21.Ng5 Kf6 [21...Kf8 22.Bc5 and White is
winning] 22.Ne4 Kf7 23.Ng5 Kf6 24.Nf3! Qd6 [24...Rh8 25.Bg5 Kf5 (25...
Kf7 26.Ne5 and White is winning) 26.h3 Rh7 27.g4 mate; 24...Qb5 25.Bd4 e5
26.Qh4 and White is winning] 25.Bg5 [25.Bd4?? Qd4 26.Nd4 Rh8 and Black
is winning] Kf7 26.Bh6 Qf8 [26...Rg8 27.Ng5 and White is winning] 27.Ne5
Kf6 28.Qg6 Ke7 29.Bg7 Qf5 30.Qh6 Nd5 31.g4 1-0 [Sasa Velickovic]
8. L.-D. Nisipeanu (2661) Y. Pelletier (2611)
Rijeka 2010 108/281 [E15]
Nd5 9.0-0 Be7 10.Rd1 Nc6 11.Qf5 Nf6 12.e4 d6 13.e5 Qd7 14.Qc2!? [a
novelty; 14.Qd7 see 100/404] Nb4 15.Qe2 Ba6 16.Qe1 Nc2 17.Qd2 Na1 18.
ef6 Bf6 [18...gf6 19.b4 with compensation] 19.Re1 Be7 [19...Kd8 20.b3 with
the idea Bb2; 19...Kf8 20.Ne5 Be5 21.Ba8 a) 21...Qb5 22.Na3! Qd3 (22...Qb4
23.Qd1!) 23.Qg5 f6 24.Qg4 and White is superior; b) 21...f6 22.b3 with
compensation, with initiative] 20.Nc3 [20.b4!? with the idea Bb2] 0-0 21.Ne5
Qc8 [21...Qf5!?] 22.Nc6 Bd8
[FEN "r1qb1rk1/p4ppp/bpNp4/2p5/8/
2N3P1/PP1Q1PBP/n1B1R1K1 w - - 0 23"]
23.Nd5! (and White is superior) Qg4 [23...Qd7 24.Nce7 (24.Qd1 Bb7 25.Nd8
Bd5 26.Bd5 Rad8 27.Bf4 with compensation, with initiative, pair of bishops)
Be7 (24...Kh8 25.b3 Re8 26.Bb2 Be7 27.Bg7! Kg7 28.Qc3 Kg8 29.Re7! and
White is winning) 25.Re7 Qa4 26.b3 Qd4 27.Nc7 Qd2 28.Bd2 Rad8 29.Na6
and White is superior] 24.b3 Bb7 25.h3! Qh5 [25...Nb3 26.ab3 Qd7 27.Nce7
Kh8 28.Bb2 f6 (only move) 29.Qf4 and White is winning, with the idea Nf6]
26.Nce7 Kh8 27.Nf4 1-0 [M. Bjelajac]
9. A. Beliavsky (2657) L. Ftacnik (2546)
Szentgotthard 2010 108/260 [D80]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.cd5 Nd5 6.Nd5 Qd5 7.Ne2! 0-0 8.Nc3
Qd7 [a novelty; 8...Qc6] 9.Be2 c5 10.d5 b6 [10...e6 11.e4 ed5 12.ed5 b6 13.00 Bb7 14.Bc4 Na6 15.d6 Nb4 16.a3 Nc6 17.Bf4 Rad8 18.Re1 Rfe8 unclear]
11.0-0 Ba6?! [11...Bb7 12.e4 e6 13.Bc4 ed5 14.Nd5 b5 15.Be2 Re8 16.Qc2
Na6 unclear] 12.e4 b5 [12...e6!?] 13.a3! Bd4 [13...c4 14.Be3 Qc7 15.f4 Nd7
16.e5 and White is superior] 14.Bh6 Re8 15.Qd2 (and White is superior) e6
16.Rad1 [16.b4! ed5 17.ed5 Qd6 18.Nb5 and White is superior] Qb7 [16...
ed5 17.Nd5 Qc6 18.Qc1! and White is superior]
[FEN "rn2r1k1/pq3p1p/b3p1pB/1ppP4/3bP3/
P1N5/1P1QBPPP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 17"]
17.b4! e5 18.bc5 Bc5 19.Rb1! (and White is winning) b4 20.ab4 Bb4 21.
Qg5 Qe7 22.Rb4 f6 23.Qh4 Be2 24.d6! Qd6 25.Rb7 Bf1 26.Nd5 [26.Rg7
Kh8 27.Rh7 Kg8 28.Rg7 Kh8 29.Rg6] Re6 27.Rg7 Kh8 28.Rf7 Nd7 29.Bf8
1-0 [A. Beliavsky]
10. Ju. Polgar (2687) G. Kaidanov (2583)
Hilton Head (m/2) 2010 108/67 [B78]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 00 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.Kb1 Re8 13.h4 h5 14.g4 hg4 15.
h5 Nh5 16.Rdg1 e6 [16...Qa5!?] 17.Bh6 [17.fg4 Nf6 18.g5 (18.Bh6 Nfg4 19.
Bg7 Kg7) Nh5; 18...Nfg4] Qf6 18.fg4 Bh6 19.Qh6 Qg7 20.Qd2 [a novelty;
20.Qe3 see 107/71] Nf6 21.g5 Nh5 22.Nce2 Nc4? 23.Bc4 [23.Qb4? a5 24.
Qb7 Bc6] Rc4 24.b3 Rc5 25.Ng3 Ng3 26.Rg3 Rec8 [26...e5 27.Nf5 Bf5 28.
ef5 gf5 29.g6! fg6 30.Rgh3!]
[FEN "2r3k1/pp1b1pq1/3pp1p1/2r3P1/
3NP3/1P4R1/P1PQ4/1K5R w - - 0 27"]
27.Rgh3! e5 28.Rh4 ed4 [28...Bg4 29.Qh2 Bh5 30.Nf5 and White is

winning] 29.Qh2 Kf8 30.Qd6 Kg8 31.Qd7 d3 32.c4 [32.cd3 Rc1 33.Rc1 Rc1
34.Kc1 Qa1 35.Kd2 Qb2 36.Ke3 Qc1 37.Kd4 Qg1 38.Kc4 Qc1 39.Kb4 Qe1
40.Kc5 Qh4 41.Qe8 Kg7 42.Qe5 Kg8 43.Kd6 and White is winning] Qc3 33.
R4h2 b5 [33...R5c7 34.Qd6 Rc6 35.e5 Qc2 36.Rc2 dc2 37.Kc2 Rd6 38.ed6
and White is winning] 34.e5! Qe5 35.Rh7 R5c7 [35...Rf8 36.Qd6 d2 37.Rh8
Qh8 38.Rh8 Kh8 39.Qf8 Kh7 40.Qf7 Kh8 41.Kc2] 36.Qd6 [36...Qc3 37.Qf6
Qc2 38.Ka1] 1-0 [Ju. Polgar]


Informant 108
Purchases from our

accessible:
Branko Tadic
Informant at
ChessCafe
Viswanathan Anand has won his eighth contest for the Best Novelty Prize of
Chess Informant. This is further confirmation of the Indian GM's top form
and creativity. In Game Four of the world title match against GM Topalov,
Anand's 10.Na3 took the game into a completely new direction from the
familiar 10.ab5, in which black equalizes with accurate play. Anand's idea
was not to rush with recapturing the pawn, but to utilize his extra space to
gain a clear advantage via a typical pawn break (15.d5) in the center. This
month we present the top ten most important novelties from Chess Informant
#108, along with a survey of the winning novelty in grandmaster practice.
ECO E
Translate this page
Anthology of Chess
Combinations

the games from
1. V. Anand (2787) V. Topalov (2805)

Sofia (m/4) 2010 108/ 134 [E04]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dc4 5.Bg2 Bb4 6.Bd2 a5 7.Qc2 Bd2 8.Qd2
c6 9.a4 b5
[FEN "rnbqk2r/5ppp/2p1pn2/pp6/P1pP4/
5NP1/1P1QPPBP/RN2K2R w KQkq b6 0 10"]
10.Na3! [a novelty; 10.ab5 see 108/(134)] Bd7 [10...Ba6 11.Ne5 Nd5 12.Nc6
Nc6 13.ab5 and White is slightly better] 11.Ne5 Nd5 12.e4 Nb4 13.0-0 0-0 14.
Rfd1 Be8 15.d5 Qd6 16.Ng4 Qc5 17.Ne3 N8a6 [17...Ra7 18.dc6 ba4 19.
Nac4 Bc6 20.Nd6 Rd7 21.Rac1 with compensation] 18.dc6 ba4 [18...Bc6 19.
ab5 Bb5 20.Nac4 Bc4 21.Rac1 and White is slightly better] 19.Nac4 Bc6 20.
Rac1 h6? [20...Na2? 21.Na5 Nc1 22.Rc1 Qb4 23.Qb4 Nb4 24.Nc6 Nc6 25.
Rc6 and White is superior] 21.Nd6 Qa7 22.Ng4 Rad8? [22...Kh7 23.Rc6 Nc6
24.e5 Ne7 25.Be4 Ng6 26.h4 Nc5 a) 27.Ba8 Ra8 28.h5 Nf8 29.Rc1! (with the
idea Rc4-f4) Nb3 30.Qd3 Kg8 31.Rc4 and White is superior; b) 27.Bb1 (A.
Giri) Nb3 28.Qe2 Kg8 (28...h5 29.Nh2! Kg8 30.Qh5 Nd4 31.Ng4) 29.h5 Ne7
30.Qd3 and White is winning; 22...f6 23.Rc4 (with the idea e5, Nh6, Rg4) h5
(23...Rad8 24.e5! Bg2 25.Kg2) 24.Ne3 and White is superior; 22...Nc5 23.
Rc4! (23.Nh6 gh6 24.Qh6 Ncd3) a) 23...Nb3 24.Nh6 Kh7 25.Qf4 gh6 26.e5!
Bg2 27.Nf5 ef5 28.Qf5 and White is winning; b) 23...Rad8 24.e5 Bg2 25.Nf6
Kh8 (25...gf6 26.Rg4 Kh7 27.Rh4 and White is winning) 26.Rh4 and White is
winning; c) 23...f6 24.e5 f5 (24...Bg2 25.ef6!) 25.Nh6 (25.Bc6 Nc6 26.Nf6 gf6
27.ef6 Ne4 28.Ne4 Ne5 29.Qh6 Nc4 30.Ng5 Ne5; 25.Nf6 gf6 26.ef6 Rf6 27.
Bc6 Rd8) gh6 26.Bc6 Nc6 27.Qh6 Ne5 28.Qg5 Qg7 29.Qg7 Kg7 30.Rc5 and
White is slightly better] 23.Nh6 gh6 24.Qh6 f6 25.e5 [25.Bh3 Qe7 26.Rc4
Rd6 27.Rd6 Qd6 28.Qg6 Kh8 29.e5 Qd1 30.Bf1 and White is winning; 26...
Nc7 unclear] Bg2 [25...fe5 26.Qe6 Kh7 (26...Kh8 27.Qe5 Kg8 28.Rd4 and
White is winning) 27.Rc6 Qf2 28.Kh1 with the idea Be4] 26.ef6! Rd6 [26...
Qh7 27.Qg5 Kh8 28.Rc4 and White is winning] 27.Rd6 Be4 [27...Bd5 28.
Rc4! Bc4 29.Rd4!! Rf6 30.Rd8 Kf7 31.Qh7 mate] 28.Re6 Nd3 [28...Qh7 29.
Qg5 Kh8 (29...Bg6 30.f7 Kf7 31.Re7 Kg8 32.Rh7 and White is winning) 30.
Re4] 29.Rc2 Qh7 30.f7 Qf7 31.Re4 Qf5 32.Re7 1-0 [V.Anand]
2. V. Topalov (2805) V. Anand (2787)
Sofia (m/1) 2010 108/ 124 [D87]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.e4 Nc3 6.bc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2
Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 Na5 11.Bd3 b6 12.Qd2 e5 13.Bh6 cd4 14.Bg7 Kg7 15.
cd4 ed4 16.Rac1 Qd6 [16...Bb7 see 103/(334)] 17.f4 f6 18.f5 Qe5 19.Nf4 g5
[FEN "r1b2r2/p5kp/1p3p2/n3qPp1/
3pPN2/3B4/P2Q2PP/2R2RK1 w - - 0 20"]
20.Nh5!! [a novelty; 20.Nd5? Rf7 21.h4 h6 and Black is superior] Kg8 [20...
Kh8 21.h4 Rg8 22.Nf6! Qf6 23.e5! Qe5 24.f6 Be6 25.f7 Rgf8 26.Rce1 Qd5
27.Be4 Nc4 28.Qf2 (28.Qd3 Qc5 29.Ba8 Ne3 30.Rf6) Rf7 29.Bd5 Rf2 30.Ba8
Rf1 31.Rf1 d3 32.hg5 d2 33.Rf8 Kg7 34.Rd8 Kg6 35.Bf3 b5 36.Kf2 Kg5 37.
Be2 Kf4 38.Bc4 Bc4 39.Rd2 Ke4 (E.Sutovsky) 40.Rd7 a5 41.a3 b4 (41...a4??
42.Rh7 Kd3 43.g4 Kc2 44.g5 Kb2 45.Rh3 and White is winning) 42.ab4 ab4
43.Rh7 Kd4 equal; 22.Qe1! with the idea Nf6 A.Khalifman] 21.h4 h6 22.hg5
hg5 23.Rf3 [23.Nf6!? Qf6 (23...Rf6? 24.Qg5 Kf7 25.Qh4 Nc6 26.g4! and
White is winning) 24.Rc7 Re8!? (24...Rf7 25.e5 Qe5 26.Qg5 Qg7 27.Qd8 Qf8
28.Qg5 equal; E.Sutovsky) 25.Rf3 with compensation, with the idea 25...Re7
26.Re7 Qe7 27.f6 Qc5 28.Rf5!? (28.Rg3 g4 29.Qh6 Kf7 30.Qg7 Ke6 31.Rg4
Bb7) Bf5 29.Qg5 Kf7 30.ef5 (30.Qg7 Ke6 31.ef5 Ke5) Rg8 31.Qh5 Kf6 (31...
Kf8 32.Qh6 Ke8 33.f7 Kf7 34.Qe6 Kf8 35.Qf6 Ke8 36.Qe6 equal) 32.Qh6 a)
32...Ke5? 33.Qe6 Kf4 34.Qg8 Qc3 35.Qb8! Kg5 (35...Ke3 36.Qg3 Kd2 37.f6
and White is winning) 36.Qg3 Kf6 37.Qg6 Ke5 38.Qe6 Kf4 39.f6 Qd3 40.f7
Qd1 41.Kf2 Qd2 42.Qe2 and White is winning; b) 32...Kf7 33.Qe6 Kf8 34.
Qf6 Ke8 35.Qe6 equal] Kf7?? [23...Bd7! a) 24.Rh3 Rac8 25.Nf6 Qf6 26.Rc8
Rc8 27.e5 Qe5 28.Qg5 Kf8 29.Be4!? (29.Rh7 Qe3 30.Qe3 de3 31.Rd7 Rc1 32.
Kh2 Rd1 33.Rd8 Ke7 34.Rd4 Kf8 equal) Be8 30.Bd5 Qe1 31.Kh2 Qe5 32.Kg1
equal; b) 24.Rg3 Kf7! (24...Rac8 25.Nf6 Qf6 26.Re1 Rfe8 27.e5 Re5 28.Qg5
Qg5 29.Rg5 Kf7 30.Re5 Kf6! A.Khalifman) 25.Bc4 Nc4 26.Rc4 Rh8 27.Rd4
Be8 28.Rd7 (28.Rh3 Kg8 29.g4 Bh5 30.gh5 Re8 equal) Kf8 29.Nf6 (29.Qb4
Qc5 30.Qc5 bc5 31.Nf6 Bd7 32.Nd7 Ke7 equal) Qf6 30.Qb4 Kg8 31.e5 Qf5
32.Qc4 (32.Rc7 Bf7 33.Rf7 Kf7 34.Rf3 Qf3 35.gf3 Rh6 equal) Kf8 33.Qb4
equal; E.Sutovsky] 24.Nf6!! (and White is winning) Kf6 [24...Qf6 25.Rc7 (25.
Rh3 Nc6 26.Rc6! Qc6 27.Qg5 and White is winning; A.Khalifman) Ke8 26.
Bb5 Kd8 27.Rfc3! (E.Sutovsky) a6 (27...Rb8 28.Rc1 a6 29.Qb4 ab5 30.e5
and White is winning) 28.Ba4 b5 29.R3c5 Nb7 (29...Nc4 30.Rc4! bc4 31.Qa5
and White is winning) 30.R5c6 Nd6 31.Qa5 Ke8 (31...Bd7 32.Rd7 Kd7 33.
Qc7 Ke8 34.Rd6 Qd6 35.Qd6 ba4 36.e5 and White is winning) 32.Qb6 d3 33.
Bd1 Qa1 34.Rc1 and White is winning] 25.Rh3 Rg8 [25...Qf4 26.e5! a) 26...
Ke5 27.Re1 Kd5 (27...Kf6 and White is winning, see 26...Qe5) 28.Be4 Qe4 29.
Re4 Ke4 30.Qe2 Kd5 31.Qf3 and White is winning; b) 26...Qe5 27.Re1 (27.
Rh6 Kf7 28.Rh7 Kf6 29.Re1 Qf4 30.Qb4 Rf7 31.Rf7 Kf7 32.Qe7 Kg8 33.Qe8
Kh7 34.Qg6 Kh8 35.Re8 mate) Qf4 28.Qe2 and White is winning] 26.Rh6
Kf7 27.Rh7 Ke8 28.Rcc7 Kd8 29.Bb5!! Qe4 [29...Qc7 30.Qd4 Bd7 31.Rd7
Kc8 32.Rc7 Kc7 33.Qd7 Kb8 34.Ba6 and White is winning] 30.Rc8! 1-0
[Sasa Velickovic]
3. L. Aronian (2781) B. Gelfand (2761)
Bursa 2010 108/ 113 [D46]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0
dc4 9.Bc4 a6 10.Rd1 b5 11.Bf1 c5 12.a4 [12.dc5 see 71/464] b4 13.Ne4 Ne4
14.Qe4 Rb8
[FEN "1rbq1rk1/3n1ppp/p2bp3/2p5/Pp1PQ3/
4PN2/1P3PPP/R1BR1BK1 w - - 0 15"]
15.Qd3! [a novelty; 15.b3?! Bb7 16.Qd3 cd4 17.ed4 Qa5 18.Bb2 Rfd8 and
Black is slightly better] cd4 16.Qd4 Be7 17.Qf4! Bf6 18.a5 Qe7 19.e4 e5 20.
Qe3 Nc5 21.Rd5 Ne6 22.Ne5 Bb7 23.Nd7 Bd5 24.Nf8 Ba8 25.Ne6 Qe6 26.
Qa7 [26.e5 Be5! (26...Qe5?! 27.Qe5 Be5 28.Ba6 and White is superior) 27.f4
Bf6 28.Qe6 fe6 29.Ba6 Rd8 with compensation] Rd8 27.Be3 Be4 28.Re1
Bb2 29.Qb6! Rc8 30.Bf4 g5 31.Bg3 b3 32.Re3? [32.Qe6 fe6 33.Re4 Bf6 34.
Re1 b2 35.Bd3 with the idea 35...Rc1 36.Rf1 Bc3 37.Bc7 h6 (37...Be1? 38.
Be5 b1Q 39.Bb1 Rb1 40.Bc3 and White is winning) 38.Bb6 e5 39.Be3 Be1 40.
g3] Bf6? [32...Bg7! 33.Rb3 h6 34.Qe6 fe6 35.Rb8 (35.Ba6? Rc1 36.Bf1 Bd5
and Black is superior) Rb8 36.Bb8 Bb7 37.Bc4 Kf7 equal] 33.Re4! Qe4 34.
Qf6 Qg6 35.Qd4 h6 36.Be5 Re8 37.h4 Qf5 38.Bh8! Qh7 39.Qd7 Qe4 40.
Bc3 gh4 41.Bd3 1-0 [E.Grivas]
4. A. Giri (2588) D. Howell (2606)
Wijk aan Zee II 2010 108/ (120) [D85]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.e4 Nc3 6.bc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Be3
Qa5 9.Qd2 0-0 10.Rc1 Rd8 11.d5 e6 12.Bg5 f6 13.Bf4 f5 14.Bc4 Qa4 15.
Qe2 b5 16.Bb5 Qe4
[FEN "rnbr2k1/p5bp/4p1p1/1BpP1p2/4qB2/
2P2N2/P3QPPP/2R1K2R w K - 0 17"]
17.de6!! [a novelty; 17.Qe4 see 107/147] Be6 [17...Qf4 18.0-0 Nd7 19.Rcd1
Qe4 20.Qe4 fe4 21.Ng5 Bc3 22.ed7 Bb7 23.Ne6 and White is winning] 18.
Ng5! Qe2 19.Ke2 Ba2 20.Ra1 Bf7 21.Rhd1 Rc8 22.Nf7 Kf7 23.Bc4 and
White is winning [Bo.Vujacic]
5. B. Gelfand (2761) Hi. Nakamura (2708)
Bursa 2010 108/ 160 [E97]
9.Nd2 Ne8 10.b4 f5 11.c5 Nf6 12.f3 f4 13.Nc4 g5 14.a4 Ng6 15.Ba3 Rf7 16.
b5 dc5 17.Bc5 h5 18.a5 g4 19.b6 g3 20.Kh1 Bf8 [20...Nh7 see 71/623] 21.d6
[21.Bg1!?] ab6 22.Bg1 [22.ab6 Ra1 23.Qa1 cd6 24.Rd1 Rd7 25.Bg1 d5]
[FEN "r1bq1bk1/1pp2r2/1p1P1nn1/P3p2p/
2N1Pp2/2N2Pp1/4B1PP/R2Q1RBK b - - 0 22"]
22...Nh4 [a novelty; 22...gh2] 23.Re1 Ng2!! 24.dc7? [24.Kg2 Rg7! 25.dc7

(25.hg3 Qd7!) gh2 26.Kh1 (26.Kh2? Ng4 27.fg4 Qh4 28.Kg2 hg4 and Black
is winning) hg1Q 27.Rg1 Qc7 unclear] Ne1! 25.Qe1 [25.cd8Q g2 mate] g2!
26.Kg2 Rg7 27.Kh1 Bh3! 28.Bf1 Qd3!! 29.Ne5 [29.Ne3 Bf1 30.Qf1 Qf1 31.
Nf1 Rc7] Bf1 30.Qf1 Qc3 31.Rc1 Qe5 32.c8Q Rc8 33.Rc8 Qe6 0-1 [E.
Grivas]
6. A. Giri (2624) Z. Almasi (2720)
Rijeka 2010 108/ 130 [D94]
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.e3 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be2 0-0 7.0-0 dc4 8.Bc4
Nbd7 9.e4 Nb6 10.Bb3 Bg4 11.Be3
[FEN "r2q1rk1/pp2ppbp/1np2np1/8/3PP1b1/
1BN1BN2/PP3PPP/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 11"]
11...e5 [a novelty; 11...Nfd7 12.h3 Bf3 13.Qf3 e5 14.d5 c5 15.Qe2 Rc8 16.a4
Rb8 17.a5 Nc8 18.Ba4 and White is superior; 11...Qc7; 11...e6; 11...Qd7; 11...
Ne8] 12.de5 Nfd7 13.e6 fe6 14.Qd6 [14.h3 Bf3 15.Be6 Kh8 16.gf3 Qe7 17.
Bd7 Nd7 18.f4 Nc5 19.e5 Rad8 20.Qg4 Nd3 21.Rfd1 Nb2 22.Rd8 Rd8 23.
Ne4 Nc4 24.Bc5 Qe8 25.Ba7] Bf3 15.gf3 Ne5 16.Qe6? [16.Be6 Kh8 17.Qd8
Nf3 18.Kh1 Rad8 19.Rad1] Kh8 17.f4 Qh4! (and Black is superior) 18.Kg2
[18.fe5 Rae8 19.Qd6 Be5 and Black is winning] Nd3 19.Ne2? [19.f3!? Qf4
20.Bf4 Nf4 21.Kg3 Ne6 22.Be6 Be5 23.Kg2 and Black is superior] Rae8 20.
Qh3 Qh3 21.Kh3 Re4 22.Kg2 Nb2 (and Black is winning) 23.Ng3 Ree8 24.
Bc5 Nd3 25.Bf8 Ba1 26.Bd6 Nc8? [26...Bf6 27.Rd1 Nb2] 27.Bb8?! [27.Rd1!
Nd6 28.Rd3] Bf6 28.f5 Kg7 29.fg6 hg6 30.f4 Nc5 31.f5 [31.Bc2 Na6!] Nb3
32.ab3 a6 33.fg6 Kg6 34.Kf3 Ne7 35.Ba7 Nf5 36.Bf2 Re5 37.Ne4 Rb5 [37...
Nd4 38.Bd4 Rf5 39.Kg2 Rf1 40.Kf1 Bd4 41.Nd6 b5 and Black is winning] 38.
Rb1 Nd4 39.Bd4 Bd4 [R 9/i] 40.Ke2 [40.Nd6 Rb4 41.Nc4 Bf6 42.h3 c5 43.
Ke2 Kf7 and Black is winning] Be5 41.h3 Kf5 42.Nd2 Bf4 43.Nf3 Ke4 44.
Ra1 Rb4! 45.Ra3 c5 46.Ne1 Bc1 47.Ra5 Be3 [47...b6 48.Ra6 Rb3 49.Ra4
Kd5 50.Nd3 b5 51.Ra8 Bg5 and Black is winning] 48.Ra3 Bd4 (and Black is
winning) 49.Nd3 Rb6 50.Ra4 Kd5 51.Ra3 Re6 52.Kd2 Be3 53.Kc2 Rh6 54.
b4 c4 55.Nc1 Bc1 56.Kc1 Rb6 57.Ra4 Kd4 58.Kc2 Rg6 59.Ra3 Rg2 60.
Kc1 c3 61.Ra5 Kc4 0-1 [A.Mikhalchishin]
7. M. Kopylov (2440) M. Solleveld (2496)
Deutschland 2010 108/ 272 [E04]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 dc4 5.Nf3 a6 6.Ne5 Bb4 7.Nc3 Nd5 8.Bd2
b5 9.0-0 Bc3 10.bc3 f6?! 11.e4 Ne7
[FEN "rnbqk2r/2p1n1pp/p3pp2/1p2N3/
2pPP3/2P3P1/P2B1PBP/R2Q1RK1 w kq - 0 12"]
12.Qh5! [a novelty; 12.Ng4 see 108/(272)] g6 13.Ng6! Ng6 14.f4 c6 [14...0-0

15.f5 Ne5 (15...Ne7 16.e5! Ra7 17.ef6 Rf6 18.fe6 Rg6 19.Rf7 h6 20.Raf1 and
White is winning) 16.Bh6 Qe8 (16...Rf7 17.de5 fe5 18.fe6 Be6 19.Rf7 Bf7 20.
Qe5 and White is winning) 17.Qh4 Nbc6 18.de5 Ne5 19.Bf8 Qf8 20.fe6 and
White is winning] 15.f5 Kf7 [15...ef5 16.ef5 Bf5 17.Rae1 Kd7 18.Rf5 Kc8 19.
Ref1 Nd7 20.Bc6 and White is winning] 16.Bg5! (and White is winning) Nd7
[16...ef5 17.ef5 Ra7 18.Bh4 Kg7 19.fg6 hg6 20.Qh8! Kh8 21.Bf6 Qf6 22.Rf6]
17.e5! ef5 [17...Ra7 18.fe6 Ke6 19.Bf6 Nf6 20.Rf6 Ke7 21.Raf1] 18.Rf5 Ra7
19.Raf1 Rc7 20.Rf6 Nf6 21.Rf6 Kg8 22.Rd6 Qf8 23.Rd8 Be6 24.Be4 Rc8
25.Rf8 Nf8 26.Bf6 1-0 [M.Kopylov]
8. V. Ivanchuk (2748) M. Carlsen (2813)
Nice (rapid) 2010 108/ 76 [B97]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bc1 Nf6 8.Bg5
e6 9.f4 Qb6 10.Qd2 Qb2 11.Rb1 Qa3 12.f5 Nc6 13.fe6 fe6 14.Nc6 bc6 15.
Be2 Be7 16.0-0 0-0 17.Kh1 Ra7 18.Qe3 Rd7
[FEN "2b2rk1/3rb1pp/p1pppn2/6B1/4P3/
q1N1Q3/P1P1B1PP/1R3R1K w - - 0 19"]
19.Rb8!? [a novelty; 19.e5 see 36/347] Kh8! 20.e5 de5 21.Ne4 Qe3 [21...
Qa2?! 22.Bd3] 22.Be3 Rdd8 23.Bc5! [23.Nf6 gf6 24.Rb6 f5 and Black is
slightly better] Bc5 24.Nc5 Kg8 25.Bc4 Kf7 26.Rb6 Rd4 [26...Ke7!? 27.Rc6
Nd5 28.Rf8 Rf8] 27.Be6 Ke7 28.Rc6 Nd7?! [28...Bd7! 29.Nd7 Nd7 equal]
29.Re1 Nc5 30.Bc8 Re4 31.Rc1! Rc4 32.Ba6 Rc3 33.Bb5 and White is
superior [RR]
9. D. Howell (2606) T. Nyback (2643)
Wijk aan Zee II 2010 108/ 236 [C45]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 ed4 4.Nd4 Bc5 5.Be3 Qf6 6.c3 Nge7 7.Bc4 Ne5 8.
Be2 Qg6 9.0-0 d6 10.Kh1 0-0 11.Nd2 Ng4 12.Bf4 Nc6 13.f3 Nge5 [13...Nf6
equal]
[FEN "r1b2rk1/ppp2ppp/2np2q1/2b1n3/
3NPB2/2P2P2/PP1NB1PP/R2Q1R1K w - - 0 14"]
14.Be3! [a novelty; 14.Nc6] Bb6 15.f4 Nd4 16.cd4 Nc6 17.f5 Qf6 18.e5!
de5 19.Ne4 Qd8 [19...Qh4 20.Bd3! with the idea 20...h6 21.g3 Qd8 22.Qh5
Nd4 23.f6!] 20.Bc4! Na5 [20...ed4 21.Qh5! and White is winning, with the
idea 21...de3 22.f6!] 21.f6! (and White is winning) Bd4 [21...Nc4 22.Qh5] 22.
fg7 Kg7 23.Bg5 1-0 [M.Bjelajac]
10. L. Aronian (2782) M. Carlsen (2813)
Nice (blindfold) 2010 108/ 162 [E99]

9.Ne1 Nd7 10.Nd3 f5 11.Bd2 Nf6 12.f3 Kh8 13.g4 c6 14.Kg2 b5 [14...Bd7
see 16/679] 15.b3 a5 16.Nf2 b4 17.Na4
[FEN "r1bq1r1k/4n1bp/2pp1np1/p2Ppp2/
NpP1P1P1/1P3P2/P2BBNKP/R2Q1R2 b - - 0 17"]
17...Bb7! [a novelty; 17...c5] 18.Rc1? [18.Kg1; 18.Bd3] fe4 19.fe4 cd5 20.
ed5 Ned5! 21.cd5 Nd5 22.Kg1 e4! 23.Ne4 Bd4 24.Rf2 [24.Kg2 Qe7! 25.Bf3
Rf3 26.Qf3 Nf6 27.Rce1 Be4 28.Re4 Ne4 M.Carlsen] Rf2 25.Nf2?? [25.Bg5
Bf6 26.Nf6 Ne3!! 27.Qd4 Rg2 28.Kh1 Re2 29.Ne4 Kg8 30.Bd8 Rc8!! 31.Qe3
Re3 32.Rc8 Re4 33.Ba5 Bc8 M.Carlsen] Qh4 26.Qe1 Rf8 27.Bf3 Rf3 28.
Qe4 Qf2 0-1 [RR]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 dc4 5.Nf3 Bb4 6.Bd2 a5 7.Qc2 Bd2 8.Qd2 c6 9.
a4 b5
10
11
ab5
Qg5
Qb5 Qa43 0-04 Nbd2 Nc4 Nb2 Ne5
12
13
14
cb5
0-01
Ba62 Qb6 Qb2
Na3
Ne5
e4
0-0
Rfd1
Bd76
Nd5
Nb4
0-0
Be8
15
16
17
18
Bb5 Ba4 Bb5 Ra75

d5
Ng4 Ne3
dc6
Qd6 Qc5 Ra77 ba48
equal
compensation
E04
1
11...b4
[FEN "rnbqk2r/5ppp/4pn2/p5Q1/1ppP4/
5NP1/1P2PPBP/RN2K2R w KQkq - 0 12"]
a) 12.Ne5
a1) 12...Ra7 13.Nc4 Qd4 [13...0-0 14.e3 and White is slightly better; J.
Lautier] 14.Nd6 Qd6 15.Qg7 Rg8 16.Qf6 Nd7 17.Qh6 Qe5 equal;
a2) 12...h6 13.Qg7 Rh7 14.Qf6 Qf6 15.Ba8 Qd8 and Black is slightly better;
13.Qf4!;
b) 12.Qg7 Rg8 13.Qh6 Bb7 14.0-0 Bd5 15.Ne5 [15.Rc1 Nbd7 16.Nbd2 Rc8]
Bg2 [15...Nbd7 16.Nd7 Kd7 17.f3 and White is slightly better] 16.Kg2 Qd5
[16...Ra6 17.Nd2 and White is slightly better] 17.Kg1 [17.f3 Nbd7 18.Nd7
Nd7 19.Rd1 Rg6 20.Qc1 Nb6 21.e4 Qd6 22.Nd2 Qd4 23.Nb3 Qe5 24.Na5
unclear] Nbd7 18.Nd7 Nd7 19.Nd2 [19.Qh7 Nf6 20.Qh4 Ke7 with
compensation] Qd4 20.Qh7 Rg6 21.Rad1 unclear; Bareev
2
12...Na6 13.Qc4 Nb4 14.Qb3 e5 15.Ne5 and White is superior; Grischuk Alexander Moiseenko, Russia 2006 see 98/(379)
3
13.Qa5 Bb7 14.Qd8 Ra1 15.Qf8 Kf8 16.0-0 Ra2 equal; Postny - Th.Luther,
Deutschland 2007
4
14.Nbd2
[FEN "rn3rk1/5ppp/bq2pn2/p7/Q1pP4/
5NP1/1P1NPPBP/R3K2R b KQ - 0 14"]
14...Nc6 15.Nc4 Qb4 16.Qb4 Nb4 17.Ne3 Bb5 18.Ne5 Ra6 19.Bb7 Ra7 20.
Bf3 and White is slightly better; Georg Meier - Khenkin, Deutschland (ch)
2009 see 106/(157)
14...Bb5! 15.Qa3 Nc6 16.0-0 Rab8 17.Rfc1 Nd4 18.Nd4 Qd4 19.Nf3 Qb6 20.
Qa5 Qa5 21.Ra5 Bc6 22.Rc4 Bf3 23.Bf3 Rb2 equal; Kramnik - Leko,
Dortmund 2009 see 106/157
5
[FEN "rn3rk1/5ppp/4pn2/pb2N3/3P4/
6P1/1N2PPBP/R4RK1 b - - 0 18"]
18...Ra6 19.Nbd3 Nbd7 20.Rfb1 Ne5 21.Nc5 Nc6 22.e3 Rb6 23.Bc6 Rfb8 24.
Bf3 a4 25.Na4 Ba4 26.Rb6 Rb6 27.Ra4 and White is superior; Georg Meier Wojtaszek, Novi Sad 2009 see 108/(134);
18...Ra7 equal; Kramnik - V.Topalov, Elista (m/1) 2006 see 98/379
6
[FEN "rnbqk2r/5ppp/2p1pn2/pp6/P1pP4/
N4NP1/1P1QPPBP/R3K2R b KQkq - 0 10"]
10...Ba6 11.Ne5 Nd5 12.Nc6 Nc6 13.ab5 Bb5 14.Nb5 0-0 15.e3 and White is
slightly better; Y.Pelletier - A.Kosteniuk, Schweiz (ch) 2010
7
[FEN "rn2brk1/5ppp/2p1p3/ppqP4/Pnp1P3/
N3N1P1/1P1Q1PBP/R2R2K1 b - - 0 17"]
17...N8a6 18.dc6 ba4 [18...Bc6 19.ab5 Bb5 20.Nac4 Bc4 21.Rac1 and White
is slightly better; V.Anand] 19.Nac4 Bc6 20.Rac1 and White is slightly better;
V.Anand - V.Topalov, Sofia (m/4) 2010 see 108/134
8
19.Nac4 Bc6 20.Nd6 Rd7 21.Rac1 with compensation; V.Anand

Purchases from our

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Step by Step
Josip Asik
Informant at
ChessCafe
I like to think that Chess Informant #109 is a step forward in comparison to

volume #108. Not a giant step, nor a hyper-space leap, but a steady solid step
forward. I hope that our many readers will appreciate the fact that we have
finally got Informant back to its roots and have abandoned the artificial
division between rating groups in the games section. There are still some
game fragments included, but we are looking forward to changing this in the
near future as well. In all, there are about seventy more games in #109
compared to #108, but what we find more important is the number of
annotators. There is a revival in the number of players included in our work
and we currently count fifty-nine grandmasters among them. However, this is
only one step forward, not two; we do not intend to stop there.
Translate this page
ECO E
Given that Chess Informant #108 is almost sold out, I suspect that volume
#109 will sell out even quicker, despite the fact that we printed more copies! I
recommend that readers grab their copy of Chess Informant #109 as quickly
as possible. It will soon be available from our distributor ChessCafe.com.
Moreover, Chess Informant #110 is close behind. Our new crew is working
hard to eliminate delays and to catch up from the slower pace of previous
volumes without sacrificing quality.
At present, we are concerned for all our chess friends in Japan. The images of
the devastation wrought by the earthquake turned my world upside down. I
thank God that we finally received word from our old and dedicated reader
from the town of Sendai. We will be sending a number of our editions to the
Japanese Chess Federation to be given as gifts in the hope that they can be
used to take someone's mind away from their troubles if even for a moment.
Anthology of Chess
Combinations
This month, we present a Modern Chess Theory article by our new editorial
board member GM Branko Tadic. It is on the Catalan E04 and is taken from
Chess Informant #109.
E04
the games from
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 dc4 5.Nf3 c5 6.0-0 Nc6 7.Qa4 Bd7 8.Qc4 cd4 9.
Nd4 Rc8 10.Nc3 Nd4 11.Qd4 Bc5 12.Qh4
12
...
1
13
14
Rd1
Bd23
Bc61 Qa52 Be7
15
16
18
19
20
Nd5
Qe7
Ba5
Kg2
Bc3
b4
Nd5
Ne7
Bg2
Nc6
f6
a64
...
Bg55
Bf6
Qf6
Bb77
Bf3
Rfd1 Ne4
Nd6
0-0
h66
Qf6
gf6
Rb8
Rb2
Be88 Be7
Ba49
...
Bb7
Bf310 Qg5
Rd1
Qd2
Ne4
b313
bc4
...
Rb8
Rb4
Bd411
h612
Qc7
Rc4
Ba1
Ba414
...
...
...
...
Qd2
Nd115 a3
Ne3
Rb1
Qc7
Rfb816
Ra417
e518
4
...
17
...
...
...
Rc4
+/=
+/=
+/=
The Greatest Tournaments

2001-2009
[FEN "2rqk2r/pp1b1ppp/4pn2/2b5/7Q/
2N3P1/PP2PPBP/R1B2RK1 b k - 0 12"]
12...b5 13.Bg5 Be7 14.Rad1! Rc4 [14...b4 15.Ne4 Ne4 16.Be7 Qe7 17.Qe4
and White is superior; Andj.Stojanovic - T.Vasilevich, Deutschland 2009] 15.
Rd4 Rd4 16.Qd4 Qb6 17.Qh4 and White is slightly better; Z.Ilincic.
2
13...Qb6 14.Bc6 Rc6 15.Bh6! Bf8 [15...gh6 16.Qf6 0-0 17.Ne4 and White is
superior; L.Portisch - I.Radulov, Buenos Aires (ol) 1978 see 26/(522)] 16.Rd2
e5 17.Be3 and White is superior; Ribli - Lj.Ljubojevic, Buenos Aires (ol)
1978 see 26/(522).
3
14.Bh6 0-0 15.Bc6 Rc6 16.Bg7 Bf2 17.Kf2 Kg7 18.Rd3 (Csom - Jack Peters,
Hastings 1978/79 see 27/(502)) Qh5 equal; K.Pytel;
14.Bc6 Rc6 15.Bg5 Be7 16.Ne4 Qe5 17.Nf6 Bf6 18.Bf6 Qf6 [18...gf6 (P.
Benko - Jack Peters, USA 1979) 19.Qg4 h5 20.Qg7 Rf8 21.Rd8 Kd8 22.Qf8
Kc7 23.Rd1 Kb6 24.Qd8 Ka6 25.b4 b6 26.Qd3 Kb7 27.Qf3 Kc7 28.a4 and
White is superior] 19.Qf6 gf6 20.Rac1 Rc1 21.Rc1 Kd7 and White is slightly
better.
4
21.a4 and White is slightly better; Ftacnik - Jack Peters, Hastings 1980/81.
5
13.Rd1?! Qb6 14.Bg5 Bf2 15.Kh1 Nd5 16.Be4 f5 17.Nd5 ed5 18.Bd5 Kh8
and Black is slightly better; Grischuk - Wojtaszek, Dresden (ol) 2008 see 104/
(278).
6
13...Be7 14.Ne4 [14.Rad1] h6 15.Bf6 Bf6 16.Nf6 Qf6 17.Qf6 gf6 18.Rac1
Rc1 19.Rc1 Rc8! 20.Rc8 Bc8 equal; Vidit - Arun Prasad, India (ch) 2009 see
109/(319).
7
[FEN "2r2rk1/pp1b1p2/4pp1p/2b5/8/
2N3P1/PP2PPBP/R4RK1 w - - 0 16"]
16.Rac1 b6 [16...Be7 equal] 17.Bb7 Rb8 18.Ba6 Rfd8 19.Ne4 Bd4 [19...Be7
20.Rc7 Kf8 21.Ra7 Ra8 22.Ra8 Ra8 23.Bc4 b5 24.Bb3 Bc6 25.Nd2 and
White is slightly better; Mirumian - Rausis, Cesko (ch) 2009 see 109/(319)]
20.b3 Be5 equal;
16.Rfd1 Rc7 17.Rd3 Rfc8 18.Rad1 Be8 19.Ne4 Be7 20.Nd6 Bd6 21.Rd6 Bc6
22.Bc6 Rc6 23.Rc6 Rc6 equal; Ekstroem - Drozdovskij, Novi Sad 2009 see
109/(319).
8
18...Bb5 19.Nb5 1/2 : 1/2 E.LAmi - Mi.Adams, London 2009 see 109/(319).
9
[FEN "4brk1/p3bp2/3Npp1p/8/8/
5BP1/Pr2PP1P/R2R2K1 b - - 0 20"]
20...Bd6 21.Rd6 Bb5 22.Kf1 Rb8 23.a4 Bc4 24.Rc1 Rb1 25.Rd8 Kg7 26.Rb8
Rc1 27.Kg2 Rc2 28.Rc8 Bb3 29.Rc2 Bc2 equal; Shirov - Wang Yue, Sofia
2009 see 109/(319);
20...Ba4 21.Rd4 Bc2 22.Nc4 Rb4 23.Rc1 Ba4 24.a3 Rb3 25.Nd2 Ra3 26.Rc7
Re8 1/2 : 1/2 Zaragatski - A.Naiditsch, Deutschland 2010 see 109/319.
10
[FEN "1r1q1rk1/pB1b1ppp/4pn2/2b5/7Q/
2N3P1/PP2PP1P/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 14"]
14.Bg2 Rb4 15.Qg5 Qb6 [15...Bd4 16.Qd2 Qc7 17.e3 Be5 18.f4 Bc3 19.bc3
Rc4 20.Ba3 Re8 21.Bd6 Qc8 22.Be5 and White is superior; Mart.Kraemer - U.
von Herman, Deutschland 2010 see 109/(320)] 16.b3 Ng4 17.e3 h6 18.Qh5 g6
19.Qh3 Be3! 20.fe3 Ne3 21.Be3 Qe3 22.Kh1 Qc3 23.Qh6 equal;
14.Ba6 Bc6 15.a3 Qb6 16.Bd3 Bd4 with compensation; Mikhalchishin.
11
15...Qb6? 16.b3! h6 17.Qd2 e5 18.Ba3 Rd4 19.Bc5 Qc5 20.Qe3 Ng4 21.Bg4
Bg4 22.Ne4 Qa5 23.f3 Be6 24.Rfc1 and White is superior; T.Nyback - S.
Brunello, Rijeka 2010 see 109/(320).
12
16...Qb6 17.Rd4!
a) 17...Rd4 18.Be3 Qb2 19.Bd4 Qa1 20.Kg2 h6 [20...e5 21.Qe5] 21.Qe3 and
White is superior, with attack;
b) 17...Qd4 18.Be3 Qc4 19.Rd1! with initiative; Sr.Cvetkovic.
13
19.Qd4!? Rd4 20.Nf6 gf6 21.Rd4 e5! unclear.
14
[FEN "5rk1/p1q2pp1/4pn1p/8/b1P1N3/
5BP1/P2QPP1P/b1BR2K1 w - - 0 21"]
21.Qd6 Qc8 22.Rf1 [22.Ba3 Ne4 23.Be4 Bd1 24.Qd1 Qc4 25.Bf8 Qe4 26.
Bc5 Qc4 27.Qa1 Qc5 equal; Sr.Cvetkovic] Qc4 23.Ba3 Rc8 24.Rc1 [24.
Nc5!?] Bc2 unclear; A.Giri - E.Bacrot, Deutschland 2010 see 109/320;
21.Ba3 Bd1 [21...Ne4 22.Qb4 and White is superior; Sr.Cvetkovic] 22.Bf8
Ne4 [22...Ba4 23.Nf6 Bf6 24.Qb4 and White is superior; Sr.Cvetkovic] 23.
Be4 [23.Qd1 Qc4 24.Qa1 Kf8 25.Qe5 Nc3 26.Qb8 Ke7 27.Qa7 Kf6 28.a3
Ne2 29.Be2 Qe2 and White is slightly better; Sr.Cvetkovic] Kf8 [23...Qc4 24.
Qd8 Qe4 25.Bc5 Kh7 26.Qd1 Qc4 27.Qb1 g6 28.Ba7 and White is superior]
24.Qd1 Bf6 25.Qb3 and White is slightly better.
15
[FEN "5rk1/p1qb1ppp/4pn2/8/1r1b4/
2N2BP1/PP1QPP1P/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 17"]
17.a4 a5 18.Nb5 Bb5 19.ab5 Rd8 20.e3 (Buhmann - Georg Meier,

Deutschland (ch) 2009 see 109/(321)) Bb2 21.Qb2 Rb2 22.Bb2 with
compensation; Sr.Cvetkovic;
17.Nb5 Bf2 18.Rf2 Rb5 19.b3 Bc6 20.Bb2 Bf3 21.ef3 Rd8 22.Rc1 Qb8 23.
Qe3 Nd5 24.Qd4 f6 equal; Raul Schmidt - T.Nyback, Rijeka 2010 see 109/
(321);
17.a3 Rc4 18.Qd3 Bc3 19.bc3 (T.Nyback - E.LAmi, Wijk aan Zee II 2010
see 109/(321)) e5! 20.Bg2 Rc3 21.Qd1 Bf5 unclear;
17.Rd1 (B.Avrukh - P.H.Nielsen, Dresden (ol) 2008 see 104/278) Bc6 18.
Qd3 Bf3 19.Qf3 Be5 with compensation.
16
17...Qb6 18.Rb1 e5 19.b3
[FEN "5rk1/p2b1ppp/1q3n2/4p3/1r1b4/
1P3BP1/P2QPP1P/1RBN1RK1 b - - 0 19"]
a) 19...Bf5 20.Ba3 Bb1 [20...Bc5 21.Bb4 Bb4 22.Qb2 Bb1 23.Qb1 and White
is superior] 21.Qb4 Qb4 22.Bb4 Rb8 23.Nc3 Bg6 24.Ba5 and White is
superior;
b) 19...Rc8 20.Ba3 Ra4 21.ba4 Qb1 22.Ne3 Qb6 23.a5 and White is slightly
better.
17
19...Be3 20.Qe3 e5 21.Bd2 Rb2 22.Rab1 Rb1 23.Rb1 e4 24.Bg2 and White is
slightly better; Sr.Cvetkovic.
18
[FEN "1r4k1/p1qb1ppp/5n2/4p3/r2b4/
P3NBP1/1P1QPP1P/1RB2RK1 w - - 0 21"]
21.b4 a5 22.Qc2 Qc2 23.Nc2 Bc3 [23...Bf5 24.Nd4! Bb1 25.Nc6 and White is
superior; Kramnik - A.Naiditsch, Dortmund 2010 see 109/321] 24.Bb2 Bb2
25.Rb2 g6 [25...Bf5 26.Bc6 Bc2 27.Rc2 Ra3 28.b5 and White is superior] 26.
Rfb1 Rc8 and White is slightly better.
Branko Tadic

Chess Informant Labs

Josip Asik
Informant at
ChessCafe
Translate this page
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accessible:
We are very excited about a new feature that will be making its debut in
Chess Informant #110. It is called Chess Informant Labs, and it will present
original theoretical opening content strictly from the author's point of view. A
stable of five young, ambitous, and active tournament competitors will be
overseeing this section. They are the crme de la crme of Serbian chess: GM
Ivan Ivanisevic (peak rating 2664), GM Bojan Vuckovic (2640), GM Dragan
Solak (2630), GM Robert Markus (2625), and GM Milos Perunovic (2589).
Ranging in age between twenty-seven and thirty-three, these professionally
oriented young guns are friendly rivals who are willing to share some of the
secrets that they have found during endless hours of preparation. They have
great ambitions and are proud, as are we, to append their names to their
contributions to CI Labs. CI Labs could evolve in different ways and gather
more contributors as it progresses. We will rely on the opinions of our readers
to guide us. Our author's are interested in feedback from the readership as
well.
This month, we present an excerpt from Milos Perunovic's column. It is a
work in progress, with more verbose explanations still to be added, but we
couldn't wait to show you this example. Milos is the youngest of the five Lab
members. Born in 1984 in Belgrade, he began his career as a prodigy, and
received training from well known representatives of the Soviet school of
chess: Alexander Nikitin, Orest Averkin, and Andrey Zontakh. He won the
Serbian individual championship in 2005 and 2007, and was a member of the
national team for the Chess Olympiads in 2004 and 2008, and the European
championships in 2003, 2005, and 2009.
Small ECO
This article was inspired by the game between Ivan Cheparinov and Mircea
Parligras, played at the European individual championship in March 2011. It
covers lines in the Sicilian Defence, Keres Attack [B81].
I. Cheparinov M.E. Parligras
Aix-les-Bains 2011 [B81]
the games from
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.g4 e5 8.Nf5 h5 9.
g5 [9.gh5 d5! and Black is slightly better; Pikula - V.Jakovljevic, Jugoslavija
1996; 9.Bg5 hg4 10.Nd5 Bf5 11.Bf6 gf6 12.ef5 Nd7 unclear; R.Swinkels Palac, Dresden 2007] Ne4 10.Ng7 Bg7 11.Ne4 d5 12.Ng3
[FEN "rnbqk2r/1p3pb1/p7/3pp1Pp/8/4B1N1/
PPP2P1P/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 0 12"]
ECO B
12...e4!? [12...d4 13.Bd2
[FEN "rnbqk2r/1p3pb1/p7/4p1Pp/3p4/6N1/
PPPB1P1P/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 0 13"]
a) 13...h4 14.Nh5 Qd5 a1) 15.Ng7 Kf8 16.f3 Kg7 17.Bd3 Nd7 18.c4 (N.
Nestorovic - Tukhaev, Plovdiv 2008) Qe6 unclear; a2) 15.Rg1! Qe4 16.Qe2
Qe2 17.Be2 Rg8 18.Bd3 Nc6 19.0-0-0 and White is superior;
b) 13...Nc6 b1) 14.Nh5 Qd5 15.Ng7 Kf8 16.f3 e4! 17.Nh5 (G.Halvax - S.
Stanojevic, corr.2009) e3 18.Ng3 Qe5 19.Qe2 ed2 20.Kd1 Qg5 21.Qd2 Qf6
with compensation; b2) 14.Bd3 Bg4 15.f3 Be6 16.Qe2 Qc7 (16...Qb6 17.0-0
h4 18.Ne4 0-0-0 19.b4 f5 1/2 : 1/2 Bodnaruk - Shomoev, Saint Petersburg
2009) 17.Nf5 Bf8 18.0-0-0 0-0-0 unclear; b3) 14.Bg2!? Bg4 15.Bf3 b31) 15...
d3 16.cd3 Qd3 17.Bg4 hg4 18.Bc3 Qc4 19.Qe2 Qf4 20.Qe3 Qe3 (20...Qc4 21.
Rc1 and White is slightly better) 21.fe3 and White is slightly better; b32) 15...
Qd7 16.h3 Bh3 (16...Bf3 17.Qf3 and White is slightly better) 17.Nh5 Kf8 18.
Nf6 Bf6 19.gf6 Qf5 20.Qe2;
c) 13...Qd5
[FEN "rnb1k2r/1p3pb1/p7/3qp1Pp/3p4/6N1/
PPPB1P1P/R2QKB1R w KQkq - 0 14"]
c1) 14.Bd3 Bg4 15.Be4 Qd7 16.f3 Be6 unclear; M.Lagarde - V.Stephan,
France 2008;
c2) 14.Be2 e4!? unclear; N.Yordanov - G.Grigorov, Plovdiv 2008;
c3) 14.Rg1 Bg4 15.Be2 Nd7! 16.Bg4 hg4 17.Qg4 Rh2 18.Qe4 (18.Bb4!?
unclear; J.-C.Koch - Andruet, Marseille 1989 see 48/317) Qe4 19.Ne4 Ke7
20.0-0-0 Rc8 21.Rge1! Ke6 unclear; Hracek - D.Solak, Calvia (ol) 2004 see
93/180;
c4) 14.c4 c41) 14...dc3 15.Bc3 Be6 (15...Qd1 16.Rd1 h4 17.Ne4 Nc6 18.Bg2
and White is superior; Cs.Balogh - D.Doric, Boswna i Hercegovina 2007) 16.
Qd5 Bd5 17.Rg1 Nc6 18.Be2 and White is superior; Joseph Sanchez Rabadan Velasco, La Roda 2008; c42) 14...Qc6 15.Bd3 Bg4 16.Qc2 Nd7 (16...
Bf3 17.0-0 Nd7 18.Nf5 Bf8 19.Nh4 Nc5 20.Rae1 and White is superior;
Sutovsky - M.Hoffmann, Plovdiv 2010) 17.Be4 Qc7 (Sivokho - Vl.Fedoseev,
Saint Petersburg 2008) 18.Nf5 Bf8 (18...Bf5 19.Bf5 Nc5 20.0-0 Rd8 21.Rae1
d3 22.Qd1 and White is superior) 19.h3 Bf5 20.Bf5 0-0-0 21.b4 (21.c5 Kb8;
21.0-0-0 Kb8 22.Kb1 Nc5)
[FEN "2kr1b1r/1pqn1p2/p7/4pBPp/1PPp4/7P/
P1QB1P2/R3K2R b KQ b3 0 21"]
c421) 21...e4!? c4211) 22.Be4 d3 23.Qd3 Nf6 24.Bf5 Kb8 25.Qc3 (25.Qg3
Bd6 26.Qb3 Rhe8 27.Kf1 Ne4 28.Be4 Re4 with compensation) Bb4 26.Qb4
Qe5 27.Be3 (27.Kf1 Qf5) Qa1 28.Bb1 Ne4 unclear; c4212) 22.Qe4 Bb4 23.
Bb4 Rde8 24.Be7 Kb8 25.0-0 Nc5 26.Qd4 Qe7 27.f4 and White is slightly
better; c422) 21...Kb8 22.c5 e4 c4221) 23.Be4 d3 24.Qc3 Rg8 (24...Bc5!?) 25.
Rc1 Bg7 with initiative; c4222) 23.Qe4 Bc5 24.0-0 Rhe8 25.Qg2 Bd6 and
13.c3 [13.Nh5 Bb2 14.Be2 Nc6 15.Rb1 Bc3 16.Bd2 Be5 17.h4 (17.f4 ef3 18.
Bf3 Qc7 19.Bg4 Be6 and Black is slightly better) Qc7; 13.Bd4 Qg5 14.h4 Qh6
15.Bg7 Qg7 16.Qd5 Qb2 17.Rd1 (17.Qe4?! Be6 18.Rd1 Qc3 19.Rd2 Nc6 and
Black is slightly better) Qc3 (17...Qb4 18.Rd2 Qb1 19.Rd1 Qb4 equal; 17...
Nc6 18.Ne4 Be6 unclear) 18.Rd2 Qa1 19.Rd1 Qc3 20.Rd2 Qa1 21.Rd1 1/2 :
1/2 Cs.Balogh - P.Negi, Peristeri 2010] Nc6 [13...Bg4 14.Be2 Nc6 15.Bg4
hg4 16.Nf5 Rh7 17.Bf4 Be5 18.Qg4 Qc7 19.Be3 Rh2 20.Rh2 Bh2 21.0-0-0
Nb4 22.g6 0-0-0 23.Ng3 f5 24.Qf5 1-0 P.Bobras - Gumula, Polska (ch) 2010]
14.Nh5 Be5
[FEN "r1bqk2r/1p3p2/p1n5/3pb1PN/4p3/
2P1B3/PP3P1P/R2QKB1R w KQkq - 0 15"]
15.f4 [15.h4 d4 16.cd4 (16.Bf4 Rh5 17.Be5 Ne5 18.Qh5 Nf3 19.Ke2 Qd5 20.
Qh8 Ke7 21.Qf6 Ke8 equal) Nd4 17.Bg2 (17.Bd4 Bd4 18.Qa4 b5 19.Bb5 ab5
20.Qa8 Bf2 21.Kf2 Qd4 22.Kg2 Qd2 equal) Qa5 18.Bd2 Qb5 19.Be4 Bf5 20.
Bf5 Nf5 21.Rc1 Rd8 with compensation; 21...Kf8 with compensation; 15.Bg2
Be6 16.f4 ef3 (16...d4?! 17.fe5 de3 18.Ng7 Ke7 19.Ne6 fe6 20.Qd6 Qd6 21.
ed6 Kd6 22.0-0-0 Ke7 23.Rde1 and White is superior) 17.Qf3 d4 18.Rd1 Qa5
a) 19.Nf6 Kf8 20.b4 Qa3 21.cd4 Nd4 22.Qe4 (22.Bd4 Qb4 23.Rd2 Bd4 24.
Qb7 Rb8 25.Qb4 Rb4; 22.Rd4 Bd4 23.Bd4 Qc1 24.Ke2 Bc4 25.Kf2 Qd2 26.
Kg3 Qd4) Nc2 23.Kf2 Ne3 24.Qe5 Ng2 25.Kg2 Qa2 26.Kg1 Bh3 27.Nd7
Kg8 28.Nf6 Kf8 equal; b) 19.b4 Qa2 20.cd4 0-0-0 21.de5 Rd1 22.Kd1 Rh5]
ef3 16.Qf3 d4
[FEN "r1bqk2r/1p3p2/p1n5/4b1PN/3p4/2P1BQ2/
PP5P/R3KB1R w KQkq - 0 17"]
17.Bc4? [17.0-0-0 Be6 18.g6 (18.Nf6 Kf8) Qh4
[FEN "r3k2r/1p3p2/p1n1b1P1/4b2N/3p3q/
2P1BQ2/PP5P/2KR1B1R w kq - 0 19"]
a) 19.g7 Rg8 20.Bd4 0-0-0 21.Ba6 (21.Be5 Ne5 22.Rd8 Rd8 23.Qe3 Qh5 24.
Be2 Qf5 25.h4 with compensation) Bd5 22.Qf5 Be6 23.Qf3 equal; b) 19.cd4
Rc8 20.Kb1 Qh5 21.Qh5 Rh5 22.de5 fg6 23.Bf4 (23.a3 Re5 equal) Nb4 24.a3
Bf5 25.Ka1 Nc2 26.Ka2 Rh4 27.Bg5 Ra4 (equal) 28.h4 Nb4 29.Ka1 Nc2; c)
19.Nf4! Ba2!? 20.gf7 Bf7 21.cd4 Bf4 22.Bf4 (22.Qf4 Rc8 23.Qh4 Rh4 24.
Kb1 Bd5 25.Rg1 Nb4 equal) 0-0-0 23.Rg1 Rd7 and White is slightly better]
Qe7 18.0-0-0 de3 19.Rhf1 Be6 and Black is winning.


Sasa Velickovic
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The Younger One Stood Out
Informant at
ChessCafe
Former World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov was in great form throughout

the super tournament in Dortmund and admirably triumphed. He won a two
game mini-match against GM Vladimir Kramnik, many times victor of this
tournament, with 1-. It was his spectacular victory in the second round
that practically decided the tournament. In fact the Chess Informant jury
found this to be so beautiful an opening that it convinvincing won the vote for
best game by one of the widest margins ever seen in the history of our voting.
It is also interesting that R. Ponomariov has another victory, against GM A.
Naiditsch from Dortmund, among the best ten games.
Small ECO
Translate this page
2001-2009

the games from
Anthology of Chess
Combinations
1. R. Ponomariov (2734) V. Kramnik (2790)

Dortmund 2010 109/309 [E01]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Bb4 4.Bd2 Be7 5.Bg2 d5 6.Nf3 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Qc2 b6
9.Rd1 Ba6 10.Ne5 Qc8 11.Nc3 Nbd7 12.Rac1 [a novelty; 12.Bf4 see 88/
(414)] Ne5 [12...Bc4 13.Nc4 (13.b3 Ba6 14.Nc6 Bd6 equal) dc4 14.b3!? cb3
15.ab3 with compensation] 13.de5 Nd7 [13...Ng4!? 14.cd5 ed5 (14...cd5 15.
Qa4 Qc4 16.b4 and White is superior) 15.Qa4 Bc5 16.Be1 Bc4 (only move)
17.b3 b5 18.Qa5 Qf5 19.bc4 Bf2 unclear] 14.cd5 cd5 15.Bf4 g5 [15...Qe8 16.
e4 d4 17.Rd4 g5 18.Qd2 and White is superior]
[FEN "r1q2rk1/p2nbp1p/bp2p3/3pP1p1/5B2/
2N3P1/PPQ1PPBP/2RR2K1 w - g6 0 16"]
16.Bd5! ed5 17.Nd5 Qd8?! [17...Bd8 18.Qd2 Qb8 19.e6 gf4 20.e7 (20.ed7
fg3 21.hg3 Qe5 22.Nb4 Bb7 23.Nc6 unclear) Qe5 (20...fg3?? 21.Nf6) 21.ef8Q
Nf8 22.Qf4 and White is slightly better] 18.Nc7! (and White is superior) Rc8
[18...gf4 19.Qf5 Bc8 20.Na8 fg3 21.hg3 Nc5 22.Rd8 Bf5 23.Rf8 and White is
superior] 19.e6! fe6 20.Qc6 (and White is winning) Qe8 21.Qe6 Qf7 22.Qf7
Kf7 23.Na6 gf4 24.Rc8 Rc8 25.Rd7 Rc2 26.Nb4 Rb2 27.Nc6 Re2 28.Ra7 f3
29.h4 h5 30.Re7 Re7 31.Ne7 Ke7 32.g4 hg4 33.Kh2 Ke6 34.Kg3 Kf5 35.a4
Ke4 36.Kg4 1-0 [B.Damljanovic]
2. E. Sutovsky (2661) A. Onischuk (2699)
Poikovsky 2010 109/201 [C78]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5 6.c3 0-0?! 7.d4 Ba7 8.Bg5
h6 9.Bh4 ed4 10.cd4! d6 11.Bc6 [a novelty; 11.Qd3] bc6 12.Nbd2 g5 [12...
Re8 13.Qa4! g5 14.Ng5 hg5 15.Bg5 see 12...g5] 13.Ng5 hg5 14.Bg5 Re8
[FEN "r1bqr1k1/b1p2p2/p1pp1n2/6B1/
3PP3/8/PP1N1PPP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 15"]
15.Qa4!! [15.e5 de5 16.Qf3! (16.Ne4 Ne4 17.Bd8 Rd8 unclear) Bg4! 17.Qg3!
ed4 18.Rae1! (18.Qh4 Qd5 19.Bf6 Qh5 20.Qg3 Qg6 equal) Qd6 19.Qh4 Nd5
20.Qg4 Qg6 and White is slightly better] Rb8 [15...Re6! a) 16.e5 de5 17.de5
Re5 18.Qh4 Re6 19.Nf3 (19.Rae1 Qd4 20.Re6 Be6 21.Bf6 Qh4 22.Bh4 Ba2
with counterplay) Rd6! 20.Rae1 Bf5 21.Re5 Bg6 22.Rfe1 Kg7 23.Re6 (23.
Bh6 Kg8 24.Bg5 Kg7 equal) Re6 24.Re6 fe6 25.Qh6 Kg8 26.Qg6 Kf8 27.Qh6
Kg8 28.Qg6 Kf8 equal; b) 16.f4! Rb8 (16...Kg7 17.Kh1 and White is
winning) 17.f5 Re8 18.Kh1 Rb2 (18...Rb5 19.e5 de5 20.de5 Qd4 21.Qd4 Bd4
22.Bf6 Be5 23.Rae1 and White is superior) 19.e5 de5 20.Ne4 Ne4 21.Bd8
Rd8 22.de5 Bd4 (22...Nf2 23.Rf2 Rf2 24.Qg4 Kf8 25.Qh4 Rfd2 26.Qh8 Ke7
27.Qf6 Ke8 28.Rf1 and White is winning) 23.Qd1! Nf2 24.Rf2 Rf2 25.Qg4
Kf8 26.Qg5! Rd5 27.Qh6 Ke8 28.Qc6 Bd7 29.Qa8 Bc8 30.Qd5 Ba1 31.g4
and White is superior] 16.Rae1! Re6 [16...Rb2 17.e5 Rd2 18.Bf6 Rd4 19.
Qa5! Rd5 (19...Qd7 20.e6 and White is winning) 20.Qb4! Rd4 21.Qc3! Qd7
22.e6 fe6 23.Bd4 and White is winning] 17.e5 de5 18.de5 Rb2 [18...Qd4 19.
Qd4 Bd4 20.Bf6 and White is winning] 19.Bf6 Qd4 20.Qa3 Rf6 21.ef6 Rd2
22.Re8 Kh7 23.Rh8! Kg6 24.Qg3 Kf6 [24...Bg4 25.h3 and White is
winning] 25.Rc8 Rd3 26.Qg8! 1-0 [E.Sutovsky]
3. T. Radjabov (2740) B. Gelfand (2741)

Medias 2010 109/174 [C42]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Ne5 d6 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Re1
Bg4 9.c4 Nf6 10.Nc3 Bf3 11.Qf3 Nd4 12.Qd1 Ne6 13.Bf5 c6 [13...d4 see
101/213] 14.cd5 Nd5 15.Qg4 Nc3 [a novelty; 15...0-0 16.Nd5 cd5 17.Qh3
(17.Bh6 Bf6 18.Qh3 Re8! and Black is slightly better) g6 18.Be6 fe6 19.Qe6
Rf7 20.Be3 and White is slightly better] 16.bc3 0-0 17.Rb1 Qc7 18.Bh6
Bd6? [18...Bf6 19.Qh3 (19.Re3 with attack) Rfe8 a) 20.Re6!? fe6 (20...Re6
21.Be3 h6 22.Be6 fe6 23.Qe6 Kh7 24.Qf5 Kg8 25.Bh6 Qf7) 21.Bh7 Kf7 22.
Be3 with compensation; b) 20.Bh7 Kf8 21.Bd2 Nf4 22.Qf3 Re1 23.Re1 Ne6
equal]
[FEN "r4rk1/ppq2ppp/2pbn2B/5B2/
6Q1/2P5/P4PPP/1R2R1K1 w - - 0 19"]
19.Qh3! (and White is superior) Rfe8 [19...gh6 20.Qh6 and White is superior;
19...Rae8 20.g4! g6 (20...gh6 21.Qh6 f6 22.Be6 and White is superior) 21.Be6
fe6 22.Bf8 Rf8 and White is superior] 20.Bg7 Bh2 [20...Kg7 21.Qh7 Kf6 22.
Qh6 Kf5 23.h3 and White is winning] 21.Kf1 Kg7 22.Qh7 Kf6 [22...Kf8 23.
Qh6 Kg8 (23...Ke7 24.Be6 fe6 25.Rb7 and White is winning) 24.Rb4 Bf4 25.
Qh7 Kf8 26.Rbe4 and White is winning] 23.Be6 Bf4 [23...fe6 24.Qh6 Kf7
(24...Kf5 25.g4 Kg4 26.Qg6 Kh4 27.Rb4 Bf4 28.Kg2 and White is winning) 25.
Rb7 and White is winning; 23...Re6 24.Qh6 Ke7 25.Re6 fe6 26.Rb7 and
White is winning] 24.Qf5 Kg7 25.Rb4 Re6 26.Re6 fe6 27.Qg4 Kh8 28.Rf4
[28.Qh4! Qh7 29.Qf6 Kg8 (29...Qg7 30.Qf4 and White is winning) 30.Rf4
Qb1 31.Ke2 Qc2 32.Ke3 Qc1 33.Kf3 Qd1 34.Kg3 and White is winning] Qh7
29.Qe6 Qh1 30.Ke2 Qh5 31.g4 Qb5 32.Kf3 Qd3 33.Kg2 Qd5 34.Qd5 cd5
35.Rf7 b5 36.Rd7 a6 37.f4 Rc8 38.f5 1-0 [Milos Perunovic]
4. M. Carlsen (2813) Wang Yue (2752)
Medias 2010 109/169 [C36]
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.ed5 ef4 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bc4 Nd5 6.0-0 Be7 7.Bd5 Qd5 8.Nc3
Qd8 9.d4 0-0 10.Bf4 Bf5 11.Qe2 [11.Qd2 see 78/322] Bd6 [a novelty; 11...
Nc6] 12.Bd6 Qd6 13.Nb5 Qd8 14.c4 a6 [14...c6!? with the idea 15.Nc3 Nd7]
15.Nc3 Nd7 16.Rad1 Bg6 17.Qf2 Re8 18.h3 (and White is slightly better)
Rc8 19.Rfe1 Re1 20.Re1 c6 21.d5 Nf6 22.Qd4 cd5 23.Nd5 Nd5 24.cd5 Qd6
25.Ne5 Re8 [25...Qc5? 26.Qc5 Rc5 27.d6 Rd5 28.d7 and White is winning;
25...f6 26.Ng6 (26.Nc4? Qb4 27.Rc1 b5 and Black is winning; 26.Nf3?! Bf7
27.Rd1 Rd8 weak point d5) hg6 27.Re6 Qc5 (27...Rc1 28.Kf2 Rc2 29.Kf3
Qd7) 28.Qc5 Rc5 29.d6 Rd5 equal; 25...Bf5!? D.Rogozenco] 26.Re3 Rd8
[26...b5 27.Nc4! with the idea 27...Qd8 28.Re8 Qe8 29.Ne5 D.Rogozenco] 27.
Nc4 Qf6 28.Re5! h6? [better is 28...b5 with the idea 29.Na5 h6]
[FEN "3r2k1/1p3pp1/p4qbp/3PR3/2NQ4/
7P/PP4P1/6K1 w - - 0 29"]
29.d6! Bf5 [29...b5 30.d7!] 30.Nb6! Be6 [30...Qd6? 31.Rd5 and White is
winning; 30...Rd6 31.Nd5 and White is superior] 31.d7 Kh8 32.a4 (and
White is superior, zugzwang) g6 33.Qc3 Kg7 34.a5 h5 35.h4 Rd7 [35...Qh4?
36.Re6 and White is winning; 35...Bd7? 36.Rd5 and White is winning; 35...
Kg8 36.Rc5 Qc3 (36...Qh4 37.Rc8) 37.Rc3 Kf8 38.Rc7 and White is winning]
36.Nd7 Bd7 37.Qd4 Bc6 38.b4 Bb5 39.Kh2 Ba4 40.Rd5 Bc6 41.Qf6 Kf6 42.
Rc5 Ke6 43.Kg3 f6 44.Kf2 Bd5 45.g3 g5? [45...Kd6; 45...Bc6] 46.g4! (and
White is winning) hg4 47.h5 Be4 48.Rc7 f5 49.h6 f4 50.h7 g3 51.Ke1 f3 52.
h8Q f2 53.Ke2 Bd3 54.Ke3 1-0 [RR]
5. V. Potkin (2626) Wang Hao (2724)
Russia China 2010 109/355 [E58]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.a3 Bc3
9.bc3 Qc7 10.Bb2 Na5 11.cd5 ed5 12.Ne5 Re8 [12...c4 see 90/473] 13.a4
Re5!? [a novelty; 13...Nc4 a) 14.Bc4 dc4 15.Qc2 Be6 (15...b6) 16.e4 Rac8
unclear; b) 14.Nc4 dc4 15.Bc2 (15.Bc4?! cd4 16.Qd4? Re4 and Black is
winning; 15.Be2 Be6 16.Qd2 Rad8 unclear) b1) 15...Be6 16.e4 cd4 17.cd4 c3
18.Ba3 Rad8 19.Re1 with initiative; b2) 15...Bd7 b21) 16.Ba3 b211) 16...Bc6
17.Bc5 b6 18.d5 (18.Ba3 Qb7 19.f3 Re3 20.Bc1 Re6 unclear) Rad8 19.Bd4
Rd5 20.Qe2 Rg5 21.f3 Nd5 22.Qd2 and White is slightly better; b212) 16...
Ng4 17.g3 cd4 18.cd4 Nf6 19.Qe2 Ne4 unclear; b22) 16.Rc1 Rad8 17.Qe2
Ng4 18.g3 Qb6 19.Rcd1 Qh6; b23) 16.Re1! Ng4 (16...cd4 17.cd4 c3 18.Ba3
Ng4 19.g3 Qc6 20.e4 Qh6 21.h4 Rac8 22.Bc1 Qg6 23.Bf4 and White is
slightly better) 17.g3 Qb6 18.Bc1 Qh6 19.h4 Qf6 20.f3 Qd6 21.Kg2 Nf6 22.
e4 with initiative; b3) 15...Ng4 16.g3 Qb6! 17.Bc1 (17.Ba3 Bd7! 18.Bc5 Qh6
19.h4 Ne3! 20.fe3 Re3 with attack) Qh6 (17...cd4 18.ed4 Nf6 19.Rb1 Qa6 20.
f3 Nd5 21.Bd2 Bd7 unclear) 18.h4 Qe6 19.e4 (19.Qf3 cd4 20.cd4 Nf6 21.Rb1
Bd7 and Black is slightly better) Nh2! 20.Kh2 Qh3 21.Kg1 Bg4 22.f3 Qg3 23.
Kh1 Qh4 24.Kg1 Bh3 25.Qe1 Qh5 unclear] 14.de5 Qe5
[FEN "r1b3k1/pp3ppp/5n2/n1ppq3/P7/2PBP3/
1B3PPP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 15"]
15.h3?! [15.e4!! a) 15...de4 16.Be4! Qe4 (16...Bg4 17.Bf3 Bf3 18.Qf3 Re8 19.
Rad1 and White is slightly better) 17.Qd8 Ne8 18.Qa5 (18.Rfe1 Bh3! 19.Re4
Rd8 20.gh3 Kf8 unclear) b6 19.Rfe1! (19.Qb5?! Ba6!! 20.Qa6 Nc7 21.Rae1
Qe1 22.Qb7 Qe7 and Black is slightly better) Qc6 (19...Qe1?? 20.Re1 ba5 21.
Re8 mate) 20.Qb5 Qb5 21.ab5 Be6 22.c4 h5 23.Red1 Bc4 24.Rd7 Bb5 25.
Raa7 Ra7 26.Ra7 and White is slightly better; b) 15...c4 16.Bc2 Be6 17.ed5
Qd5 18.Qd5 Bd5 19.Rfe1 and White is slightly better; c) 15...Bg4 16.f3 de4
17.Be4 c1) 17...Nc4 18.Bb7! Rb8 (18...Nb2 19.Qe1 Qe1 20.Rfe1 Rb8 21.fg4
Rb7 22.g5 Nd3 23.Re3 c4 24.gf6 and White is winning) 19.Re1 Qc7 20.Bc1
and White is superior; c2) 17...Qe4 18.fe4 Bd1 19.Rad1 b6 20.Rfe1 and
White is slightly better; c3) 17...Ne4 18.fg4 Re8 19.Qd3 and White is slightly
better] c4 16.Bc2 Bf5 17.Re1 Bc2 18.Qc2 Nb3 19.Rad1 Re8 (and Black is
slightly better) 20.f3 [20.Ba3 h6 21.f3 Qe6! 22.Qf2 a5 23.Re2 Qc6 and Black
is slightly better] Nc5 [better is 20...Qe6 21.Ba3 h6 and Black is slightly
better] 21.Rd4 [21.Ba3! Nd3 22.Rd3 cd3 23.Qd3 Qc7 24.Bb4 a5 25.Ba3 b6
26.Rb1 Re6 27.Qd4 equal] Nd3 22.Re2? [22.Rd3 (only move) cd3 23.Qd3
Rc8 and Black is slightly better] Nh5! 23.e4 Nhf4 24.Rd2 f5! (and Black is
winning) 25.Ba3 fe4 26.fe4 Qg5 27.Kh2 Re4 28.Qd1 Qe5 [28...Ne2] 29.Re4
[29.g3 Re1 30.Qf3 Re3 with the idea 31.Qf1 Ne6 and Black is winning] de4
30.Qg4 h5 0-1 [Bo.Vuckovic]
6. Vl. Akopian (2694) V. Ivanchuk (2741)
Astrakhan 2010 109/259 [D39]
1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 dc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bf6 Qf6 8.Bc4 c5
9.0-0 cd4 10.e5 Qd8 11.Ne4 Nc6 [a novelty; 11...0-0 see 109/(259)] 12.a3
Be7 13.Qe2 0-0 14.Bd3 g6 15.h4 (with initiative) Kg7 [15...Bh4?! 16.Nh4
Qh4 17.Nf6 Kh8 18.f4 with initiative] 16.h5 g5 [better is 16...Qd5 17.Ng3 (17.
Ned2 gh5) g5] 17.Ned2 Rh8 18.Nh2 b6 19.f4 gf4 20.Rf4 Bg5
[FEN "r1bq3r/p4pk1/1pn1p2p/4P1bP/3p1R2/
P2B4/1P1NQ1PN/R5K1 w - - 0 21"]
21.Raf1! Bf4 22.Rf4 a5 23.Ng4 [23...Qc7 24.Nc4! (with the idea Nd6) b5!
(24...Ba6 25.Nd6 and White is winning) 25.Nd6 f5 (only move) 26.ef6 Kf8 27.
Nc8! Rc8 (27...Qc8 28.Ne5; 27...Qf4 28.Qe6 Qc1 29.Kh2 Qf4 30.Kh3 and
White is winning) 28.Qe6 Re8 29.Qf5 and White is winning, with attack; 23...
Ra7 24.Nf6 Rc7 25.Qe4 (with the idea Nh7, Rg4) Kf8 26.Nc4 Ke7 27.Nd6
Ne5 (only move) 28.Qe5 Qd6 29.Nd5 (29.Ng8 Rg8 30.Rf7 Kf7 31.Qd6 and
White is superior) Qd5 30.Qf6 Kd6 31.Rd4 and White is superior] 1-0 [M.
Krasenkow]
7. A. Naiditsch (2684) V. Kramnik (2790)
Dortmund 2010 109/46 [B07]
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 a6 5.Qd2 b5 6.f3 Nbd7 7.Nge2 [7.0-0-0 see
100/54; 7.a4 b4 8.Nd1 Rb8 9.Bd3 c5 10.Ne2 (10.c3) Qc7 11.b3 cd4 12.Bd4
Bg7 13.0-0 0-0 14.Nb2 and White is slightly better] Nb6 8.Nf4!? [a novelty;
8.Ng3; 8.b3 Bg7 (8...Bb7) 9.g3 0-0 10.Bg2 Bb7 11.0-0 Rc8 12.Rad1 and
White is slightly better] Bg7 9.a4! (and White is slightly better) b4 [9...Nc4
10.Bc4 bc4 11.Qe2 Rb8 12.Qc4 Rb2 13.0-0 0-0 14.Nd3 Rb7 15.Rab1 and
White is superior] 10.Ncd5 [10.Nd1!? a5 11.Bb5 Bd7 12.0-0 0-0 13.b3 e5 14.
de5 de5 15.Nd3 and White is slightly better] Nbd5 11.Nd5 Nd5 [11...a5 12.
Nf6 Bf6 13.Bh6 and White is superior] 12.ed5 0-0!? [12...Bb7 13.Bc4 a5
14.0-0 0-0 15.Rfe1 and White is slightly better] 13.Qb4 e6 14.Bc4 [14.de6
Be6 15.Qd2 Re8 16.Bd3 c5 with compensation] Qh4
[FEN "r1b2rk1/2p2pbp/p2pp1p1/3P4/PQBP3q/
4BP2/1PP3PP/R3K2R w KQ - 0 15"]
15.Kd1!? [15.Bf2 Qg5 16.de6 Qg2 17.ef7 Kh8 18.Rf1 Qf3 with initiative; 15.
g3 Qh5 16.0-0 ed5 17.Bd3 Re8 18.Qd2 Rb8 unclear] Bd4?! [15...Re8! 16.
Qd2 ed5 17.Bd5 Rb8 18.c3 Bd7 with compensation] 16.Ba6! e5? [16...Qe7!?
17.Qd4 e5 18.Qc3 Ba6 19.Kc1 and White is slightly better; 16...Ba6 17.Qd4
Qd4 18.Bd4 e5 19.Be3 Bc4 20.a5 Ra6 unclear] 17.Bc8?! [17.Bb5! (and White
is superior) Ba6 18.Ba6 Ra6 19.Qc4] Rfc8 18.c3 [18.a5 Rcb8 19.Qc4 Rb2 20.
c3 Rab8 21.cd4 R8b4 22.Qc7 Rd4 23.Kc1 Rc4 24.Qc4 Qc4 25.Kb2 Qe2 26.
Kb1 Qe3 equal] Rab8 [18...c5 19.Qc4 Qf6 20.Bc1! and White is superior] 19.
Qc4 c5? [19...Rb2 20.cd4 (20.a5!?) Rcb8 21.a5 R8b4 22.Qd3 R4b3 23.Qe4
Qe4 24.fe4 Re3 25.a6 Rd3 26.Kc1 Rdd2 equal; 21.Rc1!? and White is slightly
better] 20.Bc1! e4 21.cd4 ef3 22.gf3 Re8 [22...Rb4 23.Qe2 Qd4 24.Kc2 and
White is superior] 23.Ra3!? [23.Kc2 Qf2 24.Kb1 Qf3 25.Rf1 Qe4 26.Qc2
Qd4 27.Rd1 and White is superior] Rb4 24.Qf1! Qd4 25.Kc2 c4 [25...Reb8
26.Ra2 Ra4 27.Ra4 Qa4 28.Kb1 Ra8 29.Qd3 and White is superior] 26.Qd1!
(and White is winning) Qf2 27.Bd2 Re2 28.Ra2! Qf3 29.Re1 Qb3 30.Kb1
Re1 31.Qe1 c3 [31...Qd3 32.Ka1 Rb8 33.a5] 32.Bc3 Re4 33.Qf1 Qd5 34.
Ra3 1-0 [A.Mikhalchishin]
8. R. Ponomariov (2734) A. Naiditsch (2684)
Dortmund 2010 109/356 [E59]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.a3 Bc3
9.bc3 dc4 10.Bc4 Qc7 11.Bb2 e5 12.h3 e4 13.Nd2 b6 [13...Re8 see 90/474]
14.Bb5! Na5 [a novelty; 14...Bb7 15.c4 cd4 16.Bc6; 16.ed4 and White is
slightly better; RR 14...a6 15.Bc6 Qc6 16.c4 cd4 17.ed4 Bf5 18.d5 Qd6 19.a4
and White is slightly better, with the idea 20.Ba3, 20.Qb3; 14...Bf5 15.c4 cd4
16.ed4 and White is slightly better; M.Krasenkow] 15.c4! cd4 16.Bd4 [16.
ed4?! a6! 17.Ba4 Nc4] Qe7 17.c5!? [17.Rc1 Nb7 18.Bc6 Rb8 19.Bf6 Qf6 20.
Bd5 and White is slightly better; RR 17.Qc2! (with the idea Bf6) Bf5 18.c5 M.
Krasenkow] a6 [17...bc5 18.Bc3 (18.Bf6 Qf6 19.Qa4 Qb6 20.Rab1 Rd8 21.
Ne4 Bf5 22.Rfc1 and White is slightly better) Nb7 19.Bc6 (19.Rc1 Rd8 20.
Qa4 with compensation) Qe6 20.Qa4 Bd7 21.Bd7 Nd7 22.Ne4 Nb6 23.Qc2
and White is slightly better] 18.Ba4 [18.Be2! bc5 19.Bf6 Qf6 20.Ne4 Qe7 21.
Rc1! Rd8 22.Qa4 Nb7 23.Qc6 and White is superior] bc5 19.Bc3 Nb7 20.Bc6
Ra7 [20...Qe6 21.Qa4 Bd7 22.Bd7 Nd7 23.Ne4 and White is slightly better]
21.Qb1!? [21.Bf6 Qf6 22.Be4 and White is slightly better; RR 21.Qa4! Nd6
22.Rac1 and White is superior; M.Krasenkow] Qc7 22.Be4 Ne4 23.Ne4 Qc6
24.Ng5! Qh6 [24...Qg6 25.Qg6 hg6 26.Rfd1 and White is slightly better] 25.
f4 Nd6 [RR 25...Qg6 and White is slightly better; M.Krasenkow] 26.Qb6!
Rb7 27.Qc5 Rb5 28.Qc7 Rb7 29.Qc6 (and White is superior) Nb5 30.Qh6
[30.Qc5? Rc7] gh6 31.Ne4 f5 32.Nf6 Kg7 33.Be5! [33.Nd5 Nc3 34.Nc3 Re8
35.Rfc1 Re3 36.Nd5 Rd3 37.Nb4 Rd8 and White is slightly better] Rf6 34.
Rfc1 Bd7 [34...Be6 35.Rab1 Re7 36.a4 and White is winning] 35.Rab1 Ra7
36.a4 Nd6
[FEN "8/r2b2kp/p2n1r1p/4Bp2/P4P2/4P2P/
6P1/1RR3K1 w - - 0 37"]
37.Bd4! (and White is winning) Ra8 38.Rd1 Ne4 39.Rb7 Rd8 40.Be5! Kg6
41.Rdd7 Rd7 42.Rd7 Rc6 43.g4! Rc1 44.Kg2 Rc2 45.Kf1 Nd2 46.Ke1 1-0
[Bo.Vuckovic]
9. I. Caspi (2461) C. Sandipan (2637)
Tromso 2010 109/135 [B80]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e6 7.Be3 b5 8.Qd2 Nbd7
9.g4 b4 10.Nce2 h6 11.0-0-0 Qc7 12.h4 d5 13.Nf4 e5 14.Nfe6 fe6 15.Ne6
Qa5 16.ed5 Qa2 17.Qd3
[FEN "r1b1kb1r/3n2p1/p3Nn1p/3Pp3/1p4PP/
3QBP2/qPP5/2KR1B1R b kq - 0 17"]
17...e4!! [a novelty; 17...Kf7? see 106/69] 18.Qd4 [18.Nc7! Kd8 (18...Kf7 19.
Qc4 Qc4 20.Bc4 Ne5 21.Bb3 Rb8 22.g5 with compensation) 19.Ne6 Ke7 (19...
Ke8 equal) 20.d6 Kf7 (20...Ke8 21.Nc7 Kd8 22.Qd4 with compensation) 21.
Qd4 (with compensation) b3 (21...Qa5 22.Bc4 Ne5 23.Nc5! Nc4 24.Qc4 and
White is winning) 22.Bc4 Qa1 23.Kd2 Qa5 24.c3! (24.Kc1 equal; 24.Ke2!?)
Ne5 25.Nc5! (25.Nc7 Kg6 26.Be2 ef3 27.Bd3 Nd3 28.Qd3 Kf7 29.Qc4 Kg6
equal) Kg6 (25...Nc4 26.Qc4 Kg6 27.g5 hg5 28.h5!! and White is winning) 26.
Qe5 Bd6! 27.Qd6 Rd8 28.Qd8! (28.Ne4 Be6!! 29.Bd3! Ne4 30.Be4 Kf7) Qd8
29.Kc1 Qa5 30.Nb3 (with compensation) Qc7 (30...Qe5 31.Rhe1) 31.Rd4
with the idea 31...ef3 32.Bd3 Kf7 33.g5 Be6 34.gf6 Bb3 35.fg7] Bd6! 19.Bc4
b3! 20.f4 [20.Bb3 Qa1 21.Kd2 Qa5 22.Kc1 Ne5 and Black is winning] Qa1
21.Kd2 Qa5 22.c3 [22.Kc1 bc2 23.Kc2 Ng4] Qa2 23.Rb1 [23.Ke2 (M.
Vachier-Lagrave) Qb2! (23...Bb7 24.g5 with compensation) 24.Rd2 Qa3 25.
Rb1 a) 25...Bc5 26.Nc5 Nc5 (26...Qc5?? 27.Qc5 Nc5 28.Bc5 Bg4 29.Ke3 Rc8
30.Kd4) 27.Qe5 (27.Qc5?? Bg4! 28.Ke1 Qc5 29.Bc5 Rc8 and Black is
winning) Kd8 28.Qd6 Nfd7 29.Rb3 Qa5 30.Rb4 with compensation; b) 25...
Rb8! 26.Rdb2!? (26.Ng7 Kf7 27.Ne6 b2 and Black is winning) b1) 26...Nc5
27.g5 Be6 28.de6 Nh5 29.Qd5! (29.Qd6?? Ng3! and Black is winning) Nf4
30.Bf4 Bf4 31.e7! Ke7 32.Qf7 Kd8 (32...Kd6 33.Qf4 Kc6 34.gh6! Rhf8 35.
Qe5 gh6 36.Bd5 and White is winning) 33.Rd1 (33.Qg7 Re8 34.Qf6 Kd7 35.
Qf4 Nd3 36.Qf5 Kc7 37.Rb3 and White is superior; 33.Qf4 Rb6 34.Rd2 Kc8
35.Qf5 Kb7 36.Qf7 Kb8 37.Qg7 Rc8 38.gh6 Qa4) Nd3 (33...Kc8 34.Be6 Ne6
35.Qd7 mate) 34.Bd3 Bd6 (34...ed3 35.Rd3 Bd6 36.Rbd2 Re8 37.Kf1 Qc1 38.
Kg2 and White is winning) 35.Bc2! hg5 36.Qg7 Rh4 37.Qg5 Kc7 38.Qh4 Qb2
39.Qh7 Kc6 40.Qe4 Kc7 equal; b2) 26...g5!! 27.Ng7 (27.fg5 hg5 28.Bg5 Be5
and Black is winning) Kf8 (27...Kf7 and Black is winning) 28.Ne6 Kg8 29.fg5
hg5 30.Bg5 Be5 and Black is winning] Bb7! 24.Ke2 Rc8 25.Ng7 [25.g5 hg5
26.fg5 Be5 and Black is winning] Kd8! 26.Nf5 Rc4! 27.Qc4 Bd5 28.Bb6 [28.
Qd4 Bc5 29.Qd1 Bc4 30.Kf2 Bd3 and Black is winning] Nb6 29.Qd4 Kc7!
[29...Bc4 30.Kd2 Nbd7 31.Qc4! (31.Qd6 Re8 and Black is winning; 31.Nd6
Bd3 and Black is winning) Bf4 32.Ke2 with counterplay] 30.Nd6 Rd8! 31.
Qc5 Bc6 32.Nf7 Rd5 33.Qe7 Nfd7 34.Ne5 Bb5 35.Ke3 [35.c4 Nc4 36.Rhc1
Rd2 37.Ke1 Rc2 38.Nd7 Qa5 39.Kf1 Ne5 40.Kg1 Nf3 41.Kh1 Qe1 42.Re1
Rh2 mate] Re5 0-1 [Sasa Velickovic]
10. M. Carlsen (2813) T. Radjabov (2740)
Medias 2010 109/81 [B35]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.d4 cd4 5.Nd4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 Qa5 8.0-0
0-0 9.Bb3 d6 10.h3 Bd7 11.Re1 Rfc8 12.Qe2 [12.f4 see 1/259] Qh5 13.Nf3
h6 14.Rad1 g5 15.Nd5 Nd5 16.Bd5! [a novelty; 16.ed5] Bb2 [16...e6 17.Bc6
(17.Bb3 Bb2 18.Rd6 Be8) Bc6 18.Bd4 Bf8 (18...e5 19.Bc3) 19.c4 and White
is slightly better; M.Carlsen] 17.Rb1 [17.Qb5 Be5 (17...Bf6 18.Qb7 Be8) 18.
Qb7 Bh3 19.gh3 Qf3 20.Bc6 Qh3 21.Qd7 g4 22.f4! equal; M.Carlsen] Bc3!
18.Rb7 Bh3 [18...Be1 19.Rd7 Bc3 20.Qb5 a6 (20...Ne5 21.Re7 Rab8 22.Qf1!)
21.Qb6 Ne5 22.Re7 Rab8 23.Rb7 Rb7 24.Qb7 Rf8 25.Qc7 g4! (25...Nf3 26.
gf3 Be5 27.Kg2 and White is superior) 26.hg4 Qg4 27.Kf1 (27.Nh2 Qd1 28.
Nf1 Qg4 equal) Bb4! 28.c3 Nf3 29.gf3 Qf3 equal; M.Carlsen] 19.Ng5 [19.gh3
Be1 20.e5 a) 20...e6 21.Be6 Ne5 (only move; 21...fe6 22.Qd3 and White is
winning) 22.Ne5 Qe2 23.Bf7 Kh8 (only move) 24.Ng6 Kh7 (only move) 25.
Be8 Kg8 (only move) 26.Bf7 equal; b) 20...Ne5 21.Re7 Bc3! M.Carlsen] Qe2
20.Re2 Bg4! 21.Nf3 [21.Nf7 Be2 22.Ne5 (22.Nd6 Kh8 23.Nc8 Rc8) Kh8! 23.
Nc6 e6 24.Ne7 ed5 25.Ng6 equal; M.Carlsen] e6 22.Bc6 Rc6 23.Bh6 Bf3 24.
gf3 Ra6 25.Rc7 Bg7 26.Bg7 Kg7 [R 9/q] 27.c3!? Rb8 28.f4 Rbb6 29.Rd7
Rc6
[FEN "8/p2R1pk1/r1rpp3/8/4PP2/2P5/
P3RP2/6K1 w - - 0 30"]
30.Re3!? Ra2 31.e5 de5 [31...d5 32.f5! M.Carlsen] 32.fe5 Rc5?! [32...Kg6!
with the idea 33.Rf3 Rc5 34.Rff7 Re5 35.Ra7 Ra7 36.Ra7 Rc5 37.Ra3 Kf5 M.
Carlsen] 33.Rg3! Kf8 34.Rf3 Re5 35.Rff7 Ke8 36.Rfe7 Kf8 37.Rh7 Kg8 38.
Rdg7 Kf8 39.Rb7 Kg8?! [39...Rg5 40.Kf1 Kg8 41.Ra7 (41.Rhe7 Rf5!) Ra7
42.Ra7 Rc5 43.Ra3 Kf7 44.Ke2 Kf6 45.Kd3 Rd5 M.Carlsen] 40.Rhg7 Kh8
41.Rge7 Rg5 42.Kf1 Rc2 43.Rbc7 a5? [better is 43...Rg6] 44.Re6 a4 45.Ra6
(and White is winning) Rg4 [45...Rg7 46.Rh6! Kg8 47.Rc8 Kf7 48.Ra6 Ra2
49.c4 a3 50.c5 Ra1 51.Ke2 a2 52.Kf3] 46.c4 Rg7 47.Rg7 Kg7 48.Ra4 Kf6
49.Kg2 Ke5 [R 4/e] 50.Ra5! Ke6 [50...Kf4 51.Rc5; 50...Kd4 51.Rd5! Kc4 52.
Rd8 Ra2 53.Kg3 Ra7 54.f4 Rg7 55.Kf3 Rf7 56.Kg4 Rg7 57.Kf5 and White is
winning] 51.Rc5 Kd6 52.Rd5 Ke6 53.Rd4 Ke5 54.Rh4 Rc3 55.c5 Kf5 56.
Rh8! Kf4 57.Rc8 Ke5 58.c6 Kd6 59.f3 [with the idea Kg3-g4, f4] Rc5 60.
Kg3 Rg5 61.Kh4 Rg1 62.f4 Ke7 63.c7 Rc1 [63...Kd7 64.Rd8 Kc7 65.Rd2]
64.Kg5 1-0 [RR]

The Last Human Chess Book on Earth

Josip Asik
Informant at
ChessCafe
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Purchases from our

accessible:
Chess Informant 110 will soon be available in the coming weeks. The
publication, founded in 1966, celebrates a forty-fifth jubilee during this year.
Former world champion Garry Kasparov asserted "We are all Children of the
Informant" in explaining the importance of these publications in preparing top
level players for tournament competition. The present World Champion Vishy
Anand can also be called a member of the Informant generation, and in this
volume he joins a force of more than seventy prominent grandmasters,
citizens from thirty-two countries, who analyze a total of 321 games and 387
game fragments.
Israeli grandmaster Michael Roiz, who analyzes six of his games for Chess
Informant 110, called Informant "the last human chess book on earth."
Meaning that the focus is on good old human logic on those moves that
chess players consider as possible options during the game rather than on
computer generated variations. I dare say that Informant is closest to the idea
of an "open source project" among similar publications. It goes without
saying that chess players utilize contemporary technology to check their
calculations; however, it is the players who sign their names to the game. Ever
more so in Chess Informant 110, as the number of nameless editorial board
annotations (RR) has been reduced to only twenty-one games.
Beyond the collection of annotated games and standard columns which
includes the best games and most important theoretical novelties from the
previous volume, and sections of chess studies, combinations, and endings
the "Modern Chess Theory" column, presented in encyclopedic style, presents
surveys of three variations: B66 Sicilian Defense, Richter-Rauzer Attack; C65
Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense; and C95 Ruy Lopez, Breyer Variation. The best
creation of Sergey Karjakin is presented in this volume as well.
2001-2009
Chess Informant 110 also introduces the following new content:

the games from
A selection of chess problems prepared by International Solving

Grandmaster and Grandmaster of Chess Compositions Milan
Velimirovic. This column is meant to offer more than just problems for
solving, but to bring insights from the professional point of view into
the secrets of the chess problem world.
The section "The Excellent Move" presents aesthetically pleasing and
charming positions that do not fit the strict definition of beginning with
a sacrifice for inclusion in our Combinations section.
In "Chess Informat Laboratory," five selected grandmasters give their
personal take on the latest trends in opening theory. In Chess Informant
110 the following lines are presented: B48 Sicilian Defense, Paulsen
Variation; B81 Sicilian Defense, Keres Attack; B94 Sicilian Defense,
Najdorf Variation; D07 Queen's Gambit, Chigorin Defense; and D85
Grnfeld Defense, Exchange Variation.
This month we are pleased to present the ten best theoretical novelties from
Chess Informant 109, along with an example of the new chess theory column
prepared by GM Branko Tadic.
Chess Informant
1. A. Riazantsev (2674) Sergey Karjakin (2739)

Poikovsky 2010 109/341 [E15]
Nd5 9.0-0 Be7 10.Qe4 Na6 11.Nh4 g6
[FEN "r2qk2r/pb1pbp1p/np4p1/2pn4/4Q2N/
6P1/PP2PPBP/RNB2RK1 w kq - 0 12"]
12.Nf5! [a novelty; 12.Qe5 see 103/(368)] 12...gf5 13.Qe5 0-0 14.Qf5 [14.
Bd5 Bf6 15.Qf5 Bd5 16.Qd5 Nb4 17.Qd1 (17.Qf5 Qe7 with the idea 18.a3
Nc6 19.Nc3 Qe6 20.Qh5 Bc3 21.bc3 d5) 17...d5 with counterplay; Sergey
Karjakin] 14...Re8 15.Nc3 [15.Bd5 Bd5 16.Qd5 Nc7 with the idea d5] 15...
Nac7 [15...Nc3 16.Qg4 Bg5 17.bc3 with attack, weak point Kg8] 16.Be4 [16.
Nd5 Bd5 17.Bd5 Nd5 18.Qd5 Bf6 equal] 16...Bf6 17.Qh7 Kf8 18.Bd5 Bd5
19.Nd5 Nd5 20.e4 Nc7 21.Bh6 Ke7 22.e5 Be5 23.Qe4! [23.Bg5 Bf6 24.Rfe1
Ne6 25.Re6 de6 26.Bf6 Kf6 27.Qh6 Ke7 28.Qh4 equal; Sergey Karjakin] 23...
f6 [23...Kf6?? 24.Bg5 Kg5 25.f4 Kh6 26.fe5 Qe7 27.Rf5 and White is
winning; 23...d5 24.Qe5 Kd7 25.Qf5 Kc6 26.Qf7 and White is superior,
passed pawn f, g, h; Sergey Karjakin] 24.f4 d5 25.Qh7 Kd6 26.fe5 fe5 27.
Rf7 Ne6 28.Qg6 Kc6? [28...Re7 29.Bg5 Rf7 30.Bd8 Rg7 31.Qh6 Rd8 32.Rf1
and White is slightly better] 29.Raf1 (and White is superior) d4 30.R1f6 Qd5
31.Ra7 Rad8 32.a4?! [32.Qf7 Kb5 33.b3 d3 34.Bd2 Qd4 35.Kf1 Qg4 36.a4
Kc6 37.Qb7 Kd6 38.Kg2 Rh8 39.Rf2 Qh5 40.h4 Qe8 41.Rf6 and White is
winning; 32.Bf8 d3 33.Be7 Kb5 34.Bd8 Qd8 35.Re6 Qd4 36.Kf1 Rf8 37.Kg2
Qd5 38.Kh3 Rh8 39.Kg4 Qd4 40.Kf3 and White is winning; Sergey Karjakin]
32...c4 [better is 32...d3] 33.Qf7 [33.Bf8!! (with the idea Qf7) 33...Rf8 34.Re6
Rd6 35.Qh7 Qe6 36.Qb7 Kc5 37.Ra5 Kb4 (37...ba5 38.Qb5 mate) 38.Rb5
Ka4 39.Qa6 mate] 33...Kc5 34.Bd2 [34.Rc7 Kb4 35.Re7 and White is
superior] 34...c3 35.Rc7? [35.bc3 and White is superior] 35...Kb4 36.bc3
Kb3? [36...dc3 37.Bc3 Kb3 (37...Ka3!?) 38.Re6 Re6 39.h4 Red6 40.Be5 Qf7
41.Rf7 Re6 42.Bf4 Ka4 43.Kg2] 37.c4? [37.Re6! Re6 38.Qf1 Rc6 39.Qb1
Kc4 40.Rh7 Rc5 41.Qf1 Kb3 42.Rh6 b5 43.Qd1 Kb2 44.ab5 Ra8 45.Qc1 Kb3
46.Qb1 Kc4 47.Rh4 e4 48.Qf1 d3 49.Qe1 Kb5 50.Re4 Kc6 51.Rd4 Qf5 52.g4
Qe5 53.Qf1 Rd5 54.Rc4 Rc5 55.Qd3 and White is superior; Sergey Karjakin]
37...Qd6 38.Rb7? [38.Re6! Qe6 39.Qf3 Kc2 40.Qe2 Qf5 41.c5 Rc8 equal;
Sergey Karjakin] 38...d3 (and Black is superior) 39.a5 Qd4 40.Kf1 Qe4 41.
Kg1 Kc2! 42.Rb6 [42.Rf2 Nd4 and Black is winning] 42...Kd2 43.Rbe6 Re6
44.Qe6 Kc2 45.c5 Qd5 46.Qg4 Qd4 47.Rf2 [47.Qd4 ed4 and Black is
winning] 47...d2 48.Qf3 e4 49.Qf7 Kc3 0-1 [RR]
2. V. Kramnik (2790) A. Naiditsch (2684)
Dortmund 2010 109/321 [E04]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dc4 5.Bg2 c5 6.0-0 Nc6 7.Qa4 Bd7 8.Qc4
cd4 9.Nd4 Rc8 10.Nc3 Nd4 11.Qd4 Bc5 12.Qh4 0-0! 13.Bb7 Rb8 14.Bf3
Rb4 15.Qg5 Bd4 16.Qd2 Qc7
[FEN "5rk1/p1qb1ppp/4pn2/8/1r1b4/2N2BP1/
PP1QPP1P/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 17"]
17.Nd1! [a novelty; 17.a4 see 109/(321); 17.Nb5 see 109/(321); 17.a3 see 109/
(321)] 17...Rfb8 18.a3 Rc4 19.Ne3 Ra4 [19...Be3 20.Qe3 e5 21.Bd2 Rb2 22.
Rab1 Rb1 23.Rb1 e4 24.Bg2 and White is slightly better] 20.Rb1 e5 21.b4 a5
22.Qc2! [22.Nd5 Nd5 23.Bd5 ab4 24.Rb4 Rab4 25.ab4 Bh3 26.Rd1 Rd8 27.
Qa2 Qd7 unclear] 22...Qc2 23.Nc2 Bf5 [23...Bc3 24.Bb2 Bb2 25.Rb2 Bf5 26.
Ne3 Be6 27.Nc2 and White is slightly better] 24.Nd4! Bb1 25.Nc6! and
White is superior [25.Bc6?! ed4 26.Ba4 ab4 27.Bf4 ba3 28.Bb8 a2 29.Bc2
a1Q 30.Rb1 Qa5 and Black is slightly better] 25...Re8 26.Na5 Be4 27.Bb2
Bf3 28.ef3 e4?! [better is 28...Rc8 29.Rd1 h5 30.Rd2 and White is superior]
29.fe4 [29.Kg2 ef3 30.Kf3 Ne4 31.Rd1 and White is superior] 29...Re4 30.
Rd1 h5 31.Rd8 [31.Kf1 Re6 32.Nb3 Ne4 33.Rd8 Kh7 34.Rd5 Kg6 35.f3 and
White is superior] 31...Kh7 32.Kf1 h4 33.f3 Re7 34.g4 Rc7 35.Ke2 Nd7
[35...Rc2 36.Rd2 Rc7 37.Kd1! h3 38.Nb3 and White is superior] 36.Kd2 f6
37.f4 [37.Nc4 Rc4 38.Rd7 Ra6 39.h3 Rac6 40.Kd3 Rc2 41.b5 and White is
winning] 37...Nc5 38.Rd4 Kg6 [38...Ra5 39.ba5 Nb3 40.Kd3 Nd4 41.Bd4
Kg8 42.a6 Kf7 43.a7 Rc8 44.Ke4 Ke6 45.a4 and White is winning] 39.Kc3!
Kf7 40.f5 Ne4 41.Kb3 Nc5 42.Ka2 Na6 43.Rc4! (and White is winning) Rc4
44.Nc4 Nc7 45.Na5 Na6 46.Kb3 Nc5 47.Kc4 Ne4 48.Kb5 Nc3 49.Bc3 Ra3
50.Kc4 Ra2 51.b5 1-0 [A.Mikhalchishin]
3. D. Jakovenko (2725) E. Inarkiev (2669)
Odessa (m/1-rapid) 2010 109/(197) [C68]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bc6 dc6 5.0-0 Qf6 6.d4 ed4 7.Bg5 Qd6 8.Nd4
Bd7 9.Nc3 Qg6 10.Qd2!? [10.Bh4 see 107/(96)] 10...f6 11.Bf4 0-0-0
[FEN "2kr1bnr/1ppb2pp/p1p2pq1/8/3NPB2/
2N5/PPPQ1PPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 12"]
12.Ncb5!! [a novelty; 12.Bg3] 12...cb5 [12...Bh3? 13.Na7 Kb8 14.Ndc6 and

White is winning; 12...Qe4? 13.Rfe1 Qd5 14.Qa5 and White is winning] 13.
Qc3 Bc6 [13...Bd6 14.Bd6 Bc6 15.Nc6 Rd6 16.Qh3 f5 17.Ne5 and White is
slightly better] 14.Nc6 bc6? [14...Rd7 15.Rad1 Qg4 16.Rd7 Qd7 17.Nd4 and
White is slightly better] 15.Qc6 Bd6 16.Rad1 Qe8 17.Rd6 Qc6 18.Rc6 Rd7
19.Ra6 Kb7 20.Ra5 c6 21.Be3 and White is winning [N.Ostojic]
4. I. Caspi (2461) C. Sandipan (2637)
Tromso 2010 109/135 [B80]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e6 7.Be3 b5 8.Qd2 Nbd7
9.g4 b4 10.Nce2 h6 11.0-0-0 Qc7 12.h4 d5 13.Nf4 e5 14.Nfe6 fe6 15.Ne6
Qa5 16.ed5 Qa2 17.Qd3
[FEN "r1b1kb1r/3n2p1/p3Nn1p/3Pp3/1p4PP/
3QBP2/qPP5/2KR1B1R b kq - 0 17"]
17...e4!! [a novelty; 17...Kf7? see 106/69] 18.Qd4 [18.Nc7! Kd8 (18...Kf7 19.
Qc4 Qc4 20.Bc4 Ne5 21.Bb3 Rb8 22.g5 with compensation) 19.Ne6 Ke7 (19...
Ke8 equal) 20.d6 Kf7 (20...Ke8 21.Nc7 Kd8 22.Qd4 with compensation) 21.
Qd4 (with compensation) b3 (21...Qa5 22.Bc4 Ne5 23.Nc5! Nc4 24.Qc4 and
White is winning) 22.Bc4 Qa1 23.Kd2 Qa5 24.c3! (24.Kc1 equal; 24.Ke2!?)
24...Ne5 25.Nc5! (25.Nc7 Kg6 26.Be2 ef3 27.Bd3 Nd3 28.Qd3 Kf7 29.Qc4
Kg6 equal) 25...Kg6 (25...Nc4 26.Qc4 Kg6 27.g5 hg5 28.h5!! and White is
winning) 26.Qe5 Bd6! 27.Qd6 Rd8 28.Qd8! (28.Ne4 Be6!! 29.Bd3! Ne4 30.
Be4 Kf7) 28...Qd8 29.Kc1 Qa5 30.Nb3 (with compensation) Qc7 (30...Qe5 31.
Rhe1) 31.Rd4 with the idea 31...ef3 32.Bd3 Kf7 33.g5 Be6 34.gf6 Bb3 35.
fg7] 18...Bd6! 19.Bc4 b3! 20.f4 [20.Bb3 Qa1 21.Kd2 Qa5 22.Kc1 Ne5 and
Black is winning] 20...Qa1 21.Kd2 Qa5 22.c3 [22.Kc1 bc2 23.Kc2 Ng4] 22...
Qa2 23.Rb1 [23.Ke2 (M.Vachier-Lagrave) 23...Qb2! (23...Bb7 24.g5 with
compensation) 24.Rd2 Qa3 25.Rb1 a) 25...Bc5 26.Nc5 Nc5 (26...Qc5?? 27.
Qc5 Nc5 28.Bc5 Bg4 29.Ke3 Rc8 30.Kd4) 27.Qe5 (27.Qc5?? Bg4! 28.Ke1
Qc5 29.Bc5 Rc8 and Black is winning) 27...Kd8 28.Qd6 Nfd7 29.Rb3 Qa5 30.
Rb4 with compensation; b) 25...Rb8! 26.Rdb2!? (26.Ng7 Kf7 27.Ne6 b2 and
Black is winning) b1) 26...Nc5 27.g5 Be6 28.de6 Nh5 29.Qd5! (29.Qd6??
Ng3! and Black is winning) 29...Nf4 30.Bf4 Bf4 31.e7! Ke7 32.Qf7 Kd8 (32...
Kd6 33.Qf4 Kc6 34.gh6! Rhf8 35.Qe5 gh6 36.Bd5 and White is winning) 33.
Rd1 (33.Qg7 Re8 34.Qf6 Kd7 35.Qf4 Nd3 36.Qf5 Kc7 37.Rb3 and White is
superior; 33.Qf4 Rb6 34.Rd2 Kc8 35.Qf5 Kb7 36.Qf7 Kb8 37.Qg7 Rc8 38.gh6
Qa4) 33...Nd3 (33...Kc8 34.Be6 Ne6 35.Qd7 mate) 34.Bd3 Bd6 (34...ed3 35.
Rd3 Bd6 36.Rbd2 Re8 37.Kf1 Qc1 38.Kg2 and White is winning) 35.Bc2! hg5
36.Qg7 Rh4 37.Qg5 Kc7 38.Qh4 Qb2 39.Qh7 Kc6 40.Qe4 Kc7 equal; b2)
26...g5!! 27.Ng7 (27.fg5 hg5 28.Bg5 Be5 and Black is winning) 27...Kf8 (27...
Kf7 and Black is winning) 28.Ne6 Kg8 29.fg5 hg5 30.Bg5 Be5 and Black is
winning] 23...Bb7! 24.Ke2 Rc8 25.Ng7 [25.g5 hg5 26.fg5 Be5 and Black is
winning] 25...Kd8! 26.Nf5 Rc4! 27.Qc4 Bd5 28.Bb6 [28.Qd4 Bc5 29.Qd1
Bc4 30.Kf2 Bd3 and Black is winning] 28...Nb6 29.Qd4 Kc7! [29...Bc4 30.
Kd2 Nbd7 31.Qc4! (31.Qd6 Re8 and Black is winning; 31.Nd6 Bd3 and Black
is winning) 31...Bf4 32.Ke2 with counterplay] 30.Nd6 Rd8! 31.Qc5 Bc6 32.
Nf7 Rd5 33.Qe7 Nfd7 34.Ne5 Bb5 35.Ke3 [35.c4 Nc4 36.Rhc1 Rd2 37.Ke1
Rc2 38.Nd7 Qa5 39.Kf1 Ne5 40.Kg1 Nf3 41.Kh1 Qe1 42.Re1 Rh2 mate] 35...
Re5 0-1 [Sasa Velickovic]
5. V. Kramnik (2790) S. Mamedyarov (2761)
Dortmund 2010 109/258 [D38]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.cd5 ed5 7.e3 c5 8.dc5
Qa5 9.Rc1 Ne4 10.Qd5 Nc3 11.bc3 Bc3 12.Kd1 0-0 13.Bc4 Nf6 14.Bf6 Bf6
15.Ke2 b5
[FEN "r1b2rk1/p4ppp/5b2/qpPQ4/2B5/
4PN2/P3KPPP/2R4R w - b6 0 16"]
16.cb6 [a novelty; 16.c6 see 107/126] 16...Qd5 17.Bd5 Ba6 18.Bc4 ab6 19.
a4 Bb2 [19...h5!? 20.g3 Bc8 21.Bb5 Bg4 a) 22.Rc6 Rfd8 23.h3 (23.Rb6? Bc3
and Black is winning) 23...Be6 24.Rhc1 (24.Rb6 Ra4! 25.Rd1 Ra2 26.Rd2
Rdd2 27.Nd2 Bc3 28.Rd6 Bh3 29.Kd1 Be6) 24...Bh3 25.Rb6 Bg4 26.Rc7; b)
22.Rc7 22...Rfc8 23.Rhc1 Rcb8 24.R1c2 Bd8 25.R7c4 Be7 26.Rd2 and White
is slightly better] 20.Rc2 Rfc8 21.Nd2 b5?! [21...Bf6 22.Rhc1 Bb7 23.g3 Be7
24.Bb5 g6 25.Rc8 Rc8 26.Rc8 Bc8 27.Nc4 Bc5 28.Kd3 and White is
superior] 22.ab5 Bb5 23.Rb1 (and White is superior) Bc4 24.Rc4 Bf6 25.Rc8
Rc8 26.Ne4 Re8 [26...Be7 27.Rb7 Kf8 28.g4 h6 29.f4 and White is superior]
27.f4 [27.Nf6 gf6 28.Rb5 Ra8 29.Kf3 Ra7 30.g4 and White is superior] 27...
Bd4? [27...Be7 28.g4 Rd8 29.Rb7 Kf8 30.Nc3 Ke8 31.Nb5 Bc5 32.g5 and
White is superior] 28.ed4 Re4 29.Kd3 f5 30.g3 Re7 31.Rb5 1-0 [R.Szuhanek]
6. G. Kamsky (2702) L. Christiansen (2578)
USA (ch) 2010 109/185 [C64]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.0-0 Nd4 5.Ba4 [5.Nd4 see 102/237] 5...Nf3 6.
Qf3 Ne7
[FEN "r1bqk2r/ppppnppp/8/2b1p3/B3P3/5Q2/
PPPP1PPP/RNB2RK1 w kq - 0 7"]
7.Qc3! [a novelty; 7.b4; 7.Bb3; 7.Nc3; 7.c3; 7.d3] 7...Bd4 8.Qg3 Ng6 9.c3
Bb6 10.d4!? 0-0 [10...ed4 a) 11.f4!? Qf6 (11...Qh4 12.Qh4 Nh4 13.f5!) 12.
Kh1 0-0 13.f5 see 10...0-0; b) 11.Bg5 f6 12.Bd2 0-0 13.cd4 Bd4 14.Nc3; c)
11.Rd1 dc3 12.Nc3 0-0 13.Bg5 Qe8 14.Kh1 with compensation] 11.f4!? ef4
[11...ed4 12.f5 Qf6 (12...dc3 13.Kh1 Bd4 14.Nc3 Be5 15.Qd3 Ne7 16.Bf4 Bf4
17.Rf4 and White is slightly better) 13.Kh1 h6 14.cd4 Bd4 15.Nc3 with
initiative] 12.Bf4 Nf4 13.Qf4 d6 14.Nd2 Be6 15.Kh1 c6 16.Nf3 h6 [16...f6]
17.Bc2 Qd7 18.e5 de5?! [18...d5? 19.Nh4 c5 (19...g5? 20.Qf6! gh4 21.Qh6 f5
22.ef6 Bc7 23.Qg6 Kh8 24.Rf5! Bf5 25.Bf5 Qf7 26.Qh6 Kg8 27.Be6 Qe6 28.
Qg7 mate; L.Kavalek) 20.Rf3!? (20.Qg3 cd4 21.Qd3 f5 22.g4! with attack; L.
Kavalek) 20...cd4 21.Rg3 Kh8 22.Rf1 (22.cd4 Rac8 23.Bd3 and White is
superior) 22...dc3 (22...Rg8 23.Rg6!! and White is winning) 23.Rg7!! Kg7 a)
24.Qg3 Bg4 25.Rf4 (25.Nf5 Kh8 26.Qh4 f6! 27.Nh6 f5! 28.Nf7 Kg8 29.Nh6
Kh8 equal) 25...f5!! (25...h5 26.Nf5 Kh8 27.Rg4 and White is winning; 25...
Kh8 26.Rf6 Rg8 27.Rh6 Kg7 28.e6! Kh6 29.ed7 and White is winning) 26.ef6
Rf6 27.Rg4 Kh8 28.Ng6 Kg8 equal; b) 24.Qf6! Kg8 25.Qh6 f5 26.ef6 Rf7 27.
Ng6 Rh7 28.Qg5 and White is winning; 18...Bc7 a) 19.Qe4 g6 (19...f5? 20.ef6
gf6 21.Rae1 Rae8 22.d5!! cd5 23.Qf4 Qg7 24.Ba4 b5 25.Bb5 Rb8 26.Nd4 Bc8
27.Re3 Kh8 28.Rg3 Qh7 29.Bd3 f5 30.Ne6 and White is winning) 20.Qf4 Kg7
a1) 21.Rae1 Qe7 (21...de5 22.Ne5 and White is slightly better) 22.b3 and
White is slightly better; a2) 21.Qf6 21...Kg8 22.Rae1 and White is slightly
better; b) 19.Rae1!? with the idea 19...Bc4 20.Qe4 g6 21.Rf2 b1) 21...de5 22.
Ne5 Be5 23.de5 Be6 (23...Bd5 24.Qh4 Kh7 25.Re3 Be6 26.Rd3 Qc7 27.Qf6
Rad8 28.Rg3 Rg8 29.h4 and White is winning) 24.Rd1 Qc7 25.Rf6 Rfe8 26.
Qf4 Rad8 27.Rf1 Kg7 28.h4 and White is winning; b2) 21...Rae8!? 22.Qf4
and White is slightly better] 19.Ne5 Qd6 [19...Qd5!? 20.Qg3! Bc7 (20...Qd8
21.Qd3 f5 22.Rae1! Rf6 23.Ng4!) 21.Qd3 f5 22.Bb3 Qd6 23.Rf5 Rf5 24.Qf5
Bb3 25.ab3 Rf8 26.Qd3 Qd5 27.c4 Qe6 28.Nf3 and White is superior] 20.
Qg3! f5 [20...Bc7 21.Rf6! Kh8 22.Qh4 Rfe8 23.Rh6 gh6 24.Qh6 Kg8 25.Bh7
Kh8 26.Nf7! Bf7 27.Bg6 Kg8 28.Qh7 Kf8 29.Qf7 mate; 20...Rad8 21.Rf6!
and White is winning] 21.Rae1 Bc7 22.Qh3 f4? [22...Rae8 23.Bf5 Rf5 24.
Rf5 g6 25.Ng6 Bf5 26.Re8 Kg7 27.Qg3 (27.Re7? Qe7 28.Ne7 Bh3 29.gh3
Kf6 equal) 27...Qg3 (27...Bg6 28.Qd6 Bd6 29.Rd8 and White is winning) 28.
Re7 Kg6 29.hg3 Bb6 30.Rb7 Be4 and White is superior; 22...Rf6 (only move)
23.Bf5 Rf5 24.Rf5 g6 25.Rf6 Bh3 26.Rd6 Bd6 27.gh3 and White is superior]
23.Qd3 Bf5 24.Bb3 Kh7 25.Qd2 g5 26.g4 Bc8 [26...fg3 27.Rf5 Rf5 28.Bc2
Raf8 29.Rf1 and White is winning] 27.Qd3 Kg7 28.Bc2 Rh8 29.Ng6 Bg4
[29...Be6 30.Kg1! and White is winning] 30.Re7 Kf6 31.Rc7 Rhg8 32.Ne5 10 [Milos Perunovic]
7. R. Ponomariov (2734) V. Kramnik (2790)
Dortmund 2010 109/309 [E01]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Bb4 4.Bd2 Be7 5.Bg2 d5 6.Nf3 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Qc2 b6
9.Rd1 Ba6 10.Ne5 Qc8 11.Nc3 Nbd7
[FEN "r1q2rk1/p2nbppp/bpp1pn2/3pN3/2PP4/
2N3P1/PPQBPPBP/R2R2K1 w - - 0 12"]
12.Rac1 [a novelty; 12.Bf4 see 88/(414)] 12...Ne5 [12...Bc4 13.Nc4 (13.b3

Ba6 14.Nc6 Bd6 equal) 13...dc4 14.b3!? cb3 15.ab3 with compensation] 13.
de5 Nd7 [13...Ng4!? 14.cd5 ed5 (14...cd5 15.Qa4 Qc4 16.b4 and White is
superior) 15.Qa4 Bc5 16.Be1 Bc4 (only move) 17.b3 b5 18.Qa5 Qf5 19.bc4
Bf2 unclear] 14.cd5 cd5 15.Bf4 g5 [15...Qe8 16.e4 d4 17.Rd4 g5 18.Qd2 and
White is superior] 16.Bd5! ed5 17.Nd5 Qd8?! [17...Bd8 18.Qd2 Qb8 19.e6
gf4 20.e7 (20.ed7 fg3 21.hg3 Qe5 22.Nb4 Bb7 23.Nc6 unclear) 20...Qe5 (20...
fg3?? 21.Nf6) 21.ef8Q Nf8 22.Qf4 and White is slightly better] 18.Nc7! (and
White is superior) Rc8 [18...gf4 19.Qf5 Bc8 20.Na8 fg3 21.hg3 Nc5 22.Rd8
Bf5 23.Rf8 and White is superior] 19.e6! fe6 20.Qc6 (and White is winning)
Qe8 21.Qe6 Qf7 22.Qf7 Kf7 23.Na6 gf4 24.Rc8 Rc8 25.Rd7 Rc2 26.Nb4
Rb2 27.Nc6 Re2 28.Ra7 f3 29.h4 h5 30.Re7 Re7 31.Ne7 Ke7 32.g4 hg4 33.
Kh2 Ke6 34.Kg3 Kf5 35.a4 Ke4 36.Kg4 1-0 [B.Damljanovic]
8. R. Ponomariov (2733) L.-D. Nisipeanu (2672)
Medias 2010 109/339 [E10]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 5.Bg5 b4 6.a3 a5 [6...h6 see 101/405]
[FEN "rnbqkb1r/3p1ppp/4pn2/p1pP2B1/1pP5/
P4N2/1P2PPPP/RN1QKB1R w KQkq a6 0 7"]
7.e4! [a novelty; 7.ab4] 7...h6 8.Bf6 Qf6 9.e5 Qd8 [9...Qg6 10.Bd3 Qg2 11.
Rg1 Qh3 12.Rg3 Qh5 13.ab4 cb4 14.Be4 with compensation, with initiative]
10.Bd3 g6 [10...d6!?] 11.Nbd2 Bg7 12.Ne4 0-0 13.0-0 ed5 14.cd5 d6 15.Nd6
Bg4 16.Re1! Be5 17.Nf7! Rf7 18.Re5 Bf3 19.gf3 Nd7 20.Re3 [20.Re6!? Qg5
(20...Nf8 21.Re4) 21.Kh1 Ne5 22.Be4] 20...Qg5 21.Kh1 Ne5 22.Be2 Rd8 23.
ab4 ab4 24.d6 Rf5 [24...Rfd7 25.Qc2 (25.Qd5 Nf7) 25...Rd6 26.Qc5 and
White is superior] 25.Qb3 Kh8 26.Qe6 Nf7 27.d7 Kg7 28.Rg1 Qf6 29.Bd3
Rg5 30.Qe8 Rg1 [30...Qc6 31.Bb5! Qb5 32.Re7 Re8 33.de8Q Qe8 34.Re8
and White is superior] 31.Kg1 Qb2 32.Re7 Qc1 33.Bf1 Qg5 34.Kh1 Qf5 35.
h3! b3 36.Bc4 1-0 [I.Ivanisevic]
9. A. Grischuk (2756) B. Gelfand (2750)
Russia 2010 109/(269) [D43]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.
Ne5 Bb7 10.h4 Bg7 [10...g4 see 107/131] 11.hg5 hg5 12.Rh8 Bh8
[FEN "rn1qk2b/pb3p2/2p1pn2/1p2N1p1/2pPP3/
2N3B1/PP3PP1/R2QKB2 w Qq - 0 13"]
13.Bc4!? [a novelty; 13.a4] 13...bc4 14.Nc4 Kf8 15.e5 Ne8 16.Qh5 Bg7 17.
Ne4 with compensation
10. S. Sulskis (2554) T. Georgescu (2404)
Eforie-Nord 2010 109/82 [B36]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 g6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Nd4
[FEN "r1bqkb1r/pp1ppp1p/5np1/8/2PnP3/2N5/
PP3PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 7"]
7.e5!? [a novelty; 7.Qd4 see 103/91] 7...Nc6 [7...Qb6 8.Be3! Ne4 9.Nd5! Qa5
10.b4 and White is superior; 7...Nf5 8.ef6 e6 9.g4 with initiative, with the
idea 9...Nh4? 10.Bg5; 7...Ne6 8.ef6 ef6 9.g3 h5 10.Bg2 h4 11.0-0 with
compensation; 7...Ne4! 8.Qd4 Nc3 9.e6!? (9.Qc3 Bg7 equal) 9...de6 10.Qc3
f6 11.h4 with compensation] 8.ef6 ef6 [8...e6 9.Nb5 d6 10.Bf4 (10.c5 d5 11.
Bf4 e5) 10...e5 11.Be3 a6 12.Nc3 with the idea 12...Qf6? 13.Nd5 Qd8 14.Bb6
and White is winning] 9.Bf4 [with compensation, weak point d5] 9...Bb4 [9...
d6 10.Be2 Ne5 11.0-0 and White is slightly better] 10.Rc1 [10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0
Bc3 12.bc3 Ne5 13.c5 (13.Bh6 Re8 14.f4 Nc6 15.f5 d6 and Black is slightly
better) 13...b6 unclear] 10...0-0 11.Be2 Re8 12.0-0 Bf8 13.Qd2 Ne5 14.Rfd1
b6 15.Bh6 [15.Be3 Ba6 16.Nd5 with compensation] 15...Bh6 [15...Bb7 16.
Bf8 Rf8 17.f4 and White is superior; 15...Bc5 16.Nd5 with initiative] 16.Qh6
f5 17.Rd4! [weak point d7] 17...f6 [17...Qf6 18.Nd5 Nf3 19.Bf3 Qd4 20.Nc7
Bb7 21.Bb7 Re2 22.Rf1 Rb8 23.Bd5 Rb2 24.a4 and White is slightly better]
18.Rh4 Re7 19.f4 Ng4 (only move) 20.Bg4 fg4 21.Nd5 Rf7 22.f5!? [22.Rg4
d6 23.Rg3 Bf5 24.Re1 and White is slightly better] 22...gf5 23.Qf4 [23.h3 d6
24.Rf1] 23...d6 24.h3 Be6 25.Re1 Qd7 unclear [25...Bd5 26.cd5 Qd7 27.Re6
with attack] 26.Ne3 [26.Nc7!? Qc7 27.Re6 Rd8 (27...Qc5 28.Kh2 Rg7 29.hg4
fg4 30.Rg4 Qh5 31.Rh4 Qg5 32.g3 and White is slightly better) 28.Qf5 gh3
unclear; 26.hg4 Bd5 (26...Re8 27.Qe3 fg4 28.Nf4 Rfe7 29.Nh5) 27.cd5 Re8 28.
Re8 Qe8 29.gf5 Qe5] 26...Kh8 27.Rd1 Rd8 28.b3 Qe7 29.Re1 [29.Nf5 Bf5
30.Qf5 gh3 31.Rh3 Qe5 and Black is slightly better] 29...Qd7 time [better is
29...Bc8 30.Kf2 (30.Nc2 Qc7 31.Nd4 d5 and Black is superior) 30...Qe5 31.
Nd5 Qf4 32.Nf4 and Black is slightly better] 30.Rh6 gh3 31.Rh3 Rg7 32.
Rh5 Rdg8 33.Qd4 [with compensation, weak point Be6, d6, f6, f5, h7] 33...
Qf7 34.Rh2! [weak point g2; 34.Rh6 Rg6] 34...Bc8 [34...f4 35.Qf4 d5 36.cd5
Bd5 37.Nd5 Qd5 38.Qf6 and White is slightly better] 35.Nd5 Bb7? [35...Re8
36.Rh7!? Rh7 37.Qf6 Kg8 (37...Qf6 38.Re8 Kg7 39.Nf6 equal) 38.Re8 (38.
Qf7? Kf7 39.Re8 Ke8 40.Nf6 Kf7 41.Nh7 Kg6 42.Nf8 Kg7 and Black is
winning; 38.Qg5 Kf8 39.Re8 Ke8 40.Nf6 equal) 38...Qe8 39.Qg5 Kf8 40.Qf6
Qf7 41.Qd8 (41.Qd6!?) 41...Kg7 42.Qg5 Qg6 43.Qe7 Kh8 (43...Kh6 44.Qh4
Qh5 45.Qf6 equal) 44.Qf8 Qg8 45.Qf6 Rg7 46.Qh4 Qh7 47.Qd8 Rg8 48.Qf6
equal] 36.Nf6 [36.Re7 Qf8 (36...Qg6 37.Nf6 Re7 38.Nh7 Re5 39.Nf8! Kg7 40.
Ng6 Kg6 41.Qd6 and White is winning; 36...Rg2 37.Rg2 Rg2 38.Kf1! and
White is superior) 37.Rb7! (37.Rg7 Rg7 38.Nf6 Qe7) 37...Rb7 38.Nf6 Qg7 39.
Qd6 Qg3!; 39.Rh7 and White is slightly better] 36...Bg2? [better is 36...Rg2
37.Rg2 Rg2 38.Kf1 Bc6 (38...Rd2!? 39.Qc3!? Rc2 40.Qd4 Rd2 41.Qd2 Qf6
42.Rd1 and White is superior) 39.Qd6 (39.Nd7 Rg7) 39...Rg6 (39...Rg1 40.
Kg1 Qg6 41.Kf2 Qg2 42.Ke3) 40.Qd8 (40.Re6 Bd7!) 40...Kg7 a) 41.Nh5 Kh6
42.Re7 (42.Nf4 Be4) 42...Rg1; b) 41.Re7 Rf6 42.Rf7 Rf7 43.Qg5 Kh8 and
White is slightly better] 37.Nh7! Bh3 [37...Bf3 38.Ng5 (38.Kf2) 38...Bh5 39.
Kf2 Qg6 40.Reh1 and White is winning] 38.Kf2 [38.Ng5 Qh5 39.Kf2 and
White is winning] 38...Qg6 39.Ng5! Re8 40.Rh3 1-0 [S.Sulskis]
E15
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2 c5 6.Bg2 Bb7 7.d5 ed5
8.cd5 Nd5 9.0-0 Be7 10.Qe4
10
11
12
13
14
...
Nh42 Nf53 Qe5 Qf54
15
16
17
18
Nc3
Be47 Qh7 Bd5
Nac76
Bf6
Kf8 Bd58
Qa6
Nd5 Bd5
b4
Nd5 Rb812
1
Na61
Re85
g6
gf5
0-0
...
Ne5
Nc6
Qa4 Rd110 Nc3
Bc6
Nf69 Nc6
White is slightly
better
with compensation
0-0
Nd411 b5
[FEN "rn1qk2r/pb1pbppp/1p6/2pn4/4Q3/
5NP1/PP2PPBP/RNB2RK1 b kq - 0 10"]
10...Qc7? 11.Nh4 0-0 12.Nf5 Bf6 13.Rd1 and White is superior; L.Pantsulaia
- Sakelsek, Istanbul 2007 see 100/(402)
2
11.Rd1 Nac7 12.Nh4 g6 13.Qe5?! 0-0 14.Rd5?! d6 15.Bh6 Bf6 16.Qf4 Nd5
17.Bd5 Bd5 and Black is winning; Margvelashvili - Ivan Popov, Puerto
Madryn 2009; 13.Bh6!? unclear
3
[FEN "r2qk2r/pb1pbp1p/np4p1/2pn4/4Q2N/
6P1/PP2PPBP/RNB2RK1 w kq - 0 12"]
12.Qe5 f6 13.Qe4 Qc8 14.Rd1 Nac7 15.Ng6 hg6 16.Qg6 Kd8 17.a3 b5 18.e4
Nb6 19.Nc3 Ne6! and Black is slightly better; Svidler - Sergey Karjakin,
Sochi 2008 see 103/368;
12.Nc3 Nac7 13.Bh6 Qc8 14.Nd5 Bd5 15.Qd3 Bg2 16.Ng2 Qb7 17.Rfd1 0-00 18.b4 with compensation; B.-E.Johansson - Jossefson, corr.2008
4
14.Bd5 Bf6 15.Qf5 Bd5 16.Qd5 Nb4 17.Qd1 [17.Qf5 Qe7 18.a3 Nc6 19.Nc3
Qe6 20.Qh5 Bc3 21.bc3 d5] d5 with counterplay; Sergey Karjakin
5
4...f6? 15.Bd5 Bd5 16.Qd5 Rf7 17.Rd1 Bf8 18.Nc3 Nc7 19.Qf3 and White is
superior; Lysyj - Yaksin, Moscow 2010
6
15...Nc3 16.Qg4 Bg5 17.Bg5 Ne2 18.Kh1 Bg2 19.Kg2 h5; 17.bc3 with attack
7
16.Nd5 Bd5 17.Bd5 Nd5 18.Qd5 Bf6 equal
8
19.Nd5 Nd5 20.e4 Nc7 21.Bh6 Ke7 22.e5 Be5
a) 23.Bg5 Bf6 24.Rfe1 Ne6 25.Re6 de6 26.Bf6 Kf6 27.Qh6 Ke7 28.Qh4
equal; Sergey Karjakin;
b) 23.Qe4! f6 [23...Kf6?? 24.Bg5 Kg5 25.f4 Kh6 26.fe5 Qe7 27.Rf5 and
White is winning; 23...d5 24.Qe5 Kd7 25.Qf5 Kc6 26.Qf7 and White is
superior; Sergey Karjakin] 24.f4 d5 25.Qh7 Kd6 26.fe5 fe5 27.Rf7 Ne6 28.
Qg6 Re7 [28...Kc6? 29.Raf1 and White is superior; Riazantsev Sergey
Karjakin, Poikovsky 2010 see 109/341] 29.Bg5 Rf7 30.Bd8 Rg7 31.Qh6 Rd8
32.Rf1 and White is slightly better; Sergey Karjakin
9
11...Nc7 12.Nc6 Nc6 [12...dc6 13.Nc3 0-0 14.Rd1 Qe8 15.Bf4 Ne6
[FEN "rn2qrk1/p3bppp/1pp1n3/2p5/4QB2/
2N3P1/PP2PPBP/R2R2K1 w - - 0 16"]
16.Nb5 Qc8 17.Bb8 Qb8 18.Qc6 and White is superior; Shirov - D.

Jakovenko, Foros 2008] 13.Nc3 0-0 14.Rd1 Bf6 15.Qg4 d5 16.Nd5 Nd5 17.
Rd5 Y.Shulman - Yeager, Philadelphia 2008; 17.Bd5 and White is slightly
better
10
[FEN "r2q1rk1/p2pbppp/1pn2n2/2p5/Q7/
6P1/PP2PPBP/RNB2RK1 w - - 0 14"]
14.Nc3 a6 15.Bc6 dc6 16.Qc6 b5 17.Bf4 Qc8 equal; L.Pantsulaia - W.So,

Dubai 2008
11
14...Qc8 15.Nc3 a6 16.Nd5 Nd5 17.Rd5 Bf6 18.Rb1 Ra7?! 19.Bf4 b5 20.Qd1
c4 21.Rf5 with initiative; Caspi - Melkumyan, Gaziantep 2008; 18...Re8
equal
12
19.Bf4 Qb6 20.Qc4 d6 21.e3 Nb5 22.g4!? with compensation; Aronian - V.
Anand, Morelia/Linares 2008 see 102/(383)
Branko Tadic

Trustworthy C. I. Labs
Josip Asik
Purchases from our

accessible:
One could say, it's all about trust. Would you like to follow analysis from a
notable 2600+ grandmaster or would you prefer the advice of a computer
engine? While I believe that computers can be of assistance in getting to the
truth of the position, how is it that after five or six moves in some cases its
evaluation changes from +2.30 to 4.20. Don't tell me that you never
experienced such a "joke"!
Informant at
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It is similar with chess databases. You could have millions of games; perhaps
even a half-million more than your opponent. Does that make you better
prepared? With such a quantity of games, you can find everything: good
games, bad games, ridiculous games, and even null games. Sometimes moves
are missing moves or incorrect moves are given. That is why I consider Chess
Informant Volumes 1-110 as the finest chess database that money can buy; the
Chivas Regal or Jack Daniels among databases if you will.
Chess Informants 107-109

by Chess Informant
"Chess Informant Labs," a new feature in Informant 110, carefully distilled

and cultivated on different levels, as with any other section of Chess
Informant, starts from the author's point of view. Among the five contributors
this time around is grandmaster Bojan "Bo" Vuckovic who takes a look at the
exchange variation of the Grnfeld Defense. A trained mathematician,
Vuckovic takes a scientific approach to chess as well as in life, and he would
never give an "easy" positional evaluation. This month we are pleased to
present his contribution to "C.I. Labs" from Chess Informant 110.
Small ECO CD
by Chess Informant

the games from
Grnfeld Defense, Exchange Variation [D85]

By Bojan Vuckovic
Kramnik's tested weapon to the Grnfeld Indian Defence 7.Be3 has lately
become dominant at the highest ranked tournaments when White leadership is
in question. The players with black pieces tried different ways to find counter
game and the line 10...Rd8 stands out as the major continuation, where
exceptionally sharp positions with chances for both sides arise. Final
judgment on this variation has yet to be made and we can expect many
interesting ideas in this continuation of Grnfeld. The most critical
continuations of the mentioned variation will be presented here.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.e4 Nc3 6.bc3 Bg7 7.Be3 c5 8.Qd2 00 9.Nf3 Qa5 10.Rc1 Rd8
888 Miniature Studies

by Genrikh Kasparian
[FEN "rnbr2k1/pp2ppbp/6p1/q1p5/3PP3/
2P1BN2/P2Q1PPP/2R1KB1R w K - 0 11"]
11.d5 e6
11...Nc6 12.h4
12.Be2 e6 [12...Bg4 and White is slightly better; W.Browne Kriventsov, USA (ch) 2002 see 84/384] 13.0-0 [13.Bg5 f6 14.Be3 ed5
15.ed5 Ne7 16.c4 Qd2 17.Nd2 b6 unclear; E.Bacrot - Artyom Timofeev,
Moscow 2010 see 108/(120)] ed5 14.ed5 Bg4 [14...Ne7 15.c4 Qd2 16.
Nd2 and White is slightly better] 15.c4 [15.Bg5 Rd7 16.c4 Qd2 17.Bd2
Bf3 18.Bf3 Nd4 equal] Qd2 16.Bd2 Bf3 17.Bf3 Nd4 18.Be3 Be5 19.
Rb1 Rab8 1/2 : 1/2 V.Potkin - I.Kurnosov, Russia 2010.
12...e6 13.h5 ed5 14.hg6 [14.ed5 Be6 15.c4 Nb4 (15...Bf5 16.hg6 hg6 17.Qa5
Na5 18.Be2 and White is slightly better; Sargissian - Ab.Gupta, Kavala 2010)
16.hg6 hg6 17.a3 Qa3 18.Bc5 a5 unclear] hg6 [14...de4? 15.gh7 Kh8 16.Bh6!
Bf6 17.Bg5! Bg7 18.Bd8 Qd8 19.Ng5 and White is winning; 14...fg6 15.ed5
Be6 16.c4 and White is slightly better; A.Giri - Svidler, France 2010]
[FEN "r1br2k1/pp3pb1/2n3p1/q1pp4/4P3/
2P1BN2/P2Q1PP1/2R1KB1R w K - 0 15"]
15.Bh6! [15.ed5 Bg4 (and Black is slightly better) 16.Ng5?? Rd5! 17.Qd5
Bc3 18.Rc3 (18.Bd2 Bd2 19.Qd2 Re8 and Black is winning) Qc3 19.Qd2
Rd8! 20.f3 Rd2 21.Bd2 Qa1 22.Kf2 Qa2 and Black is winning; Vi.Zakhartsov
- I.Kurnosov, Russia 2010] Re8 [15...Bh8? 16.Bg5! Qa4 17.Rh8 Kh8 18.Bf6
Kh7 19.Ng5 Kg8 20.Qf4 and White is winning; 15...de4? 16.Bg7! Kg7 (16...
Rd2? 17.Bf6 and White is winning) 17.Qh6 Kf6 18.Qh4 Kg7 19.Ng5 and
White is superior; 15...Bf6?! 16.Bg5 and White is superior] 16.Bg7 Re4 17.
Be2 Kg7 18.Ng5 [18.Kf1 Be6 19.Ng5 Rh8 20.Rh8 Kh8 21.Ne4 de4 unclear;
18.Qh6 Kf6 19.Qg5 Kg7 equal] Re5 19.Nh7 [19.Rh7 Kg8 20.Qf4 Bf5 21.Qh4
Qa2 22.Rh8 Kg7 23.Rh7 Kg8 equal] Qd8 20.Qh6 Kg8 21.f4 Re8 22.Kf2
unclear
12.Bg5
12.c4 Qd2 13.Nd2 b6 14.Be2 Na6 15.Nb1 f5 equal; Galyas - T.Fogarasi,
Magyarorszag 2003 see 87/408;
12.Be2 ed5 13.ed5 Bg4 14.c4 Qd2 15.Nd2 Be2 16.Ke2 Nd7 17.Rhe1 Re8 18.
Rb1 b6 19.Kd3 f5 20.f4 h6 21.Nf3 unclear; Akobian - T.L.Petrosian, Bursa
2010 see 108/(120)
12...f6
12...Re8 13.d6 b5 [13...Bd7 14.Bh6 Bf6 (14...Qd8?! 15.h4 f6 16.e5! Bc6 17.
h5 g5 18.Bg7 Kg7 19.ef6 Qf6 20.h6 Kh8 21.Qg5 and White is winning; V.
Anand - Leko, Miskolc 2009 see 106/144) 15.h4 Bc6 16.h5 Nd7 (16...Be4 17.
Ng5 Bf5 18.g4 Qa4 19.f3 Be5 20.Kf2 Bf4 21.Bb5! Qb5 22.Qf4 e5 23.Qe3
and White is superior) 17.Ng5 with attack] 14.Bh6 [14.Be2 Nd7 15.e5 Bb7
16.0-0 Rab8 unclear; Wang Hao - Mamedyarov, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/2)
2009 see 107/(147); 14.h4 Bb7 15.Bd3 Nd7 16.h5 e5 17.hg6 hg6 18.Bh6 Bf6
unclear; Pashikian - Vachier-Lagrave, Moscow 2010 see 108/(120)] Bh8 15.
h4 Bb7 16.h5 Nd7 [16...Be4 17.Ng5 Bf5 18.Nh7 Nd7 19.hg6 fg6 20.Be2 b4
21.Qg5 Qa3 22.g4 and White is superior] 17.Bd3 c4 18.Bb1 Nc5 19.hg6 fg6
20.Qf4 with attack
13.Be3
13.Bf4
[FEN "rnbr2k1/pp4bp/4ppp1/q1pP4/4PB2/
2P2N2/P2Q1PPP/2R1KB1R b K - 0 13"]
13...Qa4!
13...f5 14.Bc4 Qa4 15.Qe2 b5 16.Bb5 Qe4 17.de6!! [17.Qe4 fe4 18.de6
Be6 19.Nd2 a6 20.Ba4 Nd7 21.0-0 Nf6 22.c4 Bd7 23.Bc2 Bf5 24.h3
Nh5 25.Be3 and White is superior; Alexander Moiseenko - T.L.
Petrosian, Ohrid 2009 see 107/147] Be6 18.Ng5 Qe2 19.Ke2 Ba2 20.
Ra1 Bf7 21.Rhd1 Rc8 22.Nf7 Kf7 23.Bc4 Ke8 24.Be6 Nc6 25.Ra6 Ne7
26.Bd7 Kf8 27.Bc8 Rc8 28.Ra7 and White is winning; A.Giri - D.
Howell, Wijk aan Zee 2010 see 108/(120);
13...Nc6 14.Bc4 b5 15.Be2 g5 16.Bg3 ed5 17.ed5 Ne7 18.d6 Bb7 19.
Qc2 Ng6 20.0-0 Qb6 21.Rfd1 and White is superior; D.Jakovenko - R.
Ponomariov, Astrakhan 2010 see 109/(292);
13...ed5 14.ed5 Nc6 [14...Bf5 15.Be2 Be4 16.d6 Nd7 17.h4 h5 18.0-0
Qa4 19.Rfe1 and White is superior; V.Potkin - Zhou Jianchao, Russia China 2010 see 109/293] 15.Be2 Bf5 16.0-0 Be4 17.d6 Kh8 18.Rfe1 g5
19.Bg3 h6 20.h4 and White is superior; R.Ponomariov - Aronian, Nice
(blindfold) 2010 see 108/120.
14.Qc2
14.c4 Nc6 [14...ed5 15.ed5 Na6 16.Be2 Nb4 17.0-0 Qa2 18.Qe3 Bf5 19.
Qc5 Nd5 20.cd5 Qe2 unclear; D.Navarro Molina - Alsina Leal, Espana
(ch) 2010 see 110/(257)] 15.Be3 ed5 16.ed5 Nb4 17.Bc5
[FEN "r1br2k1/pp4bp/5pp1/2BP4/qnP5/
5N2/P2Q1PPP/2R1KB1R b K - 0 17"]
17...a5 18.Nd4 Re8 19.Be2 Qa2 20.Nb5 Bf5 21.Qa2 Na2 22.Ra1 Nb4
23.Kd2 Nc2 24.Raf1 Bh6 25.f4 Rac8 and Black is slightly better;
Sargissian - Svidler, Khanty-Mansiysk (ol) 2010 see 110/257
14...Qc2 15.Rc2 ed5 [15...Re8 16.Be3 ed5 17.ed5 f5 18.Bb5 Bd7 19.Be2 b6
equal] 16.ed5 Bf5 [16...Re8 17.Re2 Re2 18.Be2 Bf5 19.Kd2 Nd7 20.c4 and
White is slightly better] 17.Rb2 Be4 18.Bc4 [18.c4 Bf3 19.gf3 b6 20.Re2 Na6
21.a3 Kf7 unclear; Ragger - Marin Bosiocic, Chur 2010 see 109/(292)] Nd7
19.Nd2 Bg2 20.Rg1 Bh3 21.Rg3 Bf5 (Ding Liren - Ab.Gupta, Olongapo City
2010 see 109/292) 22.d6 Kh8 23.Rb7 g5 24.Be3 Bf8 equal
13...Nc6
13...ed5 14.ed5 Na6 15.Be2 Be6 16.c4 Qd2 17.Nd2 Bd7 18.Ne4 b6 19.h4 Bf5
20.Nc3 Nb4 21.Kd2 Nc6 22.h5 and White is slightly better; Kramnik - D.
Howell, London 2010 see 110/256
14.Bd3 ed5 15.ed5
[FEN "r1br2k1/pp4bp/2n2pp1/q1pP4/8/
2PBBN2/P2Q1PPP/2R1K2R b K - 0 15"]
15...c4
15...Ne7 16.c4 Qd2 17.Kd2 [17.Nd2 b6 18.f3 and White is slightly better] b6
18.Rhe1 and White is slightly better.
16.Bc4 Be6 17.Rd1 Ne7
[FEN "r2r2k1/pp2n1bp/4bpp1/q2P4/2B5/
2P1BN2/P2Q1PPP/3RK2R w K - 0 18"]
18.de6! Rd2 19.Rd2 Qc3

19...Nf5 20.Rd3 Kh8 21.0-0 Qc7 22.Bd5 Ne3 23.Re3 Bf8 24.Rb1 Rb8 25.g3
20.Bb3 Qc1
20...Qa1 21.Bd1 Nf5 22.0-0 Qc3 23.Bb3 Kh8 24.Rd7 Re8 25.Bd2 Qb2 26.g4
Ne7 27.Rc1 Nc6 28.Kg2 h5 29.g5 fg5 30.Rg7 g4 31.Ng5 Qg7 32.Bc3 Nd4 33.
Rd1 Rd8 34.Rd4 Rd4 35.e7 1-0 C.Lupulescu - Bukavshin, Aix-les-Bains
2011
21.Rd1 Qc3 22.Rd2 Qc1 23.Rd1 Qc3 24.Ke2 Qb4
24...Qc6?! 25.Rd3 Re8 26.Rc1 (with initiative) Qa6 27.Rc7 Nc6 28.e7 Kh8
29.Nd2 and White is superior;
24...Qa5 25.Rd3 Rc8 [25...f5 26.Rc1 Bf6 27.Rc5 with compensation] 26.
Rhd1 Qb5 27.Kf1 Rc3 28.Ne1 Bf8 29.Kg1 Rd3 30.Nd3 with compensation;
24...Kh8 25.Rd7 [25.Rc1!? Qb2 26.Rc2 Qa3 27.Rd1] Qb2 26.Nd2 Re8 27.g4
f5 28.Rb1 Qa3 29.h3 Nc6 30.f4 with compensation;
24...a5 25.Rd7 a4
25...Qc6?! 26.a4 [26.Re7?! Qa6 27.Ke1 a4 28.Bd1 Bf8 29.Rd7 Qe6 30.
Rb7 Qa2 unclear; 26.Rc1 Qa6 27.Ke1 (27.Bc4 b5 28.Bd3 Qe6 29.Bb5
Kh8 30.Rcc7 Qa2 31.Nd2 Nf5 32.Bc4 Qa3 33.g4 Ne3 34.Rg7 Nc4 35.
Rh7 Kg8 36.Rhg7 Kf8 37.Rgf7 Kg8 equal) a4 28.Bc4 b5 29.Bd3 Bf8 30.
Nd4 Rc8 31.Bb5 Rc1 32.Bc1 Qb6 unclear] Qa6 27.Kd2 f5 28.Rc1 Bf6
29.Rcc7 and White is superior.
26.Rc1
[FEN "r5k1/1p1Rn1bp/4Ppp1/8/p7/
1Bq1BN2/P3KPPP/2R5 b - - 0 26"]
26...Qb4
26...Qb2 27.Rc2 Qb1 28.Nd2 [28.Rd1 ab3 (28...Qd1 29.Kd1 ab3 30.ab3
and White is superior) 29.Rb1 bc2 30.Rb7 Nd5 31.Bd2 (31.Kd2 Rc8 32.
Kc1 Bf8 unclear) Rc8 32.Nd4 Bf8 (32...c1Q 33.Bc1 Rc1 34.Rd7 Nf4 35.
Kf3 Ne6 36.Ne6 and White is superior) 33.Nb3 Ba3 34.Bc1 and White
is slightly better] ab3 29.Nb1 bc2 30.Nc3 [30.Na3 Nc6 (30...Ra3?? 31.
Rd8 Bf8 32.Bh6 and White is winning) 31.Nc2 Ra2 32.Kd2 and White
is slightly better] Nf5 31.Bd2 [31.Kd2 Ne3 32.fe3 Rc8 33.Ne2 and
White is slightly better] Re8 32.Rb7 [32.Kd3 b6 33.g4 Nh6 34.h3 Re6
35.Kc2 and White is slightly better; V.Potkin - Svidler, Moscow 2010
see 110/(256)] Re6 33.Kd3 Nh4 34.Kc2 Ng2 35.a4 and White is
superior.
27.Bc4 Rc8 [27...Qb2 28.Kd1 b5 29.Rb7 Qa3 30.Rb5 and White is slightly
better] 28.Nd2 [28.Bd2 Qb6 29.Re7 Bf8 30.Rb7 Qb7 31.e7 Kg7 32.ef8Q Rf8
unclear] Bf8 [28...f5 29.Rb1 Bb2 30.a3 Qa3 31.Bg5 and White is superior] 29.
Bd4 [29.Rb1 Qc3 30.Bd4 Qc2 31.Rb2 Qf5 32.Rbb7 Rc4 33.Nc4 Qe6 34.Ne3
Nf5 and Black is slightly better] f5 30.Rb1 Qb1 31.Nb1 Rc4 32.Kd2 [32.Nc3
Rc6 33.Rb7 Re6 equal] Rc6 33.Rb7 Re6 34.Bc5 Re5 35.Bb4 Bh6 36.Kd3
Nd5 equal.
25.Rd3
25.Rd4 Qb5 26.Bc4 Qc6 27.Rc1 Rc8 28.Kf1 with compensation;
25.Rd7 Qb5 26.Kd2 Qb4 27.Ke2 equal.
25...a5 26.Rc1 a4 27.Rc4 Qb5 28.Rc5 Qb4 equal; Pashikian M.Cornette,
Aix-les-Bains 2011

The Chigorin Defence is in Trouble

Josip Asik
Informant at
ChessCafe
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I am fascinated by all these gadgets powered by Android or iOS software. Just

yesterday, a friend showed me his new chess timer on his mobile phone.
What an ingenious idea, I thought! I guess smart phones are the modern
version of Batman's utility belt or Sport Billy's gym bag. One of the
consequences of all this technology is that now I am playing our beloved
game whenever there is a free moment. Well, I admit, in many other
situations, too: home, work, etc. Come on, this piece of plastic must be born
for chess!
While there is still a lack of quality applications on the Android market, I
often marvel at the developers ingenuity and unlimited creative freedom. At
times it seems as if they are coming from another world or had never played
chess! Perhaps there is some advantage to seeing things with innocent eyes.

by Chess Informant
However, the extended use of small screens can be tiresome. It is nice to

come back to reality from time to time. This is when a good book comes in
handy. I recommend Chess Informant 110. You won't have a bad headache,
guaranteed.
This month we present GM Dragan olak's "Chess Informant Labs" article
from Chess Informant 110. By the way, just a few days ago, he won the
strong Kavala Open tournament in Greece.
Small ECO CD
by Chess Informant

the games from
Queen's Gambit, Chigorin Defence [D07]

By Dragan olak
In the following article I will try to challenge black's strategy in the Chigorin
Defence.
There are several ways for white to fight for advantage in this opening, but no
one has yet demonstrated a plan that would pose a real threat for black's setup.
Moreover, in the most recent top games (e.g. Kramnik Carslen, Carlsen
Ivanchuk, Mamedjarov Morozevich) players behind white pieces showed
nothing special at all.
In my opinion the most challenging idea was used in the game Zu Chen
Vea, Gibraltar 2008. After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 black doesn't really have a
good way to avoid the position that arises after 3...dc4 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e4 Bg4 (I
will assume that black doesn't want to play e7-e6 with his bishop still on c8).
My database shows that this position appeared around 1,000 times, but in only
two good games did white try 6.Bc4!. White doesn't lose any time to defend
the central pawn and the usual quick development plan with e7-e6 and Bf8-b4
doesn't work anymore. Zu Chen won quickly after her opponent stumbled as
early as on move seven. After 6...Bf3 7.gf3 Nd4 8.e5 white is already
Gligoric's Music CD
by Svetozar Gligoric
winning. The game between Gruenberg and Scheerer was much more
interesting. Scheerer took on d4 with queen. After 7...Qd4 8.Qb3 Morozevich
and Barsky suggest 8...0-0-0 9.Bf7 e5 10.Be3 Qb4= in their book, The
Chigorin Defence According to Morozevich (2007), but after 9.Be3! black is
in trouble. Scheerer played better, 8...Ne5! and after 9.Qb7 he sacrificed his
rook by 9...Qc4!. He made a mistake only on move 13, but his opponent didn't
take advantage of it and the game ended in a draw.
AAfter 9.Qb7 white can't get more than half a point, but there is a calm
alternative that is critical for black's strategy. By playing 9.Be2! Qb6 10.Qa4
c6 11.f4 white gets a big development advantage. Combined with two
bishops, black's clumsy knights and white's mobile central pawns it is going
to give black players a lot of headaches. Even after extensive analysis I wasn't
able to find a satisfactory reaction for black and white always seems to keep
clear advantage. The Chigorin Defence is in trouble.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 dc4 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e4 Bg4
[FEN "r2qkb1r/ppp1pppp/2n2n2/8/2pPP1b1/
2N2N2/PP3PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 6"]
6.Bc4!
6.Be3 e6
6...Bf3?! 7.gf3 e5 8.d5 Nb8 [8...Ne7 9.Qa4 Nd7 10.d6! cd6 11.Bc4 d5
12.Nd5 Nc6 13.Rg1 Rc8 14.Rd1 Qa5 15.Qa5 Na5 16.Bf1 (Ligtering - G.
Halldorsson, Reykjavik 1986 see 41/(425)) Nc6 17.Bh3 Nd4 18.Bd4 ed4
19.Rd4 and White is superior; Ligterink] 9.Bc4 Nbd7 10.Qb3 Bc5 (V.
Anand - Morozevich, Wijk aan Zee 2001 see 80/387) 11.Qb7 Rb8 12.
Qa6 Be3 13.fe3 Rb2 14.Qa3 Qb8 15.0-0 Qb4 16.Qb4 Rb4 17.Be2 and
White is superior; Morozevich.
7.Bc4 Bb4 8.Qc2 [8.e5 Nd5 9.Qd3 Na5 10.Bg5 Qd7 11.Bd5 Qd5 12.0-0 Bc3
13.bc3 (B.Gulko - I.Miladinovic, Elenite 1995 see 65/360) h6! 14.Bd2 Bf3
and Black is slightly better; B.Gulko] 0-0 9.Rd1
9.0-0-0?! Bc3 10.bc3 Qe7 11.h3 Bf3 12.gf3 Rfb8! 13.Bd3 b5! 14.e5
Nd5 15.Bh7 Kh8 16.Be4 b4 17.Bd5 ed5 18.Kd2 Na5 19.Ke2 Nc4 20.
Bd2 (Shirov - Morozevich, Amsterdam 1995 see 64/341) Rb6 and Black
is slightly better, with the idea 21.cb4 a5 Shirov.
[FEN "r2q1rk1/ppp2ppp/2n1pn2/8/1bBPP1b1/
2N1BN2/PPQ2PPP/3RK2R b K - 0 9"]
9...Ne7
9...Bf3 10.gf3 Nh5 11.e5 Ne7 12.0-0 Nf5 13.Kh1 (Van der Sterren Lobron, Muenchen 1994 see 60/352) c6 14.Qb3 Qe7 15.Ne4 Ba5 and
White is slightly better; Van der Steren;
9...Qe7 10.Bb5 [10.Be2 e5 11.d5 Nd4! 12.Nd4 ed4 13.Rd4 Be2 14.Ke2
(Ki.Georgiev - Morozevich, Tilburg 1994 see 61/372) Ng4 15.Nd1 Bc5
16.Rc4 Be3 17.Ne3 Ne3 18.Ke3 and White is slightly better; Ki.
Georgiev - I.Miladinovic, Niksic (rapid) 2008; 15...f5! with
compensation; Morozevich] e5 11.Bc6 bc6 12.de5 Nd7 13.a3 Ba5 14.
Bf4 Bf3 15.gf3 Ne5 16.Be5 Qe5 17.0-0 Rae8 18.Ne2 Re6 19.Ng3 Qf4
20.Qc5 Bb6 21.Qf5 Qh6 22.Rd3 and White is slightly better; Je.Piket Morozevich, London (rapid) 1995.
10.Be2 Bc3 [10...Qc8 11.0-0 c5 12.dc5 Bc5 13.e5! (Al.Gavrilov - V.Barskij,
Moscow 1995 see 64/(340)) Nd7 14.Rd7 Be3 15.Rfd1 Bc5 16.Qe4 and White
is slightly better; Al.Gavrilov] 11.bc3 c5 12.0-0 Qc7 13.Qb1 b6 14.h3 Bh5 15.
g4 Bg6 16.Bd3 Rfd8 17.Ne5 Qb7 18.Ng6 [18.f3 and White is slightly better;
Van Wely - Morozevich, Amsterdam 1995 see 64/340] Ng6 19.dc5 Ne5 20.
Bc2 Nc4 21.Bc1 and White is slightly better; Elwert Gather, corr. 1999.
6...Bf3
6...e6 7.Bb5 and White is superior;
6...e5 7.Qb3 ed4 8.Bf7 Ke7 [8...Kd7 9.h3 and White is winning] 9.Nd5 Kd7
10.0-0 and White is winning.
7.gf3 Qd4
7...Nd4? 8.e5 Nh5 9.Be3 Nf5 10.Qa4 [10.Qb3 and White is superior; Zhu
Chen - O.Vea, Gibraltar 2008] c6 11.Rd1 Qc7 [11...Qc8 12.e6 fe6 13.Qb3 and
White is winning]
[FEN "r3kb1r/ppq1pppp/2p5/4Pn1n/Q1B5/
2N1BP2/PP3P1P/3RK2R w Kkq - 0 12"]
12.Nb5! Qe5 13.Rd5! cd5 14.Nd6 Kd8 15.Qe8 Kc7 16.Nb5 mate;
7...e5 8.d5 Nd4 [8...Na5 9.Qa4 c6 10.Be2 a6 11.b4 Nc4 12.Bc4 b5 13.Qb3
bc4 14.Qa4 and White is superior] 9.Be3 Bc5 10.Rg1 0-0 [10...Nh5? 11.Rg5
and White is winning; 10...g6 11.f4 Nd7 12.fe5 Ne5 13.Kf1! Nc4 14.Bd4 Nb2
15.Qd2 Bd4 16.Qd4 0-0 17.Ne2 and White is winning] 11.f4 Nd7 12.Qg4 g6
13.0-0-0 and White is superior;
7...e6 8.Bb5 and White is superior.
8.Qb3 Ne5
8...0-0-0?! 9.Be3! [9.Bf7 e5 10.Be3 Qb4 equal; Morozevich] Na5 [9...Qe5 10.
Bf7 and White is superior]
[FEN "2kr1b1r/ppp1pppp/5n2/n7/2BqP3/
1QN1BP2/PP3P1P/R3K2R w KQ - 0 10"]
10.Be6!! fe6 11.Qb5 Qc4 12.Qa5 Qa6 [12...a6 13.Rc1 and White is superior]
13.Qa6 ba6 14.Rc1 and White is superior.
9.Be2!
9.Qb7?! Qc4! [9...Nf3 10.Ke2 Qc4 11.Kf3 Rd8 12.Nb5 with initiative] 10.
Qa8 Kd7 11.Be3 (only move) Qd3! 12.Ne2 (only move) Nf3 13.Kf1 e6!
13...Ne4? 14.Rc1 c5 [14...e5 15.Qc6 Ke7 16.h4! Nfd2 17.Bd2! (17.Ke1
Nf3 18.Kf1 Nfd2 19.Ke1 Nf3 - H.-U.Gruenberg Ch.Scheerer,
Deutschland 2008) Nd2 18.Kg2 Qe2 19.Qc7 Kf6 20.Rc6 Kf5 21.Qf7
Ke4 22.Rc3 and White is winning] 15.h4! Nfd2 [15...f5 16.Kg2 Qe2 17.
Qd5 and White is winning] 16.Bd2 Nd2 17.Kg2 Qe2 18.Qa7 Kd8 19.
Qa8 Kd7 20.Qa4 Kd6 21.Rhd1 and White is winning.
14.Rc1 Bc5! 15.Qh8 [15.Qb7 Bd6 unclear] Be3 16.fe3 Ne4 17.Qg7 Nfd2 18.
Ke1 Nf3 equal.
9...Qb6
[FEN "r3kb1r/ppp1pppp/1q3n2/4n3/4P3/
1QN2P2/PP2BP1P/R1B1K2R w KQkq - 0 10"]
10.Qa4 c6
10...Ned7? 11.e5 Ng8 12.Nd5 Qc5 13.Be3! Qd5 14.Rd1 Qe6 15.Bc4 Qf5 16.
e6 [16.Rd7 Qd7 17.Bf7 Kd8 18.Qb3 and White is winning] fe6 17.Qd7 Kf7
18.Rg1 Nf6 19.Qc7 and White is winning.
11.f4 Ned7
11...Neg4 12.0-0 e5 13.h3 Nh6 [13...Nf2 14.Kg2! Bc5 15.fe5 Nd7 16.e6! fe6
17.Qc4 0-0 18.Na4 and White is winning] 14.fe5 and White is superior;
11...Ng6 12.f5 Ne5 13.Bf4 Qb2 [13...Nfd7 14.0-0-0 Qf2 15.Rhf1 Qc5 (15...
Qb6 16.Be5 Ne5 17.Nd5 Qd8 18.Kb1! and White is superior) 16.Kb1! and
White is superior] 14.Rc1 Nfd7 [14...Ned7 15.Rc2 Qa1 16.Bc1 and White is
winning; 14...e6 15.Rc2 Qa1 16.Bc1 and White is winning] 15.Rc2 Qb6 [15...
b5 16.Nb5 cb5 17.Bb5 and White is winning; 15...Qa1 16.Bc1 Nc5 17.Qa5!
b6 18.Qa3 Ncd3 19.Bd3 Nd3 20.Ke2 e6 21.Qa4 Nb4 22.Rd1 and White is
winning] 16.Be3 Qd8 [16...Nc5 17.Bc5 Qc5 18.0-0 e6 (18...g6 19.Rd1 Bg7 20.
Nd5 Qd6 21.Nb6 and White is superior) 19.Rb1 and White is superior] 17.f4
Nb6 18.Qb3 Ned7 19.e5 and White is superior.
12.e5 Nc5
12...Ng8 13.Be3 Qc7 [13...Qb2 14.0-0 Qc3 15.Rab1! b5 16.Qa6 and White is
winning] 14.Rd1 e6 15.Nb5! Qc8 [15...cb5 16.Bb5 Rd8 17.Rc1 Qb8 18.Ba7
Qa8 19.Ke2 and White is winning] 16.f5! Ne5 [16...ef5 17.Rg1 and White is
superior] 17.Qd4 cb5 18.Qe5 Ne7 [18...a6 19.Rc1 Qd7 20.Bh5! Qd5 21.Qe6
Qe6 22.fe6 and White is superior] 19.Bb5 Nc6 20.0-0 a6 21.Bc6 Qc6 22.Rfe1
and White is superior;
12...Nd5 13.Nd5 cd5 14.Be3 Qd8 15.f5 e6 16.Rc1 and White is superior.
13.Qc2! Nd5
13...Nfd7 14.Be3 e6 15.0-0-0 Qc7 16.b4 Na6 17.a3 Be7 18.Rhg1 g6 19.Ne4
0-0 20.h4 and White is superior.
14.Nd5 cd5 15.Be3 Qb4
15...Qa5 16.Kf1 e6 17.Rc1 Nd7 18.Qc7 Qc7 [18...Qb4 19.f5 ef5 20.Rg1 and
White is winning] 19.Rc7 a6 20.Rb7 Bc5 21.Bc5 Nc5 22.Rc7 Nd7 23.Rg1 g6
24.Ba6 Kd8 25.Rc6 and White is superior;
15...e6 16.0-0 and White is superior.
16.Kf1 e6 17.Rc1 b6
17...Nd7 18.Kg2 and White is superior;
17...d4 18.a3 and White is superior.
18.Kg2 and White is superior.
A PDF file of this month's Informant at ChessCafe column, along with all
previous Informant at ChessCafe columns, is available in the ChessCafe.com
Archives.

Forty-fifth Anniversary Edition

Josip Asik
Informant at
ChessCafe
Purchases from our

accessible:
Issue #111 celebrates Chess Informant's forty-fifth jubilee! It was not an easy
task for me to decide what colors it should wear for its autumn unveiling. One
could suggest that there had to be more important questions to answer, but I
was already confident with everything else. My moment of inspiration came
after I saw a picture of the Empire State Building illuminated at night during
the visit of Queen Elisabeth II to New York. Yes, Chess Informant 111 had to
be in purple and gold!

by Chess Informant
Translate this page
Between these royal purple covers is a treasure trove of material for all chess
lovers. This single issue offers more than 300 annotated games, a similar
amount of game fragments, brilliant combinations, instructive endings,
excellent moves, chess problems, and studies. You will also find the Best of
Alexander Grischuk, and voting for the best ten games and ten most important
theoretical novelties from Chess Informant 110. Beyond this, there are two
new columns: "Chess History" written by Harald Fietz, about the famous San
Sebastian 1911 tournament and the centenary of Jos Ral Capablanca's first
visit to Europe; and "Women and Chess" by WGM Anna Burtasova,
dedicated to the legendary Maia Chiburdanidze, who celebrated her jubilee
birthday in 2011.
the games from
I am happy to say that there are more than 100 contributors in Chess
Informant 111, including seventy-six grandmasters, among them are World
Champion Vishy Anand, former World Champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov,
Judit Polgar, Vitiugov, Bologan, Sasikiran, Ivan Sokolov, Berkes, Volokitin,
Tiviakov, Christiansen, Marin, Stohl, Beliavsky, and more!
Notable new names to our contributor roster include Inarkiev, Sargissian,
Kiril Georgiev, Parligras, Zhao Jun, Delchev, Zontakh, Igor Miladinovic, and
Predojevic. Not to mention that you don't want to miss two exceptional games
from Zhao Jun from Beijing; these games will be among the candidates for
best game accolades.
Moreover, Chess Informant 111 gathers together some of brightest young
lions of today's chess world. You surely must have heard of American stars
Shankland and Naroditsky, Philipine tigers Wesley So and Darwin Laylo,
African champion Bassem Amin from Egypt or promising players such as
Kalmikian Sjugirov from Russia, Sanikidze from Georgia, or the Hungarians
Berczes and Erdos. Personally, I was touched when Wesley So admitted that
before he became a contributor, he was a Chess Informant reader.
Small ECO CD
by Chess Informant
Gligoric's Music CD
Our new editor-in-chief, GM Branko Tadic, was completely amazed by the

quality and depth of the annotations that Wesley So contributed to Chess
Informant 111. So's coverage of the Grnfeld Defence was so complex and
interesting that we had to open additional space inside CI Labs for a further
theoretical survey; one which gained the admiration of his CI Labs
colleagues. The CI Labs crew presents original ideas on the following
openings:
B12 Caro-Kann Advanced Variation by GM Milos Perunovic

C41 Philidor Defence Gambit Variation by GM Robert Markus
C70 Ruy Lopez by GM Ivan Ivanisevic
D76 Grnfeld Defence Fianchetto Variation by GM Wesley So
E35-37 Nimzo-Indian Defence 4.Qc2 System by GM Bojan Vuckovic
E68 King's-Indian Defence Fianchetto Variation by GM Dragan Solak
Last but not least, Chess Informant 111 introduces a completely redesigned
CD. The content of which is evolving towards the look and feel of an
advanced digital chess magazine. These changes should improve the overall
user experience.
From Chess Informant 111, we present the CI Labs article by GM Ivan
Ivanisevic, who is the best Serbian player and a recent participant of the
World Cup in Khanty Mansiysk 2011.
Ruy Lopez [C70]

By Ivan Ivanievi
In this article I will explore a rare variation of the Ruy Lopez involving the
move ...Nge7, which may occur after two possible move orders: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3
Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7 or 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nge7. Interestingly,
according to present theory Black faces concrete problems only in those lines
where White plays Nc3. This doesn't make much sense, considering that in
this variation White is able to build up a strong pawn centre with c3 and d4
his standard goal and main asset in the Ruy Lopez.
The variation has often been played at the highest level, though mostly in blitz
and blindfold games, and its greatest adherent is GM Aronian, who has
employed it several times. The move order starting with 3...a6 is directed
against Nc3 setups, but I have paid attention to that possibility there as well. I
have tried to include in the analysis all relevant continuations for both sides,
enabling the reader to quickly incorporate this variation in his repertoire.
Enjoy!
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
[FEN "r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/1B2p3/4P3/
5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R b KQkq - 0 3"]
3...a6
3...Nge7 (C60) 4.Nc3
4.0-0 g6 5.c3 [5.d4 ed4 6.Nd4 Bg7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Nc3 d6 with the idea f5;
8...d5!?] a6 6.Ba4 see 3...a6, C70;
4.d4 ed4 5.Nd4 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Qd2;
4.c3 d5!? 5.Ne5 [5.d4 ed4 6.Nd4 de4 7.0-0 a6] de4 6.d4 [6.Qa4 Qd5]
ed3 7.Qf3 Be6 8.Nc6 Nc6 9.0-0 Qd7 10.Rd1 [10.Qd3 Bd6 and Black is
slightly better] 0-0-0 11.Rd3 Bd6 and Black is slightly better; 9.Bc6; 6.
Qe2 Fischer - Shipman, New York (blitz) 1971.
4...g6
4...a6 5.Bc4;
4...d6 5.d4 a6 6.Bc6 Nc6; 6.Be2;
4...Ng6 5.d4 ed4 6.Nd4 Bc5 7.Nf5 [7.Be3 Bd4 8.Bd4 Nd4 9.Qd4 0-0
10.0-0-0; 7...Bb6] 0-0 8.Be3 Bb6 [8...Be3 9.Ne3 d6 10.h4!? and White
is slightly better; B.Ivanovic 2520 - M.Lazic 2495, Jugoslavija (ch)
1990] 9.Bb6 ab6 10.Ne3 and White is slightly better.
5.d4 ed4 6.Nd5 Bg7 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bf6 Bf6 9.Nf6 Kf8
[FEN "r1bq1k1r/ppppnp2/2n2Npp/1B6/3pP3/
5N2/PPP2PPP/R2QK2R w KQ - 0 10"]
10.Qd2!
10.Nd4 Nf5! 11.Nh7 Rh7 [11...Kg7 12.ef5 Re8 13.Ne2 Kh7 14.fg6 fg6
15.0-0 d6 equal; 14.Qd2!? with the idea 0-0-0] 12.ef5 Qf6 unclear;
10.0-0 Kg7 11.Nd5;
10...Ng8
10...Kg7 11.Nd4 Ng8

11...Kf6 12.Qc3 Ne5 [12...Nd4 13.Qd4 Ke6 14.Bc4 d5 15.ed5 Kd7 (15...
Nd5 16.0-0-0 c6 17.Bd5 cd5 18.Rhe1) 16.0-0-0 a6 17.d6 Nf5 18.dc7
Nd4 19.cd8Q Rd8 20.Rd4 and White is winning] 13.f4;
11...Nf5 12.Nf5 gf5 13.Nh5.
12.Ng8 Rg8 13.0-0-0 and White is slightly better;
11.Ng8 [11.Nd5 Nf6] Kg8 12.Nd4 Qf6 13.Bc6 bc6 [13...dc6 14.0-0-0 Kg7 15.
Qe3 and White is slightly better] 14.0-0 Kg7 15.Rfe1 and White is slightly
better.
4.Ba4 Nge7 5.Nc3
5.0-0 g6 6.c3 Bg7 7.d4 b5 [7...ed4 8.cd4 b5] 8.Bb3 [8.Bc2] ed4 9.cd4 0-0
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/2ppnpbp/p1n3p1/1p6/3PP3/
1B3N2/PP3PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w - - 0 10"]
10.Nc3
10.d5 Na5 11.Bc2
11.d6 cd6 12.Qd6 Nb7;
11.Bd2 Nb3 [11...Bb2 12.Ba5 Ba1 13.Nc3 Bc3 (13...Bb2 14.Qd2 Ba3 15.
Qh6 and White is winning) 14.Bc3 d6] 12.Qb3.
11...d6 12.Nc3 Nc4 [12...Bb7] 13.Re1 [13.Bd3 f5!?] c6!?; 13...c5
unclear; Sergey Karjakin 2723 - Aronian 2786, Moscow (blitz) 2009
10...Na5
10...d6 11.Nd5
11.h3 Na5 [11...Bb7] 12.Bc2 c5 13.Re1 [13.Bg5 h6 14.Bf4 (14.Bh4 g5)
g5 (14...Nc4) 15.Bh2 Nc4 (15...cd4 16.Nd4 Nc4 17.Rb1 Re8 unclear) 16.
dc5 (16.b3 Na3 17.Bd3 g4 18.hg4 Bg4 unclear; Agopov 2452 - S.Ernst
2589, Deutschland 2009; 17...Nc6!?) Nb2 (16...dc5 17.Qe2!? g4 18.hg4
Bg4 19.e5 Ng6 20.Rad1 Qg5 unclear) 17.Qd6 Nc4!? (17...Qd6 18.cd6
Bc3 19.de7 Re8 20.Bb3 Re7 21.Bd6 Re8 22.Bd5 Ra7) 18.Qd8 Rd8 19.e5
Bb7 with compensation; 13.d5 Nc4 with the idea f5; 13.dc5 dc5 14.Qd8
(14.Bg5 Qc7 15.Qc1 Be6 unclear; A.Kosteniuk 2517 - Aronian 2786,
Moscow (blitz) 2009) Rd8 15.Be3 Nc4!? (15...Nb7) 16.Bc5 Nc6 with
compensation] cd4 14.Nd4 Bb7 with counterplay;
11...h6 12.Ne7 Ne7 13.Be3 and White is slightly better; Kulaots 2593 U.Krstic 2366, Istanbul 2004.
11.Bc2 d6 and White is slightly better;
5.c3 g6 [5...d6 see 60/326] 6.d4 ed4 7.cd4 Bg7 [7...b5 8.Bb3 (8.Bc2) Bg7; 7...
d5] 8.d5 b5 9.Bc2 [9.Bb3 Na5] Na5 [9...Nb4 10.Bb3 a5 11.a3 Na6 12.Nc3
Nc5 13.Bc2 0-0] 10.0-0 d6; 10.Bd2!?;
5.Bb3 g6 [5...d5] 6.d4 ed4 7.Ng5 d5 8.Qf3 [8.ed5 Nd5 9.Qf3 Qe7 10.Kd1] f5
9.ed5 Na5 10.d6 Nb3 11.Qb3 Qd6 12.Nf7 [12.Qf7 Kd7 13.0-0 b5] Qc6 13.
Nh8 Be6 14.Qh3 [14.Qg3 Qe4 15.Kd1 d3 16.cd3 0-0-0 with initiative] Qe4
15.Kd2 [15.Kd1 d3 16.cd3 0-0-0] 0-0-0 with compensation
[FEN "r1bqkb1r/1pppnppp/p1n5/4p3/B3P3/
2N2N2/PPPP1PPP/R1BQK2R b KQkq - 0 5"]
5...g6
5...d6 6.a3 [6.0-0 b5 7.Bb3 Na5] Bd7
6...g6 7.d4 b5 8.Bb3 Bg7 [8...ed4 9.Ng5 (9.Nd5; 9.Nd4 Bg7 10.Nc6 Nc6
11.Bf7 Kf7 12.Qd5 Be6 13.Qc6 Bd7 14.Qd5 Be6 with compensation)
Ne5 10.f4 h6 (10...Bg4 11.Ne2 h6 12.fe5 hg5 13.0-0) 11.fe5 hg5 12.Qd4
Bg7 13.Bg5 Be5 14.Qe3 and White is slightly better] 9.Nd5;
6...h6;
6...Ng6.
7.Bb3 [7.0-0 g6 8.d4 Bg7 9.de5 Ne5 10.Ne5 Be5 11.Bb3 Be6 equal; J.Smeets
2662 - A.Grischuk 2773, Wijk aan Zee 2011] Ng6 [7...h6!? ^f7] 8.Nd5 Nce7
[8...Be7 9.c3 0-0 10.d3 Kh8 (10...h6; 10...Nh4) 11.h4 and White is slightly
better; Kulaots - Iv.Sokolov, Aix-les-Bains 2011; 8...Nd4 9.Nd4 ed4 10.d3 c6
11.Nf4 Nf4 12.Bf4 Be7 13.0-0 0-0 14.Bd2 (with the idea f4) Be6 15.Be6 fe6
16.f4 and White is slightly better] 9.Ne3 Nc6 10.c3 Be7 11.d3!? 0-0 [11...Nh4
12.Nh4 Bh4 13.g3 Bg5 14.h4 Bh6] 12.h4; 11.d4 and White is slightly better;
5...Ng6
6.d4 ed4 7.Nd5 Bg7 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bf6 Bf6
9...Kf8 10.Qd2
10.Nf6 Kf8 11.Qd2!? d6 12.Nd4 b5 13.Bb3 Nd4 14.Qd4 c5 15.Nd7 Kg8
[FEN "r1bq2kr/3Nnp2/p2p2pp/1pp5/3QP3/
1B6/PPP2PPP/R3K2R w KQ - 0 16"]
16.Nc5
16.Bf7 Kf7 17.Qf6 Kg8 18.Qe6 Kg7 19.Qf6 equal;
16.Nf6 Kf8 17.Nd7
16...Nc6 17.Bf7
17.Qd5? Qc7 18.0-0-0 [18.Nd3?? Be6] dc5 19.Qc5 Bb7 20.Rd6 Kg7 21.Rhd1
Rad8 22.Qc3 Kh7 23.e5 Rhf8 and Black is slightly better.
17...Kh7 18.Qd5 Qc7 19.Ne6 Be6
19...Qf7 20.Ng5
20.Bg6
20.Be6 Nb4;
20.Qe6 Ne5
20...Kg6
20...Kg7 21.Qe6 Nd4 22.Qg4 Nc2 23.Kd2 Na1 24.Bh5 Kf8 25.Qf5 Kg7 26.
Qg6 Kf8 27.Qf6 Kg8 28.Rc1 and White is winning.
21.Qe6 Kh7 22.0-0-0 with initiative.
Archives.

The Best of the Best: The Next Chapter

by Sotiris Logothetis
Informant at
ChessCafe
Translate this page
In 2008, in celebration of the 100th issue of Chess Informant, our company

published The Best of the Best 1000. We had great faith in the 560 pages of
content as a rich and entertaining selection of the most important and
attractive games published in those first 100 volumes, annotated in depth
(mostly by the players themselves), and selected by a jury of highly-esteemed
personalities in the chess world. Thus, The Best of the Best 1000 stands as a
unique tribute to excellence in chess.
This comprehensive guide to the best creative achievements of the strongest
players in the period 1966-2007 is truly an amazing collection. The games
were selected according to several criteria, among them their overall quality,
competitive importance, attractiveness to the general public, the introduction
of new plans and concepts, the presence of spectacular moves, and
combinations or instructive endings in short, everything that contributes to a
game becoming a deserving part of chess history. Moreover, the practical
significance of the chess content cannot be overlooked; this collection serves
as an excellent training tool, either for self-study or to professional trainers,
and appeals to any genuine chess aficionado wishing to become acquainted
with the modern history of our royal game.
For us, this book represents the very essence of Chess Informants existence:
the crowning of forty-two years of constant effort to serve the public. In light
of this, it could only be expected that we intend to honour and continue this
tradition. As I write these lines, our newest publication, The Best of the Best
1001-1100, is heading off to the printer. It comprises the one hundred best
games of volumes 101-110, spanning the years 2007 to 2011. The games
include spectacular victories by World Champions V.Anand, V.Kramnik, and
V.Topalov; the strongest ever female chess player J.Polgar, as well as other
top players such as V.Ivanchuk, A.Volokitin, V.Akopian, L.Dominguez, R.
Ponomariov; and A.Shirov. These games have been methodically selected and
strictly evaluated by such esteemed grandmasters as A.Beliavsky, L.
Christiansen, M.Gurevich, Mi.Marin, A.Mikhalchishin, Z.Ribli, J.Speelman,
former womens World Champion Xie Jun, and the President of Chess
Informant, A.Matanovic.

the games from
Purchases from our

accessible:
We would like to take up this opportunity to offer a warm welcome to the

newest member of our jury, Romanian grandmaster and highly respected
chess author Mihail Marin! Meanwhile, we have not been idle; we are already
working on the next chapter in the Best of the Best series! Our jury has
completed its work on selecting the ten best games of Chess Informant 110,
including the "golden" winner. We are pleased to present them to ChessCafe.
com readers!

by Chess Informant
Chess Informant 1-100

by Chess Informant

2001-2009
by Chess Informant
1. A. Shirov (2749) Ba. Jobava (2710)

Khanty-Mansiysk (ol) 2010 110/64 [B12]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.0-0 Bg6 7.Nbd2 Nf5 8.g4
Ne7 9.Nh4 c5 [9...h5 see 93/68] 10.c3 Nbc6 [a novelty; 10...Nec6] 11.Nb3 c4
12.Nd2 h5 13.g5 Nf5 14.Ndf3 Be7 15.Kh1 b5 [15...Nh4 16.Nh4 Be4 17.f3
Bh7 18.Rg1 unclear] 16.Nf5 Bf5 17.Nh4 Be4 18.f3 Bh7 19.Rg1 b4 [19...
Rb8!?] 20.g6!? [20.a3 bc3 21.bc3 Rb8 22.Ra2 unclear] Bh4 21.gh7 g6 22.cb4
Qb6 23.Be3 Ne5 [23...Rh7!? with the idea 24.f4!? Qb4 25.b3 cb3 26.ab3 Rb8
27.Qc2 Rb6 28.Rg6 fg6 29.Qg6 Rf7 30.Bh5 Nd8 31.Ra7 Rbb7 32.Rb7 Qb7
33.f5 Qa6 34.fe6 Qe6 35.Qg8 Ke7 36.Bg5 Bg5 37.Qg5 Ke8 38.Qg8 equal] 24.
b3 cb3 25.ab3 Nd7 26.b5! Rh7 27.Ra6 Qb7 28.Qc2 Nb8 [28...Rg7? 29.Qc6!
Qc6 30.bc6 Nb8 (30...Nb6 31.Rga1 Nc8 32.c7 Ke7 33.Bb5 Nd6 34.Ra7 Ra7
35.Ra7 Nc8 36.Ra8 Rg8 37.Bd2 Kd6 38.Ba5 Bf2 39.Ra6 Ke7 40.Bb4 Kf6 41.
Bc5 and White is winning) 31.Raa1 Bd8 32.Bf4 f6 33.Rac1 Bc7 34.Bc7 Rc7
35.Rg6 Kf7 36.Rcg1 and White is winning; 28...Bf6? 29.Qc6!; 28...Rc8 29.
Rc6 (29.Qa2 Ra8 30.Ra1 Nb6 31.Ra7 Ra7 32.Qa7 f6) Nb6 30.Rc1 with
compensation]
[FEN "rn2k3/pq3p1r/R3p1p1/1P1p3p/3P3b/
1P2BP2/2Q1B2P/6RK w q - 0 29"]
29.Rg6!! fg6 [29...Rh8 30.Rae6! (30.Rge6!) fe6 31.Re6 Kd8 (31...Kd7 32.Qf5
and White is winning) 32.Qf5 Rg8 33.Qh5 Qd7 (33...Be7 34.Re7! and White
is winning) 34.Qh4 Kc8 35.Bf1! Re8 36.Re8 Qe8 37.Bh3 Nd7 38.Qf6 Qe3 39.
Qc6 Kb8 40.Qd6 Kb7 41.Qd7 Kb6 42.Qd6 Ka5 43.Qa3 Kb6 44.Qa6 Kc7 45.
Qc6 and White is winning] 30.Re6 Kd8 [30...Be7 31.Qg6 Kd7 (31...Rf7 32.
Bg5 and White is winning) 32.Qf5 and White is winning; 30...Kf8 31.Qg6 Qf7
32.Bh6 Rh6 33.Qh6 Qg7 34.Re8 and White is winning; 30...Kd7 31.Qg6 Re7
32.Rd6 Kc7 33.Bf4 and White is winning; 30...Re7 31.Qg6 Kd8 32.Bg5 Bg5
33.Qg5 Qd7 34.Re7 Qe7 35.Qd5 Kc7 36.Bc4 Nd7 37.Qa8 Qe1 38.Kg2 Qd2
39.Kh3 Qd4 40.Qd5 and White is winning] 31.Qg6 Qf7 [31...Re7 see 30...
Re7] 32.Bg5 Bg5 [32...Kc7 33.Bh4 Qg6 34.Rg6 Nd7 35.Rg5 Re7 (35...Nb6
36.Bg3 Kb7 37.Bd3 Rf7 38.Rh5 Rf3 39.Rh7 Kc8 40.Be2 Rb3 41.Bg4 Kd8 42.
Bh4 Ke8 43.Bh5 Kf8 44.Bf6 and White is winning) 36.Bf1 Rh8 (36...Re3 37.
Bg3 Kb7 38.Rd5 and White is winning) 37.Rd5 Re3 38.Bg3 Kd8 39.Bh3 Rh7
40.Bf5 Rg7 (40...Rf7 41.Bg6 and White is winning) 41.Be4 Rb3 42.Rh5 and
White is winning] 33.Qg5 Kc8 34.Qd5 Rg7 [34...Qd7 35.Qe4 Rh8 36.Bc4
Rd8 37.Qa8 and White is winning] 35.Bc4 Qg8 36.Rc6 Nc6 37.Qc6 Kb8 38.
Qd6 Kc8 39.Bg8 Rg8 40.d5 h4 41.Qc6 Kb8 42.d6 Rc8 43.Qd5 h3 44.Kg1 10 [Sa.Velickovic]
2. R. Leitao (2624) F. Caruana (2700)
Khanty-Mansiysk (ol) 2010 110/250 [D76]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 d5 5.cd5 Nd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.e3 00 9.0-0 Re8 10.Re1 a5 11.Qe2 Be6 12.Rd1 Bc4 13.Qc2 Nb4 14.Qb1 e5! 15.
a3 [a novelty; 15.b3 see 110/(250)] ed4! 16.ab4
[FEN "r2qr1k1/1pp2pbp/1n4p1/p7/1Pbp4/
2N1PNP1/1P3PBP/RQBR2K1 b - - 0 16"]
16...dc3! [16...ab4!? 17.Ra8 Qa8 18.Ne4 Qa4! a) 19.b3 Qb3 20.Bb2 de3 (20...
Qa2!? 21.Qa2 Ba2 22.Nd4 Bd5 23.Nc5 Bg2 24.Kg2 Nc4 25.Ba1 b6 with
compensation) 21.Bg7 ef2 22.Kf2 Kg7 23.Qa1 Kh6 24.Qc1 equal; b) 19.Re1
Ba2 20.Qd3 Bc4 equal] 17.Rd8 Rad8! [17...Red8? 18.Nd4! ab4 19.Ra8 Ra8
20.Bb7 and White is winning] 18.Qc2?! ab4 19.Nd2 [19.bc3 b3! and Black is
winning; 19.Nd4 Rd4 and Black is winning] cd2 20.Bd2 Ra8! [20...b3?! 21.
Qc1 Be2 22.Qe1 Bb2 23.Rb1 Bg4 24.Rb2 Nc4 25.Qc1! Nb2 26.Qb2 and
White is superior] 21.Ra8 Ra8 22.Bb7? [22.h4 Ra1 23.Kh2 b3 24.Qe4 Bb2
25.Qe7 Rd1 and Black is slightly better] Ra1 23.Bc1 [23.Kg2 Bf1 24.Kf3
Nc4 25.Bb4 Ne5 26.Kf4 Nd3 27.Kf3 Rc1 28.Qa4 Ne5 29.Kf4 Rc4 30.e4 Nd3
and Black is winning] b3 24.Qd1 [24.Qd2 Be6] Bb2 0-1 [G.Arsovic]
3. A. Shirov (2749) S. Tiviakov (2637)
Hoogeveen 2010 110/54 [B01]
1.e4 d5 2.ed5 Qd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c6 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.f4 Nb6 8.g4
Nbd5 [8...g6 see 100/47] 9.Bg2!? [a novelty; 9.g5] g6 10.g5 Nc3 11.bc3 Nd5
12.c4 Nc7 13.c5 Qd8
[FEN "r1bqkb1r/ppn1pp1p/2p3p1/2P1N1P1/
3P1P2/8/P1P3BP/R1BQK2R w KQkq - 0 14"]
14.d5!! cd5 [14...f6!? 15.dc6 Qd1 16.Kd1 fe5 17.cb7 (and White is superior)
Bg4 (17...Bb7 18.Bb7 Rd8 19.Ke1 Bg7 20.Bb2 0-0 21.fe5 Rf5 22.Rd1) 18.Ke1
Rb8 19.c6 Bg7 20.Be3!? (20.Bb2) ef4 (20...Nb5 21.Rb1 ef4 22.Rb5 fe3 23.
Rc5 Rd8 24.Bd5) 21.Ba7] 15.c4 e6 [15...Bg7!?] 16.Bb2 Bg7 [16...Rg8!? 17.
Ng4 Be7 18.Nf6 Bf6 19.Bf6 Qd7 20.0-0!?] 17.Nc6 bc6 18.Bg7 Rg8 19.Be5
Bd7 [19...Na6 20.Qa4 Qd7 21.Bd6! with the idea 0-0, Rfe1] 20.0-0 Rb8 21.
Qa4 Rb7 22.Rab1 Qc8 23.Rb7 Qb7 24.Rf2! (and White is winning) d4 [24...
Qb1 25.Bf1 with the idea Rb2; 24...dc4 25.Qa5! Nb5 (25...Nd5 26.Rb2) 26.a4
a6 27.ab5 ab5 28.Bf6] 25.Qa5 Kd8 26.Be4 1-0 [R.Simic]
4. V. Ivanchuk (2754) Ba. Jobava (2710)
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 Qb6 4.a3!? [a novelty; 4.a4 see 109/49; 4.Nc3 see
109/50] e5! [4...e6 5.Nc3 and White is slightly better] 5.ed5 Nf6 [5...cd5!? 6.
Ne2 (6.de5?! Bc5 7.Nh3 Bh3 8.gh3 Bf2 9.Ke2 Nc6 with compensation, with
the idea 0-0-0 with attack) Bd6!? (6...ed4 7.Qd4 Qd4 8.Nd4 and White is
slightly better) 7.Nbc3 Nf6 8.de5 Be5 9.Nd5 Nd5 10.Qd5 Nc6 with
compensation] 6.de5 Bc5 [6...Nd5 7.Nd2 Ne3 8.Nc4 Nc4 9.Bc4 Bc5 10.Ne2
0-0 11.c3 Re8 12.f4 and White is superior] 7.ef6 Bf2 [7...0-0 8.Bd3 Bg1 9.
Qd2 Re8 10.Kd1 Bd4 11.fg7 Bg7 12.Re1 and White is winning] 8.Ke2 0-0 9.
Qd2 Re8 [9...Bg1 10.Kd1 Bd4 11.fg7 Bg7 12.Nc3 Rd8 (12...Re8 13.Bd3 Nd7
14.d6 Ne5 15.Re1 and White is winning; 12...Nd7 13.Bc4! with the idea 13...
Rd8 14.Re1 Ne5 15.Re5! Be5 16.Qg5 Bg7 17.Be3 c5 18.Bc5 Qf6 19.Qf6 Bf6
20.Ne4 Bb2 21.Rb1 Be5 22.Be7 Rd7 23.d6 and White is winning) 13.Bc4!?
(13.Bd3 with the idea 13...cd5 14.Qg5 and White is winning) Be6 (13...Bf5 14.
Re1) 14.Na4!! Qc7 15.de6!! Bh6 (15...Rd2 16.Bd2 fe6 17.Nc5 Qe5 18.Ne6
Kh8 19.Re1 Qb2 20.Ra2 Qb1 21.Bc1 Bh6 22.f4 Nd7 23.Ke2 and White is
winning) 16.ef7 Kg7 17.Nc5 Rd2 18.Bd2 Qd6 19.Ne4 Qd8 (19...Qd4 20.c3
Qd8 21.Kc2 Bd2 22.Rad1 and White is winning; 19...Qd7 20.Re1 Na6 21.Re2
Nc7 22.Ke1 Bd2 23.Rd2 Nd5 24.Rad1 Qf7 25.Bd5 cd5 26.Rd5 and White is
winning) 20.c3!? (20.Re1) Na6 (20...Nd7 21.Bh6 Kh6 22.Kc2 and White is
winning; 20...Bd2 21.Nd2 Na6 22.Re1 Nc7 23.Re4 and White is winning) 21.
Kc2 Bd2 22.Rad1 Nc7 23.Rd2 Nd5 24.Bd5 cd5 25.Rhd1 and White is
winning] 10.Kd1 Re1 [10...Bg1 11.Bd3 Bd4 12.fg7 Bg7 13.Nc3 and White is
winning see 9...Bg1] 11.Qe1 Be1 12.Ke1 Bf5 13.Be2 [13.Nc3 Nd7] Nd7?!
[RR 13...Bc2!? 14.Nc3 Nd7 15.Kf1 Nf6 16.dc6 bc6 17.g3 Nd5 18.Nh3 Nc3
19.bc3 Re8 20.Nf2 h6 21.Bd2 V.Ivanchuk] 14.dc6 bc6 15.Bd1! Re8 16.Ne2
Nf6 17.Nbc3
[FEN "4r1k1/p4ppp/1qp2n2/5b2/8/P1N2P2/
1PP1N1PP/R1BBK2R b - - 0 17"]
17...Bc8? [RR 17...Nd5! 18.Nd5 cd5 19.g4 Bg6 20.a4! d4! 21.Kf1 Qc5 22.
Kg2 Bc2 23.Ng3 Qc4 24.Bf4 d3 25.Bd2 V.Ivanchuk] 18.a4! [with the idea
a5, Ra4] a5 19.Rf1 Ba6 [19...h5!?] 20.Rf2 [20.g4 Nd5 21.Ne4 Be2 22.Be2
Nb4 23.Bd1 Qd4] h5 21.Ra3 h4 [21...Bc4!?] 22.g3 h3 [22...hg3 23.hg3 Bc4
24.Kf1 Nd5 25.Nd5 cd5 26.Kg2] 23.g4 Rd8 [23...Bc4 24.g5 Nd5 25.Nd5 Bd5
26.Rd3] 24.Nf4 Nd7 25.Rb3 Qd4 [25...Re8 26.Nfe2 (26.Be2 Qd4 27.Kf1 Bc4
28.Bc4 Qc4 29.Re2 Nc5) Qd4 see 25...Qd4] 26.Nfe2 Re8 [RR 26...Be2 27.
Be2 Nc5 28.Ra3 Re8 29.Kf1 g6 30.Nd1 Qb4 31.Re3 and White is winning; V.
Ivanchuk] 27.Ne4 Qa4 [27...Be2 28.Be2 Qa4 29.Nc3 Qa1 30.Kd1 Nc5 31.
Ra3 Rd8 32.Bd3 and White is winning] 28.Bd2 Qa1 29.Bc3 Ne5 30.Ra3
Qb1 31.Nd2 Qc1 32.Ra5 Ng6 33.Ra6 Nf4 34.Ra8! 1-0 [Sa.Velickovic]
5. Sergey Karjakin (2760) V. Kramnik (2791)
Moscow 2010 110/156 [C42]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Ne5 d6 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.Nc3 Nc3 6.dc3 Be7 7.Be3 0-0 8.
Qd2 Nd7 9.0-0-0 Ne5 10.h4 c6 11.c4 Be6 12.Ng5 Bf5 [a novelty; 12...Nc4
see 109/172] 13.Kb1 Re8 14.f3 h6 15.Be2 d5 [15...hg5 16.hg5 Qc8 17.g4
Bg6 18.Rdg1 with attack] 16.g4 Bg6 [16...Bc8 17.cd5 hg5 18.hg5 Ng6 19.
Bd3 with attack]
[FEN "r2qr1k1/pp2bpp1/2p3bp/3pn1N1/2P3PP/
4BP2/PPPQB3/1K1R3R w - - 0 17"]
17.f4! dc4 [17...d4 18.Bd4 hg5 19.hg5 Be4 20.Bd3 and White is winning; 17...
hg5 18.hg5 with attack; 17...Nc4 18.Bc4 dc4 19.Qf2 Qa5 (19...Bd6 20.f5 Bh7
21.Nh7 Qe7 22.Rhe1 Kh7 23.g5 and White is superior) 20.f5 Bh7 21.Nh7
Kh7 22.g5 and White is superior] 18.Qc3 Nd3 19.f5 Bg5 [19...Bf6 20.Qc4
Re3 (20...Nb2 21.Rd8 Nc4 22.Re8 Re8 23.Bc4 and White is winning) 21.Bd3
and White is winning] 20.fg6 Re3 21.gf7? [21.Qc4! a) 21...Qd5 22.Bd3 Qc4
23.Bc4 Be7 24.g5 and White is superior; b) 21...Re2 22.gf7 (22.Qf7 Kh8 23.
Rd3 Qe8 24.hg5 Re1 25.Rd1 Qf7 26.gf7 Rh1 27.Rh1 Kh7 and White is slightly
better) Kf8 23.hg5 b5 24.Qb3 Qd5 25.Qd5 cd5 26.Rd3 and White is superior;
c) 21...Bh4 22.Bd3 Qe7 23.Bf5 Bf6 24.a3 b5 25.gf7 Qf7 26.Bh7 Kf8 27.Qc6
and White is superior] Kf8 22.Qc4 Re2? [22...Bh4 23.Bd3 Bf6 unclear] 23.
hg5 Qg5? [23...b5] 24.Qd3 (and White is winning) Qe3 25.Qh7 Qe4 26.Qg8
Ke7 27.Qg7 Qc2 28.Ka1 Rf8 29.Rhf1 Rd2 30.Rfe1 Re2 31.Qc3 Kf7 32.Qf3
1-0 [Milos Perunovic]
6. M. Carlsen (2826) A. Shirov (2749)

Bilbao 2010 110/191 [C78]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.a4 Rb8 8.ab5
ab5 9.c3 d6 10.d4 Bb6 11.h3 0-0 12.Re1 h6 [12...Bb7 see 101/243] 13.Na3
ed4 14.cd4 Na5 15.Bc2 b4 16.Nb5 [a novelty; 16.Nb1] Ba6 [16...d5 17.ed5
(17.e5 Ne4 18.Bd2 Qd7) Bb7!?; 16...Bd7 17.Bd3 d5] 17.Na7 Bb7 18.d5 (and
White is slightly better) Ra8 [18...b3 19.Bb1 (19.Bd3 c6) a) 19...Ba7 20.Ra5
Bb6 (20...Bc5 21.Qb3) 21.Ra3; b) 19...Re8 20.Nb5; 18...Re8] 19.Nb5 Nc4
[better is 19...Re8] 20.Ra8 Qa8 21.Nbd4 Qa7 [21...c6 22.dc6 Bc6 23.Qe2] 22.
b3 Ne5 23.Bb2 Nf3 24.gf3 Qa2 [24...Bc8 25.Qd2 and White is superior] 25.
Qc1 Bd4 [25...Re8 26.Kh2 and White is superior; 25...Nd7 26.Kh1 and White
is superior] 26.Bd4 Nd7 27.Kh1! f6 [27...Ne5 28.Rg1 g6 29.Kg2] 28.Rg1 Rf7
[FEN "6k1/1bpn1rp1/3p1p1p/3P4/1p1BP3/
1P3P1P/q1B2P2/2Q3RK w - - 0 29"]
29.Qd2! Qa8 30.Qh6 (and White is winning) Ne5 31.Bd1 Qe8 32.Qe3 [32.
f4! Nd7 (32...Bd5 33.ed5 Qa8 34.Be5 Qd5 35.Kh2) 33.Bf3 (33.Qg6; 33.Bc2
c5 34.Bb2) c5 (33...c6 34.e5) 34.Bb2 and White is winning] c5 33.Bb2 Re7
[33...c4!? 34.Bd4 (34.f4 c3 35.Bc1 Nd7 36.f5) cb3 35.Bb3] 34.f4! [34.Rg3
Qh5] Nd7 [34...Ng6!? 35.Qg3! (35.f3 f5 36.Bc2 Bd5 37.Qd2 Bb7 38.Qd6 fe4
39.Qg6 Qg6 40.Rg6 ef3 41.Bd3 and White is slightly better) Re4 36.f3! (Ana
Pavlidis; 36.Qg6 Qg6 37.Rg6 Bd5 38.Kh2 and White is superior; 36.f5 Re1
37.fg6 Bd5 38.Kh2 Rg1 39.Qg1 and White is superior) Rf4 (36...Re7 37.Bc2;
36...Re3 37.f5) 37.Bc2 Bd5 (37...f5 38.Qg6 Qg6 39.Rg6 Bd5 40.Rd6 Bf3 41.
Kg1 Be4 42.Bd1) 38.Bg6 Bf3 39.Qf3 Rf3 40.Be8 Rh3 41.Kg2 Rb3 42.Ba1
and White is winning] 35.Qg3 Qf7 36.Bf3 Ba6 37.Bg4 Nf8 38.Bf5 c4 39.bc4
Bc4 40.Qh4 [40.Kh2! Rc7 41.Qh4 Be2 42.Bf6 Qh5 43.Qg3 and White is
winning] Bd5 41.f3 Be6 42.Bf6 Bf5 43.ef5 [43.Bg7 Ng6 (43...Qg7 44.Qe7
Bg6 45.Qg7 Kg7 46.f5) 44.Bf6 Kf8 45.Rg6 Qg6 46.Be7 Kf7 47.ef5 Qf5 48.
Bg5 b3 49.Qh5 (49.Qh8) Qg6 50.Qh8 and White is winning] Rc7 44.Rg7
Qg7 45.Bg7 Rg7 [Q 5/e] 46.f6 [46.Qe1 Rf7 47.Qb4 Rf5 48.Qd6 Kf7 49.Kg2
Nh7 50.Qd7 Kg6 51.Qe8 Kg7 52.Qe7 (52.Qe6 Rf4 53.Qe5 Rf6 54.f4 Kg6 55.
h4 Rf5 56.Qe8 Kh6 57.Qe6 Rf6 58.Qe5 Ra6) Kg6 53.Qe6 Nf6 54.Kg3 Rb5]
Rd7 [46...Rf7 47.f5 b3 48.Qb4 (48.Qg3 Kh7 49.Qd6 b2 50.Qb4 Rf6 51.Qb5)
Rf6 49.Qb3] 47.Qe1 d5 48.Qb4 d4 49.Qc4 Kh7 50.Qd3 Kg8 51.f5 Kf7 52.
Kg2 Kf6 53.Kg3 Kg7 54.h4 Nh7 55.Kf2 Nf6 56.Qd2! Nh7 [56...d3 57.Qg5
and White is winning] 57.Ke1 d3 58.Qg2 Kh8 59.Kd2 Nf8 60.Qg5 Kh7 61.
h5 Kh8 62.f6 Kh7 63.f4 Kh8 64.h6 Kh7 65.f5 1-0 [Slavo.Marjanovic]
7. A. Areshchenko (2664) D. Solak (2577)
Plovdiv 2010 110/62 [B12]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nd2 e6 5.Nb3 Nd7 6.Nf3 Bg6 7.Be2 Ne7 8.0-0
Nf5 9.a4 [9.Bd2 see 109/54] Be7 10.a5 h5 [a novelty; 10...0-0 see 110/(62)]
11.c4 a6 12.Bd2 dc4 13.Bc4 h4 14.Bc3 Bh5 15.Qd3 h3 16.g3 Nc5! 17.Nc5
Bc5 (equal) 18.Qe4 [18.Rad1 Ba7 and Black is slightly better] Bf3 19.Qf3
Nd4 20.Qg4 Nf5 [20...Qg5!? 21.Qg5 Nf3 22.Kh1 Ng5 23.Rae1 0-0-0 24.f4
Nh7 25.Re4 with compensation] 21.Rfd1 Qe7 22.Bf1 g6 23.b4 [23.Bh3 Bf2
24.Kf2 Qc5 25.Kf3 and White is superior; 23...Qf8!] Ba7 24.Bh3 Qf8! 25.
Bd2 [25.Bg2 Qh6 26.h4 Bf2 27.Kf2 Qe3 28.Kf1 Ng3 and Black is winning] 00-0 [25...Qg7!? 26.b5! ab5 (26...cb5 27.Bg2 with compensation) 27.a6! ba6 28.
Bg2 with compensation] 26.Bg2
[FEN "2kr1q1r/bp3p2/p1p1p1p1/P3Pn2/1P4Q1/
6P1/3B1PBP/R2R2K1 b - - 0 26"]
26...Rh2! [26...Qg7 27.Bf4 with initiative, with the idea b5] 27.Kh2 [27.Bg5
Rd4! 28.Rd4 Bd4 29.Rc1 Rh5 30.b5! ab5 31.a6 Kb8 32.ab7 Qb4 33.Qf4!
unclear] Rd2 28.Rd2 Qh6 29.Kg1 Qd2 30.Qf3 Qb2 31.Rd1 Qe5 32.g4 Nd6
33.b5! ab5 34.a6 Qc5 35.Qf4 Kc7! [35...ba6?! 36.Qd6 (36.Rd6 Bb8) Qf2 37.
Kh1 Qh4 38.Qh2 Qh2 39.Kh2 Kc7 and White is slightly better] 36.ab7 [36.
Qf6 Qf2!? 37.Qf2 Bf2 38.Kf2 ba6 unclear] g5 37.Qf6 Bb8! 38.Qa1?! [38.
Ra1 Kb7 39.Qe7 Bc7 40.Qf8 Bb8 41.Qe7 equal] Kb7 39.Rc1 Nc4 (and Black
is slightly better) 40.Qf6 Kb6 41.Qf7 Qd6 42.Qh7 Qf4 43.Re1 Qg4 44.Qg8
Qf4 45.Re6 Bd6 46.Qd8 Kc5 47.Rg6? [47.Rh6! and Black is slightly better]
Qh2 48.Kf1 Nd2 49.Ke1 [49.Ke2 Qh5 and Black is winning] Qe5 50.Kd1
[50.Kd2 Qb2 51.Ke3 Qc3 52.Ke2 Qc2 and Black is winning] Ne4! and Black
is winning [50...Qa1 51.Ke2!] 51.Qa5 [51.Be4 Qd4!] Qd4 52.Kc2 Qc4 53.
Kd1 Qd4 54.Kc2 Qf2 55.Kd1 Qg1 56.Qe1 Nc3 0-1 [D.Solak]
8. P.H. Nielsen (2670) L. Van Wely (2666)
Wolvega 2010 110/84 [B42]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 a6 5.Bd3 Bc5 6.Nb3 Be7 7.Be3 Nc6 8.
N1d2 Nf6 9.f4 d6 10.a3 [a novelty; 10.Qe2 see 109/(88); 10.Qf3 see 109/
(89); 10.c3 see 109/(90)] b5 [10...e5!? 11.f5 d5 12.0-0 0-0 13.Qf3 d4 14.Bf2
b5 equal] 11.Qe2 0-0 12.0-0-0 Nd7 [12...e5 13.f5 b4 14.a4 d5 15.Kb1 d4 16.
Bf2 Nd7 17.g4 Nb6 18.h4 Na4 19.g5 with attack] 13.Nf3 [13.Kb1 Bb7 14.g4
Qc7 15.g5 b4 16.a4 Nc5 17.h4 with attack] Qc7 [13...b4!? 14.a4 Na5 15.Kb1
Nb3 16.cb3 Bb7 17.g4 Rc8 18.g5 Qc7 19.h4 Nc5 20.Bc5 Qc5 21.h5 unclear]
14.h4 e5 15.f5 Nc5 [15...b4 16.a4 Bb7 17.g4 Nc5 18.Nc5 dc5 19.g5 Nd4 20.
Bd4 ed4 21.Kb1 Rae8 22.Rhf1 Bd8 23.Nd2 and White is slightly better] 16.
Kb1 Nd3 [16...Nb3 17.cb3 b4 18.a4 Na5 19.Rc1 Qb7 20.Nd2 Bd7 21.g4 Rfc8
22.g5 with attack] 17.Rd3 a5 18.Ng5 a4 [18...b4 19.Nh7! (19.a4 Ba6 20.Qh5
h6 21.Rd2 Nb8 22.Nf3 Rc8 23.Rh3 with initiative) Kh7 20.Qh5 Kg8 21.Bh6
Bf6 22.Rg3 Qe7 23.Rhh3 and White is winning] 19.Nc1 b4
[FEN "r1b2rk1/2q1bppp/2np4/4pPN1/pp2P2P/
P2RB3/1PP1Q1P1/1KN4R w - - 0 20"]
20.Nh7! Kh7 21.Qh5 Kg8 22.Bh6 Bf6 23.Rg3 Ne7?? [23...Bf5 24.Qf5 Kh8
25.Qh5 g6 26.Qf3 Bg7 27.h5 with attack] 24.Bg7 Bg7 25.Rg7 Kg7 26.Qg5
Ng6 27.f6 1-0 [D.Pikula]
9. Le Quang Liem (2694) R. Kasimdzhanov (2685)

Guangzhou 2010 110/216 [D15]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.e3 b5 6.b3 Bg4 7.h3 Bf3 8.Qf3 e5 9.
de5 Bb4 10.Bd2 Bc3 11.Bc3 Ne4 12.Bb4 bc4 13.Qg4 c5 14.f3 Nc6 15.fe4
Nb4 16.Qg7 Rf8 17.ed5 Qh4 18.Ke2 Nd5! [18...Qe4 see 108/101] 19.Qg4!?
[a novelty; 19.bc4 Nc3 20.Kf3 f6 21.e6 Qe4 22.Kg3 Qe6 23.Kh2 0-0-0 and
Black is slightly better; 19.Kf3 f5! 20.Bc4 (20.Be2 f4 21.e4 Ne3 and Black is
slightly better) Ra7 (20...Qe4) 21.Qa7 (21.Qg3 Qe4 22.Kf2 f4 23.Qg4 Qe3 24.
Kf1 f3 with attack) Qe4 22.Ke2 Qe3 23.Kd1 Qd4 24.Kc2 Ne3 25.Kb1 Qe4 26.
Kb2 Qd4 equal, with the idea 27.Ka3?? Nc4 and Black is winning; RR 19.
Rc1 c3 20.Qg4 Qh6 21.Qe4 0-0-0 22.g4 f5! 23.gf5 Rg8! with compensation;
Bo.Vuckovic] Qh6 20.Qf3
[FEN "r3kr2/5p1p/p6q/2pnP3/2p5/1P2PQ1P/
P3K1P1/R4B1R b q - 0 20"]
20...Rd8! [20...0-0-0?! 21.bc4 Nc3 22.Kf2 f5 23.Kg1 Kc7!? 24.Qf4 (24.Rh2

Qe6 25.g3 Qe5 26.Rb2 Rb8 27.Rb8 Rb8 with compensation) Qe6 25.Rh2!
Rfe8 (25...Rd2 26.g3 and White is superior) 26.g4! Qe5 27.gf5 and White is
slightly better] 21.Rc1!? [21.Kf2 f5 22.Bc4 f4 a) 23.e4 Ne3 24.Bd5 Rg8! 25.
Bg8 Rd2 26.Ke1 (26.Kg1 Rg2 27.Qg2 Ng2 28.Kg2 Qg5 29.Kf1 Qg3! equal)
Rg2 27.Rf1 Nc2 28.Kd1 Ne3 29.Ke1 (29.Kc1?? Nf1 and Black is winning)
Nc2 equal; b) 23.Kg1 fe3! 24.Qg4 Ne7!? with compensation; 21.bc4 Nc3 a)
22.Ke1 f5 23.Be2 Qb6 24.Qh5 (24.Kf2 Rd2 25.Rae1 Qb2 26.Rhf1 Ke7
unclear) Rf7 25.Rf1 Rd2! 26.Bg4 Qb2 27.e6 (27.Rf5 Qa1 28.Kd2 Ne4 and
Black is superior) Qa1 28.Kd2 Ne4 29.Ke2 Qa2 30.Kf3 fg4 31.Ke4 Qc4 32.
Ke5 Qc3 33.Kd5 Qd3 34.Kc6 Qb5 equal; b) 22.Kf2 Qg5 23.Be2 Rd2 with
compensation; 21.g3 f5! (21...c3 22.Bg2 c2 unclear 23.Rac1 Qg6) 22.Bg2 (22.
bc4 Nc3 23.Kf2 Rd2 24.Kg1 Rg8 with attack) Nc3 23.Ke1 Ne4 unclear] c3!
[21...cb3 22.ab3 f6 23.e6 f5 24.Kf2 f4 25.e4 Ne3 26.Rc5 Rd2 27.Kg1 Qh4 28.
Rc1 Ke7 29.Rh2 Qg3 equal] 22.g3!? [22.Kf2 f5 (with counterplay) 23.Be2
(23.Bc4 f4 24.e4 Ne3 25.Bd5 Rg8! and Black is winning) f4 24.Qh5 Qh5 25.
Bh5 Ke7 26.e4 Ne3 27.Rc3 Rd2 equal] Rg8 23.Kf2 Rg5! [23...Qg5 24.Bc4
Qe5 25.Rcd1 Rg5 26.g4 h5 27.Ke2 unclear] 24.Bc4 [24.e4!? Re5 25.ed5
Rdd5 26.Qc3 (26.Re1 Rd2! 27.Be2 Qe6 and Black is slightly better) Rd2 27.
Kg1 Re3 28.Qd2 (28.Qh8 Ke7 29.Qb8 Qg5 and Black is winning) Rg3 29.
Qg2 Qe3 30.Kh2 Rg2 31.Kg2 Qe4 32.Kf2 Qf4 equal] Re5 25.Rhe1? [25.
Rhd1! Qh3 (25...Rd6 26.Rd5 equal) 26.Rh1 Qf5 27.Qf5 Rf5 28.Ke2 equal]
Rd6! 26.Kg1 Qh3 27.Bf1 Qh6 [27...Rf6!? 28.Bh3 Rf3 29.Bg2 Rg3 30.Kf2
and Black is superior] 28.e4 Rf6 29.Qg4 Ne7! 30.Qe2! Qd2! [30...Nc6?! 31.
Rc3 Nd4 32.Qg2 unclear; 30...Nf5 31.Rc3; 30...Rd6 31.Qe3! and Black is
slightly better] 31.Rc2? [31.Qe3? Re4; 31.Rcd1! Qg5 32.Rd3 Nf5 33.Qg2
Kf8 34.Rc3 h5 and Black is slightly better] Qd4 32.Kg2 [32.Qe3 Nd5 and
Black is winning] Nd5! 33.Qd3? Nb4 34.Qc3 Rf2! 0-1 [R. Kasimdzhanov]
10. Sergey Karjakin (2747) P. Eljanov (2761)
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.Be3 Qb6 7.Nc3 Qb2 8.Qb1
Qb1 9.Rb1 c4 10.Rb7 Nc6 11.Nb5 Nd8 [11...Rb8 see 89/63] 12.Rc7 Rb8 [a
novelty; 12...Bc2]
[FEN "1r1nkbnr/p1R2ppp/4p3/1N1pPb2/2pP4/
4BN2/P1P1BPPP/4K2R w Kk - 0 13"]
13.Nd6! [13.Nc3 Ne7!! with the idea Nec6] Bd6 14.ed6 Rb1 [14...Nf6!?] 15.
Bd1 Bc2 16.Kd2 Bd1 17.Rd1 Rb6 [17...Rb2 18.Kc3 Ra2 19.Rb1 Ra3 20.
Kc2 Ra6 21.Bf4! Rb6 (21...Ra2 22.Kc3 Rf2 23.Rb8 and White is winning) 22.
Rb6!? (22.Ra7 Rb1 23.Kb1 and White is winning) ab6 23.Bc1! f6 24.Rg7 Nc6
25.Rc7 Nb4 26.Kb1 c3 27.Ng5! c2 28.Kb2 and White is winning] 18.Bf4!
Nf6 [18...Rb2 19.Kc3 Rf2 (19...Ra2 20.Rb1 Ra3 21.Kc2 Ra2 22.Kd1 Rf2 23.
Rb8 f6 24.Rg7 and White is winning) 20.Rb1 Nf6 21.Re7 Kf8 22.Ng5!! Rf4
23.Rb8 and White is winning] 19.Re7 Kf8 20.Ra7 Ne4 21.Kc2 f6 [21...Nf2
22.Rb1! Rb1 23.Kb1 f6 (23...Ne4 24.Ng5 and White is winning) 24.Bd2 and
White is winning] 22.h4 [22.Rb1!? Rb1 23.Kb1 g5 24.Bc1] Nf2 23.Rb1 Rb1
24.Kb1 Ne4 [24...Nd3 25.Bd2 and White is winning, with the idea Ba5] 25.a4
Rg8 26.a5 Nc6 [26...h6 27.a6 g5 28.Ra8 Kf7 29.a7 Nc3 30.Kb2 Nb5 31.hg5
hg5 32.Bd2 g4 33.Rc8 Na7 34.Rc7 Ke8 (34...Kg6 35.Nh4 Kh5 36.Rh7 mate)
35.Re7 Kf8 36.Bh6 and White is winning] 27.Ra6 [27.d7 Nd8 28.Rc7 Nc3
(28...g5 29.hg5 fg5 30.a6 Nc3 31.Ka1 gf4 32.a7 Rg2 33.a8Q and White is
winning) 29.Kb2 Nb5 30.Rc5 Na7 31.Bb8 Nac6 32.Bd6 Kf7 33.a6 h6 34.Kc3
g5 35.h5 and White is winning] Nb8 28.Ra7 Nc6 29.d7 Nd8 30.Kc2 Ke7 31.
a6 e5 32.Bc1 Kd6 33.Ba3 Kc6 34.Ra8 1-0 [Sa.Velickovic]
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Informant 110
by Josip Asik
Informant at
ChessCafe
Translate this page
From 1971 to 2011 the Chess Informant jury has convened to vote on the best
theoretical novelty from the previous volume. It was a surprise for me when I
realized that once, and only once, was the nine member jury in complete
concordance regarding the winning novelty. It was like a once in a lifetime
moment that the stars align in perfect harmony, where one game scores above
all others as a clear winner with the maximum ninety points!

by Chess Informant
Our new book 1000 TN!!, to be published in December, collects the best of
the best 1,000 theoretical novelties from Chess Informants 10 to 111 and
provides an adventurous journey through the development of chess openings
during the last forty years. Moreover, in every theoretical line, we add the
latest word on the state of theory.
In the "contest" of TN's who actually won the game was of lesser importance
than whose idea contributed the most to chess theory. There are more than
sixty players among the winners, with current world champion Viswanathan
Anand at the top of the list with nine novelties, only one ahead of former
world champion Anatoly Karpov.
In all there were seventy jurists during this time. Jan Timman is the longest
serving member with seventy-five volumes; compare this, for example, to
Anand's fifty-three, Larsen's thirty-five, Uhlmann's twenty-one, or Botvinnik's
eighteen voting appearances.

the games from
So, which famous theoretical novelty achieved such unanimous acclaim? That
is for you to find out! Tell us the game, the Chess Informant volume in which
it appeared, and the game number from that volume; e.g., Shirov Kamsky,
Linares 1993, Chess Informant 57, Game #464. We will accept all correct
contest answers for one week following the appearance of this column, then
randomly select three winners from this group. In order to meet the one-week
deadline, please e-mail your responses to the Chess Informant Editorial
Board, info@sahovski.co.rs, by November 26, 2011. The three winners will
receive a copy of the book 1000 TN!!. Good luck!
Here is a diagram to give you a hint:

by Chess Informant

2001-2009
by Chess Informant
[FEN "rnb1k2r/p1p5/1p1p1q1p/3PpN2/
2P3pP/2PQP1B1/P4PP1/R4RK1"]
In the meantime, here is the jury selection for best theoretical novelty of
Chess Informant 110, and the winning game, along with the theoretical report,
as published in Chess Informant 111.
1. V. Topalov (2803) V. Anand (2800)

Nanjing 2010 110/243 [D57]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0-0 7.e3 Ne4 8.Be7
Qe7 9.cd5 Nc3 10.bc3 ed5 11.Qb3 Rd8 12.c4 Be6 13.c5 [13.Qb7 see
85/393] b6 14.Rc1 bc5 15.Qa3 [15.Rc5 Nd7 16.Rc7 Rdb8 with
compensation] Nd7 16.Bb5?! [16.dc5]
[FEN "r2r2k1/p1pnqpp1/4b2p/1Bpp4/3P4/
Q3PN2/P4PPP/2R1K2R b K - 0 16"]
16...Bg4! [a novelty; 16...Rab8] 17.Bd7 [17.Nd2 c6 (17...Qg5) 18.Bc6 Rac8!

19.Bd7 cd4 20.Rc8 Rc8 21.Bc8 Qa3 22.Bg4 de3 and Black is superior] Rd7
18.Qc5 [18.Rc5 Qe4 19.Ke2 Re8 (19...Rd6!? 20.h3 Bc8! 21.Rhc1 Ba6 22.Kd1
Qg6 with initiative) 20.Rhc1 Rd6 21.h3 Bf3 22.gf3 Qd4 and Black is slightly
better; 18.Ne5 cd4 19.Qe7 Re7 20.Nc6 (20.Ng4 h5) Re6 21.h3 Bh5 22.Nd4
Ra6 23.Rc7 Ra2 24.0-0 a5 and Black is slightly better] Qe4 19.Rg1 Re8!
[19...Bf3 20.gf3 Qf3 21.Qc6 Rb8! 22.Qh6 g6 23.Qf4 (23.Rg3 Qh1 24.Kd2
Rb2 25.Rc2 Rc2 26.Kc2 Rd6! and Black is winning) Qf4 24.ef4 and Black is
slightly better; 19...f6 20.Qc2 Bf3 21.gf3 Qf3 22.Rg3 Qe4 23.Qe4 de4 24.Rg4
Re8 25.Rf4 with the idea Rf5-c5] 20.Qb5 [20.Ne5 Re5 21.de5 d4 a) 22.h3
de3 a1) 23.Qe3 Qb4 24.Kf1 Qb5 25.Ke1 Rd3 26.hg4 (26.Qe4 Qb2 and Black
is winning; 26.Qd3 Qd3 27.hg4 c5) Re3 27.fe3 Qa5 28.Kf2 Qa2 29.Kf3 Qd5
30.Kf2 Qe5 31.Rc4 Qb2 32.Kf3 a5 33.Rgc1 a4 34.R4c2 (34.Rc7 a3 and Black
is winning) Qf6 35.Ke2 Qg5 36.Ra2 Qg4 37.Kf2; a2) 23.fe3 Rd3 24.Kf2 Bh3!
(24...Rd2 25.Kg3 Be6 and Black is slightly better) 25.gh3 Rd2 26.Kg3 h5! and
Black is winning; a3) 23.hg4 ef2 24.Kf2 Qf4 25.Ke1 Rd4! (and Black is
winning) 26.Qc3 Re4 27.Kd1 Qf2; b) 22.Qb4 Qe5 23.h3 c5 (and Black is
superior) 24.Qc5 d3!; 20.Ke2 f5!] Rdd8 21.Qe2 Rb8! [21...c5 22.h3 Bf3 23.
gf3 Qf5 24.dc5! (24.Rc5 Rb8! 25.Rc1 Rec8 and Black is winning) d4 25.Rg3
d3 26.Qd2 Re5 27.e4 and Black is slightly better] 22.h3 Bf3 23.gf3 [23.Qf3
Qd4 and Black is winning] Qf5 24.f4 [24.Rg3 Rb1 25.Rb1 (25.Kd1 Rc1 26.
Kc1 Rb8 27.Qc2 Qe6 and Black is winning) Qb1 26.Qd1 Qa2 27.Kf1 Rb8 28.
Kg2 Rb2 29.Qf1 a5 30.Qa6!; 29...Qc4! and Black is winning] Rb1 25.Rb1
[25.Qd1 Reb8 26.Kd2 R8b2 27.Kc3 Rc1 28.Qc1 Rb6! (28...Rf2? 29.Rg7! Kg7
30.Qg1 Kf8 31.Qf2 Qh3 32.f5) 29.Kd2 Qh3 and Black is winning] Qb1 [Q 9/
f] 26.Qd1 Rb8 27.Ke2 Qf5! [27...Rb2 28.Kf3 Qa2 29.Qf1 and Black is
slightly better] 28.Rh1 Rb2 29.Kf3 h5! (and Black is winning) 30.a4 [30.Rh2
h4! 31.Kg2 Rb1 and Black is winning] Qe4 31.Kg3 h4 32.Kh4 Rf2 33.Qg4
[33.Rg1 Qe3 34.Rg7 Kg7 35.Qg4 Kf8 36.Qc8 Qe8 and Black is winning]
Rg2 [33...Qe7 34.Qg5 Qe3 and Black is winning] 0-1 [V. Anand]
D57
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bh4 Ne4 8.
Be7 Qe7 9.cd5 Nc3 10.bc3 ed5 11.Qb3 Rd8 12.c4 Be6
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
c51
Rc1
Qa33
Bb54
Bd76
Rc58
21
Ke2
Rhc1 h3
b6
bc52
Nd7
Bg45
Rd77
Qe4
Re89
Rd6
1
Qb7 Rb111 cd512 Rc114 Qc715 Rc616 Qe517 dc6
Bf310
Ke2
equal
2
Qa3 Qa2
Black is
slightly
better
Bf513
Qa3
Nc6
Rac8
Rc6
Qc1
Qc418
[FEN "rn1r2k1/ppp1qpp1/4b2p/3p4/2PP4/
1Q2PN2/P4PPP/R3KB1R w KQ - 0 13"]
13.cd5 Bd5 14.Bc4 Bf3 15.gf3 Nc6 16.0-0 Na5 17.Qc3 Qg5 18.Kh1 Nc4 19.
Qc4 Qh5 20.Qe2 c5 and Black is slightly better; Ra.Gonzalez - M.Panelo,
Sabadell 2010.
13.Rc1 c5 14.Be2 [14.Qa3 Nd7 15.cd5 Bd5 16.Be2 b6 17.0-0 Qf6 18.Rfd1
Qg6 19.Ne1 Qf6 20.h3 Bb7 21.Bf3 Bf3 22.Nf3 equal; Skembris - A.
Mastrovasilis, Greece (ch) 2006] Nc6 15.Qa3 dc4 16.Bc4 Bc4 17.Rc4 b5 18.
Rc5 b4 19.Qc1 Nd4 20.Nd4 Rd4 equal; D.Shengelia.
13.Be2 c5 14.0-0 Nc6 15.cd5 Bd5 16.Qa3 Bf3 17.Bf3 cd4 18.Qe7 Ne7 19.
Rab1 Rab8 20.Rb7 Rb7 21.Bb7 de3 22.fe3 Rd2 23.Rf2 Rd1 24.Rf1 Rd2
equal; Malakhatko - Sanikidze, Baku 2007.
2
14...Nd7 15.cb6 ab6 16.Rc7 Ra3 17.Qb1 Qd6 18.Rc1 Rda8 19.Bb5 Bf5 20.
Qf5 Qb4 21.Nd2 Qb5 22.Rb1 Qc6 23.0-0 and White is slightly better;
Malakhatko - Vang Glud, Espana 2008.
3
15.Rc5 Nd7 16.Rc7 Rab8 [16...Rdb8 with compensation] 17.Qc2 Qa3 18.Bd3
Rb2 19.Qc3 Qc3 20.Rc3 Ra2 21.0-0 Rb8 22.Rfc1 Kf8 23.Kf1 a5 24.R3c2
Rc2 25.Rc2 Ke7 26.Nd2 and Black is slightly better; Pr.Nikolic - Jojua,
Plovdiv 2008.
4
16.dc5.
5
[FEN "r2r2k1/p1pnqpp1/4b2p/1Bpp4/3P4/
Q3PN2/P4PPP/2R1K2R b K - 0 16"]
16...Rab8 17.Bd7
a) 17...Bd7 18.0-0 Bb5 19.Rfe1 Bc4 20.Ne5 Qd6
a1) 21.Nc4 dc4 22.dc5 [22.Rc4 cd4 equal] Qd2 23.Rf1 a5 24.Qa4 c3 and
Black is slightly better; M.Purtseladze - Melia, Yerevan 2006.
a2) 21.Qa7 Ra8 22.Qc5 Qc5 23.dc5 Ra2 equal; Malakhatko - M.Senff,
Deutschland 2007.
b) 17...Qd7 18.Qc5 Qb5 19.Qb5 Rb5 20.0-0 Rc8 21.Rc5 Rc5 22.dc5 Rb8 23.
Nd4 Rb2 24.f4 Bc8 25.Rf2 equal; Malakhatko - Jojua, Manama 2009.
6
17.Nd2 c6 [17...Qg5] 18.Bc6 Rac8! 19.Bd7 cd4 20.Rc8 Rc8 21.Bc8 Qa3 22.
Bg4 de3 and Black is superior.
7
17...Bf3!?
a) 18.Bc6?! Bg2 19.Rg1
[FEN "r2r2k1/p1p1qpp1/2B4p/2pp4/3P4/
Q3P3/P4PbP/2R1K1R1 b - - 0 19"]
a1) 19...Rab8!? 20.Rg2 Qe4

a11) 21.Rg3 Rd6 22.Ba4 [22.Qc5 Rb2 23.Bb5 Rf6 and Black is winning] Ra6
and Black is winning.
a12) 21.Rg1 cd4 22.Qc5 Rb1 23.Kd2 Rb2 24.Rc2 de3 25.fe3 Rc2 26.Qc2 Qe5
and Black is superior.
a13) 21.f3 Qf3 22.Rf2 Qe4 23.Rc5 Rb1 24.Kd2 Rdb8 25.Rc2 Qh1 26.Ba4
(only move) Qd1 27.Kc3 Qe1 28.Kd3 Rd1 29.Rcd2 Rd2 30.Rd2 Qb1 equal.
a2) 19...Qd6! 20.Ba8 Qh2 21.Rg2 [21.Ke2 Ra8 22.Qc5 Rb8 23.Rb1 Rb6 and
Black is superior] Qg2
a21) 22.Bb7 c4 23.Qc3 Re8 [23...Rd6? 24.Qc4 and White is superior] 24.Bd5
[24.Qc4? Re3 25.fe3 Qg3] Qd5 25.Qc4 Qh1 and Black is superior.
a22) 22.Bc6 cd4 and Black is superior; Ghaem Maghami - Thejkumar, Jakarta
2011 see 111/217.
b) 18.Bh3!? Qh4! [18...Qe4 19.0-0 Rd6 20.Qc5 Rg6 21.g3 and White is
slightly better; 19...Be2] 19.Qc5 [19.Rc5 Rd6 20.Rc7 Rf6! 21.gf3 Qh3 and
Black is superior] Rd6! 20.Qc7 Rg6 21.Bf5 [21.Rc6 Bg2 22.Rg6 Qh3 23.Rg3
Qf5 24.Rg2 Rc8 25.Qg3 Rc1 equal] Rg2 22.Qc8 Qd8 23.Qd8 Rd8 24.h4 g6
25.Bh3 Rg3 26.fg3 Bh1 27.Rc7 a5 28.Ra7 Rb8 29.Ra5 Rb1 30.Kd2 f5 31.Ke2
Be4 equal.
8
18.Qc5 Qe4 19.Rg1 Re8! [19...f6 20.Qc2 Bf3 21.gf3 Qf3 22.Rg3 Qe4 23.Qe4
de4 24.Rg4 Re8 25.Rf4 and Black is slightly better, with the idea Rf5-c5; 19...
Bf3 20.gf3 Qf3 21.Qc6 Rb8! 22.Qh6 g6 23.Qf4 Qf4 24.ef4 and Black is
slightly better]
a) 20.Ke2 f5!.
b) 20.Qb5 Rdd8 21.Qe2 Rb8! 22.h3 Bf3 23.gf3 Qf5 24.f4 [24.Rg3 Rb1 25.
Rb1 Qb1 26.Qd1 Qa2 27.Kf1 Rb8 28.Kg2 Rb2 29.Qf1 Qc4! and Black is
winning] Rb1 25.Rb1 [25.Qd1 Reb8 26.Kd2 R8b2 27.Kc3 Rc1 28.Qc1 Rb6!
29.Kd2 Qh3 and Black is winning] Qb1 26.Qd1 Rb8 27.Ke2
[FEN "1r4k1/p1p2pp1/7p/3p4/3P1P2/
4P2P/P3KP2/1q1Q2R1 b - - 0 27"]
b1) 27...Rb2 28.Kf3 Qa2 29.Qf1 and Black is slightly better.

b2) 27...Qf5! 28.Rh1 Rb2 29.Kf3 h5! and Black is winning; V.Topalov - V.
Anand, Nanjing 2010 see 110/243.
c) 20.Ne5 Re5 21.de5 d4
c1) 22.h3 de3 23.hg4 [23.Qe3 Qb4 24.Kf1 Qb5 25.Ke1 Rd3 26.hg4 Re3 27.
fe3 Qa5 28.Kf2 Qa2 29.Kf3 Qd5 30.Kf2 Qe5 31.Rc4 Qb2 32.Kf3 a5 33.Rgc1
a4 34.R4c2 Qf6 35.Ke2 Qg5 and Black is winning; 23.fe3 Rd3 24.Kf2 Bh3!
25.gh3 Rd2 26.Kg3 h5! and Black is winning] ef2 24.Kf2 Qf4 25.Ke1 Rd4 26.
Qc3 Re4 27.Kd1 Qf2 and Black is winning.
c2) 22.Qb4 Qe5 23.h3 c5 and Black is superior, with the idea 24.Qc5 d3!.
18.Ne5 cd4 19.Qe7 Re7 20.Nc6 [20.Ng4 h5] Re6 21.h3 Bh5 22.Nd4 Ra6 23.
Rc7 Ra2 24.0-0 a5 and Black is slightly better.
9
19...Rd6!? 20.h3 Bc8! 21.Rhc1 Ba6 22.Kd1 Qg6 with initiative.
10
22.gf3 Qd4 and Black is slightly better; V.Anand.
11
[FEN "rn1r2k1/pQp2pp1/4b2p/3p4/2PP4/
q3PN2/P4PPP/R3KB1R w KQ - 0 14"]
14.Nd2 dc4 [14...Na6? 15.cd5 Nb4 16.de6 Nc2 17.Kd1 Na1 18.ef7 and White
is winning; Babujian - M.Sulashvili, Lviv 2008] 15.Bc4 [15.Be2 Bd5 16.Qb1
c5 17.0-0 cd4 18.Nc4 Qe7 19.Re1 Nc6 20.Bf1 d3 21.Qd3 Bg2 22.Qa3 Qa3 23.
Na3 Bf1 and Black is slightly better; A.Lugovoi - Alavkin, Russia 2003] Bc4
16.Qc7 Nc6! 17.Qc6 Rac8 with attack.
12
15.Qb2 Qb2 16.Rb2 Nc6! and Black is slightly better.
13
15...Bd5!? 16.Qb2 Qb2 17.Rb2 Nc6 18.Bd3 Rab8 19.Rb8 Rb8 20.e4 Re8 21.
Kd2 Be4 22.Be4 Re4 23.Rc1 Nd4 24.Kd3 Nb3 25.Rc7 Ra4 26.Kc2 Nd4 27.
Nd4 Rd4 28.Ra7 equal.
14
16.Rd1!? Nd7 with initiative, with the idea Rab8
15
17.Rc7 Qa1 18.Ke2 Na6 [18...Nd7!?] 19.Rf7 Rab8 20.Qe7
a) 20...Rb2? 21.Nd2 Rd2 22.Kd2 Qb2 [22...Rb8 23.Rg7 Kh8 24.Rh7 Bh7 25.
Qh7 Kh7 26.Bd3 Kg7 27.Ra1 and White is winning] 23.Ke1 Rc8 24.Rg7 Kh8
25.Rh7 Bh7 26.Qf6 Kg8 27.Qe6.
b) RR 20...Bd3 21.Kd3 Qb1 22.Ke2 Qb5 23.Ke1 Qb1 equal.
16
[FEN "r2r2k1/p1Q2pp1/2n4p/3P1b2/3P4/
q3PN2/5PPP/2R1KB1R w K - 0 18"]
18.Rd1? Rac8 19.Qf4 Bc2! 20.dc6 Bd1 21.Kd1 [21.Ne5 Bb3 and Black is
winning] Rc6 22.Nd2 Qc1 23.Ke2 Rc2 24.Kf3 Qd2 25.Kg3 Rc3! 26.Kg4 Qd1
27.f3 Qd2 and Black is winning; Ba.Jobava - D.Shengelia, Batumi 2002 see
85/393.
17
19.Qf4? Rc6 20.dc6 Qc1 21.Ke2 Bc2 and Black is winning.
19.Qb7 Rb8 20.Qa6 Rb1 21.Ke2 Qb3 22.e4 Rb2 23.Nd2 Re8 24.Qd3 Re4 25.
Kf3 Qd5 26.Qc4 Qd4 and Black is superior.
18
D.Shengelia
G.Arsovic
Archives.

Purchases from our

accessible:
The Best Games of Chess Informant 111

by Josip Asik
Informant at
ChessCafe
Translate this page
At the beginning of November, I received an annotated game from Jiri

Stocek, who at the time was competing in the European Teams championship
in Greece. The 2600+ Czech grandmaster had only just played the game that
same day! It transpires that Stocek had played a prepared novelty in the
Nimzo-Indian that he had waited years to unveil and he was now ready to
share the complete theoretical overview. This is duly being published in
Chess Informant 113.
With regard to the just published Chess Informant 112, we call it the Winterfresh edition. It contains more than 300 games and a similar amount of
fragments, along with special columns covering recent events, and the CI
Labs, which features the latest opening trends from a grandmaster's point of
view. We are pleased to welcome new labs authors Alexander Delchev from
Bulgaria, Sundararajan Kidambi from India, and Dejan Pikula from Serbia.
I would also like to talk about our newest feature called "Rising Stars." This
column gives up-and-coming players the chance to prove to a doubtful older
generation that they are more than their computers. These young lions have
soul and they want to express it. In words! The annotations from nineteen
year-old Eric Hansen from Calgary, against world-class player Vugar
Gashimov from the World Cup Khanty-Mansiysk, are refreshing for their
honesty. He is not afraid of admitting to not seeing a move or not knowing
what would happen next. Concurrently, he visualized many more excellent
moves and delivered plenty of original ideas in appraising his beautiful
attacking win.

the games from

by Chess Informant

by Chess Informant
Chess Informant 112 will shortly be available from our distributor,

ChessCafe.com. Those who have a subscription from ChessCafe.com will
likely be ringing in the New Year with it. I can well envision enjoying it with
a glass of sherry in front of log-fire in a warm house. This month, we are
pleased to present the top three games from the jury's choice of ten best games
from Informant 111. The Chess Informant team wishes you Happy Holidays
and a prosperous New Year.
Congratulations to the winners from last month's quiz: Mark Rand (USA),
Michael Yeo (England), and Thomas Williams (USA). Each will receive a
copy of the new book 1000 TN!!. The correct answer was Miles Beliavsky,
Tilburg 1986, Chess Informant 42, #681.

2001-2009
by Chess Informant
1. L. Pantsulaia (2595) Ju. Polgar (2686)

Aix-les-Bains 2011 111/3 [A13]
1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.Qc2?! [4.b3 see 109/(7)] c5 5.d4 cd4 6.Nd4 e5!
7.Nb3 [a novelty; 7.Nf3] Nc6 (and Black is superior) 8.Bg2 Nb4 9.Qd1 dc4?!
[9...Bf5 10.Na3 dc4 11.Nd2 see 9...dc4] 10.N3d2 Bf5 11.Na3 [11.0-0! Nc2?
12.e4! Na1 13.ef5; 11...Qc7 and Black is superior] b5! 12.Ba8 Qa8 13.Nf3
[13.0-0 Bh3 and Black is superior]
[FEN "q3kb1r/p4ppp/5n2/1p2pb2/1np5/
N4NP1/PP2PP1P/R1BQK2R b KQk - 0 13"]
13...Nd3! [13...Qc6!? 14.Bd2 (14.0-0 Bh3 15.Re1 Ng4! and Black is winning)
Bc5 15.0-0 Bh3 16.Bb4 Bb4 and Black is superior] 14.ed3 Bd3 15.Nb5 (only
move) Bb4 16.Nc3 0-0! [16...Qe4 17.Be3 unclear] 17.Rg1 only move [17.Be3
Be4 18.0-0 Bf3 19.Qd2 Qc8 and Black is winning; 17.Bd2 Bc3 18.bc3 Qe4
19.Be3 Nd5 and Black is winning] Ne4 [17...Qe4 18.Be3 Nd5 19.Nd2 Nc3 20.
Ne4 Nd1 21.Kd1 Be4 with compensation] 18.Bd2 Rd8 [18...Nc3 19.Bc3 Bc3
20.bc3 Qe4 21.Kd2 Qb7 22.Ke1! (22.Kc1? Rb8 23.Qd2 Qb1 24.Rb1 Rb1
mate) Qe4 equal] 19.Rc1 [19.Ng5!? Nd2 20.Qd2 h6 21.Nh3 Bc3 22.bc3 Be4!
23.Qe3 Bf3! 24.Kf1 Bg4 and Black is superior] Nc3 20.bc3 Ba3 21.Be3 [21.
Ra1 Bb2 and Black is winning] Bc1 22.Bc1 Rb8! [with the idea Rb1] 23.Nd2
Qd5 [with the idea Qa5] 24.Qa4 a5 25.Qd1 [25.Qa3 e4 with attack; 25.Nf1
Qf3 26.Qd1 Qf6 with attack] h6! (and Black is superior) 26.Qf3?
[FEN "1r4k1/5pp1/7p/p2qp3/2p5/2Pb1QP1/
P2N1P1P/2B1K1R1 b - - 0 26"]
26...Rb1!! 27.Kd1 [27.Qd5 Rc1 mate; 27.Qd1 Ra1 28.a3 e4 and Black is
winning] e4 [27...Qd7!? 28.Qa8 (28.Nb1 Be4) Kh7 29.Qa5 Qf5! and Black is
winning] 28.Qf4 Ra1 29.Qb8 (time) Kh7 30.g4 [30.Qb2 Rb1! 31.Nb1 Bc2!!
32.Ke2 (32.Kc2 Qd3 mate) Qd3 33.Ke1 Qd1 mate] Qd7 31.Qe5 e3 [31...Qa4
32.Nb3 cb3? 33.Qf5 Kg8 34.Qc8 equal; 32...e3!] 32.fe3 [32.Qe3 Qa4 33.Nb3
Ra2 and Black is winning] Qa4 33.Ke1 Rc1 34.Kf2 Rg1 0-1 [Ju.Polgar]
2. Zhao Jun (2580) Xiu Deshun (2508)
China (ch) 2011 111/269 [E29]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bc3 5.bc3 c5 6.e3 b6 7.Bd3 Nc6 [7...Bb7 8.
f3] 8.Ne2 Ba6?! [8...0-0 see 85/444] 9.e4 0-0 [9...d6? 10.Qa4 and White is
winning; 9...e5 10.f4 cd4 11.cd4 ed4 12.0-0 a) 12...0-0 13.e5 Ng4 14.Nd4
Nd4 (14...Nge5 15.fe5 Nd4 16.Be4 Nc6 17.Qh5 g6 18.Qh6+/-) 15.Qg4 Nb3
16.f5! with attack; b) 12...d6 13.Bb2 and White is slightly better] 10.Bg5! [10.
e5 Ne8 unclear] h6 11.Bh4 g5 [a novelty; 11...d6 12.f4 e5 13.fe5 (13.d5) de5
14.d5 Na5 15.0-0 g5 16.Be1 Bc4 17.Ng3 with attack; 11...e5] 12.Bg3 d6 13.
f4! [13.h4?! e5! 14.hg5 hg5 15.Qd2 Ne8 unclear] Na5 [13...Nh5 14.0-0 (14.
fg5? Ng3 15.Ng3 Qg5 and Black is slightly better) Ng3 15.Ng3 cd4 16.Qh5!
Qf6 (16...Kg7 17.cd4 Nd4 18.e5 with attack) 17.e5 de5 18.f5! with attack;
13...Ng4 14.Qd2 Na5 15.h3 Nf6 16.fg5 Nh5 17.gh6! Nb3 18.Qe3 Na1 19.0-0
Nb3 20.e5 d5 21.Rf6 with attack] 14.fg5 hg5 15.0-0 Nh5 [15...Ng4 16.Nf4!
Ne3 17.Qh5 and White is winning]
[FEN "r2q1rk1/p4p2/bp1pp3/n1p3pn/2PPP3/
P1PB2B1/4N1PP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 16"]
16.Bd6!! Qd6 17.e5 Qe7 18.Ng3 Ng3 [18...Ng7 19.Nh5 and White is
winning; 18...f5 19.Qh5 Qg7 20.Bf5 and White is winning] 19.Rf6! [19.hg3?
f5] Kg7 [19...Bc4 20.hg3 Bd3 21.Qd3 Kg7 (21...cd4 22.Qd2 and White is
winning) 22.Qe3 Rh8 23.Qg5 Kf8 24.d5 and White is winning; 19...Rfd8 20.
hg3 Qf8 21.Qh5 Qg7 22.Raf1 Rd7 23.d5 and White is winning; 19...Nc4 20.
Qg4 and White is winning] 20.Qg4! Rg8 [20...Rh8 21.Qg3! Bc4 22.Bc4 Nc4
23.Raf1 cd4 24.Qg5 Kf8 25.Rf7 Qf7 26.Rf7 Kf7 27.Qf6 Kg8 28.Qe6 Kg7 29.
Qc4 dc3 30.Qc3 and White is winning] 21.hg3 Nb7 22.Raf1 Nd8 23.Qe4!
Qb7 [23...Bb7 24.Rg6 Kh7 25.Re6 Be4 26.Be4 Kg7 27.Re7 and White is
winning; 23...Rc8 24.Rg6 Kh8 25.Rg8 Kg8 26.Qh7 Kf8 27.Qh8] 24.d5! Rh8
[24...ed5 25.Qh7 Kf8 26.e6 and White is winning] 25.Qg6! [25.Rf7 Qf7 26.
Rf7 Nf7 27.Qg6 Kf8 28.de6 and White is winning] fg6 [25...Kf8 26.de6 and
White is winning] 26.Rg6 Kh7 27.Rg5 Kh6 28.Rg6 [28.Rf6 Kg5 29.Rg6
Kh5 30.g4 Kh4 31.Kh2 and White is winning] Kh7 29.Rg4 Kh6 30.Rf6 Kh5
31.Rh4 1-0 [Zhao Jun]
3. A. Shirov (2722) V. Kramnik (2784)
Wijk aan Zee 2011 111/138 [C45]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 ed4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc6 bc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4
Nb6 9.Nc3 Bb7 10.Bd2 g6!? [10...0-0-0 see 80/339] 11.Ne4 [a novelty; 11.00-0 see 111/(138)] 0-0-0 12.a4 Ba6! 13.Qe3?! [13.b3? Qe5 14.Bc3 Bb4 and
Black is winning; 13.a5 Nc4 14.Ra4 (14.b3 Qe5 15.Nc3 Qd4 16.bc4 Bh6! 17.
Qd3 Rhe8 18.Kd1 Qf2 with attack) Bg7 (14...Re8 15.f3 Qe5 16.Bc3 Qf4 17.
Rc4 Bc4 18.Qc4 d5 19.Qc6 Re4 20.Kd1 Re6 21.Qa8 Kd7 22.Bb5 c6 23.Bh8
cb5 24.Qf8 Qa4) 15.Rc4 Be5 16.Qe3 d5 unclear; 13.f3 Bc4 14.Qf2 Bf1 15.
Kf1 unclear; 13.Qf3!? Re8 14.Bc3 f5! 15.Nd2 Bh6 16.c5 (16.Bd3 Bd2 17.
Kd2 Qg5 unclear) Bd2 17.Kd2 Bf1 18.cb6 Qg5 19.Qe3 Qe3 20.Ke3 Bg2 21.
ba7 Kb7 22.Rhe1 Ka7 23.f3 f4 24.Kf2 Bh3 25.e6 Rhf8 26.ed7 Bd7 equal]
[FEN "2kr1b1r/p1ppqp1p/bnp3p1/4P3/P1P1N3/
4Q3/1P1B1PPP/R3KB1R b KQ - 0 13"]
13...Qe5! 14.Bc3 Bb4 15.Bb4 Rhe8 16.f3 d5 17.a5 [17.cd5 Bf1 18.Kf1 f5!
19.Qd3 fe4 20.Qa6 Kd7 21.dc6 Ke6 22.Re1 e3 and Black is slightly better]
Nc4 18.Qa7 Qb2 19.Qa6 Kd7 20.Rd1 Qb4 21.Kf2 Re4! 22.fe4 Qc5 23.Ke1
Qb4 24.Kf2 Qc5 25.Ke1 Nb2! 26.ed5? [26.Qe2 Nd1 27.Qd1 Qa5 28.Kf2
Qc5 with initiative, with the idea Ra8] Qc3 27.Rd2 Qc1 [27...Re8! 28.Be2
Qc1 29.Kf2 Qd2 30.Re1 (30.Rb1 cd5 and Black is winning; 30.Qc6 Kd8 31.
Qa8 Ke7 and Black is winning) Re2 31.Qe2 Nd3 32.Kf1 Qe1 33.Qe1 Ne1 and
Black is winning] 28.Ke2 Re8 29.Kf3 Qd2 30.Qc6 Kd8 31.Qf6 Re7 32.
Kg4? [32.Ba6 Nd3 33.Kg3 Qe3 34.Kh4 Nc5! 35.Qh8 Kd7 36.Bc8 Kd6 37.
Qf6 Kd5 38.Rd1 Kc4 and Black is superior] Nd1 33.Qh8 Kd7 34.Bb5 c6 35.
Bc6 Kc7 36.d6 Qd6 37.Rd1 Qd1 38.Bf3 h5 39.Kg3 Qe1 40.Kh3 Qe6 41.
Kh4 g5 42.Kg5 Qg6 43.Kf4 f6 0-1 [Br.Tadic]
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Informant 111
by Josip Asik
Informant at
ChessCafe
Translate this page
Our new book, 1000TN!!, presents the 1,000 best theoretical novelties from
Informant 11 to Informant 110, as voted by the Chess Informant jury. In the
forty-year period from 1971 to 2011, there were sixty winners in total.
Current world champion Viswanathan Anand is the highest awarded player
with nine novelties, followed by former world champions Karpov, Kasparov,
Kramnik, and Topalov. In addition, Anand also scored the winning novelty
from Informant 111, making it is his tenth TN prize in the history of modern
chess!
The Best of the Best:

The Next Chapter
by Chess Informant
Here is the list of his award-winning games:
Anand-Kamsky, Sanghi Nagar (m/1) 1994, Informant 61/345

Anand-Tkachiev, Moscow (m/1) 2001, Informant 83/326
Anand-Kasimdzhanov, Hyderabad 2002,- Informant 86/137
Anand-Bologan, Dortmund 2003, Informant 88/77
Anand-Adams, San Luis 2005, Informant 94/267
Anand-Kramnik, Bonn (m/6) 2008, Informant 104/146
Anand-Leko, Moscow 2009, Informant 107/132
Anand-Topalov, Sofia (m/4) 2010, Informant 108/134
Topalov-Anand, Nanjing 2010, Informant 110/243
Anand-Wang Hao, Wijk aan Zee 2011, Informant 111/268

by Chess Informant
The complete list of sixty TN winners for Informants 11-111 is as follows:

the games from
Anand (10), Karpov (8), Kasparov, Kramnik (5), Topalov, Velimirovic (4),
Shirov (3), Ljubojevic, Beliavsky, Timman, M.Gurevich, Adorjan, Korchnoi,
Oll, Svidler, Morozevich (2), Petrosian, Spassky, Gligoric, Tseshkovsky, R.
Byrne, Sibarevic, Perenyi, Vitolins, Portisch, Averbakh, Chiburdanidze,
Polugaevsky, Geller, Browne, McCambridge, Tal, Miles, Seirawan, Alburt,
Van der Sterren, Murey, A.Sokolov, Adams, Gelfand, Illescas, Khalifman,
Atalik, Sakaev, Zvjaginsev, Grischuk, Milov, Gallagher, Rogozenco,
Ponomariov, Leko, Nielsen, Shariyazdanov, Johannessen, Van Wely,
Volokitin, Karjakin, Naiditsch, Dominguez, Riazantsev (1)
Anand has also been a member of the voting panel on many occasions. He
had this to say, "Chess Informant has been the definitive source of chess
information since its inception. Due to the high quality analysis by the best
players, it is essential to opening preparation. The jury lists help the reader
measure the pulse of the development of the game and the most important
trends."
What is most important about the contest is the fact that the jury members are
players themselves. There is no higher praise than that of ones colleagues. We
are happy to announce that our newest jury member, beginning with
Informant 112, is the well-known grandmaster Sergey Tiviakov.
The complete list of all seventy jurists for Informants 11-111 is as follows:
Timman (75), Salov (55), Anand, Benjamin (53), Lutz (51), Jussupow (49),

2001-2009
by Chess Informant
Larsen (35), Bareev (26), Ftacnik (25), Hjartarson (24), Mikhalchisin (23),
Uhlmann (21), Botvinnik, Parma (18), Keene (15), R.Byrne (13), Browne,
Illescas, Matanovic (12), Florian, Krogius, Beliavsky (11), Polugaevsky,
Razuvaev, Ki.Georgiev (10), Ivkov, Gligoric (9), Geller, Kavalek (8), Suetin,
Miles, Marjanovic (6), Tal, Adorjan, Chandler, Hort, Ubilava, Wolff (5),
Taimanov, Vasiukov, Sosonko, Gheorghiu, Vaganian (4), Shamkovich,
Petrosian, Matulovic, Ribli, Chernin, Lautier (3), Averbakh, Gufeld, M.
Gurevich, Dolmatov (2), Keres, Korchnoi, Stein, Balashov, Lilienthal, Gulko,
Gipslis, Sveshnikov, Kotov, Tukmakov, Ciocaltea, Filip, Padevsky,
Christiansen, Psakhis, Portisch (1).
As can be seen, grandmaster Jan Timman from The Nederlands is the longest
serving member with seventy-five volumes. He had this to say, "Chess
Informant has been a leading source of information for decades. In the past
the emphasis has been mainly on openings, resulting in a tradition that a jury
judges the most important novelties of each volume. I have been part of this
tradition for decades. It is important to establish which are the most important
novelties, since it shows the development in various openings. I have always
taken great pleasure in this work."
This month we are pleased to present Anand's winning TN from volume 111,
accompanied by the ECO line, as published in Chess Informant 112.
V. Anand (2810) Wang Hao (2731)

Wijk aan Zee 2011 111/268 [E25]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Bc3 6.bc3 c5 7.cd5 Nd5 8.dc5 Qa5
9.e4 Ne7 10.Be3 0-0 11.Qb3 Qc7 12.Bb5 Nec6 13.Ne2 [13.Rd1 see 51/540]
Na5 14.Qb4 e5 15.0-0 Be6?
[FEN "rn3rk1/ppq2ppp/4b3/nBP1p3/1Q2P3/
P1P1BP2/4N1PP/R4RK1 w - - 0 16"]
16.Nd4! [a novelty; 16.Rfd1; 16.Rfb1] ed4 [16...Bc8 17.Nf5 Nbc6 18.Qa4

Bf5 19.ef5 Ne7 20.Rad1 (20.f6 Nd5 21.fg7 Rfc8 22.Bf2 Nc3 23.Qb4 Nb5 24.
Qb5) Rfd8 21.Qe4 Nac6 22.Bc4] 17.cd4 Nbc6 [17...a6 18.Be2 Re8 19.Qc3
(19.Bf2 Nbc6 20.Qc3 Qf4! 21.Rab1 Qf6 and White is slightly better) a) 19...
Nbc6 20.d5 Bd5 21.ed5 Qe5 (21...Qe7 22.Bd2! Qe2 23.dc6 Nc6 24.Rfe1 Qb5
25.Re8 Re8 26.a4 and White is winning) 22.Qe5 Re5 23.dc6 Nc6 24.Kf2
Rae8 25.Ba6 ba6 26.Rfe1 and White is superior; b) 19...Nd7 20.Rab1 b5 (20...
Nf6 21.Rb6 Nc6 22.Rfb1 Nd8 23.Bg5 and White is superior) 21.d5 Bd5 22.
ed5 Qe5 23.Qe5 Re5 24.Bd2! Re2 25.Ba5 Nc5 26.Rfc1! with the idea 26...
Nd3 27.Rc7, with the idea 26...Nb7 27.Bb4 a5 28.Be1 Nd6 29.Bg3 Nf5 30.
Bf4! Nh4 (30...Ree8 31.Bc7) 31.Kf1! and White is superior] 18.Qc3 Ne7 19.
Rfd1 Rad8? [19...Rfd8 20.Bf2 Nac6 21.Rab1 (21.d5 Nd5 22.ed5 Rd5 23.Rd5
Bd5 24.Rd1 and White is slightly better; 21.Bg3 Qa5 22.Qa5 Na5 23.Rab1
Ba2!) Qf4! (21...Rd7 22.Bh4!) 22.d5 and White is slightly better (22.Bg3 Qf6
23.Bd6 Nc8) Nd5 23.ed5 Rd5 24.Rd5 Bd5 25.Bf1] 20.Bf2 a6 [20...Nac6 21.
Bg3 Qa5 22.Qa5 Na5 23.Bd6 and White is winning] 21.Bg3 Qc8 22.Bf1 b6
[22...Nac6 23.Bd6 and White is winning] 23.Rab1 Nb3 24.Rb3 Bb3 25.Qb3
bc5 26.d5 (and White is winning) Ng6 27.Qb6 f5 28.Ba6 Qd7 29.Bb5 Qf7
30.ef5 Qf5 31.Qc5 Rc8 32.Qd4 Rfd8 33.a4 1-0 [V.Anand]
E25
1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Bc3 6.bc3 c5 7.cd5 Nd5 8.dc5 Qa5 9.e4
Ne7 10.Be3 0-0 11.Qb3 Qc7 12.Bb5 Nec6
13
14
Rd11 Qb43
1
15
16
17
Qa45 Ne26 Nc1
18
19
20
21
0-0
Rd1
Rd8
Be2
Rd1
Rd8
Qd8
f67
Na52 Nbc64 e5
Be6
Ne2
0-0
Nd49 cd4
Qc3
Rfd1
Bf2
Rab1
Nbc611
Ne7
Rfd812
Nac613
Qf415
Qb4
Rfd8
Na58
e5
Be6
ed410
...
...
...
Ba6
c416
Rac1 Qa4
Bf2
Rb1
...
...
Na6
ba6
Be6
Rab8 Rfd8
Rd2
Rbd817
[FEN "rnb2rk1/ppq2ppp/2n1p3/1BP5/4P3/
PQP1BP2/6PP/R3K1NR w KQ - 0 13"]
13.f4 Na5 [13...e5 14.f5 and White is superior; Lin Ta]
+/=
a) 14.Qb4 Na6 (only move) 15.Ba6 ba6 16.Rd1 e5 17.Nf3! [17.fe5 Be6; 17.
Ne2 Bg4; 17.f5 Rb8 with initiative] Rb8 18.Qa4 ef4 19.Bf2 Be6 20.0-0 Rfc8
21.Rd5! [21.Rd6 Nb7!] Nb7! 22.Re5 Qa5 23.Qb4 Qc7 24.Qa4 Qa5 1/2 : 1/2
Lin Ta - V.Smyslov, Manila (izt) 1990 see 49/(640);
b) 14.Qc2 Nd7 15.Nf3 Nc5 16.e5 b6 17.Ng5 f5 unclear; V.Moskalenko - A.
Kosten, La Pobla de Lillet 2005
2
13...e5
[FEN "rnb2rk1/ppq2ppp/2n5/1BP1p3/4P3/
PQP1BP2/6PP/3RK1NR w K - 0 14"]
a) 14.Qa2 Na5 [14...Be6 15.Bc4 and White is slightly better] 15.Qd5 Bd7!?
[15...Nbc6 16.Qd3 unclear; 15...Be6!? 16.Qd6 Qd6 17.cd6 Bc4 unclear] 16.
Bd7 Rd8 17.Qd6 Qd6 18.Rd6 Rd7 [18...Nd7?! 19.Kf2 Nc4 20.Rd5 and White
is slightly better; J.Timman - An.Karpov, Linares 1991 see 51/540] 19.Kf2
Nc4 20.Rd5 Rd5 21.ed5 Na6 equal;
b) 14.Ne2 Be6 15.Qa4 Na5 16.Nc1 [16.Rd5 see 13...Na5] a6 17.Be2 Nd7 18.
Qb4 Rac8 19.Rd6 [19.Nd3 Nb3 20.0-0 Ndc5 21.Nc5 Nc5 22.Rb1 Rfd8 23.c4
Rd7 1/2 : 1/2 G.Soppe - Zarnicki, Villa Gesell 1996] Nc5 20.Rb6 Nc4 21.Bc5
Qc5 22.Qc5 Rc5 23.Rb7 Na3 24.Ba6 Rc3 equal; J.Ragnarsson - G.
Kjartansson, Reykjavik 2008;
c) 14.Rd6! Be6 15.Re6 fe6 16.Qe6 Kh8 17.Nh3
c1) 17...Na5 18.Ng5 h6 19.h4 Nbc6 20.Qg6 hg5 21.hg5 Kg8 22.Qh5 [22.Qh7
Kf7 23.g6 Ke8 24.Bh6 and White is winning] Ne7 23.Qh7 Kf7 24.Rh6 Nac6
25.Rf6 Ke8 26.Qg7 and White is winning; D.Wiedermann - Genser,
Oesterreich 2008;
c2) 17...Nd7 18.Ng5 Nf6 19.0-0 h6 20.Qh3 Qc8 21.Qh4 Nh7 22.Nh7 [22.Nh3
Qd8 23.Qg3 and White is slightly better; A.-O.Stanciu - Bida, Romania (ch)
2011] Kh7 23.Bc4 Qd8 24.Qf2 Rc8 25.Bd5 and White is superior
3
14.Qa4 e5 15.Ne2 Be6 16.Rd5 a6 17.Bd3 Nd7 18.Qb4 Rac8 19.0-0 g6 20.
Rd7?! [20.Bc2 Nc6 21.Qb2 Na5 equal] Qd7 21.Rd1 (T.Hughes - Dar.Yang,
Richardson 2010) Nc4 and Black is winning
4
14...e5 15.Ne2 Be6
a) 16.c4?! a6 17.Ba4 Nc4 18.Bf2 Nc6 19.Qc3 [19.Bc6 bc6 20.0-0 Rab8 21.
Qc3 Qa5 22.Qa5 Na5 and Black is slightly better; see 19.Qc3] Qa5 20.Bc6
bc6 21.Qa5 Na5 22.0-0 Rab8 and Black is slightly better; J.Timman - An.
Karpov, Kuala Lumpur (m/3) 1990 see 49/640;
b) 16.Qb1 with compensation;
c) 16.0-0 with compensation
5
15.Bc6 bc6 [15...Nc6 with compensation] 16.Ne2
a) 16...Rb8?! 17.Bf4 Rb4 [17...e5 18.Be5 Qe5 19.Qa5 and White is slightly
better] 18.Bc7 Ra4 19.Kf2 equal; I.Zaitsev;
b) 16...e5 with compensation
6
16.Rd6 Be6 17.Re6 fe6 18.Nh3 h6 19.0-0 Rad8 20.Nf2 Ne7 21.Be2 Ng6 22.
g3 Rf7 unclear; T.Hughes - Panchanathan, Richardson 2010
7
22.Kf2 g5 23.Qb5 Qd7 24.Nd3 Nc4 25.Nb4 Na3 26.Qa4 Nb4 27.Qd7 Bd7 28.
cb4 Nb5 29.c6 Bc6 30.Bb5 Bb5 31.Ba7 Kf7 32.g3 Ke6 1/2 : 1/2 J.-W.De
Jong - Del Rio De Angelis, Badalona 2006
8
13...e5 14.0-0 Be6 15.Qa4 [15.Qc2 Na5 16.f4 Bc4 17.Bc4 Nc4 18.Qd3 Ne3
19.Qe3 Nd7 20.fe5 Qc5 21.Qd4 Rfd8 22.Rf5 g6 23.Rf2 Rac8 unclear;
Gallego Jimenez - Franco Ocampos, Espana 1990]
[FEN "rn3rk1/ppq2ppp/2n1b3/1BP1p3/
Q3P3/P1P1BP2/4N1PP/R4RK1 b - - 0 15"]
a) 15...Na5
a1) 16.Rab1 Nd7 17.c6 Nc6 18.Bc6 bc6 19.Qa6 Rfb8 20.Rb8?! Rb8 21.a4 c5
22.Rd1 Rb6 and Black is slightly better; B.Kis - Al.Bodnar, Magyarorszag
1999; 20.Rfc1 equal;
a2) 16.Nd4! ed4 17.cd4 Bd7 18.d5 a6 19.Bd7 Nd7 20.Rac1 Rac8 21.Bd2 and
White is superior; Leon Varela - Santana Montero, Telde 2009;
b) 15...a6 16.Bc4 Bc4 17.Qc4 Na5 18.Qa4 Nd7 19.Rfd1 Nc5 20.Qb4 Rac8 21.
Rd5
b1) 21...Ncb3 (Hernandez Carmenates - L.Guliev, Santa Cruz de la Palma
2007) 22.Rad1! b5 [22...Nc4 23.Bf2 Nba5 24.Rc5 Rfd8 25.Re1 and White is
superior] 23.Rd7 Qc4 24.Kf2 and White is superior;
b2) 21...b6 22.Bc5 bc5 23.Qa4 and White is slightly better
9
[FEN "rn3rk1/ppq2ppp/4b3/nBP1p3/1Q2P3/
P1P1BP2/4N1PP/R4RK1 w - - 0 16"]
16.Rfd1 Bb3 [16...Na6!?] 17.Rd6 Nbc6 18.Bc6 bc6 19.c4 Rab8 20.Qc3
a) 20...Nc4 21.Nc1 [21.Rb1 Ba2 22.Rb8 Rb8 23.Nc1?! Nd6 24.cd6 Qd6 25.
Na2 Qd1 26.Kf2 Qb3 and Black is slightly better; Cebalo - Sl.Marinkovic,
Budva 2009] Qa5 22.Qa5 Na5 23.Nb3 Rb3 24.Bf2 and White is slightly
better;
b) 20...f6 21.Nc1 Bc4 equal;
16.Rfb1 Rd8 17.Bf2 Nbc6 18.Qa4 Rac8 19.Bc6 Nc6 20.Rb2 Qd7 21.Ng3 Rc7
22.Nf1 Qe7 23.Rd1 Rd1 24.Qd1 Rd7 equal; A.Chigishev - H.Knoll,
corr.2002
10
16...Bc8 17.Nf5 Nbc6 18.Qa4 Bf5 19.ef5 Ne7 20.Rad1 [20.f6 Nd5 21.fg7
Rfc8 22.Bf2 Nc3 23.Qb4 Nb5 24.Qb5] Rfd8 21.Qe4 Nac6 22.Bc4
11
17...a6 18.Be2 Re8 19.Qc3 [19.Bf2 Nbc6 20.Qc3 Qf4! 21.Rab1 Qf6 and
[FEN "rn2r1k1/1pq2ppp/p3b3/n1P5/3PP3/
P1Q1BP2/4B1PP/R4RK1 b - - 0 19"]
a) 19...Nbc6 20.d5 Bd5 21.ed5 Qe5 [21...Qe7 22.Bd2! Qe2 23.dc6 Nc6 24.
Rfe1 Qb5 25.Re8 Re8 26.a4 and White is winning] 22.Qe5 Re5 23.dc6 Nc6
24.Kf2 Rae8 25.Ba6 ba6 26.Rfe1 and White is superior;
b) 19...Nd7 20.Rab1 b5 [20...Nf6 21.Rb6 Nc6 22.Rfb1 Nd8 23.Bg5 and White
is superior] 21.d5 Bd5 22.ed5 Qe5 23.Qe5 Re5 24.Bd2! Re2 25.Ba5 Nc5 26.
Rfc1! with the idea 26...Nd3 27.Rc7, with the idea 26...Nb7 27.Bb4 a5 28.Be1
Nd6 29.Bg3 Nf5 30.Bf4! Nh4 [30...Ree8 31.Bc7] 31.Kf1! and White is
superior
12
19...Rad8? 20.Bf2 a6 [20...Nac6 21.Bg3 Qa5 22.Qa5 Na5 23.Bd6 and White
is winning] 21.Bg3 Qc8 22.Bf1 b6 [22...Nac6 23.Bd6 and White is winning;
V.Anand] 23.Rab1 Nb3 24.Rb3 Bb3 25.Qb3 bc5 26.d5 and White is winning;
V.Anand - Wang Hao, Wijk aan Zee 2011 see 111/268
13
20...b6 21.Bg3 Qb7 22.Rab1 Rac8 23.Bf1 Ba2 24.Rb5 [24.Rb2 and White is
winning] Qd7 25.d5 Nb7 26.Qb2 and White is superior; I.Yudin - L.
Draskovic, Albena 2011
14
21.d5 Nd5 22.ed5 Rd5 23.Rd5 Bd5 24.Rd1 and White is slightly better;
21.Bg3 Qa5 22.Qa5 Na5 23.Rab1 Ba2! V.Anand
15
21...Rd7 22.Bh4!;
21...Qf4 22.d5 [22.Bg3 Qf6 23.Bd6 Nc8] Nd5 23.ed5 Rd5 24.Rd5 Bd5 25.
Bf1 and White is slightly better; V.Anand
16
[FEN "r1b2rk1/p1q2ppp/p7/n1P1p3/1Q2P3/
P1P1BP2/4N1PP/R4RK1 w - - 0 17"]
17.Rfb1 Be6 18.c4 [18.Qa4 Rad8 19.c6 Rd3 20.Bc5 Rc8 21.Rb2 Bc4 22.Bf2
Bb5 and Black is slightly better; M.Morss - H.Stieger, corr.2008] Rab8 19.
Qc3 Nb7 20.Qc2 Nc5 21.Nc3 Bc4 22.Nd5 Bd5 23.ed5 Ne6! 24.Qc7 Nc7 25.
Bc5 Rb1 26.Rb1 Ra8 27.d6 Ne6 28.Bb4 f6 29.Rc1 Rd8 30.Rc6 Kf7 31.Ra6
Rd7 equal; Simantsev - Sr.Narayanan, Dubai 2011;
17.Rfd1 Be6 18.c6 Rab8 19.Qd6 Qd6 20.Rd6 Nc4 21.Bc5 Rfc8 22.Rdd1 Rc6
23.Ba7 Rbc8 24.a4 R6c7 25.Bf2 Rb7 26.Nc1 Nb2 27.Rd6 Rd7 equal; C.R.G.
Krishna - Ba.Prince, Chennai 2011
17
22.Nc3 Bc4 23.Rfc1 Be6 24.c6 h6 25.Nd5 Bd5 26.ed5 R2d5 27.Be1 Rc8 28.
Ba5 Ra5 29.Qc4 Rb5 30.Rb5 ab5 31.Qb5 Qb6 32.Qb6 -, B.Gelfand - D.
Jakovenko, Russia 2011.
G. Arsovic
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We Never Walk Alone

by Josip Asik
Informant at
ChessCafe
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I do not know the origin of FIDE's motto Gens una sumus; however, it
perfectly reflects the strong connections within the worldwide chess
community. It has proven itself time and again in my numerous travels that a
chess player never walks alone in any city or country. One need only seek out
his brethren at the local club or even street corner.
In late '90s, as a television journalist, I went to Israel to cover the basketball
match between Maccabi and Red Star. While walking with my cameraman
through Tel Aviv center, I spotted a group of chess players. The temptation
was strong, but I managed to resist joining the games. Nevertheless, I learned
that strong players went there in the evenings. To cut a long story short, I
spent my only night in Tel Aviv enjoying the night-long chess party. My new
friends even arranged a morning cab ride to the hotel. My colleagues couldn't
imagine where I had been and even feared the worst, since I had left the hotel
only after retiring for bed: the urge to play was simply stronger than me.
I had similar adventures in Fortaleza in Brazil, in Volgograd (formerly
Stalingrad) in Russia, and many other locales. In 2000, I desperately wanted
to cover the Chess Olympiad in Istanbul. However, because of UN sanctions
against Serbia, there was no regular travel connections to Turkey. Thus, I
found myself, loaded with a big Super VHS camera, on a smugglers bus that
journeyed a strange and unbelievably long route to the dazzling city along the
Bosphorus.
1000TN!!
by Chess Informant

by Chess Informant
The Chess Olympiad was a revelation for me: it is where the heart beats for
the game of chess. There is no similar event in any other sport in terms of
kinship and camaraderie. So many nations under one roof! The Chess
Olympiads in Istanbul, Mallorca, Torino, and Dresden left me in a state of joy.

the games from
Chess Informant brings this world into the hands of its readers. With so many
contributors it reflects the colorful world of chess and allows us to travel to
long distance events through its pages. We are, after all, speaking the same
chess language. This month, we are pleased to present the "CI Labs" article
from Chess Informant 112 by the well-known Bulgarian theoretician
Aleksander Delchev. Chess Informant 112 features six other original
theoretical surveys, while the forthcoming Chess Informant 113 will present
ten "CI Labs" articles as well as introduce many new surprises.
Queen's Pawn Game [E10]

Blumenfeld Gambit
Anthology of Chess
Combinations
by Chess Informant
By Aleksander Delchev
The Blumenfeld Gambit is one of the sharpest openings
in modern chess practice. This applies especially to the
line where White grabs the sacrificed pawn after 5.de6
fe6 6.cb5. I myself do not like this approach, as White
surrenders the opening initiative to his opponent for a fairly insignificant
material gain, and prefer the more positional approach starting with 5. Bg5.
In a game of mine from the recent European Team Championship, playing
against the fearless Mamedyarov, I preferred to keep him at a reasonable
distance and chose precisely this line. The first critical position of the game
appeared after 18...f5!, introducing the plan of Black transferring his knight to
e4 and preparing a kingside pawn storm. A similar position occured in the
game Gupta Iturrizaga, Wijk aan Zee 2009. I apparently underestimated
Black's counterplay and was severely punished. Instead, I should have
continued to build up my position, by improving my pieces and very carefully
preparing the e4-e5 break. After deep analysis of that game, as well as three
others I have played in the same line, I think I have found the key to breach
Black's optically miserable position, which contains a hole on c4 and pawn
weaknesses on d6 and a6.
The analysis is presented in this CI Labs article and my conclusion is that the
Blumenfeld Gambit is a positionally very risky opening. Black needs to find
some improvement at an early stage (perhaps trying Nisipeanu's move 5...b4,
which however hasn't brought him much success), in order to avoid the
typical pawn structure where White enjoys a stronghold on the c4 square.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5
[FEN "rnbqkb1r/p2p1ppp/4pn2/1ppP4/2P5/
5N2/PP2PPPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - 0 5"]
5.Bg5! ed5
5...Qa5 6.Qd2 Qd2 7.Nbd2 [7.Nfd2] ed5 8.Bf6 gf6 9.cd5 and White is slightly
better;
5...b4 6.a3
[FEN "rnbqkb1r/p2p1ppp/4pn2/2pP2B1/1pP5/
P4N2/1P2PPPP/RN1QKB1R b KQkq - 0 6"]
6...h6! [6...a5 7.e4 h6 8.Bf6 Qf6 9.e5 Qd8 10.Bd3 and White is superior; 6...
Na6 7.de6 fe6 8.e4 Be7 9.e5 Ne4 10.Be7 Qe7 11.Bd3 Bb7 12.0-0 0-0 13.Qc2
Rf4 14.g3 Rf3 15.Be4 Be4 16.Qe4 Raf8 17.Nd2 R3f7 18.f4 and White is
superior] 7.Bh4 a5 8.ab4 cb4 9.Nbd2 unclear; Z.Gyimesi 2598 - Nisipeanu
2683, Plovdiv 2010
6.cd5 d6
6...Qa5 7.Nc3 Ne4 8.Bd2 Nd2 9.Nd2 d6 10.e3 a6 11.a4 b4 12.Nce4 and
White is slightly better; V.Bogdanov 2403 - R.Wukits 2296, Zalakaros 2002
7.e3 a6 8.a4
[FEN "rnbqkb1r/5ppp/p2p1n2/1ppP2B1/P7/
4PN2/1P3PPP/RN1QKB1R b KQkq - 0 8"]
8...b4
8...ba4?! 9.Bf6 Qf6 10.Qa4 Nd7 [10...Bd7 11.Qb3] 11.Nc3 Rb8 [11...Bb7 12.
Nd2 Be7 13.Nc4+-] 12.Ba6! Ba6 13.Qa6 Rb2 14.0-0 and White is superior;
A.Delchev 2613 - A.Saric 2441, Zadar 2007
9.Nbd2 Be7 10.Nc4
110.Bf6!? Bf6 11.Nc4
[FEN "rnbqk2r/5ppp/p2p1b2/2pP4/PpN5/
4PN2/1P3PPP/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 0 11"]
10...Bb7
10...a5?! 11.Bd3 Ba6! [11...Nbd7 12.Bf4 0-0 13.e4 and White is slightly
better] 12.Rc1! 0-0 [12...Nbd7 13.Bf4 Nb6 14.Nb6 Qb6 15.e4 Bd3 16.Qd3
Qa6 17.Qa6 Ra6 18.Nd2 Nh5 19.g3! Nf4 20.gf4 g5 21.Ke2 gf4 22.Nc4 Bf6
23.b3 Bd4 24.Rcg1 and White is superior] 13.Bf4 Nh5 14.0-0 Nf4 15.ef4 Nd7
16.Re1 Re8 17.Rc2 Bf8 18.Ne3 Nf6 19.Ba6 Ra6 20.Qd3 Ra7 21.Rce2 Rae7
22.Nd2 Qa8 23.Kf1 g6 24.g3 Bg7 25.Ndc4 Qd8 26.f3 and White is slightly
better;
10...0-0 11.Bd3
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/4bppp/p2p1n2/2pP2B1/
PpN5/3BPN2/1P3PPP/R2QK2R b KQ - 0 11"]
11...Bb7!
11...a5?! 12.0-0
12.Qc2 b3
12...Nbd7 13.Rd1 [13.Bf6 Bf6 14.0-0] h6 14.Bf6 [14.Bf4 Nb6 15.Nb6
Qb6 16.h3 b3] Nf6 15.0-0 [15.h3 Ba6 16.0-0 (16.e4 Nh5) Qc7 17.e4
Nh5 18.Ne3 Bd3 19.Qd3 Nf4 20.Qd2 and White is superior] Bg4! 16.b3
Nd7 17.Bf5 Bf3 18.gf3 Nb6 19.Kh1 Nc4 20.Qc4 Bf6 equal; A.Delchev
2632 - Ovetchkin 2540, Plovdiv 2008
13.Qb3 Na6 14.e4 Rb8 15.Qd1 Nd5 unclear;
12.Bf6 Bf6 13.Qc2 g6 14.0-0 and White is superior;
12...Bb7 [12...Ba6 13.Bf4] 13.Bf6 [13.e4?! Nd5 equal] Bf6 14.e4 g6
[14...Qe7 15.e5 Be5 16.Nfe5 de5 17.Re1 Nd7 18.f4 Bd5 19.Bh7 Kh7 20.
Qd5 Kg8 21.fe5 Ra6 22.Qb7 and White is superior] 15.Re1 Re8 16.Rc1
Qe7 17.e5 and White is superior;
11...Ra7 12.Bf6 Bf6 13.Qc2 h6 14.a5! [14.0-0 a5 15.Nfd2 Ba6 16.Rad1
(16.f4 Nd7 17.Rae1 and White is slightly better) Nd7 17.Ne4 (17.Rfe1
Qc7 18.Ne4 and White is slightly better) Bc4 18.Bc4 Qe7 19.b3 and
White is slightly better; A.Delchev 2591 - Aloma Vidal 2341, Balaguer
2007] Bb7 [14...Qe7 15.0-0 Bd7 16.Nfd2 Bb5 17.f4 Nd7 18.Rae1 and
White is superior] 15.Rd1 Qe7 16.0-0 and White is slightly better
12.Bf6 Bf6 13.a5 and White is slightly better;
10...Nbd7 11.a5 Bb7 [11...0-0 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.Bf6 Nf6 (13...Bf6 14.Bc2 Qe7
15.Qd3 g6 16.Ba4 and White is slightly better) 14.e4] 12.Bf6 Nf6 13.Nb6 00! 14.Bd3 Rb8 15.0-0 Nd7 16.Nc4! Bf6 17.Bc2 Qe7 18.Qd3 g6 19.Ba4 Rbd8
20.Rae1 and White is slightly better
11.Bf6! Bf6 12.a5! 0-0
12...Qe7 13.Be2 Nd7 14.Qd3 g6 15.Bd1 0-0 16.Ba4 Bg7 17.0-0 and White is
slightly better; A.Gupta 2569 - Iturrizaga Bonelli 2528, Wijk aan Zee 2009
113.Bd3 Qe7 14.0-0 Nd7 15.Bc2 g6 16.Ba4 Rad8 17.Qd3 Bg7 18.Rae1
[FEN "3r1rk1/1b1nqpbp/p2p2p1/P1pP4/BpN5/
3QPN2/1P3PPP/4RRK1 b - - 0 18"]
18...f5!
18...Ne5 19.Nfe5 Be5 20.Re2 Bg7 21.Nb6 f5 22.Bc6 Rf7 23.Rc1 Bf6 24.g3
Qc7 25.Bb7 [25.Rd2 Kg7 26.Rcd1 Qe7 27.Qc4 h5 28.h4 Qc7 29.Rc2 Re7 30.
Bb7 Qb7 31.Kg2 Re4 32.Qd3 Rde8] Qb7 26.h4 and White is slightly better
19.Bc6!
19.Re2 Nf6! [19...g5 20.e4 f4 21.Bd7 Rd7 22.e5] 20.Nb6 Ne4 [20...h6 21.
Nh4 Kh7 22.f3 Ne4 23.g3 Ng5 24.Bc6 Bf6 25.Ng2] 21.g3 g5 22.Rc2 Bf6 23.
Nd2 Nd2 24.Rd2 f4 25.ef4; 22...Rf7 with counterplay;
19.e4!? f4 20.Bd7! Qd7! [20...Rd7 21.e5 and White is superior] 21.h3! [21.
Ng5 Qg4 22.Ne6 f3 23.Ne3 Qh5 with compensation] Bf6! [21...h6 A.Delchev
2629 - Mamedyarov 2733, Porto Carras 2011] 22.Re2 Rfe8 23.Rfe1 Qb5 24.
b3 Bc3 25.Rd1 Bc8 26.Ne1 g5 27.e5 Be5 28.Nf3 Bf6 29.Nd6 Qd3 30.Re8
Re8 31.Rd3 Rd8 32.Nc8 Rc8 33.Nd2 Kf7 34.Nc4 Rd8 and White is slightly
better
19...Bc8
19...Bc6 20.dc6 Nb8 21.e4 f4 22.Nb6 and White is superior
20.Re2!
20.e4 f4! 21.Re2 [21.e5 Ne5 22.Nfe5 Be5 23.Ne5 de5 24.f3 Qd6 25.Qe2 Rf5
26.Rc1 Rf7 27.Rfe1 Bb7 28.Qe5 Bc6 29.dc6 Qc6 30.Rc5 Qd6] Ne5 22.Nfe5
Be5 23.Ne5 Qe5 24.f3 Rf7
20...g5
20...Nf6 21.Nb6 Bb7 [21...Qe4 22.Qb3 Bh6 23.Nd2 Qe7 24.Nc8 Rc8 25.Qc4
Qa7 (25...Ne4 26.Ne4 Qe4 27.Qa6 c4 28.Rc1 and White is superior) 26.Qh4
Kg7 27.h3 and White is superior, with the idea f4, g4] 22.Ng5 and White is
superior;
20...Ne5 21.Nfe5 Be5 22.Rfe1 Bf6 23.f3 Rf7 24.Nb6 Bb7 25.g3 Qc7 26.Bb7
Qb7 27.Nc4 Re7 28.Kg2 and White is superior
21.e4
[FEN "2br1rk1/3nq1bp/p1Bp4/P1pP1pp1/
1pN1P3/3Q1N2/1P2RPPP/5RK1 b - - 0 21"]
21...f4
21...fe4 22.Re4 Ne5 23.Nfe5 Bf5 24.Rfe1 Be5 25.Ne5 de5 26.Qa6 Be4 27.
Re4 Rf4 28.Qe2 and White is superior
22.e5 Ne5 23.Nfe5 Be5
23...de5 24.d6
24.Ne5 de5 25.Rfe1 Rf5 26.Qc4 and White is slightly better.
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Garry's Choice
by Josip Asik
Informant at
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Garry Kasparov, the Thirteenth World Champion, tremendously influenced

the development of chess with his games, analyses, and writings. The quality
of this work has greatly enriched our chess culture, and Chess Informant has
had the privilege of presenting the fruits of his deep analytical work for more
than thirty years.
The number thirteen has always been Garry's lucky number, and Chess
Informant 113 sees the return of his analytical work in the pages of our
publication. Seven years after his retirement from professional chess, we are
deeply honoured to welcome Garry back to Chess Informant! In the new
column, "Garry's Choice," he will be annotating select games from recent
practice, casting his critical eye on the efforts of modern chess stars and
mere "mortals" in his trademark style.
1000TN!!
by Chess Informant
You would never guess in a hundred tries as to what game Garry chose to
start his inaugural column. We couldn't, either! I will only reveal that he
describes it as "a unique guest even on chess Olympus" and claimed he "had
never seen anything like it in my chess career"!
We call Chess Informant 113, the Clockwork edition, and it is the culmination
of changes that began incrementally with Volume 109 let's call it the
modern Informant era. I am proud that many readers and reviewers have
recognized the value of our new content. Another new column being
introduced in Volume 113 is "Top Five." Here, five top players offer their
insight into some of their best recent achievements. In this issue they are,
from Russia and the Ukraine, Alexander Morozevich, Evgeny Tomashevsky,
Nikita Vitiugov, Ernesto Inarkiev, and Alexander Moiseenko.

the games from
The "Top Five" column is in English, but we asked that the players submit the
material in their native language in order for them to give the clearest
expression to their thoughts. Our staff was, of course, prepared to translate,
but no one could foresee that we would receive six scanned large-format,
handwritten papers like Morozevich sent us! If one of the world's brightest
players was willing to put so much effort into his annotations, we could
hardly ask him to resend it as a computer file. So we took up the challenge
and decoded it!
Since its debut in Volume 110, with five contributors, the CI Labs column has
now grown to having ten grandmaster authors. This time Ivan Cheparinov,
Veselin Topalov's second and close associate, graces our pages with his
original analysis and textual explanations. He is joined by fellow new
contributors Erdos, Halkias, Sanikidze, and Pap, as well as returning authors
Markus, Delchev, Ivanisevic, Sundararajan, and Perunovic. The featured
theoretical surveys are on the English Opening [A20 and A30]; the Benko
Gambit [A57]; the Sicilian Defence [B42]; the French Defence [C02]; the
Ruy Lopez Berlin Defence [C67] and Rio de Janeiro Variation [C67]; the
Queen's Gambit [D35] and [D39]; and the King's Indian Defence [E97].
In the "Rising Stars" column, newly promoted hero from the Aegean Sea, IM
Antonis Pavlidis presents two of his beautiful game from his winning
performance at the Greek Championship. The "Best of Chess Informant"

by Chess Informant
Anthology of Chess
Combinations
by Chess Informant
article highlights the career of Alexander Morozevich. And, as usual, readers

will enjoy the sections on Combinations, Endings, Excellent Moves, Studies
(by Yochanan Afek), Problems (by Milan Velimirovic), and the best game
and best novelty contests.
The other major announcement concerning Volume 113 is that it kicks off our
new publication schedule of four issues per year: March, June, September,
and December. That is about 1,000 annotated high-level games per year! Stay
tuned.
This month we are pleased to present the best game from Volume 112:
1. G. Kamsky (2741) P. Svidler (2739)

Khanty-Mansiysk (m/2) 2011 112/197 [C78]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.a4 Rb8 8.ab5
ab5 9.c3 d6 10.d4 Bb6 11.Be3 0-0 12.Nbd2 h6 13.h3 Re8 14.Qc2 [14.Re1
ed4 15.Nd4 (15.cd4 see 111/156) 15...Bd7 16.Qf3 Ne5 17.Qe2 (17.Qg3 Nh5
18.Qh2 Nd3 and Black is superior) 17...Qe7 18.Bf4 Ng6 19.Bg3 b4 equal]
14...ed4 15.cd4 Na5 [15...Bb7!? 16.Rfe1 Nb4 a) 17.Bf7? Kf7 18.Qb3 Nbd5
19.ed5 Bd5 (19...Qd7!?) 20.Qb5 Bd4 21.Qd3 Be3 and Black is superior; b) 17.
Qc3 17...c5 18.Rad1 Qc7 and Black is superior] 16.Ba2 Bb7 17.e5 Nd5 18.
Bb1 g6 19.Bh6 Nc6
20.ed6 [20.Qe4! (with attack) Nd4 21.Nd4 Re5 22.Qg4 Rh5 23.Bg6 Rh6 24.
Be4 Kf8 25.Nf5 Rg6 26.Qf3 c6 unclear] 20...Qd6 [20...Nd4 21.Nd4 Bd4 22.
Ne4 cd6 23.Qd2 Be5 24.Bg5 and White is slightly better] 21.Ne4 Qb4 22.
Ba2 Nd4 23.Nf6 Kh8 24.Nd4?! [24.Nd5 Nf3 25.Kh1 Qh4 26.Be3 Nd4
unclear] 24...Nf6 25.Nc6 Qh4 26.Nb8?? [26.Bf7 Qh6 27.Be8 Re8 28.Rfe1
Qg5 29.Re8 Ne8 30.Qc3 Qf6 31.Qf6 Nf6 32.Ne5 Kg7 and Black is superior]
26...Re2! (and Black is winning) 27.Qc3 [27.Qe2 Qg3] 27...Rf2 28.Nc6 Rf1
0-1 [D. Pikula]
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Encyclopedia of Pawn Endings

by Josip Asik & Zoran Petronijevic
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The release of the super-charged Chess Informant 113 coincided with the
release of the revised second edition of Encyclopedia of Chess Endings (ECE)
1: Pawn Endings.
The first volume of ECE 1 was published in 1982, and its 10,000 copies (!)
sold out relatively quickly. Another four volumes swiftly followed, containing
more than 9,000 endgame examples in total! This five-volume compendium
was the most comprehensive theoretical work on the endgame and remains a
reference source for every new book on the endgame even today. The names
of the contributors testify to the quality of this edition: world champions
Botvinnik, Karpov, and Kasparov; along with endgame experts Averbakh,
Matanovic, Hbner, Hort, Miles, Minev, Parma, Uhlmann, and Unzicker.
1000TN!!
by Chess Informant

by Chess Informant

the games from
The long awaited, considerably revised, 455-page second edition offers 1,901
pawn endgame examples, with about 300 examples from modern practice. In
comparison to the first edition, examples that contained errors or omissions
were corrected, and some discarded because they did not stand the test of
time. All the examples are annotated and classified according to the Chess
Informant system.
Because of its simplicity and systematic approach, the book is useful for
active players and for those who want to become familiar with endgame
basics. It is especially interesting for coaches in providing practical exercises
for training.
In the very near future, we will also be publishing the second edition of ECE
2: Rook Endings, Part One, so that readers will once again have access to all
five volumes of this famous work.
Pawn Endings
by Chess Informant
967. BERNSTEIN FINE

New York 1940
P 3/d3
[FEN "8/1p6/p1p4p/2p1k1p1/8/1P1P1P2/
1PP1K2P/8 b - - 0 1"]
982. TARTAKOWER FLOHR

London 1932
P 3/d4
[FEN "8/2p2k1p/ppPp1p2/5Pp1/2P1K1P1/
7P/PP6/8 w - - 0 1"]
1818. MILES SIMONET PONS

Andorra la Vella 1996 67/129
P 8/b
[FEN "8/1p2p3/pKp1k1p1/P3p3/2P3Pp/8/
1P3PP1/8 b - - 0 1"]
Solutions
967. BERNSTEIN FINE
1...Kd4 [1...Kf4 2.Kf2 h5 (2...g4 3.fg4 Kg4 4.Kg2 h5 5.Kf2 Kh3 6.Kg1 h4 7.
Kh1 equal) 3.Ke2 g4 4.fg4 hg4 5.Kf2 Kg5 6.Kg3 b6 7.Kf2 Kh4 8.Kg2 b5 9.
Kg1 Kh3 10.Kh1 g3 11.hg3 Kg3 12.Kg1 equal] 2.Kd2 a5 3.Ke2 [3.c3? Ke5 4.
Ke3 h5 5.d4 (5.Ke2! Petronijevic) cd4 6.cd4 Kf5 and Black is winning] b5 4.
Kd2 c4 5.bc4! [5.Ke2 c3! 6.bc3 Kc3 7.Kd1 a4 and Black is winning; 5.c3
Kd5 a) 6.bc4 bc4 7.d4 (7.dc4 Kc4 8.Kc2 a4 and Black is winning) Ke6 8.Ke3
Kf5 9.Kf2 Kf4 10.Ke2 h5 11.Kf2 g4 12.fg4 hg4 13.Ke2 Kg5 14.Kf2 Kh4 15.
Kg2 a4 16.Kh1 Kh3 17.Kg1 g3 18.hg3 Kg3 19.Kf1 Kf3 20.Ke1 Ke3 21.Kd1
Kd3 22.Kc1 a3! 23.ba3 Kc3 24.a4 (24.Kb1 Kd2 and Black is winning; 24.
Kd1 Kb2 and Black is winning) Kb4 25.Kc2 Ka4 26.Kc3 Kb5 and Black is
winning; b) 6.dc4 bc4 7.Kc2 c5! 8.bc4 Kc4 9.b3 (9.Kd2 Kb3 10.Kc1 c4 11.
Kb1 a4 12.Kc1 a3 13.ba3 Kc3 and Black is winning) Kd5 10.Kd3 c4! 11.Kc2
Kc5 12.Kb2 cb3 13.Kb3 a4 14.Ka4 Kc4 15.Ka5 Kc3 16.Kb6 Kd3 and Black
is winning] bc4 6.dc4! Kc4 7.Ke3 a4 8.f4!! [8.Ke4? c5 9.f4 gf4 10.Kf4 Kd4
11.h4 c4 and Black is winning] gf4 [8...c5 9.b3! equal] 9.Kf4 Kd4 10.Kf3 h5!
[10...c5 11.Ke2 c4 12.Kd2 c3 13.Kc1! equal; Fine] 11.Ke2 Ke4 12.Kf2 Kf4
13.Kg2 Ke3! [13...Kg4 14.Kf2 Kh3 15.Kg1 h4 (15...c5 16.c3 c4 17.Kh1 Kh4
18.Kg2 Kg4 19.Kg1 Kf3 20.Kf1 h4 21.Ke1 Kg2 22.Ke2 Kh2 23.Kf2 h3 and
Black is winning; Petronijevic) 16.Kh1 c5 17.Kg1 c4 18.c3 Kg4 19.Kf2 Kf4
20.h3 1/2 : 1/2 Bernstein - Fine] 14.Kg3 Kd2 15.c4 [15.Kh4 Kc2 16.Kh5 Kb2
and Black is winning] Kc2 16.Kh4 Kb2 17.Kh5 a3 18.Kg5 a2 and Black is
winning; Petronijevic [Fine]
982. TARTAKOWER FLOHR
1.Kd5 [1.Kd4 a) 1...Ke7 2.b4 b5 (2...Kf7 3.a4 Ke7 4.c5 bc5 5.bc5 and White
is winning) 3.Kc3! (3.c5? d5! equal) h6 4.a3! (4.Kb3? d5! equal) Kf7 5.Kb3!
Ke7 (5...d5 6.cd5! Ke7 7.Kc3 Kd6 8.Kd4 and White is winning) 6.a4! and
White is winning; b) 1...Ke8 b1) RR 2.b4 b5 3.Kc3 Ke7! 4.a3 (4.Kb3 d5!
equal) h6 5.Kd3 Ke8 6.Kd4 Kf7! 7.Kc3 Ke7! with the idea 8.Kb3 d5! equal;
b2) 2.b3! Kf7 3.a4 a5 (3...Ke8 4.b4 and White is winning) 4.Kc3! Ke7 5.b4
and White is winning; Maizelis] Ke7 2.a4! [2.b4? b5! 3.Kd4 (3.c5 dc5 equal)
Kf7 4.Kc3 Ke7! 5.a3 h6 6.Kb3 d5! equal] a5 [2...Kf7 3.b4 with the idea c5
and White is winning] 3.Kd4 Kf7 4.b3! [4.Kc3? a) 4...Ke7? 5.b4 Kf7 (5...d5
6.ba5 and White is winning; Maizelis; 5...ab4 6.Kb4 Kd8 7.a5 ba5 8.Ka5 Kc8
9.Kb5 Kb8 10.c5 d5 11.Kb4 Kc8 12.Kc3 Kd8 13.Kd4 Ke8 14.Kd5 Ke7 15.
Kd4 Ke8 16.Kc3 Ke7 17.Kb4 Kd8 18.Kc4! Ke7 19.Kb5 Kd8 20.Ka6 Kc8 21.
Ka7 and White is winning; Pavlovichev) 6.ba5 ba5 7.Kd4 (7.c5 and White is
winning; Maizelis) Ke8 8.Kd5 Kf7 (1-0 Tartakower - Flohr) 9.c5 dc5 (9...Ke7
10.cd6 cd6 11.c7 Kd7 12.c8Q Kc8 13.Kd6 and White is winning) 10.Kc5 Ke7
11.Kd5 Kf7 12.Kc4! Ke7 13.Kc5 h6 14.Kd5 Kf7 15.Kc4! Ke7 16.Kc5 Kf7 17.
Kb5 and White is winning; Maizelis; b) 4...d5! 5.cd5 (5.Kd4 dc4 6.Kc4 Ke7 7.
Kd5 Kf7 equal) Ke7 6.Kc4 Kd6 7.Kd4 Ke7 8.b3 h6 equal; Pavlovichev] Ke7
5.Ke4 Kf7 6.Kd3 Ke7 [6...d5 7.Kd4 dc4 8.bc4! with the idea c5 and White is
winning] 7.Kd4 h6 8.Ke4 Kf7 9.Kd3 Ke7 10.Kd4 [10.Kc3 d5! equal] Ke8!
[10...Kf7 11.Kc3! Ke7 (11...d5 12.Kd4! dc4 13.bc4! with the idea c5 and
White is winning) 12.b4! ab4 13.Kb4 d5 (13...Kd8 14.a5! ba5 15.Ka5 Kc8 16.
Kb5 Kb8 17.c5 and White is winning) 14.c5! d4 (RR 14...bc5 15.Kc5 d4 16.
Kd4 Kd6 17.Kc4 Kc6 18.a5 and White is winning) 15.cb6 cb6 16.Kb5! (16.
Kc4? Kd6 17.Kd4 Kc6 18.Kc4 Kd6 19.Kb5 Kc7 equal) d3 (16...Kd8 17.Kb6
Kc8 18.a5 and White is winning) 17.Kb6 d2 18.c7 d1Q 19.c8Q Qa4 (RR 19...
Qb3 20.Ka5! Qd5 21.Kb4 Qe4 22.Qc4 and White is winning) 20.Qe6 Kf8 21.
Qf6 Kg8 22.Qe6! Kf8 23.Qc8 Kg7 24.Qc7 Kf8 (24...Kf6 25.Qc6 and White is
winning) 25.Qb8 Kg7 26.Qa7 and White is winning; Pavlovichev] 11.Kc3
Kd8 12.b4 ab4 13.Kb4 d5!! 14.cd5 [14.c5 d4 equal] Ke7 15.Kc3 Kd6 16.
Kd4 Ke7 equal; Petronijevic [Pavlovichev]
1818. MILES SIMONET PONS
1...Kd7!! 2.Kb7 c5!! (equal) 3.b4 [3.Kb6 Kd6 4.f3 g5 5.b3 e6 6.Ka6 Kc6 7.
Ka7 Kc7 8.a6 (S.Lalic) e4! 9.fe4 e5! 10.Ka8 Kb6!? (10...Kc8 equal) 11.a7
Kc7 and Black is winning; 3.Kb8 Kd8 4.b4 cb4 5.c5 Kd7!] cb4 4.c5 b3 5.c6
Kd6 6.c7 b2 7.c8Q b1Q 8.Ka7! Qb5!! equal [Miles]
Archives.

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Viktor Victorious
by Josip Asik & Viktor Erdos
Informant at
ChessCafe
Translate this page
With all eyes on the World Championship in Moscow and the U.S.
Championship in Saint Louis, I almost failed to notice the extraordinary
success of one of Chess Informant's regular contributors. The young
Hungarian GM Viktor Erdos won the strong Bosna Open tournament in
Sarajevo. Among the twenty fellow grandmasters who were competing were
notable players such as Beliavsky, Kozul, Postny, Ipatov, Melkymian and
many others.
In CI Labs, grandmasters present their original analysis in fashionable
opening lines. Each CI Labs author is either an active successful player or
works with one in some capacity. For example, Bulgarian GM Ivan
Cheparinov, who already has crossed the 2700 mark, is well known for his
theoretical contributions in the preparation of former World champion Veselin
Topalov. Greek GM Stelios Halkias worked as a second for Harikrishna
Pentala during his victorious run in the B-group of Wijk an Zee 2012.
Similarly, GM Sundarrajan Kidambi is from the team of another Indian star,
Krishnan Sasikiran. There are other contributor connection to the world's Top
20, including GMs Ivanisevic, Perunovic, Markus, and Sanikidze, but,
unfortunately, I am not able to reveal all. Recently, GM Misa Pap won the
traditional Bad Worishofen Open in Germany, ahead of players like Epishin,
Kortchnoi, Gutman, and Zubarev. Finally, GM Delchev is a well-known
trainer and author of opening theory books.
1000TN!!
by Chess Informant

by Chess Informant
In all, Informant 113 offers ten theoretical surveys, as will Informant 114,
where we will introduce at least five new Lab contributors! Now it is time to
congratulate Viktor for his Sarajevo victory and present his theoretical article
from CI Labs 113.

the games from
Pawn Endings
by Chess Informant
In this CI Labs article I would like to present you the Rio de Janeiro
Variation. It became popular about a century ago, thanks to the efforts of
Tarrasch and Lasker, who also had a theoretical discussion on it during their
World Championship match. The line also occured in another such match
much later, between Karpov and Korchnoi; Karpovs win in that important
game, with the white pieces, caused the variation to disappear from top level
practice.
About a year ago I noticed that the strong Russian grandmaster Malakhov
consistently employed this variation against world-class grandmasters, with
good results. I decided to investigate the line and concluded that it was worth
at least one try, which I have it in my game against Stellwagen. I managed to

solve my opening problems and draw the game with some fine tricks, after
having misplayed the position in the middlegame. This game encouraged me
to employ this line regularly, and it has served me very well in the past year.
In this article I have included some of my games and original analysis,
concentrating on the very popular and often recommended antidote 9.c4!?,
which occured in the game Svidler Malakhov; Whites success in that game
caused the line to disappear from tournament practice again. Victor Bologan
tried a rare but very interesting sideline starting with 6.de5!? against me,
which I also investigate.
Despite being practically the only one to think so, I believe that Black's
chances in the Rio de Janeiro Variation are fully adequate. With the help of
my ideas and analysis, I hope that some of the readers will find this variation
to be a good alternative to the very popular Berlin Defence and employ it in
their own practice!
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Ne4 5.d4 Be7!?
[FEN "r1bqk2r/ppppbppp/2n5/1B2p3/3Pn3/
5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w kq - 0 6"]
The starting position of the Rio de Janeiro Variation.

5...Nd6 leads to the famous Berlin Wall.
6.Qe2
A less popular but rather interesting variation is 6.de5!? 0-0 7.Qe2 [7.Qd5 is
the main alternative] d5 [7...Nc5]
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/ppp1bppp/2n5/1B1pP3/4n3/
5N2/PPP1QPPP/RNB2RK1 w - d6 0 8"]
8.Rd1 [8.Nc3 Nc3 9.bc3 a6 10.Bd3 Bg4 11.h3 Bf3 12.gf3 Qd7 13.Kg2 Qe6
14.f4 f6 15.Qh5 f5 16.Kh2 Na5 17.Rg1 Nc4 18.Rg3 Kh8 19.Be3 g6 20.Qf3
b5 21.Rag1 Bh4 and Black is slightly better; Mat.Bartel 2609 - V.Malakhov
2722, Warszawa (m/2) 2010; 8.c4!? A rare but dangerous move, requiring
good preparation from Black.The best approach for the second player is to
sacrifice a pawn, for which, according to my analysis, he obtains adequate
compensation.8...a6 a) 9.Ba4 Nc5 10.Bc6 (10.cd5 Ne5) bc6 11.Rd1 see 8.
Rd1; b) 9.cd5 ab5 the only move (9...Qd5?? 10.Bc4 Nd4 11.Nd4 Qd4 12.Rd1
Qe5 13.Rd5 Qf6 14.Qe4 Be6 15.Nc3 and White is winning; Reinderman 2509
M.Lanzani 2356, Warszawa 2005) b1) 10.dc6 Qd5! An important point. 11.
Re1 forcing the bishop to f5 (11.cb7 Bb7 12.Rd1 Qe6 with compensation; 11.
Rd1 Qc6 12.Nd4 Qg6 with counterplay) Bf5 12.cb7 Qb7 13.Nd4 Bc5!?
Energetic play is required here.(13...Bg6 14.Qb5 Rfb8 15.Qb7 Rb7 16.Nc3
and White is slightly better) 14.Nf5 Bf2 15.Kh1 Be1 16.Qe1 Rae8 with
compensation; b2) 10.Qe4 Ra4! A fine zwischenzug, initiating complications.
11.Qd3 Nb4 12.Qb5 Bd7 b21) 13.Qe2 Nd5 14.Rd1 Be6 with compensation.
The bishop pair and active piece play ensure good compensation, for instance:
15.Nd4? Bc5! 16.Nb3 (16.Ne6? fe6 with attack) Ba7 with initiative; b22) 13.
Qc4!? Na2 14.b4 (only move) b5 15.Qd4 (15.Qe4!?) Nc1 16.Rc1 Ra1 17.Qa1
Bg4 18.Qd4 (18.Nc3 Bf3 19.gf3 Bb4 20.Nb5 Qd5 21.Nc7 Qf3 22.Qd4 Qh5!?
equal. A draw would be the most probable result here.) Bf3 19.gf3 Bb4! The
justification of Blacks previous play! 20.f4 (20.Rc6 Qg5 21.Kh1 Ba5 with
counterplay) c5! unclear. Another nice move, and now Black is at least OK.]
a6
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/1pp1bppp/p1n5/1B1pP3/
2P1n3/5N2/PP2QPPP/RNB2RK1 w - - 0 9"]
9.Bc6 [9.Ba4 a) 9...b5 10.c4! Nice, but actually quite thematic.White has the
advantage in this line, so 10...Nc5 has to be preferred. (10.Bb3 Be6 transposes
to the Open Ruy Lopez!) ba4 11.cd5 (11.Rd5 Nd6 12.Nc3 Re8 13.ed6 Bd6 14.
Be3 and White is slightly better) Nf2! 12.Qf2 Nb4 13.Nc3 Bf5 14.Ne1!? Bg4
(only move) 15.Rd2 a5 (only move) 16.a3 Na6 17.Nd3 and White is slightly
better; b) better is 9...Nc5 10.Bc6 bc6 11.c4 a5 (11...Bg4 12.h3 Bh5 13.Nc3
d4 14.Be3) 12.Nc3 Ba6 13.b3 Ne6 with counterplay. Black is OK.; 9.Bc4 Be6
10.Be3 (10.Bd5? Bd5 11.c4 Bc4! 12.Qc2 Nb4!) Qd7 11.Bb3 b5 12.Nbd2 Nc5
with counterplay; 9.Bd3 Nc5 10.Bc4 Be6 11.Nc3 d4! 12.h3 (12.b4 Bc4 13.
Qc4 b5 14.Qe2 Ne6 15.a3 Qd7 unclear) Bc4 13.Qc4 b5 14.Qf1 Ne6 with
counterplay; 9.c4 ab5 10.Rd5 (10.cd5 Ne5 11.Qe4 Nc4!?; 11...Ng6) Qe8 (10...
Nd6!?) 11.Qe4 (11.cb5? Nb4) bc4 with counterplay] bc6 10.Nd4 Qe8 11.f3
Nc5 [11...Ng5!?] 12.Nc3 Ne6
[FEN "r1b1qrk1/2p1bppp/p1p1n3/3pP3/3N4/
2N2P2/PPP1Q1PP/R1BR2K1 w - - 0 13"]
13.Ne6 This came as a suprise during the game, but then I realised that it was
the only way to play for advantage. Other continuations wouldnt have caused
me any real headache. [13.Nf5 Bc5 (13...Bb4 14.a3) a) 14.Be3 Nf4! 15.Qf2
Be3 16.Qe3 (16.Ne3 Qe5) Nh3! (16...Bf5 17.Qf4 Bc2 18.Rdc1 Bg6 19.Ne2 f6
20.e6 Qe6 21.Nd4 Qe5 with counterplay) 17.gh3 Bf5 Black has the
advantage.; b) 14.Kh1 f6 with initiative; 13.Be3 c5 (13...Nd4 14.Bd4 c5 15.
Bf2 d4 16.Nd5 Bd8 17.b4) 14.Nf5 d4 15.Nd5 Bd8 with counterplay] fe6 14.
b3 [14...c5 15.Ba3 Qc6 16.Na4 Rf5 17.Qf2 Re5 (17...d4 18.c3) 18.Bc5 and
White is slightly better] Rf5 Here I chose an interesting and active plan.I
didnt want to allow my opponent to play Na4, Be3 so easily. 15.Na4 Qh5 16.
Re1 [After 16.Bb2 c5! Black has nice play: a) 17.Qe3 d4 18.Qe4 Ra7 (18...
Rb8 19.Qc6 Bb7 20.Qc7 Qe8 21.Nc5 Bf3) 19.g4 (19.Qc6 Re5) Rg5 20.Qc6
Qf7! 21.Nc5 Bc5 22.Qc5 Qf3 23.Rd4 Rg4 24.Rg4 Qg4 25.Kf2 Ra8 unclear;
b) 17.g4 Qg6; c) 17.Qf2 d4 18.c3 Bb7! 19.cd4 Raf8 with attack]
[FEN "r1b3k1/2p1b1pp/p1p1p3/3pPr1q/N7/
1P3P2/P1P1Q1PP/R1B1R1K1 b - - 0 16"]
16...a5 was simple and good. [16...Bh4?! This is too much 17.g3 (17.Ba3!?
Be1 18.Re1 a5 19.Nc5 with compensation) Qg6 (with the idea Bg3) 18.Qg2!
Be7 19.f4 The weakening process is completed.However, too much time has
been lost; this allows Black to seize the initiative.19...Qe8 (19...Qf7!? 20.g4
Rf4 21.Bf4 Qf4 with compensation; 20.Be3) 20.Be3 Qf8 I had to cover the c5
square.21.c4! Bb7 22.cd5! (22.c5 a5 with counterplay) cd5 (22...c5? 23.Nc3
Rd8 24.Rad1 Kh8 25.Qe4; 25.Rf1; 23...g5) 23.Rac1 After several excellent
moves by Bologan, he has the upper hand.23...Qb8 24.Bc5 (24.Bd4!? with the
idea 24...g5 25.Rf1) a) 24...d4? Desperately seeking counterplay, I opted for
this sacrifice. It worked in the game, but objectively it should have failed after
some precise play from White. 25.Qd2 (25.Qc2!? Qd8 26.Qc4) Qd8 26.Be7!
(26.Qd4 Bc5! 27.Qc5 Qd2 28.Qf2 Qd5 with compensation.I had obvious
compensation for the missing pawn Bologan 2656 V.Erdos 2608, Hrvatska
2011) Qe7 (26...Qd5? 27.Rf1! We both missed this simple defence.27...Qh1
28.Kf2 Qh2 29.Ke1 Qg3 30.Qf2 and White is winning) 27.Qd4 g5 28.Rf1 and
White is superior. Black is a pawn down.; b) 24...Bd8 25.Bd4 (25.Nc3 (with
the idea Ne2-d4) d4 26.Ne4) Bc8 26.Rc2 and White is slightly better. Black is
horribly passive, but his position is still not easy to crack.] 17.c4 [17.g4 Qg6;
17.f4 Qe2 18.Re2 Ba6 19.Rf2 Bb5 with counterplay; 17.Bd2 Bb7] Ba6 18.
Bd2 Qg6!?; 18...c5 Black has good counterplay.
6...Nd6 7.Bc6 bc6 8.de5 Nb7
[FEN "r1bqk2r/pnppbppp/2p5/4P3/8/5N2/
PPP1QPPP/RNB2RK1 w kq - 0 9"]
The main tabiya. Black's position looks a bit ugly for the moment, due to his
seemingly inferior pawn structure and the strangely placed knight on b7.
Perhaps this photographic image is the main reason that many players are
discouraged from employing this line. However, my own view is entirely
different: Black has obtained the bishop pair and his position, though slightly
passive, is very solid.
9.c4!? This is considered nowadays to be the main antidote. White has tried
several other moves, but 9.c4 is the most demanding for Black to face.
Less problematic is 9.b3, but Black should not underestimate this little move.
9...0-0 10.Bb2 d5 11.ed6 [11.c4!? Nc5 12.Nc3 dc4 13.Rfd1 Qe8 14.Qc4 Ba6
15.Qg4 f5 16.ef6 Bf6 17.Rab1 h5 18.Qf5 Nd3 19.Qa5 Qc8 20.Bc1 Bc3 21.
Qc3 Qf5 22.Be3 c5 unclear; E.Sutovsky 2657 V.Malakhov 2716, Bursa
2010 see 108/(86)] cd6 12.Nbd2 Re8 13.Rfe1 Bd7 14.Nc4 Bf8 15.Qd2 Be6
[15...d5 equal; was my initial idea, and it seems better.; 15...Qc7 16.Qf4 Re1
17.Re1 Re8 equal] 16.Qf4 d5 [16...Nc5]
[FEN "r2qrbk1/pn3ppp/2p1b3/3p4/2N2Q2/
1P3N2/PBP2PPP/R3R1K1 w - - 0 17"]
17.Ng5! was much stronger; I realised this immediately after I played d5, but
my opponent didnt pay attention to this tactical possibility. [I managed to
equalise after 17.Nce5 Qc7 18.Ng5 f6 (18...Nc5!?) 19.Ne6 Re6 20.Nd3 Re1
21.Re1 Qf4 22.Nf4 Kf7 23.Kf1 Bd6 24.Nd3 Nc5 equal; F.Berkes 2706 V.
Erdos 2608, Magyarorszag 2011] Qd7 [17...dc4? 18.Re6! Whites attack is
now unstoppable. 18...Nd6 (18...fe6? 19.Qf7 Kh8 20.Qh5! and White is
winning) 19.Rd6! Qd6 20.Qf7 Kh8 21.Qe8 Re8 22.Nf7 Kg8 23.Nd6 Bd6 24.
Kf1 and White is winning] 18.Ne5 Qc7 19.Qh4 [19.Qa4!?] h6 20.Ng6! and
9...0-0 10.Nc3 f6
10...Re8 11.Rd1 Bf8 12.Bg5 f6 13.Bh4 g5 14.Bg3 d6 15.Ne4! with initiative;
Hou Yifan 2527 N.Short 2645, Wijk aan Zee 2008
11.Re1 fe5 12.Qe5
12.Ne5!?
12...Bf6
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/pnpp2pp/2p2b2/4Q3/2P5/
2N2N2/PP3PPP/R1B1R1K1 w - - 0 13"]
13.Qh5
13.Qg3 Nd6!? During the game I couldnt remember whats going on after
13...Nc5 14.Bg5, and I asked myself, what happens if I opt for 13...Nd6?
Black is fine! [13...Nc5 14.Bg5 d6!? (14...Nd3 This looks too greedy to me.
Adams punished his opponents pseudo-activity in great style. 15.Re3! Nb2
16.Rae1 with attack; Mi.Adams 2723 D.Howell 2611, London 2010 see
110/175) 15.Rad1 Bf5] 14.c5 [14.Bg5 Bg5 15.Ng5 h6 16.Nge4 (16.Nf3 Nc4)
Nc4 17.b3 Nb6 18.Rad1 d6 and Black is slightly better; 14.Bf4 Nf5!? (14...
Rb8) 15.Bc7 Ng3 16.Bd8 Rd8 17.hg3 Rb8 18.Rab1 Ba6 19.Nd2 d5 with
compensation] Nf5 15.Qf4 [15.Qg4 d5! with the idea 16.cd6 Nd4 17.Qe4 Bf5]
Rb8 Nice move to play. 16.Ne4 d6 [16...Bb2 17.Bb2 Rb2 18.Qc1! Rb8 (18...
Rb4 19.a3) 19.Qc4 Kh8 20.Ne5 with initiative; 16...Be7!?] 17.Nf6 Qf6
[FEN "1rb2rk1/p1p3pp/2pp1q2/2P2n2/
5Q2/5N2/PP3PPP/R1B1R1K1 w - - 0 18"]
18.Qc4 [18.cd6 cd6 19.Qc4 Kh8; 18.Qa4 h6 (18...Be6!? with the idea Bd5
with attack) 19.Qc4 (19.Qc6? Bb7; 19.Bf4 Rb2; 19.Qa7 Rb4!? with the idea
Rg4 with attack; 19...Be6) Kh8 unclear] Kh8 This simple move was my first
intention in the game, but for some unknown reason I changed my mind...
[Till this moment everything went normally, but here I made a fatal error. 18...
Qf7? 19.Qf7 Rf7 (19...Kf7 20.g4 Nh6 21.h3 Kg8 22.Nd4) 20.b3! After this
strong move White has a clear advantage 20...h6 21.Ba3 (and White is
superior) d5 22.Re8 Rf8 23.Rae1 a) 23...Bd7? 24.Rb8 Rb8 25.g4; b) 23...Kf7
24.Ne5!? (24.R8e2 Kg8 25.h3) Ke8 25.Nc6 Kf7 26.Nb8; c) 23...g5 24.Bb2
Rb4 25.Bc3 Rf4 I was under the impression that Black has obtained some
counterplay here, but now I wonder how I could have been so optimistic... 26.
Rf8 (26.Bd2? time. My opponent underestimated my strange rook
manoeuvre.26...Rf3! 27.gf3 Nh4 with compensation. It may seem
unbelievable, but Black has adequate compensation for the exchange here; I
held convincingly in D.Stellwagen 2635 V.Erdos 2576, Deutschland 2011
see 111/(146)) Kf8 27.Ne5 Ne7 28.f3! and White is winning. Black is simply
awaiting his execution.; 18...d5!?] 19.Qc3 [19.cd6 cd6 20.Qc6 Bb7 with
attack] Be6 [19...Qc3 20.bc3 Rb5 21.cd6 cd6 22.Bf4] 20.Qf6 [20.cd6 cd6 21.
Qc6 Nh4 with counterplay] Rf6 21.Bg5 Rg6 22.h4 Bd5 23.h5 Re6 equal
13...g6 14.Qh6 Forcing the bishop back to g7, and thus gaining control over
g5.
14.Qh3 d5 15.Qg3 Nd6 with counterplay
14...Bg7
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/pnpp2bp/2p3pQ/8/2P5/
2N2N2/PP3PPP/R1B1R1K1 w - - 0 15"]
15.Qh3
15.Qd2 is also not without venom: 15...d6 16.b3 Bg4 [16...Nc5 17.Bb2 a5 18.
Ne4 Ne4 19.Re4 Bb2 20.Qb2 Bf5 21.Re3 Qf6 and White is slightly better;
Ehlvest] 17.Ng5 [17.Nd4? Qf6] Be5!? [17...Nc5 18.Bb2] 18.Bb2!? A fantastic
idea, but Black has adequate resources: [18.Nge4 Qh4 19.g3 Qh5 20.f4
unclear] Bf4
[FEN "r2q1rk1/pnp4p/2pp2p1/6N1/2P2bb1/
1PN5/PB1Q1PPP/R3R1K1 w - - 0 19"]
19.Nd5! Bd2 [19...Qg5 20.Nf4 (20.Ne7? Kf7) Qf4 (20...Rf4 21.Qc3) 21.Qc3
Qf2 22.Kh1 and White is winning] 20.Ne7 Qe7 21.Re7 Bg5 22.Rg7 Kh8
White can give perpetual or play on: 23.Rg6 [23.Rf7 Kg8 equal] Bf6 24.Bf6
Rf6 25.Rf6 Kg7 26.Rf4 Be6 27.Re1 Nc5 28.Re3 a5 With approximately equal
position.
15...d5 I believe this is the best way to handle the position.
15...d6 was played by Malakhov, who actually gave up the Rio de Janeiro
Variation after the following game. Hopefully he will change his mind in the
future... 16.Qg3 Bf5 [16...Qd7 17.h3 Nc5 18.Qh4 Ne6 19.Ng5 Ng5 20.Bg5
Rf7 21.Ne4 Bb7 22.c5 Raf8 23.cd6 cd6 24.Rad1 and White is superior. White
steadily improved his position, and now his edge was almost decisive in
Svidler 2722 V.Malakhov 2712, Russia (ch) 2010 see 110/(175)] 17.Bg5
Bf6 [17...Qb8!?] 18.Ne4 [18.h4 Nc5] Bg5 19.Nfg5 Qd7 20.Re3 Qg7 21.Rae1
h6 22.Nf3 and White is slightly better;
15...Nd6!? is interesting, but not enough for equality: 16.Bg5 Rf3 17.Bd8 Rh3
18.gh3 Ba6 19.Bc7 and White is slightly better
16.Qg3 d4 17.Ne4
17.Na4 Bf5 18.Bg5 Qd6 19.Bf4 Qb4 20.b3 d3 21.Rad1 Rae8 22.Bd2 Qd6 with
counterplay; Ehlvest 2635 D.Marciano 2415, France 1992 see 55/(327);
17.Bg5 Qd6!
17...Bf5 18.Bg5 Qd7 19.Qh4
19.Ne5!?
[FEN "r4rk1/pnpq2bp/2p3p1/4NbB1/
2PpN3/6Q1/PP3PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 19"]
leads to wild complications: 19...Qe6!? [19...Qe8 20.Nd2 Nc5 21.Nf7! A

fantastic move; I have never seen such a motif before. 21...Ne6 (21...Qf7 22.
Re7 Rae8 23.Rf7 Rf7 24.Qa3 Ne6 25.Re1) 22.Nh6 Kh8 23.Nf3 c5 24.Bf4 and
White is slightly better] 20.Nf6! Pretty, but ineffective. [20.Nd2 Rae8 21.Ndf3
unclear] Bf6 [20...Rf6 21.Ng4! Bg4 (21...Qf7 22.Bf6 Bg4 23.Bg7 and White
is winning; 21...Qd6 22.Nf6 Bf6 23.Qd6 and White is winning) 22.Re6 Re6
23.Qg4 Rae8 24.g3 and White is superior] 21.Ng6! Qd6 22.Bf4 hg6 [22...
Bg6!?] 23.Bd6 cd6 unclear. One may disagree, but I believe that Black should
be OK in this and similar positions.

19...Be4
19...Rae8? 20.Nf6 Bf6 21.Bf6 c5 22.Be7! Rf7 23.Bg5! and White is superior,
with attack
20.Re4 Rae8
[FEN "4rrk1/pnpq2bp/2p3p1/6B1/
2PpR2Q/5N2/PP3PPP/R5K1 w - - 0 21"]
21.Rae1
21.Be7 is met by an effective response: 21...Nd6! 22.Bd6 cd6 [22...Qd6] 23.
Rae1 [23.Nd4?! g5 24.Qg4 Qf7] Bf6 24.Qf4 Be5!? [24...Re4 25.Qe4] 25.Qd2
Rf3 26.gf3 Qh3 27.f4 Qg4 equal
21...Re4
21...Nd6 22.Re7 Re7 23.Re7 Qf5 24.h3
22.Qe4 Nd6 23.Qd3 Re8 24.Re8 Qe8 Black's inferior structure is
compensated by his strong protected passed pawn. The position is balanced.
25.Kf1
25.c5 Qe4 26.Qb3 Nf7 27.h3 unclear
25...c5 26.b3 Ne4 27.Qe2 Qc6 equal. I didnt experience too many problems
in the game A.Volokitin 2695 V.Erdos 2623, Warszawa (rapid) 2011
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by Josip Asik
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One of the most exciting moments in preparing Chess Informant is when we

receive the annotated game by Garry Kasparov. Will it be a famous game
from recent practice or a little-known gem? How did he choose it? Which
games were among his candidates? So many questions, but only one answer
in "Garry's Choice." From Kasparov, you can expect only the unexpected!
As with his previous column in Chess Informant 113, you will never guess his
chosen game! As a hint, I will say that the game was an opportunity for Garry
to showcase his beloved King's Indian Defense. These deep and interesting
annotations, by the highest possible authority, are an unforgettable lesson and
above all a true revelation of extraordinary chess art.
1000TN!!
by Chess Informant
Chess Informant 114 Tesla Edition also introduces a new feature: "Old
Wine in New Bottles," by well-known chess author and player Romanian GM
Mihail Marin. The impetus behind this advanced educative column is the
aphorism that "every new chess idea is one that has been forgotten." It is an
exciting voyage through the magnificent history of chess ideas.
Another new feature is the column "One Country." Here the spotlight is on
Sweden and four Viking representatives of a new generation: GMs Berg,
Grandelius, Carlsson, and Tikkanen. It is an opportunity to become
acquainted with the Scandinavian playing style through their extensive
annotations, and discover how friendship and mutual support can be key to
climbing the chess ladder.

the games from

by Chess Informant
The "Top Five" column is headlined by British GM Nigel Short, who brings
his charm and British humor to our pages. While European Champion Dmitry
Jakovenko explains how it feels when one is so close to their desired title.
They are joined by Volokitin, Vitiugov, and Inarkiev, who also present their
exclusive stories only for Informant 114.
In "CI Labs," Ivan Cheparinov writes about "the birth of a novelty" and the
latest fashion of the Anti-Grnfeld A16. Specifically, how Topalov's team
was able to find his fifth move novelty in the Topalov-Kamsky 2009 WCC
semifinal match. Brazilian star Rafael Leitao, who won the World Youth
championship in 1996, extends our horizons with new ideas in the Classic
Catalan E05. Young American grandmaster Sam Shankland was excited to
present his switch from 1.d4 to 1.e4, with an article about Bird's Defense in
the Ruy Lopez C61. Also, new CI Labs member, Egyptian grandmaster, and
soon to be doctor, Bassem Amin, examines the King's Indian Attack C00. A
set up that White can use against the French, Caro-Kann, or Sicilian. Dimitris
Mastrovasilis from Greece analyzes the Scotch Four Knights C47, which
surprisingly occurred in the recent match between Kramnik and Aronian.
Alexander Delchev from Bulgaria shows the latest developments in ECO
code A13, which cannot be found in his book The Modern Reti. Siberian
opening expert, Alexei Bezgodov, puts the Tarrasch Defense D32 under the
microscope. And Kidambi Sundararajan from Chennai, India contends with
an enormous amount of material in the always popular Scheveningen Sicilian
B85. All in all, eight original articles from the CI Labs crew.
Pawn Endings
by Chess Informant
Chess Informant 114 provides complete coverage of the 2012 Anand-Gelfand

match, along with many other top events. There are 200+ annotated games, by
more than eighty grandmasters, including Morozevich, Movsesian,
Tomashevsky, Rublevsky, Bartel, Sasikiran, Sargissian, Kiril Georgiev,
Sjugirov, and Erdos to name just a few. The "Best of Chess Informant" profile
is dedicated to the career of Gata Kamsky. Not to mention regular features,
such as Rising Stars, Combinations, Endings, Problems, Studies, etc.
This month, we are pleased to present the most important novelty of Chess
Informant 112, as voted by our panel of judges:
1. ARONIAN (2805) P. HARIKRISHNA (2669)

Ningbo 2011 112/243 [D56]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0-0 7.e3 Ne4 8.Be7
Qe7 9.Rc1 c6
[FEN "rnb2rk1/pp2qpp1/2p1p2p/3p4/2PPn3/
2N1PN2/PP3PPP/2RQKB1R w K - 0 10"]
10.h4! [a novelty; 10.Bd3 see 109/279] Nd7 11.g4 e5 12.cd5 Nc3 13.Rc3 cd5
14.g5 h5 15.Bb5! [15.Be2 e4 16.Nd2 g6 17.Qc2 Nb6 18.Rc7 Bd7 unclear]
ed4 [15...e4 16.Bd7 Qd7 17.Ne5 and White is slightly better] 16.Qd4 Qe4
[16...Nb6 17.0-0 Bg4 (17...Qe4 18.Qe4 de4 19.Nd4 and White is slightly
better) 18.Ne5 (18.Nd2 f6 19.Rfc1 Rac8 20.f4 and White is slightly better)
Bf5 19.f4 (19.Rfc1 f6 20.Nf3 Be4 21.Nd2 Qe6 22.Be2 Rae8 23.Ne4 de4 24.
gf6 Rf6 25.Rc5 and White is slightly better) f6 20.Nf3 and White is slightly
better] 17.Qe4 [17.Ke2 Nb6 18.Bd3 Qe7! 19.Rhc1 Bg4 unclear] de4 18.Nd2
Ne5 [18...f5 19.Rc7 Ne5 20.Ke2 and White is slightly superior] 19.Ne4 Be6
[FEN "r4rk1/pp3pp1/4b3/1B2n1Pp/4N2P/
2R1P3/PP3P2/4K2R w K - 0 20"]
20.f4! Bd5 [20...Ng4 21.Nc5 Ba2 22.Ke2 and White is slightly superior] 21.
fe5 Be4 22.0-0 Bd5 [22...Rac8 23.Rc8 Rc8 24.e6 fe6 25.Bd7 and White is
slightly superior] 23.Bd7! Rfd8 [23...Ba2 24.b3 Rad8 25.e6 fe6 26.Be6 Kh7
27.Rf8 Rf8 28.Bd5 and White is slightly superior; 23...Rad8 24.Rc7 Ba2 25.
Rb7 and White is slightly superior] 24.Rc7 a5 25.a4! Ra6 26.Rf4! [26.Rd1?!
Be6] Rf8 [26...Rb6 27.Rd4 Bc6 28.e6 and White is winning] 27.Rd4 (and
White is winning) Bc6 28.e6 fe6 29.Be6 Kh8 30.Bf7 Rb6 31.b3 Bf3 32.g6
Rc6 33.Rc6 bc6 34.e4 Be2 35.e5 1-0 [Bo. Vuckovic]
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I couldn't help but notice the instructive theoretical survey about the Scotch
Four Knights in Abby Marshall's July 2012 column here at ChessCafe.com;
namely because it corresponds with Greek GM Dimitrios Mastrovasilis's CI
Labs article in Chess Informant 114. These two surveys are perfect for those
interested in C47. After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4, Abby examined
the rare 4...Bb4, which the younger of the two Mastrovasilis grandmasterbrothers mentions as a "third interesting possibility." His main focus in "CI
Labs" is 4...ed4 5.Nd4 Bc5 6.Be3!, which was seen in the Kramnik-Aronian
match from Zurich 2012.
1000TN!!
by Chess Informant
Personally, I prefer the Scotch C45 in my own repertoire, but I always keep
an eye on C47 for patriotic reasons. The Belgrade Gambit, after 4...ed4 5.
Nd5, is named for my hometown! It is a razor sharp weapon, but only suitable
for blitz tournaments. Perhaps Abby and Dimitrios will find the right path
next time!
There are so many interesting new features in Chess Informant 114 that I feel
like one of those famous musicians who can't choose their best songs. Sure, I
am biased, but this is darn good book, with extraordinary content by
Kasparov, Marin, Jakovenko, Short, Vitiugov, Volokitin, Inarkiev, Shankland,
Leitao, and Cheparinov!

by Chess Informant
There is one more week to enter the contest to win a signed copy of Chess
Informant 113 by Garry Kasparov. Enter now!
This month we present the best game from Chess Informant 113. We are also
pleased to announce the name of our new jury member for the theoretical
novelty contest: Russian GM Sergey Rublevsky.
the games from
Pawn Endings
by Chess Informant
1. ARONIAN (2807) V. ANAND (2817)

Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2011 113/144 [D24]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 dc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bc4 Ne4 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Qa4
Nc6 9.Bg5 N [9.Ne5 Rb8 a) 10.d5 Bc3 11.Nc6 bc6 12.bc3 (12.de6!?) Nd5 13.
Qc6 Bd7 14.Qc5 with compensation; b) 10.Nc6 bc6 11.Qc6 Qd7 12.Qd7 Bd7
13.Bg5 0-0 14.Rfc1 and White is slightly better] Be7 [9...Bc3 10.bc3 0-0 11.
Rab1 with compensation] 10.Bf6 Bf6 11.d5 ed5 12.Rfe1 Be6
[FEN "r2qk2r/ppp2ppp/2n1bb2/3p4/Q1B5/
2N2N2/PP3PPP/R3R1K1 w kq - 0 13"]
13.Bd5 [13.Ba6! ba6 (13...Qc8 14.Nd5 0-0 15.Nf6 gf6 16.Bb5 and White is
slightly better) 14.Qc6 Kf8 15.Rad1 a) 15...Bc3 16.bc3 a1) 16...g6 17.Ng5!
(17.Re6 fe6 18.Nd4 Kf7 19.Qe6 Kg7 20.Qe5 Kf7 21.Ne6 Qd6 22.Qg7 Ke6 23.
Re1 Kf5 24.Re3 Raf8 25.Rf3 Kg5 26.Rg3 Kf5 equal) Kg7 18.Ne6 fe6 19.Re6
and White is superior; a2) 16...Rb8 17.Qa6; b) 15...Rb8 16.Nd5 Qd6 17.Qd6
cd6 18.b3 Bd8] 0-0 14.Be6 fe6 15.Rad1 [15.Re6 Qd7 16.Re2 Kh8 17.Rd1
Qf7 equal] Qe8 16.Ne4 Qe7 [16...Rd8 17.Rd8 Qd8 18.Qb3 Nd4 19.Nd4 Bd4
20.Qe6 Kh8 equal] 17.Qb3 Rab8? [17...Rad8 18.Qb7 Nd4 equal] 18.Nf6 Rf6
19.Ng5 Qb4 20.Qc2
[FEN "1r4k1/ppp3pp/2n1pr2/6N1/1q6/
8/PPQ2PPP/3RR1K1 b - - 0 20"]
20...Rg6? [20...g6 21.a3 Qg4 22.Ne4 Rf7 23.f3 Qf4 24.Nc5 and White is
slightly better] 21.Re4 Qa5 22.h4 Re8 23.Rd7 h6 24.b4 [24.Re2 and White is
winning] Qf5 [24...Qb5 25.a4 Nb4 26.Qc7 Nd5 (26...Qa4 27.Qd8! Rf8 28.Rf4
and White is winning) 27.ab5 Nc7 28.Nf3 Nb5 29.Ne5 Rf6 30.Rg4 and White
is winning]
[FEN "4r1k1/pppR2p1/2n1p1rp/5qN1/
1P2R2P/8/P1Q2PP1/6K1 w - - 0 25"]
25.Re6! 1-0 [Mil.Perunovic]
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Svetozar Gligoric, In Memoriam

by Josip Asik
Informant at
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These days the tune running through my head is an old classic named "The
Girl from Ipanema," a melancholic Brazilian Bossa nova style song. It was
one of the favorites of Svetozar Gligoric and it reminds me of my last visit to
his home, where the Grand maestro was playing the piano. His death left me
in a state of shock. The impact of this sad news was even more devastating
since just two weeks prior I also lost my father. It was as if the pain was
renewed.
Gligoric, born in Belgrade, was the father of Yugoslav and Serbian chess. In
the period 1950 to 1980 he broke many national records. He won thirteen
Olympiad medals, six European medals, and the championship of Yugoslavia
twelve times. At the peak of his career he was seen as the best player outside
of the Soviet Union. He was a man who treated everyone with dignity and
respect, and people befriended him because of his gentle nature. It is
significant to his character that his games collection was titled I Play Against
Pieces!
Gligoric's Music CD
Small ECO CD
by Chess Informant

the games from
Svetozar Gligoric and Josip Asik
His death was prime time news, with much television footage of him during
the glory days. A commemorative ceremony took place in the Belgrade city
house in front of hundreds of people. Speeches were conducted by the Serbian
Minister of Sport, grandmaster Alisa Maric; the president of the Serbian chess
federation Miodrag Vukotic; and president of Chess Informant, and his former
teammate, grandmaster Aleksandar Matanovic. Thousands gathered at his
funeral, including Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, and president of the
Serbian Olympic Committee and former NBA star Vlade Divac.
A fine old gentleman has left and I will miss his wisdom. He was an erudite
man who did not feel compelled to convince you of his opinion. In his last
years he spent more time on music, composing the songs published on the CD
"How I Survived the 20th Century," but he still followed the news from the
chess world. Recently, he shared his views about a game with which he was
very impressed: Svidler-Morozevich, Russian Team Chess Championship
2012.
I once asked Gligoric as to who his successors might be in terms of playing
Pawn Endings
by Chess Informant
style. He named another King's Indian player, Teimour Radjabov. That same
year I met Teimour at the Sofia M-tel super tournament and told him about it.
I remember he was deeply honored and he asked me thank to the old master.
The chess world will miss him. Rest in piece Gliga.
1. T. Petrosian S. Gligoric
Rovinj/Zagreb 1970 9/621 [E97]
1.c4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7
9.b4 Nh5 10.Nd2! [10.g3 f5 11.Ng5 Nf6 12.f3 h6 13.Ne6 Be6 14.de6 f4 15.
b5 fg3 16.hg3 Qc8! 17.Nd5 Qe6 18.Nc7 Qh3 equal] 10...Nf4 11.a4 [11.Bf3
Nd3 12.Ba3 a5!] 11...f5 12.Bf3 g5! [12...Nd3? 13.Ba3 a5 14.ba5 and White is
superior] 13.ef5 Nf5 [with the idea Nh4] 14.g3
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/ppp3bp/3p4/3Ppnp1/PPP2n2/
2N2BP1/3N1P1P/R1BQ1RK1 b - - 0 14"]
14...Nd4! 15.gf4 [15.Bg4 Bg4 16.Qg4 h5 17.Qd1 Nh3 18.Kg2 g4 19.f3 Qd7
and Black is superior] 15...Nf3 [15...gf4] 16.Qf3 [16.Nf3 ef4 17.Bb2 g4 18.
Kh1 equal] 16...g4 17.Qh1? [17.Qd3 Bf5 18.Nde4 ef4 19.f3 gf3 (19...g3 20.
Ra2!) 20.Rf3 Bc3 21.Qc3 Be4 22.Rf4 Qg5 23.Qg3 Qg3 24.hg3 equal] 17...ef4
(and Black is superior) 18.Bb2 Bf5 [18...f3] 19.Rfe1 f3 20.Nde4 Qh4 [with
the idea Qh3] 21.h3
[FEN "r4rk1/ppp3bp/3p4/3P1b2/PPP1N1pq/
2N2p1P/1B3P2/R3R1KQ b - - 0 21"]
21...Be5! (and Black is winning) 22.Re3 gh3 23.Qf3 Bg4! [23...Be4 24.Re4
Rf3 25.Rh4 Bc3 26.Bc3 Rc3 and Black is superior] 24.Qh1 h2 25.Kg2 [25.
Kf1 Rf3! and Black is winning] 25...Qh5! 26.Nd2 Bd4! 27.Qe1 [27.Rae1?
Bh3! 28.Rh3 Qg4 29.Rg3 Rf2 mate] 27...Rae8! 28.Nce4 [28.Kh1 Re3! 29.fe3
Bf3 30.Nf3 Qf3 31.Kh2 Be5 32.Kg1 Qg4 and Black is winning] 28...Bb2 29.
Rg3 Be5 30.Raa3 Kh8 31.Kh1 Rg8 32.Qf1 Bg3 33.Rg3? Re4 0-1 [S.
Gligoric]
2. S. Gligoric (2600) L. Portisch (2630)
Jugoslavija Magyarorszag 1971 12/511 [D27]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bc4 c5 6.0-0 a6 7.a4 Nc6 8.Qe2 cd4 9.
Rd1 Be7 10.ed4 0-0 11.Nc3 Nd5 12.Bd3! Ncb4 13.Bb1 b6 14.a5! [with the
idea Na4] 14...Bd7 15.Ne5 ba5
[FEN "r2q1rk1/3bbppp/p3p3/p2nN3/1n1P4/
2N5/1P2QPPP/RBBR2K1 w - - 0 16"]
16.Ra3! [with the idea Nd5, Bh7! and White is winning] 16...f5 17.Nd5 Nd5
18.Nd7 Qd7 19.Ra5 (and White is superior) Nc7 20.Ba2 Bd6 21.Bc4 Kh8 22.
Qf3 [22.Ba6 Bh2] 22...Bb4 23.Ra1 [23.Re5 Bd6] 23...a5 24.Bf4 Nd5 25.Be5
Rfc8 26.Qe2 Qb7 [26...Rc6? 27.Bb5] 27.h3 Rc6 28.Rac1 Rac8 29.Bd5 ed5
30.Rc6 Qc6 31.Rd3! Qd7 [31...Qc2 32.Bg7!] 32.Rg3 Bf8 33.b3! Ra8 34.
Qc2 Rc8 35.Qd2 Ra8 [35...a4 36.ba4 Qa4 37.Qg5 Qd7 38.Rf3] 36.Qg5 Kg8
37.Rf3 g6 38.Rc3 Qd8 39.Qc1 Bd6 40.Qf4 Be5 41.Qe5 [41.de5] 41...Ra7
[FEN "3q2k1/r6p/6p1/p2pQp2/3P4/
1PR4P/5PP1/6K1 w - - 0 42"]
42.Rc5! Re7 [42...Rd7 43.Rb5 Kf7 44.Rb8 Qe7 45.Qh8 and White is
winning] 43.Rd5 Qc7 44.Qc7 Rc7 45.Ra5 Rb7 46.Ra3! Rb4 47.d5 [47.
Kf1!] 47...Kg7 48.Kf1 Kf6 49.Ke2 Ke5 50.Kd3 Kd5 51.Kc3 Re4 52.Ra4
Re2 53.Rd4 Kc5 54.b4 Kb5 55.Rd5 Kc6 56.Rd2 Re1 57.f3! (and White is
superior) Rg1 58.Kd4 [with the idea Ke5] 58...Re1 59.Rc2 Kb6 [59...Kb5 60.
Rc7] 60.Kd5 Re3 61.Rc6 Kb5 62.Rc7 h5 63.Rb7 Ka4 64.Kc4 Ka3 65.Ra7
Kb2 66.Rg7 1-0 [S. Gligoric]
3. S. Gligoric (2575) L. Kavalek (2555)
Skopje (ol) 1972 14/148 [A77]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 ed5 5.cd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0
9.0-0 Re8 10.Nd2 Nbd7 11.a4 Ne5 12.Qc2 Nh5?! 13.Bh5 gh5 14.Nd1! Qh4
[14...Bd7!? 15.Ne3 Qe7] 15.Ne3 Ng4 16.Ng4 hg4 [16...Qg4 17.f3 and White
is superior] 17.Nc4 Qf6? [17...Qe7 18.Re1 Bf5 19.Bf4! and White is superior;
17...g3! 18.fg3! Qe4 19.Qe4 Re4 20.Nd6 Re5 (20...Rd4 21.Nb5 and White is
superior) 21.Nf7 Rd5 22.Nh6 Kh8 23.g4 and White is superior] 18.Bd2 Qg6
19.Bc3 Bc3 20.bc3 b6 [20...Qe4 21.Qe4 Re4 22.Nd6 and White is superior]
21.Rfe1 Ba6 22.Nd2 Re5
[FEN "r5k1/p4p1p/bp1p2q1/2pPr3/P3P1p1/
2P5/2QN1PPP/R3R1K1 w - - 0 23"]
23.f4! (and White is winning) gf3 24.Nf3 Rh5 25.Qf2 Qf6 26.Re3 Re8 27.
Rae1 Qf4
[FEN "4r1k1/p4p1p/bp1p4/2pP3r/P3Pq2/
2P1RN2/5QPP/4R1K1 w - - 0 28"]
28.e5! de5 29.Re4 Qf6 30.Qg3 Kh8 31.Ne5 Rg8 32.Rg4 Rg4 33.Ng4 Qg6
34.c4! Rf5 35.Nh6 Rf6 [35...Qg3 36.Re8 with the idea Nf5 and White is
winning] 36.Re8 Kg7 37.Rg8 Kh6 38.Qh4 1-0 [S. Gligoric]
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The Encyclopedia of Chess Problems

by Josip Asik
Informant at
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I have great respect for the experts in the field of chess problems, though I
never was a great fan. All those terms and themes sounded distant and hard to
understand. Instead, I preferred the practical aspects of playing chess.
However, while writing for different newspapers, I witnessed a great interest
from readers for two movers. The common question being, "Why are you not
including chess problems."
What I really liked were those gigantic problems and studies where the mate
could be found in, say, 298 moves! It was fantastical; yet, sometimes, even if
it didn't make any sense, I felt like it could happen in real tournament games.
Gligoric's Music CD
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What I always wanted was one book that would explain everything and
provide the best examples from the history of chess problems. I asked the
guru of the chess problem community, GM solver Milan Velimirovic,
whether such a book was possible and unknowingly tapped into his lifetime
wish to create just that.
Small ECO CD
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the games from
Many months later, we are proud to present The Definitive Book,
Encyclopedia of Chess Problems: Themes and Terms, written by Velimirovic
and his colleague, GM solver and 1984 World Solving champion, Kari
Valtonen from Finland. Inside, there are 1,726 selected problems and all the
answers to any question that one might ask about chess problems. It can be
read in different ways, like the classical Larousse encyclopedia or as a great
collection of problems. Every theme and term is illustrated with the
appropriate problem.
I am proud to be involved in this project. I see it as a historic moment for the
world of chess problems. And, yes, now I a full-fledged fan of this
magnificent field!
The following are examples from the Encyclopedia of Chess Problems:
Ambush
Pawn Endings
by Chess Informant
A line-moving piece is placed behind another piece. When that second piece
plays away the first one will show up its power. 33 shows a double ambush of
the white Rook behind two white Bishops.
33
SHINKMAN, William A.
Checkmate 1903
#3
[FEN "8/8/p7/k7/P6R/P2K4/P4BB1/8"]
33: 1.Rh2! Kxa4 2.Bc6+ Kxa3 3.Bc5# (2...Ka5 3.Rh5#).
Indian Theme
This is unquestionably the most popular chess composition theme.
White piece makes a critical move to be temporarily interfered by another
white piece, usually in order to avoid Black's stalemate. This is a logical
combination, a direct combination (maneuver) with idea in attack.
799 is version of one move longer pioneer problem.
799
LOVEDAY, Henry A.
Chess Player's Chronicle 1845
#3
[FEN "8/8/7B/1p2p3/4k1P1/1P3n2/P4PB1/K2R4"]
799: 1.Bc1! b4 2.Rd2 Kf4 3.Rd4#.
Schiffmann 1 Defence
White threatens with a discovered (battery) mate. Black defends by selfpinning his own piece, which would be unpinned by a threat. White utilizes
this pin in mate.
1406
SCHIFFMANN, Israel A.
2.pr The Problemist 1928
#2
[FEN "K4b2/5p2/Q4pq1/1pRp4/1P1kP1R1/
2np4/3N1P1B/3b4"]
1406: 1.Bg1! ~/Ke5 2.f4#, 1...Qxe4 2.Qxf6#, 1...Nxe4 2.Qa1#, 1...dxe4 2.f3#,
(1...Ne2/Bf3,Qxg4 2.Nf3,Qxf6#).
Swallow Theme
A white line piece plays several consecutive moves on the same line with at
least one change of direction.
Germans use the term Schwalbenform for logical problems where all moves in
the main variation are made by one piece.
1498
KOCKELKORN, Carl;
KOHTZ, Johannes
Festschrift des Akademischen Schachclubs Mnchen 1911 / ("Eine
Schwalbe")
#4
[FEN "4nKn1/1Q6/2p2P2/1p6/6r1/2P1B3/
1N1Np1b1/4k3"]
1498: 1.Qa7? Ra4!; 1.Qh7? Re4!; 1.Qf7! Bd5 2.Qa7 Ra4 3.Qh7 Be4,Re4 4.
Qh4,Qh1#.
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Informant 113
by Josip Asik
Informant at
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I guess it is common behavior among book collectors to sit and stare at their
acquisitions. At least I hope it is, since I find myself doing just that in front of
my new and precious shelf dedicated to chess books. I take endless minutes to
decide whether a title should be placed to the left or right side. Hard
decisions.
Translate this page
It is to be expected that my Chess Informant collection would be complete,

but I am afraid there are gaps in the series. There are quite a few numbers that
are out-of-print and not even available to us! Though I was pleasantly
surprised that a recent warehouse move uncovered a couple of my missing
volumes. I envy those of our dear readers who proudly state they own a
complete series of Informants. If you are among them, send us a photo of your
bookshelf to office(at)informant1966.com.
I was surprised to see that in Volume 2, the annotators are not noted after each
game. The same is true in Volumes 4 and 5, even though the list of
contributors is exemplary, including Petrosian, Larsen, Gligoric, Robert
Byrne, and Hort! It is not until Volume 7 that the annotators are listed with
every game, but it is possible that the turning point was in Volume 6, which I
still do not have on my shelf. It is a very special feeling to hold these early
volumes that were published before your birth. By the way, ChessCafe.com
stocks many early volumes of Chess Informant, if you need to supplement
your collection.

the games from

by Chess Informant
Small ECO CD
by Chess Informant
With regard to the latest volume, Chess Informant 115 Speedmaster edition
will be available in the coming weeks. Again with columns by Garry
Kasparov and Mihail Marin, and featuring special contributions by
Movsesian, Efimenko, Volokitin, and many others. We are little bit late, but it
is worth the wait. In the meantime, let's see what our expert jury has choosen
as the best theoretical novelty of Volume 113. As usual, the voting was
published in Informant 114.
Pawn Endings
by Chess Informant
Khalifman (2627) Inarkiev (2692)

Saint Petersburg Moscow (m/1) 2011 113/166 [D46]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0
dc4 9.Bc4 b5 10.Be2 Bb7 11.Rd1 Qc7 12.e4 e5 13.de5 Ne5 14.Nd4 Neg4 15.
Bg4!? [15.g3 Bc5 16.Bg4 Ng4 17.Bf4 Qb6 18.Nce2 Rfe8 19.a4 a6 unclear
see 109/273] Bh2! [15...Ng4 16.h3 and White is slightly better] 16.Kf1 [16.
Kh1? Ng4 17.g3 Bg3 and Black is winning] Ng4 17.g3! Qe5 18.Kg2
[FEN "r4rk1/pb3ppp/2p5/1p2q3/3NP1n1/2N3P1/
PPQ2PKb/R1BR4 b - - 0 18"]
18...c5! N [18...Rae8] 19.Nf3 [19.Ndb5!? Qh5! 20.Nd6? Bg3! 21.Kg3 Qh2 22.
Kg4 f5! 23.Nf5 h5 24.Kf3 Rf5 and Black is winning] Qh5 20.Nd5!? f5?!
[20...Rae8 21.Nf4 Qh6 22.Nd3! (22.Nd5? Qg6! 23.Nh2 Nh2 24.Kh2 Re4 and
Black is superior) Qh5 23.Nf4 equal] 21.Nf4?! [21.Qc5! Nf2! (21...fe4? 22.
Ne7 and White is winning; 21...Kh8 22.Nf4 and White is superior) 22.Nf4!
Qg4 (22...Ne4 23.Qf8 and White is winning) 23.Qf2 fe4 24.Kh2 ef3 and
White is slightly better] Qe8! [21...Be4!? 22.Nh5 Bc2 23.Rd7 g6! (23...Be4?
24.Rg7 Kh8 25.Bf4 Rad8 26.Re1 and White is superior) 24.Rg7! (24.Nf4 Be4
and Black is winning) Kh8 25.b3! (25.Nh2 gh5 26.Rg5 Nf6 and Black is
superior) gh5 26.Bb2 Nf6 27.Re7! Kg8 (27...Be4 28.Rd1 Kg8 29.Rdd7! Rf7
30.Rf7 Nd7 31.Rd7 unclear) 28.Rc1 Be4 29.Rc5 Ne8 (29...Rf7 30.Rf7 Kf7 31.
Kh2 unclear) 30.Rcc7! h6! 31.Rg7 Ng7 32.Rg7 Kh8 33.Rf7 Kg8 34.Rg7
equal] 22.Re1 [22.Rd5 fe4 23.Nh2 Nh2 (23...Nf2!? 24.Qf2 Bd5 25.Qc5 Bf7
and Black is slightly better) 24.Rc5 Ng4 and Black is slightly better] fe4 23.
Nh2 e3! 24.f3 Nh2 25.Kh2
[FEN "r3qrk1/pb4pp/8/1pp5/5N2/4pPP1/
PPQ4K/R1B1R3 b - - 0 25"]
25...Rf4! 26.gf4 Qh5 27.Kg1 Qf3 [27...Bf3?! 28.Qh2 Qg6 29.Kf1 Qd3 30.
Kg1 Qg6 equal] 28.Qh2 Qg4 29.Kf1 Qf3 30.Kg1 Re8! [30...Rd8 31.Be3 Rd6
32.f5! Qg4 33.Kf2! (33.Kf1!? Qf5 34.Bf2 Qd3 35.Re2 Bf3 36.Rae1 unclear)
Rf6 (33...Qf5 34.Qf4 and White is winning) 34.Kf1! Qf5 35.Bf2 Qd3 36.Re2
Bf3 37.Qb8 Rf8 38.Qe5 unclear] 31.Re3! [31.Re2 Re6 and Black is winning;
31.Be3 Re3 32.Re3 see 31.Re3] Re3 32.Be3 Qe3 33.Qf2 Qh3 34.Qh2 Qe3
35.Qf2 Qh3 36.Qh2 Qg4 37.Kf2 Qf3 38.Kg1? [38.Ke1!] h5! 39.Re1 [39.Rf1
Qg4 40.Kf2 h4 and Black is superior] h4 40.a3 h3 41.Re8 Kf7 42.Re2 Be4 43.
f5!? Kg8?! [43...Qg4 44.Kf2 Qf5 and Black is superior] 44.f6?! [44.Qe5! Qg4
(44...Qh1 45.Kf2 Qg2 46.Ke1 Qg1 47.Kd2 Qg5 48.Ke1 Bf5 and Black is
slightly better) 45.Kf1 Bf5 and Black is slightly better] gf6 45.Re1 Qg4 46.
Kf2 Qf3 47.Kg1 Kf7 48.Rf1 Qe3 49.Qf2 Qg5 50.Kh2 Qg2 51.Qg2 hg2 52.
Rf4 f5 53.Rh4 Kg7 [53...a5 54.Rh6 b4 55.Ra6 c4 a) 56.Ra5 c3 57.bc3 bc3 58.
Rc5 c2 59.a4 Ke6 60.a5 Kd6 61.Rc3 (61.Rc8 Bc6 and Black is winning) Kd5
62.a6 Kd4 63.Rc8 Ke3 64.Kg1 Kd2 and Black is winning; b) 56.ab4 ab4 57.
Ra4 c3 58.Rb4 c2 59.Rc4 Kf6 (59...Ke6 60.Rc5 Kd6 61.b4 f4 62.Kg1 f3 63.
Kf2 equal) 60.Rc5 Kg5 61.Kg1 Kf4 62.Kf2 g1Q 63.Kg1 Ke3 and Black is
winning] 54.Rh3 b4 [54...c4 55.Rg3 Kf6 56.Rg8 Ke5 57.Rb8 a6 58.Rb6 Kd4
59.Ra6 Ke3 60.Kg1 f4 61.Rf6 f3 62.Rf8 Bd3! 63.Rf7 Be2 64.Rf6 Kd2 65.Rf5
Kc2 66.Rb5 c3! and Black is winning] 55.ab4 cb4 56.Re3 [56.Rg3 Kf6 57.
Rg8 Ke5 58.Rb8 a5 59.Rb5 Kd4 60.Ra5 f4 61.Kg1 Ke3 62.Ra7 (62.Ra1 Ke2
63.Ra6 f3 64.Rf6 b3 and Black is winning) f3 63.Rf7 b3 64.Rf8 f2! 65.Rf2
Bf3 and Black is winning] a5? [56...Kf6 57.Re1 Ke5 58.Ra1 Kd4 59.Ra7 f4
60.Kg1 Ke3 61.Rf7 f3 and Black is winning] 57.Re1 a4 58.Rd1 a3 [58...b3
59.Rd7 Kf6 60.Ra7] 59.ba3 b3 60.Rd7 [60.Rd2! Kf6 (60...Bc2 61.Rd7 Kf6
62.Rb7 equal) 61.Rb2 Bd5 62.a4 Ke5 63.a5 Kd4 64.Rd2 Kc5 65.a6 equal]
Kf6 61.Rd6 Ke5 62.Rb6 Bd5 63.Rb4 f4 64.Kg1 f3 65.Kf2 [65.a4 Kd6 and
Black is winning] Kd6 66.a4 Kc5 67.Rb8 Kc4? [67...Bc4! 68.Rb7 (68.a5
Bb5 and Black is winning; 68.Rf8 Kb4 and Black is winning) Kd4 69.a5 Kc3
and Black is winning; 67...Kd4! 68.a5 g1Q! 69.Kg1 Ke3 and Black is
winning] 68.a5 Kc3 69.a6 b2 70.a7 Bc6 [70...Ba8 71.Rb5! Kc2 72.Rc5 Kb3
73.Rb5 Ka3 74.Kg1 Ka2 75.Ra5 Kb3 76.Rb5 Kc2 77.Rc5 Kd2 78.Rb5 Kc3
(78...Kc1 79.Rc5 Kd1 80.Rb5 equal) 79.Kf2 Kc2 80.Rc5 Kd3 81.Rb5 Kc3 82.
Kg1 Bc6 83.Rb8 Kc2 84.a8Q! Ba8 85.Rc8 Kb3 86.Rb8 Kc3 87.Rc8 Kd3 88.
Rb8 equal] 71.a8Q! [71.Rb6 Ba8 72.Rb5 equal] Ba8 72.Rc8 equal Kd3 73.
Rb8 Kc2 74.Rc8 Kd2 75.Rb8 Kc3 76.Rc8 Kd3 77.Rb8 Kc3 78.Rc8 Kd3 [Inarkiev]
D46
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0 dc4 9.Bc4 b5
10.Be2 Bb7 11.Rd1 Qc7 12.e4 e5 13.de5 Ne5 14.Nd4 Neg4
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
g31
Bg43
Bf4
Nce24
a45
a56
f3
Kg2
Nf5
Bc52
Ng4
Qb6
Rfe8
a6
Qa7
Ne5
Bf8
c57
Bg4
Kf19
g3
Kg2
Nf311
Nd5
Nf4
Nd313
Nf414
Bh28
Ng4
Qe5
c510
Qh5
Rae812
Qh6
Qh5
unclear
equal
[FEN ""]
15.h3? Bh2! 16.Kf1 Nf2! 17.Kf2 b4! and Black is superior [with the idea 18.
Na4 c5 19.Nc5 Qc5 20.Qc5 Ne4 21.Kf1 Nc5 and Black is superior; I.
Ivanisevic] 18.e5 Qe5 19.Na4 Ne4 20.Kf1 Ng3 21.Kf2 Rfe8 and Black is
winning; Ghazarian - Rhode, corr.2001
2
weak point f2; 15...Qb6 16.a4
[FEN "r4rk1/pbq2ppp/2pb1n2/1p6/3NP1n1/
2N5/PPQ1BPPP/R1BR2K1 w - - 0 15"]
a) 16...b4 17.a5 Qc5 18.a6! Bc8 19.Na4 Qh5 20.h4 and White is superior;
b) 16...Rfd8 17.a5 Qc7 18.Nf5 Be5 19.a6 Bc8 20.Rd8 Qd8 21.h3 Bf5 22.ef5
Bc3 23.hg4 Bd4 24.g5 Nd5 25.Qc6 Rb8 26.Bd2 and White is superior; A.
Docekal - A.Toman, corr.2009;
c) 16...a6 17.a5 Qa7 18.Bg4 Ng4 (Mac.Jedrzejowski Ohtake, corr.2003) 19.
h3 Bc5 20.Nce2 Ne5 21.Bf4 Rfe8 22.Rac1 and White is slightly better; Br.
Tadic;
d) 16...a5!? 17.Bg4 Ng4 18.Nb3 b4 19.Rd6 bc3 20.Nd4 [20.bc3 Nf2] Rfd8 21.
Rd8 Rd8 22.bc3 c5 with compensation; Vas.Petukhov - R.Romanov,
corr.2009
3
16.h3? Nf2 17.Kf2 Qe5 18.Be3 Rad8 19.Nf5 [19.Nf3 Be3 20.Ke3 Qc5 21.
Rd4 b4; 19.Qd3 Rd4! 20.Bd4 Rd8 with initiative] b4 with initiative; I.
Ivanisevic
4
with the idea Bc7
5
19.Rac1 Bf8 20.f3 Ne5 and Black is slightly better; I.Ivanisevic
6
[FEN "r3r1k1/1b3ppp/pqp5/1pb5/P2NPBn1/
6P1/1PQ1NP1P/R2R2K1 w - - 0 20"]
20.h3 Nf6 [20...Ne5 21.a5 Qa7 22.Rac1] 21.a5 Qa7 22.e5 Nd7 [22...Nd5 23.
Rac1 Nf4 24.gf4 Bb4 25.Nc6 Bc6 26.Qc6 Ba5 27.Rd7 and White is slightly
better] 23.Rac1 unclear; I.Ivanisevic
7
24.Nc3 c4 unclear; B.Gelfand - Inarkiev, Astrakhan 2010 see 109/273
8
15...Ng4 16.h3 and White is slightly better
9
16.Kh1? Ng4 17.g3 Bg3 and Black is winning
10
18...Rae8
11
19.Ndb5!?
[FEN "r4rk1/pb3ppp/8/1Np1q3/4P1n1/
2N3P1/PPQ2PKb/R1BR4 b - - 0 19"]
19...Qh5! with the idea 20.Nd6? Bg3! 21.Kg3 Qh2 22.Kg4 f5! 23.Nf5 h5 24.
Kf3 Rf5 and Black is winning
12
20...f5?!
[FEN "r4rk1/pb4pp/8/1ppN1p1q/4P1n1/
5NP1/PPQ2PKb/R1BR4 w - - 0 21"]
a) 21.Nf4?! Khalifman - Inarkiev, Saint Petersburg - Moscow (m/1) 2011 see

113/166;
b) 21.Qc5! Nf2! [21...fe4? 22.Ne7 and White is winning; 21...Kh8 22.Nf4 and
White is superior] 22.Nf4! Qg4 [22...Ne4 23.Qf8 and White is winning] 23.
Qf2 fe4 24.Kh2 ef3 and White is slightly better
13
22.Nd5? Qg6! 23.Nh2 Nh2 24.Kh2 Re4 and Black is superior
14
23.Nf4 equal; Inarkiev
Br. Tadic
Archives.

Purchases from our

accessible:

Informant 114
by Josip Asik
Informant at
ChessCafe
by Chess Informant
Translate this page
Small ECO CD
by Chess Informant

the games from
Xiu Deshun (2492) Wen Yang (2549)

China 2012 114/203 [E86]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2 c6 8.Qd2
Nbd7 9.0-0-0 a6 10.Kb1 b5 11.c5 Qa5 12.Qc2 [12.Nd5 equal see 87/475]
Pawn Endings
by Chess Informant
[FEN "r1b2rk1/3n1pbp/p1pp1np1/qpP1p3/
3PP3/2N1BP2/PPQ1N1PP/1K1R1B1R b - - 0 12"]
12...d5! [a novelty; 12...ed4; 12...dc5] 13.ed5 b4! 14.dc6?! [14.Ne4 Nd5 15.
Bf2 (unclear) b3? 16.Qb3 Rb8 17.Be1!!] bc3 15.cd7? [15.Nc3 ed4 16.cd7 de3
17.dc8Q Rfc8 18.Na4 unclear; 15.d5 a) 15...cb2 16.cd7 Bd7 17.Nc3 Rfc8 18.
Ne4 (18.c6 Bc6 19.dc6 Rc6 20.Bd2 Rac8 and Black is slightly better) Ne4 19.
fe4 Bh6! 20.Qd2 Qd2 21.Bd2 Bd2 22.Rd2 Rc5 23.Rb2 f5 24.Be2 fe4 25.Rc1
Rac8 26.Rc5 Rc5 27.Rb7 equal; b) 15...Nc5 16.Qc3 Bf5 17.Ka1 Qa4 18.b3
Nd5 (18...Nb3 19.Qb3 Bc2 20.Qa4 Ba4 21.Rd2 e4 22.Bd4 e3 23.Rd3 unclear)
19.Qc5 (19.ba4 Nc3 20.Nc3 e4 21.Bd4 Rfd8 22.Bg7 Rd1 23.Nd1 Kg7 24.Ne3
unclear) Ne3 20.ba4 e4 21.Nd4 Nd1 (21...Rfd8 22.fe4 Be4 23.Ba6 Rd4 24.
Rd4 Bd4 25.Qd4 Nc2 26.Kb2 Nd4 27.c7) 22.Kb1 unclear] Nd5!! 16.dc8Q
Rfc8 17.Qe4? [17.de5! Ne3 18.Qc3 Qc3 19.Nc3 Nd1 20.Nd1 Be5 21.Nf2
Rc5 22.Nd3 Rd5 23.Ne5 Re5 24.Bc4 and Black is superior] Rab8 18.Bc1
Rb2! [18...ed4 19.Qd5 Rc5 20.Nc3 dc3 21.Bc4 Rd5 22.Rd5 Qc7 23.Bb3 a5
and Black is winning] 19.Bb2 Rb8 20.Ka1 Rb2 21.Nc3 [21.Qd5 c2 22.Rc1
Qb4 (and Black is winning) 23.Qa8 Bf8] Qc3 [21...Nc3 22.Qa8 Bf8 23.Kb2
Nd1 24.Kc2 Ne3 25.Kd3 ed4 26.Qe4 Bc5 and Black is winning] 22.Qd3 ed4
[22...Qb4 (and Black is winning) 23.Qc4 (23.Rc1 e4) Nc3! 24.Bd3 Qa3] 23.
Qc3 dc3 24.Rd5
[FEN "6k1/5pbp/p5p1/2PR4/8/2p2P2/
Pr4PP/K4B1R b - - 0 24"]
24...Rb8! [24...Rd2? 25.Kb1 Rb2! (25...Rd5? 26.c6 and Black is slightly

better) 26.Ka1 Rb8! see 24...Rb8] 25.Rd8 Rd8 26.Kb1 Rd2 27.g3 Bd4 0-1
[G.Kasparov]
E86
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2 c6 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.0-0-0
a6 10.Kb1 b5 11.c5
11
12
13
14
...
de52
15
16
17
18
Qd6
Rd6
Qe71
de5
Qd6
Ne8
...
Qc26
Nd4
Nc6
Nb4
Qa5
ed47
Nc5
Qc7
Bb78
...
...
ed5
Ne413
Bf214
...
d5
b4
Nd5
19
Rd2
Nc1
Nb3
Rd6
Nc1
Nc73
Ne6
a5
a44
Nd45
Be29
Nbd510
Nd5
Qd2
Nd5
Qd811
Qe812
equal
equal
Rac8
unclear
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/3n1pbp/p1pp1np1/1pP1p3/
3PP3/2N1BP2/PP1QN1PP/1K1R1B1R b - - 0 11"]
11...b4 12.Na4
a) 12...d5 13.de5 Ne5 14.Nb6 Rb8 15.Ng3! [15.Nf4 g5 16.Nd3 Nd3 17.Bd3
and White is superior; S.Atalik - Kotronias, Greece 1996 see 66/508] Be6 16.
Bd4! and White is superior; A.Istratescu - Vl.Akopian, Ohrid 2001 see 82/501;
b) 12...Qa5 13.Qc2 d5 14.de5 Ne5 15.Nb6 de4! 16.Na8 Be6 17.Nc1 Ra8 and
White is slightly better; Sasikiran - P.Thipsay, Mumbai 2004 see 89/475
2
12.cd6 Qd6 13.de5 Qd2 14.Rd2 Ne5 15.Nc1 Be6 [15...a5 1/2 : 1/2 Bu
Xiangzhi - Ye Jiangchuan, Yongchuan (zt) 2003] 16.Be2 a5 equal; S.
Kasparov - An.Kovalev, Belarus (ch) 2003 see 87/(475)
3
15...a5 16.Nc1 f5 17.Be2 Ndf6 18.Nd3 Nh5 19.Re1 Nc7 20.Bd1 and White is
superior; Al.Graf - Chiong Zacarias Romero, Kolkata 1997 see 70/(538)
4
18...Nb8!? Al.Graf
5
20.Nd3 Re8 equal; Al.Graf - Kotronias, Kavala 1997 see 70/538
6
12.Nd5 Qd2 13.Ne7 Kh8 14.Rd2 dc5 15.de5 Ne5 16.Nc8 [16.Nc3?! Bb7 and
Black is slightly better; M.Socko - Ju Wenjun, Beijing (rapid) 2011] Rac8 17.
Bc5 Nc4 18.Rc2 Rfd8 19.Nc3 Nd2 20.Ka1 Nd7 21.Be7 Re8 equal; S.
Kasparov - An.Kovalev, Belarus 2003 see 87/475
7
[FEN "r1b2rk1/3n1pbp/p1pp1np1/qpP1p3/
3PP3/2N1BP2/PPQ1N1PP/1K1R1B1R b - - 0 12"]
12...dc5 13.de5 [13.dc5 Rd8 14.Nc1 and White is slightly better; S.

Glukhovtsev V.Demakov, corr.2009] Ne5 14.Bc5 Rd8 15.Nd4 and White is
slightly better; S.Dyachkov Smirin, Moscow 2009
8
15...Be6 16.Be2 and White is slightly better; R.Graf B.Abdulla, Dubai 2000
9
16.Nbd5 Nd5 17.Nd5
[FEN "r4rk1/1bq2pbp/p2p2p1/1pnN4/4P3/
4BP2/PPQ3PP/1K1R1B1R b - - 0 17"]
a) 17...Bd5 18.Rd5 Rac8 19.Be2 and White is slightly better see 16.Be2;
b) 17...Qd8! 18.h4 Bd5 19.Rd5 Na4 20.Bd4 Bd4 21.Rd4 Rc8 22.Qf2 Rc6 23.
Bd3 Qb6 24.Bc2 Rfc8 25.Rd2 Qf2 - D.Fasano - E.Borroni, corr.2009
10
17.Qd2 Rfe8 18.Bf4 Qa5 19.Ncd5
[FEN "2r1r1k1/1b3pbp/p2p1np1/qpnN4/
1N2PB2/5P2/PP1QB1PP/1K1R3R b - - 0 19"]
19...Nfe4!! 20.fe4 Ne4 21.Qe1 Bb2!! 22.Kb2 Bd5 23.Rc1 [23.Nd5 Rc2!! 24.
Kc2 Qa2 and Black is winning] Bc4 24.Bf1 d5 25.a3 Qb6 26.Bc4 bc4 27.Ka2
a5 0-1 J.Pinasco J.Fazilleau, corr. 2002
11
18...Bd5 19.Rd5 Bb2? 20.Qb2 Na4 21.Rc1! and White is superior; 19...Qe7
12
19...Bd5 20.Qd5 Na4 21.Bd4 Bd4 [21...Nb6 22.Qb7 Bd4 23.Rd4 Qg5 24.
Rhd1 unclear] 22.Qd4 Qg5 unclear;
19...Qe8 20.Nb6 Rc6 21.Nd5 Rc8 equal
13
14.dc6?! bc3
a) 15.cd7?
[FEN "r1b2rk1/3P1pbp/p4np1/q1P1p3/3P4/
2p1BP2/PPQ1N1PP/1K1R1B1R b - - 0 15"]
15...Nd5!! 16.dc8Q Rfc8 17.de5! [17.Qe4? Rab8 18.Bc1
[FEN "1rr3k1/5pbp/p5p1/q1Pnp3/3PQ3/
2p2P2/PP2N1PP/1KBR1B1R b - - 0 18"]
18...Rb2! 19.Bb2 Rb8 20.Ka1 Rb2 and Black is winning; Xiu Deshun Wen
Yang, China 2012 see 114/203] Ne3 18.Qc3 Qc3 19.Nc3 Nd1 20.Nd1 Be5 21.
Nf2 Rc5 22.Nd3 Rd5 23.Ne5 Re5 24.Bc4 and Black is slightly superior;
b) 15.Nc3 ed4 16.cd7 de3 17.dc8Q Rfc8 18.Na4 unclear;
c) 15.d5
[FEN "r1b2rk1/3n1pbp/p1P2np1/q1PPp3/8/
2p1BP2/PPQ1N1PP/1K1R1B1R b - - 0 15"]
c1) 15...cb2 16.cd7 Bd7 17.Nc3 Rfc8 18.Ne4 Ne4 19.fe4 Bh6! 20.Qd2 Qd2
21.Bd2 Bd2 22.Rd2 Rc5 23.Rb2 f5 24.Be2 fe4 25.Rc1 Rac8 26.Rc5 Rc5 27.
Rb7 equal;
c2) 15...Nc5 16.Qc3 Bf5 17.Ka1 Qa4 18.b3 Nd5 [18...Nb3 19.Qb3 Bc2 20.
Qa4 Ba4 21.Rd2 e4 22.Bd4 e3 23.Rd3 unclear] 19.Qc5 [19.ba4 Nc3 20.Nc3
e4 21.Bd4 Rfd8 22.Bg7 Rd1 23.Nd1 Kg7 24.Ne3 unclear] Ne3 20.ba4 e4 21.
Nd4 Nd1 22.Kb1 unclear; G.Kasparov
14
15...b3? 16.Qb3 Rb8 17.Be1!! G.Kasparov
Sasa Velickovic
Archives.

Purchases from our

accessible:

by Josip Asik
Informant at
ChessCafe
by Chess Informant
Translate this page
Small ECO CD
by Chess Informant

the games from
1. Ding Liren (2660) Lu Shanglei (2514)

China (ch) 2012 114/143 [D24]
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.d4 d5 4.Nc3 dc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bc4 Ne4 7.0-0 Nc3 8.bc3
Be7 9.Ne5 0-0 10.Qg4 c5 [10...Nc6 see 113/146] 11.Bh6 Bf6
Pawn Endings
by Chess Informant
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/pp3ppp/4pb1B/2p1N3/2BP2Q1/
2P5/P4PPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 12"]
12.Bd3! [a novelty; 12.Rad1] Re8 13.f4! g6 [13...cd4
[FEN "rnbqr1k1/pp3ppp/4pb1B/4N3/
3p1PQ1/2PB4/P5PP/R4RK1 w - - 0 14"]
14.Bh7!! Kh7 15.Bg7! Bg7 (15...Rg8 16.Qh5 Kg7 17.Qf7 Kh6 18.Rf3 and
White is winning) 16.Qh5 Bh6 17.Qf7 Bg7 18.Rf3 and White is winning; 13...
Nc6 14.Rf3 g6 (14...cd4 15. Bh7 Kf8 16.Qh5 and White is winning; 15.Rg3
and White is winning) 15.Bg6!! fg6 16.Ng6 e5 (16...Bd4 17.Kh1 and White is
winning) 17.f5 Kf7 18.Ne5 Ne5 19.Qh5 Ng6 20.Raf1 and White is winning]
[FEN "rnbqr1k1/pp3p1p/4pbpB/2p1N3/
3P1PQ1/2PB4/P5PP/R4RK1 w - - 0 14"]
14.Bg6!! fg6 15.Ng6 hg6 16.Qg6 Kh8 17.Bg5!! Bg5 [17...Rf8 18.Rf3 Bg5 19.
Rh3 Bh4 20.Qh5 Kg7 21.Rh4 Qh4 22.Qh4 and White is winning] 18.fg5! Re7
19.Qh6 [19.Rf3 Rh7 20.Raf1 Nd7 21.Rf7 Qg8 22.Rh7 Qh7 23.Qe6 and White
is winning] Kg8 20.g6 [20.Rf6 Rh7 21.Qg6 Rg7 22.Qh5 Rh7 23.Rg6 Kh8 24.
Rh6 and White is winning] Nd7 21.Rf3 Nf8 22.Raf1 Ng6 23.Rg3 Rg7 24.
Rg6 1-0 [T. Paunovic]
Archives.

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Encyclopedia of Chess Combinations

Fourth Edition
by Josip Asik
The White Classic
Informant at
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Translate this page
I have witnessed a number of occasions where someone inquired about the

Encyclopedia of Middlegames Combinations; published in 1980 that old
book seemed to be well remembered and highly regarded. In addition,
whenever a chess trainer visited our office, they would praise "the white
classic," because that book stood out by its white cover.

by Chess Informant
In the meantime, Chess Informant had published two more editions of the
very same book, under the name Anthology of Chess Combinations, using an
orange color, which was fashionable in 1995 and 2005. According to the
trainers, the first edition was much more suitable for daily use in their chess
classrooms because of its simplicity. Later editions covered more complicated
structures that turned out to be more difficult to understand and harder to use
as a learning tool. Thus simplicity is king.
Well, now that the third edition has been out of print for some time, we are
pleased to present the new fourth edition Encyclopedia of Chess
Combinations. A return to its roots in title, content, and cover. Inside there are
ten themes with 3,001 combinations subdivided into three difficulty levels,
from easiest to most challenging. It is a beautiful and powerful hardcover
book at 660 pages that offers years of enjoyment and training material to test
the reader's tactical ability.
ECO A-E
by Chess Informant
ECC4 is a completely revised and updated edition of one of the fundamental

books about the art of combinational chess. In comparison to the third edition
there are 292 more examples. The content represents the work of our Editorial
Board of experienced grandmasters and international masters. It is always
possible that some known combinations were missed; however, this is one of
the reasons why different editions exist and future ones will follow.
209. Mil. Perunovic Mih. Stojanovic
Srbija 2010 109/162
Annihilation of defence
Ia
Encyclopedia of Chess Problems

by Chess Informant
[FEN "r4rk1/p2bqppN/2p1p3/1p1pP1p1
/2nP1Q1b/2NB3R/PPP2P2/1K1R4 w - - 0 1"]
333. A. Grischuk E. Sutovsky

Plovdiv 2003 89/159
Blockade
III b
[FEN "3r1rk1/pp3pb1/n3p1pp/2p2P2/4P3/
2P1BNqP/PPQ3P1/R3R1K1 w - - 0 1"]
763. P. Eljanov A. Delchev

France 2010 109c/3
Clearance
Ic
[FEN "6rk/p1pn1p1p/1p1p1qrB/3PpN1R/
4P1p1/PnP5/6PP/4QRK1 w - - 0 1"]
1139. M. Miljkovic S. Grover

Vrachati 2012 115/158
Deflection
Id
[FEN "r7/p2b2k1/1p1q2pr/n4p2/3p1N2/
3B2R1/P2Q2PP/4R1K1 w - - 0 1"]
1344. V. Anand M. Carlsen

Discovered attack
Ie
[FEN "nqr3k1/3b1p2/p2p2pp/1p1Pp1N1/
1P2P3/1B5P/P2Q1PP1/5RK1 w - - 0 1"]
1440. L. Pantsulaia Ju. Polgar

Aix-les-Bains 2011 111/3
Pinning
If
P2N1P1P/2B1K1R1 b - - 0 1"]
2000. V. Anand V. Topalov

Sofia (m/4) 2010 108/134
Demolition of pawn structure
Ig
[FEN "3r1rk1/q4pp1/n1bNp2p/p7/pn2P1N1/
6P1/1P1Q1PBP/2RR2K1 w - - 0 1"]
2668. F. Vallejo Pons V. Topalov

Leon (m/3-rapid) 2012 115/70
Decoy
Ih
[FEN "2q2k2/5p1p/pQbprP2/1p2p2P/
1B2P3/P1P5/2P5/2K3R1 w - - 0 1"]
2916. A. Popovics Krisz. Szabo

Magyarorszag 2006 96c/5
Interference
Ii
[FEN "2rq2k1/p4pp1/6r1/2Pp3p/2nBn3/
P3PN1b/2Q2PPP/2R1RB1K b - - 0 1"]
2988. G. Sargissian F. Caruana

Ohrid 2009 107/22
Double attack
Ij
[FEN "r3nk2/1r2pp1p/1q4pb/2pP4/P7/
R1N1R1PP/1P2QPK1/2B5 w - - 0 1"]
Solutions
209. Mil. Perunovic Mih. Stojanovic
[FEN "r4rk1/p2bqppN/2p1p3/1p1pP1p1
/2nP1Q1b/2NB3R/PPP2P2/1K1R4 w - - 0 1"]
1.Rh4! f6 [1...gf4 2.Nf6 Qf6 3.Bh7 Kh8 4.ef6 and White is winning] 2.Ng5
fg5 3.Rh8 Kh8 4.Qh2 Kg8 5.Qh7 Kf7 6.Bg6# 1-0 [Mil. Perunovic]
333. A. Grischuk E. Sutovsky
[FEN "3r1rk1/pp3pb1/n3p1pp/2p2P2/4P3/
2P1BNqP/PPQ3P1/R3R1K1 w - - 0 1"]
1.f6! Bf6 2.e5 Bg5 [2...Bg7 3.Qe4 and White is winning, weak points Qg3,
b7] 3.Bf2 Qf4 4.Re4 Qf5 5.Qe2 [with the idea g4] 1-0 [A. Grischuk]
763. P. Eljanov A. Delchev
[FEN "6rk/p1pn1p1p/1p1p1qrB/3PpN1R/
4P1p1/PnP5/6PP/4QRK1 w - - 0 1"]
1.Bg5! [1...Qg5 2.Rg5 Rg5 3.Nh6 and White is winning; 1...Rg5 2.Rh7! Kh7
3.Qh4 Kg6 4.Qh6#] 1-0 [S. Perun]
1139. M. Miljkovic S. Grover
[FEN "r7/p2b2k1/1p1q2pr/n4p2/3p1N2/
3B2R1/P2Q2PP/4R1K1 w - - 0 1"]
1.Bb5!! Nc6 [1...Bb5 2.Ne6 Kh7 3.Qh6! Kh6 4.Rh3#; 1...Bc8 2.Nd5! Qd5 3.
Re7 Kf8 4.Rc7! and White is winning; 1...Rah8 2.Rd3! Bb5 3.Rd4 Qc6 4.Ne6
Kf7 5.Ng5 and White is winning] 2.Bc6 Qc6 [2...Bc6 3.Ne6 Kh7 4.Qh6! Kh6
5.Rh3#] 3.Qd4 Kf7 4.Rc3 Qb5 5.Rc7 [5... Rd8 6.Ne6 and White is winning]
1-0 [M. D. Miljkovic]
1344. V. Anand M. Carlsen
[FEN "nqr3k1/3b1p2/p2p2pp/1p1Pp1N1/
1P2P3/1B5P/P2Q1PP1/5RK1 w - - 0 1"]
1.Ne6! [1.Nf3 Kg7 equal] 1...Kh7! [1...g5 2.Ng5 hg5 3.Qg5 Kf8 4.f4! ef4 5.
Qf4 Be8 6.Qf6! Nb6 7.e5 and White is winning; 1...fe6!? 2.de6 Be8 a) 3.e7!?
Kg7 (3...Kh8 4.Qh6) 4.Qd5 Rc4 (4...Bd7 5.Qf7 Kh8 6.Qg6 and White is
winning) 5.Bc4 bc4 6.Qc4 Nc7 7.Rc1 Nb5 8.Qc8 Qc8 9.Rc8 Kf7 10.Ra8 Nc3
11.Ra6 Ke7 (11...Ne4 12.a4+/-) 12.f3 g5; b) 3.Qh6 3...Nb6 b1) 4.f4 Qa7 5.f5
Nc4 6.Kh1 (6.Kh2 Qe3 7.Qh4 g5 8.Qh6 Nd2) 6...Qe3 7.Qh4; b2) 4.e7 4...
Nc4 5.Qf8 Kh7 b21) 6.f4 Qa8 7.Rf3!! (7.f5 gf5 8.Rf5 Qe4 9.Rf6 Qe3 10.Kh2
e4 11.Rf4 and White is winning) 7...Qe4 (7...Qa7 8.Kh2) 8.f5 gf5 9.Rg3! and
White is winning; b22) 6.Bd1! 6...Bc6 7.Qf7 Kh6 8.f4 Rg8 9.fe5 Ne5 10.Qf8
Kh7 11.Rf4! Rf8 12.ef8Q Qf8 13.Rf8 and White is winning] 2.f4 Qa7 [2...fe6
3.de6 Be8 4.f5+/-] 3.Kh2 Be8 4.f5! [4.fe5? fe6! 5.ed6 e5] 4...gf5 5.ef5 [5.Ng5
Kg8 6.ef5 and White is winning] 5...f6 [5...fe6 6.de6 Qd4 a) 7.Qd4 ed4 8.f6
+/- Nb6 9.f7 Bf7 10.ef7 (10.Rf7 Kg6 11.Rf4 d5 12.e7 Re8 13.Bc2 Kg7 14.
Rg4 Kh8 15.Rg6 Nc4) 10...Rf8 (with the idea d5, Nc4) 11.Be6+/- Nc4 12.
Rd1 Ne5 13.Rd4 Nf7 14.Rf4! (14.Bf7? Rf7 15.Rd6 Rf4! 16.a3 a5 17.ba5
Ra4) 14...Kg7 15.Bf7 Rf7 16.Rf7 Kf7 17.Kg3 Ke6 18.Kf3 Ke5 19.g4 d5 20.
h4 d4 21.g5 hg5 22.hg5 Kf5 23.g6 Kg6 24.Ke4 and White is winning; b) 7.
Qe1 7...e4 b1) 8.f6 Qe5 9.Kh1 (9.Qg3 Qg3 10.Kg3 Nb6) 9...Bg6 10.f7 Rf8 11.
Qh4 d5!; b2) 8.Qh4! Qe5 9.Kg1 e3 10.Qe7 Qg7 11.Qg7 Kg7 12.f6 Kg8 13.
Rf3 and White is winning] 6.Re1! [6.Rf3 Bf7 7.Rg3 Rg8 8.Rg8 Bg8 9.Qc3
Nb6 (9...Qb7 10.Qg3 Qf7 11.Bd1 and White is winning) ] 6...Nc7 [6...Nb6!?
7.Re4 h5! (7...Bf7 8.Rg4 Rg8 9.Rh4 h5 10.Bd1 and White is winning; 7...Nc4
8.Nf8!) 8.Rh4 (8.Qe1 Nc4 9.Bd1 and White is winning) 8...Qb7 9.Qf2 and
White is winning] 7.Rc1! and White is winning [V. Anand]
1440. L. Pantsulaia Ju. Polgar
P2N1P1P/2B1K1R1 b - - 0 1"]
1...Rb1!! 2.Kd1 [2.Qd5 Rc1#; 2.Qd1 Ra1 3.a3 e4 and Black is winning] 2...
e4 [2...Qd7!? 3.Qa8 (3.Nb1 Be4 and Black is winning) 3...Kh7 and Black is
winning] 3.Qf4 Ra1 4.Qb8 time Kh7 5.g4 [5.Qb2 Rb1! 6.Nb1 Bc2!! 7.Ke2
(7.Kc2 Qd3#) 7...Qd3 8.Ke1 Qd1#] 5...Qd7 6.Qe5 e3 [6...Qa4 7.Nb3 cb3? 8.
Qf5 Kg8 9.Qc8 equal; 7...e3! and Black is winning] 7.fe3 [7.Qe3 Qa4 8.Nb3
Ra2 and Black is winning] 7...Qa4 8.Ke1 Rc1 9.Kf2 Rg1 0-1 [Ju. Polgar]
2000. V. Anand V. Topalov
[FEN "3r1rk1/q4pp1/n1bNp2p/p7/pn2P1N1/
6P1/1P1Q1PBP/2RR2K1 w - - 0 1"]
1.Nh6! gh6 2.Qh6 f6 3.e5 [3.Bh3 Qe7 4.Rc4 Rd6 5.Rd6 Qd6 6.Qg6 Kh8 7.e5
Qd1 8.Bf1 and White is winning; 4...Nc7 unclear] 3...Bg2 [3...fe5 4.Qe6 Kh7
(4...Kh8 5.Qe5 Kg8 6.Rd4 and White is winning) 5.Rc6 Qf2 6.Kh1 and White
is winning, with the idea Be4] 4.ef6! Rd6 [4...Qh7 5.Qg5 Kh8 6.Rc4 and
White is winning] 5.Rd6 Be4 [5...Bd5 6.Rc4! Bc4 7.Rd4 Rf6 8.Rd8 Kf7 9.
Qh7#] 6.Re6 Nd3 [6...Qh7 7.Qg5 Bg6 (7...Kh8 8.Re4 and White is winning)
8.f7 Kf7 9.Re7 Kg8 10.Rh7 and White is winning] 7.Rc2 Qh7 8.f7 Qf7 9.Re4
Qf5 10.Re7 1-0 [V. Anand]
2668. F. Vallejo Pons V. Topalov
[FEN "2q2k2/5p1p/pQbprP2/1p2p2P/
1B2P3/P1P5/2P5/2K3R1 w - - 0 1"]
1.Rg8!! [1... Kg8 2.Qg1 Kf8 3.Qg7 Ke8 4.Qg8 Kd7 5.Qf7 Kd8 6.Ba5 and
White is winning] 1-0 [Sa. Velickovic]
2916. A. Popovics Krisz. Szabo
[FEN "2rq2k1/p4pp1/6r1/2Pp3p/2nBn3/
P3PN1b/2Q2PPP/2R1RB1K b - - 0 1"]
1...Ncd2!! 2.Nd2 [2.g3 Bf5 and Black is winning; 2.Re2 Nf3 3.gf3 Bf1 4.Rf1
Qg5 and Black is winning] 2...Nf2 3.Kg1 Rg2! 4.Bg2 Qg5 [5.Kf1 Qg2 6.Ke2
Bg4 7.Nf3 Bf3 8.Kd2 Nd1 9.Kd3 Be4#] [Krisz. Szabo, L. Hazai]
2988. G. Sargissian F. Caruana
[FEN "r3nk2/1r2pp1p/1q4pb/2pP4/P7/
R1N1R1PP/1P2QPK1/2B5 w - - 0 1"]
1.Re6! and White is winning fe6 2.Bh6 Kg8 3.Rb3! [3... Qb3 4.Qe6 Kh8 5.
Qf7] 1-0 [RR]
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Informant at
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by Chess Informant
Translate this page
ECO A-E
by Chess Informant
1. Aronian (2825) McShane (2706)

Moscow 2012 115/124 [D15]
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 a6 5.Bg5 dc4 6.a4 h6 7.Bh4 b5 [7...e6 see
96/320] 8.ab5 cb5 9.Nb5 ab5 10.Ra8 Bb7 11.Ra1 g5!? [a novelty; 11...e5]
12.Bg3 e6 13.e3 Bb4 14.Ke2 Nc6 15.Ne1 [15.Ne5?! Na5 16.f3 Nb3 17.Kf2!?
(17.Rb1 Nd5 and Black is slightly better) 0-0 with initiative] Na5 16.Be5 [16.
Nc2 Be7 17.f3] 0-0 17.h4 [17.Bf6 Qf6 18.Nc2 Qe7 19.Nb4 Qb4 20.Qc2 Nb3
21.Ra7 Rb8 with the idea e5 McShane; 17.f3 Nd7 (17...Nd5!?) 18.Bg3 f5 19.
Nc2 Be7 unclear] g4 18.Nc2 Be7 19.Ke1 Nb3 [19...h5 20.f3 Nb3 with the
idea 21.Ra7 Qb6 22.Rb7 Qb7 23.Be2 Nd7 and Black is slightly better, with
the idea f5] 20.Ra2 [20.Bf6 Bf6 21.Qg4 Kh8 22.Ra3 (22.Rd1? Qa5 23.Ke2
Qa2 and Black is winning; 22.Ra7 Qb6 23.Rb7 Qb7 24.Be2 Qa6! and Black
is superior) e5 with compensation] h5 21.Be2 [better is 21.f3 Nd7 (21...
Bd6!?) 22.Bg3 f5 23.Be2 Nf6]
Informants 113-115
by Chess Informant
[FEN "3q1rk1/1b2bp2/4pn2/1p2B2p/2pP2pP/
1n2P3/RPN1BPP1/3QK2R b - - 0 21"]
21...Bd6! [21...Bg2 22.Rg1 Bh3!?] 22.f3 [22.Ra7 Be4 with the idea 23.f3 Bc2
24.Qc2 Be5 25.de5 Qb8! 26.Rf7 Kf7 27.ef6 Qg3 28.Kf1 Kf6 and Black is
superior; McShane] Nd5 23.fg4? [23.Bd6 Qd6 24.Kf2 f5] Be5 24.de5
[FEN "3q1rk1/1b3p2/4p3/1p1nP2p/2p3PP/
1n2P3/RPN1B1P1/3QK2R b - - 0 24"]
24...Qb6! 25.Bf3 [25.Kf2 Rd8 and Black is winning, with the idea Nf4] Ne3
[25...Rd8 26.Bd5 Rd5 27.Qf3 Rd2 28.Qf6 Rc2 29.Qg5 Kf8 30.Rf1 c3! and
Black is winning, with the idea 31.Qh6 Ke8 32.Qh8 Kd7 33.Rf7 Kc6 34.Qe8
Kd5] 26.Ne3 Qe3 time 27.Qe2 Qc1 28.Qd1 Qe3 29.Qe2 Qc1 30.Qd1
[FEN "5rk1/1b3p2/4p3/1p2P2p/2p3PP/
1n3B2/RP4P1/2qQK2R b - - 0 30"]
30...Bf3! 31.gf3 Qe3 32.Qe2 [32.Kf1 hg4 33.Kg2 (33.Rg1 Nd2 34.Kg2 Nf3
and Black is winning; 33.fg4 Nc1 34.Ra3 Nd3 35.Rd3 cd3 and Black is
winning) Nc1 34.Ra3 Nd3 and Black is winning] Qc1 33.Qd1 Qe3 34.Qe2
Qf4 35.Qh2? [35.Kf2 Rd8 36.Rd1 Qh2 37.Ke3 Qe5 38.Kf2 Qh2 39.Ke3 Qh4
and Black is winning] Qf3 36.Rf1 Qe4 37.Kf2 Nd2 38.Rg1 Qf3 [39.Ke1 Qe3
40.Kd1 Nb3] 0-1 [T. Paunovic]
Archives.
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With Vladimir Kramnik's participation in the London Candidates
tournament, we thought it apropos to look at some of the best of his
creative output from the Best of Chess Informant: Vladimir Kramnik
(CD). We hope you enjoy this selection of ...
Kramnik's Best Endgames
Informant at
ChessCafe
by Josip Asik
Kramnik, V (2730) Lautier, J (2645)
Beograd 65/404, 1995
Chess Informant 116
by Chess Informant
Translate this page
[FEN "8/3k4/pp2pp2/8/2K2P2/8/
P3P2P/8 w - - 0 1"]
1.f5! Kd6
Encyclopedia of Chess
Combinations
by Chess Informant
1...exf5 2.Kd5 f4 3.h4 Ke7 4.Kc6+-.

2.fxe6 Kxe6 3.Kd4 Kf5
3...f5 4.e4! f4 (4...fxe4 5.Kxe4 b5 6.Kd4 Kd6 7.h4) 5.h4 b5 6.h5 Kf6 7.e5++-.
4.Kd5 Kf4
4...b5 5.Kc5 Kf4 6.Kb6 f5 (6...Ke3 7.h4) 7.h4! Kg4 8.Kxa6 Kxh4 9.Kxb5
Kg3 10.Kc4 Kf2 11.Kd3+-.
5.Ke6 f5 6.e3+
6.h4!? b5 7.h5 Kg5 8.h6 Kxh6 9.Kxf5 a5 10.Ke5 b4 11.Kd5 a4 (11...Kg5 12.
Kc4 Kf4 13.Kb5+-) 12.Kc4 b3 13.axb3 axb3 14.Kxb3+- Kg5 15.Kc4 Kf5
(15...Kf4 16.Kd4) 16.Kd5 Kf6 17.e4 Ke7 18.Ke5+-.
6...Kg4
6...Ke4 7.h4 f4 8.exf4 Kxf4 9.Kd5+-.
Informants 113-115
by Chess Informant
[FEN "8/8/pp2K3/5p2/6k1/4P3/P6P/8 w - - 0 7"]
7.h3+! Kg5 8.h4+ Kg6 9.h5+ Kg5 10.h6 Kg6 11.h7 Kxh7 12.Kxf5 Kg7
12...b5 13.Ke5 Kg6 14.Kd5+-.
13.Ke6 1-0
Topalov, V (2711) Kramnik, V (2802)
Dortmund 82/8, 2001
[FEN "8/p7/1pn1k2p/1Np5/2P2P2/PP6/
6K1/8 b - - 0 1"]
1...h5!
1...a5 2.Kf3! h5 (2...Nd4+? 3.Nxd4+ cxd4 4.Ke4 h5 5.Kxd4 h4 6.Ke4 h3 7.
Kf3 Kf5 8.Kg3 h2 9.Kxh2 Kxf4 10.b4=) 3.Ke4 h4-/+.
2.Kg3
2.Kf3? Nd4+-+.
2...a5! 3.Nc7+ Kf5 4.Nd5 Nd4 5.Kh4
5.Nxb6 Nxb3 6.Nd5 (6.Nd7 h4+ 7.Kxh4 Kxf4; 6.Na4 h4+ 7.Kxh4 Kxf4 8.
Kh5 Ke5 9.Kg6 Kd4) 6...Nd2 7.Nb6 (7.Ne3+ Ke4 8.f5 Kxe3 9.f6 Ne4+) 7...h4
+ 8.Kxh4 Kxf4 9.Nd7 Nb3-+; 5.b4 cxb4 6.axb4 a4 7.Nc3 a3-+.
5...Nxb3 6.Kxh5 Nd2 7.Nxb6 Kxf4 8.Na4
8.Kg6 Ke5-+.
8...Ne4! 0-1
8...Ne4! 9.Kg6 Ke5 10.Kf7 Kd4 11.Ke6 Kxc4 12.Ke5 Kb3! 13.Nb6 Nd2-+;
8...Nb3!? 9.Kg6 Ke5 10.Kf7 Kd4 11.Ke6 Kxc4 (11...Nd2 12.Kd6 Nxc4+ 13.
Kc6 Ne5+ 14.Kb5 c4 15.Kxa5) 12.Ke5! Nd2 (12...Kb5 13.Nc3+) 13.Kd6 (13.
Nb6+ Kb3) 13...Ne4+ 14.Kc6 (14.Ke5 Kb3! 8...e4!) 14...Kd4 15.Kb5 (15.
Nxc5 Nxc5 16.Kb5 Nb3) 15...c4 16.Kxa5 Nc5-+.
Van Wely, L (2400) Kramnik, V (2450)
Arnhem 51e/21, 1990
[FEN "8/p7/3b4/3p1k2/3P2p1/1P2K1P1/
8/4B3 b - - 0 1"]
1...Ke6! 2.Kd3
2.Kf2 Kd7 3.Bd2 Kc6 4.Bf4 Be7 5.Be5 Kb5 6.Ke3 Kb4 7.Kf4 Kxb3 8.Kxg4
a5-+.
2...Kd7 3.Ke2 Kc6 4.Kd3 Kb5 5.Kc2 a5 6.Kd3 a4 7.bxa4+
7.Kc2 Bb4! 8.Bxb4 (8.Bf2 a3! 9.Be3 Kc6! idea Kd7-e6-f5-e4-+) 8...Kxb4 9.
bxa4 Kxa4 10.Kd3 Kb3 11.Ke3 Kc3 12.Kf4 Kxd4 13.Kxg4 Ke3-+.
7...Kxa4 8.Bf2
8.Kc2 Ka3! zugzwang 9.Bf2 (9.Kd3 Kb3) 9...Kb4 10.Kd3 Kb3-+.
8...Kb3 9.Be1 Kb2 10.Bf2
10.Kd2 Bb4+-+.
10...Kc1 11.Be3+
11.Ke2 Kc2 12.Be1 (12.Ke3 Kd1-+) 12...Bc7 13.Bf2 Ba5! 14.Be3 (14.Ke3
Bd2+ 15.Ke2 Kc3 16.Bg1 Bg5 17.Bf2 Bf6) 14...Bc3 15.Bf2 Bd2 16.Bg1 Kc3
17.Bf2 Bg5 18.Bg1 Bf6-+.
11...Kd1 12.Bf2
12.Bf4 Bb4! 13.Bd2! Be7 14.Bf4 (14.Ba5 Bd6) 14...Ke1 15.Ke3 Bb4! 16.Be5
Bd2+ 17.Kd3 Bg5-+.
[FEN "8/8/3b4/3p4/3P2p1/3K2P1/5B2/
3k4 b - - 0 12"]
12...Ba3!!
12...Bb4 13.Ke3 Bd2+ 14.Kd3 Bc1 15.Be3.
13.Ke3
13.Be3 Ke1-+.
13...Bc1+ 14.Kd3 Bd2! 15.Be3 Be1 16.Bf4 Bf2! 17.Be5 Ke1 18.Kc3 Ke2 19.
Kb4 Kf3 20.Kc5 Ke4! 0-1

Kramnik, V (2751) Timman, J (2670)
Wijk aan Zee 74/42, 1999
[FEN "6k1/R5p1/5p2/P4P1p/3p4/6P1/
4PK1P/r7 w - - 0 1"]
1.Kf3!
1.a6? Ra5; 1.h3?! Kh7 2.a6 Ra5 3.g4 hxg4 4.hxg4 Kh6 5.Ra8 Kg5.
1...Kh7
Time trouble. 1...Ra3+ 2.Ke4 Re3+ 3.Kxd4 Rxe2 4.a6 Rxh2 (4...Ra2 5.h4) 5.
Rc7 Ra2 6.a7 Kh7 7.Kc5 Kh6 8.Kb6 Kg5 9.Rxg7+ Kxf5 10.Kb7 Rb2+ (10...
Ke4 11.a8Q Rxa8 12.Kxa8 Kf3 13.Rg6 f5 14.Rg5) 11.Kc8 Ra2 12.Kb8 Rb2+
13.Rb7 Ra2 14.Rb4!+-.
2.a6 Kh6 3.h4 g6 4.fxg6
4.Ke4!?.
4...Kxg6 5.Ra8 Ra2
5...Kf5!? 6.Kf2! (6.a7 Ra2! 7.e4+ dxe3 8.Kxe3) 6...Ra2 7.Ke1 Kg4 (7...Ra1+
8.Kd2 Ra3 9.a7 Ra1 10.Kc2 Ra4 11.Kb3 Ra1 12.Kc4 Ra4+ 13.Kc5) 8.a7 Kh3
9.Kd1 Kg2 10.Kc1 (10.g4!? hxg4 11.h5 g3 12.h6 Kf2 13.h7 g2 14.Rg8) 10...
Kf2 11.Kb1 Ra4 12.Kb2 f5 13.Kb3 Ra1 14.Kc4 Ra4+ 15.Kc5+- Ke1 16.Kb6
Kxe2 17.Kb5 Rxa7 18.Rxa7 d3 19.Re7+ Kf3 20.Kc4 d2 21.Rd7 Ke2 22.Kc3
d1Q 23.Rxd1 Kxd1 24.Kd3 Ke1 25.Ke3 Kf1 26.Kf4 Kf2 27.Kxf5 Kxg3 28.
Kg5+-.
[FEN "R7/8/P4pk1/7p/3p3P/5KP1/
r3P3/8 w - - 0 6"]
6.Kf4! Kf7
Time trouble. 6...Ra4 7.Ke4 Ra2 8.Kd3+-; Better is 6...Kg7 7.a7 (7.Ke4!?) 7...
Kh7:
A) 8.Kf3 Kg7 9.g4 (9.Kf2? d3) 9...Ra3+ 10.Kf4 Ra4.
B) 8.Kf5 Kg7 9.Kf4 (9.g4 Ra5+ 10.Kf4 Ra4) 9...Kh7 10.g4! (10.Rf8 Rxa7 11.
Rxf6 Re7) 10...Ra4 (10...hxg4 11.Kxg4 Kg7 12.h5 Kh7 13.Kf5 Ra6 14.h6)
B1) 11.gxh5 d3+ 12.e4 d2 13.Rd8 Rxa7 14.Rxd2 Ra1! 15.Kf5 (15.Rf2 Ra5!?
16.Kg4 Re5) 15...Rf1+ 16.Ke6 Rf4=.
B2) 11.g5 d3+ (11...fxg5+ 12.Kxg5) 12.e4 d2 13.Rd8 fxg5+ 14.Kxg5 (14.
hxg5 Rxa7 15.Rxd2 Rf7+ 16.Ke5 Kg6=) 14...Rxa7 15.Rxd2 Kg7 (15...Ra5+
16.Rd5 Ra4 17.Rd7+; 15...Re7 16.Re2) 16.Kxh5 Re7 17.Re2 Re5+ 18.Kg4
Kf6 19.Kf4 Rh5 20.e5+ Ke6 21.Kg4 Rh8 22.h5+-.
7.a7 Kg7 8.Kf5 zugzwang 8...Ra5+ 9.Ke4 Ra4 10.Kd5 Ra1 11.Kxd4 1-0
11.Kxd4 Ra4+ 12.Kc5 Ra2 13.e4 Ra1 14.Kb6 Rb1+ 15.Kc6 Rc1+ (15...Ra1
16.Rd8 Rxa7 17.Rd7+) 16.Kd6 Rd1+ (16...Ra1 17.Rc8 Ra6+ 18.Rc6 Rxa7 19.
Rc7+ Rxc7 20.Kxc7 f5 21.e5) 17.Ke6 Ra1 18.Rd8 Ra6+ 19.Rd6 Rxa7 (19...
Ra1 20.Rd7+ Kg6 21.Kd6) 20.Rd7+ Rxd7 21.Kxd7 f5 22.e5+-.
Kramnik, V (2758) Adams, Mi (2715)
Wijk aan Zee 77/484, 2000
[FEN "4Q3/5ppk/6qp/P2P4/1p5P/6P1/
5PK1/8 w - - 0 1"]
1.d6!!
1.a6 Qxa6 2.Qe4+ g6 3.Qxb4+/-.
1...b3
1...Qxd6 2.Qe4+!:
A) 2...Qg6 3.Qb7 Qc2 (3...b3 4.Qxb3) 4.Qxb4+-.
B) 2...g6 3.Qb7+-.
C) 2...Kg8 3.Qb7+-.
D) 2...f5!? 3.Qb7! (3.Qxf5+ Qg6) 3...f4!? 4.a6 fxg3 (4...f3+ 5.Kxf3) 5.a7+-.
2.d7 Qc6+ 3.Kh2 Qf3
3...b2 4.d8Q Qxe8 5.Qxe8 b1Q 6.Qxf7+-.
[FEN "4Q3/3P1ppk/7p/P7/7P/1p3qP1/
5P1K/8 w - - 0 4"]
4.Qe1!
4.d8Q?? Qxf2+ 5.Kh3 Qf1+ 6.Kh2 (6.Kg4?? f5+ 7.Kh5 Qe2+ 8.Qxe2 g6# #)
6...Qf2+=; 4.Qe3 Qxe3 5.fxe3 b2 6.d8Q b1Q.
4...Qd3
4...Qd5 5.a6!? (5.Qb1+ f5 6.Qxb3+-).
5.a6! 1-0
5.a6 Qxd7 (5...b2 6.a7 b1Q 7.Qxb1 Qxb1 8.a8Q Qf5 9.d8Q Qxf2+ 10.Qg2) 6.
Qb1+ f5 7.Qxb3 Qa7 8.Qa2+-.
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Informant 115
by Josip Asik
Informant at
ChessCafe
Combinations
by Chess Informant
Translate this page
Informants 113-115
by Chess Informant
1. Kramnik (2801) A. Grischuk (2761)

Moscow 2012 115/199 [E97]
9.b4 Nh5 10.g3 f5 11.Ng5 Nf6 12.Bf3 c6
by Chess Informant
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/pp2n1bp/2pp1np1/3PppN1/
1PP1P3/2N2BP1/P4P1P/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 13"]
13.Bg2!? N [13.Ba3 see 113/222] h6 14.Ne6 Be6 15.de6 Ne4 16.Ne4 fe4 17.
b5! [17.Be4? d5 and Black is superior] Rf6 18.Be4 Re6 [18...d5 a) 19.cd5
Nd5 20.bc6 bc6 21.Bb2 Re6 22.Rc1 Kh7 23.Rc6 (23.h4!?) Rc6 24.Qd5 Rb6
25.Qa8 Qa8 26.Ba8 Rb2 equal; b) 19.Ba3!? Re6 20.Be7 Re7 21.cd5 and
White is slightly better] 19.Qa4 d5 20.Rd1 Kh7 [20...d4 21.bc6 (21.Ba3!?)
bc6 22.Rb1 and White is slightly better, with the idea Ba3; 20...Qc8 21.cd5
cd5 22.Rd5 Nd5 23.Bd5 Kh7 24.Be6 Qe6 25.Be3 and White is slightly better;
20...Qe8 21.cd5 Nd5 22.Rd5 cd5 23.Bd5 Rd8 24.Be6 Qe6 25.Be3 and White
is slightly better] 21.cd5 cd5 22.Qb3 Rb6
[FEN "r2q4/pp2n1bk/1r4pp/1P1pp3/4B3/
1Q4P1/P4P1P/R1BR2K1 w - - 0 23"]
23.a4! [23.Bd5 Rd6 24.Bf3 Rd1 25.Bd1 unclear] a6 [23...Qd7!? 24.Ba3 and
White is slightly better] 24.Ba3 ab5 25.Be7 Qe7 26.Rd5 b4 27.a5 Qf7 28.h4
h5 [28...Kg8 29.h5 (29.ab6 Ra1 30.Kg2 and White is winning) gh5 30.Rad1
and White is winning] 29.Qd1 1-0 [B. Abramovic]
E97
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5
Ne7 9.b4 Nh5 10.g3 f5 11.Ng5 Nf6
12
1
2
3
15
16
17
18
f3 Kg21 Ne6
de6
b5
bc6
Ba3
h62
Be6
c6
Bf3 Ba3
ed5
Be2
Ne6 de6
c64
e46
h67
Be6
f48
f39
Qc8 Qe610
...
Bg2 Ne6
de6
Ne4 b5
Be4
Qa4
...
h611 Be6 Ne412 fe4 Rf6 Re613 d5 Kh714
f4
13
cd55
14
19
20
Qa4 Rab1
unclear
Qc7 bc6 Rfd8 Qc8 Kh83

Qd2 Bd1
Re1
Rd1
with compensation
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/ppp1n1bp/3p1np1/3PppN1/
1PP1P3/2N3P1/P3BP1P/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 12"]
13.b5 fg3 14.hg3 Nh5 15.Kf2! unclear; Van Wely - S.Dyachkov, Russia 2008
see 105/(181)
2
13...Kh8 14.c5! h6 15.cd6 Qd6 16.Nb5 Qb6 17.a4! Nfd5 18.ed5 hg5 19.a5
Qf6 20.Nc7 Rb8 21.g4! unclear; Van Wely - Nunn, Wijk aan Zee 1992 see
53/633;
13...c6 14.Qb3 h6 15.Ne6 Be6 16.de6 Qc8 17.Rd1 Rd8 unclear; Van Wely Alexei Fedorov, Batumi 1999 see 77/574;
13...a5 14.ba5 Ra5 15.Qb3 Ne8 16.Bd2 Ra8 17.c5! Kh8 18.cd6 Nd6 19.Ne6
Be6 20.de6 Nc6 21.Nd5 Re8 22.Bc3 unclear; Lobron - B.Gelfand, Muenchen
1992 see 54/613;
13...Nh5 14.g4 Bf6 unclear; Van Wely - A.Zapata, Matanzas 1995 see 63/544
3
[FEN "r1qr2k1/p3n1b1/2ppPnpp/4p3/Q1P1Pp2/
B1N2PP1/P3B1KP/1R3R2 b - - 0 20"]
20...Qe6 21.Rb7 h5 22.Rd1 g5 unclear; Ch.Lutz - Beckhuis, Deutschland

1993;
20...Kh8 21.Rfd1 Qe6 22.Qa6 h5! 23.Rb7 unclear; Van Wely - Ye
Jiangchuan, Biel (izt) 1993 see 58/669
4
12...Kh8 13.Bg2 fe4!? [13...c6 see 12...c6; 13...f4 14.c5 Ne8 15.Ne6 Be6 16.
de6 c6 17.Qb3 Qc7 18.Rd1 Rd8 19.Bb2 fg3 20.hg3 Nf6 21.cd6 Rd6 22.Rd6
Qd6 23.Rd1 Qc7 24.Na4 b6 25.Qd3 and White is slightly better; Jumabayev A.Zapata, Istanbul (ol) 2012 see 116/199] 14.Nce4 and White is slightly
better; M.Milat 2300 - Kiewra 2421, USA (Internet) 2012 see 116/(199)
5
13...a6 14.Ne6 Be6 15.de6 fe4 16.Ne4 Ne4 17.Be4 d5 18.cd5 cd5 19.Bg2 e4
20.b5 Ba1 21.Qa1 Rc8 22.Qd4 Nf5 23.Qe5 Re8 24.Bh3 Qc7 25.Qd5 Qc4 26.
Qb7 Rc7 27.Qa6 Qe6 28.Qa5 1/2 : 1/2 B.Lalic - B.Bitan, New Delhi 2012 see
113/(222);
13...h6!? 14.Ne6 Be6 15.de6 fe4
[FEN "r2q1rk1/1p2n1bp/p1ppPnp1/4p3/1PP1p3/
B1N2BP1/P4P1P/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 16"]
a) 16.Be4 Ne4 17.Ne4 d5 18.Nc5 unclear; De.Antic - D.Ladopoulos, Kavala

2012;
b) 16.Ne4 Ne4 17.Be4 d5 18.cd5 cd5 19.Bg2!? [19.b5 de4 20.Qd8 Rfd8 21.
Be7 Re8 22.Bc5 Re6 23.Rfd1 a6 24.b6 Rc8 25.Be3 Re7 26.Rdc1 Rc1 27.Rc1
Kf7] e4 20.b5!? Ba1 21.Qa1 Rc8! 22.Qd4 Rc2! 23.Bb2 Rb2 24.Qb2 Qd6 A.
Giri
6
14...Ne8!? 15.Rc1 Kh8 unclear; Veingold - O.Sepp, Suomi 2011 see 113/(222)
7
15...Ne8 16.Qb3!? [16.Rc1 (Kramnik - A.Giri, Hoogeveen 2011 see 113/222)
Bf6 unclear; Ni.Ostojic] Nc7 17.c5 and White is slightly better; I.Cheparinov
- Djuraev, Istanbul (ol) 2012 see 116/(199)
8
17...d5 18.cd5 Nfd5 19.Nd5 Qd5 20.Qd5 Nd5 21.Bc4 Nb6 22.Bb3 Ba1 23.e7
Rf7 24.Ra1 Re8 25.b5 Nc8 26.Rd1 Ne7 27.Rd7 Kf8 28.Bf7 Kf7 29.Rb7 Kf6
30.Ra7 and White is winning; V.Grinev - Chircu, Chisinau 2012 see 115/(201)
9
18...fg3 19.fg3! d5 20.cd5 Ned5 21.Nd5 Qd5 22.Qd5 Nd5 23.Rad1 and White
is slightly better; Sl.Martinovic
10
20...Qc4? 21.Bb3 Qa6 22.Bb2
[FEN "r4rk1/pp2n1b1/q2pPnpp/8/1P2p3/
1BN2pP1/PB1Q1P1P/R3R1K1 b - - 0 22"]
a) 22...Rad8 23.Ne4 Ne4 24.Re4 Bb2 25.Qb2 and White is superior; Wang
Hao - E.Bacrot, Biel 2012 see 115/201;
b) 22...d5! 23.Nd5 Ned5 [23...Nfd5? 24.Bg7 and White is winning] 24.Bf6
[24.e7 Qe6!! 25.ef8Q Kf8 26.Bc4 Rc8 27.Bf1 and White is slightly better; 24.
Bd5 Nd5 25.Bg7 Qe6! 26.Qh6 Nf4!! 27.Bd4 Rf6!! and White is slightly
better] Nf6 25.e7 Kh7 26.ef8Q Rf8 and White is slightly better; Sl.Martinovic;
20...Qe6 21.Bf3 Qc4 22.Bd1 with compensation; Sl.Martinovic
11
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/pp2n1bp/2pp1np1/3PppN1/
1PP1P3/2N3P1/P4PBP/R1BQ1RK1 b - - 0 13"]
13...Kh8 14.Qb3 h6 15.Ne6 Be6 16.de6 Ne4 17.Ne4 fe4 18.Be4 Qc8 19.b5
Qe6 20.Ba3 Nf5 21.Bb2 Rac8 22.Qd3 Rfd8 23.Rad1 Ne7 24.Ba3 d5 25.cd5
cd5 26.Qb3 Qd7 27.Be7 Qe7 28.Rd5 Rd5 29.Qd5 Rc5 30.Qd3 g5 31.Rd1 and
White is superior; N.Altini - Lhotka, Praha 2012 see 115/(199)
12
15...fe4 16.b5 d5 17.Ba3 Nf5 [17...Re8 18.cd5 Ned5 19.Ne4 Ne4 20.Be4 Re6
21.Qb3 Kh7 22.Rad1 Qb6 23.Bd5 cd5 24.Rd5 Ree8 25.Rfd1 Rad8 26.h4 h5
27.Bc5 Qa5 28.Rd8 Rd8 29.Rd8 Qd8 30.Ba7 and White is winning; M.Sher A.Colmenares, Flims 2012 see 115/(200)] 18.cd5 cd5 19.e7 Ne7 20.Be7 Qe7
21.Nd5 Qc5 22.Nf6 Rf6 23.Be4 Qd4 24.Qc2! [24.Bb7 Raf8 25.Qd4 ed4 26.
Rad1 and White is superior; Ki.Georgiev - Brenjo, Crna Gora 2012 see
115/200] Raf8 [24...Bf8 25.Rad1 Qc5 26.Qb3 Kh8 27.Bb7 Rb8 28.Rd7 and
White is winning] 25.Rad1 Qb6 26.Rd7 and White is winning; Ki.Georgiev
13
18...d5 19.Ba3!? Re6 20.Be7 Re7 21.cd5 and White is slightly better; B.
Abramovic
14
20...d4 21.bc6 [21.Ba3!?] bc6 22.Rb1 and White is slightly better, with the
idea Ba3;
20...Qc8 21.cd5 cd5 22.Rd5 Nd5 23.Bd5 Kh7 24.Be6 Qe6 25.Be3 and White
is slightly better;
20...Qe8 21.cd5 Nd5 22.Rd5 cd5 23.Bd5 Rd8 24.Be6 Qe6 25.Be3 and White
is slightly better;
20...Kh7 21.cd5 cd5 22.Qb3 Rb6
[FEN "r2q4/pp2n1bk/1r4pp/1P1pp3/4B3/
1Q4P1/P4P1P/R1BR2K1 w - - 0 23"]
a) 23.Bd5 Rd6 24.Bf3 Rd1 25.Bd1 unclear;

b) 23.a4! Qd7!? [23...a6 24.Ba3 ab5 25.Be7 Qe7 26.Rd5 b4 27.a5 Qf7 28.h4
h5 29.Qd1 1-0 Kramnik - A.Grischuk, Moscow 2012 see 115/199] 24.Ba3
and White is slightly better; B.Abramovic
Sa.Velickovic
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Informant 116
by Josip Asik
Informant at
ChessCafe
Iv. Popov (2614) Amonatov (2610)

Russia 2012 116/73 [B80]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f3 b5 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9.g4 b4 10.Nce2 h6 11.0-0-0 Qc7 12.h4 d5 13.Bh3 Nb6 [13... de4?! 14.
g5 hg5 15.hg5 ef3 a) 16.Ng3? Nd5 17.g6 N7f6 18.gf7 Kf7 19. Nf1 Rh3! 20.
Rh3 e5 21.Nf3 Bh3 22.Ng5 Kg8 23.Nh3 Qa5 and Black is superior; b) 16.
gf6!? fe2 17.Qe2 Nf6 (17...gf6 18.Be6! Rh1 19.Rh1) 18.Bg5 with
compensation; c) 16.Bf4!? Ne4 17.Qe3] 14.b3 de4 15.Bf4!?
Combinations
by Chess Informant
Translate this page
Informants 113-115
by Chess Informant
[FEN "r1b1kb1r/2q2pp1/pn2pn1p/8/1p1NpBPP/
1P3P1B/P1PQN3/2KR3R b kq - 0 15"]
15...e3! [a novelty; 15...e5 16.Nc6! a) 16...Nbd5 17.Be5 Qc6 (17...e3? see

113/73) 18.fe4 Ne4 19.Qd4! and White is slightly better; b) 16...Qd7 17.Qd7
Nbd7 (17...Nfd7 18.Ne5 and White is slightly better) 18.Be5 Bb7 19.Bf6 Nf6
20.Na5 Bc8 21.Bg2 and White is slightly better] 16.Qd3 [16.Be3?! e5 a) 17.
Nf4?! Nbd5! (17...ef4? 18.Bf4 Qc3 19.Qc3 bc3 20.Rhe1 and White is
superior; 17...Be7!? 18.g5 Nfd5 19.Nd5 Nd5 20.Nf5 Bf5 21.Bf5 Rd8 22.gh6
g6) 18.Nd5 Nd5 19.Nf5 Bf5 20.gf5 Rd8 21.f6! gf6 22.Qd5! Rd5 23.Rd5 Be7
24.Kb1 unclear; 19...Be6! and Black is superior; b) 17.g5!? hg5 (17...ed4? 18.
gf6 Bh3 19.Qd4!) 18.Bc8 ed4 (18...Rc8 19.hg5 Rh1 20.Rh1 Nfd5 21.Nf5
Rd8) 19.Bd4 (19.Nd4 Rc8 20.Rhe1 Be7 21.Nf5 Nbd5 22.Bd4 0-0 23.Be5 Qc6
24.Ng7) Rc8 20.Ng3 Nbd5 21.Rhe1; 16.Qe3 Nbd5 17.Bc7 Ne3 18.Rd3 Ned5
19.Bg3] e5 17.Nc6! [17.Qe3 Bd6 18.Be5 Be5 19.f4 Ng4 20.Bg4 Bg4 21.fe5 00 22.Rhg1 h5 with counterplay] Nfd5 18.Ne5 Bb7! [18...Be7?! 19.Ng6 Nf4
20.Nef4 fg6 21.Qg6 Kf8 22. Qe4 with compensation; 18...Bc5 19.Qe4!] 19.
Ng6 [19.Nc4 Nf4 20.Qe3 Be7 21.Nd6 Kf8 22.Qf4 Bh4 with counterplay] Nf4
20.Nef4 Qc3! [20...fg6? 21.Qg6 Qf7 22.Qb6 Qf4 23. Qb7 e2 24.Kb1! Rd8
(24...ed1Q 25.Rd1 and White is winning) 25.Rde1 Rd2 26.g5 and White is
superior] 21.Qc3 bc3 22.Nh8 Ba3 23.Kb1

by Chess Informant
[FEN "r3k2N/1b3pp1/pn5p/8/5NPP/
bPp1pP1B/P1P5/1K1R3R b q - 0 23"]
23...Nc4! 24.bc4 Rb8 [24...Be4 equal] 25.Nd3 Be4 26.Ka1 Bd3 27.Rd3 -
[G. Kasparov]
B80
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be3 a6 7.f3 b5 8.Qd2
Nbd7 9.g4 h6 10.0-0-01
1
2
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
...
Nce23
h45
Nf46
Nfe6
Ne6
ed5
Qd3
Nc78
b42
Qc74
d5
e5
fe6
Qa5
Qa2
e47
Kd89
...
...
...
Bh3
b3
Bf412
Qd314
Nc615
Ne5
...
...
...
Nb610
de411
e313
e5
Nfd516
Bb717
equal
equal
1
10.Bg2 b4 11.Nce2 d5 equal; E.Holland - Vi.Gavrikov, London 1988
2
10...Ne5
[FEN "r1bqkb1r/5pp1/p2ppn1p/1p2n3/3NP1P1/
2N1BP2/PPPQ3P/2KR1B1R w kq - 0 11"]
11.f4! Neg4 12.e5! (Morozevich - R.Ponomariov, Moscow (blitz) 2009 see

107/73) de5! 13.fe5 Nd7! 14.Bg2 Ne3 15.Qe3 Rb8 16.Nc6 Qg5 17.Qg5 hg5
18.Nb8 Nb8 19.Rd3 f5 20.ef6 gf6 21.Rhd1 Be7 22.Ne4 and White is slightly
better; Morozevich;
10...Qc7 11.Bd3 Ne5 (Speelman - A.Sokolov, Belfort 1988 see 45/264) 12.
Kb1 Rb8 13.Qg2 unclear; R.Huebner
3
11.Na4 Ne5
[FEN "r1bqkb1r/5pp1/p2ppn1p/4n3/Np1NP1P1/
4BP2/PPPQ3P/2KR1B1R w kq - 0 12"]
a) 12.Qb4 Bd7 13.Nb3 Rb8 (Kramnik - V.Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 2005 see 92/
(208)) 14.Bb6 Rb6 15.Qb6 Ba4 16.Qa6 Bd7 and Black is slightly better;
Stohl;
b) 12.Nb3 Rb8 13.Ba7 Rb7 14.Qf2 Bd7 15.Bd4 unclear; E.Bacrot Dominguez Perez, Poikovsky 2005 see 93/(173);
c) 12.b3 Bd7 [12...d5 13.Bf4 Bd6 14.Be5 Be5 15.Nc6 Qc7 16.Ne5 Qe5 17.
Qb4 de4 18.Nb6 Rb8 19.Kb1 Qc7 20.Qa4 Kf8 21.Nc8 Rc8 22.Qc4! Qc4 23.
Bc4 a5 24.Ba6 Rb8 equal; V.Anand - V.Topalov, Linares 2005 see 93/175]
13. Nb2 d5 14.Bf4
[FEN "r2qkb1r/3b1pp1/p3pn1p/3pn3/1p1NPBP1/
1P3P2/PNPQ3P/2KR1B1R b kq - 0 14"]
14...Qc7! [14...Nf3 15.Nf3 Ne4 16.Qd4 f6 17. Re1! Bc5 18.Qd3 Bb5 19.Nc4
f5 20.gf5 ef5 21.Bc7 Bc4 22.bc4 Qc7 23. Qd5 Qf4 24.Kb2 Qf3 25.Qa8 Ke7
26.Qb7 Kf6 27.Qc6 Kg5 28.h4 and White is winning; Z.Almasi - Ch.Lutz,
Goeteborg 2005 see 94/(156)] 15.Nd3 Nd3 16.Bd3 Qb6 17.Ne2 equal;
Erdogdu - Roiz, Warszawa 2005 see 94/154
4
11...d5 12.ed5 Nd5 13.Nf4 N7f6 14.Bc4 Ne3 15.Qe3 Bc5 (V.Nevednichy - D.
Vasiesiu, Bucuresti 1997 see 69/(216)) 16.Qe5!? Bd4 17.Rd4 Qe7 18. g5 hg5
19.Qg5 Nh5 20.Qe5 and White is slightly better; Nisipeanu, V.Stoica;
11...Qa5 12.Kb1 Bb7 13.Nf4 e5 14.Nb3 Qc7 15.Nh5 [15.Nd5 Nd5 16.ed5
Nf6 17.Bg2 a5 18.f4 Ng4 19.Rhe1 a4 20.Nc1 Be7 21.Bg1 and White is
slightly better; Morozevich - B.Gelfand, Nice (rapid) 2008 see 104/(51)] d5
16.ed5 Nd5 17.Bd3 (Alexei Fedorov - Wang Hao, Dresden (ol) 2008 see
104/51) Ne3 18.Qe3 g6 19.Ng3 and White is slightly better; Alexei Fedorov
5
12.Kb1 d5 13.ed5 Nd5 14.Nf4 N7b6 15.Bd3 Bc5 16.Nd5 Nd5 17.Be4 Bb7 18.
Bf2 Qb6 unclear; O.Korneev - Iv.Popov, Moscow (rapid) 2012 see 116/(73)
6
13.Bf4 e5 14.Bh2 de4 15.g5 ef3 16.gf6 fe2 17.Be2 gf6 18.Bh5 Rb8 19. Ne6
Qc4 (Aroshidze - H.Banikas, Kavala 2009 see 107/(228)) 20.Qd5! Qd5 21.
Nc7 Kd8 22.Nd5 with compensation; Sa.Velickovic;
13.Bg2 Nb6 14.b3 de4 15.Bf4
[FEN "r1b1kb1r/2q2pp1/pn2pn1p/8/1p1NpBPP/
1P3P2/P1PQN1B1/2KR3R b kq - 0 15"]
15...e3! 16.Qd3 e5 17.Be5 [17.Nc6 Bf5 18.Qe3 Qc6 19.Nd4 Qc3 20.Nf5 Qa1
21.Kd2 Qc3 22.Kc1 - Vik.Balabanov - And.Ermolaev, corr. 2012 see 116/
(73)] Qe5 18.f4 Qc5 19.Ba8 Na8 20.Nc6 Bd7 21.Nb8 Nb6 22. Nd7 Nfd7 23.
Rh3 Be7 24.Re3 0-0 25.g5 unclear; Vl.Akopian - Iv.Popov, Saint Petersburg
2012 see 116/(73)
7
17...Kf7?
[FEN "r1b2b1r/3n1kp1/p3Nn1p/3Pp3/1p4PP/
3QBP2/qPP5/2KR1B1R w - - 0 18"]
18.g5! Nd5 19.Bh3! Ne3 20.Nd8 Ke7! 21.Nc6 Kf7 (Morozevich - VachierLagrave, Biel 2009 see 106/69) 22.Be6!! Ke6 23.Qg6 Nf6 24.gf6 gf6 25. Qe8
Kf5 26.Nd4! Kf4 27.Ne2 Kf5 28.Rd4!! and White is winning; VachierLagrave;
17...Bb7 18.Qg6 Ke7
[FEN "r4b1r/1b1nk1p1/p3NnQp/3Pp3/
1p4PP/4BP2/qPP5/2KR1B1R w - - 0 19"]
19.d6! Ke6 20.Bh3! Qa1! 21.Kd2 Qa5! 22.Kc1 Qa1 equal; Vachier-Lagrave
8
18.Qd4
[FEN "r1b1kb1r/3n2p1/p3Nn1p/3P4/1p1Qp1PP/
4BP2/qPP5/2KR1B1R b kq - 0 18"]
18...Bd6! 19.Bc4 b3! 20.f4 Qa1 21.Kd2 Qa5

a) 22.c3 Qa2 23.Ke2 [23.Rb1 Bb7! 24.Ke2 Rc8 25.Ng7 Kd8 26.Nf5
[FEN "2rk3r/1b1n4/p2b1n1p/3P1N2/2BQpPPP/
1pP1B3/qP2K3/1R5R b - - 0 26"]
26...Rc4! 27.Qc4 Bd5 28.Bb6 Nb6 29.Qd4 Kc7 30.Nd6 Rd8! and Black is
winning; Caspi - Sandipan, Tromso 2010 see 109/135] Qb2! 24.Rd2 Qa3 25.
Rb1 Rb8! and Black is superior;
b) 22.Kc1 bc2 23.Kc2 Ng4 24.Qe4 with compensation Ne3 25.Kb1! Nb6 26.
Qg6 Kd7 27.Qg7 Be7 28.d6 Qf5 29.Ka2 Qa5 equal
9
18...Kf7 19.Qc4 Qc4 20.Bc4 Ne5 21.Bb3 Rb8 22.g5 with compensation;
18...Kd8 19.Ne6 Ke7 [19...Ke8 equal] 20.d6 Kf7 21.Qd4 with compensation;
Sa.Velickovic
10
13...de4?! 14.g5 hg5 [14...ef3 15.Bf4! e5 16.gf6 fe2 17.Qe2 gf6 18. Rhe1 with
compensation; Alexei Fedorov] 15.hg5 ef3
[FEN "r1b1kb1r/2qn1pp1/p3pn2/6P1/1p1N4/
4Bp1B/PPPQN3/2KR3R w kq - 0 16"]
a) 16.Ng3? Nd5 17.g6 N7f6 18.gf7 Kf7 19.Nf1 Rh3! 20.Rh3 e5 21.Nf3 Bh3
22.Ng5 Kg8 23.Nh3 Qa5 and Black is superior;
b) 16.gf6!? fe2 17.Qe2 Nf6 [17...gf6 18.Be6! Rh1 19.Rh1] 18.Bg5 with
compensation;
c) 16.Bf4!? Ne4 17.Qe3 G.Kasparov
11
14...e5 15.Nf5 Bf5 16.ef5 Bc5 17.Bc5 Qc5 18.g5 Nfd7 19.f4 e4 20. Nd4 a5 21.
Kb1 Rc8 22.Qg2! and White is superior; Alexei Fedorov - Annaberdiev, Abu
Dhabi 2005 see 94/161
12
15.g5? Nfd5 16.fe4 Ne3 17.Qe3 hg5 18.hg5 g6! 19.Kb1 [19.Bg2 Rh1 20. Rh1
Bb7 and Black is superior; Alexei Fedorov - Ashwin, Dubai 2009] Bg7 20.
Rhf1 Qe5! and Black is superior; Sergey Karjakin - I.Cheparinov, Porto
Carras 2011 see 113/74
13
15...e5
[FEN "r1b1kb1r/2q2pp1/pn3n1p/4p3/1p1NpBPP/
1P3P1B/P1PQN3/2KR3R w kq - 0 16"]
16.Nc6!
a) 16...Nbd5 17.Be5 Qc6 [17...e3? 18.Qd5 Nd5 19.Bc7 Kd7 20.Ne5 1-0 S.
Haslinger - Huschenbeth, Haarlem 2011 see 113/73] 18.fe4 Ne4 19. Qd4! and
b) 16...Qd7 17.Qd7 Nbd7 [17...Nfd7 18.Ne5 and White is slightly better] 18.
Be5 Bb7 19.Bf6 Nf6 20.Na5 Bc8 21.Bg2 and White is slightly better; G.
Kasparov
14
16.Be3?! e5
[FEN "r1b1kb1r/2q2pp1/pn3n1p/4p3/1p1N2PP/
1P2BP1B/P1PQN3/2KR3R w kq - 0 17"]
a) 17.Nf4?! Nbd5! 18.Nd5 Nd5 19.Nf5 Be6! and Black is superior;

b) 17.g5!? hg5 18.Bc8 ed4 [18...Rc8 19.hg5 Rh1 20.Rh1 Nfd5 21.Nf5 Rd8]
19.Bd4 [19.Nd4 Rc8 20.Rhe1 Be7 21.Nf5 Nbd5 22.Bd4 0-0 23.Be5 Qc6 24.
Ng7] Rc8 20.Ng3 Nbd5 21.Rhe1;

16.Qe3 Nbd5 17.Bc7 Ne3 18.Rd3 Ned5 19.Bg3
15
17.Qe3 Bd6 18.Be5 Be5 19.f4 Ng4 20.Bg4 Bg4 21.fe5 0-0 22.Rhg1 h5 with
counterplay; I.Cheparinov, G.Kasparov
16
17...Nbd5 18.Ne5 Bd6 19.g5 Nf4 20.Nf4 Be5 21.gf6 e2 22.Ne2 0-0 23. fg7
Re8 24.f4 Ba1 25.Bg2 Bg4 - Potrata - Jimenez Ariza, corr. 2012 see 116/
(73)
17
18...Be7?! 19.Ng6 Nf4 20.Nef4 fg6 21.Qg6 Kf8 22.Qe4 with compensation;
18...Bc5 19.Qe4!;
18...Bb7 19.Ng6 [19.Nc4 Nf4 20.Qe3 Be7 21.Nd6 Kf8 22.Qf4 Bh4 with
counterplay] Nf4 20.Nef4
[FEN "r3kb1r/1bq2pp1/pn4Np/8/1p3NPP/
1P1QpP1B/P1P5/2KR3R b kq - 0 20"]
a) 20...fg6? 21.Qg6 Qf7 22.Qb6 Qf4 23.Qb7 e2 24.Kb1! Rd8 [24...ed1Q 25.
Rd1 and White is winning] 25.Rde1 Rd2 26.g5 and White is superior; G.
Kasparov;
b) 20...Qc3! 21.Qc3 bc3 22.Nh8 Ba3 23.Kb1 Nc4! 24.bc4 Rb8 [24... Be4
equal] 25.Nd3 Be4 26.Ka1 Bd3 27.Rd3 - Iv. Popov - Amonatov, Russia
2012 see 116/73.
T. Paunovic
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Kramnik (2795) McShane (2713)

London 2012 116/131 [D15]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.g3 dc4 6.a4 e6 7.Bg2 c5 8.0-0 cd4
9.Nd4 Nbd7 10.Nc2 Qc7
Combinations
by Chess Informant
Translate this page
[FEN "r1b1kb1r/1pqn1ppp/p3pn2/8/P1p5/
2N3P1/1PN1PPBP/R1BQ1RK1 w kq - 0 11"]
11.Bf4!? [a novelty; 11.Qd4 see 69/(345)] 11...e5 [11...Qc5 a) 12.Be3 Qh5

13.Qd4 (13.h3) 13...Bc5 14.Qc4 Ng4 equal; b) 12.Na3!] 12.Bd2 Nc5 13.Bg5
Be6 [13...Be7 14.Ne3 Be6 15.Bf6 Bf6 16.Ncd5 and White is slightly better]
14.Bf6 gf6 15.Nd5 Qd8 [15...Bd5 16.Qd5 Nb3 17.Rad1 Rb8 18.Qf3 Bg7
19.Qg4 and White is superior] 16.Nce3 Nb3 17.a5!?
Informants 113-115
by Chess Informant

by Chess Informant
[FEN "r2qkb1r/1p3p1p/p3bp2/P2Np3/2p5/
1n2N1P1/1P2PPBP/R2Q1RK1 b kq - 0 17"]
17...Rc8? [17...Na1 18.Qa4 Bd7 19.Qc4 Rc8 20.Qh4 Rc6 21.Ra1 f5 22.Qd8
Kd8 23.Nb6 e4 unclear] 18.Ra4 Nd4 [18...Na5 a) 19.Ra5 Qa5 20.Nf6 Ke7
21.Ned5 Kd8 22.Nf4 Ke7 23.N6d5 Ke8 24.Ne6 fe6 25.Nf6 (25.e3!?) 25...Kf7
26.Ne4 with compensation; b) 19.Nf6 19...Qf6 20.Ra5 e4! 21.Qa4 b5 22.Qc2
Bg7 23.Rb1 0-0 unclear] 19.Nb6 Rc7
[FEN "3qkb1r/1pr2p1p/pN2bp2/P3p3/R1pn4/
4N1P1/1P2PPBP/3Q1RK1 w k - 0 20"]
20.Rc4! Bc4 21.Nec4 and White is superior Nb5?! [21...Be7] 22.Qb1 Qd4
23.Rd1 Qc5 24.e3! Be7 25.Qf5 Kf8 [25...h5] 26.Bd5 and White is winning
Kg7 [26...Ke8 27.Qh5 Rf8 28.Qf3] 27.Qg4 Kh6
[FEN "7r/1pr1bp1p/pN3p1k/PnqBp3/2N3Q1/
4P1P1/1P3P1P/3R2K1 w - - 0 28"]
28.e4! Nd4 29.Ne3 [29.b4 Qb4 30.Rd4 ed4 31.Qf4] 29...f5 30.Qh3 Kg7
31.Rd4 ed4 32.Nf5 Kf8 33.Qh6 Ke8 34.Bf7 Kd8 35.Qg7 Rf8 36.Nd4 Rc6
37.Nc6 bc6 38.Qg4 Kc7 39.Qd7 Kb8 40.Qd2 Kc7 41.Qd7 Kb8 42.Kg2 Bd6
43.b4 Qd4 44.Qc6 Ka7 45.Kh3 Qd1 46.Nc8 Rc8 47.Qc8 Qf1 48.Kg4 h5
49.Kh5 1-0 [B. Damljanovic]

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Youth Breaks Through

Rising Stars: Sam Shankland
by Josip Asik
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Despite being perennially among the world's strongest chess nations, the
United States of America have heavily relied, for several decades now, on
foreign-bred players to represent the country in Olympiads and top-level
chess. The names of Yasser Seirawan, Lev Alburt, Roman Dzindzichashvili,
Greg Kaidanov, Alex Yermolinsky, Alex Shabalov, Alex Onischuk and, of
course, Gata Kamsky, immediately spring to mind. The advent of Hikaru
Nakamura was hailed by the public, as for the first time in many years an
American-raised player was finally displaying potential to conquer the heights
of the chess Olympus. The craze of the American public for Nakamura's rapid
rise to the top gave an undeniable boost to youth chess in the country, and
this in turn led to the appearance of other promising talents. Two of them are
already members of the U.S. Olympic team and respected grandmasters:
Robert Hess is the other one, and here we proudly present to you grandmaster
Sam Shankland!
Sam was born on the first day of October 1991 in Berkeley, California. He
was taught how to play chess by his father, and his first serious involvement
with the royal game was at the age of nine (in 2000), when he started
receiving instruction by his after-school teacher. A year later, in 2001, he
played his first official tournament. Throughout his career (which obviously is
only at the beginning) he was supported by his trainers, FM Andy Lee, GM
Vinay Bhat, GM Josh Friedel, while nowadays he works together with GM
Jon Ludvig Hammer.
Combinations
by Chess Informant
Informants 113-115
by Chess Informant

by Chess Informant
Sam Shankland
It took Sam a few years to really get off the ground, but once he did, he
started scoring some remarkable successes. In 2008 he tied for first at the U18
section of the World Youth Championship, along with GMs Ivan Saric and
Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son; this tie was achieved thanks to a win against GM
Le Quang Liem in the last round. His third place in the 2011 U.S.
Championship helped bring him into the limelight, his advance to the semifinals being secured by a win against GM Alex Onischuk. Having secured a
ticket to the 2011 FIDE World Cup, he proceeded to eliminate Peter Leko in
the first round, scoring the tournament's most notable upset.
Sam is a pretty dynamic player, with a scientific flavor to his game. He tends
to prefer sharp positions, but not completely irrational ones; basically, to
quote his own words, he likes positions where good understanding and strong
calculation are equally essential in order to play them well. He admires Gary
Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik most of all, not only because they were/are
two of the greatest players of all time, but also because they have shown that
it's not only talent that is important, but also the capacity for hard work.
Sam's road to the grandmaster title was a quite unusual one. After missing out
on his final norm several times, and seriously considering retiring from
serious chess altogether, he somewhat accidentally scored the elusive norm
and finally became a grandmaster! This gave him the motivation necessary to
take chess more seriously and become one of America's top players. With a
current rating of 2581, Sam is rising up the ladder quickly and consistently,
with steady 2630 performances for the past year. He hopes to reach by the end
of 2013, and hopefully 2700 by the end of 2015. Naturally, his ambition
doesn't stop there!
While his chess future does indeed seem bright and promising, Sam is not
exclusively focused on chess. He is a student at Brandeis University in
Massachusetts, studying Economics, and feels that his school obligations do
not really hinder his pursuit of his chess goals. On the contrary, he believes it
is important to have more to think about than just chess, to make sure he is
still keeping a good perspective of reality. Still, his main goal is to just try to
reach his maximum playing strength hoping that it will be close to 2800!
Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you Sam Shankland!
Kacheishvili, G (2612) Shankland, S (2580)
Philadelphia 114/21, 2012
Torre Attack [A48]
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bg5 Bg7 4.Nbd2 0-0 5.c3 d6
5...d5 This is a more normal continuation.
6.e4 c5 7.dxc5 dxc5 8.Bc4 Nc6 9.0-0
9.Qe2 For some reason I remember thinking this was the best move, but I
have no idea why.
9...Na5 10.Be2 Be6 11.Bf4!
[FEN "r2q1rk1/pp2ppbp/4bnp1/n1p5/4PB2/
2P2N2/PP1NBPPP/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 11"]
White makes sure to take control of the h2b8 diagonal.

11.Qc2 Qc7.
11...h6
Stopping any Ng5 ideas.

12.h3!
Preventing ...Nh5.
12.Qc2 Nh5 13.Be3 Qc7 Black has found good squares for all of his pieces.
12...Qb6 13.Qc2 Rfd8 14.Rfe1!?
White reasons that the d-file is not that important, and he wants to organize
the e4e5 advance to restrict Black's pieces an original plan that I was not
expecting.
14...Rac8 15.Bf1 Nd7 16.e5 Qc7
16...Nc6 ...Nc6 and ...Qc7 is the plan, but by playing ...Qc7 first Black does
not allow White to use the c4 square. 17.Bc4 Bxc4 18.Nxc4 Qa6 (18...Qc7
19.Qe4) 19.Qe4 My computer claims black is totally fine, but during the game
I was concerned that my pieces were getting a little passive.
17.Bd3 Nc6
[FEN "2rr2k1/ppqnppb1/2n1b1pp/2p1P3/5B2/
2PB1N1P/PPQN1PP1/R3R1K1 w - - 0 18"]
Tempting fate.
18.Bxg6!?
After a long think my opponent decided to sacrifice a piece. When I had
played ...Nc6 I thought this sacrifice could not possibly be sound, but while
he was thinking I realized that it is actually more dangerous than I gave it
credit for.
18...fxg6 19.Qxg6 Nf8 20.Qg3 (unclear) Kh7 21.Ne4 b6??
This move was consistent with my plan of playing ...Qd7-e8-g6 to aid the
defense, but I did not have time to defend c5.
21...Bd5 Was necessary 22.Nxc5 (22.Bxh6 Bxh6 23.Neg5+ Kh8 White no
longer has Re4 so here he is lost).
22.Re3??
[FEN "2rr1n2/p1q1p1bk/1pn1b2p/2p1P3/
4NB2/2P1RNQP/PP3PP1/R5K1 b - - 0 22"]
After this move black gets the key tempo he needs to organize a defense, and
he probably should be winning.
22.Bxh6! Bxh6 23.Neg5+ Kh8 24.Re4 Bg7 25.Rf4!!+- I missed this move I
had only considered lifting the rook to the h-file. (25.Nxe6 To be honest, I
think White still has a very dangerous attack here, which I underestimated
during the game ...b6 was really not calculated well! 25...Nxe6 26.Qg6 Nxe5
27.Rh4+ Kg8 28.Qxe6+ Nf7 29.Ng5 Rf8 30.Rg4)
22...Qd7!
A very important defensive move. Black can either swing the queen around to
g6 or play ...Ng6 now that the e6 bishop is no longer hanging.
23.Bxh6
White has to try, but his chance to strike has passed. With good defense black
holds on and retains a material advantage.
23.Qh4 Ng6.
23...Bxh6 24.Nfg5+
24.Neg5+ Kh8 25.Re4 Ng6 And now we see one of the points of ...Qd7e6 is
defended.
24...Kh8 25.Qh4 Kg7 26.Nf6!
Throwing a third piece into the fray
26.Rg3? The most obvious move fails 26...Ng6 27.Qh5 Ncxe5 And white's
attack has been beaten back (27...Rh8?? 28.Nf6) 28.f4 Bg4! 29.hxg4 Nxf4-+.
26...exf6
Only move. 26...Ng6 27.Qh5 exf6 28.exf6+ Kxf6 29.Rxe6+ Qxe6 30.Nxe6
White has a material advantage and a continuing attack; 26...Qd2 27.Rg3
Now that e6 is undefended, Ng6 is not possible.
27.exf6+ Kg6
[FEN "2rr1n2/p2q4/1pn1bPkb/2p3N1/
7Q/2P1R2P/PP3PP1/R5K1 w - - 0 28"]
Only move.
28.Rg3 Bxg5 29.Rxg5+ Kxf6
Finally, black looks to have escaped. White has run out of pieces to sacrifice,
there is no immediate checkmate, and Black can run with the king. White can
take the black queen at any moment, but then Black will still win by material
force.
29...Kf7?? 30.Rg7+ Ke8 31.Qh5+ Bf7 32.Re1+ Ne6 33.Rg8#.
30.Re1
30.Rd5+ Kf7 31.Rxd7+ Rxd7-+.
30...Kf7
30...Ng6?? In spite of the three extra pieces, Black has to be careful because
one move can throw the game away. 31.Rf5+! Kg7 (31...Kxf5 32.g4+ Kf4
33.Qh6+ Kf3 34.Re3#) 32.Qf6+ Kh6 33.Rxe6 Qxe6 (33...Qg7 34.Qh4#;
33...Rg8 34.Qg5+ Kh7 35.Qh5+ Kg7 36.Rxg6#) 34.Qxe6+-.
31.f4
31.Qh5+ Ke7 32.Rg7+ Kd6 33.Rxd7+ Rxd7-+.
31...Ke8?
I thought this was a simple win, but I missed a really weird resource that
White had, but luckily my opponent missed it as well.
31...Bf5! This was the cleanest 32.g4 Bg6 33.f5 Kg7! Pitching back one piece
to give the king a safe haven 34.fxg6 Qd6 35.Rh5 Nxg6.
32.f5 Qe7 33.fxe6 Rd6
[FEN "2r1kn2/p3q3/1pnrP3/2p3R1/
7Q/2P4P/PP4P1/4R1K1 w - - 0 34"]
34.Qh5+?
34.Qg4 Only move Somehow this bizarre move keeps white alive 34...Rxe6
35.Rf1 Only move And now we see the point the black rook on e6 cannot
move because it is pinned to c8, ...Kd8 loses a piece to Rf8+, and ...Kd7 fails
to Rg7. Somehow black is sufficiently tied up that even with two extra pieces
he has a hard time stopping a simple move like Rf8+ 35...Nd8 Fortunately,
after ...Nd8 black still retains a large advantage, but if my opponent had found
this weird computer-like resource, it would have been very disheartening,
because I would have to spend a long time fighting against a queen, when I
had already put a lot of effort into defending against his original sacrifices.
36.Rg7 (36.Rxf8+ Qxf8 37.Rg8 Rc7 38.Rxf8+ Kxf8) 36...Nf7 37.Rfxf7
Qxf7 38.Rxf7 Kxf7-/+.
34...Kd8-+
Now it really is over the black king runs to safety on the queenside, he
collects the e6-pawn, and he remains two pieces ahead.
35.Qh8 Qxg5 36.Qxf8+ Kc7 37.e7 Nxe7 38.Rxe7+ Rd7 0-1

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The Chess Informant series underwent a dramatic tranformation with the

introduction of a larger amount of English language content and now it goes
a step further. Beyond the column by thirteenth World Champion Garry
Kasparov, "Garry's Choice," which is often described as some of the best
chess writing in the world today, and along with the column by well-known
author Mihail Marin, there are many new features by notable grandmasters
and experts.
Informant 117 brings the fifth "Garry's Choice" column. In previous articles
he revealed some extraordinary games, true unknown gems, from recent
events played all over the world, including India and China. Now he is back
with a view of the main stage. Under the microscope is the encounter Svidler
Grischuk, a fighting draw from the London Candidates tournament 2013. If
you thought that everything about this great event has already been said, just
follow the annotations by the greatest chess authority of our time. Keep in
mind, this is the story about Garry Kasparov's beloved King's Indian Defense.
Also highly praised is Romanian GM Mihail Marin "Old Wine in New
Bottles" column. It is educative, with deep analysis, but above all it is
amusing to read. His new lesson, called "Spanish Knights," will enrich
everyone's understanding of the knights-driven attacking scheme in the Ruy
Lopez. He elaborates on the theme through six games starting from 1869 to
the present. Once again, Marin proves that every new idea that can emerge on
the chess battlefield is a well-forgotten one.
Combinations
by Chess Informant
Informants 113-115
by Chess Informant
New Columns
Who are the new columnists? Adrian Mikhalchishin is a well-known trainer
and author, and also the chairman of FIDE Trainer's Commission. So it should
be no surprise that in Informant 117 he contributes short "Stand Up and Fight"
lectures for players aiming to reach the highest levels. Alexander Ipatov is a
true representative of the new generation of chess grandmasters. He is the
World Junior Champion and a professional who travels from tournament to
tournament. Alex is also a brave young man who is not afraid of any
challenge, including a bungee jump that he recently conducted at the 233
meter high Macao Tower! In his inaugural column, intentionally called "Have
No Fear," the Ukrainian-born member of the Turkish national team deals with
the secrets of rook endings from his own practice.
In Volume 117, our columnists present their personal view about some of
biggest chess events from the most recent period. In the Bossa Nova style,
Brazilian star GM Rafael Leitao dissects openings from the Candidates
Tournament 2013; American IM John Bartholomew shows us Inspiring
Moments from the U.S. Championship Saint Louis 2013; and Experienced
Lithuanian GM Sarunas Sulskis puts great effort to find and explain the most
interesting examples of the European Championship Legnica 2013.
In a special CI Labs section, Serbian GM's Ivan Ivanisevic and Milos
Perunovic present comprehensive opening reports from the European
Championship. Ivanisevic was among participants, but, unlike previous
attempts, he failed to qualify to the World Cup. There is one good outcome

by Chess Informant
from this fact he had time to take a closer look at the tournament! So in the
opening review there are several ECO lines: B48, B94, C09, C45, D10, D17,
D43, D97, and E32. In the regular CI Labs column, Ukrainian GM Andrey
Sumets searchs for a new path through the Closed System of the Grnfeld
Defense, known as D94 in ECO code.
From Egypt, comes the hot story about the Reykjavik Open 2013. Medical
doctor, GM Bassem Amin, a surprise co-winner of the tournament, shares his
insights from the Island in the "My Way" column. If his Island success is not
enough to judge about his chess future, let's add that in the meantime he
become the African Champion!
And, of course, there is much more:
Problems by IGM Marjan Kovacevic
Studies by IM Yochanan Afek
Combinations by GM Branko Tadic
Endings by IM Goran Arsovic
BCM Guest column by IM Andrew Martin
Tournament cross tables
Collection of 200+ annotated games from the most recent period, by
grandmasters Shankland, Browne, Banusz, Tiviakov, Timman,
Gagunashvili, Sanikidze, Flores Rios, Petkov, Leitao, Prusikin, Haba,
Amin, Lalic, Halkias, Skembris, Baburin, Macieja, Mista, Stoica,
Damljanovic, Carlsson, Ipatov, Sumets, Sulskis, Dembo, Marin, Pikula,
etc.
This month we present one of the articles from the special CI Labs column,
dedicated to the European Individual Championship Legnica (Poland) 2013,
won by GM Alexander Moiseenko.
B48
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3
6.Be2 a6 7.Be3
a) In case of 7...Nf6 White has, apart from the usual 8.0-0, also the interesting
variation 8.a3; and 8.Qd2 next, intending 0-0-0;
b) 7...b5
[FEN "r1b1kbnr/2qp1ppp/p1n1p3/1p6/3NP3/
2N1B3/PPP1BPPP/R2QK2R w KQkq - 0 8"]
8.Nc6 Qc6
b1) 9.Bf3 Bb7 10.e5 Qc7 11.0-0 Rc8 12.Bb7 Qb7 13.Qd3
b11) 13...Ne7 14.Ne4 Nf5 15.c3 Be7 16.Rad1 Rc4 17.Nd2 [better is 17.f3]
Ra4 18.a3 0-0 equal; V.Iordachescu 2582 - V.Potkin 2666, Legnica 2013;
b12) 13...f5!?
[FEN "2r1kbnr/1q1p2pp/p3p3/1p2Pp2/8/
2NQB3/PPP2PPP/R4RK1 w k f6 0 14"]
14.ef6 Nf6 15.Bd4 Be7 16.Bf6 and now, in the game K.Dragun 2520 A.Zhigalko 2603, Legnica 2013, Black tried the somewhat risky 16...gf6
[16...Bf6 17.Ne4 Be7 18.Nd6 Bd6 19.Qd6 Rc6 20.Qd2 0-0 equal] 17.Rfe1
Rg8 18.g3 f5 unclear, eventually winning the game;
b2) 9.Qd4 An interesting move, only tried once before in practice.Black must
be very careful.9...Bb7 10.a3 Rc8 [10...Qd6!?] 11.Rd1
[FEN "2r1kbnr/1b1p1ppp/p1q1p3/1p6/3QP3/
P1N1B3/1PP1BPPP/3RK2R b Kk - 0 11"]
b21)) 11...Ne7 12.a4 [12.Bf3 Ng6] ba4 [12...b4 13.Nb5+-] 13.Na4 [13.Ra1]
e5 14.Qa7 Ra8 15.Qb6 Nc8 16.Qa5 [16.Qc6 Bc6 17.Nc3 Bb4 unclear] Qe4
17.Nc3 Qg2 18.Qe5 Be7 19.Kd2 unclear;
b22) 11...Nf6 12.e5 Nd5 13.Bf3 Ne3 14.Qe3 Qc7 15.Bb7 Qb7 16.0-0 Rc4
[16...Be7] 17.Rd3 Bc5 18.Qg3 0-0 19.Rfd1 b4 20.Rd7 Qc8 21.ab4 Bb4 with
equality, Ga.Papp 2570 - I.Ivanisevic 2655, Legnica 2013.
6...a6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.0-0-0 Bb4 9.f3 Ne7!?
[FEN "r1b1k2r/1pqpnppp/p3pn2/8/1b1NP3/
2N1BP2/PPPQ2PP/2KR1B1R w kq - 0 10"]
Thanks to Ivanchuk's recent win against Carlsen with this move, in a game
where Magnus hardly achieved anything in the opening, this move was very
popular in Legnica.
In one game Black played 9...0-0 10.g4 b5 11.g5 Nh5 12.Nde2 Ba5 [12...Ne5
13.Ng3 Bc3 14.bc3 with initiative] 13.Kb1 b4 14.Na4 d5 15.ed5 ed5 16.b3
Bf5 [16...Re8] 17.Nd4 [17.Ng3 Bg6] Nd4 18.Bd4 Rfe8 unclear; Svetushkin
2588 - I.Ivanisevic 2655, Legnica 2013.
10.Nde2
The main move, in place of Carlsen's 10.Nb3.
10...b5
Also possible is 10...d5 11.Bg5 de4 12.Bf6 gf6 13.Qd4.
11.Bf4 e5 12.Bg5 h5
To prevent Qh6 after an exchange on f6.
13.Kb1
Another game saw 13.h4 Bb7 14.Qd3 Rc8 [14...0-0-0!?] 15.Kb1 Bc3 16.Qc3
d5 17.Qc7 Rc7 18.Ng3 de4 19.Bf6 gf6 20.fe4 f5 21.ef5 Nd5 with
compensation; D.Jakovenko 2731 - A.Goganov 2552, Legnica 2013.
13...Ba5
This position occured in two games.
14.h4
14.a3 Bb7 15.Qd6 Qd6 16.Rd6 Bc7 17.Rd1 Rd8 18.Nc1 d5 19.Bd3 de4
20.Ne4 Ne4 21.Be4 Be4 22.fe4 f6 equal; I.Kovalenko 2567 - V.Papin 2565,
Samara 2011 see 112/(109).
14...Bb7 15.Qd3
[FEN "r3k2r/1bqpnpp1/p4n2/bp2p1Bp/4P2P/
2NQ1P2/PPP1N1P1/1K1R1B1R b kq - 0 15"]
15...0-0-0
15...b4 16.Bf6 gf6 17.Nd5 Nd5 18.ed5 d6 19.Ng3 Bc8 20.Nf5 Bf5 21.Qf5
Ke7 22.g4 and White is superior; M.Muzychuk 2483 - V.Minko 2268,
Legnica 2013.
16.Bf6 gf6 17.Nd5 Nd5 18.ed5 Kb8 19.Ng3 d6 20.Nf5
Play remained within the bounds of equality.M.Muzychuk 2483 D.Navara
2697, Legnica 2013.
Ivan Ivanisevic, Milos Perunovic

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The Best Game of Chess Informant 117

by Josip Asik
Informant at
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Sergey Karjakin (2786) Mamedyarov (2766)
Zug 2013 117/42 [B19]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 de4 4.Ne4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7
9.Bd3 Bd3 10.Qd3 e6 11.Bd2 Ngf6 12.0-0-0 Be7 13.Kb1 Qb6 [13...0-0 see
112/89] 14.Rhe1 0-0 15.Nf5 Bb4?! [15...ef5! see 117/(42)]
Small ECO (CD)

by Chess Informant
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Best of Anand
by Chess Informant
[FEN "r4rk1/pp1n1pp1/1qp1pn1p/5N1P/1b1P4/
3Q1N2/PPPB1PP1/1K1RR3 w - - 0 16"]
16.Nh6! [a novelty, with attack; 16.Bb4]

gh6 17.c3! Ba3 18.Bc1 Rfe8

by Chess Informant
[FEN "r3r1k1/pp1n1p2/1qp1pn1p/7P/3P4/
b1PQ1N2/PP3PP1/1KBRR3 w - - 0 19"]
19.g4! Nh7 [19...Kh8 20.g5 hg5 21.Ng5 Rf8 22.h6 with attack] 20.c4 [with the
idea c5] Bf8 21.g5 hg5 22.Ng5 Ng5 23.Bg5

[FEN "r3rbk1/pp1n1p2/1qp1p3/6BP/2PP4/
3Q4/PP3P2/1K1RR3 b - - 0 23"]
23...Kh8? [better is 23...Be7]

24.Rg1 Qc7 25.Qf3 f6 [25...f5 26.Qg2 Bg7
27.Bd8 and White is winning] 26.Bf4 Bd6 27.Qg3
[FEN "r3r2k/ppqn4/2pbpp2/7P/2PP1B2/
6Q1/PP3P2/1K1R2R1 b - - 0 27"]
27...Nc5?! [better is 27...Rg8 28.Bd6 Rg3 29.Bc7] 28.Bd6 Qh7 29.Ka1 Ne4
30.Qh4 Rg8
[FEN "r5rk/pp5q/2pBpp2/7P/2PPn2Q/
8/PP3P2/K2R2R1 w - - 0 31"]
31.f3 and White is winning Ng5 [31...Nd6 32.Qf6 Rg7 33.h6 and White is
winning] 32.Qf4 Qf5 33.Qf5 ef5 34.Be7 Nf3 35.Rgf1 Rg3 36.d5 cd5 37.cd5
Kg7 38.Rd3 Kf7 39.Bd6 Nh2 40.Bg3 1-0 [Br.Tadic]
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The Most Important Novelty of Chess Informant

117
by Josip Asik
Informant at
ChessCafe
Shomoev (2557) S. Ganguly (2626)
Moscow (rapid) 2013 117/(198) [E94]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 ed4 8.Nd4 Re8
9.f3 c6 10.Kh1 Nh5 11.g4 Nf6 12.Bf4 h5
Small ECO (CD)

by Chess Informant
Translate this page
Best of Anand
by Chess Informant
[FEN "rnbqr1k1/pp3pb1/2pp1np1/7p/2PNPBP1/
2N2P2/PP2B2P/R2Q1R1K w - - 0 13"]
13.Nf5! N [13.g5 see 111/(296)]

gf5 [13...hg4 14.Ng7 Kg7 15.fg4 and White is
superior] 14.gf5 Nbd7 15.Rg1 Kh8 [15...Ne5 16.Qe1 Kh8 17.Qh4 with attack
see 16...Ne5] 16.Qe1 [16.Bd6 with initiative] Ne5 [16...Bf8 17.Qh4 Nh7
(17...Be7 18.Qg5 Rg8 19.Qh6 Nh7 20.Qh5 and White is winning) 18.Qg3!
Ndf6 19.Rad1 and White is winning] 17.Qh4 Nh7 [17...Qe7 18.Rg2 Rg8
19.Rag1 and White is winning] 18.Qh5 Qe7 19.Rg3 Nd7 20.Rag1 Ndf6
21.Qh4 Ne4 22.Qh7 Kh7 23.Rg7 Kh8

by Chess Informant
[FEN "r1b1r2k/pp2qpR1/2pp4/5P2/2P1nB2/
2N2P2/PP2B2P/6RK w - - 0 24"]
24.fe4 and White is winning

Bf5 25.ef5 Rg8 [26.Bg5! Qe5 (26...Qf8 27.Rg8
and White is winning) 27.Rf7 Raf8 28.Bf6 and White is winning] [RR]
E94
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 ed4 8.Nd4 Re8 9.f3
c6 10.Kh1 Nh5
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
f4
Kg12
Be33
Bf2
Bh5
Nf5
Bc5
Rf5
Qf3
Qh41
Na6
Nc5
Qf4
gf5
Bf5
Qh6
dc5
Qe64
Be3
Qd2
Bf2
Nc1
Kg1
N3e2
Nf4
f5
f4
Be5
Na6
Be6
Ng37
Ne2
Bc4
d58
g4
Bf4
g5
Rg19
Qd2
Rad1 Qe310
Bg3
Nb3
Nf6
h5
Nh7
Nd7
Ne5
Qe7
Nf8
a6
Be611
...
...
Nf5
gf5
Rg1
Bd6
c514
Bc4
f4
...
...
Nh7
Nd7
b615
Qf6
Nc516
Rfd15 Nb36
Black is
slightly
better
unlcear
unclear
4
gf512 Kf813
with
initiative
1
11...Nf6 12.Bf3 Nbd7 [12...Na6 13.Be3 Nc5 14.Qc2 Nce4 15.Ne4 Ne4 16.Be4
d5 17.cd5 cd5 18.Bg6 hg6 19.Qf2 Bd7 20.f5 Qf6 21.Rad1 Re4 22.Qg3 Rae8
unclear; Van Wely - Remlinger, Philadelphia 1994] 13.Re1 a5 14.b3 Nc5
15.Ba3?! Ng4! 16.Qd2 Qh4 17.Bg4 Bg4 18.Bb2 f5 and Black is superior;
Bh.Arjun - Perez Mitjans, Montcada i Reixac 2013
2
[FEN "rnb1r1k1/pp3pbp/2pp2p1/7n/2PNPP1q/
2N5/PP2B1PP/R1BQ1R1K w - - 0 12"]
12.Bh5 Qh5 13.Nf3 [13.Qh5 gh5 14.Be3 Na6 15.Rad1 Nc5 and Black is
slightly better] Qc5 14.Qd3 Be6 15.b3 d5 and Black is slightly better;
Gaealafshwe - Du.Popovic, Istanbul (ol) 2012
3
13.Nf3 Qe7 14.Bd3 Nc5 15.Re1 Bg4 16.Bc2 f5 and Black is superior; Dahale Ramnath Bhuvanesh, India (ch) 2012
4
20.Rf1 Re7 21.Rh5?! Qc4 22.Qg3 Re6 23.Rhf5 Rf8 24.Qf3 Rg6 25.Kh1
(J.Lautier - Sl.Martinovic, Beograd 1988) Bd4 and Black is slightly better;
22...b5 and Black is superior; 21.b3 and Black is slightly better
5
14.Rad1

[FEN "rnbqr1k1/pp5p/2pp2p1/4b2n/2PNPp2/
2N2P2/PP1QBBPP/3R1R1K b - - 0 14"]
14...Ng3! 15.Bg3 [15.Kg1?! Nf1 16.Bf1 Nd7 17.Nde2 Qf6 and Black is
superior; Artem Smirnov - Matlakov, Saint Petersburg 2012] fg3 16.f4 only
move Qh4 17.Nf3 Qf4 18.Ne5 Qd2 19.Rd2 de5 20.hg3 Na6 equal
6
15.Nc2 Be6 16.Rab1 Qf6 17.Na4 Nc7 [17...c5!?] 18.Bd4 Bf7 19.Be5 de5
20.Qb4? Ng3 21.hg3 fg3 22.Qc5 Ne6 and Black is winning 23.Qe3 Nf4
24.Kg1 Qh4 25.Nc3 Qh2 26.Kf1 Qg2 27.Ke1 Rad8 28.Rd3 Qh2 0 : 1
Gandrud - E.Janev, Kobenhavn 2009
7
16...Qf6 17.Nd3 Ng3 18.Kg1 Ne2 19.Ne2 Bc4 [19...g5 20.Rac1 Rf8 21.b4 and
White is slightly better; V.Golod - Markzon, Foxwoods 2006] 20.Nef4 and
16...Nc5!?
8
20.ed5 cd5 unclear
9
14.Qd2 Na6 [14...Nd7!? 15.Rad1 Qe7 16.Rg1 Ne5 see 14.Rg1] 15.Rad1 Qe7
16.Rg1 Nf8
[FEN "r1b1rnk1/pp2qpb1/n1pp2p1/6Pp/
2PNPB2/2N2P2/PP1QB2P/3R2RK w - - 0 17"]
a) 17.Nc2 Be5 18.Be3 Bh3 19.Ne1 Nc5 20.Bf1!? Bf1 [20...Bd7] 21.Rf1 a5
22.b3 f6 [22...Nfd7 with the idea h4, Bc3, Ne4 unclear] 23.gf6 Qf6 24.Bg5
Qf7 25.Nd3 Nd3 [25...Nfe6!? 26.Ne5 de5 27.Bh4 unclear] 26.Qd3 Ne6 equal
1/2-1/2 Zontakh - Miro.Markovic, Jugoslavija 1998 see 73/(670);
b) 17.Bf1
b1) 17...Nd7? 18.Bg3 Nb6 19.b3 Nc5 20.Bg2 Be5 21.f4 Bg7

[FEN "r1b1r1k1/pp2qpb1/1npp2p1/2n3Pp/
2PNPP2/1PN3B1/P2Q2BP/3R2RK w - - 0 22"]
22.f5! Be5 23.Be5 de5 24.Nf3 gf5 [24...Bd7 25.Nh4 Rad8 26.Qe3 and White
is winning] 25.Nh4 f4 [25...fe4 26.b4! Nd3 27.Ne4 Nf4 28.Nf6 Kg7 29.Qd6!
Bg4 30.Ne8 Re8 31.Qh6 Kg8 32.Be4 and White is winning] 26.Qe2 Bg4
27.Bf3 Rad8 28.Bg4 hg4 [28...Rd1 29.Qd1 hg4 30.Qg4 with attack] 29.Qg4
Rd1 30.Qd1 Qd7 31.Qh5 Nd3 32.Nd1 and White is winning; Bareev A.Poluljahov, Russia (ch) 1998 see 73/670;
b2) 17...Nc5 Bareev;
10
17.Qe1 Nf8 18.Qf2 a6 19.Nb3 Be6 20.c5 Rad8 unclear; B.Gelfand A.Grischuk, Monaco (blindfold) 2011 see 111/(296)
11
[FEN "r3rnk1/1p2qpb1/p1ppb1p1/4n1Pp/2P1P3/
1NN1QPB1/PP2B2P/3R2RK w - - 0 20"]
20.c5 Rad8 21.cd6 Rd6 22.Qc5 Rd1 23.Rd1 Qc5 [23...Bb3 24.Qe7 Re7 25.ab3
Rd7 26.f4 Rd1 27.Nd1 Ned7 unclear] 24.Nc5 Bc4 25.f4 b6 26.N5a4 [26.Na6
Be2 27.Ne2 Nc4 28.e5 Ra8 29.Rc1 Ra6 30.Rc4 Ra2 equal] Be2 27.Ne2 Nc4
28.e5 Ne6 29.b3 Ne3 unclear; Fressinet - A.Delchev, Leon 2012
12
13...hg4 14.Ng7 Kg7 15.fg4 and White is superior
13
[FEN "rnbqr1k1/pp3pb1/2pp1n2/5P1p/2P1PB2/
2N2P2/PP2B2P/R2Q1R1K b - - 0 14"]
14...Nbd7 15.Rg1 Kh8 16.Qe1 [16.Bd6 with initiative]

a) 16...Bf8 17.Qh4 Nh7 [17...Be7 18.Qg5 Rg8 19.Qh6 Nh7 20.Qh5 and White
is winning] 18.Qg3! Ndf6 19.Rad1 and White is winning;

b) 16...Ne5 17.Qh4 Nh7 [17...Qe7 18.Rg2 Rg8 19.Rag1 and White is winning]
18.Qh5 Qe7 19.Rg3 Nd7 20.Rag1 Ndf6 21.Qh4 Ne4 22.Qh7 Kh7 23.Rg7 Kh8
24.fe4 and White is winning Shomoev - S.Ganguly, Moscow (rapid) 2013 see
117/(198);
14...d5 15.cd5 cd5
[FEN "rnbqr1k1/pp3pb1/5n2/3p1P1p/4PB2/
2N2P2/PP2B2P/R2Q1R1K w - - 0 16"]
a) 16.e5 Bf5 17.ef6 Qf6 18.Nd5 Qb2 19.Ne7 Re7 20.Qd8 (Kasimdzhanov V.Topalov, Zug 2013 see 117/199)Bf8! 21.Rg1 [21.Bc4 Nd7! 22.Qa8 Re4
23.Rg1 Kh7 unclear] Bg4 22.fg4 Nd7 23.gh5 Kh8 24.Qa8 Re2 unclear;
De.Antic
b) 16.Rg1!
b1) 16...Kh8
b11) 17.e5 Bf5 18.ef6 Qf6 19.Qd5 Bg6 unclear; Petrukhina - Chigaev, Tomsk
2013;
b12) 17.Rg7 Kg7 18.Qg1 Kh8 19.Qg5 Nh7 [19...Rg8 20.Qh6 Nh7 21.Nd5
with initiative] 20.Qh5 Nd7 21.Rg1 Rg8 [21...Ndf6 22.Qh6 Rg8 23.Be5 Rg1
24.Kg1 with the idea 24...Qg8 25.Kf1 Qg7 26.Qh4 and White is winning]
22.Rg8 Kg8 23.Qg4 Kh8 24.Nd5;
b13) 17.Nb5!? de4 18.Nd6 with the idea 18...Qe7 19.Rg7 Kg7 20.Qg1 and
White is winning;
b2) 16...de4 17.Ne4 Ne4 18.fe4 Kh7 [18...Qd1 19.Rad1 Kh8 20.f6 Bf6 21.Rd5
and White is winning] 19.Bd3 and White is winning;
14...Kh7 15.Rg1 Rg8 16.Qd2 Nbd7 (Ouerk - N.Milchev, Condom 2013)
17.Qd6! Qf8 [17...Bf8 18.Qd2 Qe7 19.Rg8 Ng8 20.Rg1 f6 21.Qe1 with
attack] 18.Qd3 with attack

14
[FEN "r1bqr2k/pp1n1pbn/2pB4/5P1p/2P1P3/
2N2P2/PP2B2P/R2Q2RK w - - 0 17"]
17.Qd2
a) 17...Ne5? 18.Rg7;
b) 17...Be5? 18.Be5 [18.Qh6 Bd4 19.Qh5 Bg1 20.Rg1 Rg8 21.Qf7 Rg1
22.Kg1 Qg8 23.Qg8 Kg8 24.Kf2 with compensation] Re5 [18...Ne5 19.Qh6
Qf6 20.Qh5 and White is winning] 19.f4 and White is superior Re8 20.Bh5
Qe7 [20...Ndf6 21.Qd8 Rd8 22.Bf7 and White is winning; 20...Nc5 21.Qe3
Qe7 22.Bf7 Qf7 23.Qc5 b6 24.Qd4 Qf6 25.Qf2 and White is winning] 21.Qg2
Qf8 22.Rad1 [22.e5! and White is superior] Ndf6 23.Bf3 Qh6 24.e5 Bf5
25.ef6 Rg8 26.Qd2 Nf6
[FEN "r5rk/pp3p2/2p2n1q/5b2/2P2P2/
2N2B2/PP1Q3P/3R2RK w - - 0 27"]
b1) 27.Qd4 Rae8 28.Rg8 Kg8 29.Rg1 Kh7 30.c5 Qh4 31.Rg3 Re7 32.Kg2 Rd7
[32...Re8] 33.Qe5 Rd2 (De.Antic - Miro.Markovic, Srbija 2013 see 117/198)
34.Ne2 and White is superior;
b2) 27.Rg5! with the idea 27...Bh7 28.Ne2, with the idea 27...Rad8 28.Qd8
Rd8 29.Rd8 Kh7 30.Rf5 Qh3 31.Be2! and White is winning;
c)) 17...b6 18.Rad1 development advantage; 18.Rg2 with initiative; De.Antic
15
17...b5 18.a4 [18.Nd5!?; 18.Nb5!? cb5 19.Qd5] b4 19.Nd5! cd5 20.Qd5 Qf6
21.Bc4 [21.Qa8] Ne5 [21...Ng5 22.Qa8 Nf3 23.Rg2 Nde5 24.Bd5 with
initiative] 22.Be5 Qe5 23.Qa8 Bf5 24.Qb7 Bc8 25.Qd5 Qd5 26.ed5 Bd4 27.c6
Bg1 28.Rg1 Rd8 29.h4 with compensation; De.Antic
16
20.Bc5 bc5 21.Qh5 Rf8 22.e5 Qf5 23.Rg5 Qh3 24.Rag1 Qh5 25.Rh5 with
initiative; De.Antic [G.Arsovic]
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Michael Adams Annotates:

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Linares, and they had been bringing the

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M. Adams 2742 - R. Ponomariov 2727

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0

19Nf6 20.Ng4 Ng4

file:///C|/Cafe/informant/informant.htm (3 of 8) [05/10/2002 8:16:16 AM]

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23...Qd3 24.Re3 and White is superior; 23...Qd7

25Re5 26.Qe5 Qg5 27.Qg5 hg5 28.Ne3 g6

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Kasparov) 46...Rg3 47.b6 Bg2 (47...Rg2 48.Rg2

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62...Rc1 63.Kd6 Rc8 64.Rg2; better is 62...Bf3

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Viswanathan Anand Annotates:

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The Prague Eurotel Trophy Knockout

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could not be ironed out quickly, which left

Prague (m/1), 2002

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29.Bd5! (with the idea Qb1) 29Bd7

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30...Be8 31.Qh8 Ke7 32.Bg2 and White is

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63.Bf5 Bc4 64.Bg6 Kf8 and White is slightly

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The Most Important Novelty

To get a feel of the range of possibilities for both sides,

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ANAND 2770 TKACHIEV 2632

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Ra41 Bg53 Bd54 Qf3 Nd4 Rd46 Bc6 b4 b5

Ba4 e5 Ra39 Qc210 Qb3 Qe3 h3 ef611 Nd2

Ra3 Re1 e5 Be3 Na7 gf317 fe418 Ra7 Ba4

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a) 17... Ne4 18. Re3!? [18. Re4 Re4 19.