[Event "Hoogovens"]

[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]

[Date "1998.01.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Anand"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.09"]

{Kramnik had an explosive start with 4/4 and Topalov and me were on a "mere"
3/
4.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 {Topalov and
Shirov have been playing this line for some two years now and have been
responsible for it's growth in popularity. They have had many interesting
encounters in this line as well. As with topical lines, the theory develops
rapidly. I beat Shirov in Groningen, but in the 3rd round in Wijk aan Zee,
Piket had shown an improvement over Shirov's play in Groningen, so the ball
was back in White's court. I was attracted to a plan that Topalov used against
Shirov used in Madrid 1997, so I decide to give it a shot.} 7. a4 Rb8 8. c3 d6

9. d4 Bb6 10. axb5 axb5 11. h3 {Topalov had a big advantage against Shirov
and
subsequently Hracek obliterated Shirov in the Bundesliga. Nevertheless, Shirov
demonstrated an improvement on these games as well (against me in the last
round of Wijk aan Zee), so matters are not clear here theoretically speaking.
Topalov deviated even earlier.} O-O 12. Re1 Re8 $5 {
Topalov prefers to leave the bishop on c8 and pressurize e4.} (12... Bb7 13.
Na3 {Topalov's point - in comparision with a normal Archangelsk, White has a
concrete target on b5.} exd4 14. cxd4 Na5 15. Bc2 b4 16. Nb1 c5 17. Bg5 h6
18.
Bh4 cxd4 $1 {The last word on this variation - Anand-Shirov Wijk aan Zee (13)
1998. However, it's time to leave theory and go back to the game!} (18... g5
$2
19. Nxg5 hxg5 20. Bxg5 b3 21. Bxb3 $1 (21. Bd3 c4 {Topalov-Shirov Madrid
1997})
21... cxd4 22. Ra3 $1 $16 {Hracek-Shirov})) 13. Na3 b4 $1 {
The next few moves all look forced.} 14. Nc4 (14. dxe5 bxa3 $1 (14... dxe5 15.
Nc4 $14) 15. exf6 axb2 16. Bxb2 (16. Bxf7+ Kxf7 17. Qd5+ Be6 18. Ng5+ Kg8
19.
f7+ (19. Nxe6 Qxf6) 19... Kh8 $3 20. Nxe6 bxa1=Q 21. Nxd8 Rexd8 $19) 16...
Qxf6
$11) 14... bxc3 15. bxc3 exd4 16. Nxb6 (16. cxd4 $2 Nxd4 $1 $17) 16... Rxb6
17.
cxd4 Nxe4 (17... Rxe4 $2 18. Bxf7+ $1 $16) 18. Bxf7+ Kxf7 19. Rxe4 Rxe4 20.
Ng5+ Kg8 21. Nxe4 {Black has simplified the position and even got bishops of
opposite colours. Nevertheless, he still has to be careful. His pieces are
misplaced - the rook on b6 and even the knight on c6 are vulnerable in some
lines. Black's king is slightly exposed, not only because he only has two
pawns in front of him, but because of vague threats of Ra8 etc.} Bf5 22. Ng5
$1
Ne7 (22... h6 $2 23. Qf3 Ne7 24. Ra8 Rb8 (24... Bc8 25. Qf7+ Kh8 26. Qxe7 $1)
25. Qb3+ $1 $18) 23. g4 $1 Bg6 (23... Bd7 24. Qf3 $1 $18 (24. Qd3 g6 $16))
24.

Ne6 Qc8 $4 {We thought that 22...Ne7 was a big mistake, but in fact it is only
24...Qc8 that proves fatal. I found 22...Qb8 at home trying to stop Ra7, but I
am unable to find anything really convincing against it.} (24... Qb8 $1 {
Maybe White is still better, but it doesn't look too serious.} 25. d5 (25. Qf3
d5) 25... Bf7 $1 {The difference is that Black has Rb1 is many lines.} (25...
c5 26. Bg5 $16) 26. Qd4 (26. Nxg7 $2 Kxg7 27. Qd4+ Kf8 28. Bh6+ (28. Qh8+
Ng8
29. Bh6+ Ke8 30. Re1+ Kd7 $17) 28... Ke8 29. Re1 Rb1 $1 $17) (26. Bg5 Ng6
27.
Nd8 (27. Be3 Rb5) (27. Qd4 Ne5) 27... Ne5) 26... Bxe6 27. dxe6 Rb1 28. Rxb1
Qxb1 29. Qf4 h6 (29... Qg6 30. Qa4 $14) 30. Qf7+ Kh7 31. Qxe7 Qxc1+ 32.
Kg2 {
This might just be a draw.}) 25. d5 $1 {I don't see any defence anymore.} Bf7 (
25... c5 26. Ra7 $1 {Topalov} Rb7 27. Rxb7 Qxb7 28. Qf3 $1 Qc8 (28... Bf7 29.
Qxf7+ $1 $18) 29. Qc3 $18) 26. Nxg7 $1 Kxg7 {Both alternatives would have
prolonged the game, but Black's king is much too weak now to really save the
game.} (26... Bxd5 27. Nh5 $16) (26... Nxd5 27. Nf5 $16) 27. Qd4+ Kf8 (27...
Kg8 28. Bh6 $18) (27... Kg6 {The most tricky line.} 28. Qe4+ Kf6 (28... Nf5 29.
Ra3 $1 $18) 29. Bh6 $1 {My intention during the game.} (29. g5+ Kg7 30.
Qxe7
Qf5 31. Ra8 $1 Kg6 {I thought during the game, but later Fritz found a way}
32.
Qf8 $1 Qxh3 33. Ra3 {Still, this isn't the easiest line around.}) 29... Nf5 (
29... Bxd5 30. Qxh7 Nf5 31. Re1 Nxh6 32. Qxh6+ Kf7 33. Qh5+ $18) (29... Bg6
30.
Qd4+ Kf7 31. Qg7+ Ke8 32. Bg5 Qd8 33. Ra8 $18) 30. gxf5 Qxf5 (30... Qg8+
31.
Kh2 Bxd5 32. Qh4+ Kxf5 33. Qh5+ Kf6 34. Rg1 $18) 31. Qh4+ Kg6 (31... Ke5
32.
Rd1 $1 Bxd5 33. Qe7+ $18) 32. Kh2 $18) 28. Bh6+ Ke8 29. Re1 {
Kramnik lost to Shirov and now I joined him in the lead with 4/5.} (29. Re1 Kd7
30. Rxe7+ $1 Kxe7 31. Qe4+ Be6 $8 (31... Kf6 32. g5#) (31... Kd7 32. Qf5+
$18)

32. Qxh7+ Bf7 (32... Ke8 33. Qh8+ Ke7 34. Bg5+ Kf7 35. Qh7+ Kf8 36. Qe7+
Kg8
37. Bh6 Qd7 38. Qf8+ Kh7 39. dxe6 $18) 33. Qe4+ Be6 34. Bg5+ Kf8 35. dxe6
$18)
1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A32"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Ribli"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.09"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 {Der hollndische Gromeister umgeht - wie schon in

Groningen
1997 - das Wolgagambit, zu dem es nach 2.c4 und c5 3.d5 b5 kommen
knnte.Ribli.
} e6 3. c4 c5 {In Groningen - ein paar Wochen zuvor - spielte Topalov 3...d5 4.
Nc3 dxc4, die Wiener Variante.} 4. g3 {Piket vermeidet die nach 4.d5 exd5 5.

cxd5 d6 entstehende Benoni-Verteidigung, die Schwarz lebendiges taktisches

Spiel bietet.} cxd4 5. Nxd4 Qb6 (5... Bb4+) (5... Nc6) (5... d5) 6. Bg2 Bc5 (
6... Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. O-O d5 10. Be3 Qa6 11. cxd5 cxd5 12.
Qd4
Be7 13. a4 O-O 14. Nb5 Ne8 15. Nxa7 Bd7 {
Hsu Li Yang-Ker,A/Jakarta zt 1993/1/2-1/2 (42)}) 7. e3 Nc6 8. Nxc6 {Meiner
Mein
ung nach ist das eine etwas ambitionslose Fortsetzung, nach der Schwarz keine
Probleme hat.} (8. Nc3 Nxd4 9. exd4 Bxd4 10. O-O e5 11. Nb5 (11. Qc2 O-O
12.
Bg5 d5 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Nxd5 Qd8 15. Rad1 Be6 16. b3 Rc8 17. Qd2 Re8 {
1/2-1/2 Wells,P-Emms,J/Bad Woerishofen op 1996}) 11... O-O 12. Nxd4 exd4 13.
b3
d5 14. Bb2 {1/2-1/2 Ehlvest,J-Wedberg,T/Rilton Cup96/97 1996}) (8. Nb3 Bb4+
9.
N3d2 Ne5 (9... O-O 10. a3 Be7 11. Nc3 d5 12. O-O Rd8 13. b4 (13. cxd5 exd5
14.
Qb3 Qc5 15. Qb5 Qxb5 16. Nxb5 {= Agzamov,G-Groszpeter,A/Sochi 1984})
13... a5
14. b5 Ne5 15. Qb3 Nxc4 16. Nxc4 dxc4 17. Qxc4 Bd7 18. Rb1 Rac8 19. Qb3 e5
20.
Nd5 Nxd5 21. Bxd5 Be6 22. Bxe6 Qxe6 {
1/2-1/2 Tukmakov,V-Brodsky,M/Nikolaev zt 1993}) 10. O-O Nd3 11. Ne4 Nxc1
12.
Nxf6+ gxf6 13. Qxc1 Be7 14. Nc3 Qa5 15. Rd1 Rb8 16. Ne4 b6 17. Nd6+ Bxd6
18.
Rxd6 Bb7 19. Qd1 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Qc5 21. Kg1 Qc7 22. Qd4 Ke7 23. Rd1 {
1-0 Arakelian,E-Arkhipov,S/RUS-chT 1995 (33)}) (8. O-O $5 {Nach diesem
Bauernopfer bekommt Wei Kompensation, aber -meines Erachtens- auch nicht
mehr.
} Nxd4 9. exd4 Bxd4 10. Nc3 e5 (10... O-O 11. Na4 Qd6 12. Bf4 e5 13. Be3
$44)
11. Nb5 O-O 12. Nxd4 exd4 13. b3 d5 14. Ba3 Re8 15. c5 Qa5 16. Bb2 Qxc5 17.
Bxd4 Qd6 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Qxd5 {Wei steht dank seines etwas aktiveren

Lufers nur scheinbar besser. Schwarz kann sich jedoch leicht befreien.} Qe7
20. Rac1 Rb8 21. Qc5 b6 $11) 8... dxc6 (8... bxc6 9. O-O Ba6 10. Qc2 d5 11.
Nd2
O-O 12. b3 Rac8 13. Bb2 Be7 14. Rfd1 Rfd8 15. Rac1 Nd7 {
1/2-1/2 Yee,L-Stone,R/Toronto op 1995 (35)}) 9. O-O e5 $11 {Wir haben jetzt
eine symmetrische Bauernverteilung, der Bewegungsfreiraum des Bg2 ist
durch
die Bauern auf b7 und c6 eingeschrnkt. So befindet sich Schwarz in einer
bequemen Stellung.} 10. Nc3 Qc7 11. Qc2 O-O 12. b3 Be6 13. Bb2 Rad8 14. h3
(14.
Ne4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 f6 16. Rfd1 Qa5 $11) 14... Nd7 {
Schwarz bereitet 15...f5 mit Angriffschancen am Knigsflgel vor.} 15. Rad1 f5
$15 {Schwarz verfgt ber die etwas besseren Perspektiven. Wei hat keinen
aktiven Plan, whrend Schwarz die Initiative am Knigsflgel besitzt.} 16. Rfe1
a5 17. Kh2 h5 18. Kh1 Rde8 19. a3 (19. e4 $2 f4 $17) 19... Ba7 20. Rd2 Nf6 21.
Qd1 h4 $6 {Die Hauptidee ist gut, aber Schwarz htte noch ein paar
Vorbereitungszge ausfhren sollen. Jetzt ist Wei gut darauf vorbereitet, den
Angriff zu parieren.} (21... Bc8 $5) 22. gxh4 $13 e4 23. Ne2 Nh5 (23... Bb8 24.
Nf4 $16) 24. Rg1 $8 Bb8 25. Ng3 Nf6 $6 ({#} 25... Qxg3 26. fxg3 Nxg3+ 27.
Kh2
Nf1+ 28. Kh1 Ng3+ $11) (25... Nxg3+ $2 26. fxg3 Qxg3 27. Bf1 $18) 26. f4 $1
$16
Rd8 $6 (26... exf3 27. Bxf3 $16) 27. Bf1 Rxd2 28. Qxd2 {Wei hat einen Bauern
mehr, und was noch wichtiger ist, er hat gute Angriffsmglichkeiten am
Knigsflgel. Sein Bb2 ist besonders stark.} Ba7 29. Be2 Qd7 30. Qxd7 Bxd7
31.
Nh5 {Auch durch den Damentausch hat die weie Initiative nichts von ihrer
Kraft eingebt.} Ne8 32. c5 $5 (32. Bxg7 Bxe3 33. Rg2 $18) 32... g6 $6 (32...
Bxc5 33. Bxg7 (33. Bc4+ $6 Kh7 34. Bxg7 (34. Nxg7 Nf6) 34... Nxg7 35. Rxg7+
Kh6
36. Rxd7 Kxh5 $11) (33. Nxg7 Kf7 34. Nxe8 Kxe8 35. Bg7 Bxe3 36. Bh5+ Rf7
37.
Rd1 $14) 33... Kf7 34. Bc4+ Ke7 35. Bxf8+ Kxf8 $16) 33. b4 {

Jetzt ist der schwarze Ba7 ausgeschlossen.} Kh7 34. Rd1 Be6 35. Rd8 {
Droht 36.Rxe8 nebst 37.Nf6 oder das sofortige 36.Nf6.} gxh5 36. Bxh5 axb4
37.
axb4 b6 (37... Ng7 38. Rxf8 Nxh5 39. Ra8 $18) 38. Bd4 bxc5 39. bxc5 Kg8 40.
Bxe8 {Schwarz hat zwei Bauern weniger und eine gelhmte Stellung.} Bc4 {
Und Schwarz gab zugleichg auf, denn es folgt 41.h5 mit sehr
konkretenDrohungen.
Ribli.} 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Ribli"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.09"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 {Die sogenannte Wiener Variante des

Damengambits, die dem Schwarzen gute taktische Gegenchancen bietet. Nach

meiner persnliche Meinung ist das ganze System ein wenig verdchtig, aber
bis
jetzt ist keine Widerlegung bekannt.} 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Qa5 $5 {Eine interessante Zugfolge. Normalerweise spielt Schwarz 8...Bxc3 9.
bxc3 Qa5, aber dort ist 10.Nb5 gefhrlich fr Schwarz.} 9. Bd2 {Durch andere
Zge - 9.Bxf6 oder 9.Bb5 Nbd7 10.Bxf6 - kann Wei mit Zugumstellung die
Hauptvarianten erreichen.} (9. Bxf6 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Qxc3+ 11. Ke2 Qxc4+ 12.
Kf3
Qc3+ 13. Kg4 e5+ 14. Nf5 Bxf5+ 15. exf5 gxf6 16. Kh5 Qc7 17. Kh6 Nc6 18.
Rc1
Qd7 19. Qh5 O-O-O 20. Rhd1 Qe7 21. Qf3 Rxd1 22. Qxd1 Rg8 23. g4 Rg5 {
0-1 Daly,C-Stummer,A/Budapest FS06 IM-B 1994}) (9. Bb5+ Nbd7 10. Bxf6
gxf6 11.
Rc1 a6 12. Ba4 Ke7 13. O-O Rd8 14. Nb3 Qe5 15. Bxd7 Bxd7 16. f4 Qd6 17.
Qh5
Qb6+ 18. Kh1 Bc6 19. f5 e5 {0-1 Welin,T-Rantanen,Y/FIN-SVE 1988 (33)}) (9.
Ndb5
$6 Nbd7 $5 10. Nd6+ Ke7 $15) 9... Qc5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Nb3 (11. Bxd7+
Nbxd7 $11
) 11... Qe7 $11 (11... Qb6 12. Bd3 O-O 13. O-O e5 $6 (13... Nc6 $5) 14. Be3
Qd8
15. Nd5 $16 {Dautov,R-Levin,F/USSR 1987}) 12. Bd3 (12. Qe2 O-O 13. Bxd7
Nbxd7
14. a3 Nc5 15. Nxc5 Bxc5 16. O-O {1/2-1/2 Zueger,B-Kishnev,S/Gelsenkirchen
1991
}) (12. Bxd7+ Nbxd7 $11) 12... Nc6 13. a3 Bd6 (13... Bxc3 $5 14. Bxc3 e5 {
Nach meiner Meinung ist das weie Luferpaar nicht von Bedeutung und auch
der
b3-Springer steht nicht gut.} (14... O-O 15. e5 Nd5 $11) 15. O-O O-O 16. f4
Ng4
(16... exf4 17. Rxf4 Ne5 18. Bb4 $16) 17. Qe2 exf4 18. Rxf4 Nge5 $11) 14. O-O
$5 $146 (14. Be3 a6 15. O-O O-O 16. f4 e5 17. f5 Nd4 18. Nxd4 exd4 19. Bxd4
Bc5
20. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 21. Kh1 Bc6 22. Qf3 Rfe8 23. Qg3 Rad8 {
1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Tkachiev,V/FIDE-Wch k.o. 1997}) 14... Rd8 (14... O-O 15. f4

e5 16. Nd5 (16. Nb5 exf4 (16... Bc5+) 17. Nxd6 Qxd6 18. Bxf4 Ne5 $11) 16...
Nxd5 17. exd5 Nd4 18. Re1 $14 (18. fxe5 Bxe5 (18... Qxe5 19. Bf4 Qxd5 (19...
Qf6 $2 20. Bxd6 Qxd6 21. Nxd4 $18) 20. Bxd6 Qxd6 21. Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. Qxd4
$11)
19. Bb4 Qh4 20. g3 Bxg3 21. hxg3 Qxg3+ 22. Kh1 Nxb3 23. Qxb3 Qh3+ $11))
15. f4
$14 Bc8 16. e5 Bc5+ 17. Kh1 (17. Nxc5 $2 Qxc5+ 18. Kh1 Rxd3 (18... Nd5 $2
19.
Ne4 $14) 19. exf6 gxf6 20. Ne4 Qd4 $17) 17... Rxd3 18. exf6 gxf6 19. Qe2 $44
{
Durch den schwarzen Knig in der Mitte hat Wei Spiel fr den
geopfertenBauern.
} Qd8 $8 (19... Rd8 20. Nxc5 Qxc5 21. Ne4 Qe7 (21... Qd4 22. Bc3 $18) 22. Bc3
Nd4 23. Qc4 $14) 20. Rad1 (20. Nxc5 Rxd2 $132) 20... Be7 21. Be3 Rd7 $5
(21...
Rxd1 22. Rxd1 Bd7 23. Nc5 Bxc5 24. Bxc5 $44) 22. f5 (22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. Bxc5
b6)
(22. Ne4) 22... Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Qc7 {Es ist interessant, da Wei trotz besserer
Entwicklung und der schwarzen Knigsstellung in der Mitte nichts konkretes
hat.
} 24. fxe6 (24. Nb5 Qe5 $13 (24... Qb8)) (24. Nc5 b6) 24... Bxe6 (24... fxe6 $4
25. Qh5+ Kf8 26. Bh6+ $18) 25. Nd4 (25. Nc5 Bxc5 26. Bxc5 Qe5) 25... Nxd4
26.
Bxd4 Rg8 {Schwarz hat einen Mehrbauern und das Luferpaar, aber die weie
Initiative gibt etwa gleiche Chancen.} 27. Qf2 (27. Nb5 Qc4 $5 (27... Qc6 28.
Nxa7 Qc4 (28... Qa4 29. Qb5+ Qxb5 30. Nxb5 $14) 29. Qxc4 Bxc4 $11) (27...
Qf4
28. Nxa7 Bg4 29. Qd2 $11) 28. Qxc4 Bxc4 29. Nxa7 Bd5 30. Rd2 Rg5) 27... Rg5
$15
28. Ne4 (28. Bxf6 $2 Rf5 $19) (28. Bxa7 $5 Rh5 (28... Rf5 29. Qh4 $13) 29. h3
Qc6 30. Kg1 Bxa3 31. Qxf6 Be7 $13) 28... Rf5 29. Qe3 Qc4 30. Kg1 Rd5 {
Schwarz hat wirklich aktives Figurenspiel, aber wegen seiner strukturellen
Schwchen hat Wei hat gute Ausgleichschancen.} 31. b3 Qc7 32. Rf1 f5 33.
Nf6+

$11 Bxf6 34. Bxf6 Qc5 {Die Anwesenheit der ungleichfarbigen Lufer bietet
immer gute Remischancen fr den Verteidiger. Schwarz hat nur theoretischen
Vorteil.} 35. Qxc5 Rxc5 36. Rd1 {Die letzte Drohung in der Partie.} Rd5 37.
Rxd5 Bxd5 38. b4 {Die Stellung ist natrlich remis. Ribli.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Van der Sterren, Paul"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A59"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Stohl"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.09"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. e4 Bxf1 8.

Kxf1 d6 9. g3 Bg7 10. Kg2 Nbd7 11. Nf3 O-O 12. Re1 Qa5 (12... Ng4 13. Nd2
Nge5
14. Qe2 Nb6 15. f4 Ned7 16. a4 Ra7 17. a5 Na8 18. Nc4 Nc7 19. Bd2 Qa8 20.
Qf3
Rb8 21. Ra4 Nb5 22. Nxb5 Rxb5 23. Bc3 Nb6 24. Nxb6 Rxb6 25. e5 Rb3 26.
Re2 dxe5

27. fxe5 Rd7 28. Rf4 Qxd5 29. Rxf7 $1 $16 {

Rustemov,A-Gladischev,O/St.Petersburg Petrov 1998/1-0 (34)}) 13. e5 $5 {
This move, previously considered too committing (><Pd5) became popular
after
Dautov successfully used it against Kir. Georgiev. Topalov shows, how Black
can retain typical Volga gambit counterlpay and keep the position balanced. It
seems White should look for other ways to gain an advantage.} (13. Bf4 Ng4
14.
Re2 (14. h3 Nge5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Rc1 Nc4 17. Qe2 Qb4 18. a3 Qb3 19. Nd1
Ra4
20. Qc2 Rb8 21. Qxb3 Rxb3 22. Re2 h6 23. h4 Kh7 24. Rcc2 Bf6 25. Bc1 Bd4
26.
Nc3 Ra5 27. Nd1 Ra4 $44 {
1/2,Van der Sterren,P-Van Wely,L/NLD-chT f Panfox-HSG 1997}) 14... Rfb8 15.
Rc1
Qa6 16. Rcc2 Rb4 17. h3 Nge5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Bxe5 Bxe5 20. b3 c4 21. Nb1
cxb3
22. axb3 Qb5 23. Re3 Bd4 24. Rf3 Bf6 25. Nd2 Rd4 26. Rc4 Ra2 $132 {
Kaidanov,G-Wang Zili/Jerevan olm 1996/1/2 (33)}) (13. Bg5 Rfb8 (13... h6 14.
Bd2 Ng4 15. a4 Qb4 16. Ra2 Rfb8 17. Nb5 Qc4 18. b3 Qd3 19. Qc2 Nge5 20.
Nxe5
Nxe5 21. Re3 Qxc2 22. Rxc2 c4 23. f4 Ng4 24. Rxc4 Nxe3+ 25. Bxe3 $14 {
Brezeanu,C-Horvath,A/EU-chJ U14 Herculane 1994/1-0 (44)}) 14. Re2 h6 15.
Bxf6
Bxf6 16. Rc1 Ra7 17. Qd3 Qb4 18. Rcc2 h5 19. h3 Bg7 20. b3 Nb6 21. Nb5 Ra5
22.
a4 c4 23. bxc4 Rxa4 24. Nfd4 Nxc4 25. Nc6 Ne5 $1 $11 {
Danner,G-Groetz,H/Vienna Schlechter op 1996/1/2 (77)}) (13. Bd2 Rfb8 14. Qc2
Ng4 15. a4 (15. h3 Nge5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Ne2 Qb5 18. Bc3 Qd3 19. Qxd3
Nxd3 20.
Reb1 Ra4 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. b3 Rxe4 23. Nc3 Rd4 24. Rd1 Nb4 $17 {
Acosta,T-Hoffman,A/Salta Clarin op 1995/0-1 (38)}) 15... Qb4 16. h3 Nge5 17.
Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Nb5 Qc4 19. Bc3 Qd3 20. Qd1 c4 21. Nc7 Ra7 22. Nb5 Raa8 23.
Nd4

Qxd1 24. Rexd1 Nd3 25. a5 Nc5 26. Nc6 Rb7 27. e5 Bxe5 28. Nxe5 dxe5 29.
Bxe5 f6
30. Bc3 Ra6 31. Ra3 Ne4 $132 {
Sadler,M-Hoffman,A/Buenos Aires Najdorf 1995/1/2 (42)}) (13. Qe2 $5 Qa6 14.
e5
Ng4 15. exd6 exd6 16. Bf4 Rfb8 17. Rad1 Nge5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Qxa6 Rxa6
20.
Re2 c4 21. Rd4 Rab6 22. Nd1 Ra8 23. a3 Rc8 24. Rc2 Rc5 25. Kf1 Kf8 26. h3 h6
27. Ne3 g5 28. Bxe5 Bxe5 29. Rdxc4 Bxb2 30. Rxc5 dxc5 31. Nc4 {
1-0,Witt,R-Roobol,M/NLD-chT 1995}) (13. Re2 Rfb8 14. h3 Rb4 15. Rb1 Qa6 16.
Bd2
Ne8 17. Be1 Rd4 18. Qc2 Rd3 19. Nd1 c4 20. Ne3 Qxa2 21. Rc1 Rc8 22. b3
Qxb3 23.
Qxb3 Rxb3 24. Rxc4 Rxc4 25. Nxc4 Nc5 26. Na5 Rb2 27. Rxb2 {
1/2,Schmidt,W-Staniszewski,P/POL-ch 1987}) 13... Ng4 14. exd6 exd6 15. Bf4
(15.
Re4 $146 Nge5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Bg5 Rfb8 18. Ra4 Qb6 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20.
Qe2 Qa6
21. Nb5 Rb8 22. a4 c4 $36 {
Bosboom,M-Van der Weide,K/NLD-ch sf Enschede 1998/0-1 (40)}) (15. Ne4 Qa6
16.
Qe2 Nge5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Qxa6 Rxa6 19. Re2 Nd3 20. Nc3 Rb8 21. Kf1 h5
22. Rc2
Rab6 23. a4 Ra6 24. Ke2 Nxc1+ 25. Raxc1 Bxc3 26. bxc3 Rxa4 $15 {
Gebhardt,U-Gallo,J/OLO-B 1993/0-1 (37)}) 15... Rfb8 $1 (15... Nge5 $143 16.
Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Rc1 Qa6 18. Bxe5 Bxe5 19. Rc2 (19. Re2 Rab8 20. Qa4 Qxa4 21.
Nxa4
Rb4 $2 22. Nxc5 Bxb2 23. Rb1 dxc5 24. Rbxb2 Ra4 25. Rbc2 c4 26. Re4 Rd8
27.
Rexc4 Rxc4 28. Rxc4 Rxd5 29. Rc2 h5 30. a4 $18 {
_|_R,Varga,P-Krutti,V/Cseppko op 1997/1-0 (48)}) 19... Bg7 20. Qf3 Ra7 21. b3
Rb7 22. Ne4 Qa5 23. Ree2 Qd8 24. Nd2 h5 25. Nc4 h4 26. Qf4 hxg3 27. hxg3
Rd7
28. Rcd2 Bf6 29. Rd1 Kg7 30. Rh1 Bg5 31. Qg4 Rh8 32. Rxh8 Kxh8 33. a4 $16 {

/+-,Dautov,R-Georgiev,K/Altensteig 1995/1-0 (52) This game clearly shows

White's strategy-to stabilize the << and gradually simplify the position.}) 16.
Re2 Qa6 (16... Bxc3 $143 17. bxc3 Qxc3 18. Rc1 Qf6 19. Ng5 Qf5 20. Ne4 Ngf6
21.
Nxd6 Qxd5+ 22. Qxd5 Nxd5 23. Bh6 f6 24. Rd2 N5b6 25. Be3 Ra5 26. Ne4 c4
27.
Bxb6 Nxb6 28. Nxf6+ Kg7 29. Ne4 Re8 30. Nc3 $14 {
Yakovich,Y-Solozhenkin,E/RUS-ch Elista 1996/1/2 (48)}) (16... Nge5 17. Nxe5
Nxe5 18. Rc1 c4 (18... Qa6 $142 $44 {-16...Qa6}) 19. Bxe5 Bxe5 20. Rd2 Bxc3
21.
bxc3 Rb5 22. Qf3 Re8 23. Re2 Rxe2 24. Qxe2 Rxd5 25. Qxc4 Rd2 26. a4 Qa8+
27.
Kg1 Qf3 28. Qf1 h5 29. a5 Ra2 30. Ra1 Rxa1 31. Qxa1 h4 32. a6 h3 33. Qf1
Qa8
34. Qxh3 Qxa6 35. Qf1 $14 {Gyimesi,Z-Gershon,A/Zagan-WchJ 1997/1-0 (56)})
17.
Rc1 Nge5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Bxe5 Bxe5 20. b3 $146 {This enables Black to
liquidate the << quickly and release the tension. But other moves also give
him sufficient counterplay.} (20. Rcc2 Rb4 $1 21. Qd2 $6 (21. Qc1 $10) (21. b3
Bxc3 22. Rxc3 Rd4 23. Rd2 Rxd2 24. Qxd2 Qxa2 25. Qf4 {
1/2,Karolyi,T-Vajda,L/Balatonbereny IM-A 1996}) 21... Rd4 22. Qg5 Kg7 23. Qc1
Rd3 $44 {Rogozenko,D-Vajda,L/Bucuresti 1996}) (20. Rd2 $5 Rb4 21. Qf3 $13)
(20.
Rec2 Bxc3 $5 21. bxc3 Qc4 $44) 20... Rb4 21. Rd2 (21. Ne4 Rd4 22. Qc2 Rxd5
$15)
(21. Na4 c4 $44) 21... c4 {Topalov has handled the position in a model fashion,
an accurate move order his given him good piece play, sufficient to avoid the
squeeze Black suffered in Dautov-Kir.Georgiev.} 22. Ne2 (22. bxc4 Rxc4 23.
Ne2
Ra4 (23... Kg7 $5 $44 {-22.Ne2}) (23... Rxc1 24. Qxc1 $5 $14 (24. Nxc1 Qb5
25.
Nb3 Bf6 $44)) 24. Rcc2 Qa5 $132) 22... Kg7 23. bxc4 Rxc4 24. Rxc4 Qxc4 25.
Qc2

(25. Qb3 $5 Qxb3 (25... Qe4+ 26. f3 $14) 26. axb3 Ra3 27. f4 (27. Rd3 Ra2
$132)
27... Bf6 28. Rd3 Ra2 29. Kf3 h5 $44 {
Despite the extra pawn in an endgame White can hardly make any progress.})
25... Qb4 26. Ng1 Ra3 $44 27. Nf3 Bf6 28. Rd3 {Otherwise White can't unblock
his passed pawn, but this leads to an immediate draw.} Qe4 $1 $11 29. Rc3 $8
Qxc2 30. Rxc2 Ra5 31. Rd2 Bc3 {White can't avoid repetition or losing a
pawn.}
(31... Bc3 32. Rd3 (32. Rc2 Bf6 $11) 32... Bb2 33. Nd2 (33. Rd2 Bc3 $11) 33...
Rxa2 34. Nc4 Be5 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Donev"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.09"]

1. d4 {Topalov Tsesarsky Baburin} d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4

c6
6. Qc2 g6 7. e3 (7. f3 $5) 7... Bf5 8. Qd2 {Baburin: This line remains quite
popular and it seems that Black still has problems here.} Nf6 ({
Another option here is} 8... Nd7 {Baburin} 9. f3 g5 (9... Nb6 {Topalov} 10. e4
Be6 11. e5 $16 {Karpov-Kasparov (London 1986)}) 10. Bg3 h5 {which led to
White's victory in the game Yakovich-Geller, RUS-ch Elista 1995 after} 11. e4
dxe4 12. fxe4 Bg6 13. Bd3 h4 14. Bf2 Nf8 15. O-O-O Qa5 16. Nf3 Bh5 17. d5 h3
18. Bd4 Rh6 19. Rhg1 hxg2 20. Be2 Ng6 21. Rxg2 Nf4 22. Qxf4 gxf4 23.
Rxg8+) 9.
f3 (9. Nge2 {Tsesarsky} Nbd7 10. Ng3 Be6 11. Bd3 O-O 12. O-O (12. Bh6 Re8
13.
f3 c5 14. O-O a6 15. Rad1 Qb6 16. Bb1 Rad8 17. Kh1 cxd4 18. exd4 Nf8 19. a3
Bd7
20. Ba2 Bc6 21. Rfe1 $14 {
1/2-1/2 Yanin,P-Donchenko,A/Russian Cup 8th Leg, Smolensk RUS 1997 (35)})
12...
Ne8 13. Bh6 Ng7 14. Nce2 f5 15. b4 a6 16. a4 a5 17. b5 Bb4 18. Qc2 Rc8 19.
bxc6
bxc6 20. Rfc1 $14 {1-0 Azmaiparashvili,Z-Diaz,J/Capablanca mem-A 1988
(59)})
9... h5 {Baburin: This enables Black's light- squared bishop to stay on f5,
but it comes at a price - Black's kingside is weak now. Vermeidet g2-g4} (9...
O-O {Tsesarsky} 10. g4 (10. Nge2 Nbd7 (10... c5 $6 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. Bg5
$14) (
10... Re8 11. Ng3 Be6 12. Be2 c5 13. O-O cxd4 14. exd4 Nc6 15. Kh1 Bf8 16.
Rad1
Bg7 17. Be5 h5 $132 {1-0 Sherbakov,R-Ahlander,B/Alborg 1993 (56)}) 11. Ng3
(11.
g4 Be6 12. Ng3 c5 (12... Ne8 $6 {/\ g5} 13. Bh6 Ng7 14. O-O-O $14) 13. Rd1
$6 (
13. h4 Ne8 $13) 13... cxd4 14. exd4 Ne8 $1 $15 {
1-0 Howell,J-Diaz,J/Frunze 1989 (28)}) 11... Be6 12. Be2 $14) 10... Be6 11.

Nge2 (11. Bd3 c5 12. Nge2 Nc6 13. Kf1 Nd7 14. Rc1 a6 15. Kg2 Re8 16. Qe1
Bf6
17. Qf2 cxd4 18. exd4 Qb6 19. Be3 Qxb2 20. Rb1 Qa3 21. Rxb7 Reb8 22. Rhb1
Rxb7
23. Rxb7 Rb8 24. Rxb8+ Ndxb8 $11 {
1-0 Wessman,R-O'Donnell,T/Novi Sad olm SVE-CAN 1990 (37)}) (11. h4 c5 12.
Bd3
Nc6 13. Nge2 {Howell}) 11... c5 12. h4 Nc6 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. O-O-O Rc8 15.
Kb1
Qa5 16. Bg5 Be7 17. Nd4 Ne5 18. h5 Nxf3 $1 19. Nxf3 d4 20. exd4 Ne4 21.
Bxe7 (
21. Qg2 Rxc3 22. d5 Bxd5 23. Rxd5 Qxd5 $19) 21... Nxd2+ 22. Rxd2 Rfe8 $17
{
0-1 Belli,M-Upton,T/Thessaloniki olm 1988 (29)}) (9... Nbd7 {Tsesarsky} 10.
Nge2 Nb6 11. Ng3 Be6 12. Bd3 h5 13. Nge2 h4 14. e4 (14. Bg5 Qd7 15. e4 OO-O
16. e5 Ng8 17. b3 Bf5 18. Bxe7 Nxe7 19. O-O-O Bxd3 20. Qxd3 Kb8 $132 {
1-0 Doroshkievich-Belikov/Bjeloreschensk 1989 (71)}) 14... Nh5 15. Be3 Qd7
16.
e5 Bf5 17. b3 Rd8 18. g4 hxg3 19. hxg3 Bxd3 20. Qxd3 Rg8 21. O-O-O Ng7 22.
g4
$14 {1-0 Anapolsky,S-Saric,I/Leningrad URS-JUG TeamJ 1991 (32)}) 10. Bd3
(10.
Nge2 {Tsesarsky} h4 $5 (10... Nbd7 11. Ng3 Be6 12. Bd3 O-O 13. O-O a6 14.
Bg5
$14 {1-0 Gulko,B-Anikaev,Y/Klaipeda 1983 (25)})) 10... Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Na6 {
Der Springer strebt nach e6.} (11... Nbd7 {Tsesarsky} 12. Nge2 O-O 13. e4 (13.
O-O Re8 14. e4 $1 Nf8 (14... dxe4 15. fxe4 Nc5 16. Qf3 Ne6 17. Be5 $14) 15.
e5
N6h7 16. Bd2 (16. Bh6 $6 Qd7 $1 17. f4 f5 18. Nd1 (18. exf6 $6 Bxf6 19. f5 g5
$15) (18. Bxf8 Nxf8 19. Nd1 Ne6 20. Ne3 Rf8 $10) 18... Ne6 $132 {
1-0 Ionescu,C-Geller,E/Sochi 1986 (46)}) 16... Qd7 17. f4 f5 18. Nd1 Ne6 19.
Ne3 $14) (13. O-O-O $5 $14) 13... dxe4 14. fxe4 Nc5 15. Qf3 Ne6 16. O-O-O
$14 {

1-0 Gurevich,M-Geller,E/Moscow-A 1987 (23) ()[+] M.Gurevich}) 12. Nge2 (12.

a3
{Tsesarsky} Nc7 13. Nge2 Ne6 14. Be5 Bd6 15. O-O h4 16. Rad1 $14 {
0-1 Raisa,U-Nokso Koivisto,A/Tampere SM 1989 (42)}) 12... Nc7 (12... Qd7 {
Tsesarsky} 13. Be5 h4 14. Nf4 g5 15. Nh3 Rg8 16. Nf2 Qe6 17. h3 Nc5 18. Qd2
Ncd7 19. Bh2 Bd6 20. Bxd6 Qxd6 21. O-O O-O-O 22. Rac1 $14 (22. e4 $6 dxe4
23.
Nfxe4 Nxe4 24. fxe4 Ne5 25. Rad1 g4 $15 {
1-0 Mielke,K-Hofstetter,H/cr JMZ-06 1988 (60)})) 13. O-O (13. Be5 $5 $14 {
Tsesarsky} Ne6 14. O-O-O) 13... Ne6 14. Be5 h4 ({
Baburin: Perhaps Black should have castled immediately -} 14... O-O
{Baburin})
(14... O-O {Tsesarsky} 15. a3 (15. e4 Qb6 16. Na4 Qb4 $15) (15. f4 $1
{Topalov}
Ng7 16. f5 $1 Nxf5 (16... g5 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. e4 dxe4 19. Nxe4 $16) 17. Rxf5
gxf5 18. Rf1 $40 (18. Qxf5)) 15... Nd7 16. Bg3 Bh4 (16... h4 17. Bf2 $14) 17.
b4 $14) 15. Rae1 (15. e4 {Tsesarsky} Rh5 $1 $132 (15... O-O {Topalov} 16.
Bxf6
Bxf6 17. e5 Bg7 18. f4 f5 $13)) (15. Nf4 {Topalov} Nxf4 16. exf4 Qd7 17. Rae1
Kf8 $1 (17... O-O 18. g4 $1)) 15... O-O (15... Qd7 {Tsesarsky} 16. g4 $2 (16.
e4 Rh5 17. Rd1 (17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Qxd5 19. Nc3 Qd7 $11) 17... Rd8 18.
Qc2
$14) 16... hxg3 17. hxg3 Ng5 18. g4 Rh7 19. Ng3 (19. Kg2 Nxg4 20. fxg4
Qxg4+
21. Bg3 Rh3 $17) 19... Qe6 $15) 16. g4 (16. e4 {Tsesarsky} Qb6 $132) (16. h3
{
Tsesarsky} Nd7 17. Bh2 Re8 $132) (16. Nf4 {Topalov} Nxf4 (16... Qd7 17. g4
$1)
17. exf4 (17. Bxf4 Nh5 18. Bh6 Re8 19. e4 Bg5 $1) 17... Qd7 18. g4 Ne8 $1 (
18... hxg3 $2 19. hxg3 Qh3 20. Ne2 Nh5 21. Rf2 $1) (18... Nh7 $6 19. Kh1
$16))
(16. f4 $5 {Topalov} Ng7 17. f5 Nxf5 18. Rxf5 gxf5 19. Qxf5 Nh7 20. e4 (20. g3
Bb4 $1 {/\ 21... Qg5}) 20... dxe4 21. Nxe4 f6 22. Bf4 Qd5 $1) 16... hxg3 {

Baburin: It's too risky to open up the h-file; the immediate 16...Nd7 would
have been more prudent.} (16... Nd7 {Topalov} 17. f4 $1 (17. Nf4 Nxe5 18.
dxe5
Qd7) (17. h3 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Kg7 19. f4 f6 20. exf6+ Bxf6) 17... Nxe5 (17... f6
18. Qxg6+ Ng7 19. Kh1) 18. dxe5 f5 19. Kh1 $16 (19. Nd4 $16)) 17. hxg3 (17.
Nxg3 $6 Nd7 18. f4 f5 $11) 17... Nd7 18. Kg2 (18. f4 {Topalov} f6 $1 19.
Qxg6+
Ng7 20. g4 (20. Kg2 Qe8 $1) 20... fxe5 21. dxe5 (21. fxe5 Bh4 $1) 21... Qe8 22.
Qh6 Bc5 23. Nd4 Nxe5 $1 24. fxe5 Qxe5 $17) 18... Nxe5 (18... Re8 {Tsesarsky}
19. Rh1 Nxe5 20. dxe5 Qb6 21. f4 (21. Rh2 Bf8 22. Reh1 (22. f4 Qxb2 23. e4 d4
$17) 22... Bg7 23. f4 Qxb2 24. Rb1 Qa3 $17) (21. Qd2 Bc5 22. Nf4 Nxf4+ 23.
exf4
$14) 21... Qxb2 22. Rb1 Qa3 $17) 19. dxe5 {/\ f3-f4-f5} Qd7 (19... Kg7 20. f4 (
20. Rh1 {Tsesarsky} Qb6 21. Qd2 Rh8 22. f4 $11) (20. Nd4) (20. Nf4) 20... f5
21. Rh1 (21. g4 Bh4 $1 {Topalov} (21... fxg4 $17) (21... Nc5 22. Qd2 fxg4 23.
f5 $1 gxf5 24. Ng3) (21... fxg4 22. Ng3) 22. gxf5 gxf5 23. Rd1 Qe8 24. Rh1 (24.
Rg1 Qh5) 24... Qg6+ $1 25. Kf1 Qh5 26. Nd4 $1 $14 {Fritz}) (21. exf6+ Bxf6
$11)
21... Qd7 $13) (19... Qb6 $132 {Tsesarsky}) 20. f4 f5 ({
Der Nachziehende verpat die aktivere Fortsetzung:} 20... Nc5 $142 21. Qb1
(21.
Qc2 {Baburin} Qg4 22. Nd4 {is also in White's favour.}) 21... Qg4 $11) (20...
Kg7 {Tsesarsky} 21. e4 Nc5 22. Qf3 dxe4 23. Nxe4 Nxe4 24. Qxe4 Rad8 $132)
21.
g4 (21. exf6 {Tsesarsky} Rxf6 (21... Bxf6 22. Qxg6+ Qg7 23. Qxg7+ Bxg7 24.
g4
$16) 22. e4 Nc5 23. Qd2 dxe4 24. Qxd7 Nxd7 25. Nxe4 Rf7 26. Nd4 $132) 21...
Rf7
$6 {Auf f7 der Turm dem Knig den Fluchtweg verspert.} ({Besser ist:} 21...
Ng7
22. Rh1 Kf7 (22... fxg4 23. Qxg6 Qf5 24. Qh6 $1 $40 {/\Ng3, Nd4}) 23. Rh6
Rh8
24. Reh1 Rxh6 25. Rxh6 Rd8 $14) (21... Nc5 {Tsesarsky} 22. Qc2 Ne4 23. Rh1
(23.

gxf5 {Topalov} gxf5 24. Nd4 $16) 23... Kg7 24. gxf5 gxf5 25. Reg1 Rg8 26.
Kf3+
Kf8 27. Rxg8+ Kxg8 28. Nd4 $18) (21... Rae8 {Tsesarsky} 22. Rh1 $16) 22. Rh1
Bf8 (22... Kg7 $142 $1 {Tsesarsky} 23. Ng3 (23. g5 $5 Rh8 24. Rxh8 Kxh8 25.
Rh1+ Kg8 (25... Rh7 26. Rxh7+ Kxh7 27. e4 fxe4 28. Nxe4 Nc5 29. Nxc5 Bxc5 (
29... Qg4+ 30. Kh2 Bxc5 31. Qh3+ Qxh3+ 32. Kxh3 Kg7 33. Kg4 Kf7 34. f5
$16) 30.
Qh3+ Qxh3+ 31. Kxh3 Kg7 32. Kg4 Kf7 33. f5 $16) 26. Rh6 Rg7 27. Nd4 Nf8
28. a3
$14) 23... Rg8 (23... fxg4 $2 24. f5 (24. Nh5+ $2 gxh5 25. Rxh5 Rh8 26. Rxh8
Kxh8 27. Rh1+ Kg8 28. Qg6+ Rg7 29. Qh5 d4 $19) 24... Raf8 (24... gxf5 25.
Nxf5+
$18) 25. Ref1 $1 (25. fxe6 $6 Rf2+ 26. Kg1 Qxe6 27. Qd4 b6 $13) (25. f6+ $2
Bxf6 26. exf6+ Rxf6 27. Ref1 Rf3 $17) 25... gxf5 26. Nxf5+ Rxf5 27. Rxf5 $18)
24. gxf5 (24. Rh2 fxg4 25. f5 (25. Reh1 Rxf4 $1 26. Rh6 Kf7 (26... Kf8 27. Rxg6
Rf7 28. Nh5 Rxg6 29. Qxg6 $16) 27. Rxg6 Rxg6 28. Rh7+ Rg7 29. Rxg7+ Kxg7
30.
Nh5+ Kh6 31. Nxf4 Nxf4+ 32. exf4 Bh4 33. Ne2 c5 34. f5 Kg5 $17) 25... gxf5
26.
Nxf5+ Kf8 27. Rf1 Nc5 28. Qb1 Ke8 $17) (24. g5 Rff8 25. Rh6 Rh8 26. Reh1
Rxh6
27. Rxh6 Rh8 28. Rxh8 Kxh8 29. Nge2 $132) (24. Qd1 $1 fxg4 25. Ref1 (25.
Qxg4
$4 Nxf4+ $19) 25... Nc5 26. b4 Na6 27. e4 Bxb4 28. f5 $3 (28. exd5 Bxc3 29.
e6
Qxd5+ 30. Qxd5 cxd5 31. exf7 Kxf7 $15) 28... Qe8 29. e6 Rf6 30. Qc1 Kf8 31.
e5
$18) 24... gxf5 25. Kf3 (25. Nxf5+ Kf8+ 26. Ng3 Rxf4 27. Ref1 Rxf1 28. Rxf1+
Ke8 29. Qh7 Rg7 $15) (25. Rh5 Nc5 26. Qd4 (26. Qc2 Ne4 27. Ncxe4 fxe4 28.
Reh1
(28. f5 $2 Kf8 29. Rf1 Qc7 30. f6 Bxf6 31. Rhf5 Ke8 32. R1f2 Rh7 $1 $19) 28...
Kf8 (28... Qg4 29. Qe2 Qxe2+ 30. Nxe2 Kf8+ 31. Kf2 Rfg7 32. f5 Bc5 33. Nf4
Ke8
34. Rh8 $16) 29. Rh8 (29. Qe2 Rfg7 30. R1h3 d4 31. exd4 Qxd4 $17) 29... Rfg7

30. Rxg8+ Rxg8 31. Qe2 Qg4 (31... Qe6 32. Qh5 (32. Rh3 Qg6 33. Qh5 (33. a3
Bh4
34. Qf2 Qg4 35. f5 c5 36. e6 Ke7 $19) 33... Qxh5 34. Rxh5 Bc5 35. Rh7 (35. Kf2
Bxe3+ 36. Kxe3 Rxg3+ 37. Kd4 Rd3+ 38. Kc5 e3 $19) 35... Bxe3 36. e6 Ke8
(36...
Rg4 37. f5 Bf4 38. e7+ Ke8 39. f6 Rxg3+ 40. Kh1 Kd7 41. Rh8 $18) 37. f5 Bd4
38.
Kh3 (38. Rxb7 Be5 39. Rb3 Rg5 $19) 38... Rh8 39. Rxh8+ Bxh8 $17) 32... Bc5
33.
Qh4 Bxe3 $1 (33... Bb6 $2 34. Kf1 d4 35. exd4 Qxa2 36. Qf6+ Ke8 37. Rh8
Qc4+
38. Ne2 $8 Qf7 39. Rxg8+ Qxg8 40. Qf5 Qd5 41. Qc8+ Bd8 42. Kf2 $1 $16 (42.
Qxb7
e3 43. Kg1 Qf3 $11)) 34. Qd8+ Qe8 35. Qf6+ Qf7 36. Qd6+ Qe7 37. Qb8+ Qe8
38.
Qd6+ $11) 32. Qxg4 Rxg4 33. Rh8+ Kg7 (33... Kf7 34. Kh3 $16) 34. Rb8 b6 35.
f5
Bc5 36. Kh3 Rg5 37. Kh4 Bxe3 38. Nh5+ $16) 26... Kf8 27. Reh1 Rfg7 28. R1h3
Qe6
29. Nce2 Ne4 30. Qxa7 Nxg3 31. Rxg3 Rxg3+ 32. Nxg3 Rxg3+ 33. Kxg3 Qg6+
34. Rg5
Bxg5 35. fxg5 Qxg5+ 36. Kf2 Qh4+ 37. Ke2 Qh2+ 38. Kd3 Qxb2 39. Qb8+ Kf7
40.
Qc7+ Kg6 41. Qd6+ Kg5 42. Qf6+ Kg4 43. Qg6+ Kh4 44. e6 $14) 25... Kf8 26.
Rh5 (
26. Rh6 Nc5 27. Qc2 Ne4 28. Nce2 Rfg7 29. Rg1 d4 $1 $17) 26... Nc5 27. Qc2
Ne4
28. Nce2 $132 (28. Ngxe4 fxe4+ $19)) 23. gxf5 (23. Ng3 {Tsesarsky} Nc5 24.
Qd1
fxg4 25. Rh4 Bg7 26. Rxg4 Nd3 27. Rh1 Nxb2 28. Qe2 Qe6 29. Rg5 Nc4 30.
Qd3 Re8
31. Rxg6 Nxe3+ (31... Qd7 32. Rhh6 $16) 32. Kg1 Qd7 33. Qxe3 d4 34. e6 dxe3
35.
exd7 $16) 23... Nc5 (23... gxf5) (23... gxf5 {Tsesarsky} 24. Ng3 $16 (24. Ng3 {
Topalov} Nc5 25. Qd1 $18)) 24. Qd1 Qxf5 25. Nd4 Qd7 (25... Qd3 {Tsesarsky}
26.

Qf3 Bg7 27. Qg3 $16) 26. Reg1 {Baburin: White has a much more solid pawn
structure and clear prospects of attack on the kingside.} (26. Rh3 $142 $1 Rh7
(26... Ne6 27. Reh1 Bg7 28. Qc2 Nf8 (28... Nxd4 29. Qxg6 Kf8 30. exd4 $18) 29.
e6 $1 Nxe6 30. Qxg6 $18) 27. Rg3 $1 Rg7 28. Qc2 {/\ 29.Reg1, 30.Kf1}) 26...
Re8
27. Rh3 (27. Qc2 $6 Rxe5 $1 28. Kf2 (28. fxe5 $4 Qg4+ 29. Kh2 Rh7#) 28...
Ne4+
29. Nxe4 Rxe4 30. Rxg6+ $11) (27. Kf2 $142 $1 {Topalov} Rxe5 28. Rxg6+
Bg7 29.
Rxg7+ $1 Kxg7 30. Qg1+ Kf8 31. Rh8+ Ke7 32. Qg8 Nd3+ 33. Kg1 Rxe3 34.
Nf5+ $1
Rxf5 (34... Qxf5 35. Qd8+ Ke6 36. Re8+) 35. Rh7+ Kd6 36. Rxd7+ Kxd7 37.
Qh7+ $1
Ke6 38. Qg6+ Rf6 39. Qe8+ $18) 27... Ne6 (27... Rh7 {Tsesarsky} 28. Rxh7
Kxh7 (
28... Qxh7 29. Qg4 Qf7 30. Kf1 Kh7 31. Qh3+ Bh6 32. Rh1 Qg7 33. b4 $18) 29.
Rh1+ (29. Qf3 Bh6 30. Rh1 Rh8 (30... Qf7 31. Qh3 $16) 31. f5 $16) 29... Kg8
30.
Qf3 Bg7 31. Qg3 (31. b4 Nd3 32. a3 Qf7 $14) 31... Qf7 32. Nf3 Ne6 33. Qh3 Kf8
34. Qg4 $16) 28. Rgh1 Bg7 29. Qc2 Nf8 ({
Baburin: Black had no time to take on d4 -} 29... Nxd4 {Baburin} {bacause of}
30. Qxg6 {which threatens 31 Rh8#.}) 30. Nce2 (30. e6 Rxe6 (30... Nxe6 $2
31.
Qxg6 $16) 31. Nxe6 Qxe6 $44) 30... Qe7 (30... Rfe7 {Tsesarsky} 31. Nf3 $16
(31.
e4 dxe4 32. Qxe4 c5 $132)) 31. Nf3 Qb4 32. Rg3 c5 33. Nh4 Re6 34. Nc3 ({
Baburin: For White there is no point getting involved in this line:} 34. Nxg6 {
Baburin} Rxg6 35. Rxg6 Nxg6 36. Qxg6 Qxb2 $132 (36... Qd2 $2 37. Kf3 d4 38.
Qe4
$18) 37. Kf3 $16 {Fritz} Qxa2 38. e6 Re7 39. Rh5) 34... d4 35. Nd5 Qb5 (35...
d3 {Tsesarsky} 36. Nxb4 dxc2 37. Nxc2 $16) 36. e4 c4 37. Nf3 d3 38. Qc3 Ra6
39.
Nd4 {Baburin: White's mass in the centre looks very impressive! Es ist
merkwrdig, wie der junge bulgarische Gromeister seine Springer im Zentrum

plaziert hat. Sie kontrollieren alle wichtigen Felder im Zentrum und jeder ist
mindestens ein Turm wert! Im Gegenteil dazu, stehen die schwarzen
Leichtfiguren sehr bescheiden. Besonders schwach ist der Lufer auf g7 der
sich kaum bewegen kann.} (39. Nd2 {Tsesarsky}) 39... Qc5 ({
Baburin: Black had to play} 39... Qa4 {Baburin although} 40. Nb4 Rb6 41. a3 {
is stil better for White.} (41. a3 {Tsesarsky} a5 42. Nd5 Ra6 43. b3 cxb3 44.
Qxd3 Qxa3 45. Qc4 $16)) 40. Rxd3 $1 (40. a3 {Topalov /\ 41.R:d3} Rd7 $2
(40...
Ne6 $1 41. Nxe6 Rxe6 42. Rxd3 $2 Bxe5 $1) 41. Rxd3 Rxd5 42. exd5 Qxd5+
43. Rf3)
40... Rxa2 41. Rdh3 b5 42. Nf3 $1 (42. Nf6+ Rxf6 $1 $13 43. exf6 Bxf6 (43... b4
$5 44. fxg7 bxc3 45. gxf8=Q+ Qxf8 46. Rh8+ Kf7 47. Rxf8+ Kxf8) 44. Rh8+
(44. e5
b4) 44... Kf7) (42. e6 $2 {Topalov} Bxd4 43. Rh8+ (43. exf7+ Kxf7) 43... Kg7) (
42. Kg3 $5 {Topalov}) 42... Ne6 (42... b4 {Topalov} 43. Nxb4 Ne6 44. Nxa2
Nxf4+
45. Kf1 Nd3 46. Qd2 $8 g5 47. Rg1 $18) 43. Kg3 b4 44. Qd2 Rf8 (44... c3 {
White triples on the h-file and his attack succeeds after the further} 45. Qh2
Rxf4 $3 (45... Rf8 46. f5 (46. Rh7 $1 {Baburin}) (46. Rh7 $18 {Tsesarsky}) (46.
Rh7 $1 {Topalov} Rxb2 47. Rxg7+ Nxg7 48. Qh7+ Kf7 49. e6+ $1 Kxe6 50.
Qxg6+ Kd7
51. Qxg7+ Kc8 52. f5 $18) 46... Nd4 47. Rh8+ Kf7 48. Qh7 $18) (45... Rd7 46.
Rh8+ Kf7 47. Qh7 $18) (45... Rb7 46. Rh8+ $1 Kf7 47. Qh7 $18) 46. Nxf4 Qe3
$3
47. Rh4 $1 Rxb2 (47... g5 48. Rh8+ Kf7 49. Qh5+ $18) 48. Qg1 Qxg1+ 49.
Rxg1
Nxf4 50. Kxf4 c2 51. Rc1 b3 52. Nd4 a5 53. Nxb3 Rxb3 54. Rxc2 $18) 45. Nf6+
(
45. Nxb4 $18 {Tsesarsky}) 45... Rxf6 46. exf6 Bxf6 47. e5 (47. Qh2 {Tsesarsky}
Nf8 48. e5 $18) 47... Bg7 48. Rh7 (48. Qd7 $2 Nf8 $1) 48... Qf8 (48... Nf8 {
Tsesarsky} 49. Rxg7+ (49. Qd8 Ra6 $8 (49... Rxb2 50. Rxg7+ $1 Kxg7 51.
Qf6+ Kg8

52. Rh8#) 50. Nd4 c3 51. bxc3 Qxc3+ 52. Kg4 Qc4 53. R7h3 $14) 49... Kxg7
50.
Ng5 Rxb2 (50... c3 51. Qh2 Qe3+ 52. Kg4 $18) 51. Qxb2 Qe3+ 52. Kg4 Qd3 53.
Qxb4
$18) 49. Ng5 (49. Rxg7+ $142 $1 {Topalov} Qxg7 $8 50. Ng5 $1 (50. Qd5 Qf7)
50... Nxg5 51. Qd8+ Kf7 (51... Qf8 52. Rh8+ $18) 52. Qc7+ Kg8 53. Qb8+ Kf7
54.
fxg5) 49... Ra6 (49... Nxg5 50. Qd5+ Qf7 (50... Nf7 51. e6 $18 (51. e6 {Topalov
} Rxb2 52. exf7+ Qxf7 53. Rxg7+ $1 Kxg7 54. Rh7+ Kxh7 55. Qxf7+ Kh6 56.
Qg8
Rb3+ 57. Kg4)) 51. Qd8+ Qf8 52. Rh8+ $1 Bxh8 53. Rxh8+ Kxh8 54. Qxf8+
$18) 50.
Rh8+ {ein sehr hbsches Mattmotiv:} (50. Rh8+ Bxh8 51. Rxh8+ Kxh8 52.
Qh2+ (52.
Qh2+ {Topalov} Kg7 53. Qh7#)) 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Khalifman"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]

[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.09"]

{Auch diese Partie ist von Kramnik kaum gespielt. Es ist erstaunlich, da er
sich mit Remis begngt.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3
6. bxc3 g6 7. e3 Bg7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O Qc7 10. Qe2 Rd8 11. Rd1 b6 12. Bb2
Nc6
13. Rac1 Bb7 14. e4 e6 15. h4 (15. Qe3 Rac8 16. h4 h6 17. Be2 Qe7 18. h5 g5
19.
Ba3 Bf8 20. dxc5 Qf6 21. e5 Qf4 22. Qxf4 gxf4 {
Portisch,L-Kasparov,G/Madrid rapid 1988/EXT 88/1/2-1/2 (69)}) 15... Rac8 16.
h5
Qf4 17. hxg6 hxg6 18. Bb1 Na5 19. Re1 Qg4 20. Rcd1 cxd4 21. cxd4 Nc4 22.
Bc1 b5
23. g3 Re8 24. Kg2 f5 25. Ng5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nijboer, Friso"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "Huzman"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]

[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.09"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5

Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 Nf4 11. Bf1 a5 12. bxa5 Rxa5 13. a4 (13. Nd2 f5 14. a4
Kh8 15. g3 Nh5 16. Nb3 Ra8 17. a5 f4 18. Ra2 Ng8 19. c5 Ngf6 20. cxd6 cxd6
21.
Na4 fxg3 22. fxg3 Bg4 23. Qd3 Ng8 24. Nb6 Rb8 25. Bg2 $16 {
1-0 Lobron,E-Ahn,M/Eupen op 1996 (37)}) 13... c5 14. Ra3 (14. Rb1 h6 15. Nd2
Ra6 16. Nb3 g5 17. a5 f5 18. g3 Nfg6 19. exf5 Nxf5 20. Bd3 e4 21. Nxe4 Ne5
22.
f4 gxf4 23. Bxf4 Nh4 $44 {
Sokolov,I-Glek,I/Hoogovens 1997/CBM 57/[Huzman]/1/2-1/2 (40)}) (14. Qb3 f5
15.
Bxf4 fxe4 16. Bxe5 exf3 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. g3 $14 {
1-0 Prudnikova,S-Ershova,S/RUS-chW 1997 (38)}) 14... h6 (14... Ra6 15. Nb5
Bd7
16. Nd2 Nh5 17. g3 Nf6 18. Bb2 Nc8 19. Qc2 Bh6 20. Nf3 Ne8 21. Nh4 Ng7 22.
Bd3
Bh3 $13 {1-0 Gofshtein,L-David,A/Czerniak mem Bikurei Haitim 1997 (41)}) 15.
Nd2 Ra6 16. Nb5 Bd7 (16... g5 17. g3 Nfg6 18. Be2 f5 19. exf5 Nxf5 20. Bh5
Nge7
21. Bg4 e4 (21... Bd7 22. Ne4 Kh8 23. Bb2 $14 {
1-0 Savchenko,S-Arakhamia,K/WchT 4th 1997 (37)}) 22. Rxe4 Ng6 23. Nf3 Ne5
24.
Nxe5 Bxe5 25. f4 Bg7 26. fxg5 hxg5 27. Rf3 $16 {
1-0 Krasenkow,M-Fedorov,A/Mikenas mem op 1997 (34)}) 17. g3 Nh5 18. Bb2
Be8 $5
{This move is the beginning of a very interesting plan,the idea of which is:1)
moving Nh5-f6-d7 to just freed square,where it controls the square e5;2)
moving Be8-g6 after the moves f5 and g5.} 19. Be2 Nf6 20. f4 Nd7 21. Qa1 f5
$132 22. Kh1 (22. Nxd6 $5 Rxd6 23. fxe5 Rb6 24. Bc3 Qb8 (24... f4 25. e6 $44)

25. e6 Ne5 $15) 22... g5 $1 23. Rf1 (23. fxg5 $5 hxg5 24. exf5 Nxf5 25. Ne4
Bg6
$132) 23... Bg6 24. Bd3 (24. fxg5 fxe4 25. Rxf8+ Bxf8 $36) 24... g4 (24... Rf7
$2 25. fxg5 hxg5 26. exf5 Nxf5 (26... Bxf5 27. Bxf5 (27. Ne4 $16) 27... Rxf5 (
27... Nxf5 28. Raf3 $16) 28. Ne4 $16) 27. Qb1 Qf8 28. Nc7 $16) 25. exf5 Nxf5
26. Qb1 exf4 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. Rxf4 Ne5 $1 29. Bxf5 (29. Rxf5 Bxf5 30. Bxf5
Qg5
31. Nc7 Qxf5 32. Ne6+ (32. Qxf5 Rxf5 33. Nxa6 Rf2 $1 (33... bxa6 34. Kg2 $14)
34. Nxc5 (34. Ne4 Re2 35. Naxc5 Nf3 $19) 34... Rxd2 35. Ne4 Re2 36. Nc3 Rc2
$17
) (32. Qxb7 Rf7 33. Qxa6 Qf2 $11) 32... Kg8 33. Qxb7 Rf7 34. Qxa6 Qf2 35. Ra1
Qxd2 (35... Nf3 $11) 36. Qc8+ Kh7 37. Nf8+ $11) 29... Rxf5 $1 30. Rxf5 Qd7
31.
Re3 $1 Qxf5 (31... Bxf5 32. Qa1 $1 Kf6 33. Ne4+ (33. Qf1 $5) 33... Bxe4+ 34.
Rxe4 $16) 32. Qxf5 Bxf5 33. Nxd6 Rxd6 34. Rxe5 Kf6 35. Re8 (35. Re3 Ra6 36.
Ra3
b6 $132) 35... Ra6 36. Ne4+ Bxe4+ 37. Rxe4 h5 $11 38. h3 gxh3 $1 (38... Kf5
39.
Rf4+ Kg5 40. h4+ Kg6 41. Rf1 Rxa4 42. d6 Ra8 43. Rd1 Kf6 (43... Rd8 44. Rd5
b6
45. Kg2 $16) 44. Rd5 Ke6 45. Rxc5 Kxd6 46. Rxh5 $16) 39. Kh2 Rxa4 40. Kxh3
Kf5
41. Rh4 Kg5 42. Rf4 (42. Kg2 Ra2+ 43. Kf3 Ra3+ 44. Kf2 Ra2+ 45. Ke3 Ra3+
$11)
42... Rb4 43. Re4 Kf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.30"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]

[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Har Zvi"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.09"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Bd7 5. c4 Nc6 6. Qd2 g6 7. Be2 (7. Nc3

Bh6 8. Qd1 Bg7 9. Bd2 Nf6 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O Bg4 12. Rc1 Nd7 13. Ng5 (13.
h3
Bxf3 14. Bxf3 Nd4 15. Be2 a6 16. Bd3 Ne5 17. Be3 Nxd3 18. Qxd3 Nc6 $11 {
/+/= 1/2-1/2 Lutikov,A-Zuckerman,B/Polanica Zdroj 1972/MCL 05 (28)}) 13...
Bxe2
14. Qxe2 Nd4 15. Qd1 h6 16. Nf3 Nxf3+ 17. Qxf3 a6 18. Qe2 Kh7 19. b3 Rc8
20.
Qe3 $14 {1-0 Vasiukov,E-Ermenkov,E/Polanica Zdroj 1972/MCL 05 (40)}) (7. b3
Bg7
8. Bb2 (8. Nc3 Nf6 9. Bb2 Bg4 10. Be2 O-O 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 Nd7 13. O-O
(13.
Nd5 Bxb2 14. Qxb2 e6 15. Nc3 Nde5 $15) 13... Qa5 14. Rab1 Rfd8 15. Rfc1 $6
(15.
Rfd1 a6) 15... a6 16. a3 Bf6 $5 17. Bg4 (17. b4 {Ftacnik} Qg5) 17... e6 18. b4
Qg5 $1 $132 {0-1 Polgar,J-Topalov,V/Dos Hermanas 1996/CBM 53/[Ftacnik]
(36)} (
18... Qc7 19. Nd5 (19. f4 $5) 19... exd5 20. cxd5 Bxb2 21. Rxb2)) 8... Bxb2 9.
Qxb2 Nf6 10. Nc3 O-O (10... Bg4 11. Nd2 O-O 12. h3 Bd7 13. Nd5 e5 14. Ne3
Nd4
15. Nc2 Ne6 16. Qc3 Bc6 17. f3 a6 18. a4 a5 19. g4 h5 $17 {

0-1 Ciocaltea,V-Quinteros,M/Vidmar mem 1973/EXT 97 (41)}) 11. Be2 Bg4 12.

Nd2
Bxe2 13. Nxe2 a6 14. O-O b5 15. Nc3 b4 16. Nd5 Nd7 17. Nf3 {
1/2-1/2 Savon,V-Bronstein,D/URS-ch39 1971/URS-ch}) 7... Bg7 8. O-O Bg4 (8...
Nf6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Rb1 a6 11. b3 Qa5 (11... Rb8 12. a4 Bg4 13. h3 Bxf3 14.
Bxf3
Nd7 15. Bb2 Qa5 16. Qe3 Bd4 17. Qc1 e6 18. Ne2 Bxb2 19. Qxb2 $11 {
0-1 Galego,L-Khalifman,A/Sevilla op 1993/TD 93\03 (66)}) 12. Bb2 Rfc8 13.
Rfd1
Bg4 14. Qe3 Nd7 15. Nd5 Bxb2 16. Rxb2 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 e6 18. Nc3 Rd8 19.
Rbd2 $16
{1-0 Anand,V-Kasparov,G/Moscow PCA-GP rapid 1995/EXP 46 (27)}) 9. Nc3 Nf6
10.
Rb1 O-O 11. b3 Nd7 12. Bb2 Nc5 $6 {the knight on "c5" does not stand good at
all,since in some position black will have problems to play Qa5 because white
is may play "b4",I like the normal play,Qa5-Rfc8-a6 and one day I am going to
take on "f3" and play b5} (12... Qa5 $5) 13. Rfd1 a6 14. Qe3 Bxf3 (14... Qa5 $5
) 15. Bxf3 $14 e6 $6 {I do not like move at all,just creating a big big
weakness for all the game,I mean the "d6" pawn,just look at the game
Anand-Kasparov mentioned above,even the world strongest player had terrible
problems in this position} 16. g3 Qc7 17. Bg2 Rfd8 18. Ne2 $1 {a good move,
after the exchange of the bishops white will be able to double his rooks on
the "d" file quickly,another factor is the weakening of black's king,the "f6"
square} Bxb2 19. Rxb2 Rac8 20. Nc3 $14 {white's plan now is very
simple,double
the rooks on the "d" file and then starting to play on the king's side with
h4-h5,the problem is that black does really has counter play,and in order the
get some he weakens his position alot} Qa5 {I know this is bad,but I can not
say what is good,since I can not any active plan for black at all, maybe doing
nothing is the best?} 21. Rbd2 b5 $6 {black must have some counter-play but
by
trying to get one,he makes the end much closer since he weakeness his
position

so much} 22. cxb5 axb5 {

this is almost symetrical to the game Anand-Kasparov just look!} 23. Bf1 $1
Na7
(23... b4 24. Nb5 Nb7 25. Qf4 (25. Qe2 e5)) 24. Rxd6 Rxd6 25. Rxd6 b4 (25...
Nxb3 26. axb3 Rxc3 27. Qg5 $1 Rc8 (27... Qc7 28. e5 $1 Rf3 29. Be2) 28. Qe7
Rf8
29. Rd7 Nc6 30. Qc5 $16) 26. Na4 Nb5 (26... Nxa4 27. bxa4 $16 (27. Ra6 Qc5))
27. Bxb5 Qxb5 28. Nb6 $1 Rb8 29. Nc4 $16 {/+-} Na4 (29... Nd7 30. Qd4) 30.
Qd3
Nc3 (30... Nc5 31. Rd8+ (31. Qd4) 31... Rxd8 32. Qxd8+ Kg7 33. Nd6 Nb7 (33...
Qd7 34. Qb6 $18) (33... Qd3 34. Qe7 $18) 34. Nxb5 Nxd8 35. f4 $18) 31. a4 $1
$18 {creating a pass pawn} Qg5 32. Kg2 {there is nothing more to annotate}
Qc1
33. a5 Qa1 34. a6 Rf8 35. Ne5 Ne2 36. Qxe2 Qxe5 37. Qd3 Qa5 38. Qc4 h5 39.
h4 {
probably time trouble but any way the game is over here.this is a very
interesting game not because of the why white or black played here but just
because I almost gave to variations here,the reason is quite simple there is
almost nothing to analyse here,no big variation,just small advantage with
clear plans,and very very easy to play with white if black gives you what he
must not give!} 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.02.01"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B97"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2675"]

[Annotator "Tyomkin,D"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.09"]

1. e4 {Rodriguez,Am} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6

7.
f4 Qb6 8. Qd2 Qxb2 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. f5 Nc6 11. fxe6 fxe6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. e5
dxe5 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Ne4 Qxa2 16. Rd1 Be7 17. Be2 O-O 18. O-O Ra7 $1 {
Rodriguez: Big surprise! Thus far no strong player from the top had ever had
the courage to play this move. All in all it is a highly obscure variation
supported mainly by Poulsen,A from Denmark. Instead many games have
followed
the line 18...f5, one of its supporters, cuban IM Irisberto Herrera believes
there is no win available for White.} (18... f5 {
This move leads to the drawTyomkin,D} 19. Qh6 Qxc2 {
There is also the more dubious 19...Rf7} 20. Rd3 {
Also 20.Rf3 and 20.Ng5 have been played without success.} (20. Ng5 Bc5+
(20...
Qc5+ $2 21. Kh1 Bxg5 22. Qxg5+ Kh8 23. Rd8 Ra7 (23... Rxd8 24. Qxd8+ Kg7
25.
Qg5+ Kh8 26. Rd1 $18) 24. Rfd1 (24. Rxf5 $3 exf5 25. Qf6+ Kg8 26. Bc4+)
(24.
Qf6+ Kg8 25. Rxf5 $3 {mating}) 24... Raf7 25. Bh5 Rb7 26. Rxf8+ Qxf8 27.
Rd8 {
1:0 Wang Lei-Lhagvasuren, Beijing 1991}) 21. Kh1 Ra7 $17 {
Liberzon-Gruenfeld, Biel 1980}) (20. Rf3 f4 21. Rh3 Rf7 (21... Qxe4 22. Bd3 Rd8

23. Bxe4 Rxd1+ 24. Kf2 $18) 22. Rhd3 Qxe2 23. Rd8+ Rf8 24. Nf6+ Kf7 25.
Nh5
Bxd8 26. Qxh7+ Ke8 27. Qg6+ $11 {Watson-King, London 1990}) 20... Qxe2
21. Rg3+
Kf7 22. Rxf5+ $1 exf5 23. Rg7+ Ke8 24. Qxc6+ Kd8 25. Qb6+ $11 {
Velimirovic-Ftacnik, Vrsac 1981} (25. Qb6+ {Rodriguez,Am} Ke8 26. Qc6+ Kd8
27.
Qb6+ Ke8 {A real proven position! 1/2-1/2 in Velimirovic-Ftacnik, Vrsac 1981,
Oll-Dolmatov,SSSR 1985, Prez,R-Herrera,I, La Habana 1992, Kolev-Herrera,I
Madrid 1997.})) 19. Qh6 $2 {
white changes the order of moves,but black didn't use the chance} (19. Rf3
$142
$5 Kh8 20. Rg3 Rd7 (20... Rg8 {Rodriguez,Am} 21. Qh6 Rxg3 22. hxg3 Rd7 23.
Nxf6
Qxc2 24. Bh5 $4 Rxd1+ 25. Bxd1 Qxd1+ 26. Kh2 Qd3 {0-1 Hakki-Iskov,G/Eksjo
1982}
) 21. Qh6 Rf7 22. Qh5 Rxd1+ 23. Bxd1 Qa5 24. Kf1 Qd8 $11 {
-see19.Qh6 Rd7 20.Rf3 Rf7 21.Rg3Kh8 22.Qh5etc.}) (19. Nxf6+ $2 Bxf6 $1
(19...
Rxf6 20. Qg5+ Rg6 21. Rd8+ Kg7 22. Qxe5+ Bf6 23. Qc5 Rf7 24. Rxc8) 20.
Rxf6
Rxf6 21. Qg5+ Rg6 22. Rd8+ Kf7 $19) 19... Rd7 $2 (19... Qxc2 $17 {I don't see
clear way for white how to develope an initiative,but I guess Topalov and
Gelfand knew something about this move.Later,I asked the second of Gelfand
and
my treiner A.Huzman about what was happening in this game and he
answered me
that Boris analysed this variation,but simply forgot the right way.[Tyomkin,D
] !!-Ftacnik Rodriguez: An important alternative to which Ftacnik attaches a
!! sign in his notes on Modern Chess Classics 6. There are two games available,
both won by Poulsen as Black.} 20. Nxf6+ (20. Bd3 Qb3 (20... Qa4 $5) 21. Kh1
(
21. Rd2 f5 22. Rf3 Ba3 $3 23. Rg3+ (23. Bc2 $2 Qb6+ 24. Kh1 fxe4) 23... Kh8
24.

Nf6 Raf7) 21... f5 22. Qe3 Rd7 $1 23. Rd2 (23. Qg3+ Kf7) 23... Bb4 $1 {
0-1 Morris,W-Poulsen,A/Copenhagen op 1980} (23... fxe4 24. Qg3+ Kh8 25.
Qxe5+)
(23... Bb4 $1 24. Rdd1 (24. Rb1 Bxd2 25. Qg3+ Rg7) 24... fxe4 25. Rxf8+
Bxf8))
(20. Rd3 {Tyomkin,D} Qxe2 21. Rg3+ Kf7 22. Rxf6+ Ke8 (22... Bxf6 23. Qxf6+
Ke8
24. Nd6+ Kd7 25. Rg7+ Kxd6 26. Qxf8+ Kd5 27. Rxa7 Qd1+ 28. Qf1 Qd4+) 23.
Rxf8+
Bxf8 24. Nf6+ Kf7 25. Qxh7+ Kxf6 26. Rg6+ (26. Rf3+ Qxf3) 26... Kf5 27. Rg7+
Kf4 $19) (20. Qe3 {Tyomkin,D} Rb7 21. Rd2 (21. Bd3 Qb3 22. Rb1 Qd5 23.
Rbd1 Rb3
) 21... Qa4) 20... Bxf6 (20... Kh8 $5 {Tyomkin,D} 21. Bd3 (21. Nd7 Rg8 22. Rd2
(22. Nf6 Bc5+ 23. Kh1 Qxe2 24. Nxg8 Rg7) 22... Qe4) 21... Qc5+ 22. Kh1 Bxf6
23.
Rxf6 Rg8) 21. Rxf6 Qc5+ 22. Kh1 Rg7 23. Qh4 {
Hyldkrog-Poulsen,A/corr/1979 -+ Ftacnik} (23. Rdf1 {Tyomkin,D} Rxf6 24. Qxf6
Qe7 25. Qxe5 Qg5) 23... Bd7 $1 {Tyomkin,D} 24. Bxa6 Qe7 (24... Rb8)) 20. Rd3
$11 {Rodriguez: A prudent novelty that goes directly towards a forced draw.} (
20. Rxd7 $2 Bxd7 21. Nxf6+ Bxf6 22. Rxf6 Qa1+ 23. Bf1 Qd4+) (20. Rf3
{Tyomkin,D
} Rf7 21. Rg3+ Kh8 22. Qh5 Rxd1+ 23. Bxd1 {#} Qa5 (23... Qd5 24. Qxf7
Qxd1+ 25.
Kf2 Qxc2+ 26. Kf3 Qd3+ 27. Kf2 Qd4+ 28. Kf3 Qd1+ 29. Kf2 $11) 24. Kf1
Qb5+ (
24... Qd8 $11) (24... Qd8 {CCYB 11/164} 25. Qxf7 Qxd1+ 26. Kf2 Qxc2+ 27.
Ke3
Bc5+ 28. Nxc5 Qxc5+ 29. Kf3 e4+ $1 (29... Qd5+ $4 30. Kg4 $1 {P h3+-}) 30.
Kxe4 Qc4+ $10 {RR CCYB 1/2-1/2 Andersson,G-Poulsen,A/corr Olympiad)
1991}) (
24... Qd8 {
Rodriguez,Am transposes into one of the above games where Black drawed
easily.}
) 25. Be2 Qb1+ 26. Kf2 Qb7 $4 (26... Qb6+ 27. Kf3 f5 $1 28. Qxf7 fxe4+ 29.
Kg4

Qd8) 27. Bxa6 $18 Qa7+ 28. Kf3 Qxa6 29. Qxf7 Qf1+ 30. Nf2 e4+ 31. Kg4 e5+
32.
Kh4 {1:0 Poliakov-Khenkin, USSR 1988}) 20... Rxd3 21. Bxd3 f5 (21... Rf7 $11
22. Nxf6+ (22. Ng5 fxg5 23. Bxh7+ Rxh7 24. Qg6+ $11) (22. Rf3 $2 f5) 22...
Bxf6
(22... Rxf6 $4 23. Bxh7+ {with mate}) 23. Bxh7+ Rxh7 24. Qxf6 Rg7 25. Qd8+
Kh7
26. Qh4+ $11) 22. Ng5 Bxg5 23. Qxg5+ Kh8 24. Qe7 Rg8 $8 (24... Kg8 25. Rf3
Qa1+
26. Kf2 Qd4+ 27. Kf1 $18) 25. Qf6+ Rg7 26. Qf8+ (26. Qxe5 $2 Qd5) 26... Rg8
27.
Qf6+ Rg7 28. Rd1 Qd5 29. Qf8+ Rg8 30. Qf6+ Rg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]

[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 d5 4. e5 Nc6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Be2 Qb6 7. O-O Nh6 8. b3

cxd4 9. cxd4 Nf5 10. Bb2 Be7 11. a3 a5 12. h3 Rc8 13. g4 Nh4 14. Nbd2 Ng6
15.
Re1 O-O 16. Bf1 f6 17. Rc1 fxe5 18. dxe5 Nf4 19. Rc2 Be8 20. Bd4 Qd8 21. Bc5
Bg6 22. Rc1 Nxe5 23. Bxe7 Rxc1 24. Bxd8 Rxd1 25. Rxd1 Nxf3+ 26. Nxf3 Rxd8
27.
Ne5 Bc2 28. Rc1 Bxb3 29. Rc7 d4 30. Nd3 Nxd3 31. Bxd3 Bd5 32. f4 Rf8 33. f5
exf5 34. gxf5 Bc6 35. Kf2 g6 36. Kg3 gxf5 37. Kf4 Kh8 38. h4 h5 39. Re7 Re8
40.
Rxe8+ Bxe8 41. Bxf5 Kg7 42. Be4 b6 43. Ke5 Bg6 44. Kxd4 Bxe4 45. Kxe4 Kf6
46.
a4 Ke6 47. Kf4 Kd6 48. Kg5 b5 49. axb5 a4 0-1