GOTM; August, 2006.   

Welcome to my  "Game of The Month"  feature!  (For August, 2006.)  (Games considered, file.) 

This is a game, that is annotated in a <light-to-medium> fashion. Hopefully it is done in a way that is both entertaining and also informative. The main purpose {and thrust} of this column is to try and educate the general chess public. 

I have deeply annotated this game on my hard drive, you are welcome to contact me if you would like to try and obtain a copy. (Because of copyright violations, I ONLY offer a printed version!)  

This is a feature where I will try to pick a game that was recently played at the GM level. Then I will annotate it and try to basically explain what happened. ---> This column is aimed primarily at lower-rated players.  (Say 1600 & below.) 

I hope that you enjoy this game ... feedback is both encouraged and welcome. (Please respect my copyright.)  

  Grandmaster Tournament, Biel 2006  

In a recent interview, GM A. Morozevich states that: "I have more confidence in myself." Hmmmm, OK. (Was there ever any reason to doubt?)  

Morozevich was something of a prodigy, bursting onto the chess scene - and into the world's top 100 - when still just a very young man, barely a teenager, really. In the early 1990's, he gained attention for his flashy tactical style, and the fact that he was defeating GM's with unusual openings. [ The Larsen-Nimzovich Attack, (1.b3,) The Scotch and even the Center Game. (1.e4, e5; 2.d4!?, exd4; 3.Qxd4!?) ] Today, he plays mostly main line openings, and is known to open with 1.d4 or 1.e4. 

In this tournament, Morozevich lost BOTH games to another young gun, (Magnus Carlsen); but still managed to win the tournament. This sounds like an impossible feat ... until you take a look at the cross-table, (see above). Basically, Morozevich won all the rest of his games, and took a draw only in the last round ... when the tournament was already "in the bag," so to speak. (Congrats to GM A. Morozevich!)  

All of his games from this event are worthy of study ... his wins are highly entertaining and instructive.  
[ You can download the file that I made, however, this file only contains GM A. Morozevich's games from this event. 
 (If you want all the games - in the popular PGN format, then just follow one of the ChessBase links given below.) ]   

  [ The official website. ]     [ The ChessBase report, + pictures. ]     [ The final TWIC report. ]  

  [ A page ... with some background info on Magnus Carlsen, if you are interested. ]  

  GM Magnus Carlsen (2675) - GM Alexander Morozevich (2731)  
  [E97]  
  GM Tournament  
  Biel, SUI; (R2) / 25,07,2006.  

  [A.J. Goldsby I]  

This is for my "GOTM" column for the month of August, 2006. (Please consult TWIC # 612.)  

The first clash, (in this tournament, anyway); a prodigy meets a talented and experienced GM, (who was once something of a young talent himself); ... who would prevail? (In a way ... they both did. Although Magnus eventually took both games from his renowned opponent, GM A. Morozevich - by virtue of winning almost all the rest of his games - took clear first in this tournament.)  

 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;   {Diagram below.}  
The "Mar del Plata" variation of the King's Indian. Gligoric was its originator and the master who first trod these paths on a regular basis ... but Robert J. Fischer was the guy who put this line on the map. 

In many lines ... the Sozin Sicilian, the King's Indian Attack vs. the French and Caro-Kann, the Najdorf Sicilian, the King's Indian Defense ... 
Bobby was the key figure who helped to popularize all of these openings.  

  r1bq1rk1/ppp1npbp/3p1np1/3Pp3/2P1P3/2N2N2/PP2BPPP/R1BQ1RK1 w  

Study this position carefully, it is a position of many imbalances. 

 9.a4!?,  (hmmm)   [Plan?]  
I am not sure exactly what idea (or formation) young Magnus was aiming for with this move, but maybe he just wanted to get Morozevich - who has a deserved reputation as a formidable K.I.D. player - out of book.  

     [ One of the main lines today is:  9.b4 Nh5!?;  10.Re1!,  "+/="   10...f5;    
        when White has a solid edge ... but Black has good play.   

        A recent example would be:   
        Y. Pelletier (2583) - F. Jenni (2481); / National Champ. Tournament (ch-SUI)   
        Lenzerheide, SUI; (R6) / 2006. {It was a long, tough - and fairly well played draw.} 

        [ For more information, please see MCO-14, page # 588.   
          Especially note column # 09 ... and all relevant notes. ] ]   

 9...a5;  10.b3 Nd7;  11.Ba3!? Bh6!N;  12.b4!?,    {Diagram below.}   
Thematic play - the pawn chain dictates that White will generally play on the Queenside. 

  r1bq1rk1/1ppnnp1p/3p2pb/p2Pp3/PPP1P3/B1N2N2/4BPPP/R2Q1RK1 b  

Even though only twelve moves have been made, we are already out of 'book' and into uncharted waters here. 

     [ Fritz likes 12.Qc2, here (instead). ]  

 12...axb4;  13.Bxb4 f5;   
Black's big break ... if the second party omits this for too long, play can shift to the first player's side ... 
and Black will slowly get smothered. 
(This is well known to all players who have the King's Indian Defense as part of their repertoire.) 

In the coming series of moves, White immediately embarks on his Q-side counterplay. 
(Some might have preferred to bolster the defenses of the e4-d5 pawn chain first.)   
 14.Nd2 Kh8;  15.a5 Rf7;  16.Nb5!? Nf6;  (Or 16...Bf4!? - Fritz.)  17.c5!,   
The most energetic move.   

     [ The continuation of:  </= 17.f3!? Be3+;  18.Kh1 Nd7;  "~"    {Diagram?}  
        allows Black to hold up the c4-c5 advance ...  making it difficult for White to open lines. ]   

 17...dxc5;   {Diagram below.}  
An extremely complex position.  

  r1bq3k/1pp1nr1p/5npb/PNpPpp2/1B2P3/8/3NBPPP/R2Q1RK1 w  

White is at a crossroads ... and has a major decision to make here.  

 18.Bc3!?,  (C.o.P.  Does this indicate a change ... in White's plan for this game?)    {Diagram below.}  
When going over this game for the first time, I was a bit confused by this move ... taking on c5 looked to be the logical continuation of White's idea here. [Was the try of  >/= 18.BxP/c5! superior to this?]   

  r1bq3k/1pp1nr1p/5npb/PNpPpp2/4P3/2B5/3NBPPP/R2Q1RK1 b  

Study this position carefully.  

     [ With the help of the machine, I was able to work out the following long line ...   
        (>/=) 18.Bxc5, ('!')  (This could be best ... but I cannot be completely certain of this.)   
        18...Bxd2;  19.Qxd2 Nxe4;  20.Qb2!! Nxc5!?;  21.Qxe5+ Kg8;  22.Nxc7 Nd7;    
        23.Qf4 Nxd5!?;  (The first choice of Fritz 9, the alternatives are no fun either.)   

             ( Or Black can play: 23...Ra7;  24.Bc4 Nf6;  25.d6, "~"  {Diagram?}    
                when White has a lot of pressure, and the far advanced d-pawn is a real threat. )   

       24.Nxd5!? Rxa5;  25.Rxa5 Qxa5;  26.Bc4, "~"   ("+/=" ?)  with great play for White. ]   

It is Black's turn to move.  
 18...c6!;  (correct)   
Black is under some pressure here, the solution is to liquidate White's grip on the center.  

     [ Not advisable would be:   
       </= 18...Bxd2!?;  19.Qxd2 Nxe4?;  (A mistake - 19...c6 is best.)   
       20.Bxe5+ Kg8;  21.Qd1, '±'   and White is clearly better. ]   

 19.dxc6 bxc6!?;  (Maybe - '?!')    
This looks wrong ... why would anyone voluntarily accept doubled, isolated pawns in this position? (I am sure that Morozevich had his 
reasons for playing this way, but after days of computer-assisted study, the more natural recapture looks superior to this.)   

     [ Just the simple:  >/= 19...Nxc6; ('!')  20.Nc4 Rd7;  21.Qc2 Nxe4;  "=/+"  
       with a solid position for Black, looks like an improvement over the course of the actual game.  

       (After the further moves:  
        21...Nxe4;  22.Nb6 Rb8;  23.Nxd7 Bxd7;  24.Bb2 Nd4;  25.Nxd4 cxd4;  "=/+"  (Maybe - '/+')   
        when Black's center looks rather imposing. ) ]   

 20.Na3 fxe4;  (Or 20...BxN/d2!?)  21.Nac4 Ned5;  22.Bxe5 Bg7?!;   {Diagram below.}  
The Bishop looks ineffective here. (It is hemmed in by its own Pawns.)   

  r1bq3k/5rbp/2p2np1/P1pnB3/2N1p3/8/3NBPPP/R2Q1RK1 w  

Now the game begins to shift over to a setting that definitely favors White.  

     [ The try >/= 22...Kg8; "~"   looked simpler. ]   

 23.Nd6 Re7;  24.N2c4 Be6?;   {Diagram below.}  
This important piece turns out to be completely misplaced here.   

  r2q3k/4r1bp/2pNbnp1/P1pnB3/2N1p3/8/4BPPP/R2Q1RK1 w  

This game proves Lasker's adage that a game is not often won, usually (between strong players) ... it is lost. 
(I.e., the mistakes pile up, and it is the errors that will eventually cost one side the point.) 

     [ Probably much better was:  >/= 24...Ba6;  25.Qc2 Ne8!;  "="  ("<=>") with decent play. ]  

 25.a6!?,  (Inferior?)  
Maintaining an advantage can be a tricky business in modern, GM-level chess. (This Pawn soon outruns its lines of defense.)  

However, this is an extremely complex and difficult position, and it is hard to be 100% certain about all of this.  

     [ I prefer the continuation of: (>/=) 25.Qc2 Bg8;  26.Bg3, "+/="  maintaining the tension. ]  

 25...Nb4;  26.Qc1 Nd3!?;   
I am sure that this looked tempting for Black ... but it is probably wrong. 
(It was correct for Morozevich to eliminate White's dangerous Pawn on a6.)   

     [ >/= 26...Rxa6;  27.Rxa6 Nxa6;  28.Qa1 Ra7;  29.f3!,  "+/=" ]   

 27.Bxd3 exd3;  28.Qc3, '±'  28...Bxc4;   
This is practically forced for Black.  

     [ But not: </= 28...Rea7?!;  29.Nb7, '±'  etc. (A clear edge to White.) ]   

 29.Qxc4!,   
White increases the pressure ... and threatens a winning fork on f7.  

     [ </= 29.Nxc4!? Ne4;  30.Qb2 Kg8!;  "~" ]   

 29...Qg8!;   
"Moro" find the most active defense, of course not  </=  29...RxB/e5??;  and now  30.Nf7+  forks Black's entire royal family here.  

 30.Qxc5 d2?;  (playing with fire)   {Diagram below.}  
Morozevich likes to win, but he is risking too much here.  

  r5qk/4r1bp/P1pN1np1/2Q1B3/8/8/3p1PPP/R4RK1 w  

This would be a good place to take a good, long look at the board and study this position carefully.  

     [ >/= 30...Qd5[];  31.Qc3, "~"  ("+/=") ]  

It is White to move. 
 31.Rad1?!,  (Probably just '?')   
This is the wrong approach ... (a classic case of the wrong Rook?). 
White abandons his precious, passed QRP with this move.  

     [ After the fairly simple moves: >/= 31.Nc4! Qe6;  32.f4, '±'  
       some programs consider White's position to be winning here.   
       (The Black foot soldier on d2 is probably doomed and should fall soon.) ]   

 31...Rxa6?!;  
Too anxious.   

     [ Best was:  >/= 31...Qd5!;  "<=>"  with good play for Black. ]  

 32.Rxd2,  "+/="   (Maybe just - "±")   {Diagram below.}   
The problem with this position is that Black has two pawn islands and poor piece coordination.   

  6qk/4r1bp/r1pN1np1/2Q1B3/8/8/3R1PPP/5RK1 b  

In the ensuing ending ... only White will have any real winning chances, (as the actual outcome of this game clearly shows).  

     [ Also playable was: 32.f4, "+/="  with a solid edge for White. ]  

 32...Nd5;  33.Bxg7+ Rxg7;  34.h3 Qe6;  35.Rb1 h6;  36.Qc4,  (Attacks the BR on a6.)   
Picking on the poor outsider.   

     [ Also good was: 36.Rdb2, "+/=" ]   

 36...Rb6!?;  
This looks inferior - -  36...Rga7  looked to be pretty much forced.  

 37.Rxb6 Qe1+;  38.Kh2 Nxb6?!;   
White is probably already winning here ... but this does not really help matters. (Maybe just - '?')   

     [ Or (>/=) 38...Qxd2;  39.Rxc6,  '±' ]    

(Now it is a chess problem, "White to move and win.")   
 39.Qf4! Nd5?;   {Diagram below.}  
This is the final mistake. 
 (The moves of   >/= 39...Kg8[]  or  even  >/= 39...Qe7!?  were much superior to this errant play.)    

  7k/6r1/2pN2pp/3n4/5Q2/7P/3R1PPK/4q3 w  

Now take a few minutes and please study this position carefully. (See if you can find the winning move.) 

 *** *** *** *** ***   *** *** *** *** ***   *** *** *** *** ***   *** *** *** *** ***   *** *** *** *** ***  

White's next is an unexpected shot ... especially since it may have appeared on the last move before the standard time control. 
(Forty moves in two or 2.5 hours - is the 'norm' for this level.) 
 40.Rxd5!! cxd5;  41.Qf8+! Kh7;   
This is forced. (If Black decides to block this check with his Rook, then QxP/h6 is mate.)  

 42.Ne8!,  "+/-"   Black Resigns.  
Morozevich raises the flag of surrender as he cannot adequately defend all of White's threats.  

  4NQ2/6rk/6pp/3p4/8/7P/5PPK/4q3 b  

(Black can defend the g7-square, but not f6. I.e., if  42...Re7;  then  43.Nf6#. Or  42...Qe5;  and after  43.Nf6+,  and Black is forced to 
surrender the Queen.) This last sequence of moves is vivid proof of the powers of the Q+N when they work together effectively. 

A nice effort by Magnus, but one that was full of strange inconsistencies  ...  by both parties in this wrestling match.  

  Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 2006. All rights reserved.  

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The analysis for this page was prepared with the excellent programs,  ChessBase 8.0  and  ChessBase 9.0.  

The HTML was polished with several different tools and programs, (mostly FP)  ...  the text was checked for spelling with MS Word.  

The diagrams were created with the program,  Chess Captor 2.25.  

  K.I.D. games - for further study  

1. My May, 2005 column - a good game, with the King's Indian, The Fianchetto Variation.  

2. My October, 2005 column - a Sämisch system ... an extremely well-played affair by Vassily Ivanchuk. 
   (And here is another game in the same line as this one. {GM A. Beliavsky (2635) - GM J. Nunn (2615); / [E81] / ICT / Hoogovens Masters 
   Wijk aan Zee, NED; (Round #2) / 01,1985.} My Jan. 2005 lesson, {GM I. Khenkin (2622) - GM A. Fishbein (2513); / [E81] / New York Open / USA (R7); 2000.}; is also a good look at the Samisch.)  

3. This game looks like a Samisch to me, but probably is a transposition to the older, classical lines. 
   (Garry Kasparov makes mincemeat out of Anatoly Karpov in one of the most brilliant games ever played from the Black side of the K.I.D.) 

4. Bobby Fischer defeats V. Korchnoi from the Black side of the King's Indian, a nearly perfect model game.  

5. I defeat a higher-rated player ... (Stephen A. Muhammed); in the Averbakh Variation of the King's Indian Defense. [Check it out.]  

6. M. Tal - Bobby Fischer; Candidates Tournament / 1959.  A very carefully annotated chess game, which also includes a full survey of the whole of "The Petrosian System." (A good line - that many masters like to play - vs. the King's Indian Defence.)  [See it now.]  

7. GM Mikhail Botvinnik (2700) - GM Vassily Smyslov (2675); / [E68] / (FIDE) World Championship Match, (Game #14) / Moscow, U.S.S.R. (Russia) / 1954. An extremely carefully annotated chess game ... but it has to be. (Its part of my "Ten Greatest Chess Games" ever played - series. See this page for more information.) A King's Indian Defense - won by Black - and is considered by many GM's, to be one of the finest games ever played in a WCS Match. [Have a look.]  

8. GM Vladimir Malakhov (2700) - GM Vadim Zvjaginsev (2654) / [E97] / 5th Karpov Tournament / Poikovsky, RUS; 23,03,2004. 
   This was a truly amazing game, if you study it carefully, I am sure you will not regret it. 

9. My  "School of Tactics"  is dedicated to two things:  # 1.) Improving your tactical ability;  # 2.) Studying the secrets of the King's Indian Defense. There are already two complete games there, I am sure that the notes might help you in your quest to master this particular variation.  

10. GM Vassily Ivanchuk - GM Artur Yusupov; / (FIDE) Candidates Match, (Tie-breaker, Game # 9.) / Brussels, Belgium; 1991. 
    This is such a fine game, you simply must study it at least once. (It started off as an English, but actually transposed into a KID.)  

And in case you think that I was going to lead you to believe that Black always wins with the King's Indian, be sure to study this incredible brilliancy by {former} World Champion, GM B. Spassky. He shreds the well-known American GM, Larry Evans with too many amazing sacrifices.