Welcome
to my "Game of The Month" feature! (For
December, 2005.) (Games considered, file.) This is a game, that is annotated in at least <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. [Read why this feature was eventually scaled back ... from the initial scope that I intended for this column, and the general thrust that it was launched with.] This is a feature where I will try to pick a game that was played in a recent event ... usually 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.) However, I normally do many hours of work and database searches, to insure that all bases are covered. Even the exalted Master class player might find this feature useful. It is my HOPE that any true chess enthusiast will enjoy my work, regardless of their rating. I hope that you enjoy this game ... feedback is both encouraged and welcome. (Please respect my copyright.) |
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The World Cup TournamentThe (FIDE) World Cup {challenge} Championship (k.o.) Tournament took place in Khanty Mansyisk, Russia. (Nov.-Dec.) "The FIDE World Chess Cup is being stage from November 26th to December 18th, 2005, in Khanty-Mansyisk, Russia. This the 128-player event replaces what was known as the "FIDE Knockout World Championship" and serves as a qualifier for the Candidates stage of the world championship. The prize fund is US $1.5 million, with President Ilyumzhinov providing $300,000 for organizational costs." (From the Internet.) It started off with a bang ... and surely provided the chess world with some memorable moments. GM Vassily Ivanchuk was ousted early, young Magnus Carlsen continued to impress a world-wide audience with his ever-increasing prowess, Ruslan Ponomariov proved he could still play, the U.S.'s Gata Kamsky continues to play very fine chess - despite a lay-off of several years, there were many exciting moments during the various tie-break matches; and I could go on forever. Of course, the eventual winner was something of a surprise as well! (Armenia's GM Levon Aronian.) [Read more.] [ The CB ... first report ... and the final(?) story. ] [ The TWIC report. ] [ The official website. ] |
GM Pedrag Nikolic (2584)
- GM David Navara (2646)
|
My "Game of The Month" for the period for December, 2005; (Cf. TWIC # 577).
At one time, Nikolic was one of the best players in the world. (Once # 8 in the world, according to Jeff Sonas and his "Chess Metrics" website.) GM D. Navara is not well-known in the west, but is something of a prodigy. (An IM in Czechoslovakia ... well before he was out of his teens.) Today, at just twenty years old, Navara is a very solid 2600+ GM ... and ranked # 58 in the world. (And he is the top player for his country, as well.)
For a while, Nikolic dropped out of chess, I heard he was doing a lot of coaching. Here - he clearly shows that he has not forgotten how to play!
I also chose this game because it is a very interesting Benoni, and I don't think I have featured this opening for my column prior to this game.
(I went to great lengths to give at least one variation for each of the major White systems in this opening.)
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
{The ratings are those of FIDE, and were assigned to this game when it was downloaded off the Internet.}
1.d4
Nf6; 2.Nf3,
A favorite move among many GM's today, the first party can play
for an advantage without having to even consider the possibility of
allowing the dreaded "Nimzo-Indian Defense." (E.g. - 2.c4 e6;
3.Nc3, Bb4.)
[
One of the sharpest lines that
White can play here would be:
2.c4 e6; 3.Nc3 c5; 4.d5 exd5;
5.cxd5 d6;
This is the most popular - and the
most common - move order for
reaching the main lines of ...
The Modern Benoni (opening).
6.e4,
The move that has probably been
played the most.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
( For the currently popular lines
that involve the following plan
of development for White:
6.Nf3 g6; 7.h3!? Bg7; 8.e4 0-0;
9.Bd3, "+/=" see any good opening manual.
See (also) the GM clash:
A. Karpov (2775) - V. Topalov (2750);
/
ICT / Super-Masters (Draw {1/2}, 70 moves.)
Las Palmas, ESP; (R8) 1996.
[ See also MCO-14, page # 642; columns # 07 through # 09, and all associated notes. ] )
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
6...g6; 7.f4 Bg7; 8.Bb5+!, {See
the analysis diagram given here, in the box just below.}
The Taimanov System.
Once this line was thought to be
the virtual refutation of the Benoni,
today this is seen as just one (of
several)
variations that the first
player can choose to gain the
upper hand.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
( After the moves:
8.Nf3 0-0; 9.Be2 Bg4!?; 10.0-0 Nbd7;
11.Re1 Re8; 12.h3 Bxf3;
13.Bxf3 Qa5; 14.Be3, "+/="
14...b5!; "~" (Fritz PowerBook)
White maintains a slight edge
in this position, yet the outcome
remains unclear ...
I consider
Black's position to be fully and
completely playable.
GM Z. Kozul - GM J. Nunn; / Wijk aan Zee, NED; 1991. {Black won, 0-1, 37 moves.}
[ See MCO-14, page # 646; columns 19-22, and all notes
that are associated to the actual
columns considered. ] )
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
(Returning to the analysis of the Taimanov Variation.)
8...Nfd7;
This is virtually forced.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
( After the moves: </= 8...Nbd7?!; ('?')
9.e5 dxe5; 10.fxe5 Nh5; 11.e6,
'±'
Black is losing a piece, theory
shows that he has inadequate
compensation for it.
GM I. Sokolov - GM V. Topalov; / Wijk aan Zee, NED; 1996. (1-0) )
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
(Returning - again - to the analysis of the lines of the main lines of the Taimanov System.)
9.a4 0-0; 10.Nf3 Na6;
The main line.
11.0-0 Nc7; 12.Bc4! a6;
('!')
I find this move to be the most
consistent from a strategical point
of view.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
( For the lines that branch off with the move of: 12...Nb6; here ...
See MCO-14, page # 646; column # 23, and all notes. )
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
13.Re1 Re8;
14.e5 Nb6;
This might be best, taking on e5
allows the immediate d5-d6.
15.Ba2 Bg4!?;
16.a5 Nc8;
17.e6!?,
"+/=" (Perhaps unclear?)
with continuing complications.
This is a line directly from the
new (2005) "Fritz Power-Book," and I could not find
any master-level/GM games with this position
in any of the various databases. ]
2...e6;
3.c4 c5; 4.d5 exd5; 5.cxd5 d6; 6.Nc3 g6; 7.g3, {See the diagram just below.}
A common favorite amongst higher-rated players, White strives for an
advantage, but at the same time ...
does not risk too much.
***********************************
***********************************
rnbqkb1r/pp3p1p/3p1np1/2pP4/8/2N2NP1/PP2PP1P/R1BQKB1R b
White has a huge number of
different moves at his disposal at
this point ...
it would be impossible to look at
them all. But it is safe to say that
most yield White at least a small
(but solid) advantage.
On the White side of any Benoni,
White must play opportunistically,
and be ready to grab the initiative on
either side of the board. Meanwhile,
Black must be quick to respond,
playing energetically in any sector
that the first party allows him play.
(Normally, White wins in the center
... or even on the King-side, while
Black wins with Q-side play and
with tactics. The reason for this is
the very unbalanced Pawn structure,
White has a majority in the center,
while Black's majority lies on the
Queen-side. See GM Andy Soltis's
book, "Pawn Structure Chess," for
more details.)
[ White can also play Bg5 here,
for example:
7.Bg5!? h6!?;
Black goes "a-hunting" for the
White Bishop, more popular at
the master level is 7...Bg7.
[ See MCO-14, page # 644; and columns # 13 - 14. ]
8.Bh4 g5; 9.Bg3 Nh5; 10.e3
a6; 11.a4 Bg7; 12.Nd2 Nxg3; 13.hxg3
Bf5!?;
This is all book ... believe it or not.
I decide to challenge the diagonal, so that my King is never vulnerable to a Q+B battery on the light squares. {Esp. h7.}
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
( More often played would be: (>/=)
13...Nd7; 14.Be2 0-0; 15.Nc4 Nb6;
16.Na3!? Bd7; 17.a5 Nc8;
18.Nc4,
"+/=" 18...Bb5; {Diagram?}
when Black <seemingly> has a
fair amount of play.
GM A. Lein
- NM C. Adelman; ICT / The New York Open / (R1);
New York City, NY (USA) / 1994.
0-1, 61. {Black won a tough one.}
)
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
14.Be2 0-0; 15.Nc4 Qc7; 16.a5 Nd7;
17.f4 gxf4!?;
Opening lines.
( (>/=) 17...b5; "~" / "=" - Fritz 8.0 )
18.gxf4 b5; 19.axb6 Nxb6;
20.Na5 Rfe8; 21.Qd2 Nd7!?;
This is OK, but Fritz prefers the
play 21...Qc8; in this position.
22.g4 Bh7; 23.g5?!,
Forcing Black to open the key
h-file, but Black seems to benefit
more from this -
especially in the
long run - than White does.
( Better was: >/= 23.Rh2, "+/=" (Fritz) )
23...hxg5; 24.fxg5 Qd8;
25.Ra4?, hmmm
White gambits a Pawn to open
lines ... but it turns out badly for
him the way the game goes.
( >/= 25.Rg1 Qe7; "~" Maybe "=/+" )
25...Qxg5; 26.Rg4 Qxe3; 27.Rhg1 Bg6;
28.Nc4 Qe7; 29.Ne4 Ne5; 30.Nxe5,
Taking the Black d-Pawn, (with
the KN); loses the Queen to Nf3+.
( After the moves:
</= 30.Ncxd6? Nxg4; 31.Rxg4 Reb8;
("-/+")
White finds himself in an
even deeper hole than before. )
30...Qxe5;
White has inadequate "comp" for
his two-pawn deficit here.
31.Kd1!? Rab8; 32.Nc3 Rb4!;
I saw 32...Qxc3; but felt like it took
some of the pressure off of White.
33.Rxb4 cxb4; 34.Na4 Qh2;
The most prudent move, I was
running short of time here.
( >/= 34...Bh6!; "-/+" )
The rest needs no comment here.
35.Re1!? a5!?; 36.Bb5 Bh5+;
37.Be2 Bh6!; 38.Qc2 Rxe2!; 39.Rxe2!? Qg1#.
John Daughterty (1950) -
NM A.J. Goldsby I (2200); /
22nd Annual "Queen of Hearts"
/
Site - "The University of Alabama,"
(at Montgomery); (R2),
12,02,1994.
***********************************************************************************
***********************************************************************************
The (old) main line involves sticking a Pawn in the center:
7.e4 Bg7; 8.Be2 0-0; 9.0-0
Re8; {Diagram?}
Black does a lot of good things
with this move, most importantly
hitting the White e-Pawn
and
forcing White to tie down his
forces to defend it. (This gives
the second player needed
time
to complete the development
of his forces.)
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
(Also popular is the move: 9...a6; See MCO-14, page # 640, and column # 01 & also col. # 02.)
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
10.Nd2 Nbd7; 11.a4 a6;
The (new) modern main line,
and the most popular move
for Black at this point.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
(A reliable reference work gives: 11...Ne5!?;
12.Ra3!? g5; 13.Re1 Ng6;
14.Bb5 Re7; 15.Nf1 a6!?;
16.Bc4 h6; The end of the column.
17.Ng3 Bd7; 18.Bd2 Qc7; 19.Qc2 Rae8; "=" with roughly equal chances.
IM P. Stempin - GM M. Suba; /
(FIDE) Zonal Tournament (zt)
Prague, CZE (R4); 1985. (0-1)
{Black won in fifty moves.}
[ See MCO-14, page # 640; column # 03, and note # (n.). ] )
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
12.f4 c4!?;
An important decision, this is
by far the most popular move
in the database for Black.
(Two fair alternatives here were 12...Rb8; and 12...Qc7.)
13.Kh1,
Taking the Pawn on c4 yields
Black counterplay against the
important White Central Pawn on e4.
(Or 13.Bxc4!? Nc5; "<=>")
13...Nc5; 14.e5 dxe5; 15.fxe5 Rxe5;
16.Nxc4, "+/="
White is slightly better, due to
more space, good squares/play
for most of his pieces, and the
liberation
of the foot soldier who
occupies the d5-square.
(Which is now a passed pawn
and represents a definite
threat
to Black.)
See the GM contest:
A. Beliavsky - D. Velimirovic;
/ (FIDE)
Interzonal Tournament. (izt)
/
Moscow, U.S.S.R; 1982. (1-0)
/ {White won a miniature, 25 moves,
however - Black made
several questionable moves, and his play
on his nineteenth turn ... could be
classified as a blunder.}
*************************************************************************************
*************************************************************************************
The lines with an early Bf4 in the Benoni were once thought to hold a lot of venom for Black.
Yet
today, this system is nearly
defanged. For example:
7.Bf4!? a6!; 8.a4!? Qe7!;
9.h3 Nbd7; 10.Nd2 Ne5; 11.e4 Bg7;
12.Be2 0-0; 13.0-0 Nfd7;
The end of the column.
14.Bh2!? g5!?; 15.f4 gxf4;
16.Bxf4 Ng6; 17.Bh2 Kh8;
(Maybe "=") {Diagram?}
The authors of MCO consider
this an equal position for Black,
the second player has few (if any)
real problems here.
See the GM contest:
G. Timoshenko - N. de Firmian;
/
(FIDE) Men's Olympiad (tt)
Yerevan, RUS; 1996.
[ For the correct reference, see MCO-14, page # 644; column # 15, and note # (k.). ] ]
Both sides continue developing
their pieces in a fairly consistent
manner (from) here.
7...Bg7;
8.Bg2 0-0; 9.0-0 Nbd7;
One of Black's most popular moves
at this point.
For 9...Na6; see any good, reliable reference work, like MCO-14. (Pg. # 642, col. # 12.)
10.Nd2 a6;
11.a4, ('!') [space]
Normally (at the master-level) the
first player will prevent Black from
playing the advance to b5.
(It is
generally thought that this gives
the second player equality, see the discussion after 11...Rb8.)
[ </= 11.e4!? b5; "=" ]
11...Rb8!?; {See the diagram just below.}
A perfectly reasonable move,
Black - since he has a Q.side
majority in this position - quite
naturally would enjoy getting
in the advance of ...b7-b5.
(Gains space, creates natural
counterplay for Black.)
***********************************
***********************************
1rbq1rk1/1p1n1pbp/p2p1np1/2pP4/P7/2N3P1/1P1NPPBP/R1BQ1RK1 w
I usually teach my students that they should stop after ten (or so) moves, stop, take a look around, and try to assess the position.
[
Black has also tried:
11...Re8; 12.Nc4,
The most straight-forward move,
but White can also prepare this
idea as well.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
( Another
VERY complex line
would be:
12.h3!? Rb8; 13.Nc4 Ne5;
14.Na3 Nh5; 15.e4 f5!?;
Black weakens his King-side in
return for play and even some
counter-chances against the WK.
(Often times Black will sack a
whole piece in these variations.)
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
( Black can also play: 15...Rf8!?;
16.Kh2 f5; 17.f4 b5!!; 18.axb5 axb5;
19.Naxb5 fxe4; 20.Bxe4 Bd7; 21.Qe2 Qb6;
22.Na3 Rbe8; "<=>"
GM Vicktor Kortschnoj (2665) -
GM Garik Kasparov (2595);
(FIDE) Men's Olympiad (tt)
/
Lucerne, SUI (R10); 29,10,1982. )
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
16.exf5 Bxf5!?; 17.g4 Bxg4;
18.hxg4 Qh4; 19.gxh5 Rf8!; 20.h6! Bh8!;
21.Nc4 Ng4;
22.Qxg4 Qxg4; 23.Nxd6 Be5; 24.Nde4,
"~" {Diagram?}
with an unbalanced position. (White has three minor pieces
for the lost Queen.)
GM V. Kovacevic -
GM I. Nemet;
/ Karlovac, YUG;
(R9) / 1979.
{White won an interesting game
in 38 total, hard-fought moves.}
[ See the most excellent book, "The Modern
Benoni," by IM
Andrew Kinsman.
Chapter # 08,
page 100, and esp. game # 47. ] )
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
12...Ne5; 13.Nxe5 Rxe5; 14.e4 Re8; The end of the column.
15.Rb1 b5!; 16.axb5 axb5;
17.b4, (Fixing Black's Pawn.)
Taking on b5 is foolish here.
( Not </= 17.Nxb5? Ba6!; "/+" and Black is clearly better. )
17...c4; 18.h3 Bd7;
"=" {about equal}
Black had good play, and went
on to draw the game. (45 moves.)
GM Anatoly Karpov (2745) -
GM Utut Adianto (2610);
Fourth Match Game (G #4)
/
Jakarta, Indonesia; 1997.
[ See (also) MCO-14, page # 642;
columns # 10 - 12, and all notes.
Especially study col. # 10, & note # (n.). ]
]
12.Nc4 Ne8;
A solid move.
[ Black could also play:
12...Qe7!?; 13.Qb3 Ne5; 14.Nxe5 Qxe5;
15.Bf4 Qe7; 16.Qb6,
"+/=" "/\"
but White might have the
initiative in this position. ]
Now White tries to create a bind
on the Q-side and try to discourage,
if not completely prevent, the second
player from getting in too much
play on the King-side.
13.a5 Ne5;
The Knight on c4 should be exchanged
off as soon as Black has castled.
(To
wait is to run the risk of allowing White
a permanent advantage.)
14.Nb6 Nc7;
15.f4!?, {See the diagram given,
just below.}
This seems like a sudden decision,
perhaps White was trying to get his
opponent out of book.
(Normally the
first party prepares this idea just a
little more than this.)
***********************************
***********************************
1rbq1rk1/1pn2pbp/pN1p2p1/P1pPn3/5P2/2N3P1/1P2P1BP/R1BQ1RK1 b
Nikolic may have intentionally played this way ... for many different possible reasons. Perhaps he thought to take his younger (and less experienced) opponent into a slow type of game, where a protracted fight for squares was not suited to his opponent's temperament? Perhaps. In any event, the young man handles everything the wily veteran throws at him ... and very nearly comes out on top.
[ I would prefer to play:
(>/=)
15.h3!,
"+/=" first, and Fritz also
indicates this as well.
(The
idea is to play e4, and only f2-f4
when the BN has no access to
the g4-square.) ]
15...Ng4;
16.e3!?,
White obviously has to beware the
threat of ...Bd4+; but this may not
be the best way to go about it. But
the problems (in getting his center
rolling) that White experiences
mostly stem from his 15th move.
[ Or 16.Bf3 Bd4+; 17.Kg2 f5!; "~" with decent play for Black. ]
Now White begins careful and
meticulous preparations for the
e3-e4 advance ... liberating his
center majority.
(Naturally, Black
strives to prevent this, or at the
very least, make it as difficult as
is {humanly} possible for White
to execute this vital freeing pawn-break/maneuver.)
16...f5!;
17.h3 Nf6; 18.Bd2, (TN?)
This is possibly a new move ... 18.Kh2
was the try that was played previously.
See the game: Milan Vukic - Dragoljub Janosevic; / YUG-ch 23th / Cateske Toplice (R12), 01,03,1968.
[ 18.Qc2!? - Fritz 8.0 ]
18...Bd7; 19.Qc2 Bb5!;
A common motif in this opening.
(White will not take, as after Black
plays ...axb5!; and then follow this
with ...b4; the change in the pawn
structure and the half-open a-file
will yield Black more play than in
the actual game.)
20.Rfe1,
"+/=" 20...Re8; {See the diagram just below.}
This is almost always a good idea
for Black in the Benoni, Rooks
belong on half-open files anyway.
***********************************
***********************************
1r1qr1k1/1pn3bp/pN1p1np1/PbpP1p2/5P2/2N1P1PP/1PQB2B1/R3R1K1 w
Some players might consider Black to have equalized in this position.
However, hard experience in this
opening will reveal that as long as
White has more space and the very
real possibility of e3-e4, then the
first player retains the upper hand.
21.Nd1 Nd7;
Black finally rids himself of the
annoying intruder. (The N on b6.)
22.Nxd7,
Now this is positionally forced for
White in this position.
[ </= 22.Nc4?! Bxc4!; 23.Qxc4 b5!; 24.axb6 Nxb6; 25.Qa2 Qd7!; "<=>" ]
22...Bxd7;
23.Bc3!,
Generally when Black loses his
vital KB, (or it is exchanged off);
the Black King loses a measure
of its security and is more
vulnerable to a possible attack.
(All the dark squares on the King-side are now open to possible
occupation by the first player, and Black must be on a constant vigil
to prevent his Royal Highness from
meeting a bad end from a surprise
attack by White.)
[ Or 23.Kh2!?, with unclear play. ]
23...Bf8!?;
('!')
Black decides that it is better if
he does not allow the loss of the
sole guardian of his dark squares.
[ Or
23...b6; 24.axb6 Rxb6; 25.Bxg7 Kxg7;
26.Nc3, "~"
when Black's dark-square
weakness is slightly offset by
the
vulnerability of the White
QNP in the half-open file. ]
Both sides continue to maneuver,
probing the other side for mistakes ... and also preparing to find better
squares for their pieces.
24.Nf2 Nb5;
The Knight eyes the d4-square
as a potential outpost, (if White
ever plays e3-e4 before doing
something about the N on b5).
25.Bd2 Bg7;
26.Bf1 Nc7!;
The Knight still has hopes of landing
on the vital d4-square.
[ Less effective would be:
</= 26...Qf6!?;
27.Bxb5! Bxb5; 28.Bc3 Qf7; 29.e4,
"+/=" {D?}
when White has real play.
(Threats of e4-e5, and/or NxP/e4,
and then
Ng5, if Black chooses
to take on e4.) ]
27.Bc4 Bb5;
28.Ba2!,
White must retain some pieces
on the board if he is to have any
pressure or benefit from his edge
in space here.
[ </= 28.e4? Bxc4; 29.Qxc4 Bxb2; "=/+" ]
28...Re7;
29.Bc3 Qf8!; {See the diagram just below.}
Not only to guard the King, but the
Queen will have slightly better
opportunities from this post. It also
gives both of his Rooks a tad more
"elbow room." (Sometimes it is
the little things, that - when added
together - make the difference in
really close game.)
***********************************
***********************************
1r3qk1/1pn1r1bp/p2p2p1/PbpP1p2/5P2/2B1P1PP/BPQ2N2/R3R1K1 w
It is time for a look at the position, the battle seems evenly balanced in the present situation.
30.Qd2 Bd7;
Now this piece simply interferes
with Black's possible counterplay,
White's sober maneuvering has
not allowed the second player
any real opportunities for any
advantage in this struggle.
31.Rac1 b5!;
Navara decides that he must now
play this, otherwise his QR is pretty
much out of play.
32.axb6 Rxb6;
33.Kh2, (Maybe - '!')
Nikolic decides that the White King
should seek a safer haven before he
opens the center.
[ 33.Nd3 Bxc3; 34.Qxc3 Re4; "~" ]
33...Ne8!;
Navara's Knight - having been
frustrated in its attempt to reach
an outpost on d4 - now seeks to
play ...Nf6; to <possibly> reach the e4-square instead.
34.e4,
Better late than never ... I guess.
(All joking aside, White had to try
this now or risk getting a permanent
disadvantage from this position.)
[ </= 34.Bb1!? Bxc3; 35.bxc3 Nf6; "=" ]
34...fxe4;
35.Nxe4 Bxc3!; 36.bxc3, {See the diagram
just below.}
The correct recapture, leaving
the Pawn in the b-file is to willingly
keep a weak button that is a
permanent target in the half-open
file.
(With this many pieces on the
board, the advance of the Black
a-Pawn is not an immediate threat
by Black.)
***********************************
***********************************
4nqk1/3br2p/pr1p2p1/2pP4/4NP2/2P3PP/B2Q3K/2R1R3 b
It is time for a close inspection of the position, see if you can detect some of the coming tactical strokes and tricks that are going to occur.
[ Definitely not: </= 36.Rxc3? Bxh3!; "=/+" when White has problems on two different fronts. (Maybe - "/+") ]
Now - typical for the Benoni - White's less compact position has left him vulnerable to a tactical device that completely levels the playing field.
36...Bxh3!;
This clever motif is based on a
fork involving pieces e4 and h3.
37.Nxc5!,
(counterplay)
White foils the plans of his opponent,
who fails to willingly go along with
Black's insidious scheme.
[ After the continuation:
</= 37.Kxh3?!,
(Probably - '?')
(This is obviously inaccurate.)
37...Rxe4!;
38.Rxe4 Qf5+;
39.Kh2 Qxe4;
"/+"
Black is clearly on top, and may
be on the road to winning.
(The
second player has an extra
Pawn and the better game.) ]
37...Bg4!?;
This is OK, but by playing this
piece to f5, Black snuffs out any
ideas of White's Knight ever
returning to the e4-square.
(Also, by leaving the g4-square
open, Black's Knight might be
able to generate serious threats
to the White King on that spot.)
[ After the moves:
(>/=) 37...Bf5;
(Maybe - '!')
38.Rxe7,
This looks to be best.
(The line of: 38.Ne6!? Qh6+; could be dangerous for White.)
38...Qxe7;
39.Na4 Rb8;
40.Re1 Qg7;
41.Bc4,
"~" ("=/+")
the resulting position seems to
hold a fair amount of chances
for both sides, although Fritz
seems to 'think' that Black's
chances are a little better than
White's here. (White's King does
seem a bit more exposed.) ]
Now Fritz likes: 38.Rxe7, Qxe7; and then 39.Na4,
(or Ne6); with
probably an equal position.
However, Nikolic chooses a
different line.
38.Nd3 Nf6;
39.Kg1!?, {See the diagram just below.}
The situation has changed rather
significantly since White played his
Monarch to the h2-square (as a
precautionary measure).
***********************************
***********************************
5qk1/4r2p/pr1p1np1/3P4/5Pb1/2PN2P1/B2Q4/2R1R1K1 b
Now Nikolic decides that his King is slightly exposed and decides to retreat the most important piece to a square that looks a little safer.
[ (>/=) 39.Nf2; "~" (Maybe "=") ]
Black to move.
39...Bf3??;
(Oh no!) {See the diagram
given, just below.}
At this level, this is a blunder of
incredible proportions, one must
assume that it was caused by
problems with the clock.
***********************************
***********************************
5qk1/4r2p/pr1p1np1/3P4/5P2/2PN1bP1/B2Q4/2R1R1K1 w
This
is sad, Black played the whole
of his positional battle in an original
and creative manner ...
and throws
everything away with one single
mis-step ... but such are the realities
of life. (And modern chess practice!)
[ An obvious improvement is:
>/= 39...Bf5;
40.Rxe7 Qxe7; 41.Nb4 a5; 42.Nc6 Qe4;
43.Qf2 Rb7;
"~" (Maybe "=/+")
would seem to be an unclear
(at worst) position for Black. ]
Now everything is decided by a
fairly simple fork, the rest really
needs no comment.
40.Qf2 Bxd5[];
41.c4! Rb8; 42.cxd5 Ne4; 43.Qg2 Qe8; 44.Rc2 Qa4?!;
(Maybe - '?')
This nearly doubles White's plus
in points - in the eyes of the box -
but it might have been intentional.
(If Black doesn't try to mix it up,
he will soon have to resign.)
[ Or (>/=) 44...Nf6; 45.Re6, "+/-" with a fairly easy win for White. ]
45.Rc4 Qa3!?;
46.Rcxe4 Rxe4; 47.Qxe4 , "+/-" Black
Resigns.
(The current position is hopeless.)
An excellent game by both parties, without the blunder (on move # 39) by Black, Navara still had a very good (and quite playable!) position.
Theoretically,
Black's results from the opening were more than satisfactory, and I hope
that modern opening praxis will judge Black's
handling of the opening phase favorably. (His loss resulted almost
entirely from a single mistake that occurred late in the middle-game of
this struggle.)
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 2005. All rights reserved.
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The HTML was generated and refined with several different programs ... then polished for this page with MS FrontPage.
The diagrams for this column were prepared with the excellent little program, Chess Captor 2.25.
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