GOTM;  January, 2004.  


  The Game of The Month   

Welcome to my game of the month feature. 

This will be an annotated game .....   
- from  recent  GM practice. This feature is primarily aimed at players in the 1000-to-1650 bandwidth  ... BUT it is my sincere hope that even a player of the e exalted Master-class may find this both amusing, useful, and informative. Be sure to drop me a line,  and tell me what you think. And please be sure to tell all your chess friends about this column.  

Respect my copyright, and  ...  ENJOY!!    

 This is basically a text-based page. (With just a few diagrams.)  
  I strongly suggest that you use a chess set.  

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

     Click  HERE  to see an explanation of the symbols I use.     

  (Click  HERE  to re-play this game on another server.)  


Much has been made of Nakamura's accomplishments, especially that of breaking Bobby Fischer's record of being the youngest American (FIDE) GM ever. 

While I do not wish to denigrate anything he has done, Nakamura's record is a paper one. (only) 

Bobby Fischer became a GM ... when the average age to gain the GM title, (of that period); was in the mid to late twenties. Additionally, when Fischer set the record, he shattered the previous record, held by Boris Spassky. (Spassky was 18 when he first became a GM.) Additionally, when Fischer became a GM, he was the youngest GM in the world. (Nakamura is not.) Additionally, Fischer became a GM by qualifying for the  CANDIDATES TOURNAMENT  for  THE  (chess) World's Championship. (Fischer also probably established himself as one of the top ten GM's in the world with this accomplishment.) Fischer also went on to become the World Champion. 

Until Nakamura wins a world-class tournament or qualifies for the WCS cycle, his accomplishment - while meaningful to some - cannot be compared to Fischer in any shape, form or fashion! (IMOHO) 


 Emil Sutovsky (2646) - Hikaru Nakamura (2565) 
[B30]
 It Pamplona, ESP; (Round # 1),  20.12.2003 

[A.J. Goldsby I]

     The medal for this game - you can quickly see the most notable features of the game.  (gotm_jan04-medal.gif, 02 KB)

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

 America's newest GM gets taught a real chess lesson by a very talented Russian player. 
 (GM Emil Sutovsky - age 26 - now resides in Israel, and was also considered an extremely 
  promising young chess player.)  (Game  from  "The Week In Chess,"  # 476.) 

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

1.e4 c5;  2.Nf3 Nc6;  3.Bb5!?,  {Diagram?}    
This is the system known as ...  "The Rossolimo Sicilian,"  I believe. 

This Bishop sortie is similar to the Ruy Lopez ... many of the same positional concepts that work 
 in that variation also apply here. 

     [ The main line is:  3.d4 cxd44.Nxd4 Nf65.Nc3 d6; "~"  {Diag}   
       with literally hundreds - if not thousands - of master games having been  
        played from this particular position. ]  

 

3...e6{Diagram?}    
This move - based on pure principle - is not all that bad. But in today's very 
complex [chess] world, simple knowledge and general  'rules of thumbs'  are 
really not much help. 

At the GM level, the best line for Black is <up and away> considered to continue 
with the move ...g6!  

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

     [ One [opening] reference book, instead, gives the continuation:  
       3...g64.0-0 Bg75.Re1 Nf66.c3 0-07.d4!?{Diagram?}  
       This break in the center has long been considered mandatory. But 
       I think that White should seriously consider possible alternatives.  

           ( Maybe White should take his cue from the Ruy Lopez - as this position      
             is very similar to that opening - and <instead> try the move:  7.h3!?, "+/="     
             with a small but solid edge for White in this position. )     

       7...d5!8.e5 Ne49.Nbd2 cxd410.cxd4 Qb6!?{Diagram?}  
       The end of the column in MCO.  

       11.Bxc6!? Qxc612.Nxe4 dxe413.Ng5 Rd8;   14.Bf4 Qd5; "=" {Diag?}   
       Black has definitely equalized.  

       GM J. Polgar - GM V. Kramnik;  The Melody Amber Tournament  
       Monaco, (blindfold)  1994.  

       [ See MCO-14;  page # 353, column # 1, and also note # (e.). ]  

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

      Black can also play ...Nd4!? here, but I do NOT recommend that the second 
      player employ this move:  
      3...Nd4!?4.Bc4!?{Diagram?}  
      The most challenging move for White here, according to many of my books.  

           ( I would much prefer to play: >/=  4.Nxd4! cxd4; 5.0-0, "+/="  {Diag?}     
             which is much simpler ... and yields a VERY solid advantage for White. )    

       4...g6!?{Diagram?}  
       One Russian book gives this move an exclam ... I think it is much less than best.  

           ( Indicated was:  (>/=)  4...e6!?; "=" )   

       5.c3 Nxf3+6.Qxf3 Nf67.d3! d68.0-0, "+/="  {Diagram?}  
       White has a very solid advantage in this particular position. {A.J.G.} ]  

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

 

4.Bxc6!?,   {Diagram?}    
Very provocative. White says,  "I am going to double your Pawns, no matter what!"  

White the doubled pawns are not terminal (yet), they are very clumsy, and make it 
difficult to organize the second player's counterplay ... 
without giving White a target  to attack.  

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

     [ Instead  MCO  gives the variation:  4.0-0 Nge75.c3!? a66.Be2!? d5;  
        7.exd5 Nxd58.d4 cxd49.Nxd4!?{Diagram?}  
        This makes things too easy for Black, and allows too many exchanges.  

           ( It makes more sense to try:  >/=   9.cxd4,  "+/="  {Diagram?}      
             and try to make something out of White's slight edge in space.      
             (This exact idea - and position - is covered in GM A. Baburin's      
               book  on  isolated-QP skeletons:  "Winning Pawn Structures.")  )     

       9...Nxd410.Qxd4 Bd7{Diagram?}   
       The end of the column.  

       11.Bf3 Bc612.Nd2 Qc713.Nc4, "+/="  {Diagram?}  
       White has a tiny edge, although according to Kramnik Black 
       can equalize with ...b5!   

       GM V. Kramnik - GM I. Miladinovic  ICT / Investia-Bank (Open?)  
       Belgrade, Yugoslavia;  1995.  (A long game - that was drawn.)  

       [ See MCO-14;  page # 353, column # 3, and also note # (l.). ]     

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

 

4...bxc6;  5.b3!?,  {Diagram?}    
White chooses a fianchetto ... a somewhat controversial deployment at this stage of the game.  

     [ One book gives the continuation:  5.0-0 Ne76.d3!? Ng6; "="  {Diagram?}  
        when Black has supposedly equalized. (I am not so certain.)  

        The most recent master-level game that I could find was:  
        GM Vladislav Nevednichy (2593) - IM Hugo Tirard (2407);  
        18th Touraine Open, 2003. (This game was eventually drawn.) ]    

 

5...d5;  {Diagram?}    
Black chooses the most solid move that he can play in this position ... 
but it certainly is not his only choice.
(Besides ...d5, Black also could consider ...d6; ...f6!?; ...Nf6?!; ...Ne7; 
  ...Qf6!?;  --->  and even ...Qb6!?)   

     [ Very interesting was the move:  5...f6!?; "~"  {Diagram?}  
       Which is an obvious attempt to block White's Bishop on the long 
       diagonal ... but this try has had little or no GM tests. ]   

 

6.Qe2,  {See the diagram just below.}   
Now the first player had to do something about his unprotected King Pawn. 

 

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

  The position after White's sixth move in this game. (gotm_01-04_pos1.gif, 50KB)

  (The position just after White plays the move of 6.Qe2.)  

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

 

White does not want to play Nc3 or even d3, but instead here opts to move the Queen. 

This position is NOT new, but has actually occurred in several other master-level games ... 
prior to this one.  

     [ Maybe playable is:   6.d3!?, "=" ]     

 

6...Ne7!?;  {Diagram?}    
This is certainly a reasonable move for Black in this position, but I imagine the simple ...Nf6; 
was probably better.  

     [ Black could also play:   6...a5!?7.Nc3 Nf68.0-0 c4!?9.bxc4 Bb4;  
       10.Bb2 0-011.e5 Nd712.cxd5 Ba613.d3 cxd5; "~"  {Diagram?}  
       and although White is a pawn up, Black apparently had enough play to  
       {eventually} draw the game.  

       GM Ratmir Kholmov - GM Evgeny Sveshnikov  
       URS Cup - Soviet Union / U.S.S.R; 1984. ]   

 

7.Ba3!? Ng6;  {See the diagram ... just below.}     
Black appears to be fine ...  many programs even rate Black as slightly better. 
(The position is probably about equal.)

 

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

   The actual game position - just after Black plays his Knight to g6. (gotm_01-04_pos2.gif, 50 KB)

  (A diagram of the position just after 7...Ng6.)  

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

 

At this point, we have a very UN-balanced game ... but with equal chances for both sides.  

     [ Interesting is:   7...Qb6!?; "~"   ]   

 

8.0-0 Qa5?!;  (Maybe - '?')   {Diagram?}    
The Queen foray {here} is positionally unjustified, this powerful piece is completely out of play ... 
and will have to be moved again - to find a really effective post.  

*******

     [ Black can equalize completely with:  >/=  8...Qf6!9.Nc3 Nf4{Diagram?}  
       Now Black can almost force a drawn position.  

           ( If instead, the second player wishes to avoid a possible draw,  he can     
             maintain a very dynamic position with the move:  9...a5!?; "~"  {Diag?}    
             when Nakamura would have nothing to fear. )     

        10.Qe3 d411.e5 dxe312.exf6 exd213.Rfd1 gxf614.Ne4 Be7;  
        15.Bxc5 Rg8;  "="  {Diagram?}      
       This position is almost completely equal;  Black's advantage of having the two 
       Bishops is completely balanced by his defects in his pawn skeleton. I really 
       can't imagine either player losing from here. ]   

*******

 

9.Bb2 Bd6!?;  (Probably - '?!')   {Diagram?}   
Black provokes White ... when it was not really wise to do so.
(The second player is behind in development ... and also opens lines.)  

     [ Maybe safer was the simple move of: (>/=)   9...f6;  "~"  {Diagram?}  
        when Black looks to be OK. ]   

 

White does not back away from the challenge laid down by his opponent. 
10.Bxg7!,  {Diagram?}     
The complications that arise from this move are truly mind-boggling. 
But White stands no risk of losing with this move, and ... although this shot may not 
win by force ... the first player gets at least a chance to (try) and win the game.

     [ Instead the move of   10.e5!?, "="  {Diagram?}    
        would have probably led to a quick and very dull draw. ]   

 

The next few moves are all forced, or represent best play.  
10...Nf4;  11.Qe3! Rg8;  12.e5 Nxg2!;   {See the diagram just below.}     
This move is best ... and seemingly leads to a decent advantage for Black. 
But appearances can be very deceiving ... especially in chess. 

 

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

   Nakamura just played the sneaky "Knight-takes-Pawn-on-g2."  WHY?  (gotm_01-04_pos3.gif, 50 KB)

 (The position just after 12...Nxg2! by Black.) 

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

 

I did not have time - because of the holidays - to show this game to a lot of students, or do any real (Internet) polling ... as concerns this game. But I would guess that the average player, much like my roommate, would think Black was better from this position.  

 

     [ After the moves:  
        </=  12...Qb4?!13.exd6 Rxg714.g3, "+/="  {Diagram?}   
       White holds a slight advantage. 
       (Black is behind in development, his position is disorganized, and 
        he is also very weak on the dark squares - in this position.) ]  

 

13.Qh6!,  {See the diagram ... just below.}    
One of those sneaky "in-between" moves - also known as a ... 
"zwischenzug."  This was probably the move that Nakamura must have
missed - or severely underestimated - from this position, when he began his 
calculations for this combination. 

 

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

   White just played the highly interesting Qh6, it took me several minutes to figure out the point of this move.  (gotm_01-04_pos4.gif, 50 KB)

  The position just after White plays his excellent thirteenth move. (13.Qh6!)  

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

 

This is one of those games that even a strong computer has difficulty in trying to determine 
what the best move is.  

     [ After the simple moves of:   13.Kxg2 Rxg7+14.Kh1 Be7;  "=/+"  {Diag?}   
        Black is probably slightly better. ]  

 

13...Ne1;  {Diagram?}    
Black must try something sneaky, as he is rapidly being outplayed.  

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

     [ After the plausible moves:  13...Nh4!?14.exd6! Nxf3+    
        15.Kh1 Ba616.d3, "+/="  {Diagram?}    
       we have transposed back into the {actual} game.   

*******

       Maybe playable for Black was:  13...Ne3!?;  ('?!')  14.Qxh7 Rxg7+{Diag?}   
       This is forced, here.  

        15.Qxg7 Bf816.Qg8 Nxc2!17.Ng5 Qc718.Nc3 Nxa119.Nh7,     
        19...Qe720.Rxa1, "+/="  {Diagram?}     
       White is a little better, but this position could be  'drawable'  for Black.  
       (With a lot of work.)  ]   

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

 

14.exd6!,  {Diagram?}    
Once again, White shows that he does not fear the complications.

In a way, this was forced, as it appears that the position that arises after 
14.Rxe1 (clearly) favors Black.  

     [ After the moves of:   </=  14.Rxe1!? Bf815.Kh1 Rxg7    
        16.Qh5 Qb4;  "=/+"  (Maybe - '/+')  {Diagram?}     
        Black has nothing to fear. ]    

 

The next few moves appear to be forced and/or best for both sides.  
14...Nxf3+;  15.Kh1 Ba6;  16.d3 Qd8!?;  ('?!/?')  (Inaccurate?)   {Diagram below.}       
Black decides to rid himself of the annoying White pawn on d6, but he probably jumps too 
early at the possibility of getting rid of this button. (There is also a definite loss of time that is 
associated with this move.) 

 

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

   Black just played his Queen back to d8 - this could be a mistake from which there is no recovery from.  (gotm_01-04_pos5.gif, 51 KB)

  The position in the game just after Black played 16...Qd8.  

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

 

After a couple of weeks of analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Black's game cannot be saved after
this move. But it also takes some pretty and imaginative play by White to drive home this point! 

 

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

     [  Maybe better was:  >/=  16...Qb6!?17.Qxh7 0-0-0    
        18.Bf6 Rdf819.Qh5, "+/="  {Diagram?}      
        and although White appears to be slightly better in this position, 
        I am sure that this would have been better than the actual game. 

*******

        Maybe also playable was:  16...0-0-0!?17.Bc3 Qb618.Qf4 Nd4   
        19.Bxd4 cxd420.Qxf7 Kb8!;  "~"  {Diagram?}     
        with a very wild position. ]   

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

 

17.Nd2!,  (Maybe - '!!')  {Diagram?}   
An extremely good move ... Black's reply is forced. And it is not at all obvious - 
... at least, not to me - what White intends as a follow-up.  

     [ 17.Qxh7!? Kd7!18.Bc3 Qf8;  "~"  ]   

 

17...Nxd2;  18.Rg1!!,  {Diagram?}     
A truly brilliant and inspired move, and yet another "in-between move."  
(The expected move was probably the re-capture of the Knight on d2.)  

*******

     [ The alternatives for White were not at all good:  
       18.Qxd2 Rxg7;  "-/+"  {Diagram?}  Black has an extra piece.  

***

       Or even the continuation: 
        18.Bf6 Qxd619.Rg1 Kd7!; "/+"  {Diagram?}   
        and Black is clearly better. ]   

*******

 

18...Qxd6;  {Diagram?}   
This is practically forced for Black, ... 
 he gets into a LOT of trouble if he tries to save his Knight on d2!  

 

*******

     [ After the moves:    </=  18...Ne4?!19.dxe4 Be2;    
        
20.Qf4, "+/="  {Diagram?}   
        White is clearly better.  (Maybe  "+/");  

***

       Very bad for Black was:  </=  18...Nf3?19.Bf6! Rxg1+!? 
        20.Rxg1 Qxd6; {Diagram?}   Black has little choice now.    

           ( After the moves of: </= 20...Nxg1?!;  21.Bxd8 Rxd8;       
             22.Kxg1,  ("+/-")  {Diag?} Black should simply resign. )       

        21.Rg8+ Kd722.Rxa8 Kc7 []{Diagram?}  
       This looks like it is forced  ...  to avoid a loss of a piece.  

        23.Rd8!,  ("+/-")  {Diagram?}   when White has an easily won  
       game - Black probably has to play ...Qxh2+;  in this position. ]   

*******

 

The next series of moves look to be best  ...  for both parties.  
19.Qxd2 0-0-0;  20.Qh6 Bb7;  21.Bf6 Rxg1+;  22.Rxg1 Re8;    
23.Qxh7,  "+/="   {See the diagram, just below here.}       
With this move ... White finally re-establishes material equality.  

 

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

   White just took a Pawn on h7 ... what is the significance of this move?  (gotm_01-04_pos6.gif, 52 KB)

  (This is the actual game position after White's twenty-third move - 23.Qxh7.) 

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

 

Now which side is better?  

With Black's Bishop blocked behind his Pawns, White's pieces are much more active 
than their Black counterparts, and the fact that Black cannot deal with the passed White 
KRP effectively ... all these factors mean White holds a very real and significant advantage.  
(Despite the presence of the opposite-colored Bishops here.)  

     [ Interesting was:  23.Rg7!? ]  

 

23...Qf4!?;  {Diagram?}    
This loses an exchange by force.  

It would have been very easy to label this move a lemon, attach a question mark, 
and say that this move is the reason Black lost this game. But this would not be true, 
Black's problems started long ago  ...  in this game! 

  The move ...Qf4; - sacrificing the exchange for counterplay - may be the only   
  practical chance left for Black.      

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

     [ Seemingly better was  ...Qd7.  But a very deep analysis of this position reveals 
       that Black is probably lost. I could offer reams of analysis here, but will content 
       myself with just one line - to demonstrate White's edge:  
        </=  23...Qd7!?;  ('?!')  {Diagram?}   
       The problem with this move is that Black is extremely passive and has ....
       almost no counterplay.  

        24.Rg8! d4!?{Diagram?}   
       Black has few viable choices here.  

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

           ( Black is also worse after each of the following continuations:  
             Variation  # 23B1a.) 
              </=  24...Rxg8?;  25.Qxg8+ Kc7;  26.Qf8! d4;   27.Qxc5 Qd5+;   
               28.Qxd5 exd5;  29.Bxd4, "+/-"  {Diagram?}  
              White has a won game. 

***

             Variation  # 23B1b.)   
              24...Kb8!?;  ('?!')  25.Rxe8+ Qxe8;  26.c4! d4!?; 
              27.h4!, '±'  {Diagram?}   as in many variations, Black cannot   
              effectively deal with the advance of the White h-pawn. 

***

             Variation  # 23B1c.)   
             24...c4!?;  25.Qh8 Rxg8;  26.Qxg8+ Kc7;  27.Qf8! cxd3;  
             28.cxd3 Ba6;  29.d4 Kb7;  30.Kg2!, '±'  {Diagram?}  
             with Be5 to follow ... Black is virtually defenseless on the dark squares. )  

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

         25.h4!, '±' {'+/'} (Maybe  "+/-")  {Diagram?}     
        White's plan of advancing his RP all the way to h7 - and then create winning threats 
        thanks to the pawn - Black has no adequate answer for this simple but effective plan. ]   

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

 

24.Rg8! Qxf6;  {Diagram?}     
Now White wins an exchange ... and the win is only  ...  
"a matter of technique."   

But I must stress that the average player should study the remainder of this game ... 
VERY CAREFULLY!!! 
(This technique is very fine, and it is well worth the effort to study and acquire it.) 

*******

     [ Even worse for Black is:  </=  24...Rxg8?!; ('??')  25.Qxg8+ Kc726.Qxf7+!? 
        26...Kb827.Qxe6 Qf3+{Diagram?}  
       Something like this appears forced.  

           ( </=  27...Bc8??;   28.Be5+ Kb7?;  29.Qe7+ Ka6;  30.Bxf4, "+/-" )      

        28.Kg1 Qd1+29.Kg2 Kc7{Diagram?}  
       There are few good choices for Black in this position.  

           ( </=  29...a6??;  30.Qd6+ Ka8;  31.Qf8+ Ka7!?;  32.Qxc5+,  "+/-" {D?}     
              and Black should be mated in something like five or six moves.       

              Or </=  29...Qxc2 ???;  30.Be5+ Ka8;  31.Qg8+ Bc8;  32.Qxc8#. )       

       The remainder of these moves are nearly forced or best.  
        30.b4! Kb631.bxc5+ Ka632.h4 Qxc2!?33.Qf5 Qxa234.h5 Qd2  
        35.Bg7,  ("+/-")  {Diagram?}   and Black cannot stop the triumphant march 
       of the White h-pawn. (It is not always necessary to calculate such variations, 
       an experienced player knows that the second player has a bad Bishop will be 
       virtually defenseless on the dark squares.) 

*****

       A wonderful piece of analysis to be sure, but the move of   26.Qxf7+, ('??')     
       can be improved upon  ...  and considerably so.   (26.Qd8#.)     
       {My thanks to Steven Etzel for catching this and pointing it out!}  
        --->  Monday;  February 02nd, 2004.   ]     

*******

 

The win here is not at all easy, the White King will soon become very exposed. 
(One careless move could easily throw away the win!)  
25.Rxe8+ Kd7;  26.Rg8! Qxf2;  27.Qh3 c4;  28.Qg2 Qf4;  29.Rg3! Qc1+;     
30.Qg1 Qxc2;  {Diagram?}     
Black is almost holding his own. (Or so it seems.) 

     [ 30...Qd2!? ]  

 

Now White both activates the Queen, and snips off a valuable pawn.
31.Qxa7 Qd1+;  32.Kg2 Qe2+!?;  {Diagram?}    
This loses ... as after the interposition of Qf2, the Queens come off. 
But there were very few playable alternatives.  

 

     [ Not   </=  32...Kc8??33.Rg8+, ("+/-")  {Diagram?}   
       and White has a winning attack.  

*******

       Also unsavory for Black was:  </= 32...Kc7?!33.Rg7! Qc2+34.Qf2 cxd3! 
       35.Kg3! Qxf2+36.Kxf2 Ba637.Rxf7+ Kd638.Ke3! d4+!;   39.Kd2[] 
       39...e540.Ra7! Bc841.Kxd3,  '±'  {Diagram?}   
       & White should win here, it is only a matter of technique. ]   

 

White's next move is pretty much forced. Otherwise Black would probably 
be able obtain a draw by a  "perpetual check."  
33.Qf2 cxd3;  {Diagram?}   
This is pretty much forced.  

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

 

     [ Even worse was:  </=  33...Qxf2+?34.Kxf2 cxd335.Rxd3 e5 
        36.h4! d437.h5 c538.h6 Be439.Rh3! Bh740.Rg3 Ke6 
        41.Rg7 Bd342.h7 Bxh743.Rxh7,  ("+/-")  {Diagram?}    
        with an easily won game.  

*******

       </=  33...Qd1?;  ('??')  34.Qxf7+ Kd635.Qf8+! Ke536.Qh8+ Kd6    
        37.Qb8+! Kc538.b4+! Kd439.Qa7+ c540.Qxc5+ Kc341.dxc4+ Kb2  
        42.Qf2+ Ka143.Rg7! Ba844.Ra7! Qg4+45.Qg3 Qe2+46.Kh1! Bc6; {D?}  
        Black has to play this.  

           ( Not   46...Qf1+?;  47.Qg1,  {Diagram?}    
             and the Queens come off the chess board. )    

        47.b5!,  ("+/-")  {Diagram?}   and White has a winning attack. ]     

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

 

34.Qxe2 dxe2;   {See the diagram just below.}     
One (older) program considers this position to be slightly better for Black.
The material situation is not so bad, but Black will soon realize that the 
White h-Pawn cannot be stopped.

 

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

   Black just played...dxe2; the game is now a simple "win on technique," as long as White has the skill.  (gotm_01-04_pos7.gif, 53 KB)

  The actual game position after Black's 34th move. (...dxe2)  

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

 

Now that the Queens have been exchanged, Black's counterplay has been reduced to almost zero.

 

The first - very obvious - step, is for White to neutralize the very dangerous Black Pawn 
on the e2-square.  
35.Kf2! d4;   36.h4! c5;  37.h5 Be4;  38.Kxe2 e5;  39.h6 Kc6;   
40.a4!,  ("+/-")  {Diagram?}    
The win is pretty simple from here, Black's King is of little use, and the Bishop 
cannot stop two passed, far-advanced Rook-Pawns ... at the same time!  

An extremely good game by the (former) Russian star, Sutovsky. 

 

   Copyright (c)  A.J. Goldsby I.   Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 2003 & 2004.    

  (I first annotated this game - roughly - in December, 2003. Then I re-did it before posting it here.)  

 

     [ After the somewhat simple moves:   40.a4! Kd541.Rg7 Ke642.h7 Bxh7   
        43.Rxh7 f5!?44.a5 e445.a6 d3+46.Ke3 Ke547.Rh4 f4+48.Rxf4 
        48...d249.Rf1,  ("+/-")  {Diagram?}   
        the position is completely without ... even a glimmer of hope  ... ... for Black. ]   

 

  1 - 0  

 

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   All games - the HTML code was originally - Generated with the program,   ChessBase 8.0    

   All diagrams were created with the program -  Chess Captor 2.25.     


 Supplementary study games:   
Study the following games (click on the links) in connection with this one to further deepen your understanding of this particular opening. This is an extremely good study technique, I discovered it from the old days of GM Svetozar Gligoric's column, ("Game Of The Month"); in the chess magazine, CL&R. ('Chess Life and Review')  Basically what Gligoric did was to analyze one game in very great depth, to include a special focus on the opening. Then he would give you 5-10 games to study that were the same opening as the main game, but different sub-variations. (It used to take me a whole month to thoroughly study his column!!) 

 ************************ 

Game no. # 01:  GM M. Adams - GM R. KasimdzhanovFIDE World Championship, (KO Tn. / Rd. #7.7); Tripoli, Libya; 2004.  (White built up basically a won position right out of the opening, developing along lines almost EXACTLY like a Ruy Lopez formation.  (With 24.Ra7!, White would have basically had a won game.)  This {tie-break} game - incidentally - also decided the World's Championship. The whole match was extremely exciting, with FOUR decisive games out of six!!! Be sure to  READ  the  ChessBase  report in full!) 

 ******* 

You can also now visit my  downloads page ... and download the annotated collection of ALL the games ... 
of the  Kasimdzhanov - Adams  match for FREE!!!!!  

Please be sure to do this, as all the games - especially the one mentioned above - is annotated in great detail. 

 ******* 

Game no. # 02:  GM Marat Dzhumaev (2520) - GM Konstantin Chernyshov (2585) / [B51]    
/ 14th Open / Abu Dhabi, UAE; (Round # 9), 23.08.2004.  
An extremely sharp attacking game ... that makes a good compliment to this game for January, 2004. 

 

Game no. #03:  GM Alexander Morozevich (2731) - GM Magnus Carlsen (2675) / [B30]  
/ GM Tournament (DRR) / Round # 07 / Biel, Switzerland; 24,07,2006.  
Black won a very odd struggle, it appears that Morozevich missed a forced win in this contest.  (See the D/L for August, 2006.)  


Supplementary Study game (#04) 

 

  S. Rublevsky (2645) - M. Sorokin (2599)  
 [B51] 
 TCh-RUS / Sochi RUS (Round #8), 26,04,2005. 

  [A.J.G.]  

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

1.e4 c52.Nf3 Nc63.Bb5 d64.Bxc6+ bxc65.0-0 e56.c3 Nf67.Re1 Bg48.h3 Bh5;  
 9.d4 cxd410.cxd4 Nd711.Be3 Be712.Nbd2 exd413.Bxd4 0-014.Nf1 Qa5!?;  

     [ >/= 14...Bf6; "="  or  14...Rb8!?; "~" ]   

15.Bc3 Qc716.Ng3 Bxf3?!17.Qxf3 Ne518.Qe3 g6?!19.f4 Nd720.Nf5! Bf6;  
 21.Bxf6 Nxf622.Qd4 gxf523.Qxf6 Qd8?;  A mistake in a difficult position.  

     [ >/= 23...fxe4[]; ]  

24.Qxf5 Qb6+25.Kh2 Qxb226.e5! Rfe827.Qg5+ Kf828.Qh6+ Kg8;  

     [ </= 28...Ke7??; 29.Qxd6#. ]   

29.f5! Kh830.Qf6+ Kg831.Re4!,  ("+/-")   1 - 0  


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***

  This page was first posted on:  Wednesday;  January 28th, 2004.    This page was last updated on 03/18/15 .

***

 (I was a bit late with this game, I had the flu ... and several things had to get moved ahead of this. I apologize for missing the deadline.) 


   COPYRIGHT (c) A.J. Goldsby I;   Copyright (©) A.J. Goldsby; 1985 - 2014.    

  Copyright (©) A.J. Goldsby, 2015.  All rights reserved.