|
GM Alex Shirov (2713) -
GM Bojan Kurajica (2540)
|
|
|
A.J.'s
"Game of The Month" for June, 2004.
(From TWIC # 498.)
[Replay
this game - on the CG website.]
This game was played in ...
"The XXXIV Bosna Tournament."
(A Super-GM event held in Europe.
Sarajevo, Bosnia; {BIH} 2004.)
{Bosnia was formerly part of
the country called Yugoslavia.}
Alex Shirov dominated this event ...
and scored "PLUS SIX," (six wins,
like three draws and no losses.
He
dominated the event from start to finish, and manage to avoid losing
to his {former} nemesis, ...
...
Bosnian GM Sergei Movsesian.
[ Shirov had a disappointing
performance at Linares, although his
win against GM Teimour Radjabov
was very fine.
Here the big guy
returns to form with a near 2900
performance rating.
(A couple more results like this, and
he will
be back into the "top five"
in the world ... where I think he
belongs.) ]
This game features the now popular "Center Counter Opening," which was considered to be completely unsound ... (about fifty years ago); ... but now is played at virtually every level. Shirov plays sharp chess - and quickly defeats a strong GM. (A good game to study to sharpen your tactics ... and maybe positional chess as well.)
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
The ratings are accurate and are FIDE ratings for the players. (These were the ratings that were given for these players when I downloaded this game from TWIC. Of course, the game was completely UN-annotated when I downloaded it!)
{Opening survey included.}
1.e4 d5;
('!?') {See
the diagram - just below.}
The "Centre-Counter," ... an extremely
"bad and ill-advised opening," ...
wrote Howard Staunton many years
ago. (Circa mid-eighteen hundreds.)
*********************
|
|
*********************
Less than 50 years ago, (1960's); when one of Bobby Fischer's opponent's played this defense against onethe greatest players America ever produced; the experts likened the use of 1...d5; to committing hara-kiri.
[ A good example of this would be Fischer's win in only 20 moves over Karl Robatsch from the 1962 FIDE (men's) Olympiad in Varna, Bulgaria. ]
**************
Indian GM, Viswanathan Anand once used this opening in a World's Championship Match against Garry Kasparov.
(This event was held on the very top of one of the buildings of The World Trade Center ... often referred to as: "The Twin Towers of New York City." Of course these structures no longer exist, they were destroyed in a very dastardly and cowardly attack on the morning of September 11th, 2001.) Although Anand eventually lost the game, it was not the opening phase of the contest that was at fault.
**************
Today a completely different opinion
of this opening holds sway:
<< The Center Counter Defense, (also
known as the Scandinavian Defense);
is easy to play and learn. 1...d5;
contests the center and removes the
White King-Pawn from play, ensuring
that Black will not have great
troubles
ahead. >>
The author goes on to note
that there is a slight tempo loss involved with this opening, and that
the first player usually can
maintain a
small, but solid edge. He also states
that few Top GM's use this system,
except as an occasional surprise
weapon.
- GM Nick de Firmian.
(MCO-14; page # 375.)
2.exd5 Qxd5;
{Diagram?}
Black does not have to take with
the Queen here ... the second player
also has the option of ...Nf6 in this
position as well.
[ Black can also play ...Nf6 here.
For example:
2...Nf6!?;
3.Bb5+!?, ('!')
{Diagram?}
Maybe the best line for White.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
( For the move of: 3.d4!?, "+/=" {Diagram?}
see MCO-14,
page # 376;
column # 04, and all applicable
notes for this line. )
( For the continuation of: 1.e4 d5;
2.exd5 Nf6; 3.Nf3 Nxd5; 4.d4,
see the following {addendum} game.
(V. Topalov - G. Kamsky; CORUS, 2006.)
)
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
3...Nbd7!;
{Diagram?}
Stronger than the much weaker
line of "Bishop-to-d7" for Black.
[ See MCO-14, page # 376;
column # 06, and all notes. ]
( </= 3...Bd7!?; ('?!') 4.Bc4 b5; 5.Bb3 a5; 6.a4!, "+/=")
4.d4!, (principals)
{Diagram?}
White should definitely continue
with ideas like controlling the center
and
getting developed.
( It is both stupid and pointless to try and hang onto the extra Pawn.
For example: </= 4.c4!?, ('?!') 4...a6!; 5.Ba4 b5!!;
6.cxb5 Nxd5;
7.d4 N5b6!; 8.Bb3!? Bb7; 9.Nf3 axb5; "="
{Diagram?}
when Black looks to have no
problems at all in this position.
{As long as the second player
continues with systematic and
consistent development.} )
4...Nxd5; 5.Nf3 a6; 6.Bd3
e6; 7.0-0 N7f6; 8.Re1 c5;
9.Nbd2 cxd4;
10.Nxd4 Be7; 11.N2f3 0-0; 12.a3 Qc7;
13.c4 Nf4;
14.Bf1!,
"+/=" (space) {Diagram?}
White has a small, but marked
advantage in this position.
The
Queenside Pawn majority could be a game-breaker in the late
middlegame or early ending. {An analysis line.}
]
3.Nc3 Qd6!?;
{See the diagram - just below.}
A slight departure from the norm.
(The most commonly played moves for Black here are the retreat to the d8-square, and the move, ...Qa5.)
*********************
|
|
*********************
GM B. Kurajica plays these lines on
occasion, I found {at least} one other
game in the database where he had
played this line before.
The move of " ...Queen-to-d6" is not
really bad, in fact some books on this
opening don't even cover this move.
But the fact remains that it is sometimes
used by the second player, and therefore a player of the White pieces
must
be prepared to meet this line.
(See the May, 2005 issue of "Chess Life" {page # 38} for more details about 3...Qd6; here.)
[ The modern main line is:
>/= 3...Qa5!?;
('!')
4.d4 Nf6; 5.Nf3 Bg4;
('!?') {Diagram?}
A common retort in this position.
************************************************************************
a.)
Black also plays the solid move of
...c6; in this position. For example:
(>/=) 5...c6; ('!?')
6.Bc4, ('!?')
{Diagram?}
This is probably the move that is played the most in this particular position.
*******
( Another good move here is:
"=" 6.Bd3, Bg4; 7.h3, Bh5!?; 8.Bd2,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
N. Managadze (2456) - A. Istratescu (2578); / ICT / 4th Masters (open)
Halkída, Greece; 2000. (Note - This
is called "Khalkís" in the Atlas.)
(The game was eventually drawn, but White built up an extremely promising
position at one point.) )
*******
6...Bf5; 7.Bd2 e6; 8.Qe2 Bb4; 9.0-0-0 Nbd7;
10.a3,
10...Bxc3; 11.Bxc3 Qc7; 12.Ne5,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
and White has a solid edge.
For example, see the contest:
GM Ivan Morovic {Fernandez}
(2575) -
GM Amador Rodriguez {Cespedes} (2485);
ICT / Capablanca Memorial ("A")
/
Cienfuegos, CUB; (Rd. # 4), 1996.
(White won a beautiful attacking game {1-0} in only 32 moves.)
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
b.)
Another interesting line for Black
is the following variation:
5...Bf5!?; 6.Bc4 c6; 7.Bd2 e6; 8.Qe2 Bb4;
9.0-0-0 Nbd7; {Diagram?}
The CB database says there are
nearly 500 chess games from this
position alone!
10.a3 Bxc3; 11.Bxc3 Qc7; 12.Ne5,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
White has a solid edge here.
GM M. Ulibin -
GM A. Hauchard;
ICT /
14th (city) Open /
Andorra, ESP, (Spain);
1996. (1-0, 25 moves.)
*****************************************************************************
(Returning to the main analysis line here.)
6.h3! Bh5; 7.g4! Bg6; 8.Ne5! e6;
9.Bg2 c6; 10.h4!?,
{Diagram?}
Thunder ... and lightning! (But perhaps not completely
necessary?)
*******
( After the moves: 10.Nxg6!? hxg6; 11.Qe2 Nbd7;
12.Bd2, "+/=" {Diagram?}
White is just slightly better.
R. Preusser - M. Becking; DLM / Germany; 1997. (1-0 in 33 moves.) )
*******
10...Be4!?; {Diagram?} The end of the column.
11.Bxe4! Nxe4; 12.Qf3 Nd6[];
{Diagram?}
This is forced.
[ See MCO-14, page # 376; column # 01, and also note # (e.). ]
( Of course not: </= 12...Nxc3??; 13.Qxf7+ Kd8;
14.Bg5+!, ("+/-") {Diagram?}
and White has a winning attack. )
Now White should probably play:
13.Bd2!,
{Diagram?}
This is almost certainly best.
(White threatens Ne4, winning.)
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
( MCO-14 only gives: </= 13.Bf4!?, ('?!')
13...f6; "~" {Diagram?}
but Black is fine here. (Maybe
"=/+") Popovich - Rogers; Vrsac / 1987. )
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
The remaining moves look forced.
13...Nd7;
(N?)
{Diagram?}
Black almost has to play this.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
( Less appealing is: >/=
13...f6!?; 14.Nd3 Nd7; 15.0-0-0, "+/=" {Diagram?}
with a very solid edge to White
in this particular position.
S. Klimov - D. Feofanov; 77th (open) City Championships
/
St. Petersburg, RUS; 2004.
(White won a powerful game ...
and scored the point in 62 moves.) )
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
14.Nxd7 Kxd7; 15.0-0-0,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
White has to be a little better here.
(My own analysis
line.).
*******************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************
A solid line ... but one that also
hands the initiative over to White,
is the following continuation:
= 3...Qd8!?; 4.d4 Nf6;
{Diagram?}
This is probably best here.
*******************************************************************************
( Not to be recommended was: </=
4...g6!?; ('?!') 5.Bf4! Bg7; 6.Qd2! Nf6;
7.0-0-0, '±' {Diagram?} with a clear advantage to White.
R.J. Fischer - K. Robatsch; (FIDE) World Team Championship
/
(Commonly known as ...
"The Olympiad.") / (men's finals)
Varna, BUL; 1962. / (1-0 in only 20
moves!)
[ See MCO-14, page # 376; column # 01, and note # (b.). ] )
*******************************************************************************
(Returning to the main analysis line.)
5.Nf3! Bg4!?; 6.h3! Bh5;
{Diagram?}
The wisest course here.
( Of course not: </= 6...Bxf3!?; (?!) 7.Qxf3 Qxd4??; 8.Qxb7, "+/-" winning easily. )
7.g4! Bg6; 8.Ne5! e6;
9.Bg2, "+/=" ('±')
{Diagram?}
with a very clear advantage for
White in this position.
GM Murray Chandler (2590) -
GM Marc Santo-Roman (2495);
National (G/60) Team Championships /
Cannes, FRA; 1992. (1-0, 44m.)
[ See MCO-14, page # 376; column # 01, and also note # (b.); Part # {A.} ] ]
(After a - not so brief - excursion into the state of modern opening theory, we return to the game at hand.)
4.d4 Nf6;
{Diagram?}
Simple development is probably
the best policy here.
[ Probably not as effective would
be the continuation:
(</=) 4...g6!?; 5.Nf3 Nf6;
6.Nb5!, "+/=" {Diagram?}
with a clear advantage to White.
V. Kozak - V. Smirnov;
National Championship Qualifying
Tournament / (semi-final stage)
Yaroslavl, RUS; 1995.
(1-0, 22 moves.) ]
5.Nf3 g6!?;
{See the diagram ... just below.}
This looks slightly dicey to me.
*********************
|
|
*********************
There is not much theory for these
lines ... and only a handful of games. --->
But the contests in the database seem
to <strongly> indicate that Black's best
(or safest) move at this point
would be the cautious and preventative move of 5...a6!?
Obviously, {with ...g6 here}; Black wants to develop his
Bishop on the long diagonal ... the only
question is
does this position allow this
type of ambitious development?
******************************************************************************************
[ Black could also play:
(>/=) 5...a6!?;
6.Be3!?,
{Diagram?}
This is an OK post for this piece,
I guess ... but I would be worried
that Black might try ...Ng4.
*****************************************************************************
( ( Another book gives: >/= 6.Bg5 Nbd7!?;
7.Bd3, "+/=" {Diagram?}
MCO-14, pg. # 376, note (b.). )
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
This volume does not give a
reference here, but this is
probably the contest:
GM C. Lutz - GM B. Kurajica; (FIDE?) Zonal Tournament,
Pula, CRO; 2000. (1-0, 35m.)
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Another idea here is the fianchetto
of White's KB. For example:
6.g3!? b5; 7.Bg2 Bb7; 8.0-0 e6; {Diagram?}
At this point, both sides have
developed fairly normally.
Now the computer wants to play
the move of Ne5 in this position.
But instead White played the
moves ...
9.Bf4!? Qb6; 10.a4, "+/=" {Diagram?}
White maintains a fairly small, yet
consistent 'pull' from this position.
GM Zoltan Almasi (2672) -
GM Bojan Kurajica (2560);
(FIDE) World Team Championships /
(Men's Olympiad)
Bled, SLO; 2002. (1-0, 50 m) )
*****************************************************************************
(We return to the main analysis line.)
6...Nc6; 7.Qd2!? Bf5;
{Diagram?}
So far ... this is all the game:
GM Zhang Zhong
(2607) -
GM Walter Arencibia (2534);
ICT / Sixth (6) Ubeda Open,
Ubeda, ESP; (Spain) 2001.
(White won nicely in under
forty moves in this contest.)
But now play should proceed:
8.Nh4! Be6!;
9.Be2 0-0-0!; 10.Rd1,
"=" {Diagram?}
with a very balanced position. (analysis);
********************************************************************************
********************************************************************************
The pin looks inviting here, but has
not worked out all that well in actual
master-level practice.
For example:
5...Bg4!?; 6.h3! Bxf3;
{Diagram?}
This is probably best here.
*************************************************************************
( Probably not to be
recommended (for Black) is
the following continuation:
6...Bh5!?; ('?!')
7.g4! Bg6; 8.Ne5!,
"+/=" 8...c6!?; 9.Bf4! Nd5;
10.Qd2,
10...Nxf4; 11.Qxf4 Nd7;
12.0-0-0 Nxe5!?; {Diagram?}
This is ugly ... but Black is already
in a very bad bind.
( Maybe >/= 12...e6; 13.h4!, "/\" {Diagram?} would be better? )
13.dxe5 Qc7; 14.Bd3 Bxd3; 15.Rxd3,
"+/=" ('±') {Diagram?}
White is clearly better here. (Much
better.)
GM Lev Psakhis - A. Sygulski; Yurmala, LAT; 1987.
MCO halts its analysis ... and
gives the symbol of '±' after
White's eighth move in this line.
[ See MCO-14; page # 376,
column # 01, and note # (b.). ]; )
*************************************************************************
7.Qxf3 c6[]; 8.Be3 e6;
9.0-0-0, "+/=" {Diagram?}
White is clearly much better.
Peter Leko - Robert J. Felber;
ICCF Correspondence Game /
EM/TT/F/01, e-mail; 1997.
(1-0 in only 24 moves.) ]
******************************************************************************************
6.Nb5!,
("/\")
{Diagram?}
This would seem to be White's most
energetic replay ... the first player
must disrupt the normal course of
Black's development to get (and
sustain) a long-lasting advantage.
[ White could also play
Bc4, "+/=" in this
position, and obtain a small,
but
fairly solid and viable edge.
For example:
6.Bc4 Bg7; 7.0-0 0-0;
8.h3!?, {Diagram?}
Too cautious and routine.
( More energetic was: >/= 8.Nb5!,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
which definitely gives White a solid
edge from this position.
(With / Bf4 next.) )
8...a6;
('!') {Diagram?}
Black probably must play this little
prophylactic move - sooner or later.
So far this is all the game:
GM Lev Psakhis
(2611) -
GM Vladimir Epishin (2567);
ICT / Open Tournament /
4th Vlissingen HZ, (Rd. # 09) /
Zeeland, NED; 29.07.2000. (A short draw.)
*******
Now White should probably play:
9.Re1 b5; 10.Bb3 Bb7; 11.Ne5,
"+/=" (out-post) {Diagram?}
with a small, but solid edge. {Analysis line.}
]
6...Qb6;
{Diagram?}
This is a reasonable move ... it is
unlikely that there is anything better
here for Black.
[
Or
6...Qd8!?;
7.Bf4,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
which also yields a solid edge to
White ... from this position. ]
7.c4!?,
('!') (N?)
{See the diagram ... just below here.}
A simple and good move designed to
increase White's grip on the center;
especially his control over the
d5-square here.
(After close to a
dozen searches of many different
databases, I have determined that
this move was the first original move
of this game.)
*********************
|
|
*********************
But c4 was not the only good move White had at his disposal at this point.
[ Also good for White was:
= 7.Bf4!? Nd5; 8.Bg3 Bh6;
9.Bc4 Nf4; 10.0-0,
"+/=" {Diag?}
with a small, but solid edge
for White in this position.
**********************************************************
The other move of:
7.Bc4!?,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
also promised White at least a
small advantage. ]
7...c6;
('!?') {Box?}
{Diagram?}
This is close to being forced, Black
cannot tolerate White's Knight on b5
for very long at all.
Black also figures to give his Queen ... a "road home." (escape squares)
[ Much worse would be:
</= 7...Nbd7?;
as after: 8.Bf4,
"+/-" {Diagram?}
Black is already losing material.
************************************************************************
Perhaps Black could take a stab
at: 7...a6!?;
8.Nc3 Bg7!?; 9.c5! Qe6+!?; {Diagram?}
Maybe the other play was better.
( Possible the simple: 9...Qa7!?; {Diagram?}
which looks bad for the Queen,
but could be
a safer square in
the long run. )
10.Ne5 b5; 11.cxb6 Qxb6; 12.Bc4 0-0;
13.0-0, "+/=" {Diagram?}
White is solidly better, but maybe
this is superior to what actually
occurred in the game. ]
8.Nc3 Bg4!?;
{Diagram?}
Giving up the Bishop pair, (to help
Black challenge White's center); is
normally part-and-parcel of this
whole variation.
But here it looks like the beginning of all of Black's troubles in this game.
[ I would recommend (instead) that
Black play the following continuation:
>/= 8...Bg7; 9.h3!?,
{Diagram?}
Trying to prevent the pin ... which
seems to ease Black's game.
( Also possible was: 9.Be2!?, '=' )
9...0-0; 10.Qc2 Na6;
11.a3 Rd8; "~" (Maybe "=")
{Diag?}
when I think that Black has a
very good and playable game. ]
9.c5!,
{See the diagram - just below.}
A very nice and energetic move by
Shirov in this position.
*********************
|
|
*********************
White creates holes in his Pawn structure, and risks giving himself a permanently backward Pawn.
Why then would any GM play a move
such as this? The answer is simple,
White gains time (and space), deflects
the attack on his d-pawn, and presents
Black with the challenge of how to
exploit such a move. Further - there
is the problem of the shortage of good
and useful squares for the Black Queen
in this position.
[ After the following moves:
9.Be2 Bg7; 10.h3 Bxf3;
11.Bxf3 Nbd7; 12.0-0 0-0;
13.Re1,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
White only gets a very small edge. ]
9...Qc7;
{Diagram?}
This walks into Bf4 at some point ...
but the alternatives could be worse.
[ </= 9...Qd8!?; ('?!') 10.Qb3!, '±' ]
10.Bc4 Bxf3?!;
(Maybe - '?')
{Diagram?}
Black voluntarily gives up his Bishop ...
hoping to avoid (the worst of) the
storm to come ...
yet Black probably
should just batten down the hatches
and play ...Bg7.
Most programs ... like Fritz 8.0 and ChessMaster9000 notice a sizeable change in the 'score' of the position after this move.
[ Instead of the capture on f3, Black
should probably play:
(>/=)
10...Bg7; 11.h3 Bf5; 12.Ne5 0-0; 13.Bf4,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
when White is clearly better, -
yet with good defense, perhaps Black can
survive this position. ]
11.Qxf3 Bg7;
{See the diagram just below.}
Black simply develops ... and yet he
gets into trouble.
*********************
|
|
*********************
I tell all my students that when a simple
developing move is not the best ...
you must have
done something
really wrong earlier in the game.
(Here, I don't think that it was just
this it was one move that hurt Black,
as it was a whole string of second-rate
tries that probably landed Kurajica in
a giant pot of hot water here.)
[ Maybe 11...Qd7!?; is better? ]
12.Bf4 Qd8!?;
{Diagram?}
This might look natural, but maybe
...Qc8; (aiming for a later ...Qg4),
was a better try for Black.
[ Or 12...Qd7!?; 13.0-0-0, "+/=" {Diagram?} with a solid edge for White. ]
13.0-0-0! 0-0;
14.g4!, (move order)
{See the diagram - just below.}
Shirov prepares a Pawn storm ...
and avoids h4, h5; when it is harder
for the first player to open lines to
the Black King.
*********************
|
|
*********************
Now it is clear why White played the c5 advance ... he is in complete control ... on BOTH sides of the chessboard.
[ Also good for White was the
move:
14.Rhe1?;
"+/" {Diagram?}
which also would have given Shirov
a fairly sizeable edge. ]
14...b5!?;
(dubious?)
{See
the diagram ... just below.}
This move looks ugly, and the
computer does not like it ... yet Black
was already in very deep (& dirty) water here,
and sucking a short straw to boot.
*********************
|
|
This is probably the critical position of the whole game.
(Click on the diagram and buy a
book!)
*********************
Kurajica knows the 'rules' of such positions ... that when an opponent is attacking you vigorously on one wing, often your only hope is to generate your own attack on the other wing. Under such conditions the loss of a Pawn is nearly insignificant ... the only thing that matters is opening lines - as quickly as possible - and getting some counterplay.
[ After moves like:
(>/=) 14...Nbd7; 15.h4
b5; 16.Bb3 b4; 17.Ne2 Nd5; 18.h5! N7f6;
19.Be5 Qd7; 20.hxg6 hxg6;
21.Rdg1, '±' {Diagram?}
White's attack reaches frightening
proportions ... and Black's game
may no longer be salvageable.
{This might still be better than the
course of the actual game ... but
only Bobby Fischer or Deep Blue
could really say for sure.} ]
White now exploits his slight lead
in development - and a small pin.
15.Bxb5, ('!')
15...Nxg4; {Box?}
{Diagram?}
Black tries to distract his opponent's
Queen from the long diagonal.
[
Not </=
15...cxb5??;
as after the simple:
16.Qxa8,
("+/-") {Diagram}
White is winning easily.
]
16.Bc4! Qc8?!;
(Probably - '?')
{See the diagram - just below.}
The final slip.
*********************
|
|
*********************
White now gets the upper hand in the ensuing complications.
[ After the continuation:
(>/=) 16...Nf6[]; 17.Rhe1 e6;
18.Kb1, '±' {Diagram?}
(Shirov is distinctly better.); {and}
Black's position is no fun, but there
is no clear
win yet in sight for
White from here. ]
17.Rhe1! Qf5!?;
{Diagram?}
While it might not have been
exactly enjoyable to play this move,
it is easy to see that
Black has
severe difficulties defending his
e-pawn in this position.
(Not ...e6??; when White can just
capture the Knight for free.)
[ For example:
</= 17...Re8??;
18.Bxb8 Rxb8; 19.Bxf7+ Kh8;
20.Bxe8, "+/-"
{Diagram?}
and Black is clearly losing. ]
18.Rxe7 g5;
{Diagram?}
Black hopes to take advantage of the
fact that White's Queen is unprotected
on f3,
but Shirov has calculated much
further ahead than his opponent.
19.Be2! Qxf4+!?;
(hmmm)
{Diagram?}
This looks rotten for Black ... but
there was probably no salvation for
Kurajica from this position, anyway.
[ Black just about had to play:
19...Nxf2[];
in this position; but after the moves:
20.Qxf2 Qf6; 21.Re4 gxf4;
22.Kb1 Bh6; 23.d5!,
"+/-" {Diagram?}
the second player's cause is
hopeless anyway. ]
20.Qxf4 gxf4;
21.Bxg4 Na6!?; 22.Bf3, '±'
{See
the diagram ... just below.}
Basically Shirov has a won game,
choosing the right move now is
almost a matter of taste as anything
else, now.
*********************
|
|
*********************
It is not just that Black is a Pawn down
in this position - his shattered Pawn
structure, the open g-file, and the
(still)
under-developed nature of his
game mean that Black's cause is
probably a lost one. (Black also has
great difficulty
in trying to make his
pieces work together ... and lacks
the ability to get his pieces to good
squares, as the remainder
of this
contest clearly demonstrates.)
To Bojan Kurajica's credit, he struggles on until there is absolutely no hope of any mistake by Alexei Shirov.
It might be hard for an amateur to
grasp, but no one could have really
criticized Black if he had chosen this
point in the struggle to resign!
[ Also good for White was:
(>/=) 22.Be2! Bf6; 23.Rb7
Nb8; 24.Ne4, '±' (Or "+/-")
{Diag?}
when the win is only a matter of
some accurate technique. ]
22...Rfc8;
{Diagram?}
Black defends the best he can ...
with the position that he has.
*****************************************************************
White's next move permanently
maroons Black's Knight on the edge
of the board.
23.a3!? Kf8!?;
24.Rb7 Rd8; {Diagram?}
This move is probably an error in a
position that is already quite lost.
(The computer says that ...Rc7; was probably forced in this position.)
25.Bh5!
Bxd4?; {Diagram?}
I have always said that you should
not criticize - too harshly - the moves
(or ideas) that a player makes in a
completely lost position; but here
Bojan makes a move (purposefully?)
that greatly shortens the game.
If Black wanted any chance to continue from this position, then he had to play ...Kg8[]; here.
[ Better was:
>/= 25...Kg8[]; {Diagram?}
which was practically forced.
But after the moves:
26.Bxf7+ Kh8; 27.Bc4 Nb8;
28.Re1! Nd7;
29.Re7,
"+/-" {Diagram?}
Black could resign with a clear
conscience. ]
26.Rg1!,
("+/-") {See the
diagram - just below.}
Now Black can only prevent mate
for a short time, and he can only do
so ... by playing "give-away."
Therefore Kurajica throws in the towel.
*********************
|
|
*********************
An extremely well-played game by
Shirov. While perhaps not a true
brilliancy, (it lacks the fireworks and
really outstanding complex shots of a
really super-tactical struggle); the
manner in which Alex reduces a
2500+ GM to rubble in less than 30
moves is truly admirable.
(We all wish we could play this well!)
This is also a good game to study for tactics and some of the more common position for this system - that can arise out of the opening.
(HTML code, initially) Generated with ChessBase 8.0
All
the diagrams on this page, were generated with the excellent little
program, Chess_Captor
2.25.
(Public notice:
Chess Captor is no longer available! In 2014, a friend tried to download
it off the Internet and only got a virus on his computer for his trouble!
A.J. Goldsby. March 18th, 2015.)
**************
Copyright (©) A.J. Goldsby, 2004. All rights reserved.
**************