GM Peter Svidler (2723) - GM Alexey Shirov
(2737)
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[ One of my tournament games was
interesting ...
if only as a lesson of
how NOT to play this line!
3...e6!?;
('?!')
{Diagram?}
Really not good, the Black Bishop is
now trapped behind the Pawn chain.
4.Nf3 c5;
5.c3 Nc6; 6.a3!?, {Diagram?}
A tricky move ... but not really
the absolute best.
( Simply the move: 6.Be2, {Diagram?} will give White a small, but
solid
edge. )
6...Qb6;
7.Bd3 Nge7?!; {Diagram?}
An inferior move ... the correct move
is ...Bd7; or even ...Nh6!?
( Of course not: </= 7...cxd4!?; 8.cxd4 Nxd4??;
9.Nxd4,
9...Qxd4??; 10.Bb5+, ("+/-")
{Diagram?}
wins Black's Queen. This is a rather
standard 'book' trap. )
I now decide to gain a tempo
off the Black Queen ... highlighting
the
inadequacies of Black's entire
approach.
8.dxc5! Qxc5;
9.b4 Qb6; 10.0-0 a5?; {Diagram?}
Most opening and middle-game
manuals are replete with warnings
about opening the game up ...
when you are inferior (or behind)
in development. {Not only this,
Black's Knight is forced to a vastly
inferior square!}
( Black should obviously play
something like:
>/= 10...Ng6; 11.Re1 Qc7;
12.Qe2, "+/=" {Diagram?}
when White has a pull, but Black -
with careful play -
should be OK. )
11.b5 Na7?!;
('?') {Diagram?}
Another move - that is less than
best for Black.
( Black has to play: >/= 11...Nd8; and try to hang on. )
Now I could have played Be3, but
I felt that this might not be the best
place for the Bishop - long term.
(Black's game continues to slide
down
a slippery slope.)
12.a4!? Ng6; 13.Qe2 Be7!?;
14.c4 dxc4!?; 15.Bxc4 0-0;
16.Nc3 Bb4?!; 17.Bb2!? Bxc3?;
{Diagram?}
A horrible decision - Black will
soon realize just how much he
needed his dark-squared Bishop.
( MUCH better was: >/= 17...Rd8 . )
18.Bxc3 Bd7?!; 19.Rfd1 Rfd8?!;
20.Rac1!? Rac8?!; 21.Bd4,
21...Qc7; 22.b6, ("+/-")
{Diagram?}
Black
Resigns, (1-0); his game is
completely hopeless.
A.J. Goldsby I - Terry Smith;
Charlotte Open, 1996.
(My
opponent was coming off two straight upsets.)
This game shows how that Black -
with moves that are close to being
relatively plausible - can lose, and
lose fast. The venom of this whole
line (for White) is NOT to be under-estimated! Wall's book on
miniatures
in the Caro-Kann are
full of examples ... of MASTERS
losing very quickly
in this line!! ]
***************
4.Be3!?,
A VERY unusual move - probably
designed to prevent Black from
breaking with the freeing move of
...Pawn-from-c6-to-c5.
It also has the advantage of getting
his opponent out of book!
(Shirov is known for his opening
preparations.)
*******
[ The main line here is something
like the following: (>/=)
4.Nf3 e6;
5.Be2 c5; {Diagram?}
The most vigorous
response.
***
( Instead, one respected (openings) reference book gives the
line:
5...Ne7!?; 6.0-0 Nd7!?; 7.Nh4!? Bg6; 8.Nd2 c5;
9.c3 Nc6;
10.Nxg6 hxg6; 11.Nf3 Be7; 12.g3!? Qb6;
{Diagram?}
The end of the column.
13.h4!? Rc8; 14.Kg2 cxd4; 15.cxd4 Rc7; 16.Rb1 a6;
17.b4, "+/=" {Diagram?}
White has a rather small - but
relatively solid - edge in this
position given ...
at the end of
the line considered in the book.
GM E. Sutovsky - GM U. Adianto;
Buenos Aires, (ARG); 1997.
[ See MCO-14; page # 185,
column # 1, and also nore # (e.). ] )
***
6.Be3 Nd7; 7.0-0 Ne7;
8.c4!? dxc4; 9.Bxc4 a6;
10.Nc3,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
and I think White is just slightly
better here.
GM G. Kamsky - GM A. Karpov;
Super-GM Tournament
Dos Hermanos, ESP; 1995.
(White won a very nice game in
only 38 moves!) ]
*******
Black now attacks the b2-square,
but Svidler avoids any {possibly}
unsound gambits ...
or the weakening
of any squares, {as after 5.b3},
and then just plans to simply and
calmly
develop all of his pieces. (Never a bad idea.)
4...Qb6!?;
5.Qc1 Nh6!?; {Diagram?}
A modern idea - Black often plays
the maneuver of ...Nh6-f5 in the
variations of the
Caro-Kann and the
French. (The idea is for Black to
increase the pressure against the
d4-square ... a typical motif in these
types of pawn structures.).
Practice has shown that Black has
really nothing to fear from BxN/h6 ...
the dark-squared Bishop and open
lines, are very often very good
compensation for the doubled RP's.
*******
[ Or Black could try:
5...e6; 6.Nf3 h6!?;
7.Be2 c5;
8.c3 Nc6; 9.Nbd2,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
and White is probably just a
little bit better here. ]
*******
Now White increases his edge and
continues to just simply try and
develop all of his pieces.
6.Nf3! e6;
7.Nbd2 c5; ('!?')
The thematic break for Black.
(Although Black could have tried
...Ng4 in this position. Just a thought.)
[ Maybe it would have been slightly
safer for Black to play: 7...a6;
as a preface to ...c5. ]
*****
8.Nb3! Nd7!?;
Personally, I think Black should NOT
allow the center to be opened. And
while Shirov
has calculated very far
ahead ... and seems to have everything
under control - Black's
play violates
certain fundamental chess principles.
(Especially those that concern the
opening.)
Black also becomes exposed on the
e3-a7 diagonal in this game ... making
Shirov's
decision to open the game
one of rather doubtful value.
*******
[ I think it was much better for
Shirov to play something like:
>/=
8...c4!; 9.Nbd2 Ng4!?; ('!')
10.Bf4!? Nc6;
11.c3
h5; "~" {Diagram?}
when it does not look like White
has much of an edge ...
in a type
of position that is mostly closed. ]
*******
Now that Black's pieces are somewhat
oddly placed, Svidler decides to open
the game.
9.dxc5! Nxc5; 10.Nfd4! Ng4!?;
(Probably - '?!')
{See the diagram just below.}
Black rips up White's Pawn structure,
(or wins the Bishop pair); but it
probably costs
him too many tempi ... to be any good.
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GM Alexey Shirov is known for his
very bold ... and often times, very
provocative play.
{Especially with the
Black pieces.}
But here he goes too far in trying to 'push the envelope.'
*******
[ Maybe safer was:
>/= 10...a6!?;
"~" {Diagram?}
but White is still slightly better.
(At least: "+/=");
***
Or after the continuation of:
10...Nxb3!?; 11.axb3 Bc5;
12.c3, "+/=" {Diagram?}
White holds a pretty solid edge. ]
*******
Now Black comes up with a very
unusual plan to safeguard his King.
11.Bb5+ Kd8;
12.0-0 Nxe3;
This is probably best ... it looks
too dangerous to try and capture the
e5-Pawn ... the middle of the board opens up ... and Black's King
is
caught in the center!
(Thanks to all the people who wrote in to ask
this question!!)
{"Why not take the
e-Pawn?"}
********************
[ It is probably risky to try and snatch the e-pawn.
After
the following moves:
12...Nxe5?!; 13.Nxf5 Qxb5;
14.Bxc5 exf5; {Diagram?}
This looks
forced.
( </= 14...Bxc5?; 15.Qg5+ Kd7; 16.Nfd4!
Bxd4;
17.Nxd4 Qb6!?; 18.Qxe5, "+/-" )
15.Bxf8 Rxf8; 16.Qg5+ f6;
17.Qxg7, '±'
("+/") {Diagram?}
White has a huge edge -
practically a won game.
(Black's position is a
mess.) ]
13.Qxe3 Bg6; 14.Rfd1 Kc7;
Black has marched his King right
across the chess board, and almost
looks to be OK.
In some lines ... if
White wants to TRY and win ... he
has to be willing to sacrifice a great
amount of material. The only question
now is: "Will Svidler be willing to take
any risks in
this position, in order to
make an attempt to win?"
*******
[ Also possible was:
14...Nxb3!?;
{Diagram?}
but White is still at least a little
better - in this position. ]
*******
15.c4!,
Of course!! What do you do when
you have your opponent's King in
a rather precarious
position? ... ... ... OPEN THE GAME!!
Naturally this does NOT take away
anything from the fire, brilliance, and
sheer guts and
determination that
GM P. Svidler now demonstrates.
*******
[
White also could have played
the try:
15.a4!?,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
and still maintained a solid edge.
]
*******
15...dxc4!?;
Black agrees to open the center,
as it appears he avoids any damage
to his Pawn Structure,
and also seems
to be all set to win material in many
different lines.
[ Maybe: 15...Rd8!?; instead? (But White would still be better.) ]
*****
White's next series of moves forces
Black to weaken his b6-square to
rid himself of the
annoying White Bishop
on the b5-square.
16.Bxc4 Rc8;
17.Nd2! Kb8; 18.Bb5! a6; 19.Be2!?, (Maybe - '!')
{Diagram?}
This looks very good ... and perhaps
even winning for White.
*******
[ Also possible for Svidler was:
19.b4!? axb5; 20.bxc5 Bxc5;
21.N2b3 Ba3;
22.Qe2,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
and White has a solid edge. ]
*******
19...Na4!;
Black finds a very promising and
very tempting continuation ...
that
might even give Shirov an advantage.
*******
[ Of course not:
</= 19...Qxb2??;
20.Nc4 Qb4; 21.a3 Qa4;
22.Nb6, ("+/-")
{Diagram?} and Black is lost.
***
Interesting was:
19...Qa7!?;
but after simple moves,
(like Rac1, '±');
White has a very solid edge. ]
*******
20.Nc4 Rxc4; ('!')
{Diagram?}
This is almost forced for Black.
*******
[ After the moves:
</=
20...Qa7?!; 21.Nc6+!! bxc6 [];
{Diagram?}
This is completely forced.
( Of course not: </= 21...Rxc6??;
22.Rd8+ Rc8; 23.Rxc8+,
23...Kxc8; 24.Qxa7, ("+/-")
{Diagram?}
with an easy win for White. )
22.Qb3+ Qb7; 23.Qxa4,
'±' {Diagram?}
White is clearly better.
(The
Pawn structure in front of Black's King has been disrupted.) ]
*******
21.Bxc4 Nxb2;
{See the diagram, just
below.}
Now according to an IM - who
was present at this event - most
of the Masters who were
watching
this game felt Black was OK here. (Maybe even better.)
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Black is forking the Rook on d1 and
the Bishop on c4 ... and appears to
be winning back
the material ... with the much better game.
*********
Now comes one of the most shocking moves of the last five years of GM Praxis.
22.Nxe6!!,
(Maybe - '!!!')
HUH? Is this possible? {See
the diagram, just below.}
At first ... this even looks like it
could be a blunder. (Especially
after just a superficial glance.)
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Can't Black just swap Queens ... and then take the Knight on e6 -
thus being way ahead on material?
***************
[ Many of the observers felt that
White HAD to play the following
continuation:
</=
22.Bb3 Nxd1; 23.Rxd1 Bc5;
"=/+" {Diagram?}
but Black is certainly doing OK
in this position.
*******
And after the very plausible line:
</=
22.Qe2!? Bc5; 23.Nf3 Nxd1;
24.Rxd1 Rd8; "=/+" {Diagram?}
Black also seems to be OK, in
fact Shirov probably has at least
a small
edge here. (Maybe - '/+');
*******
Of course not:
</=
22.Rdc1? Bc5; ('!')
("-/+") {Diagram?}
and Black is flat-out winning.
(The pin along the a7-g1 diagonal,
will cost White alot of material.) ]
***************
22...Qxe3;
This is forced for Black. (His Queen was hanging.)
Of course ...PxN/e6??; was clearly impossible, as Black is simply dropping his Queen.
[ Shirov could not play:
</= 22...Nxc4?;
23.Qxb6 Nxb6; 24.Rd8+,
24...Ka7; 25.Nxf8,
"+/-" {Diagram?}
and White is simply winning. ]
*****
23.Rd8+!,
A nice "in-between" move.
[ Or 23.fxe3 Ba3; ("-/+") {Diagram?} and Black is {clearly} on top. ]
*****
23...Ka7;
The only legal move Shirov has.
24.fxe3 fxe6;
25.Bxe6, ('!')
{See the diagram below.}
And Shirov saw nothing here for
him but RESIGNATION!!!
(A couple of my Internet students
e-mailed me stating that they
did NOT
understand why Black
resigned here!)
Why? - He is in a pin and cannot move anything.
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A truly fantastic game ... by BOTH parties!!!
*******
[ Why did Black resign?
The following
continuation makes that very clear:
25.Bxe6 Bd3;
{Box?} {Diagram?}
White threatened Rf1 winning more
material, so this was clearly forced.
( </=
25...Nd3?; 26.Rf1 Bc5; 27.Rxh8 Bxe3+; 28.Kh1 Nf2+;
29.Rxf2 Bxf2; 30.Rd8!, ("+/-") )
26.Bb3!,
(Maybe - '!!') {Diagram?}
A very sneaky and cool retreat.
( Maybe 26.a4!? g5; 27.Ra2, '±' )
26...a5!?;
{Diagram?}
At this point - it doesn't really
matter what move Black plays.
( Or Black can try: </= 26...g6!?;
('?!')
27.e6! Bg7; 28.e7 Bb5[]; 29.Rc1!,
29...Re8; 30.Rxe8 Bxe8; 31.Rc8, ("+/-")
and White wins a piece. )
27.e6 a4;
28.Bd5 Nc4; 29.Bf3 Bf5; 30.e7 Bxe7;
31.Rxh8, ("+/-")
{Diag?}
and White has a win with his TWO-Exchange material advantage.
]
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Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby I. Copyright (c) A.J.G; 2003.
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