GM Alexander Khalifman (2653) - GM Ernesto
Inarkiev (2618);
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I have been a fan of Khalifman's ever since he won the (FIDE) K.O. (WC) tournament in Las Vegas. (1999?)
Here he plays a most interesting and tactical intriguing Sicilian.
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1.e4 c5;
2.Nf3 d6; 3.d4 cxd4; 4.Nxd4 Nf6; 5.Nc3 a6; 6.Be2 e6; 7.0-0 Be7;
8.f4 0-0;
9.a4!?,
Dominates the b5-square, showing Black that any dreams of playing his <normal?> Q-side counter-thrust of ...
P/b7-b5; is no longer possible, or at least not all that realistic.
The only real drawback to this move, is that Black's pieces can often take advantage and post effectively on the b4-square.
[ Also good is: 9.Be3!?, "+/=" See MCO for more details. ]
9...Nc6;
10.Be3 Qc7; 11.Kh1,
Thus far, all book.
[ Another try here is: 11.Qe1!?, "+/="
A recent example would be: B. Vujakovic
(2380) - F. Bilobrk (2403);
14th CRO-Cup /
Sibenik, CRO; (3) / 31,05,2005.
{The game was drawn.}
]
11...Re8!?;
A little unusual, (to me) ... Black normally needs to get his Q-side play going, or attempt to
break (immediately) in the center.
Surprisingly, this is one of the top (move) choices - by popularity - in the whole database.
[ Perhaps Black should consider:
(>/=) 11...Bd7!?; 12.Nb3 b6;
13.Bf3 Rab8; 14.g4 Bc8;
15.g5 Nd7; 16.Bg2, "+/=" 16...Re8;
when maybe the second player's position ... isn't all that bad. (?)
GM V. Salov - GM B. Gelfand;
ICT / Hoogoven's Masters (68)
Wijk aan Zee, NED; 1998. (1-0)
{White won a long game, but Black's defence could probably
be improved upon in many different places.}
]
12.Bd3 Bf8;
13.Qf3 Nxd4!?; 14.Bxd4, "+/="
White has a tad more space.
14...e5!?;
(Maybe dubious?)
Weakens d5 ... it might be playable, but you cannot prove it to me from this particular game!
15.Bg1 exf4?!;
While at first this move looks both reasonable and logical; after a close study of this game, you
should become convinced that White develops too much pressure on the a1-h8 diagonal ...
as this game clearly demonstrates.
[ >/= 15...Bg4; 16.Qg3, "+/=" 16...Be6; etc. ]
16.Bd4! Qe7;
Seemingly ... a mite awkward.
[ (>/=) 16...Be7; 17.Qxf4, "+/=" ('±') ]
17.Qxf4 Be6;
18.Nd5!,
Normally - exchanges generally help the defender.
(This game is a good exception to that rule, here Black cannot withstand all the new
open lines.)
[ Another idea here was: 18.a5!?, "+/=" ]
18...Bxd5;
It is not clear what capture Black should make here, both seem to favor White.
[ After the moves of:
18...Nxd5!?; 19.exd5 Bxd5!?;
(Or 19...Bc8; 20.Rae1 Qd7!?; 21.Bf5, etc.)
20.Qf5 Be4; 21.Bxe4 Qxe4;
22.Qxf7+ Kh8; 23.c3, '±'
{D?}
White (also) has a very clear and marked advantage.
]
19.exd5 Nh5?;
(PHEW!!)
Clearly an error, the old adage about Knights on the edge of the board holds true here. (The
main problem with this move here is that this piece never effectively gets back into the game ... and even hampers Black's defense on the lousy g7-square.)
[ >/= 19...Nd7; 20.c3, '±' ]
20.Qf2
g6[]; {Box.}
Forced ... White threatens g2-g4, thus winning a piece, the poor N on h5 needed a flight square.
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r3rbk1/1p2qp1p/p2p2p1/3P3n/P2B4/3B4/1PP2QPP/R4R1K (White)
Now f7 becomes the target for all of Khalifman's heavy pieces.
21.g4 Ng7;
22.Qf4! Qc7!?;
23.Rf3 Re7; 24.Raf1 Rae8;
25.c4!,
White seals up the Queenside and puts all of his Pawns there on squares where they cannot be effectively attacked by Black's pieces, thus leaving him free to concentrate all of his energies on the Black King-side.
[ Most boxes choose something like: </= 25.c3 Qa5; here. ]
25...Qd7;
26.b3 Qc8; 27.h3! Qd7; 28.Kg2! Qc7; 29.R1f2 Rd7; 30.h4! h5!?;
Basically, this is a mistake ('?') ... but one that comes in a position that is already nearly
hopeless for Black.
[ Or 30...Red8; 31.h5 Qc8!?;
( Or 31...Re7; 32.Bf6, winning. )
32.hxg6! fxg6; 33.Bxg6!!, '±' with a strong attack. ("--->")
( For example: 33.Bxg6!! hxg6; 34.Qf6 Re8; 35.Qxg6 Red8!?;
36.Rh3, "+/-" and Black is quickly mated. ) ]
31.Qh6 hxg4;
32.Rxf7!,
A nice combination.
[ Maybe an improvement was:
(>/=)
32.Rf6!! Rde7;
33.h5! Qd7!?;
34.hxg6 fxg6;
35.Bxg6 Nf5;
36.Rxf8+! Rxf8; 37.Qh8#.
]
32...Rxf7;
33.Bxg6 Rxf2+;
34.Kg1!! Rf1+; 35.Kxf1 Qf7+[]; UGH!!!
(But otherwise Black had no way to stop the impending mate on h7 ... or h8, if the Knight on g7
moves. This also helps explain the seemingly suicidal nature of Black's 34th move as well.)
36.Bxf7+ Kxf7;
37.h5!, ("+/-") (Black
resigns.)
White's threats cannot be defended.
An excellent attacking game by GM Alexander Khalifman. [more]
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 2005. All rights reserved.