Early this year, at the traditional tournament in Wijk aan Zee, the Bulgarian grandmaster Veselin Topalov played the very attractive novelty 12.Nf7!? against Vladimir Kramnik. Obviously, other chess players found this sacrifice appealing as well, and the same position appeared in the encounter between Timman and Ljubojevic, where an improvement was found for Black.
The first impression was that this novelty would be short-lived. However, after the game Shirov – Karjakin, which was published in Informant 103, Karjakin reaffirmed the value of 12.Nf7 in his annotations. The Chess Informant jury would seem to agree as they voted this the best theoretical novelty of Volume 102.
1. V.TOPALOV 2780 – KRAMNIK 2799
Wijk aan Zee 2008 — 102/333 [D43]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7
12.Nf7!? (a novelty) Kf7 13.e5 Nd5 [13...Rf8!? 14.ef6 Nf6 15.Be5 Kg8 16.Qc2 Qe7 17.Rae1 with compensation] 14.Ne4 Ke7 15.Nd6 Qb6 16.Bg4 Raf8 [16...Rhg8!? 17.Qc2 Nf8] 17.Qc2 Qd4? 18.Qg6 Qg4 19.Qg7 Kd8 20.Nb7 Kc8 21.a4! (with initiative) b4 22.Rac1 c3 [22...Rfg8!? 23.Qf7 Rf8 24.Nd6 Kc7 25.Qg6 Rhg8 26.Qb1 and White is slightly better] 23.bc3 b3? [23...Rfg8 and White is slightly better; 23...bc3!? with the idea 24.Rb1 c2] 24.c4! Rfg8 25.Nd6 Kc7 26.Qf7 Rf8 27.cd5? [27.h3! Rf7 28.hg4 Nf4 29.Nf7 Ne2 30.Kh2 Nc1 31.Rc1 b2 (31...Rb8 32.Rb1 Nc5 33.f4 gf4 34.Bf4 Rf8 35.Be3 and White is winning) 32.Rb1 Rb8 33.f4! gf4 34.Bf4 Rf8 (34...Nc5 35.Nh6 Na4 36.g5 and White is winning) 35.Rb2 Rf7 36.Kg3 and White is winning] Rf7 28.Rc6 Kb8 29.Nf7
29...Re8? [29...Qe2!! 30.Rc3! (30.Nh8? Qf1! 31.Kf1 b2; 30.Rb1? Qa2) b2 31.Rb3 Ka8 32.Nh8 Nc5! 33.Rb5! (33.Rb4?! a5!; 33.Rb2 Qb2 34.de6 Ne6) Na4 (33...a6 34.Rc5 Qf1 35.Kf1 b1Q 36.Ke2 Qe4 37.Kf1 equal) 34.Rb2 Qb2 35.de6 Qb6 36.e7 Qe6 unclear] 30.Nd6 Rh8 31.Rc4! (and White is winning) Qe2 32.de6 Nb6 33.Rb4 Ka8 34.e7 [34.Rb3 Qg4 35.e7 Qe6 36.Rc3 Qe7 37.Rfc1 and White is winning] Nd5 35.Rb3 Ne7 36.Rfb1 Nd5 37.h3 h5 [37...Nf4 38.Bf4 gf4 39.Nb5! Qe5 40.Rc1 Rb8 (40...a6 41.Nc7 Ka7 42.Rc6; 40...Kb7 41.Nc7 Kc8 42.Na6 Kd7 43.Rb7 Kd6 44.Nb4) 41.Nc7 Qc7 42.Rc7 Rb3 43.Rc4 f3 44.g4! and White is winning] 38.Nf7 Rc8 39.e6 a6 [39...Nf4 40.Ng5] 40.Ng5 h4 41.Bd6 Rg8 42.R3b2 Qd3 43.e7 Nf6 44.Be5 Nd7 45.Ne6 1-0 [Krasenkow]
2. IVANCHUK 2751 – SERGEY KARJAKIN 2732
Nice (rapid) 2008 — 102/180 [B87]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 b5 8.Bg5 Be7 9.Qf3 Qc7 10.e5 Bb7 11.ed6 Bd6 12.Qe3 Bc5 13.0-0-0 Nc6
14.Qe6!? [a novelty; 14.Bf6 see 98/(169)] fe6 15.Ne6 Qe5 [15...Qb6 16.Ng7 Kf8 17.Ne6 Kf7 (17...Ke8 18.Nc5 Qc5 19.Rhe1 Ne7 20.Bf6 Rd8 21.Nd5 Bd5 22.Be7 Qe7 23.Bd5 and White is winning) 18.Nc5 Kg6 19.Rd6!! Qc5 (19...Kg5 20.Rf6!! Kf6 21.Nd5 Kg7 22.Nb6 and White is winning) 20.Rf6 Kg7 21.Bh6 Kf6 22.Ne4 Kg6 23.Nc5 and White is superior; 15...Bb6 16.Rhe1 a) 16...Qb8 17.Nc7 Kf8 18.Ne6 Ke7 19.Ng7 Kf8 20.Bh6 (20.Bf6 Qf4 21.Kb1 Qf6 22.Ne6 Kf7 23.Nf4 equal) Ng4 21.Ne6 Ke7 22.Bg5 Ke8 23.Nd5!! and White is superior; b) 16...Qh2 17.Ng7 (17.Nc7 Kf8 18.Ne6 equal) Kf8 18.Bf6 Qf4 (18...Na5 19.Ne6 Kf7 20.Bh8 Nb3 21.ab3 Rh8 22.Rd7 Kg6 23.Rb7 with initiative) 19.Kb1 Qf6 20.Ne6 Kf7 (20...Qe6 21.Re6 with compensation) 21.Nf4 Kf8 22.Ne6 equal; 15...Bd6 16.Rhe1 (16.Nc7 Bc7 17.Rhe1 Ne7 18.Bd5 Ra7 19.Bb7 Rb7 20.Bf6 gf6 21.Nd5 Be5 22.f4 Bb8 23.Nf6 Kf7 24.Nh5 Rg8 25.g3 unclear) a) 16...Qb8 17.Ng7 Kf8 18.Ne6 (18.Bf6 Na5 19.Re8 Qe8 20.Ne8 Bf4 21.Kb1 Nb3 22.ab3 Rg8 23.Ng7 Bg2 24.Rd7 unclear) Kf7 19.Bf6 Kf6 20.Ne4 Ke7 21.Nd6 and White is superior; b) 16...Kd7!! 17.Nc7 (17.Bf6 gf6 18.Nc7 Kc7 19.Nd5 Kb8 20.Nb6 Bf4 21.Kb1 Ra7 22.Nd7 Kc7 23.Nf6 unclear) Kc7 18.Rd6! Kd6 19.Bf4 Kd7 20.Rd1 Ke7 21.Re1 equal; 15...Qe7 16.Rhe1 Qe6! 17.Re6 (17.Be6 Ne7 18.f3 Rd8 and Black is superior) Ne7 a) 18.Bf6 gf6 19.Bd5 Bd5 20.Nd5 Rd8 21.Ne7 Kf7! (21...Be7 22.Rd8 Kd8 23.Ra6 Kd7 and Black is slightly better) 22.Rde1 Rde8 and Black is superior; b) 18.f3 Rd8 and Black is slightly better; c) 18.Rde1! Kd7 (18...Rd8 19.a4 b4 20.Bf6 gf6 21.Ne4 Be4 22.R1e4 f5 23.Re2 with compensation) 19.Rd1 Kc8 20.Re5! Bb4 21.a3 Ng6! (21...Bc3 22.Re7 and White is winning) 22.Be6 Kc7 23.ab4 Ne5 24.Bf4 Bg2 25.Be5 Kb6 26.Ne2 with compensation] 16.Ng7 [16.Rhe1!? Qe1 17.Re1 Be7 18.Ng7 Kd8 19.Re7 (19.Nf5 Rf8 20.Bh6 unclear; 19.f3!?) Ke7 (19...Ne7 20.Bf6 Kd7 21.g4 Rhf8 22.g5 Kd6 23.Ne6 unclear) 20.Nh5 Kd6 21.Bf4 (21.Nf6 Na5 and Black is slightly better; 21.Bf6 Rhe8 22.Ng7 Re1 23.Kd2 Rh1 and Black is slightly better) Ke7 (21...Kc5 22.Nf6î) 22.Bg5 equal] Kf8 17.Ne6 Kf7 [17...Ke8 18.Rhe1 Qg5 (18...Qe1 19.Nc7 Kf8 20.Re1 and White is winning) 19.Ng5 Ne7 20.Re6 Bf2 21.Re2 Bc5 22.Rf1 Bd4 23.Nf7 Rf8 24.Nd6 and White is winning; 17...Ke7 18.Rhe1 Bf2 19.Re5 Ne5 20.Ng7 Nc4 21.Bc4 bc4 22.Rf1 Raf8 23.Rf2 Rhg8 24.Nf5 Kd7 25.Bh6 unclear] 18.Rhe1 Qe1? [18...Bf2! 19.Re5 Ne5 20.Nd8 Kg6 21.Bf6 Kf6 22.Nb7 Rhf8 23.Ne4 Kg7 24.h3!? with compensation; 24.Kb1 with compensation; 18...Qg5 19.Ng5 Kg6 20.Nce4 Be7 (20...Ne4 21.Ne4 Bb4 22.c3 Be7 23.Bc2 and White is superior) 21.Nf7! a) 21...Rhf8 22.Ned6 Bd6 23.Nd6 Bc8 (23...Na5 24.Be6 Bc6 25.f4 Nh5 26.b4 and White is superior) 24.Re3 with attack, with the idea Rg3; b) 21...Rhe8 22.Rd3 (22.Ned6 Bd6 23.Nd6 Re1 24.Re1 Bc8 25.c3 Bd7 26.Bc2 Kg7 27.a4 equal; 22.Nfd6 Ne4 23.Bf7 Kf6 24.Re4 Red8 25.Rf4 Kg7 26.Rg4 equal) Ne4 23.Re4 Bg5 24.Ng5 Kg5 25.Rd5 Kg6 26.Rg4 Kf6 27.Rf4 Ke7 (27...Kg6 28.Rd6 and White is winning) 28.Rh5 and White is superior] 19.Nc5 Kg6 20.Re1 Kg5 21.Nb7 Nd4 22.Nd6 Rhf8 23.f3 [23.Re7!] b4 [23...Ra7!] 24.Nce4 Ne4 25.Re4 Nb3 26.ab3 [R 9/n] a5 27.Rg4 Kf6 28.Ne4 Ke5 29.Rh4 a4 30.ba4 Ra4 31.Nc5! and White is winning [31.Rh7?! Rd8 32.Re7 Kf5 33.Nd2 Ra1 34.Nb1 b3! 35.Re1 (35.c3?? Rb1 36.Kb1 Rd1 mate) bc2 36.Kc2 Rc8 37.Kd3 Rd8 equal] Ra1 32.Kd2 Rg8 33.g3 Rf1 34.Ke2 Rb1 35.Rb4 Kd5 36.Ne4 Kc6 37.h4 Rh1 38.Rc4 Kb6 39.b4 Rd8 40.Rc5 Ra8 41.c3 Ra2 42.Ke3 Re1 43.Kf4 Rf1 44.Rh5 Ra8 45.Rh6 Kb5 46.Nd6 Ka4 47.Rh7 Kb3 48.Rc7 Rd8 49.Nf5 1-0 [Ivanchuk]
3. B.GELFAND 2737 – V.ANAND 2799
Nice (blindfold) 2008 — 102/346 [D47]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dc4 7.Bc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.a3 Bd6 10.0-0 0-0 11.Qc2 a6 12.b4 a5 13.Rb1 ab4 14.ab4 Qe7 15.e4 e5 16.de5 Ne5 17.Ne5 Be5 18.Ne2 Qe6 [18...Rfd8 see 99/302] 19.f4 Ra2 20.Qd1
20...Ba1!! [a novelty; 20...Bc7 21.Nc3 and White is slightly better] 21.e5? c5! 22.ef6 [22.Ra1 Ra1 23.ef6 Qd5! 24.Rf3 c4 and Black is superior] Bd4 23.Rf2 only move [23.Kh1 Qh3! 24.Rg1 Bg1 25.Qg1 Qd3 and Black is winning] Bf2 [23...Qg4 24.Qf1 Bf2 25.Qf2 c4 26.h3 Qh5 27.Qg3 g6 and Black is superior] 24.Kf2 Qd5 25.Bb2 [25.Bh7 Kh7 26.Qd5 Bd5 27.bc5 Rc8! (27...Bc4 28.Rb2 Rfa8 29.Nc3 Rb2 30.Bb2 b4 and Black is winning) 28.Rb2 Rb2 29.Bb2 Rc5 and Black is winning] Qg2 26.Ke1 c4 27.Bc2 Bf3 [27...Re8 28.Be5 gf6 29.Qd7 Bc6] 28.fg7 Re8 29.Be5 f6 30.Bh7 Kh7 31.g8Q Kg8 0-1 [V.Anand]
4. RUBLEVSKY 2695 – EFIMENKO 2660
Russia 2008 — 102/179 [B86]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 Nbd7 8.Bg5 Qa5 9.Qd2 Be7 10.0-0-0 Nc5 11.Rhe1 h6? 12.Bf6 Bf6
13.Nf5! [a novelty; 13.f4 see 100/163, 164] 0-0 [13...Nb3 14.cb3 a) 14...ef5 15.ef5 Kf8 16.Qd6 Kg8 17.Re8 Kh7 18.Rh8 Kh8 19.Rd5 Bc3 (19...b5 20.b4 and White is winning) 20.Qf8 Kh7 21.Ra5 Ba5 22.f6 gf6 23.Qf7 Kh8 24.Qf6 Kh7 25.Qf7 Kh8 26.Qh5 and White is winning; b) 14...0-0 15.Nd6 Rd8 (15...Bc3 16.bc3 and White is superior) 16.e5? Be5 17.b4 Bc3 18.ba5 Bd2 19.Rd2 Rb8 20.Red1 e5 equal; 16.f4 and White is superior see 13...0-0; 13...ef5 14.ef5 a) 14...Kf8? 15.Qd6 Kg8 16.Re8 Kh7 17.Rh8 Kh8 18.Qf8 Kh7 19.Bf7 and White is winning; b) 14...Kd8? 15.Qd6 Bd7 16.Nd5 Rc8 (16...Nb3 17.ab3 Qa1 18.Kd2 Qa5 19.b4 and White is winning) 17.Nf6 gf6 18.Qf6 Kc7 19.Qd6 Kd8 20.Ba4 b5 21.Re5 and White is winning; c) 14...Be6 (only move) 15.fe6 Nb3 16.cb3 0-0 17.Qd6 and White is slightly better] 14.Nd6 Rd8 15.f4 Nb3 [15...Be7 16.e5 and White is superior; 15...Bc3 16.Qc3 Qc3 17.bc3 Bd7 18.f5 Bc6 19.g4 and White is superior] 16.cb3 Be7 [16...e5 17.Qf2 ef4 (17...Bg4 18.Nc4 Qc7 19.Nd5 and White is superior) 18.e5 Be7 19.h4!? (19.Kb1 Bd6 20.ed6 Qf5 21.Ka1 Be6 22.Rd4 g5 23.Ne4 and White is slightly better) Be6 20.Qf4 Rd7 21.Kb1 Rad8 22.b4 Qc7 23.Nce4 and White is superior] 17.e5 Bd6 18.ed6 b5 19.Qd4!? Rb8 [19...b4? 20.Re5!] 20.b4 Qb6 21.Qc5 (and White is superior) Bd7 22.Re5 Bc6 [22...Rdc8 23.Qb6 Rb6 24.Rc5 Rbc6 25.Ne4 and White is superior] 23.g3 Bf3 24.Rd2 Bg4 25.d7 Qb7 26.Qd6 Bf5 [26...f6 27.Rc5 e5 28.Rc7 Qh1 29.Kc2 Bf5 30.Kb3 and White is superior] 27.b3 Kh7 28.Kb2 Ra8 29.Qe7 f6 30.Rc5 Qh1 31.Rf5! ef5 32.Nd5 Kg6 33.Nc7 Rac8 [33...Rab8 34.Ne6 Qe1 35.Nf8 and White is winning] 34.Rc2 (and White is winning) Rc7 35.Rc7 Qg2 36.Rc2 Qa8 37.Re2 a5 38.ba5 Qa5 39.g4! fg4 [39...Ra8 40.Qe8 Kh7 41.a4 ba4 42.gf5 ab3 43.Qg6 Kh8 44.Re8] 40.Qe8 Kh7 [40...Kf5 41.Qe4 mate] 41.f5 1-0 [Rublevsky]
5. KRAMNIK 2799 – ARONIAN 2739
Wijk aan Zee 2008 — 102/330 [D43]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7 12.Nd7 Nd7 13.Bd6 a6 14.a4 e5 15.Bg4 ed4 16.e5 c5 17.Re1 Ne5 18.Be5 0-0 19.Bg7 Kg7 20.Ne2 f5 21.Bh5 f4 22.b4 cb3 23.Qb3 Qd5 24.Qh3 Bc8
25.Nc3! [a novelty; 25.Qd3 see 97/318] dc3 [25...Qb7 26.Qd3 Bf5 27.Qe2 dc3 28.Qe5 Kh7 29.Bf3 Qf7 30.Ba8 Ra8 31.ab5 and White is winning; 25...Qc6 26.Bf3! Qg6 27.g4! Ra7 28.Nd5 Raf7 29.Qf1 and White is superior; 25...Qd6 26.Qf3 and White is superior; 25...Qf7 26.Qf3 Bb7 27.Qe2 Qc7 28.Qe7 Qe7 29.Re7 and White is superior; 25...Bh3 26.Nd5 Bf5 27.Re7 Kh8 28.Nc7 and White is superior] 26.Qc3 Qd4 27.Qf3 Ra7 [27...Rb8 28.Qc6 Kg8 (only move) 29.Rad1 Qg7 (only move) 30.Re8 Re8 31.Qe8 Qf8 32.Bf7 Kg7 33.Qe5 Kf7 34.Qb8 and White is superior] 28.ab5 [28.Qc6?! Bf5 29.ab5 Rf6] Qf6 [28...Rf6 29.Rad1 Qc4 (only move) 30.Rd8 and White is superior] 29.Qa3! Qb6 [29...Rb7 30.ba6 Ra7 31.Be2 and White is superior Ba6 32.Bc4! Rfa8 33.Qc5] 30.Qc3 Kg8 31.Re5! Qf6 [31...ab5 32.Ra7 Qa7 33.Rc5 and White is winning; 31...Qb5 32.Rc5 Qb8 33.Re1 Rg7 34.Rc6 and White is winning] 32.Qc5 Rd7 only move [32...Rg7 33.ba6 Ba6 34.Ra6! Qa6 35.Qf8!] 33.h4 [33.Bg4 Rdd8 34.Bc8 Rc8 35.Qd5 Kh8 36.ba6 Qa6!; 33.b6 Rd6 34.Rb1 and White is superior] gh4 34.Bg4? [34.ba6! Ba6 (34...f3 35.Bf3 Ba6 36.Bd5 Kg7 37.Qd4 and White is winning) 35.Bg4 Rd6 (only move) 36.Rae1! and White is winning] Rdd8 [34...Qg7 35.Be6! Kh8 (only move) 36.Bd7 Bd7 37.Kh2 f3 38.Rg1 ab5 39.gf3 and White is superior] 35.Bc8 Rc8 time 36.Qd5 Qf7 (only move) 37.ba6 [37.Re6 a5 38.Ra5 Rcd8 39.Rg6 Kh7 40.Qf7 Rf7 41.Raa6 and White is superior] Qd5 38.Rd5 Rf7 [R 9/s] 39.a7 [better is 39.Rh5 Kg7 40.Rh4 Ra8 41.Rh5 and White is superior] Ra8 40.Rda5 Kh7 [40...h3 41.g3!? (41.gh3 Kh7 42.R1a3 f3) fg3 42.fg3 Kh7 43.Kh2] 41.R1a3 [41.Kh2!? f3 (only move) 42.gf3 Rf3 43.Kg2 Rb3 44.R1a3 Rb2] h3! [41...Kg7? 42.Kh2 Kh7 43.Kh3] 42.gh3 [42.g3!? fg3 43.fg3] f3 43.Kh2 Rg7! 44.h4 Rg2 45.Kh3 Rg7! [45...Rf2 46.Rb3 Rg2 47.Rb8 Rg8 48.Ra8 Ra8 49.Kg3 and White is winning] 46.Ra6 Rf7 47.R3a5 [47.Kg4 Rg8 48.Kh3 (48.Kh5? Rf5 mate) Ra8] Rg7 48.h5 Rf7 49.Kg4 Rg8 50.Kh3 Ra8 51.Kg4 Rg8 52.Rg6 Ra8 53.Raa6 Raa7 54.Rh6 Kg8 55.Rag6 Rg7 56.Kf3 Rg6 57.Rg6 [57.hg6? Ra3 58.Kg2 Ra6 (58...Kg7 59.Rh3) 59.Rh3 Rg6 60.Rg3 Kf7 61.Rg6 Kg6 equal] Kf7 58.Rg4 Ra1 59.Kg3 Rh1 60.Rh4 Ra1 61.Rb4 Kg7 62.Rb6 Rg1 63.Kf4 Rh1 64.Kg5 Rg1 65.Kf5 Rh1 66.h6 Kh7 67.Ra6 Rf1 68.f4 Rb1 69.Re6 Ra1 70.Rf6 Re1 71.Kg4 Ra1 72.f5 Rg1 73.Kf4 Rf1 74.Ke5 Re1 75.Kd6 Rf1 76.Ke7 Rf2 77.Rf8 Re2 [77...Kh6! 78.f6 (78.Kf6 Kh7 79.Ra8 Rf1 equal) Ra2 equal] 78.Kf7 Ra2 79.Rd8 Ra7 80.Kf6 Ra1 81.Rd2 Rb1 82.Ra2 Rb3 83.Rh2 Rb1 84.Rh4 Rb8 85.Kg5 Rg8 86.Kf4 Ra8 87.Kg5 Rg8 88.Kf6 Ra8 89.Re4 Ra1 90.Re8 Ra2 91.Re1 Ra3 92.Rh1 Ra2 93.Kg5 Rg2 94.Kf4 Rf2 95.Ke4 Re2 96.Kf3 Ra2 97.Ke4 Re2 98.Kd4 Rd2 99.Ke3 Ra2 100.f6 Ra7 [100...Ra3 101.Kd4 Ra4 102.Kc5 Ra5 103.Kd6 Ra6 equal] 101.Rf1 Kg6 102.Ke4 Ra4 103.Kd5 Kf7? time [103...Ra5 104.Kc6 Ra7! (104...Ra6 105.Kb7 Rd6 106.Kc7 Rf6 107.h7) 105.Kd6 Ra6 equal] 104.Rh1 and White is winning Ra5 105.Kc4 Ra4 106.Kb5 Ra8 107.h7 Rh8 108.Rh6 Rb8 109.Kc6 Rc8 110.Kd6 1-0 [Kramnik]
6. V.TOPALOV 2780 – IVANCHUK 2751
Morelia/Linares 2008 — 102/(188) [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 Nbd7 9.g4 b5 10.g5 b4 11.Nd5 Nd5 12.ed5 Bf5 13.Bd3 Bd3 14.Qd3 Be7 15.h4 a5 [15...0-0 see 86/247]
16.a3! [a novelty; 16.Rg1; 16.a4; 16.Nd2] a4 17.Nd2 [17...ba3 18.Ra3 and White is slightly better, weak point a4]
7. V.ANAND 2799 – KRAMNIK 2799
Wijk aan Zee 2008 — 102/221 [C42]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Ne5 d6 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.Nc3 Nc3 6.dc3 Be7 7.Bf4 0-0 8.Qd2 Nd7 9.0-0-0 Nc5 10.Be3 Re8 11.Bc4 Be6 12.Be6 Ne6 13.h4 Qd7 14.Qd5 Qc6 15.Qf5 Qc4 16.Kb1 g6 17.Qh3 h5 18.Nd2 Qe2 19.Rde1 Qg4 20.Qh2 d5 21.f3 Qa4 22.g4 Bd6 23.Qf2
23...hg4! [a novelty; 23...Ng7 see 101/(209)] 24.fg4 [24.h5 g3 and Black is slightly better] Qg4 25.Reg1 [25.h5 Bg3 26.Qg2 unclear; 25.Ref1 Re7 26.h5 (26.Rhg1 Qh5 unclear) Qg3 equal] Qh5 26.Nf3 Re7! 27.Bg5 [27.Ng5 Ng7; 27.Nd4 Nd4 28.cd4 Rae8 29.Rg5 Qh6 and Black is slightly better; 27.Bc1 Bc5 28.Nd4 Rae8 and Black is slightly better] Ree8 [27...Bc5!? 28.Nd4 (28.Qf1 Bg1 29.Be7 Re8 30.Bg5 Bc5 31.Ne5 Ng5 32.hg5 Qh1 33.Qh1 Re5 and Black is slightly better) Ree8 unclear] 28.Be3! [28.Rf1 Nc5 (28...f5) 29.Nd2 f5 and Black is slightly better; 28.Nd4 Nd4 29.Qd4 (29.cd4 Re2 and Black is superior) Re5 and Black is slightly better] Re7 29.Bg5 Rd7!? [29...Ree8 equal; 29...Bc5 unclear] 30.Nd4 Nd4 [30...Nc5!? 31.Qe3 (31.Nf5 Ne4 32.Qd4 Bf8 33.Ng3 Qf3) Bf8 unclear] 31.Qd4 [31.cd4 Re8 and Black is slightly better, with the idea 32.Re1 Re4 33.Rhf1 f5] Bf8 [31...c6 unclear] 32.Qe3 [32.Re1 Bg7 33.Bf6 c5 34.Qa4 Rd6 35.Bg7 Kg7 36.Rhf1 d4 37.Qb3 Rd7 38.cd4 cd4 unclear] c6 [32...Rd6 33.Rf1 (33.Qf4) c6 34.Rhg1 with initiative; 32...Bg7 33.Qh3 (33.Re1 unclear) Rd6 34.Bf4 (34.Re1 d4) Rf6 (34...Re6? 35.Rg5 Qe2 36.h5 and White is superior) 35.Bc7 Qf5 36.Qh2 Re8 (36...Qf2 equal) 37.h5 Qh5 38.Qh5 gh5 39.Rh5 Rg6 equal] 33.Qh3 Rd6 34.Bf4 [34.Re1!? (Aronian) d4 35.c4; 34...b5!? with the idea d4] Re6 [34...Rf6!? 35.Rg5 Qh7 (35...Qe2? 36.h5 Rf4 37.hg6 Bh6 38.a3 f6 39.Qh6 and White is winning) 36.Bc1 (36.Be5 Re6 37.h5 Rae8) Bh6 37.Re5 Bc1 38.Rc1 unclear] 35.Rg5 Qh8 36.h5 Rae8 37.Bd2 [37.Bc1? Re1 38.Re1 Re1 39.Qg3 Rc1 40.Kc1 Bh6 41.hg6 fg6 and Black is superior] Bc5 [with the idea Be3] 38.Rg3 Re2 39.Kc1! [39.hg6 Qh3 40.Rgh3 fg6 41.Rh8 Kg7 42.R1h7 Kf6 43.Re8 Re8 44.Rb7 g5 45.Rh7 Kg6 and Black is superior; 39.Bc1 Re1 and Black is slightly better; 39.Qf1 Rf2 40.Qc1 Qe5 41.Rgh3 Re6 and Black is slightly better] Qg7 [39...Rf2!? 40.hg6 (40.b4 Bb4 41.hg6 Ba3 42.Kd1 Qh3 43.Rgh3 Ree2 equal) Qh3 41.Rgh3 Ree2 equal] 40.a3!? [40.Rf3?! g5! 41.h6 Qg6; 40.Rf1 Rf2 41.Rf2 Bf2 42.Rf3 Bc5 unclear; 40.Qd7 R2e7 41.Qg4 Re4 equal] Bd6? [40...R8e6 41.hg6 fg6 42.Rg2 R2e4 43.Kb1 Be3; 40...a6 41.hg6 fg6; 40...a5 41.hg6 fg6 42.Qg4 R8e6 unclear] 41.Rgg1 [41.Rg4!] Bc5 [41...R2e6 42.Kb1; 41...Rd2 42.Kd2 Bf4 43.Kd1 g5 44.Qd7 Qf8 45.Qf5] 42.Rg3 Bd6 43.Rg4! [43.Rf3 gh5 and Black is slightly better; 43.Rgg1 equal] R8e6? [43...Rd2 44.Kd2 g5 45.Rf1 and White is superior; better is 43...R2e6 44.Kb1 Be5 45.Qd3; 45.Ka2 and White is slightly better] 44.hg6 Rg6 45.Rg6 fg6 46.Be3! [46.Qc8?! Bf8 47.Bh6 Qe7! 48.Kd1 (48.Bf8? Re1) Rf2 49.Re1 Qh7] Qe5 (only move) 47.Qh7 Kf8 48.Bd2! [48.Rf1 Ke8 49.Qg6 (49.Bd2 Be7 50.Qg6 Kd7 51.Qg8 a6 equal) Kd8 50.Qg8 Qe8 51.Qe8 Ke8 52.Ba7 and White is slightly better] Qf6 only move [48...Be7 49.Qg6 Bf6 50.Rf1 Ke7 51.Qh7 Bg7 52.Qh4 Ke8 53.Qg4 Rd2 54.Kd2 and White is winning] 49.Qb7 [49.Bh6 Ke8 50.Qb7 and White is superior] Rh2 50.Re1 [50.Qa8 Kg7 51.Qa7 Qf7 52.Qd4 Qf6 53.Rh2 Bh2 54.Bg5 and White is superior] Qf2! [50...Bg3 51.Qc8 Kg7 52.Qd7 Qf7 53.Bh6! Rh6 54.Re7 and White is winning; 50...Bf4 51.Bf4 Qf4 52.Kb1 Qf2 53.Rc1 Qb6 54.Qd7 and White is winning] 51.Kb1? [51.Qc8? Kg7 52.Qd7 Kg8 53.Qe6 Kg7 54.Qd7 Kg8 equal; 51.Rd1! Qf6 52.Qa8 (52.Qc6? Rd2 53.Qa8 Kf7 54.Qa7 Kg8 55.Kd2 Qg5 56.Ke2 Qg4 equal) Kg7 53.Qa7 Kg8 54.Qa6 and White is superior] Qd2 52.Rf1 Kg8! [52...Bf4 53.Qb8 Kg7 54.Rf4 Qe1! (54...Qc2 55.Ka2 Kh6 56.Qh8 Kg5 57.Qe5 Kh6 58.Rb4 g5 59.Rb8 and White is winning) 55.Ka2 Qe7! 56.Ra4 Rh8 and White is superior] 53.Qf7 Kh8 54.Qg6 [54.Qe8? Kg7 55.Rf7 Kh6 56.Qh8 Kg5 57.Qf6 Kh5! (57...Kh6 equal) 58.Rh7 Kg4 59.Qg6 Kf3 and Black is superior] Qg2 (only move) 55.Qe8 Qg8 56.Qc6 Bf8! [56...Rh6 57.Rd1 and White is slightly better; 56...Be5 57.Rf5 and White is slightly better] 57.Qa8 [57.a4 unclear] Bc5 58.Qg8 [58.Qc6 Bf8 59.Qa8 equal] Kg8 59.Rf5 Rd2 [59...Bb6 60.Rd5 Kf7 61.c4 Ke6 equal] 60.c4 Kg7 61.b4 Be7 equal ½-½ [Kramnik]
8. SUTOVSKY 2642 – M.PARLIGRAS 2574
Moscow 2008 — 102/136 [B45]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nc6 bc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 Bb7 9.c4 Nb4 10.c5 Qb8 11.Bf4 Ba6 [11...f5!? 12.Nd6 (12.Qh5 g6 13.Nf6 Kf7 14.Qd1 Nd5 and Black is slightly better) Bd6 13.ed6 Ba6 14.Be5 0-0 15.Ba6 Na6 16.Qd4 Qb5 unclear] 12.Ba6 Na6 13.0-0! [13.Qd4 Qb4 14.Qb4 Nb4 15.Ke2 Nd5 equal] Nb4! [13...Nc5 14.Nc5 Bc5 15.Rc1 Be7 16.b3 with compensation Qc7 17.Rc3 0-0 18.Qh5 with attack; 13...Qb4 14.Re1 Nc5 15.Qc2! a) 15...Be7 16.Rad1 Rd8 17.Bd2! Qa4 18.b3 Qa3 19.Bc3 Ne4 (19...0-0 20.Nf6 and White is winning) 20.Re4 Qc5 21.Qd2! with the idea Bb4 and White is superior; b) 15...Ne4 16.Re4 Qb5 17.Rd1 with compensation Be7 18.Re3! Rd8 (18...Qb4 19.Rf3! Rd8 20.a3 Qb7 21.Rg3 g6 22.Bh6 and White is superior) 19.Rg3 g6 20.Rgd3 0-0 21.b3! (21.Rd7 Rd7 22.Rd7 Rd8! equal 23.Re7?? Qb2 and Black is winning) c5 22.Bh6 Rfe8 23.Qc3! and White is superior]
14.Nc3!! [a novelty; 14.Qg4!? Nd5 15.Bg3 h5! 16.Qg5 Qb2 unclear 17.Rab1 Qc2 18.Rfe1 Rh6! 19.Rb7 (19.Nd6 Bd6 20.ed6 Kf8 unclear) h4 20.Bh4! Rg6 21.Ra7 Rb8 22.Rb7 Ra8 23.Ra7 Rb8 equal; 14.Qh5 see 101/(111)] Bc5 15.Qg4 Kf8 [15...Bf8 16.Qg3 h5 17.h4 Nd5 18.Nd5 cd5 19.Rac1 with attack] 16.Ne4 h5 [16...Be7 17.Nf6!] 17.Qd1 Be7 18.Qd7 Nd5 19.Bg5! Qe5 20.Be7 Ne7 21.Rfe1 [21.Nd6 Qa5! 22.Rfd1 Qd8 equal] Qb8! 22.Rad1 h4 23.Ng5 Rh6 [23...Qe8! 24.Qb7 Qb8 25.Rd7 Qb7 26.Rb7 Rh5 27.f4 a6! 28.Kf2 Rd8 29.Re5 and White is slightly better] 24.Re3! Qe8 25.Rf3 Qd7 [25...Nf5 26.Rfd3! and White is superior] 26.Rd7 Ke8 27.Rb7 Rf6 [27...Rd8 28.Kf1 Rf6 29.Ra7 and White is superior] 28.Rd3 Rd8 [28...Rf5 29.Rdd7 and White is superior] 29.Rd8 Kd8 30.Ra7 (and White is superior) Rf5 31.Ne4 Rf4 [better is 31...Nc8 32.Rb7 Rd5 33.Kf1 Rd7 34.Rd7 Kd7 35.a4 and White is superior] 32.Ra8 time [32.f3!] Kc7 33.f3 h3 [33...Nd5!? 34.Kf2! Nf6 35.Ke3 Rf5 (35...e5 36.g3; 35...Nd5 36.Ke2) 36.Nf6 Rf6 37.Ra4 and White is superior] 34.Ra7 Kd8 35.Ra8 Kc7 36.Ra7 Kd8 37.a4 hg2 38.Kg2 Rf5 [better is 38...Nf5 39.Ng5 Nd6 40.b3 and White is superior] 39.Ra8 Kc7 40.Ra7 Kd8 41.b4 Rd5 42.Nc5 Rd2 43.Kg3! Ke8 [43...Nf5 44.Kh3 and White is winning] 44.a5 Nd5 [44...Nf5 45.Kh3 Rf2 46.a6 a) 46...Rf3 47.Kg4 Ra3 48.Rc7 (48.Rb7 Nd6 49.Rc7 Nb5 50.Rc6 and White is winning) Ne3 49.Kg5 Nd5 50.Rb7 and White is winning; b) 46...g5! 47.Ne4! (47.Ra8 Ke7 48.a7 Rf3 49.Kg4 Ra3 unclear) Rf3 48.Kg4! Rf4 49.Kg5 Re4 50.Rb7 Nh4! 51.h3!! (51.a7 Nf3 52.Kh6 Rh4 53.Kg7 Rg4 54.Kh8 Rh4 55.Kg7 equal) Kf8 52.Kf6! (52.a7?? Nf3 53.Kf6 Rf4 mate) Rf4 53.Ke5 Ng6 54.Kd6 Rd4 55.Kc7 Rd3 56.a7 Ra3 57.Rb8 Ke7 58.a8Q Ra8 59.Ra8 Ne5 60.h4 and White is winning] 45.Rb7 g5 46.Ne4 (and White is winning) Ra2 47.Ng5 Ra4 48.Nf7 Nb4 49.h4 Nd5 50.h5 Ra5 51.h6 Ne7 52.Nd6 Kd8 53.Nf7 time Ke8 54.h7 Ng6 55.Nd6 Kd8 56.Nf7 Ke8 57.Nd6 Kd8 58.Kg4 Rd5 59.Rg7 1-0 [Sutovsky]
9. LEKO 2753 – T.RADJABOV 2735
Morelia/Linares 2008 — 102/115 [B33]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bf6 Bf6 11.c3 0-0 12.Nc2 Bg5 13.a4 ba4 14.Ra4 a5 15.Bc4 Rb8 16.b3 Kh8 17.Nce3 Be3 18.Ne3 Ne7 19.0-0 f5 20.ef5 Bf5 21.Ra2 Be4 22.Rd2 Rb6
23.Re1! [a novelty, and White is slightly better, with the idea Bf1, Nc4 weak point d6, Be4; 23.Be6] Qb8! [23...Qc7 24.Bf1! and White is slightly better, with the idea Nc4] 24.Qa1 Qc7! [24...d5 25.Nd5 Bd5 26.Bd5 Nd5 27.Rd5 Rb3 28.Ra5 Qb6 29.Ra2] 25.Red1 [25.Qa3!? Rd8 26.Red1 h6 and White is slightly better] h6 [25...Rd8? 26.Qa5! Ra8 27.Rd6! and White is winning; 25...d5!? 26.Nd5 (26.Qa3 Rbf6 27.Bd5 Nd5 28.Nd5 Bd5 29.Rd5 Rf2 equal) Bd5 27.Bd5 Nd5 28.Rd5 Rb3] 26.h3!? Bb7? [26...d5! 27.Nd5 Nd5 28.Bd5 Bd5 29.Rd5 Rb3 30.Qa5 Qa5 31.Ra5 Rc3 32.Re5 Rc2] 27.Qa3 Rd8 28.Be6! Qc3 [28...d5 29.Bd5 Rd5 30.Nd5 Nd5 31.Rd5 Bd5 32.Rd5 Qc3 33.Qf8 Kh7 34.Qf5 Rg6 35.g3! and White is winning; 28...Rc6 29.Nc4! (29.c4 Rc5 and White is slightly better) d5 30.Bd5 (30.Qa5? Rc4!) Rd5 31.Rd5 Nd5 32.Rd5 Rg6 33.Qf8 Kh7 34.Rd8 Rg2 35.Kf1 and White is winning] 29.Rd6 Rbd6 [29...Rdd6? 30.Rd6 Qb4 31.Qb4 Rb4 32.Rd8 Kh7 33.Re8 and White is winning] 30.Rd6 Qe1? [30...Qc7 31.Rd8 (31.Nc4 Rd6 32.Qd6 Qd6 33.Nd6 Bd5 34.Bd5 Nd5 35.Nf7 Kg8 36.Ne5 and White is superior) Qd8 32.Qc5 Ng6 33.Bf5 Nh4 34.Bc2 and White is superior] 31.Kh2 Re8 32.Rd7 and White is winning [32.Rd8? Rd8 33.Qe7 Qd2! and White is superior] Nc6 [32...Qf2 33.Re7 Qf4 34.Kh1 Re7 35.Qe7 Qe3 36.Qe8 Kh7 37.Bg8; 32...Ng6 33.Bf7 Qf2 34.Bg6 Qe3 35.Rb7 Qf4 36.Kg1 Qe3 37.Kh1] 33.Bf7 [33.Rb7 Nd4 34.Re7 and White is winning] Ra8 [33...Rb8 34.Rb7; 33...Qf2 34.Be8 Nd4 35.Rf7 Nf3 36.Rf3 Bf3 37.Qf8 and White is winning] 34.Rb7 [34.Bg6 Qf2 35.Rf7] Qf2 35.Bd5 Rc8 [35...Qf4 36.g3 (36.Kh1 Qe3 37.Bc6 Rd8 38.Rd7 Rd7 39.Bd7 and White is winning) Qe3 37.Bc6 e4 38.Qb2 and White is winning] 36.Rf7 Qe3 37.Bc6 1-0 [Leko]
10. B.GELFAND 2723 – SHIROV 2740
Russia 2008 — 102/352 [D85]
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.Qa4 Bd7 6.Qb3 Nb6 7.d4 Be6? [7...Bg7 see 102/356] 8.Qc2 Bg7 9.e4 Bg4 [9...0-0 see 74/13] 10.Ne5! Be5 [10...Be6 11.Be3] 11.de5 Nc6 12.Bb5 [12.Bh6 Nb4 13.Qb1 Qd4 unclear] Bd7 [12...0-0 13.Bc6 bc6 14.Bh6 Re8 15.h3 Be6 16.Ne2 and White is superior]
13.Bc6! [a novelty; 13.e6; 13.Be3 Ne5 14.0-0-0 c6 15.Be2 Qc7 unclear] Bc6 14.Be3 Qd7 15.Rd1 Qe6 16.0-0 0-0 17.f4 Rad8? [17...f6 a) 18.f5 gf5 (18...Qe5 19.b4 and White is winning) 19.Rf5 (19.Bh6 fe4 20.Bf8 Rf8 with compensation) Nc4 (19...fe5 20.Rg5 Kh8 21.Re5) 20.Qb3 fe5 21.Rg5 Kh8 22.Re5 Qe5 23.Bd4 Qd4 24.Rd4 Ne3|; b) 18.ef6 ef6 19.f5 gf5 20.Rf5 and White is superior] 18.Bd4 f5 [18...Qc4 19.b3 (19.Qf2) Qb4 20.Ne2 and White is superior] 19.ef6 ef6 20.f5 gf5 21.Rf5 [21.Qf2?! Be4 22.Qg3 Kf7 equal] Be8 [21...Nc4 22.Qf2] 22.Qf2 [22.Nd5? Nd5 23.ed5 Rd5 24.Rd5 Qd5 25.Bc5 Qc6! equal; 22.Bc5! Rd1 23.Qd1 Bg6 (23...Rf7 24.Qg4 Rg7 25.Qf4 Nd7 26.Ba7 and White is winning) 24.Bf8 Bf5 25.Bh6 Bg6 (25...Be4 26.Qd8 Kf7 27.Qf8 Kg6 28.Qg7 Kh5 29.Be3) 26.Qd8 Be8 27.Qc7 and White is winning] Bg6 23.Rf4 Nd7 24.Rf1 Ne5 [better is 24...c6 25.Ba7] 25.Nd5 Nd3 26.Rf6 [26.Nf6? Qf6 and White is superior] Rf6 [26...Nf2 27.Re6] 27.Nf6 Kf7 28.Qe3 c5 29.Nh7 Ke8 30.Nf6 Ke7 31.Bc5 Nc5 32.Qc5 Qd6 33.Qg5 Qd4 34.Kh1 1-0 [B.Gelfand]
No comments:
Post a Comment