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The Most Important Novelty of Chess Informant 103

Milan Bjelajac

Naiditsch prepared and played an exceptionally strong move, 19.Qd2!, in a quiet variation of the Russian Defense at the very strong tournament in Dortmund, and the Chess Informant jury has chosen it as the best theoretical novelty of Volume 103.

Kramnik was, no doubt, very surprised and responded with the dubious 19…Ng6?!. However, analysis by Naiditsch in Informant 103, as well as the game Smirnov - Neelotpal, Pardubice, shows that the correct continuation for Black was to accept the rook sacrifice with an unclear position that offers mutual chances for both sides.

Still, it is understandable that Kramnik wished to avoid Naiditsch's home preparations. Nevertheless, even 19…Ng6 was thoroughly analyzed by Naiditsch, as is evident by his extremely strong move 22.Qe3!. From there the rest of the game was just a matter of technique for White.

1. A. Naiditsch (2624) – V. Kramnik (2788)
Dortmund 2008 – 103/199 [C42]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Ne5 d6 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Re1 Bg4 9.c4 Nf6 10.Nc3 Bf3 11.Qf3 Nd4 12.Qd1 Ne6 13.cd5 Nd5 14.Bb5 c6 15.Nd5 cb5 16.Bf4 Nf4 17.Re7 Kf8 18.Re5 Qd6

19.Qd2! [a novelty; 19.Rf5 Rd8 20.Ne3 Qd1 21.Rd1 Rd1 22.Nd1 Ne6 23.Rb5 b6 equal] Ng6?! [19...Ne6 20.Rae1 with attack; 19...Qe5 20.Qb4 Ke8 21.Qb5 (21.Re1?! Ne2 22.Kf1 Rc8! 23.f4 Qd5 24.Re2 Kd7 25.Rd2 Rc5 and Black is slightly better) Kd8 (21...Kf8 22.Qc5 and White is winning) 22.Rd1 Ne2 23.Kh1 Nd4 24.Qb7 Rc8 (24...Rb8 25.Qa7 with attack) 25.h3! unclear] 20.Ree1 f6 [20...Rd8 21.Rad1 with the idea 21...Ne7 22.Qe3 Nd5 23.Rd5 Qd5 24.Qe7 Kg8 25.Qe8 and White is winning] 21.Rad1 [21.Qd3!? Rd8 (21...Re8 22.Re8 Ke8 23.Qb5 Qc6 24.Qb3 and White is superior) 22.Qb3! Rd7 (22...Ne5 23.Rad1 Qc5 24.Nf4 and White is winning; 22...Qd5 23.Rad1 Qb3 24.Rd8 Kf7 25.Rd7 Kf8 26.ab3 and White is winning) 23.Rad1 Qc6 24.Nb4 Rd1 25.Rd1 Qc4 26.Qe3 Qb4 27.Rd8 Kf7 28.Rd7 Ne7 29.a3 Rd8 30.Rd8 Qb2 31.Rd1 and White is superior] Kf7

22.Qe3! Rhe8 [22...Rhd8 23.Ne7] 23.Ne7! Qe7 24.Qb3 Kf8 25.Re7 Re7 26.Qb5 (and White is winning) Rae8 27.g3 Ne5 28.Kg2 Nc6 29.b4 a6 30.Qb6 h6 31.a4 Ne5 32.Qc5 Kg8 33.b5 ab5 34.ab5 Nf7 35.h4 Kh8 36.Rd2 Kg8 37.Kh3 Kh8 38.f4! Kg8 39.h5 Kh8 40.Qf5 Nd8 41.Rd7 Ne6 42.Qd5 1-0 [A.Naiditsch]

2. A. Shirov (2740) – Sergey Karjakin (2732)
Foros 2008 – 103/303 [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 Kf7 13.e5 Nd5 14.Ne4 Qb6 15.Nd6 Ke7 16.Bg4

16...h5! [a novelty; 16...Raf8 see 102/333] 17.Bh5 Raf8 18.Qg4 [18.a4] Bh6 19.h4 [19.Rad1 c5 20.Bg6 Nf4 21.Bh4 gh4 22.Qh4 Nf6] Rhg8 [19...c5! 20.hg5 Bg7 21.g6 Kd8 22.a4 (22.Nf7 Kc8) b4!? and Black is slightly better] 20.hg5 [20.Qe4 Rg7 21.hg5 Bg5 22.f4 Bf6 (22...N7f6 23.ef6 Bf6 24.Nb7 Qb7 25.f5 Kd8 with counterplay) 23.Bg6 Kd8] Bg5 21.Ne4?! [21.Bh4 Bf6 22.Qe4! a) 22...Rh8 23.ef6 N7f6 24.Nb7 Kd7 (24...Qb7 25.Rfe1 Qd7 26.Bf3 Qd6 27.a4! Nf4 28.Bf6 Kf6 29.g3 and White is slightly better) 25.Bf6 Nf6 26.Qe5 Qb7 27.Bf3 Kd8 28.Rfe1 Qh7 29.g3 (29.g4 Nd5 30.Bg2 Qh4 31.Qd6 Kc8 32.Qc6 Nc7 33.Qb7 Kd7 equal) Nd7 (29...Nd5 30.Qd6 Qd7 31.Qb8 Ke7 32.Qe5 and White is slightly better) 30.Qe4 Qe4 31.Be4 Kc7 32.a4 a6 and White is slightly better; b) 22...Bh4 23.Qh4 b1) 23...N5f6 24.Bf3 Rh8 25.ef6 Nf6 26.Qg3 Rhg8 (26...Rfg8 27.Qe5 Nd7 28.Nf5 Kf7 29.Qd6 Qd8 30.Ng3 Nf6 31.Qe5 and White is slightly better) 27.Qh2 Rd8 (27...Rh8 28.Qe5 Nd7 29.Nf5 Kd8 30.Qe6 c5 31.Qb6 ab6 32.Bb7 Rf5 33.Rad1 and White is slightly better) 28.Nb7 Qb7 29.a4 and White is slightly better; b2) 23...N7f6 b21) 24.Rfe1 Kd7 (24...Rh8 25.Qg5) 25.ef6 Rf6 26.Nb7 Qb7 27.Bg4 Rgg6 28.Re5 and White is slightly better, with the idea 28...Qb6 29.Rae1; b22) 24.Nb7 Rh8 25.Nc5 Rh5 26.ef6 Nf6 27.Qg3 Kf7 (27...Qb8 28.Rae1) 28.Rae1 Rfh8 29.f3 Rh1 30.Kf2 Rf1 31.Rf1 Qb8 32.Qb8 Rb8 33.Re1 Re8 34.f4 and White is slightly better] Ne3! [21...Qd4 22.Rad1 Ne5 23.Rd4 Ng4 24.Bd6 Kd7 (24...Kd8 25.Ng5 Rg5 26.Bf8 and White is superior) 25.Bf8 Ngf6 26.f4 Bh4 27.f5 ef5 28.Nc5 and White is superior] 22.Qg5! [22.Qh3 Ng2! (22...Nf5 23.Ng5 Rg5 24.Bh4 Rfg8) 23.Qg2 c5 24.d5 Bd5 25.Rad1 Qc6 26.Rd5 (26.Rfe1 Rf5 and Black is superior) ed5 27.Ng5 Qh6 28.Bg4 Rg5 29.Bd7 Kd7 30.Qd5 Ke8 31.Qa8 Kf7 32.Qa7 Kg8 33.Qc5 Qh3 34.Qd5 Kg7 and Black is slightly better] Rg5 23.Bh4 Kd8 only move [23...Nf1? 24.Bg5 Nf6 25.ef6 Kd8 26.Nc5 and White is superior] 24.fe3 Rh8 25.Bg5 Kc7 26.Bg4? [26.Rf7 Rh5 27.Nf6 Rg5 28.Nd7 Rf5 a) 29.Rh7 Qa5 30.Nc5 Kb8 31.e4 Qd2 32.Rb7 Kc8 (32...Ka8 33.ef5 Qd4 34.Kh1 Qh4 35.Kg1 equal) 33.ef5 Qd4 34.Kh1 Qc5 35.Rh7 ef5 36.e6 equal; b) 29.Rf5 Kd7 30.Rf7 Kc8 31.Rf8 Kc7 32.Raf1 Qa5 33.R1f7 Kb6 34.Rb8 Qd2 35.Rbb7 Ka5 36.Ra7 Kb4 equal; c) 29.Rf1 Rf7 30.Rf7 Qa5 31.Nc5 Kb8 32.Rb7 Kc8 33.Rh7 Qe1 (33...Qa2 34.Rh8 Kc7 35.Rh7 equal) 34.Kh2 Qe3 35.Rh8 Kc7 36.Rh7 Kd8 37.Ne6 Ke8 38.Nc7 Kf8 39.e6 Qf4 40.Kh1 equal] c5 27.dc5 Nc5? [27...Qa5 a) 28.Nd6 Bc6 (28...Rg8!? and Black is superior) 29.Bh3 (29.Be6 Qd2 and Black is winning) Qd2 30.Rf2 Qd5 31.e4 Qc5 and Black is superior; b) 28.Rf7 Be4 29.Rd1 Kb8 30.Rfd7 Qa2 31.R7d2 Re8 and Black is superior] 28.Rf7 Kb8 29.Nd6 Rg8 30.Raf1 [30.Rd1 Bc6 31.Rdf1 Nd7 32.Be6 Qe3! 33.Be3 Rg2 34.Kh1 Rf2 equal] Rg5 31.Rf8 Kc7 32.R1f7 Nd7 33.Rd7 Kd7 34.Rf7 Kd8 [34...Kc6 35.Bf3 Kc5 36.Rb7 Qa5 37.Ne4 Kb4 38.Ng5 Qa2 39.Ne6 and White is superior] 35.Rf8 Kd7 36.Rf7 ½-½ [Sergey Karjakin]

3. Rauf Mamedov (2617) – Dm. Kokarev (2579)
Plovdiv 2008 – 103/181 [B97]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Qd3 Qb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.f5 Nc6 11.fe6 fe6 12.Nc6 bc6 13.Be2 Be7

14.Bh5! [a novelty; 14.0-0 see 86/256] g6 15.e5!! Nd5! [15...Nh5 16.Be7 Nf4 17.Qf3 Ng2 (17...Nd5 18.0-0! Ne7 19.Qf7 Kd8 20.ed6 Qd6 21.Qf6 Qc5 22.Kh1 Rg8 23.Ne4 Qa7 24.Rbd1 Bd7 25.Ng5 and White is winning) 18.Kf2! and White is winning; 15...de5 16.Rb3 e4 (16...Qa5 17.Bg6 hg6 18.Qg6 Kd7 19.Bf6 Bf6 20.Qf6 and White is winning) 17.Qh3 Qa5 18.Bg6 Kd7 19.Bf6 Bf6 20.Be4 Kc7 21.0-0 Bd4 22.Kh1 Bd7 23.Qd3 e5 24.Ne2 and White is winning] 16.Rb3! [16.Bg6? hg6 17.Qg6 Kd7 18.Nd5 cd5 19.Be7 Qe3 20.Kd1 Qd4 21.Kc1 Qe3 22.Kd1 equal] Qa5 [16...Qc5 17.Ne4 a) 17...Nb4 18.Rb4 Qb4 19.c3 Qa3 20.Be7 Ke7 (20...gh5 21.0-0! and White is winning) 21.ed6 Ke8 22.0-0 gh5 (RR 22...Rf8 only move) 23.d7 (RR 23.Qd4!) Bd7 24.Nf6 Kf7 25.Qd7 Kg6 26.Qe6 and White is winning; b) 17...Qa5 18.Bd2 Qa2 19.ed6 and White is winning] 17.Be7 Ne7 18.ed6 Qh5 19.de7 Qh4 20.g3 Qe7 21.0-0 [21.Ne4? 0-0!] Rf8 22.Ne4 e5 [22...Rf1!? 23.Qf1 e5 24.Rd3! and White is superior] 23.Nd6 Kd8 24.Rfb1 Qe6 25.c4 Ke7 26.Rb7! Bb7 27.Rb7 Kd8 28.Qa3 a5 29.Qc5 1-0 [Rauf Mamedov]

4. D. Stellwagen (2616) – E. Bareev (2655)
Amsterdam 2008 – 103/75 [B19]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 de4 4.Ne4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bd3 10.Qd3 e6 11.Bd2 Ngf6 12.0-0-0 Qc7 13.Ne4 0-0-0 14.g3 Ne4 15.Qe4 Nf6 16.Qe2 Rd5 17.c4! Rh5 18.Bf4 Qd8

19.Rhe1! [a novelty; 19.Ne5 see 103/(75)] Bb4 [19...Rf5 a) 20.d5!? a1) 20...ed5 21.Ne5 Qc7 (21...Qe8 22.Qc2) 22.Qd3 Rf4 23.gf4 Bd6 24.Qf5 Kb8 25.Rg1 and White is superior; a2) 20...cd5! 21.cd5 (21.Ne5 Qc7; 21.Kb1 Bd6 22.Ne5 Nh5 23.cd5 Nf4 24.gf4 Be5 25.fe5 Qb6) Rd5 22.Rd5 Qd5 23.Kb1 Bd6 24.Ne5 Be5 25.Be5 b5 only move 26.Rc1 Kb7 27.Rc7 Ka8 28.a4 ba4 29.Qa6 Qd1 30.Ka2 Qb3 equal; b) 20.Ne5 Nd7 (20...Qe8 21.d5 g5 22.dc6 gf4 23.cb7 Kb7 24.Qf3 Kc7 25.g4 Ng4 26.Rd7 and White is winning) 21.d5 Ne5 22.Be5 Bd6 23.Bd6 (23.de6 Re5 24.Qe5 Be5 25.Rd8 Rd8 26.Re5 fe6 equal) Qd6 24.de6 Qe7! (24...Qe6 25.Qd3 Re5 26.Re5 Qe5 27.Qd7 Kb8 28.Qf7 and White is slightly better) 25.Qg4 (25.Rd7 Qe6 26.Qe6 fe6 27.Rg7 and White is slightly better) g6 26.ef7 (26.Rd7 Qc5 27.Rf7 Qf2 28.Re2 Qg1 29.Kc2 Rd8 30.Rd7 Rd7 31.ed7 Kd7 32.Qg6 Rf2 equal; 26.Qd4 Rf8 27.Qa7 fe6) Qf7 27.Qd4 (27.Rd6 Re8 28.Re8 Qe8 29.Qg6 Qg6 30.Rg6 Rf2 31.Rh6 Rg2 equal) Rf8 28.Qa7 Qc4 29.Kb1 Qb4 equal; 28.f4 and White is slightly better] 20.Ne5 Qe7 [20...Rf8 21.Rg1 Rf5 22.Be3 h5 23.f3 Qc7 24.g4 hg4 25.fg4 Re5 26.de5 Qe5 27.g5 (27.Qd3!? Be7 28.Qd4 and White is slightly better) a) 27...Nd7 28.Qd3 Nb6 (28...Nc5 29.Qd4 and White is superior) 29.g6 and White is superior; b) 27...Bc5 28.Rge1 Be3 29.Qe3 Qe3 30.Re3 Nd7 31.Rh1 and White is superior] 21.Rg1 g5 [21...Rf5 22.Be3 h5 23.f3] 22.g4 Rh3! [22...Ng4 23.Bg3 Nf6 24.Nf7! Rh7 (24...Qf7 25.Qe5 and White is winning) 25.Qe5 Rf7 26.Qb8 Kd7 27.Qb7 Ke8 28.Qb8 Kd7 29.Qa7 Ke8 30.Qb8 Kd7 31.Qb7 Ke8 32.Qc6 Kf8 33.a3 Ba3 34.Qa8 Kg7 35.Qa3 and White is winning] 23.Qf1 Ra3! 24.ba3 Ba3 25.Kc2 gf4 26.Rd3 Bd6 27.Qc1! h5 28.gh5 [28.g5 Be5 29.de5 Ne4 (29...Ng4 30.Qf4 Qc5) 30.f3 Nc5 unclear] Rh5 29.Qf4 c5? [29...Rf5 a) 30.Qh4 Rh5 equal; b) 30.Qh2!? b1) 30...c5? 31.Qh8 Kc7 32.Qa8! Rf2 33.Kb1 cd4 34.Rb3 Bb4 35.Nd3 (35.c5 Ne4 36.Rb4 Nc3 37.Kc1 Na2 38.Kb1 Nc3 equal) Ne4 36.Nf2 Nd2 37.Kc2 Qc5! 38.Qg8!! Qc4 39.Kd1 Nb3 40.Qg3 and White is winning; b2) 30...Nh5 31.f3 and White is slightly better, with the idea 31...c5? 32.Rg8 Kc7 33.Qd2 and White is winning; b3) 30...Rh5 31.Rh3 and White is superior; b4) 30...Kc7! (with compensation) 31.f4? Be5 32.de5 Qc5!; c) 30.Qe3 c5 31.Nf3 Qc7 (31...b5!?) 32.Kb1 and White is slightly better] 30.Rg5! (and White is superior) Rg5 31.Qg5 cd4 32.f4! [32.Rd4 Be5 33.Qe5 Nd7] Bc7 [32...Be5 33.fe5 Qc5 34.Qf6 Qc4 35.Kd2 Qa2 36.Ke1 Qb1 37.Ke2 Qc2 38.Rd2 Qe4 39.Kf1 Qh1 40.Kf2 Qh2 41.Ke1 and White is winning] 33.Rh3 Bd8 34.Rh8 Kc7 35.Nf7! (and White is winning) Qf7 36.Qc5 Kd7 37.Qd4 Nd5 38.cd5 ed5 39.Qd3 Bf6 (time) 40.Qf5 Kd6 41.Rh6 Ke7 42.Rh7 Bg7 43.Qg5 1-0 [D.Stellwagen]

5. L. Dominguez Perez (2695) – B. Predojevic (2651)
Sarajevo 2008 – 103/169 [B90]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.f3 b5 10.0-0-0 Be7 11.g4 b4 12.Nd5 Bd5 13.ed5 Nb6 14.Na5 Nbd5

15.Nc4! [a novelty; 15.Nc6 see 99/170] h6 [15...Ne3 16.Qe3 (16.Ne3 0-0 17.Nf5 d5 unclear) Qc7 17.g5 Nd7 18.f4 0-0 19.h4 unclear] 16.h4 Ne3 [16...Qc7] 17.Ne3 d5 18.Nd5 Nd5 19.Qd5 Qd5 20.Rd5 (and White is slightly better) Bf6 21.Ra5 Ke7 22.Ra6 Ra6 23.Ba6 Rd8 24.Bd3 Kd6 25.h5! Bg5 26.Kb1 Be3 [26...Kc5 27.Re1 Bf6 28.Kc1 Bg5 29.Kd1 Bf4 30.Ke2 Ra8 31.Ra1 f6 32.a4 and White is slightly better] 27.Re1 Bd4 28.Be4 Ke6 29.Rd1 Rb8 [29...Rd6 30.Rd3 Bc5 31.Rd6 Kd6 32.c3 bc3 33.bc3 and White is slightly better] 30.Rd3 Rb6 31.Kc1 Kf6 [31...Ra6 32.Rb3 Bc5 33.Kb1 Rd6 34.c3 Rb6 35.cb4 Rb4 36.Rc3 and White is superior] 32.c3 bc3 33.bc3 Bc5 34.Rd7 Ke6 [34...Ra6 35.Bd5 Ra7 36.Ra7 Ba7 37.Kc2 g6 38.a4 gh5 39.gh5 Ke7 40.Kb3 and White is superior] 35.Bf5 Kf6 36.Be4 Ke6 37.Rd8 Kf6 38.Kc2 g6? [38...Ra6 39.Kb3 Ra3 40.Kc4 Be7 41.Rd2 and White is superior] 39.a4 [39.hg6 fg6 40.Rg8 Kg5 41.a4 and White is winning] gh5 40.gh5 (time) Bf2 (time) 41.Rd5 (and White is winning) Ke6 42.a5 Ra6 43.Rb5 f5 44.Bd3 [better is 44.Bd5 Kd6 45.Bb7 Ra7 46.a6 Be3 47.Rd5 Ke6 48.c4] Rc6 45.Kb3 Kf6 46.Rd5 Re6 47.a6 Kg5 [47...e4 48.fe4 fe4 49.Bc4 Be3 50.Kb4 Re7 51.Be2 Re6 52.Rd8] 48.Rd7 e4 49.fe4 fe4 50.Be2 Kf6 51.Rh7?! [51.a7 Re8 52.Bc4 Kg5 53.Rf7 Be3 54.Bd5] Kg5? [51...Be3 52.Kb4 Re7 53.Rh8 Ke5 54.Rg8 Rc7] 52.Rg7 Kf6 53.Rg6 Ke5 54.Kb4 Rd6 55.Kb5 Rd2 56.Bc4 Rc2 57.Rg2 e3 1-0 [L.Dominguez Perez, J.Ibarra]

6. V. Ivanchuk (2781) – G. Kamsky (2723)
Moscow 2008 – 103/339 [D92]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Rc1 dc4 7.e4 Bg4 8.Bc4 Nfd7 9.Be2 [9.Be3 see 67/(551)] Nc6 [9...Bf3 10.Bf3 e5 11.de5 Be5 12.Be5 Ne5 13.Be2 Qd1 14.Rd1 c6 15.f4 Ned7 16.e5 and White is superior] 10.Be3 [10.d5 Bf3 11.Bf3 Nd4 12.0-0 c5 with counterplay] Nb6 [10...Bf3!? 11.gf3 e6 12.h4 Nb6 and White is slightly better] 11.d5 Bf3 12.gf3 Ne5 [12...Nb8 13.Qb3 c6 14.0-0 cd5 15.Nd5 and White is slightly better]

13.Qb3! [a novelty; 13.Bd4] c6 [13...f5? 14.Nb5!; 13...Qd7!?] 14.f4 Ned7 15.0-0 [15.dc6 bc6 16.h4 h5 17.e5 Rb8! 18.Qc2 a) 18...Nd5 19.e6 (19.Nd5 cd5 20.b3 Nb6 with counterplay) fe6 20.Qg6 Rf6 21.Qh5 Nf4 22.Bf4 Rf4 23.Rg1 and White is slightly better; b) 18...e6 19.Rd1 Nd5 20.Ba7 Rb4 21.Nd5 cd5 22.Bd4 Qb8 with compensation, with the idea Bh6] Qe8? [15...cd5 16.Nd5 e6 (16...e5 17.fe5 Ne5 18.f4 Nc6 19.Rfd1 Nd5 20.Rd5 Qe7 21.e5 and White is superior) 17.Nb6 Nb6 18.a4 Qh4 19.a5 Nd7 20.e5 g5 21.Rc4 Qh3 (21...gf4 22.Bf4 b6 23.Qe3 and White is superior) 22.Kh1 gf4 23.Rf4 Ne5 24.Rg1 with initiative] 16.a4! cd5 17.Nb5! [17.Nd5 Nd5 18.Qd5 Nb6 19.Qb7 Qa4 with counterplay] Rc8 [17...d4 18.Nc7! Qd8 19.Na8 de3 (19...Na8 20.Bd2 b6 21.e5 and White is superior) 20.Nb6 ef2 21.Kf2! Bd4 22.Kg2 ab6 23.Qd5 and White is superior] 18.Rc8 Qc8 19.e5!? [19.Na7 Qb8 20.Bb6 Nb6 21.Qb6 Qf4 22.Qe3! Qe3 23.fe3 Ra8 24.Nb5 Ra4 25.ed5 Bb2 and White is superior] a6 [19...Qc6! 20.Na7 (20.Rc1 Nc4 21.Na7 Qe6 22.Bc4 dc4 23.Qb7 g5 24.Qc6 gf4 25.Qe6 fe6 26.Bd4 Ne5 27.Be5 Be5 28.Rc4 Bb2 29.a5 and White is superior) Qe6 (20...Qa4 21.Qa4 Na4 22.Bb5 Nab6 23.Rc1 and White is superior, with the idea Rc7) 21.Nb5 (21.Rd1 g5!) Qh3 a) 22.Qb4 Ne5 23.Bb6 Ng4 24.Bg4 Qg4 equal; b) 22.f3 g5 23.Nc3 (23.fg5 Be5 24.f4 Bb2! 25.Rf3 Qg4 26.Kh1 Bg7 with counterplay) Nc4! unclear; c) 22.Nd4 Ra8 23.Bf3 and White is superior, with the idea 23...Ra4?! 24.Bg2 Qh5 25.e6! fe6 26.Ne6 and White is winning] 20.Na7! Qc7 [20...Qd8 21.a5 Nc4 22.Bc4 dc4 23.Qb7 and White is superior; 22.Qb7 and White is superior] 21.Rc1 Qd8 [21...Nc4 22.Bc4 dc4 23.Rc4 Qb8 24.Rb4 b6 25.Nc6 Qe8 26.Qc4 and White is superior] 22.a5 Nc4 23.Bc4 dc4 24.Qb7 g5 [24...Nb8 25.h3 (weak point g4) g5 26.Rc4 gf4 27.Bf4 Qd3 28.Rc8 and White is winning] 25.Nc6 Qe8 26.Rc4 [26.Qa6 gf4 27.Bf4 and White is winning] gf4 27.Bf4 Kh8 28.Bg3 Rg8 29.Kf1 e6 30.Rd4 [30.Qa6 Nb8 31.Qa8 and White is winning] Nc5 31.Qb6 Nd7 32.Qc7 Nb8 33.Nd8! Qb5 34.Kg1 h6 35.Nf7 Kh7 36.Qc2 1-0 [V.Ivanchuk]

7. E. Iturrizaga (2470) – L. Bruzon Batista (2607)
Morelia/Linares 2008 – 103/311 [D45]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.e4 de4 8.Ne4 Ne4 9.Qe4 c5 10.Bg5 Be7 11.Be7 Qa5 12.Ke2 Ke7 13.g3

13...Qb4! [a novelty; 13...cd4 see 100/337] 14.b3 (only move) Qa3 15.Bh3 Qb2 16.Ke3 [16.Kd3 Qf2 (16...Rd8 17.Rhb1 Qf2 18.Rf1 Qb2 equal) 17.Rhf1 Qb2 18.d5 Rd8 19.Rfb1 Qf2 20.Rf1 equal] Qc3 [16...Rd8!?] 17.Ke2 [17.Qd3 cd4 18.Nd4 Qd3 19.Kd3 e5 20.Bd7 Bd7 21.Rhe1 Kf6 22.Nf3 Rhe8 equal] Qb2 18.Ke3 Rd8 19.Rhd1 [19.d5?! Nf6 20.Qb1 (20.Qe5 Qe5 21.Ne5 ed5 and Black is slightly better) Qc3 21.Qd3 Qd3 22.Kd3 ed5 23.Bc8 Rac8 24.Rhe1 Kf8 and Black is slightly better] Nf6 (equal) 20.Qe5 Rd5!? [20...Qc3 21.Ke2 Qc2 22.Rd2 (only move) Qe4 23.Qe4 Ne4 24.Rd3 cd4 25.Rd4 Rd4 26.Nd4 e5 27.Bc8 Rc8 28.Nf5 Kf6 29.Ne3 equal] 21.cd5 only move [21.Qf4? Rh5! 22.Bg4 cd4 23.Qd4 Qd4 24.Rd4 e5 and Black is winning; 21.Qc7? Bd7 22.dc5 Rc8 23.Qb7 Qc3 24.Ke2 Qc2 25.Rd2 Qe4 26.Kf1 (only move) Rd2 27.Qe4 Ne4 28.Nd2 Nd2 29.Ke2 Ne4 30.b4 Nf6 and Black is superior] Nd5 (only move) 22.Kd3 (only move) [22.Ke4?? Qe2 mate] f6 [22...Nb4 23.Ke3 (only move; 23.Kc4?? Qc2 24.Kb5 Bd7 25.Ka5 b6 mate; 23.Ke4?? Qc2! 24.Kf4 Nd5 25.Kg4 f6 and Black is winning) Nd5 (23...Nc2?? 24.Ke2 Na1 25.Rd2 Qa3 26.dc5 and White is winning) 24.Kd3 Nb4 25.Ke3 equal] 23.Qe2 [23.Qe4 Nb4 (23...Bd7 24.Rac1) 24.Ke3 Nd5 equal] Nb4 24.Ke3 Qc3?? [24...Nd5 only move, equal] 25.Kf4! and White is winning [25.Ke4 b6 26.Rac1 Na2 27.Rc3 Nc3 28.Ke3 Ne2 29.Ke2 Bb7 30.dc5 bc5 31.Rc1 and White is superior] e5 [25...cd4 26.Rac1 d3 27.Rc3 Nd5 28.Ke4 (only move) de2 29.Rdc1 Nc3 30.Rc3 and White is winning; 25...h5 26.Rac1 g5 27.Ke4 Na2 (27...f5 28.Bf5 (only move) ef5 29.Ke5 Na2 30.Rc3 Nc3 31.Qc4 and White is winning) 28.Rc2 Qb3 29.Rd3 Qd5 30.Ke3 Nb4 31.Rc5 and White is winning] 26.de5 g5 27.Ng5 only move [27.Ke4?? Bh3 28.ef6 Kf6 29.Rd6 Kg7 and Black is winning] fg5 28.Kg5 Bh3 29.Rac1 Rg8 30.Kh4 Bg4 31.Rd7 [31.Qb5!] Ke6 [31...Ke8 32.Rc3 Be2 33.Rb7 Rg4 34.Kh3 h5 35.Kg2 Nd5 36.f3 Rg5 37.f4 and White is winning] 32.Rd6 [32.Qe4!] Ke7 33.Qe4 Qf3 34.Qh7 Qf7 35.Qf7 Kf7 36.Rc5 Nc6 37.h3 Be6 38.g4 1-0 [L.Bruzon Batista]

8. S. Movsesian (2670) – Z. Ilincic (2548)
Bosna i Hercegovina 2008 – 103/233 [C88]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.h3

8...a5! [a novelty; 8...Bb7 see 102/253] 9.d3 [9.c3 a4 10.Bc2 a) 10...Bb7 11.d4 ed4 a1) 12.cd4 Nb4 13.e5 Nc2 14.Qc2 (14.ef6 Ne1 15.fe7 Nf3 16.Qf3 Qe7 17.Qb7 Qe1 18.Kh2 Qc1 and Black is winning) Nd5 15.Nc3 Nc3 16.Qc3 Bd5 and Black is slightly better; a2) 12.e5 Nd5 13.Qd3 g6 14.Qb5 Nb6 15.Nd4 and White is superior; b) 10...d5! b1) 11.ed5 Qd5 12.d4 ed4 (12...e4 13.Ng5 Bf5 14.Qe2 Rfe8 15.Ne4 and White is slightly better) 13.cd4 Rd8 14.Nc3 Qh5 equal; b2) 11.d4 b21) 11...ed4 12.e5 Ne4 13.Nd4 Nd4 14.cd4 Bf5 15.Nd2 Bb4 16.Ne4 Be4 (16...Be1 17.Nf6 gf6 18.Bf5 and White is winning) 17.Bd2 Bc2 18.Qc2 Bd2 19.Qd2 and White is slightly better; b22) 11...Ne4 12.de5 Rb8! (12...Bf5 13.Nbd2 Bc5 14.Ne4 de4 15.Qd8 Rad8 16.Bf4 ef3 17.Bf5 and White is slightly better) 13.Nbd2 f5 14.ef6 Nf6 equal] a4 10.Bd5 Nd5! 11.ed5 Nb4 12.Nc3 [12.c4 d6 13.Qd2 (13.a3 Na6 14.cb5 Nc5 with compensation) c5 14.dc6 (14.a3 Na6 15.cb5 Nc7 and Black is slightly better) Qa5! 15.c7 (15.cb5 Qb5 16.Na3 Qb8 17.c7 Qb7 and Black is slightly better) bc4 16.dc4 Qc5 equal] Bb7 13.Ne5 [13.Re5 d6 14.Re4 Nd5 15.Nb5 Bf6 with compensation] d6! 14.Nf3 [14.Ng4 f5 15.Nh2 Nd5 16.Nb5 Bf6 with compensation] Bf6! 15.Nb5 [15.d4 Qd7 equal] Bd5 16.Nh2 [16.a3 Bf3 17.gf3 Nd5 and Black is slightly better] a3! 17.c3 [17.Na3 Ra3 18.ba3 Nc2! 19.Qc2 Ba1 20.Ng4 c5 equal] ab2 [17...Na2 18.Na3 Ra3 19.ba3 Bc3 20.Bd2 Ba1 21.Qa1 Qa8 22.Bh6! with attack] 18.Bb2 c6 19.Qd2! [19.Na3 Na2 and Black is slightly better; 19.a3 Na6 20.Nd4 Qb6 21.Qc2 Bd4 22.cd4 Rfb8 equal] Na2 [19...Ra2 20.Ra2 Na2 21.c4 cb5 22.cd5 Bb2 23.Qb2 Qa5 24.Ra1 Ra8 25.Nf1 equal] 20.c4 cb5 21.cd5 Qa5 22.Qa5 [22.Qe2 Bb2 (22...Nc3 23.Bc3 Qc3 24.Ra8 Ra8 25.Qe8 Re8 26.Re8 mate) 23.Qb2 Qb4! 24.Qb4 Nb4 25.Ra8 Ra8 26.Rb1 Nd5 27.Rb5 Nf4 and Black is slightly better] Ra5 23.Bf6 gf6 24.Ng4 Kg7 [24...Rfa8 25.Nf6 Kg7 26.Ne8 Kg6 27.Nd6 and White is superior] 25.Ne3 Kg6 26.Reb1 [26.g4 b4 27.Nf5 Rfa8 28.f4 h5 29.Nd6 Rd5 30.gh5 Kh5 31.Re8 Re8 32.Ne8 Ra5 (32...Rd8 33.Ra2 Re8 equal) 33.Nf6 Kh4 34.Kg2 b3 35.Rb1 Rb5 equal]

26...Rc8! [26...f5 27.Nc2 Rfa8 28.Nd4 equal] 27.Kh2! [27.Rb3 Rc1 28.Rc1 Nc1 and Black is slightly better] Rc3 28.Rb2 Rca3 29.g4 Nc3 30.Ra3 [30.Rc1 R5a4 and Black is slightly better] Ra3 [R 9/h] 31.Kg2 [31.Nf5 Nd5 32.Rb5 Nf4 (32...Rd3 33.Rd5! Rd5 34.Ne7 and White is winning) 33.Kg3 Nd3 34.Nh4 Kg7 35.f3 Ne5 36.Rd5 Nc4 37.Rd4 Rc3 equal] Ra4 32.Rb3 [32.Nf5 h5 33.Nd6 hg4 34.Nb5 (34.hg4 Rg4 35.Kf3 Rd4 equal) gh3 35.Kh3 Nb5 36.Rb5 Rd4 37.Kg3 Kf5 equal] b4 33.Rb2 [33.Kf3 h5 34.gh5 Kh5 35.Nc4 Nd5 36.Ke4 Nc3 37.Kd4 Nd1 38.Nd6 Nf2 equal] f5! 34.Nf5 [34.gf5 Kf6 35.Kf3 h5 and Black is slightly better] Nd5 35.Kf3 Kf6 [35...Ra6 36.Ne3 Ne3 37.fe3 Rb6 38.Rb3 equal] 36.Ke4 [36.Nd6 Ke5 37.Nf5 (37.Nf7 Kd4 38.Re2 b3 39.Re4 Kc3 40.Ra4 b2 41.Ra3 Kb4 42.Ra7 Kb3! and Black is superior) Ra3 38.Re2 Kf6 39.Nd4! (39.Rd2 Ke5 equal) Nb6! (39...Rd3 40.Ke4 Nf4 41.Rb2 Rd1 42.Rb3! and White is superior) 40.Rc2! (40.Ke4 b3 and Black is slightly better) Na4 41.Rc4 Rd3 42.Kf4 (42.Kg2 Nc3 43.Rb4 Nd5 equal) Rh3 43.g5 Ke7 44.Nf5 Kd7 45.Rb4 Nc5 equal] Nc3 37.Kd4 Nd1 38.Rb3 [38.Rb1 b3 39.Kd5 Nc3 and Black is winning] Nf2 39.Nd6 Ra3 40.Rb4 Rd3 41.Kc5 Nh3 42.Rb6 Nf4 [42...Rf3 43.Kd5 Kg5 44.Rb7 equal] 43.g5! Ke6 [43...Kg5 44.Nf7 Kf5 45.Nh6 Ke4 46.Rb7 equal] 44.Nf7! Kf7 45.Rf6 Kg7 46.Rf4 Kg6 [46...Rg3 47.Kd4 Rg5 48.Ke3 h5 49.Kf2 equal] 47.Rg4 Kf5 48.Rg1 Rd7 49.Kc4 Rg7 50.Kd3 h5 51.Ke3 h4 52.Kf3 Rg5 53.Rg5 Kg5 ½-½ [Z.Ilincic]

9. A. Onischuk (2664) – E. Perelshteyn (2552)
USA (ch) 2008 – 103/341 [D97]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5 5.Qb3 dc4 6.Qc4 0-0 7.e4 a6 8.Be2 b5 9.Qb3 Nc6 10.e5 Be6 11.ef6 Bb3 12.fg7 Kg7 13.ab3 Nd4 14.Nd4 Qd4 15.0-0 Qb4 16.Bf3 Qb3 17.Nd5! e6

18.Ra3!? [a novelty; 18.Nc7] Qa3 [18...Qc4 19.Rc3 Qa4 (19...Qa2 20.Nb4 Qa4 21.Nc6! and White is superior) 20.b3 Qa2 21.Nb4 Qa5 22.Bb2 and White is superior] 19.ba3 ed5 20.Bb2 f6 [20...Kg8!? 21.Rc1 c5 (21...Rac8 22.Rc6!?) 22.Rc5 Rac8 23.Rd5 Rfd8 24.Rd8 Rd8 25.Kf1 Rd2 26.Bc3 Ra2 27.Bb4 a5 28.Ba5 Ra3 29.Bd2 and White is slightly better] 21.Rc1 c6? [21...c5 (only move) 22.g4 Rac8 23.Bd5 h6 24.h4 g5 25.hg5 hg5 26.f4!? gf4 27.g5 and White is slightly better; 26.Be4 and White is slightly better] 22.Rc6 g5 [22...Rac8 23.Bf6 Kh6 24.g4 and White is winning] 23.Bd5 (and White is winning) Rad8 24.Bf3 Rc8 25.Bf6 Kg6 26.Be4 Kh5 [26...Kf7 27.Bg5] 27.Rc8 Rc8 28.Kf1 Rc7 29.Ke2 a5 30.Kd2 b4 31.a4 Rf7 32.Bd4 Rd7 33.Kd3 Rc7 34.h3 g4 35.hg4 Kg4 36.f3 Kg5 37.Be5 Rc8 38.Bh7 b3 39.Be4 Rc2 40.f4 Kg4 41.Bd5 1-0 [A.Onischuk]

10. I. Cheparinov (2687) – B. Gelfand (2720)
Sochi 2008 – 103/198 [C42]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Ne5 d6 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Re1 Bg4 9.c3 f5 10.Qb3 0-0 11.Nbd2 Na5 12.Qa4 Nc6 13.Bb5 Bh4 14.g3 Bf6 15.Bc6 bc6 16.Qc6

16...Rb8! [a novelty; 16...Re8 see 74/330, 331] 17.c4? [17.Ne5 Be5 18.de5 Rb6 19.Qa4 Ng5 with attack; better is 17.Qe6] f4! [17...Nd2? 18.Nd2 Bd4 19.Nb3 and White is slightly better; 17...Re8 18.Ne5 (18.cd5 Nd2 19.Re8 Qe8 20.Nd2 Qe1 21.Nf1 Be2 and Black is winning; 18.Kg2!?) Be5 19.de5 Re5 20.cd5 Rb6 21.Qc2 Qd5 (21...Ng3 22.Re5 Ne2 23.Kf1 and White is winning) 22.Ne4 equal] 18.Ne4 [18.Ne5? Be5 19.de5 Nf2! and Black is superior, with the idea 20.Kf2 fg3 21.Kg3 Qg5 and Black is winning; 18.cd5!? Nd2 (18...Nf2? 19.Kf2 fg3 20.hg3 Bd4 21.Kg2 and White is winning) 19.Nd2 fg3 20.hg3 Bd4 21.Ne4 and Black is slightly better] de4 [18...Bf3 19.Qd5 Qd5 20.Nf6 Rf6 21.cd5 and White is slightly better] 19.Qe4 [19.Ne5 fg3 (19...Be5 20.de5 fg3 21.fg3 Qd4 22.Be3 Qb2; 21.hg3 see 19...fg3) 20.hg3 (20.Ng4 gf2 21.Nf2 Bd4 22.Be3 Be3 23.Re3 Rf2) Be5 21.de5 Bf3 with attack] Bf3 20.Qf3 fg3 [20...Bd4 21.gf4] 21.hg3 [21.Qg3 Bh4 and Black is winning] Bd4 22.Bf4 Rb2 23.Rf1! Rf2 [23...g5 24.Qg4 Kh8 25.Be3 equal; 23...Qd7 24.Qd5 Qd5 25.cd5 and Black is slightly better] 24.Rf2 Ba1 25.Kg2 Be5 [25...Bd4 26.Re2] 26.Qe4 Bf4 27.Rf4 Qd2 28.Kh3 Qd7 [28...Rf4 29.gf4 Qd7 30.Kg3 c6 31.a4 and Black is superior] 29.Kh2 Rd8? [29...Rf4 30.Qf4 g6 31.Qe3; 30...h6 and Black is superior; 29...Rb8 30.Qf5; better is 29...Qd2] 30.Qf5! c6?! [30...Qd6 31.Qf7 Kh8 32.Qd5; 30...g6 31.Qf6; better is 30...h6 31.Qd7 Rd7 32.Rf5 Rd2 33.Kh3 Ra2 34.Rc5 Kf7 35.Rc7 Kf6 36.c5 h5 and Black is slightly better] 31.Kh3 Qe7 32.Re4 Qf7 33.Rf4 Rf8 34.Qf7 Rf7 35.Rd4 (equal) h6 36.Rd8 Kh7 37.Rc8 Rf2 38.Rc6 Ra2 39.c5 Rc2 40.Ra6 Rc5 41.Ra7 ½-½ [B.Gelfand]

C42

1

12.Qg3 dc4

a) 13.Qg7? Nf3! [13...Rg8 14.Qf6 cd3 and Black is superior; Kurth - Hameister, corr.1988] 14.Kh1 [14.gf3 Rg8 and Black is winning] Rg8 15.Qf6 Ne1 and Black is winning;

b) 13.Bc4 0-0 14.Bg5 Bd6 [14...Nc2? 15.Re7! Qe7 16.Nd5 and White is winning; H.Chomocki - J.Bysina, corr.1992]

b1) 15.Qh4?! h6 16.Bf6 Qf6 17.Qf6 gf6 18.Re4 [18.Rad1 Nc6 and Black is slightly better; An.Karpov] c5 and Black is slightly better; Lobron - An.Karpov, Hannover 1983 see 36/389;

b2) 15.Qh3! Qd7 16.Qh4 Nf5 17.Qh3 Nd4 equal; G.Lawton - M.Condie, Great Britain (ch) 1985

2

12...c6 13.Be3 Ne6 14.cd5 Nd5 15.Nd5 Qd5 16.Qc2 with compensation; Tinture - H.Neussner, corr.1997

3

13...d4 14.Ne2 d3 15.Nf4 Nd4 16.Bd3 0-0 17.Be3 [17.Bd2!? with the idea Nh5 Tsaturian]

a) 17...Bc5!?

a1) 18.b4 Bb4 19.Bd4 Be1 and Black is winning;

a2) 18.Nh5 g6 19.Nf6 [19.Bg5 gh5 20.Bf6 Qf6 21.Qh5 Qg7 22.Qc5 Nf3 and Black is slightly better] Qf6 equal;

a3) 18.Qb1 Qd6

a31) 19.Rd1 Qe5 20.Bh7 Nh7 21.Nd3

a311) 21...Ne2!? 22.Kh1 [22.Kf1 Qh2 23.Nc5 Nf4 24.Bf4 Qf4 and Black is slightly better] Ng3 23.hg3? Qh5 24.Kg1 Be3 25.fe3 and Black is slightly better; 23.Kg1 equal;

a312) 21...Qf5 22.Nc5 Nc2 and Black is slightly better; Morozevich - B.Gelfand, Mexico City 2007 see 101/213

a32) 19.Nd5 Nd5 20.cd5 [20.Bh7 Kh8 21.cd5 g6 22.Qe4 Nf5 and Black is superior] g6 equal; B.Gelfand;

a4) 18.a3!? with the idea 18...a5 19.Nh5 g6 20.b4!! ab4 21.ab4 and White is superior; Mi.Marin;

b) 17...Bb4 18.Rf1 c5 equal; Ju.Polgar - Shirov, Praha (m/4) 1999 see 76/(297)

4

16...Nd5 17.Re6 0-0 18.Be3 Bf6 [18...Qd7 19.Re5 b5 20.Qb3 Rf5 21.Nd5 cd5 22.Rf5 Qf5 23.Qb5 and White is superior; 18...Kh8 19.Nd5 cd5 20.Qd3 Bf6 21.Rd1 Bb2 22.Qd5 Qd5 23.Rd5 b6 24.Re7 and White is slightly better; Magem Badals - B.Lalic, Seville 2000 see 77/(301)] 19.Bc5 [19.Re1 Bc3 20.bc3 Qd7 and White is slightly better; Ar.Jussupow] Rf7 20.Rae1 [20.Rd6 Qc7 21.Re1 Bc3 22.bc3 Re7 23.Rd8 Rd8 24.Re7 b5 25.Qb3 Qf4 unclear, with counterplay; Magem Badals - Illescas Cordoba, France 2000] Bc3 21.bc3 and White is slightly better; Shirov - Ar.Jussupow, Batumi 1999 see 77/301

5

½-½ V.Anand - Kramnik, Mainz (m/10-rapid) 2001

6

17.Be3 Bg5 18.Rad1 [with the idea Nb6] Be3 19.Re3 Rc8! [19...Qg5 20.Qg5 Ng5 21.f4 and White is slightly better, with initiative; K.Kononen - I.Hartio, Suomi 2004]

20.f4 Rc5 only move 21.b4 [21.Re5? Rd5! and Black is winning; B.Gelfand - Ar.Jussupow, Horgen 1994 see 61/302; 21.Red3? Rd5! and Black is superior, with the idea 22.Qd5 Qb6] Rc4 22.f5 [22.Red3? Nf4 23.Nf4 Qb6] Rh4 only move 23.Qe2 Nd4 24.Qf2 Qd5 25.Qh4 Nf3 and Black is slightly better; 25...Ne2 and Black is slightly better;

20.Rh3 h6 [20...Ng5 21.Rg3 h6 unclear] 21.Rg3 Kh8 unclear;

20.Red3 with compensation; Ar.Jussupow

7

19...Qd7 20.Qd7 Rd7 21.Rad1 and White is slightly better; An.Karpov;

19...h6 20.Rac1 a6 21.Qe5 Qd6 22.Qd6 Rd6 23.Red1 Rd1 24.Rd1 h5 25.f3 Rc8 26.Rd7 Rc7 27.Rc7 Nc7 28.g4 Nd5 29.Bd2 hg4 30.fg4 f5 31.gf5 Kf7 equal; Ehlvest - Erenburg, New Yersey 2008

8

21.Rac1 h6 22.h3 Nd4! ½-½ G.Kasparov - An.Karpov, Moscow (m/15) 1985 see 40/385;

21.a4!? An.Karpov;

21.h3

a) 21...h6 22.Rad1

a1) 22...Rd1 23.Rd1 b5 24.Rd3 Rc6 25.Qd5! Rc2!? [25...Qe8 26.Rd2 and White is slightly better; Ivanchuk - Kramnik, Dortmund 2008 see 103/200] 26.Qa8 Kh7 [26...Qf8 27.Qa6 Rb2 28.Rd7 and White is slightly better] 27.Qe4 Kg8? 28.Ra3 Rb2 29.Ra6 and White is winning; 27...g6 and White is slightly better;

a2) 22...b5!? with the idea 23.a4 ba4 24.Qa4 Qb7 with counterplay, weak point b2 Ivanchuk;

b) 21...Rc6 22.Rad1 h6 23.Rd8 Nd8 24.Rd1 Rd6 25.Rc1 Rc6 equal; P.Smirnov - K.Landa, Russia (ch) 2008

9

16...Bd6 17.Qg4 [17.Bd6 Qd6 18.Nf6 Ke7 19.Nd5 Kf8 20.Qf3 with compensation] 0-0 only move 18.Re6 Bf4 19.Nf4 equal; 19.Ne7 equal; An.Karpov

10

19.Qd4 f6 [19...Ne6 20.Qe3 h5 21.Re1 Kg8 22.f4 (with compensation, with initiative) 1-0 K.Kostadinov - Uvanov, corr.1987] 20.Qf4 Qe5 21.Qb4 Kf7 22.Qb3 Kg6 23.Rd1 Rhe8 and Black is superior; U.Kaminski - J.Howell, Deutschland 1992;

19.Rf5 Rd8 20.Ne3 [20.Qf3 Nd5 21.Rd1 Qe6 22.Rfd5 Rd5 23.Qd5 Qd5 24.Rd5 Ke7 25.Rb5 b6 equal; B.Lelumees - M.Kobrin, Patras 1999] Qd1 21.Rd1 Rd1 22.Nd1 Ne6 23.Rb5 b6 24.Nc3 Ke7 ½-½ Kasimdzhanov - Ar.Jussupow, Essen 2001

11

19...Ng6?! 20.Ree1 f6 [20...Rd8 21.Rad1 with the idea 21...Ne7 22.Qe3 Nd5 23.Rd5 Qd5 24.Qe7 Kg8 25.Qe8 and White is winning]

a) 21.Qd3!? Rd8 [21...Re8 22.Re8 Ke8 23.Qb5 Qc6 24.Qb3 and White is superior] 22.Qb3! Rd7 [22...Qd5 23.Rad1 and White is winning] 23.Rad1 Qc6 24.Nb4 Rd1 25.Rd1 Qc4 26.Qe3 Qb4 27.Rd8 Kf7 28.Rd7 Ne7 29.a3 Rd8 30.Rd8 Qb2 31.Rd1 and White is superior;

b) 21.Rad1 Kf7 22.Qe3! Rhe8 23.Ne7! Qe7 24.Qb3 Kf8 25.Re7 Re7 26.Qb5 and White is winning; A.Naiditsch - Kramnik, Dortmund 2008 see 103/199

19...Ne6 20.Rae1 with attack; A.Naiditsch

12

21.Re1?! Ne2 22.Kf1 Rc8! 23.f4 Qd5 24.Re2 Kd7 25.Rd2 Rc5 and Black is slightly better;

21.Qb5 Kd8 [21...Kf8 22.Qc5 and White is winning] 22.Rd1 Ne2 23.Kh1 Nd4 24.Qb7 Rc8 [24...Rb8 25.Qa7 with attack; A.Naiditsch] 25.h3! unclear; P.Smirnov - Neelotpal, Pardubice 2008

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