Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP 2007 (2), Ivanchuk, Vassily - Topalov, Veselin, 1-0, Sicilian Defense, Najdorf: (B90), 6.Be3, Chess-Theory Viewer

ANALYSED GAME N^o 086
Updated: April 2008

~ CHESS GAME OF TODAY ~
Ivanchuk, Vassily (UKR) (2750) -
Topalov, Veselin (BUL) (2783)
[B90] XXIV SuperGM Morelia-
Linares, Morelia/Linares
MEX/ESP (2), 18.02.2007

(Annotation: "Chess-Theory")

X0

Sicilian Defense, Najdorf: (B90), 6.Be3

1.e4 X1 c5 X2 2.Nf3 X3 d6 X4 3.d4 X5 cxd4 X6 4.Nxd4 X7 Nf6 X8 5.Nc3 X9 a6 X10 6.Be3 X11 e5 X12

[ The main alternative is the B-80 Totally Pure Opening: 6...e6 X13 7.f3 X14 b5 X15 8.Qd2 X16 Nbd7 X17 9.g4 X18 h6 X19 10.0-0-0 X20 Bb7 X21 11.h4 X22 b4 X23 12.Na4 X24 Qa5 X25 13.b3 X26 +/= with an excellent White average score.]

7.Nf3!? X27

~ ANSEL ADAMS' PHOTOGRAPH ~
FLICKR: Ansel Adams
Self-portrait, Monument
Valley, Utah, 1958
: Estate of ANSEL ADAMS
~ ANSEL ADAMS' PHOTOGRAPH
FLICKR: Ansel Adams
Self-portrait, Monument
Valley, Utah, 1958
(c): Estate of ANSEL ADAMS

An interesting choice; this secondary line has never been refuted and is not so deeply analysed that the most usual answer: 7.Nb3

[ Usual is: 7.Nb3 X28 The recent game Svidler, Peter (2728) - Topalov, Veselin (2783), 1-0, (B90), Corus - wijk aan Zee (11), 2007 continues as follows: 7...Be6 X29 8.Qd2 X30 Nbd7 X31 9.0-0-0 X32 Be7 X33 10.f3 X34 h5 X35 11.Kb1 X36 Qc7 X37 12.Bd3 X38 b5 X39 13.Bg5! X40 =/unclear]

7...Be7 X41 8.Bc4 X42 0-0 X43 9.0-0 X44

[ May be considered: 9.Qe2 X45 Be6 X46 10.0-0-0 X47 Bxc4 X48 11.Qxc4 X49 b5 X50 12.Qb3 X51 Nbd7 X52 13.Bg5 X53 Nc5 X54 14.Qb4 X55 a5 X56 15.Qxc5 X57 dxc5 X58 16.Rxd8 X59 Rfxd8 X60 17.Nxb5 X61 unclear Sokolov, Andre - Lutz, Christoph, ½-½, (B90), Germany, Bundesliga, 2006]

9...Be6 X62 10.Bxe6!? X63

This move is not a novelty but, introduced in 1989, it has never been played at the TOP level. White contributes to constitute a strong Black pawn formation. But Ivanchuk has certainly his reasons for playing this way.

10...fxe6 X64

It is interesting to notice that this recent line (only played since 1989) seems, according to the known results, to be favourable to Black. But, it seems that White is now (in fact since approximatively 2000) able to counter the strong central Black pawn formation.

11.Na4 X65

[ In spite of a strong White force concentration, after: 11.Qe2 X66 b5 X67 12.Rfd1 X68 Qc7 X69 13.Ng5 X70 Qc8 X71 14.f3 X72 h6 X73 15.Nh3 X74 Qc6 X75 16.Nf2 X76 Nbd7 X77 17.Nd3 X78 Black menages to prevent a White central breakthrough (Hammer, Jon L - Ekeberg, Carl F, ½-½, (B90), Nor-chT (4), Oslo, 2006.]

11...Ng4 X79 12.Qd3 X80 Nxe3 X81 13.Qxe3 X82 b5 X83 14.Nb6 X84 Ra7N X85

A novelty. The Topalov' s idea is clearly to put his Queenside Rook in b7 and later on in d7 or c7, according to the circumstances. But this choice is possibly doubtful, because it induces a strong activity of the White Knight b6, while the b8-Knight will be, for a long time, unable to reach an efficient position.

[ The quality sacrifice in f3 seems to be rather favorable to White: 14...Rxf3 X86 15.gxf3 X87 Bg5 X88 16.Qb3 X89 Qxb6 X90 17.f4 X91 Be7 X92 18.Qxe6+ X93 Kf8 X94 19.fxe5 X95 Qc6 X96 20.Qf5+ X97 +/- Offenborn, Heir - Schuster, Peter, 1/2-1/2, (B90), Germany ML-corr, 2000.]

15.Nd5 X98

Obviously!

15...Rb7 X99 16.Qd2 X100

This way, the White Knight is inviolable.

16...Nc6 X101

[ Is without relief and leads to the equality: 16...Qd7 X102 17.Nxe7+ X103 Qxe7 X104 18.Rfd1 X105 Rb6 X106 19.Qe3 X107 Rc6= X108 ]

17.Rad1 X109 Rd7 X110

[ White wins a pawn after: 17...exd5? X111 18.Qxd5+ X112 Kh8 X113 19.Qxc6 X114 +/-]

18.Qc3 X115 Nb8 X116 19.Nxe7+ X117

By the exchange in e7 White maintains a few initiative. But, this is not enough to win.

19...Qxe7 X118 20.Rd3 X119

20...h6 X120

[ The long play line: 20...Rfd8 X121 21.Rfd1 X122 Qf7 X123 22.a4 X124 bxa4 X125 23.Qb4 X126 Qf4 X127 24.Qxa4 X128 d5 X129 25.Re1 X130 dxe4 X131 26.Rxd7 X132 Rxd7 X133 27.Qxe4 X134 Qxe4 X135 28.Rxe4 X136 Rd1+ X137 29.Re1 X138 Rxe1+ X139 30.Nxe1 X140 e4 X141 31.Kf1 X142 Kf7 X143 +/= leads to a difficult endgame, with White advantage.]

21.Rfd1 X144

We may explain White advantage by two attributes of the position: 1) The Black Knight is unable to play. 2) The break move d6-d5 is still not really conceivable.

21...Rfd8 X145

[ Indeed: 21...d5? X146 22.Qxe5 X147 Nc6 X148 23.Qc3 X149 Qd6 X150 24.exd5 X151 exd5 X152 25.Rxd5 X153 Qxd5 X154 26.Rxd5 X155 Rxd5 X156 27.g4 X157 +/-]

~ THE DAILY PHOTOGRAPHY
by ANDREAS MANESSINGER ~
"An Unexpected Rain" by
Andreas Manessinger
Image : Andreas Manessinger

22.h4! X158 Kh7 X159 23.R1d2 X160 Qf8 X161 24.Qb3 X162 Qe8 X163

[ Anyways, Ivanchuk, by playing a4 or c4, has at his disposal a significant tactical resource, like prove, among many others, the following bustling line: 24...Qf6 X164 25.a4 X165 d5 X166 26.axb5 X167 dxe4 X168 27.Rxd7 X169 Nxd7 X170 28.bxa6 X171 exf3 X172 29.Qd3+ X173 Kg8 X174 30.a7 X175 Rf8 X176 31.Qxd7 X177 fxg2 X178 32.Qa4 X179 Ra8 X180 33.Rd3!? X181 ]

25.a4! X182

A breaking move played at the right time.

25...Qg6!? X183

Topalov chooses to give up a pawn, in view to active his Knight. This alternative is not without interest and may possibly strangle White initiative.

26.axb5 X184 axb5 X185 27.Re3 X186 Na6 X187 28.Qxb5 X188 Nc5 X189 29.Qc4 X190

[ Seems rather strong: 29.b4!? X191 but after: 29...Nxe4 X192 30.Nxe5! X193 Qf5 X194 ( 30...dxe5?? X195 31.Rxd7 X196 +- ) 31.Rde2 X197 dxe5 X198 32.Rxe4 X199 Rd1+ X200 33.Kh2 X201 R8d5 X202 34.Qa4 X203 R5d2 X204 35.c3 X205 Rc1 X206 36.Qb5 X207 Rxc3 X208 37.Qxe5 X209 Rxe2 X210 38.Rxe2 X211 the endgame is complicated at will and it is not totally sure that White wins.]

29...Ra7 X212 30.Re1 X213

White maintains a clear advantage, but not sufficient to win facing the best theoretical Black defense; nevertheless this one is extrordinary difficult to find move after move; also, in such a situation, a mistake is excusable, even coming from a TOP-level grandmaster!

30...Qe8? X214

[ The game may ontinue this way: 30...Nb7 X215 31.Qc7 X216 Qe8 X217 32.c4 X218 Rc8 X219 33.Qb6 X220 Rca8 X221 34.b4 X222 +/-]

31.b4?! X223

[ The only refutation of Black bad move is: 31.Nxe5! X224 dxe5 X225 32.Rxd8 X226 Qxd8 X227 33.Qxc5 X228 Ra5 X229 34.Qc4 X230 Qxh4 X231 35.Qxe6 X232 +- and then White wins easily.]

31...Na4 X233 32.Qb3 X234 Nb6! X235

A good position in order to prepare the advance of the d-pawn.

33.Red1 X236 Rad7 X237 34.Qd3 X238

[ Is also playable: 34.c4!? X239 Qe7 X240 35.Rc1 X241 d5 X242 36.c5 X243 Nc4 X244 37.Re2! X245 +-]

34...Rc8 X246 35.c3 X247 Ra7 X248 36.Qe3 X249 Ra6 X250 37.Qe2 X251 Nc4 X252 38.Ra2 X253 Rac6 X254

[ You may notice that after: 38...Rxa2 X255 39.Qxa2 X256 Qc6 X257 40.Qe2 X258 Na3 X259 41.Rc1 X260 Rb8 X261 +/- it is not easy for White to win.]

39.Ra7 X262 R6c7 X263 40.Rda1 X264 Qf7?? X265

A decisive blunder

[ A more natural continuation seems to be: 40...Rxa7 X266 41.Rxa7 X267 and then eventually: 41...d5!? X268 42.Nd2 X269 Nxd2 X270 43.Qxd2 X271 d4 X272 44.cxd4 X273 Qd8 X274 45.d5 X275 +/-]

41.Qxc4

This time Ivanchuk finds the refutation!

1-0

~ THE CHESS MASTER ~
Beat the chess master?
Harvard Square in Boston
Boston (MA) - 28-MAY-2006
- Author: unknown -
Added: 12/10/2007
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Chess-Theory - February 2007

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   Download (116 games)

Number

Chess Game Analysis

ECO Code

N^o116
Greco, Gioachino - NN , Europe, 1620
[D06]

N^o115
Ivanchuk, V (2751) - Mamedyarov S (2760)
[B07]

N^o114
Ivanchuk, V (2751) - Carlsen, M (2733)
[C67]

N^o113
Jobava, Ba (2643) - Evdokimov, A. (2569)
[A37]

N^o112
White Vs Black - TRAP N^o 2: Dutch Defense
[A80]

N^o111
White Vs Black - TRAP N^o 1: Geduld's Opening
[A00]

N^o110
Topalov, Veselin (2780) Vs Carlsen, Magnus (2733)
[B04]

N^o109
Anand, Vishy (2799) Vs Aronian, Levon (2739)
[C89]

N^o108
Shirov, Alexey (2755) Vs Anand, Vishy (2799)
[B96]

N^o107
Kamsky, Gata (2725) Vs Shirov, Alexei (2755)
[B30]

N^o106
Kramnik Vlad. (2799) Vs Carlsen Magnus (2733)
[A30]

N^o105
Ceccaldi, Daniel Vs Fictional opponent
[B21]

N^o104
Leko, Peter (2749) Vs Carlsen, Magnus (2690)
[E15]

N^o103
Svidler, Peter (2728) Vs Morozevich, Alex. (2741)
[C11]

N^o102
Morozevich, Alex. (2741) Vs Topalov, Ves. (2783)
[B50]

N^o101
Ivanchuk, V (2750) Vs Morozevich, Alex. (2741)
[C45]

N^o100
Leko, Peter (2749) Vs Svidler, Peter (2728)
[B90]

N^o099
Carlsen, Magnus (2690) Vs Ivanchuk, Vas. (2750)
[D88]

N^o098
Morozevich, Alex. (2741) Vs Carlsen, Mag. (2690)
[C83]

N^o097
Anand, Vishy (2779) Vs Carlsen, Magnus (2690)
[C96]

N^o096
Morozevich, Alex. (2741) Vs Leko, Peter (2749)
[E15]

N^o095
Milov, V (2665) Vs Gonzalez, J (2526)
[E48]

N^o094
Topalov, Ves. (2783) Vs Morozevich, Alex. (2741)
[C11]

N^o093
Anand, Vishy (2779) Vs Ivanchuk, Vassily (2750)
[B90]

N^o092
Aronian, Levon (2744) Vs Anand, Vishy (2779)
[D23]

N^o091
Carlsen, Magnus (2690) Vs Topalov, Veselin (2783)
[D45]

N^o090
Ivanchuk, Vas. (2750) Vs Carlsen, Magnus (2690)
[A46]

N^o089
Anand, Vishy (2779) Vs Morozevich, Alex. (2741)
[C95]

N^o088
Aronian, Levon (2744) Vs Carlsen, Magnus (2690)
[E04]

N^o087
Morozevich, Alex. (2741) Vs Aronian, Levon (2744)
[D38]

N^o086
Ivanchuk, Vas. (2750) Vs Topalov, Veselin (2783)
[B90]

N^o085
Carlsen, Magnus (2690) Vs Morozevich, A (2741)
[E66]

N^o084
Radjabov, Teimour (2729) Vs Topalov, Ves. (2783)
[E08]

N^o083
Svidler, P (2728) Vs Karjakin, Sergey (2678)
[B90]

N^o082
Motylev, Alex. (2647) Vs Radjabov, Teimour (2729)
[E92]

N^o081
Svidler, Peter (2728) Vs Topalov, Veselin (2783)
[B90]

N^o080
Topalov, Veselin (2783) Vs Calsen, Magnus (2690)
[D38]

N^o079
Anand, Vishy (2779) Vs Van Wely, Loek (2683)
[B97]

N^o078
Carlsen, Magnus (2690) Vs Svidler, Peter (2728)
[C88]

N^o077
Kramnik, Vladimir (2766) Vs Anand, Vishy (2779)
[E05]

N^o076
Anand, Vishy (2779) Vs Svidler, Peter (2728)
[C88]

N^o075
Radjabov, T (2729) Vs Tiviakov, Sergey (2682)
[B35]

N^o074
Ponomariov, R (2733) Vs Carlsen, Magnus (2690)
[D15]

N^o073
Kramnik, Vladimir (2766) Vs Shirov, Alexei (2715)
[A16]

N^o072
Van Wely, Loek (2683) Vs Radjabov, T (2729)
[E97]

N^o071
Topalov, Veselin (2783) Vs Anand, Vishy (2779)
[E15]

N^o070
Karjakin, Sergey (2678) Vs Kramnik, Vlad. (2766)
[C42]

N^o069
Topalov, Veselin (2783) Vs Shirov, Alexei (2715)
[D89]

N^o068
Saemisch, Friedrich Vs Nimzovitch, Aaron
[E06]

N^o067
Kogan,B (2500) Vs Alburt,L (2535)
[A43]

N^o066
Fuchs,T (2080) Vs Halay,T (2320)
[A43]

N^o065
Gruenfeld,E Vs Keres,P
[A43]

N^o064
Jussupow,A (2490) Vs Vaganian,R (2570)
[A43]

N^o063
Larsen,B (2625) Vs Browne,W (2530)
[A43]

N^o062
Cramling,P (2435) Vs Gobet,F (2350)
[A43]

N^o061
Kramnik,V (2758) Vs Topalov,V (2702)
[A43]

N^o060
Polugaevsky,L Vs Eising,J
[A43]

N^o059
Kluger,G Vs Tal,M
[A43]

N^o058
Smyslov,V (2620) Vs Schmid,L
[A43]

N^o057
Itkis,B (2454) Vs Sergeev,V (2438)
[A43]

N^o056
Kochyev,A (2555) Vs Alburt,L (2515)
[A43]

N^o055
Gligoric,S Vs Schmid,L [A43]
[A43]

N^o054
Tal,M Vs Benko,P
[A43]

N^o053
Dobias,J Vs Hromadka,K
[A43]

N^o052
Williams,E Vs Staunton,H
[A43]

N^o051
Staunton,H Vs De Saint Amant,P
[A43]

N^o050
Lichtenhein,T Vs Raphael,B
[A43]

N^o049
Burn,A Vs Pollock,W
[A43]

N^o048
Chigorin,M Vs Schiffers,E
[A43]

N^o047
Tibensky,R (2444) Vs Reinemer,F (2250)
[A43]

N^o046
Ware,P Vs Blackburne,J [A43]
[A43]

N^o045
Mohr,C Vs Zukertort,J
[A43]

N^o044
Marshall,F Vs Blackburne,J
[A43]

N^o043
Baudoin, Olivier (1533) Vs Yrnehsiul (1562)
[A43]

N^o042
Campbell,B Vs Kennefick,M
[D00]

N^o041
Marshall,F Vs Rubinstein,A
[D00]

N^o040
Skehan,C Vs Irwanto,S (2416)
[D00]

N^o039
Short,N (2684) Vs Rychagov,A (2512)
[C41]

N^o038
Molina Carranza,L Vs Capablanca,J
[D00]

N^o037
Houska,M (2200) Vs Prie,E (2475)
[D00]

N^o036
Tarrasch,S Vs Chigorin,M
[D00]

N^o035
Blanco,A Vs Sanchez,R
[D00]

N^o034
Hanham,J Vs Showalter,J
[D00]

N^o033
Fogatos,O Vs Rybka,J
[D00]

N^o032
Blackburne,J Vs Paulsen,L
[D00]

N^o031
Krueger,P Vs Wegemund,O
[D00]

N^o030
Garcia, GG Vs Szymanowska, Karolina
[D00]

N^o029
Sarratt Jacob, Henry Vs NN
[D00]

N^o028
Duras, Oldrich Vs Simek
[D00]

N^o027
Garcia, Baptiste,F Vs TheDorado,B
[D00]

N^o026
Tech. Report: QGD:,Q - 4.Bg5 Be7-II
[D53]

N^o025
Tech. Report: QGD:,Q - 4.Bg5 Be7-I
[D53]

N^o024
Hacen (1990) Vs Barat, Jacques (1750)
[D53]

N^o023
Morozevich,A (2707) Vs Kasimdzhanov,R (2670)
[B92]

N^o022
Havelaar, T Vs Lansbergen, A
[B90]

N^o021
Leko,P (2763) Vs Topalov,V (2788)
[B90]

N^o020
Svidler,P (2738) Vs Adams,M (2719)
[C42]

N^o019
Polgar, Judit (2735) Vs Anand, Vishy (2788)
[B17]

N^o018
Abulker, Claude (1356) Vs Silva (1258)
[C42]

N^o017
Adams,M (2737) Vs Topalov,V (2778)
[B91]

N^o016
Zakharov,A Vs Agzamov,G
[E15]

N^o015
Topalov,V (2778) Vs Anand,V (2785)
[E15]

N^o014
Adams, Michael (2737) Vs Anand, Vishy,(2785)
[C42]

N^o013
Jacques&Michel Vs engine
[A13]

N^o012
Martin, Milan (2200) Vs Jaulneau, Ch. (2363)
[B30]

N^o011
Bachmann Vs Fiechtl
[C67]

N^o010
Fumerolle (1455) Vs Khalidkhan (1796)
[D60]

N^o009
THEORY - CCT - III - DIAG 02
***

N^o008
THEORY - CCT - III - DIAG 01
***

N^o007
Arapovic,V (2443) Vs Budimir,B (2250)
[A45]

N^o006
Kramnik,V (2777) Vs Grischuk,A (2732)
[E39]

N^o005
Lautier, Joel (2666) Vs Epishin, V (2658)
[D15]

N^o004
Fritsche,F (GER) (2321) Vs Bruneau,M (2254)
[B22]

N^o003
Delabarre, Olivier (2205) Vs Bruneau, M (2391)
[B81]

N^o002
Black,R (USA) (2314) Vs Bruneau,M (2254)
[E44]

N^o001
Oosterman, M-J (NED) Vs Bruneau, M (2254)
[A50]

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