Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP 2007 (9), Morozevich, Alexander - Leko, Peter, 1-0, Queen's Indian, 4.g3: (E15), Nimzovich, exaggerated fianchetto, Chess-Theory Viewer

ANALYSED GAME N^o 096
Updated: April 2008

Morozevich, A (2741) - Leko, P (2749)
[E15] - Morelia/Linares XXIV SuperGM
Morelia/Linares, MEX/
ESP (9), 03.03.2007

(Annotation: "Chess-Theory")

Aaron Nimzovich (or Aron Nimzovitsch)
~ November 7, 1886 – March 16, 1935 ~
was a Latvian-born Danish unofficial
chess grandmaster and also a very
influential chess writer ("My System")
image Copyright: Public Domain

X0

Queen' s Indian, 4.g3 (E15), Nimzovich variation (exaggerated fianchetto)

1.d4 X1 Nf6 X2 2.c4 X3 e6 X4 3.Nf3 X5 b6 X6

The first objective of the Queen' s Indian Defense, similarily with the Nimzo-Indian, is to handicap the advance e2-e4.

4.g3 X7

This is the main continuation.

[ An interesting alternative is given by the following line (E12-Totally Pure Opening; i.e.: all continuations are E12). 4.a3 X8 Bb7 X9 5.Nc3 X10 d5 X11 6.cxd5 X12 Nxd5 X13 7.Qc2 X14 Nxc3 X15 8.bxc3 X16 Be7 X17 +/= allowing to White, statistically speaking, a notable advantage (55 per 100). e.g.: 9.e4 X18 0-0 X19 10.Bd3 X20 c5 X21 11.0-0 X22 Qc7 X23 12.Qe2 X24 Nd7 X25 13.Bb2 X26 /unclear Shirov, Alexei (2705) - Navara, David (2663), 1-0, (E12), Prague blitz, 2005]

4...Ba6 X27

The Nimzovich variation (exaggerated fianchetto). The theory is unable to choose between this move and the classical answeer: 4...Bb7.

[ Effectively the alternative line is the E19-Totally Pure Opening (i.e.: all continuations are E19): 4...Bb7 X28 5.Bg2 X29 Be7 X30 6.0-0 X31 0-0 X32 7.Nc3 X33 Ne4 X34 8.Qc2 X35 Tartakover, Saviely – Alekhine, Alexander (20), 1/2-1/2 , (E19), Baden-Baden, 1925.]

5.Qb3 X36

This White move, introduced in 1981, has been regularly experimented by many grandmasters of first level, but nevertheless is always nowadays a secondary way.

[ The main line is the E15-Totally Pure Opening (i.e. all the continuations are E15): 5.b3 X37 Bb4+ X38 6.Bd2 X39 Be7 X40 7.Bg2 X41 c6 X42 8.Bc3 X43 A recent example is given by the game: 8...d5 X44 9.Ne5 X45 Nfd7 X46 10.Nxd7 X47 Nxd7 X48 11.Nd2 X49 0-0 X50 12.0-0 X51 Rc8 X52 ( In Corus 2007, Topalov beat Anand after: 12...Nf6 X53 13.e4 X54 dxe4 X55 14.a4!? X56 Topalov, Veselin (2783) - Anand, Viswanathan (2779), 1-0 (35), (E15), Corus, Wijk aan Zee (8), 2007 ) 13.e4 X57 c5 X58 14.exd5 X59 exd5 X60 15.dxc5 X61 dxc4 X62 16.c6 X63 cxb3 X64 17.Nc4 X65 /unclear Epishin, Vladi:mir (2574), Carlsson, Pontus (2435), (E15), Calvia, op, 2005]

5...Be7

With this new deviance from the theory we certainly enter in the Critical Phase of the Opening; in other terms, both players are near to reach the end of all knowledge.

X66 We agree with GM Mihail Marin saying that this move is played in an hypermodern spirit. Precisely, Black allows White to constitute an impressive pawn center formation, with the idea is to attack it later.

[ It is usual to pursue by: 5...Nc6 X67 ]

6.Nc3 X68 0-0 X69 7.e4 X70 c5N X71

An interesting novelty, but nevertheless insufficient to equalize; Black takes the control of the d4-square, but allows White to play d4-d5 and to obtain, this way, like in many openings of this type, a clear spatial advantage.

[ White may obtain quickly a favorable position after: 7...Bb7 X72 8.d5 X73 exd5 X74 9.exd5 X75 c6 X76 10.Bg2 X77 Na6 X78 11.0-0 X79 and White having successfully realize the thematic advance d4-d5 has a clear spatial advantage (Gershon) Lauthier, Joel (2677) -Sokolv, Andrei (2554), 1-0, (E15), FRA-ch playoff rapid, 2003.; According to Gershon (ChessBase) the thematic move, for such a position: 7...d5 X80 is not adequat: 8.cxd5 X81 Bxf1 X82 9.Kxf1 X83 exd5 X84 10.e5 X85 Nfd7 X86 11.Nxd5 X87 +/-]

8.d5 X88 exd5?! X89

[ Is apparently more relevant: 8...Re8 X90 9.e5 X91 exd5 X92 10.exf6 X93 Bxf6+ X94 11.Kd1 X95 dxc4 X96 12.Bxc4 X97 d5! X98 13.Bxa6 X99 Nxa6 X100 14.Re1 X101 Rxe1+ X102 15.Kxe1 X103 d4 X104 then Black has a solid position and obtains a non negligible counterplay.]

9.exd5 X105 Re8 X106 10.Bd3 X107

Of course, the Morozevich' s idea is to put his King on the safety g2-square.

10...Bf8+ X108 11.Kf1 X109 d6 X110

Now Black owns a rather confined space and his main problem is to achieve the development of his Queenside. But the only way to active the Bishop is via the c8-square and the Knight via the d7-square.

12.Kg2 X111 Nbd7 X112 13.h4 X113

Morozevich has a clear plan in view to engage quickly an attack against the Black Castle.

[ Seems also playable: 13.Bf4 X114 Ne5 X115 14.Nxe5 X116 dxe5 X117 15.Bg5 X118 h6 X119 16.Bxf6 X120 Qxf6 X121 17.Rae1 X122 +/=]

13...g6 X123 14.Qa4 X124 Bb7 X125

[ Can be played in the same way: 14...Bc8 X126 15.Qc6 X127 Rb8 X128 16.Bf4 X129 Bb7 X130 17.Qa4 X131 a6 X132 +/=]

15.h5

With this provocative move Morozevich pursue by an active play on the Kingside. X133

15...Nxh5?

Of course a bad move offering to White the opportunity of a demolition sacrifice. Nevertheless, we do not agree totally with the GM Mihail Martin's judgment: 15.Nxh5?? Effectively the position is too rich and complex to be able to affirm that it is a losing move.

X134 Anyways, we are not totally sure their is possibilities for Black to draw; but it is greatly plausible.

16.Rxh5! X135 gxh5 X136 17.Ne4 X137 f5!? X138

[ In order to reach the draw, it is perhaps better to pursue by: 17...Be7 X139 18.Bh6 X140 a6 X141 19.Qc2 X142 b5 X143 20.b3 X144 and then possibly: 20...Ne5 X145 21.Nxe5 X146 dxe5 X147 22.Nd2 X148 h4 X149 23.Bxh7+ X150 Kh8 X151 24.Rh1 X152 Qd6 X153 25.Be3 X154 bxc4 X155 26.bxc4 X156 Bc8 X157 27.Bf5! X158 Kg7 X159 28.Bxc8 X160 Raxc8 X161 29.Qf5 X162 Qg6= X163 ]

18.Neg5 X164 h6! X165 19.Nh3! X166

This strategic withdrawal is an accurate answer.

[ Doesn' t work: 19.Ne6?? X167 Rxe6! X168 20.dxe6 X169 and then possibly: 20...Ne5 X170 21.Be2 X171 h4 X172 22.Qb3 X173 hxg3 X174 23.Kh3 X175 gxf2 X176 24.Nxe5 X177 dxe5 X178 25.Qg3+ X179 Kh8 X180 26.Qxe5+ X181 Bg7 X182 27.Qxf5 X183 Qd4 X184 28.Bd3 X185 f1Q+ X186 29.Qxf1 X187 Rf8 X188 30.Bf5 X189 Qe5 X190 -+ In this line and many others Black wins.]

19...Ne5 X191 20.Nxe5 X192

The exchange is forced.

20...dxe5 X193 21.Bxf5 X194

It is absolutely clear now that, for the Quality, White owns a dangerous initiative.

21...Qf6 X195 22.Be4 X196 Re7 X197

Peter Leko seems, this time, to find a correct defensive system.

23.Qd1 X198

It is time, for the White Queen, to enter in the battle.

23...h4 X199 24.Qh5 X200 hxg3 X201 25.fxg3 X202 Rg7?! X203

Seems to be doubtful.

[ May be more advised: 25...Rd8 X204 26.Nf2 X205 Bc8 X206 27.Bd2 X207 Rd6 X208 Notwithstanding, a playable line like the following: 28.Nd3 X209 a6 X210 29.Rf1 X211 Qg7 X212 30.Bc3 X213 Bg4 X214 31.Qh4 X215 Be2 X216 32.Rf5= X217 /unclear illustrates very well all the complexity of the position.]

26.Bd2!? X218

[ The complex endgame: 26.Bxh6!? X219 Qxh6 X220 27.Qxh6 X221 Rxg3+ X222 28.Kxg3 X223 Bxh6 X224 29.Nf2 X225 Rf8 X226 30.Nd3 X227 Be3 X228 31.Rh1 X229 +/= is probably a draw in spite of a slight White advantage.]

26...Qf7 X230 27.Qe2

It is judicious, for winning the game, to avoid the Queen exchange.

X231 27...Bc8 X232 28.Nf2 X233 Bf5 X234 29.Bxf5 X235 Qxf5 X236 30.Ne4 X237

Black has menages to exchange his inactive Bishop moving on light squares. But White exercises always a significant pressure.

30...Rf7 X238 31.Rh1! X239 Qg6 X240 32.Rh4 X241

We may notice an ideal White pieces coordination.

32...Kh8 X242 33.Ng5 X243 Rf5? X244

A rather decisive mistake.

[ Again after: 33...Re7 X245 34.Qf3 X246 Rb8 X247 35.Ne4 X248 Bg7 X249 36.Rg4 X250 Qf7 X251 37.Qxf7 X252 Rxf7 X253 the game may possibly be a draw. ]

34.Ne6! X254 h5 X255 35.Bg5 +/-

This time, White achieve a decisive penetration:

X256 35...Kg8 X257 36.Rxh5 X258 Re8 X259 37.g4

White exploits the bad position of the f5-Rook, due to a previous mistake. X260

37...Rf7 X261 38.Bh4 X262 Bg7 X263 39.Rg5! X264 Qh6 X265

[ If: 39...Qb1 X266 the Black Queen is isolated by: 40.Be1 X267 ]

40.Qxe5 X268 Kh8?? X269

A final blunder; now the game is over! [ A better way to resist is: 40...Qh7 X270 41.Qxg7+ X271 Qxg7 X272 42.Rxg7+ X273 Rxg7 X274 43.Nxg7 X275 Kxg7 X276 44.Kf3 X277 Rf8+ X278 45.Ke4 X279 Rh8 X280 46.Bg5 X281 Kg6 X282 47.Bf4 X283 Re8+ X284 48.Kd3 X285 with a complex endgame that White may try to win.]

41.Rxg7 X286 Qd2+ X287 42.Kh3 X288 Qd3+ X289 43.Bg3 X290 Rxe6 X291 44.dxe6 X292 Rxg7 X293 45.e7 X294 Qh7+ X295 46.Kg2

An interesting and rich game rather well played by both Super-GMs!

1-0

~ Painting of Great Chess
Players ~ by Fernando Arrabal
image Copyright: Fernando Arrabal
~ Painting of Great Chess
Players ~ by Fernando Arrabal
image Copyright: Fernando Arrabal

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