Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP 2007 (12), Leko, Peter - Svidler, Peter, 0-1, Najdorf Defense, Byrne (English) Attack: (B90), Chess-Theory Viewer

ANALYSED GAME N^o 100
Updated: April 2008

Leko, P (2749) - Svidler, P (2728)
[B90] - Morelia/Linares XXIV SuperGM
Morelia/Linares, MEX/
ESP (12), 07.03.2007

(Annotation: John E Hawkes)

Picture of Linares, Andalusia
(Spain) - Oranges in full bloom
image Copyright: chessbase.com/

X0

Sicilian, Najdorf Defense, Byrne (English) Attack: (B90).

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 7.Nb3 X13 Be7 X14

[ The most usual move order is: 7...Be6 X15 8.f3 X16 Be7 X17 9.Qd2 X18 ]

8.f3 X19 Be6 X20 9.Qd2 X21 0-0 X22 10.0-0-0 X23 a5 X24

An answer among many others. This doesn' t mean the theory is uncertain at this stage. But Black may pursue through some more or less credible continuations.

[ Among them you find the main line: 10...Nbd7 X25 11.g4 X26 b5 X27 12.g5 X28 b4 X29 13.Ne2 X30 Ne8 X31 = Almasi, Zoltan (2640) - Agrest, Evgenij (2571), 1-0, (B90), Corsica Masters Prelim rapid, 2005. Another interesting game is the recent one: 14.h4 X32 a5 X33 15.Kb1 X34 Nb6 X35 16.Ng3 X36 a4 X37 17.Nc1 X38 d5 X39 18.Bxb6 X40 Qxb6 X41 19.exd5 X42 Rd8 X43 20.Bc4 X44 Nc7 X45 21.dxe6!? X46 Rxd2 X47 22.exf7+ X48 Kh8 X49 23.Rxd2 X50 Qc6 X51 24.b3 X52 It appears clearly that, as usually in the Najdorf with opposite side castling, both camps engage a sharp and uncertain combat, where White tries to exploit the open d-file and organizes an attack on the Black castle, while Black exercises a strong pressure on the White castling by an expansion of their Queenside pawns and the control of the c-file. (Morozevich, Alexander - Volokitin, Andrei, 1-0, (B90), Biel GM, Biel, 2006) ]

11.Qe1 X53

With this experimental move, introduced in 2004, we reach the Critical Phase of the Opening. The Opening Theory suddendly teeters!

[ Since many years, the classical line: 11.Bb5 X54 Nc6 X55 12.Kb1 X56 seems to be progressively gived up, in particular by GMs. ]

11...Qc8 X57

The most usual; the Black Queen is sometimes played in c7.

12.a3N

By this novelty Peter Leko introduces a new plan; White keeps the control of the b4-square but in counterpart allows Black to occupy the a4-square

X58

It is judicious to notice that, after the predictable Black move a5-a4, the a4-pawn risks to be difficult to protect.

[ Is usually played: 12.a4 X59 and then the game may continues by: 12...Nc6 X60 13.g4 X61 Nb4 X62 14.Kb1 X63 Ne8 X64 15.Qf2 X65 b5 X66 16.Nxb5 X67 d5 X68 17.exd5 X69 Bxd5 X70 18.Nc3 X71 Bxb3 X72 19.cxb3 X73 Qe6 X74 20.Bc4 X75 Qg6+ X76 21.Ne4?! X77 Karjakin, Sergey - Dominguez, Lenier, (62), 1-0, (B90), Dos Hermanas, 2005]

12...a4 X78 13.Nd2 X79 Nbd7 X80 14.Kb1 X81 Rd8 X82 15.Bb5 X83 d5!= X84

Since the 12th White move we are in the Thematic Middle Game (i.e. all moves are played, at one moment or another, in such a line). Nevertheless the move order is essential; so this Break move is played at the right time and permits Black to fight for the initiative.

16.exd5 X85 Nxd5 X86 17.Nxd5 X87 Bxd5 X88 18.Qe2 X89 Qc7 X90 19.Ne4

considering this position, in a game played by two very strong players of identical level, it is tempting to wager for the draw!

X91 19...Be6 X92 20.Nc3 X93 Nb6 X94 21.Rxd8+ X95 Rxd8 X96 22.Nxa4 X97

In conformity with Leko' s ideas, the a4-pawn is captured. But Black has enough compensation with a noticeable initiative.

22...Nc4! X98

Really, an Initiative move in the Reti' s meaning. The audacious Black Knight threatens the e3-Bishop and, in the same time, cuts off the communication between White pieces on the a6-f1 diagonal.

23.Bxc4 X99

Practically forced!

23...Bxc4 X100 24.Qf2 X101 Qc6 X102 25.Nb6! X103

The only move able to contest the Black initiative; again we judge the game might be a draw.

25...Be6 X104 26.Qe2 X105 f5!

An excellent move; Black mobile pawn tandem e5-f5, strongly supported by the pair of Bishops, should be, thereafter, a frightening weapon.

X106 27.Re1 X107 Bf6 X108 28.g3 X109 h6 X110 29.Bf2 X111 e4! X112 30.fxe4 X113 fxe4 X114 31.a4 X115

The best choice.... But White is now confined to a defensive game; in particular the dangerous passed pawn e4 hold up all White attempt.

[ The pawn is taboo: loses immediately: 31.Qxe4?? X116 Qxe4 X117 32.Rc1 X118 followed, according to Fritz, by a mate in 18!]

31...Qd6 X119 32.c4?? X120

A decisive mistake.

[ The only correct continuation is: 32.c3 X121 but, even in this case it is difficult to stop the Black passed pawn. Let us see: 32...Qd3+ X122 33.Qxd3 X123 exd3 X124 34.Be3 X125 Rd6 X126 ( Or then: 34...Bg5 X127 35.Bxg5 X128 hxg5 X129 36.Rxe6 X130 d2 X131 37.Re8+ X132 Rxe8 X133 38.Kc2 X134 Re2 X135 39.Nc4 X136 Rxh2 X137 40.a5 X138 Rg2! X139 41.b4 X140 Rxg3 X141 42.Nxd2 X142 g4 X143 43.b5 X144 Re3 X145 44.Nc4 X146 Re8 X147 45.Kd3 X148 g3 X149 46.Ne3 X150 Ra8 X151 47.c4 X152 Rxa5 X153 48.Ke2 X154 Ra3 X155 49.Nd5 X156 Kf7 X157 50.Kf1 X158 Ke6 X159 -+ and Black wins ) 35.a5 X160 Bg5 X161 36.Bxg5 X162 hxg5 X163 37.Rd1 X164 Bb3 X165 38.Kc1 X166 Bxd1 X167 39.Kxd1 X168 Rh6 X169 40.b4 X170 Rxh2 X171 41.Nd7 X172 Rc2 X173 42.Ne5 X174 Kf8 X175 43.c4 X176 Ke7 X177 44.c5 X178 Ke6! X179 45.Nxd3 X180 Ra2 X181 46.Nc1 X182 Ra3 X183 -+ and Black must win the ending!]

32...Qb4! X184

Evidently!

33.Nd5 X185 Bxd5 X186 34.cxd5 X187 Rxd5 X188 35.Qc2 X189 Rd2 X190 36.Qc8+ X191 Kf7

And then White is mate in some moves. A great Peter Svidler' s game, stopping a long draw series!

We may add, it appears now that the novelty 12.a3 presents some inconvenients, because White is quickly engaged to play some moves on the Queen side, delaying his necessary engagement in a clear action against the Black castling.

0-1

~ Peter (Carl) Svidler ~
is he the new drawing master?
GM Peter Svidler Official Site
image Copyright: Peter Svidler
~ Peter (Carl) Svidler ~
is he the new drawing master?
GM Peter Svidler Official Site
image Copyright: Peter Svidler

************

John E Hawkes - March 2007

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