KAMSKY, GATA (2725) vs TOPALOV, VESELIN (2796) 0-1 [C65] World Chess Challenge 18.02.2009, Ruy Loppez Berlin Defense, Bevenwijk variation [C65]

ANALYSED GAME N^o 128
Updated: February 2009

Kamsky, Gata (2725) -
Topalov, Veselin (2796) [C65]
World Chess Challenge Sofia,
BUL (2), 18.02.2009

(Annotation: "Chess-Theory")

"Sah cu Ceausescu - Sahul ...
Topalov vs Kamsky Match -
World Chess Chalenge 2009"
image Copyright: Sah cu Ceausescu
Sah cu Ceausescu - Sahul ...
Topalov vs Kamsky Match -
World Chess Chalenge 2009

Ruy Lopez: Berlin defence, Beverwijk variation [C65]

X0 1.e4 X1 e5 X2 2.Nf3 X3 Nc6 X4 3.Bb5 X5 Nf6 X6 4.0-0 X7 Bc5!?

A surprise! This move, which constitutes the X8 Beverwijk variation of the Berlin Defense, is fully correct and regularly played since the middle of the XIXth Century (John Cochrane used this line two or three times).

[ In the main line Black takes right now the e4-pawn: 4...Nxe4 X9 5.d4 X10 Nd6 X11 6.Bxc6 X12 dxc6 X13 7.dxe5 X14 Nf5 X15 8.Qxd8+ X16 Kxd8 X17 9.Nc3 X18 and then it may follows: 9...h6 X19 10.h3 X20 Bd7 X21 11.b3 X22 Kc8 X23 12.Bb2 X24 Ne7 X25 13.Rad1 X26 Ng6 X27 14.Rfe1 X28 a5 X29 15.a3 X30 De la Riva Aguado, Oscar (2524) - Matamoros Franco, Carlos S (2534) 1/2-1/2 [C67] Iberoamerican-ch KO 3rd 15.11.2006]

5.Nxe5!? X31

This pseudo-sacrifice is not so usual that 5.c3 (the main continuation) but is played from time to time.

5...Nxe4 X32

[ Anand chose to accept the pseudo-sacrifice in the game played last year: 5...Nxe5 X33 6.d4 X34 c6 X35 7.dxe5 X36 Nxe4 X37 8.Bd3 X38 d5 X39 9.exd6 X40 Nf6 X41 10.Qe2+ X42 Be6 X43 11.Bf5 X44 Qxd6 X45 12.Bxe6 X46 Qxe6 X47 13.Qxe6+ X48 fxe6 X49 14.Nc3 X50 Vallejo Pons, Francisco ' 2684) - Anand, Viswanathan (2803) 1/2-1/2 [C65] Leon 21st 30.05.2008. ]

6.Qe2 X51

The only reliable choice. White exploits judiciously the non-safety position of the Black King on the open e-file.

6...Nxe5 X52 7.d4 X53 Qe7 X54

[ An alternative is: 7...Be7 X55 8.Qxe4 X56 Ng6 X57 9.f4 X58 c6 X59 10.Bd3 X60 d5 X61 11.Qe2 X62 f5 X63 12.Nd2 X64 0-0 X65 with a priori similar chances for both camps.(Shirov, Alexei (2746) - Grischuk, Alexander (2606) 1-0 [C65] FIDE-Wch k.o. 27.11.2000).; Would be a serious mistake: 7...Bxd4? X66 8.Qxe4 X67 Qf6 X68 9.c3 X69 Bxf2+ X70 10.Rxf2 X71 Qe7 X72 11.Bf4 X73 f6 X74 12.Nd2 X75 and White has a winning game.]

8.dxc5!? X76 Nxc5! X77

This good reply is known, but has rarely been played.

[ Give nothing useful: 8...Ng6 X78 9.Be3 X79 0-0 X80 10.Qh5 X81 d5 X82 11.cxd6 X83 Nxd6 X84 12.Bd3 X85 Qf6 X86 13.Nc3 X87 Bf5= X88 Vaslukov, Evgeny - Litvinov, Vladimir (20 m.) 1/2-1/2 URS-chT Moscow 08.1963.]

9.Nc3N X89

Is probably a novelty, but I am not quite sure. White has a serious advance of development and owns a pair of Bishops, what is obviously a sufficient compensation for the pawn.

[ More incisive but a little doubtful is here: 9.b4!? X90 a6 X91 10.bxc5 X92 axb5 X93 11.Re1 X94 f6? X95 ( 11...Ra6 X96 12.Nc3 X97 Re6 X98 13.Be3 X99 Unclear. ) 12.f4 X100 Qxc5+ X101 13.Be3 X102 Qc4 X103 14.fxe5 X104 Qxe2 X105 15.Rxe2 X106 fxe5 X107 16.Nc3 X108 +/= Gipslis, Aivars (2535) - Gonsior, Evzen (2385) (51 m.) 1-0 [C65] Hradec-Kralove 26.12.1977]

9...Ng6 X109 10.Qh5! X110

The Queen exchange and all kind of liquidation would be at the advantage of Black. Gata Kamsky wishes to denefict at the maximum of his advance of development.

10...c6 X111 11.Bg5 X112 f6 X113

Other answers was conceivable, but it is interesting, in this game, to observe how Topalov makes the most of threats on opponent' s pieces to modify progressively his pawn-structure.

12.Rae1 X114 Ne6 X115 13.Bd3! X116

The only accurate reply!

[ Is favourable to Black: 13.Bd2?! X117 cxb5 X118 14.Nd5 X119 Qd8 X120 15.Bb4 X121 d6 X122 16.f4 X123 a5! X124 -/+]

13...0-0! X125

[ Is not convincing at all: 13...fxg5?! X126 14.Bxg6+ X127 Kd8 X128 15.Bf5 X129 d5 X130 16.Qd1 X131 +/= after what Black is in trouble.]

14.Bd2! X132

"Susan Polgar Chess
Daily News and Inf.
Topalov - Kamsky "
image Copyright:
susanpolgar.blogspot.com/
Susan Polgar Chess
Daily News and Inf.
Topalov - Kamsky

Kamskiy obtains an excellent position and is ready for an instant attack on the center or the King side.

14...d5! X133

The only way for Black to maintain a relative balance in the game.

15.f4 X134

The natural continuation according to the position.

[ The exchange in g6 15.Bxg6 X135 hxg6 X136 16.Qxg6 X137 Qf7 X138 17.Qd3= X139 leads to a strict equality. The Gata' s choice is more ambitious.]

15...Qc5+!? X140

This counter attack is judicious and leads to piece exchanges, after what the White attack will be over.

16.Kh1?! X141

A passive reply allowing Black to take the initiative.

[ It is necessary to accept the Queen exchange and to play: 16.Be3 X142 d4 X143 17.Bxg6 X144 Qxh5 X145 18.Bxh5 X146 dxc3 X147 19.bxc3 X148 and White has a residual edge.]

16...d4! X149 17.Bf5 X150 Rf7?! X151

[ Black reaches a leading position by playing: 17...Nexf4! X152 18.Rxf4 X153 ( 18.Bxf4?? X154 do not work because 18...Qxf5 X155 19.Qxf5 X156 Bxf5 X157 - + ) 18...dxc3 X158 19.Bxc3 X159 Bxf5 X160 20.Rxf5 X161 Qc4 X162 -/+]

18.Ne4 X163 Qd5 X164 19.Bxg6 X165 hxg6 X166 20.Qxd5 X167

[ It is not a good idea to try to gain the g6-pawn: 20.Qxg6 X168 Nf8 X169 21.Qg3 X170 Bf5 X171 22.Qf3 X172 Rc7! X173 after what you may notice that Black has a nice position and, in particular, a spatial advantage.]

20...cxd5 X174 21.Nd6 X175

With this obvious reply it is tempting to consider that the game will be a draw and, in particular, that White is out of all danger.

21...Rc7!! X176

A superb reply opening the way to a strong counterplay on the Queen side!

22.c4? X177

A decisive blunder.

[ Nevertheless after the exchange in c8 and the acceptation of the Knight sacrifice: 22.Nxc8 X178 Raxc8 X179 23.Rxe6 X180 Rxc2 X181 24.Bb4 X182 d3 X183 25.Ree1 X184 Rxb2 X185 26.a3 X186 Rcc2 X187 Black is most likely able to win.]

22...dxc3! X188

The only way!

23.Bxc3 X189 d4 X190 24.Bb4? X191

[ White may continue to fight after: 24.Nxc8 X192 Raxc8 X193 25.Rxe6 X194 dxc3 X195 26.bxc3 X196 Rxc3 X197 27.Kg1 X198 -/+]

24...Bd7! X199 25.Rf2 X200 a5! X201 26.Ba3 X202 b5 X203 27.b3 X204 b4 X205 28.Bb2 X206

The progress of Black attack is this time irrepressible.

28...Ra6! X207 29.Ne4 X208 Rac6 X209 30.Kg1 X210 Rc2 X211 31.g3 X212 d3 X213 32.Rd1 X214 f5

- + and Black wins easily.

0-1

"Sah cu Ceausescu - Sahul ...
Topalov vs Kamsky Match -
World Chess Chalenge 2009"
image Copyright: Sah cu Ceausescu
Sah cu Ceausescu - Sahul ...
Topalov vs Kamsky Match -
World Chess Chalenge 2009

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

Chess-Theory - February 2009

[This page was conceived by
Michel Bruneau - All data is copyrighted
by: Michel Bruneau & Chess-Theory]

- DATA BASE -
ALL ANALYZED GAMES

Chess Game Analysis Rubrics

   All Analyzed games
   Your own games
   Games on the board
   Correspondence, Online
   Grandmaster of today
   Grandmaster of the past
   Illustrations of the theory
   Short games & Traps
   Greco's Chess games
   Alekhine's Chess games
   Fischer's Chess games
   Kasparov's chess games

   Download (141 games)

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

You may submit your Own Games (all level accepted) for publication in the "Chess-Theory Game analysis collection"; for this, send a mail to Michel BRUNEAU "Chess-Theory" Webmaster:

Submit your OWN GAMES NOW!

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

If you like music, you may choose now a fine background Music:

Choose now a fine background Music!...

For each music a pop-up opens behind your page.

Each pop-up owns a fine image related to the artist!

You may come back to your previous page or access all other page on the Site (the pop-up will stay open).

This music may accompany you, if you wish, through all the Site.

You may change, when you want, a music for another.

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

« Chess-Theory -
Private collection»

******** -«Chess-Theory.com»-2004-2008 ********