Reply #3: Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund [View All]

[Jack Rabbit]

Peter Svidler

Photo: the website of Peter Svidler

Baadur Jobava vs. Peter Svidler
Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Round 1
Dortmund, July 2006

West India Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (Grünfeld Defense)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5

Other lines of this opening include:

• Exchange Variation: 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3
• 4. Nf3:
  • 4. -- Bg7
  • Russian Variation: 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 0-0 7. a4
  • Grünfeld Gambit: 5. Bf4 c5 6. dxc5 Qa5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qxd5 Bxc3+ 9. Bd2 Be6 10. Qxb7 Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2
  • 4. -- c6 tranforms into a well-known line of the Queen's Gambit: Slav Defense after 5. e3 Bg7 6. Bd3; this is sometimes called the Slav-Grünfeld
• 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 c5 6. dxc5 Qa5 then:
  • 7. Rc1 Ne4 8. cxd5 Nxc3 9. Qd2 Qxa2 10. bxc3
  • 7. Qa4+ Qxa4 8. Nxa4 Ne4 9. cxd5 Bd7 10. Bd3 Bxa4 11. Bxe4 Nd7 12. Ne2 Nxc5

4. -- Ne4 5. Bh4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 dxc4 7. e3 Qd5

If 7. -- Be6 then:

• 8. Rb1 b6
• 9. Nf3 Bg7 10. Nd2
• 10. -- 0-0 11. Qf3 Bd5 12. e4 Bb7 13. Bxc4
• 13. -- c5 14. d5 Nd7 with equality
• 13. -- Nd7 14. 0-0 c5 and a balanced game
• 10. -- c6 11. Qf3 0-0 12. Bxc4 Bxc4 13. Nxc4 Qd5 14. Nd2 e5 15. Qxd5 cxd5 and a level game
• 9. Bg3 c6 10. Be5 f6 11. Bxb8 Rxb8 12. e4 gives Black a distinct plus in development
• 8. Qb1 Qd5 9. e4 Qa5 10. Ne2 Bc8 11. a3 Nc6 12. Qb2 Bg7 13. Rd1 h6 14. f4 Nd8 gives White a slight advantage in space

8. Be2 Bg7 9. Nf3 Nd7 10. 0-0

The equalibrium is maintained by 10. Qa4 c6 11. Qb4 Qd6 12. Qxc4 Nb6 13. Qb3 Bf5 14. Bg3.

10. -- Nb6 11. a4 a5

As things stand, the position is equal and is likely to remain so for a while.

If 11. -- Qa5 12. Qc1 Bf5 13. Qa3 then:

• 13. -- f6 14. Bg3 e5 15. dxe5 fxe5 and the position is balanced
• 13. -- Bf6 14. Bxf6 exf6 15. Qa2 Be6 16. Rfb1 with an equal game

12. Nd2 Qc6

And now:

• If 12. -- Be6 13. Bg3 Qd7 14. Bf3 then:
  • 14. -- Bd5:
    • if 15. e4?! Bc6 16. Bg4 e6 then:
      • 17. Qe2 Nxa4 18. Qxc4 Bb5! and the tactical stroke give Black a clear advantage
      • 17. Ra3 h5 18. Bf3 h4 19. Bf4 e5 20. Bxe5 Bxe5 21. dxe5 and Black's spatial advantage is clear
    • else if 15. Bxd5 15. -- Nxd5 16. Nxc4 Nxc3 17. Qc2 Nd5 18. Ne5 Bxe5 19. Bxe5 and while Fritz says the position is equal, White's last move provokes a weakness on Black's kingside
  • else if 14. -- Rd8 then 15. Ne4 Nd5 16. Nc5 Qc6 17. Nxe6 Qxe6 18. Qc2 and an equal game
• or if 12. -- e5 then 13. dxe5 Be6 14. f4 Qc5 15. Bf2 Rd8 16. e4 Qc6 17. Bh4 Rd7 and White has a small plus in space

13. Qc2 e5 14. Bf3 Qe6 15. Ne4

After 15. Bg3 0-0 16. Bxe5 Bxe5 17. dxe5 Qxe5 18. Rfd1 Rd8 19. Qb2 Black's well-placed Queen give him a small plus.

15. -- 0-0 16. Nc5 Qe8

If 16. -- Qd6 then:

• 17. Nxb7 Bxb7 18. Bxb7 Rab8 19. Bf3 c5 20. Bg3 cxd4 21. cxd4 f5 22. dxe5 Bxe5 and White has a small plus in piece activity
• 17. Bxb7 transforms into the text after 17. -- Bxb7 18. Nxb7 Qc6

17. Bxb7 Bxb7 18. Nxb7 Qc6 19. Nc5 Rfe8

19. -- f5 20. Rab1 f4 21. Rb5 fxe3 22. fxe3 Rxf1+ 23. Kxf1 Rf8+ 24. Kg1 exd4 25. exd4 is equal.

20. Rab1 Nc8 21. Nb7 Nb6 22. Nc5 Nc8 23. Rfd1

If 23. f4 exd4 24. exd4 Bf8 25. Bf2 Nb6 26. Rb5 then:

• 26. -- Bxc5 27. Rxc5 Qxa4 28. Qxa4 Nxa4 29. Rxc4 Nb6 and an even game
• 26. -- Nd5 27. g3 and White's space advantage is balanced by Black's control of the e-file

23. -- Nd6 24. Bg3 h5

If 24. -- h6 25. Rb2 Rab8 then:

• 26. Rxb8 26. -- Rxb8 27. Bxe5 Bxe5 28. dxe5 Qxc5 29. exd6 cxd6 with an equal game
• 26. Rdb1? is a mistake as it allows Black a strong initiative and an advanced passed pawn: 26. -- Rxb2 27. Rxb2 exd4 28. cxd4 Bxd4 then:
  • 29. Nd3 Qe4 30. Ne1 Bxb2
  • 29. Bxd6 Bxb2 30. Bf4 Bg7 31. Qxc4 eliminates the pawn, but that doesn't help as 31. -- Rd8 32. h3 Rd5 wins a piece

25. Qb2 Bf6 26. h3

The equalibrium continues with 26. Qa3 Rad8 27. d5 Qa8 28. h3 c6 29. e4.

26. -- Re7

26. -- Rad8 27. Re1 Bg7 28. Qc2 Nf5 29. Bh2 Rb8 30. Rxb8 Rxb8 31. Rb1 Rb6 is also level.

27. Qa3 Nf5 28. d5 Qd6 29. Bh2 Ree8 30. e4 Ng7 31. Rd4

The alternative plan to strike in the b-file with 31. Rb5? would be an error: 31. -- c6 32. Rb6 Rac8 33. Rb7 then:

• 33. -- Rcd8 34. Rd4 Rb8 35. Qb2 Qxc5 36. Rxb8 exd4 37. d6 d3 and Black's protected passed pawn gives him a winning game
• 33. -- Be7 34. Qc1 Qxc5 35. Bxe5 Qa3 36. Qxa3 Bxa3 37. f4 cxd5 and Black controls the vital focal points e6, d4 and if White plays 38. exd5, then f5 and d6 as well; for example: 38. exd5 Nf5 39. d6 Nxd6 40. Rxd6 Bxd6 41. Bxd6 Re2

31. -- Rab8 32. Ra1 Be7 33. Rxc4 c6 34. Qa2 cxd5 35. Rd1

If 35. Rd4 Qxc5 36. Rxd5 Qc6 37. Bxe5 Rbc8 38. Rad1 Ne6 then:

• 39. f3 Nc5 40. R1d4 Ne6 gives black a strong initiative to neutralize the Rooks in the d-file
• 39. Qa1 Nc5 40. c4 Qxa4 41. Qxa4 Nxa4 42. Rxa5 Rxc4 43. Ra1 Nb6 and Black is poised to focus on the White King with decisive results

35. -- Qb6 36. Nd7 Qb7 37. Bxe5

If 37. Nxb8 then:

• 37. -- dxc4 38. Bxe5 Qxe4 39. Nd7 Qc6
• 40. Bxg7 Kxg7 41. Ne5 Qf6 and Black has a slight advantage in terms of initiative, but after 42. Nxc4 Qxc3 43. Qe2 Rd8 White has sufficient defensive resources
• 40. Qc2 Nf5 41. Bf4 Nh4 42. f3 Nxf3+ 43. gxf3 Qxf3 44. Qd2 Qxh3 and Black has the initiative, but White's position is solid; White should equalize with correct play
• 37. -- Rxb8? 38. exd5 Bd6 39. Rc6 Qd7 40. c4 and White connected passed pawns give him a tremendous advantage

37. -- dxc4 38. Bxb8 Rxb8

The text is better than 38. -- Rd8 39. Qd2 Rxb8 40. Nxb8 Qxb8 41. Qa2, althoungh neither side has a strong advantage either way.

39. Nxb8 Qxb8 40. Qxc4 Ne6

40. -- Bf6 41. g3 Qb2 42. Rd3 Ne6 43. Kg2 h4 44. Rf3 Kg7 is level.

41. Qb5 Qf4 42. Qe8+

If 42. Qxa5 Qxe4 then:

• 43. Qd5! Qxa4 44. Qd7 Qb3 45. c4 Kf8 46. Qd3 Qxd3 47. Rxd3 and White should be able to hold
li]43. Kh2? Bd6+ 44. Kh1 Nf4 45. f3 Qc2 and Black's mating threat on g2 gives him a strong if not a winning edge

42. -- Bf8 43. Rd7 h4

If 43. -- Ng7 then:

• if 44. Qa8 Qc1+ 45. Kh2 Qxc3 46. Rd5 Qf6 47. f3 with a probable draw as the outcome (if Black desires, he can now force a draw by repitition with checks on f4 and c1)
• else if 44. Qd8? then Black wins with 44. -- Qc1+ and:
  • 45. Rd1 45. -- Qxc3 46. Qd3 Qb4 47. Qc2 Ne6 theatening Nc5 winning a pawn
  • 45. Kh2 Qxc3 46. Rd4 Ne6 winning a piece

44. Ra7 Ng7

Black: Peter Svidler
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White: Baadur Jobava
Position after Black's 44th move

Can't see the diagram? Please click here.

45. Qd8?

This move loses at least a pawn without compensation.

Correct is 45. Qc6; the game is level after 45. -- Qc1+ 46. Kh2 Qf4+ and if Black desires, he can force a draw by perpetual check on f4 and c1. There may be little better.

As it stands now, Black is winning.

45. -- Qxe4 46. Qd1 Qe5

Black also wins with 46. -- Ne6 47. Rxa5 Nf4 48. f3 Qe3+ 49. Kh2 Nd3 then:

• 50. Ra8 Kg7 51. Rxf8 Kxf8 Black's plan to win would involve checking on e5 and, depending on White's response, either sacrificing the Knight for the three kingside pawns or simply eliminating the queenside pawns and remaining a piece up.
• 50. Qb1 Bd6+ 51. Kh1 Nf2+ 53. Kg1 Nd1+ 53. Kf1 Qf2#

47. Qd2 Nf5 48. Kf1

No better is 48. Ra8 Kg7 49. Kf1 Be7 50. Qe1 Qd5 51. Rc8 Qb3 52. c4 Qxa4 53. Rc7 Bf6

48. -- Kg7 49. Qd3

49. Qd7 Nd6 50. Rc7 Qd5 51. Kg1 Qd2 52. g3 Qe1+ 53. Kg2 hxg3 54. fxg3 Qe2+ 55. Kg1 Qf3 and Black have an effective attack by bringing in his minor pieces.

49. -- Qf4 50. Qf3 Qc4+ 51. Ke1

If 51. Qe2 then Black nets another pawn with 51. -- Qxc3 52. Rd7 Bd6 53. Qd1 Qf6 54. Kg1 Qe5 55. Rd8 Qh2+ -+

51. -- Nd4 52. Qd1

Black wins a piece after52. Rxf7+ Qxf7 53. Qxf7+ Kxf7

52. -- Qxc3+ 53. Kf1

53. Qd2 allows Qa1+ 54. Qd1 Bb4+ 55. Kf1 Qxd1#.

53. -- Bc5 54. Rc7

If 54. Ra8 Nb3 55. Kg1 Qf6 56. Qe1 Qf4 57. Rc8 Kh6 58. Re8 Bb6 59. Re7 Nc5 then White last queenside pawn soon falls without compensation.

54. -- Ne6 55. Rb7 Nf4 56. Kg1 Bxf2+ 57. 0-1

57. Kh1 Nh5 58. Rd7 Ng3+ 59. Kh2 Nf5 60. Rd3 Qe5+ 61. Kh1 Ng3+ 62. Rxg3 Bxg3 leaves Black a piece ahead.

57. Kxf2 Qg3+ 58. Kf1 Qxg2+ 59. Ke1 Qg3+ 60. Kf1 Qxh3+ 61. Kf2 Qg3+ 62. Kf1 Qg2+ wins the Rook. Jobava resigns.





Vladimir Kramnik
Photo: the website of Vladimir Kramnik

Vladimir Kramnik vs. Peter Leko
Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Round 7
Dortmund, August 2006

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8. f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5

Also playable is 9. -- c5 10. dxc5 bxc5 11. e3 and now:

• 11. -- Qe7 12. e4 d6 13. Bxf6 gxf6 and a mutually good game
• 11. -- d6 12. Rd1 Qe7 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. e4 Rd8 with equality
• 11. -- d5 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd8 Nxc3 14. Be7 Re8 15. Bxc5 and White has won a pawn

10. e3 Nbd7 11. cxd5 Nxd5

11. -- exd5 12. Bd3 Re8 13. Bf5 c6 14. Bxd7 Qxd7 15. Bg3 Qe6 and Black has superior development.

12. Bxd8 Nxc3 13. Bh4 Nd5 14. Bf2

14. e4 Ne3 15. Kd2 Nxf1+ 16. Rxf1 c5 17. Ne2 f5 18. exf5 Rxf5 19. Rc1 is level.

14. -- c5 15. e4

If 15. Bb5 Rfd8 16. e4 Nf4 17. g3 a6 then the equalibrium is maintained by:

• 18. Bc4 Ng6 19. Rd1 cxd4 20. Bxd4 Rac8
• 18. Bf1 Nh5 19. Rc1 Rac8 20. Ne2 Nhf6

15. -- Ne7 16. Ne2

If 16. Bd3!? Rfd8 then the following results in equality:

• 17. Rd1 cxd4 18. Bxd4 Nc6 19. Bc3 Nc5 20. Bc2 Rxd1+ 21. Bxd1
• 17. Bc2 Rac8 18. Rc1 cxd4 19. Bxd4 Nc5 20. Bc3 a6 21. Ne2

16. -- Rac8 17. Nc3 cxd4 18. Bxd4 Nc5

18. -- a6 19. Rd1 Rfd8 20. Be2 Nc6 21. Bf2 Kf8 22. f4 Ke7 23. Rf1 Na5 is even.

19. Rd1 Rfd8 20. Be3

If 20. Bb5 a6 21. Be2 Nc6 22. Be3 then:

• 22. -- Rxd1+ 23. Kxd1 Rd8+ 24. Kc1 a5 25. Rd1 Nb3+ 26. Kb1 and Black has some initiative, but White's position is solid
• 22. -- Ne5 23. Kf2 a5 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Bxc5 bxc5 and the position is equal

20. -- Rxd1+ 21. Kxd1 e5 22. b4

22. Bc4 Nxe4 23. Bxf7+ Kxf7 24. fxe4 Ke6 25. Ke2 and there isn't much for either side.

22. -- Ne6 23. Kc2 Nc6

If 23. -- Nd4+ 24. Kd2 then the position is balanced after:

• 24. -- a5 25. b5 Rd8 26. Bd3 Ng6
• 24. -- Nb3+ 25. Kc2 Nd4+ 26. Kd2 Rd8 27. Bd3

24. Kb2 Kf8 25. Bc4

25. b5 Ncd4 26. Bd3 Nf4 27. Bxf4 exf4 28. Rd1 g5 29. Bb1 and White's pawn structure is better, but it is not a big advantage.

25. -- Ncd4 26. Bxe6 Nxe6 27. Nb5 Ra8 28. a4

If 28. Nd6 Rb8 29. Nxb7 Rxb7 then:

• 30. Rd1
• 30. -- f6 31. g3 Ng5 32. Bxg5 hxg5 and White has a slightly better pawn structure for the ending, but a draw is the likely result
• 30. -- Rc7 31. h4 Nf4 32. Rd2 and the position offer little to either side
• 30. Rc1 Rd7 31. Rc8+ Ke7 32. Kc3 Nf4 33. Bxf4 exf4 and the Rook and pawn ending doesn's promise much

28. -- Ba6 29. Na3 Rc8

If 29. -- Rd8 30. b5 then:

• 30. -- Bc8 31. Rc1:
  • if 31. -- f6? 32. Kb3:
  • if 32. -- h5 33. Kb4 then:
    • 33. -- Bb7 34. a5 bxa5+ 35. Kxa5 and any advantage is insignificant
    • 33. -- g5? 34. a5 bxa5+ 35. Kxa5 and White will soon take the a-pawn and begin marching the e-pawn up
  • else if 32. -- Bb7 then 33. Nc4 Nd4+ 34. Kb4 Ba8 and the position is level
  • else if 31. -- f5 then 32. exf5 Nf4 33. Bxf4 exf4 34. f6 gxf6 35. Rc4 snf White is in a good position to exploit Black's pawn weaknesses on the kingside
• else if 30. -- Bb7 then 31. Nc4 Nf4 32. g3 Nd3+ 33. Kc3 f5 34. Rd1 fxe4 35. fxe4 Bxe4 36. Nxe5 and White ejoys a slight initiative

30. b5 Bb7 31. Rc1 Rxc1 32. Kxc1

Black: Peter Leko
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White: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after White's 32nd move

32. -- Ke7?

This is the kind of passive play that loses chess games.

Correct is to attack White's kingside pawns with 32. -- Nf4 and now:

• 33. g3 Ng2 34. Bf2
• 34. -- f5! 35. Nc4 fxe4 36. fxe4 Bxe4 37. Nxe5 Ke7 and a position that offer little to either side
• 34. -- f6? would be bad: 35. Nc4 Bc8 36. a5 and now:
  • 36. -- bxa5 37. Bxa7 Ne1 and White's b-pawn will be escorted to Scone by the Bishop and Knight
  • 36. -- Bd7 37. axb6 axb6 38. Na3 g5 38. Kd2 and the Black Knight is imprisoned
• 33. Bxf4 exf4 34. Nc4 Ke7 and the game it level; the probable result from this position is a draw

33. a5 bxa5 34. Bxa7 f5

If 34. -- f6 35. Kb2 then:

• 35. -- Nf4 36. Nc4 Kd7
• 37. g3 Nd3+ 38. Kb3 Ne1 39. Nd2 g6 40. Ka4 and the a-pawn will fall; Black will be unlikely to get any counterplay on the kingside
• 37. g4 Nd3+ 38. Kb3 Ne1 39. Nd2 g6 40. Ka4 and the position is exactly like the main variation, except that White's g-pawn is at g3 instead of g4
• 37. Nxa5?! Kc8 38. g3 Nd3+ 39. Kc3 Ne1 40. Nxb7 Kxb7 41. Be3 Nxf3 and White's b-pawn gives him an edge, but it is far less likely to be converted to a victory than the other lines in this note
• 35. -- Nd4 36. Bxd4 exd4 37. Nc4 and White's plan will be to use his Knight to stop the d-pawn while the King eliminates the a-pawn and escorts the b-pawn to investiture

35. exf5 Nf4 36. g3 Nh3 37. Nc4 Ng5

If 37. -- Kf6 38. Nxa5 Bxf3 then:

• if 39. Bb6 Ng5 40. Bd8+ Kxf5 then:
  • if 41. b6 41. -- Ne6 42. b7 Bxb7 43. Nxb7 and White is a piece up
  • else if 41. Bxg5? is wrong; it is usually not a good idea to exchange Bishops in minor piece endings with pawns on both wings. If now 41. -- Kxg5 then:
    • 42. b6 Kg4 43. Kd2 Kh3 44. Ke3 Bd5 45. b7 Bxb7 46. Nxb7 Kxh2 47. Kf2 e4 and a likely draw
    • 42. Kd2 Kg4 43. Ke3 Bd5 44. Kf2 Kh3 45. Kg1 e4 and White has only a slight edge with his b-pawn
• else if 39. b6 39. -- Kxf5 40. Kd2 then:
  • 40. -- Ke6 41. Ke3 Bd5 42. b7 Bxb7 43. Nxb7 Kd5
  • 44. Bb8 Ng5 45. Nd6 and White has an extra piece
  • 44. Nc5 Nf4 45. gxf4 exf4+ 46. Kxf4 g6 47. Nd3 Kd6 48. Ne5 g5+ 49. Kf5 and White's pieces guraantee a win
  • 40. -- Bd5 41. b7 Bxb7 42. Nxb7 Ke6 43. Nc5+ Kd5 44. Ke3 Ng5 45. h4 and White has a huge plus with the extra Bishop

38. Nxa5 Bd5 39. b6 Nxf3

39. -- Kf6 40. f4 exf4 41. gxf4 Nf3 42. b7 Bxb7 43. Nxb7 Kxf5 44. Bb8 and White has an extra Bishop.

40. h3 Ng5 41. b7 Bxb7 42. Nxb7 Nxh3 43. Bb6

43. Bc5+ Kf6 44. Nd6 g6 45. fxg6 Kxg6 46. Kd2 Kf6 47. Ke3 Ke6 48. Ne8 Ng5 49. Bb4 Kf5 50. Nd6+ and the extra piece will be enough.

43. -- Kd7 44. Be3 Ke7

44. -- Kc6 45. Nd8+ Kd5 46. Kd2 Ke4 47. Ne6 Kxf5 48. Nxg7+ and another Black pawn in in jeopardy.

45. Nc5 g6 46. fxg6 Kf6 47. Bxh6 Kxg6 48. Be3 1-0

Both of these two men know the other could force checkmate against a lone King with a Bishop and a Knight in his sleep. Leko resigns.