Super Tournaments 2000 PDF

C/IESS
STARS
Editoral Panel: Oleg Βίήukοv, Ilja Manakov
Technical Editor: Olga Κrylova, Semko Semkov
Translation by: Natalia Alexeeva

Kate Κrylova
Vasily Sergeev
Alexey Yuneev
Cover design by Rustam Taichinov, Kaloian Nachev
© Sergei Soloviov, 2001
Pήnted in Bulgaria by ''Semko'' - Sofia

ISBN 954-8782-19-7
1Μ Sergei Soloviov
Super Toumaιnents
2000
With annotatίons by
Internatίonal Grandmasters
Alexander ΚHALIFMAN
Sergei IVANOV
Alexander KOCHYEV
Konstantίn SAΚAEV
Leonid YUDASIN
ACΚNOWLEDGEMENTS
Editorial staff ([email protected] ) ofthe S.Petersburg Grandmaster School

(www.gmchess.com) for materials about the tournaments,
J an van de Mortel
for aftergame comments and interviews with participants of the "Corus"
tournament; the interview with A.Κhalifman ίη Hoogeveen.
Oliver Breisacher (www.schachfestival-biel.ch)

for the interview with P.Svidler ίη Biel
Denis Bilunov (www.kasparovchess.com)

for the interview with E.Bareev ίη Montecatini Terme
Dmitry Novitsky (www.kaspal"Ovchess.com)

for the interview wjth B.Gelfand ίη Polanica Zdroj
Ilya Goredetsky (www.kasparovchess.com)

for the interview with A.Dreev ίη Shenyang
GM Valery Salov (http://w.p.c.tripod.com)

for the interviews with participants ofNew Delhi World Championship
ΙΜ Damir Levacic (www.cannes-echecs.org)

for the interviews with participants ofNew Delhi World Championship
CONTENTS
Preface .............. .................................................. 7
CORUS (Wijk aan Zee) ................................................... 10

"Sαme gαlne, new nαme"
LINARES ............................................................. 49
Khαlifmαn:"Old notebook story"
JAPFA CLASSIC (Denpasar, Bali) ........................................ 86

Khαlifmαn: "Ίιυο debuts αnd "French fries"
LEONID STEIN MEMORIAL (Lviv) . .................................... 104

Iuαnchuk: ''In our country people αre uery interested in this gαme"
BOSNA (Sarajevo) . ................................................... 123

Shirou αnd Co. hαue lαgged behind Kαspαrou
TORNEO MAGISTRAL de AJEDREZ MERIDA (Mexico) .................. 146

The strongest tournαment in the history of Mexico
"DORTMUNDER SCHACHTAGE" (Dortmund)............................. .161

''Junior'' in Dortmund
BIEL ................................................................ 204

Suidler: "Biel is α trαdemαrk in the chess world"
MONTECATINI TERME . ............................................. .244

Bαreeu: ''Iuαnchuk scored his +3 eαsily"
RUBINSTEIN MEMORIAL (Polanica Zdroj) ........................... .252

Gelfαnd: "The tournαment is uery strong, one of the strongest this yeαr"
1 st FIDE WORLD CUP (Shenyang, China) . ............................ .297
Anαnd: "1 like the knockout system"
ESSENT (Hoogeveen) . ................................................ .351

Khαlifmαns: 'Ά Yeαr αfter Lαs Vegαs"
WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP (New DelhifI'ehran) . ................ . 370

Anαnd - the 15 t1ι World Chess Chαmpion!
Epilogue .............................................................. .434
Index of Openings .................................................... .442
Index of Opponents ................................................... .444

7
Preface
What interesting things did the year 2000 bring to chess players? That year was
rich ίη eνents: the 34th Chess Olympiad, first European Championship, first World
Cup, World Championship, match between Kasparoν and Κramnik ...
Ιη this book you will find detailed comments of games from Wijk aan Zee, Linares,
Lνiν ... and other super tournaments. Of course, it is hard to draw a distinction be-
tween a strong tournament and a super tournament. Here you can find tournaments
with a category not less 16, with a normal time control and without computer's help.
That is why we haνe not considered some ofthe most interesting highest -leνel eνents
of 2000 and they will be mentioned briefly below.
Matches
Ιη 2000 a lot ofmatches were played, but two ofthem attracted eνerybody's atten-
tion: one - with the participation ofthe new World Champion A.Kahlifman, the other
- with the strongest player oflast years G.Kasparoν. Both ofthem lost these matches.
Budapest, 3-9.01.2000
Κhalifman - Leko =3-3
London, 8.10-4.11.2000
Kasparoν - Κramnik =13-2
Υου can read more about this match ίη Epilogue.
Advanced Chess
This is a new type of competitions, where eνery player can use his computer's help.
Α small tournament ofthe adνanced chess was held ίη Leon (1-5.06.2000) with the
participation of Anand, Shiroν, Polgar, Illescas.
Anand beat Shiroν 1.5-0.5 ίη the final.
Internet Chess
The Kasparoνchess Grand Prix was the first major sponsored eνent of the
Kasparoνchess web site. The knockout took place February 9th - 20th 2000 oνer the
Internet. Players from all oνer the world had one hour for all their moνes. The first
prize was $ 20,000. Jeroen Piket who beat Garry Kasparoν 1.5-0.5 ίη the final won the
eνent.
8
Blitz
The Plus GSM World Blitz Cup took place ίη the Warsaw Polonia Chess Club οη
Sunday 9th, January. Anand won first prize ($ 10.000 + Plus GSM CUp), Gelfand -
second (5.000 + Nokia Communicator) and Karpov - third (2.500 + Nokia Communica-
tor). 1. Anand (2769) - 17.5,2. Gelfand (2692) - 17, 3. Karpov (2696) - 17,4. Akopian
(2660) - 17, 5. Ivanchuk (2709) - 17, 6. Adams (2715) - 17, 7. Epishin (2667) - 17,8.
Tkachiev (2670) - 16.5, 9. Kozul (2597) - 16.5, 10. Svidler (2672) - 16.5, 11. Shirov (2751)
- 16.5, 12. Shchekachev (2509), 13. Manik (2469) 14. Vaganian (2618) - 16.5, 15.
Kempicski (2528) - 16.5, 16. Korotylev (2477) - 16.5 ... Therε' were over 500 players
from 25 countries including 50GMs.
Rapid Chess
There were a lot ofrapid chess tournaments, as usual. Here are the most noticeable
ofthem:
Wydra Memorial Rapidplay (Haifa), 3-5.02.2000 cat. χνι

1. Anand (2769) - 9.5, 2. Gelfand (2692) - 9, 3. Svidler (2672) - 9, 4. Psakhis (2599) -
7, 5. Huzman (2574) - 6.5, 6. Avrukh (2620) - 5.5, 7. Greenfeld (2563) - 5, 8. Bareev
(2709) - 4.5
Amber (Monaco) 16-28.03.2000 cat. χνιιι

Ιη this tournament each participant had to play 2 games with his opponents: blind-
fold and rapid.
1. Shirov (2751) - 15 (of 22), 2. Ivanchuk (2709) - 13.5, 3. Topalov (2702) - 13.5, 4.
Κramnik (2758) - 13.5,5. Anand (2769) - 12.5,6. Gelfand (2692) - 12, 7. Piket (2633)-
10.5, 8. Wan Wely (2646) - 10.5, 9. Karpov (2696) - 10, 10. Lautier (2632) - 7.5 11.
Ljubojevic (2559) - 7, 12. Nikolic (2659) - 6.5
chess@iceland rapidplay tournament (Kopavogur, Iceland) 1-2.04.2000

The participants were divided into 2 groups. The winners ofthese groups Kasparov
and Anand played a mini-match. Two games they ended ίη a draw, and 2 additional
blitz-games were won by Kasparov.
"Fujitsu-Siemens Giants" (Frankfurt), 22-25.05.2000 cat. ΧΧΙ (!)

(M.Adams could not participate because his rating was οηlΥ 2715!).
1. Anand (2769) - 7.5 (of 10),2. Kasparov (2851) - 6, 3. Κramnik (2758) - 5, 4. Shirov
(2751) - 4.5,5. Leko (2725) - 3.5, 6. Morozevich (2748) - 3.5
"Fujitsu-Siemens Masters" (Frankfurt), 22-25.05.2000 cat. XVII.

1. Adams (2715) - 10.5 (of 14), 2. Ivanchuk (2709) - 9.5, 3. Bareev (2709) - 8, 4.
Rublevsky (2662) - 6.5, 5. Topalov (2702) - 6.5, 6. Jussupow (2628) - 5.5, 7. Van Wely
(2646) - 5.5, 8. Rabiega (2477) - 4.
Ivan Sokolov became the 1st European Rapid Champion. This event took place ίη
9
the Hotel Zenit ίn Neum (Bosnia and Herzegovina), 4-5.10.2000. There were 82 play-
ers, among them 52 grandmasters, competing ίn the 11-rounds Swiss tournament. 1.
I.Sokolov (2611) - 8, 2. Dreev (2676) - 8, 3. Azmaiparashvili (2673) - 8, 4. Chernin (2572)
- 7.5, 5. Brodsky (2532) - 7.5, 6. Filippov (2593) - 7.5, 7. Rublevsky (2670) - 7.5 ...
1st European Chess Championships
The 1st European Chess Championships took place ίn Saint Vincent 3-14.07.2000.
There were 109 entries 45 of whom were rated over 2500 and 16 over 2600. Pavel
Tregubov won the 1st European Chess Championships.
1. Tregubov (2615) - 8, 2. Aleksandrov (2606) - 8, 3. Markowski (2531) - 8, 4. Κharlov

(2616) - 8, 5. Lutz (2587) - 7.5 6. Smirin (2666) -7.5,7. Malakhov (2593) - 7.5, 8 Chernin
(2583) - 7.5, 9. Fedorov (2684) - 7.5,10. Galkin (2566) - 7.5,11. Tiviakov (2567) - 7.5,12.
Hertneck (2571) - 7,13. ΜίΙον (2653) - 7,14. Κrasenkow (2661) - 7,15. Timman (2655)
- 7,16. Κi. Georgiev (2677) - 7,17. Azmaiparashvili (2675) - 7,18. Fressinet (2501) - 7,
19. Beliavsky (2640) - 7, 20. Bauer (2517) - 7, 21. Romanishin (2578) - 7, 22. Miles
(2579) - 7 ...
Olympiad
The 34th Chess Olympiad took place ίn Istanbul, 28.10-12.11.2000
HAMILTON RUSSELL CUP (Men's Olympiad Trophy)
Gold - RUSSIA:
Κhalifman, Morozevich, Svidler, Rublevsky, Sakaev, Grischuk.
Silver - GERMANY:
Jussupow, Huebner, Dautov, Lutz, Bischoff, Luther.
Bronze - υΚRAINE:
Ivanchuk, Ponomariov, Baklan, Eingorn, Romanishin, MalHkhatko.
VERA MENCHIK CUP (Women's Olympiad Trophy)
Gold - CHINA:
Xie Jun, Zhu Chen, Χυ Yuhua, Wang Lei.
Silver - GEORGIA:
Chiburdanidze, Ioseliani, Κhurtsidze, Gurieli.
David Gurgenidze
Bronze - RUSSIA:
Galliamova-Ivancuk, Kovalevskaya, Matveeva, Stepovaia-Dianchenko.
10 Super Tournaments 2000
Corus
Wijk aan Zee 15.01-30.01, cat.21
2851~Ι
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
1 Κasparov = 1 = = 1 1 = 1 1 = 1 9.5
2 Κramnik 2758 = = = = 1 = = = 1 = = 1 = 8
3 Leko 2725 = = Ι!,ιι = = = = = 1 = = 1 1 = 8
4 Anand 2769 = = = = = = = 1 = = 1 1 = 8
5 Morozevich 2748 Ο = = - [1= = Ο 1 = 1 = 1 1 7.5
6 Adams 2715 = Ο = = i;i,[;i'~ = 1 Ο 1 = = = 1 7
r~1i:
7 Piket 2633 = = = = = - Ο 1 = 6.5
8 Timman 2655 Ο = = = 1 Ο = 1 1 6.5
9 P.Nikolic 2659 Ο = Ο Ο Ο 1 1 -- -
--- 1 = = 6
10 Short 2683 = Ο = = = Ο Ο = = 1 = = = 5.5
11 Ju.Polgar 2658 Ο = = = Ο 1 = = Ο i = Ο = 5
=~=
12 Κorchnoi 2659 Ο = Ο Ο = = 1 = Ο = 5
13 Lputian 2605 = Ο Ο Ο Ο = Ο Ο = = 1 1 4.5
14 Van Wely 2646 Ο = = = Ο Ο = Ο = = = Ο =<λ 4
CORUS - the Wijk aan Zee Chess Festival with a New Name
The chess festival ίη Wijk aan Zee consists of a lot of simultaneous and different
tournaments: open, closed, children's and even parliamentary. ΑΠ of them take place
ίn the same sports hall. The atmosphere is very friendly. Ιη 2000 the festival was for
ηd
the 62 time. From the very beginning, the sponsor ofthe festival was Hoogovens, the
Dutch steel making giant. The festival that ίη 1938 was a tournament for Hoogovens
employees gradually had grown into the most popular tournament ίη Holland.
This year the festival had a new slogan: "Same game, new name". The same
tournament, ίη the same place, with the same competitors (and as always the most
important - Kasparov) but the name is new. The huge companies British Steel and
Koninklijke Hoogovens united and formed a new company: Corus. Henceforward the
traditional chess festival ίη Wijk aan Zee will be named "Corus Chess Tournament".
Οη the opening ceremony Mr. Fokko van Duyne, the joint-chairman of Corus guaranteed
that the tournament would be held ti1l2002 at least. It was interesting to hear how the
organizers of the competition would introduce Garry Kasparov. The matter is that
several months earlier at the Dutch tournament, Anatoly Karpov was angry when he
was introduced as "Former World Champion". Kasparov was presented as "The World's
highest rated chess player".
If Kasparov, Κramnik and Anand play ίη one tournament, they usually are main
competitors ίη the struggle for the first prize. At last year's super tournament ίη Wijk
aan Zee G.Kasparov was the winner with 7 points, VAnand had 6.5 and other players
Corus 11
1agged far behind. Of course, eνeryone was interested, whether a new race of the
strongest p1ayers wou1d be he1d.
That was the first Κasparoν's tournament after 6 - month break but he won it again!
Ιη the beginning the absence of practice to1d οη his p1ay. The νictory oνer Korchnoi ίη
the first round (game 1) seemed rather unconνincing. Mter getting a 1arge adνantage
thanks to his home preparation, Garry p1ayed not νery accurate1y ίη this game. Then
there were difficu1t draws by B1ack ίη second and fourth rounds against Piket and Adams.
Howeνer using the adνantage of p1aying White, Kasparoν easi1y defeated Van We1y ίη
the 3 rd round (game 6) and Morozeνich ίη the 5th (game 9), and oνertook Κramnik, who
had won with White 1St, 3 rd , and 5th rounds and made draws with B1ack. Ιη the 7th round
the game between Kasparoν and Anand took p1ace. At that moment Kasparoν had +3
(as well as Κramnik), and Anand had +2 (as well as Leko and Picket). Kasparoν had an
adνantage, but the game ended ίη a draw. Then Kasparoν continued to strengthen his
p1ay and defeated Timman ίη the 9th round (game 13) and Niko1ic ίη the 10th, but Anand
and Κramnik ended all their games ίη draws. ΒΥ the 12th round, when Κramnik and
Kasparoν shou1d p1ay with each other to define the winner ofthe tournament, Κramnik
was a1ready a point behind. Mter some unp1easant moments for Garry the game ended
ίη a draw (game 18). Haνing defeated Judit ίη the 1ast round, Kasparoν was the on1y
Wlnner.
The winner gained +6 ίη this tournament, once again haνing demonstrated his
superiority oνer the strongest chess p1ayers of the p1anet. Kasparoν became the first
winner ofthe new Corus Crown Group haνing receiνed 90,OOO-gui1der (45,OOO-dollar)
prize.
At the Corus tournament a 10t ofp1ayers (4 of14!) did not resign. Besides Kasparoν,
three p1ayers who shared 2-4 p1aces: Vladimir Κramnik, Peter Leko and Viswanathand
Anand finished the tournament without defeats. ΑΠ of them }lad + 3, that wou1d add
some points to their ratings.
From these three p1ayers, Κramnik's resu1t was the most unusual: he had begun
excellent1y, haνing 4 points of 5, but then he seemed to 10se interest to the tournament
and ended all the rest games ίη draws.
One cou1d expect more from Viswanathan Anand, but he caught an influenza νirus.
ΒΥ the end ofthe tournament he got better and ίη 1ast round he defeated 5mbat Lputian
(game 19), who had p1ayed unsuccessfully during the festiνal.
Peter Leko continues making great progress ίη p1aying, proνing that he has the
right to be ίη the top-ten p1ayers of the wor1d. Though his sty1e is usually compared
with brilliant Capab1anca's p1ay, he has a1so some games ίη Ta1's manner, for examp1e,
his due1 with Lputian (game 7). There was an impression that ίη Wijk aan Zee Leko
p1ayed easier than the others; he practically had ηο bad positions and won a1most all
games, where he had an adνantage.
Interviwe with Vladimir Kramnik

ΒΥ Jαn vαnde Mortel
Q: How was your tournament?

Α:I'm not νery satisfied. Somehow Ι 10st energy ha1fway through the tournament
and was unab1e to get something out of the opening ίη most of my games, eνen as
White.
12 Super Tournαments 2000
Q: Will Linares be next?

Α:
Yes, now 1 haνe three weeks to get ready for Linares. 1 will haνe time to prepare
and regain energy.
Q: How do you see yourself compared to Kasparov and Anand, who are
trying to get a match together?
Α: "1 don't really agree with this match being the world championship, because
there is ηο real "second player" ίη the world. It might be something if there would be
someone standing out, or two players haνing a rating aboνe 2800. For now 1 think
there should be some kind of qualification for the world championship."
Interviwe with Loek Van Wely

ΒΥ Jαn vαnde Mortel
Q: Can Ι bother you for some post tournament comments?

Α:Of course my tournament already ended a few rounds ago. I'm actually νery
ashamed of some of my games, but you can be νery sad or still see something positiνe
ίη a bad tournament like this. Eνen though 1 lost so many games, if 1 had been sharp Ι
really could haνe been collecting big time!
Q: How come you were not 'sharp'?
Α: It's clear that my opening preparation should be much better next time. Now I'm
losing quite some rating with οηlΥ one serious tournament to go before July, the Dutch
Championship [Jan Timman said he was not going to participate]. But ίη the second
half of the year Ι will play at least 70 games. This way your rating will really show
what's you're worth. 80, July 2001 will be my goal!
1 D85 10.~d4 (with the idea of f2-f4) 10 ... c5!

Korchnoi - Kasparov 1l.~xc5 tiJec4 12.~xc4 (12. ~b3 tiJxb2
Round 1 15.01 13.J:.c1 ~xc3+; 12.~xb6 ~xb6 13.~xc4
~xb2) 12 ... tiJxc4 13.~b3 tiJxb2!! 14.~xb2
1.d4 tiJf6 2.c4 g6 3.tiJc3 d5 ~c7 15.,i,b4 (15. ~a3 b6 16.,i,b4 a5 17.~c1
Korchnoi used to play the Gruenfeld axb4t) 15 ... a516.tiJge2 axb417.~xb4 jLg4
Defence for Black when he was at the top 18.f3 ..Itd7 19.0-0 b5!~ Kacheishνili -
of his career. 8νidler, 8zeged 1994
4.cxd5 tiJxd5 5.jLd2 9 .....Itg4 10.d5 ~xf3 11.gxf3 CLJa5!
Korchnoi's faνourite νariation. The knight wants to get to c4. Ιη the
5 ... ~g7 6.e4 tiJb6! game Korchnoi - 8νidler, Bad Homburg
ΟηΙΥ this way allows Black to resist 1998, Black chose a worse way to do this:
White's original formation. 11 ... CLJe5 12. ~b3! c6 13.0-0-0.
7.jLe3 ο-ο 8.~e2 tiJc6 9.tiJf3 12 ...Itd4 ~d6!
It is not so easy for White to manage Α nice option for Black ίη this position.
his beautiful centre. The ΡΟΡuΙaήtΥ ofthis 12 ... c5 was not so good here, and after
soon pawn adνance decreased considerably 13.,i,xg7 Φχg7 14.~c2 e5 15.tiJd1 CLJd7
after a brilliant game by 8νidler: 9.d5 tiJe5 16.~c3! a6 17.f4± White gained a big ad-
Corus 13
vantage ίη the game Korchnoi - J.Polgar, ~c4#) 22 ... ~xf2+ 23.Φg4 (23.~e5 ~f6+
Dos Hermanas 1999. 24.~d5 ~d6#) 23 ... h5+ 24.~h3 ~f3+
13 ..txg7 ~xg7 14.f4?! 25.~h4 ~g4#.
IfWhite refrains from this move, Black 17 ... CZΊac4!
will obtain a good counterplay οη dark Black continues to reinforce his pres-
squares, meanwhile destroying the white sure. After 17 ... CZΊxc6 18.0-0 CZΊd4 19.Ji.d3
pawn centre by means of c7-c6 or e7-e6, e5 20.fxe5 CZΊf3+ 21.~h1 CZΊxe5 22 ..te2 CZΊec4
e.g. if14:~d4, then 14 ... e5! However, there 23.Ji.xc4 CZΊxc4 24. '§e2+ Black οηlΥ would
is an interesting manoeuvre of 14. ~c1!? stand slightly better.
with the idea ofh4-h5 or CZΊb5, ~c3. 18.'§c5
14 .. :~f6! 15:~d2 After the exchange of the knight by
18 ..txc4 CZΊxc4 19. ~e2 (now there is ηο
19. ~c5?! CZΊxb2 20.cxb7? because of CZΊd3-
+) 19 ... ~xc6 20.~d1 ~xd1+ 21.CZΊxd1
(21.~xd1 CZΊxb2 22.~d4+ f6+) 21 ... ~d8+
Black threatens to launch a strong attack
by 1:td2.
18 ... ~ac8
An incautious 18 ... CZΊxb2?! produces an
unclear position after 19.cxb7 (19.c7 CZΊd3+
20 ..txd3 ~xd3+) 19 ... .:ι:tab8 20.~c7ao.
19.c7 ~d7 20 ..txc4 ~cxc7 21. ~g5
~xc4
15 ... c6! Black could have had a much better
Now Kasparov's novelty comes! There endgame ifhe had made use ofthe weak-
was a quick draw ίη the game I.Sokolov - ness the far advanced kingside pawns. Af-
Shirov, Las Vegas 1999, after 15 ... CZΊac4 ter 21 ... ~xg5!? 22.fxg5 CZΊxc4 23.CLJd5!
16 ..txc4 CZΊxc4 17.~e2 CZΊb6 18.~e3 CZΊc4 (23.CZΊb5? ~c5 24.CZΊxa7 CZΊxb2-+J 23 ... ~c6
19.~e2 CZΊb6 20.~e3. White should play 24.b3 (24.~b1 CLJxb2J,
16.dxc6 and now after 24 ... CZΊe5! (if 24 ... CZΊd6, then
Νο doubt, Kasparov had analysed all just 25.f3; and Κrasenkow believes that the
the consequences of a more principal16.e5. line 24 ... CZΊb2?! 25.0-0 e6 26.CZΊf6 J:td2
Black apparently had ηο problems after 27 .~fc1 hardly deserves attention - White
16 ... ~h4. is still alive.) White is unable to control all
16 ... ~fd8! the weak points ίη his position (f3, d3,
Black does notjust recapture the pawn pawns οη e4 and g5). For example: 25.f4
but continues his attack ofthe b2- and f4- (25.h4 ~c2) 25 ... CZΊd3+ 26.~e2 (26.Φd2?
pawns. This is more active than 16 ... CZΊxc6 CZΊxf4) 26 ... CZΊc5 27.~e3 (27.CZΊc3?! CZΊxb3
after which the white queen would be quite 28.axb3 ~xc3 29.llxa7 ~xb3~) 27 ... CZΊxe4!
safe οη e3. 28.~xe4 .:ι:te6+. However, Black still may
17:~e3 encounter difficulties ίη the achievement
After 17. CZΊd5 CZΊxd5 (17 ... ~xc6? 18. '§xa5 of his extra pawn.
CZΊxd5 19.exd5 ~xd5 20. '§c3+-) the move 22. ~xf6+ ςt>xf6
18.cxb7 is losing because of 18 ... CZΊxf4!! 22 ... exf6!? 23.f3 J:ιb4 24.:l.b1 CZΊc4 (Kas-
19.bxa8'§ (19.~xa5 '§xb2-+) 19 ... ~xd2 and parov).
now: 20.~xd2 (20.Ji.f3 CZΊc4-+; 20 ..tg4 23 ..ί:Icll:tcd4!
CZΊg2+ 21.Φχd2 ~xb2-+) 20 ... '§xb2+ 21.Φe3 Black controls the d-file; besides, his
~xe2+ 22.Φχf4 (22.~d4 ~d3+ 23.ςt>c5 king is active and the white king stands
14 SUJJf!r Tournαments 2000
rather unsafe. Iιf3 (with the idea of 30 ..!::re2. Αη immedi-

24.b3 ate 29.J::te2? is impossible because of
White restricts the activity of Black's 29 ... .ί:txc3) as then Black has 29 ... :lf3, and
knight. But for this move Black could de- ίη case of 30.~e2 he just plays 30 ... 1:ϊd7,
velop his initiative successfully, for ex- winning the f4-pawn. But the possibility
ample: 24.~c2 tιJc4 25.b3 (25.f3 tιJe3) of 29.:lcd1!? deserves attention, as after
25 ... tιJa3+; or 24.f3 tιJc4 (24 ... ~d3 25.~Ω) 29 ... .ί:txd130.tιJxd1 f5!? 31.exf5 gxf5 32.tιJe3
25.tιJd5+ (25.tιJe2 J::ι.d2) 25 ... rt>g7 26.b3 Φd6 White should not exchange the rooks:
tιJb2+. However, now the black rook enters 33.:ld1? 1:ϊΧd1 34.tιJxd1 tιJd5 35.rt>f3 rt>c5
the white camp along the 3rd rank. 36.a3 rt>d4, and Black breaks through,
24 ... J::ι.d325.rt>e2 White οηlΥ has to bring up his king. White's
It is not easy to find a useful move for chances to draw are higher than Black's
White, but, anyway, it does not look wise to win.
to remove his king from the central e1- 29 ... tιJd7 30.fxe6 fxe6 31.Φf1!
square. Astrange move 25.J::ι.gl!? deserved White manages to exchange his weak
a close attention (with the idea to engage f4-pawn, and now he is ready to offer the
the rook ίη the fight via g3). Ιη case of exchange by 32.J::ι.e2. White can not restrict
25 ... J::ι.f3 Black just responds with 26.tιJe2, the mobility ofBlack's knight by 31.e5 be-
again threatening to exchange White's ac- cause of 31 ... I::!.b2 to be followed by J::ι.dd2.
tive rook by 27.~g3 31 ... tιJe5 32.1:ϊe2!
25 ... J::ι.d2+ 26.φf3 White managed to consolidate his posi-
There is ηο way back: 26.rt>el? J::ι.b2, and tion; however, the holes οη the dark squares
Black threatens both with 27 ... J::ι.dd2 and don't let him equalize.
Iιd3-f3. 32 ... g5 33.tιJa4
26 ... Iι7d3+ 27.rt>g2 e6 28.J::ι.hel 33.1:ϊc2!?
28.1:Ihd1?? (trying to exchange the 33 ... J::ι.dl+ 34.~el .!::rxel+ 35.rt>xel J::ι.d7
rooks) loses immediately because of~xc3. Black prepares to rearrange his pieces:
28 ... rt>e7 the knight from d3 attacks a more active
Preparing 29 ... tιJd 7, but allowing White f4-square, and the king goes to f6 and then
to get rid of his weak f4-pawn. Ιη case of to e5. Kasparov writes that 35 ... rt>f6 36.tιJc5
an immediate 28 ... tιJd7?! there is already (36.J::ι.c7 ~d7) 36 ... b6 was better.
29 ..ί:ted1!, and now 29 ... 1:Ixc3? is bad be- 36.Φe2
cause of30.I::!.xd2 .!::rxc131 ..ί:txd7. Preparing 36.tιJc5 did not aid ίη view of 36 ... ~c7
the knight's transfer to the kingside. 37.Φe2 rt>d6 38.b4 b6 39 ..!::rd1+ Φe7 40.tιJb3
1:ϊc2+ 41 ..!::rd2 1:ϊc3 (Κrasenkow) and White
is helpless.
36 ... tιJd3 37 ..!::rc3 tιJf4+ 38.Φf3 rt>f6?!
Black fulfils his plan, although 38 ... e5!
is stronger ίη this position with the idea
that after h5, g4 and Φf6-g5 Black will
develop his initiative οη the kingside.
39.tιJc5
White has ηο moves! 39.tιJb2 .!::rd2
39... J::ι.c740.h4?
40.tιJa4 was probably better, although
the knight endgame after 40 ... .!::rxc3+
29.f5! 41.tιJxc3 rt>e5 42.Φe31οοks also difficult for
There is ηο rook exchange after 29.rt>fl White: 42 ... g4 43.f3 h5.
Corus 15
40 ... e5 46.CLJb2 (46.CLJc5 I;.dl) 46 ... ~d2 47.MC5! mak-

The move 40 ... b6!? deserved attention, ing use of the weak e5-pawn, White cre-
allowing Black to activate his king and to ates a counterplay which is quite enough
advance the h-pawn rather quickly. If for draw. After 45 ... Mf7! Black got the same
White answers with 4ι.t2Ja4 (better than position he could have reached if he had
41.hxg5+ ~xg5 42.~c1? Mf7! 43.~gl+ played 40 ... b6!?
-;t>h6-+; 42.CLJa4 42 ... ~f7 43.~e3 h5), then 46.<J;>e3
after 41 ... ~f7! (threatening with ~e5) An attempt to stop the advance of the
42.1::c6 ~g6 (42 ... <J;>e5!?) 43.~g3 Black h-pawn with the king does not work, for
forces an exchange οη g5 and obtains the example: 46.<;tog3 h5 47.CLJc5 h4+ 48.~h2 h3
desired position: 43 ... <J;>h5! 44.hxg5 ~xg5, (48 ... ~g4 49.a3! bxa3 50.~a4 CLJe2 51.CLJd3)
and the advance of the h-pawn becomes 49.a3 (49.J:!.c2 <;tog4 Δ.t!.g7, <;tof3) 49 ... bxa3
inevitable. 50.1:ta4 wh4 51.J::t:xa3 CLJe2-+
41.hxg5+ <J;>xg5 46 ... CLJg2+ 47.~e2 CLJf4+ 48.We3 h5
49.!!c5 CLJg2+ 50.~e2 h4!
With his a4-knight out of play, White
is unable to stop this pawn.
51.J::!.xe5+ Φg4 52.J::t:e8
52.f3+ J::t:xf3 (the simplest) 53.J::t:g5+
~xg5 54.Φχf3 CLJe1+ 55.<J;>f2 CLJd3+ 56.~f3
CLJe5+ 57.<;tog2 Φg4 58.CLJc5 h3+ 59.<;toh2
~h4-+ ΔCLJg4, ~g3 (Κrasenkow). 52.J::t:xa5
h3 53.f3 ~h4 54.Φf2 (54.J::t:a8 h2 55.Φf2
'iith3-+) 54 ... CLJe155.J::t:a8 J::t:h7 56.Φg1 CLJxf3+
57.Φh1 J::t:c7-+.
52 ... CLJf4+ 53.We3 h3 54.f3+ ~h4 0-1
42.lic4? The game could have continued by
White missed the last opportunity to 55.J:J:h8+ CLJh5 56.Wf2 J:J:g7 57.C2Jc5 h2
exchange the rooks. After 42.~c1 <J;>f6 58.CLJe6 h1~ 59.CLJxg7 ~h2+ 60.wfl ~h3+
(42 ... 1::f7 43.~gl +) 43.CLJd3 ~xc1 44.CLJxc1 61.Φe2 ~g2 with Black's victory.
White still could resist his opponent.
42 ...b5
Black decides that it will be easier to 2 Ε42
promote the h-pawn with the help of his Timman - Anand
rook. 42 ... b6!? 43.CLJa6 ~xc4 44.bxc4 CLJe6=t=; Round 1 15.01
42 ... h5!? Notes by A.Kochyeu
43.~cl b4 44 ..ί:!.c4!
Black wins easily ίη case of 44 ..:!:ig1 + <J;>f6 l.d4 CLJf6 2.c4 e6 3.CLJc3 ~b4 4.e3 c5
45.CLJa4 .:!:ic8! (45 ... 1::c2 46 ..:!:ig8 x:i:xa2 47.J::t:f8+ 5.CLJge2 cxd4 6.exd4 ο-ο 7.a3 Jιe7 8.CLJf4
<J;>g5 48.J::t:a8p) 46 ..:!:id1 h5 (Κasparov); or af- 8.d5 was the other opportunity to
ter 44.CLJd3? ~xc1 45.CLJxc1 h5 46.~g3 h4 struggle for an opening advantage to be
47.~f3 (47.<;toh2 ~g4 Δ~f3-+) 47 ... a5 48.a4 followed g3 and ~g2.
bxa3 49. CLJa2 CLJd3-+. 8 ... d5 9.cxd5 CLJxd5 10.CLJcxd5 exd5
44 ... a5 45.CLJa4 J::t:f7! 11.Jιd3 CLJc6 12.0-0
Now after 45 ... J::t:xc4 46.bxc4 White ob- The line 12. ~h5 g6 (or 12 ... f5!?) 13.
tains counterplay thanks to his passed c4- CLJxg6 hxg6 14.Jιxg6 fxg6 15. ~xg6 draws
pawn. Also 45 ... h1d7? (with the idea to mate the game by means of perpetual check.
by 46 ... I::td3#) is insufficient because of 12 .•• Jιf6 13 ..1ιe3 g6
There was ηο 13 ... Cbxd4?! because of 30.g3 b5 31.l:!.f3 ~g7 32.~g2 ~g8
14 ...Itxd4 ..Itxd4 15 ..i.xh7+ <;t>xh7 16.~xd4 33.<;t>h2 Φg7 34.<;t>gl Φg8 35.~g2 <;t>g7
with White's eνident adνantage. 36.~c3 ~e8 37 ..'gf3 ~f8 38.<;t>h2 <;t>g8
14.!ίcΙ 39.l:!.c3 l:!.e8 40.~c6 ~xc6 41.Mxc6 Se6
Threatening with the manoeuνre l:!.c5 42.Sxe6 112 - 1f2
which is standard for this νariation. Οη the The pawn game is drawing.
whole, White managed to mobilize his
pieces ίη the opening and gained a better
play. 3 Ε97
14 ... ..Itg7 15 ..1ιbΙ Lputian - Piket
Α typical manoeuνre. At an opportune Round 1 15.01
moment the bishop will be transferred οη
a2, increasing the pressure upon the d5- 1.Cbf3 Cbf6 2.c4 g6 3.Cbc3 ..Itg7 4.e4 d6
pawn. 5.d4 ο-ο 6 ...Ite2 e5 7.0-0 Cbc6 8.d5 Cbe7
15 ... Cbe7 16.Sel !ίe8 17.~f3 ~b6 9.Cbd2 a5 10.~bl Cbd7 11.a3 f5 12.b4 ~h8
18.b4 13.~c2 Cbf6 14.f3 axb4 15.axb4 c6
Step by step White increases his pres- 16.Cbb3 fxe4
sure, and right now Black has ηο 18 ... ΒΥ his actiνe moνes Piket tries to cre-
..Itxd4? because of19 ...Itxd4 '§xd4 20.Cbxd5. ate a counterplay οη the queenside. Α
'18 ... ..Ite6 19.h4 ..Itd7 straight attack brought ηο success ίη the
Black could not haνe solνed his prob- game Sitnik - Rechel, Olomouc 1999 after
lems with 19 ... ..Itxd4 as well. 16 ... f4 17.dxc6 bxc6 18.b5 g5 19.bxc6 g4
20 ..i.a2 .i.c6 21.lt:Jxd5 Cbxd5 22 ..i.xd5 20.fxg4 Cbxg4 21 ...Itxg4 ..Itxg4 22.Cbd2 Cbxc6
..Itxd5 23.~xd5 ~ad8 24.~c5 ~a6 23.Cbb5 J::!.f6 24.Cbf3t with White's slight but
As the result of the operation, White lasting adνantage. White was also supe-
wins a pawn. There was ηο 24 ... ..Itxd4? be- rior ίη manoeuνres after 16 ... Cbh5 17 ...Ite3
cause of 25 ..1ιΧd4 ~xe1+ 26.l:txe1 l:txd4 (after 17.dxc6 Cbxc6 18.b5 Cbd4 19.Cbxd4
27.1::!.e8, White making use ofthe weakness exd4 20.Cbd5 jLe6 21.exf5 gxf5 22 ..i.d3 Mc8
of the back rank. 23. '§f2 Black offered a sacrifice of the ex-
change: 23 ... ~c5! 24 ...Ita3 ..Itxd5 25 ..i.xc5
dxc5 26.cxd5 Cbf4 27 ...Itc4 Cbxd5~ ίη the
game Mueller - Gallagher, Switzerland
1995, and had a sufficient compensation)
17 ... cxd5 18.cxd5 Cbf4 19.Cba5 '§c7 20 ..1ιd3
..Itd7 2U::tfc1.i.h6 22.'§d2 '§b8 23 ...Itb5 ~d8
24.g3 lZJh3+ 25.<;t>g2 f4? (25 ... ..Itxe3) 26 .
..Itb6± Lenz - Taggatz, Germany 1995.
Black's initiatiνe οη the queenside reached
a deadlock, and after a mistake οη the 25th
moνe his position was lost.
17.fxe4 cxd5 18.cxd5 ~b6+
25 ...Itg5?!
Ν ot οηlΥ deνeloping the queen and
Α strange decision. 25.b5 was better,
sparing a tempo, but also threatening with
maintaining the material balance. an opportune Cbg4.
25 ... ttxel+ 26.ktxel ..Itxd4 27.~c7 nf8 19.<;t>hl .i.d7
28.jLe3 jLxe3 29.z:txe3 h5 White's pawn is poisoned, and 19 ...
The consequence of White's 25th moνe '§xb4? is bad because of 20 ...Ite3! (threat-
is that he lost nearly all his adνantage. ening to win the queen after Cbd2). Mter
Corus 17
the οηlΥ possible 20 ... ~a3 White gains a ample: 25 ... i.xb5 26 ..sιe3 J::tf1+ 27.~xf1
great adνantage by 2I.CiJb5 Uxb3 22.~xb3 ~xe3 28.CLJxb5 ~xe4 29.CLJxd6 ~xd5 30.
~xe4 23. ~xe4 CLJxe4 24.Uxf8+ i,xf8 25. .ϊ::tdl±. The idea which was used ίη the game
~f3±. did not work as well: 23 ... CLJf2+ 24.'it>h2
20.CLJa5?! CLJxh3, and White gains an adνantage by
This was too careless. White does not the same 25.i.e3, for example after
feel his king is endangered. 20. ~d3 was 25 ... ~c7 26. ~c4! (26.CLJb5 .sιxb5 27. ~xb5~)
the correct continuation driνe then Black's 26 ... ~xc4 27.CLJxc4 CLJf2 28.i.xf2 1,1xf2
queen away from the diagonal gl-a7 by 29.CLJxd6±. Mter 23 ... ~d4! 24.hxg4 ~xc3ao
~e3. Ιη this case Black's idea of20 ... CLJg4?! the whole play would be still ahead.
(20 ... Uac8 is better) encounters a strong 23 ...CLJf2+ 24.'it>h2
response 21.Uxf8+ Uxf8 22.i,xg4!, and af-
ter 22 ... i,xg4 23.i,e3 White has a strong
initiatiνe both ίη case of23 ... ~d8 24.Ual t
and 23 ... ~xb4 24.h3 .sιc8 25.CLJd2 ~a5
26.CLJc4 ~d8 27.~b6t
20 ... CLJg4! 21.h3
An attempt to coνer the f2-square with
the knight fails. For example, ίη case of
21.CLJdl? Uxf1+ 22 ..sιxf1 ~d4 (threatening
with ~dl; 22 ... Uf8 23.~d3!) 23.~g5 CLJxd5!?
24.CLJb3 (24.exd5? .sιf5-+) 24 ... Mf8 25.~c4
~b6 26.exd5 ~f5 27 ..sιd3 (27.~b2 i.xbl
24 ... CLJxh3!! 25.i.b5
28.~xbl ~xb4-+) 27 ... ~a6! 28.CLJb2 i.xd3
There was a funny mating net ίη case
29.CLJxd3 ~xd3 30.~xd3 CLJf2+ 31 ...t>gl of25.i.xe7 ~gl+ 26.ι;t>g3 .sιh6-+
CLJxd3+ Black has a great adνantage ίη the 25 ... CLJxg5 26.i'~xd7 Mf4!~
endgame. The same happens after a pre- Black's pieces are aimed at White's un-
liminary rook exchange: 21.Mxf8+? Uxf8 protected king.
22.CLJdl, and after 22 ... CLJf2+ 23.CLJxf2 ~xf2 27.CLJc4 ~c7
24.i.g5 CLJxd5 White's attempt to create There was a less complicated way to win
some counterplay by 25.CLJxb7? (better is after 27 ... ~d8! 28 ..sιb5 CLJg8!-+ with the
25.exd5 ~f5 26 ..sιd3 ~xc2 27.1ιχc2 .sιxc2 idea to transfer this knight by the route
28.J::tcl e4 29.CLJxb7 .sιb2+ Huzman) allows f6-g4 with a mating attack. Howeνer, the
Black to finish his mating attack: 25 ... J::tc8 position ofWhite's king is so weak now that
26.~b2 CLJf4 27 . .sιxf4 exf4 28.~d2 f3! there are surely many winning ways for
29.gxf3 i,e5-+. Black.
21 ...J::txf1+ 22.i.xf1 Uf8 23.i.g5? 28.i.b5 CLJg8 29.'it>gl CLJf6 30.Uf1 Mg4!
The decisiνe mistake. White oνerlooks Black wins another pawn. The rest was
Black's astonishing 24th moνe. Despite his simple, eνen though Black had to be quite
mistake οη the 20th moνe, White still could accurate.
maintain the balance by 23. ~e2! with the 31.~a2 CLJgxe4 32.CLJxe4 Uxe4 33.
idea that when the knight retreats by ~a5?! Mxc4 34. .sιxc4 ~xc4 35. ~d8+ CLJg8
23 ... CLJf6 he driνes away the queen by 36.~xd6 e4! 37.1:tel ~d4+ 38.ΦhΙ i,e5
24.~e3. Ιη case of 23 ... Mf2? Black might 39.~c5 e3 40.~xd4 i.xd4 41.d6 CLJf6
lose by an exchange: 24. ~el CLJh6 (24 ... CLJf6 42.g4 CLJxg4 43.d7 .ib6 44.Φg2 'it>g7
25.i,d3+- Δi.e3) and now 25.i,b5!, for ex- 45.Udl i.d8 46.ktd4 CLJf6 0-1
4 Α90 lems with his development.

Anand - Nikolic 11 ...b6
Round 2 16.01 11 ... b5 would not be as good because of
12 ..txd6 ~xd6 13.c5 ~e7 14.cuf4± to be
V. Anand: "Well, it wαs α nice win, Ι followed by an attack οη Black's weakened
think, it wαs quite eαsy for White to ρΙαΥ. Ι flank after cud3, a4.
guess 10.il.f4 wαs α new move here, but Ι 12.1Hcl SΙe7
wouldn't mαke α big deαl out of such α Ιη case of 12 . .. SΙh5 13.cxd5 cuxd5
nαturαl move. 11. ~b3 is nice, hitting the 14.CUe5 White would have gained a notice-
weαkpαwn." able advantage ίη the centre.
1.d4 f5 2.g3 cuf6 3.1ιg2 e6 4.c4 d5 13.cxd5 cuxd5
5.cuh3 c6 6.0-0 il.d6 7.~c2 0-0 8.cud2 il.d7 Perhaps it was worth to play 13 ... exd5
Apart from this development of the 14.CUe5 g5 15.il.d2 a5!t (15 ... CUe4 16.il.b4±;
queen's bishop, quite usual ίη this system, 15 ... ~d6 16.cud3 with the threat of il.b4),
also the following possibility deserved at- though the probleIll with the development
tention: 8 ... cubd7!? 9.cuf3 cuh5, not allow- of the queenside would have remained
ing the h3-knight to enter the play. anyway.
9.cuf3 il.e8 14.1ιd2
It is rather difficult for Black to take Preparing an activization of the h3-
the initiative in this variation. For ex- knight (cuh3-f4) to reinforce the pressure
ample: 9 ... CUe4 10.CUe5 il.e8 11.cud3 cud7 οη Black's position.
1-2.f3 cuef6 13 ..1f4 (White's wish to ex- 14... g5
change the dark-squared bishops is typi- Resulting in a weakening of the king-
cal ofthe Stone Wall) 13 ... ~e7 14.c5 1ιb8 side. Ιη case of 14 ... il.d6 15.cuf4 ~f6t
15. ~c3 h6 16. ~b4 t with a strong initia- Black's position would be more defensible,
tive οη the queenside and an advantage ίη though still unpleasant.
the centre, Efimov - Kovacevic, Formia 15.CUe5 a5
1995. Ιη case of 15 ... il.f6 White's response
10.SΙf4 would be the same: 16.e4.
The most natural continuation with the
idea to make use of the weakness of dark
squares in the opponent's camp.
10... h6
Black maintains the possibility of an
active g7-g5, but following events will
show that he οηlΥ weakens his kingside
this way. 10 ... 1ιh5 deserved attention here,
although after 11.SΙxd6 ~xd6 12.cue5t
White would have saved his f3-knight
from an exchange, and, as soon as he acti-
vated the h3-knight, he would gain an
advantage ίη the centre owingto the weak- 16.e4!
ness ofBlack's dark squares. White's advantage in space and devel-
11.~b3 opment, as well as the presence of weak
Attacking Black's queenside, while points in his opponent's position, allow him
there is ηο bishop οη c8 and the knight is to proceed to decisive actions.
undeveloped. Ιn case of 11.1ιχd6 ~xd6 16... fxe4 17.1ιχe4 .a:a7
12.cuf4 cubd7t Black would have less prob- Feeling that the play is going to open
Corus 19
up. and White's attack οη the kingside is ness ofthe kingside light squares ίη Black's
inevitable, Black transfers the queen's position. Black should be very careful. 80,
rook to this flank. Ιη case of 17 ... iιf6 18.f4 there was ηο sen"e ίη 24 ... i.xd4 25. ~h3
. also a gradual reinforcement of pressure i.xb2 26.1:!.d1 i.d4 27 ..:td3 to be followed
by 18.1:!.e1 was possible to be followed by by I:ta-d1 and 1:!.g3 with a fatal attack. The
~a-d1, f4 with an attack) 18 ... gxf4 19. \t>h1 line 24 ... a4 25.'§h3 a3 26.b3 (better than
\Yhite's initiative would develop similarly 26.bxa3 1:!.xa3 27.'§g2 1:!.g7 with unclear
το the game. play) 26 ... iιxd4 27 ..ί:ld1± looked somewhat
18.f4 gxf4 19.\t>h1 better, though White's initiative still would
Preparing to take οη f4 with the knight: be stable and dangerous. The move ίη the
of course, an immediate 19.CLJxf4?? was bad game gave White a decisive advantage.
because of 19 ... lLJxf4. 25.'§h3 klf6 26.~c3 '§xd4 27.'§g2
19 ... i.f6 20.CLJxf4 '§d6 Threatening with l:ld3.
Ιη case of 20 ... lLJxf4 21.i.xf4 '§xd4 27 ... .ί:ld7 28.~gl
22.~xe6+ \t>h8 23.lLJf3 ~d7 24. '§b3± Black White's attack is developing as ifby it-
hardly could have avoided materiallosses. self. 28 ..ί:ld3?! '§c5 would be not so good
21.lLJfg6 here.
After 21.lLJc4 '§d7 22.CLJxb6 lLJxb6 23. 28 ... b5 29.Mg3
~xb6 1:!.b7 24. ~xa5 ~xd4fZ Black still Now the threat is lLJe5.
would have a certain counterplay. 21.1:!.e1 29 ... '§a7 30.lLJe5 .ί:le7 31.'§d2
deserved attention, preparing an active 31.iιxc6+- waf. possible to be followed
play. by iιd7, blocking υρ the 7th rank.
21 ... i.xg6 22.lLJxg61:!.ff7 23.i.f4 31 ... '§c732.Md3
White continues his attack, though af- Black still has other weak points apart
ter 23.i.xd5!? ~xd5+ αη case of 23 ... exd5 from the g-file and light squares, namely
24.i.f4 ~d8 25. '§d3 the c6-pawn would the d-file, the b8-knight and the back
perish. Also 25.~xb8!? ~xb8 26.1:!.xc6 rank.
would be possible.) 24. ~xd5 exd5 25.~f4 32 ...1:!.e8 33.1:!.d6
~ab7 26.lLJe5± he could have achieved an 33.iιxc6 1:!.ef8 34. ~g2+- looked nice to
endgame with numerous weak points in be followed by .ϊ::ί.d7.
Black's position: the .b8-knight, pawns οη 33 ... c5 34.CLJg4 ~ίί8 35.CLJxh6+ \t>h8
c6 and h6. 36.CLJg4 .ί:!.d8 37.'§g2! Mxd6 38.'§h3+ Φg8
23 ... lLJxf4 24.gxf4 39.'§h7+ Φπ 40.~g6+ 1-0
5 D37
Κramnik - Short
Round 3 18.01
Kramnik: "[ played α good game and

managed to get an advantage from the
opening. After ~b3 Short had problems.
'§b6 was α mistake; he probably overlooked
the strong tactical blow Jιg5 and after that
[ played very precisely. He had not real
24 ... i.g7? chance to save the game."
The presence of the opposite-coloured l.lLJf3 d5 2.d4 lLJf6 3.c4 e6 4.lLJc3 iιe7
bishops οη the board emphasizes the weak- 5.iιί4 ο-ο 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 iιxc5 8.cxd5
The chiefidea ofthis continuation is to the idea of d5-d4, for example 12.0-0 d4
preνent Black's actiνity, and it proνides 13.e4 i.g4 14.h3 ~f6!? 15.i.h2 i.xf3
White with a slight but lasting adνantage 16.~xf3 ~xf3 17.gxf3 CLJa5ro with an un-
owing to Black's isolated pawn. Α νery clear play, Saloν - Beliaνsky, Linares 1992.
sharp plan with castling queenside and an 12.0-0 i.f6
attack οη the kingside is more popular ίη 12 ... i.e6 was possible, fortifying the
this νariation, for example: 8. ~c2 CLJc6 (af- centre.
ter 8 ... dxc4 9.i.xc4 CLJbd7 10.0-0 ~e7 11.e4 13.~b3
e5 12 ..tg5 CLJb6 13.CLJd5 CLJbxd5 14.i.xd5;t The alternatiνe plan of deνeloping
White gained a more actiνe position ίη the White's initiatiνe was 13.l:tc1 .te6 (after
game Kramnik - Andersson, Monaco 13 ... .txb2?! 14.i.xh7+ ΦΧh7 15.~c2+ Wg8
1997)9.a3 ~a5 10.0-0-0 i.e7 11.g4 dxc4 16. ~xb2± White's adνantage would be ob-
(11 ... l:td8 12.h3 a6 13.CLJd2 e5?! 14.g5 CLJe8 νious) 14.b4 a6 15.1::i.c5!? (preparing an at-
15.CLJb3 ~b6 16.CLJxd5± Speelman - Short, tack οη the queenside by ~b1, 1::i.fc1, a4,
London 1988) 12 ..txc4 e5 13.g5 exf4 b5) 15 ... g6 (15 ... .te7 16.~c2 k!c8 17.CLJe5;t)
14.gxf6 i.xf6 15.nd5 ~c7 16 ..uh5 g617.1::i.g1 16.~b1 ~e7 (16 ... .tg4 17.l:td1! i.xf3
CLJe7 18.CLJe4 ~b6 19.~b5 ~c6 20.CLJe5 ~xe5 18.gxf3 i.e7 19.k!c2 .td6 20.i.xd6 ~xd6
2U::txe5~, White's initiatiνe ίη the centre 21.~e4±) 17 ..1::tfc1 t, proνiding quite an easy
and οη the kingside is a fair compensation method for White's play οη the queenside,
for the pawn, Bagaturoν - Vaganian, M.Gureνich - Peelen, Netherlands 1998.
Vissingen 1999. 13 ... ~b6?
8 ...CLJxd5 Α doubtful idea. At the cost ofthe pawn
As a rule, exchanges are beneficial for Black hopes to make use ofthe insufficient
the defending side. After 8 ... exd5 White defence ofWhite's queenside and his hang-
would be able to deνelop his pieces conνe ing pieces οη the d-file. But Short seems
niently and fix up Black's isolated pawn, not to haνe taker: into consideration the
so that to play against it later οη, for ex- danger, connected with the weakness ofthe
ample: 9.~e2 CLJc6 10.0-0 i.e6 1U::tc1 i.b6 important squares f7 and h7 ίη his camp,
12.CLJb5 CLJe4 13.CLJbd4 i.d7 14.CLJxc6 i.xc6 as well as the underdeνelopment ofhis own
15.b4 a616.a4 ~e8 17.a5 i.a7 18.CLJd4 i.a4 queenside. Black tried here 13 ... g6, block-
19. ~d3;t Κengis - Boensch, Germany 1999. ing up the b1-h7 diagonal, but after
9.CLJxd5 exd5 10.a3 14.l:tad1 CLJa5 (ίη case of 14 ... ~b6 White
White does not want to allow a check could haνe played 15. ~xb6 axb6 16.l:td2
from b4 which will cost him a castling and with a stable adνantage ίη the endgame
tries to win back the tempo with his 11th owing to White's better pawn structure.
moνe. Howeνer, it would be not at all so The line 15. ~xd5 ~xb2 16.l:td2 ~c3100ked
bad: after 10.i.d3 ~b4+ 11.We2 CLJc6 not as clear) 15.~a4 .te6 16.~h6 l:te8
12. ~c2 g6 13.a3 .te7 14.h3 .tf6 15.klac1 17.~b5l:te7 18 ..tg5;t White gained an ad-
a5 16.l:thdH White managed to imitate the νantage owing to the superior actiνity of
castling and gained a stable adνantage ίη his pieces, Van der Sterren - Boensch,
the game I.Sokoloν - Van der Sterren, Munich 1992.
Rotterdam 1997. 14.~xd5!
10... CLJc6 11.i.d3 Α fundamental and strong moνe! Bet-
Threatening with i.xh7, ~c2+ and ter than 14. ~xl'6 axb6 15.l:tab1 1ιe6
~xc5, so Black has to spend a tempo to 16 ..tc7 i.d8 17 ..td6, because ίη this line
defend against this threat. White's chances to win would be less than
11 ... ~e7 ίη the game.
Also 11 ... i.b6 deserνed attention with 14... l:td8
Corus 21
Black has nο time to win back the ma- ίnthis line as well.
terial, because after 14 .. .'~xb2? 15.~ab1 19... Sιxg5
~c3 (15 ... ~xa3 16.Sιxh7 It>xh7 17.Sιd6+-) Ιn case of 19 ... Φχf7 20.1::tab1 ~xa3
16.1:ιfc1 ~xa3 17.Sιxh7+ ι;t>xh7 18.Sιd6+ 21.Sιxf6 ktd6 22 ..1ιe5 White's attack οn
White would simply win. dark squares would deνelop without any
15.~e4 g6 problems.
The moνe 15 ... h6 (hoping to ensnare 20.CΔxg5 ~f6
White's queen) was also losing because of Ιn case of 20 ... CΔe5 White would win
16. ~h7 + Φf8 17 .1::tad1 ~xb2 18 ..1ιe4 to be after 21.Sιe6.
followed by .1ιd6. 21.e4 J1d4
16.Sιg5! Αn attempt to display an actiνity by
White makes use of the weakening of 21 ... CΔd4 22.f4 CΔc2 23.1::tac1 CΔxa3 (23 ... CΔe3
Black's kingside without fail. 24.e5 ~f5 25.Iιc7+-) 24.e5 ~f5 25.~c7+
16... ~xb2 did not work as well. ΑΠ White's pieces are
The weakness of Black's king and un- engaged ίn the attack, and Black's king is
happy position ofhis pieces do not let him actually protected only by the queen.
play 16 ... Sιf5. Mter 17.~h4 Sιxd3 (17 ... 22.1::tael
Sιxg5 18.CΔxg5+-) 18.i..Χf61:ιd6 19.1::tfd1 +- Νο 22.f4? because of !txe4!.
White would go through the complications 22 ... Sιd7
with a material adνantage. Νο 22 ... Sιf5 23. ~g3 Sιxe4 24.CΔxe4 ~xf7
17.Sιc4 Φg7 25.CΔg5+-.
There was nο 17 ... Sιf5? 18.~h4 !td6 23.f4 1::tf8 24.Sιa2
(18 .. .'~g719.e4+-) 19.e4 i..c8 20.~ab1 ~c3 Αstraight-forward 24.e5 ~e7 25.e6+-
21.~fc1+-. was possible already.
18.~h4 h5 24 ... ~d6
Neither 18 ... !td6 19.~f4 !td7 20.i..h6+ Well, Black has made a certain progress
Φg8 21.!tab1 ~c3 22.J1fc1+-, nor (he has engaged the queen's rook ίn the
18 ... i..f5 19.e4+- could haνe saνed play), but his position still remains losing,
Black. Now a beautiful strike comes. because ίn case of24 ... 1::td2 there is a simple
25 ..1ιd5+-.
25.ΦhΙ ~xa3 26 •.1ιbΙ
The possibility of 26 ..1ιe6 deserνed at-
tention here.
26 ... ~e7
After 26 ... a5 27.e5 ~e7 28. ~g3 .1ιf5
29.CΔf3 1:ιΧf4 (29 ... 11b4 30.i.xf5 Mxf5
31.CΔh4+-) 30.~xf4 .1ιΧb1 31.~c4 i..f5
32.CΔd4 CΔxd4 33. ~xd4 White would haνe
to make more efforts to win.
27.~g3 Φh6
Black's last chance was 27 ... 1::th8!? 28.e5
19.i..xf7! (28.CΔf3 h4 29.~f2 Ii.b4 30. ~d2±) 28 ... h4
There was also a more prosy method: 29. ~e3, although White most likely would
19.1lab1 i..xg5 (19 ... ~c3 20.11fc1 i..xg5 haνe won this position too. But now his
21.CΔxg5 ~f6 22.i..xf7+-; 21 ... ~xa3 22. knight joins the attack and decides the
CΔxf711f8 23. ~f4+-) 20.CΔxg5 ~xa3 21.CΔxf7 game.
!tf8 (21 ... Iιd2 22.~f4+-) 22.~f4+-. Black's 28.CΔf3 1::tb4 29.CΔh4!
pieces would not be able to help his king Black is unable to protect his king's last
pawn bulwark, the g6-pawn. 14.hxg5! hxg5 15.~5 ttΊxe5 (15 ... ~a5 16.b3
29 ... iιe8 ttΊxe5 17.iιxg5 ttΊtd7 18. ~e2 ~g8 19.~h4
29 ... ~ί? 30.e5+-; 29 ... :ϊg8 30.ttΊf5+ iιxf5 ..th6+ 20.g5 J:Ixg5 21.f4 J:Ig7 22.Φb1 iιxf4
31.exf5+-. 23.iιxe6 fxe6 24.~h5+- Kolev - Iglesias,
30.e5 ~xbl 31.~xbl ttΊd4 32.~g5+! Barcelona 2000) 16.iιxg5 Ug8 17.ttΊb6 ttΊc4
1-0 18.ttΊxc4 dxc4 19.iιxf6 ~xf6 20.ttΊxe6 iιh6
ΑηΥ further opposition was senseless: (20 ... fxe6?? 21.~d7#; 20 ... ~xb2+ 21.Φχb2
32 ... ~xg5 33.fxg5+ Φg7 34.~xb7+ Φg8 c3+ 22.Φb3 cxd2 23.ttΊc7+-) 21.g5 fxe6
35.~f6+- 22.~d7+ Φf8 23.gxh6+- Kasparov - Wojt-
kiewicz, Kopavogur 2000.
14 ... gxh4?
6 Β80 Bad is also 14 ... dxe4 15.hxg5 exf3
Kasparov - Van Wely 16.iιxf3 iιxf3 17.ttΊxf3 ttΊxg418 ...td4~ with
Round 3 18.01 an attack, but after 14 ... Ug8! (now 15 ... de
is threatening) 15.hxg5 hxg5 it is White
l.e4 c5 2.ttΊf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.ttΊxd4 who should play accurately to maintain the
ttΊf6 5.ttΊc3 a6 6.iιe3 e6 7.f3 b5 8.g4 h6 balance, for example: 16.e5 (16.iιxg5
9.~d2 ttΊbd7 10.0-0-0 iιb7 11.h4 b4 ~a5(Z) 16 ... ttΊxe5 17 ...txg5 ttΊe4! 18.iιxd8
12.ttΊa4 d5?! ttΊxd2 19.iιc7 ttΊdc4 20.ttΊb6 ttΊxb6 21.iιxe5
It seems that Van Wely himself con- ttΊc4=
cluded finally that 12 ... d5 is too sharp and, 15.~xh4 dxe4
following Gelfand, switched to 12 ... ~a5!? The capture οη e4 after the preliminary
Mter 13.b3 ttΊc5 14.a3 the game Anand - 15 ... ~a5? 16.b3 dxe4 results ίη an imme-
Gelfand, Monaco 2000 continued by diate crush by 17.g5 ttΊd5 18.ttΊxe6 fxe6
14 ... ~c8!? (with the threats of 15 ... d5, 19.fxe4+-. After 15 ... ttΊxe4? White can sac-
15 ... e5, 15 ... ttΊb3) 15.~xb4 ~c7 16.ttΊxc5 rifice an exchange: 16.fxe4 ~xh4 17.exd5
(White was defeated ίη the game De La e5 (17 ... exd5? does not work because of
Riva - Van Wely, Mondariz 2000 after 18.iιxd5! iιxd5 19.ttΊf5 ~d8 20.~xd5+-),
16.Φb1 ttΊfd7 17.ttΊb2 d5 18. ~e1 dxe4 and now the knight comes under an attack:
19.iιc4 e5 20.ttΊf5 g6=t=) 16 ... dxc5 17.~a4+ 18.ttΊe6! It can't be captured because of
ttΊd7 18.ttΊe2 c4 19.b4 (19.~xc4?! iιxa3+ 18 ... fxe6 19.dxe6 ttΊf6 20.iιxb7+-, and af-
20.Φb1 ~xc4 21.bxc4 ~xc4=t=) iιc6 20.~xa6 ter 18 ... ~c8 White assails the king with
~a8 21. ~xc4 ~xa3 22.iιf4 ~b7(Z with all his might: 19.ttΊb6 ttΊxb6 20.d6! (20.
counterplay. Tiviakov tried to reinforce iιxb6 iιd6 21.ttΊg7+ Φf8 22.ttΊf5 ~f6)
White's play here, but without any particu- 20 ... fxe6 21.iιxb6 'Iitd7 22.iιxb7 ~b8
lar success: 19.bxc4 iιc6 20. ~b3 (20. ~xa6? 23.~xb4+-
a,a8-+) 20 ... ttΊc5 21.iιxc5 iιxc5~ Ti viakov 16.g5
- Van Wely, Rotterdam 2000. Black be- Mter Black's mistake οη the 14th move
lieves ίη positional compensation for his Kasparov's launches a headlong attack.
two pawns. 16 ... ttΊd5
13.iιh3 g5 Ιη case of 16 ... exf3 17.ttΊxf3 ttΊd5 (17 ...
Now 13 ... ~a5 comes too late as White ttΊe4? 18.~d4 ~g8 19.~xe4+-) 18.iιd4~
showed ίη the game Korneev - Van Wely, Black's king is comfortless as well.
Spain 1998: 14.b3 g5 15.hxg5 hxg5 16.e5! 17 .~xe4 hxg5
ttΊxe5 17.iιxg5t with initiative. Ιη case of 17 ... ttΊxe3 there is a thematic
14.iιg2 blow 18.ttΊxe6! fxe6 (18 ... iιxe4 19.ttΊxd8
Kasparov's 'home laboratory' soon pro- ttΊxd1 20.ttΊxf7+-) 19.~xe6+ <JJf7 20.~xe3,
vided this position with correct solution: winning the game. White's task might be
Corus 23
more difficult ίη case of 17 .. .'~a5!? Also 21.lΔxe6 1ιχe4 (21 ... fxe6 22 . .ί::txe6+ cJi;f7
after the standard 18.lΔxe6 fxe6 19.1:ιχe6+ 23.kIxf6+-) 22.1ιχe4 1:tc8 23.lΔxf8 '§xa4
cJi;f7 White wins both by 20. '§d3 cJi;e6 24.1ιίΕ+-; 19 ... e5 20.lΔb3 '§b5 (20 ... '§xa4
21. '§e4, and by 20. '§d4, for example 21.1:!.xe5+ lΔxe5 22.1ιχd5+-) 21.fxe5 '§xa4
20 ... '§xa4 21. '§e4 lΔe7 (21 ... 1ιg7 22.!lxd5 22.e6 lΔ7f6 (22 ... fxe6 23.!lxe6+ cJi;f7 24.
1ιχd5 23.g6+-) 22.g6+ cJi;g8 23. '§xb7+-; or 1ιχd5+-) 23.1ιχf6 lΔxf6 24 ..ί::tf4+-
20 ... 1ιg7 21. '§e4 '§xa4 22.!lxd5 !lhc8 20.lΔxe6!
23.!le7+-; or 20 ... Φχe6 21.'§e4+ (21.1ιh3+ It is easy to make this move at home,
<Jie7 22.1ιχd7 <Jixd7 23.lΔb6+ <Jic7 24.'§c4+ while staring at your monitor. Well, any of
1ιc6 25.!lxd5 '§xb6 26.1ιχb6+ cJi;xb6 27. the participants of the main tournament
'§d4+ cJi;c7 28.!lf5+-) 21 ... lΔe5 (21 ... Φf7 ίη Wijk aan Zee would find the move
22.g6+ <Jig7 23. '§e6+-) 22.1ιh3+ <Jid6 22. '§d3, the point of the whole combina-
23.1ιc5+ '§xc5 24.lΔxc5 <Jixc5 25.1ιe6+-. tion, without fail.
This move clearly helps White to tighten 20 ... fxe6
the mating net around the black king. White wins easily after 20 ... 1ιe7 21.
18.1ιχg5 ~a5 lΔg7+ cJi;f8 22 ..Il.xe7+ cJi;xg7 (22 ... lΔxe7
If Van Wely knew what was going to 23.I:txe7+-) 23 ..1:lg1 +-
happen to him just ίη several moves, he 21.!lxe6+ cJi;f7
might have preferred 18 ... '§xg5!? 19.'§xg5 21 ... 1ιe7 22.I:txe7 +-
.Il.h6 20.lΔxe6! 1ιχg5+ (20 ... fxe6 21.!f.xe6+ 22.'§d3!
cJi;f7 22.1:txh6+-) 21.lΔxg5+ cJi;f8 22.1ιh3. Of Αη impressive attacking move, Black's
course, Black's position is not sugar, but king is suddenly very lonesome ίη the face
still. .. ofnumerous white pieces.
22 ... 1ιg7
22 ... ~xe6 23.1ι~{d5+ 1ιχd5 24.'§g6+ lΔf6
25. '§xf6+ cJi;d7 26.Ϊ1Χd5+ '§xd5 27.lΔb6+-
23.,§f5+ cJi;g8
23 ... lΔ7f624.1ιχf6+-
24.!lxd5 ~xa4 25.!le7 1-0
7 Α34
Lputian - Leko
Round 4 19.01
19.f4! l.lΔf3lΔf6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5lΔxd5

Α very strong move. Most likely Van 5.1ιg2 lΔc6 6.lΔc3
Wely overlooked it ίη his calculations, but White could have tried to open υρ the
Kasparov didn't. Now White's οηlΥ passive play ίη the centre by 6.d4 (ίη order to profit
piece, the g2-bishop, is activated. Right from the insufficient support of the d5-
now there is ηο sacrifice οη e6: 19.1Δxe6? knight), but the endgame after 6 ... cxd4
fxe6 20.!f.xe6+ <Jif7-+ 7.lΔxd4lΔdb4 8.lΔxc6 '§xd1+ 9.cJi;xd1lΔxc6
19... .ί:ι.h2 10.1ιχc6+ bxc6 11.1ιe3= would not be dan-
Black's position is already losing as the gerous for Black despite the weakness οη
following variations show: c6, thanks to his bishop pair.
19 ... '§xa4 20.lΔxe6 fxe6 21 ..ί::txe6+ lΔe7 6 ... lΔc7
(21 ... Φf7 22.1ιχd5+-) 22.1ιχb7lΔc5 23. '§d5 ΒΥ this manoeuvre Black prepares the
lΔxe6 24. '§xe6+-; 19 ... lΔ7f6 20.1ιχf6 lΔxf6 advance e7-e5.
7.d3 e5 8.lZJd2 iιd7 9.0-0 1ιe7 10.lZJc4 with an attack) 18.iιxf4lZJxa5 19.e3t with
f6 threats from both flanks.
The other opportunity was 10 ... 0-0, giv- 15.gxf4
ing υρ the e5-pawn after the preliminary There was an opportunity of 15.lZJc4!?
exchange οη c6 for the advantage of hav- lZJxb5 16.axb5 lZJd4 17.J::txa7 itg4?! (better
ing a bishop pair and forcing a certain would be 17 ... lZJxb5! 18.Mb7 fxg3 19.iιf4!
weakening ofWhite's kingside. gxh2+ 20.SΙxh2~, the activity of White's
11.f4 b5 12.lZJe3 J:ιc8 position is a fair compensation for Black's
Black prefers to suspend ίη the centre, two extra pawns) 18.Mf2! ο-ο 19.b6!t with
removing the rook from the diagonal, oc- a perceptible initiative οη the queenside,
cupied by the g2-bishop. Also there was a Lautier - Leko, Batumi 1999, as well as
fundamental line 12 ... exf4 13.lZJf5!? b4!? 15.J::txf4!? lZJe6 16.lZJf5 ο-ο 17.J::te4 Φh8
14.lZJxe7 'li:!xe7 15.itxf4 bxc3 16.itxc7 Iιc8 18.1ιe3t. exerting pressure υροn the cen-
17.itf4 cxb2 18.Mb1°o with an unclear ρο tre, Granda Zuniga - Illescas Cordoba,
sition, Akopian - Leko, Ubeda 1997. Madrid 1998.
13.a4
Defining the queenside pawn structure.
Pressing οη Black's central pawns with
pieces made ηο sense here, for example:
13.lZJf5 ο-ο 14.lΔxe7+ 'li:!xe7 15.f5 a.fd8
16.ite3lΔd4 17.g4 SΙe8 18.MC1 itfΊ 19.'li:!d2
c4~ Hickl- Almasi, Melk 1999 or 13.fxe5
lΔxe5 14.lΔf5 ο-ο 15.~h1 Me8 16.lZJe4 itc6
17 ...1ιf4 itf800 Illescas Cordoba - Topalov,
Linares 1994. Ιη both lines Black's posi-
tion ίη the centre was not worse at least.
13 ...b4
Creating a strong base for White's 15 ... lΔxb5!?
knight after c4, and seizing more space οη Mter 15 ... a616.lZJxc7+ 'li:!xc7 17.lZJc4 (ίη
the queenside at the same time. Not so case of 17.lZJd5 lZJa5 18.a5 'li:!d8 the c1-
good was 13 ... a6?! 14.axb5 axb5 15.lZJed5 bishop would be e]iminated from the play)
lΔxd5 16.lZJxd5 ο-ο 17.J::ta6t with White's 17 ... 0-0 18.itd5+ ~h8 19.e4 SΙd6 20.iιe3
considerable initiative οη the queenside, lZJa5°o there was an unclear position ίη the
Kochyev - Forintos, Budapest 1978. game Bellon - Izeta, Spain 1989.
14.lZJb5 16.axb5lZJd4 17.J::txa7lZJxb5 18.J::ta6
Ιη principle, to exchange the c7-knight White is trying to gain the most from
which defends the light squares ίη the cen- his control over the a-file, but he forgets
tre is a correct decision. This could have that Black's pieces are active enough to
been performed as follows: 14.lZJcd5 ο-ο resist his straight threats. Ιη case of 18.J::tb7
15.lΔc4!? exf416.lΔxc7 'li:!xc717.itxf4lΔe5?! Mc7 19.J::txc7 'li:!xc7 20.lZJd5 'li:!d6 21.lZJxe7
18 ...1ιχe5! fxe5 19.iιd5+ ~h8 20.!ixf8+ J::txf8 Wxe7 White would have ηο opportunity to
21.'li:!d2 ..1ιh3 22.'li:!e3t with a slight advan- make use ofBlack's inability to castle. Per-
tage owing to the weakness oflight squares haps 18.Iιa1 better was.
ίη Black's position, Granda Zuniga - 18... 0-0 19.f5
Estremerd Panos, Leon 1997. Mter 19.1ZJc4 itg4 or 19.1ZJd5 1ιg4 Black
14 ... exf4 would have time to create counter threats.
Better than 14 ... a6 15.lΔxc7+ 'li:!xc7 19... lZJd4 20.J::tf4
16.lΔd5 'li:!d817.a5t exf4 (17 ... lΔxa5? 18.fe5 White could have gained a stable posi-
Corus 25
tion ίη the centre by 20 ..Il.b7!? ~b8 21 ..Il.d5+
~h8 22 ..Il.d2 'ff:Ic7 23.tΔc4.
20 ... Φh8
Αη important prophy1actic move, pre-
paring the forthcoming p1ay οη 1ight
squares.
21. 'ff:If1 .Il.b5
The unhappy position ofthe rook οη a6
begins to tell.
22.~a7?!
White goes οη p1aying active1y, but now
the rook suffers straight b1ows. Better was 25 ... tΔc2!
22.~al ~d6 (22 ... lbb3?! 23 . .Il.d5 lbxal The position of the rook οη a 7 tells οη.
24.~h4 h6 25. 'ff:Ih3 ~h7 26.tΔg4 'ff:Ixd5 26.1:ta8
27.~xh6+ gxh6 28. 'ff:Ixh6+ 'ίt>g8 29. 'ff:Ig6=; 26.1:txc4 was 10sing at once because of
22 ... 'ff:Id7!?) 23.~g4 'ff:Id7+, a1though White 26 ... lbxe3-+
wou1d be forced to switch to defence any- 26 ... ~xί4!
way. There was 26 ... 'ff:Ixa8 27.SΙxa8 tΔxe3
22 ... c4! 28.'ff:If3 ~cl+ 29.\1;;>f2 ~c5 with multiple
Opening up the a7-g1 diagona1 and threats, but the move ίη the game was even
breaking the pawn chain c4, d3. B1ack's simpler.
pieces begin to dominate over the who1e 27.j,xf4 'ff:Id4+ 28.ΦhΙ
board. There was ηο use of28.e3lbxe3 29. ~xf8
23.dxc4 .ixf8 30 ..ixe3 'ff:Ixe3+ 31.~hl .Il.c5-+
Νο 23.~xd4 because of 23 ... 'ff:Ixd4 28 ... ~xa8 29.j,xa8 'ff:Ixb2
24.~xe7 cxd3 25 ..Il.d2 (25.exd3 'ff:Ic5-+) Now the passed b-pawn decides.
25 ... dxe2 26. 'ff:Iel ~fe8-+. 30. 'ff:Id 1
23 ....Il.xc4 30.e4 b3 31 ..Il.d5 'ff:Ic3-+
Ιη case of 23 ... .Il.c5 24.~xg7 (24.~b7 30 ...b3 31 ..Il.e4 'ff:Id4 32:~xd4
.ia6-+) 24 ... 'ίt>xg7 25.cxb5 lbxb5+ White 32 ..I1ιxc2 'ff:Ixf4 33 ..ixb3 'ff:Ie4+ 34.~gl
wou1d have got some chances to ho1d οη .Il.c5-+.
despite the 10ss of an exchange thanks to 32 ... lbxd4 33..Il.cl lbxe2 34.SΙb2 .Il.c5
the weakness of B1ack's dark squares and 35.j,d3lbd4 36.h3lbf3 37.SΙc4 .Il.d4 0-1
worsening of his king's position.
24.lbxc4?
8poi1ing White's position irreversib1y. 8 Ε07
White shou1d have p1ayed 24.~xd4 'ff:Ixd4 Κramnik - Lputian
25.~xe7 .ixe2 26. 'ff:Ixe2 (26. 'ff:Iel 'ff:Ic5 Round 5 20.01
27.'ff:Ixe2 'ff:Ixe7-+) 26 ... ~xcl 27 ..Il.fl, still
posing obstac1es to the further deve1op- l.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.lbf3 lbf6 4.tΔc3 ~e7
ment of B1ack's initiative. 80, ίη case of 5.g3lbbd7
an active 27 ... ~fc8 White wou1d have The a1ternative continuation was 5 ...
28.'ff:Ih5. ο-ο 6 ..Il.g2 dxc4 7.lbe5 lbc6 with a sharp
24 ... ~xc4 25 ..Il.e3 p1ay.
After 25.'ίt>hl ~xcl 26.'ff:Ixcl lbxe2 6.j,g2 ο-ο
27.'ff:Ie3 lbxf4 28.'ff:Ixf4 .ic5+ White wou1d Ιη case of 6 ... dxc4 after 7.lbd2 tΔb6
stay a pawn down and wjth hjs king 8.tΔxc4 tΔxc4 9. 'ff:Ia4 White might retul'll
underdefended. the materia1 and gain a more active posi-
tion. for the rook.

7.0-0 12 •.• SΙb7
White chooses a gambit continuation, Ιη case of 12 ... c5 13 ...\Η4 1::J:b7 14.1::J:fd1
hoping to increase his initiative owing to kιd7 15.dxc5 i.xc5 16.tLJe5 1::J:xd1+ 17.~xd1
the creation of a mobile pawn centre and ~e7 18.tLJc6 ~b7 19.tLJa5t White would
superior activity of his pieces. Other ορ take the initiative.
portunities were less committing: 7. ~b3 or 13.~dl i.b4 14.tLJe5 a5
7.b3. Although White's position appears very
7 ... dxc4 8.e4 a6 nice, Black shows there are problems to
Black is going to protect the c4-pawn be solved. 80, ifWhite wins back the pawn
by b7-b5, reserving a possibility to deliver οη c4, then his queen and knight will be
a strike ίη the centre by c7-c5 later. Α dif- situated οη the same diagonal, and Black
ferent plan ίη the spirit ofthe 81av Defence will make use of this fact.
was also possible: 8 ... c6!? 9.a4 e5!? 10.dxe5 15.tΞJa2
tLJg4 11.i.f4 ~a5 12.e6 fxe6 13.~e2 tLJge5 White failed to gain an advantage ίη
14.tLJd4 tLJd3! 15.tLJxe6 1::J:f6 16.i.c7 ~b4 following lines: 15.i.g5 h6 16.itf4 ~e7
17.tLJd4 i.c5!, Black took the initiative, 17.tLJa4 tLJxa4 18.1::J:xa4 c3 19.bxc3 i.xc3
Topalov - Kramnik, Linares 1997. Also 20.1::J:c4 i.b4 21.tLJc6 i.xc6 22.1::J:xc6 nfc8
Black could try an immediate blow ίη the 23.~c4~ Ulibin - Aseev, Elista 1994, as
centre by 8 ... c5 9.d5 exd510.exd5 (10.e5!?) well as 15.i.f4 tLJfd7 16.tLJf3 1::J:c8 17.tLJa2
10 ... tLJb6 11.tLJe5 i.d6 12.f4~ with White's SΙd6 18.i.d2 na8 19.tLJc3 i.b4 20.i.g5 ~c8
superior activity for the sacrificed pawn. 21.tLJa2 c5 22.nac1 cxd4 23.tΞJxb4 axb4
9.a41::J:b8 24.tLJxd4 ~c5 25.i.e3 ~e7 26.tLJb5~ 8katch-
8upporting the advance b7-b5. Mter kov - Brodsky, Russia 1998. Ιη both cases
9 ... c5!? 10.d5 exd5 11.exd5 (11.e5!?) White οηlΥ had a compensation for the
11 ... tLJb6 12.tLJe5 i.d6 13.f4 a5 14.h3 1::J:e8~ missing material.
Black organized a counterplay against 15 ...1::J:a8
White's centre ίη the game Mochalov - Also 15 ... i.e7 was possible, but Black
Nielsen, Minsk 1993. demonstrated he did not fear White's last
10.a5 move.
This way White decreases the efficiency 16.i.g5.iιe7
ofb7-b5, since resulting pawn weaknesses
οη Black's queenside has become conve-
nient targets for white pieces. Continuing
by 10.tLJd2 b5 would be not so good, for ex-
ample: 11.e5 tLJd5 12.i.xd5 exd5 13.tLJxd5
i.b714.tLJxe7+ ~xe715.tLJf3?! ~e6 16.i.e3?
~d5 0-1 Gruenberg - Stelting, Germany
1979.
10 ...b5 11.axb6 tLJxb6
The capture 11 ... cxb6?! looked doubtful,
because after 12.SΙf4 1::J:a8 13.d5!?S or
13.tLJd2 White would have a considerable
initiative due to his mobile pawn centre 17.tΞJxc4
and the threatening activity of his minor The immediate return ofthe pawn gives
pleces. Black an active play, as it happened ίη the
12.~e2 game. IfWhite activated his a2-knight by
Aiming at the c4-pawn and freeing d1 17.tΞJc3 (ίη order to stop Black's a-pawn),
Corus 27
then after 17 ... CL\fd7 18 ..ltxe7 'l:ixe7 19. haνe to equalize already. Howeνer, White
CL\xc4 .lta6 20.b3 'l:ib4~ Black would haνe could gain a great adνantage by 30 ..ι::i.c7!,
a real counterplay. depriνing Black's queen ofthe c6-square.
17 ... .lta6 18.b3 a4~ For example: 30 ... b4 (if30 ... 'l:ib8, then any-
Undermining the support of the c4- way 31.e6!) 31.'l:if5 'l:id8 (31 ... 'l:ib8 32.e6!)
knight and getting rid of a weak point. 32.e6 fxe6 33. 'l:ie6 'it>f8 34.gd7 .ltc8 35. 'l:if5
19..ltxf6 .ltf6 36. 'l:ic5 iιe7 37 .~xd8 iιxc5 38.gxe8
The initiatiνe is still White's, but he 'it>xe839.gcl±
must play νery accurately, so 19.CL\c3 would
be bad because of 19 ... axb3 20.~xa6 .1:txa6
21.CL\e5 'l:ia8-+
19 ... axb3
Ιη case of 19 ... .ltxf6 20.CL\b4 White's
knight would be actiνated. The moνe ίη the
game allows White to remoνe the queen
from under the binding.
20.'l:ig4 .ltxf6 21.CL\xb6 cxb6
An intermediate 21 ... .ι::i.b8 could haνe let
White deνelop a dangerous initiatiνe in the
position with opposite-coloured bishops
after 22.e5 .lte7 23.CL\b4!? (23.CL\a4 bxa2 30.e6!
24 ..ι::i.xa2 .ltc4oo) 23 ... .ltxb4 24 ..ι::i.xa6 .ι::i.xb6 Opening up the 7 tI1 rank and winning a
25 ..ι::i.xb6 cxb6 26.d5t tempo, thus increasing the power of the
22.e5 .lte7 23.d5 d7-rook.
After 23 ..ltxa8 'l:ixa8 24.CL\c3 b2 25 ..ι::i.ab1 30... fxe6 31 ..ι::i.c7 'l:id8?
(25 ..ι::i.a2 .ι::i.c8~) 25 ... 'l:ic6 26.CL\e4 .ltb7 27.f3 This major blunder loses Black's game.
~c2~ Black would haνe chances to create His excellent defence certainly deserνed a
counter threats owing to the weak position draw after 31 ... 'l:ia8! 32.'l:ia4 (32.'l:ie5 .ltf6
33.'l:ih5.ι::i.f8 34.'l:ig4 .lta1=) .ltf6 (32 ... 'l:id8?
of White's king, as well as his own strong
b2-pawn and bishop pair. 33.'l:ic6 .ltc8 34 ..ι::i.a8) 33 ..J:!.a7 (33.'l:ixa6?
23 ... exd5 24 ..ltxd5 bxa2 25 . .ι::i.xa2 .ltxa1 34 ..J:!.a7 'l:if3 35.'l:ixa1 e5+> 33 ... 'l:ic8
After 25 ..ltxf7+ .ι::i.xf7 26 ..ι::i.xd8+ .ι::i.xd8-+ (33 ... 'l:ixa7 34.'l:ixe8+ 'it>h7 35.'l:ixh5=)
Black would haνe many pieces against 34.'l:ixa6 .ltxa1 35.'l:ixa1 e5 36.'l:ib1 'l:ic6
White's queen. 37.'l:if5.ι::i.f8 38.'l:ixe5 'l:ic1+ 39.~g2 'l:ic6=.
25 ... 'l:ib8 26 ..ltxa8 'l:ixa8 27 . .ι::i.d7 32 ..ι::i.xa6.ι::i.f8 33.'l:ic4
27 ..ι::i.da1? 'l:ic8-T was losing. Now Black has ηο resources to oppose
27 ... h5! 28.'l:if4 to White's actiνe major pieces.
Black defends according to classical 33 ... 'l:id1+ 34.'l:if1 'l:ixf1+ 35.Φχf1.1tc5
patterns, trying to use eνery chance to take 36.f4 g5
the initiatiνe. 80, ίη case of28. 'l:ixh5 Black Other continuations did not promise
would continue by 28 ... 'l:ic6 29 . .ι::i.xe7 any better chances to escape: 36 ... e5
(29 . .ι::i.ad2 .ltb7 30.f3 g6 31. 'l:ig4 .ltc8) 37.gaa7; 36 ... .ltd4 37.~d7 .ltf6 (37 ... e5
29 ... 'l:ic1+ 30.~g2 .ltfl+ 31.~f3 'l:id1-+. 38.gaa7 ~h8 39.gxg7 exf4 40.ggf7 gxf7
28 ... .ι::i.e8 29 ..ι::i.al 'l:ic8! 41.gxf7 fxg3 42.hxg3+- to be followed by
After 29 ... b5 bad was 30. 'l:id4 (threat- .ι::i.f5) 38.l:Ixb6 e5 39.~e2 exf4 40.gxf4+-
ening with .ι::i.a7 and 'l:ib6) 'l:ic6 31 ..ι::i.xa6 37 ..ι::i.aa7 iιd4 38.gd7 .lth8 39 ..ι::i.a4 e5
'l:ixa6 32 ..ι::i.xe7 .ι::i.xe7 33.'l:id8+ 'it>h7 34.'l:ixe7 40.f5 .1:txf5+ 41.<.t>e2 .ltg7 42 . .1:ta6 b5
'l:ie6+ , and it would be White who would 43 ..ι::i.b6 g4 44.'it>e3 <.t>h7
After the rook exchange by 44 ... ~f'7 pair ofbishops.

45.l;Ixf'7 Φχf'7 46.Φe4 b4 (46 ... .tf6 47.Φf5) 11 ...Itg2
47.Φf5+- White would win easily as well. Ιη the game Beliavsky - Haba, Koszalin
45.Φe41::!.g5 46.nxb5 Φg6 47.~bb7 ..\tf6 1998 the position was unclear after 1.Ct:Jxe5
48.k!h7 h4 Ct:Jxe5 12.a5 f6 13.a6 ..\tc5 14 ...Itg2 ~d8
Mter 48 ... ~f5 49.~h6+ ΦΧh6 50.Φχf5+ 15. 'ffib3 b5 16 . ..Itxe5 fxe5 17 .0-0 ~d4
or 48 ... ..\td8 49.~bg7+ Φf6 50.~d7 Φg6 18.Macl 'ffib6 19.Ct:Je4 ..Ite7 20.Ct:Jc3 'ffixa6
51.~hg7+ Φh6 52.~gf7 .iιa5 (52 ... ~g8 21 ...\txc6+ 'ffixc6 22.Ct:Jxb5 'ffib6 23.Ct:Jxd4
53.~d6+ Φg5 54.nf5#; 52 ... Φg6 53.~f2 ..\ta5 exd4 24. 'ffid5~.
54 .na2+-) 53 .~f5+- White would exchange 11 ... g5
the rooks and win very easily. Trying to free from the ρίη by a tactical
49.~xh4 ..\tg7 50.~a7 1-0 trick, but weakening own kingside consid-
erably, as a result. 11 ... f6 the most ρορυ
lar continuation, though Black has ηο easy
9 D17 play after 12.0-0 anyway (also ίη the line
Kasparov - Morozevich 12.Ct:Jxe5 Ct:Jxe5 13.a5 a6 14.0-0 .iιd6 15.Ct:Je4
Round 5 20.01 .iιe7 16. 'ffib3 ..\tg6 17 .~fdl ..\tf'7 18. 'ffic3 ο-ο
19.Ct:Jg5!t Black had problems ίη the game
l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Ct:Jc3 Ct:Jf6 4.Ct:Jf3 dxc4 Van Wely - I.Sokolov, Rotterdam 1998)
5.a4 ..Itf5 6.Ct:Je5 Ct:Jbd7 7.Ct:Jxc4 'ffic7 12 ... Ct:Jc5 13.Ct:Je3 ..Ite6 14.b4 ~d8 15.'ffic2
The most popular continuation, prepar- Ct:Ja6 16.b5 Ct:Jb4 17. 'ffie4± White repelled the
ing e7-e5. Also an attempt to exchange opponent's threats and gained an advan-
White's active knight deserved attention: tage owing to his better development and
7 ... Ct:Jb6 8.Ct:Je5 e6 9.f3 Ct:Jfd7 10.a5 Ct:Jxe5 activity ofhis pieces, Anand - Morozevich,
11.axb6 Ct:Jd7 12.e4 .tg6 13.bxa7 (ίη case of Wijk aan Zee 2000.
13.~xa7 Ct:Jxb6 14.~xb7 ~al! Black could 12.Ct:Je3
have taken the initiative, for example: The most fundamental continuation,
15.Φf2 .iιd6 16.'ffib3 ~xcl 17.'ffixb6 ο-ο producing a position with opposite-
18.e5 'ffixb6 19 ..::;ιΧb6 ~b8 20.~xb8+ .iιxb8 coloured bishops and thus securing White
21.Ct:Je2 ~bl+ Lutz - Meduna, Porz 1988) a lasting initiative because of the weak-
13 ... 'ffib6 14 . ..Ite2 nxa7 15.~xa7 'ffixa7 ness of light squares ίη Black's position.
16 ...Ite3 e5 17.0-0 exd4 18 ...Itxd4 'ffixd4+ There was ηο advantage ίη case of 12 ..iιxe5
19. t~[Xd4 ..Itc5 20. 'ffixc5 Ct:Jxc5 21.b4 Ct:Jd7 Ct:Jxe5 13. 'ffid4 f6 (ηο 13 ... Ct:Jxc4 14. 'ffixh8
22.f4 f6 23.~al Φe7 24.Φf2 Φd6 25.h4..1tf7 0-0-0 15. 'ffif6±, Black has ηο compensation
26.Φe3 Ct:Jb6 27 ..td3 ~a8=. Black managed for the exchange) 14.0-0 ..\te7oo.
to hold οη ίη this slightly worse position, 12 ... gxf413.Ct:Jxf5 0-0-0 14.'ffic2 Ct:Jg4?!
Piket - Kobalija, Elista 1998. This activity gives nothing. It was bet-
8.g3 e5 9.dxe5 Ct:Jxe5 10 ...Itf4 Ct:Jfd7 ter to try to make use of the slight weak-
10 ... ~d8 was the other way to get rid of ening ofWhite's queenside by 14 ... ..\tb4. For
the ρίη along the b8-h2 diagonal, but af- example, 15.gxf4 Ct:Jc4 16.'ffib3 (16.e3 Ct:Jc5)
ter 11.'fficl .td6 (ηο 11 ... Ct:Jfd7? 12 ..iιxe5 16 ... ..\txc3+ 17. 'ffixc3 'ffixf4°o with an unclear
Ct:Jxe5, because after 13. 'ffif4! ..Itd6 14. 'ffixf5 position.
Ct:Jxc4 15. 'ffie4+ Ct:Je5 16.f4± Black would 15.a5 fxg3
suffer mateήaΙΙοsses inevitably) 12.Ct:Jxd6+ Ιη case of 15 ... a6 16.~a4 h5 17 .~xf4
'ffixd6 13 ...Itg2 a5!?(otherwise White would 'ffixa5 18.0-0± White would have a real
play a4-a5 himself, gaining more space οη advantage owing to opportunities to play
the queenside) 14.0-0 White would have against the opponent's weak points (pawns
gained a certain space advantage and a οη f'7, h5) immediately, and after 15 ... ..\tc5
Corus 29
16.0-0 (16/t"Je4 iιb4+) 16 ... fxg3 17.hxg3 a6 27.iιf3 J::'!xh4 28.J::'!xh4 ~bI29.1:.hl ~dl
(17 ... iιxf2+ 18 ..:::!.xf2 CLJxf2 19.Φχf2t) 18. Mter 29 ... ~f5 30.b4± Black would haνe
4Je4t White's knights could haνe occupied ηο counterplay as well, but his defensiνe
νery strong and safe stands. resources would not be so poor.
16.hxg3 a617.J;ίa4 4Jdf618.4Je4 4Jxe4 30.1:.xdl ~xdI31.b4 ~c7 32.~c5 ~d6
Black's wish to exchange a pair of Αη exchange of"the queens was obliga-
knights is quite natural, but maybe it was tory, otherwise White's queen would haνe
worth to suspend it for a while by 18 ... come to e7 or f8, and Black would be un-
4Jd5!? 19.iιh3 4Je5!? (19 ... iιb4+?! 20.~xb4 able to protect the f6-pawn.
4Jxb4 21. ~c5t) 20.~fit, although the less 33. ~xd6+ ~xd6 34.iιe4 4Jc4
νulnerable position ofWhite's minor pieces Α bishop has a decisiνe adνantage oνer
would giνe an adνantage to him ίη this a knight ίη such positions with uneνen
position too. quantities ofpawns οη flanks.
19.iιxe4 h5 20.Φf1 ~b8 21.~g2 iιe7 35.iιd3 4Jb2 36.f4 4Jdl
The possibility of 21 ... 4Jf6!? 22.iιf3 36 ... c5 37.bxc5+ Φχc5 38.g4T -
~e5t deserνed attention, keeping the ορ 37.g4 4Je3+ 38.Φf3 4Jd5 39.Φe4 4Jxb4
posite-coloured bishops οη the board. 40.iιc4 c5 41.g5 fxg5 42.fxg5 ~e7 43.Φf5
22.4Jxe7 ~xe7 23.iιf3 4Je5?! 4Jc2 44.Φe5 4Je3 45.iιe6 c4 1-0
80 far there was ηο necessity to giνe up Both 46.g6 and 46.Φe4 were winning
the pawn. Better was 23 ... ~e6 24.~c3 (ηο here.
24.J;ίxh5 J;ίxh5 25.iιxg4 ~d5+ 26.e4 ~c5
27.J;ίc4 ~xa5 28.iιxh5 ~xh5p) 24 ... f6
25.J;ίd4t, eνen though ίη this line Black 10 Cll
would haνe to yield the d-file to White, Anand - Korchnoi
allowing him to deνelop his actiνity oνer Round 6 22.01
the whole board.
24.iιxh5 ~e6 V.Anand: "ΜΥopponent plαyed 15 ...
iιxg2. Ι mαde ιωme moues αnd thαt wαs it.
If lle llαdn't tαken, the gαme would hαue
just begun. Ι hαd some ideαs with g4 αnd
White wαs fine."
l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.4Jc3 4Jf6 4.iιg5 dxe4
5.4Jxe4 4Jbd7 6.4Jf3 iιe7 7.4Jxf6+ iιxf6
8.h4 h6 9.iιxf6 4Jxf6
This moνe allows White to deνelop com-
fortably and then, relying οη his adνan
tage ίη the centre, to arrange an attack οη
the kingside. Black's h6-pawn facilitates
opening up of the position after a possible
25.~c3!± g2-g4-g5. This is why 9 ... ~xf6 deserνed
Α strong moνe, as the queen fulfils both attention, keeping the knight οη d7 ίη or-
attacking and defensiνe functions οη c3. der to perform thE freeing adνance e6-e5,
25 ... f6 26.J;ίah4 ~f5 for example: 10.~d2 ο-ο!? (10 ... c5 11.0-0-
Bad was 26 ... J;ίd6? 27.iιg4+-. Ιn case of Ο ο-ο 12.iιb5!? cxd4 13. ~xd4 ~xd4
26 ... J;ίhg8 27.iιf3 4Jxf3 28. ~xf3 .:::!.d5 14.J;ίxd44Jf6 15.4Je5 a6 16.iιe2 b5 17.iιf3t
29.J;ίh8± White would haνe not οηlΥ an Arancibia - Dumas Aνiles, Esucomex 1998)
extra pawn, but also a more actiνe posi- 11.0-0-0 e5 12.dxe5 (12. ~e3 exd4 13.J;ίxd4
tion. 4Jb6 14. ~e5 ~xe5= Moroνic - Miles, Cuba
1997) 12 ... CΔxe5 13.CΔxe5 ~xe5 14.~c4 White's attack. The following 1ine provides
~f6= without any White's advantage, Har an illustration that speaks well for this
2νί - Soffer, Israe1 1998. decision 19 ... Mac8 20 . .ί'!eg3! CΔh5 21.
10.~d2b6 ~xh6+!! gxh6 22.~g8+! ZIxg8 23.CΔxίΊ#
It's hard for B1ack to create a counter-
p1ay here: 10 ... ~d5 11.c4 ~e4+ 12.~e2 b6
13.0-0-0 ~b7 14.CΔe5! ~h7 15.f3 to be fo1- 11 C82
10wed by g2-g4-g51'. K1ing - Saraiva, Leko- Piket
Elista 1998. Round 7 23.01
11.0-0-0 ~b7 12.CΔe5 ο-ο 13.~d3 c5
Ιη case of 13 ... ~d5 14.c4 ~d6 15.ZIhel P.Leko: ''/ plαyed 16. ~4, insteαd ο{g4,
ZIfd8 16.g4 CΔd 7 17 .g5-t White wou1d be the becαuse the bislιopmight αΠΠΟΥ Piket! Sure
first to begin an attack. enough Piket mαde α sligllt inαccurαcy
14.dxc5 ~c7? plαying 15 ... ~g6?!. Suddenly he llαd to
Α major mistake. Better was a natura1 /ϊght hαrd to keep the gαme going. He did
14 ... bxc5 15 ..a:hel CΔd5!, even though White it so well ... "
wou1d still be ab1e to transfer the p1ay to l.e4 e5 2.CΔf3 CΔc6 3 ..1ιb5 a6 4 ..ia4 CΔf6
an ending, quite unp1easant for B1ack: 5.0-0 CΔxe4 6.d4 b5 7 ..ib3 d5 8.dxe5 .ie6
16.c4 CΔb4 17.CΔd7 ZIe8 18.CΔc5 CΔxd3 9.CΔbd2 CΔc5 10.c3 .ie7 11 ..ic2 .ig4
19.'b'fxd3 'b'fxd3 20.J::ιxd3 ~xg2 21.J::ιgl ~c6 After a fundamenta1 response 11 ... d4
(21 ... ZIec8 22.b4 a5 23.ZIg2 axb4 24.CΔb3 12.cxd4 CΔxd4 13.CΔxd4 ~xd4 14.CΔf3 tIxdl
ZIxc4 25.Φb2 ZIxh4 26.ZIdM;) 22.h51' 15.ZIxdl .ig4 16 ..ie3 ο-ο 17.h3 .ixf3
15.ZIhel ~xg2 18.gxf3 J::ιfd8 19.f4;1: White gained an ad-
Now ίη case of15 ... bxc5 White's attack vantage owing to his bishop pair and a cer-
wou1d have deve10ped free1y: 16.g4 ZIfd8 tain weakening ofB1ack's queenside ίη the
17.g5 hxg5 18. ~xg5 to be followed by ZIgl. game Leko - Κha1ifman, Budapest 2000.
12.ZIel
12.h3 was possib1e, forcing B1ack to
define the position of his bishop. Ιη the
game Leko - Kor,~hnoi, Groningen 1996,
White gained a stab1e advantage after
12 .. .ih5 13.ZIel ο-ο 14.CΔΩ [6 15.exf6 ~xf6
16.CΔg3 .ig6?! 17 ..ixg6 hxg6 18.~c2;!:.
12 ... ~d7
B1ack does not hurry to castle, he wants
to fortify his position ίη the centre first.
Αη immediate 12 ... 0-0 after 13.CΔb3 CΔe4
14 ..if4 [6 15.exf6 CΔxf6 16. ~d3 'l1d 7 (ηο
16.J::ιe2!
16 ... CΔe4? because of17 ..ixc7! ~d718.CΔe5!
Α
very strong move. White is going to CΔxe5 19 ..ixe5+- Alekhine - Nimzowitsch,
doub1e his rooks οη the g-fi1e. Petersburg 1914) 17.CΔe5!? CΔxe5 18 ..ixe5
16... Φh8 17.ZIgl ~d5 18.~f4! g6 19. ~d4 c6 20.f3 .if5 21.~xf5 ~xf5
Α poor position of B1ack's queen allows 22. 'l1b6 'l1d7 23.a4± allowed White to
the white one to enter the attack with an weaken B1ack's position ίη the game
extra tempo. CΔg6+ ίδ threatening right A1masi - Korchnoi, Linz 1997.
now. 13.CΔb3
18... ~xc5 19.ZIe3! 1-0 Ιη
the game Nisipeanu - Marin, Sovata
B1ack was abso1ute1y unab1e to repe1 1999, White triedto p1ay against B1ack's
Corus 31
light-squared bishop, but after 13.CLJf11:td8 Κharitonov, U88R 1987.

14.CLJe3 ~h515.~f5 CLJe616.g4 ~g617.~c2 17.~xe6 fxe618.~e3
ο-ο 18.~d1 d4 19.cxd4 CLJcxd4 20.CLJxd4 Emphasizing the weakness of Black's
CLJxd4 21.~e4 c5!+ it proved to be very dif- dark squares. Also an attempt to exchange
ficult to weaken Black's position οη the dark-squared bishops after 18.iιg5 de-
kingside, whereas Black gained a clear served attention.
advantage ίη the centre. 80 White pre- 18 ... 0-0 19.tLJc5 iιxc5 20.iιxc5 ~ί4
ferred playing against weak dark squares It is necessary to keep the rook οη the
ίη his opponent's position ίη our case. f-file, and f4 is the οηlΥ suitable square,
13 ... CLJe6 14.h3 ~h5 15.~ί5 ~g6?! since 20 ... ~f7? would be bad because of
Αη attempt to cover dark squares and 21.CLJh4.
start then a pawn attack ίη the centre de- 21.tLJd4
served attention: 15 ... CLJcd8 16.~e3 tLJb7 The unprotected position of the black
(this knight transfer, supporting the ad- rook can't be utilized: if21.~d2, then 21 ...
vance c7-c5, is a standard manoeuvre for ~e4.
such sort of positions) 17 .g4 ~g6 18.CLJfd4 21 ... ~e4
c5 19.CLJxe6 fxe6 20.~xg6+ hxg6f2 Zarnicki Naturally, exchanges are favourable for
- 81ipak, Buenos Aires 1996. Black.
22.CLJxc6
Αη immediate 22.~xe4 was possible,
and Black would be able to take οη e4 with
the pawn οηlΥ. White did not hurry with
the capture, allowing Black to make his
choice οη the 23 rd move.
22 ... ~xc6 23.~xe4 dxe4!?
Black creates another stronghold ίη the
centre, d5, which will serve as a support-
ing point for the forthcoming exchanges.
Ιη case of 23 ... iιxe4 after 24. ~d4;f; White
would have a stable advantage owing to
16.~g4 the superior activity of his major pieces
Keeping the light-squared bishop οη and the weakness of Black's kingside.
the board is advantageous for White. Af- 24.~d4 ~e8!
ter 16.g4 ο-ο 17.~e3 ~ad8 18.~e2 a5 Α necessary prophylactics against an
19.:Iad1 lHe8 20.Wg2 a4 21.CLJc1 CLJa5 advance ofWhite's e-pawn, because after
22.CLJd3 CLJc4f2 Black got prospects for a real an immediate 24 ... ~d5?! 25. ~xd5 exd5
counterplay ίη the centre and οη the 26.e6 ~e8 27.e7± the e7-pawn would re-
queenside, Bologan - Kotronias, Debrecen strict Black considerably, thus determin-
1992. ing White's undeniable advantage.
16...h5!? 25.~dl ~d5!
Black insists οη exchanging White's After this temporary pawn sacrifice
dangerous bishop. Ιη case of 16 ... CLJcd8 af- Black has every chance to hold οη.
ter 17.CLJfd4 it would not be so good already: 26.~xd5
17 ... h5 18.~f3 CLJb7 19.CLJc2 c6 20.~e3 a5 After 26.b3 ~d8 White would not be able
21.a4 bxa4 22.~xa4 c5 23.1:ta1 CLJc7 24. to reinforce his position any more.
~f4t, White avoided an exchange of his 26 ... exd5 27.~xd5 iιf7 28.e6
pieces and Black got weak points ίη his The line 28.~d7!? Iιxe5 29.iιd4 ~g5
position to be attacked, 8htyrenkov - 30.~xc7 iιxa2 deserved attention, main-
taining difficulties for Black ίη drawing the nize a counterplay, Volkoν - Dνoirys, Sa-
game because of the superior actiνity of mara 1998) 12.~d3 4.Jd7! 13.h4 (after
White's pieces and the weak points ίη his 13.4.Je2 Md8 14.h4 h5 15.m ο-ο 16.~g5 Mfe8
own camp. 17.Mc1 ~b7 Black exerted a noticeable
28 ... i::rxe629.b3 pressure οη White's centre, Shaked -
29.Md8+!? Me8 30.Md7 was possible, al- Kasparoν, Tilburg 1997) 13 ... Md8 14.h5
though after 30 ... ~xa2 31.Mxc7 ~fΊ to be 4.Je5! (making use of the insufficient de-
followed by Me6 Black would haνe a solid fence of White's pieces οη the d-file)
position. 15.dxe5 c4 16.~d4 cxd3 17.4.Jf3 ~xe4 18.h6
29 ... e3! ~f8 19.4.Jg5 ~xg2 Black's counterplay ίη
Sacrificing the pawn, Black forces an the centre balanced out White's attacking
exchange ofthe rooks, thus getting a draw- actions οη the kingside, Timman - Shiroν,
ing ending with opposite-coloured bishops. Wijk aan Zee 1999.
30.Md8+ 9.cxd4 4.Jc6 10.~d1 ~g4
There was ηο use of 30.fxe3 Mxe3 The simplest solution of the opening
31.Md8+ Me8= problems. Actually, Black does not want
30... i::re8 31.Mxe8+ ~xe8 32.~xe3 ~g6 to attack the d1-rook, his idea is not to let
33.<;:t>h2 ~b1 34.a3 <;:t>f7 35.<;:t>g3 <;:t>e6 White deνelop his kingside pieces nor-
36.~h4 g6 mally. Black's play would be not so easy if
Black's blockade of light squares can't he went for an endgame after 10 ... ~a5
be broken. 11. ~xa5 4.Jxa5 12.~d3 ο-ο 13.4.Je2 [5 (also
37.<;t>g5 c6 38.g4 hxg4 39.hxg4 ~c2 after 13 ... ~d7 14.~b1!? b6 15.~d2 Mfc8
40.f4 ~b1 41.b4 ~d3 42.<;:t>h6 Wf7 43.f5 16.~a6t Black was forced to defend pas-
gxf5 44.g5 f4! siνely because ofWhite's pressure along
Now White's g-pawn can not be ad- the c-file, Jussupow - Κhalifman, Ubeda
νanced any farther. His extra pawn be- 1997) 14.0-0 fxe4 15.~xe4 ~f5 16.~f3
comes absolutely unimportant ίη this ρο ~ac8 17.d5! Mc2?! (17 ... 4.Jc4! looked better,
sition. promising an approximately equal play
45.~xf4 ~g6 46.~e5 lh-lh after exchanges) 18.4.Jd4 ~xd4 19.~xd4
4.Jc4 20kιfe1 ~fΊ 21.d6!t and White had a
pair ofbishops ίη the open position, Volkoν
12 D85 - Semeniuk, St.Petersburg 1999.
Lputian - Kasparov 11.~e2
Round 8 24.01 After a natural 11.f3 ~d7 12.d5 4.Je5
13.~d4 ο-ο 14.f4 4.Jg4 15.~xg7 Wxg7 16.
1.d4 4.Jf6 2.c4 g6 3.4.Jc3 d5 4.cxd5 ~d4+ Wg817.h3 e5! 18.~d3 ~a5+ 19.~d2
4.Jxd5 5.e4 4.Jxc3 6.bxc3 ~g7 7.~e3 c5 ~xd2+ 20.~xd2 4.Jf6p the underdeνelop
8.tM2 cxd4 ment of White's kingside did not let him
The alternatiνe to an immediate ex- extinguish Black's counterplay ίη the cen-
change ίη the centre was 8 ... ~a5, support- tre successfully, Vasileνich - Tseitlin, Ber-
ing the strain and preparing a piece attack Ιίη 1997.
οη White's pawn centre. After 9.Mb1 b6 11 ... ~xe2 12.4.Jxe2 4.Ja5
10.~b5+ ~d7 11.~e2 ~c6!? (a more natu- Preparing the knight's transfer to c4,
ral 11 ... 0-0 was tested as well, and after where it would put pressure οη White's
12.Mc1 Md8 13.d5 ~a4 14.f3 4.Ja6 15.~g5 position quite unpleasantly. Perhaps it was
[6 16.~h6 e6! 17.h4 4.Jc7 18.h5 g5 19.~xg7 worth continuing with the deνelopment by
~xg7 20.h6+ Wh8 21.~d1 ~a3!?p White's 12 ... 0-0 13.0-0 e6! Α characteristic moνe,
lag ίη deνelopment allowed Black to orga- allowing Black to aνoid tightness and cre-
Corus 33
ation of a weak point οη e7 after the ad- White had ηο advantage ίη this posi-
vance d4-d5. After 14.d5 exd515.exd5li:Ίe5 tion, so 18.l:!.dd1=ο should have been pre-
16. ~b4 ~d7 17. ~b3 .tι.fe8 18.h3 b5 19.1i:Ίd4 ferred. White's aggressive move results
a6 20.Jί.f4 CUc4=o there was an even posi- inevitably ίη the development of Black's
tion ίη the game Kozul- Avrukh, Belgrade initiative οη the queenside.
1999. 18 ... .tι.c8 19.cud4 .tι.c5 20.~d7l:!.c7
13.~b4 White's attempt to attack can be easily
The possibility of 13 ..tι.c1 deserved at- repelled.
tention here. Ιη case of a standard 13 ... b5 21.~b5 ~c8 22.h3 l:!.c5 23.~b1 ~d7
(maybe 13 ... 0-0 would be better to be fol- 24.l:!.b4
lowed by b6, t!.c8) 14. ~b4 a6 15.d5 CUc4 The poor position of the rook οη a4
16 ..td4 ο-ο 17.Jί.xg7 cJJxg7 18.0-0 (18.cud4 makes 24.li:Ίc6? impossible because of
e5) 18 ... .tι.c8 19.1i:Ίd4;!;; White's position 24 ... CUxc6 25 ..txc5 cud8.
would be preferable owing to his space
advantage.
13 ... 0-014.0-0 b6
Black is going to engage the f8-rook ίη
the play, which means that he must de-
fend the a5-knight and remove the queen
first. 80, ίη case of 14 ... t!.c8 15.I.tc1 Black
could have encountered problems with the
defence after d4-d5.
15.d5 ~d6 16.~b5
White need not exchange his active
queen. After 16.~xd6 exd617.Jί.d4 (17 ..tι.c1
.tι.fc8 18.cud4 ~c400) 17 ... I.tac8 Black's posi-
24 ... .tι.ac8?
This natural move οηlΥ leads to ex-
tion would not be worse: the weakness οη
changes. 24 ... li:Ίc4!+ was much better with
d6 could be protected easily, and also he
the idea of exch~nging the e3-bishop.
would have an advantage οη the queen-
Black's g7-bishop, pawn advantage οη the
side. queenside and control over the c-file would
16 ... ~e5 define his indisputable advantage. Α pos-
Attacking the e4-pawn, Black brings a sible intrusion of White's knight to c6
certain discord into White's position. Α would be of ηο sense since Black would be
passive 16 ... l:!.fc8 17.I.tc1 ~e5 18. ~a6! able to undermine its support οη d5 by e7-
would be not so good, Black would be forced e6. IfWhite tήed a tactical trick of25.cub3,
to yield the c-file. Οη the other hand, then after 25 ... I!:cc8 to be followed by a7-
16 ... ~ac8!? 17 ..tι.c1 ~e5 deserved attention a5 he would be unable to avoid an irre-
with the idea that if18. ~a6, then 18 ... l:!.xc1 versible weakening of his position.
19.~xc1 ~xe4. 25.CUc6!
17.l:!.d4 8implifying the position and leading to
Ιη case of 17.f3 .tι.fc8 18.1ιd4 (18.1ιf4 a draw.
~b2) 18 ... ~d619.Jί.xg7 r!;xg7 to be followed 25 ...CUxc6 26 ..txc5 CUxb4 27 ..txb4
by ~c5 Black would force exchanges, mak- The weakness ofthe e7-pawn does not
ing use ofthe weakness of dark squares ίη let Black retain control over the c-file and
White's position, and develop then his ίηί avoid further exchanges.
tiative οη the queenside. 27 ... Jί.c3 28.l:!.c1 1ιχb4 29.l:!.xc8+ ~xc8
17 ... ~b818 ..tι.a4?! 30.~xb4 ~c11h-~I:!
34 8uper Tournαments 2000
13 C45 change ofthe queens, using the f4-square

Kasparov - Timman he has supported by 16 ... g5 for his knight.
Round 9 25.01 17.t!id4
Ιη case of 17.iιxd5 ti'xd5 18. ti'xg5 ~d8
l.e4 e5 2.lLJf3 lLJc6 3.d4 exd4 4.lLJxd4 (after 18 ... ti'e4+?! 19. ti'e3 t!ixg2 20.0-0-0±
lLJf6 5.lLJxc6 bxc6 6.e5 t!ie7 7.t!ie2 lLJd5 to be followed by e5-e6 it would be hard
8.c4lLJb6 for Black to defend his king) 19.~gl ti'b5
8 ... ~a6 is considered the main continu- 20. t!ig4 h5 21. t!ie4 J::td3 22.~c1 ~h6~ Black
ation ίη this position, maintaining a bind- would be able to put an unpleasant pres-
ing along the a6-fl diagonal. sure οη light squares at the cost of the
9.lLJc3 t!ie6 10.t!ie4 iιb4 11.iιd2 Sιa6 pawn.
12.b3 iιxc3 13.Sιxc3 d5 17 ... iιxc4 18. t!ixc4 lLJf4 19. t!ixe6+
Black's chiefidea ίη this variation is to lLJxe6
undermine White's centre, making use of
the unprotected position ofhis queen.
14.t!ih4!
White retreats to this square, maintain-
ing control over c4 and preparing to gain
from the ρίη οη the a6-fl diagonal later
σπ.
14 ... dxc4 15.iιe2 lLJd5

Mter 15 ... 0-0 16.0-0 lLJd517.iιxc4 iιxc4
18. ti'xc4 a5 19.~ac1 ~fb8 20.~fdH White
had a stable advantage owing to the bro-
ken pawn structure οη Black's queenside,
Mikhalchishin - Onischuk, Batumi 1999. 20.0-0-0
16 ..txc4 Despite the exchanges, White still
If 16.iιd4, then after 16 ... t!if5! (ίη case maintains a lasting advantage, mainly
of 16 ... c5 17.Sιxc5 lLJc3 18.iιxc4 t!ixe5+ owing to Black's damaged pawn structure,
19.iιe3 lLJe4 20.0-0 Sιxc4 21.bxc4 ο-ο especially οη the kingside. Right now
22.~feH the advantage ofWhite's bishop White can perform the manoeuvre :i.h1-
over Black's knight ίη the open position e1-e4-a4 to increase the pressure οη
with mutual weaknesses was indubitable Black's position substantially.
ίη the game Kasparov - Adams, Sarajevo 20 ... We7 2u::rhel ~hd8 22.~xd8 ~xd8
1999) 17.0-0 lLJf4 (17 ... t!if4!? 18. t!ixf4lLJxf4 23.~e4 ~d5
19.iιf3 0-0-0 20 ..Jιxa7 lLJd3!+) 18.iιf3 ο-ο 23 ... lLJf4 deserved attention here with
19.~fe1!?(after 19 ..I;tfd1?! cxb3 20.~e1 ~fd8 the threat of lLJd3. After 24.~a4! lLJxg2
21.iιe4 ~xd4 22.iιxf5lLJe2+ 23.~xe2 .I;txh4+ 25.~xa7 Wd7± White's positional advan-
White lost material, Morozevich - Piket, tage would be still great, but Black would
KasparovChess 2000) 19 ... .I;tfd8 20.~ad1 be able to begin a play against weak points
lLJd3 21.iιxc6 cxb3 22.iιxa8 ~xa8 23.axb3 οη White's kingside.
lLJxe1 24.~xe1ao Black stands none the 24.Wc2
worse. Απ immediate 24 ..I;ta4 was possible, but
16 ... g5!? White preferred to reinforce his position
Α primary decision, but after a more ίη the classical style instead, engaging his
natural16 ... iιc417.t!ic4 Whitewouldhave king ίη the play.
a stable advantage anyway. With the move 24 ... c5
ίη the game Black wants to induce an ex- There was already ηο 24 ... lLJf4 25.h4 h6
Corus 35
26.g3±, οηlΥ creating more weak points ίη the position ίη the centre with a νery sharp
Black's position. play.
25.Ma4 CLJd4+ 26 ..ltxd4 cxd4 27.~xa7 13.ΦbΙ
Φd7 Considering tbe fact that an exchange
None the better was 27 ... d3+ 28.Φd2 οη d3 he must take with the pawn, White
Φd729.b4± retreats with the king from the file οη
28.Φd3 J::txe5 29.Ma4! c5 30.b4! Φe6 which Black's c8-rook stands.
Ιηcase οf30 ... Φc6 31.bxc5 Mxc5 a tran- 13 ... CLJfd7 14.f4 CLJc4 15:~e2
sition to the pawn ending by 32.MC4!+~ was Since the e4-pawn'is weakened (after
decisiνe. Maybe Black could haνe contin- 14.f4), White has to retain his light-
ued the struggle after 30 ... c4+!? 31.Φχc4 squared bishop. Mter 15 ..iιxc4 Mxc4 16.f5
Me2 32.Ma5!? MXf2 33.MXg5 Mxa2 34.ΦΧd4, e5 17.CLJf3 t;ra8 18.b3 ':xe4 19.CLJxe4 .ltxe4
but his attempt to queen the d-pawn en- 20.CLJg1.1te7 21 ..ltf2 ο-ο 22. t;re3 CLJf6+ Black
countered an efficient refutation ίη the gained an adνantage ίη the centre ίη the
game. game Korneeν - Topaloν, Cala Galdana
31.Ma6+ Φf5 1999. Now an exchange of the important
Also White would haνe won easily ίη dark-squared bishop will be compensated
case οf31 ... Φd5 32.~a5 Φd6 33.':xc5 Mxc5 by White's deνelopment adνantage, allow-
34.bxc5+ Φχc5 35.g4+~ ing him to create threats to the opponent's
32.b5 Md5 33.MC6 c4+ 34.Φχc4 d3 king.
35.Φχd5 d2 36.g4+! 1-0 15 ... CLJxe3 16.t;rxe3 t;rb6
Ιf36 ... Φχg4, then 37.Sc4+ to be followed Binding the d4-knight because of a
by Md4. queen exchange, but allowing the subse-
quent sacrifice. Ιη case of 16 ... b4? White's
response 17.CLJd5! would be eνen stronger,
14 Β80 for example: 17 ... g5 18.CLJf5 k!.g8 19.t;ra7
Timman - Van Wely CLJc5 20 ..iιxa6 .ltxa6 21.e5 dxe5 22.CLJde7
Round 10 27.01 t;rxe7 23.CLJxe7 ~xe7 24.Mxe5 gxf4 25.Itxc5
.iιxc5 26. t;rxa6+~ with White's νictory,
l.e4 c5 2.CLJf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.CLJxd4 Morozeνich - Topaloν, Frankfurt 1999. Α
CLJf6 5.CLJc3 a6 6 ..lte3 e6 7.f3 b5 8. Ί~M2 straight attack could haνe been preνented
8.g4! is more accurate, depriνing Black by 16 ... .iιe7, preparing to eνacuate the king
of an apportunity to play 9 ... CLJb6. from the centre.
8 ...CLJbd7 9.g4 h6
The weakening of the kingside could
haνe been aνoided if Black had made use
ofthe moνe order, chosen by his opponent,
and played 9 ... CLJb6, freeing d7 for a retreat
ofthe f6-knight after g4-g5.
10.0-0-0 .iιb7 11 ..ltd3
White decided to gather his forces ίη the
centre before attacking the black king. The
other possible plan implied an immediate
attack οη the king, starting with 11.h4.
11 •. .lLJe5 12.Mhel ~c8
Black's intentions concerning the white 17.CLJd5!
king are not less aggressiνe. The alterna- Α typical Sicilian style sacrifice, justi-
tiνe was 12 ... b4!? 13.CLJa4 d5 opening up fied by White's great deνelopment adνan-
tage and his dominance ίη the centre, as is particularly strong, cutting Black's camp
well as by the unsecured position ofBlack's into two parts.
king. The continuation 17.f5 e5 18.4Jb3 23 ...gxf4
t;ιxe3 would be not as good, since after the 23 ... h5 was till another possible way of
queen exchange Black would not stand trying to open υρ the kingside play and
worse, at least. After 19.1:txe3 4Jc5 (19 ... free Black's pieces. However, complications
~e7!?) 20.4Ja5 1ιa8 21.4Jd5 1ιχd5 22.exd5 after 24.fxg5 hxg4 25.:tf1 I:ιxh2 26.J::txf8
..Φ..e7 23 ...te2 ..tg5 24.I:ιc3 e4 (24 ... ~d7!? de- I:ιxf8 27/iJxf8 1ιχd5 28.4Je6 (threatening
served attention with Black's slight advan- with g6-g7-g8~) 28 ... 1ιe4 29.~e8+ ~a7
tage) 25.4Jc6 ..Φ..f6 26.:ta3 ~d7 27.4Jb4 I:ιa8 30.t;ιf7+ ~b8 (30 ... ~a6 31.tΔc7+ ~a5
28.4Jxa6 b4 29.4Jxc5+ dxc5 30.I:ιe3 ~d6 32.b4+ ~xb4 33. t;ιb3+ ~c5 34. t;ιc3#)
31.fιxe4 there was a draw ίη the game 31.t;ιf8+ Wa7 32.~g7+ ~b8 33.tΔd4± would
Anand - Van Wely, Wijk aan Zee 2000. Also end ίη White's favour.
the possibility of 17.e5 dxe5 18.fxe5 ..tb4! 24.I:ιf1 f3 25.a3
19.4Jxe6 t;ιxe3 20.4Jxg7+ ~f8 2U;:rxe3 25.I:ιd4 deserved attention with the idea
<iixg7 22.1ιf5 4Jb6= was not dangerous for of~b4xb5.
Black. 25 ••. t;ι e3 26.I:ιfe 1 t;ιb6
17... exd5 Ιη case of 26 ... ~f2 27.4Jd4:t the queen
If Black rejected the sacrifice, then would be cut off from the king's defence.
White would have redirected his attack to 27.I:if1 ~e3 28.1:He1 t;ιb629.I:ιe4
the f-file, for example 17 ... t;ιa7 18.t;ιf2 e5 White is going to activate this rook af-
(other continuations would impede Black's ter I:ιb4 or I:if4-f7.
development) 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.~f1. 29 ... I:ic4?
18.exd5+ ~d8 19.1ιχb5!! Despite White's strong play, Black's
This is the finest point ίη White's com- position is not too bad, so ίη case of29 ... f21
bination. Ιη case of a straightforward after 30.I:if4 (30.I:ιb4 1ιa6 31.I:ιf4 ~e3
19.~e8+? after 19 ... ~c7 20.~xf7 ~xd4! 32.~f7 ~b6 33.tΔd4 ..tb7 34.~xf2 1ιχd5οο)
21 ...tf5 ~f6 22. ~xd7 + ~b8 23.I:ιe8 I:ιxe8 30 ... t;ιe3 3U;:rf7 (31.I:ixf8? Ithxf8 32.~xd6+
24.t;ιxe8+ ~c7 25.t;ιd7+ ~b6 26.a4 g6=t ~a7 33.4Jxf8 ~e2-+) 31 ... ~b6 White would
White would only have an insufficient com- have ηο concrete threats, though he has
pensation for the piece. an eνident advantage. For example, 32.I:ιd2
19 ... axb5 (as good as 32.~a2 b4~ or 32.h4 b4 33.a4
Ιη case of 19 ... ~c7 20.1ιχd7 ~xd7 the b3~) 32 ... 1ιg7 33.4Jxg7 f1 t;ι + 34.I:ιxf1 ~c7
manoeuvre 21.t;ιe4 to be followed by ~f5- 35. t;ιe6 I:ixg7:t with certain White's advan-
f7 would allow White to create a strong tage, mainly because of the weakness of
attack. Black's king.
20. t;ιe8+ Φc7 21. t;ιxΠ g5! 30.4Jd4?
This looks like the best possible deci- Giving Black a chance of success. Bet-
sion. Black returns the extra material, but ter was a mere 30.I:ixc4 bxc4 31.~e8+ ~a7
engages the kingside pieces ίη the play. Ιη 32.tΔxf8 f2 33.I:if1 iιxd5 34.~d7+ ~a6
case of 21 ... :td8 after 22.4Je6+ ~c8 23. 35. t;ιf5± with an extra pawn and a better
4Jxd8 ~xd8 24.b4 to be followed by I:ιd1- position.
d3-c3 White's attack would hardly be re- 30... I:ic5?
sistible. Αη advance of the f-pawn promised
22.4Je6+ ~b8 23.t;ιxd7 more to Black again: 30 ... f2! 31.4Jc6+ (the
There is an approximate material alluring 31.I:ie8+ could have given a draw
equality ίη this position, but White has an only: 31 ... ~a7 32ΌtΔΧb5+ ~a6 33.b3 Itf4
obvious positional advantage. His knight 34.4Jc7+ ~a7 35.4Jb5=; 32.4Jc6+ I:ιxc6
Corus 37
33.dxc6 ~xc6 34.~f7 ~g2!! 35.1:.xf8 .ί:txf8 I!.e8 15.tιJd3 i.f8 16.Jιc3 b6 17.i.d2 tιJd6
36.~xf8 ~gl 37.~c1 ~e1 38.~f7 ~a8=; 18.tιJxd6 iιxd6 19.i.e3;t with a more har-
37 ..ί:tc1 Sιg2 38.~e7+ ~a8 39.~e8+ ~b7 monious position ofWhite's pieces, Moro-
40.~xb5+ ~c7 41.~c4+ ~d7=; 39.~d8+ zeνich - Nikolic, Wijk aan Zee 2000.
~b7 40.~d7+ ~a8 41.~c8+ ~a7 42.~c7+ 5.tιJd2
~a8 43.~a5+ ~b7 44.~xb5+ ~c7=) 31 ... Other continuations would allow Black
.ί:txc6 32.dxc6 ~xc6 33. ~xc6 Sιxc6 34.1:.f4 to simplify the position by exchanges, al-
Jιe7 35 ..ί:txf2 .ί:th7, White's adνantage is not though he would not achieνe an easy solu-
big. tion of his opening problems ίη this case
31 ..ί:te8+?! anyway, for example: 5.tιJf3 jιa6 6.~d2
Betterwas 31.tιJc6+! 1:lxc6 32.dxc6 ~xc6 ~xd2+ 7.jιxd2 tιJf6 8.tιJc3 SιxΩ 9.l:ιxΩ CLJc6
33 ..ί:te8+ ~a7 34.~d8 f2 35.~b8+! ~a6 10.0-0-0 i.d6 11.nde1 tιJg4 12.tιJb5 0-0-0
36 ..ί:txf8 .ί:txf8 37.~xf8+-, depriνing Black 13.CLJxd6+ cxd6 14.tιJg5 ~d7 15.f3 tιJge5
of any hope to hold οη. 16.iιc3;t with White's slight but lasting
31 ... ~a7 32.tιJc6+ .ί:txc6? adνantage because of the superior actiν
32 ... ~a6! was the last opportunity to ity of his pieces (the pressure of the c3-
continue the struggle. For example, 33 ..ί:tb8 bishop is particula.rly unpleasant) and his
f2 34. ~f7 .ί:tc4 35.~xf8 !!xf8 36. ~xf8 .ί:txg4 slightly better pawn structure, Morozeνich
37.tιJM+ ~a7 38.tιJd3 (ηο 38.~xh6? .ί:tg1 - Volkoν, Samara 1998 or 5.c3 i.a6 6. ~c2
39. ~c1 Sιc8!-+ with White's νictory after i.xfl 7.~xΩ CLJc6 8.CLJf3 ~d7 9.iιe3 CLJf6
Jιg4) 38 ... .ί:tg2 39. ~xh6 Jιxd5±. But now 10.h3 e5 11.CLJbd2 iιe7 12.b4 a6 13.~e2 0-
White wins easily. Ο 14.I!.hd1 ~ad8 15.a4 CLJh5 16.~Ω ~f6
33.dxc6 ~xc6 34.~d8 ~c4 35.~b8+ 17 ..ί:!.ab1 ~c818.b5 with a lasting initia-
~a6 36 ..ί:txf8 .ί:txf8 37.~xf8 1-0 tiνe οη the queenside, Leko - Bunzmann,
Hamburg 1999.
5 ... Jιa6 6.CLJc4 CLJf6 7.CLJf3 CLJc6 8.c3 i.e7
15 COO Also 8 ... CLJa5!? 9. ~c2!? jιxc4 10.iιxc4
Morozevich - Lputian CLJxc4 11. ~a4+ ~d7 12. ~xc4;t was possible,
Round 11 28.01 simplifying the position and thus reduc-
ing White's adνantage.
Α.Morozevich: 'Άfter 20 .. .f4 Ι could 9.e5 tιJd7
hαue just resigned! If Ι went 19 ..iιg7 'fJg8 Beginning to play against the e5-pawn
20. iιd4 Lputiαn could ρΙαΥ this tremendous which restricts Black's position. Ιn case of
moue 20 ... Φf8!!" the apparently more actiνe 9 ... CLJd5 10. ~e4
1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.~e2 dxe4 iιb7 11. ~g4 t the position ofWhite's pieces
There was an interesting set-up for ίη the centre would be more solid, allow-
Black: 3 ... tιJf6 4.tιJf3 Jιe7 5.g3 b5!? 6.iιg2 ing him to deνelop his initiatiνe more
de4 7.de4 b4 8.a3 iιa6, andBlack managed freely.
to make use ofthe position ofWhite's queen 10.~e4 iιb7 11.~g4 g6 12.jιh6! b5!
to create a counterplay ίη the game Undermining the support of the e5-
Timman - Korchnoi, Wijk aan Zee 2000. pawn. Α sharp play is going to begin now,
4.dxe4 b6 and both sides should act most accurately,
Ιη case of 4 ... e5 White could haνe put a Black ίη order to aνoid a straight attack
noticeable pressure upon Black's centre, οη his king, and White ίη order not to fail
deνeloping his pieces ίη the Κing's Indian ίη the centre because ofthe unstable posi-
style, for example: 5.tιJf3 tιJd7 6.tιJbd2 c6 tion of his pieces. Black would not gain
7.b3 ~c7 8.Jιb2 a5 9.g3 tιJh6 10.Sιh3 [6 much by 12 ... ~f8 13.~xf8 (13.~g5!?)
11.a4 Jιb4 12.0-0 ο-ο 13.tιJc4 tιJf7 14.tιJe1 13 ... ~xίB14.0-0-0;!;
13.CL\e3 26.J::!.xhl~) 23 ... exf4 24.Jιxf4 The actiνity

There was an opportunity of 13.CL\cd2!? of White's pieces, the poor position of
CL\cxe5 14.CL\xe5 CL\xe5 15.iιxb5+ (15. ~g3 Black's king and pieces would be more than
i.d6 16.f4 CL\c4 17.CL\xc4 bxc4 18.i.xc4;!;) sufficient compensation for White's mate-
15 ... c6 16. ~e4 ~d5 17. ~xd5 exd5 18.iιe2;!; riallosses.
with White's adνantage ίη the endgame 22.0-0-0
owing to his better pawn structure and Νο 22.CL\xe7? because of 22 ... fxg3!-+,
greater freedom ofhis pieces. The moνe ίη and ίη case of 22.CL\xf4 exf4 23.i.xf4 ~e6
the game is more aggressiνe, but White's 24.i.e3 0-0+ Black would manage to hide
pieces take chances of suffering straight his king and gain a normal position of
blows. pleces.
13 ... CL\dxe5 14.CL\xe5 CL\xe5 15.iιxb5+ 22 ... fxg3 23.CL\f4 ~f6 24.CL\d5 "f:id6
c616.~e4 "f:ic7 17.Jιe2 f5 18."f:ia4 CL\f'1 Ιη case of 24 ... ~xf2 25.CL\c7! (25.CL\xe7
~xe2; 25.i.a6 Jιg5+ 26.ΦbΙ ~f5+ 27.ΦaΙ
~c8) 25 ... Φf8 26 ..b1hf1 "f:ixe2 27.~b3 Jιg5
(27 ... Φg7 28.~xf7+ Φh6 29.~xe7+-)
28.ΦbΙ Jιf4 29."f:ixb7 ~e4+ (29 ... Φg7
30.CL\e6+ Φf6 31."f:ixc6±) 30.ΦaΙ Φg7
31.hxg3± White would deνelop a strong
attack, despite the loss of a piece.
25.CL\f4 "f:ib8
Νο wonder that Black, being a piece up
and seeing ηο straight threats to his posi-
tion, rejects a draw by repetition ofmoνes
and tries to win.
19.iιf4
26.CL\e6 CL\g5 27.Jιc4 CL\xe6 28.Jιxe6
The forced line produced a position ίη gxh2
which White can either continue mutually 28 ... gxf2 deserνed attention, lingering
sharp attacking play or simplify it by with the introduction ofWhite's rook for a
19.Jιg7 .b1g8 20.Jιd4 f4 (20 ... e5 21.CL\d5! "f:id7 while.
22.CL\xe7 ~xe7 23.Jιe3±) 21.CL\c4 e5 22. "f:ia5 29 ..b1xh2 iιd6
"f:ixa5 23.CL\xa5 exd4 24.CL\xb7 .b1b8 25.Jιa6 Blocking up the d-file. 29 ... ~c7 was
(25.CL\a5 .b1xb2 26.CL\c4 dxc3 27.CL\xb2 cxb2 possible with the idea of neutralizing
28 ..ι:lbl Jιf6+) 25 ... dxc3 26.bxc3 f.3oo with an White's pressure along the d-file by .b1d8,
approximately equal position, but after and after 30.z::rd7 ~xd7 (30 ... ~b6 31.~c2
20 ... Φf8!! (Morozeνich) Black seizes the ίηί ~a6! 32 ..b1xh7 "f:if1+ 33 ..b1dl Jιg5+ 34.ΦbΙ
tiatiνe.
"f:ixdl+ 35.~xdl .sxh7 36.~g4 Mh5=t=;
19... e5 20.Jιg3 f4 31. ~g4 "f:ixf2 32.MXh7 .b1xh7 33. "f:ixg6+ ΜΠ
Black is eager to punish his opponent 34. ~g8+.b1f8 35. "f:ig6+ "f:if'7! 36 ..b1xe7 + Φχe7
for his impudence, so he considers the con- 37.JιxΠ MXf'7=t=; 32 Mxb7 ~g133.Φc2 ~xh2
tinuation 20 ... 0-0 21.f4 (21.Jιh4 g5 22.CL\xf5 34.Jιd5!? ~h4!; 33."f:idl 33 ... ~xdl+ 34.
gxh4 23."f:ig4+ Jιg5=t=) 21 ... Jιc5 22.CL\c2 e4= ΦΧdΙ 00 ) 31.Jιxd7+ ΦΧd7 32.~g4 (32.Mhl
as insufficient, though it would allow him Mad8 33.~xa7 Φc8=t=) 32 ... Φc7 33."f:ie6 Mae8
to aνoid a 'straight attack. White's actiνe queen would mess up
21.CL\d5 "f:id6 Black's position to some extent, yet Black's
21 ... ~d7?! 22.0-0-0 CL\d6100ked doubt- material adνantage would remain enough
ful because of 23.CL\xf4 (or slightly worse to estimate the position ίη his faνour.
23.CL\xe7 fxg3 24.CL\xg6 hxg6 25.hxg3 .b1xhl 30.f4 e4?
Corus 39
Α major mistake, giving White an ex- 36.~d4+ .lί.e5 37.fxe5+ ~xe5 38.I:rf1+ r.t>e6
tra tempo ίη the attack. The attack could 39.!:te7 + r.t>xe7 40. ~xe5+-
have been repelled by 30 .. .'~c7!, for ex- 34.I:rxh7!
ample after 31.fxe5 .lί.xe5 32.J::rh4 I:rd8 (also Also 34.I!.xd6 ~xd6 35.I!.xh7 was win-
32 ... .lί.c8 33.'~c4 <JiJe7 deserved attention, ning, but the move ίη the game is more
Black still would have good chances for showy and wins quicker.
opposing the attack and maintaining his 34... ~xh7 35.I:rxd6 ~c7
material advantage) 33.~e1 .lί.f6 34 ..lί.b3+ Allowing a mating final, but other con-
<JiJf8 35.I:rf4 I:rd6 (35 ... r.t>g7 36.~xf6+-) tinuations would not make the struggle
36.I!.ef1 r.t>g7 37.I!.xf6 I:rxf6 38.J::rxf6 r.t>xf6 longer too: 35 ... .ί:tω 36 ..lί.f7+! <JiJxf7 37.I:rd7+
39.~h4+ r.t>g7 40.~d4+ <JiJh6 41.~h4+ 'itg8 38.I:rxh7 r.t>xh7 39. ~e7+- or 35 ... ~e7
(41.~xh8 ~f4+ 42.r.t>c2 ~f2+) 41 ... r.t>g7 36.~xg6+ I:rf7 37 ..lί.xf7+ ~xf7 38.I:re6+-
42. ~d4= White would be forced to go for a 36 ..lί.f7+! 'itxf7 37.~xg6+ 1-0
perpetual check to rescue. 37 ... Φe7 38.~e6#
16 C42
Adams - Timman
Round 11 28.01
1.e4 e5 2.tbf3 tbf6 3.tbxe5 d6 4.tbf3

tbxe4 5.d4 d5 6 . .lί.d3 tbc6 7.0-0 .lί.e7 8.c4
tbb4 9.SΙe2 0-0 10.tbc3 .lί.e6
Apart from this move, fortifying Black's
centre, a more active 10 ... .lί.f5 is a widely
used continuation ίη this position, threat-
31.g3! ening with 11 ... lbc3 12.bc3 lbc2, so, after
Α very strong move. The h2-rook sud- 11.a3 (or maybe 11. ~b3 tbf6 12.c5 a5
denly joins the attack, deciding the final 13.lbe1 ~d7 14.a3 tbc6 15.tbf3 tbe4?! -
result of the game. unjustified actiνity-16.tbxd5 a417.lbxe7+
31 ... ~c7 32.~d4! ~xe7 18. ~xb7 tba5 19. ~d5±, Black had a
Now Black's king can not escape from sufficient compensation for the missing
the centre where it is exposed to White's material, Morozevich - Polgar, Frankfurt
attack and also impedes the co-operation 1999) 11 ... lbxc3 12.bxc3 lbc6 13.I:re1 .lί.f6
of the own rooks. Of course 32. ~xe4 would 14 ..lί.f4 I:rc8 15.cxd5 ~xd5 16.CLJd2 ~d7
be worse because of 32 ... I!.d8!~. 17.CLJb3 nce818.CLJc5 ~c819.~a4 a5 20 ..lί.f3
32 ... nf8 White developed a noticeable pressure οη
There was ηο use ίη 32 ... Φe7 33 ..lί.c4 the queenside, Shirov - Κramnik, Monte
I:rae8 34.I!.hd2+- as well. Carlo 1999.
33.~xe4! 11.CLJe5
White is merciless. Α poor-spirited Ιη case ofll.a3 after 11 ... CLJxc3 12.bxc3
33. ~xd6? after 33 ... ~xd6 34.I!xd6 r.t>e7 CLJc6 Black has a counterplay ίη the cen-
35.I:rd7+ Wxe6 36 ..t!xb7 h5t would still tre, for example: 13.cxd5 SΙxd5 14.CLJd2
leave Black certain hope. CLJa5. This manoeuvre is standard for posi-
33 ... ~e7 tions of this sort, Black is going either to
Black can't engage his a8-rook ίη the deliver a blow ίη t:Ιe centre by c7-c5 after
play, because after 33 ... I:rd8 White would a preliminary b7-b6, or to blockade White's
win by 34 . .lί.f7+! ~xf7 35.I:rxh7+ r.t>f6 centre and queenside from light squares
after a7-a6, b7-b5. So, after 15.Jιd3 b6 ~a5f2 Black had a good play, Leko -
16.~c2 h617.Jιb2 iιb7 18.CΔe4 b5 19.a4 a6 Anand, Wijk aan. Zee 2000) 13 ... CΔxc3
20.axb5 axb5 21.Jιxb5 [5 22.CΔc5 Jιxc5 14.bxc3 CΔc6 15.cxd5 CΔa5 16.~c2 ~xd5
23.dxc5 ~d5f2 White did not manage to 17.Jιd3t, having gained some profit from
extinguish his opponent's counterplay ab- the weakness ofBlack's kingside again, Νί
solutely ίη the game Leko - Kramnik, Hua - Ribshtein, Budapest 2000.
Dortmund 1999. The move ίη the game 13. ~b3 CL:Jxc3
creates the threat of 12.CL:Jxe4 dxe4 13.a3 Αη attempt to keep pieces οη active
(or 13.d5 first), forcing Black to retreat positions by 13 ... a5!? deserved attention,
with the knight to a6 to avoid a deteriora- for example: 14.c5 Jιf5 15.Jιf4 (ηο 15.a3
tion of his pawn structure. because of 15 ... CL:Jxc5!-+; but 15.CΔh4!?
11 ... f6 would be interesting here) 15 ... CL:Jxc3 (ηο
Repelling the stated threat, but also 15 ... CL:Jxc5?! because of16.dxc5 Jιc217.~a3
weakening light squares to some extent. Jιxc5 18.CL:Jb5 d4 19.CL:Jxc7 d3 20.Jιdl or
Αη active 11 ... c5 did not work here, and 18 ... CL:Jd3 19. ~c3 CΔxf4 20. ~xc2 with
after 12.CL:Jxe4 dxe4 13.d5 Jιd6 14.a3 Jιxe5 White's material eιdvantage ίη both lines)
15.axb4 Jιd7 16.bxc5 ~c7 17.Jιe3! Jιxh2+ 16.~xc3 (16.bxc3 Jιc2 17.~b2 CL:Jd3oo)
18.Whl Jιe5 19.Jιd4 !ife8 20.b4± it was 16 ... !ie8°o with mutual play.
difficult for White to achieve his advantage
ίη the centre ίη the game Wahls - Pava-
sovic, Dresden 1998.
12.CL:Jf3
Tactical manoeuvres after 12.Jιg4 Jιxg4
(also good was 12 ... Jιc8 13.Jιxc8 !ixc8
14.CL:Jd3 CL:Jxc3 15.bxc3 CL:Jxd3 16.~xd3 c5f2
Zulfugarli - Motylev, Poland 1999) 13.CL:Jxg4
dxc4 14.CL:Jxe4 [5 15.CL:Jd2 fxg4 16.CΔxc4 c5
17.a3 CL:Jc6 18.dxc5 ~xd1 19.~xd1 Jιxc5
20 ...te3 ..txe3 21.CL:Jxe3 h5 22.!id5= resulted
ίη mass exchanges and a draw ίη the game
Anand - Kramnik, Frankfurt 1998, al- 14.bxc3
though White still maintained a slight ad- The variation 14. ~xc3?! dxc4 15 ...txc4
vantage owing to certain weakness of Jιxc4 16. ~xc4 c6 was not so good, yielding
Black's pawns. the advantage to Black because ofthe cre-
12 ... Φh8 ation ofthe isolated pawn ίη White's posi-
Preventing the possibility of ~b3. If tion.
Black did nothing about it and played 14 ... dxc4
12 ... c6, then after 13.!ie1..tf5 14.CL:Jh4 Jιe6 Bad was 14 ... CL:Jc6 was bad, because af-
15.a3 CL:Ja6 16.cxd5 CL:Jxc3 17.bxc3 ~xd5 ter 15. ~xb7 CΔa5 16.~a6 Black would have
18.!ibl ~d7 19.Jιd3t White could have ηο time to take οη c4, since his e6-bishop
gained good chances to make use of the would have stayed undefended then, and
weakening of Black's kingside like ίη the after 16 ... c6 17.cxd5± Black would have ηο
game Malikov - Gagloshvili, Orel1996. Το compensation for the missing material.
a more aggressive 12 ... c5 White responded 15.Jιxc4 iιxc4 16.~xc4 ~d5
with 13.~b3!? (after 13.Jιe3 !ic8 14.dxc5 White's advantage would be stable af-
Jιxc5 15.CL:Jd4 CL:Jxc3 16.bxc3 Jιxd4 17.Jιxd4 ter 16 ... CL:Jd5 17.!ib1 (17.a4 c6 18. ~b3
CL:Jc6 18.c5 Jιf7 19.!ie1 !ie8 20.Jιd3 !ixel+ ~b6=) 17 ... CL:Jb6 18. ~b3 c5 19.a4 c4 20. ~b5
21.~xe1 !ic7 22. ~b1 h6 23.~b3 !ie7 24.h3 !ic8 21.Jιd2 !ic7 22.~fe1t
Corus 41
17.~b3 ~xb3 18.axb3 CLJxb6 33.Ma2 'itd7;!; the king wou1d man-
Transferring the game to an ending, age to defend the weakness οη c6) 31 ... Φf7
White hopes to make use of his mu1tip1e 32.CLJa5 b5 33.cxb6 CLJxb6 34.J::!.a2 CLJd5
advantages: right now he takes contro1 of 35.Sιd2 c5, so the fina1 resu1t wou1d be not
1arger space, has a strong and mobi1e pawn at all as c1ear as ίη the game.
centre, puts pressure upon the a-fi1e, his 31.'itd3 Sιf6
minor pieces are more active than B1ack's, Both 31 ... a6 32.CLJa5± and 31 ... :ωθ
and B1ack is forced to conduct a passive 32.CLJd6± were not better, materiallosses
defence. However, B1ack's position is still are almost inevitable for Black.
quite solid. 32.CLJa5 b6
18... CLJd5 19.Mel Mfe8 20.Jιd2 c6 32 ... ~b8 33.Sιf4+-
20 ... a5? bad was because of 21.c4 CLJb4 33.cxb6 CLJxb6 34.1::ta2!
22.Mxe7! ':xe7 23.Jιxb4+- and White wins Ν ow the pawn οη c6 can not be de-
the game. fended: Black's king is too far away.
21.c4 CLJb6 22.CLJh4 Φg8 34 ....:c8 35.~c2 J::!.d8
22 ... g6!? deserved attention, restricting There was a slight1y better possibi1ity
White's knight. of 35 ... 'itf7 36.CLJxc6 .ί:tc7 37.Jιf4 nb7±, 10s-
23.CLJf5 Φf7 24.'itf1 ing the pawn.
A1so 24.CLJxe7 ':xe7 25.Mxe7 + Φχe7 36.CLJxc6 I::!.d7 37.Jιb4+ 'itf7 38.Jιc5
26.i.b4+ Φf7 27.ΦΩ;!; was possib1e, pro- Black is going to lost the a7-pawn too.
ceeding to an ending bishop vs. knight with 38 ..• CLJd5
rooks οη the board and White's a steady The 1ast hope.
advantage, though the exchanges wou1d be 39.~c4!
beneficia1 for B1ack anyway. Α
straightforward 39.CLJxa7? was ofno
24 ... Jιf8 25.Mxe8 'itxe8 26.CLJe3 g6 sense because of39 ... CLJb4+ 40.Jιxb4 Mxd4+
27.Φe2 f5?! 41.Φc3 Me4+ 42.Φd2 ~xb4 43.~c7+ Φe6;!;
Weakening the kingside without creat- 39... CLJf4
ing any obstac1e to the reinforcement of Νο 39 ... CLJb6+ because of 40.~b5+-
White's pressure. 27 ... a6!? deserved atten- 40.g3 CLJe6 41.l:ta2 1-0
tion here, freeing the rook from the sup- There is ηο defence against Ma 7.
port ofthe a7-pawn, for examp1e: 2θ.Φd3
(ίη case of 2B.c5 CLJd5 29.CLJxd5 cxd5 30.b4
Φd7 31.Φd3 - 31.b5? l:teB=t= - 31 ... .:eB;!; 17 Ε15
White wou1d have ηο time to occupy the Nikolic - Adams
e-fi1e, so his advantage wou1d not be great) Round 12 29.01
2θ ... Φd7 29.Jιa5 CLJcB;!;, and White wou1d
have to make many more efforts to break l.d4 CLJf6 2.c4 e6 3.CLJf3 b6 4.g3 Sιa6
B1ack's defence. 5.CLJbd2 Jιb4 6.~c2 Sιb7
28.c5 CLJd7 Apart from this attempt to establish his
Now ίη case of 2B ... CLJd5 29.CLJxd5 cxd5 piece contro1 over e4, B1ack can choose
30.Φd3 a6 White wou1d have manage to among the following continuations here:
take the e-fi1e: 31.l:tel+ 'itd7 32.Me5 Φc6 6 ... c5 with the idea to p1ay a hedgehog ρο
33.h4± to be followed by h5. sition: 7.Jιg2 CLJc6 8.dxc5 Jιxc5 9.0-0 ο-ο
29.CLJc4 Jιg7 30.~a4 'itf8?! 10.a3 Jιb7 11.CLJb3 Sιe7 12.e4 ~c7 13.i.f4
Α substantia1 inaccuracy, the threat of d6 14.Macl Mac8 15.~e2 CLJe5 16.CLJfd4 a6
31.CLJd6 shou1d have been repelled by 17.CLJd2 Mfe818.h3 Jιf8 19.Jιe3 CLJed7<x:> with
30 ... JιfB 31.jιf4 (ηο 31.Φd3? because of a comp1ex p1ay, Nemet - Shariyazdanov,
31 ... i.xc5; and ίη case of31.CLJa5 b5 32.cxb6 Bie11999, or a more risky 6 ... b5, trying to
blockade White's light squares ίη the cen- 11.nfd1

tre and οη the queenside. Ιη this line after Also a standard way of 11.f1e3 4:Jbd7
7.b3 i.b7 8.i.g2 i.e4 9.'~b2 bxc4 10.bxc4 12.i.c3 f1b8 13.jιh3 b5 14.b3 a5 15.4:Jd2
4:Jc6 11.0-0 i.xd2 12.'~xd2t White gained jιg6 16.i.g2t deserνed attention. White
an adνantage with his pair of bishops ίη chased the opponent's pieces and gained a
the open position ίη the game Van Wely - stable adνantage owing to his bishop pair
Christiansen, Wijk aan Zee 1993. and larger space, Dizdar - Bistric, Zadar
7.i.g2 i.e4 1999.
Black managed to establish control oνer 11 ... 4:Jbd7
e4 with his pieces, and now White has to The struggle had a similar character
spend time to run the blockade and, as far also after 11 ... f1e7 12. f1e3! 4:Jbd7 13.Sιc3
as possible, to aνoid exchanges. Α transi- J::rfe8 14.~ac1 h6 15.b3 ~ac8 16.i.h3 c6
tion to the hedgehog structure was still 17.Sιb2nc7 18.4:Jd2 i.g6 19.4:Jb1! (with the
possible 7 ... c5 8.dxc5 i.xc5 9.0-0 i.e7. idea of CLJc3 and d5) 19 ... a6 20.jιg2 1:tec8
White could continue by 0.b3 d6 11.i.b2 21.i.a3t Karpoν - Andersson, Reggio
4:Jbd7 12.e4 ο-ο 13.4:Jd4 f1c7 14.Iιac1 a6 Emilia 1991.
15.4:Jb1, transferring the knight to c3, 12.1:tac1
where it would preνent Black from b5 or The aboνe mentioned plan was still pos-
d5. 15 ... Iιfe8 16.4:Jc3 i.f8 17. f1d2 ~ad8 sible after 12 ...Ith3 f1e7 13.CLJh4 c5 14. f1e3
18 ..t!.fel f1b8 19.h3 g6 20.1:tcdl jιg7 21.jιal cxd4 15. f1xd4 ~fd8 16.~ac1 h6 17.i.c3CLJc5
4:Jc5 22.4:Jc2t (to be followed by b4). This 18. f1e3 a5 19.f3 Sιh7 20.CLJf5 ..Itxf5 21.jιxf5:t
way White preνented a possible pawn Manninen - Veingold, Tampere 1992.
break-through ίη the centre and gained a 12 ...h6
space adνantage ίη the game Dautoν - White's adνantage was stable ίη the
Andersson, Ter Apel1995. following lines as well: 12 ... f1e7 13.Sιh3
8.f1b3 (13.f1a3 a5 14.i.h3 ~fe8 15.i.e3 h616.CLJd2
Defining the position of the b4-bishop jιb7 17.c5t Timn'an - Saloν, Rotterdam
at once and preparing to play with the 1989) 13 ... c514.f1e3 ~fe8 15 ..tc3 a5 16.b3
queen actiνely when chasing Black's Sιb7 17. f1d3 d5 18. f1e3 CLJe4 19.5ιb2 a4
pieces. Ιη case of 8. f1d1 i.xd2 9. f1xd2 ο-ο 20.cxd5 i.xd5 21.4:Jd2 f1g5 22.f1xg5CLJxg5
10.0-0 a5 11.b3 (11.f1e3!? deserνed atten- 23.i.g2 i.xg2 24.Wxg2 f6 25.CLJc4t Rib-
tion, struggling for e4) 11 ... a4 12.i.a3 d6 shtein - Van den Doel, Antwerp 1999.
13.~fd1 4:Jbd7 14.i.f1 ~e8 15.4:Jh4 i.b7 13.i.h3 ~e8 14.i.e3 a5
16.f3 d5 17.f1c2 c5 18.i.b2 cxd4 19.i.xd4 14 ... c5?! was risky, weakening the d6-
f1c7 20.~ac1 e5 21.i.f2 axb3 22.axb3 d4ao pawn. After 15.dxc5 CLJxc5 (15 ... dxc5
there was a position with mutual chances 16.jιf4! f1c8 17.~d6 f1b7 18.~cd1 CLJf8
ίη the game Topaloν - Adams, Dortmund 19.CLJe5±) 16.f1c3t to be followed by b4S
1999, Black had neither real weak points, White had a formidable initiatiνe ίη the
nor bad pieces. game Nikolic - Spraggett, Elista 1998.
8 ... i.xd2+ 9.i.xd2 0-0 10.0-0 d6 15.CLJd2 i.b7 16.CLJf1
There was an interesting actiνe con- The position would be not as clear if
tinuation 10 ... 4:Jc6!? 11.~fd1 h6 12. f1e3 ~e8 White opened it υρ immediately: 16.c5 Sιd5
13.4:Je5 (perhaps 13.i.c3!? would be better 17.f1a3 f1e7 (17 ... dxc5 18.dxc5 b5 19.c6t;
with the idea to remoνe the g2-bishop and 18 ... f1e7 19.cxb6 f1xa3 20.bxa3 cxb6
the f3-knight from the long diagonal, thus 21.CLJc4t) 18.cxd6 cxd6 19.~c7 ~ec8 20.
preνenting exchanges) 13 ... i.xg2 145~(xg2 ~dc1 ~xc7 21.nxc7CLJe8=, and Black would
4:Je7 15. f1f3 d6= with a equality ίη the manage to perform exchanges, simplifying
game Ftacnik - Korchnoi, Brno 1992. the position.
Corus 43
16... a4 17:i;;Ilc2 ~e7 18.f3 c5 19..tf2 knight would decrease his pressure upon
~ec8 Black's position to some extent.
Ιη case of 19 ... cxd4 20 ..txd4 d5 21.4Je3
e5 22.4Jf5 ~f8 23.~f2 d4 24.f4 t White
would destroy Black's unstable pawn cen-
tre and open up the play, thus securing
himselfwith a lasting initiatiνe thanks to
his pair ofbishops.
20.~d2 d5?!
Creating a substantial weakness ίη
Black's camp. Better was 20 ... cxd4 21 .
.txd4 d5 22.4Je3 ~d8 (Black would haνe
ηο 22 ... e5 here because of 23.4Jf5 ~f8
24 ..tf2 d4 25.f4 4Je4 26.~e14Jxf2 27.~xf2,
30.~a3!
the pressure along the h3-c8 diagonal and
upon the d4- and e5-pawns was rather An ideal place for the queen, from which
perceptible. After 22 ... dxc4 23.4Jxc4 b5 it attacks Black's weak points but can not
24.4Je3;J; Black's position would be quite be attacked itself.
solid despite White's bishop pair) 23.~c2, 30 ... ~a8
Ιη case of30 ... .ta6 White would answer
White's adνantage was still bearable.
21.dxc5 bxc5 22.cxd5 .txd5 with the same 31.4Jfl to be followed by 4Jd2
After 22 ... exd5 23.4Je3± it would be and e2-e4.
hard for Black to defend his central pawns. 31.4Jf1! ~a5 32.4Jd2 e5 33.e4 Φh8
Ιη case of 22 ... 4Jxd5 23.e4 4J5b6 (23 ... 4Je5 34.~h3
24.~g2 4Jf6 25.~c3±) 24.~c3± the weak-
The c5-pawn is doomed. Α mere 34.
ness οη c5 would tell οη. 4Jc4!? 4Jxc4 35.~xc4± was possible too, but
23.~al
White does not need to hurry, since Black
Of course, there was ηο 23.a3? because has absolutely ηο counterplay.
of23 ... .tb3+ 34... ~d8
23 ... 4Je5 24.~c3 4Jfd7 25.4Je3 .tb7 If 34 ... ~c7, then 35.4Jc4 4Jxc4 36.1:ίχc4,
26 ..tg2 winning a pawn.
The position has settled down to White's 35.4Jf1
Το be followed l)y 4Je3, transferring the
adνantage due to his pair of bishops and
good prospects for an attack οη the c5- knight to a more actiνe position.
pawn. Now Black fails to make use ofthe 35 ... ~aa8?!
temporary passiνity of White's minor Most likely it was better to keep to the
pieces to organize a counterplay against waiting tactics by 35 ... ~c8, forcing White
the b2-pawn. to win the c5-pawn οηlΥ after an exchange
26 ... .!::ι.ab8 27.~d2 of the knight: 36.4Je3 ~c7 37.4Jc4 4Jxc4
Preparing to double the rooks οη the c- 38.~xc4 .tc6±
file for an attack οη the c5-pawn, and pro- 36 . .txc5 4Jxc5 37. ~xc5 ~xc5+ 38.
tecting the b2- and e2-pawns, at the same ':xc5 .ta6 39.4Je3 tίab8
time. The poor position ofBlack's pieces pre-
27 ... f6 28.J:.cl 4Jb6 29.~dc2 4Jed7 νents him from actiνe play. 80, ίη case of
29 ... c4!? deserνed attention: after 39 ... ~d2 40.~1c2 ~ad8 41.~c6+- he would
30. ~a5 4Jd5 31.4Jxd5 .txd5 32.~d4 4Jc6 haνe to exchange the rooks to White's sat-
33 ..tc5;J; White would haνe a stable adνan isfaction.
tage anyway, but the exchange ofWhite's 40.tίlc2 .td3 41.~d2 ~d4
There was ηο sense ίη 41 ... .tb1 42. ~d8~) 11 ... b6 12.lιe2 1:Id8 13.0-0 ~a6
1:!.xd8+ 1:!.xd8 43.1::tc6 :!b8 44 ..te6+-, B1ack 14.lιxa6 ~xa615.jιh6 cxd416 ..txg7 'ίt>xg7
was abso1ute1y he1p1ess with his pieces so 17.cxd4 ~a5 18.d5 ~xd2 19.1:lxd2 Cbb4
restricted. 20.a3 ttJa6= Idigoras - Marini, Argentina
42.j,e6 j,bl 43.1:!.dl 1:!.xdl + 44.ttJxdl 1955. B1ack's position is not worse at 1east,
a3 45.ttJc3 1-0 owing to his advantage οη the queenside.
If 45 ... ..td3, then 46.b4 to be followed Αη intrusion ofWhite's knight to c6 is not
by 'it>f2-e3 and an attack οη the a3-pawn dangerous, as B1ack can undermine its
after 1:!.a5. support, the d5-pawn, by e7-e6, and or-
ganize then a p1ay against the d5-pawn.
9 ... b5
'18 D85 B1ack is trying to gain the most from
Kramnik - Kasparov the opening, but he allows a slight weak-
Round 12 29.01 ening of his queenside, thus providing
White with targets for his own p1ay. There
1.d4 Cbf6 2.c4 g6 3.Cbc3 d5 4.cxd5 is a more popu1ar continuation of 9 ... Cbc6
Cbxd5 5.e4 ttJxc3 6.bxc3 .tg7 7.Cbf3 c5 10.lιe3 cxd4 (in case of10 ... b611.0-0 cxd4
8.h3 12.cxd4 ..tb7 13.1:!.cl ~c8 14.d5t B1ack has
This move prevents j,g4, as otherwise ηο time to begin a counterp1ay οη the
White might have prob1ems with the de- queenside and Ends himse1f quite re-
fence οη the d4-pawn, but a1so it 10ses a stricted because of White's advantage ίη
tempo. There were more aggressive con- the centre. There is a1so an interesting
tinuations of 8. 1:!.b 1 or 8 ..tb5. opportuni ty of 1 ο ... ~ a5!? 11. ο-ο ~xc3
8 ... 0-0 12.1:!.cl ~a3 13.1:!.xc5 ~xa2°o with a stan-
B1ack cou1d have tried to make use of dard p1ay for this opening: B1ack is a pawn
White's 10ss of tempo immediate1y to put up, White has the initiative) 11.cxd4 ~a5+
more pressure οη d4 by 8 ... Cbc6. (11 ... f5 deserves attention with the idea of
9.j,e2 a b10ckade οη 1ight squares) 12.lιd2 ~a3
Ιη case of a more active 9.j,c4 after 13.d5 Cbe5 14.ttJxe5 j,xe5 15.0-0 ~d7 (ίη
9 ... ttJc6 10 ..te3 cxd4 11.cxd4 B1ack wou1d the game Bannik - Ilivitsky, USSR 1954
be ab1e to use the bishop's position οη c4 B1ack accepted the sacrifice of an exchange
to accomp1ish the advance b7-b5: 11 ... b5 by 15 ... .txal, but after 16. ~xal f6 17.l:lbl
12.j,d5 .tb7 13.1:!.c11:!.c8 14.0-0 (better was ~d6 18 ..tb4 ~d8 19.j,c4 'ίt>g7 20.e5 it
14.j,xc6 1:!.xc6 15.1:!.xc6 .txc6 16.d5 with proved to be difficu1t to neutra1ize White's
unc1ear p1ay) 14 ... e6 15 ..tb3ttJa5+ . Ιη this initiative οη the kingside and ίη the cen-
position White experienced difficu1ties tre. 15 ... f5 deserved attention here.) 16.1:!.bl
with the defence ofthe centre in the game, ~xa2 17.1:!.xb7 lιa4 18. ~el k:ι.fb8 19.1:lb4
Rack - Schnitzspan, Wiesbaden 1988. Also 1:!.xb4 20 ..txb4 ~ι;8 21 ..ta6 k:ι.c7 22.~bl
9.~e3, supporting the centre, was possib1e ~xbl 23.l:lxbl .tc2~ with mutua1 oppor-
though B1ack wou1d still be ab1e to deve10p tunities, Onischuk - Ftacnik, Germany
his pressure by 9 ... ~a5 (after 9 ... b5 White 2000.
wou1d have 10 ..txb5!? ~a5 11. ~b3, a1- Perhaps the most consistent decision
though ίη the game Ca1derin - Arencibia, wou1d be to make use ofWhite's 8th move,
Cuba 1988 B1ack got substantia1 chances that is to deve10p the light-squared bishop
for taking the initiative after 10.1:tb1 a6 to the 10ng diagona1 without weakening the
11.~d3 Cbc6 12 ..tc2 Cba5 13.0-0 Cbc4~) queenside by 9 ... b6. The game Gaw1i-
10.~d2 Cbc6 11.1:!.d1 (there was ηο sense in kowski - Taimanov, Szczawno Zdroj 1950,
11.~e2?! cxd4 12.cxd4 ~xd2+ 13.'ίt>xd2 continued by 10.0-0 .tb7 11.e5?! (result-
Corus 45
ing ίη a blockade ofthe centre and Black's οη a forced line.

adνantage owing to his queenside superi- 14 ... lΔa4!?
οήtΥ, δΟ the usual11.'§d3G would be stron- Ιη case of 14 ... a6 there would be an
ger here) 11 ... cxd4 12.cxd4 lΔa6 13. '§a4 unpleasant 15.a4, emphasizing the poor
lΔc714.3ιa3 '§e815.'§b3 '§d716.1.Iad1 iLd5 position of Black's pieces along the b-file,
17 ...Iic41:'!:ac8 18.lΔd2 iLh6 19.iLxd5lΔxd5+ and then 15 ... bxa4 16.d5 (also a mere
10.iLe3 16.Iιa2~ could be appropriate) 16 ... 3ιχa1
10.3ιχb5 was bad because of 10 ... '§a5. 17.'§xa1 (threat3lling with 18.Iιb1. If
10... i,b711.'§d3 17 ...Iixb6 '§d6 18 ..i.e3, then 18 ... .i.g7? ίδ bad
Protecting the e4-pawn ίη this way, because of 19.'§xb7 1.Ifb8 20.'§c6 '§xc6
White clears υρ the first rank for an easy 21.dxc6 a3 22.c7 1.Ic8 23 ..i.b6 a2 24.e5±, but
actiνization ofhis rooks and also puts pres- after 18 ... .i.c3 19. '§xb7 1.Ifb8 20. '§c6 '§xc6
sure οη Black's queenside. 21.dxc6 a3~ Black manages to set υρ for a
11 ... cxd4 counterplay) 17 ... l:tb8 18 ...Iih6. White wins
Α further adνance ofthe pawn by 11 ... b4 back the exchange and maintains the ίηί
after 12.cxb4 cχd413.3ιχd4 ..Iixd4 14.'§xd4 tiatiνe owing to his space adνantage and
'§xd4 15.lΔxd4 1.Id8 16.0-0-0 iLxe4 17.f3 the superior actiνity ofhis pieces.
lΔc6 18.CLJxc6 iLxc6 19.b5 3ιd5 20.~b2 could 15.'§xb5 CLJc316.'§xb7lΔxe2+ 17.'ίth1
haνe produced an endgame with White's CLJxd4 18.1:!.ad1
stable adνantage owing to his strong The binding along the d-file looks dan-
queenside. gerous for Black, but it can not lose him
12.cxd4 CLJd7 more than a pawn after all exchanges.
Αη actiνe 12 ... b4!? 13.0-0 a5 with the White's achieνements would be less ίη case
idea of 3ιa6 deserνed attention, but ίη this of 18.iLxd4 iLxd4 19.Ϊ!.ad1 (19.CLJxd4 '§xd4
case Black would haνe to reckon with a 20.'§xe7 .ί::tfe8=) 19 ... '§b6 20.'§xe7 (20 ..ί::tb1
possibility ofundermining a2-a3. '§xb7 2U:txb7 e5=? 20 ... .i.xf2 21 ..ί::td6 .i.c5=.
13.0-0 lΔb6 18... e5 19.CLJxe5
The knight's transfer to the queenside Ιη case of 19.1Δxd4 exd4 20 ..i.xd4 3ιχd4
ίδ a typical manoeuνre here. Also there was 21. '§b4 .ί::tb8 22. '§xd4 '§xd4 23 ..ί::txd4 .ί::tb2!?
an interesting possibility of 13 ... a6!? with 24 ..ί::ta4 .ί::tc8 25 ..ί::txa7 1.Icc2 26.a4 .ί::te2 Black
the idea to pit pressure οη White's centre would manage to organize the co-opera-
after lΔd7-f6. The adνance d4-d5 could be tion of his rooks οη the second rank, thus
opposed by e7-e6. compensating White's mateήaΙ adνantage.
19 ....i.xe520.f4
Again, there was ηο sense ίη 20.iLxd4
i,xd4 21. '§b4 1.Ib8 22. '§xd4 '§xd4 23 ..ί::txd4
1.Ib2~
20 ... iLg7
Now 20 ... .ί::tb8?! would not be δΟ good
already because of21. '§a6, and if21 ... i::rb6?
(21 ... iLg7 would be better, but after 22.e5
White would win back the piece, and the
queenside pawns would remain), then
22.'§xa7 .Jιιb8 23.t!a4+-
21.e5 '§b6! 22.'§xb6 axb6 23.i,xd4
14.'§b1! .ί::txa2 24 ..Jιιxb6 .ί::te8
Now Black has real problems with the White managed to stay a pawn up, but
defence ofhis queenside and must νenture Black's defence ίδ not νery difficult with
the given set of pieces and pawns οη one ance ofweak points. After 6 ... CLJc6 7.~g4!?
flank οηlΥ. Black's immediate plans imply ~f8 8.dxc5! CLJxe5 9. ~g3CLJg6 10.0-0-0 CLJf6
further exchanges after the undermining 11.f3 .ltd712.CLJge2 iιc713.~f2 b6! 14 ..lte3
f7-f6. CLJe7 (Black wants to play CLJf5, trying to
25.iιd8 J::ta6 induce an exchange of White's dark-
White can't prevent the advance f6. squared bishop)15.g4 bxc5 16 ..ltxc5 1ιb6
26.Jιc7 J::tae6 17.h4 1ιχc5 18.~xc5 ~b6 19.~xb6 axb6
Black managed to hold out ίη a slightly
Αη immediate 26 ... f6 27.J::td6 J::te6'= was
possible, but there is ηο hurry with this. worse position, Kasparov - Κhalifman,
27.g4 g5! Linares 2000.
8plitting White's pawns to play against 6 ... cxd47.CLJb5
them more successfully. 27 ... f6 28.f5 J::tc6 Αη attack οη the kingside was still pos-
was possible again, but the move ίη the sible, but now Black would be able already
game is more accurate. to arrange an active counterplay ίη the
28.f5 centre. 80, after 7.~g4!? CLJe7 8.bxa5 (ίη
Ιη case of28.fxg5 iιxe5 White would not case of8.CLJb5 1ιc7 9.~xg7 J::tg810.~xh7 a6
be able to avoid exchanges as well. 11.CLJxc7+ ~xc7 12.CLJe2 ~xe5 13 ..ltb2 ~c7
28 ... J::tc6 29.J::td7 iιxe5 30.J::te1 f6 14.CLJg3 e5~ Black's activity ίη the centre
31 ..ltxe5 J::txe5 32.~xe5 fxe5 33.J::te7 h5 let him have an even play as well, Timman
Exchanging the pawns one after an- - Κhalifman, Bali 2000) 8 ... dxc3 9. ~xg7
other. J::tg8 10. ~xh7CLJbc6 11.CLJf3 (ίη case of a pri-
34.~g2 hxg4 35.hxg4 J::tc4 36.~f3 J::tf4+ mary 11.f4 Black might play rather sharply
37.'.t>g3 e4 lh-lh too, not fearing even material sacrifices,
for example: 11 ... ~xa5 12.CLJf3 1ιd7 13.
J::tb1!? 0-0-0 14.~d3 a6 15.CLJg5 J::txg5
19 C17 16.fxg5CLJf5 17 .1ιf4 ~xa3 18.J::tb3 ~a4 19.93
Anand - Lputian d4~. Black's advantage ίη the centre, the
Round 13 30.01 activity of his pieces and the unsafe posi-
tion of White's king compensated White's
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.CLJc3 iιb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 slight material advantage Anand - Κhalif
.lta56.b4 man, Dortmund 2000) 11 ... ~c712.1ιf4 1ιd7
The main continuation ofthe variation. 13.1ιd3 0-0-0 14.1ιg3 ~xa5 15.0-0 J::th8!?
White is going to play CLJb5, emphasizing 16. ~xίΊ (16. ~g7 d4 17. ~g4CLJf5 18.a:fb1?!
certain weakening of the dark squares ίη CLJxg3 19. ~xg3 ~c7! t Polgar - Κhalifman,
Black's position which appeared after his Hoogeveen 2000) 16 ... a:df8 17.~g7 J::thg8
bishop has moved away from the diagonal 18.~h6, and now 18 ... ~xf3!? after 19.9xf3
a3-f8. Then, White also can try to gain CLJd4 20.~f4CLJef5 21.~h1.1tb5!?~ produced
profit from the absence of this bishop οη a position ίη which White's material ad-
the kingside by an immediate attack there vantage was simply unnoticeable because
like ίη the game Leko - Κhalifman, Linares ofhis broken pawn structure and the pas-
2000: 6. ~g4CLJe7 7.dxc5 .ltxc3+ 8.bxc3CLJg6 sivity of his pieces Galkin - Κhalifman,
9 ..ltd3 CLJd7 10.CLJf3 ~c7 11.0-0 CLJdxe5 Hoogeveen 2000.
12.CLJxe5 ~xe5 13 ..ltb5+ .ltd7 14.iιxd7+ 7 ... 1ιc78.f4
~xd7 15.~a4+! ~e7 16.~b4 J::tab8 17.f4 8.CLJf.3 was tested here with the idea to
~e4 18.f5t. White managed to keep his maintain the piece control of the impor-
initiative ίη this game despite his broken tant e5-square. 8 ... CLJc6 9 . .ltf4 CLJge7
pawn structure. The alternative was a 10.CLJbxd4 (after 10.CLJxc7+ ~xc7 11.iιd3
preliminarily 6 ..ltd2, avoiding the appear- CLJg6 12 ..ltg3 a5 13.h4 axb4 14.axb4 J::txa1
Corus 47
15.~xal ο-ο 16.0-0 tbxb4 17.h5i.O White Black managed to create counterplay οη
still had to prove his activity was worth the queenside, Gallagher - Lputian,
the sacrificed material, Horvath - Lputian, Luzern 1997.
80chi 1985) 10 ... ..id7 11.tbxc6 tbxc6 12.b5 9 ... ~xc7 10.tbf3 a6
tbe7 13 ...id3 tbg6 14 ...ig3 ..ia5+ 15.ΦΩ ~e7 Preparing to exchange the light-
16.h4! 1ιc3 17.h5!? (Uhlmann - Κnaak, squared bishops after 1ιd7-b5.
Dresden 1995), and now 17 ... 1ιχaΙ with a After a sharper 10 ... a5, followed by
complex play. 11.1ιd2! axb4 12.axb41:!.xaI13.~xal tbh6
8 .....id7 14.1ιd3 tbf5 15.tbxd4 tbxd4 16.~xd4 tbc6
Ιη case of 8 ... a5 after 9.1ιd2!? tbh6 17.~f2;t, White's pair of mighty bishops
10.1ιd3 (good was also 10.tbf3 axb4 11.axb4 defined his advantage ίη the game Novik
~xaI12. ~xal ο-ο 13.tbxc7 ~xc7 14.tbxd4 - Lputian, Russia 1992.
tbf5 15.tbxf5 exf5 16.~c3 ~xc3 17.1ιχc3;t, An attempt to create a counterplay οη
White gained a pair of bishops, a better light squares by 10 ... 1ιa4!? 11.1d.a2 (11.
pawn structure and an active king ίη the 1ιd3!?) 11 ... tbc6 12.1ιd3 tbh6 13.1ιb2 tbf5
ending, 8vidler - 8.Ivanov, 8t.Petersburg 14.~d2 ~b6 15.1ιΧf5 exf5 16.1ιΧd4 ~b5
1997) 10 ... tbf5 11.tbf3 ο-ο 12.0-0 tbc6 17.e6!? fxe6 18.1ιχg7 ~g8 19.1ιd4 ~c4 20.c3
13.tbxc7 ~xc7 14.b5 tbce7 15. ~e2 1ιd7 1d.g4fi deserved attention, like ίη the game
16.g4 tbe3 17.1ιχe3 dxe3 18. ~xe3;t White Van den Doel- B~\.rsov, Dieren 1998.
had a position with initiative, and Black's
pieces remained passive, Leko - 8.Ivanov,
Budapest 1996. But the possibility of
8 ... tbh6 9.tbf3 1ιd7 10.tbbxd4 tbc6 11.c3
1ιb6 12.1ιd3 tbxd4 13.cxd4 (13.tbxd4 ~c8
Δtbf5) 13 ... a6 14.a4 tbf5 15 . ..ib2 tbe3
16. ~e2 tbc4 17.0-0 1d.c8 18 ...icl ~e7 19.a5
Jιa7°o deserved attention, Black's position
was not worse ίη this line despite White's
space advantage, Minasian - Lputian,
Lvov 1990.
9.tbxc7+!?
Quite logically, White wants to ex- 11.a4!
change the good dark-squared bishop of Of course, White refused the exchange.
his opponent. Ιη case of9.tbf3 Black would 11 ..• tbe7 12.1ιd3 tbf5 13.0-0 tbc6
14.~e1i.O
be able to exchange his light-squared
bishop, usually quite passive ίη the French White completed his development suc-
Defence, thus achieving a solid position. cessfully, having kept his space advantage
80, after 9 ... 1ιΧb5 10 ...ixb5+ tbd7!? 11.0-0 and avoided exchanges that would have
tbe7 12.tbxd4 (the weakening 12.g4?! af- allowed Black to simplify the position.
ter 12 ... a6 13.1ιd3 h5! 14.h3 hxg4 15.hxg4 Black can not hold his extra pawn for any
tbb6 to be followed by tbc4-e3 let Black long because ofthe unstable position ofhis
hope to take the initiative ίη the game Van pleces.
den Doel - Lputian, Wijk aan Zee 1999) 14... ~b615.~b1
12 ... 0-0 13.1ιd3 g6!? 14.1ιb2?! (it was pref- Preparing b5 to restrict the opponent's
erable for the bishop to remain οη the a 7- pieces.
gl diagonal, so 14.1ιe3!?with a space ad- 15 ... tbce7 16.b5 axb5 17.axb5 tbe3
vantage would be better here) 14 ... tbb6 18.~f2 tbc4 19.h3 tbf5
15. ~f3 tba4 16.1ιcΙ Jιb6 17 .1ιe3 tbb2~ Ιη case ofthe alluring 19 .. .1ιΧb5?! after
20. '§b4 kIa5 2Uuxd4 tUc6 (21 ... '§xd4 would pawn would be too perceptible.
not be better because of 22.Jι.xc4 Jι.xc4 33.k1g3 Ma8 34. '§f6 .s:e8
23. '§xa5±) 22.tUxc6 bxc6 23.Jι.xc4 dxc4 Trying to aνoid the threats οη the
24 ..te3 '§c7 25.Ϊtd2± Black would haνe queenside (tUxe6, and if'§xe6, then Ϊtxg6),
great problems with the king's defence and Black prepares to exchange the queens.
the deνelopment of the h8-rook. The character of the struggle would not
20.Ϊte2 h5 change ίη case of 34 ... '§d8 35. '§xd8 Mxd8
Again, after 20 ... .txb5 21. '§b4 Ϊta5 36.Ϊta2 Ϊtdc8 37.Ϊta7 Ϊt8c7 (37 ... Ϊtxc3
22 ..td2 '§a7 23.'§b3!? .ta4 24.'§xb7 '§xb7 38 . .s:xc3 Ϊtxc3 39.Ϊtxb7 Φh6 40.b6+-)
25.kIxb7 .s:a8 26 ..tb4± the same problems 38.b6±.
with the king and the co-ordination of 35 ..a:a2!
pieces would haνe arisen. Implying Ϊta7.
21.'§f2Ϊta4 35 ... '§e7 36.'§xe7 kIxe7 37.b6!± Ϊte8?!
Now 21 ... Jι.xb5 was simply a losing Black's last chance was 37 ... h4!? 38.Ϊtd3
moνe: 22 ..txf5 exf5 23.tUxd4 kIa5 24 ..td2! Φh6 to be followed by g5, but now he can
tUxd2 25.MXd2+-; and ίη case of an appar- not oppose a further reinforcement of
ently actiνe 21 ... tUfe3 White would haνe a White's position.
mere 22.Me1!? Ma5 (if 22 ... .txb5?, then 38.h4!
23.tUxd4+-; and ίη case of22 ... .s:a4 the ρο- Preνenting the aboνe stated possibility.
sition would be reduced to the line after 38... Φg7 39.Ma7 Mb8 40.Φg1
2U;~a4) 23.c3 .s:xb5 24 ..s:xb5 .txb5 25.tUxd4 Transferring the king to the queenside.
tUf5 26 ..txf5 exf5 27.e6 White would haνe 40 ... .td7 41.Φf2 Φf8 42.Φe2 Φe8
a dangerous attack. 43.Φd2 Mcc8 44.kIe3 Φe7 45.1:ιe1 .tc6
22.Ϊte1 g6 23.Jι.xf5 exf5 24.tUxd4 46.Ϊtea1
White won back the pawn and main- Το be followed by the decisiνe reinforce-
tained his adνantage ίη the centre, so the ment of ~a5-c5.
ending with the opposite-coloured bishops 46 ... .td7 47 ..a:1a5 Jι.e6 48.g3 Φd8
giνes ηο reliefto Black because ofthe seri- 49.Φc2 Φe7 50.Φb2 Φd8 51.Ϊtb5 Ϊtc4
ous weakness of dark squares ίη his posi- 52 ..a:aa5!
tion. ΡreΡaήηg a rook exchange to moνe then
24 ... 0-0 25.c3 .s:c8 26 ..te3 tUxe3 the king into Black's camp.
Black prefers to simplify the position 52 ... J::!.bc8 53.Ϊtb3 !tb8 54.J:!.b4! Ϊtcc8
by exchanges, since ίη case of 26 ... '§a5 af- Ιη case of 54 ... Ϊtxb4+ after 55.cxb4 Ϊtc8
ter 27.tUb3 there would be an unpleasant the solution was 56.Ϊtc5 Ϊtxc5 (56 ... 'It>d7
threat of tUc5. 57.Φc3 Φd8 58.tUb5 Φd7 59.Ϊtxc8 Φχc8
27.Mxe3 Jι.e6 28.Φh2 60.tUd6+ Φb8 61.Φd4+-) 57.bxc5 Jι.d7
Ν ecessary prophylactics to the subse- 58.Φc3 to be followed by tUc2-b4, winning
quent actiνe play. the d5-pawn.
28 ... Ma3 29.Ϊtc1 1:ιc4 30.Ϊtc2 Φh7 55.J::!.bb5 Φe7 56.Ϊtc5 Φd7 57.J::!.xc8
31.Mf3 '§c7 32.'§h4 '§d7 Mxc8 58.Ϊta7 Ϊtb8 59.Φb3 'lt>d8 60.Φb4
There was ηο 32 ... 1:ιaχc3?, because af- 'lt>d7 61.Ma5 1-0
ter 33 ..s:cxc3 .s:xc3 34.tUxe6 fxe6 35.b6 '§c6 After 61 ... .s:c8 62.MC5 It>d8 63 ..s:xc8+
36.'§e7+ Φh8 37.'§d8+ Φg7 38.~xc3 '§xc3 Φχc8 64.'It>c51t>d7 65.tUb5 Φc8 66.\t>d6 Φd8
39.'§c7+- both the weakness of Black's 67.tUc7+- Black would haνe suffered ma-
dark squares and White's far adνanced b- teriallosses ineνitably.
Linαres 49
Linares
28.02-10.03, cat.21
3 4 6
1 Κramnik 2758 1= 1= 6
2 Κasparov 2851 -- 1= 6
3 Leko 2725 -- -- 4.5
4 Κhalifman 2656 0= 4.5
5 Anand 2769 - - 0=
6 8hirov 2751 0= 0=
Notebook Story
ΒΥ Alexαnder Khαlifmαn
J anuary match with Peter was just a disaster for me. Ι didn't manage to find enough
time and money (sorry, Κirsan Nikolayevich, Ι got my Las Vegas prize οηlΥ οη 30.12.1999
- may be just ίη time to celebrate Υ2Κ with caviar and champagne but rather late to
invest it into the preparation for the event which was scheduled to start οη 2.01.2000) to
prepare myself properly - who cares? At least now Ι know for sure that playing the
match with well-prepared and motivated 2700+ player when one's opening preparation
consists οηlΥ of some tricky lines ίη the Gruenfeld for White and "let's see what hap-
pens" for Black isjust a hopeless business. 80 ίη order to avoid widely predicted massive
suffering ίη Linares ("chamber of horrors" as one of my e-mail friends wrote to me) Ι
really had to do something ίη remaining 1,5 months. 8urely the problem Ν 1 was to find
some playable (οη Linares level, Ι mean) opening system for Black against 1.e4 as all
my so-called "repertoire" systems brought me everything but trouble recently. Ι took
this problem seriously and wanted to start my studies checking some old books. Ιη the
usual chaos (I've got plenty of old books but unfortunately since Chessbase era came Ι
didn't use them often) Ι found rather an old notebook. Remark for the younger or "tech-
nically advanced" readers: it's not about portable computer. Ιη this case "notebook" means
some sheets of paper bound together. Ιη pre-historical era (about 10 years ago) people
used the things like this to collect the useful data. 80 Ι found there some opening lines
analyzed by myself - sometimes together with some friends of mine during the period
1984-1989. I'm not sure Ι have the right to name the full names ofthose who was doing
this titanic work together with me, but anyway thanks a lot, Boris, Alexey, Vladimir - it
was a great time! There was a strange nostalgic feeling when Ι saw the myriads oflines
written down ίη this notebook. Ι was both curious and sceptical about the subjects and
quality of these analytical works - actually Ι supposed 90% of the lines to be tactically
unsound - nobody heard about FRITZ those days and ''Errare humanum est". Can one
imagine my shock when the accurate check with the help of modern equipment proνed
the opposite? Right, many lines are oflittle interest nowadays but some ideas might be
νery useful eνen now and the quality of analysis was quite good - only ίη rare cases
some corrections were necessary. Oh, my goodness, how fanatical and naiνe we haνe
been - eνeryone looking for "bright future". What happened then? Nothing special- just
months and years of neνerending open tournaments where the opening secrets from
the old notebook could hardly be useful. 80 up to January 2000 it was buried ίη the
usual chaos of my working room together with old "Chess Informants" and the other
stuff. 80rry, dear readers, this story is getting too long - ΟΚ, let's play some moνes ...
20 D85 80 this is one of many positions which

Κhalifman - Leko was thoroughly analyzed ίη the old note-
Round 8 8.03 book. I'm sorry but I'd like to miss the
Notes by A.Khαlifmαn analysis of the most critical opening lines
till the certain moment - Ι really hope some
l.d4 CΔf6 2.CΔf3 g6 of them might be practically useful ίη the
Ιη the last round of Linares (after this future.
game) Peter played 2 ... c5 against Vladimir 8 ... 0-0 9.i.e2 cxd4 10.cxd4 ~a5+
Κramnik. Although it's hard to belieνe that 1l ...Itd2 ~xa2 12.0-0 .iιg4
'ΌΙd notebook secret" made him feeling Although this moνe was put into the
uncomfortable ίη his faνourite Gruenfeld, centre of public aatention only ίη summer
it still means something. 1990 after the games M.Gureνich - Iνan
3.c4 .iιg7 4.CΔc3 d5 5.cxd5 chuk and Gelfand - Iνanchuk from Manila
Ιη the January match Ι played 5.~b3 Interzona11990, from the νery beginning
two times ίη this position. Ijust didn't want we were sure that it's one ofthe most criti-
to play my repertoire lines against ex- callines ίη the entire νariation. 80 it was
tremely well-prepared opponent. 80mehow one of the main subjects to analyze al-
after Ι found the old notebook Ι was really though some other 'ΌΙd notebook" lines
impressed by the depth of analysis ίη some haνe something to add to the 'ΌffίcίaΙ"
lines with 5.cxd5 & 8.~b1 - so it was the theory as well.
reason to try. Ι can foresee the logical ques- 13 ..iιg5 h6 14 ..iιe3
tion: it was my second Gruenfeld game ίη 14 ..iιh4 lines are also νery interesting
Linares; so why didn't Ι try it ίη the 2nd but just too weird for Linares.
round with Mr. Kasparoν? The answer iS 14 ...CΔc6 15.d5 CΔe5
fairly simple and honest: Ι haνe some rea- This is one of the key moments ίη this
sons to think that when the opening knowl- game. Although the text is by ηο means
edge of Peter Leko and the other "Linares refuted ίη the game the alternatiνes took
players" differs greatly from the one of much more pages ίη the old notebook. Eνen
"mere mortals" (the old notebook just the unnatural "computer moνe" 15 ... Nd8?!
brought me some steps closer to them) the was analyzed with great accuracy.
opening knowledge of"Gary The Greatest" 16.Iιxb7 e6 17.d6
is something incomparable eνen with Right from this moment this pawn be-
them. 80 Ι didn't want to check his analy- comes the key factor ofthe position. Black
sis - Ι wanted just to play the game. has many tactical possibilities as his pieces
5 ... CΔxd5 6.e4 CΔxc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.:tbl are rather actiνe. But ίη general ifWhite
Linαres 51
is able to defend from all temporary dan- sary ίη order to understand what's going
gers his d-pawn will be worth the whole οη. Most of these lines are annotated ίη
point. ''Informant'' - style - ifthere were also some
17... z:rfd8 18.l:tel ~xf3 19.9xf3 'ι'1a5 verbal comments we would met serious
After 19 ... 'ι'1a3 was brilliantly refuted risks to run out of a book format. 20 ... ~d7
by Boris Gelfand this tactical move (the is another try - Black wants to stop the d-
main novelty of ''Informant'' Ν 68) was pawn οη its current position and to ex-
found by Miguel Illescas ίη order to reha- change the active rook. This move, how-
bilitate the entire line. When Ι saw the ever, has its drawbacks - the d-pawn is not
game Lautier-Illescas for the first (?) time under attack anymore - so White has some
Ι was very impressed just like everybody time to regroup his pieces retaining the
else. Despite the strange feeling of "deja advantage. 2U:txd7 tιJxd7 22.f4! White has
vu" Ι took it seriously and tried to find the better chances, too: 22 ... .:!.b8 (22 ... 'ι'1b4
refutation - with ηο special success; just 23.'ι'1c2! a5 24 ..:!.b1 'ι'1c3 25.'ι'1χc3 i.xc3
some playable ideas - not more. 80 one can 26 ..:!.b7±; 22 ... g5 23.fxg5 hxg5 24. 'ι'1c2±;
imagine the shock when Ι suddenly saw 22 ... 1:!.c8 23.'ι'1b31:!.b8 24.'ι'1c4;±;) 23.'ι'1c2 'ι'1d8
some pages of analysis οη 19 ... 'ι'1a5 writ- (23 ... z:tb2 24. 'ι'1c8+ i.f8 25.i.f3 'ι'1b5 26.e5
ten by my own hand not less than 10 years tιJb6 27.'ι'1b7±) 24.e5 g5 25.'ι'1e4 gxf4
ago. 26.i.xf4;±; or 22 ... e5 23.f5 gxf5 24.exf5 e4
25.~h1! tιJf6 (25 ... 'ι'1Χf5 26.J:rg1 ι;t>h7 27.i.g4
'ι'1b5 28.'ι'1b1! 'ι'1Χb1 29.1:!.xb1 tιJe5 30 ..Il.f5+
~g8 31.d7 i.f6 32.1:!.c1+-) 26 ..:!.gl ~h7
27 ..Il.c4 'ι'1χf5 (27 ... 1;tf8 28.d7 1;td8 29.i.xf7
1:!.xd7 30.i.g6+ <t>h8 31.'ι'1cΙ 'ι'1d5 32.'ι'1c8+
.:!.d8 33. 'ι'1a6±) 28.iιxf7 rJth8 29.iιg6;±;.
21.d7
21 ..:!.b5 'ι'1a2 22.1:!.xe5? .Il.xd6 23 ..:!.b5
i.xh2+ 24.'it>xh2 .:!.xd1 25 ..Il.xd1 'ι'1c4-+
(Kasparov).
21 ... 'ι'1a2
21 ... ~db8 22.1::!.xb8 .ϊ::txb8 23.f4 CL:Jc6
20 ..:!.fl 24.'ι'1c2±
Ιη the stem game Lautier was caught
22.iιb5 a6
by surprise and preferred to repeat the 80 Black is going for the pawn as 23.Ba4
moves: 20.~Ω? tιJxf3 21.~xf3 'ι'1a6+ 22.~gl seems to be the οηlΥ critical answer. Α little
'ι'1χb7 23.e5 'ι'1b4 24.~xa8 .:!.xa8+; 20.~d2 detail: the b6-square is not protected any-
'ι'1a2 21.~e3 'ι'1a5 22.i.d2 'ι'1a2 23.~e3 more so Black would be always ready to
Draw agreed Lautier - Illescas, Wijk aan sacrifice the exchange now. Will his black-'
Zee 1997. square counterplay be enough? Let's have
20... i.f8 a look. Anyway the alternatives are not too
Ι don't think this position might be the impressive, e.g.: 22 ... i.g7 23.f4 (23.'ι'1a4
object of discussion ίη future - so from this CL:Jxf3+ 24.rJtg2 tιJh4+ 25.~g3±; 23 ... 'ι'1χa4
moment I'd like to offer your attention the 24.~xa4 CL:Jxf3+ 25.rJtg2 CL:Jd4 26 . .ί:tcl±;
"old notebook" lines. 80rry if there are too 23 ... 'ι'1b2! 24.f4 a6ao) tιJc4 (23 ... a6 24.fxe5
many - Ι did some work to reduce the origi- axb5 25.'ι'1d3 .Il.xe5 26.i.b6 'ι'1a6 27.i.xd8
nal analysis but as the position is very com- 'ι'1χb7 28.i.e7 .Il.c7 29.d8'ι'1+ .ixd8 30.
plicated and both sides have many tacti- .Il.xd8+-; 27 ... .:!.d8 28. 'ι'1b5 'ι'1d6 29. 'ι'1a5+-)
cal resources some lines are really neces- 24.~c1! (24.'ι'1a4 'ι'1e2 25.h3 tιJb2 26.iιxe2
tΔxa4 27.i.xa7+-; 24 ... ~xa4 25.i.xa4 tΔxe3 25 ... ~d6 26.1:tdl tΔf4+ 27.~hl ~e5)
26.fxe3 i.c3 27.jLc6 1:tab8±) 24 ... tΔa5 a) 25 ... 1:rab8 26.1:rxb8 .ί:rxb8 27. ~a4±;
25.~c7 a6 26.i.a4 l::tab8 27.~c2 ~xc2 b) 25 ... tΔc5 26.1:!.bl 1:1:a7 27.~d4! e5
28.i.xc2 jLd4 (28 ... .ί:tb7 29.~xb7 tΔxb7 (27 ... ~a5 28.1:rfcl ~c7 29. ~f6 .ί:rxc6 30.i.d4
30.i.a4 tΔc5 31.i.c6±; 28 ... tΔb3 29.jLa3 e5 31.~xe5 f6 32.~d5+-; 27 ... 1:rc7 28.~f6
tΔd4 30.i.e7±) 29.l::tdl i.b6 30.~c3 f5 1:tdxd7 29 ..txd7 tΔxd7 30.~d8+-) 28.~xe5
(30 ... .ί:rb7 31.i.a4 .ί:rc7 32.I:txc7 i.xc7 33. tΔxd7 29. ~d5 ~c7 30 ..ί:rfdl±;
jLa3+-) 3U:td6 Φf7 32.exf5 gxf5 33.jLa3 c) 25 ... ~c3 26.1:!.b6 .ί:rab8 (26 ... l:ra 7
1:tb7 34.jLa41:tc7 35.1:txc7 jLxc7 36.Mxa6±. 27. ~b3! ~xb3 28 ..ί:rxb3 tΔc5 29 ..ί:rc3 .ί:rc7
23.i.a4! 30.i.a4 jLd6 3UHcl tΔxa4 32.J:!.xc7 .txc7
This pawn sacrifice is the only try if 33.nxc7+-) 27.~al! ~e5 (27 ... ~c2 28 ..ί:rxb8
White wants to play for win. 23.f4 axb5 1:!.xb8 29.~f6 ~xc6 30 ..td4+-; 27 ... ~c4
24.fxe5 ~a6 25.1:tc7 ~a5 26 ..ί:ι.b7 ~a6= 28.1::txb8 .ί:rxb8 29. ~f6+-) 28. ~xe5 tΔxe5
29.1::txb81::!.xb8 30.i.a4+-;
d) 25 ... ~d6 26 ..ί:rb6 (26. ~c2 tΔc5) 1:tab8
(26 ... .ί:ra7 27.i.a4 tΔf4+ 28.~hl ~e5 29 ..ί:rb3
1;ιc7 30.~al! i.g7 31.~xe5 .te5 32.i.b6+-;
27 ... ~a3 28. ~b3 ~xb3 29.1:rxb3 tΔc5
30.i.xc5 .txc5 3U::!:cl .td4 32.1:rb8!+-)
27 ..ί:rxb8 .ί:rxb8 28 ..ta4 .ί:rd8 29.~d2 ~a3
(29 ... tΔc5 30.~xd6 i.xd6 3U:tdl±) 30.1:tdl
tΔb2 (30 ... tΔel+ 31.l::txel ~xa4 32 ..ί:rdl±)
31 ..tb6 i.e7 (31 ... tΔc4 32.jLxd8 tΔxd2
33.1::ιχd2+-) 32.i.xd8 i.xd8 33.1::tcl tΔxa4
34.nc8 ~f8 35.e5 tΔb6 36. ~d6+-
23 ... tΔxf3+ 24.Φg2
Α pawn is a pawn and what's eνen more 24.~xf3 ~xa4 25.~dl ~c6 26.l::tb6 ~c7
important the white king's position is get- 27.e5 .ί:rxd7! 28 ..ί:rxd7 ~xd7 29. ~xa8 ~dl+
ting more νulnerable now. 30.Φg2 ~g4= (Kasparoν).
23 ... ~a3 (23 ... tΔc4 24.i.f4! e5 25.i.b3 24 ... tΔe5
25 ... ~a3 26.i.g3! tΔd6 27.~d5 i.g7 28.1:tb6 Technically speaking, only this moνe is
l:rab8 29.1:txb8 1:txb8 30.f4+-; 25 ... ~a5 a noνelty. It has a good strategical basis -
26.i.xc4 exf4 27.i.d5! ~c5 28.~b3 ~e7 the knight controls many important
29.z:!:b6l::ta7 30.l::txg6±) 24.Φg2 (24.f4 tΔg4 squares and attacks the d7-pawn from e5.
25.~b3 tΔxe3 26.~xa3 i.xa3 27.fxe3 ~ab8; 24 ... tΔg5? is simply bad: it combines the
24.i.b6 tΔxf3+ 25.ΦhΙ i.d6 26.i.xd81:rxd8; drawbacks of both other knight retreats -
26 ... tΔxh2 27. ~xd6 ~xd6 28.i.c7 ~d3 Black loses time and moνes his knight off-
29.l:Hbl ~f3+; 27.~b3 ~c5 28.i.h4 tΔxf1 side. 25. ~c2 ~a3 (25 ... ~xc2 26 ..iιxc2 i.e7
29.~f3 f5 30.d8~+ 1:txd8 31.i.xd8 tΔd2 27.i.b6 .ί:rf8 28.e5±; 27 ... .ί:rdb8 28.:rxb8+
32. ~g2 g5 33 ..td7 ~cl+ 34. ~gl ~c3 1:txb8 29 ..tc7 l::tb2 30.l::tcl +-; 29 ... .ί:rb4
35.i.xe6+ Φf8) tΔd3 (24 ... tΔc4 25.i.cl ~c3 30.i.d6 .ί:rb7 31 ..txe7 l::txd7 32 ..txg5 hxg5
26.~b3 ~xb3 27.1:txb3±) 25.i.c6! The only 33.1::tal+-; 29 ... :rf8 30.f4 tΔh7 3U:tdl i.d8
way to the adνantage (the similar geo- 32.i.d6+-; 29 ... l::ta8 30.f4 i.d8 31 ..ί:rcl!
metrical motiνe happened later ίn the i.xc7 32.i.a4+-; 30 ... tΔh7 31.i.a4±) 26 ..ί:rdl
game) but good enough (25. ~c2 tΔc5; ~e7 [a5 (26 ... f6 27.i.b3 Φh7 28. ~c4+-;
25.~al ~xal 26.l::txal tΔc5 27.i.xc5 .txc5 26 ... e5 27.i.b3! a5 28. ~c6 Φg7 29.h4+-;
28.1:rcl i.d6 29.~b3 Φf8 30.I:tbc3 i.f4 26 ... f5 27.exf5 gxfB 28.i.b3 ~h8 29.h4 tΔe4
31.1:tlc2 Φe7 32.1:tc8 1:tb8; 25. ~b3 ~xb3; 30.i.xe6+-; 26 ... i.e7 27.h4 tΔh7 28.I:tbbl!
Linαres 53
Sιf6 29.Sιc5 ~c3 30.~xc3 Sιxc3 31.Sιc6+-; (29 ... ~f6 30.1:tb6+-) 30.f4±; 27 ... ~c3
26 ... Sιg7 27 ...tc6 ~e7 28 ..tc5 ~f6 29 ..1:1.b3 28.~d4 ~a5? (28 ... ~xd4 29.Jιxd4±) 29.
lIab8 30.e5 ~f4 31.1::txb8 .1:1.xb8 32.d8~ 1::txd8 Jιxh6 Jιf8? (29 ... e5 30.~c4 was quite poor
33 ..1:1.xd8+ Φh7 34.z:td4 ~xe5 35.h4+-) anyway) 30.Sιxf8 I:ι.xf8 31.Φχh4 ~h7
27 ..tc6 ~e7 (27 ... a4 28.e51::ta6 29.~c4l:Ia5 32.Φh3 1-0 Haba - 8kytte, Cappelle la
30.h4 CLJh7 31 ..tb6+-; 28 ... .1:1.a5 29.h4 CLJh7 Grande 2000] 27 ..1:1.f2 (27.Jιb6 Jιd6 28.Sιxd8
30 ..tb6 .1:1.aa8 31.1::td4+-) 28 ..1:1.b5 I:!.ab8 .1:1.xd8 29 ..1:1.f2 Sιe5~; 27 ... CLJg6! 28.Sιxd8 CLJf4+
(28 ... ~a6 29.e5+-) 29 ..1:1.xb8 .1:1.xb8 30.f4 CLJh7 29.~g3 .1:1.xd8 30.~f2 Jιg7) 27 ... e5 (27 ... Sιd6
(30 ... ~a3 31.~d3+-) 31 ..tb6 ~h4 32.d8~ 28. ~xd6 ~xa4 29.Sιb6 CLJg6 30 . ..I1ιxd8±;
.1:1.xd8 33.~xd8 ~g4+ 34.~hl ~f3+ (34 ... 27 ... Sιg7 28. ~c2 ~xc2 ~ ...I1ιxc2) 28. ~b3
~xf4 35.~d1+-) 35.~g2 ~xf4 36.1:tdl+-] (the queen is trapped!) 28 ... ~xb3 29 ...I1ιxb3
27.e5 CLJh7 (27 ... f5 28.Jιb3 CLJf7 29.~c6 the endgame is better for White, e.g.:
CLJxe5 30. ~xe6+ ~xe6 31.Jιxe6+ \t>h7 29 ... l:Iab8 (29 ... ..I1ιe7 30.l::tc2 and Black is
32.Jιb6+-) 28.Jιc6 ~h4 29.~e4 ~xe4+ completely tied up.) 30.l::txb8 .1:1.xb8 31.J:ιc2
(29 ... ~h5 30 ..1:1.bbl CLJg5 31. ~c4 ~h3+ .1:1.xb3 (31 ... .!:!.d8 32 ...I1ιa4) 32 ...I1ιxg5! (32.d8~
32.~hl ~h5 33 ..txg5 ~xg5 34.Jιxa81:txa8 .1:1.xe3 33.I:tc8 tι.xf3+ 34.Wg4 J:!.f4=) 32 ... CLJxf3
35. ~c8+-) 30 ..txe4± (32 ... .J:;ίd3 33.d8~{ ~xd8 34.iιxd8 CLJxf3
Howeνer, 24 ... CLJh4+ is the serious al- 35.z:!.a2±) 33.d8~ CLJxg5+ 34.\t>g4±;
ternatiνe - check saνes a tempo. The ques- 27 ... ~c3!? needs further inνestigation.
tion "What's better: 24 ... CLJe5 or 24 ... CLJh4+? Black seems to hold his ground: 28.Jιd4
is mainly of theoretical interest. Accord- (28. ~d2 ~al; 28. ~d4 ~el) 28 ... ~a3
ing to 'ΌΙd notebook" lines ίη both cases 29.Jιb6 (29.Sιb2 ~e7 30.f400) 29 ... CLJg6
precise play giνes White good winning 30.Jιxd8 CLJf4+ 315~tg3 I:txd8~
chances and ηο losing prospects at all. 80 25.~hl!
Ι would be rather surprised ifthis position a) 25 ... ~a3 (25 ... Sιe7 26.Jιxh6) 26. ~b3
happens ίη practice later. 24 ... CLJh4+ ~d6 27.Jιb6
25. ~h3 was played ίη Haba - 8kytte, a1) 27 ... ~e5 (27 ... tH4 28.~e3 Jιd6
Cappelle la Grande 2000. Black didn't suc- 29.~xf4 Jιxf4 30 ...I1ιxd8 .s.xd8 31 ..1:1.d1 ~f8
ceed ίη finding any special counter-re- 32.J:!.d3+-) 28 ...tc6 (28. ~d3 .td6 29.f4 ~b2
sources and lost quickly. After my game 30.~c2 ~xc2 31 ..ixc2 .1:1.f8 32.l:!.d1 iιe7
with Peter was oνer Ι was asked ίη the 33.~gl a5 34.Jιa4 g5 35.fxg5 hxg5;t)
press-center ίΠ had known this brand-new 28 ... .id6 29.f4 ~h5 30.e5 iιe7 (30 ... ~e2
game. Well, Ι knew it. As a matter offact, 31.~d1 ~c4 32.~cl+-) 31 ..txd8 .1:1.xd8
Ι knew eνen a bit more. Ι wouldn't imag- 32.~d3 (32.Jιe4 ~e2 33.~d3 ~a2±) 32 ... g5
ine myselfbeing so braνe to moνe my king (32 ... CLJf5 33.Sιe4 a!~ 34. ~f3+-) 33.fxg5 hxg5
to h3 - g6-g5 belongs to Black's plan any- 34 ..te4+-;
way so the h4-knight would be hardly ίη a2) 27 ... Jιe7 28 ..ixd8 .1:1.xd8 29. ~c3 a5
any danger. White's king h3 just oppositely (29 ... e5 30.Ϊtfbl ~f6 31.~g3 ..I1ιc5 32 ..1:1.b8
might become an object of mating attack. iιe7 33.I:t8b6+-) 30.1:td1 ~f4 31. ~e3 ~e5
Fortunately the quieter retreat to hl is (31 ... ~g4 32 ..1:1.g1 ~h5 33 ..1:1.b5+-) 32.f4 ~h5
good enough for White. 25 ... ~c4 (25 ... Jιe7 33.J:!.b5+-;
26.~c2 ~a3 27.~b3 ~d6 28.f4t; 25 ... g5 a3) 27 ... .1:1.db8 28.J::txb8 .1:1.xb8 29 ..1:1.dl ~e5
26.~c2 ~a3 27.Jιc6 ~ab8 28 ..1:1.xb8 .1:1.xb8 (29 ... ~f4 30.~e3 ~xe3 31.fxe3 .ie7 32.
29.1:tdl Jιe7 30.Jιb7 .1:1.d8; 27.lIdl Jιd6 d8~+ ..I1ιxd8 33 ..1:1.xd8+ .1:1.xd8 34 ...I1ιxd8+-)
28.1:td3 ~al 29.~dl ~xdl 30 ..!:!.xdl Jιe7 30. ~e3 ..I1ιd6 (30 ... iιe7 31.d8~+ .txd8
31.Jιb6 ~f8 32 ...tc7±; 27 ... CLJg6 28.Jιc6 32.iιxd8 g5 33.Jιe7+-) 31.f4 ~b2 32 ..1:1.d2
~a500) 26.f3 g5! [26 ... .te7 27 . .1:1.f2 Jιg5 ~bl+ (32 ... ~cl+ 33.Jιdl+-) 33.iιd1 Jιe7
28 ..tb6t; 27 ... e5 28.Jιb3 ~c6 29.iιd5 ~d6 34.d8~+ ..txd8 35.Jιxd8 g5 (35 ... I!.b3
36 ..tf6 'it>h7 37.~e2 g5 38.~d7 ~f.3 39.fxg5 30 ..tι:f1 ~e7 [30 ... ~m 31 ..tc6 ~a3 (31 ... ~c3
Φg6 40.nd8 hxg5 41 ..td4 [6 42 ..tf2+-) 32.~xc3 Sιxc3 33.lιc5+-; 31 ... ~d6 32 ..tc7
36.fxg5 hxg5 (36 ...1:[b3 37 ..tf6+-) 37.lιxg5 ~d4 33.~d1 ~e3 34.1:!.b3+-) 32 ..tc5 ~a5
4Jg6 38.lιf6 e5 39.h4+-; 33.nd1.tf4 (33 ... tbxf.3 34 ..ib4 ~d8 35 ..ixm
b) 25 ... ~c4 26.f.3 g5 [26 ... lιe7 27 ..txh6 ~xm 36.2:Ib3+-) 34 ..tb4 ~d8 35 ..ixm ~xm
g5 28.1:[g1 [6 (28 ... 4Jxf.3 29. ~xf3 ~xa4 36 ..sa7 J::rd8 37.~c3+-; 30 ... ~a3 31.Sιc5!
30 ..txg5 .txg5 3U::rxg5+ Φm 32.1:[g1 ~a5 (31.~b3 ~d6! 32.1:!:d1 ~e7 33 ..ixd8 nxd8
33. ~g3 rjJe7 34.nf1 +-) 29 .e5 ~f4 (29 ... ~d5 34.z:!:c1 ~f6~ 35.1:[c8? ~f4!+) 31 ... ~c3
30. ~xd5 exd5 31.exf6 .txf6 32 ..tc6+-) 32. ~xc3 .txc3 33 ..ie7 .id2 34.1:[f2+-]
30.exf6 (30 ..ic6 ~xe5 31.kIe1 ~c5 32.~xe6 31 . .txd8 1:[xd8 32.1:[b3! (32. ~d3 ~c5
4Jf5 33. ~d5 ~xd5 34 ..txd5±) 30 ... .txf6 33. ~xa6 ~c3 34. ~b6 rjJg7 35. ~f2 ~c4
(30 ... 4Jxf.3 31.1:[g3! ~xf6 32.1:[xf3 ~xh6 36 ..tb5 ~c3 37.~e2 tbg6; 37.~e1 ~b3;!;)
33 ..tb3 g4 34.1:[g3 rjJh8 35. ~xg4+-) 31 ..tc6 32 ... ~f6 33.~e2 (33.~d2 rjJg7) 33 ... ~f4
4Jf5 (31 ... rjJh8 32.1:[g4 ~e5 33.~c1+-) 34.1:!:b4 Φg7 (34 ... tbf5 35.exf5 ~xb4 36.fxe6!
32.1:[g4 ~d6 33.~xd6 4Jxd6 34 ..txg5±] .tf6 37.exf7 rjJxf7 38. ~e8+ rJi2g7 39 ..ic2 ~f4
27 ..tb6 [27.1:[f2 .ie7 (27 ... g4 28. ~c2! ~xc2 40.~g6 Φm 41.~xh6+ .tg7 42.~xa61:[xd7
29.1:[xc2 gxf3 30 ..ib6 [5 31 ..tb3! Φh8 43. ~c8+ Φe7 44.1:[e1+ .te5 45. ~c5+-)
32.1:[c8! ~axc8 33.dxc8~ .ί::1.χc8 34 ..td4+ 35.MC4±
.tg7 35.1:[xg7+-) 28.~d4!? (28.~c2 ~xc2 c) 25 ... g5! 26 ..tb6 ~c4 27.1:[e1 (27 ..txd8
29.Mxc2 4Jxf.3 30 ..tb6 Mm 31.Mbc7 Mab8=t=; ~xe4+ 28.f.3 ~xb7 29 ..tf6 tbf5 30.~c1! ~b6
28 ..tb6 1:[m 29.Mb2 ~c3!oo; 28.~b3 ~xb3 31.~c8+-; 29 ... ~c7 30.d8~ ':xd8 31 ..txd8
29.MXb3 Mdb8 30.Mfb2 Ϊtxb3 3U:rxb3 rjJg7 oo ; ~f4 32 ..tc2+-; 27 ... ~xd8 28.f.3 .tg7 29.~f2
29 ... a5 30.MC2 [5 31.1:!:bc3 ~ab8 32.~c8 tbg6 30 ..ί1d2;!;) 27.ι.te7 (27 ... .tg7 28.~b3!
Φf700) ~xd4 29.SΙxd4 Mab8 (29 ... Mdb8 ~xb3 29 ..ixb3 1:[m 30.j"c5 1:[fd8 31.Jte7
30.J::rfb2 Mxb7 31.J::rxb7 4Jxf.3 32.J::rc7 J::rd8 tbg6 32 ..ixd8 z:!:xd8 33.MC1 tbe7 34.1:[bc7
33 ..tb6 tbe5 34.J::rc8 J::rf8 35.d8~ .txd8 Φh7 35.j"a4+-) 28.j"xd8 .a:xd8 (28 ... Jtxd8
36.J::rxd8 J::rxd8 37 ..txd8 Φg7 38.Sιc7±; 29. ~c2 ~xc2 30.j"xc2 Φf8 31.1:[c1 tbg6
29 ... a5!?) 30.Mfb2 ~xb7 3U::txb7 4Jxf3 32.j"a4 tbe7 33.1:[b2+-; 29 ... ~d4 30.1:[e3±)
(31 ... rjJh7 32 ..tc3) 32.j"c3 Φh7 (32 ... f5 29. ~c2 ~d4 (29 ... ~xc2 30 ..ixc2 Φf8
33.exf5 exf5 34 ..ί::1.b6+-; 32 ... g4 33.MC7 [6 31.Jta4 tbf.3 32.MC1 +-) 30.1:[d1 ~e5 31. ~e2
34 ..ia5 Mf8 35.MC8±) 33.MC7 4Jxh2 34.MC8 Sιc5 32.f.3;!;
tbf3 (34 ... tbg4 35 ..ia5 ~g8 36.J::re8 .if6 25.j"b6
37 ..ic7 e5 38.'it>g1 h5 39.lιd1+-) 35 ..ta5 25.~a1 ~c4 26.~xe5? Sιg7;
Mg8 36.1:[e8~] 27 ... .id6 [27 ... .ig7 28.1:[c7 25.1:[e1 tbc4? 26.Jtd4 ~a3 (26 ... e5
~a2 (28 ... ~b4 29.1:[c6 Sιf6 30 ..ixd8 J::rxd8 27.Jtc3 ~a3 28.Jtb3 ~c5 29 ..txc4 ~xc4
31. ~c2) 29.J::rf2 ~a3 (29 ... ~a1 30.~xa1 30.Sιa5+-; 27 ... .tc5 28.1:[e2 ~a3 29 ..tb3
.ta1 31.kIc1 SΙf6 32 ..txd81:[xd8 33.1:[c8+-) ~a7 30.Sιb2! tbxb2 31.~d5 z:!:xb7 32.~xf7+
30.MC4 nab8 (30 ... ~e7 31.1:[fc2+-; 30 ... tbg6 Φh8 33. ~f6+ 'it>h7 34 . ..ITιf7+-; 31 ... 4Jd3
31 ..tc5 ~a1 32.~xa1 .txa1 33 ..tb6 J::rdb8 32.~xf7+ Φh8 33.~f6+ Φh7 34.~xd8 tbf4+
34.J::rd2 .tf6 35 ..tc7±) 31 ..txd8 (31 ..tc5 ~a1 35.Φf1+-; 26 ... tbd6 27.1:[b1 ~c4 28.~c1 ~b4
32. ~xa1 .txa1 33.1:[f1 .te5 34 ..te7 J::rb2!=; 29 ..tc5 ~b8 30.~c6+-; 27 ... e5 28 ...ITιb3
33.J::rc1.tf6 34..td6 J::rb7 35 ..tc7 tia8; 32.1:[c1 ~xb1 29.~xb1 exd4 30.e5 tbf5 31.e6±) 27.
~f6 33 ..td6 l1a8 34 ..tc6 J::ra7 35.e5 ~f4 ~c2 e5 (27 ... tba5 28.~c7 ~e7 29.~c3+-)
36 ..te71:[dxd7 37 ..txd7 .txe5 38.1:[c8+ rjJh7 28 ...ITιa1 tbd6 (28 ...tbd2 29.j"c3 4Jc4 30.Jtb3
39.~d3+ tbg6; 39.1:[d8 1:[c7~) 31 ... l:Ixd8 ~c5 31.Sιb4+-; 28 ... tba5 29 . .sc7 ~d6
32.MC8 j"f6 33.e5 .te7 34 ..ic2±] 28.~f2 .te5 30. ~c3+-; 28 ... Jtb4 29.1:[xb4 ~xb4 30.
29. ~c2! ~b4 (29 ... ~xc2 30.J::rxc2 .ί::1.f8 1:[bl±) 29.j"b2! (29 ..ί1b6 tbb5 30.j"xe5 ~e7oo;
31.j"c5 .sfb8 32.llxb8+ Mxb8 33 ..tgl+-) 29 . .ί1c7 Jtg7 30.1:[d1 tbb5 31.1:[c8 ~f8
Linαres 55
32.1:!.xa8 1:!.xa8 33 . .1xb5 axb5 34. t'fc7±; 25 ... jιe7 26.jιb3 t'fa3 27.i.xd8 'sxd8
29 ... LΔb5 30 . .1xb5 axb5 31 . .1xe5 t'fe7 28.f4LΔc6 29.1:!.c7±;
32 . .1b2 t'fg5+ 33.ιJth1 i.b4) 29 ... t'fa2 25 ... jιg7 26.i.xd8 1:!.xd8 27.'sc7! i.f6
(29 ... t'fxa4 30.t'fxa4 LΔxb7 31.t'fc6 LΔc5 28.1:!.c8 ςtJh7 (28 ... LΔg4 29. t'fxg4 t'fxa4
32.1:!.dl+-) 30.i.b3 t'fa5 31.J::!:a1 LΔxb7 30.J:ι.d1 cJ;;g7 31.J:ι.xd8 i.xd8 32. t'ff3±)
(31 ... t'fxa1 32.i.xa1 LΔxb7 33.t'fc6+-) 29.ktxd8 i.xd8 30. t'fd4 t'fa3 31.f4 LΔd3
32.1:!.xa5 LΔxa5 33. t'fc7!+-; 32.i.d1! t'fa2+ (32 ... ςtJg8 33.i.e2 LΔb4
25 ... t'fc4! 26.i.b6 (26. t'fd4 t'fxd4 27. 34. t'fd2) 33.ιJth1 t'fd2 34 ..1f3 t'fc2 (34 ... i.h4
.1xd4LΔd3=) 26 ... LΔd3 27.J:.e3LΔb2 28.t'fb3 35.l:td1! LΔf2+ 36.ςtJg2 t'fxf4 37.t'fxf2 i.xf2
t'fxa4 29 ..1xd81:!.xd8 30.t'fxb21:!.xd7=. 38.d8t'f+-; 34 ... e5 35.fxe5 jιh4 36.d8t'f!
.1xd8 37.e6! 38"~xf6 LΔf2+ 39 ..ίϊΧf2 t'fxf2
40.t'fxf7+ ςtJh8 41.h4 t'ff1+ 42.ςtJh2 t'ff2+
43.ςtJh3 t'ff1+ 44.ςtJg3+-) 35.f5! gxf5 (35 ...
LΔf4 36.fxg6+ fxg6 37.e5+-; 35 ... i.c7
36.fxg6+ fxg6 37 ..1e2+-; 35 ... e5 36. t'fd5
CLJf2+ 37.z:txf2 t'fxf2 38.t'fxf7+ ςtJh8 39.t'ff8+
ςtJh7 40.fxg6+ cJ;;xg6 41. t'fg8+-) 36.exf5 e5
(36 ... exf5 37.i.e4! LΔf2+ 38.J::!:xf2 t'fxe4+
39.t'fxe4 fxe4 40.1:I.xf7+ Φg8 41.1:I.f4+-)
37.t'fe3! (37.t'fd5 LΔf2+ 38.z:txf2 t'fxf2
39.t'fxf7+ ςtJh8 40.t'fe8+ ςtJg7 41.t'fg6+
Φf8 00 ; 37 ... cJ;;h8 38. t'fxf7 LΔf2+ 39.klxf2
25 ••. t'fc4?! t'fc1!=) 37 ... LΔf4 (37 ... i.f6 38.d8t'f! .1xd8
Surprise, surprise! At the very moment 39.f6+-; 37 ... i.g5 38.f6+-) 38.f6 LΔg6
Ι was fee1ing 1ike winning the game with- (38 ... cJ;;h8 39.t'fxe5LΔe6 40.t'fe3+-) 39.i.e4
out p1aying at all (it happens sometimes t'fc440.klf3+-.
to the other "Linares guys", especially the 25 ... t'fa3 26.'se1! One more quote:
big one, why cou1dn't it happen to me?) But "When White puts his bishop οη b6, he
the text move was not ana1yzed ίη the old doesn't need to be ίη hurry capturing the
notebook extensive1y - un1ike the a1terna- rook. Ιη some cases b1ack-squared bishop
tives. It 100ks active and 10gica1 but ίη the might bejust more va1uab1e than the rook".
old notebook it was rejected with the gen- The genera1 assessments like this ίή the
era1 assessment: "B1ack's οη1Υ chance is the annotations are quite often - but when the
counterp1ay against White weakened king idea is confirmed by the variations be10w
- so if White manages to exchange the it really means something. [26 ..1xd81:!.xd8
queens without immediate 10ss of the d- 27. t'fb3 (27 ..ίϊc7 jιe7 28.1:!.c8 ςtJh7 29.J::!:e1 g5
pawn ίη most cases he's just c10se to win". 30.1:!.e3 t'fb4oo) t'fc5! (27 ... t'fxb3 28.1:!.xb3
Easy to say - hard to prove. The other i.e7 29.1:!.d1+-; 27 ... LΔd3 28.t'fxa3 i.xa3
moves are not much better objective1y as 29.1:!.b3 LΔf4+ 30.ςtJf3 .1d6 31.1:!.c1 e5 32.
the 1ines be10w can prove but White wou1d ~c8+-; 27 ... t'fe7 28.f4 LΔg4 29.t'ff3 LΔf6
p1ay with great precision then. Dear 30.e5 LΔd5 31 . .1c6 LΔb4 32.'sd1 LΔxc6
reader, I'm once more sorry for the never- 33. t'fxc6±) 28.~d1 (28.1:!.b8 i.e7! 29.1:!.d1
ending 'Ό1d notebook" 1ines be1ow. But this LΔg4 30.J:txd8+ i.xd8 31.t'fg3 LΔf6 oo ; 29.
ana1ysis is just some hand-made product 1:!.xd8+ .1xd8 30. t'fb8 t'fa5 31.1:!.a1 LΔd3iii)
ofthe 80th with very 1ittle corrections from .i.e7 29. t'fc2 t'fa5 (29 ... LΔc4 30.ςtJhl+-;
March 2000 - so I'm really proud of it. 29 ... t'fa3 30 ..i.b3 a5 31. t'fc7 .1ffi 32.1:!.b8LΔc6
25 ... g5 26.i.xd8 1:!.xd8 27. t'fa1 t'fc4 33. t'fd6 t'fxd6 34.~xd8+ CLJxd8 35.J::!:xd6+-)
28. t'fxe5+-; 30.jιb3 (30.h3 g5 31 ..1b3LΔg6 32.t'fc7 CLJf4+
33.Φh2 ~a3oo) tbg4 (30 ... .i.g5 31.~c7 ~xc7 32.Φf3 ~h5+ 33.~xe3 1ιc5+ 34.~d2 ~xh2+
32.11xc7 Φf8 33.iιa4+-; 30 ... .i.c5 31.~b2 35.Φd1 iιxb4 36.nxb4 ~xf4 37.nc4 ~b8
iιe7 32.~d2+-) 31.h3 (31.~c7 ~h5oo) 38. ~c3+-; 29 ... ~h4 30.~Ω tbd6 31 ..ί:tb6 a5
31 ... tbf6 (31 ... ~g5 32.hxg4 ~xg4+ 33.<bf1 32.Φh1 ~h5 33 . .ί:tfb1 .i.e7 34 . .sb8+-;
~h3+ 34.Φel±) 32.f4 tbh5 33.Φf3 g5 30 ... iιd6 31. ~xc4 .i.xf4 32. ~d3 ~xh2+
34.fxg5 ~e5oo] ~e7!? [26 ... tbd3 27.1:te3 ~b4 33.Φf3 iιe5 34.1:tf2±) 30.1:tb6 <bh7 (30 ... e5
28.iιxd8 ~xb7 29.iιf6 tbc5 30.d8~ .ί:txd8 31.fxe5 ~xe5 32.z:txa6+-) 31.l:rdl ~h4
31.iιxd8 tbxe4 32. ~d7+-; 26 ... iιe7 27.!te3 32. ~g3 ~h5 (32 ... ~xg3+ 33.hxg3 tbxe4
~a2 (27 ... ~d6 28.~xd6 iιxd6 29 ..i.xd8 34.~c6 .i.e7 35 . .ί:tc8 tbc5 36 . .i.c6 <bg7
1:txd8 30.1::tc3 Φf8 31.f4+-) 28.iιb3 ~a3 37.!!bl+-) 33 ..sbxd6 .i.xd6 34 ..uxd6 ~e2+
(28 ... ~b2 29 . .i.d4) 29 ..i.xe6+-; 26 ... g5 35.Φg1 ~c4 (35 ... ~xe4 36 ..i.dl ~b4 37.
27.~e3 ~e7 (27 ... ~d6 28. ~xd6 .ixd6 ~d3±) 36. ~a3 ~xe4 37 ..i.dl ~xf4 38.
29 ..i.xd8 .sxd8 30 ..sc3 Φf8 31 ..sc8 <be7 ~xa6±
32 ..sa7+-) 28.:ι:ϊ.b3 g4 29 ..ixd8 :ι:ϊ.Χd8 30.1::tb8
tbf3 31 ..sxd8 ~xd8 32 ..sb8 ~xb8 33.d8~
~xh2+ 34.<bf1+-; 26 ... .i.c5 27 ..i.xd8 .sxd8
28.~b3 tbd3 (28 ... ~xb3 29 ..::!.xb3 <bf8 30.f4
tbc4 31.1:tcl tbd2 32 ..ί:txc5 tbxb3 33.1::tc8 <be7
34 ..ί:txd8 ΦΧd8 35.iιxb3 <bxd7 36.h4+-)
29.~b8! tbxe1+ (29 ... Iίxb8 30.~xb8+ ~h7
31.d8~ tbxe1+ 32.<bf1+- 30.Φf1 ~a1
(30 ... ~c1 3U:txd8+ Φg7 32.ktg8+ Φh7
33.d8~ tbd3+ 34.~d1 ~f4 35.!!h8+ <bg7
36.~g8+ Φf6 37.~e2+-) 31 ..1:!:xd8+ Φh7
32.~d1 ~f6 33.~h8+! ~xh8 34.d8~+-;
26 ... tbc4 27.iιxd8 .sxd8 28.~c2 ~c5 29.~Ω 26.~d4!
tbd2+ 30.~xd2 ~c4+ 31.~g2 ~xa4 32. Α key moνe. Otherwise Black has good
~d3±; 26 ... .i.g7 27 ..i.xd8 .sxd8 28.~b3 ~c5 counterchances. Mter the text moνe the
29 ..sdl±] 27 ..i.xd8 .ί:txd8 [27 ... ~xd8 28.~b3 queen exchange is practically forced - and
~f6 29. ~g3 Ild8 30.f4 tbc4 31.e5 ~e7 in a higher sense White's position is tech-
(31 ... ~f5 32.J::ιc7 tbd2 33.iιc2 ~h5 34 ..i.d1 nically won. 26.f3 tbd3 27.iιxd8 .sxd8ZΌ
~f5 35 ..i.g4 tbe4 36 ..i.f5 tbxg3 37.hxg3+-; 26 ... ~xd4
32 ... .i.b4 33 ..1:!:xc4 1ιχe1 34. ~xe1 ~g4+ 26 ... ~e2 is the οηlΥ way to keep queens
35.Φh1 ~f3+ 36.Φgl+-) 32.~c3! (32 ..sc1 οη the board. Howeνer, the refutation is
~c5 33 ..sc3 ~d4 34.~d3 tbe3+ 35.~xe3 rather easy: 27.'i;t:xe5 ~g4+ 28.'~·g3 ~xe4+
~xa4 36.1::td3 ~c2+ 37.~h1 a5oo) ~h4 29. §'f3 §'xa4 30.!!cl!+-. The same idea:
33 ..se4 tbxe5 (33 ... iιc5 34. ~g3 ~h5 35 ..sc7 White will always haνe time for .i.xd8, so
tbd2 36 ..se1.i.b6 37 ..sc8+-) 34. ~xe5 ~g4+ he plays the useful moνe at first. The
(34 ... iιg7 35.f5 ~g5+ 36. ~g3 ~xf5 37. threat .sc8! is decisiνe. (30.iιxd8 .sxd8
.i.c6+-) 35.Φf2 ~h4+ 36.Φe3 ~h3+ 37.Φd2 31 ..sd1 .i.g7 32.J::ιc7;\;) 30 ... .i.e7 31 ..sc8!
~g2+ 38.ΦcΙ ~h1+ 39.~c2 ~g2+ 40.~b1 (31.iιxd8 ~xd8 32 ..ί:tc8 Φg7 33 ..sxd8 .i.xd8
~h1+ 41.Φa2 .ig7 42 ..sb8 .ixe5 43.J:rxd8+ 34.§'c3+ Φh7=) 31 ... Iιaxc8 32.dxc8§' ':xc8
<bh7 44.~xe5 ~xh2+ 45.~a3 ~xf4 46 ..sc8 33 ..sxe7 ~f8 (33 ... §'c6 34 ..ί:.χf7! §'xb6
~xe5 47.d8~+-] 28.f4 tbc4 29.~d3 tbd6 35. §'f6 §'c6+ 36.f3 §,c2+ 37.Φg3+-) 34.I:tc7!
(29 ... ~c5 30 . .seb1 tbe3+ 31.<bf3 tbc4 (34.iιc5 §'a5 35.1ιe3 g5±) 34 ... f5 (34 ... f6
32 ..sb8+-; 30 ... 1ιe7 31 ..sb8 Φf8 32 ..sc8 35.iιe3 §'h4 36.h3 f5 37.§'c6+-) 35.1ιe3 g5
.sxc8 33.dxc8~+ ~xc8 34 ..sc1 ~b8 35 ..sxc4 (35 ... f4 36 . .i.c5+-; 35 ... §'h4 36.h3+-)
~xf4 36.~c3+-; 30 ... iιd6 31 ..s7b4! tbe3+ 36. §'h5 .sf6 (36 ... §'e4+ 37.f3+-; 36 ... §'g4+
Linαres 57
37.t;rxg4 fxg4 38.MC6+-) 37.h4!+- !;td8 35.iιc7 ςt>f8 36.f4 CZJc4 37.e5 JLh4
27 ..1ιχd4 CZJd3 (37 ... CZJe3+ 38.c:l;f3 CZJxd1 39.exf6 !;txd7
Here we are: queens are exchanged - so 40.JLxd7+-) 38 . .ί:.d4 CZJe3+ 39.r:J;;f3 CZJd5
it must be won somehow. But how? The 40 ..1ιa5 !;tb8 41.!;tc4 !ιb2 42.!ιc2!+-.
positional threat 28 ... CZJc5 is very unpleas- 29.MC7! iιd6
ant. Mter 30 minutes thought Ι managed 29 ... !Ϊ.ab8 30.iιf6 iιd6 31 ..1ιχd8 Mxd8
to calculate the lines carefully and found 32.1:I.c8 iιe7 33.~b1 +-.
the οηlΥ solution. 27 ... CZJc4 28 ..1ιf6 CZJd6 30.JLxc5! iιxc7 31 ..1ιχa8 Mxa8
29.Sc7 CZJxe4 30 ..1ιχd8 Mxd8 31.MC8 JLe7 31 ... Mxd732.iιe3+-
32.Sb1+- 32 •.1ιe7!
28 ...tc6! The point of White's combination. Ιη
Very logical: the knight fork is threat- spite of his extra pawn, Black has ηο de-
ening and Ι can't defend the square c5 fense against 33.!ιc1.
(28.MC7 is not good due to some trivial rea- 32 ...1:!.d8!
sons - see below). 80 Ι have to move either Once more Peter finds the best resource.
rook b7 or bishop a4. Rook moves don't The natural 33 ...txd8 might be a serious
change anything - so what remains? How- mistake now as after c:l;g8-f8-e7 it's hard
ever, Ι had to calculate alllines very care- to see how White can reach more than
fully as even after 28 ..1ιc6! White's win is theoretically drawish ending 1'ι+3p-iι+4p.
not automatic. 28.Mbb1 CZJc5 29.JLc6 At this moment Ι got slightly nervous - ίη
CZJxd7=; 28.MC7 .1ιd6 29.MC4 CZJe5 (29 ... ~f8 Budapest match Ι missed the win ίη the
30 ...tb6 CZJb2 31 ...txd8 CZJxc4 32 ...tf6 ..te7 ending M+p-..t+p. B,epeating the same pro-
33.e5) 30 ...txe5 .1ιχe5=; 28.~d1 CZJc5 29. cess would be just too much. 80 ... 32 ... f6
..txc5 ..txc5 30.MC7 (30 ... .1ιd4 31 ..tι.bc7±; 30. 33.1'ιcΙ ~f7 34.J::ι.xc7 ~xe7 35.MC8+-;
.tι.c1 .1ιd6 3U~b3 ςt>f8 32.Mbc3 r:J;;e7 33.MC8 32 ... JLa5 33 . .tι.c1+-; 32 ... f5 33.MC1 ςt>f7
Mb8=) 30 ... .1ιb6 (30 ... .1ιb4 31.Mdcl+-) 34.Mxc7 c:l;xe7 35.MC8+-; 32 ... .1ιd8 33.Mcl!
31.11c6.1ιa5= .fιxe734.Mc8+-.
28 ... CZJc5 33.1::tdl!
What else? Otherwise ΓΗ just win the Now White wants to play e5 and then
exchange οη d8 and then bring all my rooks Black king will remain in the cage forever
to c8. It might take some time but ηο con- when his White's counterpart would be
centration at all. 28 ... CZJb4?! 29.MXb4 .1ιχb4 able to choose any route across the board
30 ...txa8 Mxd7 31 ...te3+-; 28 ... ..td6 29 ..1ιf6 (to c6, for example). 80 the answer is more
CZJc5 30.Md1! CZJxb7 31 ...txb7+-; 28 ... ..tc5 or less forced. 33 ..1ιχd8 .1ιχd8 34.c:l;f3 ςt>f8
29 ..1ιf6 ςt>f8 30.Mb3 CZJf4+ 31.~f3 CZJh5 35.ςt>e2 ςt>e7 36.Mdl g5;!;.
32 . .1ιχd8 Mxd8 33.Ma1 ςt>e7 34.Mxa6+-; 33 ... f5
28 ... e5 29 ...tb6 CZJf4+ 30.~hl CZJe6 (30 ... a5 33 ... a5 34.e5! c:l;g7 (34 ... a4 35 . .1ιχd8
31.JLxd8 Mxd8 32.Mb5 iιb4 33.Mxe5 CZJe6 iιxd8 36.Ma1 ςt>f8 37.Mxa4 ~e7 38.Ma7+-)
34.f4+-; 32 ... a4 33.Mxe5 a3 34.Me8 CZJe6 35. ςt>f3 c:l;g8 36. ςt>e4 r:J;;g7 37 ..fιxd8 .1ιχd8
35.f4+-) 31 ..1ιχd8 Mxd8 (31 ... CZJxd8 32.MC7 38.ςt>d4 c:l;f8 39.r:J;;c5 ςt>e7 40.c:l;c6+-.
CZJxc6 33.MC8 Ma7 34.Md1 +-) 32.Ma7 CZJc5 34 . .fιxd8 JLxd8 35.exf5 gxf5 36.Md6
33.MC7 c:l;g7 34.MC8 .1ιe7 (34 ... CZJe6 35.Ma1 ςt>f7 37.Mxa6 ςt>e7
c:l;f6 36.Mxa6 ..td6 37 ...ta4 c:l;e7 38.ςt>g2+-) Here we are. White's just an exchange
35.Mbl CZJe6 36.Mbb8 c:l;f6 37.na8+-; 28 ... up but the win is not obvious even now. 80
..tg7 29 ..1ιb6 Mf8 30.Mdl! (30.f4±) 30 ... CZJe5 Ι had to calculate everything once more up
(30 ... CZJb4 31 ...ta4 iιf6 32.iιc5 a5 33.e5 ..tg5 to the won pawn ending. This pawn end-
34.f4+-) 31 ..1ιa4 iιf6 32.iιc5 Mfb8 (32 ... Mfd8 ing brought me some confidence: as old
33.f4 CZJc4 34.e5+-) 33.MXb8+ Mxb8 34 ...td6 masters used to say: "Won pawn ending is
much better than mate ίη 4". 51.~c5 ~f6 52.h6 iιd4 53.~c6+ ~f7 54.
38.Φg3! ~f4+-) 46.h4 ~f7 47.h5 iιb2 (47 ... ..ITιd4
38.1::ta7?! is the kind ofmoνe which can 48.h6 48 ... iιf6 49.h7 iιh8 50.1:tc8 Φg7
be played automatically, especially ίη time- 51.~h4 ~xh7 52.Φg5 iιd4 53.~xf5 e3
trouble. Fortunately Ι wasn't ίη time- 54.1:tc2 Φg7 55.~e4 iιb6 56.'iiιd3+-; 48 ...
trouble: after 38 ... ~d6 39.Φg3 h5 40.Φf4 iιb2 49.Φh4 e3 50.~g3+-) 48.h6 iιd4
.if6t White's win is not easy ifpossible at 49.~d6 iιc3 50.h7 ~g7 51.<j;}h4 <j;}xh7
all. 52.~g5 e3 53.1::te6 iιd2 54.~xf5 ~g7 55.~e8
Φf7 (55 ... iιc1 56.1:te7+) 56.~e4 iιc1 (56 ...
~g7 57.~e6+-) 57.~c4 iιd2 (57 ... iιb2
58.~g4+-) 58.1:tc7+ ~e8 (58 ... Φg8 59.~g6
~f8 60.Φf6) 59.~e6 ~f8 (59 ... Φd8 60.1:!.c2
iιb4 61.f5+-; 59 ... iιa5 60.~c8+ iιd8
61.1:!.c2+-) 60.Φf6 Φg8 (60 ... ~e8 61.f5 ~d8
62.~e7+-; 61 ... iιb4 62.~e6 ~d8 63.~c2+-)
61.~c8+ Φh7 62.1:te8 e2 (62 ... iιc1 63.Φf7
iιd2 64.~d8!+-; 62 ... iιc3+ 63.~f7 .id4
64.1:te6+-) 63.1::txe2 iιxf4 64.~e6!+-;
44 ... iιb2 45.~c6 Φf7 46.h4 iιg7 47.h5
~f6 48.~f3 (48.~c7 iιh6 49.~h7 iιf8)
38 ... iιc7+ 48 ... ..th6 49.~c7 (49.J:ιc2 iιf8 50.~g2 iιg7
Peter was, howeνer. Ν ow the game is 51.Φe3 Φf7 52.~d3 iιh6 53.~f2 iιf8 54.Φc4
oνer. After the best moνe 38 ... Φχd7 he iιh6 55.~f1 Φf6 56.~c5 e5 57.fxe5+ Φχe5)
could check my technical skills for some 49 ... iιf8 5ω:ι.h7 (50.~e3 iιh6 51.~h7 iιf8)
more moνes: 50 ... iιc5 51.h6 (51.~h8 ~g7 52.~c8 iιd4
39.1:!.a7+ ~e8 (39 ... .ic7+ 40.Φh4+-; 53.~c6 Φh6 54.~xe6+ Φχh5 55.~c6 iιh8
39 ... ~c6 40.~h7 iιc7+ 41.f4 e5 42.~xh6+ 56.Φe3 iιg7 57.J:::!:e6 iιc3 58.Φd3 iιg7)
'iiιd5 43.fxe5 Φe4 44.h4 ..txe5+ 45.Φf2 51 ... Φg6 52.~c7 λd4 53.h7 iιg7 54.~e7
iιd4+ 46.~f1 [4 47.h5+-; 39 ... Φd6 40.~h7 Φχh7 55.!Ixe6 Φg8 56.Φe3 ~f7 57.~c6 iιb2
iιg5 41.f4 iιf6 42.h4 h5 43.l:[xh5 Φe7 44. 58.Φd3 ~e7 59.~a6 iιc1 60.~a4 Φe6;
~h7+ ~f8 45.h5+-; 41 ... iιd8 42.!Ixh6 Φe7 46.Φh4! 46 ... Φf6 47.Φh5 iιa3 (47 ... iιd4
43.1:ιh8 iιb6 44.~h4! Φf6 45.~h5 iιc5 46. 48.h4 iιf2 49.~c3 iιd4 50.~g3 iιc5 51.~h6
1:!.c8 iιd6 47 .1:tc4 e5 48.fxe5 Φχe5 49.h4 iιe7 iιf8+ 52.Φh7 iιd6 53.~f3) 48.Φh6 iιb4
50.Φg6 [4 51.h5 f3 52.h6 f2 53.1::tcl+-) 49.h4 iιd2 50.~c4;
Once more the natural 40.1::th7?! iιg5 44 ... iιd8!
(40 ... iιf6 41.~xh6 Φf7 42.~h7+ iιg7 40.Φf4! Moνe 40! Luckily Ι wasn't ίη
43.~h4) 41.f4 iιf6 42.1:!.xh6 ~f7 43.~h7+ time-trouble - so most probably Ι could find
Φg6 allows Black to build some kind offor- it. 40 ... iιb6 (40 ... iιf6 41.~h7 h5 42.1:ιχh5
tress: (43 ... iιg7 44.~h4 Φg6 45.~xg7+ ~f7 43.~g5! iιd4 44.1:tg2 ~f6 45.h4 e5+
~xg7 46.~g5+-) 44.~c7 (44.~d7 iιb2 46.Φf3 iιb2 47.h5 iιc148.~g6+ ~f7 49 ..a:c6
45.~d6 ~f6 46.~c6 iιd4 47. Φh4 iιe3 48.~c4 iιd2 50.h6+-) 41.~h7 iιd4 (41 ... iιxf2
~g6; 47.h3! <j;}f7 48.<j;}h4 <j;}f6 49.~h5; 42.~e5) 42.~xh6 ~f7 (42 ... Φe7 43.f3 iιg7
44 ... .ic3 45.!Id6 ..te1+ 46.Φf3 ~f7) e5 44.~g6 iιc3 45.Φg5 iιd2+ 46.f4+-) 43.~g5
45.!Ic6 e4 (45 ... <j;}f7 46.h3 <j;}e7 47.fxe5 iιxf2 44.~h7+ ~f8 45.~f6+-
..txe5+ 48.Φf3 <j;}f7 49.h4 iιf6 50.h5 iιg5 39.Φh4 Φχd7
51.h6 ..ITιd2 52.<j;}g3 ..ITιe3 53.<j;}h4+-; 49 ... <j;}g7 39 ... iιxh2 40.~xe6+ ~xd7 41.~xh6+-
50.h5 50 ... ..ITιh2 51.~g6+ Φf7 52.1:!.g5 Φf6 40.~a7!
53.~g2 iιe5 54.h6 Φf7 55.Φe3+-; 50 ... Φf7 The pawn endgame with an outside
Linαres 59
passed pawn is the simplest way to win.
40 ... Wc6
Finally Ι could relax while checking my
calculations of the pawn ending. Ι did it
again and again what caused my team (my
second GM Alexey Lugoνoi and "the spe-
cialist" ICCF-GM Gennady Nesis) feeling
a bit uncomfortable. Anyway: when one is
so close to beat the player who was not
defeated in his last 60 games some extra
accuracy can't do any harm. 40 ... e5 41.Wh5
e4 42.Wxh6 f4 43.Wg5 e3 44.fxe3 fxe3
45.I!.a2 We6 46.h4 Άe5 (46 ... jLd8+ 47.Wg4 41.k!.xc7+! Φχc7 42.Φh5 e5
Wf7 48.h5+-) 47.h5 .i.c3 48 ..ϊ:ί.e2 Wf7 49.h6 42 ... Wd6 43.Φχh6 Φe7 44.Φg6+-
43.Φχh6 Φd6 44.Wg5 Φe6 45.h4 {4
i.d2 50.h7 <ttg7 51.l:th2 e2+ 52.Φf5 wh8
53.kίxe2+-
46.h5 f3 47 .'.tg4 1-0
Epίlogue
The morning before Ι left 8t. Petersburg for Linares was extremely chaotic. E-mails,
phone calls, some other urgent things to be done immediately... That's right, after Las
Vegas (and especially Budapest) Ι was forced to reduce my GM 8chool actiνities - but
anyway Ι felt certain responsibility and had to do something before one month break.
80 Ι was packing in a hurry - and when Ι unpacked my luggage in Linares - oh, Lord!!!
- the old notebook was not ill. It's not necessary to add that my entire opening preparation
for Linares was based οη the 'Όld notebook" lines and unfortunately Ι didn't haνe enough
time to copy most of them to my new notebook (now Ι mean Pentium-III portable
computer). For the νery first moment Ι was in real panic - well, Ι checked these lines
accurately but still Ι couldn't remind most ofthem automatically - so ''How are you, Mr.
Κhalifman? Out ofyour opening preparation again? Welcome to Linares - your 'chamber
ofhorrors". Ι started producing some crazy ideas like calling home and asking my wife
to send this old notebook to Linares by express-post but then suddenly stopped. 80
what happened? Ι left the old notebook at home, but who told ii1e that these lines were
worth Linares? Who told me that Linares was worth these lines??? That's true - these
analysis might be able to bring me some points there. But what can it change? What
can it change in my life??? When we speak from the materialistic point ofνiew - playing
well or badly in the eνent where the budget lion's share is the appearance fee for the
Greatest Chess Player of ΑΙΙ Times doesn't make some special difference - in the World
Championship it does.Is good or bad result there important for the inνitation to the
next Linares tournament? Hard to belieνe - the inνitations to the super-eνents don't
depend οη one's results. 80me months ago Ι read the funny article in some Russian
newspaper. There is an exact quote: "The traditional chess super-tournament ίη Linares
will take place ίη February 2000. According to the demand by the World Champion
Garry Kasparoν 6 highest-rated players are inνited to play there". Then Alexander
Morozeνich declined the inνitation - ηο further demand followed - somehow Ι was inνited.
Probably it was not exactly this way and Linares organisers weren't following any
demands - so the whole story bejust the fantasy ofthejournalist who wrote that article.
But anyway if nothing seems to be wrong with the situation when the players are
inνited to the eνent due to the demand of another player who's supposed to play there
as well then something is really wrong with the chess world.Would good or bad result
ίη Linares produce some positiνe or negatiνe influence οη my image ίη chess media?
Most probably not - the words written about me by this or that author after Las Vegas
didn't depend οη my play or my results but mainly οη the membership ofthe author ίη
this or that fan-club. When Ι understood clearly all aboνe-mentioned facts Ι decided
that it was a good sign - let my old notebook sleep ίη peace at home till the next World
Championship (or at least the eνent with the good prize fund which is not compiled due
to someone's demand). Ι felt fine then - ίη a couple of games Ι eνen tried the old notebook
lines - when these lines were not of some critical importance. 80 let's wait for the next
World Championship. Will it happen - who knows? The chess players can only hope (or
pray if someone is able to). If unfortunately the worst happens and the chess world
returns back to pre-FIDE chaos then ΓΗ probably publish these lines step by step at
www.gmchess.com. Future will show...
21 C42 ιίJc3 27.~xc3 V2 Topaloν - Akopian, Madrid

Kasparov - Shirov 1997. But 22.~b2·claimed attention too.
Round 1 28.02 22 ... ~xa4 23.~xb7 IZa3 24.Mfcl "f!ic7
Black solνed aH opening problems.
1.e4 e5 2.Ct:Jf3 Ct:Jf6 3.ιίJxe5 d6 4.ιίJf3 25.~al
Ct:Jxe4 5.d4 d5 6.iιd3 ~d6 7.0-0 0-0 8.c4 White tries to release from the disagree-
c6 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.ιίJc3 ιίJxc3 11.bxc3 able rook.
~g4 12.Mbl ιίJd7 13.h3 ~h5 14.Mb5 ιίJb6 25 ... ~b8
15.c4 ~xf3 16."f!ixf3 dxc4 17.~c2 "f!id7 Ιη case of 25 ... Mxa1 26.Mxa1 Mb8 it is
18.a4 g6 19.~d2 not good to play 27.'ΊJ.xa7? Ct:Jc8. But 27.iιe4
19.~h6 is not used by many players al- is possible and White can resist.
though White got an adνantage ίη the 26.~e4 Mb3
game 8νidler - Akopian, Ereνan 1996. The rook οη a3 is too strong.
19 ... c3 20.~xc3 27.iιd2
There was some equality after 20. "f!ixc3 That is the last attempt to improνe the
Uac8 21."f!ib3 Mc7 22.iιd3 :i:fc8 23.Ue1 ~f8 matter. And there is little chance after
24.a5 Ct:Jc4 25.~xc4 Mxc4 26.MXb7 "f!ixd4 Α. 27 ..i.b4 ..Ith2+ 28.Φh1 MXf3 29.J::ι.xc7 ~xc7
80koloν - Finegold, Reykjaνik 1990. 30.iιxf3 Ct:Jc4 31.Mxa7 MXb4 32.Mxc7 ιίJd2
20 ... J::ι.ac8 21.~e4 too.
Also there was an interesting 21 ..i.b3 27 ... ~h2+ 28.'.i>hl MXf3 29.Mxc7 MXf2!
"f!ic6 22.MC1 a6 23.d5 and White succeeded That is eνen better than 29 ... ~xc7
ίη getting an adνantage Α. 80koloν - 30.~xf3 Ct:Jc4.
Hernandes, Linares 1999. 30.Φχh2 Mxd2 31.~axa7 ιίJc8?
21 ... Uc422.Mbb1 We can only conjecture the cause ofthis
Α noνelty. Ιη case of 22.k'Hb1 the weak- blunder. The line 31 ... Uxd4 32.MXf7
ness of the first file gaνe Black an oppor- (32 ..i.c2 ιίJc8!) 32 ... Mxe4 33.Mg7+ \tJf8
tunity to clear the air: 22 ... 1Hc8 23.~5b3 34.MXh7 Φg8 35.Mag7+ Φf8 with the el-
Ct:Jxa4 24.iιd2 J::txd4 25 ..i.e3 Mxe4 26."f!ixe4 ementary draw seems to stick out.
Linαres 61
The οηlΥ weakness Black has is the c5-

pawn. Maybe it must be fixed: 31.c4!?
31 ... rJJg8 32.g3 c4! 33.~f4 :td5 34.I:!.e4
l:Ib5 35.tΔxc4
White can not decline absolute ex-
change because 35.1:te2 f6 36.tΔg6 ~xf4
37.tΔxf4 e5 38.tΔg6 tΔa4 is bad for him.
35 ... ~xf4 36.~xί4 tΔxc4 37.I:rxc4 !!xb2
38.:ta41:tc2 39.1:txa7 1h - 112
32.1:!.ab7! 23 Ε59
Now Black loses the knight. Κhalifrnan - Κramnik
32 ... Iιxb7 33.llxc8+ 'it>g7 34.SΙxb7 Round 1 28.02
1:i:xd4 35.g4 h5 36.g5 h4 37.I:!.c7 .tϊf4
38.SΙc8 1:tf2+ 39.c.t>gl I:!.f4 40.cJtg2 Wf8 l.d4 tΔf6 2.c4 e6 3.tΔc3 jιb4 4.e3 ο-ο
41.SΙg4 'it>g7 42.J::!.c5 'it>f8? 5.~d3 c5 6.tΔf3 d5 7.0-0 tΔc6 8.a3 jιc3
42 ... f6 43.1:tc7+ 'it>h8 44.gxf61:txf6 is not 9.bxc3 ~c7 10.~b2 dxc4 1l.jιc4 e5
good enough too, but it is more insis- 12.i..e2 1:!.d8 13. ~c2 SΙg4 14.dxe5 tΔe5
tent and ίη this case White has to play νery 15.c4 tΔf3 16.gxf3 SΙh3 17.!!fdl ~c6
carefully. The change of οηlΥ one rook is not good
43.SΙf3 c.t>g7 44.c.t>f2 1:I.a4 45.'it>e3 k1a3+ for Black. Here is a possible line: 17 ...
46.c.t>f4 1:I.a4+ 47.c.t>e5 I:!.a3 48 ...id5 .:ίe3+ ~xd1+ 18.I:rxd11ld8 19 ..tϊb1! and the left-
49.'it>f4 1:td3 50.~c4 J:ld7 51.J:lc6 J:le7 oνer rook can not be changed! White gained
52..:ίf61-0 an adνantage both the case of 19 ... ~c6
20.rJJh1 h6 2U:tg1 ~e6 22.~c3 rJJf8 23.e4
Jussupow - Van ·der Sterren, Germany
22 Β17 1998 and ίη the case of 19 ... ~d7 20.rJJh1
Leko-Anand i..f5 21.e4 SΙg6 22. ~c3 Taimanoν - Sliwa,
Round 1 28.02 Moscow 1956.
18.~c3 tΔe8 19.c.t>hl J..e6
l.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.tΔc3 dxe4 4.tΔxe4 This order ofmoνes is perhaps the most
tΔd7 5.tΔg5 tΔgf6 6.i..d3 e6 7.tΔlf3 i..d6 correct. Ιη case of 19 ... f6 after 20.Iιd5!?
8. ~e2 h6 9.tΔe4 tΔxe4 10. ~xe4 ~c7 ~e6 2U:tad1 ~xd5 22.cxd5 Black is not
11.~g4 cJtf8 12.0-0 c5 13.c3 b6 14.~h4 good. 19 ... ~f6 is bad because of 20.I:rd5!
SΙb7 15.i..e4 SΙxe4 16.~xe4 cJte7 ~xc3 21.SΙxc3 :tdc8 22.:tad1. White gets
There is an equal position after 16 ... 1:td8 the d-line and adνantage. Also the e3-e4
17.dxc5 tΔxc5 18.~e2 rJJe7 too, Illescas - adνance is not necessary: 19 ... J..g4 20.e4
Karpoν, Dos Hermanas 1997. SΙe6 21.l:Ig1 f6 22.Iιg3 1::td7 23.I:tag11:tad8
17.dxc5 bxc5 18.~el tΔf6 19. 24.~e3 rJJh8 25.h4 ~d6 26.SΙc3 ~f8 27.f4
~e2 .:ίhd8 tΔd6 28.e5 with White's attack Anapolsky
That is quite ίη order. Ticking oνer did - Ostojic, corr. 1991. Kramnik choose
not giνe success: 19 ... tΔd5 Hossain - De the position that was met before: 19 ... f6
Wachter, Calicut 1998. 20.e4 SΙe6 21.~e3 jιf7 22.Itg1 ~d7 23.~g2
20.h3 Φf8 21.tΔd2 SΙh2+ 22.rJJhl SΙf4 jιg6 24.1:tag1 1::tad8 Ibragimoν - Alek-
23.tΔc4 i..xcl 24.~axcll:td5 25.tΔe3 1:td7 sandroν, Ukraine 1991. Ιη this game
26.~cdl ~ad8 27.nxd7 J::!.xd7 28.rJJgl tΔd5 Black made his profit οη the d-file and
29.tΔc4 tΔb6 30.tΔe5 J::!.d6 31.~e4 the pawn weakness at the queenside. That
is why White should change one pair of 24 D18

rooks. Kramnik - Anand
20.~gl f6 21.~g3 IId7 22.1::!.agl I:tad8 Round 2 29.03
ΑΙΙ natural moves have been made by
White. And now some original move is to l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.tΔf3 tΔf6 4.tΔc3 dxc4
be found. 5.a4 iιf5 6.e3 e6 7 . .lί.xc4 .lί.b4 8.0-0 ο-ο
9.tΔh4 tΔbd7 10.tΔxf5 exf5 11:~c2 tΔb6
This is a rare move. Mter 11 ... g6 12.f3
~b6 13.Φh1 J::ιae8 14.~f2 c5 15.~h4 J::ιc8
16 ..lί.a21::!.fd8 17.iιd2 White gets initiative,
Jussupow - Κramnik, Riga 1995.
12...Itb3
Α novelty. The result was a draw after
12 ...Iie2 ~d7 13.a5 tΔbd5 14 ...Iif3 J::tfe8 15.a6
b6 Sambuev - Poliakov, St.Petersburg
1998.
12 ... ~d7 13.a5 tΔbd5 14.f3 .!He8
15.tΔxd5 tΔxd5 16.e4 tΔf6 17.~c4 iιf8
23.iιcl White was successful ίn moving e4. Μ
Now Black possesses the d-line. The ter that he had a good position, although
white bishop concedes the active position Black's position is firm enough.
to turn away a possible incursion οn the 18.exf5
d2-square. Maybe there made sense to get 18.iιg5 deserved attention.
the initiative by 23.e4, 24. ~e3, 25.h4. Ιn 18... J::ιad8 19.ΦhΙ ::ι.e7
this case the instant response 23 ... z:td2 Black gets back the pawn but White has
loses because of 24.Uxg7+! with a mating some advantage due to the bishop pair.
attack. 20:~c2 1f2 - 1/2
23 ... iιf5 24.e4 iιg6 25.h4 tΔc7 26 ...Itf1
There is an interesting line offered by
Κramnik: 26 ...Ith6 tΔe6 27.h5 ..Itxh5 28. ~xf6 25 C42
..Itg6 29.Uxg6 hxg6 30.~xg6 with a little Shirov - Leko
compensation. Round 2 29.03
26 ... tΔe6 27.z:th3?
27.iιh3!? l.e4 e5 2.tΔf3 tΔf6 3.tΔxe5 d6 4.tΔf3
27 ... iιh528.1::!.hg3 tΔxe4 5.d4 d5 6 ..lί.d3 ..Itd6 7.0-0 0-0 8.c4
These is the second blunder. Being ίn a c6 9.~c2 tΔa6 10.a3 ..Itg4 11.tΔe5 ..Itxe5
mad rush White did not venture οn the key 12.dxe5 tΔac5 13.f3 tΔxd3 14.~xd3 tΔc5
line: 28. ~xf61::!.f8 29. ~e5 iιxf3+. Although 15.~d4 tΔb3 16.~xg4 tΔxal 17.iιh6 g6
after 30.iιg2 iιxg2+ 31.~xg21::!.d1+ 32.1::!.g1 18.tΔc3!?
J::ιxgl+ 33.Φχg1 tΔd4 Black beyond doubt Α novelty. If 18.cxd5 then 18 ... ~xd5
has an advantage some intention main- 19.tΔc3 ~c5+ 20.Φh1 tΔb3 21.iιxf8 J::ιxf8
tains. 22. ~f4 with White's slightly better play,
28 ... Φh8 29.~e3 Gipslis - Gerts, Biel 1996. The computer
29 ..lί.h3 is bad because of 29 ... J::ιd3. played better: 18 ...Itxf8 ~xf8 19.cxd5 ~c5+
29 ... tΔd4 30 . ..Itg2 J::ιe8 31.J::ιh3 ~a4 20.Φh1 ~xd5 21.tΔc3 ~b3 22.~d7 ~xb2
32..lί.f1 ~dI33 ..lί.g2 ~c2 34.f4 tΔe2 35.J::ιf1 23.e6! fxe6 24.~xe6+ Φh8 25.~e5+ Φg8
J::ιdl0-l 26.J::ιb1 ~c2 (26 ... ~xa3 27.tΔe4 tΔc2 28.
Linαres 63
tbf6+ 'it>f8 29.tbg4) 27.1::txa1 and White had 33.iic5 tbxf5 34.a4 tbe3+ 35.~f2 tbc4
an extra piece, Genius-4 - Rebel-9, Hun- 36.nd7 tbe5 37.1::txb7 tbd3+ 38.'it>g3 tbxc5
gary 1998. It is curious that Rebel-9 did 39.bxc5 ~c8 40.~b6l:txc5 41.l:txa6
not know the game Ljubojeνic - Hort, Although White has got the extra pawn,
played 10 years ago at Amsterdam. Black an eνentual win for him is problematical.
had got the adνantage after 19 ... cxd5 41 ... 'it>g7
20.~d4 tbc2 21.~f2 Ϊlc8 22.~xa7 d4. Al- 41 ... l:Ig5+ only leads to difficulties af-
though after 20.1::tc1 White seemed to keep ter 42.~f4 1::th5 43.J::!.a7 1::txh2 44.a5 Ϊla2
a small opening adνantage. 45.~e5, and White's king actiνity could
18... ~b6+ 19.1:H'2 become too dangerous. For example ifthere
It was risky to play 19.'it>h1 ~xb2 be- is a careless 45 ... J::!.f2? then 46.a6 1::ta2
cause the line 20. ~h4 f6 21.1::tb1 ~xc3 47.Wf6 and White wins.
22.1::txb7 was easily refuted by 22 ... ~xc4, 42.1::ta7+ Wh6 43.J::tb7 ~g5+ 44.'it>h3
but the more solid 20. ~f4 f5 21.tba4 1::th5+ 45.'it>g2 J::!.h4 46.a5 1::ta4 47.!:ϊ.b5 g5
~xa3 also did not look too good. 48.Ϊlb6+ 'it>h5 49.a6 g4 50.f4 1::ta2+!
19...1::tfe8 20. ~f4 f5 21.cxd5 tbb3 22.e6 The moνe 50 ... ~xf4? could giνe Black
cxd5 23.tbxd5 ~xe6 24.tbc7 ~c6 25.tbxe8 trouble after: 51 ..ί:I.b5+ ςJ,;>h4 52.1::ta5.
1::txe8 51.~g1 g3! 52.h3 1::tc2 53.1::tb7 ~a2
The position has been simplified, but 54.1:!.g7
White keeps the adνantage: The continuation 54.~xh7+ ~g6 55.1:ιa7
~f5 is not good enough either.
54 ...1::txa6 55.~g2 h6 56.~xg3 ~a3+
57.~g2 Ua2+ 58.~f3 ςJ,;>h4 59.f5 ~xh3
Black won back the pawn and now he
only has to be exact ίη his playing.
60.f6 Ma1 61.Wf4 J:.f1+ 62.~e5 h5
63.1:ιg5 h4 64.1:ιf5 ~e1+
Mter 64 ... 1:ιxf5+?? 65.~xf5 ~g2 66.f7 h3
67 .f8~h2 and a series of checks the white
queen goes to e2 and White wins after ~g4.
65.~f4 .ί:I.f1+ 66.~g5l:Ig1+ 67.'it>h6 1:ιg8
68.1:ιg5 ~f8 69.~g7 1::ta8 70.f7 ~h2
26.g4! ~c5?! The draw is eνident. Eνen after 71.f8~
26 ... ~b6 was a stronger moνe. Now af- 1:ιχf8 72.~xf8 h3 73.~f7 ~h1 74.~f6 h2 the
ter 27. ~a4 White could get an extra pawn, white king is away off.
keeping his threats to the black king: 71.~f6 1:ιf8 1fz - 1fz
27 ... Ϊle1+ 28.~g2 tbd4 (28 ... ~d5 29.gxf5
gxf5 30.~xa7) 29.~d7 tbe6 30.gxf5 gxf5
31.~xb7. 26 D97
27.'it>g2 tbd4 28.b4 ~e5 29.~d2 ~xf4 Khalifrnan - Kasparoν
30.iixf4 tbe6 Round 2 29.03
Mter all simplifications White keeps his
initiatiνe. 1.d4 tbf6 2.c4 g6 3.tbc3 d5 4.tbf3 iig7
31.lιe3 a6 32.gxf5 tbg7!? 5. ~b3 dxc4 6. ~xc4 ο-ο 7.e4 tba6 8.iie2
Mter 32 ... gxf5 Black gets a new weak- c5 9.d5 e6 10.0-0 exd5 11.exd5 iif5
ness. The hero ofthe battle (it is the black 12.lιe3 ~b6 13.b3 1:ιfe8 14.1::tad1 1:ιad8
knight. His run from g8 to a7 and back to Α noνelty. The line 14 ... tbg4 15.iid2
g7 is impressiνe.) begins his last tour. ~ad8 16.1:ιfe1 tbb4 17.tba4 ~d6 18.iif4
with adνantage, Ree - Chandler, Salonika ~xe5) 26 ... ~e5 27.~xe2 '§h2+. The moνe
1984, didn't giνe the equal position; nei- 24.gxf3 is better, 24 ... tZJxc5 25. '§xc5 '§g5+
ther an exchange sacrifice did: 14 ... .ί:txe3 26.~h1 '§ίΕ 27.Wg2 and Black has οηlΥ a
15.fxe3 tZJg4 16.tZJa4 '§a5 (16 ... '§d6 17. '§f4 draw.
'§xf4 18.exf4 tZJb4 19.a3 tZJc2 20.~d2 b6 21.tZJxd4 i..xd4 22.1:Ixd4!
21.i..d3±) 17.e4 tZJe3 18. '§c1 tZJxd119.exf5± 22.b4 is too gamble and giνes Black a
15.h3 '§a5 16.l:ifel tZJd7 17.tZJa4 tZJb4 good attack, for example: 22 ... z:te4 23.bxc5
18.i..g5 '§h4 24. '§c2 z:If4 25 ..iιd3 .I1ιxh3.
Subsequent game showed it was not the 22 ... cxd4 23.i..g4
best choice. It was not good 18.tZJxc5 tZJxc5 23.J::ω1? a6-+
(this interesting line was suggested by 23 ••. i..xg4 24.hxg4 &!.e4?!
Shipoν: 18 ... b5 19.tZJb7 bxc4 20.tZJxa5 cxb3 24 ... b5! 25.'§xb5 tZJf6 deserνed attention
21.axb3 tZJc2) 19.i..xc5 tZJc2 20.b4 '§a4 and Black has a slight adνantage. Now the
21 ..a:f1 b6 22.~d4 tZJxd4! (22 ... '§xb4 sug- situation eνens.
gested by Kasparoν was worse because of 25.f3 tZJe5 26.'§b4
23.i..xg7 ~xg7 24.tZJd4!) 23.tZJxd4 kιe4 with 26. '§b5 Me3 27. '§xb7 tZJd3 28. '§xa7 tZJf4!
different threats. Maybe there 18 i..d2!? with the attack.
suggested by Kasparoν was better. For ex- 26 ...tZJd3
ample 18 ... Me4 19. '§c1 ~de8 20 ~f1 with The position is not clear after 26 ... .a:e2
threats 21.a3, and a piece is lost after 27.'§xd4 '§f6 28.'§d1 .ί:[χa2 29.tZJc3 '§b6+
21.i..xb4 cxb4 22.g4. 30.~h1 ~a3 31.'§e1. But it was draw after
26 ... '§g5 27.fxe4 '§e3+ 28.!tf2 '§c1+. Feel-
ing the lack of time the opponents run to
repetition of the position:
27.'§c4 tZJe5 28.'§b4 tZJd3 29.'§c4
lh-lh
27 C42
Kasparov - Kramnik
Round 3 1.03
Notes by KSαkαev
18 ... tZJc2! 19.~xd8 '§xd8 20.Mf1 1.e4 e5 2.tZJf3 tZJf6 3.tZJxe5 d6 4.tZJf3
20.tZJxc5!? deserνes attention. tZJxe4 5.d4 d5 6.i..d3 tZJc6 7.0-0 i..e7 8.c4
20 ... tZJd4 tZJb4 9.~e2 0-0 10.tZJc3 b6
20 ... tZJa3 gaνe the best νictory chance. This is an interesting noνelty. Ι think,
Mter a forced 21.'§c1 ~xe2 22.'§xa3 i..e4 Kasparoν would not tense the game.
there are many treats οη the kingside. 11.tZJe5 or 11.a3 is possible.
23.~fe1 ~xf3 24.gxf3 ~xe1+ 25.~xe1 '§g5+ 11.a3 tZJxc3 12.bxc3 tZJc6 13.cxd5
26.~f1 '§xd5 and Black has a compensa- '§xd5 14.~el ~b7 15.Jiιd3
tion. After 23.tZJxc5 ~xf3 White is ίη dan- 15.c4 '§d6 is possible here.
ger. 24.tZJxd7 loses because of 24 ... '§xd7 15 ...~ae8
(there was an amusing draw after 24 ... '§g5 Κramnik cannot play 15 ... '§h5? 16.d5!
25.g3 '§xg3+ 26.fxg3 ~g2+ 27.~h1 kIf2+ and Black loses a piece
with the perpetual check) 25.gxf3 '§xh3 16.'§c2
and Black has a νery strong attack: 26.kIfe1 If 16.i..f4 then 16 ... Jiιd6. And if 16.i..e4
(26.f4 i..h6; 26.kId3 i..e5 27.f4 '§xd3 28.fxe5 then '§h5.
Linares 65
16... h6 31. ~e2 loses: 31 ... ~xf2! 32. ~xf2 .!::ί.Χf2
16 ... ~h5!? 33.J::txf2 ~f8 34 ...tf7 (or 34.d6 c2 35.l1c7 ~f2
17.~h7+ ~h8 18.~e4 ~d8 19.iιb2 ~f6 36.d7 1:td2+ 37.~f1 .tf6 38 ...tb3 I:ι.d1+ and
20.c4 CLJa5 21.~xb7 CLJxb7 112 - 1/2 39 ... c1~) c2 35.ac7 ~xf2 36.~xf2 ~f7
White has a slight adνantage after 31 ... ~f3 32.~h2
22.CLJe5. Now it is impossible to play 32 ... iιf2
because of 33. ~e5 J::tf6 34. ~c7
28 C42
Anand - Shirov
Round 3 1.03
Notes by KSakaev
l.e4 e5 2.CLJf3 CLJf6 3.CLJxe5 d6 4.CLJf3

CLJxe4 5.d4 d5 6.~d3 iιd6 7.0-0 0-0 8.c4
c6 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.CLJc3 CLJxc3 11.bxc3
.tg4 12.1:iblCLJd7 13.h3 ~h5 14.J::!.b5CLJb6
15.c4 ~xf3 16.~xf3 dxc4 17.~c2 ~d7
18.a4 g6 19.~e3 kιac8 20.~bl c3 21.a5
CLJc4 22.~b7 ~e6 23.~al! 32 ... ~xd5!
Α strong moνe - Black has a chance to
The idea of this strong moνe is to pro-
tect the a5-pawn and the first rank. 23.I:!.c1 win. It was possible to force a draw:
was played in the game Kazhgaleeν - 32 ... ~xe6 33. ~xe6 (33.dxe6 ~xb7) ~xf2
Arencibia, Elista 1998. This should not 34.nxf2 J::!.xf2 with a perpetual check. It
result ίη White's adνantage. 23.kι1b5 is not seems that 30.J::ιa2 was a mistake.
suitable, if 23 ... CLJa3 then 24.~b3 c2! If 33.~xd5 ~xel
23.Sxa7 then 23 ... lΔd2! 23.lΔb3 is probably Black is better, but the draw is prob-
the strongest. able.
23 ... ~b8 34.~g2
23 ... a6 and White has a slight adνan- Anand made a desiciνe mistake here.
tage. Mter 34.f4 :!:rfe8 White had some chances.
24 ...tb3 34 ... ~xf2 35.kIf7 1:txf7 36.~xf7 ~c5
24.~g5 ~d6 25.g3 ~d4, if24.~h6 then
37 . ..\tb3 Wg7 38.1:tc2 ..td4 39.a6 'Otf6
24 ... ~fd8! (24 ... ~fe8 25.g3) or 24 ..tf4 .txf4 40.1:!.a2 We5 41.h4 We4 0-1
25. ~xf4 ~e2. Then 42 ...tg8 h6 43 ..th7 Φe3 44 ...txg6
ZΙe2 45.J::te2 Φe2 was possible with further
24 ... ~d6
Φd2, c2 and a νictory.
24 ... c2 25.1:!c1 ~d6 26.J::!.c2. Interesting
is 24 ... ~d6 25.g3 c2
25.g3CLJxe3 26 ..txf7+ ~h8 27.~xe3
If 27.~d7 then 27 ... ~c6. White has an C17
adνantage.
Leko - Κhalifman
27 ... ~f6 28.~e6 J::!.ce8 29.d5 ~e5 Round 3 1.03
30.~a2 Notes by S.Ivanov
If30.~xa7 then 30 ... .ί:!.χe6. Anandneeds
to play 30.~f1. White is better. 30.1:!.b4!? l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.CLJc3 ..tb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3
(Lugoνoi). ~a5
30 ....td4 31.~el? Very long this line stayed in the back-
31.~f4!?; 31.~h6!?; 31.~d3!? (Lugoνoi). ground ofthe theory. We owe its reνiνal to
M.Botνinnik who began to appIy it ίη the b) 8 ... ~a5!? Attacking white pawns,
forties and had seνeral conνincing wins. BIack contains his opponent's forces and
Ιη 1954 M.Botνinnik succeeded ίη uphold- preνents him from a quick deνelopment of
ing this system ίη the match with ν. his initiatiνe. 9.~d2 tΔg6 10.h4! (10.4:Jf3
SmysIoν for the title of the World Cham- 4:Jd7 11.c4 ~c7! 12.cd5 ο-ο! 13.d6 ~c5
ρίοη. At present the main apologists ofthe 14. ~b4 tΔge5= Tseshkoνsky - Lputian,
moνe 5 ... ~a5 are Armenian grandmasters Podolsk 1990) 10 ... h511.~g5 (11.~b4 §'b4
R.Vaganian and S.Lputian. 12.ab4 tΔe5 13 ..sιf4 4:Jbc6 14.b5 4:Jg6 15 ..sιc7
6.~g4 tΔe7 7.dxc5 tΔce5 with uncIear pIay, Filipenko -
This is not the basic continuation, yet Tondiνar, Groningen 1993) 11 ... 4:Jd7 12.c4
it is rather maIicious. 7.~g7 z:tg8 8.~h7 cd4 ~a4 (12 ... ~c5!? 13.tΔf3 dc4 14.~b4 ~d5fZ
9.b4 Ieads to a position that will be re- 15.J::i.d1 ~e4 16 ..sιe2 f6 17.ef6 gf6 18. ~e3
garded beIow; 7.b4?! is unfortunate here ~e3 19.fe3 4:Jb6 20.4:Jd2 4:Je5 21.4:Je4 ~f'7
because of 7 ... cb4! 8.tΔb5 b3! 9.c3 tΔf5 22.0-0 4:Jd5, and White's initiatiνe, at most,
10.~d2 ο-ο 11. ~h3 a6 12.g4 ~h4!;1; makes up for the missing pawn, Κruppa -
Timman - Vaganian, Horgen 1995. Lputian, Moscow 1991) 13.cxd5 tΔde5 (an-
7 ...~xc3 8.bxc3 tΔg6 other opportunity is 13 ... ~e4 14.4:Je2 §'d5
BIack can chose now from a νariety of 15.f4 4:Jc5 16.tΔc3 ~d4 17 ..ί::ι.b1;1; Short -
opportunities: Lputian, ManiIa 1990) 14.~e2 Short -
a) 8 ... tΔd7 9.tΔf3 (9. ~g7 occurred al- Timman, Amsterdam 1991 14 ... ed5!?
ready ίη one offounder games ofthe νari 15.4:Jf3 (15.SΙh5 nh5! 16. ~h5 Sιg4 17. ~g5
ant: 9 ... J::i.g8 10.~h7 tΔe5 11.~e2 ~a5! ~c2 with a compensation - L.Ftachnik;
12.~d2 ~c5 13.tΔf3 tΔf3 14.~f3 e5 15.~h5 15.f4 f6 16. ~g3 4:Jg4) 15 ... f6 16. §'e3 ο-ο
~f5!+ Resheνsky - Botνinnik, Moscow with a complex play.
1946) 9.~d3
al) Yugoslaνian EncycIopaedia recom- This is stronger than 9.h4 which was
mends 9 ... tΔg6 10.h4 h5 11"~g3 tΔc5 with pIayed before (Sakaeν).
uncIear pIay. Ιη the game Spirieν - 9 ... 4:Jd7
Mueller, Budapest 1991, 12.tΔg5 ~c7 9 ... 0-0 10.4:Jf3 f5 11.ef6 ~f6 12. ~d4 de-
13 . .ίl.e3 tΔd7 (13 ... 4:Je4!?) 14 ...Itd4 4:Jde5 serνes attention (12.0-0 e5 13.~h5 ~f5!
15.SΙb5 ~f8 16.0-0 f6 17.J::i.ae1 followed, With a counterlpay) 12 ... tΔc6!? 13. ~f6 gf6
White haνing good attack prospects. How- 14.c4 d4 15.~e4 nd8 with a counterlpay
eνer, White can reduce it to the main line (V.Saνon).
with 10.~d3. 10.4:Jf3 ~c7 11.0-0
a2) 9 ... 0-0 10.~d3 f5 11.ef6 4:Jf6 12.'~h4 White is forced to sacrifice the central
The control of the key square e5 ensures pawn: after 11.~g3 there is 11 ... b6 (11 ...
White's opening adνantage. Further oppor- tΔc5 is not bad, too) 12.h4 4:Jde5 13 ..sιg6
tunities: 12 .. .'~Jc6 (or 12 ... ~c7 13.~f4 ~c5 4:Jf3 14.gf3 ~g3 15.~f'7 ~f'7 16.fg3 bc5,
14 ...Ite5 4:Jf5 Κing - Lputian, Dortmund equalizing the game (S.Atalik).
198815.~b4± D.Κing) 13.c4!? ~a514.~d2 11 ... tΔde5
~c5 15.0-0 dc4 16 ...Itc4;!; Lau - Lputian, ΑΙΙ BIack's preνious play was based οη
AItensteig 1989. the attack of the e5-pawn, but maybe it
a3) 9 ... ~c7 is recommended by P.Keres. was worth to change it and play 11 ... 4:Jc5?
After 10.~g7 J::i.g8 11.~h7 tΔe5 12.~h5! Of course White has an initiatiνe after
(12.~b5 ~d7 13.~d7 tΔd7 with uncIear 12.~e3 (or 12.h4 ) 12 ... 4:Jd3 13.cd3 §'c3
pIay is weaker) 12 ... tΔf3 13. ~f3 ~d7 14.sιf4 14.d4, but Black has an extra pawn and a
§'c5;1; White's chances are somewhat bet- solid position.
ter owing to the possession oftwo bishops. 12.4:Je5 ~e5 13.~b5 ~d7 14.~d7
Linαres 67
White should grab at d7, otherwise ~c2 20.f4!) 18.~b7 ~c3 19 . .ϊ::ι.ad1 with
Black will haνe a good position (Sakaeν). White's dangerous attack appears to be
14.~a4 ~c7 dubious, too.
Both 14.l:ιb1 j.b5 15.~b5 ο-ο! and 17.f4
14. ~a4 ~c7 are weaker, White gains noth- White acts rather νigorously. Of course,
ing. now there is ηο sense to play 17.c6?! ~d6,
14...Φd7 15. ~a4! because Black has ηο particular problems
This natural moνe is be a noνelty, and ίη the endgame. Α quiet moνe 17.1ιe3!?
a νery unpleasant one this time. 15.J::tb1 deserνes attention too, making it uneasy
occurred preνiously, and Black had time for Black to coordinate his pieces.
to introduce the h8-rook into the game: 17 ... ~e418.f5 ~b4
15 ... ~hb8 16.f4 (16.c4 ~e4 17. ~h3 d4 An exchange of queens is usually not
18.~h7 ~h8 19.~g7 l:ιag8 20.c6? 'itod6!-+ ίη Black's faνour ίη here: White's pawn
Fogarasi-Atalik, Budapest 1998) 16 ... ~f5 structure improνes, while his rook begins
17. ~e2 tΔe7 18.g4 ~e4 Hachian - Lputian, to work οη the opened a-file. 18 ... ef5
Panormo 1998 19.~e4 de4 20.f5 with υη 19.1ιg5 ~f8 looks rather dangerous, but
clear play. White seems to haνe nothing concrete
15 ... 'itoe7 here.
Probably 15 ... 'itoc7 16.~b1 1:thb8 de- 19.axb4 exf5 20.1:ιχf5
serνed to be chosen, though now Black's White has a clear adνantage after
way is not all roses, too. Black wants to 20.1:ιa7 'itoe6 21 ..ϊ::ι.e1 tΔe5 22.~f4 [6 23.h4±
exchange queens, while White wants to as well.
open υρ files and get to the opponent's 20 ...~e6 21.~f2?
king. S.Atalik recommends 17.~d2 (17. Missing a considerable part of his ad-
~e3 ~c3; 17.c4 ~d4 18.~a5 b6) 17 ... ~e2 νantage. 21.g4 [6 should haνe been played
18.1:ιfd1 ~c4 Black seems to be holding out, (21 ... a6 is bad because of 22.1ιf4 tΔf4
though it is not excepted that White's play 23.1:ιe 1! - White is depriνed of this oppor-
can be reinforced. tunity after the moνe ίη the game) 22.1:ιa7
tΔe5 23.~f4 g6 24.j.e5 fe5 25.~f1 +-
21 ... a6 22 ..if4 tΔf4 23.J::!.f4 f5 24.J::Id4
~bd8 25.~el 'itof6 26.l:ιedl 1:the8 27.c4
1:ιe2 28.lIxd5 1:ιde8 29 . .ϊ::ι.Ιd2 lIxd2 30.
:Ixd2 ~el+ 31.~f2 ~e4 32.lId7 I!xc4
33.J::txb7 a5 34.bxa5 1:!xc5 35.a6 J::!.xc2+
36.'itof3 .ί;!c3+ 37.~e21::tc2+ 1fz-1fz
Black has actiνated his forces and man-
aged to bring the game to a draw owing to
his precise defence. We can conclude that
this game has brought υρ a number of
problems to Black.
16.~b4!
Α dangerous position. Leko seems to 30 C02
haνe a large adνantage (Sakaeν). Shirov - Κhalίfman
16 ... 1:ιab8 Rοu:ιd 4 3.03
Now 16 ... 1:ιhb8 already does not help Notes by S.Iuαnou
because of 17 .c6 ~d6 18.cb7 ~b4 19.ba8~!
~b6 20.~e3 with White's win. 16 ... Φf6 l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 tΔc6
17.~e3 a5 (17 ... ~e4 18.~d4 e5 19.1:ιae1 If Black is not going to allow the struc-
ture that was introduced into practice by 9 ... .1ιd7 (an immediate 9 ... ~g8 lo.cΙJc31:ι.g4
V.Kupreichik (5 ..1ιe3 t;ιb6 6. t;ιd2) to appear, 11.h3 J::tf4 12 ..1ιb5 a5 13.0-0! ab4 14.ab4
he can play 4 ... t;ιb6 at first, and then get ~a1 15. ~a1 is possible as well: White has
the needed position with rearranged order an initiative Keitlinghaus - Blauert,
of moves after 5.4:Jf3 4:Jc6. ΒΥ the way, Budapest 1998) Mter 10.iιe2 (now the
Κhalifman chose this very order ίη the natural 10.4:Jc3? will be encountered with
game we are regarding: he still got the 10 ... 4:Jb4! 11.ab4 - 11.!'!.b1 ~c7+ - 11 ... .tb4
position he wanted, having restricted the 12.~d3 1:ι.c8 13.!'!.c1 t;ιa5 14.<;!od2 ο-ο
resources ofhis opponent at the same time. 15.iιe2 ~c3 16.':c3 ~b5-+) the move
5.4:Jf3 ~b6 10 ... 1:ι.g8!? looks good (10 ... 1:ι.c8 11.0-0 ~g7
5 ... ~d7 was another possibility with 12.~d2 ο-ο 13.1:ι.a2 f614.b54:Ja515.ef61:ι.f6
further exchanging ofbishops 6 ... .1ιb5. 16.4:Je5 iιe8 with complicated play is pos-
6.a3 sible, too Bosch - Lputian, Wijk aan Zee
The chief ideologist of this system, 1999) 11.0-0 1:tg4 12.h3 1:ι.f4 13.g3 1:ι.f3
grandmaster E.Sveshnikov, plays so at 14.iιf3 4:Jd4 15.iιh5 iιg7 16.1:ι.e1 !'!.c8 with
present. Ιη the lines with 6.~d3 and 6 ..te2 a compensation for the sacrifice of an ex-
there were found fairly sound ways to gain change Nikitin - Flohr, Moscow 1957.
an equal play for Black. 8 ... 4:Jf5 9.~b2
6 ... 4:Jh6!? 9.iιe3 is another opportunity.
This is our counterblow. The black Now it is hardly worth to recommend
knight aims at the key square f5 ίη order 9 ... f6 10.iιd3! (Black's calculation was
to attack the d4-pawn, yet it gets there by based οη 10.b54:Je5! 11.de5 4:Je3 12.fe3 ~e3
a not quite traditional route (because 13. t;ιe2 t;ιc1 14. t;ιd1 1ΙΖ Romanishin -
6 ... 4:Jge7 would be followed by 7.dc5 with Lputian, Erevan 1988) 10 ... 4:Je3 11.fe3 fe5?!
the initiative). This plan was introduced (11 ... iιd7t is better) 12.b5 4:Jd4 (or 12 ... e4
into modern practice by grandmaster 13.bc6 .td614.0-0 0-0 15.4:Jg5!± L.Hansen
S.Lputian, and the theory of this line is - Antonsen, Farum 1993) 13.ed4 e4 Otero
based chiefly οη his games. Ιη those years - Nogueiras, Santa Clara 1999, because
Black used to continue 6 ... c4, 6 ... a5 or after the right 14 ..i.e4! dxe4 15.4:Je5 g6
6 ... .td7 without real equalization. 16.0-0 White gains a considerable devel-
7.b4 opment advantage that repays with inter-
7 ..1ιh6? t;ιb2 8 ..1ιc1 t;ιa1 9. t;ιc2 c4! would est the missing p'lW. 9 ... g6!? 10.Jιd3 4:Je3
be a mistake, to be followed by 4:Ja5, .1ιd7, 11.fxe3 iιh6 12. ~e2 4:Je7 13.4:Jc3 iιd7 14.
4:Jb3, and the black queen breaks free. ο-ο 1:ι.c8 15.J:ιac1 4:Jf5 with an equal play
Neither 7.~d3 cd4 8.cd4 4:Jf5 9.iιf5 ef5 Wall - Lputian, Montecatini Terme 1999,
lo.ciJc3 ~e6= can give anything to White. appears to be more reliable for Black.
7 ... cxd48.cxd4 9 ... .1ιe7
At the early stage of the development This is more precise than 9 ... iιd7, be-
ofthis variant it was considered that White cause 10.g4! forces the black knight to re-
gained an advantage by mere 8 ..1ιχh6 gxh6 treat: 10 ... 4:Jh6 (or 10 ... 4:Jfe7 11.4:Jc3 h5
9.cxd4. However, later οη it was proved 12.g5 4:Jf5 13.4:Ja4 t;ιd8 14 ..i.d3 h4 15.~c1,
that the gained opportunities for activat- White had a noticeable space advantage
ing black pieces (the rook can enter the Shirov - Κramnik, Monaco 1997) 11.h3 f6
game by means of ~h8-g8-g4, while the 12.iιd3 4:Jf7 13.4:Jbd2 fe5 14.de5 ~e7
bishop puts pressure οη White's centre af- 15.!'!.cH Sveshnikov - Lputian, Tilburg
ter .tf8-g7 and f7-f6) gave a sufficient 1992; 9 ... a5!? is interesting too. Ιη the game
compensation for the spoiled pawns Sveshnikov - Bareev, Moscow 1995, White
"hairdo". It can be developed as follows: obtained an advant~after 10.b5 a4 11.g4
Linαres 69
CL:Jfe7 12.CL:Jc3 CL:Jb8 13.~d3 CL:Jd7 14.0-0 CL:Jg6 Only this way Black can count οn an
15 ..sc1 ~e7 16.CL:Ja4. Later οn Black man- equal play. 10 ... ~d7 is worse because af-
aged to reinforce his play: 11 ... CL:Jh6!? 12.h3 ter 11.~f5 ef5 12.CZJc3 Black has to spend a
~e7 13.CL:Jc3 CL:Ja5 14.CL:Ja4 \'tfd8 15.:c1 CL:Jc4!? tempo for 12 ... ~e6
16.~c4 dc4 17.0-0 ο-ο 18.!1c4 b6 19.CL:Jc3 11.~f5
~b7 20.a4 f5 with a sufficient compensa- Black's idea is tactically based οn the
tion for two pawns Johnsen - Kallai, following line: 11.b5 CL:Jcd4 12.CL:Jd4 CL:Jd4
Budapest 1999. 13. \'tfg4 CL:Jf5! 14 . .ιif5 \'tfb5! 15.~d4 ef5
16.\'tfg7.sf8 17.CL:Jc3 \'tfc4 18.4Je2 Haba -
Glek, Stare Mesto 1992, now Black gains
a decisive advantage with 18 ... ~d7! 19.1ίc1
\'tfd3! 20.1:!.d1 \'tfb5 21.CL:Jc3 \'tfc4! (I.Glek).
11 ... exf5 12.4Jc3 ..te6 13.b5 a4!
This is an important moment: Black
wants to gain more space οn the queenside
and reserve the a5-square for manoeuvres
of his pieces.
14.bxc6
Α new idea. Continuations that oc-
curred previously not only promised White
10 . .ιid3 ηο advantage, they often could not ensure
Now 10.g4 is less convincing because of a parity: 14.0-0 4Jb8 (14 ... 4Ja5!? 15.\'tfa4
10 ... CL:Jh4; while 10.h4 appears to be too ο-ο with the idea of .sfc8, 4Jc4 with a com-
pretentious, because White is fairly under- pensation is interesting too) 15 ...tc1 4Jd7
developed. After 10 ... .ιid7 11.g4 CL:Jh6 (15 ... h6!?) 16.~b1 (16 . .ιig5!?) 16 ... 0-0
12 ..sg1 f6 13.ef6 gf6 14.~d3 CL:Jf7 15. \'tfe2 17.4Ja4 \'tfa5 18.4Jc5 4Jc5 19.dc5 ..tc5;1;
Svidler - Beliavsky, Novosibirsk 1995, Campora - Dokhoyan, Wijk aan Zee 1989;
Black can favourably complicate the play 14. \'tfd3 4Jb8 15 . .ιic1 h6! 16.4Jg1 4Jd7
with 15 ... e5!? Of course, an unassuming 17.4Jge2 \'tfc7 18.~d2 4Jb6;1; Sveshnikov -
development of the bishop 10.~e2 is pos- Moskalenko, Norilsk 1987; 14.l:ϊa2 4Jb8
sible too, but then Black has simply nο (14 ... 4Ja5!?) 15.0-0 4Jd7 16.4Ja4 \'tfb5
problems. There are several good plans for 17.4Jc3 \'tfc4 18.\'tfb1 ο-ο 19.~c1 ~fc8=
him: Grosar - Tabernig, Montecatini Terme
10 ... ~d7 11.0-0 1997.
a) 11 ... h5!? 12.b5 (or 12.\'tfd2 g5! Strug- 14 ... \'tfb215.0-0
gling for the square d4! 13 ..sd1 g4 14.CL:Je1 White does not stop at the sacήfice of a
.sg8 15.CL:Jc2 ~g5 16. \'tfe1 ~c8+ Relange - piece. He had yet another interesting ορ
Berend, Brussels 1993) 12 ... CL:Ja5 13.CL:Jc3 a6 portunity: 15.4Ja4 J:ιa4 16.cxb7 The white
14.CL:Ja4 \'tfd8 15.ba6 ba6 16 . .ιic3 .ιib5= pawn that has got to b7 is very strong. The
Kozak - Dolmatov, Elista 1997; play should be forced now with 16 ... \'tfc3
b) 11 ... 0-0 12. \'tfd2 (preventing CL:Jc6-a5) (16 ... 0-0? 17.0-0! is a mistake, as there is
12 ... f6 (also 12 ... a5 13.b5 CL:Ja7 14.a4 CL:Jc8 nο defence from 18.l:ϊb1, winning the game)
15.CL:Jc3 \'tfd8 is possible to be followed by 17.CL:Jd2 ο-ο 18 ..sb1.sd419.b8\'tf l:ϊe4 20.Φf1
CL:Jb6, ~c8, .ιib4, etc.) 13.g4 CL:Jh6 14.ef6 .sf6! \'tfd3 21.Φg1 J:ιb8 22.kIb8 ~f8 that brings
15.g5 kIf3 16.~f3 CL:Jf5 17.1:td1 1:tf8 with a to a position where Black, having lost an
fierce initiative for the sacrifice of an ex- exchange, has a good compensation, con-
change Cools - Motwani, Vissingen 1996. sisting ίn active stands ofhis pieces.
10••. a5! 15..•bxc6
Why does not Black take a piece - 1l ...f5 12.exf5.Jtxf5 13 ...tg2 .Jte6 14.c3
15 ... '§c3? It proνes that after 16.cb7 l::ϊb8 0-0 15.0-0 !Ib8 16.tΔc2 a5
17.'§a4 .Jtd7 18.'§a7. 18 ... '§c7 (18 ... 0-0 16 ... '§d7 17.'§h5 f5 18.!iad1 e4 19.f3
19.J:tfc1 '§b2 20.Mcb1!? - 20.l:rab1 '§a2 .J:ιxd5 20.!ixd5 tΔe7 2U:rd2 d5 22 ..Jth3 !ib6
21.I!a1 forces to repeat moνes - 20 ... '§c3 Iνanchuk - Κramnik, Moscow 1995.
21.a4 with initiatiνe) White has an impor- 17.'§e2
tant resource of 19.e6!, introducing the 17.!ie1 '§d7 18. '§h5 f5 19.!iad1 e4
knight into the play (19.I!ab1 .J:ιc6 20 ..a:fc1 20.tΔce3 Short-Kramnik, Noνgorod 1994.
l::ϊb7!+ would be a mistake). Ν ow White has 17 ... tΔe7 18.1:i:adl f5 19.tΔce3 ~h8
a serious initiatiνe ίη all lines: 19 ... .Jte6 20.a3'§d7
20.!ϊab1 ο-ο 2U:tfc1 '§d6 22.a4 with com- If 20 ... f4?! then 21.tΔxe7 '§xe7 22.tΔd5
pensation; 19 ... fxe6 20.~ab1.Jtd6 (20 ... .Jtc6 and White's chances are preferable.
21.tΔe5 ο-ο 22. '§a6 .J:ιb7 23. '§e6 'it>h8 21.tΔxe7 '§xe7 22.tΔd5 '§f7 23.I!d2 e4
24 ..a:fc1) 21 ..a:fc1 '§d8 22.'§a6 .tf4 23.l::ϊc5 24.1:tfdl .te5 25.f4 exf3 26. '§xf3 .txd5
ο-ο 24.a4 with a compensation; 19 ... .J:ιb5 27.1:txd5 '§g7 28.!iΠ f4 29.g4 Mg8 30.h3
20.!ifb1 '§b7 21. '§a5 .Jtd8 22. '§e1 with an h531.'§e4
initiatiνe. With the moνe ίη the game Black The position of a dynamic balance is οη
secured himself against any troubles and the board. If 31.gxh5, b5-b4 break-
got eνen a more pleasant play. through should be considered.
16.tΔa4 '§b5 17.tΔc3 31 ... '§f6
17.tΔc5!? .Jtc5 18.dc5 '§c5 19.tΔd4 with If 31 ... hxg4 then 32.!ixf4 .Jtxf4 33. §'xf4
a positional compensation for the pawn is threatening with !ih5.
interesting. 32 ..Jtf3 I!g7 33.I!f2 '§h4 34.J:tdd2 .a:bg8
17... '§c418.tΔe2 ο-ο 35.!ih2 !ie7
After 18 ... !ia3 19.Ma3 .Jta3 20. §'a1 ο-ο Black threatens with moνing the bishop
21. §'a3 '§e2 Black should not count οη an and has the initiatiνe.
adνantage. 36.!ide2 b4 37.axb4 axb4 38.!ihg2
19.!icl '§a6 20.J:tc3 J:tfc8 112 - lh If 38.cxb4 then 38 ... J:tc8, threatening
Owing to the adνantage oftwo bishops with 1:tc1.
and the weakness of the white a3-pawn 38...bxc3 39.bxc3 1:ta7 40.1:ta2 I.!:ag7
Black has minimal adνantage, but ηο real If 40 ... ~xa2 41.J:txa2 '§h3 then 42.!ih2.
grounds to play for a win. Thus we can con- 41.gxh5 J:txg2+ lh _112
clude that Shiroν's noνelty has not en- If 41 ... §'xh3, !ig6 should be seήοuslΥ be
feebled Black's position, and we can con- considered
tinue to consider this νariant reliable
enough.
32 Β92
Anand - Kasparov
31 Β33 Round 4 3.03
Leko - Κramnik Notes by A.Kochyev
Round 4 3.03
Notes by A.Kochyev l.e4 c5 2.tΔf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.tΔxd4
tΔf6 5.tΔc3 a6 6 ..Jte2 e5 7.tΔb3 .Jte7 8.0-0
l.e4 c5 2.tΔf3 tΔc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.tΔxd4 .Jte6 9.f4 '§c7 10.tΔd5 .Jtxd5 11.exd5
tΔf6 5.tΔc3 e5 6.tΔdb5 d6 7 ..Jtg5 a6 8.tΔa3 tΔbd712.c40-0 13.'it>hl!ife814..Jte3 exf4
b5 9 ..txf6 gxf6 10.tΔd5 .tg7 1l.g3 Another possibility is 14 ... .Jtf8 15.fxe5
It was also possible to play 1l ..J:ιd3 with tΔxe5 16 ..td4 '§e7 17.J:tel tΔfd7 18.!icl
further ο-ο. Mac8 19 ..Jtg4 Hamid - Arnason, London
Linαres 71
1984. 8.j"e2 is one of the basic moves here.

15.j"xf4 j"f8 16.~cl ~b6 17. .&ι.c2 8.a4 is bad because of8 ... b5! 9.axb5? axb5!
Α nove,lty. 17.j"d3 CLJe5 18 j"b1 CLJfd7 9.~b3 c5 10.dxc5 ~b7 11.0-0 CLJxe4
19.'~d2 g6 20.CLJa5 ~c7 21.b4 b6 22.CLJc6 12.CLJxe4 CLJxe4 13 ...tg5 CLJc6 14.~e3 ~d5
CLJxc6 23.dxc6 ~xc6 24. ~f2 Glek - Sνidler, 14 ... ~d5 is relatively new. The main
Elista 1995. move here is SΙe4-ffi. Asample line: 15 ..ih6
17 ... g618.j"f3 ~ac8 19.CLJcl CLJe520.b3 j"xb2 16.nad1 ~c7 or 16 ... ~a5.
The opening part is over, Black does not 15.~adl ~e6 16.j"h6 ..tf5
have any seήοus problems. Black defends from a possible attack
move CLJg5, but after exchanging bishops
the position should be estimated as slightly
better for White.
20 ...h5! 21.h3?!
21.~e2 (Lugovoi).
21 ... i.g722.CLJe2
If22.CLJd3, then 22 ... CLJxd3 23.~xd3 CLJd7 17..ixg7
and Black has a good position. If 17. ~xe6, then 17 ... ..txe6 18 ..ixg7
22 ... CLJxf3 23.gxf3?! ~xg7 and the white a2 pawn is under at-
If 23.~xf3, then 23 ... CLJe4 and Black is tack, that gives Black an important tempo
slightly better. for consolidation of the position.
23 ... ~c5 24.~cl 17... ~xe318.fxe3 ~xg719.a3
White has defended from the threat 19.a3 is a move which is useful ίη any
Nxd5, but Black's chances are preferable. case. Kasparov enters a good ending (due
24 ... b5 25.~d2 bxc4 26.bxc4 h4! to the c5-pawn).
27.i.g5 CLJh5 28.i.xh4 ~b8! 19 ... ~fd8 20.b4 ..tc2 21.~xd8 1ιΧd8
Black has a compensation for the pawn 22.1ιcΙ j"e4 23.~f2
threatens with ~c8. Still there is an endgame with White's
29.CLJgl I!b2 30.~c2 ~xc4! 31.I:ί.xc4 slight advantage οη the board.
1:!.xd2 23 ... Wf6 24.g4 h6 25.h4 ~e6
Black has a dominating advantage. 25 ... g5, stopping white pawn at the g4-
32.f4 ~xd5 0-1 square looked fine. Probably, Black did not
like 26.hxg5 hxg5 27.~h1 CLJe5 28.~h6+
'"33 D97 ~g7 29.CLJxe5! ~xh6 30.CLJxf7 and then
Kasparov - Leko CLJxd8.
Round 5 4.03 26.1::tdl ..txf3
Notes by A.Kochyeu This exchange is dubious.
27.1::txd8 i.xe2 28.1:Ic8 Φd7 29.1:rxc6
l.d4 CLJf6 2.CLJf3 g6 3.c4 j"g7 4.CLJc3 d5 ~xc6 30.~xe2
5. ~b3 dxc4 6. ~xc4 0-0 7.e4 a6 8.j"e2 b5 Mter exchanging all pieces, there is an
pawn endgame with only one question: wiH Mfe8 25.1ιf3

Leko be able to gain a draw or not? Here is Despite the fact that White's pieces
a possible plan of defence: black should haνe actiνe location, Black has a rook and
play g5 and built a fortress e6-f6, and to three pawns for two pieces and therefore
Leko's luck, this should work. has good counter chances.
30...f6 31.Φd3 e6 32.Φd4 g5 33.h5 Φd7 25 ... Mac8
34.e4 Φc6 35.e5 f5 36.gxf5 exf5 37.e6 f4 25 ... Me3+ was preferable here. White
38. Φe4 'iJc7 112 - lh cannot play 26.Φχb4 because of26 ... 1::tb8+
and further Mxb2.
26.Mdl Me3+ 27.Φa4 b3
34 D 17 Black is looking for counter game and
Kramnik - Shirov fixes the white pawn at b2-square, as it is
Round 5 4.03 easier to attack it at this square.
Notes by A.Kochyev 28.1::txd5 g6 29.:J:d7 Mc2 30.Φa3 Φg7
31.l:ϊxa7 h5
1.ct:Jf3 d5 2.d4 c6 3.c4 ct:Jf6 4.ct:Jc3 dxc4 Black made seνeral poor moνes and
5.a4 iιf5 6.ct:Je5 White's position looks better.
6.e2-e3 is another possibility is with 32.h3 h4 33.Mb7 .!:!.c5 34.Φb4 Mf5
further iιxc4. White has a more comfort- 35.MC7 g5 36.ct:Jxb3 Mf4+ 37.MC4 Mxc4+
able game here. 38.Φχc4 f5 39.ct:Jd4 Φf6 40.b4 ~el
6 ... e6 7.f3 iιb4 8.e4 1ιχe4 Κramnik increased his adνantage ίn
This is the beginning of a long well- time trouble ofthe opponent's and now he
known theoreticalline. has all chances to win.
9.fxe4 ct:Jxe4 10.iιd2 ~xd4 11.ct:Jxe4 41.b5 Φe5 42.ct:Jc6+ Φd6 43.b6 Mcl +
~xe4+ 12.~e2 iιxd2+ 13.Φχd2 ~d5+ 44.Φb5 g4
14.'.t>c2 ct:Ja6 15.ct:Jxc4 b5 If 44 ... Mb1 then 45.ct:Jb4
15 ... b5 is a weH-known moνe ίn theory. 45.b7 ~bl+ 46.ct:Jb4 Φc7 47.hxg4 fxg4
Other moνes are also possible, like 15 ... 48.1ιe41-0
0-0-0.
16.axb5 ct:Jb4+ 17.Φc3 cxb5 18.Mdl
~c5 19.~e5 ct:Jd5+ 20.1::txd5 b4+ 35 D18
20 ... ~xd5 21.ct:Jd6+ Φf8 22. ~xd5 exd5, Khalifman - Anand
Florian - Mirzoeν, Calicut 1998, and a bal- Round 5 4.03
ance was kept ίn the further struggle. Notes by A.Kochyev
21.Φb3 ~xd5
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.ct:Jf3 ct:Jf6 4.ct:Jc3 dxc4
5.a4 1ιf5 6.e3 e6 7.iιxc4 iιb4 8.0-0 ct:Jbd7
9.~e2
9.~b3 is another popular moνe here.
9 ... 1ιg4 10.lIdl ~a5 11.e4 ct:Jb6
1l ... ~xc3 is νery dangerous here for
Black, 11 ... ~h5 is a possible moνe here.
12.iιb3 1ιχc3 13.bxc3 ~xc3
Black plays the opening ίn a νery risky
way. Νο doubt, White has a good compen-
sation for the pawn.
14.:J:bl ο-ο
22.1ιe2! ο-ο 23. ~xd5! exd5 24.ct:Ja5 Mter a natural14 ... ~a5 Black should
Linares 73
consider d4-d5 break-through. Here is a e7-square.

line: 15 ... cxd5 16.exd5 CLibxd5 17.1ιχd5 15.CLie5
CLixd5 18.l:.b5 with further 1:i.xd5. This was played ίη the game Timman -
15.h3 Vaganian, Riga 1995 15 ... 1:.e8 16.CLid3 CLid7
If 15 ..td2, there was an intermediate 17. ~a4 I:ι.e4 18. ~a3 1ιc6 19.CLif4 I:ι.a4
moνe 1ιχf3, then ~xd4, driνing Black's 20.~b3 l:i.b8 21.~c2 and the opponents
queen from an uncomfortable position. agreed to a draw.
15 ... ~xf3 16.~xf3 15 ... CLid7 16.CLixd7 ~xd7
16.gxf3 aνoiding a queen exchange was
worth serious attention. Ν ow, after the
queen exchange White still has an initia-
tiνe, but for Black an extra pawn is an ex-
tra pawn.
16 ... ~xf3 17.gxf3 CLibd7 18..ta3 I:ι.fc8
Black intends to demonstrate some ac-
tiνity by c6-c5.
19.~c4 CLib6
Black did not take a risk to open the
game by 19 ... c6-c5, though it was possible.
20.~b3 CLibd7 21 •.lTιc4 CLib6 22.~b3
V2 -1f2 This position is slightly better for
The position of a dynamic balance is οη White. He can locate his bishop at f3-
the board. square threatening with c3-c4 ίη some
cases.
17.~b3 jιc618.~a3
'36 D58 White tries to disturb Black's centre and
Κrarnnik - Κhalίfrnan still has some positional adνantage. White
Round 6 5.03 may increase the pressure by Bf3 and Rfd1.
Notes by A.Kochyev 18... ~e7 19.jιf3 1:!fd8 20.~fd1 I:ι.ac8
21.h3 ~f8 22.l:Id2 d4
1.CLif3 CLif6 2.c4 e6 3.d4 d5 4.CLic3 1ιe7 Black attempts to free himself
5 ..lig5 h6 6.~h4 0-0 7.e3 b6 8 ..lie2 .lib7 23.~xc6l:Ixc6 24.cxd4 cxd4 25. ~xe7 +
9 . .lixf6 Jιxf6 10.cxd5 exd5 11.0-0 c5 ~xe7 26.1::tb7+ <ϊt>f8 27.exd4 I:ι.c4
12.dxc5 Now after 28.I:ι.xa7l:Icxd4 29.1:Ixd4 I:ι.xd4
Α well-known line which leads to a dy-
it will not be easy for white to realize the
namic struggle, usually with White's slight extra pawn. If 28.b1e2 then 28 ... .:cxd4
adνantage.
29.J::ι.ee7 ':f4.
12 ....lixc3
28.I:ι.e2 1::tcxd4 29.~xa7 ':d1+ 30.~h2
If 12 ... bxc5, then Black should consider
l:.1d2 31.I!.xd2 ':xd2 32.<ϊt>g3 g5
13. ~b3 with a strong pressure οη the cen-
Ιη spite of an extra pawn, it is problem-
tre. 13 ... ~b6 is bad because of14.CLixd5 and
White has better chances. atic for White to win this game.
13.bxc3 bxc5 14.I:ι.b1 33 ...t>f3 <ϊt>g7 34...t>e3 I:ι.b2 35.g4 ~g6
Looks logic, but 14.c4 looked nice, 36.I:ι.a6+ f6 37 .f4gxf4+ 38...t>f4 h5 39.a3
breaking Black's centre. But White may hxg4 40.hxg4 I:ι.f'2+ 41.~e3 I:ι.a2 42.I:ι.a5
do this later, ifhe wishes. I:ι.a143.a4 I:ι.e1+ 44.<ϊt>f3 I:ι.f1+ 45.<ϊt>g3 I:ι.g1+
14... ~c7 46 ...t>h3 I:ι.hl+ 47 ...t>g2 I:ι.a1 48 ...t>f2 I:ι.a3
Sometimes Black locates his queen at 49.<ϊt>g2 1f2 - 1f2
37 Β90 24.J..d3 g6 25.hxg6 fxg6 26.~xh7.

Shirov - Kasparov 24.:!.f3 ~h4
Round 6 5.03 The forced move. Now Black threatens
Notes by A.Kochyev with .i.xg5.
25.~d3 g6 26.1:rgl
l.e4 c5 2.ctJf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.ctJxd4 Probably, it is not the best choice.
ctJf6 5.ctJc3 a6 6.J..e3 ctJg4 7.~cl 26 ... exf4
7.J..g5 is another popular possibility
here.
7 ... ctJf6 8.f3 ~b6 9.ctJb3 e610.~e2ctJc6
11 ..i.e3 ~c7 12.0-0-0 b5 13.g4
Α well-known position. 13 ... .i.e7,
13 ... J..b7 and 13 ... ctJd7 are usual moves
here. Ιη this structure White plays actively
in the centre and an the kingside, Black
plays οη the queenside.
13... ctJe5 14.g5ctJfd7 15.f4ctJc4 16..i.d4
White's position looks rather strong. He
has a possibility of an active game ίη the
centre and οη the kingside. It is possible Now 27.~xe7 is bad because of 27 ...
to move the h-pawn or to break through 1Iae8 and White cannot defend the el-
f4-f5 (this should be made ίη the right square. 27.1H4 is not good because of27 ...
1ιχg5. Mter a possible 27.~xf4 ~xf4 28.
moment, in order to keep control over e5-
square and not to giνe it to Black's k!.xf4 Black has the important e5-square
knights). at his disposal and his position is solid.
16... ctJdb6 27.hxg6 hxg6 28 ..i.xc4 bxc4 29.~xc4
Black prepares b5-b4. 29.ctJd4 was interesting. After 29 ... .i.xg5
17.h4 J..b7 18.h5 e5 something like 30.ctJe6 or 30.ctJf5.
Black makes a typical counter moνe in 29 ....i.xg5
the centre ίη reply to White's actiνity οη The position is sharp, but it seems not
the kingside. 18 ... b4 was worth attention. dangerous for Black.
19.ctJd5 1ιχd5 20.exd5 1ιe7 30.ctJd4
Black tries to finish his deνelopment. Now 30 .. .ί:!.ae8 looks fine for Black,
The position is νery sharp and indefinite, threatening with ~el+. If 31.tHl, then
White should be νery actiνe, sacrificing ίη 31 ... k!.e3 is possible.
order to keep the initiatiνe. 30 ... ~ae8 31.~f1 ~e3 32.~hl ~g4
21 ..i.xb6 33.1:1g1 ~h4 34.1:thl
It is a pity to lose a bishop, but any This is strange, but black has a possi-
tempo is important for White. bility of 34 ... I!.fe8.
21 ... ~xb6 22.~h3 34 ... ~g4 35 ..tIgl ~h5 36.~hl ~g4
White protects the e3-square threaten- lh- 1h
ing with g5-g6 in some cases. The posi-
tion is still sharp. 38 D85
22 ... 0-0 Anand-Leko
Looks risky, White may play 23.~e4 Round 6 5.03
threatening with J..d3. Notes by A.Kochyev
23:~e4 ~f2
Νο other choice. White threatened with l.d4 ctJf6 2.ctJf3 g6 3.c4 .i.g7 4.ctJc3 d5
Linαres 75
5.cxd5 CΔxd5 6.e4 CΔxc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.J:tbl This magnificent tactic struggle seems
ο-ο 9.SΙe2 cxd4 10.cxd4 ~a5+ 11 ..id2 to result ίη a draw.
~xa2 12.0-0 CΔd7 13.I:!.el 27 ... lίxdI28.J:txh7+ Wg8 29.Sιd5+ I:tf7
This position occurred ίη Leko's tour- 30.I!.bxf7
nament game: 13.SΙb4 CΔb6 14.CΔe5 f6 30.SΙxf7+ is another possibility here
15.CΔd3 ~f7 16.d5 f5 17.CΔc5 fxe4 with a 30 ... Φh7 31.SΙb3+ and then SΙxd1.
complicated game, Shirov - Leko, Dor- 30 ... ~g5+ 31.Φh3 ~d5 32.J::ϊ.hg7+
tmund 1998. 13.J::ϊ.e1 is not a novelty - 1/2 - 112
Chernin played so with Leko (Budapest
1997).
13 ... CΔb6 14.J::ί.al 39 Α25
Chernin played 14.h3 SΙd7 15.1::ta1 ~e6 Leko - Shirov
16.SΙd3 and soon the game resulted ίη a Round 7 7.03
draw. Notes by S.Ivαnov
14 ... ~b2 15.h3 ί5
This active pawn counter move is usual l.c4 e5 2.g3 CΔί6 3 ..ig2 CΔc6 4.CΔc3 g6
here. Black should be active, as his queen 5.e3
is far from main sources. 5.CΔf3 with further d4 is another pos-
16.1:tbl ~a2 17.~cl sible plan here.
White threatens with 18.J::ϊ.xb6 and then 5 ... SΙg7 6.CΔge2 h5
SΙc4, winning the game. Black immediately declare his aggres-
17 ... Wh8 18.J::ί.al ~g8 sive intentions for the kingside. 6 ... 0-0 is
Such position of queen and king can be a usual move here.
seen rarely ίη the games of leading chess 7.h3 d6 8.d4 SΙd7 9.d5
players. White close the centre and switches to
19.5Ιa5 fxe4 20.iιxb6 exf3 21.SΙxf3 the Κing Indian structure, i.e. after h7-h5
Black weakened the g5-square and f7 -f5
is now less strong.
9 .... CΔa5 10. ~d3 0-0 11.e4
1l.b4 gave nothing because of 1l ... e4
but now White threatens with 12.b4 win-
ning the a5-knight.
11 ... c5
Now White may play 12.dxc6 forcing
12 ... bxc6, (as 12 ... SΙxc6 13.b4 wins the
knight), 13.~xd6 CΔxc4 14.~c5 and White
has a certain advantage.
12.dxc6 CΔxc6:
Mter a forced tactic duel there is a com- An unexpected move. White may grab
plicated position οη the board with mutual a pawn by 13. ~xd6 or just play 13.iιe3
chances, and Black seems to have ηο prob- with a positional advantage.
lems here. 13.SΙg5
21 ... SΙxh3 22.l:txa7 SΙxg2 Due to Black's weak d6-pawn and a
Αη unexpected strike. Mter 23.SΙxg2 it kingside, White has a steady advantage.
is possible to play 23 ... J::ί.xa7 24.SΙxa7 ~a2. 13 •.. SΙe6 14.CΔd5 ~a5+ 15.SΙd2 ~a6
If23.Φχg2, then 23 ... ~b3. 16.CΔxf6+ .ixf6 17.b3
23.Φχg2 ~b3 24.~dl ~xb6 25.1::txb7 The estimation is the same - White still
~ί6 26.J::ί.exe71::tal 27.1::txg7 has his positional advantage, Black has the
weak d6-pawn, weak kingside and the 39.~xc4 ~xdl 40.J::txdl .ί:[a8 41.tLJf5 ~a2+
position of the queen οη the a6-square is 42 ...t>hl
poor. Black played not ίη the best way ίη the
17...h418.0-0 hxg3 19.fxg3 ~g7 20.g4 time trouble; White changed bishops and
~ab8 21.a4 then queens. Now White has all chances
ΒΥ his last moνes, Black managed to to win.
improνe his position and now he has some 42 ...Me2 43.Mdcl?
counter chances, but still White's position 43.tLJxd4 ':xe4~ gaνe nothing too, but
is preferable. White could win by 43.tLJxd6 Md8 44 ..sdc1!
21 ...tLJa5 22.~f2 ~b6 23 ..ί:tbl a624.tLJg3 as it was not possible to play 44 ... MXd6
f625 ...tf3 45.~c8 'it>f7 46.1Hc7 ..t>e6 47 . .se8# or
Now White plans, promoting h4-h5 and 45 ... ..t>g7 46 ..s1c7 ..t>h6 47.Mh8#. Now black
starting the game οη the kingside. Due to manages to saνe the position.
Blak's time trouble we estimate the situa- 43 ... Mxe4 44.MC8 Mxc8 45 ..sxc8+ 'it>h7
tion to the White's adνantage. 46.MC7+ 'it>h8 47 ..sc8+ ..t>h7 48.MC7+ 'it>h8
25 ... tLJc6 26.ς1;ιg2 ~d4 27. ~f1 b5 49.tLJxd6 J:tf4
28.cxb5 axb5 Black cannot play 49 ... .sxg4? because
Black tries to break up the game οη the he losses a rook - 50.tLJf7 ..t>g8 51.tLJh6+-
queenside as White will just carry out his or 50 ... Φh7 51.tLJxe5+-.
plan οη the kingside if the game deνelops 50.J::td7
ίη a quiet way. White preνents the moνe 50 ... e4, that
29.axb5 tLJb4 30 ...txb4 ~xb4 31.h4 will be followed by 51.tLJf7 ..t>g8 52.tLJh6 and
~xb5 53.MXd4+-.
After the queen exchange, Black orga- 50... ~b6 51.tLJc8
nizes an attack οη White's b-pawn and has 51.b5 e4 52.Mb7 ..tc51eads to an unclear
good counter chances due to his bishop pair situation, as Blaclc's passed pawn is νery
thus keeping the position equal. dangerous as well.
51 ....i.e3
Simple 51 ... MXb4 is also possible.
52.tLJe7 ~f1+ 53.'it>g2 J::tf2+ 54 ...t>g3 e4
55.tLJg6+ 'it>g8 56.h6 1:!.f3+ 1f2 - 1h
White made a checkmate net around
the black king, but Black escaped it by
means of the perpetual check.
40 C42
Anand - Κramnik
Round 7 7.03
32.~hl
Notes by S.Ivαnov
Rather a risky moνe. White escape the
queen exchange, hoping to deνelop an at- 1.e4 e5 2.tLJf3 tLJf6 3.tLJxe5 d6 4.tLJf3
tack οη the kingside. We think, that by tLJxe4 5.d4 d5 6 ..i.d3 tLJc6 7.0-0 ~e7 8.c4
32 ... d5 Black open up the position ίη the tLJb4 9.cxd5 tLJxd3 10.~xd3 '§xd51l.1:tel
centre and also starts to trouble White's ~f5 12.tLJe5
king. At the rapid chess tournament (Frank-
32.....th6 33.h5 ~e8 34.b4 ..te3 35.1::tc2 furt, 1999) Anand tried 12.g4 two times νs.
g5 36.~dl ~a4 37...te2 .i.d4 38..i.c4 ..txc4 Κramnik.
Linαres 77
12 ... g613.f3 It is possible here 2u::ted1 ~b6 22 ...ixb6

Before it was played here 13. '§f3 '§xd4 axb6. Black has a compensation for an ex-
14.Cbc3 '§xe5 15 . ..if4 '§a5 16.b4 '§a3 change (a strong bishop pair).
17.Cbd5 Beliaνsky - 8mysloν, Reggio 21 ... lιxb4 22.~ec1 ..ixc3 23 ..ί1χc3 Cbd5
Emilia 1986 and the game resulted ίη a 24.~d3 b6
draw after a stubborn struggle. IfBlack manages to play c7-c5, a7-a5
13 ... Cbf614.'§e3!? and moνes the king to the centre, it will be
This is an interesting idea. Now White hard for white to win this position. It
threatens with Cbxg6. makes sense for White to play 25.a3 with
14... 0-0-0 15.Cbc3 '§xd4 16.'§xd4 an idea 25 ... c5 26.b4 ίη order to open files
Now if 16.Cbxf7, the following is pos- for his rooks.
sible: 16 ... ..ic5! 17. '§xd4 ..ixd4+ 18 ...ie3 25.~ad11f2-1f2
~he8, equalizing the game. 80, White seemed to offer a draw due
16 ... ~xd4 17.lιe3 to Black's play c7-'-c5, a7-a5, I.t>c7-c6, and
Mter 17.Cbxf7 ~e8 there is an equal White could not break through, so he de-
position οη the board. cided that there were ηο chances to win.
17 ... ~b4 18.b3
An interesting idea. White did not grab
the f7-pawn immediately and was trying ~41 C17
to utilize the adνanced position ofthe black Kasparov - Κhalίfrnan
rook. NowWhite threatens with 19.94 with Round 7 7.03
further Cbd3 and Black's rook is ίη danger. Notes by S.Ivαnov
18 ... lιe6
If 19.Cbd3 black plays 19 ... ~d8 with an 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Cbc3 Xιb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3
idea 20.Cbxb4 ..ixb4 21.~ec1..ixc3 22.~xc3 ..ia56.Xιd2
Cbd5 23.~d3 ..if5, getting back the ex- Α quiet continuation with ideas like ίη
change the line after 5.Xιd2.
6 ... Cbc6
The most precise moνe order. 6 ... Cbe7 is
not good (being the chief reaction to 5 ...id2)
because of 7.dxc5! Sιc3 (7 ... Cbbc6 8.b4 lιc7
9.f4±) 8 ...ic3 '§c7 9.Cbr.3 Cbd7 10.lιd3 with
White's positional adνantage, Damianoνic
- 8toyanoν, Belgrade 1993; ECO recom-
mended 6 ... cxd4 7.Cbb5 Cbc6?! (7 ... Sιc7 is
better), which practically was disproνed ίη
the game Milos - 8.Iνanoν, France 2000,
8.Sιa5 '§a5 9.b4! '§d8 10.f4 Cbh6 11.Cbd6
1.t>f8 12.Cbf3 f6 13.lιd3! fe5? (better 13 ... Cbf7
19 ...if2! 14.Cbf7 1.t>f7 15.0-0±) 14.fe5 Cbe5 15.Cbe5
Α strong moνe. White threatens not '§d6 16. '§h5 I.t>g8 17.0-0 '§e7 18.~f3 lιd7
οηlΥ Cbd3 (which will follow 19 ... ~e8) but 19.~af1 Cbf5 20.Cbd7 '§d7 21 . ..if5 ef5
also Cbxf7 ίη case 19 ... ~d8. 22.~f5+-
19 .....id6 7.'§g4
Κramnik did not find any opportunity CuήοuslΥ enough, this natural moνe
to keep an exchange and had to accept has not occurred ίη this position before.
20.Cbd31:tb6 7.Cbb5 is the usual continuation, yet after
20.Cbd3 ~d8 21.Cbxb4 7 ... Cbd4! 8.Cbd4 (8.Cbd6?! Φf8=t=; 8.Sιa5 '§a5
9.b4 t;rb6 10.tΔd4 cd4 11.tΔf3 tΔe7 12.t;rd4 rally) can take very convenient stands.
t;rd4 13.tΔd4 tΔg6= Tseshkovsky - Budni- Ιη case of a natural 7 ... tΔge7 there is
kov, Vladivostok 1990) 8 ... cd4 9 . .1ιb5 already 8.dc5 (but ηο 8. t;rg7 ':g8 9.t;rh7 cd4
(9 ...ta5?! t;ra5 10.t;rd2 t;rd211.'it>d2 f612.f4 with an initiative) 8 ... 0-0 9.tΔf3 tΔg6
fe5 13.fe5 tΔh6 14.tΔf3 0-0+ Diaz - Aren- 10 ..1ιd3, and Black has problems.
cibia, Cuba 1990; 9.tΔf3?! .1ιb6 10 ..1ιd3 tΔe7 8.dc5 tΔe5 9:~g3 tΔg6 10.0-0-0
11.tΔg5 h6 12. t;rh5 g6 13. t;rh3 tΔc6 14.f4 10.tΔf3 suggests itself, but after 10 ... .1ιc7
t;re7 15.0-0 .1ιd7 16.tΔf3 0-0-0+ Richmond 11. t;rg4 e5! it is not so easy for White to
- Hug, Debrezen 1992) 9 ... .1ιd7 10 ..1ιd7 find a safe position for his queen. After the
Φd7 1l.tΔf3 ..tb6! (stronger than 11 ... ..td2 concerned game was played 10 ..1ιd3 .1ιc7
12. t;rd2 t;rb6 13.0-0 tΔe7 14.tΔd4 ':hc8 15.c3 11.f4 tΔf6 (11 ... t;rf6!? 12.tΔge2 ..td7 13.0-0
h6= Rogers - Korchnoi, Biel 1986) Black tΔ8e7) 12.tΔge2 .1ιd7 13.h3 .1ιc6 14. t;rf2 oc-
can face future fearlessly, notwithstanding curred Mitkov - Zaja, Pula 2000 14 ... tΔe4!?
the "centralised" king, because his d4- with an unclear play.
pawn (which is an extra pawn, ίη addition) 10...tΔf6 11.f3
hampers the development of White's ίηί White takes the e4-square under his
tiative rather seriously. Further opportu- control and prepares a retreat to f2 for his
nities are: 12.0-0 (12.c3 dc3 13. t;ra4 <tIc7 queen. After 11 ..1ιd3 there is again the
14 ..1ιc3 ':c8 15. t;rg4 tΔe7 16. t;rg7 t;rg8! unpleasant 11 ... ..tc7, while 11.tΔf3? just
17. t;rg8 ':hg8= Chabrilo - Dimitrov, Cavala loses because of 11 ... ..tc3 12 ..1ιc3 tΔe4-+
1990) 12 ... tΔe7 (12 ....:c8 13.':c1 'it>c7 14...tg5 11 ••. .1ιd7 12.tΔge2
tΔe7 15.tΔd4 'it>b8= is good, too Abdullah- 12.h4 .1ιc7 13. t;rf2 h6 14.h5 can be par-
Hug, Biel 1990) 13.a4 a6 14.tΔg5 t;re8 ried with 14 ... tΔf4.
15.t;rf3 .1ιc7 16.t;rb3 (16.t;rf'7 t;rf'7 17.tΔf'7 12••• .1ιc7 13. t;rf2
I:thf8 18.tΔg5 h6 19.tΔf3 tΔc6 20 ..iHe1 J:If3!?
21.gf3 tΔe5 with a compensation, Madl -
Luether, Hastings 1994) 16 ... h6 17.tΔf3
tΔc6 with mutually critical play, Κing -
Neverov, Baku 1986.
7.tΔf3 was tested, too for example
7 ... tΔd4 (7 ... tΔge7 8.dc5 tΔg6 9 ...tb5 .1ιd7
10.t;re2 t;rb8 11 ...tc6 bc6 12.0-0 with an
unclear play Gurgenidze - Bronstein,
Leningrad 1960) 8.tΔd4 cd4 9.tΔb5 ..tc7
10.f4 tΔh6 1l ..1ιd3 ο-ο 12. t;rh5 f5 13 ..1ιb4
':f'7 14.h3 .1ιd7 15.tΔd4 ..tb6 with a com-
plex play, Ehlvest - Lputian, Minsk 1987. 13 ...b6!
At the same time, it is hardly worth to The hampering c5-pawn should be ex-
recommend 7.dc5 tΔe5 8.tΔb5 .1ιc7! 9 ..1ιc3 changed.
(better is 9.tΔc7 t;rc7 10 ..1ιf4 tΔd3 11. t;rd3 14 •.1ιe3 tΔe7
t;rf4=) 9 ... tΔf6 10.tΔf3 tΔed7!+ Zlotnik - 14 ... 'it>g8 deserves attention, to be fol-
Legky, USSR 1988. lowed by h6 (or h5) and 'it>h7.
7 ... 'it>f8 15.g4 bc5 16 •.1ιc5 .1ιb6 17.h4 ..ic5
The move c,t>f8 is seldom good ίη 18.t;rc5 t;rb6 19.t;rb6 ab6
"French" positions, but now it is an exclu- The game has proceeded to the ending.
sion from the rule. The point is that White Black has a strong centre, but the h8-rook
is forced to surrender the centre now, and is still out ofplay. The chances are approxi-
Black's pieces (except the h8-rook, natu- mately equal. Thus, White's novelty
Linαres 79
(7. f! g4) is rather interesting, but Black has tions. Ifhe accepts the sacrifice -15 ... bxc5
good counterchances after the right answer 16. f!a4 c6 17 ..ϊ:I.b1, White will capture the
7 ... ~f8. initiative - for instance: 17 ... f6 18.~xb7!
20 ...th3 tΔe8 21.f4 h5 22.g5 g623.tΔd4 fxe5 19.1::txe7 f!xe7 20. f!xa5 with better
~g7 24.CL\f3 CL\c7 25.CL\e5 J::!.hd8 26.CL\e2 chances.
CL\c6 27.CL\d4 CL\xd4 28.k1xd4 iιe8 29.l:thdl 16.I:ι.el ..tf6 17.tΔg4 ..tc8 18.cxb6
29 ...tf1!? Now the position equalizes completely.
29 ... 1:tdc8 30 . ..tf1 ςi(f8 31.l:lb4 b5 But White has also nothing ίη case of
32.1::tbd4 CL\a6 33.iιd3 CL\c5 34.'>t>d2 CL\b7 18.CL\xf6 f!xf6 19. f!a4 ..tf5 - there is ηο
35.1:ιaΙ 1::ta7 36 . .ί:tel CL\d6 37.c3 CL\c4+ space for his bishops to act and his pawn
38.~cl CL\a5 39.iιc2 CL\c6 40.CL\xc6 iιxc6 structure is weakened.
41.'it>d2 iιd7 42.I:ι.b4 z:tca8 43 ...td3 1:ta5 18... axb6 19.a4 tΔc4
44.':e3 The black knight occupied an ideal ρο
44.ςi(e3 ςi(e7 45.ςi(d4 'it>d6= sition at the c4-square. Black has ηο prob-
44 ... ..tc6 45 . .ί:td4 iιd7 46.Iιb4 iιc6 lems.
47.iιc2 iιd7 48 ...tb3 iιc6 49.Iιd4 z:t5a7 20.CL\xf6+ f!xf6 21 ...ta3 CL\xa3 22.~xa3
50.iιc2 iιd7 51.Jιdl iιc6 52.iιf3 ':a4 iιe6 23. f!b3 1f2 - 1f2
53.Jιdl 1:ι4a7 54.iιb3 J::!.a5 55.~e5 nd8 Ιη this game, as ίη Kasparov - Κramnik
1f2 - 1/2 game, Black managed to solve problems
of the variation with the help of the new
move 10 ... b6. Mter the opening, White of-
42 C42 fered a pawn sacrifice, but Black wisely
Shirov - Anand rejected it and after that there was a glo-
Round 8 8.03 bal exchange ofpieces and the position got
Notes by Β.Ιυαπου completelyequalized.
1.e4 e5 2.CL\f3 CL\f6 3.CL\xe5 d6 4.CL\f3

CL\xe4 5.d4 d5 6.iιd3 CL\c6 7.0-0 iιe7 8.c4 '43 Α30
CL\b4 9 ...te2 0-0 10.CL\c3 b6 Κramnik - Kasparov
Anand decided to repeat a new move Round 8 8.03
10 ... b6 (Κramnik achieved a draw with Notes by Β.Ιυαπου
Kasparov ίη Round 3 with the help ofthis
move). 1.CL\f3 CL\f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 d5 4.d4 dxc4
11.CL\e5 5.f!a4+
Kasparov played here 11.a3 CL\xc3 This is a rare position ίη practice of
12.bxc3 CL\c6 13.cxd5 f!xd5 14.1::!.e1 and got modern grandmasters. It is even hard to
a slightly better game here. determine what is the opening: English,
11 ... iιb7 12.a3 CL\xc3 13.bxc3 CL\c6 Catalon, or Queen's Gambit . 4 ... cxd4 is
14 ...tf3 CL\a5 played more often here.
It was also possible 14 ... CL\xe5 15.dxe5 5 •.•iιd7 6.f!xc4 iιc6
c6, and if 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.c4 Black was The most natural move - Black devel-
saved by 17 ... f!c7. ops his bishop to the big diagonal. It is
15.c5 strange, but according to our database, this
An interesting move - White offers a position has never been played. Of course,
pawn sacrifice. Ιη case of 15.cxd5 ..txd5 White can grab the c5-pawn (7.dxc5 or
16.':e1 Iίe8 the position is equal. 7.f!xc5), but ίη this case he is late with
15... c6 development.
Black prefers not to go into complica- 7.dxc5 ..td5 8.f!a4+ ..tc6 9.f!c4 iιd5
Black keeps attacking the white queen could seize the initiative, for instance
till other White's pieces are at the starting 25 ...ixe5l2Jxe5 26. ~xe5 ~xg4 27. ~g31:ι.g8!
position. 22.a3 ~xb2 23.l2Jd4 g5
10.~c2 e6 11 ...ig2 ..ie4 However, Black makes the counterblow
It was also possible here 11 ... l2Ja6 g7-g5, but ίη a worse version, at the mo-
12.l2Jc3 ..ic6, grabbing then the c5-pawn ment when his queen is stuck at the
with a knight. queenside.
12:~c4 ..id5 13:~h4 ..ixc5 14.l2Jc3 kc6 24.l2Jxc6
15.0-0 Also the simple 24.hxg5 hxg5 25 ...ixg5
Black has got the pawn back, but he is ..ixg2 26.~xg2 ~b6 27.~ab1 is possible,
late with his development. At the same with White's better game.
time, his pieces are located harmonically, 24... gxf4 25. ~d3 bxc6 26 ...ixc6
and the position maybe estimated as ap- Ιη case of 26.~db1 both lines are pos-
proximately equal. sible: 26 ... ~xa1 27.~xa1 l2Jxg4 28 ...ixc6
15 .....ie7 ~d8, and 26 ... l2Je5 27.~d4 ~c2 28.~xe5
Black is not ίη a hurry with castling. It ο-ο with an unclear game ίη both cases.
seemed more natural here to play 15 ... 0-0 26 ... 0-0
16.kg5l2Jbd7. Finally (οη the move 26th) black castles!
16.~dl ~a517.kd2l2Jbd7 Maybe, he should try 26 ... ~d8, turning the
game to the above line, as now White wins
the material.
27 ...ixa8l2Je5
Black has to move forward, because the
following is bad: 27 ... ~xa8 28.~db1 l2Je5
29.~xb2l2Jxd3 30.~b7! with a clear advan-
tage ίη the ending.
28.~d4 .sxa8 29.~xe5 ~c8 30.Macl
l2Jd5
It seems that Black, achieved every-
thing that was possible, but now White can
trade the queen for two rooks and a knight.
18.g4 However, the posiιion of the white king is
Απ original idea. The black's king is ίη weak and that gives Black resources for
the centre, and White moves the g-pawn the counter game.
with the purpose to push the black knight 31.l2Jxd5 ~xe5 32.l2Jxe7+ ~g7 33.~xc8
from his legitimate f6-square. Alsoin case of33.l2Jxc8 ~xe2 34.g5 ~g4
18...h6 19. ~g3 ~a6 35.~f1 hxg5 36.hxg5 f3 Black's counter
Black moves the queen from the ορρο play is quite real.
sition with the white bishop. Probably, he 33... ~xe2 34.~g8+ ~f6 35..sd7 ~el+
did not like 19 ... 0-0 because of20.h4 with 36.Φg2 ~e4+ 37.~h2 ~c2 38.Φg2 ~e4+
the initiative. 39.~h2 ~c2 40.g5+ hxg5 41.~xg5
20.h4 ~c4 21.kf4 ~b4 41.hxg5 ~e5 changes nothing.
Black is too engaged with queen's ma- 41 ... ~xf2+ 112-%
neuvers. At the moment, he had an inter- Finally White did not escape the per-
esting opportunity at his disposal: 21 ... g5!? petual check. The game was tense and
- using that the king of the opponent was non-standard. Despite the fact that White
not castled. Mter 22.hxg5 hxg5 23.l2Jxg5 managed to win a material, Black's counter
(23 ...ixg5 ~xg4) kxg2 24.Φχg2 e5! Black play was enough for a draw.
Linαres 81
44 C 17 18. '§c3 with unclear play) 16 ... CLlf5 17 ...Itc5
Anand - Khalifman J:!.e4 18.Φd1 J:!.c4 19.'§f5 J:!.c5 20.'§f7 d4
Round 9 9.03 21 ...Itd3 CLle5 22.CLle5 J::re5 with a compen-
Notes by S.Iuαnou sation, Ricardi - Forster, Elista 1998.
11 .•. '§a512.CLlf3
l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.CLlc3 ..Itb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 12.l:tb1 Black can meet with 12 ... CLld4!?
..Ita56.b4 13. '§d3 CLlef5 14.CLlf3 CLlf3 15. '§f3 ..Itd7
This basic method for struggling 16.l:tb7 ..Itc6 17.J:!.b4 '§c5 18. '§f2 d4, getting
against the system 5 ... ..Ita5 was introduced a strong counterplay, Sax - Vaganian, Wijk
by A.Alekhine ίη the twenties. aan Zee 1989.
6 ... cxd47.'§g4 12.....Itd7
The most critical way, inνolνing mutual 12 ... d4 with the idea of 13.CLlg5 J:!.g5
destruction of flanks. The game has a tac- 14.fg5 '§e5 with a compensation has not
tical character, and Black can hope for a been proνed ίη practice.
good counterplay ifhe defends successfully. 13.~bl
Recently 7.CLlb5 ..Itc7 8.f4 occurred νery fre- There is a νery keen play after 13.CLlg5,
quently. One of the latest examples is as Black can chose any of the following
8 ... ..Itd7 9.CLlc7 '§c7 10.CLlf3 a6 11.a4 CΔe7 lines: 13 ... .:g5 14.fg5 0-0-0 15 ...Itd3 '§c5
12 . ..Itd3 CLlf5 13.0-0 CΔc6 14. '§e1 '§b6 16. '§h4 d4 17.0-0 CLle5, 13 ... ΙΗΕ 14.~b1 0-
15.J:!.b1 CLlce7 16.b5 ab5 17.ab5 CΔe3 with ο-ο 15.CΔf7 J:!.f7 16.'§f7 ..Ite8 17.'§e6 ..Itd7
an unclear play, Anand - Lputian, Wijk aan 18.'§f6 jιf5 or 13 ... 0-0-0 14.CLlf7 CΔf5
Zee 2000. 15.CLld8 '§d8 16. '§h3 CLlcd4 17. '§c3 Φb8
7 ... CLle7 with unclear consequences ίη all three
7 ... Φf8 seems to be illogical ίη this ρο- cases.
sition: 8.ba5 dc3 9.CΔf3 tΔe7 10 ...Itd3 tΔd7 13 ... 0-0-0 14.'§d3 tΔf5
11. '§b4 '§c7 12.0-0 tΔc5 13. '§c3± Unzicker Black used to continue with 14 ... d4, for
- Botνinnik, Amsterdam 1954. example: 15.g3 tΔf5 16 ...Itg2 '§c7 17.0-0
8.bxa5 Shiroν - Romero, Spain 1998 17 ... tΔce7!
Αη alternatiνe continuation 8.tΔb5 is 18.CLlg5 ..tc6 19.tΔf7 jιg2 20.Φg2 kId5 with
regarded below. a compensation (A.Shiroν). With the moνe
8 ... dxc3 9.'§xg7 1:Ig8 10.'§xh7 tΔbc6 ίη the game Black tries to weaken the ρο-
10 ... CLld7 has been out ofuse for a long sition ofhis opponent, yet he loses seνeral
time, because the knight is not actiνe here, . tempos at that. The question is, what will
hindering the deνelopment ofpieces only: proνe to be more important.
11.f4 '§a5 12.tΔf3 CLlf813.'§d3 ..Itd714.tΔg5 15.J:!.gl
1:Ic8 15.J:!.b1 b6 16.h4± Gligorich - Dueck- 15.J:!.b5 '§a4 16.'§c3 ':g2 17 ...Itg2 '§b5
stein, Zagreb 1955. 18 ...Ith3 d4 19. '§d3 '§c5 with a counterlpay
11.f4 is weaker, Rudolf - Vaganian, Germany
Black can get more chances from 11.CLlf3 2000. Ιη case of 15.g3 Black can turn the
'§c7 12.jιf4 (12 ...tb5 ..Itd7 13.0-0 tΔe5! game to a theoretical position with 15 ... d4
14.tΔe5 '§e5 15 ...Itd7 Φd7 16.'§d3 J::!.ac8! or prefer 15 ... tΔce7.
17. '§b5 CΔc6 18.g3 d4 19.':b1 '§b5 20.J:!.b5 15 ... d4 16.g4
e5!+ Wach - Kindermann, Ptuj 1995) Α natural reaction: the f5-knight is
12 ... jιd7 13.a6 (13 . ..Itd3) 13 ... 0-0-0!? hanging oνer White's position, and he
14.axb7 (14.jιd3 f5!? 15.ef6 '§f4 16.fe7 takes an opportunity to chase it away.
~de8 17 ...Itg6 tΔe5!? 18.jιe8 J:!.g2! Dolmatoν 16... tΔfe7
- S.Iνanoν, Kazan 1995) 14 ... Φb8 15.'§d3 This position is νery complicated, it is
J:!.g4 16 ...Ite3 (better 16.g3 tΔg6 17.h3 tΔf4 hard to estimate it. At the moment White
has several plans, for instance 17.ng1 and 24.t;rc3

18 ...I1..g2 or 17. ~e4 and 18.1ιd3 (Sakaev). White has decreased down Black's ίηί
17.~g3 tiative and achieved his material advan-
Α demonstratively firm move. 17.liJg5?! tage. But it should be taken into account
z:tg5 18.fg5 liJe5 with initiative is danger- that Black's position was very promising
ous, but 17.t;re4, to be followed by .td3 or after the opening, so the concerned vaή
17.h4 with an advance of the h-pawn ίη ant appears to be quite viable.
prospect, deserved attention, too. 24 ••. t;rc7
17 .•.iιe8 24 ... ~c5 25.~b4.
Κhalifman found a very interesting and 25 ...\te2liJd5
strong plan. He intends to play 18.iιg2 f6 Black has a certain compensation, but
19.exf6 ..I1..g6 it is not enough (Sakaev).
18.h4 26.t;rc4 t;ra5+
18.Φf2 can be met with 18 ... liJd5, plan- 26 ... liJb627.t;rc5.
ning f6 or liJe3. 27.Wf2 ..\ta4 28.l!b2 .ί:tc8 29.t;rd41:ic3
18... liJf5 19.1!g1 29 ... liJc3 30. ~b4 t;rc7 31 . ..I1..a6 is to
The exchange sacrifice 19.Φf2?! does White's advantage. 29 ... 1:igd8 30.c4 is
not work: 19 ... liJxg3 20.'it>xg3 f6! and worth attention - 30.1:tgb130 ... b6 is strong
21 ... .tg6 (Sakaev). with further liJc3 (Sakaev).
30.~d3
30.~gb1 ..\tc6 or 30.h5 ..\tc6 31.h6 with
an unclear position. If 31 ... t;rxa3 then
32.l!b3 (Sakaev)
30 ... J::Igc8 31.1:rc1
31.h5 seems better (Sakaev).
31 ... .!:Μ8 32 ..!::!:cb1 XΙc6 33.1:ib3 .ί:!:Χb3
34 ..ί:txb3 liJf6 35. t;rb4
19 ... liJe3
Black sacrifices the pawn, but the white
king will feel uncomfortable after the files
open up.
20..te3 de3 21. t;re3 liJe7!
If21 ... t;rxa3 then 22.iιd3 and White has
an advantage (Sakaev). Contemplating
liJd5 and .tc6.
22 ...I1..c4 ..I1..c6?! 35 ...liJxg4+?
Now Black loses the mostimportant c3- Necessary here was 35 ... t;rd5 36.XΙe2
pawn 22 ... Φb8! should have been played, liJg4 37.Φe1 (37.Φg3 1:ig8 38.t;rd6+ t;rxd6
to be followed by 23 ..ί:tb3 l:rc8, Black hav- 39.exd6liJf6+ and Black has good chances
ing a sufficient compensation this way. for a draw) and White has an advantage
23.1:ib3 wb8? (Sakaev).
Α dubious move. 23 ... ..\txf3 23. ~xf3liJc6 36 Φg3 t;rd5 37...\th7 t;rd1 38.wg4 i1d2
with a fine compensation for the lack of 39.Φg5 ..\txf3 40.XΙd3 ~g2+ 41.Φf6 a6
mateήaΙ (Sakaev). 42.l:.b11-0
Linares 83
45 Β90 20 ...b5!
V Leko - Kasparov Α strong moνe. It does not let 21.b5.
Round 9 9.03 Probably, 20.b4 was a wrong choice. 20.CΔb6
Notes by κ.Sαkαev was better, blocking the b7-pawn.
21.CΔc7 ~ab8 22.CΔxa6 .!::!.b7 23.kId5
1.e4 c5 2.CΔf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.CΔxd4 23.a4 bxa4 24.b5 with unclear game.
CΔί6 5.CΔc3a6 6 ..ie3 CΔg4 7 ..ig5 h6 8 ..ih4 23 ...CΔa7 24.Sιxa7 J::!.xa7 25 ..ixb5 Sιxb2
g5 9 ..ig3 iιg7 10.h3 CΔe5 11.f3 CΔbc6 The position is unclear.
12.Sιf2 Sιe6 13:~d2 ~a5 26.0-0 Sιxa3 27.Iιb1
13 ... J::!.c8 was played here 14.0-0-0 ~a5 The position is νery complicated, Black
15.CΔb3 f1c7 16.a3 .ixb3?! (16 ... CΔa5 de- is running risks.
serνed attention) 17.cxb3 CΔa5 18. f1c2 CΔg6 27 ... ~c8
19.Φb1 and White has an adνantage, 27 ... ~fa8 28.~d3 l:Ixa6 29 ..ixa6 ~xa6
Topaloν - Gelfand, Bugoino 1999. Maybe, 30.J::ta1 Ub6 31.bIdxa3 .ί::i.xb4 with a draw.
Kasparoν did not like 13 ... 1::rc8 because of 28.iιf1 .ic1 29.bIb3 .if4 30.J::td1
14.CΔd5. If 30.b5 then 30 ... J::!.c1
14.CΔb3 30... e631.b5
Now if14.0-0-0, then 14 ... .ixa2 is pos- Black should not lose but he stands
sible. worse.
14 ... SΙxb3 15.cxb3 CΔb4 31 ...1:!.b7 32.CΔb4 h5 33.Φf2 h4
Α sharp and risky moνe. White can play The position is close to a draw.
16.a3 with further 17.1::td1 or 16.Sιe2 with 34.~a3 Iιc5 35 ..ie2 CΔe5 36.J::tb1 ~g7
further ο-ο. White stants better - Black's 37.J:tab3 .ig3+ 1/2 -%
position is rather dangerous strategically.
15 ... e6 is worth attention here - seems to
be the best moνe (not letting the knight to 46 Β33
d5-square). 16. f1d6 is not possible because 'Shirov - Κramnik
of 16 ... CΔxf3+. Round 9 9.03
16.a3 CΔg6 17.~d1 CΔc6 18.CΔd5 Notes by κ.Sαkαev
Now 18.b4 f1e5 19.iιc4 White should
haνe better chances ίη this complicated 1.e4 c5 2.CΔf3 CΔc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.CΔxd4
position. CΔί6 5.CΔc3 e5 6.CΔdb5 d6 7 ..ig5 a6 8.CΔa3
18 ... f1xd2 19.1::rxd2 b5 9.iιxί6 gxf6 10.CΔd5 .ig7 11.iιd3 CΔe7
White has a slight adνantage. 12.CΔxe7 f1xe7 13.0-00-0 14.c4 f5 15. f1f3
19 ... 0-0 20.b4 ~e8
20.CΔb6 ~ad8 21 ..ic4 e6 22.0-0 with Black's idea is to play 16 ... bxc417.CΔxc4
further 23.~fd1 deserνed attention. d5 18.exd5 e4 and it is impossible to play
19.f1e3 as the queen at the e7-square is
protected by the rook. 15 ... J::!.e8 was rarely
played here. Normally they play here
15 ... bxc4 16.CΔxc4 d5.
16.Ufe1 b417.CΔc2 ί4
Αη interesting but dubious idea. If
18.CΔb4 then 18 ... f1g5 or 18 ... f1h4 with fur-
ther !!b8.
18.Sιe2 1::rb8 19.b3
19.a3 a5 (19 ... b3 20.CΔb4; 19 ... bxa3
20. f1a3 and White has an adνantage)
20.axb4 axb4 21.~a4 with White's has an 16... ~d8

adνantage. 16 ... ~d8 100ks stronger than 16 ... ~h5.
19 ... 'it>h8 20.~h5 d5! B1ack has all chances to equa1ize.
Α strong moνe. 17.d5 4'Jb8 18.~c2
21.cxd51:tb6 After 18.Jιb2CL\d7 19. ~c2 h6 B1ack has
B1ack has a fine compensation for the ηο prob1ems here.
sacrificed pawn. 18... g6
22.1::rad1! If 19. Jth6, then 19 ... Jιf6 will fo1-
Α strong moνe. If 22 ... 1::[h6 then 23.d6 10w. 18 ... h6 - the sequence of moνes also
and White is better here. maybe 1ike ίη the game.
22 ... a523.d6 19.CL\e5 .1ιf6 20.SΙb2 CL\d7 21.f4 JLg7
Α preνentiνe moνe 23.h3 is possib1e, if 21 ... CL\c5 22.~e3 is probab1e moνe here.
23 ... ~h6 or 23 ... ~g6 then 24.d6. White has a certain (minimal) pressure.
23 ... ~xd6 24.~xd6 ~xd6 25.~d1 ~g6 22.~f2
26.~xg6 hxg6 27.Jtc4 22 ..tte3 is possib1e. 22 ... f6 23.CL\xd7 ~xd7
27 ..1ιb5 z:tf8 is possib1e. The endgame is (23 ... .ί:txe3 24.CL\xf8) 24.~ael
near1y equal. 22 ... CL\c5 23.SΙc2 ~d6 24.~e3
27 ... .1ιe6
The knight at c2 needs too many tem-
pos to occupy a better position. 80, the ρο
sition is drawn.
28 ..1ιχe6 ~xe6 29.l::td5 ~c6 30.4'Je1 ~c1
31. 'it>f1 f5
The position is still equa1, but sharp.
32.f3 Jtf6
32 ... fxe4 33.fxe4 ~c3 - White's adνan
tage is not enough for a νictory.
33.ςtof2 1h - 1/2
33 ... fxe4 34.fxe4 .1ιh4+ 35.g3 fxg3
36.hxg3 .1ιχg3 37.'it>xg3 ~xel 38.~xe5 I:!.e2 24 ...f6!
with a draw. 24 ... .:te7 25 ..:tael .t[fe8 26.~h4 Jtc8??
27.CL\xg6! ~xe3 28.CL\e7+! and White has a
decisiνe attack, as 28 ... ςtof8 29 ..1ιχg7 ςtoxg7
C42 30.~h7+ ςtof8 31.1::rxe3+-, or 28 ... .t[8xe7
47
Kasparov - Anand 29.~h7+ ςtof8 30.~g7+ ςtoe8 31.~g8+ ςtod7
Round 10 10.03 32 ..1ιαι+ with a winning attack. The follow-
Notes by KSαkαev ing does not solνe prob1ems: 26 ... f6 27.CL\g4
~xe3 28.1:txe3 ~XE:3 29.CL\xe3 ~e7 30.'it>f2,
1.e4 e5 2.4'Jf3 4'Jf6 3.4'Jxe5 d6 4.4'Jf3 or 29 ... f5 30.JLxg7 'it>xg7 31.SΙxf5; 26 ... Jιf6
4'Jxe4 5.d4 d5 6.SΙd3 4'Jc6 7.0-0 .1ιe7 8.c4 27.~g3.
4'Jb4 9 . .1ιe2 ο-ο 10.4'Jc3 b6 11.a3 4'Jxc3 25.4'Jg4 ~xe3
12.bxc3 4'Jc6 13.cxd5 ~xd5 14.1::re1 JLb7 25 ... .1ιc8 26.f5
15 ..iιd3 ~ae8 16.c4 26.~xe3
After 16 ... ~h517.d5 B1ack shou1d sac- 26.CL\xe3 f5 was good.
rifice a piece by 17 ... .iιd6. It seems really 26 •..JLc8 27.f5
dangerous to accept the sacrifice, but af- 27.CL\f2 Jιh6! (27 ... Jιd7 28.f5) 28.g3 Jιd7
ter a simp1e 18 ..1ιb2 White keeps his ad- 30. ~d4 .iιg7 and B1ack has a solid position.
νantage. 27 ... .iιxf5 28.JLxf5 gxf5 29.CL\f2CL\e4
Linαres 85
Α possible moνe as well. 29 ... f4 is good not dangerous for Black. ΒΥ 6 ..tb5+ White
now. Black is οκ. brings Black's piece to the d7-square. ΑηΥ
30.CLJxe4 lh - 1/2 piece there, eνen a knight (b8 is better) will
Kasparoν would probably make a draw haνe a bad location, as it will make ob-
after 30 ... fxe4 31. ~e4 f5 32. ~c2 i..xb2 stacles for a7-a6 and b7-b5 plan. For this
33.~xb2 ~c5+ 34.Φh1 ~xc4 35.~e5. If purpose Black often use the following ma-
30.CLJd3, then 30 ... c6 or 30 ... b5. The posi- neuνer: CLJb8-a7-c6.
tion is approximately equal. 6 ...\tb5+ ..\td7 7.a4 ο-ο 8.0-0 ..\txb5
8 ... ..\txb5 looks strange. Normally
8 ... CLJa6 it is played here with further CLJc7
48 D19 or 8 ... ..\tg4 with further CLJbd7. At the mo-
Khalifman - Shirov ment, after a dubious pieces exchange at
Round 10 10.03 the b5-square, White has a solid positional
Notes by KSαkαev adνantage.
9.axb5 CLJbd7 10:itfe2 CLJe8 11 ...\tf4
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.CLJf3CLJf6 4.CLJc3 dxc4 Threatening the e4-e5.
5.a4 i.f5 6.e3 e6 7.i.xc4 i.b4 8.0-0 CLJbd7 1l ... CLJc7 12 ..1:ι.fdΙ
9.~e2 ο-ο 10.e4 i.g6 1l.i.d3 h6 12 ...\tf4 With further e5.
Me813.h3 a6 12 ... a6 13.bxa6 CLJxa6 14.e5 dxe5
An equal position is οη the board. White 15.CLJxe5 CLJxe5 16.i..xe5 ..\txe5 17.~xe5
has not achieνed an adνantage ίη the open- ~d6
ing. This position is known rather well- Κramnik could play 18. ~xd6 and then
known. moνe CLJb5. Black has a hard endgame, for
14.e5 CLJd5 15.CLJxd5 i..xd3 16.~xd3 example: 18. ~xd6 exd6 19.CLJb5 Mad8 with
cxd5 further ~d7 and tΔc7 but still Black's posi-
Κhalifman should not try to work some- tion is worse (19 ... CLJb4 20.c4!) 20.c4 Mfe8
thing out of this position - probably 21.~f1 Md7 22.Ma3 CLJc7 23.CLJc3 with fur-
17.i.d2, equalizing the game, is best choice ther Mb3. Eνen a rook endgame will be dif-
here. ficult for Black.
17.Mfcl 1/2 - 112 18.~g5!
Further οη, White will haνe to change White also has an adνantage here
bishops. 17 ... ~b6 is a probable moνe ίη this (probably this is eνen stronger than enter-
position. ing the aboνe stated ending). Κramnik
wants to play a more dynamic position.
White threatens with 19.CLJe4.
49 Α43 18 ... CLJc7 19.CLJe4?!
Κramnik - Leko 19.CLJe4?! is dubious. Now Black is close
Round 10 10.03 to equalizing. Better is 19.Mxa8 Mxa8
Notes by KSαkαev 20.h4! and White has a great adνantage
19 ... Mxal 20.Mxal f6 21.CLJxd6 fxg5
1.d4CLJf6 2.CLJf3 c5 3.d5 g6 4.CLJc3 i..g7 22.CLJxb7 ~b8
5.e4 d6 Ν ow White has minimal chances for a
Leko plays this line for the first time, νictory ίη this endgame, for instance:
so probably he is not well-oriented ίη this 23.CLJxc5 l::ι.xb2 24.~c1 (24.c4 Mc2) CLJxd5.
opening, 5 ... 0-0 is a normal moνe not let- 23.CLJa5 Mxb2 24.c4 Mc2 25.h3 CLJe8
ting to check at the b5-square, as 6.e5 is 26.CLJc6 lh - 112
Japfa Classic
Denpasar (Bali) 22.04-2.05, cat.16
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 Ju. Polgar 2658 1 1 1 = = 1 6.5
2 Κhalifman 2656 = 1 1 = = 1 6
3 Κarpov 2696 1 1 1 6
4 Milos 2620 Ο = = = 1 1 1 5.5
5 Seirawan 2647 = = 1 5
6 Timman 2655 Ο Ο = = 1 4
7 Adianto 2584 Ο Ο Ο = = 1 4
8 Ehlvest 2622 = Ο Ο = = Ο 3
9 Gunawan 2507 Ο Ο Ο
10 ZawWin Lay 2633 Ο Ο = Ο Ο = Ο
The tournament of category 16 Japfa Classic, Bali 2000 was the strongest tourna-
ment ever held ίη Indonesia. It took place ίη spectacular Grand Bali Beach Hotel ίη
Bali, Indonesia, οη one ofthe most beautiful islands ίη the world. The tournament was
sponsored by the Japfa food company. The opening ceremony was very beautiful; every-
one enjoyed watchingthe graceful Balinese dancers. Megawati Soekarnoputri, the Vice-
president of Indonesia, delivered a speech of welcome. The prize fund of the tourna-
ment was US $ 56,500.
The participation of a local "super-grandmaster" Zaw Win Lay with his rating 2633
excited everyone's curiosity. Players all over the world could not help but notice that a
lot of players from Myanmar had got high ratings. Once again the result of the
tournament (Zaw with 2,5 points took last place) confirmed that miracles do not happen.
Four leaders played among themselves ίη the last round. J.Polgar with Black won
an excellent victory over Milos and gained the first prize of US $ 20,000. This result
together with her victory over A.Karpov ίη Rapid Chess is the best ίη her brilliant
career. It seemed that the 14th World Champion A.Kahlifman had a fair chance to defeat
A.Karpov and to overtake Polgar, but the 12th World Champion managed to keep half a
point with a difficult defence.
Jαpfα CΙαssic 87
Ί\vo debuts and "French fries"
ΒΥ Alexαnder Khαlifmαn
Ί\νο debuts took place ίη Round 1 of Japfa Classic cat.16 round-robin ίη Denpasar,
Bali. The first one is my own ίη the 80uthern hemisphere - never before have Ι crossed
the equator. 1t's rather Ρήvate and has some interest mainly for my fήeηds and me.
The second one - just oppositely - was expected by the chess world. Τορ gun of
Myanmar "chess wonder" Zaw Win Lay (rating 2633) for the very first time plays ίη
round-robin GM tournament (by the way, the first ever cat.16 tournament ίη Asia).
There was wήtteη a lot about this "wonder" - so I'd better not repeat previous authors.
Ι see some way to stop (or, at least, to reduce) the discussions about the ratings of
Myanmar players (6 ofthem are suddenly ίη World top 100 ίη the list 01.2000). 1fthe
events where these guys had such massive rating gains were rated by F1DE there must
be the games' texts somewhere. 80, F1DE, please let the rest of the world look at these
texts or just let Myanmar Chess Federation tell us that those texts unfortunately were
not compiled up to now.
These missing scores made my life a bit unpleasant yesterday when Ι was preparing
for this game. 1η the massive GM school database which οήgiηates from all possible
sources and contains a bit less than 2 000 000 games Ι found οηlΥ 60 games by Zaw Win
Lay - rather a low number for 2600+ player. Even worse - οηlΥ 14 ofthem were dated
1999 when his rating increased from 2465 to 2633. Most of these games were against
some unrated or rated about 2200 players so it was rather hard to understand what
kind of player Zaw Win Lay was.
ΜΥ first conclusions based οη his games from 1997-1999 were that he is an aggres-
sive player of a solid master level (about 2450).
80rry, dear readers, this game (despite its outcome - 0:1 ίη 21 moves) doesn't give
the clear answer if Zaw Win Lay is overrated or (less probable) underrated. Let's wait
for the next rounds as the following game confirms οηlΥ 2 facts:
1) Zaw Win Lay knows modern opening theory quite well;
2) After "Black disaster" ίη my match with Peter Leko Ι tried to do my best to repair
my Black opening.
80 the French defence, which worked rather well for me ίη Linares, finally scores the
full point!
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen - "French Fήes from Bali"!
50 C07 ficial" theory could be enough to reach a

Zaw Win Lay - Κhalifman draw with almost anonymous opponent
Round 1 22.04 (2633??? but who knows what is his real
strength? 2300? 2800?) was a bit suspi-
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.tZJd2 c5 4.exd5 ~xd5 cious. Anyway after some thought Ι re-
5.tZJgf3 cxd4 6.1ιc4 ~d6 7.0-0 tZJf6 8.tZJb3 minded wise words by old Russian master
tZJc6 9.tZJbxd4 tZJxd4 10.tZJxd4 a6 11.l:te1 Vassily Panov: "Ι consider every opponent
~c7 12.~b3 1ιd6 to be the strong player until he proves the
Frankly speaking Ι felt rather confused opposite" and decided to play quite nor-
at this moment. Entering a complicated mally - just like Ι would play ίη Linares.
long line where the good knowledge of''of- 13.tZJf5
88' Super Tournαments 2000
The modest alternative 13.h3 ο-ο 19 ... e5!

14 ..i.g5 .th2+ 15.Wh1.i.f4 presents ηο dan- The novelty. Actually now the game is
ger for Black. over. Black opens his French c8-bishop and
13 ....i.xh2+ 14.ΦhΙ 0-0 15.lZJxg7 'ud8 remains just a piece up for ηο compensa-
16.~f3 Φχg717 ..i.h6+ tion. It's just incredible that neither GM
17.g3? b5! is just bad for White - some players who had this position οη the board
games ίη the early nineties proved this fact nor (even more incredible) GM commen-
extensively. 18.Φχh2 (18.~f4 .i.b7 19 ..i.xc7 tators gave any attention to this winning
i..xf3+ 20.l!>xh2 lZJg4=t; 18 ..th6+ Φg6 19. move. 19 ... .i.d7 20.1:ϊd4 ~e5 21 ..i.e3 i,c6?
I!>xh2 iιb7 20. ~f4 ~c5+) 18 ... ~b7 19. ~e2 22.~g4+! CL\xg4 23.~xg4+ Φf6 24.~h4+
~d4 20.Φh3 (20.~g5 lZJg4+ 21.'it>h3 ~e4 I!>g7 25.i,d4± Korneev - Vakhidov, Ubeda
22.~f3 ~c5=t) 20 ... ~e4 21 ..te3 lZJg4=t; 19. 1997;
~f419 ... ~c6 20.J:!.g1 ~d121.iιe3 (21.~h6+ 19 ... ~e5 20 ..te3 ~h5. It is difficult to
Wg8 22. ~g5+ Φf8 23.i..e3) 21 ... ~xa1 find another answer, but now White gets a
22.~g5+ Φf8 23.~c5+ Φe8 24.~xc6+ ~xc6 clear and stable advantage ίη the ending.
25.~xa1lZJg4+ 26.Φh3lZJχe3 27.fxe3 1:ϊd8=t 21.~xh5+ Wxh5 22.l!>xh2 CL\g4+ 23.l!>g3
Wolff - Gulko, USA 1992. CL\xe3 24.fxe3± Ponomariov - Sadvakasov,
17... Φg618.~adΙ? Lausanne 1999;
"Fresh idea" according to GM Lev 19 ... .i.e5 20.~e3 CL\e4! is οηlΥ a draw
Psakhis' comments of the game Ροηο after 2:J.. ~xe4+ Wxh6 22. ~h4+ ςj;>g6 23.
mariov - Sadvakasov (see further). It was ~g4+Φf6=.
also assessed as an interesting one by GM 20.l!>xh2
Sergey Ivanov ίη his extensive article οη Zaw Win Lay spent about 40 minutes
this sharp line ίη one of the last "Ν ew ίη here but ... The other moves don't promise
Chess" yearbooks. Well, that's really fresh anything - Black just completes his de-
and interesting - it was played οηlΥ twice velopment and wins. ΟΚ, after 20.g3 CL\g4
according to the GM School database - Black's extra bishop looks rather strange
both times ίη grandmaster games and with οη h2 but it feels fine there and a piece is
100% success for White by now. Somehow still a piece after all. 20.c3 ..Iif4 21 ...Iixf4 exf4
Ι feel that we'll hardly see any new game 22 ..i.c2+ Φg7-+; 20.g3CL\g4 21 ..i.e3 (21.i..f8
οη "fresh and interesting" 18.~ad1 after .i.f5 22.iιd6 ~c6-+) i.f5 22.i.d5 (22.c3 e4
this game. 23.~e2 ~d8-+) 22 ... ~xc2 23 ..i.xf7+ ΦΧf7
This move hasjust one very little draw- 24. ~xb7 Φg6 25.~d6 Φh5 26. ~f7 i.g6-+
back - it loses immediately! 18.c3 lZJh5 is 20 ... CL\g4+ 21.Wgl ςj;>xh6! 0-1
the main line with abovementioned 21 ... CL\xh6? 22.~g3+ ..tg4 23.f3=t
drawish tendencies. Now Zaw Win Lay resigned. Τοο early?
18 ...~xdl 19.~xdl Probably just ίη time. When Ι showed
19 ... e5! to GM Alexey Lugovoi ίη Linares
he was rather impressed and couldn't be-
lieve that the idea 18.~ad1 might be re-
futed 80 easily. So ίή the final position he
tried different moves but then stopped say-
ing just: "Why should we look at that?
Black is a piece up - that's all". This ver-
dict seems to be completely right. So, 0:1
21 ... l!>xh6 22. ~h3 (22. ~g3 i,f5 23.1:ϊd4
I!>g5!-+) I!>g7 23.~h5 (23.~g3 a5!?-+) h6
24.1:ϊd6 (24.1:ϊd3 e4-+) 24 ... ~e7-+; 22.i,d5
Japfa Classic 89
Φg7 23.c4 (23.~g3 ~xc2-+) 23 ... a5 24.~g3 19.c4!
l:ι.a6 25.f3 ~c5+ 26.~Ω ~e3-+; 22.~xΠ White breaks the chain ofblack pawns
22 ... e4 23. ~h3+ Φg7 24.~h5 (24. ~h4 ~e5 οη the queenside and creates a very weak
25.1::rd8 liJf6-+) 24 ... liJf6 25. ~h4 ~e5-+ point at the c6-square for his opponent.
19...bxc4 20.~xc4 liJb6 21.~c2 LΔd5
51 Β19 22.J::rc1 Φb7 23.LΔe5!
Polgar - Adianto White is ready to exchange his knight
Round 2 23.04 for a bishop at the e5-square, as after the
pawn goes away from d4, the bishop will
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.liJc3 dxe4 4.liJxe4 have good prospects at the gl-a7 diago-
~f5 5.liJg3 i.g6 6.h4 h6 7.liJf3 liJd7 8.h5 nal.
~h7 9.i.d3 ~xd3 10.~xd3liJgf611.j,f4 23 ... ~xe5
This is one ofthe basic 1ines ofthe Caro- B1ack cou1d not refuse the exchange of
Kann, where B1ack manages to solve the his bishop because of 26 ... ~c8? and the
prob1em of his bishop, but he is 1ate with protection of the c6-pawn does not work
his deve10pment and White gets the ad- owing to 25. ~b3+
vantage ίη space. ΒΥ her 1ast move, Po1gar 24.dxe5 .ί:tc8 25.J::rhe1 ~b6 26.~e3
prevents moving the black queen to the c7- ~b5
square, but still B1ack will manage to do B1ack cannot go for an exchange. Mter
this by the "shutt1e" manoeuvre of the 26 ... liJxe3? 27.Ϊtxe3 the white rook enters
queen. the 3rd rank with a decisive effect.
11 ... ~a5+ 12.~d2 ~c7 13.0-0-0 e6 27 ...ic5 .tted8 28.1::te4 J:td7 29.l:ι.d4
14.liJe4 i.d6 15.g3 liJxe4 16.~xe4 0-0-0 White starts to bound B1ack's pieces,
17:~[e2 J::rhe8 18.~b1 b5?! 1eaving him ηο chances for a counter game.
The position after White's move 18 is Another promising 1ine 29.i::i.g4!? f5 30.exf6
not a new one. Ιη one of games by Adianto gxf6 31 ..ί:tg6, which was shown after the
he managed to solve B1ack's problems by game by J.Po1gar, a1so 1ed to White's 1arge
18 ... e5, and after 19.dxe5 liJxe5 20.LΔxe5 advantage. Probably, White did not 1ike
~xe5 21.~e3 b6 22.a3 Wb7 the game equa1- 29 ... liJb6 (if29 ... Φa8 then 30 ...id6, increas-
ized. But now he probab1y fears any im- ing the pressure), but ίη this case the fo1-
provement οη the part of his opponent (ίη 10wing is possib1e: 30.~g4 J::rg8 31.a4 ~a5
J.Po1gar's ορίnίοη after 21.J::rhe1!? J::re6 (if 31 ... ~d3 then this 1ine gives the deci-
22. ~g4 Whites cou1d get an advantage) sive advantage: 32. ~xd3 J:.xd3 33.J::rb4 Φc7
and decides to choose the other way. His 34 ...id6+) 32.~xb6 ~xb6 and now 33 ..ί::ι.b4!
1ast move prepares the manoeuvre liJd7- ~xb4 34.~xc6+ Φb8 35.~xd7 ~e4+ 36.
b6, but his idea does not have a success ~a1 ~xe5 37.~c3 is very strong, with a
because ofWhite's strong answer: 1arge advantage.
29 ... Φa8 30.~d2
Now (and οη the next move a1so)
30 ...id6 100ks fine, preventing B1ack from
increasing the pressure a10ng the b-fi1e.
However, B1ack has ηο rea1 counterp1ay
after the move ίη the game:
30...J::rb7 31.f4 J::rcb8 32.b3 ~a6 33.~b2!
It is a preventive move against the
b1ack rock's possib1e sacrifice οη the b3-
square. For examp1e, ίη case of the care-
1ess 33.~d6?, there wou1d be 33 ... J:Ixb3+
34.axb3 1:txb3+ 35.Φc2 ~b5! and White 52 Ε12

wou1d not have any satisfactory defence. Tirnrnan - Polgar
33 ... ~b5 34. ~d3 ~a5 35.iιd6 Mc8 Round 3 24.04
36.Mdc4 CLJb6?
B1ack is ίη a hard position and is short 1.CLJf3 CLJf6 2.c4 b6 3.d4 e6 4.a3
of time, so he tries to save the game by The Queen's Indian Defense chosen by
tactics, but, as it often happens, this just the p1ayers here is one of quiet openings.
makes things go faster. 36 ... I:ι.b6 was bad White's 1ast move, se1ecting the Petrosian
because of37.f5! ~b5 (after 37 ... exf5 B1ack Variation, shows that he is not ru1ing out
has mateήa11οsses - 38. ~xf5 ~a6 39.iιc5 more active tήes for advantage 1ater οη.
~bb8 40. ~xf7) 38.fxe6 fxe6 and now the 4 ... iιb7 5.CLJc3 d5 6.cxd5 CLJxd5 7.~c2
preventive 39.Φb1 with an idea to p1ay CLJxc3 8.bxc3 iιe7 9.e4 ο-ο 10.iιd3 c5
~d3-g6 (if39.~g6 then 39 ... CLJe3 shou1d be 11.0-0 ~c8 12.~e2
considered) wou1d make B1ack face hard White's pawn centre is the chieffeature
prob1ems. Probab1y, the best solution was of this position. Thus, p1ans of both sides
a passive 36 ... ~b6.It did not solve all the are c1ear: White will try to concentrate a
prob1ems but at 1east White could not force fistfu1 of pieces ίη the centre, ίη order to
the game to his advantage immediate1y. stήke a b10w at his opponent's kingside,
37.~xc6 .uxc6 38.~xc6 ~d5 39.~c3 whi1e B1ack will try either to simp1ify the
~d2+ 40.ΦcΙ! position as much as possib1e, or to put pres-
The simp1est solution ίη this situation sure οη White's centre pawns. 80 White's
is the best one. White cou1d follow more 1ast move, removing his queen from pos-
risky way - 40.Φb1 ~xa2+ (the ending af- sib1e exchange, 100ks quite 10gical. The οη1Υ
ter 40 ... ~xc3 41.1::!.xc3 is hope1ess for B1ack, question is where exact1y to remove her.
and if 40 ... ~xa2 then the following is deci- At the c10se of the 90's, the continuation
sive: 41.1::!.c8+ <Jtb7 42.11c7+) 41.Φc1 .1:ίh2 12. ~a2 gained some popu1arity for a short
(after 41 ... ~d5 White checkmates by 42. time but J. Timman decides to choose a
~xb6 axb6 43. ~c8+ Φa7 44.iιb8+ <Jta8 more approved way.
45.iιc7+) 42.ktc8+ Φb7 43.l:.c7+ Φa6 (if 43 ... 12...Xιa6 13.I:!dl cxd4
Φb8 then 44 ..ί::txf7+) 44.~d3+. However all Po1gar trusts ίη her p1an, and begins
this beauties are use1ess. Ιη case of the simp1ification ofthe position. The im-
40 ... ~d5! White has not a forced win. mediate 13 ... SΙxd3 might have been a trifle
40 ... ~xc3+ 41.1:txc3 nxa2 42.l:tc7 ~g2 more accurate. The point is that, as 10ng
ΒΥ means of 42 ... CLJd5 43.kixf7 .1:ίe2 as there are still c-pawns οη the board,
44 ..ί:txg7 CLJc3 B1ack cou1d try to make a White is hard1y 1ike1y to deve10p his bishop
draw with the he1p of the nearest moves to b2. White has slight1y more 1atitude.
CLJa2+ and CLJc3+. But 45.MC7! destroys this 14.cxd4 1ιχd3 15.~xd3
p1an easi1y. 15.1:txd3 CLJd7 was the alternative and
43.:txf7 nxg3 44.f5! now 16.iιb2 1ed after 16 ... ~a6 17 .~ad1
The comp1ete domination at 7th rank I:ι.fe8 18.h4 to a comp1ex game with mu-
and the passed e-pawn gives ηο chances tua1 chances ίη Rib1i - Alma$i, Altensteig
for B1ack to save the position. 1994.
44 ... exf5 45.e6 .ι:!gl + 15 ... ~a6 16.iιb2?!
Mter 45 ... -Uc3+ 46.Φb2 .uc8 47.e7 CLJd5 As 10ng as B1ack's knight was undeve1-
48.-Uf8 CLJxe7 49.iιxe7 an extra piece is oped, White cou1d have e1iminated any 10s-
enough for White to win. ing possibi1ities by means of 16.d5 ~xd3
46.Φd21:tg2+ 47.Φd3 CLJc8 48.1ιe5 I:ι.gl 17.Mxd3 exd5, and now either 18.!Ixd5
49.e71-0 CLJa6, with equa1ity, or a sharper 18.exd5
Japfa Classic 91
ct:Jd7, with chances for both sides. After the (Black gets nothing from 26 ... ct:Ja4 27.~cl
moνe ίη the game, Black, at least, does not J::td8, due to 28.lIc7) 27.1ιc2, White does
stand worse. stand a bit worse, but things are not seri-
16.. :~xd3 17.1::txd3 ct:Jd7 18.I:tcl ous yet. Now he must surrender a pawn.
Now, with the black knight deνeloped, 26...ct:Jc4 27 ...icll;:ϊ.d8 28.a4
18.d5 is ηο longer so attractiνe ίη νiew of White seeks complications. Mter 28.
18 ... ct:Jc5 19.~e3 Itfd8. ct:Jb3, Black can select either the pawn-up
18 ... I:tfc8 19.1ldc3 Itxc3 20.llxc3 ct:Jf6 rook ending after 28 ... ~xa3 29 ...ixa3 ct:Jxa3
21.ct:Jd2 30.~a6 ct:Jc2 31.l:txa7 ct:Jxd4 32.ct:Jxd4 Itxd4
33.1::tb7 J::tb4, or the further strengthening
ofher position by 28 ... a5! 29.'it>e2 a4, which
would be eνen more unpleasant for White.
28 ...llxd4 29.ct:Jb3?
White goes to pieces. His 26th moνe cost
him a pawn, and this moνe would cost him
a piece. Ιη all honesty, though, it should
be pointed out that 29.Φe2 ~xc5 (οη
29 ... bxa4, Black must consider 30.1:i:c8+
~d8 31.ct:Jb7 ct:Jb6 32.l!b8, when White defi-
nitely has a counterplay) 30.1:i:xc5 bxa4
31.~e3 ct:Jxe3 32.Wxe3 lldl 33.1:i:a5 1:i:al is
21 ...b5! most likely lost fOT White.
White has secured control of the open 29 ... 1::td3 30.axb5 ct:Je5 31.1::tc8+ 'it>d7
c-file, but has ηο targets. Now Black's 32.~a81::txb3 33.1::txa7+ Φe8 0-1
queenside pawn majority may become a
more important factor ίη the struggle for
an adνantage. 53 C92
22.lIc6 Milos - Zaw Win Lay
Inνading the 7th rank by 22.llc7 giνes Round 4 25.04
Black ηο great worries after 22 ... Φf8
23.I:tb7 a6 24.llc7 (24.ΦΩ? llc8) 24 ... Φe8. l.e4 e5 2.ct:Jf3 ct:Jc6 3.~b5 a6 4.~a4 ct:Jf6
22 ... ΦίΒ 23.f3 5.0-0 ~e7 6.Uel b5 7 ...ib3 d6 8.c3 ο-ο
White should bring the king to the cen- 9.h3 ~b7 10.d4 lle8 11.ct:Jbd2 ~ίB 12.d5
tre quickly (23.'it>fl), ίη case there are fur- The players selected one of the most
ther exchanges. popular lines ίη the Ruy Lopez: the Zaitseν
23 ... Φe8 24.ct:Jb3 ct:Jd7 25.Φf1 Variation. With his last moνe, White de-
Black's last moνe gaνe White an oppor- cided to close the centre with a tempo, let-
tunity for a central pawn break - and it ting Black's knight choose between seνeral
may haνe been justified. Mter 25.d5 exd5 possible retreats.
26.exd5 ct:Jb6 27.d6 (Black is clearly better 12... ct:Je7
after 27.~xg7 ~xa3) 27 ... ~f8 28.ct:Jd4 ct:Jc4 Experts ίη the Ruy Lopez consider
29.ct:Jxb5 (White still has problems after 12 ... ct:Jb8 the most solid continuation. This
29.~c3 ct:Jxd6 30.~b4 lld8) 29 ... ct:Jxb2 could not haνe been a secret to Zaw Win
30.1ιc2 1ιb8 31.llxb2 Φd7 32.llb3 ~xd6, Lay, as witnesses the following: 13.ct:Jfl
White has an unenνiable situation, chiefly ct:Jbd7 14.ct:Jg3 ct:Jc5 15.~c2 c6 16.b4 ct:Jcd7
because his king is so far from the centre. 17 .dxc6 ~xc6 18.~b3 Onischuk - Zaw Win
25 ... ct:Jb6 26.ct:Jc5? Lay, Jakarta 1997. Neνertheless, he de-
Α terrible mistake. Mter 26.ct:Ja5 Φd7 cided to play differently ίη this game.
13.CLJf1 CLJg6 And here is a novelty. Ιη Asrian -

The prophylactic 13 ... h6 is quite fre- Virovlansky, St.Petersburg 1999, White
quent ίη this position. continued: 21.b4'i:!fg6 22.g3 CLJxh3+ 23.~Ω
14.a4! J:Ie7 24.axb5 axb5 25.l:Ia6, and Black could
White wants to create a target οη the have obtained a completely acceptable ρο
queenside. Another possible line, 14.CLJ3h2 sition by playing 25 ... 'i:!fh5.
'i:!fd7 15.CLJg4, is worse ίη view of15 ... CLJxe4! 21 ... axb5
16.~xe4 f5, Rodriguez - Arencibia, Cuba The intermediate 21 ... 'i:!fg6 does not
1994. ~ solve all Blacks problems, ίη view of the
14 ... c6 temporary pawn sacrifice 22.g3! (White
Ιη order to increase the radius of activ- gets nothing from 22.CLJh4 'i:!fg5) 22 ... CLJxh3+
ity of his light-squared bishop, Black un- 23.~f1 axb5 (after 23 ... ~xb5, White recov-
dertakes this central break. An unavoid- ers the pawn by 24.b4 ~b6 25. 'i:!fe2) 24. 'i:!fb3
able consequence ofthis plan is the weak- .ί::re7 25.~a5, when White recovers his ma-
ening of the d5-square -:- and now every terial and maintains all his advantages
White's piece will be looking ίη that direc- besides.
tion. 22.Wh2 b4?!
15.dxc6 iιxc6 16.iιg5 Black is ίη a most dangerous situation,
Here Black feels the absence ofthe pro- where every move could be fatal. He had
phylactic h7-h6. Now, there will be one less to venture οη 22 ... CLJxd5 23. 'i:!fxd5 (not
defender of the d5-square. 23.exd5?, because of 23 ... b4, followed by
16... h6 17.iιxf6 'i:!fxf6 e5-e4) 23 ... ~ec8, with a definite counter-
play. For example, οη 24.1::ra7 there might
follow 24 ... ~c5! 25. 'i:!fd2 d5. True, after the
quiet 24.~ed1!?, White still has very a
much better position.
23.c4 ~e7
Mter 23 ... CLJxd5 24. 'i:!fxd5 b3, a good
move is 25.~g1, defending the f2-pawn
and freeing the knight to attack the b3-
pawn.
24.~a6 ~ec8 25. 'i:!fd2
25.b3 appears tighter.
25 ... ~c5
18.CLJe3! Οη 25 ... b3, ίη order to weaken the c4-
Very strong, although not new. White's pawn, White could play 26.~ea1 CLJxd5
knight takes the shortest route to the d5- (26 ... ~c5 27.CLJe1) 27.'i:!fxd5 ~c5 28.'i:!fd3!
square. (but not 28. 'i:!fxc5 dxc5 29.1:rxf6 iιxf6 30.1:ra5
18 ... CLJf4 iιe7 31.~b5 ~xb5 32.cxb5 c4 33.b6, ίη view
Black could not bring himself to take of 33 ... c3 34.b7 iιd6 35.bxc3 b2 36.CLJd2
the e4-pawn, and he was probably right ~f8), and Black is οη a bad way, since
not to. Mter 18 ... ~xe4, White has a very 28 ... :ϊb4 is met by 29.~a8+ ~h7 30.CLJd2
powerful continuation 19.CLJg4! (19.CLJd5 is 'i:!fxf2 31.:ϊf1, with a decisive advantage.
weaker, because of 19 ... iιxd5, or 19.~d5, 26.b3 CLJxd5
because of 19 ... ~xf3) 19 ... 'i:!ff4 20.~xe4! When the boat is breaking up, any wind
'i:!fxe4 21.iιd5 'i:!ff4 22.iιxa8 ~xa8 23.axb5, is a bad wind. After 26 ... ~h8 there is
and White is close to a winning position. 27.1::ra7, and 26 ... 'i:!fg6 is strongly met with
19.CLJd5 iιxd5 20.iιxd5ktab8 21.axb5! 27.g3 'i:!fh5 28.CLJg1 iιg5 29.'i:!fc2, ίη both
Jαp{α Clαssic 93
cases with White's oνerwhelming position. Later, he demonstrated himselfthe adνan

27.exd5 tages ofWhite's position after 17.c5! ίη his
Threatening with the killing 28.liJxe5 game with J.Van de Wiel ίη Amsterdam ίη
27 ... ~f5 28.liJd4! 1987.
Effectiνely winning. 16.~c2
28 ... exd4 Another possibility is 16. ~a4, which
Οη 28 ... ~c8, simply 29. ~a2. was also played ίη many Karpoν's games.
29.1:ϊχe7 ~f6 30.1:ϊe4 d4 31.1:ϊe3 ~cc8 16... c5?!
32.MXd3 Mxc4 33.bxc4 b3 34.1:ϊΧb3 1-0 Black plays ίη a νery sharp manner.
Mter 34 ... MXb3 35.Ma8+ Wh7 36.~c2+, 16 ... Me8 or 16 ... ~c7 is played more often,
he loses a rook. Karpoν - Kasparoν, London/Leningrad
1986.
17.d5 exd5 18,exd5 .tf6
54 Ε15 If 18 ... liJb6 then 19.a4!? would probably
Karpov - Adianto follow. Ιη case of 19.Mad1 White should
Round 5 27.04 consider 19 ... .i.b5.
19.~adlliJb6
l.c4liJf6 2.d4 e6 3.liJf3 b6 4.g3 It is worse to play 19 ... .i.xc3 20. ~xc3
This quiet νariation of the Κing's Ιη liJb6 because of 21. ~a5 and White has an
dian, starting with 4.g3, has been a adνantage
faνourite weapon of the ex-champion. 20 ..i.xf6 ~xf6 21.a41:ϊfd8 22.liJe4 ~g6
4 ....i.a6 5.b3 .i.b4+ 6 ..i.d2 .i.e7 7 ..i.g2 23.d6
c6 8 ..tc3 d5 9.liJe5 liJfd7 10.liJxd7 liJxd7 White's adνanced passed pawn is a good
11.liJd2 ο-ο 12.0-0 J::!.c8 compensation for Black's small material
The position after White's 12th moνe adνantage.
may be considered a starting point. Now 23 ....ί:!.b8 24.~c3 .i.b7?!
Black has to choose, what path to follow ίη Black tries to bring his bishop back to
the opening. Ιη the match for FIDE World life, refusing from capturing one white
Champion title (Elista, 1996), G. Kamsky pawn more. Mter 24 ... liJxa4 25. ~a3 (ίη
played νs. Α. Karpoν 12 ... 1::!.b8 ίη games 3 case of25.~a5 .tb5 26.~xa7 c3 Blackgets
and 13. When playing Black, Karpoν him- a counterplay that secures him equality)
self used to choose between 12 .. .liJf6 and 25 ... .i.b5 26.liJxc5 a6 White has a full com-
12 ... J::i.c8. pensation for the pawn, but still the final
13.e4 dxc4 result is unclear.
This way Black gets an extra pawn. 25.a5!
13 ... c5 is another possibility to struggle for White plays the rest of the game ίη a
equalization. It serνed fatefully many νery powerful way.
times to Κarpoν. For instance: 14.exd5 exd5 25 ... liJa4
15.dxc5 dxc4 16.c6 cxb3 17.1:ϊe1 b2 18 ..txb2 Mter 25 ... liJd7 26. ~xc4 White just has
liJc5 Van der Sterren - Karpoν, Wijk aan a good position.
Zee 1998. 26.~a3liJb2
14.bxc4 b5 15 ..ί:ίeΙ bxc4 The situation after 26 ... ~c6 27.liJxc5
Ιη game 6 ofthe unlimited match with liJxc5 28.~xc5 .txg2 29.ςJ;>xg2 will be νery
Kasparoν ίη 1984 which is actually the hard for Black. Ιη order to aνoid this he
beginning of the history of this line start- goes for tactical complications, but White
ing from 13 ... dxc4, the 12th World Cham- plays ίη the best manner.
ρίοη chose not the best option 16 ... liJb6?!. 27. ~xb2 iιxe4
------------------------------------------------
practice the same idea as ίη the game, be-
cause the a-pawn's 10ss cannot influence
his p1ans.
37...Il.c6 g6 38.J:.el ~d2 39.J::tcdl ~c2.
If 39 ... ~xa5 then White wins easi1y ίη
the following 1ine: 40 ..ί:!.e8 Φg7 41.1:!.xd8
~xd8 42.J:.e1.
40.J:.d6+ ΦίΊ 41.J:.e8 ... 1 - Ο
55 Β17
28.~xb8! Timman - Karpov
This is a νery strong moνe. Mter the Round 6 28.04
queen's sacrifice White's d-pawn gains a
huge power and brings to nothing all l.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.tLJd2 dxe4 4.tLJxe4
B1ack's actiνe possibilities. At the same tLJd7 5.tLJg5 tLJgf6 6.i.d3 e6 7.tLJlf3 J..d6
time, after 28.i.xe4?! J::txb2 29.i.xg6 hxg6 8.~e2 h6 9.tLJe4 tLJxe4 10.~xe4 ~c7
B1ack wou1d easi1y keep the ba1ance ίη the 1l.~g4 r;t;f8 12.0-0
rook ending. The opponents chose one of the most
28 ...~xb8 29.~xe4 f5 popu1ar 1ines ίη the Caro-Kann Defence,
The same was ίη case of29 ... ttd8 30.d7 which had been the major weapon of the
f5 as it was not possib1e to p1ay 30 ... Wf8 former Wor1d Champion against 1.e2-e4.
because ofthe winning 3U:tde1 Two rounds ear1ier Po1gar had p1ayed
30.J::!.xc4 J::td8 31.d7 ~a6 32.~xc5 ~e2 12.tLJd2 ίη this position against Karpoν and
33. .ί::!ccΙ r;t;f'7 34 ...Il.d5+ Wf6 had not gained any adνantage from the
If 34 ... Φf8 then 35 ...Il.c6 and White will opening.
get to the b1ack rook νia the e8-square. 12 ... c5 13.~h4 b6 14.J..e4 J:.b8 15.b3
35.J:.el ~d3 36.~edl?! Timman tries to improνe White's p1ay.
Ιη time troub1e White starts to p1ay ίη The moνes that were p1ayed ear1ier:
accurate1y. Mter 36.J:.e6+ r;t;f7 (the moνe 15 ...Il.g5, 15.c3 and 15.1::td1 gaνe nothing
36 ... r;t;g510ses at once owingto 37.h4+ '>t>g4 specia1 to White. Before Karpoν demon-
38.i.c4 ~d2 39 ...Il.e2+ Wh3 40 ...Il.f1+ r;t;g4 strated what B1ack shou1d p1ay against
4u::tc4+) 37.J:.e8+ ~xd5 38.I\.xd8 Φe7 15.J:.d1: 15 ... c4 16.tLJe5 tLJf6 17.i.f3 ..Il.b7
39.l:(dc8 ΦΧd7 40.M8c7+ r;t;d6 4U:txa7 ~d2 18.Sιxb7 J:.xb7 Sadνakasoν - Karpoν,
42.J:.b1 ~a2 43.J:.d1+ White wou1d rea1ize Hoogeνeen 1999.
his 1arge adνantage. 15 ... tLJf6?!
36 ... ~e2?! Ιη the game Kuczynski - Ga1kin, Saint
It wou1d be better to p1ay 36 ... ~a3 but Vincent 2000, was shown a simp1e antidote
eνen ίη this case, after 37.J..c6 (37.J:.a1 for J.Timman's noνe1ty 15.b3: 15 ... i.e7
giνes nothing because of 37 ... ~c3) 37 ... 16. ~f4 ·Sιd6 17. ~h4 J..e7 18. ~f4 .id6
~xa5 38.J:.e1 f4 (38 ... ~c7 is he1p1ess ow- 19. ~h4 J..e7 with a draw. This game had
ingto 39.Sιa4 ~b7 40.J:.cd1 ~c7 41.l:(e8 and not passed unnoticed for Karpoν and ίη
after the exchange οη the d8-square autumn 2000 at the tournament ίη Buenos
White's second rook, making its way to e8, Aires his opponent R.Leitao, who p1ayed
will bring a νictory to White) 39.J:.cd1! (the White, accepted a draw a ha1f ofthe moνe
immediate 39.J:.e8 remains B1ack some ear1ier.
chances to escape after 39 ... ~d2 40.J:.a1 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.Sιb2 tLJxe4 18.~xe4
J:.xd7) 39 ... ~c7 40.J:.e8 White puts into .ib7 19.~g4 f5 20.~h5 i.xf3 21:~xf3
Jαp{α CΙαssic 95
<!lf7?! a1so have difficu1ties with rea1izing the
B1ack decided not to grab the pawn of- materia1 advantage.) 31 ... ~d7 32.~h4+
fered by the opponent, but he probab1y 'i,;g7 33.fxg6 ~f5 34.<!lh1 e3 B1ack wou1d
shou1d have taken it. After 21 ... i.xh2+ have some counter p1ay. The move 30 ... ~g7
22.<!lh1 i.d6 (if 22 ... i.e5 23.i.xe5 ~xe5 allows White to use all his pieces for at-
24 ..ί:tfe1 ~d5 25. ~xd5 exd5 26 ..ί:te5 the rook tacking B1ack's king which is too much
endgame is difficult for B1ack) 23.J::i:fe1 Φπ centra1ized.
24. ~h5+ g6 25. ~h4 White has a 10t of com- 31.fxe5+ Mxe5 32.Mxe5 <!lxe5 33.~g3+
pensation for the pawn, but this position Ιη case of 33. ~e3+, it is possib1e that
is quite p1ayab1e for B1ack. 21 ... <!lf7 allows Timman did not 1ike the escape of B1ack's
Timman to gain strong initiative for noth- king to the kingside after 33 ... ι;tof6.
ing. 33 ... f4
22. ~h5+ g6 23. ~h4 33 ... <!lf6 is bad because of 34.gxf5 and
Ιη J.Timman's ορίηίοη 23. ~h3!? was an 34 ... gxf5 is impossib1e because of35.MXf5+.
interesting move. 34.~el+ ι;tod6 35.c3 Md3 36.~e4 ~xc3
23 ... .te7 24. ~h3 i.f6 25.i.xf6 ι;toxf6 37.~xg6+ <!lc7 38.~f7+ <!lb6 39.~xf4 '.t>a5
26.1::tael e5 27.~c3 J::!.he8 40.~c7+?!
B1ack is not ab1e to prevent the push of Perhaps this check was not necessary.
the f'-pawn. For examp1e, 27 ... g5 28.f4 gxf4 White forces the b1ack king to go where he
29.MXf4 and the b1ack king does not fee1 himse1f is trying to get. White shou1d have
comfortab1e ίη the centre ofthe board, be- taken a brief pause before striking deci-
ing attacked by White's pieces. sive b10ws οη Β1aι:k's king. Mter 40.'.t>h1!
28.f4 Mb4 it is hard to find a good move for B1ack.
B1ack is going to b10ck the white queen For examp1e, 40 ... ~d4 (if 40 ... J:Id4, then
with the move Mb4-d4. 41.~c7+ wins)41.~c7+ <!la6 (41 ... <!lb4 does
not work because of 42.Mf4) 42. ~c6+ ι;toa5
43. ~b7 ~d5+ 44. ~xd5 J::!.xd5 45.J::!.f5 and
B1ack is not ab1e to ho1d οη ίη the rook
ending.
40 ... '.t>b4
Mter 40 ... ι;toa6 41.<!lh1! the ana1ogous
position arises that is ίη the note to White's
40th move.
41.~b7+ ι;toa3 42.~xa7+
Το take the other pawn by 42. ~a6+ Φb2
43. ~xh6 is not better than the continua-
tion ίη the game. Mter 43 ... <!lxa2 (ίη case
29.g4! of 43 ... ~d4+ 44.1Η2+ ~b1 45. ~g6 or
White is trying to expose the b1ack king 43 ... J::!.f.3 44.MXf.3 ~xf.3 45. ~d2+ <!la3 46.g5
as much as possib1e. Mter 29.fxe5+ ':xe5 B1ack cannot avoid a 10ss) 44. ~a6+ Φb2
the move 1::b.b4 wou1d be very he1pfu1 for (44 ... ~xb3? 10ses because of 45. 1::b.b 1+ '.t>c2
B1ack. 46.~a2+) 45.~a1+ ~xb3 46.~b1+ ι;toc4
29 ... ~d4 47.1:!.c1, it seems that White wins a queen
Timman's recommendation here is and has to win easi1y. But ίη B1ack's dis-
30 ... 1:te7. posa1 there is 47 ... J::!.d1+!! 48.':xd1 ~e3+
30.~h3 ~g7?! 49.~g2 ~e2+ 50.~h3 ~e3+ with a per-
Another possibi1ity - 30 ... e4. After petua1 check.
31.gxf5 (after 31.~xh6 ~g7 White wou1d 42... Φb2
The black king hadjust enough time to 50 ... ~xh2 51"~c6 Φb4 52.b6 Φa5
get behind the white pawns and, eνen 53.b7 h5 54.~c8
though White has two extra pawns, it is The white queen is οη the edge of the
not so easy to find the winning continua- board and therefore it is not surprising
tion for White. that Black finds a perpetual check.
43 ..ί:1:f2+ 54 .. :~e5+ 55.Φd3 ~d5+ 56.Φe3 ~e5+
White decides to simplify the position. 57.Φf3 ~d5+ 58.Φf4 ~d2+ 59.~f5 ~f2+
After 43. tH7 one should worry about 60.Φg6 ~g3+ 61.'>-t>f6 after 61.Φχh5 ~e5+
43 ... tι.g3+! 44.Φh1 (44.hxg3 ~xg3+ lead to the white king would not escape from a
a perpetual check) 44 ... tι.xg4, and 43.Φh1 perpetual check.
would be met by the unpleasant 43 ... l:td1! 61 ... ~h4+ 62.Φf7 ~f4+ %-%
43 ... .ί:1:d2 44.Itxd2+ ~xd2 45. ~xc5
~d1+ 46.Φf2 ~xg4 56 Ε15
Karpov - Ehlvest
Round 7 29.04
1.d4 4:Jf6 2.c4 e6 3.4:Jf3 b6 4.g3 iιa6

5.b3 .ib4+ 6 ..id2 .ie7 7 ..ig2 c6 8 ..ic3 d5
9.4:Je5 4:Jfd7 10.4:Jxd7 4:Jxd7 11.4:Jd2 ο-ο
12.0-04:Jf6
Two rounds before U.Adianto played
with the ex-champion 12 ... .ί:1:c8, but did not
manage to stand. J.Ehlνest decides to
choose another way hoping to equalize
soon, but A.Karpoν has prepared some-
47.~d5?!
thing new here as well.
White has two extra pawns, but he will 13.e4 b5 14.1::te1 dxe4 15.~c2 .ί:1:c8
haνe to giνe up at least one of them. After
16..ί:1:ad1 4:Jd5
47.~a7 ~f4+ 48.Φg2 ~g4+ 49.Φf1 ~d1+ This piece sacrifice is well-known ίη
50.Φf2 ~d2+ 51.Φg3 ~d3+ 52.Φf4 ~d2+ theory and it was introduced into tourna-
the black queen would not calm down un- ment practice by L.Portisch.
ti1 it grabs the pawn οη h2. Playing for a 17.1ιχe4
win was possible after 4 7. ~e3 Wxa2 It is dangerous to capture the piece.
48. ~xh6 ΦΧb3 49.h3. The queen endgame After 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.a3 .ixa3 19.~a2 b4
is most likely drawn, but Timman has a 20 ..ixb4 .ixb4 21.~xa6 .ί:1:c2 22.1::ί:e2 ~b6
successful experience of realizing an extra Black at least is not worse. Running a few
pawn. Twenty years ago at the tournament steps forward, one may say that later
ίη Bugojno he managed to beat S.Gligoric Karpoν apparently dissatisfied with
ίη a similar endgame. After the game opening's results for White ίη this game,
Timman said that the biggest chance to will resort to the other continuation. Ιη the
win for White had been after 47.b4!? Φχa2 game Karpoν - J.Polgar, Buenos-Aires
48.b5; the moνe 47.~d5, faνouring the 2000 there was 17 ..ib2!? and after an un-
black king to near the b-pawn, had been expected 17 ... f5! (before, ίη the game
feeble. Dydyshko - Huznlan, Batumi 1999 there
47 ... ~h4+ 48.We3 Φχa2 49.b4+ Φa3 was 17 ... 4:Jb4 18. ~xe4 bxc4 19.bxc4 4:Jxa2
50.b5 20 ..ί:1:a1 4:Jb4 21 ..ic3 l:tb8 and haνing re-
White decides to rely οη his passed b- fused from 22 ..!:1:eb1!? White missed a pos-
pawn. sibility to keep his initiatiνe) 18.cxd5 cxd5
Jαp{α CΙαssic 97
19. '§b1 b4 20.lbfl '§b6 21.f3 Jtf6 22.lbe3 24.~xΘ6 '§f7 25.iιxc6 ~xd2 and now the
J:::!.c3! some complications began. decisiνe is 26.1:te8+! ~XΘ8 27.iιd5 winning
17 ... lbxc3 18.'§xc3 iιf6 19.c5!? the queen) 24.~Θ3 ~d4 25.~d3 ~b7 (if
White decides to sacrifice a pawn ίn the 25 ... iιΘ5 then 26. '§a3 looks strong, and if
struggle for an adνantage. After 19. '§c2 g6 25 ... ~b2 - 26.~d7 makes problems for
20.lbf3 bxc4 21.bxc4 '§a5 22.c5 by means Black) 26.lbe4! and Black's position is poor.
of 22 ... iιb5! (the following is worse: It is possible to add that after 22 ... e5
22 ... 1:!.fd8 23.'§c1 ~d7 24.h4 and White has 23.lbf3 ~ce8 24. '§b3+ Φh8 25.lbxd4 exd4
an initiatiνe Karpoν - Adams, Dos Her- 26.~xΘ8 ~xΘ8 27.'§f3 iιb7 28.'§f4 ~d8
manas 1999) 23. '§c1 '§xa2 24. '§f4 iιg7 29.'§c7 ~a8 30.1:!.e1 White also has enough
Black equalized and White had to agree to compensation for the pawn.
a draw: 25.1:!.a1 '§b2 26.~eb1 '§c3 27.l:!:c1 23.lbf3
'§b2 28.~ab1 '§a2 29.1:!.a1 112 -lj2 Κarpoν White did not play 23. '§b3 most likely
Timman, Hoogeνeen 1999. because of23 ... iιc8 24.iιxc6 iιc3.
19... iιxd4 23 ... iιc3 24.~e3 ~xdl +
19 ... '§xd4? does not work because of If 24 ... iιb2 then Black should consider
20.'§a5 ~b7 21.'§xa7 and White has a 25.l::tde1 iιc8 26.1::tb1 iιd4 27.lbxd4 J::::!.xd4
large adνantage. 28.iιxc6 and White has an adνantage.
20.'§c2 f5 25. '§xdl ~c8!
If 20 ... '§a5 then the following would be Black chooses a solid moνe. The greedi-
annoying for Black: 21.iιxh7+ Φh8 22.1::!.e4 ness ίn this position would be punished.
and White has an initiatiνe. Ιn case of 25 ... iιxM? 26. '§b3 [4 (it is bad
21.iιg2 ~f6 to play 26 ... iιxc5 because of27.nxe6 '§a1+
28.!i:e1+ or 26 ... '§a1+ 27.iιΩ iιxc5 because
of 28.~Θ1! '§f6 29.~xΘ6 '§f7 30.lbe5 and
White wins ίn both cases) White has a νery
strong moνe here - 27.~Θ5! and Black will
scarcely keep his bishop. For instance, af-
ter 27 ... fxg3 28.hxg3 iιa5 29.1::txe6 '§f7
30.lbg5 '§xf2+ 3Ui,h1 Φh8 White has a
decisiνe attack: 32. '§d3 g6 33. '§d7
26.'§b3 iιal 27.lbel?!
Ιn Karpoν's ορίnίοn, it should be better
for White to straggle for an initiatiνe by
means of 27.nd3!? nd8 28.!i:xd8+ '§xd8
22.b4! 29.lbh4.
Α surprise is coming! It was played be- 27 ... Φh8
fore 22.lbf3 iιc3 23.!ιΘ3 b4 24.~d6 klfe8 Now, if 27 ... f4, Black besides 28.gxf4
25.a3 and here, ίn the game Van der '§xf4 29.lbd3 has to take into consideration
Sterren - Hoeksema, Netherlands 1993 for 28.z:ι.f3 g5 (if28 ... iιe5, then 29.lbd3) 29.gxf4
Black there was 25 ... ~cd8! with the idea gxf4 30.1:!.d3 with a compensation for the
of 26.~xc6 by means of 27 .. .iιb7 28.~c7 pawn.
iιΘ4 to achieνe a strong counterplay.
28.lbc2
22 ...1::!.cd8! White did not play 28.~xc6 probably
~k has to be νery precise. For ίn because of 28 ... f4 29.1::tf3 (if 29.gxf4, then
stance, after a natural 22 ... ~c3 there was 29 ... e5 30.iιxb5 iιd4 is not so bad) 29 ... e5
a risk for him to lose νery soon. Sample and now if 30.~xb5, then 30 ... iιg4! looks
ΙίnΘ: 23. '§b3 ~fe8 (it is bad to play 23 ... ~fd8 νery strong.
28... f4!? White's pieces start to predominate ίη

Black is trying to seize the initiatiνe. the centre of the board.
29.gxf4 41 ... ~g7 42. ~c6
If 29 ..ί:tf3, then 29 ... lιe5 looks not bad. Now there was νery interesting 42.
29 ... g5 ~b6!? lιd8 43 ..t[b8 lιc7 44.~a8 with White's
This is a game "for three possible re- chances to win.
sults" Black makes a νery demanding moνe 42 ... ~f7 43 ...t>el lιg4 44.a3 Jtxf3
ίη the struggle for a success. 29 ... lιb2! Black intends to win and is planning a
looked nice and now if 30.lιxc6, then counter pawn sacrifice ίη order to open the
30 ... lιcl. way for the black bishop. 44 .. .lιc8 is an-
30.lιxc6 otherway.
White refuses the other principal way 45.lιxf3 e4
connected with 30.fxg5!? ~xf2+ 31.<;tohl Looks νery strong but the simplest pos-
J::td8 32.1:tel, probably, with a draw. sibility is 45 ... ~a2! and if 45.~xf6, then
30 ... gxf4 31 ..ttd3 ~g6+ after 45 ... ~g8 46.lιg4 ~bl+ 47 ...t>e2 ~c2+
If31 ... I:ι.g8, White had to play like it was the game could end with a perpetual check.
ίη the game - 32.~Ω, as it was bad to play 46.lιxe4 ~c4 4:7. ~d5
32.Whl?! because of a spectacular tactic
strike 32 ... Jtb7! 33 ...txb7 ~g7.
32.~f1 ..tg7
32 ... Jtf6!? was νery interesting also.
33.I:td6
White did not like 33 ...txb5 because of
33 ... e5.
33 ... ~h5 34. ~f3 ~xh2
Of course, Black would not exchange
queens.
35.tLJel
White did not take a risk to get the
pawn back by 35.lιxb5. Probably, after 47 ... lιc3+?!
35 ... e5 36.lιd7 the moνe 36 ... e4 looked This is a critical moment ίη the game.
strong and now it is not possible to play Black sacrificed one pawn but did not take
37.~xe4? because of 37 ... ..txd7 38.1:txd7 a risk to sacrificeanother. Mter 47 ... ~cl+,
~h3+. the moνe 48 ...t>e2 was bad owing to 48 ... f3 !
35 ... a6?! 49 ...t>xf.3 (49.~f3? .ic3! 50.~dl ~e8 5U;iJd3
The alternatiνe is 35 ... e5! and if ~xa3) 49 ... Jte7! 50.~e2 ~b2+ 51.~d2 ~e5
36.lιxb5, then 36 ... Jth3+ 37 ...t>e2 ~f5 with and Black had to win after 52.Itd4 ~f6.
the following e5-e4. Mter the inaccurate ΟηΙΥ 48 ...t>dl! ~xa3 49 ...t>fi ~h3+ (ίη case
moνe ίη the game White manages to con- of 49 ... ~xM after 50 ..ϊ::ιχf6 ~xf6 51. ~d8+
solidate again. <;tog7 52.~e7+ J:::tf7 53.~g5+ the game ends
36...t>e2 ~h6 37.~e4 ~f6 38.tLJf3 ~e7 bya perpetual check) 50.lιg2 ~c3 51.lιe4
Black refuses an actiνe 38 ... ~al, prob- keeps the balance because Black cannot
ably being afraid of 39.tLJg5, but after improνe his position. Mter the moνe ίη the
39 ... f3+! 40.tLJxf3 lιc3 41. ~h4 ~b2+ game, οηlΥ White keeps some chances.
42.tLJd2 lιxb4 43 ..t[d8 ~xd8 44.~d8+ ..t>g7 48.<;todl ~f1+ 49 ...t>c2 .iιg7 50.f3
45.~e7+ the struggle has to finish by a If 5ω::Ιχa6, there is the οηlΥ way to a
perpetual check. draw: 50 ... f3 51.~a8 ~e2+ 52.ΦcΙ ~b2+
39:~d3 e5 40 ..te4 .tf6 41:~d5! 53.ΦdΙ ~e2+
Japfa Classic 99
50.. :~e2+ 51:~d2 ~c4+ 52.<;t>dl ~b3+ The White's pieces οη light squares pro-
53.Φe2 ~c4+ tect each other depriving Black of a slight-
If 53 ... ~xa3, then 54.1:ιd8 is possible and est hope for a counterplay.
if 54 ... ~b3, then 55.c6!? looks nice and 67 ... ~h2+ 68.Qf1 '§hl+ 69.Φe2 ~h2+
Black remains with his problems. The 70.ΦdΙ ~gl+ 71.Φc2 ~al 72.kί.d8
other way to try to win was shown after An immediate 72.c7 also led to a win.
the game by Karpov himself: 55.1:ιχf8+ 72 ... ~b2+ 73.ΦdΙ ~al+ 74.Φe2 ~b2+
..I1.xf8 56.~xf4 ~c4+ 57.<;t>g3. Probably 75.Φf1 ~al+ 76.'it>g2 ~a2+ 77.ΦhΙ ~al+
Black had to venture οη 53 ... ~xa3 because 78.Φh2 ~a2+ 79.~d2 ~xd2+ 80.1::!.xd2
he could not improve his play further. ..I1.e5 81.tιd7 J:tc8
54.~d3 If 81 ... h5, then 82.c7.
Now White by means of 55.Φf2! could 82.J:txh7+ 'it>g8 83.J::!.a7 1-0
tilt the balance to his advantage, because
after 55 ... ..I1.c3 (ίη case of 55 ... .ltf6? after 57 Β12
an unexpected 56.I:txf6! I:txf6 57 ..ltd5 the Κhalifman - Adianto
black queen is ίη a trap ίη the centre of Round 7 29.04
the broad under so small number of Notes by A.Khalifman
pieces!) the favourite method of Karpov,
namely a play for domination 55. ~d5! a l.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5
most welcome. Mter, for example, 55 ... Ιhad to win this game to keep chances
~xd5 56 ..ltxd5 a5 57.c6 1:ιc8 58 ...I1.e6 I:tc7 for a victory ίη the tournament. 80 the
59.a4! White gets a pair of pawns that is Closed 8ystem of the Caro-Kann Defence
supported by all his pieces. suited me very well. From the very first
54 ... ~a2+ 55.'it>f1 ~al+ 56.~bl ~c3 move White gains certain space advantage
56 ... ~xa3 is bad here because οf57.1:ιd3! ίη this system and keeps the whole set of
and if 57 ... .ltc3 (57 ... ~a1 58.~xa1 .ltxa1 pieces οη the board, preventing Black from
59 ...I1.b7+-; 57 ... ~a4 58 . ..I1.xh7!?, or 58. forcing a draw by exchanges .
..I1.b7!), then 58.c6!? (now 58.jιb7 is not so 3 ... jιf5 4.4Jc3 e6 5.g4 ..I1.g6 6.4Jge2 c5
convincing because of 58 ... ~xb4 59. ~xb4 7.jιe3
..I1.xb4 60.c6 ~a5 61.1:ιd7 1:ιd8 62.c7 ~xc7 This continuation is less drastic than
63.1:ιχc7 Jld6) 58 ... ~xb4 59. ~c2! ..I1.f6 60.c7 7.h4, still it is rather venomous too.
~c4+ 61.~xc4 bxc4 62.1:ιd7 c3 63.<;t>e2 and 7 ... 4Jc6 8.dxc5 4Jxe5 9.4Jd4 4Jf6?!
White wins. Black's choice is far from the best. Well,
57.~d3 ~f6 58.'it>e2 ~h6 59.l::!.d7 ~e8 ίη such a complex position Black has vari-
If 59 ... ~h2+, then 60.'it>d3 ous opportunities to make a mistake. 80,
60. ~d3 ~f6 61. ~d5 ~b2+ 62.'>t>f1 there was ηο 9 ... jιxc5? because of10 ..ltb5+
~cl+ 4Jd7 11.4Jxe6. The move 9 ... a6? has a bad
Ιη case of 62 ... ~xa3 the decisive is reputation because of10.f4! 4Jc4Cafter 10 ...
63. ~f5 and White wins. 4Jc6 11.f5 4Jxd4 12. ~xd4! exf5 13. ~a4+
63.~dl ~c4+ ~d7 14 ...I1.b5 Bla'ck loses immediately)
63 ... ~xa3, and White wins by 64.~xg7! 11.jιxc4 dxc4 12.f5 exf5 13.gxf5 ~e7
~xe4 (ίη case of 64 ... Φχg7 - 65.~d7+) 14.Φd2. Ιη the game Van der Wiel -
65.1:ιg4 and Black cannot escape the check- Timman, Wijk aan Zee 1982, Black failed
mate. to get a sufficient compensation for the
64.'it>f2 ~a2+ 65.~d2 ~e6 piece and soon lost. Α quick defeat is pos-
Mter 65 ... ~xa3 White's c-pawn plays a sible also after 9 ... 4Je7 because ofthe same
decisive role, as it happened ίη the game. headlong advance ofWhite's f-pawn: 10.f4
66.c6 ~h6 67.~d3! 4J5c6 11.4Jcb5 4Jc8 12.f5 exf5 13.gxf5 ~h4+
14 ...if2 ~e4+ 15. ~e2 SΙh5 16. ~xe4+ dxe4 materia110sses after 19 ... ~xd2+ 20.J::txd2
17.lLJxc6 bxc618.lLJc7+ 'lt>d719.lLJxa8+- Van lLJf6 21.gxf5 as there was ηο 21 ... ..ixf5 be-
der Wie1- Ljubojeνic, Brusse1s 1987. The cause of22.lLJe7+, White capturing B1ack's
most persistent continuation is 9 ... lLJc6 bishop οη f5.
10 ...ib5 IJ:c8, but eνen this 1ine is not abso- 15.~e2!
1ute1y c1ear. An important intermediate moνe.
10.f4lLJed7?! 15 ... ~d6
Α new moνe, but rather dubious. B1ack Of course there was ηο 15 ... axb5?? be-
did not νenture to p1ay the position after cause of the check 16 ...I1..b6+. Ιη case of
10 ... lLJexg4 11 ...ib5+ Φe7 which occurred 15 ... lLJe4 White continued the attack with
ίη the game Braga - Timman, Mar de1 16 ...ia4! 1ike ίη the game.
P1ata 1982. White's erroneous moνe 16. ..ia4 ί4
12.SΙg1? allowed B1ack to gain a good p1ay B1ack wants to reanimate his 1ight-
after 12 ... ~c713.c6 b614.~e2 ~xf4. Much squared bishop and decrease White's at-
stronger was 12. ~e2! to be followed by tacking potentia1 by a queen exchange. Α
13.0-0-0 with White's good attacking pros- greedy 16 ... fxg4 wou1d be punished at once.
pects. As for the retreat 10 ... lLJc4 which White might deνe10p his attack with
J. Timman had recommended 18 years ago, 17 ...ig5+ lLJe4 (17 ... .lte4 was 10sing because
it was tested recent1y ίη the game Roeh1- of 18 ..ltxf6 ~xf6 19.1LJxe4 dxe4 20. ~xe4+
Ordonez, Va1encia 2000. ~e6 21.lLJe5 as well as 17 ... ~e6 owing to
18.lLJe5 0-0-0 19.1LJxd7 ) 18.0-0-0! (the 1ine
18.k:!.d1 ~e6 19.1LJe5 was 1ess c1ear because
of19.lLJec5 20.lLJxd5 Jιd6) 18 ... ~e6 19.1LJxd5
(there was a1ready ηο 19.1LJe5 ίη this 1ine
due to 19 ... lLJxc3) 19 ... ..I1..d6, now para1ys-
ing the b1ack king abso1ute1y with 20.Jιe7!.
The tactica1 trick 20 ... .ltf4+!? was use1ess
because οf21.Φb1! (ηο 21.lLJxf4?? to be fo1-
10wed by 21 ... ~xa2) 21 ... lLJec5 22.1:ιhe1.
B1ack gained nothing a1so with 16 ... lLJe4
as after 17.lLJxe4 fxe418.0-0-0 White soon
opened up the position with c2-c4, thus
1l.f5! getting a decisiνe adνantage.
Α standard but still efficient continua- 17.Jιxί4+ ~e6 18.g5!
tion which allows to b10ck up B1ack's 1ight- B1ack's pieces can haνe ηο rest. Mter
squared bishop and destroy the centre. 18.lLJe5 0-0-0 he got offlight1y.
1l ... exf512.c6! 18... ~xe2+ 19.'it>xe2lLJh5
White prepares a conνenient square for B1ack's knight is forced to retreat to the
his knight οη the queenside which has got edge of the board, 1eaνing the d5-pawn
weakened without the 1ight-squared undefended.
bishop. 12.gxf5 was weaker because of 20 ...ie3 ..if5
. 12 ... ..ih5 13.SΙe2 ~e7 Mter 20 ... ..id6 2Ulad1 lLJf4+ 22.Jιxf4
12 ...bxc6 13.lLJxc6 ~c7 14 ...ib5 a6 ..I1..xf4 23.Φf3 White's major pieces οη cen-
B1ack cou1d haνe tried to accomp1ish tra1 fi1es wou1d shaot down the black king
has deνe10pment with 14 ... Jιd6, but after right at home.
the forced 15.lLJxd5 lLJxd5 16. ~xd5 ο-ο 21.lLJxd5
17.0-0-0 ..if4 18 ...ixf4 ~xf4+ White had a White got one more fighter ίη the cen-
strong retort of 19. ~d2!, leading Black to tre of the board.
Jαpfα Clαssic 101
21 ... .I1ιd6 22.'it>f2 .I1ιh3 tournament ίη Linares White struggled for

There was ηο 22 ... 0-0? because of an adνantage with 8. bxa5 dxc3 9. ~xg7 .tig8
23.CL:Jce7 +- 10. ~xh7 CL:Jbc6 11.f4 ~xa5 12.CL:Jf3 jιd7
23.:tadl ί6 13.1:ϊb1. Well, this opening duel was con-
tinued later at Dortmund 2000.
8 •.. .I1ιc7 9.~xg7 1;lg8 10.~xh7 a6
11.CL:Jxc7+ ~xc7 12 ..I1ιb2 ~xe5+ 13.CL:Je2
~c7 14.CL:Jg3?!
Α dubious noνelty. Probably my ορρο
nent did not like both 14.CL:Jxd4 and
14.jιxd4 because of 14 ... e5, but it was
worth attention to play here 14.f4 CL:Jbc6
15. ~d3 CL:Jf5 16.0-ό-0 as ίη the game Νunη
- Κinsman, London 1993.
14 ... e5
Now Black has a powerful centre and a
24.CL:Jb6! νery attractiνe position.
Mter this strong response Black should 15.jιe2
suffer great materiallosses ineνitably. If 15.CL:Jh5, threatening with CL:Jf6+, then
24 ... CL:Jxb6 25 ..I1ιxb6 ο-ο it is possible to play 15 ... ~d6. Ν ow ifWhite
Black parts with the piece ίη order to continues with 15.0-0-0, then Black can
preνent a mate from White's two bishops
answer with 15 ... jιe6 as ίη the game be-
after 25 ... iιf4 26.CL:Je5+ We7 27 ..I1ιc5+ <;t>e6 cause there is ηο 16.CL:Jh5? because of
28 . .I1ιd7+ <;t>xe5 29 ..I1ιd6+ We4 30.Mhe1+ 16 ... jιf5 .
.I1ιe3+ 31.Mxe3#
15 .•. jιe6 16.f4?
26.1':!:xd6 fxg5+ 27.'it>e31':!:ae8+ 28.<;t>d2 White is trying to break Black's centre.
White's king made without trouble a Howeνer he chose an improper moment.
short journey and found a safe shelter οη After 16.CL:Jh5 it was possible to play
the queenside. The rest was not at all dif- 16 ... CL:Jd7, and if 17.CL:Jg7+ (ίη case of the
ficult, an extra piece guaranteed White's relatiνely better 17.1:tc1 Black had a last-
νictory.
ing ίηί tia ti νe after 17 ... 0-0-0), then
28 ••• CL:Jf6 29.nd8 h5 30.nxe8 CL:Jxe8 17 ... 1':!:xg7 18.~xg7 ~xc2 with Black's ex-
31 •.I1ιc5 1':!:ί4 32.CL:Je7+ 'it>f7 33 ..I1ιb3+ .I1ιe6 cellent position. For White to play 16.0-0
34..I1ιxe6+ <;t>xe6 35.1:tel+ 'it>d7 36.CL:Jg61':!:f5 was better. 80 after 16 ... CL:Jbc6 (the posi-
37.1':!:e7+ 'it>c6 38.1:txe8 1-0 tion was unclear ίη case of 16 ... CL:Jd7 17.f4
CL:Jf6 18.~d3) 17.f4 exf4 18.CL:Jh5 0-0-0
58 C17
19.CL:Jxf4 Mh8 20. ~d3 CL:Jf5!? (Black gains ηο
Timman - Khalifman
particular adνantage with 20 ... .I1ιf5 because
Round 8 30.04
Notes by A.Khαlifmαn of21. ~d2) 21.b5 CL:Je5 22. ~b3 axb5 23. ~xb5
(if23.a4, then after 23 ... CL:Je3 the knight ίη
l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.CL:Jc3 jιb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 the opponent's camp reinforces Black's at-
jιa5 6.b4 cxd4 7:~g4 CL:Je7 8.CL:Jb5 tacking potential) 23 ... CL:Jg6 Black had cer-
The French Defence is nowadays one of tain chances to organize an attack οη the
the sharpest possible ways to struggle white king, but the main struggle was still
against e2-e4. For this game it was an ideal ahead.
choice (ίη the situation when Ι was 0,5 16... exf4 17.CL:Jh5 ~e5!
point behind the leader). Ιη the game Of course complications after 17 ... Mxg2
V.Anand - A.Khalifman at the recent 18.CL:Jf6+ Φd8 19 ..ixd4 did not suit me.
18.0-0? undeνeloped queenside pieces willjoin the

Actually, this loses immediately. Also attack in a couple of moνes. 80 ifformally
18. ~h6 was bad for White because of this game can't be called a miniature -
18 ... tLJg6! as there was ηο satisfactory de- objectiνely it is. White might resign ήght
fence against 19 ... J:!:h8. Then, White had now, instead ofthis seνeral moνes followed:
ηο 18.0-0-0 because of 18 ... i.f5 19.i.xd4 23.i.xd4 tLJbc6 24.J:::!.ael
(ίη case of 19. ~h6 J:!:g6 20. ~xf4 ~xe2 Ιη case of 24.c3 the solution was
White also lost a piece) 19 ... ~xe2, and for 24 ... tLJxd4 25.cxd4 ..I1..e4 to be followed by
the bishop he οηlΥ had two quite useless 26 ... tLJf5+
checks 20.tLJf6+ <t>d8 and 21.i.b6+ 'it>c8. The 24 ... tLJxd4 25.~xd4 ~h3+ 26.<t>f2
matters were a bit more complicated ίη ~xh2+ 0-1
case of 18 ..ί:[f1 .ί:tg2 19.tLJxf4 i.g4 20.0-0-0, 8urely J.Timman did not want to play
but eνen here after 20 ... i.xe2 21.tLJxe2 the position after 27.<t>e3 ~c8. The follow-
~xh2 22.l:Id1 tLJbc6 Black's adνantage was ing νariation looks more than conνincing:
most likely enough to win the game. ΟηΙΥ 28.~e2 ~g3+ 29.~f3 (if 29.'it>d2, then
a quiet 18.<t>f1! maintained the struggle, 29 ... Mxc2+ 30.\t>d1 ~xe2 31.'it>xe2 ~xa3)
though Black still had a considerable ρΙ us 29 ... ~gl+ 30.1Hf2'l:ί.c4 31.~h8+ 'it>d7, and
after 18 ... tLJbc6 (18 ... J:::!.xg2 was weaker be- a mate to White's king can be delayed οηlΥ
cause of 19.i..f3) 19.11e1 ~h8 20.i.d111xh7 with great materiallosses.
21.~xe5 tLJxe5 22.tLJf6+ 'it>d8 23.tLJxh7 tLJf5
59 Β87
Milos - Polgar
Round 9 2.05
l.e4 c5 2.tLJf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.tLJxd4

tLJf6 5.tLJc3 a6 6 ...I1..c4 e6 7.i.b3
The 80zin Attack is one of the keenest
responses to the NajdorfVariation, chosen
by Black. It will be hard for her to com-
plete the deνelopment and preνent White's
blows from e6, d5 and f5 at the same time.
7 ... b5 8.0-0 ..I1..e7 9.~f3 ~b6 10.i.e3
18 ....tf5! ~b7 11.~g3 tLJbd7 12.f3
This refutes White's idea. Α rash White made a solid moνe, probably eνen
18 ... ~xe2? made a draw possible for him
too solid. There was ηο sense ίη the cap-
by means of a perpetual check: 19.tLJf6+
ture 12. ~xg7 for White as it οηlΥ increased
'it>f8 20.~h6+ tίg7 21.tLJh7+ <t>g8 22.tLJf6+
19.~h6l:Ig6 20.~xf4 ~xg2+!?
the actiνity ofBlack's pieces after 12 ... 1:!:g8
13.~h6 b4 14.tLJce2 i.f8 15.~h3 ~xe4. If
Black does not giνe a sign of counter-
play for the opponent. After 20 ... ~xe2 he wanted, White could haνe proνoked
21.tLJg3 ~g4 22. ~c7 tLJbc6 Black won eas- great complications right now with 12.tLJf5
ίΙΥ, haνing an extra piece. exf5 13.~xg7 ~f8 14.tLJd5 or play 12.1He1,
21.\t>xg2 ~xe2+ 22.'it>g3 preparing a crafty strike for the natural
If22.1:!:f2 or 22.~f2, then 22 ... ~xh5 was 12 ... tLJc5?! (12 ... b4 or 12 ... 0-0 would be
enough for a νictory. more acceptable for Black), namely 13.
22 ... ~xh5 tLJf5!, as after 13 ... tLJxb3 (in case of13 ... exf5
It's oνer now, Black has a decisiνe ma- there was 14.~xg7 .ί:tf8 15 ..txc5 dxc5
terial adνantage, his king's position is 16.exf5 with an attack) 14.tLJxg7+ he orga-
much safer than his counterpart's, and the nized a νery dangerous attack οη Black's
Jap{a CΙassic 103
king. 2ω::tχd4 tZ'Jxb3 21.axb3 f6 22 ...Itd2

12 ... tZ'Jc5! There was a1so 22 ...Ith6 to be followed
B1ack rejected 12 ... 0-0 because of by 22 ... Wh8 23 ...Itc1 ti'xb3.
13.tZ'Jd5! exd5? 14.tZ'Jf5. An intermediate 22 ... 'ff:fxb3
12 ... b4 after 13.tZ'Jce2 ο-ο 14 ...Ith6 tZ'Je8 B1ack has a hea1thy extra pawn, how-
15 ...Ita4 (threatening with i.a4-c6) allowed eνer the presence ofthe opposite-co1oured
White to open up the c-fi1e for his queen- bishops οη the board makes the achieνe
side pieces with c2-c3. ment ofhis adνantage somewhat difficu1t.
13 ..ϊ:ι.fdΙ 23.tZ'Jdl a5 24. ti'el ti'b6 25.1:td3 a4
White does not try to comp1icate the 26...Itb4 Itf'127.'ff:fd2?!
p1ay. There was an interesting opportunity J.Mi1os considers 27 ...Ita3 more precise.
of 13. 'ff:fxg7 1:tg8 14. 'ff:fh6 with the following 27 ... .ib5 28.1:td4 e5 29.1:td5 1:tb7 30.
exemp1ary νariations: 14 ... e5 (B1ack had ..Itc3
a1so 14 ... b4!? 15.tZ'Ja4 tZ'Jxb3 16.cxb3 e5 The capture 30 ...Itxd6 after 30 ... .ic4
17.tZ'Jc21:tg6 18.'ff:fh4 d5 19.exd5 ..Itf5 with a 31 ..lic5 'ff:fc7 32 ..lid6 'ff:ff7 resulted ίη a 10ss
compensation for the sacήficed material) of an exchange.
15.tZ'Jf5 (ηο 15.tZ'Jde2? because of 15 ... tZ'Jxb3 30.....Itc6 31.~d3 ti'a6
16.axb3 Itg6 17. 'ff:fh4 tZ'Jg4, B1ack winning Ιη case of 31 ... ..Itb5 32 ..sd5 ..Itc4 33.~a5
the game, but 15.tZ'Jd5 or 15 ..lid5 deserνed the position gets just simp1er.
attention) 15 ... i.xf5 16.exf5 tZ'Jxb3 17.axb3 32.tZ'Je3 .lib5 33.1:td5
b4 (an immediate combination 17 ... ,Uxg2+ There was ηο tactica1 b10w 33.b3 ..Itxd3
18:it>xg2 tZ'Jg419.'ff:fxh7liJxe3+ 20.'it>h1liJxf1 34.1:txa4 because of 34 ... ~xb3! 35.1:txa6
21.1:txf1 does not 1et B1ack gain anything) .sxa6 36.'ff:fxd3 .sa1+ with a νictory.
18.tZ'Ja4 (ίη case of 18.tZ'Jd1 there was 33•.. 'ff:fb6 34.tZ'Jf5 1:ιa6 35.1:ιdΙ?!
18 ... 'ff:fc8, attacking f5 and g2) 18 ... J:.xg2+! There was a more persistent 35.~c1.
19.Φχg2 tZ'Jg4 20. 'ff:fxh7 tZ'Jxe3+ 2U~(h1 tZ'Jxf1
22.Ϊίχf11:tc8 with a νery keen position.
13 .....Itd7 14.'it>hl
Now the capture of the pawn 14.
'ff:fxg7 100ked a1ready more risky. After
14 ... ki.g8 15. 'ff:fh6 b4 16.tZ'Jce2 tZ'Jxb3 17.cxb3
(there was ηο 17.tZ'Jxb3 because of 17 ... Iig6
18.'ff:fh3 e5 19.94, and now 19 ... tZ'Jxg4!)
17 ... e5 18.tZ'Jf5 (ίη case of 18.tZ'Jc2 B1ack had
a νery strong 18 ... tZ'Jxe4!) 18 ... ..Itxf5 19.exf5
'ff:fxf3 B1ack had a dangerous attack.
14...b4 15.tZ'Jce2 ο-ο
B1ack arranged her pieces ideally οη the 35 •.• ..Itc4!
queenside (tZ'Jc5+i.d7), and now the pas- Α simp1e combination decides the game
siνe position ofthe b3-bishop becomes eνi ίη B1ack's faνour.
dent. 36.tZ'Jxd6 tZ'Jxd6 37 .~xd6 'ff:fxd6 38.

16...Ith6 tZ'Je8 17.c4?! 'ff:fxd6 nxd6 39.1:txd6 a3!
As a matter of fact, with this moνe The who1e combination was based οη
White parts with the pawn. Ιη case of the insufficient protection ofthe c3-bishop.
17.1:td2 B1ack cou1d haνe reinforced his 40.b4 1:tc7 41.Wgl .ib5 42 . ..Itd2 a2
position still more with 17 ... a5, though 43.I:ι.d8+ r;t>f'1 44.1:ta81:tc2 0-1
without any concrete threats to White. If 45 ...Ite3, then 45 ... .ί:tb2, and White
17 ...bxc3 18.tZ'Jxc3 .lif6 19...Itg5 .lixd4 10ses a piece for B1ack's passed pawn.
Leonid Stein Memorial

Lviv 12.05-22.05, cat.17
4 5 6
1 Iνanchuk 2709 1= 1= 11 - - 7
2 Κrasenkow 2661 1= 1= 1= 6
3 Beliaνsky 2640 0= -- 0= 5
4 Gelfand 2692 0= 0= =1 4.5
5 Κorchnoi 2659 00 0= - - 4.5
6 Romanishin 2578 -- 0= 10 =0 3
Ιn this international tournament dedicated to the talented Ukrainian GM Leonid

Stein only players from former USSR participated: two representatiνes of Lνiν (the
Ukraine) - Iνanchuk and Romanishin, the Lνiν born - Beliaνsky - played for Sloνenia,
Gelfand from Minsk represented Israel, Korchnoi from Leningrad - Switzerland,
Κrasenkow - Poland.
Iνanchuk and Κrasenkow made a good start: both won two games ίn the first rounds.
The game between them ίn the third round ended ίn a draw. Ιn the fourth round
Κrasenkow won again (game 63) and Iνanchuk drew. And only after the fifth round
when Beliaνsky defeat oνer Κrasenkow (game 65), Iνanchuk led the tournament (game
64). Both the leaders finished the first half ofthe tournament a breakaway: Iνanchuk-
4 points (out of 5), Κrasenkow -3.5, Beliaνsky, Κorchnoi and Romanishin - 2, Gelfand-
1.5. The result ofthe tournament was almost the same, only Gelfand bettered his posi-
tion and gained fourth place.
V. Ivanchuk: "The tournament is organized νery well, there are lots of spectators.
Ιn contrast to the last Linares-2000 this tournament has a lot of effectiνe games ... Of
course, public likes all that. The idea ofthe tournament has been suggested a long time
ago, but they haνe not managed to collect enough money. This time the money were
collected with the help of Lνiν Grand Hotel and the sponsors from Poland. Ι wish that
this tournament would not be only one. Ifit is annual, that will stimulate the deνelop
ment of chess. Ιn our country people are νery interested ίn this game. It was quite
noticeable ίn this tournament eνery day the playing hall was oνercrowded and the spec-
tators did not walk away until the last moνe. As to Europe, che~~s deνelops actiνely only
ίn Spain and Holland. Ι hope that chess will be more popular ίn the Ukraine also."
Leonid Stein Memoriαl 105
60 Α17 15 ... tΔxd4 16.exd4 ~xh2 17.0-0-0

Κrasenkow - Romanishin cxd4 18.tΔe4 ~f4
Round 1 12.05 This moνe looks νery dangerous. It is
not possible to grab the h-pawn after the
l.tΔf3 tΔf6 2.c4 e6 3.tΔc3 i-b4 4.g4!? preliminary 18... tΔxe419.~xe4 by 19 ... ':xf2
This is a relatiνely quiet line of the (not 19 ... ~xf2 because of the mortal
Nimzowitsch νaήatίοη ofthe English open- 20.1:txg7+!) owing to 20.Jιxd4 Jιxa3+
ing, where White chooses a new-fashioned 21.~bl 1:tf7 22.1:thl 1:tf4 23. ~e5 ~g3
and νery aggressiνe plan, which was intro- 24.1:thg1! and White comes to the black
duced into practice at FIDE World Cham- king.
pionship ίη Gronningen ίη 1997. 19.Jιd3 tΔxe4 20.Jιxe4 h6 21.Jιxd4
4 ... 0-0 Jιf6?
Α bold decision. Black castles his king The culmination of the whole game.
to the part ofthe board that may go under Black had to play 21 ... Jιxa3+ 22.~b1 e5
a serious attack. It is usual to make here a 23.Jιe3 (if 23.JιΙ7+ ~h8 24.Jιe3, then
cautious moνe 4 ... h6, to which White usu- 24 ... Jιf5) and then he found a νery strong
ally strengthens the threat g4-g5 by 5.ng1 reply 23 ... ~xe4! which after 24. ~xe4 i-f5
with further h2-h4. 25. ~xf5 kί.xf5 26.Jιxh6 J::tf7 would lead to
5.g5 tΔe8 6:~c2 d5 7.b3 Jιe7 an equal endgame.
Α new moνe. 7 ... tΔc6 has been played ίη 22.Jιe3 ~d6
this position before. Mter 22 ... ~c7 23.d4 Black's position is
8.~gl c5 not easy as well.
8 ... d4 made it possible for White to play 23.c5 ~a6 24.a4 ~a5
9.exd4 cxd4 10.tΔe4 bήηgiηg the knight Clouds gathered oνer the black king.
closer to the black king. Mter 24 ... Φh8 25.1::!.h1 there is ηο defence
9.e3 tΔc6 10.Jιd3 f5 from the h6-strike.
It turns out that Black has to weaken 25.Jιxh6 ~b4
his position οη the queenside. The tactical
solution 10 ... tΔb4 11.i-xh7+ ~h8 12.'~b1
and now 12 ... d4 (it is not possible to play
12 ... g6 because of 13.Jιxg6 fxg6 14.tΔe5
with an attack) with an idea to adνance the
d-pawn ίη case the knight retreats, White
destroys Black's plans by 13.~e4! with a
decisiνe attack. If10 ... g6, white would play
11.a3 with further moνing the h-pawn.
11.gxf6 tΔxf6 12.a3 ~e8
Ιη case of 12 ... d4 13.tΔe4 tΔxe4 14.i-xe4
d3 White after 15.~b1 and further J::!.g1-g3
26.kί.xg7+!
attξlcks the d3-pawn.
13.Jιb2 ~h5 14.Jιe2 d4 The rook destroys the black king's posi-
Now, when the white bishop has moνed tion and results ίη the White's νictory.
from the attacking position at the d3- 26 ... Jιxg7 27.Jιh7+ Φh8 28.i-xg7+
square, Black starts the tactical com- Φχg7 29.~g6+ Φh8 30.~h51:txf2
plications. Mter 30 ... ~a3+ 31.Φc2 ~a2+ 32.Φc3
15.tΔxd4! the white king easily escapes from the
The introduction to some interesting checks of the black queen.
tactical complications. 31.i-e4+ Φg7 32.kί.gl+ Φf8 33.~h6+
Φe7 34.z:tg7+ ~π sible for Black to keep the balance. At the

The quick end was coming also after same time, the attractive tactical blow
34 ... 'ίt>e8 35.~h5+. 21 ... 1:ιχc3?! 22.bxc3 tΔe4 after 23. ~b4!
35.~g5+Φe8 36.l::tg8+ 1-0 (23. ~d8 gives nothing because of23 ... ~f5)
The checkmate is inevitable: 36 ... 1:ιf8 23 ... ~xb4 24.cxb4 tΔxd2 25.~xd2 would
37.~h5+ Φe7 38.1:ιg7+ Φd8 39.~g5+ 'ίt>e8 result ίη a hard rook ending for Black.
40.~e7#. 19... ~b6
Threats of z:tf (a)-d8 and ~b6xb2 force
61 Α31 White to further simplifications.
Gelfand - Ivanchuk 20.~b4 ~xb4 21.l::txb4 b6 22.l::tdl h6
Round 2 13.05 23 ..txc6l::txc6 24.l::ta4l::ta8 25.1aad4l::tcc8
26.e4
l.tΔf3 c5 2.c4 tΔc6 White is playing for a victory and ίη
The most fashionable way to struggle tends to push the black knight from the f6-
with 1.tΔf3. square by e4-e5. 26.f3!? was worth atten-
3.d4 tion; it could prepare a path for the king to
White advances the d-pawn imme- the centre of the board.
diately. Ifhe postpones it by 3.tΔc3, Black
will prevent it for a long time by 3 ... e5 or
3 ... tΔd4.
3 ... cxd4 4.tΔxd4 tΔf6 5.g3 ~b6 6.tΔb3
e6 7 ..ίιg2 tΔe5 8.~c2
Ιη case of 8.tΔ1d2 Black combines the
development of his pieces with the pres-
sure οη the white c-pawn by 8 ... d6 9.0-0
.ίιd7 10. ~c2 rιc8 11. ~c3 ~a6 as it was
played ίη the game Korchnoi - Zagorskis,
Hamburg 1997.
8 ... ~a6
8 ... d6 is the alternative to this move. 26 ... tΔg4!?
9.c5 Α bold move. Black had to calculate all
Ιη case of 9.tΔ1d2 d6 the game would the consequences. There was a way to re-
result ίη the above line. sist by 26 ... e5 27.'sd6 'sc4 28.f3 Φf8 and
9 ... d5 10.cxd6 .txd6 11.0-0 .td7 moving the king to the centre.
12.tΔc3 'sc8 13.1:ιdΙ iιe7 27.f4
Black cautiously retreats by his bishop. White does not intend to let the knight
Ιη case of 13 ... 0-0?! he would have played to the e5-square, but now it has another
without a pawn after 14.iιxb7 ~xb7 route.
15.1:ιΧd6. 27 ... tΔe3 28.1:ιΙd3 tΔc4 29.b3?!
14 ..tf4 tΔc4 15.tΔd2 tΔxd2 16.~xd2 White has to pay a lot for this dubious
ο-ο 17.iιd6 iιxd6 18.~xd6 iιc6 19.'sd4 move. Mter 29.tΔd1 Φf8 (if 29 ... 1:ιc7, then
White is looking for chances to sharpen 30.1:ιd8+ should be considered) 30.'sd7 'ίt>e8
the game. It was possible to protect the b2- with further 1:ιc8-d8 Black could equalize
pawn by 19..!::rd2. Mter 19 ... ~a5 (the end- the game step by step.
game after 19 ... iιxg2 20. ~xa6 bxa6 21. 29 ... tΔb2!
Φχg2 gives White better chances) 20.z:tad1 The black knight makes a brave cruise
iιxg2 21.Φχg2 and now the preventive over the white's rear. Anyway, Black has
21 ... h6!? with further J:.c8-c6 makes it pos- ηο choice. Mter 29 ... tΔa3? 30.1:ιd7 his posi-
tion would become rather embarrassing. 39 ... J:ιc3+ 40.~e3

Another thing is that Black should haνe Ιη case of 40.Wg2 gxf4 41.gxf4 ~h5
considered this moνe when he played lZJf6- Black's king has a direct route νia the g4-
g4. square to thoughtlessly pushed out central
30.~e3 White's pawns or to the white h-pawn, if
30.~d2 ~xc3 31.nxb2 J:ιac8 would result he νentures οη thl~ adνance h2-h3.
ίη the same position as it was ίη the game. 40 ... J:tc241.J:td3
30... ~c5 31.~d2 ~ac8 32.1:!.xb2 White has to giνe the pawn away. Mter
Mter 32.lZJe2 ~c2 33.~d7 a5 (it is also 41.J:te2 J:txe2 42.~xe2 gxf4 43.gxf4 ~h5
possible to play 33 ... 'itf8 with the following 44.~f3 'ith4 the pawn ending is hopeless.
idea: if 34.~xa7 then 34 ... ~d8 with further Ιη case of 41.fxg5 Black has a νery pleas-
~d2) and now it is not good to play 34.lZJd4 ant choice between a technically winning
because of 34 ... ~d2. rook endgame after 41 ... J:ιxa2 42.gxh6 J:txh2
32 ...~xc3 33.nxc31:!.xc3 34.'itf2 g5! and a possible pawn ending after 41 ... hxg5
Now it is obνious that the rook ending 42.J:te2 g4+! 43.~e3 J:txe2 44.~xe2, which
is not easy for White. Probably he will not is also winning for Black - that is confirmed
manage to pass the appearing of weak- by the following small analysis: 44 ... Φf6
nesses οη the kingside. The moνing of 45.Wd3 'ite5 46.'ite3 b5 47.b4 a6 48.a3 f5
pawns οη the kingside had negatiνe results, 49.exf5 ~xf5 50.Φd4 e5+ 51.'ite3 (Black's
as it can be seen from the game. taskis easier after51.Φd5 ~f6 52.Φe4~e6)
35.~e2 51 ... 'ite6 52.~e4 'itf6 (52 ... ~d6?? is bad be-
Ιη case of 35.fxg5 hxg5 the black king cause of53.~f5) 53.'ite3 '<ite7! (Black passed
would go to e5, for the e4-pawn. round the mined e6-square) 54.'itf2 (Black
35 ... Wg7 36.J:ιe3 ~cl 37.J::tel J::!.c5 does not haνe anydifficulties after 54.Φd3
38.~f3 ~g6 ~d6 55.'ite3 '<itd5 or after 54.Φe4 'it>e6
55.Φe3 ~d5) 54 ... 'itd6 55.~g2 (planningto
make a distant passed pawn) 55 ... ~d5
56.h4 gxh3+ 57.~xh3 'ite4 58.'itg2 ~e3
59.~h3 (ίn case of 59.g4 'itf4 60.'ith3 e4
White loses his g-pawn) 59 ... 'itf3 60.g4 e4
and after the appearance of both queens,
the Black one moνes οη the hl-square with
a decisi νe effect.
41 ... J:txh2!
Black has a nice choice here. Probably
41 ... J:txa2 also led to a win, because after
42.J:td7 a5 43.J:tb7 J::ta3 44.J:txb6 there is
39.~e2? 44 ... a4. Still Black's moνe, barring the
Not long before the 40th moνe White white rook's actiνization, should be ad-
makes a decisiνe mistake. Ιη case of39.h3! mitted more accurate.
it seems that he could aνoid defeat. The 42.a4 J:tb2 43.nc3 h5 44.fxg5 'itxg5
point is that after 39 ... nc3+ 40.J:te3 J:Ic2 45.J:ιd3 f6 46.~e2 e5 47 .nc3 a6 48.J:td3
41.J:te2 J:txe2 42.~xe2 gxf4 43.gxf4 'ith5 .ι:!.c2 49.J:te3 b5 50.a5
44.'itf3 a drawn pawn ending appeared. Of The final is close. Mter 50.axb5 axb5
course Black could try to find some chances 51.nd3 b4 the threat of exchanging rooks
with rooks by 41 ... J:tcl, but White, howeνer, J:tc2-c3 is decisiνe.
was bound to end the game ίη a draw, play- 50...b4 5U:ίd3 ~c5
ing accurately. Ιη this situation with White's pawn οη
the a5-square 51 ... 1::[c3? was a blunder ίη position. Ιη case of 20 ... c5 21.ctJd5 §d8
νiew of 52.~xc3 ~xc3 53. Φe3 Φg4 54. b4 and 22.bxc5 bxc5 23.tt4d2 ..Iι.b7 Black's position
the ending should result ίη a draw. is dubious due to eternal weakness of the
52.~M8 z:ι.xa5 53.Mg8+ Φh6 54 ..a:b81:!.c5 d5-square, though he managed to escape
55.1:ιΧb4 1:!.b5! the straight strategic danger.
White cannot exchange the rooks, and
this means that he will haνe two pawns
less.
56 ..ί:Ia4 1::[xb3+ 57.Φf2 .ί:ib6 58.Φf3 Φg5
59..ί:ia3 1::[c6 60.tta4 ttc3+ 0-1
Mter 61.Φf2 Φg4 62.ttxa6 1::[f3+ two ex-
tra pawns is enough for Black to win.
62 Ε12
Korchnoi - Romanishin
Round 3 14.05
l.d4 ctJf6 2.c4 e6 3.ctJf3 b6 4.ctJc3 .tb7 21.f4!

5.1ιg51ιe7 6.~c2 d6
It is always possible to find something
ίη a good position. This case is not and ex-
Commonly Black prefers here the plan
ception.
ofplaying against the centre starting from
21 ...ctJg6
moνes 6 ... h6 7 ...Iι.h4c5. There are a lot of
Of course it is not possible to capture
such games, for example, Ree - Korchnoi, 21 ... §xf4 because of 22.ctJf5 and the black
Wijk aan Zee 1985. queen is ίη a trap. 21 ... ctJd7 does not work
7.1::[dl ctJbd7 8.e4 h6 9.1ιcΙ because ofthe obνious 22.e5.
There is ηο point for White to go for 22.ctJg4 §e7
9.iιh4 because of the possible bishop ex- Actually, the following changed nothing:
change - this is one more reason to the 22 ... §h4 23.g3 §e7 (not 23 ... §h3 because
faνor of 6 ... h6.
of 24.f5 ctJe5 25.12Sf2 and we see the poor
9 ... ~c810.1ιe2 e5 11.0-00-0 12.ctJh4 destiny of the black queen again.) 24.e5
As a result of an original Black's inter- §d7 and now after 25.c5 (White should not
pretation of the Queen's Indian Defence, be greedy: after 25.exd6? c5 26.I:t4d2 ~xe2
he has not a chance for equality. Now White 27.I:txe2 §xg4 Black has a fine position)
has to choose: what is better - to transfer White has a huge positional adνantage.
the knight to the f5-square or just to get a 23.e5 dxe5?
closed position ίη the centre after 12.d5 Black feels abashed. Mter this moνe, he
ctJh7. But it is impossible to get both ways will haνe a piece less. Instead, he had to
together. tangle the game somehow, e.g., by 23 ... §d7.
12 ... exd4 13.ctJf5 1::[e8 14.1::[xd4 1ιf8 Now, for instance, after 24.ctJf2 (24.exd6 c5
15.1::[fdl ctJe5 16.ctJd5 ~d8 17.f3 ..Iι.c8 also giνes Black counter chances) there is
18.ctJfe3 c6 a possibility for 24 ... c5 25.bxc5 bxc5
Black has to abide White's knights at 26.I:t4d3 ctJh4 with a counter game. Due to
his own territory and therefore he tήes to this reason, to 23 ... §d7, the simplest way
simplify that looks quite logic, consi- for White is to get satisfied with a large
dering the adνantage ofWhite ίη space. positional adνantage after 24.c5!?
19.ctJxf6+ ~xf6 20.b4 ..Iι.b7? 24.1:ιd7 §xb4 25.1::[xb7 exf4 26.Φf1
Black misses a tactical blow, which is not !:!.e7 27.ttxe7 §xe7 28.J.f3 h5 29 ...Iι.xc6
a surprise, if we consider his constrained J:1d8
29 ... ~c8 is not a problem for White be- (if18 ... ~xb2, 19. ~a4+ perpetual check, but
cause of 30.iιd5! hxg4 31.'~xg6. 18 ... ~a5!? deserves attention) 19.Φχd2
30.~xd8 ~xd8 31.1ZΊf2 ~h4 32 ..id5 ~xb2+ 20. ~c2 resulted ίη equalizing.
iιc5 33.CΔh3 CΔe7 34 . .ixf4 ~f6 35.g3 11 ... c512.i.xf6
~a1 + 36.~g2 CΔxd5 37.cxd5 ~d4 38.CUg5 Ιη case of an immediate 12.dxc5, Black
~xd5+ 39.~e4 ~xe4+ may play 12 ... CUxc5 threatening to the d3-
Black could not avoid the queen ex- bishop.
change. Mter 39 ... ~d840.~h7+ ~f8 White 12 ... CUxf6?!
has a simple 41.CUe6+! fxe6 42.~h8+ ~e7 Α risky move. Mter 12 ... gxf6 13.iιe4 (it
43 ..ig5+ and Black loses the queen. is not possible to grab a pawn 13.axb5 axb5
40.CUxe4 iιd4 41.cud6 a6 42.~f3 .tc5 14.~xa8 ~xa8 15.iιxb5? because of 15 ...
43.cub7 .ia3 44.~e4 f6 45.Φd5 1-0 ~a1+ 16. ~d1 ~xb2 and White may resign)
13 ... .txe4 14. ~xe4 bxa4 15.~xa4 the posi-
63 D30 tion was still a kind of equal.
Gelfand - Krasenkow 13.dxc5 ο-ο
Round 4 15.05 It is impossible to play 13 ... .txc5 be-
cause of 14.axb5 and White has an extra
1.CUf3 d5 2.d4 c6 3.c4 e6 4.~c2 pawn.
Black threatens to capture the c4-pawn, 14.axb5 axb5 15.0-0 iιxf316.gxf3 ~c8
and after 4.e3, M.Κrasenkow uses to play 17.CUxb5?!
4 ... f5, as he played with Bareev. White misses an attractive opportunity
4 ... dxc4 17.~fd1! Mter 17 ... ~e7 (if 17 ... ~c7, then
Ιη case of 4 ... CΔf6, White probably would just 18.CUxb5) White has 18.c6 and if
transfer the game to the Semi-Slav De- 18 ... ~xc6 then there is an unpleasant sur-
fence by 5.e3. Mter the move ίη the game, prise for Black - 19.cud5.
White's queen becomes the object of attack 17 ... ~xc518.~e2
for black pawns οή the queenside. White should be cautious despite ofthe
5.~xc4 cuf6 6.iιg5 b5 7.~c2 iιb7 8.e3 extra pawn. For instance, after 18.CUc3
More aggressive 8.e4 is also played here, Black develop the initiative by 18 ... ~c7
and M.Κrasenkow resorted to this conti- 19.~fc1 ~g5+ 20.~h1 z:!.h5 21.f4 CUg4.
nuation by himself against T.Markowski ίη 18...1::!:h5 19.f4
the Poland Championship ίη 2000. One
more interesting opportunity for White con-
nected with 8 ..txf6!? should be noted as
well. Now if 8 ... ~xf6, then after 9.e3 CΔd7
10.CUc3 a6 11.iιd3 it is uneasy for Black to
accomplish the programmed c6-c5, and ίη
case of 8 ... gxf6 then 9.e4 is stronger.
8 ... cubd7 9 ..id3 a6 10.a4
Α new move. Commonly played 10. ~e2
does not make any problems for Black af-
ter 10 ... c5.
10... iιb4+ 11.CUc3
If 11.cubd2, then Black would most 19... e5!
likely play ίη the same way - 11 ... c5. Glo- Black sacrifices the second pawn and
bal exchanges after 12.axb5 axb5 13.~xa8 unexpectedly develops a strong initiative
~xa8 14.iιxf6 gxf6 15 ..txb5 iιxf3 16. οη the kingside, utilizing White's weak
iιxd7+ ΦΧd7 17.gxf3 ~a1+ 18.'~d1 iιxd2+ pawn structure.
20.fxe5? tory and the threat of36 ... 1::!:h8+ is irresist-

White decides to test the p1an of the ib1e, and ifWhite does not take the h-pawn
opponent. It shou1d be better to switch the and p1ays 35.Φf3, then Black sett1es his
al-rook to the game. Mter 20.1::i:a4! exf4 (if rook down to the attack by 35 ... J:ιa8!, and
20 ... ..Itc5 then it is possib1e to p1ay 21.fxe5 36.e6 does not he1p due to 36 ... f5 with a
and the g4-square is protected by a rook threat of mate οη g3) 32 ... ~g4+ 33.~f2
from a4) 21.Ϊtxb4 f3 22. ~xf3 ~xd3 White ~xe2+ 34.Φχe2 fxe6 35.i..xe6+ ~g7 36.i..c4
shou1d resist the attack. (if 36. ~f3, then B1ack at once creates a pair
20 ... liJg4! of passed pawns by 36 ... g5, and ίη case of
That's the who1e point of B1ack's p1an. 36 ...Itd5 ~f6 37.~f3 g5 you cannot p1ay
The threat to the h2-pawn is supp1emented 38.fxg5? because of the bishop's 10ss
with sett1ing down to the attack νia the h4- 38 ... ~e5+!) 36 ... ~h6! 37.b4 g5 and after
square of B1ack's queen. 38.fxg5+ ~xg5 White's king is cut offfrom
21.f4 B1ack's passed pawn, otherwise by 38 ... g4
If21.f3, then 21 ... ~xh2, wins, and after B1ack gets a pair of passed pawns.
21.h3 there is a νery strong 21 ... ~h4. Ιη
M.Κrasenkow ορίηίοη, the queen's sacri-
fice 21.~xg4!? 1::i:g5 wou1d haνe been the
best decision for White. After 22. ~xg5
~xg5+ 23.~hl ~e5 24.liJd4 ..Itd6 25.liJf3
~xb2 his position would be νery difficu1t
but the presence ofthe pawns οη one flank
on1y wou1d 1eaνe him some hopes for sa1-
νation.
21 ... ~h4 22.liJd4liJxh2 23.liJf5 liJf3+!
Α simp1e, but nice b1ow. White has to
giνe away an exchange ίη order to escape
the checkmate. 28 ...J:ιb8?
24.!:1:xf3 ~hl+ 25.Φf2 ~xal 26.J::!:g3 B1ack not οη1Υ 10ses great chances for a
.ltel+ 27.Φg2 !:1:xf5 νictory. 28 ... 1::i:d8! was correct. Mter 29.Φf3
Of course, not 27 ... ..Itxg3?? because of (you cannot p1ay 29.Jtxf5? because of
28.liJe7+ Φh8 29.~xh5 and White wins. 29 ... 1::i:d2) 29 ... g6 30.J:ιhl M.Krasenkow
28.1::i:h3?! thinks that to B1ack's win must 1ead
Α strange moνe. Mter 28.Jl.xf5 Jl.xg3 (an 30 ... 1::i:h5!? 31.1::i:xel ~a7. Maybe he is right
intermediate 28 ... 1::!:b8? does not work be- and this is the best way, because ίη case of
cause of29.Jl.xh7+! ~xh7 30.1::i:xg7+! ~xg7 30 ... 1::i:xd3 31.~xd3 ~a5 32.e41::i:h5 33.1::i:xh5
31.~g5+ ~f8 32.~h6+ ~e8 33.~c6+ with gxh5 34.e6! fxe6 35. ~d7 White has some
a perpetua1 check) 29.~xg3 B1ack wou1d chances, for B1ack can't saνe the e6-pawn
haνe to work hard to rea1ize the mateήa1 (after 36 ... ~b6 White by 37.~e8+ ~g7
adνantage. The point is that after the on1y 38.~e7+ makes a perpetua1 check), and
possib1e 29 ... J:ιb8 30.e6 1::i:xb2 White has after the 10ss ofthis pawn B1ack's king be-
31.e7! and B1ack shou1d not will. Probab1y, comes accessib1e for the white queen. Prob-
the best way of rea1ization was 29 ... g6!? 1ems with an extra piece's rea1ization ίη this
30 ...Itd7 ~gl+ (if30 ... 1::i:b8, then after 31.e6 case are aggraνated because usually it is
~gl+ 32.Φf3 [5 White has 33.~d2! and impossib1e for B1ack to exchange the
Black cannot win) 31.Φf3 h5 32.e6 (ίη case queens for his bishop turns out to be υη
of 32.b4 the line 32 ... ~hl+ 33.Φg3 h4+ able to contro1 the corner hl-square.
34.~g4 ~gl+ 35.~xh4 Φg71eads to a νic- 29.Jl.xf5 1::i:xb2?!
Mter this move Black has to defend ~g7 37.t;ιf6+, and if 33 ... t;ιa7, 33 ... t;ιb7 or
himself. Much stronger is 29 ... g6 30.i..c2 33 ... Φg8 then34.e6100ks very strong) the
J:txb2 though ίη case of31.e6! (31.'~d3 i..b4 1ine 1eads to a forced win: 34.~h7+ Wxh7
leaves Black some chances for an attack 35.t;ιxf7+ Φh8 36.t;ιf6+ Φg8 37.t;ιxg6+ Φf8
due to the opposite coloured bishops and 38. t;ιh6+ and if Balck does not part with
precarious position of the white king) his queen, retreating to the 8th rank, then
31 .. .'~a2 (ίη case of31 ... fXe6 32.'~c4 White's after 38 ... We7 39.t;ιd6+ Φί? 40.i..g6+ Φg8
position is stable) 32.exf'7+ Φf8 (if32 .. .'~xf'7, 41. t;ιe6+ Φh8 42. ~f6+ there is a check-
then by 33.ιth2 White consolidates) 33. mate.
t;ιxe1 1:txc2+ 34.Wg3 J:tg2+ 35.Wf3 Black 33 ... i..h4!
does not have a decisive continuation ofthe Surely White did not see this move. ΒΥ
attack and 36 ... 1:tb2 37.Φg3 makes Black tactics B1ack does not 1et the white rook to
reconcile himse1f to a draw. the h8-square.
30.~xh7+ Φf8 31.~c2 g6
Probably it was better to agree οη an
ending with one pawn 1ess after 31 ... t;ιc1
32.1:th8+ ~e7 33.1:tc8 t;ιd2 34. t;ιxd2 ..Itxd2
because with the queens B1ack's king posi-
tion is not safe, as well as White's king.
32.t;ιc4
32.1:th8+!? ~g7 33.1:tc8 cou1d give B1ack
more troub1es.
32 ... t;ιa8+?
This check cou1d 1ead Black to a ca-
tastrophe. 32 ... t;ιd1! is correct. Now after
34.t;ιe4?
33. t;ιc8+ (ίη case of 33.':h8+ Φg7 White
does not have anything better then the White finds himse1f at a 10ss. It was not
perpetua1 check by 34.1:th7+ ~xh7 35. possib1e to p1ay 34.kIxh4? because of
t;ιxf7+ ~h8) 33 ... ~e7 34.t;ιc5+ (if 34.t;ιc7+
34 ... t;ιf3+ 35.~el(gl) t;ιg3+ and B1ack cap-
Φf8 35.t;ιc8+, then 35 ... ~e7) 34 ... ~d7 (of tures the h4-rook. But there was a defence
course ηο 34 ... ~e8?? because of 35.1:!.h8+) 34.t;ιd3 with the idea - if 34 ... t;ιa1+ then
35.e6+ (it is better not to respond to 35. t;ιd1.Maybe 34.f5! shown by M.Κra
35. t;ιb5+ and simp1y retreat 35 ... r.t>e7, for senkow after the game, is even more accu-
36.t;ιxb2 t;ιe2+ 37.Wh1 t;ιΩ+ 38.~h2 t;ιf2+ rate. After 34 ... t;ιa1+ (in case of 34 ... gxf5
1eads to the perpetual check) 35 ... ~xe6 35.J:txh4 t;ιf3+ 36.Φe1 t;ιxe3+ 37.Φd1 t;ιg1+
(there is ηο 35 ... fxe6?? 36.1:th7+ and White 38.Φd2 t;ιf2+ 39.Φc1 after 39 ... ~xc2+!
mates οη the next move) 36.t;ιe5+ Φd7 40. t;ιxc2 t;ιxh4 41. t;ιxf5 there is an equal
37.t;ιxb2 t;ιe2+ 38.Φh1 t;ιΩ+ 39.Φh2 t;ιf2+ queen ending) 35.Φg2 t;ιd1! (35 ... t;ιc1? 10ses
the game had to end ίη a perpetua1 check. because of 36.t;ιc8+) 36.t;ιb4+ (now if
33.Φf1? 36. t;ιc8+ there is 38 ... i..d8) 36 ... 1:txb4
Α return gift caused by the 1ack oftime. 37 ...Itxd1 the position is equal.
Mter 33. ~g1 Black cannot escape. This is 34 ... t;ιal+ 35.Φg2
not because White has an extra pawn, but 35.~e2 changes nothing because of
because the position of B1ack's king is un- 35 ... t;ιc1 36.~xh4 ':xc2+.
safe. There is the threat 34.1:!.h8+ and it is 35 .•. t;ιcl 36.1:txh41:!.xc2+ 37.Wh3
hard to find defense. For examp1e, after White cou1d pro1ong his resistance οη1Υ
33 ... ~g7 (if33 ... t;ιa1, then there is a forced by queen's sacrifice: 37. t;ιxc2 t;ιxc2.
win: 34.t;ιc8+ <Jile7 35.t;ιc7+ <Jilf8 36.t;ιd8+ 37 ... t;ιf1+ 0-1
64 D43 Mter 15.dxe6 it is better to continue

Korchnoi-Ivanchuk 15 ... LΔb6! like ίη the game.
Round 5 16.05 15 ...LΔb6 16.LΔxb6+ 'itfxb6 17.0-0?
Mter this move White loses a pawn
l.d4 CΞJf6 2.c4 e6 3.CΞJf3 d5 4.CΞJc3 dxc4 without any compensation. Ιη ΥΙ vanchuk's
5.'itfa4+ c6 ορίηίοη White was obliged to play 17.fxe6
5 ... CΞJbd7 has been met ίη VIvanchuk's fxe618.LΔe5! (ίη case ofl8.d6 ~xd619.'itfc4
practice before. Ιη the game Xu Jun - .Jιg7 20.~cl ~c3+ White will have to lose
Ivanchuk, Luzern 1993 there was 6.e4 a6 the exchange) 18 ... ~d5 19.CΞJc4.
7.~χc41:ι.b8 8.'itfc2 b5 9.~e2 ~b7 with dif- 17... ~xd5 18. 'itfe3 ~xf5
ficult play. Buy the way it was Viktor Despite Black's extra pawn, ορρο
Korchnoi who had annotated this game ίη sitesided castlings give White certain
due time. counter-chances. But the game ended ίη
6.'itfxc4 b5 7.'itfd3 CΞJbd7 several moves.
Α year ago V.Ivanchuk ίη his blindfold
game against P.Nikolic (Monaco) chose
7 ... ~b7.
8.e4
Recently the preventive 8.a3 has come
into use.
8 ... b4 9.CΞJa4 'itfa5 10.b3 c5 11.~g5
~b7
Here are some explanations. The con-
tinuation 11 ... cxd4 12.~xf6 gxf6 13. CΞJxd4
Jiιb7 14.CΞJb5 has led to a very sharp and
complicated position ίη the game Filippov
- Κharlov, Kemerovo 1995. 19.CΞJe5??
12 ..Jιxf6 gxf6 13.d5?! Mtet 19.a3 the struggle promises to be
White has made a break throw ίη the long.
center. But it is early to resume the open- 19... ~g8 20.g3
ing battle. Α bishop pair and good pieces' It is difficult to give White an advise.
development let Black be optimistic. 20.~f.3 fails to 20 ... nxe5! If White tries to
V.Ivanchuk thinks that despite 13.d5 has correct his mistake and moves back 20.CΞJf3,
already been met ίη practice, it is not good. he has ηο more play at all after 20 ... ~c6
For our part as an alternative we can sug- 21.ΦhΙ ~g7 22.~adl ~d4 23.~d3 ~fg5
gest 13.~e2 from the game Karpov - 24.~gl ~5g7 25.ndfi e5. Even 26.CΞJxd4 is
Gelfand, Linares 1993. There after 13 ... impossible because of26 ... ~xg2+!
0-0-014.0-0 Φb8 White realized a break- 20 ... ~g7 0-1
throw 15.d5 ίη a better way. If21.f4 then 21 ... ..txe5 22.fxe5 'itfc6.
13 ... 0-0-0 14 ..i.e2
If 14.dxe6 then 14 ... CΞJb6 is possible (ίη 65 Α14
case of 14 ... fxe6, 15.'itfc4 is an eventuality Κrasenkow - Beliavsky

to be reckoned with) 15.CΞJxb6+ ~xb6 16.e7 Round 5 16.05
~xe7 17. ~e3 and Black opens the center
ofthe board: 17 ... f5. l.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3 ...tg2 LΔf6 4.CΞJf3 ..te7
14 ...f5!? 5.0-00-0 6.b3 c5 7.cxd5 CΞJxd5 8.~b2 b6
Α novelty. 14 ... CΞJb6 was found before. 9.CΞJc3 ~b7 10.CΞJxd5 ~xd5 11.~bl CΞJd7
15.exf5 12 ..i.c3
The riνals played the Reti opening. oftwo eνils.

White prepares d2-d4 by his next moνes. 30... "f1c131.~f2
Usually it was made by 12.1:td1, although The enforced moνe. White can't allow
the immediate 12.d4 is possible. queens' exchange 31. "f1c3 "f1xc3 32.~xc3
12 ... J::!.e8 13.J::!.dl J::!.c8 14:~b2 1ιf815.d4 because of 32 ... CLJd5 33.1ιb2 (if 32 ... CLJd5
"f1c7 16.Ilacl "f1b7 17.CLJel?! 33.SΙb2 is good) 33 ... CLJb4 34.a3 CLJc2 and
White plays carelessly. Mter 17.dxc5 the White's queenside is a target for the black
most ofthe pieces would be exchanged and pieces. Mter 31.~f1 CLJd5 32.e4 Black pen-
the draw was οη the cards. etrates easily: 32 ... CLJe3+ 33.~e2 CLJc2
17... 1ιχg2 18.CLJxg2 34.~f2 1ιb4.
31 ... CLJd5 32.e4 "f1al!
An excellent quiet moνe that gets White.
33.CLJc6
White can't play 33.exd5? because of
33 ... "f1xd4+ 34. "f1e3 SΙc5 and Black has an
extra pawn.
33 ... CLJb6 34.'it>e2 h5?!
Some claims can be laid to this moνe.
Mter 34 ... CLJc4! Black would haνe a clear
adνantage.Now if White plays the same
moνe as ίη the game 35.CLJb8, he loses after
35 ... "f1xd4 36.CLJxa6 "f1b6 37.CLJb4 "f1g1. The
18•.. c4! text moνe giνes White great drawing
An excellent moνe. Black gets the pawn chances.
majority οη the queenside. But the white 35.CLJb8 "f1xd4 36.CLJxa6 CLJc4 37.CLJc7
pawns are fixed ίη the center. "f1g1 38.1ιf2 "f1g2?!
19.CLJe3 It seems that by this moνe Black lost a
\laybe 19.bxc4 J::!.xc4 20.CLJe3 is slightly good chance to win the game. A.Beliaνsky
more accurate. refused from the continuation 38 ... "f1xh2!
19 ... cxb3 20."f1xb3 "f1a6! ίn νiew ofthe νariation 39. "f1xb5 (39.CLJxb5?
Again a νery good moνe. Black begins does not work because οf39 ... 1ιc5 40."f1xc4
to attack the white e2-pawn. "f1xf2+) 39 ... h4 40. "f1g5 h3 41.CLJe8! Φh7
21.J::!.c2 J::!.c6 22.J::!.dcl J::!.ec8 23.1ιeΙ 42. "f1h7 with a draw. But Black has a νery
1::ί.χc2 24.J::!.xc2 J::!.xc2 25. "f1xc2 CLJf6 strongmoνe 39 ... i.d6!! (instead of39 ... h4),
Mter this simplification Black has re- that was discoνer~d by Zoltan Ribli. Mter
ally some adνantage. 40.CLJxe6 (ίn case of 40. "f1xc4 1ιχg3 41. "f1c5
26.CLJc4 "f1c8 27."f1d3?! 1ιχf2 42. "f1xf2 "f1xc7 White has a losing
White's queen should be taken away queen endgame without a pawn) 40 ... 1ιχg3
from the ρίη to bar the actiνization of (40 ... fxe6 is bad due to 41."f1xc4 1ιχg3
Black's pawn οη the queenside. 42. "f1e6 Φh8 43. "f1b6 and despite the ρίη of
27 ...b5 the f2-bishop, White's defence can't be bro-
Black's pawns start moνing. ken through) 41."f1e8 'it>h7 42.CLJg5 (ίn case
28.CLJe5 a6 29.f3 h6 30. "f1b3?! of 42.CLJf8+ 'it>h6 43. "f1c6+ g6 44. "f1c5 CLJe5!
Maybe it was better to play 30.e4 with 45.a4 "f1g2 46."f1e3+ Φg7 Black soon will
the idea of making riνal's knight less ac- take the lost white knight) 42 ... Φg6
tiνe. But after 30 ... "f1c1 31. "f1c3 the ex- 43. "f1xf7 ςt>xg5 44. "f1xg7 (44."f1ffi is senseless
change ofthe queens could follow. This con- ίη νiew of 44 ... Φh6) 44 ... 'it>h4 45."f1e7 ςt>h3
tinuation ofthe game seems to be the lesser 46."f1e6+ 'it>g2 47."f1xc4 the heroic march of
Black's king is summed υρ by 47 ... ~h1!!, the border between the Slaν Defence and
which forces White to part with a piece. the Queen's Gambit. Black wants to win
39. ~xb5 tΔd2 40. ~xh5? an extra pawn (c4) without much trouble.
ΒΥ this last moνe White lets an ορρο 4.g3
rtunity of the draw slip away. After o.Romanishin does not fear the possi-
40. 'itxd2 ~xf2+ 41. ~e2 ~d4+ 42. ~d3 Black bly to lose the c4-pawn. Well, two rounds
could striνe for a νictory: 42 ... ~g1!? 43.~e2 ago B.Gelfand preferred a more cautious
~b1 44.tΔb5 (also deserνes attention 4.~c2 ίη his game with M.Κrasenkow.
44.tΔa6!? ~xa2 45.Φe3, of course ίη this 4 ... dxc4 5 ...tg2b5 6.a4 ..tb7 7.0-0 tΔd7
case White's knight is νery limited ίη his 8.ltJc3 a6
possibilities, but one cannot see at once how The unnecessarily aggressiνe 8 ... b4?!
Black can use this circumstance) 44 ... ..tb4+ allowed White to deνelop a considerable
45.~e3 Sιc5+ 46.Φd2 ~xa2+. Very likely initiatiνe after 9.ltJe4 c5 10.ltJe5 ..td5
the result will be a draw. 1l.ltJxf7!! Φχί7 12.tΔg5+ ~e8 13.e4, aiming
at the black king which stayed too long ίη
the center of the board ίη the game
Mikhaleνski - Rabinoνich, Israe11999.
9.tΔe5 ltJe7
Another knight's moνe 9 ... tΔgf6?! is con-
sidered unlucky after the game Fominyh -
Filippoν, Elista 1996, where White gained
an adνantage by 10 ...txc6! .lixc6 1l.tΔxc6
~c8 12.ab5 ab5 13.ltJa7! ~b7 14.ltJcb5. The
latest popular line ίη this νariation is
9 ... ltJxe5 10.dxe5 to be followed by 10 ...
ltJe7!?, so, after 1l.Sιg5 h6 12 ...txe7 ,i,xe7
40 ... ..tb4! 13.axb5 axb5 14.tΔxb5 J::!.xa115.~xa1 cxb5
Black weaνes a mate web. 16.i.xb7 ο-ο the position was equalized ίη
41.ltJxe6 the game Mikhaleνski - Treguboν, Cappelle
There was the threat of 41 ... ~f1+ la Grande 2000.
42.Φe3 e5 with the mate ttJd2-c4#. If 10.axb5 axb5
41.e5 then Black wins after 41 ... ~f1+ There was also 10 ... ltJxe5, and after
42.Φe3ltJc4+ 43.Φd4. And now 43 ... ltJb2. 1l.dxe5 (the piece sacrifice by 1l.bxa6ltJd7
41 .. :~f1+ 12.tΔe4 ltJf5 13 ...ig5 f6 14.axb7 k1xa1
Not 41 ... fxe6? because of42.~e8+ with 15.~xa1 fxg5 giνes ηο sufficient compen-
a draw. sation to White) 1l ... axb5 12.ltJxb5 cxb5
42. 'ite3 ltJc4+ 43. Φί4 13. ~xd8+ 'itxd8 14.1::txa8+ Sιxa8 15.,i,xa8
If 43.Φd4 then 43 ... ttJd6 44.Φe3 fxe6. 'itc7 White gained the adνantage of the
43 .. .'~·xf2 44.~b5 ..td6 45.Φg5 ~xf3 bishop pair but ΒΙ ack still had a counter-
0-1 play owing to his pawn adνantage οη the
The mate 46 ... ..te7# is aνoidless. queenside ίη the game Filippoν - Burma-
kin, St.Petersburg 1998.
66 D30 11 . .ί::txa8 ,i,xa8 12.tΔxd7 ~xd7 13.e4
Romanishin - Κrasenkow White could haνe returned the pawn by
Round 6 18.05 means of 13.ltJxb5 cxb5 14.,i,xa8, but after
14 ... ltJd5 15.b3!? (15.e4?? was bad because
l.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.tΔf3 c6 of 15 ... ltJb6, White losing a piece) 15 ... SιM
One ofthe most νenomous νariations at 16.bxc4 bxc4 Black would haνe a sufficient
counterplay with his mighty knight and the White does not need to spend time for
passed c-pawn. the capture 21. t;[xh7 as the central files
13... CΔg6?! where Black's king is hiding are much more
Α new move but hardly a good one. ΟηΙΥ important.
13 ... g6 was seen previously ίη the game 21 ... iιxc3
Solozhenkin - Tregubov, Maikop 1998. Black should not extend the diagonal for
14.h4 White's light-squared bishop. Mter 21 ...
White attempts to make use of the ρο cxd5? 22.exd5 iιXι~3 Black would have se-
sition ofBlack's knight and create his own rious problems because of 23.dxe6 fxe6
play οη the queenside. 24.Iιa7!
14 ... iιb4 22.bxc3 ι;t>c8
Ιη case of 14 ... e5 White had a cool Το open up the centre is ηο good for
15.Jιe3 (after 15.h5 there was 15 ... exd4 Black. After 22 ... cxd5 23.exd5 exd5 (of
16.hxg6 hxg6 with an excellent compen- course ηο 23 ... iιxd5? because of 24.iιxd5,
sation for the piece), and then after allowing White's rook to get to a8 and de-
15 ... exd4 he continued with 16.Jιxd4, so cide the game) 24.iιb6+ rJ;;e7 (ηο 24 ... Φc8?
that Black eΧΡeήeηced problems with the because of 25.iιh3, Black losing the queen)
development of his kingside. 25.z:te1+ rJ;;d6 26.t;[g5 Black's king can'thold
15.h5 CΔe7 16.h6 gxh6?! for a long time ίη the centre ofthe board.
Ιη case of 16 ... g6 17.iιg5 ο-ο it would 23.t;[xh7 1:Ih8 24.dxe6
be more difficult for Black to develop his An important intermediate move. Mter
initiative. 24. t;[g7 Black had already 24 ... cxd5 25.exd5
17.iιxh6 Mg8 18.iιe3 iιxd5
Black's kingside is ruined, and White 24 ... t;[xe6 25. t;[g7 Md8 26.Jιb6 Me8
obviously has an excellent compensation for 27.t;[h6
the pawn. White's position isjust fine. He οηlΥ has
18 ... CΔg6 19. t;[h5 iιb7 20.Mal to choose the correct moment for a deci-
There was ηο 20. t;[xh7 because of sive blow. Probably he considered the ad-
20 ... Mh8 21. t;[g7 t;[d8! with an unpleasant vantage after 27.iιh3!? t;[xh3 28.t;[xf7 t;[d7
threat of iιb4-f8. Nowin case of20.e5 with 29. t;[xg6 Me7 (if 29 ... t;[e6 30. t;[xe6+ I:i.xe6,
the idea CΔc3-e4 Black took the initiative then 31.J::td1..ia8 32.f3, and ίη case of29 ...
by 20 ... c5! 21.iιxb7 t;[xb7 22.dxc5 iιxc3 c5 there was a mere 30.f3!) 30.iιc5 to be
23.bxc3 t;[e4, forcing White to struggle for insufficient, though ίη our ορίηίοη it was
an equalisation. enough to win.
20 ...ι;t>d8 27 ...1:!h8 28.Itdl ..ia8
Of course there was ηο 28 ... Mxh6?? be-
cause of29.z:!.d8#
29.t;[g5
White could have won easily by means
of29 ..ί:I.d8+ ~xd8 (after 29 ... Φb7 30.J:ιxh8
z:txh8 31. t;[xh8 'it>xb6 32. t;[xa8 Black sim-
ply lost a piece) 30.iιh3 with the queen
against Black's rook and minor piece. Still
the move ίη the g·ame does not spoil the
position.
29 ... 'it>b7 30.Jιd4 Me8 31.t;[c5 rJ;;c8
32.Jdal
21.d5! White could have won by force with
32. ~a7! as after 32 ... .i.b7 a transfer ofthe Black was ΟΚ ίη case of 45. ~d3 ~c7
bishop to d6 by 33 ..i.c5 Cbe5 34 ..i.d6 decided 46.~c2 ~c4 47.b5It>c7.
the game because ίη case of34 ... Cbd7 there 45 .. :~c7 46.1t>f2 ~c4 47.f5 c2 ΥΖ - ΥΖ
was 35.~a5. Howeνer White's position was Mter the οηlΥ response 48. ~c1 Black
so good already that White could afford to arranges a perpetual check with 48 ... ~d4+.
moνe the rook as well.
32 ....i.b7 33.~a7 Cbe5
67 Ε61
Beliavsky - Rornanishin
Round 7 19.05
1.Cbf3 Cbf6 2.c4 d6 3.Cbc3 g6 4.d4 ~f5

5.Cbh4
8uch moνe is already usual ίη this posi-
tion. Neνertheless, different treatments are
possible as well. 80 ίη the game Gelfand -
Dizdareνic, New Delhi 2000 White per-
formed a νery interesting plan and gained
an eνident adνantage after 5.d5 c5 6.Cbd2
34.1:txb7! .i.g7 7.e4 .i.d7 8 ..i.e2 ο-ο 9.0-0 Cba6 10.f4
This blow could haνe won White's game. Cbe8 11.Cbf3 Cbac7 12.e5 ~b8 13.a4 b6
34 ... Φχb7 35.~b6+? 14. ~e1 e6 15 ..i.e3 ~e7 16 ..i.f2 [6 17 ..i.h4
An awful blunder. White put the queen 5 ... .i.d7 6.e4 e5
just before the required square. After Black wants to get a position similar to
35.~a7+ ~c8 36 ..i.xe5 ~xe5 (ίη case of the Κings' Indian Defence but with the
36 ... IIe7 37. ~b8+ It>d7 38.~d4 White wins bishop οη d7 instead of c8, though his profit
quickly too) 37 ..i.h3+ ~e6 38.~xΠ Black is far from eνident ίη this case. The bishop
had nothing to do but resign. οη d7 might be more useful if Black at-
35 ...Φc836 ..i.χe5?! tempted to get something of the Benoni
Losing the rest of White's adνantage. Defence with 6 ... c5 or 6 ... itg7 followed by
Mter 36.~a6+! Φd8 37.~a5+ lt>e7 (we haνe c7-c5.
already seen the case with 37 ... lt>c8? 7.Cbf3 exd4
38.~a8+ It>c7 39.~a7+ Φc8 40.i.xe5 ~xe5 Black could haνe lingered with this cap-
41.~h3+ ~e6 42.~xΠ) 38.~a3+ c5 (38 ... ture. Mter 7 ... ~g7 the pawn e5 is protected
Φd7? was losing because of39.~a7+ as well indirectly. At the same time, 7 ... Cbc6?! can't
as 38 ... ~f6? because of 39.f4) 39.~xc5+ be adνised as after 8.d5 Cbe7 White gains a
~d7 40.~xb5+ White kept good winning good play οη the queenside with 9.c5!
chances. 8.Cbxd4 itg7 9 ..i.e2 0-0 10.0-0 Cbc6
36 ... ~xe5 37.~h3+ ~e6 38.~xc6+ It would be good for Black to include
~b8 39..i.xe6 fxe6 40. ~b6+ Φc8 41. ~c6+ 10 ... ~e8 11.f3. Well, probably the bishop οη
It>b8 d7 instead of c8 does not play an impor-
80 White has an extra pawn but can't tant part, but at least it does not spoil
win the game. Black's position.
42. ~b6+ Φc8 43. ~e3 b4! 11 ..i.e3 a6 12.Cbxc6 .txc6?
The mighty passed pawn οη the c-file Black counts οη the adνance b7-b5 but
will compensate Black the lack of two probably he makes a mistake. After
pawns. 12 ... bxc6 with the idea to play c6-c5 οη the
44.cxb4 c3 45.f4 next moνe he would haνe had a νery solid
position. An attempt to prevent these plans 27 ... Mf8? was still worse because of
with 13 ... Me8 fails as in this case the weak- 28 ..ixg7 ~xg7 29.~xg7+ ι;;t>xg7 30.Mxc7+
ness of the e4-pawn becomes perceptible Mxc7 31.Mxc7+ Φg6 (32 ... ι;;t>f6 33.Iιxh7)
and there is ηο 14.f3?! because of 14 ... d5. 32.Ma7 Iιa8 33.Md6, White winning a pawn.
13.f3 ~e8 14.Mcl Mc8 28 ..ixg7 ~xg7 29. ~xg7 + cj;;>xg7 30.
Black begins to realize that the plan to Mxc7+ ~f6 31.M7c6 Med8?!
advance b7-b5 was incorrect. 80 in case of Mass simplifications brought Black to
14 ... b5 15.lbd5 Mc8 16.SΙd4 Black's advance a hard endgame. White is threatening to
resulted in the increased actiνity ofWhite's play Scl-c2, forcing Black to part either
pieces οηlΥ. with the a6- of d6-pawn. Perhaps Black
15.b4 b6 had to try to complicate the struggle by
White threatens to play b4-b5 himself 31 ... Mxc6 32.Mxc6 Mc8 33.Mxa6, followed by
οη the next move, so Black takes preven- 33 ... jιc4 or 33 ... cj;;>e5. However, for 33 ... SΙc4
tive measures. Ιη case of an active 15 ... b5 White has a very strong response 34.~f2!
White would probably answer with 16.SΙd4 (after 34.jιxc4 bxc4 35 ..ί:ϊ.Χd6+ cj;;>e5 36.Mdl
and gain profit from the unloading. c3 the activity of Black's pieces is worth
16.1:!.el jιb7 17.jιf1 ~e618.~d2 Mfe8 the sacrificed pawns) 34 ... cj;;>e5 35.cj;;>e2 d5
19.a3lbd7 20.lbd5lbf6 21.Mc2lbxd5?! 36.cj;;>d2, and White has time to co-ordinate
Well, the white knight οη d5 was really his forces. Ιη case of 33 ... cj;;>e5 White plays
rather unpleasant for Black, but now the 34.SΙxb5 (34.~f2 is unclear now because of
pawn structure in the center becomes more 34 ... MC3 35. ~e2 SΙc4) 34 ... Mcl + 35. cj;;>f2 Mc2+
favourable for White. 21 .. .lbd7 was cer- 36.~f1 Scl+, and his task is more difficult.
tainly more prudent. 32.cj;;>f2 h6 33.cj;;>e3 cj;;>e5 34.f4+ ~f6
22.cxd5 ~d7 23.J:::recl b5 35.cj;;>d4 cj;;>e7 36.1Hc3 h5
Ιη case of an immediate 23 ... f5 24.exf5 The pawn could have been kept by
gxf5 White had both 25.SΙd4 and 25.SΙc4. 36 ... Mxc6 37.J:::rxc6 jιc8, but after 38.MC7+
24.SΙd4 f5 ~f6 39.g3 Black's pieces would be arranged
White's pressure upon the c7-pawn awfully.
soon can become unbearable, so Black at- 37.SΙe2
tempts to complicate the matters. The White need not haste to acquire the
move 24 ... c6? leads Black to a disaster af- mateήal.
ter 25.jιxg7 ι;;t>xg7 26.~d4+ ι;;t>g8 27.~b6. 37 ... h4 38.Mxa6 Mxc3 39.~xc3 Mg8
25.exf5 gxf5 40.jιf3 jιc4
Ιη case of 40 ... MC8+ White had 41.Sc6
1:!.a842.Mc7+
41.Ma8 Mg6 42.a4 h3 43.g3 Me6
44.axb5 .ixb5
Black had ηο time for 44 ... Me3+ because
of 45.cj;;>xc4 MXf3 46.b6 as White would ad-
vance his pawn up to the back rank ίη this
case.
45.~d2 jιf1 46.z:!.a3 SΙg2 47.SΙe2 d5
48.b5
White's f1ank passed pawn is much
more dangerous than Black's pawn ίη the
26.~g5! centre.
White activates his pieces maximally. 48 ... d4 49.lιc4 Md6 50.Ma7+ ι;;t>d8
26 •.• SΙxd5 27 ..id3 jιe6 5U:ta6 z:!.d7 52.Mf6 .id5 53.lιd3 SΙe4
54.b6 Φe7 55.lϊ:h61:i.d8 56.b7 .a:b8 57.~a6 18.~xel ~αι 19.1bf5 J::!.e8 20.~dl g621.lbd4
~d7 lbe4 or maybe he could prefer simply to
There was ηο 57 ... ~xb7 because of keep the tension ίη the centre ofthe board.
58.lιh7+.
58.I:rxh3
White's pawn advantage increased.
58 ... ~c7 59 . .a:h6 .a:d8 60.~g6 'lt>b8
61.h4 'lt>a7 62.h5 1-0
68 Ε17
Romanishin - Korchnoi
Round 8 20.05
l.d4 lbf6 2.lbf3 e6 3.g3 b6 4.~g2 ~b7

5.c4 ~e7 6.lbc3 0-0 7.d5 16... e5
One month before this game Victor Black takes control over the important
Korchnoi suffered a bitter defeat ίη this central square d4. He did not want to cap-
variation of the Queen's Indian Defence. ture the pawn with 16 ... ~xc4?! because of
He played then White and chose 7. ~c2, but 17.lbd4, but White's response ίη case of
after 7 ... c5 8.d5 exd5 9.lbg5 h6 10.lbh3 b5! 16 ... exd5!? stayed unknown to us. After
Black got a convenient play ίη the game 17.lbd4 (ίη case of 17.cxd5 .ί:::txe4 18.J::!.xe4
Korchnoi - 8tefansson, Reykjaνik 2000. lbxe4 19.~el lbdc5 20.lbd4 ~b7 White
This time it's the Ukrainian grandmaster missed a pawn without any particular com-
who has to solve the same opening prob- pensation) 17 ... dxe4 18.lbc6 ~c8 19.1bxb8
lem. ~xb8 Black had an excellent compensation
7 ...~b4 8.0-0 of two pawns and an awful weakness of
White agrees to a considerable deforma- White's queenside for the missing ex-
tion of his pawn structure. There was also change.
another continuation 8.~d2 which implied 17.f5
a pawn sacrifice but still was less obliging. The pawn could not have been kept with
8 .•. iιxc3 9.bxc3 lba6 10.lbh4 .ϊ:ιb8 17.lbd2? because of17 ... exf418.gxf4lbd3.
11.e4 d6 12.iιe3 .a:e8 13 ..ϊ:ιeΙ lbd7 14.f4 Ιη case of 17.fxe5 lbxe5 18.lbxe5 .uxe5
White plays with the utmost aggression. 19.~d4 .a:e8 20. ~g4 f6 the material balance
Previously the grandmaster from Lvov was maintained, but Black's huge posi-
played 14.lbf3 ίη this position Romanishin tional advantage was indisputable.
- Markowski, Biel1995. 17... ~xc4
14... lbac5 15.~f2 ~a6 16.lbf3 80 Black got an extra pawn but now he
White demonstrates his willingness to must contain White's mighty onset οη the
sacrifice the pawn for initiative, this is kingside.
Romanishin's favourable technique. Per- 18. .ϊ:ιe3 b5 19.94 f6 20.h4 .ί:::tc8 21.lbel
haps White rejected 16.~Ω because he did c6
not ~nt to lose control over e4. 80 it re- Black needs open files ίη the centre like
mained a secret how Black was going to aιr.
make use of the pluses of his position ίη 22.dxc6 .ϊ:ιχc6 23.lbc2 1:tc7 24 ..ϊ:ιg3
this case. Probably he would try to get his With 24.~xd6 White could have re-
knight to the central e4-square as soon as turned the sacrificed pawn, but after 24 ...
possible with 16 ... exd5 17.exd5 .uxel lbb6 a queen exchange was ineνitable; that
Leonid Stein Memorial 119
would depriνe him of any chance to White's pieces.

organise an attack οη Black's king and 27 •.• 1:txc5 28.~h5 CiJd7
would make his position hopeless because Black tήes to get the knight to f8 to haνe
ofthe weakness ofhis queenside. a defence ίη case of 29.lIh3.
24 ... CiJb6 25.g5 29.f6?
White could haνe transferred the knight White hurήes to demonstrate his actiν
into the centre by 25.CiJb4 a5 26.CiJd5, but ity οη the kingside, but, as a result, the plan
without profit: after 26 ... CiJxd5 27.exd5 e4! he began to perform by 27.~xc5! stays un-
Black would haνe begun a decisiνe counter- fulfilled. 29.CiJe3! would be a consistent con-
attack. tinuation now, making White's attack most
25 ... fxg5? dreadful. Ιη case of 29 ... d4 White had
Black made a serious mistake, haνing 30.CiJxc4 bxc4 31.f6, and ίη case of29 ... CiJf8
exchanged the pawn which was a solid base there was 30.CiJg4, threatening to win the
for his pawn chain οη the kingside. An im- game with 31.CiJf6+!.
mediate 25 ... d5! was correct as ν.Κοrchηοί 29 ... d4!
showed after the game. He commented this Well done! Black deΡήνes his opponent
continuation as follows: "The οηlΥ way to of the e3-square, thus preνenting the
cause some problems for Black would be knight transfer to the kingside.
26.~xc5! (Bad was, for example 26.gxf6 30.fxg7
CiJxe4 27 .~xe4 dxe4 28. ~h5?! CiJd5 with White begins to lose the tempo of the
adνantage to Black: 26.exd5 CiJxd5 27. attack. Mter 30.1::th3 CiJf8 31.fxg7 <;t>xg7 he
.txd5+ .txd5 28.gxf6 CiJe4 29.z:td3 CiJxf2 had a strong continuation 32.g6!, still main-
30.'it>xf2 ~xf6 3U:txd5 ~xh4+ and White taining serious threats to Black. Probably
is ίη trouble.) 26 ... .1:ιχc5 27.~h5 (and we Black's best reaction was 32 ... J:c7!? 33.cxd4
haνe to pay a credit to Romanishin - he exd4 34.1:tdl d3 with a mutually keen posi-
was going to play exactly this way!). Now tion. At the same time, ίη case of32 ... hxg6?!
27 ... Φh8 28.CiJe3 (28.1::tdl may lead to trans- 33.~h8+ ΦfΊ 34.J:ιf3+ <;t>e7 35.cxd4 exd4
position of moνes) 28 ... ~e7 29.J::tdl d4 36.CiJxd4 Black's king feels rather uncom-
30.cxd4 exd4 3U~xd4 (31.CiJg4 1l.e2 32.iιf3 fortable ίη the center of the board.
iιxf3 33.~xf3 CiJd7 and Black successfully 30... iιf7
defends his position 34.g6 h6 35.J:ιg3 CiJe5
36.CiJxh6?! gxh6 37.g7+ <;t>g8 38. ~xh64JfΊ)
31 ... CiJd7= Making a long speech short: af-
ter 25 ... d5 chances were almost equal."
26.hxg5 d5
The pressure ofWhite's pieces gets more
tough. According to classical patterns,
Black meets the flank attack with a
counterstrike ίη the centre. Still now this
continuation is less efficient than it would
haνe been one moνe ago.
27.iιxc5!
31.~h3?
Ιη this way White not οηlΥ decreases the
influence ofBlack's pieces ίη the centre but White was simply obliged to go for 31.g6!
also frees the e3-square for a transfer of 1l.xg6 32.J:xg6 hxg6 33. ~h8+ <;t>fΊ 34.1:tf1
his knight to the kingside. Ιη case of27. ~h5 CiJffi 35.lIxf6 ~xf6 36.~xe8+! <;t>xe8 37.g8~+
CiJxe4 28.~xe4 dxe4 29.l:th3 g6 30.fxg6 J::tee7 <;t>d7 (an immediate 37 ... We7 is worse be-
31.CiJe3 J:ιg7 Black can resist the attack of cause of 38.CiJb4) 38.~h3+ 'it>e7 39.4Jb4
'§g5+, making both kings open and avail- ening to mate with the queen οη h4 and
able so that the game most likely would be thus winning a piece after 51. '§ffi+ tΔf6+
drawn with a perpetual check ίη this case. 52.Φh2 '§h4+ 53.ΦgΙ '§d4+ 54.Φh2 iιxd5.
31 ... !lxc3 32.!lxc3 dxc3 33.'§xc3 46... '§xf6+ 47. '§f3
'§xg5 34.tΔe3 tΔf6 35.~f1 After 47.ΦgΙ jιxa2 48.jιe4.tf7 Black's
Korchnoi considers 35. '§d3 more persis- two extra pawns are enough for him to will.
tent though even now Black seems to be 47 ... '§xf3 48.rJ;;xf3 iιd5+ 49.Φg3 .txa2
able to achieve his advantage after 35 ... 50.~e4.tf7 51.rJ;;g4 jιg6 52.SΙb7 Φg7 53.
~g6. Φg5 h6+ 54.rJ;;g4 'itf6 55.SΙc8 ~f5+ 0-1
35 ... tΔxe4 36.'§a3 tΔg3 37.!l~ '§xg7
Black could have suspended for a while
with 37 ... a6!? now, and after 38.tΔd5 Φχg7 69 C08
39. '§xa6 he would have 39 ... tΔe4!. Ivanchuk - Korchnoi
38.'§xa7 !lf8 39.'§b6 '§g5 40.'§a7?! Round 9 21.05
Perhaps the move 40.tΔd5!? maintained
better chances for a draw. After 40 ... tΔe2+ l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.tΔd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5
(ίη case of 40 ... tΔe4 White had a crafty The Tarrasch Variation of the French
41 . .1:Η5!) 41.~xe2 SΙxd5 42. '§xb5 '§cl+ Defence often produces positions with an
43.Φh2 there is ηο forced victory for Black. isolated black pawn. Instead Black can get
40 ... SΙe6 41.tΔd5 1:i:x~ 42.Φx~ tΔh5 freedom for his pieces.
43.'§b8+ rJ;;g7 44.'§xb5 5.tΔgf3 a6 6 ..te2 tΔc6 7.0-0 cxd4 8.1:i:el
.te7 9.tΔb3 tΔf6 10.tΔfxd4 ο-ο 11.SΙf4
jιd6
Αη exchange of the dark-squared
bishop is favourable for White ίη this struc-
ture but what can Black do with this,
White's pieces are positioned ideally. Black
tested both 11 ... tΔe4 and 11 ... ~e8, but nei-
ther continuation gives parity.
12.iιxd6 '§xd6 13.c3
The most natural continuation which
somehow did not occur previously. White
takes control over d4 which is the key
44 ... tΔf6! square ίη these positions. Black's play is
An excellent move. Black set up the co- much easier after 13.tΔxc6 bxc6 14.c4 a5
ordination of his pieces ίη the best way. Marjanovic - Raicevic, Belgrade 1982.
44 ... tΔf4 is not so clear as after 45.'§b7+ 13...!le8 14.'§c2 SΙg4 15.SΙxg4
'ith6 46.tΔxf4 '§xf4 47.rJ;;gl Black can't cap- Perhaps White should not have let Black
ture the a2-pawn with the bishop because exchange the light-squared bishops. He
of 48. '§a6+. had more chances to keep his microscopic
45.'§b7+ rJ;;h6 46.tΔxf6 advantage after 15.SΙd3!? tΔe5 (ίη case of
Th~point of Black's brilliant inanoeu- 15 ... .th5 White's knight from d4 got to f5,
vre is'that ίη case of 46. '§b6 (ηο 46. '§c6? to a traditionally vulnerable square ίη Black's
be followed by 46 ... '§xg2+! and 47 ... camp ίη this variation) 16.h3 SΙd7 17.!ladl,
jιxd5+) 46 ... '§d2+ 47.ΦgΙ '§dl+ 48.Φh2 gathering his pieces ίη the centre and aim-
tΔg4+ 49.rJ;;g3 '§el+ 50.Φh3 50 ... Φg5!! (if ing at the isolated d5-pawn. Ιη this case
49.Φg3, then after 49 ... '§el+ 50.Φh3 Black White does not need to fear that Black can
had afine opportunity οf50 ... Φg5!!) threat- exchange the e5-knight for the d3-bishop
as Black's dark-squared bishop becomes while.

just a burden for him after this exchange. 30.CLJe5 Φg7 31. ~f4
It can be traded for the b3-knight οηlΥ, but
this plan takes time, and besides White can
capture οη b3 with the a-pawn, thus im-
proνing his position.
15 ... CLJxg4 16.CLJf3 CLJce5
Black plays rather primitiνely. The
moνe CLJc6-e5 would be much stronger if
Black's queen were οη f4 as it would not
block the diagonal b8-h2 then. This is why
the moνe 16 ... ~f4!? deserνed attention.
This continuation would giνe Black more
chances for an actiνe counterplay than the
moνe ίη the game.
31 ... g5?!
17.CLJbd4 CLJxf3+ 18.CLJxf3 ~c5 This moνe was hardly necessary. Now
Now 18 ... ~f4 was not already so good the weakness of the f5-square makes the
νery residence ofBlack's king unsafe. There
because of 19.~b3!.
19.h3 CLJf6 20.~b3 b6 was a more natural continuation 31 ... ~b5
Ιη case of 20 ... CLJe4 21.CLJd4 a:e7 22.a:e2 32. ~d4, and if Black did not like the line
a:ae8 23.a:ae1 the opposition of the rooks 32 ... ~xb2 33.CLJd7 ~b1+ 34.<,t>h2 ~f5
οη the e-file was certainly not ίη Black's
35.CLJxb6 <,t>h7, he had an alternatiνe of
faνour.
32 ... ~c5 with a defensible position.
21 ..1:lad1 a:e4 22.CLJd2 nxe1+ 23.l:txe1 32.~d2
a5 24.a3 h6 25.CLJf3 Of course White does not want to play

The d4-square must stay under control. the pawn endgame to appear after 32.
Α transfer ofthe knight to e3 with 25.CLJf1 ~xf6?! ~xf6 33.CLJd7+ ~f5 34.CLJxc5 bxc5.
is inefficient right now because of 25 ... a:d8 32 ... CLJe4 33.~e2 ~d6 34.CLJg4!
26.CLJe3 d4. White's knight makes his way to e3
25 ... I:ιe8 which is most unpleasant for Black as from
Black is willing to exchange the major that point it attacks both the d5-pawn and
pieces as their absence would make the the disastrously weakened f5-square at the
weakness of the single d5-pawn less per- same time.
ceptible. 34 .. :§e6 35:§d3 h5 36.~d4+ ~g8
26 ..t1xe8+ CLJxe8 27.CLJe5 CLJf6 37.CLJe3 CLJf6 38.f3 ~f8 39.<,t>f2 ~e8 40.b4
It seems that Black did not want to play White chooses the queenside to be the
27 ... b5 because of28.a4 (ίη case of28.CLJd3 battle field, trying to create a remote
there was 28 ... ~c4 29.~d1 CLJd6, and if passed pawn. He had also 40.g4!? hxg4
30.CLJe5, then 30 ... ~e4 31.CLJc6 CLJc4 with an (40 ... h4 41.CLJf5) 41.hxg4, fixing the chronic
equality). Neνertheless, this line was most weakness οη f5.
probably the best opportunity as the knight 40 ... axb4
endgame after 28 ... b4 29.CLJd3 ~c4 30. Νο 40 ... a4? because of 41.b5!.
~xc4 dxc4 was drawing, for example 41.cxb4 ~d7 42.a4
31.CLJe5 bxc3 32.bxc3 CLJd6 33.CLJc6 CLJb7. White really has prospects of creating a
28.~a4 ~h7 29.CLJc6 g6 remote passed pawn οη the a-file.
Black begins to weaken his position. 42 ... ~c8 43.~e2 h4
29 ... <,t>g8!? was possible, preνenting the Black weakens his position himself
adνance of his own kingside pawns for a again and without necessity. Οη the other
hand, after 43 ... '>itb7 44.'>itd2 '>itb8 White Ιη case of a knight endgame White has
probab1y wou1d νenture οη 45.h4 himse1f a remote passed pawn but under the
Howeνer, ίη this case B1ack had 45 ... gxh4 queens - an uncoνered B1ack's king. What
(to p1ay 45 ... g4?! 46.fxg4 hxg4, adding a e1se can be expected from one moνe?!
passed pawn οη the h-fi1e to White's 51 ...bxa5 52.bxa5 c,t>a6 53.c,t>b4 §'d6+?!
queenside adνantage wou1d be most foo1- This moνe seems to be B1ack's decisiνe
ish), and then 46 ... §'e5 to actiνate the
mistake. Mter 53 ... §'e7+ 54.§'c5 §'b7+
queen.
55.'it>c3 tιJd7 56. §'d6 (in the knight endgame
44.'>itd2 '>itb7 45.'>itd3 ~a6 46.'>itc3 §'c6+
47.'.ti'b3 §'e6 48.c,t>b2 ~b7 49.~a3 §'d6 after 56.§'xd5 §'xd5 57.tιJxd5 '>itxa5 58.'it>d4
50.'>itb3 §'e6 '>itb5 White's king can't break through to
There was ηο 50 ... '>ita6 because of the the opponent's kingside at once) 56 ... '>itxa5
manoeuνre 51.§'d3+ Wb7 52.§,f5. 57.tιJxd5 there were still some chances to
ho1d the position.
54.§'c5 §'b8+
The knight endgame after 54 ... §'xc5+
55.'it>xc5 '>itxa5 56.tιJxd5 is abso1ute1y hope-
1ess for B1ack because of the fata1 differ-
ence ίη the position of the kings.
55.Wc3 §'bl
The same fina1 after 55 ... §'e5+ 56.~d2
§'b2+ 57.tιJc2.
56.tιJc2 1-0
57.tιJb4+ was threatening, and ίη case
51.a5! of56 ... Wb7 the solution was 57.§'e7+.
Bosnα 123
Bosna
Sarajevo 16.05-29.05, cat.19
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
1 Κasparov 2851 = = = = 1 1 1 = 1 1 1 8.5
2 Adams 2715 = = 1 1 = 1 = = = 1 1 8
3 Shirov 2750 = = = 1 1 = Ο 1 1 1 1 8
4 Morozevich 2748 = Ο = Ι:····,; = = 1 Ο = 1 1 = 6
5 Topalov 2702 = Ο Ο = = = = 1 = 1 1 6
6 Bareev 2709 Ο = Ο = = = = 1 1 = 1 6
7 I.Sokolov 2637 Ο Ο = Ο = = 1 = = = = 4.5
8 Movsesian 2668 Ο = 1 1 = = Ο = Ο Ο Ο 4
9 Short 2683 = = Ο = Ο Ο = = = = = 4
10 Κi.Georgiev 2675 Ο = Ο Ο = Ο = 1 = = = 4
11 M.Gurevich 2694 Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο = = 1 = = 1 4
12 Bacrot 2594 Ο Ο Ο = Ο Ο = 1 = = Ο 3
Vladiιnir Kramnίk refused to partίcipate ίn the tournament for the second tίιne. Ιη 1999 he changed
hΊS pIans because ofthe ΝΑΊΌ bombardments ofYugosIavia, ίn 2000 - because he began an ίntensive
preparatίon for the autumn match WΊth Garry Kasparov. So, N.Short repIaced him twice.
The finaI outcome οί the tournament was not unexpected: aΠ pIayers with ratίng > 2700 defeated
those whose rating was about 2600. Kasparov (2851) was the winner; Bacrot (2594) occupied the
Iast pIace.
But it was not easy for Kasparov to win the tournament. It happened that final
results depended οη how the leaders played against Movsesian. Kasparov won against
him, Adams drew, both Shirov and Morozevich lost. The fact was that after the 8th round
Shirov was the leader with 6 points, three players: Kasparov, Adams and Morozevich
were half a point behind. Ιη the 9th round Movsesian defeated Morozevich, ίη the 10th
round he beat Shirov (game 80), and ίη the 11th round he lost to Kasparov (game 81).
TopaIov's trainer S.Danailov saίd about the tournament:
''!η Bosnia they love chess and made everything to organize the tournament οη a
high level. And the participants were rather bellicose. Of course, for debutants Movsesian
and Bacrot it was as hard as it was for Topalov when he had started to play ίη super
tournaments. It is easy to criticize top-players for their errors. sitting at home, but ίη
reality it is so difficult to play against them. They have another level ofthe theoretical
preparation, their resistance is much more persistent. Ι belieνe that both Bacrot and
Moνsesian haνe great future, but still they should admit that elite plays better now and
can teach them .
... Does somebody think ofhow much first prize is in Linares or Sarajeνo? Certainly,
not. Participants' fees, as a rule, are higher than prizes, and sometimes considerably
higher."
The game Shiroν - Topaloν (73) can be called one ofthe most beautiful games ofthe
year. Alexey gained a νictory with a swift attack.
70 C45 18.J::te1 with a decisiνe adνantage) 16.SΙxαι

Kasparov - Bacrot J::td8 17. ~b2, and White kept an extra piece.
Round 1 17.05 11.i.d2 ~b612.~e4
12.lLJc3 has occurred much more fre-
l.e4 e5 2.lLJf3lLJc6 3.d4 quently. Well, the situation may change
Since 1990 the Scotch Game has become after this game.
a regular part of G.Kasparoν's opening 12 ... f5
repertoire. Α short reference: before this Following the latest theoretical recom-
game he had won more than half of 20 mendations, Black tries to keep his knight
games he had played in this opening. in the centre ofthe board. When he played
3 ... exd4 4.lLJxd4 lLJf6 12 ... lLJb4 ίη the game D.Paνasoνic -
4 ... ..tc5 is another uniνersally recog- B.Rogulj, Dresden 1998, White quickly
nised equalization method. chased his knight to the edge ofthe board
5.lLJxc6 bxc6 6.e5 ~e7 7.~e2lLJd5 8.c4 by 13.lLJc3 (in case of13.a3 Black has a little
i.a69.b3 trick of13 ... ~d4!) 13 ... i.b7 14.a3.
Black has a certain deνelopment adνan 13.~f3
tage, but his pieces are positioned not Ιη case of 13.exf6+ rJi;f7 Black obtains a
ideally: the light-squared bishop is blocked strong play along the e-file.
up by the well protected c4-pawn, and the 13 ... tM4
position of the c5-knight may turn out Ιη case of 13 ... tιJb4 White probably was
quite unstable later. going to play 14 ..td1, forcing the black
9 ... g610.f4 knight to continue his wandering.
At the tournament in Amsterdam ίη 14.lΔc3 lLJxc3 15..ixc3
1994 G.Kasparoν tested the continuation Oh, this is the long-expected reinforce-
10.Ba3 against ν.lνanchuk, also 10.g3 oc- ment. Mter 15. ~xc3 ~xc3 16.i.xc3 i.g7
curred in chess practice. 17.0-0-0 c5 18.\t'c2 0-0-0 Black managed
10... ~b4+ to equalize in the game V.lνanoν - Μί
The moνe 10 ... f6 after 11 ..ia3 (the other shuchkoν, USSR 1993.
option is 11.exf6lLJxf6 12.SΙb2 0-0-0 13.lLJd2 15.....tb4 16.~cl ..txc3+ 17.,ί;Ixc3 0-0-0
d5 14.0-0-0, Beliaνsky - Almasi, Niksic If Black had known what was waiting
1997) 11 ... ~f7 12. ~d2 lLJb6 13.c5 .ixf1 for him, he might haνe considered also
14.cxb6 in the game Kasparoν - Karpoν, 17 ... ~c5!?, and if18.~e3, then 18 ... ~xe3+
. Tilburg 1991 allowed White to gain a deci- 19.Iιxe3 c5.
siνe adνantage after Black's mistake 18.c5!
14 ... axb6? (the correct continuation is Α standard moνe for this νariation.Now
14 ... .ixa3 15.b7 !Ib8 16.lLJxa3 .ib5, and that the knights are exchanged, White can
nothing is clear) by 15.e6! dxe6 (if 15 ... loosen his control of the d5-square.
~xe6+, then 16.\t'xf1.ixa3 17.lΔxa3 ~xa3 18... i.b7?!
Bosnα 125
Now Black's bishop is locked υρ by his οη the kingside by h4-h5.

own pawns. It was better to get rid of it at 22 ... d5
once by 18 ... ~xf119 ..u.xf1 (if19.'~xf1, then Ιη case of 22 ... dxe5 23 ..ti.xe5 !Ihe8
there is 19 ... ~d2). This line might continue 24.l:!.xe81:txe8+ 25.Φf2 the difference in the
as follows: 19 ... g5 (in case of 19 ... d5 positions ofthe white and b1ack bishops is
20.cxd61:rxd6 21.1:rf2 ~e8 22.g3! 1:rd5 23.'it>f1 especially prominent.
White's king finds a safe stand, whereas 23.~d3
the disastrous weakness ofB1ack's queen- Mter the game G.Kasparoν supposed
that 23.~e2! h5 24.b4 cou1d haνe been eνen
side pawns remains) 20. ~d3 (a1so 20 ..!::!.c4!?
deserνes attention as White need not be more accurate.
afraid of losing a pawn after 20 ... ~a1+?! 23 ... h5
21.';~"f2 ~xa2 22. ~gl owing to the unp1eas- Α ηecessaΓΥ moνe. If 23 ... Φe6, then
ant threat of 1:rc4-a4, howeνel' aftel' 20 ... 24.h5! ~dg8 25.hxg6 hxg6 26 ..ti.eh3, and
~b2 the p1ay wou1d be reduced to a rook White wins.
endgame anyway) 20 ... ~xd3 21.~xd3 with 24.IIg3 IIh6
a rook endgame, slight1y better for White. Ιη case of 24 ... ~hg8 B1ack was afraid of
19.~e3! 25.~g5!, possib1y ω be followed by g2-g4.
25.b4
One weakness exists a1ready οη g6, and
now White is going to create another weak
point in his opponent's camp, this time οη
the queenside.
25 ... ~e6
B1ack cou1d haνe tried to free himse1f
by means of25 ... a5, but in this case White
wou1d haνe 26.b5! cxb5 27.~xb5+ c6
(27 ... ~c6? is 10sing immediate1y because
of 27.e6+!) 28.~a4 ~a6 29.~b3 to be fo1-
10wed by the rook transfer to b6, thus
19... ~xe3+? maintaining a great adνantage.
As G.Kasparoν commented after the 26.'it>d21:ra8 27.~bl a6
game, B1ack shou1d not haνe agreed to Haνing preνented a break-through οη
exchange the queen. Ιη the ending White's the queenside, B1ack got one more weak
king fee1s quite comfortably in the centre, point οη a6. White's following p1ay in this
and an undermining of White's centra1 game can be regatded as a mode1 of p1ay-
pawns is much 1ess efficient. B1ack shou1d ing against two weak points οη different
haνe p1ayed 19 ... ~b4, eνen though after flanks.
20.~e2!? (a1so 20.Φf2 d6 21.1:rc4 is possib1e) 28.~b3 ~f'1 29.~a3 .i.:thh8 30.1:rg5 1:rh6
20 ... d6 (20 ... d5?! is worse because of B1ack's rook shou1d stay οη the h-fi1e,
21. ~d2!) 21.cxd6 cxd6 22.0-0 dxe5 23.fxe5 otherwise, for examp1e after 30 ... l:!.hb8,
White's chances still would be better. White accomp1ishes a winning break-
20.nxe3 d6 21.~c4 'it>d7 through: 31.g4! hxg4 32.h5
The capture 21 ... dxc5 wou1d οη1Υ in- 31.'it>c3
crease the importance ofthe white e-pawn. Το deνe10p a winning p1an for White is
Mter 22.e6 1:td4 23.e7 Φd7 24.~Π B1ack but a question of time now. 80, there was
wou1d haνe to resign. 31.I!a5!?, preparing to doub1e the rooks οη
22.h4 the a-fi1e to increase the pressure οη the
White wants to weaken B1ack's position a6-pawn. If B1ack followed White's ex-
ample (what else could he do?), then the advances towards the back rank without
opposition of two pairs of rooks along the any obstacles.
a-file would let White play b4-b5. After the 39. .!ί.Χh5! 1-0
inevitable exchange ofBlack's c6-pawn for
White's b5-pawn Black would have to play
c7-c6 to prevent White's bishop from com- '71 Α29
ing to c6, thus provoking a disastrous Gurevich - Shirov
weakening of the b6-square which would Round 2 18.05
become accessible for White's rooks then.
31 ... J:Ib8 32.J:Ia5 ~a8 33.Φd4 l.c4 tLJf6 2.tLJc3 e5 3.tLJf3 tLJc6 4.g3 d5
5.cxd5 tLJxd5 6.jιg2 tLJb6 7.d3 iιe7 8.a3
iιe6 9.0-0 ο-ο 10.b4
The opponents played one ofthe popu-
lar variations of the English opening. Ac-
tually, this is the Dragon Variation from
the 8icilian Defence, οηlΥ with reversed
colours and, correspondingly, with an ex-
tra tempo οη White's side.
10... tLJd4 11.iιb2
Of course, there is ηο 11.tLJxe5? because
of 11 ... .!ί.f6, and White's pieces hang along
the a1-h8 diagonal.
Α showy position. White's monarch oc-
11 ... tLJxf3+
cupies a dominating position ίη the centre Right now Black can not gain profit
ofthe board before the decisive rearrange- from the knight's position οη d4. Ιη case of
ment of forces. 11 ... jιb3 12. t'ι'c1 it is better for him to agree
33 ...:!.hh8 34.jιc2 J:Iab8 35.jιd3 J:Ia8 to the position after 12 ... tLJxf3+ 13.iιxf3 c6,
36.iιe2 J:Ihb8?!
because ίη case of 12 ... c5 13.jιxc5 .!ί.χc5
Now Black loses ίη a forced line. The 14.tLJxd4 .!ί.Χd4 15.jιxb7 J:Ib8 16.iιg2 the
rook should not have left οη the h-file. 80, compensation for the pawn is insufficient,
ίη case of 36 ... J:Ihg8 White would win by Kasparov - A.80kolov, U88R 1988.
37.J:Ig3! (37.J:Ia3 is not as good because of 12.iιxf3 c6 13.t'ι'c2 tLJd7 14.tLJe4 iιd5
37 ... i.c8, maintaining control over the e6- M.Gurevich used to defend this position
square) 37 ... J:Ia7 38.iιxh5! gxh5 39.e6+ for Black. However, there was ηο particu-
~f8 40.e7+. The most persistent move is lar structure ίη the game Yudasin -
36 ... J:Iab8, but ίη this case White has M.Gurevich, Bern 1989. Mter 15.tLJd2 .!ί.d6
37.J:Ig3 J:Ia8 38.J:Iga3 J:Ihb8 39.Φc3, return- 16.tLJe4 .!ί.e7 17.tLJd2 iιd6 18.tLJe4 the ορ
ing to the winning plan, described ίη the ponents agreed to a draw by repetition of
note after White's 31st move. moves. Ν ow that Gurevich plays White, he
37.J:Ia3! J:Ih8 tries to develop a πιοre complex struggle.
If 37 ... .!ί.c8, then 38.J:Iag3! J:Ixb4+ 15 ..!ί.c3 J:Ic8 16. ~b2 J:Ie8 17. .!ί.g4 J:Ic7
39.Φc3 J:Ixf4 40.J:Ixg6 d4+ 41.Φd3 J:Ixh4 Black experiences certain difficulties,
42.J:If6+! Φe8 43.J:Ig8+ with a decisive at- connected with the necessity to protect the
tack οη the black king. e5-pawn. It should be noted that the ex-
38.J:Iag3 J:Iag8 change 17 ... iιxe4 is too early now. Mter
38 ... J:Ih6 can't change anything because 18.dxe4 J:Ic7 White doubles his rooks οη the
of 39.J:Ixg6! J:Ixg6 40.jιxh5 J:Ig8 41.J:Ixg6 d-file by 19.J:Iad1 iιf6 20.J:Id3 t'ι'e7 21.J:Ifd1
Mxg6 42.e6+ ~f6 43.e7, and White's pawn and thus gains an advantage.
Bosnα 127
puts his rook before the queen to attack

the e5-pawn.
27.l::ι.f3 t'fe8 28.ΙΜ3 h6
The air was just necessary for Black.
An immediate capture ofWhite's e5-pawn
was impossible namely because of the
weakness of his back rank.
29.t'fd2 ι;t>h7 30.iιc5 ':xe5 31.J::td7
1::td5?!
Αη οήgiηal decision, but hardly a good
one. Black allows his opponent to take the
18.f4 initiatiνe. Well, after a self-suggesting
White attempts to ram the opponent's 31 ... b6 32 ..a:xc7 (if 32.iιf2, then 32 ... 1:ιe7)
defence ίη the centre, making use of the 32.gjxc5 White has 33.t'ff4!? (ίη case of
insufficient protection of the g7-pawn. If 33 .... xc5 .a:xe4 34. t'fd3 f5 White stands
he tries to win the pawn at once by worse) 33 ... cxb4 34.axb4 ~g8, and now he
18.SΙxd7 1:!.xd7 19.5Ιxe5, then Black will can equalize by 35.1:ιχΠ.
maintain the balance by 19 ... SΙxe4 20.dxe4, 32.exd5 t'fxd7 33.t'fd3+
and now 20 ... SΙf8! (better than 20 ... ι:Id2 White anyway can't do without the ad-
21.t'fc3 jιf8 because of 22.1:tfel) 21.f3 (if νance e2-e4, he should haνe done this right
2U:tfe1, then after 21 ... f6 22. t'fb3+ ~h8 now or with the next moνe. Ιη this case
23 ..rιb21:txe4 White's position is not worse, White's chances would be preferable.
at least) 21 ... t'fb6+ (ίη case of 21 ... ~d2 33 ...<;t>g834.d6?!
22. t'fc3 1:txe2 Black should reckon with Α νery important moνe. The d-pawn has
23 ..rιd4, making his rook feel quite uncom- lost contact with White's main forces, and
fortable ίη White's camp) 22.~g2 J::ted8, and the control of light square is loosened.
Black has a sufficient compensation for the 34.e4 was stronger.
missing pawn owing to his control oνer the 34 ... iιd8 35.h3 ~e6!
d-file. Haνing coνered the a2-g8 diagonal,
18... .rιxe4 19.dxe4 .rιf6 20.1:tadl t'fe7 Black prepares the adνance f'7-f5.
21 ..rιxd7?! 36.e4
Hardly it was νery useful for White to Ιη case of36.d7 Black has 36 ... f5, main-
release the tension ίη the centre. He could taining control oνer the light squares ίη
haνe tήed to double his major pieces οη the centre and preparing the king's en-
the d-file now by 2U::td3, but ίη this case trance.
Black would equalize by 21 ... exf4 22.J::!.xd7 36...b6 37 ..rιf2 ~f8 38.g4 ~e8 39.Φf3
~xd7 23 ..txf6 gxf6 24 ..txd7 ~xd7. Also re- b5 40 ..te3 t'ff6+ 41.<;t>e2 Φd7
leasing after 21.ffi?! allowed him to arrange White's d-pawn is safely blocked, and
his pieces conνeniently by 21 ... .rιg5! 22.1:td3 now Black can pay attention to flank ορ
lLJb6. erations.
21 ...l:Ixd7 22.nxd7 t'fxd7 23.fxe5 .rιd8 42 ..rιd4 ~g6 43.iιe5 h5!
As a result of White's exchange opera- Black creates one more potential tar-
tion he won a pawn, yet its price was too get for White.
high: sooner or later Black's pieces will get 44. t'ff3 hxg4 45.hxg4
to the tripled pawns οη the e-file. Of course, White can't exchange the
24.Φg2 iιc7 25.iιd4 a6 26.t'fc3 J::te6 queens.
According to the classical model, Black 45 ...iιf6
bishop pair, οη the other hand. With his

last move White prepares to transfer his
bishop to g2 to oppose the opponent's light-
squared bishop. Ιη the game 8hirov -
Topalov, 8arajevo 2000, played ίη the same
round, White demonstrated his under-
standing ofthe variation with 8.c4.
8 ...b5 9.1ιg2 -tb7 10.~e2 tZJd7 11. ο-ο
ο-ο 12.Itfdl
Α short reference.Four months before
this game Black managed to obtain a con-
46.1ιΧf6? venient play after 12.lIad1 -td5 13.Itfel
Αserious mistake. Of course, White Φh8 14.tZJfd2 c6 15.c4 bxc4 16.tZJxc4 a5 ίη
should not have exchanged the bishops. the game J.Polgar - Morozevich, Wijk aan
After 46.1ιg3 it would be still unclear Zee 2000.
whether Black would manage to gain profit 12 ... 1ιd5 13.c3f5 14.tZJed2 c515.dxc5
from his advantage. 80, ίη case of 46 ... 1ιb2 tZJxc5 16.tZJf1
White has 47.g5!? (ifWhite plays passively, White's knight goes to e3, leaνing Black
then Black gets to the d-pawn by f7-f6 and actually ηο choice.
then -tb2-e5), and after 47 ... 1ιc1 48.1ιe5 16 ... ~c7
~e6 (ίη case of 48 ... 1ιχg5? there is a very
strong response of 49. §g4+ ~d8 50.1ιd4)
49.1ιχg7 ~a2+ 50.ΦΠ -txa3 51. §h3+ 'it>xd6
52.§d3+ White's pieces break free.
46... ~xf6 47.~e3 ~xd6 48.~a7+ 'it>e6
49.~xa6
White manages to maintain the mate-
rial balance temporarily, but οηlΥ for a
short time οηlΥ. Practically, all his pawns
are weak, and Black's king travels safely
ίη the opponent's camp.
49 ... 'it>e5 50.~a7 ~e6 51.'it>f2 ~a2+
52.Φg3 'it>xe4 53.~c5 ~d5 54.~cl g5 17.~xd5!?
55.~el+ 'it>d3 56.a4 bxa4 57.~dl+ 'it>c3 ΒΥ the exchange sacrifice White man-
58.~xa4 ~d3+ 0-1 ages to break the opponent's pawn chain
An exchange ofthe queens is ineνitable. and bring his knight to strategically im-
portant squares ίη the centre ofthe board,
72 Cll weakened because ofthe absence ofBlack's
Kasparov - Gurevich light-squared bishop.
Round 3 19.05 17... exd5 18.tZJe3 SΙf6
First of all, Black maintains his control
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.tZJc3 tZJf6 4.1ιg5 dxe4 over the important transit d4-square ofthe
5.tZJχe41ιe7't.~xf6 gxf6 7.tZJf3 a6 8.g3 white knights. Mter 18 ... ~ad8 19.tZJd4 tZJe4
The variation of the French Defence, 20.tZJdxf5 ~f6 21 ..ti:d1 ~c5 22. ~h5 White's
chosen by Black, assumes a complex pressure οη his position might become
struggle, conditioned by White's slight de- quite unpleasant.
velopment advantage, οη the one hand, 19.tZJd4
and by the so called advantage of Black's Black was ready for 19.tZJxd5. After
Bosna 129
19 ... ~d6 it would not be easy for the f3- 30.CLJf6+ ~h8 31 ..ι::ί.Χd6) 30.~c3 f5 White has
knight to break-through the barrier ofthe nothing decisive despite Black's appar-
opponent's dark-squared bishop. ently hard position, yet he is well compen-
19 ... SΙxd4 20.cxd4CLJe4 21.CLJxd5 ~d6 sated ίη case of 31. ~c6.
22.CLJe3 ~ί6 27 ..ι::ί.d5
According to the basic chess principles,
Black keeps his pieces οη dark squares
since his opponent has a light-squared
bishop. If he broke the rule and tried to
prevent the activation ofWhite's queen by
22 ... ~g6, then the play could have contin-
ued as follows: 23. ~f3 (Black is ΟΚ ίη case
of23.CLJxf5 ~xf5 24.jLxe4 J::!:ae8 25.J::!:e1 ~d7
26.~h5 f5) 23 ... CLJd6 24.jLh3 .ι::ί.fe8 25.CLJxf5
CLJxf5 26 ..ltxf5 ~g7 27 ..ι::ί.d1, with a certain
initiative οη White's side.
23.~h5
An exchange ofthe knights by 23.CLJxf5 27 .•. ~h8?!
~xf5 24.jLxe4 would weaken White's at-
Black is too generous. After 27 ... ~xb2
tacking potential seriously. After 24 ...1:tae8 28. ~g5+ (Black has every chance to hold
25.~e1 ~d7 26.~h5 f5 27.jLd5+ ~h8 Black out ίη case of 28.~g5+ ~h8) ~h8 (there is
would feel relatively safe. also an interesting option of 28 ... ~g7!?
23 ... J::!:ad8 29.~xg7+ ~xg7 30.Itxd61:!xd6 31.CLJf5+ ~f6
Black hurries to withdraw one more 32.CLJxd6 ~e5 33.CLJe4 .ι::ί.c8, and White's ρο
piece from the light square. After 23 ... ~xd4 sition is very dubious) 29. ~f4 CLJb7 White
24.CLJxf5 ~xf2+ (ίη case of24 ... ~xb2 the so- would still have to demonstrate his com-
lution is 25.J::td1 ~xf2+ 26.~h1, and Black pensation for the sacrificed material.
is unable to defend the king and the knight 28. ~dl CLJb7 29.b4!
at the same time) 25.'it>h1 ~xb2 Black's White is not going to expose the b-pawn
greediness would be punished severely - once more.
White would develop an irresistible attack 29...1:txd5
by 26 ..ι::ί.f1 CLJd2 27.CLJh6+ ~h8 (27 ... ~g7 The less men are there οη the board,
28.ktxf7+! .ι::ί.χf7 29.~g5+ ~f8 30.~g8+) the less is the chance to blunder some-
28.CLJxf7+ .ι::ί.χf7 29 ..ι::ί.Χf7 ~c1+ 30.nf1 thing.lfBlack wished and had enough time
24.CLJxf5 CLJd6 25.CLJe3?! he might keep up the strain, for example,
It is evident that White needs to keep by 29 ... ~f6.
his knights alive, but he seems to be eager 30:~xd5 CLJd8 31.~d6 CLJe6 32.~xa6
to sacrifice. After 25.CLJh6+!? 'it>g7 26.CLJg4 CLJd4
~g6 (26 ... tH5 27.~h6+ ~h8 28.CLJe3) White got two pawns against exchange,
27.~e5+ [6 28.~e2 he would have a suffi- but, at the same time, Black's activated his
cient compensation and certain initiative. pieces.
25 •.. ~xd4 26.1:tdl ~g7 33.h4 ί5 34.CLJd5CLJe2+ 35.~f1 ί4!
Black did not venture to take the pawn Black continues the combination he has
by 26 ... ~xb2!?, and perhaps this was a mis- started with the previous move, trying to
take. After 27. ~c5 ~f6 (there is ηο get the white king out from his safe resi-
27 ... CLJc8? because of 28 ..Mxd8 .ί::!.Χd8 29. dence.
~g5+ with a victory) 28.CLJd5 ~e5 29.f4 36.~xe2 fxg3
~e6 (ίη case of 29 ... ~e2? the solution is M.Gurevich could have drawn the game
now by 36 ... t'i'e5+ 37.~d3 (ίη case of37.'it>f1 t'i'g4 13.l:Hel ..td7 14 ...te4t Aronson -
fxg3 38.f.3 t'i'd4 White's king has great prob- Hanov, USSR 1957
lems) 37 ... f.3 38 ...txf.3 .s:xf.3+ 39.l2Je3 .!:!.xf2 8.c4
40.t'i'c8+ Φg7, and the black king has ηο This move deserves very seήοus atten-
place to hide away from checks. tion, it looks like a refutation ofthe varia-
37.t'i'd6! tion. Also there is an interesting opportu-
White wants to engage his queen ίη the nity of 8.g3 b5 9 ...tg2 ..tb7 10. t'i'e2 ..td5
play as soon as possible. Ιη case of an ίη 11.l2Jc3 c612.l2Jxd5 (12.0-0-0 l2Jd7 13.ΦbΙ
cautious 37.fxg3? Black had 37 ... t'i'g4+ l2Jb6 14.1:ιheΙ t'i'c7 15.l2Jh4 h5 16.f4 f5
38.~d3 (the same after 38.'it>e3 l::!:e8+ 17.l2Jf.3 0-0-0 18.l2Je5t Leko - Morozevich,
39.Φf2 t'i'd4+) 38 ... t'i'c4+ 39.Φe31;Ιe8+ Frankfurt 1999) 12 ... cxd5 13.c3l2Jc6 14.a4
40.Φf2 t'i'd4+ 41.~Ω t'i'dl+ 42.Φf2 t'i'el+ ο-ο 15.0-0 t'i'b6 16.b4 ktfc8 17.!Hdlt Lutz
43.~f.3 t'i'e2+ 44.Φf4 t'i'f2+, thus trapping - Morozevich, Frankfurt 1999, but less ag-
the white king into a mating net. gressive.
37... t'i'b2+? 8 ...f5
Black made a bad choice. White was Of course, 8 ... b6 just loses time. 8 ...
ready for 37 ... t'i'g4+?, and after 38.~d3 ..tb4+ 9.l2Jc3 ..txc3+ 10.bxc3 b6 11 ...td3
t'i'c4+ 39. ~e3 kte8+ he would win by gives a stable initiative to White.
40.l2Je7, but after 37 ... ,Uxf2+! 38.~d3 .!:!.xg2 9.l2Jc3 ..tf6
he would have to go for a perpetual check Obviously better than 9 ... c5 10.d5 ..tf6
himselfby 39.t'i'd8+ t'i'g8 40.t'i'f6+ 11.t'i'c2! e512.0-0-0 ο-ο 13.'~Jd2 ..tg714.f.3
38.Φd3 ':xf2 39.t'i'b8+ Φg7 40.t'i'xg3+ t'i'f6 15 ...td3 b5 (Wang ΖίΙί - Dreev, China
Φh8 41.t'i'b8+ Φg7 42.t'i'c7+ ~ίB 1999) 16 ..s:hf1! with the idea of g4. White
There was ηο 42 ... ~h8 because of is more active owing to the great position
43.t'i'd8+ Φg7 44.t'i'g5+, as well as 42 ... Φh6 ofhis queen οη c2.
because of 43. t'i'd6+. 10.t'i'd2 c5?!
43.t'i'e7+ Φg8 44.t'i'g5+ Φh8 Α strange option of 10 ... 0-0 11.0-0-0
If 44 ... φαι, then 45 ...te4. b5!? 12.1Igl! ..tb7 gives the play to Black,
45 ...te4 t'i'c2+ 46.Wd4 t'i'd2+ 47.~c5 but after 13.d5 to be followed by g4 White's
t'i'xg5 48.hxg5l:rxa2 49.Φχb5 ne2 50.l2Jc3 chances are still preferable .
.a:e3 51.~c4 .s:g3 52.b5 .s:xg5 53.b6 1-0 11.d50-O 12.0-0-0 e5
What else can Black do? 12 ... exd5?!
73 C 11 13.l2Jxd5±; 12 ... b5 13.dxe6 t'i'xd2+ 14.'uxd2
Shirov - Topalov fxe6? 15.cxb5±; 14 ... ..txe6t
Round 3 19.05
Notes by L. Yudαsin
Α great game, very typical of Shirov.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.l2Jc3 ctJf6 4 ...tg5 dxe4
5.ctJxe4 ..te7 6 ...txf6 gxf6
Also the unpopular 6 ... ..tf6 is interest-
ing .
. 7.l2Jf3 a6
7 ... c6?! 8. t'i'd2 f5 9.l2Jg3 b6 10 ...tc4l2Jd7
11.0-0-0 ..tb7 12.'uhel l2Jf6 13.Φb1 t'i'c7
14.ctJe5± Kozma - Fichtl, Prague 1953.
There is ηο logic ίη 7 ... t'i'd5?! 8 ...td3 ctJd7 13.h4!
9.0-0 l2Jf8 10.c4 ~h5 l1.~d2 ~g8 12.tΔg3 An excellent move, preparing a kingside
Bosnα 131
attack and securing the g5-square for 23.CL:Jxg6+ ι;t>g8 24 ...Itc4+-) still allowed to
White's pieces. It looks like the variation maintain some tension. 80, White would
needs a serious revision. gain nothing by 21.CL:Jf6+ ..Itxf6 22.~xf6
13 ...b5 ~xb5 23.~xh6 ~c4+ 24.'it>d2 ~fd8 25.~h7+
An active 13 ... e4?! only creates targets ~f8=, but the simple 21 ...Itxc6 would let
ίη Black's camp: 14.CL:Jg5 b5 (14 ... ~d6 him win very soon: 21 ... ..Itxb2+ (21 ... ~xa2
15.f3±) Now there is ηο 15.d6? ..Itd4! 22.CL:Je7+ 'it>h8 23.CL:Jxf7+ ~xf7 24.CL:Jg6+ ~g8
16.~f4? ~f617.1::!:h3 ..Ite5 (17 ... !ld8? 18.l::tg3 25 ...Itxb7 ~c4 26.'it>d2+-) 22.ι;t>xb2(22.ι;t>c2?
ι;t>h8 19.~xd4 cxd4 20.CL:Jxf7+-; 17 ... ..Ite6 ~xa2 23.CL:Je7+ ι;t>g7 24.CL:Jxf5+ 'it>g8 25.
18.Ug3 ι;t>h8 19.1!xd4! cxd4 20.CL:Jgxe4 ~d8 CL:Jxh6+ ι;t>g7 26 ...Itd5 Sιxd5 27.CL:Jf5+ ι;t>g8
21.~h6 ~g8 22.CL:Jf6+-) 18.~d2oo; and 15.f3! 28.~xd5 c4=) 22 ... ~xa2+ 23.'it>c1 ~c4+
destroys the centre and opens υρ files for 24.~d21ϊa2+ 25.ι;t>e3 ~e2+ 26.'it>f4+-
future attack. 19.CL:Je7+! ι;t>h8 20.!lh3!
14.d6!? 20.b4!? is another solution, driving the
Also 14.~h6 ..Itg7 15.~h5 is good; as knight away from the centre, for example:
well as 14.cxb5!? axb5 15 ...Itxb5 e4 16.CL:Jg5 20 ... f6, and now White wins both by
~d6 (16 ... ~a5 17 .1::!:h3!~) 17 ...Itc4;!; or even
21.bxc5 ~a5 22.~xd4 (22.CL:Jf7+ !ιxf7
23.~xd4 ..Ith6+ 24.'it>b2 24 ... ~M+=; 24.ι;t>d1
17.f3!?
~a4 25.ι;t>e1 ~a5=) 22 ... fxg5 23.~d2 ..Itc3±
14... CL:Jc6?
24.~c2 z::ι.ab8 25.1ϊh3 e3! 26.~d3 (26.1ϊχe3??
Now the play develops ίη a forced way.
~a3+ 27.<t>b1 Sιe4 28.Sιd3 bxc4-+) 26 ...
Bad was 14 ... CL:Jd7 15.CL:Jd5±. The best pos-
..Itd2+ 27.l::txd2! exd2+ 28.~xd2 ~xd2+
sibility for Black was 14 ... ..Itb7! 15. ~h6 ..Itg7
29.'it>xd2 llf7 30.1ϊe3 ~d8 31.c6 Sιxc6
16.~h5 ~d7 (16 ... ~f6!? 17.cxb5 CL:Jd7fZ),
32.CL:Jxc6 ~fxd7+ 33.<t>c3+- and by the less
even though White's advantage after complicated 21.CL:Je6! CL:Jxe6 22. ~xe6+- with
17.cxb5± was obvious. the idea of CL:Jf5 and h5.
15.d7! 20 ...f4
Cutting Black's position ίη two halves 20 ... h6 21.b4 f6 22.CL:Je6 CL:Jxe6 23.
and penetrating via d6 and d5. ~xe6+-; 20 ... ~a5 21. ~xc5 ~xa2 22.1ϊΧd4
15 .....Itb7 ~a1+ 23.ι;t>c2 ~xf124.~xf5+-
15 ... e416.dxc8~ ~xd2+ 17.~xd21::!:fxc8 21.~bl!
18.CL:Jd5+- From this moment Black has ηο more
16.~d6! e4 chances for a cour.terplay.
There was ηο use of 16 ... ..Ite7 17. ~h6 f6 21 •.. b4
18.~h3 (18.cxb5!? is sharper: 18 ... axb5 19. It's always bad to block υρ bishops .
..Itxb5 CL:Jd4 20.1:th3~) 18 ... 1ϊf7 19.1ϊg3+ ι;t>h8 21 ... f6 22.CL:Je6 CL:Je6 23. ~e6 l:1b8 24.CL:Jf5+-.
20. ~h5 1ϊf8 21. ~xf5+-. Bad is 16 ... ~e7 Mter 21 ... h6 22.b4 e3 23.bxc5 e2 24 ...Itxe2
17.~c7! 1ϊab8 18.CL:Jd5 ~d8 19.~d6 ..Itg7 CL:Jxe2 the solution was 25.c6!+-
20.1ϊh3t (also 20.g4 fxg4 21.CL:Jg5~ with the
idea ofCL:Je4-f6(c5), ..Itd3 ίη 8hirov's style is
possible), but White might tangle ίη the
variation 20 ... e4 2U:lg3 ~h8 22.CL:Jg5 h6°o.
17.CL:Jd5! ..Itg7
Νο 17 ... ..Itxb2+ 18.ι;t>xb2 exf3 19.9xf3
bxc4 20 ..txc4+-
18.CL:Jg5 CL:Jd4?!
The last mistake. 18 ... h6! 19.cxb5 axb5
20 ...Itxb5, and now 20 ... ~a5! (Black loses
after 20 ... CL:Jd4 21.CL:Je7+ ι;t>h8 22. ~g6!! fxg6
22 ..1ιe2! Well, ίη the game Hodgson - Jussupow,

Α beautifu1 trick of calling ίη 1ast re- Ti1burg 1993, B1ack really got a convenient
serves via a square which seemed inacces- p1ay after 14.CLJd2CLJc5 15.~c2 ~d7.
sib1e. Topa1ov's king οη h8 has very feeb1e 14 ..1ιa3
defence. Since there is ηο job οη the d8-h4 di-
22 .•. f3 agona1, White's dark-squared bishop comes
The f7 -pawn can't move, and the queen to the adjacent a3-f8 diagonal. Also 14.CLJd2
shou1d not be allowed to come to f5: was tested ίη this position before.
22 ... CLJxe2 23.~xc5 f5 24.CLJe6 ~b8 25.d8~ 14....a:e8 15.1:tfcl
1:txd8 26.1:txd8+ ~xd8 27 .CLJxd8 ~xd8 Α new move. Usually White p1ays here
28.~c7 .a:d1+ 29.'it>c2 .ί:Ic1+ 30.Φd2+-. The 15.CLJd2.
variation 23 ... CLJd4 24 ..a:xd4 .1ιχd4 25. ~f5 15 ... g5?!
'it>g7 26.CLJg8!!+- is simp1e and particu1ar1y Whi1e the position stays c1osed, defects
e1egant, but there are other winning 1ines of this advance are imperceptib1e. But as
too. 22 ... e3 a1so 10ses after: 23 ..1ιh5 [6 soon as it opens up, White will be able to
24.CLJe6 CLJxe6 25. ~xe6 exf2, and now, for make use of the ho1es ίη B1ack's pawn
examp1e, 26 . ..tf3 1:tb8 27 . .1ιχb7 .a:xb7 chain. Better was 15 ... Φh7 or 15 ... 1:tc8.
28 ..a:f3+- 16.e3 .1ιf5 17.CLJel .1ιe6 18.CLJc2 d5
23.gxf3 CLJxe2 An important move. 18 ... 1:tc8 was more
[23 ... exf3 24 ..1ιd3 ~a7 25.CLJxh7+- re1iab1e. After the move ίη the game
24. ~xc5 CLJf4 White's dark-squared bishop annihilates
24 ... f5 25.CLJe6+- one of the important defenders of the d5-
25.~f5CLJg6 26.h5! t;[xe7 27.hxg6 1-0 square.
27 ... h6 28.gxf7+-; 27 ... ~f6 28.~xh7+ 19..1ιχe7 .ί:txe7
'it>g8 29.gxf7+ I:txf7 30.d8~+ I:txd8 31.
1:txd8+ ~xd8 32. ~xΠ#
Strict1y speaking, the game had been
won at home, by the correct estimation of
the variation with 8.c4.
74 Α26
Bareev - Bacrot
Round 4 20.05
1.c4 e5 2.CLJc3 CLJf6 3.CLJf3 CLJc6 4.g3 g6

5 ..1ιg2 .1ιg7 6. ο-ο ο-ο 7.d3 d6 8 ..a:bl a5 20.CLJb4!
9.a3 h6 Α brave move, connected with a tem-
The variation of the Eng1ish Opening, porary pawn sacrifice. Α timid continua-
chosen by the opponents, suggests a slow tion 1ike 20.bxc6 bxc6 21.CLJb4 wou1d en-
deve10pment of events. With his 1ast move counter a refutation of21 ... 1::tb7.
B1ack wants to prevent binding of the f6- 20 ..• dxc4 21.dxc4 cxb5 22.CLJbd5
knight ίη order to maintain firm contro1 Better than 22.CLJxb5, probab1y to be fo1-
over the strategically important d5-square. 10wed by 22 ... 1:td7.
10.b4 axb4 11.axb4 .1ιe6 12.b5 CLJe7 22 ... ..txd5
13.~b3 c6 B1ack tries to get rid ofWhite's centra1-
E.Bareev considers 13 ... CLJd7! to be the ized knight as soon as possib1e. He cer-
most unpleasant continuation for White. tainly did not want to suffer ίη case of
Bosnα 133
22 ... ~d7 23:~xb5 ~a5 24:~b4 lbb4 9.lιe2 ο-ο 10.lbc3 lιf5
23.lbxd5lbxd5 24.cxd5 e4? The played Petroff Defense is consid-
Black opens up the long diagonal for his ered to be one of the most reliable begin-
bishop, but the price he pays for it is per- nings against 1.e2-e4. However, recently
haps too high as he weakens his pawn White has got some achievements ίη this
struggle even more. After 24 ... t:fd6 25. field. For example, at the event ίη Indone-
t:fxb5 f5 26.e4 White would maintain a sia (finished ίη May, 2000) the other popu-
strong pressure οη light squares. Perhaps lar line 10 ... lιe6 11.lbe5 f6 12.lbf3 c5
the apparently ugly move 24 ... ~a5!? was 13.~e3 Mc8 14.dxc5 lιxc5 was met by
the best possible decision with the idea to 15.i.xc5! ~xc5 16.t:fb3 a5 17.~ad1, and
simplify the position by an exchange ofpair White succeeded to get the advantage ίη
ofrooks. the game Κhalifman - Karpov, Bali 2000.
25 ..1:!:c5 ~c8 The fresh line 10 ... b6 was also successfully
Now the move 25 ... .1:!:c8 is already late parried after 11.a3 lbxc3 12.lιxc3 lbc6
because of 26.t:fc2!, and if 26 ... i.f8, then 13.cxd5 t:fxd5 14.Me1 i.b7 15.i.d3 ~ae8
White wins by 27.~c8 ~a2 28.~xd8 ~xc2 16.c4 t:fd8 17.d5, Kasparov - H.Olafsson,
29.d6 Me5 30.~d1. Kopavogur 2000.
26.MXb5 Me5 11.a3lbxc3 12.lιxc3lbc6 13.Mel
Black's position is already very hard. The other possibility is 13.cxd5 t:fxd5
80, after 26 ... ~c3 27. t:fa4!? (E.Bareev rec- 14.c4. Let me remind that a year ago at
ommended after the game another worthy Bosna 8uper - 1999 A.Morozevich defeated
line: 27. t:fb4 f5 28.d6 ~f7 29.g4!) 27 ... f5 A.8hirov with this line.
28.MXb7 Mxb7 29.~xb7 t:fxd5 White wins 13 ... lιf6 14.lιf4 lbe7?!
by 30.t:fa8+ lιf8 31 ..1:!:g7+!, trapping the This is a new but unsuccessful way.
queen. Here the prospective Kasparov's opponent
27.~dl Mc7 28.lιh3 t:ff6 at the match ίη Autumn 2000, VΚramnik,
28 ... lιf8 was ofno use because of29.d6!, used 14 ... Mc8 (Monaco 1999). This position
but after 28 ... t:fd6 29.Itxb7 ~xb7 30. t:fxb7 also appeared ίη I.80kolov's games, for ίη
the game could have lasted much longer. stance, 14 ... lba5 15.cxd5 t:fxd5 16.lιf1 b6
29.d6! 17.lbe5, Anand - Ι 80kolov, Kopavogur
The d-pawn decides. 2000 and White succeeded to win that
29 ... ~xb5 30. t:fxb5 ~c2 31.lιf5 lιf8 game.
32.d7 lιe7 33.d81:!.+ lιxd8 34.t:fe8+ rJ;g7 15.t:fb3 b6 16.cxd5lbxd5
35.MXd8 ~cl+ There was not other move. After
There is ηο 35 ... t:fxf5 because of 36. 16 ... t:fxd517.lιc4 t:fd818.lbe5 Black would
t:fh8+ rJ;g6 37.Md6+ f6 (after 37 ... rJ;h5 run into problems with the f7-square.
38. t:fxh6+ rJ;g4 39.h3+ rJ;f3 40. t:fh5+ White 17.i.e5!
mates) 38.t:fg8+ rJ;h5 39.t:ff7+ cJtg4 (after Α strong move, interrupting the coor-
39 ... t:fg6 40.g4+ White is a queen up) dination of Black's pieces.
40.h3+, and Black may resign. 17... i.g4?
36.rJ;g2 t:fxf5 37.~f8 rJ;g6 38.Md6 1-0. Black had a very difficult choice here
and his mistake is quite understandable.
75 C42 The immediate bishop's retreat 17 ... i.e7
Kasparov - Sokolov would be strongly met by 18.~5. Ιη case
Round 5 21.05 of the exchange 17 ... ~xe5 Black would
come to the unpleasant ending after
l.e4 e5 2.lbf3 lbf6 3.lbxe5 d6 4.lbf3 18.lbxe5 t:fd6 19.1ιf3 ~ad8 20.lιxd5 t:fxd5
lbxe4 5.d4 d5 6.SΙd3 ~e7 7. ο-ο lbc6 8.c4 21. t:fxd5 Mxd5 22.lbc6. Ιη case ofthe rela-
tively more reliable 17 ... c6 18.c4 ctJc7 Black ctJe7 13.~b3 c6 14.iιa3 Black ran into cer-
probably would not like 19.1:tad1 ctJe6 tain troubles. Perhaps, that made the
20. ~e3 with a rather disturbing threat of French grandmaster use the other ap-
the break ίη center d4-d5. proved line.
18.l:Iadl iιe7 19.h3 iιh5 10.iιg5
The exchange 19 ... iιxf3? was not ac- White is going to eliminate one of the
ceptable for Black. After 20.iιxf3 it would main defenders of the squares d5 and e4
not be possible to keep the knight ίη cen- to enforce the pressure along the diagonal
tre with the move 20 ... c6 because of21.c4, a8-h1
with Black's hopeless position. 10 ... h6 11.iιxf6 iιxf6 12.b4 axb4
13.axb4 iιg7 14.b5 ctJe7
The retreat to the center - 14 ... ctJd4
would give Black certain problems after
15.ctJxd4 exd4 16.ctJd5 since it would be υη
easy to get rid ofthe d5-knight smoothly.
15.~b3
The natural move 15.ctJd2 is out offash-
ίοη because of 15 ... e4! 16.~c2 (16.ctJcxe4?
f5) 16 ... e3! 17.fxe3 ctJf5, and Black had a
splendid play Vaganian - Lautier, Manila
1990.
15 ... c6
20.g4! Black is intending to build a barrier οη
This resolute move νirtually terminates the diagonal a8-h1 against White's bishop
the game ίη White's favor. as soon as possible.
20 ... iιg6 21.iιg3 ctJf6 16.ctJd2 iιe617.J:tfcl d5 18.~b4
It is hard to give Black a good advice. Ιη case of an immediate pawns' ex-
Mter 21 ... c6 22.ctJe5 !tc8 23.iιa6 he would change 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.cxd5 cxd5 White
miss the exchange. would have ηο advantage as it was shown
22.ctJe5 ctJe4 ίη the game Bischoff - Smejkal, Munich
There was ηο escape after 22 .. .iιe4 1988. But 20.~c2!? deserved attention,
23.iιc4 iιd5 because of24.g5 iιxc4 25.~xc4 leading immediately to the position that
ctJd5 26.ctJc6 ~d7 27.~xd5!, and White happened ίη the game later οη.
would win the piece. 18 ... iιf8
23.iιf3 ctJxg3 24.ctJc6 ~d6 25.ctJxe7+ Α good waiting move. Black continues
Φh8 26.iιxa8 1-0 keeping the tension ίη the centre. Earlier
18 ... dxc4 was tried, and after 19.bxc6 bxc6
20.ctJxc4 ctJd5 21.ctJxd5 cxd5 22.ctJb6 ~b8
76 Α26
23.~c5 White managed to get a bit more
Gurevich - Bacrot pleasant play ίη the game J.Hickl -
Round 6 23.05 S.Κindermann, Altenkirchen 1999.
19.~b2 iιg7 20.~c2 ι;,i)h7
l.c4 e52.ctJc3 ctJf6 3.ctJf3 ctJc6 4.g3 g6 The position is equal and Black is still
5.iιg2 iιg7 6. ο-ο ο-ο 7.d3 d6 8.Mbl a5 waiting, virtually staying motionless. Yet
9.a3 Me8 his last move has uncovered a bit the f7-
Ιη Round 4 ίη the game Bareev - pawn f7 to give the opponent a cause to
Bacrot, Sarajevo 2000, 9 ... h6 was played, start the actions. Black did not want to
but after 10.b4 axb4 11.axb4 iιe6 12.b5 close the center ,vith 20 ... d4 because of
Bosnα 135
2l.lLJce4 and White's knight was making move 28 ... tιJd5! and after 29.J::!.cxd5 ~e7 he
its way to the c5-square, and ίη case of would have real chances to balance the
20 ... f5!? (with an idea of e5-e4) this line position gradually.
could sharpen the play 21.e4 fxe4 22.dxe4 26.z:txb7 I:Ϊ.c8
d4 23.tΔa4 d3 24. ~b3. The two terrible threats l::tb7-d7 and
J::lb7xf7 could not be parried simulta-
neously. Mter 26 ... tιJd4 27.~c4 the both
threats are actual and ίη case 26 ... ~f6
27.J..d5 tΔd6 28.liJe4 liJxe4 29.~xe4 1:f8
30.1::rc6 Black would also come to the di-
saster.
27.l!xf7 tΔd4?!
Ιη case of 27 ... J::le7 White had to play
28.l!xf5 (ίη case of28.~xe7?! ~xe7 it turns
out that it is not so easy for White to get
rid of an unpleasant ρίη along the c-file)
28 ... gxf5 (after 28 ... l1ec7? 29.~f3 l1xc5
21.tΔb3!
30.~xc5 ~xc5 31 ..'g.xc5 Black's position is
Α brave move. White sacrifices a pawn
hopeless) 29.~xf5+ Φh8 30.lιe4 ~g8 and
to send his knight to c5. White got two pawns for an exchange. Still,
21 ... dxc4 this development of events was better than
The extra pawn is worth taking. If the one would happen ίη the game.
Black tried to cover c5 with 21 ... ~d6, then 28.~a2 I:Ϊ.e7
after 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.cxd5 cxd5 24.tΔb5 If 28 ... ~d6 then there is a strong
White's knights would torture Black's 29. ~a7! l!g8 30.J..f1 with an idea of e2-e3 ..
queenside. 29.l!xe7 ~xe7 30.tΔd3 J::!.xcl 31.tΔxcl
22.dxc4 lιxc4 23.tιJc5 cxb5 e4
Black is trying to cause further simpli- Black is trying to disclose the diagonal
fications. After 23 ... ~c7 24.bxc6 bxc6 al-h8 for his bishop.
25.~b7 ~a5 26.tΔ3e4 Black would have 32. ~bl e3 33.f4
much troubles to eliminate the activity of Of course, White does not need to ex-
White's pieces. Another opportunity was change. The e3-pawn will become a source
23 ... b6, but after 24.tιJ5a4 iιd5 (ίη case of ofBlack's troubles.
24 ... tΔf5 there is a very strong 25.lιxc6! 33 ... ~c7 34.c,t>f1
tΔd4 26. ~dl showed by M.Gurevich and White is not going to miss the stroke
ίη case of exchange οη c6 the passed c-pawn 34 ... ~xcl! followed by 35 ... tΔxe2+
would bring Black a lot of problems ίη fu- 34... Wh8
ture) 25.l1dl ~b8 26.bxc6 lιxg2 27.Wxg2 Black gets his king out of harm, al-
tιJxc6 28.tΔxb6 tΔd4 29. ~e4 White would though he could have demanded here an
also keep his slight initiative. immediate exchange of the queens -
24.tΔxb5 iιxb5 25.gxb5 tΔf5? 34 ... ~c2.
After this move Black unexpectedly 35.tΔd3
misses a pawn. Preferable would be Now White could have prevented the
25 ... Ϊta7. Ιη case of 26.tΔxb7 (any ex- further simplifications with 35 ...te4!. The
changes are ίη Black's favour, and 25 ..ί:tdl opposite-coloured bishops οη the boardjust
~c7 26.i:td7 is well met by 26 ... Iιal+) promote the attack against Black's king.
26 ... ~d7 Black can parry 27 ..I:c5 .ί:Ixb7 We must note that ίη this moment White
28.I:Ϊ.dl with the important intermediate was already pressed for time.
35.. :~c2 36:~xc2lbxc2 B1ack cou1d temporari1y prevent

B1ack makes a safe 1ife for his king with White's king coming to the centre with
the exchange of the queens. Το reach the 46 ... g4 4 7 .~e6lbh6, but after 48.lbd6! <t>g7
full happiness he ought to exchange the 49.lbf5+ he 10st the g4-pawn inevitab1y.
knights, but White is not going to permit 47.~e6lbe7
it. Mter 47 ... <;.i;f6 48 ...Itxf5 <;.i;xf5 49.lbd6
37 ...Ite4 g5 38lbc5lbd4 39.fxg5 hxg5 (49.<t>f3 wou1d be immature ίη view of
40 ...Itbl..1tf8?! 49 ... g4+) 49 ... <t>e5 50.lbb5 ..Itc5 51.<t>f3
Here B1ack does not find right p1aces White wou1d capture the e3-pawn.
for his pieces. The idea1 arrangement for 48.<;.i;f3 <;.i;f6 49.<;.i;e4 .ta1 50...Itd7 ~c3
B1ack wou1d be the position of his knight 51.lbxe3
οη e5 and bishop οη d4. Still, it wou1d be The aim has been achieved.
not so easy to reach since the g5-pawn 51 ... ..Ital 52 . ..Ita4 ..Itb2 53.lbc4 ..Ita1
cou1d be missed οη the way to that arrange- 54.lbb6 ~b2 55.<t>f3 j,d4 56.lbd7 <t>f5
ment. B1ack cou1d try to app1y this idea 57 .~c2 <t>e6 58.lbf8 1-0
with 40 ... lbc6 41 . ..Itf5 lbe5 (41 ... ~d4? The 10ss ofthe third pawn is inevitab1e
42.lbe4) 42.'it>g2 3ιf8, to meet 43.lbe4 or for him.
43.lbe6 by 43 ... ..Ite7, with the following
transfer ofhis king to the g5-pawn.
41:lbd7 ..Itg7 42 ...Ite4 lbb343 ...Itd5lbd4 77 Β12
Ιη case B1ack did not 1et White's king Shirov - Bareev
to the e3-pawn with 43 ... lbd2+ 44.<t>g2 Round 7 24.05
..Itd4, he wou1d have great prob1ems with
the g5-pawn after 45.'it>h3 'it>g7 46.<;.i;g4 'it>h6 l.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 ..Itf5 4.c3 e6 5 ...Ite3
47.lbf8 ~b6 6.~b3 h5
44.lbb6 The opponents are p1aying rather a
smooth line ίη the Caro-Kann. With his
1ast move B1ack is trying to conquer some
space at the kingside. As a ru1e, decisions
of such kind are taken 1ater οη, after
White's advance f2-f4. It shou1d be men-
tioned that two years ago at Russia cham-
pionship E.Bareev preferred 6 ... lbd7.
Mter 7.lbd2 lbe7 8.f4 :ϊ.c8 9.lbgf3 c5 10.
dxc5 lbxc5 11. ~xb6 axb6 12.3ιb5+ and
White managed to get an advantage Aseev
- Bareev, St.Petersburg 1998. A.Shirov
recently was to p1ay against the simi1ar
44 ...lbf5? 1ine with 6 .. .lbe7 at his successfu1 tourna-
Black has to 1eave the d4-square for his ment, Amber 2000. Mter 7.lbd2 ..Itg6 8.f4
bishop ίη view of the threat lbb6-c4, but lbd7 9.lbgf3 a5 10. ~xb6 lbxb6 11.a4 lbf5
among severa1 possible retreats he has 12 ...Itf2 h5 13.g3 CZ,d7 14 ..te2 f6, with mu-
chosen not the best for the knight. Mter tua1 chances, Shirov - Anand, Monaco
44 ... lbb5 45.lbc4 ..Itd4 White's king cou1d 2000.
not reach the e3-pawn so easi1y. A1so 7.lbd2lbh6
44 ... ..Itb4 is possible with the follσιwing The position after 7.lbd2 was p1ayed ίη
king's approaching to the g5-pawn. practice, but B1ack has made a new move.
45.lbc4 .td4 46.'ιtig2 'ιtig7 8 ..te2 h4
Bosnα 137
Α forced move. Ιη case of 8 .. .lιg6 there

is an unpleasant 9.liJh3!.
9.h3 lιe7 10.liJgf3 liJd7 11. ο-ο lιg6
12.lιg5
Negative consequences of an early
prophylaxis with h7-h5 are now being
sound.
12...liJf5
The ending after 12 .. .'§'xb3 13.axb3
would be a concession οη the part of
Black's, but his position ίη that case would
be as passive as solid. 21.c4!
13.lιxe7 liJxe7 14:§'a3! Ν ot resigning himself to the equalizing
Οη the previous move Black had his last of the game after 2U:tcc1 '§'d8 22.liJgf3
opportunity to exchange the queens. His (22.liJdf3? 1::th5) 22 ... '§'e7 A.Shirov begins
refusal permits White to struggle ίη the interesting complications. White sacήfices
middle game. Also, it is important that the pawnjust to open up the play.Besides,
Black's rooks are disconnected and the cas- Black has a opportunity to take it with a
tling is hardly possible. While the position tempo. Still, White's plan should be cor-
is closed the bad cooperation of Black's rect for at least 99% thanks to the ugly
pieces is not so appreciable, but it can be- position ofBlack's a7-rook.
come the decisive matter if the play dis- 21 ... liJxd4
closes. Mter the exchange ofthe light-coloured
14...liJf5 bishops 21 ... '§'b4 doesn't work because of
Ιη case of 14 ... c5 Α. Shirov was going 22.'§'d3, but here an eager move 22 ... dxc4
to continue 15.1:tac11ike ίη the game. 23.1:txc4 '§'xb2 would be easily refuted with
15.1:tacl a5 24.d5!. The other capture of the pawn -
Black is compelled to stay motionless. 21 ... '§'xd4 would result ίη opening of the
The last move is intended to prevent c3-c4 play and White's strongest attack after
indirectly. An immediate 15 ... c5 could be 22.liJdf3 '§'b6 23.cxd5 exd5 24.e6
followed by 16.c4!. 22.~ccl1::th5
16.1::tfelliJe7 17.lιdl Black's pieces are misplaced οη the di-
The essence ofthe prophylaxis with a7- agonal a7 -gl and it is not easy to take them
a5 would be understandable ίη case of an away luckily from this position. For ex-
immediate 17 .c4. Then Black would have ample, 22 ... '§'b4 would be strongly met
17 ... '§'b4. However, instead ofthe last move with White's queen transfer to the kingside
ίη the game, ίη A.Shirov's ορίηίοη 17.lιf1 by 23.'§'e3 c5 24.a3 '§'b6 25.'§'f4. After
was stronger with an idea ofb2-b3 and c3- 22 ... liJd7 or 22 ... liJf5 White would answer
c4. 23.cxd5 exd5 24.e6. The defensive move
17 ...1:ta7 22 ... 1::ta6 would permit White to develop the
Since any Black's action is harmful for decisive attack by 23. '§'d31::th5 24.c5 '§'xb2
him (for instance ίη case 17 ... c5? 18.lιa4 (after 24 ... '§'d8 it is possible to play
liJc6 19.c4 Black will have troubles), Black 25.liJxf7) 25.1::tb1 '§'c2 26. '§'xd4 1::txg5
is waiting for White's activity. 27.1:txb7 '§'g6 28.liJe4.
18.lιc2 23. '§' e3 liJe2?!
18.b3!? was an alternative to the move Black is trying to get rid of the active
ίη the game. White's g5-knight quickly. Mter 23 ... Ba6
18 ... liJf8 19.1iJg5 lιxc2 20.1::txc2 liJf5 24.'§'f4 liJf5 25.cxd5 White would develop
138 $uper Tournαments 2000
the initiative. Ιη case of23 .. .'~Jg6 (not per- despite he is a piece down.
mitting the queen to f4) it would be pos- 34.'§xb61:Ic7 35 ..ί:Iecl e5
. sible 24.cxd5 exd5 25.tbxf7! <;i;xf7 26.e6+ 35 ... '§xg7 is prohibited because of
<;i;g8 27. tbb3, taking back the sacrificed 36.~xc6.
piece. Mter 23 ... tbd7 24.cxd5 cxd5 (same 36.tbh5?!
positions would arise in case of 24 ... tbf5 White does not look for some easy ways.
25. t:'lf4) 25 ..1::tc8 <;i;e7 26. t:'lf4 tbf5 Black After 36.tbf5! followed by 37.tbxh4 he
should take into consideration with the would get an extra pawn ίη the luxurious
idea to advance 28.g4!, for instance position. After the move ίη the game
27 ... t:'lxb2? 28.g4! Ιη case of 27 ... t:'ld4, White's knight will appear into the υη
White would play just 28"~c1 with a good pleasant company of the Black's pieces.
compensation for the pawn. Still, Black The explanation of it is that in this mo-
should have ventured οη 23 ... tbd7 because ment both the opponents were short of
after the move ίη the game White could time.
give him serious troubles by means of a 36... J:th6 37.b4 axb4 38.axb4 t:'lg5
forced line. The knight is tabooed: 38 ... .ί:Ixh5 39.
24. ~xe2 .uxg5 25.tbf3 ~h5 26.cxd5 ~xc6.
exd527.e6?! 39.b5 c5
27.tbd4! was much stronger. Ιη this case
after 27 ... g6 (27 ... ~g5 is not better due to
28. '§d2 ~h5 29.e6) 28. t:'lg4 Ϊta8 29.e6 Black
could hardly escape a quick defeat.
27 ...fxe6
Ιη case of27 ... tbxe6 28.tbd4 I:th6 29.t:'le5
Black would have to parry two unpleas-
ant threats: 30.tbf5 and 30.'§xg7.
28.tbd4 Uh6 29.tbf5 !:!.f6
After 29 ... :th 7, 30. t:'l e5 would be strong,
and if 29 ... .a:g6, then 30. t:'lh5 was good.
30.tbxg7+ ~d7
Ιη case of 30 ... <J;;;f7 White was going to 40.t:'la5!
continue the attack by means of 31.tbh5 40.t:'lb8?! t:'ld8!.
~f5 32.hϊc3. 40 ... tbe6?
31.tIc3 t:'lb4?! Being in a time trouble, E.Bareev
Ιη A.Shirov's ορίηίοη, this move is not makes a decisive mistake. Black could
accurate. 31 ... z:ra8 is stronger. make a threat of mate with 40 ... z:rg6!. Μ
32.t:'le3 b6 ter 41.g4 hxg3 (in case of 41 ... ~xh5 42 ..16
32 ... d4 would be met with 33 ..!:td1. J:lxg4+ 43.Φf1! White would have the deci-
33.a3! sive attack) 42.tbxg3 tbe6 43.b6 .!:tb7
Again White is ready to sacrifice his White's task would appear to be much
material. more difficult.
33 •.• t:'le7 41.b6 :rb742.~a6!
Mter 33 ... t:'lxb2 34.I:tb3 d4!? the play White is preparing the decisive blow
would become the exchange of blows - υροη Black's position trying to involve
35.~d1! (the queen must not leave e3 be- Black's king onto c6, under attack of all
cause of vulnerability of the f2-square) White's pieces, and the h5-night is of ηο
35 ... Φc8 36.I:txd4 t:'la1+ 37.<J;;;h2 1:[xg7 importance.
38.kιxb6 and White has the decisiνe attack 42 •.. tbd8
Bosnα 139
Mter 42 ... Φc6 White would reach his 20.gxf4.

aim with 43. ~a8 ~g6 (after 43 ... l!hh7 18.i..xe4 ~e6 19.i..xg5 f5 20.i..xd5?
White wou1d have a sufficient reply 44. ~c8 This is the case when the new move is
Φd6 45.1:!.xc5) 44.l!xc5 liJxc5 45.~c8 Φd6 worse than the old one.Frank1y speaking
46.~xc5 '.t>e6 47.~c6 Φf5 48.~c8 '.t>e4 (if it is a pity to give up the 1ight-co1oured
48 ... 1:!.e6, then 49.1:!.c6) 49. ~c2 Φd4 50.1:!.d1, bishop. The frequently tried move 20.SΙd3
and White is mating. looks more consistent. Ιn case of 20 ... f4
43.~xc5 l!hxb6 B1ack would be compelled to play the end-
If 43 ... '.t>e8, then 44.~a4+ Φf8 45.~a3 ing with two pawns compensating White
'.t>g8 46. ~b3! 1eads to a victory. for the exchange after 21. ~e4 ~xe4
44.1:!.xd5+ Φe7 22.i..xe4. Or perhaps M.Adams was going
Mter 44 ... Φe6 wins 45.~a2! Z1b2 (45 ... to try the recommendation of his compa-
~xc146.J:tdl) 46.nxe5+! Wxe5 47.f4+ ~xf4 triot J.Nunn: 20 ... h6! 21.i..d2 21 ... J:ta7 fo1-
48.~c5+. lowed by 1:!.g7 and f5-f4.
45.~a3+ Φπ 46.~f3+ '.t>g6 47.~c41-0 20 ... cxd5
White's rook will transfer to g4 with a B1ack takes the bishop with the pawn,
decisive effect. and it 100ks correctly since f5-f4 will gain
more effect when Black's queen is οη e6.
After 20 .. .'~xd5 2ι.tiJd2 21 ... f4?! White
78 C89 would reply 22. ~g4.
Topalov - Adams 21.liJd2
Round 8 25.05
1.e4 e5 2.liJf3liJc6 3.i..b5 a6 4 ...ta4liJf6

5. ο-ο i..e7 6.k'tel b5 7 •.1ιb3 ο-ο 8.c3
VTopalov demonstrates that he is ready
to start the theoretical dispute οη the
Marshall Attack, which is one ofthe sharp-
est variations ίn the Ruy Lopez.
8 ... d5
Adams accepts the challenge.
9.exd5 liJxd5 10.liJxe5 liJxe5 11.~xe5
c6 12.d4 i..d6 13.1::!.el ~h4 14.g3 ~h3
15.~e4 g5!
21 ... f4!
This move is well known and very It is impossib1e to linger. After 21 ...
strong. B1ack takes under his control the 1!ae8 21 ..1ιf4 White is οκ.
h4-square. English grandmaster tried 22.Jιxf4
15 ... i..b7?!, but after 16.~h4 ~e6 17.liJd2 White is going with the stream that will
f5 18.~h5! h6 19.1iJf3 Black had some bring him to a very difficult ending. The
troubles Leko - Adams, Dortmund 1999. attempt to resist to the fate with 22.g41:!.a7
16.~f3 (22 ... 1:!.ae81ooks here too smooth) 23.h31:!.g7
16.i..xg5? is bad because of16 ... ~f5, and 24.Jιh4 h5 25.g5 i..e7 wou1d 1ead to the 10ss
the rook with the bishop are attacked ofthe pawn.
16 ... .1ιί5 17.Jιc2 Jιxe4 22 ... i..xf4 23.gxf4 ~a7 24.ΦhΙ
B1ack simply takes the exchange. The M.Adams thinks that 24.Φf1 is more
ingenious move 17 ... ..tf4!? according to J persistent.
Nunn would lead to some White's superi- 24 ... 1:!.e7
ority after 18.liJd2 liJf6 19.1:!.e1 .1ιχc2 B1ack improves his contro1 over e-file.
After 24 ... .ί:laf7 25.1:tg1 + '>t>h8 26. ~e3 White This is the most natural way. Black is
would haνe been playing. going just to complete the deνelopment.
25.':gl+ '>t>h8 Three month before this game ίη Κramnik
Black's queen inνasion to e2 is threat- - Shiroν, Linares 2000 the other known
ening. moνe - 15 ... b5 - was tried. Mter 16.axb5
26.tbfl ~e4! tbb4+ 17.'it>c3 cxb5 18.l:td1 ~c5 19. ~e5
Here 26 ... ~e2 27.~g2 ~xb2 28.tbe3 tbd5+ 20 ..a:xd5 b4+ 21.'>t>b3 ~xd5 22.iιe2
would not be reasonable since White would Black had certain troubles.
get some counter play. But after the 16.~f3
queen's exchange White's position becomes Ιη July of 2000 the νariant with the
hopeless. moνe 16. ~e5 ~ab8 was fashionable again.
27.ςt>g2?! Ιη the game Iνanchuk - Bareeν, Monte-
It is hard for White to hold οη after catini Terme 2000, White by 17.a5!? man-
27.~xe4 ':xe4 28.tbe3 k:!.exf4 29.tbd1 aged to giνe his opponents a number ofnew
aswell, but that's his best chance. problems.
27 ... ~xf3+ 28.'>t>xf3 .ί:lel 29 ..ί:lhl .ί:le4 16... ~c5 17..te2 tbb4+ 18.ςt>bl .a:ad8
30.tbd2 .ί:lexf4 31.ςt>e3 1:txf2 32.a4 1:tg2 19.~cl .a:d4
Black refused to play 32 ... .txa4, per- Black would like to transfer his queen
haps ίη νiew of 33.c4. to the diagonal b1-h7, but it is not easy to
33.axb5 axb5 34..t3 ':ff2 35.tbf3 ~b2 do it now. After 19 ... ~g5 20. ~g4! ~c5
36 ..t4 .ί:lgc2 37.ςt>d3 ~f2 38.'it>e3 .ί:lbe2 21 ..sa3 .sd4 22. ~h5 Beliaνsky - Shiroν,
39.ςt>d3 .ί:la2 40.ςt>e3 ~ae2 41.ςt>d3 .ί:le4 Belgrade 1997 White got an adνantage.
42.tbe5 20.l:Ia3 l:Ifd8
42.tbd2 was more stubborn, but it would
change nothing ίη the game result. Mter
42 ... ~h4 43.h3 .ί:lf6 44.ςt>c2 .!:!fh6 45.J:ιa1
J:ιxh3 46.Ita8+ '>t>g7 47 .l:!.xb5 Itf6 Black
mustwill.
42 ... .ί:tfe20-l
43.tbg4 is the οηlΥ defense from the
mate, but after 43 ... h5 this defender would
not liνe long.
79 D17
Georgiev - Shiroν 21.a5
Round 9 26.05 It is a noνelty. Mter this moνe Black
cannot support his b4-knight with the a-
l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.tbf3 tbf6 4.tbc3 dxc4 pawn. But White should be ready to pay
5.a4 iιf5 6.tbe5 for it: Black pieces could ίη some cases
The main line ofthe Slaν Defense is one touch the separated a5-pawn. Ιη case of
of the tough arguments for the system 21.g4 ~g5 22 ..a:b3 a5 23.h4 Black forced
Black has used.6.e3 willlead to a slower the draw: 23 ... ~g6+ 24.Φa1 CLJc2 25.ςt>a2
play. tbb4 26.ςt>a1 CLJc2, Van Wely - Κramnik,
6 ... e6 7.f3 .tb4 8.e4 .txe4 9.fxe4 tbxe4 Wijk aan Zee 1999. Here 21 ..ί:le3 ~g5 was
10 ..td2 ~xd4 11.tbxe4 ~xe4+ 12.~e2 also seen ίη practice.
iιxd2+ 13.ςt>xd2 ~d5+ 14.ςt>c2 tba6 21 ... ~g5 22 ..sb3 ~g6+
15.tzJxc4 ο-ο 22 ... c5! looked stronger, because after
Bosnα 141
23. ~xb7 ~g6+ 24.<;,t>al Black would have White kept some advantage.
a very good reply 24 ... ~c2!, and 25.1:!.xc2? 39 ... 1:tdd2 40.lbc4 1:!.d4 41. ~a8 'it>g7
is impossible ίη view of25 ... 1:!.dl+ with the 42.~a7
mate. White is playing to will.lf he liked he
23.ΦaΙ ~g5 could have forced a draw by 42.1:ta7 ~xg3
Black has already missed the proper 43.1:txf7 \t>xf7 44. ~e8 Wg7 (44 ... c.t>f6??
moment for c6-c5. Here 23 ... c5 would be 45.~f8#) 45.~e7+ Φh6 46.~f8+ with the
met with 24.lbe5. perpetual check.
24.~e3 ~b5 42 ... ~xa7 43.1:txa7 ~g2 44.1:ta3
Black does not want to exchange the White is defending while he could have
queens without any necessity or profit. attacked by 44.lbe5!? to make Black's rook
25.~c3 c5 26.~a3 ~d7 27.~f3 ~e7 pass οη to defense with 44 ... 1:tf2.
28.1:te3 44 ... lbd3 45.~f1
Perhaps Black was going to prepare the
advance ofhis e-pawn, and White was try-
ing to prevent this idea.
28 .•.b5
This move A.Shirov considers an υη
happy one. Ιη his ορίηίοη, Black's chance
would be slightly preferable after 28 ... ~g5!
29.axb6 axb6 30.lba3
Not 30.lbxb6?? because of30 ... ~a7+.
30... l:ιd2
Black's king needs some air. That is why
30 ... g6!? deserved attention.
31.g3 ~d7 32.h4 ~d4 33.1:tec3 ~e5 45 ...lbxb2?
Mter 33 ... ~d5 White does not need to There was ηο need ίη playing for com-
exchange the queens οη d5 and can pro- binations. After 45 ... f5!? 46.1:tb3 ~xg3
pose to do it with 34 ..1i.c4 ίη more fa- 47.lbxb6 e5 Black's position would have
vourable situation. been just more pleasant.
34.SΙb51:th2 35.lbc4 ~c7 46.lbe3
This is the full confession. Black was If 46.lbxb2, Black was going to play
prohibited to play 35 ... ~d5? because of 46 ... ~b4.
36.~xd5 exd5 37.lbxb61:tb8 38.Uxc5, and 46 ...1::txg3!?
the weakness of the last rank would be Black would have great difficulties also
decisive. ίη case of 46 ... 1:!.b4 47.lbxg2! (after 47.1:ta7
36.'it>bl1:td5 37.~a3 h5 38.~e4 lbc4 48. <J?c llbxe3 49 .1:tfxf7 + 'it> g8 Whi te has
. 38.l:ίf1 was also possible. After 38 ... c.t>h7 οηlΥ a draw) 47 ... ctJc4+ 48.\t>a2 ctJxa3
(38 ... f6 is weaker because of 39.1:ta8 1:td8 49 ..lte8 ctJb5 (ίη case 49 ... ctJc4 5ω::i:Χf7+
'it>h7 40. ~e4 as well as 38 ... ':Η5 ίη view of 'it>h6 51.ctJf4 ctJd6 52.1:te7 ctJf5 53.1:txe6lbxh4
39.~4a8 'it>h7 40.1:txf5) 39.lbe3 (if 39.~e4 54.ctJd3 l:ιd4 55.ctJe5 or 49 ... 1:tg4 50.1:txf7+
g6 40.lbxb6, then 40 ... 1:tf5 would be υη 'it>h6 51.ctJf4 lbc4 52.ctJxe6 Black does not
pleasant) 39 ... ~e5 40.1:tc3 ~dd2 41.lbc4 have a chance to escape) 50.1:txf7 + 'it>g8
Black would have an amazing 41 ... 1:!.de2! 51 ..t:H3.
and taking Black's queen would lead to the 47.1:ta7?
perpetual check. White commits a gross error and misses
38•.. g6 39.lbe3 five pawns for the piece. Mter 47. <J?xb21:!.b4
Mter 39. ~e3!, ίη A.Shirov's ορίηίοη, 48.'it>c2 I:txb5 49.ctJf5 (49.~a7!? is also pos-
sible with a draw) 49 ... exf5 5o.J:ixg3l:txh4 17....b::a3

5U:ixf5 he could haνe gained the rook for Mter 17 ... g6 18.lbf2 (18.axb4? lbxe4)
the same Ρήce. 18 ... .txa3 19 ..txa3 lbh5 20. 'f!1e3 lbxf4
47...~xh4 48.naxf7 Φh6 49.J:t7f3 21. 'f!1xf4 e5 22.lbg4 White deνeloped the
Perhaps White should haνe played strong attack upon Black's king Shiroν -
49.Φχb2 ':xe3 50 ..te8 to try to hit the g6- Benjamin, Horgen 1994.
pawn g6. 18..ixa3 ~ac8
49 ... ~xf3 50.~xf3 ~b4 51 ..te8 lbd3+ The other moνe 18 ... 1:tad8 led to the
52.Φa2 complicated play with the mutual chances
White is not able eνen to moνe his king after 19.c3 g6 20.lbf2 lbh5 21. 'f!1e3 f6,
into the centre: 52.Φc2? lbe1+. Shiroν - Kabatianski, Germany 1996.
52 •.. lbf4 53.lbc2 1:!.e4 54 ..tc6 lbd5 19.1bf2
55.Φb3 h4 56 . .tb5 Φg5 57 . .td3 r!f4 After 19.1be3 .txe4 20 ..txf6 iιxf6
58.~h3 Φf6 59.lbel b5 60.Φc2 21.lbg4 .txd3 22.lbxf6+ Φh8 23.~b1 'f!1e7
Black's pawns at the queenside haνe 24. 'f!1xd3 'f!1xf6 25. 'f!1xd6 ~fd8 26. 'f!1xa6
started. White must not play 60 ..txb5 be- ~xc2, Lautier - Moνsesian, Malmo 1999
cause of 60 ... ~b4. The armada of Black's White came into the problems.
pawns should ineνitably decide the game 19... lbh5 20.'f!1f3 g6 21.lbg4 f6
ίη his faνour.
60 ... c4 61 ..te2 g5 62.l:th2 e5 63.Φd2
b4 64.ΦcΙ c3 65.lbd3 Ϊίd4 66.lbc5 lbf4
67 . .tf3 Φf5 68 . .tb7 e4 69.lbb3 l:td8
70.Φc2 e3 71 ..ta6 h3 72.1:thl g40-1
80 Β85
Shirov - Movsesian
Round 10 27.05
l.e4 c5 2.lbf3 lbc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.lbxd4

'f!1c7 5.lbc3 e6 6 ..te2 a6 7. ο-ο lbf6 8.i.e3 22.f5
iιe7 9.f4 d6 White starts the direct attack ofBlack's
The play has come to the Scheνeningen king and is ready to giνe the pawn for it.
νariation of the Sicilian Defence with an- There was an alternatiνe to this plan:
other moνe order. 22.l:tb1 'f!1a8 (22 ... 'f!1d7 23 ..txa6 .a:a8 24.
10.'f!1el ο-ο 1l.'f!1g3lbxd4 12.i.xd4 b5 .tc4) 23.l:tb6 with White's initiatiνe.
13.a3 iιb7 14.ΦhΙ .tc6 15.1:tael 'f!1b7 22 ... exf5
This is the main line ίη this νariation. Mter 22 ... e5 23 ..ιte3 White would get
The Spanish grandmaster also played the adνantage.
against 15 ... ~ae8. After 16.e5 dxe5 17. 23.lbh6+ Φh8 24.lbxf5
.txe5 'f!1d7 18 ..ιtd3 g6 19. 'f!1h3lbh5 20.lbe4 White is destroying the pawn shelter
f6 21.iιc3 iιd5 Black retained the position of Black's king. Ιη case of 24. 'f!1e2?! J.xe4
Shiroν - Portisch, Biel 1993. 25.iιxa6 'f!1c6 26 ..txc8 ~xc8 Black would
16.i.d3 b4 17.lbdl stay not bad ίη spite ofthe exchange down,
The line 17.axb4 'f!1xb418.lbe2 was also since the knight is misplaced οη h6.
tried many times. The game Shiroν - . 24 ... gxf5 25.'f!1xh5 fxe4 26.'f!1g5?!
Iνanchuk, Linares 1993 is one of the ex- White misses the strongest continua-
amples. tion of the attack, connected with 26. ~h4!
Bosnα 143
The matter is that ifBlack answers like ίη end ίη a draw because Black realize the
the game 26 ... 1:tf7, White has a simple extra pawn owing to defects of the pawn
27.iιxe4 with an advantage. 26 ... d5 also structure and bad position of pieces.
does not help Black ίη νiew of 27.iιxa6!! 34 ... ~g5 35.h4?!
~xa6 28.~xf6 iιxf6 29.~xf6+ Φg8 (29 ... This move isjust weakening ofWhite's
ttxf6 30.~xf6+ Φg8 3U~e3+-) 30.~g5+ position. After 35.1:tb2 White would still
Φπ 31.~g7+Φe6 32.~e7+ Φf5 33.g4+! and have same compensation for the pawn.
the Black king's travel to the center ofthe 35....a:gg7 36.i.b2 ~d6 37.1:.!.d2
board does not go unpunished. Finally, ίη Ιη case of37.iιh51:If8 38. ~h6 .iιe5 Black
case of a recommended by S.Movsesian would have to win gradually, but after the
26 ... cxd3 27 .l:i.xe7 ~xe7 28.nxf6 ~e5 move ίη the game he may win by force.
29.iιxe5 dxe5 White easily achieve a suc-
cess by means of 30. ~h6! (30.cxd3 ttg8!)
30 ... Φg8 31.~g5+ Φh8 32.~xe5 Φg8
33. ~g3+ Φh8 34.~xf8+ ~xf8 35. ~xd3 and
Black can resign.
26 ... ttf7
26 ... exd3 27.~xe7 ~xe7 28.!Ixf6+-.
27.~c4 ttg8
27 ... d5 does not work ίη view of 28.
iιxa6! ~xa6 29.l:txf6 ~xf6 30.iιxf6 ~xf6
31. ~xf6 Φg8 32.1:te3 and White would cre-
ate the mating attack.
28.~e3 d5 29.iιb3 ~d7 30.ttf4?!
37... ~g3! 38.i.f3
After an immediate 30.c4 kIg6 (ίη case If 38.~d4, then 38 ... z:!.h3! 39.Φg1 (or
of 30 ... dxc4 31.~xc4 iιd5 32.iιxd5 ~xd5 39.gxh3 ~xh3 40.Φg1 .ί::tg7, and Black
wins) 39 ... ~h2 40.Φf1 (40.Φf2 ~f5) 40 ...
33.ttf4 White would retain the advantage)
~c4 with the win Black's victory.
31.nd1 ~e6 32.cxd5 i.xd5 33.iιxd5 ~xd5
Black would keep the balance. 38...1:txf3
38 ... 1:!:fg7 would also bring an easy win.
30... kIg4 31 ..a:f2 Φg8 32.c4 ~e6
39.~xf3
Perhaps 32 ... f5 is stronger, although
39.gxf3 would be met by 39 ... ~h3
after 33.ttef1 White would have a compen-
40.Φg1 ~g7.
sation for the sacrificed pawn.
39... exf3 40 ..I:!xe6 ~xe6 0-1
33.cxd5?!
White takes off the tension ίη the cen-
tre without any particular profit for him.
Β80
Better was 33. ~h3 ~fg7 (after 33 ... f5 81
34.cxd5 i.xd5 35.~xf5 ~xf5 36.iιxd5 ~f4 Movsesian - Kasparov
Black could also play) 34.iιxf6 ~xf6 Round 11 29.05
35.cxd5 iιxd5 36.iιxd5 (Black would be ΟΚ
ίη case of 36.1:ιef1 It7g6 37.~xd5 ~xd5 l.e4 c5 2.1Δf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.lΔxd4
38.l:txf6 I:ιxf6 39. ~xg4+ Φf7) 36 ... ~xd5 lΔίβ 5.lΔc3 a6 6.i.e3 e6
37.1:txf6 h5 eand Black is inferior, but has Black is taking to the path of the
not to lose the game. Scheveningen Variation.
33...i.xd5 34.i.dl? 7.f3
It was possible to play 34.~xd5!? ~xd5 With his last move White supports the
35.h3 klg6 36.~xe4 ~xe4 37.1:txe4 ~xa3 e4-pawn and intends to throw away the
38.g4! (38.1:ιa2?! f5) and the game should ffi-knight from his important defending ρο-
sition with the advance g2-g4-g5. There is light-coloured bishop entered the play and
one more sharp line - 7.g4 frequently and Black had to pay for it with a more active
successfully tήed by A.8hirov. piece.
7 ...b5 8:~d2 18.1ιc1
This natural move permits Black to de- Ιη case of 18.h5 Black would probably
velop without any problems his pieces at react, as ίη the game 18 ... lbe5, as it would
proper positions. The immediate 8.g4 is be wrong to part with the knight after such
tougher. The idea of this move is to pre- a long route just to win the pawn.
vent the transfer ofthe b8-knight onto b6 18 ...lbe5 19.h5
at this moment. Ιη the game Anand - Mter 19.f4 Black would prepare 19 ...
Kasparov, Kopavogur 2000 there was CLJxd3 20.cxd3 and then a very strong move
8 ... CLJfd7 9. 'f;i'd2 CLJb6 10.a4 with a compli- 20 ... d5.
cated position with mutual chances. 19... d5
8 ... CLJbd7 9.0-0-0 1ιb7 10.g4 CLJb6 This is the proper move to include ίη
11.'f;i'f2 the play the idle dark-coloured bishop.
Taking his queen from d2 White him- 20.'f;i'h2
self provokes the typical "Sicilian" ex- Ιη case of 20.exd5 .itxd5 White's light-
change sacrifice οη c3. coloured bishop will not enter the play
11 ... CLJfd7 12.'.t>b1 since 21.1ιe4 would be met with 21 ... 1ιc4.
12.1ιd3 looks more reliable with an idea 20 ... ~d6!
after 12 ... I:tc8 to continue 12.lbce2. Ιη case of a careless 20 ... b4? after
12 ... .ί:!.c8 13.~d3 21.exd5 ~xd5 22.1ιχh7! ς,t>xh7 23.g6+ Φg8
24.h6! Black will suffer a defeating attack.
24 ... 'f;i'c4 does not safe him ίη vieVlt of
25.~xd5 'f;i'xe2 26.1:txe5lbxc3 27.'it>a1 'f;i'xh2
28.!'rxh2 1ιχd6 29.hxg7 cJJxg7 30.1ιh6+ cJJg8
31.gxf7+ ~xf7 32.1ιχf8 iιxe5 33.f4!
21.'f;i'h3?!
21.i.f4 could hamper the development
ofBlack's initiative though ίη this case as
well after 21 ... b4! 22.cxb4 ~c8 23.~c1 d4
ίη G.Kasparov's ορίηίοη, Black's attack is
dangerous enough.
21 ... lbxd3
13 ... Jlxc3! Black is going to prepare b5-b4. Mter
With this exchange sacrifice Black an- an immediate 21 ... b4 Black would have to
nihilates one of defenders of the white take into consideration 22.exd5 lbxd3
king, demolishes his pawn shelter and - 23 ..ttxd3
what is also important - simplifies the re- 22.cxd3 b4!
alizing ofthe advance d6-d5 since White's Black is disclosing the files at the
control over the centre will become less queenside where White's king is hidden.
after the sacrifice. 23.cxb4
14.iιxc3 'f;i'c7 15.CLJe2 1ιe7 16.g5 ο-ο This move opens new ways for Black's
17.h4lba4 pieces, but it is not easy to find a satisfac-
This is the improvement. Ιη the game tory defence. Ιη case of 23.h6 g6 24.cxb4
Zagrebelny - Lingnau, Berlin 1993 an im- ~c8 25.cJJa1 dxe4 26.fxe4 the blow 26 ...
mediate 17 ... d5 was played here, but after Jtxe4! decides. Mter 23.c4 dxc4 24.g6 cxd3
18.h5 dxe4 19.1Lxe4 1Lxe4 20.fxe4 White's 25.~xd3 ~c8 26.~d2 1ιe5 27.1:thdl 1ιc6!
Bosnα 145
Black carries out the manoeuvre Xιc6-b5- 26...~xhl 27. ~xhl ~xb4 28.gxf7 ~f8!
d3 wich must lead him to a success. Ιη case 28 ... φxfΊ 29.Xιb2lίJxb2 30.1:!.c1
23 ...1::rc8 24.ΦaΙ dxe4 White got some counterplay.
24 ... Xιxb4! (with the idea of 25 .. .Xιc3) 29.~g2
lead Black to the victory at once, and if Mter 29.1ιb2lίJχb2 30.1::rc1 (there is ηο
25.~c2, then 25 ... ~c2!. 30.'ιt>xb2 because of 30 ... ~c2) 30 ... ~c5
25.fxe4 31.d4 (or 31.'ιt>xb2 ~e5) 31 ... lbd3 32.J:ίc2
~xf7 33.dxc5 ~f6 34.lbc3 lbxc5 Black
would win.
29 ...1::rb8 30.~b2
If30.~d2, then even 30 ... Xιxd2 31 ..nxd2
~a5 32.J:ίd1 ~b4 would be sufficient for the
Wlll.
30... lbxb2 31.lίJd4
If 31.1:rc1, then this line decides:
31 ... ~e5 32.d4 ~d5 33. ~g4lίJc4 34.1:tg1 g5
35.hxg6 hxg6 36. ~xg6 (36. ~h4 Xιa3
37.~h8+ We7 38.'~:xb8 1ιb2+ 39.Φb1 ~e4#)
25 ... ~xe4! 26.g6 36 ... ~xd4+ 37.lbxd4 Xιc3#
26.dxe4 is not allowed ίη view of 31 ... lbxdl 32.lbxe6 Wxf!7 0-1
26 ... ~e5 27.lίJd4 ~xd4 28.1::rxd4~xc1 After 33. ~xg7 <t>xe6 34. ~xc7 Xιc3 Black
29.l::txc11::rxc1# wins.
Torneo Magistral de Ajedrez Merida

Merida (Mexico) 13.06-20.06, cat.17
1 Shirov 2751 4
2 Ju.Polgar 2658 3.5
3 Gi.Hernandez 2560 2.5
4 Akopian 2660 2
Chess Organizers of Merida arranged the strongest tournament ίη the history of

Mexico. The average rating ofits participants exceeded 2650. There were A.Shirov and
VAkopian who need not to be presented, J. Polgar who had managed to win two tourna-
ments ίη succession (Japfa and Malme) and the best Mexican grandmaster Gi. Hernandez
among the participants.
UNESCO made Merida with its 800,000 inhabitants and many beautiful buildings
the cultural capital of the Americas ίη the year 2000, thus there were numerous festi-
vals, exhibitions and concerts.
The First "Torneo Magistral de Ajedrez Merida 2000" concluded with a victory by
GM Alexey Shirov of Spain, who won with White against the Armenian Vladimir Akopian
ίη the hard last round (game 93).
Akopian used an Armenian specialty (5 ... ~a5) ίη the Winawer variation ofthe French
Defense and got an interesting position that had been played successfully before. Shirov,
using homemade analysis (or perhaps using his natural talent for playing complicated
positions), neutralized his opponent's attack and realized his material advantage ίη the
queen endgame. With this win, Shirov got the first prize of $10,000.
Alexey began the tournament badly, having lost ίη the first round to Gilberto
Hernandez. This made his victory even more meritorious, since ίη a tournament ofjust
6 rounds it is difficult to overcome an adverse result at the start.
82 Cl1 only 10 ... cxd41UiJxd4 ~c5 12 ..txd7+ ~xd7

Polgar - Akopian 13.tZJb3 occurred ίή this position, and Black
Round 1 13.06 could have a convenient play both after
13 ... .te7 14.0-0-0 ~a4 15.Wb1 .ί:ϊc8 Hellers
l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.liJc3liJf6 4.1ιg5 dxe4 - Speelman, Ν ονί Sad 1990 and after
5.liJxe4 tLJbd7 6.tLJf3 h6 7.tLJxf6+ tLJxf6 13 ... kb6 14.0-0 ο-ο 15 ..ί:ϊad1 ~a4 Furhoff
8.1ιd2 c5 9.kb5+ kd7 10.~e21ιχb5 - Korchnoi, Copenhagen 1996.
Black leads to the endgame. Previously 11:~xb5+ ~d7 12.~xd7+ tLJxd7 13.
Torneo Mαgistrαl de Ajedrez Meridα 147
dxc5 i.xc5 14..tc3 f6 15.h4 h5 16.lΔd2 16.J:'1e2 '§'d7 17.!ιael 1::tfe8 18..tg2 a5
.te7 19.a3 1:lad8 20.'§'d3 a4 21.lΔd2 lΔa5
Certain accuracy is necessary. Ιη case 22.Φh2lΔb723.i,h3
of 16 ... Φe7 Black would be forced to ex- It is evident that the active position of
change his bishop for White's knight after white pieces is a fair compensation for the
17.lΔe4. sacrificed pawn. White οηlΥ has to use well
17.0-0-0 lΔc5 18 ..td4 0-0-0 lh-lh his opportunities.
23 ... f5
83 Α08
Shirov - Hernandez
Round 1 13.06
l.e4 e6 2.d3
The French Defence became very popu-
lar ίη the high-level chess lately. With his
last move White attempts to fortify the e4-
square as much as possible before black
pieces begin to attack it. ΒΥ this way the
position transforms into a structure that
24:~a6??
is close to the Κings' Indian Defence, but
with reversed colours. Just to the wrong place. The white
2 ... c5 3.g3 lΔc6 4.i,g2 d5 5.lΔd2 g6 queen was wanted ίη another direction.
6.lΔgf3 i.g7 7.0-0 lΔge7 8.h4 h6 9.1:!.el b6
White could have gained a great initiative
10.exd5 after 24.h5! lΔc5 (there is ηο 24 ... g5? be-
It is not good for White to lock up the cause of 25.1:!.xe7!) 25. '§'f3 lΔe4 (25 ... g5? is
central structure with 10.e5 before castling, bad for the same reason as οη the previous
because Black has a convenient play after move, to be followed by 26.i,xg5! hxg5
10 .. .'~c7 1U';'fe2 g5! 12.hxg5 hxg5 13.lΔxg5 27.1:!.xe7 .ί:ι.χe7 28.stxf5+, and White wins,
lΔxe5.
while ίη case of 25 ... d3 26.cxd3 i,xb2
10... exd5 27.i..e5! i.xa3 28.i..f6 black pieces ίη the
Τοthe capture with the knight White centre prove to be confined rather strictly)
could answer with 11.lΔc4 or an immedi- 26.hxg6+ lΔxg6 (ίη case of26 ... ~xg6 Black
ate 11.d4. has to reckon with 27.g4) 27.'§'h5.
11.d4 cxd4 24 ... lΔc5 25. '§'xb6 d3!
Black takes the sacήficed pawn, agree- Quite unexpectedly, the condemned
ing οη a deterioration of his pawn struc- pawn gets οη.
ture ίη the centre of the board. An imme- 26.!ϊ.e5
diate castling can be an alternative to the 26.cxd3 loses because of 26 ... lΔxd3
move ίη the game. 27 ..ί:ι.d1lΔc8 28. '§'a6 lΔc5, 26.!ϊ.e3 loses too
12.lΔb3 iιg4 13.i..f4 0-0 14:~d2 i,xf3 because of 26 ... d4.
15.i..xf3 'it>h7 26 ... i..xe5 27.!ϊ.χe5 dxc2 28.h5 cl'§'
This position occurred previously. Ιη the With an extra queen, Black must win.
game Nevednichy - Anapolsky, Bucharest 29.'§'f6lΔc6
1994, White had a sufficient compensation Black engages the c7-queen ίη the de-
for the pawn after 15 ... lΔf5 16.i.g2 Itc8 fence ofhis king οη the 7th rank, the num-
17.a3 '§'d7 18.i..h3, though he lost the game ber oflost pawns is absolutely unimportant
after all. now, as Black has a titanic material advan-
tage. With this moνe White simply giνes up

30. ~xg6 <;t>h8 31.I1xe8 J:txe8 32. ~xh6+ the pawn without any compensation. Μ
~g8 33.~g6+ <;t>h8 34.~h6+ ~h7 35.~f6+ ter a normal 19.cxd3 bxa3 20.bxa3 ~a4
~g8 36.~xc6 ~xh5 37.tbf3 ~c2 0-1 21 ..ib2 l:tab8 22.~e2 the position οη the
board would be close to equality.
19...bxa3 20.bxa3 ~a4!
84 Β85 The pawns a3 and c2 are attacked, as
Hernandez - Akopian well as the d4-bishop. White is goingto lose
Round 2 14.06 something ineνitably.
21.c3 ~xa3 22.~al
l.e4 c5 2.tbc3 tbc6 3.tbf3 d6 4.d4 cxd4 Mter 22.e5 dxe5 23.tbxe5 ~d6 (defend-
5.tbxd4 e6 6 ..te2 tbf6 7.0-0 .te7 8 ..te3 ing from 24.tbd7) White would haνe prob-
ο-ο 9.f4 a6 10.<;t>hl ~d7 11.~el tbxd4 lems showing a compensation for the pawn.
12..ixd4 ..tc6 13.~g3 b5 14.a3 22 ... ~b3 23.l:tfbl ~c4 24.z:tb7 .id8
The opponents played the Scheνeningen 25.e5 tbe4 26.~e3 ~c6 27.:ι.abΙ tbxc3
Variant of the Sicilian Defence. Αη im- 28.~cl Mc8 29 ..ixc3 ~xc3 30.exd6 g5
portant feature of this line is that, unlike 31.~dl
in most other νariants, the black queen still After 31.fxg5 ~xc1+ 32.tbxc1 .ixg5
stays at its starting square, hindering 33.tbd3 a4 Black's a-pawn would decide the
White from the policy adνance e4-e5 be- case ίη his faνour.
cause the bishop οη d4 would be unde- 31 ... ~d4 32.tbe5 ~xf4 33.tbd7 Me8
fended then.
14... ~d7!
Right here! Black's queen supports an
adνance ofthe queenside pawns, οη the one
hand, and still keeps an eye οη White's
dark-squared bishop, οη the other hand.
15 ..id3 a5 16.~ael b4 17.tbdl
Α risky moνe. White accepts the pros-
pect that his position οη the queenside will
be crushed. Mter the exchange 17.axb4
axb4 and 18.tbdl Black, has an additional
opportunity of 18 ... 1::ra1!, besides the moνe 34.tbb8?
18 ... ..tb5. The Mexico grandmaster just has
17....ib5 passed his luck by. White would be ΟΚ af-
17 ... bxa3 18.bxa3 and οηlΥ then 18 ... ter 34.tbe5! ~xe5 (ίη case of 34 ... MC3
.ib5 appears to be more natural. 35.tbxf7 Mf8 36.tbxd8 :ι.Χd8 37.d7 the white
18.tbf2?! d-pawn would hinder any Black's actiνity)
White could haνe exchanged a pair of 35.d7 .ic7 36. ~h5 Mf8 37.dxc8~ Mxc8
pawns οη the queenside without any per- 38.J:.7b5.
ceptible damage ofhis position by the way 34... z:tc3 35.h3 .if6 36.tbd7
of 18.axb4 axb4 and οηlΥ then moνe his Ιη case of 36.MXf7 <;t>xf7 37. ~h5+ <;t>g7
kni'ght to the centre - 19.tbe3. After 38. ~xe8 (if 38.1::rb7 +, then 38 ... .ie7) 38 ...
19 ... ..txd3 20.cxd3 ~b5 21.tbc4 l:tfd8 22.f5 Mcl + Black mates.
Black had problems ίη the game Mednis - 36 ....td4 37.~a4 .!:Icl+ 38.Mxcl ~xcl+
SiguIjonsson, Barcelona 1980. 39.~h2 ~f4+ 40.<;t>hl ~f1+ 41.~h2 ..tgl+
18 .....txd3 19.tbxd3? 0-1
Ιn case of the forced 42. ~g3 the White enough, as his own king is ίn the centre of
king can get his mate after 42 ... t'ff2+ the board.
43.~g4 ~xg2+ 44.~h5 ~xh3+ 45.~xg5 12.f5!
~f5+ 46.Wh6 ~g6# or 46.~h4 .Yιf2# White tries to open υρ the centre as
much as possible. Mter 12.fxg5 lίJdxe5 or
'85 Β42 12 ... .Yιg7 the position would be more or less
Shirov - Polgar settled.
Round 2 14.06 12... lίJdxe5 13 ..Yιxg5 kig8 14 ..Yιf4 .Yιd7
Black has to sacrifice the pawn ίn order
1.e4 c5 2.lίJf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.lίJxd4 a6 to develop his pieces faster.
5 ..Yιd3 ~b6 6.lίJb3 ~c7 7.f4 15.fxe6 .Yιxe6
Ιn the game Shirov - Topalov, Linares There is nο other way. Black would per-
1998 White had a beautiful win after 7.~e2 ish after 15 ... fxe6 16. ~h5+.
lίJf6 8.lίJc3 d6 9.f4 .Yιe7 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5 16 ..Yιxh7 ~h8 17. .Yιf5 0-0-0 18.1ιχe6+
lίJfd7 12 ..Yιf4lίJc6 13.0-0 fxe6 19.1ίJ1d2 .Yιd6
7 ... lίJf6 White's extra pawn is not noticeable for
7 ... d6 is the usual continuation. a while because the opponents have castled
8.~e2 οn different sides.
The variant with 8.e5 lίJd5 is not very 20.g3 ~h7 21.c3 lίJd3 22 ..Yιxd6
troublesome for Black. There is nο 22. ~xe6+? because of
8 ... d5 22 ... !:td7 - Black's fureats to the white kihJ
J.Polgar decided firmly to get out ofthe are irresistible.
theoretical way. The game could have been 22 ...!:txd6 23.~f6
reduced to the theory after 8 ... d6 9.lίJc3 23.lίJf3!? !:tg8 (after 23 ... e5 24.!:tad1 ~.
lίJc6. there is 25.lίJg5, unpleasant for Blac ;
9.e5 lίJfd7 10.0-0 lίJc6 11 ..Yιe3 24.lίJfd4 deserved attention, enabling
This pawn structure is more typical of White to consolidate his position.
the French Defence than of the Sicilian. 23 ... lίJxb2 24.l1af1?!
White gives υρ his extra pawn wrongly.
Mter 24.!:txe6 !:txe6 25. ~xe6+ ~b8 26.lίJf1
the threats of27.~xd5 and 27.lίJc5 would
be rather perceptible for Black.
24 ... lίJa4 25.ki1f3 ~b8 26.!:t6f4
White had an alternative of26.c4.
26 ... lίJb6 27.lίJc5 lίJd8 28.lίJdb3 lίJc4
The black knight has occupied a con-
venient position ίn the centre ofthe board;
it seems that J.Polgar is taking the initia-
tive little by little.1
29.1:I:h4 ~g7 30.1::txh8 ~xh8 31. ~f2
11 ... g5!? ~g7
Playing passively, Black would have Black has delayed 31 ... e5.He probably
problems with convenient stands for his did not want 32.!:tf6 or 32.1:1:f8.
pieces. With the development of the game 32.lίJd4 ~c7
White's space advantage could become a Ifthe white knight steps back, then the
very seήοus argument for his position. This black e-pawn can advance. It appears that
is why Black undertakes an attack of black knights have raced quicker than the
White's centre, which appears to be risky white ones.
Black's aid, to be achieved by 46 ... LΔg5+!

47.~xg5 ~h1+ 48.~g3 ~g2+.
43.g6 LΔc5?!
This move loses immediately. Still, it's not
easy to find a good continuation. So, after
43 ... Φe7 44.1::tf7+ ~e8 the solution is 45.g7!
LΔxg7 46.J::ι.xg7 ~xg7 47.~xe3+ Φf7 48.
~f4+, and the pawn endgame is ννοη by White
after an exchange οΥ the queens. Probably the
waiting move 43 ... a5!? could keep some chances
to escape.
33.LΔcxe6! 44.I(f7+
Abruptly A.Shirov changes the cha- Αη immediate 44.g7 wins too: 44 ... lΔe6
racter ofthe play. Mter 33.LΔcb3 e5 34.lΔf5 (there is ηο 44 ... LΔe4 because of 45.1H8
.I:tf6 Black would still have better chances. ~xg7 46.1:rf7+) 45.g8~ ~xg8 46.~xe3
33 ... l:txe6 44 ... Φc6 45.~g3 ~hl+ 46.~h2 ~cl
There is ηο 33 ... lΔxe6? because of If 46 ... ~e4, then 47.l:tc7+ 'it>b5 48.~b2+
34.LΔxe6 ~xe6 35.1:rf8+ with White's will. Φa4 49.~b4+ wins.
34.LΔxe6LΔxe6 35.~f5 ~h7 36.g4 47.g7 ~xc3 48.~g3 1-0
Of couise one cannot play 36 ..ί:!.Χd5??
because of36 ... ~b1+ 37.~g2 ~e4+ 38.~f3
LΔe3+ 86 C07
36... ~c8?! Akopian - Shirov
Thinking about the endgame, Black Round 3 15.06
wants to bring his king closer to White's
passed pawns but not at the very best mo- l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.LΔd2 c5 4.exd5 ~xd5
ment. Black's position after 36 ... ~h6 37.g5 5.LΔgf3 cxd4 6 ..ltclί ~d6 7.0-0 LΔf6 8.lΔb3
~g6 38. ~f3 LΔe3 would look better. LΔc6 9.lΔbxd4LΔxd4 10.~xd4
37.h4 ~g6 38.~f3 LΔe3 39.l:tf6 ~bl+ This variant of the French Defence
40.Φh2?! became unusually popular ίη the last
Α return blunder οη the control move. decade. With his last move White offers to
Mter 40.~f2! ιiJd1+ 4l.\~tg3 LΔd8 42.~f5+ exchange the queens, thus reducing
~xf5 43.~xf5 White's passed pawns would attacking opportunities for both sides.
be irrepressible. Another opportunity - 10.LΔxd4 is a more
40 ... ~eI41.~h3 fundamental continuation and often leads
Black is ΟΚ after 41.l:txe6 ~xh4+ to a very keen, dynamic play.
42.Φg1 ~e1+. 10... ~xd4
41 ... ~d7 42.g5 Many experts of the French Defence
If 42.l:tf7 + Φe8 43.1:rxb7, then a draw can resort to the waiting 10 ... .ltd7.
be achieved by 43 ... LΔf4+! 44.~xf4 ~h1+ 11.LΔxd4 iιc5
45.~h2 ~f3+. The usual continuation 1l ... i..d7 and
42 ... ~gl? 12 ..lte2 can lead to the position that will
Black had to venture οη 42 ... ~xc3. The arise ίη the game, too.
point is that after 43.g6 ~d4 44.~ίΊ+ ~c6 12.lΔb3 iιe7
it is not easy for White to strengthen his Another retreat 12 ... i..b6 can encourage
position somehow. If 45. ~g3 (there is ηο White to advance the a-pawn later οη.
45.h5?? because of 45 ... lΔg5+) 45 ... ~e4 13.i..f4
46.g7, then a perpetual check comes to After an immediate transfer of the
1ight-squared bishop to the diagona1 a8- barrier of the e5-pawn οη its way.
h1 by means of 13.~e2, followed by 23 ... e524.f3
13 ... ~d7 14.i-f.3 J::tc8 15.i-xb7 ~xc2 16.tιJd4 White cou1d gain the big diagona1 a8-
l:tc7 17.i-a6 tιJd5, B1ack got a powerfu1 sup- h1 at once by the moνe 24.~d5, and ίη case
porting stand οη d5 for his knight ίη re- of 24 ... i.b5+, he has to continue 25.
turn for White's pawn adνantage οη the Φe1 (25.c4? is bad because of25 ...1:txd5!) but
queenside ίη the game Shainiuk - Ba1ber, after 25 ... i-a4! increases White's prob1ems.
Simferopol1991. 24 ... i-b6 25.i.gl i.xgl 26. ~xgl
13... ~d7 14.~e2 tιJd5
This moνe turns the game ίη an origi-
na1 way. Mter 14 ... ~c8 the p1ay cou1d be
reduced to positions that had occurred pre-
νious1y, on1y with another order of moνes.
15.i-g3 h5 16.h3
Α more or 1ess eνen position cou1d be
achieνed after the actiνe 16.c4, to be fo1-
10wed by 16 ... h4 17.~e5 (there is ηο
17.i-xh4? because of 17 ... tιJf4, and White
10ses, whi1e after 17.cxd5 hxg3 18.hxg3
exd5 B1ack has an extra pawn ίη the cen-
tre of the board, because White's pawn 26 ... i.a4!
Α νery good moνe. Now White is forced
structure οη the kingside suffers a dam-
age) 17 ... i.f6 18.~xf6 tιJxf6. to weaken his position οη the queenside.
16...h4 17.i.h2 0-0-0 18.1:Ifdl 27.b3
B1ack need not troub1e about the con- The on1y moνe. White wants to keep the
tinuation 18.c4 tιJb4 19.a3, reckoning οη d-fi1e, and the pawn endgame after 27.i.b3
19 .... tιJc2 20.~ac1 i-a4. i-xb3 28.axb3 ~xd1+ 29.1:I.xd1 ~d8 30.
18...tιJb6 19.tιJa5 1:I.xd8+ ~xd8 is 10st for White because the
Α b1ank shot, as it proνes to be. White
the doub1e pawns don't 1et him make a
cou1d rehabi1itate his bishop by 19.~e5 f6 passed pawn οη the queenside.
20.~d4 e5 21.i.e3, keeping tense, or he
27 ... i.c6 28.Φf2 Φc7 29.~d3 1:ιd6
cou1d engage his 1ight-squared bishop with 30.i.e4
Haνing 10st a tempo, White returns to
19.i.f.3, because 19 ... tιJc4 he can meet with
20.~d4, and there is ηο 20 ... tιJxb2? consi- the idea of an exchange of the 1ight-
dering 21.l:ιb1. squared bishops, but now it resu1ts ίη an-
19... ~b4 20.tιJc4?! other White's pawn is1and.
Giνing all the initiatiνe to B1ack. Mter 30 ... i.xe4 31.l:ιxd6 ΦΧd6 32.fxe4 J::tc8
20.tιJb3 both sides wou1d haνe chances. 33.1:ΜΙ + ~e6 34.I:td3?!
20 ...tιJxc4 21.i.xc4 f6 22.c3 White shou1d haνe νentured οη 34.c4.
Mter 22.i.d6 i.xd6 23.1:!.xd6 e5 White Mter 34 ... b5 35.cxb5 ~c2+ 36.~f1 ~xa2
wou1d haνe a not νery bright prospect of a 37.~d8 it wou1d be νery hard to get to his
bishop endgame with 1ight-squared bi- pawn weak points owing to the actiνity of
shops. the rook.
22 ... ~a5 23.Φf1?! 34 ...b5!
Centra1ization ofthe king is neνer bad, B1ack fixes the white c3-pawn. Now
it can be untime1y. Ν ow White shou1d haνe White has to defend it all the time with
returned his dark-squared bishop to the the rook, and the fact that his rook occu-
centre: 23.i-d6, before his opponent puts a pies the sing1e open fi1e ίη the centre ofthe
board is nothing but a poor consolation for 61.~f5 Φd4 62.kϊxg5 ~xb3, then White
him. hardly can escape, notwithstanding the
35.g3?! paucity of material οη the board) 60 ... ~h7
Α νery important moment. White had 61.Φd3 !!h8 62.Φe3 (62.J::txffi ~xh3+ 63.Φc2
to chose between the moνe ίη the game and is entirely bad because of 63 ... g4) 62 ... ~a8
a passiνe waiting for the deνelopment of 63.Φe2 ~a2+ 64.Φf1 Φd4 65.~xf6 gb2
eνents. Mter 35.Φf3 he probably did not 66.~f3 Φχe4 67.I:ι.g3 Φd4, White's position
want 35 ... f5 (if35 ... g6, then 36.Φg4 is pos- being nearly lost.
sible), as then Black would retain an eνi 57... ~xh3 58.~xb4 axb3 59.axb3 Φc5
dent adνantage both after 36.exf5+ ΦΧf5 60.~b8 g4 61.~g8 J::tg3 62.Φe2 Φd4 63.Φf2
and after 36. Φe3 g6, though the question, ~f3+ 64. Φg2 ~f4 65.~d8+ Φχe4 66.~d2
whether it would be enough for a win, If 66.c5 ~f3 67.b4 ~c3 68.~c8 f5 69.b5
stayed unanswered. Mter the moνe ίη the f4 70.c6 ~c2+, then the white king can get
game A.Shiroν demonstrated adνantages into a mate trap, οη top of eνerything.
ofhis position rather clearly. 66 ...~f3 67 .~b2 ~c3 68.b4
35 ...hxg3+ 36.~xg3 g5 37.1::rt'3 b4 38.c4 White sacrifices another pawn ίη order
White creates a defended passed pawn to create a play for himself
that can be helpful ίη the pawn endgame. 68 ...~xc4 69.b51:tc7 70.b6 ~b7 71.Φg3
Ιη case of 38.cxb4 J::tc2+ 39.Φe3 ~xa2 f5 72.~b4+ Φd5 73 ..ί:tb5+ Φe6 74.Φh4 φf6'
40.Φd3 !!b2 41.Φc3 ~e2 42.Φd3 ~e1 his 75.l:tbl e4 76.~b5 e3 77.Φg3 Φg5 78.Φg2
position would be dubious, but as a matter e2 79.Φf2 !!e7 80.'~el g3 81.z:tb3
of fact it was his last chance for an actiνe If 81.b7, then 81 ... g2 82.b8~ g1~+
counterplay. solνes.
38 ... ~h8 39.Φe3 ~h4 40.Φd3 !:tf4 81 ... f40-1
41.Φe3
White cannot exchange the rooks with
4U::txf4. The pawn endgame is hopeless for 87 Cll
White after 41 ... exf4 42.c.ifd4 (otherwise the 'Polgar - Hernandez
e4-pawn perishes owing to the zugzwang) Round 3 15.06
42 ... Φd6 43.c5+ Φc6 44.Wc4 a5 45.Φd4 Φb5.
41 ... Φd6 l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.CLJc3CLJf6 4.e5 CLJfd7
Black, ίη his turn, cannot exchange the 5.CLJce2 c5 6.c3 cxd4
rooks because White possesses the de- The line 6 ... CLJc6 7.f4 b5 8.a3 cxd4
fended passed pawn οη the c4-square. 9.CLJxd4 Cί1xd4 10.cxd4 b4 11.a4 ~a5 12 ..td2
42.~f2 Φe6 43.kIf3 a6 44.1If2 lIh4 .te7 13.CLJf3 ο-ο 14 ..tb5 CLJb6 15.b3 was
45.1Η3 ~h7 46.Wd2 a5 47.Φc2 .l:ih8 tested ίη the final match of an adνanced
48.Φd2 .ί:th6 49.We2 I;th7 50.Φd2 J::th8 chess tournamen1; Anand - Shiroν, Leon
51.Φc2 l::th6 52.Φd2 Φd6 53.J::td3+ Φc6 2000, and White managed to keep some
54.i:H'3 Φc5 55.1:Μ3 a4! adνantage.
White will haνe problems aνoiding a 7.cxd4 f68.f4
new weakness, now οη the queenside. Those who used to prefer another con-
56.~d5+ Φc6 57.:!b5 tinuation: 8.CLJf4 .tb4+ 9 ..td2 are now
White caηήοt stand the pressure ofhis afraid of9 ... ~b6 10.i.xb4 (10.exffi CLJxffi and
opponent and stakes eνerything, sacrific- 1O.z:tc1 ο-ο occurred too) 10 ... ~xb4+
ing the pawn. Α passiνe 57.~d3 could be 11.~d2 ~xd2+ 12.Φχd2 Φe713.eΧf6+ gxf6
followed by 57 ... axb3 58.axb3 ~h4 59.~f3 that was played ίη one ofthe games ofthe
Φc5 (59 ... ~f4 60.Φe3 Φc5 is a blank shot final match for the Russia Champion title
because of6U:tf2) 60.We3 (if60.Sxf6 Sxh3 Bezgodoν - Sakaeν, Moscow 1999.
8 ... fxe5 9.fxe5 1:!xd4 22.Φf2 J::txb4 23.l;Ia2 j"d7 24.lIclj"c6

Another way to capture 9.dxe5 led to a Black's chances would appear to be better
νery keen play after 9 .. .'~jc6 10.ttJf3 Jιb4+ with four pawns against a piece.
11.ttJc3 ttJc5 12.Jιe3 '§a5 13. '§c2 ο-ο ίη the 18.Jιe3 ttJf5 19.ttJxf5 !:ι.Χf5 20.b5 j"d7
game 8hiroν - Iνanchuk, Tilburg 1993. 21.b6 a6 22.'§d4 '§h5 23.h3 Jιc6 24.~h2
9 ... Jιb4+ e525.'§g4!
Mter 9 ... '§h4 10.ttJg3 j,b4 11.<;~;f2 ο-ο White brings Black to a hard choice.
12.ttJf3 ttJc6 13.j,e3 White has a more pleas- 25 ... J::td8?
ant position. This was a not νery fine choice. Now the
10.Φf2 black rook will haνe to take a νery bad
There is ηο 10.Jιd2? because of 10 ... stand οη the side of the board, and Black
'§h4+ 11.ttJg3 (if 11.g3, then 11 ... '§e4) will lose quickly. If Black wanted to ex-
11 ... '§xd4, and Black wins. change the queens, he should haνe done it
10... 0-0+ 11.ttJf3 ttJc6 12.a3 at once 25 ... '§xg4 26.hxg4 J:::!.f6, otherwise
The German grandmaster R.Κnaak rec- it would be better to aνoid it by 25 ... '§f7.
ommended 12.j,e3. 26. '§xh5 ~xh5 27.l1hf1 g6
Ιη case of 27 ... e4 28.j"d4 Black's posi-
tion would be hopeless because ofthe long-
lasting weakness of black squares ίη the
centre ofthe board. 80, the game ends ίη a
forced way.
28.j"f3 ~f5 29.j"g4 !:ι.xf1
If29 ... 1:ιff8, then the solution is 30 ...th6
I;Ife8 (after 30 ... ~xf131.kIxf1 White mates)
31.1Η6, and the tF1reat of iιg4-e6 is fatal
for Black.
30.llxf1 Φg7
There is ηο 30 ... ~f8 because of31.Jιe6+
12 ... ttJdxe5! Φg7 32.j"h6+, while 30 ... Jιd7 should be
Black sacrifices a piece for an attack of answered with 31.i.g5.
the king that is stuck ίη the centre. 31.i.e6 i.e8 32.i.c5 1-0
13.axb4 Mter 32 ... i.c6 (if 32 ... d4, then 33.Jιf8+
Ιη case of 13.dxe5 iιc5+ 14.~e1 (there Φh8 34.Jιe7 ~d7 35.Jιf6+ wins, and 32 ... h5
is ηο 14.Jιe3 because of 14 ... d4, and if is to be parried with mere 33.Jιe7 1:Ia8
14.Φg3, then simply 14 ... ttJxe5) 14 ... ttJxe5 34.j"xd5) 33.J::tf7+ Φh6 34.h4, threatening
Black gets two pawns for a piece and a to mate with i.e7-g5+ and ~f7xh7#.
promising position, because White cannot
take another piece with 15.ttJxe5 because 88 Cll
of 15 ... Jιf2+ 16. Φd2 '§g5+. Hernandez - Shirov
13 ... '§h4+ 14.Φg1 Round 4 17.06
If14.ttJg3, then 14... ttJxd4 15.Jιe2 ttJxe2!
16.'§xe2 Jιd7. 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.ttJc3 ttJf6 4.Jιg5 dxe4
14 ... ttJxf3+ 15.gxf3 J::txf3 16.ttJg3 ttJxd4 5.ttJxe4 Jιe7 6.i.xf'6 i.xf6 7.ttJf3 0-08.Jιc4
17.j,g2 J::tf'7? ttJc6 9.c3 e5 10.d5
Black has oνerlooked the strongest con- ΟηΙΥ this way White can struggle for
tinuation of the attack. Mter 17 ... ttJe2+! an adνantage. Mter a timid 10.dxe5 with
18. '§xe2 '§d4+ 19.j,e3 J::txe3 20. '§f2 J::td3 the idea to exchange eνerything Black got
(20 ... Jιd7 21.ttJe2 '§b6 22.J::ta3) 21. '§xd4 a considerable adνantage after 10 ... ttJxe5
11.l2Jxf6+ 'iffxffi 12.l2Jxe5 'iffxe5+ 13. ~e21:Ie8 This generosity is not quite clear. Prob-
14.'iffxe51:txe5+ 15.Φd2 i.e616.i.xe6 with ably A.Shirov didn't want 16 ... .!:!.fe8 because
the help of an intermediate manoeuvre of 17.b4, while after 16 ... e4 White would
16 ... 1:Id8+! 17.Φc2 1:Ie2+ 18.'it>b3 fxe6 keep some advantage after 17.l2Jd4 .ixd4
19.1::tad1 ~d6 ίη the game Spassky - Shirov, 18.~xd4 (if 18.cxd4, then after 18 ... l2Jd3
Paris 2000. 19 ..ixd3 exd3 20. 'iffxd3 'iffxd5 the game is
10... l2Jb8 close to a draw) 18 ... f5 19 b4.
Later, ίη an exhibition match with 17.a3
V.Anand during the Olympic Games ίη White behaves capriciously, Ιίηgeήηg with the
Sydney, A.Shirov preferred another retreat blow οη e5.
-10 ... l2Je7. After 11.l2Jxffi+ gxf612.l2Jh4l2Jg6 17... a4
13. 'iffd2 '>t>h8 14.0-0-0 .ig4 15 ..ie2 'iffd6 Black, ίη his turn, is very persistent and
16.l2Jh4 Iϊg8 Black managed to keep the doesn't want to take care ofthe undefended
balance. the e5-pawn. Ιη case of 17 ... e4 the play
11. 'iffe2 i.f5 could have developed close to the lines that
This position was played repeatedly ίη were regarded ίη the comment to Black's
2000. sixteenth move.
12.0-0 18.l2Jxe5 ~fe8 19.f4 l:te7 20. §'f2 h5
It will be recalled that ίη the game Leko Black gets a minimal compensation for
- Κhalifman, Budapest (m/4) 2000 White the pawn ίη the form of certain play οη
won thanks to the continuation 12.0-0-0 black squares, nothing more.
l2Jd7 13.l2Jg3 i.g6 14.i.d3!. But apparently 21.g3 g6 22.i.f1 b6 23.l2Jc4 1::[xe1
the Hungarian grandmaster wanted to 24.1:rxe1 'iffd725.d6
define the move order more exactly, so ίη White is going to get rid ofthe d5-pawn
the end of June ίη the duel Leko - Shirov, ίη order to open υρ white diagonals for his
Frankfurt (active) 2000 he played 12.l2Jg3 pieces .
.ig4 13.h3 .ixf3 14.'iffxf3l2Jd7 15.l2Je4 .ie7 25 ...~d8
16.0-0-0 .1ιd6 17.g4 with White's initiative. Of course there is ηο 25 ... cxd6? because
However, it is not all. Ιη the game Short - of26.l2Jxb6.
M.Gurevich, Shenyang 2000 after 12 ...td3 26. ~f3 b5 27.dxc7 'iffxc7 28.l2Je3
.ixe4 13 ..ixe4 l2Jd7 14.0-0-0 ..te7 15.g4 l2Jb3?!
.td6 16.Φb1 I:tb8 17.h4 b5 18.l2Jg5 g6 One more move that is hard to explain.
19 ...tc2 b4 20.c4l2Jc5 21. 'iffe3 'ifff6 22.h5 h6 Mter 29 ... l2Jd3 30.I:ι.e2 (ίη case of 30.i.xd3
23.l2Je4 l2Jxe4 24 ...txe4 White showed the .ί:ϊΧd3 all black pieces that stay οη the board
chess world a real masterpiece, that proved are rather active) 30... '>t>g7 Black would still
White's advantage despite the presence of have certain counterplay ίη exchange for
opposite coloured bishops οη the board. the missing pawn.
12... l2Jd7
Ιη the zone tournament ίη Croatia ίη
April 2000 Black decided not to delay the
exchange of his bishop for White's knight
ίη the game Sutovsky - Psakhis, Pula 2000,
and after 12 ... i.xe4 13. 'iffxe4 ~d6 14 ..ί:ϊad1
l2Jd7 15.i.b5 l2Jb6 16.J::He1 a6 17.i.d3 g6 a
complex position with mutual chances ap-
peared οη the board.
13.1ϊad1 i.xe4 14.'iffxe4 l2Jc5 15.'iffe3
§'d6 16.Sfel a5?!
29 ...tg2? life. This is why Black chooses a moνe,

White shouldn't haνe refused to take which, apart from deνeloping his pieces,
another pawn. After 29 . ..txb5 '§b8 (if supports the adνance c7-c5 maximally. It
29 ... J::td2, then 30.J::te2 is enough, because can be added that another efficient measu-
30 ... 4Jd2 can be met with 30. '§c6 '§xc6 re against 7 ...td2 is the moνe 7 ... lbf6!?
31 ...txc6 J::tb8, and now both the simple 8.4Jxd5
32.4Jdl 4Jc4 33.J::te2 and more heaνy Black was ready to meet the conti-
32.4Jd5!? plus three passed pawns oνer nuation 8.e4 with 8 ... lbxc3 9.~xc3 c5!.
weigh Black's extra exchange) 30.'§c6 (if 8 ... exd5
30.'§e2, then Black retains a counterplay Ιη spite of general rules it is better for
after 30 ... 1id2, while ίη case of30 ..txa4lbd2 Black to close now the diagonal a8-hl
31. '§c6 J:.d6 White has problems defending which is usually meant for the light-
the b5-pawn and the f3-square at the same squared bishop. Ιη case of 8 ... iLxd5 White
time) 30 ... ..td4!? (after 30 ... J:Id6 31.'§e8+ would be able to deνelop a strong initia-
'§xe8 32.iιxe8 4Jc5 33.4Jc4 White's extra tiνe: 9. '§c2 c5 10.e4 .tb7 11.d5!
pawns will tell οη the situation later) 9.g3..td6
31.~c4! (after 31.cxd4 4Jxd4 32.'§c4 4Jxb5 Ιη the 1/8 final of the FIDE World
Black keeps the counterplay for the sacri- Championship 1999 the Armenian grand-
ficed pawn) it is not easy to preνent a cap- master managed to take the initiatiνe af-
ture οη g6, because White wins after ter 9 ... ..te7 10 ...th3 ο-ο 11.0-0 a5 12.Iίcl
31 ... ~d6 32.'§xa4. c6 13 ...tg5! and as a result won an im-
29 ... '§c5 30.'it>h11:te8 1h - 1h portant game, Akopian - Κir.Georgieν, Las
With the extra pawn White could play Vegas (m/2) 1999.
for a win, ifhe had time and desire. 10.jιg5..te7
This looks more natural than 10 ... f6,
which would haνe weakened the white
89 Ε12 squares.
Akopian - Polgar 11 ...txe7 '{:fJxe7 12.J::tc1 c5 13 ..th3
Round 4 17.06 Α small noνelty. Black had a pleasant
play ίη the game Lputian - Komaroν,
1.d4 4Jf6 2.c4 e6 3.4Jf3 b6 4.a3 iLb7 Reggio Emilia 1998: haνing preνiously ex-
5.4Jc3 d5 6.cxd5 4Jxd5 7.jιd2 changed 13.dxc5 bxc5, he played then
The Petrosian Variation of the Queen's 14 ...th3 that was followed by 14 ... 4Jb6
Indian Defence is frequently used ίη mod- 15.'§c2 .tc8! 16 ...tg2 ..ta6 17.0-0 1:!.c8.
ern tournaments. The sense ofWhite's last
moνe is that ίη case of an exchange of the
knights οη c3 he wants to take with the
bishop, not with the pawn.
7 ... lbd7
Νο matter how passiνe White's seνenth
moνe may look, it is malicious enough. 80,
after a careless 7 ... c5?! White could take a
great initiatiνe haνing sacrificed a pawn
with 8.e4! Ιη case of the most natural
7 ... ..te7 White would go 8.'§c2 thus re-
ducing the position to a νaήatίοn that is
well-known and used to be popular once 13 ... 0-Ο!
because it guarantees Black against quiet Unlike ίη the game cited ίη the comment
ofWhite's thirteenth rnoνe, Black possesses sure οη White's position.

ηο conνenient square for a retreat of his 26.tbxg5
knight, so he νentures οη a pawn sacrifice, White has lost his patience and he tries
gaining a sufficient play as the white king to exacerbate the situation sornehow. Natu-
is now stuck ίη the centre. rally, v.Akopian di.d not want to suffer tor-
14.dxc5 bxc515.SΙxd7 ~xd716.1:txc5 rnents with his stalernated pieces οη the
~h3 first rank after 26. ~d2 1:te8! (if 26 ... SΙg4,
Now the short castling is not possible then 27.1:tgl) 27.tbg1 (ίη case of27.~d3 .tg4
for White. 28.tbg11:tc8 29. ~d2 d3 30. ~e3 the solution
17.~d3 is 30 ... r;t>f8 with the idea to engage the rook
If ~c7, then the rnere 17 ... 1:tab8 retains frorn the e8-square, Black rnating after
all pluses ofBlack's position. 31.f.3 .th3 32.tbxh31:tc1+! 33. ~xc1 ~xe2#)
17...1:tac8 18.1:txc8 1:txc8 19. ~b5? 27 ... ~e4 28.b3 (White can resign after 28.f.3
White loses the thread of the garne. Ιη ~e3 29.~xe3 dxe3) 28 ... .te6 29.b41:tc8.
case of a passiνe 19.kJ:g1? with the idea of 26 ...hxg5 27. ~xg5+ Φf8 28. ~h6+ Φe8
g3-g4 and 1:tg3 Black keeps a strong initia- 29.f3 1:tc6 30. ~f4
tiνe for the sacrificed pawn playing 19 ... d4! The checks cannot repeat endlessly. Μ
(there is ηο 19 ... l:!.c1+?! 20.r;t>d2 ~h6+ 21.e3 ter 30.~h8+ Φe7 31.~h4+ f6 32.~h6 (if
1:txg1 22.tbxg1 ~xh2? because of 23. ~b5! 32.~h7+, then 32 ... r;t>d8) 32 ... .th3 33.~g7+
with White's win) 20. ~xd4 ~h6 21.r;t>f1 r;t>d8 34.~f8+ r;t>c7 35.~e7+ .td7 the threat
~xh2. The co-ordination ofthe pieces could of 36 ... 1:tc1 would rnake White to resign.
still haνe been restored with 19.r;t>d2!? Μ 30... ~xh2 31.~b8+ Φe7 32.Φd21:tc2+
ter 19 ... ~g2 (19 ... d4!? also deserνes atten- 33.Φχc2 ~xe2+ 34.r;t>b3 ~xf1 35.~b4+
tion, with the idea after 20. ~xd4?! ~h6+ Φe60-1
21. ~e3 ~d6+ 22.Φe1 to continue the at-
tack by rneans of 22 ... ~d7! 23.r;t>f1 .ti:e8
24.~b3 ~h3+ 25.r;t>gl1:tc8 26.~e3 h6 and 90 Cl1
White plays practically without his rook) "Polgar - Shirov
20.1:tc11:txc1 21.Φχc1 ~xf2 22.'it>d2 Black Round 5 18.06
rnaintained the rnaterial balance while
White escaped frorn a rnate. l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.tbc3 tbf6 4 ..tg5 dxe4
19 ... SΙc6 20.~d3 .ta4 21.~e3 h6 5.tbxe4 tbbd7 6.tbf3 .te7 7.tbxf6+ SΙxί6
Black threatens to inνade to c2, secur- 8.~d2
ing the safety ofthe eighth rank. Α rnore tensed situation would haνe
22.tbd4 ~g2 23 ..ti:f1 .td7! arisen after 8.h4.
Αη incautious capture 23 ... ~xh2?? 8 ... 0-0 9.0-0-0 .txg5 10.tbxg5 tbf6
would lead Black to a sudden defeat after 11 ..te2 ~d6 12 ..tf3
24.tbf5! Α knight fork οη e7 threatens, and
after 24 ... 1:tc2 25. ~e5 Black gets big prob-
lerns with his king.
24.tbf3 d4!
Now White cannot escape.
25.~f4
There is ηο 25.tbxd4?? because of
25 ... .th3, while after- 25. ~xd4 the rnoνe
25 ...1:tcl+ solνes.
25 ... g5
Black is putting more and more pres-
12 ... 1ιd7!? deνeloped as follows: 10 ... tjrd8 11.a4 ο-ο
Nearly ίη eνery game A.8hiroν finds an 12.0-0 1:!b8 13.CLJc4 D.Collier - J.Bellin,
opportunity to sacrifice something. 8ince England 2000.
the game Karpoν - Bareeν, Tilburg 1991 1l:~c2 tjra6 12.0-0
12 ... l:Ib8 13.CLJe4 CLJxe4 14.1ιχe4 has been White shows that he is ready to νenture
regarded to be a safe continuation, main- οη complications.
taining an equality. This estimation was 12... 0-0
confirmed ίη particular by the recent game Ιη case of 12 ... tjrxe2 13.1:!fe1 tjra6 White
Rausis - Komaroν, France 2000. would gain a sufficient compensation for
13 ..ixb7 1:!ab8 14 ..if3 1ιc615.1:!he1 h6 the pawn with 14.CLJf4 or 14.CLJf1 because
16.1ιχc6 he would be able to put pressure οη the
There is ηο 16.CLJe4 because of 16 ... CLJxe4 semi-opened e-file where the black king
17.1ιχe4 .ixe4 18.1:!xe4 tjrd5, and White's stands.
rook and a2-pawn are attacked at the same 13.e4
time. White is going ahead regardless of ma-
16 ... tjrxc6 17.CLJf3 CLJd518.tjra5 terial sacrifices. The position could haνe
White should be careful. 80, he cannot been strengthened with 13.c4, and if
play 18.'>t>b1? because of 18 ... CLJc3+, while 13 ... b5, then simply 14.CLJf4.
after 18.CLJe5 there is a νery strong 18 ... 13 ...fxe4 14.CLJxe4 CLJxd5 15.CLJhg5 1ιf5
tjra4, and White has problems ίη case of 16.1:!ad1
19.a3 (there is a similar combination after White wants to use king's rook οη the
19.'it>b11:!xb2+! 2ω,t>χb2 :ι:i:b8+ 21.Φa1 CLJb4, f-file, be that a chance.
too, with Black's win), the solution is
19 ...1:!xb2! 2ω,t>χb2 1:!b8+ 21.'>t>a2 CLJb4+, and
Black's attack is irresistible.
18 ... 1:!b6 19.CLJe5 tjrb7 20. tjra3 1:!a6
21.tjrb3 1:!b6 lh-1J2
'91 Α45
Akopian - Hernandez
Round 5 18.06
1.d4 CLJf6 2 ..ig5

This method often helps to leaνe all the 16... e6
Α critical moment. Black has to find a
theoretical preparation far behind.
2 ... c5 3.1ιχf6 gxf6 4.d5 tjrb6 5.tjrc1 f5 continuation that would let him use maxi-
6.g3 1ιg7 7.c3 d6 8.CLJd2 CLJd7 9.CLJh3 CLJf6 mally his defending resources. 16 ... CLJc7?!
10.1ιg2.id7 looks shady ίη νiew of 17.g4 1ιg6 18.f4 f5
Νο matter how much the opponents (ίη case of 18 ... f6 19.f5 White has llOJIHa~ a
tried, they did not manage to go far from compensation for the pawn) 19.CLJg3! fxg4
the theory. ΟηΙΥ Black's last moνe intro- 20.f5 1ιe8 21. tjrxe4 or eνen 21.f6!? 1ιg6
duces something new into the game. Pre- 22 ..ie4! with White's dangerous initiatiνe
νiously 10 ... 0-0 11.0-0 e5 12. tjrc2 tjra6 13.c4 ίη both cases. 8trange as it may seen, it is
1ιd7 14.a4 b6 15.f3 1ιh6 16.1:!a3 with a com- not so easy to disproνe another opportu-
plex play occurred ίη the game J.Armas- nity -16 ... tjrxa2 because after 17.1:!a1
Izeta Txabarri, Alcobendas 1994, recently (there is ηο 17.(~4? CLJb6 18.CLJf6+ exf6
there was played a game ίη England which 19. tjrxf5 fxg5 20.1ιe4 because of the mere
158 8uper Tournαments 2000
retreat ofthe b1ack rook 20 ... l:tfd8) 17 ... ~c4 the game Psakhis - Topa1oν, Las Vegas (m/
18.1:ta4 (otherwise, for examp1e after 1) 1999) 16 ... liJc6 17.liJc4 l:tfd8 (ίη case of
18 ..t[fc1, the b1ack knight simp1y escapes 17 ... l:tad8 White obtained a better p1ay by
to 18 ... liJc7) 18 ... liJb4 (if 18 ... ~b5 19.c4 18.~e3 b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.~b6 Pa1ac -
liJb4?, then White wins with 20.liJf6+) Hracek, Batumi 1999) 18.a5 bxa5 19.
19.1iJf6+ (after 19.~d1 Sιd7 20.cxb4 Sιxa4 liJbxa5.
21.~xa4 h6 B1ack has too many pawns) 13.Sιxf6 iιxf6 14.lΔd5 iιg5 15.liJd2
19 ... exf6 20. ~xf5 fxg5 21.cxb4 .ί:!ae8 liJd4 16.iιd3liJe6 17.liJc4 iιxd5 lh - lh
22.1:rxa 7 White οη1Υ has a sufficient com- The οη1Υ weakness ίη B1ack's position
pensation for the pawn. οη the d5-square was coνered, and the ορ
17..ί:!Χd5 exd5 ponents found ηο grounds to continue the
It seems that B1ack took the pawn a bit strugg1e.
hasti1y. After 17 ... h6! White cou1d get
troub1es with the deνe10pment of his at-
tack. The next game defined the winner ofthe
18.liJf6+ .txf6 19. ~xf5 .J1.xg5 20. tournament.
~xg5+ 'iilh8 21. ~f6+ 'it>g8 22.~d1 l:ae8
23.iιf1 ~c6 24.~g5+ 'iilh8 25.~f6+ 'it>g8 93 C17
26 ..th3 Shirov - Akopian
White preνents the moνe 26 ... .:e6, Round 6 19.06
though he cou1d make the perpetua1 check
immediate1y as well. 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.liJc3
26 ... ~a4 27.~g5+ lh-% The French Defence was permanent1y
ίη requisition ίη Merida. The same ορρο
nents chose another popu1ar continuation
92 Β92 3.liJd2 ίη the first round-robin with the
Hernandez - Polgar difference that they p1ayed with reνersed
Round 6 19.06 co1ours.
3 ... iιb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Sιa5 6.b4 cxd4
1.e4 c5 2.liJf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.liJxd4 7.~g4 lΔe7 8.bxa5 dxc3 9.~xg7 1::!.g8
lΔf6 5.liJc3 a6 6.iιe2 e5 7.liJb3 iιe7 8.0-0 10.~xh7liJbc6 11.liJf3
ο-ο 9.Φh1 b6 10.f3 i..b7 11.a4 lΔc6 11.f4 is another continuation ίη this ρο
12 ..tg5 sition is that occurs ίη the highest rated
Mter 12.liJd5 liJxd5 13.exd5 lΔb4 14.c4 eνents as we11.
a5 15.iιd2liJa6 B1ack got a conνenient p1ay 11 ... ~c7 12.Sιf4 Sιd7 13.iιg3
ίη the game J.Po1gar - lfopa1oν, Dos This is the main continuation for this
Hermanas 1999. position, though White used to try other
12 ... ~c8 opportunities, too: 13.a6, 13.h4, 13 ..td3. Ιη
The moνe 12 ... liJb4 occurred many the 1ast case the game comes frequent1y
times. White managed to keep some ίηί with other order of moνes to the position
tiatiνe ίη the game Iνanchuk - Topa1oν, that will arise ίη this game after 13 ...
Monte Car10 (rapid) 1998 after 13.liJb1 h6 0-0-0 14.Sιg3. White's wish to spare a
(if 13 ... l::tc8, then 14.liJa3 is possib1e as it tempo with 14.0-0 not moνing the bishop
was ίη the game Pa1ac - Boric, Pu1a 1999) first resu1ted ίη the 10ss ofthe white queen
14.iιxf6 iιxf6 15.lΔa3 ~c7 16.~d2 (ίη the after 14 ... 1::!.h8 15.~g7 1::!.dg8 16.~f6 d4
1/16 fina1 of the FIDE Wor1d Champion- 17.iιg3 liJd5 18.~xf7 liJd8 ίη the game
ship 1999 there was ηο strugg1e after 16.c3 Hjartarson - L.Hansen, Reykjaνik 1995.
tίJc6 17.tίJc4 J:iad8 18.'!1d3 i..g5 19.1Δe3 ίη 13 ... 0-0-0
The move 13 ... tιJxa5 is not popular, should have remembered that the white
though after 14 ..td3 tιJc4 15.0-0 tιJb2 queen, residing ίη his camp, caused
16 ..ί:tfb1 tιJxd3 17:ι;,γχd3 tιJf5 18.1::tb3 l:tc8 troubles with the co-ordination ofthe black
19.1:tab1 b5 20.~b4 ~c5 21.1Hb3 a5 22.1:ι.f4 pieces. It is worth to be noted that a simi-
Black performed a showy sacrifice of the lar idea was performed ίη the game Lutz -
queen and won the game with 22 ... ~c4! Lyrberg, Κatrineholm 1999 with the differ-
Wang Zili - Lputian, Beijing 1991. ence that the white queen was οη h6, and
14..td3 the black queen occupied the a5-square.
When the d3-square is occupied, 18.gxf3 tιJxe5 19..te2
White's queen often has problems to get Mter 19.f4 tιJf3+ 20.Φg2 tιJd2 21.J::tfe1
free. After 14. ~xf7 ndf8 15. ~h7 tιJf5 d4 Black has a good play owing to the
16 ..td3l::ϊh8 17. ~g6 1:ifg8 18. ~f6 Black set threats οη the diagonal a8-h1.
a trap for the strongest white piece by 19... d4 20.1:ί.fe1
means of 18 ... tιJce7 19.0-0 .ί:I.h6 20.iιxf5 Now 20.f4 would not be very good again
tιJxf5 21. ~f7 ~d8 22 ..tf4 l:tf8 ίη the game because of 20 ... tιJ5g6.
T.Ernst - L.Karlsson, Sweden 1993. 20 ....tc6 21.~f1
14... ~xa5 15.0-0 ~c5 If 21 ..td1, then Black could make a
A.Κhalifman managed to gain a victory threat to the f3-square with 21 ... Φd7 and
over A.Galkin and J.Polgar with the help after 22.~h5 he would continue 22 ... tιJf5.
of 15 ... 1:th8! ίη Hoogeveen ίη the end of 21 ...tιJxf3
2000. 21 ... .txf3!?
16.~xf7 22 ..txf3 .txf3 23.~e5 .td5 24. ~gl Φd 7
The evacuation of the queen with 25.J::!.dl ~xa3?!
16. ~h4 allowed Black to obtain a good play 25 ... b5 was more exact.
after 16 ... a6 17.tιJg5 .te8 18.~f4 tιJd4 26.~h4?!
19.J::!.fe1 tιJef5 20.a4 J::tg7 ίη the game Black had serious problems ίη case of
J.Polgar - Vaganian, Groningen 1993. 26.J:Ixd5! exd5 27.~e1!
16 ...1::tdf8 17. ~h7
26 ... ~a4?
17 ...~xf3!? This was the k(~y moment ίη the game.
Black could limit himself to a calm Ιη case of a break-through ίη the centre
17 ... J::th8 18.~g7 l::ϊhg8, if he wanted to, 26 ... d3 Black would have to reckon with
though ίη A.Shirov's ορίηίοη after 19. ~h6 27.1:!.xd5+!, as now after 27 ... exd5 28.l::ϊxd3
tιJf5 20 ..txf5 J::!.xf5 21. ~e3 White kept some ~c1+ (Black's position would not be better
advantage. The sacrifice of the exchange after 28 ... ~c5 also because of 29.~f6 ~c8
that was performed ίη the game allowed 30.J::!.e3) 29.Φg2 ~xc2 30.~h7 White would
V.Akopian to develop his initiative, but he suddenly develop the most dangerous at-
tack of the black king which Black would ~xc2 38 ..ϊ::ί.e5+ Φb4 39.~xc6 ~bl+ 40.Φh2
hardly be able to repulse. 80, after 30 ... Φe8 ~a2+ 41.Φh3 ~c4 the result of the game
Whitewins with 31.~h5+ .ί:!.g6 (ίf31 ... Φd7, would be unclear despite White's extra
then 32.1::!.xd5+ solνes) 32.Ϊ!.e3 Φd7 33. ~e5. rook.
Howeνer, there is a stronger νaήatίοη: 26 ... 36 ... Φc6 37.~f6+ Φc5 38.~e5 Φc6
~a2!? 27.~xd4 lΔc6 28.1::!.xd5+ ~xd5 29. 39.Ϊ!.χd4 ~al+ 40.Φf2 ~hl
~xd5+ exd5 30 ..t!.xd5 ~e6 31 ..!:d3 a5 and
despite White's extra pawn Black has a fair
chance of a draw.
27.Ϊ!.χe6!
The defenceless position of the e7-
knight allows White to accomplish a win-
ning combination, whereas Black would
haνe strong drawing chances after 27. ~xd4
~xd4 28.1::!.xd4 4Jc6 (and ίη case of 28 ... b5
29.~d3 4Jc6 30.J.:!.el b4 Black's passed
pawns οη the queenside shouldn't be un-
derestimated) 29.Ϊ!.eχd5+ exd5 30.~xd5+
Φe6 31.~d3 a5 32.Ϊ!.χc3 a4. 41 . .ϊ::ί.Χd5!
27 ...1::txg3+ The last blow that answered the questi-
There is ηο 27 ... ~xe6? because of οη who is the winner. White forced the tran-
28 ..ϊ::ί.eΙ+ ..t>d7 29.~xe7+, while 27 ... .i.xe6? sition to the winning pawn endgame.
is impossible owing to 28.J.:!.xd4+. 41 ... ~xd5 42.~xc3+ ..t>d6 43.~d3 a5
28.hxg3 4Jf5 29.~h7+ Φχe6 30.~g6+ 44.Φe3 a4 45.~xd5+ ..t>xd5 46 ...t>d2 b4
Φd7 31.~xf5+ Φc6 32.~f6+ Φc5 33.~e7+ 47 ...t>cll-0
Φc4 34. ~e5 Φc5 35.f4 b5 36.f5! Black's pawns οη the queenside will be
White stakes οη his passed pawns οη stopped now by the white king, and then
the kingside. Ιη case of36.~c7+ .i.c6 37.l:Iel the blow with the c-pawn will solνe.
Dortmund 161
"Dortmunder Schachtage"
Dortmund 7.07.16.07, cat.19
2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10
1 Κramnik 2770 Ο 1 = 1 = = = 1 6
2 Anand 2762 = = = 1 = 1 1 6
3 Adams 2755 1 = = = 1 = 5
4 Leko 2743 = = Ο = 1 = 1 5
5 Akopian 2660 Ο = = = 1 1 = 5
6 Junior 6 χχχχ
Ο = = Ο 1 4.5
7 Κhalifman 2667 = Ο = = = = = 4
8 Bareev 2702 = = = Ο Ο = 1 4
9 Piket 2649 Ο Ο Ο 1
10 Huebner 2615 Ο Ο = = Ο Ο =
The organizers of the 28th "Dortmunder Schachtage" wanted to attract everyone's

attention to the tournament, so the computer program Junior 6, worked out by Israeli
specialists, running οη the eighth processor Fujitsu Siemens Primergy, was among the
participants. But ηο computer had ever faced such strong opponents. It was quite un-
clear how it would fare, with its 2.8 million position per second but facing players with
ratings well over the 2700 mark. The computer was given the rating 2700, it turned
out to be rather a strong rival.
The start and prize funds came up to 200,000 marks; the Stadtsparkasse Dortmund,
the city of Dortmund, Mercedes Benz, Holiday Ιηη, Sysdat, ChessBase and Schach
Niggemann were the main sponsors. Games took place οη the stage of the national
theatre ίη Dortmund, οη five boards with giant computer projections, which allowed
the public to follow every move. The theatre was always quite full, οη the last day it
was ίη fact packed, so that there were spectators sitting οη the stairs ίη the aisles.
The first round turned out to be unexpectedly effective. Κramnik, Anand, Adams
and Leko gained victories. They were competing for the first place, but ίη the last
round the computer suddenly joined their struggle. Mter three rounds Anand was the
first - 2.5; Adams, Κramnik and Leko were half-point behind. Then the leaders started
playing with each other. At first ίη the fourth round Adams defeated Κramnik (game
109), then ίη the fifth round Anand defeated Adams (game 114), but ίη the next round
Κramnik won a victory over Anand (game 119)! Before the last round Κramnik took
the lead - 5.5 points, Anand and Leko had 5.0 points each. Ιη the last round Κramnik
quickly drew the game with Κhalifman, Anand won against Huebner and Leko lost to
Junior (game 135)! Now it is not so easy to gain a victory over a program even for a
high-level grandmaster. Κramnik showed how to play against a computer (game 118).
Picket was also well prepared for the struggle with the machine (game 133). But Leko
tried to sacrifice something and that was wrong tactics to play positions where the
computer could calculate all variations.
94 D43 19 ... ~f5 20.~d2 ~g6 21.fxg4 hxg4

Κramnik - Akopian 22.~e31:tf5
Round 1 7.07 An exchange ofthe rooks by 22 ... ~xf1+
23 ..ί:Ixf1 ~f8 would let White keep his ίηί
ι.ttJf3 d5 2.d4 lίJf6 3.c4 c6 4.lίJc3 e6 tiative after 24.~xf8+ lίJxf8 (if 24 ... 'it>xf8,
5 ..tg5 h6 6 ..th4 then 25. ~f4+ is unpleasant, and after
White ventures οη a gambit continua- 24 ... ..txf8 Black has to reckon with 25.
tion. Formerly 6 ...txf6 ~xf6 was played ~e5!) 25.i.e5, so that the sacrificed pawn
most often ίη the Moscow Variation of the would be fully compensated.
Slav Defence, but the advantage of two 23.lίJe4 c5
bishops which Black gains ίη this line hin- Black parts with the extra pawn ίη or-
ders White seriously from developing his der to engage his light-squared bishop ίη
initiative. It should be mentioned that an active play and take the initiative. Μ
Vladimir Κramnik is one of those players ter 23 ... ~af8 24.lίJc5 ..tc8 25.b3 cxb3
who used to defend Black's position ίη this 26.axb3 ~xf1+ 27.i.xf1 White would keep
variation successfully. a lasting pressure.
6 ... dxc4 7.e4 g5 8 ...tg3 b5 9 ...te2 ~b7 24.lίJxc5 i.d5 25.a4 ~af8!
10.h4 g411.lίJe5 h5 12.0-0 lίJbd713.~c2 Black tries to gain as much as possible
lίJxe5 14 ...txe5.tg7 15.~ad1 from the activity of his pieces without
15.b3!? from the game Goldin - 1. Νο counting sacrifices. Ιη case of 25 ... a6
vikov, NewYork 2000 also deserves atten- 26 ...te5 White would still keep the pres-
tion. sure οη Black's position.
15 ... 0-0 16..tg3 26.axb5
Mter 16.f3lίJh7 17 ..txg7 ~xg7 18.fxg4
~xh4 19.9xh5 Black forced a draw with
the help of a perpetual check after 19 ... lίJg5
20. ~d2 lίJh3+ 21.gxh3 ~g3+ 22.Φh1
~xh3+ 23.'it>gl ~g3+ 24.~h1 ~h3+ ίη the
game Van Wely - Lautier, Monaco 2000.
16... lίJh7
16 ... lίJd717.e5 c5 18.lίJe4 ..txe4 19. ~xe4
~b6 occurred previously Goldin - Κhen
kin, New York 2000.
17.e5 f5 18.exf6 ~xf6 19.f3
From ν.Κramηίk point ofνiew, 19.b3!?
with the purpose of proνiding his pieces 26 ... I!.f3!
with the d3-square, would be interesting. Practically this new blow was prede-
Dortmund 163
termined by Black with his preνious moνe. Mter 41 ... c3 42.iι.e5+ Φh7 43.'it>c4 Φg6
27.gxf3 gxf3 28.'ith2 tLΊf6? 44.iι.xc3 ..Iiιc1 45.Φd5 White's king and
It seems that Akopian does not deriνe bishop would provide a safe way to the
a maximal benefit from the situation. Μ eighth rank for the b-pawn.
ter 28 ... ..th6! it would be νery hard for
White to defend against the opponent's
threats. 80, ίη case of 29. ~c3 (if 29. ~t2, 95 C17
then 29 ... tLΊf6 is already νery unpleasant, Anand - Κhalifman
and after 29. ~a3 fxe2 30.~xf8+ ..Iiιxf8 Round 1 7.07
31.1:.e1 ~g4 ..Iiιd6! Black's attack is nearly
irresistible) 29 ... fxe2 (Black's attack seems l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.tLΊc3 ..tb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3
to be νery strong also ίη the line that was ..Iiιa5 6.b4 cxd4 7.~g4 tLΊe7 8.bxa5 dxc3
pointed out by V. Κramnik after the game: 9.~xg7 J:.g8 10.~xh7 tLΊbc6 1l.f4 ~xa5
29 ... ..Iiιf4!? 30.!ig1 tLΊg5!) 30.~xf8+ ..txf8 12.tLΊf3 ..td7 13.~bl 0-0-0 14.~d3
31.~c1 tLΊg5! (now there is already ηο
31 ... ~g4 because of32.tLΊd7! i..d6 33.tLΊe5)
32.hxg5 ..txc5 33.dxc5 ~e4 34.'it>h3 ~f5+
35.'it>h2 (if35.Φh4, then 35 ... ..Iiιf3) 35 ... ~π,
the white king is doomed. Probably the
best what White could do ίη this position
was repeating the moνes after 29. ~ e5 ..Iiιg7
30.~e3.
29.i..xf3 ..txf3 30.~xe6+ Φh8
Another retreat of the king 30 ... 'ith7
had its shortcomings too. 80, after 3U:txf3
~c2+ White could choose 32.iιt2 ~xd1
33. ~f5+ Φh8 34.tLΊe6 I:!.f7 35.tLΊg5 to be fol- 14... a6
lowed by 36. ~g6 destroying Black's posi- The opening duel that began this year
ίη Linares has continued. That game de-
tion.
νeloped similarly until Black's last moνe.
31.I:!.xf3 ~c2+ 32.1:.f2 ~xdl 33.'it>g2
~xd4
Mter 14 ... tLΊf5 White engaged the black
33 ... ~e8 giνes nothing because of knight οη f5 at once with 15.1:tg1 (ίη case
34.~c6.
of an immediate 15.~b5 ~a4 16. ~xc3 there
34.~e5 ~d5+ is 16 ... 1:.xg2 17 ...txg2 ~xb5 with a conνe
An immediate exchange of the queens nient play for Black, Rudolf - Vaganian,
34 ... ~xe5 35 ...txe5 is not better because Forchheim 2000) 15 ... d4 16.g4 tLΊfe7 17.~g3
Black's pieces οη the diagonal a1-h8 turn whereupon rather a complicated position
out to be under X-rays ofthe white bishop. arose οη the board Anand - Κhalifman,
35. ~xd5 tLΊxd5 36.1:txf8+ ..Iiιxf8 37.tLΊa4 Linares 2000. Ιη the game 8hiroν -
iιg738.'itf3 Romero, Holmes, 8alamanca 1998, 14 ... d4
Mter 38 ...tb8 ..td4 39.'it>f3 tLΊf6 black was played, and White used the fact that
pieces would haνe put a barrier οη the way the diagonal a7-g1 proνed to be closed,
ofthe white king. which let him complete the deνelopment
38 ...tLΊb6 ofhis kingside with 15.g3 tLΊf5 16 ...Iiιg2 ~c7
Now 39 . ..tb8 would be already ex- 17.0-0. With the prophylactic moνe ίη the
tremely unpleasant for Black. game Black wanted to find out White's ίη
39.tLΊxb6 axb6 40.Φe4 .txb2 41.Φd5 tentions before he would haνe to make
1-0 something definite ίη the centre himself.
15.tιJg5?! 26 ... tιJd2, nor 26.l:!:xf7 because White's com-

Α risky way, but it's not so easy to compensation for the exchange after 26 ...
prehend the shortcomings of the moνe tιJ4xe5 27.~h7 tιJxf7 28.~xf7 e5 is insuffi-
14 ... a6. Απ answer like 15.g3 would be fol- cient) 26 ... tιJ4xe5 27.h4 the strength of
lowed by 15 ... tιJf5, while the moνe 15.~gl White's dark-squared bishop would grew
made little sense as there was ηο knight and he would still maintained his counter-
οη f5. Howeνer, 15.I;:[b3!?, making Black play. But 25 ... tιJe3!? deserνed serious at-
take the path of gambit as ίη the game, tention. The fact is that ίη case of 25.~xf7
deserνed attention. Black has 25 ... b4! 26.~xe7 b3 27.cxb3 ~c6!
15 ... ~xg5! and White loses the game. And after
Α standard but quite effectiνe method 26.~c1 b4, which is relatiνely better for
for the νariation ofthe French Defence was White, Black has a νery strong initiatiνe.
chosen by the opponents. 26.~h7
16.fxg5 tιJf5 If the white queen went to the left
Preνenting ίη case of16 ... tιJxe5 the con- 26. ~xb5, then Black would haνe kept some
tinuation 17. ~e3. good winning chances after 26 ... ~xb5
17 .1ιf4 ~xa3 18.~b3 (there is ηο 26 ... ~xc2? because of 27.~xf7
Ιη case of 18.g4 Black by means of ~d7 28.jLf3 with White's win) 27.jLxb5 d3
18 ... tιJb4 19. ~d1 (if 19.':xb4 ~xb4 20.gxf5 28.cxd3 tιJxd3 29.1ιΧd3 l::!.xd3.
~xf4 21. ~xc3+ 1ιc6 then White loses) 26 ... d3 27.cxd3
19 ... tιJd4 20.1ιd3 ~a4 could organize a 27.jLxd3 is bad because of 27 ... tιJxd3
massed pressure οη ·the c2-pawn. 28.cxd3 ~xg4 29.~xf7 tιJc6.
18 ... ~a4 19.93 d4 20.1ιe2 tιJa5 21.~bl
1ιb5 22.~xb5!
White is forced to counter-sacrifice the
exchange. After 22. ~d1 tιJe3 23.jLxb5
(23.jLxe3 dxe3 24.1ιd3 jLxd3 25.cxd3 ~a2
26.~f1 e2) 23 ... tιJxc2+ 24. Φf1 axb5 25. ~d3
tιJc4 his position would collapse ίη seνeral
moνes.
22 ... axb5 23.0-0 tιJc4 24.g4 tιJe7?!

Black does not use all opportunities of
his position. Showed after the game by
A.Κhalifman 24 ... tιJfe3! was much stron-
ger. Ιη this case after 25.jLxe3 tιJxe3 27... tιJxd3?!
26.~xf7 tιJxc2 White would haνe hardly Απ important moment. 27 ... ~d4+ sug-
eνaded defeat. Here is an approximate gests itselfbut ίη this case White can keep
νariation: 27.~e4 ~a7 28.1ιf3 d3+ 29.Φg2 the tension of the position by 28.jLf2 (if
tιJe3+ 30.Φg3 c3 3U::txb7 tιJf1+ 32.~g2 ~a6 28.I:tf2, then 28 ... c2 solνes, and ίη case of
and the black c-pawn, haνing turned into 28.'it>h1 there is an unpleasant 28 ... ~e3)
a queen, will protect the c7-square near because after 28 ... ~xe5 29. ~xf7 ~xe2
the king. 30. ~xe7 ~xg4+ 31.jLg3 the actiνity of
25.1ιg3 tιJb2 White's queen and dark-squared bishop
Black wants to perform the adνance would giνe a lot of trouble for the black
d4-d3 as soon as possible. Concentrating king ίη the absence of the pawn οη e5.
efforts οη the e5-pawn by 25 ... tιJc6 looks Probably it was worth to alert the reserνes
less promising as ίη this case after 26. ~h7 with 27 ... tιJc6!. Then after 28.~xf7 (there
(there is neither 26. ~e4 because of is ηο 28.J:!.xf7 because of 28 ... c2) 28 ... lbd4
Dortmund 165
29.SΙf3 tιΊxf3+30 ..ί::!.xf3 Black's queen and 5.e5 h6 6.SΙd2 ..txc3 7.bxc3 4Je4 8.~g4
knight would be able to damage White's Wf8 9 ...td3 4Jxd2 10.~xd2 c5 11.4Jf3
forces by 30 .. .'~d4+ 31.SΙf2 'l::fxg4+ 32 ..ί::!.g3 The opponents played the so-called
'l::fd1+ 33.'.t>g2 tιΊxd3 and then ίη case ofthe Mac Catchon Variation ίη the French De-
threat to their king with 34.SΙb6 they fence. Ιη case of an immediate capture
would have time to defend against White's 11.dxc5 there was 11 ... 4Jd7.
attack with the manoeuvre 34 ... 'l::fe2+ 11 ... 4Jc6
35.'.t>h1 'l::fe4+ 36.~g1 'l::fc6, and now if Black allows White to open up the play
37 ..ltxd8, then simply 37 ... c2. ίη the centre. After 11 ... c4 12.SΙe2 4Jc6
28.'l::fxf7 'l::fd4+ 29.'.t>hl 'l::fd5+ 30.SΙf3 13.h4 b5 14.a3 ..td7 15.h5 a5 16 ..ί::!.hb1 .ί::!.b8
'l::fd7 31.g6 tιΊc6?! 17. 'l::ff4 ~e7 18.g4 ~f8 19. ~e3 '.t>d8 20.4Je1
31 ... c2 was probably Black's best chance '.t>c7 Black managed to get a reliable posi-
even though White would get a good com- tion and even win ίη the game Chri-
pensation for the exchange after 32.g7 (not stiansen - Korchnoi, Reykjavik 2000.
so clear is 32 ..lth4 .ί::!.e8 33.g7 tιΊxe5! 34. 'l::ff8 12.dxc5 ~a5 13. ~f4 ~xc5 14.4Jd4
or even 34. 'l::fxe7) 32 ... c1'l::f 33.Mxc1+ tιΊxc1 SΙd7 15.kIhbl b6
34.SΙh4 tιΊg8 35. 'l::ff8 Me8 36. 'l::fc5+ '.t>b8 15 ... 4Jd8 occurred twice, ίη the game
37.'l::fxc1 'l::fxg7 38.SΙf2. Morozevich - Vallejo, Pamplona 1999
32.SΙe4 tιΊc5 White answered with the move 16.a4,
There is ηο 32 ... tιΊcxe5 because of the while ίη the recent game Mikhaletz -
forced line 33. 'l::fxd7+ '.t>xd7 34 ...txe5 tιΊxe5 Mchedlishvili, Alushta 2000 White pre-
35 ..ί::!.d1+ '.t>e7 36 ..ί::!.xd8 '.t>xd8 37.g7. ferred 16.SΙb5.
33 ...th4 tιΊxe5 34.~xd7+ 16.a44Ja5 17.SΙa6 SΙc8
Ιη case of 34 ...txd8 Black could still Black did not want to agree to the posi-
struggle by 34 ... tιΊxf7 35.gxf7 ~xd8 36.f8~ tion after 17 ... 4Jc4+ 18.SΙxc4 ~xc4 19.a5
tιΊxe4. .ί::!.c8 (an immediate 19 ... b5 was bad because
34 ...MXd7 35 ..ltg3 4Jxg6 of 20.1::!.b4, and there was ηο 20 ... ~c5 be-
Black parts with the piece. After cause of 21.1:lxb5!) 20.~g3, but he could
35 ... 4Jc6 36.~f8+ 4Jd8 (there is ηο 36 ... ~d8 just stay where he was with 17 ... ~e7!?
because of 37.g7) 37.SΙc2 b4 White would 18.SΙb5 ~e7?!
ensure his win by means of 38.SΙh4 b3 White's next move should have been
39.SΙxd8 ~xd8 40.MXd8+ ~xd8 41.g7 prevented. Better'was 18 ... ~c7.
36 ..ltxg6 .ί::!.g7 37.SΙe84Jd7
Ιη case of 37 ... b4 38 . .ltb5 1::!.g8 (if
38 ... '.t>d8, then 39.SΙd6! threatening with
a mate) 39 ..ί::!.a1 (now if39.iιd6, then there
is 39 ... b6) 39 ... 4Ja6 40 ...tc4 Black's pawns
would be tied.
38.SΙxd7+ ~xd7 39 . ..te5 kIxg4 40.
iιxc3 b4 41 ..ltf6 b3 42.iιb2 .ί::!.e4 43.~f3
~b4 44 ..ί::!.e3 1:lb5 45.Wg2 Wd6 46.h4 e5
47.h51-0
96 C12
Leko - Huebner 19.4Jc6!
Round 1 7.07 White drives away the black king that
has blocked the queenside.
l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.tιΊc3 tιΊf6 4.SΙg5 SΙb4 19.•. 4Jxc6 20 ...txc6 1:tb8?
There were more drawing chances af- 32... nxa8 33 ..txa8 d4 34.Wxd4 'it>e7
ter 20 ... ~b7 21 ...txb7 ~xb7 22.a5 ~b8. For 35.'it>e5 ~e6 36o.te4 .td7 37.c3 .te6
instance, after 23.axb6 axb6 24.~b4 'it>g8 38 ..tg6 .tc8 39 . .th5 .td7 40.f3 .te6
25.~ba4 ~c6 26.~a7 ~b7 Black held the 41 ..tg4 iιf7 42.Wf5 'it>d6 43.'it>xg5 'it>c5
position. The light-squared bishops make 44.f4 'it>c4 45.f5 'it>xc3 46.f6 gxf6+ 47.'it>xf6
οηlΥ additional troubles for Black until iιc4 48.h4 b5 49.h5 b4 50.h6 b3 51.h7
they stay οη the board. b2 52.iιf5 iιd3 53 ..txd3 1-0
21.a5 ~g5 22.~xg5 hxg5 23.axb6
axb6
23 ... ~xb6 was bad because of 24.l:!.xb6 97 C42
axb6 25.~a7! Adams - Piket
24.1:ι.a7 f6 Round 1 7.07
If Black had captured the pawn 24 ...
~xh2, then after 25.~ba1 ~h8 (ίη case of l.e4 e5 2.lΔf3 lΔf6 3.lΔxe5 d6 4.lΔf3
25 ... l:!.xg2 the solution was 26.:!:!:a8) 26.~c7 lΔxe4 5.d4 d5 6.itd3 lΔc6 7.0-0 .tg4
~h4 27.~aa7 (Black still held somehow 7 ... ~e7 occurs more frequently.
after 27 .g3 ~c4 28.1:ι.aa7 Wg8) 27 ... ~f4 28.f3 8.c4lΔf6 9.cxd5 iιxf3 10.~xf3 ~xd5
all his pieces would have been paralysed. 1l.~xd5
11. ~e2+ ~e7 12.~b5 would allow
White to struggle for an advantage as well.
1l ...lΔxd5 12.lΔc3 0-0-0 13 ..tc4lΔce7
14..td2 g6
Black brings his bishop to the diagonal
a1-h8 ίη order to control directly the pawn
οη d4. Previously 14 ... lΔxc3 15.bxc3 lΔd5
16.J::!.fe1 c6 17.~b3 iιa3 18.c4 occurred ίη
the game Dvoirys - Schwartzman, Gro-
ningen 1992 with White's advantage, ίη
the game Dvoirys - Schieder, Oberwart
1996 White was also better after 14 ... f6
25.c4! 15.!He1 c6 16.':e4 lΔc7 17 ..te2 lΔed5
Leaving ηο respite for Black. 18.iιg4+ 'it>b8 19.J:::tae1
25... ~h4 15.J:::tfel .tg7 16.iιg5 J:::td7 17.itxe7
If25 ... dxc4, then 26.Wc3 with the idea lΔxe7 18.itxf7 'it>b8!
of 27.~d1 is strong. Black freesthe square for his knight
26.cxd5 J::!.d4+ 27.'it>c3 and soon wins back the sacrificed pawn.
27.'it>e3 with the idea after 27 ... fxe5 to 19.~e2
continue 28.~ba1! was more accurate. 19.J:::tad1lΔc8 would change nothing.
27 ... fxe5 28.~b4! 19 ... lΔc8 20.itb3 l:txd4 21.g3 a5
White exchanges the οηlΥ active Black's Black now wants to win the game. ~hd8
piece. would look more natural now or οη the next
28 ... exd5 29.~xd4 exd4+ 30.Wxd4 move.
ite6 31.'it>e5 itf7 32.~a8 22.~ael lΔd6 23. 'it>g2 b5 24.a3 ~f8
Practically the struggle is over after the 25.lΔd5 iιh6
exchange of the rooks. Mter a careless Ιη case of25 ... lΔf5 Black has to reckon
32.itxd5? Black would get the draw by with 26.lΔe7 lΔxe7 27.~xe7, and after
means of32 ... ~e8+ 33.Wd4 itxd5 34.Wxd5 27 ... iιf6 28.~xh7 ~d2 29.~f7 ~xf7 30.itxf7
~e2 g5 31.b3 itd4 32.~f1 White had time to
Dortmund 167
defend everything and kept the extra 13.b4?

pawn. Probably White overlooked the conse-
26.f4 c5 quences ofBlack's 14th move.
13 ... 1ιχb4 14.'f!1b3 CL:Jb8! 15.CL:Ja4 'f!1d6
The computer defends calmly. It was
evidently dissatisfied with the prospects
after 15 ... ~xd2 16.CL:Jb6 1:ta7 17.3ιa3 'f!1d8
(if17 ... 'f!1c7, then J8.SΙxf8 Φχf819.~ad1 is
strong) 18.~xf8 Wxf8 (there is ηο 18 ... 'f!1xf8
because of 19. 'f!1c2) 19.k!ad1.
16.J::!.fdl CL:Jc6
As a result, the hardware player kept
the extra pawn but still failed to achieve a
win.
17.3ιc3 3ιχc3 18.'f!1xc3 3ιg4 19.~xg4
27.k!e6 CL:Jxg4 20.CL:Jf1 b5 21.CL:Jc5 ~fc8 22.~dcl h5
This move was a mistake. After 27. 23.~c2 CL:Jf6 24.~acl CL:Je8 25.a4 b4 26. 'f!1el
CL:Je7!? <tJc7 28.3ιg8! Black would have en- h4 27.h3 'f!1h6 28.CL:Jb3 ~c7 29:~e2 ~aa7
countered serious problems. 30.'f!1g4 Wf8 31.CL:Jfd2 CL:Je7 32.kIxc7 ~xc7
27 ... .ί:1d8 28.CL:Je7 Φc7 29 . .td5 SΙf8 33.CL:Jc5 ~a7 34.CL:Jdb3 Φg8 35.'f!1e2 CL:Jc7
30.SΙf31:td2+ 31.~6e2 ktxe2+ 36.a5 CL:Jb5 37. 'f!1d2 CL:Jc6 38.CL:Ja4 'f!1f6
Black exchanges his most active piece 39.~c5 ~c7 40.'f!1e2 g6 41.'f!1c2 <tJg7
himself. 31 ... Nc4 was much stronger. 42. 'f!1e2 Φh8 43. 'f!1c2 'f!1d6 44. 'f!1e2 f5
32 ..1:::!.xe2 .txe7 33.k!xe7+ ~d7 34.~e5 45.'f!1dl <tJh7 46.'f!1e2 ~f7 47.f4 exf3
~b6 35.~d5 ~d8 36.g4 c4 37.~f2 CL:Jf7 48.'f!1xf3 CL:Je7 49.'f!1f4 'f!1xf4 50.exf4 1:tf6
1-0 51.CL:Jb6 ~d6 52.~f2 Φh6 53.CL:Jc8 CL:Jxc8
Black run out of time. 54.I:txc8 <tJg7 55.Φe3 !!e6+ 56.Φd3 1:tel
57.k!cl ~xcl 58.CL:Jxcl Φf6 59.CL:Ja2 b3
98 D46 60.CL:Jb4 ~e6 61.CL:Jxa6 ~d6 62.CL:Jb4 CL:Jxd4
Bareev - Junior 6 63.Φc3 CL:Je2+ 64.~xb3 CL:Jxf4 65.a6 <tJc7
Round 1 7.07 66.~c3 g5 67.Wd4 g4 68.Wc5 d4 69.Φχd4
CL:Jxg2 70.CL:Jd3 gxh3 71.CL:Jf2 h2 72.Φe5 f4
1.c4 e6 2.CL:Jc3 d5 3.d4 c6 4.e3 CL:Jf6 5.b3 73.Φe4 Φb6 1f2 - 1f2
CL:Jbd7 6.1ιb2 SΙd6 7.CL:Jf3 0-0 8.SΙd3 'f!1e7
9.0-0 e5 10.SΙe2
10.dxe5 has already occurred. 99 Ε04
10... e4 11.CL:Jd2 a6 12.cxd5 cxd5 Bareev - Adams
Round 2 8.07
1.d4 CL:Jf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.CL:Jf3 dxc4

5.~g2 CL:Jc6 6. 'f!1a4 3ιb4+ 7.3ιd2 CL:Jd5
8.SΙxb4 CL:Jdxb4 9.a3
The principal way. Mter a quiet 9.0-0
ktb8 10.CL:Jc3 a6 11·CL:Je5 ο-ο 12.CL:Jxc6 CL:Jxc6
13.3ιχc6 bxc6 14.'f!1xc6 J::txb2 15.l:tabl ~b6
it would be very hard to break Black's ρο
sition.
9 ...b5 10.'f!1xb5 CL:Jc2+ 11.Φd2 CL:Jxal
12. ~xc6+ .ltd7 13. ~xc4 c5! game and forced a draw.
This move was introduced into the tour- 26 ... ~gl 27.Mhl 1h - 1h
nament practice by ν.Κοrchnοί.
14. ~a2 ~a5+ 15.tΔc3
Ιη the game Ivanchuk - Korchnoi, 100 Ε34
Tilburg 1989, which was the first one to Khalifman - Leko
restore the whole variation, the opponents Round 2 8.07
played 15.b4 cxb4 16.~xa1 Mc8 17.tΔe5
.tb5. l.d4 tΔf6 2.c4 e6 3.tΔc3 .tb4 4.~c2 d5
15 ... cxd4 16.tΔxd4 Md8 17.Mxal 5.cxd5 ~xd5 6.e3 c5 7 ..td2 .txc3 8 ..txc3
17.b4? was weaker because of 17 ... ~b6 cxd4 9 ..txd4 tΔc6 10 ..tc3
18.e3 19 ..ltxc6+ ~xc6 20.Mxa1 e5, where-
upon White was very bad ίη the game
Gasimov - Doroshkievich, St.Petersburg
1994.
17... e5
There is ηο 17 ... ~b6 18.e3 e5 because
of 19.tΔd5.
18.b4 ~b6 19.tΔc2 ~xf2 20.tΔe3 .te6+
21.tΔcd5
10... .ltd7!?
Ρ. Leko aims at the development of the
queenside pieces first of all. U sually they
play here 10 ... 0-0 or 10 ... ~c5. There are
two instances from the games belonging
to one of the participants of the tourna-
ment: 10 ... 0-0 11.tΔf3 ~c5 12.MC1 tΔd5
13 ..td2 ~xc2 14.Mxc2 Md8 15.a3 h6 16.b4
a6 17 ..tc4 e5 18.0-0 .tf5 19.Mcc1 e4= Κir.
21 ... 0-0 Georgiev - Adams, Sarajevo 2000 and
Black is over with his development. The 10 ... ~c5 11.Mc1 .td7 12.tΔf3 0-013.~b1
position of White's king is too open, pre- ~e7 14 ..td3 tΔb4 15 ..txf6 tΔxd3+ 16. ~xd3
venting him from making use of the ρο gxf6= Seirawan - Adams, Bermuda (m/8)
tential activity ofhis light pieces. 2000.
22.~c4 11.tΔf3 Mc8 12.a3
White has surrounded the black queen, Ιη case of 12. ~d1 there is a line, showed
but an attempt to win it by 22.Mf1 must by A.Κhalifman after the game, that leads
fail because of22 ... .txd5 or even 22 ... ~xg2 to the full equalization: 12 ... tΔe7 13 ..te2
23.tΔxg2 .txd5 24. ~a1.1txg2+ which is still tΔe414.~xd5lbxd5 15 ..td4 (complications
stronger, Black having more than suffi- after 15 ..txg7 Mg8 seem not to give White
cient compensation. an advantage as well) 15 .. .lbb416.0-0 lbc2
22 ....txd5 23 ..ltxd5 ~xh2 24. ~h4 ~f2 17.Mad1lbxd4 18.MXd4lbf6.
25.Mhl h6 26.Mh2 12 ... lbe7 13 ..te2 0-0
With the king centralized ίη the mid- If 13 ... .tb5, then 14.e4!? should be
dlegame, White dared not try to win the taken into consideration.
Dortmund 169
14.0-0 i,b5 This position was already seen. The

The conflict is settled after White loses game Ghitescu - Van Geet, Beverwijk 1967
the so-called advantage oftwo bishops. lasted not much longer and had the same
15.~fd1 1f2 - 112 result: 16 ... Sι.f8 17.i,xc8 1::taxc8 18.lΔb3lΔa4
Let's note that instead of 15.J::tfd1 it iS 19.1:'!.d2 .ί:Icd8 20 ..ί:Ifd1 Xιe7 2U:txd8 J::txd8
impossible to use the programmed 15.e4?! 22 ..ί:Ixd8+ i.xd8.
ίη view of 15 .. .liJxe416.i,xb5lΔxc3 16.i,d3
lΔe4!
103 C04
Junior 6 - Huebner
101 Ε59 Round 2 8.07
Piket -Kramnik
Round 2 8.07 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.lΔd2lΔc6 4.lΔgf3lΔf6
5.e5 lΔd7 6.lΔb3 i,e7 7.i.b5 ο-ο 8.0-0
1.d4 lΔf6 2.c4 e6 3.lΔc3 i,b4 4.e3 ο-ο lΔcb8 9.c3 b6 10.lΔbd2
5.i,d3 c5 6.lΔf3 d5 7.0-0 lΔc6 8.a3 i,xc3 10.lΔe1 c6 1l ..lte2 .ta6 12 ..txa6 lΔxa6
9.bxc3 '1f1c7 10.Xιb2 dxc4 11.i.xc4 e5 13. '1f1g4 occurred ίη the game D.Yanofsky
12.i,e2 e4 - L. Portisch, Munich 1958.
We would remind you that ίη February 10 ... i.a6 11.a4 c6 12 . .txa6 lΔxa6
2000 ίη the game Κhalifman - Κramnik 13.'1f1e2lΔc714.b3 c5 15 ..ί:Ie1lΔb816.i.a3
ίη Linares 12 ... 1::ω8 was played. Despite lΔc617.tM3 .ί:Ic818.a5 J::ta819.Φh1 '1f1d7?
the successful play, ν.Κramnίk decides to Ιη case of 19 ... lΔxa5 Black has to reckon
change slightly the pattern of the game with 20.Sι.xc5. The simplest for Black was
this time. 19 ... cxd4 20.axb6 axb6 21.i.xe7 '1f1xe7
13.lΔd2 J::td814.'1f1c2 i,f515.lΔb3 cxd4 22.cxd4lΔb4 with an equality.
16.cxd4 .:I.d6 17.ι:tfc1 J::te8 18.lΔc5
18.lΔd2 '1f1d7 19.1Δf1 .tg4 20 ..ί::!.ab1 oc-
curred ίη the game Taimanov - Zaichik,
Riga 1975.
18 ••• '1f1e7 19:~b3lΔd81f2-1f2
102 D46
Akopian - Anand
Round 2 8.07
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.lΔc3 lΔf6 4.e3 e6

5.lΔf3lΔbd7 6.i,d3 i,d6 7.e4 dxe4 8.lΔxe4
20.dxc51-0
lΔxe4 9.Xιxe4 e5
R.Huebner did not want to play a worse
After 9 ... 0-0 10.0-0 the move 10 ... e5?! position. After 2O ... bxc5?! (Black stands
would be less attractive because ofll.dxe5 worse after 20 ... lΔxa5 21.cxb6 axb6 22.
lΔxe5 12.lΔxe5 i,xe5 13.Sι.xh7+. i,xe7 '1f1xe7 23.lΔd4, but it is the best deci-
10.0-0 exd4 11.'1f1xd4 '1f1f6 12.Xιg5 sion for him) the move 21.lΔe4 should be
12 ..1:i.d1 that will be played ίη the game considered, and though the pawn would
Bareev - Anand two rounds later, is stron- be retaken after 21 ... Ϊi:fb8 22.lΔfg5 (ηο
ger. 22.Ϊi:eb1? because of 22 ... c4!, and Black
12 ... '1f1xd4 13.lΔxd4 lΔc5 14.Xιf5 ο-ο wins) 22 ... g6 (even worse is 22 ... .txg5
15..1:i.ad1 .ί:Ie8 16.i,e3 16.i,e3 1f2 - 112 23.lΔxg5 g6 24.i,xc5 ~xb3 ίη view of
25.tbe4! tbe8 26.'~d2 Φg7 27.iιf8+!! ΦΧf8 This novelty will hardly find any follow-
28. t'fh6+ tbg7 29.tbc5 π 30.tbxb3), the prob- ers. The usual continuation ίη this position
lems connected with the weakness ofblack is 15 ... t'fd7, taking aim at the b5-knight or
squares οη the kingside would remain un- the a4-rook. Mter 16.i.c2 d5 17.e5 tbe4
solved and that a110ws White to develop 18.tbc3 tbxe5 19.dxe5!? (ίη case of 19.tbxe4
an attack by means of23. t'fh3! h5 24.tbxc5 dxe4 20.tbxe5 Iιxe5 21. t'fd2 .ϊ:td5 Black
t'fe8 (it's dangerous to play 24 ... iιxc5 maintains the balance, whereas after
25.iιxc51:[xb3 because of26.g4!) 25.tbgxe6! 19.tbxd5 t'fxd5 20.iιxe4 tbxf3+ 21.gxf3
fxe6 26.tbxe6. l:txe4 22.nxe4 t'fxe423.fxg4 t'fd5 he has a
compensation for the pawn) 19 ... iιxf3
20.t'fxf3 (ίη case of 20.gxf3 tbxf2 21.t'fxd5
104 C78 tbd3+ 22.1::te3 t'fxd5 23.tbxd5 i.xe3+ 24.
Anand - Piket iιxe3 tbxe5 the position would be approxi-
Round 3 9.07 mately equal) 20 ... iιxf2+ 21.Φh1 which was
played ίη the game Bologan - Tkachiev,
l.e4 e5 2.tbf3 tbc6 3.iιb5 a6 4.iιa4 tbf6 France 1999, Black could keep the equal-
5.0-0 b5 6.iιb3 iιc5 ity by 21 ... iιxe1! 22.tbxe4 dxe4 23.t'fxe4
This variation of the Ruy Lopez was iιd2 24. t'fxh7+ 'i.t>f8 25. t'fh8+ cJJe7 26. t'fh4+
introduced into high-level chess owing to Φf8 27.t'fh8+. Probably Anand was going
successful games played ίη the mid nine- to strengthen White's play ίη this line but
ties by A.Onischuk, A.Shirov and V. his opponent avoid it.
Tkachiev. 16.iιc2 d5 17.e5 tbe4 18.tbc3
7.a4 ~b8 8.axb5 axb5 9.c3 d6 10.d4
iιb6 11.tba3 0-0 12.tbxb5 exd4 13.cxd4
iιg4 14.I:Ia4
White engages the rook ίη the defence
of the pawn οη d4. Other methods to
struggle for an advantage were tested too:
14.iιc2, 14.iιa4, 14.~e1. The Indian grand-
master himself used previously the last of
the listed opportunities. Ιη the game
Anand - 011, Belgrade 1999 White man-
aged to win the keenest struggle after
14.J::te1 d5 15.exd5 tbxd5 16.h3 iιh5 17.g4
(17.iιc4 t'fd7 was played ίη the game 18... ttxe5?
Shirov - Piket, Monte Carlo (blindfold) Looks too pretentious. Black could look
1999) 17 ... iιg6 18.tbc3 tbdb4 19.iιg5 t'fd7 for a chance to attack the white king by
20.d5 t'fd6?! (stronger was 20 ... tba5! 18 ... iιxf3 19.9xf3 tbg5 20.f4 (ίη case of
21.I:lxa5 iιxa5 22.iιa4 t'fd6 23.iιe7= Kolev 20.iιe3 there is an unpleasant 20 ... iιa5)
- Campos Moreno, Castellar 1999) 21.'it>fi! 20 ... tbe6 21.tbe2 t'fh4 22. t'fd3 whereupon
14...l:le8 he could attempt to drive the king away
Bad was' 15 ... ~xe4? 16.l:txe4 tbxe4 be- from his house as follows: 22 ... tbexd4!?
cause of 17 .iιd5! t'fe8 18. t'fc2 iιxf3 19.9xf3 23.tbxd4 (23. t'fh7 +? Φf8 gives White noth-
tbe7 20.tbxc7 iιxc7 21.iιxe4 or 14 ... tbxe4 ing but problems) 23 ... tbxd4 24.ι:Ixd4 iιxd4
15.iιd5 t'fe8 16. t'fc2 tbe7 17.iιxe4 t'fxb5 25.t'fxd4 t'fg4+ 26.'it>fi t'fh3+ 27.'it>e2 t'fh5+.
18.iιxh7+ Φh819.iιe4 with a considerable If White did not want to draw, then he
White's advantage. would have to venture οη 28. 'it>d2 t'fxh2
15.1:tel h6?! 29.b4, so that his two bishops would out-
Dortmund 171
weigh Black's rook and pawn despite the 12... f5!
νulnerable position of the white king ίη the Equalising the game fully.
centre of the board. 13.4Jc3 4Jxe5
19.4Jxe4! Naturally there was ηο 13 ... .ixg2? be-
Rather a simple solution, but it looks cause of 14.J::!.hg1 .ib7 whereupon White
as if Black's rook could just be taken. Af- would haνe a thematic continuation
ter 19.dxe5 .ixf3 20.gxf3 4Jxf2 21. ~xd5 15.l:!.xg7+! Φχg716 ..!:!.gl+ Φh817.~h6 wίth
4Jd3+ 22.'it>fl ~xd5 23.4Jxd5 4Jxe124.~xe1 critical threats for the black king.
Black had ηο compensation for the piece. 14.~xe5 .id6 15.~xe6+ 1;2 - 1;2
Neither could Black get anything by White's extra pawn is a mere illusion.
19 ... .ixf2+ 20.'it>h1 or 19 ... 4Jxf2 20.~xd5 He is not able to keep it. Black would re-
4Jd3+ 21.ΦΩ. store the mateήaΙ balance after 15 ... ~h8
19... J:ιxe4 20 ..ixe4 dxe4 21.d5 .ixf3 16.~Ω (if16.f3, then 16 ... ~g5+, and ίη case
22.gxf3 ~h4 23.l1axe4 ~xf2+ 24.ΦhΙ ί5 of 16.1:[hg1 there was 16 ... ~g5+ 17.~b1
25.1:[c4! l:!.ae8 to be followed by 18 ... .ixh2) 16 ...
This small combination let White catch iιxg2 17.iιxg2 ~g5+
the black queen that brought Black to a
quick death.
25 ... 4Ja5 26.l:!.f1 4Jxc4 27.l:!.xf2 i,xf2 106 D17
28.~e2 1-0 Kramnik - Bareev
Round 3 9.07
105 Cll l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.4Jf3 4Jf6 4.4Jc3 dxc4

Leko - Akopian 5.a4 .if5 6.4Jh4
Round 3 9.07 The central νaήatίοη of the Slaν De-
fence, introduced with the moνe 6.4Je5, is
l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.4Jc3 4Jf6 4 ..ig5 dxe4 also one of Κramnik's opening weapons.
5.4Jxe4 i,e7 6.i,xf6 i,xf6 7.4Jf3 ο-ο 6 ... e6 7.4Jxf5 exf5 8.e3 .ib4 9 ..ixc4 0-
8.~d2 4Jd7 9.0-0-0 b610.~e3 Ο 10.0-0 4Jbd7 11.~c2 g6 12.f3 1::tc8
10.i,c4 and 10. ~f4 are well studied con- 13.'it>hl
tinuations ίη this position, yet the moνe Α helpful prophylactic moνe that takes
ίη the game was seen ίη the tournament away the king from any possible threats
practice as well. οη the diagonal a7-g1. There occurred at-
10 ....ib7 11.itd3 tempts to gain an adνantage with other
Usual1y they played 11.4Je5 i,e7 12 . moνes too: 13.1:[d1; 13. ~f2 and eνen an
.ib5. immediate 13.e4.
11 ... ite7 12.4Je5 13... 4Jb6
4η immediate 13 ... c5 was seen as well.
Ιη the game Ι. Sokoloν - Shiroν, Sarajeνo
2000 after 14.4Ja2 (14.d5 4Jb6 15 ...ta2 c4
16.e4 fxe4 17.fxe4 4Jg4 18. ~e2 4Je5 that
occurred ίη the game Lautier - Sakaeν, Las
Vegas 1999 led to a play with mutual
chances) there were interesting tactical
complications: 14 ... .ia5 15.dxc5 ~e7 16.b4
..txb4 17.4Jxb4 ~xc5 18 ...tb3 ~xb4 19 ..ia3
~h4 20. ~a2 4Jc5, as a result White got a
compensation of the adνantage of the
172 Super Tournαments 2ΡΟΟ
bishop pair for the missing pawn. 17.Jιxd4

14.Jιb3 c5 15.a5 cxd4 If17.l2Jxd4, then 17 ... l2Jb8, coνeringthe
Other continuations could result into c6-square is the simplest answer.
certain problems for Black both after 17 ... a6 18.Jιe2 l2Je4 19.12Je5 l2Jxe5
15 ... l2Jbd5 16.l2Jxd5 l2Jxd5 17. ~c4 and 20.Jιxe5 f6 21 ...Itb2 ~xc1 22.~xc1 ~c8
15 ... c4 16.axb6 cxb3 17.~xb3 ~xb6 18. 23.Ilxc8+ ..Itxc8 24.f3 l2Jc5 25.l2Jb6
Jιd2. White still attempts to gain something
16.axb6 from this position. After 25.l2Jxc5 ..Itxc5
The line with 16.exd4 l2Jbd5 was trou- there will be a draw.
blesome for White οηlΥ. 25 ... Jιb7 26.l2Jc4 e5 27.Jιc1..1td8 28.e4
16... dxc317.bxa7 cxb218.~xb2 ..Itc3 'it>f8
19.Jιxf7+ ~xf7 Black should haνe protected the squa-
Black lost a pawn after 19 ... Φχf7 res οη the queenside by 28 ... iιc7 29.iιe3
20.a8~ ~xa8(if20 ... Jιxb2, then 21.~xb7+) (29.i.d2 a5) 29 ... Jιc7. Mter the moνe ίη the
21.~xb7+ ~d7 22.~b3+. game the coordination of black pieces is
20.~xc3 ~xc3 21.a8~ ~xa8 22.~xa8+ broken.
Φg7 1/2 - 1/2 29.i.e3 Jιe7 30.l2Ja5 i.a8 31.i.d2 l2Jb7
107 D47
Huebner - Khalίfman
Round 3 9.07
1.d4 l2Jf6 2.c4 e6 3.l2Jf3 d5 4.l2Jc3 c6

5.e3l2Jbd7 6 ...Itd3 dxc4 7 ...Itxc4 b5 8 ...Ite2
White prefers to aνoid the keenest lines
ofthe Meran System which are connected
with 8.Jιd3.
8 ... Jιb7 9.0-0
Again White does not want to play the 32.l2Jc4?!
most principal continuation 9.e4 b4 10.e5. White do not continue the struggle. It
9 ...b4 10.l2Ja4 i,e7 11.b3 was possible to do that by 32.CLJc6!. Mter
Did not promise much to White the line for instance 32 ... i.c5+ 33.'it>fl a5 34.i.c4
11.a3 a5 12.~c2 ο-ο 13.J::ίd1 ~c7 14.axb4 i.b6 35.i.d5 'it>e8 (the problem here is that
axb4 15 ...Itd2.kIa5 16.~ac1 ~b8 17.b3 ..Ita8 it is not possible to retreat by the knight
18.e4 c5 with an equal play Gelfand - 35 ... l2Jd8? because of 36.CLJxb4!) and the
Lautier, Monaco 2000. position ofblack pieces - the a8-bishop and
11 ...0-0 12.Jιb2 c5 13.:Ιc1 the b7-knight is νery poor.
Mter 13.dxc5l2Jxc5 14.l2Jxc5 Jιxc5 there 32 ... Jιc5+ 33.Φf1 CLJd8 34.l2Ja5 CLJb7
was an equal play too. 35.CLJc4 CLJd8 36.CLJa5 CLJb7 1f2 - 1,4
13 ... .!::tc814.~d3
14.dxc5 l2J'Xc5 15.l2Jxc5 Jιxc5 16. ~xd8 108 C68
J::ίfxd8 occurred preνiously, maintaining Adams - Junior 6
the balance Ζ. Polgar - Knaak, Stara Round 3 9.07
Zagora 1990. The moνe made by R.
Huebner ίη the game would hardly breathe 1.e4 e5 2.CLJf3l2Jc6 3.Jιb5 a6 4.Jιxc6
new life into this absolutely νapid position. Playing with people Μ. Adams prefers
14.. :~a515.~b5 ~xb516 ...txb5 cxd4 4 ...ta4.
Dortmund 173
4 ... dxc65.d4 Ιη the FIDE World Championship 1999

The usual continuation is 5.0-0. The the game between the same opponents de-
moνe ίη the game reminds of how they νeloped ίη a slightly different manner. Μ
played ίη the beginning ofthe 20th century. ter 6 ... b6 7.4:Jc3 e5 8 ..ie3 4:Je7 9.'§d2 h6
5 ... exd4 6. '§xd4 '§xd4 7.4:Jxd4 c5 10.4:Jh2 ..te6 11.0-0-0 '§d7 12.Φb1 0-0-0
8.4:Je2 ..id7 9 ...ie3 4:Jf610.f3 0-0-0 11.4:Jd2 13. '§ e2 f5 the gamθ was drawn soon Adams
h612.0-0-0 - Κramnik, Las Vegas 1999.
The game Albin - Marco, Monte Carlo 7.4:Jc3 4:Jd7 8.0-0 e5 9 ..ie3 0-0 10.'§d2
1903 can confirm the note to the 5th moνe: ~e8 11.4:Jh2 '§e7 12...th6 ..ih8
its main eνents deνeloped after 12.Nf4 b6
13.0-0-0 Bd6 14.Nd3 Ne8 15.c4.
12 ... g6 13.h4 b6 14.4:Jf4 iιg7 15.4:Jf1
J:the8 16.4:Jg3 a5 17 ..id2 h5 18.c4 iιa4
19.b3 .ic6 20.Wc2 4:Jd7 21 . ..tc3 ..th6
22.4:Jh3 a4 23.J:thel4:Je5 24.J:txd8+ Wxd8
The position gets simpler while its es-
timation remains "equal".
25.4:Je2 Wc8 26.4:Jef4 iιd7 27.J:tdl4:Jc6
28.4:Jg5 f5 29.e5
Ιη case of 29.4:Jxg6 Black is ready to go
29 ... fxe4.
29 ... 4:Jxe5 30.iιxe5 J:txe5 31.4:Jxg6 13.4:Jg4!
Α new moνe. White wants to make
J:te2+ 32.l:Id2 J:te8 33.4:Jf4 ..tg7 34 ..J:te2
:xe2+ 35.4:Jxe2 axb3+ 36.axb3 iιe8 Black go f7 -f6 in order to perform then the
adνantage f2-f4, as the diagonal a1-h8 will
The pair ofthe Black's bishops compen-
sates White's pawn adνantage οη the be closed for Black's dark-squared bishop.
kingside. Another participant ofthe Dortmund tour-
37.'it'd3 Wd7 38.4:Jh3 ..if6 39.g3 ..te5 nament, Ρ. Leko, acted differently two
40.4:Jhf4 ..if7 41.We3 wd6 42.4:Jd3 Jιf6 weeks ago: after 13.Φh1 4:Jf8 14.f4 exf4
1/2 - lh
15 ..J:txf4 ..ie6 16.~af1 4:Jd7 17.b3 4:Je5
18.4:Jd1 a5 19.4:Je3 a4 Black managed to
arrange a good counterplay Leko - Anand,
109 Β31 Frankfurt 2000, and Black's dark-squared
Adams - Κramnik bishop played an important part ίη achieν
Round 4 10.07 ing this.
13 ... 4:Jf8 14 . ..tg5 f6 15.4:Jh6+ Wg7
1.e4 c5 2.4:Jf3 4:Jc6 3 ...ib5 g6 4 ...ixc6 16.Jιe3 4:Je6 17.4:Je2 4:Jg5 18.4:Jg4 h5?!
dxc6 5.d3 ..ig7 Black should not haνe weakened his
Ιη positions with such pawn structure position οη the kingside. Most probably he
usually it is not easy for Black to get an had to make a choice between the passiνe
actiνe counterplay. One year ago White defence by 18 ... iιxg4 19.hxg4 J:tad8 20. '§c3
deνeloped an unpleasant pressure οη 4:Je6 or seeking chances after 18 ... 4:Jf7 with
Black's position ίη the game Adams - the idea that an immediate 19.f4 would let
Gelfand, Dos Hermanas 1999 after 5 ... ..tg4 him begin an actiνe play after 19 ... ..ixg4
6.4:Jbd2 ..tg7 7.0-0 4:Jf6 8.h3 .ixf3 9.'§xf3 20.hxg4 c4!?In this case Black would get
ο-ο 10.'§e2 e5 11.4:Jc4 4:Jd7 12.a4 and lost a counterplay for a pawn: 21.fxe5 (after
his chance with his last moνes only. 21 ... dxc4 exf4 22.~xf4 4:Je5 23.'§c3 Wg8 he
6.h34:Jf6 would be compensated also) 21 ... fxe5
22.dxc4 ~e6. 46. ~xd3 1:ιΧd3 the distant passed a-pawn

19.tLJh2 1:td8 20. ~c3 tΔe6 21.f4 tΔd4 decides - 47 .a4! because like ίη case of
22.1:tael Wh7 23.tΔf3 ..ie6 24.fxe5 fxe5 48 ... 1:[xb3 48 ... 1:ιc3 it can boldly continue
25.tΔg5+ Φg8 26.tΔxe6 tΔxe6 the journey to become a queen by 49.a5.
Mter Black's light-squared bishop left 42.tΔxh4 1:[xf2+ 43.~xf2 ~d6 44 ..1:Id2
the board he was condemned to a passiνe tΔd4 45.~cl ..if6?!
defence. Black pieces lose their co-ordination.
27.~b3 Φh7 28.J::if2 .ί::tf8 29.1:ιef1 ..ig7 45 ... ..ih6 was better, though ίη that case
Αη exchange of the rooks 29 ... 1:[xf2 after 46.Zϊf2 ..ixe3 47. ~xe3 .ί::tg7 48. tΔf5
30.1:ιχf2 Zϊf8 31.1:[xf8 tΔxf8 would not solνe tΔxf5 49.1:[xf5 ~g6 50. ~f3 White also has
all Black's problems as then after 32. ~a4 an obνious adνantage.
(forcing 32 ... a6) the weakness of Black's 46 ...Itxd4..ixh4?!
pawns οη the queenside would tell. Looks like despair, but ίη case of
30.Φh2 b6 31.tΔgl tΔd4 46 ... exd4 47.tΔf5 ~e5 ίη νiew of 48.1:ιc2 c4
Again after 31 ... z:ι.xf2 32 ..1:Ixf2 1:[f8 49.bxc4 h4 50.cxb5 hxg3+ 51.Φg2 Black
33.1:[xf8 tΔxf8 34.tΔf3 ..if6 35. ~a4 White cannot escape.
could began to prepare a play οη the
queenside with a2-a3 and b2-b4 keeping
a stable adνantage.
32.~a4 b5 33.~a3 a5 34.~c3 a4
35.tΔf3 tΔe6 36.b3
M.Adams thinks that White's adνan
tage after 36.tΔg5+ lίJxg5 37 . ..ιtxc5 1:ιΧf2
38 ...ixe7 1:ιΧΩ 39.Φg3 1:ιΧΩ 40.gxf3 is not
enough for him to win. Howeνer, instead
ofthe moνe ίη the game, 36.b4! was stron-
ger, because the position after 36 ... cxb4?!
37. ~xc6 could not satisfy Black, and the
continuation 36 ... axb3 37.cxb3 led to the 47 ...Itxc5!
position, analogous to the one that had This intermed~ate moνe proνes to be
happened then ίη the game. enough to win the game. Μ. Adams breaks
36... Φg8 37.~d2 axb3?! the unbeaten series of V. Kramnik ίη
It is ηο use for Black to play according Dortmund tournaments that has lasted
to White's plan. 37 ... tΔd4 was stronger. since 1993.
38.cxb3! 47 .. :~h6
Α non-standard decision. White wants
Mter 47 ... ~f6 48.gxh4 ~xh4+ 49.ΦgΙ
to get to the black c5-pawn and opens up .1:Ig7+ sω::tg2 ~xg2+ 51.Φχg2 White's king
the c-file for his heaνy pieces. This costs would escape checks easily, and White
rather dearly. Οη occasion he can also haνe would keep the extra bishop.
a distant passed pawn οη the a-file. As to 48.gxh4 ~f4+ 49.ΦhΙ ~g7 50.~dl
some weakening of the d3-pawn, White 1-0
can easily defend it.
38... 1:ιad8 39.~c3 g5? 110 Α34
39 ... ~d6 was better and after it Μ. Piket-Leko
Adams was going to continue 40.tΔe1. Round 4 10.07
40.g3 J::ιd7 41.h4 gxh4
Ιη case of 41 ... g4 after 42.lίJg5 1:[xf2+ l.tΔf3 tΔf6 2.c4 c5 3.tΔc3 d5 4.cxd5
43.1:[xf2 tΔxg5 44.hxg5 ~d6 45 ..Jl.xc5 ~xd3 tΔxd5 5.e4 tΔb4 6:..ib5+ tΔ8c6 7.a3
Dortmund 175
The variation with 7.d4 became notori- 29.j.a2 ίίJd7 30.~g4 ίίJίB 31.I:tg3 ~d6
ous as a drawn deadlock after the tense ΑΙΙ BIack's pieces are hurrying home to
game Lautier - Kasparov, Tilburg 1997 as heIp their king. Any activity would be pun-
the well-known moves 7.d4 cxd4 8.a3 dxc3 ished by White immediately, for instance
9.~xd8+ ι;,i;>xd8 10.axb4 cxb2 11 ...txb2 e6 31 ... ~c2 32.ίίJxg6! ίίJxg6 33.j.xe6 with a
12.0-0 were followed by 12 ... i.d7! 13.j.xc6 crushing defeat .
..txc6 14.ίίJe5 Φe8 15.ίίJxc6 bxc6 16.1::ta4 [6
17.J:Ha1 ι;,i;>f7 18.1::txa7+ ~xa7 19.~xa7+
j.e7= and Black equalized easily.
7 ... ίίJd3+ 8.Φe2 ίίJf4+ 9.ι;,i;>f1 ίίJe610.d3
g611.h4
White tήes to gain something from the
cIumsy position of the rook οη h1. Ιη the
game Sunye Neto - Milos, Bogota 1991
Black managed to get a good compensa-
tion for the sacrificed pawn after 11.j.e3
..tg7 12.ίίJa4 ~a5 (12 ... 0-0! is stronger ίη
J.Piket's ορίηίοη) 13.j.c4 ίίJcd4 14.ίίJxd4
i.xd4 15.b4 ~d8 16.ίίJxc5 ίίJxc5 17.bxc5 32.ίίJh5!
ο-ο Ιη cοmΡaήsοη with the previous dia-
11 ... 1ιg7 12.h5 ο-ο 13.hxg6 hxg6 gram the position of white pieces is much
14.j.c4 ίίJed4 15.ίίJxd4 cxd4 better. White hastens to make use of his
BIack decides to take οη d4 with the advantageous position and is ready to sac-
pawn, cIosing the diagonal for his bishop rifice.
οη g7, whereupon Iong manoeuvres should 32...!Ic2 33.j.f4!
begin. The capture 15 ... ίίJxd4 had its short- The performance ofthe fine plan is con-
comings, too. tinued. Now he cannot stop. Mter 33.ίίJxg7
16.ίίJd5 Iιxd2 34.~g5 ~d1+ 35.Φh2 Φχg7 36.~xb5
16.ίίJe2!? looks more organic. ~f4 White kept a material balan~e but
16 ... e617.ίίJf4 ίίJe5 18.1ιa2 b619.~h3 then BIack would have to concern with his
a5 20.j.d2 I;'1e8 21.Iιcl j.a6 22 ..tbl ~d7 king more cIosely.
23.ίίJe2 .!:Iac8 24.1:ιχc8 Iιxc8 25.~b3 ~c6 33... e5
26.ΦgΙ BIack wins a piece, still another dan-
The move 26.ίίJxd4?! did not attract gerous assailant is engaged ίη the attack
White because of 26 ... ~xe4. now, namely the a2-bishop.
26 ... ίίJd7 34.j.g5 gxh5
Looking for some winning chance BIack The hunt for the other bishop 34 ... 1:txb2
begins to worsen very slightly the positions would bring Black to a mate after 35. ~h4!
of his pieces. Οη e5 the knight was an ίη ~xa2 (there was also ηο 35 ... gxh5 because
superabIe obstacle which prevented the of 36.j.f6 ίίJg6 37 ..:txg6) 36.ίίJf6+ j.xf6
white queen from coming to the kingside. 37.j.xf6 ίίJh7 38.~xh7+!.
The pawn οη d5 could have been defended 35.~f5!
very well with 26 ... ~c5. White's onslaught is getting more fierce
27.~dl ίίJc5 28.ίίJf4 j.b5 with every move.
An attempt to attack White's queenside 35 ....!:Ic7
with 28 ... ίίJa4 would turn out a disaster for It's not easy for Black to find a good
BIack οη the opposite side ofthe board af- defence. Mter 35 ... ~g6 (a similar situation
ter 29.~g4! ίίJxb2 30.ίίJxg6 fxg6 31.~xg6. arose after 35 ... ~d7 36 ..tf6 too) 36.j.f6
'§xf5 White had a quiet 37.exf5! (an inter- 5.e3 4Jbd7 6.~d3 ~d6 7.e4 dxe4 8.4Jxe4
mediate 37.Iixg7+?! was weaker, after 4Jxe4 9.1ιχe4 e5 10.0-0 exd4 11.'f1xd4
37 ... Φh8 38.exf5 Black was saνed with '§f6 12.Iίdl
38 ... 4Jd7!, so that now in case of 39.k!xf'7+ Ιη the game Akopian - Anand from the
4Jxf6 40.MXf6 ~xd3 41.k!xb6 ~xf5 Black's second round Bla\~k managed to equalize
pawns in the centre would oνerweigh all νery easily after 12.~g5 '§xd4 13.4Jxd4
White's achieνements) 37 ... 4Jd7 38.~xg7 4Jc5 14.1ιf5 ο-ο 15.Mad1 Iίe8 16.Sιe3=::.
Iίxb2 39.~d5, whereupon his two bishops Bareeν did not giνe such an opportunity
together with the rook would haνe sma- to the Indian grandmaster.
shed Black's kingside. 12 ... ~e7
36.~ί6 4Je6 37.~xe5 'f1e7 12 ... '§xd4 13.4Jxd4 ~c7 14.4Jf5 g6
37 ... !ίc1+38.Φh2 '§e7 giνes nothing be- 15.4Jd6+ ~xd6 16.l:txd6 4Jc5 17.i.f3 ~e6
cause of 39.i.xe6 fxe6 40. '§f4!. 18.1ιg5 occurred in the game Bagaturoν -
Anastasian, Protνino 1993, and though
Black managed to draw he had to solνe
problems with neutralization of White's
bishop pair.
13.i.e3 'f1xd4 14.4Jxd4 4Jf6 15.i.c2
0-0 16.h3 Iίe8 17.4Jf5 ~xf5 18.~xί5 ~ί8
19.i.c2 a6 20.Iίacl
Looks as ifWhite had lost a tempo. Αη
immediate 20.g4 suggested itself.
20... !ίad821 ..:!Χd8
IfWhite played at once 21.g4, then he
would haνe to reckon with 21 ... 4Jd7.
38.i.xc7?
21 ...Iίxd822.g4
Haνing carried out the grand work,
An exchange of the second rook pair is
White made a mistake when he wasjust a
not good for White. The adνantage of two
step away from the νictory. Mter 38.~xe6
bishops can be realized most conνeniently
fxe6 39. 'f1f4 Black's position would be ab-
in the presence of the rooks οη the board.
solutely lost. 22 ... g6
38... 4Jxc7 39.'f1xh5 ~e8 40.f4? There was ηο 22 ... 4Jd7? because of
It was not too late to improνe by means 23.!ίd1.
of 40.'§h6! 4Je6 41.f4 because if 41 ... 'ιtαι, 23.'ιtg2 4Je8 24.f4 ~e7 25.Φf3 4Jg7
then 42 ..ί::Ixg7 decided. 26.f5 4Je8 27.!ίeΙ Iίd7 28 ..!:!:e2
40 ... 'f1f641.k!g5?! The light-squared bishop is White's
Despite the mistakes he made before most dangerous piece. It has ηο opponent
the control moνe, White still could haνe οη the board. As a rule, White tries to open
struggled for a win if he played 41.'§g6 diagonals namely for this bishop when
'§xg6 42.!!xg6 ~b5 43 ..!:!:xb6 ~xd3 44.e5. playing such positions. Ιη this connection
41 ... '§xf4 42.'§g6 '§cl+ 43 ...t>h2 ,§f4+
a moνe like 28.g5!? deserνed attention.
44 ...t>gl '§cl+ 45.Φh2 ,§f4+ lh-lh
Then after 28 ... ~b4 29 ..!:re2 4Jd6 White
could make a choice between 30.a3 ..ta5
111 D46 31.~M Φαι 32.f6 and 30.fxg6 fxg6 31.a3
Bareev - Anand ~a5 32.b4 ..tc7 33.c5. As for the moνe in
Round 4 10.07 the game, now V. Anand can restrict the
opportunities of his opponent's light-
l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.4Jf3 4Jf6 4.4Jc3 e6 squared bishop.
Dortmund 177
tile.
34.a4 .id4 35•.ic7 Jιc5 36.Jιa5 Jιd4
37.Jιel Φf8 38.Φe2 Φe7 39.Φd3 Jιgl
40.b4 h6 41.Jιb3 Jιa7 42.Jιe6 Jιgl 43.h4
Jιa7 44.h5 Jιgl 45.Jιc3 .if2 46.Jιb2 Jιgl
47.Jιa3 iιf2 48.Jιc4 Jιel 49.b5 cxb5
50.Jιxb5 Jιf2 51.Jιb4 b6 52.Jιc6 Jιgl
53.~e2 Jιd4 54.~d3 .igl 55.Jιd5 .if2
56.Φe2 iιgl 57.~d3 iιf2 58.iιf3 Jιgl
Jιf2 60 ..'ta3 .igl 61 . .ib4 Jιf2
59 ..ie2
112 - 1/2
28 ... g5!
Now White is faced with a hard di-
lemma. Should he νenture οη a position 112 D27
with bishops of different colours plus an Akopian - Huebner
extra pawn or keep trying to achieνe the Round 4 10.07
adνantage of two bishops ίη the situation
that became already slightly worse for 1.tιJf3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 tιJf6 4.Jιxc4
him? e6 5.0-0 c5 6.d4 a6 7 ..ib3 tιJc6 8:~e2
29.b3 White agrees to play with an isolated
White chose the second way. Ιη case of pawn. Another popular opportunity ίη this
29 ..ixg5 .ixg5 30.Itxe8+ ~g7 the moνe position was 8.dxc5.
31.Jιe4!? deserνed attention. Mter 31 ... 8 ... cxd4 9.~dl iιe7 10.tιJc3 ο-ο 11.
1:!.d2 32.1:!.b8 1:!.xb2 33 ..ixc6 Itxa2 34.Itxb7 exd4 tιJb4 12.tιJe5 .id7
or 32 ... b5 33.cxb5 cxb5 34.I!.b7 the position The time for 12 ... tιJbd5 had not come
with the bishops of different colours would yet. Mter 13.~d3 (not bad was also 13. ~f3
tend to a draw, still Black would constantly h6 14. ~h3 .id6 15.J:.d3 tιJxc3 16. bxc3 tιJe4
haνe to reckon with the danger that 17 ...Itxh6!, ίη the g,3.me Vaulin - Danielian,
White's bishop would get to the diagonal Noνgorod 1999 White arranged irrefutable
a2-g8 and then arrange serious threats to threats for the black king ίη this .way)
the f7-square. 13 ... Jιd7 14 ..!::ί.g3, both 14 ... g6 15 ..ih6 ne8
29 ... f630.c5 16.h4, Filip - Conrady,Varna (01) 1962 and
Probably White had to choose 30.Jιd2 14 ... .ί:!.e8 15.Jιh6 .if8 16.~f3, Ρ. Nikolic-
with the idea of a4-a5, because now the Ricardi, Buenos Aires 1992 gaνe White a
d5-square would be weakened consider- strong initiatiνe.
ably. 13 ..ig5 Jιc6 14.I!.acl
30... a531.Itd2 It's hard to pierce into Black's position
Α transfer ofthe black knight to d5 was with positional methods. Ιη the game
threatening, so White had to agree to the Agzamoν - Velikoν, Frunze 1985 White
exchange ofthe rooks which was non-prof- acted more actiνely. Mter fierce complica-
itable for him. tions 14.tιJxf7 J::[xf7 15.~xe6 tιJfd5 16.a3
31 ...Itxd2 32.Jιxd2 jLxc5 33.jLxa5 tιJd6 iιxg5 17.axb4 ~f618.iιxd5 ~xf2+ 19.~h1
As a matter of fact, Black has managed iιxd5 20.~xd5 ~f5 21.~xf5 J::[xf5 White got
to build a fortress that became an insur- an extra pawn.
mountable barrier for the white king. He 14 ... iιd5 15.tιJxd5 tιJbxd5 16. ~f3 J::[c8
controls all the important squares ίη the 17.J::[xc8 ~xc8 18.J::[cl ~d8 19.93 ~d6
centre (c5, e5, c4, d4, e4). White's further 20.h4 h6 21.iιxf6 iιxf6 22.~e4
attempts to get oνer this barrier were fu- ΑΙΙ that White could get after 22.iιxd5
exd5 was worsening of his position. transfer of the white queen to h4.
22 ... l:td8 23.~c4 ~b6 24.4Jg4 i..e7 20...ixg5
25.4Je5 i..f6 26.4Jg4 .iι..e7 27.4Je5 1h - 1h Α human probably would have pre-
ferred 20. ~g4. The computer went for the
black pawns and got nothing.
'113 Β08 20 ...4Je6 21.~xb6 axb6 22 ..iι..xe71::tfe8
Junior 6 - Κhalifrnan 23 ..td6
Round 4 10.07 If 23 ...ixb4, then there was a strong
23 ... 4Jd4
1.e4 g6 2.d4 i.g7 3.4Jc3 c6 4.4Jf3 d6 23 ...4Jd4 24 ..iι..d3 .iι..xe5 25.0-0-0 ..ixd6
5 ...ie3 4Jf6 6:~d2 b5 7.i..d3 i.g4 8.e5 b4 26 ..iι..h7+ ΦίΒ 27.kIxd4 ..ic5 28.1::tg4 ςJ;e7
9.4Je4 29.!Iel+ Φd6 30..ί:tdl+ Φc7 31.Jtd3 ~cd8
The position was equal after 9.exf6 bxc3 32.1::tf1 l:td4 33.Jte4 1::te5 34.kIhl .::ιe7
10.bxc3 exf6 that occurred ίη the game J. 35.1:!.g5 .ί:td6 36 ..::ιg2 .::ιed7 37 ...if5 kIe7
Polgar - Ehlvest, Bali 2000. 38.1:ΗΙ l:te5 39 . .iι..e4 1:ιe7 40.1;::th2 1::ted7
9 ... tΔxe4 41.f4 ~d4 42.f3 .iι..d6 43.kIh4 ..ic5 44.lIhhl
9 ... 4Jd5 was worse because of 10 ...ih6 l:td2 45.ςJ;bl kIg2 46.f5 .td4 47.~dl .tc5
ο-ο 11.h4 ..ixf3 12.gxf3 dxe5 13.h5, Short 48 ...id3 z:tg3 49.lIdf1 1::te7 50...ie4 kId7
- Irzhanov, Elista (01) 1998. 51.~al ..id4 52 ..td3 1::te7 53 . ..ic4 f6
10 ...ixe4 d5 11 ...id3..ixf3 12.gxf3 ~b6 54.ΦbΙ ~eg7 55.1::th4 ..ic5 56.~e4 kIgl
12 ... a5 was weaker: 13.h4! 4Jd7 14.h5 57..!::rcl.J:!7g5 58...ie2l:txcl+ 59.ΦχcΙ.ϊ:!.xf5
~b6 15.c4 followed ίη the game Leko - 60.Φd2 1::td5+ 61 ...id3 ..id4 62.ΦcΙ ..ic5
Beliavsky, Madrid 1998. 63.~e61::td6 64.kIe2 Iιd7 65.1ιg2 1h-1h
13.h4
13.a3 bxa3 14.b4 4Ja6 15.c3 4Jc7 16 .
.ϊ:!.χa3 ο-ο 17 ..!:ta5 with a better play for 114 C89
White deserved attention, Nguyen Anh Anand - Adarns
Dung - Postny, Budapest 2000. Round 5 12.07
13 ... 4Jd7 14.h5 c5 15.dxc5 4Jxc5
16..te2 ο-ο 1.e4 e5 2.4Jf3 4Jc6 3 ..tb5 a6 4 ...ia4 tΔf6
Ιη case of 16 ... e6 the pawn should be 5.0-0 .te7 6.kIel b5 7..tb3 0-0 8.c3
given away after 17.a3 b3 18.~c3 with a V Anand allows the English grandmas-
bad position for Black. ter to apply his favourite opening weapon,
17.~xd5 z:tac8 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.~d4 the Marshall Attack. Thus the game be-
comes a curious opening duel between two
leading grandmasters ofthe world.
8 ... d5 9.exd5 4Jxd5 10.4Jxe5 ctJxe5
11.1::txe5 c6 12..:tel .iι..d6 13.d3
Ιη days of old they advanced the pawn
one square farther: 13.d4.At present this
continuation is analysed thoroughly υρ to
the draw. Still, ίη the game Topalov -
Adams, Sarajevo 2000 the line 13 ... ~h4
14.g3 ~h3 15 ..:te4 g5! 16. ~f3 .tf5 17.iιc2
.i.xe4 18 ...ixe4 ~e6 19 ...ixg5 f5 was played
and after White's unfortunate novelty 20.
19... g5!! Bxd5? Black gained a strong initiative with
Αη excellent move, Black prevents a 20 ... cxd5 21.4Jd2 f4 and won.
Dortmund 179
13 ... ~h4 14.g3 ~h3 15.1:te4 ~f5 position becomes really unpleasant)
Now as the white pawn is οη d3 instead 23.cxd5 'ith8 (ίη case of 23 ... 'l=i'f7 24 ..1e3
of d4 the rook οη e4 is well defended and White had an extra pawn and defended
Black is depriνed of the tactical opportu- eνerything, while -:;he moνe 23 ... Sι.g4 would
nity connected with the adνance g7-g5. deΡήνe Black of mateήaΙ after 24.d6+ ~h8
16.CLJd2 ~g6 17.~el f5 18.a4 l:tb8 25.dxc7 ~xd1 26.cxb8~ 1:!.xb8 27.lιxd1)
19.axb5 axb5 24.lιe3 lιg4 25. ~c2 .tf3 26.dxc6 ~f5
27.lιc4 White expired the attack and kept
the extra pawn.
21.dxe4 i,g4 22:~d4 ~f3 23.exd5 c5
24. ~h4 1:tbe8
After 24 ... c4 25.~d1 ~xd5 26. ~g5 or
26. ~h5 Black remained without the attack
as well as without the pawn.
25.~e3
Αη interesting moment. Ιη case of
25.!Ixe8 !Ixe8 26 ..te3 Black achieνes a
draw by means of26 ... Mxe3 (Adams thinks
that 26 ... ~d3! with the idea 27 ... Mxe3 is
20.CLJe4! more accurate) 27.fxe3 ~d3 28.~d8+ (this
There is White's expected noνelty. line leads to a draw as well: 28.k!.a8+ \tf7
20.CLJf3 was played ίη the game between 29. ~g5 h6 30.Ma7+ \te8 31.Ma8+ \tf7)
the same opponents ίη 1999, and after 28 ... .tf8 29.1::ω ~xe3+ with a perpetual
some complications 20 ... f4 21.CLJe5 ~xe5 check. Howeνer, ίη the FIDE World Cham-
22.Mxe5 fxg3 23.fxg3 lιg4 24.~e1 lιh3 pionship that took place after fiνe month
25.Sι.e3 1:!.Ω+ 26.~xΩ lιxΩ 27.1:!.χΩ l:tf8 the Indian grandmaster did not play ίη the
28.J:!xf8+ the game was drawn, Anand - former way and preferred 25 ...td2. As a
Adams, Dos Hermanas 1999. An important result, after 25 ... lιe4 26.Me2 ~f5 27 ..tf4
nuance should be featured here. If White c4 28.Mxe4 1:txe4 29 ..tc2 lιxf4 30.lιxe4
attempts to use the strength of his Ruy- ~xe4 31.gxf4 the game Anand - Kha-
Lopez-like bishop to win material with lifman, Ν ew Delhi (m/l) 2000 ended ίη a
20.c4, then after 20 ... f4! 21.cxd5 fxg3 draw.
22.dxc6+ \th8 23.fxg3 i,xg3 he gets under 25 ... ~f5?!
Black's strongest attack. Black had a possibility to play the νari
20 ...fxe4 ant 25 ... lIe5! 26. ~h3 c4 27 ..td1 lιxd5, win-
The result of this game which was un- ning back one of the sacήficed pawns and
fortunate for Black made us look for a getting a control oνer the a8-h1 diagonal
different opportunity already ίη this posi- as a compensation for the other.
tion. Neither 20 ... f4 was good because of 26.Macl lιe4 27 ..tdl lιxd5 28.i.c2
21.CLJxd6 fxg3 22.hxg3, nor 20 ... i,e7 be- ~f3??
cause of 21.i.f4.It's interesting what was This moνe is hard to understand. After
planned by V. Anand ίη case of 20 ... i.c7. 28 ... Me4?! 29.i,xe4 .txe4 30.i,f4 lιa8
Probably 21.c4. After 21 ... bxc4 (the moνe 31.MCd1! Black would not get a sufficient
21 ... f4 would cost Black too much as the compensation for the material losses be-
knight οη e4 defended the pawn οη a3 quite cause his queen could not come to be οη
reliably) 22.dxc4 fxe4 (after 22 ... CLJf4 the a8-h1 diagonal without difficulty, but
23.i,xf4 i.xf4 24.c5+ with a subsequent the moνe 28 .. .lιe4 Black has to make. The
intrusion ofthe white knight to d6 Black's point is that after the forced 28 ... jιe4
29.j"xe41:!:xe4 30. ~g5 ~e6 White cou1d not Ιη the endgame to come after 11 ... ~xd1 +
rea1ize the materia1 adνantage easi1y. 12.<tJxd1liJxh7 13.<tJe2 (B1ack has to reckon
Anand noted after the game, that ίη this a1so with 13.e6 fxe6 14.h5, hampering the
case he was going to continue 31.~h5!, deνe10pment ofthe dark-squared bishop)
because a care1ess 30.J::tcd1? ίη νiew of 13 ... 0-0-0 (ίη case of 13 ... e6 there is an
30 ... lιe5! 31.~h4 iιe7 cou1d eνen 1ead unp1easant 14.l:Ldl) 14.iιe3 B1ack's 1ight
White to a 10ss ofthe queen. pieces wou1d occupy not νery good posi-
29.~xh7+ <tJf7 30.~f5+ <tJg8 31.~xf3 tions.
iιxf3 12.<tJf1liJxh7 13.~e2
White's two extra pawns 1eaνe B1ack ηο Mter 13.e6 fxe6 14. ~d3 comp1ications
chance for a draw. with mutua1 chances were possib1e.
32.iιd3 c4 33.j"f1 lIe5 34.iιg2 iιh5 13 ... 0-0-0
35.iιd4 1:txel+ 36.1:!.xel iιf7 37.~al b4 There was a reason to chose 13 ... e6 too.
38.cxb4 j"xb4 39.1::ta8 .!:!:xa8 40.iιxa8 g5 14.e6 ~d5 15.exf7 ~xf7 16.iιe3 a6
41.<tJg2 ι;t>h7 42.j"e4+ <tJh6 43.iιe3 ι;t>h5 If 16 ... ι;t>b8, then 17.1::rd1! was νery
44.h3 iιe6 45.g4+ 1-0 strong. At the same time, the combination
17.iιxh6 gxh6 18. ~e5+ <tJc8 19. ~xh8 to be
followed by 19 ... liJf6 20.liJf5 e6 wou1d 1et
115 Β19 B1ack catch the white queen into a trap.
Leko - Bareev 17.b4 e6 18.iιb6 ~d7 19..:tblliJf6 20.c4
Round 5 12.07 iιd621.1::rh3
21 ... iιxg3 22.fxg3 liJe4+ was threaten-
l.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.liJc3 dxe4 4.liJxe4 ing.
iιf5 5.liJg3 iιg6 6.h4 h6 7.liJf3liJf6 21 ... iιf4 22 ..a:b2 ~g6 23.b5 ~d3
Usually Ε. Bareeν prefers a more tra- White's initiatiνe οη the queenside
ditiona1 7 ... liJd7. Still, the moνe 7 ... e6 grows stronger, and B1ack hurries up to
which is re1atiνe to the 1ine with 7 ... liJf6 exchange the queens.
has been seen ίη his tournament practice 24.bxc6 bxc625.<tJgl ~xe2 26.1:!.xe2
as we11. After 8.liJe5 iιh7 9.iιd3 iιxd3 1::rdl+ 27.liJf1
10.~xd3 liJd7 11.iιf4 ~a5+ 12.c3 liJgf6
13.0-0 iιe7 14.1:tfe1 ο-ο 15.liJf5 White took
the initiatiνe ίη the game Iνanchuk -
Bareeν, E1ista 1998.
8.liJe5 iιh7 9.iιd3liJbd7
Ρ. Leko knows well the 1ine 9 ... iιxd3
10.~xd3 from his own practice. Ιη the
game Adams - Leko, Linares 1999 he ex-
Ρeήeηced a νery strong attack after 10 ... e6
11.iιd2 liJbd7 12.f4 iιe7 13.0-0-0 ο-ο
14. ~e2 c5 15.dxc5liJxc5 16.j"c3 ~c7 17.f5!.
10.iιxh7liJxe511.dxe5
11.iιf5 liJed7 12.iιd3 e6 13.~e2 ~c7 27 ...liJg4!?
14.iιd20-0-0 15.0-0-0 c5 with an approxi- B1ack decides to sacrifice the pawn ίη
mate equa1ity occurred ίη the game order to preνent the white h3-rook from
Fontaine - Magem Bada1s, France 1999. entering the game. Mter 27 ... ι;t>d7 28.1::rb3
1l ... ~a5+ l:tb8 29.g3 iιd6 3u.ι;t>g2 White cou1d gain
Why not depriνe the white king of his gradually a slight1y better p1ay haνing
cast1ing if there is an opportunity here? three pawn is1ets against B1ack's four.
Dortmund 181
28.Itxe6 h5 by Black. White pieces begin to liven up.

Having seized the initiative, Black wait 40 ... J:!.e3+ 41.'.td5 i.b4
for an opportunity. Mter 28 ... 1ιh2+ 29. After 41 ... J:!.xf3 42.<;.t>xc5 ~c7 43.J:!.h2
J:!.xh2 CLJxh2 30.'>t>xh2 J:!.xfl 31.J:!.xc6+ ~b7 J:!.xg3 44.J:!.f2! J:!.g6 45.f5 J:!.f6 46.<;.t>d5 there
32.J:!.g6 White had two pawns vs. exchange was a material balance οη the board, how-
and, respectively, a certain advantage. ever the difference ίη positions of pieces
29.g3 and pawns was really huge.
Α questionable decision. White's rook 42.CLJe5 a5
just stepped out. After 29.J:!.xc6+ ~d7 Ιη case of 42 ... ..iel White had 43.~d4!
30.J:!.g6 or 29 ... '>t>b7 30.J:!.g6 the position J:!.xg3 44.I!xg3 1ιχg3 45.CLJg6, opening a free
would have remained very keen. So, ίη the way for the f-pawn.
last case 30 ... J:!.e8!? 31 ...ia5 J:!.e2 would be 43.J:!.h2 a4
possible, with all Black's pieces rushing to Mter 43 ... Itxg3 44.f5 1:tgl 45.f6 Black
White's kingside. could hardly stand his ground.
29 ... 1ιe5 30.J:!.xc6+ 44.J:!.b2 !'!.b3 45.J:!.xb3 axb3 46.CLJd3
Both opponents started playing inaccu- 1ιeΙ
rately because of time trouble. Instead of Neither 46 ... 1ιa3 47.~e6, nor 46 ... '>t>c7
taking the pawn the move 30 ...ic5 was 47.~e6 <;.t>d8 48.f5 could have saved Black.
more careful.
30 ... ~b7?!
Appears to be not the very best solu-
tion. Mter 30 ... ~d7! 31.J:!.g6 (if31.J:!.c5, then
31 ... J:!.b8 32.1ιa5 J:!.b2 was very strong)
31 ... ..if6 32.~g2 (after 32.f4l:!.b8 33.c5l:!.e8
White had ηο redemption) 32 ... CLJe5 Black
would catch the g6-rook, while the other
white rook h3 would still be ίη its volun-
tary seclusion.
31.l:!.e6 J:!.h6!
Black exchanged White's οηlΥ active
piece. 47.f5?
ΒΥ the end of the game the opponents
32 . .ί:!.Χh6 gxh6 33 ...ie3 J:!.al 34.~g2
J:!.xa2 35.'>t>f3 1ιc3 began to make mistakes again. This line
35 ... 1ιd6! was more accurate. After led to the victory: 47 .CLJc5+ ~c8 (ίη case of
36.CLJh2 (ίη case of 36.CLJd2 CLJxe3 37.'>t>xe3 47 ... ~c7 48.CLJxb3 1ιχg3 48.CLJd4! 1ιΧh4
1ιc5+ White still has some problems for 49.CLJe6+ '>t>d7 50.CLJg7 ..id8 51.CLJxh5 despite
38.'>t>e2?? is impossible because of 38 ... the paucity of the material οη the board
1ιb4) 36 ... CLJxe3 37.fxe3 (White also would White had to win) 48.CLJxb3 ..ixg3 49.f5
have to struggle for a draw after 37.'>t>xe3 1ιΧh4 (49 ... ~d7 also did not help ίη view
1ιc5+ 38.~e4 J:!.xf2) 37 ... a5 or 37 ... '>t>c6 of 50.f6 1ιΧh4 51.CLJc5+ ~e8 51.~e6 1ιΧf6
White was still faced with making a draw. 52.'>t>xf6 h4 53.~e6 h3 54.CLJe4 and after
36.CLJh2CLJxe3 37.~xe3 1ιb4? stopping Black's h-pawns with the knight,
Again, the move was not too good. Black the white c-pawn had to settle the outcome
is losingtime. 37 ... a5 or 37 ... ~c6 suggested of the game) 50.~e6 Φc7 and thanks to
themselves to be followed by 38 ... '>t>c5, 51.CLJc5! Φc6 52.CLJe4 ..id8 53.f6 1ιχf6
keeping the balance. 54.'>t>xf6 h4 55.~e5 h3 54.~d4 h2 55.CLJf2
38.f4 1ιc5+ 39.\te4 J:!.a3 40.CLJf3! White managed to distribute responsibili-
Well, this move seems to be overlooked ties between his king and knight ίη time.
47 ... j"xg3 48.Φe6 j"xh4? Now it's already evident that Black's
Black's reciprocal courtesy. After chances are better.
48 ... \t>c6 49.f6 (ίη case of 49.\t>e7? ..ixf6! 19.1:tel b5
50.Φχf6 h4 White even loses) 49 ... j"d6
50.f7 j"f8 50.c6 \t>c7 51.Φd5 \t>d7 52.Φc4
(52.c6+ Φc7 53.ctJb2 also does not help
White ίη view of53 ... 'it>b6) 52 ... Φe6 53.c6
Φd6 54.Φχb3 Φχc6 55.ctJf4 Φd7 56.ctJg6
'i.t>e6 57.ctJxf8 'i.t>xf7 58.ctJd7 'i.t>e6 59.ctJc5 'i.t>f5
Black achieves a draw.
49.'i.t>d7!
Finishing the longest game of the tour-
nament.
49 .....ie7 50.c5 1-0
20.~cl
116 D39 This was practically a forced solution.

Ιη case of 20.a4? Black had a tactical dis-
Huebner - Piket
Round 5 12.07 proof 20 ... ctJxd4 21.cxd4 h3! 22.g3 "i;rxe4.
20 ..."i;rxcl 21.~excl Φe7 22.ctJb3 ctJe5
l.d4 ctJf6 2.c4 e6 3.ctJf3 d5 4.ctJc3 dxc4 23.ctJd2 .t:thd8
5.e4..ib4 Looks like a small hitch. 23 ... 1:tc7! was
The Vienna Variation of the Queen's more accurate.
Gambit was popular ίη the most represen- 24.'i.t>f1 ~c7 25.ΦeΙ1:tdc8 26.~b3 ..ic6
tative tournaments for several decades. 27.13 j"d7
6 ...ig5 c5 7 •.1ιχc4 cxd4 8.tίJxd4 .1ιχc3+ Α transfer of the rooks to the d-file
9.bxc3 "i;ra5 10.iιb5+ .1ιd7 11 ..1ιχί6 gxf6 promised nothing as well. Mter 27 ...1:td7
12. "i;rb3 a6 13 •.1ιe2 ctJc6 14.0-0 "i;rc7 28.ctJf1 Mcd8 29.MC2 White still could main-
15."i;ra3 tain the balance.
The game Ivanchuk - Piket, Monaco 28.f4 ctJc6 29.ctJf3 e5 30.fxe5 fxe5 _
(active) 2000 with 15.ctJf3 ο-ο 16.l:ίfd1 was 31.~a3 ctJd4 32.ctJxe5 b4 33.ctJxd7 ~xd7 .
drawn ίη three half-moves. Mter 15.Ϊiab1 34.Mxa6 Mxc3 35.~dl
ctJa5 16. "i;ra3 Ϊic8 17.c4 ctJxc418.j"xc4 "i;rxc4 The continuation 35.~xc3 bxc3 was
19 ..t:tfd1 "i;rc3 20. "i;rd6 "i;rc7 White got ηο suf- clearly not good for White, but 35.~b1 ~c2
ficient compensation for the pawn ίη the 36.j"g4 Mxg2 37.j"xd7 ~g1+ 38.'i.t>d2 ~xb1
game Κramnik - Van Wely, Monaco (ac- 39 ..1ιg4 with a balance was quite admis-
tive) 2000. sible.
15 ... ~c8 16.Mfcl 35 ... Ϊic2 36.j"g4 Mxg2 37.Jl.xd7 ctJc2+
16.1:rad1 was seen ίη the practice ofthe 38.\t>f1 ctJe3+ 39.wel ctJxdl 40.'i.t>xdl
Holland grandmaster when he played for White reduces the game to a drawn
both colours. Ιη the game Van Wely - Piket, rook endgame. Mter 40.~a7 ~g1+ 41.\t>d2
Monaco (active) 1999 Black equalised af- ctJc3 the position would still be tense.
ter 16 ... ~g8 (the line 16 ... ctJa5 17."i;rc1 'i.t>e7 40 ... 'i.t>xd7 41.h3 ~g3 42.~b6 ~xh3
18. ~h6 Jl.c6 brought White to a victory ίη 43.~xb4 ~h2 44.~b6 \t>e7
the game Piket - Topalov, Groningen 1997 Black is complicating the matters un-
owing to 19.ctJxe6!) 17.f4 ctJxd4 18.cxd4 "i;rc3 necessarily. Ifhejust had taken the pawn
19.Mf3 ~xa3 20.Mxa3 Mc2. with 44 ... Mxa2, then after 45.~h6 Mh2
16 ... h5 17.~abl h4 18. "i;rb2 "i;rf4 46.\t>e1 the game would have ended with
Dortmund 183
a draw anyway. And now Black has sim- 15 ... CίJxd2

ply nothing. 15 ... fxg4 changed nothing because of
45.a4 f6 46.'it>el 11a2 47.z:tb7+ <;t>e6 16.CίJg5.
48 ..ί::i:h7 .!:ίχa4 % - % 16.~xd2 fxg4 17.CίJg5 t'ι'e8
Ιη case of 17 ... h6 White had 18.h5!.
18.h5 gxh5 19.11xg4 Z1f6
117 C02 If 19 ... h6, then there was a νery strong
Khalifrnan - Akopian 20.12:h4.
Round 5 12.07 20.Ii.h4 ~h6 21.0-0-0 a5 22.Ii.hl b5
23 ..tdl1:Ia7 24.~xh5 t'ι'ίB
l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 CίJc6 5.CίJf3
CίJh6 6.~d3
The line 6 . .sιxh6 gxh6 7.dxc5 .sιxc5
8 ..sιd3 f6 is out of fashion for a long time
already.
6 ... cxd4 7.cxd4 CίJf5 8.iιxf5 exf5 9.CίJc3
iιe6 10.h4 h6 11.h5 iιe7 12.CίJe2 t'ι'a5+
Preνiously οηlΥ 12 ... t'ι'b6 and 12 ... t'ι'd7
has occurred ίη this position.
13.'it>f1 1:tc8 14.'it>gl ~d7 15.CίJf4 ~c7
16.1:th3 .ί::i:hc8 17..ί::i:g3 ~ίB
Black has built solid redoubts οη both
flanks. 25.e4!
18.~d2 t'ι'a6 19 ..sιc3 ι;;t>e8 20.CίJel t'ι'b6
White intensifies his attack with his
21.CίJc2 .ί::i:d7 22. t'ι'd2 a5 23.CίJe3 a424.CίJc2
dark-squared bishop. Ifhe won the queen
112 -112 with 25.CίJf7 + t'ι'xf7 26.i..xf7 .txh4 he would
still haνe to achieve his adνantage.
25 ....td8
118 DOO Ιη case of 25 ... dxe4 the solution was
Kramnik - Junior 6 26.~g6 .!:ίΧh4 27. t'ι'xh4.
Round 5 12.07 26.f5 b4 27 ..sιg6 1:txh4 28. t'ι'xh4 bxc3
29.bxc3 .sιf6
l.d4 d5 2.e3 CίJf6 3.iιd3 e6 4.f4 iιe7 Mter 29 ... t'ι'a3+ 30.'it>d1 t'ι'xa2 White
5.CίJf3 c5 6.c3 0-0 7.CίJbd2 CίJg4 could chose between a mere 31 ..sιf7 t'ι'b1+
Computer's apprehension of closed ρο 32.<;t>e2 t'ι'd3+ 33.'it>e1 t'ι'b1+ 34.'it>f2 t'ι'xh1
sitions is definitely not too good. Ιη the 19th 35.t'ι'xh1 .sιxg5 36.~xg5 .ί::i:xf7 37.f6 and a
century people preferred playing 7 ... b6. For νery long forced line 31. t'ι'xh 7 +! .ί::i:xh 7
example, 8.CίJe5 .sιb7 9.t'ι'f3 CίJbd7 10.0-0 32.l::!.xh7+ 'it>g8 33.~f7+ 'it>f8 34.CίJxe6+ ~e7
t'ι'c7 11.g4 g6 12. t'ι'h3 CίJe4 13.1::tf3 CίJxe5 (there was ηο 34 ... ~xe6 35.i..h6+ ~e7
14.dxe5 CίJxd2 15 ..sιxd2 d4 from the game 36 ..txe6+ 'it>d6 37.'1:!d7#) 35.i..g6+ ~d6
D. Janowsky - J. Mieses, Paris 1895 with 36.iιf4+ CίJe5 37.dxe5+ 'it>c6 38.~e8+ iιd7
winning position for Black. (if 38 ... ~b6, then 39.i..e3+ 'it>a6 40.11a7#)
8.t'ι'e2 c4 9 ..sιc2 f5 10.l::tgl CίJc6 11.h3 39.~xd7+ 'it>b6 40.~e3+ ~b7 41.CίJxd8+
CίJf6 12.g4 CίJe4 13.t'ι'g2 g6 14.t'ι'h2 'it>h8 ~b8 42.i..e6 with a huge material adνan-
15.h4! tage. '
White begins a straight attack of the 30.t'ι'xh7+!
black king, using the time that was lost by With a simple elegance.
Black and the closed type of the position. 30...Jhh7 3Uh:h7+ 'it>g8 32.~Π+ 'ffixf7
33.~xf71-0 Ιη case of 14 ... ..txa8 Black obviously did

not want 15.kιa1.
119 Α17
Kramnik - Anand
Round 6 13.07
ι.tiJf3 CΔf6 2.c4 e6 3.CΔc3 Jtb4 4:~c2

0-0 5.a3 SΙxc3 6:~xc3 b6 7.e3
This is not the first duel ofthese ορρο
nents ίη the Anti-Nimzowitsch Variation.
It's curious to compare this game with a
game that was played two years ago. It
developed then as follows: 7.b4 SΙb7 (later
ίη another game the Indian grandmaster
15.d5!
acted much tougher: 7 ... a5 8.SΙb2 axb4 White closes the diagonal a8-h1 for
9.axb4 ~xa1+ 10.SΙxa1 c5 11.e3 d6 12 ...te2 Black's light-squared bishop.
e5 13.d3 l:ϊe8 14.0-0 CΔc6 15.bxc5 bxc5=, 15 ....CΔf8
and Black managed to get a solid position White's idea is tactically based οη the
Κramnik - Anand, Dortmund 1998) 8.SΙb2 fact that ίη the line 15 ... exd5 16.cxd5 Jtxd5
d6 9.e3 a5 10.SΙe2 axb4 11.axb4 ~xa1+ 17. 'lfixc7 Black's c7-pawn turns out to be
12 ...txa1 CΔbd7 13.0-0 'lfie7 14 ...tb2 Ma8 undefended. Ιη case of15 ... e5 16.CΔd2 b5!?
15.d4 c5 16.CΔd2 'lfif8, Κramnik - Anand, 17 .e4 bxc4 18. 'lfixc4 (if 18.Jtxc4, then Black
Frankfurt 1998. has 18 ... CΔb6 19 ...Itb3 CΔa4) 18 ... CΔb6 19. 'lfic2
7 .....tb7 8.Jte2 d6 ..ta6 20 ...Itxa6 kιxa6 White had the route
Ιη the quarter-final ofthe FIDE World CΔb3-a5-c6 οη hand.
Championship 1999 White failed to break 16.1dd1 ..tc8 17.CΔd4 e5 18.CΔb3
through the fence of black pawns οη the Now 18.CΔc6 was already a blank shot.
fifth rank after 8 ... c5 9.b4 d6 10.Jtb2 e5 Mter 18 ... 'lfie8 to be followed by 19 ... ..Itb7
11.0-0 ~e8 12.d3 CΔbd7 13.~fe1 a5 ίη the White was forced to advance b4-b5 so that
game Κramnik - Adams, Las Vegas 1999. one of Black's knights might occupy the
9.0-0 CΔbd7 10.b4 a5 11.Jtb2 'lfie7 c5-square.
Ιη comparison with the above men- 18 ... ..td7 19.::3 'lfid8 20.CΔd2 CΔg6
tioned game played ίη Frankfurt ίη 1998 21 ...Itf1 h6 22.e4 CΔh7
there is a difference which can be esti- Mter 22 ... CΔh5 23.c5 bxc5 24.bxc5 White
mated as White's certain advantage. Μ had ηο 24 ... f5? because of 25.exf5 SΙxf5
ter 11 ... axb4 12.axb4 Mxa1 White had 26.g4 'lfig5 27.Φh1
13.1:txa1. 23.c5 bxc5 24.bxc5 f5 25 ...Ita3 .ι::!:c8
12.d4 Black decides to sacrifice the pawn. The
White returns the play to a position, material balance could have been kept
which is quite typical of the Classical with 25 ... CΔg5!? The point is that ίη case
Variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defence. of 26.cxd6 cxd6 27.SΙxd6? Black had
Previously οηlΥ 12.~fc1 and 12.d3 have 27 ... ..ta4 28 ...tc7 and then a very strong
occurred. intermediate move 28 ... CΔh3+!
12 ... axb4 13.axb4 kιfc8 26.cxd6
13 ... c5 could possibly be followed by 26.c6 ..te8 27.exf5 Black met with a
14.CΔd2. mere 27 ... CΔe7, however, 26. 'lfie3 deserved
14.~xa8 kιxa8 attention.
Dortmund 185
26 ... cxd6 27.~b4?! his pieces closer to the white king. Mter
Leads to winning the pawn, but ίη re- 31 ... CLJh4 32.'iithl there was nο 32 ... tlJxf3
turn for it diνes Black a strong counterplay 33.gxf3 CLJe4 because of 34. ~xe5 CLJxc5
οη the kingside. The preνentiνe 27.~e3! 35.CLJd6!
showed by Κramnik after the game, is 32 •.1ιe3
much stronger and does not let the black Naturally ηο 32.fxe4 because of 32 ...
queen to g5. As to the d5-pawn, it will not CLJxe4, and White's bishop οη c5 perished.
run away anywhere. Ιη case of need the 32 ... ~h5 33.~g3
white knight from c4-square can be en- There was ηο 33.g4? because of 33 ...
gaged ίη the attack of this point. CLJxg4 34.fxg4 ~xg4+, and if 33.CLJd2, then
27 ... ~g5 28.~xd6 CLJf6 29.~c5 after 33 ... exf3 34.CLJxf3 .1ιe4 Black would
Despite White's extra pawn and the take the d5-pawn. Taking into account
adνantage oftwo bishops he has to be νery that after the moνe ίη the game White be-
careful. With his last moνe he took control gan to experience some difficulties,
oνer the important diagonal a7-g1. If he 33.CLJd2!? should haνe been preferred.
played 29.exf5 at once, then after 29 ... ~xf5 33 ... exf3 34.gxf3 CLJh4 35.CLJd2?
(29 ... ~e3+ 30.~h1 1ιχf5 was untimely be- Α mistake. 35.CLJe5 was correct and if
cause of 31.CLJc4) 30.CLJc4 Black might haνe 35 ... :ι;re8, then by means of 36.:td4! White
found 30 ... CLJh4! (ίη case of30 ... e4 good was kept the balance.
31.~g3 ~h5 32.1ιe2), and now ίη case of 35... ~c2
31.CLJxe5 (if 31.~h1, then 31 ... ~xc4!) there Black is eνidently playing for a win.
would be a νery strong tactical blow Mter 35 ... CLJxd5 36.1ιd4 .1ιg6 37.1ιd3 White
31 ... CLJxf3+!! 32.CLJxf3 ~e3+ 33.\t>h1 CLJe4, would haνe held if he had exchanged
which would be possible because of the pieces.
undefended diagonal a7-g1. 36 •.1ιe2
29•.. ~h7 Mter 36.d6 1::txd2 37.l;ιxd2 CLJxf3+ 38.
Α necessary moνe. There was ηο c.t>h1 CLJxd2 39.1ιχd2 CLJe4 40. ~f4 ~g6
29 ... 1ιa4 30.1::ta1 ~xd2 because of31. ~e6+, 41.~e3 CLJxd6 Black not οηlΥ took the pawn
but now this threat exists. back but acquired another one, though
30.exf5 White's adνantage of two bishops com-
Mter 30.~b6 1ιa4 31.l::!.a1 1ιc2 the e4- bined with the lack of material οη the
square could not be held. If 32.exf5, then board made the position close to a draw.
there was 32 ... CLJf4. 36•.. CLJxd5
30 ... ~xf5 31.CLJc4 Mter 36 ... ~e8!? White probably could
repel Black's attack with 37. ~f2 CLJxd5
38.1ιd4 CLJf4 39.1ιf1 ~g6+ 40. ~g3! (ίη case
of 40.\t>h1 CLJxf3 41.~xf3 J::!.xd2 42.1::txd2 1ιe4
Black wins) 40 ... ~xd2 41.~xd2 CLJxf3+
42.\t>f2 CLJxd2 43. ~;xf4, though exactly this
deνelopment of Black's attack was the
most unpleasant for White.
37.1ιd4 1ιg6 38.~g4 CLJf5??
Α major mistake. Τοο many black pieces
haνe been put οη the diagonal bl-h7. Μ
ter 38 ... ~xg4+ 39.fxg4 the game would be
drawn, though White still needed some
31 ... e4! accuracy. 80, ίη case of39 ... CLJf4 40.c.t>f2 ~e4
Black wants to acquire new squares for 41.\t>e3 CLJxe2 it is impossible to play
41.Φχe4? because after 41 ... lίJxd4 42.Wxd4 his own White didn't need to deνelop his
J:ιxd2+ 43.~xd2 lίJf3+ 44.Φe3 lίJxd2 45. knight to c3.
Φχd2 Φg6 46.r.!te3 (if 46.h4, then 46 ... h5! 9 ...f6
wins) 46 ... Φg5 47.r.!tf3 Wh4 48.Φg2 φχg4 Mter 9 ... a5 10.b3 f6 11:~c2 ο-ο 12.j.b2
Black wins the pawn ending thanks to the ~d7 13 ..ί:ϊfd1 J:Iab8 14.lίJc4 .ί:tfc8 White took
fact that none of his pawns has not yet the initiatiνe with the moνe 15.d4! ίη the
moνed. Let's illustrate it: 49.Wf2 Φh3 game Milos -Assumpcao, Sao Paulo 1991.
50.Φg1 g6! (50 ... h5 is also possible, but a 10.b4 0-0 11.j.b2 ~d7
hasty 50 ... g5? Leads to a draw) 51.r.!th1 11 ... a5 12.b5 tΔa7 13.d4 lίJxb5 14.dxe5
g5 52.Φg1 h5 53.Φh1 g4 54.Φg1 h4 55.r.!th1 fxe5 15.lίJxe5 c6 16.a4 lίJd6 17.e4 with
g3 56.hxg3 hxg3 57.Φg1 g2. The correct White's initiatiνe was seen ίη the game
continuation was 41.lίJxe4 lίJxd4 42.l'1xd4 Κharloν - Mashinskaya, Russia 1997.
1:!.xh2 and despite the absence ofthe pawn, 12.~c2 .ί:Iac813.1:!.fdl il.f714.lίJe4 ~e6
White had to make a draw. 15.J:ιabl .ί:lfd8 16.j.allίJd7
39. ~xh5 SΙxh5 40.~d3 ~g6 41.j.xc2 Ιη case of 16 ... ~a2 Black had to reckon
lίJxd4 42.SΙxg6+ Φχg6 43.Wf2 with 17.~c1 as there was ηο 17 ... ~xe2?
White's extra exchange makes his ρο because of 18.l'1d2, catching the black
sition winning despite ofthe fact that οηlΥ queen.
few pieces haνe remained οη the board. 17.d4
43 ... lίJe6 44.lίJe4 lίJef4 45.1:!.al lίJh5 White performs the planned adνance.
46.~a6+ Φf7 47.lίJd6+ r.!te7 48.lίJf5+ r.!tf7 17... exd4 18.b5 lίJce5 19.1ίJxd4 ~a2
49.lίJe3 lίJdf4 50.lίJg4 lίJd5 51.lίJe3 lίJdf4 20.~h3!
52.lίJf5 lίJd5 53.ΦeΙ lίJdf6 54.r.!td2 lίJd5 White deνelops his initiatiνe notwith-
55.J:ιa5 Φe6 56.lίJe3 lίJdf4 57 ..!:!:f5 Φe7 standing any sacrifices.
58.lίJg4 r.!te6 59.Ϊte5+ Φf7 60.r.!te3 r.!tg6
61.Φe4 lίJh3 62.lla5 lίJg5+ 63.Φe3 lίJe6
64.lίJe5+ Φf6 65.lίJd3 1-0
Mter 65 ... Φg6 (ίη case of 65 ... g6 there
was 66.I:ta6 Φe7 67.lίJe5) 66.f4lίJc7 67.f5+
Φαι 68.lίJf4lίJxf4 69.r.!txf4lίJe8 70 ..ί:!.a6+ r.!tf7
71.Φe5 lίJf6 72.1:'ιΧf6+! gxf6 73.Wd6 the
white king would enter Black's fortress
without excessiνe efforts.
120 Α20
Bareev - Huebner 20 ... ~xc2
Round 6 13.07 Αη important moment. Could Black
take the pawn with 20 ... il.xa3 and escape
l.c4 e5 2.g3 lίJf6
3.i.g2 d5 4.cxd5 the punishment? Most probably, he could
lίJxd5 5.lίJf3 lίJc6 6.0-0 lίJb6 not. He would lose some material ineνita
Black preνented decisiνely the oppor- bly after 21.f4! lίJg6 22.j.b2 (there was ηο
tup.ity of d2-d4 which would be possible 22. ~xa2 il.xa2 23.j.e6+ il.xe6 24.lίJxe6 be-
after 6 ... j.e7, probably because he did not cause of 24 ... .ί:!.e8 as then after 25.lίJxg7
want to play the line 7.d4 e4 8.lίJe5 f5 f5 !:txe4 26.Itxd7 ..tlack had 26 ... lίJf8) 22 ...
9.lίJxc6 bxc6. SΙxb2 (if 22 ... ~d6, then 23.l'1a1 ~c4
7 .d3 ~e7 8.a3 SΙe6 9.lίJbd2 24. ~xc4 j.xc4 25.1:tdc1, and now 25 ... ..td5
Now that the black knight left d5 οη would be followed by 26.lίJxd6 cxd6
Dortmund 187
27.~xc8 .uxc8 28 ..ixd7, White winning a White appreciably hampered Black's

piece) 23.MXb2 ~a3 24.CLJe6 ~e3+ 25.'it>g2 counterplay οη the queenside because if
:te8 26.CLJxg7 ~xe4+ 27.~xe4 1::txe4 28. 41 ... a6, there ίΒ 42.1:td6+ Φg7 43.~xb6 axb5
:txd7! (ηο 28 ..ixd7 because of 28 ... nd8 44. 'it>f2 and ίη νiew of the poor position of
29.CLJh5 ne7 30.CLJxf6+ Φg7 ΒΟ that the bind- Black's a5-rook, White had to win.
ing οη the d-file left White ηο chance for a
win) 28 ... 'it>xg7 29.J::txf7+ ΦΧf7 30 ..ltxc8.
21.CLJxc21:!.a8 22.f4 CLJc5!
Black ίΒ looking for counter chances.
Mter 22 ... .ig6 23.fxe5 .ixe4 24.~xd7 ~xd7
25 ..ltxd7 .ltxc2 26.ncl he would get into a
trouble.
23.CLJxf6+ gxf6 24.fxe5 fxe5 25.CLJe3?!
Α questionable moment, it seems that
White was mistaken when he refused to
take the pawn. Mter 25.Jιxe5 .ig6 26.
~xd8+ ~xd8 27.~cl CLJb3 (ίη case of
27 ....:d2 there was 28.CLJd4, and if27 ... .ltg5, 40 •.. h5?
then 28 ..if4) 28 ..lte6+ .ltf7 29 ..ltxb3 .ltxb3 Despite White's extra pawn his win ίη
30.CLJd4 .ig5 31.':c3 Black would still haνe the rook endgame was not a sure thing at
to proνe that the adνantage of two bish- all. Haνing created a passed pawn οη the
ops compensated him White's extra pawn. queenside with 40 ... ~a5! Black would haνe
25 ... CLJb3! real drawing chances. With the moνe ίη
Just fine. Black preferred an actiνe the game he did not οηlΥ lose his time, he
moνe to a timid 25 ... .ltd6.
also weakened his position οη the kingside.
26 ..1ι,χe5 .ic5 27 ..ltf4 .ϊ:!.e8? 41.1:ic6+ 'it>g7
Spoiling the whole idea. White would 41 ... Φg5 was not better because of
encounter great problems ίη case of 42.h4+, as well as 41 ... Φf5 42.':d6 ':a5 be-
27 ... CLJd2!.So, he lost by an exchange after cause of 43.':d5+.
28.nbcl CLJc4 29.'it>f2 (ίη case of 29.1:!.xd8+ 42.1:!.d6!
~xd8 30. 'it>f2 White had to reckon with Black's pawn οη b6 depriνes the white
30 ... .id4!, and if he escaped the binding rook of the important c5-square. Οη the
with 31.'>t>f3, then he got immediately υη adjoining file it looks much better.
der the crushing 31 ... CLJxe3! 32.iιxe3 .id5+ 42 ..•h4
33.«t>f41:ιf8+) 29 ... 1:ιΧdI30.1:!.ΧdΙ ~f8 3UΙd3 If 42 ... .ί:[a5, then 43.l1d5 'it>g6 44.h4, pre-
.ixe3+! 32.1:ιχe3 (there was also ηο 32 ..ixe3 paring a base for the rook οη the g5-
because of 32 ... iιg6+) 32 ... CLJxe3 33. 'it>xe3 square.
.ic4.Mter the moνe ίη the game the bind- 43.':d3 1:!.a5 44.1:!.b3 hxg3+ 45.hxg3
ing could not be used ΒΟ simply. 'it>f6 46.«t>f3 «t>e5 47.g41:!.al 48.1:!.e3+ «t>d4
28.«t>f2 .ltb6 29.iιg2 1:ιe7 30•.id5 CLJd4 48 ... 'it>f6 ίΒ more persistent, though af-
31.'it>f1 ~ae8 32.~b41:!.xe3 33 •.ltxe3 ~xe3 ter 49.«t>f4lιf1+ 50.nf3 ~bl 51.«t>g3+ Φg6
34.1:!.bxd4 Jιxd4 35.1:!.xd4 .ixd5 36.1:!.xd5 52.11f5 it cannot influence the result.
1:!.xa3 37.1:!.d8+ 'it>f7 38.1:!.d7+ 'it>g6 39.~xc7 49.«t>f4 a5
All complications are oνer, the game 49 ... 1:!.f1+ 50 ..ί:[f3 .ϊ:Ibl did not help be-
proceeds to a rook endgame. cause of 51.g5 1:!.xb5 52.g6 Mc5 53.g7 1:!.c8
39... b640.'>t>f2?! 54.'it>g5 whereupon White's g-pawn would
Α serious omission before the control cost Black a whole rook.
moνe. ΒΥ means of 40.1:!.d7! 1:!.a5 41.1:!.d5 50.bxa6 b5 51.g5 1:!.xa6 52.Mg3 1-0
121 C65 had a reliable position because his double

Adams-Leko pawns were beyond Black's reach.
Round 6 13.07 12 .•.lbc6 13.lbxc8 1:taxc8 14.c3 ,!:[fe8
15.~xe8+ I;Ixe8
1.e4 e5 2.lbf3 lbc6 3 ..ib5 lbf6 4.0-0 Το make use of the adνantage of two
~c5 5.lbxe5 bishops is not easy when there is a whole
The English grandmaster does not army of pawns οη the board.
want to find out what has been prepared 16.Φf1 lbb8 17.d4 c6 18.i.d3 i.c7
by his opponent ίη the line 5.c3 ο-ο 6.d4 19.a4 d5 20.a5 a6 21.~d2lbd7 22.g3 g6
.1ιb6 7.~g5 h6 8.Jιh4 d6 9.~d3. It can be 23.b3lbf8 24.Φg2lbe6 25.b4 f5 26.f4 ΦΠ
mentioned that ίη the tournament ίη 27.'iitf3 'iitf6 28 ..!:[e1 ~d6 29.h3 h5 30..ί::ί.h1
Frankfurt ίη 2000, Ρ. Leko lost to ν. Anand 1:th8 31.z:te1 z:te8 32.1:th1 lh - lh
and Α. Shiroν ίη this νariation.
5 ... lbxe4
Another line of the νariation implies 122 D48
5 ... lbxe5 6.d4 a6 7 ..ia4 lbxe4 8.'~e2 .1ιe7 Piket - Khalifman
9.'~xe4 lbg6. Round 6 13.07
6. ~e2 lbxe5 7. ~xe4
White acted νery purposefully seνeral 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.lbc3 lbf6 4.e3 e6
months later, ίη the FIDE World Champi- 5.lbf3lbbd7 6.~d3 dxc4 7.~xc4 b5
onship ίη the game Shiroν - Gήschuk, New The Meran System ofthe Slaν Defence
Delhi (m/l) 2000. Mter 7.d4!? .ie7 8. ~xe4 occurrs indispensably ίη modern high-
lbg6 9.f4 c6 10 ..id3 d5 11. ~e2 f5 12.lbd2 leνel tournaments.
ο-ο 13.lbf3lbh8 14.~d2 a5 15.c4 he seized 8.~d3 ~b7 9.0-0 a6 10.e4 c5 11.d5
the initiatiνe and finally won the game. ~c7 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.i.c2 ~d6 14.lbg5
7 ... ~e7 8.lbc3 lbg6 9.~xe7+ lbxe7 lbf8 15.f4 0-0-0 16.~e1 e5
10.lbe4 ~b6 11 ..ί:!e1
17.lbd5
11 ... 0-0! The position has been seen many times
Α νery precise moνe. Black is not afraid preνiously. Ιη the game Sadler - Dreeν,
of ghosts. Ιη the game Howell - Macieja, Groningen 1997 the line 17.a4 b4 18.lbe2
Hastings 1990 White took the initiatiνe h6 was checked out, whereas ίη the \tour-
after 11 ... Φffi 12.b4 d5 13.lbc5 c6 14.~d3 nament ίη Leon (ESP) where opponents
f6 15.~a3 Φf7 16.b5. were allowed to use computers Black got
12.lbd6 a conνenient play after 17.f5 h6 18.lbf3
Ιη case of 12.lbf6+ gxf6 13.Irxe7 ~c5 lb8d7 lb8d7 19.Jιd2 c4 20.z:tc1 ~c6 21.a4
14 ..!';Ie1 c6 to be followed by d7-d5 Black lbc5 ίη the game Illescas Cordoba - Shiroν,
Dortmund 189
Leon 2000.
l7 ...~xd5
Ιη case of 17 ... lΔxd5 18.exd5 .txd5
Black had to reckon with the possible con-
tinuation 19.~d2 which was c11ecked soon
ίη the game Κrasenkow - Almasi, Polanica
Zdroj 2000.
l8.exd5 exf4 19 ..td2 Me8
There was a reason to play 19 ... lΔxd5
too, but Black probably did not want to
open the long light-squared diagonal a8-
h1 that could possibly get under the con- 29 ..te4?
trol ofWhite's pieces. White overlooked the winning continu-
20.~h4lΔg6 ation. Mter 29 ..txg6! ttJxf1 (there was a
Ιη case of 20 ... lΔxd5 White probably similar situation ίη case of 29 ... lΔxd1
would continue 21.a4. 30.Sxd1 .te5 31.~e8! too) 30.MXf1 ~e5 he
21.~h3+ 'it>b8 22.a4 b4 23.Sad1 c4 had 31.i.e8! and Black would have lost a
23 ... lΔxd5!? deserved attention. The piece without a sufficient compensation.
point is that ίη case of 24. ~d3 which was 29 ... ~xe4 30.J:txd6lΔxf131.1:!.b6+ rJ;;;a8
planned by White there was a rather un- 32.1:!.xa6+ Φb8 33.1:!.b6+ ~a8 34 ..Jaa6+
pleasant response 24 ... Me5!. 'it>b8 1f2 -1f2
24.lΔe6 ~b6+ 25.'it>hllΔxd5 26.lΔxg7
Se3 "123 ΒΟΟ
Mter 26 ... Meg8 27.lΔf5 .tc7 both sides Junior 6 - Akopian
had chances. Ν ow the game proceeds to Round 6 13.07
the stage of tactical complications.
27 ..txe3lΔxe3 28.a5 ~c6?! 1.e4 b6 2.d4 .tb7 3 . .td3ttJf6 4.~e2 e6
The fact that Black's queen occupies the 5.ttJf3 d5 6.e5ttJfd7 7.ttJg5 .te7 8.~g4 h5
white square could tell οη later as a tacti- Playing with the computer, Akopian
cal nuance. Mter 28 ... ~xa5 29.~xg6 (ίη attempts to get a position with as much as
case of 29 .:ι:!.Χd6 lΔxf1 30. 'tfi e6lΔe3 31.Mxa6 possible long pawn chains. It helps to re-
Black had 31 ... ~d5 32.~b6+ Φc8 where- duce at most any concrete tactical play at
upon the weakness of the first rank and which the computer is especially strong,
the threat of a mate οη g2 would not let and shortcomings of its positional appre-
White win the game) 29 ... i.e5! White hension will have a chance to tell οη its
would have problems ίη finding a decisive play now.
continuation notwithstanding his extra 9. ~g3 lΔf8 10.0-0
rook. For instance, after 30. 'tfih5 (ίη case 10.h4 has occurred ίη this position pre-
of30.Sa1 there was 30 ... ~b6 maintaining viously.
all Black's threats) 30 ... ~c7! (there was ηο 10 ... i.a6 11.~xa6 lΔxa6 12.c3 c5
30 ... ttJxf1 31.MXf1 :ι:!.g8 because of 32.~e4! 13.Md1 c4 14.Se1 .Jac8 l5.h4ttJh7 16.ttJf3
Mxg7 33. 'tfie8+ with White's win) 31.ttJe6 Mg8 l7 . .tg5lΔxg5 18.lΔxg5lΔb8 19.ttJd2
(Black was ΟΚ ίη the endgame after lΔc6 20.b3 ttJa5 2U::te3 .txg5 22.hxg5 g6
31.Sd7 ~xd7 32.~xe5+ ~c7 33.~xc7+ Both sides have got rid of their poten-
rJ;;;xc7) 31 ... hxg6 32. 'tfig5 'tfia5 33.lΔd8 ~c7 tially bad pieces: Black ofhis light-squared
Black still kept the balance by some bishop and νice versa. Ν evertheless, White
miracle. has a certain positional advantage as he
can open up the play οη both flanks. retical path. 13. ~b3 occurred ίη the game
23.~f3 .ί:!.c7 24.~ί6 ~c8 25.~ί4 ~ί8 Adams - Timman, Wijk aan Zee 2000. Μ
26.b4 4Jc6 27.4Jf3 ~e7 28.4Jh4 .!:Ig8 29.a4 ter a series of exchanges with 13 ... 4Jxc3
.ί:Ig7 30.~cl 14.bxc3 dxc4 15.Sιxc4 j"xc4 16.~xc4 ~d5
Απ attempt to open up the play οη the 17. ~b3 ~xb3 18.axb3 4Jd5 19.':e1 the Εη
kingside in order to put more pressure οη glish grandmaster got a more pleasant
the d7-pawn had sense for White. This position. Now 13 ..tJ:e1!? is more popular.
could haνe been done with 30.f3 ~c7 31.g4 13 ... 4Jxc3 14.bxc3 4Jc6 15.4Jd2
hxg4 32.fxg4 to be followed by ~a1-fi. M.Adams thinks that 15.cxd5 Sιxd5
30... ttc7 31.a5 b5 32.~e3 ~d7 33.ΦhΙ 16.~e1 is stronger.
a6 34.k!:dl ~e8 35.Φh2 4Je7 36.':hl 4Jg8 15 ... f5
37.':f3 4Je7 38.':h3 'Δί5 Black hurries up to place his dark-
Mter the exchange of the knights the squared bishop οη the diagonal a1-h8.
game becomes absolutely equal. 16.~elj"f617.j"f3 j"g818.cxd5 .ιtxd5
39.4Jxf5 exf5 40.~el ~c6 41. ~f3 ~e6 19.4Jb3
42.~hl .tJ:c8 43.~e3 ~e7 44.~ί4 ~e6 Ιη case of 19.':b1 the simplest answer
45 ..tJ:el 1f2 - 1f2. was 19 ... ~b8 (if 19 ... b6, then 20.4Jc4!?), and
now ifWhite had sent his knight to e3 with
124 C42 20.4Jfi, then Black would haνe been ΟΚ
Leko - Κramnik after 21 ... 4Je7 21.4Je3 b5.
Round 7 14.07 19... b6 20.j"f4 4Je7
The knight should be transferred to g6
l.e4 e5 2.4Jf3 'Δί6 to guard the νulnerable e5-square, and c6
V. Κramnik wants to play reliably and can be occupied with Black's pawn as well.
chooses one ofthe most solid openings, the 21.j"e5 c6 22.j"xf6 1:rxf6 23.4Jcl 4Jg6
Petroff Defence. 24.4Jd3 h6 25.4Je5 4Jh4 26.j"xd5 ~xd5
3.4Jxe5 d6 4.4Jf3 4Jxe4 5.d4 d5 6.j"d3 27.f3 c5 28.dxc5 lh-1f2
4Jc6 7.0-0 j"e7 8.c4 4Jb4 9.j"e2 ο-ο
10.4Jc3 Sιe6 1l.4Je5 ί6 12.4Jf3 Φh8 125 D39
The line 12 ... c5 13.j"e3 ':c8 lost its Akopian - Piket
popularity after the game Κhalifman - Round 7 14.07
Karpoν, Bali 2000 where White took the
initiatiνe, haνing continued 14.dxc5 j"xc5 1.4Jf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.d4 'Δί6 4.4Jc3 dxc4
15 ..ιtxc5 ~xc516.~b3 a5 17.~ad1. 5.e4 j"b4 6.j"g5 c5 7.j"xc4 cxd4 8.4Jxd4
~a5
The Holland grandmaster chooses the
Vienna Variation of the Queen's Gambit
again like ίη the fifth round. But now Black
goes another way, refusing from 8 ... j"xc3+
which was played by R. Huebner in that
game.
9.j"d2 ο-ο
Mter the game Κasparoν - Morozeνich,
Sarajeνo 2000 Black's last moνe seems to
come into fashion. Formerly 9 ... ~c5 was
the usual continuation.
13.a3 10.~e2
White is the first who leaνes the theo- V. Akopian spares his pawns. Let's re-
Dortmund 191
mind you that ίη the mentioned game enough to win? Ιη the game this question
Kasparov - Morozevich after 10.ltJc21ιχc3 stayed unanswen~d. 23.~f2 stilllooked to
11.iιxc3 ~g512.~e2 ~xg213.0-0-0 ~xe4 be rational. Ιη case of 23 ... ~d4 White had
14.1:rhg1 g6 15.ltJe3 e5 16.f4 iιe6 17.i.d3 a transfer 24. ~h4, whereas 23 ... b6 could
~xf4 White parted with three pawns with- be followed by a decisiνe 24.e5!, as now
out getting a sufficient compensation. 24 ... fxe5 25.ltJe4 ~d4 26.~h4 ~xe4 ίη
10 ... 1:rd8 11.ltJb3 ~c7 12.0-0 ltJc6 νolνed 27. ~f6+ ~g7 28.~g3.
13 ..ί:.ad1 tΔe5 14.i.b5 i.d7 23 ... fxe524.ltJe41tJd4??
Ιη case of 14 ... a6 White had an inter- Still another Piket's blackout ίη this
mediate 15.f4! which let him get an adνan tournament. Mter 24 ... ~b8 25.ltJf6 ~g6
tage after 15 ... axb5 (if 15 ... ltJg6, then 26.fxe5 ~xe5 (of course ηο 26 ... ltJxe5? be-
16.1ιd3 was possible already) 16.fxe5 i.xc3 cause of 27. ~h5 h6 28:~xe5!, White just
(there was ηο 16 ... ~xe5? because of mating) 27. ~xe5 ltJxe5 28.~c8+ Φg7
17.1ιf4!) 17.i.xc3 1:rxd118.1:rxd11tJd7 19.a3. 29.ltJe8+ Φh6 30.ltJf6 '.1tg7 White hardly
15.i.xd7 i.xc3 had anything but repeating the moνes.
There was ηο 15 ... ltJexd7? because of 25.~f21-O
16.ltJb5 ~c2 17.1tJ5d4, Black 10sing a piece. Νο wonder. Positions of all Black's
The same trick was applicable after pieces were awkward after 25 ... ~d8
15 ... ltJfxd7 or 15 ... 1:rxd7. Ιη case of 15 ... (25 ... ~b8 was a forced 10ss because of
~xd7 Black probably did not want to go to 26.~h41tJf5 27.~f6+ ~g7 28.g4, as well as
troubles of 16.i.g5 with a binding οη the 25 ... ~b6 because of 26.ltJf6 1:rd8 27.~h4)
diagonal d8-h4. 26.fxe5 ltJc6 (ίη case of 26 ... ltJf5 there was
16.1ιχc31:rχd7 an immediate solution with 27.ltJf6 1:rg7
Ιη case of 16 ... ltJfxd7 Black had to 28.1:!.fcl) 27. ~f6+ !!g7 28.tΔd6 (after 28.1:!.g3
reckon with the line 17.f41tJc4 18.1::!.d3. ~f8 29.ltJd6 Φg8 30.I:!.ff3 1:ί.g6 Black still
17.~c11tJc618.ltJc5 1:re7 19. ..Iί.xf6 gxf6 held) 28 ... <;t>g8 29.b4.
20.1:rc3 Φh8
Black has to be careful. There was ηο 126 Ε15
20 ... ~f4? because of 21.ltJxb7! ~xb7 Huebner - Adarns
22.~xc6, leaνing him without a pawn. Round 7 14.07
21.f4 :!:!.g8 22.'.1th1
22. ~f2 deserνed attention now with the 1.d4 ltJf6 2.c4 e6 3.1tJf3 b6 4.g3 i.a6
idea to transfer the queen to h4. 5.~a41ιb7 6.i.g2 c5 7.dxc5
22 ... ~d6 The opponents play a quiet νariation
of the Queen's Indian Defence. With his
last moνe White attempts to keep some
pressure οη the board. Ιη case of 7.0-0
Black had an opportunity to begin simpli-
fying the play with 7 ... cxd4.
7 ... i.xc5 8.0-00-0 9.ltJc3 i.e7 10.1:td1
ltJa6 11.i.f4 ltJc5 12. ~c2 ~c8 13.1:rac1
ltJce4 14.ltJd4 tΔxc3 15:~xc3 a6 16.1ιf3
Another participant ofthe tournament,
the Holland grandmaster J. Piket tried
more than once to break through Black's
position after 16. ~b3 i.xg2 17. Φχg2 ~b7 +
23.e5 18.~f3 1:ra719.~xb7 J::txb7 20.f31:tc8 21.e4.
Looks good, but is this adνantage 16....ί:.a7
The continuation 16 ... lΔe4 17. ~e3 f5 1ιχb4 would be followed by a standard
18.lΔb3 ~c6 which was seen ίη the game 17.iιxh7+) 17.bxa5 ~xa5 18.iιxa3 was
Al-Thani - Umansky, corr. 1998 proved to seen, like ίη the game ΥΜϊΙον - C.Hansen,
be evidently unlucky for Black. After Essen 2000 where Black preferred 18 ...
19.Jιxe4 fxe4 20.c5 bxc5 21.lΔxc5 White got ~d8, agreeing to have a slightly worse
a very big advantage. play, because in case of 18 ... 1ιχa3 he took
17.lΔb3 1ιχf3 18.~xf3 ~b7 19.~xb7 chances of White's strongest attack after
.a:xb7 20.f3 .a:c8 21.e4lΔe8 22.e5 f6 19.1ιχh7+! rJ.ιxh7 20.lΔg5+ 'it>g6 (20 ... rJ.ιh6
Black wants to get rid of the restrict- 21.~d3 'it>xg5 22.f4+ 'it>h6 23.~h3+ Φg6
ing pawn οη e5 as soon as possible to get a 24.f5+ exf5 25. ~xf5+ 'it>h6 26. ~h3+ rJ.ιg6
more convenient play. 27.-S:xa3) 21.~d3+ f5 22.lΔxe6 -S:a8 23.Mfb1
23.~c2 rJ.ιf7 24.g4 fxe5 25.1ιχe5 lΔf6 iιc8 24.~b3! Kasimdzhanov - Lesiege,
26.J:tccl-S:c6 27.1ιg3 g6 28.<bg2 1ιf8 29.h3 Istambu12000.
h5 30.lΔd4 .a:c8 31.a4 d6 32.lΔe2 .a:c6 17.iιd3
33.lΔd4 .a:c8 34.lΔe2 .a:c6 35.lΔd4 -S:c8 Mter 17.exf6lΔxf6 the white bishop was
36.ciJe2 l:ιc6 1h - lh attacked again.
17... lΔb6
127 D47 The black knight wants to get to d5 as
Khalifrnan - Bareev soon as possible. Ιη case of 17 ... 1ιχb4 there
Round 7 14.07 was a strong 18.lΔg5! (18:~b3 was weaker
because of 18 ... c5 19.~xe6+ 'it>h8 with an
l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.lΔc3 lΔf6 4.lΔf3 e6 unclear position), because after 18 ... ~e7
5.e3lΔbd7 6.1ιd3 dxc4 7.Jιxc4 b5 8.1ιd3 19. ~b3 .a:fe8 White struck with 20.lΔxe6!.
1ιb7 9.0-0 b4 18.1ιχa3
Ιη the previous sixth round Α. Κha Here White's dark-squared bishop oc-
lifman defended Black's position after cupies rather an lL"1fortunate position. But
9 ... a6. His present opponent Ε. Bareev ίη case of 18.1ιd2 after 18 ... lΔd5 (worse is
chooses another way. 18 ... g5 19.~b3 ~d5 20.~xd5 lΔxd5 21.
10.lΔe4 1ιe7 11.lΔxf6+ lΔxf6 12.e4 ο-ο lΔxg5 or 18 ... a5 19.bxa5 lΔd5 20.a6 1ιa8
13.e5lΔd7 14.iιe4 ~b8 21.1ιc4 with White's advantage in both
Black is preparing c6-c5. White dem- cases) 19.1ιc4 (if19 ..1:xa3, then 19 ... lΔxb4)
onstrates a method how to prevent this 19 ... ~b6 (now 19 ... lΔxb4 already will be
advance. followed by 20.1ιχe6+ <bh8 2U:rxa3 c5
15.a3 bxa3 16.b4 22.dxc5 1ιχc5 23.lΔg5 with White's strong
attack) 20.~xa3 Jιxb4 21.iιxb4 ~xb4
22 ..a:a4 ~b6 23.lΔg5 1ιc8 Black still holds
his ground.
18 ... lΔd5 19.1ιc4 ~b6 20:~d3 ~fd8
21 ..a:tbl h6 22.1!b3 'it>h8 23.~abl lΔc7
24.h3
The opponents do not undertake any
active attempts to breach each other's for-
tifications.
24 ...lΔd525.'it>h2
It is not easy for White to improve the
position of his dark-squared bishop. 80,
16... f5 25.1ιc1 was impossible because of 25 ...
Α new move. Previously 16 ... a5 (16 ... lΔxb4.
Dortmund 193
25 ... iιc8 26 ..i~td1 fic7 27.Φg1 J:tb6 Gambit Accepted. Usually White contin-
28.tiJe1 iιa6 29.iιc1 1h -1/2 ues 11.a3. Ιη this game V.Κramnik proves
another way to struggle for an advantage.
128 D05 11 ... tiJa5
Anand - Junior 6 Perhaps this move was necessary. Ιη
Round 7 14.07 case of 11 ... b5 Black had to reckon with
12.d5 exd5 13.tiJxd5 tiJxd5 14.~xd5 iιb7
1.d4 d5 2.tiJf3 tiJf6 3.e3 e6 4.iιd3 c5 15.~g5 with White's dangerous initiative.
5.c3 tiJc6 6.tiJbd2 iιe7 7.a3 fic7 12.~c2 b5 13.fid3 iιb7 14.h5 ~xf3 .
7 ... 0-08.0-0 has occurred previously to Black takes the offered pawn and White
be followed by 8 .. .'~c7 or 8 ... b6. acquires the advantage of bishop pair as
8.fie2 0-0 9.0-0 I:td8 10.l:.e1 a6 compensation. If he had refused he could
As a matter of fact we have a position have suffered very soon a crushing attack
from the Anti-Meran Variation here but ofwhite pieces. 80 after a passive 14 ... tiJc4
with reversed colours and, respectively, Black's kingside would have been smashed
with an extra tempo by White. immediately with 15.tiJg5 g6 16.hxg6 hxg6
11.h3 b5 17.~xe6!, and ίη case of 14 ... h6 there was
The computer plays reliably. Ιη case of a strong 15.tiJe5 with the most unpleasant
a more active 11 ... e5 the game would still threat of tiJe5-g4.
be equal after 12.dxe5 tiJxe5 13.tiJxe5 fixe5 15.fixf3 fixd4 16.~f4 b4
14.e4. Later ίη the game Bareev - Rublevsky,
12.dxc5 iιxc5 13.e4 tiJh5 14.tiJb3 tiJg3 Montecatini Terme 2000 Black played
15.fic2 dxe416.tiJxc5 exd317.tiJxd3 tiJf5 stronger. After 16 ... h6! 17 .Uad1 fic5
18.iιf4 1/2 - 1/2 White's activity was enough only for mak-
The position is approximately equal. ing a draw.
17.J:tad1 fic4
129 D27 Mter 17 ... fi c5 18.J::!.e5 .fib6 (ίη case of
Kramnik - Huebner 18 ... fic6 White continues also 19.fig3!)
Round 8 15.07 19. fig3! a careless 19 .... bxc3?! (ίη Κram
nik's ορίηίοη 19 ... .!:Ifd8 is better) allowed
1.d4 d5 2.tiJf3 tiJf6 3.c4 dxc4 4.e3 e6 White ίη the game Yermolinsky - Kai-
5.iιxc4 c5 6.0-0 a6 7.~b3 cxd4 8.exd4 danov, 8eattle 2000 by means of 20.~h6
tiJc6 9.tiJc3 ~e7 10.:e1 ο-ο g6 (20 ... tiJe8 is not better because of
21.iιxg7! tiJxg7 22.h6 iιf6 23.hxg7) 21.hxg6
fxg6 22.iιxg6 Φh8 23 ...Itxh7! ~f7 24.iιg6
~g8 25 ...Ite3 to develop the strongest attack
for a sacrificed piece.
18 ...Itd3 fic6 19.tiJe4 tiJd5 20.iιe5 f5?!
Black continues to weaken his position.
Ιη case of 20 ... f6 it would be much harder
to break Black's defence.
21. fig3 ~f7 22.tiJd2!
Many players might possibly have pre-
ferred 22.tiJg5 ..Itxg5 23. fixg5 with a good
compensation for the pawn, but the inten-
11.h4!? tion ofV.Κramnik is much more insidious.
The diagram shows one ofthe standard His knight is going to get to d4.
modern opening positions of the Queen's 22 ... tiJb7?!
Black does not feel any danger. He is lίJf6 5.lίJc3 e5 6.lίJdb5 d6 7.J..g5 a6 8.lίJa3
tardy with the transfer of the knight into b5
the centre ofthe board. Black should pre- The Hungarian grandmaster plays the
vent White's plan by 22 .. .'~d7, immedi- Sveshnikov Variation with Black not very
ately making the c6-square free for his often. Nevertheless, even ίη this keen
knight. Generally, the position after variation οηlΥ a very few players managed
Black's 22 nd move is quite remarkable. ΑΠ to break through Leko's defence.
black pieces except the dark-squared 9.lίJd5 J..e7 10.J..xf6 J..xf6 11.c3 ο-ο
bishop are occupying light squares (ίη the 12.t2Jc2 J..g5 13.a3
absence ofthe light-squared bishop!). 13.a4 is much more popular.
23.lίJf3 lίJc5 13 ... lίJe7
, Probably 23 ... J..c5 was better with the Α new move. Previously 13 ... 1:tb8 and
idea that after 24.lίJd4 White's dangerous 13 ... J..b7 have occurred.
knight could have been annihilated: 14.t2Jcb4 ..Ite6 15:~d3
24 ... J..xd4 25.J..xd4. Mter the move ίη the White is ready for complications. Mter
game White wins by force. a quiet 15.t2Jxe7+ ~xe7 16.t2Jd5 ~b7 Black
24.lίJd4 ~b6 had ηο problems as well as White.
Other retreats were none the better. For 15 ... f5 16.h4 .th6 17.~dl fxe4 18.
example, after 24 ... ~a4 the solution was ~xe4 a5 19.t2Jxe7+ ~xe7 20.t2Jd5
25.lίJxe6lίJxe626 ..tc4. Ιη case of 20.J..d3 Black had a choice
between a guaranteed draw after 20 ... axb4
21.~xh7+ ~f7 22.~g6+ ~g8 and a keen
continuation with mutual chances which
would arise after 20 ... g6 21.t2Jc2.
20... ~a7 21.f3 .tf4 22.J..d3
If White captured the pawn with
22 ...Itxb5, then after 22 ... J..g3+ 23.~d2
.ί:tab8 24.c4 ~f2+ Black would have got a
better play.
22 ... J..f5 23.~e2
25.lίJxί5!
As it was expected. Ιη the sixth round
Anand managed to hang not a few of his
men οη the diagonal b1-h7, and now the
German grandmaster has to pay for the
crowding of his pieces οη light squares.
25 ... exf5 26 ..tc4 lίJί6
If 26 ...:te8 27.J..xd5 lίJe6, then 28. ~b3
wins.
27.J..c7! 1-0
23 ... e4!?
130 Β33 Black wants to open υρ as many files
Anand-Leko ίη the centre as possible. Having deprived
Round 8 15.07 the white king of castling with 23 ... ..Itg3+,
Black would not get much because of
l.e4 c5 2.lίJf3 lίJc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.lίJxd4 24.Φd2 (24.Φf1? was dangerous to be fol-
Dortmund 195
lowed by 24 ... e4) 24 ... lιxd3 25.'~xd3 ~f2+ It's better to adνance exactly the a-
26.~e2 ~xe2+ 27.~xe2 e4 28.Iih3. pawn. Mter 14 ... b6 White got a great ad-
24.lιxb5 νantage by 15.0-0 ο-ο 16.b3 ~e7 17.i.b2
Opening υρ the play ίη the centre with .!:!.fd8 18 ..t!.fc1 lίJe8 19.1::!.a4 f6 20.1:tca1 ~f7
24.fxe4 appears to be dangerous for White. 21.lίJe2 with a subsequent transfer of the
Neνertheless, the position would still re- knight through e2-d4-c6 ίη the game
main equal after 24 ... i.xe4 25.lίJxf4 (there Raiceνic - Marjanoνic, Nis 1985.
was neither 25.lιxe4? because of25 ... i.g3+ 15.bxa6 bxa6
26.~d2 Iif2, nor 25.~xe4? because of Now we see the results ofBlack's wast-
25 ... Iiae8) 25 ... jιxd3 (eνen after 25 ... 1:txf4 ing tempo for the manoeuνre with the
26.lιxe4 :te8 27 ..ί:ld4 ~xd4 28.i.xh7+ ~xh7 light-squared bishop and rejection of cas-
29.cxd4 Iixe2+ 30.~xe2 J::!.xd4 there was an tling. There was ηο exchange ofrooks with
equal rook endgame) 26.J::!.xd31:txf4 27.J::tf1 15 ... 1:!.xa6? 16.J::!.xa6 bxa6 because of
.I1xf1+ (27 ... J::!.xh4? was dangerous because 17.~a4+.
of28.~e6+ ~h8 29.lidf3!) 28.~xf1. 16.lιd20-O 17.lίJe2 J::te8 18.jιc3 .id7
24 ... exf3 1f2 - 1fz 19.1ίJf4!
The peace treaty was signed at the White can neglect his castling. It's much
moment when a real struggle was just go- more important to withdI'aw his pieces
ing to begin. Mter 25.gxf3 (25. ~xf31ooked from light squares, saνing them from pos-
ήskΥ because of25 ... i.e5) there were both sible attacks ofBlack's bishop.
25 ... lιg3+ 26.~d2 J::!.ab8 27.~c1 ~h8 and 19....ib5 20.Wf2 ~c8 21.b3
25 ... .id7, Black had a sufficient compen-
sation for the pawn ίη both lines.
131 Ε41
Bareev - Akopian
Round 8 15.07
1.d4 lίJf6 2.c4 e6 3.lίJc3 i.b4 4.e3 c5

5.lιd3 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.lίJge2 lίJc6 8.a3
cxd4 9.axb4 dxc3 10.b5 lίJe5 11.lίJxc3
i.g4
The νariation which was chosen by 21 ... ~e4!?
Haνing receiνed the slightest adνan
Black ίη the Nimzo-Indian Defence can-
not guarantee him a full equalization eνen tage, Black wants to make the play keener.
Ιη case of a passiνe play, for instance after
though positions with bishops of different
colours are common for this opening. Let's 21 ... J::!.e7 22.1:thd1 ~ec7 23.J::!.ac1 ~d7
note that an early break-through ίη the 24. ~d2, he would suffer pressure of
centre 11 ... d412.exd4 ~xd413.jιe2 ~xd1+ White's pieces.
14.lίJxd1 .if5 15.J::!.a3 ο-ο 16.lιf4 J::!.fe8 22.fxe4
17.lίJe3 ίη the game Sashikiran - Plaskett, The refuse from taking a sacrifice by
Hampstead 1998 gaνe ηο equality to Black 22. ~d2?! allowed Black by means of
as well. Αη immediate exchange of the 22 ... d4!! 23.exd4 1:txf4 24.exf4 J::!.c2! 25.
knight for the opponent's bishop with ~xc2 ~xd4+ 26.~g3 lίJh5+ to deνelop a
11 ... lίJxd3+ 12. ~xd3 ο-ο has its meήts and νery strong attack.
5upporters too. 22 ... lίJxe4+ 23.~g1 lίJxc3 24.h4 lίJe4
12.f3lίJxd3+ 13.~xd3 .ie614.~d4 a6 25.J::!.d1
Το take the pawn with the knight tions, otherwise he'd have preferred
25.CLJxd5 was risky because of 25 ... CLJg3 46. ~g5 because there was ηο 46 ... f6?? to
26. ~e5 CLJe2+! (there was ηο 26 ... CLJxhl? be followed by 47.~xf6.
with 27.CLJe7+) 27.~f2 (27.~h2?? ~xh4#) 46...ktb2!
27 ... nc2 28.CLJe7+ ~h8, B1ack maintaining B1ack does not allow White to provoke
a dangerous initiative. Still, there was him and holds to the same position out-
25. ~xd5, though after 25 ... ~e8 or 25 ... ~e7 1ine. If he had taken White's pawn with
to be followed by 26 ... 1:rd8 White had to be 46 ... f5 47.~g3 nxe4 48.nxe4 fxe4, then
carefu1 about B1ack's p1ay. White wou1d have obtained a number of
25 ... ~e8 26.CLJxd5 h5 definite p1uses ίη the continuation: he
This way, as there was ηο 26 ... CLJg3? would have exchanged a pair of rooks,
because of27.CLJf6+! gxf6 28.~g4+. B1ack's g7-pawn would have become vul-
27.CLJf4 CLJg3 28 ..t:th3 CLJe2+ 29.CLJxe2 nerable, and the main thing, an exchange
..ιtxe230.nd2 of the queens wou1d mean a 10sing end-
After the exchange of the knights game for B1ack.
B1ack's attacking potentia1 decreased con- 47.Ma3 ~d4 48.I:ι.f3 ~b4 49.ktee3 ~d2
siderab1y. 50.~g3 .a:bl 51 ..a:f2 ~cl 52.~ί4 ~gl+
30.....tg4 31.kthl ~e6 32.Φh2 53.~g3 ~cl 54 . .I:ιfe2 ~c5 55.1:td2 ~cl
White wants to introduce the hl-rook 56..ί:ree2 ~b3+ 57.Φh2 ktbl 58.~e3 ktb4
into the p1ay as soon as possib1e. After 59.Md5 ~c7+ 60.~g3 ~c4 61.~f3 ~c7+
32.~d3 1:rc2 33. ~d5 ~g6 or 32.b4 !lc4 62.g3 ~cl 63 ..!:ed2 nb8 64 ..ί:!:ί2 ~c4
33.~d8+ '>t>h7 he cou1d have suffered an- 65.~e2 ~c7 66.~e31:!.bl
other peak of activity ofB1ack's pieces.
32 ... ~xb3 33.nb2 ~e6 34.nhbl Φh7
35..t:tb6 ~e7 36.'>t>g3 ..Ιί.ί5
Ιη case of 36 ... J:ιe8 37 . .1:1.1b3 ~c7+
38. ~d6 ~cl B1ack had to reckon with
39.~d3+ g6 40.~c3.
37.nn..lί.g6
Black gives away his last pawn οη the
queenside. He could try tokeep it with
37 ... nd8 38. ~f4 ..tg4 as there was ηο
39.nxa6? because of 39 .....te2, but he fo1-
lows another strategy. He wants to arrange
67.~c5??
a safe she1ter for his king οη h7 first of all,
having the bishop οη the diagona1 bl-h7. White failed to gain anything with his
38.Mxa6 nd8 39.'ua7 ~e8 40. ~ί4 ~d5 1ast twenty moves and now he makes a
41.e4 serious mistake.
The time contro1 is over. Can White take 67 .....txe4!
the fortress, which was erected by B1ack? Α surprise.
The an~wer is far from evident. It's οη1Υ 68.nxh5+?
c1ear that any simp1ifications are good for Black's queen is invulnerable. Mter
White, but forcing them is not an easy task, 68. ~xc7?? the solution was 68 ... nhl#. Nei-
considering the weakened positions ofhis ther the move ίη the game can be called
king and e4-pawn. good. However, an attempt to keep the ex-
41 ... kId4 42.~el ~c6 43.I:tc7 ~b6 change by 68.Φh3?! does not work because
44.Φh2 ktb4 45.l:[e7 ~d8 46 ..I!a7!? Black has a way to win: 68 ... g5!! (68 ... nhl+
White wants to stimu1ate complica- gave nothing because of 69.:th2) 69.hxg5
Dortmund 197
~b7 70.~dd2 ~h1+ 71.~h2 ~c1! (distract- White has to take the sacrifice, other-
ing) 72.g6+ (there was ηο 72.~xc1 because wise Black had an excellent play ίn case of
of 72 ... .iιf5+ 73.Φh4 ~e4+, Black mating) 16.liJe3 liJc4.
72 ... fxg6 73. ~d4 (after 73. ~g5 Black could 16 ....~a4 17.cxd5 ~xdl 18.J::taxdl
win with 73 ... .iιf5+ 74.g4 ~e4 75.Φh4 ~gl) liJxd5 19.dxc5 ~ac8 20.a3
73 ... .iιf5+ 74.g4 i.xg4+ 75.Φh4 (ίf75.Φg3, Νο other way. Ιη case of 20.liJe3 White
then 75 ... ~f3+ 76.~h4 lagl) 75 ... ~e7+ had to reckon with 20 ... liJdb4.
76.'it>g3 ~g5, so Black's attack was irresist- 20 ...1:tc7 21.liJe3 liJce7 22.liJxd5 liJxd5
ible. ΟηΙΥ a cool 68.J:ιg2! led to a draw. Μ Haνing occupied the central d5-square,
ter 68 ... ~xc5 69.~xc5 g6!? (theI'e ίδ a full the knight almost compensates the miss-
balance οη the board ίη case of 69 .. ..iιxg2 ing pawn to Black.
70.Iιxh5+ Φg6 70.~g5+) even ίn case of 23.i.b4
White's losing the exchange a drawn rook 23.~c1 could not have changed the situ-
ending arose. ation because of 23 ... J::tfc8 24 ..iιb4 .iιf8.
68 ... Φg8 69.~g2 23 ... Iιb8 24.l:!.d4 i.f8 25.1:ιcΙ 1:ιbc8
Ιη case of 69.Φh3 Black won very sim- 26.liJg5 i.xc5 27 .~xc5 J::txc5 28.i.xc5
ply with 69 ... ~d7+ 70.g4 (if70.~hf5, then ~xc5
70 ... g6) 70 ... ~d3+. Black takes back the sacrificed pawn.
69 ... ~d7 70:~f2 ~dl 0-1 29.J::ta4 liJc7 30.f4 ~cl+ 31.~h2 ~c4
32.~a5
Adams thinks that 32.~xc4 .iιxc4
132 Α08 33 ..iιc6 could give Black more troubles.
Adams - Khalifman 32...ttc2 33.Φh3 h5 34.liJe4
Round 8 15.07
l.e4 e6 2.d3
White avoids main lines of the French
Defence, preferring to reduce the play to
the Κing's Indian Defence.
2 ... d5 3.liJd2 liJf6 4.liJgf3 c5 5.g3 liJc6
6 ..iιg2 g6 7.0-0 i.g7 8.c3
8.J::te1, 8. ~e2 and 8.exd5 were seen ίη
this position as well.
8 ... 0-0 9.e5 tιJd7 10.d4 b5 11.J::tel b4
12.liJf1 34... i.e2!
12.liJb3 c4 13.liJbd2 ~a5 which occurred Sacήficίηg the pawn, Black rushes with
previously caused nο serious troubles for all his pieces to the attack ofthe opponent's
Black. king.
12 ... .iιa6 13.h4 bxc3 14.bxc3 ~a5 35.tιJf6+ ~f8 36.~xa7 liJd5 37.J::ta8+
White plays as tough as he can. Another ~g7 38.~g8+ Φh6 39.~h8+
Black's opportunity was connected with White has to play the perpetual check
14 ... lab8 as ίη case of 15.i.g5 (if 15. ~a4, either now or after 39.a4 .iιg4+ 40.Φh2
then 15 ... i.b5) there was 15 ... ~a5. i.f3.
15 ..iιd2 liJb6!? 39...~g7 40.~h7+ ~f8 41.~h8+ ~g7
Black continues to play actively; he ίδ Of course ηο 41 ... 'it>e7?? because of
even ready to sacήfice the pawn. 42.~e8#.
16.c4 42.l:!.g8+ Φh6 43.~h8+ 1f2 - 1f2
133 Β15 the solution was in the intermediate

Junior 6 - Piket 28 ... J..xb4! 29.axb4 ..txc4) 28 ... 'ffixa6 29.
Round 8 15.07 iιxc4 (the threat of the capture οη b2 is
more than real) 29 ... dxc4 the advance c4-
l.e4 g6 2.d4 ~g7 3.lbc3 c6 4.lbf3 d5 c3 was threatening along with the capture
5.h3 a6 6.~ί4 4:Jf6 οη b2.
Like most of his predecessors, J. Piket 26 ... 4:Jxd2 27.ii_xd2 ..txf128.1::rxf14:Jc4
tries to partition the chess board with 29.~bl b3 30.4:Jcl ..txa3 31.'ffidl
pawn chains. If 31.bxa3 b2+ 32.Φa2 bxcl'ffi 33.'ffixcl
7.e5lbfd7 8:~d2 ~xbl 34.Φχb1 I:ιb8+ 35.Φc2, then the
Ιη Piket's opinion 8.h4! was the most quickest method was 35 ... 'ffia6 (after
dangerous move. 35 ... J:tb2+ 36. 'ffixb2 4:Jxb2 37.'it>xb2 'ffib7+
8 ... e69 ...tg5 38.Φc2 'ffib5 39.ttel the opposition was still
9 ...th6 was suggesting itself. possible) 36.1::rel 'ffib5, White's position is
9 .. :~·b6 10.0-Ο-0? still not absolutely hopeless.
This move is a fine example ofthe typi- 31 ..• 'ffib6 32.bxa3 b2+ 33.'it>a2 bxcl'ffi
cal stupid computer-like play. It should not 34.'ffixcl 'ffixbl+ 0-1
have castled οη the kingside. There was a
natural 10.4:Ja4 here.
10 ...h6 11.jLe3 'ffic7 12.h4 b5 13...tf4 134 Ε08
4:Jb6 14.a3 4:J8d7 15.~bl a5 16.4:Ja2 'ffia7 Huebner - Anand
17.g4 jLf8 18.c3 ..ta6 19. 'ffiel 4:Jc420 ...td2 Round 9 16.07
J..e7
The Holland grandmaster gathers l.d4 4:Jf6 2.c4 e6 3.4:Jf3 d5 4.g3 c6
gradually his reserves for an attack οη the 5.'ffic2
white king. The computer has ηο real White is overcautious. Mter 5 ...tg2 the
counterplay. threat ofthe capture 5 ... dxc4 was not very
21.4:Jcl 4:Jdb6 22.h5 g5 23.4:Ja2 ~d7 dangerous because of6.4:Je5.An attempt to
24 ...tcl ~hb8 25.ΦaΙ gain a material advantage from the posi-
tion to come after 6 .....tb4+ 7 ...td2 by force
with 7 ... 'ffixd4? 8 ...txb4 'ffixe5 would be
smashed by 9.4:Ja3!, White getting a fήght
ful initiative for the sacrificed pawns.
5 ... 4:Jbd7
White's last move allowed Black to be-
gin an active counterplay immediately
with 5 ... dxc4 6.'ffixc4 b5, but V Anand is
holding to a different policy.
6 ...tg2 iιe7 7.0-0 ο-ο 8.b3 b6 9.~dl
White is waiting. If Black's dark-
squared bishop comes to b7, then White
25 ... b4! will play 4:Jc3, and ifto a6, then 4:Jbd2.
Like a bolt from the blue. White's posi- 9 ....ta6 10.4:Jbι12 c5
tion wrecks in several moves. Mter 10 ... ~c8 1l.e4 there would be one
26.4:Jd2 ofthe basic positions ofthe Catalan Open-
Το take the sacrificed pawn with ing οη the board. Κnowing about White's
26.cxb4 axb4 27.4:Jxb4 was dangerous: af- plan to advance e2-e4 Black blows a
ter 27 ... 4:Ja4! 28.4:Jxa6 (ίη case of28 ...txc4 counterstrike in the centre first.
Dortmund 199
11.e4 suggesting 18 ... i.xc5 19. ~f4 (19. ~h4 was

The German grandmaster shows his a blank shot, because after 19 ... tΔf5 the g3-
seήοus attitude. Ifhe had dreamt of a draw pawn was hung) 19 ... 4Jf5 Black would haνe
he could haνe held νery well his position had to reckon with the moνe 20.4Je4!, be-
after 11.i.b2 J::tc8 12.I!ac1. cause White would haνe deνeloped a con-
11 ... dxc4 12.bxc4 siderable activity for the sacrificed pawn
Α new moνe. White takes control oνer after i.xc4 21.4Jxc5 ~xc5 22.ttac1 1::tac8
the important central d5-square at once. 23.Md7.
Ιη case of 12.4Jxc4 cxd4 13.4Jxd4 (if 13.e5, 19.~c3
then 13 ... 4Jd5) 13 ... !!c8 which occurred ίη Now White's queen is forced to move to
the game Filippoν - Galkin, St.Petersburg a much less actiνe position. Ιη case of
1998 there were great complications after 19. ~f4 ~ad8 White had already ηο 20.4Je4
14. ~e2 (again, the moνe 14.e5 to be fol- as there was ηο compensation for the pawn
lowed by 14 ... 4Jd5 led to a νery keen play after 20 ... i.xc4.
with mutual chances) 14 ... ~c7 15.i.f4 19...1::tad8 20.4Je4 4Jf5
j,xc4 16.bxc4 e5.
12 ... cxd4 13.e5 4Jg4 14.~e4 h5!
Black is not going to leaνe White's half
of the board for ηο particular reason.
15.h3
There was ηο 15.4Jxd4? because of
15 ... 4Jc5 16. ~xa8 and 16 ... ~xd4.
15 ... 4Jc5 16. ~xd4 4Jh6
And now it is possible to retreat. Ιη case
of16 ... 4Jxe5? 17. ~xe5 i.f6 Black might run
up against 18.~xh5! (much weaker was
18. ~e1 i.xa119.4Jb3 because of 19 ... i.c3!
20.1::txd8 i.xe121.nxa81::txa8 22.4Jxe1 ~d8, 21.g4?!
Black's chances better) 18 ... g6 (there was The position is approximately equal,
ηο 18 ... i.xa1 because of 19.4Jg5) 19.~h6 but White continues to moνe ahead, prob-
i.g7 20.4Jf1! i.xh6 (if 20 ... ~xd1, then ably still influenced by his active opening
21. ~xg7+! cJ;txg7 22.i.b2+ [6 23.~xdl) plan. Mter 21.1::tab1 i.b7 22.~c2 it was
21.~xd8 Mfxd8 22.i.xh6, Black has serious much more complicated to upset the bal-
problems, as a result. ance of power.
17.i.a3 ~c7 21 ...hxg4 22.hxg4 4Jh6 23.4Jh2
Black should make the natural moνe Α transition to the defence. 23. ~c2 com-
17 ... 4Jf5! There was ηο 18.tH4? because of plied better with White's 21st moνe, where-
18 ... g5!, catching the white queen, and ίη upon Black's best answer was probably the
the endgame after 18. ~xd8 naxd8 Black's same as ίη the game: 23 ... MXd1+! 24.!!xd1
chances were definitely better. And after ~d8. IfBlack took the sacήficed pawn with
18.~c3 ~c7 he keeps an obνious adνan 23 ... 4Jxg4?!, then both sides would haνe
tage. mutual chances ίη the position to arise af-
18.i.xc5! ter 24.4Jeg5 i.xg5 25.4Jxg5 ~xd1+ 26.J::ι.xd1
White subtly notice Black's inaccurate g6 27.~e4! (there was ηο 27.4Jxe6 fxe6
17th moνe. 28.~xg6+ ~g7 29.~xe6+ ~h8 30.~xa6
18 ... bxc5 because of 30 ... ~h7 31.J:td2 ~h2+ 32.~f1
Black decides consciously to spoil ~xe5) 27 ... f5 (if27 ... 4Jxe5, then White had
slightly his pawn structure. Ιη case ofthe a draw at the least after 28. ~h4 ri;;g7
29.'§h7+ Φf6 30.'§h4) 28.exffi '§h2+ 29.ΦΩ mistake οη the 31 st moνe.

tZJe5 30.f7+ 1::!.xf7 31.tZJxf7 ~xc4+ 32.ΦeΙ 34.~e2 ~f4 35.~b1 ~f8 36.~b2 tZJg8
ΦΧf7. 37.~h8 ~e5 38.~h5 ~d8 39.~h7 ~f4
23 ... .:xd1+ 24.':xd1 ':d8 25.':xd8+ 0-1
~xd8 26.~f3 ~b7 27.~g2 Black's queen threatens to occupy a fine
Ιη Anand's ορίηίοη 27.tZJd2 was stron- square ίη the centre of the board with the
ger. moνe ~d4, whereas its opponent isjust out
ofplay.
135 C48
Leko - Junior 6
Round 9 16.07
1.e4 e5 2.CLJf3 tZJc6 3.CLJc3 CLJf6 4.~b5

CLJd4 5.~c4 ~c5 6.d3
The Ηuηgaήaη grandmaster aνoids the
keen continuation 6.tZJxe5 d5 which oc-
curred, for instan,~e, ίη the game 8hiroν -
27... ~xe4! Κramnik, Cazorla (m/6) 1998, as he does
Very reasonable. Black plays without not want to get inνolνed into complications
illusions. His adνantage of a bishop pair is ίη the game with the computer.
hardly worth mentioning since White has 6 ... c6
a mighty knight οη e4. After its capture The computer proνes to be rather per-
Black's dark-squared bishop will be a real sistent, a positional 6 ... d6 did not suit it.
power, haνing a number of conνenient 7.tZJxd4
squares οη the kingside owing to the ad- Ιη case of 7.CLJxe5 White had to reckon
νance g3-g4. with 7 ... d5.
28.~xe4 ~g5 29.Φg3 7 ... ~xd4
White hurries υρ to coνer the f4- There was also 7... exd4 8.tZJe2 d5 9.exd5
square. Ιη case of29.~f3 he had to reckon CLJxd5 10.0-0 ο-ο with an approximate
both with an immediate 29 ... ~d2 and with equality.
a prophylactic 29 ... g6, postponing ~d2 8.~f3 h5?!
until a more conνenient situation. Ιη case 80me obscure tricks haνe begun. This
of 29.~d3 after 23 ... ~xd3 24.~xd3 ~f4 moνe οηlΥ weakens Black's kingside. 8 ... d5
White also would haνe to part with the 9.exd5 ~xc3+ 10.bxc3 cxd5 1l.~b3 '§c7
pawn, but the absence ofthe queens would was suggesting it:-;elf, as ίη the game.
secure his king. 9.h3 d510.exd5 ~xc3+ 11.bxc3 cxd5
29 ... ~d2 30.~b2 g5 31.f3? 12.~b3 ~c7 13.0-0 0-0
LosingWhite's game. Mter 31.tZJf3 ~f4+ The computer refused to take the pawn
32.Φh3 ~g7 33.'§bl '§h8 34.'§b5 the posi- with 13 ... Qxc3 as it.did not want to suffer
tion ofthe white king appeared to be νery White's attack after 14.~g5 e4 15.~g3.
dangerous, still there were ηο fatal threats 14.~g3 a5
by Black. 80, White was ΟΚ ίη case ofthe Now the capture 14 ... ~xc3 was still
natural 34... tZJf5+ 35.~g2 tZJh4+ 36.tZJxh4 worse because of 15.:tbl!
~xh4 37 ..if3. 15.a4 ~e6 16.~h6 CLJe8 17.~d2 f6
31 ... ~f4+ 32.~g2 '§c7 33.tZJf1 ~xe5 18.f4 exf4 19.~xf4 CLJd6 20.1::!.ae1 ~f7
White loses a pawn as a result of his 21.~d4
Dortmund 201
White queen occupies a splendid posi- 36 ... lΔh6 37.<.t>g2 ΪIc2 38.Jιe4 h4
tion οη the pawn pedestal ίη the centre of 39:~e3
the board. Ιη case of 39.gxh4 ~f4 40.~g1 llJf5
21 .. :~c6 22.~e7 1:tfe8 41. ~d8+ <.t>h7 42. ~d4 White had to reckon
with42 ... ~h6
39 ... f5 40.SΙd5 hxg3 41.~xg3 ~b5
42. ~e3 ~b4 43.d4 ~b2 44.c6 <.t>h7 45. ~f4
~a3 46 ..Jte4!?
Ιη general, the position can be esti-
mated as approximately equal. White's
advantage oftwo bishops and extra pawn
are a sufficient compensation for the ex-
change. White could have fixed the posi-
tion with 46 ..ltf3. With the move ίη the
game he begins a combination, trying to
advance his passed pawns.
23.krxf7! 46 ...1:txf2+ 47.~xf2 fxe4 48.c7
Having overwhelmed the computer ίη White hurries too much. He should take
the positional play, Ρ. Leko begins a tacti- the e4-pawn also, if he wanted a draw.
cal realisation ofhis positional plan. Mter 48. ~xe4+ g6 49.d5lΔf5 (if 49 ... ~xh3
23 ...lΔxf7 24.Jιxd5 ~d7 25.~bl .ί:ϊ.ad8 50.~e7+ <.t>g8 51.c7, then the draw is more
26.c4 ~xa4 27.ΪIxb7 ad7 28.~xd7? or less evident) 50. ~e5 Black had ηο con-
What a pity. The last-year winner of venient ways to strengthen his position.
the Dortmund super-tournament could 48 ... ~a8 49.d5
have caught hold ofthe first place this year 49.<.t>e3 looked 'not bad.
too ifhe had played 28 ...Itxf7+! 1:txf7 29.~d5 49 ... ~a7+ 50.<.t>g2 ~a2+ 51.~f2 ~c4
now. Black would hardly be able to defend 52.d6 ~c6 53.~f8?!
from the threats of White's pieces ίη the Another untimely move. Mter 53.ΦΩ
presence of a horrible binding οη the di- Wg6 (with the idea to introduce the knight
agonal a2-f7, so White had an extra piece into the play) 54.~f8 ~c1+ 55.<.t>e2 ~c2+
after 29 ... 1:!ef8 (not better was 29 ... ~a1+ Black had nothing but a perpetual check
30.~f2 1:tef8 31.Jιf4 ~a3 with 32.c5! ~c3 both after 56.~e1 and ίη case of 56.<.t>fi.
33.Jιd6) 30.Jιf4! ~e8 (if 30 ... ~xc2, then Mter the move ίη the game the situation
31.Jιd6) 31 ..ltd6 ~e1+ 32.<.t>h2 h4 33.c5 (af- got much more complicated.
ter 33.Jιxf8 ~g3+ there was οηlΥ a draw) 53 ... e3+!
33 ... f5 34.kre7 ~f2 35.c6 [4 36.c7 [3 Black's e-pawn is introduced into the
37.~xf7+ 1:txf7 38.c8~+ <.t>h7 39.~g4. play against the white king.
28 ... ~xd7 29.Jιxa51:te2 30.Jιb6 54.~f3
White could have kept the pawn if he Νο other way. If 54.Wg1, then 54 ... e2.
had played 30.c3. Ιη caseof 54. <.t>g3 the move 54 ... e2! was also
30... ~e8 31.Jιc7 very strong (after 54 ... ~xd6+ 55. ~xd6
Now 31.c3 was already late because of lΔf5+ 56.<.t>f4llJxd6 57.<.t>xe3 <.t>g6 58.<.t>f4 a
31 ... 1:te1+ 32.<.t>h2 (if32.<.t>f2, then 32 ... ~e2+ draw was the mos~ probable result), Black
33.<.t>g3 1:td1 was unpleasant) 32 ... ~b8+ would win after 55.<.t>f2 ~e4 56.<.t>e1 ~c2
33.g3 h4. 57.~e8 ~d1+.
31 ... krxc2 32.c5 <.t>h8 33.Jιg3 ~d8 54 ... ~c2+ 55.~f1?!
34..ltf2 1:!cl+ 35.<.t>h2 ~b8+ 36.g3 Mter 55.<.t>g1 ~cl+ (ίη case of 55 ... e2
If36.Jιg3, then 36 ... ~b1. there was a good 56.<.t>f2) 56.<.t>g2 ~c2+
57.'ίt>gl there was ηο evident winning so- 5.lbf3 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.~c2 a6 8.a4 .td7
lution for Black. 9.~xc4 .tc6 10.~g5 ~d5 11:~~M3 .te4
55.. :~c4+ 56.Φg2 ~e6! Α well known variation of the Catalan
Suddenly Black managed to co-ordi- Opening was played. UsuaIIy Black
nate his pieces. struggles for an equality ίη this variation
with 1l ... c5 12.lbc3 .tc6 13.1:tfd1 cxd4
14.lbxd4.txg2 15.\t>xg2lbbd7!.
12.~dl
After 12.~e3 ~c6 13.lbc3 Black had
more grounds to struggle for an advantage.
Ιη particular, the FIDE World Champion
Α. Κhalifman played so himself against J.
Lautier ίη the inter-zonal tournament ίη
Biel ίη 1993.
12 ...c513.dxc5
After 13.lbbd2 Black equalized the
game easily with the super-precise
57.~c6?
13 ... ~d5! with the idea that if 14.dxc5
This seems to be the crucial mistake. lbbd7 15.b4, then 15 ... a5! Miles - Ribli,
After 57.~e2 lbf5 58.~h5+ 'ίt>g8 Black's Szeged 1997.
knigl1t had time to get to the white passed
pawns. After 57. ~b7 ~a2+ the play would
have developed similarly. But after
57.\t>f1!? lbf5 58.~h5+ 'ίt>g8 59.~g4 \t>f7
(with an idea 60 ... lbxd6) 60.~f4! (neither
60.~h5+ helps because of 60 ... 'it>f6, ηοτ
60.d7 because of 60 ... ~xd7 61. ~c4+ r;t>g6
62.c8~ ~d1+ 62.ι.t>g2 ~d2+ 63.Wf3 ~f2+
64.\t>e4 lbd6+) 60 ... g6 61.h4! Wg7 62.h5
t2Jxd6 (if62 ... gxh5, then 63.~g5+) 63.c8~
lbxc8 64. We2 despite Black's extra piece
the game stiIl should be drawn.
57... ~a2+ 58.ΦhΙ lbf5 59.~e4 ~al+ 13 ... ~xdl?!
60.Wh2 Α strange move, all the more that it was
Ιη case of 60. \t>g2 the solution was made by V Κramnik. Α draw could have
60 .. .'~b2+ 61.ι.t>f3 ~f2 62.Wg4 g6 63.Φg5 been achieved with 13 ... .txc5 14.lbc3 .tc6
~g3+ 64.~g4 ~xg4+ 65.Φχg4 (if65.hxg4, 15.lbe5 ~xg2 16.'it>xg2 h6 17. ~xd8 like ίη
then 65 ... lbxd6) 65 ... e2 66.c8~ e1~ the game Polugaevsky - Geller, Leningrad
60 ... ~b2+ 0-1 1977.
Ιη case of 61.Wg1 (if 61.Wh1, then 14.~xdl ~xc5 15.lbc3lh-lh
61 ... g6)the solution was 61 ... ~f2+ 62.Φh1 The last round has its OWll rules. Ob-
e2 jectively, White's position is more pleasant.
White's chances are preferable after
136 Ε05 15 ... ~c6 16.lbe5 ~xg2 17.Φχg2 ~e7 (it's
Κhalίfman - Κramnik not easy for Black to develop his queenside,
Round 9 16.07 because ίη case of 17 .. .lbc6? there is
18 ..txf6 gxf6 19.1bd7) 18.tιac1 h6 19 ..txf6
l.d4 lbf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4 ..tg2 ~e7 .txf6 20.lbc4 lΔc6 21.lbe4
Dortmund 203
137 Α30 last round has its own rules.

Akopian - Adams
Round 9 16.07
138 D47
ι.tbf3 lbf6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.Jιg2 Jιb7 Piket - Bareev
5.0-0 e6 6.lbc3 iιe7 7.J::ϊ.el lbe4 8.lbxe4 Round 9 16.07
.1ιχe4 9.d3 iιb7 10.e4 ο-ο
The opponents played a νaήatίοn ofthe 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.lbf3 lbf6 4.lbc3 ~6
English Opening. Αη exchange of the 5.e3lbbd7 6.Jιd3 dxc4 7.iιxc4 b5 8 ..1ιd3
knights, that is possible ίη case of 10 ... lbc6 Jιb7 9.0-0 b4 10.lba4
11.d4 lbxd4 12.lbxd4 cxd4 13. ~xd4, can- Two rounds ago Ε. Bareev defended his
not guarantee an easy equalization for position after 10.lbe4 .1ιe7 11.lbxf6+ lbxf6
Black after 13 ... 0-0 14 ..1ιf4 d6 15. ~d2 ~c8 12.e4 ο-ο 13.e5 lbd7 14.iιe4 1:1b8 15.a3
16.b3 as it was shown ίη the game Ehlvest bxa3 16.b4 f5! 17.Jιd3 lbb6 18 ..1ιχa3lbd5,
- Lindberg, Stockholm 1998. Κhalifman - Bareev, Dortmund 2000.
11.d4 cxd4 12.lbxd4 lbc6 13.b3 10... c5 11.dxc5 iιxc5 12.lbxc5 lbxc5
If White wanted to get more than a 13 ..1ιb5+ Φe7 14.iιd2 a5 15.lbd4 ~b6
draw he had to continue with 13.lbb5!? 16.a3
13 ... lbxd4 14. ~xd4 .1ιc5 15. ~c3 16. ~e2 has occurred ίη this position
112 -1f2 previously. The move ίη the game does not
There were at least three games where create any problems for Black, however, it
opponents continued to play ίη this posi- does not spoil White's position either.
tion, and not all of them had a peaceful 16 ... b3 17.1:tc1 J:!:hd8 18.~e2 e5 19.
result. Still, as it was already noted, the lbf5+ 'it>f8 20 . .1ιc3 lbce4 21.lbg3 112 - 1f2
Biel
24.07-4.08, cat.16
2 4 6
1 Svidler 2689 1= 1= 11 7.5
2 Van Wely 2643 - - - - =1 5.5
3 Ροnοmaήοv 2630 - - 11 5.5
4 Milov 2626 0= 5
5 Gelfand 2681 0= - - 5
6 Gallagher 2514 00 =0 00
Interview with Biel Winner Peter Svidler

ΒΥ Oliver Breisαcher
First time ίη Biel, first crushing win. Second time ίη Switzerland, second win, after
the Team World Championship ίη Lucerne, 1997. Peter Svidlel' was the overwhelming
winner of the Grandmaster tournament (category 16), played this summer ίη Biel.
With five wins and 5 draws, he achieved victory ίη an impressive fashion, beating all
his opponents at least once, except Ruslan Ponomariov. The Russian took first place
alone the first day and never shared it with anybody else throughout the tournament.
What a great tournament for a player who has waited almost two years to win a big
event, after Tilburg ίη 1997. For the former world number 8 ofthe FIDE ranking, this
should signify a new promising comeback to the top 10.
Q: Peter, how do you feel after having won your second tournament, after
the Category 14 ίn Denmark, injust 14 days?
Α: Ι can just be very satisfied, especially because Ι haven't won anything for a long
time. ΜΥ last tournament win, before this summer, was ίη 1998, when Ι shared first
place ίη Dortmund (category ΧΙΧ), what was a very big achievement for me. This year
Ι tied for first place ίη the Russian Team championship. But for two years since, Ι
haven't really played well.
Q: You didn't just win. Ιn Biel, you won with emphasis ...
Α: Ι let others have their own opinions. But, yes, I'm happy with some ofmy games,
including some of the ones that Ι drew, especially when Ι played with black against
Ponomariov. Ι was faced with a very interesting novelty ίη the opening and Ι think Ι
handled the position quite well. Ι like the way Ι played the opening against ΜίΙον. But
Ι was also lucky at the end of the tournament. This is an old story. Since Ι was very
young, I've been very accustomed to being accused ofbeing lucky. Like ίη 1997, where,
Ι admit, Ι got lucky many times. But it is my belief that luck is something you have to
Biel 205
work for and that you also haνe to deserνe. Ifyou don't work at the board, ifyou resign
when you haνe a bad position, nothing wi11 eνer happen.
Q: How do you explain your lack of success these last two years?
Ι was lacking energy. Ifyou don't haνe the energy, you lose points. Ι was not playing
particularly badly. Don't forget that Ι played νery strong tournaments ίη 1999, ίη Wijk
aan Zee, Linares, Dos Hermanas, at least category XVIII. And it's just much harder to
play at such occasions. Ιη 1998, Ι played Linares, Dortmund, Tilburg. Those tournaments
were much further apart ίη time, Ι had enough time to rest and prepare myselffor the
next one. Ιη 1999, they came more or less one after the other, and maybe Ι was not
prepared enough for the kind of mental strength you need. They exhausted me. And
then, after the Las Vegas World Championship ίη summer 1999, Ι had a long time to
think about my problems. Between August 1999 and the Russian championship ίη
April 2000, Ι played οηlΥ three tournaments. Ι had nine months to decide for myself
what was wrong and what Ι had to do.
Q: You talked about luck. As ίη your ""inning and decisive garne ίη Round
9, against Loek Van Wely?
Α: Yes, exactly. Objectiνely, Ι had a compl~~ely losing position. Ι haνe ηο reason to be
satisfied with my play ίη this game, my opeQ1ng choice was inappropriate, my mistake
was around the 6th moνe, not further οη. But Ι tried to give Loek as many problems as
Ι possibly could, to make his life as difficult as possible. At some point, he started to
make errors after Ι played ~h7. At this time, he could haνe managed a νery clear
option to win with LΔd7. Mterwards, it was not so easy anymore and finally, he made
some mistakes, and time was running short.
Q: Everybody will rernind your win against Boris Gelfand ίη Round 4, with
a novelty ίη the Sicilίan Defense.
Α: It's obνiously the most spectacular game, but υρ to 19.~d2, eνerything was
homework. Ι had had this idea for a long time and Ι decided to try it. But Ι don't know
if it's my best game, because not too much was required from me.
Q: The fight for the first place was expected to be between you and Gelfand.
It never happened.
Α: Ι was indeed surprised, because Boris is an extremely strong player. Ι have great
respect for him, he is one of the deepest and best players ίη the world. But he hasn't
played so well recently, ίη Lνoν (Ukraine) and not particularly well ίη Biel. It's a pity
he was not playing at his normal strength. The tournament would haνe benefited a
lot ...
Q: It was the first category XVI for Ruslan Ponornariov. Are you a bit
surprised by his very good results?
Α: Not rea11y. We a11 knew that the kid can play, he just confirmed it ίη Biel. We saw
that he is a great fighter and that he can play οη a νery good leνel. Defending is obνiously
his strong point. He is νery young ίη his attitude. This is something Ι completely forgot.
Compared to him, Ι am a νery old man. We made two draws, not so long. Mter the
second game, after finishing analyzing, he told me that it's a pity that the game finished
so soon, he could sit down and play another one. Ruslan has so much energy to spare,
he is sti11 ίη a period where eνerything comes easy. Apart from the two games against
me, all ofhis matches were about 60 moνes long.
Q: You are a very relaxed-acting player, not so stressed by the irnportance
of the games. How do you spend your tirne when you are not playing during a
tournament?
Α: Ι try not to work too much between the games and to relax. Ιη general, Ι just
decide what Ι am going to play ίη the opening. During the rest days, Ι try to find
opponents for playing snooker, but it tires you. Ιη general, Ι like to read a lot. Ι read
different and light stuffthat will not inνolνe me too much. Ι saνe all the serious books
for home, when Ι can really enjoy them. Ιη Biel, Ι read seνen difIerent books during the
two weeks.
Q: This was your first time ίn Biel. What wίll you remember οί the city and
itsfestival?
Α: With all its history, Biel is a trademark ίη the chess world. Ι was ίη Lucerne ίη
1997, for the team world championships. The differences between the two cities are not
that big. Ι feel good ίη 8witzerland, especially ίη the places with a lake. About the
festiνal, it's νery pleasant. Biel is one ofthe strongest tournaments and also a competition
where things run νery smoothly. That's what the players are looking for. Eνerything is
νery well organized, without any problems, you get what was promised, eνerything is
done for you so that you are able to concentrate οη playing.
Q: And now, what are your goals?
Α: I'm not a person to set concrete goals, Ι neνer say to myselfwhat Ι haνe exactly to
do. It's more a question of feeling. Ι just want to work hard and to improνe. But Ι will
play ίη Polanica Zdroj, the World Cup ίη China, the European Club Team, and the
[FIDE] world championship ίη India. The chances that Ι play the Olympiad are not
high, because the Russian federation still owes me, as other players, some money for
two years now.
Q: Next year, will you come to defend your title?
Α: It's impossible to be sure, you neνer know what can happen, but Ι would like to,
that's for sure.
Q: Your ορίnίοn about the mess that is reigning ίn the chess world?
Α: The chess world is a mess! Nobody really understands what is happening right
now. The FIDE World Championship is a νery good tournament, but Kasparoν is still
not playing. It seems to be organized at the end, but the players are not so well informed,
we were told about three different locations, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan. Now, it's India
and Iran. This alllooks a bit strange. Οη the other hand, there is ηο qualification for
the Kasparoν cycle. What eνery sport needs is a clear cut system defining who is best.
This is exactly what the chess world does not haνe.
Q: Do you see any hint οί a solution?
Α: It's hard to see ίη which directions progress could be made, ifKasparoν wins his
match against Κramnik. With Kasparoν still being number one οη the rating list and
winning eνerything, it is νery hard to progress without his agreement. And he is not
the kind ofperson to agree easily to something. 80 we are stuck. But the things could of
course look otherwise if Κramnik wins. Ι don't see Kasparoν agreeing with FIDE right
now. And with Κramnik, we don't know. Ιη the Russian intelligentsia, they haνe two
eternal questions: who is to blame and what to do! Ιη my opinion, the first question is
not so important, because it won't lead you anywhere if you haνe ηο idea what to do.
We can speak for hours to decide who is to blame, but now, it seems that there are ηο
solutions. It's just a waste of time.
Q: Ιn October, Vladimir Kramnik will face ίn London Garry Kasparov. How
do you evaluate the chances of the challenger?
Α: Kramnik is an extraordinary chess player, he has eνerything he needs. Chess-
wise, Κramnik is a νery realistic contender for the championship. Ιη chess strength Ι
Biel 207
don't think he is really weaker than Kasparov at this moment. But the big question is
how tough he is mentally for 16 games. It remains to be seen whether he gets the
mental strength to face Kasparov, who is ξ;Ο used to such long matches. Kasparov feels
at home οη such occasions, Κramnik doe'sn't have this experience. It won't be just a
matter of chess, but also of physical condition, mental work and of course preparation.
Biel, 4th August 2000
139 Β43 Black has not yentured to take White's

Svidler - Μilον sacrifice. Mter 12 ... bxc4 13.1::tc1 .Jtxe4 (if
Round 1 24.07 13 ... d5, then 14.exd5 exd5 15.ne1 ο-ο
16 ..i.xf6 gxf6 17 ..i.b1 with the threat of
1.e4 c5 2.4Jf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.4Jxd4 a6 18. ~c2, beginning the strongest attack of
5.4Jc3 b5 6 ...td3 .i.b7 7.0-0 ~b6 8 ...te3 the black king) 14.1::txc4 .i.c615.4Jg3 White
i.c5 9.4Jce2 4Jf6 had a very serious initiative for the sacri-
Black attempts to reinforce one of the ficed pawn. Black's problem was that his
lines ofthe Paulsen Variation.9 ... 4Jc6 10.c3 king did not feel too safe ίη the centre and
4Jf6 11.b4 ..txd4 12.4Jxd4 occurred previ- there was ηο 15 ... 0-0 because of 16 ..i.xf6
ously ίη the game Rohde - Benjamin, Estes gxf617 ..Jtxh7+ with White's mating attack.
Park 1987, retaining a certain advantage 13 ...tb24Jc6
to White. Ιη Svidler's ορίηίοη 9 ... ~c7!?, de- Ιη P.Svidler's ορίηίοη Black's best pos-
serves attention because after 10 ..i.xb5 sibility was 13 ... bxc4 14.l::rc1 d5 (Black can
Black has 10 ... 4Jf6! forget about winning an extra pawn, there
was neither 14 ... .i.xe4? because of 15 ..i.xe4
4Jxe4 16.~d5, nor 14 ... 4Jxe4? because of
15.1::txc4, Black losing a piece ίη both lines)
15.exd5 .i.xd5 though after 16 ...txc4! .i.xc4
17.~c2 4Jbd7 18.~xc4 White's position is
preferable.
14.cxb5 axb5?!
Mter this move Black will part with
some material inevitably. He should have
ventured οη 14 ... 4Jxb4 15.J::!.c1 '§b8 (15 ...
'§b6 16.SΙxe5 4Jxd3 17. '§xd3 also does not
save Black trouble) 16.bxa6 .i.xe4 17 ...txe4
10.b4! 4Jxe4 though ίη this case as well White
White drives the black bishop away keeps a considerable advantage owing to
from the important diagonal a7-g1. 18.a7! and 19 ...txe5 for any taking of the
10....i.xd4 a-pawn.
The capture ofthe pawn 10 ... ..txb4? was 15.4Jc3 4Jd4
bad because of 11.4Jf5. Black has to part with the pawn. Mter
11 ..i.xd4 ~c7 12.c4! 15 ... 4Jxb4 16.4Jxb5 '§b8 17 ..Jta3 White's
White maintains the tempo, developing threats would be extremely dangerous.
his initiative.For the sake ofhis initiative 16...txb5 ο-ο
he is ready to part with the pawn. Ιη case of 16 ... LΔxe4 White would have
12 ... e5 played 17. 4Jxe4 4Jxb5 (ηο 17 ... .Jtxe4 be-
cause of 18.Άχd4 exd4 19. ~xd4) 18.lιc1

~b6 19.12Jc5, creating serious threats.
17.Άd3 .ί:::tfd8 18.lιel d5 19.exd5 ~xd5
Eνen after 19 ... l2Jxd5 20.l2Jxd5 .ί:::txd5
21.a4 .ί:::tad8 22.~g4 White would haνe
achieνed his extra pawn sooner or later.
20.l2Jxd5 .ί:::txd5 21 ..ί:::tcl
White's position is winning owing to the
adνantage of the bishop pair and the ex-
tra pawn.
21 ... ~b7 22.Άc4 .ί:::td7 23.a3 .ί:::tad8
24.~d3 e4 25:~e3 h6 26.h3 .ί:::td6 27.Άf1 17.Άχf4
~d5 28.ktc4 l2Jf5 29. ~cl1::i8d6? Α crucial decision. Now White will haνe
Losing immediately. Haνing returned to make certain effΌrts to neutralize the
the knight to the centre ofthe board Black dark-squared bishop of his opponent.
could haνe struggled for a longer time af- 17.~Ω looked probably more promising.
ter 29 ... l2Jd4. After 17 ... ~f6 1&.~a2 ~e8 19.~d2 l2Jc7
30.~xf6 ~xf6 31.~cxe4 ~b6 32.~e5 20.Φh2 g5 21.g3 l2Jg6 22.c5 l2Je6 23.l2Ja4
CΔg3 33.~c8+ ~d8 34.~xd8+ 1-0 l:[d8 24.~xd8+ l2Jxd8 25.CΔb2 Άe6 26.CΔd2
~f8 27.l2Jdc4 White arranged the threat of
an intrusion to d6 with the knight and got
140 Ε94 an adνantage ίη the game Topaloν -
Van Wely - Gallagher Moνsesian, Sarajeνo 2000.
Round 1 24.07 17... exf4 18.e5 ~f5 19.c5
After 19. ~c1 g5 20.c5l2Jc7 21.Άc4 ~fd8
l.d4 l2Jf6 2.c4 g6 3.l2Jc3 Άg7 4.e4 d6 22.l2Je4 Άχe4 23.~xe4 l2Je6 24.~c3 !ίd7
5.l2Jf3 0-0 6.~e2 e5 7.0-0 l2Ja6 8.~e3l2Jg4 25.~ae1 ~ad8 Black got a conνenient play
9.~g5 '!';te8 10.dxe5 dxe5 1l.h3 h6 ίη the game Sadler - Apicella, Cannes
12.~d2 CΔf6 13.~e3 ~e7 1995.
This continuation became popular three 19 ... l2Jc7 20.Άc4 ~ad8 21.~cl l2Je6
years ago after the games Kramnik - 22.l2Je4 ~xe4 23.nxe4 l2Jg5 24.l2Jxg5
Shiroν, Monte Carlo 1997 and Piket - ~xg5
Kramnik, Tilburg 1997 were played. After the exchange of the knights it
Black's idea is to take control oνer the c5- became obνious that White would haνe to
square, because ίη case of 13 ... c6 there open the diagonal a1-h8 for the g7-bishop,
would be 14.c5. because the barrier of the c5-pawn οη its
14.a3 way was too weak.
The Swiss grandmaster has already got 25.~el ~fe8 26.e6 ~h7 27.Itdl .:txdl
a successful experience of struggling 28. '!';txdl fxe6 29.!txe6 ~xe6 30.~xe6
against the continuation 14.CΔd5.In the ~e5 31.Άc8 b6 32.cxb6 axb6 33. '!';tcl
game Tukmakoν - Gallagher (Basel, 1999) lJ2 _lh
Black got a conνenient counterplay after
14 ... ~d8 15.~c2 (the line with 15.l2Jxf6+ 141 Β81
~xf6 16.c5 was tested ίη the mentioned Ponomariov - Gelfand
Κramnik's games) 15 ... c6 16.l2Jxf6+ ~xf6 Round 1 24.07
17.nfd1 ~e7 18.c5 CΔc7 19.b4 Φh7 20.a4
f5. l.e4 c5 2.l2Jf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.l2Jxd4
14... c6 15.b4 l2Jh5 16.nell2Jf4 l2Jf6 5.l2Jc3 a6 6.~e3 e6 7.g4 e5 8.l2Jf5 g6
Biel 209
9.~g2 d5 17.'It>b1l2Jd4 18.~c4 'lt>f8 19.c3 b5 20.~d3

Mter 9 ... gxf5 10.exf5 Black could haνe l2Jf3 21.l2Jc7 t'fxd3+ 22.I:rxd3 QJd2+ 23.~xd2
encountered some troubles despite his ex- ~xd2 24.l2Jxa8 .ί:ίh6 25.J:ιg1 ~f4 26 ..ί:ίχg4
tra pawn as White's g2-bishop was too J:ιf6 27 .J:ιh4 itxf5 28 ..txf5 J:ιxίE 29.l2Jc7 ~d2
strong ίη this line. 30.J:ιe4 .ί:ίΧf2 31.!{xe5 .tf4 32.J:ιe8+ Φg7
10.~g5 gxf5 11.~xf6 33.l2Jxa6 J:ιΩ+ 34.'It>c2 J:ιf2+ 35.'It>b3 .tc1=
Ιη case of 1Ui:Jxd5 Black had a choice the position is equal.
between 11 ... ~a5+ 12.~d2 ~d8 13.~g5 16...l2Jd417.J:ιxd4 ~xd418.l2Jxa8 .tc5!
~a5+, then repeating the moνes, and Black frees the way for the king and
11 ... ~e7 12.itxf6 .txf6 13.exf5 h5 with a takes aim at the f2-pawn.
complex play like ίη the game Tolnai - 19.12Jc7+
Gaνrikoν, West Berlin 1989. White cannot protect the f5-pawn. If
11 ... ~xf6 12.l2Jxd5 ~d6 13.exf5 19 ..te4, then 19 ... .txf5 (19 ... ~xf2!? 20.
~xg4 'lt>f8 with the following 1:!.g8 is inter-
esting) 20.~xf5 ~f4+ 21.~d2 ~xf5+.If
19.f6, then there is 19 ... ~f4+ and 20 ... ~xf6.
19... 'i?tf8 20.l2Jd5
White will haνe to part with one oftwo
f-pawns ίη any case.
20 ... ~xf5 21.l2Je3 ~f4 22.itxb7 J:ιh3
22 ... .te6! was stronger. Mter 23.a3 a5
Black wins back the missing pawn, keep-
ing a large positional adνantage thank to
his bishop pair. And if 23.~d2 (with the
idea to free his knight), then Black still
13 ... l2Jc6! keeps his large adνantage after 23 ... Φg7
13 ... J:ιg8 and 13 ... ~h6 occurred preνi- 24.l2Jd1 a5+.
ously ίη this position. Ιη the 1atter case 23.~d2
after 14.h4 .tf4 15. ~e2 ο-ο 16.!J:d1 l2Jc6 Mter a care1ess 23 ..txa6? White can do
17.c3 ~a5 18.it~4! there was a comp1ex little more than surrender ίη νiew of
position with mutua1 chances ίη the game 23 ... g3!
Sax - Ge1fand, Eupen 1999. 23 ... J:ιxe3
14.~e2 h5! Αη exchange is sacrificed after the
B1ack tries to en1iνen his 1ight-squared pawn. Meanwhile, a quieter 23 ... ite6!?
bishop. If14 ... ~h6 15.!J:d1 ο-ο, then he has would work as well. Ιη this case Black had
to reckon with 16.h4. a sufficient compensation for the pawn af-
15.0-0-0 ter 24.l2Jd1 a5 25 ..tg2 J:ιh8.
Ιη case of 15.h3 P.Sνid1er giνes the fo1- 24.t'fd8+ 'lt>g7 25.fxe3 itxe3+ 26.Φb1
10wing 1ine: 15 ... hxg4 16.hxg4 J:ιxhl+ t'fc4 27.t'fd1 ~d4 28.t'fc1 f629.J:ιd1?
17.~xh1l2Jb418.0-0-0 l2Jxd5 19.~d5 ~h6+ Α real gift for Boris Gelfand. After
20.Φb1 ~f6. 29.Φa1 ite6 (ίη case of29 ... itxc2 30.itxa6
15 ... hxg4! ~c5 31.J:ιe1 White stands better) 30.~b1
Now Black returned the piece and kept itf5 Black eνidently had a sufficient com-
the adνantage ofthe bishop pair as his diνi pensation for the exchange, but the ques-
dend. tion whether there was anything more
16.l2Jb6 stayed unanswered. This mistake has a
Ιη Ponomarioν's ορίηίοη 16.ite4!? de- simple explanation: both players spent a
serνes attention, and ίη case of 16 ... ~h6-t- lot oftime οη the preνious moνes and now
have a time troub1e. trying to transfer the bishop to the b1ock-

29 ... a5?! ading c6-square, and then he wou1d be
Ge1fand over1ooked the way to win im- ab1e to begin a pawn advance to the 1st
mediate1y with 29 ... i.e3t 30.l;td7+ (after rank. It cou1d have been conducted as fo1-
30.b3 'ff:fc7! 31.'ff:fxe3 'ff:fxc2+ 32.Wal 'ff:fxdl+ lows, for instance: 40 ... We7 41.c5 i.f7 42.a3
33.Φb2 'ff:fc2+ 34.Φa3 'ff:fxh2 35.i.xa6 g3-+ (ηο 42.i.c8 because of 42 ... i.e6) 42 ... ι;t>d7
B1ack's extra pawns were fair1y enough to 43.i.g2 (after 43.i.hl Φc7 44.i.g2 i.e6
win the game) 30 ... Wg6 31.i.xa6 (if31.i.d5, 45.Wd3 i.c8 46.Wc4 i.a6+ 47.Wd5 i.b7+
then 31 ... 'ff:ff4 32.i.f7+ Φh6) 31 ... 'ff:fc6 48.ι;t>xe5 .Jί.xg2 49.Wxf5 Φc650.Wf4 Φχc5
30.b3 'ff:fc3 31.I:txd4 'ff:fxd4 32. 'ff:ff1 i.g6 51.Φe3 Φc4 52.Φd2 Φb3 53:ΨcΙ Φa2 B1ack
33.'ff:fc4 'ff:fg1+ 34.Φb2 'ff:fxh2 35.'ff:fxg4 won) 43 ... Φc7 44.~hl (there was ηο way
'ff:fxc2+ to bind B1ack's pieces to the f5-pawn, af-
B1ack has an extra pawn and a better ter 44 ..Jί.h3 '.Jί.e6 45.i.g2 .Jί.d7 46.i.h3 Φc6
position. 47. Φc4 i.e6+ White 10st the game) 44 ... ite8
36.Φa3 'ff:fc5+ 45.i.g2 i.c6 46 . .Jί.f1 (if 46.ith3, then
36 ... f5t? deserved attention. After 46 ... i.e4 to be followed by Φc7-c6) 46 ... Φd7
37.'ff:fc4 'ff:fd2 38.'ff:fc7+ ι;t>f6 39.'ff:fb6+ (the 47.i.d3 Φe6, and B1ack's king came to he1p
endgame to come after 39. 'ff:fc6+ Φg5 his passed pawns and ensured the victory.
40. 'ff:fg2+ 'ff:fxg2 41.i.xg2 i.e8 was hope1ess 41.c5 Φe7 42.a3 Φd7 43.Φc4 itc2
for White) 39 ... Φg5 40. 'ff:fgl+ Φh6 B1ack's Mter 43 ... Wc7 44.i.g2 i.e8 the simp1est
king escaped checks easi1y. for White is to fix the draw by the bishop's
37.Φb2 f5 38.'ff:fc4 'ff:fxc4?! sacrifice: 45.Φd5t iιc6+ 46.Φχe5 itxg2
What for did B1ack create a passed 47.Wxf4 Φc6 48.ι;t>e3 Wb5 49.Φd2 Φa4
pawn for White ίη the endgame? Ιη case 50.Wc2 Wxa3 51.ΦbΙ=
of 38 ... 'ff:ff2+t (a mere 38 ... 'ff:fe7 a1so de- 44.Φd5 e4 45.Wd4 f3
served attention) the p1ay cou1d have been Νο other way than to 1et the white king
reduced by 39.Φa3 'ff:fd2 to the above re- b10ck up the advance ofthe passed pawns
garded 1ine or by 39.'ff:fc2 'ff:fxc2+ 40.Wxc2 as there was a threat of 46.itxe4.In case
Φf6 to an ending where it wou1d be much of 45 ... e3 46.itf3 .i.a4 47.Φe5 itb5 48.ι;t>xf4
harder for White to get a counterp1ay than e2 49.itxe2 itxe2 50.Φe3 B1ack's extra
ίη the game. piece was not enough to win because ofthe
39.bxc4 Φf6 40.Wc3 bishop's "wrong" co1our as there was ηο
way to drive the white king out from the
corner al.
46.Φe3 Φe6 47.itc6 Φe5 48 ..1ιb7 iιd3
49 ..1ιa8 Wf5 50..1ιb7 Φe6 51 •.1ιc6 lJ2-1h
B1ack cannot reinforce his position.
142 Ε04
Gelfand - Mίloν
Round 2 25.07
1.d4 lΔf6 2.c4 e6 3.lΔf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4

40... f4? 5.iιg2 a6 6.0-0 lΔc6
Looks as if B1ack lost all his winning The opponents p1ay the Gambit Varia-
chances with this move. He cou1d have tion ofthe Cata1an Opening. With his 1ast
kept his pawns ίη a rank οη the fifth rank, move B1ack puts pressure οη the d4-pawn,
Biel 211
trying to hinder the development of 17 ...b4 18.CtJa4 .td6

White's initiative ίη the centre. If 18 ... c5, then Black had to reckon with
7.e3.1:i:b8 the move 19. '§f3, threatening seriously to
Black's last move is not very popular get to c6 with the knight.
ίη theoretical studies because it allows 19.CtJc4
White to take back the sacrificed pawn. Well, it was a good idea to withdraw the
7 ... .td 7 is the highroad. This move oc- knight from e5. Mter 19.'§f3 .txe5 20.dxe5
curred ίη the game played by B.Gelfand, CtJd5 the position ofthe white pawns would
but then he was playing Black. After 8. '§e2 have become considerably worse.
b5 9.CtJc3 .td6 10.e4 .te7 11.d5CtJb4 12.CtJe5 19 ... '§b5 20.b3 ~a8 21.~xa8 .1:i:xa8
exd5 13.exd5 ο-ο 14.a3CtJd3 15.CtJxd3 .tg4 22.'§c2CtJa5?!
16.'§e3 cxd3 17.'§xd3 '§d7 18 ..if4 .id6 Black plays a helpful move, ηο doubt,
Black maintained an equality ίη the game but what he should have done first was to
Karpov - Gelfand, Dos Hermanas 1999. take control over the big diagonal.Mter
8.CtJfd2 22 ... '§c6! 23 ..td2 (there was ηο 23.f3? be-
This is the reason why 7 ... 1:.b8 is not cause of 23 ... .:xa4! 24.bxa4 CtJa5 with
played often. Black's win) 23 ... CtJa5 his chances were
8 ... '§d7 9.CtJxc4 b5 10.CtJcd2 .tb7 none the worse than White's. Let's note
Previously οηlΥ 10 ... e5 occurred ίη this also Milov's advice, given after the game.
position. After 11.CtJb3 .td6 12.CtJc3 ο-ο He thinks that Black could most easily
13.d5 CtJe7 14.e4 c5 15.dxc6 CtJxc6 16 ..ig5 equalize the position by 22 ... .te7 with the
White had a slightly better play ίη the following c7-c5.
game Gorelov - Κharitonov, Volgodonsk 23.CtJxa5 .1:i:xa5
1981.
11.a4 Jιe7 12.axb5 axb5 13.CtJc3 CtJd8
14..ixb7CtJxb7
An exchange ofthe light-squared bish-
ops frequently leads to the equalization of
positions ίη the Catalan Opening. But now
there is a different situation. Black still
has some problems, first of all concerning
his retarded c-pawn.
15.CtJf3 ο-ο
Another Balck's opportunity was con-
nected with 15 ... .id6, preventing a blow
from the white knight οη e5 and involving 24.e4!
complications after 16.e4 with 16 ... b4. White's pawns begin the advance as a
16.CtJe5 '§e8 17.~a7 result of Black's inaccuracy οη the 22nd
This move allows Black to make the move.
white knight retreat to the side of the 24 ... e5 25.Jιb2
Ν ow the big diagonal will be open for
board. This could have been avoided with
17. '§e2!? b4 (after 17 ... CtJd6 18.Jιd2 b4 White's dark-squared bishop. Ιη case of
19.CtJa4 Black had to spend some time to 25.d5 h6 it was much harder to engage it
close the way to the centre through c5 for ίη the play.
the white knight) 18.CtJb5 c6 19.CtJc7 '§c8 25 ... exd4 26 ..\txd4 CtJg4
20.CtJa6 ~a8 21.Jιd2 making White's pres- Ιη case of 26 ... CtJd7 there was a strong
sure οη the opponent's queenside quite 27 ..1:i:d1!, but οη ηο account 27.f4? because
perceptible. then Black would have gained the initia-
tive with 27 ... c5! 28 ..i.b2 c4. 19.1be3 was played whereupon the ορρο
27.f3lbe5 nents agreed to a draw even before they
The line 27 ... lbxh2!? 28.'~xh2 ~d3 began to struggle really.
29. ~b2 1:!:g5 30.g4 h5 could lead to lots of
com plications.
28 . .i.xe5 ~xe5 29.f4 ~d4+ 30.Φg2
~a7?!
White's queen should not have been
allowed to occupy the diagonal a8-h1. Bet-
ter was 30 ... ~a6 31.~d1 ~c6 32.~e2 ~a7,
and if 33.e5, then there was an unpleas-
ant 33 ... ~b7!
31.~c6 g6 32.e5 .tf8 33.1:!:dl ~e3
34.~c4?!
Missing the advantage. Ιη the endgame
coming after 34.~f3! ~xf3+ 35.Φχf3 18 ...lbe7!
White's chances were better. Now the white squares d5 and f5 are
34 ... c6! well covered.
Black's rook enters the play at the cost 19.c4jLg5
of a pawn, allowing Black to get a draw, as Black has managed to regroup his
the perpetual check to White's king be- forces successfully; it is obvious that his
comes ineνitable now. chances are none the worse.
35.1:!:d7 Md5 36.MXd5 cxd5 37.~xd5 20.lbd5lbxd5 21.cxd5 f5 22 ..sιd3
l/z-1h Απ attack of the black king using the
diagonal b1-h7 with 22.exf5 ~xf5 (there
143 Β92 was also 22 ... ~f7) 23 ..i.d31:!:ff8 24.jLb1 was
Gallagher - Svidler hardly good because of 24 ... ~c4.
Round 2 25.07 22 ... fxe4 23.fxe4
Ιη case of 23 ..sιxe4 Black would prob-
l.e4 c5 2.lbf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.lbxd4 ably respond with 23 ... ~c4!
lbf6 5.lbc3 a6 6 ..i.e2 e5 7.lbb3 .i.e7 8.0-0 23 ... nxf1+ 24.~xf1 1:tf8 25.~e2 .i.c8
0-0 9.ΦhΙ b6 26.lbd2
Ιη 1999 the Swiss grandmaster de- Το take the pawn 26 . .sιxa6?! ii.xa6
fended with Black this position which ap- 27.~xa6 was risky because of 27 ... Mf2
peared from the NajdorfVariation. 28.~a8+Φh7 29.~c6 ~d8!, and now apart
10.a4 jLb7 11.f3 lbc6 12 . .i.g5 lbb4 from White's hanging pawn οη b2, his king
13.lbbl h6 14 ..sιxf6 jLxf6 15.lba3 ~c7 is going to suffer an attack from all Black' s
16.c3 pieces.
Black encountered greater problems ίη 26 ... a5 27.lbf3 .tg4 28.~f1.i.f4 29.~el
the continuation 16. ~d2lbc6 17.lbc4, both ~f7 30.lbgl "f1c7 .H.lbe2 "f1c5 32.lbc3
after 17 ... Mfd8 18.a5 bxa5 19.1bbxa5 lbd4 White has not ventured οη 32.lbxf4,
20.lbxb7 ~xb7 21 ..sιd3 jLg5 22.~f2, Ivan- though his queen would have restricted the
chuk - Topalov, Monte Carlo 1998 and ίη opportunities ofhis opponent considerably,
case of 17 ... Mad8 18. ~e3 b5 19.axb5 axb5 threatening constantly to break through
20.~b6, Palac - Hracek, Batumi 1999. into his camp both ίη case of 32 ... exf4
16 ...l2Jc6 17.l2Jc4 1:!:ad8 18.l2Je3 33.~h4 jLd7 34.~e7 and ίη the line
Α new move. Ιη the game Psakhis - 32 ... 1:!:xf4 33.MXf4 exf4 34.h3 .sιd7 35.b3
Topalov, Las Vegas (m11) 1999 18. ~d3 .i.g5 ~d4 36.~h4.
Biel 213
32 .. :~d4 33.iιe2 iιd7 The beginning of an exchange operation

33 ... iιc8!? deserνed attention. which should lead to a bishop endgame,
34.iιb5 iιc8 winning for Black.
Mter 34 ... iιxb5 35.tΔxb5 ~xb2 36.g3 39.iιxd3 iιxc3 40.bxc3 iιd7 41.iιc2
iιg5 37.tΔxd6! (but ηο 37 . .ί:txf8+ ~xf8 There was ηο 41 ..tb5, because after
38.tΔxd6 because of 38 ... ~e7 letting the 41 ... iιxb5 42.axb5 a4 the black pawn would
black king withdraw from the dangerous haνe passed.
area easily) 37 ... .ί:txf1+ 38.~xf1 White's 41 ...b5!
queen and knight could haνe got to the The remote passed pawn οη the a-file
black king soon. should bring BlacK the νictory.
35.~e2 g6 36.g3? 42.axb5 iιxb5 43.~g2 a4 44.c4 a3
After 36.iιa6! White maintained an 45.iιb3 iιa4 46.iιa2 ~e7 47.~f3 iιc2
equality. 48.~e3 'ίt>d7 49.~d2
36 ... iιd2! White has to part with the pawn as oth-
White's knight is being attacked by the erwise the black king would come to
black bishop. White's camp from the queenside.
37..ί:txf8+ 49 ... .txe4 50.~c3 iιf3 51.~d3 ~c7
There was ηο blow 37.iιe8 because of 52.~e3 iιg4 0-1
37 ... iιxc3! (37 ... .ί:txe8 was bad because of
38. ~f3 iιf5 39.exf5 .ί:tf8 40 . .ί:td1 ':xf5 144 Β22
41. ~e2 .ί:tf2 with 42. ~e4! by White) Ponomariov - Van Wely
38 ..ί:txf8+ ~xf8 39.bxc3 ~xc3 40.iιxg6 Round 2 25.07
iιh3!, and after 41.~f2+ ~e7 42.~Π+ ~d8
43. ~e8+ ~c7 44. ~e7+ ~b8 45. ~xd6+ ~a7 l.e4 c5 2.c3
Black's king would haνe hidden ίη a shel- Unlike the game which he played ίη the
ter οη the queenside. first round, the Ukrainian grandmaster
37 ...~xf8 38.~d3 chooses a quieter deνelopment system,
The moνe 38.iιa6 is not attractiνe any playing against tI-ie Sicilian Defence.
more because of 38 ... iιh3!, as then after 2 ...tΔf6 3.e5 tΔd5 4.tΔf3 tΔc6 5.iιc4 tΔb6
39. ~f3+ ~e7 40.g4 Black would proceed 6.iιb3 c4 7 ..tc2 "f1c7 8."f1e2 g5 9.e6 dxe6
to a winningendgame with 40 ... ~e3! Prob- 10.tΔxg5 ~e511.d4 cxd312 ..txd3 ~xe2+
ably a more persistent opposition was pos- 13.iιxe2
sible ίη case of 38. ~f3+ Φe7 39.h4, but eνen All these moνes are well-known.
here Black's winning chances were rather 13.~xe2 h6 14.tΔf3 e5 15.tΔa3 iιd7 16.iιe3
good after 39 ... h5. tΔd5 17.iιe4 tΔf4+ 18.~f1 iιg7 19.tΔh4
0-0-0 20.tΔf5 iιxf5 21.iιxf5+ e6 22.iιc2
.ί:td 7
with an equal play occurred already
ίηpractice ίη Ponomarioν's game against
Sadler, Hastings 1999.
13 ... h6 14.tΔe4 e5 15.tΔa3 f5!?
Usually Black plays 15 ... iιf5 ίη this
position. L.Van Wely shows that he has a
more aggressiνe plan.
16.iιh5+ ~d8 17.tΔg3 e6 18.tΔc2 iιd6
19.Jιd2
ΒΥ the moνe
19.b3 White could haνe
preνented the black knight from getting
38... ~xd3! to c4, but then it was able to occupy an-
other good square with 19 ... tΔd5 20.jιb2 51.Wd2 .if1 52.h4 Wc4 53.tΔhl jιg2
tΔf4. 54.tΔf2 c;t>b3 55.tΔd3 .id5
19... tΔc4 20.0-0-0 tΔxd2 21.1::txd2 ~e7 Black can delay the capture of the a3-
22.l:ιhdl jιc7 pawn for a while and reinforce the posi-
The adνantage of two bishops ensures tion of his pieces.
Black better chances. 56.tΔb4 .ie4 57.tΔa6 ~xa3 58.'>t>c3 .id5
23.tΔf1 b5 24.g3 .a:b8 25.b4 .a:d8 59.tΔb4 'it>a4 60.tΔd3 'it>a5 61.tΔb4 .ic4
26.tΔfe3 .a:xd2 27.~xd2 ~b7 28.a3 a6 62.tΔc2 'it>a4 63.tΔd4 Wa3 64.tΔc6 c;t>a2
29.tΔal ~b6 30.tΔb3 tΔa7 31.~dl tΔc8 65.tΔe5 c;t>bl 66.tΔd7
32.tΔc5 tΔd6 33 ..a:c2 The pawn endgame to appear after
After 33.tΔxb7 .6!xb7 34.~e2 (ίn case of 66.tΔxc4 bxc4 67.rbxc4 c;t>c2 68.~d4 c;t>d2
34.jιf3 there was a strong 34 ... jιxe3 was winning for Black.
35.fxe3 Uc7 36.~c2 tΔc4, White losing a 66 ... c;t>cl 67.tΔf6 Jte2 68.tΔe8 c;t>dl
pawn) 34 ... .a:c7 35 ..a:c2 ..ixe3+ (if 35 ... tΔe4, 69.tΔg7 .ig4 70.tΔxe6 We2 71.tΔd4+ wf2
then 36.c4!, and now 36 ... tΔxf2 could haνe 72.tΔxb5 Wg3 73 .. t>d2 'it>xh4
been opposed with 37.c5 jιa7 38.jιxb5) White cannot stop the h-pawn.
36.fxe3 tΔc4 37.Jtxc4 ~xc4 Black had ex- 74.'it>el 'it>g3 75.tΔd4 h4 76.~f1 h3
cellent winning chances ίn a rook end- 77.'it>gl h2+ 78.'it>hl c;t>h3 0-1
game.
145 Β06
Svidler - Ponomariov
Round 3 26.07
l.e4 g6 2.d4 .ig7 3.tΔc3 d6 4.jιe3 a6

5.f4 b5 6.jιd3 .ib7 7.tΔf3 tΔf6
This moνe is usually played after a pre-
liminary 7 ... b4 8.tΔe2.In the game Sνidler
- Beliaνsky, Dortmund 1998, White stood
a better chance after 8 ... tΔf6 9.e5 tΔd5
10.~d2 c5 11.c4 bxc3 12.bxc3 cxd4 13.cxd4
ο-ο 14.0-0 a5 15.~bH
33 ... ~xc5 8.e5 tΔg4
33 ... .ie4!? deserνed attention, because After 8 ... tΔd5 9.tΔxd5 ..ixd5 10.0-0
ίn case of 34.tΔxe4 (if 34 ..a:d2, then after White's prospects looked better.
34 ... ~xc5 35.bxc5 tΔb7 White lost a pawn) 9 ..igl c5!
Black had 34 ... tΔxe4 35.c4 tΔxf2 36.c5 Α reinforcement. Preνiously 9 ... 0-0 has
tΔxd1. . occurred which allowed White to gain a
34.bxc5 tΔe4 35.c4 .a:c8 36.cxb5 axb5 better ~lay by 1O.h3 tΔh6 11 ..if2 dxe5
37.Jtf3 ~d7 38.~b2 .id5 39.~xe4 Jtxe4 12.dxe5 f6 13.0-0
40.J:ι.c3 c;t>c6 41.tΔf1 10.dxc5
Mter 41.tΔc2 ..ixc2 42.~xc2 .ί:ίd8 White If 10.exd6, then there was a strong
would haνe to part with the c5-pawn. 10 ... c4! CYudasin).
41 ....a:d8 42.f3 Jtd3 43.tΔe3 h5 44.c;t>cl 10... dxe5 11.h3 e4!
.a:d4 45.tΔdl Jte2 46.tΔf2 .ί:ίc4 47.c;t>d2 Α sacrifice ofthe pawn should let Black
.a:xc3 48.Wxc3 Wxc5 49.f4 exf4 50.gxf4 open the diagonal a1-h8 for his bishop and
~d5 spare a tempo, at the same time. Mter
Αn extra pawn should be enough for 11 ... b4 12.tΔa4 e4 13.hxg4 exd3 14.t'txd3
Black to win. t'txd3 15.cxd3t White stands better.
Biel 215
12.ltJxe4 nity to play οη dark squares.

Worse ίΒ 12.hxg4?! exf3 13.gxf3 because 18.Mxf3
of 13 ....i~fa5! Black's initiatiνe costs more After 18. ~xf3 (18 ... ltJd7 19.<i;h2 -
than the sacrificed pawn. 19.J::tadl?! ltJxc5 20 ..ixf5ltJa4 21 ..ie4 'uad8
12 ...ltJf6 13.iιd4 22.ltJb7 J::txdl 23.~xdl ltJc3+ - 19 ... SΙxa1
Both following lines do not giνe an ad- 20.~xal ltJf6co Ponomarioν) ltJc6 19.a3
νantage: 13. ~e2 ltJxe4 14.iιxe4 iιxe4 .lTιxa1 20.Mxa1 there was an approximate
15.~xe4 ~xb2 16.ι:ω1 ~a5+ 17.Md2 Ma7co equality οη the board.
and 13.ltJxf6+ .lTιxf614.c3 ~c7 15.~d2 ~xf3 18 ..• ltJc6 19.a3
16.gxf3 Sιh4+~ (Ponomarioν).
13 ... 0-0 14.iιxf6
White parts with his dark-squared
bishop of his own accord. Well, he would
be forced to do it later anyway after
14.ltJxf6+ exf6 15.c3 Me8 (15 ... ~c7 16.0-0)
16.'it>f2ltJc6.White's attempt to keep pieces
ίη the centre by 14. ~e2!? deserνed at-
tention.After an approximate 14 ... ltJh5
15.iιxg7 ltJxf4 16.~d2 ltJxd3+ 17.cxd3
~xg7 18.0-0 iιd5 19.b4 ltJc6 Black had a
compensation for the sacrificed pawn.
14 ... exf6 15.ltJd6 ~c7! 16.b4!? 19... a5!
White has an extra pawn and his knight Black attempts to force drawing sim-
is ίη the enemy's camp, but it's not time to plifications. Certainly, it is bad to win the
rest yet. Ιη case of 16.ltJxb7 there was exchange: 19 ... .ixal?! 20. ~xal. White has
a strong initiatiνe and a lot ofthreats: ltJf5,
16 ... Me8+ 17.'.t>f2 ~xb7 18.Me1ltJd7 19.b4
f5 20.Mb1 ltJf6t, and if 16.f5, then after c4 ... White's tasks would be more compli-
16 ... ~xc5 17 .ltJxb7 ~e7+ 18. ~e2 ~xb7 cated after 19 ... ltJd4!? to be followed by
19 ...Jte4 ltJc6 Black got back all the stuff 20 ... ltJe6, creating an unpleasant threat of
that he had giνen before.16.~e2 was also ltJe6xc5. R.Ponomarioν giνes the following
not νery good because of16 ... f5 (16 ... ltJd7!? νariation: 19 ... ltJd4!? 20.Mf1 ltJe6 21.:1:!.b1
17.ltJxb7 ~ae8 18.Jιe4 ltJxc5 19.1tJxc5 ltJxc5 22.ltJxb5 axb5 23.bxc5 ~xc5+ 24.~hl
~xc5+ Ponomarioν) 17.ltJe5 (ίη case of
Mfb8 25. ~e2 :1:!.xa3 26.J::txb5 1::!.xb5 27.
17.0-0-0 the moνe 17 ... ltJd 7 was good) ~xb5=, leading to the full equality.
17 ... ltJc618.c3ltJxe519.fxe5 .lTιxe5 20.~xe5 20.ltJxb5 tfie7 21.c3
Ιη case of 2U:rbl Black had 21 ... axb4
Mfe8.
16...f517.0-0! 22.axb4 ltJxb4.
White's attempt to keep the exchange 21 ... axb4 22.axb4 Mxal 23. tfixal
ltJxb4 24.tfia7 'ί!ixa7 25.ltJxa7 .ixc3
by 17.J::!.b1 .lTιc3+ 18.<i;f1! (18.~f2? is νery
26.ltJb5 .if6 27.Sιc4 Mc8 28.iιxf7! %-lh
bad because of 18 ... ..Jtxf3 19. ~xf3 .lTιxb4+
and it is impossible to play 20.J::!.b4? ~c5) The last precise trait and there is a full
equality οη the board.
can cost him dear. Now ίη Ponomarioν's
ορίηίοη Black gets a strong initiatiνe by
Β07
sacrificing a piece: 18 ... .lTιxb4!? 19.1tJxb7 1.46
SΙc3 20.Mb3 Sιf6 21.ltJd6 ~xc5 22.Sιe2ltJc6t Milov - Gallagher
17... SΙxf3 Round 3 26.07
Mter 17 ... iιxal18.~xal White had a
pawn for the exchange plus an opportu- l.d4 d6 2.e4 ltJf6 3.ltJc3 g6 4.g3 ..Jtg7
5 ..tg2 0-0 6.liJge2 e5 7.h3 16... liJd7!

Ahelpful move, because after 7.0-0 4:Jc6 Α happy novelty. Mter 16 ... ~c7 Black
White had to ease the tension ίη the cen- encountered some problems because of
tre: ίη case of 8.i.e3 there was 8 ... liJg4, and 17.b4! cxb4 18.axb4 Jtb7 19.1iJxb5 axb5
then 8.h3 exd4 9.liJxd4 Black had a stan- 20.l:!:xa5 .!:txa5 21.bxa5liJd7 (there was ηο
dard blow 9 ... liJxe4. 21 ... ~xa5 because of22.e5!) 22.liJb3 ίη the
7 ... liJc6 8.i.e3 i.d7 9.0-0 a6 10.f4 game Maier - Fritz, Germany 1992.
Ιη case of 10 ..!:te1 White had to reckon 17.~f3liJb7?!
with 10 ... b5, and after 10.a4 White got a Ιη case of the suggesting 17 ... liJb6
counterplay against the e4-pawn with 18.~ab1 (if 18.b3, then White had to reckon
10 ... exd4 11.liJxd4 .!:te8 12 ..!:te1liJb4! 13.g4 with 18 ... b4 19.axb4 cxb4 20 ..:t:xa5 .txc3,
c5 14.liJde2 i.c6 ίη the game Svidler - and if 18 ..:t:ad1, then there was an unpleas-
Hennigan, Oakham 1992. ant continuation 18 ....txc3!? 19. ~xc3liJa4!,
10... exd4 11.liJxd4 ~e8 12 ..!:telliJa5 winning a pawn) 18 ... liJac4 19.1iJxc4liJxc4
Mter 12 ... liJxd4 13 ..txd4 c5 14.i.f2! i.c6 Black's position was none the worse at
15.a4.:t:e6 16. ~d3 White's position was still least.
more pleasant Buljovcic - Savicevic, 18 ..!:tabl a5 19.1iJd5 Jtxd5 20.exd5
Herceg Νονί 2000. .:t:xel+ 21 ..txel c4 22.b4!
13.Jtf2 Black wanted to get his knight to c5,
Ιη case of 13.b3 c5 14.liJde2 i.c6 15. ~d3 now White prevents him from doing this.
b5 Black had a counterplay as well as af- 22 ... axb4
ter 13.~d3 c5 14.liJde2 b5. Ιη case of 22 ... cxb3 23. ~xb3 the black
13 ... c5 14.liJf3 pawn οη b5 was very weak.
Mter 14.liJb3 liJc4 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 23.axb4 ~a2 24.c3 ~e7 25.g4 f5
liJxe5 17.liJxc5 Black got a good play with Probably this was played too tough.
17 ... Jtc6! ίη the game Solozhenkin - 25 ... liJb6 to be foHowed by liJa4 complied
Svidler, St.Petersburg 1995. better with the plan that would be realised
14... Jtc6 15.liJd2 ίη the game.
Ιη case ofWhite's break-through ίη the 26.gxf5 gxf5 27 .liJf1 ~f7 28.liJg3 liJb6
centre with 15.e5 there was 15 ... dxe5 Now that the kingside is already weak-
C15 ... Jtxf3 16.~xf3 dxe5 17 ..txc5 was also ened with the advance f7-f5 Black should
possible to be followed by 17 ... ~c7 or not have driven the knight to the opposite
17 ... ~c8) 16.liJxe5 .txg2 17.~xd8 .:t:axd8 side.28 ... liJf8! was stronger, preventing the
18.Wxg2, and Black equalized with 18 ... advance h3-h4.
liJd5! 29.h4 liJd8 30.~clliJa4?
15 ...b516.a3 Now the f5-pawn cannot be protected.
Mter 30 ... liJc8 31 ..th3liJe7 Black had time
to cover everything.
31 ..th3 ~a7+ 32.Whl liJf7 33.liJxf5
Jtf6 34.4:Jg3 liJh6
Mter 34 ... Wf8 35.liJe4 Black was to lose
as well.
35.liJe4
35. ~h5!? looked not bad also, because
after 35 ... ~g7 (if 35 ... ~a8, then 36 ..te6+
Wg7 37.liJe4 wins) 36.~θ8 there was a fear-
ful threat of liJg3-h5#
Biel 217
35... fie7 36...tf2 ..txh4 37...td4! 19...tb2 exd4 20 ..txd4 ..te5 21.LΔc3 ..txd4
White has parted with his extra pawn, -22.1::ιΧd4
yet he has acquired another important It seems that White has got an advan-
main line that leads right to the headquar- tage, still B.Gelfand manages to maintain
ters of the black king and this, combined the balance with his precise play.
with the inactivity of the knight οη a4, is 22 ... LΔb6 23.Mad1 Mxd4 24.MXd4LΔbd5
crucial for the result of the game, as now 25.LΔxd5 cxd5!
White will win very soon. Black agrees to play with the isolated
37 ... 'it'f8 38.Mg1 fif7 39 ...te61-0 d-pawn, but instead he restricts the ορ
portunities ofthe white rook. Mter 26 ...tf3
z:td8 27.b5 ~f8 28.bxc6 bxc6 29.MC4 he suf-
"147 D19 fered White's long lasting pressure.
Van Wely - Gelfand 26 ...tf3 ~d8 27.h3 ~f8 28.g4 We7
Round 3 26.07 Now Black pat'ts with a pawn to free
his rook for a more active play. The same
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.LΔc3LΔf6 4.LΔf3 dxc4 idea could have been performed ίη a
5.a4 ..tf5 6.e3 e6 7 ...txc4 ..tb4 slightly different way by means of28 ... fxg4
Ιη this variation of the Slav Defence 29.hxg4 g5 30.e4 We7 31.exd5 (the rook
Black attempts to prevent White from the endgame to come after 31.e5LΔe4 32.Jιxe4
advance e3-e4 or at least to minimize its dxe4 33 ..ί::txe4 ~e6 was a draw despite
effect. White's extra pawn) 31 ... Wd6, all Black's
8.0-00-0 9.fie2 ..tg6 pieces were involved into an active play.
Black is trying to avoid the line 9 ... LΔbd7 29.gxf5 ~d6 30.Wg2 We5 31 ...tg4 Mc8
10.e4 32.f4+ Wd6 33...tf3 Mc2+ 34. ~g3 Mc3
10.LΔe5 LΔbd7 11.LΔxg6 hxg6 12.Md1 The active position ofBlack's rook com-
fia5 13.fic2 Mad8 14.LΔa2 ..td6 pensates him the missing pawn.
35.Φf2 Φc6 36.h4 .ί::tc2+ 37.~e1 .ί::tb2
38.h5 .ί::I.b1+ 39.'it'd2 .ί::tb2+ 40.Φe1 .ί::tb1+
41. wd2 1f2-1f2
148 Β81
Svidler - Gelfand
Round 4 27.07
1.e4 c5 2.LΔf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.LΔxd4

LΔίβ 5.LΔc3 a6 6 ...te3 e6 7.g4
This keen continuation, implying a
piece sacrifice, became popular after its
15.b4!? successful performances played by Hun-
15 ...te2 e5 was seen previously as well garian chess players ίη the middle of the
as 15.h3 c5 16 ...td2 fic7 17.dxc5 ..txc5 seventies. The second peak of its popular-
~18.~ac1 ..te7 19. fib1 fib8 20 ...te2 LΔc5, ity ίη the nineties was connected chiefly
Huzman - Anand, Haifa 2000, with Black's with White's victory ίη the game Topalov
convenient play ίη both cases. - Kasparov, Moscow (01) 1994.White does
15... fih5 not want to waste time for prepari.ng the
Of course there was ηο 15 ... .txb4? be- move f2-f3 and is going to drive away the
cause of 16.LΔxb4 fixb4 17 ..ta3. knight from [6 as soon as possible ίη order
16.g3 e5 17 ..te2 fif5 18. fixf5 gxf5 to begin then an attack οη the kingside.
7 ... e5 Νο other wa}'. If 15 .. .'~xf7??, then

The most fundamental way. White's 16.'§d8#.
bishop οη e3 depriνes the knight of an im- 16.~d5+ ~xf6
portant retreat resource that is why Black 8ince the game 8hiroν - Ju.Polgar,
can moνe the same pawn again. Dortmund 1996 they haνe played 16 ... Φe8
8.tΔί5 g6 9.g5 17.f7+ rtJe7 ίη this position. Let's suggest
White takes the highroad. Ιη the first our own method how to gain an adνantage
round Ruslan Ponomarioν played 9 ..ig2 ίη this case: 18.f6+!? (instead of 18. '§f3
against Βοήs Gelfand but without success. which was played ίη the mentioned
9 ...gxf5 10.exf5 d5 1l.gxf6 8hiroν's game) 18 ... ~xf6 19.~f3+ ~e6
Another continuation of the attack is 20.~hfl! ..th6+ (ίη case of20 ... ..tc5 there is
connected with 11. ~f3. 21.b4!) 21.~b1 ..tf4 22.tΔd5 ~xίΊ 23 ..ϊ:ιχf2
11 ... d4 12.iιc4 ~c7 tΔc6 24.tΔxf4+ '§xf4 25. '§d5+ ~f6 26. '§d6+
Black could take neither the bishop ..te6 27.~xf4+ exf4 28. '§xf4+ .i.f5 29.~d6+
(12 ... dxe3) nor the knight (12 ... dxc3) be- ~e7 30 ..ϊ:ιχc6 bxc6 31. ~xf5, and now Black
cause ofthe blow 13 ..ixf7+!.12 ... ~xf6 was has to defend this forced position, because
played ίη the game 8hiroν - Gelfand, Wijk his king cannot hide οη the queenside with
aan Zee 1996, followed by 13.tΔd5 ~c6 31 ... rtJd6 as there is 32.c4!, and Black has
14 ..ixd4! .ib4+ 15.c3 '§xc4 16 ...te3! .ia5 ηο 32 ... ~c7 33.~a5+ Φb7 because of34.c5.
17.tΔf6+ ~e7 18.tΔd5+ ~e8 19.tΔf6+ ~e7 17.tΔe4+ ~e7
20 ...tg5, and Black suffered the strongest Black had ηο other choice. Mter 17 ...
attack and lost. ~g7? there was a forced mate by 18.1:!.hg1
13.~d3 dxe3 14.0-0-0 exf2 fxg~+ 19 . .ϊ:ιχg1 + ~h6 20. ~d2 ~h5 21.
Black takes whateνer he is allowed to ~g5#. If 17 ... ~xf5, then after 18 ..ϊ:ιhf1
take. Neνertheless, his last moνe is νery .i.h6+ 19.~b1 .if4 20.~xf2 Black had ηο
reasonable. It will be hard for White to use defence from the sacήfice 1::[f1xf4. 80, ίη
the might of his rooks at most as the f2- case of20 ... tΔc6 the solution was 21 ..ϊ:ιΧf4+!
pawn restricts their opportunities οη the ςt>xf4 22 ..ί:f.f1 + ~g4 23. tΔf6+ ~g5 24. '§g2+
first rank. ~h6 25.~gl with an ineνitable mate.
18.f6+!
Now a νery important noνelty comes.
Ιη case of 18.tΔd6 .th6+ 19.~b1 ~f6
20.~hf1 ~f8 21 ..ϊ:ιχf2 tΔc6 22. '§c4 ~g7! (af-
ter 22 ... .if4 White won ίη the game 8hiroν
- Van Wely, Monaco 2000 with 23.~xf4!
exf4 24. '§c3+ ςt>g5 25.1:1g1 + ςt>h4 26. ~f3)
23.1:1gl+ ςt>h8 24.Mtfg2 ..tg7 25.l;lxg7 '§xg7
26.~xg7 ιJiJxg7 27. ~g4+ ~h8 28. ~g5 ..te6
29.b3 ~ad8 Black managed to repulse the
attack and keep the material adνantage
ίη the game Topaloν - Van Wely, Frank-
15...txf7+! furt 2000.
Νο noνelty, but this moνe looks good. 18 ...~e8 19.f7+ <Jite7 20:~d2!
White sacrifices another piece ίη order to Α fine idea. White's queen retreats ίη
lure the black king from its shelter. Oth- order to stήke a blow then from the g5-
erwise Black might haνe completed his square.
deνelopment with a material adνantage. 20 ... ~c6?
15 ... ~xf7 Black cannot bear the strain and makes
Biel 219
a mistake. Instead ofthe move ίη the game 24.1::!.c1 iιb5 25.CiJe5 h6 26.iιf6 ίη the game
much stronger was 20 ... '1tfb6! This move Zvjaginsev - Votava, Stockerau 1993.
will appear ίη the game Almasi - Svidler, 19.tLJd2 .ϊ':[χc1+ 20.1:ιχc1 ~c8 21.J::txc8+
Polanica Zdroj 2000 and we will comment Jtxc8
upon opponents' opportunities ίη detail.
21:~g5+ Wxf'1 22.~hf1 iιc5
There is ηο rescue already. After
22 ... CiJd7 23 . .ί:txf2+ We8 24.CiJf6+ CiJxf6
25.I!.xf6 White's three heavy pieces would
tear to scraps the helpless black king like
fierce dogs.
23.CiJxf2
If White can take such a liberty then
the days of the black king are numbered.
23 ... CiJd7 24.CiJg4+ 'it>e8 25.CiJxe5 '1tfe6
26.~fe 1 CiJf6
Mter 26 ... kIg8 27.'1tfh5+ 1:tg6 28.CiJxg6 22.CiJe4
ΟηΙΥ this move can be considered a ηον
iιe3+ 29.Wb1 hxg6 30.'1tff3 Black probably
could hold out somewhat longer. elty. After 22.Jtf3 iιb7 23.iιxb7 CiJxb7
27.CiJd3 which was seen ίη the game Zvjaginsev -
Almost every other retreat ofthe white Azmaiparashvili, Portoroz 1997 the ορρο
knight was winningtoo (except 27.CiJf7 and nents agreed to a draw after some ma-
27.CiJg6). noeuvres.
27 •.. iιe7 28.~xe6 iιxe6 29 ..!::te1 CiJd7 22 ... iιb7 23.CiJc3 Wf8 24.CiJb5 a6
1-0 25.CiJc3 b5 26.iιc7 CiJc4 27.iιxc4 bxc4
Having lost contact with the main
forces, the passed c4-pawn can prove to
'149 D91 be both a strong point and a weakness, but
ΜίΙον - Van Wely the bishop pair makes up a definite plus
Round 4 27.07 for Van Wely's position.
28.f3 We8 29.Wf2 wd7 30.Jta5 {5
1.d4 CiJf6 2.c4 g6 3.CiJc3 d5 4.CiJf3 iιg7 31.iιb6 e5 32.dxe5 iιxe5 33.iιd4 iιd6
5.Jtg5 CiJe4 6.Jtf4 CiJxc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.e3 34.h3 We6 35.CiJa4 iιc6 36.CiJc3 g537.CiJe2
0-0 9.cxd5 cxd4 10.cxd4 '1tfxd5 11.iιe2 h5 38.CiJc3 h4 39.CiJe2 iιe7 40.iιc3 iιd7
'1tfa5+ 12.'1tfd2 CiJc613.'1tfxa5 CiJxa514.iιc7 41.iιd4 Wd6 42.iιb2 iιd8 43.iιd4 iιe7
tLJc6 15.~b1 b6 44.iιb2 cj{c6 45.CiJd4+ Wb6 46.Jtc3 a5
Α quiet variation of the Gruenfeld De- Probably the attempt of a break-
fence. 15 ... iιe6 16.1Ixb7 iιxa2 17.Wd2 has through at once with 46 ... g4 47 .hxg4 fxg4
occurred too, leading to a keener play. 48.fxg4 iιxg4 made sense.
16.0-0 Jtb7 17.I:tfc1 47.We1 g4
Mter 17.d5 CiJa5 18.1:tfd11:tac8 19.I!.bc1 This Black's move will introduces inter-
iιb2 20.1:tc2 iιa3 21.tLJe1 iιc6 22.iιxb6 axb6 esting technical complications.
23.dxc61:txc6 the play was equalized ίη the 48.hxg4 fxg4 49.fxg4 Jtxg4 50.iιxa5+!
game Goldin - Shmuter, Israel 1995. White must have calculated everything
17...1:tac8 18.Jtg3 CiJa5 very precisely to venture οη this move.
Ιη case of 18 ... 1Ifd8 19.iιb5 e6 20.h3 iιf8 50... Wxa5 51.CiJc6+ Wa4 52.CiJxe7 cj{a3
21.Jth41:td5 White managed to get an ad- 53.Wd2 Wb2 54.CiJd5 iιf3!
vantage with 22.iιxc6 J::rxc6 23.1:txc6 iιxc6 This tactical trick looks impressive but
it cannot give Black anything more than a ize his rooks ... Α more energetic plan with
draw. 11.tΔh2!? preparing f2-f4, also deserved
55.gxf3 h3 56.tΔc3 h2 57 .tΔdl + 'i2;>xa2 attention.
58.tΔf2 'it>b2 59.tΔdl + <ϊt>b3 60.tΔf2 \t>b2 11 ... g5!?
1/~/2 Assuredly, the patent for this plan be-
longs to a very ecceηtήc 8t.-Petersburg
master G.Chepukaitis, who often used
150 Β06 such construction ίη his rapid games. Later
Gallagher - Ponomariov οη Black places one knight οη the g6-
Round 4 27.07 square, and forwards the other to f6-h5.
12.tΔh2
l.e4 g6 2.d4 .ig7 3.tΔc3 d6 4 ..ie3 a6 R.Ροηοmaήοv recommends to play here
5."iftd2 12.h4!? g4 13.tΔh2 h5 14 ..ig5 with an un-
There was an alternative of 5.f4 b5 clear game, but not everyone can easily
6 ..id3 (after 6 ..ie2 b4 7.tΔb1 .ib7 8 ..if3 move pawns (12.h4!?!?) away from the
tΔf6 9."iftd3 tΔbd7 10.tΔd2 ο-ο 11.c4 bxc3 king.
12.bxc3 c5 Black equalized ίη the game 12 ...tΔg6
Galkin - Ροηοmaήοv, Lausanne 2000).80, 12 ... tΔf6 13.f3 tΔg6 14.1::!:ad1 ο-ο 15.tΔg4
ίη case of 6 ... .ib7 7.tΔf3 tΔd7 8."ifte2 e5 tΔh5 16.1i.f2 d5 17.exd5 exd5 18 ..id3 tΔhf4
9.dxe5 dxe5 10.0-0 exf4 11 ..ixf4 tΔe7 12.a4 was seen with Black's good play, Gjokaj -
bxa4 13 ..ic4 White got a better play ίη the Glek, Bad Zwesten 1999.
game Yudasin - Kantsler, Israel 2000. 13.tΔf1 tΔf6 14.tΔg3 0-0 15..id3?!
5 ... tΔd7!? White threatens to move the pawn to
5 ... b5 6.a4 b4 7.tΔd1 a5 8.f4! tΔf6 9.tΔf2 e5 and to capture the g6-knight, but firstly
.ib7 10.1i.d3 ο-ο 11.tΔf3~ Ponomariov. it is not frightful and secondly, it takes a
6.a4!? lot oftime. Black begins to attack White's
Now ίη case of 6.f3 b5 7.a4 b4 8.tΔd1 fine position with his next move. It should
Black has at his disposa18 ... 1:tb8oo Fluvia- have been prevented by 15.d5!?
8010νίον, Olot 1994. 15... c5! 16.dxc5?!
6 ... b6 White should not have yielded the
This move is typical of such positions. centre.16.1i.f1 was the correct continua-
Ιη case of a "normal" 6 ... e6 there is 7.a5! tion. Mter 16.1::!:ad1 "iftc7 Black's position is
and Black has got problems with the de- preferable and White should play with cir-
velopment of his queenside. cumspection not to lose the game quickly.
7.tΔf3 e6 8 ..ic4 h6 9.h3 tΔe7 10.0-0 For example, bad is 17.e5 dxe5 18.dxc5
.ib7 (18 ..ig6? exd4 is impossible) 18 ... tΔf4
Those, who prefer to play "Uitelky", of- 19.cxb6 "iftc6 and it is not so easy to neu-
ten just like that within ten moves (and tralize Black's pressure οη light squares.
literally ίη several seconds) arrange their Mter 20.tΔge4 (20 ..ie4 tΔe4 21.tΔe4 f5 is
pawns (h6, g6, Π, e6, d6, c7, b6, a6) and not better) 20 ... tΔ5d5 Black threatens to
pieces (.ig7, iιb7, tΔe7, tΔd7), almost not set his centre ίη motion by fl-f5.
turning their attention to White's plan.For 16...bxc5 17.z:tadl "iftc7
Black the game starts οηlΥ from the 11th Black prepared everything for d6-d5
move. and White had to remember "classics" and
11.~fel to start a counterplay by 18.f4.Mter an
White plays according to classical ex- approximate 18 ... gxf4 19 ..ixf4 tΔxf4
amples: he has developed his minor pieces 20. "iftxf4 c4 21.iιf1 "iftb6 White has 22. "ifte3
and has castled.Now it's time to central- (22.Φh1?! "iftxb2+}.Now ίη case of an ex-
Biel 221
change 22 ... ~xe3+ (22 ... ~b2 is not possible 35.~e7!, after which it is possible to lose
now because of 23.11b1 - the c3-knight is by accident: 35 ... f4? 36 ...tc3 'f!!f7 37.'f!!xf7
protected by the queen) 23.1:txe3 d5 24.exd5 J..xf7 38.SΙxd3.
lbxd5 25.lbxd5 J..xd5 White has time to 35.f3 ..te5 36.lbe4 ..txe4 37.fxe4 ~d4+
exchange one ofthe bishops 26.lbf5!, hav- 38.ΦhΙ ~f2 0-1
ing ίη mind that 26 ... J..b2 is bad because
of 27.lbe7 and 28.lbd5.However, after
22 ... ~b4 Black keeps the advantage. '151 D85
18.~e2? Van Wely - Svidler
Round 5 28.07
l.d4 lbf6 2.c4 g6 3.lbc3 d5 4.lbf3 J..g7

5.cxd5lbxd5 6.e4lbxc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.Itbl
0-0 9.J..e2 cxd4 10.cxd4 ~a5+ 11.iιd2
The rivals begin their opposition with
one of the main lines of the Gruenfeld De-
fence. Trying to avoid an exchange of the
queens, White sacrifices the pawn and
hopes to gain sonle profit ίη future from
his better development and mighty pawn
centre.
18... d5! 11 ... ~xa2 12.0-0 J..g4 13.J..g5
Black begins an attack ίη the centre. Ιη order to understand better the fur-
19.exd5 exd5 20.J..cl J::tae8 21.~d2 ther events it is useful to give a look now
21.~Ω ~c6t
at how this position developed ίη the game
21 ... lbh422.1:txe8 Bacrot - Illescas Cordoba, Pamplona
Mter 22.b3 c4 23.J..fl White still held 1997.After 13.J..e3lbc6 14.d5 J..xf3 15.J..xf3
out, as ίη case of22 ... d4 there was 24.lbce2 lbe5 16.1:txb7 Black played 16 ... a5!, stak-
(but ηο 24.~xd4?? because of24 ...lbe4). ing οη the passed a-pawn; and following
22 ....ttxe8 23.1;!el1::!.xel+ 24.~xel c4 complications 17 ..ttxe7 a4 18 ...td4 lbxf3+
25.J..f1 d4 26.lbce2 19.9xf3 SΙxd4 20.~xd4 a3 21.Φg2 ~b2
26.lbce4 loses because of 26 .. .lbxe4 22. ~xb2 axb2 23 ..ttb1 J::tfb8 brought him to
27.lbxe4 ~e7 28.f3 f5. a rook endgame where his far advanced
26 ... ~c5! pawn οη b2 defended him quite reliably
White's pieces are thrown back to the from any possible troubles.
starting line (..tfl, ..tc1, lbe2, ~e1) and the 13 ... h6 14.i..e3 lbc6 15.d5 i..xf3 16.
victory is not far off. ..txf3 lbe5 17.:ι:txb7
27.~dl lbe4 28.lbxe4 ..txe4 29.lbg3
J..g6 30.~e2 d3 31.cxd3 cxd3 32.~e8+
Φh733.J..e3
Α better was 33. ~e1 ~c6.
33... ~d5!
Now there is ηο way to defend from d3-
d2 and protect the b2-pawn at the same
time.
34.J..d2 J..xb2
Ιη winning positions carefulness won't
hurt. 80, a hasty 34 ... f5?! dashes against
17... a5! Van der Sterren - Gelfand, Wijk aan Zee

It looks as if this move did not occur 1998. .
previously ίη this position. You see that the 10.d5 CΔe8
οηlΥ difference from the above mentioned Black hurries to remove the knight as
game Bacrot - Illescas Cordoba is ίη the soon as possible to avoid a binding. Ιη case
position of Black's h-pawn οη h6 instead of 10 ... c5 1l.h3 i.d7 he had to reckon with
of h7.Previously Black played 17 ... e6 ίη 12 ...Itg5! The Swiss grandmaster has al-
order to equalise. After 18.dxe6 CΔxf3+ ready got some negative experience ίη this
19. ~xf3 ~xe6 20.1:rxa7 J:Ixa7 21.i.xa7 .ί:te8 line. Mter 12 ... h6 13 ...Ite3 i.e8 14. ~d2 r;t>h7
22.J:Ie1 f5 he usually managed to obtain a 15.a3 CΔd7 16.g3 f5 17.exf5 gxf5 18.CΔh4!
draw without particular problems, but it Black encountered problems ίη the game
seems that ίη case of 18. ~e2!? the posi- Tukmakov - Gallagher, Lugano 1999.Α
tion would not be so clear. similar situation appears often after
18.i.c5 10 ... CΔb4 11.jιe2 a5 12.i.g5!.
After 18 ..ί:txe7 a4 to be followed by 11.h3 i.d7 12.dxc6
19.i.d4 CΔxf3+ 20.gxf3 i.xd4 21.~xd4 a3 Α new move.12.Ub1 c5 13.a3 f5 14.b4
the play could have developed similarly to f4 which occurred previously provided
the previously mentioned game, and the Black with a good play.
difference ίη the position of the h-pawn 12...bxc6
would not influence the estimation.
18 ... a4 19.i.xe7 .ί:ttb8 20 ..ϊ::txb8+ .uxb8
21.d6
It occurred to White that his d-pawn is
also passed.
21 ... ~e6 22.~xa4
Practically this move was necessary.
After 22.i.e2 a3 23. ~a4 a2 24.f4 Mb1
Black's a-pawn is passed.
22 ... CΔxf3+ 23.gxf3 ~h3
Απ unpleasant threat of24 ... i.e5 makes
White to part with one of his two extra
pawns and agree to a perpetual check. 13.i.g5!
Α helpful intermediate move. The di-
24.~a5 ~xf3 25.~d5 ~g4+ 1/2-%
agonal a1-h8 is locked twice for the g7-
bishop.
152 Ε94 13 ... f6 14.i.e3 c5
Gelfand - Gallagher This move complies with Black's plan
Round 5 28.07 to occupy the d4-square, besides ίη case
of a delay (14 ... f5 or 14... CΔac7) White could
1.d4 CΔf6 2.c4 g6 3.CΔc3 Sιg7 4.CΔf3 d6 gain an advantage with 15.c5!
5.e4 ο-ο 6.Sιe2 e5 7.0-0 CΔa6 8.Mel c6 15.CΔd5 CΔac7 16.b4
9.i.f1 Sιg4 Ιη case of 16.CLxc7 ~xc7 17. ~d5+ <t>h8
As for B.Gelfand, ίη this variation ofthe 18. ~xa8 White won Black's rook, but lost
Κing's Indian Defence he prefers strug- his own queen after 18 ... jιc6.
gling for an equalization with 9 ... exd4 16 ... CΔe6
10.t2Jxd4 t2Jg4 11.h3 ~b6 12.hxg4 ~xd4 Α capture 16 ... cxb4 made it already
13.i.f4 ~xd1 14.~axd1 i.e5 15.i.h6 Me8 possible to play 17.CΔxc7 ~xc7 (ίη case of
which he played, for instance, ίη the game 17 ... CΔxc7 the way to an advantage was
Biel 223
connected with 18. ~xd6) 18. ~d5+ 1:tf7 gambit style, because after 26.Rb3 Rae8
19. ~xa8, because ίη case of 19 ... i.c6 there his knight would perish ίη Black's camp.
was 20. ~xa7. 26 ... CtJf4
17..!:tbl'iith8 Α good continuation, but it is interest-
Another useful move. Ιη case of 17 ... ing what was White going to do ίη case of
cxb4 18.CtJxb4 f5 19.exf5 gxf5 20. ~d5 a mere 26 ... ..ixb1!? After 27. ~h5 ;gf6
White's position was preferable, while 28.1:!.xb1 (ίη case of 28.CtJhg6+ 1:txg6 29.
17 ... CtJd4 allowed him to get a better play CtJxg6+ ι;t>g8 30.CtJe7+ ι;t>f8 31.~xb1 Wxe7
after18.bxc5 dxc5 19.tiJxd4 cxd4 (19 ... exd4 32. ~xf5 h6 White seemed to have ηο suf-
20.i.f4) 20.i.d2 owing to his knight, occu- ficient compensation for the piece) 28 ... CtJf4
pying a strong position οη d5. 29.i.xf4 ~c5+! 30.cJth1 ~xe7 3U:re1 (there
18.CtJd2 f5 19.exf5 gxf5 20.f4 was ηο 31.i.g5 because of 31 ... ~f7), and
Α standard but rather important move. now a mere 31 ... ~f7 repulsed White's
20.CtJb3!? deserved attention, not fearing threats. From the analysis that was given
20 ... f421 ...id2. by Gelfand after the game, it follows that
20 ... cxb4 21.;gxb4 i.c6 22.CtJf3 ~a5 he had underrated the strength of an ίη
23.~bl termediate 29 ... ~c5+! The move 26 ... f4
White begins a combination, longing to looked quite reasonable too: after 27. ~h5?!
keep the eluding initiative. Mter 23. ~d2 1:tf6 there was ηο 28.i.b6 (after 28.i.f2
CtJ8c7 24.1:ω1 i.xd5 25.cxd5 CtJxf4 the play ..ixb1 29.kιxb1 kιh6 Black repelled the at-
becomes equal. tack and kept the material advantage) be-
23 ... CtJ8c7! cause of 28 ... axb6 29.~xe4 ~c5+, Black
Black refuses to take the sacrificed keeping an extra piece. Though it may be
pawn. Mter 23 ... ~xa2 White had the move that after a simple 27.i.f2!? i.xb128. ~xb1
24.fxe5 (Black was ΟΚ after 24.CtJb4 ..ixf3 White would have a sufficient compensa-
25. ~xf3 e4) 24 ... dxe5, and then 25.CtJxe5! tion for an exchange ίη view of a good play
i.xe5 26.i.f2 i.h2+ (ίη the endgame after
οη the white squares.
26 ... i.a4 27.~e2 ~xe2 28.1:!.xe2 White's
27.i.xf4 ~c5+ 28 ..te3 ~xe7 29.~h5
chances were also better) 27.cJtxh2 ~xf2
~f7?
28.J:Ixe6 White had an advantage.
Black must have ventured οη 29 ... f4
24.fxe5
30 ..txf4 (if 30 ...ib6, then after 30 ... i.xb1
White surrenders the centre. Probably
3U:txb1 ~f7 he got an extra exchange),
he had to agree to the line 24.CtJxc7 ~xc7
because then he would have 30 ... exf4!, and
25.c5 dxc5 26.tiJxe5 i.xe5 27.fxe5, because
he had a sufficient compensation for the after 31 ..td3 .td4+ 32.cJth1.te3 he escaped
pawn ίη form of the advantage the bishop all threats and kept the extra material. At
pair and the play οη black squares. the same time, the capture 30 ... 1:txf4 al-
24 ... dxe5 25.CtJe7?! lowed White to develop the strongest at-
This move looks too artificial; it can tack by 31.1:!.xe4! ~c5+ 32.cJth2 l:txe4
hardly be absolutely correct. Οη the other 33 ..td3 ~d4 34.CtJg6+ ι;t>g8 35.CtJe7+ cJtf8 (ίη
haήd, ίη case of a passive 25.i.f2 Black's case of 35 ... cJth8 there was 36.1:tb3!! with
pawns began an advance by 25 ... e4 and he the threat of 37.CtJf5!) 36.~xh7 ~xd3
had an easy play. Ιη Gelfand's ορίηίοη 37.tiJg6+ Φe8 (there was ηο 37 ... Wf7 be-
White had to agree οη the repetition ofthe cause of38.tiJxe5+ ~xe5 39. ~xd3) 38. ~xg7
position with the help of 25 ..td2!? ~b6 30. ~xf7 .!:txf7
26 ..te3. The position is approximately equal.
25 ....te4 26.CtJh4 White's chances are probably some better
White has to continue playing ίη the owing to his passt~d c-pawn and the con-
trol oνer the open d-file. 51.J:th6+ 'it>e752.!!xh5 tιJxe4 53.~xe5+

31.IIbd1 Jιf6 32.tιJf3IIg8 33.'it>h2 tιJe6 'it>d6 54.~xe4 'it>xc6 55.~xf4
34.~d6 Jιxf3 Two extra pawns should be enough for
Black wants to simplify the position. White to win.
Mter 34 ... ~e7 he had to reckon with 35.c5 55 ... Wd5 56.J::te4 ~b7 57.ι;.t>f2 J::tb2+
to be continued with 35 ... 1:[c8, whereupon 58.~e2 l:!.b8 59.f4 1Ih8 60.'it>g3 1:[g8+
White had an unpleasant 36.Jιc4. 61.~f3 !:!.h8 62.1:te5+ 'it>d6 63.h5 J::tg8
35.gxf3 Jιh4 36.k:[e2 f4 37.Jιf2 64.J:ιa5 1-0
It is better for White Ιο agree to ex-
change the dark-squared bishops, because
after 37 .Jιg1 ~fg7 38.Jιg2 tιJg5 the actiν 153 Β43
ity of black pieces can grow considerably. Ponomariov - ΜΗον
37... Jιxf2 38.k:[xf2 tιJd4 39.lId51Ig5? Round 5 28.07
39 ... .!::!.g3 40.Jιg2 .!::!.e7 41.c5 'it>g7 was
stronger, bringing the king up to the c- 1.e4 c5 2.tιJf3 e6 3.tιJc3 a6 4.d4 cxd4
pawn. 5.tιJxd4 b5 6.Jιd3 ~b6
40.Jιd3 h5 The Swiss grandmaster aνoids the un-
40 ... ~g7 was preferable, because after happy deνelopment which took place ίη the
41.c5 ~f6 42 ..!::!.d6+ 'it>e7 43 ..!::!.a6 ι;.t>d8 Black first round after 6 ... ~b7 7.0-0 ~b6 8 ..ie3
held his ground, though a mere 41.Jιe4 Jιc5 9.tιJce2 tιJf6 10.b4! ίη the game Sνidler
allowed White to keep his adνantage. - ΜίΙον, Biel 2000.
41.h4 ~g3 42.Jιe4 ~e7 43.c5 ι;.t>g7 7.tιJf3 ~c7 8.0-0 tιJc6 9.~e1
44.J::tg2 Α new moνe.ln the game Lanka -
The actiνe black rook should be ex- Smirin, Batumi 1999 there was 9.tιJe2.
changed. 9 ... d6
44 ... .!::!.xg2+ 45.'it>xg2 ~f6 46.k:[d6+ 1:te6 White's pawn cannot be allowed to
Mter 46 ... ~g7 47.c6 1:!:c7 48.J::tg6+ ~π moνe to e5.After 9 ... tιJf6? 10.e5 tιJg4 11 ..if4
49.J::th6 or 46 ... 'it>f7 47 .1:th6 Black was f6 12.Jιg3 fxe5 13.tιJg5 tιJf6 14.Jιxh7 Black
doomed as well. But now it is eνen sim- did not hold out for a long time ίη the game
pler. Nikolenko - ν.L.Ινaηον, Moscow 2000.
10.a4 b4 11.tιJa2 tιJf6 12.~d2 a5 13.c3
bxc3 14.tιJxc3 Jιe7 15.tιJb5 ~b8 16.Jιf4
e5 17.~c1 Jιd7 18.Jιg5 ο-ο 19.Jιc4 tιJb4
20.b3
White has a slight adνantage from the
opening.
20 ....ixb521.axb5
Α strange decision. After a mere
21.Jιxb5 White had a lasting adνantage.
21 ... 1:td8 22.~e2 ~b7 23.Jιd2 l:!.d7
24.Jιxb4?!
47.c6! The moνe 24.tιJg5 Black could haνe re-
Α simple but elegant blow. pulsed with 24 .. .Jιd8, but there was ηο
47... tιJb5 necessity to hurry with the exchange οη
After 47 ... .l':ι.xd6 48.c7 White's pawn b4.There were ways to strengthen the ρο
would haνe passed. sition by 24.h3 with the following tιJf3-h2.
48.1::td81::te7 49.1::th8 .1:!.g7+ 50.Φf1 tιJd6 24 ... axb4 25.h3 Jιd8 26.tιJh2
Biel 225
feld Defence. Many lines haνe been

analysed νery thoroughly until endgames.
We already saw such an analysis ίη the
fourth round when the opponents repeated
one of preνiously played games until the
twenty-second moνe: 11 ... ~a5+ 12.'~d2
CLJc6 13. ~xa5 CLJxa5 14 ..itc7 CLJc6 15.1:tb1 b6
16.0-0 .itb7 17.1:tfc1 1:tac8 18 ..itg3 CLJa5
19.CLJd21:txc1+ 20.J:txc11:tc8 21.1:txc8+ .itxc8
22.CLJe4 .itb7, ΜίΙον - Van Wely, Biel 2000.
12.0-0 Jif5 13:~a4 ~a5 14.~b3 ~b4
26 ...h5! 15.J:tfc1 J:tac8
Black is not going to permit White
27.CLJg4.
27.CLJf3 g6 28.g4
28.J:!:cd1!? is more cautious.
28 ... hxg4 29.hxg4 1:ta3 30.g5 CLJh5
31 ..itd5 ~a7 32.~c8 CLJf4?!
32 ... Φg7!?
33.~e3 ~xe3 34.1:txe3 CLJxd5 35.exd5
~g7 36.J:!:e41:txb3 37.c;t>g2 .itb6
The pawn οη b5 should not be underes-
timated. Ιη case of 37 ... f5 38.gxf6+ ~xf6
39.1:tb8 Φf5 40.1:tc4 1:tb2 41.b6 e4 42.CLJd4+
Φe5 White won with 43.~xd8! 1:txd8 16..itc4
44.CLJc6+ ~xd4 45.CLJxd8 Φχc4 46.b7 There was a draw after 16 ..itb5 .ite6
38.1:tb8 .ita7 39.1:ta8 .itb6 17.'~d3 ~a5 18.a3 .itd5 19.1:tab1 .ita2
Ιη case of 39 ... 1:tb7 Black has to reckon 20.1:ta1 .itd5 21.1:tab1 .ita2 ίη the game
with 40.~c4 and the threat of the second Bareeν - Kasparoν, 8arajeνo 1999.Vadim
white rook's penetration to the 8th rank is ΜίΙον tries to engage his opponent ίη a
νery unpleasant. more complex struggle, but he fails as well
40.1:tb8.ita7 as E.Bareeν did.
If 40 ... .itd8, then after 41.b6 White's 16 •.• ~xb3 17.axb3 a6 18 ..itd5 .itd3
pawn went up to the transformation 19.CLJd21:tfd8 20.Jixc61:txc6 21.1:txc6 bxc6
square νery quickly. 22.1:tc1 .itb5 23.CLJb1
41.1:ta8 .itb6 lh-1f2 The adνantage ofthe bishop pair giνes
Black a fair compensation for the extra
pawn islet. Well, White eνen has to be care-
'154 D80 ful. 80, ίη case of23.CLJe4? he had to reckon
Mίloν - Svidler not just with 23 ... f6 but also with a pos-
Round 6 30.07 sible 23 ... .itxd4! After 24.exd41:txd4 25.1:tel
f5 26 ..ite5 (ίη case of 26.CLJc5 1:txf4 27.1:txe7
1.d4 CLJf6 2.c4 g6 3.CLJc3 d5 4.CLJf3 .itg7 1:td4 White still had to proνe that there was
5 ..itg5 CLJe4 6 ..itf4 CLJxc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.e3 a compensation for the missing pawn)
ο-ο 9.cxd5 cxd4 10.cxd4 ~xd5 11 ..ite2 26 ... 1:txe4 27.1:txe4 fxe4 White had problems
CLJc6 ίη achieνing a draw notwithstanding the
It is not an easy task to inνent some- bishops of opposite colours οη the board.
thing new ίη the beginning of the Gruen- 23 ... f6 24.CLJc3 e5 25.dxe5 fxe5
Black agrees to get another isolated managed to proνe the merits of his posi-
pawn ίη order to make his rook more action ίη the game Κhalifman - Gelfand, Las
tiνe. Ιη general there are merits and short- Vegas (ml3) 1999.
comings which equalize the positions ofthe 15 ....id6
opponents. The pawn should be blocked up. Mter
26 ..ig5 11d3 27.g4 .if8 28 ..if6 .ia3 15 ... b5 Black had to reckon with 16.d6
29.11c2 .id6 30.Wg2 Φf7 31.g5 Φe6 32.Wf3 .ixd6 17 ..ixc5, and ίη case of 15 ... b6 or
Wf5 33.lbe4 We6 34.lbc3 %-% 15 ... '!!!c7 there was 16.f3 to be followed by
g4-g5.
155 Β92 16.'!!!xb7 lbd7 17.'!!!c6 '!!!e7 18.'!!!a4
Gallagher - Van Wely lbb6 19.'!!!a5 ~tb8 20.~d2 '!!!b7 21.c4
Round 6 30.07 White protects the d5-pawn reliably
and coνers the b2-square at the same time,
1.e4 c5 2.lbf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.lbxd4 howeνer the prospects ofhis light-squared
lbf6 5.lbc3 a6 6 ..ie2 e5 7.lbb3 .ie7 8 ..ie3 bishop which has ηο opponent become con-
Ιη this game the Swiss grandmaster siderably worse now.
looks more aggressiνe than ίη the second 21 ... '!!!e7 22.Itc2lbd7 23.1:ιc3
round when he chose the continuation 8.0- White wants to extinguish Black's at-
Ο ο-ο 9.'it>hl.Black got a conνenient play tacking potential with an exchange of the
then after 9 ... b6 10.a4 .ib7 11.f3 lbc6 rook pair.
12 ..ig5 lbb4 13.lbbl h6 14 ..ixf6 iLxf6 23 ....ie5 24.J:.b3
15.lba3 '!!!c7 16.c3 lbc6 17.lbc4 ~ad8
18.lbe3lbe7 and eνentually won Gallagher
- Sνidler, Biel 2000.
8 ... .1ιe6 9.lbd5 lbbd7 10.'!!!d3 .ixd5
11.exd5 0-0 12.g4 lbc5
Ιη case of an immediate 12 ... e4 to be
followed by 13. '!!!d4lbc5 14.h4lbfd7 15.g5
White does not need to care much about
the c5-knight.
13.lbxc5
But now the exchange was necessary
because after 13. '!!!d2 lbfe4 and 14 ... .ig5
Black had a conνenient play. 24 ... '!!!f6!
13 ... dxc5 14.0-0-0 e4 Black does not need to hurry with the
The e5-square serνes as a safety-place exchange; he just reinforces the position
for the dark-squared bishop and knight. of his pieces instead.After 24 ... J:.xb3
Black was not good ίη case of 14 ... .id6 25.axb3 and then 25 ... '!!!f6 (if25 ... J:.b8, then
15.g5 to be followed by 16. '!!!f5. there was a mere 26.Φc2) White took back
15:'!!!b3 the pawn with 26.g5 .ixb2+ 27.'it>c2 '!!!e5
The Swiss grandmaster has his own 28 ..ig4lbf8 29 ..ixc5 '!!!xg5 (after 29 ... .Jrιd4
judgement concerning the problems ofthis 30 ..ixd4 '!!!xd4 31.'!!!d2 White had time to
position. The future World Champion defend eνerything and kept the material
played differently ίη the first additional adνantage) 30.h3 Bf6 31.Rdl and consoli-
game of the 1/8 final of the FIDE World dated his position, his passed d-pawn was
Championship 1999.After 15. '!!!d2 .id6 νery powerful w~th the support of the
16.g5lbd7 17.h4lbe5 18.h5 ktc8 19.~h4 c4 bishop pair.
20.1:txe4 c3 21.bxc3 '!!!a5 22.ΦbΙ White 25.'!!!d2?!
Biel 227
Most probably this was not the best 35 ... ~xb2+ 36.ΦdΙ ~e2+ 37.~cl ~xe3+
opportunity. Playing similarly to the line 38.ΦbΙ ~d3+, White losing a piece.
giνen aboνe with 25.Φc2 .iιxb2 26.g5 ~e5 35 ... J:ιal + 36. Φd2 !ϊa2
27.iιg4lΔf8 28.iιxc5 was less effectiνe here Mter 36 ... ~b4+! 37.Φd3 ~el White's
because of 28 ... .iιd4!, and an immediate tortures would not haνe lasted for so long.
exchange of the bishops was bad as the But now the struggle willlinger.
pawn οη c4 would haνe stayed undefended. 37.ΦdΙ ~xb2 38.~d3 Itxh2 39.J:.f2
The position to appear after 25.1:txb8+ .J::txb8 tιhl+ 40.'ite2 1:ϊbΙ 41:ffla3 1:tb4 42.~a8
26.b3 ~c3 (if26 ... ~d4, then 27.'itc2) 27.g5 .ί:ϊb2+ 43.Φf1 1:ϊχf2+ 44.~xf2
~e5 28. ~xa6 ~al (ίη case of 28 ... ~d4 Ιη case of 44 ..iιxf2 ~d4 45.iιxd4 cxd4
there was 29 ..ί:ί.Ω) 29. ~a3 looked danger- 46. ~c8 Φh6 Black had a winning position
ous but really it was not too bad for White too.
because it allowed him to consolidate his 44 ... .iιd4 45.iιxd4 cxd4 46. ~a3 d3+
position by ΦcΙ-bΙ and then ~a3-cl. 47.c5
25 ... 1:!xb3 26.axb3 a5 27 .g5 ~b6 If 47.Φf3, then there was a νery strong
28.~c2 47 ... ~d4.
An actiνe 28.iιg4? was bad because of 47 ... ~xc5+!
28 ... a4! 29.bxa4 (there was ηο 29.~xd7 With a tactical trick Black reduces the
because of29 ... axb3) 29 ... ~xa4 with Black's game to a simple winning endgame.
winning position. Ιη case of a passiνe 48.~xc5 lΔe4+ 49.~e3 lΔxc5 50.~g4
28.~dl White had to reckon with 28 ... ~d4 h5 51.~dl Φf6 52.ι;t>d4lΔd7 53.Φχd3 Φe5
29.iιf4 (if 29 ...ic2, then 29 ... a4) 29 ... lΔe5, 54. Φe3 lΔb6 55. Φf3 lΔxd5
Black obtaining a good compensation for Two extra pawns should be enough for
the pawn. Black to win. He οηlΥ should be careful not
28 ... g6 29 ...ig4 to allow White to sacrifice his bishop for
Defending this position is not an easy them or block them up οη white squares.
task. After 29.h4 f5 30.h5 .ί:ϊb8 31.~dl 56.~g3 ι;t>f5 57.~h4lΔf4 58.~c2+
White encountered 31 ... a4! anyway. Ιη case of 58.iιf3 Black could haνe be-
29 ... f5 30.gxf6 lΔxί6 31.~e6+ Φg7 gun the adνance of the pawns with
32.f4 exf3 33.J:.f1 58 ... g5+.
58 ... Φί6 59 . .iιdl lΔg2+ 60.~g3 lΔe3
61 ...ia4 lΔί5+ 62.Φh3 g5 63.iιdl Φg6
64 ...ie2 Φh6 65 ...if3 lΔh4 66.iιdl lΔg6
67.Φg3 lΔe5 68.iιe2 g4 69.Φί4 lΔg6+
70.Φg3
Ιη case of 70.Φf5 the solution was
70 ... g3 71.~Ω g2 72.~xg2 lΔh4+
70 ... Φg5 71.~a6 h4+ 72.Φh2 lΔί4
73.iιc8 g3+ 74.ΦhΙ Φί6 75.ΦgΙ Φe5
76.Φf1 Φd4 77.~g4 Φe3 78.ΦgΙ h3 0-1
156 Β07
33 ... a4! Gelfand - Ponomariov
The ineνitable has happened. Black has Round 6 30.07
broken through White's defence οη the
queenside. l.e4
34.bxa4 .ί:ϊχa4 35 ..ί:ϊΧf3 Sometimes Boris Gelfand begins to play
There was ηο 35. ~xa4 because of with the king's pawn, though not regularly.
8till, we can recall his challenger match 16 ..1ιe2 lbxe4 (if 16 ... c3 17. ~d4 ~c5, then
with Predrag Nikolic, played ίη 1991, 17.bxc3 bxc3 18. ~xc5lbxc5 19.e5!) as there
where the Pirc-Robatsch Defence also oc- was 17.lbd5.
curred seνeral times. 16.lbxe5 dxe5 17.lbd5
1 ... d6 2.d4 4:Jf6 3.4:Jc3 g6 4.j"e3 c6 Mter 17 ..1ιg7 J::tg8 18 ..1ιΧf6 .1ιΧf6 19.4:Jd5
5.~d2 b5 6.~d3 4:Jbd7 7.4:Jf3 e5 8.0-0 .1ιΧd5 20.exd5 ~d6 Black could haνe put
.1ιb79.a4 up a persistent defence οη black squares.
An exchange ofthe bishops with 9 ..1ιh6 17... lbxd5 18.exd5 c4
j"xh6 10. ~xh6 ensured Black a good play Now after 18 ... .1ιχd5 19 . .1ιχa6 .1ιχg2
after 10 ... 4:Jg4 11. ~d2 ο-ο 12.h3 4:Jgf6 20 ..1ιb5+ .1ιc6 21. ~d5 ~c8 22.j"g7 Black
13.dxe5 4:Jxe5 14.4:Jxe5 dxe5 15 ..ί:tad1 ~e7 still had considerable problems.
ίη the game Νί Hua - Ponomarioν, Artek
1999.
9 ... a6
Α new moνe.9 ... b4 10.4:Ja2 exd4 11.
j"xd4 c5 12 ..1ιΧf6 ~xf6 13.c3 a5 14.~fe1
.1ιg7 15 ..1ιb5 was seen preνiously ίη the
game Moldoνan - Ghinda, 8tara Zagora
1990 with better chances by White.
ιω:~adl .1ιe7
Α natural 10 ... .1ιg7 would be followed
by 11.dxe5 dxe5 (there was ηο 11 ... 4:Jxe5?
because of 12.4:Jxe5 dxe5 13.axb5 cxb5
14.4:Jxb5!), allowing White to bind up 19.d6!
Black's pieces with 12 ..1ιg5.An attempt to Otherwise after 19 ..1ιe4 0-0-0 Black
get rid ofthe binding with 12 ... h6 (12 ... b4 would haνe managed to withdraw his king
was relatiνely better, though Black still from the centre.
had problems after 13.lbe2 c5 14.lbg3 h6 19 ....ixd6
15 ..1ιΧf6 .1ιΧf6 16.~c4) 13.~xf6 lbxf6 (if Mter 19 ... ~xd6 20.Jιxc4 ~c6 (ίη case
13 ... Jιxf6, then 14.axb5 axb5 15.lbxb5 cxb5 of20 ... ~xd2 21.~xd2 Black would haνe had
16 ..1ιΧb5!, and the same ίη case of 13 ... ~xf6 to play a miserable endgame) 21.f3 ~d8
14.axb5 axb5 15 ..1ιΧb5!) 14.axb5 axb5 en- 22. ~e2 Black had serious difficulties, and
countered a tactical refutation - 15.lbxb5! ίη case of19 ... ~c6 White had 20.~e4! ~xe4
11.Jιh6 21.f3.
There is an alternatiνe: 11.dxe5 dxe5 20 ..1ιχc4 0-0-0 21. ~e2 a5 22.~g7
12.Jιh6. ~he8 23.~f6 ~d7 24 ..ib5 Jιc6 25.c3 bxc3
11 ... exd4 12.lbxd4 b4 13.lbce2 c5 26.bxc3 ~e6 27 ..ig5
14.lbf3 ~c7 80 long the black king had ηο wide
Black did not νenture to take the pawn choice concerning the ways ofhis eνacua
with the moνe 14 ... lbxe4.Mter 15. ~f4lbef6 tion from the da;ιgerοus area. The line
(ίη case of15 ... d5 White won with 16.j"xe4 27.j"a6+! <;.t>b8 (27 ... .ib7 was bad because
dxe4 17.lbe5) 16.~fe1 d5 17.lbg3 ~b8 (if of 28.~b1) 28.j"g5 deserνed attention, en-
17 ... c4, then 18.Jιg7 was extremely un- suring White a considerable positional
pleasant) 18. ~e3 it would be νery hard for adνantage.
Black's pieces to get rid ofthe bindings. 27 •.• .1ιc5 28.~bl f6 29.~c4?
15.lbf4 lbe5 8uddenly giνing an excellent chance to
Again, it was νery νenturesome to take Black. Better was 29 ..ie3!? .1ιχe3 30. ~e3
the sacrifice of the pawn with 15 ... c4 with an initiatiνe.
Biel 229
29... ~d5? to the black king by 45.~e6+ '>t>c7 46.~c5
Black ignores his chance. Mter 29 ... ~xh2 47.~e7+ '>t>b8 48.\t>c6, and the line
5ιχb5! 30. ~xe6 (if 30. ~xb5, then after 48 ... ~b2 49.~f8+ '>t>a7 50.~b4 ~xb4
30 ... fxg5 White had neither the attack nor 51.cxb4 led the game to a pawn ending,
the piece) 30 ... ..tc4!! 31.~g4 (there was ηο which was losing for Black because of
31. ~xc4? because οf31 ... 5ιχf2+, and ίη case 51 ... ~b8 52.b5 h5 53.a5 h4 54.a6 h3 55.b6
of31.~xf6 ~f7 32.~h8+ ~f8 White's queen h2 56.a7+ '>t>a8 57.b7+ '>t>xa7 58.'>t>c7.
was caught) 31 ... fxg5 (ίη case of 31 ... ..txf1 44 ... ~d7 45.~d5+ '>t>c7 46.~e4 ~xh2
there was 32. ~f3) 32.~fd1 h5 33. ~f3 47.~e7+ '>t>c8 48.~xί6 h5 49.~f8+
~xd1 + 34.~xd1 '>t>b8 35. ~f6 '>t>a7 Black If 49.~xg6, th8n after 49 ... h4 the far
could haνe been sure about his future with adνanced h-pawn was a guarantee against
his two bishops, exchanged for the White's any big troubles for Black.
rook. 49 ... ~d7 50.~f7+ ~c8 51.~ί8+ ~d7
30.5ιe3?! 52.~g7+ '>t>c8 53.'>t>d5 ~a2+
White misses again a good deal of his 53 ... h4 looked not bad as well, because
adνantage. Mter 30 ...txc6 ~xc6 31.~b3 ίη case of 54.Kc6 there was 54 ... ~g2+.
~a8 (Black's position also was bad after 54.c4 ~xa4 55.~xg6 ~d7+ 56.~e4
31 ... ..ib6 32.5ιe3 ..ic7 33.c4) 32 ...te3 ..ixe3 ~b7+ 57.'>t>f4 ~c7+ 58.'>t>f3 ~xc4 59.~xh5
33.fxe3 ~c7 (if33 ... ~ed6, then the solution ~f1+ 60.~g3 ~d7 61.~f3 ~xf3+ 62.'>t>xf3
was 34.e4, and ίη case of 33 ... ~dd6 there ~e7 63.'>t>g4 ~e6lj2-1f2
was 34.!:ι.fd1 ~b6 35. ~a3, Black's position
becoming νery dangerous) 34.e4 ~dd6
35.'>t>h1 White had an imposing adνantage. 157 D20
30.....ixe3 31.fxe3 ~dd6 32.~fd1 Van Wely - Ponomariov
After 32 . ..ta6+ ~d8 33.~fd1 ~xd1 + Round 7 31.07
34.~xd1 + 1::rd6 35. ~g8+ ..te8 Black held out
as well as ίη case of32.~b2 ..ixb5 33. ~xc7+ 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 c5 4.d5 ιίJί6
'>t>xc7 34.~xb5 l:!.d3. 5.ιίJc3 b5 6 ...if4
32 ... 5ιχb5 33.~xb5 ~xd1+ 34.~xd1 The moνe 6 ...tf4 began to draw atten-
~d6 tion after it had been found out that White
34 ... Mc6 was dangerous because of had nothing ίη the line 6.e5 b4 7.exf6 bxc3
35.~d5. 8.bxc3 ιίJd7!
35.nxd6 6 .....ta6
Α forced moνe. After 35.~b1 ~xc3 Looks not too elegant, still this is the
36.~b7+~d837.~xh7~xe3+38.~h1 ~b3! best Black's answer at present. Ιη case of
Black's king escaped White's mating 6 ... b4 there is an unpleasant 7.ιίJb5, after
threats. 6 ... a6 White gains an adνantage by 7.e5
35 ... ~xd6 36. ~xa5 b4 8.exf6 bxc3 9.bxc3, and ίη case of6 ... ~a5
White wins a pawn, proceeding to a that used to be popular, Black has to reckon
queen endgame, still this is obνiously too with 7.f3, creating a threat of a2-a4.
little if we consider the huge positional 7.e5
adνantage that he has had. Maybe White can expect to receiνe more
36 ... ~d1+ 37.'>t>f2 ~d2+ 38.~f3 e4+ after 7.f3 that was played later ίη the game
39.\t>xe4 ~xg2+ 40.~d3 ~f1+ 41.~d4 ~f2 Rogozenko - Lesiege, Istanbu12000.
42.~c5+ ~d7 43.~d5+ '>t>c7 44.~c5+ 7 ...b4
Mter 44. ~f7+ Black maintained the Ιη case of 7 ... llJfd7 after 8.e6 ιίJb6 (if
equality with 44 ... \t>d6!, whereas 44 ... \t>c6?! 8 ... ιίJf6, then 9.5ιχc4) 9.exf7+ \t>xf7 10.~f3
allowed White to arrange serious threats ~e8 11.0-0-0 Black got into big troubles
for the extra pawn. 22.lΞJg5+ 'it>g6 23.lΞJxe6

8:~a4+
Black is ready to exchange the knights
by 8.exf6 bxc3 9.bxc3.In the garne Κha
lifrnan - Ponornariov, Neurn 2000 after
9 ... gxf6 10.1::tb1 1ιg7 11. 'f;'[g4 Black by
rneans of 11 ... 'f;'[xd5! 12.1ιe2 'f;'[e4 13.~xb8+
~xb8 14.1ιΧb8 'f;'[b1 + 15.1ιd1 ο-ο got the
strongest initiative for the sacήficed piece.
Mter 8.e6 fxe6 9.'f;'[a4+ 'f;'[d710.dxe6 'f;'[xa4
11.lΞJxa4 1ιb5 12.lΞJxc5 lΞJc6 13.Ϊ!.c1 lΞJd5
14.1ιχc41ιχc4 15.1:t:xc4 Black encountered
insoluble problerns ίη the garne 8akaev -
I.Ibragirnov, Moscow 1999, still there was 23 ... ~he8?!
also 8 ... 'f;'[a5!? which after 9.'f;'[a4+ 'f;'[xa4 It seerns that Black has put just the
10.lΞJxa4lΞJxd51ed to the sarne position like wrong rook οη e8.Mter 23 ... 1::tae8! 24.Ϊ!.e3
ίη the considered garne.
lΞJg4 25.lΞJf4+ (there was neither 25.J:ιe4?
8 .•. 'f;'[d7 9.e6 'f;'[xa4 10.lΞJxa4lΞJxd5 because of 25 ... 'it>f5 nor 25.lΞJc7? because
Mter 10 ... c3 11.Iϊd1 Black was not able of25 ... lΞJxe3 26.lΞJxe8lΞJf5 with Black's win,
to elirninate the white e6-pawn, so he and ίη case of 25.J::!.e2 there was 25 ... c3)
would have to play with a whole arrny of 25 ... rJ;;f7 or 25 ... 'it>f5 White still has serious
paralysed pieces. problerns. But now the worst has passed.
11.exf7+ 'it>xf7 12.lΞJxc5 ..Itb5 24.Ϊ!.e3 lΞJg4 25.lΞJc7
Black keeps the extra pawn. Ιη case of White would be deprived of this re-
12 ... lΞJxf4 13.lΞJxa6lΞJxa6 14.1ιχc4+ e6 15.g3 source ifthe other black rook was οη e8.
he had to give it back. 25 ... lΞJxe3 26.fxe3 M.xe3+ 27.'it>f2 'uae8
13.1ιg3 e6 14.lΞJe4lΞJd7 15.lΞJf3 1ιe7 28.lΞJxe8 'uxe8 29.1ιe2
It is obvious that Black has got an ad- It is evident that the advantage of two
vantage frorn the opening. Nevertheless, bishops cornpensates the rnissing pawn to
White still has sorne counterchances. 80, White nearly sufficiently.
ίη case of 15 ... h6, not allowing White to 29 ... lΞJb6 30.1ιdΙ lΞJd5 31.1ιc2+ 'it>f7
get the advantage ofthe bishop pair, White 32.:l.dl
got back the pawn, sacήficed οη the sec- There was ηο 32.1ιΧh7? because of
ond rnove: 16.~c1 ~c8 17.lΞJed2lΞJ5b6 18.b3 32 ... g6, trapping the white bishop.
Hoang Thahn Trang - Varga, Budapest 32... lΞJe3 33.kld2
2000. Van Wely is not afraid of an exchange
16.lΞJfg5+ 1ιχg5 17.lΞJxg5+ rJ;;e718.lΞJe4 of the black knight for White's light-
a6 19.1ιd6+ 'it>f7 20.a4 squared bishop, because the opposite-
NowifWhite tήed to win back the pawn coloured bishops rnake a draw the rnost
with 20.lΞJg5+ 'it>g6 21.lΞJxe6, then after probable result of the garne ίη this case.
21 ... J:ιhe8 22.0-0-0 J:ιxe6 23.J::!.xd5 lΞJb6 33 ••• 1ιc6 34•..Itc5
24.J::!.d4 (ίη case of 24.J:ιdl there was Again, there was ηο 34.1ιΧh7? because
24 ... 1ιa4) 24 ... ~e1 + 25.'it>c2 b3+ 26.'it>c3 of 34 ... g6 35.1ιc5 (35 ... 'it>g7 was threaten-
lΞJa4+ he would suffer a dangerous attack. ing) 35 ... lΞJg4+ 36.'it>g3 (ίη case of 36.'it>f1
20 ... bxa3 21.~xa3lΞJ5f6 there was a strong 36 ... 1ιb5!) 36 ... lΞJf6
Ιn case of21 ... ~hc8 Black had to reckon 37.~f2 'it>e6! 38.1ιχg6 ~g8, and the bishop
with the rnove 22.1ιg3, involving an un- could not have been saved.
pleasant threat of 23.lΞJd6. 34 ... lΞJg4+ 35.'it>g3 lΞJf6 36.1ιd4 h6
Biel 231
37.h3 iιe4?! ing bishop's checks from dl and c2, which

Black could haνe kept a certain adνan works successfully for instance in case of
tage by 37 ... .ί:d8 though White's resources 42 ... .ί:e6 with 43.i.dl+ <tog6 44.iιc2+.An
might suffice νery well to hold this posi- attempt to preνent him from doing this by
tion. 42 ... ~el (there is neither 42 ... iιe4? because
of 43.;g:e2 nor 43 ... g5? because of 44.J::rf6)
allows White to win a piece with 43.1:I.f5+!
g5 44.ΙΗ6 .te8 (if 44 ... gxh4+, then 45.<tof2
.ί:c146.1ιg6+, and in case of 44 ... .i.e4 there
is 45. ~f2) 45.hxg5 hxg5 46. Φf21::rc14 7 .g4+!
<toxg4 (ηο 47 ... <toh4? because of 48.iιf5, and
Black can escape a mate at a νery dear
cost οηlΥ) 48 ..i.f5+ <tof4 (if 48 ... ~h4, then
49.;g:h6+ ..th5 50 ...tg6) 49 ...tc8+ <toe5 50.
':e6+, and though an extra piece is not
enough to win this position, still White can
put many problems before his opponent.
38.iιxf6! 42 ... Iϊe6 43.1ιf5 .ί:tf6 44 ..i.c2 g5
The adνantage of the bishop pair con- There seems to be ηο other way to free
sists chiefly in the opportunity to get rid the king from the imΡήsοηmeηt.
of them at the proper moment. Now it is 45.hxg5 hxg5
just such a moment for White, whereas If 45 ... <toxg5, then the pawn would haνe
after 38.iιa4 ~d8 he still eΧΡeήeηced some been got back with 46.~d4.
difficulties. 46.~d4 1ιb5 47.J::rd8 <toh6
38 ...<toxf6 4 7 ... ~b6 was not better because of
Of course Black does not want to split 48 ..6!.h8+ ':h6 49.1::rg8.
his pawns with 38 ... gxf6, turning his pawn 48.;g:h8+ <tog7 49.I:th5 ':f1 50.~xg5+
chain into miserable remnants. Howeνer, <tof6 51 ..ί:h5 <toe6 52.1ιe4 <tod6 53 ..ί:d5+
Black had a symbolic adνantage in this ~c7 54.<tog4?!
case, whereas after the moνe in the game Haνing solνed successfully defending
he lost it absolutely. 80, after 38 ... gxf6 problems in this hard position, White
39 ...txe4 .ί:χe4 40.<tof3 ~e5 41.J::i:c2 .ί:b5 (in makes a blunder at the end. Mter a mere
case of 41 ... .ί:c5 Black had to reckon both 54.1:id2 he would be none the worse, but
with 42. <toe4 to be followed by <tod4, and now he has to play without a pawn again.
with an eνen tougher continuation 42.b4!? 54 ....ί:f2 55 ..ί:dΙ .ί:χb2 56. <tof4 1ιc6
.6!.c7 43.<toe4) 42.':xc4 1:ixb2, White could It is White's luck that there is already
keep the equality notwithstanding Black's too little material οη the board to punish
extra pawn. The simplest way to achieνe him for his negligence. If Black began to
this was 43.Iϊa4! ~b6 44.g4 to be followed adνance his a-Ρεwη 56 ... a5, then after
by J::!.a5, making the black king watch the 57.g4 a4 58.g5 a3 59.g6 White would es-
pawns [6 and h6. cape problems owing to his passed g-pawn,
39.1::rf2+ <tog5 40.h4+ <toh5 which stayed out ofreach ofBlack's pieces.
Νο other way. Ιη case of 40 ... <tog6? White 57.ItcΙ.ί:b4
won after 41.k:!.e2 <tof5 42 ..ί:χe4 kixe4 43.<tof3. Mter 57 ... 1ιχe4 58.<toxe4 Black would
41.~e2 ..tc6 42.1Μ2 haνe lost soon the c4-pawn.
Enough for a draw, but 42.J::rf2!? de- 58.<toe5 a5 59.g4 a4 60.g5 .ί:b5+ 61.<tod4
serνed attention as well. The point is that 1ιχe4 62.<toxe4 .ί:χg5 63 . .ί:χc4+ Φb6
White wants to launch a procedure inνolν- 64.~d3 <tob5 65.ktc8 ~b4lh-1fz
158 Β90 prevent the black knight from this ma-

Svidler - Gallagher noeuvre.
Round 7 31.07 21 ... ι;t>h8 22.f4 'lffa6?!
The idea of Black's opponent should
l.e4 c5 2.tLJf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.tLJxd4 have been tested thoroughly by means of
tLJf6 5.tLJc3 a6 6 ..iιe3 22 ... tLJg4 23.fxe5 tLJxe5 24 ..iιd4 .iιf6 25. ~e3
White chooses the most aggressive con- a4 26.ι;t>b1 (ίη case of 26.tLJe4 there was a
tinuation against the Ν ajdorfVariation ίη very strong 26 ... b3) 26 ... ~a5, Black could
the 8icilian Defence. have put a considerable pressure upon the
6 ... e5 7.tLJb3 .iιe6 8.f3 tLJbd7 9.g4 b5 pawn d5, all the more that White's rook
10.g5 b4 11.tLJd5 had left the d-file. 80, Black was ΟΚ after
The line with 11.tLJe2 tLJh5 12. ~d2 is 27.tLJe4 ~xd5 28.tLJxd6Iιxd6 29 ..iιxe5 ~e8
more popular, but 8vidler evidently has his 30 ..J::tf1 ι;t>g8.Mter the move ίη the game
own considerations concerning this prob- Black's major pieces will be engaged ίη the
lem. play, but the light ones will have nothing
11 ... tLJxd5 12.exd5 .iιf5 13 ..iιd3 .iιxd3 to do.
14.~xd3 .iιe7 15.h4 23.tLJc4 ~fc8
Mter 15.z:tg1 ο-ο 16.0-0-0 a5 17.tLJd2 If 23 ... exf4, then apart from a dull
f5 18.gxf6 tLJxf6 19.'it>b1 tLJh5 20.z:tg4 ~d7 24 ..iιxf4 z:tfc8 25.b3 White could have cho-
21 ..J::tc4 ~f5 Black equalized easily ίη the sen a more definite 24 ..iιd4! z:tac8 25.b3
game Leko - Kasparov, Linares 1999. with excellent attacking opportunities.
15 ... 0-016.0-0-0 a517.tLJd2 f5 18.gxf6 24.b3 a4
tLJxf6 19.h5 ~c8 20.h6 g6 Ιn case of24 ... exf4 Black had ηο chances
to survive after 25 ..iιd4 a4 26.z:txg6 hxg6
27.~xg6 z:tg8 28.~Π z:tae8 29.z:te1.
25.fxe5 dxe5 26.d6!
White's achievements ίη the centre of
the board outweigh his concessions to
Black οη the queenside.
26... axb3 27.axb3 z:td8
If 27 ... ..\td8, then after 28.z:tn tLJd7
29.~d2 the advantage of white pieces ίn
the centre of the board will be significant.
28 ..iιg5 tLJg8
Ιη case of 28 ... z:td7 29.~f3 ~al+ (if
21.z:tdgl!? 29 ... z:tf8, then 30.~b2) 30.~d2 ~d4+
Α reinforcement. Ιη the game 8hirov - 31.~e2 White's kingwas relatively safe ίη
8vidler, Wijk aan Zee 1999, 2U::thg1 ι;t>h8 the centre, unlike Black's light pieces
was played, whereupon White managed to which were just hanged.
keep a slight advantage with the help of 29. ~e3 .iιxg5 30.z:txg5 z:txd6 31.tLJxd6
22.f4 tLJg4 23.fxe5 tLJxe5 24 . .iιd4 .iιf6 'lffxd6 32.~bl?!
25. ~e3 ~c7 26.tLJe4 z:tac8 27 .z:tg2.Mter that White's extra exchange will tell if he
game P.8vidler told that Black could have manages to secure the position ofhis king,
got a convenient play by 21 ... tLJh5! Really, but White makes not the best move to
the sacrifice 22.z:txg6+ hxg6 23. ~xg6+ ~h8 achieve this.32.z:te1!? deserved attention,
gives White nothing and after 22.z:tg4 ~f5 putting more pressure upon the e5-pawn.
Black has a convenient play.80, White puts After 32 ... e4 (if 32 ... z:ta1+ 33.~b2 z:txe1
namely the queen's rook οη g1 ίη order to 34.~xe1 ~d4+ 35.~b1 e4, then White also
Biel 233
won after 36.ab5) 33.'~xe4 ~a1+ 34.'~b2 17 ... ..Itxf4 (stronger was 17 ... iιxc3 18.bxc3
~f6+ 35.~e5 White would achieνe gradu- ..Itd7 19.1ιe5 ~fe8 with an equalization like
ally his extra exchange both ίη case of ίη the game Huzman - S.Iνanoν, Israel
35 ... ~a5 36. ~d4 and after 35 ... .ι:Ixe1 1998) 18 ..ι:Ixf4 iιe6 19.iιxe6 fxe6 20.J:lb4
36.~xe1 tΔxh6 37.<t>b1. White got an adνantage ίη the game
32 ... aa5 33.~c1? Gelfand - P.Nikolic, Tilburg 1990.
33.~e1!? was better, though ίη this case 14 ... ~xd4 15.lIxd4 iιc5 16.1:ί.d1 ο-ο
White had not more than a draw after 17.iιf4
34 ... ~a6 34.<t>c1 ~d5 35.Φb1. Α more tensed situation could arise af-
33 ... ~f6? ter 17.1ιg5, which was seen many times,
Besides an opportunity to take a pawn but eνen then Black would haνe ηο rea-
with the moνe 33 ... tΔxh6 as there was ηο sons to trouble.
34.~xh6? because of 34 ... ~a6!, Black had 17 ... 1ιg4 18..ι:Ie1 ~fe8 19.h3 1;2-1;2
also a νery strong 33 ... tΔf6! with the idea
to get to c3 through d5 or e4.Mter 34.1:ί.d1
(ίη case of 34.~e1 the solution was 34 ... 160 D97
tΔd5) 34 ... tΔe4! 35.~g3 (35.1:ί.Χd6 tΔc3+ Ponomariov - Svidler
36.<t>b2 ~a2#) 35 ... ~f8! Black won the Round 8 1.08
game.
34.~g4 tΔxh6?? 1.d4 tΔf6 2.c4 g6 3.tΔc3 d5 4.tΔf31ιg7
Black has inνented a way to lose ίη one 5. ~b3 dxc4 6. ~xc4 ο-ο 7.e4 a6
moνe. Mter 34 ... ~a6 35. ~b2 ~d6 he could Once again P.Sνidler proνes his fidel-
still haνe struggled quite successfully. ity to the Hungarian Variation that is one
35.~xh61-0 of the keenest ways of struggling against
Probably he had reckoned οη 35.Sxh6?? White's mighty pawn centre ίη a popular
~a6, but eνidently he failed ίη his calcu- line of the Gruenfeld Defence.
lations. 8.e5 b5 9.~b3 tΔfd7 10.e6
The line with 10 ...Ite3 c5 1l.e6, which
used to be popular ίη the past, is not played
159 D27 now because of 1l ... cxd4!.
ΜίΙοv- Gelfand 10 ... fxe6 11.iιe3 tΔf6
Round 7 31.07 Black wants to haνe the knight closer
to the king. Ιη case of 1l ... tΔb6 he took a
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.tΔf3 tΔf6 4.tΔc3 dxc4 chance to suffer a dangerous attack after
5.e3 12.h4 tΔc6 13.h5 like it happened ίη the
Such play cannot promise White any- game Kasparoν - Sνidler, Wijk aan Zee
thing. 1999.
5 ... a6 6.a4 c5 7.1ιχc4 tΔc6 8.0-0 iιe7 12.a4
9.~e2 cxd4 10.~d1 e5 Since Black's knight went to the right,
The game is reduced to a well known White strikes a blow οη the left. Later ίη
position of the Queen's Gambit Accepted the game Iνanchuk - Shiroν, Polanica
ίη which the white knight was put οη c3 Zdroj 2000 there was 12.1ιe2.
too early. 12 ...bxa4 13.Mxa4 tΔd5
11.exd4 exd4 12.tΔxd4 tΔxd4 13.~e5 Mter 13 ... tΔc6 14.1ιc4 ab8 White got a
~d614.~xd4 slightly better endgame with the help of
Boris Gelfand preferred once 14.~xd6 15.iιxe6+ <t>h8 16. ~c4 iιxe6 17. ~xe6 ~d6
1ιχd6 15.MXd4 1ιe5 16.Mh4 ο-ο 17.1ιf4 ίη 18.tΔg5 Mxb2 19.0-0 tΔd8 20. ~h3 ~d7
this position, and after an inaccurate 21.~xd7 tΔxd7 22.Mxa6 ίη the game
Karpov - Svidler, Dos Hermanas 1999. 18.dxc5ct:Jxe3+, but the line 17. ~c2!? ct:J7b6
14.Sιc4 18.~xg6 1::ϊ.f6 19.1~c2 ct:Jxa4 20.ct:Jxa4 de-
The withdrawal ofBlack's knight from serves attention (Ponomariov).
the kingside could have been used by 17 ... exd5
means of 14.h4 ~d6 15.h5.Mter 15 ... Sιd7 Ιη case of 17 .Sιxd5+? cxd5 18. ~xd5+
16.hxg6 Jιxa4 17.gxh7+ cJ;>h8 18. ~xa4 White encountered 18 ... e6 19. ~xa8 ct:Jb6
ct:Jxe3 19.ct:Jh4 e5 20.fxe3 White gained a 20. ~c6 Jιd7 and lost a piece.
powerful initiative for the sacrificed ex- 18.Sιd3 ct:Jb6 19.1:Ib4 ct:Jc4!
change ίη the game Kozul - Ruck, Pula ΒΥ means of the series of energetic
1999. moves Black keeps the balance. Ιη case of
14... c6 a norma119 ... 1:tb8 Black has to pass οη to
the defence, for example: 20.ct:Je5 l:tf6
21. ~c3 a5 22.l:tb3 a4 23.1'1b4 ~d6 24.0-0±
20.~xc4
The balance would have been main-
tained also after 20.Sιxg6 ~d6 21.Sιd3 (ίη
case of21.Sιc2 there was a strong 21 ... i.h3)
21 ... Sιh3 (21 ... ct:Jxe3 22.fxe3 e5 was not
dangerous for White because of a simple
23.0-0) 22.0-0 ~x~ 23.gxf3 i.xf1 24.i.xf1
~g6+ 25.Wh1 ~f5.
20 ... a5!
15.ct:Jg5 20 ... dxc4 21. ~xc4+ ~d5 22.ct:Je5± Ροηο-
Α new way of struggling against the manov.
continuation 12 ... Nd5 which became popu- 21.1:tb6
lar after Black had solved έιΗ his problems Ponomariov's recommendation 21.J:tb5
successfully ίη the game Piket - Shirov, (with threats of 22.~d5! and 22.Sιd5)
Monte Carlo 1999 ίη the line with 15.h4 hardly deserves attention owing to 21 ... a4!
after 15 ... ct:Jd7 16.h5 ct:J7b6 17.hxg6 hxg6 (21 ... ~e6 22.1:tc5 dxc4 23. ~c2oo Ροηο
18.Jιd3ct:Jxa4 19.~xa4 ~d6 20.Sιxg6l:txf3 mariov). If now White withdraws the
21.ct:Jxd5 exd5 22.Jιh7+ wf8 23.gxf3 1:tb8. queen by 22.~a2, then Black has a check
White tried to gain an advantage also with from the a5-square: 22 ... cxb5 23.~xd5+
15.:Ιa3, for instance ίη the recent game 'tt>h7 24.Sιxa8 ~a5+ 25.ct:Jd2 ~xa8+, and
Beliavsky - Ruck, Hungary 2000 where a after 22.~xd5+ cxd5 23. ~xd5+ ~xd5
keen position occurred after 15 ... ct:Jd7 24.~xd5 J:tb8 Black gets an initiative.
16.ct:Jxd5 cxd5 17.Sιxd5 ct:Jc5 18.dxc5 exd5 21 ... dxc4 22.~xc4+ Wh7 23.~xc6
19.0-0 Sιg4 20.ct:Jd4 l:tc8 21.1:txa6 Sιxd4 Ιη case of 23. ~xc6 White had to reckon
22.Sιxd4 jιe2 23.1:te6 Sιxf1 24.Wxf1 with 23 ... Sιf5 as there was ηο 24.0-0? be-
15 ... h6 16.ct:Jf3 cause of 24 ... ~f6.
Mter 16.ct:Jxe6 Sιxe617.~b7 White had 23 •.. Sιb7 24.~c7 24 ... Sιxf3 25.gxf3 ~b8
to reckon with 17 ... ~d7! (there was ηο White's extra pawn has a temporary
17 ... ct:Jd7? because of 18.~xc6) 18.~xa8 effect because his whole pawn chain is ίη
ct:Jb6 19.Jιxe6+ ~xe6 20. ~a7 ct:Jxa4 21. valid.
ct:Jxa4 ~a2 which gave an advantage to 26.0-0 I!xb2 27.~c5:Ιf7 28.r!al
Black. 28. ~xa5? e5!+ Ponomariov.
16... ct:Jd7 17.ct:Jxd5 28 ...1:tb5 29. ~xb5 'fixc7 30. ~xa5 ~xa5
17 .~d3 is bad because of 17 ... ct:Jc5! 31.1::ιχa5 ~xf3 32.Φg2 1f2J/2
Biel 235
161 Α30 18.b4, Black had serious difficulties after

Gelfand - Van Wely 18 ... lΔe4 19.1Δb5! l:txc1 20.l::txc1 a5 21.1:':tc4!
Round 8 1.08 Lisitsin - Leνenfish, USSR 1948 or after
18 ... lΔa4 19.1Δb5! 1:':txc1 20.1:txc1 a5 21.a3!
ι.cijf3 lΔf6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4 ..i.g2 .i.b7 Smysloν - Benko, Monte Carlo 1968.
5.0-0 g6 6.b3 18.e3
White responds the Double Fianchetto White lets his opponent go readily. Μ
System of the English Opening with a ter 18.lΔb5!? the game would be reduced
rather quiet continuation, aνoiding the to the aboνe mentioned game Andersson
fashionable line 6.CLJc3 iιg7 7.d4 cxd4 - D.Maroνic, Banja Luka 1976.
8.~xd4. 18 ... a6 19.~f11h_l/2
6 ... iιg7 7.iιb2 ο-ο 8.CLJc3 d5 19.a4lΔe4 20.lΔc6 occurred preνiously,
Black opens up the position, using whereupon the opponents agreed to a draw
White's sluggish play.8 ... lΔa6! is known to as well, Tal- Saνon, Moscow 1973.
be the most reliable continuation ίη this
position, howeνer the moνe ίη the game is
not bad at all. 162 Β43
9.CLJxd5lΔxd5 10.i.xg7 ~xg711.cxd5 Gallagher - Mίlov
~xd5 Round 8 1.08
After 11 ... iιxd5 12.d4 CLJd7 13.dxc5
CLJxc5 14.~d4+ [6 15 ..ί:ιfd1 i.xf3 16.~e3 or 1.e4 c5 2.lΔf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.lΔxd4 a6
15 ... i.b7 16. ~e3 Black encountered some 5.lΔc3b5 6 ..i.d3 .i.c5 7 ..i.e3 ~b6
problems.
12.d4 cxd4 13.~xd4+ ~xd4 14.CLJxd4
~xg2 15.~xg2
Α well-known position; which often oc-
curred ίn the seνenties.The Swedish
grandmaster Ulf Andersson used to play
it especially good.
15... .:::tc8
15 ... CLJd7, 15 ... a6 and 15 ... CLJa6 haνe oc-
curred ίη this position too. The last one is
considered to be not νery good because of
16 ..ί:ιfd1 .:::tfc8 17 ..:::tac1 <;t>f6 18.CLJb5! CLJc5
8.~g4!
19.b4 which was seen ίη the game Smysloν
Α νery interesting noνelty.8 ..ie2 is
- Castro, Bie11976.As for the first two, Ulf
Andersson had endgame masterpieces ίη played usually. So, 8 ... lΔc6 9.lΔxc6 iιxe3
each of them. His νictories after 15 ... CLJd7 10.fxe3 dxc6 11.~d4 ~xd4 12.exd4 e5
16 ..!:Hd1 CLJf6 17.lΔb5! .:::tfc8 18.~ac1 .:::txc1 13.d5 .ib7 occurred recently ίn the game
19 ..:::txc1 a6 20.CLJd4 .:::td8 21.e3 CLJd5 22 ..:::tc6 between two participants of the present
~d6 23.~xd6 exd6 24.<;t>f1, Andersson - tournament Sνidler - ΜίΙον, Frankfurt
D.Maroνic, Banja Luka 1976 and after 2000.
15 ... a6 16 ..:::tac1 ~a7 17 ..:::tc2 .:::td8 18.e3 e5 8 ....ixd4 9.e5 ~xe3
19.1Δf3 [6 20.g4 ~d6 21 ..:::tfc1lΔd7 22 ..:::tc6, It was possible to struggle for a balance
Andersson - Robatsch, Munich 1979 can also by means of 9 ... lΔc6!? 10.~xg7 iιxe5
be called classical. 11.~xe5lΔxe5 12 ..ixb6 .ib7.
16 ..:::tac1lΔd7 17 ..:::tfd1lΔf6 10.~xg7 iιxf2+ 11.~f1 .ih4 12.g3
The moνe 17 ... lΔc5 can be met with iιb7?!
12 .. .'~e3!? was interesting too. After 22. ~g4 (there is ηο 22.'it>xd4 because of
13. ~xh8 (ίη case of 13.i-e4 Black had a 22 ... ~d5+) 22 ... h5! 23. ~xh5 cuf5 24. ~f3 (if
draw with a perpetual check after 13 ... d5! 24.CUf6, then 24 ... J::th8!) 24 ... ~d5+ 25.'ίt>e2
14. ~xh8 dxe4! 15. ~xg8+ Φe7 16. ~xc8 ~xe5.
~xg3 17.hxg3 ~f3+ 18.ΦgΙ ~xg3+) 13 ... 22.~ί4 ~d4+ 23.Φe2 ~c4+?!
~f3+ 14.'ϊ.tgl i-b7 15.~xg8+ 'ϊ.te7 16.iιe4 Black's disregard for pawns is not
~e3+ 17.Φg2 i-xe4+ 18.cuxe4 ~xe4+ comprehensible.23 ... ~xb21ooked good, all
19.Φh3.Τhe position would be still unclear, the more that ίη case of 24.cuf6 there was
whereas the moνe ίη the game giνes an 24 ... J::td8, and Black's chances were obνi
adνantage to White. ously better.
13.~xh8 iιxhl14.~xg8+ 'ϊ.te715.~g4 24.'ϊ.tf3 cud4+ 25.Φg2 ~e2+ 26.CUf2
If 15.gxh4, then by means of 15 ... ~e3 CUc6
16.1:ιeΙ ~f4+ 17.'ϊ.tgl iιb7 18.~g5+ ~xg5 Mter a careless 26 ... CUxc2?! White re-
19.hxg5 cuc6 Black achieνes an equality, coνered his adνantage by 27.ΦgΙ.
because for 20.i-xh7 Black has 20 ... k:!.h8 27. ~xf7 k:!.d8?!
21.~e4 k:!.h5, winning back the missing It seems that 27 ... CUxe5 28.~f4 (of
pawn. course ηο 28.~xh7? because of 28 ... k:!.f8)
15 ... 'ϊ.td8 28 ... d6 with an approximate equality was
An extra pawn that Black could haνe more natural. Still, now it is again White
won by 15 ... i-xg3 16.hxg3 ~c6 would be who has an adνantage.
lost soon, yet White's initiatiνe after 28.~xh7 ~xe5
17.~h4+ Φe8 18.CUe4 would remain. Black rejected the moνe 28 ... CUxe5?!
16.~xh4+ 'ϊ.tc717.'ϊ.te2 because of 29. ~e4, as then he would haνe
17.k:!.el!? deserνed attention. to play an endgame haνing one pawn less.
17... i-g2 18.k:!.dl? 29.c3?!
White's first mistake ίη this game, the White returns easily the adνantage that
most interesting ίη the round. After he hasjust gained. Mter 29.b3!? cub4 30.c4
18.~b4! f6 (18 ... cuc6 was not good for Black he parted with his extra pawn, but instead
because of 19. ~d6+ 'ϊ.tc8 20.iιxh7 cud4+ he would open the position of the black
21.Φd3, and ίη case of 18 ... f5 there were king.
both 19.exf6 and a promising 19.a4! bxa4 29 ... ~e2 30.~d3 ~xb2 31.l:d2 ~a3
20.~xb6+ ΦΧb6 21.k:!.xa4, because a natu- 32.h4 d5 33.cuh3 e5 34.CUg5 Φb6 35.cuf7
ra121 ... CUc6?! led Black into great troubles k:!.d7?
after 22.'it>f2 i-hl 23.l::tal) 19.exf6 (also Another blunder ίη this dramatic game.
19.iιe4 i-xe4 20.~xe4 cuc6 21.exf6 was After 35 ... e4! 36.~e3+ d4 37.~xe4 k:!.d7
possible) 19 ... CUc6 20. ~f4+ e5 21. ~e3 Black 38.CUe5 (ίη case of 38. ~f5 there was
hardly could haνe reckoned οη any suffi- 38 ... ~xc3, and ηο 39.k:!.c2?? because of
cient compensation for the missing pawn. 39 ... k:!.xf7!, and if White played 38.CUg5,
18... cuc6 19.i-e4?! then after 38 ... k:!.e7 39. ~f5 dxc3 Black was
The position after 19. ~xh7 ~c5 was ΟΚ) 38 ... CUxe5 39. ~xe5 ~xc3 40. ~e6+ 'ϊ.ta5
worth playing, as after the moνe ίη the Black kept the material balance.
game White could come across serious dif- 36.CUxe5!
ficulties. Once more, White has an adνantage of
19... iιxe4 20.cuxe4 the pawn.
Ιη case of20.~xe4 there was 20 ... b4. 36 ... CUxe5 37.~d4+ ~c5 38.~xe5 a5
20 ... cud4+ 21.Φd3 cuf5? 39.h5
Black did not use a chance to gι;t an White had a wide choice of promising
adνantage with the help of 21 ... ~c6! continuations here. So, there is an attack
Biel 237
of the black king's position with 39. ~b8+ White forces tlle play. There were rea-
'it>a6 (39 ... ~b7? is bad because of 40. ~d8+ sons for struggling after 49.g4 .ϊ::ι.d6 (49 ...
.i:!.c7 41 ..i:!.xd5) 40. ~a8+ 'it>b6 41.J:Ie2.A rook .ϊ::ι.g8+ was insufficient because of 50.~h6
endgame to appear after 39.~d4 b4 .ϊ::ι.d8 51.g5 with White's win) 50.~a7 ~e5+
40.cxb4 axb4 41.g4 ~xd4 42.!':t.xd4 'it>c5 51 ..ϊ::ι.f5 with White's good winning chances.
43 ..ϊ::ι.d2 ~c4 44.g5 'it>c3 45 ..ϊ::ι.d1 seems to be 49 ... .ϊ::ι.d6 50..ϊ::ι.χd6+ ~xd6 51.~f4+ 'it>c6
winning for him too, owing to the great 52.h6 ~e7+ 53.~f6+ ~xf6+ 54.~xf6 b3
power ofhisjoined passed pawns g and h. 55.h7 b2 56.h8~ bl~ 57"~c8+ ~d6
The move ίη the game is also good. 58.~ίB+ 'it>c6 59.~c8+ ~d6 60 ..~d8+ 'it>c6
39 ... b4 40.cxb4 axb4 41 . .ϊ::ι.d4 ~c2+ 61.~e8+ ~d6 62"~e5+ ~c5
42.'it>h3 ~b143 ..ϊ::ι.f4 'it>a5 44.~d4 Ιη case of62 ... 'it>c6 after 63.g4 ~e4 64.g5
An immediate 44.a3! also was not bad, White's g-pawn began a headlong ad-
with the idea to answer 44 ... bxa3 (if vance.
44 ... ~h1 +, then 45.'it>g4 ~d1 + 46.'it>g5, and 63.~c7+ 'it>d4 64.a5
White's king is ίη perfect security) with The a-pawn moves quickly towards the
45.~d4 ~h1+ 46.'it>g4, whereupon Black eighth rank, creating οη the way a fearful
failed both to defend his own king and to threat of65. ~b6+.Black's passed pawn οη
arrange any counterthreats. the d-file is definitely tardy. ν.Μilοv can
44 ... 'it>b5 hope for an oppcrtunity of a perpetual
check οηlΥ.
64 ... ~a2 65.~b6+ ~e4 66.a6 ~al+
67.~g6 ~a4 68.~f6!
Α good move. After 68.~e6+ 'it>f3 69.
~xd5+ ~xg3 Black still had some draw-
ing chances, and ίη case of 68.a7 ~e8+
69.~g5 ~e5+ 70.~h4 ~h8+ he had a per-
petual check at once.
68 ... ~a3 69.~f7 ~a4 70.a7?
White has hurried with this. After
70. ~c7! which secured the king against a
perpetual check Black would lose the game
45.a3! inevitably. The point was that ίη case of
It appears to be absolutely impossible 70 ... ~xa6 (if70 ... d4, then the solution was
that Black still will save a half-point after 71.~b7+ ~f5 72.a7 ~a2+ 73.~g7, and if
such a blow. 70 ... ~d1, then 71. ~f4+ ~d3 72. ~f5+ 'it>c3
45 ....ϊ::ι.d8 73.a7) White had 71.~f4+ ~d3 72.~f1+,
There was ηο 45 ... bxa3 because of winning Black's q:leen.
46.~a4+ 'it>c5 (46 ... 'it>b6 47.J:tb4+) 47.~xa3+ 70 ... ~d7+ 71.~f6 ~f5+ 72.~e7 ~h7+
'it>b5 48.~a4+ 'it>c5 49.~xd7 ~hl+ 50.~g4 73.~d6 ~h6+ 74.Φc7 ~g7+ 75.'it>c8 ~f8+
~dl+ 51.'it>g5 with White's extra rook. 76.Φb7 ~e7+ 77.~c7 ~b4+ 78.'it>c6 ~c3+
46.a4+? 79.~d7 ~g7+ 80.'it>c8 ~f8+ 81.~d7 ~g7+
What for is this show? It is absolutely 82.'it>c6 ~c3+ 83.~b7 ~b4+ 84.~c8 ~f8+
evident that after 46. ~xb4+ ~xb4 47. 85. ~d8 ~c5+ 86. ~c7 ~ίB+ 87. ~b7 ~b4+
.ϊ::ι.χb4+ ~c5 48.g4 White's joint passed 88.~a8 ~ίB+ 89.~b8 ~c5 90.~f4+ 'it>d3
pawns g and h would get to the eighth rank 91.~f1+ ~d2 92.~f4+ ~d3 93.~f5+ 'it>d2
and gain him a victory. 94. ~d7 d4 95.'it>b8 ~b6+ 96.~c8 ~c5+
46 ... 'it>c6 47.~h4 ~hl+ 48.~g5 ~el 97.~b7 ~b4+ 98.~c6 ~a4+ 99.~d6 ~a6+
49 ..ϊ::ι.f6+ 100.'it>e5 d3101.~c7 Φe2102.~b8 ~a5+
103.~f4 ~a4+ 104.~g5 d2 105.a8~ ~xa8 12..i.xf6 .i.xf6 13.exf5 h5 14.h3 .i.d7
106.~xa8 d1~ 107.~e4+ ~f2 108.g4
~d8+ 109.~f4 ~d2+ 110.~f5 ~d7+
111.~e6 ~d3+ 112.~g5 ~g3 113.~e5+
~h3 114.~h8+ Wg3 115.~b8+ ~h3
116.~f4 ~d8+ 117.Φg6 ~g8+ 118.Φf5
~f7+ 119.~e4 ~c4+ 120.~e5 ~c7+
121.~f5 ~f7+ 122.Wg5 ~g7+ 123.Φf5
~f7+ 124.~e4 ~c4+ 125.~e3 ~c1+
126.~f3 ~f1+ 127.Φe4 ~c4+ 128.~f5
~f7+ 129.~g5 ~g7+ 130.~h5 ~h7+
131.~g5 ~g7+ 1;2-1;2
163 Β81 15.~d3?!
Svidler - Van Wely Α noνelty. It is hard to tell whether this

Round 9 3.08 was a preparation or a result of Sνidler's
meditation at the board. At this moment
1.e4 c5 2.tZJf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.tZJxd4 White spent more than half of the time,
tZJf6 5.CtJc3 a6 6 ..i.e3 e6 7.g4 which was giνen for the first 40 moνes.
Ρ. Sνidler does not aνoid a keen strug- Preνiously this line occurred ίη a game
gle, though a draw ίη this game would be which was already mentioned ίη our com-
most probably enough for him to win the ments of the first round and was drawn
tournament. after 15.~e2 hxg416.hxg4 Mxhl+ 17 ..i.xh1
7 ... e5 8.CtJf5 g6 9 ..ig2 .i.c6 18.0-0-0 .i.xd5 19.iιxd5 iιg5+ Tolnai
Α step aside ίη comparison with the - Gaνrikoν, West :3erlin 1989.It should be
game from the first round Sνidler - noted that White would not part with the
Gelfand, Biel 2000 where the topicalline mighty d5-knight eνen to win the third
9.g5 gf5 10.exf5 d5 11.gxf6 d4 12 ..ic4 ~c7 pawn for a piece, because after 15.tZJxf6+
13. ~d3 occurred. ~xf6 16 ...I1ιxb7 I:I:a7 Black's pieces οη the
9 ... d5 queenside would liνen up.
IfBlack had taken the sacήficed knight 15 ...hxg4 16.0-0-0
at once then the importance ofthe bishop Α νery braνe moνe. White, who is al-
οη g2 would haνe grown considerably af- ready suffering from material deficiency,
ter 9 ... gxf5 10.exf5, allowing White to de- sacrifices a pawn ίη order to complete his
νelop a strong pressure οη Black's position. deνelopment. Probably the position after
10.Jtg5 gxf5 1l.CtJxd5 16.hxg4 Mxh1 + 17 ..ixh1.i.c6 18.0-0-0 did
Black solνed all his problems success- not attract him much.
fully ίη the first round after 11.~xf6 ~xf6 16... gxh317.Mxh3 ~xh318.~xh3 ~c6
12.CtJxd5 ~d6 13.exf5 CtJc614.~e2 h515.0- 19.~h7~f8?
ο-ο hxg4 16.CtJb6 CtJd4 17.Mxd4 ~xd4 Α serious blunder. After 19 ... CtJd7
18.CtJxa8 ~c5 19.CtJc7+ Wffi, Ponomarioν 20. ~g8+ 20.f4 (after 20. ~g8+ CtJffi 21.f4
Gelfand, Bie12000. .i.xd5 22 ..ixd5 ~e7 Black had an extra
11 ... Jte7 piece and a goodposition) 20 ... Mc8 (the
There was also 11 ... ~a5+, and we do not moνe 20 ... CtJffi made Black to reckon with
know whether White would be satisfied 21. ~h6) 21.Me1 tZJf8 Black had eνery
with the repetition of moνes by 12.Jtd2 chance to repulse White's attack and keep
~d8 13.iιg5 or would play something new a material adνantage.
ίη this case. 20.iιe4 .ixd5
Biel 239
Α forced moνe. The threat of 21.z:tg1 is The Israeli grandmaster did not νen
too serious. Ιη case of 20 ... liJd7 the solu- ture to play the line with 6 ... e6 7 .g4 which
tion was 21.liJxf6 ~xf6 22 ..ixc6, and after occurred ίη the fourth round ίη the game
20 ... .ig5+ White won with 21.f4 as there B.Gelfand - P.8νidler.
was ηο 21 ... exf4 because of22.~h8#. 7.liJb3 .ie6 8.f4 exf4 9 . .ixf4 liJc6
21.~xd5 ~d7 10.~d2
It was impossible to play 21 ... .ig7 ow- Α harmless νariation. Black obtains an
ing to 22.~xf7 ~g5+ 23.f4!. equal play easily.
22.iιf3 ~c7?! 10 ... d5 11.exd5
Making Black's problems eνen worse. Mter 11.0-0-0 Black could haνe achie-
After 22 ... ~e7 23.~gl ~e8 (bad was νed an equalization both after 11 ... .ib4 and
23 ... 1ιg5+? 24.~b1 ~f6 because οf25.1ιd5 after 11 ... liJxe4 12.liJxe4 dxe4.
with an awful threat of 26.!Ixg5) 24.IIg8+ 11 ... liJxd5 12.liJxd5 ~xd5 13.~xd5
~d7 25.1ιχb7 ~a7 Black still could haνe .ixd5 14.0-0-0 0-0-0 15.g3
continued to struggle as ίη this case there This position is not new for Gelfand.
was ηο 26.!:txb8 because of 26 ... ~c7. Mter 15 ..ie2 g6 16.~hgl .ie7 17.g3l::the8
23.~gl ~c4 18.~gf1 f5 19 ..if3 the opponents agreed to
Α desperate moνe. After 23 ... Φe7 a draw ίη the game Yudasin - Gelfand, Biel
24.1ιh5 ~d6 (24 ... ~c4 was not good be- 1993.
cause of 25.b3 ~d5 26.c4) 25.~xf7 Black 15... iιd616 ..ih3+ ~c717.~hf1 iιxf4+
encountered great difficulties too, because 18.!:txf4 liJe5
two ofhis pieces οη the queenside, the rook Preνiously 18 ... .ixb3 19.axb3 !:txd1 +
and the knight, were out of play and he 20.'it>xd1 ~d8+ 21.~c1liJe5 was seen ίη this
had ηο opportunity to deνelop them be- position Kloνans - Dνoirys, Budapest
cause ίη case of 25 ... liJc6 White won with 1992, also with a draw.
26 ..tιg6. 19.1Hd4 1ιc6 20.1:Ixd8 ~xd8 21.!:txd8
24 ..ixb7 e4 25. ~g8+ ~e7 26.~xa8 ~xd8 22.liJd4 1ιd5 23.b3 g6 24.~d2 f5
~xa2 27.~xb8 ~al+ 28.~d2 ~xgl 25.c4 1ιe4 26.~c3 ~e7lh-lh
Black lost a pawn ίη a forced play; still
this is not the worst for him. Now it is
White's moνe, and he makes Black part "'165 Ε73
with a piece ίη order to escape a mate. Milov - Ponomariov
29.~b4+ ~d7 30.~b7+ 'it>d8 31.~b6+ Round 9 3.08
~e7
The struggle could be dragged out by l.d4 liJf6 2.c4 g6 3.liJc3 .ig7 4.e4 d6
means of 31 ... ~e8, though ίη this case af- 5 ..ie2 0-0 6.1ιg5
ter 32 ..ixe4! White had to win as well. The Aνerbakh Variation ίη the Κing's
32.~c5+ ~d8 Indian Defence leads often to a νery keen
If 32 ... ~d7, then the solution was play.Not this time, though.
33 ..ic6+ ~c7 34 ..ia4+ ~b8 35.~d6+. 6 ... liJa6 7.liJf3 h6 8 ..ie3liJg4 9.1ιcΙ e5
33.~d6+ 'it>c8 34.~c6+ 1-0 10.0-0 c6
Mter 10 ... ~e8 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.b3 ~e6
164 Β90 13 ..ia3 c5 14.liJd5 liJf6 15. ~c2 b6 16 ..ib2
Gallagher - Gelfand liJd7 17.a3 .ib7 18.b4 White kept some ίηί
Round 9 3.08 tiatiνe ίη the game ΜίΙον - Gallagher, Pula
2000.
l.e4 c5 2.liJf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.liJxd4 11.dxe5
liJf6 5.liJc3 a6 6.1ιe3 e5 Ιη case of 11.h3 Black had to reckon
with 11 ... exd4 12.C2Jxd4 C2Jf6, pressing οη followed by 36 ... fxe5 37.C2Jd3 Φc8 38 ...ITιxc7
the e4-pawn. φχc7 39.C2Jxe5 ..ITιc1 40.a4, maintaining an
11 ... dxe5 equality.
11 ... C2Jxe5 12.C2Jd4 ~b6 13.i.e3 ~xb2 36.Φg2 C2Jxe4 37.C2Jxg6 Φc8 38. ..ITιxc7
14.C2Ja4 ~b4 15.i.d2 ~a3 occurred preνi It is better to part with the adνantage
ously, followed by a draw after the repeti- of two bishops now as after 38 ..ta7 .tc1
tion of moνes Dussol - Apicella, Meudon 39.a4 bxa4 40 ...ITιxa4 Φb7 41 ...ITιb6 C2Jd5 black
1991. knights preνailed οη the board.
12.h3 C2Jf6 13.~xd81:!.xd8 14.J1ιe3 38 ... φχc7 39..txh5
Taking the pawn with 14.Nxe5 made ηο White managed to win a pawn, but he
sense for White because Black would re- will not be able to keep this adνantage
turn it easily after 14 ... C2Jc5 15 ..tf3 1:!.e8, because all his pawns οη the queenside are
haνing deνeloped his pieces νery well at weak.
the same time. 39....tc140...ITιf3 C2Jg5 41.h4 C2Jf'7 42.C2Je7
14 ... C2Je8 15.1:!.fd11:!.xd1+ 16.1:!.xd1 i.e6 C2Je5 43.h5 f5 44.C2Jxf5 ..ITιxa3 45.h6 .txb4
17.a3 C2Jac7 18.C2Jd2 ..ITιf819.C2Ja4 b6 20.b4 46.C2Jd4 ..ITιc3 47.h7 C2Jg6 48.C2Jxc6 b4
1:!.d8 21.c5 b5 22.C2Jb2 f6 23.C2Jb3 1:!.xd1+ 49.C2Ja5 C2Jf8 50 ...ITιe4 C2Je6 51.C2Jb3 a5
24 ...ITιxd1 Φπ 52.J1ιf5 a4 53 ..txe6 axb3 54.Φf3
Α draw was ineνitable after 54 ...ITιxb3
Φc6 too.
54... Φc6 55.Φf4 b2 56 •..ITιa2 lh-1f2
166 C92
Gelfand - Svidler
Round 10 4.08
1.e4 e5 2.C2Jf3 C2Jc6 3 ...ITιb5 a6 4 ..ta4 C2Jf6

5.0-0 ..ITιe7 6.1:!.e1 b5 7 ...ITιb3 d6 8.c3 ο-ο
9.h3 C2Jd7 10.d4 .tf6
25.f4 The opponents play one of the most
The position has got much simpler, still popular νariations of the Ruy Lopez.
White does not want to agree to a draw Black's aim is to hinder the deνelopment
and attempts to open up the play. ofWhite's b1-knight by means ofpressure
25 ... exf4 26 ...ITιxf4 .txb3 upon the central d4-pawn.
Probably Black did not want to let the 11.a4 ..ITιb7 12.lLJa3 exd4
white knight get to the d4-square. Well, Black surrenders the centre, hoping to
he could haνe played 26 .. ...ITιg7 as well with deνelop a strong pressure upon White's
the idea that if 27.C2Jd4, then 27 ... f5. pawns and get an actiνe play οη the
27 ...ITιxb3+ Φe7 28.C2Jd3 ..ITιg7 29.Φf2 a6 queenside. Another line of this νariation
30.Φe3 C2Je6 31 ...ITιb8 h5 is connected with Black's moνe 12 ... C2Jb6.
The position gets more and more tense The Israeli grandmaster encountered this
with eνery moνe. line ίη the semi-final match of the FIDE
32.C2Jf4 ..ITιh6 33.g3 C2J8c7 34...ITιd1 Φd7 World Championship. After 13.axb5 axb5
35. Φf3 C2Jg5+ 14.d5 C2Je7 15 ...ITιe3 c6 16.dxc6 ..ITιxc6 17.C2Jh2
Black prefers to defend actiνely. After C2Jg6 18.C2Jg4 ..ITιe7 19.~d3 C2Ja4 Black man-
35 ... C2Jf8 Black's redoubts were also well aged to equalize ίη the game Gelfand -
coνered as 36.e5 gaνe White nothing to be Karpoν, Sanghi Nagar (m/5) 1995.
Biel 241
13.cxd41:te814.axb5 nxc7 27 ...txc7 ~xc7, and two White's pawn

Usually White tries to gain an adνan plus the rook outweighed Black's two
tage with the moνe 14.~f4 which leads to pieces.) 25 ...td1 ..txb2 26 ...tg4 ~a4 Black
a keen play after 14 ... CLJa5 15.~c2 b4.The still could haνe maintained the equality.
complexity of the position after Black's 23 ....ί1χe824 ...tbι
thirteenth moνe can be illustrated with a Two questions haνe stayed unan-
curious miniature where White lost ίη fiνe swered: - "What should haνe been done
moνes.Mter 14. ~d3? CLJxd4! 15.CLJxd4 CLJc5 by Black after 24 ...txb3 or 24.~d1?".In the
16. ~f3 1:txe4 17.CLJe2 1:te5 18. ~g3 ..th4 first case after 24 ...txb3 CLJxb3 25. ~xb3 .ί1b8
White resigned ίη the game Κr.Georgieν 26.1:ta5 by means of26 ... ..td4 (with the idea .
Papazoν, Dupnica 1998. ..td4-b6 and then ..tb6xf2+ after the white
14 ... axb5 15.~f4 CLJa5 16 . ..tc2 b4 rook retreats) Black got a counterplay as
17.CLJb5 after 27 ...te3 ..txe3 28.fxe3 ~f5 Black's ac-
This actiνe moνe became possible after tiνity was enough to compensate the miss-
the preliminary exchange ofthe a-pawns. ing pawn. Ιη the second case Black's task
17.....tc618.'l;j{d3! was more difficult. Mter 24 ...td1 Black was
Α new moνe. Only 18 ...td3 was seen not good because the line 24 ... 1:te1 + (both
preνiously. 24 ... CLJe6 and 24 ... CLJb7 were bad because
18... CLJf8 of25 ...tg4) 25.Wh2 CLJb7 ίη νiew of26.~b3!
Black's idea is quite simple. He wants presented Black fairly difficult problems.
to win the white knight with 19 ... ~d7. 24 ... CLJb7 25.CLJxc7
Ιη case of25.'l;j{xb3 Black had 25 ... 1:tel+
26.Wh2 ~xb1! 27.1:txb1 ~f5 with a double
attack of the bishop and of the rook.
25 ... ..txb2 26.CLJxe8?!
Now ίη Gelfand's ορίηίοη 26.1:Ia7 giνes
Black the most serious troubles, because
after 26 ... 1:tel+ 27.Wh2 CLJc5 28.~c4 nxb1
29. ~xc5 it is uneasy for him to defend. For
example, if 29 ... kΪa1 then 30.CLJe6!, is νery
strong, and if29 ... ~f5 then 30.~xίB+! wins
immediately.
19.d5! 26 ... ..txal 27. ~xb3 'l;j{xe8 28. ~xb7
Black's plan failed. Black begins an 'l;j{el+ 29.Wh2 'l;j{xf2 30 . ..tg3 'l;j{e3 31.
adνance of his central pawns. ..txh7+ wh8!
19 ... ..td7 20.e5 dxe5 21.CLJxe5 b3 Το capture is not obligatory ίη chess.
22.CLJxd7 Mter 31 ... Wxh7? White had 32.~b1+, and
Of course the pawn cannot be taken. ίη case of 31 ... CLJxh7? there was a strong
After 22 . ..txb3? CLJxb3 23.1:txa8 ~xa8 32.~a8+, White keeps an extra pawn ίη
24.~xb3 (if 24.CLJxc7, then 24 ... ~a5 wins) both cases.
24 ... ..txb5 25. ~xb5 CLJg6 Black is to win. 32 ...tc2
22 ... 'l;j{xd 7 23.1:txe8! The threat of 32 ... ..ta1-d4 is too seri-
Α good response. After 23.CLJxc7 (23. ous to let the bishop stay οη the danger-
..txb3? was totally bad for White because ous h7-square .
of23 ... CLJxb3 24.~xb31:txel+ 25.1:txe11:tb8) 32 ... ..te5!
23 ... 1:txe1+ 24.1:txe1 .ί:i.b8 (24 ... 1:tc8 was Now this is eνidently a draw.
weaker because of25 ...txb3 CLJxb3 26.~xb3 33 ...txe5 1f2-1f2
167 Β43 position then.After 2U::tb3 'f;'fd4 (if 21 ...

Ponornariov - Gallagher 'f;'fe5, then after 22.1:rfb1 1::tc8 23.!:!.b6 the
Round 10 4.08 problems remained as Black's castling
23 ... 0-0? allowed 24.CtJc6, and if21 ... 'f;'fa2,
l.e4 c5 2.tZJf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.tZJxd4 a6 then after 22.~fb1 ο-ο 23. 'f;'fd1 'f;'fa4 24.~a1
5.tZJc3 b5 6.~d3 ~c5 7.tZJb3 'f;'fe8 25.jιh6 Black lost) 22.~fb1 1::tc8
Ιη the eighth round after the well 23.tZJc4 'f;'fc5 (after 23 ... 0-0 24.jιe3 Black's
known 7 .~e3 'f;'fb6 White delivered an im- queen was trapped ίη the very centre of
pressing blow with 8. 'f;'fg4!? ~xd4 9.e5 in the board) 24.~b7 Black still was not able
the game Gallagher - Milov, Biel 2000. to solve his castling problem.
Probably the Swiss grandmaster had some 21.I!.b3 nc8
other preparations too, but Ruslan Ροηο The move 21 ... 0-0 is bad again because
mariov hurries to avoid this line. of 22.1::tb7 'f;'fe8 (if 22 ... 'f;'fd8, then 23.tZJc6)
7 ... ~e7 8.'f;'fg4 g6?! 23.jιh6.
Now Black will surely encounter great 22.tZJc4 jιd8 23.~h6
problems. Ιη the game Tiviakov - Bos- ΒΥ this time it is already obvious that
boom, Hoogeveen 1999 he preferred to play Black's king will spend all his life ίη the
the complicated position after 8 ... tZJf6 centre of the board.
9. 'f;'fxg7 :!.g8 10. 'f;'fh6 tZJc6 and eventually 23 ... d5 24.tZJb6 jιxb6 25.1::txb6
succeeded, having confused his opponent. Besides the problems with the king
9.'f;'fe2 d610.0-0 b411.tZJdl ~b712.a3 Black's position has got worse because of
tZJc6 13.~d2 bxa3 14.1::txa3 'f;'fc8 15.tZJe3 the weak black squares.
tZJf6 16.tZJc4 25 ... 'f;'fa4 26.'f;'ff3 tZJd7 27.b3 dxe4
Black will find ηο time to castle ίη the 28.dxe4 'f;'fa5 29.1::tb7 'f;'fh5
whole game. At this moment the fork is Gallagher attempts to remove the dis-
threatening. turbing white bishop, which has settled
16 •.. 'f;'fc7 17.tZJca5 tZJe5 itself at the rear ofBlack's camp but fails.
This time there was ηο 17 ... 0-0 because 30.'f;'ff4 e5 31.'f;'fd2CtJc5 32.1::ta7 g5
of 18.tZJxb7 'f;'fxb7 19.jιxa6, Black losing a After 32 ... 'f;'fg4 33.~c3 ~e6 34.1::tc1 with
pawn. a crucial binding ση the c-file Black also
18.tZJxb7 tZJxd3 19.cxd3 'f;'fxb7 would not suffer for a long time.
33.'f;'fd61-0
168 D38
Van Wely - ΜΗον
Round 10 4.08
l.d4 tZJf6 2.c4 e6 3.tZJc3 d5 4.tZJf3 jιb4

5.~a4+ tZJc6 6.a3 jιxc3+ 7.bxc3 ο-ο
8.jιg5 h6 9.~h4 g5
Once 9 ... jιd7 was played ίη this posi-
tion very long time ago. Black's move ίη
20.tZJa5! the game looks more fundamental and
Black will not have a respite. stronger.
20 ... 'f;'fd7 10.jιg3 CtJe4 11. 'f;'fc2 h5 12.tZJe5 h4
The pawn could have been taken with 13.tZJxc6 bxc6 14.f3 tZJd6 15.jιxd6 cxd6
20 ... 'f;'fxb2, but it had been hard to hold this 16.e4 'f;'ff6 17.jιd3 dxe4 18.fxe4
Biel 243
Black has a good play also after 18. control. He could haνe created a passed
~xe4 d5 19.iιh7+ c;t>h8 20.cxd5 cxd5 21. pawn at once with 22 ... f6 23.exf6 nxf6+,
ο-ο .ta6. but after 24.ι;t>e3 z:taf8 25.z:thf1 to be fol-
18 ... c5 19.tH2 ~xf2+ 20.~xf2 iιa6 lowed by an exchange of the rooks he
hardly would be able to win the bishop
endgame as the white king would be quite
secure οη e3 and might not fear a zugz-
wang.
23.c;t>e3 J::td7 24.g3 l:tad8
Mter 24 ... hxg3 25.hxg3 .ί:tad8 White had
26.iιe4! (after 26.iιe2 nd2 27.J::th5 z:tc2 he
had problems) 26 ... .txc4 27.1:th5, maintain-
ing the balance.
25.iιe2 Ϊtd2 26.gxh4 gxh4 27.z:thd1
1:txdl 28.z:txdl Uxdl 29..txdl c;t>g7
After 29 ... ~xc4 30.c;t>f4 c;t>g7 3U~,g4
Black's position is eνidently more pleas- White would haνe taken Black's h-pawn
ant but to gain a real profit from his pluses soon.
is not an easy task. 30.Wf4 f6 31.iιe2 c;t>g6 32.c;t>g4 fxe5
21.dxc5 dxc5 22.e5 ~fd8 33.iιd3+ ~f6 34.c;t>xh4 .tb7 35.c;t>g3 iιc6
Black wants to get the d-file under his 36.'i.t>g4 iιa4 37.~f3 1,12-1,12
Montecatini Terme
28.07-6.08, cat.17
4 5 6 8
1 Ivanchuk 2719 = = 1 1 1 5
2 Bareev 2702 Ο 1 1 1 4.5
3 Azmai parashvili 2673 = Ο 1 4
4 8hirov 2746 = 1 = Ο 3.5
5 Rublevsky 2670 = 1 3.5
6 Piket 2649 Ο Ο 1 = 3.5
7 Minasian 2595 Ο Ο 1 Ο
8 Lputian 2598 Ο Ο Ο =
Eight grandmasters played for 7 days without rest at the first super tournament ίη
Montecatini Terme, pompously called the Champions' Tournament by its organizers.
This intense schedule affected the quality of play, first of all, ofthe ELO favourite Alexei
8hirov. 80, ίη the game with Azmaiparashvili (game 169) Alexei blundered a pawn οη
16th move ίη a simple position, then ίη the game with Ivancht::.k (game 170) he should
have lost after his mistake οη 24th move but the game was drawn, and then he lost to
Minosian (game 173). The struggle for first place developed between Ivanchuk and
Bareev. Each ofthem scored 3.5 points after 5 rounds. Ιη round 6 Bareev lost to 8hirov,
and even his victory ίη the final round was insufficient to win when Ivanchuk, after a
quick draw with Rublevsky, defeated Minosian ίη the final round (game 174).
Interview with GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili

ΒΥ Denis Bilunou
Q: How do you estimate your performance?

Α: Ι am quite satisfied. Ι hadn't played for a long time, so when they invited me to
the tournament ίη Montecatini, it was an opportunity to get some training, and also
the 1st European Championship ίη Italy was near. Usually Ι don't play ίη open tourna-
ments, but it was a special case, a good opportunity to practice ίη the same country just
before the event. Third place, and my victory over 8hirov - of course, this is a very good
result.
Montecatini Terme 245
Interview with GM Evgenii Bareev

ΒΥ Denis Bilunov
"Perhaps it's time to wήte a book about chess ... "

Q: It was the first time for almost 10 years that top level chess came to
Italy. How do you estimate this fact from the point of view of a participant?
Α: Of course, the present tournament is an important event ίη some sense, but still
Ι don't think it can be regarded as a super tournament. ΟηΙΥ three players over 2700,
this is not enough. I've heard that, the organisers want to invite stronger players next
year, well, let's see ... Ιη any case, Montecatini is such a pleasant place that one remem-
bers it.
Q: Ιn other words, you are absolutely satisfied with the organisation and
would like to come here again.
Α: I'd like to come here and not to play chess. Ι haven't seen such pleasant sur-
roundings for a long time. Now as for the organisation, there were board and lodging,
a playing hall with air conditioning, chess boards and clocks, so it was οκ.
Q: What about financial issues?
Α: Ι am content.
Q: SO, there were many pleasant moments ...
Α: There were ηο pleasant moments, οηlΥ a very the hard work, preparing ίη the
morning for three hours, then playing the game for six or seven hours, then about an
hour ίη the evening, it came υρ to 12 hours all ίη all.
Q: But it was your usual tournament schedule, or was it something special
this time?
Α: Ι worked here as much as Ι usually do lately, and also Ι worked more than usually
before the tournament.
Q: What happened to Bareev at the tournament? We know him as a very
stable player who may not win much, but who hardly ever loses ...
Α: Ι think the break occurred earlier, ίη 8arajevo. Ι changed my style and returned
to the time when Ι used to win much but Ι lost quite a lot. The point is that Ι play not
much now, and each tournament becomes an important event for me. Ιη a sense, Ι play
each game as ifit was my last one, trying to do my best and get pleasure. This means
that Ι don't wait and defend, thinking about the result οηlΥ (that is about a draw), but
Ι try to win and thus run the risk oflosing, but also get my pleasure.
Q: Was that a deliberate change of style?
Α: Yes, it was it occurred to me once that Ι could perhaps write a book about chess,
and Ι found out there were almost ηο games for it. 80, Ι decided to play some after all. ..
Q: SO, what games from this tournament will be published ίn your book?
Α: I'm very sorry ... ΜΥ result may look good, but there were too many unbalanced
positions at the tournament, Ι could have scored both 50 % or plus 2, and there were ηο
games to be proud of.
Q: What can you say about other participants?
Generally, they all played at their level. Ivanchuk scored his +3 easily. 8hirov didn't
looked well, yet he scored at 50%, so it can't be called a failure. Now tourists (Minosian,
Lputian - RR) are just tourists ... There is a gulfyou canjump over at the World Cham-
pionship οηlΥ, having won your rapid games.
169 C60 here.

Shirov - Azmaiparashvili 16...tLJxe4 17.tLJcxe4
Round 1 28.07 Ιη case of 17.f5 there was 17 ... tLJxc3
Notes by A.Kochyev 18"~xe7 z:ι.xe7 19.~xe7 tLJxd120.'.txd1 i.g2
with Black's adνantage as White had ηο
l.e4 e5 2.tLJf3 tLJc6 3.i.b5 g6 4.d4 21.h4? because of i.f3+.
The other opportunity was to create a 17... f5 18.gxf5 gxf5 19.tLJd6+ ~xd6
pawn centre by c3 and d4. Ιη this case the 20.tLJc4 ~f6 21.1:txd8+ 1::txd8 22.tLJe5 i.e4
play would be more quiet. Although White managed to get the
4 ... exd4 5.i.g5 i.e7 knight to a strong stand οη e5, this can't
As a matter of fact, this moνe was compensate him the missing pawn. As a
forced, because 5 ... f6?! was too dangerous matter of fact, Black has an obνious
for Black. adνantage, and the game proceeds to the
6.i.xe7 ~xe7 7.i.xc6 dxc6 8.~xd4 stage of its realization. This is the price
tLJf6 9.tLJc3 i.g4 10.tLJd2 White pays for the unhappy 16.f4
The exchange Jtxf3 gf had ηο sense for 23.1:!.gl ~e6 24.b3 ~d5
White, so he had preνented it and, at the Black will gradually reinforce his
same time, had increased the protection position, and opportunely accomplish a
ofthe e4-pawn. queen exchange οη the d4-square which
10 ... c5 1l.~e3 0-0-0 12.h3 i.d7 13. will make his adνantage decisiνe.
0-0-0 i.c6 25.tLJc4 '.tb7 26.'.tb2 ~g8 27.~xg8
This position is a slightly better for ~xg8 28.~f2 ~d8 29.tLJe5 ~dI30.h4 a5
White owing to his "extra" pawn ίη the The rook exchange does not help White,
centre. the endgame is still νery hard for him.
14.g4 31.a4?!
White wants to dήνe back Black's forces White was going to play a bishop νs.
οη the queenside, howeνer there was also knight ending, so he should not haνe put
an alternatiνe plan, implying a mere the pawn οη a light square.
reinforcement ofthe centre to be followed 31 ... '.tc8 32.tLJc4 ~d4+ 33.~xd4 cxd4
by a rook exchange οη the d-file. Ιη this 34.c3 dxc3+ 35.'.txc3 '.td7 36.tLJe3 '.te6
case White would keep a slight adνantage 37.ι;tod4 i.f3 38.ςt>c3 i.d5
ίη the endgame. Ιη this position Black's extra pawn
14 ...1::!:he8 15.1::!:hel b6 guarantees his νictory.
39.tLJf1 ~d6 40.tLJg3 Jte6 41.tLJf1 '.tc5
42.tLJe3 c6 43.tLJc2 b5 44.axb5 cxb5
45.b4+ axb4+ 46.tLJxb4 Jtc4 0-1
White was unable to stop Black's king
οη his way to the centre.
170 D46
Ivanchuk - Shirov
Round 3 30.07
Notes by A.Kochyev
16.f4?! l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.tLJf3 tLJf6 4.e3 e6

This moνe seems to be caused by a 5.j,d3 tLJbd7 6.0-0 i.d6 7.tLJc3
miscalculation. Α mere 16.f3 was good There is another well known conti-
Montecαtini Terme 247
nuation 7.CLJbd2 which allows White to If 26 ... 1:td2 then 27. 'l;txe6+ <Jth8 28.
aνoid the plan with dxc4, haνing intro- ':e4+-
duced the knight into the play νia c4. But
ίη this case it is easier for Black to
accomplish the important adνance e6-e5.
7 ... 0-0 8.e4 dxc4
Black prefers a complex play. Also
8 ... dxe4!? was possible to be followed by
9.CLJxe4 CLJxe4 10 ..!txe4 f5 11 ..!tc2 e5, but not
immediate 1O ... e5? because of 11.dxe5
CLJxe5 12.CLJxe5 .ixe5 13 ..!txh7+ <Jtxh7
14. 'l;th5+, and then 15. 'l;te5 with White's
extra pawn.
9 ..!txc4 e5 10•.!te3
One ofthe main continuations. The idea 27.'l;txb7
is that if Black goes for exd4, then White Haνing protected the e6-pawn, Black
captures οη d4 with the bishop. As a rule, threatens to proceed to a counterattack by

White gains certain opening adνantage ίη 27 ... !ld2. Howeνer White still had an
this νariation. excellent chance to win, ifhe had used the
10 ... 'l;te7 11 ..!tb3 exd4 12 ..!txd4 CLJe5 power ofthe bishop + knight battery. Mter
13.CLJxe5 .!txe514..I1ιxe5 'l;txe515.f4 'l;tc5+ 27.f5!! (threatening with fxe6+- and
16.~hl 'l;txe6+-) Black would haνe ηο defence.
Despite exchanges and simplifications, Probably Iνanchuk oνerlooked the fanta-
Black must play νigorously as otherwise stic idea: ίη case of 27 ... CLJxe5 there was
White gains an obνious adνantage owing 28.f6!! gxf6 29.CLJe8 'l;td7. White would haνe
to his pawn pair ίη the centre. won easily ίη the following lines as well:
16 ... .I1ιe6 17 ..ixe6 fxe6 18.'l;tb3 gae8 27 ... exf5 28.CLJxf5+- ~xf5 29.'l;te8+ 1:I.f8
19.e5 CLJg4 20.g3 J::!.e7 30.klxf8#; or 27 ... ti.d2 28. 'l;txe6+ 'l;txe6
After 20 ... CLJf2+ 21.<Jtg2 CLJg4 22.Itf3 29.fxe6 CLJxh2 30.e7+-; or 27 ... h6 28.f6 gxf6
White has better prospects. 29.exf6 CLJxf6 (if 29 ... ~xf6?, then 30.Itxf6
21.~ael 'l;tb6 CLJxf6 31.'l;tf'7+-) 30.CLJe8 nxe8 31.'l;txf6 'l;th5
If 21 ... CLJf2+, then 22.Φg2 CLJd3 23.ge2, 32.kle5+-. Ιη case of27 ... CLJxe5 the solution
and White's chances should be considered is less eνident. The correct response is
as preferable owing to the opportunity of 28.f6!! gxf6 (28 ... i:lg4 29.Ite5 'l;te5 30.f'7+-)
CLJe4. 29.CLJe8 'l;td7 (29 ... nd2?? 30.'l;tg7#; 29 ... i:lxe8
22.'l;ta3 30.'l;txe8+ <Jtg7 31.'l;te7+ ~h6 32.nxe5!+-;
White had also 22.CLJe4, maintaining 29 ... gf'7 30.CLJxf6+ 1:!.xf6 31. 'l;txf6+-) 30.
certain strong points of his position. CLJxf6+ l:txf6 31. 'l;txf6 CLJg6 32. 'l;txe6+-
22 ... gd7 23.CLJe4 gd4 24.'l;te7 c5? (Analysis by Soloviov).
The correct solution was to exchange 27 ... 'l;txb7 28.CLJxb71:tb8 29.CLJxc5 nxb2
seνeral pieces by 24 ... J:ιxe4 25.'l;txe6+ <Jth8 30.gdl1:tc4 3U:Ι:cΙ nd4
26. 'l;txg4 (ίη case of 26.klxe4 CLJf2+ 27.Mxf2 Ιη case of31 ... gxc132.nxc1 CLJxh2 there
'l;txf2 Black has a counterplay, for example was 33.ti.c3 with an White's adνantage.
28.'l;tc4 'l;tf3+ 29.Φg1 1:td8 30.~e1 !ld2 32.CLJxe6 ndd2 33.IIc8+ <JtfΊ 34.CLJg5+
31.'l;tf1 'l;td5) 26 ... klxe1 27.J:ιxe1 'l;txb2. Ιη Φe7
this position White's far adνanced pawns If 34 ... ~g6, then 35.CLJf3 1:tg2+ 36.<Jth1,
giνe him better chances (Soloviov). opportunely threatening with the check
25.CLJd6 'l;tc6+ 26.~gl 'l;td5 CLJh4.
35.J:tc7+ Φe8 36.l2Jf3 l:tg2+ 37.<;t>hl gaining profit from the exchange of the
l2Jxh2 38.l2Jh4 light-squared bishops.
Drawing the game. 21 ... l2Jd6 22.tZJd2 'f:ie6 23.a4 iιf7
38 ... l2Jxf1 39.l2Jxg2 l2Jxg3+ 40.'it>gl 24.iιf1 g5 25.l2Jhf3 iιg6 26.a5 h6 27.axb6
l2Je2+ 41.Φf1l2Jg3+ 42.'it>gllh - lh axb6 28.~a7 1::rd7
Haνing opened up the a-file, White
failed to gain anything from this. Black
171 Α07 rearranged his pieces successfully and now
Minasian - Bareev is threatening with f6-f5.
Round 3 30.07 29.g4
Notes by A.Kochyev White preνents the adνance f6-f5
safely, howeνer he has permitted himself
1.l2Jf3 d5 2.g3 J1ιg4 3.J1ιg2 l2Jd7 4.0-0 a serious weakening, and soon Bareeν will
Another standard plan begins with 4.c4 make use of this fact most skilfully. Ν ow
and the best response is 4 ... e6. the position should be already estimated
4 ... c6 5.d3 e5 6.h3 iιh5 7.e4 dxe4 as more promising to Black.
8.dxe4 iιc5 9.l2Jbd2 f6 29 ... h5 30.l2Jh2 hxg4 31.hxg4 iιf7
Black wants to aνoid well known lines. 32.J:tcl tZJg6 33.tZJbl ~fd8 34.J:ta4
There was a well reputed plan with Otherwise there is ηο tZJc3-d5.
9 ... tZJgf6!? to be followed by ο-ο and J:te8. 34 ... Φg7 35.tZJc3 ~h8 36.f3 tZJf4 37.
Then the bishop retreats to the f8-square, tZJd5
allowing the knight to occupy c5. At the
same time, Black plays actiνely with his
queenside pawns: a7-a5, etc. This plan
allows Black not to haνe any opening
problems.
10.tZJc4 tZJb6 11.tZJa5 'f:ic7 12.iιd2 ~d8
13.'f:ie2 tZJe7 14.b4 J1ιd6 15.c4
White is trying to gain profit from the
unhappy position ofBlack's dark-squared
bishop οη d6.
15 ... c5 16.iιe3 tZJbc8
Νο 16 ... cxb4? because of 17.c5!
17.l2Jb3 b6 18.b5 37 ...'f:ie8
Depriνing Black's knight of c6, White Black's position is better, eνen though
hopes to accomplish a break-through White's knight managed to get to d5.
along the a-file ίη the future. 18.bxc5!? was Black's pieces are more actiνe, and with
possible here as well, yet Black has ηο his last moνe he freed the e5-square for
problems ίη either line. The position the knight to transfer it then to the strong
should be estimated as approximately position οη d4.
equal. Ν ow both opponents need to 38.':a7 'f:id8 39.J:tdll2Je6 40.'f:ia2 tZJd4
improνe the position oftheir pieces. White 41.~bl ~h6 42.iιf2 iιxd5! 43.cxd5
is going to prepare a knight transfer to d5, There was ηο use of 43.exd5 because of
whereas Black is aiming at the d4-square. 43 ... tZJc8! to be followed by e5-e4!
18 ... 0-0 19.'f:ic2 'f:id7 20.tZJh4 iιc7 43 ... 'f:ih8 44.iιxd4
21.J:tfel Α forced moνe, because ίη case of
The opportunity of 21.Φh2!? deserνed 44.iιe3 there was 44 ... J:txh2-+, and 44.J1ιg3
attention with the idea to play then iιf3, would lose the game because of 44 ...
CL1xf3!-+ even though after 18.CL1d5 3ιχd5 19.~xd5

44 ... exd4 45.~b2 c4 (or maybe 19.exd5!? 3ιf6 20.3ιg3, threa-
Emphasizing Black's obvious advan- tening with a pOGitional sacrifice by an
tage. White has got into a real trouble. exchange ~f6) 19 ... ~xa2 20.c5 White would
46.e5 fxe5 47.3ιχc4 e4 48.~f1 e3 have taken the initiative.
49.!tc2 CL1e8 50.!tcxc7
What else could have been done here?
As a matter of fact, everything is clear. Still
the game continued with following moves.
50 ... CL1xc7 51.~b2 ~f7 52.3ιc4 ςj;e7
53. ~a3+ !thd6 54. ~d3 ~e5 55.CL1f1 e2
56.~xe2 ~xe2 57.3ιχe2 CL1xd5 58.!ta1
CL1f4 59.3ιd1 !td5 60.CL1g3 !tc7 61.CL1f5+ ~f6
62.~b3 ~xb5 63.CL1d6 ~xb3 64.CL1e8+ ~e5
65.CL1xc7 d3 66.~a2 !tc3 0-1
172 Β42
18.c5!
Α very interesting move which gives
Shirov - Rublevsky
Round 4 31.07 White a lasting initiative.
Notes by A.Kochyev 18 ... dxc5 19.CL\d5 ~d6
There was ηο other way. Bad was
1.e4 c5 2.CL1f3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.CL1xd4 a6 19 ... 3ιχd5 20.exd5 3ιd6 21.3ιχe5 3ιχe5
5.3ιd3 CL1f6 6.0-0 d6 7.c4 3ιd7
22.d6! 3ιχd6 23.~d3 and White was just
This move occurred ίη many other winning the game.
games, played by Rublevsky, as well. Its 20.3ιg3
idea is to prepare CL1c6 and, ίη case of an Threatening with ~h5.

exchange, to be able to capture with the 20 ... 3ιb5! 21.~h5 {6 22 ..ί:ιf4
bishop οη c6, because the position after White increases his pressure. The check
7 ... CL1c6 8.CL1xc6 bxc6 is ίη White's favour. 22.CL1xf6+? gained him nothing after 22 ...
8.CL1c3 CL1c6 9.3ιe3 ~e7 10.f4 ':xf6 23.!txf6 ~xf6.
The most active continuation. There 22 ... g6 23. ~h6 !tad8! 24.CL1xf6+ J::!.xf6
was also a more quiet possibility of 10.h3 25 ..ί:ιΧd6 !tfxd6
with the idea of ~d2, securing more Threatening with an intrusion along
freedom to White. the d-file. Black's position stilllooks οκ.
10 ... 0-0 1U!?h1 CL1xd4 12.3ιχd4 ~c6 26.~f1!
13.~e2 CL1d7 14.!tadl e5 15.~e3 exf4 Α strong and unexpected response, and
16.3ιχf4 CL1e5 White keeps the initiative.
Black accomplished a standard plan, 26 ... 3ιf8?
and his position looks quite satisfactory at Αη unhappy decision. It would be
first sight. Right now ίη case of 17 .c5 there interesting to test 26 ... g5, disturbing
is 17 ... ~a5!; and if White plays 17.CL1d5, White's queen (the position is unclear ίη
then 17 ... 3ιχd5 18.exd5 3ιf6, and Black is case of 27.~h5 3ιΧΩ 28.3ιχe5 !te6). Most
οκ. likely White should response to 26 ... g5
17.3ιc2 ~c7 with 27.3ιb3, maintaining his attack.
The most natural move, however if 27.~cl!? 3ιχf1 28.3ιχe5 !te6 29.~xf1
Black had known White's response he !txe5 30.3ιb3+
probably would have preferred 17 ... ~a5, This is the point! Black has ηο time to
co-ordinate his pieces. Though this decision looks risky, still it

30 ... c4 31.~xc4+ Φg7 32.~c7+ 1-0 seems to be correct. Black's knight is too
active.
26 ... ..txe4 27.1:td4 ..tf5
173 Λ07 Ιη case of 27 .. .'~d7 there was 28. ~c4.
Minasian - Shirov 28.d6!?
Round 5 1.08 White has ηο time to waste; Black's
Notes by A.Kochyev bishop pair is very dangerous.
28 ... ..td7
ι.t2Jf3 d5 2.g3 ..tg4 3 ...tg2l2Jd7 4.c4 e6 28 ... ..te6!? was worth trying here.
5.cxd5 exd5 6.0-0 l2Jgf6 7.d3 .iιc5 8.l2Jbd2 29..ί:rc7 b6 30.~d5
White plays the opening absolutely White's forces are fully centralized.
unpretentiously. Such passive play can't 30 ... ~f8 31.~b7 .iιxh3 32.d7! ~f6
gain him any advantage. 33.1:tc8 i-e7 34.1::txf8+ ΦΧf8 35.~f4 1-0
8 ... 0-0 9.h3 .iιh5 10.l2Jb3 ..tb611.a4 a5 If 35 ... ~g5, then 36.d8~+ i-xd8 37.
12.l2Jfd4 l2Jc5 ~xf7#
Perhaps Black rejected the natural
12 ... .ί:!.e8 because of 13.g4. 174 Ε60
13.l2Jxc5 ..txc5 14.l2Jb3 ..tb6 15.~c2 Minasian - Ivanchuk
1:te8 16.e3 ..tg6 17.l2Jd2 c5!? 18. ~b3 Round 7 3.08
White's position is somewhat worse Notes by A.Kochyev
owing to his insipid play ίη the opening,
so he has to make his way by shifts as ίη 1.l2Jf3 l2Jf6 2.g3 g6 3 ..iιg2 j,g7 4.0-0
case ofl8.b3 there would be an unpleasant 0-0 5.d4 d6 6.c4l2Jc6 7.d5l2Ja5 8.l2Jbd2
18 ... c4. Αη uncommon continuation. ν. Kor-
18...1:rc8 19.1::ta3 c4?! chnoi used to play so ίη the past. The idea
With this move Black loses more than of this move is tΙat ίη case of a natural
gains, and the position becomes unclear. 8 ... c5 White plays 9.l2Jel and then tran-
20.dxc4 ..tc5 sfers the knight to c2, where it will be very
useful for the opposition to Black's
queenside play.
21.cxd5!
This is the point. Now White has his
own play too. 8 ...b5!?
21 ... ..tb4 Αη interestir;g move, however ηο
21 ... ..txa3 changed nothing. novelty.
22.~al k1:xcl 23.k1:fxcl i-xd2 24.~dl 9.cxb5
..tb4 25.1:tacl l2Je4 26 ...txe4 9.l2Jd4'? l2Jxc4 (if 9 ... bxc4, then 10. ~a4
with a slight adνantage to White) 10.liJxc4 was stronger here.

bxc4 11. ~a4. 39.Mxc8 :Ιχa5 40.l1xc7 Wg8 41.5ιe8
9 ... liJxd5 10.~a4 e4+ 42. Φχe4 ~f5
There was an interesting 10.liJb3!? Ιη Black has lost rnost of his adνantage,
case of lo.J:;tbl Black had 10 ... c5 11.bxc6 but he still keeps certain winning chances.
liJxc6 12.liJb3liJb6 13.liJfd4liJxd4 14.liJxd4 43.h4
d5 with definite counterchances. An unnecessary actiνity which weakens
10 ... liJb7 11.~h4 White's pawns.
An insipid continuation. Black will haνe 43 ... ..td8 44.:Ιd7 5ιa5 45.1:ta7 ..tel
ηο problerns ίη the endgarne. 46.g4 nf6 47.h5 gxh5 48.gxh5 ttf5 49.Φd3
11 ... e6 12.~xd81:txd8 13.liJb3 Φf8 50.e4 .ί:!.f4 51.';~te3
The opportunity of 13.liJc4 to be follo- It would be better to play an endgarne
wed by 5ιg5 deserved attention, corn- with opposite-coloured bishops after
pleting the queenside deνeloprnent. 51 ...tc6.
Instead, White is wasting tirne and
gradually his position becornes quite
troublesorne.
13 ... a614.e4?!
Another dubious rnoνe. 14.liJfd4 was
better.
14... liJb4 15 ..ig5 1:td7!?
Black has an obνious advantage. It is
νery difficult to defend White's queenside.
16.a4.ixb2 17.Mabl 5ιg7 18.liJbd4 a5
19.1iJc6liJc5 20.liJxb4 axb4 21.l:!.xb4 nxa4
22.1:txa4 liJxa4 23.e5
White's position is νery hard, so he is 51 ....td2+! 52.'it>xd2 Φχe8 53.Φe3 Mh4
trying to cornplicate rnatters. 54.!1a5 Φe7 55.Φf3 Wf6 56.1:tb5 e5 57.1:ta5
.ί:!.χh5
23 ... dxe5 24.CLJd2 h6 25 . ..te3 CLJc3
26.Mal Md8 27.na8 CLJxb5 28.liJc4 Φh7 The rook endgarne with two pawns
29.5ιf1 liJc3 30.CLJa5 Mh8! 31.1:ta7 liJd5 down is hopeless.
32.5ιb5 1:td8 33.1:ta8 CLJxe3 34.fxe3 5ιf6 58.Φg4 Φg6 59.1:i.a6+ f6 60 ..!:.a8
Much better was 34 ... f5! to be followed The pawn ending after 60.~xf6+ ΦΧf6
bye4. 61.Φχh5 Φg7 did not giνe White ηο chance.
35 ..ia4 5ιg5 36.Wf21:td2+ 37.'it>f3 !1a2 60 ... Ithl 61.l1g8+ Φf7 62.1:ta8 h5+
38..lTιc6 Ma3 63.Φf3 .ί;lh4 64.~e3 Φg7 65.1:ta7+ Φh6
Black dernonstrates a lot ofinaccuracy 66.1:i.a8 Ith3+ 67.~e2 I:!.g3 68.I:!.h8+ Φg5
at the achieνernent ofhis adνantage. 38 ... f5 69.rif8 h4 70.'it>f2 rig4 0-1
Rubinstein Memorial
Polanica Zdroj (Poland) 17.08-26.08, cat.17
2
Gelfaηd
Shirov
2681
2746
-=
1 2
1
Ο 1I1.Ά .,,,
=
3
1
4
=
=
5
=
1
6
=
1
7
=
=
8
=
9
=
10
1
6.5
3 Vaη Wely 2643 = Ο !.::.\.:;. .• 1 1 = = = 1 1 6
rfΞ Ι'
4 Ivaηchuk 2719 = = Ο = 1 = = 1 5
5 Κrasenkow 2702 = Ο Ο 1 1 Ο 1 1 5
6 Markowski 2568 = Ο = = Ο = 1 = = 4
7 Movsesiaη 2666 Ο = = = 1 Ο Ο = 1 4
8 Almasi 2668 = = = Ο Ο = 1 Ο 1 4
9 Svidler 2689 Ο = Ο = Ο = 1 = = 3.5
10 A.Fedorov 2646 Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο = Ο Ο = Ι;.'· 1
Before the begiηηiηg ofthe tourηameηt amoηg favorites they ηamed: Shirov (the
highest rated player, woη ίη Merida), Ivaηchuk (the wiηηer ofLviv aηd Moηtecatiηi
Terme) aηd Svidler (recently woη the Biel tourηameηt). But Gelfaηd was ηot usually
meηtioηed because he did ηot play very successfully lately. Aηd local fuηs hoped for
fiηe performaηce ofthe Poles: Mikhail Κraseηkow aηd Tomasz Markowski.
From the very begiηηiηg Gelfaηd easily defeated Fedorov iη the first rouηd aηd iη
aη importaηt ηiηety-move game iη the secoηd rouηd maηaged to beat P.Svidler. But
this defeat was the last straw for Peter aηd he could ηot fiηd his owη play.
Mter 4 rouηds Vaη Welywas amoηgthe leaders (excepthim οηlΥ Shirov aηd Gelfaηd
had 3 poiηts), aηd iη the ηext rouηd he defeated Ivaηchuk (game 199)! Oηe of the
competitors lagged behiηd ίη the 6th rouηd: A.Shirov (White) lost to Gelfaηd iη 28 moves
(game 202). But theη Alexey oηce agaiη "helped" Gelfaηd haviηg beateη Vaη Wely ίη
the 8th rouηd (game 210). Ιη the last rouηd Gelfaηd made a quick draw, aηd Vaη Wely
almost for 50 moves (game 215) tήed to realize his advaηtage (rook + bishop agaiηst
rook + pawη), but ίη vaiη.
Interview with Polanica Zdroj Winner GM Boris Gelfand

ΕΥ Dmitry Nouitsky
Q: Boris, first of all, Ι congratulate you with your victory. How do you esti-
mate the tournament?
Α: The tourηameηt, iη geηeral, is very stroηg, oηe ofthe stroηgest this year. Several
Rubinstein Memoriαl 253
points more and it would have 18 category. ΑΙΙ players have had successes achieved.
For example, Markowski recently has played very well at the championship ofEurope;
it is obvious that this young player is οη the rise. Therefore before the beginning ofthe
tournament Ι had already understood that the competition would be one of the most
difficult for me. Especially taking into account that Ι played very bad last year.
Q: How do you appraise your play ίη the tournament?
Α: Ι am satisfied with it; Ι have not played so well for a long time. Ι was very upset
with my last year's play. 80 it was important that from first rounds Ι managed to win
some victories, and this encouraged me. Ι gained 2 points out of 2 though Ι played
Black both games.
Q: What was the most difficult game?
Α: Probably, with Markowski. Ι had a very hard position.
Q: And what was the crucial game?
Α: With 8vidler, probably. After the opening Ι got the winning position, but Peter
was persistently defending and he could make a draw ίη some moment. But all the
same οη the 90th move Ι managed to win. Ιη my ορίηίοη, 8vidler did not understand at
once that the position was not so simple. He could prevent me from realizing my plan,
but everything turned out to be οκ. After this game Ι had confidence of success: to beat
such a strong opponent, playing Black, when a draw was possible. Οη the other hand,
Ι had bad positions twice: with Markowski and with Van Wely, but Ι managed to es-
cape. With the Dutch Ι could lose two times. The position was harmless, but Ι had made
the ineptest move, and he could have a winning endgame. Ι had ηο time for castling
and so he won a pawn, my initiative was temporary; by one exact move Loek could
repel all my counterplay. But Ι escaped. And with Markowski Ι also made a mistake: he
had a large advantage and Ι hardly made a draw. These are the crucial games.
Q: What do you think, why ίη Biel your performance was not as successful
as here? Why is there such a difference?
Α: Ι think this depends οη quantity of energy. Ιη Biel Ι could have had the same
result according to positions but sometimes my head simply was not working and the
positions, which could be won, were not. And here maybe because air is fresher (he
smiles), Ι often went for a walk and the head was able to work. Ι could calculate diffi-
cult variations and strength was enough for the whole game.
Q: What can you say about this tournament ίη general?
Α: The tournament turned out to be battle. It is hard to predict the result of such a
competition; level of all players is high, and everything depends ίη what form every
player is. Α lot ofinteresting games were played, ίη the NajdorfVariation, ίη particu-
lar. Thel'e were many effective games, and one of the reasons was A.Fedorov's play.
Unfortunately, he played very unsuccessfully and that increased "efficiency". This was
his fil'st tOUl'nament at such a high level. The pl'eparation, which had been enough ίη
other tournaments, here was obviously insufficient. Very soon they found a weak spot
ίη his "Black" repertoire, ίη the Dragon. The circumstances were against him; before
the tournament nobody could have assumed that Alexey would have such an unsuc-
cessful performance. Many participants had not played for a long time and had come to
the tournament with some fresh ideas and fighting spirit. The performance ofMikhail
Κrasenkow was surprising: after three defeats running he gained a series offour victo-
ries. Ι cannot recollect anything like that. Usually after such a failure people hardly
crawl to finish. Ivanchuk was not so successful; for him the game with Van Wely was
critical. He played well, had an advantage, but then all went ίη the opposite direction,
he had played inexactly somewhere, and Van Wely seized the initiative and won. Ι
think, ifhe had won this game he would have continued to struggle for the first place.
And after that defeat there remained not so many games and Ivanchuk already was ίη
ηο mood. He had won two tournaments before and, probably, he was tired as well as
Svidler. Ιη Biel Svidler played successfully but here he simply could not win excellent
positions. He made a blunder playing with Van Wely; ίη some moment he had an ad-
vantage with Κrasenkow, but also made a mistake; with Shirov he did not win with an
extra piece, could not rescue the game with me. Probably, he ran out of his energy. Or
his lucky star did not shine ...
175 Β81 13.~d2

Shirov - Svidler This move can' be called a step back to
Round 1 17.08 some extent. Still, after the well-known
13.1::rxd4 exd4 14.~xd4 ~c5 15.~xc5 CίJxc5
1.e4 c5 2.CίJf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.CίJxd4 16.~c4 Black repelled the attack with
CίJf6 5.CίJc3 a6 6.~e3 e6 7.g4 16 ... ~e7! 17.gxf6 ~e5 18.1::td1 Jtxf5 19.z::td5
A.8hirov demonstrates his loyalty to ~e1+ 20.I,td1 and got a draw ίη the game
one of the keenest variations of the Sicil- Gipslis - Rastenis, corr. 1988. Another de-
ian Defence, which is connected with the cisive continuation 13 ...txd4 was followed
sacrifice of a piece, though his opponent is by 13 ... exd4 14 ..ic4 ~c7 15.Mhe1+ 'ίt>d8
undoubtedly prepared for this line. Let's 16.Mxd4 .ic5 17.Md3 1;le8 18.J:!ed1 CίJh5
only mention that ίη the recent tourna- 19 ..ixf7 ~f4+ 20.'ίt>b1 ~xf3 21.1;lxf3 CίJg7
ment ίη Biel P.8vidler, playing White won 22.f6 CίJe6 23.Mf5 which allowed White to
two important games against B.Gelfand win the endgame despite Black's two ex-
and L.Van Wely ίη this variation. tra pieces S.Farago - Habibi, Budapest
7 ... e5 8.CίJf5 g6 9.g5 gxf5 10.exf5 d5 1994. However the defending side acted
11:~f3 not ίη the best way here. Much stronger
Α slight deviation. Previously the was 14 ... .ic5 15.Mhe1 + ~f8 with an unclear
grandmaster from Spain played 11.gxf6 play. And, finally, the line 13 ..ic4 ~c7
invariably, probably the present change 14 ..ib3 dxc3 15.g6 fxg6 16.fxg6 hxg6
was made owing to the efforts of L.Van 17. ~g2 ~c6 18.'~xg6+ <t>d8 19.Mhe1 ~c7
Wely who defends Black's position ίη this brought Black victory ίη the Russian
line with an enviable persistence and quite Championship two years ago ίη the game
successfully. A.Sokolov - Svidler, St.Petersburg 1998.
11 ... d4 12.0-0-0 CίJbd7 13 ... ~c7
This move is considered the strongest.
Ιη case of13 ... dxc3 14 ..ixc3 Black's oppor-
tunities would be rather restricted. Ιη the
game Chiburdanidze - Cserna, Pristina
1983 which was played ίη the very begin-
ning of the development of this variation
after 14 ... ~c7 (ίη case of 14 ... .ig7 15.Mg1
Black also takes the chance of suffering a
very dangerous attack as it was ίη the
game J.Polgar - Anand, Dos Hermanas
1999) 15.Jl.d3 Jl.d6 16.Mhe1 CίJc5 17 ..ic4
Black missed his best chance (17 ... lίJfd7! the f5-pawn, restricting Black's light-
18. ~d5lίJb6 19 ..Jtxe5lίJxd5 20 ..Jtxd6+ lίJe6! squared bishop considerably.
21 ..Jtxc7 lίJdxc7 with an approximately 18..Jtc4
equal play) and encountered great prob- There are many instances which dem-
lems as the result of the erroneous onstrate with evidence that the main
17 ... lίJfe4? 18.I:!.xe4 lίJxe4 19. ~xe4 ~d 7 threat for Black ίη this variation comes
20. ~d5 0-0-0 21. ~xd6 ~xd6 22.I:ιxd6 from the diagonal a2-g8 where the white
~xf5 23 ..kH6. bishop has just moved. After 18.f3 ~xf5
14.~d3 19.fxe4 .Jte6 Black was more comfortable
The exchange of pieces after 14.gxf6 with an extra piece.
dxc3 15 ..Jtxc3 allows Black by 15 ... ~c6 to 18.....ixf5 19.J::!.d4 lίJe6
make White either agree οη the queens' Ιη 8vidler's ορίηίοη 19 ... ..id6! with the
exchange or οη even bigger material sac- idea of 20 ... 0-0-0 was stronger.
rifices. We will see this continuation ίη the 20.~d5 ~b6
8hirov - Van Wely ίη the 8th round.
14 ... lίJc5
Black does not want to follow the game
Chiburdanidze - Cserna, Pristina 1983 by
14 ... dxc3 15 ..Jtxc3.
15.gxf6
After 15.~c4 dxc3 16.~xc3 lίJfe4 17.
tthe1lίJxc3 18. ~xc3 ~g7 19.f6 ο-ο 20.1:Ixe5
~e6 21 ..Jtxe6 lίJxe6 22. ~xc7 lίJxc7 Black
managed to repulse all White's threats and
then won ίη the game T.Wedberg- Ι.Νονί
kov, Kobenhavn 1991.
21.Iιc4!?
15 ...dxc3
The line 15 ... lίJxd3+ 16. ~xd3 dxc3 Black's achievements are evident. Nev-
17.~xc3 ..ih6+ 18.'it>b1 ..if4 19.1::the1 .Jtd7 ertheless, White finds a chance to continue
20.~xe5 .Jtxe5 21.f4 0-0-0 22.fxe5 gives
the struggle, and probably this is the οηlΥ
White a fair compensation ofthree pawns chance.
for the piece. 21 ... ..ic5
16 ..Jtxc3 ~c6! It is very interesting to see White's com-
P.8vidler is first to leave the theoreti- pensation for the missing piece after
callines. 16 ... .Jth6+ 17.'>tb1 ~c6 18.~h5 21 ... ~xe3+ 22.fxe3 lίJc5! (22 ... b5? was bad
iιf4 19 ..Jtc4 ~xf6 20.~xf'7+ ~e7 21 ..Jtb4 b6 because of 23.~c6+ ..t>d8 24.1::td1+ 'i;c7
was seen previously which allowed Black 25.J::td7 + ~b8 26.~e5+)? It's very likely that
to get a better play ίη the game Nijboer - there was simply none. 80, ίη case of23.J::!.f1
Van Wely, Rotterdam 1999. ~g6 24.b4 Black had 24 ....:ω8 25.1:i.d4 (if
17.~e3 25.Ud1, then 25 ... lίJd3+) 25 ... .Jth6 26.~d2
Of course White did not want to ex- lίJe6, and his material advantage would tell
fi1ange the queens, all the more that he soon.
Nould lose the important f5-pawn then, 22.~g3 ~xf2 23:~e5 ~e3+ 24 ...t>bl
and ίη case of 17.~h3, the line 17 ... ~xf6 Black has a pure extra piece and it is
18 ..Jtxe5 ~h6+ 19.~xh6 .Jtxh6 20.'>tb1 f6! his turn to move, but it is not at all easy to
21 ..Jtxf61:'1f8 could come next. untangle the pieces ίη the centre of the
17... e4! board.
After 17 ... lίJxd3+ 18. ~xd3 White kept 24 ... ~f4 25. ~xf4 lίJxf4 26 ..Jtxb7 Ο-Ο!
Α forced move. Ιη case of 26 ... ~d8 there 46.'it>c4 ~e7 47.~d5 'it>d7 48.~e5 rJJc7
was an unpleasant 27 ..lta5, and if27 ... ~d6, The task is completed, but now there is
then 28 ..ltc7. a problem with the defence ofthe kingside
27.~f1 pawns.
White wants to keep his light-squared 49.'it>f6 .a:f1+ 50.'it>g5 .a:gl+ 51.'it>xh5 f5
bishop. Mter 27 ..ltxa8 J::!.xa8 28.J::!.d1 (28.~f1 52.h4 f4 53.~h6 .a:bl 54.i..e4
was still worse because of28 .. .'~Jh3 29.~e1 White's bishop fulfils two functions,
e3) 28 .. ."iJg6 Black's e-pawn with the sup- supporting the white passed pawn and
port of two bishops could have become very preventing Black from an advance of his
dangerous. pawn at once.
27 ... ~ad8 28.b3 .lte3 54 ....a:b6+ %-lh
28 ... CZJh3!? deserved attention.
29.~a5!
White begins another circuit of compli- 176 Ε04
cations. After the natural 29.~xe4 Black Almasi - Movsesian
had continuous attacks ίη the line 29 ... i..e6 Round 1 17.08
30.~c7 (if 30.~a4 ~d7, then 31.~a5 .ltb5)
30 ... i..h3 31.~e1 i..f2 32.~h1 (ίη case of 1.d4 CZJf6 2.c4 e6 3.CZJf3 d5 4.g3
32.~c1 there was 32 ... CZJe2) 32 ... CZJd5 The Catalan Opening, which was cho-
29 ... i..h3! sen, is a quite aggressive opening but with
There was not any other opportunity. good defending opportunities for Black.
Ιη case of29 ... ~d6 (if29 ... ~d7, then30.~c6 4 ... dxc4 5.i..g2 c5 6.0-0 CZJc6
~d6 31 ..ltb4) there was 30 ..ltb4 ~xf6 This variation was very popular ίη the
31 ..ltxf8 'it>xf8 32.~xe4 .lte6 33.~c6, and middle eighties, but it has been forgotten
White's chances were not worse. since then.
30.~xd8 7.CZJe5 ~d7 8.ι1Ja3 cxd4 9.CZJaxc4 .a:c8
If White had had more time, he prob- 9 ... ~c5 was the best continuation here.
ably would have preferred 30.I:te1!? Movsesian's move promises ηο easy life to
30 ...~xf1 31 ..a:xe4 .a:xd8 32 ..a:xe3 h5 Black.
33.'it>b2.a:d6? 10:~b3 CZJxe5 11.CZJxe5 ~c6 12.CZJxc6
White's persistence ίη looking for a bxc6 13.J::!.d1 c5 14.e3 CZJd5
chance to escape was rewarded. Black Α new move which hardly is very good.
made a mistake. Mter 33 ... ~f8 with the 14 ... ~d6 has been considered the best since
idea 34 ..a:f3 ~g2 White's position without the game Kasparov - Andersson, Belgrade
a piece could hardly have been saved. (mll) 1985 when after 15.exd4 c4 16. tjrb5+
34..a:f3 .a:xf6 tjrd7 17.a4 ο-ο 18.~e3 .a:c7 19.d5 e5
Τννο pieces should be given for White's 20 ..a:dc1 .a:fc8 21.i..f1 g6 22.i..xc4 tjrxb5
rook. There was ηο 34 ... .ltg2 because ofthe 23.~xb5 CZJxd5 24.~a6 White had a slight
intermediate 35 ..a:g3+. but lasting advantage.
35 ..a:xf1 CZJd3+ 36.~c3 .a:xf1 37.'it>xd3 15.~f1!
a5 38.a4 .a:f4 39.c4 Black evidently has to give up his plans
White's pawns οη the queenside are concerning a castling.
extremely active. As a matter offact, Black 15... i..d6 16.tjra4+ ~f8 17.exd4
has ηο time to achieve his extra exchange, White passed by a very strong continu-
his main task is to get the king to the ation. Mter 17.tjrxa7 dxe3 18.fxe3! Black's
queenside as soon as possible. tasks would have been much more diffi-
39... 'it>f8 40.b4 axb4 41.a5 b3 42.a6 b2 cult.
43.~c2 .a:xc4+ 44.'it>xb2 .a:a4 45.'it>b3 .a:a1 17 ... cxd418.tjrxa7
Two united passed pawns with the sup- making.

port of two bishops giνe White good
chances. After 18. '§xd4 i.c5 White's
chances to get a considerable adνantage
were less: Black's knight had a good posi-
tion οη d5, and the bishop was rather ac-
tiνe οη the diagonal a7-g1.
18 ... .iιc5 19.'§a6 cJ;;;e7 20 . .iιg5+ f6
21 ..iιd2 '§d6 22.'§d3
The exchange of the queens deserνed
attention.
22 ... g6
Black has to weaken his position ίη or-
der to engage the rook ίη the play. There 34... d3?
was ηο way to disturb the white queen: Black had forborne from this moνe for
after 22 ... CLJb4 23 ..iιxb4 .iιxM 24.'§xd4 a long time but now he made it at the most
inconνenient moment. White encountered
White's passed pawns would be extremely
dangerous eνen though opposite-coloured problems after 34 ... e3! 35 ...\Tιc1 (ίη case of
bishops would remain οη the board. 35.fxe3 there was 35 ... dxe3 36 ..iιxe31:txe3,
23.a3 f5 24.1::!.el the moνe 35.iιxe3 was also bad because of
Maybe White should return to the idea a mere 35 ... dxe3, and after 35.b7 1::!.b8
ofthe queens' exchange by means of24.b4 White's pawns were securely blocked up,
lιa7 25 ..iιg5+ ~π 26.'§a6. still his problems stayed unsolνed) 35 ...
24 ... e5 25.b4 .iιb6 exf2+ 36.cJ;;;xf2 d3+ 37.~f1 (ίη case of
Το withdraw the bishop eνen further
37.cJ;;;g2 there was 37 ... ~xe1 38 ..a:xe1 d2)
with 25 ... .iιa7 was more logical, though 37 ... '§d4, and White's king suffered a
after 26.a4 e4 27.'§b3 White's chances were dreadful attack.
better all the same. 35.b7 t!.cd8 36.iιf4 '§d4 37.iιe3 '§d6
26.a4 e4 38 . .iιf4 ~d4 39.1::!.d2 CLJg4 40.~b2 ~xb2
26 ... CLJxb4 was νery risky because of Mter 40 ... CLJxf2 41. '§xd4+ iιxd4 42.1::!.xf2
27 ..iιxb4 '§xb4 28.1::!.xe5+ ~f6 29.1::!.d5 with e3 43.1::!.ff1 e2+ 44 ..a:f2 1ιc3 45.JTιxd3 White
White's dangerous initiatiνe. 80, ίη case also should haνe won.
of a careless 29 ... 1::!.hd8? an immediate de- 41.1::!.xb2 lιa7

cision was 30.1::!.b1. Now the moνe 41 ... e3 cannot help al-
27.a5lιa7 28.'§b3 cJ;;;f6 29.'§b2 ready. After 42.fxe3 d2 43.1::!.d1 ..\Tιxe3+
Maybe White had to νenture οη 29.b5 44.iιxe3 CLJxe3 45.Ϊtdxd2 ~xd2 46 ..ι:;!Χd2
despite the possible complications after CLJxc4 47.a6 CLJa5 48.1::!.d7+ cJ;;;h6 (ίη case of
29 ... e3 30 ..iιc1. 48 ... cJ;;;f6 49.a7 CLJxb7 50.1::!.xb7 1::!.a8 51.1::!.xh7
29 ... cJ;;;f7 30. '§b3?! Black had a losing rook endgame without
30.b5! was much more stronger. a pawn) 49.b7 CLJxb7 50 ..1:!.xb7 .ι:;!a8 5ι.c.~(f2
30... cJ;;;g7?! g5 52.cJ;;;e3 ~g6 53.cJ;;;d4 White wins the
Α νaήaηt with immuring White's light- game.
squared bishop with 30 ... d3! was worth 42.'it>g2 cJ;;;f6 43.h3 g5
considering. Probably 43 ... CLJe5 44.lιb5 1::!.f8 45.a6 g5
31.1::!.adl1::!.he8 32.b5 CLJf6 33.lιc4 .iιc5 46 . .iιe3 was slightly more persistent.
34.b6? 44.iιc7 CLJe5 45.iιb5 ktg8 46.lιxd8+
Now it's White's turn to be mistaken. Ϊtxd8 47.1::!.cl f4 48.Ϊtc8 1::!.d4 49.1::!.a8 f3+
The moνe 34 ..iιf4! was obνiously worth 50.cJ;;;h2 d2 51.~xa7 1-0
177 Α07 insecure state of the e5-knight.

Markowski - Van Wely 18.Zϊf1 ~xe5
Round 1 17.08 According to tlle plan, which began οη
the 17th move.
l.g3 d5 2.tiJf3 g6 3.c4 ~g7 4:~a4+ c6 19.dxe5 ~xe5 20:~b6 'ff1e7 21.e4 tiJd7
5.~g2 e6 6.cxd5 Mter 21 ... tiJxe4 22.tiJxe4 dxe4 23.:rcd1
Previously the Polish grandmaster had white pieces were released.
played differently ίη this position, but ίη 22:~b3 d4 23.tiJbl tiJe5 24.tiJd2 ~e6
the game Markowski - C.Horvath, Κryηί 25. ~a3 ~xa3 26.bxa3 ..if8
ca 1998, Black got a good play after 6.0-0 26 ... 1::td8!? deserved attention, engaging
tiJf6 7.cxd5 exd5 8.d3 ο-ο 9.tiJc3 ~g4 the rook and threatening with d4-d3 at a
iO.tiJd4 ~c8 11.tiJb3 :re8. convenient moment. Ιη this case Black's
6 ... exd5 7.tiJc3 tiJf6 8.0-0 tiJbd7 9.d4 chances were preferable. Ιη Van Wely's
After this advance White's position ορίηίοη 26 ... g4, depriving White's knight
looks not too good. The light-squared of the f3-square, promised much more
bishop will stay behind the black d5-pawn, than the move ίη the game.
and the c4- and e4-squares require con- 27.l:ϊbl ~a7 28.tiJf3 tiJc4 29.tiJxd4!?
stant attention, or Black's knights will oc- White takes the opportunity to simplify
cupy them very soon. the position and turns the game to a nearly
9 ... 0-0 10...if4 ~e8 11.~b3 tiJb6 12.a4 forced ending with opposite-coloured bish-
a5 13.Iιfdl h6 14.:racl tiJc4 15.tiJe5?! ops.
Now White's pawn chain is seriously 29 ••. tiJd2 30.tiJxe6 fxe6 31 ...th3 ..txa3
damaged. Α stubborn 15. ~a2 was better 32...ixe6+ ~h8 33.~g2 tiJxf134.~xf1..ib4
with the idea to drive out the black knight 35.~dl
from c4 with b2-b3. Every exchange brings White closer to
the draw. It is the turn ofthe rooks now.
35 ...b5 36.~d8+ ~g7 37.~d7+ ~xd7
38.~xd7 bxa4 39...txc6 ..td6
Black tries to find a winning chance ίη
the endgame with opposite-coloured bish-
ops, having fixed White's pawns of the
kingside οη available black squares.
40. ..id5 a3 41.~el g442.e5
Surely the open diagonal a8-h1 will be
useful for the white bishop.
42 .....ixe5 43. ~d2 ~f6 44. 'it>c2 h5?
Despite the presence of the opposite-
15 ... g5! coloured bishops οη the board, Black could
Black's chances are evidently better. have won ifhe hac. played 44 ... ~d4!. Mter
16.~e3 tiJxe3! 45.'it>b3 .ig1 46.h3 (ίη case of 46.~xa3
Black was not tempted with the oppor- ~xh2 47.~a4 ..txg3 48.~xa5 ~e5 49 ...tc6
tunity of 16 ... tiJxe5 17.dxe5 tiJg4 because h5 50.~b4 'it>d4 Black's two passed pawns
after 18 ...tb6 ~e7 19.f4 gxf4 20.gxf4 his must decide the game ίη his favour)
knight οη g4 would be ίη endangered. 46 ... gxh3 47.'it>xa3 ~e5 48 ...tf3 ..tb6 49.~a4
17.fxe3 ~d6 ~d4 50.~b5 ~c7 51.g4 ~e3 the black king
Maybe Black was a bit too impatient. had time to render his far passed h-pawn
Mter 17 ... ~e718 ..1:tf1 ~e6 Black's knight necessary support.
retreated from f6 thus accentuating the 45.'it>b3 ~d6
Now 45 ... ~d4 is already late ίη νiew of chances) 17.!Ixe1 ~b4 18.b3 exd4 19.exd4
46.~g2 ~g147.h3 a5 an equality was kept anyway.
46.~c6 Φg5 47.Φa2 h4 48.gxh4+ 16... CLJxe517.~e2 CLJxc418.~xc4 ~c5
ΦΧh4 49.Φb3 Φh3 50.i.d7 ~xh2 51.Φχa3 19. ~xc5 %-1/2
~c7
Black has two passed pawns οη differ-
ent flanks. This could haνe been enough 179 Β80
to win if White had not had the e-pawn. Fedorov - Gelfand
The point is that Black's bishop should Round 1 17.08
defend the a5-pawn from a square οη the
e-file but there is ηο such square οη the l.e4 c5 2.CLJf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.CLJxd4
e-file. CLJf6 5.CLJc3 a6 6.f3 e6 7.i.e3 b5 8.g4 h6
52.Φa4 Φg3 53.~c8 Φf4 54.i.d7 g3 9.~d2 CLJbd710.0-0-0 ~b7 11.~d3
55.i.c6 Φe3 56.i.f3 Φf2 57.Φb5 i.d8 Α keen νariation ofthe Sicilian Defence
58.Φa4 g2 59.~xg2 φχg2 60.e4 Φf3 61.e5 was played. White chose a solid continua-
1/2-% tion. Ιη the game Anand - Gelfand, Μο
Αη exchange ofthe last pawns is ineνi naco (actiνe) 2000 after well known moνes
table. 11.h4 b4 12.CLJa4 ~a5 13.b3 CLJc5 14.a3
Black applied an excellent 15 ... ~c8! and
thus reanimated this important νariation.
178 D18 11 ... CLJe512.l:!.hel
Krasenkow - Ivanchuk
Round 1 17.08
I.CLJf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 CLJf6 4.CLJc3 dxc4

5.a4 ~f5 6.e3 e6 7.~xc4 ~b4 8.0-0 CLJbd7
9.CLJh4 i.g6 10.CLJxg6 hxg6 11.h3 0-0
Black does not try to gain an adνantage
from the semi-open h-file, he simply
wants to finish his deνelopment.
12.~f3
Many squares haνe been used for the
white queen preνiously: c2, b3, e2, but to
f3 it goes for the first time. Howeνer, this 12 ... ~a5!
makes ηο difference for the estimation. 12 ... b4 13.CLJa4 d5 4.exd5 CLJxd5 which
12 ... ~a5 13.~d2 J:Iad8 14.1::tfdl ,§,fe8 was considered possible preνiously, is risky
15.~el e5
because of 15.f4 ~d7 16.b3 CLJxg4 17.CLJb6
Α programmed moνe which either leads
CLJxb6 18.CLJxe6 as it was shown ίη the game
to an equalization or allows Black to ar- Anand - Lautier, Monaco 2000. The moνe
range threats to the black king οη the di- 12 ... 1::tc8 also brought Black ηο special suc-
agonal a2-g8. cess this year. Thus Black's noνelty is
16.dxe5 rather interesting.
IfWhite had really wanted to struggle 13.CLJb3
he probably would haνe chosen 16.CLJe4. Ιη case of 13.Φb1 there was 13 ... b4
Still, after 16 ... ~xe1 (great complications 14.CLJce2 d5.
arose ίη case of 16 ... exd4 17.~xf7+!? Φχf7 13 ... ~c7 14.~f2 CLJxd3+ 15.1::txd3
18.CLJd6+ Φg8 19.CLJxb7 ~b6 20.CLJxd8 i.xe1 It is νery important that there was ηο
2U:ixe1 with White's slightly better 15.cxd3? because of 15 ... b4.
15 ...CiJd7 16.lld2
16.lιd4!? CiJe5 17.1::tdd1, hampering the
deνelopment of the kingside, deserνed at-
tention.
16... lιe7 17.a3 ~c8 18.f4!?
White νentures οη sharpening of the
position, weakening his e4-pawn.
18... CiJc5 19.~xc5?
Ιη case of 19.CiJxc5? there was a strong
19 ... dxc5 20.e5 b4 21.CiJb1 c4, but it was
necessary to play 19.Φb1.
19 .. :dxc5 20 . .!:ί.edΙ b4 21.l:td7 ~b8 13 ...b5!
22.axb4 cxb4 23. ~b6? Black is constantly attacking some-
Mter this moνe White loses immedi- thing.
ately. Though also ίη case of 23.CiJa4 lιc6! 14.CLJd5
24.llxe7 Φχe7 White probably could not White has to part with the pawn. There
aνoid defeat both after 25. ~c5+ Wf6, and was ηο 14.CLJxb5? because after 14 ... lιc4,
after 25.CiJb6 .i.xe4 26.CiJxc8 ~xc8. White losing an exchange. Ιη case of 14.e5
23 ... ~xf4+ 24.ΦbΙ ..tc6 25.J::txe7+ b415.~a4 he had to reckon with 15 ... CLJd7!
Φχe7 26.~xb4+ Wf6 27 ..ί:td6 Wg6 28.CiJd4 16.lιxa8 ~xa8 17.CLJd1 CLJxe5 with a deadly
0-1 attack ofthe white king.
14... lιxd5 15.exd5 ~xc2
For the pawn White has a minor com-
180 Β70 pensation of the adνantage of the bishop
Svidler - Gelfand pair, but this is eνidently not sufficient.
Round 2 18.08 16.~e3 I:lfe8 17.~el CLJd7 18.Iie2 ~c4
19.b3 ~c3 20.J::tbl J:tac8 21.lιe4 CLJf6
l.e4 c5 2.CiJc3 d6 3.CiJge2 CiJf6 4.g3 22.lιg2 b4 23.a3 bxa3?!
P.Sνidler wants to aνoid the Najdorf Black himself makes the achieνement
Variation of the Sicilian Defence which of the extra pawn more difficult. Mter
would be played ineνitably ίη case of 4.d4. 23 ... e6 24.axb4 axb4 25.lιd2 (25.dxe6 was
4 ... CiJc6 5 ..i.g2 g6 6.d4 cxd4 7.CiJxd4 bad because of 25 ... ~xe6 26. ~f3 ~xf3
CLJxd4 8.~xd4 lιg7 9.0-0 ο-ο 10.h3 27.lιxf3 I:lxe2 28 ...Il'.xe2 ~c2, Black winning
Very slowly. Now it is White who can another pawn) 25 ... ~xe3 26.1::txe3 CLJxd5
encounter difficulties. After 10. ~b4 a5 27 ..i.xd5 exd5 he had probably more win-
11.~b3 lιe6 the struggle would be more ning chances.
tense. 24.~a2 ~c5 25.~d2 ~b5 26.~xa3 I:lc5
10... lιe6 11.~b4 ~c8 27.1::rbal ~b6 28.~dl ~b5
They played νaήοuslΥ ίη this position: Of course the position after 28 ... CLJxd5?
11 ... ~c7, 11 ... ~d7, 11 ... ~b8, 11 ... CiJd7 and 29.lιxd5 lιxa1 30.~xa1 suits White.
11 ... a5, but the natural moνe ίη the game 29.lιe3 ~c7 30.~d3 1::reb8 31.~c4
(Black defends himself and attacks the h3- ~d8?!
pawn at the same time) seems to occur for Most likely this moνe was not the stron-
the first time. gest. There was an interesting 31 ... CLJe8
12.Wh2 a5 13.~a3 32.~xa5 (ίη case of 32.lHa2 there was
White had problems after 13. ~b6 k!:a6 32 ... lιc3) 32 ... ~xb3, and Black had eνery
14. ~e3 b5 too. reason to fight for a win, though White
Rubinstein Memorial 261
eνidently achieνed a lot after he had won 65.l:ιh8 iιxf4 66 ..!:!.xh7+ ~xg5 67 ..ί:'f.xe7
an extra pawn. It seems that White has gained much:
32.~d2 ~b6 33.jLe3 ~d8 34.jLd2 cud7 there are opposite·-coloured bishops οη the
Black does not want to repeat the posi- board and οηlΥ two pawns. Ν eνertheless,
tion, he is striνing for a νictory. to get a draw is not at all easy.
35.ZHa2? 67 ... ~f6 68.ΖΗ7+ ~e5 69 . .ί:'f.h7 J:.a2
Α strange decision. After 35.~xa5 J:.xa5 70 ..!:!.h3
36.J:.xa5 ~xa137.J:.xal ~b6 (White was ΟΚ If White's rook occupied a square be-
also after 37 ... CUe5 38.~c3 ~b6 39.f4 cud7 hind the passed g-pawn after 70.Iϊg7 g5
40.J:.el) 38. ~e2 White's problem would 71.~gl ~e4 according to the classical
haνe been solνed. rules, then the king would take the chance
35... CUe5 36. ~a4 J:.b4! to suffer a mating attack.
Α nice tactical trick which allows Black 70 ... ~e4 71.~gl jLe3+ 72.~f1 g5
to get rid of his weak a5-pawn. 73.~g3 ~f2+ 74.Wgl ~b2+ 75.~f1 ~f4
37.~xa5 76 ..ί:'f.g2 J:.bl+ 77.'tte2 J:.b2+ 78.~f1 l:ιbl+
There was ηο 37.~xb4?? because of 79.~e2 ~e4 80.jLg8 J:.b2+ 81.~f1 J::tbl+
37 ... axb4, catching the white a3-rook. 82.~e2 .ί:!.b2+ 83.Φf1 J::tb3 84.~e2 Ma3
37 ... ~xa5 38.J:.xa5 J:.xb3 39.J:.a7 ~f8 85 ..1ιΠ jLf4 86.jLe6
40.~g5 f6 41.~f4 CUd3 42.~e3 f5 43.jLf1
~f6 44.:2a3 CUel 45 ..ί:'f.xb3 .ί:Χb3 46.~a6
J:.a3 47 .jιe2 J:.b3 48.~a6 i.g5
Black wants to depriνe White of his
adνantage of two bishops with tactical
methods. Probably there was eνen more
efficient way to achieνe this: 48 ... jLd4!
49.jLh6+ (after 49.i..xd4 lΔf3+ Black gets
the desired exchange) 49 ... ~f7 50.J:.a8 g5!
(isolating White's dark-squared bishop)
51.~gl cuf3+ 52.~g2 l:ιb2, and Black is to
Wlll.
86 ... iιg3!
49.1:Ia8+ ~g7 50.~a7 i..f6 51.jLc8 na3 Black makes a νery unpleasant threat
52.~e6 cuf3+ 53.~g2 cud4 54.J::tg8+ of 87 ... J:.a2+ to be followed by 88 ... Φf3.
Ιη case of 54.i..d7 White had to reckon White has ηο satisfactory defence.
with 54 ... f4. 87.iιΠ g4 88.~h5 ~e3+ 89.~d2 i..el+
54 ... ~h6 55.~b6 90.~dl g30-1
After 55.i..xd4 jLxd4 there was a posi- Αη unpleasant 91 ... jLf2 was threaten-
tion similar to the one ίη the game. ing, and ίη case of 91.J:.a2 there was
55... J::ta6 91 ... ~e5! (a simpler and longer line
There was an alluring opportunity 91 ... jLf2 92 ..ί:!.a4+ ΦΧd5 93 ..ί:'f.g4 ~c5 was
55 ... CUxe6 56.dxe6 .ί:!.a4 with the idea to get also enough to win) 92.jLf3 (there was ηο
to the white e6-pawn, but ίη this case af- 92.Me2 because of 92 ... ΪΪχe2 93.~xe2 g2,
ter 57.iιe3+ ~h5 58 ..ί:'f.b8 the position ofthe and the pawn passed, whereas ίη case of
black king was rather dubious, as ίη case 92.jLg4 iιf2 93.jLh3 there was 93 ... J:.el+
of the planned 58 ... Me4 there was 59.nb5 94.Wc2 ι:ι.h195.~g2 Mh2 96 ..Jιf1 g2 97 ..Jιxg2
with a νery unpleasant threat g3-g4. J:.xg2, winning a piece) 92 ... Mxf3 (ηο
56.jLxd4 jLxd4 57.f4 .1::ιa2+ 58.~hl .ί:'f.a3 92 ... i..f2?? because of 93.Me2) 93.~xel
59.~g2 na2+ 60.~hl jLf2 61.g4 fxg4 ~xd5, and two extra pawns ίη the rook
62.hxg4 i..e3 63 ..!:tf8 Iίa4 64.g5+ ~h5 endgame ensured Black an easy νictory.
181 Β76 It turns out that an intrusion of the

Ivanchuk - Fedorov black queen into White's camp with
Round 2 18.08 21 ... 'ff1 a 1+ is not at all dangerous after
22.ςt>c2.
l.e4 c5 2.tΔf3
d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.tΔxd4 22.iιd4 e5 23.i..c3 1:ta6 24. 'ff1b2 'ff1h6+
tΔf6 5.tΔc3 g6 6.iιe3 .1ιg7 7.f3 0-0 8:~d2 25.ΦbΙ 'ff1xh2
tΔc6 9.0-0-0 Black returned the pawn, but you can
Black chose the keen Dragon Variation, see how considerably the activity of the
and White's answer was most fundamen- centralized white :'Jieces has grown for this
tal. Now Black has to venture οη a varia- time.
tion with a pawn's sacrifice or he may stay 26.1::rd8 i..f6 27.~8d7 i..g7 28.'ff1c21:tg6
without any counterplay. 29.1:Hd2 'ff1g1+ 30.Φb2 f4 31.l:i.e2 l:i.g5
9 ... d5 10.exd5 tΔxd5 11.tΔxc6 bxc6 32.b4 a5 33.b5 h5
12.tΔxd5 cxd5 13:~'xd5 'ff1c7 14.'ff1c5 Maybe 33 ... 'ff1c5 was more persistent,
After 14. 'ff1xa8 i..f5 15. 'ff1xf8+ ΦΧf8 though after 34.'ff1e4 Black's position was
16.lld2 h5 Black was better. hard too.
14 ...'ff1b7 34.'ff1dl!
Mter 14 ... 'ff1b8 15.b3 i..f5 16.i..d3 llc8 Another excellent non-showy move.
17.'ff1a5 llc3 18.i..xf5 ~xe3 19.i..e4 'ff1f4 Now the struggle is practically finished.
there was a complex position ίη the game 34 ••• 'ff1c5
Ivanchuk - Hodgson, Amsterdam 1996. Mter 34 ... l:i.xg2 35. 'ff1xgl l:i.xgl 36.c5
15.'ff1a3 White's united passed pawns decide the
Mter 15.b3 iιf5 16.i..d3 ~fc8 Black, as game ίη his favour.
a rule, gets a very good compensation for 35.'ff1d5 'ff1g1
the sacrificed pawn. Ιη case of 35 ... 'ff1b6 there was a strong
15 ..• iιf5 16.iιd3 ~ab8 17.b3 J::!.bc8 36.a4 to be followed by an advance of the
17 ... llfc8 was seen too. c-pawn.
18.i..xf5 gxf5 19.1::rd3 36.1:txf7!
Α novelty. ΟηΙΥ 19. 'ff1a5 has been played This not complicated tactical blow puts
previously. an end to the game.
19 ..• 'ff1c6 36... l:i.xf7 37.'ff1d8+ l:i.f8 38.'ff1xg5 'ff1f1
39.llc21-0
182 D31
Van Wely - Κrasenkow
Round 2 18.08
1.c4 e6 2.tΔc3 d5 3.d4 c6 4.e3 f5

Black transfers the play from the Slav
to the Dutch Defence, safely preventing
White from a possible advance e3-e4.
5.tΔf3 tΔf6 6.i..d3 iιd6 7.0-00-0 8.b3
20.c4! 'ff1e7 9.itb2 i..d7 10.tΔe2
Α brave and strong move. With a long ΟηΙΥ an immediate 10.tΔe5 has been
step forward the white pawn reduces the seen previously.
influence area of Black's heavy pieces. 10 ... ite8 1l.tΔe5 tΔfd7
20 ... 'ff1f621.llhdlllc6 Α more natural move 11 ... tΔbd7 could
not make a threat of the exchange of the 42.iLcl 4Jc4 43.'It>f3

knights οη e5. White chooses an actiνe method of de-
12.f4 4Jf6 13.c5 iLc7 14.b4 iLh5 15.b5 fence. 43.iLc2 was also possible with the
cxb5 16.iLxb5 4Je4 17.Mbl iLxe5 18.fxe5 idea that ίη case of 43 ... 4Jc3+ 44.';.t>d3 4Ja2
4Jc6 White had 45.iιd2! 4Jxa3 46.iιb3, catch-
The knight οη b8 still proνed to be use- ing the black knight οη a2.
ful for Black. 43 ... 4Jc3 44.'It>f4 4Ja2 45.iLe3 g5+
19:~el iLxe2 20.~xe2 Ϊ!π 21.Mf3 Maf8 Ιη case of 45 ... 4Jxa3 46.<;t>g5 CL\b4 47.iLe2
22.Mbf1 ~c7 23.Mcl ~a5 24.a3 f4 25.iLd3 4Jac2 48.iLf2 4Jc6 49. <;t>xg6 CL\2xd4 50.iLxh5
fxe3 26.Mxf7 Mxf7 Φχe5 51.h4 CL\e6 52.iLf3 the passed h-pawn
οη the side ofthe board could haνe brought
a lot of troubles to Black.
46.'It>f3 f4 47.iLf2 CL\d2+
There was a νery interesting 47 ... CL\cl
48.iLxc4 with a strong intermediate moνe
48 ... 'It>f5! (48 ... dxc4 was bad because of
49.Φe4) 49.iLd3+ CL\xd3 50.'It>e2 CL\b2, Black
still keeping a winning chance.
48.<;t>e2 CL\e4 49.'It>f1 CL\ac3 50.'It>el <;t>e7
51.iLgl <;t>d7 52.iLf2 a6 53.Φf1CL\b5 54.a4
CL\c7 55.iLgl <;t>c6 56.'It>el CL\e6 57.a5 g4
58.iLc2!?
27.~xe3 Α good plan. White is ready to face the
The perspectiνe to stay with the bad complications. Mter 58.iLf1 CL\c3 59.<;t>d2
dark-squared bishop is not νery tempting CL\b5 60.<;t>d3 there was an approximate
for White. After 27.iLxe4 dxe4 28.~xe3 equality οη the board.
4Je7 29.Mel (ίη case of29.~xe4 there was 58 ... <;t>b5 59.iLxe4 dxe4 60.d5 CL\c7
a strong 29 ... ~d2 30.~c2 ~e3+ 31.<;t>hl 61.c6 bxc6 62.d6 CL\e6 63.iLb6 'lt>c4
Mf2) 29 ... ~b5 30.iLal (if 30.iLcl, then af- Black giνes up the piece at once. Oth-
ter 30 ... 4Jf5 31.~xe4 1::!.d7 32.Mdl ~a4 erwise he could haνe lost after 63 ... 4Jf8
Black also returned the pawn and got a 64.iιd8 f3 65.gxf3 gxf3 66.iιg5 'lt>xa5 67.d7
better position) 30 ... 4Jd5 31.~xe4 ~b3 CL\xd768.e6.
Black maintained the material balance 64.d7 Φd5 65.d8~+ CL\xd8 66.iLxd8
again. Φχe5
27 ... 4Je7 28.~el ~a4 29.~b4 ~d7 Three extra pawns are a sufficient com-
30.Mf1 Mxf1+ 31.iLxf1 4Jc6 32.~el ~π pensation for the bishop.
33.iLd3 ~f5 34. ~f1 ~g5 67 .iLc7 + Φf5 68. 'lt>d2 c5??
If 34 ... ~xf1+ 35.<;t>xf1 4Jd2+ 36.<;t>e2 Black found a way to lose the game.
4Jc4, then after 37.iLxc4 dxc4 38.<;t>d2 b5 Mter 68 ... h4 69.iιd8 (ίη case of 69.h3 e3+
39.cxb6 axb6 40.a4 White could haνe 70. 'lt>d3 c5 it was οηlΥ Black who had some
struggled for a win. winning chances) 69 ... h3 70.gxh3 gxh3
35.~el ~f5 36.iLe2 h5 37.~f1 g6 71.iLb6 'lt>g4 72.<;t>e2 'lt>f5 the front line of
38. ~xf5 exf5 the black pawns was impregnable.
The endgame is better for Black owing 69.g3
to his well locked pawn chain, notwith- Now it is easy to block up Black's
standing White's bishop pair and defended pawns.
passed pawn. 69 ..• f3 70.iLb6 We5 71.iLxc5 <;t>d5
39.iLd3 Φπ 40.'It>f1 'lt>e6 41.<;t>e2 4Ja5 72.iLb61-0
183 Α43 J::rxa8 39.i..c1 was preferable, because ίn

Movsesian - Markowski case of 39 ... i..a4 there was 40:i;Ya2.
Round 2 18.08 38... J::rxa3 39.1:[f7 ~g8
It turns out thHt the white rook has nο
l.e4 c5 2.tιJf3 g6 3.d4 .i.g7 4.d5 tιJf6 conνenient square to retreat.
5.tιJc3 d6 6 ..i.b5+ tιJbd7 7.a4 ο-ο 8.0-0 a6 40.J::rfd7 jLxd7 41.1:[xd7 .a:al+ 42.tιJgl
9 ..i.e2 .ttb8 10.tιJd2 .a:d80-1
10 ..i.f4 looked more natural.
10 ... tιJe8 lU::rel
Ιn case of 11.tιJc4 White had to reckon 184 C67
with 11 ... tιJb6. Shirov - Almasi
11 ... tιJc7 12.tιJc4 b6 13.f4 i..b7 14..ltf3 Round 2 18.08
14 ..i.f1 has been seen preνiously.
14 ... .i.a8 15.~hl b5 16.axb5 axb5 l.e4 e5 2.tιJf3 tιJc6 3 ..i.b5 tιJf6 4.0-0
17.tιJa5 tιJb6 18.J::ra2 e6 tιJxe4 5.d4 tιJd6 6 ..ltxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 tιJf5
8. '{;fxd8+ ~xd8
The Brasilia Variation ofthe Ruy Lopez
acquired a wide popularity for the recent
years.
9.tιJc3 i..d7
An uncommon moνe.
19.dxe6
If White has to make moνes like this,
he eνidently willlose the opening fight. Ιn
case of a more pretentious 19.tιJc6 .ltxc6
20.dxc6 b4 21.tιJe2 '{;fe7 Black's chances
looked also better.
19 ...fxe6 20.tιJe2 e5 21.c3 '{;fe7 22.b4 10.h3
.a:bd8 23.bxc5 dxc5 24.'{;fc2 exf4 25.tιJb3? Only 10 ..ltg5+ and 10 ..i.f4 has been
Α strange moνe: White giνes up a pawn played ίn this position preνiously.
for nothing. He had to play 25 ..ltxf4 tιJe6, 10 ... h6 11 ..i.f4 b6 12.a4 a5 13 ..a:adl
though ίn this case Black was still better. ~c8 14.b3 .i.b4 15.tιJe4 .i.e6 16.c4 c5
25 ... '{;fe5 26 ..a:a7 tιJc4 27.'{;fa2 ~h8 17.g4 tιJe7 18.tιJel .ltd7
28.tιJa5 tιJb6 29.tιJb3 tιJa4 30.c4 bxc4 Black begins to play for a win. Mter
31.tιJd2 18 ... h5 he had to reckon with 19.tιJg5 hxg4
The play would be reduced to the posi- 20.tιJxe6 fxe6 21.hxg4 with an approximate
tion ίn the game after 31. '{;fxa4 cxb3 equality.
32. '{;fxb3 tιJe6. 19.tιJg3 g5 20 ..i.e3 tιJg6 21.tιJd3 .i.c6
31 ... tιJb6 32.tιJxc4 tιJxc4 33.'{;fxc4 tιJe6 22.f4 gxf4 23.tιJxf4 .i.c3
34 ..lta3 .a:fe8 35 . .a:b1 .a:b8 36 ..a:dl .i.c6 If 23 ... tιJxe5, then after 24.tιJd5 ~b7
37.'{;fc2 .a:a8 38..a:xg7? 25 ..ltf4 Black encountered problems ίn
Losing the game, and quickly. 38 ..a:xa8 keeping his extra pawn.
24.CLJfe2?!
White could haνe got into great troubles
this way. After 24.CLJxg6 fxg6 25.1::rf6 'lt>b7
(ίη case of 25 ... ..ie8 there was 26.1ιe6)
26.~xg6 .txe5 27.CLJf5 h5 Black stood
slightly better, nothing more.
24 ....txe5 25.ktxf7 '>t>b7 26.1::rff1 1::rae8
27.1::rd3 1::re6?!
Black lingers. He could haνe looked for
winning opportunities after 27 ... CLJh4! with
an unpleasant threat of the intrusion οη
f3. Probably White planned 28 ..td2 .tg2 20 ..• 1fib6!
29.ΙΗ2 .txh3 30.1::rh2 ίη this case, but then The position before Black's last moνe
Black had 30 ... 1:rd8! 3U:txd8 CLJf3+ (this was seen not long ago. After 20 ... 'l;fc6?
intermediate moνe is νery important) 21. 'l;fg5+ Black suffered a crushing attack
ίη the game Sνidler - Gelfand, Biel (round
32.'>t>h1 Mxd8 33.1::rxh3 1::rxd2 34.1::rxh6 ktb2
with good winning prospects. 4) 2000. Ιη our comments this moνe ίη the
28.Mf2 J:the8 game was pointed out as the strongest.
Now 28 ... CLJh4 could haνe been repelled 21.1fig5+ '>t>xf7 22.z:thf1 .th6 23.~xf2+
with a mere 29 ...id2. 'lt>e8 24.~d8+ 1fixd8 25.1fixh6 1fie7!
29 ..id2 CLJh4 30.'>t>f1 ..id6 This ίΒ stronger than 25 ... 1fid4 which
Ιη Almasi's ορίηίοη 30 ... 1::r8e7! was looks more actiνe, because after 26.1fig7
stronger. 1fixe4 27.1fixh8+ 'lt>d7 28.J::rd2+ '>t>c6 (after
31.CLJc3 .ixg3 32 . .:txg3 1::rd8 33 ..ic128 ... ~c7? 29.1fid8+ '>t>c6 30.z:td6+ White
1::rde8 34 ..id2 J:td8 35 ..ic1 J::td7 36 ..if4mated) 29.1fif6+! (nothing would come out
1::rde7 37 ..td2 1::rd7 38..tc1 J:tde7 39..id2 of 29. 'l;fxc8+ because of 29 ... 'It>b6 30.1::rd6+
1::rd7 40 ..ic1 ~de7 1f2-1f2 CLJc6! 31.1fixa8 'l;fe3+ 32.~d2CLJd4 33.1fid8+
'lt>a7 34.c3CLJf3 with an equality) 29 ... Wb5
185 Β81 30.a4+! '>t>xa4 (30 ... Wc4? was bad because
Almasi - Svidler of 31.b3+ '>t>c3 32.J::td3+ 1fixd3 33.'l;fxe5+
Round 3 19.08 '>t>b4 34. 'l;fe7 + '>t>a5 35.1fic7 + b6 36.cxd3 with
White's win) 31.b3+ 'lt>a3 32.1fie7 + 'l;fb4
1.e4 c5 2.CLJf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.CLJxd4 33.'l;fxe5 'l;fxd2 34.'It>xd2CLJc6 35.1fid6+ 'lt>b2
CLJf6 5.CLJc3 a6 6 ..ie3 e6 7.g4 e5 8.CLJf5 g6 (after 35 .. .'>t>a2 36.~c1 the future of the
It was mentioned many times already black king looked rather dubious, for ίη
that this keen νariation has become νery stance, ίη case of36 ... I:ι.b8 there was 37.1fif4
popular- recently, there is ηο need to re- b5 38. 'l;ff6, winning a piece) 36.1fif6+ '>t>a3
peat it, especially since the chief genera- 37.'l;ff8+ '>t>b2 (if 37 ... '>t>a2, then there was
tor of ideas for White A.Shiroν will play an unpleasant 38.b4 with the fearful threat
soon with two staunch supporters of of39.1fif7+ 'lt>b2 40. 'l;fb3+ 'it>a141.Φc1 mak-
Black's position ίη this line B.Gelfand ing the mate a sure thing) 38.b4! White
(round 6) and L.Van Wely (round 8). still keeps some winning chances owing to
9.g5 gxf5 10.exf5 d5 11.gxf6 d4 the threat of 39.1fif7 or 39. 'l;ff3
12 ..ic4 1fic7 13.1fid3 dxe3 14.0-0-0 exf2 26.CLJf6+ Φd8 27.CLJd5 1fie6 28.1fig5+?!
15 ..txf7+! 'lt>xf716.1fid5+ '>t>xf617.CLJe4+ Ιη case of the strongest play from both
'>t>e7! sides, the game ~hould end ίη a draw.
The οηlΥ moνe. Its author is L.Van Wely. Now White had an opportunity to force a
18.f6+ '>t>e8 19.f7+ '>t>e7 20.1fid2! draw with a perpetual check after 28.1fih4+
~d7 29.Itd2 ,§f'7 30.liJb6+ 'ϊ.t>c6 31.'§e4+! equality.

(but ηο 31.liJxa8? because of 31 ... '§f1+ 39 ... 1::th8 40.'§g6+ Φf4 41.'§f7+ .tf5
32.I!d1 '§f4+, exchanging queens and win- 42.b4
ning the game) 31 ... Φχb6 32.'§e3+ Wc7 White's c-pawn will not get any far
33. '§xe5+ Wb6 34. '§d4+ Wa5 35. '§c3+. alone. Mter 42.c5 e4 43.c6 ~h6 44. '§c4
Howeνer, he wants to get more. Most likely (44.c7 is losing because of 44 ... .a:c6+ 45.Φd2
the position still will stay equal, but the e3+ 46.Φe2 l:Ic2+ 47.We1 liJe5) 44 ... liJe5
probability of White's mistake will grow 45.'§f1+ ~g5 46.'§g2+ liJg4 47.'§d2+ e3
higher. 48. '§d8+ ~f4 49. '§d4+ Φf3 the black king
28 ... 'ϊ.t>d7 29.'§g7+ Φc6 30.:l.f6 ~xd5 escaped checks and after 50. '§c5 Black won
31.~xe6 Wxe6!? with 50 ... liJe5! 51. '§xe5 I:txc6+ 52.Wd1 Jtg4.
Black is trying to play for a win. Mter 42 ... e4 43.b5 axb5 44.cxb5 e3
31 ....txe6 32:~xh8 h5 33.a4! to deνelop the
queenside is νery difficult for him. Though
White does not haνe any real serious
threats. 80, the position should be esti-
mated as equal.
32.'§xh8
White cannot mate with his queen οηlΥ,
so the black king can feel relatiνely safe ίη
the centre.
32 ••• liJd7
There is an alternatiνe: 32 ... liJc6 33.h4
~b8 34.h5 .td7.
33.'§xh7?! 45.b6?
Το take the h7-pawn with the prelimi-
Probably this moνe was the crucial mis-
nary check 33.'§g8+ Wd6 34.'§xh7 was take. Mter 45.'§c4+ Φg5 46.Φb2 ~xh5 (ίη
more precise. case of 46 ... liJe5 there was 47.'§e2) 47.b6
33 ••• liJf6 34.'§c7 Wf5! ~h1 48.Φa3 (bad was 48. '§g8+ Φf4 49.
Α good moνe: the king frees the e6- '§c4+ .te4 50.,§f'7+ Φg3 51.'§c7+ Φh3 as
square for the bishop. the black king escaped checks, whereupon
35.h4 .te6 36. '§xb7 .td5 37. '§b6liJg4! White encountered an insoluble problem
Black positions his pieces νery well, of the e-pawn) 48 ... l:Ib1 49. '§c7 ~e4
coνering squares around his king. Α natu- 50. '§d6 a draw wιo.s still possible.
ral 37 ... 1::[h8 allowed White to draw the 45 ... liJe5!
game with 38. '§f2+ Φe6 39. '§b6+. The centralized position of Black's
38.c4?! pieces decides the game ίη his faνour.
White continues his combination. 46.'§e7 ~xh5 47.b7 ~hl+ 48.~b2 ~bl+
Maybe the adνance of another pawn was 49.Wc3 e2 50.'§h4+ .tg4 51.'§h2+ ~f5
preferable. Ιη case of 38.a4 ':h8 39. '§xa6 52.'§h7+ ιiJg6 53.'§d7+ Φg5 54.'§d2+ \t>h5
~xh4 40.a5liJe3 a draw would be the most 0-1
probable result.
38 ... Jte4 186 Α07
Of course ηο 38 ... .txc4?? because of Markowski - Shirov
39.'§c6. Round 3 19.08
39.h5
Again 39.a4 ~h8 40. '§xa6 l1xh4 41.Φd2 l.g3 d5 2.liJf3 g6 3.c4 dxc4 4.'§a4+
looked better, maintaining an approximate ιiJc65 ..tg2 .tg7 6.'§xc4 e5 7.liJg5 liJh6
8.~xc6+ bxc6 9.tZJc3 25 ..•f4!

Α capture ofthe pawn 9.Qxc6+ was fol- Mter this not complicated blow Black's
lowed by 9 ... ~d7 10.'~g2 ο-ο 11.d3 CZJf5 position begins to fall to pieces.
12.CZJc3 CZJd4 13.0-0 h6 14.CZJf3 ~c6 ίη the 26.CZJfe4
game Tukmakov - Kupreichik, Kujbyshev 26.exf4?! ~e2
1986, which gave Black a fair compensa- 26•.• ~g6
tion. Ιη case of a more forced 26 ... fxe3
9 ... 0-0 10.d3 CZJf5 11.0-0 CZJd4 12.~e3 27.l:txf8+ Wxf8 (if 27 ... :xf8, then 28.CZJd7
h6 13.CZJge4 ~g4 14.f3 ~e6 15:~a4 'f1e7 1:tf3 29.CZJe5) 28.CZJd7+ Wf7 29.CZJe5+ ~xe5
16.f4 ~g4 17.z:tael 30.dxe5 .ί':txe5 31 ..ί'lxe3 ~g6 32.1:ί.f3+ '<te7
Α necessary move. Mter 17.fxe5 CZJxe2+ there was a position similar to the one
(if 17 ... 'f1xe5, then 18.~xh6!) 18.CZJxe2 which was regarded ίη our comments to
1ιχe2 19.1ιc5 'f1xe5 20.J:.t2 ~xd3 21.~xf8 White's 25th move.
z:txf8 Black had an excellent compensation 27.exf4 ~xd4+ 28.Wg2 gxf4 29.gxf4
for the exchange. 29.b4100ked more persistent.
17 ... f5 18.CZJf2 ~h5 19.fxe5 'f1xe5 29 ... ~xb2 30.Φf3 ~h5+ 31.Φg3 Φh7
20.~xd4 'f1xd4 21.'f1xd4? 31 ... ~f5 was not bad with the idea of
White wavered. After 21.'f1xc6 1::tab8 32 ... Wf7, opening the g-file for the rook.
22.e3 'f1d6 23.'f1c4+ (ίη case of 23.'f1xd6 32.f5 ~g8+ 33.Φh4 ~f7 34.CZJd7 Φg7
cxd6 24.z:tb1 z:tfe8 25.z:tfe1 Black had at 35.CZJec5 ~c4 36.CZJe6+
least 25 ... z:txb2 26 ..tιxb2 ~xc3 27 ..tιbb1 Mter 36.~xe8 ~xe8 37.~f4 ~d5 38.~a4
1ιχe1 28 ..tιxe1 1ιf3 with a slightly better .tιe2 White was condemned.
play) 23 ... 'ίt>h8 Black had a compensation 36...Φf7 37.z:tf4 ~d5 38.J::tbl?!
of two active bishops for the pawn. But The black rook should not have been
now Black achieves this advantage for allowed to get to the second rank. 38.~t2
nothing. was stronger.
21 ... ~xd4 22.e3 ~g7 23.CZJa4 z:tae8 38 ... z:tg2 39.Φh3 gd2 40.~gl ~xa2
24.d4?! 41.CZJdc5 ~e5 42.CZJe4 ~xe6 43.fxe6+
Mter 24.Φg2 g5 25.b3 .tιe7 White's ρο 'ίt>xe60-1
sition was evidently worse, but probably
he should have played like that. 187 D15
24 ... g5 25.CZJc5?! Κrasenkow - Movsesian
Ιη case of 25.CZJd3 White had to reckon Round 3 19.08
with the continuation 25 ... z:txe3!? 26.z:txe3
~xd4 27.z:tfe1 f4 28.gxf4 gxf4 29.CZJxf4 z:txf4 I.CZJf3 CZJf6 2.c4 c6 3.CZJc3 d5 4.d4 a6
with Black's extra pawn, but nevertheless 5.c5 CZJbd7 6.~f4 CZJh5 7.iιd2 CZJhf6 8.b4
this line deserved attention too. Ιη case of a prophylactic 8.h3 White
took the chance of encountering 8 ... e5!
8 ... g6
Now 8 ... e5?! is evidently not good be-
cause of 9.dxe5 CZJg4 10.e4 dxe4 11.CZJxe4
CZJgxe5 12.CZJxe5 CZJxe5 13.~c3 with a per-
ceptible advantage for White.
9.'f1cl h6
Ιη case of a natural 9 ... iιg7 there was
10.iιh6.
10.e3 iιg7 11.~d3 ο-ο 12.0-0 e5
13.CZJxe5
Another capture 13.dxe5 after 13 ... CDg4 20.'it>hl d4!

14.e6 allowed Black to develop a very Now White already cannot contain
strong attack with 14 ... fxe6 15 ..\txg61:!.xf3 Black's victorious onslaught.
16.gxf3 CDge5 17 ..\tc2 CDxf3+ 18.'it>g2 ~f6. 21.~el
If White wanted to avoid a keen play he It's hard to advise White anything. Ιη
had a quiet 13 ..\te2 with an approximately case of21.fxe5 the solution was 21 ... .\txe5
equal position after 13 ... e4. 22 ..ί:tf4 dxe3 23 ..txe3 1:tae8, and ίη case of
13 ...CDxe5 14.dxe5 CDg4 15.CDa4? 21.exd4 Black won with 21 ... ~h3+ 22. 'it>gl
This knight is too far from the kingside CDg4 23 ..txg4 .txd4+.
here. 15 ..\te2 CDxe5 with Black's slightly 21 ... ~h3+ 22.Wgl dxe3 23.jιc3 CDg4
better play was preferable. 24.jιxg4 ~xg4+ 25.'>t>h2 ~fe8 26.~g3 ~f5
15 ... ~h4! 27.jιxg7 'it>xg7 28.CDb6 ~ad8
Trying to get as much as possible. Α Black's last reserves enter the fight.
slightly better position after 15 ... CDxe5 29.~ael1:rd2+ 30.'it>gl ~e4 31.a3 ~f6
16 ..\te2 did not suit Black. 32.CDc8 ~d4 33.1:tf3 e2+?
16.h3 CDxe5 17.jιe2 When it was but a step from the vic-
tory, Black made a mistake. 33 ... .ί:td1
34 ..ί:txdl ~xdl+ 35 ..1lf1 e2 36 ..ί:te1 and now
36 ... .ί:tc4 or 36 ... 1:rxf4 led to the win.
34.'it>g2?
White did not use the chance to escape
a defeat by means of 34.~f2! ~f6 34.CDd6
.ί:tdl 35.CDxe4 ~al 36.:e3 :xe1+ 37.'it>g2
34 ...J:MI35.CDd6 ~al 0-1
188 Β80
Fedorov - Van Wely
Rour,d 3 19.08
17... jιxh3!
Black engages the strength of all his l.e4 c5 2.CDf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.CDxd4
pieces ίη the attack ofWhite's kingside. CDf6 5.CDc3 a6 6.f3 e6 7 ..te3 b5 8.g4 h6
18.gxh3 ~xh3 9.~d2 CDbd7 10.0-0-0 .tb7 1l ..td3 CDe5
Black created a fearful threat, disguised 12. .ί:thel :c8
with 19 ... CDf3+! 20 ..\txf3 jιe5. 12 ... ~a5 occurred ίη the first round ίη
19.f4 the game A.Fedorov - Gelfand, Polanica
19 ..\tc3 was more stubborn, though af- Zdroj 2000. L.Van Wely prefers to keep to
ter 19 ... f5 20.f4 (ίη case of 20. ~b2 there the beaten track.
was a strong 20 ... CDg4 21.jιxg4 ~xg4+ 13.'it>bl CDfd7 14.f4 CDc4 15.~e2
22.~h2 f4) 20 ... ~g3+ 21.~h1 CDg4 22 ..\txg4 Mter 15 ..txc41:rxc416.f5 e5 17.CDf3 ~a8
fxg4 23. ~d2 (if 23.f5, then 23 ... .\txc3 18.b31:rxe4 19.CDxe4 jιxe4 20.CDgl.te7 21.
24.CDxc3 ZΙae8) 23 ... t!:f5 24 . .ί:Η2 jιxc3 .\tf2 ο-ο Black got a good compensation of
25.CDxc3 .ί:te8 White's position was still a pawn and an active position ofthe pieces
hard. for the sacrificed exchange ίη the game
19 ... ~g3+ Korneev - Topalov, Cala Galdana 1999.
The line 19 ... CDg4 20.1ιχg4 ~xg4+ 15 ... CDxe3 16.~xe3 ~b6 17.CDd5
21.'it>f2 .tf6 22.l:ιh1 .th4+ 23.Itxh4 ~xh4+ This sacrificeaf a piece already has
24. 'it>g2 ~g4+ 25. '>t>f2 was less promising been seen more than once. Mter 17.f5 e5
for Black. 18.CDb3 ~xe3 19 ..!:!xe3 CDc5 20.CDa5 1ιa8
2l.ι'LJd5 jLxd5 22.exd5 jLe7 Black got even a draw.

better chances ίη the game Anand - Van 36... jLg5 37.CLJxg6 ~b8 38.a3 h5 39.CLJf4
Wely, Wijk aan Zee 2000. If39.J:!f1+ ~g7 40.CLJf4, then, apartfrom
17.. :~lc5 40 ... a5, White had to reckon with an υη
Taking the sacrifice with 17 ... exd5 can pleasant 40 ... J:!f8!? 41.CLJd5 J:!xf1 42.~xf1
lead Black to a crushing defeat after h4, as then Black's passed pawns would
18.exd5+ ~d8 19.bb5 axb5 20. ~e8+ ~c7 cost him dearly.
21.~xf7 as it happened ίη the game 39 ... jLxf4 40.~f1 ~e6 41.~xf4 ~xe5
Timman - Van Wely, Wijk aan Zee 2000. 42.!le4+ Φd5 43.J:::1e7 a5 44.b5 a4 45.~c2
Also 17 ... ~a7 has occurred ίη this position. h4 46.~h7 h3 47.J::!.h4 jLd7 48.~h5+ 'it>d6
18.b4 ~a7 49.~f1 ~c8+ 50.Φd21:rc3 51.~h6+
If 51.b6, then after 51 ... ~b3! (51 ... 1:rxa3
was weaker because of52.~h6+ ~e5 53.b7
~b3 54.1::I.h5+ ~d6 55.~b5!) 52.b7 nb2+
53.Φc1 ~xb7 54.~xh3 jLxh3 55.~xh3 'it>d5
White had a losing rook endgame without
a pawn, and after 56.~h5+ ~c4 57.~a5 I1h7
58.~xa4+ Φc3 his position was absolutely
hopeless.
51 ... ~d5 52.b6 ~b3 53.~h7 jLf5 54.1:th5
~e4 55.nh6 ~f4 56.b7 1:txb7 57.~xh3
1'.Ib2+ 58.~cl ~c2+ 59.ΦdΙ ~h2 60.1:td6
~e5
19.h4 60 ... ~xh3 was also possible with a mate
19.CLJb3 was played previously, and af- after 61.J::txd4+ Φe3 62.1:txa4 ~h1#
ter 19 ... ~xe3 20.CLJxe3 g5 21.f5 jLg7 Black's 61.J::txd4 ~c2+! 0-1
chances were preferable Berezovich -
V.Belov, Moscow 2000. 189 Α31
19 ... e5 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.CLJf5 ~xe3 Gelfand - Ivanchuk
22.CLJfxe3 g6 23.~b2 ~e7 24.~hl?! Round 3 19.08
Α passive move. The advantage of two
bishops should be taken into consideration. I.CLJf3 c5 2.c4 CLJc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.CLJxd4
Better was 24.CLJxe7!? ~xe7 25.c4 bxc4 CLJf6 5.g3 "§b6 6.CLJc2
26.CLJxc4 with an approximate equality. The continuation 6.CLJb3 was tested by
24 ... CLJf6 25.CLJxf6+ jLxf6 26.c4 the same opponents ίη the Stein Memo-
Ιf26.Φb3, then after 26 ... ~d8 an intru- rial this year.
sion to d5 with the knight is dangerous for 6 ... e6 7 .~g2 d5 8.0-0 ~e7
White as he can lose a pawn. Ιη case of 8 ... dxc4 White could have
26 ...bxc4 27.CLJxc4 I1d8 28.jLc2 ~e7 struggled for an advantage with 9.CLJca3 or
29.h5 1:!.d4 30.~xd4 exd4 31.~d3 jLc8 9.CLJe3.
32.CLJb6?! 9.cxd5 exd5
Allowing Black to create a passed pawn 9 ... CLJxd5 was also tested ίη practice ίη
οη the h-file. The defence after 32.~g1 ~e6 the game Topalov - Ponomariov, Las Ve-
was preferable for White. gas (m14 active) 1999 where it was followed
32 ... ~xg4 33.CLJd5+ ~e6 34.hxg6 fxg6 by 10.CLJe3 CLJxe3 11.~xe3 ~xb2 12.~xc6+
35.CLJf4+ ~π 36.e5? bxc6 13.~d4 ~b7 14.~xg7 ~g8 15.~c3
White finally spoils the game. After 10.CLJc30-0
36.J::ι.g1! h5 37.e5 he probably could make Α novelty. Black ventures οη a sacrifice
ofthe pawn. Ιη case of 10 ... ..te6 White got 20.ZΙxe6!

a more pleasant play after 11.lΔe3 d4 White gets rid of his opponent's active
12.lΔed5lΔd5 13.lΔd5 ..td5 14 ...td5 ο-ο 15. pieces with the help of a temporary
~b3 ~xb3 16.1ιχb3 ίη the game Skembris exchange's sacrifice.
- De Firmian, Vrnjacka Banja 1983. 20 ...fxe6 21 ..ih3 'it>h8!
11.lΔxd5 lΔxd5 12.~xd5 ..te6 13.~e4 Black is up to the mark and does not
.if614.a4 hold to the material balance. Ιη case of a
There seems to be ηο other way to com- more indifferent 21 ... e5 to be followed with
plete the development. Mter 14.~e3 'ufe8 22 ..ie6+ 'it>h8 23. ~d3 .ί::!:fc8 24.iιxc8 lΔxc8
Black had an excellent compensation for 25.lΔb3 ~xa4 26 ..!:td1 Black's position was
the missing pawn, pressing οη White's difficult despite the material balance.
queenside. 22 ..ixe6 ~xe2 23 ..ixc4 "itfxc4 24. "itfc2
14...~ac8 ~c8 25.l:f.c1 "itfxc2
The line 14 ... ~fd8!? 15.a5 (the variant Black was losing ίη case of 25 ... "itfd5
with 15 ..ie3 ~a6 16.lΔb4 ~xe2 was quite 26. ~xc8+ lΔxc8 27.J:ιxc8+ 1ιd8 28.lΔc6
harmless for Black) 15 ... ~b5 16.a6 iιd5 "itfd1+ 29.'it>g2 ~d5+ 30.f3 "itfa2+ 31 ..if2.
with a good compensation for the pawn 26.~xc2 Itxc2 27.lΔxc2lΔd5
deserved attention too. Now it is evident that the pawns ofthe
15.iιe3! queenside will be exchanged, and the
White still found a way to develop his endgame with White's three pawns οη the
pieces of the queenside. kingside against two Black's means a draw.
15 ... ~xb2 28.lΔa3
If 15 ... ~a6, then after 16.lΔb4 ~xe2 It is curious that after 28.1ιd4 ..txd4
17.lΔxc6 ~xc6 18.1ιχa7 White could have 29.lΔxd4 lΔc3 30.lΔc6 lΔxa4 31.lΔxa5 a
created a dangerous passed pawn οη the knight endgame could have arisen similar
queenside. to the one which occurred between the
16.~ab1 ~a2 same opponents ίη the second round-robin
16 ... ~c3!? was an alternative. of the above mentioned Stein Memorial.
17.~xb7 a5! The difference is that, unlike that game, it
This way οηlΥ. Α passive defence is im- would be B.Gelfand who would have an
possible. After 17 ... lΔd8 18.lΔb4 ~a3 opportunity to "torture" his opponent, be-
19.~b5 ~c4 (19 ... ~xa4? was bad because ing the stronger side ίη this case.
of 20.~h5! h6 21.lΔd5) 20. ~b1 ~xa4 28 ... lΔc3 29 ..id2 lΔxa4 30.1ιχa5 'it>g8
21.lΔd5 White's pieces became very active. 3ι.tZΊc4 tZΊc5 32 ...tb6 tZΊd7 33 ...tc7 'it>f7
18 ..a:b6 lΔe7 19.1Δd4 J:ιc4 34.'it>g2 'it>e6 35.Φf3 ..td4 36.lΔe3 lΔf6
19 ... .id5!? 20.~g4 iιxg2 2l.'>~(xg2 lΔd5 37.iιd8 tZΊd5 38.lΔc4 1ιf6 39 ..ia5 iιc3
deserved attention as well. 40 ..id8 .if6 41.iιb6 ..te7 1/2-%
190 Β33
SvidleI' - Ivanchuk
Round 4 20.08
1.e4 c5 2.tZΊf3 lΔc6 3.lΔc3 tZΊf6 4.d4

cxd4 5.lΔxd4 e5 6.lΔdb5 d6 7 ...tg5 a6
8.lΔa3 b5
The opponents chose the Sveshnikov
Variation to be the field for their opening
fight.
9.l2Jd5 Jιe7 10.Jιxf6 Jιxf6 11.c3 ο-ο 15... '§c6!?

12.l2Jc2 i-g5 13.a4 bxa4 14.~xa4 a5 Black wants to fight. There was a mere
15.Jιb5 15 ... 0-0 16.0-0 with an approximate equal-
After the well-known game Kasparoν ity.
- Van Wely, Wijk aan Zee 1999, this con- 16.i..xb5
tinuation became especially popular. Ιη case of 16.l2Jd4 Black had 16 ... 1ιa4!,
15...l2Je7 getting a better play.
15 ... i-b7 was played ίη the aboνe men- 16 ... '§xb5 17.l2Jd4 '§c4 18.f3l2Jc6?!
tioned game. Black is ready to part with some ofhis
16.l2Jcb4 jιd7 17.l2Jxe7+ Jιxe7 18. material for an opportunity to play against
Jιxd7 the white king which is lingering about ίη
This led to a quick equalization. Ιη the the centre. Ιη the endgame which could
game Motyleν - Agamalieν, Bydgoszcz haνe appeared ίη case of a more prosaic
1999, the opponents played 18.l2Jc6 Jιxc6 18 ... 0-0 19. '§b3 '§xb3 20.l2Jxb3 or 18 ... e5!?
(probably V.lνanchuk was going to con- 19.12Je2 ο-ο (if 20 ... '§c5, then 20.'§a4+)
tinue ίη another way: 18 .. :§e8! 19:§d5 21. '§d3 the centralized position ofthe king
Jιe6) 19.Jιxc6 J::!.b8 20.J:Ia2 '§b6 21.i-d5 would be not a shortcoming, but, οη the
with a slight but lasting adνantage to contrary, a merit ofWhite's position. Any-
White. way, ίη this situation it was probably the
18... axb4 19.Jιc6 J:Ixa4 20.'§xa4 bxc3 best Black's decision.
21.bxc3 '§b8 22.0-0 jιd8 lh- 1h 19.12Jxc6 J:Ixc6 20.'§f2 '§c5 21.'§g3
l2Jh5 22.'§b8+ J:Ic8 23.'§xb7 ο-ο 24.'§d7
191 Ε34 Other opportunities were none the bet-
Van Wely - Gelfand ter. 80, ίη case of 24.1ιd4 after 24 ... '§g5
Round 4 20.08 25.0-0 (if 25.g4, then 25 ... J::tc2) 25 ... l2Jf4
26.g3l2Je2+ 27.'it>h1 .tIc2 White's king suf-
l.d4l2Jf6 2.c4 e6 3.l2Jc3 i-b4 4.'§c2 d5 fered an unpleasant attack.
Black chose the toughest way of strug- 24 ...f525.'§d4
gling for an equality from a number of White wants to simplify the play, try-
more or less equal opportunities. ing to aνoid worse things. Ιη case of
5.cxd5 '§xd5 6.e3 c5 7.jιd2 jιxc3 25. '§xe6+ 'it>h8 Black's attack was rather
8.Jιxc3 cxd4 9.Jιxd4 l2Jc6 10.Jιc3 1ιd7 dangerous. For instance, after 26.J:Id7 (if
lι.t2Jf3 J:Ic8 12.a3 l2Je7 13.J:::tdl 26.Jιd4, then there was 26 ... '§a5+, and if
After 13.Jιe2 ο-ο 14.0-0 Jιb5 15.J:Ifd1 26.J:Id4 with the idea of castling, then
the opponents agreed οη a draw ίη the 26 ... J:Ifd8 was rather unpleasant) 26 ... .1:lcd8
game Κhalifman - Leko, Dortmund 2000. 27. '§e7 (after 27.l::txd8 ktxd8 White's posi-
13 ... '§c5 14.e4 Jιb5 15.jιe2 tion was extremely dangerous because his
rook οη h1 was out ofthe play) 27 ... '§e3+
28.Φd1 (the line 28.'it>fi ~de8 29. '§h4 fxe4
30.'§xh5 exf3 31.i-xg7+ 'it>g8 32.'§d5+ J:Ie6
was impossible for White as, after all sen-
sible checks to Black's king were oνer, the
mating threats to White's king were still
present) 28 ... J:ixd7+ 29.'§xd7 '§g5 Black's
threats were νery serious.
25 ... '§b526.'§e5?
After a simple 26.exf5! exf5 (after
26 ... 1:rxf5 27.'it>f2 White has an excellent
position as well) 27. '{;[e5 Black has big 21.1:thd1 ~a8 22.~d7
troubles. Until the last moνe White acted simi-
26 ... '{;[xe5 27 .~xe5 fxe4 28.1Η1 larly to the aboνe mentioned game, but
Ιη case of28.fxe4 !Ic4 29.~d4 a6 Black's now he has to make some corrections be-
actiνity was enough to return him the cause ofthe threat ofa5-a4.
missing pawn, all the more that White's 22 ... '{;[e5
rook οη h1 was eliminated from the play. 22 ... '{;[xh2 was bad because of23. '{;[xe7.
28 ...tbf4 29.iLxf4 ~xί4 30.'~e2 exf3+ 23.iLd4 '{;[f4+ 24.Φb1 iLf8 25.'{;[c1
3U:txf3 1:txf3 32.gxf3 c!tf7 '{;[xc1+ 26.c!txc1
The rook endgame is obνiously a draw. Well, Black has a difficult endgame
33.1:td7+ c!tf6 34.c!td3 a5 35.1:ta7 1:tb8 without a pawn.
36.c!tc31:tc8+ 37.c!td31:tb8 38.c!tc3 %-112 26 ... f6 27.Ma7 e5 28.1:txa8 .tιxa8 29 ..iιc3
Φf7 30.1:td7+ Φe6 31.1:txh7 ..ib4 32.c!tc2
e433.a3?!
192 Β76 Α strange decision. Better looked
Movsesian - Fedorov 33.fxe4! fxe4 34.~~.b7 e3 35.J:tb6+ c!td7 (if
Round 4 20.08 35 .. .'~f5, then 36.1:txf6+ Φe4 37.1:te6+ Φf4
38 ..iιd4 ..id2 39.c!td3 with an easy win, and
1.e4 c5 2.tbf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.tbxd4 ίη case οf35 ... Φe7 there was 36.iLxf6+ Φd7
tbf6 5.tbc3 g6 6.iLe3 iιg7 7.f3 ο-ο 8.'{;[d2 37.c!td3) 36.1:txf6 e2 37 ..iιxb4 axb4 38.Φd2
tΔc6 9.0-0-0 d5 1:txa2+ 39.Φe1 1:tb2 40.1H3, whereupon
A.Fedoroν plays the most keen and fun- White would win easily the rook endgame.
damental Dragon Variation again, as he 33 ... iLxa3 34.fxe4 fxe4 35.1:tb7 .iιe7
did ίη the second round. 36.1:tb6+ c!tf7 37.1:tb5 a4 38.b4
10.exd5 tbxd511.tbxc6 bxc612.tbxd5 Mter 38.bxa4 1:txa4 Black still kept a
cxd5 13.'{;[xd5 '{;[c7 14.'{;[c5 '{;[b7 15.'{;[a3 chance to escape.
iιf5 16 ..iιd3 1:tab8 17.b3 38...1:tg8?
Black does not use the full range of his
opportunities. White would haνe encoun-
tered more difficulties ίη achieνing his
adνantage after 38 ... a3! Probably Black
was afraid of39 ..tι.a5 ίη this case, but after
39 ...1:txa5 40.bxa5 iLc5 41.a6 e3 (there was
ηο 41 ... f5 because cf 42 ..iιb4 a2 43. c!tb2 .iιa7
44.g3, White winning the game) 42.g4 (an
attempt to run after two hares at once
would bring ηο results also ίη case of an
ambitious 42.Φd3 f5 43 ..iιb4 a2 44 ...ic3 [4
45.c!tc2?, and Black would eνen win after
17...1:tfc8 45 ... e2 46.c!tb2 ..id4) 42 ... Φg6 43.h4 [5
This time Black positions his rook ίη a 44.h5+ Φg5 45.gxf5 ΦΧf5 46.h6 Φg6 White
slightly different way ίη comparison with had ηο way of reinforcing his position.
that game Ι νanchuk - A.Fedoroν, Polanica 39.g3 1:th8 40.h4 1:tg8 41 . .te1 ~d6
Zdroj 2000, when 17 ... 1:tbc8 18.iιxf5 gxf5 42.1:tb7 + Φe6 43.1:tb6 Φe7 44.h5 .iιxg3
19.1:td3 '{;[c6 20.c4 '{;[f6 21.1:thd11:tc6 22.iιd4 Black has won back the missing pawn,
was played, and White gained an adνan but White's three passed pawns are al-
tage. ready irrepressible.
18.iLxf5 gxf5 19.1:td3 '{;[c7 20.c4 a5 45 ..iιc3 .th4 46.h6 Φf7 47.1:tb7+ c!tg6
48.h7 ~h8 49.c5 Xιg3

White's pawns passed ίn case of 49 ...
ktxh7 50.~xh7 'ιtxh7 51.c6 ~g3 52.b5 ~c7
53.~d4 a3 54.b6.
50.c6 ~c8 51.b5 e3 52.'ιtd3 a3 53.ktd7
a2 54.'ιte21:ta8 55.b6 ~e5 56.~a7 1-0
193 C67
Shirov - Κrasenkow
Round 4 20.08
22 ... f5?
l.e4 e5 2.ltJf3 ltJc6 3.~b5 ltJf6 4.0-0 Black ruins the game with this move.
ltJxe4 5.d4ltJd6 6.Xιxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 ltJf5 Mter 22 ... ~c5+ 23. 'it>h2 f5 to breach Black's
This time A.Shirov encounters the Bra- defence would not be easy.
ΖίΙ Variation again, as ίn the second round. 23.exd6 I1xe2 24.dxc7 'it>xc7
8.~xd8+ 'ιtxd8 9.b3 Otherwise White has time to defend the
Dissatisfied with White's achievements pawn with 25.~e5.
after 9.ltJc3 ~d7 10.h3 h6 11.Xιf4 b6 12.a4 25.~e5+ Φc8 26.1:rfdl ~e6
a5 13.~ad1 'ιtc8 ίn the game Shirov - Ιn case of 26 ... 1:ra7 the solution was
Almasi, Polanica Zdroj 2000, the grand- 27.1:rd6, threatening with l:txg6.
master from Spain looks for another con- 27.ktd61-0
tinuation. Ιn case of 27 ... ~d5 White won with
9 ...h6 10.~b2 ~d7 28.c4.
Black plays similarly to the quoted
game.
11.ltJc3 Φc8 12.~adl a5 194 D30
Later ίn the third game of the match Almasi - Markowski
Kasparov - Κramnik Black played 12 ... b6 Round 4 20.08
at once.
13.h3 b6 14.a4 ~b4 15.ltJe2 l.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.ltJf3 c6 4.~g5
If 15.ltJe4, then Black struggles for an White is not going to allow his ορρο
equalization by means of15 ... ~e616.c4 c5!. nent to play the Noteboom System after
15... ~e8 16.ltJf4 g6 4.ltJc3, neither he is willing to lock υρ the
Black safely prevents White from ltJf4- bishop with 4.e3.
h5. 4 ... ~e7 5.~xe7 ~xe7 6.e3ltJf6 7.ltJc3
17.g4ltJg7 18.~d3ltJe6 19.1tJxe6 ~xe6 0-0 8.~c2 b6
20.ltJd4 ~d 7 8 ... ltJbd7 is the most common continua-
If20 ... ~d5, then 21.c4 ~e4 22.1:re3, COIJ,- tion ίn this position. Still, after 9.cxd5 exd5
demning Black's light-squared bishop. 10.Xιd31:re8 11.0-0 ltJf8 12.a3 (also 12.1:rab1
21.ltJe2?! ltJg613.b4 Xιd7 14.b5 occurred ίn the game
White chose not the best moment for Beliavsky - Gelashνili, Saint Vincent 2000)
ltJd4-e2. Stronger was 21.1:rfd1 Φb7 (after 12 ... ltJg6 13.ltJd2 ~e6 14.b4 1:rad8 15.1:rfc1
21 ... ~xe5 22.ltJxc6 ~e1+ 23.1:rxe1 ~xe1 a6 16.ltJa4ltJg4 17.ltJf1 ~h4 18.1:ra2 White
24.ltJe7 Φd8 25.~f6 Black loses) and only created certain difficulties for Black ίn the
then 22.ltJe2. game Chernin - Markowski, Budapest
21 ... ~d6 22.f4! 2000.
9.cxd5 νariant. Mter 22 ..i.xg7 Φχg7 23.i.g2 c4

At the Europe Championship the game 24.~fd1 cxd3 25.exd3 exd3 White had
Chernin - Κrasenkow, Saint Vincent 2000, 26.b3!, preparing 27 ..i.f1 to return the sac-
was drawn right in this position. The rificed pawn, and ίn case of26 ... tΔc6 there
present opponents faνoured their audience was 27.tΔa4.
with another fiνe moνes. 21 ..i.xg7 Φχg7 22.~d1 b6 23.ne11:[fe8
9 ...cxd510 ...\id3 ..\ib711.0-0 tΔc612.a3 24.tΔd2 tΔe7
.!::iac8 13:~a4 a6 14.1:[ac1 b5 15:~b3 112-% Black is still better, but what plan
should he choose now? Probably the best
method to increase his adνantage was not
195 Α07 to undertake anything himselfbut to watch
Markowski - Svidler closely White's attempts to disengage his
Round 5 21.08 pieces from their somewhat constrained
position. From this point ofνiew the moνe
1.g3 d5 2.tΔf3 g6 3.c4 dxc4 4.tΔa3 24 ... tΔa5!? deserνed attention (there were
Α step aside. 4. ~a4+ wasplayed in the also great complications after 24 ... ~e7
third round ίn the game Markowski - 25.e3 tΔb4!), with the task to preνent 25.a3
Shiroν, Polanica Zdroj 2000. (with the idea b2-b4) because of25 ... tΔab3,
4 ... ..\ig7 5.tΔxc4 tΔc6 6.d3 e5 7 ...\id2 and ίn case of 25.b3, meaning to get the
Probably this is a bit more precise than c4-square for the knight, there was
7.Sιg5 tΔge7 8.Sιg2 ..\ie6 9.~c1 f6 10.i.d2 25 ... ~e7 with unpleasant X-rays along the
a5 11.0-0 ο-ο which occurred in the game d-file, and if 26.tΔc4, then 26 ... tΔxc4
Bricard - Tukmakoν, Andorra 1991. 27.bxc4 e4.
7 ... tΔge7 8.Sιg2 i.e6 9.l:ιc1 ο-ο 10.0-0 25.a3 tΔg8
~d7 11.tΔg5 i.d5 12.i.h3 ~d8 13.tΔe4 ί5 Maybe the position after 25 ... tΔd5
14.tΔc3 i.f7 15.i.g2 ~d7 26.tΔxd5 i.xd5 27 ...\ixd5 ~xd5 was worth
The opening stage is oνer. Black has playing, as Black kept better chances in
gained just a slight adνantage which is case of 28.b4 tΔe6 or 28.e4 ~π. Mter the
connected with his preνalence in space. moνe ίn the game the play gets equalized
16.i.g5 ~ab8 17.tΔd2 tΔd4 18.tΔf3 c5 quickly.
19.~d2 .ί:ιbd8 20 ..i.h6 26.b4 cxb4 27.axb4 tΔί6 28.e3 tΔc6
White wants to simplify the position ίn 29. ~a4 tΔe7 y2-1ι2
order to leνel Black's space adνantage.
196 D48
Κrasenkow - Almasi
Round 5 21.08
1.tΔf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 tΔί6 4.tΔc3 e6

5.d4 tΔbd7 6 ..i.d3 dxc4 7.i.xc4 b5 8 ...\id3
The opponents play the Meran Varia-
tion which occurs ineνitably ίn eνery
strong tournament at present.
8 ...i.b7 9.0-0 a6 10.e4 c5 11.d5 ~c7
12.dxe6 fxe6 13.i.c2 ..\id6 14.tΔg5 tΔf8
15.f4 0-0-0 16.~e1 e5 17.tΔd5
20 ...tΔec6!? Nothing interesting for so long. ΑΙΙ
20 ... tΔxf3+ 21.i.xf3 e4100ked tempting, these moνes haνe been already seen be-
but most likely White was ready for this fore.
of25.1:tf7 ~xd6 26 ..sιf4) 25.J::ι.xf3 White had

the most dangerous attack.
23.axb4 axb4 24.CLJe6 ~b6 25.CLJxd8
kIxd8 26 ..ltc4 .sιe5 27.J:ιdl ~d6
Mter 27 ... .ltxb2 28.i..xf4+ CLJxf4 29.~xf4
Black had ηο particular counterplay as
there was too little material οη the board.
28.~e2 f3 29.gxf3
The line 29.1:txf3!? .sιxh2+ 30.Φh1 de-
serνed attention.
29 ... .ltxb2 30.i..xb4 cxb4 31. ~xb2 CLJe5
17... CLJxd5 32.i..e2
Black is first to leaνe the beaten path. Το retreat along another diagonal was
Ιη the game Piket - Κhalifman, Dortmund weaker. After 32.i..a2 i..a6 33.tt.b1 (if
2000, 17 ... .sιxd5 18.exd5 exf4 19 ..ltd2 1:te8 33.~f2, then 33 ... CL\d3 with a fork) 33 ... .sιxΩ
was played. As the deνelopment of this 34.~xb4+ ~xb4 35.1:txb4+ Φc7 36.Φχf1
game will show, Black's unwillingness to White had problems ίη achieνing his ex-
render the adνantage of two bishops to tra pawn.
White will not allow him to escape prob- 32... ~c5+?!
lems. White's task would haνe been more
18.exd5 exf4 complicated after 32 ... i..xd5. There was ηο
The capture of another pawn 18 ... .sιxd5 easy way to gain a perceptible profit from
to be followed by 19.~d2 1:te8 (ίη case of the binding οη the d-file.
19 ... b4 there was an unpleasant 20.a3) 33.ΦhΙ ~c3 34.J::ι.bl ~xb2 35.J::ι.xb2
20.CLJe4 CLJg6 (if20 ... .sιc4, then 21.1:tf2) 21.f5 1:txd5 36.J::ι.xb4 Φc7 37.tt.cl+ .sιc6
also let White deνelop a considerable ίηί Ιη case of 37 ... CLJc6 there was 38.f4
tiatiνe for the sacrificed pawn. 38.ΦgΙ Φd7
19..ltd2! If 38 ... 1:td2, then White would haνe won
Α programmed moνe with the threat of after 39.Φf1 ~d7 40.f4 CLJf3 41.1:tc3 CLJxh2+
.sιd2-a5. 42.Φf2 h5 43.~b6 ~a8 44.Φe3 .ί::ιa2 45.~g6.
19...b4 39.f4 CLJd3
Black safely preνents the white bishop The position gets simpler ineνitably. Ιη
from getting to a5. Αη attempt to defend case of 39 ... CLJg6 40.1:tb6 ~d6 (if 40 ... CLJe7,
from the threatening .sιd2-a5 with 19 ... then 41 ..ltf3, and if 40 ... ~a4, then 4U::J:al)
~d7 inνolνed 20 ..sιa5 .sιc7 (if20 ...1:te8, then 41.1:tcxc6 J::ι.xc6 42 ..itb5 White had an easy
21 ..sιf5! was strong) 21.1:td1, creating a ρο win.
sition with White's real chances for a suc- 40 ..sιxd3 1:txd3
cessful attack.
20.J::ι.cl Φb8
The continuation 20 ... h6 21.CLJe4 f3
22.CLJxd6+ ~xd6 23 ..ltf5+ Φb8 24.1:txf3
~xd5 25. ~g3+ was hardly good for Black.
21 ..sιb3 a5 22.a3 CLJg6
Black agrees to lose an exchange, hop-
ing to weaken the onslaught of his ορρο
nent. Ιη case of 22 ... h6 23.CLJe4 f3 (there
was ηο 23 ... g5 because of24.axb4) 24.CLJxd6
~xd6 (24 ... fxg2? lost immediately because
41.f5! displayed again to the Κing's Gambit ow-

Α strong move. White moves the pawn ing to successful games played by A.Fedo-
to a light square where it ίΒ within the rov and A.Morozeνich.
reach of the black bishop, but at the same 2 ... exf4 3.CLJf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.CLJe5 d6
time he opens the way to the kingside for 6.CLJxg4 CLJf6 7.CLJf2 l:!g8 8.d4 Jth6 9.CLJc3
his b4-rook, which becomes the crucial CLJc6 10.CLJd5CLJxd5 11.exd5
factor, combined with the absence of the ΑIl these moves have been seen already.
black king there.
41 ... 1:Μ6
Mter 41 ... ~f3 the solution was 42.kth4
h5 43.::th3 Φe7 44.'ϊ.t>f2.
42.kth4 'ϊ.t>e7
If 42 ... h6, then 43.1::tg4.
43 ..!:ί:Χh7 'ϊ.t>f6 44.l::tc5 ~e4 45 ..!:ί:h8?!
White could have won easier if he had
exchanged the f-pawn for the g-pawn by
means of 45.1ic7 ..txf5 46.z:thxg7.
45 ....ί:!:d7?!
Losing an important tempo. With an
immediate 45 ... .1::ω5 Black could make 11 .. :~e7+!
White's achievement of the victory more Previously οηlΥ 1l ... CLJe7 was played
complicated. here against A.Fedorov. This move which
46.'ϊ.t>f2 .ί::td5
probably was prepared by A.Shirov at
46 ... .ί::tf7 47.1:th5 Ita7 48.We3 Me7 Black's home looks very strong and leaves White
opposition could have been more stubborn, practicaIly ηο chance for a successful de-
though the result most probably would be fence.
the same anyway. 12 ...te2 CLJb4 13.c4 Jtf5!
47 ..ί::txd5 lιxd5 48. Φe3 Wxf5 This move ίΒ indissoluble from Black's
Now White will win easily, because af- 11 th move. Ιη order to escape considerable
ter the exchange of the white f-pawn for materiallosses White has to take the sac-
the black g-pawn Black's king will be cut rifice of a piece, offered by Black, but ίη
offfrom White's single pawn. Black at least stead he will suffer a νicious attack.
could have tested his opponent ίη a well- 14.'~a4+ Wf8 15:~xb4 z:te8 16:~'d2
known theoretical endgame after 48 ... g6 1:txg2 17.'ϊ.t>f1 1:tg3 18:~dl ..te4
49.fxg6 Φχg6. ΑIl Black's pieces contribute actively to
49.::th5+ We6 50.1;Ig5! 1-0 the attack ofWhite's position.
After the g7-pawn will be taken, 19.1:th2
White's single pawn wiIl not encounter any There was ηο 19.CLJxe4 ~xe4 20 ..ί::th2
problems οη its way to the seventh rank. because of 20 ... ..tg7, Black winning the
game.
19... f5
197 C39 Black prepares 20 ... ~g7
Fedorov - Shirov 20.CLJxe4
Round 5 21.08 Ιη case of 20.CLJh1 the solution was
20 ... ..txh1 21 ..!:ί:χh1 ~e4.
l.e4 e5 2.f4 20... fxe4 21 ...tg4 e3 22 ...tf3 0-1
Α romantic move ofXVIII - ΧΙΧ centu- Mter 22 ... ~g7 his position could not
ries, though at present certain interest ίΒ have been saved.
198 D15
Gelfand - Movsesian
Round 5 21.08
l.d4 ctJf6 2.c4 c6 3.ctJc3 d5 4.ctJf3 a6

5.c5
The most principled way to struggle
against Black's fourth move. 5.a4 was
played ίη the game between the same ορ
ponents at the Europe Team Champion-
ship ίη Batumi.
5 ... ctJbd7 6.~f4 ιLJh5 7.e3 g6 8.SΙd3 20.l:i.e8!
~g7 9.0-0 f6 10.h3 ctJxf4? The decisive blow.
Black chose an unlucky move. He 20 ... ~xe8
should have played 10 ... e5 11.1ιh2 e4 If20 ... l:ιxe8, then 21. ~f7 + ςt>h8 22.ctJxe8
12.1ιχe4 dxe4 13.ιLJxe4 ο-ο (ίη case of SΙe6 23. ~xe6 ~xe8 24. ~xf6+ was winning,
13 ... 1ιf8 14. ~b3 White would begin a stron- and ίη case of 20 ... ~d7 the solution was
gest attack) 14. ~b3+ ςt>h8 15.ctJd6 f5 21.J::!.ae1
16.ctJf7 + l:ιxf7 17. ~xf7 ~g8, and, despite a 21.ctJxe8+ l:ιxe8 22.g3 a5 23.l:ιellhel+
good material equivalent of a rook and two 24.ctJxel a4 25.~b6 SΙd2 26.~c7+ ςt>g6
pawns for two pieces, the estimation ofthe 27.ctJf3 SΙcl
position would be still not clear because Ιη case of 27 ... SΙg5 the simplest way to
without open files οη the board White's achieve the victory was 28. ~d8.
rooks would not be able to show their worth 28.ctJh4+ ςt>h6 29.~f7 1-0
fully. If29 ... SΙxb2, then 30.~f8+ ~h5 31.~g7
11.exf4 e5 12.f5! won the game.
White sacrifices a piece and stalemates
nearly all Black's pieces. 199 Β85
12 ... e4 13.SΙxe4 dxe4 14.ctJxe4 0-0 Ivanchuk - Van Wely
Ιη case of 14 ... SΙf8 Black's king experi- Round 5 21.08
enced a serious attack after 15. ~b3 SΙe7
16.J::!.fe1 ςt>f8 17.l:ιe2 ςt>g7 (if 17 ... gxf5, then l.e4 c5 2.ctJf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.ιLJxd4
18.ctJg3 f4 19.ctJh5 was unpleasant for ctJf6 5.ctJc3 a6 6.SΙe2 e6 7.0-0 SΙe7 8.f4
Black) 18.~ae1 ~g8 (ίη case of 18 ... SΙf8 0-0 9.ςt>hl ctJc6
good was 19.ιLJd6) 19.~c3. The theory does not favour this move,
15:~b3+ ςt>h8 16.ctJd6 SΙh6 17.l:ιfel! 9 ... ~c7 with the idea b7-b5 is more popu-
White gathers up his reserves without lar.
haste. 17.ctJf7+ l:ιxf7 18.~xf7 ~g8 was not 10.ctJxc6 bxc611.e5 dxe512.fxe5 ctJd7
so strong. 13.SΙf4 SΙg5 14.1ιg3
17... ςt>g7 18.l:ιe4 ctJxc5 The book by G.Kasparov and A.Nikitin
Black returned the extra piece, or oth- about the Scheveningen Variation of the
erwise White would win very soon, having Sicilian Defence gives preference to the
put both his rooks οη the e-file. 18 ... gxf5 move 14. ~d6.
would also let White win with 19.1:ιe7+! 14... 1ιh4 15.SΙf4 i.g5 16.~d2
~h8 (if 19 ... ~xe7, then a fork: 20.ctJxf5+) White tries to achieve something bet-
20.~f7!. ter than a draw which was reached ίη the
19.dxc5 gxf5 game Bielczyk - Skalik, Lubniewice 1994,
after 16.iιg3 iιh4 17 ...if4 ..ig5. he is mistaken. 33.1:ι:e3! was the correct
16 ...iιxf4 17:~xf4 ~a5 18.l::tael ~xe5 move, and Black would encounter prob-
Black wins a pawn only temporarily, lems defending his position ίn this case.
soon he will have to return it because of Mter 33 ... lιd5 (both 33 ...1:te8 and 33 ... e5
White's multiple threats. were bad because of34.CUc4!) Black had to
19.~h4 h6!? reckon with 34 ...Itc4! (nothing could have
Α nice defensive resource, which pre- been gained with 34.c4 ..ib7 35.l:txe6 Itxe6
pares the g5-square for the queen. Ιn case 36. ~e6 because of 36 ... ~f2! 37.ng1 ~d2
of 19 ... g6 there was a mere 20 ...ixa6 with 38. ~d71:If7 39. ~d4l:tf6with a draw) 34 ... f4
White's better chances. 35.1:!.d3 and White would have continued
20.iιd3 to put pressure. After the move ίn the game
White did not want to play the endgame Black's central pawns will begin their ad-
which would arise after 20.iιxa6 ~g5 vance.
21. ~xg5 hxg5 22 ...ixc8 1:i:fxc8. 33 ... e5 34.CUc4 ~e6 35.b4 ~c7 36.CUa5
20 ... ~g5 e4 37...ic4 nef6 38. ~f2?
Ιn case of20 ... ~c7 White's threats were Ιn for a penny, ίn for a pound. White
extremely dangerous after 21. ~e4 g6 should have submitted to a worse position
22.~h4 h5 23.~e7. after 38.CUxb7 ~xb7, but now his knight
21.~e4 g6 22.~xc6 ~b8 23.CUe4 ~a5 οn a5 proves to be out of the play.
24.b3 ~g7 38 ... lιa8 39.lιf1 CUe5 40.c4 f4 41.~b2
Ιn case of 24 ... ~xa2? the solution was e3 42.~gl g4 43.~h5
25.CUd6. White's knight οn a5 and rook οn h5 are
25:~d61:Ib6 26.~e7 ~b4 27.~h4 positioned awfully badly. Νο wonder that
Again White looks for a chance ίn the Black finds a tactical blow which allows
middlegame, having declined another him to win immediately.
endgame which could appear after 27. 43 ... CUf3+! 44.gxf3 gxf3 0-1
~xb4 :txb4.
27 ... f5 28.c3 ~a3 29.CUd2 ~d6 200 Β50
Ιn case of 29 ... ~xa2? 30.CUc4 1:Ixb3 Svidler - Van Wely
31.1:Ia1 Black's queen perished, and after Round 6 23.08
30 ... 1:tc6 31.1:Ib1 it was trapped for the rest
ofher life. l.e4 c5 2.CUf3 d6 3.c3
30.1:If3 g5 31.~f2 ~c5 32.~e2 ..Itb7 White refused from an opening dispute
concerning main lines of the Sicilian De-
fence.
3 ... CUf6 4.iιd3 CUc6 5.iιc2 ..Itg4 6.h3
White reveals the intentions of the
black bishop immediately. There was an
alternative to the move ίn the game: 6.d3
to be followed by CUb1-d2, so that ίn case
of an exchange οn f3 there would be a cap-
ture with the knight, and the control over
the d4-square would be kept.
6 .....Itxf3 7.~xf3 g6 8.0-0 iιg7 9.~e2
0-010.d3
33.1:Ih3? Black's activity οn the queenside can be
White skilfully pressed upon Black's slowed down but there is nο way to stop it.
position during the whole game, but now Mter 10.a4 a6 11.CUa3 e6 12.d3 b5 13.axb5
axb5 Black got a good counterplay οη the 30.hxg6 fxg6

queenside in the game Heissler - Κha Mter 30 ... hxg6 White would be able to
lifman, Germany 1992. arrange pressure οη the kingside, for in-
10...b5 11.4Jd24Jd7 12.4Jf3 b4 13.SΙd2 stance with 31.4Jh2 to be followed by a blow
J:!b8 οη g4.
The οηlΥ move, but probably 13 .. .'~a5 31.SΙd2
14 ..ί::ϊfc1 ~b5 15.~ab1 ~ab8 which occurred Now 31.SΙf6 gave nothing because of
in the game 8chubert - 8erper, Gausdal 31 ... SΙxf6 32.exf6 ~f7.
1991, was more precise. 31 ...4Jd7 32.b44Jf8
Black tries to keep the knight close to
his king, probably fearing White's possible
attack, connected with the moves 4Jf3-g5
and ~d3-h3.
33.b5 ~d7
33 ... ~b6!? deserved attention (with the
idea of 34 ... a6), and after 34.~b4 ~a5
35.1::tb3 ~a4 the black queen might under-
take a dangerous raid into White's camps.
34.4Jel h6 35. ~b3 ~f7 36.1:tal g5
37.4Jd3 4Jg6 38.4Jc5 4Jh4 39.1:ta6 1:tb6
40.SΙa5 ~xa6 41.bxa6
14.SΙa4!
The time control is over. As before,
80, White still has managed to accom- White's chances look a bit better.
plish the programmed advance d3-d4. 41 ... ~f5
14 ... ~c7 15.1:tfcl J:ιfc8 16.d4
White got his way in the opening. Now
he will have a slight but lasting initiative.
16...bxc3 17.bxc3 1:tb2 18.~a6 4Jcb8
19.~d3
With the queen's shuttle-like manoeu-
vre White reinforces the d4-pawn to pro-
ceed then to the b2-rook, which penetrated
into White's rear too far.
19... 4Jb6
19 ... 4Jc620.1:tcb1!?
20 ...Itdl 4Jc6 21.~cbl lIxbl 22.l:txbl
cxd4 23.cxd4 d5 24.e5 4Jc4 25.SΙg5 e6 42.~h3??
26.h41:tb827.SΙb3 Α terrible move. White's slightly better
White decides to part with his advan- position becomes absolutely hopeless in a
tage oftwo bishops because after 27.1:txb8+ single moment. It is clear that the black
~xb8 black knights could have developed queen should not be allowed to get to g4
an unpleasant activity οη the queenside. as it would arrange a lot of trouble for
27 ... 4J6a5 28.h54Jxb3 29.axb34Jb6 White from that square. 80, after 42. ~d3?
Black could have kept the knight active ~g4 43.g3 there was 43 ... ~xd4! But White
by 29 ... ~b6, but after 30.hxg6 fxg6 31. could have played 42.f3 or 42.~d1, keep-
iH6!? SΙh6 32.4Jh4 the overload of the ing all his advantage.
queenside with Black's pieces would begin 42 ... ~xh3 43.gxh34Jf3+ 44. ~g2 4Jxd4
to tell. 45.4Jd7
Ιη case of 45.~b6 there was 45 ... 4:Jb5. 23.4:Jh6+

45 ... Φf7 46.~b6 4:Jb5 Apparently, this actiνe moνe has a se-
Now White willloose the e5-pawn too. rious shortcoming: the function of the
46 ... 4:Jc6 was less precise because of knight οη h6 wiil be to engage White's
47.~c7. pawns and pieces ίη its defence. 23.1iJ5d4
47.~c5 Φe8 48.4:Jb8 ~xe5 49.4:Jc6 ~f4 was preferable.
0-1 23 ... Φh824.g5
As a matter offact, White admitted that
201 C82 his preνious moνe was a mistake, and he
Movsesian - Ivanchuk is ήght. Ιη case of 24.~d2 (if 24.I:Ie2, then
Round 6 23.08 there was 24 ... d4) 24 ... liJa5 25.b3 c5
26.~ed1 ~b7 White's position got consid-
l.e4 e5 2.4:Jf3 4:Jc6 3.1ιb5 a6 4.1ιa4 4:Jf6 erably worse.
5.0-0 liJxe4 24 ... 1ιΧh6 25.gxh6 b4 26.~d2 bxc3
The open νariation ofthe Ruy Lopez lost 27.bxc3 Φg8 28.1ιg51iJχg5 29.~xg5 ~e7
a great deal ofits popularity after the tenth 30.~f4 ~d7 31.~f6
game of the match Kasparoν - Anand, Ν ew White proceeds to the endgame where,
York (m/10) 1995, but still it occurs some- despite his spoiled pawn structure, he has
times ίη practice ofthe strongest players. good drawing chances owing to the con-
6.d4 b5 7.~b3 d5 8.dxe5 ~e6 9.4:Jbd2 strained position ofBlack's king, whereas
liJc5 10.c3 1ιg4 after an aggressiνe 31.liJh2 to be followed
At present White tries to aνoid the com- by 31 ... f5 32.exf6 ~xe1+ 33.~xe1 nxe1+
plications to appear after 10 ... d4 1l.ltJg5. 34. Φg2 z:te4 35. ~g5 Φf7 he failed to get an
11.~c2 ~d7 12.~el ~d8 13.h3 ~h5 attack which would compensate the defects
14.1iJf1 ~e7 15.g4 of his position.
Α tough moνe. Usually a quieter 15.liJg3 31 ... ~xf6 32.exf6 z:tf8 33.c4
is played here. The strongest moνe. Mter 33.liJe51iJxe5
15.....tg616.ctJg3 ~xc2 17.~xc2 34.~xe5 c6 35.c4 (ίη case of 35.I;ιd3 ~d6
One of games which were played ίη the 36.l'Η3 there was an unpleasant 36 ... ~e6!)
German League was drawn right ίη this 35 ... ~fd8 36.cxd5 Φf8 Black kept some
position. chances to win the rook endgame.
17 ... liJe6 18.a4 ο-ο 19.axb5 axb5 33 ... d4 34.liJg5 I:Id6 35.liJe4 ~e6 36.
20.liJf5 ~fe8 21 ...te3 ..tf8 22.~adl liJc5 z:te5 37 .~xe5 liJxe5 38.f4 liJxc4
Ιη some lines a rook can be νery help- 39.:lxd4 4:Jd6 40.4:Ja6 4:Je8!
ful οη the a-file, so the question about ΑΙΙ Black's pieces are crowding οη the
which ofthem should go to d1 is not clear. eighth rank, and the unpretentious moνe
22 ... g6 with the knight allows Black to cause some
material damage to White's position.
41.Φg2 4:Jxf6 42.4:Jxc7 Φh8 43.~d6
4:Jg8 44.f5!
One white pawn which constrained the
black king is changed with another.
44 ... 4:Jxh6
Mter 44 ... gxf5 45.4:Jd5 f646.Φf3liJχh6
47.4:Jxf6 Black had ηο winning chances.
45.f6 4:Jf5 46.~d7 Φg8 47.4:Jd5 ~e8
48.Φf2 h6 49.liJc7 :lb8 50.4:Jd5 ~e8
51.4:Jc7 ~b8 52.4:Jd5 Φf8 53.4:Jc7 ~b2+
54.Φe1 J::tb1+ 55.\t>f2 z:rb8 56.Φf3 \t>g8

57.\t>e4 ~c8 58.\t>f4 4Jd4 59.4Jd5 Φf8
60.Φe5 4Jf3+ 61.Φf4 4Jg5 62.h4 l:tc4+
63.Φe3 4Je6 64.z:ta7 J::tc8 65.4Jb6 J::te8
66.4Jd7+ Φg8 67.4Je5 4Jg7 68.Φd4 4Jf5+
69.'~d5 4Je3+ 70.Φd4 4Jf5+ 71.\t>d5 1:::!.e6
72.J::!.a8+ \t>h7 73.~h8+!
Α storm ίη a teacup.
73 ...<;t>xh8 74.4Jxf7+ Φg8 75.\t>xe6 Φf8
76.4Je5 4Jd4+ 77.\t>d5 4Je2 78.4Jxg6+ \t>f7
79.4Je5+ ΦΧf6 80.4Jg4+ \t>g6 1/2_1/2
15... e6!
Black covers the d5-square, notwith-
202 Β52 standing that he will lose a pawn ίη this
Shirov - Gelfand way.
Round 6 23.08 16:~xd6?
White hardly should have taken the
1.e4 c5 2.4Jf3 d6 3.lιb5+ sacrifice. 16.1:Η2!? deserved attention with
Alexei Shirov's main opening weapon the idea that ίη case of 16 ... 4Jde5 17.b4
~xa3 White got a draw with 18.l:!:a2 ~xM
against the NajdorfVariation ίη the Sicil-
ian Defence was beaten ίη the game with 19.1:::!.a4 ~b2 20.z:ra2
P.Svidler, so he has to choose any other 16... 4Jde517.~c5
continuation this time. None the better was 17.b3 z:rfd8 18. ~c5
3 ... lιd7 4.lιxd7+ ~xd7 5.c4 4Jf6 6.4Jc3 4Jd3 19.~xa5 (if19.4Jxd3, then 19 ... J::txd3)
4Jc6 7.d4 cxd4 8.4Jxd4 g6 9.f3 19 ... 4Jxa5 20.J::tc2 (after 20.lιb6 4Jxc1
Previously the grandmaster from Spain 21 ...Iί.xa5 lιxc3 22.lιxd8 lιd4+ 23.Φh1 J::!.xd8
played 9.0-0 ίη this position, but after 24.z:rxc1 lιe3 White lost immediately)
9 ... lιg7 10.4Jde2 (there was ηο 10.f3? be- 20 ... 4Jxb3 with an evident advantage οη
cause of 10 ... 4Jxe4) instead of the tradi- Black's side.
tional 10 ... 0-0 they play now the com- 17... J::tfc8 18.4Jce2
puter-like 10 ... ~e6!? 11.4Jd5 ~xe4 12. Ιη case of 18.~xa5 4Jxa5 19.c5 4Jac4
4Jc7+ Φd7 13.4Jxa8 '§xc4 14.4Jb6+ axb6 White had problems, as well as ίη case of
with an absolutely unclear estimation. 18.z:rfd1 ~xc5 19.1ιxc5 4Jxc4.
9 ... ..Iί.g7 10.lιe3 0-0 11.0-0 ~d8 18... ~a4
Most players prefer to transfer at first Putting more pressure οη the white c4-
the king's rook to the queenside with pawn and freeing the a5-square for the
11 ... J::tfc8 ίη this position, and οηlΥ then knight at the same time.
begin to reinforce the position ofthe queen. 19.1ιf2
Boris Gelfand has a particular ορίηίοη Ιη case of 19.4Jc3 ~xc4 (after 19 ... ~b3
about this problem. 20.4Jd1 White still holds out somehow)
12.4Jde2 ~a5 13.J::tc1 a6 14.4Jf4 4Jd7 20. ~b6 4Jd7 21. ~xb7 lιd4 22.4Jcd5 (if
15.a3?! 22.lιxd4 ~xd4+ 23.Φh1 4Jc5, then the
Previously 15. ~e2 J::tfc8 16 ..ί:Ηd1 4Jce5 white queen is caught) 22 ... exd5 23.~xc4
17.4Jfd5 '§d8 18.4Ja4 occurred ίη this ρο lιxe3+ 24.Φh1 dxc4 25.4Jxg6 (if 25.4Jd5,
sition with White's better chances. The then after 25 ... 4Jc5 26.~b8 J::!.ab8 the white
move ίη the game weakens the position of queen is caught again) 25 ... hxg6 26.~xd7
White's pawns considerably, and Black will ..Iί.d4 White lost material.
gain profit from this mistake soon. 19 ... lιf8 20.~e3
White hardly could have escaped after bishop.

20.4:Jc3 '§b3 21.'§b6 '§xb6 22.j.xb6 4:Jxc4 26.c5 j.e5
23.4:Ja44:J6e5. If 26 ... .lί.xc5, then after 27 .~b8 Black
20 ... 4:Jxc4 21:~c3 4:J6a5 22.4:Jd4?! loses a piece οη top of all his misfortunes.
White willlose a piece, but after 22.':fd1 27 .~d3 a5 28.a4 'it>f6 29 ..tιf3+ 'it>e7
or 22.l:tcd1 his position is also poor. Mter 29 ... 'it>g7 30.h4 White would also
22 ... e5 23.4:Jd5 exd4 24.j.xd4 4:Je5 ννίη soon.
25:~e3 z:txcl 26.~xcl j.g7 27.b4 4:Jac6 30. .lί.d3 iιd4 31.nh3 .txc5 32.1:txh7+
28.j.xe5 iιxe5 0-1 Wf6 33.h4 j.f8 34.g4 g5 35.f4 gxf4 36.g5+
Φe5 37.g6 d5 38.g7 1-0
'203 Β40
Almasi - Fedorov
Round 6 23.08 204 Α20
Markowski - Κrasenkow
l.e4 c5 2.4:Jf3 e6 Round 6 23.08
Two opening failures ίη the second and
fourth rounds· made the Byelorussian l.g3 e5 2.c4 4:Jf6 3.iιg2 c6 4.d4 exd4
grandmaster refuse from the Dragon 5.'§xd4 d5 6.4:Jf3 iιe6 7.cxd5
Variation ίη the Sicilian Defence. Τοο simple. 7.4:Jg51ooked more promis-
3.d4 cxd4 4.4:Jxd4 4:Jf6 5.4:Jc3 iιb4 6.e5 ing for White.
4:Jd5 7.j.d2 4:Jxc3 8.bxc3 j.e7 9.'§g4 ο-ο 7 ... cxd5 8.0-0 4:Jc6 9"~a4 ..Itc5 10.
Black sacrifices the exchange. Ιη case tιJbd2 ο-ο 11.tιJb3 .tb6 12.4:Jbd4 '§d7
of9 ... 'it>f8 10.iιd3 d6 11.f4 4:Jd7 12.0-0 4:Jc5 ·ΟηΙΥ 12 ... z:tc8 has been seen previously.
13.f5 or 9 ... g6 10.iιd3 4:Jc6 11.4:Jxc6 bxc6 13.4:Jxe6
12.h4 he took the chance of suffering a very Reinforcing Black's position ίη the cen-
strong attack ίη the presence of a mate- tre. There was ηο 13.iιe3?? because of
rial balance. 13 ... 4:Jxd4, but 13.4:Jxc6 was preferable.
10.j.h6 g6 11.j.xf8 13 ...fxe614 ..1:tdl?!
AIso 11.h4 d612.h5 '§a5 13.4:Jb5 a6 Α strange move, all the more that the
14.hxg6 fxg6 15.j.xf8 axb5 16.l:lxh7!! with white rook will come back nearly at once.
a terrible attack υροη the black king was 14.'§h4 e5 15.j.h3 was stronger.
tested ίη practice more than once, but prob- 14... e515.e3'§f516 ..1:tf1.1:tad817 ..td2
ably Black was going to defend ίη some 4:Je4 18..1:tadl?
other way, for instance by 11 ... '§a5. The d1-square should have been left
11 ....txf8 12.'§g3 '§a5 13 ..tc4 free for the white queen.
Α new move. 13.f4 d6 14.exd6 iιxd6
15.~d1 occurred ίη the game Svidler -
A.Rodriguez, Luzern 1997, 13.iιe2 was
seen also.
13 ... 4:Jc6?
Mter 13 ... iιg7 14.f4 d6 there could be a
fight. But now the game will end very soon.
14.4:Jxc6 bxc6 15.0-0 .tg7 16.z:tael f6
17.exf6 .lί.xf6 18.1::te3 '§g5 19.1:!.bl '§xg3
20.~xg3 .lί.e5 21.l::i:f3 .lί.c7 22.iιe2 'it>g7
23.'it>f1 j.b6 24.c4 iιc5 25.1:rtb3 j.d6
Black is forced to play the whole game
with a single piece - his dark-squared 18 ... '§h5!
Black gains a practically forced win. 17... ~a3

19.CDh4 At the moment the fate of the b-pawn
If 19.CDe1, then 19 .. .'~e2 wins. is not very significant for Black. Ιη case of
19 ... g5! 20.~xe4 dxe4 21.CDg2 I:!.d6 17 ... b6 after 18.:!:tb4!? e5 19.f4 Black had
22 ..tc3 problems with the d4-knight.
After 22. ~xe4 z:tfd8 23. ~c2 e4 24. ~c4+ 18.f4
~f7 25.~e2 CDe5 26.~c3 CDf3+ 27.<J;th1 ~h5 The capture 18.MXb7 to be followed by
28.~c4+ <J;tf8 29.h4 ~g4 White would lose 18 ... ti.fb8 19.:txb8+ J:ιxb8 20.f4 J:ιb3 allowed
as well. Black to gain a big advantage οη the
22 ... Ith6 23.h4 gxh4 24.~c4+ queenside.
If 24.CΔxh4, then 24 ... ~g4 25.CΔg2 ~h3 18... ~d6!
26.CDh4 ~xh4 27.gxh4 'it>h8 with a victory. Again Black refuses to defend the b-
24 ... <J;th8 25.CDxh4 ~g4 26.~d5 ~xh4 pawn. If 18 ... b6, then after 19.e5 CΔf5
27 ..txe5+ CDxe5 28. ~xe5+ 'it>g8 29.~d5 (19 ... CΔf3+ 20.'it>g2 CDh4+ 21.'it>h3 CΔf5
.txe30-1 22 ..txf5 gxf5 23. ~h5 was not better for
Black) 20 ..txf5 gxf5 21. ~h5 White could
get some chances to attack Black's king
205 D85 owing to the remote position of the black
Krasenkow - Svidler queen οη a3.
Round 7 24.08 19.I:!.xb7 I:!.fb8 20.~bl CDf3+ 21.'it>g2
CDh4+ 22.'it>hl
l.d4 CΔί6 2.c4 g6 3.CDc3 d5 4.cxd5 It is better for the white king to stay
CDxd5 5.e4 CDxc3 6.bxc3 1ιg7 7.CDf3 c5 under its shelter. Ιη case of22.'it>g3 g5 23.e5
8.Mbl 1ιχe5 24.fxe5 ~xe5+ 25.'it>h3 CDf3 there was
The opponents begin their duel ίη one a rather unpleasant attack from Black's
of the most threadbare variants of the pieces.
Gruenfeld Defence, theoretical studies 22 ... g5?!
embrace more than thirty moves ίη some Black is incautious. What is good ίη case
lines of this variation. of 22.'it>g3 is not very efficient against
8 ... 0-0 9.1ιe2 cxd4 10.cxd4 ~a5+ 22.'it>h1. Black could have kept good
11 ..td2 ~xa2 12.0-0 .tg4 13.1ιg5 h6 chances if he turned to the queenside. Μ
14 ..iιe3 CDc6 15.d5 .iιxf3 16.gxf3 ter 22 ... a5 23.J::!.c1 (ηο 23 ..ttg1 a4 24.Mg4
This decision is hardly very good, but because of a mere 24 ... a3) 23 ... a4 24.~c6
White counts οη the suddenness first of all. Itxb7 25. ~xb7 ~b8 26. ~a7 ~b4 Black's
Α normal 16 ..iιxf3 CDe5 17.MXb7 led to a prospects looked even better.
quick equalization after 17 ... a5! ίη the re-
cent game Van Wely - Svidler, Biel 2000.
16... CΔd4!?
White's sixteenth move would be bet-
ter ifBlack had to play 16 ... CΔe5, but Black
does not need to put his knight οη the way
ofWhite's pawns, he can choose a less dan-
gerous retreat. Α quiet 16 ... CDa5!? was not
bad, as well as the move ίη the game.
17. .iιd3
The continuation 17.1ιχd4 .txd4 18.
~xd4 ~xe2 19.MXb7 ~Xf3 is oflittle inter-
est for White.
Suddenly White gains good prospects 34.~g6?!

οη the kingside instead of Black. 34. ~h7!? was preferable. Mter 34 ... ~g5
23 ... gxf4 (there was already ηο 34 ... .Jtg5? because
Ιη case of 23 ... 1:!.xb7 24. ~xb7 .ϊ::ιb8 of35 ..!:Ie6! ~a136.l:txh6+ .Jtxh6 37.~xh6+
25.~xa7 CL\f3 there was a good 26.1:Ig4, Φg4 38.h3# with a mate) 35.l:tc1 'lt>h3
whereupon 26 ... h5? was bad because of 36.~f5+ ~xf5 37.exf5 CL\xh2 38 ..ϊ::ιc4 f3 (ηο
27 ..Jtc5! 38 ... i.e5? because of 39.f6! exf6 40.Jtf5+)
24 ..Jtc5 39.'i.t>gl CL\g4 with a most complicated
This tactical opportunity appeared ow- endgame. White's chances were undoubt-
ing to the strong position of the White's edly better, but the position required a
rook οη the open g-file. deep analysis.
24 ... ~e5 34 ... Sιg535.'It>g2
With this move Black agrees to sacri- Mter 35. ~f5 ~b2 Black won, and ίη
fice the exchange. Mter 24 ... 1:!.xb7 25. §'xb7 case of35.nc1 after 35 ... ~b2 36.~c6 ~xf2
(White could have won the queen with 37. ~c2 CL\d2 38.1::i:g1 ~f3+ 39.1:tg2 ~f1+
25.nxg7+ Φχg7 26.~a1+ ~f6 27 ..Jtd4 CL\g6, there was a perpetual check that most
but Black's material compensation would likely would end the game.
be more than sufficient ίη this case) 35 ...CL\d4
25 ... ~b8 26.~xe7 CL\f3 27.nb1 ~c8 Black Mter 35 ... CL\d2 36.~c1 ~b2 37 ..ϊ::ιe1 ~b3
had every opportunity to defend his posi- 38.Φg2 ~f3+ 39.'i.t>gl ~c3 40.'It>g2 the
tion, because White's king was covered not moves would probably be repeated, reduc-
very good. ing the game to a draw.
25 ..Jtd4 36.f3 ~b8?
At this moment White had an alluring Looking for a winning chance, Black
alternative, connected with 25.Jtxe7!? CL\g6 runs a too great risk and loses. After
26.d6 1:te8 (there was ηο 26 ... CL\xe7 because 36 ... CL\xc6 37.dxc6 ~d4 38.e5 ~d2+ 39.'i.t>f1
of 27.1::rxb8+) 27 ..Jtb5 ~xe7 28.dxe7 CL\xe7 ~d1+ the game would be drawn ineνita
29. ~b4 with Black's hard defence. bly.
25 ... 1:!.xb7 26.~xb7 ~xd4 27.~xa8+
'it>h7 28 ..Jtbl ~e5?!
It seems as ifBlack has missed the best
chance: 28 ... Ng6!. It was not at all easy for
White to set υρ a harmonious co-opera-
tion of his pieces ίη this case. At the same
time, a greedy 28 ... ~xf2? led to a defeat
after 29.e5+ CL\g6 30.d6 exd6 31 ..Jtxg6+ fxg6
32. ~e4 'lt>h8 33.exd6
29. ~e8 CL\f3 30. .ϊ::ιcΙ Φg6!
Being ίη trouble, P.Svidler finds an ίη
teresting counterplay opportunity. Mter
30 ... CL\d2 31 ..Jtd3 (there was ηο 31.~xΠ 37.e5!
because of 31 ... CL\xbl) 31 ... f5 32.f3 White Mter this fine move the co-ordination
was very close to a victory. ofWhite's pieces is improved.
31.1Ic6+ Jtf6 32.~g8+ 'lt>h5 33.~xf7+ 37 ... ~xe5 38.~e4 CL\xc6?!
Φh4 Black loses without a fight. After
Α showy position. Black's king has ran 38 ... ~xe4 39 ..Jtxe4 Sιffi 40.1::!:a6 CL\b5 41.~a5
far away from its burning house, but it is CL\d6 42.1::txa7 he could have defended per-
still not easy to beat the final blow. sistently.
39.dxc6 i..f6 24.Wa1 4Jc2+ 25.Φa2 4Jb4+ 26.~a1 4Jc2+

Mter 39 ... §'d6 White won with 40.~e1+ the game Van Wely - Κramnik, Wijk ann
'έt>h5 41.c7 §'xc7 (in case of 41 ... ~d7 the Zee 1999, was drawn. White's attempts to
solution was 42.i..a2 Wg6 43. §'e6+) 42. ~e6. reinforce his position consisted chiefly in
40.c7 'ftixc7 1-0 21.:re3, and in a solid tournament in
There was a forced mate with 41.~e1+ Bosnia the move 21.a5 §'g5 was tested in
~g5 42.h4+ ~h5 43. §'e6 the game Κir.Georgiev - Shirov, Sarajevo
2000.
21 ... ~g5 22.g3 !:!.8d5
206 Β72 22 ... 4Jd5 23.l:tb3 occurred in the game
Fedorov - Markowski Gomez Esteban - Alvarez Ibarra, San
Round 7 24.08 Sebastian 2000.
23.~e3lh-lh
l.e4 c5 2.4Jf3 g6 3.d4 i..g7 4.4Jc3 cxd4 As a matter of fact, the game ended
5.4Jxd4 4Jc6 6.i..e3 4Jf6 7.4Jb3 ο-ο 8.Jιe2 before a real struggle began.
d6 9.f4 lh-lh
This short game is interesting only in-
asmuch as it helped the Byelorussian 208 D97
grandmaster break his long series of 6 Ivanchuk - Shirov
losses at a run. Round 7 24.08
207 D17 l.d4 4Jf6 2.c4 g6 3.4Jc3 d5 4.4Jf3 lιg7

Gelfand - Almasi 5. ~b3 dxc4 6. ~xc4 ο-ο 7.e4 a6
Round 7 24.08 The Hungarian Variation ofthe Gruen-
feld Defence is considered one of the best
l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.4Jc3 4Jf6 4.4Jf3 dxc4 lines in the system with 5.~b3, chosen by
5.a4 1ιί5 6.4Je5 White.
White demonstrates his fundamental 8.~b3 b5 9.e5 4Jfd710.e6 fxe611.i..e3
approach, choosing a keen central varia- 4Jf6
tion of the Slav Defence. One of the topical modern positions.
6 ... e6 7.f3 i..b4 8.e4 lιxe4 9.fxe4 4Jxe4
10.i..d2 ~xd4 11.4Jxe4 ~xe4+ 12.~e2
1ιχd2+ 13.~xd2 ~d5+ 14.~c2 4Ja6
15.4Jxc4 0-0 16.~f3
Ιn the end of2000 players again showed
their interest for the continuation 16. 'ftie5
l:tab8 in connection with 17.a5!? Suffice it
to say that in four games with this con-
tinuation White scored 3.5 points.
16 ... ~c5 17.~bl 4Jb4 18.5ιe2 l:tad8
19..b1cl !:!.d4
Ιn the game Beliavsky - Shirov, Bel-
grade 1997, where 19. ~f3 occurred for the 12.i..e2
first time, Black answered not so good: With this move White gives a new turn
19 ... 'ftig5?!, and after 20.~g4 ~c5 2UΙa3 to the game. 12.a4 is usually played here.
:J::td4 22. §'h5 he encountered difficulties. 12 ... 4Jc6 13.0-0 ~d6 14.!:!.acl 4Ja5
20.1::ta31::tfd8 21.~ac3 15.~c2 i..b7 16.!:!.fdl 4Jc417.i..xc4
Mter 21.g4 §'g5 22.!:!.b3 a5 23.h4 ~g6+ White decides to simplify the position
and to get rid of the troublesome black 13 ... a6 14.nh3 ~a5 15.~e2 lίJc5
knight οη his territory. Black need not hurry with his castling.
17... i.xf3 Mter 15 ... 0-0 16.l:tg3+ 'it>h8 17. ~c1 .a:g8
This intermediate move is very helpful 18.z:txg8+ 'it>xg8 19. ~h6 White had a good
for Black because after 17 ... bxc4 he had to compensation for the pawn.
reckon with 18.lίJe5. 16.lίJb3lίJxb3 17.~xb3 b6
18.gxf3 bxc4 19.1ίJe4 ~d5 20.~xc4 The strongest opportunity. Mter 17 ... e5
~f5 18.~f3 ~d8 19 ..a:c1 White got a consider-
Black frees the d5-square for the able initiative and soon won ίη the game
knight. Ιη case of20 ... lίJxe4 21.~xd5 exd5 Κramnik - Kaidanov, Groningen 1993. The
22.fxe4 dxe4 23.~xc7 White's chances were move 17 ... ~c7 also let White develop a
preferable. strong initiative with 18.lιd1 i.d7 19.~b2
21.lίJxί6+ 0-0-0 20.J::!.c1 ..tc6 21 ..txa6! ίη the game
If21.~xc7, then 21 ... lίJd5. Akopian - Cs.Horvath, Niksic 1991.
21 ... .1:txf6 22.~c2 ~xf3 23.~c6 Wf7
24. ~xf3 I!:xf3 25.~xc7
The position is reduced to an equal
endgame after mutual simplifications.
25 ... 1:Η5 26.~dc1 ~a5 27.a3 J::!.b5
28.J::!.1c2 J::!.ab8 29.J::!.a7 J::!.xb2 30.~xb2
nxb2 31.J::!.xa6 ~b5 32.~a4 .a:b3 33.h3 h5
1f2-1/2
209 D39
Van Wely - Movsesian
Round 7 24.08 18.~b1
Α new move. 18.l:tc1 occurred previ-
1.d4lίJf6 2.c4 e6 3.lίJf3 d5 4.lίJc3 dxc4 ously and brought White nothing but prob-
5.e4 ..tb4 6.iιg5 c5 7.J.xc4 cxd4 8.lίJxd4 lems.
iιxc3+ 9.bxc3 ~a5 10..i.b5+ lίJbd7 18 ....i.b7
The opponents go deep into the nice- Black returns his extra pawn. Ιn case
ties of the Vienna Variation. When play- of 18 ... b5 19.~b2 ~d8 (19 ... e5? was bad
ing it with Black against v.Κramnik ίη because of20.z:ta3 ~d8 21.J.xb5+) 20.~d3
Monte Carlo, L.Van Wely preferred 10 ... White had a sufficient compensation.
iιd7. 19. ~xb6 ~xb6 20.J::!.xb6 J.xe4 21.
11 ...txf6 ~xc3+ 12.~f1 gxf6 13.h4 .i.xa6
The tempting 13.Nxe6 would not give The game proceeded to an ending with
anything to White. Mter 13 ... ~e5! 14.lίJg7+ some winning chances for White owing to
Φαι 15.lίJf5? (it was better to agree to the his remote passed pawn.
position to appear after 15 ..i.xd7 i.xd7 21 ... f5 22.~c3 Φe7 23.f3 .td5 24.z:ι.c7+
16.lίJf5 ..txf5 17.exf5 ~xf5) 15 ... ~xb5+ Φf6 25.a4 .tthb8 26..a:xb8 .a:xb8 27 ..tb5 e5
16.~g1 ~e5 White lost quickly ίη the game 28.Φf2 h5 29.g3 Φe6 30.f4
Lobron - Zs.Polgar, Dortmund 1990. Αη It is hard for White to reinforce his ρο
other opportunity 13.lίJf51ed to a draw af- sition, because the king's march beginning
ter 13 ... exf5 14 ..a:c1 ~e5 15 ..a:xc8+ J::!.xc8 with 30.Φe3 would be stopped at once with
16.~xd7+ ~f8 17.~xc8+ Φg7 18.~xf5 30 ... J::!.g8. Mter the move ίη the game Black
~a1+ 19.Φe2 ~xh1 20.~g4+ Φαι also makes a draw easily.
30 ... exf4 31.gxf4 ~g8 32 ..te2 1:!.g2+ 16....th6+

33 ...t>e3 1:rh2 34 ..txh5 'i.t>d6 35.J:Ic8 l:ίh3+ Black does not hurry to decide the fu-
36...t>e21:i:h2+ 37.'i.t>e31:i:h3+ 38.'i.t>f21:i:xh4 ture ofWhite's h1-rook, delaying this υη
39 ..tf3 ~xί4 40.lίd8+ 'i.t>c6 41.1:!.xd5 ~xf3+ til the next moνe. Ιη case of an immediate
42.'i.t>xf3 'i.t>xd5 43.'.t>f4 'i.t>c5 44 ...t>xf5 ..t>b4 16 ... '§xh1 White caught the black queen
45.'i.t>f6 'it>xa4 46.'it>xf7 %-lh with 17 ...ig2, but after 17 ... ..ih6+ 18 ..td2
.txd2+ 19.<.t>xd2 '§xd1+ 20.'i.t>xd1 he lost too
many pieces, whereas Black's sluggish
210 Β81 army still had an opportunity to restore
Shirov - Van Wely their lost co-operation. It is curious that
Round 8 25.08 ίη seνeral months at the Chess Olympiad
ίη Turkey ίη the game between the same
l.e4 c5 2.CtJf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.CtJxd4 opponents instead of19 ... '§xd1+ Van Wely
CtJf6 5.CtJc3 a6 6 ..te3 e6 7.g4 chose an obscure 19 ... '§xg2?! and soon was
Ιη the duel with Boris Gelfand ίη the defeated. Also after 17 ..txe5!? '§e4 18 ..tc7
sixth round Alexei Shiroν refused to play h5 19 ...ic4! (19 ..tg2 h4) 19 ... ..ih6+ 20.f4
his faνourite νariation ίη the game which '§xc4 21. '§e3+ ~f8 22 ...id6+ <ϊt>g8 23.b3
was of fundamental importance for him, White's attack is rather dangerous.
but the result was rather distressful. This 17.~bl.tf4
time the grandmaster from Spain shows So, Black did not νenture οη capturing
his willingness to begin a theoretical dis- the white rook. Mter 17 ... '§xh1 18 ...ixe5
pute ίη one ofthe keenest νariations ofthe '§e4 19 ...ic7! ha had a crafty 19 ... ..id2!?
Sicilian Defence. (otherwise 20.f3 and 21.:le1 were threat-
7 ... e5 8.CtJf5 g6 9.g5 gxf5 10.exf5 d5 ening), but eνen ίη this case White created
11:§f3 d4 12.0-0-0 CtJbd7 13 ...id2 '§c7 serious threats to the black king with
14.gxf6 20 ...id3! (after 20 ..tg2 '§d4 21 ..\l.a5 Black
Until the last moνe the opponents re- escaped with 21 ... '§e5, and if 20.a3, then
peated Shiroν's game from the first round there was 20 ... CtJxf6) 20 ... '§c6 21.a3! So, ίη
Shiroν - Sνidler, Polanica Zdroj 2000, case of the most natural continuation
when after 14 ..td3 CtJc5 15.gxf6 dxc3 21 ... CtJc5 White won by means of 22.I:lxd2
16 ...ixc3 '§c6 17. '§e3 e4 18 . ..ic4 ..ixf5 CtJxc5 23.1:!.e2+ .te6 24.cxd3 '§h1+ 25 ...t>c2
19.1:rd4 CtJe6 20.j"d5 '§b6 Black managed '§c6+ 26.~d1 '§a4+ 27.'it>d2.
to repel White's main threats and kept his 18.'§d30-0 19.1:ίgl+ <ϊt>h8 20 ...ib41:rg8?
extra piece. After 20 ... 1:re8? 21 ...ie7 CtJxf6 22 ...ig2
14 ... dxc3 15..txc3 '§c6 '§b6 White won with 23.'§b3! '§xb3 24 .
Continuing the manoeuνre, which ..ixf6+. But 20 ... CtJc5! was much stronger
Black began οη his thirteenth moνe. Αη than the moνe ίη the game. Ιη this case
other opportunity which was connected 21.'§c4?!, suggesting itself, turned out to
with the moνe 15 ... CtJxf6 was less consis- be not νery good because of 21 ... .txf5
tent and allowed White to create νery 22 ..txc5 1:rfc8 and the ρίη along the c-file
strong pressure υροη the e5-pawn, which made White's position difficult. An attempt
was the οηlΥ obstacle οη the way to the to free himself by 23 ..tg2 '§xc5 24.1:rd8+
black king for White's pieces. l:txd8 25. '§xc51:rac8 26. '§b4 is not success-
16.t'tg3! ful because of 26 ... !:tg8! Ιη Shiroν's ορίη
Now the long-expected reinforcement ίοη the best continuation for White ίη case
comes. White aνoids an exchange of his of 20 ... CtJc5! is 21. '§h3! '§xf6 22 ..txc5 .txf5
νaluable rook and turns his attention to 23.'§a3 with an unclear game.
the black e5-pawn first of all. 21.1:!.xg8+ 'it>xg8 22 ..te7 h6
Black looks for a defence against ~f3 34.~xdl+ ~xf2

23.'~h3. If 22 ... liJxf6,
then 23.'~d8+ liJe8 25 ... .Jrιe6
24 ..Jrιg2 ~b5 25.1::!:gl After 25 ... ~e8 26.~xe8 liJxe8 Black
23 ..Jrιe2 liJxf6 kept an extra piece for some time, but with
Other continuations would not have the help of 27.~d8 White put most diffi-
saved Black as well. 80, after 23 ... ..tg5 cult problems before him. At most Black
White won with 24.l:ιgl Φh8 25. ~h3, and could have agreed to an endgame without
after 23 ... .Jrιxh2 with 24.~gl+ Φh8 25. ~h3 a pawn after 27 ... b5 (both 27 ... liJg7 because
.I1.f4 26. ~h5 ~d5 (if 26 ... liJxf6, then of 28.f6 e4 29.fxg7 ~xg7 30 . .Jrιg4 and
27.~xfΊ .I1.g5 28 ..Jrιf3 e4 29 ..ϊ:ί.χg5) 27 ..Jrιf3 27 ... liJc7 because of 28 ..Jrιd3! were not bet-
(an immediate 27.~g4 gave nothing be- ter) 28.Mxe8 J..b7 29.l:Ixa8 .I1.xa8 30.h4.
cause of27 ... jιg5) 27 ... ~c4 28. ~g4, where- Another opportunity, connected with a sac-
upon the bishop could not close the g-file rifice of the exchange after 25 ... ~xc2+
as this move would lose Black's queen. 26.Φχc2 jιxf5+ 27 ..Jrιd3 .Jrιxd3+ 28.MXd3
24.~d8+?! Mxf8 29.jLxf8 also left little chances for
Probably this move is not the strongest. Black, because after 29 ... jLxh2 there was
A.8hirov thinks that White would get 30 ..I1.xh6!.
much more after 24 ..11.f3 e4 25. ~d8+ ~e8 26.~xa8 .I1.xf5 27.~al liJd5 28.~f8
26.jιxf6 jιxf5 27 .~gl .I1.g6 28. ~d5 or ~e6 29.jLc5 .Jrιxc2 30.~gl
24.l:ιgl+ Φh7 25 . .I1.f3 e4 26. ~b3 ~d5 White got a material advantage and
27 ..Jrιxf3 ~xb3 28 ..ϊ:ί.g7+ Φh8 29.axb3 exf3 managed to keep the initiative.
30.l:ιg4+ Φh7 31.12:xf4 30... jιg6 31.h4 .Jrιh2 32 ..ϊ:ί.dΙliJf4?
24 ... Φh7 This mistake allows White to end the
There is ηο 24 ... ~e8 because of25 ..I1.xf6, game ίη one move, though Black's position
and ίη case of24 ... liJe8 25.jιf3 ~b5 the line was so bad already that he would not have
26.b3! Φh7 27.a4 ~xb3+ 28.cxb3 jιxf5+ escaped after any other move. 80, ίη case
29.Φa2 ~xd8 30.Uxd81et White get a win- of 32 ... h5 White won with 33 ..Jrιc4 ~g4
ning endgame. 34 ..I1.b3, and after 32 ... b5 the simplest way
was 33 ..Jrιe3!? liJxe3 34.fxe3 f6 (ίη case of
34 ... f5, White won Black's queen with
35 ..Jrιc4 bxc4 36.a:d8 .I1.fΊ 37.Md6) 35.~f3
with the decisive threat ~f3-d5.
33.a:d81-0
211 Β44
Almasi -Ivanchuk
ROUEd 8 25.08
l.e4 c5 2.liJf3 liJc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.liJxd4

25.~f8! e6 5.liJb5 d6 6 ..I1.f4
Accuracy until the very end. Ιη case of White does not want to play a hedge-
the suggesting 25.jLxf6 Black escaped all hog position which would appear after 6.c4,
the problems with 25 ... jιxf5 26.~xa8 so he decides to weaken Black's pawn chain
jLxc2+ 27.~al jιxdl 28 . .I1.d3+ (after at the cost of a tempo.
28.~h8+? ~g6 29 ..I1.d3+ Φh5 he even won 6 ... e5 7.jLe3liJf6 8 . .Jrιg5 a6
the game) 28 ... e4 29.jLxe4+ ~xe4 30. ~h8+ The strongest move. After 8 ... ..te7
Φg6 31.~g7+ Φh5 32.~xfΊ+~g4 33.~d7+ 9.liJlc3 a6 10.jιxf6 gxf6 1l.liJa3 f5 12.exf5
White gained a lasting initiative ίη the Ιη the game Fontaine - Nataf, France
game Leko - Ivanchuk, Linares 199. 2000 where the continuation Bc8-g4 oc-
9. tιJ5c3 ~e7 10.tιJd2 curred for the first time, the events devel-
10.~xf6 .txf6 11.tιJd2 ο-ο 12.tιJc4 prom- oped as follows: 14.tιJc3 dxe4 15.tιJdxe4 ~e7
isea little to White because of 12 ... b5 13. 16.0-0 ο-ο 17.tιJd5 f5 18.tιJec3 ~c5 19.'.t>h1
~xd6 bxc4 14. ~xc6 ~e6 15.~e2 J::!:b8 16. ..id4 with Black's good position. The οηlΥ
ο-ο ~d2 as it was proved οη the highest difference was that the opponents spent
level ίη the game Kasparov - Anand, one move less to achieve the initial posi-
Frankfurt 1998. tion of the line: οη the fourth move Black
advanced his e-pawn immediately to the
fifth rank, and, respectively, White man-
aged without ~c1-f4.
14... 0-0 15.c4
At this moment White still could have
returned to the line from the game
Fontaine - Natafwith 15.tιJc3.
15... dxe4
Of course to close the play with 15 ... d4
makes ηο sense for Black because after the
manoeuvre tιJe2-c1-d3 White will be
slightly better.
10... ..ig4! 16.tιJxe4 ~e7 17.c5
An excellent move, which was intro- Αη important decision, and quite con-
duced into practice not long ago. 10 ... ~e6 sistent. White puts the pawn οη a vulner-
and 10 ... 0-0 are the usual continuations able square, but instead he restricts the
ίη this position. The Hungarian grandmas-
opportunities ofBlack's dark-squared
ter encountered both of them already and bishop.
managed to get a slight but lasting advan- 17 ... ~c7 18.~b3 nad8 19.1:Hdl g6
tage ίη both times: 10 ... ~e6 11.tιJc4 tιJd4 20.~c4 tιJa5 21.~b4 '.t>g7
12.~d3 ~c8 13 ..txf6 ~xf6 14.tιJe3 ~g5
15.tιJcd5 ~xe3 16.tιJxe3 ο-ο 17.0-0 ~b6
(17 ... g6 was better) 18.c3 tιJc6 19.~e2
Almasi - P.Cramling, Pamplona 1996 and
10 ... 0-0 11.tιJc4 ~e6 12.~xf6 ~xf6 13.tιJd5
b5 14.tιJce3 ~g5 15.~e2 ~xe3 16.tιJxe3
Almasi - Emms, Batumi 1999.
11.~e2
The continuation with 11.f3 ~e6 was
not very convenient for White as he prob-
ably would be forced to part with his dark-
squared bishop similarly to the above men-
tioned games. 22.tιJ2c3?
11 ... .txe212.tιJxe2 White makes a blunder, which will cost
The technical nuance of Black's idea is him a pawn. 22.lbd6!? should have been
that after 12. ~xe2? he had 12 ... tιJxe4! played, and after 22 ... tιJc6 23. ~a3 (there
13.~xe7 tιJxc3 with a considerable advan- was ηο 23. ~xb7?? because of 23 .... ~xd6)
tage. 23 ... b6 (ίη case of 23 ... f5 Black had to
12 ... d5 13.~xf6 ~xf6 14.0-0 reckon with 24.tιJc3, makingthe d5-square
still more vulnerable) 24. ~xa6 (the move

24.cxb6? lost a piece after 24 ... ~d7)
24 ... bxc5 25.4Jc44Jd4 Black's chances were
not higher than White's.
22 ... 4Jc6!
Α necessary move. After 22 ... f5 23.4Jd6
4Jc6 White had an intermediate 24.4Jd5!.
23. ~c4 f5 24.4Jd6
Ιη case of 24.4Jg3 4Ja5 25.4Jd5 ~xc5
26.~xc5 ..ixc5 27.b4 Black had 27 ... ..id4!.
Ιη Ivanchuk's ορίηίοη White would rather
agree οη the position after 24.4Jd5 l!xd5 10 ... 0-0?!
25.J:Ixd5 fxe4 26. ~xe4. This move is the reason of Black's fu-
24 ... ..ixd6 25.cxd6 J:Ixd6 26.J::ι:xd6 ture problems. Previously 10 ... ~b611.4Jd3
~xd6 27 ..ί:tdl4Jd4 28.f4 b5 29.~d3 .!:!.d8 ο-ο has been seen ίη this position. Α mere
30.ΦhΙ 10 ... I:rc8 looks also not bad, and White's
Mter 30.fxe5 ~xe5 31.'it>hl b4 White underdeveloped queenside would tell οη
also would not gain much. his position ίη the future.
30... b4! 11.4Jxc6 ~d7
Black transfers the play to a knight Incaseofll ... bxc612.~xc6.ί:tc813.~a6
endgame which is easy to win. Of course (13.~a4? was bad because of 13 ... ..ixf2+U
there was ηο 30 ... exf4?? because after Black had ηο particular compensation for
31.4Je2 Black lost a piece. the pawn.
31.4Je2 4Jb5 32.~xd6 I:txd6 33.l:ιxd6 12...ig5 ~xc6
4Jxd6 34.fxe54Jc4 35.b34Jxe5 36.4Jf4 a5 Mter Black has agreed to weaken the
37.h4 'it>f6 38.ΦgΙ 4Jg4 39.4Jd3 Φe6 pawn structure around his king he is will-
40.4Jc5+ Φd6 41.4Jb7+ Φc7 0-1 ing to exchange the queens.
The pawn endgame to appear after 13. ~xc6 bxc6 14 ...ixf6 gxf6
42.4Jxa5 (ίη case of 42.4Jc54Je5 43.Φf2 Φc6 This endgame is obviously favourable
44.4Je6 'it>d5 45.4Jd8 4Jc6 46.4Jb7 Φd4 for White, but the bishop pair allows Boris
Black also won easily, bringing his king to Gelfand to hope for a successful defence.
White's pawns οη the queenside) 42 ... 4Je5 15.4Jc31:!:ab8 16. .ί:tacl ..ie7 17.b31:tfc8
43.Φf2 Φb6 44.4Jc4+ 4Jxc4 45.bxc4 'it>c5 was 18.J:Ifdl ..ia3 19.Άc2 ..if5 20.e4 ..ig4
absolutely hopeless for White. Mter 20 ... ..ig6 21.'it>f1 Black's light-
squared bishop could have been eliminated
from the play, and ίη case of 20 ... dxe4
212 Α20 21.Jιxe4 the bishop became dangerously
Markowski - Gelfand active.
Round 8 25.08 21 . .ί::tdd2 Jιb4
Black agrees to part with the pawn ίη
l.g3 e5 2.c4 4Jf6 3 ...ig2 c6 4.d4 exd4 order to get a position with opposite-
5.~xd4 d5 6.4Jf3 ..ie6 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.0-0 coloured bishops.
4Jc6 9. ~a4 ..ic5 10.4Je5 22.h3 ..ie6 23.exd5 cxd5 24.4Jxd5
Until the last move the opponents re- ..ixd5 25.ttxc8+ .ί:txc8 26.I:rxd51:[c2 27.a4
peated the game Markowski - Κrasenkow ..ic5 28 ..ί:tf5 I:rc3 29.g4 <Jilg7 30 ...if1!?
from the sixth round where White encoun- White returns the extra pawn, hoping
tered difficulties after 10.4Jbd2 ο-ο 11.4Jb3 to eliminate the black rook from the play.
..ib6 12.4Jbd4 ~d7 13.4Jxe6 fxe6 There was also an alternative: 30 ...ie4..ib4
31.k!h5 h6 (also 31 ... :!.xb3 32.1:ϊΧh7+ ..t>g8 5.tbf3 0-0 6.h3 e5 7.d5 tba6 8 ...tg5 ~e8
33 ..tι.h5 was possible) 32.iιd5 .tι.c2 33 ...ιιc4. Black did not want to dήνe the white
30 ... ..ιιb4 31 ...ιιc4 .tι.xh3 32.Φg2 J:ih4 bishop away witll 8 ... h6 as then White
33 ..i.e2 .i.d6 34.I::td5 ..ιιe5 35.a5 J:ί.h2+ would haνe an opportunity to perform a
36.~gl.tι.h3 37.f3 .i.f4 38.1Η5 iιd6 39.iιf1 traditional break-through f7-f5. Also
~h4 40.~f2 the weakness of the g6-square might tell
οη.
9.g4 tbc5 10.tbd2 a5 11.~f3 tίJfd7 12.

0-0-0 c6
Preνiously 12 ... f5 13.gxf5 gxf5 14.exf5
tbf6 and 12 ... ~h8 occurred ίη this position,
but Black might encounter a sudden trick
ίη both these lines. 80, ίη the first case
there was 15.1:tgl or eνen 15.tbb5, and ίη
the second Black had to reckon with 13.h4.
13.h4 h6 14.iιe3 a4 15.h5 g5 16 ...ιιe2
~d8 17.ΦbΙ ~a5 18.I!cl ~b4 19...t>c2
Now that the b4-square ίδ occupied
40 ... h5! with the black queen and the knight can-
Α counter-sacrifice allows Black to re- not get there this unusual decision be-
turn his rook to an actiνe play. After comes possible.
40 ... J;;i.h2+ 41 ...tg2 his position looked dan- 19 ... a3 20.b3 tbf6?
gerous. Though the most part of the board ίδ
41.gxh5 ..te5 42.~e3 ..ιιd4+ 43.'ii.td2 closed, White has an adνantage, as a trans-
..te5 44 ...ιιc4 'ii.tf8 45.~e3 ..ιιd4+ 46.~e2 fer ofthe knight to f5 may be νery unpleas-
..te5 47.~e3 .i.d4+ 48.~e2 .i.e5 49 ..i.d3 ant for Black. Howeνer, the moνe ίη the
It ίδ important that the bishop endgame game allows White to demonstrate a showy
after 49.f4 .tι.xf4 50 ..tι.xf4 ..txf4 was a draw trick which decides the game ίη his faνour
despite White's passed pawns οη different at once.
flanks, because Black would exchange his
bishop for the a- and b-pawns and bring
his king to h8.
49 ... ..t>g7 50 ...ιιe4 ~h6 51.~d3 .tι.xh5
52.J;;i.xh5+ ..t>xh5 53 ...t>c4 ~g5 54.b4 f5
55 ...ιιd5 ..t>f6 56.b5 ..t>e7 57.b6 axb6 58.a6
..ιιb8 59 ...t>b5 .i.a7 60.Φc6 b5 61.Φb7 ..te3
62.f4
After 62.a7 ..ιιχa7 63 ...t>xa7 an extra
piece was not enough for White to win the
game because of 63 ... ..t>d6 64 ...txf7 Φe5
65 ...t>b6 Φf4 66 ..i.d5 b4.
21 ...ιιχg5!
As a matter of fact, Black's game ίδ al-
213 Ε90 ready lost.
Krasenkow - Fedorov 21 ... hxg5
Round 8 25.08 If21 ... ..ιιχg4, then 22.~g2.
22.h6..ιιh8
l.d4 tbf6 2.c4 g6 3.tbc3 .i.g7 4.e4 d6 Ιη case of 22 ... ..ιιχg4 the simplest way
was 23. "§e3, and if 22 ... ..txh6, then 23. Black prefers not to allow the advance
"§xf6. e3-e4 and avoids the most popular line
23.h7+ ~g7 24."§h3 tι\xg4 25 ...txg4 9 ... tι\bd7 10.e4 SΙg6 1l ...td3.
'it>f626.tι\f1! 10.tι\e5 tι\bd7 11.tι\xg6 hxg6 12.tι\a2
White finishes accurately. Mter 26. For the short time that passed since the
"§h6+ rtJe7 27 ...Itxc8 ~fxc8 28. "§xg5+ ~f6 tournament ίη Biel the Dutch grandmas-
there was still some likeness to a struggle. ter managed to make some corrections ίη
26 ...~e7 27.tι\e3 f5 his opening repertoire. Mter 12.z:td1 "§a5
Black cannot stand a thought about the 13."§c2l1ad8 14.4Ja2 ..td615.b4 "§h5 16.g3
white knight οη f5 after an exchange ofthe e5 ίη the game Van Wely - Gelfand, Biel
light-squared bishops and hurries to make 2000, White failed to gain more than a
a hara-kiri himself. draw, though he had an initiative during
28...txf5 ..txf5 29.tι\xf5+ l1xf5 30."§xf5 the whole game.
!If8 31."§xg5+ rtJd7 32.f3 tι\a6 33."§e3 12 .•. iιd6 13.e4
1-0 Reinforcement. Previously οηlΥ a dull
13.4Jc3 has been seen ίη this position.
13... e5
214 Β47
Svidler - Movsesian
Round 8 25.08
l.e4 c5 2.tι\f3 tι\c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.tι\xd4

"§c7 5.tι\c3 e6 6.g3 a6 7...Itg2 d6 8.0-0 lιd7
9.I':iel ..te7 10.tι\xc6 ..txc6 11."§g4 h5
12."§e2 h413.a4 hxg314.hxg3 tι\f615.a5
The blitz game Svidler - Kasimdzha-
ηον, Wijk aan Zee 1999, developed ίn a
slightly other way: 15.lιe31t>f8 16.a5 tι\d7
17.tι\a4 lιb5 18. "§d2.
15 ... I':ic816.lιe3It>f817.z:tedl e5 14.f4!
18 ..ί:ιd2 112- 112 This is what for White's thirteenth
The opponents probably did not want move was made.
to torture each other and agreed to a draw. 14... exd415.e5 ~c516.rtJhl
Of course there was ηο 16.exf6?? be-
cause of 16 ... d3+, but 16."§d3 tι\d5 17.b4!
215 D19 looked none the worse than the move in
Van Wely - Almasi the game.
Round 9 26.08 16... 4Jd517.b4!
Another good move which is harmoni-
l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.tι\c3 tι\f6 4.tι\f3 dxc4 ously connected with the plan that White
5.a4 lιf5 6.e3 has been performing since the thirteenth
Struggling for the first prize ίη the last move.
round L.Van Wely stakes οη the quiet 17 ... iιe7
Dutch Variation of the Slav Defence, hav- It is very dangerous for Black to take
ing rejected two most aggressive continu- the second pawn. Mter 17 ... 4Jxb4 18.4Jxb4
ations 6.tι\e5 and 6.tι\h4. ..txb4 White gained a serious initiative
6 ... e6 7.SΙxc4 lιb4 8.0-0 ο-ο 9."§e2 with 19.e6.
..tg6 18.a5
White takes the b6-square under his 33.~xc3 l:!.xd1 34.~f3 1::t:xf1+ 35.~xf1 c5
control, not allowing the black knight to Black's pawns began a νictorious march to
get there. After 18.e6 tZ:J7b6 19.~d3 (if the first rank, the weakness of which dis-
19.exf'7+ nxf'7 20.~d3, then after 20 .. .'~d6 organized the co-ordination of White's
21.a5 tZ:Jd7 Black was ΟΚ) 19 ... f5 20.a5 tZ:Ja4 pleces.
Black's position was quite reliable. 33. .ί:!:Χd71::!.Χd7
18...1::t:e8
Black takes measures ίη case of a pos-
sible advance e5-e6.
19.~d2
After 19.e6 White probably did not want
to encounter 19 ... 1ιf6 whereupon the pawn
οη d4 would give him a lot of troubles.
19 ... 4Jf8 20:~e4 ~d7
Ιη case of20 ... 4Je6 Black feared White's
attack after 21.f5 gxf5 22. ~xf5 ~f8 23.1ιd3
g6 24.~g4.
21.~xd4 ned8 22.~b2 b5 23.~e2
Αη important moment. White decided
34.f5!
that his light-squared bishop had already Now the pawn attack looks fairly seri-
accomplished its mission οη the diagonal ous with the help of two mighty bishops.
a2-g8 and refused from the move 23.~b3, 34 ... gxf5
not wishing to complicate the defence of Black plays into White's hand, opening
the b4-pawn. υρ his position. There were very interest-
23 ... .ί:!:ac8 24.~adl a6 25.1ιf3? ing complications after a more fundamen-
White loses the tempo. After 25.~c1!? tal 34 ... tZ:Jd5!? Now ίη case of 35.fxg6! (af-
~a7 26.1ιg4 1:tc7 27.1:I.f3 he managed ter 35.e6 ~e7 36.fxg6 f6 White's attack was
to cover all the squares ίη the centre helpless) 35 ... tZ:Jxc3 36.e6 Black might wish
which were accessible for Black's knight to keep the extra piece with 36 ... tZ:Jxe6, and
and queen and thus kept an evident ad- after 37 .gxf'7 + ι;t>f8 38. ~h5 1::t:d1 (ίη case of
vantage. 38 ... z:id8 39 ...tg6 tZ:Jd5 40. ~h8+ ~e7 41. ~e8
25 ... ~a7 26.~b3 ~c7 27.1ιe4 Black might encounter difficulties) 39.
Now after 27.Sιc1 tZ:Je6 Black encoun- ~h8+ ~e7 40.f8~+ tZ:Jxf8 41.~xf8+ ι;t>e6
tered problems with the defence ofthe d4- 42.Sιf5+ the game would be most likely
square. drawn with a perpetual check. As for the
27 ... ~d4 28.~f3?! line to begin with 36 ... ~xe6, the white a-
Α ήsky move which makes it difficult pawn became really dangerous after
for White to keep his pawns οη the 37 ..1ιf5 ~c4 38 ..1ιχd7 tZ:Jxd7 39.~xf'7+ ~xf'7
queenside. An approximate equality could 40.1:.xf'7 tZ:Je5 4U::ta7 4Jxg6 42.1::!.xa6.
have been maintained with 28.~c2. 35.1ιχf5 1::!.e7 36.e6 tZ:Ja2?!
28 ...1::!.cd7 29.~c2 ~b2! Ιη case of 36 ... fxe6? Black took the
ΜateήaΙΙοsses are ineνitable for White. chance to encounter 37.Sιc2! tZ:Jxc2 38.
30.1ιbΙ ~xf8+ ι;t>h7 39.~xe7, and after the stron-
If 30.~b3, then 30 ... 4Jc3! gest 36 ... c5 37.~g3 f6 38. ~d6 tZ:Jd5 39.~a1
30 ... Sιxb4 31.4Jxb4 4Jxb4 32.Sιc3 White's two bishops and passed pawn were
~b3?! very powerful.
Black does not use all the merits ofhis 37.jιc2?
position ίη full measure. After 32 ... ~xc3! Another blunder. After 37.exf'7+ ~xf'7
'lfixf7 (ίη case of 37 ... MXf7 38 ..tc2! Black is White practically could force Black to
lost) 38 ..td2 c5 39 ..te3 Black's position was the position without an exchange by dint
really hard. of 52 ...td8!? <t>g6 53.a6 ..ί:!.a3 (ίη case of
37•.. 'lfixe6 38 ..td2 'lfie2?! 53 ... .ί:!.cι+ 54.<t>f2 ~c2+ 55.<t>f3 Z!xh2 56.a7
Black strives for simplifications. 38 ... J:Ϊa2 57 ..tb6 White's a-pawn will cost Black
'lfid7!? was possible. Mter 39 ..tg5 (ίη case a rook) 54.a 7lΔd5 55 ..ta5 (if 55 ..txg5, then
of 39 ..tb3 'lfixd2 40 ..txf7+ <t>h8 41 ..txa2 55 ... lΔc7!) 55 ... J:Ϊal+ 56.<t>f2 .ί:!.a2+ 57.<t>el
lΔh7 42 ..tbl ~el 43 ...txh7 kIxf1+ 44.'lfixf1 1:!:xa5 58.J:Ϊg8+ <t>h5 59.a8'lfi ':xa8 60.~xa8
'>t>xh7 45.'lfif5+ '>t>h6 46.'lfih3+ <t>g5 47.'lfig3+ lΔf4. Though it is rather doubtful that this
'>t>f5 Black's king happily escaped to the would be enough for White to win. For get-
queenside, and Black won) 39 ... ~e6 (if ting a theoretically drawn position Black
39 ... l:!.e5, then after40 ..tb3 Mxg5 41 ..txf7+ had to place his pawn οη g4, knight οη h5,
'>t>h8 42 ..txa2 lΔh7 43. 'lfif4 the activity of king οη h4 or g5.
the white pieces was dangerous for Black 52...lΔd5 53 ..td8 <t>g6 54.~b8
despite his extra pawn) 40 ..tb3 lΔb4 White refuses to play the position to
41 ..txe6lΔxe6 White got a fair compensa- appear after 54.a6 J:Ϊa3 (ίη case of 54... J:Ϊcl +
tion for the exchange. 52.<t>f2 J:Ϊc2+ White continues 53.<t>g3! Mc3+
39..tb3 'lfixf3 40.gxf3 Md7 41.Mf2lΔc3 54.<t>g4, escaping from checks and keep-
This way οηlΥ, because 41 ... l:!.xd2 ing a material advantage) 55.a7, as after
42 ..:!:!.xd2 lΔb4 43 ..tId8 was dangerous for 55 ... J:Ϊa2 (ίη case of 55 ... '>t>f5 there was
Black. 56 ..te7, and ίη case of55 ... <t>f7 or 55 ... '>t>g7
42 ..txc3 l:!.d3 43 ..ί:!.c2 Black had to reckon with 56.<t>f2, as
56 ...txg5 promised nothing to White be-
cause of 56 ... lΔc7) 56 ..ta5 ~xa5 (a long se-
ries of checks 56 ... kιal+ 57.<t>f2 J:Ϊa2+
58.~el l:tal+ 59.'>t>d2 ~a2+ 60.<t>d3 lΔf4+
61.~e4 J:Ϊa4+ 62.'>t>f3 could not change the
situation considerably) 57.1ιg8+ <t>f5
58.a8'lfi Mxa8 59 ..ί:!.χa8 lΔf4 60.'>t>f2 the
struggle would most probably end ίη a
draw notwithstanding White's extra ex-
change.
54 .....ί:!.cι+ 55.'it>f21:rc2+ 56.<t>f3
Bringing the game closer to a draw. Μ
43 ...b4? ter 56.'>t>g31:!:c3+ 57.<t>g4 ~a3 (weaker was
Black does his best to complicate his 57 ... J:Ϊc4+ 58.<t>f3 '>t>f5 because of 59.1:!:b3!?)
way to a draw. After 43 ... c5 44 ..ta2 b4 58.kιb5lΔe3+ 59.<t>f3lΔf5+ there were also
45 ...td2 b3 46 ..txb3 l:!.xb3 47.Mxc5 lΔg6! not many winning chances.
(47 ... ..ί:!.χf3?! was much weaker because of 56 ... J:Ϊxh2 57.J:Ϊb5 J:Ϊh3+ 58.<t>f2 J:Ϊd3
48.l:!.c6 48 ... l:!.f6? 49.l:!.c8 or even an imme- 59.a6 lΔb4 60 ..tc7
diate 48.l:!.c8!?) the game would most prob- Mter 60.J:Ϊxg5+ 'it>h6 there was an easy
ably end ίη a draw. draw.
44 ..txf7+ '>t>xf'7 45 ..txb4l:!.xf3 46.l:!.xc6 60 ... lΔxa6 61 ..ί:!.b6+ <t>f5 62.J:Ϊxa6
lΔg6 47 ..:!:!.xa6 White managed to win a piece, but this
Now Black will suffer torments of a is not enough to win the game. More than
hard endgame without a pawn. this: the g-pawn becomes now a real
47 ...lΔf4 48.'>t>gl g5 49 •..ί:!.a8 J:Ϊb3 50..td6 trouble for White because of its closeness
1:!:d3 51 ..tc7 J:Ϊc3 52..tb6 to the eighth rank.
62 ... l:ι.d5 63.~b6 l:ι.b5 64 ..te3 'it>g4 15.~bl
65.'it>g2 l:ι.b2+ 66 ...tf2 l:ι.b5 67.Ua4+ 'it>h5 Usually 15.~c1 or 15.Iιa2 is played ίη
68 •.te3 l:ι.e5 69.'it>f3 1:[f5+ 70.Φe4 l:ι.b5 this position. For the last νariation we can
71.1:[al 'it>g6 72 . ..td4 J::tb4 73.tta8 l:ι.b5 mention a curious game I.Marinkoνic -
74.Md8 'it>h5 75.'it>f3 1:rb3+ 76 ...te3 .ϊ:i:b5 A.Κoνaceνic, Ulcinj 1997, which deνeloped
77.l:ι.h8+ 'it>g6 78.'it'e4 l:ι.b4+ 79.'it>e5 I:tb5+ as follows: 15 ... e6 16.C2Jdf4 b3 17.cxb3C2Jb4
80.'it'e6 kta5 81 ..JTιd4 1:ra6+ 82.'it'e5 l:ι.a5+ 18.l!a1 ..txb2 19 ..ϊ:!b1 ..te5 20.C2Jd3 C2Jxd3
83.'it>e4 ~b5 84 ...te5 ~b4+ 85.'it>d5 'it'f5 21. ~xd3 C2Jc5 22. t1c2 ..ta6 23.l:ι.fd1 l:ι.c8. It
86.l:ι.f8+ 'it>g4 87.1:[f1 J::tb5+ 88. 'it>e6 l:ι.b6+ should be noted that many chess players
89.<bf7 J::tb5 90.'it>f6 1:[b6+ 91.'it>g7 l:tb5 were caught ίη a simple trap ίη the posi-
92.~f6 'it>h3 93.1:[f3+ 'it'h2 94.1:[a3 g4 tion οη the diagram: after 15.C2Jd4?? White
95 ...th4 1:[h5 96 ...tg3+ 'it>g2 97 ..JTιd6 1:[d5 lost because of 15 ... .txd4! 16 ...txd4 e6
98.1:!.a2+ 'it>f3 99.~b81:[b5 100.1:[a3+ <bg2 17.C2Je3 (17.C2Jf4 e5) 17 ... e5 18 ..JTιa7 1:[b7.
101 . ..ta7 g3 102.'it'f6 'it>h2 103.~e3 g2 15 ..• e6 16.C2Jdf4 b3
104.1:[a8 nbll05.1:[h8+ 'it'g3 106.l:tg8+ 'it>f3 Black plays similarly to the aboνe men-
107.~c5 ~cl VΙ-VΙ tioned game Ι.Μaήηkονίc - A.Koνaceνic,
Ulcinj 1997, and most probably he is
216 Β70 wrong. Mter 16 ... C2Jde5 he has a good play
Movsesian - Shirov without any adνentures.
Round 9 26.08 17.cxb3 C2Jc5 18.C2JclC2Ja5 19.e5!?
Α cuήοus blow. White wants to get more
l.e4 c5 2.C2Jf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.C2Jxd4 than the position after 19 ...txc5 dxc5
C2Jf6 5.C2Jc3 C2Jc6 6.g3 g6 7.C2Jde2 20.'~c2 ~b6 would giνe him.
White wants to keep as many pieces as 19.....ta6!
possible οη the board. Mter 7 ..JTιg2 C2Jxd4 Α good response. Ιη case of 19 ... ..txe5
8.~xd4 ..tg7 9.0-0 ο-ο 10.h3 ~e6 11.~b4 20.b41:[xb4 21.C2Jcd3 C2Jxd3 22.C2Jxd3 an ίη
~c8 12. 'it'h2 a5 Black got a conνenient play cautious 22 ... l:ι.b5? might lose Black's game
ίη the game Sνidler - Gelfand, Polanica after 23.C2Jxe5 dxe5 (23 ... l:ι.xe5 24 ...tf4)
Zdroj 2000. 24.b4 C2Jc4 25 ..th6 l:te8 26.iιc6, and eνen
7 ... iιg7 8 ...tg2 0-0 9.0-0 1:[b8 10.a4 a6 after the strongest 22 ... l:ι.b3 his position
11.h3 was dubious after 23.C2Jxe5 dxe5 24.~h6
Α necessary moνe. After 11.C2Jd5 b5 l:ι.e8 25.1:[al.
12.axb5 axb5 13 ...te3 b4 14.I:ta2C2Jg4 Black 20.1:[elC2Jaxb3 21.exd6 ~d7
took the initiatiνe ίη the game Iνanchuk Black will maintain the material bal-
Κramnik, Horgen 1995. ance soon.
11 ... b5 12.axb5 axb5 13.~e3 b4 22.C2Jxb3 C2Jxb3 23.C2Je2 ..te5 24.C2Jd4
14.C2Jd5 C2Jd7 C2Jxd4 25 •..txd4 iιxd6 26 ...tc3 ~e7 27 .~al
The moνe 27. ~d4 is not dangerous be-
cause of 27 ... e5.
27 ... ~b7 28 ...txb7 bIxb7 29.~f3 bIb5
30.~e3 ..tb4 31.l:ι.a7 1:!.b7 32.~xb7lj2-Vι
217 Β07
Fedorov - Svidler
Round 9 26.08
l.e4 d6
It is interesting to know how would the '218 Α30

Byelorussian grandmaster play after Gelfand - Κrasenkow
1 ... e5? Round 9 26.08
2.d4 ιί'1f6 3 ..td3 e5 4.c3 g6 5.ιί'1f3 ιί'1bd7
6.0-0 1ιg7 7 ..tg5 h6 8 ..th4 0-0 9.ιί'1bd2 1.c4 c5 2.ιί'1f3 ιί'1ί6 3.g3 b6 4 ..tg2 1ιb7
b610.a4 5.0-0 g6 6.ιί'1c3
Mter 10 ..ί:ϊ:e1 .tb7 11.a4 Black made a At the tournament ίn Biel Boris Gelfand
minor mistake ίn the game De la Villa - did not striνe for a complex struggle ίn the
Shiroν, Leon 1995, haνing played 11 ... a5?! game against L.van Wely and chose a mod-
(11 ... a6! was better), so that after 12.~c2 est 6.b3.
12 ... ~e8 13 ..tb5 ιί'1h5 14.llad1 f6 15.4:Jc4 6 ....tg7 7.d4 cxd4 8.~xd4 ο-ο 9.~h4
.ί:ϊ:f7 he would encounter certain difficulties d6 10 ..th6 4:Jbd7 11.l:Iac1l:Ic8 12 ..ί:ϊ:fd1?!
ίn case of 16.b4! Α strange moνe. Usually White contin-
ues with 12.b3 ίn this position.
12 ... ~c71hJh
Black refused to check White's prepa-
rations for the νariation 12 ... .txh6 13.
~xh6 .ί:ϊ:χc4 where he had a healthy extra
pawn without White's particular compen-
sation.
~19 Β27
Ivanchuk - Markowski
Round 9 26.08
10... a6! 1.e4 c5 2.ιί'1f3 g6 3.d4 .tg7 4.d5 ιί'1ί6

P'Sνidler is alert and does not repeat 5.e5 4:Jg4 6.ιί'1g5
Shiroν's mistake. Α short acrobatic feat with knights be-
11.~c2 gins. Mter 6 ..tf4 d6 7.1ιb5+ 'it>f8 White
11 ..ί:ϊ:e1 which occurred ίn the game encountered problems ίn the game Bellini
Tiνiakoν - Kasimdzhanoν, Groningen - Sibilio, Cesenatico 1986.
1999, led to a more complicated play. 6 ... ιί'1h6
11 ... .tb7 12.dxe5 ιί'1χe5 If 6 ... ιί'1χe5, then after 7.f4 f6 8.ιί'1Χh7
Black exchanges the knights and thus 4:Jf7 Black had to reckon with 9.~g4.
simplifies the position. 7.ιί'1e4 lh-lh
13.ιί'1χe5 dxe5 14.4:Jc4 ~e7 15.b4 The game was drawn at the most inter-
lhJh esting moment.
FIDE World Cup 297
FIDE World Cup

Shenyang 1.09-13.09
J'here were 24 participants ίn the FIDE Men's World Cup. The prize fund was υ8 $
238.000. The winner ν.Anand (India), who defeated E.Bareev (Russia) ίn the final with
a score of 1.5-0.5, played really excellently and confidently.
ΑΙΙ participants were split into four groups of six players for the round robin stage.
The next stage was knockout matches oftwo games with draws being resolved by play-
off games with faster time controls.
Not everybody was satisfied with the World Cup's schedule and with how the groups
were completed.
A.Khalifman: 'Ί was discussing the format ofthis World Cup with the World Cham-
pionship Rules Committee's Chairman and Ι told him that ίη these groups of six play-
ers, where three players got three Whites and two Blacks, and the other three got two
Whites and three Blacks, the difference was very, very crucial οη the top level. Ι think
it's rather clear, even to amateur players, but he was really surprised like Ι told him
something incredible! Look at the results: the advantage ofWhite's pieces is quite an
important factor! 80 this round robin with six players for qualification is not very objec-
tive. Κnockout is not perfect either, but it's better than this! However, a search for an
alternative format, for a more reliable World Championship system is going on. Lets
hope for the best!"
The drawing lots was held after the opening banquet. The World Champion Alexander
Κhalifman suggested a restricted drawing lots for each grouo instead of the pre-ar-
ranged distribution ofplayers as the Organizing Committee offered. After a voting, the
Chief Arbiter Ignatius Leong conducted the casting lots. The first four players drew for
their groups. Then the next four players drew lots for their groups, etc. The drawing
was organized so that ηο group would have more than two players from the same coun-
try.
B.Gelfand: "In my ορίηίοη some groups were stronger than others. But it is not a
proven fact. Ιη such a tournament even participants with equal rating have different
chances: some play better with strong opponents, others - with weak. Two players with
low ratings also had an inf1uence. I'd prefer to play when there is ηο evident outsider.
As a result, Ι drew the game with him ίη the last round when Ι should have won and Ι
had to play a tie-break."
Interview with Alexey Dreev

ΒΥ ΙιΥαGorodetsky
Q: Ι do not know whether you were keeping an eye οη the play-offmatches,

but still, what can you say about the fact that there we ηο great surprises (as
a whole)?
Α: Though they finished without unexpected result, they went off rather interestingly.
Besides the match Anand - Gelfand there was an exciting duel between Azmaiparashvili
and Bareev. Ιη the second game after Evgeny had lost the first, Zurab with White
played badly ίη the opening and got a difficult position, a nevertheless he had drawing
chances ίη a moment. Everything became not so clear when White got two passed
pawns ίη the ending.
Q: Ι want to ask you about Morozevich. What were the reasons ofhis failure?
Α: We were communicating a lot: flew together, liνed ίη the next rooms; went back
to Peking from Shenyang by train together. Ι think that Alexander underestimated
acclimatization. Formally the time difference ίη Shenyang is four hours but ίη fact it's
about 7 hours (ίη territory of China uniform time is entered). So there are lots of
blunders. For example, Fedoroν simply gaνe υρ the piece to Bareeν ίη the last round.
Q: It seems Fedorov also has a certain crisis.
Α: Yes, he seemed to oνercome it, he defeated Zhang Zhong and played with Bareeν
rather well. Ifhe had won, then he would haνe participated ίη the additional match to
reach the quarter-final. Of course, Bareeν reached the final deserνedly. He played rather
unstably, but one could see that he took aim at the result. Bareeν could reach that far
thanks to his sporting abilities. Ι think that time difference influenced οη eνeryone.
Morozeνich, for example, seemed to lacking ίη energy. His play produced a strange
impression: the game with Aleksandroν - the Κing Gambit, sacrifice of a piece and ...
struggle for a drawn; with Milos - good beginning of the attack, then a blunder and
again defeat. From my point, of νiew, the reason of Morozeνich's unsuccessful
performance that he continued to play ίη his usual manner which requires colossal
energy and a efforts. His problem is the opening that does not fit his leνel.
Q: And now, please, some words about a the World Cnp's victor Anand.
Α: Anand was νery effectiνe. When it was necessary he spare his strenght, for
example, playing with Treguboν, he did not find dishonourable to offer a drawn. He
played νery practically, ίη his own style. He had come to win the tournament and won
it.
Q: Ιn some people's ορίnίοn he is not simply a favorite, but a future winner
of the coming FIDE World Championship.
Α: That will be difficult, but the halo of inνulnerability has already been created.
This idea is suggested to eνeryone. They are not afraid ofhim as much as ofKasparoν.
But fear, that his opponents feel playing with him, increases his chess power, which is
mighty, without this dread.
GroupA
2 3 4 6
1 Milos 2633
2 Azmaiparashνili 2673
3 Gulko 2643
4 Dreeν 2676
5 Aleksandroν 2591
6 Morozeνich 2756
The only group, ίη which it was not necessary to play an additional much to define
FIDE World Cup 299
two winners. Partly it was because of the unexpected failure of the group's favourite
Morozevich: three defeats and two draws.
220 Α40 13.dxc6 (the pawn structure and the set of

Dreev - Morozevich pieces were favourable for Black ίη the line
Round 1 1.09 13.tiJb5 iιxc3+ 14.tiJxc3 d6 15.0-0 e5)
13 ... tiJxc6 14.0-0 tiJxd4 15.iιxb7 ZΙb8 (after
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 15 ... tiJxe2+ 16. ~xe2 .Jιxc3 17.J:Iad1 1:tb8
A.Morozevich has quite an original style 18 ..Jιc6 White returned the sacrificed pawn
of playing chess, which displays itself ίη and still kept some winning chances, de-
particular ίη his predilection for uncom- spite the presence ofthe opposite-coloured
mon opening structures. 80, ίη this game bishops οη the board) 16 . .Jιxd4 1:txb7
he chose an unpopular hybrid of the 17 ..Jιxf6 ~xf6 18.~d6 White would have
Queen's Indian and Dutch Defences which stood a bit better even after the mass sim-
is called sometimes the Owen Defence and plifications. Besides, this position without
a great contribution to its· modern devel- a definite Black's counterplay would have
opment was made by English chess play- been right ofthe kind that A.Dreev played
ers. well.
3.a3 f5 13.b4 e5 14.tiJb3 e4 15.~xf6 ~xf6
The game Kasparov - Morozevich, 16.0-0 d6
Frankfurt 2000, developed differently and
after 3 ... ~b7 4.tiJc3 f5 5.d5 tiJf6 6.g3 tiJa6
7 ..Jιg2 tiJc5 8.tiJh3 ~d6 9.0-0 .Jιe5 10. ~c2
ο-ο Black got an acceptable play.
4.tiJc3
Ιη the game Piket - 8hort, Wijk aan Zee
2000 White was tougher and managed to
get some advantage after 4.d5 tiJf6 5.g3
.Jιb7 6 ..Jιg2 g6 7.tiJc3 .ig7 8.tiJh3 ο-ο 9.0-0
a5 10.~b1 tiJa6 1l.b4 axb4 12.axb4 c5
13.bxc5 tiJxc5 14.~e3
4 ...tiJf6 5.tiJf3 ~a6
Αη uncommon move. Usually Black
plays an unpretentious ~c8-b7 at once or 17.f3!
ίη several moves. This blow οη Black's pawn wedge ίη the
6.b3 ~e7 centre was delivered quite opportunely.
Ιη one of the few games which were Otherwise White's bishop οη g2 stayed
played ίη this variation Black acted differ- practically out of the play.
ently: 6 ... g6 7.g3 ~g7 8 ..Jιg2 ο-ο 9.0-0 c6 17... exf3 18.exf3 c5
10.a4 d5 11 ..Jιa3 .a:e8 12.cxd5 exd5 13.tiJe5 White's knight was threatening to get
c5 Novikov - 8habalov, Philadelphia 1999. to d4 where it would have good prospects,
7.d5 ο-ο 8 •.Jιb2 .Jιb7 9.g3 tiJe4 10..Jιg2 so Black was forced to play the advance
~f6 11.tiJd4 tiJxc3 12.~xc3 g6?! from which he refused οη the twelfth move.
Now Black could have played the tra- However, this time the advance loses ίη its
ditional 12 ... c5, but probably he had been force considerably as now Black's d-pawn
confused with the circumstance that after is isolated.
19.dxc6 tbxc6 20.f41::[ae8 21:~d2 tbd8 36 ...tbe4 37.tbb5

22.~xb7 tbxb7 23.1:tfel Now White still could haνe returned to
White oνerlooked a nice opportunity, the plan with 37.tbf3.
connected with 23.'~d5+!, whereupon 37 ... 1:tc8 38.tbxa7 .ί::!:c7 39.tbb5 .ί:Ixc6
Black had to answer with 23 .. .'~Π, and 40.I:te2 1:rcl
after 24.1:tfe1 tbd8 25.tbd4 he would be soon Otherwise Black threatened to force by
inνolνed into a hard endgame. 41.1::tc2 a knight endgame, faνourable for
23 ...tbd8 24:~'d5+ Wg725.tbd4?! him.
White eνidently does not use all the 41.~c2 ~dl+ 42.We2 .ί:ϊ:hΙ 43.We3
merits of his position. At this moment Most probably that after 43 ..a:c7+ Wf8
25.1::tad1 looked good, and if 25 .. :l:'i'c3 or 44.I:txh7 tbxg3+ 45.We3 tbh5 the game
25 ... ne7 like ίη the game, then 26. '§d4 was would be ended ίη a draw.
strong. 43 ...1::tel+ 44.~d4 ~dl+ 45.Φe3
25 ....!:te7 26.1:Ixe7+ '§xe7 27.tbf3 '§e3+ Α forced retreat, because 45. We5? led
White's sluggish play allowed black White to a disaster after 45 ... tbf6 46.~c7+
pieces to become much more actiνe. (46.tbd4 was not better because of 46 ...
28.1t>f1 tbf7 29.'§d4+ tbg4+ 47.Wxd5 tbe3+) 46 ... tbd7+
White returns to the plan which implies 45 ..•tbd6 46.a4 %-112
an exchange of the queens and which he
did not νenture to launch seνeral moνes
ago, but now it will be much less faνourable 221 C37
for him. Morozevich - Aleksandrov
29 ... '§xd4 30.tbxd4 ~c8 31.~cl wf6 Round 2 2.09
32.lt>e2 d5
Another energetic moνe. Black does not l.e4 e5 2.f4
want to suffer White's long pressure after Το play this opening is a νery serious
a quiet 32 ... a6. decision for such a short tournament.
33.c5 tbd6 34.c6 1:Ie8+ 35.Wd31t>e7 2 ... exf4 3.tbf3 g5 4.d4
Ιη case of an erroneous 35 ... tbc4? Black Another, more quiet continuation 4.h4
had ηο chance to escape after 36.tbb5 a6 which does not require White's sacrifice of
37.tbc3 l:!.c8 38.tbxd5+ lt>e6 39.I:txc4 'it>xd5 a piece within the first fiνe moνes suffered
40.c7. a considerable blow from a fine noνelty
which was demonstrated by A.Shiroν at
the recent tournament ίη Polanica Zdroj.
Mter the well known moνes 4 ... g4 5.tbe5
d6 6.tbxg4 tbf6 7.tbf2 ~g8 8.d4 ~h6 9.tbc3
tbc6 10.tbd5 tbxd5 ll.exd5 Black deνeloped
the strongest attack of the white king by
η ... '§e7+! 12.~e2 tbb4 13.c4 ~f5 14. '§a4+
Φf8 15.'§xb4 ~e8Ί6.,§d2 ~xg2 and won
quickly ίη the game Fedoroν - Shiroν,
Polanica Zdroj 2000.
4 ... g4 5.~xf4 gxf3 6. ~xf3
ΑΙΙ that White gets for the piece is a
36.1:rel+?! pawn, howeνer it is not at all easy for Black
White refuses to stake all οη his far to defend from his threats.
adνanced passed c6-pawn with 36.tbf31::!.c8 6 ... d6 7.tbc3 tbc6 8.0-0-0
37.tbe5, and most probably he is wrong. White aνoids 8.~c4 which occurred ίη
FIDE World Cup 301
the game Fedoroν - Adams, Pula 1997, and it is obνiously insufficient for the sacrificed
after 8 ... ~h4+ 9 ..tg3 ~f6 10. ~xf6 lΔxf6 piece.
11.0-0 gaνe him a good compensation for 21.lΔe2 b6?
the piece, notwithstanding the exchange For so long Black has managed to ex-
of the queens. Probably White was influ- tinguish White's initiatiνe quite success-
enced by the circumstance that ίη the line fully, but now he makes a mistake and has
8 ... lΔxd4!? 9.;ΙΧίΊ+ <ϊt>xίΊ 10.~h5+ Wg7 he to begin from the νery beginning again.
would be able to achieνe only a draw ac- 21 ... lΔe7! was stronger, increasing the pres-
cording to the modern theory. sure upon the white d5-pawn. Mter 22.lΔf4
(if 22.c4, then 22 ... b6 was already ίη its
place) 22 ... .td7 23.c4 (ίη case of 23. ~c5
there was 23 ... c6) 23 ... b6 Black would keep
both a solid position and an extra piece.
22.lΔί4 .td7 23.~c3!
It turns out that Black will not escape
a materialloss.
23 ...1:ic8
Α forced decision, as 23 ... lΔe8?? was
absolutely inadmissible for Black because
of 24.lΔg6+.
24 ..ta6 ~g7 25.~xg7+ <ϊt>xg7 26 . ..1ιχc8
8 ...h5! ..1ιχc8
Black prepares a square to deνelop his The material balance is nearly main-
light-squared bishop (g4), and at the same tained, but owing to a rather closed char-
time he wants to engage his rook ίη the acter of the position, Black's pair of light
play through the h6-square after an ex- pieces slightly outweighs White's rook and
change ofthe dark-squared bishops. pawn.
9.e5 27.l:!.f3 lΔf6 28.b3 lΔfe4 29.Wb2 h4
Α prophylactic 9.h3?! would be an eνi The moνe 29 ... lΔd2 would not giνe any-
dent concession because of 9 ... i.h6, so thing because of 30.l:!.g3+.
White goes ahead braνely. 30.l:!.e1 a5 31.c4 I!.h8 32.lΔd3
9 ....tg4 10. ~e4 .th6 Probably White should not haνe re-
Black's excessiνe appetite might bring moνed the knight as now Black can engage
him to a disaster νery quickly. After his rook ίη the actiνe play οη his next moνe.
10 ... i.xd1? 11.exd6+ lΔge7 12.lΔd5 or 32...1:ih5!
10 ... d5? 11.lΔxd5 .Jιιxd1 12.lΔf6+ lΔxf6 Black grabs the offered opportunity at
13.exf6+ i.e7 14.i.b5 White's attack would once and sends his rook to struggle οη the
be irresistible. That is why Black prepares fifth horizontal.
a safe shelter for his king οη the ffi-square. 33.~ί4
11 . .Jιιxh6 If 33.lΔf4, then 33 ... J::tg5.
If 11.exd6+, then 11 ... Φαι. 33....tf5 34.lΔe5lΔc5 35.Φa3?
11 ...lIxh6 12.1:id2 dxe5 13.h3 White should haνe agreed to 35.<ϊt>c3
If13.dxe5, then 13 ... ~g5 was unpleas- ~g5 36.J::re21:!.g3+, and now his position can
ant. be lost forcedly.
13 ... .td7 14.d5 lΔce7 15.~xe5 Φί8 35 ...f6?!
16 ..td3 lΔc8 17.1:ΗΙ lΔd6 18.1::ϊdf2 ~e7 35 ... .Jιιe4! was winning. Mter 36.1:ig4+
19.~d4 ~g5+ 20.Φb1.te8 (ίη case of 36.lΔxίΊ lΔxίΊ 37.1::ϊfχe4 lΔxe4
Though White still keeps the initiatiνe 38.ktxe4 <ϊt>αι an extra piece was enough for
Black to win, and 36.ctJc6 led to the νari possible, but the question whether all this
ants to be considered below both after would be enough for a draw stayed unan-
~xd5 and after 36 ... b5) 36 ... Φf8 37.ctJc6 swered until the very last moνe. Ιη case of
whereupon Black had either 37 ... b5!? or 57 .a5!? it would be much more complicated
37 ... ~xd5!? with the idea that ίη case of for Black to demonstrate how he would Μη
38.cxd5 he continued with 38 ... ctJb5+ this game. Mter 57 ... ctJb5+ 58.~d2 (there
39.'it>b2 ctJd3+. was ηο 58.~b4? because of 58 ... c5+, while
36.ctJc6 ..te4 37.l::te3 58.Φc2 lost after 58 ... f4 59.a6 f3 60.a7
If 37.l::te2, then 37 ... b5! was strong, and CΔxa7 when the f-pawn cost Black a rook)
ίη case of 38 ..1:tg4+ 'it>h7 39.ctJxa5 White 58 ... ..txb3 (a struggle after 58 ... f4 59.a6 f3
suffered considerable materiallosses after 60.a7 f2 61.~g8+ 1ιχg8 62.a8~ f1~ 63.
39 ... f5 40 ..ί::ι.f4 b4+. ~xg8+ led to a draw despite Black's extra
37... l::tg5 piece) 59.a6 Wf3 60.1::!:b8 (a hasty 60.a7? lost
Now 37 ... b5?! was already not so attrac- because of 60 ... ..td5) 60 ... ..td5 6U:tb7 [4
tive because of38.ctJxa5 b4+ 39.'it>xb4 CΔd3+ 61.a7 ctJxa7 62 ..ί:.χa7 there was a position
40 . .ί:.χd3 ~xd3 41.a4, and three white where White's rook easily finished off
pawns outweighed Black's bishop. At the Black's two parted passed pawns with the
same time, Black did not venture οη the help ofhis bishop.
keen continuation 37 ... ..txg2!? 38.l::te7+ 57...ctJe4+!
~g6 39.~xc7 ..txh3 as the mutual destruc- Black gets the knight to assist his
tion ofthe flanks would make all three re- passed pawn and wins a tempo.
sults possible ίη this case. With the move 58.~d4
ίη the game Black attempts to avoid υη If 58.'it>b2, then after 58 ... f4 59.a5 f3
necessary complications and still to keep 60.a6 (ίη case of 60.~αι the solution was
main pluses ofhis position. 60 ... ctJc5 61.b4 CΔd7!) 60 ... f2 61.~αι c5 62.a7
38.~xh4 ~xg2 39.1:!.g4+ .ί::txg4 40.hxg4 ~g3 63.~f5 1ιc6 its was time to surrender
'it>g6 for White.
The position has become more or less 58 ... ctJg5
settled after the first time control, and, 59 ... CΔe6+ was threatening.
owing to the weakness of the white g4- 59.~e8 ί4 60.a5 ctJe6+ 61.~d3 CΔc5+
pawn, it is better for Black. 62.Φc3 f3 0-1
41.CΔd4 ~g5 42.~g3 ~g6 43.~gl ..te8
44.CΔe6+!
White has to get any counterplay or he 222 Ε42
willlose the g4-pawn as soon as the black Aleksandrov - Milos
bishop gets to d7. Round 3 3.09
44 ... CΔxe6 45.dxe6 1ιc6 46.~b2 1ιf3
47.c5 l.d4 CΔί6 2.c4 e6 3.CΔc3 ~b4 4.e3 b6
47.e7 would not change anything be- 5.CΔge2 c5 6.a3 ..ta5 7.~bl CΔa68.f3
cause of 47 ... Φg6. Alexei Aleksandroν applies this aggres-
47 ... bxc5 48.e7 ~g6 49.~cl c4 50. siνe move regularly. Beside this move, the
e8~+ continuations 8.lΔg3, 8 ...td2 and 8. ~a4 oc-
The continuation 50.bxc4 Φf7 51.c5 CΔe4 cur much more frequently.
is impossible for White. 8 ... 0-0 9.d5 exd5 10.cxd5 b5 11.~f2
50 ... CΔxe8 51.~xc4 Φg5 52.a4 c6 A.Aleksandroν attempts to reinforce his
53.~c3 ..td5 54.~c5 Wxg4 55.~xa5 ί5 play. Previously he played 1l.e4 ίη this
56..1:ta8 CΔd6 57.l::td8?! position. 80, after 1l ... b4 (1l ... 1:ϊ:e8 also de-
White sharpened the play as much as serνed attention as Black got an excellent
FIDE World Cup 303
play after 12.liJg3 b4 13.axb4 cxb4 14.liJb5 It is hard to find a sensible response for
b3+ 15.'ίt>f2 .tb6+ 16 ...te3 .txe3+ 17.~xe3 White. Α materialloss is inevitable now.
liJb4 ίη the game Oms - Del Rio, Santa 22.f4
Clara 1999) 12.axb4 cxb4 13.liJb5 (ίη There was ηο way to keep the d5-pawn.
Milos's ορίηίοη 13.liJa4! was stronger) Mter 22.e4 fxe4 23.fxe4 c4+ there was a
13 ... ~b6 14.liJbd4 b3+ 15.~f2liJc5 16.liJg3 quick end. If 22. ~f1 .ί:txd5 23.~xb5, then
.tb7 17 ...te3 .ixd5 complications began ίη after 23 ... ~a2+ 24.'ίt>g1 (ηο 24.J::!.b2 because
the game Aleksandrov - Sambuev, St. Pe- of24 ... liJbd3+) 24 ... ~d6 Black also won the
tersburg 1998. game.
11 .•. b4 12.liJb5 d6 13.axb4 liJxb4 22 ... ttxd5 23.fxe51:txdl 24.~xdl ~e6
14.liJec3 .ib6 15..ic4?! 25 ..ixb5 J:!.a2+ 26.jιb2 ~xb3
Mter this move Black will play the rest The army ofwhite pieces decreased con-
of the game at a single breathing. Prob- siderably during the last moves.
ably White should have preferred 15.liJa3 27.~d8+ ~f'128.~d7+ Φe6
with the idea to put the knight οη c4. 28 ... ~g6 would have brought Black to
15... liJd7! his goal sooner.
Α dreadful threat of 16 ... ~h4+ aήses. 29.J:!.d6+ Φe7 30.J:!.d7+ ~f8 31.~d8+
16.liJe4 ~π 32.J:!.d7+ ~g6 33.1:td6+ 'ίt>g5 34.h4+
16.liJxd61ooks risky because of 16 ... liJe5 Φχh435 ...te2
17.liJxc8 J::!.xc8 18.1ιe2 (after 18.b3 liJxc4 White's agony is over. He will suffer
19.bxc4 ~h4+ Black was ΟΚ) 18 ... c4 with torments until th<3 time control and then
Black's very dangerous initiative for a resign.
pawn. 35 ... ~g5 36.~d2liJd5 37.J:!.bdl ~xe3+
16 ... liJe5 17.b3 38.~f1 ~f4+ 39.'~gl ~e3+ 40.~hl ~a4
41 ...tcl0-l
223 D39
Azmaiparashvili - Morozevich
Round 3 3.09
l.d4 e6 2.liJf3liJf6 3.c4 d5 4.liJc3 dxc4

5.e4 ..tb4 6 ...tg5 c5 7 ...txc4 cxd4 8.liJxd4
~a5 9 ..td2 ~c5
Ιη the game against G.Kasparov at the
tournament ίη Sarajevo A.Morozevich
17 ...f5! tested the move 9 ... 0-0. This time he goes
Mter this move White's position, which a more traditional way.
looks quite solid at first sight, begins to 10.1ιb5+ iιd711.liJb3 ~e7 12.~e2
fall apart. Usually White removes the bishop by
18.liJexd6 12.1ιd3 and thus escapes the exchange,
White goes for complications. If White still the move that Z.Azmaiparashvili
refused from the sacrificed pawn with made ίη the game have been seen previ-
18.liJg3, then after 18 ... a6 19.1iJc3 ~h4 he ously as well.
would also suffer a very strong attack from 12 ....txb5!
Black's pieces. However strange it may seem, this
18... a6 19.1iJxc8 axb5 20.liJxb6 ~xb6 natural move occurs for the first time.
21 ...te2 1:tfd8! Usually Black played 12 ... 0-0.
13:~xb5+ 12Jc6 14.l2Jd4 1:rc8 15.l2Jxc6 41.4:Jd5

1:rxc6 16.0-0 a6 17:~g5 ο-ο 18.a3 .ltc5 With this moνe White loses his slight
It is obνious that Black has equalized initiatiνe. It should be noted that there was
the play, and his position is eνen slightly ηο 41.4:Jg4? because of 41 ... g5 as after
better. 42.'ff1.h5 4:Je2+ 43.ΦΩ 4:Jf4 White lost his
19..lte3 h6 20:~g3 .ltxe3 21:~xe3 'ff1.c7 queen. 41.ΦhΙ!? deserνed attention, pre-
The place for the queen could haνe been paring 4:Je3-g4. 80, after 41 ... b5 42.4:Jg4 g5
defined later, whereas 21 ... 1:rfc8 would be 43.'ff1.h5 'ff1.xe4 44.1:te3 White returned the
helpful ίη any case. pawn and kept the initiatiνe, whereas af-
22.h3 12Jd7 23.l2Je2 12Je5 24 ..ί:ϊfd1 12Jc4 ter 41 ... f5 42.exf5 gxf5 43.4:Jc4 Black's ρο
25.'ff1.c3 e5 26.a4! sition ίη the centre was unsteady.
White defends calmly. 41 ...f542.f31::tf7
26 ...lic827.1::tac1 The equality of the forces could haνe
been emphasized with 42 ... fxe4 43.fxe4
'ff1.c2.
43.Φh2 b!e8
Now again 43 ... fxe4 44.fxe4 'ff1.c2 with
an equality was appropriate.
44.1::tc3 'ff1.d6 45.1::tdc1
This moνe gaνe nothing particular to
White. Mter 45.nc7 nef8 (there was ηο
45 ... b!xc7?? because of 46.l2Jf6+) 46.4:Jf6+
Φg7 47.1::txf7+ ΦΧίΊ (ηο 47 ... .1:[xf7?? because
of 48.4:Je8+) 48.4:Jd5 (if 48.4:Jh7?, then af-
ter 48 ... 1::tc8 49.'ff1.xh6 Black had 49 ...
27 .. :fi.e7 4:Jxf3+!) 48 ... ..t>g7 the equality was kept.
Black returns the queen to the square 45 ... fxe4 46.ίx,~4 12Jc6
where it was standing for seνeral moνes.
His aim is to reinforce the position with
28 ... 'ff1.g5! and White should undertake
something.
28.b312Ja3
Black's knight begins his journey
through White's rear. After 28 ... 4:Jd6
29.'ff1.d3 the tension of the position would
decrease.
29. 'ff1.d3 4:Jc2 30.1::td2 'ff1.c7
Black continues to struggle. Α draw
30 ... 4:Jd4 31.1::txc612Jxe2+ 32. 'ff1.xe2 .ί':!.χc6 eνi
dently does not suit him. 47.b4!
31.1::tcd1 'ff1.b6 32.'ff1.g31::te8 33.'ff1.d3 4:Jb4 Feeling that Black is uncertain, White
An attempt to repeat the position is re- attempts to struggle for a νictory.
jected by Black. As a result, White takes 47 ... 4:Jxb4??
the initiatiνe. With this moνe Black spoils the whole
34.'ff1.d71::tf8 game at once. Mter 47 ... J:ref8 48.b5 axb5
Black begins to defend. 49.axb5 4:Jb4 White's slight merits were not
35.4:Jg3 g6 36.'ff1.e7 1::te6 37.'ff1.h4 Φh7 enough for him to win .
. 38.4:Jf1 4:Jc6 39.1::td3 4:Jd4 40.4:Je3 'ff1.c6 48.J:rc7 1::tef8
FIDE World Cup 305
This way οηlΥ. ter 15 ... ~g6 16.0-0 ~h3 17.lΔh4 ~h5
49.lΔf6+ r3;g7 50..tIxf7+ ΦχΠ 51.lΔh7 18.gxh3 ~xh4 19.~d4 ~xh3 20.~e41::!.ae8
1-0 Black got a better play ίη the game Najer
Ifthe black rook retreated to a8, b8, g8 - Aleksandroν, St.Petersburg 2000.
or h8, then there was a mere 52. ~xh6, ίη 15... i..h3
case of 51 ... .a:d8 the solution was ίη After 15 ... i..a616.ktfe1 z:tab8 17.~a3
52.1::!.dl!, and ίη case of 52 ... l::re8 there was ..Itc4 18.lΔd41::!.fe8 19.f3 ~g5 20.lΔxc6 .a:bc8
a νery strong 53.~c7+! ~xc7 (53 ... l:le7 21.f4 ~d5 22.lΔe5 White managed to
54.~f2+ r3;g8 55.~f8+) 54.~f6+ 'it>g8 achieνe his adνantage ίη the long run ίη
55.~χg6+Φh8 (55 ... ~g7 56.lΔf6+) 56.lΔf6!, the game Seirawan - J.Polgar, Amsterdam
so that a mate to the black king was ineνi 1995.
table. 16.z:txb2 ~ad8
If 16 ... ~g6, then after 17.lΔh4 White's
queen looks νery good οη the fourth hori-
224 D38 zontal, unlike the mentioned game Najer
Dreev - Aleksandrov - Aleksandroν where it was positioned οη
Round 4 4.09 the second.
17.lΔd4 ~g5?
l.d4 lΔf6 2.c4 e6 3.lΔf3 d5 4.lΔc3 i..b4 This moνe will cost Black a piece,
5.i..g5 h6 6.i..xf6 ~xf6 though after 17 ... ~ g6 18. f3 his posi tion
A.Aleksandroν plays this νariation of also is not too good.
the Queen's Gambit regularly, so his ορ 18.f4!
ponent had an opportunity to prepare well Eνerything gets clear after this strong
for its lines. moνe. Black will suffer materiallosses ίη
7.~b3 c5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.e3 lΔc6 eνitably.
10.~b5 ο-ο 11.dxc5 d4 12.i..xc6 dxc3 18 ... ~g619.f5 ~g5 20.~f3 ~g4 21.z:tg3
13.~xb4 cxb2 14.~bl bxc6 h5 22.h31::!.fe8 23.~c3 ~e4 24.hxg4 hxg4
Ιη case of 14 ... ~xc6 15.0-0 a5 16. ~c3 25.J:ιb4 1::td5 26.~d3 kte8 27.~e2 1::te4
i..h3 17. ~xb2 ~g6 18.lΔe1 i..e6 19.1::!.cl 28.~d3?!
Black lost a pawn and got ηο compensa- White missed the opportunity to win at
tion for it ίη the game Atalik - V.Gaprin- once: after 28.lΔe6! ~xf5 (28 ... fxe6 29.
dashνili, Philadelphia 2000. 1::!.xe4) 29.lΔxg7 Black would haνe resigned.
28 ....tIe8 29.1::!.b 1?
Now that White let Black escape οη the
preνious moνe he decides to get rid of the
pawn. After a plain 29.1::!.c4 White's νictory
was just a question oftime.
29 ... ~h4 30.r3;f2 1::!.xc5 31.~dl 1::!.e4
32.1::!.b8+ Φh7 33.1::!.b3?
Another bad moνe. After 33. ~b3! 1::!.e7
(a sacrifice with 33 ... .tIxd4 34.exd4 1::!.xf5+
35.Φg1 gaνe nothing to Black) 34.1::!.f8 ~f6
35.1::!.xg4 White could haνe won easily de-
spite all his preνious derelictions.
15.0-0! 33 ... 1::!.ce5 34. ~c2 c5 35.liJe2 ~xf5+
White would like to capture οη b2, but 36.ΦgΙ ~fe5 37.1::!.c3 g6 38.1::!.c4 ~e7
then ίη case of 15.1::!.xb2 i..a6 he was de- 39.ktxg41::!.xe3 40.liJf4 ~d6 41.<.t>f2
priνed of the castling. As for 15. ~xb2, af- The time control is oνer, and it is eνi-
dent that to achieνe the material adνan shelter ofthe black king.
tage consisting of a piece against two 56.tίJg5 .!:Ia5 57.tίJe4 .tta4 58.tίJf6+ rJ;;g7
Black's pawns will be not easy at all. 59.J::tc6 J::!:a3+ 60.rJ;;h4 J::ta4+ 61.Φh3
41 .. :~f6 42.Wg1 ~d6 43.~h4+ Φg8 If61.g4, then 61 ... Φh6 was the simplest
44.Φh2 a6 45.I!.a4 ΦίΒ νariant.
Black could arouse νery serious aggra- 61 ... J::!:a3+ 62.Φh2 1:ta7 63.1:td6 1:ta4
νations with the help of 45 ... g5, but eνen 64.1:tb6 !:tf4 65.tίJd5 I:ιd4 66.I:ιb5 I:ιd3
in this case after a forced 46. §'h7+ 'iiιf8 67.tίJf4 ~a3 68.1:tb6 .!:ta4 69.Φg3 !:ta3+
47. §'h8+ Φe 7 thanks to 48. §'a8! White was 70.Φg4 rJih6 71.J::tf6 Φg7 72.I:ιd6 Φh6
ΟΚ due to the fact that 48 ... gxh4 49.I!.xa6 73.tίJd3 .!:ta5 74.rJ;;f4 I:ιa4+ 75.Φf3 I:ιa5
gaνe him a νery strong attack. 76.I:ιf6 ~a3 77.rJ;;e4 I:ιa4+ 78.Φe3 Φg7
46.~c41::t3e4 47.~xa6 ~xa6 48.I:ιxa6 79.~d6 I!a2 80.g3 I:ιa5 81.I:ιc6 I:ιg5 82.Φf3
c4 49.~c6 Φg8 50.a4 J::!:e8 51.Φg3 ~d4 1::I:f5+ 83.tίJf4 I:ιa5 84.I:ιc3 1::I:b5 85.I:ιa3 ~c5
86.rJ;;e4 I:ιc4+ 87.Φe5 I:ιc8 88.tίJd5 I:ιc6
89 ..a:a7 .!:Ic4 90.tίJe3 I!c5+ 91.tίJd5 I!c4
92.I!.a81:rc1 93.I:ιa3 I:ιc6 94.g4 rJ;;h6 95.rJ;;f4
I:ιc4+ 96. Φf3 f5
Thus Black exchanges White's last
pawn, and the game proceeds to a well-
known drawn ending ίn which White's ex-
tra piece is not eriough for him to win.
97.gxf5 gxf5 98.tίJe3 .!:Ib4 99.tίJxf5+
rJ;;g5 100.tίJd6 rJ;;f6 10l.I:ιa5 Φe6 102.tίJe4
J::tb1103.tίJd2 J::td1104.tίJc41::1:c1105 ..ί::ϊc5
I:ιh1106.I:ιe5+ rJif6107.1:tb5 We6108.I:ιe5+
52.tίJh3?! Φf6 109.I:ιe4 rJ;;f5 110.tίJe3+ '.t>f6 111.rJ;;f4
Black's chances for a draw get higher rJ;;f7 112.J::ι.e5 J::ι.e1113 ..!:Ia5 Φe6 114.:!.a6+
with eνery following exchange. That is why rJ;;d7115.rJie4 I:ιe2 116.Φd4 I:ιd2+ 117.rJ;;e5
52.I:ιc5!? deserνed attention, and if52 ... ~a8 I:ιe2 118.I:ιa3 I:ιd2 119.tίJf5 I:ιe2+ 120.rJ;;d5
(ηο 52 ... I:ιe3+ 53.'iiιf2 .ί::ϊa3? because of I:ιd2+ 121.tίJd4 Φe7 122.rJie5 rJif7 123.
54.I:ιc8+ Φg7 55.tίJe6+), then after 53.a5 c3 I:ιa7+ Φg6 124.l1a6+ Φf7 125.I:ιa1 rJ;;g6
54.tίJd5 ~xh4 55.Φχh4 c2 56.tίJe7+ rJ;;g7 126.ng1 + Φf7 127 .~f1 + Φe7 128.Φd51:td3
57.tίJc6 White detained his opponent's 129.I!f2 nd1 130.nf3 .!:td2 131.Φe5 1::I:d1
pawn, keeping his own. 132.J::te3 .!:Ia1 133.tίJc6+ Φd7 134.tίJb4
52 ... ~xh4 53.ΦΧh41Ιe4+ 54.rJ;;g3 1:.a5+ 135.tίJd5 1::I:a6 136.tίJf6+ Φe7 137.
White fails to achieνe the goal also with Φf5+ Φf7 138.tίJd5 1::I:d6 139.ne5 I:ιd7
54.g4 because of 54 ... c3 55.a5 J::!:a4 56 ..i::txc3 140.tίJf4 ~d1 141.I:ιe6 Ι:ιf1 142.I:ιe3 I:ιa1
(if 56.'.t>g5, then 56 ... Φg7) 56 ... .ί::ϊχa5 143.1:td3 I:ιa5+ 144.tίJd5 I:ιa1145.1::I:f3 I:ιe1
57.J::!:c8+ (in case of57.g5 Black exchanged 146.J:ιf2 Φe8 147. ιΞ'\f6+ Φe7 148.tίJe4 I:ιa1
White's last pawn after 57 ... .i::tf5) 57 ... Φg7 %-112
58.l::tc7 rJ;;g8 (there was ηο 58 ... rJif6 because
of 59.tίJg5) 59.tίJf.21:!a4, and White fails to 225 Β30
get to f6 with his knight. Morozevich - Milos
54... c3 55.l:ιxc3 l:txa4 Round 5
This endgame is most likely a draw be-
cause to reinforce the position of White's 1.e4 c5 2.tίJf3 tίJc6 3 ...tb5 e6 4.0-0 tίJge7
pieces is hard since there are ηο support- 5.I:ιe1 tίJd4 6.tίJxd4 cxd4 7.d3 g6 8 ..1ιa4
ing squares for the knight close to the pawn The black pawn οη d4 somewhat con-
FIDE World Cup 307
strains White's play οη the queenside and pieces and thus nearly restored the mate-
at the-same time it reduces the opportuni- rial balance.
ties ofWhite's dark-squared bishop. Usu- 23.~d2
ally White attempts to annihilate it οη the Νο 23.g4 because of23 ... ~g6.
eighth move with 8.c3, though not always 23 ... a4 24.c4 ~g6 25.~e4 ~h7 26.b4
successfully. Ιη this game A.Morozevich White could have created tension οη the
chooses another method. queenside by 26.b3, but probably he did
8... 1ιg7 9.ctJd2 ο-ο 10.f4 d6 11.ctJf3 ~d7 not want to encounter 26 ... ctJe3 27. ~xg6+
12.~b3 a5 13.a4 b5 14.axb5 ~xb5 'it>xg6 28.1:!.fc1 a3 vvith the idea 29 ... ~f5.
26... ~c8
Now again 26 ... ctJe3!? 27.~xg6+ 'Iitxg6
28.1:tfc1 a3 with the idea 29 ... ~f5 deserved
attention.
27.h3 h5 28.l::ίael1:If7
Black overlooked a promising opportu-
nity: 28 ... 1:!.e7! 29. ~f4 (ηο 29. ~a8?? because
of29 ... ~b7, andin case of29.~f3 there was
29 ... ctJh4 29.~d5 ctJe3) 29 ... :ι.χe1 30.1:!.xe1
(30.SΙxe1? was bad because of 30 ... ctJe3
31.1:!.f2 itxh3) 30 ... ~h6 31. ~f2 ctJe3 where-
upon White would have serious problems
15.f5!? to come from the squares d3, g2 and h3.
Black breaks through οη the queenside, 29.1:Η'2 ~e5
but the other flank stays for a moment
uncovered without the light-squared
bishop. White hurries to make use of this
circumstance.
15... gxf5
Α forced capture, because ίη case of
15 ... exf5?! there was an unpleasant
16.~g5.
16.ctJg5 h6 17.exf5 ctJxf5 18.ctJxf7
Α piece is sacήficed for the sake of main-
taining the initiative.
18...:!.xf7
Black should not be very greedy. Ιη case 30.~a8??
of an erroneous 18 ... ~xf7? 19.5Ιxe6+ ι;t>f6 This blunder loses White's game. After
20.~f3 ~g6 21.~g4+ he might have to re- a normal 30.1:!.ef1 itg3 3U:re2 :ι.e7 32.~f3
sign. all the struggle could be still ahead, but
19.itxe6 ~f6 20.~f3 1:!.aa7 21.1ιχf7+ now it will be over ίη several moves.
~xf7 22.1:!.f1 ~d7 30 ... ~b7 31.~e8 ~g3 32.J::ιef1 j,xf2+
The stage of complications is over. 33.1:!.xf2 1:!.g7 34. ~xg6+ 'Iitxg6 35.~f4 h4
White got a rook and a pawn for two light 36.b5 'it>f6 37.ι;t>h2 Φe6 38.1:!.e2+ Φd7 0-1
GroupB
1 Ye Jiangchuan 2670
2 Ivanchuk 2719
3 Short 2677
4 Gureνich 2667
5 XuJun 2668
6 Ponomariov 2630
Lately not only women began to play chess well ίn China. Who could expect that
after three rounds the Chinese players would lead? Besides, they had not played with
each other yet. As a result, Ye Jiangchuan gained the first place and Ivanchuk (defeated
Ponomariov ίn the last round) and Short (won ίn the 4th and 5th rounds) got 3 points
each, which was enough for the tie-break. Then Short lost both games to Ivanchuk.
226 Α16 weakness of White's pawn οn e2 can tell

GureVΊch - Ye Jiangchuan οn him ίn the future if White fails to find
Round 1 1.09 an active play.
15.tΔe4 f6 16"~c2 c6 17.~abl tΔd5
l.c4 tΔf6 2.tΔc3 g6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 18.a3 ~e7 19:~c5 tΔc7 20.b4?!
tΔxd5 5 ..tg2 tΔb6 6.d3 i.g7 7 ..te3 tΔc6 This active move only weakens the a3-
8.tΔrJ ο-ο 9:~cl e5 10.i.h6 :e8 pawn, which becomes accessible to the
Mter 10 ... i.g4 11 ..txg7 cJtxg7 12.0-0 black knight from b5. Probably 20.e3 dxe3
tΔd4 White got an advantage by dint of 21.fxe3 was better.
13.tΔxd4 exd4 14.'~f4! h5 15.tΔb5! ίn the 20 ... a4 21.e3 dxe3
game Μ. Gureνich - Mikhalevski, Antwerp
1999.
11.i.xg7
Also a more aggressive 11.h4 ffi 12 ..td2
tΔe7 13.h5 g5 14.h6 has been seen.
11 ... cJtxg7 12.0-0 tΔd4 13 . .:tel a5
14.tΔxd4
White did not need to hurry with this
bound exchange, he might have preferred
. 14.tΔe4 which would be really useful ίn
every respect.
14...exd4
With the given pawn structure, the 22.':xe3?
FIDE World Cup 309
Mter this move White's single pawn οη rook behind the passed pawn.
d3 is very weak, and the efficiency of the 48 .....tdl 49 ...tb5 1:te4 50.lia7+ Wf6
rook οη the e-file is minimal. He should 51 ...td3 :e7 52.1:!.a51le5
have agreed to 22.fxe3, even though after It is important that Black had ηο 52 ... g5
22 ... l2Jb5 23.~al i.f5 his position was a bit because of 53.~f5+.
worse. 53.1:!.a7 ..tb3 54.h4!
22 ... l:ίe5 23:~cl l2Jb5 24:!~lb2 ~d4 Now White's pawns are positioned ide-
25:~xd4 l2Jxd4 26.l2Jd6 l2Jc2! ally.
Mter this move materiallosses are ίη 54 ... h6 55.1:ta6+ 1:te6 56.lia5 iLdl
evitable for Black. 57 ...tb5 J:.e4 58...td3 lle5 59.~a6+ ~e6
27 .~xe5 fxe5 28.l2Jc4 60.~a5 h5 61 ..tb5 Φg7
Ιη case of 28.~cl after 28 ... l2Jxa3
29.l2Jxc8 ~xc8 30.~al l2Jc2 31.~xa4 ~c7
there was a very unpleasant threat ofb7-
b5.
28 ...i.e6 29.~b2 i.xc4 30.1:txc2 ..txd3
31.~d2 .tf5 32.Φα ~c8 33.ΦeΙ b5 34.~d6
c5 35.bxc5 ~xc5 36.~b6 lIc3?!
Black kept good winning chances also
ίη the rook endgame after 36 ... ~cl +!?
37.Φd2 ~c2+ 38.ΦeΙ i.d3 39.i.f1 i.xf1
40.Φχf1 ~b2, because both ίη case of
41.~e6 b4 42.axb4 a3 43.~a6 a2 44.'it>g2 e4
and after 4U,Ib7+ φf6 42.l:!.xh7 b4! 43.axb4 62.i.xa4!
a3 44.'ua7 a2 45.Φg2 e4 he could win ow- With the sacrifice ofthe exchange White
ing to the second passed pawn οη the e- reduced the game to a theoretically drawn
file. endgame, and the fact that White managed
37.!f.xb5 ~xa3 38.!f.b7+?! to play h2-h4 ίη advance is very signifi-
White did not venture to play the line cant for the estimation ofthe position.
with 38.'uxe5!? 'ual + 39.Φd2 a3 40 ..td5 62 ...~e2+ 63.ΦgΙ ~a2 64 ..txdl .1:txa5
(40.'ue7+ 'it>f6 41.~a710st his game because 65 . ..tf3 ~a2 66.'it>f1 .1:tb2 67.ΦgΙ Φh6
of 41 ... i.e6!) 40 ... 'it>f6 4U:te8 g5 where his 68.Φf1 Wg7 69.Wgl Φf6 70.Φf1 Φe5
drawing chances were higher than Black's 71.ΦgΙ 'it>d4 72 •.i.c6 .1:td2 73 ..i.b7 Φe3
winning chances despite Black's far ad- 74 ..i.c6 ~d6 75 ..i.b7 :b6 76 ...ia8 ~bl+
vanced a-pawn. 77.Φg2 ~b2+ 78.ΦgΙ ~b6 79.Φg2 ~b2+
38 ... Φh6 39 . .td5 l:ίd3 40.i.g8 ~d7 80.ΦgΙ 1:tb8 81 . .i.c6 lic8 82.i.b7 ~c7
41.~b5 i.g4 42.f3 i.xf3 43.1:!.xe5 'it>g7 83 ..i.a8 g5
44.i.c41:td4? Α siege ofWhite's castle gave nothing,
If Black had put his rook behind the so Black launches an onslaught.
passed pawn with 44 ... l::ta7!, then he would 84.hxg5 l;1g7 85.Φg2 .1:txg5 86.Φh31:!.g4
have had good winning chances, because 87...tc6 Φf2 88 ..i.e8 :xg3+ 89.Φh4 Wf3
an eventual exchange of the bishops (for 90.'it>xh5 'it>f4 91.Φh6
instance, if White blocked up an advance White's king is heading for the corner
ofthe a-pawn with his bishop οη a2) would where he will be absolutely safe.
have given him a winning rook endgame. 91 ... Φf5 92.Φh7 Φf6 93 . ..tc6 ~g5
45.1:!.c5 .tg4 46.Wf2 l:ίe4 47 ...td3 1:te7 94 . .i.e4 Φf7 95.Wh8 lie5 96.i.d3 ~e3
48.lia5! 97 ...tc2 1:tc3 98 ..i.e4 ~h3+ 99 ...th7 ~xh7+
White grabs the opportunity to place his 100.Φχh7 lh_ 1h
227 D43 less clear ίη νiew of 19 ... 'f{txg4 20. 'f{txg4

Xu Jun - Gurevich 1::txg4 21.iιxe6 and now 21 ... :!g7!), and if
Round 2 2.09 19 ... iιd6 20.:!e4 SΙxg3, then White had
21.iιxe6! fxe6 22.ltJf6+ ltJxf6 23.Mxe6+ ~d8
ι.ttJf3 d5 2.d4 ltJf6 3.c4 c6 4.ltJc3 e6 24. 'f{txh5 ltJxh5 25.MXg6 with good pros-
5.iιg5 h6 6.iιh4 pects.
White is determined to fight and win. 19..1:!.adl h5 20.tΔe3 'f!!c7
His choice is the Moscow Gambit. Ιη an indirect way Black admits that
6,..dxc4 7.e4 g5 8 ...tg3 b5 9.i.e2 i.b7 οη the fifteenth moνe he chose not the νery
10.h4 g4 11.ltJe5 .!:!.g8 best place for his queen.
The continuation 11 ... h5 is also topical,
and M.Gureνich used it ίη his tournament
practice.
12.0-0 ltJbd7
After 12 ... h513.'f{tc2 i.e714.1::tad1 there
was a sufficient compensation for the miss-
ing pawn.
13.ltJxg4
The material balance is restored.
13,..b4
Α new moνe. There was a short game
Glek - Dreeν, Essen 2000, where the ορ
ponents agreed to a draw after 13 ... ltJh5 21.tΔc5!
14.e5ltJxg3 15.fxg3 'f{tb6 16.a4. White's pieces enter the game, and
14.ltJa4 ltJxe4 15.iιxc4 'f{ta5 Black's position gets worse at once as he
Ιη case of 15 ... ltJxg3?! 16.fxg3 'f{ta5 Black has failed to obtain a co-ordination of his
ίη νiew of 17.1::txf7! ΦΧf7 18. 'f{tf3+ Φe7 heaνy pieces.
19.iιxe6! ran risks of a νery strong attack. 21,..ltJxc5

16.b3 ltJxg3?! There was ηο 21 ... iιxd4 because of
16 ... 0-0-0!? deserνed attention and οηlΥ 22.ltJxe6! i.xe3+ 23. 'f{txe3 fxe6 24.iιxe6,
after 17. 'f{te2 to answer with 17 ... ltJxg3 and White smashed Black's position using
18.fxg3 and now 18 ... 'f{th5! three open files ίη the centre.
17.fxg3 :!g6?! 22.dxc51::td8
It is not an easy task for Black to set a Both 22 ... 'f{txg3?? (because of 23.ltJf5)
good co-ordination ofhis pieces. The weak- and 22 ... 1::txg3?? (because of23.i.xe6) were
ness of the f7-square is too perceptible. absolutely impossible for Black.
With the moνe ίη the game Black intended 23.ltJf5 i.f8 24. 'f{te3 J::td5
to realize f7-f5 and 0-0-0, howeνer after Black tries to demonstrate some kind
White's next strong response these projects of struggle. The same result would be
would not come true. Let's note also that achieνed also after 24 ... iιc8 25.1::txd8+
17 ... 1::txg3?? was totally bad because of 'f{txd8 (if 25 ... Φχd8, then 26.1::tdl+, getting
18. 'f{tf2 or 18.ltJf5. But 17 ... 'f{th5 deserνed the knight to d6) 26. 'f{te5! or ίη case of
attention, and if 18.i.e2, then 18 ... 'f{tg6. 24 ... 1::td7 25.1::txd7 'f{txd7 26.'f{te5!.
18.'f{te2! i.g7 25.i.xd5 cxd5 26.ltJd6+ iιxd6 27.cxd6
Another opportunity 18 ... 'f{th5 could 'f{txd6 28.Φh2 ~f8 29.J::tf4 e5 30.J::tf5 ί6
haνe been met with 19.1::tf4!? (19.1::txf'7 is 31.'f{txa7 'f{te7 1-0
FIDE World Cup 311
228 Β25 White takes a crucial decision, allow-

Short - Ye Jiangchuan ing Black to get rid of the passive knight.
Round 3 3.09 There was an opportunity to delay this
move and play a waiting 13.Wh1 or 13.h3
1.e4 c5 2/bc3 instead.
Recently the English grandmaster be- 13 ... CLJxd5
gan to avoid main lines ofthe Sicilian De- Το take the sacrificed pawn with the
fence. move 13 ... jιxb2 is more than dangerous.
2 ... CLJc6 3.g3 g6 4.1ιg2 1ιg7 5.d3 d6 Mter 14.c3 1ιa3 15.CLJf6+ Φh8 (ίη case of
6.CLJh3 e5 15 ... Φg7 there was an immediate solution
Black is preparing to meet White's f- 16.CLJ4h5+) 16.tΔ4d5 White's attack looked
pawn ίη the centre ofthe board. 6 ... e6 was irresistible.
another tested continuation. 14.exd5
7.f4 CLJge7 8.0-0 h6 Involving certain strategic risk, because
Ιη case of 8 ... 0-0 or 8 ... CLJd4 Black had White's pawn structure is damaged now.
to reckon with 9.f5!? Ιη the latter case af- At the same time Black had an easy play
ter 9 ... gx:f5 10. ~h5 (ίη case of 10.1ιg5 Black after 14.tΔxd5 1ιe6.
defended from White's main threats with 14... CLJe7 15.1ιf2 CLJf5 16.jιe4 b5
10 ... f6! 11. ~h5+ Wd7 12.exf5 CLJxc2 13.~ac1 An attempt to prepare f5 for the knight
CLJd4 14.CLJe4 ~f8 Trapl - Pribyl, Czecho- with the help of 16 ... h5? encountered a
slovakia 1972) 10 ... h6 11.~f2 1ιe6 12.~e3 tactical blow 17.tΔxh5! gxh5 18.~f4 ~f6
~d7 13. !:ι.af1 0-0-0 14. tΔd5 White got a 19.1ιe3. The position after 16 ... ~xb2 17.
sufficient initiative for the sacrificed pawn c3 1ιa3 also looked very dangerous for
ίη the well-known game Spassky - Hort, Black.
Bugojno 1978. Ιη case of 8 ... exf4 Black 17.g4 ~g5 18:;thl 1ιε5
probably did not want to encounter 9.Bxf4, Νο 18 ... ~xg4?? because of 19.1:!.gl.
so he preferred to wait for a while. 19.9xf5 SΙxf4 20.1ιe3 SΙxe3 21.~xe3
9.1ιe3 gxf5 22.SΙg2
White refused from a gambit line 9.f5 Ιη the four-rook endgame after 22. ~xg5
gxf5 10.~h5. hxg5 23.1ιχf5+ 1ιχf5 24.I!xf5 Φg6 25.~ff1

(25.~ef1 f6) 25 ... ~be8 Black's chances were
9 ... exf4
Now that White's dark-squared bishop slightly better.
has made a move at last Black raises the 22 ... ~g8 23.1ιh3 ~xe3
tension ίη the centre. If23 ... ~b7, then there was 24.~f3.
10.CLJxf4 ο-ο 11. ~d2 Wh7 12.:ι:tael :ι:tb8 24.:ι:txe3 ~g5 25.~e7 Φg6 26.1:!.xa7 b4
27.~c7
27.a4!? bxa3 28.bxa3 ~b2 29.~c7 de-
served attention, keeping better prospects.
27 ... Φf628.d4?
Probably this move was connected with
some miscalculation. Mter 28.a4!? White
was better.
28 ... cxd4 29.1:!.dl?!
Mter 29.1:!.e1 there were better draw-
ing chances.
29 ... SΙa6 30.SΙg2
Νο 30.~xd4? because of 30 ... ~bg8
13.tΔcd5 31.~dl ~e2.
30...jιe2 31.1:d2 z:te8 32.h4 !:!:g4 33.1:!.c6

Black's knight οη e5.
f4! 16 ...CLJde5 17.CLJxe5?!
White's position is lost after this pre- Despite the deformation of Black's
cise moνe, whereas 33 ... .ί::txh4+ 34.Wgl still pawn structure this moνe is worse for
left him some drawing chances. White's position since a weak d4-square
34.1:!.xd6+ ι:J;;g7 35.1:!.xd4 h5 appears ίη his camp. Mter 17.CLJfd4 jLb7
Now it is eνident that one of Black's f- 18.b3 White kept a positional adνantage
pawns will cost White the bishop. and, respectiνely, an easier play.
36.1:!.b6 f3 37.1:!.xg4+ hxg4 38.1:!.xb4 f5 17.•. dxe518.t;rxd81:!.fxd819.1:!.fdl ι:J;;f6
Νο need to hurry with the capture of 20.f3 h5 21.Wf2?!
the bishop. Black prefers to reinforce his Black's problems get worse after this
position first. moνe. Better was 21 ..:txd8 1:!.xd8 22.1:!.dl
39.d61:!.d8 40.1:!.d4 Wf6 41.c3 We5 42.h5 ~c8 and οηlΥ then 23.Wf2.
f4 43.d7 fxg2+ 44.Wxg2 .iιf3+ 45.ι:J;;gl g3
46.h6 .iιe4 47.J::!.a4 0-1
229 Α40
Xu Jun - Short
Round 4 4.09
l.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6 4.CLJc3 jιg7 5.e4

CLJe7 6.CLJf3 .iιb7 7 ..iιe3
Ιη case of 7 ..iιe2 Black got a counterplay
after 7 ... 0-0 8.0-0 f5 9.e5 h6 10.h4 d5
11.exd6 cxd6 12 ..iιf4 CLJc8 13. t;rd2 ι:J;;h7 21 ... CLJf4!
Just ίη time. Black preνents an ex-
14.1:!.ael CLJd7 15.jLdl1:!.e8 ίη the game Χυ
Jun - Miles, Beijing 1996. change of the rooks with a tactical trick
7... d6 22.g3
Ιη the game ΜίΙον - Miles, Biel 1996, White missed the time for mass ex-
after 7 ... f5 8.e5 h6 9.h4 d6 10.exd6 cxd6 changes. Mter 22.1:!.xd8 1:!.xd8 23.ιωι (if
11.jLf4 a6 12.jιe21:!.a7 White might deνelop 23.CLJxf4 exf4 24.!::ωι ~xdl 25.jLxdl, then
an initiatiνe with 13. t;rd2! to be followed after 25 ... We5 Black's king came into
by 0-0-0. White's rear) 23 ... ~xdl 24 ..iιxdl White
8. t;rd2 h6 9.jLd3 CLJd7 10.0-0 g5 11.d5 encountered 24 ... CLJd3+.
CLJg6 22 ... CLJxe2 23.Wxe2 g4 24.ι:J;;e3
Α slight reinforcement. Mter 11 ... e5 Probably White should haνe νentured
12.CLJe2 f6 13.CLJg3 h5 14.b4 h4 15.CLJf5 CLJxf5 οη the position to appear after 24.fxg4
16.exf5 g4 17.CLJel t;re7 18.jLe4 White got hxg4 25.We3 ίη which the d4-square was
a more promising position ίη the game defended from an intrusion of Black's
Naumkin - Βίηί, Toscolano 1996. pieces.
12 ..iιd4 ο-ο 13 ..ixg7 Wxg7 14.CLJe2 c5 24 ... gxf3 25.Wxf3 1:!.d4 26.b3 a5 27.
15.dxc6 .iιxc6 16 ..ic2 1:!.xd4
Mter 16.CLJfd4 .iιb7 White had a choice White is forced to surrender his lines.
between a quiet 17 ..iιc2 and a more aggres- Mter 27.We3 ~ad8 28.1:!.f1+ Wg6 29.1:!.adl
siνe 17.f4 CLJxf4 18.CLJxf4 gxf4 19.1:!.xf4 CLJe5 f6 he would haνe to exchange οη d4 or al-
20.1:!.af1 where the actiνity of white rooks low f6-f5 anyway.
was outweighed by the strong position of 27 ... exd4 28.ι:J;;e2 e5 29.1:!.f1+ Wg6
FIDE World Cup 313
30.ii.d3 f6 31.ςt>d2 ii.d7 32.~cl h4! 12 ... .iι..xe4 13.J1.xe4 ttJd7 14.0-0-0 .iιe7
Black wants to open up the files ίη or-
der to attack White's camp with his rook.
33.c5
Mter 33.gxh4 ~h8 34.c5 bxc5 35.~xc5
Mxh4 36.Mxa5 Mxh2+ 37.ςJ;;>e1 ~g5 White
lost still quicker.
33 ...bxc5 34.~xc5 hxg3 35.hxg3 Ua7
36.ii.c4 'it'g5 37.ςJ;;>e2 .iιg4+ 38.~f2 ~h7
39.Mxa5 .t:ι.h2+ 40.ςt>el .iι..f3 41 ..ltd3 ~g4
42.~a6 ~h6 43.Wf2 .t:ι.h2+ 44.ςJ;;>el f5!
The appearance of two joint passed
pawns decides the game ίη Black's favour.
45.1:lg6+ 15.g4!
If 45.exf5, then 45 ... e4. White gets the strong e4-square, which
45 ... Wh5 46.exf5 e4 47.~g8 ~a2 allows him to begin an advance οη the
48 ..ltxe4 kingside.
48.g4+ .ltxg4 49 ...Itxe4 would not have 15 ....td6 16.Wbl Ub8 17.h4 b5 18.CZJg5
helped White because of 49 ... 1::te2+. g6 19.ii.c2 b4 20.c4
48 ... .ltxe4 49.g4+ ~h4 50.Md8 d3 Unlike the mentioned game Leko -
51.I:td4?! Shirov White does not allow Black to open
With this move White loses quickly. up the files οη the queenside.
51.f6 was more stubborn, though after 20 ... CZJc5 21.~e3 ~f6 22.h5 h6 23.CZJe4
51 ... .t:ι.e2+ 52.Wd1 (ίη case of 52.'.t>f1 ςJ;;>g3 CZJxe4 24 ..iιxe4
Black mated) 52 ... ~f2 53 ..t:ι.d4 ii.g6 Black Apart from the heavy pieces there are
would have coped gradually with White's οηlΥ two opposite-coloured bishops οη the
pawns too. board, and still White has an obvious and

51 ... ~e2+ 52.'it'dl ~g5 0-1 stable advantage because his bishop cov-
ers both flanks whereas Black's just plays
the role of a supporting pawn. Moreover,
230 Cll Black cannot defend the h6-pawn and pre-
Short - Gurevich vent the advantage c4-c5 at the same time.
Round 5 5.09 24 ... g525.c5
White's central pawns begin their ad-
l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.ttJc3 ttJf6 4 ..ltg5 dxe4 vance. Black's blockade οη the dark
5.CZJxe4 ..Ite7 6 ...Itxf6 ..Itxf6 7.ttJf3 ο-ο 8 ...Itc4 squares was run.
CZJc6 9.c3 e5 10.d5 CZJb8 11.~e2 ..Itf5 25 ....lte7 26.Uc 1 :tb5?!
12..ltd3 26 ... ti'f4 deserved attention, though af-
Usually White continues 12.0-0-0, 12. ter 27.ti'e2 White kept all the merits ofhis
ο-ο or 12.CZJg3 ίη this position. The last one position.
was played ίη a very interesting game Leko 27.iH5!
- Shirov, Frankfurt 2000, which developed Now the opportunities of the black
similarly to the present game until the queen are restricted to the minimum.
twentieth move: 12 ... .ltg4 13.h3 ..Itxf3 27 ... e4!?
14. ti'xf3 CZJd7 15.CZJe4 .lte7 16.0-0-0 ..Itd6 At the cost of a pawn Black tήes to open
17.g4 J:::!.b8 18.g5 b5 19 ..ltd3 b4 20. ti'f5 the dark squares ίη the centre for his
(20.c4!?) 20 ... bxc3 21.b3 J:::!.b4? with an un- pieces.
clear play. 28 ..ltxe4 J:::!.fb8 29 ...Itd3?
White has been conducting the whole 231 Ε90

game very well, but with his last move he Ivanchuk - Ponomariov
gives his opponent a chance to begin an Round 5 5.09
attack and thus to get out of the difficult Notes by L.Yudαsin
position. After 29.l:thf1 or 29.1::rh3 Black's
position would really poor. Α very complicated game. Unfortu-
29 ... l::ta5? nately, Black spoiled the interesting play
Black has missed his chance. After because he was pressed for time.
29 ... .ί:[χc5! 30.1:txc5 .Jtxc5 31. ~xc5 he had l.e4 g6 2.d4 Jιg7 3.c4 d6 4.liJc3 liJf6
31 ... ~f3! and could equalize the play. 5.liJf3 ο-ο 6.h3
30.1:th3 Jιf8 31.l::tf3 ~e7 32.~xe7! Of course, this system doesn't claim
Notwithstanding the presence of the much, but Black must know details.
opposite-coloured bishops οη the board, 6 ... e5
White is not afraid of an endgame. He has There is an old different line: 6 ... c5 7.d5
many important pluses: a passed pawn, e6 8 ..iιd3 exd5 9.exd5 (9.cxd5 steers into
active pieces and a damaged pawn chain the Modern Benoni) 1:te8 10.Jιe3 Jιh6 11.
of his opponent. ο-ο, giving certain positional initiative to
32... Jιxe7 33.d6 cxd6 34.c6 1:tc8 35.c7 White.
35.Jιc4 d5 36 ..Jtb3 Mc7 37 ..ίΗ5 also 7.d5 liJh5 8.liJh2!?
looked good. Preventing f5 and preparing .iιe2 - but
35 ... ~c5 36.~xc5 dxc5 37.Jιc4 J::txc7 at the cost oftime.
38.J::txf7 'it>h8 39.~c2 J:ιd7 8 ... liJa6
Black loses despite the material bal- Also 8 ... ~e8!? 9.Jιe2liJf4 10 ..iιf3 f5 11.g3
ance. There is ηο way to get rid of the υη liJxh3 (11 ... fxe4 12.liJxe4 liJxh3 13 ..iιg2±)
pleasant binding οη the seventh rank. Ιη 12 ..iιg2 [4 13.liJf3 g5 14.l::!:xh3 g4 15.1:th1
case of 39 ... Jιd6 White had 40 ..1::tf6 gxf3 16.~xf3 ~g6 17.Jιh3 fxg3 18.~xg3
40.'it>b3 a5 41.f3 ~xg3 19.fxg3t (Ponomariov) is good, but
Α useful prophylactic move. Ιη case of the move ίη the game is sharper.
an immediate 41.Ka4 White encountered 9.g3
41 ... 1:td4 42.J:txe7 (if 42 ..Jte6, then 42 ... .td8) While the queen stands οη d8, there is
42 ... .sxc4 43.'it>xa5 J:txg4 ηο 9 . .iιe2?! liJf4 10 ..iιf3 [5 1l.g3? liJxh3
41 ...:td4 12.Sιg2 [4 13.liJf3 liJg5+ (Ponomariov) be-
Black loses his temper and hurries to cause the g5-square is covered.
cut short his torments. After 41 ... 1:ta7 9 ... liJc5
42.~a4 J::tb7 43.b3 (variations like 43.'it>xa5 Preparing 10 ... a5 with a convenient
.td8+ or 43 ..te6 1:tc7 44 ..iιf5 'it>g8 45.l;'lh7 play. Ponomariov considers 9 ... c6 10.Jιe2
c4 are unnecessary for White) 43 ... 1:tc7 liJf6 11.h4 liJc5 12.Jιf3 h5!? with the idea
44.~b5 Black suffers a crushing defeat of a5, Jιd7, cxd5, b5 admissible too. But
soon. Bg5 to be followed by ~d2 or liJf1-e3 al-
42.1:txe7 a4+ 43.~xa4 ~xc4 44.~b5 lows White to develop some positional pres-
1:tc2 45.b3 'it>g8 46.1:te5 nxa2 47.l::txc5 I:ta8 sure.
48.Wxb4 10.b4
Black is hopeless without two pawns ίη White's responBe is forced: 10.Sιe2? liJill
a rook endgame. 11 ..Jtf3 Jιxh3.
48 ... l::!:f8 49.:lf5 z:tb8+ 50.Wc3 1:tc8+ 10... liJa6 11.:bl
51.~b2 nb8 52.f4 1-0 Leaving the a1-h8 diagonal, but now
.
FIDE World Cup 315
the rook ίΒ under attack of the f5-bishop. There was a very sharp option of
Perhaps 11.a3 [5 12.~e2 CLJf6 13.h4 c6!fZ 12 ... e4!?, but it promised a better chance
Vilela - Bass, Alcobendas 1994, was stron- to White ίη cοmΡaήsοn with the move ίη
ger. the game.
11 ...f5 Black maintained the balance after
11 ... c6 12.~e2 CLJf6 13.h4 cxd5 14.cxd5 13.~b3CLJxb4 14.fxg6 (14.g4 ..ixc3+ 15.gxc3
ίΒ less consistent. CLJg7 16.~b2 gxf5 17.gxf5 ..ixf5 oo ) 14 ... hxg6
12.exf5 (14 ... .txc3+ 15.l::ιxc3 ~f6 16. gxh7+ ~h8
This ίΒ the point ofWhite's idea: to pre- 17. ~d2 CLJxa2 18 ..tb2!! ίΒ too assured -
vent his opponent from building a strong Ivanchuk) 15.CLJxe4CLJxa2 16 ...ig5 (16 ...ib2
pawn centre and finally get to e4. But now .Xιxb2 17.MXb2 I:te8 18 ..ί:!.χa2 !1xe4), and now
Black develops a very strong play for his 16 ... ~d7! 17.~c2 (17 ..Xιg2 a5oo) 17 ... ~a4t.
pieces. 12.~g2 deserves attention to be Soloviov: Ι would like to note that Black
followed by 12 ... CLJf6! 13.0-0 (13.exf5 gxf5 has απ interesting opportunity 16 ... ~e8!
14.0-0 ~e8 15.f4 exf4oo) 13 ... CLJxe4 (13 ... fxe4 that allows him to struggle {or απ advan-
14.~g5t; 13 ... f4 14.~a3t) 14.CLJxe4 fxe4 tage, {or example: 17.J:Ie3 ..if5 18 ..tg2
15.h4 ..if5 16 ...ig5 ..if6 17.1ιe3t. Α head- (18.CLJxd6?! .Xιc3+ 19.'.ite2 cxd6 20.!1xe8
long advance of the black pawn looked !1axe8+ 21 ...ie3 .Xιb4) 18 ... ..ixe4 19.0-0
worse: 12 ... f4 13.g4 f3!? 14.CLJxf3 CLJf4 [19.1ιχe4 ..ic3+ 20.'.ite2 ~e5 (20 ... ..if6
15 ...ixf4 (15.1ιΩ ~f6fZ Ponomariov) 15 ... 21 ...ixf6 CLJxf6 22.f3 CLJc3+ 23.l::ιxc3 CLJxe4
exf4 (15 ... !1xf4 16.CLJe2 1:!.xe4?! 17.CLJd2 ίΒ 24.fxe4 ~xe4+ 25.!1e3 ~xc4+ 26. ~d3
quite dubious. Ivanchuk considered this ~a2+=) 21.CLJf3l::ιxf3 22 . ..ixf3 ~xg5 23. ~c2
position playable for Black. Ι can't figure ..id4 24.!1e6 CLJg7 25.I;!xg6 !1e8t] 19 ... CLJc3
it out: the compensation for the missing [19 ... ~e5? 20.~xe4 ~xg5 21.h4 ~f6
exchange ίΒ obviously insufficient, for ex- 22.~g4t] 20.~g4 .td4 [20 ... .tIf5?! 21 ..Xιxe4
ample: 17 ... !1d4 18.CLJxd4 exd4 19.CLJe4± or !1xg5 22.~xg5CLJxe4 23.~h4CLJhxg3 (23 ...
17 ... !1xe2+ 18.~xe2 ~d7 19.CLJe4± with CLJhf6 24.CLJf3t) 24.Mfe1 ~d8 25. ~g4 ~f6
White's great advantage ίη both lines. Of 26.Mf3 ~d4 27 ...t>g2t; 20 ... CLJxg3? 21. ~xg3
course, 16 ... Mf7!?~ ίΒ better, the position ίΒ ..ie5 22.~h4 .Xιxg2 23.'.itxg2CLJxd5 24.cxd5
unclear, but at White least covers every- ~f7 25.~e4] 21.Mxc3 [21.I;!ee1 ~e5!
thing.) 16.e5 1ιχe5!? (16 ... dxe5 17.CLJe4±) (21 ... ~f7? 22 ..Xιxe4 .Xιxf2+ 23.~g2 CLJxg3
17.CLJxe5 !1e8 18.0-0 !1xe5 19. ~d4t, and 24 ...id3CLJxfl 25.1:txfl lίJxd5 26.cxd5 ~xd5+
White ίΒ better because of Black's bad 27 ...ie4±) 22 ...ixe4 ~xg3+ 23. ~xg3 (23.'.ith1
knight οη a6. 12.c5? dxc5 13.Bxa6 cxb4+ ίΒ ~xg4 24.hxg4 .Xιxf2 25.gxh5 .Xιxe1+)
evidently bad. 23 ... CLJxg3 24 ...ixg6 CLJxfl 25 ..ί:!.ΧΩ CLJe2+
(25 ... a5 26. CLJg4 a4 27.Me1 '.itg7 28.~c2
Mfe8+) 26.'.ith1 !1xf2 27.!1xf2 .Xιxf2 28.CLJg4
.id4-+] 21 ... 1ιχg2 [21 ... .Xιxc3 22.1ιχe4lίJf6
23.1ιχf6 !ιΧf6 24.CLJf300] 22. ~xd4 1ιχf1
23.CLJxfl [23.~xf1 Mf5?! 24.f4! (24.CLJf3 ~f7
25.'.itg2 !1f8t) 24 ... c5 (24 ... ~a4 25.CLJg4 ~h7
26.!1e3oo) 25. ~d3 ~d7 26.lίJg4oo ; 23 ... ~e5!
24. ~xe5 dxe5+] 23 ... ~e5 24. ~d2 CLJf6
[24 ... !1ae8 25.!1e3 ~f5 26.g4 ~xg5 27.Mxe8
CLJf4 28.MXf8+ ~xf8=] 25.f4 [25 ...ixf6 .:!.xf6]
25 ... ~f526.~g2CLJh7+
However, a straight 13.lίJb5, aiming at
12 ... 1ιχf5 c7 and d4, promised initiative to White ίη
complex variations, for exampIe: 13 ... e3?! chuk) gave BIack an advantage: 15.iιg2?
14.~xe3 iιxf5 15 ..a:b3± (Ponomariov) or (15.CLJe4?! '{:;fe7 16. '{:;fd2 CLJf4 17.h4 .iιf5
13 ... c6?! 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.CLJxd6 ~c3+ 18.CLJg5 .a:ae81') 15 ... CLJf4!~
16.iιd2 iιxd2+ 17. '{:;fxd2 e3!? 18.fxe3CLJxg3 15.CLJb5?
19 . .a:g1 CLJxf5 20.CLJxc8!? (20.c5 '{:;fh4+ Α mistake ίη return, and BIack's idea
21.<t>d1CLJc7 22.CLJg4;!; (Ivanchuk), aIthough works. After the brave 15.b5! CLJc5 16.iιxc5
BIack might get some counterplay after dxc5 17.gxf4 exf4 18. '{:;fd2 (18. ι;,tJd2 '{:;fd4+
22 ... iιe6~. SimpIifying the pIay by 20. 19. <;t>c1 '{:;fxf2 20. '{:;fd2 '{:;fh4~) BIack would
CLJxf5? iιxf5 21.:b3 '{:;fh4+; 21. '{:;fxd8 :axd8 have to Iook for a serious attack (for the
22 ..a:b2 c5! 23.b5 CLJb41') '{:;fxc8!? (20 ... piece): 18 ... 1He8+ (18 ... .a:ae8+ 19.Φdl±
'{:;fh4+?! 21. '{:;ff2 '{:;fe4 22.!1b3 .t!:axc8 23.Sιd3± Ivanchuk) 19.c,t>d1 a6! 20.CLJg4?! (20.bxa6
Ivanchuk) 21.~b3 '{:;fe6 with the idea of Itxa6 21.CLJf3 c6oo) 20 ... '{:;fh4 (20 ... iιxg4+
Rae8 would be a major mistake, allowing 21.hxg4 axb5 22.cxb5+-) 21.'{:;fxf4 axb5
White to create counterplay. Mter 12 ... e4 22.cxb5 .a:f8~ with the idea of 23.'{:;fg3
13.CLJb5 BIack's strongest response 13 ... iιxg4+ 24. '{:;fxg4 '{:;fxf2 25.d6 .a:f4 26. '{:;fe6+
iιxf5 still Ied to a big mess: 14.iιe3 c6 <t>h8 27.<;t>c1.a:d4~. The variations are very
15.dxc6 bxc6 16.CLJxd6 iιc3+ 17.<;t>e2 iιxb4 oo ; complicated, but White must have an ad-
14.g4 e3 15.gxf5 exf2+ 16.lt>xf21:txf5+ (don't vantage because of the insufficient mobi-
hurry: 16 ... '{:;fh4+ 17.ι;,tJg1 c6 18.dxc6 bxc6 Iisation of BIack's forces. 15.h4 would be
19.'{:;fg4) 17.<;t>gl CLJg3~. Now a vulgar weaker, and not because of 15 ... .t!:ae8
14.CLJd4? was just Iosing: 14 ... ~xd4 15. 16.CLJb5 iιd7!~, bLt οη account of 15 ... c6!?
'{:;fxd4 e3 16 ..ί:Ib3 exf2~ 16.dxc6 bxc6 17.c5 dxc5 18 ..txa6 CLJg2+
13.1:tb3 '{:;ff6! 19.Φe2 CLJxe3 (19 ... .tg4+ 20.CLJxg4 '{:;ff3+
13 ... CLJf6 14.iιg2 (Ponomariov). 21.ςt>d2 llad8+ 22.CLJd5! ~xd5+ 23.~d3
14.iιe3 .a:xd3+ 24.Sιxd3 '{:;fd5 25. '{:;fb3+-) 20.fxe3
Τοο passive is 14. '{:;fd2 e4 15.CLJd1 e3 .a:ad8 21.iιc4+ <;t>h8 22.'{:;ff1 cxb4l' (Ροηο
16 ..a:xe3 .a:ae8 (16 ... ..ih6 17.f4 CLJxf4 18. mariov).
iιb2+-) 17.CLJg4 '{:;fa1 18.a3 J::!.e4~ (Ροηο 15... CLJxh3! 16.'{:;fd2
mariov). Then, 14.Sιe2? is obviously bad: 16.g4 CLJxf2!! 17.iιxf2 .te4-+ (Ivan-
14 ... ..ic2 15.'{:;fxc2 '{:;fxf2+ 16.c,t>d1 CLJxg3 chuk).
17.CLJe4 '{:;fd4-+; and the consistent 14 ...ig2 16... .a:ae8?!
is refuted by a tactical trick, but ηο 16 ... h5 was simpIer, supporting the
14 ... ~xh3?! 15.CLJe4 '{:;ff5 16.iιf3 (16.g4! knight and preparing the attack.
iιxg2 17.gxf5 iιxe4 18.fxg6 hxg6 19.f3±) 17..te2?!
16 ... CLJf6 17.'{:;fe2~; the solution is ίη 17.CLJxa7!? was sharper, but there was
14... ~d3! 15.CLJg4 '{:;ff5 16. '{:;fd2 iιxc417.CLJe3 an unpIeasant response 17 ... h5 with the
'{:;fd3 18.CLJxc4 '{:;fxc4+. The move 14.g4looks threat of ..ie4.
dangerous, but it is not worse than ίη the 17... h518.c5
game: 14 .. .iιd3! 15.iιe3 (15. '{:;fxd3? '{:;fxf2+ 18.CLJxa7 is Ιε.te aIready: 18 ... CLJf4!
16.ι;,tJd1 CLJg3 17.CLJe4 CLJxh1!) .txf1 16.CLJe4 19.9xf4 (19.iιf1oo) 19 ... exf4 20 ..txf4 '{:;fa1+
(16.CLJxf1 CLJf4 17.~h2 e4 18.CLJxe4 '{:;fh4 (20 ... iιe4 21.f3 '{:;fxf4 22.fxe4 '{:;fxe4~)
19.CLJfg3 J::!.ae81' Ponomariov) 16 ... '{:;fe7 21.'{:;fd1 ~xe2+ 22.<;t>xe2 '{:;fxa2+ 23.~f1..ic2
(16 ... iιxc4!? 17.CLJxf6+ CLJxf6 18.11c3 ~xd5~) 24.Iίa3 '{:;fxc4+ 25. '{:;fe2 .t!:xf4-+ (Ivanchuk).
17.<t>xf1 (17.CLJxf1CLJf418.CLJfg3CLJg2 19.<;t>d2 18 ... iιd7
CLJxe3 20.fxe3oo) 17 ... CLJf4 18.CLJf3;t. ΑΙΙ ίη all, AIso it would be good to open up the
BIack's position is very promising. centre: 18 ... dxc5!? 19.bxc5 b6 20.c6 .a:d8.
14... CLJf4? 19.CLJc3?!
Oh, youth! Α patient 14 ... iιd7! (Ivan- 19.c6 bxc6 (19 ... iιc8 20.CLJxa7!) 20.CLJxa7
FIDE World Cup 317
tιJb8 21.dxc6 tιJxc6 22.i..b5 looked more i..g4= Ivanchuk; 27 ... ςtJxg7! 28.dxc6 ~e6
promising, even though Black still was 29.~c3 (29.l::ιa3 i..c4 30.'ffib2+ ςtJh7 31.lbd4
advantageous: 22 ... tιJb8 23.i..xd7 tιJxd7+. 1:!.b8+) 29 ... J::!.b8 30.a4 (30.a31:!.xb5 31. 'ffixb5
19 ... tιJf4 20.c6 'ffixf2+ 32.ςtJh1 e3) 30 ... tιJxb4+
Now this is too late, White's pieces are 27.fxe3 bxc6 28.dxc6 .ιι.h6?
already safe. Α patient 20.i..fl!? was bet- Those time troubles ... Black should
ter, and if 20 ... tιJb8?! (20 ... h4!?), then have played 28 ... i..e6 29.J::!.fl 'ffie7 30.J::!.bb1
21.cxd6 cxd6 22.i..xa7. (30.ZΙxf8?! ttxf8 31 . .ιι.χg7 'ffixg7 32.J::!.b1
20 ... i..c8 21 ..ιι.χa7!? tιJxe2 22:~xe2 e4 'ffie5+ Ponomariov) J::!.xf1+ 31.lbxf1 ~g4
23.0-0 'ffif5? 32. 'ffid2 i..xd4!? 33.lbxd4 'ffie4 34.ZΙe1 J:ί.f8~
The new time control tells οη! 23 ... bxc6 29.e4! i..e6?
24.dxc6°o was unclear (Ivanchuk); but This is the end. Black still could have
23 .. .'~f7!+ gave Black an advantage held out after 29 ... lbb8! 30.tιJa7 .ιι.f5 3UΙf3
(Ponomariov). Ιη the variation 24.J::!.d1 bc6 'ffig8 32.e5 dxe5 33.i..c5 J::!.f6 34.b5 e4°o
25.dc6 tιJb4 there was ηο check from c4 (but (Ponomariov) .
Black missed this nuance).
24.J::!.dl
Νο 24.J::!.c1? .ιι.χc3 25.J::!.cxc3 'ffixd5 26.b5
tιJc5 27 ..ιι.χc5 dxc5 28.cxb7 .ιι.Χb7 29.'ffie3
1:te5+ Ivanchuk. Now if 30.b6, then 30 ...
J::!.ef5! with an attack.
24 ...ςtJh7
Black is forced to lose tempi: 24 ... bxc6
25.dxc6 tιJxb4 26. 'ffic4+ (26.ttxb4 'ffia5!)
26 ... r;t>h7 (26 ... .ιι.e6 27.'g<xb4±) 27.'ffixb4 e3
28.~xe3 llxe3 29.fxe3 'ffif2+ 30.Φh1 i..h3
3UΙg1+- (Ivanchuk).
30.tιJxd6! cxd6 31.ttf3 'ffie7?!
25.tιJb5?!
Another mistake. The correct continu- 31 ... ~f5 32.'ffixa6 ZΙxe4± (Ponomariov),
ation is 25.cxb7! ~xb7 26.'ffib5 ~c8 27.~e3, but I'd estimate this position more strictly.
and the initiative is White's, for example: 32.'ffixa6 ttxf3 33.lbxf3 .ιι.g4 34.'ffid3?!
27 ... i..h6 28. 'ffie2 .ιι.χe3 29. 'ffixe3 tιJb8 Both opponents have ηο time. White
30.J::!.a3 J::!.f7 31.J::!.a7t wins easily after 34.ttω? 'ffixe4? 35.tte1
25 ... 'ffif7 'ffixf3 36.'ffib7+
Better late than never! The queen at- 34 ... d5! 35.e5
35.exd5? 'ffid6! 36.ςtJg2 'ffixd5 37.1Η1
tacks now and covers the flank at the same
'ffixc6~
time. 25 ... bxc6 26.dxc6 ~e6 27.ZΙa3 tιJxb4
28.tιJxc7 tte7°o (Ivanchuk). 35 ... nf8?
26.~d4 Missing a chance: 35 ... 'ffixb4 36.lbh4
26.~e3 bxc6 27.tιJa7 tιJb8 28.dxc6 ~e6+ J::!.e6 37.lab1 'ffia5± (Ponomariov). Νο further
(Ivanchuk). comments needed.
26... e3? 36.i..c5 'ffif7 37.i..xf8 'ffixf8 38.1:ΗΙ
Α gross error in time trouble, and Black 'ffixb4 39.lbh4 'ffie4 40.'ffixe4 dxe4 41.J::!.f7+
starts to lose. There was still 26 ... bxc6! Φg8 42.J::!.f6 i..e3+ 43.~f1 i..b6 44.e6 e3
27.i..xg7 (27.dxc6 i..e6!) 'ffixg7 28.dxc6 e3! 45 ..tIxg6+ ςtJf8 46.Iϊxg4 hxg4 47.lbf5 1-0
(28 ... ~e6 29.tte3! d5 30.lbd4± tιJxb4? 31.a3 Well, new time controls (not to mention
lbd3 32.tιJxe6 1:txe6 33.~exd3) 29.J::!.xe3 those super new and experimental ones)
llxe3 30.'ffixe3lbxb4 31.lbf3 ZΙxf3 32.'ffixf3 aren't made for precise play and fine art ...
Group C
1 Bareev 2702
2 Movsesian 2666
3 Svidler 2689
4 Zhang Zhong 2636
5 Fedorov 2646
6 Rizouk 2350
There was the most intricate situation ίη this group. Thanks to the win over the
evident outsider Rizouk, three players Bareev, Movsesian and Svidler were ahead with
2.5 points. Fedorov and Zhang, who had to play with Rizouk ίη the last round, were half
point behind. Movsesian and Svidler drew quickly, and Zhang unexpectedly could not
defeat Rizouk. Ιη a dramatic game Bareev - Fedorov (game 236) the latter suddenly lost
his extra piece. ΒΥ the way, Bareev would be lucky many times ίη this tournament: both
with Azmaiparashvili and with Milos.
232 Β76 Movsesian after 17 ... ~fc8 18.i..xf5 gxf5

Svidler - Fedorov 19.~d3 ~c7 20.c4 a5 21.~hdl ~a8 22.~d7
Round 1 1.09 ~e5 23.i..d4 ~f4+ 24 ...t>bl.
12 ....txd4 13.~xd4 ~c7 14.~c5 4Jxc3
l.e4 c5 2.4Jf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.4Jxd4 15. ~xc3 .te6 16.i..d3 c5
4Jf6 5.4Jc3 g6 6.i..e3 i..g7 7.f3 4Jc6 8:~d2 The game Morozevich - Κir.Georgiev,
ο-ο 9.0-0-0 d5 Sarajevo 2000, developed differently:
Alexei Fedorov has already suffered 16 ... ~ad8 17.~del c5 18 ...t>bl ~d4 19.h4
much ίη this line of the Dragon Variation ~d6 20.h5 g5 21.h6 ~d8 22.b3 ffi 23.g3, still
at the recent tournament ίη Polanica Zdroj, it is final result (1-0) did not offer any rea-
but nevertheless he continues to defend son for Black's optimism.
the main line of Black's play. 17.h4 c4?!
10.exd5 4Jxd5 11.4Jxc6 bxc6 12.i..d4 17 ... ~f4+ 18 ...t>bl ~M! was much stron-
P.Svidler was the first to step aside, ger ίη p.svidler's ορίηίοη.
having avoided the continuation 12.4Jxd5 18.i..e4 Iίad8 19.h5 g5?!
cxd513.~xd5 ~c714.~c5 ~b7 15.~a3 i..f5 Black probably could venture οη 19 ...
16.1ιd3 ~ab8 17.b3 ίη which the Byelo- ~f4+ 20 ...t>bl gxh5.
russian grandmaster was beaten ίη 20.h6 ί6 21.a3 i..f7 22.':I'hel ~g3?!
Polanica Zdroj twice: by Vassily Ivanchuk Α more stubborn resistance could be put
after 17 ... ~bc8 18.i..xf5 gxf5 19.~d3 ~c6 up by means of22 ... e5, though ίη this case
20.c4 ~f6 21.~hdl ~c6 22.i..d4 e5 23.1ιc3, as well after 23.g3 with the following f2-f4
and then ίη the fourth round by Sergei Black had a hard position.
FIDE World Cup 319
White plans an exchange of the dark-

squared bishop, this is why he does not go
for a more active 9.d4 Jιb6.
9 ... a6 10 ..1ιa4 .1ιa7 1l . .1ιe3
Previously οηlΥ 11 ..1ιc2 has been seen
ίη this position.
1l ... .1ιχe3 12.~xe3 .ί:tfe8
Black is not ready for 12 ... 4Jd4 because
after 13.cxd4 .iιxa4 14 ..ί:tcl J:!.ac8 the white
knight can get to a good position by 15.4Jc3.
13.i.b3
23.~a5! White's rejection of a natural 13.4Jbd2
This strong move shows how hard can be explained probably by the fact that
Black's position already is. after 13 ... 4Jd4 14.cxd4 Jιxa4 15.1:tdcl J:!.ac8
23 ... ~f4+ the position of th~ white queen's knight
The line 23 ... .ί:txdl+ 24 . .ί:txdl ~xg2 would get worse.
25. ~f5 Jιg6 26. ~e6+.iιfΊ 27. ~xe7 was ab- 13 ... 4Ja5 14 •.1ιc2 c5!
solutely hopeless for Black, and after Played ίη a good, strict positional man-
23 ... ~b8 24.1:!:xd8 ~xd8 25. ~f5 ~f4+ ner. At the same time 14 ... d5, increasing
26.~xf4 gxf4 White forced by 27.l:ιdl! a pressure ίη the centre, was to White's
bishop endgame which was very hard for favour after 15.4Jbd2.
Black. Ιη case of a relatively better 23 ... J:!.d6 15.4Jbd2 b5
24.MXd6 ~xd6 Black also encountered
great difficulties after 25 ..ί:tdl! (25.~xa7
was weaker because of25 ... f5! 26 ..iιb7 c3).
24.'it>bl1:!:xdl+ 25 ..ί:txdl g4 26.~xa7 c3
The continuation 26 ... f5 27.Jιd5 .txd5
28 ..ί:txd5 ~xh6 29. ~xe7 did not suit Black
as well.
27.~xe7 ~xh6 28.b3 f5
After this move the game will end very
quickly.
29.Jιxί5 gxf3
The combination 29 ... Jιxb3 30.cxb3
.ί:txf5 is irrelevant because of 31.lId8+ 16.d4
30.gxf3 ~b6 31.Jιxh7+ 1-0 This programmed advance will not
bring White any special benefit. Black is
prepared for it well, because his pieces are
233 C65 ready to occupy the squares ίη the centre,
Svidler - Zhang Zhong which will be freed after the pawns will be
Round 2 2.09 exchanged.
16... cxd4 17.cxd4 exd4 18.4Jxd4 4Jc6
l.e4 e5 2.4Jf3 4Jc6 3.Jιb5 4Jf6 4. ~e2 19.1:!:el ~ac8 20.4J2f3 4Je5 21.1:tadl ~c5
P.Svidler refuses to play the Brazilian Black positions his pieces conveniently.
Variation which would be possible after 22.4Jh4 4Jc4 23.~cl g6 24.b3 4Je5
4.0-04Jxe4. 25.~d2 4Jh5 26.4Jhf3 ~f6 27.J:ιe3 4Jf4
4 ... Jιc5 5.c3 ~e7 6.0-0 ο-ο 7.1:tdl d6 28.J.bl1:tec8 29.'ίt>h2 h6 30.4Jgl?
8.h3 .td7 9.d3 For the last several moves Black got
much more than White, but all his micro adherent and advocate of the move 2.c3,
merits could have been cancelled with a prefers here 5.dxe5. This move occurred
mere 30.lίJxe5 dxe5 (30 ... §'xe5? was bad ίη the practice of S.Movsesian: after
because of 31.lίJf3 as well as 30 ... ~xe5? 5 ... dxe5 6.lίJf3lίJc6 7.lίJa3 .te7 8 ..tg5lίJh5
because of3U~f3) 31.lίJf3 (31.lίJe2 was also 9 ..txe7 §'xe7 10 ..tb5 ο-ο 11.lίJd2lίJf4 12.g3
possible, because 31 ... lίJxh3 32.gxh3 §'xf2+ lίJg2+ 13. We2 .th3 14. §'c2 §'g5 there was
33.Wh1 gave Black ηο real attack), main- a keen struggle ίη the game Haba -
taining the balance. Movsesian, Κoszalin 1998.
5 ...lίJc6 6.d5 lίJe7 7 ..tg5
White leaves the path of theory. Mter
7.0-0 g6 8.lίJfd2 .tg7 9.lίJc4 ο-ο 10.f4 b5
11.fxe5 dxe5 12.lίJe3 .td7 13.c4 b4 14.lίJd2
White got better chances ίη the game
Zhang Zhong - Movsesian, Elista 1998.
7 ...lίJg6 8 ..tb5+ .td7 9 ..txf6 gxf610.a4
a6 11 ..txd7+ ~xd7 12.lίJbd2
White would have a fine position if he
had time to prevent the advantage f6-f5,
but he was deprived ofthis opportunity.
12 ... f5 13.~c2 fxe4 14.lίJxe4 iιe7
30... §'h4!
Now the whole army of Black's pieces
is ready to attack the white king.
31.~g3
The rook goes into the very hell to save
the king and as a result, perishes. How-
ever, White did not have already a better
continuation. After 31.lίJgf3 Black won
with 31 ... lίJg4+ 32.Wg1 lίJxh3+ 33.gxh3
§'xh3, and ίη case of31.g3 the solution was
31 ... lίJg4+ 32.Wh1 §'h5.
31 ... lίJh5 32.lίJdf3
There was ηο 32. §'xh6 because of 15.lίJg3
32 .. .'~Jg4+. White sacrifices the pawn ίη order to
32 ... §'f6 block up the advance fΊ-f5. Mter 15.0-0 f5
Obviously White willlose an exchange 16.lίJg3 ο-ο both sides had chances.
now. 15... lίJf4 16.0-0 lίJxd5 17.~adl ~e6
33.lίJxe5 §'xe5 34.lίJf3 §'e7 35.e5lίJxg3 There was an alternative: 17 ... ~c6, but
36.fxg3 .tc6 37.exd6 §'f6 38.~f1 ~d8 after 18.lίJh5 (if .18.lίJf5, then 18 ... lίJf4)
39:~xh6 ~xd6 40.~el ~h5 0-1 18 ... lίJc7 (ίη case of18 ... 0-0-0 Black had to
reckon with 19. §'f'5+, returning the pawn)
234 Β22 19.1:ι:fe1 White was compensated for the
Rizouk - Movsesian pawn.
Round 3 3.09 18.lίJf5
White refuses to play the position after
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d6 3.d4 lίJf6 4 ..td3 e5 18. §'e4lίJf4 19. §'xb7 ο-ο where Black will
5.lίJf3 have an initiative.
Grandmaster E.8veshnikov, the main 18... ~g8
FIDE World Cup 321
There was ηο 18 ... 0-0-0?? because of play. The natural 31 ... I!d2 led Black to a
19 ..ί:.χd5. defeat because of 32.a6 tΔh3+ 33.Φh1
19:~e4 tΔf6? tΔxf2+ 34.'~xf2 nxf2 35.a7.
Black disposes of his material advan- 32.a6 ~a7!?
tage rather generously. Mter 19 ... tΔf4 20.g3 As if with a presentiment of a radical
0-0-0 21.tΔh1 there was a keen struggle turn Black refused from a forced draw af-
with mutual chances. ter 32 ... ~xb2 33.a7 I!xa7 34.~xa7 tΔh3+
20. ~xb7 ~d8 21.tΔxe7 ~xe7 22. ~xa6 35.Φh1 tΔxf2+ 36.tΔgl tΔh3+.
Φf8 23.~fel e4 24.tΔd2 33.~b5 cj;;g7 34.b4?
White begins to pull back his pieces, It was possible to feel that White was
though there still was an opportunity to totally disoriented. 34.kIed1? was also bad
struggle for the d4-square by 24. ~b6 d5 because of 34 ... ~f6, and ίη case of 35 ..!:i.d2,
25.b4 cxb4 26.tΔd4 or 24.b4 cxb4 25.cxb4. covering f2, Black had 35 ... tΔxg2! 36.tΔxg2
24 ... d5 25.~e2 .ί:.g6 26.c4 dxc4 27. ~g5. White should have played 34.~ec1!
tΔxc4 .ί:.d4 28.tΔe3?! even though after 34 ... tΔd3 (ηο 34 ... ~f6
Το play 28. ~c2! first was much better, 35 ..!::tc2 ~xa6? because of 36 ..ti.xa6 ~xa6
and only then 29.tΔe3. 37.tΔf5+) 35.l:tc2 f5 Black's initiative was
28 ... ~e5? worth a pawn.
Mter 28 ... 1:!.xa4 29.J:ιa1 1:!.xa1 30.~xa1 34 ... tΔd3 35.J:ιf1 tΔxb4 36.l:tacl tΔd3
~b7 the material balance was maintained, 37.~al h5 38.tΔc4?
and Black's drawing chances were quite White makes another mistake. Mter
real notwithstanding White's positional 38.~a4 with the idea of f2-f3 White has a
advantage. draw, whereas 38 ... ~f6 which is similar to
29.a5 tΔh5 the move ίη the game could be parried with
38.~e8.
38... ~f6 39. ~b8?
Mter 39.tΔe3 Iίxa6 (ίη case of 39 ... ~f3
White had 40.1:!.a3) White would have lost
gradually. Mter the move ίη the game he
loses immediately.
39 ... ~f3 40.tΔe3 tΔf4 41.tΔf5+ Φh7
42.tΔh41:!.xg2+ 43.ΦhΙ ~gl+ 0-1
235 C45
Svidler - Rizouk
Round 4 4.09
30.J:ιal?
Now White overlooked an opportunity l.e4 e5 2.tΔf3 tΔc6 3.d4
to win at once with 30.~b5! J:ιxd1 (30 ... tΔf4 P.Sνidler reminds us that apart from his
was also losing because of 31.J:ιxd4 ~xd4 usual Ruy Lopez he knows the Scotch as
32. ~b8+ Φe7 33.tΔf5+ as well as 30 ... ~b4 well.
because of 31 ..ί:.d8+ r:JJg7 32.~e8) 31.~xd1 3 ... exd4 4.tΔxd4 tΔf6 5.tΔxc6 bxc6 6.e5
tΔf4 32.a6 tΔxg2 (if 32 ... ~g5, then there ~e7 7.~e2 tΔd5 8.c4 .i.a6
was 33.a7 tΔxg2 34.a8~+ r:JJg7 35.J:ιd5) The system which is chosen by Black is
33.tΔxg2 ~g5 34. ~b8+ r:JJg7 35. ~g3, and strategically rather risky, because if he
Black's attack was stalled. fails to gain some specific advantage, then
30 ... tΔf4 31.~f1 J:ιd7! his light-squared bishop which is elimi-
Movsesian finds a way to complicate the nated by the white pawns will constitute a
considerable weakness. 5.iιe2 ο-ο 6.iιg5

9.b3 g6 10.f4 iιg7 1l.tH'2lbf6 12.iιe2 Ιη this important game E.Bareev chose
d6 his old and tested weapon against the
The line 12 ...lbe4 13.'~e3 f5 14.iιa3 d6 Κing's Indian Defence, the Averbakh Vaήa
15.lbd2 g5 16.exd6 lbxd6 17.iιh5+ 'it>f8 tion.
18. ~xe7+ 'it>xe7 19.0-0-0 gave White a bet- 6 ... lba6 7.f4 ~e8 8.lbf3 e5 9.fxe5 dxe5
ter ending ίη the game Goloshchapov - 10.d5 h6 11.iιxί6 iιxf6 12.a3 c5
Moiseenko, Ordzhonikidze 2000. 12 ... ~e7 13.0-0 ~d8 14.I:.b1 c5 15. ~d2
13.iιa3! iιg7 16.ktfd1 iιd7 17.b4 ~d6 18.~e3 iιf8
Ιη the game Van der Wiel - Beliavsky, 19.1bb5 .txb5 20.cxb5 lbc7 21.lbd2 cxb4
Groningen 1994, they played 13.iιf3 ο-ο 22.axb4lbe8 23.lbc4 occurred ίη the game
14.0-0 iιb7 15.iιb2 lbd7 16.exd6 cxd6 Mohr - Miles, Bad Wοeήshοfeη 1990, with
17.iιxg7 <tJxg7 18.lbc3 whereupon White White's slightly better chances.
held a slight advantage. 13.0-0 i.d7 14.I:.bl ~e7 15.b4 ~d6
13 ... 0-0 14.lbc3lbd715.0-0 f616.exd6 16.lbb5 ~b6
cxd617.l:i:adl A.Fedorov needed a victory at any cost
Now Black's serious problems are evi- ίη this game, so he rejected the line
dent. 16 ... iιxb5 17.cxb5 lbc7 18. ~d2 cxb4 19.
17 ...lbc5 18.iιf3 ί5 axb4, which would be similar to the game
Mohr - Miles.
17.ΦhΙ lIac8 18.~el iιg7 19.~g3
cxb4
There was an opportunity to maintain
tension with 19 ... I:.fe8, but Black decided
that it was the time for action.
20.axb4 iιxb5 21.cxb5 lbb8?!
Probably 21 ... lbc7 22.lbxe5 iιxe5 23.
~xe5 ~ce8! 24.~f4 (24.~f6 ~xf6 25.I:.xf6
!Ixe4 26 ..tf3 was dangerous because of
26 ... 1:!:d4 with a dreadful threat of27 ... lbe8)
24 ... lbxd5 with an equality was more reli-
19.1ba4! able.
Mter this move Black's position will fall 22.lbxe5 ~d4
apart like a house of cards.
19... lbxa4 20 ..txd6 ~π 21.iιxf8 1:txf8
22.bxa4 ~xc4 23. ~xa7 Ι:.Π 24. ~b8+ 1:tf8
25.~d6 I:.c8 26.~fel ~xa4 27.~e6+ <tJh8
28.~xc8+! 1-0
White's ordinary combination finishes
the destruction of Black's position. 28 ...
.txc8 29.I:.e8+ iιf8 30.l:i:xf8+ Φg7 31.1::txc8
~a7+ 32.Φh1 ~xa2 33.::tc7+
236 Ε73
Bareev - Fedorov
Round 5 5.09 23.lbxf7!
White should act decisively or Black can
l.d4 lbf6 2.c4 g6 3.lbc3 iιg7 4.e4 d6 take the initiative.
FIDE World Cup 323
23 ...1::!.xf7 24.l:txf7 cJιxf7 25.i.g4 1:I.d8 mately equal.

26.i.e6+ cJιe7 27.1:ίη i.f6?! 30.. :~b6 31:~h5
Black defends not ίη the best way. There Generally, an exchange of the queen is
was a better 27 ... Sιe5 28.'~χg6:ι:ι.f8 29.:ι:ι.c1 objectionable, but there are too few re-
(of course ηο 29.11xf8?? because of 29 ... sources for conducting the attack.
~d1 +, and 29 ..1:Η7+ 11xf7 30.~xf7+ cJιd6 31 ... ~xb5 32.:cϊ.dl 1:ίf6 33.~g4 ~d6
31. ~f8+ cJιc7 was impossible, because 34.ΪtcllΔd7 35.~g8 ~xb4
32.~c5+ ~xc5 33.bxc5 a5 lost White's 35 ... lΔf8 looked good too.
game, whereas ίη case of29.Sιf5 there was 36.Sιxd7 cJιxd7 37.~g4+ ~d6 38.~c8
29 ... ~b6) 29 ... ~b2 (incase of29 ... ~c3 there
was a simple 30.~xh6) 30.~xh6 :ι:ι.h8
31.~g5+ cJιd6, and all the struggle was
ahead.
28. ~xg6 Ϊtf8 29.h3?!
29. ~xh6 left better chances for a suc-
cessful attack.
29 ... i.e5 30.Sιf5?
Α major mistake which might lose
White's game.Mter 30.11c1! ~c3 (there is
ηο 30 ... ~e3?? because of 3UΞ'fh7+ ~d6
32.~c7#) 31.~xh6 ~g3 32.~h7+ cJιf6! (ίη 38... ~b6??
case of32 ... Sιg7 there was 33.Sιf5) 33.11Π + Virtually, this blunder defined the win-
Sιf4 (33 ... ~g5? was bad because of34.h4+!) ner ofthe group C. Mter 38 ... Φe7 White's
34.~f5+ cJιg7 35.~g4+ ~xg4 36.Sιxg4 Sιd6 chances for a draw were very low.
the chances of both sides were approxi- 39.~b8+ ~d7 40.~xe5 1-0
GroupD
2 4
1 Anand 2762 3.5
2 Gelfand 2681 3
3 Tkachiev 2657 3
4 Tregubov 2620 2.5
5 Κhalifman 2667 2
6 Tissir 2342 1
The strongest preliminary group. The World Champion, the Champion of Europe
and also Anand and Gelfand played here. The World Champion Κhalifman had ηο luck:
he missed the drawing opportunity 26 ... ~e5! playing with Anand (game 238), and ίη
the game with Gelfand (game 240) he forgot to make the necessary move 16. ~h5 and
simply lost a piece. Ιη the last round Gelfand, playing White, was very nervous and
could not defeat Tissir (ELO difference is more than 300 points!). 80, he had to play the
tie-break with Tkachev.
237 Β63
Anand - Tissir
Round 1 1.09
l.e4 c5 2.l2Jf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.l2Jxd4

l2Jf6 5.l2Jc3l2Jc6 6 ...tg5 e6 7.~d2 .iιe7 8.0-
ο-ο ο-ο 9.l2Jb3 ~b610.f3lId811.l2Jb51::[d7
12.t'fel t'fd8?!
Black has chose a keen variation ofthe
Rauzer Variation but plays without due
accuracy. 12 ... a6 13 ..iιe3 ~d8 14.l2J5d4 is
the main line of Black's play here. 25.g6! 1-0
13.g4 Why? Probably because he did not want
After 13.h4 a5 14.a4 e5 15.g3 l2Je8 to see his position fall apart like a house of
16 ..iιe3 d5 17 ...th3 d4 18 ..iιd2 Black also cards after 25 ... fxg6 26.hxg6 h6 27 ..iιxh6!
encountered serious difficulties in the gxh6 28.12:xh6. There was ηο satisfactory
game Nunn-Pelletier, Germany 1999, and defence from a mate. 80, in case of25 ... ~g5
was forced to lose an exchange. (if28 ... ~e7, then 29.g7! solved, and in the
13...b6 game 28 ... 'it>g7 White won with 29.~h1
This move looks bizarre for the 8icilian ~g5 30.1::[h81:tdc7 31.f4) White won with a
Defence with castlings οη different flanks. plain 29.l:!:dh4 d4 30.J::r4h5 ~d8 31.1::[h8+
13 ... a6 14.l2J5d4 was better. ιJJg7 32. ~d2.
14.h4 ..tb7 15.l2J5d4 l2Jxd4 16.l2Jxd4
J::rc8 17.'it>bl a6 18 ..iιcl1:[dc7 19.95 l2Jd7
20.k:th2! 238 Β80
Black wanted to create a threat to the Anand - Khalifman
pawn οη 2, but White defends easily. Round 2 2.09
20 ... d5
Since the black bishop has left c8, the l.e4 c5 2.l2Jf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.l2Jxd4
e6-square will be helpless after White con- l2Jf6 5.l2Jc3 a6 6.JTιe3 e6 7.f3 b5 8.g4 h6
ducts a break-through g5-g6. Understand- 9.~d2l2Jbd7 10.0-0-0 .iιb7 11.h4
ing this, Black tries to annihilate the white The opponents play one ofthe most topi-
knight οη d4, but at a too dear cost of the cal modern variations, the English Attack.
dark-squared bishop. Το be honest, hardly Ιη the tournament practice ofViswanathan
there are any good recommendations for Anand this structure has occurred many
Black ίη this position already. times, whereas Alexander Κhalifman plays
21.e5 ..tc5 22.h5 .iιxd4 23.nxd4 l2Jf8 this variation in a serious game with Black
24 ..iιd3l:!:d7 for the first time. As for White's last move,
FIDE World Cup 325
it brought him many disappointments for 21 ... ltJxe3 22.~xe3ltJe5

the last half-year, so now the moνe 11 ...Itd3 Mter 22 ... ~xh3 23.krxh3 e5 24.ltJc3 exd4
becomes more popular. 25. ~xd4 White's rook and two pawns
11 ...b4 12.ltJa4 ~a5 13.b3 ltJc5 14.a3 looked better than Black's two bishops.
~c8 23.~hf1 ..Itxa3
Owing to this strong moνe, introduced 23 ... g6!?, preνenting subsequent
into tournament practice by Boris Gelfand, White's play, deserνed attention.
Black scored success ίn this νariation re- 24.g6!
cently. Another Black's opportunity is con- The beginning of a grand plan.
nected with 14 ... ltJxa4 15.axb4 ~c7 16.bxa4 24...ltJxg6 25 ...Itxe6 fxe6 26.ltJxe6 ~e7?
d5 17.e5ltJd7 18.f4ltJb6. Black disregards a νery strong continu-
15.~xb4 ~c7 ation. 26 ... ~xc2+? was impossible because
after 27.'>t>a1 White's threats are irresist-
ible. But ίn case of 26 ... ~e5! White's at-
tack and Black's defence should be equal-
ized. Later it is possible to play 27. ~b6
..Itxe4 28 ..1::ϊd8+ (after 28.ltJxg7+ '>t>e7! there
is nο satisfactory continuation for White's
attack) 28 ... '>t>e7 and now ίn Anand's ορίn
ίοn ίn case ofthe strongest 29.ltJf8! Xιxc2+
(this line leads to Black's defeat: 29 ... nxd8?
30. ~a7+ '>t>d6 31 ..1::ϊd1 +) 30.~a2ltJxf8!? (this
one leads to a draw by means of the per-
petual check: 30 ... .1::ϊχd6 31. ~b7+ '>t>d6
16.'>t>b1! 32.~xa6+) 31 ..1::ϊχc8 ltJd7 32.~xa6 .1::ϊχc8
After 16.ltJxc5 dxc5 17.~a4+ ltJd7 33.~xc8 ~xb3+ 34.'>t>xb3 ~b5+ 35.'>t>xa3
18.ltJe2 c4 19.b4 (nο better was 19.bxc4 ~c6 ~xf1 36.ltJc3 despite Black's extra pawn,
20. ~b3ltJc5 21 ...Itxc5 ..Itxc5 22.l:!.d3 ο-ο with ίn νiew of the paucity of the remained
Black's good play, Tiνiakoν - Van Wely, material, the game should end ίn a draw.
Rotterdam 2000, but a keen 19 ...Itf4 ~c6 27.~b6
20.~xc6 ~xa3+ 21.'>t>b1 J:ί.xc6 22.ltJd4 Mc8 Let's regard this position closer. White
23.~xc4 e5 24.ltJf5 which occurred ίn the is threatening with 28.ltJxg7+ ~xg7
game T.Ernst - Agrest, Oerebro 2000, is 29. ~xe6+ ~e7 30. ~xg6+ with a mate.
probably still waiting for a real test) Black has to undertake something imme-
19 ... ..Itc6 20. ~xa6 l:!.a8 21. ~xc4 ~xa3 diate against this threat.
22 ...Itf4 ~b7 Black got a promising position 27 ... ltJf8!?
ίn the game Anand - Gelfand, Monaco It is hard to say whether this continua-
2000. tion was the strongest or Black had a bet-
16... ltJcd7 ter resource. There seemed to be nο good
Α new moνe. Only 16 ... ltJfd7 17.ltJb2 d5 defence for the knight. Mter 27 ... ..Itxe4
18. ~d2 dxe4 19.f4 occurred preνiously there was 28.ltJxg7+! ~xg7 29. ~xe6+
V.Potkin - V.Beloν, Moscow 2000. again, and Black suffered because his rook
17.~d2 d5 18 ...Ith3 dxe4 19.95 hxg5 οn c8 was not coνered, and ίn case of
20.hxg5ltJd521.fxe4?! 27 ... .1::ϊh6 there was a strong 28.J::ι.d8+! .1::ϊΧd8
V.Anand's coach Elizbar Ubilaνa points (nο 28 ... ~xd8 because of 29.ltJxg7+ '>t>d7
out this line as White's opportunity to de- 30. ~xb7+ 'itd6 31.e5+, White mating ίn six
νelop an initiatiνe: 21 ...Itxe6! Mxh1 22. moνes at most) 29.ltJc7+ ~d7 30. ~xb7 'itd6
..Itxd7+ ~xd7 23 ..1::ϊΧh1 exf3 24.~f2. 31.~b6+ Φd7 (after 31 ... Φe5 the solution
was 32.~a5+ Φd6 33 ..ί:tdl+ ~c6 34.~b6#) lIc7 33.J:tdl+ tΔd7 34.tΔb6 iιxe4 35.Iί:xd7+
32.l::tdl + ~d6 (White mated after 32 ... Jtd6 nxd7 36.tΔxd7+ ΦΧd7 37.~xa3 Jtb7 Black
33.tΔc5+ ~c8 34. ~b7# or 32 ... cJtc8 33. could haνe hoped for an escape as the
~xa6+ Φχc7 34. ~a7+ Φc8 35.tΔb6#) struggle was localized οη the queenside)
33 ..ί:txd6+ iιxd6 34.tΔe6! and the threat of 32 ... Jtd6 33. ~g5+ Φc7 34. ~a5! (it was im-
a check with the knight from c5 decided portant not to allow Black to consolidate,
the game ίη White's faνour. Therefore after 34.tΔxd7 tΔxd7 35.1:tdl1:th6 36.~xg7
there was a choice οηlΥ between 27 ... tΔf8 1:te6 his position could haνe been defended
and 27 ... tΔe5. Ιη the latter case after νery well) 34 ... 1:th5 35. ~xh5 Φχb6 36. ~e8
28.!Id8+! ~xd8 29.tΔc7+ Φd7 30.~xb7 ~g5 Φc7 37.1:txf8 Jtxf8 38. ~xf8, and Black lost
(30 ... ~h4 deserνed attention too) White as there was ηο 38 ... Jtxe4? because of
had not οηlΥ a perpetual check, but also a 39. ~f4+, losing the bishop.
promising 31.b4!! Jtxb4 (after 31 ... ~e7 31 ... Φe7 32.~e5+ tΔe6 33. .ί:tgl Φf7?!
32.tΔd5+ \t>e8 33.tΔc5 White's attack was Black oνerlooked the opportunity to
also νery powerful) 32.4:Jxa6+ Φe8 33.tΔc7+ struggle for a draw: after 33 ... 1:th6 34.
\t>d7 34.tΔd5+ Φe6 (and ίη case of 34 ... Φe8 I:ι.xg7+ Φe8 it seemed that Black's pieces
35.~b5+ 1:!.d7 36.tΔc7+ Φe7 37.~xb4+ the were hanging ίη the air, but there was still
attacking waνe caught Black) 35.tΔxb4 ηο obνiously decisiνe continuation for
~e7 36.~b6+ ~d6 37.tΔc5+ Φe7 38.~b7+ White. Ιη case of a forced 35.1:txd7 ΦΧd7
I:ι.d7 (ηο use ίη 38 ... tΔd7 because of39.tΔc6+ 36.tΔb6+ Φe8 37.4:Jd5 Black held out with
and 38 ... Φe8 was also helpless because of 37 ... Jte7 or 37 ... Jtf8.
39.~xg7) 39.tΔxd7 ~xd7 40.tΔd5+ Φe6 34.4:Jb6 .a:hd8 35.~a2!
41.tΔf4+ Φe7 42.4:Jg6+ tΔxg6 43.1::tf7+ Φχf7 White does not force the eνents. The
44. ~xd7+ a queen and two pawns against longer White's knight stays οη the board,
Black's rook and knight would most likely the less pleasant it is for Black. An imme-
guarantee White a νictory. diate 35.tΔxd7 .ί:txd7 36.J:ιg6!? 1::te7 (ηο
36 ... 1:tdl + because of 37 .~a2 Φχg6 38.
~xe6+ Φh7 39.Φχa3) 37.1:txe6 ~xe6 38.
~f4+ ~e7 (if 38 ... 'it>g6, then 39.~f5+)
39. ~c7+ \t>f6 40. ~xb7 led to a position
where the insufficiency ofthe material οη
the board left some drawing chances for
Black notwithsta"1.ding White's material
adνantage.
35... iιf8?!
Leading to a quick end, though after
35 ... 1:td6 35.tΔc4! Black also had ηο real
chances.
28.1:td8+! 36.tΔxd7 1:txd7 37.~f5+ Φe7 38.l::tf1
The furious storm of Black's position iιc8 39.~f7+ Φd6 40.e5+ 1-0
continues.
28 ...1:txd8 29.tΔc7+ ~xc7
Mter 29 ... Φd7 30.~xb7 Black cannot 239 Ε04
escape despite the extra rook. Khalifman - Tissir
30.~xc71:td7 31.~b8+?! Round 3 3.09
It seems White checked from a wrong
square. Mter 31.~e5+! Φd8 (if 31 ... iιe7, l.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.tΔf3 tΔf6 4.g3 dxc4
then 32.tΔc5) 32.tΔb6 (ίη case of 32.~a5+ 5.iιg2 iιb4+
FIDE World Cup 327
Black played very inconsistently ίη this until White's last move occurred previ-
game. Ifhe had planned to check with the ously. After 16. ~d2 .ιtd5 17.liΊe1 .ιtxg2
bishop he should have made this οη his 18.Φχg2 e5 19.dxe5 .ιtxe5 20.~xd8 J:Ifxd8
fourth move before the capture οη c4. 2Ulab1liΊd7 22.liΊd3 White got an advan-
6 ..ltd2 Jιe7 7.0-0 ο-ο 8:~c2 a6 tage ίη the game Garcia Gonzales - Vilela,
The check οη the fifth move could make Havana 1982. The move which was made
sense οηlΥ ίη connection with the line by the FIDE World Champion Alexander
8 ... .ltd7 9.liΊe5 liΊc6, though even ίη this Κhalifman is still stronger because it com-
variation White is better after 10. ~xc4, plicates the advance e6-e5 for Black.
according to the theory. 16... .ltd5 17.liΊfd2
9.~xc4 b5 10:~c2 Jιb7 The exchange of the light-squared
Now we have a well known theoretical bishop will make the play ίη the centre
position (usually it appears after 4 ... Jιe7 more convenient for White and at the same
5.Jιg2 ο-ο 6.0-0 dxc4 7.~c2 a6 8.~xc4 b5 time it will emphasize the weakness of
9.~c2 Jιb7 10.Jιd2), but with a significant Black's queenside.
difference: White is to move. It is evident 17... Jιxg2 18.'it>xg2 b4
that White's extra tempo will tell οη very Black weakens his queenside even more
soon. ίη order to perform e6-e5. Mter 18 ... c6
11.1::rcl .ltd6 12 ..ltg5 19.e4, 18 ... liΊd7 19.1iΊe4 or 18 ... liΊd5 19. ~c6
White's first task is not to allow Black tUb4 20. ~f3 he was also not very good.
to accomplish the advance c7-c5. 19.~c6 e5 20.dxe5 .ιtxe5 21.liΊc4 ~e7
12 ... tUbd7 13.Jιxf6! 22.e4!
Ιη case of 13.liΊbd2 White had to reckon White does not need to hurry to win the
with 14 ... c5 14.Jιxf6 gxf6 (there was ηο mateήal. Mter 22. ~xa6 c5 Black might get
14... ~xf6? because of 15.liΊe5) 15.liΊe4 Jιxe4 a counterplay, as all white pieces would be
16.~xe4 f5 17.~c6 (if 17.~b7, then 17 ... collected οη the queenside.
~c8) 17 ... ~e7, and White's advantage was 22 ...1:!.fe8 23.J::!.f1
not very large. Another prophylactic move. After 23.f4
13...liΊxf6 .ltxf4 24.gxf4 liΊh5 25.f5 ~h4 unnecessary
Now 13 ... gxf6 gives Black already noth- complications were possible.
ing because of 14.liΊg5! fxg5 15.Jfιxb7 .J::ta7 23 ... ~d7 24:~xd7liΊxd7
16.Jιc6 whereupon he can οηlΥ dream Mter the exchange of the queens Black
about c7-c5. is deprived of any hope for a counterplay.
14.liΊbd2 .J::tc8 15.tUb3 Jιe4 25.f4 .ltd6 26.Φf'3 JιίB 27.J:Iacl tUb6
28.liΊba5 .J::tcd8 29.I:!.cdl h5 30.liΊe3 J::!.xdl
Apart from the present problems Black
gives υρ the d-file. Probably he could have
defended more persistently after 30 ... liΊa4,
though the result ίη case of 31.liΊac4 was
still certaill.
31.J:IxdlliΊa4 32.liΊac4 liΊb6 33.e5 a5
Black attempts to show some activity
ίη order not to be strangled ίη his own
camp.
34.liΊxa5 !ιa8 35.liΊc6 I:!.xa2 36.:td8 :ta8
Ιη case of 36 ... g6 37.f5 ~a8 38.l:1xa8
16:~c3! liΊxa8 39.fxg6 (39.f6 was also not bad, Black
However curious it may seem, all this played practically without the king ίη this
case) 39 ... fxg6 40.e6 il.d6 41.CLJc4 White Polanica Zdroj 2000.
would have sent his king into the centre of 13.•. dxc3 14.1ιc4 'tf:fxf6 15.Mhgl
the board and win. If 15. 'tf:fh5, then 15 ... Mg8.
37.Itxa8 CLJxa8 38.CLJd5 15 ...h6
White's pieces dominate totally. Also 15 ... h5 16. 'tf:fd5 1ιh6 17.1ιΧh6
38... CLJb6 'tf:fxh6+ 18.Wb1 'tf:ff6 19.Mde1 was seen
If38 ... b3, then Black lost after 39.We4. 8imacek - Kalod, 8vetla 1994. At the same
39.CLJdxb4 ~xb4 40.CLJxb4 c5 41.CLJd3 time 15 ... 1ιh6 was not very good for Black
c4 42.CLJc5 CLJd5 43.CLJa4 wh7 44.We4 1-0 because of 16.il.xf7+! 'tf:fxf7 (if 16 ... Wxf7,
then 17. 'tf:fh5+) 1'7 .il.xh6 'tf:fxa2 18. 'tf:fxc3
with White's rather dangerous attack.
240 Β81
Khalίfman - Gelfand
Round 4 4.09
l.e4 c5 2.CLJf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.CLJxd4

CLJf6 5.CLJc3 a6 6.1ιe3 e6 7.g4 e5
Not long ago Black had been afraid of
making this important move and preferred
a modest 7 ... h6, but for the last month
there were played several interesting
games of great theoretical importance ίη
this variation.
8.CLJf5 g6 9.g5 gxf5 10.exf5 d5 11:~f3 16.Wbl?
Α new, probably unlucky move. 16. 'tf:fh5
Ιη case of 1l.gxf6 Black defends his ρο
sition. 80, the recent game Z.Almasi - -ic5 (if 16 ...CLJc5, then 17.1ιΧf7+) 17.1ιχc5
8vidler, Polanica Zdroj 2000, developed as CLJxc5 18.1ιΧf7+ We7 (ίη case of 18 ... 'tf:fxf7
follows: 1l ... d4 12.1ιc4 'tf:fc7 13. 'tf:fd3 dxe3 White had 19.Md8+) 19.1ιg6 cxb2+ 20.wb1
1ιd7 (if20 ... b6, then after 21.f4 e4 22.Md5
14.0-0-0 exf2 15.1ιΧf7+! Wxf7 16. 'tf:fd5+ Wxffi
17.CLJe4+ We7! 18.f6+ We8 19.f7+ We7 White had certain compensation for the
20.'tf:fd2! 'tf:fb6! 21.'tf:fg5+ Wxf7 22.J:::!.hfl ~h6 piece) 21.'tf:ff3 occurred previously ίη the
23.MXf2+ We8 24.Md8+ 'tf:fxd8 25. 'tf:fxh6 'tf:fe7, game Badzharani - Rybincev, U88R 1989,
and still White's attack which looked most published ίη ΙηΕ 47/282) and demonstrated
dangerous could not give him more than a that White's initiative should not be un-
draw. derestimated here.
11 ... d4 12.0-0-0 CLJbd7 13.gxf6 16... CLJc5!
The continuation 13.1ιd2 'tf:fc7 is the Now Black has ηο particular problems,
most topicalline ofthis variation today. At whereas White misses a piece.
the recent Rubinstein Memorial ίη Pola- 17.'tf:fe2
nica Zdroj there were two bright games οη White also could not do anything after
this subject: 14.1ιd3 CLJc5 15.gxf6 dxc3 17. 'tf:fd5 ίη view of 17 ... il.d7! 18.1ιχc5 -ic6,
16.~xc3 'tf:fc6 17. 'tf:fe3 e4, and White's at- and ίη case of 17.Μge11ιΧf5 18.1ιχc5 -ixc5
tack stalled 8hirov - 8vidler, Polanica 19. 'tf:fc3 1ιd6 20.f4 a paradoxical 20 ... 0-0-0
Zdroj 2000 and 14.gxf6 dxc3 15.1ιχc3 'tf:fc6 is possible and despite the staying of the
16.'tf:fg3 -ih6+ 17.wb1 -tf4 18.'tf:fd3 ο-ο white queen and the black king οη the
19.Mg1 + wh8 20.1ιb4 Mg8? (20 ... CLJc5!) same file, White cannot use it.
21.Mxg8+ Wxg8 22.1ιe7, and White's attack 17 ... 1ιΧf5 18.f4 1ιe6 19.fxe5 'tf:fxe5
decided the game 8hirov - Van Wely, 20.1ιχe6 CLJxe6 21. 'tf:ff3 'tf:fb5 22.b3 'tf:fc6
FIDE World Cup 329
23.~ί6 1:th7 24.Ιιgf1.ί::1.d8 17.Mabl ~c7 18.Mb2lZΊd7 19.c4 .ί::I.ad8

Black's pieces are getting engaged ίη 20.~a3 b6 21 ..1:iebl1Ib8 22.Jιg2 c5 23.d5
the play, and White is unable to create any White's centre is set ίη motion.
real threat to Black. 23 ... lZΊe5
25 ..ί::I.del .ί::I.d5 26.~cl iιe7 27. ~f3 iιg5 23 ... e5 was totally bad because of
28.~g3 ~d7 29.h4 Jιxcl 30.~g8 i.d2 24. ~a4!, and if 24 ... f5, then 25.d6!
31.Mxf7+ 1'lxf7 32.~xΠ+ 'it>d8 33 ..!:!.xe6 24.~c3 exd5 25.i.xd5lZΊc6 26.a3 CLJd4
Md6 34.~g8+ 'it>c7 35.~g7+ ~b8 0-1 27.e3 CLJc6 28.1::tb5 lZΊe5 29.f4 CLJd7 30.e4
CLJf6 31.e5lZΊxd5 32.cxd5
Α showy position. It seems to be impos-
241 Ε04 sible that the avalanche ofWhite's pawns
Gelfand - Tissir ίη the centre will be contained.
Round 5 5.09 32 ... f6 33.~5b2
Not enough was 33.d6 ~c6 34. ~b3+
l.d4 d5 2.lZΊf3 lZΊf6 3.c4 e6 4.g3 dxc4 Φh8 35 ..ί::I.xb6 Mxb6 36. ~xb6 because of
5.iιg2 i.b4+ 6.iιd2 i.e7 7.~a4+ 36 ... ~e4! with a perpetual check to the
Gelfand refused to follow the game white king.
Κhalifman - Tissir, Shenyang 2000, which 33 ... fxe5 34.fxe5 .ί::I.fe8 35.d6 ~c6
after 7.0-0 ο-ο 8.~c2 a6 (bad was 7 ... b5 8.a4 36.1Idl b5 37.d7 Med8 38 . .ί::I.d6 ~e4
c6 because of9.axb5 cxb510.CLJg5!) 9.~xc4 39.Mf2?
b5 10.~c2 iιb7 1U~c1 ~d6 12.i.g5 CLJbd7 This move loses the most part ofWhite's
13.Jιxf6 CLJxf6 14.CLJbd2 .ί::I.c8 15.lZΊb3 iιe4 huge advantage. After 39.e6! c4 (39 ... b4
16. ~c3 gave White a perceptible advan- was not enough because of 40.~xc5 Iιf8
tage. Probably he did not want to encoun- 41.h4) 40.~c2 .1:if8 41.Mc1! White made
ter something like 7 ... a6 or 7 ... c6 (Black Black resign with 42.Me1.
trying to keep the extra pawn) while ίη case 39 ... b4 40.axb4 axb4 41.~xc5 b3
of an immediate 7.~c2 he had to reckon 42.1::tdd2
with 7 ... b5. After 42.Mb6 Ma8 43.~c3 J::txd7 44.
7 ... iιd7 8.~xc4 ~c6 9.0-0 a5?! ~xb3+ ~d5 there was a draw ίη the four-
Black is wasting time. Usually Black rook endgame despite White's extra pawn.
struggles for an equality here with 9 ... ~d5
or 9 ... CLJbd7.
10.CLJc3 ο-ο 11 ..ί::I.fel
White's plan implies an advance e2-e4,
and Black has to take some measures
against it.
11 ... CLJe4 12.iιί4 Jιd6 13.Jιxd6 ~xd6
14.~d3 CLJxc3 15.bxc3
Of course ηο 15. ~xc3, because after
15 ... i.e4 Black was Οκ.
15 ... iιxf3?!
Black begins to surrender his lines.
15 ... CLJd7 was possible, though after 16.e4 42 ... .ί::I.xd7!
ίη case of an active 16 ... e5 Black had to Black takes use of his chance, and this
reckon with 17.CLJh4. tactical blow rewards him with a draw.
16.~xf3 c6 43 ..ί::I.xd7 b2 44 ..1:idl
After 16 ... CLJc6 17 ..ί::I.ab1 Black's position After 44 ..1:ixb2 ~e1+! 45.Φg2 .ί::I.xb2+
was also poor. 46.Φh3 ~f1+47.~g4 ~e2+ (47 ... h5+?! was
weaker because of 48.Φg5) 48.'\t>f4 ~Π+ 47.~Π+ ~g6! White even lost the game.
49.~g4 White's king suffered from a per- 44 ...bl~ 45.~χbΙ1:ΪχbΙ+ 46.'uf1 ~xf1+
petual check, and in case of a venturesome 47.~xf1 ~hl+ 48,,~gl ~e4 49.~c5 ~hl+
44.1::rxg7+? ~xg7 45. ~c7+ wh6 46 ..ί:lf6+ wh5 50. ~gl1h-l;2
The two winners of each group were qualified to the two-game quarter-finals as
follows:
Group Α Winner vs. Group C Runner-up was Semifinalist G
Group C Winner vs. Group Α Runner-up was Semifinalist Ι
Group Β Winner vs. Group D Runner-up was Semifinalist Η
Group D Winner vs. Group Β Runner-up was Semifinalist J
Ιη the two-game semifinal matches G would play vs. Ι and Η vs. J. The final would be
a two-game match.
Quarter-Finals
Ιη 3 matches the play-off was necessary to define the winiler and only Anand de-
feated Ivanchuk at once. One player from Group Α and one from Group C reached the
final, and two players from Group D (Anand, Gelfand) did it as well, confirming the
thesis that this group was the strongest.
1 2
Anand 2762 1 = 1.5
Ivanchuk 2719 Ο = 0.5
242 Β85 14 ... Cbxd4 (in case of 14 ... ~f8 15.l::!.ad1 e5

Ivanchuk - Anand 16.fxe5 Cbxe5 17 ..i.g5 Cbxf3 18.gxf3 .i.e7
Game 1 7.09 19.~gl..1te6 20.iιh6 g6 21. ~h4 Cbd7 22.~g5
White got an initiative οη the kingside ίη
l.e4 c5 2.Cbf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Cbxd4 the game Ivanchuk - H.Olafsson, Thessa-
Cbf6 5.Cbc3 a6 6.~e2 e6 7.0-0 .i.e7 8.f4 ο-ο loniki 1988) 15.iιxd4 e5 16.iιe3 Black
9.'Jthl ~c7 10.a4 Cbc6 11.~e31::re8 12 ...Itf3 could have equalised easily with 16 ... exf4
1::rb813.~d2 17.iιxf4 ~e6 ίη the game Karpov - Kas-
One of well-known positions of the parov, Moscow (m/2) 1985.
Scheveningen Variation. Α keener 13.g4 14...b6 15 ..ί:[aeΙ
occurs often too. Now again after 15. ~f2 Black equalized
13... ~d714.Cbb3 with the help of15 ... Cbb4 16.Cbd4 e5 17.Cbf5
White avoids relieving the play in the iιxf5 18.exf5 e4 19.Cbxe4 ~xc2 20.1::rfc1
centre. So, in case of 14. ~f2 (it seems that ~xf2 21.Cbxf2 d5 ίη the game Ivanchuk -
the Ukrainian grandmaster is especially Kasparov, Linares 1993.
attached to this queen manoeuvre) after 15 .....Itc8
FIDE World Cup 331
21.CLJd4 ~xa4 Black had to reckon with

22. ~g3 Wh8 23.z:txf'Ί! ~xf'Ί 24.e6.
21.JLxb6 JLb7 22 ...tc5?!
An unlucky decision which allows Black
to deνelop a strong initiatiνe. Mter 22.I:ι.g1!
Black's play was more difficult than ίη the
game because White's queen would be ex-
cused from the need to defend the g2-
square constantly
22 ... JLh4 23.~e2
Ιη case of 23. ~g1 Black was going to
16.e5 deνelop the initiatiνe by means of 23 ...
Haνing crossed the border of the fifth JLxe1 24.JLxf8 1:!c8! (with the idea of
rank White begins decisiνe actions ίη the
25 ... 1:Ixc2) 25 ...tc5 JLh4.
centre. Howeνer this actiνity will require
23 ...z:tfc8!
him to exchange his light-squared bishop
Of course 23 ... JLxe1 24.1ιχf8 was inad-
soon and it may tell οη later.
missible for Black.
16... dxe5
24.~d1
16 ... CLJd7!? deserνed attention.
17.JLxc6
White already has to be νery careful.
17.fxe5!? CLJxe5 18.JLf4 is also of inter- After 24.JLd6 ~xg2+! 25. ~xg2 ..txg2+
26.~xg2 ~xc2+ 27.Wh3 ~xb3+ 28.Wxh4
est and if Black does not want to suffer
J:ιxh2+ 29.~g4 1:!.g2+ 30.Φf4 g5+ 31.~e4
under an unpleasant ρίη after 18 ... CLJfd7
~g4+ the game should result ίη a mate to
19. ~e2 i.d6 20.CLJe4, then the sacrifice of
exchange will be possible: 18 ... CLJxf3!? White's king.
19.~xf3 ~a7 20.JLxb8 ~xb8
17 ... ~xc6 18.fxe5 CLJd5
Α passiνe 18 ... CLJd7 is fraught with
troubles after 19. ~f2 ~f8 20. ~g3 ~h8
21.CLJd4 ~c7 22.CLJe4 with the following ίη
νasion of the knight οη d6.
19.~f2
White performs a queen manoeuνre to f2
as he did ίη the two aboνe mentioned
games, played by V.lνanchuk, but ίη this
time it is slightly more efficient, because
after the adνance e4-e5 the weakness of
the f'Ί-square ίη Black's camp is more 24 ... ~e4!
obνious. Despite White's extra pawn Black is
19 ... ~f8 20.CLJxd5 ~xd5 ready to simplify the position as there are
With this moνe Black νentures οη a many white targets οη light squares.
pawn sacrifice ίη order to obtain a play οη 25.~xe4
the big diagonal a8-h1. Ιη case of20 ... exd5 Mter 25.~d2 ~g6 26.~g1 JLe4 27.jιd6
two black bishops were already less ~xc2! (if27 ... ~b7, then 28.CLJc5, and ίη case
mighty, because the light-squared bishop of27 ... ~b6 there was 28.'~d4, insufficient
which had ηο opponent οη the board was was also 27 ... ~xb3? 28.cxb3 ~c2 29.~c1
greatly restricted by the black pawn οη d5, JLxg2+ 30.~xg2 ~xg2+ 31.~xg2 ~xcl+
and White's knight obtained a fine d4- 32.~g1 ~xg1+ 33.Wxg1 f5, because after
square ίη the centre of the board. Mter 34.a5 White created a most dangerous
passed pawn οη the queenside) 28 ...txb8 10.ctJxd4 occurs more frequently, but the
.ί:txd2 29 ..ί::ixd2 ..td5 Black's queen with the move ίη the game is ΟΚ if White wants a
assistance of two bishops delivered many draw.
problems to White. 10....id7
25 ... i.xe4 26.i.d6 ..txc2 ΟηΙΥ 10 ... ctJc6 has been seen preνiously.
26 ... ~c2? did not work first of all ίη νiew 11.ctJe5 ctJc6 12.ctJxc6 .i.xc6 13.~xd8
of27.ctJd2! (this line leads οηlΥ to a draw: z:rfxd8
27 ...txb8 1:Xxg2 28.ctJc5 ..ta8 29.1:Xd7!)
27 ... 1:Xbxb2 28.ctJxe41:Xxg2 29.z:ι.f3 and now
Black had to think about an escape.
27...txb8 i.xdl 28.~xdl.!:!:xb8 29.ctJa5?
White demonstrates ηο persistency de-
fendingthis hard position. After 29.ctJc5 a5
(ίη case of 29 ... ~xb2 30.ctJxa6 z:ra2 31.g3
..te7 32.~d4 ~f8 33.ctJb8 White was rela-
tively ΟΚ) 30.z:ι.d7 (ίη case of30.ctJd3 there
was a plain 30 ... iιe7) 30 ... .uc8 (ηο 30 ...
~xb2? because of 31.g3 i.g5 32.h4, White
profiting from the weakness ofBlack's last
rank) 31.ctJd3 (after 31.g3lιxc5 32.gxh4 g6 Black has got a good position, but it is
there was nobody to defend the e5-pawn) not enough to play for a win. It will be hard
31 ... Φf8 32.z:rd4 (the line 32.g3 '>te8 33 ..tta7 for him to avoid simplifications οη the d-
file without any concessions to White .
..Itd8 gave Black a great advantage)
14...te3 'it>f8 15.lιfdl z:rdc8 16.z:racl h6
32 ... iιe7 Black's chances were evidently
17.'it>f1 a618.a3 a5 19.ctJb5 ~d8 20.1:Xxd8+
higher, still White kept the material bal-
':xd8 21.ctJd4 ..te8 22 ...tf3 b6 23.ctJc2 ctJd7
ance at least.
24.b4 ':c8 25 ..i.e2 !Ia8 26 ...Itf31:tc8 27 ...te2
29 ... lιxb2 30.g3 i.e7 31.ctJc6 ..tf8
axb4 28.axb4 .ί:ϊ:a8 29.i.d4 i.f6
32.~d8 g5 33.h4
With the move 29 ... .ί:ta2 Black could
The move 33.ctJb8 was ofno use because have delayed the simplifications for one
of 33 ... '>tg7 34.ctJxa6 ~e2 35.ctJc7 ~xe5, but move οηlΥ, because after 30.i.d3 the threat
33.z:ι.a8! g4 34.~xa6 i.c5 35.h4 gxh3 36.a5
of an exchange of the rooks with .ί:ϊ:cΙ-aΙ
left some chances for an escape. recommenced.
33 ... gxh4 34.gxh4 ~c2 35.ctJb8 ~g7 30.i.xf6 ctJxf6 31.~al ~xal+ 32.ctJxal
36 ..ί:td4 a5 37.ctJd7 h5 38.ctJxf8 'it>xf8 ..ta4
39.lιd8+ 'it>g7 0-1 Of course the opportunities of White's
knight οη al are considerably restricted,
but Black cannot prevent the white king
243 Β22 from helping it.
Anand - Ivanchuk 33.f3 Φe7 34.'it>f2 ctJd7 35.~e3 ctJe5
Game 2 7.09 36.'>td4 ctJc6+ 37.~c3 e5 38.i.d3 ctJd4
39.ctJc2
1.e4 c5 2.ctJf3 e6 3.c3 Now that the white knight is free we
Of course with an advantage of one can drop the curtaill. Α draw will follow
point and playing White V.Anand tries to inevitably.
make the play as insipid as he can. 39 ... ..txc2 40.i.xc2 ~d6 41.iιd3 g5
3 ... d5 4.exd5 ~xd5 5.d4 ctJf6 6.i.e2 42 ..ie4 f5 43.i.d3 h5 44.h3 h4 45. 'it>d2
..te7 7.0-0 ο-ο 8.c4 ~d8 9.ctJc3 cxd4 ~e6 46.'~c3 'it>d6 47.'it>d2 ctJb3+ 48.'it>c3
10.~xd4 ctJd4 Ι/'2-1Αι
FIDE World Cup 333
1 2 3 4 5
Bareev 2702 Ο 1 1 = 2.5
Azmaiparashνili 2673 1 Ο Ο = 1.5
'244 Β07 White wants to get more than a plain

Bareev - Azmaiparashvili repetition of moνes.
Game 1 7.09 15 ... .1l.b4 16.f4!?
Αη actiνe play begins. Mter 16.LΔd5+
1.d4 d6 2.e4 LΔf6 3.LΔc3 e5 LΔxd5 17.exd5 f5 or 16.LΔcb11:ld8 Black was
Usually Z.Azmaiparashνili prefers οκ.
4 ... g6, thus proceeding to main νariations 16... i.xc3 17.bxc3 LΔc5
of the Pirc Defence. Black did not choose 17 ... exf4, because
4.dxe5 dxe5 5. ~xd8+ ~xd8 6.iιc4 after 18.lιxf4 he was forced to play 18 ... c6,
'lt>e8 weakening the d6-square while his pieces
Mter 6 ... iιe6 7.lιxe6 fxe6 Black's pawn were still not fully deνeloped.
chain was weakened and that might be- 18..1l.f3
come a source of constant cares for him White had another opportunity: the
later. moνe 18.lιh4!? forced Black either to step
7.LΔf3 iιd6 8.lιg5 back with the knight 18 ... LΔcd7 or to go for
Mter 8.lιe3 a6 9.a4 lιd7 (a more natu- complications like 18 ... g5 19.fxg5 LΔfxe4
ral 9 ... LΔbd7 was seen as well) 10.LΔg51:lf8 20.LΔxe4LΔxe4 21.g6+ f6 22.iιd3.
11.LΔd5LΔxd5 12.lιxd5 c6 13.lιb3 h6 14.0- 18 ... exf4 19.1ιxf4 lιe6 20.i,xc7 1:tac8
ο-ο iιc7 15.LΔf3 lιg4 16.iιc5 1:tg8 17.i.d6 21.lιa5!
iιxd6 18.1:lxd6LΔd7 19.1:thd1 Black still had White is going to disturb the black king
certain difficulties ίη the game J.Hodgson from the diagonal a3-f8. After 21 ..1l.g3
- Azmaiparashνili, Wijk aan Zee 1993. Black had a simple 21 ... i.xa2, because ίη
8 ...LΔbd7 9.0-0-0 h6 case of 22.c4 there was 22 ... b5! (and ηο
9 ... a6 occurred preνiously. Mter 10.h3 23.cxb5?? because of23 ... LΔd3#).
(also 10.a4 h6 11.iιh4 b6 12.LΔd2 c6 13.lιa2
iιc7 14.LΔc4 We7 15.LΔe3 was possible,
White had a slightly better play J.Pribyl-
Roesch, Germany 1992) 10 ... b5 11.i,b3 h6
12.i,xf6 LΔxf6 13.1:lhe1 i,b7 14.LΔd5 LΔd7
15.LΔh4 g6 White performed interesting
complications ίη the game Shtyrenkoν -
Lorenz, Karl-Marx-Stadt 1990, with
16.LΔxc7+ iιxc7 17.i,xf7+ 'lt>d8 18.LΔxg6
1:lh7 19.1ιe6 ~e8 20.lie3.
10.iιh4LΔb611.lιe2
Αη alternatiνe continuation 11.1ιb3
probably did not suit White because of 21 ... LΔfd7!
11 ... lιg4. Black dared not to return the missing
11 .. :we7 12.lιg3 LΔbd7 13.i.c4 LΔb6 pawn with 21 ... i.xa2, and most likely he
14.i.e2 LΔbd7 15.LΔd2 was right. The point was that after 22.i.b4
..Ite6 (ίη case of 22 ... ltoe8 23.c4 b5 24.e5 diffident. Mter 37.c4!? 1:te3 38.g4 (also
LΔfd7 25 ...Itg4 Black's pieces suffered a 38.LΔxc5 1:txc5 39.1Η7 kIxf5 40 ..ixg8 with
crossfire from White's bishops) White could an approximate equality was possible, as
have gained a decisive advantage by means well as 38 ..th5 whereupon the best way
of23.e5LΔg4 24 ..txb7 ~c7 (24 ... LΔf2 25.1:!.df1 for Black was 38 ... kIe5!, as after 38 ... kIg3?
LΔxhl was also losing because of 26.LΔe4!) 39 ...Itf3 his position was most dubious)
25.LΔe4. Black maintained the balance with 38 ...
22.LΔb3 b6 23.Sιb4 ~f6 24.kIhf1 Itog6 1:te5!, because a greedy 38 ... 1:txh3?! might
Black's king strives to run away from involve him into a trouble after 39.LΔxc5
the dangerous area, and White's extra 1:txc5 40 ...Itf7 ~g3 41.J::.i.xg8+ Itoh7 42.1:ta8 h5
pawn is useless as his whole pawn struc- 43 ..txh5
ture is severely damaged. 37... ί::te538.1:tf8
25 ...Ite2 LΔe5 Mter 38 ..tg6 there was 38 ... 1:te3, and if
Mter a careless 25 ... LΔxe4? White could 39.c41:tg3 40.LΔxc5, then 40 ... 1:txg6!
have gained a considerable material ad-
vantage by 26 ...td3 f5 27 ..txe4 fxe4 28.~d6
~he8 29.LΔd4 LΔf8 30.~xf8
26 ..txc5
It is hard to find a useful job for the
bishop, so White decides to part with it.
26 ... bxc5 27.1:td6 ~h7 28.~fdl 1:tc7
29.h3
Αη important moment. Αη exchange
with 29.~d8 ~xd8 30.1:txd8 may look anti-
positional for White who exchanges his
active rook for his opponent's passive rook,
but the strength ofWhite's king (which is 38 ... g6!
closer to the centre than the black one) Now after this rnove White will encoun-
would grow ίη this case. One way or an- ter real problems, because Black's king
other, but with his next move Black will gets out from the confinement.
annihilate any opportunity for such an 39...txg61tog7 40.J:ιb8 .ί:te3 41 ...Ith5 .td5
exchange. 42.g4
29 ...1:te8 30.1:td81:tee7 31.1:tld6 .ic4!? Mter 42.~d8 Sιxg2 43.~d6 ..Itxh3 (if
Α very crafty move. 43 ... 1:txh3?, then White forced a draw by
32 ..idl?! 44.LΔxc5! 1:txc5 45.f6+ ~h8 46.1:td8+ ~h7
White eνidently had not felt any trick 47.~d7+) 44.f6+ ~h7 45.f7 kIc8 46.kIc6 (if
ίη Black's last move, otherwise he would 46.1:tffi, then 46 ... 1:tf8) 46 ... 1:tf8 47 ..tIxc5 .te6
have preferred 32 ...Ith5!, and only then Black was close to a νictory, but probably
32 ... g633 ..idl this was White's best chance.
32... f5! 42 ...1:txh343.l:le8
Yes, White missed this insidious blow. If 43.~b2, then Black got a decisive
33.exf5 advantage by 43 ... ..te4! 44.1:tb5 (44.1:te8
White is forced to lose an exchange, as .ixf5) 44 ... .txf5 45.LΔxc5 .tc8.
ίη case of 33.LΔd2 fxe4 34.LΔxc4 LΔxc4 43 ... 1:txc3 44.LΔd2 1:td 7 45.1:te5 1:th3
Black's chances will be obviously higher. 46.c4
33 ... LΔΠ 34 ..ih5 LΔxd8 35 ..ig6+ ~h8 If 46.CLJb3, then after 46 ... c4 47.CLJc5
36.1:txd8+ .ig8 37..ih5? Black had both a quiet 47 ... 1:td6 and a more
Having missed the blow, White becomes active 47 ... c3 48.f6+ Itoh7 49.1:tel1:td6 50.f7
FIDE World Cup 335
~g7 51.J:tf1 .1::!.f6!, whereupon White would Α non-pretentious but quite reliable
haνe lost because of the weakness of the 9.SΙc1 was seen here too.
first rank. 9 .•. SΙd7
46 ... SΙxc4 47.liJe4 SΙf7 48.f6+ Previously they played 9 ... 0-0 ίη this
If 48.liJxc5, then 48 ... k:tc7, and ίη case position. This moνe looks more crafty.
of 48.l:txc5 Black won with 48 ... SΙxh5 10.liJc3
49.gxh5 k:txh5 50.f6+ \t>g6.
48 ... ~f8 49.SΙxf7 ~xf7 50.g5
Black won also easily after 50.liJxc5l:tc7
51.~d2 ΦΧf6.
50 ... k:th5!
The final stage of the game Black
played most precisely. Of course there was
ηο 50 ... hxg5??because of51.liJxg5+, but the
moνe ίη the game is eνidently better than
50 ... k:th1+ 51.Φc2 hxg5 52.~xg5 ~e6.
51 ..!:!.xc5 hxg5 52.Φc2 .ί:I.h2+ 53.Wc3
J::th3+ 54.Wc4 tth4 55.~e5 ttxe4+!
As a matter of fact, the νictory has al- 10...liJe4!
Αgood resource which allows Black to
ready been achieνed. An extra pawn ίη the
rook endgame with the eliminated white reinforce his position ίη the centre.
king will be enough for Black to win. 11.liJa4
Νο other way, White lost both after
56.k:txe4 ~xf6 57.a4 a5 58.Φc5 k:te7
11.liJxe4? dxe4 12.SΙxe7 exf3 13.SΙc5 be-
59.k:td4 k:te5+ 60.Φd6 J::tf5 61.1::te4 ~g6 0-1
cause of 13 ... fxg2 14.il.xb6 gxf1 ~+ 15. ~xΩ
axb6, and after 11.il.xe7? because of
'245 Α46
11 ... liJxc3 12.~c2liJxe2+ 13.~xe2 Φχe7.
Azmaiparashvili - Bareev 11 ... ~a5 12.SΙxe7
Game 2 7.09 Mter 12 ...tc1 b5 White's position οη the
queenside got noticeably worse.
l.d4 liJf6 2.liJf3 c5 3.c3 12... Wxe7!?
White's wish to aνoid a complex play is Blackjoins his rooks as soon as possible.
understandable ifwe take into account the It's νery hard for White to gain profit from
standings ίη the match. the position of BlCick's king ίη the centre
3 ... e64.g3 ofthe board now. Α more natural12 ... Nxe7
Looks not quite consistent. The moνes allowed White to begin the struggle for the
c2-c3 and g2-g3 don't comply νery well. c-file first with 13.1:Ic1.
4 ... d5 5.SΙg2liJc6 6.0-0 SΙe7 7.SΙg5 13.a3
As a matter offact, this is the Schlech- Now ίη case of 13.1::tc1 there was
ter Variation which is a middle line be- 13 ... k:thc8, so White contemplates b3-b4 to
tween the Slaν and the Gruenfeld De- be followed by liJa4-c5.
fences, but of course with reνersed colours. 13 ... b6 14.~d3?
7 ... cxd4 Probably this moνe is the main reason
Black relieνes the tension ίη the cen- ofWhite's defeat. His own queen depriνed
tre, but instead the unlucky position of the knight from an excellent transfer d3-
White's bishop οη g2 behind the d5-pawn square. After 14.liJb2 Black had ηο 14 ...
gets emphasized. liJc3? because of 15.~d3, creating an aw-
8.cxd4 ~b6 9.b3 ful threat ofb2-b4, and ίη case of 14 ... ~c3
a mere 15.t2Ja4 was enough to make the own passed pawn οη the h-file, but the leν
black queen return οη a5. els of support of these two pawns are too
14...l:rac815.l:rfcl different.
Now it is already not at all easy to find 39... a5 40.1::tb2 Mb6 41.Φf2 t2Jc8 42.Φe2
an admissible continuation for White. Μ Mter 42.g5 t2Jd6 43.h61::tb8 Black ham-
ter 15.t2Jb2 t'ι'c3 16.~ab1 Black won a pawn pered White's pawns οη the kingside eas-
with 16 ... t'ι'xd3 17.t2Jxd3 t2Jc3 18.~b2 t2Jb5 ily.
19.e3 t2Jxa3. 42 ...t2Jd6 43.~c2 ί6 44.Φd31::!.b8 45.1::rc6
15... t2Jb8! b4 46.axb4 axb4 47.Φc2 b3+ 48.Φb2 ~b4
Emphasizing the unlucky position of 49.~cl t2Jc4+ 50.Φc3 J::!.b8 5U::tbl llc8
the a4-knight. 52.Φd3
16.t2Je5 Νο 52.~xb3 because of 52 ... t2Ja5+.
There is ηο way to escape from a4, as 52... b2 53.h6 Φd6 54.h7 Φc5 55.d6
ίη case of 16.t2Jb2 there is 16 ... ~xc1 + :Ih8
17.~xc1 t'ι'xa3, depriνing White of the Black wants to play super-reliably.
pawn. 55 ... Φχd6 56.h8t'ι' .tι.xh8 57.Φχc4 1::tb8
16 ...Mxcl+ 17.~xclllc8 18.1::rdl 58.1::rd1 + Φc7 59.~b1 Φc6 was also possible,
It is obνious that White's fight is lost. and the rook endgame was hopeless for
Ιη case of 18.~xc8? the solution was White despite the material balance. 80,
18 ... t'ι'e1 + 19 ..tfl t'ι'xf2+, Blackmating, and after 60.Φc3 Φc5 61.Φc2 (the pawn
if 18. t'ι'd1, then after 18 ... ~xc1 19. t'ι'xc1 endgame after 61.:gxb2 ~xb2 62.'~xb2 Φd4
t'ι'd2! 20. t'ι'xd2 t2Jxd2 Black's material 63.Φb3 Φe3 was lost for White) 61 ... Φd4
losses were ineνitable and fatal. 62.l:ιd1+ Φe3 63.Φb11:tb6 Black won with-
18 ....txa4 19 ..txe4 out problems.
White attempts to complicate the posi- 56.d7 Φb4 57.f4 exf4 58.e5 t2Jxe5+
tion with the sacrifice of a piece. After 59.Φe4 Φa3 60.g5
19.bxa4 t'ι'xa4 White simply lost a pawn
without any shade of a counterplay.
19... dxe4 20.t'ι'xe4 .tc6 21.t'ι'xh7 t'ι'd5
22.t2Jxc6+ t2Jxc6 23. t'ι'xg7 1:Id8 24.e3 t'ι'xb3
25.~cl
After 25. t'ι'g5+ Φd7 Black's king es-
caped to the queenside.
25 ... t'ι'b2 26.~c4
Νο 26.~xc6? because of 26 ... t'ι'b1+
27.Φg2 t'ι'e4+, Black winning the rook.
26....§bl + 27.rJtg2 ~e4+ 28.f3 ~d5
29.~c2 ~d6 30.h4 t'ι'b3 31.~g5+ Φd7
60 ...f3
32.~f2 ~d5
Black won also after 60 ... Φa2 61.~xb2+
Mter 32 ... t'ι'xa3 Black had to reckon Φχb2 62.Φχf4 (if62.Φf5, then after 62 ... f3
with 33.h5. 63.g6 f2 64.g7 Ωt'ι'+ 65.Φe6 t'ι'h3+ Black
33.t'ι'g8 e5 34.e4 took all White's pawns) 62 ... t2Jxd7 63.g6
The line 34.dxe5 t2Jxe5 35.h5 t2Jc4 did t2Jf8 64.g7 (if 64.Φf5, then simply 64 ...
not suit White ίη any case. t2Jxh7) 64 ... t2Je6+! 65.Φf5 t2Jxg7+ 66.Φχf6
34...t2Je7 35.~g4+ "§e6 36.t'ι'xe6+ Φχe6 ~xh7
37.d5+ Φd7 38.h5 b5 39.g4 61.Φf5 Φa2 62.g6 t2Jxg6 63.Φχg6 ΦΧbΙ
White tries to meet the creation of the 64.Φg7 J::i:xh7+ 65.Φχh7 ΦcΙ!
black passed pawn οη the b-file with his This is probably the simplest way. The
FIDE World Cup 337
far advanced f-pawn ensured Black an easy 66.d8~ bl~+ 67.ι;t>h6 ~ί5 68.~c7+
win ίη the queen endgame. Mter 65 ... f2 ι;t>dl 69.~d6+ 'it>e2 70.~e7+ ~e5 71.~b7
66.d8~ f1 ~ it was a bit more complicated. f2 0-1 •
1 2 3 4
Gelfand 2681 1 Ο 1 = 2.5
Ye Jiangchuan 2670 Ο 1 Ο = 1.5
246 Ε97 20. ~b3 g5 White got a considerable advan-

Gelfand - Ye Jiangchuan tage with 21.c5! 4:Jg6 22.4:Jc4! ίη the game
Game 1 7.09 Portisch - Xie Jun, Marbella 1999) 17.c5
cxd5 18.cxd6 ~xd6 19.4:Jc4 the game Ulibin
1.d4 4:Jf6 2.c4 g6 3.4:Jc3 ~g7 4.e4 d6 - Smirnov, Samara 2000, proceeded to ίη
5.~e2 ο-ο 6.4:Jf3 e5 7.0-0 4:Jc6 8.d5 4:Je7 teresting complications. Ιη case of a pas-
9.4:Jd2 sive 14 ... b6 15.~bdl 4:Je8 16.4:Jb5 White
B.Gelfand knows well the niceties ofthe also got a better play ίη the game O.Da-
Κing's Indian Defence both for White and nielian - Nalbandian, Moscow 1998.
for Black. For a long time this opening was 15.axb4
one ofthe main items ίη his repertoire for
1.d2-d4.
9 .... a5 10.a3 4:Jd7
The continuation 10 ... ~d7 11.b3 c6,
which has been popular previously is suf-
fering a certain crisis because of 12.~a2!
Black encountered problems both after
12 ... 4:Je8 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 ~xa2 15.4:Jxa2
cxd5 16.cxd5 f5 17.4:Jc3 fxe418.4:Jdxe4 4:Jf5
19.~b5, M.Gurevich - Babula, Germany
2000, and after 12 ... ~b6 13.~c2 4:Je8 14.dc
4:Jxc6 15.4:Jd5 ~d8 16.4:Jf3 ~g4 17.~g5 f6,
M.Gurevich - Stryjecki, Pardubice 2000. 15... fxe4
Black begins simplifications, hoping to
11.J:!.bl f5 12.b4 Wh8 13.~c2 4:Jf6
get a draw after exchanges. The shortcom-
14.~b2
ing of this plan is that White will occupy
Previously they played 14.f3 usually. for a long time the strategically important
White's move ίη the game which allows e4-square.
him to join his rooks, enriches the play with 16.4:Jcxe44:Jxe4
new nuances. Though 16 ... c6, giνing a certain counter-
14... axb4 play, was coming late, it was still worth
Mter 14 ... c6 15.J:!.bd1 axb4 (later, ίη the considering.
fourth active game between the same ορ 17.4:Jxe4 4:Jf5 18.~al ~xal 19.~xal
ponents there was 15 ... fxe4 16.4:Jdxe4 4:Jd4
4:Jxe4 17.4:Jxe4 cxd5 18.cxd5 axb4 19.axb4 Black goes for :Ξι definite damage of his
~f5 that gave Black more active play than pawn chain ίη ord.er to obtain the advan-
ίη this game) 16.axb4 g5 (after 16 ... cxd5 tage of a bishop pair.
17.exd5 ~d7 18.4:Jdb1 f4 19.4:Ja3 ~f5 20.~xd4 exd4 21.~a8!
Α very good move. Potentially Black's 35.c5!

rook οη the semi-open f-file will be more An excellent break-through at the place
useful than White's rook οη the open a-file. which seemed to be most fortified.
That is why White, seizing this opportu- 35...bxc5 36.bxc5 ~g7
nity, secures himself the possibility of the Mter 36 ... dxc5 37.~f4+ .iιg5 38.~xc7
last rook pair's exchange. White created a dangerous passed pawn
21 .. :~e7 22.~d3 i.f5 23.Iιxf8+ i.xf8 οη the d-file.
24.g3 ~xe4 37.c6 ~f7 38.Φf1 ~e8 39.i.e4 d3
Another important moment. Black Black sacrifices a pawn. Otherwise his
chooses a position with opposite-coloured bishop will be eliminated from the defence
bishops, which looks absolutely safe at first of the pawn οη c7 after 39 ... ~f'7 40.~e2
sight. Maybe his plan could be improved ~e8 41.Φd3 ~f'7 42.Φc4 ~e8 43 ..iιd3 ~f'7
by a preliminary 24 ... ~h6!? The point is 44.f4 Φh6 45.~d7 Φg7 46.~b5 g5 47.Φa6.
that after 25.h4 i.xe4 26.~xe4 Black has 40.i.xd3 ~c3 41.Φg2 'iiif7 42.SΙe4 ~f6
26 ... i.d2!, forcing White to answer 27.b5. 43.~c8 ..Itd4 44.f3 SΙb6 45.f4 SΙd4 46.~g4
25.i.xe4 b6 26.h4! Sιf6 47.~f3 Sιd4 48.~e2 SΙb6?!
White tήes to weaken Black's kingside. Now Black probably should venture οη
26 ... i.g7 27.Φg2 i.f6 28 ..~d3 ~e8 48 ... g5 49.Φe3 Φh6 50.Φd3 gxf4.
29.~f3 Φg7 30.i.d3 ~d7 49.~d7 Φf8 50.~f3 Φg7
30 ... ~e1? was bad because of 31.h5 Probably, this is a decisive inaccuracy.
~xb4 32.hxg6 hxg6 33. ~g4 Difficulties οη the kingside could be
31.h5!? avoided by 50 ... ~f6!, and the white g-pawn
Now a weak point will arise οη Black's cannot move ahead because of the black
kingside inevitably. Despite undeniable queen's checks.
meήts ofthe move 31.h5, B.Gelfand thinks 51.g4
that it might be even more unpleasant for It is too early for White's king to come
Black if White delayed this blow for sev- out into the open space. Mter 51.Φe2 ~f8
eral moves, having strengthened the posi- 52.~d3 ~f6 he suffered an attack from
tion beforehand by dint of 31. ~e4! ~e7 Black's pieces.
32. ~g4 with the following f2-f4 and h4-h5. 51 ... g5
31 ... ~f7 32.hxg6 hxg6 33.~e4 Φh6 Otherwise White won easily after a long
34.~g4 ~e8?! but almost forced line 51 ... Φf8 52.g5 Φg7
Again Black had to look for chances 53. ~h3 ~g8 54. ~h6+ Φf7 55.f5 gxf5
with 34 ... b5!? 35.Φf1 (if 35.cxb5, then 56.~xf5 ~g7 57.~e6+ Φf8 58.'~c8+ ~π
35 ... ~xd5+ 36.~f1 ~g5) 35 ... bxc4 36.~xc4 59.~g4 ~d4+ 60.Φh5 ~dl+ 61.Φh6 ~hl+
~g7 which allowed him to hold out. 62.~h3.
34 ... g5!? also was interesting. 52.~f5 ..Itd4
If 52 ... gxf4, then after 53.Sιe6 ~xd7
54.cxd7 c5 55.dxc6 Φαι 56 ...Itb3 Φg5 (ίη case
of56 ... ~e5 57.~c2 d5 58.g5 ..Itc7 59.g6 ~f6
60.Φg4 d4 61.i.e4 rJ;;g7 62.Φf5 there was
ηο way to stop White's three passed pawns)
57.Φe4 ~xg4 58.Φd5 .iιc7 59.Φe6 White's
pawns passed οη the queenside.
53.fxg5 Φf8 54.Φe4 .iιb2
Later it was found out that a slightly
more persistent resistance could be put up
by 54 ... .iιf2. The fact is that after 55 ..iιe6
FIDE World Cup 339
"!';rg6+ the move 56.r,;t>f3? does not work (to the impossibility of a castling.
come back with 56.iH5! is correct) because 14 .•.0-0 15.iιe3 ~c7
of 56 ... "!';rd3+ 57.r,;t>xf2 "!';re3+! And capture Το take the sacrificed pawn with
of Black's queen leads to the stalemate. 15 ... iιxh4?! was lllOre than dangerous for
However, to White's victory leads 55.g6 Black. After 16.liJf5 iιe7 17. ~f3 White
"!';re8 56. "!';re6 "!';rxe6 57 .dxe6 with the follow- could have developed a very strong initia-
ing king's transfer to the queenside. tive.
55.g6 "!';rxd7 56.cxd7 r;!;e7 57.g5 iιg7 16.~cl liJc5 17.b3 a4 18.~d2 ~ab8
58.r;!;d3 r;!;d8 59.r,;t>c4 r;!;e7 60.r;!;b5 r,;t>d8 19.h5 axb3
61.r;!;c61-0 Black could not to hurry with the
pawns' exchange. 19 ... iιc8! was better.
20.axb3 iιc8 21.g5 f5 22.f4 iιa6
247 Β91 Having supported the blocking advance
Ye Jiangchuan - Gelfand f7-f5, Black's bishop returns to the duty
Game 2 7.09 position οη a6.
23.iιh3 exf4 24.iιxf4 ~be8 25.ΦdΙ
l.e4 c5 2.liJf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.liJxd4 iιd8
liJf6 5.liJc3 a6 6.g3 e5 7.liJde2 iιe7 8.iιg2 25 ... iιc8!? deserved attention as well.
b59.h3 26.~al
White wants to get the g3-square for There was ηο 26.iιxf5?, because after
his knight as soon as possible. Mter 9.0-0 26 ... I:(xf5! 27.liJxf5lΔe4 Black won.
liJbd7 10.h3 iιb7 11.g4 b4 12.liJd5 liJxd5 26 •.• iιb7 27.h6
13.exd5 ίη the game Kamsky - Gelfand, Black did not venture οη 27.iιxf5?!
Tilburg 1990, Black could have gained an again, because after 27 ... iιc8! 28.iιxc8
excellent play at once with 13 ... h5! 14.liJg3 ~xc8 with the following 29 ... lΔe4 Black's
hxg4 15.hxg4 g6. initiative became very dangerous.
9 ... liJbd7 10.g4 b4 27... g6
Previously they played 10 ... liJb6, 10 ... 27 ... gxh6!? was also possible as after
liJc5 and 10 ... 0-0. The move, which was 28.lΔxf5 (if 28.iιxf5, then 28 ... iιc8) 28 ...
made by B.Gelfand, is probably even more lΔe4 29.lΔxh6+ r;!;h8 30. ~d4 Black had a
consistent as it restricts Black's choice. If very strong retort 30 ... iιf6! 31.gxf6 lΔc3+
White had managed to play liJe2-g3, then 32.r,;t>d21:1e4 with an attack.
the c3-knight would have had an addi- 28.iιg2 lΔe4 29.lΔxe4 fxe4 30.na7
tional e2-square for a retreat.
11.liJd5 liJxd5 12.exd5
Ιη case of 12. ~xd51:i.b8 the white queen
would be driven away from d5 soon, and
White would have ηο resources to main-
tain an appropriate control over the stra-
tegically important d5-square.
12... a5
Now 12 ... h5 was irrelevant: after 13.
liJg3 hxg4 14.~xg4 two black pawns were
attacked at the same time, b4 and g7.
13.liJg3 iιa6 14.h4
The blockade character of the position 30 ... ~f7?
ίη the centre allows White to try to orga- Black had to destroy the blockade na-
nize an active play οη the kingside despite ture of the position ίη the centre with the
aid of 30 ... k[xf4! 31.'§xf3 e3! Ιη this case 8uddenly it turns out that to find an
White, ίη view ofobvious threats ~f31 ... e2+ acceptable continuation for Black is not at
and 31 ... '§c3, would have had to switch to all easy.
seeking of a continuation, keeping the ρο 37... ~b5
sition. Losing immediately, but other continu-
31.~e3! ations were not better. 80, after 37 ... :re8
Mter 31.~xd6 e3 32.'§e2 jιb6 33.IΪ.a4 38.~f1 jιa6 39 ..a:xc7 '§xc7 40.~h3 White
(if 33.1:ta1, then 33 ... l::ta8) 33 ... ~xd5 created a fatal threat with 41 ..a:xd8! 1:txd8
34.jιxf8 jιxg2 35.'§xg2 e2+ 36.Φe1 '§d7 42.jιe6+, and Black had ηο sufficient de-
Black's e-pawn simply split White's posi- fence. If 37 ... '§e6, then after 38.jιf1 '§c8
tion. The blockade move ίη the game puts (otherwise the solution was 39.k[xb7! 1:txb7
Black ίη a difficult position. 40.~xc4) 39.<t>b2! Black could have met the
31 ...1:te7 32.~~b4 '§xd5+ 33.ΦcΙ1:tc7 threat of a sacrifice by an exchange οη b7
34.l:!:dl ~c6 35.c4 d5 36.~c3 dxc4?! οηlΥ with a counter-sacrifice οη f1, still this
This move leads to a soon catastrophe. measure did not save him too.
Mter 36 ... '§e6!? 37 ...Itf1 '§f5!? 38.'§d2 ~e7 38...Ith3 ~e8 39..a:a5 '§c6 40.b5 1-0
White's play was much more complex. Black's queen has ηο good square to
37.b4! retreat.
1 2 3 4 5
Milos 2633 = = Ο 1 1 3
Movsesian 2666 = = 1 Ο Ο 2
248 Β85 1999) 19 ... ctJh5 20. '§f3 g6 21.ctJg4 f6 22.f5

Milos - Movsesian White lost despite his fearful attacking
Game 1 7.09 position.
10... 0-0 11.a4 ~d7
l.e4 c5 2.ctJf3 ctJc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.ctJxd4 The thirteenth World Champion G.Κas
~c7 5.ctJc3 e6 6 ...Ite2 a6 7.0-0 ctJf6 8.~e3 parov prefers usually to introduce a use-
~e7 9.f4 d6 10.<t>hl ful move 12 ... 1:ί.e8. The move which 8.Μον
White does not try to derive benefit sesian made ίη the game also occurs often
from the early advance ofthe black queen at modern tournaments. Its aim ίη case of
to c7 with 10. '§e1. They played this way 12.~f3 is to relieve the position with
against 8.Movsesian more than once al- 12 ... ctJxd4 13.~xd4 i.c6, but it has also an
ready, without any special success. 80, ίη undeniable shortcoming as White cannot
the game 8hirov - Movsesian at the super begin at once an active play οη the kingside
tournament Bosnia 2000 ίη 8arajevo after after he has made this move.
10 ... 0-0 11.'§g3 ctJxd4 12.i.xd4 b5 13.a3 12.ctJb3 b6
i.b7 14.<t>h1 ~c6 15.~ae1 '§b7 16.i.d3 b4 Black had avoided a4-a5, which would
17.ctJd1 bxa3 18.bxa3 1:tac8 19.ctJf2 (after have squeezed him οη the queenside.
19.ctJe3 i.xe4 20.~xf6 jιxf6 21.ctJg4 ~xd3 13.g4 i.c8
22.ctJxf6+ <t>h8 23.1::tb1 '§e7 24. ~xd3 '§xf6 The bishop is forced to leave d7 because
25. '§xd6 IΪ.fd8 White got a worse position of the threat to the knight οη f6.
ίη the game Lautier - Movsesian, Malme 14.g5 ctJd7 15.f5
FIDE World Cup 341
An important decision. White agrees clear plan consisting ίη organising his play
that ίη future Black can obtain an excel- with b6-b5.
lent e5-square for his knight. 15.i..f3 was 26 ... dxe5
finer. Of course there was ηο 26 ... i..xe5?? be-
15 ...1:!.e8 cause of 27.1:ιf8+ Wg7 28.'§f7+ 1::txf7 29.
Α programmed moνe. 15 .. .'~jde5? was ~lxf7#
bad because of 16.f6. 27.1:!.f7 wh8 28.l:!.rJ b5 29.axb5 axb5
16.i..g4 30.i..g2
Α hasty 16.f6 which occurred preνiously White had refused to stop the advance
ίη the game A.Groszpeter - Bosboom, of the black pawn by 30.b4?! as his posi-
Haarlem 1997, allowed Black to take the tion οη the queenside would haνe been
initiatiνe after 16 ... gxf6 17.i..d3 CL:Jce5 weakened considerably ίη this case.
18.'§h5 'it>h8 19.i..d4 1:!.g8 20.i..xe5 CL:Jxe5 30 ... ~c7 31.'§h4 b4 32.CL:Jdl jιa6
21.gxf6 i..f8. White's acquisitions οη the queenside
16... 1ιf817.i..h3 CL:Jde5 18.'§e2 g6 ίη case of 32 ... '§xc2 33.1:!.h3 i..f8 34.J::thf3
Α good moνe. Black's dark-squared i..c5 allowed him ίΟ engage the knight ίn
bishop can get to g7 now, and at the same the attack with 35.CL:Je3!, creating unpleas-
time the light-squared bishop puts pres- ant threats to the position ofthe black king
sure οη the f5-square through the e6-pawn. after 35 ... '§e2 36.CL:Jg4 (if 36.1H7, then
19.~f4 i..g7 20.~af1 CL:Jb4 21.'§f2 36 ... '§xf1+ 37.1ΪΧf1 jιxe3) 36 ... i..b7 37.
It was risky for White to close the play CL:Jxe5 i..xe4 38.l:te1 i..xf3 39.1Ϊχe2 1ιχe2
by the moνe 21.f6, because after 21 ... i..f8 40.'§f4 Wg8 41.CL:Jg4.
22.i..g2 ..tb7 23.~h4 d5 his position ίη the 33.1Hf2 1::td8 34.CL:Je3 b3!?
centre might be broken down. Black is not going to be a passiνe οη
21 ... 1:ιb8 22.CL:Jd4 CL:Jbc6 looker, he tries to undertake something too.
35.c3
The position after 35.cxb3 '§c1 + 36.CL:Jfl
'§d1 or 36 ... ~cd7 kept the dynamic balance
as well.
35 ... 1ιd3 36.1:!.d21:!.dd7 37.CL:Jd5
Probably there was a more precise way:
37.J::th3!? i.f8 38.CL:Jd5 '§a4 (the game would
be drawn after 38 ... .txe4 39.'§xe4 exd5
40.~xd5 ~xd5 41. '§xd5 '§xd5 42.1ιΧd5)
39.~hxd3 exd5 40. '§g3 with an equality.
37... 1ιχe4 38.'§xe4 exd5 39.'§b4 '§c5
1/2-%
23.fxe6 Of course there was ηο 39 ... ~b7?? be-
If White decided to clear υρ the situa- cause of 40.~f8+
tion ίη the centre slightly, he should do it
by means of 23.fxg6, forcing Black to an-
swer with 23 ... fxg6. Mter the moνe ίη the 249 Β80
game Black get an additional possibility Movsesian - Milos
oftaking οη e6 with his bishop. Game 2 7.09
23 ...fxe6 24.CL:Jxc6 '§xc6 25.i..d4 1::tb7
26.jιxe5 1.e4 c5 2.CL:Jf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.CL:Jxd4
White cannot find a plan how to rein- CL:Jc6 5.CL:Jc3 '§c7 6.g3 a6 7 ..tg2 CL:Jf6 8.0-0
force his position, whereas Black has a d6 9.gel CL:Jd7
Ιη this way Black wants to aνoid the because of28.l2Jf4) 28.CiJf4 ~d8 29. ~f2 ~a5
line 9 ... ..te7 10.l2Jxc6 bxc6 11.e5 30.tte2 CiJc6 the adνantage ofBlack's pieces
10.l2Jxc6 bxc6 11.l2Ja4 ..tb7 12.c4 c5 ίη the centre would haνe become eνident
13.b3 ..te7 14 . ..tb2 ο-ο 15. ~d2 ..tc6 νery soon.
16.l2Jc3 26 ...CiJxa2 27.l2Jf4

White plays too ingenuously. Making a There is already ηο way to return the
natural moνe, he allows Black to perform pawn. After 27.1::txd8+ ttxd8 28.~a1 (ίη case
an exchange of the dark-squared bishops of28.~xc5 ~xb3 29.~a7 ttf8 Blackhad an
easily. 16.ttad1 which had occurred preνi extra pawn, and White failed to create any
ously was more tricky. Mter 16 ... ttfd8 (if real threats) 28 ... CiJb4 29. ~xc5l2Jc2 30.~f1
16 .....txa4, then 17.e5l2Jxe5 18.~xe5 dxe5 ~d2 31.CiJf4 g5 Black created quickly seri-
19.~xa8 ttxa8 20.bxa4, White getting a ous threats to the white king.
material adνantage) 17.l2Jc3l2Jf8 18.l2Je2 a5 27 ... ttab8
19.h4 a4 20.l2Jf4 ίη the game Velicka - Also 27 ... ~b6!? deserνed attention, not
Jansa, Ζlίη 1997, Black played incautiously allowing the white rook to get to d6.
20 ... axb3? (20 ... l2Jg6 was the correct moνe 28 ..!:!:d6 ~c7
with mutual chances) and allowed White Απ exchange οη d6 is bad for Black be-
to deνelop a νery strong attack with cause after 28 ... Iϊxd6 29.exd6 ~xb3
21.~xg7!! 30. ~xc5 White created a strong passed
16.....tf6 17.l2Je2 ~xb2 18.~xb2 l2Je5 pawn οη the d-file.
19.ttadl ~b7 20.f4 l2Jc6 29.ttfdll2Jb4 30.ttld2 ~a5 31 ..!:!:xd8+?!
White forces the play, and it is νery
likely for nothing. Ιη case of 31. ~f2 he
probably did not want to encounter
31 ... l2Jc6!? 32.CiJd3 CiJd4 33.1::ta2 ~c3, and his
problems stayed unsolνed, but after the
moνe ίη the game his position became just
hopeless.
31 ... ttxd8 32.ttxd8+ ~xd8 33.~xc5
~dl+ 34.'it>g2 ~xb3 35.~c8+ 'it>h7 36.~b7
~xc4 37.~xf'7 ~e4+ 38.'it>gl ~el+ 39.'it>g2
~e4+ 40.'it>gl ~f5!
Black reinforces his position, throwing
21.e5?! back the white queen from f7.
White oνerestimates his opportunities. 41.~e8
It is clear that Black is going to perform After 41. ~xe6 ~xe6 42.l2Jxe6 CiJc6
the adνance e6-e5 with his next moνe and 43.CiJc5 a5 44.e6 'it>g6 45.'it>f2 'it>f6 46.We3
then to put his knight οη d4. Now White 'it>e5 Black's remote passed pawn οη the a-
attempts to preνent the fulfillment ofthis file decided the geme.
plan. Still, it was better to let Black ac- 41 ... ~bl+ 42.'it>g2 ~c2+ 43.'it>f1
complish his plan as after the moνe ίη the Another retreat of the king was also
game White's position ίη the centre gets bad. After 43. 'it>gl ~c5+ 44. 'it>f1 ~b5+
considerably weakened. 45.~xb5 axb5 46.l2Jxe6 l2Jc6 47.l2Jc7 b4
21 ... dxe5 22.fxe5 ttfd8 23. ~c3 h6 48.e6 b3 49.l2Jd5 b2 50.CiJc3 'it>g6 White had
24. ~e3 CiJb4 25.~xb7 ~xb7 26.ttf1 problems to escape ίη the knight endgame
White νentures οη the sacrifice of a with Black's remote passed pawn.
pawn. Otherwise after 26.ttd2 ttxd2 43 ... ~c4+ 44.'it>el ~e4+ 45.Wf2 ~f5
27. ~xd2 ~c7 (27 ... ~e4 was insufficient 46.'it>gl
FIDE World Cup 343
Νο use of 46. ~xe6 because of 46 ... tΔd3+ tΔg4+ 54.'it>g2 tΔe3+ 55.'it>f2 tΔg4+ 56.Wg2
47.'it>e3 ~xe6 48.tΔxe6 tΔxe5, and Black's tJte2+ 57.'it>h3 tΔf2+ 58.Φg2 tΔd3+ 59.Wh3
extra pawn ίn the knight endgame wins tJtf1+ 60.ι;t>h4
him the game.
46 ... ~bl+ 47.Wg2 ~c2+ 48.'it>f1
It was already mentioned that the line
48.'it>g1 ~c5+ 495~)f1 ~b5+ 50.~xb5 axb5
51.tΔxe6 tΔc6 was inadmissible for White.
48 ... tΔd5 49.tΔxe6 tΔe3+ 50.'it>el tΔg2+
Now a forced 50 ... ~dl+! 51.'it>f2 tΔg4+
52.Wg2 ~e2+ 53.Wh3 tΔf2+ 54.'it>g2 (54.'it>h4
~g4#) 54 ... tΔd3+ 55.'it>h3 ~f1+ 56.'it>h4
(56.'it>g4 tΔxe5+ 57.'it>h4 tΔf3+ 58.'it>g4
tΔxh2+ 59.'it>h4 tΔf3+ 60.'it>g4 tΔe5+ 61.'it>h4
~h1#) 56 ... tΔxe5 57.tΔf8+ (Black mated
after other continuations, e.g.57.h3 ~f6+ 60... g5+?
58.'it>h5 ~f5+ 59.'it>h4 g5+ 60.tΔxg5+ ~xg5#) Black was just one step away uom a
57 ... ~xf8 58.~xf8 tΔg6+ gave an extra victory. After 60 ... tΔxe5! White's only way
piece to Black and allowed him to win most to escape a quick mate was 61.tΔf8+, but a
quickly, however the move which was plain combination won Black a piece after
played ίn the game did not spoil his posi- 61 ... ~xf8! 62.tJtxf8 tΔg6+
tion either. 61.tΔxg5+ hxg5+ 62.'it>xg5 tJtcl+ 63.
51.'it>f1 tΔe3+ 52.'it>el tJtdl+ 53.'it>f2 'it>f5 tJtf1+ 64.Φg5 tJtcl+ 65.<;.t>f5 tJtf1+ %-1f2
Semi-Finals
The most stubborn struggle developed ίn the match Anand - Gelfand. The first game
ended ίn a draw, and ίn the second one (game 251) Gelfand had an almost winning
position but missed his "hour oftriumph". Three additional games ended ίn draws; the
4th blitz-game was won by Anand.
First two games ofthe match Bareev - Milos ended ίn draws. Then surprising things
happened: ίn the 3 rd game Milos, having an extra piece, gave up his queen, and ίn the 4th
game Bareev was attacked, lost his pawn but managed to draw.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Anand 2762 = = = = = 1 3.5
Gelfand 2681 = = = = = Ο 2.5

250 Β70 251 Ε05

Anand - Gelfand Gelfand - Anand
Game 1 9.09 Game 2 10.09
l.e4 c5 2.CiJf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.CiJxd4 l.d4 CiJf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.CiJf3 i.e7
CiJf6 5.CiJc3 a6 6.a4 Usually y'Anand plays either like ίη the
Αη adνance b7-b5 was preνented by game or a more aggressiνe 4 ... dxc4, but ίη
White ίη the simplest way. This allows the final round of the super tournament
Black to transfer the game into the Dragon ίη Dortmund when he was struggling for
Variation which is conνenient for him. the first place he chose 4 ... c6 5. ~c2 CiJbd7
6 ••.CiJc6 7.i.e2 g6 8.0-0 i.g7 9.i.e3 ο-ο 6.1ιg2 i.e7 7.0-0 ο-ο 8.b3 b6 9.Itd1 i.a6
10.tM2 CiJxd4 10.CiJbd2 c5 11.e4 dxc412.bxc4 cxd4 13.e5
Usually Black prefers 10 ... i.d7 or CiJg4 14. ~e4 h5, and after a keen fight
10 ... ~c7 to this exchange. Black achieνed his goal ίη the game
11.i.xd4 i.e6 12.a5 Itc8 13.l:.fcl Huebner - Anand, Dortmund 2000.
The continuation 13.h3, which has oc- 5.1ιg2 ο-ο 6.0-0 dxc4 7.~c2 a6 8.a4
curred preνiously, is none the better than The line 8. ~xc4 b5 9. ~c2 i.b7 which
the moνe ίη the game. Probably οηlΥ used to be popular formerly occurs now
13.J:Hd1 could haνe preνented the idea, much more seldom as it was analysed prac-
which was performed by Black ίη this tically until the draw.
game. 8 ...i.d7 9.~xc4 i.c6 10.i.g5 a5
10 ... 1ιd5 is considered to be more reli-
able. After 11. ~d3 i.e4 12. ~e3 (after
12.~d1 c5 Black equalized easily) 12 ...
CiJbd7 13.CiJc3 i.c6 14. ~d3 1ιb4 15.l:.fe1
i.xf3! 16. ~xf3 c6 Black's defence is quite
strong as it was demonstrated ίη the game
Beliaνsky - Almasi, Ubeda 1997.
11.CiJc3 CiJa6 12.i.xf6
White parts with his dark-squared
bishop ίη order to perform the adνance e2-
e4 which will giνe him a mighty pawn cen-
tre.
13 ... d5! 12 ... i.xf6 13.e4 CiJb4 14.~fdl g6
Mter this moνe the play is fully equal- Black could haνe prepared a hole for
ized. the light-squared bishop οη the queenside
14.exd5 with 14 ... b6, but, as the game Beliaνsky
If 14.e5, then after 14 ... CiJe4 15.CiJxe4 Rozentalis, Batumi 1999, showed after
dxe416.~e3 (White had to reckon with the 15.CiJe1 g6 16.CiJb5! 1ιg7 17.~ac1 ~c8
threat of 16 ... i.xe5, and ίη case of 16.1:[d1 18.CiJd3 CiJxd3 19.~xd3 i.xb5 20.axb5 ~e7
Black had 16 ... ~c7, and White's pawn οη 21.e5 he might haνe encountered serious
e5 is endangered) 16 ... i.h6! 17. ~xh6 ~xd4 problems eνen though of all minor pieces
Black took the initiatiνe. οηlΥ opposite-coloured bishops would haνe
14 ... CiJxd5 15.i.xg7 ~xg7 16.CiJxd5 stayed present οη the board.
~xd517.~b4l:.c7 18.c4 ~e519.i.f3l:.d8 15 ..ί:racl
20.~el ~d6 21.~c3+ 1f2- 1h Α new moνe. Preνiously White played
FIDE World Cup 345
either 15. ~e2 or 15.h4. his rather unpleasant initiative. 80, after
15 ....tte8 22 ... ~g5 23.f4 i.xf4 24.'!';'fxf4 ~xf4 25.gxf4
bxc5 26 ..t!.xc5 ~a8 27.1:te5 Black had a poor
endgame. Ιη case of 22 ... ~f6 23.CiJd7 ~e6
White played 24.CiJxe5 '!';'fxe5 25.~h3ltcd8
26.1:!:d 7, maintaining unpleasant pressure
οη light squares, as well as ίη case of
22 ... ~e7 23.~d7 ~f8 24.CiJe4 ~xb2 25.~cd1,
and though ίη the last line this pressure
cost a pawn to White, it was worth even
more.
23.~xd8 tιcxd8 24.~el ~d4
The object ofthe attack is the f2-square.
16.d5!? 25.~xe8+ J::txe8 26. '!';'fb5 ~g7
White's pawns ίη the centre start mov- These preventive measures are aimed
ing. The advance d4-d5 itself gives White at the exclusion ofWhite's check from the
ηο advantage because Black still keeps a 8th rank.
strong blocking position οη dark squares, 27.'!';'fxa5?!
but the whole position becomes very dy- Most probably at this moment White
namic as a result. lost a great deal of his advantage. He
16 ... exd5 17.exd5 ~d7 18.liJd4 ,:ιc8?! should have defellded against the attack
Probably 18 ... ite5!? was more cautious. οη f2 with 27.~f1!? Mter 27 ... CiJc2 (ηο bet-
19.CiJe4 ~e5 ter was 27 ... ~xb2 28. '!';'fxa5 CiJc2 because of
Black decided to avoid complications 29.~d5, and if27 ... ~e5 then 28.~f3 is pos-
that could have arisen after 19 ... itxa4. Ιη sible) 28.~d5 .t!.el+ 29.ς,t>g2 .t!.b1 30.'!';'fxa5
Gelfand's ορίηίοη ίη this case White .t!.xb2 3l.<1;il'h3 CiJb4 32.i.e4 .t!.xf2 33. '!';'fxc7 it
could achieve an advantage by means was much more complicated for Black to
of 20.b3! (20.CiJe6 leads οηlΥ to a draw set up a co-ordination ofhis pieces.
ίη view of 20 ... ~e7! 21.b3 fxe6 22.CiJxf6+ 27 ... ,:ιe2 28.'!';'fxc7 ,:ιΧf2 29.ΦhΙ CiJd3
~xf6 23. bxa4 exd5 24.~xd5+ CiJxd5 30.'!';'fd8?!
25.~xd5 ~h8 26.~xb7 .ttf8) 20 ... ~xd4 (if The clouds are gathering over the posi-
20 ... itd7, then either 21.CiJc6 or 21.CiJe6 is tion of the black king. White needs to ορ
good) 21. ~xd4 ~xe4 22.~xe4 ~xb3 23.:a:d2 pose something to Black's play. Probably
~d6 24.~a7! and despite Black had two the move 30.itd5!? arranged the greatest
pawns for an exchange his position is problems for Black, creating a constant
rather hard. threat οη f7. Mter 30 ... CiJe5 31.h4! (ίη case
20.CiJc5 b6 21.CiJc6 of 31.a5 CiJg4 32. ~xf7+ .t!.xf7 33.~xf7 CiJf2+
Mter 21.CiJde6 ~e7 it was a much more 34.~g2 CiJe4 35.a6 c4 36.~xc4 CiJd6 an
complicated task for White to gain a profit endgame with a non-standard relation of
from his position. forces might have appeared οη the board
21 ... itxc6 22.dxc6 bxc5!? and the game should result ίη a draw most
Black decided to change the course of likely) White keeps chances for a victory
the game sharply. 8acrificing the queen, thanks to a large extent to the fact that ίη
he tries to take the initiative. Any retreat the variation 31 ... CiJg4 32.~g2 h5 he has a
of the black queen allowed White to keep beautiful move 33. '!';'ff4!
of33.t\'xd4+! cxd4 34.c8~ .ttb1+ 35.i.f1CUe3

36. t\'a6, Black's position was just hopeless.
31.i.f1
After 31.c7 Black forced a draw with the
help ofa perpetual check: 31 ... CUf2+ 32.<;t>gl
CUg4+ 33.<;t>f1CUe3+ 34.~e1CUxg2+.
31 ... CUf2+ 32.<;t>g2CUg4+ 33.<;t>f3 tΔe5+
33 ... f5!? was also good, as after 34. t\'e7+
<;t>h6 35. t\'e1CUe5+ 36.<;t>f4 tΔxc6 White had
ηο particular chances.
30... J::ϊc2! 34.<;t>e4CUxc6 35.~c7CUb4 36.g4

Mter this move Black's pieces begin to The web, spun by the black pieces ίη
interact excellently. If Black played the centre of the board, will not let the
30 ... CUe1, then White would continue not white king off without materiallosses for
with 31.c7?! J::ϊxg2 32.t\'xd4+ (after 32.h4? his army. Mter 36.b3 h5 37.i.c4 ~f2 38.a5
~gl + 33.';t>h2CUf3+ 34.';t>h3 i.e5 White lost <;t>h6 Black created a dreadful threat off7-
the game) 32 ... cxd4 33.c8t\' l:ιxb2 with f5#, and in case of 39.i.xf7 he had a per-
Black's chances for a draw, but with petual check: 39 ... z:ι.e2+ 40.<;t>f31:!f2+.
31.t\'a5!, and after 31 ... CUxg2 32.c7 CUe3 36 ...!Η'2 37 ..ib5 g5 38.a5 lf2-1f2
33.t\'e1 White managed to repel Black's The endgame with opposite-coloured
threat to his king. Insufficient was also bishops to appear after 38 ... J::ϊxf4 39.t\'xf4
30 ... ~xb2 31.c7cuf2+ 32.<;t>glCUg4+ because gf 40.a6CUxa6 41 ..ixa6 .ixb2 was a draw.
1 2 3 4
Bareev 2702 = = 1 = 2.5
Milos 2633 = = Ο = 1.5
252 Cll 14 ..ixd5 c6 15 ..ib3 c5 16.i.d5 t\'c7 17.z:ι.he1

Milos - Bareev i.d8 18.CUeg5 .ixg5+ 19.CUxg5 tΔf6 20. t\'e5
Game 1 9.09 the chances were equalised in the game
Svidler - M.Gurevich, Esbjerg 2000, and
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.CUc3 tΔf6 4.i.g5 dxe4 the opponents agreed to a draw.
5.CUxe4 .ie7 6.i.xf6 i.xf6 7.CUf3 cud7 10... 0-0 11.J::ϊd1 .ib7 12.0-0 c5 13.c3
8.i.c4 a6 9.~e2 lh-1f2
Also 9.0-0 ο-ο 1ω:Ιe1 b5 11 ..ib3 i.b7 The final decision is delayed in this pair
was seen very long ago. too. It can be noted that 13.dxc5 gave noth-
9 ... b510 ..ib3 ing to White because of 13 ... .ixe4 14. t\'xe4
10 ..id5 was tested too: after 10 ... z:ι.b8 CUxc5 as well as 13.CUxc5 to be followed by
11.0-0-0 ο-ο 12.i.c6 ::f.b6 13.d5 exd5 13 ... CUxc5 14.dxc5 t\'c7.
FIDE World Cup 347
253 Ε32 24.tίJd5

Bareev - Milos With this moνe White allows Black to
Game 2 10.09 block υρ his queenside with a5-a4, prob-
ably hoping to attack later the pawn οη
l.d4 tίJf6 2.c4 e6 3.tίJc3 ~b4 4:~c2 ο-ο a4. Δη alternatiνe of24.~a41:ted8 25.tίJd5
5.a3 ~xc3+ 6. ~xc3 b6 7 .~g5 b6 8.~b4 could haνe been successful ίη case of
25 ... tίJc5?! 26.~b5, as Black would haνe ηο
~a6
26 ... c6? because of27.tίJe7+, but there was
Instead of a natural 8 ... ~b7 Black a much stronger 25 ... ιot>f8!, and White's
played 8 ... ~a6, aiming at the pawη οη c4 achieνements from the moνe .iιa4 came to
as a possible object for an attack. nothing.
9.tίJf3 d6 10.~c2 24 ... a4 25.e5 dxe5 26.1:txe5 ~ed8 27.f5
Α noνelty. 10.e3 deliνered a conνenient ~xd5 28.1:teΧd51:ιΧd5 29.cxd5 tίJc5 30.d6
play to Black after 10 ... tίJbd7 11.b4 c5 With a bishop against a knight, White
12.dxc5 bxc5 13.b5 ~b7 14.~e2 a6 ίη the naturally attempts to open υρ the play.
game Elbilia - Palac, Montpellier 1997. 30...c6 31.1:[d4 ιot>ίB 32.~dl ιot>e8 33.d7+
10...tίJbd7 11.e4 e5 12.~d3 tίJxd7 34.~xa4 tίJe5
Haνing left the conνenient parking
White refused to relieνe ίη the centre
with 12.d5, because after 12 ... g5 13.~g3 place οη c5, the black knight found another
good square οη e5.
tίJh5 Black got a strong blocking position
35.ιot>f2 r3;e7 36 ..iιdl c5 37.:d2 tίJc4
οη dark squares.
lh- 1h
12 ... exd4 13.t2Jxd4 t2Je5 14.0-0 tίJg6
It's important for Black to annihilate
namely White's dark-squared bishop, be-
cause after 14... tίJxd3 15. ~xd3 the bind- Milos - Bareev
ing οη the diagonal d8-h4 was quite Game 3 25-minute
troublesome for him.
15 ..tg3 tίJb5 16.~adl ~b7 17.1:tfel Ιη the position, where Black could make
tίJxg3 18.hxg31:Ie8 19.~c3 a draw (that was not difficu1t), there was a
White is striνing for an endgame, sudden:
though he could haνe transferred the
knight to c3 still ίη the middlegame with
19.tίJb5.
19... ~f6 20.tίJb5 ~xc3 21.tίJxc3 tίJίB
22 ..tc2 tίJe6 23.f4 a5
79.tίJd5??
Andafter
79 ... ~b7+
Black soon won.
FinaI
It seems that Bareeν exhausted all his luck and Anand easily won the match. Soon
after the games were oνer, prize money cheques were handed oνer by FIDE Treasurer
after deducting 20% tax. Anand receiνed $40,000 and Bareeν $24,000.
Bareev: ''1 reached quarter-finals quite by chance. Then Ι was lucky playing with
Azmaiparashνili and with Milos. During the tournament Ι had fantastic luck at eνery
step. But of course Ι wanted to win ίη the final, though Ι am pleased that Ι reached it."
Anand: ''1 like the knockout system. It has a special kind of appeal. Υου need some
special approach. Υου need to ήsk your neck eνery two days. Ι do not like the combined
format beca use you can be eliminated ίη the round robin as well but then you must do it
after six days. Ι like these pure knockouts. Ifyou finish you can go home. It's like a roller
coaster. It's thrilling, the adrenaline, eνeryday fighting for your life. Ι like it νery much."
.-
Ι 2
Anand 2762 = 1 1.5
Bareeν 2702 = Ο 0.5
254 Ε05
Bareev - Anand
Game 1 12.09
1.d4 l2Jf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.l2Jf3 iιe7

5.iιg2 ο-ο 6.0-0 dxc4 7:f;[c2 a6 8.a4 iιd7
9. ~xc4 iιc6 10.iιg5 iιd5
Ιη the second game of the semi-final
match V.Anand played 10 ... a5 against
B.Gelfand, but failed to gain a full equal-
ity. Ιη this game Black chooses a more re-
liable continuation. 12...h6
1l.~c2 Α new moνe. Black ascertains the ίη
Another possible line 11. ~d3 iιe4 tentions of White's dark-squared bishop
12. ~e3 was mentioned already ίη our an- rather timely. Mter 12 ... l2Jbd7 13.l2Jc3 iιc6
notation to the game Gelfand - Anand, 14. ~c2 iιb4 15.l:He1 h6 (15 ... iιxf3 16.iιxf3
Shenyang(πJ2) 2000. c6 17 ..ί:!:ed1 ~a5 18.iιf4 e5 19.dxe5 l2Jxe5
1l ... iιe4 12. ~c1 20.iιg21:tad8 21.l2Ja2 which occurred ίη the
FIDE World Cup 349
game Filippoν - Gutoν, Russia 1998, gaνe ferred to play differently: 6 ... tLJc6 7.f4 b5
ηο full equalization to Black) 16 ..txf6 tLJxf6 (7 ... 'ffib6 8.tLJf3 i..e7 9.a3 ο-ο 10.h4 [6 11.1:th3
17.e4 White kept good chances for an ad- tLJa5 12.b4! cxb4 13.axb4 tLJc4 14.tLJg3 a5
νantage ίη the game Ruck - Yu Shaoteng, 15.i..d3 f5 16.tLJg5!, and Black suffered a
Gyula 2000, haνing got a mighty pawn cen- strong attack Anand - Shiroν, Frankfurt
tre. The line 12 ... tLJc6 13.tLJbd2 tLJxd4 (actiνe) 2000) 8.a3 cxd4 (8 ... c4 9.tLJf3 tLJb6
14.tLJxd4 ~xg2 15.tLJxe6 fxe6 16.~xg2 was 10.g4 [5 11.gxf5 exf5 12.i..g2 .te7 13.0-0
also tested recently, but the compact pawn h6 14.ΙΗ2 .te6 15.~f1 g5 16.fxg5 hxg5
chain supplied White with better chances 17.h4! g4 18.tLJg5, and it turned out sud-
both ίη the game Kaidanoν - C.Bauer, New denly that it was White, not Black, who
York 2000, and ίη the game Tkachieν - was attacking οη the queenside Anand -
Piket, Cannes 2000·. Morozeνich, Frankfurt 2000) 9.tLJxd4 tLJxd4
13.J.xf6 .txf6 14.tLJc3 J.xf3 15..txf3 c6 10.cxd4 b4 11.a4 'ffia5 12 ..td2 .te7 13.tLJf3
16.e3 a5 17.h4 tLJa6 18.h5 'ffie7 19.~dl ο-ο 14 ..tb5 tLJb6 15.b3 SΙa6 16.SΙxa6 'ffixa6
~fd8 20.'ffic2 tLJb4 17.a5 tLJd7 18.'ffie2, and eνen the computer
It is eνident that the play is absolutely was unable to help Black to keep the bal-
equalized. White cannot preνent Black ance ίη the game Anand - Shiroν, Leon
from the adνance c6-c5. 2000.
21.'ffib3 J:ιac8 22.1::tacl c5 7.cxd4 f6 8.tLJf4 .tb4+ 9.SΙd2 'ffib6
The opponents could haνe agreed to a lO.i-xb4
draw after this moνe quite confidently. The continuation 10. 'ffih5+!? g6 11.tLJxg6
23.dxc5 z:txdl + 24. 'ffixdl J:ιxc525.tLJe4 i.xd2+ 12.~xd2 'ffixb2+ 13.~e3 has not
~c7 26.b3 b6 27.~e21:Ixc128.'ffixcl 'ffid8 been tested ίη practice yet.
29"~c4 .te7 30.'ffib5 tLJd5 31.i..c4 .tb4 lO ... 'ffixb4+ 11 ..~M2 'ffixd2+ 12.~xd2
32.g4 tLJf6 33.tLJxf6+ lh_% ~e7 13.exf6+ gxf6 14.J:ιel tLJb6
255 Cll
Anand - Bareev
Game 2 13.09
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.tLJc3 tLJf6 4.e5 tLJfd7

5.tLJce2
This νariation already stood V.Anand
ίη good stead ίη 2000. He won three con-
νincing νictories with it before this game,
though none of them were "serious". ΑΠ
the games were played with shortened 15.tLJf3!
time control, and ίη the Spanish town Leon The aboνe-mentioned game Bezgodoν
where V.Anand played with A.Shiroν the - Sakaeν deνeloped according to a differ-
players were eνen allowed to use comput- ent scenario. After 15.i.d3 tLJc6 16.tLJf3 <;t>d6
ers. 17.tLJh5 J:ιf8 18.SΙxh7 e5 Black got an ex-
5 ... c5 6.c3 cxd4 cellent play ίη the centre ofthe board. The
Eνgeni Bareeν goes the way, which was moνe, played by V.Anand ίη this game, is
paνed, ίη the game Bezgodoν - Sakaeν, much stronger anι:i can influence the esti-
Moscow (m/3) 1999, played ίη the final mation of the whole νariation.
match ofthe Russia Championship. Other 15 ... tLJc6 16..tb5 i-d7 17..txc6!
opponents ofthe Indian grandmaster pre- White gets rid of his bishop properly.
Using the circumstance that Black has to There was already ηο escape. There was
take with the pawn, White restricts con- ηο 30 ... ~cd8 because of31.c6 ~xd5 32.f5 .. !,
siderably the opportunities of his ορρο and ίη case of 30 ... h5 White played 31.b5
nent's bishop. e4 32.c6! :td6 33.a4 1:!.cd8 34.c7 1:!c8 35.a5
17...bxc6 18.~e2 ~ae8 19.~hel 'i,;f7 ~xd5 36.1::rxd5 J:.xc7+ 37.~d4 f5 38.b6 axb6
Ιη Anand's ορίηίοη 19 ... ~d6! was more 39.axb6 and then won the rook endgame.
precise and if20.tbh5, then 20 ... !tef8 is the easily.
οηlΥ but sufficient, but not 20 ... !thf8? be- 31.1::rd4 f5
cause of 21.tbg7! ~e7 22.tbf5.
20.~cl tbc4
Most likely Black has already planned
the sacrifice of a pawn which will follow
later. Otherwise this moνe was unneces-
sary.
21.tbd2 tbxd2
Νο sense to retreat. After 21 ... tbd6
22.tbb3 or 21 ... tbb6 22.tbb3 White's knight
intruded to c5.
22.~xd2 c5
It is the sacrifice, which Black meant
when he played 21 ... tbc4. 32.g4!
23.dxc5 e5 24.tbxd5! White deliνers one blow after another
White does not want to yield the initia- to Black's position.
32 ... J:ιg7
tiνe to his opponent and νentures οη a sac-
If 32 ... fxg4, then after 33.1::rxe4+ ~f7
rifice an exchange. After 24.tbd3 ..ib5
34.b5 White's pawns οη the queenside are
Black's play was much simpler than ίη the
irrepressible.
game. 33.tbe3 fxg4 34.~d6+ 'i,;f7 35.tbf5
24 .....ib5 25.~c3 As a matter of fact, this moνe puts an
Of course ηο 25.~e3? becauseof 25 ... end to the game. Black's rook has ηο good
~d8.
square to retreat.
25 ... Jtxe2 26.1::rxe2 1::rc8? 35... e3
Black commits a fatal blunder. Mter There was ηο 35 ... J::tgg8 because of
26 ... 1::rd8! 27.~c4 ~e6 28.~d2 J::td7 White's 36.tbh6+, and ίη C'lse of 35 ... ~g6 the solu-
adνantage could be not enough for a win. tion was 36.~xg6 ~xg6 (if 36 ... hxg6, then
27.'i,;c4 'i,;e6 28.b4 J::thd8 29.~d2 1::rd7 again a fork 37.tbd6+) 37.tbe7+, and
30.f4! White's knight has time for eνerything.
Another excellent resource, found by 36.tbxg7 .ί:[e8 37.tbxe8 e2 38.~f6+ 1-0
White. It turns out that Black cannot gain Ιη case of 38 ... ~e7 White won with a
from the binding οη the d-file. simple manoeuνre 39.~f5 el'it! 40.:te5+
30... e4 'it!xe5 41.fxe5 ~xe8 42.'i,;d5.
Essent 351
Essent
Hoogeveen 15.10-21.10, cat.16
1 Κhalifman 2667
2 Timmaη 2639
3 Galkin 2587
4 Ju.Polgar 2656
During the great chess festival ίη a small but famous Dutch town there was a double
rounded all-play-all tournament with four participants. The home players Jan Timman
with Alexander Κhalifman represented the older generation of chessplayers and
Ju.Polgar with last year's World Champion under 20 A.Galkin - the younger generation.
The results and, to an even greater degree, chess content ofthe games allows to estimate
this tournament as Alexander Κhalifman's triumph.
Fragment of Interview with Hoogeveen Winner Alexander Κhalifman

ΒΥ Jαn υαπ
de Mortel
A.Κhalifman: "Last year was very unusual, a lot of new feelings. Ιη a sense Ι really
enjoyed it, though sometimes it was probably too emotional. Generally, it was really
new and Ι liked it. But it is good for me that Ι won this tournament because, you kηow,
it was a problem for me throughout the year: ίη most ofthe tournaments Ι didn't play
so well, it was almost always like Ι was feeling an obligation to prove something. It
puts a lot of psychological pressure οη you when you play this way. And here, Ι played
just to play. Time passed and Ι forgot about proving something - the obligation to play
like a world champion, and so οη. At last Ι didn't feel this stupid pressure. It used to be
that Ι was thinking about a position οη the board, Ι saw some move, Ι wanted to play it,
but then Ι would think 'This move is nothing special, I'm a world champion, Ι should do
something really ingenious!'. 8uch stupidity. Here Ijust played as Ι play, not as world
champion, but as Alexander Κhalifman. Ι did not care anymore, Ι playedjust to score a
good result ίη the tournament, and somehow it happened ... When Ι play some
tournaments, other players are somehow preparing especially for me. Mter Las Vegas
it always was a special game. They bring some extra inspiration. Kasparov was just
another story. He wanted to destroy me, he was very highly motivated for this game ίη
Linares. He's a great player; he plays chess much better than me, but the difference is
not that big. 80me stupid things were written during Las Vegas, like Garry would beat
Akopian and me ίη a simul. I'm not a stable player, but sometimes Ι can play good
chess ... 80 Ι was very glad to play here. Ι like playing ίη the Netherlands especially, and
Europe ίη general. I'm almost sure the organization is good or almost perfect there. We
352 . Super Tournαments 2000
don't have any strange problems during the tournament, ηο insects ίη beds, ηο problems
with the cuisine; ίη Asia one has to think about these things all the time ... I used some
new underestimated setups, for example, ίη my second game against Galkin, when Ι
played the Slav gambit with White. Before this White hadn't showed anything really
good against this line of the Slav. Ι think 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.e5 and the following plan is
rather dangerous for Black, but it has not been prepared especially for this tournament:
this is the result of my preparation for the World Championship. But some of the new
ideas worked now, some of them are waiting."
256 C17
Galkin - Κhalifman
Round 1 15.10
Notes by A.Khαlifmαn
l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.ctJc3 3ιb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3

3ιa5 6.b4 cxd4 7.'{ffg4
The sharpest continuation, connected
with mutual destruction offlanks.
7 ... ctJe7 8.bxa5 dxc3 9. '{ffxg7 1:J:g8
10:~xh7ctJbc6 11.ctJf3
11.f4 is another popular move ίη this 18 ...1:J:xf3!
variation. Continuing the operation Black started
11 ... '{ffc7 12.~f4 ~d7 13.~d3 οη the 15th move. Despite White's great
The move 13.a6 went out offashion after material advantage, Ι had a fair com-
Black had found a very unpleasant answer pensation for the sacrificed material as his
of 13 ... 0-0-0! pawn chain was fully destroyed not οηlΥ
13 ...0-0-0 14.~g3 οη the queenside, but οη the kingside as
Ιη case of 14.0-0 my opponent had to well. Besides, my knights obtained excel-
reckon with 15 ... ffi because an incautious lent stands ίη the centre ofthe board οη d4
15.exf6? could have brought him to a and f5. ΒΥ the way, Black's refusal to
crushing defeat after 15 ... '{ffxf4 16.fxe7 sacrifice by an exchange ίη the game
1:J:xg2+! 17.Φχg2 '{ffg4+ 18.Φh1 '{ffxf3+ 19. A.Kovacevic - B.Stanojevic, Vrsac 2000,
Φg1 '{ffg4+ 20.Φh11:J:g8 brought him into a difficult situation after
14... '{ffxa5 15.0-0 1:J:h8!? 18 ... '{ffa419.'{ffe3 ..ie8 20.CΔg5 CΔd4 21.f43ιc6
The idea to make use of the advanced 22.1:J:f2
position ofWhite's queen is not new, but ίη 19.9xf3 ctJd4
this very position it was seen οηlΥ once ίη 19 ... ctJxe5? does not work because of
the game Α. Kovacevic - Β. Stanojevic, 20 ...ih7!
Vrsac 2000, not long before the tournament 20.'{fff4
ίη Hoogeveen. Usually Black plays here Ιη case of 20 Φh1 ctJef5 21. '{ffh7 (if
15 ... '{ffa4 or 15 ... '{ffc5. 21.'{fff4, then 21 ... ..ib5 as well as ίη the
16.'{ffxf71:J:df8 17.'{ffg71:J:hg8 18.'{ffh6 game) 21 ... '{ffd8 White's queen restήcts the
White rejects the continuation 18. '{ffh7 mobility of Black's pieces to some extent,
1:J:h8 19. '{ffg7 with the repetition ofposition, but οηlΥ at the cost of own safety.
thus demonstrating his willingness to fight. 20 ... ctJef521.ΦhΙ
Essent 353
White's d3-bishop is νery important Iίxa3forces a rook endgame ίη which Black

now. It has to guard the e2-square which is 1Sapawn up.
νery aΙΙuήηg for the black knight. This is 24 ...~b8
why my opponent did not hurry to moνe Despite White's considerable material
his king away to preνent a knight fork and adνantage, Black can afford seνeral
get rid of the opposition with the g8-rook. prophylactic moνes since it's not easy for
Ιη case of 2UHd1, implying that White White to reinforce his position as he has to
does not want to exchange the light- defend a lot ofweak pawns.
squared bishops, there is 21 ... ~c5 (an 25.~dl ~c8 26.~ί4 tίJc6 27.~el ~c4
attempt to gain an adνantage by tactical The moνe 27 ... d4?! looks ill-based now
means of21 ... tίJh4?! does not work because as after 28.~e4 the white queen occupies a
of 22.~h1! tίJhxf3 23.~f1 ~c5 24.~d3 tίJc2 dominating position ίη the centre.
25. ~xf3 d4 26.~g2, and Black can't win 28.~g5 tίJcd4 29.~dl ~a4 30.kta2
back the rook because of the threat to the White has to take care of his c2-pawn.
b7-square) 22.Wh1 (ίη case of22.a4 White Ιη case of 30.f4?! after the forced 30 ... ~xc2
has to reckon with 22 ... tίJxg3 23.hxg3 ~f8) 31.~xc2 (if 31.~xd4, then after 31 ... ~xf2
22 ... a5 with mutual chances. Also instead 32.~d3 c2 33.~c1 ~e2 34.~h3 d4 White is
of 22 ... a5 there is ηο 22 ... tίJxg3? because of absolutely helpless despite his extra rook)
23.fxg3 ~f8 24.~e3 ~xf3 25.~g1, pinning 31 ... tίJxc2 32.~c1 tίJxa3 33.~dxc3 tίJc4
υρ the d4-knight. Black's a- and b-pawns, supported by the
21 ... ~b5! knights, hardly can encounter any serious
An improνement ίη comparison with the obstacles οη the way to the back rank.
game Lutz - Lyrberg, Κatήηehοlm 1999 30... ~c4 31.Iίal ~a4 32.~a2 tίJb5!?
which, came to the same position with There was a dynamic balance οη the
slightly reνersed moνes. Black accom- board, but Ι wanted to struggle for an
plished then a similar exchange three adνantage.
moνes later: 21 ... ~c5 22.~g1 ~f8 23.~g4
~c6 24.~g2 ~b5.
22.~fdl ~xd3 23.MXd3
Now that the light-squared bishops are
gone, Black's position ίη the centre becomes
much stronger, especially ofhis f5-knight,
and White's g3-bishop turns out a sort of
bigpawn.
23 ... ~c5
Also 22 ... tίJc6!? 23. ~c1 d4 deserνed
attention.
24.~cl
White should be νery cautious already. 33.f4?
Α weak and untimely moνe. After
80, an actiνe 24.~ad1 after 24 ... tίJe2! (ifthe
knight retreats to c2 or c6, then White wins 33.~a1 it would be much more difficult to
by 25.~xd5!) 25. ~b4 tίJexg3+!? (also ίη case break White's defensiνe redoubts.
of 25 ... tίJfxg3+ 26.fXg3 ~f2 27.~h4 ~xg3! 33 ... ~e4+ 34.f3
28.hxg3 tίJxg3+ 29. ~xg3 ~xg3 30.~xc3+ Α forced decision. Now the important e3-
~b8 White is inνolνed into an unpleasant square ίη White's camp is weakened. After
struggle for a draw) 26.fxg3 ~f2 27.f4 ~h8 34.~f3? ~e1+ 35.~g2 ~b1 or 34.'it>g1? ~g8
28.~xc3+ ~b8 29.h4 tίJxh4 30.gxh4 ~xh4+ 35. ~h5 (an attempt to pay off by 35.Iίg3
31.~h3 ~xh3+ 32.~xh3 ~xh3+ 33.'it>g2 does not help because of 34 ... tίJbd4! 35.h4
lbxg3 36.fxg3 lbf3+ 37.Wf2 lbxg5 38.hxg5 which Jan Timman plays sometimes .
.!:!:h8 with a deciding attack) 35 ... lbbd4 6.d4
36. 't!if7 1:rc8 Black gains a winning advan- Α break of the pawn chain and con-
tage namely because of the unhappy siderable simplifications after the move ίη
position ofWhite's rook οη a2. the game make Black's task of the equa-
34... 't!ia4 35.'t!iel d4 lization of the play much simpler. 6.c3
Black prepares the d5-square for his b5- promised a more complicated play.
knight. 6 •.. lbxd4 7 ...txd7+ 't!ixd7 8.lbxd4 exd4
36.h4 9.'t!ixd4lbf6 10.lbc3 iLe7 11.~g5 h6
Mter 36. 't!ie4lbc7 Black transferred the The move 11 ... 't!ic6? which has occurred
knight to b5 as there was ηο 37 ..1::txc3? preνiously does not stand up to criticism,
because of 37 ... 't!ib5! with irresistible as after 12.lbd5 't!id7 13.iLxf6..txf6 14. 't!ixf6
threats to White's rooks (dxc3 and 't!ib1+) gxf615.lbxf6+ We7 16.lbxd7 ΦΧd717.1::rad1
and king ('t!if1#) at the same time. White got an extra pawn for nothing ίη the
36 ...lbc7 game Hurt - Hlozek, Svetla nad Sazavou
1998.
12.iLh4 't!ig413.iLg3 ο-ο 14.~adll:rfe8
15.'t!ic4 ~ac8 16.h3
White is going to advance her kingside
pawns. The move 16.f3 was a more solid
continuation.
16 ...'t!ig6 17.iLh2 lbd7 18.f4 c6
Black would have played much stronger
ifhe had put pressure upon White's central
e4-pawn by 18 ... lbb6!? 19.'t!id3 iLf6.
19. 't!ie2 f5 20.Φhιlbc5
The move 20 ... fxe4 did not suit Black
37.'t!ie4?? 0-1. because of 21.f5.
Αterrible move which even did not 21.exf5 't!ixf5 22.g4 ~f7 23. ~g2 d5
require Black's eνident response 37 ... lbg3+. 24.lbe2 lbe4 25.c4 iLd6 %-%
Ιη case of a normal 37.<t>g1 Black would
The position got strained. Probably
soon pounce upon the white king with all Black is not worse, but the opponents
his might by 37 ... lbd5 38.'t!ib1l:Ig8! 39.'t>f2 preferred not to run ήsks and agreed to a
't!ie8 draw ίη the position which still contained
many opportunities for both sides.
257 C72
Polgar - llmman
Round 1 15.10 258 C42
Khalifman - Timman
l.e4 e5 2.lbf3 lbc6 3.~b5 a6 4.~a4 d6 Round 2 16.10
Black preferred the Advanced Steinitz Notes by Khαlifmαn
Variation in the Ruy Lopez.
5.0-0 l.e4 e5 2.lbf3 lbf6
White decided to avoid complications to Unlike the first round, this time my
appear after 5.c3 f5. adversary preferred the Petroff Defence
5.....td7 instead of the Ruy Lopez.
Probably J .Polgar was going to meet her 3.lbxe5 d6 4.lbf3lbxe4 5.d4 d5 6 ...td3
adversary ίη the keen line 5 ....ig4 6.h3 h5 lbc6
Essent 355
Ιη the late eighties J. Timman often 13.J:lel

played a symmetric vaήatίοη ofthe Petroff The move 13.a3 allowed Black to keep
Defence with 6 ... ..td6, but for the last the balance after 13 ... 4Jxc3 14.bxc3 4Jc6
decade his sympathy has shifted to the con- 15.4Jd2 f5 16.~e1 .Jtf6 17 ...if3 .Jtg8 ίη the
tinuation used ίη the game. game Leko - Κramnik, Dortmund 2000.
7.0-0 ..te7 8.c44Jb4 9 ...te2 ο-ο 10.4Jc3 Another opportunity to struggle for an
..te6 advantage was connected with the move
13.f1b3!? After 13 ... 4Jxc3 (ίη case of13 ... a5
14.c5 i.f5 15.iH4 White maintains his
initiative as well) 14.bxc3 dxc4 15 ..Jtxc4
..txc4 16. f1xc4 f1d5 (M.Adams mentioned
one more Black's reserve, ίη his ορίηίοη
16 ... 4Jd5 gained a slight advantage for
White after the 17.J:lb1 4Jb6 18.f1b3 c5
19.a4 c4 20. f1b5 .ί:!.c8 21 ..i.d2) 17. f1b3 f1xb3
18.axb3 4Jd5 19 . .ί:!.e1 White got some
advantage ίη the ending ίη the game
Adams - Timman, Wijk aan Zee 2000.
13 ... c6?
1l.4Je5! Black reinforced the d5-square, but at
ΟηΙΥ this way allows White to count οη
the same time he deΡήved the b4-knight
an opening advantage. of an important retreat point. After
1l ... f6 13 ... .i.g8 14.a3 4Jxc3 15.bxc3 4Jc6 16.cxd5
There was a worthy alternative ofll ... c5 ..ixd5 17 ..i.b2 (17 ...td3!? deserved attention)
which after 12.4Jxe4 dxe4 13.d5 ..td6 14.a3 17 ... f5 18.4Jd2 i.f6 19.c4.Jtf7 20.4Jb3 b5 the
.i.xe5 15.axb4.i.f5 16.bxc5 f1c7 17.g3 (also play was equalize(l ίη the game Lutz - Van
17 ...ie3!? .i.xh2+ 18.~h1 ..te5 19 ...id4 .ί:!.fe8 Der Sterren, Venlo 2000. Also 13 ... f5!?
20.b4 was good Wahls - Pavasovic, Dresden deserved attention since it let Black keep
1998) 17 ... f1xc5 18 ...ie3 f1d6 19.c5 f1f6 υρ the balance at the FIDE World Cham-
20. f1b3 .i.xb2 21 ..ί:!.a4 allowed White to gain pionship ίη the game Svidler - Adams, New
a considerable advantage at the Europe Deli (m/l) 2000 after 14.a3 4Jc6 15.cxd5
Club Cup 2000 ίη the game Baklan - ..txd5 16.i.d3 .i.f6 17 ..i.e3 4Jxc3 18.bxc3
Timman, Neum 2000. f1d7
12.4Jf3 14.a3 4Ja6 15.cxd5 cxd5 16..Jtd3!
After 12 ..i.g4 Black equalized by 12 ... White emphasizes the unstable position
i.c8! 13 ..i.xc8 .ί:!.χc8 14.4Jf3 c5 15. f1e2 cxd4 of Black's pieces οη the e-file. Ι will gain
16.4Jxd4 .ί:!.e8 ίη the game Anand - Κram nothing ίη case of 16. f1b3 because of
nik, Frankfurt 1998. 16 ... 4Jc7! as 17.f1xb7 .ί:!.b81eads to a draw
12 ...~h8 because ofthe perpetual attack ofWhite's
Α solid move. The advance 12 ... c5?! queen by the black rook. Also 16 ..i.xa6 bxa6
which used to be popular once brought 17.4Jxe4 dxe4 18 ..ί:!.χe4 is not very good
Black to a hard position after 13 ...te3 .ί:!.c8 despite the extra pawn because Black can
14.dxc5 .i.xc5 15.i.xc5! .ί:!.χc5 16. f1b3 a5 create a counterplay owing to his pair of
(16 ... 4Jxc3?! 17.f1xc34Jc6 is even worse for active bishops: 18 ... .i.d5 19.I:!:e3 a5.
Black because of 18.b4 .ί:!.χc4 19 ..i.xc4 dxc4 16... f5
20.b5, Lutz - Kutuzovic, Pula 2000) Weakening disastrously the e5-square
17 . .ί:!.ad1 f1e7 18.4Ja4! ίη the game Κha ίη Black's camp, but another continuation
lifman - Karpov, Bali 2000. 16 ... 4Jxc3 17.bxc3 4Jc7 17. f1c2 .i.g8 18.a4
led Black to serious problems anyway. with a considerable positional advantage

17 ...tf4 after 22.CΔe2!? The following exemplary line
White's dominance over the diagonal b8- agrees with this estimation: 22 ... CΔc6
h2 makes the defence ofBlack's queenside 23.CΔxc6 ~xc6 (if 23 ... bxc6, then 24.f3)
a hard task. Ιη case of17.CΔe2 White has to 24.l:txc6 bxc6 25.f3 ~h4 26.l:tf1 CΔf6 (ηο
reckon with 17 ... g5!? However, 17. ~b3 was 26 ... CΔd2? because of27. ~b4!) 27. ~b7 ~h6
possible as Black's most fundamental 28.f4. It should be noted that an immediate
response 17 ... .id6 to be followed by 20 ... CΔb8 encounters 21.it..xffi! (ηο 21.CΔxd5?
18. ~xb7 CΔac5 19.dxc5 CΔxc5 allowed White ~f7 22.~xc8 1:ixc8 23 ..ic4 because of
to maintain his great advantage by 20 ...tg5! 23 ... ~xc4! 24. ~xc4 CΔc6), and Black's best
CΔxb7 21.it..xd8 CΔxd8 22.CΔd4. chance is the ugly 21 ... gxffi because ίη case
17•.• l:tc818.~b3 it..f6 of 21 ... ~xf6 there is 22. ~xb7, and if
The endgame after 18 ... ~b6 19. ~xb6 21 ... CΔxf6, then 22 ..ixf5, and 21 ... l:txf6
axb6 20.CΔa4 .id8 21.l:tac1 was hard for encounters 22.CΔxd5! l:txc1 23.l:txc1 ~π,
Black. White wins after 24.CΔxf6! .ixb3 25.l:tc8+
owing to the weakness of the back rank.
21 ..ixa6!?
White had an interesting resource of
21 ..ixf6! Normal moves like 21 ... ~xf6 or
21 ... l:txffi promised nothing good to Black:
the former because of 22. ~xb7 CΔac5
23.dxc5 CΔxc5 24.CΔxd5 ~d6 25.1:ίχc5 1:ixc5
26.CΔb4 a5 27.CΔa6, the latter because of
22.CΔxd5! l:txc1 (also 22 ... ~e6 was losing
due to 23.l:txc8 ~xc8 24.CΔe7) 23.l:txc1 ~π
(ίη case of 23 ... ~d6 there was a beautiful
solution 24.CΔxf6! .ixb3 25.1;Ic8+, and
19•..te5! 23 ... ~d8 was bad because of24.~xb7 CΔac5
White's bishop gets a stronghold ίη the 25.dxc5 .ixd5 26.~xa7) 24.CΔe5! ~xd5
centre ofthe board. ΙΠ had taken the pawn 25. ~xd5 .ixd5 26.l:tc8+ .ig8 27 ..ic4, Black
with the move 19. ~xb7?!, then after losing his g8-bishop. Well, there was still
19 ... CΔac5! 20. dxc5 CΔxc5 21. ~xa 7 CΔxd3 the unsightly 21 ... gxf6, with White's
22.J::!.xe6 CΔxf4 23.l:tee1 (the line 23.J::!.e3 d4 answer 22.CΔe2, similarly to the deve-
24.J::!.d1 has a refutation by means of lopment ofthe game, or 22.CΔb5!?
24 ... dxe3! 25.l:txd8 exf2+ 26.<Ji>xf2 l:tfxd8) 21 ...bxa6 22.CΔe2 it..xe5
23 ... ~xc3 24.bxc3 .ixc3 Black would have Black did not stand the strain ίη the
survived. centre and made concessions. White would
19... ~e7 20.J::!.ac1 ..tg8?! maintain a big advantage ίη case of
The passive stand of the a6-knight 22 ... .ih4 23.CΔxh4 ~xh4 24. ~e3 or 22 ...1::rc4
suggests an idea to involve it into the game. 23.~e3 as well.
Black could have tried to do this by 23.CΔxe5 J::tb8 24.~h3!
20 ... .ixe5 21.CΔxe5 CΔb8 as there would be Threatening with the fata125.CΔg6#.
ηο showy 22.CΔxd5?! ~d6 23.l:txc8 J::!.xc8 24 ... l:tb6 25.CΔί4
24 ..ixe4 fxe4 25. ~h3!? because of 25 ... The threat still stays actual.
~xd5! 26.CΔg6+ ~g8 27.CΔe7+ <Ji>f7 28.CΔxd5 25 ....if7?!
.ixh3 29.gxh3 CΔc6 30.Iιxe4 IId8, and Black After this move Black loses without
would be more or less οκ. Most likely ίη struggle. 25 ... ~g5 was more stubborn,
this case White would have to be satisfied although even then after 26. ~e3 ~d8
Essent 357
(Black was bad also after 26 ... ~h6 because Φg7 31.~ee8! It's obνious that ίη all the
of 27.~c7) 27.f3 CLJd6 28.b3 White would lines with forced 31 ... Φf6 Black either gets
haνe a huge positional adνantage. Please, checkmated or loscs the queen: 32.Sg8 Mg7
note that White's threat can't be refuted (32 ... '[;[xf5 33.'[;[h6+ Φe7 34.MC7+) 33.MCf8+
by 25 ... sff6? because of26.f3 or by 25 ... '[;[e8? Φe7 34.f6+ 1:txf6 35.Me8+ Φd6 (35 ... Φf7
because of 26.MC8! '[;[xc8 27.dxe5 Mxc8 36.'[;[d7+ Φg6 37.'[;[xg7+) 36.J::!d8+ Φc6
28. '[;[xf5 with White's decisiνe adνantage (36 ... Φe7 37.'[;[d7#) 37.'[;[c3+ Φb5 38.'[;[c5+
both lines. 'i.ta439.'[;[b4#
29 ... '[;[g7
Νο 29 ... Mxc8 because of30.lbxf7+, Black
loses the queen.
30.MXf8+ '[;[xf8 31.CLJd7 '[;[g7 32.f6!
White's position is also winning ίη case
of 32.CLJxb6 '[;[xd4+ 33.Φh1 '[;[xb6 34.'[;[c3+
d4 35.'[;[d2, but the moνe ίη the game wins
eνen simplier.
32 ...1:!.xf6 33.CLJxf6 '[;[xf6 34.ΦhΙ '[;[xd4
35.'[;[c3 '[;[g7 36.l:!.e7 1-0
He had ηο more resources to continue
the struggle.
26.f3!
Now Black's day are numbered since his
knight has ηο retreat because of the 259 Β20
adνance of any ofthe white knights to g6. Galkin - Polgar
26 ... g5 Round 2 16.10
If26 ... '[;[g5, then White wins by 27.'[;[g3!,
and ίη case of 26 ... ~h6 he gains a winning l.e4 c5 2.CLJe2
adνantage by 27. '[;[xf5 ~g8 28. '[;[g4 CLJf6 White probably wanted to aνoid the
29.'[;[g3. main lines of the Najdorf System. The
27.fxe4 gxf4 knight moνe which looks a bit clumsy was
Ιη case of 27 ... dxe4 the easiest way to used occasionally by P.Keres, A.Karpoν,
win is probably 28.CLJfd3! (also White's Vlνanchuk.
adνantage must be enough to win after 2 ... d6
28.CLJe2 f4 29.lbc3 e3 or 28. '[;[xf5 gxf4 29. There was a tougher continuation of
'[;[xe4 '[;[h4, but ίη these lines Black still has 2 ... CLJf6. Well, now White can deνelop his
certain counter chances) 28 ... '[;[d8 29.CLJc6. forces freely.
28.exf5 '[;[g5 3.g3 CLJf6 4.~g2lbc6 5.c3 e5 6.d4 cxd4
After 28 ... '[;[f6 Black's problems are 7.cxd4 '[;[a5+
connected with 29.~c7! (stronger than the ΟηΙΥ 7 ... ~g4 and 7 ... '[;[b6 haνe occurred
quiet 29.b4) as then there is ηο 29 ... MXb2 ίη this position before.
because of 30.lbxf7+ ~xf7 31.~e8+ Φg7 8.CLJbc3 ~g4 9.f3 exd4
32. '[;[g4+ Φh6 33.Se6, Black losing his Black did not want to allow d4-d5.
queen. 10.CLJxd4 ~d7 11.0-0 Jιe7
29.J::ι.c8 11 ... d5 is inappropriate before the
Ι chose the most efficient from many deνelopment is completed because after
alluring continuations, though Ι was able 12.CLJxc6 bxc6 13.exd5 the black king suffers
to organize also a simple mating attack οη a strong attack from the open e-file.
the black king by 29.CLJxf7+ Sxf7 30.1:tc8+ 12.Jιe3 ο-ο 13. '[;[b3 Sfe8
Black already lost a great deal of her

advantage.
260 C17.
Polgar - Κhalifman
Round 3 17.10
Notes by A.Khαlifmαn
l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.tbc3 iιb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3

iιa5 6.b4 cxd4 7.'i:1g4 tbe7 8.bxa5 dxc3
14.~fdl 9.'i:1xg7 ::tg8 10.'i:1xh7 tbbc6 11.tbf3 'i:1c7
There was ηο 14. 'i:1xb7 because of 12.iιf4 Jι.d7 13.~d3 0-0-0 14.~g3 'i:1xa5
14... tbxd415.~xd4 ::teb8 16.b4 'i:1a3 17. 'i:1c7 15.0-0 Mh8 16.'i:1g7
~xb4 and Black gets a better position. J.Polgar avoids the line 16. 'i:1xf7 I:tdf8
14... ~ίB 15.~f2 17. 'i:1g7 ~hg8 18. 'i:1h6 ~xf3 19.9xf3 tbd4
Again, ηο 15. 'i:1xb7 because of 15 ... tbxd4 20. 'i:1f4 tbef5 21. Φh1 ~b5 which occurred
16.~xd4 ~eb8 17.b4 'i:1a3 18. 'i:1c7 ~c8, and ίη round one in the game Galkin - Κha
ίη case of 19.'i:1a5 (if 19. 'i:1b7, then White's lifman, Hoogeveen 2000.
queen is trapped by 19 ... Jι.c6) there was 16... d4
19... ~xc3. An attempt to chase the white queen
15 ...tbe5 16.~acl until draw by 16 ... f5?! 17.exf6 ~dg8 18.'i:1f7
Now it seems that here White could Mf8 does not work because of19.tbe5! tbxe5
have afforded 16. 'i:1xb7, as after 16 ... !:reb8 (after 19 ... ~xf7 20.tbxf7 White is more than
he had 17.tbb3! Mter 17 ... 'i:1xc3?! (even ίη compensated for the queen) 20. 'i:1xe7 tbc6
case ofrelatively better 17 ... 1:txb7 18.tbxa5 21.'i:1d6.
~xb2 19.~d4 ~h3 20.~h1 Black had a 17.'i:1g4
worse endgame) 18. 'i:1xa8 (also 18. 'i:1xb8 17.~fe1 brought the game De Firmian
was good because 18 ...tbxf3+ 19.Φh1 tbxe4 - Lyrberg, Denmark 1999, to a draw after
was not dangerous for White owing to 17 ... ~dg818.'i:1xf7 Mf819.'i:1g7 ~fg8 20.'i:1f7
20.~f1!) 18 ... 'i:1xb3 19.axb3 ~xa8 20.f4 tbc6 I:tf8 21. 'i:1g7 ~fg8.
21.e5 Black experienced great difficulties. 17 ... tbf518.~tbl?!
16... ~ac8 17.tbdb5 The exchange 18.~xf5?! exf5 is not good
Once more, ηο 17. 'i:1xb7 because of as it gives Black pleasant play οη light
17 ... ~b8 18.tbb3 'i:1xc3! 19.'i:1xb8 'i:1xc1. squares to Black after 19. 'i:1f4 ~e6. Ηο
17 ... ~e6 wever, the move ίη the game was not the
This way οηlΥ. best possible choice as well. First of all,
18.'i:1a3?! White had to take care of her position ίη
It looks as ifWhite missed his advantage the centre of the board, and 18.~fe1 was
by this move. Mter 18. 'i:1c2! Black's position the best way to do this. Then after 18 ... ~hg8
was much harder because in case of 18 ... a6 (18 ... tbxg3!?) 19.'i:1f4 tbxg3 20.hxg3 'i:1c5
(18 ... tbc6 was unconvincing due to 19.tbxd6 there would be a position with mutual
~xd6 20.I:txd6 tbb4 21. 'i:1d2 tbxa2 22.1:tal) chances.
White had 19.tbxd6 ~xd6 20.~xd6 ~xa2 18... tbxg3!
21.~a1 ~b3, catching the black queen by White's dark-squared bishop is often out
22.'i:1xb3! 'i:1xa1+ 23.~d1 'i:1a5 24.~b6! of play ίη the French Defence, just look at
18... 'i:1xa3 19.bxa3 a6 20.tbxd6 ~xd6 the game Galkin - Κhalifman from round
21.~xd6 tbc4 22.~ddl tbxa3 112-% one. Ιη the present case the exchange of
Essent 359
the knight for the bishop, performed by after 23.gxf3 tίJe5 24 ..ie4) 23. t:lh51:!.h8 led
Black, is quite justified as the e5-pawn, the to a position where Black had a sufficient
pride of White's position, loses one of its compensation for the pawn, but it was not
protectors. Ι think it was the best moment clear whether it was promising more. Two
forthe exchange. 80, after 18 ... J::tdg819:~f4 other options for the white queen, 20. t:lg5
the exchange 19 ... tίJxg3 would not be so and 20. t:lg7, are not so good as they enable
efficient because of 19.fxg3! (19.hxg3 was Black to develop his initiative by sacrificing
very dangerous for White because of19 ... f5! the f-pawn. Ιη the first case Black obtains
with a strong attack οη White's position a fair compensation for the pawn by 20 ... f5!
after 20.tίJxd4 1:ϊg4 21.tίJxc6 iLxc6 22.t:le3 21.exf6 1!dg8 22. t:lb5 (if 22. t:lc5, then
[4 as well as ίη case of 20.exf6 t:lh5) as the 22 ... t:lf4) 22 ... ~f8, ίη the second case the
break-through ίη the centre 19 ... f5?! did not active position of Black's pieces οη the
promise Black anything good after 20.exf6 kingside makes his chances preferable after
e5 21. t:le4 ~g4 22. t:le2. 20 ... f5 (an irresolute 20 ... 1:ϊdg8?! gives
19.t:lxg3 White the initiatiye 21. t:lf6 t:ld8 22. t:lxd8+
~xd8 23.iLe4) 21.exf6 1:!.dg8 (21 ... tίJe5?
Now ίη case of 19.fxg3 Black would
22.tίJxe5 t:lxe5 with the idea to involve the
develop a strong initiative after 19 ... tίJxe5
20.t:lxd4 tίJxf3+ 21.gxf3 .ic6 22.t:le3 ~h5 d7-bishop into an attack οη White's king
from the a8-h1 diagonal does not work
because of 23.t:lg3! t:lxf6 24.J:txb7! 'it>xb7
25.~b1+) 22.t:lf7 (White can't make use of
the far advanced f-pawn by 22 ..ih7as after
22 ... l:!.xg7 23.fxg7 ~d8 24.g8t:l J::txg8 25.
~xg8 t:lf4 Black maintains his initiative)
22 ... nf8 (22 ... tίJe5 is better here, even
though White seems to hold οη after
23.tίJxe5 t:lxe5 24.g3) 23. t:lg6 t:lf4.
20 ... nhg8 21.t:lf4 ί5!
Now the queen οη c7 proves useful to
Black, White can not take en pαssαnt - if
19... t:lc7! she wants to keep his queen alive. The
Another subtle move. Instead of pulling continuation 21 ... f6 22. t:lxf6 ~df8 23. t:lh4
the queen to the f4-square by 19 ... ~dg8, is not so clear.
White makes an ambush. We will soon see 22.h3
how this circumstance will tell, οη the The move 22.tίJxd4? costs White a piece
game. after 22 ... ~g4.
20.'it>f1 ? 22 .. .';t>b8 23.I;Iel
ΜΥ opponent commited a blunder. 8he Again ηο 23.tίJxd4?, this time because
tried to take away the king from the file, of 23 ... tίJxd4 24. t:lxd4 .ic6, attacking
occupied by the queen, thus wasting White's queen and g2-pawn at the same
precious time. 8he should have ventured time.
οη 20.t:lf4!? Mter 20 ... f6 (ίη case of 20 ... f5 23 ... iLc8 24.tίJg5?!
21.tίJxd4 tίJxe5 22.1:ιb3 there was a keen White is a little confused and cannot find
position with mutual chances) 21. t:lxf6 a plan how to struggle against Black's
1!df8 22. t:lg5 (if 22. t:lg7, then 22 ... 1!fg8) growing initiative. Perhaps 24.l:!.ad1 was
22 ... !'ιhg8 (sacrificing an exchange by better here, but after 24 ... t:la5 Black's
22 ... I:ιxf3?! is most likely insufficient ίη this chances would be still preferable.
position and gives White certain advantage 24... lld5 25.tίJf3
White realizes that the manoeuvre she An apparently more active 29 ... -Sxg2?
launched with the previous move was a was erroneous and encountered 30.tιJc6+
mistake. If my opponent tried the funda- Wa8 31 ..ί:txh4! ~xh4 32.~xg2 bxc6 33.Ii:bl,
mental 25.1ιc4, then after 25 ... Ii:xe5 allowing White to take the initiative.
26 ..sxe5 tΔxe5 27.1ιb3 .sg6 28 ..se 1 she 30.-Sebl
would not be able to get out ofthe difficult Mter relatively more persistent 30.-Sdl
position anyway despite the numerous tιJh4 31.1ιe2 ~h6 White is not able to keep'
opportunities because of 28 ... d3!. For back the pressure ofBlack's pieces for any
example, ίη case of 29.cxd3 (29. ~xe5 is long.
losing because of 29 ... d2 30.~xc7+ Wxc7; 30 ... ~d7!
29 ..sxe5 does not work because of 29 ... d2 Now the overload ofthe d-file with white
30.We2 -Sxg5 31.g3 b6; as well as 29.-Se3 pieces should bring to a disaster.
because of 29 ... d2 30.We2 -Sxg5 31.~xg5 31.tιJe2
~d6!) 29.cxd3 tΔxd3 30.~xc7+ r:J;;xc7 31.Ii:e3 Αη intermediate 31.Jtb5 was not dan-
Black finds 31 ... b6!, aggravating White's gerous for Black, as after the coo131 ... ~d8!
hard situation. (the line 31 ... -Sxb5 32.tιJxb5 ~d2 33.~xg2
25 ... tΔe7! -Sxg2 34.r:J;;xg2 is less clear) White ex-
Black's knight, the former defender of perienced difficulties. 80, in case of 32.-Sdl
the d4-pawn, turns into one of the atta- (complications like 32.Jtc6 ~xd4 33.-Sxd4
ckers, besieging the white king. ~xd4 34.Jtxg2 b6 allowed Black to prepare
26.-Sabl a crafty strike frOΏl the a6-f1 diagonal, and
There was ηο 26.tΔxd4? because of in the line 32.tιJc6+ bxc6 33.~a6+ Wc7
26 ... tΔg6 27.~e3 f4 28.~e4 -Sxe5 29.~f3 34.-Sb7+ Jtxb7 35.~xb7+ Wc8 apparently
tιJh4. dangerous discovered check to the black
26 ... tιJg6 27.~h2 king proves to be ofno use) 32 ... a5 33.-Sc4
Perhaps the development of Black's ~d7 34.a4 (nothing particular changes in
attack could have been slowed down by the case of 34.~xd7 ~xd7 35.-Sd3 f4 36.a4 f3)
cool 27. ~g3!? so that Black would have to 34 ... f4 35.-sd3 f3 Black dominates over the
cut off the access of his queen to h7 by whole board. ΑΗ the white men are in a
27 ... -Sg7. sort of zugzwang. Any move can only make
27 ... ~h7 28.-sb4 the bad position worse.
White could have prevented the black
knight from getting to h4 with 28.h4?!, but
after 28 ... -Sh8 (also 28 ... ~h6 is ηο bad)
29.g3 her position was rather ugly, and a
mere 29 ... ~c7! was enough to destroy its
order.
28 ... tιJh4!
Α series of good positional solutions
increased the pressure upon White's
position.
29.tιJxd4
ΜΥ opponent was evidently not going
to suffer torments without any real coun- 31 ... -Sxd3!
terplay after 29 .tιJxh4 ~xh4 30.a4 b6 8acrificing an exchange, Black ruins
31.-Sal 1ιb7, so she decided to complicate White's last weak defence οη the way to
the struggle by tactical means. her king. However, the same idea can be
29 ... tιJxg2 performed in a slightly different way as
Essent 361
well: 31 ... a5!? 32.1::!.4b31::!.xd3! 33.cxd3 '§xd3 2000), but then conνenient equalization
34.1::!.c1 CL\f4! ways for Black were found, proνen ίη one
32.cxd3 '§xd3 33.J:.cl c2 34.J:.d4 of games by the ex-World Champion:
34 ... '§ d1 + was threatening. 15 ... ..te7 16.'§f4 ..td6 17.'§h4 ..te7 18.'§f4
34 .•. '§f3 35.CL\f4 ..td6, Leitao - Karpoν, Buenos Aires 2000.
The capture 35.1::!.xc2 after 35 ... CL\e3+ . 15 ... c416.d5
36.~e1 CL\xc2+ would be punished with The Dutch grandmaster tried to play
considerable material losses. Ιη case of differently ίη this position: 16.CL\e5 CL\f6
35.CL\gl Black wins by 35 ... '§xa3 36.CL\e2 (ηο 17 ...tf3 ..tb7 18.Rxb7 1:txb7 19.b3 cxb3
36.J::!.xc2 because of 36 ... '§a1+) 36 ... b6! 20.cxb3 CL\d5 21 . ..tf4 '§e7, but gained
37.J:.xc2 (ίη ca.ςe of 37.J:.d2 ..ta6 38.J:.dxc2 nothing from this position, Timman -
'§f3 39.1::!.d2 CL\f4 the threats from the a6-il 8eirawan, Bali 2000.
diagonal decide the game to Black's faνour 16... e5 17 ...tf5 cJ;;g8
as well) 37 ... ..ta6 38.1::!.cd2 f4 39.1::!.d8+ 1::!.xd8
40.1::!.xd8+ cJ;;c7, and there is ηο satisfactory
defence against the numerous threats.
After 35.CL\g3 the solution is 35 ... b6!
36.'§xg2 '§xa3 37.CL\e21::!.xg2 38.Wxg2 ..tb7+
39.cJ;;il ..te4.
35 ...b6!
The threat ofthe appearance ofBlack's
bishop οη the a6-il diagonal decided the
duel ίη my faνour. Howeνer, it's neνer late
to make a mistake. 80, after 35 ... CL\xf4?
36. '§xf4 '§xh3+ 37.cJ;;e2 the position would
become unclear. 18 ...te3
36.CL\xg2 ..ta6+ 37.cJ;;gl ..tb7 0-1 Α new moνe. Ιη the game Wells -
8peelman, Millfield 2000, the line 18.CL\d2
CL\f6 19 ...tc8 .!:!.c8 20.CL\il '§d7 21.b3 cb 22.cb
261 Β17 ~h7 23.CL\g3 ..tc5 brought to a tense play.
Timman - Galkin 18 ... CL\f6 19 . ..txc8 J:.xc8 20.a4 '§d7
Round 3 17.10 21.c3 1:tc7 22.CL\d2 CL\g4
Cutting offthe white queen from the c4-
l.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.CL\d2 dxe4 4.CL\xe4 pawn and preparing f7-f5 at the same time.
CL\d7 5.CL\g5 CL\gf6 6 ...td3 e6 7.CL\1f3 ..td6 23.h3 4.Jxe3 24.fxe3 f5 25.e4 f4 26.4.Jf3
8.'§e2 g5 27.'§h5 '§f7 28.'§g4 '§d7 29.'§h5 '§f7
The opponents went is for one of the 30.'§g4 '§d7 31.'§h5 1h-1h
most topical νariations of the Caro-Kann There was a position of dynamic balance
Defence. οη the board, and aνoiding a repetition of
8 ... h6 9.CL\e4 CL\xe4 10. '§xe4 '§c7 moνes was disadνantageous for both sides.
11.'§g4 cJ;;f8 12.0-0 c5 13.'§h4 b6 14 ...te4
1::!.b815.1::!.dl
At the tournament ίη Indonesia the 262 D31
Dutch grandmaster gained a perceptible Khalifman - Galkin
adνantage after 15.b3 CL\f6 16.dxc5 bxc5 Rour.d 4 19.10
17 . ..tb2 CL\xe4 18. '§xe4 ..tb7 19. '§g4 f5 Notes by A.Khαlifmαn
20. '§h5 ..txf3 21. '§xf3 cJ;;f7 22. '§h5+ g6
23. '§h4 ίη the game with Karpoν (Bali, l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.CL\c3 e6
Black's idea is plain, he wants to take υροη the d4-pawn was rather perceptible.
the c4-pawn, and if White defends it with 10 ...iιg4
4.e3, it will restrict considerably the The moνe 10 ... ~a5 would be but a blank
opportunities ofthe c1-bishop. shot. Mter 1l ..td2 ο-ο 13.0-0 Black would
4.e4 haνe to remember constantly about the
The most aggressiνe answer to the opposition of his queen to White's d2-
deνelopment system, chosen by Black. bishop.
( 4 ...iιb4 11.0-0 ο-ο
Black refused from the basic positions An immediate attack of the d4-square
ofthe Slaν Defence to appear after 4 ... dxe4 by 11 ... cxd4 12.cxd4 CίJf5 can be interesting.
5.CίJxe4 iιb4+ 6.iιd2 ~xd4. White has three promising options ίη this
5.cxd5 case:
White raised the pawn tension and a) 13.1:tb1 .txf3 14.iιxf3 CίJfxd4 (after
gained certain space adνantage ίη the 14 ... CίJcxd4?! 15 ..1:ι.Χb7 Black finds himself
centre. The delay of an exchange after 5.e5 ίη a hard situation) 15.iιg4 (now 15 ..!:!:xb7
CίJe7 6.a3 iιxc3+ 7.bxc3 c5 8.cxd5 allowed is already less efficient because of15 ... ~c8,
Black to put pressure υροη the d4-pawn and White should agree to an equal position
with 8 ... ~xd5! and thus to keep the big after 16.hιb2 CίJxf3+ 17.~xf3 ~e6 or go for
diagonal open for his pieces. a rook sacrifice by 16 ..1:ι.xf7!? ~xf717.lιxd5+
5 ... exd5 <t>e8 with unclear consequences) 15 ... nb8
Black keeps an opportunity to deνelop (an actiνe play like 15 ... h5?! 16.lιh3 g5 is
the light-squared bishop οη the diagonal not adνised for Black as after 17.lιb2 g4
c8-g4. Ιη case of 5 ... cxd5 6.e5 White had a 18.lιxd4 gxh3 19.e6! his position starts to
space adνantage for nothing. fall apart) 16.1ιb2 (ίη case of 16.1ιe3 Black
6.e5 CίJe7 7.CίJf3!? equalizes after 16 ... CίJe6 17.1ιf3 d4) 16 ...
It looks like this normal deνelopment CίJe6 17.f4 ο-ο 18.f5 CίJg5 19.f6 with a νery
moνe was played for the first time. 7.iιd3 good compensation for the pawn.
is the usual answer. Mter 7 ... c5 8.a3 iιxc3+ b) 13.1ιb2 ο-ο (there is ηο absolute
9.bxc3 CίJbc6 10.CίJe2 .ltf5 11.iιg5 ~d7 12. clearness ίη the line 13 ... CίJh4!? 14.CίJxh4
iιxe7 CίJxe7 13.0-0 .!:!:c8 14.CίJg3 iιxd3 15. 1ιχe2 15. ~xe2 ~xh4 16. ~b5 ο-ο 17.f4 .!:!:fd8
~xd3 h5 16.h4 g6 17.f4 CίJf5 ίη the game 18. ~xb7 CίJa5 19. ~a6 CίJc4 as Black obtains
Murshed - Dreeν, Ereνan 1996, Black certain counterplay for the missing pawn)
managed to organize an exemplary blo- 14.h3 (ίη case of14 ..!:!:b1 White has to reckon
ckade of White's pawn adνantage οη the with 14 ... CίJh4) 14 ... 1ιχf3 15.1ιΧf3 ~b6
kingside. 16 . .:tb1 CίJfxd4 (another capture 16 ...
7 ... c5 CίJcxd4?! after 17.1ιg4 g6 18.1ιΧd4 ~xd4
Black should not linger with this moνe. 19.1ιΧf5 ~xd120 . .!:!:fd1 gxf5 21 ..!:!:b7 results
If he delays it and plays 7 ... iιf5?! 8.iιe2 ίη a four rook endgame, which is difficult
ο-ο 9.0-0 c5, then he allows 10.dxc5! iιxc5 for Black) 17 ..ixd4 ~xd4 18 ..!:!:xb7 with
1l.CίJa4 which giνes White a perceptible White's slight adνantage.
adνantage. At last, there is also quiet c) 13 ..ie3 ο-ο
8.a3 14.~b1 with a slightly better play.
Before White castles, the moνe 8.dxc5 12.~bl
giνes nothing as after 8 ... CίJbc6 Black has a Also 12.h3!? .ixf3 13 ..txf3 cxd4 14.cxd4
counterplay, connected with the threat of CίJf5 15.1ιe3 (15.1ιb2 produced a position
d5-d4. from the aboνe considered νariation Β)
8 ... iιxc3+ 9.bxc3 CίJbc6 10..te2 15 ... ~h4 15 ..tg4 deserνed attention with
Ιη case of 10.iιd3 .tg4 Black's pressure White's slight but lasting adνantage.
Essent 363
12 ... ~c7 13.h3 Jιh5 18 ... a6 19.1:tbl c4

If 13 ... ~f5, then 14 ..ί:!.b2. Also White could gain a serious advan-
14.a4! tage after 19 ... ~fe8 by 20.e6 fxe6 21 ..ί:!.χe6
White shows that he could develop his Jιf7 22.I:te3.
dark-squared bishop to the a3-m diagonal. 20.Jιc2 lbd8
14 ... Jιg6 Black wants to prevent the break-
through e5-e6 completely, but now prob-
lems come from the adjacent f-file.
21.lbh4!
White's knight gives way to the f-pawn,
and also it is eager to move to f5 ορ
portunely.
21 ... 1:ιb8?
Mter this unhappy move Black already
can not improve his defence. Much better
was 21 ... Jιxc2 22. ~xc2 lbe6 (ίη case of
22 ... lbec6 23.Jιxd8 ~xd8 24.lbf5lbe7 25.e6!
fxe6 26.11xe6 .ttb8 27.a5 Black's position is
15.Jιd3!?
very hard) 23.Jιxe7 (also 23.Jιc1!? b5 24.f4
White ventured οη an exchange of his deserves attention, and the advance of
good bishop, not allowing his opponent to white pawns ίη the centre looks fairly
dominate over the most important b1-h7 unpleasant for Black, but ίη case of24.axb5
diagonal. Also White could try 15 ..ί:!.b5 a6 instead of 24.f4 there is 24 ... ~a5!?, and
16 ..ί:!.b2 cxd4 17.cxd4 lba5 18.lbh4 as an Black creates his own counterplay) 23 ...
alternative to the move ίη the game. 1:txe7 24.lbf5 (ίη case of24. ~d21:tm 25.f4 f5
15 ...IHd8?! or 24.g3lbg5 25.f4lbe4 26.lbf5 'ud7 27.Φh2
Black should have gone for the position g6 28.lbe3 f5 Black has a counterplay)
after 15 ... Jιxd3 16. ~xd3 c4 17. ~c2 f6!? 24 ... 1:ιd7 25. ~e2, and achieving White's
18.Jιa3, although White's chances would advantage would be much more difficult
have been still preferable ίη this case. than ίη the game.
16.Jιg5 22.f4
There was also 16.Jιa3!? cxd4 (building White starts a headlong advance ofthe
obstacles οη the way of White's dark- f-pawn.
squared bishop by 16 ... b6 might result into 22 ... Jιxc2 23. ~xc2 b5
serious difficulties for Black after 17 ..ί:!.e1 If 23 ... lbe6, then 24.~xe7 .ί:!.χe7 25.f5.
lba5 18.dxc5 bxc5 because of19.e6!) 17.cxd4 24.f5 lbdc6 25.f6
~xd3 (the move 17 ... lba5 is a blank shot as The white f-pawn broke Black's defence
after 18 ..ί:!.c1 Black's knight can't appear οη ίη four moves.
c4 without materiallosses) 18.~xd3 ~d7 25 ..•lbg6
19. ~b5 with White's advantage. Mter 25 ... gxf6 ~6.exf6 or 26.~xf6 Black
16... .ί:!.d7 17 ..ί:!.b5 b6 would lose very soon as well.
Α forced move: ίη case of 17 ... a6 White 26.lbf5
would sacrifice an exchange by 18 ..ί:!.χc5! b6 Also 26.e6 Iϊd6 (ίη case of26 ... fxe6 White
19.~xe7 bxc5 20.Jιxc5 and thus gain a wins by 27.lbxg6 hxg6 28 ..ί:!.χe6.ί:!.f7 29.~xg6
serious advantage. ~d7 30 ..ί:!.be1) 27.lbxg6 hxg6 28.~f4 gxf6
18..ί:!.eΙ 29. ~f2! was possible with a winning
Now Black will have to reckon with the position.
possible e5-e6 all the time. 26 ...h627.e6
The game could be finished by 27.Jι.c1!? and got a good compensation.

gxf6 28.~d2 t;rd8 (White wins also after 10.0-0 CLlxc3 11.CLlxc3 ο-ο
28 ... CLlce7 29.CLlxh6+ Φh7 30.exf6) 29. t;rxh6 Now Black has a pair ofbishops, but she
t;rf8 30.e6! ':db7 31. t;rh5 as there is ηο has still some problems with the de-
satisfactory defence against CLlf5-h6 now. velopment of her queenside.
27 ...hxg5 12.~cl Jι.ί6 13.f4
Ιη case of 27 ... fxe6 the solution is Anovelty. Preνiously 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.f4
28.CLlxh6+ (28.CLlxg7 is possible too) 28 ... (after 14.b4 jιxe5 15.dxe5 Jι.c4 16.f4 CLlc6
Φh7 29.fxg7 ':xg7 30.~xe6. After 27 ... ~dd8 17.a3 b5like ίη the game Hultin - Rytsha-
the answer is 28.CLle7+! CLlgxe7 29.exf7+ gov, Stockholm 1937, White can get even a
ι;!;xf7 30.fxe7 hxg5 31.exd8t;r 1::txd8 32. t;rh7. worse position) 14 ... Jι.xe5 15.dxe5 CLld7
28.exd7 t;rxd7 16.~e1 ~c8 17.e4 CLlc5 occurred ίη the game
If28 ... gxf6, then White wins by 29 ..:te8+ Van Wely - Adams, Groningen 1997, with
Φh7 (the move 29 ... CLlf8 promises Black equal chances.
nothing because of 30.axb5 axb5 31.~xb8 13 ...Jι.xe5?!
t;rxb8 32.t;re2 CLlxd7 33.t;rf3) 30.axb5 t;rxd7 ΒΥ this exchange Black hopes to develop
3u::rxb8 CLlxb8 32.b6 her knight as soon as possible. Ιη case of
29.axb5 axb5 30.CLlxg7 b4 31. t;rd2! 13 ... i.b7 White had 14.e4. Still, the most
Two black pawns are attacked at the fundamental refutation for White's thir-
same time. teenth move was 13 ... dxc4, even though
31 ... CLlf4 32.cxb4 t;ra7 after 14.b4 (after 14.bxc4 j,xe5 15.fxe5
Ιη case of 32 ... t;rd6 the easiest way to jιxc4 or 14.CLle4 cxb3 15.axb3 J.e7 White
win is 33.CLlh5 c3 (if 33 ... CLlxd4, then had ηο compensation for the pawn) 14 ...
34. t;rxd4 CLlxh5 35.1::te5) 34. t;re3 c2 35.1cl.bc1 t;re7 (ίη case of14 ... i.b715.e3 t;re716.CLlxc4
CLle6 36 ..1:.xc2 CLlcxd4 37 ..ί:[d2 .ί:[Χb4 38.CLlg7. t;rxb4 17.CLle4 White had a full compen-
33.CLlf5 1-0 sation for the pawn, threatening to intrude
Ιη case of 33 ... CLle6 the solution is ίη an to d6, as 17 ... ..te7 did not prevent him
attack οη the king: 34.1::txe6! fxe6 35.t;rxg5 from playing so bε'.cause of 18.CLled6 j,xd6
ι;!;f8 (ίf35 ... Φh8, then 36.CLle7) 36. t;rh6, and 19.a3! ) 15.CLlg4 (15.b5 was insufficient
ίη case of 33 ... t;rd7 after 34.CLle7 CLlxe7 35. because of 15 ... Jι.xe5 16.fxe5 Jι.b7) 15 ...
fxe7 .ί:[e8 36.b5 1::txe7 37.b6 the passed b- t;rxb416.CLlxf6+ gxffi, and now 17.e4 or 17.f5
pawn decides. White would have a serious initiative for
the missing material.
14.fxe5 CLld7 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.~f2
263 Ε15 Preparing e2-e4.
Timman - Polgar 16... .ί:[c8
Round 4 19.10 If 16 ... Jι.b7, then 17.CLlb5 with an
intrusion to d6.
l.d4 CLlf6 2.c4 e6 3.CLlf3 b6 4.g3 Jι.a6 17.e4 dxe4 18.CLlxe4 ί6 19.j,h3 t;re7
5.b3 jιb4+ 6.i.d2 jιe7 7.i.g2 c6 8.1ιc3 d5 Mter 19 ... ~xc1 20.J.xe6+ ι;!;h8 21.t;rxc1
9.CLle5 tΔe4 fxe5 22.jιxd7 .ί:[Χf2 23.tΔxf2 t;rxd7 24.t;ra3!
J.Polgar refused to repeat the opening t;rc8 25.dxe5 White could have won a pawn
experiment she tried ίη her game with ίη a forced line.
A.Karpov ίη Buenos Aires when after the 20.r!xc8?!
well known moves 9 ... tΔfd7 10.CLlxd7 CLlxd7 ΒΥ this exchange the Dutch grand-
11.CLld2 ο-ο 12.0-0 CLlf6 13.e4 b5 14.~e1 dxe4 master lost a great deal of his advantage.
15. t;rc2 ~c8 16 ..ί:[ad1 CLld5 17 ...tb2 Black After the strongest 20.exf6! CLlxf6 (if
sacrificed a piece by 17 ... f5 18.cxd5 cxd5 20 ... gxf6 2U~xc8 ~xc8, then 22.d5!, and if
Essent 365
20 ... Mxc1 21. ~xc1 gxf6, then 22. ~c7) ίηWhite's faνour.
2UtJg5 Mxc1 22.~xc1 ~c8 23.1:!.c2 lιd7 29 ... ~d5 30.~xd5 exd5 31.a5 bxa5
24.MC7 ~d6 25. ~f4 Black's position was 32.bxa5 Cbd7 33.a6 Cbb6 34.lιh3 h5
hopeless as his pieces were absolutely 34 ... d4 did not help because of 35.rJJf2
helpless. Φf636.a7.
35.a7 g5 36.lιf5 e3
Black could not take the bishop as white
pawns would queen then.
37.'it>f1 d4 38.Φe2 Φf6 39.'tt>d3 h4
40.lιg4 hxg3 41.hxg3 1-0
Black resigned before his central pawns
were annihilated.
264 Α70
KhalifElan - Polgar
Round 5 20.10
20 ... lιxc8! Notes by A.Khαlifmαn
The only moνe. Mter 20 ... Mxc8 21.exf6
Cbxf6 (21 ... gxf6 was not better because of l.d4 Cbf6 2.c4 e6 3.Cbf3 c5 4.d5 d6
22.d5!) 22.Cbxf6+ gxf6 23.d5 White was 5.Cbc3 exd5 6.cxd5 g6 7.e4 lιg7 8.h3
winning. If White completes his deνelopment ίη
21.Cbd6 fxe5 22.1::txf8+ Cbxf8 this system without adνentures, then will
Black's trick became possible owing to Black encounter great problems with her
the erroneous exchange, performed by light-squared bishop.
White οη the twentieth moνe. The c8- 8 ... 0-0 9.i.d3 a6
bishop is temporarily lost. Mter 22 ... ~xf8 There was a more tough refutation of
23.~xe6+ there would be ηο doubt con- 9 ... b5. ΜΥ opponent applied this moνe two
cerning the possible result of the game. years ago ίη her first and third games of
23.Cbxc8 ~c7 24.Cbxa7 ~xa7 the rapid (30 min) match with A.Karpoν.
The material balance is restored. 10.a4 ~c7 11.0-0 Cbbd7 12.Mel Me8
25.d5 ~d7? 13.lιf4 l:i.b8
Now this was the decisiνe mistake. Bad If Black played 13 ... Cbh5 14.lιh2 Cbe5,
was also 25 ... exd5 26. ~xd5+ Φh8 (if trying to ease her position with exchanges,
26 ... ~Π, then 27.~xe5) 27.~d6!, andBlack then White would haνe an unpleasant
experienced great problems. The correct 15.i..e2!, and the exchange 15 ... Cbxf3+ after
line was 25 ... b5+! 26.'it>hl (ίη case οf26.ΦΩ 16.Bxf3 Nf6 would let him break-through
there was 26 ... ~Π+) 26 ... ~a8! (this is the ίη the centre: 17.e5! dxe5 18.d6.
point) 27 .~g2 ~xa2 28.d6 ~a7 (also 14.i.c4 Cbb6
28 ... b4!? was possible, as there was ηο Το find conνenient stands for Black's
29.d7?? because of 29 ... Cbxd7 30.~xd7 knights is not an easy task. Ιη case of
~al+), and Black held, as ίη case of29.b4 14 ... Cbe5 after 15.Cbxe5 dxe5 16.jιe3 White
(with the idea to use the weakness of the gains a considerable adνantage as the e5-
b5-pawn) White had 29 ... ~d4! 30. ~xd4 pawn blocks up the long diagonal for
exd4 31.jιc6 ΦΠ 32.jιxb5 e5 33.jιc4+ Φe8 Black's g7-bishop, and after 14 ... Cbh5
with an equality. 15.lιh2 Cbe5 White managed to gain a big
26.d6 ~c6 27.a4 e4 28.b4 rJJf'7 29.~f1! adνantage by a manoeuνre, similar to the
The threat of Bfl-b5 decides the game one mentioned ίη the preνious note:
16.i.e2! ίη the game Lima - Peralta, Sao 20 ... ~a5?! was bad because of 21.CΊΊd5.
Paulo 1991. 21.J:edl Φg7
15.i.f1 CΊΊfd7 16.Itcl! Ιη case of 21 ... b6 Black had to reckon
Α helpful move. Mter 16.a5 CΊΊa8 17.CΊΊd2 with 22. ~h6!? with attacking prospects.
b5 18.axb6 CΊΊaxb6 19.i.xa6 i.xa6 20.Itxa6 22.~e3
CΊΊe5 21. ~e2 c4 Black got a sufficient AIso 22.b3!? CΊΊf6 23.f4 i.d7 24. ~b2
compensation for the sacήficed pawn ίη the deserved attention with White's initiative.
game Karpov - Timman, Kuala Lumpur 22 ...b6
(m/6) 1990. After 22 ... ~b4?! Black's queen would be
16... CΊΊe517.CΊΊxe5 i.xe5 18.i.xe5 dxe5 endangered, and White might try to gain
Mter the move ίη the game White got a from this by means of 23.CΊΊd5! ~xa4 (if
strong passed pawn οη the d-file. Mter 23 ... ~xb2, then 24.i.c4, and there is ηο
18".':xe5 19.f4 ':e8 20.e5 i.f5 21.a5 CΊΊc8 defence against ~c1-b1, catching the
22.e6 Black lost soon ίη the game Adler- queen), and then by 24.i.b5!! axb5 (if
Κljako, Bled 1992. 24 ... ~a2, then White gets to the black king
19.~d2 by 25.i.xd7 i.xd7 26.~f3! ~xb2 27.~f6+
The easiest way to gain a large ad- ~h6 28.g4, and ίη case of 24 ... ~xb5 the
vantage was perhaps 19.a5!? CΊΊd7 20.~a4. knight fork 25.CΊΊc7 decides) 25.~a1
19... CΊΊd7 23.b3
Black could have blocked up the white 23.i.c4!? was possible with the idea that
d-pawn with her queen (19 ... ~d6) but, after 23 ... b5 White traps the black queen
firstly, queen is a bad blocker and, secondly, by 24.axb5 axb5 26.~a1 ~b4 26.CΊΊd5 ~xc4
after 20.a5! CΊΊd7 21.CΊΊa4 she would have 27.b3.
simply ηο move. 23 ... i.b7
White could get a good attacking
position after 23 ... CΊΊf6 24.f4 (24.CΊΊd5 is less
clear because of 24 ... CΊΊxd5 25.~xd5 i.e6)
24 ... i.e6 (if 24 ... exf4, then after 25. ~xf4
i.e6 26.i.c4 White gains still more space
for his activity) 25.i.c4! (25.fxe5 is weaker
because of25 ... CΊΊd7 26.CΊΊd5 i.xd5 27 ..ϊ:ιχd5
~xe5) 25 ... i.xc4 26.bxc4 ~bd8 27.f5, and the
play οη the kingside might be especially
unpleasant for my opponent because ofthe
passive position ofher queen.
24.i.c4
20.d6!? Now that Black had maintained control
An important moment. White's pawn over the d5-square with her bishop, the
shot ahead, cutting Black's position. move 24.CΊΊd5?! would be a mistake, allo-
J.Polgar will not cope with this problem wing Black to get ~ιη agreeable position by
until the end ofthe game. There was also 24 ... i.xd5 25.~xd5 CΊΊf6
another, less committing continuation: 24 ... i.c6 25.i.d5 l::tbc8 26.f4!
20.b4!? Mter 20 ... ~d6 (Black stands still White is trying to clear a base for an
worse ίη case of 20 ... cxb4 21.CΊΊa2 ~d8 intrusion ofhis pieces.
22. ~xb4) 21.b5 a5 22.CΊΊd1 b6 23.CΊΊe3 Black 26 ...b5
would have quite an unpleasant position Black wants to involve her queen ίη the
without any hint of counterplay. play, but instead he allows White to open
20 ... ~a5 up the a-file which can be used for landing
Essent 367
pieces ίn Black's camp. 31 ..•.tta8 32.4Jc6

27.axb5 axb5 28.fxe5 J::txe5 Ιn case of 32.1:!.d5 l:Ϊe6 (32 ... l:txd5 33.
Ιn case of28 ... 4Jxe5 White had a forced 4Jxd5 1:ta3 is bad because of 34.e5! l:txb3
νictory after 29.Jιxc6 tIxc6 30.tIa1 ~b6 35.l:!fl) 33.e5 f6 (33 ... 4Jxe5 is losing because
31.4Jd5 ~d8 32.4Jc7 J::tf8 33.Ua8 ~d7 of34.~fl! f6 35.l:!xe5) 34. ~g4 ΦίΊ Black still
34.~xf8 Wxf8 35.~h6+ «t>g8 36.~a1 might fix the defence.
29. ~f4 Jιxd5 32... ~g5 33. ~xg5 tIxg5 34.~al
Black is forced to agree to this exchange.
Ιn case of an actiνe 29 ... f5 after 30.exf5 J::txf5
31.~h4 ~b6 32.J::te1 her king would suffer
from co-ordinated actions ofWhite's pieces.
Now if she preferred the passiνe way of
29 ... f6, then White would haνe 30.Jιxc6
J::txc6 31.J::ta1!, Black's position would be
almost lost after any retreat of the queen.
For example, after 31 ... ~b6 (if 31 ... ~xc3,
then 32.J::ta7 g5 33. ~g4, and ίn case of
31 ... ~d8 there is 32.4Jxb5) 32.4Jd5 ~d8
(after 32 ... ~b7 White wins by the forced
line 33.4Jxf6 g5 34.4Jh5+ 'it>g6 35. ~f3) 34 ••. ~xa1?!
33.4Jc7 Black only can lose by exchange. The Ηungaήan grandmaster did not use
30.4Jxd5 ~d8 all of her opportunities. 8he should haνe
Black had nothing better than this kept the rook aliνe for the defence. 80,
moνe. Mter 30 ... ~a6 31.4Jf6 g5 32.4Jh5+
34 ... J::tf8! was much stronger than the moνe
Φg8 (ίn case of 32 ... Wg6, then 33.~f3 1:lf8
she made. After 35.J::ta5!? (ίn case of35.J::td5
34.4Jg3 and if 32 ... 'it>f8, then 33.~f2 J::td8 J::txd5 36.exd5 c4 37.bxc4 bxc4 Black
34.J:H1 f5 35. ~g3 and Black's position is maintains the equality, and ίn case of
hopeless) 33. ~g4 J::td8 a queen sacrifice is 35.Wh2 c4! 36.kla7 4Je5 37.~c7 4Jxc6
possible: 34. ~xd7! J::txd7 35.4Jf6+ 'it>g7 38.~xc6 J::td8 39.bxc4 bxc4 40.l:txc4 ~e5
36.4Jxd7 1:le8 37.4Jxc5 ~a2. Now White White hardly would manage to achieνe his
should achieνe his great adνantage owing extra pawn) 35 ... 4Je5 36.4Jxe5 J::txe5 37.
to his far adνanced d-pawn ίn the centre J::txb5 Φf6 38.'it>f2 'it>e6 (38 ... Jaxe4 39.Uxc5
by 38.d7 J::td8 39.J::td5 h6 40.e5. Ιn case of Ud8 40.J::tc7 ~b4 41.~d3±) 39.~b7 J::td8
30 ... ~a8 31.J::tf1 f5 (31 ... J::tf8 is losing 40.'it>f3 White would haνe to make many
because of32.4Jf6) there is a strong 32.4Jb6! efforts to turn his extra pawn into a νictory.
J::txe4 33.4Jxa8 J::txf4 34.J::txf4 ~xa8 35.g4, The other retreat 34 ... J::tc8 did not work as
and White's extra exchange should be after 35.J::ta7 J::txc6 (ίn case of35 ... 4Jb6 36.d7
enough to win eνentually. At last, after 4Jxd7 37.J::tdxd7 J::txc6 38.J::txf7+ Φg8 39.
30 ... c4 31.J::ta1 ~d8 32.J::ta7 g5 33.~f3 l:tg7+ Φf8 40.I;Ixh7 Φg8 41.J::tag7+ 'it>f8
Black's position is dubious too. 42.z:ι.b7 Φg8 43.z:ι.hd7 ~c8 44.J::txb5 White
31.4Je7! must win) 36.J::txd7 I;Ic8 (36 ... I;Ia6 37.J:Ic7 (ίn
Cutting off the black queen from the case of 37 ... ~a2 White wins by 38.g4, and
kingside. After 3U:la1 ~g5! (ίn case of ίn case of 37 ... .!::tg3 by 38.'it>h2) 37.J:Ie7 .ί:Ld8
31 ... J::ta8 32.Uxa8 ~xa8 33.4Jf6 g5 34.4Jxd7! 38.J::tfl l:!xd6 39.J::tfxf7+ Φg8 40 ..ί::tg7+ 'it>f8
gxf4 35.4Jxe5 White's d-pawn, supported by 4Ulef7+ 'it>e8 42.J::tb7 Φf8 43.J::txh7 'it>g8
the knight and rook, decides the game ίn 44 ..ί:Lhc7 J:Id8 45.tIxb5+ White wins anyway.
White's faνour) 32. ~xg5 1:!.xg5 the position 35.J::txal c4
would be unclear. Black's other moνes were losing as well.
Mter 35 ... ~g3 36.~a7 tLJf8 White wins by rearrange his pieces adνantageousIy by
37.tLJe5! ~xb3 (ίf37 ... Φf6, then White wins 11 ... tLJe8 12. ~d2 ~f6 13.J:'!f2 ~e5 14.Jtg5
by 38.tLJf3 Φe6 39.Φf2 ~xf3+ 40.gxf3 tLJd7 tLJf6 as the game GeIler - Andersson,
41.~a6) 38.~xf7+ Φg8 39.d7 tLJxd7 (39 ... London 1982 showed.
~b1+ 40.Φf2 ~d1 is of ηο use because of 11 ... ~e6 12.ΦhΙ d5 13.exd5 tLJxd5
41.~e7 tLJxd7 42.tLJxd7 c4 43.e5! .ί:!.d4 44.ςt>e3 14.tLJxd5 ~xd5 15.~f3
.ί:!.d3+ 45.Φe2 ~d4 46.g3!) 40 . .ί:!.Χd7 c4 15. ~xd5 ~xd5 16.~ad1 ~ad8 Ied to an
41.tLJg4 andjoint actions ofWhite's knight, equaI endgame.
rook and e-pawn create a mating net 15 ... ~c4 16.Jte2 ~d5
around the bIack king. AIso 35 ... Φf6 did not Ιη the game Gunnarsson - Engqνist,
work because of 36.ΖΗ1+ (but ηο 36 ..ί:ta7? GausdaI1993, BIack lauched a counterpIay,
because of 36 ... tLJe5) 36 ... ςt>g7 (if 36 ... Φe6, trying to win by 16 ... ~a4 17.~d3 ~c4.
then 37 .tLJd8+) 37 .tLJd8, not alIowing BIack 17.~f3 ~c4 lh-%
to adνance the f-pawn because ofthe knight ΑΙΙ this stuff occurred aIready ίη the
fork from e6. game GaIkin - Gallagher, Batumi 1999 at
36.bxc4 bxc4 37.~a7 c3 38.tLJd4 .ί:tc5 the Europe Team (;hampionship.
Ιη case of38 ... tLJc5 39.d7 tLJxd7 40.~xd7
~e5 41.~c7 ~xe4 42.tLJb5 White's νictory is
but a question oftime. 266 Β31
39.tLJc2! Timman - Κhalifman
The Iast subtIety. After 39 ..ί:txd7 c2 Round 6 21.10
40.tLJxc2 ~xc2 41.e5 ~e2 42.~e7 ςt>f8 43.~c7
there wouId be stilI some probIems. l.e4 c5
39... J:.b5 The French Defence with 1 ... e6 has
If39 ... tLJf8, then White wins with 40.d7 aIready pIayed its part, haνing brought 2
tLJe6 41.J:.a6! tLJd8 (if 41 ... ~c7, then 42 ..ί:txe6 points of 2 to me.
~xd7 43.~c6) 42.Ma8 tLJe6 43 ..ί:!.c8 ~a5 2.tLJf3 tLJc6 3.~b5
44.tLJd4. J.Timman preferred a cIosed position to
40.~xd7 .ί:!.b2 41.tLJe3 ~e2 42.tLJd5 1-0 main νariations of the SiciIian Defence.
3 ... g6 4.0-0 iιg7 5.~el tLJf6 6.tLJc3 ο-ο
7.e5 tLJe8 8.d3 tLJc7 9.a4 b6 1 0.~xc6
265 Β83 Mter 10.iιf4 ~b7 11.tLJe4 tLJe6 12.~g3
Galkin - Timman tLJcd4 BIack got a conνenient position for
Round 5 20.10 his pieces ίη the ωntre.
10... dxc6
l.e4 c5 2.tLJf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.tLJxd4 tLJf6
5.tLJc3 d6 6.~e2
White wants to pIay as soIid as possibIe.
Α transition to the Keres Attack Ieads to a
keener pIay: 6.g4.
6 ... Jl.e7 7.f4 ο-ο 8.0-0 tLJc6 9.~e3 e5
10.tLJb3
Ιη the beginning of the eighties there
was an actiνe discussion of the νariation
10.fxe5 dxe5 11.tLJf5. AIso 10.tLJxc6 bxc6
occurs sometimes.
10 ... exf4 11.~xf4
Ιη case of 11.~xf4 BIack has time to 11.a5
Essent 369
Α new moνe. Ιη the game Ljubojeνic -

Hendriks, Netherlands 1996, there was
11.h3 jιe612.~e2 ~d713.~d2 ..id514.tΔe4
tΔe6 15.~e3 f5 16.exf6 exf6 17.tΔc3 .ί:[ae8
with an approximately equal position.
11 ... ~g4
Black made use of an opportunity to
simplify the play a little.
.
12.h3 ~xf3 13.~xf3 tΔe6 14...ie3 ~c7
Draw, securing second place for J.

Timman. 17.~xc3
White did not νenture οη a pawn
sacrifice which was required by the most
267 D42 fundamental line with 17.bxc3. After
Polgar - Galkin 17 ... ~xa3 (a refusal to capture 17 ... ~d5
Round 6 21.10 after 18.c4 ~h5 19.~c1 ~f6 20.h3 .ί:[ad8
21.d5 gaνe White a better play ίη the game
l.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Larsen - Najdorf, Palma de Mallorca 1969)
White chose the Panoν Attack to strug- 18.tΔg5 ~e7 19. ~g3 ~f6 20. ~f4 tΔa5
gle against the Caro-Kann Defence. 21.1:!.e3 ~e7 22.1::rde1 ~g7 White managed
4 ... tΔf6 5.tΔc3 e6 6.tΔf3 ..ie7 7.cxd5 to deνelop a decisiνe attack against the
tΔxd5 8.~d3 tΔc6 9.0-0 ο-ο 10.1:!.el tΔf6 black king with 23.tΔxh7! ίη the game Ι.
The line 10 ... Άf6 11.Άe4 tΔce7 occurs Noνikoν - Kourkounakis, Isle ofMan 1996.
now more often. 17 ... ~f6 18.iιe4 J:c8 19. ~e3 tΔa5
11.a3 b6 12.~g5 ~b7 13.~c2 tΔd5 20.tΔe5 ~xe4 21.~xe4 tΔc4 1/2-%
14.~d3 g615.Άh6 .ί:[e8 16..ί:[adΙ tΔxc3 Black at least is not worse here.
World Chess Championship

New DelhiJTehran 27.11-25.12
100 players (88 αΜ and 10 ΙΜ) participated ίη the Men's FIDE Κnockout World
Championship: 16 representatives of Russia, Armenia - 5 representatives, USA - 5,
France - 4, India - 4, Israel- 4, the Ukraine - 4, Brazil- 3, England - 3, Hungary - 3,
Poland - 3 ...
27 ofthe highest rated players and Nisipeanu (his rating was not high, but was the
participant ofthe FIDE World Championship semi-final in 1999) were exempted from
playing ίη the fist round.
Those who lost in the first round got US $ 6.000 each, ίη the second - 10.800, ίη the
third - 21.600, ίη the fourth - 43.200, ίη the fifth - 86.400, ίη the sixth -172.800, ίη the
seventh - 396.000. The World Champion won the prize of$ 660.000. The players had to
pay 20% oftheir prize money to the FIDE/CACDEC fund.
From the 1st to the 5th round the opponents played two games (one game ίη one day),
ίη the 6th round - four games, ίη the 7th - six.
The mini matches consisted oftwo games with 100 minutes for 40 moves, thereafter
50 minutes for 20 moves and finally 15 minutes for the rest ofthe game with a bonus of
30 seconds per move. Ιη case of equality, there were to follow two rapid games of 25
minutes (+ 10 seconds per move), then two 10-minute games (with the same bonus). If
by then ηο decision was reached, the winner was to be determined by blitz.
At the sαme time with the World Chαmpionship the mαtch Kαspαrov - Krαmnik wαs
held. Here αre some αnswers ofthe fαmous plαyers to the question: "Whαt do you think
αbout the London mαtch Kαspαrov - Krαmnik ?".
Khalifman: "Vladimir Κramnik, ίη all my respect for him (we were always οη the
best ofterms and, Ι hope, they will remain like that), is not a direct successor as it
was written ίη "SPORTS EXPRESS", but only a champion ofthe world by "Brain
Games" company version. That, what was done by Vladimir, is remarkable, this,
perhaps, is one ofthe most outstanding achievements ίη the history of chess, but if
he is a direct successor really, that is only ίη the logical line which was broken
before the World War Second. What took place ίη London was a retreat for half a
century backwards. Figuratively speaking Kasparov has been sitting οη the stove
for five years, and then he pointed a finger who would be his rival. Yes, this rival is
very strong, but there was ηο selection after! What a championship ofthe world is
this, ifthe sports principle was not observed? Ifwe recognize the said contest legiti-
mate then the entire chess world may be plunged into incredible chaos" ("SPORTS
EXPRESS" 2000).
Ivanchuk: "This is purely commercial duel. The duel of very strong chessplayers.
But Ι do not consider it a match for the championship of the world. It determines a
winner between two rivals. The real World Champion is Κhalifman who passed the
hard and thorny way for this title beating all opponents before him ... Ι shall consider
Kasparov to be a champion of the world only then when he takes part ίη a world
World Chess Chαmpionship 371
championship and wins it. Ιη a word, the championship begins οη the 27th of Νο
νember ίη Deli. According to the last data οηlΥ four chessplayers will not participate
ίη it, Κramnik, Κasparoν, Kamsky, Karpoν". (26.10.2000)
B.Gelfand: "The match Kasparoν-Κramnik", ίη all my respect, cannot be called a

match for the title ofWorld Champion, there was ηο sport selection.
E.Bareev: ''1 consider that we haνe two champions for today, Κhalifman by FIDE
νersion and Κramnik by Braingames, i.e. Ilymzhinoν and the company. And there
are some Iηore strong chessplayers who can fight for the title of world champion ...
Formely we had a common system of selection, Kasparoν passed through it, but
there is ηο such a system now. May be, it will appear one day. Eνery new match is
conducted by a new organization PCA, WCC, BGN; there will be lack ofletters soon.
80 we had thirteen champions, and haνe two now by different νersions, let's agree
to that. The connection of times is broken, although the situation will improνe per-
haps".
A.Grischuk: ''1 think it's possible to consider Κramnik a World Champion contrary
to Kasparoν who has not been a World Champion already for a long time ... Κramnik
has just won a νery tough match against a νery strong opponent, against the best
player, while Kasparoν didn't defend his title for a long time ... Κhalifman is the
fourteenth champion, Κramnik is the fifteenth, and the winner ίη Tehran will be
the sixteenth."
It is αlso very interesting to know the pαrtisipαnts' opinion of the chαmpionship's

system: "Do you like this formαt ofthe World Chαmpionship?"
M.Adarns: ''1 think the system is quite good because there are many strong players
ίη the world these days and it is important that the number ofplayers can partici-
pate. But, of course, 2 games can also be quite short. 80, time will tell."
Z.Azrnaiparashvili: 'Όf course, this is the best one. Ιη any way, one should not go
back to the old system."
A.Kharlov: "This is a νery interesting system, but many people haνen't yet got
used to it. That's why they seem to be not quite happy with it."
B.Gulko: "There are still a lot of drawbacks. It doesn't giνe fair results except maybe
for the winner. For example, Kamsky lost to Κhalifman last year at the νery begin-
ning ofthe championship, and he was, perhaps, the second strongest participant ίη
the tournament. The second drawback is a νery short distance - οηlΥ two games.
Υου haνe one bad day and you are out of the tournament."
B.Gelfand: "The format of the true World Championship is destroyed. Let's not
look for guilty, but it is my personal tragedy and, Ι think, the tragedy ofmany young
p1ayers - Leko, Morozevich, 8vid1er ... There was se1ection, there were interzona1
tournaments, so we had something to be prepared really. And now what - to be
prepared for knockout tournaments? Everything is decided by whose nerves are
stronger. 1t is necessary to strengthen nervous system, to jog... There were 13 cham-
pions, then the new counting began. Anand won the first such championship ίη
Groningen (οη1Υ then he had to p1ay a match with handicap), that, however, is a
matter of discussion. Κha1ifman is the next. And the history has finished."
P.Tregubov: 'Ίt has both advantages and shortcomings. 1f we consider chess as

sports, this system justifies itse1f If we care οη1Υ about the creative aspect, the
matches, certain1y, are better. But if chess is sponsored 1ike any other kind of sport,
then, probab1y, chess p1ayers have to accept the system, οη which they give money."
B.Macieja: 'Ί 1ike this system and it intrigues me to participate ίn it. 1η the previ-
ous system p1ayed for many years Ι didn't have a chance to qua1ify for high 1aure1s.
Now Ι have οη1Υ to win zona1 tournament. Ι have severa1 chances to qua1ify from
the zona1 tournament to the wor1d championship to participate and p1ay in the
same tournament with Anand and many others."
P.Leko: 'Ί cannot tell that Ι 1ike this system, but, οη the other hand, ifyou want to be
successfu1, you have to start 1iking it. 80, Ι tήed to do some se1f-hypnosis that Ι 10ve
this system and even try p1aying sharp games though hanging a1ways οη the edge to
win the games is maybe not the ήght tactics but what to do? I've a1ready got e1imi-
nated two times very quick1y, so it can't be worse."
N.Short: 'Ί quite 1ike this format. Especially now at this stage of my career when Ι
can't any more p1ay chess proper1y. Because this format offers opportunity to
anybody ... even Ι can p1ay well when Ι have wind behind me, giving me some assis-
tance. Anyway, the wind was not with me ίη this tournament."
J.Ehlvest: 'Ί think that this system is very good for pub1icity. It is much more
spectacu1ar. When peop1e are p1aying against each other for a 10ng time, it becomes
quite bοήηg, for me as we11. Here it is very interesting for me to follow other matches.
But when there's some kind of super-tournament and a 10t of peop1e are p1aying,
then Ι am a1ready tired of it. Ι am not following it. Here p1ayers can follow who is
winning and who is 10sing. Also it is not so important for the p1ayers. Now we have
this tournament every year. 80, ifyou 10se, it is not a big prob1em. Nobody takes it
so tragically."
L.Van Wely: "The prob1em with the system is that you can'trave1 very far and you
may go home very quick1y. That's the prob1em, of course. But if you think you are
going to do well with this system, it is a nice tournament to p1ay."
Κί.Geοrgiev: ''1 p1ay my third championship ίη this format. Ι a1so p1ayed some
years ago ίη the cup. Ι think that this tournament is good. 1fyou are ίn a good form
you can have a big success."
Round 1
Game Ι, November 27 ting a conνenient play.

14 ... ~ί6 15.i.xb8! ~axb8 16. ~c2 tΔe5
Today the championship has commen- 17.Wf2 c4 18.J::thb1
ced, and 36 male pairs of chess players sat It was better to keep this square for the
down to the game. Ιη chess as well is ίη a1-rook.
other eνeryone's faνourite game - football, 18 ... b5 19.Wg1 tΔd3 20.Φh1 b4 21.
is difficult to guess the result. Among un- cxb4 z:ι.xb4 22.a3
expected things of this day we can name
Nataf's νictory oνer Sutoνsky (White) and
the defeat of one ofthe London Κramnik's
seconds Lautier (also White) from the ris-
ing star ofthe Brazil chess Leitao. That is
how it happened:
268 Ε45
Lautier (2648) - Leitao (2567)
Notes by A.Kochyev
l.d4 tΔί6 2.c4 e6 3.tΔc3 i.b4 4.e3 b6 22 ... J::tb3!

5.tΔge2 i.a6 6.tΔg3 The initiatiνe is Black's, owing to the
Ιη case of 6.a3 i.xc3+ 7.tΔxc3 d5 Black unhappy position of White's a1-rook. Ιη
manages to strike υρ a keen struggle ίη case of23~c4 there was 23 ... tΔf2+ 24.Wg1
the centre. ~b6, threatening with a mate.
6 ... c5 7.d5 exd5 23.~f1 ~b2 24. §'xc4 tΔf2+ 25.~xf2
This moνe is more consistent than the Νο 25.Wg1? because of~b6!
line 7 ... 0-0 8.e4 ~e8 9.f3 d6 10 ...Ite2 exd5 25 ...~xf2 26.1:ιb1 g6 27.a4 h5 28.tΔe2
11.cxd5 i.xe2 12.tΔgxe2 b5 13.0-0 which ~g5 29.J:;!.gl ~e32 30.tΔd4 J:;!.b8 31.~c7
occurred ίη the game Korchnoi - Short, There was 31.tΔb5!? as well, still main-
Madrid 1995, where White got a strong taining certain counterchances despite
centre and an adνantage. Now ίη the Black's initiatiνe.
present game White has to spend moνes 31 ... J:;!.b6
to remoνe his king while it's still safe. There was a draw after 31 ... J:;!.bb2
8.cxd5 ..txf1 9.Φχf1 ο-ο 10.e4 d6 32.~d8+ Wg7 (32 ... Wh7 33.~f6) 33.tΔe6+
11 ..1ιί4 fxe6 34.~e7=
Preνenting tΔbd4. 32.~d8+ Φh7 33.tΔe6 ~xg2 34.tΔg5+?
11 ... ~e8 12.f3 .1ιχc313.bxc3 tΔfd7 Allowing Black to gain an adνantage.
Αη interesting pawn sacrifice, Black White had to send his king for a trip:
certainly will be fully compensated for it. 34.Wxg2 ~b2+ 35.Wh3 ~xf3+ 36.~g3 ~f1+
The moνe 13 ... g6?! can hardly be recom- 37.Wh4 ι:txh2+ 38.<;t>g5 ~c1+ 39.Wf6 ~f2+
mended because of 14.h4!? with an initia- 40.<;t>e7
tiνe. 34...1:txg5 35.~xg5 ~xf3+ 36.~g2 ~e3
14.i.xd6 37.nf1 Wg7 38.1:!.d11:lf6
Otherwise Black played 14 ... Φe5, get- The poor position ofWhite's king giνes
a winning chance to his opponent. One more sensation happened ίη the

39.d6 Itf2 40:~'g3 ~e2 41.~cl game Dao - Ponamariov. Ruslan Ροηο
If 41.~d3, then ~xh2+ 42.'it>g1 ~f2# mariov, the new Ukrainian genius, was
with a mate; and ίη case of 41.Wg11:Ig2+ knocked out ofthe event. He played Κing's
42.~xg2 ~xd1+ 43.~Ω ~xd6-+ Black's Indian Defence and got a good position. Οη
position is winning anyway. move 39 he made a mistake and lost the
41 ... ~xe4+ 42.c,t>gl1:J:f3 43.~el ~d4+ game.
44. c,t>g2 ~d3 0-1
Among another results there were Rus- 269 Ε90

sian Champion 1999 Sakaev's νictory over Dao (2555) - Ponomariov (2630)
Russian Champion 2000 Volkov and the Notes by Kochyev
defeat of the quarter-finalist of Las Vegas
1999 Alexey Fedorov from Alexander l.d4 4:Jf6 2.c4 g6 3.4:Jc3 Άg7 4.e4 d6
Ivanov. 5.4:Jf3 0-0 6.h3 e5 7.d5 4:Ja6 8.g4
Αη aggressive plan. They play also
Game 2, November 28 8.Άe3 4:Jh5 9.4:Jh2 ~e8 10.Άe2 4:Jf4 1l ..if3
f5 with a complex play.
Vaganian (defeated Hamdouchi), Mala- 8 ... 4:Jc5 9.~c2 a5 10.Άe3 c6 11.g5
khov (defeated Kveinys), Vladimirov (de- Ιη case of 1l.Άe2 Black plays 11 ... cxd5
feated Barua), Galkin (defeated Wohl) , 12.cxd5 4:Je8 and then tήes to accomplish
Lesiege (defeated Vasquez), Benjamin (de- the advance fΊ-f5.
feated Fiorito) confidently reached the sec- 11 ...4:Jh5 12.0-0-0 cxd5
ond round with the score 2:0.
Surprisingly, many games ended ίη
short draws. We wonder why? Did every-
body think that he would play the faster
version of the game better than his ορρο
nent?
There was an exciting struggle ίη the
match between Russian Champions S.Vol-
kov and KSakaev. Sakaev won the first
game. But ίη the second game Volkov was
playing White and managed to win. The
score became 1:1 and they would have to
play rapid games. 13.4:Jxd5
Bartlomej Macieja started his success- There was an interesting opportunity
ful performance ίη this tournament (οηΙΥ of 13 ..ixc5!? dxc5 14.4:Jxd5 with a danger-
ίη the 4th round he would lose to Anand) ous threat of4:Jf6. At the same time, 13 ... d4
and ίη the second game he defeated was not an absolute solution too, so after
Jonathan Speelman ίη the stubborn 14.Άa3 dxc315.~xc3 the d6-pawn became
struggle and equalized the score. a weak point.
Sutovsky and Lautier with Black could 13 ... b6 14.4:Jd2
not win. Fedorov ίη the second game, which Both sides have suffered losses. There
he had to win without fail, chose the Κing's is a position of dynamic balance οη the
Gambit. But it is not the 18th century and board.
Alexey had to agree to a draw ίη a bad ρο 14 ... Άb7 15.h4 4:Jf4 16.c,t>bl ~c8 17.
sition, playing with Α. Ivanov (USA). ΆΧf4?!
Now this ίΒ too much. It ίΒ not good to ~xd8+

giνe up such a bishop, opening up the Iong BIack's position ίΒ hopeless. Howeνer
diagonal a1-h8. Ιη case of 17.4Jxf4 exf4 the game continued ...
18.iιxf4 the response was 18 ... f5! 45 ... ~e8 46.~d6+ ~g8 47.~xf4 ~e2+
17 ... exf4 18.iιh3 CLJe6 19. ~b3 ..ic6 48.<;t>c3 J::!.a2 49.CLJc4
20.4Jf3 .a:b8 Why not this way, really?
BIack ίΒ ΡreΡaήηg an attack οη White's 49 ... nc2+ 50.ΦΧb3l::tχc4 51.~xc4 'it>f8
king, and its first step will be the adνance 52.'~c3 ..ixc4 53.'it>xc4 Φe7 54.'it>d5 Φd7
b5. 55.Φe5 ~e7 56.f3 Φf7 57.Φd6 Φf8 58.Φe6
21 ...ixe6 fxe6 22.4Jc3 a4 Φe8 59.~f6 Φf8 60.f4 Φg8 61.Φe7 Φg7
There was also an interesting opportu- 62.h5 h6
nity of 22 ... ..ixc3! 23.~xc3 iιxe4+ 24.~a1 62 ... gxh5 63.f5 h4 64.f6+ ~g6 65.f7 h3
b5, threatening with b4, and ίη case of 66.αι~+-
25.cxb5 BIack had 25 ... ~c8! 63.gxh6+ ΦΧh6 64.hxg6 <;t>xg6 65.Φe6
23.~c2 b5 24.CLJd4!? ..ixd4 25.1::!.xd4 b4 ~g7 66.f5 Φf8 67.~f6 1-0
26.CLJb5! 67.f6?? Φe8=
This moνe ίΒ stronger than 26.4Jxa4
~a5
26 ... b3 27.~d3 d5 28.exd5 exd5 Tie-break, November 29
29.~dl bxa2+ 30.~xa2 ~b6 31.~d2
White has a solid position and pIays ίη This day we could see the main idea of
the centre. the championship - tie-breaks - working.
31 ... ~f7 32.4Ja3 ~e7 For first two games eνery pIayer had 25
BIack has gone too far ίη his striνing minutes per moνe with the 10-second ίη
for a νictory. crement, for next two games - 15 minutes
33.cxd5 l:rel per moνe with the same increment. Then
Threatening with ~b3. the apotheosis began - blitz, bIitz and bIitz
again. BIack had an extra minute ίη eνery
game, a pIayer, who was first to win,
passed into the next round.
Sakaeν and Volkoν continued their
struggIe. At first KSakaeν (BIack) won,
then his opponent won. Ιη the crucial mo-
. ment Volkoν kept his position with White
and won again with BIack.
The European Champion Paνel Tregu-
boν defeated the other Russian pIayer
Alexander Rustemoν ίη difficult 15-minute
games.
34.b4! There were seν~ral surprises ίη the tie-
It Iooks as ifBIack underestimated this break. Leν Psakhis (White) Iost his "mor-
strong response. tal" 7th game to Emir Dizdareνic. Jonathan
34 ... axb3+ 35.'it>b2 .sιd7 36.d6 .sιe6 SpeeIman drew his 3rd game with Barto-
37.d71:td8 38.~c3 iιf7 39..ί:Id6 ~b7? Iomiej Macieja but Iost the 4th. As to the
39 ... ~a7 was better, and if40.~f6, then rest games, higher rated pIayers were the
~a5. winners, though there were some prob-
40.~f6! ~b8 41.~c6 'it>f8 42 ..ί:!.c8 .ί:Ixc8 Iems, for exampIe, GM AIeksandroν
43.dxc8~+ ~xc8 44.i:ί.d8+ ~xd8 45. (ByeIorussia) defeated ΕΙ Taher (Egypt)
only in the blitz. games in the first round and it is not so

easy to win the match. For example, there
Conversation with GM Β. Macieja are many players that are very solid and
ΒΥ Vαlery Sαlov it is very difficult to win them. They may
Q: Bartlomiej, my congratulations be weaker, but they are still very solid. You
οη your very nice victory ίη the first cannot be sure you would win with the
round, because you played against a White and you can always lose with the
very strong opponent GM Jonathan Black.
8peelman. You played a very nice Q: 8urely, the element of luck is
game. Do you think that high-rated present here and you could see it ίn
players should be classified directly the first round. Quite a few upsets
for the World Championship? especially ίn the Women's champion-
Α: Yes, Ι think that this is a good idea ship. 80, it isn't easy to find the best
because ifyou have high rating that means system that everyone willlike, is it?
you have been working many years for the Α: Yes, but Ι think that this system is
rating. It is a prize and also a way to at- good enough to be continued. Ι do like it
tract players to participate. very much.
Q: Do you think that the winner of Q: Ι see that it is, perhaps, the ορίn
the World Championship will be the ίοη of the majority of players and we
best player? Do you think it can be think that changes should be made
guaranteed? οηlΥ ίη case there's financial necessity
Α: Such system doesn't make it possible ίn it.
to guarantee this, because you play only 2 Α: Absolutely right.
ROUND 1 PAIRINGS AND RESULTS Gl G2 Fina!

1 PiketJ. NED 2649 VH Hernandez Gi. ΜΕΧ 2572 = = 2.5-1.5
2 Lautier J. FRA 2648 .1\'$' Leitao R. BRA 2567 0-1 = 0.5-1.5
3 Fedorov Α. BLR 2646

I
Vs Ivanov Α. USA 2567 0-1 = 0.5-1.5
4 Van WelyL. NED 2643 Lys_ Asrian Κ. ARM 2566 = 1-0 1.5-0.5
5 GulkoB. USA 2643 IVs. Bezgodov Α. RUS 2557 = = 2.5-1.5
6 Bo!ogan ν. MDA 2641 IVS Stefanssons Η. ISL 2557 = 1-0 1.5-0.5
7 Mi!os G. BRA 2633 VH Kunte Α. IND 2556 = = 2.5-1.5
8 Ponomariov R. UΚR 2630 ν!'; DaoT. ΥΙΕ 2555 = 0-1 0.5-1.5
9 OnischukA. UΚR 2627 v:s. Agrest Ε. SWE 2554 1-0 = 1.5-0.5

10 Sakaev Κ. RUS 2627 ν$ VolkovS. RUS 2554 1-0 0-1 2.5-3.5
11 EhlvestJ. EST 2627 vs Noguieras J. CUB 2552 = = 4-2

12 Κhar!ov Α. RUS 2627 νι,: Hansen S. DEN 2545 = 1-0 1.5-0.5
13 VaganianR. ARM 2623 ",$' Hamdouchi Η. MAR 2541 1-0 1-0 2-0
14 Spee!man J. FNG 2623 VS: Macieja Β. POL 2536 1-0 0-1 1.5-2.5
15 Tregubov Ρ. RUS 2620 ,,$ Rustemov Α. RUS 2534 = = 3.5-2.5
16 Bacrot Ε. FRA 2613 νΒ Rytshagov Μ. EST 2529 = = 3-1
17 Psakhis L. ISR 2611 ly~ Dizdarevic Ε. ΒΙΗ 2527 = = 3-4
18 Sutovsky Ε. ISR 2609 WΙ··· NatafI. FRA 2526 0-1 = 0.5-1.5
19 GrischukA RUS 2606 νι! Lima D. BRA 2525 = = 2.5-1.5

20 MalakhovV. RUS 2605 I ys Kveinys Α. LTU 2522 1-0 1-0 2-0
21 Baklan V. υΚR 2599 YS Zaja Ι. CRO 2513 = = 3.5-2.5

22 Lputian S. ARM 2598 νΒ Blehm Ρ. POL 2510 1-0 = 1.5-0.5
23 Vladimirov Ε. ΚΑΖ 2596 .vs Barua D. IND 2502 1-0 1-0 2-0
24 Yermolinsky Α USA 2595 VS Al-Modiahki Μ. QAT 2499 1-0 = 1.5-0.5
25 MinasianA ARM 2595 νΒ Villamayor Β. ΡΗΙ 2495 = = 4-2
i
26 Lutz C. GER 2594 vs Ghaem Maghami IRI 2488 = = 2.5-1.5
27 Iordachescu V. MDA 2594 ΥΒ Godena Μ. ΙΤΑ 2485 = = 2.5-1.5
28 Aleksandrov Α BLR 2591 VS ΕΙ Taher F. EGY 2485 = = 4.5-3.5
29 GalkinA RUS 2587 vs WohlA. AUS 2461 1-0 1-0 2-0
30 Lesiege Α CAN 2584 YS Vasquez R. CHI 2454 1-0 1-0 2-0

31 Adianto U. ΙΝΑ 2583 vs Hakki Ι. SYR 2429 1-0 = 1.5-0.5
32 Nevednichy V. ROM 2582 νΒ Labib Ι. EGY 2426 = 1-0 1.5-0.5
33 BenjaminJ. USA 2577 VS Fiorito F. ARG 2418 1-0 1-0 2-0
34 Serper G. USA 2574 vs Bagheri Α. IRI 2409 1-0 = 1.5-0.5
35 Sasikiran Κ. IND 2573 vs SimutoweA. ΖΑΜ 2322 = 1-0 1.15-0.5
36 CherninA HUN 2572 vs Utnasunov Α. RUS 2257 1-0 = 1.5-0.5
Round2
Game 1, November 30 Svidler, Short, Dreev, Κhalifman, Georgiev,

Beliavsky) made draws or even (Peng, Van
The second round of the World Chess Wely) won.
Championships heralded the entrance of Here is one ofWhite's wins:
the heavyweights of professional chess. Ιη
the Men's section as many as 28 seeded
players joined the field. 270 C02
There were ηο surprises this day; the Morozevich (2756) - Milos (2633)
stronger players with White (Morozevich,
Bareev, Kasimdzhanov, Gelfand, Azmaipa- 1.e4 c5 2.4:Jf3 4:Jc6 3.c3 e6 4.d4 d5 5.e5
rashvili, Movsesian, Tkachiev, Piket) ~b6 6.a3 4:Jh6 7.b4 cxd4 8.cxd4 4:Jf5
gained victories, and playing with Black 9 ...te3
(Anand, Adams, Leko, Topalov, Κrasenkow, White could have developed the bishop
to b2 as well. The best thing for Black ίη This move is more precise than the
this case would be to start a counterplay naturaI 12.~e2. So, after 12 ...tbe7 13.tbc3
οη the queenside immediately, trying to i.,d7 14.0-0 :c8 15.1:[ac1 tbf5 16.J1ιxf5 (bet-
gain profit from the insufficient protection ter was 16.tba4 ~d8 17.J1ιxf5 gxf5 18.tbc5
of the bishop οη b2: 9. Jtb2 Jtd7 (ίη re- l::ι.c7oo) 16 ... gxf5 an unhappy 17.l::ι.c2? ~a6+
sponse to 9 ... a5 White captured space οη allowed Black a tactical blow and he made
the queenside by 10.b5, and after 10 ... a4 a profit οη the bad position of White's
1l.g4 tbfe7 12.tbc3 tbb8 13 ..fιd3 tbd7 14. queen οη e2 ίη the game Wall - Lputian,
ο-ο tbg6 15.1:[c1 Jte7 16.tbxa4± Black got Montecatini Terme 1999.
an extra weak point ίη his position, 12... J1ιd7 13.tbc3 tbe7 14.g4!
whereas White won a pawn, Sveshnikov - It was quite important not to allow
Bareev, Moscow 1995) 10.h4 :c8 11.g4 tbh6 Black's knight to come to f5, otherwise af-
12 ..ί::i:g1 tba5!. Making use ofthe weakness ter 14.0-0 tbf5 White would have to ex-
of the b2-bishop, Black transfers his change 15.J1ιxf5 gxf5, and Black's chances
knight to a strong position. Mter 13.tbfd2 would not be worse, at the least.
iιe7 14.Jtc3 tbc4!~ Black had a promising 14... J1ιg7 15.0-0 l::ι.c8
counterplay against White's advanced
pawns ίη the game Kozak - Antonio, Las
Vegas 1999.
9 ... g6
Black is going to exchange οη e3 to per-
form than an active development of his
king's bishop to h6. Other attempts to put
υρ a counterplay were unable to solve
Black's problems as well, for example af-
ter 9 ... f6 10.Jtd3 tbxe3 (ίη case of10 ... fxe5?!
1l.Jtxf5 exf5 12.dxe5± White dominates
both ίη the centre and οη dark squares,
and, taking into consideration the weak- 16.a4!
ness οη d5, Black's position should be esti- Preparing tbb5 with the idea that after
mated as hard) 11.fxe3 fxe5 12.b5 e4 an exchange of this knight (i.,xb5) White
13.bxc6 Jtd6 14.0-0 ο-ο 15.tbg5! h6 can take οη b5 with the pawn, thus creat-
16 ..ί:.Χf8+ iιxf8 17.tbxe4! dxe4 18.J1ιxe4 ing difficulties with the defence ofthe a7-
bxc6 19.tbd2± Black's weak pawns, limited pawn for Black.
activity ofhis pieces and insecure position 16... 0-0
of his king determined White's obvious 16 ... ~xb4 had ηο sense because of
advantage ίη the game L.Hansen - Anton- 17.tbe4 ~xd2 18.tbd6+ 'it>f8 19.tbxd2+-,
sen, Farum 1993. Mter 9 ... Jtd7 10.Jtd3 attacking Black's c8-rook and f7-pawn at
J1ιe7 11.0-0 ~c8 12.tbbd2 White maintained the same time.
his advantage ίη the centre easily and was 17.tbb5 iιxb5 18.axb5! f6 19.exf6'uxf6
able to struggle successfully against 20. Φg2 !ιcf'8!?
Black's possible activity οη the flanks, for Trying to organize a counterplay
example 12 ... a5 13.b5 tba7 14.a4 tbxe3 against the b5-pawn and ίη the centre af-
15.fxe31:[c3 16.tbb11:Ic7 17. ~e1 ο-ο 18. ~g3 ter the knight's transfer tbe7-c8-d6.
Ε5 19.exf6 .:txf6 20.tbbd21:[c3 21.tbe5;;!;, re- 21.~c2 tbc8 22.h4!
stήctίηg Black's pieces, Simacek - Koutsin, ΒΥ this headlong advance White wants
Hlohovec 1996. to promote a soon opening υρ of the play
10.Jtd3 tbxe3 11.fxe3 J1ιh6 12.~d2 οη the kingside.
World Chess Championship 379
22 ... tΔd6 23.h5 ~c8 24:~e2 t;{d8? Olympic Champion Rub1evsky was rather
B1ack is 10sing a pawn and stays with- unexpected.
out a p1ay now. Perhaps 24 ... gxh5 was bet- Ιη the game between Rustem Ka-
ter, even though after 25.tΔg5!? (the allur- simdzhanov (the As.ian Champion) and
ing 25.~hl tΔe4 26.~xh5 ~cf8fZ allowed Pave1 Tregubov (the European Champion)
B1ack a counterp1ay a10ng the f-fi1e) 25 ... h6 the victory was Knsimdzhanov's.
26.~xf6 ~xf6 27.tΔxe6 ~e8 28.tΔf4 iιxd4 Also there were two contrasting draws:
29.tΔxd5 t;{d8 30.J::thl White had nice pros- a short game Gu1ko - Chernin (12 moves)
pects for organising an attack οη the un- and a 10ng due1 between two Po1es Bart1o-
defended b1ack king. miej Macieja - Micha1 Krasenkow (66
25.hxg6 hxg6 26.l:i:xa7± moves). Bart10miej was 1ucky again be-
White is not οη1Υ a pawn up, he is ίη cause Micha1, having severa1 extra pawns,
creasing his initiative which cannot be ex- cou1d not win.
tinguished even by subsequent exchanges.
26 ... t;{e7 27.tΔe5 ~xf1 28.t;{xf1!
This move is more precise than 28. Game 2, December 1
tΔxg6?! ~g5 29.ςt>xΠ CΔe4fZ, allowing a cer-
tain p1ay against White's king. Ιη second games of Round 2 four p1ay-
28 ... ~xe5 ers managed to win back, and the Indone-
This exchange spoi1s B1ack's position at sian p1ayer Adianto won with B1ack. Nev-
a11. There was an opportunity to maintain erthe1ess, the hero of the day was Rafae1
certain practica1 chances by 28 ... t;{h4!?, Vaganian, who cou1d defeat Bareev, hav-
because after simp1ifications 29. t;{f2 t;{xf2+ ing seized the initiative a1ready ίη the open-
30.ςt>xf2 ~xe5 31.dxe5 CΔf7 32.~xb7 CΔxe5 ing. Also among the winning back p1ayers
33.~e2 ~c2 34.ςt>ell:i:b2 White wou1d still were: Tregubov, who won over Kasim-
have to be accurate when defending his dzhanov, and Iodanescu, who defeated
pawns. Movsesian.
29.dxe5 CΔe4 The major upset ofthe day was the 10ss
There was a1ready ηο 29 ... t;{h4 because of previous year's wor1d #2 V1adimir
of 30.exd6 ~xg4+ 31.~h2 ~f8 32.t;{xf8+! Akopian of Armenia. Akopian, who has
~xf8 33.M.a8+ ςt>g7 34.d7 t;{h4+ (34 ... ~f3 undergone an eye surgery recent1y, has not
35.a:g8+ ~h6 36.a:xg6+-) 35.~g2 t;{g4+ p1ayed serious chess for quite some time
36.~f2 ~h4+ 37.~e2 ~g4+ 38.~d2 t;{xb4+ now and this influenced his p1ay here. He
39.ςt>dl ~b3+ 40.~c2+-, and White es- did reject an ear1y opportunity to force a
caped a perpetua1 check. A1so B1ack had draw today (with Aleksandrov) οη1Υ to find
ηο chances after 29 ... CΔc4 30.~f6 t;{xf6 himse1f out of the championship at this
31.exf6 CΔe5 32.~e2 M.c2 33.~f1 ~g7 ear1y stage.
34.g5+- with fata1 threats from both The Russian Champion Vo1kov cou1d not
flanks. recover from his hard match with Sakaev
30.jLxe4 dxe4 31.t;{f6!+- and 10st to Leko without a strugg1e.
Βήηgiηg to the goa1 ίη the shortest way.
White wins the endgame with the sup-
ported passed pawn οη [6 easi1y. Conversation with GM Peter Leko
31 ... t;{xf6 32.exf6 a:c7 33.g5 ~f7 ΒΥ Valery Salou
34.~g3 e5 35.b6 J::td7 36.~g4 ~e6 37.a:a8 Q: Congratulations, you have quali-
~d6 38.a:g8 1-0 fied for the next stage. Your today's
game was very interesting.
5mbat Lputian's easy win over the Α: Yes, it was very exciting. Normally
ίη such knockout tournaments you like The second draw between Dao Thien
some technical victories that you're slightly and M.Adams (the difference ίη ratings is
better from the beginning and then you 200 points!) was also unexpected. One of
slowly win the game. the favourites Alexey Shirov, playing with
Q: But it is not always possible with the Ukranian Champion Alexander Οηί
a strong opponent. schuk ended both games ίη draws. Alexey,
Α: Yes. That's the problem. who would reach the final, would play tie-
Q: Do you know anything about break during the whole tournament.
new proposals for the changes ίη the Alexander Grischuk, the main future
World Championship? troublemaker, having an absolutely win-
Α: Yes. Ι heard a lot about it, but at the ning position ίη the game with Ilya Smirin,
moment Ι cannot say anything serious, got wrong and dε:ΙaΥed the duel till the
because Ι am really focused οη my chess rapid game, ίη which Ilya is particularly
οηlΥ. Ι didn't study those proposals seri- strong.
ously. For myself it wouldn't be good, Ι The gam.e ofthe main favourite Anand
think. Mter the championship Ι will think attracted everyone's attention. After a
about it but probably by that time it will quick draw ίη the first round it seemed that
be already decided. ίη the match Anand - Bologan the player
Q: Don't you think that it is very from Moldova had a chance to reach the
useful that you share your ορίηίοη οη rapid games. But Anand was implacable.
time control and other changes, be- The Ruy Lopez turned out to be a real tor-
cause otherwise the decisions will be ture for Bologan. Anand fixed the central
taken without participation of the pawns and began to capture space οη the
players? kingside (according to Nimzowitch).
Α: Yes. Οη the other hand, Ι think that Bologan met it with a risky breakthrough
the future is ίη Internet. Ι think ίη the οη the queenside but it did not help. The
Internet it doesn't really matters how long Indian delivered a blow 37.CΞJf6! and there
the game is being played. And this is the was ηο escape.
future of chess, but it still has to be devel-
oped. Ι think my match with Κhalifman ίη
Budapest was very professionally orga- 271 C95
nized. We had 9 million visits ίη one week. Anand (2762) - Bologan (2641)
Q: Didn't you feel almost lίke a
world champion after winning that 1.e4 e5 2.CΞJf3 CΞJc6 3 ...Itb5 a6 4 ...Ita4 CΞJf6
match? 5.0-0 jιe7 6.1:rel b5 7 ...Itb3 d6 8.c3 ο-ο
Α: Νο, Ι met already so many champi- 9.h3 CΞJb8 10.d4 CΞJbd7 11.CΞJbd2 jιb7
ons personally and not over the board. Ι 12.j,c21:re8 13.CΞJf1 ..Itf8 14.CΞJg3 c5
really want to win this world champion- There was an alternative of14 ... g6, de-
ship. When Ι win a real world champion- fending f5 from an intrusion of White's
ship, Ι tell that Ι beat this or that player. knight and maintaining an opportunity to
But ifit's not official, then nothing's to be undermine White's centre if required, for
said, not even a thought should cross my example after 15.a4 (ίη case of 15.b3 ..Itg7
mind about those things. 16.d5 Black had a good play ίη the centre
Q: ΟΚ. At least, you don't claim to and οη the queenside) 16 ... M.c8! 17.j,e3 (if
be a World Champion. You are one of 17.c4, then 17 ... c6) 17 ... c6 18.c4 ~c7!
the very few. 19 ..!:tcl b4 20.~d2 a5 21 ...Itbl c5! 22.1:rf11:ra8
Α: Ι will claim it later when Ι feel Ι have 23.CΞJh2 a4 24 ...Itg5 axb3 25.axb3 .!:ta3=
the right to say so. Anand - Van der Sterren, Wijk aan Zee
1998) 15 ... c5 16.d5 c4 17.lιg5 h6 18.lιe3 24.1::rh1 Sιd8 25.g5 ~a7 to be followed by
CLJc5 19.~d2 h5 20.lιg5 jιe7 21.Ma3 Mb8 jιb6, looking for an exchange ofthe dark-
22.Mea1 White gained a slight advantage squared bishops.
owing to the weakening of Black's queen- 24.Mh1 CLJg6 25.g5
side ίη the game Svidler - Piket, Wijk aan Having co-ordinated his pieces well,
Zee,1999. White launches a straight attack οη the
15.d5 c4 16.jιg5 ~c7 17.CLJf5 ~h8 hostile king.
25 ...b4?!
Black wants to get a counterplay at the
cost of a pawn. There was already ηο
25 ... Sιe7 because of 26.h4 Sιd8 27.h5 CLJf8
(ίη case of 27 ... CLJf4 28.lιxf4 exf4 29. ~f4±
White stayed with an extra pawn, and his
pieces were very active) 28.Mh2 ~a7
29.Mah1 jιb6 30.g6 with an attack that
could have been irresistible.
26.axb4 axb4 27.cxb4 CLJa6
After 27 ... CLJf4+ 28.Sιxf4 exf4 29.bxc5
fxg3 30.c6± Black's bishops would be re-
18.g4! stricted considerably.
White's stable position ίη the centre and 28.Ma4 CLJf4+
active arrangement ofhis pieces allow him There was ηο play οη the queenside:
to concentrate οη the attack οη Black's 28 ... ~b7 29.Mha1 CLJxb4 30.Ma7, and then
kingside without fearing to weaken his 30 ... CLJxc2 (if 30 ... ~b5?, then 31.Sιa4+-)
own king's position. Attacking with pieces, 31.Mxb7 CLJxe3+ 32.fxe3 Mxb7 33.Ma4±,
he gained nothing, for example 18.CLJh2 demonstrating White's advantage.
CLJg8 19. ~d2 lιc8 20.CLJg4 CLJc5 21.CLJg3 lιd7 29.Sιxf4 exf4 30.CLJh5 ~b6 31. ~xf4!
22.lιe3 Mac8 23. ~e2 g6 24. ~d2 with White not οηlΥ takes the pawn, he en-
Black's solid position Shchekachev - Piket, gages his strongest piece ίη the attack as
Amsterdam, 2000. well. The attack would be slower ίη case of
18 ... CLJg8 19. ~d2 CLJc5 20.jιe3 lιc8 31.CLJxf4 CLJxb4 32.Mha1 Sιe7±
21.CLJg3 31 ... CLJxb4
White moves back his pieces, prepar- Ιη case of31 ... lιd7 White would accom-
ing to a pawn onslaught which should open plish the same rook transfer along the 3 rd
υρ the play οη the kingside. rank as ίη the gar:ιe: 32.Ma3±
21 ... Mb8 22.<.t>g2 a5 23.a3 CLJe7 32.Sιb11::rb7 33.1:.a3!
Black tries to make use of weak points After this move Black's chances for a
which have appeared οη White's kingside successful defence become almost unreal.
after f4, however he cannot gain anything 33 ... MC7
real here because of White's obvious ad- Black has ηο time to block the 3 ld rank
vantage ίη this area. It was better to keep with 33 ... CLJd3. After 34.Sιxd3 ~xb2 35.
the knight defending the kingside and try Maa1 cxd3 36.1::rhb1 ~c3 (if36 ... ~xb1, then
to display some activity οη the queenside. 37.1::rxb1 Mxb1 38. ~xf7 with White's deci-
There was ηο straightforward 23 ... ~b6 sive advantage) 37.MXb7 .1ιχb7 38.Mc1 ~b2
24.1ιh1 b4?! because of 25.axb4 axb4 39.-Uc7, there would be ηο defence against
26.cxb4 ~xb4 27. ~xb4 MXb4 28.Sιxc5 dxc5 the threats along the 7th rank.
29.jιa4±, yet the following opportunity 34.1:td1! CLJa6
really deserved attention: 23 ... lιe7!? Black's οηlΥ chance to hold οη was not
to allow White to transfer his rook to the the νictory: 39 ...!!f5 40.exf5 g5 41.~xg5
kingside: 34 ... ~a6!? 35.cbd4LΔd3 36 ...Ik.xd3 1::txd7 42.f6 g6 43.~xg6+-
cxd3 (36 ... ~xd4 37.1:txa6 cxd3 38.LΔg3 z:ι.b7 40.LΔxe5 dxe5 41.~f7 h6 42.~e8 1-0
39.~a3±) 37.LΔc6±, and White would haνe
to look for a way to deνelop his initiatiνe Conversation with GM V.Bologan
despite his extra pawn and actiνe pieces. ΒΥ Valery Salov
35.LΔd4! ~xb2 36.~g3 Q: Ι think that you were the un-
Nothing can preνent LΔf6 already. luckiest participant ofthis champion-
36 ...c3 ship, because definitely you got the
Ιη case of 36 ... LΔc5 37.LΔf6! z:ι.e5 (37 ... strongest opponent ίη the second
gxf6 38.gxf6 h6 39.~h1 +-) 38.g6! h6 39.gxf7 round. You had to play against Viswa-
g5 40.LΔe8 i.f5 41. ~c1 +- too many Black's nathan Anand who is not οηlΥ one of
pieces would be attacked. the best players ίn the championship,
but also a very experienced and im-
mensely successful player ίη this kind
offormat.
Α: That's true. It would haνe been bet-
ter to meet him at a later stage, but if Ι
had won Ι would haνe been the luckiest one.
Ι had chances, he is not a machine. Ι am
quite content with my play against him.
Q: Would you comment a little bit
οη the course οί the game? The first
game, Ι think, was going according to
your plan. You got some slight advan-
37.LΔf6! .ϊ:te5 tage ίη the opening and you were try-
Ιη case of 37 ... gxf6 Black was going to ing to put pressure οη him.
lose as soon as the g-file opened υρ 38.gxf6 Α: Ιη the first game Ι wasn't νery ambi-
~e5 (the other opportunity to coνer g5 with tious ίη the opening, but that doesn't mean
38 ... h6 was inefficient as well because of that Ι played for a draw. Ι played for more.
39.\th1 ~b7 (if 39 ... c2, then 40.i.xc2 .:ι::!xc2 It looked ίη the beginning as a slight ad-
41.Mdgl+-) 40.i.c2+- to be followed by νantage but later it was transformed into
~dgl) 39.~g1 ~h5 40.\th2 (40.\tf3+-) a huge one, a νery strong attack. And Ijust
40 ... ~xh3+ 41.~xh3 ~xh3 42. ~g3+-, missed one tempo to get a straight attack.
White's adνantage is decisiνe ίη alllines. Q: Which move?
38.g6! Α: Ι think "a3" was a mistake because
White destroys the shelter ofthe black there Ι lost time. And time was important,
king methodically. because then he managed to arrange de-
38... fxg6 fence.
Νο better was 38 ... h6 39.gxf7 g5 (block- Q: And you were disappointed by
ing υρ the g-file) 40.LΔe8 i.f5 41.LΔxc7 gxf4 this mistake, Ι gιless. This may explain
42.z:ι.g8+ as the deplorable position of your decision to offer a draw.
Black's king would allow his opponent to Α: The truth is that Ι was under a big
continue the attack eνen without queen: pressure all the time during the game. It
42 ... ~h7 43.exf5 (to be followed by f6) was a νery difficult game for me from the
43 ... f3 44.~xf3 c2 45.i.xc2 ~c3+ 46.\tg2+- psychological point ofνiew. It was hard for
39.LΔd7 ~e7 me to concentrate, to keep οη fighting, and
White cannot be stopped οη his way to to find the right moνes. Ι managed to do a
decent play there. But at the moment Ι saw Α: Yes, Ι would like to say few words
there was ηο more advantage left, Ι didn't about it. Ι think the system is absolutely
see any point ίη continuing. Ι had not much unprepared and not yet normally worked
time also. out. First of all, it is not democratic.
Q: At the second game Ι was a bit
surprised by your opening choice. Υου Morozevich (defeated Milos), Gelfand
are definitely not a Breyer variation (defeated Dizdarevic), Piket (defeated
player. Nevednichy), 8erper (defeated Ivanov), Van
Α: Ι must admit that it wasn't the best Wely (defeated 8asikiran) confidently
choice, but Ι didn't have much time to pre- reached the third round with score 2:0.
pare. Οη the contrary, my opponent had
enough time to prepare for the game with
me, as he was entering the tournament at Tie-break, December 2
the second round. For the match with
8tefansson it was a good opening, but This day was laνish ίη sensations. The
against Anand Ι should have found some- ELO-faνourites Ivanchuk (2719), Κrasen
thing else. kow (2702), 8hort (2677) were out of the
Q: Did you have some experience tournament!
with this format before?
Α: Ι played a few times. Ι played ίη It's well known that Jaan Ehlνest can
Groningen ίη 1997 World Championship make miracles. The unbending Estonian is
and Ι played ίη that Elista President's Cup renowned for his indefatigability (he can
ίη 1998 that you haνe already mentioned. play chess for several months without a
Ι also played qualification tournament ίη break), firmness (he loses very rarely).
Buenos-Aires. 80, Ι have some experience Haνing made a short 15-moνe draw with
but it is absolutely different when you have White, Jaan managed to win over Ivanchuk
to play the second round already against ίη the Caro-Kann with Black.
Anand. Ι haνe neνer had such an experi-
ence and that was a problem for me.
Q: Κnockout is a very peculiar sys- 272 Β14
tem. Several Indian players com- Ivanchuk (2719) - Ehlvest (2627)
plained that they had ηο experience Game 4 25-minute
with this system and they were not
prepared for this kind of pressure οη l.c4 c6 2.e4 d5 3.exd5 tΔf6 4.tΔc3 cxd5
them. 5.d4 e6 6.tΔf3 kb4 7.cxd5 tΔxd5 8.~c2
Α: The reason also might be that they ~c7 9.kd2 tΔd7 10.kd3 kxc3!? 11.bxc3
are not from the top hundred, except for tΔ5f6 12.a4 b6 13.0-0 kb7 14.tΔh4 ο-ο
Anand. Maybe they are not yet very strong 15.f4 ..I1.d5 16.tΔf3 kc4 17.tΔe5 kxd3
players. Besides, they might have been dis- 18. ~xd3 ~ac8 19.~f3 tΔd5 20. ~b5 l:ί.fd8
turbed by so much attention from the me- 21.~af1 f5! 22 ...I1.el?!
dia. Even for Anand it was hard. Ιη the first White stands worse already; he should
game he was νery nervous. He lacked con- play 22.~b1 tΔxe5 23.fxe5 ~c4 24.~a1
fidence and Ι felt that. He also was under 22 ... tΔxe5! 23.fxe5 ~c4 24 ..ih4 ~xb5
enormous pressure from the local media. 25.axb5 J1d7 26.J1cl I:tc4 27 . ..I1.el tΔc7
Q: What is your ορίηίοη about the 28.h3?
proposed changes to the format of the It was not Iνanchuk's day! 28.I:tbl 1:.d5
world championship and new time 29.~f2 tΔxb5 was better.
control? 28 ...~dxd4! 0-1
Conversation with GM J.Ehlvest Igor Ν ataf again brought a surprise (ίη

Q: Congratulations. What can you the first round he defeated a strong Israeli
tell about your game? GM 8utoνsky) haνing won oνer N.8hort,
Α: Actually, Ι felt νery comfortable. Of the participant ofthe match for the World
course, it is always a big pressure to play Champion's title 1993. Eνen for such a
actiνe chess games, where any game can strong player as N.8hort it was impossible
be the last one ίη the match. Ι controlled to draw ίη this νery complicated ending (a
myself quite well and Ι think this is the rook νs. rook + bishop) when he had a
most important thing ίη these matches. Ιη time-trouble.
eνery moνe additional 10 seconds should
be used to control your nerνes. When you 273 CI0
are tired and pressure is huge, you can Nataf (2526) - Short (2677)
make a terrible mistake. With Iνanchuk it Game 6 15-minute
is almost impossible to win the game from
the opening. It is a νery tough game, any- 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.CLJc3 CLJc6 4.CLJf3 CLJf6
way. Ι thought that ίη the first game with 5 . .ltg5 .lte7 6 ..ltd3 dxe4 7.CLJxe4 CLJxe4
White Ι should play it safe. And ίη the next 8 . .ltxe7 CLJxf2 9 ..ltxd8 CLJxdl 10 ..ltxc7
CLJxb2 11 ..lte2 CLJa4 12.Φd2 Φd7 13 ..ltg3
game with Black Ι could play more actiνely
Φe7 14.c4 1::!.d8 15.~e3 CLJb6 16.1::!.hcl f6
just to keep more pressure. He was a
17.Rabl CLJd7 18 . .ltc7 1::!.e8 19.CLJd2 e5
faνourite and eνery draw put more pres-
20.d5 CLJd4 21.c5 CLJxe2 22.~xe2 CLJf8
sure οη him, not οη me. More people ex-
23.CLJc4 b6 24.c6 .lta6 25.~f2 1::!.ac8
pected his νictory, not mine. 80 when Ι was
26 ..ltd6+ Φf7 27.CLJe3 CLJg6 28 ..lta3 CLJf4
playing White Ι drew, because ifsomebody 29.d6 CLJd3+ 30.~gl CLJxcl 31.1::!.xcl1::!.ed8
is giνing you a chance, you should use it. 32.d7 1::!.c7 33.CLJd5 1::!.dxd7 34.cxd7 1::!.xd7
Q: Favourites do not necessarίly 35.CLJb4 .ltb7 36.1::!.c2 ~e6 37.~f2 g5
win. 38.CLJc6 a5 39.CLJa7 .lte4 40.1::!.e2 f5 41.CLJb5
Α: Yes. Already ίη the second round .ltd3 42.1::!.b2 .ltxb5 43.1::!.xb51::!.d2+ 44.~e3
there are ηο weak players. But players 1::!.xa2 45.1::!.xb6+ Φd5 46.1::!.b5+ ~e6 47 ..ltb2
qualifying for top 10 are usually νery e4 48.g4 fxg4 49.~xe4 a4 50.1::!.b6+ Φd7
strong. Undoubtedly. 51 . .lte5 h5 52.Φf5 1::!.e2 53.1::!.d6+ ~c8
54.1::!.a6 h4 55.1::!.xa4 g3 56.hxg3 hxg3
Conversation with GM V.lvanchuk 57 ..ltxg3 ~d7 58.1::!.c4 g4 59.1::!.c7+ Φd8
Q: What is your ορίηίοη about the 60.1::!.g7 ~c8 61 ..te5 g3 62 . .ltxg3 1::!.d2
knockout system? 63.~e6 1::!.d7 64.Mg8+ 1::!.d8 65.1::!.g7 1::!.d7
Α: This system has a right to exist, Ι 66.1::!.g5 1::!.h7 67 ..ltd6 1::!.h6+ 68.~d5 Φd7
think. 69.1::!.g7+ ~e8 70.Φc6 1::!.e6 71.~d5 1::!.h6
Q: Yesterday you lost to GM Ehl- 72.1::!.e7+ Φd8 73.~c6
vest. Just a few words about it ...
Α: It wasn't an impressiνe game. Ι feel
that Ι haνen't yet warmed up enough by
that moment. 80metimes Ι do not easily fall
into the normal game rhythm. There haνe
been many draws, actually. Ι continued to
play not only to win, but also to get a bet-
ter feeling of a game. ΜΥ opponent had
more of a struggle ίη his preνious matches
and eν-idently had time to enter game
rhythm.
73 ... J::ihl?? Ι would go back. Ι said that maybe Ι would

The first mistake, wich White did not go after the second round.
make use. 73 ... Rg6 or 73 ... Rf6, controlling Q: Did you rnake a reservation for
the 6 tI1 rank, was correct. tonight? Ιη the F'rench newspaper you
74.J::if7?? said you would becorne the World
Α return gift. 74.J::ie6! threatening with Charnpion. 80 why did you take the
a mate ίη two moves: i..c7, 1::te8 led to a ticket for today?
victory. It cannot be helped with 74 ... 1::th8 Α: Ι wanted to play reasonably good,
(or 74 ... 1::tcl+ 75.i..c5 X:Ιc2 76.1::tel 1::tc3 because Ι was totally crushed ίη my game
77.J::if1+-) 75.i..e51::tg8 76.i..f6+ 'lt>c8 77.J::iel against him ίη the Olympiad. Ι played
1::!.f8 78.i..g7 1::!.g8 79.1::!.al ~b8 80.i..e5+ ~c8 against him 50 days ago and he beat me
81.J::ia8# very easily like a child. Ι was very moti-
74 ... J::iel 75.1::!.f8+ 1::!.e8 76.ΙΗ2 1::tel vated this time to show something better. Ι
77.jιb4 1::!.e6+ 78.~d5 1::!.e3 79.J::if8+ ~d7
sacrificed a pawn ίη the opening for last-
80.1::tf7+ ~e8 81.J::ia7 1::te2 82.i..c3 1::te7 ing initiative and finally it was difficult for ι
83.1::!.a8+ ~f7 84 ..ie5 1::!.b7 85.Φe4 1::tbl him to bring his pieces into play. Ι think
that the quality ofthe games was good from
86.'It>f5 1::!.f1+ 87.jιf4 ~e7 88.1::!.a7+ 'lt>d8
both players.
89.'It>e5 ~c8 90.1::!.f7 1::tdl 91.~e6 1::!.d7
Q: 80, he defended very well.
92.1::!.f5
Α: It is incredible ifyou see what he got
from the initial position that he had. At one
moment Ι looked ;lt the clock and Ι saw Ι
had οηlΥ 2 seconds, and by the time Ι
realised that Ι had οηlΥ 1 second left. Ι was
shocked. Ι played and Ι banged the clock
very loudly. Because ifit goes to zero, they
do not add time.
Q: At the end, ίη the tirne trouble
with rook and bishop against rook
probably there was a draw.
Α: Ι thought Ι could make him suffer-
ing, but he defended incredibly well with
92 ...1::!.dl?
stalemate ideas. And then at one moment
Black could keep a position, using the
his king which was οη the border comes
idea of stalemate, for example: 92 ... 1::!.a7 back to the center. Arbiter was writing
93.1::!.b51::te7+!! or 92 ... 1::th7= 93.1::tb51::!.e7+!! down the moves and if Ι don't win ίη these
Το a draw led also 92 ... 1::!.d8, if93.1::tb5 then
50 moves, it is a draw.
93 ... 1::te8!= Q: 80, just after the garne you called
93.1::!.b51::!.el+ 94.i..e5 1-0 your farnily?
Α: Yes. They wι:;re so delighted, because
Conversation with GM I.Nataf they didn't know it yet. When Ι told my fa-
ΒΥ Dαmir Levαcic ther that Ι had won, he started shouting
Q: Igor, you are very happy, Ι think. and told me that this was the most beauti-
Α very hard garne. It was your sixth ful moment ίη my life. Then he gave me
garne. my mother and she was crying.
Α: Yes. Ι was very surprised that Ι could
keep him till so far. Υου know, Ι have al- Conversation with GM N.8hort
ready taken a return ticket back. There ΒΥ Vαlery Sαlov
were ηο open tickets and Ι had to say when Q: Your opponent prornised to do
better than ίη Istanbul this time to 274 Β45

make a better show. What did you do Macieja (2536) - Krasenkow (2702)
to the boy ίη Istanbul to motivate him Game 10 5-minute
so much? Notes by A.Kochyeu
Α: Ιη Istanbul he had a dead lost posi-
tion after about 10 moves. Although actu- 1.e4 c5 2.tZJf3 tZJc6 3.tZJc3 e6 4.d4 cxd4
ally he managed to survive for quite a long 5.tZJxd4 i.b4 6.tZJdb5 tZJf6 7.a3 iιxc3+
time, but he was just totally busted after a 8.tZJxc3 d5 9.exd5
few moves. This variation is quite uncommon for
Q: With the benefit of hindsight the tournament practice. The reason is
wouldn't it have been wiser just to that it gives Black's almost ηο chance to
make a quick draw there? take the initiative. As a rule, White gains
Α: [LaughsJ That was probably a more a slight but stable advantage ίη the
intelligent option, but ... endgame.
Q: The last game was very curious,
this rook and bishop versus rook
endgame. Did you have any experi-
ence ίη this kind ofposition?
Α: I've lost the same endgame against
Simen Agdestein before.
Q: 80, you have had some experi-
ence [Laughs].
Α: Yes, ίη fact it is quite difficult to hold
such position with the rapid time control,
it is quite confusing. Besides, it was my
fourth game that day. But σκ, Ι don't com-
plain: the situation is the same for every- 9 ... exd5
body. They play 9 ... CL\xd5 as well which does
Q: Tell me, Nigel, what is your not change the estimation because White
favourite occupation these days? As Ι stands better both ίη case of 10 ..sιd2 and
understand, you don't dedicate too after 10.tZJxd5.
much time to chess now? 10 . .sιd3 ο-ο 11.0-0 d4 12.tZJe4 Jιf5
Α: Well, ίη fact, this is not quite true. Ι 13 ..sιg5 .sιxe4 14.Jιxe4 h6 15.Jιxf6
was playing a lot recently, several events Ιη case of 15 . .sιh4 g5 16.i.xc6 bxc6
ίη a row. Ι am also quite fond of playing 17.Jιg3 Black will be able to arrange his
cricket. We have an amateur team ίη forces ίη the centre by t;ιd5, c5, 1:ιfe8 etc.
Greece and we play regularly. This is one with an acceptable position, despite tbe
of the things that Ι am missing here. weakening of the castling flank.
15 ... t;ιxf6 16.1:ιeΙ
Macieja and Κrasenkov produced the Απ immediate 16. t;ιf3 was possible too
most thήΙΙίng duel ofthe day. Mter 2 draws with White's slight advantage.
with a 25-minute time control Macieja 16... 1:ιad8 17.t;ιf3 t;ιxf3 18 . .sιΧf31:ιfe8
(White) lost the first 15-minute game. But There was an alternative opportunity
ίη the next 65-move game he managed to of 18 ... d3, getting rid of the weak pawn,
win back, after that the blitz started. Ιη and then 19.cxd,3 1:ιΧd3 20.1:ιad1 1:ιΧd1
game 10 (it was the fourth blitz game) 21.l::txd1 l:[d8 22.1:ιd5 b6 23.1:ιΧd8+ tZJxd8
Bartlomej Macieja defeated his famous fel- 24.iιd5 Φf8 25.f4 Φe7 26.Φf2 Aseev -
low-countryman Mikhail Κrasenkow. Sorokin, St.Petersburg 1993, with a certain
advantage of White's bishop over Black's

knight, making Black be very accurate and
precise ίη the defence.
Ί9.1:ιχe8+ 1:ιχe8 2θ.'~f11:ιe5?!
20 ... ςt>f8 was better.
· ..
far away from the b-pawn (Soloviov).
.<;t>• • •~~"
%~
21.1:ιeΙ1:ιb5
The bishop vs. knight endgame after
21 ... 1:ιχe1? 22.Φχe1 was not favourable for
Black since he failed to get rid ofthe weak
•••••
• •••
.Δ.:.•
•••
d4-pawn ίη due time.

22.1:ιe8+ 'it>h7 23.b3
Note that there was already ηο 23 ... d3?
because of 24.1ιe4+ g6 25.1ιχd3, winning
• •••
••••
53 ... J:!.bl?
the game. White's advantage becomes
quite perceptible. The last and ,fatal Black's mistake.
23 ... ί5 24.i.xc6 bxc6 25.<;t>e2 ί4 53 ... Ke51ead to a draw and ifWhite plays
54.κb6 (with an idea to advance the pawn
26.1:ιe41:ιc527.Φd3!
later), then Black after 54 ... Rc8! will make
This move is stronger than 27.1:ιΧf4?!
a draw proceeding to the defence by
1:ιχc2+ 28.'it>d3 J:!.c3+ 29.'it>xd4 ~xb3.
Grigoriev's frontal method (Soloviov).
27 ... 1:ιh5
54.'it>b6 1:ιb2 55.Φb5 11c2 56.b4 1:ιc8
Ιη case of27 ... f3 28.g3 ~c3+ 29.<;t>d2 c5±
57.Φa61-0
Black seems to have repelled the immedi-
ate threat, still his rook is ίη trouble, and
The troublemaker ofthe World Cham-
old problems remain unsolved. pionship 1999 Nisipeanu (at that time he
28.1:ιΧί4 1:ιχh2 29.g3 g5 30.1:ιf3 h5
defeated such great players as Azmai-
Black tries to organize a counterplay, pashvili, Ivanchuk, Shirov and only ίη the
creating the passed h-pawn, nowever this semi-final he lost to the future champion
cannot solve all his problems. Κhalifman) this time was defeated by the
31.Φχd4 h4 32.gxh4 gxh4 33.'it>e3 Bulgarian Κiril Georgiev ίη the very be-
33.'it>c5 looked strorJ:ger. For example, ginning.
after 33 ... 1:ιh1 34.<;t>xc6 h3 35.c4 h2 36. Κhalifman won over the German GM
1:ιh3+ <;t>g6 37.c5+- Black would hardly es- Christopher Lutz ίη the 25-minute game.
cape a defeat. It should be noted that ίη Also ίη the champion's style (draw with
the rest of the game White failed to dem- Black and win with White) Shirov, Kasim-
onstrate a perfect technique. dzhanov and Peng defeated their ορρο
33 ...h3 34.<;t>f41:ιh135.'it>g3 h2 36.1:ιf7+ nents. As to Adams, Svidler, Grischuk, they
'it>g8 won both games, and Grischuk's (2606) win
The king must retreat to the back rank over a more experienced Smirin (2677)
as there is ηο 36 ... <;t>g6? because of 37.~c7 deserved to be respected.
to be followed by 38.1:ιc6 with a check. It is possible to draw a parallel between
37.1:ιχa7 J::tf1 38.'it>xh2 J::txf2+ 39.'it>g3 this Championship and the last one. From
1:ιχc2 40.'it>f4 c5 41.~b7 11a2 42.'~e4 ~xa3 four semi-finalists of Las Vegas 1999 now
43.'it>d5 ~a5 44.'it>c4 'it>f8 45.1:ιb5 ~al only two continued the struggle: Κhalif
46.'it>xc5 'it>e7 47.'it>c6 I:!.cl+ 48.1:ιc5 1:ιbΙ man and Adams. And three players: Leitao
49.1:ιc3 Φd8 50.Φb7 'it>d7 51.1:ιd3+ Φe6 (won over Lautier and Benjamin), Macieja
52.Φc61:ιcΙ+ 53.<;t>b7? (won over Speelman and Κrasenkow) and
White makes a mistake ίη a winning Nataf (won over Sutovsky and Short)
position. 53.Φb6 was correct, not going to wanted to take the part of Nisipeanu.
ROUND 2 PAIRINGS AND RESULTS Gl G2 Fina!

33 Bo!ogan V. MDA 2641 γ8 ΟΙ Anand V. IND 2762 = 0-1 0.5-1.5
02 Morozevich Α RUS 2756 ,',vs' 34 Mi!os G. BRA 2633 1-0 1-0 2-0
72 Dao Τ. νΙΕ 2555 ·.vs:: 03 AdamsM. ENG 2755 = = 1-3
04 ShirovA ESP 2746 "8 36 Onischuk Α. UΚR 2627 = = 2.5-1.5
74 Vo!kov S. RUS 2554 νι> 05 Leko Ρ. HUN 2743 = 0-1 0.5-1.5
06 Ivanchuk V. UΚR 2719 ys 38 EhlvestJ. EST 2627 = = 1.5-2.5
39 Κhar!ov Α. RUS 2627 νι> 07 TopalovV. BUL 2707 = 0-1 0.5-1.5
08 BareevE. RUS 2702 ·,Υ8: 40 Vaganian R. ARM 2623 1-0 0-1 4-2
78 Macelja Β. POL 2536 ys, 09 Κrasenkow Μ. POL 2702 = = 5.5-4.5
10 Κasimdzhanov υΖΒ 2690 vs 33 T.regubov Ρ RUS 2620 1-0 0-1 2.5-1.5
43 Bacrot Ε. FRA 2613 νΙ! 11 Svidler Ρ. RUS 2689 = = 1-3
12 GelfandB. ISR 2681 νΙ! 81 Dizdarevic Ε. ΒΙΗ 2527 1-0 1-0 2-0
82 NatafI. FRA 2526 νι> 13 Short Ν. ENG 2677 = = 3.5-2.5
14 Smirin Ι ISR 2677 Υ8 46 GrischukA RUS 2606 = = 1-3
47 Ma!akhov V. RUS 2605 ΥΒ 15 DreevA RUS 2676 = = 2-4
16 Azmaiparashvili GEO 2673 !Yl! 48 Baklan V. UΚR 2599 1-0 = 1.5-0.5
49 Lputian S. ARM 2598 ,YS. , 17 Rnblevsky S. RUS 2670 1-0 = 1.5-0.5
18 AImasi Ζ. HUN 2668 Υ8 50 V1adimirov Ε. ΚΑΖ 2598 = = 1.5-2.5
51 Yermolinsky Α USA 2596 νΒ' 19 Χιι Jun CHN 2668 1-0 = 1.5-0.5
20 Gurevich ΜΙ BEL 2667 ΎΒ 52 MinasianA. ARM 2595 = = 2.5-1.5
53 Lntz C. GER 2595 ΥΒ 21 Κhalifman Α. RUS 2667 = = 1.5-2.5
22 Movsesian S. CZE 2666 νι> 54 Iordachescu V. MDA 2594 1-0 0-1 4-2
55 Nisipeanu L.-D. ROM 2592 γ,. 23 Georgiev ΚΙ BUL 2661 = = 2.5-3.5
24 Akopian V. ARM 2660 'yl> 56 Aleksandrov Α BLR 2591 = 0-1 0.5-1.5
57 GalkinA. RUS 2587 ν8 25 Bellavsky Α SLO 2659 = 0-1 0.5-1.5
26 Tkachiev V. FRA 2657 ν5. 58 Lesiege Α. CAN 2584 1-0 = 1.5-0.5
59 Adianto U. ΙΝΑ 2583 ·:ν.... 27 Peng Xiaomin CHN 2657 0-1 1-0 1.5-2.5
28 Piket J. NED 2649 V8 60 Nevednichy V. ROM 2582 1-0 1-0 2-0
61 Benjamin J. USA 2577 νι> 66 Leitao R. BRA 2567 = 0-1 0.5-1.5
67 Ivanov Α. USA 2567 νΒ 62 Serper G. USA 2574 0-1 0-1 2-0
63 Sasikiran Κ. IND 2573 vs 31 Van WelyL. NED 2643 0-1 0-1 0-2
32 GulkoB. USA 2643 νΙ'! 33 Chernin Α. HUN 2572 = = 3.5-2.5
Round3
Garne 1, Decernber 3 Ιη case of 12. ~e1 Black can unload the
centre by 12 ... tΔxd4 13.i.xd4 e5 14.fxe5
That was the most effectiνe round: οηlΥ dxe5 15. ~g3 i.d8=, thus getting an accept-
7 games of 16 ended ίη draws. Dreeν, Gulko able position.
and Topaloν, who defeated their opponents 12 ... Jtd7 13.tΔb3 b6 14.g4 lιc8 15.g5
with Black, practically secured themselνes tΔd7 16.Jtg2
the participation ίη the next round. Dreeν This type of positions is well inνesti
playing against Van Wely (White) ίη the gated. Ιη particular, it occurred ίη the well
opening had a great adνantage, then οη known game Karpoν - Kasparoν, Moscow
moνe 30 won a pawn and technically
(m/24) 1985. 8pecialists insist that Black
brought the game to the νictory. Ιη the has good chances for a counterplay here.
struggle between Leitao - Nataf, the Bra- 16... Jtf8
zilian was the winner. It seemed that νery Alternatiνe continuations were tested
few pairs would play ίη the tie-break. as well, for example 16 ... Jtb7 or 16 ... Mb8.
Of course, the game between the World 17.~h5 g6 18.~h3 tΔb4 19.~gl
Champion Κhalifman and the Hungarian White plays the opening quite unpre-
GM Peter Leko attracted eνerybody's at- tentiously, gradually losing his initiatiνe.
tention. As it is known, ίη the beginning of Black has ηο immediate 19 ... tΔxc2? be-
2000 ίη Budapest the same opponents had cause of20.Mac1, Ιωweνer chess is not like
a match, which was won by Peter with the draughts, and Black is not obliged to cap-
score 4.5-1.5. Then ίη the Linares tourna- ture. Instead of the plan with ~h5 - h3
ment the World Champion won one game and lιg1 White should haνe kept to the
and drew the other. The winner of their last standard adνance f4-f5.
duel at the Olympiad ίη Turkey was Leko. 19 ... tΔc5 20.tΔxc5 bxc5 21.Mf2
80, Κhalifman had uneasy tasks, includ-
ing a psychological one. Ιη the first game
of the Indian match Leko did not play the
Gruenfeld Defence and chose Queen's Ιη
dian Defence. Alexander had a νery slight
adνantage ίη the position with Black's iso-
lated d5-pawn. Howeνer, after the series
of exchanges an absolutely drawn ending
appeared.
Ιη the Bulgarian duel between Georgieν
and Topaloν, Veselin, who had a higher
rating, gained a νictory.
21 ... d5!?
275 Β85 This position should be estimated as
Georgiev (2661) - Topalov (2707) faνourable for Black. He has good play both
Notes by A.Kochyeu ίη the centre and οη the queenside. White
certainly will haνe problems with deνel
l.tΔf3 c5 2.e4 d6
3.d4 cxd4 4.tΔxd4 oping an initiatiνe and getting to Black's
tΔί6 5.tΔc3 a6 6.~e2
e6 7 .ί4 ~e7 8.0-0 king.
ο-ο 9.ΦhΙ ~c7 10.a4 tΔc6 11.i.e3 1::te8 22.1::taf1 ~b8 23.1:td2 lιg7 24.e5 ~a5
12.~f3 25.tΔdl
Better was 25.b3 4Ja2 26.4Jbl chances to equalize.

25 ... 4Jc6 26.c3 4Je7 27.4Je3 .ib7 6 ... .ie7 7.0-0 0-0 8.c3 c5
28.1:tal Black wants to start an active struggle
Α passive move, however ίη case of ίη the centre. Α mere 8 ... d5 was also good
28.4Jg4 4Jf5 29.4Jf6+ .ixf6 30.gxf6 d4+ as ίη the game Shirov-Anand, Leon 2000.
Black exchanges the light-squared bishop 9 ..tc2 4Jc6 10.d4 .te6 11.1::tel
and gains an evident advantage owing to White has arranged his forces harmo-
his impregnable knight οη f5. niouslyand, as a result, gained better pros-
28 ... .ic6 29 ..if3 1:ι.b3 30. ~g2 .1:!:eb8 pects. Ιη case of11 ..ig5 there was 11 ... ~b6
31.4Jc4 dxc4 32 ..ixc6 4Jxc6 33. ~xc6 .if8 12 ..ixf6.ixf6 13.d5 ~xb2
Despite exchanges, Black still stands 11 ... ~c8?!
better, because White's queenside cannot An unnatural manoeuvre which gives
be defended easily. nothing. Perhaps it was worth to play
34.~a2 ~d8 35.1M7 ~xd7 36.~xd7 l:rb8 11 ... cxd4!?, getting a slightly worse posi-
37.'it>g2 .1:!:d8 38.~b7 !tdl tion.
There was a strong 38 ... l:rd2+ 39.'it>g3, 12..ig5 4Jd5 13.4Ja3
and then 39 ... ~d8 White reinforces his pressure with
39. ~b8 ~d8 40. ~b71:ι.d2+ 41 ..if2 ~d8 simple moves and gradually increases his
42.~al ~d3 43.a5 advantage.
Although there is a material balance οη 13 ... h6 14.~d3 .if5 15.~xί5 ~xί5
the board, White will have to conduct a 16..txf5 .ixg5 17..te4 4Jc7
hard defence. The a6-pawn is invulner- The knight's retreat to e7 wasjust bad:
able. Ιη case of 43. ~xa6? ~e4+ White's 17 ... 4Jde7?! 18.d5 4Jd8 (18 ... 4Jb8?! 19.4Jb5;
kingside falls apiece, and the f8-bishop 18 ... 4Ja5?! 19.4Jxg5 hxg5 20.b4+-) 19.4Jxg5
joins the attack. hxg5 20 ..ih7+ cJtxh7 21.~xe7. Ιη case of
43 ... tH5 44:~ί3 ~c2 45.l:rf1 ~xb2 17 ... 4Jb6 18.dxc5 dxc5 19 ..ixc6 bxc6
46.'it>gl ~d5 47 ..iel ~bl 48 ..if2 ~c2 20.4Jxg5 hxg5 21.~e5± White had an ad-
49 ..iel h5 vantage as well.
Α useful move, even though Black's 18..ixc6 bxc6 19.dxc5 dxc5 20.4Je5
advantage was already huge. Now ίη case of 20.4Jxg5 hxg5 21.~e5
50.~f2 ~cl 51.~e4 ~d3 52 ..:te2 .:txc3! there was 2r.. 4Je6, and Black held οη.
53.'it>g2 .:td3 54 ..if2 ~dl 55.h3 c3 0-1 20 ... ~fd8 21.4Jac4
The c6-pawn cannot be kept, and
White's victory becomes a question oftime
A.Morozevich played excellently ίη the and technique οηlΥ.
game with E.Vladimirov. 21 ..:-ιι,d5 22.4Jxc6 <t>f8 23.a4 h5 24.a5
4Jb5
276 C42
Morozevich (2756) - Vladimirov (2598)
Notes by A.Kochyev
l.e4 e5 2.4Jf3 4Jf6 3.4Jxe5 d6 4.4Jf3

4Jxe4 5 ..id3 4Jf6
Ιη case of 5 ... tbc5 6 ..ie2 Black's knight
would have to retreat after d4, wasting the
time.
6.h3
Otherwise Black had 6 ... .ig4 with good
25.tΩb6!! 16 ..a:.fd1 tΩΘ5 17.b3;!; he ΘνΘη experienced

Precipitating Black's surrender. difficulties with the defence of the d6-
25 ... axb6 26.axb6l:txa127.1:!.xal tΩd6 pawn, v.Popoν - Beshukoν, St. Petersburg
28.h4! 2000.
Αη important moment. Ιη case of an 11.lιxd4 lιc6 12.lιd3!?
immediate 28.I:ι.a8+ after 28 ... tΩΘ8 29.b7 Α sharp and uncommon continuation,
the bishop still had 29 ... lιf4±. But now White plays so with the idea of putting
the struggle is practically oνer. pressure upon the opponent's kingside.
28 ... ~e8 29.hxg5 ~d7 30.tΩa5 ~c8 12.f3 is a more popular and solid moνe
31.c4 I:ι.xg5 32.I;Idl kί.g6 33.I:ι.d5 tΩb7 here. White fortifies his centre before pro-
34.tΩxb7 ~xb7 35.I:1.xc5 I:1.xb6 36.~xh5 ceeding to more actiνe operations, and
I:1.xb2 37.I:1.h7 ~c6 38.I:1.xg7 I:1.b7 39.I:1.g5 Black has to begin standard blocking
~d6 40.I:1.d5+ ~e6 41.~dl I:1.b2 42.I:1.cl manoeuνres: 12 ... cι5, and after 13.b3 tΩd7
~d6 43.c5+ ~c6 44.g3 I:1.b3 45.~g2 f5? 14.lιΘ3 tΩc5 15.I:1.ab1 ~b6 (15 ... e6?! 16.I:1.fd1
46.I:1.c4 I:1.d3 47.'ιt>h3 I:1.d2 48.I:1.f4 I:1.d5 lιe517.g3! ~e718.tΩb5±Korneeν-Cebalo,
49.'>t>h41-0 Porto San Gioirgio 1997) 16.I:1.fc1 I:1.fc8
17.~h1 ~d8 18.lιd1 tΩΘ6 19.a3 b6 20.tΩd5;!:
The game Grischuk - Serper deνeloped White οηlΥ could gain a certain space ad-
rather interesting. The brilliant rook sac- νantage and more actiνe pieces, Lautier-
rifice οη moνe 17 let Grischuk win ορρο Koch, Bescanon 1999.
nent's queen οη moνe 22. The rook sacri- 12 ... a5 13.I:1.ael!?
fice led to a draw, but οηlΥ with a precise Α similar idea was also applicable after
defence. G.Serper could not make the ρο 13.I:1.fe1 tΩd7 14.lιxg7 ~xg7 15.I:1.e3 I:1.e8 [ίη
sition out. Probably Grischuk had prepared case of 15 ... h6 there was an unpleasant
this sacrifice at home. 16.I:1.h3 (or 16.b3 ~b6 17.tΩd5 ~d4 18.I:1.d1
e5 19.tΩc3 tΩf6 20.lιc2 ~xd2 21.I:1.xd2;±: with
277 Β38 White's stable adνantage because of
Grischuk (2606) - Serper (2574) Black's weakness οη d6, Sorokin - Span-
genberg, Buenos Aires 1994) 16 ... h5?
1.e4 c5 2.tΩf3 tΩc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.tΩxd4 (16 ... l:th8 was necessary, Black's position
g6 5.c4 lιg7 6.lιe3 tΩf6 7.tΩc3 0-0 8.lιe2 was bad, but still defensible) 17 .I:1.xh5! gxh5
d6 9.0-0 lιd7 18. ~g5+. The game was drawn ίη this ρο
Black is going to transfer this bishop to sition (Stypka - Walach, Koszalin 1997),
the long diagonal and organize a blockade howeνer White was winning there: 18 ...
οη dark squares by a5 and tΩd7-c5. Black ~h8 19.~xh5+ '>t>g7 20.~g5+ '>t>h8 21.I:1.e1!
could haνe arranged a different structure, tΩΘ5 (21 ... tΩf6 22.e5+-) 22.I:1.e3+-, and
aiming at a break-through ίη the centre Black was simply helpless] 16.I:1.h3 tΩf8
by b5, for example after 9 ... a6 10. ~d2 tΩxd4 17 ..a:.d1 ~b6 18.tΩd5;!; with White's more
11.lιxd4 lιΘ6 12.I:1.ad1 I:1.c8 13.b3 tΩd7 actiνe play, Sorokin - Raνi, Linares 2000.
14.lιΘ3 tΩc5 15.f3 b5 16.tΩd5 bxc417.lιxc4 13 ... tΩd714.lιxg7 ~xg715.I:1.e3 ~b6!?
a5 18.I:1.c1;!;, but ίη this case White still Suddenly Black encountered problems
maintained his adνantage ίη the centre ίη with the defence ofhis king. For example,
the game Marciano - Prie, France 1998. ίη case of a standard 15 ... I:1.c8 there was
10.~d2 tΩxd4 16.~h3 h5 17 ..a:.xh5 gxh5 18. ~g5+ ~h8
Black tried to play actiνely 10 ... tΩg4, but 19.~xh5+ ~g7 20.~g5+ ~h8 21.I:1.e1 tΩΘ5
after 11 ...txg4 1ιχg4 12.~ac1 lie8 13.h3 22.1:re3 with a fatal attack. Howeνer, a
lιd7 14.tΩd5 he found himself rather transition to a passiνe defence was possible
squeezed, and then after 14 ... e615.tΩc3 a6 ίη this position: 15 ... J::te8 16.1:i.h3 tΩf8;!;. ΒΥ
the move ίη the game Black tries to create 23 ... C2Jxd3 24. t'txd3 .btg8 25.C2Jd5
counter threats alongthe diagonal a7-g1, .ixd5?!
maintaining an opportunity to engage the Perhaps Black's chances were higher ίη
queen ίη the king's defence through the case of25 ... .btae8. It was unclear how White
d4-square. could have engaged the knight ίη the at-
16..bth3 h5 tack now, but after 26.h4 White most likely
won gradually. Still, now White's queen
just pounces upon Black's position.
26.t'txd5
Black is going to lose another pawn.
26 ... ~g7 27.t'txb7 .btgb8 28.t'td5 a4
29.h4!
Engaging the pawn ίη the attack, White
practically wins the game.
29 ... f6 30.h5 .bta7 31.t'tf5 .btab7
There was ηο counterplay as ίη case of
31 ... .btxb2 32.~g6+ ~h8 33.h6 e5 34.~xf6+
~h7 35.g4 .:::ixa2 36.g5 after ~f5 White's
17..btxh5! g- and h-pawns were irrepressible.
Α consistent and fine move, and White 32.t'tg6+ wh8 33.t'tf7 .btxb2 34.t'txe7
draws the game at the least. .:::ixa2 35. t'txf6+ ~g8 36.h6 .:::ib7 37.c5! .btc2
17... gxh5 18:~g5+ Wh719:~xh5+ Wg7 38.cxd6 a3 39.t'tg6+ ~f8 40.h7 .btxh7
20:~'g5+ Wh8 21 ..btelC2Je5? 41.t'txh7 a2 42.t'th8+ ~f7 43.d7 1-0
This mistake lost Black's game, it was
necessary to engage the queen ίη the
struggle as quickly as possible by 21 ... ~d4! Game 2, December 4
Mter this move an active play from both
sides would have brought them to the most Eight of nine yesterday's winners kept
appropriate result for this game, a draw: their advantage and reached the next
22. ~h6+ (ίη case of 22 ..bte3 ~g7 23 ..bth3+ round. The main tournament's favourite
~g8 24. ~xe7C2Je5+ Black would have man- ν.Anaηd, haνing defeated S.Lputian,joined
aged to defend against the immediate them. Lputian proved to be better prepared
threat and to keep the extra material) ίη the French Winawer today and suc-
22 ... ~g8 23 ..bte3C2Je5 24.C2Je2 (White had ηο ceeded ίη confusing his mighty opponent.
time to prevent a consolidating transfer of It's a rare occasion to see Anand consum-
Black's knight ίη case of 24.h4C2Jg6 25.h5, ing more time ίη the opening than his ορ
because Black had 25 ... t'th8! 26. t'tg5 ~e5 ponent. When Lputian opened up the game
27 ..btg3 ~xg5 28 ..btxg5 Wg7 29.hxg6 fxg6 3 ) with 17 ... e5, Anand could have a forced a
24 ... C2Jg4 25 ..btg3 ~xf2+ 26.Whl ~el+ draw but he bravely chose to play a sharp
27.eιJgl ~xg3 28.~g5+ Wh8 29.hxg3C2Jf2+ double edged and risky battle. Ιη a superb
30.Wh2C2Jxd3 31.~h6+ ~g8 32.t'tg5= display ofboth tactical and technical chess,
22 ..bte3 t'txe3 Anand managed to outplay his opponent
Black must yield the queen since there and moved to the fourth round.
was ηο 22 ... C2Jg6 23. ~h6+ ~g8 24 ..bth3 .btfc8
because of25.e5+- to be followed by .ixg6. 278 C18
23.t'txe3 Anand (2762) - Lputian (2598)
Black's position is losing mainly be-
cause ofthe poor support ofhis king. l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.C2Jc3 Jtb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3
j,xc3+ 6.bxc3 tΔe7 7 ..~g4 ο-ο 8.5ιd3 This move is an evidence ofBlack's wish
tΔbc6 9:~h5 tΔg6 10.tΔf3 'ff1c7 11.j,e3 to take the initiative which becomes some-
Α sharper 11.tΔg5 was tested in this times the decisive factor in positions with
position as well, but after 11 ... h6 12.tΔxfΊ opposite-coloured bishops. Perhaps it was
'ff1xfΊ 13. 'ff1xg6 'ff1xg6 (there was ηο 13 ... better Csince we know the further devel-
'ff1xf2+? because of 14.Φd1 to be followed opment ofthe ganle now) to go for a quiet
by 1:I.f1 with White's decisive advantage) 17 ... h6!?, and after 18.'ff1g3 (or 18.'ff1h5 ..Iί.e8
14.j,xg6 cxd4 15.cxd4 tΔxd4 16.j,d3 ..Iί.d7 19.'ff1g4 e5 20.tΔxe5 tΔxe5 21.dxe5 'ff1xe5
17 ...Iί.b2 1:I.f4! (preparing to exchange the 22 ..i.d4 'ff1e6αo with a complex position, in
light-squared bishops after ..Iί.b5) 18 ...Iί.c1 which White's unhappy pawn structure is
1:I.fΊ 19.~b2 ~f4 20 ...Iί.c1 Black gained a suf- compensated with his more active bishop)
ficient counterplay in the centre to equal- 18 ... 'ff1xg3 19.fxg3 h5 (better than 19 ... 1:I.af8
ize the position ίη the game Gelfand - 20.h5 tΔe7 21 ...Iί.f4 tΔc6 22 ...Iί.d6 1:I.8fΊ 23.g4;!;
Huebner, Wijk aan Zee 1992. to be followed by 1:I.fe1, White maintaining
11 ... tΔce7 an advantage in the centre owing to his
Black avoids weakening of his king's control over dark squares) 20.a5= there
position that would be possible ίη case of was an approximately equal position ίη
11 ... c4 12.j,xg6 fxg6, allowing White to which White could not hope to gain much
launch a dangerous attack after 13. 'ff1g4 from his SUΡeήοr activity and space ad-
'ff1fΊ 14.tΔg5 'ff1e8 Cin case of 14 ... 'ff1f5 15. 'ff1e2 vantage because of the absence of any con-
there was the threat of g4, and after siderable weak points ίη Black's position.
15 .. tΔxe5?! 16.dxe5 'ff1xe5 17. 'ff1d2 ..Iί.d7 18.dxe5
18.0-0 h6 19.f4 'ff1d6 20.tΔf3± Black gained 18. 'ff1g3 1:I.af8 19.dxe5 1:I.xf3 20.gxf3
ηο compensation for the piece Kasparov - 'ff1xe5~ would havt produced the same ρο
Short, Munich 1994) 15.h4 h6 16.tΔh3 b5 sition with a reversed move order.
17.h5!? gxh5 18.'ff1e2 a5 19.tΔf4 g6 20.g4. 18 ...1:I.xf3!?
This way White managed to destroy the Black sacrifices an exchange in order
king's pawn shelter ίη the game Svidler - to get an initiative that would let him de-
Bareev, Elista 1997. stroy the pawn shelter of the opponent's
12.h4 king and organize an attack with the use
12.dxc5?! was not good because of of light squares. This decision was forced
12 ... b6!, attending to White's king ίη the to some extent, because after a quiet
centre, and after 13.0-0 bxc5 14.tΔg5 h6 18 ... 1:I.f5 19.'ff1g3 tΔxe5 White would have
15.tΔf3 f5 16.exf6 1:I.xf6+ Black's position 20.Φh1!?±, making it difficult for Black to
looked more promising owing to his advan- unbind.
tage in the centre in the game Gutov - 19.9xf3 1:1.f8 20. 'ff1g3!
S.Ivanov, St Petersburg 1999. White must play very carefully to avoid
12 ... j,d7 13.a4 f5 an attack, so ίη case of 20.f4 1:1.f5 21.'ff1g3
13 ... c4 was not as good because of 'ff1d8 22.1:I.fb1 j,c6~ Black's pressure υροη
14.j,xg6 fxg6 (ίη case of 14 ... tΔxg6 there light squares and οη the kingside grew
would be a strong 15. 'ff1g4, threatening quite perceptible.
with h5Sand a further advance of this 20... 'ff1xe5
pawn which could destroy Black's kingside) Ιη case of 20 ... tΔxe5 21 . ..Iί.d4 tΔxf3+
15.'ff1g4 'ff1a5 16.Φd2 tΔf5 17.h5 j,e8 18. 22.Φg2 'ff1xg3+ 23.fxg3 tΔxd4 24.1:I.xf8+
hxg6 .i.xg6 19.tΔh4~, and White managed ΦΧf8 25.cxd4± Black would have nothing
to open υρ the kingside files. to do but watch passively White reinforc-
14.exf61:1.xf6 15.0-0 c4 16..i.xg6 tΔxg6 ing his position.
17.'ff1g5 e5? 21.'ff1xe5 tΔxe5 22.1:I.fd1 tΔxf3+ 23.Φf1
~f5 Wf7 33.~b8 h4 34.Ϊixb7+ ~f6 35 ..i.e7+ ~g6

Mter 23 ... .i.h3+ 24.~e2 .i.g4 25.J::txd5 36 ..i.f8+-
4:Jxh4+ 26.~d2 4:Jf3+ 27.ΦcΗWhίte would 32.1:ta4 4:Jd2 33 •.Yιd4 .Yιe6 34.1:ta8+ ~π
transfer his king to the kingside and then 35.1:th8 4:Jf3
co-ordinate his rooks, thus gaining a seri- There was a slightly better opportunity
ous advantage. of35 ... 'It>g6 36 ..i.xc3 CZJe4 37 ..i.d4±, but this
24 ..i.xa7 ~h5 25.~e2 ..Itg4 position White would win too as soon as
At first sight Black must be going to he transferred his king to a more active
maintain the balance ίη the endgame ow- position.
ing to the superior activity of his pieces, 36..i.xc3 4:Jg5
but White's following play will demon- Black is hopeless both ίη case of36 ... h6
strate that his chances are still better here. 37.1:th7+- and aftcr 36 ... 'it>g6 37.~b8 .id5
Ιη case of 25 ... 4:Jxh4 26.J::tdbl .i.c6 27.a5± 38.1:td8 .Yιe6 39.~d6 1!;f7 40 . .Yιxg7 h5
Black's bishop would be passive, and the 41.~b6+-
threat of a6 would make Black's position 37.f4 4:Je4 38..Yιe5 h6 39.ktb8 .ltd5 40.f5
just losing. Fatally restricting Black.
26.~dbl! 40 ...CZJf6
Not fearing the illusory threats. There was ηο 40 ... g6 4U::th8 gxf5
26... 4:Jxh4+ 27.~d2 4:Jf3+ 28.~cl d4 42.1::!:xh6 'it>e7 43.~dl+-, Black had noth-
ing to oppose to the further advance of
White's king.
4U::Ι:c8 h5 42.I:tc5 .Yιe4 43.lιc7+ Wg8
44 ..Yιxf6 gxf6 45.'It>d2 1-0
The game between P.Leko and A.Κha

lifman was very tense and exciting.
Alexander sacrificed a pawn ίη the Sicil-
ian Defence and gained certain compensa-
tion. There was a draw ίη the ending after
all. The next day they would have to play
an interesting tie-break.
29.1:tb5! The οηlΥ player who managed to win
White plays most accurately, and now back was the Russian Svidler. Ιη his duel
Black is practically forced to exchange the with the Chinese Xiaomin Peng as well ίη
rook. Much worse was 29 . .1;Ixb7 dxc3 6 other matches the tie-break would be
30.~bl .i.f5f:± with Black's counterplay. played.
29 ... ~xb5 ΟηΙΥ Bareev who defeated Aleksandrov
Ιη case of29 ... b!hl+ after 30.Φb2 dxc3+ with 2:0 reached the next round.
31.~a2 l:Ixal+ 32.~xal 4:Jel 33.1:txb7
4:Jxc2+ 34.~bl ..Itf5 35.~a2 .Yιe4 36 ..:tb8+ Conversation with GM Κί. Georgiev
'it>f7 37.a5 h5 38.a6 h4 39 ..tc5!± the a6- ΒΥ Dαmir Levαcic
pawn could have decided the game ίη Q: Ι guess, you were not happy to
White's favour. play against GM Topalov because he
30.axb5 dxc3 31 ..Yιc5!± is also from Bulgaria?
Engaging the rook from the a-file. Α: Yes. That's true. We played together
31 ....i.f5 some time ago ίη the Chess Olympiad ίη
Αη advance of the h-pawn gave ηο Istanbul οη the first and second boards for
counterplay to Black here: 31 ... h5 32.1:ta8+ Bulgaria. Besides, Ι played a very long
tiebreak with Nisipeanu and it took a 10t the game ended ίη a draw. Then the b1itz
of my energy. began. Mter a draw ίη the first b1itz game
Q: Anyway, it is very difficult to Kha1ifman p1ayed an extreme1y sharp
prepare for the game against the νariation of the Petroν's Defence and won
player whom you know very well. He a νictory.
is your friend.
Α: Yes, of course. Maybe ίη the first 279 C42
game Ι shou1d haνe p1ayed more solid1y. Ι Κhalίfman (2667) - Leko (2743)
chose to p1ay sharp game. Notes A.Kochyev
Q: What do you think ίη general
about organisation and format ofthis 1.e4 e5 2.4:\f3 4:\f6 3.4:\xe5 d6 4.4:\f3
tournament? 4:\xe4 5.d4 d5 6.lιd3 ~d6 7.0-0 0-0 8.c4
Α: Ι think that the organisation is νery c6 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.4:\c3 4:\xc3 11.bxc3
nice. Ι p1ay my third championship ίη this .ig4 12.I:tbl 4:\d7 13.h3 .ih5 14.I:tb5 4:\b6
format. Ι a1so p1ayed some years ago ίη the 15.c4 .ixf3 16:~xf3 dxc4 17 ..ic2 ~d7
cup. Ι think that this tournament is good. 18.a4 ~fe8?!
If you are ίη a good form you can haνe a The opponents p1ayed a well-known
big success. νariation ofthe Pεotroff. B1ack's 1ast moνe
Q: Now that the round is almost does not occur frequent1y. 18 ... g6 is the
over, who do you think will be the usua1 and probab1y the strongest continu-
favourite? ation and B1ack has sufficient counterp1ay
Α: Ι think Anand and Adams haνe the opportunities.
biggest chances, as they haνe big experi- 19.~e3 ~ad8 20.ZΙtbl lιc7 21 ..te4
ence. They p1ay νery well ίη c1assica1 and Now ίη case of 21.a5 B1ack had a con-
rapid chess. Ι hope that Topa1oν wiH a1so νenient response of21 ... 4:\d5, that was why
win some matches. White preferred 21 ..te4, getting contro1
oνer the important d5-square and a full
compensation for the sacrificed material.
Tίe-break, December 5 21 ... 4:\xa4
Ιη case of 21 ... ~d6 a simp1e 22.g3 a1-
The most exciting eνent ofthe day was, 10wed White to maintain all merits of his
of course, the match between the 14th Wor1d position.
Champion Κha1ifman and Leko. The ορρο 22.l:rd5!
nents showed a strong p1ay ίη all games Α good moνe which destroys the co-or-
and it was a great p1easure to watch them. dination ofB1ack's pieces.
Ιη the first 25-minute game Κha1ifman 22 ... .td6?!
(White) made a quick draw ίη the Gruen- 22 ... ~e7 was better.
fe1d Defence and that was, probab1y, the
beginning of a psycho10gica1 war. Ιη the
second 25-minute game the champion
outp1ayed his younger opponent, but then
1et him draw. Ιη the first 15-minute game
they p1ayed the keen c1assica1 Dragon
Variation, ίη which Leko sacrificed an ex-
change that gaνe him a sufficient compen-
sation. During the second 15-minute game
the exchange was again sacrificed, by
Κha1ifman now and again successfully -
23.z:th5! g6 24.~xb7 i.c7 win him the game.

There was ηο other way, in case of 35 ... Φg7 36.Φf1 f5 37 ..iιc2 .1:!.c4 38.We2
24 ... ~e6 25 ..itd5+- White won the game. cJtf6 39.Φd3 lϊf4 40.f3 cJtg5 41.cJte3 lϊc4
25.z:td5!? 42.':a4 f4+ 43.cJtf2 ':xa4 44 . .iιxa4 cJth4
Black eνidently has problems, White's 45 •.iιc2 cJtg5 46.g3 fxg3+ 47.cJtxg3 cJth5
adνantage is rather impressiνe. 48.f4 'ith6 49.Φg4 cJtg7 50.h4 h6 51.Φf3
25 ... ~c8 26.~xd8 ~xd8 cJtf7 52.Φe4 Φf6 53.cJtd4 g5 54.hxg5+
If 26 ... ~xd8, then 27 ..itc6+-, winning hxg5 55.f5 g4 56.We3 1-0
the game.
27 ..itd5 z:td7
Ιη case of 27 ... Mf8 there was 28.kh6+- A.Shiroν again played the tie-break and
28.~f6 ~d8? again successfully, though he had to play 4
Black might resign right after this games withM.Gureνich! M.Adams, who de-
moνe. Ιη case of28 ... ~f8 29.~c6 ~e7there feated A.Yermolinsky and J.Ehlνest, who
were still some chances to resist. defeated S.Moνsesian (that was rather un-
29. ~xd8+ l1xd8 30 ..iιc6! expected) easily won in rapid games.
Two pieces are attacked, and nothing Bartlomej Macieja continued to aston-
can be done. ish eνeryone; this time Alexander Be-
30 ... .iιb6 31 . .iιxa4 .iιxd4 32 . .iιxd4 liaνsky (2659), haνing lost both 25-minute
z:txd4 33.z:txa7 c3 34 ..iιb3 z:tb4 35.z:ta3 games, was his "νictim". Ιη the next round
Sooner or later, White's extra piece will Macieja would play against Anand himself!
ROUND 3 PAIRINGS AND RESULTS Gl G2 Final

49 Lputian S. ARM 2598 VS 1 Anand ν. IND 2762 = 0-1 0.5-1.5
25 Beliaνsky Α. SLO 2659 ·νs 78 Macieja Β. POL 2536 = = 1-3
21 ΚhalίfmanA RUS 2667 vs 5 Leko Ρ. HUN 2743 = = 4.5-3.5
66 Leitao R. BRA 2567 vs 82 Nataf 1. FRA 2526 1-0 = 1.5-0.5
51 Yermolinsky Α. USA 2596 ν" 3 AdamsM. ENG 2755 = = 1-3
27 Peng Xiaomin CHN 2657 ν" 11 Svidler Ρ. RUS 2689 1-0 0-1 1.5-2.5
23 Georgieν Κi. BUL 2661 ν" 7 TopaIovv. BUL 2707 0-1 = 0.5-1.5
31 Van Wely L. NED 2643 νΒ 15 DreevA RUS 2676 0-1 = 0.5-1.5
2 Morozevich Α RUS 2756 Vs 50 Vladimiroν Ε. ΚΑΖ 2598 1-0 = 1.5-0.5
10 Κasimdzhanoν υΖΒ 2690 . ν"
~
26 Tkachievv. FRA 2657 = = 1.5-2.5
38 EhlvestJ. EST 2627 VS 22 Moνsesian S. CZE 2666 = = 4-2
46 GrischukA RUS 2606 .ν" 62 Serper G. USA 2574 1-0 = 1.5-0.5
4 ShirovA ESP 2746 ν" 20 Gureνich Μ. BEL 2667 = = 3.5-2.5
12 Gelfand Β. ISR 2681 "vs 28 Piket J. NED 2649 1-0 = 1.5-0.5
8 BareevE. RUS 2702 .NS 56 Aleksandroν Α. BLR 2591 1-0 1-0 2-0
16 Azmaiparashνili GEO 2673 NS' 32 GulkoB. USA 2643 0-1 = 0.5-1.5
Round4
Game 1, December 6 This plan has become really popular

recently. Black accomplishes the advance
Seven draws of eight first games of 1/8 b7-b5 and, at the same time, prepares his
of the final! bad c8-bishop for an exchange.
Α. Dreev gained the οηlΥ νictory. He, 5.'1~·c2 b5 6.b3
playing White, defeated Veselin Topalov, The line 6.cxd5 cxd5 promised nothing
who had an unsuccessful opening. to White.
Ehlvest was true to his tactics - quick 6 ... 1ιg4 7.liJge2 g6
tireless draws during the main match and This move is less popular than 7 ... liJbd7
all his strength to rapid games - and agreed 8.h3 1ιh5 9.liJf4 .i.g6 10.liJxg6 hxg6 11.1ιe2
to a draw with Grischuk οη move 14. e6 12.0-0 .i.d6 13.e4 b4 14.exd5 (14.e5?!
Mter a fatiguing tie-break, which had liJxe5 15.dxe5 .i.xe5) 14 ... exd5 15.liJa4 ο-ο
been played the day before, Κhalifman 16 ..i.f3 ~e8 17.jιg5 with White's slight
quickly ended his game ίη a draw. advantage Bareev - Shirov, Pardubice
Anand (Black), playing against Macieja, 1994.
equalized with precise moves. 8.liJf4 jιf5 9.jιd3 jιxd3 10.liJxd3
ΟηΙΥ the draw ίη the game Morozevich Black managed to exchange the bishop,
- Tkachiev made spectators be excited. Μ yet he lost time for this. White's pieces are
ter mutual blows the opponents decided not better developed, and besides Black's
to tempt fate and made peace. queenside is weak.
10 ... liJbd7 11.0-0 .i.g7 12.cxd5 cxd5
Game 2, December 7
This round had a slogan "White begins

and wins!". That was how the games Anand
- Macieja, Κhalifman - Leitao, Topalov -
Dreev, Tkachiev - Morozevich ended. So,
VAnand and A.Κhalifman reached the next
round. Ιη the quarterfinal match, that
would be the culmination of the tourna-
ment, the present FIDE World Champion
and the main favourite would meet.
Vladislav Tkachiev brought a sensation, 13.a4!
having defeated Morozevich. Of course, Α strong move, which emphasizes weak
Tkachiev is a very strong GM but it is such points ofBlack's position.
a pity that Morozevich, who had played 13 ... ~c8?!
excellently, did not reach the next round. Now the b5-pawn will be too weak. Ιη
case of 13 ... bxa4 14.liJa4 White's knights
280 D10 would have come to c5, still this was a bet-
Tkachiev (2657) - Morozevich (2756) ter decision.
Notes by A.Kochyev 14.axb5 axb5 15.1ιd2liJe4 16:~b2 e6
Black goes for a pawn sacrifice to ac-
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.liJc3 liJf6 4.e3 a6 complish the development. Ιη case of
16 ... tΔxc3 17 ..txc3 ο-ο White gained an Macieja's knights. Οη move 23 Bartlomlej
obvious advantage after 18 ...Ita5 ~e8 made a mistake; Vishy with a tactical blow
19 ..tb4 or by an immediate 18.':a7. gained a deserved victory.
17.tΔxb5 ~b6 18.':a5 ο-ο
At last Black made castling, yet he still
stands a pawn down, and his position is 281 Β17
hard. Anand (2762) - Macieja (2536)
19 ..tb4 .a:fe8 20 ..a:fal! e5 21 ..te1 exd4
22.tΔxd4 tΔdc5 23.tΔf4! 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.CL'Jc3 dxe4 4.CL'Jxe4
Attacking the d5-pawn. 23.tΔxc5?! was tΔd7 5 ..tc4 tΔgf6 6.tΔg5 e6 7. ~e2 tΔb6
worse because after 23 ... tιJxc5 there was 8 ..tb3 h6 9.CL'J5f3 a5 10.a4
the threat of tΔd3. White plays this way, not fearing that
23 ... :ϊ:ed8 24.b4 g5 25.tΔfe2 tΔe6 Black can move one of his knights to d5,
25 ... tΔd3 was possible as well. so that οηlΥ c4 would be abele to drive it
26.':a6 ~b5 away then, and the knight would go right
If26 ... tΔxd4, then 27 ..ί:txb6 tΔf3+ 28.gxf3 to b4, which White has just weakened by
.txb2 29.I:!.b1 ':c2 30.fxe4 ':xe2 31.exd5 his last move. There was a more adaptable
.ί:txd5 32.\tJf1 k!.c2 33.I:!.b8+ cJiJg7 34 ..ί:txb2 10.c3, which after 10 ... c5 1l.dxc5 .txc5
':xb2 35 ..tc3, White winning the game. 12.tΔe5 ο-ο 13.tΔgf3 CL'Jbd7 14.0-0 tΔxe5
27.tΔxb5 ..Itxb2 28 ..a:b1 .tf629..ua2 15. tΔxe5 b6 (trying to get the light-squared
White's advantage is enough to win the bishop to the long diagonal, where it would
game, he οηlΥ should demonstrate his tech- put pressure upon White's kingside)
nique. 16. ~f3 ~c7 17.CL'Jg4 (ίη case of 17. ~xa8?!
29 ... g4 30.f3 gxf3 31.gxf3! CL'J4g5 .tb7 after the exchange of White's queen
32.cJiJg2 CL'Jg7 33.CL'Jbd4 .ί:te8 34 ..tf2 CL'J5e6 for two rooks Black had good chances to
35.b5 organize a successful attack οη White's
Starting the victorious march of the king) 17 ... CL'Jxg4 18. ~xg4 f5!? 19. ~f3 .td6
pawn. 20. ~xa8 .tb7 21 ...Itxe6+ \tJh8 22. ~xf8+
35 ... CL'Jxd4 36.tΔxd4 .txd4 37.exd4 CL'Jf5 .txffi~ produced a position ίη which the
38.b6 cJiJg7 39.':b5 lIed8 40.b7 .ί:tb8 activity of Black's pieces balanced out
41 ..tg3 White's slight material advantage Adams
Black has ηο chance to survive ίη the - Seirawan, Bermuda 1999.
rook endgame. 10... c5 1l ..tf4
41 ... CL'Jxg3 42.cJiJxg3 ':d7 43.1:tab2 \tJg6 It was better for White to develop this
44.cJiJf4 {6 45.':b6 ':e7 46.h4 h5 47.':b1 bishop to the diagonal b8-h2, where it
':f7 48 ..ί:tg1+ \tJh7 49.cJiJf5! ':bxb7 50.I:!.xb7 would prevent an immediate appearance
':xb7 51.\tJxf6 .ί:tb3 52.f4 Mh3 53.f5 .ί:txh4 of Black's queen ση c7 (that was possible
54.\tJe5 ':h2 55.\tJxd5 h4 56 . .ί:tg4 h3 ίη case ofll ..te3 ~c7 12.CL'Je5 CL'Jbd5°o with
57..ί:tg3! an unclear play), thus emphasizing a cer-
It was more convenient to capture the tain weakness of dark squares ίη the
h-pawn with a check. However White wins opponent's position.
easily anyway. 1l ....td612.CL'Je5
57 ... \tJh6 58.f6 .ί:tf2 59.MXh3+ \tJg6 Ιη case of an immediate 12 ..tg3 ο-ο
60.cJiJc5 \tJxf6 61 . .ί:te3! .ί:ta2 62.d5 .ί:ta5+ 13.CL'Je5 ~e7 14.CL'Jgf3 CL'Jbd5 15.0-0 CL'Jh5
63.cJiJc6 .ί:ta6+ 64.\tJc7 .ί:ta7+ 65.\tJb6 1-0 Black exchanged White's dangerous
bishop, and after 16 ..ί:tfe1 ~c7 17.I:!.ad1
Anand got a slight advantage ίη the CL'Jxg3 18.hxg3 CL'Jf6oo, despite the superior
opening: he had two bishops vs. two activity ofWhite's pieces, it was quite dif-
ficult to find a concrete method for the de- would become quite insignificant because
νelopment of his initiatiνe ίη the game ofthe absence of obνiously weak points ίη
Anand - Karpoν, Linares 1994. Black's camp, and an exchange οη [6 would
12 ... 0-0 13.tίJgf3 tίJbd5 14.j,g3 't:lc7 allow him to simplify the position. But ίη
15.dxc5 't:lxc5 16.0-0 b6 the present position Black will haνe to con-
Black could haνe tried to exchange duct a passiνe defence, struggling with his
White's dark-squared bishop by 16 ... knights against the opponent's strong bish-
tίJh5!?, playing similarly to the cited game ops.
Anand - Karpoν. 21.liJb5 ~xb5 22.cxb5 J::txd1+
17.1Hd1 jιa6 Ιη case of 22 ... liJbd5 after 23.Mac1 't:lb4
Now tίJh5 was already dangerous, hang- 24. 't:lf3 I:rc8 25.J::tc6± White would launch
ing up Black's pieces οη the d-file. an attack οη the opponent's camp through
18.c4 Mad8 the weak c6-square.
18 ... tίJb4?? was losing because of 19. 23.MXd1 Mc8?
tίJd7+-, White's pressure upon the d-file Allowing White to begin his νictorious
and the diagonal b8-h2 affecting the esti- attack. The correct moνe was 23 ... tίJbd5;J;,
mation fundamentally. aνoiding weakening of the kingside and
19.tίJd4! hoping for the solidity of Black's position
White's knight is heading for b5, and ίη the further passiνe defence.
besides there is the threat of liJxf7. Α 24.~xf6 gxf6
straightforward 19.tίJd3? was worse be-
cause of the counterstrike 19 ... jιxc4
20.Mac1 j,xd3 21.'t:lxd3liJf4! 22.'t:lfl 't:lb4=F,
and White lost a pawn as a result Anand-
Karpoν, Monte Carlo 1994.
19... ~xe5
Ιη case of 19 ... tίJb4? there would be al-
ready 20.liJxf7±. AIso White's prospects
were better ίη the line 19 ... 1:He8 20.tίJb5
Jtxb5 21.cxb5 't:lb4 22. 't:lf3;J; owing to his
bishop pair.
20.~xe5 tίJb4
If Black tried to complicate the play 25.Jtxe6!
Veηtuήηg οη the bishop sacrifice, White
with 20 ... tίJh5?!, then the simplest response
would be 21. 't:le4!? (better than 21. 't:lxh5?! takes into consideration the fact that
tίJf4 22. 't:lf3 't:lxe5 23. 't:le3 't:lg5t, ceding the Black's queenside pieces are too far away
initiatiνe to Black; and ίη case of 21 ..ϊ:!.ac1
from the king, unable to help with the de-
tίJdf4 22. 't:le4 tίJg600 Black would exchange fence, and the position of the knight is es-
White's dark-squared bishop and gain an pecially remarkable ίη this respect: it
equal position) 21 ... tίJhf6 (21 ... jιxc4 seems to be occupying a fine place, but ac-
22.~ac1 tίJdf6 23. 't:le1 tίJg4 24.~xg7 tίJxg7 tually it is out of the play.
25.1:[xc4±) 22. 't:lh4±. If the knight retreats 25 ...fxe6 26.'t:lxe6+ ~h8
to d5 now, then White takes οη f6. How- It was not better to moνe the black king
eνer, there was an interesting opportunity towards the centre: 26 ... Wg7 27.kId7+ ~g6
of 20 ... tίJf4!? 21.jιxf4 (21. 't:le1 jιxc4? 28.'t:lf7+ Wf5 29.'t:lh7+ Wf4 (29 ... ~e5
22.jιxc4 't:lxc4 23.b3+-; 21 ... liJ6h5!? 22. 't:le4 30.g4+-; 29 ... We6 30.g4+-) 30.h3 't:lc1+
liJg6 oo ) 21 ... .ϊ:!.χd4 22.Iιxd4 't:lxd4 23.j,e5 31.Wh2 (threatening with l:d4) 31 ... 't:lc2
't:lc5 24.Md1 .ϊ:!.c8;J;, and White's adνantage (31 ... 't:lc5 32.kIe7+-) 32. 't:le7+- with irre-
sistible mating threats. 18.Jι.e4 CLJd5!?

27. ,§xf6+ Φg8 28. '§e6+ ~h8 29. '§xh6+ Ιη case of 18 ... Uxd4 19.i.e3 White ex-
Φg8 30.'§e6+ ~h8 31.h3 cels his opponent ίη deνelopment.
Ν ow that White made himself secure 19.Ubl
against Black's threats οη the 1st rank, The b7-pawn needs to be protected.
Black cannot preνent him from engaging Also 19.i.e3!? deserνed attention as there
his rook ίη the attack. was ηο 19 ... ~xb7? because of 20.Ziab1+,
31 ... ~ίB 32.'§h6+ 'it>g8 33.'§g6+ Φh8 and ίη case of 19 ... CLJxe3 20.fxe3 White kept
34. '§g3 '§c2 his extra pawn, howeνer the opposite-
Ιη case of 34 ... '§f5 after 35.J:!.d4 Zif7 coloured bishops stayed οη the board ...
36.~h4+ Uh7 37.'§b8+ ~g7 38.Ug4+ ~h6 19 ...CLJc320 ..i.g5
White would win it by a quiet moνe White decides to sacrifice an exchange,
39.'§g3+- because ίη case όf 20.~b3 there is 20 ...
35.Ud41-O CLJe2+. The line 20 ... CLJxe4 21.fxe4 Uxd4
22.Jι.e3 is unclear as there is ηο 22 ... Uxe4??
Κhalifman succeeded ίη the game with because of 23.i.xa7+ Φχa7 24.b8'§+-,
Leitao, though the ending was drawn. White winning the game.
20 ...f6 21.i.e3 CLJxbl 22.Uxbl
282 Α18 White is well compensated for the sac-
Κhalίfman (2667) - Leitao (2567) rificed exchange and threatens with Jι.c6
Notes by A.Kochyeu and then d5.
22 ... Ud6 23.i.f4 Ub6 24.Jι.xc7+ Φχc7
1.c4 CLJf6 2.CLJc3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 25.Ucl + Jι.c5 26.Uxc5+
5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 Mter 26.dxc5 Ub2 27.c6 Ud8 White's
White can't gain anything by 6.fxg7 pawns are blocked up.
cxd2+ 7 ..i.xd2 .i.xg7. 26 ... ~b8 27.Jι.c6
6 ... '§xf6 7.CLJf3 e5 Preparing d5.
The correct plan, connected with an 27 ... Ud8 28.d5 Uxb7
actiνization ofthe c8-bishop. But for this Black returns the extra exchange and
moνe White would haνe played d4 and gets real chances to hold the position.
then .i.d3, thus gaining better prospects. 29.Jι.xb7 ~xb7 30.Φg2 a6 31.a4 Ud7
8 . .i.d3 CLJa6 9.0-0 .i.d6 10.i.c2 .i.g4 32.~g3 Φb6 33.Uc6+ Φa5 34.d6 ~xa4
11.d4 i.xf3 12.'§xf3 '§xf3 13.gxf3
White has a mighty light-squared
bishop, yet his spoiled pawn structure al-
lows Black to look for a counterchance.
13 ... 0-0-0
Ιη case of 13 ... exd4 there is 14.Ue1,
spoiling the co-ordination ofBlack's pieces.
14.c5 Jι.ίB 15.c6
Another opportunity was 15.i.g5!? [6
16.Jι.e3.
15... exd4 16.cxb7+ Φb8
If 16 ... ~xb7?, then 17.Ub1 + with an at-
tack. 35.Uc7
17.cxd4 CLJb4 Or 35.Uxa6+ ~b5= with a draw.
Α sensrble decision. Black wants to en 35 ... J:lxd6 36.Uxg7 h5 37.Zih7 Ud5
gage the knight ίη the play first of all. Also a simple 37 ... ~b4!? 38.Uxh5 a5 was
interesting, advancing the passed pawn. the deep ending Alexander managed to
38•.!::!:h6.!::!:g5+ smash his more experienced rival. Ιη the
Black goes astray and creates difficul- second game J aan either did not notice a
ties for himself. G. Kasparov supposes that strong move 27.SΙxd5! with White's advan-
38 ... .!::!:f5 gives a draw here, for example tage or he thought that Black would have
39.f4 a5 40.~f3 'it>b4 41.~e4 .!::!:b5 42.J:!.xf6 a sufficient compensation for the queen (V2,
a4 43 ..!::!:a6 a3 44.f5 J:!.a5 45.J:!.xa5 ~xa5 46.f6 65).
a2 47.f'l a1~ 48.f8~ ~e1+ 49.'it>d5 ~d2+ Bareev (White) squeezed Gulko's pieces
50.'it>e6 ~e2= οη the back ranks and by tactical means
39.~f4 .!::!:g2 transferred the game into a winning rook
Better was 39 ... J:!.b5 40.J:!.xf6 a5, aiming + 2 pawns vs. bishop + knight ending.
at an advance ofthe passed pawn. The uncompromising struggle was ίη
40.J:!.xh5 .!::!:xf2 41.h4 a5 42.J:!.h8 ~a3 the match Topalov - Dreev. Νο more draws!
43.h5 .!::!:h2 44.h6 a4 45.h7 The last two 15-minute (+ 10 seconds per
Unlike his opponent, Khalifman ad- move) games were won by Veselin. Here is
vanced his passed pawn as soon as he got the last game that brought the Bulgarian
such an opportunity. to the quarterfinal.
45 •.. .!::!:h5 46.~g4 ~h147.f4 .!::!:h2 48.'it>f5
.!::!:h4 49.'it>e4 J:!.h5 50.f5 'Iita2 51 ..!::!:a8! J:!.xh7 283 Ε81
52..!::!:xa4+ Dreev (2676) - Topalov (2707)
Game over! Game 6 15-minute
52 ... ~b3 53 . .!::!:a6 J:!.e7+ 54.J:!.e6 .!::!:f7 Notes by A.Kochyev
55.~d5 'it>c3 56.J:!.e8 .!::!:a7 57.'it>e6 ~a6+
58.'it>f7 ~d4 59.J:!.e6 1-0 l.d4 tΔf6 2.c4 g6 3.tΔc3 SΙg7 4.e4 d6
5.f3 ο-ο 6.tΔge2 c5
The idea of this move is that ίη case of
Tie-break, December 8 6 ... e5 White plays 7.iιg5 with real chances
to gain an opening advantage.
Five pairs of eight played ίη the tie- 7.d5 e6 8.tΔg3
break and for four of them two 25-minute 8.iιg5!? was possible as well to be fol-
games were enough. The absence of sensa- lowed by ~d2.
tions ίη the tie-break showed that the 8 ... exd5 9.cxd5 a6
strongest players finally started to struggle Αη interesting line appeared ίη the
with all their might. game Dreev - Schekachev, Russia 1998:
M.Adams (Black) carried out a drawn 9 ... tΔh5!? 10.tΔxh5 gxh5 11.SΙd3 [5 12.0-0
combination with a perpetual check to tΔa6 13.iιf4 fxe4 14.fxe4 c4 with the idea
P.Svidler. Ιη the second game Michael man- of~b6.
aged to win a pawn and then another one. 10.a4 h5
Gelfand, playing with Shirov, οη move Α standard manoeuvre ίη this variation.
16 began to realize a wrong plan. Instead Black frees the h7-square for the knight,
of16 ... a5 the move tΔc41ed to equality. With and after f'l-f5 he can opportunely disturb
a tactical blow 18.tΔc5! Alexey got an ad- White's knight by h4. Usually these posi-
vantage despite the loss of a pawn and soon tions produce a sharp play with White's
he won. Ιη the next game Boris did not certain advantage.
achieve an advantage ίη the opening and 11 ...ig5
there was a draw οη the 72 nd move. Or 11.iιe2 h4 12.tΔf1 tΔh7 13.tΔe3 [5
Grischuk and Ehlvest made a lot of 14.tΔc4 SΙd4 (preventing White from cas-
moves ίη the first game ofthe tie-break. Ιη tling) 15.iιd2 tΔg5 16. ~c1 tΔf'l, covering d5
and then engaging the queen's knight. The ties: 29 ..ίab7; 29.~g5; 29 ...id2; 29.tίΊd5.
play is νery keen here. Howeνer, it's Black who is to moνe now:
11 ... ~c7 27 ... CΔg4! The c3-knight is hanging, and
Getting rid of the bind and preparing there is a threat of the check ~d4. White
tίΊh7 and f7-f5 has a choice ofthree moνes, but ίη Black's
12.~d21::te8 chances are higher ίη alllines, for example:
An immediate 12 ... tίΊh7 13 ...Ith6 results 28.tίΊd5?! ~b2 29.tίΊe7+ (29.tίΊc7? ..id4+
ίη the exchange ofthe dark-squared bishop 30.Φh1 tίΊf2 31 ..ίaxf2 ~xa1+ 32 ..ίaf1 .ίae1-+;
which is certainly unfaνourable for Black. 29.~f3 lιd4+ 30.~h1 tίΊf2+; 29.d7 1ιd4+
13 ...Ite2 tίΊh714 ...ih6 1ιd415.1ιe3 ..ih8 30.~h1 tίΊf2 31.1:1xf2 ~xa1+ 32.1::tf11::te1-+)
Black rejects an opportunity to fix a 29 ... .ί::txe7 30.dxe7 ..id4+ 31.~h1 ~xa1
draw by repetition of the position (15 ... 32.~f3 ~xa4 (32 ... ~xf1+ 33.~xf1 tίΊf2+
1ιg7), although objectiνely White has al- 34.~gl tίΊe4+ 35.Φh1 1::te8) 33.~xg4 ~e8
ready got a slight adνantage. 34.lιg5 ~xc4 35.1::te1 ~d5-+;
16.0-0 tίΊd7 17.f4 28.1ιd2lιd4+ 29. Φh1 tίΊe5 30. ~h3 tίΊxc4
White changes the character of the (30 ... ~xc4!? 31. ~xh4? ..ixc3 32. ~xc4 tίΊxc4
struggle suddenly, and the play becomes 33.1ιχc3 CΔxd6-+) 31.d7 (31.1::tab1 tίΊxd2
keener. He is threatening to play 18.e5 de 32.~xb4 cxb4 33.d7 tίΊxf1 34.dxe8~+ ~xe8
19.f5, taking the initiatiνe, so Black's next 35.~d7 1::te1 36.~d8+ Φg7 37.~xd4+ f6
moνes should protect him against this 38.~d7+ ~h6 39.~gl bxc3-+) 31 ... tίΊxd2
plan. 32.dxe8~ + 1::txe8 33.tίΊd5 ~b3 34. ~d7 CΔxf1
17 ... tίΊdf6 18.e5 h4!? 19.tίΊge4 dxe5 (34 ... 1:1f8 35.tίΊe7+ Φg7 36. ~g4 tίΊxf1)
20.d6 ~a5 21.tίΊxf6+ tίΊxί6 22.fxe5 1::txe5 35.~xe8+ Φg7 36 ..!:!:xf1 ~xd5 37.~c8 b5
23.1ιί4 1:te8 24 ...ic4 38. ~xa6?? h3-+;
White's compensation for the extra 28.d7 The most unpleasant continua-
pawn ίη this position is his passed d6- tion. Ν ow Black's attempt to play like ίη
pawn and the arrangement of his pieces, the aboνe regarded νariations can turn
conνenient for an attack. fatal for him: 28 ... ..id4+? 29.~h1 1::ted8
24 ... ~b4 25.b3 1ιe6! 26. ~d3 30.tίΊd5 ~b2 31.~f3 (3Uiab1 tίΊf2+ 32.1::txf2
~xf2 33.~f1 ~b2) 31 ... tίΊf2+ 32.1:ϊ:Χf2 ~xa1+
33.z:tf1 ~xa4 34.tίΊe7+! Φh8 35.~d5--t. Ιη
stead of this Black sacrifices by an ex-
change by 28 ... ~xc3! 29.dxe8~+ .!:!:xe8
30. ~xc3 1ιχc3 and takes a strong initia-
tiνe, for example: 31.Zίab1 ~d4+ 32.Φh1
tίΊf2+ 33.Φg1 ne2=t. Now there is ηο
34.~xb7? (or 34.h3? tίΊxh3+ 35.~h1 tίΊf2+)
because it loses a piece: 34 ... CΔd3+ 35.Φh1
tίΊxf4-+ (Analysis by ΒοΙουίου)
27.~f3 ~g4 28.~d3 ..if5 29.~f3 ~g4
30.tίΊd5?
26... ..if5 White seems to haνe oνerestimated his
Black could haνe gained a considerable position. 30. ~d3 was the correct continu-
adνantage here after 26 ... ~xc4! 27.bxc4 (ηο ation.
27.~xc4? because of ~xc4 28.bxc4 tίΊh5 30.....ixf3 31.tίΊxb4 ..ie2!
29 ...id2 I!.ad8). Now White is going to play Νο 31 ... cxb4? because of 32.z:txf3 with
28.1:!.ab1, and after the queen retreats to strong pressure upon the square f7.
a5 he will haνe many enticing opportuni- 32.CΔd3
Having lost a11 his advantage, White is must play accurately to win this position ...
trying to complicate matters. Ιη case of 37.h3 4Jd2 38.:f4 4Jxc4 39.bxc4 ~e8
32.kxe2 ~xe2! 33.4Jd3 4Jd7 34.l:taelkd4+ 40 ...tc3 :e3 41.i.f6 ~e6 42.a5 b6
35.'it>hll:tae8=t Black is just better. Black's pieces are too numerous, White
32 ... 4Je4 33.d7 Ited8 34.4Je5 kxe5 cannot resist.
35.kxe5 i.xf1 36.Itxf1 Itxd7 43 ...tc3 Iίd3 44 ...tb2 Iίb3 45 ...tf6 bxa5
The tactical duel is over, Black οηlΥ 0-1
ROUND 4 PAIRINGS AND RESULTS G1 G2 Fina!

78 Macieja Β. POL 2536 vs 1 Anand V. IND 2762 = 0-1 0.5-1.5
66 Leitao R. ΒΗΑ 2567 :vs 21 ΚhalifmanA RUS 2667 = 0-1 0.5-1.5
11 Svid!er Ρ. RUS 2689 ΝS 3 AdamsM. ENG 2755 = = 1.5-2.5
15 Dreev Α. RUS 2676 vS 7 TopalovV. DUL 2707 1-0 0-1 2-4
2 Morozeνich Α. RUS 2756 ΝS 26 TkachievV. FRA 2657 = 0-1 0.5-1.5
38 Eh!vest J. EST 2627 .·.ν~ 46 GrischukA RUS 2606 = = 1.5-2.5
4 Shirov Α ESP 2746 .: ....~: .. 12 Ge!fand Β. ISR 2681 = = 2.5-1.5
:,.
8 BareevE. RUS 2702 ys 32 Gulko Β. USA 2643 = = 2.5-1.5
Round5
Game 1, December 9 30.~f5+ Φg8 31.~xf3 ~xf3 32.kd3 with
an advantage to White.
Κhalifman demonstrated an exce11ent 25 ... i.e4! 26.Iίe2 ~f5 27 ..1ιf4 c4 28.
opening preparation ίη the Marshall Itxe4 Iίxe4 29 ...tc2 i.xf4 30.i.xe4 ~xe4
Counter Attack ίη the Ruy Lopez, playing 31.gxf4 1h - 1/2
against Anand.
Conversation with the defending
284 C89 World Champion GM A.Κhalifman
Anand (2762) - Κhalifman (2667) Q: Are you satisfied with the result
of this game?
l.e4 e5 2.4JrJ 4Jc6 3 ...tb5 a6 4 ...ta4 4Jf6 Α: Considering the fact that Anand has
5.0-0 ..te7 6.~el b5 7 ...tb3 ο-ο 8.c3 d5 won a11 games with White υρ ti11 now ίη
9.exd54Jxd5 10.4Jxe5 4Jxe5 11.Iίxe5 c6 this tournament and cοηsίdeήηg the fact
12.:el..td6 13.d3 ~h4 14.g3 ~h3 15.~e4 that he won a11 White games against me
~f5 16.4Jd2 ~g6 17.:el f5 18.a4 Itb8 this year, Ι can say that this result is posi-
19.axb5 axb5 20.4Je4 fxe4 21.dxe4 ..tg4 tive. But as the match is sti11 ίη process, Ι
22:~d4 .trJ 23.exd5 c5 24.~h4 1:tbe8 don't want to discuss it. Tomorrow a new
25.i.d2 game wi11 be played and we'l1 see.
Ιη the game Anand - Adams, Dortmund Q: Mter 3 losses with Black ίn the
2000, there was: 25.ke3 ~f5 26.l:tacl ke4 previous matches with Anand, you
27 ..tdl .txd5 28 ..tc2 ~f3 29.~xh7+ 'it>f7 must be really happy.
Α: Ι am not really happy. Being happy ter for his king.

for me means Ι have won the match. This 12.exd5 CLJxd5 13.CLJxd5 iιxd5 14.'ϊ.t>b1
ίδ just a positive result. Ν othing to be happy CLJf6
about. Of course ίη case of14 ... ~e7?! there was
Q: Excellent opening preparation. an unpleasant 15.CΔf5 iιf6 16.1!ib4, but
Α: Well, Ι do know something about the Black could have played 14 ... CLJb6!? with
openings. That was quite [υηηΥ, because the idea of CΔc4.
Anand had prepared some improvements 15.g4 iιc4
οη his game with Adams, which were White ίδ threatening to play g5, δΟ
played recently this year. But Ι could fore- Black has to waste time to prepare a re-
see this improvement and Ι reacted just treat for the f6-knight, meanwhile his
properly. kingside stays undeveloped ...
Q: Pawn sacrifice was a very nice 16.~f4 1!ib6
move. Bad was 16 ... e5.? 17.~xe51!ixe518.jιxc4
Α: Actually, it was a good idea to sacri- bxc4, and then 19.1:thel +- with White's νic
fice the pawn, but the way Ι did it was not tory.
perfect. Ι had some other way to sacrifice 17.~e5 CLJd5 18.1:the1
the pawn where it could have been an υη White managed to gain a harmonious
pleasant pressure υροη my opponent. Ι position for his forces and has a certain
didn't plan to talk much as this match ίδ advantage. Black has some strong points
very important and it ίδ still ίη process. too, however his underdevelopment ίδ a
Let's see what will happen later. serious defect of his position.
18 ... 0-0-0 19.~d3 ~c5 20.CΔb3 Jif2
21.1:tf1 ~xd3 22.cxd3
Οη move 40 M.Adams won a pawn, play- Black could have played 22.1:txf2!?, win-
ing with V. Topalov. Michael managed to re- ning a pawn after ~g6 23.iιxg7 1:thg8
alize his slight advantage ίη the rook end- 24.~d4±
ing οη move 70. 22 ... ~e3 23.1!ic2+ wb7 24.d4
There was also an opportunity to cap-
285 Β84 ture οη g7 (24.~xg7!?), however White was
Adams (2755) - Topalov (2707) not inclined to let his opponent take the
Notes by A.Kochyev initiative.
24 ... f6 25.~g3 Wa7 26.1:tfe1
1.e4 c5 2.CLJf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.CLJxd4 Black's knight οη d5 ίδ excellent, yet
CLJf6 5.CLJc3 a6 6.~e3 e6 7.iιe2 1!ic7 8.a3 there are too many weak points ίη his ρο
b5 9.1!id2 Jib7 10.f3 CLJbd7 sition, δΟ White's prospects should be esti-
White played the opening quite unpre- mated as better.
tentiously, δΟ Black got every chance to 26 ... g627.1!id3
equalize the play. Along with the move ίη Ιη case of 27.t1e4 there was 27 ... f5==,
the game, a plan with an opportune cas- and Black felt οκ.
tling kingside after 10 ... ~e7!? was possible 27 ... ~h6 28.l:ιe2 l:the8 29.1:tc2 J::tc8
here. 30.1:te11:txc2 31.1!ixc2 iιf8
11.0-0-0 d5 White's chances were better ίη case of
Α standard pawn blow. Black's pieces 31 ... iιe3 32.1!id3± too.
liven up, but White's position ίη the cen- 32.l:rc1 iιd6
tre remains strong. Besides, White ίδ bet- Mter 32 ... iιh6 33.Bc7 Black still had
ter developed, whereas Black still has to problems.
develop his kingside and arrange a shel- 33.1!ic61::td8 34.~xd6 1:rxd6
change and soon he resigned.
Game 2, December 10
The game between v.Anand and Α.

Κhalifman was not long and ended ίη a
draw.
286 Α17
Khalifman (2667) - Anand,V (2762)
35.~e8!
The attack begins. White increases his l.tLΊf3 tLΊf6 2.c4 e6 3.tLΊc3 i..b4 4. ~c2
adνantage, threatening with Rc8 and then 0-0 5.a3 iιxc3 6.~xc3 b6 7.b4 a5 8.iιb2
a knight intrusion. axb4 9.axb4 ~xal+ 10.i..xal c511.e3 d6
35... ~d8 12.iιe2 e5 13.0-0 ~e8 14.d3 tLΊa6
35 ... ki.d8 36. ~f7. VAnand did not want to check υρ what
36.~xd8 ~xd8 37.~c6 tLΊf4 38.tLΊc5 improνement A.Κhalifman had prepared
~xd4 39.~xa6+ Wb8 40.tLΊxe6 tLΊxe6 ίη case of 14 ... tLΊc6, which was played ίη
41.~xe6 the game Κramnik - Anand, Dortmund
White's adνantage is decisiνe now. 1998: 15.bxc5 bxc5 16.h3 i..d7 17:~d2 ~b6
41 ... ~f4 42.~b6+ ~a7 43.~xb5 ~xf3 18.tLΊh4 ~a8 19.i..c3 ~b3 20.~a1 ki.xa1 with
44.~c5 \t>b6 45.~c3 ~f4 a draw.
Of course, the pawn ending 45 ... ~xc3 15.bxc5 bxc5 16.~bl tLΊb4 17.~b3
46.bxc3 was losing too. 1/2 - IJ2
46.h3 f5 47.gxf5 ~xf5 48.Φa2 ~b5
49.1::!.b3+ Φa5 50.~b4 ~f3 51.h4 h5 52.~e4 Conversation with the GM Α. Kha-
J::!.g3 53.ki.e5+ Φb6 54.a4 ~h3 55.~e4 Φa5 lifman
56.b3 ~hl 57.Φb2 Mgl 58.Me5+ ~b6 ΒΥ V.Sαlov
59.Φa3 J:tg4 60.~e6+ ~c5 61.~f6 J::txh4 Q: What can you tell us about your
62.~xg6 J:thl 63.J:tg5+ Φb6 64.a5+ Φc6 today's performance?
65.Φa4 h4 66.~g6+ Φc7 67.~h6 h3 Α: Anand has already demonstrated
68.~b5 h2 69.b4 ~d7 70.~h7+ 1-0 here that he is νery well prepared ίη the
opening for this tournament. It is probably
Grischuk and Tkachieν decided not to νery good for such knockout format to haνe
run risk and quickly agreed to a draw οη νery solid and νery hard to beat opening
moνe 17. with Black. Ι tried some of the opening
Bareeν played the Queen's Gambit Ac- νariations, which he had already played
cepted strongly. And pieces' exchanges did against Κramnik, but then he played some
not improνe Black's position. 1t should haνe little improνement (knight οη a6 instead
been better for Shiroν to choose any other of knight οη c6) and then it became clear
opening. Κramnik's second E.Bareeν had to me that all my actiνe play would lead to
studied this νariant thoroughly, and though nowhere. There are enough pieces ίη the
Alexey οη his moνe 9 turned offthe road of final position but Ι don't haνe any actiνe
the 4th game Κramnik - Kasparoν, London plan. 1Π play actiνely it leads only to some
2000, White gradually got a slight but last- new pieces exchanges and just total draw.
ing adνantage. Pawns of the black queen- Eνerything will be decided tomorrow.
side were weak. Shiroν gaνe υρ an ex- Q: You have already played ίn tie-
break before, and Anand will be play- 287 C42

ing his first tie-break ίn this champi- Topalov (2707) - Adams (2755)
onship. Does it give you any advan- Notes by A.Kochyev
tage?
Α: Ι don't know for whom it can be bet- 1.e4 e5 2.tίJf3 tίJί6 3.lbxe5 d6 4.lbf3
ter. Ι haνe a1ready got some experience lbxe4 5.d4 d5 6.iιd3lbc6 7.0-0 iιe7 8.c4
here, but he is not that tired. He is νery lbb4 9.iιe2 0-0 10.lbc3 iιί5
good ίη rapid chess. Ι know that. B1ack chose one of possib1e continua-
Q: Did you expect such a quick tions ίη this well studied and popu1ar ρο
draw after 17 moves? sition, which usually giνes White a slight
Α: Ι wanted to p1ay. Ι didn't intend to but 1asting opening adνantage.
make a draw ίη 17 moνes. But once again Ι 11.a3lbxc3 12.bxc3 tίJc6 13.~e1 dxc4
repeat that he had prepared some good 14.iιxc4 iιd6
ideas. We could haνe p1ayed some 5 more White's position was good ίη case of
moνes but it wou1d 1ead to a draw anyway.
14 ... iιf6 15.iιf4 as we11.
Q: Are you satisfied that you had to 15.tίJg5
Α good, dynamic moνe. Ιη case of
offer a draw playing with white?
15.iιg5 '§d7 16.lbe5 iιxe5 17.dxe5 h6
Α: Ι am not satisfied at all, but his open-
ing is νery solid now. It is not so easy to 18.'§xd7 iιxd7 19.i.h4 iιe6 20.i.d3 the
bring him to troub1e. Ι am not νery much exchange ofthe bishops by 20.iιxe6?! fxe6
was certainly ίη Black's faνour. After
satisfied with the resu1t, but Ι am not νery
20 ... g5 Black was ΟΚίη the game Bo1ogan
much upset, because when Ι was prepar-
- Karpoν, Buenos Aires 2000.
ing for the game Ι could not find a real flaw
15... '§d7 16.'§f3 ~ae8
ίη his opening preparation. He is really well
Α worthy response. B1ack must play
prepared for this championship. precise1y ίη this position if he wants to
Q: Have you heard that ίn the Ιn maintain the equality.
dian game show Kramnik was called 17.~xe8 ~xe8 18.iιd2 tίJd8! 19.iιd3
world championship while you were iιxd3
not even mentioned? Ιη case of 19 .. .iιg4 there was 20 .iιxh 7 +
Α: That's νery strange. But it's just up Φh8 21.'§d3 g6, and both 22.iιxg6 fxg6
to you, journa1ists. Α wor1d champion ίη 23. '§xg6 and 22.h3 iιf5 23. '§f.3 f6 24 ...txg6
peop1e's minds is the person whom you i.xg6 25. '§xf6+ Yf:fg7 were actually not dan-
present as a world champion. There has gerous for Black.
been a 10t of noise about that Ρήνate match 20.'§xd3 ί5
ίη London between Kasparoν and Κram Mter 20 ... g6 21.tίJe4 iιe7 White's posi-
nik. Ιη rea1ity it was just a priνate match. tion was somewhat better.
Α wor1d championship is what we are haν 21.c4 iιe7 22.tίJf3 .1ιί6 23.~b1 b6
ing here.
M.Adams once again p1ayed the Russian
(Petroν's) Defence, which he had success-
fully emp10yed against Peter Sνid1er ear-
1ier ίη the championship. Ίbpa10ν cou1d not
get an adνantage, so the game was drawn
οη moνe 40. The Englishman was the first
semi-fina1ist. His consistency ίη the knock-
out Wor1d Championships is indeed re-
markab1e: fina1ist ίη Groningen, semi-fina1-
ist ίη Las Vegas and now.
24.c5 With the bishop οη c4, the opportunity

Αη attempt to complicate matters, still of 10 ... c5 looked dubious, because White
Black's counterchances are enough to de- would have 11.d5!? exd5 (11 ... lbb6? 12.dxe6
fend his position. lbxc413.exf7+ ~h814.~c3±) 12 ..txd5lbf6
24 ... ~d5 25.cxb6 cxb6 26.Mb5 ~e4 13.lbxf6+ ..ixf6 14.1:the11', and it would be
27.~c4+ 'it>h8 28.h3 h6 rather difficult for Black to neutralize
Perhaps Black rejected 28 ... lbe6 be- White's pressure along the central files. Ιη
cause of 29.Iίd5 case of 10 ... b6 there was a strong 11.d5!1'.
29.J::ι.b3 ~c6 However 10 ... a6!? really deserved atten-
Also 29 ... lbc6!? 30.J::ι.e3 ~b1+ was pos- tion, to be followed by 11.Jιb3 c6 12. ~f4
sible, and after the exchange 31.~h2 Mxe3 b5 13.h4 1::!.a7 14.lbeg5 lbf6 15.c3 ~c7!
32 ...ixe3 Black's queen returned to the cen- 16.lbe5 c5 17.~c2 cxd4 18.MXd4 (18.
tre with 32 ... ~e4 ~xd4!?) 18 ... h6", and, despite the great
30.~d3 ~d5 31.~b5 number ofWhite's pieces οη the kingside,
After the queen exchange the play pro- it was not easy for him to find a concrete
ceeds to an approximately equal ending. way for a further attack ίη the game
31 ... ~xb5 32.J::ι.xb5 lbe6 33.J::ι.d5 Φg8 Κhalifman - Bareev, Belgrade 1993.
34.J::ι.d7 J::ι.d8 35.Mxa7 lbxd4 36.lbxd4 11.Mhel
..ixd4 37.Φf1 ~xf2 38.~xh6 ..id4 39...id2 Ιη case ofll.lbxf6+ ..ixf612.J::ι.he1 after
Me8 40.J::ι.d7 J::ι.e4 41.g3 lh-1f2 12 ... I:ι.b8 13.lbe5 b5 14.~d3 .tί.b6!? 15.~e3
..ib7 16.g4 a6 17.f4 g6 18.g5 .tg7 19.h4
A.Grischuk and ν.Τkachίeν again ~d5", Black used non-standard methods
agreed to a draw quickly. to gain good positions for his pieces ίη the
game Yermolinsky - Bareev, Luzern 1997.
E.Bareev ίη the French Defence made 11 ... lbd5?!
a short castling and A.Shirov, of course, Black ignored an opportunity to sim-
made a long one. Evgeny played inaccu- plify the position by 11 ... lbxe4 12.Mxe4,
rately this time, gave up an exchange and though the fol1owing line 12 ... b5!? 13 ...id3
soon he resigned. (13.~xb5? was bad because of~d5 14.Jιd3
~xa2 15.c3 Mb8, Black attacking White's
288 Cll king) 13 ... Jιb7 14.Me5!? (14.!lee1 c5 15.dxc5
Shirov (2746) - Bareev (2702) ..ixf3 16.gxf3 .txc5",) 14 ... ..ixf3 15.gxf3 a6
16 ..te4 Mb8", could have given him good
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.lbc3lbf6 4 ...ig5 dxe4 chances for extinguishing White's activity.
5.lbxe4 Jιe7 6.Jιxf6 Jιxf6 7.lbf3 lbd 7
8.~d2 ο-ο 9.0-0-0 Jιe7 10.Jιc4
The other way of development of the
white king's bishop was quite unpleasant
for Black as well: 10.~d3 with the idea to
put pressure upon h7 and provoke a weak-
ening of the pawn shelter of Black's king
to be followed by a pawn attack, for ex-
ample 10 ... b6 11.h4 Jιb7 12.l:th3 lbf6
13.lbxf6+ ..ixf6 14.lbg5 h6 15.lbh7 J::ι.e8
16.lbxf6+ ~xf617.g41', threateningtoopen
up the kingside after g5, Kharlov -
Sakalauskas, Skelleftea 1999. 12.lbe5!
10... lbf6 White's centralization enables him to
oppose to any demonstration of actiνity would haνe secured him an oνerwhelming

from his opponent. positional adνantage.
12 ... f5 22.LΔb4! ..Iiιb7
The problems would haνe stayed un- Ιη case of 22 ... t;ιxb4? 23. t;ιxd5+ 'it>h8
solνed if Black had chosen a more natu- 24.LΔf7+ 'it>g8 25.LΔh6+ 'it>h8 26.t;ιg8+ 1:rxg8
rally looking continuation. 80, ίη case of 27.LΔf7# there was a smothered mate there.
12 ... LΔf6 White had 13.LΔg5!?, threatening 23.gxh7+ ~xh7 24.1:rgl t;ιh6
with LΔexf7, and after 13 ... t;ιd6 (13 ... c5 was Ιη case of 24 ... 1:rg8, after 25. t;ιf3!?
not bad because of 14.LΔexf7 with a fatal (25.LΔf7 t;ιxf4+ 26.~b1 g6 27.LΔxd5±) 25 ... g6
attack) 14.f4 Black eνidently suffered prob- 26.1:rg2 a5 (26 ... t;ιxb4 27.LΔxg6 ~h6 28.
lems, and after 12 ... f6 13.LΔf.3 the weak- LΔe5+-) 27.1:rdgl+- Black had ηο defence
ness of the e6-pawn secured a stable ad- against the threats along the g-file.
νantage to White. 25.t;ιf3!
13 ...txd5 exd5?! This moνe is much stronger than an
It seems that the οηlΥ chance to immediate 25.LΔd7 ..tc7 26.LΔxf8+ .1:'i:xf8
struggle for an equal play ίη this game was 27.LΔxd5 i..xf4+ 28.'it>b1 l:Id8 29.t;ιxg7+
13 ... fxe4!?, and after 14 ...txe4 ..tg5 15.1:re3 t;ιxg7 30.1:rxg7+ Φχg7 31.LΔxf4 ~f6±,White
t;ιf6 16.~f.3 (16. t;ιd3? t;ιxf2 17 ...txh7 + 'it>h8 οηlΥ winning a pawn as a result.
18.LΔg6+ 'it>xh7 19.LΔxf8+ 'it>g8+) 16 ... ~xe3 25 ... ~f6
17.fxe3 c5 18.~bH,though White's position Also Black did not hold out ίη case of
stilllooked nice and he had a fine compen- 25 ... Itc8 26.Itg6 t;ιh4 27.c3 ..Iiιf6 28.Itdg1
sation for the exchange, consisting of a Itfe8 29.LΔc2. The next manoeuνre LΔe3
pawn, full domination ίη the centre and destroyed Black's position completely. Ιη
underdeνelopment ofBlack's queenside, it the actual game White, apart from the ρο
was quite unclear how he could haνe rein- sitional adνantage, gains an exchange.
forced his pressure. 26.LΔd7 1:rbd8 27.LΔxf8+ 1:rxf8 28.LΔxd5
14.LΔc5..tg5?! ~h8 29.t;ιa3 1-0
Black wants to close up the position and
allows White to take a firm control oνer Conνersation with GM A.Shirov
e5: 14 ... t;ιd6 was slightly better here, eνen
though after 15.f4 (the νariation with the ΒΥ Dαmir Levαcic αnd Vαlery Sαlov
seizure ofthe e-file by 15.1:re2 b6 16.LΔcd3 Levacic: Do you think it is better to
c5 17.1:rdeH deserνed attention as well) lose the first game or the second one?
15 ... b6 16.LΔcd3 c5 17.h3 White encoun- 8hiroν: It is better not to lose at all, es-
tered ηο problems, opening up the play οη pecially ίη the knockout format. Bareeν is
the kingside by g2-g4. such a tough opponent that you neνer know
15.f4 ~f6 16.h3 t;ιd617.LΔcd3 b6 18.g4 whether you beat him when you need to.
c5 19.95 ~d8 20.t;ιg2! Actually, Ι haνe won many matches against
There is ηο defence against g6, and, him. Today Ι won him for the 10th time
combined with the opening up of the g- while he won 4 games against me. Ιη fact
file and the threats along the e- and g- we haνe many decisiνe games and νery few
file, this establishes a decisiνe adνantage draws. But one thing is to win ίη the nor-
to White. mal tournament, the other thing is to win
20 ...1:rb8 21.g6 c4 here.
If Black had tried to keep the g-file Salov: Ι think that Bareev was very
closed by 21 ... h6, then after 22.LΔf7 t;ιc6 well prepared for the yesterday's
23.LΔda5 t;ιa8 24.LΔxd8 1:rxd8 25.LΔf7 1:rf8 game.
26.1:re7 the intrusion of White's pieces Levacic: Are you going to prepare
for the tie-break very thoroughly? 9.fxe4 CL\xe4 10 ...id2 ~xd4 11.CL\xe4
Shiroν: Ι played many rapid games and ~xe4+ 12.~e2 ..ixd2+ 13.Φχd2 ~d5+
so far all my matches ended ίη tie-break. 14.Φc2
14.Φc3 b5? 15.~d1 ~c5 16.axb5 cxb5
(16 ... 0-0) 17. ~e4 ο-ο 18. ~xa8 ~xe5+ 19.
Tie-break, December 11 Φc2 CL\a6 20.~f3lhb4+ 21.Φb1+-
14 ... CL\a6 15.CL\xc4 ο-ο 16.~e5
One can't fail to recall Anand's similar ΑΙΙ these moνes occurred many times
νictory oνer Κhalifman ίη the 1st knock- already. Black has three pawns νs. a piece,
out World Championship at Groningen ίη and White's king is badly protected, how-
1997. Κhalifman was completely winning eνer the practice oftop players proνes that
with Black pieces ίη the second game but it's not so easy for Black to get to it, and ίη
his nerνes failed him at crucial moment the endgame White's extra piece usually
and he offered a draw ίη a winning rook secures better chances for him.
ending. Something of that kind happened 16 ... ~ab8 17.a5 f6
ίη India. Khalifman ίη the 25-minute Black makes his opponent define the
games stood a better chance, but Anand position of his queen. Of course, 17 ... ~e5
managed to hold out. Ιη the 2nd game 18.CL\e5 with White's obνious adνantage
Κhalifman was especially close to a νictory. had ηο sense. The line 17 ... Y-fd8 18.~e2 f6,
Again, like 3 years ago, it was a rook end- tested ίη the game Topaloν - Κhalifman,
ing and again it ended ίη a draw. Α new Istanbul 2000 was not better.
FIDE World Champion appeared after the 18.~xd5 cxd5 19.CL\e3 Y-bc8+ 20.ΦbΙ
game with 15-minute control. Alexander The moνe 20.Φd2 was worse because
(Black) chose a well-known exchange of a of CL\c5 with the t1ιreats of both CL\b3 and
piece for three pawns ίη the Slaν Defence. CL\e4.
Though the position looks equal, it's harder 20 ... CL\c521.Y-a3!
to play it with Black. At the Istanbul Olym- The rook enters the play most success-
piad 2000 he played this νariation against fully. As a whole, the position should be
Topaloν unsuccessfully. Now Κhalifman estimated as complex but more promising
played inaccurately οη moνes 25 and 26, to White.
lost his pawn and the game. 21 ... f5
Ιη case of 21 ... d4 there was 22.CL\g4,
289 D17 completing White's kingside deνelopment.
Anand (2762) - Khalifman (2667) 22.~e2 CL\e4 23.Y-dl ~c7 24.CL\c2
Game 5 15-minute White reinforces pressure, gradually
Notes by A.Kochyev improνing his position. The d4-square
looks now as an ideal stand for the knight.
ι.tίJf3 CL\f6 2.c4 c6 3.CL\c3 d5 4.d4 dxc4 24 ... Φf7 25.CL\d4 CL\d6
5.a4 ~f5 6.CL\e5 There was a threat of CL\b5, and ίη case
This continuation leads to an actiνe of25 ... a6 White had an unpleasant 26.Y-b3.
play ίη which White's prospects will be 26.a6 b6
somewhat better. The line 6.e3 e6 7.~xc4 Black might haνe paid attention to the
jιb4 leads to a quieter play. line 26 ... Y-b8!? 27.Y-b3 Φf6 28.Y-c1 Y-xc1+
6 ... e6 7.f3 ~b4 8.e4 ~xe4 29.Φχc1 Y-c8+!?
Complications which appear ίη this line 27.Y-e3 Y-e8 28.~el!? CL\e4
seem to be studied thoroughly. The prac- Νο 28 ... e5? because of 29.CL\b5, White
tice of super tournaments shows that winning the game.
White's chances are slightly better here. 29.CL\b5 ~d7 30.~cl CL\c5
tured οη e5 with your rook anyway?

Α: Quite possib1e. But Ι don't think that
Ι was worse ίη the final position. How?
Because he offers exchange of queens οη
c5 (after 22 ... l:ϊac8 23 ...ib3)? Perhaps, Ι can
play 24. '§f4 after that, there is a1ways some
counterp1ay.
Q: If 24.'§f4, he can play 24 ... '§b6.
ΟΚ. Perhaps it's just a moral advan-
tage.
Α: Ιη this sense you are right, of course,
3ι.tiJd4!? eνerything changed so quickly ίη Black's
Creating the threat of ..ib5 and b4, driν faνour.
ing the black king away. Anand plays bril- Q: What about the second game? Νο
liantly and safely preνents Black from ad- doubt, you had a huge advantage,
νancing his central pawns, so his position even a forced win twice.
is νery hard. Α: Yes. Ι was just destined not to win it.
31 ... ~a8 32.b4 tΔe4 33 ...ib5 ~d6 Q: And the third one?
33 ... l:ϊe7 was losing because of 34.tΔc6 Α: Just a catastrophe. Ι simply didn't
l:ϊee8, and then 35.tΔe5+. recoνer after the second game. Hadn't Ι
34.l:ϊc7 + ~f6 35 ...ic6 discoνered the win immediately after Ι had
Practically, the game is oνer. missed it ... hadn't it been so simple ... Ι cou1d
35 ... l:ϊf8 36.tΔb51:!.dd8 37.l:ϊxa7 tΔd2+ haνe continued the fight. But this feeling
38.~cl tΔc4 39.l:ϊe2 tΔe5 40.l:ϊc7 .ί':ι.c8 ofhaνing missed something so simple, the
41 ..ib71-0 νictory ίη the match being so c1ose, it just
The pawn cannot be stopped. knocked me down.
Q: It's interesting that ίη this tour-
Ιη the last game Anand confidently ex- nament all top rated players except
changed his pieces, and notwithstanding Morozevich have qualified for the
that Alexander had two bishops against semi-finals.
two knights, he achieνed a draw. Α: Yes, it is true. What can Ι say, they
all p1ayed well and deserνed it.
Conversation with GM A.Κhalifrnan
ΒΥ Vαlery Sαlov Bareeν with Black changed the French
Defence into the Caro-Kann, but Shiroν
Q: First of all, tell me, please, a few still managed to get a sharp play.
words about the tie-break match with
Anand. Ιη the first game weren't you Conversation with GM A.Shirov
slightly worse at the moment when ΒΥ Dαmir Levαcic
you proposed a draw after 22:i;td4? Q: Maybe this is the best day of
Α: Νο, Ι don't think so. Ι had a blackout your life.
when Ι p1ayed 18 ..ic7. Ι was νery angry Α: Well. .. The day when Ι beat Κramnik
with myse1f: it was a 10ss of a νery impor- ίη the match was the best day of my chess
tant tempo. ΜΥ opponent didn't p1ay well 1ife. Talking about the best day ofmy 1ife, Ι
ίη the opening. 18 ...ie5 tΔe5 19.~e5 instead think, Ι can remember some other day.
wou1d haνe led to a stab1e adνantage for Anyway, Ι am νery satisfied because it is
White. the first time when Ι qualified for semi-
Q: Perhaps, you should have cap- final.
Q: What can you say about today's that my best practical chance was to go for
games? the endgame. It looks very dangerous and
Α: Ιη the first game Ι managed to use may be even subjectively lost, but ίη the
my preparation which was actually my rapid chess Ι had a chance to survive.
preparation for the second normal game, Q: Who is your favourite to qualify
because Ι expected the Caro-Kann De- for the semifinals?
fence. Then ίη the rapid game it was diffi- Α: Ι don't know. Of course, Anand was
cult for my opponent, because Ι made all ίη a very good form. He didn't play ίη the
the moves very quickly and he had not Olympiads. He came here fresh. But, who
much time to react. Ιη the second game he knows ...
made some real problems, because Ι
thought that position was absolutely ίηηο Ιη the second tie-break game Grischuk
cent, but then Ι made this stupid move c5 (White) transferred the game into a major
and when he played a4, Ι realized that my pieces' ending, where v.Tkachiev's king's
position was really very difficult. Ι was lost position was not good. As the first game
because Ι had ηο defence against 'a5' and ended ίη a draw, Alexander would play ίη
then Ι had to change οη d5 anyway. Ι saw the semifinals with Shirov.
ROUND 5 PAIRINGS AND RESULTS Gl G2 Final

1 Anand V. IND 2762 ys 21 Κhalifman Α. RUS 2667 = = 3.5-2.5
3 AdamsM. ENG 2755 vs 7 Topaloν V BUL 2797 1-0 = 1.5-0.5
46 GrischukA RUS 2606 ΝS 26 Tkachieν V FRA 2657 = = 2.5-1.5
8 Bareeν Ε. RUS 2702 vs 4 ShirovA ESP 2746 1-0 0-1 1.5-2.5
Round6
Game 1, December 12 itself sufficient counterplay. But then Ι
realised that ίη fact it was not satisfactory
The game between M.Adams and V. for the purpose of counterplay. He shouldn't
Anand was mainly a psychological battle. have let me swap my e6-pawn for his 'c3'
Michael had employed an interesting theo- pawn, for it was clearly a burden to be car-
retical sideline 10 ... ..Itfl5 ίη as many as three ried for the whole game. This is probably
important games here. Ananm forced not so trivial because he saw some varia-
Adams to be οη the other side of the board tion where Ι could collect his queenside
today. Anand's choice certainly worked and pawns with queen οη c6 and knight οη b6.
Adams was unable to get much from the Probably, it's not so difficult. ΜΥ position
opening. Anyway, he did not succeed to get is worse, but Ι am holding οη. Even if he
much from the opening and the players takes οη e6 and his knight is favourably
agreed to a draw ίη middlegame. placed, it is οηlΥ good enough for perpetual.
Probably, we have one more game or couple
Interview with GM V.Anand of games to play.
Q: What were your feelings during Q: Did you want to find out how to
the game? play against the Petrov's Defence with
Α: First Ι thought that strong position White?
of my queen οη d5 and knight οη c4 was ίη Α: Yes, Ι thought it might be useful.
Q: Did you get the answer? Ulibin - Vasiukov, E1ista 1996.

Α: He didn't give me exact1y a book with 6 ... 4:Jxe5 7.d4 .I1.e7 8.~xe4 4:Jg6 9.f4!?
all his ana1yses, but I've got some ideas. White wants to make a profit οη the
unhappy position of B1ack's knight imme-
Grischuk p1ayed a rare variant of the diate1y and to seize more space οη the
Ruy Lopez. Alexey Shirov seized the ίηί kingside by f5 to start then an attack. Α
tiative, but Alexander had some opportu- quieter 9.c4 ο-ο 10.4:Jc3 c6 11.1ιa4 f5 12. ~f.3
nities to draw. But he did not use them and d6 13.Me1.if6", was 1ess promising to White
A1exey de1ivered a strong b10w with his because there were ηο rea1 weak points ίη
knight. Grischuk gave his queen for the B1ack's position.
rook and the bishop. Shirov chose a genius 9 ... c6
p1an to rea1ize his advantage. He returned An outward1y risky 9 ... 0-0!? was inter-
the queen and transferred the game to a esting: after 10.f5 d5 11. ~e2 4:Jh4 12 ..id3
winning pawn ending. g6", White wou1d have ηο concrete p1an of
profiting from the weakened position of
290 C65 B1ack's king and the undefended h4-
Shirov (2746) - Grischuk (2606) knight.
10.SΙd3 d5 1l.~e2 f5
1.e4 e5 2.4:Jf3 4:Jc6 3.SΙb5 4:Jf6 4.0-0 Ιη case of11 ... 0-0 after 12.f5 4:Jh8 (there
.I1.c5 5.4:Jxe5 4:Jxe4 was ηο 12 ... 4:Jh4? because of 13.g3) 13 ..if4
The a1ternative opportunity was 5 ... B1ack wou1d fee1 quite squeezed.
4:Jxe5, and after 6.d4 a6 (none the better 12.4:Jd2 ο-ο 13.4:Jf3 4:Jh8!?
was 6 ... c6 7.dxe5 4:Jxe4 8.SΙd3 d5 9.exd6 B1ack wants to transfer his knight by
4:Jf6 10.Me1+! .ie6 11.4:Jc3 ~xd612.~f3 0- the route 4:Jf7-d6-e4 ίη order to equa1ize
ο-ο? 13.SΙf5 ~d7 14 ..I1.xe6 fxe6 15 ..ie3!±, the chances ίη the strugg1e for the centre,
and B1ack had prob1ems with the defence but it takes too 10ng.
of his weakened queenside and the e6- 14..id2 a5!?
pawn ίη the game Fedorowicz - Kaidanov, B1ack takes contro1 over b4. Ιη case of a
USA 1993) 7 ..ie2 .ia7 8.dxe5 4:Jxe4 9.~d5! straightforward 14 ... 4:Jf7 15.Mae1 .if6
~h4 10.g3 4:Jxg3 11.hxg3 ~xg3+ 12. ~g2 16.SΙb4 4:Jd6 17.4:Je5 Me8 18.SΙxd6 ~xd6
~xe5 13.4:Jc3 ο-ο 14.1ιd2 d6 15.l:tae1 ~f5 19.c3;!; White wou1d have exchanged
16.4:Jd5± a position appeared, ίη which B1ack's bishop and occupied e5 with his
White's centra1ized knight was obvious1y own, thus gaining fine opportunities for a
stronger than B1ack's three pawns owing further deve10pment of his activity ίη the
to White's considerab1e deve10pment ad- centre and οη the kingside.
vantage and the activity of his pieces,
Pav10vic - Jukic, Linares 1996.
6.~e2
6.4:Jxf7!? deserved attention to be fo1-
10wed by ι;t>xf7 7.~h5 g6 8.~d5 c3;g7 9.~xe4
d5 10. ~a4 4:Jd4 (Keres offered an interest-
ing recommendation of 10 ... Mf8iii with the
idea to arrange threats to White's king as
soon as possib1e) 11.c3 4:Jxb5 12. ~xb5 SΙd6
13.d3 J::tf8 14 ..ie3 ~h4 15 ..id4+ Φh6 16.g3
~h5 17.4:Jd2;!;, and the bishop pair was an
insufficient compensation for the pawn to
B1ack because of the position of his king, 15.c4!
White is better deνeloped, so it would firm control oνer the d5-square, did not
be adνantageous for him to open υρ the work because of 24. ~xe3 ~d5 25.a3 ~xb5
play. Ιη a less νigorous line 15.CUe5 cuf7 (otherwise there was Mc5) 26.d5t, Black's
16.Mael itf6 17.c3 cud6= Black equalized position was hardly defendable here.
the play ίη the centre. 24.d5..id7?!
15 ... CUf716.cxd5 cxd5 17.Macl! Black had better practical chances ίη
White puts the rook to the open file, case of 24 ... :!:1c8. After 25.Mxc8 ~xc8 26.d6
preνenting a transfer of Black's knight to (26.CLJc4 ~c7 27.d6 ~f7 28.d7 ..ixd7 29.CLJd6
e4. ~e6 30.CLJxe8 ~xe8±) ..ixe5 27.fxe5 ..id7
17... i.f6 28.~c4+ ite6 29.~c7 ~d7± Black kept cer-
There was ηο 17 ... cud6?! 18.Mc5 CUe4? tain chances to hold out ίn the blockade of
because of 19.Mxd5 ~xd5 20.itc4+- dark squares. It was probably better for
18.b4! White to go 25.dxe6!?, since after 25 ... Mxc1
Proνiding the d2-bishop with a job 26.~xc1 ~d4+ 27.~h1 ~xb4 28.~h5 g6
along the a3-f8 diagonal. 18.CUe5 was not 29.CLJxg6 ~b2 there would be a strong and
as good because ofthe same knight trans- non-standard 30.Mg1!? with the idea to
fer 18 ... CLJd6 19.Mfe1 (ηο 19.b4 because of open υρ the g-file by g4, for example after
19 ... ~b6) 19 ... CLJe4°o 30 ... Mxe6 (ίn case of 30 ... ~xa2 White's at-
18... a4 tack was irresistible after 31.g4) 31. ~xf5
There was a number of quite useless (31.g4 hxg6 32. ~xg6+ ιJtf8 33.g5 ~c3
continuations: 18 ... b6 19.bxa5 bxa5 20. 34.gxf6 ~f3=) 31 ... ~xa2 32.Mcl-7, continu-
Mc5±; 18 ... axb4 19.i.xb4 J:!.e8 20.CLJe5 Ma4 ing the attack.
21.a3± with the idea of i.b5; 18 ... 1:te8
19.CLJe5 ~b6 20.i.b5 J:::ι.d8 21.bxa5 ~xd4+
22 ...ie3 ~e4 23.i.d3 ~a4 24 ...ib6±. Ιn all
these lines White maintains his adνantage
because of the better mobilisation of his
pieces.
19.b5 Me8 20.CLJe5 CLJd6 21 . ..I1ιb4 CLJe4
22 ...ixe4 dxe4
This capture creates White's strong
passed pawn ίn the centre. Howeνer, the
alternatiνe capture 22 ... fxe4 after 23. ~h5!
..I1ιe6 24.f5 ..ixe5 25.dxe5 itf7 26. ~g4 Mxe5
27.~g3 ~f6 (ίη case of 27 ... :!:1e8 28.f6 g6
25.CLJc6! ~c8
Ιη a more persistent νariation with
29. ~f4 Me6 30 ...I1ιe7+- Black's king fell υη
der the mating threats, coming from dark 25 ... ..I1ιxc6 26.dxc6 ~c7 27.Md7 ~xf4
squares) 28 ...ic3 gaνe White strong attack, 28.~c4+ ιJth8 29 ...id2 ~g4 30.MXb7 Mad8
νery dangerous because ofthe presence of 31.Md7 White's far adνanced passed pawns
opposite-coloured bishops οη the board. would haνe decided the game ίη his faνour
For example, ίη case of28 ... Mae8 White had as well.
a quiet moνe 29 ...I1ιd4!, and Black suddenly 26.CLJe7+ ~xe7 27.~xc8 Maxc8 28.
turned helpless: 29 ... e3 (ίη case of 29 ... h6 ~xe7 1axe7 29.d6 Mf7
the solution was ίη the ίη the intrusion If 29 ... Me6, then 30. ~e3 to be followed
3ω:tc7 e3 31.Mxb7 e2 32.Me1+-) 30.Mfel h6 by ~b6.
3U~c3 e2 32.MC2 ~h7 33.~exe2+- 30.Md5 Mcl+ 31.ιJtf2 1:tf8 32.Me5!
23 ..i:Hdl ..I1ιe6 White plays his main trump card, the
The idea of 23 ... e3, trying to obtain a passed d-pawn, and the following forced
p1ay shows that this is the shortest way to more interest, more discussions about the
achieve the goal. variation. We can improve and change! It
32 ...1::tfc8 33.1::te71::tlc2 34.1::txd7 1::txe2+ is more interesting for the players and
35.~xe2 b6 36.1::tb71::tc2+ trainers!
Α passive 36 ... 'it>f8 1eft B1ack ηο hope Q: Has 8hirov shown his in-depth
after 37.'it>e3. He either would have to part opening preparation here?
with his pawns ίη this line or, ifhe removed Α: Ν ot a1ways. But especially with white
the rook from the back rank, White's king pieces he has been a success. He is very
would have come to his camp, supporting quiet and he doesn't want to run risks 1ike
the passed pawn and creating some mat- he did against Nisipeanu ίη Las Vegas ίη
ing threats οη the way. 1999.
37.'it>e3 I:tc3+ 38.~d41::td3+ 39.~e5 e3 Q: Has it been difficult to prepare
40.~e6 h6 4u::te7 1::td4 against young Grischuk?
Ιη case of 41 ... e2 42.~e8+ 'it>h7 43.<Jtd7 Α: Yes, he is very young but for the past
White stopped Black's passed pawn and two years he is playing ίη many top tour-
queened his own. naments. He is very strong. Ι compare him
42.'it>d7 .se4 43 ..sxe4 fxe4 44.<Jte7 1-0 with Bobby Fischer!
There was ηο sense ίη any further Q: Mter this victory ίη the first
struggle because of 44 ... e2 45.d7 e1 ~ game are you already packing your
46.d8~+ 'it>h7 47.~f7 bags, mentally, to Tehran?
Α: ΑΙΙ the four players have already
Conversation with αΜ J.Magem, made visas for Iran! As for us, it is still very
second of αΜ 8hirov far!
ΒΥ Damir Leυacic
Q: 80, are you happy?
Α: Yes, we are happy for the moment Game 2, December 13
and we hope for more.
Q: Did you prepare specially for Although Anand's victory came ίη the
New Delhi? second game, he had already won the psy-
Α: Yes we had a few sessions before chological battle when he successfully em-
Istanbul with all Spanish Olympic team. ployed the Petrov's Defence ίη the first
These sessions were done under excellent game ofthe match. At 1east Adams played
condition οη Mallorca. with B1ack not the Petrov's Defence, but
Q: You started to work together the Ruy Lopez. The opponents had studied
there? and played that position for both Black and
Α: Yes, but his main second is GM White, but ίη this game Anand gained the
Mikhail Rytshagov from Estonia. Mikhail advantage. Then the Indian GM seized the
played and lost to Bacrot ίη the first round οηlΥ open file, moved his knight to the cen-
and returned back. tre and Michae1 had to resign.
Q: Do you share the pressure?
Α: Very much! It's the first time that Ι 291 C78
am doing it at such a level. It is very diffi- Anand (2762) - Adams (2755)
cult during the tie-break wherein Ι am not Notes by A.Kochyeυ
able to stay and look.
Q: Is the preparation the same for l.e4 e5 2.tiJf3 CΔc6 3.Jιb5 a6 4.Jιa4 CΔf6
this match offour games as compared 5.0-0 i1ιc5
with previous rounds? This old variation became recently topi-
Α: Νο, It's much better now. We have cal again.
6.c3 b5 7.iιc2 ture 16.CLJcxe5; af· for the move 15 ... 1:le8,
White cannot gain much from the line there was an unpleasant ρίη 16.iιa4.
7 .d4 bxa4 8.dxc5 'lfie7 9. 'lfixa4 'lfixc5 10.iιe3 16.iιa4 CLJa7
'lfie7, and Black has an equal play as ίη the Black is suffeήηg certain difficulties. Ιη
fourth game Anand - Adams, New Delhi case of 16 ... CLJe7 he should reckon with
(m/4) 2000. 17.iιg5, creating rather an unpleasant
7 ... d6 positional threat of iιf6. The move CLJa7
Αη interesting attempt to play ίη the occurs ίη similar positions. The knight's
spirit ofthe Marshall Attack was made ίη stand οη the edge of the board can't be re-
the game Anand - Shirov, Tehran (ml2) garded as absolutely hopeless here, so it
2000: 7 ... d5 8.a4!? (if 8.d4, then dxe4 can be activated again through b5.
9.CLJxe5 CLJxe5 10.dxe5 'lfixdl 11.J:!.xdl CLJg4 17.iιe3 iιxe3 18.CLJxe3 c6
12.iιxe4°o with complex play Shirov - Black covers the d5-square and wants
Ivanchuk, Monte Carlo 1998; Shirov - to improve the co-ordination of his pieces
Onischuk, Luebeck 2000) 8 ... dxe4 9.axb5 with 'lfic7. This move has a serious defect
iιg4 10.SΙxe4 CLJxe4 11.bxc6 with certain because it weakens the important d6-
advantage to White. square.
8.a4 iιg4 9.h3 iιh5 10.d3 0-0 11.CLJbd2 19.'lfid2 'lfic7 20.c4 c5?!
White can play here J:!.el, CLJf1-g3, and Α move withoHt a purpose: there was
then opportunely d4, keeping good pros- anyway ηο 21 ... CLJc6? because of22.g5 CLJh5
pects, however he should be careful not to 23.CLJd5 'lfic8 24.iιxc6 'lfixc6 25.CLJe7+- to be
allow the cοuηterstήke d6-d5. followed by CLJc5.
1l ...b4 21.CLJh4 ς,t>h8
Now Black is ready to play CLJc6, and he
would be ΟΚ ifhe made this move, but ...
22.g5! CLJh5 23.CLJd5
Emphasizing White's advantage. He
οηlΥ needs to occupy the b-file and come
to the b6-square to make Black's position
really bad.
23 ... 'lfid8 24.J:!.tbl CLJf4
What else could have been done here?
25.CLJxf4 'lfixg5+ 26.CLJhg2 exf4 27.J::!.b6!
Α strong move, the f4-pawn will not
escape anyway. White's advantage grows
12.a5! decisively.
An important move. White fixes Black's 27 ... J:!.bd8 28.~xf4 ~e7
weak point οη a6, and his bishop gets an Ιη case of a queen exchange by means
opportunity to be enter the play actively of 28 ... 'lfixf4 29.CLJxf4, Black's position is
through a4. very hard too.
12 •.. J:!.b8 13.g4 29.l:tabl CLJc8 30.J:!.b7!
13.'lfie2 bxc3 14.bxc3 d5 15.d4 exd4 Another good move. Ιη case of 30.J:!.xa6
16. 'lfixa6 dxc3 17. 'lfixc6 cxd2 18.CLJxd2 iιd4 Black could have organized a certain
19.J:!.a4 dxe4 20.CLJxe4 Svidler - Adams, counterplay by 30 ... f5!.
Neum 2000. 13.1:lel occurred ίη this posi- 30 ... 'lfie631.'lfig5!
tion as well. Preparing the f4-square for the knight
13 ... SΙg6 14.CLJc4 bxc3 15.bxc3 'lfic8 and almost stalemating Black.
There was ηο 15 ... d5 because ofthe cap- 31 ... h6 32. 'lfig3 'lfif6 33.CLJf4 CLJe7 34.
Φg2 and Black had to be νery accurate here.

White eνen ignored the opportunity to For example, a standard 14 ... g5 would be
take two pieces for a rook with 34 ..ί:rxe7 untimely, so after the principal 15.fxg5
'ltixe7 35. 'ltixg6. hxg5 16 ...Itxg5 d5 17.e5 ct::Jxe5 18.~xf6 ct::Jxg4
34 ...ct::Jg8 35.ct::Jd5 'ltie6 36..tdl ι-ο 19.'ltixg4 'ltixh2+ 20.c;t>f2 ~xf6 21.kth1.1th4+
The board is fuII ofpieces, and the ma- 22.c;t>f3 d4+ 23.ct::Je4 ~xe4+ 24.c;t>xe4± White
terial balance is maintained, howeνer gained a material adνantage without any
Black cannot continue the struggle. Anand real compensation for Black ίη the game
wins an exceIIent νictory. Korneeν - Sotnikoν, Elista 1995.
8.'ltie2 e6 9 ..lte3 'ltic7 10.g4
Now one cannot but belieνe ίη omens! There was a more restrained approach
Οη the 13th August 1999 8hiroν lost a cru- of 10.0-0-0 b5 11. 'ltif2 .ί:rb8 12.c;t>b1 .lte7
cial game ίη the World Championship to 13.g4 ο-ο 14.g5 ct::Jd7 15.h4 ct::Jce5 16.h5 b4
Nisipeanu and was out of the Champion- 17.ct::Je2 ct::Jc4, and though the game Korneeν
ship. Alexey endured a lot from the 13th - Ljubojeνic, Villarrobledo 1998, was
Champion. His loss today - οη the 13th of drawn ίη this position, White's chances ίη
December. Grischuk with White played a an attack οη the kingside looked prefer-
keen νariation of the 8icilian Defence. able ίη comparison with Black's chances
8hiroν repeIIed his young opponent's at- οη the queenside owing to the opportunity
tacks, but οη the moνe 28 blundered ίη an ofg6.
equal position and resigned. 10 ...b5
Black wants to organize a counterat-
292 Β90 tack immediately. ReaIIy, 10 ... h6 was worse
Grischuk (2606) - Shirov (2746) since it οηlΥ delayed White's adνance for a
short moment. Later this fact might οηlΥ
l.e4 c5 2.ct::Jf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.ct::Jxd4 faνour an adνantageous opening up ofthe
ct::Jf6 5.ct::Jc3 a6 6.f3 'ltib6 play for White, because after 11.0-0-0 b5
Αη uncommon continuation. Black 12.h4 .ltb7 13 ..ί:rg1 ct::Je5 14.g5 hxg5 15.hxg5
makes the actiνe d4-knight leaνe the cen- ct::Jfd7 16.f4 ct::Jc417.~d4 Black had problems
tre. Yet, οη the other hand, the early de- hiding his king, and ίη the line 17 ... e5
νelopment of Black's queen enables his 18.ct::Jd5 ~xd5 19.exd5 0-0-0 20.fxe5 dxe5
opponent to gain an extra tempo later by 21 ..ltf2± these problems οηlΥ grew eνen
deνeloping his bishop to e3. more ίη the game Grischuk - Crush,
7.ct::Jb3 ct::Jc6 Thorshaνn 2000.
Α different arrangement of pieces for 11.0-0-0 ~b7
Black implied that he deνeloped this Black plays, complying with the coun-
knight to d7, for example 7 ... e6 8. 'ltie2 (also terattack strategy he has chosen earlier,
8.a4 made sense here, and ίη case of and eνery tempo is important for him be-
8 ... ct::Jbd7 White could haνe played 9.a5, cause White can deνelop his own attack
making use ofthe absence ofBlack's firm without suffering any particular difficul-
control oνer the a5-square. Ιη this line af- ties, for example ίη the game Leko -
ter 9 ... 'ltic7 10 ..te3 ct::Jc5 11.ct::Jd2 e5 12.ct::Jc4 Topaloν, Batumi 1999, after 11 ... .te7
.te6 13.ct::Jd5 ct::Jxd5 14.exd5 .tf5 15.ct::Jb6;1; 12.c;t>b1 CΔd7 13. 'ltif2 .tb7 14.g5 .ί:rc8 15 ..ί:rg1
White gained an adνantage ίη the game ο-ο 16.h4 b4 17.CΔa4 CΔce5 18.CΔb6 CΔb6
Bermejo Martinez - 8tolerman, Oropesa 19.~b6 'ltib8 20.~h3 CΔc4 21.~a7 'ltic7 22.h5
del Mar 1999) 8 ... ct::Jbd7 9 ..te3 'ltic7 10.g4 a5 23.g6-7 White was first to open up the
h6 11.a4 b6 12.f4 .tb7 13 ...Itg2 ..Ite7 14.0-0. position ofthe opponent's king.
80 White gained a more actiνe position, 12.h4 .ί:rc8 13.c;t>bl ct::Jd7 14 ..ί:rgl
Black managed already to create real ηο full compensation for the pawn despite
threats to his counterpart by an actiνe play. his bishop pair.
80 ίη case of a straightforward 14.g5 he 19.5Ιxc5 dxc5 20.CLJa5 ~c7
had 14 ... b4 15.CLJa4 CLJce5, threatening to There was ηο 20 ... ~xe4? because of
play CLJf3 and .ltc6. This was why White 21.~g3, threatening with iιg2. Α sharp
moνed the rook away from the diagonal play after 21 ... ~f3 22.~e1 b3 (22 ... ~e4
a8-h1 ίη the game. Α prophylactic 14.a3!? 23.~d2 iιd5 24.iιg2+-) 23.axb3 ~e4
deserνed attention, and after 14 ... b4 24. ~d2 iιd5 25.iιg2 ~b4 26 ..ltxd5 ~xd2
15.axb4 CLJxb4 16.g5 CLJe5 (ηο 16 ... d5?! be- 27.J:'!.xd2 exd5 28.J:'!.e1+ iιe7 29.J:'!.de2 J:'!.c7
cause of 17.exd5 CLJxd5? 18.CLJxd5 iιxd5 30.CLJc6 J:'!.xc6 3U~xe7+ <.t>d8 32.J:'!.xf7± would
19.J:'!.xd5+-; howeνer 16 ... .lte7!? was pos- haνe forced Black into a hard position with
sible, maintaining the balance) 17.f4 CLJc4 White's rooks οη the seνenth rank.
18. ~xc4 ~xc4 19 ..ltxc4 J:'!.xc4 20.CLJa5 J:'!.c7 21.CLJxb7 ~xb7 22 ..ltc4
21.CLJxb7 J:'!.xb7 22.f5;t with White's adνan Now that White's bishop has occupied
tage ίn the endgame. a safe and strong position, his plan is quite
14... CLJce5 15. ~f2 simple: he only needs to auνance his
Ιη case of15.f4 there was a nice 15 ... b4!? kingside pawns. 8upported by the c4-
(or 15 ... CLJc416 ..ltd4 b4-16 ... e5?! 17.CLJd51' bishop, they look quite dangerous, and it's
-17.CLJa4 d5!? 18.exd5 .ltxd5 19 ..ltxg7 .ltxg7 Black who must think about an equaliza-
20.J:'!.xd5 ~c6 21.J:'!.g5 .ltf6 22.~xc4 ~xc4 tion ίη this position notwithstansing his
23 ..ltxc4 ~xc4°o with an unclear play) extra pawn.
16.fxe5 bxc3 17.exd6 .ltxd6 18 ..ltd4 .lte5 22 ... .lte7 23.~e2 ~c6
19.bxc3 o-o~, and the poor position of There was ηο time for the defence of
White's king compensated Black the miss- the a6-pawn: 23 ... ~a8 24.g5 ο-ο 25.h5~ ,
ing pawn, at least. and it's hard to repel the threat of g5-g6.
15 ... b4 16.CLJa4 CLJxf3! 24.g5!
This strike works eνen after the rook Quite naturally, White was struggling
leaνes h1 because the a4-knight is unpro- for an adνantage already, so he rejected
tected, and the squares c2 and e4 are pro- 24 ..ltxa6, because after 24 ... J:'!.b8 25 ..ltc4
tected insufficiently. ο-ο 26.g5 J:'!.bd8°o Black decreased his at-
17.~xf3 ~c6 tacking potential ΟΥ exchanges.
The alternatiνe opportunity of 17 ... 24 ... 0-0 25.h5 J:'!.cd8 26.g6 J:'!.xd1+
~xc2+ 18.<.t>a1 .ltxe4 19.~e2C() was not so 27.J:'!.xdl fxg6 28.hxg6
good. Black had ηο plan for increasing his
actiνity, and White's piece could haνe
turned out to be stronger than Black's
three pawns.
18.CLJac5!
White found his best chance, ίη case of
18.CLJa5? ~xc2+ 19.<.t>a1.1txe4-+ he was go-
ing to lose the game.
18... CLJxc5?
Α substantial inaccuracy. Better was
18 ... dxc5!, because Black needed the
knight if he wanted to preνent White's
bishop from appearing οη the a2-g8 diago- Α critical position for this game. Eνen
nal. After 19.CLJa5 ~c7 20.CLJxb7 ~xb7 after exchanges White's threats are still
21.SΙg2 (21.SΙc4 CLJe5) 21 ... SΙeTt White had rather dangerous. 80, ίη case of a natural
28 ... hxg6 there was a forced line of29.'~g4 Α: For example, Ι calculated the move
.ί::if630.e5 .ί::if5 31.'§xg6 .ί::ixe5 32.1:tg1 i,f6 28 ... .ί::if4
(in case of 32 ... i,g5 the non-standard so- Q: What did Shirov say after the
lution for the problem would be to open υρ game? Ι saw that you were talking to
the play οη the opposite flank by 33.a3! him.
bxa3 34.bxa3 '§b7+ 35.'.t>a2 '§e7 36 ..ί::ib1 Α: He agreed that Ι had a better posi-
'§d 7 37 . .ί::ib8+ i,d8 38. '§d3+-; 34 ... i,f6 tion after 26.g6. It was not easy for him.
35.'§xf6 .ί::ie1+ 36.'it>a2! Iιg1 37.i.e6 Φh7 Q: You are the only Russian hope
38.i.f5+-; 34 ... i.h6 35.Φa2+-, and, after ίn this tournament. How do you feel
White opens υρ one more file (b), Black's about it?
position becomes just losing) 33. '§xf6! Iιe1 Α: It means that ηο other Russian play-
34 ..ί::ixe1 gxf6 35 ..ί::ixe6+-, Black's queen had ers are here. ΟηΙΥ 8hirov and me speak
ηο place to hide away from the theratening Russian.
check. Black had to venture οη 28 ... h6! Q: How are you going to prepare
29. '§g4 Φh8 30.i,xe6 '§c7!? 31.i,f7 c4~ for tomorrow?
since he had time ίη this case to create a Α: Ι will try to play a little bit better
counterplay with the threats along the a1- than yesterday.
h8 diagonal.
But Black made a blunder at this very
moment. Game 3, December 14
28 ... .ί::if4??
The game is practically over. M.Adams appeared to be much better
29.'§h21-0 prepared in the opening today than the first
Now if 29 ... .ί::ih4, then 30.'§b8+ i,f8 game of his match against VAnand. He
31.Iιf1 '§d6 32.i.e6+- gained a slight advantage, but could not
realize it.
Interview with GM A.Grischuk 293 C42

Q: What can you say about the Adams (2755) - Anand (2762)
opening? Notes by A.Kochyev
Α: Ι played this variation 10 times and
scored something like 9.5 points. 80, Ι didn't l.e4 e5 2.cbf3 Cbf6 3.Cbxe5 d6 4.Cbf3
expect it from him. Cbxe4 5.d4 d5 6.i.d3 Cbc6 7.0-0 i.e7 8.c4
Q: Did you sacrifice your f3-pawn? Cbb4 9.i.e2 ο-ο 10.Cbc3 i.f5 11.a3 Cbxc3
Α: Νο, of course, Ijust blundered it, but 12.bxc3 Cbc6 13 ..ί::iel dxc4 14.i,xc4 i.d6
it turned out to be not so bad for me. 15 ..ί::ia2
Q: Did you expect 28 ... .ί::if4? from First game between these opponents in
him? New Delhi continued with 15.i.g5 '§d7
Α: It's strange but Ι thought he could 16.Cbh4 Cba5 17.i.a2 i.e6 18.i,xe6 fxe6
playit because the move 29.'§h2 is not easy 19.Cbf3 .ί::iae8 20.i,h4. White gained a slight
to find for a human. For computer it is very advantage, however, after the exchange of
easy. the light-squared bishop which was in
Q: What defence did you expect af- Black's favour ίη this variation, a position
ter 26.g6? with dynamic balance appeared οη the
Α: Ι didn't expect because it's not my board gradually, and finally the game was
business, Ι played οηlΥ moves, and it's him drawn.
who should find defence. 15,..'§d7
Q: But what did you calculate? Α fundamental move. Ιη case of 15 ...
ctJa5 White plays 16.itd3 because a2 is oc- 30...Sxe4 31.fxe4 ctJxf4+ 32.~xf4 Φg7
cupied, and the bishop can't retreat there, There was ηο 32 ... h5? because of 33. ~f6
so White keeps certain freedom ίη his play. with the most serious threat of ~g6.
16.ctJg5 i..g6 33.h5!? gxh5 34.e5
16 ... ctJa5!? 17.i..d3 Sae8 looks prefer- Well, White stands better, however
able, forcing further exchanges. Black's resources are enough to organize
17.ctJe4 Sfe8 18.Sae2 i..xe4 an efficient defence, and the following de-
This exchange condemns Black to a velopment of the game will confirm this
worse position throughout the game ίη estimation.
which a draw becomes the best thing he 34 ... Φg8 35.~f3 i..g7 36:§xh5 c5
can dream about. Still, οη the other hand, 37.~f3
ίη case of 18 ... ctJa5 19.i..d3 White stands Ιη case of 37.d5 there was 37 ... c4
just better. 38.i..xc4 ~a4. Black had ηο 38 ... ~c7? be-
19.5xe4 Sxe4 20.Sxe4 Se8 21.f3!? cause of 39.e6! fxe6 (39 ... ~xc4 40.~xf7+
White wants to get the f3-pawn to e4 ~h7 41.e7+-) 40.~e8+ i..ffi 41.~xe6± with
to reinforce his position ίη the centre. White's considerable advantage.
21 ... ctJd8 22.i..b3 c6 37 ... cxd4 38.cxd4 ~e7 39. '§c6 i..f8
Black decides to keep to the waiting 40.'§g6+ i..g7 41.'§f5 '§e8 42.~h2 '§e7
tactics. White's advantage is rather insig- 43.ΦgΙ '§e8 44.~f2 ~ίB 45.Φe3
nificant. 45.i..c4 a5±
23.a4 ctJe6 24.g3 ctJc7 25.Φg2 b6 45 ... Φg8
26.tM3 ctJd5 27.i..g5 itf8 28.h4 45 ... a646.Φf4±
Step by step White improves the posi- 46.Φd3± 46 ... '§e7 47.g4 i..f8
tion of his pieces and tries to provoke a 47 ... '§b7 48.d5 b5 49.a5±
weakening ofBlack's kingside. 48.itd5 '§a3+ 49.~e4 '§e7 50.'§g6+
28 ... g6 29:§d2 itg7 51.'§c6 itf8
The last series of moves showed that
White failed to find a plan that would let
him reinforce his position. With his next
moνe he will offer a queen exchange, how-
ever the bishop ending will result ίη draw
anyway.
52. '§b7 '§xb7 53.i.xb7 i.b4 54.d5 ΦίΒ
55.Φf5 i.e7 56.ita6 i..g5 57.d6 i..h4
58.i.b5 itg3 59.~e4 i.h2 60.Φf5 itg3
61.i.c4 i.h4 62.i.d5 ~e8 63.i..c4 Φf8
64.i.b5 i.g3 65.i.c6 i.h4 66.~e4 itg5
67.i.b5 i.h4 68.Φd5 i.g3 69.e6 fxe6+
70.~xe6 itf4 71.d7 i..c7 72.~f6 itd8+
29 ...h6!? 73. Φg6 itg5 %:112
An interesting moment. Although Black
still stands worse, he forces a transition to Ιη the Ruy Lopez Shirov sacrificed a
the position with opposite-coloured bish- minor piece for two pawns. The position
ops. became keen and unclear. Οη move 36
30.itf4 Grischuk surpassed his opponent and sac-
If 30.itxh6, then 30 ... itxh6 31.t:fxh6 rificed a rook, then a bishop. Alexey did not
Sxe4 32.fxe4 t:fg4 33.exd5 ~e2= with an take the bishop, though. Οη move 44
inevitable perpetual check. Alexander made a decisive mistake.
294 C96 21.b3!?

Shirov (2746) - Grischuk (2606) Ιη case of 21.CLJd2 ~g5 22 ..ί:ι.b1 ~xe3
23. ~xe3 ~d7 24.b4 axb3 25 ..ί:ι.aχb3;t: White
1.e4 e5 2.CLJf3CLJc6 3.~b5 a6 4.~a4CLJf6 maintained a certain adνantage owing to
5.0-0 ~e7 6 . .ί:ι.eΙ b5 7 ...Itb3 d6 8.c3 ο-ο his control of space, but after exchanges
9.h3 CLJa5 10...Itc2 c5 11.d4 ..Itb7 Black's defence looked not νery difficult,
Black plays 1l ... CLJc6 more often. Topaloν - Piket, Groningen (m/l) 1997.
12.d5 CLJc4 13.a4 21 ... axb3 22.~xb3 .ί:ι.a6 23.~ebl f5
Ιη case of a preliminary 13.b3 CLJb6 af- 8ince Black has a bishop pair, he natu-
ter 14.a4 Black played 14 ... ..Itc8 15 ...Ite3, rally wants to open up the play. Exchanges
and then after 15 ... bxa4 (the line 15 ... g6 by 23 ... CLJa4 24.CLJxa4 .ί:ι.χa4 did not help him
16.b4 cxb4 17.axb5 bxc3 18.CLJxc3 CLJfd7 to solνe his problems because ofthe intru-
19 ...Itd3 a5 20 ..ί:ι.a2 f5 21.~a1 f4 22 ...Itxb6 sion 25.~b8. Now if 25 ... f5, then 26.exf5
~xb6 23.CLJa4 ~b8 24.b6t was less success- .ί:ι.χf5 27.~c2 .ί:ι.a7 28.CLJd2;t:,and the knight
ful, haνing giνen to White a strong initia- came to e4, keeping a lasting adνantage to
tiνe οη the queenside ίη the game Zagre- White.
belny - Grischuk, Moscow 1996) White had
to take οη a4 with the pawn: 16.bxa4CLJc4,
and Black managed to reduce White's at-
tacking potential οη the queenside, Anand
- Romanishin, New York (m/2) 1994.
13..• CLJb6 14.~e2
Pressing upon the b5-pawn, White
makes his opponent take οη a4, proνiding
him with targets to be attacked οη the
queenside.
14 ... CLJxa4
Ιη case of 14 ... CLJfd7 15.axb5 axb5
16 . .ί:ι.χa8 ~xa8 17. ~xb5 f5 (Ι 7 ... ..Ita6 24.~xc5!?
18.~a5;t:) after 18 ...Itg5!;t: to be followed by

White sacrificed a piece ίη order to keep
c4 (after an exchange ofthe dark-squared his initiatiνe, hoping to improνe his posi-
bishops) Black would haνe ηο compensation by an adνance of the central passed
tion for the pawn. pawns next.
15...Itxa4 bxa4 16.c4 24 ... dxc5 25.CLJxe5 CLJa4
Haνing exchanged his light-squared Black's wish to exchange his poorly ρο
bishop, White arranges his pawns οη light sitioned knight is quite natural, but an
squares at once ίη order to restrict the free- outwardly risky 25 ... ..Itb7!? deserνed atten-
dom ofBlack's light-squared bishop. tion as well. 80, if White put more pres-
16... CLJd7 17..ί:ι.χa4CLJb6 sure upon the b-file by 26. ~b2 (26.CLJc6
The bishop had ηο job οη b7, so an im- ..Itxc6 27.dxc6 CLJc8 28.CLJd5 .a:xc6 29.exf5
mediate transfer ofthis piece to the c8-h3 .ί:ι.χf5=t=) , then Black deliνered a counter-
diagonal deserνed attention: 17 ... ..Itc8 strike 26 ... ~f6 (ηο 26 ... ~f6 because of
18.CLJbd2 CLJb6 19.~a3 a5 20.CLJf1 a4 21. 27.exf5 to be followed by g4), emphasizing
~d2;t:, though White's adνantage ίη the the νulnerable positions ofWhite's pieces.
centre and οη the queenside was still per- Ιη further mutually keen play after 27.f4
ceptible, Gazik - Romanishin, Ν ονί ..Itxe5 28.fxe5 CLJxc4 29.~e2 CLJb6 30.exf5
8mokoνec 1992. (30. ~b2CLJc4 31. ~e2=) 30 ... ..Itc8 31.g4 ~e8
18.~a3 a5 19.CLJc3 a4 20.~e3 ..Itc8 32.d6CLJd7 33.e6 .a:xd6 34.CLJe4 ~d4 35.exd7
Wor!d Chess Chαmpionship 421
iιxd7 36.B-e3 c4 37.B-e1 iιc6 38.ctJf6+ gxf6 and tries to organize an attack οη White's
39.B-xe8+ ~xe8 40. ~xe8+ iιxe8 41.B-xe8+ king even at the cost of sacrifices. Ιη case
Wf7= both sides would have exhausted all of a timid 36 ... ~xc4 37.d7 1ιχd7 38.B.xd7
their reserves. B-g6 39.~f3 B-e8 40.B-e4 ~e6 41.Rd6 ~f5
26.ctJxa4 B-xa4 27.ctJc6 ~c7 28.e5ii3 42.B.d5± Black would have lost the game
Despite Black's slight material advan- not at once, but for sure.
tage, his play is not simple here because 37.~xa6 1ιχg2! 38.f3
White controls the centre and has a space Engaging the rooks ίη the king's de-
advantage. Also Black should be very care- fence. Ιη case of 38.~xg2 f3+ 39.~h2 ~f5
ful about White's mobile central pawns. 40.~b7 ~f4+ 41.~h1 ~f5!= a draw was
28 ... B-a6 inevitable.
There was ηο 28 ... f4 29.B-b8! f3? because 38 ... Jιxf3 39.Wh2
of30.~xf3, and if30 ... B-xf3?, then 31.Rxc8+
~xc8 32.ctJxe7+-. Ιη case of a passive
28 ... B-e8 White could have developed his
attack easily by 29.B.b8 (29.ctJxe7+ ~xe7
30.f4 iιa6fZ) 29 ... B-b4 30.B-1xb4 cxb4
31. ~f3, creating a very serious threat of
d6.
29.~f3
Amere 29.ctJxe7+!? ~xe7 30.f4 deserved
attention here, squeezing Black consider-
ably. If he tried to free by 30 ... g5, then af-
ter 31.e6t White would have added oppor- 39 ... iιg4!!
tunities to create threats to the black king Black left ίη peace the f4-pawn and
to his space advantage. concentrated his attacking efforts οη the
29 ...f4 h3-pawn. The rook must stay οη the back
Νο 29 ... B.xc6 30.dxc6 ~xe5 31.J:Ie3 ~c7 rank, so ίη case of39 ... :f6? White won the
32.~d5+ Wh8 33.J:Ibe1 iιd6 34.B-e8+- be- game by 40.d7+-
cause of the weakness of the 8th rank. 40.~b7
30.B-el i.f5 31.B-b5 iιc2 The open position of White's king does
With the threat of iιa4. not let him hope for a success ίη case of
32.B-b2 i.g6 33.B-d2 i.e8 40.hxg4 ~xg4 41.B-a1 [3 42.1Η2 ~h4+
Now the simplifying 33 ... J:Ixc6!? was 43.Wgl ~g3+ 44.~f1 ~h4 45.Wel ~e4+
possible, and ίη case of34.dxc6 Jιe8 35.B-d7 46.'Ot>d1 ~d3= with a perpetual check.
iιxd7 36. ~d5+ Wh8 (36 ... 1ιe6 37. ~xe6+ 40 ... ~h6 41.~d5+ B.f7!
~h8 38.B-b1 ~d8 39.B.b7 ~d1+ 40.Wh2 1ιh4 Once more Black made the οηlΥ move.
41.~d6+-) 37.cxd7 f3 38.g3 ~b8 39.B-e3 There was ηο 41 ... ~h8 42.~g2 f3 43.B.f2!,
~b1+ 40.'Ot>h2 ~f5 41.B-e4 (with the idea to Black losing because of the weakness of
play B.f4) 41 ... g5t Black blocked up White's his 8th horizontal.
pawns successfully. The move ίη the game 42.Wgl ~xh3 43:~g2
shows that White was looking for counter- Black could have gained nothing by
chances. 43.e6 ~g3+ 44.~f1 .I1ιh3+ 45.~e2 1ιg4=. Α
34.ctJxe7+ ~xe7 35.d6 ~e6 36.~b7 drawagain.
Jιc6!! 43 ... ~h4 44.Mf2
Black makes use ofthe fact that White's If 44.B.a1, with the idea to create threats
queen moved temporarily to the queenside οη the back rank, then 44 ... f3 without any
winning chances for White, for example 295 C78

45.t;rh2 t;rg5 46.J::ta8+ .ic8+ 47.Whl (47.'ϊt>Ω Anand (2762) - Adams (2755)
J::tf8 48.d7 .ixd7 49.J::txf8+ 'it>xf8 50.J::txd7 Notes by A.Kochyev
t;rcl+ 51.'it>f2 '§b2=) 47 ... -Uf8 48.J::tb8 (48.d7?
f2-+; 48.J::txc8 J::txc8 49.d7 z:!.d8 50.e6 '§e3=t) l.e4 e5 2.tιJf3tιJc6 3.1ιb5 a6 4.1ιa4tιJf6
48 ... '§e3 49. '§f2 '§h6+ 50. '§h2 '§e3= 5.0-0 iιc5
44 ... f3?? There was also 5 ... b5 6.i.b3 .ic5.
Black loses the correct path when he is 6.c3 b5 7.d4
only one step away from the goal: 44 ... .ih3! This moνe does not promise much to
45.'§h2 f3 46.e6 z:!.f6 47.d7 J::tg6+ 48.'it>hl White, howeνer positions which can appear
1ιg2+ 49.Wgl .ih3=. Ιn this line Black's ίη this line are simpler than those which
resourceful defence would haνe brought occur after 7 ..ic2, the moνe played ίη game
the game to the final he was deserνing. But 2 between the same opponents. Perhaps
now things are absolutely different. Anand chose this moνe, haνing taken into
account the situation ίη the match.
7 ... bxa4 8.dxc5 t;re7 9. t;rxa4 t;rxc5
10..ie3 t;re7 11.h3
Preνenting Black from tιJg4.
11 ... 0-0 12.tιJbd2 .ib7 13.b4 h6
Black arranged his forces conνeniently
and has a good position. His plan implies
preparation of f7 -f5 to actiνate the light-
squared bishop. Οη the other hand, White
has made ηο bad Illoνes so far, and he has
his own play.
14.-Uabl d6 15.c4 t;re6 16.t;rc2
45.e6! Giνing way to the a-pawn to strike υρ
Mter this counterstrike White creates οη the queenside.
fatal threats οη the 8th rank with his passed 16 ... tιJe717.a4
pawns.
45 ...J:H'8
Νο 45 ... fxg2 because of 46.exf7 + wf8
47.J::te8#
46.e7 J::te8 47.d7 .ixd7 48.t;rxf3 t;rg5+
49.'it>f11-0
Game 4, December 15
The same opening that was ίη the sec-

ond game of the match. Adams improνed
his preνious play and obtained a good 17... tιJxe4
game. His combination ίn the middlegame This exchange giνes a good play to
starting with 17 ... tιJxe4 was perhaps pre- Black, yet at the same time it simplifies
mature, as it was good enough οηlΥ for com- the position and somewhat releases the
plete equality and nothing more. Anand tension. 17 ... eι,jd7!? deserνed attention to
transferred the game to an ending and be followed by f7-f5.
made a draw. 18.tιJxe4 t;rg6 19.tιJfd2 f5 20.tιJg3!?
Το return the piece now Black has to c69.cxd5

exchange queens, and though his position This order of moves is considered the
will stay preferable anyway, there will be most precise. Before they played at once
already ηο real winning chances. 9.tιJc3 tιJxc3 10.bxc3 ~g4, for example ίη
20 ... f4 21.'!~xg6 tιJxg6 22.tιJge4 fxe3 the game Capablanca - Marshall, New
23.fxe3 tιJh4 24.!ϊΧf8+ ~xf8 York (m/20) 1909. At present it is acknowl-
Or 24 ... !ϊΧf8 25.!ϊf1= with subsequent edged that after 10 ... dxc4 Black has good
simplifications and the king's transfer into chances to equalize.
the centre. 9 ... cxd5 10.tιJc3 tιJxc3 11.bxc3 iig4
25.!ϊf1+ ~e8 26.g3 tιJg6 27.~f2 tιJί8 12.!ϊbΙ tιJd7 13.h3 iih5 14.!ϊb5
28.~e2 tιJd7 29.!ϊcΙ Νο 14.!ϊΧb7?! because of 14 ... tιJM.
White has created the threat of 30.c5 14 ... tιJb6 15.c4
d5 31.c6, taking the initiative. This position occurred ίη practice many
29 ... tιJί6 30.~d3 times.
There was also 30.tιJxf6+ gxf6 31.c5, but 15 ... ~xf3 16.~xf3 dxc4 17.~c2 ~d7
the move ίη the game was more solid. 18.a4 g6 19.~e3
30 ... tιJxe4 31.tιJxe4 ~d7 32.!ϊf1 'it>e6 They used to develop the bishop to d2
33.!ϊf2 as well, but ίη this case Black gained a
ΡreΡaήηg tιJc3. Ιη case of33.tιJc3? there sufficient play with c3 and a further play
is ~g2. along the c-file, that was if 19.iid2, then
33... ~c6 19 ... c3.
Ιη case of 33 ... a5 34.b5 White gained a 19... !ϊac8 20.!ϊfbΙ c3 21.a5 tιJc4 22.
slight advantage. !ϊΧb7 ~e6
34.tιJc3 ~e8 35.e4 ~g6 36.tιJd5 !ϊc8
37.a5 c6 1/2-112
Strictly speaking, after 38.tιJb6 White's
position would be already slightly better
owing to the opportunity of a break-
through b4-b5.
Alexey Shirov, who needed a draw to

move into the finals, played the solid Rus-
sian defense, something his opponent was
not really prepared for. But still, Grischuk
gained a slight advantage. Besides, Alexey
23.~b3
made a mistake οη the 27th move. However,
ίη the crucial moment Alexander let Shirov
This position is well known and oc-
get this important draw. Now he would curred many times ίη practice. Ιη the game
struggle ίη the finals with VAnand for the Anand - Shirov, Linares 2000 White played
title ofthe World Champion ίη the Tehran 23.!ϊa1. As a whole, Black has sufficient
from 20 to 27 December. counterchances ίη this dynamic variation.

23 ... ~ί5 24. ~xf5 gxf5 25.!ϊaΙ ί4
296 C42 There was also 25 ... tιJxe3!? 26.fxe3 !ϊc7
Grischuk (2606) - Shirov (2746) 27.a6 !ϊe8 28.~f2 f4.
Notes by A.Kochyev 26.iicl ~fe8 27.f3
Ιη case of 27.'it>f1 White should reckon
1.e4 e5 2.tιJf3 tιJί6 3.tιJxe5 d6 4.tιJf3 with the opportunity of27 ... tιJd2+!?
tιJxe4 5.d4 d5 6.~d3 ~d6 7.0-0 ο-ο 8.c4 27 ... c2
There was an interesting opportunity Α: Ι was born and live ίη Moscow. Both
of27 ... ~e7 28.~xe7 (ίη case of28.a6 there my parents are professors of Physics,
was 28 .. .':1:Jd2) 28 ... 1ιχe7 29 ...Iixf4 1ιf6 with though my father had to leave his profes-
Black's sufficient counterplay. sion to become a businessman. Ν ow Ι am a
28.<;t>f2 a6 sophomore student ίη the Russian State
Ν ow 28 ... ~e7 is already worse. Ιη re- Academy of Physical Culture.
sponse White either plays 29.a6 or brings Q: Who is your chess trainer at the
his king into the centre after the exchange moment?
οη e7, maintaining better chances: 29 ... Α: Now it's ΙΜ Anatoly Bykhovsky, but
iιxe730.<;t>e2 here I'm alone.
29.1:ta4 t2Jb2!? 30 ...txf7 + Q: Are you practicing some other
Α simple 30.1ιxb2 was better here. sports beside chess?
30...Wf8 31.1ιxb2 Α: Ι used to play basketball, tried also
Drawingthe game. There was 31.~xb2 to do some jogging to keep fit, but dropped
'lt>xf'7 32.~aa2, winning the c2-pawn. it.
31 ...cl'l:I 32.1ιχcΙ1:tc2+ 33.Wf11:txcl+ Q: What do you think about the fi-
34.Wf21:tc2+ 35.~f11:tcl+ lhJh nalists of the World Championship?
Α: Ι think that Anand and Shirov were
the players who needed more than others
Interview with αΜ A.Grischuk to win it here: Anand because he played at
Q: Despite your loss ίη the match, home and Shirov because of everything he
let us congratulate you οη your fan- went through after his match with Κram
tastic performance, you are οηlΥ 17 nik. Ιη Tehran it will be Shirov who will
years old! need it most.
Α: Yes, Ι turned 17 during the Olympiad Q: 80, you think it's ΟΚ to have a
ίη Istanbul. few champions at the same time?
Q: Congratulations οη the golden Α: Why not? Κhalifman is the four-
medal ίη the Olympiad as well. Υου teenth champion, Κramnik is the fifteenth,
scored a lot as a reserve player for and the winner ίη Tehran will be the six-
Russia. teenth.
Α: Yes, Ι scored +5 out of 10 games. Q: Oh, that's cool. And what about
Q: Did you participate ίη the World the match between Kramnik and the
Junior Championships many times? winner of Tehran match?
Α: Ι was Russian champion ίη all age Α: It should notbe a match for the World
categories: under 10, 12, 14, 16 but never Champion's title, just a friendly event.
succeeded ίη winning a World Champion- Q: Thank you very much for shar-
ship. ing your views with us, have a lot of
Q: Tell us something about your success ίη future and congratulations
background, education and famίly. once again.
SEMIFINAL PAIRINGS AND RESULTS Gl G2 G3 G4 Final

...
1 Anand V. IND 2762 :vs 3 AdamsM. ENG 2755 = 1-0 = = 2.5-1.5
46 Grischuk Α. RUS 2606 'vs. 4 Shirov Α. ESP 2746 0-1 1-0 0-1 = 1.5-2.5
Final
Game 1, December 20 Petersburg 1999.
8 ... cxd4 9.cxd4 tίJxd4 10.tίJxd4 ~xd4
Unexpectedly after 1.e4 Anand played 11.tίJc3 ~b6
1 ... e6. The Nimzowitch νariation ίη the 11 ... ~xe5 was νery risky, for example
French Defence. Ιη the preνious games after 12.1:te1 ~d6 13.tίJb5 ~b8 14. ~f3 ..Il.d6
Anand had chosen the 8icilian Defence or 15.tίJxd6+ ~xd6 16.i.f4 ~e7 17. ~g3 g6
Petroν's Defence. 18 ...td6 ~d8 (Nemec - Vrbata, Czech Re-
public 1998) the solution would be 19 .
297 C02 .sxe6!+-
Shirov (2746) - Anand (2762) 12.~g4
White must play resolutely here if he
l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 tίJc6 5.tίJf3 does not want Black to gain much from his
~b6 6.a3 a5 material adνantage. 80, after 12.'iith1 tίJe7
Preνenting White from gaining space 13.f4 d4 14.tίJb5 tίJd5 15.~a4 ..tc5 16.b4
οη the kingside by b2-b4. Also 6 ... c4 and ..Il.e7 17.i.d2 tίJc3 18 ...Il.xc3 dxc3 19.nfb1 c2+
6 ... tίJh6 deserνed attention here. Black managed to create counter threats
7 ..td3 ~d7 to his opponent, Grosar - Korchnoi, Bratto
Threatening to take οη d4. 7 ... tίJh6 was 1998.
possible as well, trying to transfer the 12... g6
knight to f5 ίη order to put more pressure Black played so, thinking about the
deνelopment of his kingside. He wanted
υροη White's centre. Howeνer, after 8.0-0
cxd4 9.cxd4 tίJf5 White had 10 ..txf5 exf5 to aνoid any considerable weakening ofthis
area which was possible ίη case of 12 ... h5
11.tίJc3 .te6 12.a4!? h6 13.tίJb5 .te7 14.tίJe1
13. ~f4 a4 14 . .te3 ~a5 15.~ac1 tίJe7
ο-ο 15.tίJd3 tίJa7 16.tίJxa7 ~xa7 17 ..te3 b6
16.J:ιfd1 i.c6 17.h4 g6 18. ~f6~ Black had
18.~h5t, and the weakening of Black's
problems with the co-ordination of flanks
pawn structure allowed White to hope for
ίη the game Elyoseph - Alterman, Tel Ανίν
the deνelopment of his initiatiνe ίη the
1987, and after 12 ... f5 13.~h5+ g614.~e2
game Biolek - Votaνa, Olomouc 1997.
i.g7 15.J:ιd1 tίJe7 16 ...te3 ~c7 17.f4 ο-ο
8.0-0!? 18.~ac1 ~b8 19.tίJb5~ he found himself
White chooses an aggressiνe method of squeezed quite perceptibly ίη the game,
deνelopment, without spending time for
Prie - Goldgewicht, Cannes 1995.
the defence of the d4-pawn. Unlike the 13 ...Il.e3
classical νariation 6.~d3 cxd4 7.cxd4 ..Il.d7
8.0-0 (ίη which Black's defence is difficult
too), the present game comprises moνes a3
and a5, and this should be estimated as
adνantageous for White owing to the ορ
portunity to profit from the weakness of
the d5-square. Α more solid moνe was
8.i.c2, and after 8 ... h5 9.0-0 tίJh6 10.b3
~e7 11.J::ι.a2 cxd4 12.cxd4 J::ι.c8 13 ...txh6
J::ι.xh6 14. ~d2 J::ι.h8 15.h4 'iitf8 16. ~f4;j;
White's adνantage was insignificant since
there were ηο real targets for an attack ίη
Black's position, 8passky - Korchnoi, 8t 13 ...i.c5
Ιη case of 13 .. .'~d8?t White played kingside conveniently (generally, his

14.lbb5t with a strong initiative, making knight should have been defending the f6-
use ofthe weakness ofthe b5-square, and square).
Black had ηο 14 ... h5? because of 15. ~xg6! 16... ~xc5 17.lϊacΙ ~b6 18.~d7
fxg6? 16.Jι.xg6+ r.l;e7 17.Jι.g5+ lbf6 18. Now there was ηο sense ίη doubling the
J.xf6#. Also 13 ... ~xb2 made ηο sense for rooks along the c-file because after
Black, because after 14.i.d4! ~d2 15.1Hd1 18 ... lbe7 Black managed to complete
~h6 White would have 16.lbxd5! exd5 the development: 19.nfc1 lbc6 20.J.b5
17.e6 fxe6 07 ... i.xe6? 18.i.b5+ r.l;d8 r.l;g7 21.i.xc6 bxc6 22.l:txc6 ~xb2 23. ~f4
19.J.b6+ r.l;e7 20.J.c5+ r.l;d8 2u::rxd5+-) l:thf8oo
18.J.xh8 J.d6 19.h3 e5 20. ~g3t, and Black 18 ....:::rd8!
would have a hard time because ofthe poor This decision should be considered as
position ofhis king. forced because ίη case ofa natural18 ... lbh6
14.lba4 there was 19.Mc7t ~xb2 20. ~d6+ (after
14. ~f4!? deserved a serious consider- 20.~e7+ r.l;g8 21.~f6 ~xa3 22.J::rfc1 I:tf8
ation here, because after 14 ... I:tc8 (14 ... d4 White had ηο opportunity to reinforce his
15.b4t g5! 16.~xg5 J.f8 17.bxa5 I:txa5 pressure υροη Black's position) 20 ... r.l;g8
18.I:tab1 ~a7 19.1bb5 i.xb5 20.i.xb5+ nxb5 2U:rb1 ~d4 22.iιc2 b5 (ίη case of22 ... ~d2
21.I:txb5 i.h6 22. ~h5 dxe3 23. ~f3±; 23.h3 b5 24.g4 ~g5 25.lϊχb5 I:td8 26.~e7
14 ... lbe7 15.~f6 I:tg8 16.i.xc5 ~xc5 17. ~xe7 27.I:txe7t White's attack οη the 7th
I:tac1 ~b6 18.I:tc2 J.c6 19.I:tfc1 I:td8 20. rank could have developed successfully
lbb5~) 15.lba4 i.xa4 16. ~xa4+ r.l;d8 17. even without queens) 23.J::rxb5lbg4 24.I:txf7
J.xc5 I:txc5 18.b4 t White's queenside ίηί ~d2 25.g3 ~c1+ 26.r.l;g2 ~xc2 27.~xe6+-,
tiative threatened to turn into a decisive and Black's king turned out to be defen-
attack οη Black's king because of the υη celess.
derdevelopment ofhis kingside. Also there 19.~c7 ~xc7 20.J::rxc7 .ί:b8!
was a mere 14.i.xc5 ~xc5 15.nfc1 ~b6 The b-pawn could have been given υρ
16.b4 t, and Black's development problems ίη this way οηlΥ. 80, ίη case of 20 ... b6
were noticeable ίη this line too. But now 21.I:tfc1 lbe7 22 ..a:b7 I:tc8 23.I:txc8+ lbxc8
Black would decrease White's pressure by 24.i.a6 (24.h4!?) 24 ... r.l;e8 25.i.b5+ r.l;f8
an exchange to certain extent. 26.iιd7 lbe7 27.J::rxb6±, White's passed
14 ... i.xa4 15.~xa4+ r.l;f8 pawn οη the queenside could have decided
Leaving the king ίη the centre was dan- the position ίη his favour.
gerous, for example after 15 ... ~d8 16.J.xc5 21.I:tfcl
~xc5 17.I:tac1 ~b6 18.~f4t Black would Ιη case of21.b4 axb4 22.axb4lbe7 23.b5
have a hard position as White would be lbc8 24.1:!.fc1 r.l;g7= Black had plenty oftime
threatening to double his rooks οη the c- to organize a good co-operation of his
file. pieces.
16.J.xc5+ 21 ...lbe7 22.f4 lbc6 23 . .ί:!:c5
The manoeuvre 16. ~f4!? deserves at- White could have gained nothing by
tention again, and after 16 ... r.l;g7 17.lϊac1 23.i.b5, Black would simply attack the
(or 17.i.xc5!? ~xc5 18.I:tac1 ~b6 19.1:tc2 to bishop, making it go back: 23 ... lbd4 (bet-
be followed by ZΙfc1, !Ic7) 17 ... i.xe3 18.fxe3 ter than 23 ... r.l;g7 24.i.xc6 bxc6 25 ..ί:!:lχc6
I:tf8 19.b4t, though Black repels immedi- :txb2 26.!txe6) 24 ...td3lΔc6=
ate threats successfuly and is a pawn up, 23 .•• r.l;g7
White still has opportunities for an active An attempt to split White's pawns at
play οη the whole board for Black has once by 23 ... g5 24.lϊb5! to be followed by
failed to complete the development of his 24 ... lbd4 (better was 24 ... r.l;g7 25.g3, pro-
ducing a position from the game) made ηο Game 2, December 21

sense because of25.~xa5 gxf4 26.~a7 tLJc6
27.~axb7 ~xb7 28.~xb7 tLJxe5 29.~b8+ 1fig7 Shirov chose a rare Meller's system ίη
30 ..1:txh8 'it>xh8 31.Sιb5!+-, and Black was the Ruy Lopez, which was played ίη the
helpless against the threatening advance tournament practice ίη the thirties of the
ofWhite's a- and b-pawns. 20th century. Anand transferred the game
24.~b5 g5 25.g3 to a better ending, but Alexey still had some
chances, which he did not use, though.
Anand gained his first victory ίη the finals.
298 C78
Anand (2762) - Shirov (2746)
1.e4 e5 2.tLJf3 tLJc6 3.Sιb5 a6 4.iιa4 tLJf6

5.0-0 Sιc5 6.c3 b5 7.iιc2
White could not have gained a particu-
lar advantage here by the straightforward
7.d4 bxa4 8.dxc5 tLJxe4 9.tLJxe5 tLJxe5
10. ~d5 1ιb7 11. ~xe5+ ~e7 12. ~xe7 + ~xe7
25 ... h5! 13.~el 1fid8 14.Sιe3 .1:te8=, the play was
Advancing the kingside pawns, Black approximately equal ίη this line, Ehlvest
hopes to decrease the number ofpawns οη - Onischuk, Beijing 1998. There is a more
the board and to engage the h8-rook ίη the widespread move ίη this position, namely
struggle, at the same time. Otherwise 7.1ιb3, which after 7 ... d6 gives a complex
White would take Black's b-pawn and play, for example 8.a4 1ιg4 9.d3 ο-ο 10.h3
stand to win the game owing to the pas- 1ιχf3 11. ~xf3 tLJa5 12.Sιc2 b4 13.tLJd2 1:rb8
sivity ofBlack's pieces and his own passed 14.~e2 1:re8 15.tLJf3 bxc3 16.bxc3 tLJb3
pawn οη the queenside. 17 .iιxb3 ~xb3°o Anand - Karpov, Lausanne
26.~bxb7 .1:txb7 27 .~xb7 h4! (m/2) 1998.
Splitting White's pawns, Black gains 7 ... d5
objects for a counterplay. Black chooses the most aggressive con-
28.'it>g2 tinuation, trying to make use of White's
Α straightforward 28.b4 axb4 29.axb4 insufficient control over the d5-square. The
hxg3 30.hxg3 gxf4 31.gxf4 ~h4~ gave move 7 ... d6 was unable to prevent White
Black a real counterplay against White's from building a mighty pawn centre after
weak pawns [4 and e5. d2-d4.
28 ...hxg3 29.hxg3 gxf4 30.gxf4 ~h4 8.a4
31.'it>g3 ~h1 32.'it>g2 Α new continuation, usually White tries
Ιη case of the alluring 32.1ιb5 after to develop his initiative by an immediate
32 ... tLJd4 33.Sιe8 'it>f8 White had to retreat 8.d4, however, practice shows that after
with the bishop, because there was ηο 8 ... dxe4 Black has certain counter chances,
34.Sιxf7? due to 34 ... ~h7-+, and ίη case of for example after 9.tLJxe5 (ίη case of9.dxc5
32.~c7 tLJd4 33.b4 ~a134.~c3 axb4 35.axb4 ~xdll0.Sιxdl exf3 11.iιxf3 iιb7 12.a4 b4
~a2+ to be followed by ~b2 it was already 13.~el 0-0-0 14.iιxc6 iιxc6 15.cxb4 tLJd5
Black who might have tried to make use 16.Sιd2 [6 17.b3 tLJe7 IS ..!:!.a2 1:rd3~ Black
ofweaknesses ofWhite's pawns, so White obtained a sufficient play for the pawn
had to go for a draw by repetition ofmoves. owing to the weakness of light squares ίη
32... .!:!.h4 33.1fig3 ~h1 34.1fig2 lh-1f2 White's position, De Firmian - Benjamin,
Salt Lake City 1999) 9 .. .'~Jxe5 10.dxe5 Mter 12 ... tΔxf2 13.J::lxf2 e4!? (13 ... .iιxf2+
~xd1 1U:~xd1 tΔg4 12.~xe4, and now a 14.~xf2 e4 15.1:'ta4 .txf3 16.gxf3:!;:) 14.d4
sharp 12 ... tΔxf2 (better than 12 ... l:tb8 exf3 15.tΔd2 .iιd6 16.tΔxf3 ~e8 17.h3 .iιh5
13 ..tc6+ We7 14 ..tg5+ We6 15.~h4 tΔxe5 18.~a5!?:!;: Black had ηο compensation for
16 ..td5+ Wf5 17.tΔd2 .tb7 18.tΔe4;!;, and the pawn.
White has an adνantages owing to the 12 ... exd4 13.cxd4 .iιb6 14.tΔc3 ~e8
unsupported position of Black's king and 15 ..te3
his unstable minor pieces, Shiroν - Also there was 15.h3!? .iιh5 16.tΔxe4
Iνanchuk, Monte Carlo 1998) after 13. ~xe4 17.~d3 .iιxf3 18.~xf3 ~d5!? (18 ...
.tc6+ ~e7 14.~d5 .tb6 15 ..iιxa8 tΔd3+ ~xd4 19 ..te3 ~d3 20 ..:tad1 .txe3 21.fxe3
16.~f1 tΔxcl17.tΔa3 (17.tΔd2? .te618.~xc1 f6 22.~xd3 ~xd3 23 ..a:d1 ~c4 24.~d7:!;:)
.txd5 19 ..iιxd5 .:td8; 17.~d1 ~f5 18.~xc1 19 ..iιf4 ~xc6 20 ..ί1ae1 f5 21 ..iιe5:!;:. White
~d3+ 19.We1 Mxa8~) 17 ... .te6 18 ..:txc1 parts with his extra pawn in this line, but
.s:xa8 19.~d3 .iιf5 20.~dd1 lιe3 2H~a1.tf4 also he weakens the position of Black's
22.g3 .iιxe5~ despite White's slight mate- king.
rial adνantage brought to an approximate
equality owing to the superior actiνity of
Black's pieces Shiroν - Onischuk, Ger-
many 2000.
8 ... dxe4!?
Black chooses the most principal moνe
again, although 8 ... ~b8 has been possible
as well.
9.axb5 .iιg4!
Ιη case of 9 ... exf3?! there would be a
νery strong response of 10.~xf3!, and af-
ter 10 ... e4 (in case of 10 ... lιb6 11.bxc6 ο-ο
12.d3 .iιg4 13. ~g3 ~d6 14.tΔd2 ~xc6 15 ... ~d6?!
15.tΔc4± the e5-pawn could not haνe been Black creates .difficulties for himself.
kept) 11 ..iιxe4 tΔe5 12. ~e2 tΔd5 13.d4± Stronger was 15 ... tΔxc3!? 16.bxc3 ~d5
Black hardly could haνe aνoided material 17.h3 .tf5 (17 ... .txf3 18.~xf3 ~xf3 19.
losses. gxf3±) 18.tΔe5 f6 19.c4 ~e4 20.tΔd7 ~xc6
10.lιxe4 tΔxe4 11.bxc6 Ο-Ο! 21.tΔxb6 ~xb6 22.d5 ~b4~ with Black's
There was ηο way to create a counter certain counterchances to play against
threat before castling: 11 ... tΔg5 12.d4 lιxf3 White's central pawns.
13 ..txg5 .txd1 14 ..iιxd8 exd4 (14 ... .te2 16.d5
15.~e1+-) 15.~xd1 ~xd8 16.b4 .td6 17. Ιη case of 16.tΔxe4 ~xe4 17.d5 .txe3
.s:xd4+-; 11 ... ~f6 12.d4 exd4 13.~e1 ~xc6 18.fxe3 ~c5°o Black's position would not be
14.~d3+- worse.
12.d4 16... .iιxe3 17.fxe3 ~ad8
The underdeνelopment of White's The exchange 17 ... tΔxc3 reinforced
queenside did not let him go for further White's queenside initiatiνe, and after
material gains right now: after 12.h3 .th5 18.bxc3 ~h6 (18 ... J::lxe3 19. ~d4 .iιxf3
13.g4?! .tg6 14.tΔxe5 tΔxf2 15 ..:txf2 .txf2+ 20. ~xe3 .iιxd5 2U:tfd1 ~xc6 22. ~d4±)
16.Wxf2 ~h4+ 17.~g2 .te4+ 18.tΔf3 f5-+ 19. ~d2 ~xe3+ 20. ~xe3 ~xe3 21 ..:tfb1
Black would haνe an attack. Still, there (21.c41') 21 ... ~f8 22.I:rb71' it was hard for
was 12.d3!?, making White decide about Black to oppose to a further adνance of
his intentions concerning the e4-knight. White's c- and d-pawns.
18.J:txa6 J:te127.~f1 ~xf1+ 28.~xf1 gxf5 29.~e2 'Σt>g7

There was an alluring opportunity of 30.Φd3 ~cH) 26 ... 1:te1+ (26 ... ~xd4 27.It.fxf7
18.tιJxe4 It.xe4 19.It.xa6, using the fact that 1:td2 28.I:!.fe7+-) 27.~f2 gxf5 28.11c8+ 'Σt>g7
B1ack had ηο 19 ... ~xd5?? 20.~xd5+-, but 29.tιJxf5+ ~f6 30.~xe1 'Σt>xf5 31.'Σt>d2±
after 19 ... It.xe3 (the 1ine with 19 ... ~c5 White's extra pawn and the weakness of
20. ~d2 J:txe3 21.b4 ~e7 22.d6! cxd623.tιJd4 B1ack's pawns made the defence ofB1ack's
It.e8 24.b5± with a subsequent advance of position quite difficu1t.
White's pawns was evident1y worse) 26.J:txe4 1ιχe4 27 .~e7 1ιf5 28.c7
20.~d2 [a1so there was 20.~d4, quite good Bad was 28.tιJxf5 gxf5 29.c7 ~g7= to be
at first sight, but after 20 ... I:!.xf3! 21.gxf3 followed by Φf6.
(21.~xf3 i.xf3 22.gxf3 ~g6+ 23.'Σt>f2 ~c2+ 28 ...<.t>f8?!
24.'Σt>g3 ~g6+ 25.~g4 ~d6+ 26.~f4 ~xd5=) This inaccuracy will invo1ve serious
21 ... i.h3 22.11e1 (22.It.d1 ~g6+ 23.~f2 consequences. It was better to move the
~g2+ 24.'Σt>e3 l1e8+ 25.~d3 ~e2-+; 22.11fa1 king towards the centre from the opposite
~g6+ 23.'Σt>f2 ~c2+ 24.~g3 ~g2+ 25.'Σt>f4 side: 28 ... ~g7!? with good drawing chances,
It.e8-+) 22 ... ~g6+
23.'Σt>f2 ~g2+ 24.'Σt>e3 for examp1e: 29.tιJb5 'Σt>f6 30.~e1 (ίη case
~e8+ 25.'Σt>d3 ~xΓ3+ 26.'Σt>d2 (26.'Σt>c4? i.f1+ of 30.It.e8 ~xc4 31.~h8 i.d7 32.Φf2 i.xb5
27.'Σt>c5 ~b8-+; 26.~e3 ~f1+ 27.'Σt>c3 It.b8~) 33.c8~ ~xc8 34.~xc8 i.d7 35.It.c7 1ιe6=
26 ... ~g2+ 27.~c3 ~f3+ 28.'Σt>d2 (28.~d3 White had ηο victory) 30 ... 1ιd7!? (after
~f6+) 28 ... ~g2= it on1y wou1d be ab1e to 30 ... ~xc4 there was 31.tιJd6!? ~c6 32.tιJe8+
give a draw] 20 ... ~ee8t White's advantage 'Σt>g5 33.~e7 i.e6 (if 33 ... 'Σt>f4, then 34.~xf7
was rather insignificant. ~c135.'Σt>f2 I:tc2+ 36.'Σt>e1 I:!.c1+ 37.Φd2 ~c2+
18 ... tιJxc3 19.bxc3 ~xd5 20.~xd5 38.'Σt>dl), and now White's king comes
It.xd5 21.tιJd4 g6 a1ong: 34.'Σt>f2! ~c2+ 35.Φe3 ~c3+ (35 ... h5
21 ... h6!? deserved attention, avoiding 36.tιJd6+- with the idea to go J:'!.e6) 36.'Σt>d4
an exchange ofthe bishop. J:'!.c4+ 37.'Σt>e5± to be followed by ~d6, ~xe6)
22.~f4 31.tιJc3 (31.J:'!.e4 1ιχb5 32.cxb5 ~xc7 33.~b4
The 1ine 22.h3 1ιίΕ 23.~a7 It.xe3 24.~xc7 Φe5 34.b61:lb7 35.~f2 <.t>d5 36.Φe3 ~c5=)
~xc3= on1y maintained the equa1ity. 31 ... 'Σt>g7 32.It.e7 (32.tιJd5 1ιe6=) 32 ... ~xc7
22 ... 1ιf5 23.~a7 ~xe3 33.tιJb5 k!.b7 34.~xf7+ (34.Φf2 1ιχb5 35.
1:txb7 i.xc4=) 34 ... Φχf7 35.tιJd6+ 'Σt>e6
36.tιJxb7 'Σt>e5 37.Φf2 Φd4 38.c5 h6=
29.tιJxf5 gxf5 30.~d7 Φg7 31.~d4!
8upported by the white king, the c4-
pawn becomes quite strong.
31 ... ~xc7 32.Φf2 ~f6 33.~e3 'Σt>e6
34.g3 f6 35.~d3 ~a7 36.'Σt>c3 Φe5
B1ack has ηο active p1ay: 36 ... ~a3+
37.~b4 ~a2 38.~h4±.
37.It.h4 ~b7 38.~f4
38.~h5!? deserved attention to be fo1-
10wed by It.f7 39.c5 (39.g4? Φf4 40.It.xf5+
24.c4! Φχg4=) 39 ... J:ιb7 40.~c4± with a subse-
This c-pawn is still a1ive, and White quent advance of the c-pawn.
was thinking about this when he made his 38... It.bl 39.11f2 I:!.cl+ 40.'Σt>b4
22 nd move. Ιη case of 40.I:!.c2 l1xc2+ 41.Φχc2 f4!=
24 ...I:tc5 25.1:txc7 I:!.e4! there wou1d be a draw.
Ιη case of 25 ... .:s.xc4 26.J:txf5 (26.tιJxf5 40 ... 'Σt>e6 41.~b5 Φd6 42.1::txf5 1:lbl+
43.lt>a4 ~b2! With his accurate moves Vishy realized an

The οηlΥ chance. Ιη case of a passive extra exchange. 80, 2.5-0.5.
43 ... ςi;>e6? the solution would be 44.~h5 ~b7
45.c5 f5 46.c6 ~c7 47.ςi;>b5+-, promotingthe 299 Β49
pawn. Shirov (2746) - Anand (2762)
44.nxf6+ ςi;>c5 45.~h6 Wxc4 46.~h4+ Notes by A.Kochyev
rJ;>d5 47.~xh7 rJ;>e5 48.rJ;>a3 ~b8 49.I1:h5+
rJ;>f6 50.1;Ih4 ςi;>g5 l.e4 c5 2.CLJf3 CLJc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.CLJxd4
Black wants to block up White's pawns "f!1c7 5.CLJc3 e6 6 ...Ite2 a6 7.0-0 CLJf6 8.iιe3
with his king as soon as possible that will iιb4 9.CLJa4
give him quite real chances for a draw. He The opponents played a well known
puts the king οη one the same file with one variation ofthe Paulsen 8ystem.
of White's pawns and is going to attack 9 ••• iιd6
them with his rook οη the next step, forc- 9 ... 0-0 occurs more often, to be followed
ing White to advance one ofthem. by 10.CLJxc6 bxc6 11.CLJb6l:!.b8 12.CLJxc8 "f!1xc8
51.l:!.b4 ti:h8 52.h4+ ςi;>h5 53.l:!.b5+ ςi;>h6 13.e5 CLJd5 or 12 ... ~fxc8 13 ..ltxa6 l:!.d8
54.g4 l:!.e8 55.l:!.b4 ςi;>g6? 14 ..ltd3 .id6 15.f4 e5 16.f5 l:!.xb2.
It was just the moment for an attack 10.g3 b5
οη White's pawns: 55 ... ti:e3+! 56.Wa4 ti:h3 10 ... CLJxe4? was dangerous because of
57.g5+ (White's chances were worse ίη case 11 ..if3 CLJf6 12.CLJxc6 bxc6 13.CLJb6 I1:b8
of57.h5 ~g5±) 57 ... ~h5 58.rJ;>b5 :!.e3 59.rJ;>c5 14.CLJc4 iιe5 15.CLJxe5 "f!1xe5 16.iιf4.
~e8 60.~d4 ~e7 61.rJ;>d6 1:ϊe1 62.rJ;>d5 ~e8 11.CLJb61:ϊb8
63.~e4 ~d8+ 64.rJ;>e5 ~e8+ 65.~f5 ~f8+ There was ηο risky 11 ... "f!1xb6? because
66.rJ;>e6 ~e8± (not allowing White's king to of 12.CLJxe6 "f!1b8, and then 13.CLJxg7+ with
come to f7 where it would be able to sup- White's strong attack.
port a further advance of the g6-pawn), 12.CLJxc8l:!.xc813.a4CLJxd414•..Itxd4 e5
and ίη this line White had ηο evident win- 15 ...Ite3 .ltc5 16.axb5
ning plan. Better was 16 ..ltxc5 "f!1xc5 17.axb5 axb5,
56.~b6+ ςi;>f7 57.~b7+ rJ;>e6 58.~h7 and then 18.~a5 or 18 ..ltd3 with White's
l:!.b8? slightly better position ίη both lines.
The last chance was to come back with 16... .ltxe3 17.fxe3 axb5 18.iιxb5
the king: 58 ... ςi;>f6.
59.g5 ~f5 60.~h6!
Cutting offBlack's king, and thus mak-
ing the advance ofWhite's pawns irresist-
ible: g6, h5, l:!.h7.
60 ... We5 61.h5 Φf5 62.g6 Φf6 63.l:!.h7
l:!.g8 64.Φb3 1-0
Game 3, December 22
Once more Anand changed the opening,

now - the Paulsen's Variation ίη the 8icil- 18... 0-0
ian Defence. Alexey was not ready for it. Despite the lost pawn Black has excel-
Ιη this game 8hirov used an unhappy ηον lent prospects. White could have played
elty and after that he could not stop play- 19 ..ltd3 now, but he ventured οη a sacri-
ing for a win and start playing for a draw. fice of the exchange. Black's defence re-
sources, howeνer, are more than enough. have been possib1e: 13 ... CLJdxe5 14.fxe5
19.~xf6 gxf6 20.SΙxd7 !:!.a8 21. ~g4+ CLJxe5 15 ..1e2 1ιd7~, and the unsupported
ι;,t>h8 22.~f1 .a:g8 23.~h3 ~c5 position ofWhite's king and B1ack's adνan
This moνe is stronger than 23 .. .'~!xc2?! tage ίη the centre wou1d depriνe White of
24 ..1f5 ~g7 25. ~h6, allowing White to ac- any hope to achieve his materia1 advan-
tiνate his pieces. tage, Smirin - Psakhis, Las Vegas 1999.
24.SΙf5 ~xe3+ 25. \t>g2 h6 26. ~h5 \t>g7 10... 0-0 11.~h3 a5
27.~g4+ ~g5 28.~f3 ~gd8 29.h4 ~d2+ B1ack is p1anning a counterp1ay οη 1ight
30.ι;,t>h3 !:!.d6! squares οη the queenside by a4, CLJa5-b3.
Νο 30 ... ~xc2? because of31.SΙe6!. Ιη case of an immediate 11 ... fxe5 to be fo1-
31.~t2 ~dI32.ι;,t>g4 .a:a2 33.~xd1.a:xdl 10wed by 12.fxe5 lΔa5 13.b4 cxb4 14.axb4
White's position is hard, he is just un- CLJc4 15.CLJf4t B1ack wou1d haνe good pros-
ab1e to protect his queenside pawns ... pects for an attack after SΙd3, CLJg5.
34.c4 !:!.bl 35.!:!.d2 .a:axb2 36..a:d7 .a:b7 12.b3
37 . .a:d6 .a:c7 38.ι;,t>h5 ~cl 39.g4 .a:7xc4 Preventing the mentioned B1ack's p1an.
40 ..a:d7 .a:c7 41 ..a:d8 .a:hl 0-1 12 ... ~c7
The c7-rook will join the attack ineνi Now ίη case of 12 ... a4 there wou1d be
tab1y, for examp1e by the manoeuνre .a:c3- 13.b4 cxd4 14.cxd4 ~d8 15.CLJg3 CLJb6
h3. 16.1ιd3t, and White's space adνantage as
well as his solid and strong centre wou1d
allow him to hope for a further deνe1op
Game 4, December 24 ment of his initiative οη the kingside.
Apart from the moνe ίη the game, B1ack
Now A.Shiroν a1so chose the French De- a1so had an opportunity of 12 ... ~d8, and
fence. Οη the 15th move Alexey sacrificed after 13.CLJg3 CLJb6 14 . .1d3 f5 15 . .i.c2
his knight. Then Anand took his bishop as (15 ..i.e3 c4 oo ) 15 ... .i.d7 16.SΙe3 cxd4 17.cxd4
we11. a4 18.b4 CLJa7 19.CLJh5 .1e8 20.CLJg5 ~c8
21 ..a:cl CLJc4°o he gained a counterp1ay οη
300 Cll 1ight squares οη tΙιe queenside and a solid
Anand (2762) - Shirov (2746) position οη the kingside ίη the game
Smίήη - Psakhis, Las Vegas 1999.
l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.CLJc3 CLJf6 4.e5 CLJfd7 13.CLJegl!?
5.CLJce2 c5 6.f4CLJc6 7.c3 ~b6 8.CLJf3 f6 9.a3 White had to engage the Π-bishop ίη
White prevents a check from the diago- the p1ay and, at the same time, to keep the
na1 a5-el, because ίη case of9.g3 there was f3-knight a1ive as this piece was extreme1y
9 ... cxd4 10.cxd4 fxe5 11.fxe5 SΙb4+ 12.CLJc3 important for his contro1 over the centre.
ο-ο 13.SΙf4 .i.e7 14 ..i.h3 ~xb2°o, and B1ack So ίη case of a naturall3.CLJg3 B1ack wou1d
made use ofWhite's underdeve10pment ίη have p1ayed 13 ... cxd4 14.cxd4 fxe5 15.fxe5
the game Anand - Sisniega, Phi1ade1phia CLJdxe5 16.dxe5 .a:xf3 17.gxf3 ~xe5-+, de-
1987. stroying White's position comp1ete1y. Ιη
9 ....i.e7 10.h4 case of 13.h5 b6 14.g4 B1ack cou1d have
With this advance White prepares the forced a draw after 14 ... cxd4 15.cxd4 fxe5
3 rd rank for the king's rook, which will be 16.fxe5 ~xf3 17.:txf3 .i.h4+ 18.Φd2 .i.g5+
ab1e, both' to attack and to defend from 19.ΦeΙ 1ιh4+ 20.Φd2 .i.g5+ 1ike ίη the
there. If he had begun an active p1ay οη game Ajupov - Jaηtuήη, Russia 2000.
the queenside immediate1y by 10.b4, then 13... a4
after 10 ... cxd4 11.cxd4 ο-ο 12.CLJc3 fxe5 Α pre1ude to B1ack's attack. Απ attempt
13.dxe5 a standard piece sacrifice wou1d to exchange the 1ight-squared bishop de-
serνed attention here: 13 ... b6!? 14.h5 (ίη ~xc3 23 ..!:rxf8+ ~xf8 24. ~e3 ~xa1 25.
case of 14 ...Itd3 after 14 ... cxd4 15.cxd4 fxe5 ~xc5+ 'lt>e8 26."ib5+ ..Itd7 27 ...Itxd7+ ~xd7
16.fxe5 there was 16 ... tΔxd4+, allowing 28. ~xd5+- Black's king suffered an irre-
Black to take the initiatiνe. Also a quieter sistible attack.
14 ... ..Ita6 would be fine, and White would 21."ib2 ~b3+ 22.'It>c1 e5
not be able to gain anything by a standard The bishop is doomed. Ιη case of
attacking manoeuνre after 15 . ..Itxh7 + 22 ... ..Itffi 23 ...Itxf6 .ί:!.Χf6 24.tΔd2+- Black was
~xh7 16.tΔg5+ fxg5 17.hxg5+ ~g8 18. going to lose his queen.
~h5 ..Itxg5+) 14 ... ..Ita6°o. Αη exchange of 23.~xh4!?
light-squared bishops could haνe de- White is fully confident and does not
creased White's attacking potential consid- fear to allow Black to show a temporary
erably. actiνity, though he could haνe won by
14.b4 fxe5 15.fxe5 23.tΔd2 Jtxh3 24.tΔxb3 "ig4!? 25.~xg4!
.ί:!.ΧΩ+ 26.~c2 axb3+ 27.'It>xb3 axa1 (27 ...
c4+ 28.~a2) 28."ixa1 +- as well.
23 ..."if5 24.~d1!
Naturally, it'sonly adνantageous for
White if he manages to exchange Black's
actiνe queen. His problems would be more
serious ίη case of 24 ...Itxe5 cxb4 25 ..!:rxb4
aac8+ 26.~d2 J:Ic2+ 27.'It>d11:rxe2+ 28.J:Ixb3
axe529.I:ι.xb7±
24 ... e4 25. ~xb3 axb3 26.tΔd2!
White did not haνe time to show any
actiνity right now because ίη case of
15 ... tΔdxe5! 26.tΔe5 there was 26 ... cxb4 27.axb4 I:ι.ac8+
Α preliminary 15 ... cxd4?! was much 28.'It>d1 ktc2 29."id4 e3 30."ixe3 b2 31.I:ι.b1
worse: after 16.cxd4 tΔdxe5? 17.dxe5 tΔxe5 J:Ic3 32.I:ι.xb2 I:ι.xe3±, and he suffered prob-
18 ...Itb2± Black's attack simply stagnated. lems with the achieνement ofhis material
16.dxe5 tΔxe5 17 .tΔxe5 ~xe5+ 18.~e2 adνantage.
"ixh4+ 19.'It>d1! 26 ... e3
This moνe was necessary since there Ιη case of 26 ... c4 after 27."id4 ~ae8
was ηο 19.Jdxh4? because of 19 ... ~xc3+ 28."ie2+- Black's passed pawns would be
20.~d1 ~xaH blocked together and White would be able
19... ~f6? to proceed to a gradual improνement ofhis
Black oνerestimated his attacking ρο pieces' positions.
tential. He had to play 19 ... ~xe2+!? 27.tΔf3
20.i.xe2 Jtf2 21.I:ι.h1 e5 22.bxc5 I:ι.a5!? The knight is still useful for the defence,
23.tΔf3 e4 24.tΔd4 I:ι.xc5°o . Ιη this position so ίη case of 27.tΔxb3 "ig6 28."ie2 I:ι.f2
all Black's pieces are actiνe, and the 29.~d1 I:ι.xg2± Black could haνe actiνated
chances are equal despite White's slight his forces to some extent.
material adνantage. 27 ... I:ι.ae8 28.~d1!
20.tΔf3! Remoνing the king from the c-file and
Now the h4-bishop suffers difficulties, threatening to take οη c5. White had been
and Black has to go for further material unable to capture immediately by 28.bxc5
sacrifices. because Black would haνe played then
20 ... ~xc3 28 ... e2 29.~d2 exfi~ 30.Ι:ι.χΩ ..Ite4±, and
Ιη case of 20 ... e5 21 ..!:rxh4 e4 22. I:ι.f4 ! White would haνe turned out to be far from
the final victory.

28 ...c4 29 ...Ite2
Having blocked the opponent's passed
pawns, White can concern himself now
with the improvement of his pieces, look-
ing for more active positions for them.
29 ... ..Ite4 30.ΦcΙ I!.e6 31 . ..Itc3 ~g6
32.~h2 ..Itd3
32 ... .:f4!? deserved attention, but after
33.Wb2! (there was ηο 33 ...ie5 nf5 34...id4
.:ι.f4± because after 35.kxe3? Black had 38.~d3!
35 ... c3+) 33 ... ..ixf3 34 ..1i.xf3 d4 35 ..1i.el+- White is tremendously cool. He annihi-
there was ηο evident method of making a lates the opponent's pieces one after an-
profit οη Black's 4 passed pawns, whereas other, not being afraid of any illusory
White had already a pair of extra bishops. threats.
33..1i.xd3 cxd3 34.~b2 d2 35.~xb3 J:tg3 38 ... g4 39 . ..Ite5 J:tcl 40.J:thl J:txg2
36.~b2 g5 37.~c2 J:tc8 4ι.ttJh41-O
FINAL Gl G2 G3 G4 Final
1.1 Anand V. 1 IND 127621vsJ 3 IShiroν Α. Ι ESPJ 2746 = 1-0 1-0 1-0 3.5-0.5
Necessary Epilogue to the

World Championship
Karpov - 12, Κasparov - 13, Κhalifman - 14, Anand - 15.
If the previous line does not seem Greek to you, you may safely skip the chapter.
Οη the night of Catholic Christmas the Hindu Viswanathan Anand became the new
World Champion. And where did it happen? As strange as it may seems, ίη not quite
chess-known Iran.
Not so long ago any person, that understood chess to a slightest extent, could name
the reining World Champion and that, who knew a little more, could enumerate all the
champions by the order of their inauguration. Now such a common matter embar-
rasses a lot of people. 1s Anand a World Champion? And what is then Vladimir Κramnik?
An ability to think logically is required for answering such questions, let's admit it.
Nevertheless, Ι will be careful and we will not draw hasty conclusions.
Thus, first premise. Α World Champion and the strongest player ίη the world is
not the same thing. Why have we to prove such an evident thing? Still we shall do it,
moreover it is easy.
Everybody knows (and it can be easily checked out) Hebden was the champion of
England ίη 2000, but who was the strongest chessplayer ofthe foggy Albion? Adams, of
course. Or, Volkov was the champion of Russia ίη 2000 (many rather inexperienced
amateurs would ask: "who was that?", Ι believe), well, and who was the strongest player
ίη Russia?! Right, it is not that simple ίη this case. Everybody can choose to his taste:
Kasparov, Κhalifman, Κramnik, or even Κarpov. But it is not so important ίη our case.
We can see that the strongest player and the titleholder is not the same thing. 1f you
think that it is a unique situation ίη the modern chess, Ι will try to prove that it hap-
pened quite often ίη the past. For, example, A.Alekhine was the World Champion ίη
1941- 46 but he was not the strongest among the chessplayers, especially ίη the last
years ofhis life. Or one more example, B.Spassky was the strongest player ίη 1967 - 68
but the World Champion at that time was T.Petrosian.
Second premise. It is possible to become a World Champion without defeating the

actual one. Let's resort to examples again, especially that one should not go too far. 1η
order to avoid being partial, let's deal with undeniable facts. The 12th World Champion
(we'll return to the ordinary numbers somewhat later) Anatoly Karpov obtained his
title without a fight, i.e. without overcoming the reigning 11th champion Robert Fischer.
Third premise. Not everyone, that wins a match against the strongest player (how-
ever, the notion "strongest" is rather subjective one) becomes a champion. 1n 1903 the
second World Champion Lasker was defeated by M.Chigorin ίn a thematic match by
2.5-3.5 and nothing followed. Ιn the modern times: 14th World Champion A.Κhalifman
lost a match by 1.5-4.5 to the Hungarian GM P.Leko. The third premise contained a
secret question: what did Κramnik become last year? The question is purely rhetorical,
you see, he has only beaten Kasparov, not the World Champion.
And now, Ι hope, the reader together with me will answer such simple questions:
Epilogue 435
what is Κramnik now and what ίη order World Champion is Anand. Let's do the maths
together. Haνing won a match against Kasparov, Κramnik became ... the winner ofthe
match Κasparov - Κramnik, and that is all. Or, perhaps, the strongest chessplayer
among the members of the Braingames, though chessplayers are few ίη this associa-
tion, one or two, ηο more. As to Anand, he became 15th World Champion, Κhalifman
was the fourteenth, Κasparov was the thirteenth. Stop! And what about Karpov, a caus-
tic reader may ask? Didn't he win a match against Anand ίη 1998 ίη Lausanne? How
about your logic and numbering of champions? Well, with ηumbeήηg it is quite simple,
but how could one answer the question: where did the World Champion Κarpov, who
had won the match ίη 1998, disappear? And what was, frankly speaking, Kasparov all
these years officially? Let's plunge into the history ofthe champion's title.
The World Champion - yesterday, today, tomorrow...

Such is the human nature: as soon as the second man learned to play chess, (after
the inventor of chess or God) he became involved ίη the challenge who played chess
stronger. Ifin the old times it might be established who was the strongest chessplayer
ίη town, considerably later they learned to determine who was the strongest player ίη
England, Germany, France ... Then by the end ofthe 19 century they already introduced
(correctly or not is another question) the first World Champion. It was Steinitz.
Before the rnatch Steinitz - Zukertort
The forehistory ofthe first match for the world title is complicated and intricate and
is not a subject of our investigation. But,here, ίη short, is the story. Approximately ίη
the forties of 19th century the strongest chessplayers were Adolf Anderssen (born ίη
Breslau, nowadays Wroclaw, Poland, ίη 1818) and Howard Staunton (born ίη 1810). The
one was winning tournaments and matches, the other matches οηlΥ. Α match between
them nearly took place, and who could know, the winner might have been called the
World Champion. But the match, however, did not take place. Besides, Paul Morphy
(born ίη New Orleans, ίη 1837) soon appeared οη the chess scene. He crushed all, at
first ίη his America, then ίη England and continental Europe. Ιη Ρaήs Morphy won two
matches, including one against Anderssen (8:3 ίη the classical chess, then 5:1 ίη rapid
chess, too). Morphy did not succeed ίη beating Staunton. According to some evidence,
the Englishman, feeling Morphy's SUΡeήοrίtΥ, agreed to play a match, although, under
various pretexts he managed to avoid it. Morphy quit playing chess soon.
One might draw some parallels - Kasparov also beat all and surely he was the
strongest chess player for a long time (and he still may be the strongest one, never
mind), but lately he is not the World Champion, too. But unlike Morphy, Kasparov lost
the match, although, thank God, he did not quit playing chess. But let's come back to
our history, to the forehistory, indeed.
Staunton began seldom to play, and Anderssen has been considered the strongest
chessplayer again for many years. Ιη the sixties he met a merited rival, Wilhelm Steinitz
(born ίη Prague, nowadays Czech Republic, ίη 1836). Ιη 1866 there was a match be-
tween them, won by Steinitz 8:6. But wait, please, it is not yet the historical first world-
title match. This is only a victory of one very strong player over another, well, for
example, like the victory ofΚramnik ίη London ίη 2000. ΒΥ the way, the match Steinitz
- Anderssen also took place ίη London. Steinitz won the match but he did not succeed ίη
winning a big chess tournament. There is nothing extraordinary ίη it, one can be strong
to play ίη matches with a concrete opponent and another can win tournaments. And
only five years later Steinitz began to achieve victories ίη prestigious tournaments.
And nearly at once Steinitz stopped playing chess and began to develop the theory of
chess. He returned to chess for some time, ίη 1876 he beat Joseph Blackbourne ( born
ίη Manchester, ίη 1841) ίη a match ίη London. And he did notjust beat him, but swept
away scoring 7:0! It is necessary to note, that by that moment Blackbourne was not a
"whipping boy", he had excellent successes ίη tournaments: ίη 1868 Blackbourne be-
came a champion of England, he was the second ίη the international tournament ίη
London,1872, and third ίη Vienna - 1873. Even after the ill-fated match with Steinitz,
υρ to 1910, Blackbourne was the strongest English chessplayer, wining tournaments
regularly. Where does Steinitz play after the match of 1876? Nowhere. Steinitz stopped
playing ίη tournaments and matches for the next six years. Ιη 1882, when he came back
to active chess life, he was met by a whole galaxy of strong chess fighters: Blackbourne,
Bardeleben, Chigorin, Mackenzie, Mason, Winawer, Zukertort ... Ιη the international
tournament ίη Vienna,1982 Steinitz tied for 1 place with Winawer, but next year ίη the
London tournament he was only second, falling whole three points behind Zukertort
(born ίη Lublin, ίη 1842). Steinitz challenged Zukertort for a match and offered to call
the winner a World Champion.
From the first match to the match of 1990
Match negotiations continued for two years and ended ίη 1886.

The match (America, 1886) was headed by a special committee (a FIDE prototype?)
that worked out the rules and the schedule. It was played υρ to 10 wins (the Fischer's
dream!), not counting the draws. At first Zukertort won four games, losing one but
then he did not stand υρ to the severe strain ofthe struggle and lost: -10 + 5. Steinitz
became the first official World Champion. We discussed quite extensively the first match
ίη order to show that determining a World Champion is rather complicated task. Con-
cerning the champion we have got, it is not an easy matter, too.
Should he defend his title or the challenge starts all over again?
Should the champion have privileges defending his title and of what kind? Let's
point out that every champion interpreted this issue differently. There was the rule of
the champion keeping the title ifthe match ended ίη a draw (it was valid nearly always),
and the right ofreturn match (Steinitz, Alekhine, Botvinnik), and a guarantee (often by
the challenger only) for an indispensable prize fund (Capablanca), and a convenient
type ofmatch (Fischer required to play υρ to 10 wins).
How often should a champion be nominated?
And who actually will challenge the titleholder? Ιη the beginning it was easy - the
champion chose a rival himself, somewhat later nearly everybody could play, who would
present the prize fund. And only after the death ofthe fourth World Champion Alekhine
ίη 1946, FIDE succeeded ίη organizing competitions for the World Championship. Α
harmonious system of competitions was established and held out with some updates υρ
to the 1990 match, inclusive. Qualification tournaments took place once ίη three years
Epilogue 437
(the so-called zonals and interzonals), their winners played Challenger matches, and
the last left opposed the World Champion ίη a match for the title.
Ιη total, starting from 1886 (Steinitz - Zukertort) until1990 (Κasparov - Κarpov)
there took places 34 matches for the World Championship and one match-tournament
(1948).
Look closer at the 29th and 32nd lines. They are filled ίη dashes. The reason is that
with the first appearance ofthe names of Anatoly Κarpov (ίη 1975) and Garry Kasparov
Orgaηizators
Date Place Participaηts Champioη
Spoηsors
11.01-29.03 Steiηitz Steiηitz + 1ο-

1 Match Committee USA Ι
1886 Zukertort 5=5
Haνaηa 20.01-24.02 Steiηitz Steiηitz

2 Match Haνaηa 1
Chess Club 1889 Chigoriη +10-6=1
Maηhattaη 9.12.1890- Steiηitz Steiηitz

3 Match New-York 1
Chess CΙub 22.01.1891 Guηsberg +6-4=9
Haνaηa 1.01-28.02 Steiηitz Steiηitz

4 Match Haνaηa 1
Chess Club 1892 Chigoriη +10-8=5
Americaη 15.03-26.05 USA- Steiηitz Lasker

5 Match 2
Chess Clubs 1894 Caηada Lasker +10-5=4
Returη 7.11.1896- Lasker Lasker

6 Bostaηtzoglo Moscow 2
Match 14.01.1897 Steiηitz +10-2=5
Americaη 26.01-8.04 Lasker Lasker

7 Match USA 2
Chess CΙubs 1907 Marshall +8-0=7
Germaη 17.08-30.09 Lasker Lasker

8 Match Germaηy 2
ChessAssoc. 1908 Tarrasch +8-3=5
19.10-9.11 Lasker Lasker

9 Match Nardus Paris 2
1909 Jaηowski +7-1=2
Vieηηa CC 7.01-10.02 Vieηηa- Lasker Lasker

10 Match 2
Berliη CC 1910 Berliη Schlechter +1-1=8
8.11-8.12 Lasker Lasker

11 Match Nardus Paris 2
1910 Jaηowski +8=3
15.03-28.04 Lasker Capablaηca

12 Match Haνaηa CC Haνaηa 3
1921 Capablaηca +4=10
Argeηtiηe 16.09-29.11 Capablaηca Alekhiηe

13 Match Bueηos Aires 4
patroηs 1927 Alekhiηe +6-3=25
Germaηy
6.09-12.11 Germaηy- Alekhiηe Alekhiηe
14 Match aηd Hollaηd 4
1929 Hollaηd Bogoljubow +11-5=9
patroηs
Germaηy 1.04-14.06 Alekhiηe Alekhiηe

15 Match Germaηy 4
patroηs 1934 Bogoljubow +8-3=15
Dutch Chess 3.10-15.12 Alekhiηe Euwe

16 Match Hollaηd 5
Associatioη 1935 Euwe +9-8=13
Retum Dutch Chess 5.10-7.12 Euwe Alekhine

17 Holland 4
Match Association 1937 Alekhine +10-4=11
Botvinnik,
Match-tou- 2.03-18.05 The Hague- Euwe, Κeres, Botvinnik
18 FIDE 6
maments 1948 Moscow Reshevsky, +10-2=8
Smyslov
15.03-11.05 Botvinnik Botvinnik

19 Match FIDE Moscow 6
1951 Bronstein +5-5=14
16.03-13.05 Botvinnik Botvinnik

1954 Smyslov +7-7=10
5.03-27.Q4 Botvinnik Smyslov

1957 Smyslov +6-3=13
Return 4.03-8.05 Smyslov Botvinnik

22 FIDE Moscow 6
Match 1958 Botvinnik +7-5=11
15.03-7.05 Botvinnik Tal

1960 Tal +6-2=13
Return 15.03-12.05 Tal Botvinnik

24 FIDE Moscow 6
Match 1961 Botvinnik +10-5=6
23.03-20.05 Botvinnik Petrosian

1963 Petrosian +5-2=15
11.04-9.06 Petrosian Petrosian

1966 Spassky +4-3=17
14.04-17.06 Petrosian Spassky

1969 Spassky +6-4=13
11.07-1.09 Spassky Fischer

1972 Fischer +7-3=11
29 ------------- FIDE 3.04.1975 ------------ Κarpov Κarpov 12
18.07-18.10 Κarpov Κarpov

30 Match FIDE Baguio City 12
1978 Κorchnoi +6-5=21
1.10-18.11 Κarpov Κarpov

31 Match FIDE Merano 12
1981 Κorchnoi +6-5=21
19.09.1984- Κarpov
32 Match FIDE Moscow ---------- --
15.02.1985 Κasparov
3.09-9.11 Κarpov Κasparov

1985 Κasparov +5-3=16
Return 28.07-9.10 London- Κasparov Κasparov

34 FIDE 13
Match 1986 Leningrad Κarpov +5-4=15
12.10-19.12 Κasparov Κasparov

35 Match FIDE Sevilla 13
1987 Κarpov +4-4=16
7.10-31.12 NewYork- Κasparov Κasparov

36 Match FIDE 13
1990 Lyon Κarpov +4-3=17
Epilogue 439
αη 1984) ίη world title matches, the harmonious challenger system began to crack and
quite soon tumbled down.
Mter a long supremacy ofthe Soviet chess, the American Robert Fisher became the
World Champion (1972). As many other champions before him he wanted to change the
rules of the world title match (to play υρ to 10 wins - instead of 6, as before; the
champion retained his title at the score 9:9), but FIDE did not agree. As long as the
World Champion (Fisher) refused to defend his title οη FIDE terms, and the Federation
did not want to keep the chess world without a champion for a long time (j.e. to organ-
ize something like the 1948 tournament), then Karpov, the winner ofthe final challeng-
ers' match, was proclaimed a World Champion. For the first time ίη chess history Κarpov
was inaugurated for the World Champion without actually winning a world-title match.
Nevertheless, at that time Karpov was the strongest (if taking Fischer out the list),
what he did prove later, chain-winning tournaments and overcoming Victor Korchnoi ίη
two matches ίη 1979 - 81.
The next story happened already with the participation ofKasparov and Karpov as
well. Their first match, stretching from September 1984 till February 1985, was inter-
rupted by FIDE president Campomanes ίη his own will decision without determining a
winner (at that moment Karpov led by score +5 - 3 = 40). And for the first time ίη chess
history again the world-title match was dropped undecided. Ιη September they did play
a new match, which Kasparov won. But ίη 1986 the fight went οη again ίη the so-called
rematch. Kasparov won convincingly. Το find a more-or-Iess legitimate basis for Karpov
to stay ίη the battle, FIDE thought out the following: the winner ofthe ofthe challeng-
ers' final (Α. Sokolov) obtained the right to meet not the World Champion Kasparov, but
Κarpov (who at that moment had not any official status at all).
Let's glance a little back. Ιη 1983 FIDE took a decision to organize a world-title
match not once ίη three years, but οηlΥ ίη two. Therefore, after the 1984 match, the
World Champion should have defended his title against the winner ofthe final challeng-
ers' match ίη 1986, next ίη 1988 and ίη 1990. But all other chessplayers were deprived
of chances to fight for the chess crown ίη 1985-87. It was true the last episode of the
series Kasparov - Κarpov stood οη legitimate grounds - Karpov beat successively
Hjartarsson, Jussupow and Timman ίη challengers' matches.
From 1993 matches to 2000 World Championship
Ιη 1993 there was an event, somehow reminding 1975. The actual World Champion
Kasparov refused to defend his title under FIDE rules. Α new organization, PCA, was
born by that time and under its aegis a world-title match was played between Kasparov
and Nigel Short, winner ofthe challengers' matches. Nothing exceptional ίη it, after all
nobody forbade any organization to hold world-title matches, especially ifthe challenger
was selected by a fair sporting way.
Suddenly FIDE was left without a champion, but it resolved the problem ίη two
stages: the Federation expelled Kasparov and Short out ofits ranks (ίη truth, it was not
for long) and organized a match between Karpov and Timman (that Karpov won), call-
ing it the world-title match. ΒΥ the way, the match could have been called a match of
09-1.11 Netherlands Κaτpoν Κaτpoν

37a Match FIDE 12
1993 Indonesia Timman +6-2=13

37b Match PCA London 13
1993 Short +6-1=13
5.06-11.07 ΚaΓpoν Κaτpoν

38a Match FIDE Elista 12
1996 Κamsky +6-3=9

38b Match PCA NewYork 13
1995 Anand +4-1=13
Κnockout- 8.12.1997- Groningen- ΚaΓpoν Κaτpoν

39 FIDE 12
Match 8.01.1998 Lausanne Anand +4-2=2
30.07-29.08 Κhalifman
40 Κnockout FIDE Las Vegas Κhalifman 14
1999 Akopian
27.11-25.12 New Delhi- Anand Anand

41 Κnockout FIDE 15
2000 Tehran Shirov +3=1
24.11.2001- Moscow-
42 Κnockout FIDE
13.01.2002 London
the chessplayers beaten by Short: ίn April 1992 Short defeated Karpov +4 - 2 = 4 ίn a

semifinal challengers' match, and beat Timman +6 - 3 = 4 ίn a final ίn January 1993.
One way or another, ίn 1993 the chess world got two champions at once: Karpov ίn
the FIDE version and Kasparov ίn PCA version.
The next screenenig cycle of competitions ίn both versions passed successfully. Ιn
particular, the GMs were satisfied, they could play ίn all tournaments and matches ίn
both versions. The most successful of all was Kamsky, who played a world-title match
with Karpov (FIDE) ίn 1996 and a challengers' final with Anand (PCA) ίn 1994.
Soon after Kasparov became the PCA champion for the second time, this organiza-
tion stopped existing. The last steps ofthe PCA were not triνial. Instead of determining
the strongest challenger by fair sporting selection, a match Κramnik - Shirov was held,
won by the latter with a score 5.5:3.5. Ιn fact, Shirov did not succeed ίn playing with
Κasparov - under various reasons the organization of the match failed. Thus, the
champion's story (PCA version), that began with the match Kasparov - Short ίn 1993,
ended ίn 1995 with the match Κasparov - Anand. As always, many young and strong
grandmasters would like to try there chance crossing swords with the champion, but,
alas, it was not possible. And what a champion is this, if nobody has a chance to play
with him and try to beat him?
Thus, Kasparov as a World Champion was left ίn the past, being, however, the stron-
gest player. From 1995 till 1999 the champion's title (till Κhalifman's victory ίn Las
Vegas) belonged to Karpov by right.
FIDE new leadership, headed by Κirsan Ilyumzhinov, suggested other format of
determining the World Champion, which corresponded more to the rhythm ofthe mod-
ern life.
Once a year hundred ofthe strongest players gather together for a month or two to
determine the champion among their ranks. It is true that Anand, the first winner of
such tournament (Groningen-97), was made to play a match against Karpov. But be-
Epilogue 441
cause of the obvious discrimination (Karpov did not play ίn the tournament and was
much "fresher" than his rival, who just had played many games ίn a hard competition)
the champions were deprived ofthis priνilege ίn future. Karpov did not participate ίn
the next World Championship and Alexander Κhalifman, having defeated Vladimir
Akopian (3.5:2.5) ίn a final match ίn Las Vegas, became the 14-th World Champion.
As any other method of determining the world champion, the Κnockout system has
drawbacks too. Would not devaluation ofthe world champion's title happen (as it took
place with the "Grandmaster" title) if, for example, the Las Vegas tournament had been
won not by Κhalifman but Nisipeanu? Let's all hope together, that the next champion
would be somebody ofthe "merited": Adams, Κramnik, Leko, Morozevich, Shirov... And
perhaps it will be Anand, Karpov, Κhalifman or even Kasparov again?
The list ofWorld Chess Champions:
1st W.Steinitz 29.03.1886 -25.05.1894

2nd E.Lasker 26.05.1894- 27.04.1921
3rd J-R.Capablanca 28.04.1921-28.11.1927
4th A.Alekhine 29.11.1927 -14.12.1935,7.12.1937 - 24.03.1946
5th M.Euwe 15.12.1935 - 6.12.1937
6th M.Botνinnik 18.05.1948- 26.04.1957,26.04.1958- 6.05.1960,12.05.1961-19.05.1963
7th V.Smyslov 27.04.1957 - 25.04.1958
8th M.Tal 7.05.1960 -11.05.1961
9th T.Petrosian 20.05.1963 -16.06.1969
10th B.Spassky 17.06.1969 - 31.08.1972
11th R.Fischer 1.09.1972 - 2.04.1975
12th A.Karpov 3.04.1975 - 8.11.1985,09.1993 - 27.08.1999
13th G.Κasparov 9.11.1985 -08.1993
14th A.Κhalifman 28.08.1999 -11.12.2000
15th V.Anand 24.12.2000 -
INDEX OF OPENINGS
(Numbers are game numbers)
ΑΟ7 171,173,177,186,195 43,137,161,218 Α30
ΑΟ8 83, 132 61, 189 Α3Ι
ΑΙ4 65 7,110 Α34
ΑΙ6 226 220,229 Α40
ΑΙ7 60,119,286 49, 183 Α43
ΑΙ8 282 91 Α45
Α20 120,204,212 245 Α46
Α25 39 264 Α70
Α26 74, 76 4 Α90
Α29 71
ΒΟΟ 123 31,46,130,190 Β33
ΒΟ6 145, 150 277 Β38
ΒΟ7 146,156,217,244 203 Β40
ΒΟ8 113 85,172 Β42
ΒΙ2 57,77 139,153,162,167 Β43
Β14 272 211 Β44
ΒΙ5 133 274 Β45
ΒΙ7 22,55,261,281 214 Β47
ΒΙ9 51,115 299 Β49
Β20 259 200 Β50
Β22 144,234,243 202 Β52
Β25 228 237 Β63
Β27 219 180,216,250 Β70
Β30 225 206 Β72
Β3Ι 109,266 181,192,232 Β76

Index of Openings 443
Β80 6,14,81,188,238,249 80,84,199,242,248,275 Β85

Β81 141,148,163,175,185,210, 59 Β87
240 37,45,158,164,179,292 Β90
Β83 265 247 Β91
Β84 285 32,92,143,155 Β92
COO 15 97,124,258,276,279,287,293 C42

C02 30,117,270,297 296
C04 103 13,70,235 C45
C07 50,86 135 C48
C08 69 169 C60
CI0 273 121,233,290 C65
Cll 10,72,73,82,87,88,90,105 184, 193 C67
230,252,255,288,300 108 C68
C12 96 257 C72
C17 19,29,41,44,58,93,95,256 104,291,295,298 C78
260 11,201 C82
C18 278 78,114,284 C89
C37 221 53, 166 C92
C39 197 271 C95
C42 16,21,25,27,28,40,42,47,75 294 C96
DOO 118 48,147,215 D19

D05 128 157 D20
DI0 280 112, 129, 159 D27
D15 187, 198 63,66,194 D30
D17 9,34,79,106,207,289 182,262 D31
D18 24,35,178 5 »37
D38 168,224 122, 196 D48

D39 116,125,209,223 36 D58
D42 267 154 D80
D43 64,94,227 1,12,18,20,38,151,205 D85
D46 98,102,111,170 149 D91
D47 107, 127, 138 26,33,160,208 D97
ΕΟ4 99,142,176,239,241 2,222 Ε42
ΕΟ5 136,251,254 268 Ε45
ΕΟ7 8 23, 101 Ε59
ΕΟ8 134 174 Ε60
Ε12 52,62,89 67 Ε61
Ε15 17,54,56,126,263 165,236 Ε73
ΕΙ7 68 283 Ε8Ι
Ε32 253 213,231,269 Ε90
Ε34 100, 191 140, 152 Ε94
Ε4Ι 131 3,246 Ε97
INDEX OF OPPONENTS
J
Adams 16,17,78,97,99,108,109 2,4,10,19,22,24,28,32,35 Anand

114,121,126,132,137,285 38,40,42,44,47,95,102,104
287,291,293,295 111,114,119,128,130,134,237
Adianto 51,54,57 238,242,243,250,251,254,255
Akopian 82,84,86,89,91,93,94,102 271,278,281,284,286,289,291
105, 112, 117, 123, 125, 131, 137 293,295,297,298,299,300
Aleksandrov 221,222,224 169,223,244,245 Azmaiparashvili
Almasi 176,184,185,194,196,203
207,211,215 70, 74, 76 Bacrot
Index ο{ Opponents 445
Bareev 74,77,98,99,106,111,115 61,64,69,170,174,178,181 Ivanchuk

120,127,131,138,171,236 189,190,199,201,208,211
244, 245, 252-255, 288 219,231,242,243,272
Beliavsky 65,67
Bologan 271 54,55,56 Κaτpoν
1, 6, 9, 12, 13, Ί.§., 21, 26, 21 Κasparov
Dao Thien 269 32,33,37,41,4~45,47,70
"Deep Junior-6" 98, 103, 108, 113, 118, 123 72,75,81

128, 133, 135 20,23,26,29,30,35,36,41 Κhalifman
Dreev 220,224,283 44,48,50,57,58,95,100,107

113,117,122,127,132,136
Ehlvest 56, 272 238,239,240,256,258,260

262,264,266,279,282,284
Fedorov 179,181,188,192,197,203 286,289

206,213,217,232,236 1,10,62,64,68,69 Κorchnoi
5,8,18,23,24,27,31,34,36 Κramnik
Galkin 256,259,261,262,265,267 40,43,46,49,94,101,106

Gallagher 140, 143, 146, 150, 152, 155 109, 118, 119, 124, 129, 136
158, 162, 164, 167 60,63,65-6,178,182,187,193 Κrasenkow
Gelfand 61,63,141,142,147,148,152 196,204,205,213,218,274

156,159,161,164,166, 179
180,189,191,198,202,207 268 Lautier
212,218,240,241,246,247 268,282 Leitao
250,251 7,11,20,22,25,29,31,33,38 Leko
Georgiev Κi. 79,275 39, 45, 49, 96, 100, 105, 110
Grischuk 277,290,292,294,296 115, 121, 124, 130, 135, 279

Gurevich Μ. 71,72,76,226,227,230 3,7,8,12,15,19,278 Lputian
Hernandez Gi. 83,84,87,88,91,92 274,281 Macieja

Huebner 96, 103, 107, 112, 116, 120 177,183,186,194,195,204 Markowski
126, 129, 134 206,212,219
Milos 53,59,222,225,248,249,252 21,25,28,30,34,37,39,42,46 Shirov

253,270 48,71,73,77,79,80,83,85,86
ΜΗον 139, 142, 146, 149, 153, 154 88,90,93,169,170,172,173,175

159, 162, 165, 168 184,186,193,197,202,208,210
Minosian 171,173,174 216,288,290,292,294,296~00
Morozevich 9,15,220,221,223,225,270 5,228,229,230,273 Short

276,280 75 Sokolov Ι.
Movsesian 80,81,176,183,187,192,198 139, 143, 145, 148, 151, 154 Svidler
201,209,214,216,234,248,249 158,160,163,166,175,180
185,190,195,200,205,214
Nataf 273 217,232,233,235

Nikolic Pr. 4,17
2,13,14,16,52,55,58,257 Timman
Piket 3,11,97,101,104,110,116 258,261,263,265,266
122, 125, 133, 138 237,239,241 ΤίΒΒίτ
Polgar Ju. 51,52,59,82,85,87,89,90 280 Tkachiev

92,257,259,260,263,264 73,78,275,283,285,287 Topalov
267
Ponomariov 141, 144, 145, 150, 153, 156 6, 14, 140, 144, 147, 149, 151 Van Wely
157,160,165,167,231,269 155, 157, 161, 163, 168, 177, 182
188,191,199,200,209.210,215
Rizouk 234,235 276 Vladimirov

Romanishin 60,62,66,67,68 227,229 XuJun
Rublevsky 172 226,228,246,247 Ye Jiangchuan
50,53 ZawWin Lay
Serper 277 233 Zhang Zhong

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C/IESS

Translation by: Natalia Alexeeva

Cover design by Rustam Taichinov, Kaloian Nachev

© Sergei Soloviov, 2001

Pήnted in Bulgaria by ''Semko'' - Sofia

Editorial staff ([email protected] ) ofthe S.Petersburg Grandmaster School

Oliver Breisacher (www.schachfestival-biel.ch)

Denis Bilunov (www.kasparovchess.com)

Dmitry Novitsky (www.kaspal"Ovchess.com)

Ilya Goredetsky (www.kasparovchess.com)

GM Valery Salov (http://w.p.c.tripod.com)

ΙΜ Damir Levacic (www.cannes-echecs.org)

Preface .............. .................................................. 7

CORUS (Wijk aan Zee) ................................................... 10

JAPFA CLASSIC (Denpasar, Bali) ........................................ 86

LEONID STEIN MEMORIAL (Lviv) . .................................... 104

BOSNA (Sarajevo) . ................................................... 123

TORNEO MAGISTRAL de AJEDREZ MERIDA (Mexico) .................. 146

"DORTMUNDER SCHACHTAGE" (Dortmund)............................. .161

BIEL ................................................................ 204

MONTECATINI TERME . ............................................. .244

RUBINSTEIN MEMORIAL (Polanica Zdroj) ........................... .252

ESSENT (Hoogeveen) . ................................................ .351

WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP (New DelhifI'ehran) . ................ . 370

Epilogue .............................................................. .434

Index of Openings .................................................... .442

Index of Opponents ................................................... .444

Υου can read more about this match ίη Epilogue.

Wydra Memorial Rapidplay (Haifa), 3-5.02.2000 cat. χνι

Amber (Monaco) 16-28.03.2000 cat. χνιιι

chess@iceland rapidplay tournament (Kopavogur, Iceland) 1-2.04.2000

"Fujitsu-Siemens Giants" (Frankfurt), 22-25.05.2000 cat. ΧΧΙ (!)

"Fujitsu-Siemens Masters" (Frankfurt), 22-25.05.2000 cat. XVII.

1st European Chess Championships

1. Tregubov (2615) - 8, 2. Aleksandrov (2606) - 8, 3. Markowski (2531) - 8, 4. Κharlov

The 34th Chess Olympiad took place ίn Istanbul, 28.10-12.11.2000

HAMILTON RUSSELL CUP (Men's Olympiad Trophy)

VERA MENCHIK CUP (Women's Olympiad Trophy)

Interviwe with Vladimir Kramnik

Q: How was your tournament?

Q: Will Linares be next?

Interviwe with Loek Van Wely

Q: Can Ι bother you for some post tournament comments?

1 D85 10.~d4 (with the idea of f2-f4) 10 ... c5!

rather unsafe. Iιf3 (with the idea of 30 ..!::re2. Αη immedi-

40 ... e5 46.CLJb2 (46.CLJc5 I;.dl) 46 ... ~d2 47.MC5! mak-

4 Α90 lems with his development.

Kramnik: "[ played α good game and

19.f4! l.lΔf3lΔf6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5lΔxd5

tion. for the rook.

After the rook exchange by 44 ... ~f'7 pair ofbishops.

light-squared bishop, but after 13.CLJf11:td8 Κharitonov, U88R 1987.

13 C45 change ofthe queens, using the f4-square

14 ... dxc4 15.iιe2 lLJd5

13.CL\e3 26.J::!.xhl~) 23 ... exf4 24.Jιxf4 The actiνity

1.e4 e5 2.tbf3 tbf6 3.tbxe5 d6 4.tbf3

blockade White's light squares ίη the cen- 11.nfd1

ing ίη a blockade ofthe centre and Black's οη a forced line.

3 Leko 2725 -- -- 4.5

cases with White's oνerwhelming position. Later, he demonstrated himselfthe adνan