Queen's Indian

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Sun 12 Feb 2006

Topalov - Aronian, Corus 2006

Posted by Isofarro under Queen's Indian , Aronian , Analysis , Topalov , Corus , Chess
1 Comment 
White:
Veselin Topalov (2801)
Black:
Levon Aronian (2752)
Opening
Queen’s Indian
Tournament
Corus 2006, Wijk aan Zee, Round 10
Date
25/01/2006
ECO Code
E15
Result
1-0
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3 d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Nf6 13. e4
Aggressive expansion in the centre.
13… b5 14. exd5 exd5 15. Re1 Rb8 16. c5 Bc8
16… b4 !?
17. Nf3 Ne4 18. Rxe4!
Position after 18.Rxe4!A typical Topalov exchange sacrifice. Topalov prepared this novelty for San Luis, but it never got used.18. Ne5 Nxc3 19. Qd3 Qc7 20. Qxc3 Re8 21. a4 b4 22. Qf3 Bf8 23. Re3 f6 24. Nd3 Rxe3 25. fxe3 a5 26. e4 Be6 27. Qf4 Qd8 28. e5 Rb7 29. exf6 Qxf6 30. Qxf6 Kramnik - Leko, Dortmund 2004, 1/2 (30)
18… dxe4 19. Ne5 Qd5 20. Qe1 Bf5
20… f5 21. f3
21. g4 Bg6 22. f3
The e-pawn has to fall. Exchanging it off at this point gifts White the c6-h1 diagonal, with terrible pressure on the c6-pawn. Eventually White’s pressure on the centre will prove decisive.
22… b4 23. fxe4
Instead of 23. Nxg6 hxg6 24. fxe4 Qd7 -/+
23… Qe6 24. Bb2
Not 24. Bxb4 Bf6 -/+
24… Bf6 25. Nxc6!?
A flashy continuation. 25.d5 was equally strong. The strong factor in White’s move choice is the threats caused by the advance of the White pawn centre.
25… Qxc6 26. e5
White gets more space
26… Qa6 27. exf6 Rfe8 28. Qf1 Qe2 29. Qf2!
Stronger than exchanging queens on e2 immediately, since if the exchange happens, the White king gets to f2 preventing an intrusion of the black rook on e2.
29… Qxg4 30. h3 Qg5 31. Bc1 Qh5 32. Bf4
White’s queen and two bishops thoroughly dominate the position. The pawns will soon advance.
32… Rbd8 33. c6 Be4 34. c7 Rc8 35. Re1 Qg6?
Better is 35… Bf5 36. fxg7 Kxg7 +-
36. Rxe4
A second exchange sacrifice! In the battle of two bishops against two rooks, Topalov’s bishops prove superior.
36… Rxe4 37. d5 Rce8
37… Ree8 38. d6 Rxc7 39. dxc7 Qxf6 +-
38. d6 Re1+ 39. Kh2 Qf5 40. Qg3 g6 41. Qg5 Qxg5 42. Bxg5 Rd1 43. Bc6 Re2+
43… Rc8 is still a small chance 44. Bf4 h5 +-
44. Kg3
44. Kg3 Rd3+ 45. Kf4 Rd4+ 46. Kf3 Re8 47. Bxe8 h6 48. c8=Q hxg5 49. Qd8 g4+ 50. Ke3 Rd3+ 51. Kxd3 Kh7 52. Bxf7 Kh6 53. h4 Kh7 54. Qg8+ Kh6 55. Qxg6#
1-0
 

Sun 12 Feb 2006

Kamsky - Adams, Corus 2006

Posted by Isofarro under Adams , Queen's Indian , Kamsky , Analysis , Corus , Chess
No Comments 
White:
Gata Kamsky (2686)
Black:
Michael Adams (2707)
Opening
Queen’s Indian
Tournament
Corus 2006, Wijk aan Zee, Round 9
Date
24/01/2006
ECO Code
E17
Result
0-1
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Qc2 c5 8. d5 exd5 9. Nh4
Opening the long diagonal as well as potentially landing the knight on f5 - which will make Black very uncomfortable.
9… b5
The flood of Black pawns into the centre infuses some life into the position. Black has good play as a result.
10. b3?
A passive response that allows Black to seize the initiative.10. cxb5 Qb6!? 11. Nf5 Re8 12. a4? Allows Black to seize the centre with good play. Better alternatives are:

  • 12. Nxe7+ Rxe7 13. Bg5 d4 14. Bxf6 Bxg2 15. Bxe7 Bxh1 16. Ne4 Qa5+ 17. Kf1 Qxb5 18. Ng5 g6 19. Qxc5 Qb7 20. f3 h6 [eval 1.17/13]
  • 12. Bg5 d4 13. Nxe7+ Rxe7 14. Bxf6 Bxg2 15. Bxe7 Bxh1 16. Ne4 Qa5+ 17. Kf1 Qxb5 18. Ng5 g6 19. Qxc5 Qb7 20. f3 h6 [eval 1.17/13]

12… d4 13. a5 White’s initiative is only temporary. 13… Qc7 14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Bf8 16. Bf4 Qc8 17. Bxb7 (17. f3 Bxe4 18. fxe4 Qb7 19. Nd6 Bxd6 20. Bxd6 Qxb5 21. O-O Na6 22. e5 Qb7 23. Qc4 Re6 24. Rae1 Rae8 25. e3 dxe3 26. Rxe3 +/-) 17… Qxb7 -+ Avrukh - Stefansson, Lost Boys op 1998, 0-1 (41)

10… Nc6 -/+
Threatening to land at d4, which will throw the White pieces into disarray.
11. Nxb5 d4
Black’s pawn centre combined with his better piece placement looks ominous. Although Shredder thinks there are stronger alternatives:

  • 11… dxc4 12. bxc4 Nb4 13. Qb3 Bxg2 14. Nxg2 d5 15. O-O a6 16. Nc3 d4 [eval -1.04/12]
  • 11… a6 12. Nc3 dxc4 13. bxc4 Nb4 14. Qf5 g6 [eval -0.94/13]
12. O-O Nb4
12… a6 and the White knight is embarrassed into a retreat.
13. Qb1?!
Hands the advantage to Black. 13. Qf5 White may as well activate the queen immediately.
13… Bxg2 14. Nxg2 d5 15. Qf5 dxc4 16. bxc4 a6 17. Na3 Re8 18. Re1 Qa5 -+ 19. Qf3 Bd6 20. e4
Bringing the white rook into play at the cost of a protected passed d-pawn.
20… Rad8 21. Bb2 Re5 22. Re2 Rde8 23. Rae1
Black is clearly on top.
23… R5e6 24. Bc1 d3
Opening the a1-f6 diagonal for the black squared bishop, as well as hitting a defender of the e4-pawn.
25. Re3 Be5
25… Nxa2?! 26. Rxd3 Nxe4 27. Qd1 -+
26. Nf4 Bxf4 27. gxf4 Nxa2 28. e5
28. f5 Rb6 29. e5 -+
28… Ng4!
Position after 28...Ng4! The knight is untouchable.
29. f5
29. Qxg4 Rg6
29… Nxe3
29… Nxe5 30. Rxe5 Qxe1+ 31. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 32. Kg2 Nxc1 33. Nb1 Ne2 34. Qc6 Rg1+ 35. Kh3 Nf4+ 36. Kh4 g5+ 37. fxg6 Nxg6+ 38. Kh3 Nf4+ 39. Kh4 Re2 [eval -6.04/13]
30. Rxe3 Rb6
30… Rxe5? is not possible 31. Rxe5 The threat of Qa8+ keeps the remaining black rook on the back rank 31… Rd8 32. Bg5 =
31. f6 Nxc1 32. e6
Black is a full rook up.
0-1
 

Sun 29 Jan 2006

Bacrot - Anand, Corus 2006

Posted by Isofarro under Queen's Indian , Analysis , Anand , Corus , Chess
No Comments 
White:
Etienne Bacrot (2717)
Black:
Viswanathan Anand (2792)
Opening
Queen’s Indian
Tournament
Corus 2006, Wijk aan Zee, Round 8
Date
22/01/2006
ECO Code
E15
Result
0-1
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 b5 6. cxb5 Bxb5 7. Bg2 Bb4+ 8. Bd2 a5 9. O-O d5 10. Nc3 Ba6 11. a3 Be7 12. Ne5 O-O 13. Re1 +/=
13. Be3 Nfd7 14. Nd3 Nb6 15. a4 Nc6 16. Nb5 Nb4 17. Rc1 = van der Sterren - Khalifman, Biel 1993, 1/2 (59)
13… Nfd7 14. Nf3 Nf6 15. Ne5
There’s no harm in repeating the position before embarking on a real plan.
15… Nfd7 16. Nxd7 Nxd7 17. e4 dxe4 18. Bxe4 Rb8
Shredder 7: 18… Rc8 19. Qh5 f5 20. Bc6 Nf6 21. Qf3 Qxd4 22. Rxe6 Bd6 23. Rd1 Bxa3 24. Nd5 Ne4 25. Bxa5 [eval 0.87/14]
19. Na4
19. Bc2 Nf6 20. Bf4 +/=
19… Nf6 = 20. Bf3 Qxd4 21. Bxa5 Qxd1 22. Bxd1
White has a slim advantage here mainly because of his better pawn structure. A logical plan would be to double the rooks on the c-file and attack Black’s c-pawn.
Less advisable is 22. Raxd1 Rxb3 23. Re3 Rxe3 24. fxe3 Rc8 -/+
22… c5
22… Rfc8 23. b4 Nd7 24. Bb3 Bd6 +/=
23. Rc1
23. Bc3! Shredder 7:

  • 23… c4 24. b4 Rfd8 25. Nc5 Bb5 26. Be2 Nd5 27. Be5 Ra8 28. Rec1 Nb6 29. a4 Nxa4 30. Nxa4 Bxa4 [eval 0.68/15]
  • 23… Rfc8 24. Be5 Rb7 25. Rc1 Ra7 26. Bb2 Nd5 27. Nc3 Rb7 28. Nxd5 exd5 29. Bc2 Rd8 30. a4 [eval 0.74/15]
  • 23… Rfd8 24. Be5 Rb7 25. Rc1 Nd7 26. Bf4 Ra7 27. Be3 Rc7 28. b4 c4 29. Be2 Bf6 30. Nc3 Ne5 [eval 0.77/15]
  • 23… Nd7 24. Bc2 c4 25. b4 Rfc8 26. f4 Rd8 27. Rad1 Bb5 28. f5 Bf6 29. fxe6 [eval 0.88/15]
  • 23… Bb7 24. Nb6 Nd5 25. Nxd5 Bxd5 26. Rb1 f6 27. f4 Rb7 28. Bc2 Rfb8 29. a4 Kf7 30. Ra1 Bxb3 [eval 0.81/14]
  • 23… Bb5 24. Nb2 Bc6 25. Be5 Rb7 26. Nc4 Bd5 27. Bd6 Bxd6 28. Nxd6 Rbb8 29. Nc4 Rfd8 [eval 0.81/14]
  • 23… Nd5 24. Be5 Rbc8 25. Nc3 Nb6 26. Be2 Bxe2 27. Nxe2 f6 28. Bb2 c4 29. Bd4 Bd8 30. bxc4 [eval 0.84/14]
  • 23… Bd3 24. Nb2 Be4 25. Nc4 Rfd8 26. Rc1 Bd5 27. Bc2 Ra8 28. a4 Bf3 29. Ra1 Ng4 [eval 0.84/14]
23… Rfc8 24. Bc3 Nd7 +/= 25. Bc2 Bb5 26. Nb2 +/- Bf6 27. Bxf6 gxf6 28. Re3 Bc6 29. Bd1 Bd5 30. Rec3
Bacrot has carried out his plan of doubling rooks on the c-file.
30… Rc7 31. Nd3
Increasing the pressure on the isolated pawn on c5
31… Rcb7
Anand counters the pressure on his isolated pawn with pressure on White’s vulnerable b3-pawn.
32. b4 cxb4 33. Nxb4 Be4 34. Re3 Bg6 35. h4 h5 36. Nc6 Rb1 37. Rec3
37. Nxb8?? would be a terrible mistake 27… Rxc1 38. Kg2 Rxd1 39. Nxd7 Rxd7 -+
37… R8b2 38. a4 Kf8 39. a5 Rxc1 40. Rxc1 Ra2 41. Bf3 Kg7 42. Kg2?
Bacrot’s advantage has eroded. Shredder 7: 42. Kf1 Bd3+ 43. Ke1 Bb5 44. Bxh5 Bxc6 45. Rxc6 Ne5 46. Rc7 Nd3+ 47. Kf1 Ra1+ 48. Kg2 [eval 51,16]
42… Kh6 43. Re1 Nc5
Threatening …Nd3
44. Re2 Ra1 45. Re3 Kg7 46. Rc3 Nd3!
The knight becomes an octopus

47. Be2 Ne1+
Anand has a nasty series of threat aimed at the White king. All of this has seemingly sprung up from nowhere.
48. Kh3
48. Kh2 Be4 Threatening to move the Black knight away and then …Rh1 mate. 49. Bxh5 Bxc6 50. Rxc6 Rxa5 =
48… Bf5+ 49. g4?!
This exposes the White king to further harrassment from Anand’s pieces. 49. Kh2 Be4 with the same variation as before.
49… hxg4+ 50. Bxg4 Be4 51. Nd4 f5!
The White light-squared bishop is slowly running out of useful squares. Anand is in no rush to snap off the a-pawn, its not going anywhere at the moment.
52. Be2 Ra4
52… Rxa5 53. f3 e5 54. Nb3 -/+
53. Nb3 ?!
53. f3 +/=
53… Bg2+ 54. Kg3 f4+ 55. Kh2 Bd5!
The bishop is well placed here dominating over the White minor pieces.
56. Kg1 Ng2!
Position after 56.Ng2!. Both White wing pawns are in trouble. Black’s knight dances around the board , and this proves to be too much for the White pieces.
57. h5 Nh4 58. Bd1 Ra3 59. Kh2 Nf5! 60. Rd3 Nd6! 61. Rd4 Ne4 -/+ 62. Bc2?
Losing material immediately. 62. Bf3 +/=2 Nxf2 63. Bxd5 exd5 64. Kg2 -/+
62… Ng5
Bacrot resigns.

  • 62… Ng5 63. Rd1 Nf3+ (63… Rxb3 ?! is no comparison 64. Bxb3 Bxb3 65. Rd6 =) 64. Kh3 Bxb3 -+
  • 62… Bxb3 ?! 63. Bxb3 Nc3 64. Rxf4 Rxb3 65. Rf3 -/+
  • 62… Nxf2 ?! 63. Rxf4 Bxb3 64. Bxb3 -/+
0-1