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Learning Chess (#11), by A.J. Goldsby I
Greetings chess fans everywhere!
I have been extremely busy the last few months, I also have been working diligently, trying to get caught up with all my work, although sometimes it seems I will never be through. (Or current.)
In order to bring you this month's lesson, (in the manner that I am accustomed to); I had to create at least five new pages ... plus update many older ones. Additionally, there was much "older" business, like the formatting of annotated games, which had to be completed. (See last month's lesson for more details.)
Reader's mailbag: I have received a number of e-mails since I started this feature - some good, some bad. (The majority have been overwhelmingly positive, however.)
Over the last year, two really caught my attention. In the first, one reader was critical of my "Beginner's Chess Course," stating that it was "badly in need of an overhaul." While at first I objected to some of his criticisms, after some reflection, I decided that he did have some valid points. (I used several of his suggestions to correct grammatical errors.) I have begun the slow process of reviewing each page. (I have the help of a lady who teaches English at the local Junior College - I am trading chess lessons for her son for her help with a few of my chess projects.) I do want to stress that I am not a citizen of Great Britain, and that I have no interest in speaking "The Queen's English." (and) In a few cases - I prefer to maintain a "southern boy" style for my work. (If I sterilize the passages too much - it will not really be me, nor will it even bear any resemblance to my own {unique?} way of writing.) Nonetheless, I have been slowly going over this course - refining it as best I can. (My ultimate goal is to have it published as a book, or at least as an introduction to a book.)
*******
In the second e-mail, a young man told me that he really enjoyed my lessons here. He wanted my help in several areas - but I was able to convince him that his original request (free lessons) was quite impossible, at least for me. He then asked that I do at least do a few annotated games on the Nimzo-Indian ... and this has been on my "to-do" list for quite some time. Anyway, I have finally completed a nicely annotated game in the 4.Qc2 line of the Nimzo-Indian. (Click here to see that game.)
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White to move and win. (32.???)
A game from a recent GM event, Black may have had a won game earlier, but now White has a fantastic and highly unusual combination. (I suggest setting up a board and studying this one for at least thirty minutes, the solution will be given at the end of the lesson.)
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**********************************************
GM Veselin Topalov - Born in (Mar. 15th) 1975, I have watched his career with great interest. When he was 13-14, (approx. 1988); his FIDE rating had already passed the 2300 mark ... and he went (almost) straight up from there. A true prodigy, he was ranked in the world's top 50 while barely a teenager. In one 1992 game - selected at random - his FIDE rating was 2460. In the cross-table of the Biel Interzonal ... which would be approximately one year later ... his FIDE rating is 2650! (Which is quite a jump.)
When he was in his early 20's, he went over 2725 ... and many pundits claimed that he had "peaked out" at this point. (Yet his best chess was still in the future.)
He currently has 1512 games in the (cb) online database, which is a huge number, considering that he is a relatively young player and may have the majority of his career yet ahead of him.
By my count, he has won somewhere between 15-20 top class, international tournaments. (One only has to peruse the pages of my web site devoted to chess news to see how many times Topalov's name has been in lights the last 2-3 years.)
A few career highlights are:
At Terrassa, 1992 ... (Topalov was no more than 17); he captured clear first. (+4, = 5, - 0)
At the Euwe Memorial (VSB) Tournament, (Amsterdam, 1996); Topalov (21) tied for first in this ultra-powerful (Cat. 18) tournament. Not only this, he also defeated Kasparov in their individual encounter, and had the best tiebreaks as well.
At the 5th "Lost Boys" tournament (Cat. 15) in 1997, Topalov won four, drew three and lost none. This put him in clear first, a half point ahead of Korchnoi - the Terrible. Korchnoi was 2.5 points ahead of Ye Rongguang, Topalov and Korchnoi literally buried the rest of this field.
At Linares, 2005; Topalov came roaring back with four incredible wins, including a defeat of Kasparov in the last round. (Topalov tied for first, but lost the title of champ to Garry on tiebreaks.)
At San Luis, 2005; Topalov scored 6.5 out of seven in the first half of the tournament - which is perhaps one of the most astounding results in WCS chess of the last 50 years. (In the end, Topalov won the tournament - undefeated - to convincingly take the title of FIDE World Champion.) At 2800+, he is also the world's # 1 (rated) player ... just one point ahead of Anand.
In 2006, Topalov tied for first with Anand at Wijk-aan-Zee, and came "back from the dead" to take first place at the M-Tel Masters tournament. (He also came back from a position in the cellar to almost win Linares, 2006 ... but in the end, Topalov had to be satisfied with second place.)
Some observations about Topalov as a chess player:
He plays many different openings. He opens with 1.e4, (his favorite); but he also opens with 1.Nf3, 1.c4, and 1.d4 as well.
He may well be the world's leading theoretician on the Ruy Lopez. Of course, as an 1.e4 player, Topalov sees a certain amount of Sicilians as well.
As Black against the KP, he plays the Sicilian - his favorite is the Najdorf.
As Black against 1.d4, he plays an assortment of Benoni's and Queen's Gambits. (declined)
When asked to name his best game, he often responds that he likes a game he won against Kasparov - like his 1994 victory over the reigning World Champion and one of the greatest players who ever lived. (But I would have to counter that his best game might be his win over Aronian, {Wijk aan Zee, 2006} ... or his triumph over Anand from the M-Tel 2006 tournament.)
----->
One bio,
his Corus bio.
His FIDE card,
his games on
the popular CG server.
(His Wikipedia entry, his
"Chess Metrics" page.)
**********************************************
GM Etienne Bacrot - Born in 1983, Bacrot is only 23 years old. {Also considered a prodigy.}
He learned how to play chess at age four, and before age eight was already competing in world youth tournaments. He gained his GM title at age 14 (+ 2 months); but his record lasted less than one year until it was surpassed by GM R. Ponomariov. For a time, he fought with GM Joel Lautier for recognition as France's # 1 player, but now he has clearly outstripped his former rival. He has ventured into the exclusive territory of the world's "Top Ten," but the current FIDE list ranks him as # 15 in the world.
A few career highlights are:
In 1993, Bacrot won the European "Under-10" Championships. (Clear first.) {Until he turned 18, Bacrot competed in literally dozens of youth tournaments.}
In 1997, Bacrot tied for first with Vicktor Korchnoi in the second (2nd) "Enghien les Bains" tournament ... defeating Korchnoi in their individual encounter.
In 1999, Bacrot (16 years of age) became the national champion of France, he was to repeat this victory ... for the next five years in a row!!
In 2003, Bacrot tied for first - in the French Championships (Aix les Bains) - with former Candidate, GM Andrei Sokolov. His PR was well over 2650, the field was incredibly strong.
In 2004, Bacrot stunned everyone with his performance in the French Team Championships, turning heads in the news media. His score? Eleven wins!!! (+11.0 No draws or losses!) PR= somewhere past the moon.
Some observations about Bacrot as a chess player:
Bacrot as White usually will open with 1.d4, although he occasionally will open with 1.e4, especially if he can count on seeing a Sicilian Defense. When he is playing the White side of the Queen's Pawn, his skill is really second to none. (One example.)
With the Black pieces, Bacrot likes to defend the KP with the Classical Sicilian, although he also answers 1.e4 with 1.e5 around 45% of the time. (Naturally, he knows the Black side of the Ruy Lopez ... inside and out.)
As Black against 1.d4, Bacrot defends the QP with 1...d5; the large majority of the time. (Although he sprinkles in a Grunfeld about 25 to 30% of the time, and a Nimzo-Indian about one time in every 15-20 games.)
I have no idea what Bacrot considers to be his "best game." If I had to pick one, I would choose his amazing win over {former} Classical World Champion, GM Vladimir Kramnik - from the 'super-master' "Sparkassen Tournament" held in Dortmund, Germany; (2005). Black seems to make no great errors, in fact Kramnik appears to be better out of the opening. However, Black is slowly outplayed ... in every phase of the game ...
----->
His Corus bio. His FIDE
card. His games on the popular CG server.
(His Wikipedia entry, his "Chess Metrics" page.)
Now we move on to the main game for May, 2006. (Replay this game without annotations.) I have gone to an unusual amount of effort to make this contest - and the links - a very good representation of the theory of this whole opening. It is my sincere hope that virtually any class of player, but especially those below 1800, would find this game both educational and highly informative.
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Topalov plays strongly creative chess here, this game is unlike anything I have ever seen before.
(And without this win, Topalov may not have won this tournament.)
1.d4 d5; 2.c4 c6;
The Slav Defense. (Q.G.D.)
One of the main ideas of this opening is to try and get Black's QB developed early, (outside the pawn chain); and avoid the positions (with a bad QB), that are so typical of many of the different lines of the Queen's Gambit Declined.
3.Nf3 Nf6; 4.Nc3 a6!?;
{See the diagram given - just below.}
This early pawn move goes against most general principles, and would have never been seriously considered ... say 100 years ago. Yet, if you search the on-line ChessBase DB, you will find over 1000 matches ... with many of these contests having been played between some of
the world's top GM's.
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rbqkb1r/1p2pppp/p1p2n2/3p4/2PP4/2N2N2/PP2PPPP/R1BQKB1R w
Please see my "Game of The Month" column for January, 2006. I have went to a tremendous amount of effort to make that page, (and all the associated links); a fairly deep and complete opening survey of this whole modern opening system.
Since many of my older books do not even mention this system, I had to purchase the (excellent) book: "The ...a6 Slav," by GM Glenn Flear. (This book is a very detailed examination of all the dynamic lines {in the Slav} that include an early ...a7-a6.)
[ The "older" main line of the "pure" Slav goes something like:
4...dxc4; 5.a4 Bf5;
(As I stated earlier, Black manages to get his QB developed outside
the pawn chain.)6.e3 e6; 7.Bxc4 Bb4; 8.0-0 Nbd7; 9.Qe2, "+/="
Perhaps one of the best examples that I could find of this line, (that
also was played by top GM's); would have to be:GM Garry Kasparov (2805) - GM Evgeny Bareev (2675);
ICT, Super-Master (Inv.) / Novgorod, RUS; (Round #7); 1994.
{White won an ultra-brilliant contest in a grand total of 35 precisely
played moves.}This game was nicely annotated in Informant # 61 and also in the
popular 'ChessBase Magazine' (on CD-ROM); issue # 43.[ For more details on this particular opening variation, please see
MCO-14, page # 477; columns # 58 - 60. Pay special attention
to column # 58, and note # (m.); as that particular column matches
the analysis line quoted here. ]*******************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************Another popular line would be:
4...e6;
When Black plays ...e7-e6; (shutting in his QB); we are no longer in the
main line of the 'pure' Slav, but we have entered the myriad of variations
that are part of the "Semi-Slav" system of the Queen's Gambit Declined.[ See MCO-14 for more details.]
5.e3 Nbd7; 6.Qc2,
This is rapidly becoming the new "main line" of the Semi-Slav, of course
the 'older' (classical) move of 6. Bd3 is still both good for White - and
very playable.*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
( The "Meran System" begins with 6.Bd3, and for many years -
it was clearly the most popular try for the first player at this point.For example, after the moves:
6.Bd3 dxc4; 7.Bxc4 b5; 8.Bd3 a6; 9.e4, "+/=" 9...c5;
we reach a complex position where White can now play both
10.e5 and 10.d5. The results of master praxis clearly favors the
first player, although Black has also won a few interesting games
as of late. (One example.)Perhaps the highest-rated example, (with 10.e4-e5); would be:
GM V. Kramnik - GM G. Kasparov; / ICT, Hoogoven's Masters
Wijk ann Zee, NED; (R#13) / 1999.
{This game was drawn in 28 moves.}* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
And perhaps the highest rated example, (with 10.d4-d5); in the
games db would have to be:
GM V. Kramnik - GM A. Shirov; / ICT, Super-Master (Inv.)
Novgorod, RUS; (R #2) / 1994.
{This battle was drawn in a total of thirty moves.}[ For more details, please see MCO-14, columns one (no. # 01)
through column # 30; beginning on page # 457. ] )*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
6...Bd6; "~" {Analysis diagram below.}
Here I evaluate this position as somewhat unclear, although in master-level
practice, White generally wins a much higher percentage games than Black
does.
A good game in this line would have to be the following encounter:
GM Anatoly Karpov (2775) - GM Vladimir Kramnik (2765);
ICT, Master's (Inv.) / (The Vienna Millennium Tournament)
Wien, AUS; 1996. (1-0) {White won an incredibly nice endgame
crush in a total of 59 hard-fought moves.}[ See MCO-14, page # 469; (beginning with column # 33) for more
information and good analysis of these lines. ]NOTE: After 6...Bd6; White can play the 'normal' 7.Be2 or the more
provocative move of 7.g2-g4!?*******************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************For a thoroughly annotated game in the following line:
4...e6; 5.e3 a6!?; 6.c5,
please see my web page and the analysis of the contest:GM Garry Kasparov - Fritz X3D; Human versus Computer Match;
(Game # 3) / New York, 2003. {Garry won a convincing "anti-computer"
game, 1-0 in 45 rather lopsided moves.} ]
5.c5!?,
(Removing the tension.) {See the diagram given - just below.}
A strange-looking move ... if ever I saw one. (Normally - in the opening you should resist the temptation to do this type of thing. For example, any time Black plays ...c5-c4; in a
French Defense, it is usually the wrong decision.)
This is rapidly becoming the main line of this system. There could be many reasons for this, maybe the most important one is that Black is prevented from playing ...b5!? (Because of the "pawn-takes-pawn, en passant" rule.) And since White has had trouble proving a definite advantage once Black gets in the ...b7-b5; advance - then maybe this is reason enough to play this (seemingly time-wasting) pawn advance.
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rnbqkb1r/1p2pppp/p1p2n2/2Pp4/3P4/2N2N2/PP2PPPP/R1BQKB1R b
Note that c4-c5 also:
a.) Gains space.
b.) Restricts the travel of Black's Queen and Black's King-Bishop.
c.) Immediately attacks the b6-square, which was weakened by Black's last move.
As far as I could determine, the move of c4-c5 here is relatively recent ...
it was first used in the contest:
G. Piesina -V. Majorovas; /
Mikenas Cup / Klaipeda, 1980.
{This game was drawn in 58 moves.}
(Although Max Euwe played this on move six - in a similar position - versus Alexander Alekhine,
in a WCS match in the 1930's.)
[ For an analysis of: 5.e3 b5!?; please (again) refer back to the main game
for my column on my "Game of The Month" website. (January, 2006.) ]
5...Nbd7;
A simple and solid developing move ... it is also the most popular move for Black, according to
the statistics generated from my main (ChessBase) database.
6.Bf4, (Maybe - '!')
{See the diagram given - just below.}
Once again, one of White's most popular options here - according to the new Fritz "Power-book."
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r1bqkb1r/1p1npppp/p1p2n2/2Pp4/3P1B2/2N2N2/PP2PPPP/R2QKB1R b
Since Black cannot challenge White's control of the diagonal, (No ...B/f8-d6; as long as White's Pawn is on the c5-square.); and since White Pawns clamp down (hard) on several of the key squares along this crucial line, this is both an indicated and obvious move for White.
(6.h3 might also be worth a try.)
[ After the moves of: 6.e3 e5!?; 7.dxe5! Ng4; 8.Qd4, "+/="
when White had good play.(There are only a few games in my database - with this position -
and none are solid efforts that involve two masters ... so I do not
quote any of those examples here.) ]
6...Nh5;
This looks like a time-wasting move ... but maybe Black feels that he cannot allow the White Bishop to remain on its excellent diagonal.
In any event, this is both the main line and the most popular move for Black (among masters) from this particular position.
7.Bd2,
The safest move for White, and on e3 the Bishop blocks in the first player's KP.
[ White can also try: 7.Be3 g6; 8.g3 Bg7; 9.Bg2 0-0; 10.0-0, "+/="
and the first player is also solidly better in this position.GM Luc Winants (2488) - IM Arnaud Payen (2388);
ICT, 18th Masters (open) Cappelle la Grande (2) / 09,02,2002.
(1-0, 46 moves) ]
7...Nhf6;
Since the Knight is not useful on edge of the board, it immediately returns to a good square.
Of course if 8.Bf4, Nh5; 9.Bd2, and now 9...Nhf6. And if White were to play 10.Bf4, then 10...Nh5; is a draw by a 3-time repetition of the position.
8.Rc1!,
At first glance ... this looks like an absolute "do-nothing" move, but - as play progresses - it shall be seen that there are many hidden facets to this 'mysterious' Rook move.
[ Also good was: 8.Qc2, "+/=" when White has an edge. ]
8...e5!?;
(A "TN" here?) {See the diagram given - just below.}
Perhaps Bacrot has tired of the 'cat-and-mouse' game between White's QB and his KN.
Or ... maybe the Frenchman has come to this battle armed with his own (prepared) opening ideas?
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r1bqkb1r/1p1n1ppp/p1p2n2/2Ppp3/3P4/2N2N2/PP1BPPPP/2RQKB1R w
Whatever the case, the move of 8...e5 is quite logical. Black is in something of a bind, and needs this Pawn break to try and loosen White's grip on the position.
[ Previously, the second player has tried the following continuation:
8...g6; 9.h3 Bg7; 10.Bf4 0-0; 11.e3, "+/="
when White has a good hold on the center and an edge ...
but nothing that looks terribly impressive here.GM Konstantin Sakaev (2560) - GM Radoslav Simic (2490);
Belgrade, (R #5) / 02,1996. {However, in this contest, White
won a nice, sharp struggle in just thirty-three total moves.
---> I also found a number of fair improvements in Black's play,
thanks to Fritz's help.} ]
9.Nxe5,
White chooses the simplest option, taking with the Pawn was also a possibility that both players had to have looked at here.
9...Nxe5; 10.dxe5 Ng4;
Now since White has pawns that are attacked at both e5 and c5, Black will regain his Pawn.
(The play of 10...Nd7!? was also worthy of a look here.)
11.Na4, (Maybe - '!')
White chooses a simple move, and one that does a great many things. (Holds the button on c5,
and it also attacks the b6-point as well.)
[ But (definitely) not: 11.f4?? Bxc5; as now Black has the superior game. ]
11...Nxe5!?;
Seemingly the obvious move ...
(Maybe Bacrot should have at least considered 11...Be6 here, so as not to lose the B-pair?)
12.Bc3 f6!?;
(hmmm)
Once again, on the face of it, Bacrot plays a move that appears to be imminently logical. However,
the computer evaluations of this game show that White's edge is slowly creeping upward.
(>/=
12...Nd7; so as to protect the b6-square and 12...Qg5; were both to be considered here.)
Now White decides to gain the advantage of the two Bishops.
13.Nb6! Rb8; 14.Nxc8 Rxc8;
15.g3!?, (Maybe - '!') {Diagram below.}
White decides to immediately take advantage of the fact that Black has voluntarily weakened
his own light squares (e6), and intends to play his Bishop to the h3-square.
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2rqkb1r/1p4pp/p1p2p2/2Ppn3/8/2B3P1/PP2PP1P/2RQKB1R b
Note that Black cannot take the seemingly 'free' Pawn on c5, as long as the first player has the discovered capture and attack, (B/c3xN/e5 - the c1/R hits c5); winning material.
[ After the moves of: 15.e3 Qc7; 16.Be2 Be7; 17.0-0 0-0; 18.Qd4, "+/="
White also has the advantage. ]
15...Qd7;
Black tries to prevent White from accomplishing his goal of Bh3.
(With a gain of time on Black's Rook on c8.)
16.h4!?, (Maybe - '!')
Topalov is stubborn, and wants to force his way in this matter.
[ The box shows that after the following continuation of:
16.Bd4 Rd8; 17.Bg2 Be7; 18.0-0 0-0; 19.Qb3, "+/="
the first player would have also retained a solid advantage. ]
16...Qf7;
Something like this was probably forced here for Black.
[ But not: 16...h5??; (with the idea of 17...Ng4) 17.Bxe5 fxe5; 18.Bh3, "+/-"
as White wins the exchange. ]
17.Bh3 Nd7;
('!?' or '?!')
This idea of voluntarily withdrawing the Knight from the center seems rather doubtful to me, why not just the simple 17...Rd8; and then calmly await further developments?
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Here - a critical position has been reached.
18.b4!?, {Diagram given -
see below.}
Now that there is no tactic against a Black Knight on e5, Topalov must take measures to protect his valuable QBP.
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2r1kb1r/1p1n1qpp/p1p2p2/2Pp4/1P5P/2B3PB/P3PP2/2RQK2R b
However, although a Pawn is usually the cheapest defender, it might have been better to play Bd4 here instead. (The reason? In some lines, the move of Qb3, {after Black castles}; with ideas of e2-e4 AND QxNP/b7 are very difficult for Black to meet.)
Nonetheless, even after Topalov's move, White has a very solid edge, a testament to the superiority of the World Champion's position at this point.
[ After the (possibly superior) continuation of:
(>/=) 18.Bd4 Rd8; 19.0-0 Be7; 20.Qb3, "+/=" ("+/")
White has a substantial edge. ]
18...Rd8; (un-pinning, waiting)
Perhaps (now) GM Bacrot thinks to play his Knight (back) to the strong, central e5-square.
Please note that normally, Black would love to play ...b7-b6, to try and break up White's Pawn phalanx. But because of the pawn structure (and White's Rook on c1), such a plan would only leave Black's QBP horribly backward and weak.
19.f4!, (Theme?)
{See the diagram given - just
below.}
Another move ... that at first glance looks very odd. But when one takes a deep look at the position, you realize that it is quite logical.
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3rkb1r/1p1n1qpp/p1p2p2/2Pp4/1P3P1P/2B3PB/P3P3/2RQK2R b
Topalov intends to dominate the Black Knight on d7 ... and keep it out of the game for as long as he is able to.
19...Be7;
20.h5!, (hmmm)
At first you think this is an unusual move, and possibly it just weakens White's King-side.
But after several minutes of contemplation, you realize many things:
# 1.) Taking the Pawn is impossible. (20...QxP/h5???; 21.BxN/d7+, etc.)
# 2.) The Pawn on h5 makes it even harder for the Knight on d7 to get back into the game.
(No maneuver of ...N/d7-f8-g6.)
# 3.) If Black simply castles, the foot-soldier may advance yet another square, an idea
which would further weaken Black's King-side and castled position.
[ 20.0-0 0-0; 21.Qb3?! f5!; "/+" ]
20...g6?; (Just plain ugly.)
I have no earthly idea why Bacrot played this way. (It could have been a psychological reaction ...
the Number One French player may have been so convinced that he was worse off, that he
may have decided that it did not matter how he played from here. I am not sure, but I think that Bacrot may have already been short of time. I watched this game via the Internet, Black used quite a lot of time for his first twenty or so moves.)
[ After the obvious >/= 20...0-0; 21.h6 g6; 22.Qd4 a5; 23.a3 Nb8; 24.0-0, "+="
White is clearly better, but yet it is a long way from being a decisive advantage ...
at least, to my way of thinking. (The computer confirms this.) ]
21.Qb3,
"+/=" {See the diagram given - just below.}
This is good, as was ChessMaster's suggestion of 21.Bg4.
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3rk2r/1p1nbq1p/p1p2pp1/2Pp3P/1P3P2/1QB3PB/P3P3/2R1K2R b
Now I was expecting 21...a5; (for Black) in this position, but I was taken aback by the move that Mr. Bacrot actually played.
21...Rg8?!;
( UGH! F.B.T.W. {'From
bad - to worse.'} )
Yegads! Why not just shoot yourself in the foot ... and be done with it?
Bacrot's "brilliancy" finally see the light of day, he intends to leave his King in the center, and <develop> his Rook on the g-file. (But it was better if this set-up had never been used in public.)
[ The box (much) prefers the line:
(>/=) 21...gxh5; 22.Bf5 Nf8; 23.Bb2, (w/the idea e2-e4!) "/\"
As unappealing as this plan may appear, it was still probably superior
to the continuation that was actually chosen in the game.
(Analysis by - Fritz 9.0) ]
22.e4 gxh5;
Having said "A" Black feels that he must continue to say "B." (It no longer mattered, it was probably too late to turn back at this point ... anyway.)
[ But of course not: 22...dxe4??; 23.Be6, "+/-" etc. ]
23.exd5
cxd5[];
No choice here.
[ Simply disastrous was: 23...Rxg3?; 24.d6 Qxb3; 25.axb3 Bf8!?;
26.Kf2! Rd3; 27.Bf5 Rd5!?; 28.Rce1+ , "+/-" and White wins material. ]
Now White's King moves for the first time, a sort of "castling by hand." (It also protects g3.)
24.Kf2 h4!?; (hmmm)
{See the diagram given - just below.}
Now it (almost) appears that Black has worked his way out of all of his difficulties at this point ...
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3rk1r1/1p1nbq1p/p4p2/2Pp4/1P3P1p/1QB3PB/P4K2/2R4R w
"But things are not always as they seem, skim milk masquerades as whipped cream."
Actually, White has a fairly simple answer to Black's "threats," ... ...
...
& the next few moves are probably forced.
25.Bxd7+ Rxd7; 26.Rxh4 d4; 27.Qxf7+ Kxf7; 28.Bd2 Rg7;
Now Black is decidedly inferior, his pieces all sit on worse posts than his opponent's and Black has twice as many Pawn islands as his opponent!
29.Rh5!, {See the diagram given - just below.}
This is excellent, why? It prevents Black from playing ...f6-f5; and then ...Bf6; activating his pieces.
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8/1p1rbkrp/p4p2/2P4R/1P1p1P2/6P1/P2B1K2/2R5 b
White now shows the correct way to play this type of position, the champ's technique from this point (until the end of the game) is highly instructive.
29...Bf8!?; 30.c6!,
White breaks apart the last piece of Black's position that was reasonably solid.
(The pair of Pawns on the queenside.)
Another idea worth consideration was the solid, (but slower) approach with Kf3, (and then) g4, etc.
30...bxc6;
31.Rxc6 d3;
Black could not save his QRP. (For example, if 31...Rd6; then just trade and play R/h5-a5.) So since infantry unit on a6 is lost anyway, Bacrot decides to
drum up some play somewhere else.
32.Rxa6
Kg8; {See the diagram given - just below.}
Bacrot is defending the best that he possibly can.
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5bk1/3r2rp/R4p2/7R/1P3P2/3p2P1/P2B1K2/8 w
The only question is ... how does GM V. Topalov proceed from here?
33.Rh1!,
This is absolutely the best move here, and the computer confirms this.
Not only was the Rook on h5 out of play, White needs to defend his first rank ... in case Black decides to play the ...BxP/b4 idea. (It's all so simple - in hindsight.)
[ Instead after the moves of: 33.Kf3!? Bxb4; 34.Bxb4 d2;
and Black gains a measure of counterplay. ]
The rest requires little or no comment. (However, one should study GM V. Topalov's technique very carefully. I would advise going over the final part of the at least 3-4 times, until you thoroughly understand each and every move.)
Some of Bacrot's moves may look
a bit bizarre until you understand that simple (normal) play ... will reach a dead lost ending. (So Bacrot tries
to complicate.)
33...Rde7;
34.Kf3 Re2;
35.Rd1 h5; (35...Rc7!?)
36.Rxf6 h4; 37.gxh4 Rgg2;
38.Be3 Be7;
39.Ra6 Rxa2;
40.b5 Rab2; 41.Rxd3 Bxh4;
42.Rd7, "+/-" {Final diagram - just
below.}
GM Bacrot resigns, to avoid mate, he must play 42...Ra2 here. (Which just trades down to a completely hopeless endgame.)
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6k1/3R4/R7/1P6/5P1b/4BK2/1r4r1/8 b
Topalov's play here was exceptional, it is rare when White wins so easily, yet never castles. His play was both beautiful and original.
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White to move and win. (32.???)
OK, did you solve it? (If you are stumped or want to see the answer, then please click here.)
Well ... that's a wrap for May's 2006 column.
I hope you have enjoyed this month's lesson. Please contact me if you have any questions. Also, be sure to contact the webmaster here, and let him know what you think of this lesson. Thank you for your time and attention ... and I will see you next month!
Copyright © A.J. Goldsby, 2006. All rights reserved.
