Chess (August): Wang Hao sqeeks by Magnus to win Biel

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14. Mamedyarov - Grischuk, Blitz Championship, Round 25

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Alexander Grischuk
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Alexander_Grischuk)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
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Shakhriyar Mamedyarov - Alexander Grischuk
World Blitz Championship, Round 25
Astana, 10 July 2012

West India Game: Tal-Indian Defense (Catalan Opening) (Modern Benoni)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.g3 c5 5.d5 d6 6.Bg2 0-0 7.Nf3 e6 8.0-0 exd5 9.cxd5 Re8 10.Nd2 a6 11.a4 Nbd7 12.h3 Rb8 13.Nc4 Ne5 14.Na3 Nh5 15.e4 Bd7

• For moves and variation up to here, see the [font color="blue"]blue notes to White's seventh move[/font] in Meier-Gashimov, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009.

16.Qe2 (N)

• If [font color="red"]16.a5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]16...Qxa5 17.g4 Nf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]18.g5 Nh5! 19.f4 Nc4 20.Nxc4 Qxa1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]21.Nxd6 Bxc3 22.bxc3 Qxc3 23.Nxe8 Rxe8 24.Rf3 Qd4+[/font] gives Black an extra pawn (Avrukh-Kamsky, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).
• [font color="burgundy"]21.Qc2?! Bxc3 22.bxc3 Qa4 23.Qxa4 Bxa4[/font] gives Black an extra pawn.
• If [font color="darkred"]18.f4 Nexg4 19.hxg4 Nxg4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]20.f5 h5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]21.Bg5 Qb4 22.f6 Bh8 23.Qd2 Qd4+ 24.Qxd4 cxd4[/font] is equal (Sasikiran-Anand, Rpd KO, Corsica, 2011).
• [font color="burgundy"]21.Qf3 Qd8 22.Nc2 Qh4 23.Bf4 Be5 24.Qh3[/font] is equal (Harikrishna-al Modiaki, Asian Games, Guangzhou, 2010).
• If [font color="magenta"]20.Bf3 h5[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]21.Bxg4 Bxg4 22.Qd3 b5 23.Nc2 Qd8 24.Rxa6 c4[/font] is equal (Clavijo-Delchev, Ol, Istanbul, 2002).
• [font color="darkorange"]21.Nc2 Qd8 22.Kg2 b5 23.Ne3 b4 24.Na4 Qh4[/font] gives Black a strong advantage (Vasilevich-Peng, Euro ChW, Plovdov, 2008).
• If [font color="darkred"]16...b5 17.axb6 Bb5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]18.Naxb5 axb5 19.Nxb5 Qxb6 20.Na3 Qb3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]21.Qxb3 Rxb3 22.Rd1[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]22...Reb8 23.Kf1 f5 24.exf5 gxf5 25.Ra2 Rf8 26.Kg1[/font] is equal (Sasikiran-M. Arnold, Rpd KO, Corsica, 2011).
• [font color="burgundy"]22...Nf6 23.Bd2 Nfd7 24.Bc3 Nb6 25.Rac1 Ned7[/font] is equal (Malikentzos-G. Grigorov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
• If [font color="magenta"]21.Kh2 Qxd1 22.Rxd1 Rb3[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]23.g4 Nf6 24.Kg1 Nfd7 25.f4 Nf3+ 26.Kf2[/font] gives White an extra pawn against Black's extra space (Grischuk-Vocoturo, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• [font color="darkorange"]23.Be3 Rxb2 24.Rdb1 Reb8 25.Rxb2 Rxb2 26.Rb1 Rxb1[/font] draw (Smeets-Anisimov, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2010).
• If [font color="magenta"]18.Ncxb5 axb5[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]19.g4 Nf6 20.Nxb5 Qxb6 21.Na3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space ().
• [font color="darkorange"]19.Nxb5[/font] transposes into [font color="magenta"]Aronian-Grischuk.[/font]

16...f5

• Black has a fair advantage greater piece activity.

17.Kh2?!

• This doesn't do anything to help White
• If [font color="red"]17.Be3! fxe4 18.Nxe4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]18...Bxa4 19.Bg5 Qd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]20.Qd2 Nf7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]21.g4 h6 22.Bh4 g5 23.Bg3 Nf6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]24.Rae1 Bb5 25.Nxb5 Nxe4 26.Bxe4 Qxb5 27.Bg6 Qxb2[/font] leaves Black with remote connected passed pawns.
• [font color="burgundy"]24.Nxf6+?! Bxf6 25.f4 b5! 26.Rab1 Re3! 27.Qxe3 Bd4[/font] gives Black a material advantage.
• [font color="darkpink"]21.Bh4 h6 22.g4 g5 23.Bg3 Nxg3 24.fxg3 Ne5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn.
• If [font color="darkred"]20.g4 Nf7 21.Qd2 h6 22.Bh4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]22...Rxe4 23.Bxe4 g5 24.Bg3 Nxg3 25.fxg3 Qe7 26.Rae1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="magenta"]22...g5 23.Bg3 Nf6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]24.Nxf6+ Bxf6 25.f4 Bd4+ 26.Kh2[/font] gives Black a fair advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkorange"]24.Rae1[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]24...b5 25.Nxf6+ Bxf6 26.Re6 Kg7 27.Rxf6 Kxf6 28.f4 Kg7[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, stronger pawns, command of an open file and a small advantage in space; White has a safer King.
• If [font color="purple"]24...Nxe4?! 25.Bxe4! Qc7 26.Bf5[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]26...Rxe1 27.Rxe1 Ne5 28.Kg2 Rf8 29.Bxe5 Bxe5 30.Nc4[/font] is equal.
• [font color="hotpink"]26...Bd4 27.Be6 b5 28.b4 Kg7 29.bxc5 Qxc5 30.Rc1[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkorchid"]18...Qc7?! 19.Ng5! Nf6 20.Rfc1 Bf5 21.g4 h6[/font] gives Black a slight tactical edge.
• [font color="blue"]17.exf5 Bxf5[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]18.Qd1 Nf6[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]19.Bf4 Nd3 20.Qd2 Nxf4 21.Qxf4 Nd7[/font] gives White a pair oif active Bishops; White's Queen will become trapped if it takes on d6.
• If [font color="darkblue"]19.g4 Bd7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]20.Re1 b5 21.axb5 axb5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]22.Nc2 b4 23.Ne2 b3 24.Ne3 c4 25.Nd4 Qc8[/font] gives Black a clear advantage, but Black is far from out of countermeasures.
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]22.f4? Nexg4 23.Naxb5 Qb6[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]24.Re6? Bxe6 25.dxe6 Nh6 26.Qxd6 Rxe6[/font] leaves Black the exchange to the good and White with little better to do than exchange queens.
• If [font color="darkcyan"]24.hxg4 Nxg4 25.Rxe8+ Rxe8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkcyan"]26.Qf3 h5 27.Bd2 Bxb5 28.Nxb5 c4+ 29.Kh1 Qxb5[/font] fives Black at least two extra pawns.
• [font color="slateblue"]26.Qf1[/font] loses to [font color="darkcyan"]26...c4+ 27.Kh1 Qd8 28.Bd2 Qh4+.[/font]
• If [font color="#8000C0"]20.Bg5?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="#8000C0"]20...Nf7! 21.Be3 b5 22.axb5 axb5 23.Ne2 h5[/font] when he has the deadly threat of ...Ne4!.
• If [font color="darkblue"]18.Rd1 Nd3 19.Qf1 Bd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]20.Rxd3[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkblue"]20...Bxd3 21.Qxd3 Re1+ 22.Kh2 Bxf2.[/font]
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]20.Kh2?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="dodgerblue"]20...Qf6! 21.Nc2 Bxc3 22.bxc3 Qxc3 23.Rd2 c4.[/font]
• [font color="#008000"]17.Re1 Nf6 18.Bg5 Nf7 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.a5 fxe4[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, stronger pawns and more a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Alexander Grischuk[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov[/center][center]Position after 17.Kg1h2[/center]

17...fxe4!

• [Black wins a pawn./li]

18.Nxe4 Bxa4 19.Bg5

• If [font color="red"]19.f4?! Nf7! 20.f5 Bd7[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]21.fxg6 hxg6 22.Rxf7 Kxf7[/font] continues to give Black an extra pawn.
• If [font color="darkred"]21.g4? gxf5![/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]22.gxh5 fxe4 23.Nc4 Ne5 24.h6 Bb5[/font] gives Black two extra pawns and the pin at c4.
• If [font color="magenta"]22.gxf5[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]22...Nf6 23.Qc2 Nxe4 24.Bxe4 Be5+.[/font]

19...Qd7 20.Qd2 Nf7 21.Be3?!

• This puts White in a deep pit.
• If [font color="red"]21.Bh4[/font] (keeping watch on the h4/d8 diagonal) [font color="red"]21...Bb3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]22.g4 Bxd5 23.Qxd5 Nf4 24.Qc4 Nxg2 25.Kxg2 Qc6[/font] gives Black two pawns for a piece, a pin at d4 and a threat to b2. The Knight at d4 is attacked twice and defended only once. In spite of White hold a small advantage in both material and space, Black has a much better game overall.
• [font color="darkred"]22.Rfe1 Qa4 23.Re3 Bd4 24.Re2 Qb4 25.Qxb4 cxb4[/font] gives Black more activity and space.

21...Nf6!

• The Knight is attacked a second time. It is only defended once. It must either move or be protected again.

22.Nc3?

• White vacates the center and allows Black to move in.
• [font color="red"]22.Nxf6+[/font] (the only move that doesn't lose outright) [font color="red"]22...Bxf6 23.Nc4 Bb5 24.Rfc1 Ne5 25.Nxe5 Bxe5[/font] gives Black a very impressive advantage in space.
• If [font color="blue"]22.f3? b5![/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]23.Nxf6+ Bxf6 24.Rfe1 Bb3 25.Rac1 Re7 26.Bf2 Rbe8[/font] wins material.
• If [font color="darkblue"]23.Rf2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkblue"]23...Nxe4 24.fxe4 Ne5 25.Qe2 Rf8 26.Rxf8+ Rxf8.[/font]
• If [font color="#008000"]22.Qd3?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="#008000"]22...Nxe4! 23.Bxe4 Bxb2 24.Ra2 Bxa3 25.Rb1 Bb5.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Alexander Grischuk[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov[/center][center]Position after 22.Ne4c3[/center]

22...Bb3!

• Now the threat of ...b7b5 prevents White from getting any counterplay going.
• If [font color="red"]22...Ne5?! 23.Bg5! Bb3 24.f4 Nc4 25.Nxc4 Bxc4[/font] gives White time to find an active defense.

23.Ne2

• If [font color="red"]23.Nc2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]23...Ne5 24.Bg5 Nc4 25.Qf4 Nh5 26.Qc1 Ne5.[/font]
• If [font color="blue"]23.Rfe1[/font] then Black wins after [font color="blue"]23...b5 24.Ne2 Qb7 25.Nf4 a5 26.Rac1 Ne5.[/font]

23...Ne5 24.Nf4 b5 25.Ne6

• It is not possible for White to deal with all the threats.
• If [font color="red"]25.Kg1[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]25...b4 26.Nc2 Qf5 27.Ne1 Nc4 28.Qe2 Ne4[/font]
• If [font color="blue"]25.g4 Qf7 26.Kg1 b4 27.Nc2 a5[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]28.Ne6 Bxd5 29.Bxd5 Nxd5 30.Qxd5 Qxe6 31.Qxe6+ Rxe6[/font] continues to give Black two extra pawns.
• If [font color="darkblue"]28.Ne1 Nc4 29.Qe2 Ne4 30.Bxe4 Rxe4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]31.Ne6 Bxb2 32.Rb1 Qb7 33.Ng5 Ree8 34.Ng2 a4[/font] gives Black three connected passers.
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]31.Qd3 Bxb2[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]32.Rb1[/font] then [font color="dodgerblue"]Rxf4 33.Bxf4 Qxf4 34.Ng2 Qe5 35.Qxb3 Nd2[/font] wins the house.
• If [font color="darkcyan"]32.Qxe4 Bxa1 33.Nf3 Bf6 34.g5 Bc3.[/font]

25...Bxd5 26.Nxg7

[center]BLACK: Alexander Grischuk[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov[/center][center]Position after 26.Ne6g7:B[/center]

26...Bxg2!!

• There's that lazy fly ball to deep center with one out and with the bases loaded in the last of the tenth inning of the seventh game of the World Series. There is nothing the outfielder can do but catch it and call it a season.

27.Nxe8

• White takes the Rook and lets his opponent win in style.
• Black still wins after [font color="red"]27.Kxg2 Kxg7 28.f3 Re6 29.b3 Qb7.[/font]

27...Qxh3+ 0-1

• Black gives mate on the next move.
• Mamedyarov resigns.