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8. Topalov - Caruana, Group A, Round 10

Last edited Fri Feb 24, 2012, 05:37 AM - Edit history (1)

[center][/center]

[center]Fabiano Caruana[/center]
[font size="1"]Photo by http://www.flickr.com/people/39649493@N00 Ted Cross from http://www.flickr.com/photos/39649493@N00/2307926939 flickr (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
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Veselin Topalov - Fabiano Caruana
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1654445
Tata Steel Chess Tournament (Group A), Round 10
Wijk aan Zee, 25 January 2012

Open Norman Sicilian Game: Kan Defense (Polugaevsky Opening)

1.Nf3 c5 2.e4 e6

• For an explanation of this move, see Gashimov-Radjabov, below.

3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6

• The idea of this move, as it is in other Open Sicilians that feature it, is to deprive White of use of the b5 square.

5.Bd3

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center]
[center]Open Norman Sicilian Game: Kan Defense (Polugaevsky Opening)[/center][center]Position after 5.Bf1d3[/center]

• This is the Polugaevsky Opening. For this and other variations of the Kan Defense, see Munguntuul-Koneru, Grand Prix W, Rd 2, Nalchik, 2010.

5...Nf6 6.0-0 e5

• If [font color="red"]6...Qc7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]7.Nd2 Nc6 8.Nxc6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]8...bxc6 9.f4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9...Bc5+ 10.Kh1 d6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11.Nf3 e5 12.fxe5 dxe5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13.Nh4 0-0 14.Nf5 Be6 15.Qe2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]15...a5 16.Bc4 Kh8 17.Bg5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]17...Nd7!? 18.Rad1[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]18...Nb6? 19.Nxg7!![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]19...Bxc4 20.Bf6 Be7 21.Qf3[/font] Black resigns (Stein-Portisch, ITZ, Stockholm, 1962).
• [font color="darkorange"]19...Be7 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Bd2 Rxf1+ 22.Rxf1 Nxc4 23.Qxc4.[/font]
• If [font color="purple"]19...Kxg7[/font] then after [font color="red"]20.Bf6+ Kg6 21.Bxe6 fxe6 22.Qg4+[/font] White soon delivers mate.
• [font color="hotpink"]18...Bxf5 19.exf5 f6 20.Bd2 Rfb8 21.Bc1 Nb6 22.Be6[/font] still leaves White with a substantial advantage.
• [font color="darkpink"]17...Bxf5 18.Rxf5 Ne8 19.Rf3 Be7 20.Be3[/font] continues to give White a small advantage.
• If [font color="darkred"]15...Rab8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16.Bxa6! Qa7 17.Bd3 Qd7 18.a4 g6 19.Nh6+[/font] gives White an extra pawn, a remote passer and fewer pawn weaknesses; Black has more space.
• [font color="magenta"]16.Qf3!? Bxf5 17.Qxf5 a5 18.Rb1 Rfd8 19.Bh6 Ne8[/font] gives White a narrow advantage.
• [font color="burgundy"]13.Qe1 0-0 14.Bg5 Rb8 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.b3[/font] gives Black a transient advantage in space; White will soon be able to exploit Black's weak pawns and his problem with King safety.
• [font color="darkpink"]11.Qe2 Nd7 12.f5 Ne5 13.Nc4 exf5 14.exf5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkred"]9...d5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10.Qe2 Be7 11.b3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11...0-0 12.Bb2 a5 13.Rf3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]13...Ba6!? 14.c3! Rfe8 15.Raf1 g6 16.Kh1 a4 17.Rh3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Karpov-Visier Segovia, Ol, Skopje, 1972).
• [font color="purple"]13...a4 14.Kh1 axb3 15.axb3 Bd7 16.e5 Rxa1+ 17.Bxa1[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkorange"]11...Bb7 12.Bb2 0-0-0 13.Kh1 Qb6 14.exd5 cxd5 15.c4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Z. Almasi-Kogan, Rpd, Corsica, 2005).
• [font color="magenta"]10.b3 Be7 11.Bb2 a5 12.c4 0-0 13.Qc2 h6[/font] is equal (Tukmakov-Karpov, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1973).
• If [font color="darkred"]8...dxc6 9.f4 e5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10.Nc4 Ng4 11.Qf3 Bc5+ 12.Kh1[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12...Be6 13.fxe5 0-0-0 14.Bf4 h5 15.c3 Kb8[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Sandipan-Miezes, Op, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2001).
• [font color="darkorange"]12...b5 13.Nxe5 Nxe5 14.fxe5 0-0 15.Bf4 Be6 16.Qg3[/font] gives White more activity (Keres-Gaprindashvili, IT, Hastings, 1965).
• [font color="magenta"]10.f5 h5 11.Nb3 b6 12.Bg5 Bb7 13.Qe2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Arakhamia-Miezes, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2008).
• If [font color="darkred"]a) 7.Qe2 d6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]8.c4 8...g6 9.Nc3 Bg7 10.Nf3 0-0 11.Rd1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11...Nc6 12.h3 Nd7 13.Be3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13...Bxc3 14.bxc3 f6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15.Qd2 Rd8 16.Bc2 Nc5 17.Nd4 Na5 18.Qe2 e5[/font] gives Black stronger pawns, the initiative and a slight edge in space (Leko-Ivanchuk, Rpd Match, Mukachevo, 2007).
• [font color="burgundy"]15.Bc2 Nd8 16.Rd2 Nf7 17.Rad1 Nc5 18.Nh2 e5[/font] is equal (Shabalov-Stripunsky, Op, Philadelphia, 2010).
• [font color="magenta"]13...b6 14.Rac1 Bb7 15.Bb1 Nc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]16.Qd2 Rad8[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]17.Nd5 exd5 18.cxd5 Qe7 19.dxc6 Bxc6 20.Bg5[/font] gives White at least the exchange (Ganguly-Flores, Op, Moncada, Spain, 2009).
• [font color="purple"]17.Bh6 f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.Bg5 Bf6 20.Bh6 Bg7[/font] is equal (Lintchevski-Shimanov, Russian ChU20, St. Petersburg, 2008).
• [font color="darkorange"]16.Bf4 Rad8 17.Qe3 Ne5 18.Nxe5 dxe5 19.Bg5 f6[/font] gives Black stronger pawns, a remote pawn majority and more space (Winge-Barten, Corres, 1999).
• If [font color="magenta"]11...Nbd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]12.Bf4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]12...Ng4 13.Rac1 Nge5 14.b3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]14...b6 15.Bb1[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]15...Nxf3+ 16.Qxf3 Ne5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]17.Qe2 Bb7[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]18.Be3 Rfd8 19.f4 Nd7 20.Qf2 Rac8 21.Ne2 Re8[/font] is equal (Panchanathan-Moradiabadi, Asian ChU20, Tehran, 2001).
• [font color="purple"]12...Nh5 13.Be3 b6 14.Rac1 Bb7 15.b3 Nhf6 16.Bb1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Tidman-Bellin, 4NCL, Birmingham, 2001).
• [font color="hotpink"]14...Nxf3+ 15.Qxf3 Ne5 16.Qe3 Bd7 17.Be2 Rfd8 18.Bh6[/font] gives White more space (Sriram-Vaida, Op, Calcutta, 2000).
• [font color="burgundy"]15...Re8 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.Qd2 Bf8 18.h3 Rb8 19.Bg5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Kotronias-Siebrecht, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• [font color="darkpink"]17.Qe3 Rb8 18.Bh6 Bb7 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.Ne2[/font] is equal (G. Xie-Moradiabadi, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2005).
• [font color="darkorchid"]18.Qd2 Rfd8 19.Bg5 f6 20.Be3 Rab8 21.h3[/font] gives White a substantial advantage in space (Petithory-J. Edwards, Corres, 1991).
• If [font color="darkorange"]12.h3 b6 13.Bf4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]13...Nh5 14.Bd2 Bb7 15.Rac1 Rac8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]16.b3 Qb8 17.Bb1 Rfd8 18.Bg5 Bf6 19.Qd2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (van Blitterswijk-Istratescu, IT C, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
• [font color="purple"]16.g4 Nhf6 17.Bf4 Rfd8 18.b3 Qb8 19.Bb1[/font] is equal (Smirnov-Kosov, Moscow Op, 2007).
• [font color="hotpink"]13...Bb7 14.Rac1 Ne5 15.Be3 Rac8 16.Nxe5 dxe5 17.Na4[/font] gives White a distant pawn majortity, stronger pawns and a sustantial advantage in space (Svetushkin-Gunawan, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• If [font color="magenta"]8.f4 Nbd7 9.c4 Be7 10.Nc3 0-0 11.Kh1[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]11...b6 12.Bd2 Bb7 13.Rae1[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13...Rad8 14.Nf3[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]14...Qb8 15.b4 g6 16.Ng5 Rfe8 17.Bc2 Nh5 18.Qg4[/font] is equal (Timofeev-Zhou Jianchao, Rpd TM, Ningbo, 2010).
• If [font color="darkorange"]14...Rfe8 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Ng4 17.Bf4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]17...f6? 18.exf6! Qxf4 19.f7+ Qxf7 20.Ng5 Bxg5 21.Rxf7 Kxf7 22.Qxg4 Bf6[/font] Black resigns without waiting for White to reply (Fedorchuk-van Elst, Op, Marseille, 2006).
• [font color="purple"]17...Nc5! 18.Bc2 f5 19.Rd1 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 Rd8 21.Rxd8+ Qxd8[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="darkorange"]13...Rfd8 14.Nf3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]14...g6 15.Ng5 h6 16.Nf3 Bf8 17.Rc1 Bg7 18.Bb1[/font] is equal (Kudrin-Dzindzichashvili, Op, Philadelphia, 1992).
• [font color="purple"]14...Rac8 15.e5 Ne8 16.Ne4 Nc5 17.Nxc5 bxc5 18.f5[/font] gives White an impressive advantage in space (Lederle-Mertens, German Ch, Bonn, 2011).
• If [font color="darkorange"]11...Re8 12.Bd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]12...b6 13.Rae1 Bb7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]14.b4 Rad8 15.f5 Bf8 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.Bg5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Bluvshtein-Spraggett, Canadian Ch, Toronto, 2004).
• [font color="purple"]14.Bb1 Rad8 15.b3 Bf8 16.Qf3 g6 17.Qh3 Bg7[/font] is equal (Milos-Milman, Pan-American Ch, Buenos Aires, 2005).
• [font color="hotpink"]12...g6 13.Nf3 Bf8 14.e5 Nh5 15.g4 Ng7 16.Ne4[/font] gives White an overwhelming advantage in space (Basagic-Kutsankov, Euro Club Cup, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• If [font color="darkred"]b) 7.Nc3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]7...Bc5 8.Nb3 Be7 9.f4 d6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10.a4 Nc6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Be3 b6 12.Be2 0-0 13.Bf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13...Bb7 14.Qe2 Rfe8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15.Kh1 Nd7 16.Rad1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]16...Rac8 17.Qf2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]17...Bf8 18.Qg3 Nc5 19.Nxc5 bxc5 20.Rd2 Rcd8 21.Rfd1 Nb4[/font] is equal (Mogranzini-Arlandi, Ol, Turino, 2006).
• [font color="burgundy"]17...Nc5 18.Nxc5 bxc5 19.Ne2 Bf8 20.c4 Rb8[/font] gives Black more freedom (Chau-Chakravarthy, World Youth, Belfort, 2005).
• [font color="darkpink"]16...Nc5 17.Qf2 Bf8 18.h3 Rac8 19.Rd2 Rcd8 20.Rfd1[/font] gives White a slim advantage in space (Smyslov-Radulov, IT, Leningrad, 1977).
• If [font color="magenta"]15.Rad1[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]15...Bf8 16.Qf2 Nd7 17.Kh1 Rab8[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]18.Nc1 Ba8 19.Qe2 Qc8 20.N1a2 Nf6 21.Nc1 e5[/font] is equal (Radjabov-Stellwagen, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2009).
• [font color="darkorange"]15...Rac8 16.Rd2 Nb4 17.Rfd1 Red8 18.Qf2 Nd7 19.Nd4[/font] is equal (Titova-Kierzek, OlW, Elista, 1998).
• [font color="purple"]18.Be2 Nc5 19.Rd2 Nb4 20.Bf3 Ba8 21.Rfd1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Bourne-Truman, British Ch, West Browich, 2003).
• If [font color="magenta"]13...Rb8 14.Qe2[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]14...Na5 15.Nd2 Bb7 16.g4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]16...Nd7 17.g5 Rfe8 18.Qf2 Nc4 19.Nxc4 Qxc4 20.Rad1[/font] is equal (Ciocaltea-Tringov, IT, Nis, 1981).
• [font color="burgundy"]16...Rfc8 17.Qg2 Nd7 18.g5 Nc4 19.Nxc4 Qxc4 20.h4[/font] is equal (Fichtl-Jansa, Czechoslovakian Ch, Rimavska Sobota, 1974).
• If [font color="darkorange"]14...Bb7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]15.Qf2 Ba8 16.Rfd1 Nb4 17.Rd2 Nd7 18.a5 b5 19.Rad1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Keogh-Stahlberg, Ol, Tel Aviv, 1964).
• [font color="purple"]15.g4 Rfe8 16.g5 Nd7 17.Bg2 Bf8 18.Rf3 Na5 19.Rh3[/font] gives White more space, but no way to use it (Ivanovic-Ribli, IT, Bugojno, 1984).
• If [font color="magenta"]11.a5 b5 12.axb6 Qxb6+ 13.Kh1[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13...0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]14.Qe2 Nb4 15.Be3 Qb8 16.Na5[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]16...Bd7 17.Nc4 Nxd3 18.Qxd3 Bb5 19.Nxb5 axb5[/font] gives Black the initiative; White has more space, but Black can close the gap with moves such as ...Rd8, ...Qb7 and ...d5 (Panjwani-Arencibia, Op, Kitchner, Ontario, 2006).
• [font color="burgundy"]16...Qc7 17.Bf2 Bd7 18.Bc4 Bb5 19.Rfc1 Bxc4 20.Qxc4[/font] is equal (Navara-Grischuk, Grnad Prix, Sochi, 2008).
• If [font color="darkorange"]14.Qf3 Nb4 15.Be3 Qc7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]16.e5 Bb7 17.Qh3 dxe5 18.fxe5 Qxe5 19.Ra5[/font] gives White a slight advantage (Timman-Kurajica, IT 8485, Reggio Emilia, 1984).
• [font color="purple"]16.Bd4 Bb7 17.Na5 Rab8 18.Nxb7 Qxb7 19.Qh3 h6 20.Qg3[/font] draw (Ponomariov-Ivanchuk, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).
• [font color="darkorchid"]13...Nb4 14.Na5 d5 15.e5 Nd7 16.Rf3 Nxd3 17.cxd3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Smirin-Maryasin, Soviet ChT, Nabereznye Chelny, 1988).
• If [font color="magenta"]10.Qf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]10...Nbd7 11.Bd2 b6[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]12.Rae1 Bb7 13.Kh1 g6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]14.Qh3 h5 15.Nd1 0-0-0 16.Nf2 h4 17.a4 Nh5[/font] gives White more space and Black more freedom (Bartel-Goloshchapov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2002).
• [font color="burgundy"]14.Nd1 0-0 15.Qh3 Rfe8 16.Nf2 Bf8[/font] gives White more space, but Black's "little center" prevents her from exploitiong it (Zozulia-N. Mamedov, Op, Dubai 2011).
• If [font color="darkorange"]12.Qg3 g6 13.Rae1 Bb7 14.Kh1[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]14...0-0-0 15.e5 Nh5 16.Qe3 Kb8 17.exd6 Bxd6 18.Ne4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Kristjansson-Markus, Op, Reykjavik, 2004).
• [font color="purple"]14...e5 15.fxe5 Nxe5 16.Bg5 Nh5 17.Qh4[/font] is equal (Matulovic-Pikula, Yugoslav ChT, Vrnjacka Banja, 1998).
• If [font color="darkorange"]10...Nc6 11.Be3 0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]12.Rae1 b5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 Nd7 15.Bf4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]15...Bb7 16.Qg3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]16...g6 17.Kh1 Rac8 18.a3 Ba8 19.Nd1 Qd8 20.Nf2[/font] gives White more space and Black stronger pawns (Goerlinger-Smithers, Corres, 2001).
• [font color="darkpink"]16...Nb4?! 17.Bh6! g6 18.Be4 Nc6 19.Bxf8 Rxf8 20.Bxc6 Bxc6 21.Kh1[/font] gives White a substantial advantage in space; Black has stronger pawns, but is in no position to exploit the isolated pawn on e5 (Li Shilong-Bischoff, IT C, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).
• If [font color="hotpink"]15...b4 16.Nd1 Bb7 17.Qg3[/font] then:
• [font color="hotpink"]17...g6 18.Nf2 Qd8 19.Qh3 h5 20.Re3 Kg7 21.Be4[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space; Black has stronger pawns and may be able to eliminate the pawn at e5 (Lutz-Smirin, Euro Ch, Saint Vincent, Italy, 2000).
• [font color="purple"]17...Rfd8 18.Ne3 Nf8 19.Nc4 Ng6 20.Bxg6 hxg6 21.Nd6[/font] gives White gives White an impressive advantage in space; Black has stronger pawns, but the pawn at e5 keeps Black's position cramped (Ganguly-Ramesh, Inadian Ch, Mumbai, 2003).
• If [font color="hotpink"]13.g4 Nd7 14.g5 Bb7[/font] then:
• If [font color="hotpink"]15.Qh3 Nb4 16.f5 exf5 17.exf5 Nxd3 18.cxd3[/font] then:
• [font color="hotpink"]18...Rfe8 (19.Nd4[/font] is equal (Sanz Alonso-Andrade, Portuguese ChT, Barreiro, 2001).
• [font color="burgundy"]18...Ne5 19.d4 Nc4 20.g6 fxg6 21.fxg6 hxg6 22.Qe6+ Kh7[/font] draw (Lovik-van Eyck, Op, Gibraltar, 2009).
• [font color="darkpink"]15.Qh5 Nb4 16.Rf3 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Rfe8 18.Ref1 g6[/font] is equal (Dr. Nunn-Grivas, Match, Athens, 1991).
• [font color="purple"]12.a3 b5 13.Kh1 b4 14.axb4 Nxb4[/font] transposes into [font color="darkorange"]Timman-Kurajica,[/font] above.
• If [font color="magenta"]b1) 7...Nc6 8.Be3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]8...Ne5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]9.h3 Bc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]10.Kh1 d6 11.f4 Ng6 12.Qe1[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]12...0-0 13.f5 Ne5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]14.Qh4?![/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]14...b5!? 15.Rf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]15...exf5! 16.exf5 Nxf3 17.gxf3 Bb7 18.Rg1 Bxf3+[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]19.Kh2 Qe7[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]20.Qg3 Qe5 21.Bf4 Ng4+ 22.hxg4 Qxd4 23.Re1 Bc6[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and domination of the board (Bromberger-Vehi Bach, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• If [font color="burgundy"]20.Qg5[/font] then after [font color="burgundy"]120...Qe5+ 21.Rg3 g6 22.Bf4 Qxd4 23.Rxf3 Rae8[/font] Black wins (B. G. Smith-Konguvel, Op, Rethymnon, 2009).
• [font color="darkpink"]19.Nxf3 Bxe3 20.Qxf6 Bxg1 21.Qg5 Qc6 22.Ne4 f6[/font] give Black an extra pawn (Carlsen-Vachier Lagrave, Rpd IT, Cap d'Adge, 2006).
• If [font color="darkorange"]15...Nxf3?! 16.gxf3 Ne8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]17.Rg1[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]17...g6 18.Rg4 Qb7 19.Qh6 e5 20.Nd5 Bxd4 21.Bxd4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (García-Vescovi, Pan-American Ch, Cali, Colombia, 2001).
• [font color="purple"]17...Qb7 18.fxe6 fxe6 19.e5 g6 20.Bxg6 hxg6 21.Rxg6+[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkpink"]17.e5?! g6! 18.Rg1 d5 19.fxg6 fxg6 20.Bxg6 hxg6 21.Rxg6+ Ng7[/font] gives Black a Rook against two pawns (Tisser-Stefansson, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• If [font color="darkorange"]14...Bd7[/font] (Black has a small advantage in space) then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]15.Rf3?! Nxf3!? 16.gxf3 Qd8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]17.e5? dxe5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]18.Rg1 exf5 19.Rxg7+ Kxg7 20.Bh6+[/font] is an easy win for Black (Harutjunyan-Aroshidze, Op, Tbilisi, 2007).
• If [font color="burgundy"]18.Nxe6[/font] then Black wins after [font color="burgundy"]18..fxe6 19.Bxc5 exf5!! 20.Bxf8 Qxf8 21.Kg2 Rc8.[/font]
• [font color="hotpink"]17.Rg1! Kh8 18.fxe6 fxe6 19.e5 dxe5 20.Ne4 Rf7[/font] gives White an extra pawn and Black more space (Haznedaroglu-Iotov, Euro Ch, Antalya, Turkey, 2004).
• [font color="purple"]15.fxe6!? fxe6 16.Nce2 Nxd3 17.cxd3 e5 18.Nc2 Rac8[/font] gives Black a fair advantage.
• [font color="hotpink"]15.Rab1 b5 16.a3 Qb6 17.Qf2 Nc4 18.Bxc4 bxc4[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage.
• [font color="darkpink"]14.Qg3 Nxd3 15.fxe6 Nxb2 16.Rxf6 fxe6 17.Rxf8+ Kxf8 18.Rf1+[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkorange"]12...Bd7 13.f5 Ne5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]14.Qh4 Qb6 15.Nce2 0-0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]16.b4 Qxb4 17.Rab1 Qa4 18.Rb3 Nxd3 19.cxd3 e5[/font] is equal (Stoumbos-Javakhishvili, Anibal Op, Linares, 2005).
• [font color="purple"]16.Bg1 exf5 17.b4 Qxb4 18.Rab1 Qa4 19.exf5 Rhe8[/font] (Haznedaroglu-Ribli, Euro Club Cup, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• [font color="hotpink"]14.Qg3 0-0 15.Nce2 Nxd3 16.cxd3 e5 17.Bh6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Fedorov-A. Mastrovasilios, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, Turkey, 2006).
• If [font color="darkorange"]10.Qe2 d6 11.f4 Ng6 12.Nb3 Bxe3+ 13.Qxe3 0-0 14.Rae1 b5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]15.e5 dxe5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]16.Bxg6 hxg6 17.Qxe5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]17...Qa7+ 18.Kh2 Bb7 19.Nc5 b4 20.Nxb7 bxc3 21.Nd6 cxb2[/font] gives Black a fair advantage with lines of attack leading to the enemy King or to loose White pieces (Hennings-Hort, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 1971).
• [font color="burgundy"]17...Qb6+ 18.Qc5 Qxc5+ 19.Nxc5 b4 20.N3e4 Ra7 21.c4[/font] is equal (U. Andersson-Bukic, Euro ChT, Debrecen, 1970).
• If [font color="darkpink"]16.fxe5 Nd7 17.Bxg6 hxg6 18.Nd4 Bb7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkpink"]19.Nd1 Rad8 20.c3 Nb6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkpink"]21.Nf2 Nc4 22.Qg5 Rd5 23.Ng4 Qd8 24.Nf6+ gxf6 25.Rxf6 Rxd4 26.Rxg6+[/font] draw (Radulov-Suetin, IT, Budapest, 1970).
• [font color="#CAACDC"]21.a3!? Nc4! 22.Qf2 Qc5 23.b4 Qe7 24.Qf4 Nxa3[/font] gives Black a comfortable advantage in space (Furhoff-Divljan, IM Trmt, Belgrade, 2001).
• [font color="#87095D"]19.a4 b4 20.Na2 a5 21.c3 b3 22.Nc1 Nc5[/font] is equal (Radulov-Marjanovic, IT, Belgrade, 1982).
• [font color="purple"]15.a3 Bb7 16.Kh1 Rac8 17.Nd4 Rfe8 18.e5 Nd5[/font] is equal (Mecking-Juarez, IT, Mar del Plata, 1971).
• If [font color="darkorange"]9.Nf3 Nfg4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]10.Nxe5 Nxe3 11.Qh5 g6 12.Qf3 Qxe5 13.fxe3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]13...f6 14.Qxf6 Qxf6 15.Rxf6 Bg7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]16.Rf3 b5 17.Raf1 Ra7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]18.Nd1 d6 19.b3 Rf8 20.Rxf8+ Bxf8 21.Nf2 Bg7[/font] is equal (Kuling-op den Kelder, Dutch Jr Ch, Venlo, 2007).
• [font color="burgundy"]18.Rf7 Be5 19.a4 Bxc3 20.bxc3 bxa4 21.e5[/font] gives White command of the f-file and greater mobility (Shenkeveld-op den Kelder, Op, Dieren, 2007).
• [font color="darkpink"]16.Rf2 b6 17.Rb1 Bb7 18.Na4 b5 19.Nb6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Hector-Stellwagen, IT, Malmö, 2006).
• [font color="hotpink"]13...Bd6 14.Qxf7+ Kd8 15.g3 b5 16.a4 b4 17.Ne2[/font] gives White a small advantage (S. Petersen-Kristjansson, Euro Club Cup, Antalya, 2007).
• If [font color="purple"]10.Bf4 Bd6 11.Bg3 Nxf3+ 12.Qxf3[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]12...Nxh2 13.Bxh2 Bxh2+ 14.Kh1 Be5 15.Qe3 b5[/font] gives Black a better center; White has a slighty advantage in space (Saulin-Zemerov, Op, Tula, Russia, 2001).
• [font color="hotpink"]12...Bxg3 13.hxg3 Ne5 14.Qh5 d6 15.Be2 b5 16.a3[/font] is equal (Areshchenko-Bryzgalin, Op, St. Petersburg, 2003).
• If [font color="darkorange"]b11) 8...b5 9.Nxc6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]9...Qxc6 10.a3 Bb7 11.Qe2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]11...Be7 12.f4 0-0 13.e5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]13...Nd5 14.Nxd5 Qxd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]15.c4 bxc4 16.Bxc4 Qc6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]17.Rac1 Bc5 18.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 19.Qf2 Qxf2+ 20.Rxf2[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Landa-Tregubov, Russian Ch HL, Novokuznetsk, 2008).
• [font color="burgundy"]17.b4 d6 18.exd6 Bxd6 19.Rac1 Rad8 20.Bb3[/font] gives White a slight initiative and more space (Kotronias-Rublevsky, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• [font color="darkpink"]15.Rad1 Qc6 16.f5 f6 17.c4 Bc5 18.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 19.Kh1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Gligoric-Casabella, IT, Santa Fe, Argentina. 1960).
• If [font color="purple"]13...Ne8[/font] then:
• If [font color="purple"]14.Rad1 d6 15.Ne4 Rd8 16.Ng5 g6[/font] then:
• If [font color="purple"]17.f5?![/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]17...exf5?! 18.e6 f6 19.Nf7 Rc8 20.Rd2 Ng7 21.Nh6+[/font] is equal (Kotronias-Benjamin, EU Ch, Cork, Ireland, 2005).
• [font color="darkpink"]17...gxf5! 18.exd6 Bxd6 19.Kh1 Ng7[/font] continues to give Black a fair advantage.
• [font color="burgundy"]17.Qf2 Ng7 18.Be4 d5 19.Bd3[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="hotpink"]14.f5 exf5 15.Bxf5 d5 16.Rad1 Rd8 17.Bd4 Nc7[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Nicevski-Janosevic, IT, Skopje/Ohrid, 1968).
• If [font color="purple"]11...h5[/font] then:
• If [font color="purple"]12.h3 Rc8 13.f4 h4 14.Rf3[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]14...Nh5 15.Qf2 Be7 16.f5 e5 17.Nd5 Bd8 18.a4[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Kotronias-al Modiaki, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• [font color="darkpink"]14...Bc5 15.Qf2 Qb6 16.Re1 d6 17.Bxc5 Qxc5 18.Rfe3[/font] is equal (Nedev-Banikas, Ol. Bled, 2002).
• If [font color="hotpink"]12.f3[/font] then:
• [font color="hotpink"]12...Bc5 13.Qf2 d6 14.Ne2 Bxe3 15.Qxe3 Qc5 16.Nd4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Dembo-Skripchenko, Euro ChW, Chisinau, Moldova, 2005).
• [font color="darkpink"]12...Qc7 13.a4 b4 14.Na2 Bd6 15.h3[/font] is equal (Madl-Paridar, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).
• If [font color="purple"]9...dxc6[/font] then:
• If [font color="purple"]10.f4 e5 11.f5 Bb7 12.a4[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]12...b4 13.Nb1 c5 14.Nd2 c4 15.Nxc4 Nxe4 16.Qe2 Nc5 17.Bxc5 Bxc5+ 18.Kh1 f6 19.Be4[/font] draw (Klinger-Cvitan, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1985).
• [font color="darkpink"]12...Rd8 13.Qf3 h5 14.h3 Bd6 15.Rfd1 Qe7 16.Bg5[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Goh Wieming-A. Kim, Asian Ch, Cebu, 2007).
• [font color="hotpink"]10.a4 Bb7 11.f4 b4 12.Nb1 c5 13.Nd2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Homa-Sharevich, Op, Philadelphia, 2011).
• If [font color="darkorange"]b12) 8...Nxd4 9.Bxd4 Bc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]10.Bxc5 Qxc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]11.Kh1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]11...d6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]12.f4 e5 13.Qe1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]13...Be6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]14.Rd1 exf4 15.Rxf4 Qe5 16.Qf2 Ng4 17.Qg3 h5[/font] gives Black an advantage on the kingside (Gullaksen-Trygstad, Norwegian ChT, Langesund, 2001).
• [font color="darkpink"]14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Bxd5 16.f5[/font] draw (E. Andreev-C. Balogh, Op, Baku, 2007).
• If [font color="purple"]13...0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="purple"]14.Qh4 exf4 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.exd5[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]16...h6 17.Rad1 Bd7 18.Rxf4 Rae8 19.Rdf1 f5[/font] is equal (Efimenko-Kritz, YM, Hengelo, 2001).
• If [font color="hotpink"]16...g6 17.Rxf4[/font] then:
• [font color="hotpink"]17...Qxd5?! 18.Bc4 Qa5 19.b4 Qe5 20.Bxf7+ Kh8 21.Re1[/font] gives White a promising kingside attack (Balashov-Tregubov, Russian Ch, St. Petersburg, 1998).
• If [font color="burgundy"]17...b5 18.Bxg6 hxg6 19.Qf6 Bh3![/font] (the only move) [font color="burgundy"]20.Rh4[/font] then:
• If [font color="burgundy"]20...Bxg2+!! 21.Kxg2 Qxd5+! 22.Kf2 Qc5+[/font] then:
• [font color="burgundy"]23.Kf1 Qf5+ 24.Qxf5 gxf5[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="darkpink"]20...Qxc2??[/font] then [font color="darkpink"]21.Rh8#.[/font]
• If [font color="#FF8080"]23.Kf3 Qd5+ 24.Kf2 Qc5+ 25.Kf3 Qd5+ etc.[/font] draws.
• [font color="#F76541"]14.a4 exf4 15.Rxf4 Qe5 16.Qd2 Be6 17.Raf1 Nd7[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (M. Ly-Krush, Op, Philadelphia, 2011).
• If [font color="purple"]12.Qd2 e5[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]13.Rad1 Be6 14.Be2 Rd8 15.Bf3 0-0 16.Rfe1 b5[/font] is equal (Griffiths-Trygstad, Euro Club Cup, Antalya, 2007).
• [font color="hotpink"]13.f3 0-0 14.Na4 Qc6 15.Qa5 Be6 16.Nb6 Rad8[/font] is equal (I. Smirin-Svetushkin, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• If [font color="purple"]11...b5 12.a3 Bb7 13.f4 d6[/font] then:
• If [font color="purple"]14.Qe1 0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]15.Qg3 e5 16.fxe5 Qxe5 17.Qh4 Bc8 18.a4 bxa4 19.Rxa4[/font] is equal (Casalla-Sheppard, Op, Philadelphia, 1995).
• [font color="darkpink"]15.Qh4 Qh5 16.Qxh5 Nxh5 17.e5 dxe5 18.fxe5 Rad8 19.Rad1 f5 20.exf6 Nxf6[/font] draw (Baklan-Istratescu, Roamnian ChT, Tusnad, 2005).
li][font color="hotpink"]14.Qe2 e5 15.fxe5 dxe5 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 0-0[/font] is equal (Oral-Simic, Op, Graz, 1994).
• If [font color="purple"]11.Na4 Qc7 12.c4[/font] then:
• If [font color="purple"]12...d6 13.Rc1 0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="purple"]14.c5 Bd7 15.cxd6 Qxd6[/font] then:
• If [font color="purple"]16.Nc5 Bc6 17.Qe2[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]17...Rac8 18.Rc3 Rfd8 19.Rfc1 Nd7 20.Nxd7 Bxd7 21.e5[/font] is equal and shortly agreed drawn (Gormally-Grant Kerr, Op, Hastings, 2009).
• [font color="#CAADCD"]17...Nd7 18.Nxd7[/font] draw (Baklan-Savchenko, Euro Ch, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).
• [font color="darkpink"]16.Nc3 Bc6 17.Qe2 e5 18.Rfd1 Qe7 19.Bc4 Rfd8[/font] is equal (De la Paz-Almagro Mazariegos, IT, Mancha Real, Spain, 2001).
• [font color="burgundy"]14.Qd2 Bd7 15.Nc3 Rac8 16.Rfd1 Rfd8 17.Be2[/font] is equal (Berndt-Giri, Bundesliga 0809, Bremen, 2009).
• [font color="hotpink"]12...b6 13.Qe2 Bb7 14.Rac1 d6 15.Qe3 Nd7[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Anand-Ljubojevic, IT, Linares, 1991).
• If [font color="purple"]10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Qg4[/font] then:
• If [font color="purple"]11...Kf8 12.Kh1 h5[/font] then:
• If [font color="purple"]13.Qh4 Be7 14.f4[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]14...b5 15.f5 Qe5 16.Rae1 Bb7 17.Nd1 Kg7[/font] is equal (Fedorov-Miezis, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• If [font color="hotpink"]14...f5 15.Qh3 fxe4[/font] then:
• If [font color="hotpink"]16.Nxe4 d5 17.Ng5 e5 18.Qe3 d4 19.Qf2[/font] gives White golden opportunities for attack (Tolush-Matulovic, TM, Soviet Union, 1965).
• If [font color="burgundy"]16.Bxe4 d5[/font] then:
• If [font color="burgundy"]17.Bf3?! d4! 18.Ne4 Qxc2 19.Rac1 Qxb2 20.Rc7 Qa3[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Rodriguez Vila-Panno, IT, Santiago, 2004).
• [font color="darkpink"]17.Bd3! f5 18.Ne2 Qb6 19.Rab1[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="#87095D"]13.Qh3 Qf4 14.Be2 b5 15.Rad1 Ke7 16.Rd5 Bb4[/font] is equal (Balashov-Tregubov, Op, Katowice, 1992).
• If [font color="hotpink"]11...Qe5 12.Qg7 Rf8[/font] then:
• [font color="hotpink"]13.Kh1 Qg5 14.Qxh7 Rg8 15.Qh3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Sherzer-Szieberth, 1st Saturday February, Budapest, 2001).
• [font color="burgundy"]13.Rae1 Qg5 14.Qxh7 b5 15.Kh1 Bb7 16.f4 Qg4[/font] gives White a better center (Bryn-Akesson, Rilton Cup 0506, Stockholm, 2005).
• If [font color="magenta"]b2) 7...d6 8.f4 Be7[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]9.Kh1 Nbd7 10.Qe2[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]10...b5 11.Bd2 Bb7[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]12.a3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]12...0-0 13.Rae1[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13...Nc5 14.b4 Nxd3 15.cxd3 Rfe8[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]16.g4 g6 17.f5 exf5 18.gxf5 Rac8 19.Rc1 Qd7[/font] is equal (Gufeld-Chiburdanidze, IT, Delhi, 1984).
• [font color="burgundy"]16.Qf2 Qb6 17.Rc1 Rac8 18.Nf5 Qxf2 19.Nxe7+ Rxe7 20.Rxf2 Rec7[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, but no way to move forward (Kristjansson-E. Arancibia, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• If [font color="darkorange"]13...Rad8 14.Nb3 Nc5 15.e5 Nxd3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]16.exf6?! Nxe1 17.fxe7 Bxg2+ 18.Kg1 Qxe7 19.Rxe1 Ba8[/font] gives Black two extra pawns and a Rook against two minor pieces and stronger pawns (Gross-Votava, Czech ChT, 2001).
• [font color="purple"]16.cxd3 dxe5 17.Rc1 e4 18.Nxe4 Qb8 19.Nxf6+ Bxf6[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkorange"]12...h5 13.Rae1 h4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]14.Rf3 h3 15.g3 g6 16.Rf2 Nc5 17.Kg1 Rd8[/font] gives White a small advantage in space, but no way to expoit it (Karpov-Shkurikhin, Russian Ch ½-final, Novosibirsk, 2001).
• [font color="purple"]14.Nd1 h3 15.g3 g6 16.Nf2 Nc5 17.b4 Na4[/font] gives Black more space, but neither side can make much use of its space (Rahal-Bologan, French ChT, Cannes, 2005).
• If [font color="darkorange"]12.Rae1 Nc5 13.b4 Nxd3 14.cxd3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]14...0-0 15.Rc1 Qd7 16.Rc2 Rac8 17.Rfc1 Rc7 18.a3[/font] remains equal (Makropoulou-Kabanova, OlW, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• [font color="purple"]14...Rc8 15.Nd1 0-0 16.Ne3 Nd7 17.f5 e5[/font] remains equal (Wang Yu-Kabanova, OlW, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• If [font color="darkorange"]10...0-0 11.Bd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]11...Nc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]12.Rae1 Nxd3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]13.Qxd3 b5 14.a3 Bb7 15.Qh3 Qc4 16.Nb3 a5[/font] gives Black a fair advantage in space (Zawadzka-Caruana, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2011).
• [font color="burgundy"]13.cxd3 Qb6 14.Nb3 Qd8 15.d4 d5 16.e5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Parma-Gligoric, IT, Belgrade, 1964).
• [font color="darkpink"]12.Rac1 b5 13.b4 Nxd3 14.cxd3 Qd7 15.g4[/font] gives White a slight advantage due to the possibilityy of 16.g5 (And. Volokitin-Drabke, Euro Club Cup, Rogaska Slatina, Slovakia, 2011).
• If [font color="purple"]11...b5 12.Rae1 Nc5 13.e5 Nfd7[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]14.Bxh7+ Kxh7 15.Qh5+ Kg8 16.Rf3 dxe5 17.Rh3 f5[/font] is flashy, but equal (Bergsson-Meier, Op, Reykjavik, 2008).
• [font color="hotpink"]14.Rf3 Nxd3 15.cxd3 Bb7 16.Rh3 g6 17.Nf3 Rfd8[/font] is equal (Nadig-Zhang Jilin, World Jr Ch Girls, Istanbul, 2005).
• If [font color="darkorange"]9.Be3 Nc6 10.Qf3 0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]11.Nb3 b5 12.Rae1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]12...Bb7 13.Qh3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]13...Nb4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]14.a3 Nxd3 15.cxd3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]15...Rfe8 16.Nd4 Bf8 17.Kh1 Qe7 18.f5 e5 19.Nf3[/font] is equal (Areshchenko-Smirin, Eueo Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• [font color="purple"]15...Rac8 16.Rc1 Qd7 17.Na5 Ba8 18.Bd4 Rfe8 19.b4[/font] is equal (Espig-Hort, Rubinstein Mem, Polonica Zdroj, 1977).
• If [font color="hotpink"]14.Nd4 Rae8[/font] then:
• [font color="hotpink"]15.g4!? Nd7 16.g5 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Nc5 18.Rd1 b4[/font] gives Black a comfortable advantage with freedom and the initiative(Malakhov-Svidler, Russian Ch, Elista, 1997).
• [font color="darkpink"]15.Rc1 h5 16.a3 Nc6 17.Nce2[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="#CAACDC"]13...g6 14.a3 Rfe8 15.Kh1 Nd7 16.f5! Bf6 17.Rf2[/font] gives White a small advantage with more space, but Black's compact defense makes it difficult to exploit (So. Polgar-Damljanovic, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 1990).
• If [font color="purple"]12...Rb8[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]13.Qg3 b4 14.Nd1 e5 15.f5 Kh8 16.Nf2 a5[/font] is equal (Dr. Nunn-Bellin, Op, London, 1973).
• [font color="hotpink"]13.g4 Nb4 14.g5 Nd7 15.Qh5 Re8 16.Rf3[/font] is equal (Nicevski-Matulovic, IT, Skopje, 1969).
• [font color="darkpink"]12...Nh5 13.Qf2 Nf6 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Qg3 Rab8 16.e5[/font] reamins equal.
• If [font color="purple"]11.Kh1 Bd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="purple"]12.Rae1 b5 13.a3 Rac8[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Qh3 e5 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.Bg5 Qd6[/font] is equal (Rasulov-Pratil, World Jr Ch, Chennai, 2011).
• [font color="darkpink"]14.g4 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Bc6 16.g5 Nd7 17.Nd5[/font] is equal (Pimenidis-Moutousis, Op, Nikea, Greece, 2001).
• If [font color="hotpink"]12.Qg3[/font] then:
• [font color="hotpink"]12...Nb4!? 13.Be2 Rac8?! 14.a3 Nc6 15.Rad1 Kh8 16.Kg1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Golubev-A. Alexeev, IT, Alushta, 2005).
• [font color="burgundy"]12...Nh5 13.Qf2 Nf6 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Qg3 Rab8 16.e5[/font] reamins equal.

7.Bg5

• If [font color="red"]7.Nf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]7...d6 8.Nc3 Be7 9.a4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9...Nc6 10.Bg5 Be6 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Nd2 0-0 13.Nc4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]13...Rc8 14.Ne3 Bg5 15.Ned5 Ne7 16.Nxe7+ Qxe7[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (I. Vasilevich-Igla, Euro Youth, Halkidiki, 2001).
• [font color="burgundy"]13...Bg5 14.Re1 g6 15.Bf1 Nd4 16.a5 Bxc4 17.Bxc4[/font] gives White a slight advantage ibn space (Novikova-Igla, World Youth Girls, Oropesa del Mar, Spain, 2001).
• [font color="darkpink"]9...b6 10.Nd2 0-0 11.Nc4 Bg4 12.Qe1 Be6 13.Bg5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Fedorowicz-Dorfman, Op, New York, 1989).
• If [font color="darkred"]7...Nc6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]8.Bg5 h6 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.Nc3 Bc5 11.Nd5 Qd8 12.c3 d6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]13.b4 Ba7 14.Bc4 0-0 15.Qd3 Be6 16.Bb3[/font]gives White a small advantage in space (Motylev-Pantsulaia, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2011).
• [font color="darkorange"]13.Qe2 0-0 14.Rad1 Bg4 15.Bc2 Ne7 16.b4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (N. Guiliev-Jobava, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2011).
• [font color="magenta"]8.Bc4 Be7 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Bg5 d6 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.h3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (L. Lenderman-Mishuchkov, World Sr Ch, Rijeka, 2011).

7...h6

• [font color="red"]7...d6 8.Nf5 Bxf5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.exf5 d5 11.c4[/font] gives White better pawns.(Nuri-De Jong, Op, Groningen, 2011).

8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.Nf5 g6

• If [font color="red"]9...d5 10.Nc3 d4 11.Nd5 Qd8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]12.Bc4 Nc6 13.f4 Na5 14.Qd3 Bxf5 15.exf5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (T. Kosintseva-Hou Yifan, ITW, Hangzhou, 2011).
• [font color="darkred"]12.Ng3 g6 13.f4 exf4 14.Nxf4 Nc6 15.Bc4 Ne5[/font] is equal (Vallejo-Kunte, Op, Pittaya, Thailand, 2011).

10.Ne3 Bc5 11.Nc3

• [font color="red"]11.Nd5 Qd8 12.b4 Ba7 13.a4 d6 14.a5?! Be6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Caruana-Nakamura, IT 1112, Reggio Emilia, 2012).

11...d6 12.Ncd5 Qd8 13.Kh1 (N)

• White signals that he intends to play f3f4.
• If [font color="red"]13.c3!? Be6![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]14.Bc2!? 0-0 15.Ng4 Nd7 16.Nxh6+ Kg7 17.Nf5+ gxf5 18.exf5 Bxd5[/font] is equal (Karjakin-Svidler, Yal Mem, Moscow, 2010).
• [font color="darkred"]14.Bc4! 0-0 15.a4 Nd7 16.b4 Bxe3 17.Nxe3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="blue"]13.Qf3 Be6 14.Rad1 Nd7 15.c3 Bxe3 16.Nxe3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

13...Nc6

• Black tightens the game.
• [font color="red"]13...Be6! 14.f4 Bxe3 15.Nxe3 exf4 16.Rxf4 Qg5 17.g3[/font] gives White only a slim advantage in space.

14.Ng4

• White still has a small advantage in space; Black's game is somewhat cramped.

14...0-0 15.Ngf6+ Kg7 16.c3!?

• This is apparently played with the idea of developing the Queen on either a4 or b3.
• More flexible is [font color="red"]16.Qd2! Be6 17.f4 Bxd5 18.Nxd5 Ne7 19.Nxe7 Qxe7 20.f5[/font] giving White a fair advantage.

16...Be6?!

• Black misses a chance to exchange out of a cramped position.
• If [font color="red"]16...Ne7! 17.Bc2 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 a5 19.f4 exf4 20.Rxf4[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Fabiano Caruana[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Veselin Topolov[/center][center]Position after 16...Bc8e6[/center]

17.f4!

• White has a small advantage in space.

17...Bxd5 18.Nxd5 exf4 19.Rxf4 Qg5

• If [font color="red"]19...Rc8?! 20.Qd2![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]20...a5 21.Raf1 Ne5 22.g3 Rb8 23.Be2 b5 24.b4[/font] gives White a strong initiative.
• [font color="darkred"]20...Qg5 21.b4 Ba7 22.Raf1 Ne5 23.Be2 Rc6 24.a4[/font] gives White more freedom.

20.Qf1

• White has command of the semi-open f-file.

20...Ne5 21.Rd1!?

• White overprotects the Bishop, but it might be easier to just move it.
• If [font color="red"]21.Be2! a5 22.Qe1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]22...Nd7 23.h4 Qe5 24.Qg3 Nb6 25.Rd1 Nxd5 26.Rxd5[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage in space and the initiative.
• [font color="darkred"]22...h5?! 23.Qd2! Rac8 24.g3 Kg8 25.a3 Ba7 26.b4[/font] gives White a substantial advantage owing to his control of f6 and f7.

21...Rae8!?

• White overprotects the Bishop, but it might be easier to just move it.
• If [font color="red"]21...h5! 22.g3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]22...Rh8 23.b4 Ba7 24.Qg2 a5 25.Bb5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.


• [font color="darkred"]22...a5 23.a4 Rh8 24.Qh3 Rac8 25.Be2 Rhf8 26.Rdf1[/font] leaves White with more activity, command of the f-file and a comfortable advantage in space.

22.Bc2!?

• White's strength is clearly on the kingside, so the Bishop should be go to e2.
• If [font color="red"]22.b4! Ba7 23.Be2 h5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]24.g3! Rc8 25.a4 Rfd8 26.Qg2 Re8 27.Rdf1[/font] gives White more freedom.
• If [font color="darkred"]24.h4?! Qg3! 25.Qe1 Qxe1+ 26.Rxe1[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]26...Nd7 27.Bc4 Rc8 28.Bb3 Ne5 29.Ref1 a5 30.bxa5 Rc5[/font] is equal.
• [font color="magenta"]26...f5 27.Nc7 Re7 28.Nd5 Ree8 29.Nc7 Re7 etc.[/font] draws.

22...h5

• White has a small advantage in space. Things could have been much worse for Black.

23.Bb3?!

• White overprotects the Knight. removing soem protection from the e-pawn to do so.
• If [font color="red"]23.g3! Ng4 24.h3 Ne5 25.Qg2[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]25...a5 26.b4 axb4 27.cxb4 Ba7 28.h4 Qd8 29.Ba4[/font] gives White the initiative and a comfortable advantage in space.
• [font color="darkred"]25...Rc8 26.a4 a5 27.Bd3 Rg8 28.h4 Qd8 29.Bb5[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage.

23...Ng4!

• Black turns the game around and assumes a fair advantage in space.

24.g3

• If [font color="red"]24.Rd2?![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]24...f5! 25.Re2 fxe4 26.g3 Qd8 27.Rxf8 Rxf8[/font] leaves Black with an extra pawn, command of attacking lanes and the initiative.
• [font color="darkred"]24...Rxe4 25.Rxe4 Qxd2 26.Re2 Qg5 27.h3 Ne5[/font] leave Black with an extra pawn.

[center]BLACK: Fabiano Caruana[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Veselin Topolov[/center][center]Position after 24.g2g3[/center]

24...Rxe4!!

• The sham sacrifice diverts the Rook from the f-file, allowing Black to regain material immediately.

25.Rxe4

• If [font color="red"]25.Re1 Rxe1 26.Qxe1 Qe5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]27.Rf1 f5 28.Qxe5+ dxe5 29.h3 Nf2+ 30.Kg2 Nd3[/font] wins a pawn, leaving Black up by two pawns.
• If [font color="darkred"]27.Qxe5+ dxe5 28.Rf1 e4 29.Kg2 Rd8 30.Re1 f5[/font] leaves Black up by two pawns.

25...Nf2+

• This is according to plan.

26.Qxf2?

• White gives up more material than necessary and loses.
• Correct is [font color="red"]26.Kg2! Nxe4 27.Qf4 Qxf4 28.Nxf4 Nf6 29.Re1 Re8[/font] leaving Black with an extra pawn, but White has drawing chances in a minor piece ending.

26...Bxf2!

• Of course, Black takes it.

27.Kg2 Bc5 28.h4 Qf5 29.Re2

• If [font color="red"]29.Rf4 Qe5 30.Rdf1 Qe2+ 31.Kh3 f5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]32.Nc7 Kh6 33.Ne6 Re8 34.Nxc5 dxc5 35.R1f2 Qd3[/font] leaves Black winning with an extra pawn and more freedom.
• If [font color="darkred"]32.Bd1[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]32...Qxb2 33.a4 Qa2 34.Bf3 Re8 35.Rd1 b6.[/font]

29...Qg4?

• This should have cost Black the victory.
• If [font color="red"]29...Kh6! 30.Rde1 a5 31.Rd1 b5 32.Rf1 Qc8[/font] gives Black a tactical edge; for example, he can pin the Knight at d5 and then advace his a-pawn, driving the Bishop from its post protecting the Knight.
• If [font color="blue"]29...g5![/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]30.Bc2 Qd7 31.Re7 Qb5[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]32.Bb3 gxh4 33.gxh4 Bb6 34.Nxb6 Qxb6 35.Rf1 Qd8[/font] gives Black in spite of a temporary material deficit; Black will eith take a Rook, giving him an overwhelming material advantage, or if White plays 36.Rxb7, replies 36...Qxa4 and commences an attack on White's exposed King.
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]32.b4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="dodgerblue"]32...Bb6 33.Re4 Bd8 34.hxg5 Bxg5 35.a4 Qc6.[/font]
• [font color="darkblue"]30.hxg5 Qxg5 31.Nf4 h4 32.Rd3 b5 33.Re4 Qf5[/font] gives Black a strong initiative.

30.Rde1?

• White fails to capitialize on Black's weak play and loses after all.
• If [font color="red"]30.Re7! g5 31.Rf1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]31...gxh4 32.Rfxf7+ Rxf7 33.Rxf7+ Kxf7 34.Ne3+[/font] continues to give Black the advantage, but with the Bishops of opposite colors making a draw the likely outcome.
• [font color="darkred"]31...Qc8?! 32.hxg5 Qg4 33.Rfxf7+ Rxf7 34.Rxf7+ Kxf7 35.Nf6+[/font] gives White the upper hand, but with the only pieces remaining Bishops of opposite colors the game will likely end in a draw.

[center]BLACK: Fabiano Caruana[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Veselin Topolov[/center][center]Position after 30.Rd1e1[/center]

30...g5!

• Black shuts down White's kingside.

31.Re4

• If [font color="red"]31.Ne3[/font] loses quickly after [font color="red"]31...Qe4+ 32.Kh3 f5 33.Bd5 Qe5[/font] when:
• If [font color="red"]34.c4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]34...f4 35.gxf4 Qxf4 36.Kg2 Bxe3 37.Rxe3 Qf2+.[/font]
• [font color="darkred"]34.Bf3 f4 35.Ng4 Qf5 36.Re7+ Rf7 37.Rxf7+ Kxf7[/font] wins the Knight; White has no good moves at all.

31...Qf5 32.R1e2 gxh4 33.Nf4

• [font color="red"]33.gxh4 Qg6+ 34.Kf3 Re8 35.Rg2 Qxg2+ 36.Kxg2 Rxe4[/font] still leaves Black an exchange and a pawn to the good.

33...Qg5 34.Kh1 d5 35.Bxd5

• If [font color="red"]35.Re5[/font] then after [font color="red"]35...Qg4 36.Bxd5 Rd8 37.Rg2 Kf8 38.Rxh5 hxg3[/font] White is toast.

35...hxg3 36.c4

• [font color="red"]36.Bc4 Qh4+ 37.Kg2 Qh2+ 38.Kf3 Qh1+ 39.Rg2 h4[/font] squeezes White in a vise.

36...Qh4+ 37.Kg2 Qh2+ 38.Kf3 Qh1+ 39.Kxg3 h4+ 0-1

• [font color="red"]40.Kg4 f5+[/font] wins a Rook.
• G-n Topalov resigns.