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[Jack Rabbit]

20. Morozevich - Giri, Round 2

Alexander Morozevich had been nipping at Nakamura's heels throughout the tornament and appeared to be the beneficiary of Naka's collapse until the last round, whenm he lost to Vitugov, who finished at the foot of the table.

This game came in the second round, when Moro and Naka were up and Anish Giri was down.
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Alexander Morozevich
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by karpidis modified from flickr ([link:creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en|Creative Commons License], Attribution/Share Alike)
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Anish Giri - Alexander Morozevich
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1652234
54th Torneo di Capadanno, Round 2
Reggio Emilia, 28 December 2011

Slav Queen's Gambit: Tikhi Opening

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.e3 Bg4 5.h3 Bh5 6.Nc3 e6 7.g4 Bg6 8.Ne5 Nbd7

• For the more usual lines of the Tikhi Opening, see Jakovenko-Vitiugov, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2009.

9.h4

• If [font color="red"]9.Nxg6 hxg6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]10.Bg2 dxc4 11.Qe2 Nb6 12.0-0 Be7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13.Rd1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]13...g5 14.a4 a5 15.e4 Nfd7 16.Be3 e5 17.d5[/font] is equal; Black's extra pawn counts for nothing (Hebden-L'Ami, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2008).
• If [font color="darkred"]13...Nfd7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14.e4 e5 15.dxe5 Qc7 16.e6 fxe6 17.g5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn (Stefanova-Predojevic, Op, Chalkida, 2009).
• [font color="magenta"]14.Ne4 Rc8 15.a4 a5 16.Nd2 Bd6 17.Nxc4 Nxc4 18.Qxc4[/font] regains the pawn with equality.
• [font color="burgundy"]13.a4 a5 14.Rd1 Nfd5 15.e4 Nb4 16.Be3 0-0[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, but White has better pawns (Tukmakov-Malakhatko, Op, Winterthur, 2002).
• If [font color="darkred"]10.Bd2 Bb4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Qb3 a5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12.g5 Ne4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Bxb4 axb4 15.h4 Qa5 16.Bg2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Vallejo-Najer, Op, Baku, 2011).
• [font color="darkorange"]12.Bg2 Qc7 13.a3 Bxc3 14.Bxc3 a4 15.Qa2 Nb6 16.cxd5 exd5[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Malaniuk-Movsesian, Rpd IT, Warsaw, 2005).
• [font color="magenta"]11.Rc1 Qc7 12.a3 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 Ne4 14.Bg2 Nxc3[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Bareev-Najer, Op, Philadelphia, 2009).

9...dxc4 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.g5

• If [font color="red"]11.Bxc4 Bb4 12.Bd2 Bxc3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13.bxc3 Ne4 14.Qf3 Nxd2 15.Kxd2[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]15...Ne5 16.Qe2 Nxc4+ 17.Qxc4 Rxh4 18.Rab1 Rxh1 19.Rxh1 Kd7 20.f4 Kc7 21.Rh7 Qg8 22.Qc5[/font] draw (Stohl-Timoshchenko, Czech ChT, 2005).
• If [font color="darkred"]15...Rxh4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16.Rxh4 Qxh4 17.Rh1 Qf6 18.Rh8+ Nf8![/font] is equal.
• If [font color="magenta"]16.Ba6!?[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]16...Rb8 17.Rxh4 Qxh4 18.Rh1 Qg5 19.Rh8+ Ke7[/font] gives Black a comfortable game.
• If [font color="darkorange"]16...bxa6!?[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]17.Rxh4 Qxh4 18.Rh1 Qd8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]19.Rh8+ Nf8 20.Qxc6+[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]20...Ke7! 21.Qb7+ Ke8 22.Qc6+ etc.[/font] draws.
• [font color="purple"]20...Qd7?? 21.Qxa8+!! Ke7 22.Qxf8+[/font] leads to mate.
• If [font color="hotpink"]19.Qxc6?? Ke7 20.Qxa6 Rb8[/font] then:
• [font color="hotpink"]21.g5 Qb6 22.Qa3+ Qd6 23.Qxd6+ Kxd6[/font] leaves White a piece down
• If [font color="burgundy"]21.c4 Qb6[/font] then:
• [font color="burgundy"]22.Qxb6 Rxb6 23.Kc2 e5[/font] leaves Black a piece down.
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• [font color="darkpink"]22.Qa3+ Kf6 23.f4 Qb2+ 24.Qxb2 Rxb2+[/font] leaves Black a piece down.
• If [font color="purple"]17.Qxc6?[/font] leaves White a piece down after [font color="purple"]17...Rb8! 18.Rab1 Rb6! 19.Rxb6 axb6 20.Rxh4 Qxh4.[/font]
• [font color="darkpink"]13.Bxc3 Ne4 14.h5 gxh5 15.gxh5 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Qa5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (J. Cori Tello-Hovhannisyan, World Jr Ch, Chotowa, Poland, 2010).

11...Nd5 12.Bxc4 Bb4

• If [font color="red"]12...Be7 13.Qf3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]13...N7b6 14.Bb3 Nb4 15.Ke2 c5 16.Qxb7[/font] is equal (Lautier-Chernin, Rpd Op, Corsica, 2001).
• If [font color="darkred"]13...Qc7 14.Bb3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14...N5b6?! 15.e4! Rf8 16.Bf4 Bd6 17.Be3 e5 18.Rc1[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Aronian-Gufstafsson, German I-Net Ch, Cyberspace, 2004).
• [font color="magenta"]14...Qa5! 15.Bd2 Nxc3 16.Bxc3 Bb4 17.Rc1 Nb6 18.Kd2[/font] is equal.

13.Bd2 Qe7 14.a3 Nxc3 (N)

• [font color="red"]14...Ba5 15.Qc2 Nxc3 16.Bxc3 Bxc3+ 17.Qxc3 Nb6 18.Bb3[/font] is equal and is shortly agreed drawn (Tregubov-Inarkiev, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2009).

15.bxc3

• The game is equal.
• [font color="red"]15.Qb3 Nb5 16.Qxb4 Nd6 17.Be2 Nb6 18.Rc1 Nf5[/font] is equal.

15...Ba5 16.f4

• [font color="red"]16.Qa4?! Nb6 17.Qxa5 Nxc4 18.Qb4 Nd6[/font] gives Black a small advantage in freedom.

16...0-0-0 17.Qb3!?

• 17.Qa4 carries with it a slight initiative.
• [font color="red"]17.Qa4 Bb6 18.Qb3 Rh7 19.0-0-0 Rdh8 20.Be1 Ba5[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Alexander Morozevich[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anish Giri[/center][center]Position after 17.Qd1b3[/center]

17...Nb6!

• Black makes sure that neither Qxb7 nor Qa5 is on the table; he now has a small advantage with pressure on three backward pawns.

18.Bd3 Kb8 19.Ke2!?

• White chooses to get his Rook connected this way; Fritz recommends putting more pressure on the d5 square first.
• [font color="red"]19.Be4 Qc7 20.Bf3 Nd5 21.Rb1 Ne7 22.Kf2 Nf5[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage with pressure on key points.

19...Qd7!

• Black has a fair advantage with grater activity and freedom.
• If [font color="red"]19...Qc7 20.Rab1 c5 21.Be4 c4 22.Qc2 Nd5[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage in space.

20.Be4 f6

• If [font color="red"]20...Nc8 21.Be1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]21...Rdg8 22.a4! Ne7 23.c4 Bxe1 24.Raxe1 Rh7 25.Qa3 Rgh8[/font] soon gives Black an extra pawn.
• [font color="darkred"]21...Rde8 22.a4 Nd6 23.Bf3 f6 24.gxf6 gxf6[/font] gives White a slimmer edge in space.

21.gxf6

• [font color="red"]21.Bxg6!? e5! 22.fxe5 Qg4+ 23.Kd3 fxe5 24.Rag1 Qc8[/font] gives Black a free and active position in compensation for the pawn.

21...gxf6 22.Rag1 e5 23.fxe5

• [font color="red"]23.Rxg6 exd4 24.cxd4 Bxd2 25.Kxd2 Rhe8 26.Bd3 Qe7[/font] puts pressure on e3.

23...fxe5 24.Rg5!?

• It would be better to just take the pawn.
• [font color="red"]24.Rxg6 Rhe8 25.Rf1 exd4 26.Rf7 Re7 27.Rxe7 d3+[/font] continues to gives Black a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Alexander Morozevich[/center]

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[center]WHITE: Anish Giri[/center][center]Position after 24.Rg1g5[/center]

24...exd4!!

• There are two kinds of sacrifices: Sound ones and mine. -- Mikhail Tal
• This is a Tal-like sacrifice. It's flashy and, most importantly, it confounds White, but with correct play, White will be no worse off than before.

25.Rxa5?

• White falls into the trap.
• If [font color="red"]25.exd4![/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]25...Nd5 26.Bxd5 cxd5 27.Kd1 Bc7 28.Kc1 Qf7[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkred"]a) 25...Rhe8!?[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]26.Kd3 Nd5 27.Bxg6 Rf8 28.Be4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]28...Rf2 29.Be3 Rf6 30.Bd2 Qf7 31.Rb1 Bb6 32.Be1 Re6[/font] gives Black a small advante in that he can penetrate White's position on the f-file; White has a remote passer and more space.
• [font color="darkorange"]28...Rde8?! 29.Rxd5! cxd5 30.Qxd5! Qc7 31.Rb1 Bb6 32.h5[/font] gives White two extra pawns and a distant passer.
• [font color="magenta"]26.Bf4+?! Ka8 27.Be5 Nd5! 28.Bxd5 cxd5 29.Rhg1 Rc8[/font] gives Black the initiative as White cannot allow 30...Rxc3.
• If [font color="darkred"]b) 25...Rh5 26.Rxg6 Nd5 27.Kd1[/font] then:
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• If [font color="darkred"]27...Nxc3+ 28.Bxc3 Bxc3 29.Qxc3 Qxd4+ 30.Qxd4 Rxd4+[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]31.Kc2 Rxe4 32.Rg8+ Kc7 33.Rg7+ Kb6 34.Rb1+ Rb5 35.Rxb5+ cxb5[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage in space.
• [font color="burgundy"]31.Kc1?[/font] prevents White from checking on b1 and now [font color="burgundy"]31...Rxe4 32.Rg8+ Kc7 33.Rg7+ Kb6 34.Rf1 Rc4+![/font] drives the White King to the center, making both of White's pawns vulnerable; Black should win.
• If [font color="magenta"]27...Re8!? 28.Bxd5! Rxd5 29.a4 Qh7[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]30.Rxc6! Qd3 31.Qxd5 Qb1+ 32.Bc1 Qd3+ 33.Bd2 Qb1+ etc.[/font] draws.
• If [font color="darkorange"]30.Rhg1 Qxh4 31.Rxc6 Qf2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]32.Rg7 Qxd2+ 33.Kxd2 Rxd4+ 34.Kc2 Re2+ 35.Kb1 Re1+ 36.Kc2 etc.[/font] draws.
• If [font color="purple"]32.Re1??[/font] then Black wins after [font color="purple"]32...Rxe1+! 33.Bxe1 Rxd4+ 34.cxd4 Qxe1+ 35.Kc2 Qe4+!.[/font]

25...Rhe8!

• Black regroups his pieces, bringing the King's Rook to the center and preparing to redeply the Queen to the kingside.
• If [font color="red"]25...Qg4+ 26.Bf3 d3+ 27.Kf2[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]27...Rdf8 28.Qd1 Rxh4 29.Rxh4 Qxh4+[/font] gives Black a devastating attack.
• If [font color="darkred"]27...Rhf8!? 28.Qd1! Nd5![/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]29.Rg1 Qxh4+ 30.Kg2 Qe7 31.Ra4 Nxe3+ 32.Bxe3 Qxe3[/font] gives White three pawns for a Bishop.
• If [font color="magenta"]29.Rxd5?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]29...Rxd5! 30.e4 Rg5 31.Bxg5 Qxe4.[/font]

26.Bg2

• White considerably shortens his agony.
• He'll put up a more stubborn fight after [font color="red"]26.cxd4 Rxe4 27.Kd1 Rxd4!! 28.exd4 Qxd4 29.Qb4 Qa1+[/font] Black wins back the sacrificed Rook.
• The sacrifice is much stronger than [font color="darkred"]27...Nd5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]28.Kc1 Rde8 29.h5 gxh5 30.Rxh5 Nxe3[/font] gives Black an overwhelming position.
• If [font color="magenta"]28.Ra4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]28...Rde8 29.Kc1 Qf5 30.Qc2 Qg4 31.Qd1 Qe6.[/font]

26...dxe3!

• Black pries open the center, White is toast.

27.Bc1

• We now turn for commentary to the incomparable " target="_blank">Nat King Cole.
• If [font color="red"]27.Bxe3 Qd2+ 28.Kf1 Qd3+[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]29.Kg1[/font] then after [font color="red"]29...Qxe3+ 30.Kh2 Qf4+ 31.Kh3 Rd3+[/font] Black gives mate on the next move.
• If [font color="darkred"]29.Ke1[/font] then [font color="darkred"]29...Qxe3+ 30.Kf1 Qe1#.[/font]

27...Qd3+

• Also good is [font color="red"]27...Qg4+ 28.Bf3 Qg3 29.Bxe3 Qf4 30.c4 Nxc4.[/font]

28.Ke1

[center]BLACK: Alexander Morozevich[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anish Giri[/center][center]Position after 28.Ke2e1[/center]

28...e2

• Even better is [font color="red"]28...Rf8 29.Rh3 Nc4 30.Rf3 Nd2 31.Rxf8 Rxf8.[/font]

29.Bf4+ Ka8 30.Kf2 Rf8 31.Qb4 Nc4 32.Qa4 Nxa5

• A quicker win is [font color="red"]32...Rxf4+ 33.Bf3 Qxf3+ 34.Ke1 Qf2#.[/font]

33.Bf3 b5 0-1

• [font color="red"]34.Qb4 Qf5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]35.Kg2 Rd1 36.Rxd1 exd1Q 37.Bxd1 Qxf4[/font] leaves White up by a Rook.
• If [font color="darkred"]35.Bxe2[/font] then White loses material before being mated after [font color="darkred"]35...Nc4 36.Kg2 Qe4+.[/font]
• Mh. Giri resigns.