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Topalov switches from to Bogo-Catalan into a main stream Open Catalan, perhaps as a means of keeping Kramnik on his toes, the opening certainly didn’t fail him in game 1.

A sharper rarely-seen sideline – typical of Topalov’s active style. He could easily have gone straight for equality with Bxg2. We are following in the footsteps of Tkachiev – Solozhenkin, the only other Grandmaster game with this line.

12.Nxc6 is a viable alternative

There wasn’t much to be gained by 13. Kxg2. Kramnik seeks the more active continuation.

Forced.

13… Bc6?? 14. Nxc6 unleashes a discovered attack on the Black queen. Black has to drop a piece.

Shredder 7: 13… Nc6?? 14. Nxe6 Qb6 15. Nxc5 Bh3 16. Qxb6 axb6 17. Nxb7 O-O 18. Nd6 Nd7 19. Be3 Nc5 20. Nd5 Rab8 [2.96/13]

Topalov’s improvement over Solozhenkin’s 15… Be7.

15… Be7 16. Bf4 Rc8 17. Nf3 Nc4 18. Na4 b5 19. b3 Ncb6 20. Nxb6 Nxb6 21. Qxd8+ Bxd8 22. e4 f6 23. Rd6 White’s superior development lands him a strong rook backed with active minor pieces. 23… Ke7 24. Nd4! e5 25. Nf5+ Kf7 26. Be3 g6 27. Nh6+ Kg7 28. Rad1 Tkachiev effortlessly activates all his pieces, constantly harrassing his opponent with threats. 28… Rb8 29. Rd7+! Nxd7 30. Rxd7+ Kf8 31. Nf7 White is thoroughly dominating the position. 31… Rg8? (31… Be7 although better, does not save Black.) 32. Nd6 g5 33. Rf7# Tkachiev – Solozhenkin, France 2000, 1-0 (33)

Kramnik has come out fighting! The bishop is untouchable.

16… Qxg5 17. Nxe6! and Black has two main variations:

• 17… Ne5 18. Nxg5 Nxd3 19. Rxd3 +/-
• 17… Qe7 18. Nxg7+ Hitting the defender of d7 – the Black king. 18… Kd8 (18… Kf8 19. Nf5 +-) Shredder 7: 19. Nd5! Qd6 20. Nf5 Qe6 21. b4 Nc4 22. bxc5 Rxc5 23. Rab1 +-

17. Ne4 Nc4 18. Rac1 += Shredder 7 offers the variations:

• 18… Nde5 19. Qb1 Bxg5 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Rxd8+ Bxd8 22. Qa1 Bc7 23. b3 O-O [0.81/13]
• 18… Nce5 19. Rxc8 Qxc8 20. Qb1 f6 21. Bf4 Kf7 22. Nf3 Ng6 23. Bd6 [0.44/12]
• 18… Nxb2 19. Qb1 Nxd1 20. Nd6+ Bxd6 21. Bxd8 Ne3+ 22. fxe3 Rxc1 23. Qxc1 Kxd8 24. Qb2 Kc8 25. Nf3 Nf6 26. Qb6 [0.94/12]
• 18… Ndb6 19. Qf3 Ne5 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21. Rxc8+ Nxc8 22. Qh5 Nc4 23. b3 N4d6 24. Ng5 g6 [1.06/12]
• 18… Bxg5 19. Rxc4 Be7 20. Nf3 Rxc4 21. Qxc4 O-O 22. Qa4 Nb6 23. Rxd8 Nxa4 24. Rd7 f5 25. Rxe7 fxe4 26. Ng5 [1.12/12]
• 18… b5 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. b3 f5 21. bxc4 fxe4 22. Qxe4 Nf6 23. Qe5 O-O 24. Qxe6+ Qxe6 25. Nxe6 Rfe8 26. Rd6 bxc4 27. Rxa6 [1.95.11]

Shredder 7: 19… Nde5 20. Qe4 O-O 21. b3 f5 22. Qh4 Qe8 23. e3 Rf6 24. Qf4 Ng4 25. Rxc4 Rxc4 26. bxc4 Qxa4 [0.29/14]

The most active continuation

Shredder 7: 20… Nde5 21. Qe4 f5 22. Qb1 Qb7+ 23. Nf3 Ne3+ 24. fxe3 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 bxa4 26. bxa4 Qxb1 [0.41/14]

Opening the d-file and gaining entry to the seventh rank with tempo.

The only move that gives Topalov a fighting chance; he avoids going straight into a difficult rook endgame.

Active defence. Topalov opens the third rank as well as threatening to keep pushing the pawn.

Considering the passage of play, this move does nothing to prevent Black’s counterplay.

And so Topalov whittles White’s initiative and forces a passive retreat.

The mobility and coordination of the black queen and rook is astonishing.

By sacrificing a pawn, White has regained the initiative.

Now the a-pawn pawn falls.

The threat of opening up the f-file is dangerous and pushes the game into Black’s favour. Black’s a-pawn is now untouchable. This forces White to bale out into a perpetual check.

36. Rxa3 fxe4 -+

A splendid game that does credit for both players. Topalov shows his aggression and creativity are unharmed after a tragic start. He is the moral victor in this battle.

10… Bxc3 11. bxc3 Nxe4 12. Ba3 stops Black castling kingside, so Black tends to castle queenside, where the open lines give White sufficient compensation for the sacrificed pawns.

An old, and rarely tried, continuation

• 14… h6 15. Ne1 (15. Bd2 is innocuous. Iljushin – Kupreichik, IECC 2003, 1/2 (20))
  • 15… Bxe1 16. Rxe1 Bg6 Both retreats 17. Bf1 and 17. Be2 leave both sides with a solid position. Beliavsky – Ribli, Bled 2000, 1/2 (50) and Kramnik – Bareev, ECC Final 1999, 1/2 (26)}
  • 15… Bg6 16. Bxg6 fxg6 17. Nc2 Ba5 18. Qd3 Kh7 19. f4 a6 20. b4 Bb6 21. g4 White is pushing aggressively on all fronts. 21… Qh4 22. Ne3 Rac8 23. Bd2 h5 24. Rae1 a temporary pawn sacrifice, Black can’t hold his extra pawn. 24… hxg4 25. Re2 Rf7 26. Rg2 Nf8 27. Rxg4 Qe7 28. a5 Ba7 29. Rf3 Kg8 30. Rh3 The White rooks are majestic. 30… Qe8 31. Rgh4 +- Rfc7 32. f5! Kf7 33. Rh8 Qb5 34. fxg6+ Ke7 (34… Nxg6 35. Rf3+ And the knight is lost.) 35. Rf3! Rc1+ 36. Kg2 Bacrot – Gustafsson, Bundesliga 2004, 1-0 (36)
  • 15… f5 Trying to drum up counter-play down the f-file to compensate for the weakened kingside. 16. exf6 Qxf6 17. Qg3 (17. Bb5 roughly equal chances. Gelfand – Lautier, Horgen 1994, 1-0 (58)) 17… Rac8 18. Bb5 Nb8 19. Nd3 a6 with a balanced position. van Wely – Pelletier, 49th Spanish Team Ch 2005, 1-0 (84)
• 14… Be7 is another lid continuation for Black. Beliavsky – Ribli, Slovenian Team Ch 2001, 1-0 (69)
• 14… Re8 Berkes – Portisch, 53rd Hungarian Ch 2003, 1-0 (47)

15. Bxg6 fxg6 16. Ng5 Re8 17. Qh3 Nf8 18. Qb3 Petrosian – Smyslov, Bar 1980, 1/2 (18)

A very committal move. But the solid alternatives 16… Nf8 and 16… Rc8 are both aggressively met with 17. g4.

Black needs nerves of steel to defend this sort of position.

18. Qb5 a5 Taking the b-pawn is too risky

18. exf6 Nxf6 += and taking advantage of the weak e6-pawn and e5-square is no easy matter.

Vacating the g1-square for the rook and preparing the way for g4. Its quite possible Rf1-f3 will happen first, followed by a later Rag1.

Shredder 7: 19. Qb5 Be7 20. Qxb7 Qb8 21. Qxb8 Raxb8 22. Ra2 Rb3 23. Bd2 Reb8 24. Bc3 Bxg5 25. fxg5 Kf7 [0.62/14]

19. h3

After long thought. Bolstering protection for the f5-square, as well as hitting the a4-pawn, which hopefully should slow down White’s other rook from entering the fray. Shredder 7:

• 20… h6 21. Nxe6! Rxe6 22. gxf5 Rec6 (22… Re7 23. Rg1 Kh8 24. Rg3 Nh7 25. f6 gxf6 26. Rag1 Qe8 27. Qf5 Rec7 28. b3 Qc6 [0.59/14]) 23. Rg1 Kh8 24. f6 gxf6 25. f5 h5 26. Qe2 Qc7 27. Qg2 Qf7 [0.59/15]
• 20… Qd7 21. gxf5 exf5 22. Rac1 g6 23. b3 Ba3 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Bd2 Be7 26. Rg1 Bxg5 27. Rxg5 Kh8 28. Qh3 Rc2 29. Qh6 [0.73/15]
• 20… fxg4 21. f5 Be7 22. Nxe6 Nxe6 23. fxe6 Qb6 24. Qf5 g3 25. Rac1 Qxb2 26. hxg3 Kh8 27. Rxc8 Rxc8 28. Bg5 g6 29. Bf6+ Kg8 30. Qh3 [1.09/15]
• 20… g6 21. gxf5 exf5 22. Qb5 a5 23. Qxb7 Be7 24. Nf3 Rb8 25. Qc6 Rxb2 26. Rab1 Re2 [1.41/15]

Black has stemmed the tide of White’s kingside attack.

The sting behind this move only becomes apparent two moves later. What looks like desparation to commentators is part of an exceptionally beautiful manoeuvre that breathes fire into White’s attack.

With the threat of …Qb5 swopping off White’s perfectly position queen.

Grandmaster commentators at this point were noting that Topalov had lost his head, and Kramnik would steamroller to another win.

By shifting from the queen exchange, White’s threats on the kingside suddenly flair to life again.

Only move to avoid the immediate crushing mating attacks. Shredder 7:

• 29… Nxg6 30. Qxg6+ hxg6 31. Rxg6+ Kh7 32. R6g3 Qf1 33. Rxf1 Rg8 34. Rh3+ Kg7 35. f5 exf5 36. Rg1+ Kf8 37. Bh6+ Kf7 38. e6+ Kxe6 39. Rxg8 a5 40. Rg6+ Kd7 41. Ne5+ Kc7 42. Rc3+ Kb8 43. Rc1 [5.46/14]
• 29… Rxc2 30. gxh7+ Kxh7 31. Rg7+ Kh8 32. Rg8+ Kh7 33. R1g7+ Kh6 34. f5+ Bg5 35. Rxg5 Qf1+ 36. Ng1! +-

31… Kxf8 32. Qg6 Qe2 33. Qxg4 +/- Threatening mate on g7 and g8.

32. Rxg4+ Bg7 33. Qc7! +-

33. Ng5 and White has at least a draw by perpetual check

33… exf5 34. Ng5 Qc6 35. e6 +-

34. Ng5 is not good enough 34… Qe2 -+

Black is walking a tightrope.

Shredder 7: 36. Qh5 b5 37. Rg3 Qd1+ 38. Bg1 Rc2 39. fxg7 Qxf3+ 40. Rxf3 Rc3 [1.18/13]

Smothering White’s attack. Now the play switches into a complicated endgame.

37… Qxc2 = Perhaps its preferable to keep the White king cut off from his pieces.

The king has a big part to play in the resulting endgame. Its amazing Topalov is still retains his composure and will to win even after the previous set-backs he’s faced in this game.

Overprotecting the f6-pawn. The perennial threat is the advance of the e6-pawn, and the connected passed pawns can easily outmatch even a rook

Black has to divert one of the White minor pieces – and this passed pawn is the key.

Pulling the knight away from behind the White pawn centre.

Shredder 7: 45. Nd2 Rc7 46. Nb3 Rc3 47. Nc1 b5 48. fxg7 b4 49. e6 Kxg7 50. Na2 Rf3+ 51. Kg4 b3 52. e7 Kf7 [-0.34/17]

Covering the important dark-squares, and protecting the a-pawn to prevent the White bishop from decisively entering via the queenside.

Shredder 7: 45… a2 46. Bb2 b5 47. Ng5 Ra7 48. fxg7 a1=B 49. Bxa1 Rxa1 50. Kf6 Rf1+ 51. Kg6 Re1 52. Ne6 b4 53. Nf4 [-1.07/18]}

47. e7 Bxe7 48. fxe7 Rxe7 The a-pawn is untouchable because of …Re3!

Topalov’s final throw of the dice is three connected passed pawns versus the rook.

49. Kxd5 is slightly better, but Black is still on top. 49… Rf1 50. e7 Bxe7 51. fxe7 Kf7 -+

Now the White king can’t approach the black pawn.

The rook is splendidly placed, and White can make no further progress.

A solid continuation – almost Bogo-Indian like.

6. Nbd2 b5 7. O-O a5 8. a4 c6 9. Ne5 Nd5 10. e4 Ne7 11. d5? (11. Qg4 =) 11… O-O 12. Nxc6 Nbxc6 13. dxc6 c3! 14. bxc3? (Shredder 7: 14. Nf3 is slightly better, but Black is definitely in the driving seat. 14… Qxd1 15. Rxd1 c2 16. Rf1 bxa4 17. Be3 Ba6 18. Rfc1 Rac8 19. Rxc2 Bd3 20. Rcc1 Nxc6 21. e5 Be4 22. Bf4 Rfd8 23. Rxa4 Rd3 [-0.58/14]) 14… Bxc3 -+ 15. Ra2 b4 16. Nb1 Ba6 17. Nxc3 Bxf1 18. Qxf1 bxc3 19. Ba3 Nxc6 20. Bxf8 Qxf8 21. Rc2 Qc5 22. e5 Rc8 23. Bxc6 Qxc6 24. Qb5 Qe4 25. Qd7 Rb8 26. Rc1 h6 27. Qc7 Rb3 28. h4 Qd3 29. Qd6 Qxd6 30. exd6 Kf8 31. Kf1 Ke8 32. Ke2 Kd7 33. Kd3 Kxd6 34. Kc4 Rb4+ 35. Kxc3 Rxa4 36. Rd1+ Ke7 37. Rb1 Ra2 38. Rb7+ Kf6 Miroshnichenko – Korneev, WCC, Khanty Mansyisk RUS (1.4) 2005, 0-1 (38)

Black will find it difficult to develop his queenside quickly, but White has a sacrificed pawn to recover which might give Black time to unravel.

8. Nbxd2 is the other alternative b5 9. a4 c6 10. b3 cxb3 11. Nxb3 O-O 12. O-O Ba6 13. Nc5 = Nbd7 14. Rfd1 Qe7 15. Nb3 Qb4 16. Nc5 Nxc5 17. dxc5 Rad8 18. Rdb1 Qe4 19. Qb2 Rd5 20. e3 Rxc5 21. Nd4 Qe5 22. axb5 Bxb5 23. Rxa5 Nd5 Avrukh – Eljanov, 36th Olympiad Spain 2004, 1/2 (23)

8… Bd7 9. Ne5 Bc6 10. Nxc6 Nxc6 11. Na3 O-O 12. e3 Nb4?! 13. Nxc4 c5 14. a3 Nbd5 15. O-O (Shredder 7: 15. dxc5 Qe7 16. Qd4 Nd7 17. e4 Nxc5 18. exd5 exd5+ 19. Ne3 Nb3 20. Qd3 Nxa1 21. O-O a4 22. Rxa1 Qxa3 23. bxa3 [1.25/14]) 15… b5 16. Ne5 cxd4 17. Qxd4 Rc8 18. Rfc1 a4 19. Bf1 Qa5 20. e4 Ne7 21. Nd7 Nxd7 22. Qxd7 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Ng6 24. Qxb5 Qd2 25. Rc4 f5 26. exf5 Rxf5 27. Rc8+ Nf8 28. Qxf5 Delchev – Giorgadze, Spanish Team Ch 2006, 1-0 (28)

recouping his pawn and shattering the Black queenside pawn-structure.

A new move.

12… Na6 13. Qxc4 Nb4 14. Qb3 e5? Grischuk – Moiseenko, 13th Russian Team Championship 2006, 1-0 (102)

Shredder 7: 13. Qxa5 Qxa5+ 14. Rxa5 Nc6 15. Ra3 Nd5 16. e3 Rfb8 17. Nc3 Rxb2 18. Nxd5 exd5 19. Nd2 c3 20. Rxc3 [0.96/14]

an interesting tactical sequence that forces the queens from the board, leaving a technical position.

Shredder 7: 18… Nd5 19. Rfc1 Bxe2 20. Rc2 Bh5 21. Rc5 Rd8 22. f4 f6 23. Nec4 Ra7 24. Bxd5 exd5 25. Nxa5 Kf8 [0.37/15]

An improvement over the passive looking 19. Rfe1. At least now the White rook can take up a more active position on the queenside immediately rather than having to keep the e-pawn under guard.

Shredder 7: 19. Nbc4 Nbd7 20. Nxa5 Nxe5 [0.80/14]

After a long think. White has a number of options at this point. Shredder 7:

• 20. Nxd7 Bxd7 21. Nc4 a4 22. Rfb1 Rc8 23. Nd6 Rd8 24. e3 g5 25. Rb7 Ra6 26. Nc4 g4 27. Bg2 [0.14/16]
• 20. Nbc4 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 Nd5 22. Rfc1 Rb8 23. e4 Nb4 24. d5 Ra6 25. d6 f6 26. d7 Raa8 27. Nc4 Kf7 28. Nxa5 [0.11/16]
• 20. Nbd3 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 Nd5 22. Rfc1 Rb8 23. e4 Nb4 24. d5 Ra6 25. d6 f6 26. d7 Raa8 27. Nc4 Kf7 28. Nxa5 [0.11/16]

Shredder 7: 20… g5 21. Nxa5 g4 22. Bg2 Bxe2 23. Rfe1 Bb5 24. Nbc4 Rb8 25. Nd6 Ra6 26. Nab7 Be2 27. Rac1 [0.36/15]

Shredder 7: 21. Nxa5 Bxe2 22. Bxe2 Rxb2 23. Nc6 Rxa1 24. Rxa1 g5 25. Kf1 g4 26. Ne5 Nxe5 27. Ra8+ Kg7 [0.23/15]

The White bishop on f3 is slightly overworked, covering both the e2-pawn and the long diagonal. This move puts the question to the White light-squared bishop of whether to stay on the long a8-h1 diagonal, or keep a wary eye on the a4-square with Bd1

Kramnik decides its more important for the bishop to make its presence felt on the queenside, so opens up the path for it.

Shredder 7: 23. Bg2 Bxc4 24. Nxc4 Rxb1+ 25. Rxb1 a4 26. Ra1 Nd5 27. Kf1 Kg7 28. Ke2 Rc7 29. Kd3 Nb4+ 30. Kc3 Nd5+ 31. Kd3 Nb4+ 32. Kc3 Nd5+ 33. Kd3 Nb4+ [-0.08/14]

The start of an ardous regrouping in an effort to free up the White pieces.

24. Nxa5? Be4! -/+

Shredder 7: 24… Bd5 25. Nd3 Bxc4 26. Rxc4 h5 27. f3 gxf3 28. Bxf3 Rb3 29. Nc1 Rb5 30. h3 Kg7 31. Kf1 Nd5 32. Ke2 [-0.02/14]

Threatening Nc3.

25… Bd5 =

26. Nc5 is interesting

The Black pawn on f3 chokes the White kingside. Although it is difficult to defend this pawn, its just as difficult for White to attack it.

Shredder 7: 28. Nc5 a4 Black probably can’t afford to give White the advantage of a passed c-pawn. 29. Nd3 Rb3 30. Ne1 And the weakness of Black’s ambitious … g5!? is exposed. The pawn falls, and the only compensation Black has is the passed a-pawn. 30… Kg7 31. Nxf3 Ra6 32. Nc4 Ne4 33. Rc2 Kf6 34. h3 [0.39/15]

Heading for a certain draw by repetition – Black exchanges off the protector of the e4-square.

Although the position is equal, its Black who holds the initiative. White is in a semi-zugzwang, and must be careful about running out of moves. Black can take a draw any time he choses.

If Black can get his king into the White position – to the h3-square for example, then he has the Nxg3 sacrifice opening up the seventh rank, with the followup of …Rg2+ followed by …f2! threatening …Rh1 mate.

After long thought.

Now the White knight is locked out of play.

43… Kf5 44. g4+ Kg5 45. Nxe6+ Kh4 46. Nf4 this knight saves White’s position.

A visual move, but White can’t strengthen his position.

A sign that White has no prospects of improving his position.

A more active protection of the f2-pawn.

Trying to get to the g-file.

Shredder 7: 54. d5 e5 55. h4 Nc3 56. Rc2 Nxd5 57. Rc4 Ne7 58. Nxe7+ Rxe7 59. Kg3 e4 60. Rc5+ Ke6 61. Kf4 Kd6 62. Rc4 [0.79/17]

White has managed to extricate himself

Only move, otherwise the White knight gets the strong d4-square as an outpost.

56… Rg7 37. dxe6! Rg2+ 58. Kh1 Nxf2 (58… Ng3+ 59. fxg3 Rxa2 60. e7 Ra8 61. Nd8 +-) 59. Rxf2 Rxf2 60. e7 +-

57… Nxf2 58. Kg3 e4 59. Kxf2 Rb2+ 60. Kf1 Rb1+ =

59… Rd2 60. Rd4

Giving up the pawn to get his king into play and removing the constricting f3-pawn.

Ditching another pawn to simplify the position into a winning rook and pawns ending.

64… Kxh4 65. Nc5 +-

Topalov resigns. 75… Rxe2 76. Rd6+! Ke5 77. Kxe2 Nc3+ 78. Kf1! and Black cannot take the
rook because the h-pawn queens.

A new move, forcing White to declare his intentions before developing the dark-squared bishop. The old move was 8… Be7, with the following continuations:

• 9. Bd3
  • 9… b5 10. O-O Bb7 11. Rfc1 O-O 12. a4 b4 13. Nb1 Nd7 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Nbd2 e5 16. Bf5 e4 17. Ne1 Na5 18. Qd1 Nb6 19. Rc5 Nac4 20. a5 Nxb2 21. Qb3 N6c4 22. Nxc4 Nxc4 23. Qxb4 Rfe8 24. Bh3 g6 25. Nc2 Kg7 26. g3 h5 27. Bf1 Nd6 28. Qb6 h4 29. Rc7 +/- Qe6 30. Ne1 hxg3 31. fxg3 Rab8 32. Rb1 (Shredder 7: 32. Ng2! g5 33. Bxa6 Bxa6 34. Qxa6 Rb2 35. Ne1 Rh8 36. Nc2 Qh3 37. Qe2 Ra8 38. Qf1 [1.63.12]) 32… Bc6 33. Rxc6 Rxb6 34. Rbxb6 Rd8 35. Ng2 Qe7 36. Bxa6 Nf5 37. Rc5 Rh8 38. Rb7 (38. Nf4! +-) 38… Qf6 39. Rb6 Qg5 40. Rxd5 Qh5! 41. h4 Qf3 42. Rxf5 gxf5! 43. Rb5 Qxg3 44. Rxf5 Rxh4 45. Bc8 Rg4 46. Rf2 Rg5 Bareev – Shirov, Tilburg 1993, 0-1 (46)
  • 9… O-O 10. O-O
    • 10… Bd7
      • 11. Rac1 Na5 12. Qd1 b5 13. Ne5 Nc4 14. Bb1 Rc8 15. b3 1/2-1/2 Alvarez,J-Perez,R/Villa Clara 1995/EXT 97 (15)
      • 11. Rfc1 b5 12. Ne5 Na5 13. Qc2 Rc8 14. Qb1 (also good is14. Bxf6! Bxf6 15. Nxd7 Qxd7 16. Bxh7+ +-) 14… h6 15. Bh4 Nc4 16. b3? Nxe5 17. dxe5 Ng4 18. Bg3 Bh4 19. a4 Bxg3 20. hxg3 Qb6 21. Qb2 Nxe3 22. Qe2 d4 23. Ne4 Nf5?! 24. g4 Ne7 25. g5 hxg5? (25… Nf5 +=) 26. Qh5 +- Nf5 (26… Ng6 27. Nf6+! gxf6 28. Bxg6 fxg6 29. Qxg6+ Kh8 30. exf6 +-) 27. g4 +- Rc3 Returning the material to slow down White’s attack 28. Nxc3 dxc3 29. gxf5 exf5 30. Rxc3 Qd4 31. Rc7?? (31. Rac1 +-) 31… Qxa1+ 32. Kg2 Be6 33. Qe2 bxa4 34. bxa4 Qxa4 35. Bxa6 Bd5+ 36. f3 g4 37. Kf2 Bxf3 38. Qd3 Qa2+ 39. Rc2 Qe6 40. Qd6 Re8 41. Rc5 Qa2+ 42. Ke3 Qh2 43. Bd3 f4+ 44. Kd4 Qb2+ 45. Kc4 Rb8 46. Rc7 Be2 47. e6 Qc2+ 48. Kd4 Qxd3+ 49. Ke5 f6+ Colombo – Barlocco, Robecchetto 1997. 0-1 (49)
    • 10… h6 11. Bh4 b5
      • 11… b5 12. Rac1 (12. Rfc1 Bb7 13. Qd1 Rc8 14. h3 Re8 15. Ne2 Ne4 Olzem – Eilers, Germany 2004, 1/2 (15)) 12… Bd7 13. Bb1 Ne8 14. Bg3?! (14. Qc2 +/-) 14… Bd6?! (14… Rc8) 15. Ne5 +/- Na5 16. Qc2 f5! (16… g6 fails to the brutal 17. Nxg6 +-) 17. Nxd7 (Shredder 7: 17. Ng6 Rf6 18. Bh4 Qb8 19. Bxf6 Bxh2+ 20. Kh1 Nxf6 21. Ne2 Bd6 22. Nef4 Nc4 23. Kg1 Be8 24. Qb3 Bxg6 25. Nxg6 [0.81/13]) 17… Qxd7 18. Ne2 Rf7 19. Nf4 Bxf4?! Swopping off his strong bishop 20. Bxf4 Nd6 21. Qc3 Nab7 22. Bxd6? Nxd6 23. Qc6 Ra7 24. Qxd7 Rfxd7 25. Rc6 Kf7 26. Rfc1 Ne8 27. Kf1 Rdc7 28. Ke2 Ke7 29. f3 Kd7 30. R6c5 Rxc5 31. dxc5 Nf6 32. Kd3 e5 33. f4 Ke6 34. a3 a5 35. Ba2 Ne4 36. Bb1 b4 37. Ke2 exf4 38. exf4 Rc7 39. axb4 axb4 40. Bxe4 dxe4 41. Rc4 Kd5 42. Rxb4 Rxc5 43. Kd2 g5 44. Ke3 g4 45. Rd4+ Wild – Taeger, Germany 1996, 1/2 (45)
      • 11… g5 12. Bg3 Nh5 13. Be5 f6 14. Bg3 Nxg3 15. hxg3 f5 16. Rac1 g4 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 b5 19. Ne2 Bd7 20. Nd4 Qb8 21. Bxf5! (21. Nxf5!! +- exf5 22. Qxd5+ Check and an attack on the d7-bishop) 21… Qxe5 22. Bxg4 Rac8 23. Qd3 Qf6 24. Qd2 Bd6 25. Rxc8 Bxc8 26. Rc1 Bd7 27. Nf3 Kg7 28. Bh3 Rc8 29. Rxc8 Bxc8 30. Nd4 Bd7 31. f4 b4 32. Qd3 Bc8 33. Bg4 Bc5 34. Nf3 Bd7 35. Ne5 Bb5 36. Qd2 a5 37. Kf2 Bd6 38. Qd4 Bxe5 39. Qxe5 Qxe5 40. fxe5 Kf7 41. a3 bxa3 42. bxa3 Bd3 43. Bh5+ Ke7 44. Be2 Bc2 45. g4 Bg6 46. Kg3 Kf7 47. Kh4 Be4 48. Bf3 Bd3 49. g5 hxg5+ 50. Kxg5 Bb5 51. Kh6 Bd3 52. Bh5+ Kf8 53. Bg6 Bb5 54. Bh5 Bd3 55. g4 Kg8 56. Bg6 Be2 57. g5 Bg4 58. Bh7+ Avetisyan – Buxade Roca, Mallorca 2004, 1-0 (58)
    • 10… b5 11. Rad1 Bb7 12. Bb1 Na5 13. Qc2 Ne4 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Ne5 Rac8 16. f3 Nf6 17. Qf2 Nd7 18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. Ne2 b4 20. Nf4 Bc6 21. Nh5 f5 22. Nf4 Bb5 23. Rfe1 Nb7 24. Kh1 a5 25. Rg1 Nd6 26. g4 Qf7 27. gxf5 Nxf5 28. Rg4 Rc7 29. Rdg1 Qe8 30. Qg2 Rff7 31. Qh3 Qc8 +/- 32. Nxd5? (32. Bxf5 exf5 33. Rg5 +/-) 32… exd5 (Shredder 7: 32… exd5 33. Bxf5 Rxf5 34. Qh6 Rff7 35. Rh4 Qf5 36. Rf4 Qc2 37. Qe6 Bc6 38. Rxf7 Qxh2+ 39. Kxh2 [-2.79/13]) 33. Rg5 Rc1 -/+ (33… Bd7! -+) 34. Bxf5 Rxg1+ 35. Kxg1 Qc1+ 36. Kf2 Qd2+ 37. Kg3 Qe1+?! (37… h6!! 38. Qxh6 Qxe3 39. Qh4 Qg1+ 40. Kf4 Qxd4+ -+) 38. Kf4 Bd7?? 39. Qxh7+ Kf8 40. Qh8+ Ke7 41. Rxg7 Bxf5 42. Rxf7+ Kxf7 43. Kxf5 Qxe3 44. Qf6+ Kg8 45. Kg6 Qg1+ 46. Qg5 Deak – Papp, Hungary 2003, 1-0 (46)
• 9. Rc1 Na5 10. Qc2 b5 11. Bxf6? White seems intent on swapping into a two knights versus two bishops in a semi-open position. 11… Bxf6 12. b4 Nc4 13. Bxc4 dxc4 14. Ne4?! Bb7 15. Nc5?! Bxf3 16. gxf3 O-O 17. Qe4 Qc7 18. f4 a5 19. a3 axb4 20. axb4 Ra2 21. O-O Rfa8 22. Rc2 h6 23. Rb1 Ra1 24. Rcc1 -/+ Rxb1?? 25. Qxa8+ Gerbes – Smeyts, Germany 1998, 1-0 (25)
• 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O b5 11. Rac1 Bb7 12. Rfd1 (12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Na4? Na5! 14. Qb4 bxa4 15. Rc5 Be7 16. Qxa5 Bxc5 17. Qxc5 -/+ f6 Rausch – Pedersen, Germany 2003, 0-1 (54)) 12… Rc8 13. a4?! Na5 14. Qa2 b4 15. Nb1 b3 16. Qa1 Ne4?! Black’s minute advantage rests in the badly placed White queen, and so keeping his dark-squared bishop on the board at e7 is his way towards cementing that advantage. (16… Qd6 =) 17. Rxc8 Bxc8 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 19. Ne5 Bb7 20. Qa3 Qxa3 21. Nxa3 Rc8 22. f3! Nd6 (22… Nf6 is better) 23. Kf2 f6 24. Nd7 Rc6 25. Nc5 +/- Black’s stranded b3-pawn is now a weakness, and his a5-knight is out on a limb trying to protect it. 25… Bc8 26. Rc1 Rb6 27. Rc3 Rb4 Black is in a semi-zugzwang, he can only hold the queenside against White’s threats. 28. Nxa6 A premature easing of pressure on the queenside. White had an ideal moment to expand on the kingside, and increase pressure on the centre. The flurry of exchanges that follows sees White’s advantage dissapate, forcing him to start from scratch again. (28. g4 +/-) 28… Bxa6 29. Bxa6 Rxa4 30. Ke2!? (30. Rc7!) 30… Ndc4 = Now Black is comfortably holding out on the queenside. 31. Bxc4 dxc4 32. Kd2 Kf7 33. Rc1 Ke7 (33… f5 +=) 34. Kc3 Kd6 35. e4 Kc6 36. Rd1 Kd6 37. f4 Suddenly the advantage swings decisively to White. His centre pawns are irresistable. 37… h6 38. d5! A decisive breakthrough that opens a file for white’s ‘extra’ rook. Black has too many weaknesses to cover. 38… e5 39. fxe5+ fxe5 40. Rf1 Nb7 41. Rf7 Rxa3 42. bxa3 Nc5 43. Kxc4 b2 44. Rf1 Nxe4 45. Kd3 Kxd5 46. Rb1 Nc5+ 47. Kc3 Ke4 48. Kc4 Na4 49. Kb4 Kd3 50. Kxa4 Kc2 51. Rxb2+ Kxb2 52. Kb4 e4 53. Kc4 Kxa3 54. Kd4 Kb4 55. Kxe4 g6 56. Ke5 Kc4 57. Kf6 g5 58. g4 Kd4 59. Kg6 Ke5 60. Kxh6 Kf6 61. h3 Kuhnen – Nitsche, Bad Wiessee 2000, 1-0 (61)

Clearing the way for the White queen to play a dominating role down the c-file and the b1-h7 diagonal.

13. Nxd5?? exd5 14. Rxc6 Bxh2+ 15. Kxh2 Qxc6 -+

White seems a little listless while his opponent is energetically building up some queenside initiative.

22… Bxc7?! 23. Qxb4 Nc4 24. b3 axb3 25. axb3 +=

Closing the c-file. Its clear Black isn’t playing just for a draw.

Controls f4

This allows Black to open lines on the kingside, and with his better placed pieces he can play on both sides of the board.

As a result of the pawn exchanges, White has lost the f4-outpost for his knights.

Over ambitious. White doesn’t have the time nor space to take advantage of the h-file.

The pawn envelope constrains the White knights as well as opening the second rank for Black’s more mobile rook. White’s ambitions on the h-file are thwarted.

30… Bxg3 isn’t as strong as it looks. 31. Qf3 =+

Even though White has the good light-squared bishop, this move allows Black’s light-squared bishop to dominate the White position.

32. b3!? Na3 33. Rxc7 Qxc7 34. Nde1 -/+

A clever intermezzo. The White knights stumble around.

35… a3 36. b3 Nb2 37. Rxb2 axb2 38. Nxb2 Bxb1 39. Qxb1 -+

Better is 36. Qxa4 Rh7 37. Kg1 -+ (Shredder 7: Be7 38. b3 Na3 39. Nc5 Nxb1 40. Qxb4 Bxh4 41. gxh4 Rxh4 42. Nxe4 fxe4 [-3.20/12])

A temporary piece sacrifice to force entry down the c-file to c1.

Decoy to e3

37. fxe3 Rc1 {Theme: Double Attack}

White is tied up.

38… Bxb1?! 39. Rxe6 Qxe6 40. Qxc1 -/+

39. Re2 the only chance to get some counterplay Kf7 40. Qg5 -+

And Black can avoid the barrage of checks by escaping to the queenside, after which the White king can no longer resist Black’s attack.

40… Kf7 41. Qg6+ Ke7 -+

An esoteric, but flexible sideline of the King’s Indian.

The position has taken on Benoni-like characteristics.

9. cxd5 This is a more natural capture, and transposes into Modern Benoni positions.

• 9… Re8 10. O-O a6 11. a4 Nbd7 12. Ng3 Qc7 13. Re1 = {Gulko – Damljanovic, Tilburg 1994, 1/2 (110)
• 9… b6 10. a4 Na6 11. O-O Nb4 12. Bb1 Re8 13. Bg5 Ba6 14. Re1 = Gabriel – Bischoff, Bremen 1998, 1-0 (31)

Black regroups to get his f-pawn moving. Without the e4-pawn, White’s thematic pressure on the Black kingside is no longer such a threat to Black.

9… Nbd7 10. f4 Ne8 Nogueiras – Miles, Matanzas 1994, 1/2 (10)

In a case of weak squares, White perhaps has more pawn weaknesses than Black, although Black’s e6-square is a tender spot.

Preparing the typical pawn break with …b5. If White tries to hold it back with a2-a4, then Black swings the knight back to a6 and heads for the b4-square.

It makes sense for White to reroute the bishop to h4, but the e-file looks decidedly dodgy.

White already envisions the g-file opening up, so he tucks his king on the safest nearby square.

Black’s pieces are slowly migrating towards the kingside, which should prevent White from opening up the position too quickly.

Black’s been waiting for this opening.

With Black’s pieces massed on the kingside, this opening battering ram is perhaps too risky.

The knight dominates

White is already committed, and Topalov doesn’t shirk from the task.

24… gxh3?? it may look tempting but Black must resist capturing the pawn 25. Rg1 Re5 26. Rxf6 +-

A clever counter-combination that throws doubt on Topalov’s pawn sacrifice.

26… gxh3? is no good 27. Rg5 Qc2 28. Qxc2 Nxc2 29. Nf5 +-

White’s compensation for the sacrificed pawn has disappeared, and Black gradually usurps the initiative which allows him to fully mobilise his pieces. Black’s hold on the dark-squares – thanks to the formidable dark-squared bishop – is significant.

31… h6!? -/+

Better is 34. Bd2!? =+ and White hangs on

shortens the misery for White

Better is 35. Rxe5 Bxe5 36. Kxh3 Bxg3 37. Kxg3 Nxb3 38. Bg5 -+

35… Nxb3 ?! is clearly inferior 36. Bc7 =

37. Kxh3 praying for a miracle Be5 38. Kg2 Rxb3 39. Ne4 Rb2+ 40. Kf1 -+

37… Rxb3 38. Kxh3 Be5 39. Rxe5 dxe5 -+