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Leko’s favoured anti-Marshall attack. Although he’s tried the Black side of this against Shirov and Kasparov, losing both.

A new move from the ever-inventive Ivanchuk. Black regroups his bishop towards the kingside where he hopes it will have better options. A downside is ceding the d5-square to White. Other continuations:

• 12… b4 13. Ne3 Bc8 14. Nd2 Rb8 15. Ndc4 Nc6 16. Bd2 Be6 17. a5 Rb5 18. Bb3 Nxa5 19. Nxa5 Rxa5 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. Nc4 Rxa1 22. Qxa1 Qc8 23. Qa2 Qc6 24. Na5 Qd7 25. Nc4 Qc6 26. Na5 Qd7 27. Nc4 Milos – Adams, Istanbul 2000 2001, 1/2 (27)
• 12… Re8 13. Ne3 h6 14. Bd2 c4 15. Bc3 Qb6 16. Nd2 Nc6 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Na5 19. Bxa5 Qxa5 20. dxc4 Qxa4 21. c5 Qb4 22. Ne4 Qxb2 23. cxd6 Bf8 24. c3 f5 25. d7 Red8 26. d6+ Kh8 27. Nc5 Bc6 28. Nd3 Qxc3 29. Nxe5 Be4 30. Nf7+ Kh7 31. Ng5+ Kh8 32. Nxe4 fxe4 33. Qd5 Kh7 34. Qg8+ Kg6 35. Bf7+ Kf6 36. Bd5 Kasparov – Leko, Linares 2001, 1-0 (36)

Shredder 7: 13. axb5 axb5 14. Bd2 Ra7 15. Ne3 Nc6 16. c3 Be6 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Qb3 Qd7 19. Rxa7 Nxa7 20. Nf5 Kh8 21. Nxe7 Qxe7 [eval 0.34/16]

This thrust holds back Black’s typical queenside counterplay. Leko is solidly removing Ivanchuk’s options.

Another inventive move, trying to regroup his pieces and take a firm hold over the e6-square, but Ivanchuk doesn’t have the time for this manoeuvre. The knight can head for …f4 from here, hitting some key White squares.

While Black can’t contest the a-file.

White has taken firm hold of the a2-f7 diagonal, which throws a spanner into Black’s plan of strongpointing the e6-square. Its White’s dominance of the d5-square that proves to be a bigger advantage.

With a strong advantage, Leko gets stuck into increasing it.24. exd5?! Ng5 25. Nh2 Bd8 =

Hitting the vulnerable d6-pawn. Also, White has some insidious pressure down the e-file.

In a difficult position, Ivanchuk hurries up the inevitable result.33… Qb2 34. d6 b4 +-

37… Bd8 38. Nxc4 Kd7 +-

39. g3 f6 40. f4 +-

The Berlin Defence to the Ruy Lopez was reintroduced into top-flight chess by Vladimir Kramnik in his Braingames World Championship match against Garry Kasparov. Kasparov made no headway against this solid unpretentious defence. It takes a certain type of player to handle the Black side of these positions, its still open for debate whether Topalov had the steeliness needed to succeed with this defence as Black.

Other options at this point are:

• 9… Bd7
• 9… h6

Both Svidler and Topalov have been here before:

• 12… Be7 Shirov – Vallejo Pons, Linares 2002, 1/2 (33)
• 12… Be6 Leko – Kramnik, GpB Playoff, Dortmund 2004, 1/2 (34)

• 13. Rd2 Be6 14. Rfd1 Be7
  • 15. Ne4 Anand – Vallejo Pons, Linares 2003, 1/2 (28)
  • 15. Ne2 Svidler – Kramnik, Semi-Finals, Dortmund 2004, 1/2 (25)
  • 15. Be3 Polgar – Topalov, Mtel Masters 2005, 1/2 (60)
• 13. a3 h6
  • 14. Bc1 Topalov – Vallejo Pons, Hotel Bali Stars 2003, 1/2 (61)
  • 14. Be3 Leko – Kramnik, Dortmund 2004, 1/2 (20)

The idea behind this move is to restrain the advance of the White kingside pawns. This is a key theme in the modern Berlin. For Black to survive, he has to keep a strong grip on the f5-square. …h5 hinders g2-g4 staking out the f5-square for White. On reflection, Almasi’s 14… Bb4 is a safer bet.14… Bb4 15. f4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 c5 17. Ne2 b6 18. Ng3 h5 19. f5 Nxe5 20. Bf4 f6 21. Rfe1 Ba4 Shirov – Almasi, Melody Amber Blindfold 2002, 1/2 (21)

14… Nxe5 looks risky, with White having compensation for the pawn. Mostly in the fact that the black king is stuck in the centre for the moment. 15. Ne4 =

As well as continuing to hold back the White kingside pawns, Black also prepares to play …Rh5 protecting the f5-square.

Is it a bluff? White is prepared to sacrifice a pawn to take control of the f5-square as well as the f-file.Better is 16. Ne4!? +/-

Black can’t play 17… gxf6 without conceeding the fight for the f5-square and the f-file. With the Black king stuck in the centre, White would have a significant advantage, and compensation for the sacrificed pawns.

17… gxf6 18. Ne4! =

Protecting the f5-square. The White f6-pawn however makes Black’s life very difficult. The e-file is vulnerable, and the Black dark-squared bishop will find it difficult to get into play.

On first glance this looks to allow Black to simplify and reduce the pressure. But, its actually in White’s interest to swop off the knights, as well as exchanging off Black’s most active piece, White gets a tempo to activate his rooks.20. Ne2!? must definitely be considered Nc4 21. Rfe1 +=

Its a very difficult position for Black. He closes the e-file, which offers his king a little protection.

22. Ng5!? Locking the … h5 rook out of play as well as starting to pressure the Black light-squared bishop. 22… Rd8 23. Re1 Rd5 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. Bxc7 Rd2 =

Topalov is slowly playing his way out of trouble. White’s compensation for the pawn is dwindling by the move.22… Bxa2?? that pawn is deadly bait and will cause Black grave problems 23. Bxc7 Rd5 24. Rxd5 Bxd5 25. Rxd5 +-

Prevents Black’s …Rd5 which defends against White’s threats down the d-file.

Black’s pieces are starting to become threatening.

The king finally leaves the danger-zone. Although the e7-square is vulnerable.

Trying to hold back Black’s queenside pawns as well as preventing the Black dark-squared bishop from infiltrating any further.

Covers b4

In time trouble, Topalov loses his way. The bishop turns out to be a handy target for White’s activity.

32… Bd5 33. a4 bxa4 34. Ne4 Bxe4 35. Rxe4 =+

33… Bd6 34. Rxe6 Bxf4+ 35. Kxf4 fxe6 36. Kg4 +=

A time trouble blunder that gives the opponent counterplay.35… Kf7 36. Bg5 =

Better is 36. Rg5!? +-

The bishop is not easily driven from g5

Crushing Black’s potential counterplay on the queenside.

Better is 42… Bd6!? +-

48… Rxh4+ cannot change destiny 49. Ke5 Rh2 50. f7 Re2+ 51. Kf6 Rxb2 52. Kg7 +-

57… a2 the last chance for counterplay 58. Qc8+ Kb6 59. Qd8+ Ka6 60. Qd6+ Kb5 61. Qd7+ Kb6 +-

59. Kxe3 Ka4 60. Qf5 Kb5 61. Qc2 Kc6 62. Qxb2 Kd6 63. Qb8+ Kd7 64. Ke4 a4 65. Ke5 Kc6 66. Qd6+ Kb7 67. Kd5 a3 68. Qc6+ Kb8 69. Qb6+ Kc8 70. Kd6 a2 71. Qc7#

66… Kc3 does not save the day 67. Qb1 Kb3 68. Kd4 c3 69. Qe1 Ka4 70. Qe8+ Ka3 71. Qa8+ Kb3 72. Qd5+ Kc2 73. Qe4+ Kb3 74. Qe6+ Kc2 75. Qe2+ Kb3 76. Qc4+ Kc2 77. Qxc3+ Kb1 78. Qc4 Ka1 79. Qa4+ Kb1 80. Kc3 Kc1 81. Qc2#

67. Qf1+ Kc2 68. Qxc4+ Kb1 69. Kd4 Ka1 70. Qa4+ Kb1 71. Kc3 Kc1 72. Qc2#

Kamsky doesn’t repeat the Sicilian Kan, and instead choses a solid Chigorin line of the Closed Ruy Lopez.

23… Rfe8 24. Nh2 g6 25. Qf3 Nxe4 26. Bxe4 f5 27. Bh6 Bd8 28. Bd3 Rc3 29. Qd1 Qxd5 30. Ne3 Qc6 31. Qd2 1-0 Anand,V-Milos,G/Novi Sad 1990/TD (31)

Black should be thinking about bringing some pieces back to the kingside to ward off White’s pressure there. 24… Bd8 +/=

The White pieces are being drawn into the kingside like flies, thanks to Black’s weakening 23… h6.

Shredder 7:

• 26… f6 27. Ne3 Bd4 28. Ra3 Bxe3 29. Qxe3 f5 30. Nxf5 Bxf5 31. exf5 Nc7 32. h4 Nxd5 33. Qg3 Nh7 [eval 0.99/14]
• 26… f5 27. Nxf5 Bxf5 28. exf5 e4 29. Rxe4 Nxe4 30. Bxe4 Rfe8 31. Bd3 Nc7 32. f6 Nxd5 33. fxg7 Qxg7 [eval 1.07/13]
• 26… Nb8 27. Bxg5 hxg5 28. Qxg5 Rc3 29. Red1 Rfc8 30. Ra2 Ba7 31. Qe7 Qb6 32. Ne3 Re8 33. Qg5 Rec8 34. Nhf5 Bxf5 [eval 1.12/13]
• 26… Rc7 27. Ra2 Rfc8 28. Rea1 Nb8 29. Bxg5 hxg5 30. Qxg5 Rc3 31. Qd2 Rb3 32. Nf3 Rcc3 [eval 1.13/13]
• 26… Ra8 27. Bxg5 hxg5 28. Qxg5 Rfc8 29. Nf5 Bxf5 30. Qxf5 Rc3 31. Red1 Rac8 32. Ra2 Rb3 33. Bxb5 [eval 1.28/13]
• 26… Rfe8 27. Nf5 Bxf5 28. exf5 f6 29. h4 e4 30. hxg5 exd3 31. Qxd3 fxg5 32. Re6 Nc7 33. Rxd6 Re5 34. Re1 [eval 129,13]
• 26… Ba7 27. Nf5 Bxf5 28. exf5 f6 29. h4 e4 30. hxg5 exd3 31. Qxd3 fxg5 32. Re6 Nc7 33. Rxd6 Rce8 [eval 1.31/13]
• 26… Kh7 27. Bxg5 hxg5 28. Qxg5 Rc3 29. Nf5 Bxf5 30. Qxf5+ Kg8 31. Ra3 Rfc8 [eval 1.33/13]

Shredder 7: 27. Bxg5 hxg5 28. Qxg5 Ne8 29. Nf5 Bxf5 30. Qxf5 Rc3 31. Red1 Nf6 32. Na3 Qa8 33. Nc4 Rxd3 34. Nxb6 Rxd1+ 35. Rxd1 Qa3 [eval 1.41/14]

Doesn’t do anything to prevent a White knight landing on e7. Shredder 7: 27… g6 28. Ng4 Bxg4 29. Qxg4 Bd4 30. Ra5 Ra8 31. Bxg5 hxg5 32. Qxg5 Rxa5 33. bxa5 Qa7 34. Qd2 b4 35. Qxb4 Bxf2+ 36. Kf1 [eval 1.40/13], or 27… Bxe3.

Instead of 29. Rxa1 Ra8 30. Rxa8+ Qxa8 31. Nxd6 f6 +-

Winning a pawn.

Kamsky needs to get counterplay going on the queenside if he is to slow or turn around White’s attack on the kingside. 32… gxh6 Deflection from f6 33. Qxf6+

33. Bxg7+ Kxg7 34. Nhf5+ Kf8 (34… Bxf5 35. Nxf5+ Kf8 36. Nxd6 Rxa1+ 37. Kh2 +- Black will have to give up at least a queen to keep his king from being mated.) 35. Nxd6 Rxa1+ 36. Kh2 Kxe7 37. Nxb7 +-

To prevent the sacrifice on g7.

41… bxc4 42. Bh6+ Kxh6 43. Qxf7 With mate in the air.

44… Qd8 is not much help 45. Nh6 Qf6 46. Qxf6 Nexf6 47. hxg5 Nxg4 48. Nxg4 Bxg4 49. Bxb5 +-

46… f5 47. Bxb5! hanging on to the material is worse Qc8 +-

46… Kg7 doesn’t change the outcome of the game 47. Nc6 Bxc6 48. Nf5+ Kg8 49. dxc6 Qxc6 50. gxf6 Nexf6 51. g5 +-

The Zaitsev variation of the Ruy Lopez.

19… Re5 20. Rxf5 Rxf5 21. exf5 Bxd5 =

• 22. Ne4 22… Bxe4 23. Bxe4 d5 24. Bf3 c4 =/+ 25. Re6 Nd3 (25… Bc5! +/-) 26. Be3 d4 27. Bxh6 Nxb2 28. Qc2 Nxa4 29. Bg5 d3 30. Qd2 Nc5 31. Bxf6 gxf6 32. Rc6 Rc8 33. Rxc8 Qxc8 34. Bd5+ Kh7 35. Qf4 d2 36. Qg4 d1=Q+ 37. Qxd1 Qxf5 38. Ng4 Bh6 39. Qe1 Bf8 40. Qe8 Qb1+ 41. Kh2 Bd6+ 42. g3 Qg6 43. Qd8 Khalifman – Karpov, Reggio Emilia 1992, 1-0 (43)
• 22. Ng4
  • 22… Ra7 23. Ne4 Bxe4 24. Bxe4 Nxg4 25. Qxg4 d5 26. Bb1 Re7 27. Rd1 Qd6 28. Bd2 Nc6 29. axb5 axb5 30. Bf4 Qf6 31. Qf3 Nb4 32. Be3 Rd7 33. b3 Morozevich – Beliavsky, Hyderabad 2002, 1/2 (33)
  • 22… Bf7 23. Ne4 Nxg4 24. Qxg4 d5 25. f6
    • 25… h5 26. Qf5 Qc8 27. Qxc8 Rxc8 28. fxg7 Bxg7 29. Nd6 Rd8 30. Nb7 Rc8 31. axb5 axb5 32. Bf5 Rc6 33. Nd8 Rd6 34. Nxf7 Kxf7 35. g4 hxg4 36. hxg4 c4 37. Bf4 Rf6 38. Bg5 d4 39. Bxf6 Bxf6 40. Ra1 d3 41. Ra7+ Ke8 42. Bd7+ Kf8 43. Bxb5 d2 44. Ba4 Nd3 45. Bc2 Bxb2 46. Kf1 Bd4 47. Rd7 Bxf2 48. Ke2 Ne5 49. Rxd2 Bg3 50. Bf5 Kg7 51. Ke3 Kf6 52. Rg2 Bh4 53. Kf4 Bg5+ 54. Ke4 c3 55. Ra2 Nf7 56. Ra6+ Ke7 57. Re6+ Kf8 58. Kd5 Bd2 59. Rc6 Kg7 60. Bc2 Nd8 61. Rd6 Nf7 62. Rg6+ Kf8 63. Bb3 Ke7 64. Re6+ Kf8 65. Rc6 Ke7 66. Ke4 Ng5+ 67. Kd5 Nf7 68. Bc2 Kf8 69. Bg6 Ng5 70. Rc7 Kg8 71. Bf5 Kf8 72. Ke5 Nf3+ 73. Kf6 Bg5+ 74. Kg6 Bd2 75. Be4 Ne5+ 76. Kf5 Nf7 77. Kf6 Nd6 78. Bg6 Leko – Almasi, Monaco 2002, 1-0 (78)
    • 25… dxe4 26. fxg7 Bxg7 27. Bxh6 Qf6 28. Qxe4 Nd5 29. Qh7+ Kf8 30. Qh8+ Bg8 31. Bh7 Kf7 32. Bxg7 Qxg7 33. Bxg8+ Qxg8 34. Qh5+ Kf8 35. Re5 Qxg2+ 36. Kxg2 Nf4+ 37. Kf3 Nxh5 38. Rxh5 Kg7 39. axb5 c4 40. Ke3 Kg6 41. Rc5 axb5 42. Rxb5 Rd8 43. Rb4 Rd3+ 44. Ke2 Rxh3 45. Rxc4 Rb3 46. Rc2 Kf5 47. Kd1 Ke4 48. Rd2 Rb8 49. Kc2 Rc8+ 50. Kb1 Rb8 51. Rc2 Kf3 52. Ka2 Ra8+ 53. Kb3 Rb8+ 54. Ka4 Ra8+ 55. Kb5 Rb8+ 56. Ka6 Ke4 57. Ka5 Kd3 58. Rc3+ Kd4 59. Rc2 Kd3 60. Rc3+ Kd4 Morozevich – Grischuk, Dubai 2002, 1/2 (60)

Shredder 7: 24… Qe7 25. Bb1 b4 26. Qc2 g5 27. Qg6 Qg7 28. Rf7 Qxg6 29. Bxg6 Bc6 30. Rh7+ Kg8 31. Nxh6+ Bxh6 32. Rxh6 Nf4 33. Bh7+ Kg7 34. Rxd6 Bxg2 35. Bxf4 [eval 0.33/13]

Shredder 7: 26… Qe8 Better, but Black’s back is still against the wall. 27. Nxh6 Qg6 28. Rg4 Qh5 29. Nf7+ Qxf7 30. Rxe4 Kg8 31. Rh4 Qf5 32. Rh5 bxa4 33. Rxf5 [eval 1.05/13]