- White:
- Veselin Topalov (2801)
- Black:
- Gata Kamsky (2686)
- Opening
- Scandanavian / Centre Counter
- Tournament
- Corus 2006, Wijk aan Zee, Round 1
- Date
- 14/01/2006
- ECO Code
- B01
- Result
- 1-0
1. e4 d5
Kamsky pulls off the first surprise – the Scandanavian. Kamsky wisely avoids Topalov’s deep knowledge and experience in mainstream openings – for the time being. Kamsky used the same tactics in the FIDE World Cup, playing obscure sidelines, preferring to take on his opponent in the middle-game.
2. exd5 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nxd5 4. d4 Bf5!?
4…g6 or 4…Bg4 are the main variations for Black at this stage
5. Bd3 Bxd3 6. Qxd3 e6 7. O-O Nc6 8. c4 Nb6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Bf4 g5?!
An aggressive and risky move that can easily backfire. If Black can force White to passively defend his pawn centre, then he can survive this weakness. 10…Bf6 and 10.. .Nb4 are solid alternatives. (Dreev – Vlassov, corr 2001 continued with 10… O-O 11. Rad1 Qd7 12. Ne4 and White emerges with a small advantage.)
11. Bg3+/-
(11. Be3 the other, perhaps more passive alternative. g4 12. Nd2+/-)
11… g4 12. Ne5! Nxd4 13. c5
A pawn sacrifice to prevent Black playing … c5 himself. That allows White to pile up the pressure on the d-file making it difficult for Black to develop his queenside. (13. Rad1 c5 14. Ne2)
13… Bxc5 14. Rad1 O-O?
(Deep Fritz 8: 14… Qe7 15. b4 O-O-O 16. bxc5 Nf3+ 17. gxf3 Rxd3 18. Rxd3 Qxc5 19. Rfd1 Qe7 20. fxg4 [%eval 23,14])
15. Ne4 Be7 16. Nxg4
(Deep Fritz 8: 16. Qxd4 Qxd4 17. Rxd4 f5 18. Rc1 fxe4 19. Rxe4 Bd6 20. Rxg4+ Kh8 21. Nf3 Nd5 22. Re4 [%eval 91,14])
16… c5??
(Deep Fritz 8: 16… f5 17. Nh6+ Kg7 18. Be5+ Kxh6 19. Qh3+ Kg6 20. Rxd4 Nd5 21. Re1 Rf7 22. Qg3+ Kh5 23. Nc3 c5 [%eval 161,0])
17. b4?+/=
(17. Be5! Nf5 (17… f6 18. Ng5!+-) 18. Nh6+!! Nxh6 19. Qg3+ +-)
17… Nd5??
(17… Nf5 18. Qf3 Nd5 19. bxc5 transposes back to the game)
18. bxc5?
(18. Be5! threatening Nh6#)
18… Nf5 19. Qf3 Rc8 20. Bd6
(Deep Fritz 8: 20. Ne3 Nfxe3 21. fxe3 f5 22. Nd6 Rxc5 23. Nxb7 Qb6 24. Nxc5 Bxc5 25. Be5 Nxe3 [%eval 177,15])
(Deep Fritz 8: 20. Bf4 Kh8 21. Be5+ f6 22. Ngxf6 Rxf6 23. Nxf6 Bxf6 24. Rxd5 exd5 25. Qxf5 Bxe5 26. Qxe5+ [%eval 171,0])
20… Nxd6 21. cxd6 Bh4 22. d7! Rc6 23. Ne5! Rc7 24. Qg4+ Kh8 25. Nd6
The threat of Nxf7+ followed by Nxf7# is impossible to prevent without incurring substantial material loss. For example: 25…Rxd7 26. Rxd5! Rxd6 27.Qd4 Bf6 28.Rxd6 Black resigns
1-0