The tournament started very brigthly - I won my first three games, and felt I was finally in a great shape for a medal finish in the Superfinal. My previous four visits produced a series of depressingly familiar results in the +2 to -1 range, which I tended to attribute to being unable to play chess in the dark of the Russian winter. Not sure if anyone believed me then - but the fact the this year's edition was moved from December to October cheered me up no end, and I saw my good start as some sort of belated confirmation of that theory. However, things then proceeded to go back to normal - I would still get good positions, but converting them into full points became increasingly hard. By the end of Rd 8, I was still leading on +3, but now there was a huge pack of players chasing me - and I still had to play most of them.
1.e4
c6
Prompted by the fact that my opponent plays the Giocco Piano against 1....e5 (and even beat me in with in Foros), and the most solid lines against the Najdorf. Still, this wasn't an easy decision for me - I am not much of a Caro expert, and my previous foray into this particular unknown, in Round 9 against Timofeev, could not even rise to the moniker of 'debacle'. After taking a breath to recover, and making a draw with Dmitry Jakovenko in Rd 10, I found myself a full point behind the leader, Evgeny Alekseev, who timed his run to perfection, and in all likelihood only needed a draw in the last round to become the Russian Champion for the second time in 3 years, since Nikita Vitiugov, who was half a point behind him, had a very tough Black against Jakovenko.
2.d4
d5
3.e5
Timofeev, who normally plays 3.f3 here - with great success, I might add - went for the Panov against me, and then stood back and watched my head explode. The same decision (or, indeed, even 3.Nd2) from Alekseev would have been highly unpleasant considering the tournament situation - but I was banking on the fact the Evgeny, who had a 2-0 score against me, would not stoop to playing for a draw from the word 'go' - and his results after 3.e5 are quite impressive.
3...Bf5
4.Nf3
e6
5.Be2
Nd7
The forcing main lines after 5...c5 did not appeal to me - I wanted to give White as many options as possible.
6.0-0
Bg6
7.b3
White has a wide choices here. Apart from the text, he can also play 7.c3 or 7.Nbd2 - but Evgeny decides to contest the center immediately.
7...Nh6
8.c4
Nf5
9.Nc3
Bb4
10.Bb2
0-0
A reasonably well-known position has arisen, in which White tried most of the normal-looking moves: 11.a3 is the most popular, while Volokitin played both 11.h3 and 11.g3. Surprisingly - at least for me - Black would normally reply to those waiting moves by playing a6, h6 and any other passing move he could think of, when I was planning to answer anything non-forcing with 11...f6. The move chosen by Alekseev has been seen before as well.
11.Bd3
White's plan is simple - he wants to transfer the c3 knight to f4, and then he would have everything under control. I could not allow that, of course.
11...f6!?
[11...Nh4
12.Nxh4
Qxh4
13.Ne2
, as seen in Iordachescu-Dreev, ACP 1st Blitz 2004, is perhaps quite playable for Black - but White's game will be very easy, and I was looking for more complexity.]
12.Ne2
I was much more worried about the preliminary [12.cxd5
cxd5
, and only then 13.Ne2
, where I would have to find 13...fxe5
14.dxe5
Qb6!
(14...Nc5?!
15.Bc2
now makes very little sense) in order to prevent 15.Nf4, which is now impossible in view of 15...Ne3! After 15.Ned4
Bc5
16.Nxf5
Bxf5
17.Bxf5
Rxf5
18.Rc1
Raf8
Black retains a slight pull. The text move looks very natural, but Black has an important tactical resource.]
12...fxe5
13.dxe5
[After 13.Nxe5
Nxe5
14.dxe5
Qb6!
White has to play the ugly-looking 15.Bc1
to parry the threat of 15...Ne3, but his position remains defendable, e.g. 15...Bh5
(or 15...Qc7
16.Bb2
Bc5
17.g3!
Bh5
18.Qc2
, and White is finally ready to play Nf4; 15...Bc5
16.Nf4
Ne7
17.a4!?
a5
18.Ra2
also does not promise much) 16.Qc2
Bxe2
17.Qxe2
Bc3
18.Rb1
Qd4
19.Bb2
Bxb2
20.Rxb2
, and White should be fine.]
13...Nc5!
I started feeling cautiously optimistic around this point - it is clear that White won't be able to simplify the game immediately.
14.Nf4!
A very good decision. [After 14.Bc2
dxc4!
White is facing a tough choice: his best option is 15.a3!?
(15.bxc4
Qxd1
16.Bxd1
(16.Raxd1
Ne3!
) 16...Nd3
17.Rb1
Bc5
is very unappealing) 15...Qxd1
(15...Ba5
16.b4
Qxd1
17.Rfxd1
Nd3
18.Bxd3
cxd3
19.Nf4
Bb6
20.Nxg6
hxg6
21.Rxd3
, and White is doing very well) 16.Raxd1
Ng3!
(16...cxb3
17.Bxf5
Bxf5
18.axb4
Nd3
19.Ba3+/-
) 17.Nxg3
Bxc2
18.axb4
(18.Rc1
cxb3
19.axb4
Nd3
) 18...Bxd1
19.Rxd1
Nxb3
, but given that he only needed a draw, I doubt Evgeny was too enamoured with this incredibly sharp endgame; Perhaps he was initially planning to play 14.Bxf5
here, but after 14...Bxf5
15.a3
Ba5!
(15...Nd3
16.axb4
Nxb2
17.Qd4
is not what Black needs) 16.Ned4
(16.b4
Nd3
is no longer an attractive option) 16...Nd3!
17.Nxf5
Nxb2
18.Qd4
Rxf5
19.Qxb2
Black is somewhat better after a calm move like 19...Bb6, while he also has a much sharper option in 19...Rxf3!?
20.gxf3
Qg5+
21.Kh1
Qf4
22.Qe2
(22.Rg1
Qxf3+
23.Rg2
Rf8
gives Black excellent compensation) 22...Bc3
23.Qe3
Bxe5!?
(23...Qxe3
24.fxe3
Bxa1
25.Rxa1
should be a draw, even though Black is still pushing after 25...dxc4
26.bxc4
Rd8
) 24.Qxf4
Bxf4
, and due to the excellent bishop on f4 I would prefer Black here.]
14...Nxd3
[I briefly considered 14...Nh4
here, but after 15.Nxh4
Bxd3
(15...Qxh4
16.Nxg6
hxg6
17.cxd5
cxd5
18.Bxg6
) 16.Nxd3
Nxd3
17.Qxd3
Qxh4
18.cxd5
cxd5
19.Rac1
White should be able to hold without too many problems]
15.Nxd3
[15.Qxd3??
Nh4
16.Nxg6
Rxf3!
was, of course, too much to dream of.]
15...Bh5!
A nice little shot. If Black just retreats with the bishop - [15...Be7
- White is able to consolidate: 16.Nf4
Bf7
17.cxd5
cxd5
18.Nd4
Nxd4
19.Bxd4
, and once again draw is looming large. The text move gives up the bishop pair, but it also keeps the position relatively unbalanced, while; 15...Nh4
16.Nxh4
Bxd3
17.Qxd3
Qxh4
would once again lead to the position from 14...Nh4]
16.Nf4
The only move: [16.Nxb4
Nh4
loses on the spot]
16...Bxf3
17.Qxf3
Qe7
The asymmetrical pawn structure and the better bishop allow Black some hope - but despite all my best efforts, White is still perfectly OK here, of course. Perhaps this feeling of safety influenced my opponent's next couple of moves.
18.cxd5
[During the game I felt that 18.Qd3
was better, but Black has a tactical opportunity there: 18...Nh4!?
19.g3
(19.Qg3
dxc4
20.bxc4
Nf5
, and White wasted time and failed to prevent the further imbalacement of the structure) 19...Bd2
, and White will have to suffer some discomfort.; If White prepares for the opening of the d-file with, 18.Rad1
Black can still improve his position without committing to anything in the center, for instance by playing 18...a5!?
]
18...cxd5
19.Qg4?!
This is the beginning of White's troubles. After the safer [19.Qe2
Black cannot really claim more than a moral advantage in an objectively drawn endgame after 19...Nd4
(otherwise the f4 knight will land on d3, protecting everything) 20.Bxd4
Rxf4
21.Qd3
Bc5
22.Bxc5
Qxc5
23.Rac1
Qb6
24.Qc3
; The machine suggests the bold 19.Rac1
, but why would White even look at lines like 19...Bd2
20.Nxd5
Qg5
21.Rc7
exd5
22.Qxd5+
Kh8
23.e6
?]
19...Bd2
Now Black suddenly has real targets.
20.Nd3
[The endgame after 20.Rad1
Qb4
21.Bc1
Qxf4
22.Qxf4
Bxf4
23.Bxf4
Rac8
is no longer equal: White is left with his poor bishop against a very strong knight - but it may have been a better choice than the text.]
20...Rac8
White has a surprisingly hard time preventing the invasion along the c-file here:
21.Qd1
[21.Rad1
Rc2
22.Qe2
(22.Qa4
Qe8!-/+
) 22...Qg5
, and the pesky intruders seem to be there to stay; while after 21.Qe2
Qg5
(weaker is 21...Rc2
22.Rac1!
Rxb2
23.Nxb2
Bxc1
24.Rxc1
Qg5
25.Nd3!
Nd4
26.Qb2!
Nf3+
27.Kh1
Qh5
28.h3
, and White should hold) 22.f4
Be3+!
23.Qxe3
Nxe3
24.fxg5
Rxf1+
25.Rxf1
Nxf1
26.Kxf1
Rc2
White's uncoordinated light pieces will struggle against the rampant rook.]
21...Qg5
22.g3
An unpleasant concession, but White needs to defend against Nh4
22...Be3!
With only about 20 minutes left here, I had to play it by feel - and this move felt right. [The saner choice - 22...Bc3
- would nullify much of the initiative after 23.Bxc3
Rxc3
24.Nf4!
(24.Rc1?
Ne3
25.Qe2
Rxd3
26.Qxd3
Nxf1
27.Rxf1
Qxe5
) 24...Rc6
(unfortunately, 24...Nxg3
loses to 25.fxg3!
, and the rook on f1 comes to the rescue) 25.Rc1
Rxc1
26.Qxc1
Nd4
27.Kg2!
Qxe5
28.Re1
Qf5
29.Qe3
, and the worst is over for White]
23.Kh1
The only move: [23.fxe3
Nxg3!
24.Rf4
(24.Rxf8+
Rxf8
25.hxg3
Qxg3+
26.Kh1
Qh3+
27.Kg1
Qxe3+
28.Kg2
Rf5!
is totally hopeless for White) 24...Ne2+
25.Kh1
Qh5!
26.Qd2
g5
27.Re1
Ng3+
28.Kg1
gxf4
29.hxg3
fxg3
, and Black is much better]
23...Qh6
24.Bc1
Once again Evgeny makes the right choice. All the other moves lose: [24.Rg1?
Bxf2!
25.Nxf2
Ne3
26.Ng4
Nxg4
27.Qxg4
Rf2
28.Rg2
Rxg2
29.Kxg2
Rc2+
; 24.Qe2?
Bxf2!
(24...Qh3?
25.Rg1
; 24...Bd4
25.Rac1
) 25.Qxf2
Ne3
26.Qe2
Rxf1+
27.Rxf1
Nxf1
28.Qxf1
Rc2-+
; 24.Kg1?
Nxg3!
25.hxg3
Qh3
, and White will be mated soon: 26.fxe3
Qxg3+
27.Kh1
Rxf1+
28.Qxf1
Rc2
]
24...d4
Black has solidified his forepost on e3 - but White's position remains viable. He needs to be very accurate now, however.
25.Kg2?
With time-trouble getting more and more serious, White finally cracks. Lashing out would not help: [25.Ba3
Rf7
26.g4
Nh4
27.fxe3
Qxe3
28.Rxf7
Qe4+
29.Rf3
Nxf3
30.Nf2
Rc2-+
or; 25.g4
Nh4
26.fxe3
Qg6
27.Nf2
Rc2
, and once again Black is breaking through.; The quiet 25.Qe2
is better, but Black is still on top: 25...Rc3!
(25...Nxg3+
26.fxg3
Rxf1+
27.Qxf1
Rc2
28.h3
Qg6
looks very promising, but White seems to hold after 29.Bxe3
Qe4+
30.Kg1
Qxe3+
31.Nf2
Qxg3+
32.Qg2
Qxe5
33.Qxb7
Qe3
34.Qg2
) 26.Kg1
Bxc1
27.Raxc1
Rfc8
, and the complete control over the c-file gives Black a definite edge.; But after the calm 25.Rg1!
White is holding: 25...Bxc1
(25...Qh3
26.Ba3!
is simply wrong) 26.Rxc1
Rc3
27.Rxc3!
dxc3
28.Nf4
, and the c3-pawn, in stark comparison with the line after 25.Qe2, is not very likely to survive for long: 28...g5
29.Ne2
Ne7
30.Nxc3
Rxf2
31.Rg2
, with total equality. The text move creates an illusion that the bishop on e3 will finally have to be traded, but...]
25...Rc3!
In fact, the bishop is still not under any threat - 26.fxe3 Rxc1! loses on the spot. Now Black should be winning - but the shorage of time, and the nerves of both players, ensured that the twists and turns were only just beginning.
26.Qe2
This allows Black a plethora of excellent choices - but there is nothing better. [26.Bb2?
Nh4+
27.gxh4
Qg6+
would end the game immediately]
26...Qg6?!
This mistake does not yet rob Black of the victory - but it's a step in a wrong direction. With around 13 minutes left, I spent more than half of it convincing myself that I should play something else - and then, inexplicably, the hand reached out for the Queen anyway. Both [26...Rfc8!?
27.Bb2
Rc2
28.Qf3
R8c7
, and Black retains a very firm grip on the proceedings, and, more importantly,; 26...Nh4+!
27.gxh4
Qg6+
were much more practical. I saw that the endgame after 28.Kh1
Qe4+
29.f3
Qxd3
30.Qxd3
Rxd3
31.Bxe3
Rxe3
should be winning, but 29.Kg1 Rxd3 30.Bxe3 was vaguely worrying - however, I am sure that, having arrived at this junction, I would have found 30...Rf4! which finishes the game there and then - after 31.f3 Qxe3 White is yet again facing a hopeless ending.]
27.fxe3
Rxd3
28.Kg1
White has no choice at all - but the solution is now much trickier than before.
28...Nxe3?
After this, it should all have ended in tears - mine, that is. I absolutely had to find [28...Rf7!!
, and after 29.Bd2
(29.Qxd3
Nxe3
loses immediately - and very prettily) 29...Nxe3
30.Rxf7
Kxf7
31.Bxe3
dxe3
we arrive at the same position as in the game, but with the king on f7 - which is very beneficial for Black, for reasons I will explain below.]
29.Rxf8+
Kxf8
30.Bxe3
dxe3
[I saw that 30...Rxe3
31.Qc4
is wrong - but could not see how White can save himself after the text. The answer was provided for me by some of the spectators the moment I left the playing arena - after 31.Qc2 {}continued in notes to Qc2{}]
31.Rc1?
[31.Qc2
Black is objectively somewhat worse! With the king on f7, as would be the case after 28...Rf7, Black would simply play 31...Qe4 32.Rf1 Kg6 here, and the king escapes. However, with the king on f8, the best Black has is 31...Rd8
(31...b6
32.Rf1+
Ke7
33.Qc7+
Rd7
34.Qc1!
is even worse for Black - his king is very unsafe) 32.Qc7!
Ke8
(32...Qe8
33.Qxb7!?
(33.Qc5+
Kg8
34.Qxe3
is an immediate draw, of course) 33...Rd2
34.Qf3+
Kg8
35.Qxe3
Qd7
36.Qe4
, and White can even pretend he is somewhat better for a short while.) 33.Qxb7
Qf7
34.Qc6+
Qd7
35.Qf3
Qd4
36.Re1
, and once again only White can lay any claim to advantage here] The text move looks very natural as well, and with less than 5 minutes left it is, perhaps, understandable that Evgeny went for it.
31...h6!
This move was the reason I finally convinced myself 26...Qg6 was good - and indeed, now White is in serious trouble.
32.Rc8+
White must try and keep the black king away from h7
32...Kf7
33.g4??
The final blunder. [33.Qf3+
Qf5
34.Qxf5+
exf5
35.Kg2
(35.Kf1
Rd2
36.Rc7+
Ke6
37.Rxg7
Rxa2
38.Rxb7
Kxe5-+
) 35...e2
36.Kf2
Re3
37.Rc7+
Ke6
38.Ke1
g5
loses, but after; 33.Qf1+!
Qf5
34.g4!
Qxf1+
35.Kxf1
White could still hope to save the game.]
33...Qe4
Now it's all over. Black finally achieves total coordination, and the end is near.
34.Rc4
Qd5
And White resigned. 0-1