Round 2.

Game 4
10 June 2007

Shirov
Aronian 17.Cg3!?
Ruy Lopez A novelty. Previously White played 17.exd5 Ixd5!?
Notes by grandmaster 18.Ie2 Gfd8 19.Cxe5 Ixe5 20.Ixe5 Cxe5
Ruslan Scherbakov 21.Gxe5 Gxd3 22.Gxe6 Kf7 23.Ge3 Gad8 with
sufficient compensation for a pawn (Karjakin

1.e4 e5 2.Cf3 Cc6 3.Eb5 a6 4.Ea4 Cf6 5.0–0 Grischuk, Foros 2006).
Ee7 6.Ge1 b5 7.Eb3 0–0 8.h3 Eb7 9.d3 d6 10.a3 17...dxe4?!
Alexei already played this unhurried variation in the Levon overestimates his chances, attempting to play
match with Michael Adams. more actively. This recapture loses a pawn without
10...Ca5 sufficient compensation almost by force.
Adams achieved a good game after 10...Id7 11.Cc3 18.Cxe4 c4 19.dxc4 Ixd1 20.Cxf6+ Exf6
Gfe8, but Aronian prefers playing in his usual manner, In the case of 20...gxf6?! 21.Gxd1 bxc4 22.Ee3 the
placing a pawn on c5 and neutralizing the White’s c4
pawn is too weak.
light
squared bishop by ...Eb7
c8
e6. 21.Gxd1 e4 22.cxb5 axb5 23.Cg5 Cxb4
11.Ea2 c5 12.Cbd2 Cc6 13.Cf1 Ec8 Black breaks the opponent’s pawn structure, however,
XIIIIIIIIY the extra pawn is still on board. Weaker is 23...Exc3?
9r+lwq-trk+0 24.Gb1 Ed4 25.Cxe4 with an extra pawn AND good
pawn structure.
9+-+-vlpzpp0 24.Cxe4 Cd5 25.Gb1
9p+nzp-sn-+0 Correct decision. White has nothing against trading
9+pzp-zp-+-0 the weaknesses c3 and b5.
25...Ga5
9-+-+P+-+0 Of course not 25...Cxc3? 26.Cxc3 Exc3 27.Gxb5
9zP-+P+N+P0 with good winning chances.
9LzPP+-zPP+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9tR-vLQtRNmK-0 9-+-+-trk+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-+-zpp0
14.c3 9-+-+pvl-+0
Recently White often played 14.Eg5, and in most
cases Aronian was the defender of Black’s position, so
9trp+n+-+-0
Shirov decided not to test the opponent in such a 9-+-+N+-+0
familiar variation. However, Levon has sufficient 9zP-zP-+-+P0
experience in other lines, too, for example, 14.Ce3
Ee6 15.Ed5 Ed7 16.Eb3 Ee6 17.c3 Exb3 9-+-+-zPP+0
18.Ixb3 g6 19.Ia2 a5 20.a4 b4 21.Ed2 with a 9+RvLR+-mK-0
slight advantage to White (Anand
Aronian, Wijk aan
Zee 2006). xiiiiiiiiy
14...Ee6 15.Exe6 fxe6 16.b4 26.Cxf6+!?
The alternative 16.Cg3 was also tested frequently. White must keep at least one queenside pawn,
16...d5 therefore pointless is 26.Ed2? Gxa3 27.Gxb5 Cxc3
Black failed to equalize in Bacrot–Aronian (Turin (ol) 28.Exc3 Exc3 29.Gb7 (29.Gd3 Ga1+; 29.Cxc3
2006): 16...Id7 17.Cg3 a5 18.bxc5 dxc5 19.Ib3 Gxc3 30.Gb7 Gc5) 29...Ee5, and although White is a
Gab8 20.a4 b4, because of numerous pawn pawn up after 30.Cc5, the position after 30...Ga1
weaknesses in his camp. 31.Gxa1 Exa1 32.Cxe6 Ge8 is drawish. In the case
XIIIIIIIIY of 26.Gb3, Shirov was concerned about 26...Ee7 with
9r+-wq-trk+0 pressure against the a3
pawn, and Black has good
chances to destroy all the opponent’s pawns on the
9+-+-vl-zpp0 queenside.
9p+n+psn-+0 26...gxf6 27.Gb3 Gc8 28.Ed2
9+pzppzp-+-0 Interesting is 28.Gd3!? and only then Ec1–d2.
28...Gc4 29.Gdb1 Cc7 30.Kf1 Kf7 31.Gb4
9-zP-+P+-+0 White is reluctant to make this move without
9zP-zPP+N+P0 improving his position, but there could be no such
9-+-+-zPP+0 opportunity in future.
31...Gxb4
9tR-vLQtRNmK-0 The a3
pawn cannot be taken: 31...Gxa3?? 32.Gxc4
xiiiiiiiiy bxc4 33.Gb7.
32.axb4 Ga2 33.Ee1 Cg5?? 52.f4+) 50.Ge8 Cxe1 51.Kxe1 Gh7 52.Gb8
The more active 33.Ke2 Cd5 34.Kd3 runs into Kd4 53.Gxb5 Gxh6 54.Ke2. The Black’s is not
34...e5 35.Gd1 (35.f3 f5) 35...Ke6, and the White’s hopeless here, too.
king is insecure, for example, 36.g4 f5 37.gxf5+ 44...Cg5!
Kxf5, etc. A very strong resource that was foreseen by Black –
33...Cd5 the White’s rook gets cut off. In the case of 44...Cxc3
XIIIIIIIIY 45.Gh8 Ce2 46.Gd8 Black’s counterplay is
insufficient.
9-+-+-+-+0 45.f4
9+-+-+k+p0 White gains nothing by 45.Kg2 Ge2 46.h4 Cf7
9-+-+pzp-+0 47.Kf1 Gc2.
45...Cf7 46.g4 Kg6
9+p+n+-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9-zP-+-+-+0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-zP-+-+P0
9+-+-+n+-0
9r+-+-zPP+0
9-+-+p+k+0
9+R+-vLK+-0
9+p+-+p+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Activity of Black’s pieces makes White’s winning
9-zP-+-zPP+0
chances problematic. 9+-zP-+-+P0
34.Gd1 9-+r+-+-+0
One could first check by 34.Gc1 whether Black is
willing to prevent c3
c4.
9+-+-vLK+-0
34...h5 35.Gd3 Ga1 36.g3 f5 37.Ke2 Ga2+ xiiiiiiiiy
38.Ed2 Cb6 The White’s rook is completely offside, but Black’s
38...h4!? is very interesting, and Black’s strong central king and knight are also immovable. The question is
pawns secure his adequate counterplay: 39.Kf3 hxg3 whether White’s king and bishop can outplay the
40.Kxg3 (or 40.fxg3 Cb6 41.Ee1 Cc4) 40...Kg6 or Black’s rook. The mission seems impossible, as the
40...Ga3 with the idea to take on b4. opponent’s rook has a chance to attack the pawns.
39.Kf1 47.Kg1
In the case of 39.Kf3?! Cc4 White must retreat his White gradually improves his position, using
king: 40.Ke2. zugzwang.
39...Cd5 40.Gd4 Cf6 47...Ge2 48.Ef2 Gc2
If Black prevents c3
c4 by 40...Gc2, White can Rejecting 48...Ge4!? 49.Gh4 (49.Eg3 Gc4)
consider 41.Ke2 followed by Ke2
d3, although in 49...Gxf4 50.gxf5+ Gxf5, and White retains winning
this case achieving real progress is difficult, too. chances, although it is not impossible that this
position can be held.
41.Ee1
49.Ed4 Ge2 50.Gh4 Ge4?!
XIIIIIIIIY After 50...Gc2!? White can start moving his king on
9-+-+-+-+0 the queenside: 51.Kf1, etc.
9+-+-+k+-0 51.Kg2 Ge2+
Inconsistent, but Levon did not dare playing the
9-+-+psn-+0 position arising after 51...Gxf4 52.gxf5+ Gxf5.
9+p+-+p+p0 52.Kf3 Gc2 53.Ke3 Gc1 54.Kd3 Ga1
9-zP-tR-+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-zP-+-zPP0 9-+-+-+-+0
9r+-+-zP-+0 9+-+-+n+-0
9+-+-vLK+-0 9-+-+p+k+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+p+-+p+-0
41...Gc2 9-zP-vL-zPPtR0
On 41...Cd5 Shirov would play 42.c4 bxc4 43.Gxc4,
but maybe Black can hold after 43...Gb2.
9+-zPK+-+P0
42.Gd8 Ce4 43.Gh8 Kf6 44.Gxh5 9-+-+-+-+0
44.Gh6+!? Ke5 45.Gxh5, but 45...Cxc3 46.Gh8 9tr-+-+-+-0
Ce2! gives Black decent counterplay. Still, White xiiiiiiiiy
retains winning chances by 47.h4 Cd4 48.h5 Cf3
55.Ee5
49.h6 Gc7! (49...Gc1? 50.Ge8! Gxe1+ 51.Kg2
White is unable to create a passed pawn so far: 55.c4?
Gd1+! However, interesting is 55.Ee3!?, and it is XIIIIIIIIY
possible that Black cannot deal with two ideas:
breaking to the b5
pawn with the king, and carrying
9r+-+-+-+0
out the c3
c4 break by d2. For example, 55...Ch6 9+-+-+n+-0
(55...Ge1 56.Kd4) 56.Gh5 Cf7 57.Kd4 Ge1 9-+-+p+k+0
58.Gh4! Ch6 59.c4! bxc4 60.Ed2! Gd1 61.Kc3 9+pvL-+p+R0
Cf7, and now something like 62.g5!? Kg7 63.b5!?,
although here Black is still kicking. 9-zP-+-zPP+0
55...Gd1+ 9+-zP-+-+P0
Swapping the bishop is tempting: 55...Cxe5+ 56.fxe5 9-+K+-+-+0
Gd1+ 57.Ke2 Gd5, however, White has real winning
chances after 58.gxf5+ exf5 59.c4 Gxe5+ 60.Kf3 9+-+-+-+-0
bxc4 (or 60...Kg5 61.Gd4 bxc4 62.Gxc4 Ge1 xiiiiiiiiy
(62...Gd5 63.h4+ Kh5 64.Ke3) 63.h4+!? Kf6 68.Gh4!?
64.Gc6+ Ke5 65.h5!, and the h
pawn becomes a Unfortunately for White, the c3
c4 break cannot be
threat) 61.Gxc4 Ge1 62.h4 Gb1 63.Ke3 Kf6 done without concessions: 68.c4!? bxc4 69.Kc3
64.Kd3! intending Kd3
c2 and b4
b5. Ga3+ 70.Kxc4 Gf3, and Black wins the f4
pawn.
56.Kc2 Ge1 57.Ed4 Nevertheless, after 71.Gh4! Gxf4+ 72.Kb3 White
In the case of 57.Ec7 Ge4 White is unable to carry out retains decent winning chances thanks to a strong
c3
c4 without brining the bishop to d4, while 57.c4 bishop and an extra passed pawn. Black’s hopes are
pinned with limited material remaining on board,
runs into 57...Ge4!
which gives him a chance to escape to R+B vs. R
57...Ge2+ 58.Kd3 Ge1 59.Ec5 ending.
And again 59.c4? is met by 59...Gd1+! 68...Ga1!
59...Ge4 The only defense! In the case of 68...Ga2+? 69.Kd3
It seems after 59...Gc1 Black was concerned by White breaks through: 69...Ga3 (on 69...e5 there is
60.Ee3, and White implements the ideas quoted in 70.Ee3) 70.Kd4 Ga1 71.Eb6.
the note to the 55th move under more favorable 69.g5
circumstances. This continuation allows White to protect the f4
pawn
60.Ee3 and restricts the knight, but now ...e6
e5 becomes a
White uses the opportunity to drive the rook away by lot more effective. However, Alexei was already very
zugzwang. short on time, and could not search for alternatives.
60...Gc4 61.Ed4 Ch6 62.Kd2 Cf7 63.Kc2 69...Ga2+
Or 63.Gh5 Gc8 64.Ec5 immediately. Black seeks counterchances!
XIIIIIIIIY 70.Kd3
After 70.Kb3 Gd2 Black prevents the c
pawn
9-+-+-+-+0 advance.
9+-+-+n+-0 70...e5! 71.fxe5
There is no sense in allowing ...e5
e4.
9-+-+p+k+0 71...Cxe5+ 72.Ke3 Kxg5 73.Ee7+
9+p+-+p+-0 Otherwise Black gives perpetual check starting with
...Ce5
c4 etc.
9-zPrvL-zPPtR0 73...Kg6 74.Gh8 Kg7
9+-zP-+-+P0 Perhaps 74...Cc4+!? 75.Kd4 Ge2 is more accurate.
9-+K+-+-+0 75.Gc8
75.Gh5!? deserves attention, with the idea to meet
9+-+-+-+-0 75...Kg6 by 76.Gg5+.
xiiiiiiiiy 75...f4+
63...Ch6 XIIIIIIIIY
As we shall see later, as long as the White’s rook is on 9-+R+-+-+0
h4, Black must not retreat his rook from c4!
64.Gh5 Cf7 65.Kb3 Gc8 9+-+-vL-mk-0
Only now this retreat is indeed forced. 9-+-+-+-+0
66.Ec5 Gd8 67.Kc2 9+p+-sn-+-0
67.c4? Gd3+.
67...Ga8
9-zP-+-zp-+0
9+-zP-mK-+P0
9r+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
An excellent resource!
76.Ke4? 11.Ic2!?
This move loses all winning chances. After the correct White attempted to get an advantage in the
76.Kd4! Black still has to work hard for a draw. diagrammed position by 11.Cc3, but after 11...d5
76...Ge2+ 77.Kf5 f3 12.Ic2 Exc4 13.Exc4 dxc4 14.Ia4 c5 Black’s
The f
pawn gives Black a draw. problems on the way to equality does not look serious.
78.Ec5 Cd3? Considering the match situation and Leko’s
In mutual time trouble both players act inaccurately. impeccable technique, Bareev decides to complicate
More precise is 78...Cf7 with possible cute line the struggle.
79.Ed4+ Kh7 80.Kf6!? f2 81.Kxf7 f1I+ 82.Ef6 11...Ic8!?
Ge8! 83.Gxe8 Ic4+, drawing, or the simpler This move was introduced by Lev Psakhis. I like it
78...Cg6 79.Ed4+ Kf7, etc. more than the immediate с7
с5, which gave White a
79.Ed4+ Kf7 small advantage in Agrest
Korhcnoi (Malmoe 1996) –
XIIIIIIIIY 12.dxc5 Cxc5 13.Cc3. Black is ready for 12...с5,
9-+R+-+-+0 and if 13.dc, then 13...Ixc5, attacking the g5
bishop
and the c4
pawn.
9+-+-+k+-0 Of course, bad is 11...d5?! in view of 12.cxd5 exd5
9-+-+-+-+0 13.Ic6! with White’s advantage.
9+p+-+K+-0 12.b4!?
Ivan Sokolov did not prevent Black’s plans against
9-zP-vL-+-+0 Rasul Ibrahimov (Warsaw 2005) – 12.Cc3, and after
9+-zPn+p+P0 12...c5 13.Gd1 cxd4 14.Gxd4 Ic5 15.Eh4 e5!
9-+-+r+-+0 (weaker is 15...d5, played in the actual game, because
White has 16.Ia4) 16.Gd2 Gac8 Black could obtain
9+-+-+-+-0 an easy game.
xiiiiiiiiy 12...c5 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.b5 Eb7
80.Gb8? XIIIIIIIIY
White forces a draw. He still could make Black suffer 9r+q+-trk+0
by 80.Gc6!, brining the rook to f6: 80...f2 81.Gf6+
Ke7 82.Kg5. 9zpl+n+pzpp0
80...f2 81.Gb7+ Ge7 82.Gxe7+ Kxe7 83.Exf2 9-+-zppsn-+0
Cxf2 9+Pzp-+-vL-0
A draw is agreed: White easily trades the only
remaining Black’s pawn. 9-+P+-+-+0
9zP-+-zP-+-0
Bareev
Leko 9-+Q+NzPPzP0
Nimzo
Indian Defense
Notes by grandmaster
9tR-+-mKL+R0
Yury Yakovich xiiiiiiiiy
15.a4!?
1.d4 Cf6 2.c4 e6 3.Cc3 Eb4 4.Ic2 0–0 5.a3 Bareev gains space on the queenside at cost of
Exc3+ 6.Ixc3 b6 7.Eg5 Eb7 8.e3 d6 9.Ce2 delayed development of the kingside. Naturally, Leko
This continuation recently gained popularity. White counterattacks in the center.
moves his knight to c3, where it controls the center 15...d5 16.a5 Gb8 17.Cg3
well. Naturally, Black has enough time to set up XIIIIIIIIY
counterplay while White carries out such a time
9-trq+-trk+0
consuming maneuver.
9...Cbd7 10.Id3 Ea6 9zpl+n+pzpp0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+psn-+0
9r+-wq-trk+0 9zPPzpp+-vL-0
9zp-zpn+pzpp0 9-+P+-+-+0
9lzp-zppsn-+0 9+-+-zP-sN-0
9+-+-+-vL-0 9-+Q+-zPPzP0
9-+PzP-+-+0 9tR-+-mKL+R0
9zP-+QzP-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-zP-+NzPPzP0 If White completes development without any
positional concessions, his queenside advantage and
9tR-+-mKL+R0 the bishop pair will influence the outcome of the game
xiiiiiiiiy decisively, therefore Black acts very energetically.
17...Ic7! 18.Ee2 Ie5 19.Exf6 Cxf6 20.0–0 h5! the same time impairing his own pawn structure.
21.h4 However, in the case of 30.Id3 Black repeats the
Otherwise the Black’s pawn gets to h3, threatening position by 30...Ce5, which could not satisfy Bareev,
the White’s king. trailing in the match by two points.
21...Gfd8 30...Gbb8 31.Id3 Gbc8 32.Ge4 e5
On 21...g5?! Bareev planned 22.Ga3!? (22.Cxh5 Black is better. His pieces are active, and the pawn
Cxh5 23.Exh5 gxh4 24.Ef3 is also acceptable) with chain is movable.
the idea f2
f4. 33.f3 Cf6 34.Gee1 Cd7 35.Cd2 Cc5 36.Ia3 Ge8
22.Gad1 g6 XIIIIIIIIY
The match score encourages solid play by Black.
22...Cg4?! allows White to get a comfortable position
9-+r+r+k+0
after 23.Exg4 hxg4 24.cxd5 Gxd5 25.Gxd5 Ixd5 9zp-wq-+p+-0
26.e4 Ie5 27.Gd1. 9P+-+-+p+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+Psn-zp-+p0
9-tr-tr-+k+0 9-+Pzp-+-zP0
9zpl+-+p+-0 9wQ-+-+P+-0
9-+-+psnp+0 9-+-sN-+P+0
9zPPzppwq-+p0 9+-+RtR-mK-0
9-+P+-+-zP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-zP-sN-0 37.Cb3!
9-+Q+LzPP+0 Being in a difficult position and under severe time
pressure, Bareev decides to transpose to a rook
9+-+R+RmK-0 ending without a pawn. If White hesitated for one more
xiiiiiiiiy move, Black would probably win the game after f7
f5.
23.Ef3?! 37...Cxb3
Allows Black breaking in the center. Now Leko has no time for 37...f5? due to 38.Ixc5
After the game Leko suggested the prophylactic Ixc5 39.Cxc5 Gxc5 40.Gxd4.
23.Gfe1!? In my opinion, the more concrete 38.Ixb3 Ixc4
23.cxd5!? is interesting, too. 23...Gxd5 24.Ec4, and One could continue the game with even material by
now: 38...Ic5!? followed by advancing the central pawns,
A) 24...Gxd1 25.Gxd1 Cg4 26.a6 Ea8 27.Gd7 If6 but the rook ending also offers Black decent winning
(or 27...Cxe3 28.fxe3 Ixg3 29.If2 with advantage chances.
to White) 28.Gxa7 Ixh4 29.Cf1; 39.Ixc4 Gxc4 40.Gc1 Gc3!
B) 24...Gdd8 25.Gxd8+ Gxd8 26.Gc1 Cg4 27.Ee2 Weaker is 40...Gb4 due to 41.Gc5 f6 42.Gc7.
Cxe3 28.Ixc5, and White possesses the initiative in 41.Kf2
a complicated game. The only move. 41.Gxc3? loses to 41...dxc3 42.Gc1
23...d4! 24.Exb7 Gxb7 25.Gfe1 Ic7 26.exd4 cxd4 Gc8 43.Kf2 Kg7 44.Ke3 Gc5.
27.Id3 Cg4 28.Cf1 XIIIIIIIIY
Despite being in time trouble, Bareev apparently did 9-+-+r+k+0
not even consider 28.Ie4!? due to the possibility of
28...Cf6 29.Id3 Cg4. 9zp-+-+p+-0
28...Ce5 29.Ie2 Cg4 9P+-+-+p+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+P+-zp-+p0
9-+-tr-+k+0 9-+-zp-+-zP0
9zprwq-+p+-0 9+-tr-+P+-0
9-+-+p+p+0 9-+-+-mKP+0
9zPP+-+-+p0 9+-tR-tR-+-0
9-+Pzp-+nzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-+-+-0 41...Gec8?!
9-+-+QzPP+0 This natural move played by Leko after the time
control is a serious mistake. Black leaves the e5
pawn
9+-+RtRNmK-0 unprotected, and full control of the c
file does not
xiiiiiiiiy bring him anything. The prophylactic 41...Kg7!
30.a6?! creates more difficult problems for White. How he
Clearly, such move cannot be explained in chess should react?
terms. White improves position of the Black’s rook, at 42.Ke2 is bad because of 42...Gb8. On 42.Ga1 Black
has both 42...Ge6 43.Gec1 Gb6, and 42...Gc2+. XIIIIIIIIY
Let us consider the forced play after 42.Gxc3 dxc3 9r+l+k+ntr0
43.Gc1 (or 43.Ke2 Gb8 44.Kd3 Gxb5, etc.)
43...Gc8 44.Ke3 (44.Ke2!? does not save in view of 9zp-zpp+pzpp0
44...Gc5 45.b6 axb6 46.Ga1 c2! 47.a7 Ga5! 48.Gxa5 9-+p+-wq-+0
c1I 49.a8I Ic2+ 50.Ke3 Ic3+, and the queen 9+-vl-+-+-0
ending is won easily) 44...Gc5 45.Ke4 (or 45.b6
axb6 46.a7 (46.Ga1 c2 47.a7 Ga5 48.Gxa5 c1I+)
9-+-+P+-+0
46...Ga5 47.Gxc3 Gxa7 with decisive advantage) 9+-+-+-wQ-0
45...Kf6 46.b6 axb6 47.a7 Gc4+ 48.Ke3 Ga4 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
49.Gxc3 Gxa7 50.Gc6+ Kf5 51.Gxb6. White
managed to obtain a rook ending with 3 pawns against
9tRNvL-mKL+R0
4 on the same flank, but Black’s piece activity allows xiiiiiiiiy
him to win: 51...Ga2 52.g3 Gg2 53.Gb4 f6! (there is 7...h5!?
still a chance to lose the game: 53...Gxg3?? 54.Kf2 The idea of Evgeny Najer, which brought him success
Gh3 55.Kg2) 54.Ga4 g5!, and Black wins a second against Ni Hua (Ergun 2006).
pawn and the game. 8.h4 Ch6 9.f3 d5 10.Cc3 Eb4 11.Ed2 dxe4 12.0–
So, it is difficult to find an adequate reply to 41...Kg7!, 0–0 e3 13.Exe3 Exc3
which means Leko had real winning chances in that XIIIIIIIIY
line.
42.Ga1!
9r+l+k+-tr0
Apparently, Leko overlooked this possibility. Now 9zp-zp-+pzp-0
White carries out the b5
b6 break, and his strong a
9-+p+-wq-sn0
pawn secures a draw.
42...Gc2+ 43.Kg3 G2c5 44.Geb1 Kg7
9+-+-+-+p0
Or 44...Gb8 45.b6 axb6 46.a7, etc. 9-+-+-+-zP0
45.b6 axb6 46.Gxb6 G5c7 47.Gd6 9+-vl-vLPwQ-0
Black is unable to make progress.
47...Gc1 48.Ga5 G8c5 49.Ga4 G1c4 50.Ga1 Gc1
9PzPP+-+P+0
51.Ga4 G1c4 52.Ga1 Gc1 9+-mKR+L+R0
Game drawn. xiiiiiiiiy
14.bxc3
Surprise! Rublevsky keeps following Ni Hua, although
this year in Poikovsky he played 14.Eg5!? and
Rublevsky
Grischuk quickly defeated Tkachiev after 14...Exb2+ 15.Kb1
Scotch Game Ee6 16.Exf6 Exf6 17.Ge1 Gb8+ 18.Kc1 Cf5
Notes by grandmaster 19.Ixc7 0–0 20.Gxe6 fxe6 21.Ec4 Eb2+ 22.Kd2
Yury Yakovich Gbd8+ 23.Ed3 Ef6 24.Ixc6 Gd6 25.Ie4 Gc8
26.g4 Cd4 27.g5 Ee5 28.f4. Probably Sergey and
1.e4 e5 2.Cf3 Cc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Cxd4 Ec5 Alexander both found an improvement for Black.
The Scotch Game is on agenda again, but this time Here Grischuk fell into lengthy thought, and finally
Rublevsky prefers 5.Cxc6!?, because 5.Ee3 did not played 14...0–0?
give him a slightest advantage in the second game of An unsuccessful novelty. Maybe Grischuk analyzed
the match. only 14.Eg5, and did not pay sufficient attention to
5...If6 6.If3 bxc6 the alternatives. Or maybe Alexander found holes in
Although recently Black succeeded holding the his home analysis, and deviated from it, but the
ending arising after 6...Ixf3 7.gxf3 bxc6 8.Ee3 Exe3 resulting position turned out to be clearly in White’s
9.fxe3 Ce7 10.Cc3, such course of struggle is clearly favor. 14...Ixc3?? loses immediately to 15.Ed4. I
in White’s favor. Maybe this is why Grischuk decides think we will not find out the reason why Grischuk
to remain in the middlegame. rejected Najer’s 14...Cf5 until the end of the match.
7.Ig3 After 15.Ig5 Cxe3 16.Ixe3+ Ie7 17.Ixe7+ Kxe7
18.Ec4 Ee6 Evgeny gradually equalized the game,
and won the endgame after the opponent’s
inaccuracy.
15.Ig5!
On 15.Ed4?! Black plays 15...Cf5!
15...Cf5
The lesser of evils. 15...Ixc3?? loses to 16.Ed4, and
15...Ixg5 16.hxg5 Cf5 17.Ef4 is also bad for Black.
16.Ixf6 gxf6 17.Ef4
White has a big and possibly decisive advantage in the 45...Gc4+ 46.Kd3 Gc1 47.Gxh5 Gg1 48.g4 Gh1
endgame due to his better pawn structure and the 49.Ge5+ Kf6 50.Gf5+ Kg7 51.h5 Ge1 52.Gf4 Ga1
bishop pair. 53.Ke3 Ga3+ 54.Kf2 Ga2+ 55.Kg3 Ga1 56.Gf5
17...Ee6 18.Ea6 Gh1 57.Kf4 Gh3 58.Kg5 Gh1 59.f4 Gh2 60.Gd5
Of course, Rublevsky does not allow Black proceeding Ga2 61.h6+ Kg8 62.Gd8+ Kh7 63.Gd7 Kg8
to an endgame with opposite
colored bishops by 64.h7+ Kh8 65.Gxf7 Ga7 66.Gf8+ Black resigns
18.Exc7?! Ce3.
18...Cd6
Grischuk gives up a pawn to get rid of the White’s
dark
squared bishop. After 18...Exa2 19.Exc7 the Gelfand
Kamsky
bishops control the entire board, and Rublevsky has a Slav Defense
pleasant choice of either targeting the weak pawns or Notes by grandmaster
opening the files on the kingside by g2
g4.
Ruslan Scherbakov
19.Exd6 cxd6 20.Gxd6 Gab8
On 20...Exa2 White plays 21.Gxc6, but not 21.c4??
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Cc3 Cf6 4.Cf3 a6 5.e3 g6
Gfb8 22.Kd2 Gb6, and Black wins!
6.Ee2 Eg7 7.0–0 0–0
21.Gxc6 Exa2 22.Kd2 Gfd8+
From the Chebaneko System the game transposes to
XIIIIIIIIY the Schlechter Variation, in which ...Ec8
g4 is more
9-tr-tr-+k+0 popular than ...a6.
9zp-+-+p+-0 8.a4 Ee6
Gata had played 8...Eg4 more frequently, but it
9L+R+-zp-+0 seems he was not satisfied with the results. For
9+-+-+-+p0 example, Bacrot–Kamsky (Turin (ol) 2006): 9.Ib3
9-+-+-+-zP0 Ga7 10.h3 dxc4 11.Ixc4 Ef5 12.Cg5 b5 13.Ib3 h6
14.e4 Ec8 15.Cf3 with a clear advantage to White.
9+-zP-+P+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9l+PmK-+P+0 9rsn-wq-trk+0
9+-+-+-+R0 9+p+-zppvlp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9p+p+lsnp+0
23.Ed3
White is a pawn up, has better pawn structure and 9+-+p+-+-0
active pieces. His position is won easily. 9P+PzP-+-+0
23...Ee6 24.Ga1 Gd7 25.Gc5! f5 26.Ke3 9+-sN-zPN+-0
The king goes to g5.
26...Ge7 27.Kf4 Gb2 28.g3 Kg7 29.Kg5 Gd7 9-zP-+LzPPzP0
30.Ga3 Gb1 31.Gca5 Ge1 32.Gxa7 Gd8 33.Ga1 9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
Ge5 34.G1a5 Ge1 35.Exf5 Ed5 36.Kf4 Gf1 xiiiiiiiiy
37.Ee4 Exe4 38.Kxe4 Ge1+ 39.Kf4 Gc8
9.Cg5!?
40.Gg5+ Kf6
This unexpected knight thrust is a novelty. The idea
XIIIIIIIIY behind it is logical – White suggests Black to waste
9-+r+-+-+0 time on some useless move like ...h7
h6.
9tR-+-+p+-0 9...Ec8 10.Ib3 b6 11.Ed2 e6 12.Cf3
Consequently, Black failed to develop the c8
bishop.
9-+-+-mk-+0 White arranged his pieces well and has an undisputed
9+-+-+-tRp0 advantage.
9-+-+-mK-zP0 12...Cbd7 13.cxd5 exd5

9+-zP-+PzP-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+P+-+-+0 9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-+-tr-+-0 9+-+n+pvlp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9pzpp+-snp+0
The time control is passed. Grischuk keeps resisting
9+-+p+-+-0
only by inertia. 9P+-zP-+-+0
41.Ga6+ Ke7 42.Ge5+ 9+QsN-zPN+-0
42.Gf5 wins quicker, but the text
move is also
sufficient.
9-zP-vLLzPPzP0
42...Gxe5 43.Kxe5 Gxc3 44.Ke4 Gxc2 45.Ga5 9tR-+-+RmK-0
White obtains two connected passed pawns. xiiiiiiiiy
Perhaps 13...cxd5 is safer, but Black did not want to 29...Ee7 30.Gdc1 h5 31.Id2 Ed6 32.b4 f6!
play it after the knight that in this case belongs to c6 Neutralizing White’s anticipated battery on the a1
h8
was developed to d7. diagonal, which would be difficult with the queen still
14.a5! on d3.
Right on time – White creates his opponent some 33.Id3 Kf7 34.Ec5 Eb8 35.f3
queenside weaknesses. Now White prepares the only possible break
e3
e4,
14...b5 15.Gfd1 Ge8 16.Gac1 Ef8 however, Black made considerable progress.
Of course 16...Ixa5? 17.Cxd5 Id8 18.Cb4 cannot 35...Ec8 36.Ge2 h4 37.Ic3 h3?!
satisfy Black. Maybe he could try to sac a pawn: This is logical – Black attempts to draw the
16...c5!? 17.Cxd5 c4 18.Cxf6+ Cxf6 19.Ia3 Ee6 opponent’s attention to possible threats on g2.
with activity. However, White’s material advantage is still
17.Ca2 Eb7 18.Eb4 Eh6 19.Gc2 Ce4 20.Cc1 convertible with perfect play. More tenacious is
Ge6 21.Cd3 If6 22.Cfe5 37...Ie5!?, forcing the queen trade.
XIIIIIIIIY 38.g3 Ed7 39.Gce1 g5
9r+-+-+k+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+l+n+p+p0 9-vl-+r+-+0
9p+p+rwqpvl0 9+-+l+k+-0
9zPp+psN-+-0 9p+p+qzp-+0
9-vL-zPn+-+0 9zPpvLp+-zp-0
9+Q+NzP-+-0 9-zP-+-+-+0
9-zPR+LzPPzP0 9+-wQ-zPPzPp0
9+-+R+-mK-0 9-+-+R+-zP0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-tR-mK-0
22...Cxe5 23.dxe5 Gxe5!? xiiiiiiiiy
Black had almost no choice. In the case of 23...Ih4 40.e4?
24.g3 Id8 25.f4 White would eventually break in the A rushy control move! The preliminary 40.Id3!
center. would make the break decisive: 40...f5 (or 40...Kg7
24.Cxe5 Ixe5 41.e4) 41.e4 dxe4 42.fxe4 f4 43.e5! Kg7 44.gxf4
Black has no compensation for the sacrificed Ig4+ (44...gxf4 45.Kf2) 45.Ig3, and White
exchange, because his position contains weaknesses. advanced the e
pawn while the opponent’s bishops
25.Ef3 Ge8 26.Exe4 Ixe4 27.Ec5 Eg5 28.Id3 are restricted.
Ie6 40...dxe4 41.Gxe4 Ia2!
XIIIIIIIIY Black uses the opponent’s mistake for creating
counterchances. This move is impossible with the
9-+-+r+k+0 White’s queen standing on d3.
9+l+-+p+p0 42.G1e2
9p+p+q+p+0 White must show some alertness. The careless
42.Ef2? Gxe4 43.Gxe4 runs into the unexpected
9zPpvLp+-vl-0 43...Exg3!, and the game ends in a draw after
9-+-+-+-+0 44.hxg3 h2+ 45.Kg2 h1I+ 46.Kxh1 Ixf2 etc.,
9+-+QzP-+-0 while after 42.Ge7+ Gxe7 43.Gxe7+ Kg6 44.Id3+
(44.Ef2?! Exg3! 45.hxg3 h2+ 46.Kg2 Eh3+
9-zPR+-zPPzP0 47.Kxh2 Ixf2+ 48.Kxh3 If1+ with perpetual)
9+-+R+-mK-0 44...Ef5 45.Ie2 Ib1+ 46.If1 Ic2 making
xiiiiiiiiy progress is very hard for White.
Normally trading major pieces in not recommended 42...Ib1+ 43.Ge1 Ia2 44.G1e2 Ib1+ 45.Ie1
for the player without an exchange, but perhaps Ixe1+ 46.Gxe1 Ee6
28...Ixd3 29.Gxd3 f5 is more tenacious. In this case Now breaking into the Black’s camp becomes nearly
Black can use his king in defense, and White has impossible.
problems breaking through. 47.Kf2 f5 48.G4e2 Ec7 49.Gd2 Gd8 Trading rooks
29.Ed4?! is okay for Black. 50.Gxd8 Exd8 51.Gd1 Ed5 52.f4
Having achieved a serious advantage, Gelfand plays g4 53.Ke3 Ef6 54.Ge1 Ee4
indecisively. A more concrete plan deserved attention:
29.b4!? h5 30.Ed4 Ee7 31.Ec3, intending Id3
d4.
Trading the dark
squared bishops is equal to
resignation for Black, but avoiding it without additional
concessions is impossible.
 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+k+-0
9p+p+-vl-+0
9zPpvL-+p+-0
9-zP-+lzPp+0
9+-+-mK-zPp0
9-+-+-+-zP0
9+-+-tR-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
55.Ed4 is of course responded by 55...Ee7. Game
drawn.