Game Analysis

 Nenad Tomasev  06/29/2006  6 comments 

In the match of the Standard Chess League (season 2): Friends Around the World vs Tao the Watercourse Way, I had the opportunity to play two games against ngu, one of which ended with a draw, and the other I won. Given below is the analysis of move played in one of those games.


I chose to present this game, because of many hidden tactical lines in the course of the game, that will, I hope, provide at least some entertainment to chess fans reading this. Some parts of the game are more, and some less analysed, based upon my own judgement conserning the relevance of possible deviations from the moves in the game to its outcome. All comments concerning the given analysis are more than welcome. The opening played was Ruy Lopez, Chigorin variation. Enjoy!

[Event "SchemingMind Chess League Season 2"]
[Site "www.schemingmind.com"]
[White "Nenad Tomasev"]
[Black "ngu"]
[Result "1-0"]

1.

')"> e4
')"> e5 2.
')"> Nf3
')"> Nc6
3.
')"> Bb5
')"> a6
4.
')"> Ba4
')"> Nf6
5.
')"> O-O
')"> Be7
6.
')"> Re1
')"> b5
7.
')"> Bb3
')"> d6
8.
')"> c3
')"> O-O
9.
')"> h3
')"> Na5
Chigorin variation of Ruy Lopez

black could've also played 9...

')"> Be6, 9...
')"> Nd7
(Breyer variation), 9...
')"> Bb7
(Zaitsev variation), 9...
')"> Nb8
and some other moves

10.

')"> Bc2
')"> c5
11.
')"> d4
')"> Qc7

or (11...

')"> Nd7 12.
')"> Nbd2
')"> cxd4
13.
')"> cxd4
')"> Nc6
14.
')"> Nb3
')"> a5
15.
')"> Bd3
')"> Ba6
) (11...
')"> cxd4
12.
')"> cxd4
')"> Bb7
13.
')"> Nc3
(13.
')"> Nbd2
')"> Qc7
transposes to what was played in the game) 13...
')"> Qc7
14.
')"> Qe2

12.

')"> Nbd2
')"> cxd4
13.
')"> cxd4
')"> Bb7

13...

')"> Rd8 was also possible here (there is a lot of tension in the center, black bishop and knight are well placed, so white needs to relax that tension)

14.

')"> d5
')"> Rac8
15.
')"> Bb1

15.

')"> Bd3 was another possibility. Ivanchuk and Shirov played
')"> Bb1
here, as well, so it can't be bad. The same position arised in a game Mike Rosa (Chess Tiger) vs ngu and that game continued: 15.
')"> Bd3
')"> Nd7
16.
')"> Nf1
')"> f5
17.
')"> exf5
')"> Bxd5
18.
')"> Ng5
')"> Bxg5
19.
')"> Bxg5
')"> h6
20.
')"> Bh4
')"> Nc4
21.
')"> Bxc4
')"> Bxc4
22.
')"> Ne3
')"> Nb6
23.
')"> Rc1
')"> Qd7
24.
')"> b3
')"> Bf7
25.
')"> Qd3
')"> Kh8
26.
')"> Bg3
')"> Qe7
... The game was won by Chess Tiger after 42nd move

15...

')"> Nd7 16.
')"> Nf1
')"> f5
17.
')"> exf5
')"> Nc4

in games Alexei Shirov vs Diego Adla and Sofia Polgar vs M Slak 17...

')"> Nf6 was played instead - white then has 18.
')"> Ng5
(threatening 19.
')"> Ne6
) 18...
')"> Bxd5
19.
')"> Ne3
')"> Qb7
, and so on...

18.

')"> Nd4

18...

')"> exd4 is not good due to 19.
')"> Rxe7
')"> Nce5
20.
')"> Bg5
')"> Rf7
(20...
')"> h6
21.
')"> f6
')"> Rf7
22.
')"> Bf4
')"> Qc5
23.
')"> Rxf7
')"> Nxf7
24.
')"> fxg7
')"> Qxd5
25.
')"> f3
')"> Nc5
26.
')"> Qd2
Please note that black king can't take on g7 because of 26...
')"> Kxg7
27.
')"> b4!
and now if the knight moves, 28. Be4 wins the game for white) 21.
')"> Qxd4
')"> Re7
22.
')"> Be7
and black would be in troubles

18...

')"> Bxd5 19.
')"> Ne6
black has to take the knight 19...
')"> Bxe6
20.
')"> fxe6
')"> Nf6
21.
')"> a4
')"> b4

21...

')"> d5 is also worth considering

22.

')"> b3
')"> Na5
23.
')"> Bd3
')"> Qb7
24.
')"> Ng3

black was threatening to play 24...

')"> e4

24...

')"> Rc3 black is taking over the initiative 25.
')"> Rb1
')"> Qd5
26.
')"> Bxa6
')"> Qxe6
27.
')"> Bd2
')"> Nd5

a very nice move. white shouldn't take the rook now: 28.

')"> Bxc3
')"> Nxc3
29.
')"> Qc2
(29.
')"> Qd4!
(this move actually leads to a rather equal position, but I missed it during the game) 29...
')"> Nxb1
30.
')"> Qxb4
')"> Nxb3
31.
')"> Bc4
')"> d5
32.
')"> Qxb3
')"> dxc4
33.
')"> Qxb1
')"> c3
34.
')"> Qb5
) 29...
')"> d5
30.
')"> Bb5
')"> Nxb1
31.
')"> Rb1

28.

')"> Be2
')"> Kh8
and now white wakes from sleep 29.
')"> Ne4
')"> Rc7
30.
')"> Bg4
')"> Qf7
31.
')"> Be3
Threatening 32.
')"> Bb6
31...
')"> Rb8
32.
')"> Ng5

black has to take it, otherwise: 32...

')"> Qg8 (if the queen moves anywhere else, the knight on d5 will fall, and the knight on a5 will also be in danger then) 33.
')"> Be6
')"> Nxe3
34.
')"> fxe3
')"> Qf8
35.
')"> Nf7
')"> Kg8
36.
')"> Qh5
and it is all over for black)

32...

')"> Bxg5 33.
')"> Bxg5
')"> Nb7

although tempting, 33...

')"> Nc3 doesn't work, because of: 34.
')"> Qxd6!
and now if 34...
')"> Nxb1
35.
')"> Be6
')"> Nb7
36.
')"> Qb6
')"> Qf8
37.
')"> Qxc7
and if black tries to retreat the knight with 37...
')"> Nc3
38.
')"> Be7
')"> Qe8
39.
')"> Rxe5
and black is totally lost...

34.

')"> Rb2
')"> Nc3
35.
')"> Qd3
')"> Rf8
36.
')"> Bh4
(defending f2) 36...
')"> Nd5
37.
')"> Qb5
')"> Nf4
38.
')"> Rd1
')"> h5
39.
')"> Bf3
')"> Nxh3+
40.
')"> Kh2
')"> Nf4
41.
')"> Qxb4
')"> Nc5
increasing the pressure on b3 pawn and threatening 42...
')"> Nd3
42.
')"> Rbd2
')"> Nxb3
43.
')"> Rxd6
')"> Nd4

at this point, ngu offered me a draw, but I declined. The position is complicated, but offers more attacking prospects to white. And the fireworks started. :)

44.

')"> Be4

44.

')"> R1xd4
')"> exd4
45.
')"> Rxd4
')"> Ne6
46.
')"> Rd6
')"> Rfc8
47.
')"> Bd5
')"> Qf4
48.
')"> Qxf4
')"> Nxf4
49.
')"> Bf3
')"> Rc4
50.
')"> g3
was also worth considering, leading to a complicated position. 50...
')"> Rf8
was probably the best here, followed by 51.
')"> Be7
')"> Rf7
52.
')"> Bg5
')"> Ne2
53.
')"> Kg2
')"> Nc3
54.
')"> a5
')"> Rf5
55.
')"> Bd8
')"> Ra4
56.
')"> Bb6
and black could now give one of his rooks for a pawn and a bishop, or try something else. However, this wasn't played, so I won't analyze it any further

44...

')"> Rc4 45.
')"> Qb6

a very dangerous position for black. White is threatening (if he was to play now) 46.

')"> Rh6
')"> gh6
47.
')"> Qh6
')"> Kg8
48.
')"> Bf6
and white would be winning

45...

')"> Nfe6

45...

')"> Nde6 46.
')"> f3
if 46...
')"> Rxa4
47.
')"> Rd7
')"> Qe8
48.
')"> Be7
')"> Rg8
(48...
')"> Rf7
49.
')"> Bc6
')"> Ra2
50.
')"> Rd8
')"> Rxg2
51.
')"> Kh1
')"> Qxd8
52.
')"> Rxd8
')"> Kh7
(52...
')"> Nxd8
53.
')"> Qxd8
')"> Kh7
54.
')">Be4+
')">g6
(or 54.
')"> Rg6
) 55.
')"> Bf6
')"> Rxf6
56.
')"> Qxf6
and white is clearly winning) 53.
')"> Be4+
')"> g6
54.
')"> Re8
and white should have no trouble winning this) (48...
')"> Rd4
49.
')"> R1xd4
')"> Nxd4
50.
')"> Qd6
')"> Nb5
51.
')"> Qxe5
')"> Qxd7
52.
')"> Bxf8
')"> Ne6
53.
')"> Qxh5+
')"> Kg8
54.
')"> Bb4
')"> Nf8
55.
')"> Qd5+
')"> Qxd5
56.
')"> Bxd5
')"> Kh7
57.
')">Bxf8
and black is finished. It would make no difference if something else was played on 54th move for black) 49.
')"> g3
')"> Ra2+
50.
')"> Kh1
')"> Ra1
51.
')"> Rxa1
')"> Qxd7
52.
')"> Qd6
')"> Qxd6
53.
')"> Bxd6
')"> Nh3
54.
')"> Bd5
and so on...

46.

')"> f3

if 46...

')"> Rxa4 47.
')"> R1xd4!!
')"> Nxd4
(47...
')"> exd4
48.
')"> Rxe6
')"> d3
49.
')"> Bg3
')"> Re8
50.
')"> Rxe8
')"> Qxe8
51.
')"> Bg6
')"> Qf8
52.
')"> Bxd3
')"> Ra3
53.
')"> Qg6
')"> Rxd3
54.
')"> Qxd3
and white is winning) (47...
')"> Rxd4
48.
')"> Rxe6
')"> Rc8
49.
')"> Rxe5
and white should win easily, since black will be forced to give away material to remove dangerous threats. It is even probably best 49...
')">Rxe4
) 48.
')"> Rh6+
')"> Kg8
49.
')"> Bh7+
')"> Kh8
50.
')"> Bg6+
')"> gxh6
51.
')"> Bxf7
')"> Rxf7
52.
')"> Qxh6+
')"> Kg8
53.
')"> Bf6
')"> Rd7
54.
')"> Qg6+
')"> Kf8
55.
')"> Bxe5
')"> Ke7
(best option) 56.
')">Qf6+
')">Ke8
57.
')">Bd6
')">Rf7
58.
')">Qg6
')">Nc6
59.
')">Qe6+
')">Re7
60.
')">Qc8+
and white is winning

46...

')"> Re8 black plays well and doesn't take the bait 47.
')"> Qa5
')"> Rc5
48.
')"> Qb4
')"> Qf8
49.
')"> Rd7
')"> Qf4+
50.
')"> Bg3
')"> Qf6
51.
')"> Rd6
')"> h4
for a few moves it seemed that black has regained control of the game and that whites attack is made blunt 52.
')"> Bf2
')"> Rec8
53.
')"> Be3
53.
')"> Kh1
was also possible, but less active than the move in the game. The played bishop move guards both c1 and g5, blocking blacks attacks
53...
')"> h3
sharp. the best response. Now if 54.
')"> Kh3
')"> Ng5
, and if 54.
')"> gxh3
')"> Qh4
and white king is too exposed

54.

')"> Qb2
')"> Rc3
55.
')"> Bxd4
')"> exd4
56.
')"> g3!
')"> Qe7?

probably the error that decided the outcome. Better was 56...

')"> Qe5 57.
')"> Rd5
')"> Rc2
58.
')"> Bxc2
')"> Qxd5
59.
')"> Be4
')"> Qe5
or perhaps 56...
')"> Qf7

57.

')"> Qb6 a swift punishment 57...
')"> Rc2+

hoping for 58.

')"> Bxc2
')"> Rxc2+
59.
')"> Kh1
(59.
')"> Kg1
')"> Ng5
60.
')"> Qd8+
')"> Kh7
61.
')"> Qxe7
')"> Nxf3
and white will either accept the draw or be mated if he goes to h1) 59...
')"> Qf8
60.
')"> Rd3
')"> Rc1+
61.
')"> Kh2
')"> Rc2+
62.
')"> Kg1
(62.
')"> Kxh3
')"> Qf5+
63.
')"> g4
')"> Qh7
64.
')"> Kg3
')"> Qh2#
) 62...
')"> Rc1+
63.
')"> Kf2?
')"> h2
or 63.
')"> Kh2
and a draw by perpetual check

But what were the alternatives here? Black did have slightly better options, I think. (57...

')"> Re8 58.
')"> R1xd4
')"> Ng5
59.
')"> a5
')"> Rc2
60.
')"> Rd2
')"> Nxe4
61.
')"> fxe4
')"> Qxe4
62.
')"> Qd4
')"> Rxd2+
63.
')"> Qd2
')"> Re5
64.
')"> Rd4
')">Qe2+
65.
')">Qxe2
')">Rxe2+
66.
')">Kxh3
')">Ra2
67.
')">Rd5
) (57...
')"> Ng5
58.
')"> Qxd4
')"> Nxf3
59.
')"> Bxf3
')"> Rxf3
60.
')"> Qg4!
')"> Rff8
61.
')"> Kxh3
')"> Rc5
62.
')"> R6d5
) In both of these lines, black is a pawn down, but probably has some chances for a draw

58.

')"> Kh1
')"> Ng5

if 58...

')"> Rc1 59.
')"> Rxc1
')"> Rxc1
60.
')"> Kh2
')"> Nf8
61.
')"> Qxd4
')"> Kg8
62.
')"> Qd5
')"> Qf7
63.
')"> Qg5
')"> Qa2+
64.
')"> Rd2
')"> Rc5
65.
')"> Bd5+
')"> Rxd5
66.
')"> Qxd5+
')"> Qxd5
67.
')"> Rxd5
')">Ne6
68.
')">Kxh3
and white is winning

59.

')"> Bxc2
')"> Rxc2
60.
')"> Qd8+
')"> Qxd8
61.
')"> Rxd8+
')"> Kh7
the queens are off the board now, with white having a rook for a knight 62.
')"> Rf1
')"> Rc4
62...
')"> Rd2
was also possible
63.
')"> a5
')"> Ra4
64.
')"> Rd5
')"> Kg6
65.
')"> f4
')"> Ne4
66.
')"> Kh2
')"> Nf6
67.
')"> Rg5+
and the pawn on h3 falls. Black resigned 1-0

I hope that you enjoyed the game! I surely did enjoy playing it. I'd like to also hear your opinion about the played moves, once (if) you find the time to take a closer look at it. Regards,

Nenad


Comments

 Louis Lima 07/02/2006 

I loved the fireworks in this game!

 nasmichael 07/02/2006 

Thanks for contributing this article. It is good to see the players taking pride in their games and in the decisions they make on the board.

 nasmichael 07/02/2006 

I wish more players would take the games from their mini-tournaments or their league games and add their commentary to the Journals--that is part of why it is here! Maybe a team could vote for their favorite game from a particular game or round and the best players from that team could comment on it....

 reptile 07/06/2006

very good, nice game....I've just so far

 neoliminal 07/08/2006 

I love the way you speculate on various lines and allow us a view into why you choose one over otheres. Well written.

 trashy 11/23/2006

The Breyer's Variation is 9...Nb8 instead of your comented 9...Nd7 :)

Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2002 - 2024

SchemingMind.com | Westhoughton | Bolton | England