Games – Page 2

V. Anand v. F. Caruana – Candidates Tournament 2016 Round 3

March 14, 2016 By Mike Leave a Comment

[Event "Candidates 2016"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2016.03.13"]  [Round "3"]  [White "Anand, Viswanathan"]  [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteElo "2794"]  [BlackElo "2762"]  [Annotator "Sagar Shah"]  [PlyCount "79"]   1. e4 {It worked for him in game one and Vishy continues with 1.e4.} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {Berlin! I wonder how the a-pawn must be feeling at this point of time. Earlier just about everyone used to pushing it. Now no one really cares about it and goes for Nf6!} 4. d3 {This seems to be Anand's weapon against the Berlin in this event.} Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 O-O 7. h3 $5 {A small change by Anand. In his game against Topalov he had gone Nbd2, whereas here he plays the little rook pawn move. It has two advantages: 1. it stops Bg4 in the future, and 2. it gets Caruana out of his preparation.} Ne7 {Caruana sticks to his plan of transferring his knight to the kingside.} 8. d4 Bb6 9. Bd3 { Definitely more common is Re1. However, Anand played this move quickly. Caruana went into a think after this, which meant that he hadn't really revised the line before the game. The variation with Bd3 is less played than Re1, but it has been essayed by players like Magnus Carlsen and Vasily Ivanchuk!} (9. dxe5 {leads to absolutely othing for White after} Nxe4 $11) 9... Ng6 (9... d5 {was Kramnik's reaction against Carlsen. And after} 10. Nbd2 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 exd4 13. Qc2 h6 14. a4 $5 {we saw an extremely interesting game develop.}) 10. Re1 Re8 11. Qc2 {At this point Anand had used only two minutes of his time while Caruana down by twenty five minutes. The interesting thing is that Anand has already played this opening with black against Michael Adams in 2013.} exd4 $146 {Caruana comes up with a new move, but this is not home preparation. It was played after due thought.} 12. cxd4 c5 {An interesting move by Caruana trying to fight for the dark squares.} 13. dxc5 (13. d5 Ba5 {leads to a very odd kind of a Benoni which should be completely fine for Black.}) (13. e5 $5 {is an interesting move. Although both players rejected it after Nd5, it could be interesting to see a few more moves.} Nd5 { Threatening Nb4.} (13... dxe5 14. dxe5 {looks completely crushing for White as after} Nd7 15. e6 fxe6 16. Bxg6 $18 {Black is busted.}) 14. Bg5 $1 (14. a3 { might be too slow as after} cxd4 {Black is completely fine.}) 14... Qc7 { After the game Fabi said that he was planning to play this move but it wouldn't have been great as White can now play} (14... Nb4 15. Qc3 Qc7 16. Bb5 $13) (14... f6 $6 15. dxc5 $1 dxc5 16. Nc3 $1 Nxc3 17. exf6 $1 gxf6 18. Bxg6 { with a very strong attack.}) 15. Nc3 $1 {The main idea is to connect the rooks on the first rank.} Nb4 (15... Nxc3 16. exd6 $1) 16. exd6 $1 $18 {Not an easy move to see from a distance but now the rook on e8 is undefended.}) 13... Bxc5 14. Nc3 Be6 15. Be3 Qc8 (15... Ne5 $5 {After the game Miroshnichenko suggested this smart move for Black which seems to equalise immediately.} 16. Nxe5 Bxe3 $1 17. Nxf7 Bxf2+ 18. Qxf2 Bxf7 {This looks like a much preferable position for Black than was reached in the game.}) 16. Bxc5 Qxc5 17. Qd2 Ne5 18. Be2 $1 Nxf3+ 19. Bxf3 {Black has an isolated pawn on d6 while White is relatively solid. This should give White an edge. However, it is not so clear as to how White should proceed.} Rad8 20. Red1 $5 {One of the most difficult questions in the game of chess is where should I place my rooks. In this position White has many options. The most natural of course looks to be Rad1, but Red1 also has its point. Vishy would like to put the a rook on c1.} (20. Rac1 {looks natural. Black could reply with} Qe5) (20. Rad1 {is also answered by} Qe5 21. Qd4 a6 22. Qb4 $14 {when White has an edge.}) 20... h5 $5 21. Qd4 Qg5 22. Qd2 ( 22. Qxa7 Bxh3 $132) 22... Qe5 {I asked Fabiano whether he wanted to play on and that was the reason why he chose Qe5 instead of Qc5. He said his queen was much better placed on e5 than on c5 and Vishy would not have repeated the position again.} 23. Qe3 $1 {Attacking the a7 pawn and getting ready to double rooks on the d-file.} a6 24. Rd4 Bd7 $5 {The bishop wasn't doing much on e6. On c6 it would not only control the d5 square but also attack the one on e4.} 25. Rad1 Bc6 26. g3 Re6 27. Bg2 {White gets ready to start his expansion with f4. Vishy truly has played really well until this point.} h4 {[%cal Gh5h4]} 28. gxh4 $1 {[#] An extremely bold move by Vishy. Usually in chess not many times you will see people taking such a pawn and accepting doubled rook pawns. However, here it is more important to make sure that White is getting in f4 and hence this gxh4 move is very flexible and meets the demands of the position.} (28. g4 $5 {Keeping the pawn structure intact is definitely an idea. But it can be possible that Vishy was afraid of} g5 {When f4 is stopped. However, White should at least be a tad better after} 29. Qd2 $14) (28. f4 $2 Qc5 29. g4 $2 Bxe4 $1 30. Nxe4 Nxe4 31. Bxe4 Rde8 $15) 28... Rde8 (28... Nh5 $2 {Trying to keep an eye on the f4 square loses to} 29. Rd5 $1 Bxd5 30. Rxd5 $18) 29. Bf3 {After the game Vishy thought that this was extremely clever as he was preparing Bg4.} (29. f4 Qc5 $13 {The e4 pawn would be falling in this case.}) 29... a5 30. a4 $6 {Anand wants to stop all these ideas beginning with b5 but this was a crucial loss of time.} (30. Bg4 R6e7 (30... Nxg4 31. hxg4 $16) 31. Rxd6 Nxe4 32. Nxe4 Qxe4 {Should be around equal.}) (30. a3 {was definitely much better remaining flexible.} b5 31. Bg4 $1 $14) 30... Qc5 31. Qf4 (31. Bg4 R6e7 $11) (31. Rxd6 $5 Qxd6 32. Rxd6 Rxd6 33. Qc5 Rde6 34. Qxa5 Nxe4 35. Nxe4 Bxe4 36. Bxe4 Rxe4 {might be an edge for White but will most probably end in a draw.}) 31... Re5 32. R1d3 {Not really sure what this move is all about, but it keeps up the pressure.} (32. Rxd6 Nxe4 33. Nxe4 Bxe4 $11) 32... R8e6 33. Kh2 Qb6 34. Rd2 Qd8 35. Qg3 $6 {This lets Caruana equalise immediately.} (35. h5 $5 Nxh5 36. Bxh5 Rxh5 37. Rxd6 Rxd6 38. Qxd6 Qxd6+ 39. Rxd6 f5 {Black should regain his pawn, but in any case White will maintain a small edge.}) 35... Bxe4 36. Nxe4 Nxe4 37. Bxe4 Rxe4 38. Rxe4 Rxe4 39. Rxd6 Qxh4 40. Qxh4 {and a draw was agreed. It should be said that Anand seemed to be slightly better throughout the game, but was never really able to cash in.} 1/2-1/2

FIDE Candidates Tournament Round 2 Games

March 13, 2016 By Mike Leave a Comment

Here are all the games from Round 2 of the Candidates Tournament.

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2016"]  [Site "Moscow RUS"]  [Date "2016.03.12"]  [Round "2.1"]  [White "Svidler, Peter"]  [Black "Topalov, Veselin"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2757"]  [BlackElo "2780"]  [ECO "C67"]  [Opening "Ruy Lopez"]  [Variation "Berlin defence, open variation"]  [WhiteFideId "4102142"]  [BlackFideId "2900084"]  [EventDate "2016.03.11"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5  8. Rxe5 O-O 9. Nc3 ({Relevant:} 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Ne8  13. Bf4 d5 14. Bd3 g6 15. Nd2 Ng7 16. Nf3 Bf5 17. Bxf5 Nxf5 18. Qe2 c6 19. Re1  Ng7 20. Be5 Bxe5 21. Nxe5 Qd6 22. Qf3 f6 23. Nd3 Re8 24. Rxe8+ Nxe8 25. Qe3 Ng7  26. h3 Kf7 27. Qh6 Kg8 28. Qe3 Kf7 29. Qh6 Kg8 30. Qe3 Kf7 {1/2-1/2 (30)  Carlsen,M (2834)-Kramnik,V (2796) Doha 2015}) 9... Ne8 10. Nd5 Bd6 11. Re1 c6  12. Ne3 Be7 13. c4 Nc7 14. d4 d5 15. cxd5 Bb4 $146 ({Predecessor (3):} 15...  Nxd5 16. Nxd5 cxd5 17. Bf4 Bf6 18. Be5 Bxe5 19. Rxe5 Re8 20. Rxe8+ Qxe8 21. Qb3  Qc6 22. Bb5 Qb6 23. Qxd5 a6 24. Bd3 Be6 25. Qe4 g6 26. d5 Bf5 27. Qe2 Bxd3 28.  Qxd3 Qxb2 29. Re1 Rd8 30. d6 Rd7 31. g3 Qf6 32. Rd1 Qe5 33. Qa3 a5 34. f4 Qe2  35. Qc1 Qe6 36. Qc5 b5 37. Qxb5 Rxd6 38. Qb8+ Kg7 39. Qxd6 Qe3+ 40. Kg2 Qe2+  41. Kg1 Qe3+ 42. Kg2 Qe2+ {1/2-1/2 (42) Carlsen,M (2850)-Caruana,F (2787)  London 2015}) 16. Bd2 Bxd2 17. Qxd2 Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Qxd5 19. Re5 Qd6 20. Bc4 Bd7  21. Rae1 b5 22. Bb3 a5 23. a4 bxa4 24. Bxa4 Be6 25. Rxa5 Rxa5 26. Qxa5 Qxd4 27.  Bxc6 Qxb2 28. Bd5 Bxd5 29. Qxd5 Qf6 30. g3 g6 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2016"]  [Site "Moscow RUS"]  [Date "2016.03.12"]  [Round "2.2"]  [White "Aronian, Levon"]  [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2786"]  [BlackElo "2762"]  [ECO "D37"]  [Opening "QGD"]  [Variation "4.Nf3"]  [WhiteFideId "13300474"]  [BlackFideId "5000017"]  [EventDate "2016.03.11"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bf4 dxc4 6. e3 b5 7. Nxb5 Bb4+ 8.  Nd2 Nd5 9. Bg3 N7b6 10. Qc2 O-O 11. Be2 Ba6 12. Nc3 c5 13. dxc5 Nxc3 $146 ({  Relevant:} 13... Bxc5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bxc4 Bxc4 16. Nxc4 Rc8 17. Qb3 Bb4+ 18.  Ke2 Qg5 19. Rhc1 h5 20. Ne5 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Bd6 22. h4 Qd8 23. e4 Bxe5 24. Bxe5  Ne7 25. Rc5 Ng6 26. Bg3 Qd4 27. Rc4 Qd7 28. Rc7 Qd4 29. Qc2 Rd8 30. Rc8 Rxc8  31. Qxc8+ Kh7 32. Qc2 e5 33. Kf1 Qd8 34. Qe2 Kg8 35. Kg1 Nxh4 36. Bxe5 Qa5 37.  Bg3 Ng6 38. a3 h4 39. Bd6 Qb6 40. Qd2 Qb3 41. Kh2 h3 42. gxh3 Nh4 43. Qe3 {  Gelfand,B (2735)-Grachev,B (2639) Moscow 2016 1-0 (119)}) 14. bxc3 Bxc5 15. O-O  Rc8 16. Rfd1 Qg5 17. Nf3 Qg6 18. Qd2 Bb5 19. Qe1 Ba4 20. Ne5 Qg5 21. Rd2 Rfd8 {  Black has completely equalised and trades follow to a dead drawn position.} 22.  Rxd8+ Qxd8 23. Nxc4 Nxc4 24. Bxc4 Bxe3 25. Qxe3 Rxc4 26. Rb1 (26. Qxa7 {  is still equal.}) 26... Rc8 27. h3 a6 28. c4 Rxc4 29. Rb8 Rc8 30. Qb6 Rxb8 31.  Qxb8 {The bishops of opposite colours endgame is completely drawn.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2016"]  [Site "Moscow RUS"]  [Date "2016.03.12"]  [Round "2.3"]  [White "Caruana, Fabiano"]  [Black "Giri, Anish"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2794"]  [BlackElo "2793"]  [ECO "C65"]  [Opening "Ruy Lopez"]  [Variation "Berlin defence"]  [WhiteFideId "2020009"]  [BlackFideId "24116068"]  [EventDate "2016.03.11"]   1. e4 {[%clk 2:00:00]} e5 {[%clk 2:00:00]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 2:00:00]} Nc6 {[%clk  2:00:00]} 3. Bb5 {[%clk 2:00:00]} Nf6 {[%clk 2:00:00]} 4. d3 {[%clk 2:00:00]} Bc5  {[%clk 1:59:59]} 5. c3 {[%clk 2:00:00]} O-O {[%clk 1:59:59]} 6. O-O {[%clk  1:58:37]} d6 {[%clk 1:59:44]} 7. Nbd2 {[%clk 1:58:34]} Ne7 {[%clk 1:59:23]} 8. d4  {[%clk 1:57:56]} exd4 {[%clk 1:59:09]} 9. cxd4 {[%clk 1:57:53]} Bb6 {[%clk  1:59:01]} 10. Re1 {[%clk 1:57:49]} Bg4 {[%clk 1:58:47]} 11. h3 {[%clk 1:56:50]}  Bh5 {[%clk 1:58:25]} 12. Qb3 {[%clk 1:56:47]} d5 {[%clk 1:58:18]} 13. e5 {[%clk  1:55:47]} Nd7 {[%clk 1:58:08]} 14. Qd1 {[%clk 1:55:43]} f6 {[%clk 1:57:51]} 15.  e6 {[%clk 0:17:02]} Nb8 {[%clk 1:57:51]} 16. Nb3 {[%clk 0:17:02]} Qd6 {[%clk  1:57:51]} 17. g4 {[%clk 0:17:02]} Bg6 {[%clk 1:57:51]} 18. Nh4 {[%clk 0:17:02]}  Nbc6 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 19. Bxc6 {[%clk 0:17:02]} Qxc6 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 20. Bd2 Bc2  {[%clk 1:22:02]} 21. Qe2 Bxb3 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 22. axb3 Bxd4 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 23.  Bb4 Bc5 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 24. Rec1 b6 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 25. Bxc5 bxc5 {[%clk  1:22:02]} 26. Ra6 Qb7 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 27. Rxc5 Rfe8 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 28. Qb5  Qxb5 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 29. Rxb5 d4 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 30. Nf5 Rad8 {[%clk 1:12:42]}  31. Rxa7 Nxf5 {[%clk 1:12:42]} 32. gxf5 d3 {[%clk 1:12:42]} 33. Ra1 g6 {[%clk  1:12:42]} 34. Rc5 Re7 {[%clk 1:12:42]} 35. Rd1 gxf5 {[%clk 1:12:42]} 36. Rc6 Rd4  {[%clk 1:12:42]} 37. Kg2 Kg7 {[%clk 1:12:42]} 38. Kf3 Kg6 {[%clk 1:12:42]} 39.  Rc4 Rd5 {[%clk 0:59:32]} 40. Rc3 d2 {[%clk 0:59:32]} 41. Re3 Rd6 {[%clk 0:59:32]}  42. Re2 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2016"]  [Site "Moscow RUS"]  [Date "2016.03.12"]  [Round "2.4"]  [White "Karjakin, Sergey"]  [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2760"]  [BlackElo "2790"]  [ECO "E15"]  [Opening "Queen's Indian"]  [Variation "Nimzovich variation (exaggerated fianchetto)"]  [WhiteFideId "14109603"]  [BlackFideId "2016192"]  [EventDate "2016.03.11"]   1. d4 {[%clk 2:00:00]} Nf6 {[%clk 2:00:00]} 2. c4 {[%clk 2:00:00]} e6 {[%clk  2:00:00]} 3. Nf3 {[%clk 2:00:00]} b6 {[%clk 2:00:00]} 4. g3 {[%clk 2:00:00]} Ba6  {[%clk 1:59:59]} 5. b3 {[%clk 2:00:00]} Bb4+ {[%clk 1:58:16]} 6. Bd2 {[%clk  1:59:52]} Be7 {[%clk 1:58:10]} 7. Bg2 {[%clk 1:59:45]} d5 {[%clk 1:57:24]} 8.  cxd5 {[%clk 1:59:41]} exd5 {[%clk 1:56:10]} 9. O-O {[%clk 1:59:17]} O-O {[%clk  1:55:59]} 10. Nc3 {[%clk 1:59:13]} Nbd7 {[%clk 1:55:53]} 11. Qc2 {[%clk 1:54:19]}  Re8 {[%clk 1:49:51]} 12. Rfd1 {[%clk 1:47:43]} Nf8 {[%clk 0:20:47]} 13. Ne5  {[%clk 1:47:43]} Bb7 {[%clk 0:20:47]} 14. Bc1 {[%clk 1:47:43]} Ne6 {[%clk  0:20:47]} 15. Bb2 {[%clk 1:47:43]} Bd6 {[%clk 0:20:47]} 16. e3 {[%clk 1:47:43]}  a6 17. Ne2 {[%clk 1:47:43]} c5 18. dxc5 {[%clk 1:47:43]} Nxc5 19. Nd3 {[%clk  1:47:43]} Nce4 20. Rac1 {[%clk 1:47:43]} Rc8 21. Qb1 {[%clk 1:47:43]} Qe7 22. Bd4  {[%clk 1:47:43]} Rxc1 23. Rxc1 {[%clk 1:47:43]} b5 24. b4 {[%clk 1:47:43]} Nd7  25. a3 {[%clk 1:47:43]} Nf8 26. Ba1 {[%clk 1:47:43]} Ne6 27. Qa2 {[%clk 1:42:22]}  Bc7 28. Nd4 {[%clk 1:33:12]} Bb6 29. h4 {[%clk 1:33:12]} Nxg3 30. fxg3 {[%clk  1:08:12]} Nxd4 31. Bxd4 {[%clk 1:08:12]} Bxd4 32. exd4 {[%clk 1:08:12]} Qe3+ 33.  Qf2 {[%clk 1:08:12]} Qxd3 34. Rc7 {[%clk 1:08:12]} f5 35. Rxb7 {[%clk 1:08:12]}  h6 36. Bxd5+ {[%clk 1:08:12]} Kh7 37. Bg2 {[%clk 1:08:12]} Re2 38. Bf1 {[%clk  1:08:12]} 1-0

Peter Svidler vs. Veselin Topalov at Candidates Tournament 2016 Round 2

March 13, 2016 By Mike Leave a Comment

This was a hard fought game between two amazing Grandmasters.

IECC Pyramid Match: Mahony v. Jacob

April 17, 2015 By Mike Leave a Comment

I have been actively playing games in the IECC. I particularly enjoy their pyrmaid ladder, so I have played several games in that format. This is the latest win for me in that area of the site. I am currently working on an annotation, but this version has a few notes in it.

[Event "P-4961"]                                           [Site "IECC"]  [Date "2015.02.26"]  [White "Mahony, Michael J."]  [Black "Jacob, Sheeju Urbanus"]  [Result "1-0"]     1.e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7.Qg4 O-O 8.Nf3 {Theory is to play 8.Bd3, but I purposely played this move order because in email games my opponent is allowed to consult books, publications and databases. My plan is to potentially throw him out of theory as soon as possible so that I can take advantage of the almost 800 rating points I have on him.} c5 9.Bd3 {Transposing right back into a theoretical position.} cxd4? {9...f5 was necessary to avoid what came next.} 10.Bxh7+! {This move opens up the attack that ensues. White has a clear advantage.} Kxh7 11.Ng5+ Kh6 {Safer was 11...Kg8 12.Qh5 Qxg5 13.Qxg5 with white still holding an advantage.} 12.Qh4+ {White now has a forced mate in 9 according to Aquarium.} Kg6 13.Qh7+ Kxg5 14.Qxg7+ Kh4 {14..Kf5 holds on longer, but it is still a forced mate.} 15.h3 Qg5 16.Qh7+ Qh5 17.g3+ Kg5 18.f4# {The moral of this game is that you should understand the opening you choose to play. Simply making moves because they are in a book or database is going to get you in trouble more often than not.}

Nisha Mohota Wins Indian National Challenges

September 26, 2014 By Mike Leave a Comment

I was reading an article at Chessbase.com regarding Nisha Mohota and it contained a very interesting game. I thought I would share it here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Event "41st ch-IND w Challengers, Goa"]  [Site "Mapusa IND"]  [Date "2014.09.09"]  [Round "5"]  [White "Mohota, Nisha"]  [Black "Soumya, Swaminathan"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "D90"]  [WhiteElo "2248"]  [BlackElo "2352"]  [Annotator "Nisha Mohota"]  [PlyCount "105"]  [EventDate "2014.09.07"]  [EventRounds "11"]  [EventCountry "IND"]   {This was the second round of the day. I had a long game in the morning. So  there was hardly enough time for food and rest. All I did as part of my  preparation was thinking for ten minutes as to how I would counter different  systems of my opponent. Soumya, who not only is a very good player (she was  current National Challengers Champion, Former National Premier Champion and  also former World Junior Girl's Champion) and a very good friend of mine but  is also a great human being! This is one of my favourite games in this  tournament and I like this game for its simplicity.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4  g6 {The game transposed to a Grunfeld and this was one of the openings I  expected.} 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. h4 {This was the first time I tried this move and  Soumya took some time to make her next move.} c5 6. dxc5 Qa5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.  Qxd5 Bxc3+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 11. Nxd2 $14 {White has emerged a pawn  up and Black will have to spend some time trying to get back the pawn.} Be6 12.  e3 O-O 13. Rc1 Rc8 14. a3 a5 {There was no way I could hang on to the pawn, so  I decided to give it in a situation when my centralised king's position will  prove more useful than opponent's castled king.} 15. Bc4 Rxc5 16. Ke2 Bxc4+ 17.  Rxc4 Rxc4 (17... Nd7 $142 {In my post mortem analysis with Soumya we felt that  this is the way for Black to equalise.} 18. Rxc5 Nxc5 19. Rc1 b6 20. Nc4 Nd7  21. Rd1 Rc8 22. b3 Rc7 $11) 18. Nxc4 Nc6 19. a4 {The position is very close to  equality.Only my king is better placed than opponent's.} h5 $2 {I think this  move could have been avoided. I got time to control the open d file.} (19...  Rd8 $142) 20. Rd1 $14 {Now things are getting difficult for Black.} Kf8 21. Rd7  Ra7 $6 {This move was a little unexpected. The rook on a7 looks a bit odd.} (  21... Rb8 22. Rd5 Ra8 23. Rb5 Ra7 $16 {I was expecting the game to go this way  and I thought I will be able to press from here as I have the better placed  pieces.}) 22. Rc7 Kg7 (22... Ke8 23. Nb6 e6 $2 24. Rc8+ Ke7 $4 25. Rxc6 $18 {  This was one of the lines my mind was fantasizing about!!}) 23. Na3 Kf6 24. Nb5  Ra8 25. Rxb7 $16 {Finally I managed to win material but I knew that I still  have to play precisely to win.} Nb4 26. Nc3 Ke6 27. g3 f6 28. Nb5 Rc8 29. Kf3  Nd3 30. Nd4+ Kf7 31. b3 Ke8 32. Ke2 Nb4 33. f4 $5 {This was a multipurpose  move. In some lines that I was calculating the black knight was coming to e5,  in the others Black's ...e5 was also irritating, so this was aimed to stop  them.} Rc5 {Now I felt that it was the right moment to exchange rooks.} 34.  Rb8+ Kd7 (34... Kf7 35. Rf8+ Kxf8 36. Ne6+ $18) 35. Rd8+ Kxd8 36. Ne6+ Kd7 37.  Nxc5+ Kc6 38. Ne6 Kd5 39. Nf8 $18 {I had seen this when exchanging rooks and I  thought it should be easy for me from here.} Ke4 40. Nxg6 Nd5 41. f5 $1 {I  felt that this is the easiest way to win.} Kxf5 42. Nf4 Nc7 43. Kf3 Na6 44. e4+  Ke5 45. Nxh5 Nc5 46. Nf4 f5 47. exf5 Kxf5 48. g4+ Kf6 49. g5+ Kg7 50. h5 e5 51.  Nd5 Nxb3 52. Ke4 Nc5+ 53. Kf5 {Playing and winning on table 1 is always a good  feeling!With this win I emerged as the sole leader at the end of 5 rounds with  5/5. It was very satisfying!} 1-0

The Week in Chess 1037

September 25, 2014 By Mike Leave a Comment

To get this section going I thought I would provide the PGN of The Week in Chess #1037 for your viewing pleasure. Simply click the ellipses (…) above the board to see a listing of the games included in the file. You can select any of the included games for replay here.