(1) Kamsky,G (2671) - Svidler,P (2743) [B83]
Mtel Masters Sofia BUL (4), 14.05.2006
[Mihail Marin]



1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be2 Nf6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Be3 0-0 9.f4 e5
This variation used to be fashionable quarter of century ago. It made part of the repertoire of such players like Ulf Andersson and a very young Garry Kasparov. By the way, they also reached this position via Paulsen move order.

10.Nxc6
[Not a very popular continuation. In the days of highest popularity of this line, the main directions of investigations consisted of 10.Nb3 exf4 11.Rxf4 Be6 reaching a position typical for the Najdorf variation but with the minor difference that the black a-pawn finds itself on its initial square and; 10.fxe5 dxe5 11.Nf5 . As we shall see, Kamsky followed his own footsteps.]

10...bxc6
In spite of ensuring Black a good control of the central squares, the pawn tandem c6-d6 an easily become the object of attack of White's pieces.

11.Kh1 exf4
[Refraining from this exchange for too long proved to be sangerous for Black after 11...Be6 12.Bf3 Bc4 13.Re1 Nd7 14.b3 Ba6 15.f5 Nf6 16.g4 in Kamsky-Khalifman, Las Vegas FIDE KO 1999.]

12.Bxf4 Be6 13.Bf3 Qb6 14.b3 Rfd8
[Not a very inspired novelty. The king side will remain vulnerable now. In a recent game, 14...Rad8 was tried: 15.Qe1 Kh8 (Not easy to understand. 15...Rfe8 , completing the development, looks more natural.) 16.Rd1 Qa5 17.Bd2 Qe5 18.Ne2 d5 19.Bf4 Qb2 20.e5 Ne4 21.Nd4 Bc5 22.Nxe6 fxe6 23.Bxe4 dxe4 24.Qxe4 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Qxa2 26.h3 with a better coordination of White's pieces in Xu Yuhua-Kovalevskaya, Ekaterinburg 2006.]

15.Qe1 Nd7?
A terrible blunder. Svidler's desire to transfer the knight to e5 is understandable, but he obviously missed White's simple tactical blow.

16.Nd5! cxd5 17.exd5 Bg4 18.Qxe7 Bxf3 19.Rxf3 Nf6 20.Be3 Qa5 21.Rxf6!
Black's king is helpless now.

21...gxf6 22.Qxf6 Re8 23.Qg5+ Kf8 24.Bd2
[24.Bd2 The only way to prevent Qf6 followed by Bh6+ consists of 24...Qd8 but then 25.Qh6+ Kg8 26.Bc3 ensures White a decisive advantage.] 1-0