Robert Ris: The swindle of the year!

by Robert Ris
9/11/2023 – Ian Nepomniachtchi won Division II of the Julius Baer Generation Cup, remaining in the winners’ bracket and obtaining clear match victories throughout the event. The Russian GM had a hiccup in the quarterfinals though, as Vladimir Fedoseev swindled his way to victory amid a sharp struggle in their first encounter. Nepo bounced back in style, winning the next three games — but he is sure to remember the striking turnaround! | Robert Ris analysed the tactical confrontation.
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Who said the Petroff is always boring?

Games in the Champions Chess online Tour are played with a time control of 15 minutes plus 3-second increments per move. Creative players like Ian Nepomniachtchi or Vladimir Fedoseev tend to try riskier ideas under these circumstances — it is no wonder, therefore, that their direct encounter in the quarterfinals of the Julius Baer Generation Cup (Division II) turned out to be a double-edged, exciting confrontation.

Out of a Petroff Defence, Nepo, playing white, got a strong initiative on the kingside. On move 36, the two-time World Championship challenger found 36.e6, breaking through in style.

Nepomniachtchi vs. Fedoseev

Nepo continued to increase his advantage until reaching a completely winning position. However, a mistake on move 42 prompted engines to show zeros on their evaluations.

Furthermore, a second tactical oversight in a row gave Fedoseev a sudden opportunity to win the game himself. Can you find the killer blow?

An attentive Fedoseev had little trouble finding the deciding manoeuvre. And this tactical back-and-forth emerged from what had already been a fascinating struggle from the start.

Check out the full analysis below and make sure to subscribe to Robert Ris’ YouTube channel.

Full analysis by Robert Ris

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1.e4 12 e5 7 2.Nf3 2 Nf6 1 3.d4 3 Nxe4 3 4.Bd3 2 d5 2 5.Nxe5 1 Nd7 2 6.Nc3 1 Nxe5 4 7.dxe5 2 Bb4 1 C43: Petroff Defence: 3 d4. 8.0-0 15 Nxc3 2 9.bxc3 1 Bxc3 2 The position is equal. 10.Rb1 2       0-0 2
10...Bxe5? 11.Re1+- 11.Bxh7+! 6       Decoy Kxh7 0 12.Qd3+ 1 Kg8 1 13.Qxc3 1 a5 0
14.Qd3!?N 50       New and interesting. Predecessor: 14.Rd1 Ra6 15.Rb5 Rc6 16.Qxa5 Rxc2 17.Rbxd5 Qh4 18.R5d2 b6 19.Qb5 Rxd2 20.Rxd2 ½-½ Svane,F (2618)-Cheparinov,I (2663) FIDE World Cup 2023 (2.1) 14...Qd7 33 Black is weak on the dark squares 15.Rb5 29 15.f4!? 15...Qc6 18 16.Ba3 1:19 Re8 2:14 16...b6 feels hotter. 17.Bxf8 Ba6 18.Rfb1 Rxf8 19.f4 Bxb5 20.Rxb5 Rd8 17.Rc5 33 Qb6 1:09 18.f4 19 c6 53 19.h3 1:39 Qa6 26 19...Bd7= 20.Qg3!± 1:05 f5 is the strong threat. Bf5 14 21.Qg5! 3 Be4 10 22.Bb2! 3 e6! would be deadly. Qb6 3:04 23.Bd4 3 Qd8 7 24.Qg4 2 Re6 1:40 Hoping for ...Rg6. 25.f5 3 Wards off Rg6 Rh6 1 26.Rf4 54 Qf8 27 27.Kh2 15 b6 11 28.Rc3 4 Threatens to win with e6. c5 3 29.Be3 27 aiming for Rxe4. Rh7 14 30.Rb3 6 Qd8 57
30...Qe7 31.f6 52 31.Rxe4!± dxe4 32.Qxe4 31...Qe8 55
Black should try 31...a4 32.Rc3 Qe8 32.e6!+- 1:33 32.Rxb6 Qxe5 33.Rc6 33.Bxc5 g6± 33...Qb8± 32...Rb8 7
32...Qxe6 33.Qxe6 fxe6 33.Bxc5! 15       Promotion g6 32 34.Bd6 55       34.Bxb6 Qxe6 35.Bxa5 Re8± 34.Rxb6 Rxb6 35.exf7+ 35.Bxb6 Qxe6 36.Bxa5 Qxg4± 35...Kxf7 36.Bxb6 Qe6± 34...Rc8 29 34...Ra8 35.e7 35.Rxb6 Qxe6 36.Qxe6 fxe6+- 35...b5 35.e7 3 35.Rxb6 Qxe6 36.Qxe6 fxe6± 35...Rc6 24 36.Be5 20 Rh5 3 37.Bd4 44 Rxc2 16 38.Rg3 7 38.Rxb6 Rxg2+ 39.Qxg2 Bxg2± 38.Bxb6 Rxg2+ 39.Qxg2 Bxg2 40.Kxg2 Kh7+- 38...Kh7 4 39.Bxb6 32 Rxa2? 17 39...a4 40.Qd1 Rc4 40.Qd1 15 40.Rxe4 White threatens Qxh5+! and mate. dxe4 41.Qd1 40...Qb8 16
40...Ra4+- 41.Qd2 Rb4 41.Rxe4! 6       dxe4 6 42.Qd8? 3 42.Qd7 mates Rg5 43.Qc7 43.e8Q? is a self mate. Qxg3+ 44.Kh1 Qxg2# 43.Bc7 Rxg3       Remove Defender 44.Kxg3 Qb3+ 45.Kh4 Qc3± 43...Qe8 44.Rxg5 Rc2 45.Qxc2 Qb8+ 46.Qc7 Qe8 47.Qd8 42...Qe5!= 5 ( -> ...Rxh3+!) 43.e8Q?? 5      
Dodges Rxh3+ 43.e8B? gets mated. Rxh3+ 44.Kg1 Qa1+ 43.Qd1= Ra3 44.Bf2 44.e8Q? Qxe8 45.Rxa3 Qb8+ 46.Kh1 Qxb6-+ 43...Rxh3+‼ 2       Pin, Double Attack 44.Kg1 6 Qa1+ 5 Never resign too early! Beautiful play by Fedoseev! Weighted Error Value: White=0.70/Black=0.37 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Nepomniachtchi,I2779Fedoseev,V26760–12023Julius Baer Div-2 20232.1

In this video course, twenty-nine examples with multiple questions are presented in the interactive format, which is ideal for a range of playing strengths. Step by step you will be taken through the complex positions.

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Robert is an International Master who mostly spends his time training and coaching talented youngsters. On the PlayChess server The Fast and the Furious is a popular show where he explains sharp opening lines for a wider audience. He is also a well-known ChessBase author who produced numerous DVDs and regularly contributes to ChessBase Magazine as well. Since 2015 he is the organizer of the Dutch Rapid Championships in his home town Amstelveen. He has started a YouTube channel with chess analysis as well.
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