[Event "Politiken Cup"]
[Site "Helsingor DEN"]
[Date "2009.07.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Negi, P."]
[Black "Nielsen, PH."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2680"]
[Annotator "Parimarjan"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2009.07.18"]

{It was my second time in Denmark for the Politiken Cup, the last time being
three years back. This time though, the tournament was held in a much nicer
place with a spectacular view of the sea and a continuous stretch of green
fields. Perhaps I have that as an excuse for my good performance. The
tournament, once again, had a large number of players, so I breezed through
the first four rounds. Facing weaker players gave me ample time to get into a
good routine. At the stage this game was played, I had scored 5.5/6, among a
group of a few players trailing Jonny Hector who was on a perfect 6.0/6.} 1. e4
c6 {A surprise. I didn't really know what to expect because he had played much
less in the last few years, but, looking through his games, the Petroff or
Spanish seemed much likelier alternatives. Incidentally, I got another white
in the next round against Evgeny Postny - my second double white, something
that I didn't have anything to complain about, as it gave me six whites from
ten games - and he also surprised me with the Caro Kann. That game was a real
marathon, with me missing a win in the endgame, and finally ending with a draw.
} 2. d4 ({I had experimented a couple of times with} 2. Ne2 {but this didnt
feel like the right choice against an experienced grandmaster.}) 2... d5 3. Nc3
dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3
e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 ({Postny went for the more solid} 12... Qc7 {in
the next game.}) 13. Rhe1 $5 {I spent a few minutes to choose this variation.
On the previous two occasions, I had successfully employed 13.Ne4, with plans
revolving around a quick g4-g5. Of course, that brutal attack on Black's
position was clearly not the most efficient, and Nielsen was ready for it.
This line, on the other hand, has recently come into prominence, and I had
tested a few interesting ideas in the last few games.} O-O 14. Qe2 a5 {has
been played far fewer times, and looks a bit dubious. It was played after
Nielsen had thought a long time. I guess he was debating whether or not to
test my preparation after the more direct c5.} (14... c5 {is definitely the
critical line here. The continuation goes as follows:} 15. Nf5 cxd4 16. N3xd4
Bc5 17. Nxh6+ gxh6 18. Bxh6 Re8 19. g4 $5 {- the novelty played by Landa, upon
which the assesment of this variation depends. I suppose he wasn't
well-prepared for this variation, which would explain his decision to avoid it
and go for a5.}) 15. Ne5 {For a while during the game, I also considered
playing Kb1, but then I didn't see any point in moving the King from c1. So, I
decided to try to build up pressure immediately:} a4 {This looks like a
somewhat inaccurate move to me. The idea of a3 is easily dealt with, and
Black's camp gets weaker dark squares which I might be able to utilize through
threats like Ng6, targetting the e7 Bishop.} (15... Bb4 {is !?, getting the
Bishop out of the way of various shots involving Ng6, and continuing} 16. c3
Bd6 17. f4 {/\Qf3 -- Ne2 -- g4 -- g5, which was the plan Movsesian used very
effectively against Morozevich.} a4 {would, perhaps, irritate White a bit, by
creating weaknesses on the queenside.}) 16. a3 (16. Ng6 {would not bring any
dividends in this position:} a3 $1 17. b3 Re8 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 {and White
doesn't keep any control of the dark squares.}) 16... c5 $2 {This move was
played after some thought. I think he was only considering the lines with dxc5,
which, opening up the d-file, looks optically dangerous for Black. He may have
missed 19.d5!, though I would still not expect him to voluntarily allow me to
take the e7-bishop.} (16... Nxe5 17. dxe5 Nd7 18. f4 {/\f5, and White
maintains pressure}) (16... Qc7 17. Ng6 {also looks unpleasant for Black.}) (
16... Re8 {was an option to avoid Ng6 ideas, though it looks a bit shaky, with
moves such as Nf7 hovering in the air.} 17. f4 {was what I had planned to
played, taking a solid grip in the centre with ideas like either f5, or even a
slow plan with Qf3 -- Ne2 -- g4, etc.} (17. Nxf7 Kxf7 18. Qxe6+ Kf8 19. Nf5
Bxa3 20. Qa2 Be7 21. Nxe7 (21. Nxh6 Nd5) 21... Rxe7 22. Bb4 Nd5 23. Bxe7+ Nxe7
24. Qa3 {was also possible.})) 17. Ng6 $1 {Perhaps he missed this, or 19.d5.
In any case, this move was extremely unpleasant for Black.} Re8 (17... cxd4 {
was a plausible exchange sacrifice, as suggested by the computer. I seriously
doubt this gives Black enough compensation, however, after:} 18. Nxf8 Bxf8 19.
Ne4) 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 19. d5 $1 {The opening of central files is, as usual,
unpleasant for Black.} (19. Qf3 cxd4 20. Bb4 Qd8 21. Rxd4 Nd5 {was another
possibility.}) 19... Qd6 (19... Qf8 20. dxe6 {arguably better places the queen
because it's out of the way. That said, I think it's too passive.} (20. d6 Ra6
$1) 20... Rxe6 21. Qf3 {the Queen can be argued to be better placed on f8
because its out of the way, but its too passive out there.} Ne5 22. Qf4 $14 (
22. Qxb7 Rb8)) (19... Nxd5 20. Bxh6 Qf6 21. Bd2 {looks extremely good for
White, with Ne4 -- c4 -- Bc3 to follow.}) 20. dxe6 Rxe6 ({Better was} 20...
Qxe6 {.  Accepting a slightly worse endgame, after} 21. Qxe6 Rxe6 22. Rxe6 fxe6
{seems to be a much better idea. With all of Black's pawn weaknesses, he
clearly has a worse position. In this position, however, nothing comes easily
to White and Black remains a bit more solid. Though, as is clear from his move
choice, he wrongly overestimated his chances for initiative.}) 21. Qf3 Ne5 $2 (
{Better was} 21... Qc6 {, of course, but after having avoided the queen
exchange on the last move, to play this here would have been akin to admitting
that Rxe6 was a ?! move. Clearly, this move was still something he wanted to
justify. After} 22. Qxc6 Rxc6 23. Bc3 Re6 24. Rxe6 (24. Nf5 $5 $14 {also needs
to be considered, as it wasn't clear to me during the game.}) 24... fxe6 {
White simply has a tempo more than in the 20...Qe6 line, though it isn't clear
that it makes any difference.} 25. Rd6 Kf7 26. Ne4 {doesn't work, due to} (26.
Bxf6 Nxf6 27. Rb6 Rb8) 26... Ke7 $1 $17) 22. Qxb7 {Initially, I was slightly
worried about taking the pawn, but then I realised the open files don't
promise Black anything.} (22. Rxe5 {had been my original idea when I played
Qf3, but} Rxe5 (22... Qxe5 23. Bf4 {is a really nice Queen trap.}) 23. Bf4 Qe7
24. Bxe5 Qxe5 {seems fine for Black.}) (22. Qf4 Nd5 {would keep the position
more complicated.}) 22... Rb8 23. Qa7 Nc6 (23... Nc4 24. Rxe6 fxe6 25. Bxh6 $1
{is an important resource.}) (23... Rxb2 24. Kxb2 (24. Bc3) 24... Nc4+ 25. Kc1
{, and the attack is over, though I also noticed that 24.Bc3 is, perhaps, even
easier.}) 24. Qxa4 {There is nothing like greediness. Not that I had choice in
the matter.} Nd4 (24... Rxe1 {worried me much more. Allowing Qc4 isn't a very
good idea, as that more or less cuts all counterplay for Black.} 25. Bxe1 (25.
Rxe1 Qd5) 25... Qe6 (25... Nd4 26. Qc4 Qe5 27. Bc3 Qg5+ 28. Kb1 Nb5 29. Ka2 $16
) 26. Bc3 Qa2 27. b3 {doesn't seem to be a problem for White.}) 25. Qc4 $1 {
Otherwise, the ideas with Qd5 would really get irritating, and the pawns might
easily lose value.} Nd5 26. Rxe6 (26. Ne4 {was my original idea, but} Qb6 27.
b3 Qa7 $1 {suddenly gets into weird complications. For example,} 28. Qxc5 $2 (
28. Nxc5 Qxa3+ 29. Kb1 {, where White may still be good, but is unnecessarily
complicated.}) (28. a4 Nb6 $1 {is getting tricky.}) 28... Nxb3+ $1 {was the
point. Now,} 29. cxb3 Rc6 30. Qxc6 Qxa3+ {and White gets mated. Calculating
this line was a rude shock, highlighting the fact that positions can change
quickly. It made me realise all the dangers that a move like Qb6 can pose,
influencing my following play.}) 26... Qxe6 (26... fxe6 27. Ne4 Qb6 28. b3 Qa7
29. Qxc5 {was another possibility. With the rooks exchanged, I can easily grab
this pawn.}) 27. Ba5 $5 {I guess White has other ways to win, but this one
looks pretty smooth. It stops Qb6, which was causing me unnecessary weaknesses
on the queenside, and nicely places the bishop for control of the d8-square -
keeping it from the black rook. My opponent was also running out of time here,
and with the position near collapse, I just needed to keep my nerves in check
for the remainder of the game.} Qe5 28. Re1 Ne2+ {A final attempt.} 29. Rxe2
Qxb2+ 30. Kd2 Qxa3 31. Qxd5 {This was the only move, but it wasn't hard to
find, as the king makes an easy escape. The final moves were not of much
consequence.} Qxa5+ 32. Ke3 Rd8 33. Qe5 Qa3+ 34. c3 Qc1+ 35. Kf3 Rd3+ 36. Re3
Qd1+ 37. Kf4 {A nice square for the king.} Rd6 38. Nf5 Rf6 39. Kg3 {With this
win, I was among the leaders on 6.5/7, with three rounds to go. The next game
was a long affair, which required three scoresheets, but I wasn't able to
bring home the point, despite excellent chances against Postny. A short draw
in round nine with black against Malakhov left me with white in round ten
against Berg, against whom I lost three times in 2007. This time with white,
however, I succeeded in utilising his passive play in the opening. This
victory ended a great time for me in Lo Skolen. As an aside, the curious thing
about the last round was that there were nearly no draws on the top ten boards,
a rare sight in open tournaments.} 1-0

