1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
d6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nf6
5.Nc3
e6
The Scheveningen, Movsesian's favourite.
6.Be3
[Movssian's reputation goes before him. The move 6.g4
which was formerly considered extremely dangerous, now seems to be played less and less.]
6...Nc6
7.f3
The most popular system of attack, following the English Attack against the Najdorf. The pawn on f3 both defends the e4 pawn and supports the g2-g4 thrust.
7...Be7
8.Qd2
0-0
Black refuses to be frightened by White's attack. By distinction with the Najdorf, Black has not expended a tempo on pawn moves such as a7-a6. All of his moves are developing moves, and this gives him the possibility of a counterattack in the centre.
9.g4
The standard idea. White drives away the knight from f6, which is a key player in the battle for the centre.
9...d5
"Not one step backwards!" Mind you, it is all theory, of course...
10.g5
Nxd4
11.Qxd4
Nh5
Black is not bothered by the loss of the d5 pawn. In the first place, the g5 pawn is hanging, and in the second, the centre will be opened, where the white king stands.
12.0-0-0
Bxg5
13.Kb1
Motylev's idea. White sacrifices a pawn and prepares an attack with everything he has got.
13...Kh8
[Prophylaxis. After 13...Bxe3
14.Qxe3
Qf6
15.exd5
Nf4
16.d6
Bd7
17.Bb5
Bxb5
18.Nxb5
Nd5
19.Qe4
Rfd8
20.Nc7
Rac8
21.Nxd5
exd5
22.Rxd5
Rxd6
23.Rxd6
Qxd6
24.Qxb7
and White remained with an extra pawn and won (Motylev-Belozerov, Tomsk 2006)]
14.Bxg5
Qxg5
15.Rg1
Qf4
[Novelty. In the first round game Stellwagen-Movsesian, Sergey played 15...Qf6
16.Qb4
Bd7
17.exd5
exd5
18.Nxd5
Qxf3
19.Bg2
Qf5
20.Qxb7
Ba4
21.b3
Rac8
22.Rd2
a5
23.Qa7
Bc6
24.Ne7
Qg5
25.Bxc6
Qxd2
26.Nxc8
Rxc8
27.Qxf7
and White had an advantage that was close to decisive. Although Black managed to draw, it is clear that nobody in his right mind would choose to repeat that experience.]
16.Qc5
A surprisingly quick reply. Evidently, it is all in the great computer. Threatening mate in one, a fairly serious matter. Black's lack of development has its say.
16...Bd7
Correct.
17.exd5
Nf6
Black coordinates his pieces, and has also restored material equality. But it is still too early to speak of his having equalized the chances. White retains the initiative. However, Black has one small plus - his pawn structure is superior. The split white pawns on f3 and h2 could come back to haunt him later on - if he does not manage to create an attack. [Pawn-grabbing would be extremely dangerous: 17...Qxh2
18.Bd3
and the white rooks will come into play on the h-file.]
18.Bh3
[The best means of strengthe ing the pressure. If 18.d6
Bc6
Black manages to place his pieces favourably and exert pressure on the f3 pawn.]
18...exd5
[Play in Sicilian positions is highly concrete, and a move which was wrong on the last move can be the strongest now! Thus, 18...Qxh2
deserved attention, eg. 19.dxe6
fxe6!
20.Rh1
Qf4
The bishop on h3 just gets under the feet of its own rooks. I cannot evaluate the position definitively; all that is clear is that both sides have chances. ]
19.Bxd7
Nxd7
20.Qxd5
As often happens in this variation, a feint at a kingside attack creates chances of an attack on the queenside! The pawn on b7 is en prise.
20...Nf6
[Worse is 20...Ne5?!
when White can postpone his pawn-grabbing and direct his knight to d6: 21.Nb5!
]
21.Qxb7
White does not fear opening the b-file, because he can always defend by advancing b2-b3. Clearly, Black must respond in kind, by taking on h2. Putting the knight on f6 means that he should not have to fear the threats against h7.
21...Qxh2
22.Ne4
Kariakin clearly has the same thoughts, and hurrie sto remove the protector of h7. But the departure of the white knight gives him his own weaknesses, for example on c2.
22...Nxe4
[He could gain a tempo by attacking c2: 22...Rac8
and if 23.Nxf6?
Qxc2+
24.Ka1
Rb8
winning.]
23.Qxe4
Rad8
24.a4
[I find it hard to explain why kariakin avoided the strong move 24.Qe7!
It seems that in this case, Black would have to give up his last queenside pawn. Admittedly, in many lines he gets to devour the f3 pawn, but even so, the tempi are not on his side.]
24...Qc7
[Movsesian plays very carefully, keeping everything protected. It seems to me that he could have considered guerrilla tactics: 24...Qf2
]
25.Rxd8
[Advancing the pawns at once is out of place: 25.b4?!
Qc3!
White must not forget about the safety of his king.]
25...Rxd8
26.Rg5
[An original manoeuvre - maybe the rook will later come to b5 and b7. Black has no trouble after 26.Rh1
g6
; nor after 26.f4
Kg8
27.f5
Qd6!
]
26...g6
Black in turn makes luft, and also prepares to advance his pawns. He is probably going to set his hopes on the outside passed pawn.
27.Rb5
The logical continuation of the rook manoeuvre. But Black has a defence.
27...Rd1+
[A subtle moment. I ask the question: why bring the white king forwardr? Later in the ending, this could favour White. The immediate 27...Rd7
was more solid.]
28.Ka2
Rd7
Black takes control of the seventh rank. White strengthens his position on the queenside. His chances are preferable in this position.
29.c4
Kg7
Black has to waste a tempo to bring his own king closer to the action. I think White should push his c-pawn now The variations are quite cmplicated - believe it or not, in my analysis, I currently have a position with four queens on the board!
30.c5
Exatcly the move! The Ukrainian GM is clearly thinking along the same lines as me. Now Black must play very accurately - several plausible-looking moves lead to a very nasty position for him.
30...a6
31.c6
axb5
32.cxd7
Qxd7
33.Qe5+
White wins the b5 pawn and obtains two passed pawns. Black will soon push his h-pawn. The promised four queens position is not far away.
33...Kf8
[No, Sergey does not risk it. THis was my line: 33...f6
34.Qxb5
Qe6+
35.b3
h5
36.a5
h4
37.a6
h3
38.a7
h2
39.a8Q
h1Q
40.Qbb7+
Qf7
41.Qxf7+
Kxf7
42.Qd5+
Ke7
43.b4
Qh2+
44.Kb3
Qd6!
and Black holds.]
34.axb5
[Obviously, 34.Qxb5??
would be a terrible mistake, because after 34...Qxb5
35.axb5
Ke7
the black king is in the square of the b-pawn.]
34...h5
35.Kb3
[Now we see the consequences of the unfortunate check on d1. The white king is able to come into the game. It would be premature to play 35.b6?
Qa4+
36.Kb1
Qd1+
with perpetual.]
35...Kg8
[A difficult decision. The king moves further away from the b-pawn. It appears contrary to all laws of the endgame, but the idea is obvious - to hide from checks. Movsesian has cleary calculated that his h-pawn will queen at the same time as the white b-pawn. We will see....
I saw looking at the queen exchange: 35...Qe8
36.Qc5+
Qe7
37.Kb4
Ke8
38.Qxe7+
Kxe7
39.Ka5
h4
40.b6
h3
41.b7
h2
42.b8Q
h1Q
and draws.; But not 35...Qe7??
36.Qh8#
]
36.b6
h4
37.Qc7
The queen has t leave its idea centralised position, else the pawn cannot get to b7.
37...Qd1+
38.Kb4
The wite king tries to shelter from the checks on a7, although there is also the option of bringing the queen back to defend on c3 or c4. Cam Black take on f3? I suspect the tempo is more impoirtant than the material.
38...Qe1+
[Analysis shows that 38...Qxf3?
loses by force: 39.b7
Qe4+
40.Ka3
Qe3+
41.Ka4
Qd4+
42.b4
Qd1+
43.Kb5
Qd3+
44.Qc4
Qf5+
45.Qc5
Qd7+
46.Kb6
Qe6+
47.Kc7
and the checks run out.; If 38...Qd2+
39.Ka4
Qd1+
White plays 40.b3!
]
39.Kb5
Qe2+
[I think 39...Qf1+!
was more accurate, with the idea of 40.Ka5
(or 40.Kc6
Qxf3+
) 40...Qa1+
]
40.Ka5
Kariakin offers the b2-pawn.Actually, Black should take it, but who can decide on such a big step on the last move of the time control?
40...Qd2+
[As predicted, he decides against. On the final move of the time control, it was practically impossible to calculate the line 40...Qxb2
41.b7
Qa3+
42.Kb6
Qb4+
43.Ka7
Qa3+
44.Kb8
h3
45.Qc8+
Kg7
46.Qxh3
Qd6+
47.Kc8
Qc5+
with perpetual check.]
41.b4
So you don't want my pawn? So be it, now it will play its role! While you, dear readers, have been putting the kettle on for your post-time control cuppa, I have been studying this variation quite deeply. Black can still draw, but he has to find a number of "only" moves. So Movsesian faces a difficult task, especially as he does not have a computer in his head.
41...Qa2+
42.Kb5
Qe2+
43.Qc4
Qe8+
44.Qc6
Qe2+
Rather than merely repeating moves, White has actually transferred is queen from c8 to the more useful square c6, with tempo. On c6, the queen controls more squares and so makes it harder for the opponent to give perpetual.
45.Kc5
Qf2+
[A surprise, and maybe also an inaccuracy. I saw looking at 45...Qe3+
46.Kd6
Qf4+
47.Kd7
h3
48.b7
h2
49.Qc8+
Kg7
50.b8Q
Qd4+
(50...Qxb8
51.Qxb8
h1Q
52.Qf4
is less convincing.) 51.Qd6
Qxd6+
52.Kxd6
h1Q
It is impossible to analyse the variation to the end. White has a dangerous initiative, but I am not sure there is a defiite win.]
46.Kd6
Qg3+
47.Kd7
h3
[The checks run out. If 47...Qh3+?
48.Ke7
]
48.b7
h2
49.Qc8+
Kg7
[As already pointed out, 49...Kh7
leads to a difficult position after 50.b8Q
Qxb8
51.Qxb8
h1Q
52.Qf4
]
50.b8Q
Qxb8
[Further checks do not improve the situation: 50...Qh3+
51.Kc7
Qg3+
52.Kb6
Qf2+
53.Qc5!
]
51.Qxb8
h1Q
So the extra ueens disappear. White retains the initiative, since he has a strong passed pawn, and Black does not. Possession of the move is also important, and it is White who has it.
52.Qe5+
Kg8
53.Qd5!
A very strong move. The white king is exellently protected by such a centralised queen on d5.
53...Qh3+
54.Kc7
Qh2+
55.Kb7
Qh5
[If 55...Qf4
56.b5
g5
57.b6
g4
58.fxg4
Qxg4
we enter the realm of the six-figure tablebases. And White wins! In fact, he mates in 36, starting with 59.Qe5!!
]
56.Kc6
Qh3
[56...Qxd5+?
57.Kxd5
Kf8
58.Kd6
Ke8
59.Kc7
and the b-pawn queens.]
57.Kb7
[Sergey repats moves to gain time on the clock. I did not find a draw for Black after 57.b5!
]
57...Qh5
Aha, he was not just repeating! Sergey has obviously seen my commentary and wants to make a fool of me...
58.Qc6
Kg7
59.b5
Qe5
60.b6
g5
Even pretend activity is better than nothing.
61.Kc8
Qf5+
62.Kd8
Qa5
[62...Qd3+
63.Kc7!
]
63.Qd6!
Excellently played. This latest quiet move by the white queen creates the ideal position for the advance of the pawn.
63...Qa8+
[A quick demise results from 63...f5
64.Qc7+
Kg6
65.b7
Qd5+
66.Ke7
Qf7+
67.Kd6
Qf6+
68.Kd5!
]
64.Kc7
Qxf3
[Desperation. After 64...Qa5
the simplest is 65.Kb8!
followed by b6-b7.]
65.b7
Qc3+
66.Kd7
Qh3+
67.Kd8
Qh8+
68.Kc7!
An excellent game and a well-deserved victory for Kariakin. He very subtly exploited some small inaccuracies by his opponent, and has regained the tournament lead. Bravo! 1-0