Biel: Bogner's redemption and Leko's metamorphosis

by Tanmay Srinath
7/24/2019 – One doesn't lose forever! Sebastian Bogner, the current Swiss Champion, taught us all how to get out of a rut by clinically destroying Parham Maghsoodloo's weak opening play to get himself back into contention. Sam Shankland had the (missed) chance of the round against Vidit, but the American failed to assess properly the best continuation available to him. Peter Leko continued his remarkable fable by turning over a new leaf yet again — his game against Georgiadis lasted an epic 101 moves!

The Queens Gambit Declined, Orthodox Variation is an opening choice for Black which will never be refuted. It perhaps has an unjust reputation of being solid and passive, but this all-new ChessBase DVD will challenge that perception. Basing his Black repertoire on the Cambridge Springs variation, Andrew Martin takes you on a tour of classic games, showing how Black may conveniently sidestep the dangerous lines with Bf4, whilst retaining good chances and providing comprehensive coverage of the lines where White captures early on d5. This is a repertoire which will suit all levels of player. Video running time: 4 hours 23 min.

One winner in round two

After four decisive games yesterday, the players were calmer today. Three games ended in interesting draws. Sam Shankland had the best chance of the round against Vidit Gujarathi, but the former US Champion missed a chance to start a ferocious attack involving a potential exchange sacrifice. Peter Leko tried for 101 moves to break through with rook and knight vs rook, but Nico Georgiadis held firm to take home half a point. Jorge Cori had very little to play with as White against Abdusattorov, and soon took a draw. In the only decisive game of the round, Sebastian Bogner began his comeback with a fine win over Parham Maghsoodloo. Time to dig in:

Bogner 1-0 Maghsoodloo

After the storm of the first few days, sunshine finally shone on the beleaguered Bogner. It was not some fantastic luck — he put his head down, got to work and played one of his finest games to dismantle the current World Junior Champion.

The Swiss No.1 was too strong for the Iranian No.2 | Photo: Simon Bohnenblust / Biel Chess Festival

Here are a few critical moments:

 
Bogner-Maghsoodloo
Position after 3...a6

Maghsoodloo plays his favourite line with 3...a6 against the Queen's Gambit.

 
Position after 12.Kb1

Parham's best chance to stay in the game lay in castling short and playing in the centre. Instead, 12...h6 created further problems for the current World Junior Champion.

 
Position after 14...0-0-0

15.xd6! is a fine voluntary exchange from Bogner. The plan is to further weaken the dark squares by exchanging off their best defender.

 
Position after 20.Qb4

In this position, Maghsoodloo finally erred with 20...h5?!. It was imperative to move the queen — either to c7 or b8 — to retain chances to hold. Instead, after the mistake in the game, Bogner was quick to cash in with 21.xa6! winning a pawn.

 
Position after 22.Nxb4

After the queens were exchanged, the endgame is close to trivial for White.

 
Position after 29...Bf7

Quiz: How should White finish the game off?

 
Position after 40...g3
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Sebastian Bogner has had a horrible tournament till now, but the mark of a true champion is to bounce back from the most painful of defeats. This is what he did today. his victim being Parham Maghsoodloo. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 2...dxc4 3.e3 a6! 4.Bxc4 c5 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.0-0 b5 7.Bb3 Bb7 and here the move a6 is useful. In the game Black never got the same expansion. 3.Nf3 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Bf4 Nf6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.e3 c5 is what is discussed at the top level, majorly thanks to Anand. 3...a6?! This move is useful in the case of a Queen's Gambit accepted or a Tarrasch, but after Bogner's response I wonder how productive this actually is. 3...Nf6 is more accurate. 3...c5 If he really wanted to play the Tarrasch, this was the move order to do it. Here for example after 4.e3 a6! is a useful move, as mentioned by Axel Smith in his book e3 Poison. White does best to wait with 5.a3! and after Nf6 Play a reversed Meran with 6.dxc5 Bxc5 7.b4 Be7 8.Nbd2∞ with a complex position where practice has shown he has the easier play. 4.cxd5! This move leaves a6 looking a little stupid. exd5 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Bg5 Be6 7.e3 Nbd7 8.Bd3 Bd6 9.Qc2 Bogner has played natural moves. His plan is to castle queenside and play on the kingside. c6 10.Bh4 In order to not give Black additional tempi with h6 and g5. Bg4 11.0-0-0 Qc7 12.Kb1 h6 12...0-0!? was more double edged. Stockfish initially likes it for Black, but after inputing a few logical moves it understands that White is having more than just a nagging edge after 13.h3 Bh5 13...Bxf3 14.gxf3± is suicide - there is no way Black is going to survive playing like this. 14.g4 Bg6 15.Bxg6 fxg6 16.Nd2 and the threats in the center are fast approaching. 13.Rc1 It is already getting difficult for me to offer constructive advice to Black. The move a6 has created more harm than good, as the dark square complex on the queenside is very weak. Perhaps the combination of a6 and c6 wasn't the best way to proceed? g5 Parham is not making his life any easier. It was time to think about quick development. However, even after the relatively best 13...0-0-0 Black is in trouble after 14.Nd2 Rhe8 15.Na4 and what is to stop the knight from hopping to c5? 14.Bg3± White must have been jumping with joy by now. He has a stable advantage and numerous ways to improve his position. Black on the other hand has static weaknesses and no counterplay. 0-0-0 15.Bxd6! It is important for this to happen now, as otherwise Black can get time to play c5, after which most of his problems should disappear. Bogner exchanges off one of the dark squared guardians and prepares to invade on c5. Qxd6 16.Nd2 Kb8 Bogner is just in time, as 16...c5 is impossible due to 17.dxc5 and Nxc5 loses a piece to 18.Na4 17.Nb3 Nb6 White uses tactics to complete a strategic maneuver. The point is that 17...c5 loses a pawn due to the pretty 18.dxc5 Nxc5 19.Nb5! axb5 20.Nxc5± 18.Nc5 White has now occupied the weakness, and in the next few moves he will aim to strengthen his hold over the queenside. Nfd7 19.Qb3 It is really nice how Bogner uses simple tactics to further his goals. Ka7 20.Qb4 Being under enormous pressure, Maghsoodloo finally errs and loses a pawn. Bh5?! Perhaps Parham missed something simple while calculating? 20...Qc7 21.h3 Be6 22.Ne2± was unpleasant, but holdable. 21.Nxa6! Qxb4 22.Nxb4+- White has won a pawn and has no counterplay to deal with. The game is effectively decided. Nc8 23.b3! Controls c4 and creates additional room for the king. Nd6 24.a4 f5 25.a5 Bogner has realised that Black has nothing constructive on the kingside, so he further improves his position on the queenside. Nb8 If black tries to get creative with 25...Ne4 then the simple 26.Rc2 puts paid to his plans. 26.Na4 Be8 27.Nc5 White still retains a winning advantage, but there were better ways to make Black suffer. 27.h4! is one way of converting that I feel is better than the game. White creates additional weaknesses to exploit on the kingside. After Bd7 28.Nc5 Bc8 29.hxg5 hxg5 30.f3+- and Black is hopelessly passive and lost. 27...Ne4 28.f3 Nd6 29.h4! Once Bogner hits on the right idea, it takes him only 12 more moves to clean up. Bf7 30.Kc2 30.a6! was a nice tactical opportunity. The idea is that after bxa6 31.Ncxa6 Nxa6 White has additional targets on the queenside, and Black's resisitance will soon fold. 32.Nxa6+- 30...Rdg8 31.hxg5 hxg5 32.Kd2 Be8 33.Ne6 g4 34.Nf4 Nd7 35.Be2 Nf6 36.Nbd3 White has systematically improved his position and is ready to strike. Black decides to retaliate before it is too late. b6 37.axb6+ 37.Ne5! was more clinical. The idea is that after the normal bxa5 White goes after the house 38.Nxc6+ Bxc6 39.Rxh8 Rxh8 40.Rxc6+- and Black's position looked far better on move 1! He has absolutely no counterplay and there isn't a single pawn that can be defended easily. 37...Kxb6 38.Nc5 Nc8 39.Bd3 Ne7 40.Ra1 g3? Parham blunders mate. 41.Nfe6 Bogner's spirit must be back to the highs after this game! A brilliant display of technique and accuracy. 1–0
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Bogner,S2584Maghsoodloo,P26561–02019D3752nd Biel Festival 20192.1

The Swiss Champion has started to fire | Photo: Simon Bohnenblust / Biel Chess Festival

Shankland ½-½ Vidit

The rating favourites have clashed early, and Shankland put Vidit under a lot of pressure right from the get-go. Unfortunately for him, finishing the dogged Black player wasn't something he was able to accomplish today.

Vidit survived a trial by fire | Photo: Simon Bohnenblust / Biel Chess Festival

 
Shankland-Vidit
White just played 17.d5

Vidit had to go for 17...f5! here, preventing White from expanding on the kingside. 17...e7? was a touch materialistic and allowed Shankland to launch a terrifying attack after 18.f5! The main point is that after Black plays 17...f5 18.d4 f7! is a strong move for Black when he is in the game, alive and kicking.

 
Position after 18...f6

Find the move that Sam missed here, which gives White a surging initiative.

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1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.b3 d5 4.Bb2 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nc3 b6 7.cxd5 exd5 8.d4 We have arrived by transposition to the Queen's Indian Defense. Bb7 9.Bd3 Nbd7 10.0-0 a6 11.Ne2 Bd6 12.Ng3 g6 13.Ne5 Qe7 14.f4 Ne4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Nxd7 Qxd7 17.d5 Be7 17...f5! Prevents White from expanding in the kingside and equalises rather comfortably. 18.Qd4 Kf7! 19.Qg7+ Ke8 18.f5 f6 19.fxg6 19.Qg4! is an awkward move to meet. While White doesn't possess a decisive advantage just yet, it is really difficult for Black to find a constructive move. The most human way to continue seems to be Rae8 20.Rad1 Bc5 20...Bxd5 is smashed out of the park by 21.Rxd5‼ Qxd5 22.fxg6 Qg5 23.gxh7+ Kxh7 24.Qxe4+ Kg8 25.Rf3+- and Black's extra exchange is useless against White's threats. 21.Nxe4 Bxe3+ 22.Kh1 Qe7 23.Ng3± with a very uncomfortable position for Black. 19...hxg6 20.Nxe4 20.Rc1!? was a possible alternative. 20...Qxd5 21.Qxd5+ Bxd5 22.Nxf6+ Bxf6 23.Bxf6 Despite White's pawn advantage, the endgame is close to drawn due to opposite coloured bishops. Rae8 24.Rad1 c6 25.Rd4 25.Bd4 The engine wants to play this move, but it doesn't see the simple Rxf1+ 26.Rxf1 c5! 27.Bf6 Rxe3= and it's a dead draw. 25...Re4! Vidit is very precise in holding this. 26.Rxe4 Bxe4 27.Rf4 Bf5 28.Bc3 Bd3 29.h3 Rxf4 30.exf4 a5 31.Be5 b5 32.Bc7 b4! A very good decision by Vidit, liquidating the pawns on the queenside. The draw is now fairly obvious. 33.Bxa5 Bb1 34.Bxb4 Bxa2 35.Kf2 Bxb3 36.g4 Bc4 37.Kg3 Bf1 38.h4 Bd3 39.Kf3 Kf7 40.Bc3 Bc2 41.Ke2 c5 42.Bb2 Ke8 43.Ke1 and the players agreed to a draw. An interesting tussle, that could have gone White's way had Sam been a bit more precise. ½–½
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Shankland,S2713Vidit,S2703½–½2019E1452nd Biel Festival 20192.3

Wow, did I really blow it? | Photo: Simon Bohnenblust / Biel Chess Festival

Leko ½-½ Georgiadis

This is a new Peter Leko we are seeing. Instead of agreeing to tame draws, he is fighting until bare kings these days. A low rating and lack of invitations are perhaps telling, but what I believe is that the man himself wants to make another surge to the top, and to do so he has to reinvent himself. So instead of his perennial 1.e4, he has played 1.d4 exclusively. While he didn't win today, he did play the longest game of the round, something we don't really associate with the Leko of the past. Credit to Nico as well, who defended a piece down for a long time without faltering.

Youth managed to hold on, but not without some nightmarishly good defensive play! | Photo: Simon Bohnenblust / Biel Chess Festival

 
Leko-Georgiadis
Position after 23...d4

Peter has outplayed the young Swiss, but here he had to calculate and finish the job. Can you do better than him?

 
Position after 48.Ra8

White to play and get a huge advantage

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1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 Ne7 5...c6 6.e3 Bf5 7.Bd3 Bxd3 8.Qxd3 Ne7 9.Nge2 Nd7 10.0-0 0-0 11.a3 Ba5 12.Rfc1 a6 13.Bg5 1/2-1/2 (74) Andreikin,D (2708)-Fedoseev,V (2731) Sochi 2017 6.e3 D31: Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav without ...Nf6 (+ Marshall Gambit and Noteboom) and Exchange Variation lines without ...Nf6 0-0 7.Nf3 c6 8.Qb3 Bd6 9.Bxd6 Qxd6 10.Bd3 b6N Predecessor: 10...Nd7 11.Qc2 Nf6 12.0-0 g6 13.Rab1 0-1 (39) Esplugas Esteve,V (2285)-Peralta,F (2588) Santa Coloma 2016 11.Qc2 h6 12.0-0 Ba6 13.Ne5 Bxd3 14.Nxd3 Nd7 15.Rfd1 Rfd8 16.Rac1 Rac8 17.b4 Nf8 18.a4 Ne6 19.h3 Ng6 20.a5 bxa5 21.bxa5 c5 21...Ne7 22.dxc5± Qa6 23.Ne2 d4
24.e4 24.f4!± 24...Qxa5= 25.f4 f5 is the strong threat. Nxc5 26.Nxc5 d3! 27.Rxd3 Rxd3 28.Qxd3
Black must now prevent Qd4. 28...Rxc5 29.Rd1 Qa4 30.Rb1 Rc8 31.Rb7 Qc4 32.Qd5 32.Qxc4 with more complications. Rxc4 33.Rb8+ Kh7 34.Re8 f5 35.Kf2 32...Qxd5 33.exd5       Endgame KRN-KRN Rd8 34.Rb5 Kf8 35.Kf2 a6 36.Ra5 Rd6 37.Ke3 Ne7 38.Nc3 Ke8 39.g4 Kd7 40.Ne4 Rxd5 41.Rxa6 f5 42.Ng3 fxg4 43.hxg4 Ke8 44.Ne4 Kf7 45.f5 h5 46.Ng5+ Ke8 47.Ne6 Hoping for Ke4. Kf7 48.Ra8 Nxf5+ 49.gxf5 Rxf5 KRN-KR 50.Nf4 50.Ke4 looks sharper. Rb5 51.Nd4 Rb4 52.Ke5 Kg6 53.Nf3 50...Rb5 51.Ra7+ Kf6 52.Ra6+ Kf7 53.Nd3 h4 54.Ke4 h3 55.Nf2 h2 56.Ra1 Rh5 57.Rh1 Ke6 58.Kf4 g5+ 59.Kg3 g4 60.Nxg4 Rh8 61.Nxh2 Kd5 62.Rd1+ Ke4 63.Ng4 Rf8 64.Re1+ Kd4 65.Ne3 Rg8+ 66.Kf4 Rf8+ 67.Nf5+ Kd3 68.Rd1+ Kc2 69.Rd7 Kc3 70.Ke4 Re8+ 71.Ne7 Rh8 72.Rc7+ Kb3 73.Nf5 Kb4 74.Nd6 Rh4+ The position is equal. 75.Kd5 Rh5+ 76.Kd4 Rh4+ 77.Ne4 Kb5! 78.Rc5+ Kb6 79.Re5 Rh1 80.Re6+ Kc7 81.Nc3 Kd7 82.Ra6 Rc1 83.Rh6 Ra1 84.Ke5 Rg1 85.Rd6+ Ke8 86.Nd5 Re1+ 87.Kf5 87.Kd4 keeps more tension. Kf7 88.Kc3 Rc1+ 89.Kb2 Rh1 90.Rf6+ 87...Rf1+ 88.Nf4 Ke7 89.Rd4 Rf2 90.Rd1 Rf3 91.Rd2 Rf1 92.Rd3 Rf2 93.Ke5 Rf1 94.Nd5+ Kf7 95.Ra3 Re1+ 96.Ne3 Kg6 97.Kf4 Kf7 98.Kf5 Ke7 99.Rd3 Ra1 100.Ke5 Re1 101.Ke4 Accuracy: White = 60%, Black = 78%.
½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Leko,P2674Georgiadis,N2514½–½2019D3152nd Biel Festival 20192.4

The former Hungarian No.1 couldn't outlast his opponent today. | Photo: Simon Bohnenblust / Biel Chess Festival

Cori ½-½ Abdusattorov

The game in itself was a disappointment for White, but credit must be given to the young Uzbek for his outstanding opening preparation.

Cori needs to find some form, and find it quickly, if he needs to start challenging the leaders | Photo: Simon Bohnenblust / Biel Chess Festival

Here is one point where Abdusattorov could have gotten ambitious:

 
Cori-Abdusattorov
Position after 25.Qc1

Black could have tried to play on with a4 or ♜c4, but Abdusattorov chose to simplify with 25...b7. A draw soon ensued.

Watch out...here I come! | Photo: Simon Bohnenblust / Biel Chess Festival

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Predecessor: 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 1/2-1/2 (14) Schlosser,P (2550)-Hracek,Z (2510) Brno 1993 2...e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Bf4 d6 8.Nc3 Ne4 9.Rc1 E17: Queen's Indian: 4 g3 Bb7 5 Bg2 Be7 Nd7N 9...Bf6 10.Nxe4 Bxe4 11.Qb3 Qe7 12.Rfd1 e5 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Be3 Nc6 15.c5 Rad8 16.cxb6 cxb6 1-0 (53) Laznicka, V (2676)-Lysyj,I (2671) Poikovsky 2015 10.d5 Nxc3 11.Rxc3 e5 12.Bc1 a5 13.e4 Nc5 14.Ne1 c6 15.Nd3 cxd5 16.Nxc5 bxc5 17.cxd5 Bg5 18.Bxg5 Qxg5 19.f4 Qe7 20.f5 f6 21.h4 Ba6 22.Rf2 Rfb8 23.g4 Rb4 24.Rg3 Rab8 25.Qc1 Qb7 25...a4 seems wilder. 26.g5 Rc4 27.Qe3 Rcb4 28.Qc1 26.g5
Strongly threatening gxf6. 26...Rxb2 27.Rxb2 Qxb2 28.Qxb2 Rxb2 29.gxf6=       Endgame KRB-KRB. The position is equal. Rb7 30.Kf2 Bc4 31.fxg7 Rxg7 32.Rxg7+ Kxg7 KB-KB 33.a3! Bd3 34.Ke3 c4 35.Bf3 Bb1 36.Kd2 Kf6 37.Kc3 Bd3 38.Kd2 Bb1 39.Kc3 Bd3 40.Kd2 Bb1 Accuracy: White = 79%, Black = 76%.
½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Cori,J2686Abdusattorov,N2598½–½2019E1752nd Biel Festival 20192.2

Overall standings

Rank Name Games Classic Rapid Blitz Total
1 GM Peter Leko 9 4 10 0 14
2 GM Sam Shankland 9 4 9 0 13
3 GM Santosh Vidit 9 4 8 0 12
4 GM Parham Maghsoodloo 9 3 8 0 11
5 GM Jorge Cori 9 1 7 0 8
6 GM Nico Georgiadis 9 1 6 0 7
7 GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov 9 1 5 0 6
  GM Sebastian Bogner 9 3 3 0

6

All classical games

 
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Tanmay Srinath has been writing for ChessBase India since quite some time now. His tournament reports and depth of analysis have been widely appreciated. Pursuing a full-fledged career in engineering Tanmay doesn't get enough time to pursue chess, but he loves to follow top-level encounters and analyzes those games with his Fat Fritz engine. We hope you find his analysis useful in your games.

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