4/28/2016 – ChessBase editor Sagar Shah met Boris Gelfand at the Candidates tournament 2016 in Moscow and did an hour long interview with him. In this first part we ask Boris about how he became such a strong blindfold player, how one should work on the three phases of the game, his best games of chess and how much importance he gives to computer engines. Besides this, you will also have a chance to test yourself with a study that Boris himself struggled with!
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Improve your chess with Boris Gelfand (1/2)
Interview by Sagar Shah
I was standing at the crowded reception of the Cosmos Hotel in Moscow for the Aeroflot Open 2016, waiting to hand in my passport and get the keys to my room. I turned around for a moment and noticed Boris Gelfand standing right behind me. Wearing a waistcoat to beat the Russian cold, he was talking in an animated manner with a friend. I greeted Boris and asked him to go ahead and take my spot in the queue. "Thank you" and a smile erupted on Boris' face as he submitted his passport.
It was the first time I had met and seen this great champion in person. With the gruelling time control of the Aeroflot Open, in which I too was playing, I hardly found any time to speak with Boris again. On the last day, after he finished the tournament as joint first, I asked Boris if he could spare an hour for an interview that would be published on the ChessBase newspage. Yes, of course. But tomorrow I will be playing in the Blitz tournament and then will be leaving immediately for some work. I will be there on the first two days of the Candidates. I will be doing commentary but I am sure that we will be able to find some time."
I was happy that Boris was interested for the interview but deep down I knew that it would be difficult to fit it in during the Candidates. After all as a super-strong grandmaster and an expert he would be in great demand at the venue. The first day of the Candidates saw Gelfand doing the commentary for nearly four hours. "Tomorrow is my last chance," I said to myself. I went back to my room and prepared a list of questions for the interview. The next day I reached the Central Telegraph building and looked around for Boris. He was not to be seen. I went inside the press room and as I was putting my stuff on the chair, I heard a voice from behind: "So, shall we do the interview?"
I was amazed! Instead of me finding Boris, this man had looked for me and had specially allocated time in his schedule for our chat. Here was a person who stayed true to his word. I immediately sat down with Boris, opened my sheet of questions, turned on the live games page on my laptop so that Boris could follow the Candidates games. For the next hour I grilled Boris on all sorts of matters that could help the readers get an insight as to how a top player thinks.
Sagar Shah:Boris, let us begin with the Aeroflot Open that you played from 1st to 10th March. How was your experience playing the tournament and why did you choose to play this event?
Boris Gelfand: It was a strong event. Recently, I didn’t have many opportunities to play classical games. It’s important to play tournaments to keep yourself sharp. I am a very ambitious player and I want to keep playing. Those were the reasons why I decided to take part in the Aeroflot Open and the experience was quite good. It had its share of ups and downs but basically I am happy with the result. What makes Aeroflot Open different from other open events is that whatever you do, you will get a strong opponent. It was very intense with lot of youngsters coming from all over the world. I am glad I took part in it.
SS: Was the seven hour time control one of the reasons why you decided to play the Aeroflot Open?
BG: I like to play long games so this time control was preferable. But I am fine with shorter ones as well. [The time control at the Aeroflot Open was 100 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 50 minutes for the next 20 moves and 15 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from the first.]
SS: You drew the first two rounds against Artyom Timofeev and the unheralded Haik Martirosyan. What was your mindset going into the third game?
BG: I was very positive. It is obvious that this boy [Haik Martirosyan] whom I played in the second round is much stronger than his rating suggests. At the end of the event he finished with a positive result of +1. He played a good tournament and will be one the stars of the future.
I was glad that I was paired against Anton Demchenko in the third round, because I looked at his repertoire and I saw that he goes for the Open Sicilian. Of course, this opening gives chances to both sides. I was happy to see this fact and I think I played a good game. I didn’t check it in great detail yet but from what I saw it was a good game. He missed some finesses and it was enough to get into trouble.
Boris scored 6.5/9 and finished joint first at the Aeroflot Open with Evgeniy Najer
SS: Three of your games in this tournament lasted for seven hours: against Bartel, Grachev and Jumabayev. You are not so young anymore! How did you withstand this pressure?
BG: It was very tiring and having no rest days was quite a huge problem. When you play round robins there is always some time to relax, while here especially at the end it was tough. After the games I had my dinner, went for a massage, and after coming back to the room I would invariably fall asleep. I did not analyze my games. In the morning there were some hours because the round began in the afternoon. So I went for a walk each morning in the nearby park and then I prepared before going to the game. I stuck to this routine and it worked. Unfortunately the weather was the horrible until the eighth round. It was grey and dark and raining and snowing, but I managed. On the last two days especially the blitz tournament it was really fantastic weather and my mood was better.
SS: Do you follow a routine every time you play a tournament?
BG: More or less I always follow a routine. There are usually some adjustments depending on the time of the start of the round and other factors, like weather. For example, at the Aeroflot Open after the games ended it was already very dark and it was not so nice to go for a walk at night. So I preferred to go out in the morning and relax in the evening.
SS: One of the most amazing things when someone sees you play is your ability to spin pieces, right from the pawn to the queen, in your hand while playing. How are you able to spin them so perfectly and how did this habit come about?
Watch this video captured by Amruta Mokal at the Aeroflot Blitz where
Gelfand flips his queen to perfection without any difficulty!
BG: 40 years of experience, you see. 40 years of experience! (Smiles) Everybody laughs at it. In the past 40 years of my playing career two players were not happy with this (Portisch and Vallejo) and complained to the arbiter and I stopped it immediately because I don’t do it to disturb my opponents. It’s just a habit. Maybe a bad habit, I don’t know. Most of the people find it funny. I have seen a lot of people trying to catch it with their camera and film it.
SS: One more habit of yours while playing is that you do not sit at the board. You are walking around and thinking at the same time. Are you able to calculate in as much depth while thinking blindfold, as much as you could have had you been sitting on the board?
BG: Yes I try to think in as much depth in both the cases. Sometimes while thinking blindfold I try to widen my horizons. Often you focus on one line but it can be useful to pause and think whether there are some other options. Maybe you are stuck within a framework and forget about the other possibilities in the position. When I walk I am as focused as I am when sitting at the board. The only problem in Moscow was that there were many people who came to meet me and they smiled, so it was a bit distracting. But usually when I approach time control and I am in time pressure I sit at the board.
Not seeing the board is not such a huge handicap for Boris
SS: What would you recommend to players who would like to improve their blindfold chess?
BG: I don’t think I am extremely strong in blindfold chess. I played in the Melody Amber tournament, specially known for blindfold chess and did well sometimes. But there are other guys like Kramnik or Morozevich who are really incredible. I think it’s important to keep the position that is on the board in your head. I spoke a lot about it with great trainer and grandmaster Yuri Razuvaev, who unfortunately passed away, and he put utmost importance on young players learning to do it. So I developed this skill in the following manner: Let’s say after the game I walk or have dinner with my seconds or other players, we would discuss positions in the head and try to analyze what happened in the game. We would not rush to the computer to check but preferred to discuss with each other. This develops the ability to think blindfold immensely. This ability to keep the position in the head and calculate is extremely important according to me.
This picture was taken on Lilienthal's 90th birthday in Moscow. Lilienthal is surrounded by grandmasters: Boris Gelfand, Vladimir Kramnik, Yuri Averbakh, Evgeni Vasiukov, Sergei Makarichev and Yuri Razuvaev. [A huge thanks to legendary photographer Boris Dolmatovsky for sharing one of Boris Gelfand's favourite pictures with the chess world]
SS: If you were given a position, can you easily set it up in your mind and start thinking?
BG: Yes it is important to learn to do it. Also what I do at home when I go for a walk is to get a study and solve it while I am walking. That’s what Razuvaev taught me. It’s a good idea and I often do it.
SS: I have a study for you. Can I give it to you?
BG: (With excitement) Yes, tell me!
SS: White king is on b2, pawn a5, rook a6. Black king is on f3, rook is on f8 and pawn on g4. And it is Black to play and win. [While I dictated this position to Boris he would say the square out aloud. For example when I said rook is on "f8", he would respond with the words f8. It meant that he had placed that piece in his head. We would recommend the readers to try and have a crack at this problem blindfold. If you are unable to do that then you can click on the board diagram link below to see the board position. Once you have solved it you can read Boris’ thought process and the answer in PGN]
The instant I gave Boris the position, he was down to business! And just look at the dedication!
BG: [Thinking hard about the position and trying to understand the nuances and after exactly 60 seconds] 1…g3 doesn’t work, yeah. 2.Rg6 g2 3.Kb3 4.Rf4 a6 and it’s a draw. Other options are (thinks for a bit) either 1…Rf5, Rg8 or Rb8+
SS: One of them is correct!
BG: [With a smile] yeah, yeah! Candidate moves are always useful you see! Let’s see 1…Rf5 2.Kb3 g3 3.Kb4 Rg5 4. Rf6 Ke2 Re6 Kd2 Rd6 Kc2 Re6 g2 Re1 and it’s a draw. So let’s consider other options 1…Rg8 2.Rf6 Ke2 3.Re6 nowhere to go, yeah? Rf6+ Ke4 maybe.
SS: Why don’t you consider the line starting with 1…Rf5 again.
BG: [In a flash] Yes, got it. 1…Rf5 2.Kb3 g3 3.Kb4 g2 4.Rg6 Rf4+! and Rg4 and wins. Intermediate moves are important! And another point is that 1…Rf5 2.Ra8 g3 3.a6 you keep following the pawn with Rf6 4.a7 Rf7 and wins. This is standard rook endgame technique.
SS: Perfect! I have given this position to many grandmasters and they couldn’t solve it even looking at the board! You solved it blindfold in less than five minutes!
Rf5 is the right move and was one of Gelfand's candidate moves. A small nudge after initial miscalculation was good enough for him to figure out all the variations.1...Rf5!This is the first line that Gelfand considers.1...g32.Rg6g23.Kb3Rf44.a6=1...Rg8was another move suggested by Boris2.Rf6+Ke23.Re6+leads nowhere.2.Ra82.Kb3g33.Kb4g24.Rg6Gelfand thought that this position was a draw but later he spottedRf4+!5.Kb5Rg4-+2...g33.a6Rf6!4.a7Rf7!-+A very nice idea of following the a-pawn and the g-pawn now queens.0–1
Coming to your openings, you usually begin the game with 1.d4 and recently you have stuck to this move. Are you not afraid that your opponents would come prepared with computer analysis?
BG: Of course I am afraid, but it’s a risk whatever you do! If you prepare a lot of moves, you cannot go too deep and your opponents might be better prepared. Also, I play a lot of different systems, sometimes the Catalan, sometimes 3.Nf3 and 4.Nc3, and I keep varying. I don’t think my opening repertoire is narrow.
SS: What is your opinion about the opening? Should players focus on the openings since young age or they should first work on other phases of the game?
BG: I think it is always better to focus on other aspects of the game apart from openings at an early age. Let’s say learning basic endgames, to get some tactical alertness, to learn pattern recognition, to study the classics. I think all these are much more important than focusing on the openings.
SS: At some point, however, one would have to learn openings. At that moment how would you advice players to go about working on this first phase of the game?
BG: It’s different for different people. I believe that young players must try to follow the repertoire of a player whom they like the most. You can easily get the opening ideas and you are also able to follow the complete games. For example, if you like a classical player you can take Kramnik’s repertoire. But you also have to be alert. You cannot just blindly follow the sharp lines. Your idol might have worked a lot while you just don’t know what to do! I would also suggest playing openings that suit your style.
SS: Who was your idol when you were young?
BG: I loved Rubinstein. But I looked at books of selected games of most of the top players like Geller, Polugaevsky, Alekhine, Botvinnik, Tarrasch, Fischer, Larsen and many more. Unfortunately there is no good book on Spassky. He hasn’t written any books and we can have his games only with comments by someone else. I also studied a lot of books written by Keres, his best games and also his book on the World Championship Tournament 1948. Keres was a good writer. A lot of top level players were good writers but not all of them wanted to spend time penning down their thoughts.
SS: Talking about good players being good writers, you have recently written a book together with Jacob Aagaard for Quality Chess on Positional Decision Making in Chess. And part II is coming out soon. Do you think writing the book has helped you evolve as a player?
Download and read a sample or just have a look at the reviews for this book by top players over here
BG: One of my favorite authors, Somerset Maugham, wrote his autobiographical book "Summing up" and somehow wrote his best novels after that. I hope the same is the case with me! I collaborated with Jacob Aagaard on this project. We usually worked on Skype. I live far away from Jacob but thanks to the modern technology we can not only speak but also see each other. Basically, I gave him a file, then we discussed it and he asked questions which helped me to explain things better. He is a strong grandmaster and an experienced trainer. The questions Jacob asked made me think many times. Often I would reply: “Okay let me think! We will return to it next time.” This process of thinking over his questions made me learn quite a few things which I wasn’t aware of.
SS: In the first book I really liked the games where you grind out a small edge with white against the Slav Defence, slowly improving your pieces. Is that one of your most favourite ways to play?
BG: Well I would say that the games of Slav suited the topic of the first book Positional Decision Making. If it was some other topic, I am sure there would be games from other openings, like in book two where we focus on dynamic chess. I am not sure how many parts this series of books is going to last – definitely more than three. I hope we will have the energy, motivation and time to work on future books. I like this idea and I think it is well received. Many people praised the work and it gives you a good feeling.
SS: Extremely impressive when seeing you play is the intensity with which you think. You are completely focused and often your face turns red. Are trying to create a masterpiece in every game that you play?
BG: I try to make the best moves. I understand that one cannot make masterpieces in every game that one plays, but deep inside whenever I sit down at the board I have the feeling that today I really want to play a great game and create a masterpiece.
SS: Could you tell us about some of the masterpieces that you have created in your chess career.
BG: Well let me think… If I had to create a list of my favourite games, then I would put the one against Shirov from Polanica Zdroj 1998, against Sergey Karjakin from World Cup 2009, against Wang Yue 2010, against Alexander Grischuk from the last game of the Candidates 2011 which brought me to the World Championship Match. These are the ones I would start with, although I am sure there are many more that I am missing out on.
[Ed- We do not want to put the entire game boards here of Boris' favourite games and distract you from reading the interview, but if you would like to see these gems, all you have to do is click the link below for the boards to open]
1.d4Nf62.Nf3g63.c4Bg74.Nc3d55.cxd5Nxd56.e4Nxc37.bxc3c58.Rb10-09.Be2cxd410.cxd4Qa5+11.Bd2Qxa212.0-0Bg413.Bg5h614.Bh4a514...Rd815.d5g516.Bg3b6?!17.Re1Bxf318.Bxf3Nd719.e5± Anand,V-Illescas Cordoba,M,Madrid,199814...g5!15.Bg3Nc616.d5Rad817.Rxb7e617...f5!Chernin,A18.Qe118.Bc7fxe4!18...Bxf319.Bxf3Nd420.exf5Nxf3+21.gxf3Qxd522.Rxa7Rxf5=18.Bc7±1-0 Chernin,A-Horvath,Jzsef/Magyarorszag (ch) 56/547 1992 (36)15.Rxb7g516.Bg3a417.h4a318.hxg5hxg5Both of the players definitely new Lautier, J-Sokolov,I game they were following.But they had different opinion about it. I believed that it is extremely dangerous for Black to rely only on a-pawn,and Alexey thought that this is a strong trump and it would help Black to hold the position.19.Rc7!NNo,this is not an elaborated home preparation,as many people suggested later,but an over the board decision.This is multi-functioned move:White want to win a pawn by Rc2 and Ng5 or put their Bishop on important c4 square.I spent more than 1 hour trying to make this idea work.19.Rb5also looked very tempting,but Black managed to survive.Nc620.Rxg5Bxf321.gxf3Qb222.Bc4Rfd823.f4Rxd424.Bxf7+Kxf725.Qh5+Kg826.e5Qb327.Qg6Qf728.Qxc6Rad829.Qa6Rd330.f5Rf331.Ra1Rxf532.Rxf5Qxf533.Qxa3e634.Qe7Rf835.Qd6Qg636.Rd1Rf537.Qb8+Kh738.Rd4Rxe539.Rh4+Rh540.Rxh5+A-A Lautier,Joel-Sokolov,Ivan/Sigeman & Co Malmoe (4) 199819...Na6?Black are going for the most forced line,which however doesn't solve their problems. I was more concerned about other options:19...Nd720.e5!Cutting both g7 and Ad7 out of game by just 1 move20.Bc4Qb221.Rxd7Bxd722.Nxg5is too aggressiveQb6!23.e523.Qh5Qh624.Bxf7+Kh823...Qg620.Rc2?!It is too straightforwardQb321.Nxg5Bxe221...a222.Rxe222.Qxe2?!a222...Bxd423.e5Qxg324.Qh5Qd325.Rd2Qg623.Rb2Qa324.Ra1Bxd425.Rbxa2Qxg326.Rxa8Qxg5-+22...Qxd123.Rxd1Ra423...a224.Ra1Bxd424...Ra525.e5Rfa826.Rb2±25.Raxa224.Nf3Nb6with full compensation20.Re1Qb221.Rc2Qb620...Qb220...Rfc821.Bc4Qxc421...Qb222.Bxf7+Kh823.Rxc8+Rxc824.Qd3±22.Rxc4Rxc423.Qb3Raa424.Nxg5±21.Rc2Qb321...Qb622.Nxg5Bf523.Ra2±22.Nxg5a222...Bxe223.Qxe2a224.Ra1Qb1+25.Rc1∆Rfb826.e6Qxc1+27.Rxc1Rb128.exf7+Kf829.Ne6+Kxf730.Ng5++-23.Rxa223.Rc1Qxd124.Bxd1Bxd124...a1Q25.Rxa1Rxa126.Bxg4Rxf1+27.Kxf1Nb625.Rcxd125.Rfxd1Bh626.Bf4Ra427.Be3Rfa828.Ra1Nb625...Nb623...Qxd124.Rxd1Rxa225.Bxg4Nb619...Qb220.Rc220.Bc4also deserves attention,but I prefer 20. Ac2a220...e621.Bd6Rd8!?21...a222.Qa1Qb623.Bxf8Qxc724.Bxg7Qxc425.Ne522.e5Nd721.Qa1Qxa122.Rxa1Bxf323.gxf3Na623...Bxd424.Rxa2Rxa225.Bxa2e526.Bc424.Rxe7Nb425.Rd720...Qb320...Qb621.Nxg5Qxd421...Bxe222.Qxe2Nd723.e5Ra424.e6±21...a222.Rxa2Rxa223.Bxg4Bxd423...Qxd4-21...Od424.Be6!fxe625.Qh5Rfxf226.Qg6+22.Qxd4Bxd423.Bxg4a224.Rxa2Rxa225.Ne6Nc626.Nxf8Kxf8 maybe this was one of the best possibilities,as it is very difficult for White to win this ending(but Black would suffer for around 100 moves)!21.Nxg5a222.Rxa2Qxd123.Rxd1Rxa224.Bxg4EAe6.During the game I thought that this position is critical,and I still believe it! Similiar position could also happen from 19...Ad7 line.White are definitely better.They have to plans:to create passed d-pawn or try to bother Black's King.Black ,in my opinion should try to exchange rooks ,what would minimize White's advantage. 19...Bxf320.Bxf3doesn't give extra opportunities for Black20.Rxe720.Bxa6?!is senselessRxa620...Bxf321.Qd3Bxf320.Bc4Qb221.Rxe7would force matters,but I dont see a way Black could avoid this position anyway.20...Qb220...Bf621.Rb721.Bc4Qb421...Bf6Black are following main line,otherwise they were going to get mated.22.Rxf7Rxf723.e5!23.Bxf7+Kxf724.Nxg5+Bxg525.Qxg4+-23...Be723...Qb724.exf6Bxf325.Qd2Be426.Re124.Bxf7+Kxf725.Nxg5+21...a222.Rxf7Rxf723.Bxf7+Kxf723...Kh824.Qa124.Bd524.Nxg5++-22.Bxf7+22.Rxf7?!Qxc423.Rxg7+Kxg724.Qd2Bxf325.Qxg5+Kh726.gxf3Qf7and white could hardly hope even for a draw.22...Kh8it looks like White's Rook is traped and their attack was incorrect.22...Rxf723.Rxf7Bxd424.Be5Bxe525.Qd5+-23.Rd7‼This is main move of the game,and I am proud that I foreseen it from quite far.Shirov ,in his turn, called 23.Rd7 a 'prosaic 'move (and I have to agree with him!) and was afraid of even more imaginative idea: it looks like White Rook is traped and their attack was incorrect.But I prepared a suprise for my opponent.23.Be6!Bxf323...Qxe724.Bxg4 a-pawn is still far and White already have a material advantage24.Rxg7Bxd125.Be5‼the point of Alexey's idea.Now mate in 2 is a threatQb5the only defence26.d5!26.Bd5Bishop is trying to protect his more important colleage,butRf5‼Now White have few possibilities,but it looks like they dont have an advantage26...Qxd527.exd5Ba427...Be228.Ra1+-28.Ra1Rf529.Rxg5+Rxe530.dxe527.exf527.Rb7+Rxe528.Rxb5Be228...Rxd529.Rxd5∞29.dxe5Bxb5=27...Qxd528.Rd7+28.Rxg5+Kh729.Rxd1a230.Kh230.Rd3a1Q+31.Kh2Qxe5+32.dxe5Qxe5+30...Qe431.Kg3Qb132.Rh5+Kg833.Rdh1Kf7∞28...Qxe529.dxe5I was really amazed,when my opponent showed me this line in post-mortem.During the game Alexey was not sure about Black's chances here,but as analysis show,draw is most likely result here.Bc229...Bg430.Rd4Bxf531.Ra4Nc732.Rxa8+Nxa833.Ra1Nc734.Rxa3Ne630.g4Nc531.Rc7a232.Kg2a1Q33.Rxa1Rxa134.Rxc5Be4+=35.f3Ra2+36.Kg1Bxf326...Qb2!finally getting the Bishop27.Rg8+Kh728.Bxb2Rxg828...axb229.Rxf8b1Q29...Rxf830.Rxd130.Rxa829.Bxa3!Bc230.Bf5+No,we are not going to exchange our nice Bishop for a passive RookKh631.Rc1Ba432.e5±And White are better,but it is difficult to claim something more being a Rook down!23...Bxd7After making a difficult route a1-b1-b7-c7-e7-d7,Rook has no plce to go, but 24. d6 is a threat,soBlack has no choice,but to take.23...Bf624.Bd524.Bd6Qb524.Be6!24...Bxd725.Nxg523...Qb524.Rd523...a224.Bxa224.Bd624...Rxf324...Bxd725.Nxg525.gxf3Bxd726.Kg2Bxd427.Rh1+Kg728.Be5+24.Nxg5Qb625.Be6!This is a point.Black has to give up Queen to revent a decisive check from h-lineQxe625...Be826.Qg4Bxd426...Rf627.Be5∆Rxe628.Nf7+27.Qh4+Kg728.Qh7+Kf629.e5+Kxg529...Bxe530.Qf5+Ke731.Qxe5+-30.Qg7+Bg631.Bh4+Kf432.Qxg6+-26.Nxe6Bxe627.Be5!?27.Bd6a227...Rfd828.Be5Bc428...Ra729.Qc129.Qh5+Kg830.Ra1a231.d528...Rd729.Qh5+Kg830.Qg6Bb331.Bxg7Rxg732.Qb6+-29.Qh5+Kg830.Qg6Ra731.Ra1a232.Qc6Bf733.Bxg7Kxg734.d5Nc7±28.Bxf8Rxf828...Bxf829.d5Bg730.Qh5+Kg831.dxe6+-29.Qh5+29.Qa4Nc730.d530.Qc6Bxd431.Qxc7a1Q31...Ra832.Qd632.Rxa1Bxa130...Ra831.Qc629...Kg830.Qa5Bc431.Qa4Rc832.Rc127...Rf727...Bc428.Qc128.Qh5+Kg829.Qg6Ra730.Ra1a231.Qc6Bf732.Bxg7Kxg733.d5Nc7±34.Rxa2Rxa235.Qxc7We believe that this type of position ,which could arise from a lot of lines is in a long run won for White28...Bxe529.Qxc4Bg730.Ra130.Rc1a231.Ra1Rfc832.Qd3Nb4!32...Nc533.Qh3+Kg834.Rxa2Bxd435.e5!33.Qh3+Kg834.Qb3+Kh735.Qxb4Rcb830...Rfc831.Qd3Nc531...Bf832.e532.Qh3+Kg833.e528.Qh5+28.d5Bd729.Qd4Nc730.Ra1Nb531.Bxg7+Rxg732.Qe328...Kg829.Qg6Bd729...Bc430.Qc629...Bb330.Bxg7Rxg731.Qb630.Bxg730.Qg3this difficult to find move,proposed by fritz5 was more practical(but maybe not stronger).Very often You see diffirent picture-computer's proposal is sometimes stronger,but much less practical.a230...Nb431.Bxg7Rxg732.Qb3+Kh833.Qxb4Bh334.Ra131.Ra130...Rxg731.Qd6Kh7Alexei misses an exelent practical chance,which is strange,as he is, in my opinion,maybe the best defender in chess world.31...Rf832.Qxa332.Qxa6Bh331...Nc7‼was the best try.32.Qxc7Bh3would put me under a tough choice,taking in consideration,that I had less than 10 minutes left.32...Bb533.Qc5Bxf134.Qd5+Kh735.Qxa8Bxg236.Qxa3Bxe4+37.Kf1looks winning,as Black's pieces are very poorly coordinated.33.Qc633.Qxg7+Kxg734.gxh3Ra4‼Exellent move34...a235.Ra1Ra436.f3 3 extra pawns should be enough35.Ra1Rxd436.Rxa3Rxe4Theory considers such a position drawish,but as far I know,a lot of strong grandmasters question this assessment.33.Qc4+Kh734.Qd5Ra633...Ra534.Rc1! The most precise decision,but I admit that I am not sure that I'll find it being very short of time.As the following lines showes,White are winning.Rxg2+34...Bxg235.Qc8+Kh736.Rc7Rag537.Rxg7+Rxg737...Kxg738.Qc7++-38.Kh234...a235.Kh2Bxg235...Bd736.Qc4+Kh837.Qc3Rag538.g3Rh5+39.Kg2Rgh740.d5+Kg841.Kf336.d5!Kh737.Qf6Ra838.d6!?+-35.Kh1a236.Qe8+Kh737.Qe7+Kh638.Rc6+38.Qh4+Rh539.Qf6+Rg638...Rg639.Qf8+Kg540.Qd8+Kf441.Qxa5Rxc642.Qxa2+-32.Qxa3Nc733.Qe3Ne634.d5Ng535.f4Nh3+35...Nf736.f536.Kh1Ra236...Rag837.gxh3Rg338.Rf337.f5!Avoiding last trap37.gxh3?Rgg2!=37...Ng538.f6Rg639.f740.f8N is White's threat,so Black Resign.I was very happy po play this game in memorial of one of my favorite players A. Rubinstein.I don't think it was done in his style,but I believe it worth his memory!1–0
I think that this game was my best achievement in the World Cup. It is not so often that you beat such a strong player with Black by a mating attack and without him making an obvious mistake. Ich denke, dass diese Partie meine beste Leistung im World Cup war. Es kommt nicht oft vor, dass man einen derart starken Spieler als Schwarzer bezwingt, mit einem Mattangriff und ohne dass er einen offensichtlichen Fehler macht.1.e4e52.Bc4Nf63.d3So, no Petroff today. Sergey had already played the Bishop's Opening once against me in a rapid game in Nice in 2008. Also, kein Russisch heute. Die Läufereröffnung hatte Sergey bereits einmal gegen mich gespielt, in einer Schnellpartie in Nizza 2008.Nc6I had played 3...c6 that time, as well as 3 times in in 2009 (including twice in Khanti Mansiysk). However, it is always nice to change from time to time. Damals hatte ich 3...c6 gezogen, ebenso wie dreimal im Jahr 2009 (darnter zweimal in Khanti Mansiysk). Aber eine Abwechslung von Zeit zu Zeit zu tut immer gut.4.Nf3Be75.0-00-06.Bb36.Re1d67.a4is another possibility. Morozevich played it against me in Astana 2001. I had improved on that game and won against Sutovsky with White in Dagomys 2006. ist eine weitere Möglichkeit. Morozevich spielte dies gegen mich in Astana 2001. Zu dieser Partie hatte ich eine Verbesserung gefunden und in Dagomys 2006 gegen Sutovsky mit Weiß gewonnen.6...d5The most straightforward system. Das gradlinigste System.6...d67.c3leads to a slower game, similiar to the Ruy Lopez. führt zu langsamerem Spiel, ähnlich wie im Spanier.7.exd5Nxd58.h3The most challenging move is Der kritischste Zug ist8.Re1Bg49.h3when Black has to choose beetween the pawn sacrifice , wonach Schwarz sich entscheiden muss zwischen dem BauernopferBh5and und9...Bxf310.Qxf3Nd411.Qxd5Qxd512.Bxd5Nxc213.Rxe5 with an unclear position mit unklarer Stellung.10.g4Bg611.Nxe5Nxe512.Rxe5c613.Qf3Bf613...Bd6!14.Re2f514...Kh8- 36/(395)15.g5f416.h4Kh8∞Kramnik,V14.Re2Kh815.Bxd5cxd516.Nc3Bxc317.bxc3Rc81/2-1/2 Kramnik,V (2715)-Kasparov,G (2805)/Novgorod 1995/Inf 63/[Kramnik,V] (58)18.Bd2±Kramnik,V8...a5!Black is chasing the Bb3, and creating the eventual possibility for the R to enter into the game. Schwarz jagt den Bb3 und eröffnet sich die eventuelle Möglichkeit, den R ins Spiel zu bringen.9.a49.a3a410.Ba2Kh811.Re1f612.d4exd413.Nxd4Ndb414.axb4Qxd4=1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Kasparov,G/New York PCA 1995 (41)9.Ba4 allows erlaubtNd4!10.Nxe5Nb611.c3Nxa412.Qxa4Ne2+13.Kh1Bf6 with a strong attack in Shirov,A-Mozetic,D,Tilburg, 1993. mit starkem Angriff in Shirov,A-Mozetic,D,Tilburg, 1993.9...Nd4Another solid plan was chosen by Alexander Onischuk twice. Ein anderer solider Plan wurde zweimal von Alexander Onischuk gewählt.9...Be610.Re1Bf611.Nbd2Nf412.Bxe6Nxe613.Nc4Re814.Bd214.Nfxe5Nxe515.Nxe5Nd416.Bf4Qd617.c3Bxe518.Rxe5Rxe519.Bxe5Qxe520.cxd4Qxd41/2-1/2 Kudrin,S-Onischuk,A/Stillwater USA 2007 (41)14...Nc515.Bc3e416.Bxf61/2-1/2 Tiviakov,S-Onischuk,A/ Sochi RUS 2007 (16)10.Nxd410.Nxe5Nxb311.cxb3Nb4gives Black more than enough compensation for the pawn. gibt Schwarz mehr als genug Kompensation für den Bauern.10...exd411.Re1When my opponent made this move I was not glad. I intended to meet 11.Nd2 with Ra6 followed by Rg6. At first I thought that now Ra6 is not possible, as Black loses a piece, but then I had an idea... Als mein Gegner diesen Zug machte, war ich nicht erfreut. Ich hatte vor, 11.Nd2 mit Ra6 nebst Rg6 zu begegnen. Zuerst dachte ich, dass Ra6 jetzt nicht möglich sei, da Schwarz eine Figur verliert, doch dann kam mir eine Idee...11.Nd2Ra612.Nf312.Qf3Nb412...Rg613.Ne5Re614.Qh5c6leads to an approximately equal game. führt zu ungefähr gleichem Spiel.11...Ra6‼When I saw this move I immediately got excited. It would be a shame to see such a move and not to make it! But fortunately, I found out that this idea works! Als ich diesen Zug sah, wurde ich sofort aufgeregt. Es wäre eine Schande, einen solchen Zug zu sehen, und ihn nicht zu machen! Aber zum Glück stellte ich fest, dass diese Idee funktioniert!11...Be612.Na3 with a balanced game. mit ausgeglichenem Spiel.12.Qh5If White accepts the piece sacrifice Falls Weiß das Figurenopfer12.Bxd5Qxd513.Rxe7Rg6 then he would have a problem defending the g2-pawn: annimmt, dann hätte er ein Problem, den g2-Bauern zu verteidigen:14.f314.g4?!Qh5!I hoped I would find this winning move, as originally I intended to play 14...f5: Ich hoffte, ich würde diesen Gewinnzug finden, denn ursprünglich beabsichtigte ich 14...f5:14...f5when after worauf nach15.c4!Qd616.Qe2fxg417.h4g317...Be618.Bg5h619.c5Qd520.h5Rxg521.Qxe6+Qxe622.Rxe6g323.f418.f3Be6Also possible is Ebenfalls möglich ist18...g219.Qe5Qxe520.Rxe5Rxf321.Bg5Bd7∞with an unclear game mit unklarem Spiel19.Bg5h620.c5Qd521.h5Qxg522.Rxe6Rxe623.Qxe6+it is likely that the game would end up in a draw. es wahrscheinlich ist, dass die Partie remis enden würde.15.Re415.f3f515.Qf3Bxg416.hxg4Rxg4+17.Kf1Rg1+18.Kxg1Qxf315...Qxh316.g5f517.Re5f418.Qf1Qh419.Qg2Rf5-+14...Bxh315.Re2Qxf316.Qf1All white's moves are forced Alle weißen Zügen sind erzwungen.Bxg216...Qh517.Bf4Bxg218.Rxg2Re819.Nd2Re220.Rxg6Qxg6+21.Kh1Qh5+22.Kg1Qg4+23.Kh1=17.Rxg2Rxg2+18.Qxg2Qd1+=with a perpetual check. As my opponent said in the press conference, he saw this line, but decided to fight for more. A brave decision, but it backfired in this game. mit ewigem Schach. Wie mein Gegner in der Pressekonferenz sagte, sah er dieses Abspiel, beschloss aber, um mehr zu kämpfen. Eine mutige Entscheidung, doch in dieser Partie ging sie nach hinten los.Black would react in similiar fashion to the game after all other replies. Nach allen anderen Erwiderungen würde Schwarz auf ähnliche Weise reagieren wie in der Partie.12.Qf3Re612...Nb4!?12.Nd2Rg613.Qf3Nb412.Na3Rg613.Qf3Be614.Bd2Bb415.Bxb4Nxb4as shown by Yu. Yakovic wie von Yu. Yakovic gezeigt.12...Nb4?!As soon as I made this move, I regretted it. Sobald ich diesen Zug gemacht hatte, bereute ich es. Stronger was12...Bb4!continuing to ignore the hanging Nd5. When I was a junior player, it was brought to my attention that it was Fischer's trademark - to attack an opponent's piece instead of defending your own! , was weiter den hängenden Nd5 ignoriert. Als ich ein Jugendspieler war, wies man mich darauf hin, dass dies Fischers Markenzeichen war - eine gegnerische Figur anzugreifen, statt die eigene zu verteidigen!13.Re213.Bd2Nf414.Qf3Rf613...Re614.Rxe614.Bg5Rxe215.Bxd8Re1+16.Kh2Nf414...Bxe615.Nd2Re813.Na3In the event of Im Fall von13.Nd2I would have to find hätte ichRh6!?finden müssen:Here Hier ist13...Rg614.Nf3Be6is weaker because of schwächer wegen15.Rxe6!Rxe615...fxe616.Ne5Rgf617.Bg516.Bxe6fxe617.Qg413...Be614.Bxe6Rxe615.Rxe6fxe616.Qd1Qd517.Ne4Qc618.Bd2=∆14.Qxa5b615.Qa815.Qe5Nxc216.Qxe7Qxe717.Rxe7Nxa115...Nc6with full compensation for the pawn. The Qa8 really looks weird. mit voller Kompensation für den Bauern. Die Dame Qa8 wirkt wirklich seltsam.13...Rg6White has a few moves at his disposal, but none of them gives him chances for an advantage. Moreover, he'll have to be careful to equalise. Weiß stehen eine Reihe von Zügen zur Verfügung, aber keiner davon gibt ihm Chancen auf Vorteil. Mehr noch, er wird sich bemühen müssen auszugleichen.14.Bf414.Nb5Be615.Rxe615.Bxe6fxe616.Qe2Qd515...fxe616.Qe5Kh817.Qxd4Qxd418.Nxd4e514.Bd2b615.Re415.Nc4Bb715...Na614.Nc4Be614...b6Played with the idea of fianchettoing the B and bringing it into the attack. Mit der Idee, den B zu fianchettieren und ihn in den Angriff einzuschalten.14...Be6!? deserved serious attention here as well, but I still didn't realise that it is a strong idea. As it turned out, I played it in better circumstances. verdient auch hier ernste Aufmerksamkeit, aber ich hatte noch immer nicht realisiert, dass dies eine starke Idee ist. Wie sich herausstellte, spielte ich es unter besseren Umständen.15.Bxe615.Nc4Bd515...fxe616.Bg316.Re4Nd516...Bd615.Qf3White is trying to prevent Bb7, but the B has another way to join the game. Weiß versucht, Bb7 zu verhindern, aber der B hat noch einen anderen Weg, ins Spiel einzugreifen.15.Nc4Bb716.Bg3Bd5and strangely enough it is hard to find a good move for White. und seltsamerweise fällt es schwer, einen guten Zug für Weiß zu finden.Probably better was Vermutlich besser war15.Bg3!Bd615...Bb716.Nb5or15...Be616.Bxe6fxe616.Bxd6Qxd617.Re4Qf6when it is easier to play for Black, but probably he has no more than that. wonach die Stellung mit Schwarz leichter zu spielen ist, aber womöglich hat er nicht mehr als das.15...Be6!An important idea. As White is forced to exchange Bs, Rf8 had get into attack. Eine wichtige Idee. Da Weiß gezwungen ist, die B zu tauschen, wird der Rf8 in den Angriff eingeschaltet.15...Bd716.Bxc716.Bxe616.Re2allows erlaubtNxc2!17.Bxe617.Bxc2Bd518.Qh5Rxg2+19.Kf1Rg617...Nxa118.Bc4c619.Be5Bxa320.bxa3b5and the N would get out from the corner. , und der N würde aus der Ecke entkommen.Too hazardous is Zu gefährlich ist 16.Rxe6fxe617.Qe4Na6!Shipov,S16...fxe617.Qe4Bd6!Black is winning the fight for the key square f4. Then he intends to bring his N to this square. Schwarz gewinnt den Kampf um das Schlüsselfeld f4. Danach beabsichtigt er, seinen N hierhin zu überführen.I don't see an advantage for Black after Keinen Vorteil für Schwarz sehe ich nach17...Nd518.Be5Bd619.Nc4!Nf419...Bxe520.Nxe520.Bxf4Rxf421.Qc6Qh422.Nxd6Qxf2+23.Kh1cxd624.Rf1Qxf1+25.Rxf1Rxf1+26.Kh218.Bxd618.Bd2Nd519.Nc419.g3Bf419...Bf4and the N gets to f4. und der N gelangt nach f4.Sergey had thought about the inventive Sergey hatte an dem kreativen18.Bc1but failed to find a defence after überlegt, vermochte aber keine Verteidigung zu finden nachNd519.Nc4Qf620.Re2Bf421.Ne5Bxe522.Qxe5Qf3Probably the best defence was Die beste Verteidigung war wahrscheinlich 18.Bg3Qg519.h4Qh5but Black's advantage is indisputable. , aber der Vorteil von Schwarz steht außer Zweifel.18.Be5Bxe519.Qxe5Qh418...cxd619.Qxd4More stubborn was Hartnäckiger war19.g3but after , aber nache5White's position is in ruins. liegt die weiße Stellung in Trümmern.19...Qg5White is helpless. All the black pieces are attaching the opponent's K (the N will join in soon via the d5-square) and nobody can help it. Weiß ist hilflos. Alle schwarzen Figuren zielen auf den gegnerischen K (der N wird bald über das d5-Feld dazukommen), und niemand kann ihm helfen.20.g320.Qe4Nd520.Qg4Qf621.Qe2Nd520...Qf521.g421.h4e522.Qe3Nd523.Qe2Nf4with a mating attack. mit Mattangriff.21.Kh2Nxc2!22.Nxc2Qxf2+transposes into a won R ending. leitet in ein gewonnenes R-Endspiel über.21...h5According to engines, there was a stronger move: Laut den Engines gab es einen stärkeren Zug:21...Nd522.Kh2Qg5, but I think that both moves are equally strong. , aber ich denke, dass beide Züge gleich stark sind.22.Re4d523.Kh2Or Oder23.Re5Qf624.Qe3hxg425.h4Qxh426.Rxe6g323...Qf3Black could also finish the game with a mating attack, but I went for the simplest solution. Schwarz konnte die Partie auch mit einem Mattangriff beenden, aber ich wählte die einfachste Lösung.23...Qg524.Ree1hxg425.Qe3gxh326.Qxf3Rxf327.Rg1Rxf2+28.Kxh3Rxg129.Rxg1Nxc230.Nb5Rf3+31.Kg4Rxd332.Nd6Ne3+33.Kf4Nc40–1
1.d4d52.c4c63.Nc3Nf64.e3a6This was my 3rd meeting with Wang Yue in recent months. In the first 2 games he tried4...g6, but both times I got an advantage from the opening. So it came as no surprise that he decided to play another line.5.Nf3b56.c5I met the Chebanenko system for the first time back in 1990. I'll include htat game in these annotations, as it shows similiar ideas to ones in this game.6.b3g66...Bg47.Be2Bg78.0-00-09.Ne5Bb710.f4Qd611.Bf3Nbd712.Qe2Rab813.g4Rfd814.g5Ne815.Qg2bxc416.bxc4e617.Rb1Ba818.c5Qe719.Bd2Rxb120.Rxb1Rb821.Rxb8Nxb822.Na4Bb723.Ba5Bxe524.dxe5Nc725.Nb2Nb526.a4Qxc526...Na327.Bb4Nc428.Nxc4dxc4+-27.axb5Qxe3+28.Qf2Qxf429.Bd2Qxe530.Nd3Qf531.Qa7Nd732.Ne1Bc833.Qc71-0 Gelfand ,B (2680)-Hort,V (2545)/ Novi Sad olm 1990/[Gelfand]6...g67.Ne57.Be2Bg78.Ne50-09.0-0Be610.f4Qc711.g4?!Ne412.Bf3f513.Bd2Nd714.Be1Nxe515.fxe5Nxc316.Bxc3Bh60-1 Gelfand,B (2717)-Bareev,E (2675)/Khanty Mansyisk RUS 2005 (34)7...Bg78.f4a5This plan was tried twice by my opponent vs E. Bacrot and both times he had no problems from the opening.9.Be29.Bd3Bf510.Bxf5gxf511.Bd2e612.Qe2h513.0-0-0b414.Na4Ne415.Nb6Ra716.Nd3Nd717.Nxd7Kxd718.Rdg1Qb81/2-1/2 Bacrot,E (2705)-Wang Yue (2736)/ Elista RUS 2008 (47)9...Qc710.0-00-011.a3!This is a new and important idea. I was waiting for a chance to use it for a couple of years. We had analysed my game vs Bareev with Alexander Khuzman and had realized that e4 is the key square in such a position.11.Bd3Bf512.Bxf5gxf513.Bd2Nbd714.Be1e615.Rf3Ne416.Nxe4dxe417.Rh3Rfe818.Nxd7Qxd719.Qh5h620.Bh4Ra721.Rg3Kh722.Bg5Rh823.Qh4Qe824.Bf6Bxf625.Qxf6Rg826.Rxg8Qxg827.Kf2Rd728.Rg1Qd829.Qxd8Rxd830.g4fxg431.Rxg4f5 1/2-1/2 Bacrot,E (2705)-Wang Yue (2736)/Dresden GER 200811...Be6If11...Ne4then12.Nxe4dxe413.a4b414.Qc2keeping an advantage.12.Bf3Taking control of the e4-square.Nbd713.Nd3!Of course, White is avoiding any exchanges as Black's pieces are very cramped and he does not have enough space for them.h6?!Faced with a new plan my opponent thought for a long time and decided to build "a wall".I would rather go for13...Bf5 trying to exchange the poor B.14.g4!It was easy to let slip the advantage:After14.Bd2Bf515.Nf2g5Black has nothing to worry about.14...Nh714...h515.h3hxg416.hxg4g517.Kg2just plays into White's hands.15.h4f516.g5hxg5During the game I thought that16...h5 would be even worse as h5 becomes a target and White would sacrifice a N on h5 in good circumstances, for example17.Ne2Bf718.Ng3e619.Bd2Rfb820.Nxh5gxh521.Bxh5However, now things do not seem so clear to me, as Black would sac a piece, let's say, byBxh522.Qxh5Ndf623.gxf6Nxf6with good defending chances.17.hxg5So, White has won some more space. The pawns on c5 and g5 are limiting Black's pieces to the last 2 ranks. The next step in White's plan is to regroup his pieces. Black has no counterplay whatsoever and has to wait.Kf718.Kg2Rfb819.Bd2Nhf820.Be2B is going to d3 and the Ns to f3 and g3Ke821.Ne1Bg822.Nf3Rb723.Bd3Nb824.Ne2Qd825.Ng3 White is threatening a sacrifice on f5 and Black is obliged to play e6e626.Rh1Bh7?Black wanted to hide his K on g8, but it allows White a strong regrouping. I still believe that waiting passively was the best option. Here I was looking for a plan how to break through, if Black simply waits. It seems possible, that the piece sac e3-e4 would work, for example26...Nbd727.Qe2Nb828.Rae1Nbd7probably better is28...Re7However it is difficult for Black to defend against all the ideas - White wants to play Bc3, Qd2, Ne2-c1-b3, forcing a4, then he can play e3-e4 in good circumstances: then he can bring the N to e5 through d3 etc.29.Bc3Qc730.Qd2Nbd729.e4fxe430.Bxe4dxe431.Nxe4/\Nd6,Ne5. Another plan would be to move the N to d3, Qe1, plan a4 and sac a N on b4 after b5-b4, followed by the advance of the b-pawn. However, it is very hard to say, if White's advantage is enough for victory.27.Qc2Kf728.Rh3There is no need even to consider an e3-e4 breakthrough, as White has a better plan at his disposal.Kg829.Rah1 Now the B cannot return to g8.Raa730.Kf1Qe831.Be1Bh832.Rh6Bg733.R6h4Bh834.R1h3White is tripling his major pieces on the h-file according to Alekhine's advice - first the pair of rooks and the Q behind them.Re735.Qh2Reb736.Rh6Re737.Ne2Reb738.Nc1Re739.Nb3It is important to force Black to play a4, as it gives White the b4-square and the possibility to open the position by b3, if nessesary. Even though the main action would most likely take place on the kingside, you should never neglect such a detail.a4Or39...Qd840.Qd2!a441.Nc1+-40.Nc1Reb741.Be2Re742.Nd3Reb743.Nh4!White has placed his pieces ideally - it is time to go for an attack!Bg743...Re744.Nxg6Nxg645.Bh5Bg745...Rg746.Ne546.Bxg6Bxg647.Rh8++-43...Nbd744.Nxg6+-44.Rxh7!Nxh744...Kxh7?45.Nxg6+Kg846.Rh8+Kf747.Nde5+Bxe548.Nxe5+45.Nxg6Nd7!the only defence45...Qxg6?46.Bh5+-45...Bxd446.exd4Qxg647.Ne5+-46.Bh5Qd846...Ndf847.Nxf8Qxf848.Bf3winning the N.47.Nb4Rc747...Nb848.Ne5Bxe549.dxe5Rg750.g6Nf851.Bh4Qe852.Bf6with an easy win. 48.Nh8‼A beautiful way to launch the final attack. I got really excited when I saw this possibility. Strangely enough no engine on my computer indicates it even set to a depth around 20ply.I was also thinking about48.Ne5, but I was not sure how to progress afterNxe549.dxe5Nf850.Nc2Nd751.Bb4Qe752.Nd448...Ndf8I believe that the most stubborn was48...Kxh849.Bf749.Bg6Ndf849...Ndf850.Rxh7+!Nxh751.g6Bh6! The only defence52.Qxh6Rxf753.gxf7Rxf754.Nxc6and despite being an exchange down, White is going to win - for exampleQe855.Ne5Ra755...Rf656.Qh4+-56.Bb4Rc757.Ke2Rc858.Kd2Rc759.c6Rxc660.Nxc6Qxc661.Qg6+-48...Bxh8allows the nice49.Bf7+‼Kxf750.Rxh7+Bg751.g6+!Kf851...Kg852.Rh8+51...Ke852.Rxg7Nf853.Rg8Rg754.Rxf8+Kxf855.Nxc652.Rxg7+-49.Nf7Rxf750.Bxf7+White had another way to victory50.Nxc6Qa851.g6Nxg652.Bxg6Qxc653.Bxf7+Rxf754.Rxh7+-50...Rxf750...Kxf751.Nxc6+-51.Rxh7Qe8Or51...Nxh752.g6!Rc753.Qxh7+Kf854.Bh4!Qe855.Bg5+-winning easily, for exampleQd756.Bh6Bxh657.Qh8+Ke758.Qxh6Qe859.Qh7+Kd860.g7+-52.Rh3 Already here I saw it till the end. White exchanges Qs, plays b3, then a4, exchange Rs on a line and penetrate by B and N into the enemy's camp.Ng653.Qe2Rc754.Qh5Kf755.Qh7Black cannot avoid the exchange of queens.Qg855...Nf856.g6+Nxg657.Rg355...Qd856.Rh6Nf857.Nxc6Rxc658.g6+56.Qxg8+Kxg857.Nd3Ra758.Ke2Kf759.Nb4Ne760.Kd1Ra861.Kc2Rg862.Nd3Ra863.Rh7Ng664.b3Nf865.Rh2axb3+66.Kxb3Ke867.Ra2Kd768.a4bxa4+69.Rxa4Rxa470.Kxa4Kc871.Ba5Ng672.Nb4Kd7Or72...Kb773.Bd8!with the idea of Ka5, Na6.73.Na6Kc874.Bc7Bf875.Ka5Kb776.Bd6Be777.Bxe7It is never too late to blunder77.Nc7?Bd877...Nxe778.Nb4Ng879.Nd3Ne780.Ne5Ng881.g6Nf682.g71–0
This was the decisive game of the final candidates match. After few unsuccessful attempts in the English Opening, I decided to try my luck in the g3-system of the Grünfeld Defence.1.d4Nf62.c4g63.Nf3Bg74.g3d5 Alexander has chosen the most popular system. He had also tried the c6, d5 setup of the King's Indian or transposed to Benoni Systems by 4...c5 during recent years.5.cxd5Nxd56.Bg2Nb67.Nc3Nc68.e30-09.0-0Re810.Re1a511.Qe2We had quickly reached the modern tabiya of this system.Bg4 The computer prefers this move, even though it is not very logical. h3 is more likely to be a useful move, rather than a weakness.11...Bf512.Rd1a413.d5Na514.Nd4Nac415.Nxf5gxf516.Qc2and White was clearly better in Gelfand,B-Topalov,V blind/Monaco 2011.11...Be6is the most popular and brought Black a few exciting victories during the last Olympiad in Khanti-Mansiysk.11...e5leads to another type of position.12.h3Be613.b3!This is a novelty which we prepared and it came as a surprise to my opponent.13.Nd2Nb414.Rd1Qc8This short variation illustrates very well the idea behind ...Bg4 - Black is preparing ...c5 with tempo.In earlier games13.Rd1was tried with a complicated game after bothBc414.Qc2Nb415.Qb1a4and15...Qc816.a3N4d517.Nd2Nxc318.bxc3Bd519.e4Bc620.Qd3Ba421.Re1c50-1 Leitao,R (2624)-Wang Yue (2732)/Khanty Mansiysk 2010/CBM 139 (67)16.e4c517.dxc5Bd318.Rxd3Qxd319.cxb6Qxb120.Rxb1Bxc321.a3Red822.Bg5Bf623.Bxf6exf624.axb4Rd31/2-1/2 Blagojevic,D (2481)-Zhou Jianchao (2660)/Khanty Mansiysk 2010/CBM 139 (32)13...a414.Rb1Of course it seems that opening of the a-file is in Black's favour. However I took into consideration that there are no squares to invade on the a-line. My idea was to block the Be6 from both sides by the h3- and b3-pawns. The B is poorly placed on e6 as there it prevents the liberating breakthrough ...e7-e5 and thus the Re8 also cannot join the battle.axb315.axb3Qc816.Kh2Also possible was16.g4!?but I was reluctant to weaken my position.16...Ra5Alexander decided to move the R into attack to h5 and try to use the slightly weakened position of my K.Other options were16...Na5and16...Rd817.Rd1After long consideration I allowed the R transfer, as I found the defensive idea Nh4 and f4.I had also considered17.Nb5Nb4!17...Bf518.Bd2!Bxb119.Bxa5Be420.Bxb6cxb621.Nd2Bxg222.Kxg2leaves White with some edge18.Bd2However, probably White is slightly better afterc619.Nc319.Na7Rxa720.Bxb4Nd5but I assessed this position as equal.19...Rh520.h4Bg421.Na4Nxa422.bxa4Na623.Qd317.g4was possible here as well, but I liked the game continuation.17...Rh5I was more worried about17...Rd8. The idea is to try to force White to make some not very useful move.18.b4!?Rh519.Nh4but I still like White's position, for exampleBf619...Nd520.Bd2!?Ncxb420...Ndxb421.Nb5Nd521...Na622.Bxc6bxc623.Na7Qd724.Qxa6Bd525.Qe2±22.e4Nb623.d5Nxd524.exd5Bxd5with hardly sufficient compensation for the piece21.Nxd5Nxd522.e4Nf623.d5Bd724.Bf3and White is clearly better20.Bf3Rxh420...Bc421.Qc2Rh622.b5Na523.e4Rxh424.gxh4Rxd424...Bxd425.Bg425.Bf420...Rh621.d5Bxc322.dxe6Qxe623.Rxd8+Nxd824.Qd3Qa225.Qxd8+Kg726.Bd2Qxd227.Qxd2Bxd228.Bxb7Bc329.Nf3Black still needs to solve the problems of his rook.21.gxh4Bxh3with compensation for the exchange.18.Nh4!Bf619.f4!I liked the fact that ...e7-e5 is prevented forever.Another possible continuation was19.Bf3Rxh4!?19...Ra520.Ng2!Bxh320...Bf521.b4Ra822.b521.b4Ra822.Nf422.g4!?Bxg223.Kxg222...Bf5!?23.b5Nxd423...Na524.e4Bd725.Nfd524.exd4Bxb125.Nxb1and White is better20.gxh4Bxh3!?with certain compensation for the exchange. It is hard to say for whom it is easier to play this position.19.d5Bxc320.dxe6Qxe621.e4Ra5doesn't provide White with sufficient compensation.19...Rd819...Bxh4?20.gxh4Rxh4?21.Kg3!Rh522.d5Bxh323.Bf3was bad.20.Qf2This is the critical position, where Black had a big choice.Meanwhile, White had the interesting tactical possibility 20.f5!?Bd7!?20...Bxf521.Nxf5Rxf522.b4!and White is going to win an exchange, as the Rf5 is trapped20...Rxh421.fxe621.b4Rxh422.gxh4Bxf523.b5!Na524.e4Be625.e5Bg726.d5Bf527.Rb4 and White's chances seem preferable to me.20.Bf3Ra520...Bxh4?Very natural, but not the best decision.20...Ra5this move looks strange as the R just went to h5 and is returning back now. White has a slight advantage after both21.g4!?or21.b4Ra822.b5Na523.e4Bb324.Rd2Qd725.Nf3e626.Ne521...Nb422.Qg3Na223.Ne4Engines suggest that the immediate20...Nd5!?was better:21.Nxd521.Ne2Bxh422.gxh4f523.Bf3Rh624.Qg2is another option, where the position remains very unclear, but it is easier to play with White21...Rhxd5or the engines' choice21...Rdxd5 when after the most natural22.Bf3Bxh323.e4Rxd424.Bxh5gxh525.Rxd4Nxd426.b4±White is clearly better22.Bb222.Bxd5Bxd523.Nf3Qe6 with full compensation for the exchange22.Qe2Bxh423.gxh4f522...Rb523.Qe2Rh524.Bf3Ra525.Bc3Ra8still after simple26.Bg2White is better.20...Nb4leads to a passive position, where White has some advantage.21.e4c522.Ne222.Be3cxd423.Rxd4Bxd424.Bxd4Nd325.Qe3Rxd426.Qxd4Nxf422...cxd423.Nxd4Nc624.Be3Nxd425.Bxd4Rxd426.Rxd4Bxd427.Qxd421.gxh4Nd522.Nxd5Rhxd5Black is trying to prevent e3-e4.22...Bxd5?loses a piece after23.e423.Bb2!The tricky23.e4!?afterRxd424.Rxd4Rxd425.f5Bd726.h5f6!White's advantage is not so big.Obviously that Black can only be better after23.Bxd5?Bxd523...Rb5?I was surprised by this weak move23...f5!? was the only chance24.h5!with a strong attack would follow, for exampleKf725.Bf3Qd726.Qh4Rg827.Rg1Ke828.Ra1!Some commentator had suggested23...Qd724.e4thenRxd425.Bxd4Nxd4but after26.b4c627.h5Black's position is bad.24.Qe2I realised that my position is won and was choosing between 2 options:24.e4was also strongBxb324...Rxb325.Ba1!25.d5Bxh326.dxc6Bxg227.Qxg2bxc628.Ba1±25...Na526.d5+-25.Rdc1e625...Ba226.Ra1Nb427.Bf125...Na526.Bf1Rb627.d526.Ba1Qa827.d5+-24...Rh524...Rxb3?25.d525.e4Bxb325...Rxh4is 'as usual' answered by26.Kg3!+-26.Rdc1Na526...Qe627.Qf326...e627.Qd327.d5White has reached his dream position. Black is helpless.b628.Be5c529.dxc6I had also considered29.Qb5!+- but decided to calculate one line till the end and follow it. Of course, there are few ways to win in such a position.29...f630.Ba1Or30.c7Rd731.Qb530...Rc531.Rxc5bxc532.Qb5Or32.e5Qf532...Bc433.Qe3Nxc634.Qxc532...Bd533.Bxd5+Rxd534.exf634.Qa2?c434...exf635.Rb8+-33.c7Rc834.exf6exf635.Qe7+-32...Qc7Black's last practical chance was32...Ba2!but after33.Rb2!Qc734.e5!Be635.Qb6Qxb635...Rc836.Qxc7Rxc737.Rb7!I had finished my calculation here36.Rxb6Rc8I would have to find37.f5!which leads to a forced win, although probably White can win by other ways too.gxf537...Nc438.Rb7gxf539.Rxe737...Bxf538.Bc3+-38.c7Kf739.Bf3Nb340.Bh5+Kf841.Rxe6Nxa142.exf6Rxc743.f7+-Black is losing his knight!Nc243...Rc844.Re1Nc245.Rg144.Rh633.Rxb3Nxc6Or33...Nxb334.Qxb3+ followed by 35.e5.33...Qxf4+34.Rg3Nxc635.Qxc6Rd336.Qe8+36.Qe6+Kf837.Qg4is also good36...Kg737.Qxe7+Kh638.Be5!I wanted to make this final touch, but my opponent didn't allow me.34.e5Nd435.Qc4+ And Alexander warmly congratulated me with on victory in the match and in the cycle.1–0
SS: You told us about how one should work on one's openings. Coming to tactics, how does one become tactically strong?
BG: For becoming tactically strong, one should solve a lot of tactical positions. Also a good way to train is to analyze your own sharp and complicated games without the help of a computer. It helps you to improve your tactical awareness. In general one should always work on the things that one would like to improve. There are no short cuts. You should solve positions, think about them, analyze and get sharp situations in your games. If you don’t practice you can never improve!
SS: While solving tactics would you recommend practical game positions or composition and studies?
BG: Both are good and important. Studies improve your imagination and feeling of harmony, while positions from the games develop more practical qualities.
SS: Can you suggest any books which you think can be useful for improving the tactics and calculation of a player?
BG: There are many books. The Grandmaster Preparation series by Jacob Aagaard is good. I also like Perfect Your Chess by Volokitin and Grabinsky. Earlier books of Dvoretsky were excellent. The classic, however, is Hort and Jansa. I was arranging the books in my library and I found this one. I am going to go through it now. In Russian it is called “Together with grandmasters”. [Ed – In English it is named as “The best move” and it has 230 grade-yourself test positions]. The book is from the 70s. I liked it when I was young and recently it just fell from the shelf! I started solving it and there are really some amazing positions. I discussed it with Jacob and he said that vast majority of positions are correct under computer scrutiny. This is amazing. I solved them in my childhood and I have some very nice memories. When you solve from recent books and articles, all the positions are computer checked and hence it is clear that there exists only one solution. However while working with books like the one Hort and Jansa wrote you always risk spending a lot of time and not finding the win because it doesn’t exist! But it doesn’t matter. Your work is not wasted. I recently met Vlastimil Jansa and we spoke about this book. After going back home I will work with it again!
If you looking to flex a few tactical muscles, this book by two Vlastimils might be a good idea to work with
SS: Coming to endgames, which one would you say is your favourite endgame book?
BG: The Levenfish and Smyslov book that deals with rook endgames was excellent. Also when I was young I spent a lot of time on the Minev’s book on rook endgames, and I refuted quite a few positions in that book. But I liked it. Also Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual is a high quality book. The good thing about Averbakh’s books is that they give you quite a comprehensive picture about the material in a particular endgame, but you have to check it carefully with tablebases like Nalimov.
In general I like books which show ideas, not just variations and evaluations. These days whenever you reach endgames you are already on 30 second increment with almost no time on clock. Hence it is much more important to learn the method of how to play endgames. Under time pressure even if you know the positions by heart, you can easily forget them under stress. Therefore I think it is important to know ideas and how to play a particular endgame.
SS: Reminds me of the cases of players unable to mate with the bishop and knight in the World Blitz Championship 2015. Of course they knew it, but with less time they weren’t able to execute it.
BG: Yes, exactly. Under normal circumstances I would mate with the bishop and knight quite easily, but once I got it against Judit Polgar in the World Blitz Championships and it took me 52 moves! Fortunately she didn’t count! The reason for this was simple: stress. It was a game with lot of ups and downs, and when we reached the endgame I was already quite spent. It is a bit extreme in blitz, otherwise even in a rapid it shouldn’t be a problem.
SS: Which books in general have made a huge impact on your chess?
Boris is a voracious reader as can be seen from the number of books lying on his work desk at home
BG: Books written by Keres. Yuri Razuvaev’s books on Rubinstein, Polugaevsky’s book Grandmaster Preparation in which he discusses opening as well as some fantastic endgames against Gligoric, Gheorghiu, Geller, etc. Kasparov’s books are really great. My Great Predecessors are nice but his book on the two Matches, as well as “Test of time”, were at an unprecedented level. Fortunately for us, there are a lot of good books. Even though we live in the age of computer, books are quite important – even more these days because we are overloaded with information. So a good book helps you to focus on really the important points. Because there are many databases like Correspondence, Computer, Mega Database, etc. You can easily get lost. So the importance of books suddenly grows. Earlier books were the main source of information. Then they were replaced by databases, but now we have so much material available that one needs to be guided through this.
SS: You are a player who has passed through this transition of books to computer. I was once listening to one of your press conferences. It was the game between you and Magnus Carlsen from Candidates 2013. The following position was reached in analysis:
White’s last move was Re1-d1. The commentators said that computer recommends 20…Qf8!? But you were convinced that 20…Qb6 followed by Qb3 was the right way to play. You didn’t seem to have the amount of respect that young players have these days for engines. Is my assessment correct?
Magnus Carlsen vs Boris Gelfand at the London Candidates 2013
BG: First of let me say that this game played by Magnus against me was simply fantastic. Maybe it is Magnus’ best game of his career to date. Yes, I remember this episode with me going for 20…Qb6-Qb3 and sticking to it in press conference even when commentators and engines were suggesting 20…Qf8. Qb6-b3 is trying to equalize the position while Qf8 is admitting that you are worse. In general it is very rare that spectators watching the game with an engine try to look into a player’s mind. Sometimes computer moves are great but they are not something that humans would even consider. These days it’s funny that the more you work with the computer, the more you become like it. But this has its advantages and disadvantages.
Rejecting the computer’s ideas can be quite stupid because its suggestions are often good especially related to opening preparation. But there is a danger of becoming over dependent on it. I have seen episodes of young strong players refusing to analyze other moves and options once they see the strongest computer move. This is a very common phenomenon. And this is the thing that I tried to put emphasis on in my book. One should be able to tell the difference between one move and another. Of course, I use computers quite a lot in opening preparation because the price of a mistake would be very high here. But whenever I watch live tournament games online I try to follow them without silicon assistance, because seeing the games live with an engine makes no sense and it blocks your thinking ability. Also a good exercise can be to choose between the first two lines of the computer. You must try to think whether you will go for one line or the other. Maybe the evaluation is the same but the ideas are completely different. In general my advice would be use the computer when the price of neglecting the best move would be very high.
SS: You have nothing to lose when you see the games of others and hence it is a good idea to test your thinking skills without using a computer.
BG: Yes exactly. Also another important point is to analyze your own games at first without an engine. It could be a very good idea to discuss variations and ideas after the game with your opponent – to discuss the feelings that you had during the game and also understand his train of thought. You can always analyze with an engine when you get home, but it is not often that you get a chance to discuss with another human being. I think it is really great.
SS: So, according to you analyzing with your opponent after the game is very important?
BG: I don’t think it is important, but I enjoy it. And many players of my generation prefer that, like Topalov, Kramnik and others. I have also analyzed after the game with young generation players like Carlsen, Caruana, Giri. It is clear that they are extremely strong and have learnt the art of using the computer to their advantage and not become slaves to it. You should always make the engine work for you and not the other way around.
Press conference with one of the best players of the young generation!
Also another thing which I would like to point out, and this really annoys me, is that after coming back from their game you see some of the players writing on Twitter, “Amazing, I missed this move in my game today. It was +5.” I think this is absolutely senseless information.A player should analyze why he didn’t make a particular move, why he missed it, is he not good in calculation or if there was a lapse in concentration. We are humans and we are going to make mistakes, but the point is to learn why you do it. This is exactly what I focused in my book with Jacob [Aagaard] – why certain mistakes are made and what are the shortcomings of human and the limitations of a computer.
A young Boris, like always, thinking without seeing the pieces!
Part II of this interview will follow shortly. In it Boris gives us special insights in his World Championship Match with Anand in 2012, his views on the eternal dilemma of whether to become a chess professional or not, role of parents in a chess player's development and last but not the least how his family helped him to become what he is today.
Sagar ShahSagar is an International Master from India with two GM norms. He loves to cover chess tournaments, as that helps him understand and improve at the game he loves so much. He is the co-founder and CEO of ChessBase India, the biggest chess news portal in the country. His YouTube channel has over a million subscribers, and to date close to a billion views. ChessBase India is the sole distributor of ChessBase products in India and seven adjoining countries, where the software is available at a 60% discount. compared to International prices.
Rossolimo-Moscow Powerbase 2025 is a database and contains a total of 10950 games from Mega 2025 and the Correspondence Database 2024, of which 612 are annotated.
The greater part of the material on which the Rossolimo/Moscow Powerbook 2025 is based comes from the engine room of playchess.com: 263.000 games. This imposing amount is supplemented by some 50 000 games from Mega and from Correspondence Chess.
Focus on the Sicilian: Opening videos on the Najdorf Variation with 6.h3 e5 7.Nb3 (Luis Engel) and the Taimanov Variation with 7.Qf3 (Nico Zwirs). ‘Lucky bag’ with 38 analyses by Anish Giri, Surya Ganguly, Abhijeet Gupta, Yannick Pelletier and many more.
Throughout the video course, Sasikran shows various examples from his career to explain sacrifices for initiative, an attack, a better pawn structure and much more.
In this insightful video course, Grandmaster David Navara shares practical advice on when to calculate deeply in a position — and just as importantly, when not to.
€19.90
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