The Mega: Top players, up close and personal

by ChessBase
12/15/2017 – Computers help to prepare for games, they help to study openings, and they help to analyse complicated tactical positions. But if you want to understand chess it is better to turn to a strong grandmaster with honest and direct answers...you can find some in the ChessBase Mega Database.
The "Mega" is the database every serious chessplayer needs. The database contains 7.1 million games from 1500 to 2017, in highest quality standard, full of top level analyses and completely classified.

Mining Mega

The Mega 2018 contains 7.1 million games, including 71,000 that are annotated. These annotated games are particularly interesting when top players comment their own games. All the world's best players have annotated for the Mega and still do so: World Champions such as Carlsen, Anand, Kramnik, Kasparov or Karpov, and almost all the top players of the last 50 years. Basically, the Mega contains the equivalent of countless books.

It is particularly fascinating if the players reveal what they felt, thought and viewed during their games. These insights into the thought processes of the world's best players are more valuable than endless computer analyses. Here are some examples:

Inspired by Spaniards

Levon Aronian - Hikaru Nakamura (annotated by Hikaru Nakamura)
 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
Going into this critical last round, I was 1 point behind Topalov and 1/2 a point behind Anand and on the same score as Giri. Having said that, Levon was having a rather miserable event, so I felt like taking a shot to try and win. Of course, considering my rather abysmal score against Levon with Black, I wasn't ready to go insane, but I simply wanted to get a game. However, I had to also be realistic coming off an extremely disappointing draw against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave the previous day where I missed several opportunities to win. 1.c4 I was slightly surprised that Levon chose to play the English. After a really terrible loss to Magnus Carlsen in round 8, I assumed that Levon would try to be super solid. e5! After move 1, I was already very happy as I had achieved my goal of simply getting a position and playing chess! 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 Bc5!? A fairly unusual setup which isn't seen very often. The only high level player who has used it consistently is GM Paco Vallejo. I might add that while I beat Paco, (see the notes to the game) I also recently had a game in Gibraltar against Grandelius which I won, but the position was very unclear at a certain point. 4.Bg2 d6 5.e3 5.a3 a6 6.e3 Nf6 7.Nge2 Ba7 8.b4 0-0 9.d3 Ne7 10.0-0 c6 11.h3 Be6 12.Bb2 Qd7 13.Kh2 Ng6 14.Qd2 d5 15.c5 Rae8= 1-0 (35) Nakamura,H (2776)-Grandelius,N (2602) Caleta 2015. While the position is equal, I do prefer Black. 5...a6 6.Nge2 Ba7 7.a3 7.b3 Nge7 8.Bb2 Rb8 9.d3 Bf5 10.Qd2 Qd7 11.h3 0-0 12.f4 Be6 13.d4 exd4 13...Nf5 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.0-0-0 exd4 16.exd4 Ne7 17.g4 f5 18.g5 Bf7 19.Ng3 a5 20.h4 a4! 21.Nxa4 Bxc4 22.bxc4 c5 1-0 (59) Nakamura,H (2753)-Vallejo Pons,F (2716) Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2011 14.exd4 d5 15.c5 b6 16.cxb6 cxb6 17.g4 f5 18.g5 b5∞ 7...h5!? A fairly rare move, but I was inspired by the game of another Spanish GM, Anton Guijarro. 8.d4 8.h4 Bg4 9.b3 Nge7 10.Bb2 Rb8 11.Qc2 Qd7 12.d3 0-0 13.Rc1 Nd8 14.0-0 Ne6= 0-1 (39) Mwali,C (2250)-Anton Guijarro,D (2624) Tromso 2014 8...h4 9.b4 Nge7 The practical decision! Perhaps with deeper and more concrete preparation 9...h3 will be playable, but it's too commital without preparation. 9...h3!? This is also possible, but it's very difficult to assess whether there is counterplay or the bishop on a7 is completely dead. 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 11.c5 Qf6 12.Rf1 Qf3 13.Nb1 Qg2 13...Nf6 14.Nd2 Qd5 15.f3 exd4 16.e4 Qh5 17.Nb3 Another very difficult position to assess and one which is impossible to play over the board. 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Bb2 f6 16.Nd2 Qxh2 17.f3! Qg2 18.Rf2 Qh1+ 19.Rf1 Qg2 20.Rf2= One of the weirdest repetitions I have ever seen! 10.c5!? More or less forcing the action. As Levon himself has said on many occasions, once you push your pawns forward, they can never go back! Bf5 11.Bb2 Qd7 12.Qb3 h3 13.Bf3 exd4 13...d5!? Also possible, but I didn't really see how to proceed after 14. 0-0. 14.0-0 Bd3 14...e4 15.Bh1 Bg4 16.f3 exf3 17.Bxf3 Bxf3 18.Rxf3 f5 19.Raf1 White is substantially better as he has more space, all the pawn breaks and a clear initiative on both sides of the board. 15.e4!? Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Bxf1 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Nf5 Bg2 19.Bxg2 hxg2 20.Qxd5 Qxd5 21.exd5 f6∞ The computers assess this as equal, but I'd prefer to be White. 14.Nxd4 Bg4 14...Nxd4 15.exd4 Be6 16.Qc2 16.d5? Bg4! 17.Ne4 Qf5 18.Nd2 Bxf3 19.Qxf3 dxc5 16...0-0-0 17.0-0 Bg4 18.Bh1 dxc5 19.dxc5 f6 Again, this looks very scary to a human, but the computers seem to think that it is no big deal. 15.Bxg4 Qxg4 16.Nxc6 Nxc6 17.Qd1 17.cxd6 Ne5 18.Qd5 cxd6 19.f4 Nc6 20.Qd3 0-0 21.0-0 Rfe8 22.Rae1 Rad8 23.Ne4 d5 24.Ng5 Qh5 25.Bd4 Nxd4 26.exd4 Qg6= 17...Qg6 17...Qxd1+ 18.Rxd1 dxc5 19.Nd5 19.Ne4 Kf8 20.Nxc5 Bxc5 21.bxc5 Rh5! 22.Rc1 Rd8 23.Ke2 Rdd5 24.a4 Kg8 25.Ba3 Rhe5! 19...0-0! 20.b5 axb5 21.Nxc7 Rad8 22.Nxb5 Bb8 23.Ke2 White has to be slightly better in the long run as h3 is probably a weakness as opposed to a strength. 18.cxd6 0-0-0 18...Ne5?! 19.d7+ Kd8 20.0-0 19.Rc1? A serious error. 19.Qb1 Qh5 20.dxc7 Kxc7 21.Qe4 Rhe8 22.Qf4+ Kc8 23.Rc1 Rd3 24.Qh4! Qf5 25.Qf4! Qh5= 19...Rxd6 Another practical decision as the computer line after 20.Nd5 would be impossible to find. 19...Ne5 20.Nd5 20.0-0 Rxd6 21.Qc2 21.Qe2? Rd2 22.Qxd2 Nf3+ 23.Kh1 Nxd2-+ 21...Qxc2 22.Rxc2 Nf3+ 23.Kh1 Rhd8-+ 20...Nd3+ 21.Kf1 Qe4 22.Ne7+ Kd7! 23.Rxc7+ Ke8! 24.Bxg7 Qg2+ 25.Ke2 Qxf2+ 26.Kxd3 Rxd6+ 27.Kc3 27.Bd4 Bxd4-+ 27...Qxe3+ 28.Kc2 Qe4+ 29.Kb3 Qe6+ 30.Kc3 Rxd1 31.Rxd1 Qg4! 32.Kc2 Bb8! 33.Rc8+ Kxe7 34.Rxh8 Qc4+ 35.Kd2 35.Bc3 Be5-+ 35...Qa2+ 36.Kc1 Qxa3+ 37.Bb2 Qe3+ 38.Kc2 Qe4+ 39.Rd3 Qe2+ 40.Rd2 Qc4+ 41.Kb1 Bd6 42.Rh4 Qf1+ 43.Kc2 Qf5+ 44.Kc1 f6 20.Qc2 Qh5 21.Qe2 Ne5 After the game, Levon claimed that he simply missed this move. 22.Qxh5 Nd3+ 23.Ke2? A strange decision. 23.Kf1 Rxh5 24.Rc2 Bxe3! A move that I saw in my calculations at the board during the game. 25.Ne4 25.fxe3 Rf5+ 26.Kg1 26.Ke2 Rf2+ 27.Kd1 Nxb4+! 28.Kc1 Rxc2+ 29.Kb1 Rdd2 30.Bc1 Rxh2 31.axb4 Rxh1 32.Kxc2 Rxc1+ 33.Kxc1 h2-+ 26...Rdf6-+ 25...Re6 26.fxe3 Rxe4 27.Ke2 Nxb2 28.Rxb2 Rhe5 29.Rb3 g5 I saw this during the game, and while Black is up a pawn and much better, I'm not sure that this is trivial at all. 23...Nxc1+ 24.Rxc1 Rxh5 25.g4 Re5-+ All of the smoke has cleared and the rest is simply technique. 26.Rg1 Re8 27.Rg3 Bd4 28.Na4 28.Rxh3 b5! 29.Rh7 29.Nd1 Bxb2 30.Nxb2 Red8-+ Domination. 29...f5 30.gxf5 Bf6 31.Nd1 Bxb2 32.Nxb2 Red8 33.Rxg7 Rd2+ 34.Kf3 Rxb2-+ 28...Bxb2 29.Nxb2 Red8 30.Nc4 Rc6 31.Ne5 Rc2+ 32.Ke1 32.Kf3 Rdd2 33.Rxh3 Rxf2+ 34.Kg3 34.Ke4 Rxh2 35.Rf3 f6-+ 34...Rg2+ 35.Kf3 Rxh2 36.Rxh2 Rxh2 37.Nxf7 Ra2-+ 32...f6 33.Nf3 Rh8 34.g5 Ra2 35.Nd4 Rxa3 36.Ne6 36.g6 Ra1+ 37.Ke2 Rh1 38.Nf5 Rxh2 39.Nxg7 Rg2 40.Nf5 h2 41.g7 h1Q 42.gxh8Q+ Qxh8 43.Rxg2 Qh5+-+ 36...Ra1+ 37.Ke2 Rh1 38.gxf6 gxf6 39.Nf4 b6 39...Rxh2 40.Rg1 Rg2 41.Nxg2 Rg8 42.e4 hxg2 43.f4 c5 44.bxc5 a5 45.Kf2 a4-+ This is also winning, but what's the point when there is a cleaner way to win. 40.Nxh3 Rb1 0–1
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Aronian,L2780Nakamura,H28020–12015A25Norway Chess 3rd9

A Polgar power sacrifice

Levan Pantsulaia - Judit Polgar (annotated by Judit Polgar)
 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
It was 10 years ago when I last played in the European championship in Ohrid, Macedonia. On that occasion I tied for 3rd but the play-off did not go in my favour so I could not reach a medal. I was looking forward to playing in Aix les Bains the 12th European Championship, I had not been playing in classical chess events since the Olympiad, so I was keen to play and challenge myself to see what can I show in such a tense event where nearly 400 participants were taking place. Obviously the main reason for most of the strong players is to qualify for the World Cup which will be held in Khanty-Mansiysk next August. There were a few players qualified from the previous European Championship, but they were competing to get a medal. It was clear from the first moment that to qualify one has to make at least plus 4 but for a sure spot plus 5 was needed. After round 5 I was quite happy with my 3 wins and 2 draws. In round 6 I got a bad opening and sacrificed a knight to complicate things but it backfired. In round 7 I played with Black against the Georgian young talent Pantsulaia. 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.Qc2 I had the feeling that my opponent's main idea was to surprise me in the opening, this is a premature move for the queen. c5 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 I realised quickly that after my next move there is only one difference between this position and the game I played against Gelfand in Wijk aan Zee 2008, which I won in memorable style. In that game the bishop was on g2 instead of the badly placed queen. e5 7.Nb3 After the game I found one other game with this position where White continued with 7.Nf3: 7.Nf3 d4 was my plan to continue 7...Nc6 The game between Takacs against Alekhine at the famous tournament Budapest 1927 is also very tempting for Black. 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.a3 Be6 10.Bd2 Be7 11.Nc3 0-0 with a better game for Black 12.Bg2 Rc8 13.Rd1 Nd4 14.Qb1 Bf6 15.0-0 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Nxe2+ 17.Kh1 Qc7 18.Qd3 Nxc3 19.Rc1 e4 0-1 Takacs,S-Alekhine,A/ Kecskemet 1927 8.Nxe5 Qa5+ 7...Nc6 Here I realised that I am better already which to tell you the truth I did not even dream of being the case after move 7! 8.Bg2 Obviously it is very difficult to make a choice with White when the position is worse already at a such an early stage. Nb4 This was the right move to point out the drawback of the early queen move which was made on move 4. 9.Qd1 dxc4 I did not really notice during the game the difference between the immediate ...dxc4 and then ...Bf5 or the other way around. As usual one is more precise as the other. Here the bishop move was more forcing. 9...Bf5 10.Na3 and now 10...dxc4 11.Nd2 and transposing to the game. 10.N3d2 Bf5 11.Na3 Yes, this is the logical move but White could have got chances to get away from the very bad position by sacrificing the rook! 11.0-0! I was simply was not paying enough attention to the fact that White can sac material for an initiative. Nc2 is not the best because of the move I play mostly in move 1 with White: e4! 12.e4 suddenly the passive bad position which White had few moves ago is gone and White is turning the path of the game! Nxa1 13.exf5 and Black will not be able to get the knight out of the corner. Black should react to castling with 11...Qc7 or 11...Rb8 with a nice game for Black. 11...b5! This move came to my mind immediately and I loved it, so I did not hesitate too much and played it. 12.Bxa8 White kind of has to take it, if 12.0-0 I just defend the b5-pawn by ...Rb8 and beside the fact I have a pawn up I also have the initiative. Qxa8 13.Nf3 Logical continuation. 13.0-0 Bh3 and Black has a huge advantage. 13...Nd3+! It is hard to judge this move I could have played simply ...Qc6 or ...a6 and have a great advantage. On the other hand with this idea I can stop White from castling and it is almost a mating attack, it looked so good and tempting to me that I could not stop myself trying it out. 13...Qc6! 14.0-0 14.Bd2 Bc5 15.0-0 Bh3 16.Bxb4 Bxb4 17.Nc2 Bc5 14...Bh3 15.Re1 Ng4 13...a6 this was Garry's suggestion after the game when we met him in the park. 14.exd3 Bxd3 This was my idea so I did not spend too much time on ...Bg4 which was also interesting. 15.Nxb5 The only move to bring the a3-knight into defence to c3. Bb4+ 16.Nc3 0-0 This is the position I was looking forward to when I sacrificed my knight. All my pieces are playing; only the rook is missing but not for long. White has a rook up against only one little pawn, but what an initiative for Black! 16...Qe4+ was too early: 17.Be3 and I made him develop for no reason. 17.Rg1 Again the only continuation for White to get out from the pin. 17.Be3 would be practically losing on the spot to Be4 with the following moves for example: 18.0-0 Bxf3 19.Qd2 Qc8 and next ...Qh3 with mate on the next move. 17.Bd2 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Qe4+ 19.Be3 Nd5 17...Ne4 17...Qe4+ was still not good to 18.Be3 Nd5 and now shows why Rg1 was important; 19.Nd2 and White saves himself for sure. 18.Bd2 Rd8 It is very difficult for White to get out from this tight position, the continuation was a logical one though there was an other option too: Here I saw the following line 18...Nxc3 19.Bxc3 Bxc3+ 20.bxc3 Qe4+ 21.Kd2 Qb7 22.Ke1 22.Kc1 Rb8 23.Qd2 Qb1+ 24.Rxb1 Rxb1# 22...Qe4+ with only a draw, so I decided to continue and bring my last piece into play - my rook! 19.Rc1 White's plan is to play Be3 next and if he had time for Nd2 afterwards then I would be in big trouble, but it was my turn. 19.Ng5 my intention was during the game to play Nxd2 20.Qxd2 and h6 21.Nh3 Bxc3 22.bxc3 Be4 23.Qe3 Bf3 24.Kf1 Bg4 I had seen until this point and I was happy! 19...Nxc3 20.bxc3 Ba3 It is unbelievable how strong the d3-bishop can be. It was interesting that in a later round I had Black against Lupulescu and I got a similarly unpleasant situation with the other side, but I made an incredible defence and won the game. 21.Be3 White has to continue to rearrange his pieces. 21.Ra1 was not a good idea due to Bb2 and I am not only interested in taking the rook on a1 but in attacking the c3-pawn as well! 21...Bxc1 22.Bxc1 Rb8! I was very happy with this move to force White to play Nd2 before playing Be3. 23.Nd2 White has to stop the possibility for Black to play R to b1 and control the 1st rank. Qd5 Finally my poor queen got out with the threat ...Qa5 to put pressure on the c3-pawn. ...Qc6 was also possible. 24.Qa4 Stopping Black from ...Qa5 and attacking the pawn at the same time. a5 The main idea for Black is to focus on not allowing White to untangle himself. 25.Qd1 White had other opportunities like 25.g4 trying to get some air was also possible, but in all cases I prefer to play it with Black 25.Qa3 this is also an idea to control the black squares and defend the c3-pawn e4 and I really like blacks position 25.Nf1 but then I would play Qf3 26.Qd1 Qf6 and with at least great compensation. 25...h6 I kind of knew what was going to happen on the next move, or I just hoped for it? 26.Qf3? This practically loses the game. White could have tried Nf1 or Qg4 but it is really unpleasant to play such a position with White specially in time trouble as well. Rb1‼ After this move my opponent got very upset, he quickly realised that his position going to fall apart. 27.Kd1 27.Qxd5 Rxc1# 27.Qd1 Ra1 and the rook on a1 is killing already. 28.a3 e4 27...e4 27...Qd7 was also winning but I did not see after 28.Qa8+ 28.Nxb1 Be4+ would win the queen 28...Kh7 29.Qxa5 the move Qf5!-+ which is winning on the spot. 28.Qf4 Ra1 White can't stop my queen from helping my rook and the bishop in the attack and once they work together it will be hopeless for White. 29.Qb8+ White is already in timetrouble, but that is not the only problem he has. Kh7 30.g4 There was a beautiful line after 30.Qb2 Rb1! and if 31.Nxb1 Bc2+‼ 32.Kxc2 32.Ke2 Qd3+ 33.Ke1 Qd1# 32...Qd3# mate 30...Qd7 It was interesting to notice that this was the only move in the game where I went backwards! 31.Qe5 e3 The last touch. 31...Qa4+ 32.Nb3 here e3 still wins but taking the knight would allow White to give a perpetual check by Qf5-Qc8. cxb3 33.Qf5+ Kg8 34.Qc8+= 32.fxe3 32.Qxe3 would not help either Qa4+ 33.Nb3 Rxa2 wins 32...Qa4+ 33.Ke1 Rxc1+ 34.Kf2 Rxg1 ...and if White continues and takes the rook, then Qd1 wins a piece. It was such a nice feeling to play this game, that I won my next 3 games and made a draw in the last round. I won my first European Bronze Medal. 0–1
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Pantsulaia,L2595Polgar,J26860–12011A13EU-ch 12th7

Mega Database: Knowledge, History, Fun

Mega DVD cover


€159.90
€134.37 without VAT (for Customers outside the EU)
$145.12 (in the USA without VAT)

Languages: English, German
ISBN: 978-3-86681-621-3
EAN: 9783866816213
Delivery: Download, Mail
Level: Any

The "Mega" is the database every serious chessplayer needs. The database contains 7.1 million games from 1500 to 2017, in highest quality standard, full of top level analyses and completely classified.

See also:

Reports about chess: tournaments, championships, portraits, interviews, World Championships, product launches and more.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.