Here is a sample of my book, "My Best Games and Random Road Stories" available as an e-book ($7.00) or printed and autographed ($30+shipping). E-mail bmcc333@yahoo.com. Game 48 Informant 39 Making a TN
Since this game improved on the way people played the most popular opening at the time, the Lasker-Pelikan/Sveshnikov, a review of the current theory to see how it has held up seems appropriate. It is important to remember this position can be reached by 2 popular move orders 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 and 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6/e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6/Nc6 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bf4 e5 8. Bg5 so the move numbers can vary by 1. Since this opening is so critical I have placed the review before the game but feel free to play through the game and come back to the review later.
Bxf6 gxf6 line 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3
[Event "5th MTel Masters"]
[Site "Sofia BUL"]
[Date "2009.??.??"]
[White "Shirov,A"]
[Black "Carlsen,M"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round "10"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6
8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Nxe7 Qxe7 13. c4 f5 14. O-O O-O 15. Qh5 Rb8 16. exf5 e4 17. Rae1 Bb7 18. Qg4 Rfe8 19. cxb5 d5 20. bxa6 Bc6 21. b3 Kh8 22. Nc2 Be5 23. Be2 d4 24. Bc4 Rg8 25. Qh3 Rg7 26. g3 Rbg8 27. Qh6 Qc7 28. Nb4 Ba8 29. Nd5 Qd8 30. Rxe4 1-0
Bxf6 gxf6 Nd5 f5 sac 11. Bxb5
[Event "City of Culture GM"]
[Site "Donostia ESP"]
[Date "2009.??.??"]
[White "Vallejo Pons,F"]
[Black "San Segundo Carrillo,P"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round "8"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bxb5 axb5 12. Nxb5 Ra4 13. Nbc7+ Kd7 14. O-O Rxe4 15. Qh5 Nd4 16. c3 Ne2+ 17. Kh1 Kc6 18. g3 Rg8 19. Qf3 Nf4 20. gxf4 Bb7 21. Qd3 Qxc7 22. Nxc7 Kxc7 23. f3 Rxf4 24. Rf2 e4 25. Qc4+ Kb6 26. a4 Rxf3 27. a5+ Ka7 28. a6 1-0
Bxf6 gxf6 Nd5 f5 11. c3 13. Bxb5 sac loses
[Event "TOP 16 Poule Basse"]
[Site "Le Port Marly FRA"]
[Date "2009.??.??"]
[White "Delchev,A"]
[Black "Kotronias,V"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2648"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round "8"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. Bd3 Be6 13. Nxb5 axb5 14. Bxb5 Bd7 15. exf5 e4 16. O-O O-O 17. a4 Re8 18. Qg4 Kh8 19. Rad1 Rc8 20. Rfe1 Re5 21. Ne3 Qf6 22. Qh5 Bxf5 23. Nxf5 Rxf5 24. Qh3 Ne5 25. Rxe4 Rg8 26. Rf1 Qg6 27. Re3 Rh5 28. Qg3 Qh6 29. Re4 Rxh2 0-1
Bxf6 gxf6 Nd5 f5 11. c3
[Event "Arnold Eikrem Memorial"]
[Site "Oslo NOR"]
[Date "2009.??.??"]
[White "Berg,E"]
[Black "Handke,F"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2496"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round "9"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. Bd3 Ne7 13. Nxe7 Qxe7 14. O-O O-O 15. Nc2 Rb8 16. exf5 e4 17. Re1 Bxf5 18. Ne3 Bg6 19. Nd5 Qe5 20. Bc2 f5 21. f4 Qe8 22. Bb3 Bf7 23. Ne3 Qd7 24. Bxf7+ Rxf7 25. Qd2 b4 26. c4 Qc6 27. Rad1 b3 28. a3 Qc5 29. Re2 Rb6 30. Qd5 Qc8 31. g3 Kf8 32. Kg2 Bh8 33. Qa5 Rc6 34. Rd5 Rc5 35. Qb4 Rxd5 36. Nxd5 Bd4 37. Rd2 Bc5 38. Qxb3 a5 39. Qc3 Kg8 40. Qxa5 e3 41. Re2 Qe8 42. Kh3 Rf8 43. Qe1 Qe4 44. b4 Bd4 45. Nxe3 Re8 46. Nc2 Qxe2 47. Qxe2 Rxe2 48. Nxd4 Rd2 49. Nxf5 Kf7 50. Kg4 Kf6 51. Ne3 Rxh2 52. a4 h5+ 53. Kf3 Ke6 54. a5 Rb2 55. b5 Rb3 56. a6 Ra3 57. Ke4 Kd7 58. f5 Ra4 59. Kd4 Ra3 60. f6 Ke6 61. Nd5 1-0
The old main line Bxf6 Bxf6
[Event "XXV SuperGM"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP"]
[Date "2008.??.??"]
[White "Anand,V"]
[Black "Shirov,A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round "8"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 O-O 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. Nce3 g6 18. Qe2 f5 19. h4 Bxe3 20. Qxe3 fxe4 21. h5 g5 22. Qxe4 Bb7 23. Qe3 e4 24. O-O Ne5 25. Rfa1 Qe8 26. Rxa5 Qxh5 27. Qxe4 Rbe8 28. Be2 Qh4 29. Qxh4 gxh4 30. Ne3 h3 31. gxh3 Nf3+ 32. Bxf3 Rxf3 33. Rh5 Rg8+ 34. Kf1 Rgf8 35. Nd1 Rd3 36. Rh4 Bf3 37. Rd4 Rxd4 38. cxd4 Rf4 39. Ne3 Rxd4 40. Ra4 Rd3 41. Rf4 Bh5 42. b4 d5 43. Kg2 Bg6 44. Nf5 Kg8 45. Ne7+ Kg7 46. Nxg6 Kxg6 47. Rf3 Rd1 48. Rb3 d4 49. Kf3 d3 50. Ke3 Rh1 51. b5 Rxh3+ 52. f3 Rh1 53. b6 Re1+ 54. Kxd3 Re8 55. b7 Rb8 56. Ke4 h5 57. Kf4 1-0
[Event "XXV SuperGM"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP"]
[Date "2008.??.??"]
[White "Shirov,A"]
[Black "Topalov,V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round "4"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 O-O 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Bd7 16. O-O Ne7 17. Ra3 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 Rb8 19. b4 axb4 20. Nxb4 Qb6 21. Qe2 Bb5 22. Bc4 Rfc8 23. Bxb5 Qxb5 24. Qxb5 Rxb5 25. Rd1 g6 26. g3 Kg7 27. Nd5 Rc4 28. Ra7 Bd8 29. Rd7 Ba5 30. Re1 Bb6 31. Nxb6 Rxb6 32. Re3 Rc8 33. Rf3 Rf8 34. Kf1 g5 35. h4 g4 36. Rf5 h6 37. Ke2 Rc6 38. Kd2 Kg6 39. h5+ Kg7 40. Kd3 Rb6 41. Rc7 Rb1 42. Kc4 Rd1 43. Kb5 Kg8 44. Rf6 Rd2 45. Kc6 Kg7 46. Rg6+ Kh7 47. Rxg4 Rxf2 48. Kxd6 Re8 49. c4 Rd2+ 50. Kc6 Rf8 51. c5 Rd4 52. Rb7 Kh8 53. Kb5 Rd1 54. c6 Rc1 55. Kb6 Rc8 56. c7 Re8 57. Ra7 Rb1+ 58. Kc5 Rc1+ 59. Kd5 Rc2 60. Ra6 Kh7 61. Rc6 Rd2+ 62. Kc5 Ra8 63. Rh4 1-0
New Version of the old main line 14. Ncb4
[Event "FIDE GP"]
[Site "Baku AZE"]
[Date "2008.??.??"]
[White "Karjakin,Sergey"]
[Black "Radjabov,T"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round "11"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6
8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. a4 bxa4 14. Ncb4 Nxb4 15. Nxb4 Bd7 16. Bxa6 Qa5 17. Qxd6 Rb6 18. Qd3 Be7 19. Nd5 Rxb2 20. O-O Qc5 21. Rad1 a3 22. c4 Bg4 23. Bb5+ Rxb5 24. cxb5 Bxd1 25. Rxd1 O-O 26. b6 Bd6 27. h4 h6 28. Nf6+ gxf6 29. Qxd6 Qxd6 30. Rxd6 a2 31. Rd1 Rb8 32. Ra1 Rxb6 33. Rxa2 Rb4 34. f3 Rc4 35. Kf2 Kg7 36. Kg3 Rb4 37. Ra6 Rb2 38. Rc6 Ra2 39. Rd6 Rb2 40. Rc6 Ra2 41. Rd6 Rb2 1/2-1/2
Early Ne7
[Event "XXVI SuperGM"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2009.??.??"]
[White "Grischuk,A"]
[Black "Carlsen,M"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round "5"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6
8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 Ne7 13. h4 Bh6 14. a4 bxa4 15. Ncb4 O-O 16. Qxa4 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 a5 18. Bb5 Be6 19. Bc6 Rb8 20. b4 Bxd5 21. Bxd5 axb4 22. cxb4 Qb6 23. O-O Qxb4 24. Qd7 Kh8 25. Ra4 Qb5 26. Qxb5 Rxb5 27. Bxf7 Bd2 28. Rfa1 Bc3 29. Ra8 Rbb8 30. Rxb8 Rxb8 31. Ra6 g6 32. Rxd6 Bd4 33. h5 gxh5 34. Bxh5 1/2-1/2
Taking on f6 vs. early Ne7
[Event "4th Open A"]
[Site "Moscow RUS"]
[Date "2008.??.??"]
[White "Kuzubov,Y"]
[Black "Sveshnikov,E"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2606"]
[BlackElo "2506"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round "4"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. N1c3 a6 7. Na3 b5
8. Nd5 Nf6 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Ne7 12. Nxf6+ gxf6 13. Qd3 d5 14. O-O-O Be6 15. exd5 Qxd5 16. Qxd5 Nxd5 17. Nc2 Ke7 18. g3 Rac8 19. Bg2 Rc5 20. Rd3 a5 21. Rhd1 Nb6 22. Rd6 Na4 23. Ra6 Rhc8 24. Rxa5 Nxc3 25. bxc3 Rxc3 26. Rd2 b4 27. Bd5 Bxd5 28. Raxd5 b3 29. axb3 Rxb3 30. Rd7+ Kf8 31. R7d3 Rcb8 32. Rxb3 Rxb3 33. Ne3 Ke7 34. Rb2 Rd3 35. Rb7+ Kf8 36. Kc2 Ra3 37. Nf5 1-0
Avoiding a4
[Event "10th EICC"]
[Site "Budva MNE"]
[Date "2009.??.??"]
[White "Timofeev,Arty"]
[Black "Banikas,H"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2671"]
[BlackElo "2582"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round "10"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Rb8 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a3 O-O 14. Be2 Ne7 15. Ncb4 Bb7 16. O-O Kh8 17. Qd3 a5 18. Nxe7 axb4 19. Nd5 bxa3 20. Rxa3 Bxd5 21. Qxd5 b4 22. Ra7 bxc3 23. bxc3 Rc8 24. Bc4 Rc5 25. Qd3 Rc7 26. Rfa1 g6 27. g3 Kg7 28. h4 Be7 29. Kg2 Qd7 30. Rxc7 Qxc7 31. Qd5 Bf6 32. Rb1 Rc8 33. Rb7 Qxb7 34. Qxb7 Rxc4 35. Qb3 Rxe4 36. Qd5 Re2 37. h5 gxh5 38. Qd1 Rb2 39. Qxh5 h6 40. Qd1 e4 41. Qg4+ Kf8 42. Qf4 Bxc3 43. Qxh6+ Ke7 44. Qh4+ Bf6 45. Qxe4+ Kf8 46. Qf4 Be5 47. Qe3 Rb8 48. f4 Bg7 49. Qd3 Ke7 50. Qe4+ Kf8 51. Qd5 Ke7 52. Kf3 Bf8 53. g4 Bg7 54. g5 Rb4 55. Qc6 Rb3+ 56. Kg4 Rc3 57. Qb7+ Kf8 58. Qd7 Kg8 59. Qxd6 Bf8 60. Qd5 Rc5 61. Qd8 Rc6 62. Qd7 Rd6 63. Qc8 Rd1 64. Qc4 Rb1 65. Qd5 Kg7 66. Kh5 Rc1 67. Qb3 Kg8 68. Kg4 Rg1+ 69. Kf5 Rg2 70. Qc4 Rg1 71. Kf6 Bg7+ 72. Ke7 Re1+ 73. Kd7 Rd1+ 74. Kc6 Rd4 75. Qb3 Bf8 76. f5 Rd6+ 77. Kc7 Ra6 78. Qd5 Ra7+ 79. Kb6 Re7 80. Kc6 Ra7 81. Kb6 Re7 82. Qc4 Re5 83. Qg4 Rd5 84. Qe4 Rd1 85. Kc7 Bd6+ 86. Kc8 Bf8 87. Qc4 Rd6 88. Kc7 Kg7 89. Qe4 Kg8 90. f6 Re6 91. Qf5 Re3 92. g6 Rg3 93. gxf7+ Kxf7 94. Kd7 Re3 95. Qh5+ Kxf6 96. Qh4+ Kg6 97. Qg4+ Kh7 98. Qf5+ 1-0
The h4 plan
[Event "Corus A"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"]
[Date "2007.??.??"]
[White "Karjakin,Sergey"]
[Black "Shirov,A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2678"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round "6"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 Ne7 13. h4 Bh6 14. a4 bxa4 15. Ncb4 O-O 16. Qxa4 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 a5 18. Bb5 Kh8 19. b4 f5 20. Bc6 Ra7 21. exf5 Bxf5 22. bxa5 Bd3 23. Bb5 Bxb5 24. Qxb5 Raf7 25. O-O Qxh4 26. Qe2 Bf4 27. g3 Bxg3 28. fxg3 Qxg3+ 29. Qg2 Rxf1+ 30. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 31. Kxf1 Qd3+ 32. Kg1 e4 33. Qf2 Qd1+ 34. Qf1 Qg4+ 35. Kf2 h5 36. Ke1 Qg5 37. Qc4 h4 38. a6 Qg3+ 39. Kd2 h3 40. a7 Qf2+ 41. Kc1 1-0
[Event "ETCC"]
[Site "Crete GRE"]
[Date "2007.??.??"]
[White "Karjakin,Sergey"]
[Black "Shirov,A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2694"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round "2"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. h4 Be7 14. g3 Be6 15. a3 a5 16. Nce3 Re8 17. a4 b4 18. Bb5 Bd7 19. O-O bxc3 20. bxc3 Bf8 21. Qd3 Na7 22. Bxd7 Qxd7 23. Qa6 Nc6 24. Rab1 Red8 25. Rb6 Rxb6 26. Nxb6 Qa7 27. Qxa7 Nxa7 28. Nbc4 Rc8 29. Rb1 Rc5 30. Rb8 g6 31. Ra8 Nc6 32. Nb6 1-0
Bxf6 Bxf6 Avoiding c3,
[Event "World Cup"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2009.??.??"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave,M"]
[Black "Yu Yangyi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2527"]
[ECO "B30"]
[Round "3.1"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c4 b4 12. Nc2 O-O 13. Be2 a5 14. O-O Bg5 15. Qd3 Ne7 16. Nde3 Bxe3 17. Nxe3 Nc6 18. Rfd1 Nd4 19. Nc2 Nxc2 20. Qxc2 Qc7 21. Rd3 Be6 22. b3 Ra6 23. Qd2 Rc6 24. Rd1 Rd8 25. h3 f6 26. Bg4 Bf7 27. h4 Kf8 28. Bf5 Kg8 29. h5 h6 30. Qe2 Qe7 31. Rg3 Kf8 32. Rdd3 Rc7 33. Kh2 Ra7 34. Qg4 Bg8 35. Qd1 Rc7 36. Rg4 Be6 37. Bxe6 Qxe6 38. Rd5 Ra7 39. Rg3 Rdd7 40. Qd2 Kf7 41. Kg1 Ke8 42. Rgd3 Ke7 43. Qe3 Ra6 44. Qg3 Kf8 45. Rb5 Ra8 46. Qg6 Kg8 47. Rdd5 Rda7 48. Rb6 Rd8 49. Rxa5 Qe7 50. Rxa7 Qxa7 51. Rxb4 Kh8 52. a4 Qd4 53. Rb7 Rg8 54. g3 Qd2 55. Kg2 Qc3 56. Qf7 Qd3 57. Qg6 Qc3 58. Rb5 Qd2 59. a5 Qa2 60. Qg4 Qc2 61. a6 1-0
13. Be2 vs. O-O/Bg5 (instead of 13. Bd3 vs. O-O/Rb8 as in my game)
[Event "World Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow RUS"]
[Date "2007.??.??"]
[White "Kamsky,G"]
[Black "Shirov,A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round "25"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. Be2 Bb7 14. Nce3 Bxe3 15. Nxe3 Ne7 16. Bf3 g6 17. O-O f5 18. exf5 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 gxf5 20. Rad1 f4 21. Nd5 Ng6 22. Qh3 f3 23. g3 Kh8 24. Rfe1 Rc8 25. Qh5 Rc4 26. Re3 Nh4 27. b3 Rf5 28. Qh6 Rg4 29. Kh1 Ng2 30. Red3 e4 31. Rd4 Rg6 32. Qh3 Re5 33. Nf4 Nxf4 34. gxf4 Ree6 35. f5 Rh6 36. Qg3 Re8 37. Rxd6 Rxd6 38. Rxd6 Qc8 39. f6 Rg8 40. Qe5 Re8 41. Qd4 Kg8 42. Qd5+ Kf8
43. Rd7 1-0
Here is an idea from Freestyle (tournaments with people using computers) play which was written up on the Rybka 3 book page. They call this line the most popular try: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3 and then suggest 11... Bg5 12.Nc2 Rb8!? 13.a4 bxa4 will become more popular because other freestyle games have shown that 14.Ncb4 Nxb4 15.cxb4 Bd7 16.Bxa6 O-O 17.O-O Bc6 18.Rxa4 is harmless but suggest 14.Nce3!? My Rybka sees a slight edge: 14...O-O 15.Qxa4 Bxe3 16.Nxe3 Ne7 17.Qa3 +0.05 d=17 Rybka 3 At ply 18 it chops the last 2 moves but calls it +0.10.
http://www.rybkachess.com/index.php?auswahl=Rybka+3+book
Specific game theory review
The online databases seem to have weeded out many games from this widely played opening. Chesslab no longer has my game despite it being in the Informant. Chessbase has the truncated game as it appeared in the Informant but calls it a draw. The move the Informant called a TN, Bc4 was played previously in Russia during the 30’s I believe, but that game is also gone. Bd3 is not essential to reach my novelty, Be2 can also get there as well as white leaving out Bd3 and black not playing Be6. Here is the first recorded instance of 13. Bd3 in chesslab:
Bd3 idea
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1976.??.??"]
[White "Sigurjonsson,G "]
[Black "Fraguela "]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round "7"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6
8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. Bd3 Bg5 14. O-O g6
15. Nce3 f5 16. exf5 gxf5 17. f4 exf4 18. Nxf4 Qb6 19. Qd2 Ne5 20. Kh1 Rb7 21. Rad1 Ng6 22. Ned5 Qd8 23. Bc2 Re8 24. Qd4 Rf7 25. Rde1 Re5 26. Bb3 Qe8 27. Nd3 Bb7 28. Nxe5 dxe5 29. Qd3 e4 30. Qg3 Qd8 31. Ne7+ Qxe7 32. Rxf5 Bf6 33. Ref1 e3 34. Rxf6 e2 35. Rxf7 1-0
Ivanchuk appears to be the highest rated played to try Bd3 but I do not like the plan of h4 and g4 since it allows Bf4!
[Event "FIDE GP"]
[Site "Dubai UAE"]
[Date "2002.??.??"]
[White "Ivanchuk,V"]
[Black "Lautier,J"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2687"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round "5.1"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6
8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. Bd3 Bg5 14. h4 Bh6
15. g4 Bf4 16. Qe2 Be6 17. g5 Re8 18. Kf1 Qd7 19. Kg2 Qb7 20. f3 Ne7 21. Nxf4 exf4 22. Nd4 Ng6 23. Qd2 Qe7 24. Kf2 d5 25. exd5 Bxd5 26. Bxg6 fxg6 27. Rae1 Qf7 28. a3 Re3 29. Rxe3 fxe3+ 30. Qxe3 Re8 31. Qd2 Rf8 32. Rh3 Kh8 33. Rg3 Re8 34. Rg4 Rf8 35. Qe3 Bb7 36. Ne6 Qxf3+ 37. Qxf3 Rxf3+ 38. Ke2 Rf5 39. Rd4 Bd5 40. Nf4 Bc4+ 41. Ke3 Rf8 42. a4 Kg8 43. a5 Re8+ 44. Kf3 Re1 45. Rd8+ Kf7 46. Rd7+ Kf8 47. Ra7 Rb1 48. Rxa6 Rxb2 49. Ra8+ Ke7 50. Ra7+ Kd6 51. Ke3 Rc2 52. Kd4 Rd2+ 53. Ke4 Rc2 54. Rxg7 Rxc3 55. Rxh7 Ra3 56. Rg7 Kc5 57. Rxg6 b4 58. Ne6+ Kb5 59. Nd4+ Kxa5 60. Rg7 Rh3 61. Rb7 Rxh4+ 62. Ke5 Rg4 63. Nc6+ Ka6 64. Rxb4 Rxg5+ 65. Kd6 Rd5+ 66. Kc7 Bb5 1/2-1/2
Bxa6 position
This is the theory I was improving upon from Informant 34 game 210.
[Date "1982.??.??"]
[White "Chandler,Murray "]
[Black "Simic,Radoslav "]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round ""]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6
8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. a4 bxa4 14. Ncb4 Nxb4 15. Nxb4 Bd7 16. Bxa6 O-O 17. O-O Be7 18. Qe2 Kh8 19. Kh1 g6 20. Rad1 Qe8 21. Rd5 f5 22. exf5 gxf5 23. f4 exf4 24. Qf2 Bc6 25. Rd2 Be4 26. Bc4 Rc8 27. Ba2 a3 28. Nd5 Bg5 29. Nxf4 Qe5 30. Nd3 Qe7 31. Nf4 Qe5 32. Nd3 Qg7 33. Nf4 Bxf4 34. Qxf4 axb2 35. Rxb2 Qxc3 36. Rd2 Qe5 37. h3 Rf6 38. Kh2 Rg6 39. Bf7 Rg7 40. Ba2 h5 41. Kg1 Kh7 42. Qh4 Kh6 43. Rfd1 Rxg2+ 44. Rxg2 Bxg2 45. Qb4 Qe3+ 0-1
Rad1 alternative to Bc4.
I was not aware of this game and do not believe it was published at the time of my game.
[Date "1984.??.??"]
[White "Jansa,Vlastimil "]
[Black "Milicevic,Miodrag "]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round ""]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. a4 bxa4 14. Ncb4 Nxb4 15. Nxb4 Bd7 16. Bxa6 O-O 17. O-O Be7 18. Qe2 Kh8 19. Rad1 g6 20. Kh1 Qe8 21. Qe3 f5 22. exf5 gxf5 23. f4 Bc6 24. Bc4 Be4 25. Bd5 exf4 26. Qxf4 Qg6 27. Qg3 Qxg3 28. hxg3 Rf6 29. Rfe1 Rh6+ 30. Kg1 Bd8 31. Bxe4 Bb6+ 32. Kf1 fxe4 33. Rxe4 Rf8+ 34. Ke1 Bf2+ 35. Kd2 Bxg3 36. Nd3 Rh2 37. Rg1 Bf2 38. Nxf2 Rxf2+ 39. Re2 Rf5 40. Kd3 Rh4 41. Rd1 Rg4 42. Kc2 Rfg5 43. Rdd2 d5 44. Kb1 Kg7 45. Ka2 Kf6 46. Ka3 h5 47. Rd4 Rxg2 48. Rf4+ Kg7 49. Re7+ Kh6 50. Rxa4 R2g4 51. Ra8 Rg7 52. Rh8+ Kg6 53. Rxg7+ Kxg7 54. Rxh5 d4 55. cxd4 Rxd4 56. Rf5 Kg6 57. Rf1 Rd8 58. b4 Rb8 59. Ka4 1-0
Using Bc4; Black tries to improve on Belopolski’s g6
[Event "It Gp A"]
[Site "Albacete ESP"]
[Date "2000.??.??"]
[White "Korneev,O"]
[Black "Garcia Martinez,S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2619"]
[BlackElo "2442"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round "5"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 Ne7 13. a4 bxa4 14. Ncb4 Bd7 15. Bxa6 O-O 16. O-O Kh8 17. Nxe7 Bxe7 18. Qe2 Rb8 19. Bc4 f5 20. exf5 Rxf5 21. Rfd1 Qf8 22. Bd3 Rg5 23. Be4 Bg4 24. f3 Bh3 25. g3 Bd7 26. Bc6 Bxc6 27. Nxc6 Ra8 28. Qe4 Ra6 29. b4 Bd8 30. Kg2 Bb6 31. b5 Ra8 32. Rxa4 Rxa4 33. Qxa4 e4 34. f4 h6 35. Qxe4 Rxb5 36. Ne7 Rb2+ 37. Kh3 Qd8 38. Ng6+ Kg8 39. Qe6+ Kh7 40. Rxd6 Qa8 41. Rxb6 Qg2+ 42. Kg4 Rxb6 43. Qxb6 1-0
Chandler has not had much luck in this line, he avoids Bc4 by not exchanging on b4. In informant 39 I give this exchange a ?!
[Site "London"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[White "Kaminski,Marcin "]
[Black "Chandler,Murray "]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B40"]
[Round "?"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bf4 e5
8. Bg5 a6 9. Na3 b5 10. Nd5 Be7 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. c3 O-O 13. Nc2 Rb8 14. Bd3 Bg5
15. O-O Be6 16. a4 bxa4 17. Ndb4 Ne7 18. Bxa6 Bb3 19. Qe2 Qc7 20. Na3 d5 21. Bd3 dxe4 22. Qxe4 f5 23. Bc4+ Kh8 24. Qe2 Rbd8 25. Bxb3 axb3 26. Qc4 Qb7 27. Nb5 Ng6 28. Rfd1 Nf4 29. Nc6 Rc8 30. Rd6 Be7 31. Ra7 Ra8 32. Rxa8 Rxa8 33. h3 h6 34. Qf7 Qxb5 35. c4 Qb7 36. Qxe7 Qxe7 37. Nxe7 Ra1+ 38. Kh2 Rc1 39. g3 Nh5 40. Ng6+ Kh7 41. Nxe5 Rc2 42. Nd3 Nf6 43. Rb6 Ne4 44. Kg2 Rxc4 45. Rxb3 Rc2 46. Ra3 Rd2 47. Kf3 g5 48. Ke3 Rc2 49. Ra7+ Kg8 50. Ra5 Nd6 51. Kd4 Kf7 52. Rc5 Re2 53. Rd5 Re4+ 54. Kc5 Nb7+ 55. Kc6 Ke6 56. b3 Re2 57. Nb4 Re4 58. Nc2 h5 59. Nd4+ Rxd4 60. Rxd4 Na5+ 61. Kb5 Nxb3 62. Rd3 Nc1 63. Rc3 1-0
Ndb4, the suggested improvement to avoid my suggestion Bxd5
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[White "Le Quang,Kim "]
[Black "Holmsten,Alexei "]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round ""]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6
8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. Bd3 Bg5 14. O-O Be6 15. a4 bxa4 16. Ndb4 Nxb4 17. Nxb4 Bb3 18. Qe2 Rb6 19. Bxa6 Qc7 20. Rfb1 g6 21. Bb5 Ra8 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. exd5 Qc5 24. Bc6 Rab8 25. h4 Bxh4 26. Rxa4 Bg3 27. b4 Bf4 28. Rb3 1-0
Ndb4 and black avoids the exchange transposition.
This game predates mine and my move order may improve on this position. The differences will be discusses below.
[Date "1983.??.??"]
[White "Sokolov,Andrei "]
[Black "Vaisser,Anatoli "]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B40"]
[Round ""]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bf4 e5
8. Bg5 a6 9. Na3 b5 10. Nd5 Be7 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. c3 O-O 13. Nc2 Rb8 14. Bd3 Bg5
15. O-O Be6 16. a4 bxa4 17. Ndb4 Ne7 18. Bxa6 Bb3 19. Qe2 Qc7 20. Bd3 Rb6 21. Na3 d5 22. exd5 Nxd5 23. Bxh7+ Kxh7 24. Nxd5 Bxd5 25. Qd3+ Kg8 26. Qxd5 Rxb2 27. Nc4 Rb3 28. Rxa4 Rxc3 29. Qe4 Bf6 30. Ne3 Qc6 31. Nd5 Rc5 32. Nxf6+ Qxf6 33. g3 1/2-1/2
Ndb4 and black transposes but tries Bb3!?
[Date "1985.??.??"]
[White "Korolev "]
[Black "Milovanovic "]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round ""]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. Bd3 Bg5 14. O-O Be6 15. a4 bxa4 16. Ndb4 Nxb4 17. Nxb4 Bb3 18. Qe2 Qc8 19. Nxa6 Rb6 20. Nb4 Qc5 21. Rfe1 Rb7 22. Kh1 g6 23. Bb1 Bc4 24. Qf3 Bd8 25. Rxa4 Ba5 26. Rc1 Bxb4 27. cxb4 Rxb4 28. Rxb4 Qxb4 29. Qc3 Qxc3 30. Rxc3 1/2-1/2
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[White "Le Quang,Kim "]
[Black "Holmsten,Alexei "]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Round ""]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6
8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. Bd3 Bg5 14. O-O Be6 15. a4 bxa4 16. Ndb4 Nxb4 17. Nxb4 Bb3 18. Qe2 Rb6 19. Bxa6 Qc7 20. Rfb1 g6 21. Bb5 Ra8 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. exd5 Qc5 24. Bc6 Rab8 25. h4 Bxh4 26. Rxa4 Bg3 27. b4 Bf4 28. Rb3 1-0
Black tries my suggestion of avoiding bxa4 to play an early Bxd5, without luck!
[Date "1987.??.??"]
[White "Horvath,Tamas "]
[Black "Fogarasi,Tibor "]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B45"]
[Round ""]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bf4 e5 8. Bg5 a6 9. Na3 b5 10. Nd5 Be7 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. c3 O-O 13. Nc2 Rb8 14. Bd3 Bg5 15. O-O Be6 16. a4 Bxd5 17. exd5 Ne7 18. Nb4 a5 19. Na6 Rc8 20. axb5 f5 21. c4 Ng6 22. c5 dxc5 23. d6 Kh8 24. Bc4 Nf4 25. Qe1 Qd7 26. Qxe5 Qb7 27. f3 Rce8 28. Qxc5 Ne2+ 29. Kh1 Be3 30. Bd5 Qxa6 31. bxa6 Bxc5 32. Rxa5 Ba7 33. g3 Rb8 34. Bb7 Nd4 35. d7 Ne6 36. Re1 Nc5 37. Re7 h6 38. b4 Nd3 39. Rxf5 Rg8 40. b5 Rbd8 41. Bd5 Bc5 42. Re2 Rxd7 43. Bxg8 Kxg8 44. Re6 Nf2+ 45. Kg2 Rd2 46. Rxc5 Ne4+ 47. Kh1 Nxc5 48. Re8+ 1-0
ICC computer Data takes my other suggestion, the late Bxd5 to force draw.
[Event "ICC 4 16"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2009.10.18"]
[Round "-"]
[White "McCrafty my ICC computer account"]
[Black "Data"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ICCResult "Game drawn by the 50 move rule"]
[WhiteElo "2897"]
[BlackElo "2907"]
[Opening "Sicilian: Pelikan, Chelyabinsk variation"]
[ECO "B33"]
[NIC "SI.37"]
[Time "04:52:37"]
[TimeControl "240+16"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. Bd3 Rb8 14. O-O Be6 15. a4 bxa4 16. Ncb4 Bxd5 17. Nxd5 Rxb2 18. Qxa4 Ne7 19. Qa3 Rd2 20. Bc4 Nxd5 21. Bxd5 Kh8 22. c4 f5 23. exf5 Rxf5 24. Qxa6 Rfxf2 25. Rxf2 Be3 26. Rf1 Qf8 27. Bf3 e4 28. Kh1 Rxf2 29. Rxf2 Bxf2 30. Bxe4 Bd4 31. Qa8 Qxa8 32. Bxa8 g6 33. g3 Kg7 34. Kg2 Kf6 35. Kf3 Ke5 36. Bd5 Bc3 37. g4 g5 38. h3 h6 39. Bg8 Kd4 40. Bf7 Bb4 41. Bd5 Bc5 42. Bg8 Kd3 43. Bd5 Bd4 44. Kg3 Ke2 45. Kg2 Ke3 46. Kg3 Be5+ 47. Kg2 Bf6 48. Kg3 Be5+ 49. Kg2 Bg7 50. Kg3 Bf6 51. Bf7 Be5+ 52. Kg2 Bc3 53. Kg3 Bb4 54. Bd5 Be1+ 55. Kg2 Bc3 56. Kg3 Bb4 57. Kg2 Bd2 58. Kg3 Ba5 59. Kg2 Bd2 60. Kg3 Ke2 61. Kg2 Bc3 62. Bf7 Be5 63. Be6 Bf6 64. Bd5 Bc3 65. Bf7 Bb2 66. Bd5 Bd4 67. Bf7 Bc3 68. Bd5 Bf6 69. Bf7 Bg7 70. Bd5 Bb2 71. Bf7 Bg7 72. Bd5 Bh8 73. Bf7 Ba1 74. Bd5 Bg7 75. Bf7 Bf8 76. Bd5 Ke3 77. Kg3 Be7 78. Bf7 Bd8 79. Kg2 Kf4 80. Bd5 Bf6 81. Bf7 Bd4 82. Bd5 Bc3 83. Bf7 Bf6 84. Bd5 Bd4 85. Bf7 Bc5 86. Bd5 Be3 87. Bf7 Ba7 88. Bd5 Bb6 {Game drawn by the 50 move rule} 1/2-1/2
1985 NY Open Rd 6
Informant 39/202
white: Brian McCarthy
black: Boris Belopolsky @ Fide 2250
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5
(This variation, once known as Pelikan, has been analyzed by Russian masters such as Sveshnikov and Timochenko. It is much in favor among young players, such as the Latvian star Alexander Shirov. (Bookup Database) Shirov is not so young anymore but the variation is still popular. For a time in the 1980’s, this ECO code, B33 contained the most games of any opening in the Informants. I don’t’ buy them on a regular basis, but there is little doubt the Najdorf is the most popular defense at the top levels of pro chess these days.)
6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Rb8
( I give Rb8 an exclam in my notes to the Informant but it went to the cutting room floor. The reason was that people had been waiting for a4 then playing Rb8 but after axb5axb5 Nb4 is almost outright winning.)
13. Bd3
(!? This move is not necessary to reach Bc4! N but it encourages it because black has 2 free moves to avoid the tactics of the immediate a4. Rybka is not an a4 fan, choosing the game continuation until ply 11 then switching to g3: 13.Bd3 Bg5 14.O-O Be6 15.Qf3 Qd7 16.Qg3 +0.05 d=11 then 13.g3 Be6 14.Bg2 +0.09 d=16 Rybka 3. 13…)
Bg5 14. O-O Be6 15. a4 bxa4
(Here I give my first suggestion 15…Bxd5 16. exd5 Ne7 17. axb5 axb5 (17…Nxd5? 18. Bxh7+ Kxh7 19. Qxd5 Rxb5 20. Qd3+ ? xa6.d6) 18. Nb4 unclear in the bishops of opposite color ending. As Fogarasi found out in the game above, white is still a good bit better. Not every bishops of opposite color game is a draw. They can also favor the attacker. 18.(Nb4)f5 19.Be2 Qd7 +0.55 d=15 Rybka 3)
16. Ncb4 Nxb4
(I give this exchange a dubious and call Bxd5!, although no human has taken me up on it. Data, an amateur but strong computer program at the Internet Chess Club, does try it and demonstrates a very forcing line above that does reduce the game to a trivial bishops of opposite color ending.
Part of the excitement to being in the Informant series, published from Beograd in the old Yugoslavia, was seeing how the other masters reacted in future volumes. Geller and a few other Soviets cleaned up the line by suggesting Ndb4 and demonstrating 15…Bxd5 is no way out. My move order strongly discourages Ne7 because of Qxa4! but Ndb4 prevents Bxd5! In my Opening Encyclopedia 2007 CD it shows 9 games with Ndb4 and only 1 with Ncb4. When Geller spoke, people listened! )
17. Nxb4 Bd7
(Bb3 appears to be a much better alternative. Rybka is ready to take an immediate draw with Bc2 Bc4 Bd3 Bb3 d=17. 18. Bxa6 Be7 19. After forcing the theoretical Qe2 it still calls it 0.00 after Qb6 and finds another quick perpetual. White has the better pawns and space but black has the bishop pair. This is the critical position where more work is needed but with the quick white win, black may dismiss the line for a long time. This is another secret for readers of this book! (Bb3 Qe2) 18...Qb6 19.Nxa6 Rb7 20.Nb4 Qc5 21.Na6 Qb6 22.Nb4 Qc5 23.Na6 Qb6 24.Nb4 etc. d=18)
18. Bxa6 Be7
(I gave Bxa6 a slight edge, but this was also deleted by the editors. Rybka prefers Qb6 to Be7 but still sees a slight edge: 18...Qb6 19.Be2 Re8 20.Qd3 Qb7 21.h3 h6 22.Re1 Bh4 23.Rd1 Be6 +0.14 d=14 Rybka 3)
19. Qe2 Kh8 20. Bc4! (diagram 1)
(Between this TN and the Whitehead game in informant 39, I would call Bc4!n the more powerful of the two ideas. After Geller et al. polished off the entire variation, with no offer of a defense from the above position. Kh1? was a move Murray Chandler was the last to lose with (above). It was the accepted theory in the most hotly contested opening of the time. My ideas were simple, first, if the knight stays on b4, then Qb6 is harmless so trash the passive Kh1. If the knight isn’t heading to d5, what is? My a6 bishop has one successful bomber run under his belt, and it ends up looking good on d5. Since Black always plays f5, maybe the rooks can work on his weak spot f7? Bombs away!
Ironically, Simic suggested Bd3 now though their game reached this position without the Bd3 transposition. Rybka thinks Rfd1 is the way to go. This rook, instead of Rad1 in a game above, eliminates the option of a3 but this is not consistent with my ideal setup of the rooks on the f file: 20.Rd1 Kg8 21.Nd5 Bg5 22.g3 Kh8 23.Bc4 Bh6 24.Ra3 +0.36 d=15 Rybka 3. Bd3 also keeps some edge as it discourages f5 because if the bishops are swapped, a4 is loose: 20.(Bd3)Qc8 21.Re1 Qb7 22.Bc2 Ra8 23.Ra3 Bb5 +0.33 d=14 Rybka 3. Once Bc4 is played white gets a plus. It gives up on g6 but not because of f4: 20.(Bc4!)Qc8 21.h3 Qb7 22.Ba6 Qa7 23.Bd3 +0.22 d=14 Rybka 3. 20…)
g6 21. f4
(White’s edge is now sure. Rybka gives up on the game continuation and Bf6 to allow f5, not a pleasant prospect for a Sicilian player:21...Kg7 22.f5 Qc8 23.Qd3 Qc5 24.Kh1 Rc8 25.Ba6 Rb8 26.Nd5 Bg5 27.f6 Kh8 28.Nb4 +0.26 d=14 Rybka 3. 21…)
exf4
(Rybka is prepared to lash out with Qb6 Kh1 f5 but calls it over +0.50. It is a program that has little patience for defense, which is how most computers should play.)
22. Rxf4 Be8 23. Raf1 (diagram 2) Bg5 24. R4f3 Qe7 (f6 Rybka) 25. Kh1 Rb7 26. Qd3 Kg8 27. Bd5
(This is the type of position I had envisioned although their may be a more exact version possible. Lasker, in the Manual of Chess, reminded us we needed words because no matter how many variations we can eliminate, the number of possibilities are too great for pure calculations. 27...Rb8 28.g3 Qe5 29.Qc2 Rc8 30.Qe2 Qe7 31.Qd3 Bh6 +0.54 d=14 Rybka 3, 27…)
Ra7 28. Ra1 Rc7 (a3!? Rybka) 29. Qd4 Bh6 30. Qf6 Qd7
(Black probably should have taken me up on the chance to play an endgame. Rybka suggests Bg5: 30...Bg5 31.Qxe7 Rxe7 32.g3 +0.10 d=15 Rybka 3. 30. Nd3 or Qb6 would have kept my middlegame edge: 30.Qb6 Rc8 31.Qa6 Qc7 32.Bb3 Qd8 33.Ba2 Bg7 34.Bd5 Be5 +0.43 d=14 Rybka 3 )
31. Qh4 Bg7 32. Rh3 h6 33. Qf2 Kh7 34. Rf3 Qc8 35. Qb6 Be5
(?! This good looking move gets black in trouble: 36.Nd3 Bc6 37.Rf1 Kg7 38.Qa5 Bxd5 39.exd5 Re8 40.Qxa4 Qb8 41.g3 Kg8 42.Qb4 +0.84 d=14 Rybka 3. Rybka suggests Qd7 with a white edge.)
36. Nd3 (!) Re7 37. Nxe5 dxe5 38. Raf1
(! Going back to the f file is very strong. A good application of the principle of 2 weaknesses. To illustrate this, I tells students that Arnold Schwarzenegger or the world’s strongest man can not break a coat hanger in one snap but a three year old can break it given a few minutes of going back and forth! 38...Qc7 39.Qb4 Qd8 40.Rf6 Rg8 41.c4 Rc7 42.c5 Qe7 43.Rd6 Rc8 +1.30 d=14 Rybka 3. …38)
f5 39. Qb4 Qd7
(Winning the pawn here seems best 40.exf5 gxf5 41.Rxf5 Rxf5 42.Rxf5 Bg6 43.Rf8 Kg7 44.Rf1 Kh7 45.Rd1 +1.78 d=14 Rybka 3)
40. Bc6 Qc7
(Qd8 saves the pawn because of the back rank mate threat but I obviously do not care about opening the game and allowing any counterplay, another of the Russian endgame principles, Prophylaxis! 40...Qd8 41.Qxa4 Bxc6 42.Qxc6 f4 43.b4 Qc7 44.Qxc7 Rxc7 45.Rd3 Rc4 46.Ra1 Rf7 47.Kg1 Rxe4 +0.68 d=14 Rybka 3)
41. Bxe8 Rfxe8 42. Qxa4 fxe4
(After this it looks lost. Rybka’s suggestion of f4! keeps the evaluation under 100.)
43. Qxe4 Rg8 44. h3 Rgg7 45. b4 Re6 46. c4 Ree7
(Rybka does not like Ree7 but we are 2 pawns up on the queenside and it is just a matter of pushing them and preventing counterplay: 46...Qc6 47.Qxc6 Rxc6 48.c5 g5 49.Rf6 Rc8 +2.58 d=13 Rybka 3)
47. c5 Rd7 48. Rf8 Rd8 49. Rxd8 Qxd8 50. Qxe5 Qd3
(Rybka sees immediate doom with Rf8 but I didn’t seriously consider leaving the back rank and allowing even a spite check: 51.Rf8 g5 52.Qe8 Rg8 53.Rxg8 Qf1 54.Kh2 Qf4 55.Kg1 Qc1 56.Kf2 Qf4 +5.05 d=11 Rybka 3)
51. Qf4 Qd5 52. Rc1 Qc6 53. Qc4 Rb7 54. Rf1 Kg7 55. Qd4+ Kh7 56. Rf8 g5 57. Rh8+ Kg6 58. Rg8+ Kh7 59. Qh8+ mate 1-0