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July 2004 Lessons Learned Today's Lesson is from GM Sergey Ivanov
This column is sponsored by Chess eXpress Ratings; learn more about CXR in this Review by someone who actually uses their service.
Special thanks go to Phil Innes and to Boris Yeshan (Russian Chess) both for arranging the writing of this column with GM Ivanov, and also for their work translating the original text into English.
The Most Difficult Thing In Chess... The game showed
below is a perfect illustration of Emmanuel Lasker's wonderfully deep
thought, which was formulated by him almost a century ago: "The most
difficult thing in chess it is to win a winning position". The second World
Champion in history was a very wise man, he predetermined the rules of
chess development many years beforehand. A book about Lasker published in
the Soviet Union was not without reason called "Thinker". During the
intervening years millions and millions of games have been played but Lasker's postulate remains unshakable. And everybody from beginner to
grandmaster should remember it.
Ivanov,Sergey
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Barkhagen,Jonas [E32] [Click
Here to follow the game on a JavaScript board] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 The game was played in the last round of the traditional New Year tournament in Stockholm - "Rilton Cup". Jonas Barkhagen, a strong Swedish international master was my opponent. He had half a point more than I had and was in 1st place. Until this game Jonas had been very lucky in several games; fortune in this tournament obviously had been good to him. Thus the strategy of the last game was self-evident: to play a calm opening, resist engaging in complications and use the white pieces plus some reinforced variations against my opponent to put constant pressure on him. At some point he will not withstand the siege. At length... all was going on according to my plan... 4...0–0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 b6 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.e3
Being played is the so called classical system of the Nimzo Indian Defence, which has been extremely popular for the past 10–15 years. White avoid double pawns on the c-file and gets the advantage of two bishops, but at the expense of early Queen moves and some lag in development. Earlier I used this system repeatedly and felt quite confident in myself. Besides I had something "in mind"... Another known branching is 8.f3 h6 9.Bh4 d5 10.e3 Nbd7 11.cxd5 (11.Nh3!?) 11...Nxd5 12.Bxd8 Nxc3 13.Bh4 Nd5 and so on with a slightly better endgame for White. 8...d6 Now 8...d5?! is already not so good: after 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 White can simply take the pawn 11.Qxc7 and in comparison with the variation 8.f3 Black has no compensation. Thus he is forced to develop more modestly. 9.f3 Nbd7 10.Bd3
Another scheme of the placing of pieces is 10.Nh3 c5 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.Be2 Qb6 13.0–0 d5 14.Rad1 Bc6 15.Nf2 h6 16.Bh4 Ba4 17.Rd2 Bb3 18.Ng4÷
...as played in the well-known game Kasparov-Karpov, Las Palmas 1996. 10...c5 11.Ne2 Rc8 12.0–0!?
A peculiar "tabia" of this variation. With the last move Black unequivocally shows he intends to use the position of the white Queen to create pressure on the c-file and attack the c4-pawn (for example by way of Ba6 and d5). White has to undertake counter-measures. It was determined long ago that nothing is gained by 12.Qd2 h6 13.Bh4 cxd4 14.exd4 Ba6 15.Rc1 in view of forced 15...d5! 16.cxd5 Bxd3 17.dxe6 Bxe2 18.Rxc8 Qxc8 19.exd7 Qxd7 20.Kxe2 Re8+ 21.Kf2 Ne4+! 22.fxe4 Rxe4= equalizing, Flear-Summermatter, Chiasso 1991. In case of 12.b4 (with the idea of 12...Ba6 to play 13.dc5 bc5 14.b5) Black obtains full equality by way of 12...h6 13.Bh4 d5 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.b5 Ne4! (a standard unloading operation often met in such formations) 16.Bxd8 Nxc3 17.Ba5 Ne5„ R.Skomorokhin-Z.Almasi, Budapest 1995.
Recently White's
attempts to fight for the advantage were associated with the idea of 12.Qb3
(in order to meet the lunge 12...Ba6 by 13.Qa4), for example: 12...h6
13.Bh4 d5 14.cxd5 Bxd5 15.Qd1 cxd4 16.Nxd4 Ne5 17.Ba6 Rc5 18.0–0 On the other hand what can be more natural and simple for White than castling? This move was met repeatedly in practice and considered as posing no problems for Black. But the art of opening analysis includes just this ability to find some new subtlety and nuance in known and approved variations. For this encounter I decided to check out an idea, which allowed Bareev to gain a convincing victory over Leko in Dortmund in the 2002 candidate's tournament. 12...h6 13.Bh4 d5
After long reflection my opponent
chose a standard, and ... far from best, continuation. Till the game Barrev-Leko it was considered enough to easily equalize with 13...Ba6 and
pressure on the c4-pawn appears to be unpleasant. Quiet attempts 14.b3
or 14.a4 give White nothing. However it turns out that everything is
not so simple! By way of 14.b4! cxd4 15.Qxd4 Ne5 (15...d5 16.b5
dxc4 17.Bxc4 e5 18.Qd3 Afterwards it turned out that the most correct reaction for Black is 13...cxd4 14.Qxd4 Ne5 15.Rac1 Nxd3 16.Qxd3 Ba6! 17.e4 (on the "programmed" 17.b4 will follow 17...Rxc4! 18.Rxc4 d5 and White simply remains a pawn down)) 17...d5! 18.e5 Bxc4, and White is forced onto the defensive (S. Ivanov-Grischuk, Moscow 2003). 14.cxd5 Nxd5
In case of 14...exd5 15.Rac1 Qe7 16.Bf5; or 14...cxd4 15.Qxd4 Bxd5 16.Ba6 the initiative is with White. 15.Qe1! Black can't suitably "relieve" the position because of this resource and White keeps the opening advantage. It can be seen that Black included the moves 12...h6 13.Bh4 in vain, as White would not have the maneuver Qe1 without them. But he had something stronger: 14.Bh7! Now it's impossible to take the bishop because of 15.Qd3 winning the Queen, and White remains with an extra-pawn. So, the evaluation of the whole opening system sometimes depends on such minute tactical nuances! 15...g5!? A right decision. Black managed to place his forces harmonically and slightly simplify the position but at the cost of the weakening of the kingside. In case of 15...N5f6 16.Rd1 a6 17.Bb1 White gets a stable advantage (Sigurjonsson-Karpov, Munchen 1979). 16.Bf2 cxd4 17.exd4 White is forced to take with the pawn, after 17.Nxd4 Ne5 18.Be2 Qf6 where the black pieces suitably enter in the game. 17...Qf6 18.Qd2 Rfd8
Well, to sum up the opening battle: White has an advantage which is not big but has permanence of character. The two bishops, and the future possibility of attacking the Black pawn weaknesses on the kingside, gives White chances of long and unrelieved pressure. My plan in this game has been realized in the best way possible. A solid advantage in time which I accumulated at this moment also comforted my soul... 19.Bg3 In view of the threat to open the game by f3-f4 Black's reply is practically forced. 19...e5 20.Be4 exd4 21.Qxd4 Naturally White has no objection to passing to an endgame. 21...Nc5 Deserving attention is 21...Ba6!? , for example 22.Rfe1 Bxe2 23.Qxd5 Nc5 with chances to equalize. 22.Qxf6 Nxf6 23.Bf5! White obviously should save the bishop from being exchanged. 23...Ra8 24.Rfd1
Another important moment. White apparently has to defend against the rook's invasion to the d2-square. The question is only which rook to put on d1 - the queen's or the king's? This task frequently turns out to be difficult to solve, even for experienced chess players. Here, true, everything is much more simpler: on 24.Rad1 there is a strong prick 24...Ba6! which equalize the chances at once, so White hadn't long to choose. 24...Nb3 Now on 24...Ba6 there is a simple reply 25.Nd4. 25.Rab1 There is no reason to give Black the possibility to activate his rook 25.Rxd8+ Rxd8 26.Re1 Rd5 and so on. Any danger from the knight on b3 is of a temporary nature. 25...Nd2 In case of 25...Nd5 26.Bc2 Nc5 27.b4 the Knight is forced to retreat. 26.Rbc1 Nb3 On the natural 26...Rd5 will follow 27.Bc2 Nc4 (27...Rad8? 28.Nc3 R5d7 29.Ba4 Rd3 30.Bb5 and Black lose the exchange.) 28.Rxd5 Nxd5 29.Bb3! for example 29...Nxb2 30.Rb1 Nd3 31.Rd1 N5f4 32.Nxf4 gxf4 33.Rxd3 fxg3 34.Rd7 gxh2+ 35.Kxh2 Rb8 36.Rxf7 Kh8 37.Kh3+- and even with such a reduction of remaining material Black is absolutely helpless. 27.Rxd8+ Rxd8 28.Rc3! White should also play accurately. A case in point is if 28.Rc7 Nc5 29.b4 Nd5! 30.bxc5 Nxc7 31.Bxc7 Rd5 (31...Rd2 32.cxb6 Rxe2 33.bxa7) 32.Be4 Rd1+ 33.Kf2 Bxe4 34.fxe4 bxc5 evaluation of the position is absolutely unclear. 28...Nc5 29.b4 Ne6 30.Rd3 Nd5
Black also has problems after the rooks are exchanged. 31.Be4 So, the game enters a new stage. White has managed to force out the black knight from his camp and he can at last occupy himself with pawn weaknesses. 31...Kf8?! More correct is 31...f6 followed by Kf7. 32.Be5 Ke7? This is a serious mistake. Now 32...f6 was simply necessary. I have to note that my opponent was at this moment in strong time trouble. 33.Ng3!
White comfortably regroups his pieces and creates unpleasant threats. Black remains a minimum of a pawn down. Here I remember I already mentally awarded myself a point for the game. This was my first step to the precipice... 33...Nef4 Nothing else seems viable. 34.Nf5+ Ke6 35.Bxf4 gxf4 36.Nxh6 Rh8 Black loses one more pawn but this is understandable, Barkhagen's flag hung threateningly. However after the relatively better 36...f6 37.Rd1 Rh8 38.Bxd5+ Bxd5 39.Re1+ Kd7 40.Ng4 Rf8 41.Rd1 Ke6 42.Rd4+- the second pawn falls and the curtain can be dropped. 37.Nxf7! Rc8 38.Ng5+
Here White had an interesting "geometric" tactical resource: 38.Bf5+! Kxf5 39.Rxd5+! Kf6 (39...Bxd5 40.Nd6+ Ke5 41.Nxc8+-) 40.Rd1 Bxf3 41.gxf3 Kxf7 42.Rd7+ Ke6 43.Rxa7+- But all this is absolutely unnecessary since it's possible to win more simply. 38...Ke5 And just here I made a rough unpardonable mistake. This was my second step to the precipice. 39.h4? As if bewitched I looked at my opponent's clock, waiting for the flag to fall. I could not quite think about the position at this moment. Certainly I should simply repeat moves 39.Nf7+ Ke6 40.Ng5+ Ke5 and thereby pass the time control and enter a normal situation to calmly consider the position. The experienced chess players often uses this method: repeating moves to gain time and to cool the raging passions! Easily winning was 39.g4 , for example 39...Rc1+ 40.Kf2 Rc2+ 41.Ke1 Rxh2 42.Nf7+ Kf6 43.Nd6+- 39...Rc1+ 40.Kh2 Ne3!
A cold shower! With the time-control move my opponent strongly embarrasses White's realization of any advantage. 41.Bxb7 Nf1+ 42.Kh3 It's also possible to get mated: 42.Kg1?? Ng3+ 43.Kf2 (or 43.Kh2 Rh1 mate) 43...Rf1 mate 42...Ne3 43.Rxe3+ The only way to play for a win. I compelled myself to continue the struggle by a great effort of will-power: how could I agree to a repetition of moves in such a position? I sat and severely criticized myself for being in such a hurry, and failing to note my opponent's counter-lunge, and instead of a comfortable realization with two extra pawns I should have calculated longer variations. Certainly White hasn't lost the win, he has a huge material advantage but Black now also has a strong trump: a dangerous passed e-pawn. 43...fxe3 44.Ba6 Ra1 45.Kg3 Rxa3 46.f4+ To free the f3-square for the King or for the knight. 46...Kd4 47.Nf3+ The alternative is 47.Be2 , although the win in this case not so simple. Further could follow: 47...a5 48.bxa5 bxa5 49.h5 a4 50.h6 Rb3 (50...Rc3 51.Bg4! Rb3 52.h7 Rb8 53.Kf3 a3 54.Be6 Rh8 55.Ke2+-): A) Now the rectilinear 51.h7 leads to a draw: 51...Rb8 52.Bg4 e2! (52...a3 53.Be6 Rh8 54.Kf3 Kd3 55.Bg8 e2 56.Kf2 Kd2 57.Ne4+ Kd3 58.Ng3 e1Q+ 59.Kxe1 Ke3 60.Nf5+ Kxf4 61.Nd4 a2 62.Nb3+-) 53.Kf2 e1Q+ (possible was 53...a3 54.Be6 Kd3 55.Bg8 Rb1 56.Nf3 Rh1) 54.Kxe1 Ke3 55.Kd1 Kxf4=; B) Wins with the problem-solving move 51.Ne6+! 51...Kc3 (51...Kd5 52.Nc7+ Kc6 53.Nb5+-) 52.Nc5 Kd2 53.Nxb3+ axb3 54.h7 b2 55.h8Q b1Q 56.Bf3+- 47...Kc3 48.b5 Another way is: 48.Bc8 a5 49.bxa5 bxa5 50.f5 Rb3 51.Be6 followed by "f" and "h" pawn movements. 48...Ra1
49.Bc8?? Here is the third step and final fall down the precipice. Downcast from my own blunder before the time control and made tired by the previous calculations I simply didn't note Black's next move. The result is a loss instead of a win! Victory still could be obtained by way of 49.h5 e2 (49...Rf1 50.h6 Rh1 51.f5 Rxh6 52.Kf4 Kd3 53.Kg5 Rh8 54.f6+-; 49...Rh1 50.Bc8 Rxh5 51.f5+-) 50.h6 Rh1 (50...e1Q+ 51.Nxe1 Rxe1 52.Kh4+-) 51.Bc8 Rxh6 52.Kf2+- 49...Rf1! –+ ...which threatens 50...e2 and 51...Rf3, and White couldn't promote his pawn to a Queen in time because of that decisive lose of tempo on the previous move. 50.Ng1 More chances of a rescue were offered by 50.Bg4 e2 51.Ne1 Rxe1 52.f5 Kd2 53.Bxe2 Kxe2 54.Kf4 and Black needs to play very careful to win. 50...Rxg1 51.Bg4 Kd2 52.h5 a5! 52...e2 also wins but the move in the text is simpler than others and achieves the goal. 53.bxa6 Ra1 54.h6 Rxa6 55.Kh4 b5 The bishop can't deal with the second passed pawn. 56.Kg5 b4 57.h7 Ra8 58.Kg6 b3 59.Be6 b2 0–1
So, Jonas Barhagen became the
winner of the Rilton Cup-2003, and I turned out to be thrown into the
depths of the tournament table. Wise people say that the game of chess is a
rather solid construction and its necessary to make more than one or two
mistakes to lose it. Probably that's true but this game teaches us the
following: never celebrate victory ahead of time, don't relax even in a
completely winning position. The game is finished properly only when
the clock stops and the score sheets are signed.
This column was sponsored by... "CXR ratings provide you with more information than any traditional rating. As you use our service, you'll find that you have numerous statistics (not only a rating) that can give you advantages never before available. These statistics can help you decide what you need to study and practice for further improvement." Check out this Review of CXR, by someone who actually uses their service, Pete Blanchette. |
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Kiriakov-Abashev, Moscow 1996.
