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Game of the Week

By GM Sergey Shipov

GM Shipov’s Game of the Week:
October 16-22, 2000

Khalifman’s brilliant performance in
Hoogeven

While Gary and Vladimir were defining in their match which of them is the world
champion, Alexander Khalifman in Hoogeven very effectively reminded the rest of the
world that he is FIDE world champion! However, he would hardly defend his title in the
new championship which is to take place in a month. Nevertheless, the St.Petersburg GM
spent his championship term (sounds great!) quite decently. And it is he who plays on
Board One for the Russian national team in Istanbul.

Khalifman,A (2667) - Polgar,J (2656) [A70]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 d6 5.Nc3 exd5 6.cxd5 g6

The Modern Benoni system.

7.e4 Bg7

It is not in Black’s favor to play immediately 7...Bg4 due to 8.Qa4+! , with the idea of 8...
Nbd7 9.Nd2! and then the black g4-bishop is trapped. And after 8...Bd7 unpleasant for
Black is 9.Qb3.; Therefore, not bad for Black is 7...a6 , in order to meet 8.a4 with 8...Bg4

8.h3 0-0 9.Bd3 a6

It seems that Judith is not prepared to play the lengthy current variations after 9...b5

10.a4

White leave his king’s knight on f3 in this system, rather than transfer him to c4.

10...Qc7

10...Re8 11.0-0 c4 12.Bc2 Nbd7 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Qe2 += Shirov,A - Topalov,V/ Week aan
Zee, 1998

11.0-0 Nbd7

Judith continues passive play. More corresponding to her style is 11...c4 and then, after any
retreat by the white bishop, 12...Nbd7 in order to transfer this knight to c5.

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12.Re1 Re8

Now, after 12...c4 White can play 13.Bf1!

13.Bf4 Rb8 14.Bc4!

Karpov’s idea. White entices the black knight on b6, where he hampers the black b7-
pawn’s advance.

14...Nb6 15.Bf1 Nfd7 16.Rc1!

A strong prophylactic move. Apart from the text move, Black simply has no other suitable
continuation. White may also obtain the advantage after 16.a5; for example: 16...Na8 17.
Nd2 b5 18.axb6 Naxb6 19.Bxa6 Bxa6 20.Rxa6 Ne5 21.Qe2 c4 22.Bxe5 Bxe5 23.Qe3±
Karpov,A - Timman,J/ Kuala Lumpur,1990/1-0.

16...Ne5 17.Nxe5 Bxe5 18.Bxe5 dxe5 19.Qd2!

There is no need for White to hurry with the d5-d6 advance: Black cannot block the white d-
pawn because of her c5-weakness. It is here that 16.Rc1! reveals its strength!

19...Nd7

19...Qd6 20.a5 Nd7 21.Na4+-

20.d6 Qa5 21.Red1 Kg7 22.Qe3

White’s advantage is obvious. His pieces have
better positions and his d-pawn is extremely
strong.

22...b6 23.b3 Bb7 24.Bc4 Bc6 25.Bd5 Rbc8
26.f4!

It is time to open the play!

26...b5 27.axb5 axb5 28.fxe5 Rxe5 29.Qf4
Bxd5 30.Nxd5 Qd8 31.Ne7 Ra8 32.Nc6 Qg5
33.Qxg5 Rxg5 34.Ra1

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The decisive onslaught! White gets rid of the
block on the d7-square with his a1-rook.

34...Rxa1 35.Rxa1 c4

Too late! Failing would be an attempt to attach
the black king to the struggle: 35...Kf6 36.Rf1
+! Kg7 (36...Ke6 37.Nd8+ Kxd6 38.Nxf7+) 37.
Nd8! Ne5 38.d7 Nxd7 39.Rxf7+ Kg8 40.Rxd7
+-

36.bxc4 bxc4 37.Ra7 c3 38.Nd4 Rc5 39.Nc2
Rb5 40.Rxd7 Rb2 41.Ne3 Re2 42.Nd5!

In view of the forced variation 42...c2 43.Rc7
Re1+ 44.Kh2 c1Q 45.Rxc1 Rxc1 46.d7+- Black resigned.

1-0

Galkin,A (2587) - Khalifman,A (2667) [C17]

1.e4 e6

Alexander has became "an expert French" during the shortest time. His preparation for the
Linares 2000 super tournament starts to bring a rich harvest. This time, the world ex-champ
U20 plays the role of the ripe fruit.

2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Ba5!?

Thanks to the Armenian players’ efforts (mainly, those ones of Vaganian and Lputian), this
variation becomes more and more popular.

6.b4 cxd4 7.Qg4

An extremely sharp continuation. The alternative is 7.Nb5

7...Ne7 8.bxa5

In the Bali 2000 tournament Jan Timman against Khalifman went: 8.Nb5 Bc7 9.Qxg7 Rg8
10.Qxh7 a6 11.Nxc7+ Qxc7 12.Bb2 Qxe5+ 13.Ne2 Qc7 14.Ng3 e5 15.Be2 Be6, and then,
instead of castling, White rushed ahead: 16.f4?! exf4 17.Nh5 Qe5! 18.0-0?! Bf5! and lost
soon (0-1).

8...dxc3 9.Qxg7 Rg8 10.Qxh7 Nbc6 11.Nf3 Qc7 12.Bf4 Bd7 13.Bd3 0-0-0 14.Bg3

After 14.0-0 Black has a strong refutation: 14...f5! , with the idea of 15.exf6 Qxf4 16.fxe7
Rxg2+!; deserving attention is 14.a6

14...Qxa5 15.0-0 Rh8 16.Qxf7 Rdf8 17.Qg7 Rhg8 18.Qh6 Rxf3!

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A standard exchange sacrifice for such
positions. There are three or four variations in
the French Defense when Black sacrifices his
rook for the white f3-knight on the first
suitable occasion. This motiff resembles the
Sicilian exchange sacrifice for the c3-knight.
The idea is similar: to weaken the opponent’s
pawn structure and to win gradually, just as
happened in this game...

19.gxf3 Nd4

Simplifications after 19...Nxe5? 20.Bh7! Nf5
21.Qf4 Nxg3 22.fxg3 Rh8 23.Qxe5± are not to

Black’s benefit.

20.Qf4 Nef5 21.Kh1 Bb5!N

A cunning novelty! Alexander gets rid of the white d3-bishop, after which White has
problems defending his c2-pawn. (A strategically less competent chess player played here:
21...Qc5 22.Rg1 Rf8 23.Qg4 Bc6 24.Rg2 , having found the right way only here: 24...Bb5
25.Bxb5 Qxb5 26.Bf4 Kb8 27.Bg5 Rc8 28.Rc1 Qe2 and obtained a quite good play, losing
only due to a blunder in time trouble in the game Lutz,C-Lyrberg,P/Katrineholm 1999/1-0
(41))

22.Rfd1

No better is 22.Bxf5 Nxf5 23.Rfb1 d4!, with a serious initiative for Black.

22...Bxd3 23.Rxd3 Qc5!

And this it what is called a "dense move". It is not time yet to gather the harvest. 23...Nxc2?
24.Rc1 Nxa3 25.Rdxc3+ Nc4 26.Rxc4+! dxc4 27.Qxc4+, and White wins.

24.Qc1

24.Rad1 comes to mind, in order to push the opponent towards the wrong capture on c2.
However, the opponent would cowardly avoid such an elaborate trap by: 24...Ne2! 25.Qb4
(25.Rxd5 Nfxg3+) 25...Nexg3+ 26.fxg3 Qf2 27.Rxc3+ Kb8 , and the white king is
defenseless.

24...Kb8

Black’s two active knights paralyze White’s actions completely. Khalifman can still
improve his position.

25.Qd1 Rc8 26.Bf4 Nc6 27.Qe1 Qc4 28.Bg5 Ncd4 29.Qd1 Qa4

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Black has gradually fingered the spot -- the
weak c2-pawn -- and now he starts to display
his attention and care for it.

30.Ra2

30.Rb1
30...Qc4 31.Ra1 Qa4 32.Ra2 Nb5!

A draw is out of the question!

33.f4?

White would better return the rook to its place:
33.Ra1, after which Black can play 33...Rg8

and, in the case of the correct 34.Bf6, I think Black can proceed with improving his position
by 34...a6 etc. It is just beyond the range of human strength to play such hopeless positions
as White. The stronger side does not have to undertake some storm right away, it is
sufficient to provide the opponent with time to fall apart by himself.

33...Qe4+! 34.f3

White has to weaken the e3-square. In the case of 34.Qf3 Qe1+ 35.Kg2 Qb1 the white rook
is lost, forgotten by God and by Galkin.

34...Qa4 35.Qe1 d4! 36.h4 Nc7!

Black will inevitably transfer his knight to e3. White is just lost.

37.Qe4??

and, waiting not for the knight’s fork on g3, White resigned. A gorgeous positional game.

0-1

Polgar,J (2656) - Khalifman,A (2667) [C17]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Ba5 6.b4 cxd4 7.Qg4 Ne7 8.bxa5 dxc3 9.Qxg7
Rg8 10.Qxh7 Nbc6 11.Nf3 Qc7 12.Bf4 Bd7 13.Bd3 0-0-0

This all follows the previous game against Galkin.

14.Bg3 Qxa5 15.0-0 Rh8 16.Qg7

Judith makes a move, which is shorter for one square exactly. Alexander captured on f7.

16...d4

After 16...Rdg8, the Hungarian queen obviously, prepared 17.Qf6!

17.Qg4

A new move. White returns her queen closer to her camp, being not persuaded by the
opponent. There were no struggle at all after 17.Rfe1 Rdg8 18.Qxf7 Rf8 19.Qg7 Rfg8 20.
Qf7 Rf8 21.Qg7 Rfg8 in the game De Firmian,N-Lyrberg,P/Denmark 1999/1/2-1/2 (21)

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17...Nf5

17...Rdg8 18.Qf4 Nd5

18.Rfb1 Nxg3

Not bad is also 18...Rdg8 19.Qf4 Nxg3 , and Black can meet any recapture with 20...f5!

19.Qxg3 Qc7!

The idea of this move is that, provided the white queen is on f4, Black always has the
possibility of the f7-f5 thrust.

20.Kf1

After 20.Qf4 the most precise continuation for Black is not even 20...f5, but 20...f6! 21.
Qxf6 (21.Nxd4? fxe5) 21...Rdf8 22.Qg5 Rxf3! 23.gxf3 Nxe5, with a horrible attack against
the white king.

20...Rhg8 21.Qf4 f5!

Black’s important achievement: from now on the e4-square is not available for the white
pieces.

22.h3

22.Nxd4? Rg4

22...Kb8 23.Re1

Again impossible is 23.Nxd4? due to 23...Nxd4 24.Qxd4 Bc6

23...Bc8

Generally, Black would like to put this bishop on c6. But the black d4-pawn is hanging.

24.Ng5?!

Apparently, White’s position is already difficult and she should play more precisely.24.
Rab1!?

24...Rd5 25.Nf3 Ne7 26.Rab1

As usual, the black d4-pawn is untouchable: 26.Nxd4 Ng6 27.Qe3 f4 28.Qe4 Rxe5 29.Qf3
Nh4

26...Ng6 27.Qh2 Qh7

Perhaps more accurate is to play 27...a5 first, not letting the white rook go to b4.

28.Rb4 Nh4!

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Khalifman pretends to be attacking the white
king, but he is really protecting his d4-pawn!

29.Nxd4?

This attempt to change the mood of the
struggle drastically fails. After 29.Nxh4 Qxh4
30.g3! White would retained some counter-
chances.

29...Nxg2

Even stronger is 29...a5! 30.Rc4 Nxg2

30.Reb1 Qd7!

Black is playing firmly and reliably.

31.Ne2 Rxd3!

And now the painful strike follows!

32.cxd3 Qxd3

The white queen’s position is funny, she resembles a bear in her lair.

33.Rc1 c2 34.Rd4 Qf3 35.Nf4

After 35.Ng1 Qxa3 36.Rxc2 Qa1+ the black queen eats everyone.

35...b6!

Attaching the bishop to the attack decides the issue.

36.Nxg2 Ba6+ 37.Kg1 Bb7!

An impressive defeat!

0-1

Volkov,S (2554) - Hebden,M (2505) [E92]

Honestly, I didn’t have enough time to analyze this game appropriately. However, it is
apparent even without thorough analysis that winner of the Isle of Man tournament is in
good sporting form. Few players in the world can tear apart the Russian champion, while
playing Black!

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Nf3 e5 7.Be3 Ng4 8.Bg5 f6 9.Bh4 Nc6 10.
d5 Ne7 11.Nd2 Nh6 12.f3

A painfully well known variation. I played so myself a thousand times.

12...c5 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.b4 Kh8

A mysterious move of prophylactic nature. Everyone plays this every time and everywhere,
not asking why.

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15.Nb3 g5

An interesting novelty. It is a kind of provocation. The model for this system game
proceeded with: 15...Be6 16.Bf2 f5 17.0-0 fxe4 18.fxe4 d5 19.Nc5 Bg8 20.cxd5 cxd5 21.
Bh4! , with advantage for White, Magerramov,E-Van Wely,L/Helsinki 1992/1-0(39)

16.Bf2 f5 17.Qd2

Sergey is trying to prove a lack of good reasoning in Black’s idea: the black g5-pawn is
attacked.

17...fxe4 18.Nxe4 d5!

Black does not count the pawns. Meanwhile, the entire center becomes black.

19.Nxg5 Ng6 20.g3 e4 21.0-0?!

Here is the inexactitude! One can put Black’s play in question with 21.Bd4! exf3 22.Nxf3±

21...exf3 22.Bxf3 Ne5 23.Bd4 dxc4! 24.Rad1!

An inventive reply. But...

24...cxb3 25.Bxe5 Qb6+ 26.Bd4 Qxd4+ 27.Qxd4 Bxd4+ 28.Rxd4 bxa2!

Please note that in this position the same black pawn on a2 was standing on d7 in the initital
position!

29.Rh4?

Excessive sang-froid! Everyone would be
scared by the black passed pawn, but Sergey is
not. And wrongly, as it turns out. However, it
is quite easy to miss the following moves by
Black, even by a strong GM. (29.Ra1 Nf5 30.
Rf4= h6 31.Ne4 Be6)

29...a5!

This is not yet something to worry about.

30.b5!

The black pawns march triumphantly in the

following variation: 30.Rxh6 axb4! 31.Ra1
(31.Rxh7+ Kg8-+) 31...Rxf3! 32.Nxf3 b3-+

30...Bg4!

And this is the real trouble for White! Black gets the piece back and transposes into a
winning endgame.

31.Rxh6 Bxf3 32.Ra1 cxb5 33.Rxa2 Bd5-+

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34.Rd2 Rf5! 35.h4 a4 36.Re2 Kg8 37.g4
Rxg5! 38.hxg5 a3 39.Re1 a2 40.Ra1 Ra4 41.
Kf2 Rxg4 42.Rd6 Rxg5

It is already time for White to sign the score
sheet, and it is only the Russian champion’s
fighter’s nature that forces him to continue the
struggle until the last grasp of air.

43.Rxd5 Rxd5 44.Rxa2 Kf7 45.Ra6 Rf5+ 46.
Ke3 Rf6 47.Ra7+ Kg6 48.Rb7 Rf5 49.Ke4
h5 50.Rb8 Rc5 51.Kd4 Rg5 52.Rb6+ Kf7 53.
Rb7+ Ke6 54.Rb6+ Kd7 55.Rh6 b4 56.Kd3
Ke7 57.Kc2 Kf7 58.Kb3 Kg7 59.Rd6 Rg4 60.

Rc6 Rd4 0-1

See related articles:

●

GM Shipov's Game of the Week: Black is OK, and Maybe Better!

(2/1/2001)

●

GM Shipov: How to Win with the d5 Passer

(1/24/2001)

●

GM Shipov's Game of the Week: January 2-10, 2001

(1/18/2001)

●