FIDE Surveys – Susan Polgar

1

Susan Polgar:

The Game Is Not Over Until It
Is Over!

A chess game is "not over until it over"! In
other words, it is never too late to spoil a
well-played game. Probably all chess players
can recall some painful memories of losing a
"won game", or messing up, blundering in a
"dead drawn" position.It is important to
make a conscious effort once we reach one
of those "completely won" or "dead drawn"
positions, to not let our concentration
wandering off or become overconfident and
careless. Here are a couple extreme
examples by world class players. In the
second game of the Man versus Machine
match, we learned that even world
champions are not immune from such types
of carelessness.However, Kramnik had a
"blackout" and played the careless

Deep Fritz 10 : Kramnik
Bonn, 2006

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-sN-mk0
9wq-+-+-zp-0
9-+-+-+-zp0
9+-+-zP-+-0
9pzp-+Q+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zP-+-+PzP0
9+-vl-+-+K0
xiiiiiiiiy

34...Qe3??
In this position 34...Kg8 leads to an easy
draw. White has nothing more than perpetual

checks after 35.Ng6 Bb2 36.Qd5 Kh7
37.Nf8 Kh8 38.Ng6=.
35.Qh7# 1:0.


Khalifman : Polgar S.
Internet match RUS – USA, 2005

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-zp-0
9P+-+-+-+0
9+K+-+-+-0
9-+-tR-mk-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9tr-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Of course, I had my share of moments which
I would prefer to forget about. In 2005, as
part of a Russia - USA friendly rapid
exhibition match, played via the internet, I
played former World Champion Alexander
Khalifman. After a rough game, finally
(thanks to my opponent's carelessness) I had
a position which I should have drawn.
During the game I thought that everything
draws, and played the illogical:
56...Kf5
Retreating my King. Instead, the natural
56...Kf3 would have saved the game. For
example: 57.Ra4 Rb1 58.Kc6 Rb8 59.a7 Ra8
60.Kb7 Ra7 61.Ka7 g5.
The game ended with:
57.Ra4 Rb1 58.Kc6 Rb8 59.a7 Ra8 60.Kb7
Ra7 61.Ra7 g5 62.Kc6 g4 63.Kd5 Kf4
64.Kd4 Kf3 65.Kd3 g3 66.Rf7 Kg2 67.Ke2
Kg1 68.Kf3 g2 69.Kg3 Kh1 70.Rh7 Kg1
71.Rh2 1:0.

FIDE Surveys – Susan Polgar

2

Nakamura : Carlsen
Zurich 2014
The next example is from a recent top level
game where the top American, Hikaru
Nakamura, got a reminder of it.

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9+pwq-+p+p0
9-sn-sn-+p+0
9+-zpPzp-zPP0
9p+PvlP+Q+0
9zPr+-+-sN-0
9-zP-+L+-tR0
9+KvLR+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White has achieved a much better position
with a promising attack on the Kingside. It
seems that White has easy play, and the
game will be over soon.
26.Rdh1
White is getting ready to open the h file.
26...Bb2
Black has no choice but go all out, and hope
for the best and for some luck.
If 26...Qd7 27.Qd7 Nd7 28.hg6 Rg3 29.Rh7
(Threatening checkmate in 3 with 30.Rh8
Kg7 31.R1h7 Kg6 and 32.Bh5.) 29...Be3
30.Be3 Re3 31.Bg4 Nb6 32.Bf5 and it is
game over.
26...Nbc4 would lead to transposition as to
what happened in the game itself, after
27.Bc4 Nc4 28.hg6 Bb2 29.Bb2.
27.Bb2 Nbc4 28.Bc4 Nc4
Fortunately for White, things are safe for the
moment on the Queenside - as the Rook
protects the Bishop on b2 along the second
rank. Therefore, White can continue safely
with the attack on the King side and open the
h file.
29.hg6

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9+pwq-+p+p0
9-+-+-+P+0
9+-zpPzp-zP-0
9p+n+P+Q+0
9zPr+-+-sN-0
9-vL-+-+-tR0
9+K+-+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

29...Qb6
Magnus tries his best practical chance, by
attempting to "mess things up".
After 29...fg6 pretty much everything wins,
but most forceful is: 30.Qe6 Kh8 31.Nf5 gf5
and 32.g6. At this point White has trouble on
the Queen side therefore, must prove himself
on the other side of the board.
30.g7!?
30.gh7 instead, would be a major mistake, as
Black just moves out of the one check with
30...Kh8 and White's attack runs to dead
end. Moreover, the tables have turned - it is
Black who is winning! The game move
works too, but a much simpler win was
30.gf7 Rf7 and 31.Nh5! Then, Black is
defenseless against the powerful threats of
Qc8 and Nf6. For example: 31...Rb2 32.Ka1
Qb3 (32...Rh2 33.Nf6 Kg7 34.Rh2) 33.Qc8
Rf8 34.Nf6 Kf7 35.Rh7 Kg6 36.Qf5#.
30...Rd8
30...Rb2 31.Ka1 Rd8 would have also lead
to the same.
31.Qh4 Rb2 32.Ka1
Of course not going for the self-mate with
32.Kc1?? Rb1 33.Kc2 Qb3#.
Black's attack is over now, and hence has no
choice but to go back to defense.
32...Rh2 33.Rh2 Qg6
Materially speaking Black is up a Pawn, but
it does not help.

FIDE Surveys – Susan Polgar

3

If 33...Kg7, the most precise is 34.Nf5 Kf8
35.g6! (as after 35.Qh7 Black can still fight
a bit with trying to run away with 35...Ke8).
34.Nf5!
A very natural and powerful move, bringing
yet another piece close towards Black's
King.
34...Re8

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+r+k+0
9+p+-+pzPp0
9-+-+-+q+0
9+-zpPzpNzP-0
9p+n+P+-wQ0
9zP-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-tR0
9mK-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

35.Qg4
With the idea of Rh2–h6 trapping Black's
Queen.
This is where the game gets to its critical
stage and White started misplaying a so far
well-played game against the world's #1
player. However, there were two better
options. The first one, 35.Qf2 required some
accurate calculation. After 35...b6 (35...Qg5
36.Nh6) White has a pretty combination to
elegantly end the game: (35...Qg5 36.Nh6)
36.Rh7! Qh7 (36...Kh7 37.Qh4 Kg8
38.Qh8#) 37.Nh6 Kg7 38.Qf7 Kh8 39.Qe8
Kg7 40.Qf7 Kh8 41.Qf8 followed by
checkmate on the next move.
But also the quiet 35.Qh3 was good. It
would keep tied the Black Queen to the
defense of the h7 Pawn and at the same time
would also protect the b3 square, which is
key in some of the variations. After 35.Qh3
Black is practically zugzwang, as once b7
Pawn moves, Black will no longer have the

option to counter attack with Qg6–b6. For
example: 35...b5 36.d6 Nd6 37.Nd6 Rd8
38.Nf5.
After the most natural continuation 35.d6
Black has a hidden defensive resource, with
35...Nd6! 36.Nd6 and 36...Rd8!! 37.Nb5
(37.Nf5?? Rd1 38.Ka2 (38.Kb2 Qb6)
38...Qe6 39.Kb2 Qb3#) 37...Rd1 38.Kb2
Kg7 and Black has three Pawns for the
Knight, giving him reasonable drawing
chances.
35...Qb6 36.Qh3 Qg6

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+r+k+0
9+p+-+pzPp0
9-+-+-+q+0
9+-zpPzpNzP-0
9p+n+P+-+0
9zP-+-+-+Q0
9-+-+-+-tR0
9mK-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

37.d6?
A tempting pawn advance but is actually
giving the game away. In view of the
comments to the last few moves, it is not
hard to realize, that White had two ways to
end the game to their favor:
37.Qf1 b5 and again the sacrifice with
(37...Nd6 38.Rh6) 38.Rh7! Qh7 39.Nh6 or
just by making a waiting move with; 37.Rh1
or 37.Qh4 and putting Black in zugzwang.
After the game-move, now Black is fully
back in the game.
37...Nd6! 38.Nd6 Rd8!
This quiet move turns the dynamic of the
game around. Even though White is still
slightly better Hikaru did not manage to
readjust to the disappointing (for him)
changes to the position and in time pressure
continued with a few more mistakes.

FIDE Surveys – Susan Polgar

4

39.Nc4?!
The only road to have any realistic hopes to
win was with 39.Nc8 Kg7 40.Ne7 although
after correct defense with 40...Rd1 41.Ka2
Qe6 42.Qe6 fe6 probably White's small
advantage will be insufficient to collect the
full point. As we read in Peter Nielsen's
commentary to this game in New in Chess,
"Nakamura had planned 39.Nf5 'winning',
but now realized that after 39...Rd1 40.Kb2
Qb6 41.Ka2 Black does not play 41...Qb3, as
that square is protected by the Queen on h3,
but 41...Qb1# mate!
39...Qe4

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-+k+0
9+p+-+pzPp0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-zp-zp-zP-0
9p+N+q+-+0
9zP-+-+-+Q0
9-+-+-+-tR0
9mK-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

What a turnaround! Now, it is White who
has to be careful not to lose. It was time to
pull in the breaks and go for a draw, while
white still can.
40.Qh5?
The right defense was 40.Ne3 Qd3 41.Nf5
when Black must force a draw by perpetual
checks with 41...Qd1 42.Ka2 Rd2 43.Rd2
Qd2 44.Kb1 Qd1.
40...Rd3!
A strong move to tie the Knight to the
defense of the Pawn on a3. Magnus does not
miss his suddenly received opportunity and
continues the attack with the most precise
way. Now the threat is 41...b5.
41.Rh4 Qf5
41...Qe1 would be a mistake, letting White
off the hook after 42.Ka2.
42.Qe2 b5

Now it is clear that White is in major
trouble.
43.Nd2 Qg5
43...Ra3 44.Kb2 Rg3 was fine too.
44.Qd3 Qh4 45.Ne4
If 45.Qb5 then just 45...Qd4 46.Qb2 h5 and
Black has too many passed pawns running.
45...Kg7

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+pmkp0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+pzp-zp-+-0
9p+-+N+-wq0
9zP-+Q+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9mK-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Here Black has an impressive number of five
(!) pawns for the Knight.
46.Qf3
After 46.Nc5 Black would force the
exchange of the Queens with 46...Qe1
47.Kb2 Qf2 48.Qc2 Qc2 49.Kc2 and then
push the pawns.
46...Qf4
As we can see one line after another, Black's
goal is to trade Queens, making sure White's
hopes of perpetual checks disappear. The
reamining part of the game is self-
explantory.
47.Qg2 Kf8 48.Kb2 h5 49.Nd2 h4 50.Kc2
b4 51.ab4 cb4 52.Qa8 Kg7 53.Qa4 h3
54.Qb3 h2 55.Qd5 e4 56.Qh5 e3 57.Nf3 e2
58.Kb3 f6 59.Ne1 Qg3 60.Ka4 Qg1 61.Qe2
Qa7 0:1.
Conclusion: It is important to always look
for good moves and last minute resources
not just for yourself, but also for your
opponent. It does not matter how clear and
obvious things appear, remember, "don't
count your chicken before they hatch!"