Chess

Evolution
Arkadij
Naiditsch
& Csaba Balogh
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This month we present a lightly edited excerpt from Chess Evolution
Newsletter #73. CEWN is released every Friday of the week, the
newsletter contains twenty-plus pages of great chess material written by
top grandmasters Arkadij Naiditsch and Csaba Balogh.
Punishing a Dubious Opening
by Csaba Balogh
Wang Hao (2752) Giri, A (2734)
Beijing CHN (7), 11.07.2013
Philidor Defence [C41]
An elegant miniature by Wang Hao, who punished Giri for his dubious
opening.
1.d4 d6 2.e4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 Nbd7
[FEN "r1bqkb1r/pppn1ppp/3p1n2/4p3/
3PP3/2N2N2/PPP2PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 5"]
The Philidor Defence is considered to be a solid system, but it is rarely seen
at the highest level because White can claim a small, stable advantage in
many lines.
5.Bc4 exd4?!
It is, however, a dubious decision by Black to give up the tension in the
center at such an early stage of the game. 5...Be7 is definitely the right move
and also the main line.
6.Qxd4 Be7
This line was recently played by the Serbian GM Ivanisevic, but the following
terrific sacrifice seems to cause serious problems for Black.
7.Bxf7+!! Kxf7 8.Ng5+ Ke8
The only move to stay in the game. 8...Kg8 immediately loses to 9.Qc4+! d5
10.Nxd5+- White wins because of the Qf7 threat. 8...Kg6 9.f4+- also wins for
White as Black is helpless against f5.
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9.Ne6
It seems to be over, but Black is able to save his queen.
[FEN "r1bqk2r/pppnb1pp/3pNn2/8/3QP3/
2N5/PPP2PPP/R1B1K2R b KQ - 0 9"]
9...c5!
This might be Giri's opening trick, but he probably underestimated that after
White simply removes the queen and takes on g7, he gets more than enough
compensation for the sacrificed bishop and also a position that is basically
impossible to play in a practical game as black.
10.Qd1 Qb6 11.Nxg7+
We can find similar sacrifices in the Sicilian Defence, when White plays a
system with Bc4. If Black is careless there, White sometimes sacrifices with
Bxe6 fxe6, Nxe6 attacking the d8-queen, followed by Nxg7 and Nf5 with an
enormous attack. Our game is very similar to those examples.
11...Kf7
Black cannot seek shelter with 11...Kd8? 12.Nd5! Nxd5
[FEN "r1bk3r/pp1nb1Np/1q1p4/2pn4/4P3/
8/PPP2PPP/R1BQK2R w KQ - 0 13"]
13.Ne6+! Ke8 14.Qh5#! This would have been an even shorter game.
12.Nf5 Bf8?!
Wasting another tempo.
12...Ne5 was the last chance, although White also gets a strong attack here
after correct play:
A) 13.Nd5 is very tempting at first sight, but Black holds after 13...Nxd5
14.Qxd5+Be6 15.Nh6+! Kf6 16.Bg5+! Kxg5 17.Qxe6
[FEN "r6r/pp2b2p/1q1pQ2N/2p1n1k1/4P3/
8/PPP2PPP/R3K2R b KQ - 0 17"]
It seems to be over now, but Black survives upon 17...Qb4+! 18.Kd1 (18.Kf1
Qc4+Exchanging the queens solves the biggest problems.; 18.Ke2 Qxe4+)
18...Qd4+19.Kc1 Bf6! After this only move, surprisingly Black is alive!
B) 13.Nxe7! Kxe7 14.Bg5! is the right move and was probably also what Giri
was afraid of. White threatens to play Nd5 and after 14...Be6 15.f4 Nf7
16.Bxf6+Kxf6
[FEN "r6r/pp3n1p/1q1pbk2/2p5/4PP2/2N5/
PPP3PP/R2QK2R w KQ - 0 17"]
17.Qd2! White simply wants to castle kingside and he has numerous decisive
threats, such as e5 followed by Ne4, f5 or just to bring another attacker with
g4-g5. Objectively, White is clearly better, but in a practical game Black's
position is just hopeless in such situations. We are unable to defend like
computers. 17...Qxb2 is simply met by 18.0-0 Grabbing the poisoned pawn on
b2 just creates further problems for Black.
13.0-0
[FEN "r1b2b1r/pp1n1k1p/1q1p1n2/2p2N2/
4P3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQ1RK1 b - - 0 13"]
White finishes development and intends to lead the attack with Bf5 and f4-e5.
13...d5
A desperate attempt by Black to free the position. 13...Ne5 runs into 14.Bg5!
Bxf5 15.Bxf6+- and Black cannot take back on f6 because of Nd5, otherwise
White either takes on h8 or on f5 and obtains a decisive material advantage.
14.Nxd5
14.exd5 was also good enough, but Wang Hao preferred to keep the fortress
of his strong f5-knight.
14...Nxd5 15.Qxd5+
White is already materially fine with three pawns for the piece, but his attack
continues rolling.
15...Ke8?
[FEN "r1b1kb1r/pp1n3p/1q6/2pQ1N2/
4P3/8/PPP2PPP/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 16"]
15...Qe6 was the better chance again. 16.Qd3! White obviously wants to keep
the queens on the board against such a weak king. 16...Nf6 17.Re1+/-
followed by Bd2-c3 with a large advantage. (17.f3!? is also good with the
same idea to transfer the bishop to the b2-h8 diagonal.)
16.Bg5!
Black's position is just hopeless now. White simply wants to bring his a1-
rook and wipe Black off the board with e5-e6.
16...Qg6
16...h6 17.Bh4 does not change anything. 16...Qc6 17.Qd2 does not help
Black either.
17.Rad1!
The g5-bishop is indirectly protected so White can activate his rook.
17...Rg8
The last step for White is to finish the game with e5-e6. Black cannot parry
this threat. He cannot move the d7-knight because of Qd8 and if he doesn't,
most of his pieces will remain undeveloped.
17...Qxg5 18.Nd6+Bxd6 19.Qxg5+-; 17...Qg8 18.Qd2+-.
18.f4! a5
[FEN "r1b1kbr1/1p1n3p/6q1/p1pQ1NB1/
4PP2/8/PPP3PP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 19"]
Black tries to bring his rook into defence through the sixth rank, but, of
course, this is just too slow.
18...h6 is refuted by 19.e5! hxg5 (19...Qxf5 20.Qxg8 hxg5 21.fxg5+-) 20.e6+-
and exd7 wins or if the knight moves Qd8 mates.
19.e5! Qxf5
On 19...Ra6, White can choose between various wins; one of them is 20.e6
Rxe6 21.Rfe1 Rxe1+22.Rxe1+and mate is coming soon.
20.Qxg8 Ra6
Black could finally have traded the queens, but he is already materially down
and the central pawns are just rolling further. 20...Qf7 21.Qxf7+Kxf7
22.Rde1! Protecting the e5-pawn in order to threaten playing e6 and f5.
22...Ra6 23.f5+- White is winning.
21.Rfe1
Refreshing the e6 threat.
21...Rg6
[FEN "2b1kbQ1/1p1n3p/6r1/p1p1PqB1/
5P2/8/PPP3PP/3RR1K1 w - - 0 22"]
22.e6! 1-0
A last nice move! Black resigned in view of 22.e6 Rxg8 (22...Nf6 23.Qf7#)
23.exd7+Kf7 24.d8Q+- A great attacking game by Wang Hao. I doubt that
anyone will repeat this line with the early ...exd4.
Order Chess Evolution #01-09 (Bundle)
by Arkadij Naiditsch (ed.)
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