📘 35.Rf2?? Gelfand blunderd!
35...Rc5! 36.Qe2 Qc6+ 37.Rg2 R.b5 0-1
35...Rc5! 36.Qe2 Qc6+ 37.Rg2 R.b5 0-1
🔹🔺 The interesting and tactical moments
of the Isle of Man International 2017 (Douglas ENG) Round 7 and 8 🔹🔺
of the Isle of Man International 2017 (Douglas ENG) Round 7 and 8 🔹🔺
📘 10.a5!? Ba7!
(10...B.a5 11.d5+- ; 10...N.a5 11.R.a5 B.a5 12.d.e5 with strong attack. For instance: 12...d.e5 13.Q.d8 K.d8 14.N.e5 threatening Nc6 and Nf7)
10.a5 was first played by Dolmatov in 2000. The idea of this line is to grab space on the queenside; however, the a5 pawn can also become a target for black.
The most common alternative is 10.Na3 which was introduced to top level in 1996 by Topalov.
10.Na3 0-0 11.a.b5 a.b5 12. N.b5 Bg4 with compensation for the pawn.
The second alternative is the solid 10.a.b5 a.b5 11.h3, which prevent Bg4.
The third alternative is the uncommon 10.Qd3, which seems to be playable.
(10...B.a5 11.d5+- ; 10...N.a5 11.R.a5 B.a5 12.d.e5 with strong attack. For instance: 12...d.e5 13.Q.d8 K.d8 14.N.e5 threatening Nc6 and Nf7)
10.a5 was first played by Dolmatov in 2000. The idea of this line is to grab space on the queenside; however, the a5 pawn can also become a target for black.
The most common alternative is 10.Na3 which was introduced to top level in 1996 by Topalov.
10.Na3 0-0 11.a.b5 a.b5 12. N.b5 Bg4 with compensation for the pawn.
The second alternative is the solid 10.a.b5 a.b5 11.h3, which prevent Bg4.
The third alternative is the uncommon 10.Qd3, which seems to be playable.
📘 White pawns have limited the f6 knight. Black tries to either exchange or activate it by playing 19...Ne8.
📘 16.Bd2
An interesting way to neutralize the pressure on the a7-g1 diagonal. White is planning to move his king to h2 and play f4 after he defends the f2 pawn by Be1.
An interesting way to neutralize the pressure on the a7-g1 diagonal. White is planning to move his king to h2 and play f4 after he defends the f2 pawn by Be1.
📘 5.Qa4+
This interesting old variation has been introduced by Alekhine, the fourth world champ. The idea of Qa4 is forcing black to play Nc6, which blocks his c pawn.
This interesting old variation has been introduced by Alekhine, the fourth world champ. The idea of Qa4 is forcing black to play Nc6, which blocks his c pawn.
📘 16...Nd8 to attack the center and grabbing space by playing c5. After black plays c5 if white plays d5 then black can play c4 and Nb7-c5. After c5 if white takes either e5 or c5, black takes back the pawn and plays Ne6 to reach the f4 outpost or to reach the d3 outpost after he plays c4.
📘 23...Nb7! threatening to attack and win the weak a5 pawn by Qd8. Black can also consider Re8-e7-c7 to attack c3, the other white's weakness.