📘 29.Rc1?! =
A slow move in the critical moment of the game. White should have played activity:
29.b3! Rc8 30.f4 +/-
A slow move in the critical moment of the game. White should have played activity:
29.b3! Rc8 30.f4 +/-
📘 40.Kd2? c4! -+
White had to create harmony between his pieces to defend his King. The correct move was:
40.Nd2! =
Covering the king and make a connection between the queen and the king. Now if c4, then Qc8, if Qc3, then Qc2, and if Be3, then Qc8 following Qxc5! and all black's threats were gone.
White had to create harmony between his pieces to defend his King. The correct move was:
40.Nd2! =
Covering the king and make a connection between the queen and the king. Now if c4, then Qc8, if Qc3, then Qc2, and if Be3, then Qc8 following Qxc5! and all black's threats were gone.
📘 13.Ba4!
1. Stopping black from Ne5! by protecting the bishop on a4.
2. Make a harmony between the queen and the bishop.
3. Protecting the c2 square
4. In the right moment, transferring the bishop to the a2-g8 diagonal.
1. Stopping black from Ne5! by protecting the bishop on a4.
2. Make a harmony between the queen and the bishop.
3. Protecting the c2 square
4. In the right moment, transferring the bishop to the a2-g8 diagonal.
📘 12.Nbd2
There are 2 more interesting moves here:
A) 12.b3 with the idea of delaying the development of the knight. Now in the case of cxd4, cxd4 and White will bring the knight to the game from the more active c3 square.
B) 12.Kh1 an interesting move and Kramnik's novelty in 2003. Here are the ideas behind this move:
1. Delaying the development of the knight with the same reason that mentioned above
2. Now if Qc7 or Bf6 or Re8, White would be able to play d5 and not let Black to play f5 right away.
3. Clearing the g1 square for the rook. In some of the variations when white plays g4, the rook will come to the game with tempo.
There are 2 more interesting moves here:
A) 12.b3 with the idea of delaying the development of the knight. Now in the case of cxd4, cxd4 and White will bring the knight to the game from the more active c3 square.
B) 12.Kh1 an interesting move and Kramnik's novelty in 2003. Here are the ideas behind this move:
1. Delaying the development of the knight with the same reason that mentioned above
2. Now if Qc7 or Bf6 or Re8, White would be able to play d5 and not let Black to play f5 right away.
3. Clearing the g1 square for the rook. In some of the variations when white plays g4, the rook will come to the game with tempo.
📘We can compare the attacking style of Alexei Shirov with the style of former world champion Mikhail Tal. Here he made 5 dynamic and energetic moves that caused his opponent to play poorly and lose the game:
32.Rb6! Bb7 33.Qb1 Ba8 34.Qb4 Rd8?! 35.Ra6(idea Bb6) Qe7 36.Bf4 +-
32.Rb6! Bb7 33.Qb1 Ba8 34.Qb4 Rd8?! 35.Ra6(idea Bb6) Qe7 36.Bf4 +-
📘 Well known and beautiful mate by Shirov in the last round of the tournament!
📘 15. Re4
For the first time, Tigran Petrosian played this move in 1947. The idea is to chase Black's active queen away from the White king. The best reply for black would be 15...g5! Now if 16.Bxg5??,Qf5! Black wins material.
There are 3 other moves in this position:
A) 15.Be3 the main line. Among famous players, former world champion Max Euwe played it first.
B) 15.Qd3 with the idea of Qf1. Among famous players, Isaac Boleslavsky played it against David Bronstein in 1950.
C) 15.Bxd5 with the idea of Qf3 and going to win another pawn, but actually there is a problem for White: 15...cxd5 16.Qf3,Bf5! 17.Qxd5,Rae8! 18.Bd2,Bf4!! with a huge attack.
For the first time, Tigran Petrosian played this move in 1947. The idea is to chase Black's active queen away from the White king. The best reply for black would be 15...g5! Now if 16.Bxg5??,Qf5! Black wins material.
There are 3 other moves in this position:
A) 15.Be3 the main line. Among famous players, former world champion Max Euwe played it first.
B) 15.Qd3 with the idea of Qf1. Among famous players, Isaac Boleslavsky played it against David Bronstein in 1950.
C) 15.Bxd5 with the idea of Qf3 and going to win another pawn, but actually there is a problem for White: 15...cxd5 16.Qf3,Bf5! 17.Qxd5,Rae8! 18.Bd2,Bf4!! with a huge attack.
📘 18.f3
For the first time, Vladimir Kramnik played it against Peter Leko in 2004. White would have a great compensation for the exchange sacrifice:
1. Strong center
2. Bishop pair
3. Half open f file
The plan is after 18...Bxe4 19.fxe4, White will push the pawn to e5 and then Ne4 taking the initiative.
For the first time, Vladimir Kramnik played it against Peter Leko in 2004. White would have a great compensation for the exchange sacrifice:
1. Strong center
2. Bishop pair
3. Half open f file
The plan is after 18...Bxe4 19.fxe4, White will push the pawn to e5 and then Ne4 taking the initiative.
📘 19.Nh4!
With the idea of f4-f5, putting the Black's light color bishop out of the game.
With the idea of f4-f5, putting the Black's light color bishop out of the game.
📘 18...Kb8!
With the idea of transferring the knight to the active d6 square via c8.
With the idea of transferring the knight to the active d6 square via c8.