Game of the day. Grandmaster Alexander Kalinin makes comments

 

Russia Chess Cup Stage 2013

Round 1

Khismatullin Denis (Russia) - Tsydypov Zhamsaran (Russia)

White has been playing with a clear advantage - black relentlessly searching out the subtlest counter attacks and now trying to complicate the position as much as possible.

29... a5! 30. ba b4 Chasing the rook away from the 3^rd rank, black is taking away the support of the knight on e3. 31. Rc6! Nd3

Accepting the gambit with 31... Bc6 32. dc Kf8 33. Qc2 Leaves black with no counterattack.

32. Qd2 Nf4!? Continuing his attempts to complicate the situation.

Play could have continued 32... Re3 33. Be3 Re3 (The queen exchange 33... Qe3 34. Qe3 Re3 doesn’t leave black with any serious chances of saving things, especially considering the computer’s suggestion 35. Rb1!) 34. Rd6 Nf4 , but here white had a strong move 34.а6!

33. Rd6 Re3 34. Be3 Re3 35. Rd8 Kf7

36. Qb4? It seems white is developing an overwhelming threat to the black king, but makes an oversight.

After 36. Rc1! Rc3 37. Rc3 (37. d6 R6d5) 37... Kh3 (37... bc 38. Qe1) 38. gh Qd2 39. Rc7 Nd7 40. Rdd7 Nf6 the computer shows a big advantage for white, but here we need to check more closely as black still keeps drawing chances thanks to the exposed position of the white king.

36... Ne2 37. Kf2?

There was draw with 37. Kh1 Ng3 38. Kg1 Ne2 39. Kh1=, but with his previoius move, white was turning down a perpetual check.

37... Ne4! The decisive blow – unexpectedly black is winning! 38. Qe4 38... Re4 39. d6 Kf6 40. Rf8 Kg5 The smoke has settled. Black maintains a decisive material advantage. Play continued: 41. fe Qd6 42. Rf7 Qd4 43. Ke1 Qc3 44. Kf2 Nf4 45. h4 Kh4 46. Rh1 Kg5 [0:1]

 

Makhmutov Ravil (Russia) - Gupta Abhijeet (India)

A typical isolated queen-pawn. Chances are about even as the static disadvantages of the isolani are offset by the active placement of the black pieces. White has securely blockaded the d4 square, and it’s hard to imagine that the turn after next black will realize his push to this well-defended point! 24. Nd2? Leading to a fight with the active e4 bishop, white momentarily weakens his control of d4 and leaves his king-side bare. 24... Nf5 25. Qc3

25... d4! 26. ed Bg2! The effective central advance allows black to develop and attack on the king. 27. Kg2 Nh4 28. Kg1

Immediately losing would be 28. Kh1 Qf4

28... Јg6 An alternative was 28... Qf4 29. Qg3 Qd2 30. Qh4 Qe2 31. Bc3 Bd6 with advantage for black. The move played allows him to keep a greater number of pieces for attacking the king.

29. Bg4 h5 30. Nf3 Or 30. f3 Re8 with a strong attack. 30... Nf5 31. Kh1? A better defense would have been 31. Ne5 Be5 32. de hg 33. Kh2 Qh5

31... hg 32. Rg1 Qh5 33. Ne5

33... g3! The decisive "prick". 34. Kg2 Qe2 35. Rf1 Nh4 [0:1]