Game of the day. Grandmaster Alexander Kalinin makes comments

Round 3

Firat B.- Reshetnikov A.

Sicilian Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 This old Spanish thrust, used with good effect by players as early as Adolf Anderssen and Szymon Winawer, remains one of the most popular anti-Sicilians. White seems to show his preparedness to trade his white-squared bishop for the knight on c6, leaving his opponent with the supposed bishop pair advantage. 3... d6 4. O-O Nd7 5. Re1

5... a6

[Black presses the issue of the bishop on b5. Also possible is 5... Nf6 6. c3 (An interesting battle arises from 6. h3 a6 7. Bf1 Here white has managed to prevent the placement of a black bishop on g4.) 6... a6 7. Ba4 (In the gambit line 7. Bc6 Bc6 8. d4 Be4 9. Bg5 Black's refute has long been know) 7... b5 8. Bc2 e5 Transposing into the Ruy Lopez.]

6. Bc6! Considering the lead in white's development, this exchange is completely logical.

[A quiet position would have been reached with 6. Bf1 Bg4 7. c3 Nf6 8. h3 Bf3 (or 8... Bh5) 9. Qf3 g6 10. d3 Bg7 Achieving the exchange of the light-squared bishop for the knight on f3, black has obtained solid control of the d4 square.]

6... Bc6 7. d4 cd 8. Nd4 Rc8

[More often met by the natural 8... Nf6 , for instance: 9. Nc6 bc 10. Qf3 e5 11. Bg5 Be7 12. Nd2 O-O 13. Nc4 Qc7 14. Rad1 Rad8 15. Rd3 с with white pressure in the center, Rublevsky — Agopov, St. Vincent 2005. Black's text move prepares to meet the exchange 9.Nс6 answering 9...Rс6, at the expense of delaying king-side development even further.]

9. Bg5 in his attempts to disrupt the quiet development of his opponent, white demonstrates his willingness to trade off his second bishop for the black knight.

 

9... Bd7?! Of course an unexpected decision. It gives the impression that black is set on proving at any cost the theoretical advantage of the bishop pair. Practically any developing move looks more sensible in the current position.

[In the game Rublevsky — Kharlov Internet 2008, play continued9... Qa5 10. Bh4 e6 11. Nc3 Be7 12. Be7 Ne7 13. Qd2 O-O 14. Rad1 Rfd8 15. Qe3 Be8 with about equal chances.]

10. Nc3 Nf6 11. Bf6! gf 12. Nd5 e6 The lesser evil was to refrain from this move, as the pawn defense of d5 and f5 is illusionary anyway.

13. Nf5!

 

The white knights occupy the center and are clearly stronger than the awkward bishops. Black is already having difficulties in defending the d6 and f6 squares. 13... Rg8 The rook rushes to g6, defending the threat of Qd4, but now the pawn on h7 is undefended. 14. Qh5 Rg6 15. Qh7 Rc2 16. h4 The h-pawn sets off to queen! 16... Bc6 17. Rad1 Rb2

18. Qh8 The logical "human" move. The computer brings the following line to our attention

[18. h5 Rg5 19. Nd6! Bd6 20. Qh8 Kd7 21. Nf6 Kc7 22. Qd8 Kd8 23. h6! (23. Rd6? Ke7) 23... Ke7 24. h7 , and the white pawy queens!]

18... Bd5 19. ed Qb6 20. Rf1

 

20... Re2

[Attempted counterplay20... Qb4 is refuted by means of 21. de Rg2 22. Kg2 Qe4 23. Kg1 Qf5 24. Qg8!;

But the computer in this hopeless position reveals an interesting chance to mix things up: 20... Qc5! With the idea 21. h5 Rg5 22. Qf6 Rf2! 23. Rf2 Rf5 24. Qd4 Rd5 25. Qa4 b5 26. Rd5 Qd5 , and the outcome of the battle is undecided.]

21. de

[ An alternative was 21. Rc1!]

21... Re6 22. Rfe1 Qb4 23. Nd6 Ke7 24. Nf5 Ke8 25. Nd6 Ke7 26. Nf5 Ke8

Repeating the moves for gaining time, white demonstrates the way to victory. 27. Re6 fe 28. Nd6 Ke7 29. Qh7 Rg7 30. Qh5 Qd6 31. Rd6 Kd6 32. Qe8 [1:0]