The Sicilian Dragon is one of the lines of the Sicilian Defence for Black. The Sicilian Dragon is an excellent Defense because Black prevents White from playing d4 and gaining a strong pawn center. The Main ideas of the Sicilian Dragon. Sicilian Dragon. In the dragon variation, Black fianchettoes his dark-square (kingside) bishop. It arises after the following moves: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6. Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation 5.g6 introduces the famous 'Dragon' variation of the Sicilian defence. While the general themes are easy to understand, the Dragon is a very sharp line with immense amounts of established theory. Against players familiar with the theory, even one slip can be quickly fatal. Sicilian Theory 27. davidlbowman. An Introduction to the Sicilian; Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian, Open, Accelerated Dragon Variation; Sicilian Defense: Open, Prins Variation; Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation; davidlbowman; Sicilian Defense 40. CorazzaFracalanza.
You know how crazy I get about connections and analogies.
They’re the foundation for creativity and where genius is born.
I get a boner when it involves cross-pollination of multiple fields – and it’s even sexier when it comes from a single person (a.k.a. a polymath).
Today’s case is an intriguing link between chess and astronomy.
The chess opening known as the Sicilian Dragon was aptly named from its uncanny resemblance to the star constellation Draco.
Fyodor Dus-Chotimirsky, the Russian chess master who coined the Dragon, was also an amateur astronomer.
Take a look at the black queenside pawn structure – the pawns on d6,e7,f7,g6 and h7 form the fearsome dragon shape.
The name is equally fitting because besides having the most badass name, the Sicilian defence is one of the strongest and highest scoring openings for black in response to white’s king pawn opening 1. e4, with 1. …c5.
The dragon variation of the Sicilian defence takes it a step further by “fianchettoing” the queenside bishop onto the g7 square, into the pocket made by the pawns.
This “Dragon Bishop” as it’s known, eyes down the dark square long diagonal and breathes fire down on white’s kingside. It’s ready to lash out anytime and is a force to be reckin’ with. Ferocious indeed.
To stretch this analogy even further, it’s said that the tail of the Draco constellation protects the little dipper, a.k.a. Ursa Minor, or “little bear”. That tail is where the Dragon Bishop is – too cool.
Check out this short 4 minute video on the Draco constellation for more info.
It’s crazy how people geek out on these kind of things – which also reminds me how little I know about astronomy and space. Seeking as we’re not too far from the space age (hello Elon Musk!), it’s probably a great thing to put on the learning list.
29/08/15: Return of the king (or in my case, the pawn)
![Theory Theory](/uploads/1/2/4/8/124813495/540025037.jpg)
After more than a 10 year hiatus with chess, I’ve gotten back into it after realizing that I haven’t gotten better even though I’ve played it for many years. This exemplifies the idea of deliberate practice – putting more hours into practice is not the answer, its QUALITY of practice (purposeful practice at the edge of ability) that truly counts.
Everyone starts off playing chess games for the fun of it, but like any other craft, to reach mastery level you must study the theory and drill the drills. In chess this comes down to breaking the game down into its parts (tactics, openings, end game etc.) and practicing them individually.
Sicilian Dragon Opening
Chess was one of my favourite games as a kid. I remember playing on the school chess team and getting geeked out about it when I was in 6th grade. Though I was introduced to basic theory, I never immersed myself into chess to the depth that I needed to to be truly great. I couldn’t understand why people went so far as studying other people;s games, and I thought all the different types of openings were a hassle to learn. Furthermore, the algebraic notation (1. e4 1. …c5 etc.) was too hard for me to follow. Now, looking back I see the beauty and depth I was missing out on.
Recently, I started playing again with a friend I haven’t seen since my chess days (Hi Max!) and my interest in flow and expertise has compelled me to see if I can get better at this game. It was a tad embarrassing to find out that I didn’t even qualify as a “beginner” on Chess.com (You need a >1400 score). I thought I was decent, if not NOT a beginner.
Oh well, Dunning-Kruger effect in full effect: we don’t know how much we suck at stuff when we are sucky at it.
This revival in this old pastime is exciting. Part of the motivation is due to the fast that the intelligentsia of many cultures play chess (Bill Gates, Albert Einstein etc.) and that it may provide a connection point for rapport should I ever need it. The other is influenced by my love of learning and skill acquisition; this lets me explore chunking, pattern recognition, expertise, and let’s me interact with high performers.
The flow states I experience playing chess is unmistakable, partly due to the fact that I’ve put in enough hours in the past to the point where all the beginner hassle are no more. I LITERALLY can play for hours without getting tired, without sleep – sometimes pulling all-nighters.
My plans are to get to at least 1800 in my lifetime, possibly cracking the 2000s and getting a title (Grandmaster would be cool – Optimistic :P). I see myself as an old geezer playing chess in the cafe and park.
It’s crazy to imagine that this game of kings will still be enjoyed for many centuries to come. Even more astounding when you realized that this you’ve been playing a game that people have been playing for centuries – a game that has been pretty much unchanged for generations and you’re continuing on the tradition, adding another rung onto the ladder.
Dragon Sicilian Defense
All the best in chess and life,
-David Wu
Sicilian Dragon Opening Theory
More chess related blogs to come – if you want to play a game, or have any tips for me on how to improve, shout out to @IamDavidWu
(First I have the game in web format. Below that you may find the game in PGN format which you can paste into Fritz or whatever program you use.)
(19) Polgar,Judit (2687) – Kaidanov,Gregory S (2583) [B78]
Hilton Head Sicilian Theme m Hilton Head (2), 23.02.2010
[Juett,Jason]
[Once again I am indebted to Bragesjo for sharing his notes on this game with everybody. I have marked the variations that are his.] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 0-0 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.Kb1 Re8 13.h4 h5 14.g4! hxg4 15.h5! Nxh5 16.Rdg1!? A very interesting move order! My guess is that its point is to avoid the line 16.Bh6 Kh7!?. However, 16…Qa5 seems to give Black a decent enough position, certainly on the surface much more enjoyable than 16.Bh6 Kh7!?. Maybe Judit knows something we don’t? I suppose technically Polgar gets two novelties in this game, since she was the first to use the move order 16.Rdg1!?, but play soon transposed to 16.Bh6 and she got to play the new and very powerful 20.Qd2!. 16…e6 [16…Qa5! seems to give Black equal chances. I tried basically everything imaginable against it, but without ever achieving more than a draw or an unclear position. 17.Bh6 a) 17.fxg4 Bxg4!~~ a1) 17…Nxg4? 18.Nf5! Bxf5 19.exf5 Qxf5 20.Rf1 Bxc3 21.bxc3 Nxe3 22.Qxe3+/- (Bragesjo); a2) 17…Nf6!?N Ultimately this move gives White some small chances, but it forces him to find some very nice moves to avoid quickly becoming worse. 18.Nf5!! a21) 18.g5?! Nfg4=/+; a22) 18.Bh6?! Nexg4! 19.Bxg7 (19.Nf5? Nxe4!-+) 19…Kxg7 20.Ba4! (20.Nf5+?! Bxf5 21.exf5 Qxf5-+) 20…Nxe4! (20…Bxa4 21.Nf5+! draw) 21.Nxe4 Qxd2 22.Nxd2 Bxa4 23.Rxg4 Bd7=/+; 18…Nf3! (18…Nxe4? 19.Nh6+!!+- Bxh6 20.Qh2 Bg7 21.Qh7+ Kf8 22.Bh6+-; 18…Nfxg4? 19.Nxg7 Kxg7 20.Bh6+ Kg8 21.Qf4+/-) 19.Qc1!! Bxf5 (19…gxf5? 20.gxf5 Nxg1 21.Bh6!+-) 20.gxf5 Rxc3! (20…Nxg1?! 21.Qxg1+/= Rxc3? 22.Bxf7+! Kxf7 23.Qxg6+ Kg8 (23…Kf8 24.Bh6+-) 24.Rg1+-) 21.Rxg6! Rxb3[] 22.Rg2! Rxb2+! (22…Nh4 23.Rxg7+! (23.Rxh4? Rxb2+! 24.Qxb2[] Qe1+ 25.Qc1 Qxh4-+) 23…Kxg7 24.axb3 Rh8 25.Bh6+! Rxh6 26.Qg5+ Kh7 27.Rg1 Ng4 28.Qxg4 Ng6 29.fxg6+ fxg6 30.Rf1+/=) 23.Qxb2[] Nh4[] 24.Rg3! Nh5[] 25.Rg4 Ng6[] 26.Bd4 Nf6 27.Bxf6! Bxf6 28.Qb3 Qe5 29.c3 Kf8 30.fxg6 fxg6 31.Rh7 Bg7[] 32.Rh3 Rc8 33.Qxb7 Rxc3 34.Qb8+ Kf7 35.Rxc3 Qxc3 36.Qb3+ Qxb3+ 37.axb3+/= This endgame is probably no big deal, but only White can win.; 18.Qf2!? (18.Bh6 Bh8?! This retreat is just asking for trouble. White has extremely interesting tries in both 19.Bf4!? and 19.Nf5!?. At the very least White can force a transposition into the the same lines reached by 18…Bf6 with (18…Bf6 transposes to 17.Bh6) 19.Rh4 Nf6 (The independent move 19…Rxc3?! is no good. 20.bxc3 Nf6 21.Bf4!+/= White generates an initiative.) 20.Bg5 Bg7[] Now we’ve transposed to a line we can reach by 18…Bf6.) 18…e6! This is a common way to foil White’s attacking attempts, ruling out Nd5. Of course Black can also sacrifice the exchange on c3, but White has the option of meeting that with Bd2. 19.Ndb5 Rc6~~ Bragesjo; b) 17.f4?! Nc4 18.Bxc4 Rxc4 19.f5 Rxc3! 20.bxc3 Rc8-/+ Bragesjo; 17…Bf6! (17…Bxh6? 18.Qxh6+- 1-0 Rian,K-Celis Chang,J/Singapore 2007/EXT 2008 (23)) 18.fxg4 Bxg4 (18…Nxg4?! 19.Nf5!+/- (19.e5!?~~ Bragesjo) ) 19.Bg5 (19.Nf5?! lashes out at thin air. The best reaction looks like 19…Rxc3! 20.bxc3 d5!=/+ , seizing the initiative.; In the Carlsen variation analogue of this position with …a6 instead of …Re8, we’ll see that White can play a strong combo starting with 19.Bf4, but it doesn’t work here: 19.Bf4?! Nxf4 20.Qxf4 Rxc3! 21.bxc3 Qxc3-/+ 22.Qh6?? Qxd4-+ With the rook still on f8 White would have Qh7#.) 19…Bg7! (19…Nc4?! 20.Bxc4 Bxg5 21.Qd3! Nf6 22.Nd5+/= Bragesjo) 20.Rh4!N This is the maximum I could find for White against 16…Qa5!. a) 20.Bh6 Bf6!=; b) 20.Qf2!? e6!N b1) 20…Nf6?! 21.Bxf6!+/= Bxf6 22.Nd5 Kg7 23.Nxf6 exf6+/- Bragesjo; b2) 20…Rxc3?! allows White to get a good exchange-up position with the Bd2 pinning trick: 21.Bd2! Rxc2?! It might be better not to insist on getting the pawn, since White’s knight will turn out to have a useful route from c2. (21…Rec8? 22.Rxg4!+/=) 22.Nxc2 Qc5 23.Be3! White can also play a simplifying combo with 23.Bxf7+, but the endgame is nothing special. 23…Qc8 24.Bd4 Be6 25.Rxh5! gxh5 26.Bxe5 dxe5 27.Ne3 Kh7 28.Nf5 Bxf5 29.exf5+/= White has excellent attacking chances, accentuated by the presence of opposite-colored bishops.; 21.Rh4 Rxc3! (21…Bf3 22.Bd2 Qc5 23.Na4) 22.bxc3 (22.Bd2?! Rec8! Now there’s no Rxg4 shot like there was with the bishop still eyeing f7. 23.Bxc3 Rxc3 24.bxc3 Qxc3=/+) 22…Rc8 23.Rhxg4 Nxg4 24.Rxg4 Qxc3� 25.e5! Bxe5 26.Bd2 Qc5 27.Be3 Qc3 28.Bd2 draw; 20…Nf6! 21.Bh6! (21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.Rhxg4 (22.Bxf7+ Kxf7 23.Rh7+[] Kg8 24.Qh6[] Rxc3[] 25.Ne6[] Bxe6 26.Rxg6+[] Nxg6[] 27.Qxg6+[] Kf8[] 28.Qh6+[] draw; 22.Rgxg4 Nxg4 23.Rxg4 e6 24.Bxe6 Rxe6 25.Nxe6 Bxc3 26.Qh6 Bxb2) 22…Nxg4 23.Rxg4 e6~~ Note that 24.Bxe6 Rxe6 25.Nxe6 Bxc3 26.Qh6= only leads to a perpetual) 21…Bh8 22.Qh2! (22.Qf2?! Rxc3! 23.Bd2 Nxe4-/+; 22.Qe3!? e6! 23.Bg5 Bg7 24.Bxf6 Bxf6 25.Rhxg4 Nxg4 26.Rxg4~~) 22…Rxc3! a) 22…e6?! 23.Ncb5 Qb6 (23…Bh5 24.Rxh5! Nxh5 25.Qxh5 a6 26.Nxd6 Qb6 27.Nxf7!!+/=) 24.Bf4 Bh5 (24…Nh5 25.Be3+/=) 25.Rxh5 Nxh5 26.Qxh5 Bg7 27.Qh3+/=; b) 22…Qa6?! Black is setting up to sacrifice on c3 when White can’t pin the rook with Bd2. White immediately stops that. 23.Nd5!+/= Nxd5 24.exd5 Nf3 25.Nxf3 Bxf3 26.c4! Cutting off the queen from back rank checks or easily reaching the kingside. White’s attack will be decisive. 26…Qb6 27.Rxg6+! fxg6 28.Qg3 Kf7 29.Qxf3+ Bf6 30.Qg4 e5 31.Rh3!+-; 23.Bd2! Bg7 24.Bxc3 Qc5~~ White has some vague activity, but Black’s position looks pretty solid.; 16…Nf6?! 17.Bh6 Bh8 18.Nd5!N Susan Polgar mentions that 18.Bf4 gives White good attacking chances, which seems true. 18.Bf8!!? also seems to give White an advantage, but it’s extraordinarily complicated. The text is simpler and leads to a very large advantage. The principle is simple: White exchanges off Black’s defensive pieces. Also, the bishop on h8 is vulnerable to all sorts of potential tactics. Here’s just one example of an accident that can befall Black. 18…Nxd5?! 19.exd5! Nc4? 20.Qh2! Bxd4 21.Bg5 Kf8 22.Qh7 Bg7? 23.Bh6+-] 17.Bh6 Qf6 18.fxg4 Bxh6 19.Qxh6 Qg7 20.Qd2! Polgar’s novelty, and the beginning of an extremely powerful plan. Next move White’s going to have to push g5 and then Black will block the h-file with the knight. Polgar plans to remove that piece by Nc3-e2-g3, then after …Nxg3 Rxg3 she will triple on the h-file. On d2 the queen is better placed for the coming tripling than on e3. Also, the queen covers a5 once White plays Nce2, which can be useful if Black tries to get counterplay with the a-pawn. 20…Nf6 21.g5 Nh5 22.Nce2!+/= Nc4 Black faces difficulties very quickly after this move, but alternatives are not much better. After 17…Qf6, Black’s moves have been all completely forced, and in the feature game Vachier Lagrave-Kasimdzhanov I make a case for the untried 18.Nce2! against 17…g3!?, and we saw that other 17th moves lost quickly in the main section. So that leaves us with 16.Rdg1!? Qa5! and 16.Bh6! Kh7!? as Black’s last and best hopes in this variation. In the feature game Radjabov-Kasimdzhanov we see that the latter is unpleasant-looking but still perhaps playable. I’ve got a couple ideas below, but I’d highly encourage anybody to play the aforementioned opening lines instead. Against most moves, White can get away with the same simple plan that Polgar shows in the game. If White doesn’t get unnecessarily distractred from that, he will emerge with an advantage. [22…Rc5 This is an attempt to mess up White’s timing by getting the move …Nc4 in after Ng3. 23.c3! Now the Nd4’s still defended twice after Ng3. 23…a5 (23…Nc4 24.Bxc4 Rxc4 25.Rxh5! gxh5 26.Nf4+/-; 23…d5 24.Ng3! Nxg3 25.Rxg3 Nc4 26.Bxc4 Rxc4 27.Rgh3 e5 28.Rh4!+-) 24.Ng3 a4 25.Bc2! Nc4 26.Qf2 Nxg3 27.Rxg3 e5 28.Nf5!!+/-; 22…d5!?N This isn’t sound, but may be as good a practical try as any. 23.Ng3! The problem is that White can just ignore the pawn. But wait, there are more tricks in store… (23.exd5?! exd5 24.Bxd5 Nc4 25.Bxc4 Rxc4= Black survives.) 23…Nc4 24.Bxc4 Rxc4 25.Nxh5 gxh5 26.Ne2 (26.e5! This is the refutation of 22…d5!?. Black now faces an attack. 26…Qxe5 27.Rh4+/- Qg7 28.b3!+/-) 26…Rec8 27.c3 Rxe4 28.Nf4 Rxf4 29.Qxf4 e5+/= White’s better, but there are a couple dumb tricks left in the position.; 22…a5 23.a3!+/= doesn’t change anything.; 22…Kf8!?N Maybe the best new suggestion that I have to offer. Black runs to the center if White keeps attacking, and if White goes after a queenside pawn, Black’s king will be fairly safe on the kingside. 23.Ng3! (23.Qb4 Red8 24.Qxb7 a5 25.a4 Nc6!~~ Black’s king is much safer now than before, after luring White’s queen to the queenside. Perhaps White’s better, but it looks like a tolerable position for Black to play.) 23…Nxg3 (23…a5?!+/- Both 24.Rxh5! and 24.Ndf5!! are crushing.) 24.Rxg3 Ke7! 25.Rd1 Red8 26.Rh3 Bc6!+/= Black has to be extremely careful not to allow a good Ndf5+ shot. The point of this move is to cover d6 another time. White definitely has a strong initiative, but I guess on the bright side the tactics aren’t so thematic with the king in the center.; 22…Bc6!? has been analyzed by Bragesjo, and it looks like one of Black’s better tries. 23.Rxh5! (23.Ng3!? Nxg3 24.Rxg3 Bxe4 25.Rh4 Bf5 26.Rg1+/= a6 27.Qh2 Bg4 28.Rhxg4 Nxg4 29.Rxg4 Qe5+/= White can torture Black in this sort of position, but there is no win apparent.) 23…gxh5 24.Nf4 Bxe4 25.Nxh5 Qg6 26.Nf6+ Kg7 27.Qb4! Nc6! 28.Nxe8+ Rxe8 29.Nxc6 Bxc6 30.Qxd6+/= (Bragesjo) Again there is no forced win, but White’s greater king safety guarantees him long term attacking chances.] 23.Bxc4 Rxc4 24.b3!+/- Enabling Ng3 on the next move. 24…Rc5 Other rook retreats don’t seem to make matters any better. On 24…e5, White can either play the fancy 25.Ndf5!? or simply take the rook. 25.Ng3! Nxg3 [25…Nf4 26.Rf1+/- e5 27.Ndf5! gxf5 28.Qxd6+-] 26.Rxg3 Rec8? Greatly accelerating defeat, but the position was basically hopeless anyway. [In some sense 26…e5 was objectively best, but then after the small combination 27.Nf5! Bxf5 (27…gxf5? 28.Qxd6+-) 28.exf5 gxf5 29.Rgh3+- White has a winning attack.] 27.Rgh3+- e5 28.Rh4! exd4 [28…Bg4 29.Qh2 Bh5 30.Nf5+- Qf8? 31.Rxh5! gxh5 32.Qxh5+-] 29.Qh2 Kf8[] [29…f6? 30.Rh8+ Kf7 31.Rh7+-] 30.Qxd6+ Kg8 [30…Ke8? 31.Rh8+ Qxh8 32.Rxh8#] 31.Qxd7 d3 32.c4! Qc3 33.R4h2 b5 34.e5! Decoying the queen from her attack on c2 so that the rook can be moved. 34…Qxe5 35.Rh7 R5c7 36.Qd6! A nice final touch. On 36…Qxd6 there’s 37.Rh8+ Kg7 38.R1h7#, while 36…Qc3 is met by 37.Qf6! Qxf6 38.gxf6 when mate on h8 can’t be prevented. I’d like to thank both players for taking part in such a neat match that was great fun for me and so many other spectators. 1-0
[Event “Hilton Head Sicilian Theme m”]
[Site “Hilton Head”]
[Date “2010.02.23”]
[Round “2”]
[White “Polgar, Judit”]
[Black “Kaidanov, Gregory S”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “B78”]
[WhiteElo “2687”]
[BlackElo “2583”]
[Annotator “Juett,Jason”]
[PlyCount “71”]
[EventDate “2010.02.22”]
[EventType “match”]
[EventRounds “4”]
[EventCountry “USA”]
[Source “ChessBase”]
[SourceDate “2010.03.04”]
[Site “Hilton Head”]
[Date “2010.02.23”]
[Round “2”]
[White “Polgar, Judit”]
[Black “Kaidanov, Gregory S”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “B78”]
[WhiteElo “2687”]
[BlackElo “2583”]
[Annotator “Juett,Jason”]
[PlyCount “71”]
[EventDate “2010.02.22”]
[EventType “match”]
[EventRounds “4”]
[EventCountry “USA”]
[Source “ChessBase”]
[SourceDate “2010.03.04”]
{[Once again I am indebted to Bragesjo for sharing his notes on this game with
everybody. I have marked the variations that are his.]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3.
d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2 O-O 9. Bc4 Bd7 10.
O-O-O Rc8 11. Bb3 Ne5 12. Kb1 Re8 13. h4 h5 14. g4 $1 hxg4 15. h5 $1 Nxh5 16.
Rdg1 $5 {A very interesting move order! My guess is that its point is to
avoid the line 16.Bh6 Kh7!?. However, 16…Qa5 seems to give Black a decent
enough position, certainly on the surface much more enjoyable than 16.Bh6
Kh7!?. Maybe Judit knows something we don’t? I suppose technically Polgar
gets two novelties in this game, since she was the first to use the move order
16.Rdg1!?, but play soon transposed to 16.Bh6 and she got to play the new and
very powerful 20.Qd2!.} e6 (16… Qa5 $1 {seems to give Black equal chances.
I tried basically everything imaginable against it, but without ever achieving
more than a draw or an unclear position.} 17. Bh6 (17. fxg4 Bxg4 $1 $13 (17…
Nxg4 $2 18. Nf5 $1 Bxf5 19. exf5 Qxf5 20. Rf1 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Nxe3 22. Qxe3 $16 {
(Bragesjo)}) (17… Nf6 $5 $146 {Ultimately this move gives White some small
chances, but it forces him to find some very nice moves to avoid quickly
becoming worse.} 18. Nf5 $3 (18. g5 $6 Nfg4 $15) (18. Bh6 $6 Nexg4 $1 19. Bxg7
(19. Nf5 $2 Nxe4 $1 $19) 19… Kxg7 20. Ba4 $1 (20. Nf5+ $6 Bxf5 21. exf5 Qxf5
$19) 20… Nxe4 $1 (20… Bxa4 21. Nf5+ $1 {draw}) 21. Nxe4 Qxd2 22. Nxd2 Bxa4
23. Rxg4 Bd7 $15) 18… Nf3 $1 (18… Nxe4 $2 19. Nh6+ $3 $18 Bxh6 20. Qh2 Bg7
21. Qh7+ Kf8 22. Bh6 $18) (18… Nfxg4 $2 19. Nxg7 Kxg7 20. Bh6+ Kg8 21. Qf4
$16) 19. Qc1 $3 Bxf5 (19… gxf5 $2 20. gxf5 Nxg1 21. Bh6 $1 $18) 20. gxf5 Rxc3
$1 (20… Nxg1 $6 21. Qxg1 $14 Rxc3 $2 22. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 23. Qxg6+ Kg8 (23…
Kf8 24. Bh6 $18) 24. Rg1 $18) 21. Rxg6 $1 Rxb3 $8 22. Rg2 $1 Rxb2+ $1 (22…
Nh4 23. Rxg7+ $1 (23. Rxh4 $2 Rxb2+ $1 24. Qxb2 $8 Qe1+ 25. Qc1 Qxh4 $19) 23…
Kxg7 24. axb3 Rh8 25. Bh6+ $1 Rxh6 26. Qg5+ Kh7 27. Rg1 Ng4 28. Qxg4 Ng6 29.
fxg6+ fxg6 30. Rf1 $14) 23. Qxb2 $8 Nh4 $8 24. Rg3 $1 Nh5 $8 25. Rg4 Ng6 $8 26.
Bd4 Nf6 27. Bxf6 $1 Bxf6 28. Qb3 Qe5 29. c3 Kf8 30. fxg6 fxg6 31. Rh7 Bg7 $8
32. Rh3 Rc8 33. Qxb7 Rxc3 34. Qb8+ Kf7 35. Rxc3 Qxc3 36. Qb3+ Qxb3+ 37. axb3
$14 {This endgame is probably no big deal, but only White can win.}) 18. Qf2 $5
(18. Bh6 Bh8 $6 {This retreat is just asking for trouble. White has extremely
interesting tries in both 19.Bf4!? and 19.Nf5!?. At the very least White can
force a transposition into the the same lines reached by 18…Bf6 with} (18…
Bf6 {transposes to 17.Bh6}) 19. Rh4 Nf6 ({The independent move} 19… Rxc3 $6 {
is no good.} 20. bxc3 Nf6 21. Bf4 $1 $14 {White generates an initiative.}) 20.
Bg5 Bg7 $8 {Now we’ve transposed to a line we can reach by 18…Bf6.}) 18… e6
$1 {This is a common way to foil White’s attacking attempts, ruling out Nd5.
Of course Black can also sacrifice the exchange on c3, but White has the
option of meeting that with Bd2.} 19. Ndb5 Rc6 $13 {Bragesjo}) (17. f4 $6 Nc4
18. Bxc4 Rxc4 19. f5 Rxc3 $1 20. bxc3 Rc8 $17 {Bragesjo}) 17… Bf6 $1 (17…
Bxh6 $2 18. Qxh6 $18 {1-0 Rian,K-Celis Chang,J/Singapore 2007/EXT 2008 (23)})
18. fxg4 Bxg4 (18… Nxg4 $6 19. Nf5 $1 $16 (19. e5 $5 $13 {Bragesjo})) 19. Bg5
(19. Nf5 $6 {lashes out at thin air. The best reaction looks like} Rxc3 $1 20.
bxc3 d5 $1 $15 {, seizing the initiative.}) ({In the Carlsen variation
analogue of this position with …a6 instead of …Re8, we’ll see that White
can play a strong combo starting with 19.Bf4, but it doesn’t work here:} 19.
Bf4 $6 Nxf4 20. Qxf4 Rxc3 $1 21. bxc3 Qxc3 $17 22. Qh6 $4 Qxd4 $19 {With the
rook still on f8 White would have Qh7#.}) 19… Bg7 $1 (19… Nc4 $6 20. Bxc4
Bxg5 21. Qd3 $1 Nf6 22. Nd5 $14 {Bragesjo}) 20. Rh4 $1 $146 {This is the
maximum I could find for White against 16…Qa5!.} (20. Bh6 Bf6 $1 $11) (20.
Qf2 $5 e6 $1 $146 (20… Nf6 $6 21. Bxf6 $1 $14 Bxf6 22. Nd5 Kg7 23. Nxf6 exf6
$16 {Bragesjo}) (20… Rxc3 $6 {allows White to get a good exchange-up
position with the Bd2 pinning trick:} 21. Bd2 $1 Rxc2 $6 {It might be better
not to insist on getting the pawn, since White’s knight will turn out to have
a useful route from c2.} (21… Rec8 $2 22. Rxg4 $1 $14) 22. Nxc2 Qc5 23. Be3
$1 {White can also play a simplifying combo with 23.Bxf7+, but the endgame is
nothing special.} Qc8 24. Bd4 Be6 25. Rxh5 $1 gxh5 26. Bxe5 dxe5 27. Ne3 Kh7
28. Nf5 Bxf5 29. exf5 $14 {White has excellent attacking chances, accentuated
by the presence of opposite-colored bishops.}) 21. Rh4 Rxc3 $1 (21… Bf3 22.
Bd2 Qc5 23. Na4) 22. bxc3 (22. Bd2 $6 Rec8 $1 {Now there’s no Rxg4 shot like
there was with the bishop still eyeing f7.} 23. Bxc3 Rxc3 24. bxc3 Qxc3 $15)
22… Rc8 23. Rhxg4 Nxg4 24. Rxg4 Qxc3 $44 25. e5 $1 Bxe5 26. Bd2 Qc5 27. Be3
Qc3 28. Bd2 {draw}) 20… Nf6 $1 21. Bh6 $1 (21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. Rhxg4 (22. Bxf7+
Kxf7 23. Rh7+ $8 Kg8 24. Qh6 $8 Rxc3 $8 25. Ne6 $8 Bxe6 26. Rxg6+ $8 Nxg6 $8
27. Qxg6+ $8 Kf8 $8 28. Qh6+ $8 {draw}) (22. Rgxg4 Nxg4 23. Rxg4 e6 24. Bxe6
Rxe6 25. Nxe6 Bxc3 26. Qh6 Bxb2) 22… Nxg4 23. Rxg4 e6 $13 {Note that} 24.
Bxe6 Rxe6 25. Nxe6 Bxc3 26. Qh6 $11 {only leads to a perpetual}) 21… Bh8 22.
Qh2 $1 (22. Qf2 $6 Rxc3 $1 23. Bd2 Nxe4 $17) (22. Qe3 $5 e6 $1 23. Bg5 Bg7 24.
Bxf6 Bxf6 25. Rhxg4 Nxg4 26. Rxg4 $13) 22… Rxc3 $1 (22… e6 $6 23. Ncb5 Qb6
(23… Bh5 24. Rxh5 $1 Nxh5 25. Qxh5 a6 26. Nxd6 Qb6 27. Nxf7 $3 $14) 24. Bf4
Bh5 (24… Nh5 25. Be3 $14) 25. Rxh5 Nxh5 26. Qxh5 Bg7 27. Qh3 $14) (22… Qa6
$6 {Black is setting up to sacrifice on c3 when White can’t pin the rook with
Bd2. White immediately stops that.} 23. Nd5 $1 $14 Nxd5 24. exd5 Nf3 25. Nxf3
Bxf3 26. c4 $1 {Cutting off the queen from back rank checks or easily reaching
the kingside. White’s attack will be decisive.} Qb6 27. Rxg6+ $1 fxg6 28. Qg3
Kf7 29. Qxf3+ Bf6 30. Qg4 e5 31. Rh3 $1 $18) 23. Bd2 $1 Bg7 24. Bxc3 Qc5 $13 {
White has some vague activity, but Black’s position looks pretty solid.}) (
16… Nf6 $6 17. Bh6 Bh8 18. Nd5 $1 $146 {Susan Polgar mentions that 18.Bf4
gives White good attacking chances, which seems true. 18.Bf8!!? also seems to
give White an advantage, but it’s extraordinarily complicated. The text is
simpler and leads to a very large advantage. The principle is simple: White
exchanges off Black’s defensive pieces. Also, the bishop on h8 is vulnerable
to all sorts of potential tactics. Here’s just one example of an accident
that can befall Black.} Nxd5 $6 19. exd5 $1 Nc4 $2 20. Qh2 $1 Bxd4 21. Bg5 Kf8
22. Qh7 Bg7 $2 23. Bh6 $18) 17. Bh6 Qf6 18. fxg4 Bxh6 19. Qxh6 Qg7 20. Qd2 $1 {
Polgar’s novelty, and the beginning of an extremely powerful plan. Next move
White’s going to have to push g5 and then Black will block the h-file with the
knight. Polgar plans to remove that piece by Nc3-e2-g3, then after …Nxg3
Rxg3 she will triple on the h-file. On d2 the queen is better placed for the
coming tripling than on e3. Also, the queen covers a5 once White plays Nce2,
which can be useful if Black tries to get counterplay with the a-pawn.} Nf6 21.
g5 Nh5 22. Nce2 $1 $14 Nc4 {Black faces difficulties very quickly after this
move, but alternatives are not much better. After 17…Qf6, Black’s moves
have been all completely forced, and in the feature game Vachier
Lagrave-Kasimdzhanov I make a case for the untried 18.Nce2! against 17…g3!?,
and we saw that other 17th moves lost quickly in the main section. So that
leaves us with 16.Rdg1!? Qa5! and 16.Bh6! Kh7!? as Black’s last and best hopes
in this variation. In the feature game Radjabov-Kasimdzhanov we see that the
latter is unpleasant-looking but still perhaps playable. I’ve got a couple
ideas below, but I’d highly encourage anybody to play the aforementioned
opening lines instead. Against most moves, White can get away with the same
simple plan that Polgar shows in the game. If White doesn’t get unnecessarily
distractred from that, he will emerge with an advantage.} (22… Rc5 {This is
an attempt to mess up White’s timing by getting the move …Nc4 in after Ng3.}
23. c3 $1 {Now the Nd4’s still defended twice after Ng3.} a5 (23… Nc4 24.
Bxc4 Rxc4 25. Rxh5 $1 gxh5 26. Nf4 $16) (23… d5 24. Ng3 $1 Nxg3 25. Rxg3 Nc4
26. Bxc4 Rxc4 27. Rgh3 e5 28. Rh4 $1 $18) 24. Ng3 a4 25. Bc2 $1 Nc4 26. Qf2
Nxg3 27. Rxg3 e5 28. Nf5 $3 $16) (22… d5 $5 $146 {This isn’t sound, but may
be as good a practical try as any.} 23. Ng3 $1 {The problem is that White can
just ignore the pawn. But wait, there are more tricks in store…} (23. exd5
$6 exd5 24. Bxd5 Nc4 25. Bxc4 Rxc4 $11 {Black survives.}) 23… Nc4 24. Bxc4
Rxc4 25. Nxh5 gxh5 26. Ne2 (26. e5 $1 {This is the refutation of 22…d5!?.
Black now faces an attack.} Qxe5 27. Rh4 $16 Qg7 28. b3 $1 $16) 26… Rec8 27.
c3 Rxe4 28. Nf4 Rxf4 29. Qxf4 e5 $14 {White’s better, but there are a couple
dumb tricks left in the position.}) (22… a5 23. a3 $1 $14 {doesn’t change
anything.}) (22… Kf8 $5 $146 {Maybe the best new suggestion that I have to
offer. Black runs to the center if White keeps attacking, and if White goes
after a queenside pawn, Black’s king will be fairly safe on the kingside.} 23.
Ng3 $1 (23. Qb4 Red8 24. Qxb7 a5 25. a4 Nc6 $1 $13 {Black’s king is much safer
now than before, after luring White’s queen to the queenside. Perhaps White’s
better, but it looks like a tolerable position for Black to play.}) 23… Nxg3
(23… a5 $6 $16 {Both 24.Rxh5! and 24.Ndf5!! are crushing.}) 24. Rxg3 Ke7 $1
25. Rd1 Red8 26. Rh3 Bc6 $1 $14 {Black has to be extremely careful not to
allow a good Ndf5+ shot. The point of this move is to cover d6 another time.
White definitely has a strong initiative, but I guess on the bright side the
tactics aren’t so thematic with the king in the center.}) (22… Bc6 $5 {has
been analyzed by Bragesjo, and it looks like one of Black’s better tries.} 23.
Rxh5 $1 (23. Ng3 $5 Nxg3 24. Rxg3 Bxe4 25. Rh4 Bf5 26. Rg1 $14 a6 27. Qh2 Bg4
28. Rhxg4 Nxg4 29. Rxg4 Qe5 $14 {White can torture Black in this sort of
position, but there is no win apparent.}) 23… gxh5 24. Nf4 Bxe4 25. Nxh5 Qg6
26. Nf6+ Kg7 27. Qb4 $1 Nc6 $1 28. Nxe8+ Rxe8 29. Nxc6 Bxc6 30. Qxd6 $14 {
(Bragesjo) Again there is no forced win, but White’s greater king safety
guarantees him long term attacking chances.}) 23. Bxc4 Rxc4 24. b3 $1 $16 {
Enabling Ng3 on the next move.} Rc5 {Other rook retreats don’t seem to make
matters any better. On 24…e5, White can either play the fancy 25.Ndf5!? or
simply take the rook.} 25. Ng3 $1 Nxg3 (25… Nf4 26. Rf1 $16 e5 27. Ndf5 $1
gxf5 28. Qxd6 $18) 26. Rxg3 Rec8 $2 {Greatly accelerating defeat, but the
position was basically hopeless anyway.} ({In some sense} 26… e5 {was
objectively best, but then after the small combination} 27. Nf5 $1 Bxf5 (27…
gxf5 $2 28. Qxd6 $18) 28. exf5 gxf5 29. Rgh3 $18 {White has a winning attack.})
27. Rgh3 $18 e5 28. Rh4 $1 exd4 (28… Bg4 29. Qh2 Bh5 30. Nf5 $18 Qf8 $2 31.
Rxh5 $1 gxh5 32. Qxh5 $18) 29. Qh2 Kf8 $8 (29… f6 $2 30. Rh8+ Kf7 31. Rh7 $18
) 30. Qxd6+ Kg8 (30… Ke8 $2 31. Rh8+ Qxh8 32. Rxh8#) 31. Qxd7 d3 32. c4 $1
Qc3 33. R4h2 b5 34. e5 $1 {Decoying the queen from her attack on c2 so that
the rook can be moved.} Qxe5 35. Rh7 R5c7 36. Qd6 $1 {A nice final touch. On
36…Qxd6 there’s 37.Rh8+ Kg7 38.R1h7#, while 36…Qc3 is met by 37.Qf6! Qxf6
38.gxf6 when mate on h8 can’t be prevented. I’d like to thank both players
for taking part in such a neat match that was great fun for me and so many
other spectators.} 1-0
everybody. I have marked the variations that are his.]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3.
d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2 O-O 9. Bc4 Bd7 10.
O-O-O Rc8 11. Bb3 Ne5 12. Kb1 Re8 13. h4 h5 14. g4 $1 hxg4 15. h5 $1 Nxh5 16.
Rdg1 $5 {A very interesting move order! My guess is that its point is to
avoid the line 16.Bh6 Kh7!?. However, 16…Qa5 seems to give Black a decent
enough position, certainly on the surface much more enjoyable than 16.Bh6
Kh7!?. Maybe Judit knows something we don’t? I suppose technically Polgar
gets two novelties in this game, since she was the first to use the move order
16.Rdg1!?, but play soon transposed to 16.Bh6 and she got to play the new and
very powerful 20.Qd2!.} e6 (16… Qa5 $1 {seems to give Black equal chances.
I tried basically everything imaginable against it, but without ever achieving
more than a draw or an unclear position.} 17. Bh6 (17. fxg4 Bxg4 $1 $13 (17…
Nxg4 $2 18. Nf5 $1 Bxf5 19. exf5 Qxf5 20. Rf1 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Nxe3 22. Qxe3 $16 {
(Bragesjo)}) (17… Nf6 $5 $146 {Ultimately this move gives White some small
chances, but it forces him to find some very nice moves to avoid quickly
becoming worse.} 18. Nf5 $3 (18. g5 $6 Nfg4 $15) (18. Bh6 $6 Nexg4 $1 19. Bxg7
(19. Nf5 $2 Nxe4 $1 $19) 19… Kxg7 20. Ba4 $1 (20. Nf5+ $6 Bxf5 21. exf5 Qxf5
$19) 20… Nxe4 $1 (20… Bxa4 21. Nf5+ $1 {draw}) 21. Nxe4 Qxd2 22. Nxd2 Bxa4
23. Rxg4 Bd7 $15) 18… Nf3 $1 (18… Nxe4 $2 19. Nh6+ $3 $18 Bxh6 20. Qh2 Bg7
21. Qh7+ Kf8 22. Bh6 $18) (18… Nfxg4 $2 19. Nxg7 Kxg7 20. Bh6+ Kg8 21. Qf4
$16) 19. Qc1 $3 Bxf5 (19… gxf5 $2 20. gxf5 Nxg1 21. Bh6 $1 $18) 20. gxf5 Rxc3
$1 (20… Nxg1 $6 21. Qxg1 $14 Rxc3 $2 22. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 23. Qxg6+ Kg8 (23…
Kf8 24. Bh6 $18) 24. Rg1 $18) 21. Rxg6 $1 Rxb3 $8 22. Rg2 $1 Rxb2+ $1 (22…
Nh4 23. Rxg7+ $1 (23. Rxh4 $2 Rxb2+ $1 24. Qxb2 $8 Qe1+ 25. Qc1 Qxh4 $19) 23…
Kxg7 24. axb3 Rh8 25. Bh6+ $1 Rxh6 26. Qg5+ Kh7 27. Rg1 Ng4 28. Qxg4 Ng6 29.
fxg6+ fxg6 30. Rf1 $14) 23. Qxb2 $8 Nh4 $8 24. Rg3 $1 Nh5 $8 25. Rg4 Ng6 $8 26.
Bd4 Nf6 27. Bxf6 $1 Bxf6 28. Qb3 Qe5 29. c3 Kf8 30. fxg6 fxg6 31. Rh7 Bg7 $8
32. Rh3 Rc8 33. Qxb7 Rxc3 34. Qb8+ Kf7 35. Rxc3 Qxc3 36. Qb3+ Qxb3+ 37. axb3
$14 {This endgame is probably no big deal, but only White can win.}) 18. Qf2 $5
(18. Bh6 Bh8 $6 {This retreat is just asking for trouble. White has extremely
interesting tries in both 19.Bf4!? and 19.Nf5!?. At the very least White can
force a transposition into the the same lines reached by 18…Bf6 with} (18…
Bf6 {transposes to 17.Bh6}) 19. Rh4 Nf6 ({The independent move} 19… Rxc3 $6 {
is no good.} 20. bxc3 Nf6 21. Bf4 $1 $14 {White generates an initiative.}) 20.
Bg5 Bg7 $8 {Now we’ve transposed to a line we can reach by 18…Bf6.}) 18… e6
$1 {This is a common way to foil White’s attacking attempts, ruling out Nd5.
Of course Black can also sacrifice the exchange on c3, but White has the
option of meeting that with Bd2.} 19. Ndb5 Rc6 $13 {Bragesjo}) (17. f4 $6 Nc4
18. Bxc4 Rxc4 19. f5 Rxc3 $1 20. bxc3 Rc8 $17 {Bragesjo}) 17… Bf6 $1 (17…
Bxh6 $2 18. Qxh6 $18 {1-0 Rian,K-Celis Chang,J/Singapore 2007/EXT 2008 (23)})
18. fxg4 Bxg4 (18… Nxg4 $6 19. Nf5 $1 $16 (19. e5 $5 $13 {Bragesjo})) 19. Bg5
(19. Nf5 $6 {lashes out at thin air. The best reaction looks like} Rxc3 $1 20.
bxc3 d5 $1 $15 {, seizing the initiative.}) ({In the Carlsen variation
analogue of this position with …a6 instead of …Re8, we’ll see that White
can play a strong combo starting with 19.Bf4, but it doesn’t work here:} 19.
Bf4 $6 Nxf4 20. Qxf4 Rxc3 $1 21. bxc3 Qxc3 $17 22. Qh6 $4 Qxd4 $19 {With the
rook still on f8 White would have Qh7#.}) 19… Bg7 $1 (19… Nc4 $6 20. Bxc4
Bxg5 21. Qd3 $1 Nf6 22. Nd5 $14 {Bragesjo}) 20. Rh4 $1 $146 {This is the
maximum I could find for White against 16…Qa5!.} (20. Bh6 Bf6 $1 $11) (20.
Qf2 $5 e6 $1 $146 (20… Nf6 $6 21. Bxf6 $1 $14 Bxf6 22. Nd5 Kg7 23. Nxf6 exf6
$16 {Bragesjo}) (20… Rxc3 $6 {allows White to get a good exchange-up
position with the Bd2 pinning trick:} 21. Bd2 $1 Rxc2 $6 {It might be better
not to insist on getting the pawn, since White’s knight will turn out to have
a useful route from c2.} (21… Rec8 $2 22. Rxg4 $1 $14) 22. Nxc2 Qc5 23. Be3
$1 {White can also play a simplifying combo with 23.Bxf7+, but the endgame is
nothing special.} Qc8 24. Bd4 Be6 25. Rxh5 $1 gxh5 26. Bxe5 dxe5 27. Ne3 Kh7
28. Nf5 Bxf5 29. exf5 $14 {White has excellent attacking chances, accentuated
by the presence of opposite-colored bishops.}) 21. Rh4 Rxc3 $1 (21… Bf3 22.
Bd2 Qc5 23. Na4) 22. bxc3 (22. Bd2 $6 Rec8 $1 {Now there’s no Rxg4 shot like
there was with the bishop still eyeing f7.} 23. Bxc3 Rxc3 24. bxc3 Qxc3 $15)
22… Rc8 23. Rhxg4 Nxg4 24. Rxg4 Qxc3 $44 25. e5 $1 Bxe5 26. Bd2 Qc5 27. Be3
Qc3 28. Bd2 {draw}) 20… Nf6 $1 21. Bh6 $1 (21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. Rhxg4 (22. Bxf7+
Kxf7 23. Rh7+ $8 Kg8 24. Qh6 $8 Rxc3 $8 25. Ne6 $8 Bxe6 26. Rxg6+ $8 Nxg6 $8
27. Qxg6+ $8 Kf8 $8 28. Qh6+ $8 {draw}) (22. Rgxg4 Nxg4 23. Rxg4 e6 24. Bxe6
Rxe6 25. Nxe6 Bxc3 26. Qh6 Bxb2) 22… Nxg4 23. Rxg4 e6 $13 {Note that} 24.
Bxe6 Rxe6 25. Nxe6 Bxc3 26. Qh6 $11 {only leads to a perpetual}) 21… Bh8 22.
Qh2 $1 (22. Qf2 $6 Rxc3 $1 23. Bd2 Nxe4 $17) (22. Qe3 $5 e6 $1 23. Bg5 Bg7 24.
Bxf6 Bxf6 25. Rhxg4 Nxg4 26. Rxg4 $13) 22… Rxc3 $1 (22… e6 $6 23. Ncb5 Qb6
(23… Bh5 24. Rxh5 $1 Nxh5 25. Qxh5 a6 26. Nxd6 Qb6 27. Nxf7 $3 $14) 24. Bf4
Bh5 (24… Nh5 25. Be3 $14) 25. Rxh5 Nxh5 26. Qxh5 Bg7 27. Qh3 $14) (22… Qa6
$6 {Black is setting up to sacrifice on c3 when White can’t pin the rook with
Bd2. White immediately stops that.} 23. Nd5 $1 $14 Nxd5 24. exd5 Nf3 25. Nxf3
Bxf3 26. c4 $1 {Cutting off the queen from back rank checks or easily reaching
the kingside. White’s attack will be decisive.} Qb6 27. Rxg6+ $1 fxg6 28. Qg3
Kf7 29. Qxf3+ Bf6 30. Qg4 e5 31. Rh3 $1 $18) 23. Bd2 $1 Bg7 24. Bxc3 Qc5 $13 {
White has some vague activity, but Black’s position looks pretty solid.}) (
16… Nf6 $6 17. Bh6 Bh8 18. Nd5 $1 $146 {Susan Polgar mentions that 18.Bf4
gives White good attacking chances, which seems true. 18.Bf8!!? also seems to
give White an advantage, but it’s extraordinarily complicated. The text is
simpler and leads to a very large advantage. The principle is simple: White
exchanges off Black’s defensive pieces. Also, the bishop on h8 is vulnerable
to all sorts of potential tactics. Here’s just one example of an accident
that can befall Black.} Nxd5 $6 19. exd5 $1 Nc4 $2 20. Qh2 $1 Bxd4 21. Bg5 Kf8
22. Qh7 Bg7 $2 23. Bh6 $18) 17. Bh6 Qf6 18. fxg4 Bxh6 19. Qxh6 Qg7 20. Qd2 $1 {
Polgar’s novelty, and the beginning of an extremely powerful plan. Next move
White’s going to have to push g5 and then Black will block the h-file with the
knight. Polgar plans to remove that piece by Nc3-e2-g3, then after …Nxg3
Rxg3 she will triple on the h-file. On d2 the queen is better placed for the
coming tripling than on e3. Also, the queen covers a5 once White plays Nce2,
which can be useful if Black tries to get counterplay with the a-pawn.} Nf6 21.
g5 Nh5 22. Nce2 $1 $14 Nc4 {Black faces difficulties very quickly after this
move, but alternatives are not much better. After 17…Qf6, Black’s moves
have been all completely forced, and in the feature game Vachier
Lagrave-Kasimdzhanov I make a case for the untried 18.Nce2! against 17…g3!?,
and we saw that other 17th moves lost quickly in the main section. So that
leaves us with 16.Rdg1!? Qa5! and 16.Bh6! Kh7!? as Black’s last and best hopes
in this variation. In the feature game Radjabov-Kasimdzhanov we see that the
latter is unpleasant-looking but still perhaps playable. I’ve got a couple
ideas below, but I’d highly encourage anybody to play the aforementioned
opening lines instead. Against most moves, White can get away with the same
simple plan that Polgar shows in the game. If White doesn’t get unnecessarily
distractred from that, he will emerge with an advantage.} (22… Rc5 {This is
an attempt to mess up White’s timing by getting the move …Nc4 in after Ng3.}
23. c3 $1 {Now the Nd4’s still defended twice after Ng3.} a5 (23… Nc4 24.
Bxc4 Rxc4 25. Rxh5 $1 gxh5 26. Nf4 $16) (23… d5 24. Ng3 $1 Nxg3 25. Rxg3 Nc4
26. Bxc4 Rxc4 27. Rgh3 e5 28. Rh4 $1 $18) 24. Ng3 a4 25. Bc2 $1 Nc4 26. Qf2
Nxg3 27. Rxg3 e5 28. Nf5 $3 $16) (22… d5 $5 $146 {This isn’t sound, but may
be as good a practical try as any.} 23. Ng3 $1 {The problem is that White can
just ignore the pawn. But wait, there are more tricks in store…} (23. exd5
$6 exd5 24. Bxd5 Nc4 25. Bxc4 Rxc4 $11 {Black survives.}) 23… Nc4 24. Bxc4
Rxc4 25. Nxh5 gxh5 26. Ne2 (26. e5 $1 {This is the refutation of 22…d5!?.
Black now faces an attack.} Qxe5 27. Rh4 $16 Qg7 28. b3 $1 $16) 26… Rec8 27.
c3 Rxe4 28. Nf4 Rxf4 29. Qxf4 e5 $14 {White’s better, but there are a couple
dumb tricks left in the position.}) (22… a5 23. a3 $1 $14 {doesn’t change
anything.}) (22… Kf8 $5 $146 {Maybe the best new suggestion that I have to
offer. Black runs to the center if White keeps attacking, and if White goes
after a queenside pawn, Black’s king will be fairly safe on the kingside.} 23.
Ng3 $1 (23. Qb4 Red8 24. Qxb7 a5 25. a4 Nc6 $1 $13 {Black’s king is much safer
now than before, after luring White’s queen to the queenside. Perhaps White’s
better, but it looks like a tolerable position for Black to play.}) 23… Nxg3
(23… a5 $6 $16 {Both 24.Rxh5! and 24.Ndf5!! are crushing.}) 24. Rxg3 Ke7 $1
25. Rd1 Red8 26. Rh3 Bc6 $1 $14 {Black has to be extremely careful not to
allow a good Ndf5+ shot. The point of this move is to cover d6 another time.
White definitely has a strong initiative, but I guess on the bright side the
tactics aren’t so thematic with the king in the center.}) (22… Bc6 $5 {has
been analyzed by Bragesjo, and it looks like one of Black’s better tries.} 23.
Rxh5 $1 (23. Ng3 $5 Nxg3 24. Rxg3 Bxe4 25. Rh4 Bf5 26. Rg1 $14 a6 27. Qh2 Bg4
28. Rhxg4 Nxg4 29. Rxg4 Qe5 $14 {White can torture Black in this sort of
position, but there is no win apparent.}) 23… gxh5 24. Nf4 Bxe4 25. Nxh5 Qg6
26. Nf6+ Kg7 27. Qb4 $1 Nc6 $1 28. Nxe8+ Rxe8 29. Nxc6 Bxc6 30. Qxd6 $14 {
(Bragesjo) Again there is no forced win, but White’s greater king safety
guarantees him long term attacking chances.}) 23. Bxc4 Rxc4 24. b3 $1 $16 {
Enabling Ng3 on the next move.} Rc5 {Other rook retreats don’t seem to make
matters any better. On 24…e5, White can either play the fancy 25.Ndf5!? or
simply take the rook.} 25. Ng3 $1 Nxg3 (25… Nf4 26. Rf1 $16 e5 27. Ndf5 $1
gxf5 28. Qxd6 $18) 26. Rxg3 Rec8 $2 {Greatly accelerating defeat, but the
position was basically hopeless anyway.} ({In some sense} 26… e5 {was
objectively best, but then after the small combination} 27. Nf5 $1 Bxf5 (27…
gxf5 $2 28. Qxd6 $18) 28. exf5 gxf5 29. Rgh3 $18 {White has a winning attack.})
27. Rgh3 $18 e5 28. Rh4 $1 exd4 (28… Bg4 29. Qh2 Bh5 30. Nf5 $18 Qf8 $2 31.
Rxh5 $1 gxh5 32. Qxh5 $18) 29. Qh2 Kf8 $8 (29… f6 $2 30. Rh8+ Kf7 31. Rh7 $18
) 30. Qxd6+ Kg8 (30… Ke8 $2 31. Rh8+ Qxh8 32. Rxh8#) 31. Qxd7 d3 32. c4 $1
Qc3 33. R4h2 b5 34. e5 $1 {Decoying the queen from her attack on c2 so that
the rook can be moved.} Qxe5 35. Rh7 R5c7 36. Qd6 $1 {A nice final touch. On
36…Qxd6 there’s 37.Rh8+ Kg7 38.R1h7#, while 36…Qc3 is met by 37.Qf6! Qxf6
38.gxf6 when mate on h8 can’t be prevented. I’d like to thank both players
for taking part in such a neat match that was great fun for me and so many
other spectators.} 1-0