Download PGN of March '05 KID games
Classical: The orthodox variation with 7...Na6
Our first game was played in the elite tournament in Linares. See Kasimdzhanov, R - Topalov, V, Linares 2005.
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In this theoretical position White played the very rare continuation 13.Bg5 hoping to leave Black with a "bad" bishop. Eventually he reached his goal, but it turns out that it's not quite what he expected. After some inaccuracies on both sides the game was deservedly a draw.
Classical: The Petrosian system
I have previously paid attention to the games of my student Shay Porat and so now I want to offer you another game, Berczes, D - Porat, S, First Saturday 2005.
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The critical position of the game arose after 15.Qc2?! (see diagram). Black then chose the wrong plan and despite very inspired play later on lost the game. Don't miss it!
Makagonov's System
Our first game in this system is Gelashvili, T - Inarkiev, E, Acropolis Open 2005.
After a quiet opening the position looked about equal, but Gelashvili found a good chance and took the initiative. Only a mistake in time-trouble prevented him from winning a really nice game. Anyway, a solid performance from both players.
The second game in this system is taken from the same tournament. See Simeonidis, I - Kotronias, V, Acropolis Open 2005.
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The diagram position arose after 21...cxd5. White has succeeded in outplaying his experienced opponent in the opening and has obtained a slight advantage. Now, instead of simply recapturing the d5-pawn he played the hardly-explainable 22.h6? and found himself in trouble. Only a few moves later he had to stop the clocks.
Smyslov's System
The game Tomashevsky, E - Khairullin, I, RUS-ch under 20 saw the main line of Smyslov's system:
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In the diagram position White tried the rare 10.Rc1, sacrificing a pawn. Black declined the sacrifice and it soon seemed that Black outplayed his opponent. However, White found a nice attacking idea and eventually ended the game in his favour with a nice queen sacrifice.
Opposed to this last game, Speelman, J - Kobese, W, Gibraltar Masters 2005 saw a rare line in the early stages of the game:
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Here Black played the odd 7...b6. White then obtained an advantage, but went wrong with 18.Re1?! allowing Black to start improving his position. However, soon he also committed a mistake and White didn't give him a second chance by exploiting the vulnerable position of the black king.
Fianchetto variation
The game Avrukh, B - Kotronias, V, Gibraltar 2005 saw a very sharp opening variation, which has been known for more than 50(!) years.
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White came up with a relatively new idea, 14.c5, and three moves later introduced an interesting novelty. A mistake comes on the next move, Black obtains good play, but then starts to commit one mistake after another and eventually loses the game. A very interesting game. Don't miss it!
And finally the game Avrukh, B - Tsanas, A, Acropolis Open 2005, where Black played the rather popular line with 8...a6. On the 11th move he captured a pawn and... found himself in trouble. Soon Avrukh obtained a decisive advantage and won the game in style.
An interesting position could arise in one of the variations from the final stage of the game:
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Try to find a really nice win.
Enjoy the issue and see you in April.
Victor
Don't hesitate to share your thoughts and suggestions with me. Any queries or comments to the KID Forum, or to me directly at Victor@ChessPublishing.com (subscribers only) would be most welcome.