Reply #7: Sasikiran - Dzagnidze, Round 10

[Jack Rabbit]

Georgian grandmaster Nana Dzagnidze took home £10,000 for the best performance by a woman.



Nana Dzagnidze
Photo by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (Public Doamin)


Krishnan Sasikiran - Nana Dzagnidze
Tradewise Masters, Round 10
Gibraltar, 3 February 2011

Closed Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bb4+ 5.Bd2

• Up to here, this is a Bogo-Indian Defense. For continuations as to the Bogo-Indian, see Carlsen-Topalov, IT, Nanjing, 2010.

5...Be7 6.Nf3 0-0 7.0-0 c6

• According to the blue note to Black's fourth move in the game Carlsen-Topalov cited in the last not to this game, we have transposed into a Catalan Queen's Gambit.

8.Qc2 b6 9.Rd1 a5 (N)

• If 9...Nbd7 10.Bf4 then:
• If 10...Bb7 11.Nc3 then:
• If 11...dxc4 12.Nd2 Nd5 13.Nxc4 Nxf4 14.gxf4 then:
• If 14...Qc7 15.e3 Rad8 then:
• If 16.Rac1 c5 17.d5 exd5 then:
• If 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.Rxd5 b5 20.Ne5 Nxe5 21.Rxe5 Bd6 22.Rd5 Be7 then:
• 23.a4 a6 24.Re5 Bd6 25.Rd5 Be7 26.axb5 axb5 27.b3 Rxd5 28.Bxd5 Rd8 29.Qf5 Bf8 30.Rd1 Rd6 31.Bf3 draw (Sasikiran-Wojtaszek, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• 23.Rcd1 Rxd5 24.Rxd5 Rd8 25.Rxd8+ draw (Tkachiev-Sargissian, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• 18.Bxd5 Nf6 19.Bxb7 Qxb7 20.a4 a6 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.Qb3 Ng4 is equal (Grischuk-Kramnik, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2010).
• 16.Rab1 c5 17.d5 exd5 18.Bxd5 Nf6 19.Bxb7 Qxb7 20.a4 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Rd8 22.Rxd8+ Bxd8 is equal (Caruana-Nielsen, TM, Amsterdam, 2010).
• 14...Nf6 15.e3 Nd5 16.Rac1 Rc8 17.Ne5 f6 18.Nd3 Kh8 19.Qa4 a5 20.Qb3 Rb8 21.Rd2 c5 22.Nb5 draw (BerkesEfimenko, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• If 11...Nh5 12.Bc1 f5 13.b3 then:
• If 13...Rc8 14.Bb2 then:
• 14...Bd6 15.e3 Qe7 16.Ne2 Nhf6 17.Nf4 Rfd8 18.Rac1 Ne4 is equal (Harika-Adams, Masters, Gibraltar, 2010).
• 14...Qe8 15.e3 g5 16.a4 a5 17.Ba3 Bxa3 18.Rxa3 Qe7 19.Raa1 Kh8 20.Rac1 Ba6 21.Ne2 Rg8 22.Qd2 Nhf6 23.Rc2 Ne4 draw (Su. Polgar-Portisch, Match, Prague, 1995).
• If 13...Bd6 14.a4 Qe7?! 15.a5! Ba6 then:
• 16.Bb2?! b5 17.c5 Bc7 18.Na2 Bc8 19.Nb4 gives White the advantage in space (Zhao Xue-Kosteniuk, OlW, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• If 16.Qd3 Bb4 17.Bg5 Nhf6 18.Ne5 Qd6 then:
• 19.Na2 Bxa5 20.Bxf6 Rxf6 21.Nxd7 Qxd7 22.Qe3 Qd6 23.b4 Bxb4 24.Nxb4 gives White a Knight against two pawns.
• 19.axb6 axb6 20.Nxd7 Qxd7 21.Rxa6 Rxa6 22.cxd5 Bxc3 23.Bxf6 Rxf6 24.Qxa6 gives White an extra pawn.
=
• If 10...Ba6 11.b3 Rc8 12.Nc3 Nh5 13.Bc1 then:
• 13...f5 14.Bb2 g5 15.e3 h6 16.a4 Nhf6 17.Rac1 Bb7 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.Qe2 is equal (Yavseev-Cvek, Op, Pardubice, 2001).
• If 13...Nhf6 then:
• 14.e4 dxc4 15.Bf4 b5 16.bxc4 bxc4 17.Nd2 Qa5 is equal (Rustemov-Mitkov, Euro Club Cup, Halkidiki, 2002).
• 14.Bf4 Nh5 15.Bc1 Nhf6 16.Bf4 Nh5 draw (Greenfeld-Tkachiev, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).

10.Bf4

• The game is equal.

10...Ba6 11.Nbd2 b5!?

• Probably deliberately, Black concedes some space to White.
• If 11...Nh5 12.Be3 f5 13.Ne5 f4 14.gxf4 Nxf4 remains equal.

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze



WHITE: Krishnan Sasikiran
Position after 11...b6b5

12.c5!

• White has a small advantage in space.

12...b4 13.Re1 Nh5

• 13...Bb5 14.a3 Nh5 15.axb4 Nxf4 16.gxf4 Nd7 17.bxa5 gives White an extra pawn.

14.Bxb8!?

• Exchangeing the Bishop is easier than any attempt to preseve it.
• If 14.Be5 Nd7 15.Bd6 Bxd6 16.cxd6 then:
• 16...Nb8 17.Qc5 Bb7 18.Ne5 Nf6 19.a3 is equal.
• 16...Nb6 17.Ne5 Qxd6 18.Qxc6 Qxc6 19.Nxc6 is equal.

14...Rxb8

• The game is equal.

15.e4 Nf6 16.e5 Nd7 17.Bf1

• Black proposes an exchange of light-bound Bishops.
• If 17.a3 Qc7 18.Re3 Ra8 19.axb4 axb4 20.Ra4 Rfb8 remains equal.

17...Qc8 18.h4!?

• White weakens his kingside probably with the idea of provoking an attack by Black with the confidence he can rebuff it.
• If 18.Bxa6 Qxa6 19.a3 Qa7 20.Re3 Qc7 21.Ra2 Ra8 remains equal.

18...Bxf1!

• Black has a narrow edge in space.

19.Nxf1 f6!?

• This may have been what White wanted when he played his 18th move. Black will open the f-file and attack the hanging Knight.
• 19...Qa6 20.h5 a4 21.Qe2 Qa5 22.h6 g6 maintains Black's slight advantage in space.

20.exf6!

• The game is equal.

20...Bxf6 21.Ne3

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze



WHITE: Krishnan Sasikiran
Position after 21.Nf1e3

21...Qe8

• The game remains equal. Black seems to want to bring her Queen to h5 and then unmask the attack on the Knight from the Rook.
• If 21...Qc7 then:
• If 22.Ng4!? Rbe8 23.Qa4 then:
• If 23...Nxc5 24.dxc5 Bxb2 25.Rab1 Rxf3 26.Rxb2 then:
• If 26...Rxg3+ 27.fxg3 Qxg3+ 28.Kf1 Rf8+ 29.Nf2 Qh3+ then:
• 30.Kg1 Qg3+ 31.Kf1 Qh3+ etc. draws.
• If 30.Ke2 Qf3+ then:
• 31.Kf1 Qh1+ 32.Ke2 Qf3+ 33.Kf1 etc. draws.
• If 31.Kd2?? then Black wins after 31...Qxf2+! 32.Kd1 Qxb2.
• 26...Ra3?! 27.Qd1! e5 28.Qd2 e4 29.Rb3 Rxb3 30.axb3 gives White a piece for two pawns.
• 23...e5 24.Ngxe5 Nxe5 25.Nxe5 Bxe5 26.Rxe5 Rxe5 27.dxe5 is equal.
• 22.Ng5?! Bxg5 23.hxg5 e5 24.Nf5 e4 25.Nd6 Qd8 gives Black an attack on the foremost g-pawn.

22.Ng4

• This may not be the ideal post for the Knight.
• A better try is 22.Ng2 e5 23.dxe5 Be7 24.Ng5 Bxg5 25.hxg5 when White will have accomplished his plan of provoking an attack from Black and rebuffing it. However, after 25...Nxe5, Black will have a small advantage in space.

22...Qh5

• See the note to Black's 21st move.

23.Nfe5 Bxe5

• 23...Nxe5 24.Nxe5 Qe8 25.Re3 Bxe5 26.Rxe5 remains equal.

24.Nxe5 Nxe5 25.Rxe5 Qg4

• The game is equal.

26.Qd1

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze



WHITE: Krishnan Sasikiran
Position after 26.Qc2d1

26...Rf3

• Black takes full advantage of the weaknesses in White's kingside.
• 26...Qh3 27.Qe2 Rf6 28.a3 Rbf8 29.Rf1 Rf3 remains equal.

27.Re3!

• White has a slight edge with his well-defended King position and his attack on Black's backward pawn.

27...Rbf8 28.Qe2

• 28.Rxf3 Qxf3 29.Qxf3 Rxf3 30.Rd1 a4 31.Kg2 maintains White's narrow advantage.

28...h5 29.Rxf3 Rxf3 30.Re1 Rf6 31.Qd2!?

• White does better to exchange pawns.
• If 31.Qxg4 hxg4 32.Re3 a4 33.Kg2 then:
• 33...Rh6 34.f4 gxf3+ 35.Rxf3 Rg6 36.Kh3 gives White a slight edge.
• 33...Kf7 34.f4 gxf3+ 35.Rxf3 Ke7 36.g4 Rh6 37.Kg3 gives White more freedom as long as Black is tied by defending the backward e-pawn.

31...Kf7

• The game is equal.
• 31...Qf5 32.a3 b3 33.a4 Qg4 34.Re3 Rf3 is equal

32.a3 bxa3 33.bxa3 a4!?

• Black's a-pawn will be both difficult to defend and difficult to attack.
• 33...Rf3 34.Re3 Rxe3 35.Qxe3 Qf5 36.Kg2 Kf6 37.Qd2 is equal.

34.Qb2!?

• A better way for White to defend his pawns is 34.Re3 g5 35.hxg5 Qxg5 when:
• 36.Qb4 Qf5 37.Qb7+ Kg6 38.f4 h4 39.Re5 remains equal.
• 36.Qd1 Qf5 37.Qe2 Qg4 38.Qxg4 hxg4 39.Kg2 remains equal.

34...Rf3 35.Qb7+ Kg6 36.Kg2!?

• This move is unnecessarily passive and allows Black gain a small edge.
• 36.Qb1+ is the active move and now 36...Kf6 37.Qb8 Rxa3 38.Qf8+ Kg6 39.Qe8+ Kh7 remains equal.

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze



WHITE: Krishnan Sasikiran
Position after 36.Kg1g2

36...Qf5!

• Black assumes a small advantage with activity on the f-file.
• 36...Kh7?! 37.Qb1+! Kg8 38.Rxe6 Qxd4 39.Qe1 Qg4 40.Re8+ gives White the initiative on the e-file.

37.Qb2

• 37.Rf1?! Qe4 38.Qxc6 Kh7 39.Kh2 Qxd4 40.Qxe6 Rxf2+ gives Black a small initiative which should net her a pawn.

37...Rb3 38.Qc1 Rd3 39.Qb1?!

• White leaves the a-pawn unprotected. This is the beginning of the end.
• If 39.Qb2 Qf3+ 40.Kg1 Rb3 41.Qc1 Rxa3 42.Rxe6+ gives Black a slim advantage, but White still has plenty of opportunities for counterplay.

39...Kh7!

• 39...Rxd4?? fails decisively against the pretty 40.Rxe6+!.

40.Qb2 Qf3+ 41.Kg1

• If 41.Kh2 Rxa3 42.Rxe6 Rd3 then:
• 43.Re1 Kg6 44.Kg1 Rb3 45.Qc2+ Qd3 46.Re6+ Kf5 White will exchange Queens and continue to fight for a daw.
• If 43.Rxc6?? then after 43...Rd1! White must part with his Queen in order to prevent mate.

41...Rxa3!

• Black gains an advanced passer.

42.Qb1+?

• In no way is this an aqequate defense.
• If 42.Qb7 Rb3 43.Qxc6 a3 44.Qa6 Rb2 45.Rf1! leaves White fighting, still hoping to make somthing out of his c-pawn.
• If 42.Qb4 Qb3 43.Qd2 Qd3 44.Qf4 Qf5 then:
• 45.Qxf5+ exf5 46.Re6 Rd3 47.Rxc6 gives White sufficient play with his passed c-pawn to present Black with difficulty winning.
• 45.Qc7? Rb3 46.Re5 Qf3 47.Re1 a3 wins for Black as it will cost White too dearly to stop the a-pawn and White cannot pass the c-pawn and mobilize it with the time it will take Black to queen.

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze



WHITE: Krishnan Sasikiran
Position after 42.Qb2b1+

42...Rd3!

• Tis simple move secures Black's winning advantage. Black can simply take the d-pawn, giving her another passed pawn, if White moves against either the a- or e-pawn.

43.Qc2

• If 43.Rxe6 Qd1+ 44.Qxd1 Rxd1+ 45.Kg2 a3 then:
• 46.Re2 Rxd4 47.Kf3 Ra4 48.Ra2 wins for Black.
• 46.Rxc6 a2 47.Ra6 a1Q 48.Rxa1 Rxa1 clearly wins for Black.

43...a3!

• If 43...Kh8? then Black equalizes after 44.Qxa4! Rd2 45.Rf1.

44.Kh2 Kg8 45.Rb1 Kf7 46.Re1 Rb3 47.Rxe6

• White could have resigned here. There is clearly no perpetual.

47...Kxe6 48.Qg6+ Ke7 49.Qxg7+ Kd8 50.Qh8+ Kd7 51.Qg7+ Kc8 0-1

• If 52.Qg8+ then White runs out of checks after 52...Kb7 53.Qh7+ Ka6 54.Qc2 Rb2 55.Qa4+ Kb7.
• Grandmaster Sasikiran resigns.