Reply #1: Polgar - Topalov, Crown Group, Hoogeveen

[Jack Rabbit]

Judit Polgar
Photo: Free Radio News (Germany)

Judit Polgar vs. Veselin Topalov
Essent Chest Tournament, Crown Group, Round 2
Hoogeveen, October 2006

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf Defense (Byrne Attack)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h6 8. Bg2

• Also good is 8. Rg1 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Bg2

8. -- g5?!

• Black stops the advance of the g-pawn, but all but rules out castling in the process.
• Better is 8. -- e5 9. Nf5 g6 10. Nxh6 Bxh6 11. Bxh6 Nxg4 12. Bd2 Rxh2 leaving Black a pawn to the good.

9. Qe2

• White attempts to deploy the Queen where it will have more square to which to move later.
• Better would have been to suppoth the g-pawn with 9. h3 Bg7 10. Qd2 when:
• After 10. -- Nbd7 11. Nf3 Qc7 12. 0-0-0 b5 13. e5 White has a spatial advantage.
• After 10. -- Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. 0-0-0 d5 13. f4 White enjoys an edge in space on the kingside and in the center.

9. -- Nbd7

• The Knight is headed for a central post.
• After 9. -- Bg7 10. 0-0-0 Qe7 11. h3 Nc6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Qd2 White maintains her spatial advantage.

10. 0-0-0 Ne5 11. h3 Nfd7

• White's advantage in space is cramping Black's movements.
• Black might do better after 11. -- Ng6 12. Nf3 Qc7 13. Qd2 Bd7 14. h4 gxh4 15. g5 Ng4 when he can exchange some minor pieces so that White's advantage is less important.

12. f4 gxf4 13. Bxf4 b5!

• Since White has an edge on the kingside and center, Black needs to grab some space where he can.
• 13. -- Qc7 14. Rhf1 Bg7 15. Nf3 b6 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Qd2 leaaves White with more options than Blacks.

14. Rhf1 Bb7

• Black misses an opportunity to take with initiative with 14. -- b4! 15. Nb1 Qa5 16. Bd2 Qa4 17. Qf2 Rb8 18. Bf4

15. Qf2 Rc8 16. Nce2

• White overprotects her centralized Knight.
• 16. Nf3 Nc4 17. Nd2 Nce5 18. Nb3 Qc7 19. Bg3 b4 20. Nb1 leaves White defending her vital points and better mobility.

16. -- Bg7 17. Ng3 Rh7

• The Rook move is to protect the Bishop which is protecting the pawn. Nothing is protecting the pawn at d6.
• After 17. -- Bf8 (protecting the pawn at d6) 18. Nh5 Nc4 19. Kb1 Rh7 20. Bg3 Be7 21. Rfe1 leaves White with a spatial plus.

18. Nh5 Bh8 19. Kb1 Nc5?

• Black needed to keep the Knight overprotected
• Correct is 19. -- Qc7 20. Bc1 Nc4 21. Bxh6 Nc5 22. Nf6+ Bxf6 23. Qxf6 giving White difficulties in converting her spatial edge into anything more concrete.

20. Bg3?

• White could have sent Black home earlier than she does by 20. Nf5! Nc4 21. Nxd6+ Nxd6 22. e5 Qa5 23. exd6 Bg7 24. Bxb7 winning a piece.

20. -- Nxe4 21. Bxe4 Bxe4 22. Bh4

• Again, White misses an opportunity to get a strong advatantage; 22. Rfe1 Bd5 23. a3 b4 24. axb4 Rc4 25. Bh4 Qb6 26. Nf6+ wins the exchange.

22. -- Qc7 23. Bf6 Bg6 24. Bxh8 Rxh8 25. Nf6+ Kd8 26. h4

• White seeks to reassert her spatial edge on the kingside.
• Perhaps slightly better is 26. Rfe1 d5 27. h4 Ke7 28. Re2 Rhd8 29. h5 Be4 30. Rf1 with small edge owing to her lead in kingside space.

26. -- Qc5 27. h5 Bh7 28. Qh4

• The game has leveled out, since there is not enough material left for White's spatial edge to amke any difference.
• If 28. Rfe1 then:
• 28. -- a5 29. Re2 a4 30. Qh4 Nf3 31. Qf2 Nxd4 32. Rxd4 d5 gives Black better command of open lines.
• 28. -- Ke7 29. Qh4 Bxc2+ 30. Ka1 Kf8 31. Rxe5 Qc4 32. Nd7+ invites a draw by repetition.

28. -- Bxc2+ 29. Nxc2 Qxc2+ 30. Ka1 Rc4?

• For the second time, Black loses the game. This move leaves vital points in Black's camp without protection.
• If 30. -- Ke7 31. Nd5+ Kf8 32. Qf6 Rh7 33. Qe7+ then:
• after 33 -- Kg7 34. Qf6+ there is nothing better than a draw by repetition check at f6 and e7
• after 33. -- Kg8? 34. Nf6+ Kh8 35. Nxh7 Kxh7 36. g5 White has a strong attack.

31. Ne4+ Kc7 32. Nxd6 Rf4

• Black appears to be out of trouble, but appearances are deceiving.
• 32. -- Rc5 33. Qe7+ Kb6 34. Qb7+ Ka5 35. Qa7 b4 36. Nb7+ leave White with a winning attack.

Black: Veselin Topalov
!""""""""#
$ + + + T%
$+ L +o+ %
$o+ No+ O%
$+o+ M +p%
$ + + TpQ%
$+ + + + %
$pPw+ + +%
$K +r+r+ %
/(((((((()
White: Judit Polgar
Position after 32. -- Rc4f4

33. Qe7+!

• White delivers the knock out punch. Everything that follows is forced.
• If 33. Rfe1 Kb6 then:
• 34. Qg3 Nc4 35. Nxc4+ Rxc4 36. Rd6+ Kb7 37. Qf3+ Rc6 38. Qxf7+ ;eaves White in a strong position, but she still has some work to do before winning.
• 34. Rc1 Nf3 35. Rxc2 Nxh4 36. Rec1 Rxg4 37. Rc6+ Ka7 38. Nxf7 Rh7 39. Rc7+ Kb8 40. Rc8+ Ka7 wiil draw by repetition.

33. -- Kb6

• 33. -- Nd7 34. Ne8+ Kb8 35. Qd6+ Ka8 36. Qxa6+ Kb8 37. Qd6+ wins a piece.
• 33. -- Kc6 allows White to force mate: 34. Qb7+ Kc5 35. Qa7+ Kc6 36. Qxa6+ Kd7 37. Qb7+ Qc7 38. Nf5+ Ke8 39. Qa8+ Qd8 40. Rxd8#

34. Qb7+ Ka5 35. Qa7 b4 36. Rfe1

• If 36. Nb7+ (the purpose of White's 35th move was to vacate b7 for the Knight) 36. -- Kb5 37. Rfe1 f6 38. Rc1 then:
• 38. -- Rf2 39. Rxc2 Rxc2 40. a4+ +-
• 38. -- Qf2 39. Rc5+ Qxc5 40. Qxc5+ Ka4 41. Qa5#

36. -- Nf3 37. Rc1

• Also winning is 37. Nb7+ Kb5 38. Rd6 Ra8 39. Qb6+ Ka4 40. Qa5#

37. -- Nxe1 38. Rxc2 Nxc2+ 39. Kb1 1-0

• If 39. -- Rb8 then White forces mate: 40. Qc7+ Rb6 41. Nb7+ Ka4 42. Qxc2+ b3 43. axb3+ Rxb3 44. Qc6+ Rb5 45. Ka2 Rd4 46. Qc2+ Rb3 47. Qxb3#
• Topalov resigns.