Open Events/ 2014 World Open
protect the c4-pawn just in case. 25. ... a6?! It was not easy to make a choice between
this move and 25. ... Rfe8. In the latter case I did not like my prospects after the strong centralizing move 26. Bd5! (26. Nd6? Bf8), but analysis with help of a computer convinced me that with correct play I could keep the game balanced: 26. ... Bf8 27. Qc1 (by the way, this move became possi ble as a result of 25. b3!) 27. ... Rad8 (27. ... Bc5?! 28. b4) 28. Bc3 (or 28. Na3!? Nd4 29. Nxc2 Nxc2 30. Rxe8 Rxe8 31. Bc3 [the two white bishops are very men ac ing but Black has enough counterplay] 31. ... Nd4 32. Qd2 Ne2+ 33. Kh1 Nxc3 34. Qxc3 Re2 35. Qxd3 Rxf2 with liquidation into an equal position) 28. ... Bg7 (worse is 28. ... a6?! 29. Na3 Bxa3 30. Qxa3 Nf4 [30. ... Nd4 31. Re7!] 31. Re7 Nxd5 32. cxd5 Rxe7 33. Qxe7 Qd6 34. Qh4! and the opposite colored bishops help White to develop strong threats against my king) 29. Qd2 Bxc3 30. Nxc3 Nd4 31. Rxe8+ Rxe8 32. Re1 Rxe1+ 33. Qxe1 Kg7.
less forced. Up to this moment my oppo - nent had played most convincingly, not spending too much time and making no visible mistakes.
29. Bxf8? Anton did not hesitate to take my rook.
He seemed to be very optimistic, but nevertheless his decision is a serious mistake—an outright blunder. White should have inserted one of two interme - diate moves which were at his disposal. Let’s check them one by one:
The only move. Kovalyov admitted after A) 29. Re4 Qf6 30. Bxf8 Bxf8 31. Qc1 (or
31. Qa5 Rd8 32. Qd2 transposing to the variation below [32. Rf4 Bb4 33. Qc7 Bd6 34. Rxf6 Bxc7 35. Bd1 Bd6 36. Rf3 Bc5 37. g3 Bb1=]) 31. ... Rd8 32. Qd2 a5 33. Rf4 (taking the pawn 33. Qxa5 d2 34. Rf4 Bb4 35. Rxf6 Bxa5 36. Bd1 Bxd1 37. Rxd1 Re8 38. Rf1 Rd8 39. Rd1 Re8 would have led to an elegant draw; the logical attempt to neutralize the bishop on c2 plus the pawn on d3 construction by means of 33. Bd1 may lead after 33. ... Qf5 34. Qe3 Bc5 35. Re8+ Kg7 36. Qe5+ Qxe5 37. Rxe5 Bb4 38. a3 Bc3 39. Re7 b6 40. g3 Bb1 41. Kg2 d2 to the ending in which the d2-pawn gives Black all the chances to hold) 33. ... Qe5 (also possible is 33. ... Qg5 34. h4 Qe5 35. Re4 Qf5 36. h5 Bb4 37. Qc1 Bf8!? and White will find it very hard to regroup his forces and to improve his position) 34. Rh4 (or 34. Re4 Qf6 35. Bd1 Bb4 36. Qh6 Bf8) 34. ... Bb4 35. Qh6 Qg7 36. Qc1 Qc3 37. Qg5 Re8 38. Re4 Rxe4 39. Qd8+ Kg7 40. Bxe4 d2 41. Bxc2 Qxc2 42. Qd4+ Kg8 43. Qa1 Ba3 and I doubt White can win this.
In my opinion, despite White still having
some pressure, the strong protected pawn on d3 provides Black with enough re - sources to maintain balance.
26. Nd6 After 26. Qd6? (which seemed dangerous
to me for a while) I would continue with the nice 26. ... Qd8!, taking over the initiative. Now Black faces problems (the pawn on b7 is hanging, White’s pieces are active and well coordinated) which I tried to solve with the help of an Exchange sacrifice.
26. ... Nc5 27. Be3 Qxd6 28. Bxc5 Qf4 B) 29. Bd6 Qf5 30. Qb4 (30. Bxf8 Bxf8
31. Qc1 Bb4 32. Re4 Rd8) 30. ... Rad8 31. Bxf8 Bxf8 32. Qd2 a5 with very similar notes as in “Variation A” above—Black has good fighting chances, although objectively White is better. Of course, these variations are by no means forced, but they give a feeling that the d2-pawn and the pair of black bishops almost compen - sate for being down the Exchange.
29. ... Bxf8 The last couple of moves were more or 34 October 2014 | Chess Life
(see diagram top of next column) 30. c5
The material balance now slightly favors
Black. If he can manage to coordinate his pieces optimally the two strong bishops may outweigh the white rook plus pawn.
35. h3 Bc2 36. Qb6?
The Canadian grandmaster is still very optimistic and plays for the win. In my opinion he should have settled for a draw after 36. Re8 Be4 37. Qd8 Qc1+ 38. Kh2 Qf4+ with a perpetual check; also 36. c6 bxc6 37. Qxa6, creating the passed a- pawn was better than the move he made. In this case I would continue 37. ... Qd6 with an approximately equal position, but sincerely speaking I would prefer to play as Black here.
36. ... Qd4? Before the time control on the 40th
move we both started to play poorly. Here I failed to find the strongest—36. ... Kg7! with the hidden tactical idea 37. c6 Qd6! 38. Qxb7 Qd1+ 39. Kh2 Bd6+ 40. g3 Qd2 41. Rf3 (relatively better is 41. c7 Qxf2+ 42. Qg2 Qxg2+ 43. Kxg2 Bxc7, but White’s chances to save this ending would be very
the game that he did not notice that he cannot play 30. Qc1 d2 31. Qxc2 Bd6! 32. g3 dxe1=N! (very nice!) 33. gxf4 Nxc2 and Black remains with an extra piece.
30. ... d2 31. Re3 Rd8 Now I was fairly sure that my troubles
have been left behind. Objectively, chances are about equal now, but I felt that the psychological advantage had passed to me.
32. Qa5 Bad would be 32. Bd1 Bd3 33. g3 Qd4. 32. ... d1=Q 33. Bxd1 Rxd1 34. Rxd1 Bxd1
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