17.5.11

SIO Winner's Best Game

The following game was probably SIO's winner best achievement:
Akshat,Kh (2328) - Solomon,SJ (2398) [E30]
Sydney International Open Sydney AUS (4), 28.04.2011
[Dejan Bojkov]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bg5 The Leningrad System. 4...c5 5.d5 h6 6.Bh4 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 d6 8.e3 Qe7 9.Nf3 e5 10.Nd2 Nbd7 11.Qc2


11...Kd8 Somewhat more common are the moves: [11...g5 or; 11...e4] 12.Bd3 Kc7 13.0–0–0 g5 14.Bg3 Nh5 15.h3


15...Nxg3 This move is a novelty. The only predecessor saw Black letting this bishop alive: [15...Ndf6 16.Bh2 Ng7?! 17.f4 Nd7?! 18.Rhf1 Rf8 19.g4 h5 20.Ne4 gxf4 21.exf4 f6 22.g5 1–0 Gordin,A (2275)-Soltanici,R (2389)/Bucharest 2003/CBM 093 ext (40) and White opened the position for his bishops to win a good game.] 16.fxg3 e4?! An interesting, but dubious idea. Solomon decided to award his knight with the e5 square. The price for it is though a bit expensive-a healthy central pawn. Both: [16...Nf6 17.Rhf1 (17.Bf5 Nh5!) 17...g4; Or: 16...Nb6 17.g4 (17.Bf5!? e4!? 18.Qxe4 Qf6 19.Bxc8 Qxc3+ 20.Qc2 Qa1+ 21.Qb1 Qc3+=) 17...Bd7 18.Rdf1 Raf8 would have been more to the point.] 17.Bxe4 Ne5 18.Bf5 Bxf5 19.Qxf5 a6?! Solomon is true to his active style. However, it was advisable to stick to the passive defense with: [19...g4 20.h4 (20.hxg4?! Rag8 21.Rdf1 Rxg4 is already better for Black.) 20...Rhf8 when it is hard to see how White will make progress.] 20.Rhf1 b5 21.Qf6 Now White firmly seizes the initiative. 21...Qd7 The endgame after: [21...Qxf6 22.Rxf6 is difficult for Black due to the many weaknesses that he has- 22...bxc4 (22...Rae8 23.g4 is probably Black's best chance, although he will have to sit, stay and pray for his position to be solid enough to survive.) 23.Ne4 Rab8 Playing for mate, but White can sacrifice the exchange. Alternatives are no better: (23...Rad8 24.Kc2 Rd7 25.Rb1 followed by g3-g4 leads to a comfortable advantage for White.; 23...Nd3+ 24.Kc2 Rab8 25.Rxf7+) 24.Rxd6 Nd3+


25.Rxd3 (25.Kd2?? Rb2#) 25...cxd3 26.Rc6+ Kd8 27.Nxc5±] 22.Rf5 Rhe8 23.Rdf1 Rab8 24.Qg7! Black's counter-chances should not be underestimated: [24.Qxh6 bxc4 25.Qxg5 Nd3+ 26.Kd1 Qa4+ 27.Ke2 Rb2 28.Rxf7+ Kb6 29.Rd1 (29.Qf6 Rxd2+ 30.Kxd2 Qxa2+ 31.Kd1 Qb3+ 32.Ke2 (32.Kd2?? Qb2+ 33.Kd1 Qc1+ 34.Ke2 Rxe3#) 32...Qc2+ 33.Kf3 Ne5+ 34.Kf4 Nxf7 35.Qxf7 Qe4+ 36.Kg5 Qxe3+ 37.Kg4 Re4+ 38.Rf4 Qe2+ 39.Kg5 Re5+ 40.Kh4 Qxg2 should end in a draw as both kings are a way too exposed.) 29...Qc2 and Black has a secured draw due to the resource Nd3-c1–d3.] 24...Re7 There is no time to capture the c pawn: [24...bxc4 25.Rxf7 Nxf7 26.Rxf7; However, the only move would have been: 24...f6 25.Qxd7+ Nxd7 26.e4 with comfortable advantage for White.] 25.Rxe5!


Akshat shows excellent understanding of the position and removes Black's best piece from the board. 25...dxe5 26.Rf6 The simple threat d5-d6 is hard to meet. Black's position falls appart. 26...Rb6 27.Ne4! Rxf6 28.Qxf6 And it is the white knight now that dominates the position. 28...Re8 29.Qxa6 Rb8 30.Nxc5 [30.d6+ Kd8 31.Nxc5 Qf5 32.Qc6 Qc8 33.cxb5 would be even faster.] 30...Qd6 31.Qa7+ Kd8 [31...Kc8 32.Na6 Rb6 33.Qa8+ Kd7 34.c5 Rxa6 35.Qb7+ wins the rook anyway.] 32.Nb7+ Rxb7 33.Qxb7 bxc4


The rest is a demonstration of good technique. 34.Kb2 Qc5 35.Qa8+ Kc7 36.Qc6+ Qxc6 37.dxc6 Kxc6 38.a4 f5 39.g4 f4 40.exf4 exf4 41.Ka3 Kc5 42.a5 Kb5 43.a6 Kxa6 44.Kb4 Kb6 45.Kxc4 Kc6 46.Kd4 Kd6 1–0

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