Topalov, on top at Corus 2007

Game annotated by IM Michael Rahal

Michael Anthony Rahal is an English International Master, currently living in Spain. He works for the CET Spanish Chess company and his tasks include being Assistant Manager of the Chess Magazines "Peón de Rey" (King's Pawn) "Todo Teoría" (All on Theory).

The following annotations are based on Topalov's notes after the game in the press conference.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 c6 8.Bc3 d5 9.Ne5 Nfd7 10.Nxd7 Nxd7 11.Nd2 0-0 12.0-0 This position has been played many times at the highest level.

12...Nf6 13.e4 dxe4 [13...b5 is the main alternative, generating counterplay on the queenside, for instance the following game between Topalov and Aronian from Corus 2006 is very spectacular 14.exd5 exd5 15.Re1 Rb8 16.c5 Bc8 17.Nf3 Ne4 18.Rxe4! dxe4 19.Ne5 Qd5 20.Qe1 Bf5 21.g4 Bg6 22.f3 b4 23.fxe4 Qe6 24.Bb2 Bf6 25.Nxc6! Qxc6 26.e5 Qa6 27.exf6 Rfe8 28.Qf1 Qe2 29.Qf2 Qxg4 30.h3 Qg5 31.Bc1 Qh5 32.Bf4 Rbd8 33.c6 Be4 34.c7 Rc8 35.Re1 Qg6 36.Rxe4 Rxe4 37.d5 Rce8 38.d6 Re1+ 39.Kh2 Qf5 40.Qg3 g6 41.Qg5 Qxg5 42.Bxg5 Rd1 43.Bc6 Re2+ 44.Kg3 1-0 Topalov,V-Aronian,L/Wijk aan Zee 2006] 14.a4 Threatening 15.Nxe4 without allowing the next variation. [14.Nxe4 b5 is one of Black's ideas, and if 15.c5 b4 with a doble attack.]

14...Nd5?! Black will now obtain a rook and two pawns for two pieces, but positionally White will be better due to the many weaknesses on the dark squares and that Black has practically no files to play the rooks. 15.cxd5 Bxf1 [Alternatively 15...cxd5!? is very interesting, with two pawns for the piece and pressure on the queenside, for example 16.Re1 Rc8 17.Bb2 Bb4 with compensation for the piece, in opinion of Topalov.] 16.d6!? Not allowing Black to get a strong pawn center, but giving up the lightsquared bishop. 16...Bxg2 17.dxe7 Qxe7 18.Kxg2 f5 Defending the pawn on e4.

19.b4! The novelty of the game, controlling the freeing pawn advance c6-c5. Topalov considers this move to be very strong.

[The only example of this variation was played in Moscow 2006. That game went 19.Nc4 Rad8 20.Ra2 Rd5 21.Ne3 Rd7 22.Rd2 f4 23.gxf4 Rxf4 24.Qh5 Rd8 25.Rc2 Rdf8 26.Be1 Qf6 27.Qe5 Qf7 28.b4 Rf3 29.Re2 Rf4 30.Kf1 Qg6 31.Rc2 Qh6 32.Ke2 Qxh2 33.Kd1 Qh1 34.Qxe6+ Kh8 35.Qxc6 h6 36.d5 Rxf2 37.Rxf2 Rxf2 38.Qc8+ Kh7 39.Qg4 h5 40.Qg3 Ra2 41.d6 Ra1+ 42.Kd2 Rxe1 43.Qxe1 1/2-1/2 Sasikiran,K-Motylev,A/Moscow 2006] 19...Qd7 [19...Rad8 20.Qe2 c5 21.dxc5! bxc5 22.b5 Rd3 23.Rc1 followed by Nc4 is good for White.] 20.Qe2 Qd5

21.f3! This strong pawn move destroys Black's pawn centre and obtains the e5 square for one of White's pieces. It is instructive to see how Topalov asseses the position as better for White because the scope of Black's rooks is very limited. 21...exf3+ 22.Nxf3 h6 In the press conference after the game, in which Topalov analised for the press, he already had forgotten about the move order (he thought the queen was on d6) and had to bring out the score-sheet which he held in his hand the rest of the game. 23.Re1 Rfe8 24.Qc2 During the following moves, Topalov manoeuvres his pieces to reach a favourable setup with his rook on e5. As Topalov affirms after the game: "Black's main problem is that his rooks can never become active". 24...Rad8

25.Bd2! Always preventing the rupture ...c5, now with the queen. 25...Qd7 26.Kf2 Prophylactic move against ...Qb7 and ...c5. 26...Rc8 27.Bf4 Qd5 28.Re5 Qd7 29.h4 Slowly improving his position. the move a4-a5 is another positional threat on the queenside. 29...Ra8 30.Bd2 Rac8 31.Qc4 Kh7 32.Bc3 Qd6 33.Ne1 With the idea Nd3-f5 then h4-h5 with an attack on the e6 and g6 squares. 33...b5 34.Qc5! [34.Qa2 a5 35.bxa5 c5 is much more complicated as the position is opening.] 34...Qd8 [The queen exchange 34...Qxc5 35.Rxc5 bxa4 36.Ra5 Red8 37.Nd3 is completely hopeless for Black.]

35.Nd3 Preventing f5-f4. [35.Nd3 bxa4 36.Qa5 Qxa5 37.Rxa5 Technically the position is very difficult, although Anand's resignation here was maybe premature.] 1-0

ICC Quiz #2614
submitted by DavidBarnsley



White mates in 3

To play this puzzle on the ICC type:
tell trainingbot number 2614
Then type: play trainingbot

ICC Quiz #2624
submitted by test



White mates in 3

To play this puzzle on the ICC type:
tell trainingbot number 2624
Then type: play trainingbot

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Solution to ICC Quiz #2614
submitted by DavidBarnsley

1.Rf8+! Kg7 (...Qxf8; 2.Qxh7#)
2.Qxh7+! Kxf8 3.Qh8#

Solution to ICC Quiz #2624
submitted by test

1.Re5+ Kh4; 2.Kh2! d1=Q (or any other move) 3.g3#