[Event "Sparkassen Gp 2"]
[Site "Dortmund GER"]
[Date "2002.07.11"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Hathaway, Mark"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[ECO "A00"]
[EventDate "2002.07.06"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]

1. d4 g6 { From what I've seen Morozevich prefers stable pawn structures and depends upon piece play. He might like a Benko Gambit or a Dutch Defense, but in this case he's trying to provoke Bareev into 2. e4, an opening system Bareev doesn't usually play. This position could easily transpose to many different things: Dutch Leningrad with ...f7-f5, Gruenfeld with c2-c4 ...d7-d5, King's Indian Defense with c2-c4 ...Ng8-f6 and others. } 2. g3 { This is usually followed by c2-c4 to make a King's Indian Defense, Fianchetto Variation or, after ...d7-d5, a Gruenfeld Defense. } ( 2. e4 ) 2... Bg7 3. Bg2 ( 3. c4 ) 3... c5 { This forces the game off into another direction. It's thematic for Black to fight on the dark squares, but White's setup is a little unusual. If White plays d4-d5 Black might play ...b7-b5; something he wouldn't ordinarily be able to do. } 4. c3 { White chooses to support his central pawn and to block Bg7, but at the cost of not having c3 available for a knight. Incidentally, Pc5 is now threatened. } ( 4. dxc5 $5 Qa5+ 5. Bd2 Qxc5 6. Bc3 ) 4... Qa5 { Black thre atens ...cxd4 to remove the central pawn. For White to simply defend it with Ng1-f3 is possible, but ...cxd4 cannot be replied to with c3xd4 (it's pinned) , so the central pawn is removed. } 5. Nd2 $5 { White uses a small tactic to get rid of Qa5, so Pc3 can truly support Pd4. } 5... cxd4 6. Nb3 { Black's queen is chased off the a5-e1 diagonal! } 6... Qb6 7. cxd4 { O.K. White has the central pawn, but Nb3 isn't terribly well placed. Black could go after it with ...a7-a5-a4. } 7... Nf6 { Black chooses not to make it an issue immediately and develops more pieces. That's quite good because it's a recognition Black doesn't have to chase Nb3 and wouldn't necessarily gain anything from chasing Nb3 anyway; that Black can simply play normal moves and the weakness of Nb3 will show itself. } ( 7... a5 8. Nf3 a4 9. Nc5 Qb4+ ( 9... Qb5 ) ) 8. d5 $5 { Audacious moves such as this aren't seen often. Black has traded his central pawn away and White shoves his to cramp Black, preventing ...d7-d5 or ...Nb8-c6. Black has to act forcefully to be rid of the influence of Pd5 or create some way to play around it. } 8... d6 9. Nf3 ( 9. Be3 { The opportunity to play the bishop onto the a1-h8 diagonal probably shouldn't be ignored, though I admit it doesn't have to be played on only this move. } ) 9... O-O 10. O-O Na6 $6 { Black is probably taking aim at Pd5 (though there is also ...Nb4 followed by ...Bc8-f5-c2) , but I think Black needs to ensure space on the queen-side for Qb6 and the knight by first playing ...a7-a5 and ...a5-a4 if possible. } 11. Nfd4 { essentially preventing ...Bc8-f5 } 11... Bd7 12. Bd2 { threatening Bd2-a5 to win Qb6 } 12... Nc5 13. Ba5 Qa6 { It's odd to note this, but this is the same awkward place for the queen which occurred in the Leko-Bareev Caro-Kann game. Now Bareev is on the other side. } 14. Qd2 { White just keeps moving forward into the breech and Black can't easily challenge any of White'spieces! } 14... Rfc8 { Though Black's position is generally cramped it's well coordinated and each piece, except perhaps Qa6, has a safe square to sit on. For White to gain some advantage he has to change that and perhaps advance his queen-side pawns or make some gesture toward the king-side (Kg8) . } ( 14... Nfe4 $2 15. Qe3 { and the weaknesses in both camps on the e-file makes it awkward, but moreso for Black because he's committed (in this variation) to supporting his Ne4 or trading knights and opening the e-file } 15... Nxb3 16. Nxb3 Nc5 17. Nxc5 ( 17. Qxe7 $2 Rfe8 18. Nxc5 Rxe7 19. Nxa6 bxa6 20. Bc3 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Rxe2 ) 17... dxc5 18. Bc3 ) 15. Nxc5 ( 15. Rfc1 { might easily transpose to the game } ) 15... Rxc5 16. Nb3 ( 16. b4 Rc4 17. b5 Bxb5 18. Nxb5 Qxb5 19. Rab1 ) ( 16. Bb4 Rc4 17. b3 Rc7 18. Rac1 { and White is fighting on the queen-side pretty well. He has to avoid trading the wrong pieces which could leave weak spots in his position. } ) 16... Rc4 17. Rfc1 Rxc1+ 18. Nxc1 { A lot of White's advantage is dissipated by the piece trades, but the essential character of the position remains. Qa6 is badly placed and the c-file is an open avenue. } ( 18. Rxc1 $2 b6 19. Bc3 Qxa2 ) 18... Ng4 { and Black threatens to maneuver the knight via e5 toward the queen-side where he might play with an extra minor piece, while Bg2 is useless! There is also the possibility, intended or not, of ...Bh6 to deflect Qd2 away from the defense of Ba5. } ( 18... Rc8 19. Bc3 ) 19. Nd3 Rc8 { If White challenges the open file Black might play ...b7-b6 to open the a-file and capture Pa2. In that event it's likely both player's back ranks would become weak after a rook trade. } 20. h3 Ne5 21. Bc3 { White tries to guard the weaknesses at b2 and c2, but it's clear now Black has more than equalized. } ( 21. Nxe5 Bxe5 { and to a certain extent Black has still succeeded in having more minor pieces to play on the queen-side } ) 21... Nc4 $17 22. Qg5 ( 22. Qc2 Bxc3 23. Qxc3 Ne3 24. Qd2 Nxg2 25. Kxg2 Bf5 ) 22... Bxc3 23. Qxe7 ( 23. bxc3 f6 ) 23... Nxb2 $2 ( 23... Bxb2 24. Nxb2 Ne5 25. Nd3 Re8 26. Qf6 Nxd3 27. exd3 Qb6 $17 ) 24. Qxd7 Rf8 ( 24... b5 { maintains the queen-side force } ) 25. Rc1 Nxd3 26. Rxc3 ( 26. exd3 Qxa2 27. Qxb7 Bd4 28. Rf1 Qd2 ) 26... Ne5 { Black seems to be retreating toward his king, though I don't know why. } ( 26... Nc5 ) 27. Qc7 ( 27. Qe7 Qxe2 28. Rc7 Qd1+ 29. Kh2 Nf3+ 30. Bxf3 Qxf3 31. Qe3 Qxd5 32. Qxa7 b5 ) 27... Qxe2 28. Re3 Qxa2 29. Bf1 $4 ( 29. Qxb7 ) 29... Qxd5 $19 { Black removes Pd5, so White's bishop might return to g2, mightn't it? } 30. Bg2 Qd1+ 31. Kh2 Qd2 { Black zeros in on the weak Pf2 } 32. Kg1 Nd3 33. Rf3 Ne1 { But, before the bishop can do any harm Black will be able to grab it. } 34. Rf6 Qd1 ( 34... Nxg2 35. Rxd6 Qe1+ 36. Kxg2 Qe4+ 37. Kg1 Re8 38. Rd7 Qf3 { quickly creating a threat (...Re8-e1+, mating) to avoid Qc7xb7 } 39. Rd8 Rxd8 40. Qxd8+ Kg7 41. Qd4+ f6 42. Qxa7 g5 { preventing h3-h4 and preparing ...h7-h5-h4 to further weaken White's king } ) 35. Bxb7 d5 36. Kh2 { It's difficult for Black to find a good plan, despite his material advantage, because White's pieces are active and threatening Pf7. Black's Rf8 isn't of any use for the offense. } 36... Kg7 $4 ( 36... Nf3+ 37. Kg2 Ng5 38. Qe5 Ne4 39. Rf4 Rd8 $11 ) 37. Qe5 Kg8 38. Bxd5 $18 Nd3 39. Qe7 ( 39. Bxf7+ ) 39... Qe1 40. Bxf7+ { mate in 5. Notice that despite the fact all material is equal (except for bishop vs. knight) Black's forces are split into two groups which aren't working together, whereas White's forces are in one area and very much working toward one goal! } 1-0