[Event "GMA, Wijk aan Zee NED"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2003.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Radjabov,T"]
[Black "Topalov,V"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Hathaway"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[ECO "E06"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 { Topalov has been known to play the hyper-modern openings and a Benko Gambit isn't so unusual for him. Perhaps he thinks he can outplay the younger Radjabov without resorting to any extreme measures. } 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ { In some situations this move is terrific. I think for the Catalan it's unusual and not so well-known. I have seen a couple of games with it, in which Black was successful, but they are rare. } ( 4... dxc4 { Fritz7 put ...Bb4+ as second best. } 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Bg2 c5 $11 { Fritz7 } ) 5. Bd2 Be7 { After 5. Nc3 it's not so clear Black would've pulled the bishop back. He might have played 5...c6 or 5...O-O and waited to see if the Bb4 would prove to be of any use. } 6. Bg2 { Generally, White's plan it to blast through the g2-a8 diagonal and to play on the queen-side. Bd2 is awkward at the moment, but could come into play at either f4 or g5. If Black plans to block the diagonal with ...c7-c6 then White builds-up more slowly in the center and aims for e2-e4 to overwhelm Classically. Black can aim for equalizing trades or aim to use his queen-side pawns to block and chase White's pieces (as perhaps in a QGA Alekhine's Variation) . It isn't so easy for Black to find a fixed target for a counter-offensive. } 6... O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2 b6 { This is the same plan I'd seen before. Black takes his time building up slowly and planning to meet White head-on in the center. } ( 8... Nbd7 { Fritz7 } ) 9. Bf4 Ba6 { This Queen's Indian-ish move is new to me. Whether it's the beginning of a new plan or just a short tactical shot before resuming the slower plan isn't clear. It has the benefit of forcing White to wait on Nb1-c3 and resolve the threat to Pc4 first. 10. b3 is probably alright, but with Bf4 the dark squares b2, a3 and c3 will be weaker than usual. } ( 9... Bb7 ) ( 9... dxc4 10. Qxc4 Ba6 11. Qc2 Nd5 { Fritz7 } ) 10. Nbd2 { This resupports Pc4 and controls e4, but blocks the d-file, so that Pd4 might be a little weak; it ties-up Nf3 to defending Pd4. } 10... Nbd7 { I like this ordinary-looking move. It appears to be simple development, perhaps preparing ...Rc8 or controlling c5 & e5 (which it does) , but it might also be preparing ...Nf6-h5xf4 by avoiding Bf4xNb8. White's position isn't stagnant, but Black's looks plenty robust. } 11. Rfd1 { Black is a lot less likely to play ...dxc4 and ...c6-c5 when there's a rook aligned with Qd8. It also gets off the diagonal with Ba6 to prepare e2-e4. } 11... Rc8 $6 $14 { according to Fritz7; This might look a little risky as it leaves Ba6 & Pa7 exposed, but it evacuates the g2-a8 diagonal and prepares ...c6-c5. As long as Black has ...Bxc4 and Pe2 is en prise then it's tacticall sound; but just barely. } ( 11... Nh5 12. Be3 Nhf6 { Fritz7 } ) 12. Rac1 ( 12. Qa4 Bxc4 13. Nxc4 dxc4 14. Qxc4 { Fritz7 agrees with Mark up to here, but then recomends 14...Nd5 } 14... c5 ) 12... Nh5 { Black would like to move Qd8 off the d-file, but Bf4 is a hindrance. It has to go. } 13. e4 $15 { Fritz7 doesn't like this and switches the evaluation immediately. } ( 13. Be3 $6 { After this it doesn't seem likely White will be able to play e2-e4 and Black might even go over to the offense on the king-side with ...f7-f5 (a Dutch Stonewall formation) and other aggressive moves over there. } ) 13... Nxf4 14. gxf4 { This Pf4 will provide some central control, but it's sort of weak. Kg1 is also weakened, so Black need only keep a number of pieces to fight with and not too many weak spots and he should be alright. Immediately it appears Black has to break up some White pawns to avoid a big cramp. The question is whether to capture Pc4 or Pe4. Capturing Pe4 makes Kg1 look less safe, but capturing Pc4 makes Black's queen-side play look better. } 14... Nf6 { That's a curious choice: delaying the pawn capture decision. I guess he thinks the threat to Pf4 (...Nf6-h5) will cause immediate and serious problems for White. } 15. Ne5 Nh5 { Isn't it rather remarkable that Pf4 was so apart from the rest of the White pieces that White just let it go, so he could continue his main offensive plan, not worrying so much about his king's safety because Qd8 can't get to the king-side just yet. } ( 15... dxc4 16. Ndxc4 Nd5 { Fritz7 shows how to capture Pc4 and target Pf4. If now exd5 then cxd5 and Nc4 is lost and White's pawns are broken asunder. } ) 16. Qa4 Bxc4 17. Nxc6 ( 17. Ndxc4 b5 18. Qa6 bxc4 19. Nxc6 Qd7 20. Nxe7+ Qxe7 21. exd5 Nxf4 { is something of a mess, but Kg1 is definately not safe: ...Qe7-g5xg2# and ...Nf4-e2+ are threatened } ) 17... b5 { Bc4 looks very crowded, but there's still d3 and e2 and as long as Pb5 is mobile the bishop might have time to retreat to b5 or a6 and as long as Pe4 remains then there's ...d5xe4 to open up d5 for the bishop. I think it's this kind of open position which gives Black's pieces more mobility and could lead to a serious king-side attack. But, first he must deal with the Nc6 and Qa4. A queen trade when White's knight would be in enemy territory at d8 (after 18. Nxe8 bxa4)  is risky for White to accept. } ( 17... Rxc6 18. Qxc6 Be2 19. Re1 Bb4 $17 { Fritz7 } ) 18. Qa6 Rxc6 { Cutting the Gordian knot; Black solves the problem immediately and having captured a pawn at c4 he can already claim material equality. Gaining Pf4 and greater mobility for his remaining pieces would seem to give him some initiative too. } 19. Qxc6 Nxf4 20. Nxc4 bxc4 21. exd5 exd5 { After this it appears play has to shift toward the king-side. However, Nf4 has to stay in place to keep Pd5 on the board, so there might be time for b2-b3 to continue on the queen-side. } 22. Rc3 Bh4 $5 { This clears the way for ...Qd8-g5 and guards g3 to prevent Rc3-g3, but that rook has already been en prise (...Nf4-e2+) , so it doesn't make as much sense as ...Be7-b4, preventing b2-b3 and threatening to support ...c4-c3. Perhaps what it is really about is ...Nf4-d3 to attack Pf2 and offer White a way to return material that weakens White's back rank. } ( 22... Bb4 23. Rf3 Qg5 24. Rg3 Ne2+ 25. Kh1 Nxg3+ 26. hxg3 Rd8 ) 23. Rg3 $2 { Fritz7 thinks this just allows Black to trade down to a simple ending with all the advantage. A human knows one pawn in a Q+R+pawns ending isn't much. } 23... Re8 $2 { Fritz7 } ( 23... Bxg3 24. hxg3 Nxg2 25. Kxg2 Re8 $17 { Fritz7 } ) 24. Rg4 Re6 { Here comes the cavalry! } 25. Qc5 ( 25. Qb7 Nxg2 26. Rxg2 Rb6 27. Qxa7 Rxb2 $11 { Fritz7 } ) 25... Nxg2 $2 { according to Fritz7; ending some of the pressure on Pd5 and further overworking White's defenses } ( 25... Nd3 26. Qxd5 Rd6 27. Qh5 Bxf2+ 28. Kf1 Bxd4 $17 { Fritz7 } ) 26. Rxg2 { awkwardly placed for certain, but White has an exchange, so he might feel secure } ( 26. Kxg2 $4 h5 27. Rf4 Qg5+ ) 26... a6 27. Qa3 { more pieces to the king-side } 27... g6 ( 27... Qe8 28. Qc3 { also looks quite good } ) 28. Qc3 Qe7 29. b3 Qa3 { Naturally Black would prefer to keep Pc4, to keep the queen-side files closed to White's rooks and to have an offensive threat (to promote the pawn) . Perhaps he even has the idea of ...a6-a5-a4 and ...Re6-b6 to pile-up on Pb3. } 30. Qc2 { For some reason Fritz7 thinks that getting rid of Pc4 changes the position enough, so it's equal. } 30... Qe7 { threat: ...Re1+ mating! } 31. Kf1 cxb3 32. Qxb3 Qd6 { This is a most peculiar position; White is ahead materially, but his king's position is weakened and Rg2 is pretty well stuck. I'd say Black has the advantage if I could find a way for him to attack several points at once to completely overload White's defenses. I suppose the obvious it to focus on Pd4 and Pf2 with ...Re6-e4-f4, ...Qd6-f6. } 33. Qd3 Qf4 ( 33... Re4 ) 34. Qd2 Qf5 35. Qd3 Re4 { setting a very neat trap. After 36. f3?? Re1+ 37. Rxe1 Qxd3+ -+ } 36. Qb3 ( 36. Qxa6 $4 { underestimates Black's threats } 36... Bxf2 37. Rxf2 Qh3+ 38. Kg1 Qg4+ 39. Kh1 Qxd1+ 40. Rf1 Re1 41. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 42. Kg2 Qe4+ 43. Kg3 Qxd4 $19 ) 36... Kg7 37. Qd3 h5 38. Qb3 Bf6 $17 { Fritz7 (finally) ; This combined with ...h7-h5 might indicate Black intends ...h5-h4-h3 to completely disorganize White's king-side defenses. } 39. Rg3 Rf4 ( { Fritz and Mark agree, also good is } 39... Bxd4 40. Rxd4 $2 ( 40. Rg2 h4 { Fritz7 } ) 40... Rxd4 41. Qc3 ( 41. Qb2 $4 Qf6 $17 ) 41... Qf6 42. Rf3 Rd1+ 43. Ke2 Qxc3 44. Rxc3 Rb1 $17 ) 40. Qe3 h4 41. Rg2 Rf3 ( 41... h3 42. Rg3 Bh4 43. Kg1 Bxg3 44. fxg3 Qc2 45. Qd2 Qxd2 46. Rxd2 Re4 $19 { Fritz7; Optimistic I think, but clearly to Black's advantage. } ) 42. Qe2 a5 43. Kg1 Rf4 { intending ...h3 and perhaps ...Bf6-h4 to break through at f2, ensuring White's king will never be safe } 44. Kh1 Re4 ( 44... h3 45. Rg3 Rxf2 { Fritz7 and Mark agree! } ) 45. Qf1 a4 { It's wise for Black to spend the time advancing pawns while White is tied up. There could be a simple ending arising out of this and the more advanced pawns are the ones which could promote first. Of course, Black has to keep the pressure on, so White can't just walk over and grab Pa4. } 46. Rd2 Bxd4 47. Qd1 Be5 ( 47... Bc3 48. Rxd5 ( 48. Re2 Qf3 49. Rd2 Re1+ 50. Qxe1 h3 51. Qf1 Bxd2 52. Kg1 Qxg2+ 53. Qxg2 hxg2 54. Kxg2 $19 { Frit7 } ) 48... Qf4 49. Qd3 Re1+ 50. Rg1 Be5 51. Rxe5 Rxe5 52. Rf1 Qe4+ 53. Qxe4 Rxe4 $19 { Fritz7; again I think it's a little optimistic } ) 48. f3 ( 48. Rxd5 Qf4 ) 48... Rb4 { The simple threat of ...Rb4-b1 keeps Pd5 on the board! } 49. Rd3 h3 50. Re2 d4 ( 50... a3 { idea: ...Rb2; Rxd5 is met by ...Qxf3+; Fritz7 } ) 51. Rf2 Bf4 { threatening ...Bf4-e3 to chase Rf2 off the 2nd rank or away from the defense of Pf3 } 52. Qe2 Rb1+ $19 { according to Fritz7 } ( 52... Be3 53. Rf1 Qg5 ( 53... Qb5 $19 { Fritz7 } ) ) 53. Rd1 ( 53. Rf1 Rb2 ( 53... Qe6 { with a huge advantage, Fritz7; I missed that one. } ) 54. Qxb2 Qxd3 { and Black has the terrific threat of ...Qxf1# when Rf1 has to stay on the f-file to defend Pf3 AND if Qb2-a1 then ...Qd3-e2 threatens ...Qg2# or ...Qxh2#! } ) 53... d3 54. Qf1 Rxd1 55. Qxd1 d2 { This pawn is worth a piece, but it would've been a little easier to get in position to escort it forward while it was still on d3. } ( 55... Qc5 56. Qa1+ Kg8 57. Qe1 a3 58. Rf1 Qc2 59. Rf2 d2 { and White loses his rook, Fritz7 } ) 56. Re2 ( 56. Rxd2 Bxd2 57. Qxd2 Qxf3+ 58. Kg1 Qg2+ 59. Qxg2 hxg2 60. Kxg2 $19 { and Black wins the pawn ending easily } ) 56... Qd3 57. Rf2 Be3 58. Rf1 Bd4 { White's army is pretty well immobilized and Black just has to find one small breaking point; perhaps just letting White run out of moves. Qd1 can't move because of ...Qd3-e2-g2#. } 59. a3 Kg8 60. f4 Qe4+ 61. Rf3 Bf2 { so that ...Qe4-e1+ can't be met by Rf3-f1 } 0-1