Newsgroup: it.hobby.scacchi
Titolo: chi mi spiega la pirc???

ragazzi è una variante molto complicata!! a me capita che mi ammazzano sul
lato di re con attacchi di matto :(( chi può aiutarmi a difendermi in questa
apertura??? che varianti miconsigliate? grazie!

 apertura??? che varianti miconsigliate? grazie!
Non ho capito il problema.
Se sei tu quello che gioca la pirc o se tu sei il bianco e non riesci ad
affrontare la pirc.
Opterei per la prima ipotesi visto che parli di difendere il lato di re
e non credo che contro la pirc il bianco abbia il benche' minimo
problema a difendere il lato di re.
Quindi se sei tu quello che gioca la pirc col nero, la mia domanda e':
ma chi te lo fa fare di giocare una difesa cosi' difficile e complessa?
Dopodiche' posta un paio di partite che cerco di capire dove sta il
problema...
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Ciao, penso che per attacco da matto tu ti riferisca a posizioni derivanti
da Ae3 con o senza f3 ,Dd2,000 etc.
Mah, in quel caso č buona norma cercare di non arroccare subito e perfino
non avere fretta di giocare l'alfiere in fianchetto in modo da neutralizzare
Ah6 ; poi bisognerebbe mettersi in condizione di avere sempre delle mosse
utili da giocare p.e. c6,Cbd7, b5, Ab7, Da5 o Dc7, e5 .
Il problema della Pirc, che attualmente č una delle difese piů usate se non
la piů usata, č stato evidenzaito da Kasparov in un suo commento alla sua
partita immortale, una pirc appunto.
Secondo lui ci sono troppe varianti buone per il bianco! per ottenere un
discreto vantaggio dall'apertura!
ciao
Paolo
--------------------------------
Inviato via 
http://arianna.libero.it/usenet/

> che attualmente č una delle difese piů usate se non la piů usata
questa te la sei sognata di notte?

 apertura??? che varianti miconsigliate? grazie!
..arrocca sul lato di Donna...
radics
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ciao, assolutamente no. sono i numeri che parlano. le statistiche.bada bene
che ho scritto una delle piů usate se non la piů usata, senza riferimento ai
GM. Controlla sui database...



ciao, per chiarire:
G.Kasparov:
I only fear that after January 20, 1999 it will be very difficult to
persuade people that my best game has not been played yet."
"My best game has not been played yet…
KASPAROV - TOPALOV [B07]
Wijk aan Zee,1999
1.e4
Nothing betokened a storm when I made this move. Topalov, who is always
eager to fight whether he has Black or White, whoever he plays, answered
with
1… d6
I was sincerely surprised. The Pirc-Ufimtsev Defense is not a usual one for
Topalov, and this opening is hardly worth using in the tournaments of the
highest category. White has too many opportunities to anybody's liking,
being able to choose a sharp or a positional game; there are various ways of
developing the initiative. Nevertheless, Topalov obviously counted on
surprise, thinking that I would play worse in a situation I was not ready
for. Besides, he hoped to avoid my opening preparation, which he had faced
before.
2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6
This was when I began to think. I was actually sunk in thought on the third
move, I had often played 3. f3, threatening to transpose into the King's
Indian Defense. However, this opening couldn't scare Topalov off, as he was
used to it; moreover, that was what he would have predicted. That is why I
decided to play for a position I had a definite idea about but had never met
in practice and, frankly speaking, had never seriously analyzed.
4.Be3 Bg7 5.Qd2 c6
As far as I know, Black usually plays c6 and b5 before the move Bg7, but I
don't think that this shift makes a serious difference.
6.f3
It was also possible to play 6.Nf3 b5 7.Bd3. Objectively, that may have been
a better alternative, but on this occasion both adversaries were relying not
on preparation, but on common sense.
6…b5 7.Nge2
A strange move. If White wanted to play 7.Bh6!?, he could do it at once,
leaving the e2-square free for the other Knight and providing an opportunity
to develop the other Bishop on d3. Theoretically, this Knight could move to
h3 one day. Generally speaking, the move Nge2 makes no sense; its motive is
purely psychological. I remembered a conversation from before the game. When
we discussed the strategy with Yury Dokhoian, he said, suddenly looking
through Topalov's games, "You know, Garry, he does not like it when the
opponent makes moves he cannot predict. This affects him strangely." That is
why I played 7.Nge2 and surprised Topalov. This move does not contain any
threats, but continues development. However, it seemed to me that he did not
like the character of the fight, as it did not correspond to the ideas he
had before the game.
7...Nbd7 8.Bh6
Better late than never. It is useful to exchange the Bishop.
8…Bxh6 9.Qxh6
White has achieved some sort of success, since Black cannot castle short.
However, this achievement is rather ephemeral, because the King can hide on
the Queenside as well. White's King will also castle there. A war of
maneuver looms, and White cannot count on significant gains. Actually, if
Black plays actively with 9…Qa5, then White can move 10.Nc1, and then the
Knight moves to b3, gaining a tempo. White will manage to stabilize the game
and he will deprive Black of the opportunity to take advantage of the
diversion of the White Queen to h6.
9…Bb7 10.a3
I did not want to castle at once, because it was not clear how to defend the
King after the Queen moves to a5 and threatens b4. That is why White makes a
wait-and-see move that prepares long castling and holds Nc1 in reserve to
repulse the b4 threat if Black moves …Qa5..
10…e5
Topalov, after thinking for 11 minutes, decided to strengthen the position
in the center and to prepare to castle long. Black had alternative plans,
but this one looked most logical.
11.0-0-0 Qe7 12.Kb1
White did not have a lot of opportunities either; he had to unravel the
tangle of his pieces. That was why I decided to transfer the Knight to b3,
taking advantage of the fact that now Black's attempt to play actively with
a7-a5 would be repulsed: 12...a5?! 13.Nc1 b4 14.dxe5! dxe5 (14…Ng8 15.Qg7
Qxe5 16.Qxe5+ dxe5 17.Na4±) 15.Na4 bxa3 16.b3±
12…a6
It was probably possible to castle at once, but Topalov defends his King
from the potential threat of d5 just to be on the safe side. I doubt that
this threat was that real, but Black found this move desirable.
13.Nc1 0-0-0 14.Nb3
The development of both sides is coming to its end. However, Black has to
show some enterprise, as he is under some pressure. If White develops with
g3, Bh3, and Rhe1, then it won't be easy for Black. Black's King is slightly
weakened and, of course, he should have considered playing c6-c5, but then
White would have a choice: close the position by playing d5, or even to
exchange.
It is probably more promising to close the center. White's space advantage
lets him push for an attack. Then I hoped to make use of Black's weaknesses
on the Queenside. It was possible to move the Queen from h6 to b6 or to a7.
This was an absurd thought: it flashed across my mind and immediately
disappeared, but subconsciously I formed the idea that the Queen on b6
together with the Knight on a5 could make a lot of trouble, especially if
the White Bishop appears on h3. This did affect the calculation of
variations, but, the mere fact that such an idea surfaced served as a
prologue to a wonderful combination.
14…exd4!
A very good decision: relief in the center. Taking advantage of the fact
that White is a bit backward in development, Black does not hesitate to open
the game and relies on the possibility that active pieces will compensate
for the weakened position of the King.
15.Rxd4 c5 16.Rd1 Nb6!
A good move. Black prepares d6-d5, and I had to think hard for 10 minutes.
What does White do next? Let's say if 17. a4?!, then Black gets a good
position after 17…b4 18.a5 bxc3 19.axb6 Nd7. And in case of 17.Na5 d5
18.Nxb7 (18.g3 d4) 18…Kxb7 19.exd5 Nbxd5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Bd3 f5 22.Rhe1 Qc7
23.Bf1 c4, we have a complicated position with mutual chances. Of course,
the Black King is out in the open, but the White Bishop is hemmed in by the
Pawns. Black is sound in the center, and it is most likely that the position
is in a state of dynamic balance.
Now we already have the dim contours of a combination. I still could not
imagine how it would look, but I realized that the moves g3 and Bh3 could
not be bad.
17.g3
Now the Bishop will move to h3, the Queen will return to f4, the Knight will
go to a5, and the blow will take place somewhere in that area. At that
moment, however, I did not know exactly what this blow would be like.
Nevertheless, the idea of placing the pieces in such a way already reigned
over my mind.
17...Kb8
Topalov thinks that he has some time and can calmly prepare for d6-d5.
18.Na5 Ba8 19.Bh3 d5
So, both sides have fulfilled their plans: White has finished developing,
and Black has played d6-d5. It is important to note that if Black had not
played the Knight to a5 on the 18th move, but had immediately played Bh3,
then the White Knight would not have reached the a5-square after ...Nc4.
Though, generally speaking, there was such an opportunity and it was
possible to play Rhe1, but that would have been another game. I tried to
systematically fulfill the plan that I expected to end in a sacrifice. The
move Rxd4 was already clear in my mind, though I had not yet realized the
possibility of a draw by repetition of moves. I just saw the outline of an
attack.
20.Qf4+ Ka7 21.Rhe1
This was when I saw the possibility of a draw. Moreover, I felt that there
was a possibility to continue the game, to play without the Rook, though I
could not imagine what it would lead to. However, the image of the Black
King on a5 comforted my heart and intuition given to every man from birth.
The intuition of an "attacker" (let's call it that), told me that there
would be a decision and a mating net around the black King would be spun in
spite of the huge material advantage of the adversary. Besides, I was
whipped up by curiosity about the unexplored. Will there ever be another
opportunity to lure out the black King into the center of my own camp!?
Lasker's ancient game with a sacrifice on h7 and King's move g8-g1 is like a
myth to us. Such a thing could happen only in those distant times, we
assume. And suddenly, this opportunity! Topalov looked quite confident. He
played
21…d4
Certainly, after 21…dxe4? 22.fxe4 the game is open and now the threat 23.Nd5
gives Black a lot of trouble: The Black King is too weak. White, of course,
could have played 22.Na2, but after 22…Rhe8 or h7-h6, the game would have
become very complicated. So naturally, my hand led the knight to the center.
22.Nd5
Frankly speaking, this move is not the strongest, but it serves as a
prologue for a further combination.
22...Nbxd5 23.exd5 Qd6
It seemed to me that Topalov was a bit surprised, as he thought that
attacking resources had dried out. A check on c6 was senseless, the Knight
will be beaten, the King will go to b6, and there is hardly any opportunity
for White to move his Rooks toward the Black King. The d4-pawn safely
protects the d-rank, and there are no squares for intrusion on the e-rank.
Actually, this was not quite right, and my next move, made without any
hesitation, turned out to be an unpleasant surprise for Topalov.
24.Rxd4!!
When I made this move, I saw only the repetition of the moves and the
opportunity to continue the attack, though the whole picture of the
combination was not yet clear. I already saw the idea Rd6-Rb6, but I still
could not get rid of the thought that all lines should be checked to the
very end. Maybe Black will find some opportunity for defense. Topalov spent
about 15 minutes thinking. I walked around the hall—rather, I fled--and at
these feverish moments it seemed to me that there were very few participants
and that most of the games had already been finished. My mind worked only in
one direction, and one of these moments brought me the image of the whole
cluster of various lines. I saw the move Rd7. I don't even remember how this
line was formed in my head, but I saw the whole line up to the end. I saw
the journey of the black King after Bf1, Rd7 and I could no longer suppress
my excitement, because at that same moment I realized that the move 24…Nb6
ruined the whole construction. I was intending to play 25.b4, as I
underestimated the fact that after 25…Qxf4 (25...Nxd5 26.Qxd6+ Rxd6 27.bxc5+
Kxc5 28.Nb3+ Kb6 29.Kb2 Rhd8 30.Red1 Bc6 31.f4 Kc7=) 26.Rxf4 Nxd5 27.Rxf7
cxb4 28.axb4 Nxb4 29.Nb3 Rd6 Black's position is better. Maybe, if Topalov
had played 24…Kb6! (24…Bxd5?! 25.Rxd5 Nxd5 26.Qxf7+ Nc7 27.Re6 Rd7 28.Rxd6
Rxf7 29.Nc6+ Ka8 30.f4) then I could have found the move 25.Nb3!, which
again makes it impossible to capture the Rook: 25…Bxd5! (25...cxd4? 26.Qxd4+
Kc7 27.Qa7+ Bb7 28.Nc5 Rb8 29.Re7++-; 25...Nxd5? 26.Qxf7 Rhf8 27.Qg7 Rg8
28.Qh6 Qf8 29.Rh4±) 26.Qxd6+ Rxd6 27.Rd2 Rhd8 28.Red1= and White keeps
equality, but not more. The mere thought that I could spoil such a
combination drove me crazy, and I only prayed that Topalov would capture on
d4. I still was not sure that this would win, but the beauty of the
combination I saw impressed me.
I could not believe my own eyes when Veselin twitched abruptly and grabbed
the Rook. As he explained after the game, he was exhausted by the tense
fight and he thought that White would have to force a draw by the repetition
of moves after the Rook was captured. He saw the main idea of the
combination, but it did not occur to him that White would play without the
Rook, trying to make use of the King's forward position on a4.
24…cxd4?!
This move loses the game, but it is worth an exclamation mark, as great
combinations cannot be created without partners. If Topalov had not taken
the Rook, the game could have finished in a draw: Veselin would have had
half a point more, I – half a point less. He would have win a little bit, I
would have lost a little bit, but chess and chess amateurs would have lost a
lot. However, Caissa was kind to me that day… I do not know what I was
rewarded for, but the development of events became forced after the capture
on d4.
25.Re7+!
I made this move with lightening speed. And there was nothing to think
about. The Rook was inviolable. Such moves are always made with pleasure,
and all I have said before (that the d-rank is closed by the d4-pawn and
that there are no squares for intrusion on the e-rank) turned out to be
ruined. Two white Rooks sacrifice themselves, and thus, the way to the black
camp is opened for White's pieces. The construction I dreamt of – Queen on
b6, Knight on a5 – has suddenly come true, because of the Bishop on h3. If
Black moves 25...Kb8?, then after 26.Qxd4! Nd7 27.Bxd7 Bxd5 28.c4! Qxe7
29.Qb6+ Ka8 30.Qxa6+ Kb8 31.Qb6+ Ka8 32.Bc6+! Bxc6 33.Nxc6, Black loses by
force.
I have to note that 25.Qxd4? did not achieve the goal, because of 25…Qb6
26.Re7 Nd7 and White's attack fades away.
25…Kb6 26.Qxd4+ Kxa5
Some of the participants, including Anand, asserted that the move 26...Qc5
saved the game. However, after 27.Qxf6+ Qd6



seconda parte del commento
Some of the participants, including Anand, asserted that the move 26...Qc5
saved the game. However, after 27.Qxf6+ Qd6 28.Be6!!
White closed the rank but left the opportunity to vary threats and to force
Black into a desperate position. For example, 28…Bxd5 (28...Rhe8 29.b4!+-)
29.b4! Ba8 30.Qxf7 Qd1+ 31.Kb2 Qxf3 32.Bf5 would be the simplest way, as all
the lines are closed and mate threats become inevitable.
27.b4+ Ka4 28.Qc3
I made the last move without hesitation. Frankly speaking, I could not make
myself think as I strove for the end. I already saw it, and it seemed to me
that it was the way to finish the game, that Black could not avoid it, and
that there were no other defenses. Veselin gave me time when he was thinking
himself, but I could not make myself look for another opportunity. My hopes
were in vain! However, it is difficult to judge. It seems to me that the
beauty of this combination is not inferior to any alternative. Though, in
order to be objective from the point of view of chess truth, it would be
stronger to play 28.Ra7! This move was found by Lubomir Kavalek, probably
with the help of a computer, as it is impossible to look through all the
lines independently. Nevertheless, the idea found by Kavalek provided the
opportunity to realize all problem motives in a clearer way, keeping Black
from using new defensive resources. Such resources could appear in the game
as played, though, frankly speaking, they were not enough.
So, after 28.Ra7, both captures on d5 lose quickly: 28...Nxd5 29.Rxa6+!!
Qxa6 30.Qb2 Nc3+ 31.Qxc3 Bd5 32.Kb2+
and we approached the position when there was no defense from the threat of
Queen's self-sacrifice on b3. Black cannot attract another piece to control
the a2-g8 diagonal, as the White Bishop controls the e6-square.
The Bishop's capture on d5 also loses: 28...Bxd5 29.Qc3 Rhe8 30.Kb2 Re2.
Black linked the c2 pawn and defended from the Qb3 threat. And here the
Queen suddenly changes its route – 31.Qc7!, threatening a mate from a5. And
after 31…Qxc7 32.Ra6 the King turns out to be mated by the white Rook. A
wonderful scheme of mating pieces!
The strongest move, as in the game itself, is 28.Ra7 Bb7 29.Rxb7 Qxd5.
(After 29…Nxd5, White finds a new mating construction, 30.Bd7!, threatening
with Bxb5+ to expose the Black King and to mate it again with the Rook, and
after 30.Rxd7 White varies the threats by the move 31.Qb2, threatening a
mate from b3. The only move is 31…Nxb4, and then 32.Rxd7 attacks the Queen
again. And there is a mate from b4 after 32…Qxd7. 32…Qc5 33.Rd4 threatens to
capture on b4 and on h8. After 33…Rc8 White plays 34.Qb3+ Ka5 35.ab, and
Black suffers crucial material losses.)
The continuation after 29…Qxd5: 30.Rb6 a5. (In case of 30…Ra8, White
restores the material balance after 31.Qxf6 and continues the crucial
attack. 31…a5 32.Bf1 Rhb8 33.Rd6 driving away the black Queen and the white
Queen comes back and mates.)
It seems that after 29.Rxb7 Qxd5 30.Rb6 a5 31.Ra6, Black can defend himself
playing Ra8, but then a sudden change in mating construction follows:
32.Qe3!!
Right here, as after 32…Rxa6 goes 33.Kb2 (which threatens mate on b3), and
after 33…axb4 34.axb4 the a3-square is open for a new mating construction. A
capture on b4 postpones the mate by one more move. 35.Qc3 Ka4 36.Qa3
checkmate. The only defense is 34…Qa2+ 35.Kxa2 Kxb4+ 36.Kb2. Black has
rather good material–two Rooks for the Queen--but White continues the attack
and there is no escape from it: 36…Rc6 37.Bf1, threatening a mate from a3.
37…Ra8 38.Qe7+ Ka5 39.Qb7. A mate threat on b5 results in the win of the
Rook.
28…Qxd5
Here, Topalov had less than half an hour, I had 32 minutes. It would be even
weaker to play 28…Bxd5, because of 29.Kb2! with inevitable mate.
29.Ra7! Bb7 30.Rxb7
White refuses the last opportunity to force a perpetual check by playing
30.Qc7. I was sure that White would achieve more. Of course, 30…Rd6 31.Rb6!
is an effective variant, but not very complicated. The black Rook on d6
cannot do two things simultaneously: defend the a6-pawn and control the
d4-square, as Black has to play Qd4 after Kb2. It is important that there is
no checkmate on d1, because the white King suddenly goes to a2 and it turns
out that the threat Qb3 can be also supported by the King from the
a2-square. That is why the black Queen has to be on d5 (one has to
understand this very important moment), in order to control the b3-square
and to be able to play Qd4 if the white King is on b2. Therefore, the Rook
should be on d8. It leaves enough opportunities for most various problem
motives that are more vivid in this particular line. Both adversaries saw
the line, and Topalov, having spent some of his precious minutes, played
30…Qc4
This is the most natural defense, and I counted on it, too. Moreover, this
is the defense that leads to the most effective mating end that I had no
rest from for the last 15-20 minutes, ever since its image mysteriously
arose in my mind. Actually, Black had two other defenses, and each of them
could have ruined the delicate conception that I had in mind.
The first one was 30...Rhe8, the move Topalov showed on the next day before
the round started. Thus he drove me into a tight corner in my game with
Reinderman, where I was deep in thought calculating various lines after
30.Rhe8 and, not being able to find the way out, I was very careless in the
opening, making two slips and mixing everything up. Fortunately, I rethought
quickly, got rid of all these fixed ideas and nightmares and played a
marvelous game. However, Topalov's idea was not likely to live a long life,
because everyone was interested in this game and the statement that the move
Rhe8 could refute White's brilliant composition must have caused inward
protest. So, at the end of the round, Lichterink proudly showed a brilliant
victory for White.
Thus, White plays 31.Rb6 Ra8. It is important to note that the move 32.Be6,
which suggests itself, does not achieve the goal: 32…Rxe6 33.Rxe6. And
Black, of course, can not capture the rook on e6, as after Kb2 there is no
defense from the mate, but plays 33…Qc4. This is the very counter sacrifice
that I told you about. White has to beat c4: 34.Qxc4 bxc4 35.Rxf6 Kxa3 and
then 36.Rxf7 Re8 Black starts a counter attack and, strange as it may seem,
keeps good chances to win the ending.
White cannot allow such exchanges and, as we can see, the c4-square is now
crucial. Black could change the defense, playing 30…Rhe8. In this case one
Rook would defend the a6-pawn from a8, and the move Kb2 faces Qe5. The Rook
controls the e5-square, and the Queen is ready to move to c4. That is why
the key move is 32.Bf1!! Objecting to 32…Qc4, White creates a quiet threat
33.Rd6, which is crucial in the case of Nd7 (32...Nd7 33.Rd6! Rec8 34.Qb2).
If Re6, then White simply makes an exchange on e6 and plays Kb2. If Red8,
White plays Rc6 and creates a threat Rc5, now we have Rd6 anyway after Nd7,
as the d-rank is closed. And after Nh5, we can, for instance, play Rc5 Rac8
and Kb2. And there is no way out again! Lichterink, most likely with the
help of a computer, found a unique defense. This is a counter sacrifice that
faces a marvelous, though probably also computer, denial.
This is 32…Re1 (after 32.Bf1) 33.Qe1 Nd7. The white Rook is captured, but
the most important thing is that the black Knight tries to go to b6 and
after 34.Qc3 Nb6 35.Kb2 this Knight checks the King from c4, after 36.Ka2 he
checks the King from d2, controls the b3-square, and suddenly Black wins.
However, after 33…Nd7 White makes a diverting Rook sacrifice – 34.Rb7!
It is necessary to take the Rook, as after 34…Ne5 35.Qc3 Qxf3 the easiest
way to the victory would be 36.Bd3 Qd5 37.Be4. And after 34…Qb7 there is
that very computerlike ending: 35.Qd1 Kxa3 36.c3
and the white Queen mates in a stair-like way Qc1-Qc2-Qa2. Checkmate is
inevitable!
I do not know if it would be possible to find this line during a game, but
the beauty of the combination is absolutely irresistible. In essence, we
deal with a problem of changing mates, which, as far as I can remember, have
never been practiced by serious chess players. Such interchange of mates is
characteristic only of special chess problems.
Black has another counter-opportunity: he can make a sudden Knight sacrifice
30...Ne4! and after 31.fxe4 Qc4 the idea becomes clear – if White follows
the line of the game absentmindedly, then after the move Bf1 at the very end
of the line, Black will capture on e4 with check. The difference is that the
white Pawn moves from f3 to e4 and now this square is clear for the black
Queen. Of course, White does not have to play 31…Qc4 - 32.Qf6, though after
32...Ka3 33. Qf6 Kb4 Bd7, he is not at risk. The game, however, would end in
a draw. The move 32.Qe3? is not promising either. Black plays 32…Rc8, which
is the same counter-sacrifice, 33.Bxc8 Rxc8, approaching the counterattack:
34.Qc1 Qd4! – the best way. And White has accept a draw.
A capture on c4 gives Black chances to win and leads to a complicated
ending: 32.Qxc4?! bxc4 33.Kb2. The best move is 33…f5 and after 34.exf5
Black has to play c3 and give an intermediate checkmate, as after 34...Rd6
35.fxg6 c3+ White plays 36.Ka2 hxg6 37.Bf1, and we come across mating
constructions once again: either Bc4-Bd3, or Bb5-Ra7. However, after 34…c3+
35.Kxc3 Kxa3 36.f6 Rd6 37.f7 Rc6+ 38.Kd4 Rxc2 39.Bf1 White has some chances
to win. Maybe he will win the ending because of a strong Pawn and the
opportunity to push the King to g7. However, White didn't start this
combination to win the ending. Fortunately, a detailed analysis shows that
White has a better opportunity.
After 30…Ne4 31.fxe4 Qc4 the right move would be 32.Ra7
as it threatens mate on a6 again. Now, after 32…Ra8 White wins playing
33.Qe3, in order to play Kb2 after Ra7. And after 32…Rd1+ 33.Kb2 Qxc3+
34.Kxc3 Rd6 we come to an ending, but this ending is different from the
previous one. The black King is still threatened with mate. The Pawn has not
yet left the b5-square and White can continue forcing threats, in spite of
the disappearance of the Queens: 35.e5 Rb6 36.Kb2 Re8 (where else? If
36…Rd8, then 37.Bd7) 37.Bg2! in order to play 37…Rxe5 38.Bb7, and then
38…Re7 39.Bd5, and suddenly the Bishop gets at b3. As we know, the result
would be just as if the Queen were there. Thus, after 37.Bg2! Rd8 Black
controls the d5-square, and then 38.Bb7 Rd7 39.Bc6!!
Now, after 39…Rd2 the move 40.Be8 will decide, and after 39…Rd8 40.Bd7 we
reach the position in question. Black is paralyzed and can do nothing but
wait for a disgraceful end.
31.Qxf6 Kxa3
Topalov still erred in thinking that White had nothing better than 32.Qxa6
Kb4 and 33.Bd7. Really, White has no other possibilities as the King is
under the threat of mate himself. Black misses the best defense that let him
continue the resistance in the ending by playing 31…Rd7+! And then 32.Kb2
Ra8 33.Qb6!
threatening a mate from a5. 33…Qd4+ (At 33…a5, 34.Bd7 is decisive) 34.Qxd4
Rxd4 35.Rxf7. Technically, it is the most complicated decision. Black must
play 35...a5 36.Be6 axb4 37.Bb3+ Ka5 38.axb4+, and it turns out that the
Rook cannot capture on b4 because after c3 this Rook is trapped and the
ending is technically won. Then, after 38...Kb6 39.Rh7 Rc8 40.h4 White can
win this position without much trouble. The Bishop and three Pawns are much
stronger than the Rook. White's setup is marvelous and his victory is a
matter of time. However, the continuation 35.Bd7 was more effective, and I
counted on it during the game because, frankly speaking, I did not see that
after ab Rb4 the move c3 trapped the Rook. I planned to play 35.Bd7.
Analysis showed that this was also enough for the victory. White tries to
dominate, to press the black pieces, and he prepares to move the Kingside
Pawns, taking advantage of the fact that the Rook should be on a8. Black
tries to defend himself from Bb5+ and not to let the Bishop go to b3.
Nevertheless, he does not succeed. After 35.Bd7!? Rd2 36.Bc6 f5 37.Rb6 Ra7
38.Be8 Rd4 39.f4. Black is nearly stalemated. After 39…Rc4 40.Bf7 Rxb4+
41.axb4 Rxf7 42.c3 Ra7, the only way is to play 43.Re6 a5 44.Re1, and we
come across a new mating construction. This time it is a checkmate from a1;
the Rook mates the black King on the a-rank.
Nevertheless, Topalov took on a3 with the King, and the line I dreamt of
came true!
Once again, tried to check the lines, and, afraid to believe my own eyes, I
made sure that what I had thought of for so long was just about to happen.
It seemed to go on for ages, but in fact, it took not more than two minutes.
Then followed
32.Qxa6+ Kxb4
33.c3+!
Probably, this was when Topalov realized everything. Of course, he saw the
move 36…Rd2 and then, as it often happens to chess players, he immediately
saw Rd7. Black has no choice, he has to take with the King on c3.
33…Kxc3 34.Qa1+ Kd2
There is no way back: If 34...Kb4 35.Qb2+ Ka5 36.Qa3+ Qa4 37.Ra7, winning
the Queen.
35.Qb2+ Kd1
The black King has made the way to his Calvary – from b8 to d1 – across the
whole chessboard! And when it seems that he has reached a quiet harbor
(White has no more checkmates), the Bishop, which was on h3 and did nothing
but shot in the emptiness and defended the e6 square, made his move.
36.Bf1!
White attacks the Queen, who cannot escape. If he retreats along the e-rank
the move 37.Qe2 and checkmate would follow, and retreat to e6 will allow a
mate from c1.
Another change of mating constructions! In fact, we should not forget
another opportunity: instead of 35…Kd1, 35…Ke3 can be played, then the
continuation would be 36.Re7+ Kf3 37.Qg2.
This is one more of the innumerable mating endings. Thus, after 36.Bf1 the
Bishop is also inviolable, as after 36…Qxf1 37.Qc2+ Ke1 38.Re7+ – I don't
know who would like such a mate. This is a trifle in comparison with all we
had before.
36…Rd2
Black makes a counterblow and for another second it seems that the worst is
left behind, because White seems to have no more resources. 36…Qc5 37.Qe2
mate; 36…Qe6 37.Qc1 mate.
With one more second to rest, Black will announce checkmate to the white
King himself. But this is where the white Rook enters.
37.Rd7!
The weakness of the a1-h8 diagonal is the most important element of this
combination. Usually everything depends on such trifles. If only the black
Rook had been on g8, there would have been no combination at all… And after
37.Rd7 Black has nothing else to hope for. However, Topalov still continued
the fight mechanically. Black has to take the Rook on d7.
37…Rxd7!
38.Bxc4 bxc4 39.Qxh8 Rd3
This moves gives the illusion of activity. If White suddenly takes on h7,
then after c3 Black will queen the black pawn. But we did not play draughts,
it was not obligatory to capture, and now the Queen could show her true
strength.
40.Qa8
Moving closer to the battlefield.
40…c3 41.Qa4+ Ke1 42.f4
And thus Black is deprived of the last hope to get a position of "the Rook
against the Queen" that demands a certain accuracy from the strongest side,
if playing a computer. And still, as practice has proved, a weaker side in
the battle of two chess players is not able to resist, as it is nearly
impossible to make a "computer move" that would take the Rook away from the
King. However, it is not necessary to know all these nuances. White keeps a
lot of Pawns so that Black could hope to win them sometime.
42…f5 43.Kc1
Neutralizes any Black's hope connected with c-pawn.
43...Rd2 44.Qa7
The Queen starts attacking black Pawns, and the h2-pawn is inviolable
because of Qg1+. Topalov resigned, and this wonderful game was over.
In actual fact, the game was not over, as its transmission via the Internet
shook the world of chess, and the game itself was analyzed. Topalov analyzed
the game at night, then it was analyzed the following day by Dutch
journalists. They looked for defenses, counterblows, found the way to win,
and then studied the defense again. A great many articles were written on
the game. Later on, Kavalek will find the move Ra7, but we now know the
final verdict, which was announced several days after the game was played,
during the tournament in Wijk aan Zee. Dozens or even hundreds of computers
had already analyzed the game and confirmed that White's combination was
correct and Black's decisive mistake was 24…cd, which cut off all ways for
rescue. After that the Black King was doomed to cross the road of death and
White, fortunately, unless Black found hidden defenses, ended the game with
two strokes – Bf1 and Rd7.
Indeed, from now on, it will be very difficult for me to say that my best
game has not been played yet. From the professional point of view, I believe
that my game with Svidler is even better, but chess amateurs do not care
about the Grunfeld defense! Chess amateurs do not care about a Pawn
sacrifice in a famous position, or about a piece counter sacrifice. They
don't care about the few possible moves with centralization of pieces or
about the transfer of the Queen, when one can enjoy the combination and see
the romantic appeal of a modern chess game with a good opening and an
interesting fight, when there is a certain romanticism that seemed to have
fallen into oblivion. And it seems appropriate that such a game was played
in an unpretentious and not very expressive line. As I have already said,
both adversaries played according to their common sense, driven by their own
understanding and judgment and not by some special knowledge. I suppose that
one can hardly find a better example to debunk a popular myth, that all my
success is, to a certain extent, connected with straightforward opening
preparations. In the long run, true chess connoisseurs realize that the
secret of success does not depend only on intensive preparation but on the
way this preparation is transformed within the chessplayer, in the way it
lets him develop his chess horizons.
ciao a tutti
Paolo Nicora



Non è che che c'hai infilato dentro anche le moderne e i rientri nela
Philidor?
ciao
Corrado

 Corrado
  Atalariko


 GM. Controlla sui database...
secondo me ti sbagli e di molto:
ho preso un database che avevo con 1.700.000 partite giocate da giocatore
vari: titolati e non.
La Siciliana è l'apertura più giocata in assoluto di certo:
Difesa Pirc 45.000 (2,6%)
Difesa Sicilana 330.000 (19%)
restando nelle difese a e4 anche la Francese e la Caro-Kan sono più giocate
della Pirc 115.000 (6,7%) e 60.000 (3,5%)
per la precisione le statisctiche delle aperture giocate più dell'1% sono
Difesa Sicilana 330.000 (19%)
Inglese 125.000 (7,3%)
Francese 115.000 (6,7%)
Gambetto di donna 113.000 (6,6%)
Spagnola 90.000 (5,3%)
Caro-Kan 60.000 (3,5%)
Partita di donna 50.000 (2,9%)
Difesa Pirc 45.000 (2,6%)
Nimzo 45.000 (2,6%)
Gruenfeld 44.000 (2,5%)
Olandese 38.000 (2,2%)
Indiana di re 33.000 (1,9%)
Indiana di donna 33.000 (1,9%)
Slava 29.000 (1,7%)
Alekhine 24.000 (1,4%)
Benoni 24.000 (1,4%)
Scandinava 19.000 (1,1%)
Catalana 18.000 (1,0%)
Tarrasch/Semi-Tarrasch 18.000 (1,0%)
ovviamente in altri DB i dati sranno differenti ma dubito molto che la Oirc
possa essere "la più giocata".
ciao
Franz

 Difesa Pirc 45.000 (2,6%) ------>
Magister:  8503  (2,13%)
GM's Private Room: 1317  (1,8%)
In effetti, anche fra i Maestri, la Pirc non č la piů giocata. :-)
Franco