(1) Ponomariov,Ruslan (2616) - Topalov,Veselin (2690) [B90]
FIDE-Wch k.o. Las Vegas (2.1), 03.08.1999
[Atlas,V]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Bg7 10.Bc4!? Quite a rare move in this position, which is getting increasingly popular in the modern practice. 10...Nc6 [10...Ne5 11.Bb3 Nbc6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.h4 g4 14.h5 Qa5 15.Qd2 Be6 16.Na4 Qxd2+ 17.Kxd2 Rb8 18.Rad1 Rb4 19.Rhe1 Bf6 20.Kc1 0-0 21.Bf4 Kh7 22.Bd2 Bg5 23.Nc3 1/2-1/2 Heiduczek,J-Kargoll,B/Passau 1998/EXT 99 (61)] 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.h4 [Other options are: 12.Qf3 Rf8 13.Bb3 Ne5 14.Qe3 Rb8 15.0-0 Qb6 16.Qe2 Rh8 17.Kh1 h5 18.f4 gxf4 19.Bxf4 Bg4 20.Qd2 Be6 21.Rad1 Qa5 22.Qe1 h4 23.h3 Nc4 24.Bc1 Kd7 25.Qf2 Rb7 1/2-1/2 Anand,V-Topalov,V/Monte Carlo 1998/CBM 63 ext (36); and 12.Qd2 Qa5 13.Bb3 Be6 14.Nd1 Qxd2+ 15.Kxd2 d5 16.f3 Nf6 17.Nf2 Nh5 18.exd5 Bxd5 19.Nd3 Nxg3 20.hxg3 0-0-0 21.Bxd5 Rxd5 22.Rae1 e6 23.Kc1 Kc7 24.g4 Kd6 25.Re4 Rd4 26.Rxd4+ Bxd4 27.Kd2 f5 28.gxf5 exf5 1/2-1/2 Turzo,A-Avrukh,B/Szeged 1994/TD (42)] 12...Qa5!? The text move yields Black good counterchances. [In his game with Anand in Linares 1998, Topalov opted for 12...Qb6 , but after 13.Bb3 Bd7 14.hxg5 0-0-0 15.Qd2 hxg5 16.Rxh8 Rxh8 17.0-0-0 Ne5 18.f3 Qa5 19.Kb1 Bf6 20.Qe3 Kb7 21.Bf2 Rb8 22.g3 Kc8 23.Qe2 Ng6 24.Be1 Qb6 25.Na4 Qb5 26.c4 Qb7 27.Ba5 Anand got an advantage in the middlegame.] 13.Qf3 Be6 14.Bxe6 fxe6 15.hxg5 [15.Qxg4 allowed Balck to force draw after 15...Bxc3+ 16.bxc3 Qxc3+ 17.Ke2 Qc4+ 18.Kd2 Qd4+= ] 15...hxg5 [15...Rb8!? would more suit Topalov's style. Now 16.0-0-0!? leads to interesting complications: (16.gxh6?! yiedls Black excellent play after 16...Rxh6 (Premature 16...Rxb2 loses to 17.hxg7 Rxh1+ 18.Kd2 Rxa1 (18...Qg5+ 19.Bf4 ) 19.g8Q+ Kd7 20.Qfxg4+- ) 17.Rxh6 Nxh6 18.e5 Rxb2 19.Qxc6+ Kf7 20.0-0-0 Qa3|^ ) 16...Rxb2!? (16...hxg5? 17.Rxh8+ Bxh8 18.Qxg4 Bxc3 (18...Rxb2 19.Qh5+ (19.Kxb2?? Bxc3+-+ ) 19...Kd7 20.Rxd6+ exd6 21.Qh7+ ) 19.bxc3+- ; 16...Qb4 17.Kd2 Qxb2 18.Rb1 Bxc3+ 19.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 20.Kxc3 Rxb1 21.Rxb1 Kf7 22.gxh6 Rxh6 23.Rb6 ) 17.e5! Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.Qxc6+ Kf7 20.Rd3-> ] 16.Rxh8+ Bxh8 17.Kf1! The strongest response. On the kingside White's king is placed most safely. 17...Ne5 18.Qe2 Kd7 19.Nd1 White is planning to bring his currently passive knight into play via e3 and restrict activity of the opponent's bishop by c2-c3. 19...Rb8 20.c3 Qa4?! [After 20...Qb5 21.b3 White keeps a minimal advantage.] 21.Bxe5 Bxe5 22.g3 Bf6?! After this passive reply White gets a durable advantage. [After the appealing move 22...Qb5! it is unclear, whether White has anything better than trading quens, as other continuations are quite risky for him, e.g.: 23.c4 (23.Rc1? Rh8! 24.c4? Qa5 25.a3 Rh1+ 26.Kg2 Qe1!-/+ ; 23.b3 Rh8! 24.c4 Qa5-/+ ) 23...Qa4 24.Kg2 (24.b3 Rxb3 ) 24...Rb4 ><c4, ><b2.] 23.Kg2 a5 24.f3 White hss a slight but durable advantage due to the superirority of his knight over the black bishop and good pawn structure. 24...c5 25.Ne3 Kc7 26.Qd2 Qb5 27.b3 a4 28.Rb1 axb3 [28...Qa5 is met by 29.b4 ] 29.Rxb3 Qa4 30.Rxb8 Kxb8 31.Ng4 Kc7 32.e5! The strong est continuation. The pawn sacrifice augments White's advantage and complicates Black's defensive task. 32...Bxe5 33.Nxe5 dxe5 34.Qe2 Kd6 35.c4 e4! Correct decision. Advancing his tripled e5-pawn in the appropriate moment, Black forces its exchange for the much more valuable a2-pawn, as 36.fe4 falls short after 36...Ke5. 36.Qxe4 Qxa2+ 37.Kh3 Qb2 38.Kg4 Qf2?? [38...Qf6! was the only defence. 39.Kh5 Qf5! , and if 40.g4 then 40...Qf7+ 41.Kxg5 Qf6+ 42.Kh5 Qh8+= ; 38...Qd4? loses to 39.Kxg5 Qxe4 40.fxe4 Ke5 41.g4 Kxe4 42.Kh6+- ; 38...Qd2? fails to 39.f4 ] 39.f4!+- After this decisive pawn advancement Black is defenseless, as 39...Kd7 [39...gxf4 39...gf4 leads to the entirely los for Blak pawn ending. 40.Qxf4+ Qxf4+ 41.Kxf4 ] 40.fxg5 Qb2 41.g6 Qf6 42.Qb7+ Kd6 43.Qb8+ Kd7 44.Kh5 e5 45.Qb7+ Kd8 46.Qd5+ Ke8 47.Qg8+ Kd7 48.Qf7 Qh8+ 49.Kg4 Qh1 50.g7 Qe4+ 51.Kg5 Qe3+ 52.Kh4 Qe4+ 53.g4 1-0

(2) Topalov,Veselin (2690) - Ponomariov,Ruslan (2616) [D20]
FIDE-Wch k.o. Las Vegas (2.2), 04.08.1999
[Huzman]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Bxc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 Nc6 7.Ne2 Bg4 8.Nbc3 [8.f3 Bf5 9.Nbc3 e6 10.Be3 (10.0-0 Qd7 11.Be3 Nb4 12.Ne4 N4d5 13.Bf2 Be7 14.Rc1 0-0 15.Nc5 Qc8 16.Qd2+/= 0-1 Kisseleva,N-Semenova,L/Kishinev 1995/EXT 95 (60)) 10...Qd7 11.g4 Bg6 12.Nf4 0-0-0 13.h4 Nxd4 14.h5 Nxb3 15.Qxb3 Qc6 16.hxg6 Qxf3 17.Rh3 Qxg4 18.gxf7 Nd5 19.Ncxd5 exd5 20.Qd1+- 1-0 Schroll,G-Volkmann,F/Aschach 1992/TD 92\04 (38)] 8...e6 9.0-0 [9.a3 Bxe2 10.Nxe2 Qd7 11.Be3 Na5 12.Ba2 Nac4 13.Qc2 Qb5 14.Rb1 c5 15.0-0 Rc8 16.Qe4 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 Be7 18.Nc3 cxd4 19.Qxd4 Qc5= 1-0 Litinskaya,M-Nutu Gajic,D/ROM-chT 1994/EXT 94ch (69); 9.Be3 Bxe2 10.Nxe2 Bb4+ 11.Nc3 Nd5 12.Rc1 Nxe3 13.fxe3 Qh4+ 14.Ke2 0-0 15.g3 Qe7 16.Ne4+/= 0-1 Oosterom,E-Duyn,R/NLD-chT9495 1994/EXT 97 (30)] 9...Qd7 [9...Nb4 10.h3 Bh5 11.f4 Bg6 12.d5 Qd7 13.dxe6 Bc5+ 14.Kh2 fxe6 15.Qxd7+ Kxd7 16.Rd1+ N4d5 17.Bxd5 Nxd5 18.b4 Bxb4 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Rxd5+ Kc6 21.Rd1 Bc5 22.Bb2 Rad8 23.Bd4|^ 1/2-1/2 Adianto,U-Barua,D/Dubai 1992/EXP 32 (62); 9...Bf5 10.a3 Qd7 11.Be3 Ne7 12.Ng3 Bg6 13.f4 Ned5 14.Qf3 c6 15.Bf2 Be7 16.Nge4 0-0 17.g4|^ 1-0 Mohr,S-Osmanovic,K/Zuerich 1987/EXT 87op (34); 9...Be7 10.f3 Bf5 11.g4 Bg6 12.f4 Na5 13.f5 Nxb3 14.Qxb3 exf5 15.gxf5 Bh5 16.Ng3 Qxd4+ 17.Kg2 Qh4 18.f6 gxf6 19.exf6 Bg4 20.Qb5++/- 1-0 Matveeva,S-Nutu Gajic,D/Subotica 1991/TD 93\02 (28)] 10.h3 [10.Be3 0-0-0 (10...Be7 11.a3 Rd8 (11...0-0 12.Ba2 Bh5 13.Rc1 Rfd8 14.f3 Bg6 15.Qe1 Bf8 16.Rd1 Ne7 17.Bg5 Re8 18.Bxe7 Bxe7 19.Nf4 c6 20.Ne4 1/2-1/2 Tukmakov,V-Yakovich,Y/Kujbyshev 1986/MCL 05 (20)) 12.f3 Bf5 13.Qc1 Na5 14.Ba2 Bd3 15.Bf2 Qc6 16.b4 Nac4 17.Rd1 Bxe2 18.Nxe2 a5 19.Rb1 axb4 20.axb4 Qb5 21.Nc3 Qa6 22.b5+/- 1-0 Savchenko,S-Brady,S/Erevan 1996/EXT 96ch2 (60)) 11.f3 Bf5 12.Bf2 Be7 13.Rc1 Kb8 14.Na4 Nb4 15.Nc5 Qe8 16.Ng3 Bxc5 17.Nxf5 Bf8 18.Ng3 N4d5 19.Ne4+/= 1-0 Giorgadze,G-Gonzalez Garcia,J/Ubeda 1997/EXP 56 (47)] 10...Bxe2?! [10...Bf5 ; 10...Bh5 ] 11.Nxe2 Be7 12.Be3 Nb4 13.Ng3! 0-0-0 [13...0-0 14.Qg4-> ] 14.Qe2 N4d5 15.Ne4 Kb8 16.Rad1 [16.Rac1!? ] 16...h5 [/\16...f5 17.Nc5+/- ] 17.a3 Qe8 18.Bd2 a6 [18...f6 19.exf6 gxf6 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.dxc5 Nd7 22.c6 Nc5 23.Qb5 Qxc6 24.Qxc6 bxc6 25.Bc2+/- ] 19.Rc1 Qg8 20.f4! f5 21.exf6! [21.Nc5 Qf7 ] 21...gxf6 [21...Bxf6 22.Nxf6 gxf6 23.f5+/- ] 22.f5!+/- Rh7 [22...exf5 23.Rxf5 Qg6 24.Qf3+/- ] 23.Nc5 Bd6? [23...exf5 24.Ne6 Rd7 25.Rxf5+/- ] 24.Nxe6 Qg3 25.Qf3!+- Qxf3 [25...Qh2+ 26.Kf2 Rg8 27.Bxd5 Nxd5 28.Qxd5+- ] 26.Rxf3 Re8 27.Re1 h4 28.Re4 Bg3 29.Kf1 c6 30.Rg4 Kc8 31.a4! Nc7 32.Nxc7 Bxc7 [32...Kxc7 33.Ba5 Rhe7 34.Be6+- ] 33.Be1! Nd5 34.Bxd5 cxd5 35.Bxh4 Rhe7 36.Rc3 Kb8 37.Bxf6 Rf7 38.Rg6 Ref8 39.Rxc7! Kxc7 [39...Rxc7 40.Be5 Rxf5+ 41.Ke1 Rxe5+ 42.dxe5 Rc2 43.h4 Rxb2 44.h5+- ] 40.Be5+ Kd7 41.g4 Rc8 42.Rb6 Rc1+ 43.Kg2 Ke8 44.h4 Rc6 45.Rxc6 bxc6 46.h5 Rb7 47.h6 Rxb2+ 48.Kg3 1-0

(3) Topalov,Veselin (2743) - Ponomariov,Ruslan (2734) [C67]
Corus Wijk aan Zee (9), 21.01.2003
[Wedberg]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 Be7 The latest twist in the Berlin defence is to play for exchanges with Nh4. Results are mixed so far. Gary Kasparov took a heavy beating by Judit Polgar in this line (with h3 and h6 in), but that was only a rapid game. 10.Rd1+ [10.Bg5 Bxg5! (10...h5 11.Rad1+ Ke8 12.Ne2 Be6 13.Nf4 c5 14.Bxe7 Kxe7 15.Ng5 Bc4 16.Rfe1 Nd4 17.e6!+/- time. 1-0 Schmid, L-Toran Albero,R/Munich 1958/MCD (36) time. 1-0 Schmid,L-Toran Albero,R/Munich 1958/MCD (36); 10...Be6 11.g4 Nh6 12.h3 Ng8 13.Bxe7+ Nxe7 14.Ng5 h5 15.Nxe6+ fxe6+/= 1/2-1/2 Astengo,C-Capata,I/Bratto 2001/EXT 2002 (47) 1/2-1/2 Astengo,C-Capata,I/Bratto 2001/EXT 2002 (47)) 11.Nxg5 Ke7 12.Rad1 h6 13.Nge4 b6 14.h3 Ba6 15.Rfe1 Rad8= 1/2-1/2 Gligoric,S-Tot,B/Ljubljana 1947/ EXT 99 (30) 1/2-1/2 Gligoric,S-Tot,B/Ljubljana 1947/EXT 99 (30); 10.b3!? In general the b3-setup is not so popular any more due to the manouvre Bb4, Bb2 Bxc3 =. Here Black has already played Be7 which makes it a little bit more attractive to play b3. 10...Ke8 (10...Be6 11.Bb2 Kc8 12.Rad1 Rd8 13.h3 g5 14.Rxd8+ Kxd8 15.g4|^ 1/2-1/2 Letelier Martner,R-Donoso Velasco,P/La Serena 1972/EXT 99 (37) 1/2-1/2 Letelier Martner,R-Donoso Velasco,P/La Serena 1972/ EXT 99 (37); Perhaps 10...a5 planning Bb4.) 11.Bb2 Be6 (11...h5 giving away g5 is risky. 12.Rad1 a5 13.a4 Be6 14.Ne2 Rd8 15.Bc3 Bb4 16.Bxb4 axb4 17.Nf4 c5 18.Rxd8+ Kxd8 19.Ng5+/= 1-0 Mikhalchishin,A-Salov,V/ Lvov 1984/URS-ch (44) 1-0 Mikhalchishin,A-Salov,V/Lvov 1984/URS-ch (44)) 12.Ne2 Bd5 13.Nfd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Bc5 15.Nf5 g6?! 16.e6!+/- 1-0 Sumets, A-Fingerov,D/Odessa 2001/EXT 2002 (66) 1-0 Sumets,A-Fingerov,D/Odessa 2001/EXT 2002 (66); 10.Ne2 Be6 11.b3 Ke8 12.Bg5?! Bd5! 13.Bxe7 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Kxe7=/+ 1/2-1/2 Kapengut,A-Lazarev,E/Riga 1968/MCD (41) 1/2-1/2 Kapengut, A-Lazarev,E/Riga 1968/MCD (41)] 10...Ke8 [10...Bd7?! 11.Ng5!|^ ] 11.g3!? A new idea. Topalov decides to rule out Nh4 completely. So far White has always accepted the exchange on h4 since it costs Black some time. The g3 move looks a bit "ugly" but it's not clear how Black can profit from this defect. White can always cover the white squares with Kg2 or later expand with h3 and g4. 11...h6 12.b3 Be6 [12...a5 is another try 13.Bb2 Bb4 14.Ne4 Be6 15.a3 Bf8!?<=> (15...Be7 16.g4 Nh4 17.Nxh4 Bxh4 18.Nc5 Be7 19.Nxe6 fxe6~~ ) ] 13.Bb2 Rd8 I don't like this move much since it takes away the option to play for a5-a4. [13...a5 ] 14.h3 g5+/= Weakening f6 - Black is really on the defensive now. 15.g4 Ng7 16.Ne4 Bd5 [16...h5? 17.Nf6++- ] 17.Nf6+ Bxf6 18.exf6 The P on f6 is very strong making operations against the Black K a real possibility. 18...Ne6 19.Ne5 Nf4 20.Re1 Be6 21.Bc1 Nd5 [21...Nxh3+ 22.Kg2 Nf4+ 23.Bxf4 gxf4 24.Re2+/= White is better due to more options for active play.] 22.Nd3 b6 23.c4! Nxf6 24.Nb4 c5 Ponomariov goes for a defence an exchange down. [24...Kf8 25.Nxc6 Rd3 26.Bb2 Kg7 27.Rad1 Rxd1 28.Rxd1+/- ] 25.Bb2 cxb4 26.Bxf6 Rf8 27.Bxd8 Kxd8 White's advantage cannot be in doubt. The win is not certain yet though. 28.c5 This eventually helps Black create counterplay on the Q-side. [28.Kg2+/- ] 28...Kd7 29.Rac1 Kc6 30.Re5 [30.cxb6+ Kxb6 31.Re5!? (31.f4 gxf4 32.Re4 a5 33.Rxf4 Rd8<=> ) 31...Rd8 32.Rec5+/= ] 30...b5 31.Rd1 a5 32.Rd4 Ra8 33.f4 gxf4 34.Rxf4 a4! 35.Rxb4? [35.Rf6! axb3 36.axb3 Ra3 37.Rxh6 Rxb3 38.g5 Kd7 39.Kf2+/- ] 35...axb3 36.axb3 Ra3 37.h4 Bxb3 38.h5 Bc4 39.Kf2 Ra1 40.Rb2 f6! Black is fighting well. 41.Re7 [41.Rf5 Rf1+ 42.Ke3 Rxf5 43.gxf5 Kxc5~~ ] 41...f5 42.Rh7 [42.gxf5 Rf1+ 43.Kg3 Rxf5 44.Kg4+/= ] 42...fxg4 43.Rxh6+ Kxc5 44.Rg6 Rh1 45.Rg5+ Kb6 [45...Kd4!= ] 46.Kg3 c6 47.Rxg4! Bd3 48.Rh2 Rxh2 49.Kxh2 c5 50.Rg6+ Ka5 51.Rc6 c4 52.h6 Kb4 53.Kg3 Kc3 54.Kf4 b4 55.Rc7 b3 56.h7 Bxh7 57.Rxh7 Kc2 58.Ke3 1/2-1/2

(4) Topalov,Veselin (2757) - Ponomariov,Ruslan (2700) [B48]
Corus Wijk aan Zee (1), 15.01.2005
[Ribli]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.0-0-0 Bb4 9.f3 Ne5 10.Nb3 b5 11.Kb1 Dies ist eine beliebte Fortsetzung von Topalev. Mit diesem Kцnigszug er hat in einer schцnen Partie gegen Lutz gewonnen (Topalov,V - Lutz,C 2002 Dortmund). Die bekannten Alternativen sind - 11.Qe1 (die moderne Fortsetzung) und 11.Bd4 (der traditionelle Zug). Nach dem Kцnigszug droht sofort 12.Nxb5. 11...Nc4 Das ist die direkte Fortsetzung, jedoch kommt auch die Alternative in Betracht. [11...Be7!? ] 12.Bxc4 bxc4 13.Nc1 Dies ist die Idee des Zuges 11.Kb1 - der Springer besitzt nun ein Schlupfloch auf c1. [13.Nd4 Rb8 14.Ka1 0-0 15.g4 d6 16.a3 Ba5 1/2-1/2 Sax,G-Goloshchapov,A/Rethymnon GRE 2003/(16)] 13...Qb7N Schwarz mцchte die halboffene b-Linie besetzen. Er besitzt zwar das Lдuferpaar, jedoch stehen sie nicht aktiv (besonders Bc8). [13...Rb8 14.Bf4 (14.N1e2 0-0 (14...Qb7 15.b3 0-0 16.Bf4 Ra8 17.Bd6 Bxd6 18.Qxd6 cxb3?! (18...a5!? ) 19.axb3 a5 20.Rd4 1-0 Topalov,V-Lutz,C/Dortmund 2002/CBM 90/[Ribli] (34)') 15.Ka1?! (15.Bf4!? e5 16.Bg5 Ba3 17.b3 Qb6 18.Be3+/= ) 15...d5 16.Bg5 dxe4 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Qh6 Qe5 19.f4 Qf5 20.g4 Qg6 21.Qh3 Kh8 22.Rhg1 Bc5 23.f5 Qg7 0-1 Korneev,O-Delchev,A/Navalmoral de la Mata 2004/CBM 103 ext (41)) 14...e5 (14...Bxc3? 15.Bxc7 Rxb2+ 16.Ka1 Rxc2+ 17.Qxc3 Rxc3 18.Kb2 Re3 19.Bf4+- ) 15.Bg5 Qb6 16.N1e2 0-0 17.Bxf6 Ba3 18.b3 Qxf6 19.Nd5+/= 0-1 Zufic,M-Delchev,A/Zadar 2004 (46); 13...0-0 14.Bf4 Bxc3 15.Bxc7 Bxd2 16.Rxd2 c3 17.bxc3 d5 Grischuk,A-Svidler,P/Cap d'Agde (rapid) 47) 2003/(25)] 14.N1e2 [14.Qd4 Rb8 15.Na4!? ] 14...0-0 15.Qd4 Es hдngt der Pc4, aber das grцЯere Problem der schwarzen Stellung besteht in der passiven Stellung des Bc8. [15.Bf4 d5 ] 15...Rb8 16.Bc1!?+/= WeiЯ steht sicher und ьbt positionellen Druck auf die d-Linie aus. [16.Qxc4 d5~~ ] 16...d6 [16...Ba3 17.b3 Bxc1 18.Rxc1 cxb3 19.cxb3 Rd8 20.e5 Ne8 21.Ne4+/- ; 16...Qc6 17.Bf4 Bc5 18.Qxc4 Rb4 19.Qd3+/= ] 17.Qxc4 Bd7 18.b3 Rfc8 Durch den Druck auf der b- und c-Linie besitzt Schwarz zwar Kompensation fьr den Minusbauern, jedoch ergeben sich daraus keine konkrete Drohungen. 19.Qd3 a5 20.a3 Bc5 [20...Bxc3 21.Nxc3 a4 22.b4+/= ] 21.a4 Be8 22.Bb2 Bb4 [22...Nd7 ] 23.Na2 [23.Nd4 d5 ] 23...Bc5 Es droht 24...Bxa4. 24.Bxf6! WeiЯ tauscht seinen Lдufer, und im weiteren Verlauf wird der Pf6 nicht zu halten sein. 24...gxf6 25.Nec3 Die weiЯen Springer verteidigen sicher die Kцnigsstellung; es ist somit nicht leicht fьr Schwarz, seinen Angriff zu forcieren. 25...Bc6 26.Rhe1 Qb6 27.f4 Kh8 28.Re2 Die weiЯe Stellung steht gegen eventuelle Angriffe von Schwarz sicher. Natьrlich ist es noch nicht leicht, den Mehrbauern zu mobilisieren 28...Rg8 29.g3 Rbd8 30.Qc4 [30.Red2 ] 30...Rd7 31.Red2 Bb7 32.Qe2 Die weiЯe Dame zielt auf den Kцnigsflьgel, um den schwachen f-Bauern anzugreifen. 32...Qc6 33.Qh5 Qb6 34.Qh4 Qd8 35.f5! WeiЯ verbessert seine Stellung kontinuierlich. 35...exf5 [35...Qe7 ] 36.exf5 Rg5 37.Qf4 Re7 38.Nd5+/- Re5 39.g4 Bxd5 40.Rxd5 Rxd5 41.Rxd5 Qe7 Schwarz ver fьgt ьber einige Aktivitдten am Kцnigsflьgel. Der Springer auf a2 steht hingegen noch weit vom Hauptkriegschauplatz entfernt. 42.Qf3 [42.h3+/- ] 42...Qe1+ 43.Rd1 Qh4 44.h3 h5 45.Nc3! WeiЯ gibt den Bauern zurьck, um seinen Springer zurьck ins Spiel zu bringen. [45.Rh1 Kg7 ] 45...hxg4 46.hxg4 Rxg4 [46...Qxg4 47.Rh1+ (47.Qxg4 Rxg4 48.Nd5 Kg7 49.c3+/- ) 47...Kg7 48.Qa8 Rh5 49.Rxh5 Qxh5 50.Qxa5 Qxf5 51.b4 Qf1+ 52.Kb2 Bd4 53.Qc7+/- ] 47.Nd5 Die Stellung ist materiell ausgeglichen, aber WeiЯ besitzt die bessere Bauernstruktur. [>=47.Ne2! Kg7 48.Rh1 Qg5 49.Qh3 Kf8 50.Qh8+ Ke7 51.Qc8 ] 47...Kg7 48.Rh1 Rg3 [48...Qg3 49.Rh7+! Kxh7 50.Nxf6++- ] 49.Qd1 Qd4 50.Qxd4 Bxd4 51.Kc1 Rg5? [>=51...Rf3 52.Rh5 Bc5 53.c3+/- ] 52.Rf1 Rg2 53.c3 Be5 54.Rd1 Kf8 55.Rd2 Rg1+ [55...Rxd2 56.Kxd2+- ] 56.Kc2 Ke8 57.b4+- WeiЯ bekommt am Damenflьgel unweigerlich einen Freibauern, dem Schwarz nichts entgegenzusetzen hat. Der Be5 ist scheinbar stark, jedoch kann er den Freibauern nicht aufhalten 57...Kd7 [57...axb4 58.cxb4+- ] 58.bxa5 Kc8 59.Nb4 Rg5 60.Rd5 Rxf5 61.Rb5! Dem schwarzen Kцnig bleibt der Zugang zur b-Linie verwehrt; es droht a6-a7. 61...Rf2+ 62.Kb3 Rf3 63.Nd5 Rd3 64.Kc4 [64.a6 Rxd5 65.Rxd5 Kb8 66.Kc4+- ] 1-0

(5) Ponomariov,Ruslan (2695) - Topalov,Veselin (2778) [E06]
Sofia MTel Masters Sofia (5), 16.05.2005
[Ribli]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ Eine sehr populдre Variante in GroЯmeisterturnieren; Schwarz stцrt die ьbliche weiЯe Entwicklung. 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Bf4 b6 9.Nc3 Ba6 [9...Bb7 10.Rc1 Nh5 11.Bxb8 (11.Be3 Nf6 12.Qb3 Nbd7 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Rc2 Nb8 15.Ne5 Nbd7 16.Nd3 Nb8 17.Nb4 Qd6 18.a3 Nc6 19.Nxc6 Bxc6 20.Rfc1 Qd7= 1/2-1/2 Sakaev,K-Sargissian,G/Moscow 2005/(25)) 11...Qxb8!? (11...Rxb8 12.Ne5 a6!? 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Na4 Nf6 15.Qb3 Ba8 16.e3 Nd7 17.Nd3 a5! 1/2-1/2 Roiz,M-Macieja,B/Cesme 92/(470) 2004/Inf 92/[Roiz,M] (25)) 12.Ne5 Nf6 13.e3 Rd8 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.f4 g6 16.g4 Nd7 17.Qe1 1/2-1/2 Khalifman,A-Adams,M/Izmir 2004/CBM 104] 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Rc1 Nc6!?N Eine interessante Neuerung - Schwarz fьrchtet nicht den Bauernverlust. [11...Qe8 12.Ne5 Bb7 13.Qa4 Qxa4 14.Nxa4 Na6 15.a3 Rac8 16.Nc3 Nc7 17.Nd3 Nfe8 18.Rfd1 Nd6= 1/2-1/2 Sosonko,G-Karpov,A/Brussels 1987/CBM 02 (52); 11...Bb7 12.Nb5 a6 (12...Nc6 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Ne4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Qxd8 Bxd8 17.Rfd1 a6 18.Nd6 Bd5 19.a3 f6 20.Rc3 b5 21.h4 1/2-1/2 Sturua,Z-Rodriguez Cespedes,A/Yerevan 1996/EXT 97 (65)) 13.Nc7 Ra7 14.Qa4 Ne4 15.Nb5 Ra8 16.Nc3 b5 17.Qd1 Nc6 18.Ne5 1/2-1/2 Prusikin,M-Gyimesi,Z/Miskolc 2004/(18)] 12.Nxd5 Das ist die konsequente Fortsetzung. [12.Qa4 Bb7= ] 12...Qxd5 13.Ne5 Nxd4[] 14.Bxd5 Nxe2+ 15.Qxe2! WeiЯ muss die Dame zurьckgeben, sonst gerдt er in eine zu passive Stellung. [15.Kh1?! Nxd5 16.Qa4 Bb7 17.Qd7 Rab8-> ] 15...Bxe2 16.Bxa8 Rxa8! [16...Bxf1 17.Rc7!+/- ] 17.Rfe1 Bb5 18.Rc2! Nd5~~ Schwarz hat zwei Bauern fьr die Qualitдt und das Lдuferpaar. Anderseits besitzt WeiЯ seine zwei Tьrme und wenn er in die schwarze Stellung eindringen kann, sind seine Gewinnaussichten besser. 19.Rec1 Bc5 20.Bd2 f6!? Schwarz spielt auf Gewinn - im Falle von 20...a5 hдtte Schwarz das Remis erreichen kцnnen. [20...a5 21.Rxc5 bxc5 22.Rxc5 Rb8 23.Bxa5 f6 24.Nf3 Be2= ] 21.b4!