(1) Svidler,Peter (2689) - Ponomariov,Ruslan (2630) [B06]
Biel GM Biel (3), 26.07.2000
[Wells]

1.e4 Finkel,A 1...g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 a6 5.f4 [5.a4 is often the instinctive reaction of many less experienced players, but in the Modern defence it is rarely necessary to prevent black's queen-side expansion in this way. Playing in the centre sharpens the struggle and intensifies the battle for the initiative.] 5...b5 6.Bd3 Bb7 7.Nf3 Nf6 [7...Nd7 Finkel,A 8.e5 c5 9.0-0 cxd4 10.Bxd4 dxe5 11.fxe5 Nxe5 12.Bxe5 Bxe5 13.Bxb5+ axb5 14.Qxd8+ Rxd8 15.Nxe5+/= De Vilder,H-Jonker,M/Dieren op 1997] 8.e5 [8.a3 Finkel,A 8...Nbd7 9.h3 c5 10.e5 Nh5-/+ ] 8...Ng4 [8...Nd5 Finkel,A 9.Nxd5 Bxd5 10.0-0 Nd7 11.Qe2 /\a4,/\f5] 9.Bg1!? [9.Qe2 has been more often played.; 9.Qe2 Finkel,A 9...Nc6 (9...c5 10.e6!? (10.Bg1 cxd4 11.Nxd4 ) 10...Bxf3 (10...fxe6 11.Bg1 /\Ng5; 10...Nxe3 11.exf7+ Kxf7 12.Qxe3 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 cxd4 14.Ne4-> ) 11.Qxf3 Nxe3 12.exf7+ Kxf7 13.Qxa8 cxd4 14.Nd1 (14.Ne4 Nxg2+ 15.Kd2 Nxf4 16.Ng5+ Kg8 17.Raf1 Bh6 18.h4+/- ) 14...Qc7 15.Nxe3 dxe3 16.Qd5+~~ Thorhallsson,T-Hjartarson,J/Nordic-ch VISA 1997; 9...Nxe3 10.Qxe3 0-0 11.0-0-0 Nd7 12.e6 Bxf3 13.exf7+ Rxf7 14.gxf3 Bh6 15.Ne2 /\h4) 10.Bg1 0-0 11.h3 Nh6 12.h4 Nb4 13.h5 Nxd3+ 14.Qxd3 c5 15.e6 c4 16.exf7+ Rxf7 17.Qe2 e5|^ Rahman,Z-Norwood,D/Dhaka 1993] 9...c5 Finkel,A: 'Breaking white's center,but also sacrificing a pawn,and frankly speaking without full compensation for it.' [9...0-0 Finkel,A 10.h3 Nh6 11.Bf2 dxe5 12.dxe5 f6 13.0-0 Kh8 14.Ne4+/= Andreescu,N-Kiseleva,N/EU-chJW U18 1995] 10.dxc5!? looks best [10.exd6 c4=/+ -Yudashin is an example of how in such a sharp line, a small slip can transfer the initiative.] 10...dxe5 11.h3 e4! '!?' Finkel,A. [Deserved attention 11...b4 Finkel,A 12.Be4 (12.Na4 e4 13.hxg4 exd3 14.Qxd3 Qxd3 (14...Nc6 ) 15.cxd3 Nc6 16.Rd1 Rd8 17.Bf2+/= with better prospects for white.) 12...Nc6 13.Qxd8+ Rxd8 14.Nd5 Nf6 15.Nxf6+ exf6<=> ] 12.Nxe4 [12.hxg4 Finkel,A 12...exf3 13.gxf3 Qa5 (13...Qc7 ) 14.Qd2 Nd7 15.Be4 Bxe4 16.fxe4+/= ] 12...Nf6 13.Bd4!? As we shall see, this is another bold move in the tussle for the initiative. The time-gaining aspect is clear - this piece needed to up and leave the back-rank, but it also virtually commits it to exchange. White had to forsee a good deal of what is to come. Putting his knight on d6 would be a big mistake if it turns out it can be straightforwardly undermined there. [13.Nxf6+ Finkel,A 13...Bxf6 14.c3 Nd7 15.Bd4 Qc7 16.a4!+/= ] 13...0-0 14.Bxf6! [14.Nxf6+ Finkel,A 14...exf6 15.Be2 Re8 16.Kf2 Nc6 17.c3 Nxd4 18.cxd4+/= ] 14...exf6 15.Nd6 Qc7 16.b4! '?!' Finkel,A. Finkel,A: 'After this natural move it seems that black manages to equalize while after' [16.Nxb7 Re8+ 17.Be2 (17.Kf2 Finkel,A 17...Qxb7 18.b4 f5 (18...a5 19.a3 axb4 20.axb4 Rxa1 21.Qxa1 Nc6 22.c3 f5 23.Qc1+/- ) 19.Rb1 a5 20.a3 axb4 21.axb4 Nc6 22.Qd2 Nd4 23.Rhe1+/- his defensive task is far from being simple.) 17...Qxb7 would hand black the initiative on a plate. However, again it is important to realise the level of decision-making underlying such a move. White is now commited to pffering material too.] 16...f5 17.0-0! Again critical. [17.Rb1 Bc3+ 18.Kf1 Bd5 and it looks as if the initiative is well on the way to changing hands] 17...Bxf3! Not just praiseworthy for rightly resisting the material, but emphasising again the reason why 17...Bxa1 would be so wrong, namely the central importance of the dark squares. For obvious reasons, the exchange of bishop for knight in general increases influence over that set of squares which is the opposite of the exchanged bishop's domain. The knight on f3 was in particular a heroic guardian of white's dark squares. 18.Rxf3 Nc6! [18...Bxa1 Finkel,A 19.Qxa1 Nc6 20.a3 Rfd8 21.c4+/= ] 19.a3! a5! Perhaps the best move of all. Material has long since been passed up ( note that aside from the positional objections any ...Bxa1 would involve serious danger to black's king too. ) However, the persistency with which white bolsters his pawn chain, and black attacks it shows two players confident in their understanding of the battleground for the initiative. 20.Nxb5 [The point of black defnsive plan we can see after 20.Rb1 Finkel,A 20...axb4 21.axb4 Nxb4! ] 20...Qe7 21.c3 [21.Rb1 Finkel,A 21...axb4 22.axb4 Nxb4!= ] 21...axb4 22.axb4 Rxa1 23.Qxa1 Nxb4 '!' Finkel,A. 24.Qa7 Qxa7 25.Nxa7 Bxc3 '=' Finkel,A. 26.Nb5 Bf6 27.Bc4 Rc8 28.Bxf7+ 1/2-1/2

(2) Ponomariov,Ruslan (2630) - Svidler,Peter (2689) [D97]
Biel GM Biel (8), 01.08.2000

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0-0 7.e4 a6 8.e5 b5 9.Qb3 Nfd7 10.e6 fxe6 11.Be3 Nf6 12.a4 bxa4 13.Rxa4 Nd5 14.Bc4 c6 15.Ng5 h6 16.Nf3 Nd7 17.Nxd5 exd5 18.Bd3 Nb6 19.Rb4 Nc4 20.Bxc4 a5 21.Rb6 dxc4 22.Qxc4+ Kh7 23.Rxc6 Bb7 24.Rc7 Bxf3 25.gxf3 Rb8 26.0-0 Rxb2 27.Qc5 Rf7 28.Ra1 Rb5 29.Qxb5 Qxc7 30.Qxa5 Qxa5 31.Rxa5 Rxf3 32.Kg2 1/2-1/2

(3) Ponomariov,Ruslan (2684) - Svidler,Peter (2695) [C91]
EUCup 17th Panormo (3), 25.09.2001
[Stohl]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.d4!? This also belongs to the Anti-Marshall continuations, such as [8.a4 ; 8.h3 or; 8.d3 ] 8...d6 The safest. [8...exd4? 9.e5 Ne8 10.Bd5+/- ()[+]; Black's main alternative is 8...Nxd4 when White has to choose whether to gain, or sacrifice a P: More ambitious is 9.Nxd4 (9.Bxf7+ Rxf7 10.Nxe5 Rf8! [] (10...Nc6? 11.Nxf7 Kxf7 12.e5 Ng8 (12...Ne8 13.Qd5+ Kf8 14.Re3+- ->) 13.Qh5+ Kf8 14.Qf5+! Ke8 15.Qxh7+- ) 11.Qxd4 c5 (11...Bb7<=> ) 12.Qd1 Bb7© leads to positions, where Black has a lot of play for the minimal investment, this guarantees him at least equality.) 9...exd4 10.e5 Ne8 11.c3!? (without the pair of N Black gets good piece play after 11.Qxd4 Bb7 12.c4 bxc4 13.Qxc4 d5 14.exd6 Nxd6 15.Qg4 Bf6 16.Nc3 Nb5! 17.Nxb5 axb5 18.Bf4 c5 19.Rad1 Qc8 20.Qxc8 Raxc8= Polgar,J-Nunn,J/Hastings/1992/) 11...dxc3 12.Nxc3@ d6 13.Qf3 Be6 14.Nd5 Rc8 15.Bf4 Bg5 16.Rad1 Kh8 17.Bc2 Gurevich,I-Nunn,J/Hastings/1992/ 17...g6© ] 9.c3 With this the game transposes from C88 to the index C91, but this is more or less forced. Black already wanted to take on d4 and [9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Nxe5 dxe5= leads only to a sterile position.] 9...Bg4 10.d5 Nowadays White counter the pressure against d4 radically. [The other move 10.Be3 has somehow went out of fashion. 10...Bh5!? /\ (also the more usual 10...exd4 11.cxd4 Na5 12.Bc2 c5 is quite reliable) 11.Nbd2 d5!? 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Bg5 Nd3 15.Bxd5 Bxg5 16.Bxa8 Nxe1 17.Qxe1 Bxd2= Chandler,M-Romanisin,O/Leningrad/1987/] 10...Na5 11.Bc2 Although formally the Bc2 is a bad B, it's worth preserving, as Black will sooner or later have to move his c-pawn. Then both dxc6 or cxd5 will open up new perspectives for the Spanish B, which even in this game will play a major role. 11...Qc8!? Black makes a useful move, as White can't prevent the liberating c6 anyway. The text has become very popular on the highest level and is gradually pushing out the older [11...c6 12.h3 (12.dxc6 Qc7 is less flexible, as after 13.h3 Be6 the B retreats to a better sqaure.) 12...Bc8 (12...Bxf3 13.Qxf3 cxd5 14.exd5 Nc4 15.Nd2 Nb6 16.Nf1 is rarely played, as taking the P with 16...Nbxd5?! 17.Ng3 Nc7 18.Nf5 Ne6 19.a4 |^; 12...Bd7?! 13.Nxe5! dxe5 14.d6+/= ^^) 13.dxc6 Qc7 14.Nbd2 Qxc6 15.Nf1 Nc4 16.Ng3 Re8 17.a4!? with a chance to gain some edge after the main replies (17.Qe2 Be6 18.Bd3 h6 19.Nh2 Rad8 20.a4?! Movsesian,S-Nunn,J/Hastings/1996/ 20...bxa4! 21.Bc2 Nb6=/+ ) 17...Be6 (or 17...Bb7 18.Qe2 Bf8 19.Bd3 ) 18.Ng5 ] 12.Nbd2! A rare, but tricky move, which will perhaps become more popular after thisgame. [White usually interpolates 12.h3 Now on h5 the B is misplaced and quickly just becomes a target for the N after Nbd2-f1-g3. So logical is 12...Bd7 13.Nbd2 c6 14.dxc6 (Here after 14.b4 Nb7 15.dxc6 Qxc6 16.Bb2 the strong manoeuvre 16...Nd8! 17.Bd3 Ne6= /=/+) 14...Qxc6 15.Nf1 Nc4 (15...Rac8 16.Ng3 Rfe8 17.a4 Bd8 18.axb5 axb5 19.Qe2 Qb6 20.Bd3 Qb8 21.Bg5 Nb3 22.Rad1 h6 23.Be3 Nc5 24.Nh4 Nd5! 25.exd5 Nxd3 26.Rxd3 Bxh4 27.Qh5 e4? (>=27...Bxg3 28.Bxh6!? Bf4 29.Rg3 Bxh6! 30.Qxh6 g6 31.Rxg6+ fxg6 32.Qxg6+ Kh8 33.Re4 Rc4= ) 28.Rd4 Bxg3 29.fxg3 Re5 30.Qe2 Ree8 31.g4+/- ><e4,b5,d6,Movsesian,S-Adams,M/Bundesliga 9899/1998/) 16.Ng3 g6 17.Qe2 (>=17.a4 Movsesian; 17.Nh2!? ) 17...Rfe8 18.a4 Bf8 19.Nh2 Be6 20.Qf3 Bg7 21.Rd1 h5! 22.Bg5 Nh7 23.Bc1 Nf6= Movsesian,S-Bacrot,E/Sarajevo/2000/] 12...c6 13.b4 Nb7 [13...cxd5 14.bxa5 Qxc3 15.Rb1 Rac8 16.Bb3 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Rxe4 Bf5 19.Re3 Qxa5 20.Bd2 Qb6 21.Rc1 Rxc1 22.Qxc1 Rc8 23.Rc3+/= Ehlvest,J-Magerramov,E/Dubai op/2001/] 14.dxc6 The Nb7 is usually a source of trouble for Black in the Ruy Lopez (or even in other openings, as the King's Indian). But this goes for positions with the closed [+], where the N has no perspective and even after the long and time-consuming manoeuvre Ne8, g6,Ng7,Nd8,f6,Nf7 it remains passive. Here the N has a nice square on e6 and White can't lock it in even after [14.c4 Bxf3!? (14...a5!? /\ 15.dxc6 Qxc6 16.cxb5 Qc3!? 17.Rb1 Rfc8|^ ; 14...cxd5 15.cxd5 a5= ; 14...c5= ) 15.Qxf3 bxc4 16.Re3 a5~~ ] 14...Qxc6 15.Bb2 Nd8 Consistent, but maybe here on should search for alternatives as [15...Rfe8 or; 15...Bd8!? /\Bb6~~] 16.Nf1 This was White's idea. Once Black finishes his intended N manoeuvre, his B will stay sidelined on the >>. 16...Ne6 17.Ne3?! Logical, but better seems [>=17.h3!? Bh5 (17...Bxf3 18.Qxf3|^ /\ 18...Nd4 19.cxd4 Qxc2 20.Re2+/- /\Ne3-f5->) 18.Ng3 Bg6 19.Nh4+/= with a pleasant position, the Bg6 is misplaced.] 17...Bh5 [17...Bxf3?! 18.Qxf3 Ng5 19.Qe2+/- /\ 19...Ngxe4? 20.Nf5+/- ] 18.Nf5 [A tempting alternative was 18.Nd5 And finally interesting is also 18...Qe8!? /\Nd5,Ng5 (The move from the game 18...Rfe8? fails to 19.Nxe5! dxe5 (19...Bxd1 20.Nxc6+/- ) 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.Qxh5+/- ; 18...Qb7 19.Bb3 forces Black to invest another tempo with 19...Rad8~~ but Ng5 is still in the air and the pin is unpleasant, because 20.Qd3?! Nxd5 21.Bxd5 Nf4!=/+ favours Black.) 19.Nxf6+ Bxf6 /\ 20.Qxd6? Bxf3 21.gxf3 Qc8!-> ] 18...Rfe8 19.Bb3 /\Bd5 19...Ng5 Prompted by White's threat Black starts to act, provoking a short, but sharp tactical shootout. [The main alternative to the text was 19...Nf4!? The passive 20.Ng3 (20.g3 Nh3+ 21.Kg2 Ng5 (21...Bxf3+?! 22.Qxf3 Ng5 23.Qd3 Ngxe4 24.Rxe4! Qxe4+ 25.Qxe4 Nxe4 26.Bd5+/= ) 22.Nxg5 Bxd1 23.Raxd1=/+ leads to a r position as in the game, but here White's K is misplaced and also the 3-rd rank is closed for R manoeuvres.) 20...Bg6=/+ is not too enticing either.; The quiet 19...Rac8~~ is interesting as well.] 20.Nxg5! [] 20...Bxd1 21.Raxd1 White is in no hurry. [21.Bxf7+ Kf8 22.Raxd1 h6!? (22...Reb8 23.Bb3© g6 24.Nxe7 Kxe7 25.Nf7 Rf8 26.Rxd6 Qc8 27.Re6+ Kxf7 28.Rc6+= ) 23.Bxe8 Nxe8 24.Nf3 g6! (24...Nf6? 25.N3h4!+- ) 25.Nxe7 (25.Nxh6 Nf6 26.Ng5 Kg7 27.Nhf7 Rf8-/+ ) 25...Kxe7= /=/+] 21...h6! Frees a relatively safe square for the K and forces White to declare his intentions. [Black couldn't safely protect f7 anyway, 21...d5? 22.Nxf7! (22.exd5 Qc8 23.Nxe7+ Rxe7 24.d6 Rd7~~ is less convincing) 22...Kxf7 23.exd5 /\d6->] 22.Nxf7 Rightly keeps the tension. [22.Bxf7+ -21.Bxf7+] 22...Kh7 23.Rd3 [23.N7xd6? Bxd6 24.Rxd6 Qc7 /\Red8-/+] 23...Bf8 24.Rh3 d5 Closing the /^ a2-g8 allows a perpetual, but Black hardly had more, e. g. the "ambitious" [24...g6? runs into 25.N7xh6! gxf5 26.Nxf5+ Kg6 27.Rg3+ Kh7 28.Bf7 Bh6 (28...Kh8 29.Rh3+ Nh7 30.Ree3! d5 31.Reg3+- ) 29.Rh3 Ng4 30.Bc1 Rf8 31.Bg6+!+- ] 25.Ng5+ Kh8[] [25...Kg8? 26.exd5 /\ 26...Nxd5 27.Ne3+- ; 25...Kg6? 26.Nh4+ Kh5 (26...Kxg5 27.Bc1+ Kh5 28.Bd1+ Ng4 29.Bxg4+ Kxg4 30.f3+ Kh5 31.g4# ) 27.Nh7!+- ->] 26.Nf7+ Kh7 [26...Kg8? 27.exd5 Qd7 (27...Nxd5 28.Rd1+- ) 28.d6-> ] 27.Ng5+ Kh8 28.Nf7+ 1/2-1/2

(4) Svidler,Peter (2686) - Ponomariov,Ruslan (2684) [C42]
FIDE-Wch k.o. Moscow (6.1), 08.12.2001

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 0-0 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.a3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6 13.Re1 Be6 14.cxd5 Bxd5 15.Be3 Na5 16.Ne5 Bd6 17.c4 Be6 18.Qc2 c5 19.Bd3 h6 20.Rad1 Qc7 21.Qc3 Rfd8 22.h3 Bxe5 23.dxe5 Rd7 24.Bf1 b6 25.Bf4 Rad8 26.Rd6 Nb7 27.Qg3 Kf8 28.Qd3 Kg8 29.Qg3 Kh8 30.Rxd7 Rxd7 31.Qe3 Qd8 32.Bxh6 Rd1 33.Bf4 Na5 34.Rxd1 Qxd1 35.Qd2 1/2-1/2

(5) Ponomariov,Ruslan (2684) - Svidler,Peter (2686) [B80]
FIDE-Wch k.o. Moscow (6.2), 10.12.2001
[Kostakiev,D]

This game shall meet us with the typical middle game technic: N sacrifice for 3 pawns: Pb5+Pa6+Pd6: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e6 [For: 6...e5 7.Nb3 see: 1-0 Kosteniuk,A-Zhu Chen/Moscow RUS 2001 (38).] 7.Be3 b5 8.g4 Nfd7 9.Qd2 Nb6 10.0-0-0 N8d7 11.Bg5 Qc7 # 12.Ndxb5 Ftachnik wrote before this game: 'Very interesting novelty, white is forcing exchange combination despite his vulnerable a2 pawn.' [12.Kb1 Ftacnik 12...Bb7 13.Ndxb5 axb5 14.Nxb5 Qc5 0-1 Svidler,P-Georgiev,K/Istanbul/2000/ (31)] 12...axb5 13.Nxb5 Qc6 14.Nxd6+ Bxd6 15.Qxd6 Qxd6 16.Rxd6 Ba6 '?!' Ftacnik. [16...Rxa2 Ftacnik 17.Kb1 Ra5 18.Be3 Na8 19.Be2 Ke7 20.Rhd1~~ ] 17.Bxa6 Rxa6 18.a3 h5 19.gxh5N [19.h4 Ftacnik 19...hxg4 20.fxg4 f6 21.Be3 (21.Rxe6+? Ftacnik 21...Kf7 22.Rxb6 Rxb6-+ ) 21...Ke7 22.Rhd1!? Rb8? Shipov defends the position in a very passive way, white has excellent chances due to the coordination of his pieces. (22...Rxh4 Ftacnik; 22...Nd5!? Ftacnik) 23.Rc6 1-0 Smirnov,P-Shipov,S/Elista 2001/CBM 83/[Ftacnik] (39)] 19...Ra5 May be after correct play from both sides the final shall be draw. Probably in near future we shall see some more games on this topic which sall confirm this opinion [19...Rxh5 20.h4~~ ] 20.h4 [20.Be3 Nc8 21.Rc6 Ne7= ] 20...Nc4 21.Rc6 Rc5 22.Rxc5 Nxc5 # 23.b3 [23.b4 Nd7 24.a4 Rxh5 25.a5 Nb8=/+ ; 23.h6!? /\ <->hXh4 23...gxh6 24.Bd2 Ke7 25.b3~~ ] 23...Nxa3 24.h6 gxh6 25.Be3 Nb7 26.Kb2 [26.e5!? Nb5 27.c4 Nc7 28.Kb2 ] 26...Nb5 27.e5 Rg8 [27...Nc7!?= ; 27...h5!? 28.c4 Nc7 ] 28.Bxh6+/= o^ Ph4 28...Nd4 29.h5 Rg2 30.Kc3 Nxf3 31.Bf4 Kf8 32.Rf1 [32.h6 Kg8= ] 32...Ng5= # [32...Ng1!? 33.Bh6+ Kg8 34.Be3 Ne2+ 35.Kd3 Nd8=/+ ] 33.Kb4!? It leads to a nice draw [From the stronger Wite's position draw should be after: 33.h6!+/= ] 33...Ne4=/+ 34.c4 Nbc5 35.Rf3 Ra2 36.h6 [36.Kb5 Ra3 37.Kb4 Ra8 38.h6 Kg8 39.Re3 Rb8+-/+ ] 36...Kg8 37.Bc1 [37.Kb5 Ra3 38.Kc6 Nxb3-/+ ] 37...Ra7 38.Kb5 Nxb3 39.Kb6 Ra8 40.Be3 Rb8+ 41.Kc7 Rb4 42.Kd8 Rxc4 43.Rf4 Na5 44.Rg4+ Kh8 45.Ke7 # 45...Nc6+ [45...Nb7 46.Kf8 Rc8+ 47.Kxf7 Nbc5 48.Rg7 Rd8 49.Rg1 Rd7+ 50.Kf8 Rd8+ 51.Kf7= ] 46.Kf8= 1/2-1/2

(6) Svidler,Peter (2686) - Ponomariov,Ruslan (2684) [C43]
FIDE-Wch k.o. Moscow (6.3), 11.12.2001
[Ftacnik]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7 6.Nxd7 Bxd7 7.0-0 Bd6 8.c4 c6 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.Nc3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 0-0 12.Qh5 f5 13.Re1 Qc7 [13...Qf6 14.Bg5 Qf7 15.Qxf7+ Kxf7 16.c4 h6 17.Bd2 dxc4 18.Bxc4+ Kf6 19.Reb1 b6 1/2-1/2 Cappello,R-Paoli,E/Reggio Emilia 1973/ (19); 13...Be8 14.Qf3 Kh8 15.Bc2 Rc8 16.Bd2 Qh4 17.g3 Qh3 18.Bb3 f4 19.Qg2 Qxg2+ 20.Kxg2 fxg3 21.fxg3 Bf7 22.Re3 1-0 Behnke,K-Berrou,M/Griesheim/1999/ (28)] 14.Bd2 Rae8 15.Bc2 [15.Rab1 a6 ] 15...g6 16.Qf3 [16.Qh6 Bb5= ] 16...Re4! Courageous d logical sacrifice, Svidler is confronted with unpleasant problems. [16...Bxh2+ 17.Kh1 Bd6 18.Qxd5+ Kh8 19.Qf3 Bc6~~ ] 17.g3 [17.Bxe4 fxe4 18.Qe2 Bxh2+ 19.Kh1 (19.Kf1 Qg3 20.Be3 Bh3!-+ ) 19...Rf5 20.Rac1 Rh5-+ ] 17...Bb5 18.Bf4 [18.Bxe4 fxe4 (18...dxe4 19.Qe3 Bd3 20.Qg5+/- ) 19.Qg4 Rf5© ] 18...Bxf4 19.gxf4 Qd6 [19...Qxf4 20.Bxe4 fxe4 21.Qxf4 Rxf4 22.Rab1= ; 19...Rxf4 20.Qxd5+ Rf7 21.Qxb5 Rxf2 22.Re8+ Kg7 23.Kxf2 Qxh2+ 24.Kf3+- ] 20.Bxe4 fxe4 21.Qg3 [21.Qe3 Rxf4-> ] 21...Rxf4 22.Rab1 Bd7 23.f3 [23.h3 b5 24.Re2 Qf6=/+ ; 23.Rxb7? Rg4-+ ] 23...b6 24.Re3 Qf6?! Serious inaccuracy that could have even caused problems for black. [24...exf3 25.Kf2 (25.h3 Rg4-+ ) 25...Bf5 26.Re8+ Kf7 27.Rbe1 Be4 28.Ra8<=> ] 25.Rf1? [25.Kg2 h5!-/+ ; 25.h3! Rxf3 26.Rxf3 Qxf3 27.Qxf3 exf3 28.h4 Bf5 29.Rb5 Be4 30.a4+/= ] 25...Bg4! 26.Qxg4 [26.Rf2 Bxf3 27.h3 h5 28.Kf1 g5-/+ ; 26.fxg4 Rxf1+ 27.Kg2 Ra1 28.Qb8+ Qf8 29.Qxf8+ Kxf8 30.Re2 Rc1 31.Kg3 g5-+ ] 26...Rxg4+ 27.fxg4 Qg5 28.Rg3 [28.Re2 Qxg4+ 29.Rg2 Qh5-+ ] 28...b5 29.Rf2 [29.Rb1 Qd2 30.Rxb5? Qe1+ 31.Kg2 Qe2+-+ ] 29...Kg7 30.Kg2 a5 31.Rb2 b4 32.cxb4 axb4 [32...Qc1 33.Rf2 axb4 34.Rb3 Qd1-/+ ] 33.h3 Qc1 The rooks are too passive and clumsy as defenders, black queen dominates the game. 34.Rgb3 Kh6 35.Rxb4 Qd1 36.Kf2 [36.a4? e3 37.Rb1 e2-+ ] 36...Kg5 37.Re2 [37.a4 Kf4 38.R4b3 Qxd4+-+ ] 37...Kf4 38.Rb3 [38.a4 e3+ 39.Rxe3 Qd2+ 40.Re2 Qxb4-+ ] 38...Qxd4+ 39.Kg2 Qc4 40.Rf2+ Kg5 41.Rf7 d4 42.h4+ [42.Rxh7 Kf4 43.Rb2 e3-+ ] 42...Kxh4 [42...Kxg4?? 43.Rg3+ Kh5 44.Rxh7# ] 43.Rxh7+ Kxg4 44.Rg3+ Kf5 0-1

(7) Ponomariov,Ruslan (2684) - Svidler,Peter (2686) [B22]
FIDE-Wch k.o. Moscow (6.4), 13.12.2001
[Kostakiev,D]

Even short game between great players could be imporant for the opening theory. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 In my country this line is called 'Bulgarian variation'. Devoted to the topic, about 25 years ago Jivko Kajkamdjozov wrote small nice opening book with this title. Looking back in the time we can see that yet in 1864 Popert use the move 3.c3 against Staunton. Alekhine said that the move is not worse than 3.d4. Today gm. Sveshnikov is among the big partisans of this line. 3...Nf6 [3...d5 4.e5 (4.exd5 Qxd5 5.d4 Nc6 1/2-1/2 Grob,H-Kostic,B/Meran 1926/EXT 2000 (52)) 4...Nc6 5.d4 (5.Bb5 Bd7 (5...Qb6 6.Bxc6+ bxc6 0-1 Moreau,C-Maroczy,G/Monte Carlo 1903/HCL (50)) 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 7.0-0 d4 8.d3 Qd7 9.c4 Ne7 0-1 Albin,A-Maroczy,G/Monte Carlo 1902/EXT 2000 (58)) 5...Qb6 6.Bd3 Bd7 7.Bc2 Rc8 8.0-0 1-0 Popert,H-Staunton,H/London 1841/EXT 99 (23); 3...Nc6 4.d4 d5 5.exd5 exd5 6.Bd3 (6.Be2 Nf6 7.0-0 cxd4 8.cxd4 Be7 1/2-1/2 Suhle,B-Anderssen,A/Berlin 1864/EXT 99 (56); 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 0-1 Jensen,T-Aalheim,T/Goteborg 1920/EXT 2000 (36)) 6...Nf6 7.0-0 Be6 8.Re1 Bd6 9.Bf5 0-0 10.Bxe6 1-0 Szen,J-Kennedy,H/London 1851/HCL (45)] 4.e5 [4.d3 d5 5.Nbd2 Nc6 6.Qc2 Be7 7.Be2 1/2-1/2 Wolf,H-Tartakower,S/Maehrisch Ostrau 1923/HCL (79)] 4...Nd5 5.Bc4 [5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 Be7 7.Nc3 Nxc3 8.bxc3 1/2-1/2 Nimzowitsch,A-Vidmar,M/New York 1927/HCL (33)] 5...d6 6.d4 cxd4 7.cxd4 Nc6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Qe2 0-0 10.Qe4 Har Zvi: 'I think it will not be a mistake to say very clearly that Sermek is the leading player in the world in this variation,many of the important lines in theory are in the games Sermek-Kozul in the line 10...Qc7' 10...Qa5N [For 10...Bd7 is also ineresting the comment of Har Zvi below: 11.Bd3 g6 12.Bh6 Re8 1-0 Sermek,D-Radocaj,D/Pula 1996/EXT 98 (40); 10...Kh8 11.Bd3 f5 12.exf6 1/2-1/2 Chekhov,V-Dorfman,J/Kischniev 1975/EXT 2001 (26)] 11.Nbd2+/= Bd7 12.Bb3 [12.Re1+/= Rac8 13.a3 ] 12...Qa6!? [12...Rac8!? ] 13.Qg4 Rfd8 [13...dxe5 14.dxe5 (14.Nxe5 Rfd8<=> ) 14...Rad8 15.Ne4+/= ] 14.Ne4 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 dxe5 16.Bh6 Bf8 17.Nc5 Qb6 18.Nxd7 [18.Bxd5 Qxc5 19.Bxb7 Rab8<=> ; 18.Ndxe6 Bxe6 19.Nxe6 Qxe6 20.Qxe6 fxe6 21.Bg5 Rd7<=> ] 18...Qxd4=/+ 1/2-1/2

(8) Svidler,Peter (2735) - Ponomariov,Ruslan (2700) [B90]
Corus Wijk aan Zee (5), 20.01.2005

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bc1 Nf6 9.Bc4 e6 10.Bb3 Nc6 11.Be3 Be7 12.f4 0-0 13.Qf3 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 b5 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.e5 Bh4+ 17.g3 Rb8 18.0-0-0 Be7 19.exd6 Bxd6 20.Ne4 Bb7 21.Qe3 Bxe4 22.Qxe4 Rb6 23.h4 1/2-1/2



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