The Sicilian was played. The variant met in this game is rather frequent in the practice in the last time. On the 8th move Black often plays 8...Qc7 9.f4 Qb6 10.c4 Bb4 11.Ke2 Ba6 12. Kf3 f5 13. Nf2 Ne7 14. Be3 with unclear play. Topalov chose 8... Bb7. This move met in the decisive game of the FIDE Grand-Prix in Dubai, Leko - Grischuk. After the exchange on the d6-square (11.Nd6 B:d6 12.ed) White got the advantage of the two Bishops and if he could to move с4 and to defense the d6-pawn then he had the clear advantage, but Black of course resists and makes the pressure on the diagonal h1-a8 after Qc6. After 15...Rfc8 if now 16.Bd5 then follows 16...Qd5 (16...Qd6 is badly because of 17.Bh6 gh 18.Qg4 Kf8 19.Bb7 Qb6 20.Kh1 Qb7 with an advantage at White because of the poor position of Black King) 17.Qd5 bd5 18.Rf2 (18.c3 Rc6 19.Bf4 Rb8 19.Rf2 Ra6 with the compensation) 18...Rc6 19.Bf4 Rac8 20.c3 Ra6 with the compensation. If instead of 16.b3 White plays 16.Bb3, then 16...Qd6 17.c4 e5 18.Qh4 Nf6 with good position. If 17.Bb2, then Black plays e6-e5 and after 18.Qe5 (18.Qf2 Nf4 19.Rad1 Qg6 with an unpleasant pressure on the diagonal a8-h1 and besides of that there's the threat Nh3+), follows 18...Qe5 19.Be5 Ne3 with an equalization. After 19...Nb4 Black threats d5. If now White plays 20.a3 , then follows 20...d5 21.ab dc 22.Ba7 cb 23.cb with the clear draw. After 20.c3 if 20...Nc6, then 21.Be3 Ne5 (badly 21...Na5 22.Bf1 and Black can't play 22...Rc3 23.Bd2 Rc5 24.b4 with winning) 22.Bf1 with an advantage at White because of two Bishops and now it's impossible to play 22...Rc3 because of 23.Bd4. After 21...Nc6 seems White should play 22.Be3 After 22...Ne7 White has a slightly better position because of the advantage of two Bishops. After 23.Rac1 White is going to play c4 and to move the pawns of the Q-side. After 23...a5 Black is going to exchange the pawns of the Q-side, and if it will be possible and the light-squared Bishops too. After 24...e5. If now White plays 25.c4, then after 25...d4 26.Bf2 appears the unclear position. After 27...Nd5 White can play 28.Bd2(with an idea Rc5) and if 28...Nb4, then 29.Rc5 Na2 (or White will play a2-a3) 30.Ba5 and White has the big chances to win because of the bad position of black Knight and the strong white passed pawn. Deserved attention 29.b4. After 29.ba White has a slightly better position. Instead of 33.a4 deserved attention 33.Rc5 Bb5 34.Rb5 with an advantage at White, but Leko decided to keep the two Bishops. Deserved attention 38.Rc7. After 40.Bc3 possible 40...Nd5. It was interesting to play 44.Bc2 and if 44...h4 then 45.Kh3. After 44.h4 the appeared position looks like zugzvang, the threat is Bc2. After 48.Rd8 White clearly hs the won position. |
