Democratic Underground - Steffansson - Kidambi, Round 8

Unheralded Indian GM Sundararajan Kidambi was in the running for first prize until today's round.

This game contains an easy-to-understand yet particularly instructive Bishop ending.

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Hannes Stefansson - Sundararajan Kidambi
9th Parsvnath International Open, Round 8
New Delhi, 13 January 2011

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit (Stoltz Opening)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2

For an overview of the Stoltz Opening, see Ivanchuk-Aronian, IT, Linares, 2009.

6...Bd6 7.Be2 0-0 8.0-0 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b5 10.Bd3

If 10.Be2 Bb7 11.Rd1 then:

If 11...Qb8 12.e4 e5 then:

If 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nd4 then:

14...Neg4 15.g3 g6 16.Bf3 is equal (Koneru-Pérez, IT Merida, 2008).
If 14...Ng6 15.g3 Re8 16.Nf5 then:

16...Bf8 17.Bf3 b4 18.Nb1 c5 favors Black since White's queenside is cramped (Evdokimov-Asrian, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
16...Bc5 17.a3 a5 18.Bg5 Qe5 19.Bf3 Rac8 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Na4 Bf8 22.Nc5 Ne5 23.Be2 Rc7 24.Nxb7 Rxb7 is equal (Alverez-Scheffner, cyberspace, 2000).

13.g3 Re8 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bg5 Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Be5 17.Rd2 h6 draw (Morovic-Fridman, Ol, Calvia, 2004).

If 11...Qc7 then:

If 12.e4 e5 13.g3 Rfe8 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bg5 then:

15...b4 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Nxe5 Rxe5 18.Nb1 c5 19.Nd2 Bf8 20.Bg4 Rae8 21.f3 Rg5 22.Bf5 Bd6 23.Nf1 c4 gives Black the advantage in space (Szeberenyi-Pavasovic, Hungarian ChT, Hungary, 2003).
15...Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Qe7 17.Bg2 Be5 18.Ne2 Qb4 19.Rd2 Rad8 20.Rad1 Rxd2 21.Rxd2 Qa5 22.b3 c5 23.Rd1 h6 24.Bd2 Qa6 25.Bc3 Bxc3 26.Nxc3 b4 27.Nd5 Nxd5 28.exd5 Qd6 is equal (Ibragimov-Asrian, Op, Dubai, 2000).

If 12.Bd2 Rfe8 13.Rac1 a6 14.b4 e5 then:

15.h3 h6 16.a3 exd4 17.exd4 Nb6 18.Re1 Nbd5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Bd3 a5 21.Bh7+ Kh8 22.Be4 gives White the advantage in space (Beliavsky-Pavasovic, Vidmar mem, Terme Zrece, 2003).
15.a3 h6 16.Bd3 exd4 17.exd4 Nb6 18.Re1 Rad8 19.Ne2 Nbd5 20.Ng3 Rxe1+ 21.Rxe1 Ng4 22.Bh7+ Kh8 23.Bf5 gives White the advantage in space (Soltau-Benejam, cyberspace, 2003).

10...Bb7 11.Rd1

If 11.e4 e5 then:

If 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.h3 Re8 15.Be3 Qe7 then:

16.Rfd1 a6 17.Ne2 c5 18.Bxc5 Qc7 19.f3 Bxb2 20.Qxb2 Qxc5+ is equal (Krämer-Shirov, Bundesliga 1011, Hamburg, 2010).
16.Ne2 Rad8 17.f4 Rxd3 18.Qxd3 Bxb2 19.Rab1 Qxe4 20.Qxe4 Rxe4 21.Rxb2 Rxe3 is equal (Kononenko-Medic, Euro ChW, Warsaw, 2001).

12.h3 exd4 13.Nxd4 Nc5 14.Rd1 b4 15.Na4 Nxd3 16.Qxd3 Qa5 is equal (Shen Yang-Wang Yu, Chinese ChW, Xianghua, 2009).

11...Qc7

11...Qe7 12.e4 e5 13.Ne2 Rfe8 14.Ng3 g6 15.Bg5 draw (Nieman-Wiley, Op, Goch, 2008).

12.h3

12.a3 a5 13.e4 e5 14.Ne2 c5 15.dxc5 Bxc5 16.Be3 draw (Butnorius-Sakalauskas, Lithuanian Ch, Siauliai, 2007).

12...b4 (N)

12...a6 13.a4 b4 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 Nf6 16.Bd3 c5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Muhammad-Kaufman, World Op, Philadelphia, 2004).

BLACK: Sundararajan Kidambi

WHITE: Hannes Stefansson
Position after 12...b5b4

13.Ne4

The game is equal.

13...Nxe4 14.Bxe4 Nf6 15.Nd2

15.Bd3 c5 16.dxc5 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Bxc5 gives Black a small advantage in space.

15...Rac8 16.b3 c5 17.Bxb7 Qxb7

The game remains equal.

18.Nc4 Be7 19.Bb2

19.dxc5 Bxc5 20.Bb2 Qe7 21.Qe2 Rfd8 remains equal.

19...Rfd8 20.dxc5 Rxd1+

This is simplest and probably best.
On the other hand, 20...Rxc5 21.Rxd8+ Bxd8 22.Bd4 Rc7 23.a3 bxa3 24.Rxa3 looks like a lot more fun.

21.Rxd1 Rxc5 22.Bd4 Rc8 23.Qb2 Ne8

If 23...a6 24.Bxf6 Bxf6 25.Qe2 then:

If 25...Rd8 26.Rxd8+ Bxd8 27.e4 then:

If 27...Be7 28.Qe3 h6 then:

29.Kh1 Qd7 30.f4 Qd1+ 31.Kh2 Bf8 32.e5 Qd5 33.Nb6 Qc6 remains equal.
29.Qd4 Qc7 30.g3 Bc5 31.Qd3 Qc6 32.Ne5 Bxf2+ 33.Kxf2 Qc5+ gives Black a slim advantage.

27...Bg5 28.Nd6 Qc6 29.e5 Qc1+ 30.Kh2 Qd2 remains equal.

25...Be7 26.e4 Qc7 27.e5 Rd8 28.Rxd8+ Qxd8 remains equal.

24.Qe2 Rd8 25.Rc1 Rc8 26.Rc2 Qa6!?

Black pins White's Rook, but leaves the b-pawn weak.
If 26...Rc7 27.e4 Nf6 28.Bxf6 Bxf6 29.Nd6 Rxc2 30.Qxc2 remains equal.

27.Qd1!?

White takes no action against the b-pawn.
If 27.e4 Bf8 28.e5 Rd8 29.Qe3 Rd7 30.Bc5 gives White a slight advantage in space.

27...f6!?

Black is somewhat cramped on the queenside.
27...Nd6 28.Nxd6 Rxc2 29.Qxc2 Bxd6 30.e4 Bf8 remains equal.

BLACK: Sundararajan Kidambi

WHITE: Hannes Stefansson
Position after 27...f7f6

28.e4

The engines really like this move, but it really gets White nothing.
If 28.Rd2 e5 29.Bb2 Qe6 30.a3! then:

30...e4 31.axb4 a6 32.Bc3 Nc7 33.Nd6 gives White the advantage in that his pieces are much more active.
If 30...bxa3!? 31.Bxa3 Rxc4 then:

32.Bxe7! Rc3 33.Rd7 a5 34.Rb7 gives White more activity.
32.bxc4?! Bxa3! 33.Rd8 Qc6 34.Qg4 Kf8 35.Rc8 Qa4 gives Black the advantage with the more remote passer.

28...Nd6!?

Black fails to keep the game balanced.
If 28...Nc7! (protecting the e-pawn) 29.Be3 then:

If 29...Nb5 30.e5 then:

30...Qc6! 31.Qg4 f5 32.Qg3 Rd8 remains equal.
30...fxe5 31.Qg4 Kh8 32.Qh5 Qc6 33.Rd2 gives White a significant advantage with more space and an attack on two pawns.

29...Rd8?! 30.Rd2! Rxd2 31.Qxd2 Nb5 32.Qd7 gives White a strong initiative which Black must play extremely carefully.

29.Nxd6!

White double attacks the Rook and assumes a significant advantage.

29...Rxc2

Obviously forced.

30.Qxc2 Bxd6 31.f3!?

White should move his Bishop to a more flexible post.
31.Be3 Qb7 32.Qc4 Kf7 33.Qd4 Be7 34.e5 gives White a small advantage in space.

31...Kf7!

The game is again equal.
31...Qb7 32.Be3 Qd7 33.f4 Kh8 gives White a small advantage in the center.
If 31...e5 then 32.Be3 Qb7 33.Qd3 Bf8 34.Kh1 a6 35.Qc4+ gives White a very slight advantage.

32.Kf2 Ke7 33.g3!?

This lackluster move presents Black an opportunity.
33.Be3 Kf8 34.Kg1 Ke7 35.f4 g6 36.Qd2 Qb7 remains equal.

BLACK: Sundararajan Kidambi

WHITE: Hannes Stefansson
Position after 33.g2g3

33...e5!?

Black closes the center without taking action.
33...Bxg3+ 34.Kxg3 Qd6+ 35.Kf2 Qxd4+ gives Black an extra pawn.

34.Be3 h5

The game is equal.
34...Qb7!? 35.Qc4! Kf8 36.f4 exf4 37.gxf4 Ke7 38.Ke2 a5 39.f5 gives White a slight advantage.

35.h4

If 35.Ke1!? Ke8 36.Qd1 then:

36...Ke7 37.Qd2 Qc8 38.g4 hxg4 39.hxg4 a5 is drawish.
36...Be7 37.f4 exf4 38.Qxh5+ Kf8 39.Qh8+ Kf7 40.Bxf4 is also drawish.

35.Kg1 g6 36.Bf2 Qb5 37.h4 a6 38.Kg2 Kf7 is a lifeless position.

35...g6 36.f4 exf4

36...Kd7 37.Qd2 Qc6 38.fxe5 fxe5 39.Qd3 remains equal.

37.gxf4 Kd7 38.Qd2 Ke7 39.Bd4

39.e5 fxe5 40.fxe5 Bxe5 41.Qxb4+ Kd7 42.a4 remains equal.

39...Kf7 40.Kg3 Be7 41.Be3

41.Qc2 Kf8 42.e5 fxe5 43.fxe5 Qe6 remains equal.

41...Qe6 42.Qd5 f5

42...Qxd5 43.exd5 a6 44.Kf3 f5 45.Kg3 Bd6 remains equal.

43.Qxe6+ Kxe6 44.Kf3?!

Black gets far more from this exchange than White as White's queenside majority is under restraint.
44.e5 a6 45.Bf2 Kd5 46.Bb6 Ke6 47.Bd4 Kd5 remains equal.

44...Bxh4 45.Bxa7

BLACK: Sundararajan Kidambi

WHITE: Hannes Stefansson
Position after 45.Be3a7:p

45...Be7!

The Bishop finds its ideal post. From here, the Bishop:
- Covers the b-pawn;
- Covers h4, the passed pawn's next stop on its way to queenhood; and
- Blockades White's e-pawn, if and when White plays e4e5.
If 45...fxe4+!? 46.Kxe4 Be1 then:

If 47.Bg1 h4 48.Kf3 Kf5 then:

If 49.Be3! h3 50.Bc5 then:

50...Ke6 51.Bg1 Kd5 52.Bh2 Bc3 53.Kg4 Ke4 gives Black a small advantage in space.
50...h2!? 51.Kg2! Kxf4 52.Kxh2 is essentially equal as Black's g-pawn is balanced by White's ability to pass one of his queenside pawns.

49.Bc5?! Bd2! 50.Bf2 Bxf4 51.Bxh4 g5! 52.Be1 g4+ 53.Kg2 Bd6 gives Black a clear advantage, but it is not yet a decisive one.

47.Bd4 h4 48.Kf3 h3 49.Bg1! gives Black only a small advantage in space.

46.Bf2!?

White's best shot iks to create his own passer.
46.e5 g5 47.fxg5 Bxg5 48.Bb8 Bd2 still leaves Black better, but Black must use some energy to blockade White's e-pawn.

46...Bd6!?

Black misses the opportunity to end once and for all White's ability to inconvenience him with a passed pawn.
46...fxe4+! 47.Kxe4 h4 48.Kf3 Kf5 49.Bd4 Bd6! forces White to use all of his resources into stopping the h-pawn.

47.Bh4!?

Again, 47.e5! should be played.

47...Be7 48.Bf2 h4 49.Be1 h3!?

49...fxe4+! 50.Kxe4 h3 51.Kf3 Kf5 52.Bf2 h2 gives a tremendous initiative as another passer will rise to take the place of the on e about to fall.

50.exf5+?

This was the last chance to play 50.e5!.
If 50.e5 Kd5 then:

51.Bd2! Kd4 52.Be1 Kd3 53.Bf2 h2! 54.Kg2 Ke4 gives Black a clear advantage, but White's passed pawn must be watched closely.
If 51.Bg3?! then after the pawn sacrifice 51...g5!! 52.fxg5 Bxg5 53.Bh2 Bh4 54.Kf4 Ke6 gives Black a strong advantage.

50...Kxf5 51.Bf2

White is lost.
51.Bg3 Bd6 52.Bh2 g5! wins at least the pawn and then wins the game.

BLACK: Sundararajan Kidambi

WHITE: Hannes Stefansson
Position after 51.Be1f2

51...h2!

The threat to queen is well timed. White must abandon the defense of the f-pawn and allow Black time to bring his King to the other wing.

52.Kg2 Kxf4 53.Bg3+ Ke3 54.Bxh2

No better is 54.Kxh2 Kf3 55.Be5 g5 when:

56.Kg1 Bc5+ 57.Kf1 Bf2 58.Bb8 g4 59.Bd6 g3 Black threatens mate on the next move, forcing White to surrender his Bishop.
56.Bb8 Bc5 57.Be5 g4 58.Bc7 Bf2 it will cost White the Bishop to stop the g-pawn, and that will leaves Black's King closer to the remaining pawns.

54...Kd3

The King attacks White's queenside.

55.Kf3

White's King will arrive just in time to cover the b-pawn.

55...Kc2 56.Ke2 Kb2 57.Kd3 Kxa2

Black wins because his pawn rams against White's last pawn while resting on a dark squre, where it can be protected by the Bishop.

58.Kc2

Black's winning plan is twofold:

First, he will exchange the g-pawn, which otherwise cannot be stopped, for the Bishop; if the g-pawn is not exchanged, it will Queen.
Then, usiong the reserve tempo in the extra Bishop if needed, he will force the White King away from the White pawn, which falls and clears a path for the Black pawn.

If 58.Kc4 g5 59.Be5 g4 60.Bh2 Kb2 then:

If 61.Be5+ Kc2 62.Bf4 Kd1 63.Kd3 Ke1 then:

If 64.Bg3+ Kf1 65.Ke3 Bc5+ 66.Kd3 Bf2 then:

67.Bd6 g3 68.Bxg3 Bxg3 69.Kc4 Bd6 wins for Black.
If 67.Bxf2 Kxf2 68.Kc4 g3 69.Kxb4 g2 70.Kc4 g1Q 71.b4 Ke3 then:

If 72.Kd5 then White is soon mated after 72...Qc1 73.b5 Qf1 74.Kc5 Ke4 75.b6 Qf8+ 76.Kc6 Qf6+ 77.Kc5 Qd4+.

72.Kc5 Ke4+ 73.Kc6 Kd4

74.b5 Qg6+ 75.Kc7 Kc5 76.Kd7 Qf7+ 77.Kc8 Qe7

If 74.Kb6 then 74...Kc4+ 75.Ka5 Qa7#.

64.Bb8 Kf2 65.Be5 g3 66.Bxg3+ Kxg3 leaves White unable to either defend his pawn or take Black's.

61.Bg3 Kc2 62.Bf4 Kd1 then:

If 63.Kd3 Ke1 64.Bg3+ Kf1 65.Be5 Kg2 66.Ke3 g3 then:

If 67.Kf4 Bc5 68.Kg4 Bf2 69.Bc7 Kf1 then:

If 70.Bxg3 then 70...Bxg3 71.Kxg3 Ke2 wins for Black.
If 70.Bd6 then 70...g2! 71.Bxb4 g1Q+ wins.

If 67.Bf4 Bf8 68.Kd3 Kf2 69.Bxg3+ Kxg3 even though White's King arrives first, he can neither take Black's pawn nor prevent Black from taking his.

63.Kd5 Ke2 64.Bc7 Kf3 65.Ke6 Bh4 66.Ke5 Bg3+ wins the defending Bishop.

58...g5 59.Bg3 Bc5 60.Be5 g4 61.Bg3 Ka3 0-1

Hannes resigns.

Reply #5: Steffansson - Kidambi, Round 8 [View All]