Reply #8: Kidabmbi - Kuzubov, Round 10

[Jack Rabbit]

Yuriy Kuzubov
Photo by Tomasz Tokarski from Wikipedia (Public Domain)


Sundararajan Kidambi - Yuriy Kuzubov
9th Parsvnath International Open, Round 10
New Delhi, 15 January 2011

West India Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (Catalan Opening) (Grünfeld Defense)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.Nf3 Nb6 7.Nc3

• For more about this opening, see Potkin-Areshchenko, Bundesliga 0910, Katernberg, 2010.

7...0-0 8.0-0 Nc6 9.d5

• If 9.e3 Re8 then:
• If 10.d5 Na5 11.Nd4 Bd7 12.e4 c6 then:
• If 13.Re1 cxd5 14.exd5 Rc8 then:
• If 15.Bf4 then:
• If 15...Nac4 16.b3 Nd6 then:
• 17.Qd2 Nf5 18.Nde2 h6 19.h4 h5 20.Rac1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Kuljasevic-Kozul, Croatian Ch, Zagreb, 2004).
• 17.Rc1 Bg4 18.Qd2 Rxc3 19.Qxc3 Nb5 20.Nxb5 Bxc3 21.Nxc3 Qd7 gives Black a slim advantage in space (v. Filippov-I. Johannesson, Euro Club Cup, Izmir, 2004).
• 15...h6 16.h4 h5 17.Bg5 Nac4 18.b3 Nd6 19.Rc1 Nf5 20.Nde2 Rc5 is equal (Romanko-Ushenina, Russian ChTW, Dagomys, 2010).
• If 15.Rb1 Nac4 16.b3 Nd6 17.Bb2 then:
• 17...Na8 18.Nce2 Qa5 19.a4 Bg4 20.h3 Bxe2 21.Nxe2 Bxb2 22.Rxb2 Nb6 23.Nf4 Qb4 is equal (Tkachiev-Gopal, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• 17...Rc5 18.Rc1 Qc8 19.Qd3 Bh3 20.Ba3 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Rc7 22.Ncb5 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Qg4 24.Nxd6 exd6 is equal (Bocharov-Predojevic, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
• 13.Bf4 Bc8 14.Nde2 cxd5 15.exd5 e5 16.Bc1 Nac4 17.b3 Nd6 18.a4 Bg4 is equal (Smejkal-Khalifman, Bundesliga 9900, Germany, 1999).
• If 10.Re1 a5 11.Qe2 then:
• If 11...e5 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Bxe5 14.e4 Be6 15.f4 then:
• 15...Bd4+ 16.Be3 Nc4 17.Bf2 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Qd2 19.Qxd2 Nxd2 20.f5 gxf5 21.exf5 Bxf5 22.Bxb7 gives White a small advantage with two Bishops patrolling an open center (Hirneise-Gopal, Masters', Gibraltar, 2010).
• 15...Bg7 16.Be3 Qe7 17.e5 Rab8 18.Ne4 Red8 19.Bc5 Qd7 20.Rad1 Qe8 21.Nd6 cxd6 22.Bxb6 dxe5 23.Bxd8 Rxd8 24.Rxd8 Qxd8 25.fxe5 Bxa2 26.Kh1 Qb6 27.Rd1 draw (Rogozenco-Areshchenko, Bundesliga 0910, Bremen, 2009).
• 11...Be6 12.Nd2 a4 13.Rd1 Na5 14.Nde4 Bc4 15.Qc2 Nc6 16.Nc5 has Black tied up in knots attempting to defend unmoved pawns (S. Brunello-Alsina Leal, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

9...Na5 10.e4

• If 10.Qc2 c6 11.dxc6 Nxc6 12.Rd1 then:
• If 12...Qe8 13.Be3 Bf5 14.Qc1 Rc8 then:
• 15.Bh6 e5 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.b3 Qe7 18.Qb2 f6 19.Rac1 Rfd8 is equal (Ribli-Vachier Lagrave, Bundesliga 0809, Tegernsee, 2009).
• 15.Nd4 Bd7 16.Ndb5 Nc4 17.Bf4 N6e5 18.Nd4 b5 19.b3 Nb6 20.Bxe5 Bxe5 is equal (Romanishin-Mamedyarov, Euro ChT, León, 2001).
• If 12...Bf5 13.e4 Bd7 14.Bf4 Rc8 15.Qe2 Qe8 then:
• 16.h3 Be6 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Nb4 19.Ne1 Qd7 20.Qd2 Na6 draw (Tukmakov-Khalifman, Soviet Ch, 1st League, Simferopol, 1988).
• 16.Nd5 Na4 17.Rd2 Nc5 18.Rad1 e5 19.Bg5 Bg4 20.Qe3 Nd7 21.Qa3 gives White the advantage in space (Chiburdanidze-T. Bae, Euro Ch, Batumi, 2002).

10...c6 11.Bf4

• If 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bf4 cxd5 then:
• If 13.exd5 Nac4 14.Qe2 g5 15.Bc1 then:
• If 15...Bg4 16.h3 Bh5 then:
• If 17.g4 Bg6 18.h4 then:
• 18...Qd7 19.hxg5 Qxg4 20.gxh6 Bf6 21.Re1 Rac8 22.Ne4 Qxe4 23.Qxe4 Bxe4 24.Rxe4 Nxd5 draw (Krogius-Hort, IT, Varna, 1969).
• 18...Bxc3 19.bxc3 f6?! 20.hxg5 hxg5!? 21.Nd4 Ne5 22.Ne6 gives White an impressive advantage in space (Tshekov-Chernyakhovsky, Corres, 1990).
• 17.Re1 Re8 18.a4 a5 19.g4 Bg6 20.h4 e6 21.hxg5 exd5 22.Qxe8+ Qxe8 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.gxh6 is equal (Krogius-Tukmakov, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1971).
• 15...e6 16.h4 g4 17.Nh2 exd5 18.Nxg4 d4 19.Nxh6+ Bxh6 20.Bxh6 dxc3 21.Rad1 Qf6 22.Bxf8 Kxf8 23.bxc3 Whites's pieces work in better harmony (Wojtkiewicz-Kindermann, Op, Debrecen, 1990).
• 13.Nxd5 Nac4 14.Nc7 Rb8 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.Rad1 Bg4 17.b3 Rxd1 18.Rxd1 Ne5 19.Bxe5 Bxe5 is equal.(Romanishin-Ftacnik, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).

11...Nac4

• If 11...cxd5 12.exd5 Nac4 13.Qe2 then:
• If 13...Nxb2 then:
• If 14.Qxb2 Na4 15.Nxa4 Bxb2 16.Nxb2 Qxd5 17.Rfe1 Qb5 18.Nd1 Re8 19.Nc3 Qa5 20.Rac1 then:
• 20...f6 21.Nd2 g5 22.Nb3 Qa6 23.Bf1 Qa3 24.Be3 b6 is equal (Urban-Staniszewski, Polish Ch, Polanica Zdroj, 1999).
• If 20...Be6?! then:
• If 21.Rxe6?! fxe6! 22.Bh3 then:
• If 22...Rec8!? 23.Bxe6+ Kf8 then:
• 24.Ne4? Rxc1+! 25.Bxc1 Rd8 gives Black a sturdy material advantage (Rogers-Yang Xian, ZT, Djakarta, 1993).
• 24.Rd1 Rd8 25.Nd5 Rd6 26.Bxd6 exd6 27.Rc1 is equal.
• 22...Rf8 23.Bxe6+ Kg7 24.Kg2 Rxf4 25.gxf4 Qa3 gives Black the material edge and the initiative.
• 21.Nd4! Bc8 22.Nd5 Bh3 23.Rxe7 Red8 24.Re5 gives White the kind of piece center of which most grandmasters can only dream.
• If 14.Rac1 N2c4 15.Nb5 then:
• If 15...Nd6 16.Nc7 Rb8 then:
• If 17.Rfe1 Bf6 18.Bh6 then:
• 18...Bd7? 19.Bxf8 Kxf8 20.Rc2 Rc8 21.Ne6+ fxe6 22.Rxc8 Qxc8 23.dxe6 Bb5 Black goes on to win (Arsovic-Sarenac, Serbian Ch Qual, Belgrade, 2007).
• 18...Bg7! 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.Nd4 Bf5 21.Nxf5+ Nxf5 22.g4
• 17.Bg5 Bf6 18.Bxf6 exf6 19.Nd4 Bd7 20.Rc2 Na8 gives Black a slight advantage in space after the Knights are exchanged.
• 15...Bd7 16.Nc7 Rc8 17.Rxc4!! Nxc4 18.Qxc4 Bf5 19.Rc1 Bb2 20.Re1 gives White a noticeable advantage in space.
• If 13...Bg4 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Rc8 16.Rac1 then:
• 16...Nd6 17.Rfe1 Re8 18.Qd3 Nf5 19.Be4 gives White a slight advantage in space (Neverov-Zezulkin, Op, Seidnica, 1997).
• 16...Qd7 17.Bg4 f5 18.Bf3 Nxb2 19.Qxb2 Rxc3 20.Rxc3 Na4 21.Rc7 Black, down a Rook and facing more material loss, resigns (Wojtkiewicz-Vegh, Op, Geneva, 1999).
• If 13...Bf5 14.Rac1 Rc8 then:
• If 15.b3 Nd6 16.Be5 Bh6 17.Rcd1 then:
• 17...Qd7 18.Bd4 Bg4 19.h3 Nf5 20.hxg4 Nxd4 21.Nxd4 Rxc3 22.Rfe1 Nc8 23.Bh3 Rc5 24.Ne6!! fxe6 25.g5! Black resigns as he must lose material and allow White total command of the board (Kransenkow-Dvoirys, It, Podolsk, 1993).
• 17...Re8 18.Bd4 Bg4 19.h3 Nf5 20.Be5 Bxf3 21.Qxf3 f6 gives Black a Small advantage in space (Salo-Holmsten, Op, Turku, 1999).
• 15.Nh4 Bd7 16.b3 Nd6 17.Be5 Bg4 18.f3 Bxe5 19.Qxe5 gives White a slight advantage in space (Lin Weiguo-Ye Jiangchuan, IT, Beijing, 1997).

12.Qb3

• 12.Qe2 Bg4 13.h3 e5 14.dxe6 Bxe6 15.Rac1 h6 16.g4 gives White dome advantage in the center (Lin Weiguo-Ftacnik, IT, Beijing, 1996).

12...e5

• 12...cxd5 13.exd5 Bf5 14.Rad1 Rc8 15.Bc1 Nd6 16.Rfe1 Nbc4 gives Black a slight advantage with stronger pawns (Szoen-Gluszko, Najdorf Mem Op, Grodzisk Mazowiecki, 2007).

13.Bg5

• The game is equal.

13...f6 14.Nd2

• 14.Bc1 cxd5 15.exd5 Nd6 16.Rd1 remains equal.

14...Na5 15.Qb4 fxg5

• 15...Nxd5 16.exd5 fxg5 17.Rad1 gives White a slight advantage.

16.Qxa5 Bd7

• The game remains equal.
• 16...g4 17.Rad1 Bd7 18.Qc5 Qg5 19.Nc4 Nxc4 20.Qxc4 gives White a slight tactical advantage; he is threatening to create a passed pawn with dicovered check.

17.Rad1 Qe7!?

• There isn't a lot the Queen can do at e7 that she can't do at d8, but first Black should open a line for it.
• If 17...g4 (both clearing g5 for the Queen and restraining White's kingside) 18.Qc5 Rf7 19.dxc6 then:
• 19...bxc6 20.Nc4 Nxc4 21.Qxc4 Qe7 is equal.
• 19...Bxc6 20.Nc4 Nd7 21.Qe3 Qe7 22.Na5 is equal.

18.Nb3

• White has a small advantage in space.

18...Rf6

• If 18...Rf7 19.Nc5 Bg4 20.f3 Bc8 then:
• 21.b3 Nd7 22.Nd3 b6 23.Qb4 c5 24.Qa3 gives White a small advantage in space and a passed pawn that will distract Black.
• 21.dxc6 bxc6 22.b3 Rb8 23.Nd3 Rb7 24.Qc5 gives White a small advantage, mostly in space.

19.Nc5 Bg4 20.Rd3?!

• White's defense would be less burdensome if Black's Bishop were somewhere else.
• If 20.f3! Bc8 21.b3 then:
• If 21...Bf8 22.Nd3 Qc7 23.b4 cxd5 then:
• 24.Rc1 Qc4 25.Nxd5 Qd4+ 26.Kh1 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 24.Nxd5!? Nxd5 25.Qxd5+ Be6 26.Qxe5 Qxe5 27.Nxe5 is equal.
• 21...Qf7 22.Nd3 Qe7 23.Qc5 Qxc5+ 24.Nxc5 retards White's development by theatening b7.

20...Bf8

• Black has more freedom and seizes the initiative by threatening the Knight.

21.b4?!

• White misses the strength of Black's next move.
• If 21.h3! then after 21...Bc8 22.N3a4 Nc4 23.Qc3 b5 Black continues to enjoy more freedom.

BLACK: Yuriy Kuzubov



WHITE: Sundararajan Kidambi
Position after 21.b2b4

21...Nc4!!

• Black plays a brilliant tactical maneuver that should net him a Rook.

22.Qa4 Nb2!

• White must win the Rook.

23.Qb3 Nxd3 24.dxc6+

• 24.Nxd3 Kh8 25.f3 Bc8 26.Qb2 Bg7 27.Rd1 Rd6 puts White's pawn chain under restraint.

24...Qf7?!

• What a shame! Black misplays the tail end of his maneuver and returns the Rook to White.
• Better is 24...Be6! 25.cxb7 Rb8 26.Nxe6 Qxe6 when:
• 27.Nd5 Rf7 28.Qxd3 Rbxb7 29.a3 g4 leaves Black up by a Rook with considerably more freedom.
• If 27.Qxe6+? then Black wins after 27...Rxe6! 28.Rb1 Rc6 29.Nd5 Rxb7 30.Bf1 Rc1.

25.cxb7

• Better is 25.Qxf7+! Rxf7 26.Nxd3 Bd6 27.h3 Be6 28.Nb5 Bb8, giving Black a small advantage derived from several elements, but most notably Black has a free and happy light bound Bishop whereas White's only Bishop is fianchettoed and blocked by its own pawn.

25...Qxb3 26.bxa8Q!

• White gets the Queen back.
• If 26.axb3!? Rb8 27.Nxd3 Rxb7 28.Nxe5 Be6 29.Nd3 Rff7 gives White a small advantage.

BLACK: Yuriy Kuzubov



WHITE: Sundararajan Kidambi
Position after 26.ba8Q:R

26...Qxc3!

• Any other move loses.

27.Qd5+

• The game is equal.
• 27.Qd8? loses to 27...Rd6 28.Qxg5 Be2 29.Nxd3 Rxd3 30.Rc1 Be7.

27...Kg7 28.Nxd3 Be6!

• Black takes the initiative.
• If 28...Be2?! 29.Nxe5! Bxf1 30.Bxf1 Be7 31.b5 is equal.

29.Qd8 Rf7 30.Rc1 Qd2 31.Rc7!?

• White gains nothing from the proposed Rook exchange.
• 31.Qe8 Qxd3 32.Qxe6 Qd4 33.a3 Rxf2 34.Kh1 a5 remains equal.

31...Bxb4!

• This is the only practical move.
• If 31...Bxa2!? 32.b5! Bb4 33.Bf1 then:
• 33...Bc3! 34.Rxc3 Qxc3 35.Qxg5 gives White enough activity to compenate for the exchange.
• 33...Ba5? 34.Rxf7+!! Bxf7 35.Qe7 Bb6 36.Qxe5+ gives White an extra pawn and more activity.
• If 31...Rxc7?! 32.Qxc7+ Kh6 33.Bf1! Qd1 34.a3 Bd6 then:
• 35.Qc6! Bh3 36.Qc1! Qxc1 37.Nxc1 leaves White a pawn to the good.
• If 35.Qc1 Qxc1 36.Nxc1 g4 37.Nd3 Kg7 38.Nc5 then:
• 38...Kf6 39.Kg2 Bc7 40.Ba6 Bf7 41.Bb7 Ke7 42.h3 gxh3+ 43.Kxh3 gives White an extra pawn and a queenside majority.
• 38...Bg8 39.Kg2 h5 40.Bb5 g5 41.f3 gxf3+ 42.Kxf3 then:
• 42...g4+ 43.Ke3 Kg6 44.Kd3 Kf6 45.Bc6 Bf7 46.a4 puts the queenside majority on the march.
• If 42...Kf6 43.h4 gxh4 44.gxh4 Bf7 45.Bc6 Bc7 46.a4 mobilizes White's pawn majority.
• If 38...Bxc5? then White wins after 39.bxc5 Bc8 40.f4 when:
• 40...gxf3 41.Kf2 g5 42.h3 Kf6 43.Kxf3 Ke6 44.Kg4.
• Or if40...Kf6 41.Bc4 a6 42.Kf2 then:
• 42...h5 43.Bd5 exf4 44.gxf4 h4 45.e5+ Ke7 46.Ke3 wins for White.
• If 42...a5 then White wins after 43.Ke3 Bb7 44.Bd5 Ba6 45.Ba8 Ke6 46.c6 followed by 47.Bb7.
• 35.Qxd6?! Bh3! 36.Qf8+ Kh5 37.Ne1 Qxe1 38.Qf3+ gives White only a slight advantage.

32.Bf1!?

• The Queen is already protecting the Knight. White should not play this unless the redeployment of the Queen becomes more likely.
• If 32.Rxf7+ Bxf7 33.Bh3 Bc3 34.Qd7 Qxa2 35.Nc5 g4 is equal.

32...Bc3 33.Rxf7+!?

• The threat is stronger than the execution. --Nimzovich
• White helps out by relieving Black of having to defend the threat of Rc7xf7 by simply playing it.
• If 33.a3 Bd4 34.Kh1 Qd1 35.Rxf7+ Bxf7 36.Kg2 Qd2 leaves Black with a slim advantage in space.

33...Bxf7 34.Qe7

BLACK: Yuriy Kuzubov



WHITE: Sundararajan Kidambi
Position after 34.Qd8e7

34...Bd4!

• A shot at first place is on the line; neither player wants a draw.
• 34...Qxa2?! 35.Nxe5 Qe6 36.Qxf7+ Qxf7 37.Nxf7 Kxf7 comes down to a game of Bishops of opposite colors that is extremely likely to end in a draw.

35.a4 g4 36.Kg2 a5

• 36...h6 37.Qd7 Qa2 38.Kg1 a6 39.Qc7 g5 gives White a slight advantage in space.

37.h3 gxh3+ 38.Kxh3 Qd1 39.Kg2 Qg4?!

• This won't stop White from attacking Black's center.
• 39...Qc2 40.Kf3 h6 41.Qd7 Ba1 42.Kg2 Qc4 continues to give Black a small advantage in space.
• 39...Qxa4?! 40.Nxe5! Qe8 41.Qxf7+ Qxf7 42.Nxf7 Kxf7 is equal and drawish.

40.Nc5?

• White not only misses a chance to equalize, but finds a way to lose.
• 40.f4! exf4 41.Nxf4 Qc8 42.Bd3 Ba1 43.Qa7 Bc3 is equal.
• 40.Qb7 Kf6 41.Qa8 Ke7 42.Qb7+ Qd7 43.Qb8 Qd6 44.Qb7+ etc. draws.
• 40.Nxe5? drops a piece to 40...Qxe4+! 41.Kh2 Qxe5 42.Qxe5+ Bxe5.

BLACK: Yuriy Kuzubov



WHITE: Sundararajan Kidambi
Position after 40.Nd3c5

40...Bxc5!

• Black clears the fourth rank of his Bishop, giving the Queen a clear shot at the White's pawns.

41.Qxe5+

• Black will lose both fourth-rank pawns. The only alternative is to lose a piece.
• 41.Qxc5 Qxe4+ 42.f3 Qxa4 43.Qxe5+ Kg8 44.Qb8+ Qe8 leaves Black with a passed pawn.

If 41.Qb7 Qe6 42.Qc7 Bb6 then:

• 43.Qc3 g5 44.Ba6 Bxf2 45.Kxf2 Qxa6 leaves Black up by a piece.
• If 43.Qb8 h5 44.Be2 Bd4 then:
• 45.Qb1 Be8 46.Bb5 Bxb5 47.axb5 a4 Black's passed pawn and extra piece triumph.
• If 45.Qb5 Qa2 then:
• 46.Qd3 Qxa4 gives Black an extra Bishop.
• 46.Qxa5 Qxe2 47.Qa8 Qxf2+ 48.Kh3 Be6+ 49.Kh4 Qf6#.

41...Kg8 42.Qxc5 Qxe4+ 43.f3

• 43.Kh2 Qxa4 44.Bg2 h5 45.Bd5 Qd7 leaves Black with a passed pawn.

43...Qxa4

• Black takes the a-pawn.

44.g4

• White puts another nail in his own coffin.
• Not much better is 44.Bb5 Qa2+ 45.Kf1 Qb3 46.Qc6 g5 47.Ke2 Qe6+ when an exchange of Bishops clearly favors White.

BLACK: Yuriy Kuzubov



WHITE: Sundararajan Kidambi
Position after 44.g3g4

44...Qb4!

• This simple and easy move is the fastest route to a win.

45.Qc8+ Kg7 46.Qc7 a4!

• The passed pawn manifests its lust to expand.

47.Qe5+ Kg8 48.g5

• If 48.Bd3 then Black wins after 48...a3 49.Be4 a2 50.Kh3 Qa3 51.Qb8+ Qf8.

48...a3 49.Kg3

• If 49.Bb5 then Black wins the Bishop after 49...a2 50.Bc6 Qd2+ 51.Kg3 a1Q 52.Qxa1 Qd6+.

49...a2 50.Bh3

• It doesen't matter what Black plays now.

50...Qb6

• The text wins faster than 50...Qb1 51.Be6 Qg1+ 52.Kh4 Qf2+ when:
• 53.Kg4 h5+ 54.gxh6 Qg2+ 55.Kh4 g5+ 56.Qxg5+ Qxg5+ 57.Kxg5 Bxe6 is a clear win.
• 53.Kh3 Qxf3+ 54.Kh4 Qf2+ 55.Kg4 Qg2+ 56.Kh4 Qh1+ 57.Kg3 a1Q leaves White a Queen to the good.

51.Kg2 Qa7 52.Qa1 Qe3 0-1

• If 53.Kg3 Qb6 then:
• 54.Qc1 Qd4 assures that the pawn will queen.
• 54.Bg4 Qb1 wins.
• Kidambi resigns.