(1) Kulicov,O (2402) - Aswin Jayaram (2213) [B22]
7th Dubai Open Dubai UAE (8), 11.04.2005
[AJ]

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 e6 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 b6 7.Nc3 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Qc7 9.Bd2 Bb7 10.Bd3 d6 11.0-0 Nd7 12.Re1 dxe5 [ 12...Be7 is an OK move.] 13.Nxe5 Nxe5 [ 13...Bd6 14.Nxd7 Qxd7 15.Qh5+/= ] 14.Rxe5 Bd6 15.Rh5 [ 15.Bb5+ Bc6 16.Qf3 Rc8= ( 16...0-0-0 17.Bxc6 Bxe5 18.a4-> ) ] 15...g6 [ 15...0-0-0? 16.a4-> ] 16.Bb5+ Bc6 [ 16...Kf8 Also seems to be a popular move, but I think that it is risky.] 17.Qf3 0-0-0[] [ 17...Rc8? 18.Bxc6+ Qxc6 19.Qf6+/- ] 18.Bxc6 [ 18.Qxc6 Is not as pointless as it looks like and actually leads to a draw. 18...Qxc6 ( 18...gxh5? 19.Qa8+ Qb8 20.Ba6+ ( 20.Qc6+ Qc7 21.Qa8+= ) 20...Kd7 ( 20...Kc7 21.Qf3 Rd7 22.Bb5|^ ) 21.Qf3 Rdf8 22.Bb5+|^ ) 19.Bxc6 gxh5 20.Bg5 Rdf8 21.Bf6 Rhg8 22.Be4 White threatens to win an exchange by taking on h7 and if the rook goes to g4 then White can simply attack it after which the rook is trapped. 22...Rg6 ( 22...Rg4 23.Bxh7 Rf4 ( 23...Kd7 24.h3 Rf4 25.Bg5 Rc8 26.Rc1 f5 27.Bxf4 Bxf4 28.Re1 ( 28.Rc2? Rh8-+ ) 28...Rxc3= ( 28...Rh8?! 29.Bg6 Rh6 30.Bf7 Bd2 31.Rd1 Bxc3 32.d5+/= ) ) 24.Bg5 ( 24.Bg7 Re8 25.g3 Rg4 26.Bf6 Be7 27.h3 Rxg3+ 28.fxg3 Bxf6= ) 24...Rg4 25.Bf6= ) 23.Bxg6 hxg6 ( 23...fxg6 Was played in a game Salai,L-Orsag,M/Brno 1991/CBM 24 ext/0-1 (42). But it just spoils the pawn structure.) 24.Kf1!= White wants to bring his king to d3 so that the only weakness in whites position (the c4 square) is covered.] 18...gxh5 19.h3?N This is simply a waste of time. As white is down an exchange, it is not advisable to waste even a single tempo, as otherwise black can get counterplay (and in the game this counterplay nullified whites attack). Besides, in all the variations Black has the option of taking on h2, but I never considered it as I do not think it is worth losing a tempo in such a fragile position. Which means that white should not bother supporting h2 and black should not bother taking it! [ >=19.a4 Compare this position with the position after 18.a4-> (in the sub-variation of 15.Bb5+). In that position White had a big attack and in this position White still has an attack, but Black has an improved vertion of that position. For one thing, Black has the open g-file and the second thing is that the Black bishop is on d6 (in that position, the bishop was on e5 which meant that White could get a crucial tempo with Be3 planning c4-c5 breaking up the king position). 19...a5 ( 19...a6 Rizzitano,J-Miles,A/USA 30/314 1980/0-1 20.Be3-> ) 20.Be3-> f5 Royset,P-Walseth,T/Harstad op 1997/1-0 21.d5!+/- ] 19...Rhg8! 20.a4 Rg7 This compared to 21...Rg6, has the advantage that f7 and h7 are supported. 21.Ba8 White wants to support the g2 pawn by moving his queen and letting the bishop support the g2 pawn. If Black allows this then he will have no more counterplay and white will have a strong attack. [ 21.a5 Rdg8 22.axb6 Rxg2+ 23.Qxg2 Rxg2+ 24.Bxg2 Qxb6 25.Be3 a5 26.c4 Bc7=/+ White has huge fighting chances due to the pair of bishops, the passed c-pawn and the vulnerable black king.] 21...Kb8! Not allowing the queen to move. 22.Be4 [ 22.a5 Rdg8 23.axb6 Rxg2+ 24.Qxg2 Rxg2+ 25.Bxg2 Qxb6 26.Be4 Kc8 27.Rb1 Qa5=/+ 28.Be3?! f5! ; 22.Kh1 Rdg8 23.Rg1 Is very passive.] 22...f5 23.Bd3 Qb7? This allows white to obtain the h1-a8 diagonal and also gives white the option of 25.Re1. [ >=23...Rdg8 24.Bf1 Qb7 25.Qxb7+ Kxb7-/+ ] 24.Qxb7+ Kxb7 25.Be2? [ >=25.Re1 Should be played first as it provokes the rook to come to g6, when Bd3-e2 is good as white plans to take on h5 with tempo 25...Rg6 26.Be2 White plans to place his bishop on f3 and/or take on h5 where, unlike in the game, it takes with a tempo. 26...Rdg8 27.Bf3+ Kc7 28.c4<=> White plans to open the queenside where the black king wil be weak. Meanwhile the Black rooks on the kingside are ramming their heads on solid rock.] 25...e5! It is more important to block the h1-a8 diagonal than defend the h5 pawn. If Black allows White to get the h1-a8 diagonal, then white can even get an attack after a4-a5. 26.Bxh5 e4 [ 26...Rdg8 27.Kf1 e4 28.g4 f4 ( 28...fxg4 Prakash,GB 29.hxg4 Rxg4 30.Bxg4 Rxg4 According to GB this is silghtly better for Black, because he has an outside passed pawn and the king is cut off from the pawn. But White has 31.Rb1! White wants to place his rook behind the passed h-pawn by bringing his rook to h5 via b5. ( ‹31.Ke2 h5 32.Rh1 h4=/+ And the rook is ultra-passive.) 31...h5 32.Rb5 h4 33.Rh5~~ But the computer assesses this as drawn.) 29.Ke2 ( 29.Re1 Re7 Transposes to the game.) 29...Rc8-/+ ; 26...exd4 This has the merit of opening lines for the rooks. But the problem with this variation is that whites pieces get activated too. This helps him to get counterplay. 27.cxd4 Rc8 28.a5 b5 ( 28...Rc2 29.axb6 axb6 30.Bh6<=> ) 29.a6+ Kc7 30.Bf3<=> One of the ways White can get counterplay is by attacking the b5 pawn and closing the rooks protection towards the pawn by Bf3-b7.; 26...Rc7 Maintaining the tension, is also interesting. 27.a5 b5 28.a6+ Kc8 ( 28...Kc6?! 29.dxe5 Bxe5 30.Bf3+ Kd6 31.Rb1 Ke6 32.Bg5<=> ) 29.Bf3 exd4 30.cxd4 b4 31.Rb1 Kd7 32.Bb7 Rb8-/+ In this position Blacks idea is to sacrifice an exchange on b7 and then roll the queenside pawns.] 27.Re1 [ 27.Be2!? The idea of this move is that after white plays g2-g4, the bishop will be on a better square. This also controls the c4 square and stops b6-b5 after White plays a4-a5. 27...f4 28.Bc4 Re8 ( 28...f3? 29.g3 ) 29.Re1 Rge7-/+ ] 27...Rdg8 28.g4 Re7 [ 28...fxg4!? Prakash,GB 29.hxg4 Rxg4+ 30.Bxg4 Rxg4+=/+ The merit of this idea is that black has an easy plan i.e just push the h-pawn. But in the game black has to pull out all his hair to crack whites defensive position.] 29.Kf1 f4 30.Ke2 [ 30.h4 Kc6 ( 30...h6 Allows White to play 31.c4 Rc8? 32.c5 bxc5 33.Bg6<=> White is not worse here.; 30...a6!? ) 31.c4 Rc8-/+ ; 30.c4? Rc8 31.Rc1 e3 32.fxe3 fxe3 33.Be1 e2+ 34.Kg2 Ba3 35.Rc2 Rf8-+ ] 30...Rc8?! The wrong plan. It was essential to open some files for the rook. Therefore 30...a6 /\b6-b5 is better. It was best to keep the rook on g8 until it needs to be moved as it prevents g4-g5 and (after the g5 pawn is supported by the h4 pawn) g5-g6. [ 30...Ka6!? 31.Ra1 b5! ( 31...h6 Preventing the activating g4-g5. But this weakens g6 which becomes relevant after 32.Re1 Rf8 33.Kd1<=> When White is threatening Bh5-g6.; 31...Rf8 32.g5 e3 ( 32...b5 33.axb5+ Kxb5 34.Kd1!<=> Now Black is forced to play the weakening f4-f3.) 33.fxe3 fxe3 34.Be1 All the entry points along the open f-file are controlled. 34...Rg8 Preventing g5-g6 after which white is not worse. 35.h4= White is not worse here. All his weaknesses are protected :- 1) The c4 square cannot be accessed. If his g8 rook goes to c4 then white can get g5-g6 and whenever white wants, he can transfer his bishop to d5 where it controls c4. 2) All the entry points on the only open file are controlled. This makes both the rooks passive. 3) The a4 pawn cannot be attacked 4) Blacks pieces are not active. There is only one open file and neither rook can go there because all the entry points are controlled. The g8 rook is stuck preventing g5-g6 (even if it is not a threat, the rook does not have anygood square to go to); the e7 rook is supporting the e3 pawn; the bishop is not doing anything and has no particularly good square to go to except h6 (after white plays g5-g6) which blockades the h-pawn and the e3 pawn is solidly blockaded. 5) The e3 pawn is blockaded. This makes the e7 rook passive. 35...Kb7!? ( 35...b5? 36.axb5+ Kxb5 37.Kd3!+/- ) 36.c4! ; 31...f3+ Was played by Fritz 8 against me. 32.Kd1 Rc7 33.g5 Ka5 34.Kc2 a6? ( >=34...Rf8 ) 35.Kb3+/- ; 31...Rc7 32.h4 ( 32.Kd1!? White wants to bring his king to b3 where it supports both a4 and c4. But Black can push the king back to e2. 32...e3 33.fxe3 fxe3 34.Be1 Bf4 Allowing the rook to move as g4-g5 is prevented. 35.Ke2 Kb7=/+ Black is pushing. He has an improved vertion of the position after 35.h4 in the sub-variation of 31...Rf8.) 32...b5 Trying to open some lines 33.axb5+ Kxb5 34.g5<=> The king is weak.) 32.h4 Rb8-/+ Black is able to open up lines and is even able to create a passed pawn.; >=30...a6! With the idea of b6-b5 is also better for black. This is better than 30...Ka6 and b6-b5 as now the king is not weak. But 30...Ka6 also has a point, it creates a passed pawn. But 30...a6 is safer and does not allow any counterplay. 31.Rb1 Trying to stop it does not work as now black can force the roo off the b-file with 31...Rc8!-/+ Now when the rook is forced back to a1, Black will play b6-b5.] 31.Ra1?! [ >=31.g5 is the better move order as g4-g5 has to be played anyway and it is not so clear whether the rooks best place is the a1 square.] 31...Rc4? [ >=31...a6 Is a better move as it is clear that the rooks best place is not the c4 square. In fact the best square is g8 where it prevents g4-g5 and (after the g5 pawn is supported by the h4 pawn) g5-g6.] 32.g5 a5? Not going according to the nuances of the position. Black needs to get b6-b5 or some good file opening move as fast as possible. because white intends to get serious counterplay after g5-g6. [ >=32...a6!? 33.g6 hxg6 34.Bxg6 b5 35.axb5 axb5=/+ White will be able to give a good fight because of the pair of bishops and the passed h-pawn.; 32...Ka6?! 33.g6 hxg6 34.Bxg6 Ka5 ( 34...Rc8 35.h4 b5 Ordinary moves do not lead anywhere as white can just conitinue to improve his position. ( 35...f3+ 36.Kd1 Rg8 37.h5 Rxg6 A desperate try for activity. 38.hxg6 Rg7 39.Kc2 Rxg6 40.Kb3 Rg2 41.Be3+/= ) 36.f3 e3 37.Be1 b4 ( 37...bxa4 38.c4+/= /+/-) 38.cxb4 Kb7+/= /+/- Although black is still fighting; /\34...-- 35.Bxe4!+/- ) 35.Bxe4! Rxa4 36.Rxa4+ Kxa4 37.Kd3 Re6 38.Bc6+ b5 39.c4 a6 40.Bd7 ( 40.c5 Bxc5 41.Bd5 Rd6 42.Ke4~~ /=/+) 40...Re7 41.Bg4 bxc4+ 42.Kxc4~~ ; >=32...Kc6!? Blacks main plan in this variation is to bring the king to d5, sacrifice an exchange on c3 and torture White. 33.g6 Kd5 34.gxh7 Rxh7 35.Bg6 Rhc7 In this variation Black will be torturing White who will be defending like hell to get a half point. ( 35...Rg7!? 36.Rg1 Ke6 37.Rg4 ( 37.Bf5+ Kxf5 ( 37...Kf6 38.Rxg7 Kxg7 39.a5 b5 40.Bxe4 Ra4~~ ) 38.Rxg7 Rxa4 39.h4 Ra2 40.Rg5+ ( 40.h5? e3 41.fxe3 fxe3 42.Kxe3 Bf4+-+ ) 40...Kf6 41.Kd1 ( /\41.-- f3+ 42.Ke3 Rxd2 43.Kxd2 Bf4+-+ ) 41...Ra1+ 42.Ke2 f3+ 43.Ke3 Ra2=/+ ) 37...Rxa4 38.Bxe4 Rxg4 39.hxg4 Ra2=/+ ) 36.h4 Rxc3! 37.Bxc3 Rxc3 38.Rd1 f3+ ( 38...Be7 39.Bf7+ Kd6 40.Bg6 f3+ ( 40...e3? 41.h5= ) 41.Kd2 Rd3+ 42.Kc2 Rxd1 43.Kxd1 Kd5 44.h5 Bg5 45.Ke1 Kxd4 46.Be8= ) 39.Kf1 Rc7! 40.Re1 ( 40.h5 Bf4 Transposing to the variation.) 40...Re7 41.h5 Bf4 42.Rd1 Rc7 43.Re1 ( 43.Kg1 ) 43...Bd2 44.Rd1 a6 45.Kg1 e3 ( 45...Rc1 46.Rxc1 Bxc1 47.Be8 Kxd4 48.Bc6= ) 46.fxe3 Bxe3+ 47.Kh2-/+ And black is better but White has high drawing chances.] 33.g6 hxg6 34.Bxg6 White is threatening to take on e4. When Black responds to Whites threat, White will either push his h-pawn or (if black moves his c4 rook) move his rook to g1 or h1. 34...e3 [ 34...Kc6? 35.h4 Kd5 ( 35...b5? 36.axb5+ Kxb5 ( 36...Kb6? With the &aposUmbrella&apos idea does not work because of 37.Bxe4!+- ) 37.Rb1+ Kc6 38.Bxe4+ ( 38.h5!? ) 38...Rxe4+ 39.Kd3 Kd5 40.Rb5+ Bc5 41.dxc5+/- Due to the limited amount of pawns, Black has decent drawing chances. But white is still much better. ( 41.Rxa5 Rcxd4+ 42.cxd4 Rxd4+ 43.Kc3+/- ) ) 36.h5 If black does nothing white will push his h-pawn. If black moves his c4 rook then white can move his rook to b1 or h1. 36...e3 37.fxe3 fxe3 38.Be1 Bf4 39.Bh4+- ; 34...Rc6 35.Rg1 Kc7 ( 35...Rc4? 36.Bxe4+! ) 36.h4+/= ] 35.fxe3 fxe3 36.Be1 Bf4 Defending the pawn. The bishop also plans to go to h6 to blockade the h-pawn. 37.Kd3 Seems to be the best move as it allows the e1 bishop to move. [ 37.Bh4 Rec7 38.Rf1 The only other thing to do was to bring the bishop back to e1. 38...Bh6 39.Be4+ Ka7= ; 37.h4!?= ; 37.Kf3!? Bh6 38.h4= ; 37.Bd3!? All deserve some further analysis.] 37...Rc8 38.h4 Bh6 [ 38...Rg8 39.h5 e2= ] 39.Bg3 Ka7? White is threatening to mobilise his forces. Black should do something fast. [ >=39...e2 40.Be4+ ( 40.Be5 Rd8 ) 40...Rxe4 41.Kxe4 Rxc3= ] 40.Re1+/- Preventing any further advance of the e-pawn. 40...Rg7 Black wants to get the f-file. 41.h5 Rf8 42.Be5 Rb7 43.c4? [ 43.Rxe3 Bxe3 44.Kxe3 Rf1+/= /=; >=43.Be4! Rd7 ( 43...Rbf7 44.Rxe3 Bxe3 45.Kxe3 b5! A strong attempt to stir up some confusion. ( 45...Rc8 46.Kd3 b5 47.axb5 a4 48.Bd6+/- ) 46.axb5 a4 47.Bd6+/- ) 44.Rg1!+/- This is nice prophylaxis. Now if the f8 rook steps off of the back rank than white will occupy it with deadly effect. ( 44.Rxe3 Does not work because of 44...Bxe3 45.Kxe3 b5!! Now, Black gets a forced draw!The idea is difficult to forsee, but in reality, it is quite simple. Black wants to push the pawn all the way to a2 (The easy part of the plan). Whites best structure to prevent it from queening is d4-d5 and c3-c4, after which all black has to do to draw is to play Rf8-e8, sacrifice an exchange on e4 and bring the d7 rook to h7 where it wins the h-pawn. After that the position is dead drawn. 46.axb5 ( 46.Bc6!? Rh7 47.axb5 Rxh5~~ ) 46...a4 47.d5 ( 47.Bc2? a3 48.Bb3 Kb6-/+ ) 47...a3 48.h6 ( 48.c4 a2= 49.Bd4+ ) 48...a2 49.c4 Re8! 50.Bd4+ Kb7 51.Kd3 Rxe4! 52.Kxe4 Rh7= ) 44...Rf2? 45.Rg8+- ] 43...Rf2 44.Rxe3 [ 44.Re2 Rf1 45.d5 Re7 46.Bd4 Rd1+! 47.Kc3 Rd2! 48.Re1 e2 49.Bf6+/= ( 49.Bd3 Ra2= ) ; 44.Kc3!?+/= ] 44...Bxe3 45.Kxe3 Ra2?? [ >=45...Rf1 46.Ke2 Rh1 47.Kf3+/= ( 47.Bf4 Rg7! ) ] 46.h6 Rxa4 47.h7 Rxh7 48.Bxh7 Rxc4 49.d5+- Rc8 50.d6 Rd8 51.Kd4 Kb7 52.Be4+ Kc8 53.Bc6 Rd7 54.Bxd7+ Kxd7 55.Kd5 b5 56.Bc3 b4 57.Bd2 b3 58.Bc1 a4 59.Ba3 Kd8 60.Ke6 Ke8 61.d7+ Kd8 62.Kd6 b2 63.Bxb2 a3 64.Bf6# The reason why black did not manage to use his exchange properly is because he did not sense that they needed activating. Otherwise he would have easily found 30...a6 /\b6-b5. 1-0