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Game of the week; Shirov vs Manik 2009

by kevinspraggettonchess · October 12, 2009

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

Chess is fundamentally a game of ideas, and sometimes those ideas don’t quite work out as we wish. In this week’s annotated game, between grandmasters A.Shirov and M.Manik, recently played at the European Club Cup in Ohrid, both players entered into a popular variation that has recently attracted a lot of attention. Manik played a very interesting idea, to play …d5 in just one move (instead of two: …d6 first, and then …d5).

At the critical position, instead of playing a speculative pawn sacrifice, Manik decided to retreat his Knight, and then from that moment on Shirov took over the initiative. Black desperately sought to create threats against White’s King, but Shirov pressed on relentlessly. Just when it seemed that Black might be creating some threats, Shirov played a brilliant and surprising move (Rh8) and all that Manik could do was delay the inevitable. Shirov won one of his most brilliant games!

Shirov, A – Manik, M
Ohrid European Club Championship

4/10/ 2009.

1. e4! ”Best by test!”-Bobby Fischer

Shirov can (and does) play everything, but this move is his favourite.

1… c5 How boring chess would be without the Sicilian!

2. Nf3 The open variations lead to the most interesting positions

2… e6 Just as popular as the …d6 lines

Before play begins. Shirov is playing board 2 on the defending champion Ural Svedrdlovskaya team. Manik is his opponent!

3. d4 The 3.d3 lines are not to Shirov’s taste

3… cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6

One of the most important positions in modern opening theory

Luis Paulsen (1833-1891)

This popular opening variation , the brain-child of Luis Paulsen, is commonly called the Paulsen-Khan Variation. The underlining principle in this line is flexibility: Black waits to see how White intends to deploy his forces before deciding upon his strategy. There are no strict rules of engagement, and it is quite common to see both sides experiment with original ideas.

This line attracts players of every temperment, and of every category. Some of the more famous names who have become fans of the Paulsen-Khan include Smyslov, Polugaevsky, Tal, Fischer, Petrosian, and Karpov.

Luis Paulsen was a contemporary of the legendary Paul Morphy, and a very strong grandmaster in his own right. (Photo to the right: New York 1857, Paulsen playing Morphy) For a more detailed account of the life of Luis Paulsen (and his brother Wilfred), I recommend the readers to see my blog entry of February 9 of this year.

5. Bd3 !? The most popular move in master practice.

White can ofcourse play 5.Nc3, which most likely will transpose into another main-stream variation of the Sicilian. However, 5.Bd3 is more flexible. I recall that both Spassky (against Petrosian in the world championship match of 1969) and Fischer (against Petrosian in the candidates final of 1971) played this way when the chips were on the table.

5… Bc5 !? This move was introduced into praxis by former world champion V. Smyslov

Smyslov, born in 1921 and world champion 1957/58, was the author of a great many modern opening systems. The idea of …Bc5 is to drive the knight (d4) to a less active position, even if it costs Black a tempo. Praxis has shown the soundness of this concept hundreds, if not thousands to times in master chess.

I have a curious anecdote: at the strong New York Open (1987) I reached the above position and decided to stretch my legs. As I walked around to see how my colleagues were doing, Smyslov came up to me and told me that he was very proud that I was playing his system!

Padevsky N. – Smyslov V.
Monte Carlo 1968.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 (diagram) 7. O-O Nc6 8. Qe2 d6 9. Be3 Bxe3 10. Qxe3 Nf6 11. Nc3 O-O 12. Rad1(diagram) 12… Qc7 13. Kh1 b5 14. f4 Bb7 15. Qh3 b4! (diagram)16. Ne2 Rfd8 17. Rde1 h6 18. Ng3 Rac8 19. Nd2 (diagram) 19… Nd4! 20. Nf3 Qb6 21. e5?! (diagram)21… dxe5 22. fxe5 Nxf3 23. gxf3 Nh7 24. Nh5 g6 25. Nf6 Nxf6 26. exf6 e5 27. Rxe5 Qxf6 28. Qg3 Rd5 29. Rxd5 Bxd5 30. b3 Re8! (diagram) Black has a won game 31. Kg2 Re3 32. Rf2 Kg7 33. Be2 a5 34. Bd1 Qd4 35. Rf1 Re5 36. Qf2 Qc3 37. Kh1 Bc6 38. Qb6 Rd5 [0:1]

RETURNING TO THE GAME SHIROV vs MANIK:

6. Nb3

The most commonly played move. Sometimes 6.c3 is seen, but it leads to a completely different type of game from what occurs in this game.

6… Be7!?

Not the only move seen in modern praxis

Also very popular is the retreat of the Bishop on the a7-g1 diagonal: 6… Ba7 (diagram)

This is the line that I prefer, and I have scored quite well here. Black’s Bishop is very active and its control over the long diagonal can cause White many problems if he is not too careful.

7. Qe2 (Very sharp is 7. Qg4 Nf6 8. Qg3 Nc6 and theory is still developing here) 7… Nc6 8. Be3 (diagram) White plays positionally: exchanging the dark square Bishop will leave Black with a small but noticeable problem. Karpov has popularized this plan.

8… Nge7 9. Nc3 d6 10. O-O-O b5(diagram) and a sharp fight is just beginning. Black will advance his Queen side pawns and gain time because of the exposed position of the White Knights.

It should be mentioned that Shirov has already played against 6… Ba7 : 7. c4 !? (diagram) This move is often seen in Shirov’s games against the Paulsen-Khan.

7… Nc6 8. Nc3 d6 9. O-O Nf6 10. Kh1 h5?! 11. Bg5 Qc7 12. Qd2 Bd7 13. Rad1 Ne5 14. Be2 Bc6 15. f3 O-O-O?! 16. Nb5! (diagram) Shirov begins a very strong attack against the Black King 16… axb5 17. cxb5 Be8 18. Rc1 Bc5 19. Nd4 Kb8 20. b4 b6 21. a4! (diagram) Black is defenceless . The rest is a massacre. 21… h4 22. a5 Nh5 23. Bxh4 g5 24. Qxg5 f6 25. Qe3 Qg7 26. g4 Nf4 27. bxc5 Nxe2 28. Nxe2 Rxh4 29. c6 Rc8 30. Qxb6 Ka8 31. c7 1-0, Shirov – Korneev O , Salamanca 1998 Ch Spain (team) )

RETURNING TO THE SHIROV vs MANIK GAME:

7. Be3!? Today considered the most precise way to develop

Previously Shirov had mostly relied on 7.c4 in this position, and perhaps he wanted to surprise his opponent with a more topical line. (Once Shirov even played 7.0-0) It is not unusual for top grandmasters to vary their play in the opening, not just to avoid preparation, but also it becomes boring playing the same way over and over again!

Theory considers that 7. Qg4 (diagram) is the sharpest line in this position, but more than 25 years of praxis has not allowed for a definitive evaluation of the line.

White’s idea is to provoke a weakness on the King side (7…g6 8.Qe2!) when White will then proceed to develop normally and hope that the g6 move will be a long term problem for Black. (results are mixed in practice!)

However, Black is not obliged to play g6. He has several active alternatives. One is the sharp 7… Nf6!? 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qh6 (diagram)

Black hopes that the open g-line will offer long term chances. After 9…Nc6 (9… Rxg2?! is premature: 10. Qh3 Rg8 11. e5!) 10. O-O (If now 10. Nc3 then … Rxg2 is correct) 10… Ne5 11. f3 b5 12. Nc3 with a complex and messy position , Medvegy – Kurajica , Split 2005 Memorial I.Cvetanovic

And even more interesting is the very popular 7… Bf6!? (diagram) played by superstars such as Nakamura, Karpov and Ivanchuk (and this is probably why Shirov decided to avoid this line!)

Black defends his g-pawn and plans to develop his Knights on c6 and e7. This idea has just taken off, and the results seem promising for Black. It is hard to say what is White’s best plan

8. Qg3!? Nc6 9. Nc3 Nge7 10. O-O (10. Bf4 e5!) 10… O-O 11. Bg5 Bxg5 12. Qxg5 d6 13. Rad1 (diagram)

Top grandmasters have scored well with Black from this position, though it is clear that White does not stand the least bit worse!

7… Nf6 The immediate d6 is more often seen

8. N1d2!? A finesse

This plan (Be3 and Nd2) was first seen in the 1960’s in similar positions, but never caught on. Today (2009) this is considered all the rage! The idea is simple enough: in some lines the Knight can go to c4 and pressure both b6 and d6. In other lines, should Black play a premature …b5 then White will have either a4 or c4 at his disposal to break up Black’s Queen side. As a bonus, Black will now be deprived of a tempo-gaining …b4.

For decades development of this Knight on c3 was considered oblige: 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. f4 d6 10. Qf3 Qc7 11. O-O-O (11. O-O!? is considered by some experts to be better) 11… b5 12. g4 with a sharp game with chances for both sides. Thousands of games with this plan have shown that the better player usually wins.

8… Nc6 Quick development. Sometimes Black prefers to put this Knight on d7

9. f4 Strengthening the centre.

9… Qc7 !? Manik has a specific idea in mind

Grandmaster Manik is an interesting player who fears nobody, and who often experiments with provocative and razar-sharp ideas. He has beaten many players stronger than himself with this style. Here his idea is to avoid playing …d6, and instead to first develop his Bishop on b7 and then try to get in …d5 in just one move.

Black has interesting alternatives. He can castle immediately ( 9… O-O 10. Qf3 d6 11. O-O-O Nb4 with a position difficult to evaluate) or he can try 9… d6!? 10. Qe2 Nb4 11. O-O O-O 12. Bd4 Nxd3?! 13. cxd3 b5 14. Rfc1 (diagram) Nakamura,H – David,A Mulhouse, French team championship 2009 , though White is a bit better here.

RETURNING TO THE ACTUAL GAME CONTINUATION:

10. Qe2 [Ofcourse 10. e5?! gets into trouble after 10… Nd5]

10… b6!? original play

It was still not too late to play more classically: 10… d6 11. O-O-O b5 12. g4 with a sharp position similar to those discussed in the previous notes. It is worth noting that the immediate
10… b5 might be a bit weakening, given that White will be able to hit back with a4 or c4 in the next few moves.

11. O-O-O Shirov often castles Queen side in the Sicilian

11… Nb4 all part of the plan

Black prepares to react in the centre with …Bb7 and …d5. The resulting position requires accuracy from both sides.

12. Kb1 Now the King is quite safe. Shirov will soon start to attack

12… Bb7

13. g4 ! Typical of this line, and of Shirov’s style.

13… d5 [13… d6 doesn’t make as much sense with the pawn on b6]

14. e5 Forced, but good

14… Nd7 A critical position. Here Manik spent a lot of time considering his options.

Clearly wrong is the greedy 14… d4? 15. Nxd4 Bxh1 as simply 16. exf6 leaves White on top. But it is not clear why Manik did not play 14… Ne4 (diagram), which seems like the logical idea given his earlier …b6 and …d5.

Perhaps he feared the simple 15. Bxe4 dxe4 16. Rc1 (diagram)

White defends everything, and plans to pick up the stray pawn on e4. Can it be so simple?

After the natural 16… O-O (16… Rc8 17. a3 Nxc2 18. Na1 does not seem playable) 17. a3 Nd5 18. Nxe4 Rac8 19. Rhe1 (diagram)

Black has two Bishops and a free game for the pawn, but White intends to simply consolidate and be a clear pawn up. If Black does not have anything in this position then he must go back and re-evaluate his entire opening plan (…b6).

As it is, after 14…Nd7 it seems that Black is just worse!

RETURNING TO THE ACTUAL GAME:

15. Nf3

White concentrates his minor pieces on d4 before proceeding with f5.

15… Rc8 [If 15… Nc5 then is the same as in the game with 16. f5]

16. f5 Philidor taught that pawn chains must be attacked at the base!

The square e6 is always a sensitive square for Sicilian players

16… Nc5 Ofcourse not 16… Nxe5?! as after the simple 17. Bf4 White recovers the pawn with a large advantage.

17. Nbd4 Increasing the pressure on e6

17… Qd7

Manik realizes that something is amiss in his position, and so he seeks his only real counterplay (…Qa4). It is too dangerous to castle in this position.

18. h4 ! Shirov mobilizes all of his pawn resources on the King side. A typical Philidor idea

18… Qa4 Black must create some counterplay on the otherside of the board.

19. a3 forced.

19… Nbxd3 20. cxd3 Now how does Black create threats?

20… a5 [If 20… O-O then 21. Bg5 is annoying]

Black tries to create threats by …Ba6, putting pressure on d3. There is nothing better.

21. g5 ! It is clear that White dominates the King side

21… Ba6

22. f6 Contact! [Also good is 22. Rhf1]

22… Bf8 There is nothing better

23. h5 Shirov’s play is very direct. Also good is 23. Rhf1

23… b5 Black puts his hope on …b4 trying to break open the White King position

Of course bad is 23… gxf6 24. exf6 and a sacrifice looms over Black’s King.

Tempting, but not quite good enough is 23… Ne4!? (diagram)

By tactical means Black tries to change the course of the game. He threatens …Ng3 as well as some sacs on c3 or a3.

Unfortunately, White’s attack is faster! 14. g6! hxg6 25. hxg6 Rxh1 26. Rxh1 Ng3 (diagram)

Black has done what he could, but….

27. gxf7! Kd7 28. Qd1 ! (diagram) White’s key resource! Black is forced to exchange Queens after which Black is left with a horrible position.

BACK TO THE ACTUAL GAME CONTINUATION:

24. g6 Shirov’s armada has arrived at its destination!

24… hxg6

Clearly bad is 24… b4?! as White’s attack breaks thru immediately and Black is left without any defence:25. gxf7 Kxf7 26. fxg7 Bxg7 27. h6 Bf8 28. Ng5 Ke7 29. Qf3 (diagram)

After Black’s last move (24…hxg6) White now has an interesting alternative to the move that Shirov played: 25. Ng5!?

Sacrifices are looming on f7! It is hard to see how Black should defend. If the following analysis is true, then 25.Ng5 would be a simpler way for Shirov to proceed with his attack than the much more complex (but very beautiful!) game continuation.

After 25… gxf6 (25… gxh5 26. Nxf7!? ( also strong is 26. fxg7 Bxg7 27. Qf3 Rc7 28. Rc1 b4 29. Rxc5 (diagram) White crashes thru!)

26… Kxf7 27. Rxh5 Rg8 28. Rh7 Ke8 29. f7 Kxf7 30. Qh5 mates in 4) 26. exf6 b4 27. Nxf7

RETURNING TO THE ACTUAL GAME CONTINUATION:

25. hxg6 logical 25…Rxh1 There is no better move , even though White will now get control of the h-file.

26. Rxh1 [Wrong is 26. gxf7?! Kd7! 27. Rxh1 b4 with counterplay]

26… b4 Note that 26… fg6 would be met by 27. Qg2!

This is the move that Manik was counting on. If Shirov now defends against the threat on d3, then he will have time to breath. Shirov’s next move must have come as a terrible surprise to Black!

27. Rh8! A beautiful move that is so typical of Shirov’s imaginative play. He forgoes defence and puts his trust in his initiative.

27… Bxd3?! This loses without much of a fight.

Although Black is lost in any case, much stiffer resistance is offered by 27… Kd7! (diagram) . Black maintains his threat of …Bd3 while improving the position of his King.

Now the winning variation is absolutely brilliant and leads to highly original positions!

28. Rxf8! the only way to play. (Bad is 28. fxg7 Bxg7) 28… Rxf8 29. fxg7 (diagram)

Shirov’s concept is that his King side pawns will win the game since he will be able to sacrifice the Queen to defend against the direct Black threats.

29… Rb8 ( ofcourse, hopeless is 29… Rg8 30. gxf7 Rxg7 31. f8=Q) (diagram)

Black has nothing better than to try to use his Rook on the b-file: it is , afterall, one more piece thrown into the counterattack!

30. gxf7 (diagram) A remarkable position! Despite the fact that Black now has all of his pieces thrown into the attack (Queen, Rook, Bishop and Knight), White’s pawns win the game!

30… Bxd3 ( Black also loses after 30… bxa3 31. f8=Q Rxb2 32. Ka1 and there are no more threats) 31. Qxd3 Nxd3 (diagram)

Black now has some threats! At first sight it seems as though Shirov had overlooked something….

32. b3!! (Not 32. f8=Q as after … Qd1 33. Ka2 b3 Black wins!) (diagram)

One of the most incredible moves that I have ever seen! And it is forced! It is amazing that White has time for such quiet moves! The question is now how does Black proceed?

Now if Black now tries 32… bxa3 then he loses simply to 33. f8=Q Rxb3 (33… Qb4 is answered by 34. Qf7 Qe7 35. Qxe7 Kxe7 36. Nc6 etc) 34. Ka1 Rb1 35. Kxb1 Qd1 36. Ka2 Nb4 (diagram)

37. Qxb4 axb4 38. g8=Q and the rest would be easy. White is up a lot of pieces and Black has no threats

So Black has no choice but to play….

32…Qxa3 (diagram) Black threatens mate in 1 move!

White has only one move, and it wins!!

33. Kc2!! (diagram) An incredible position!!

Despite being a Queen and a Rook down ,(and being faced with mate!) White will win with the passed pawns on the 7th rank. The White King will find safety nestled among his 3 minor pieces and the Black attack will soon fade out.

33… Qb2 (33… Rc8 34. Kxd3 Rc3 35. Ke2 Qb2 36. Bd2) 34. Kxd3 (diagram)

Now all that Black has are a few harmless spite checks, and then White will queen his passed pawns and win easily! A truly remarkable variation!!

RETURNING TO THE ACTUAL GAME CONTINUATION:

28. Qxd3 Shirov had forseen that his Queen buys time for his attack to strike its deadly blow