Biel Ends in Flood of Blunders
It is all about nerves. Yesterday’s final round of the 52nd Biel GM tournament witnessed several players crack under the pressure and commit horrible blunders. I don’t remember another event with anything similar.
gm Maghsoodloo – gm Vidit
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.O-O e5 5.d3 d5 6.c3 Be7 7.Nbd2
O-O 8.e4 Re8 9.Qb3 d4 10.Nc4 Nd7 11.Bd2 Rb8 12.a4 b6 13.Bh3 Ba6
14.Rac1 dxc3 15.Bxc3 Rb7 16.Rcd1 Bf8 17.Rfe1 Qf6{[#] <strong style="color:red;">The critical position. The game is roughly equal, complex and unbalanced.Probably White should just move his King to g2 defending his Knight.</strong>} 18.Bxd7?{[#] <strong style="color:red;">Not really a blunder, but the first move of a really bad idea.</strong>}
Rxd7 19.Nfxe5 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 Rxe5 21.f4{[#] <strong style="color:red;">This is the Iranian superstar’s idea. He must have thought that the pin against the Queen will win material</strong>} Qe6!{[#] <strong style="color:red;">OUCH!! This move is so simple that one has to ask how any grandmaster could have not seen it. Black escapes from the pin and is a full piece up. The game ends soon afterwards…</strong>} 22.Qc2 Rh5
23.f5 Qc6 24.Be5 Bb7 25.g4 Rh4 26.Qg2 Bd6 27.d4 cxd4 28.Bxd6
Qxd6 29.e5 Qd5 30.Qxd5 Rxg4+ 0-1
You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
gm Cori – gm Giorgiadis
1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.d4 a6 7.Be2
Nc6 8.O-O Bd6 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.b3 O-O 11.Bb2 Ba7 12.Rc1 Re8 13.Na4
Ne4 14.Nd4?{<strong style="color:black;">Just an unfortunate idea. In White’s defense it must be noted that many other strong players have made the same mistake. </strong> } Qg5!{[#] <strong style="color:red;">Curiously, I can find not less than 4 games in my database with this exact position.Black has many threats.</strong>} 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Bd4$6 {<strong style="color:black;"> White’s idea is to dominate the dark squares on the Queenside, but in this position it just does not work for tactical reasons.</strong> } (16.Rxc6 Nxf2!) Bh3! 17.Bf3{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} Re6!{[#] <strong style="color:red;">This strong move effectively ends the game. The transfer of the Rook to g6 is decisive.</strong>} 18.Kh1?!{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>}
({<strong style="color:black;">Relatively best is </strong> } 18.Bxa7 Rg6! ({<strong style="color:black;">Black should avoid rushing things: </strong> } 18...Bxg2? 19.Bxg2 Rg6 20.Qf3 Nd2 21.Qh3 ) 19.g3
Bxf1 20.Bd4 Bh3 21.Nc5 {<strong style="color:black;">but there is no doubt about the final results </strong> } ) Rg6! 19.g3 ( {<strong style="color:black;">White now realizes that his intended </strong> } 19.gxh3? {<strong style="color:black;">ends in immediate disaster: </strong> } Qg1+ 20.Rxg1 Nxf2#{[#]} )
Bxf1 20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.Bxa7{[#]} Rxa7 ({<strong style="color:black;">Most precise would be </strong> } 21...Bb5! 22.Bd4 Qf5 23.Kg2 Bxa4
24.bxa4 Rd8{<strong style="color:black;">etc. </strong> } ) 22.Qxf1 Rd6 23.Nc5 Qg4 24.Qc4 Re7 25.Qxa6 h5{[#] <strong style="color:red;">Not only is Black up in material, but he has a raging attack!</strong>} 26.Qa8+
Kh7 27.Qb8 Qf3+ 28.Kg1 Rf6 29.Rf1 h4{[#] <strong style="color:red;">White throws in the towel. A bad day at the office!</strong>} 0-1
You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
You might also be interested in
