| Sep-11-04 | | Jack Rabbit: This game may be compared to Kosteniuk vs L Bergez, 2001 (Geneva), which, after 14 Qc5, continued 14 -- Qb7 15 Qa3 Be6 16 Bd3 Bd5 17 Ba6 and was eventually won by White. Does Black have a better line than either 14 -- Qb8(or -- Qb7) or on 13 -- Qc7?. |
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| May-10-08 | | Cactus: <JackRabbit> A late reply, but anyway...
Black really doesn't need a better line than ...Qb7 and ...Qb8. In each, due to recent discoveries, (the Dragon is constantly changing) Black is more than holding his own. However, in this game, Alterman failed to punish Hodgson for his greed. Instead of 20.Rxb3+?, 20.Rd3+! gives Black the advantage. |
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| May-11-08 | | najdorfman: Cactus: A bit of advice: One should not be swayed by the tiny arithmetical "advantages" given by computers, such as "-O.43" etc. Even after 20...Rd3 the game is a draw: 21. Kb1 Qd4 (21...Qf6? 22. Qd8+ Rxd8 23. Rxd8+ Bf8 with two rooks and a pawn for the queen.) 22. Qd8+ Qxd8 23. Rxd3 Qxa8 24. Rhd1 Bf8 25. Rd8 Qc6 26. Rb8 Qc7 27. Rdd8 Qxh2 28. Rxf8+ Kg7 29. Rfe8 Qxg2 30. Rxe7 Qxf3 31. Rbb7 a6 32. Kc1 h5 33. Kd2 (Staying in the box of Black's h-pawn's attempt to promote.) 33...h4 34. Rxf7+ Qxf7 35. Rxf7+ Kxf7 36. Ke3 g5 37. Kf3 h3 38. b4 g4+ 39. Kg3 Ke6 40. c4 Kd6 41. a4 Kc6 42. b5+ Kb6 43. Kh2 DRAW! There are, of course, other tries for Black such as 26...e5 27. Rdd8 Qc5 28. Rxf8+ Kg7 29. Rfe8 Qg1+ 30. Kb2 Qd4+ 31. c3 Qc5+ 32. Kb2 etc. but none of them are advantageous for Black. Some draw and some win for White. Two rooks on the seventh are very powerful. |
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| Jun-07-08 | | Cactus: When seeing this game, I checked my Dragon book to see what is best against 20.Bxa8, and instead of 25...Qc6, is gives 25...Qb7, when after 26.Re8 Qb6 27.Rdd8 Qg1+ 28.Kb2 Qxg2 29.Rxf8+ Kg7, with the asessment that Black is better, which I would agree with. 
click for larger view
For example, after 30.Rda8 (30.Rfe8 Qxf3 31.Rxe7 Qf6+, Ouch!) Qxf3 31.Rxa7, Black has at least a draw in hand. e.g. 31...Qf6+ 32.Ka3 (if 32.Kc1, then ...Qf1+ Kd2? Qf2+) Qd6+ 33.Ka4 Qc6+ 34.Ka5 Qc5+ 35.Ka6 Qc6+. However, black can also press for the win with 31...Qf6+ Ka3 Qd6+, collecting the h-pawn, and then advancing the kindside pawns for a queen. All in all, I'd be quite happy with black's position. |
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| Jun-07-08 | | Cactus: And <Najdorfman>, I didn't make that judgement based on computer evaluations. |
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