Kosteniuk,A (2508) - Polgar,Z (2567) Opening:Ruy Lope.Berlin Defensez ECO:[C67]
36th Olympiad w Calvia ESP (4), 18.10.2004

The game began with these moves being played:

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5

The Ruy Lopez.

3...Nf6

The Berlin Defense, made famous by Kramnik in his match victory over Kasparov for the world championship.

4.0-0

The main continution.

4...Nxe4

Grabbing the free pawn is a move Black almost always plays on this move.

5.d4

Occupying the center and threatening to win Polgar's e-pawn.

5...Nd6

Forcing Kosteniuk to capture on c6 or lose a tempo.

6.Bxc6 dxc6

Regaining her pawn and winning a tempo.

7...Nf5
The lost tempo.
[ Rarely played is the move 7...Ne4 ]

8.Qxd8+

The main concept here for White by exchanging queens, Kosteniuk forces Polgar to give up the right of castling for the rest of fhe game.

8...Kxd8

9.Nc3

Developing another minor piece. 9...Ne7 Intending to play ...Ng6. [ The main continuation in this position is to take the king off the open d-file ie: 9...Ke8 10.h3 a5 11.Rd1 a4]

10.Ne4

A rarely played move,centralizing her knight.

10...Ng6

Attacking Kosteniuk's e-pawn,which ties down the White knight to defend this pawn. [ Black has tried these other moves in this position. 10...h6 ; 10...Ke8; 10...Bf5]

11.h3

This move may be a theoretical novelty for this position.Polgar intends to move her rook to the e8 square. [ Two other moves have been tried in this position they are: (a) 11...h6 ; and (b) 11...Bd7 ]

12.Re1

Centralizing her rook.

12...h6

Preventing one of Kosteniuk's rooks from moving to the g5-square.

13.b3

Intending to fianchetto her bishop on b2.

13...c5

Preventing ....Nd4 and now if Kosteniuk were to thinking of playing Be3 she may change her mind as the bishop would lack mobility on t he f1-a7 diagonal. [ Analysis:Shredder 6: 13...Be6 14.Nd4 Kd7 15.f4 Bd5 16.c4 Bxe4 17.Rxe4 Bc5 18.Be3 Raf8 ( 18...Rae8) ]

Returning to the moves played in the game:

14.g4

Reducing the scope of Polgar's dark-squared bishop. [ Analysis:Shredder 6: 14.c4 Be6 15.Be3 b6 16.a4 Kc8 17.a5 Kb7 18.a6+ Kb8=] Also possible is 14.Ba3!?

14...h5

Creating a pawn lever and threatening to win a pawn via 15....hxg4 16.hxg4 Bxg4.

The game now continued:

15.Nfg5

Kosteniuk takes advantage of Polgar's last move to post her knight to a square where it coordinates beautifully with her other knight.

15...Ke8

Spending a tempo to take the king off the open e-file. Polgar now intends to keep her king in the center of the board for the rest of the game (Analysis: 15...Nxe5? 16.Bf4 Ng6 17.Nxf7 Kd7 ).

16.Nf6+!?

Kosteniuk is willing to sacrifice her knight.
[ Analysis:Shredder 6: 16.gxh5 Nh4 17.Nd6+!? Kf8 ( 17...cxd6 18.exd6 Nf5 19.dxe7 Nxe7 20.Bf4 Rxh5 ) ]

Polgar accepted the
knight:

16...gxf6

Saving her knight from being captured.

17...hxg4

Regaining a pawn.

18.fxe7

For the moment regaining material equality.
[ Analysis:Shredder 6: 18.hxg4 Bxg4 19.fxe7 Nxe7 20.Bf4 Rg8 21.Kf1 b6 ]

18...Nxe7

Winning a pawn at the cost of creating a pin.
[ Analysis:Shredder 6: Deserving attention was 18...gxh3!? ie 18...gxh3 19.Bb2 Rg8 20.Kh1 b6 21.Rad1 Bb7+ 22.Kh2 Nf4 ]

19.Bb2

Attacking Polgar's rook winning a tempo.

19...Rh6

The lost tempo, However now Polgar intends to play ...Be6 so she can use her rook to support this idea.

20.Re3!?

Kosteniuk is willing to sacrifice a pawn.

20...gxh3

21.Rae1

Using the tempo to create a double attack against Polgar's knight,forcing Polgar's next move.

The players now played these moves in the game:

21...Be6
22.Nxe6 fxe6
23.Rxe6

24.Rxe6 Kd7

Threatening to win a tempo.

25.Rh6

Attacking the pawn.

25...c4

26.Rxh3 cxb3

(If 26...Rg8+ 27.Kf1)

27.axb3

Leaving Kosteniuk with a passed c-pawn.

27...a5

preventing Kosteniuk from playing b4.

28.Kh2

(If 28.Rh7 b5+)

28....b5

Threatening to gain a passed pawn via the move 29..a4.

The game concluded with these moves being played:

29.f4 (if 29.Rh7 Kd6=) Ke6 (If 29...a4 30.bxa4 bxa4 31.Rc3 )

30.Rh6+ Kd5 31.Rh5+ Kc6 32.Rh6+ (If 32.Kg3 a4 33.bxa4 bxa4 =)