Ekaterina Polovnikova-Atalik vs Jan Werle (2006) "Confuse-a-Catalan"

Ekaterina Polovnikova-Atalik vs Jan Werle
"Confuse-a-Catalan" (game of the day Oct-01-09)
Corus Wijk aan Zee Group C 2006 · Catalan Opening: Closed Variation (E05) · 0-1

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Jun-22-06		notyetagm: What an incredible final position. The White rooks are caught in a crossfire of bishop pins, costing White two exchanges.

Oct-01-09		An Englishman: Good Evening: I'm guessing that today's pun is based upon Monty Python's sketch "Confuse-A-Cat."

Oct-01-09		RandomVisitor: After 37.Qe2! there is still fight left in white's game. 33.Rxd6! cxd6 34.Qd2 and white has somewhat equal play.

Oct-01-09		Lightboxes: Black looks like the next few moves are suicidal attacks leaving only the rook against the knight.

Oct-01-09		An Englishman: Good Evening: <RandomVisitor>, I apologize for my usual tactical blindness, but after 37.Qe2,Qxe2+; 38.Kxe2,Bxd3+; 39.Kxd3,Bxe3; 40.Nxe3, isn't Black up an Exchange and Pawn? However, 33.Rxd6 does look like an improvement.

Oct-01-09		whiteshark: It's not only that a Catalan is confused, it's also yours whiteshark.

Oct-01-09		RandomVisitor: <An Englishman>In that line, I would suggest 39.Rxd3 and white is down only a pawn. The point is that due to a complex situation, white only has to give up 1 exchange, not two. I will try to post some lines showing this in a while.

Oct-01-09		hedgeh0g: 13. b4?! is lol.

Oct-01-09		newzild: Good grief, it's a pin-a-thon! It's a public holiday here in South Korea, and consequently I'm already quite drunk and limited in my ability to analyse. I'd appreciate someone pointing out to me why white rejected the simple 30.Re8+, forcing at least one of the black pieces out of the attack.

Oct-01-09		Doctor Who: < it's a pin-a-thon! > A Monty Pinathon :-)

Oct-01-09		2ndNature: <An Englishman> My guess is that "a-Catalan" refers to "Ekaterin(a)" - when you say it they sound similarly.

Oct-01-09		RandomVisitor: 3 minutes per move: E Polovnikova-Atalik (2399) - Jan Werle (2514) [E05] Corus Wijk aan Zee Group C Wijk aan Zee NED (2), 15.01.2006 [Rybka 3 ] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.Qxc4 b5 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.Bd2 Nbd7 11.Ba5 Rc8 12.Nbd2 Qe8 13.b4 Bd6 last book move 14.Rac1 0.00/17 e5 0.51/17 [Rybka 3 : 14...Qe7 15.a3 e5 16.e4 g6 17.Rfe1 Rfe8 18.Nh4 Qf8 19.Qd3 h6 20.d5 c5 21.dxc6 Rxc6 22.Rxc6 Bxc6 23.Rc1= 0.00/17 ] 15.dxe5= 0.07/19 [Rybka 3 : 15.Nxe5 Bxg2 16.Nxd7 Bxf1 17.Nxf6+ gxf6 18.Nxf1 Qe6 19.Ne3 Rce8 20.d5 Qe5 21.a3 h5 22.Qd3 h4 23.Kg2 Qh5 24.Rc6 0.51/17 ] 15...Nxe5 0.18/16 16.Bh3= -0.24/16 [Rybka 3 : 16.Rfe1 Nc6 17.e4 Be7 18.Ng5 Ng4 19.Nxh7 Bxb4 20.Bxb4 Nxb4 21.Qb3 Nxa2 22.Qxa2 Kxh7 23.Nb3 Ne5 24.Nc5 Ba8 25.Red1 Rd8 26.Qxa6 Qc6 27.Qa3= 0.18/16 ] 16...Nc6= 0.20/19 [Rybka 3 : 16...Neg4 17.Nb3 Qe7 18.Nfd4 Rce8 19.Nc5 Bxc5 20.bxc5 Ne3 21.Nf5 Nxf5 22.Bxf5 Bd5 23.Bd3 Be4 24.Rfe1 Nd5= -0.24/16 ] 17.Bxc8 0.20/18 Qxc8 0.31/15 18.e4= 0.08/16 [Rybka 3 : 18.Rfd1 Re8 19.Nf1 Qh3 20.Nh4 Nxa5 21.bxa5 Ne4 22.f3 g5 23.Ng2 g4 24.Rd3 Ng5 25.Nh4 gxf3 26.exf3 Re5 0.31/15 ] 18...Qh3= 0.20/16 [Rybka 3 : 18...Re8 19.Rfe1 h6= 0.08/16 ] 19.Rfe1 0.20/15 Ng4 0.20/14 20.Nf1= -0.20/15 [Rybka 3 : 20.Qd3 Nxa5 21.bxa5 f5= 0.20/14 ] 20...f5 0.64/16 [Rybka 3 : 20...h6 21.Qd3 Qh5 22.Qe2 Nxa5 23.bxa5 Bc5 24.Kg2 Bxf2= -0.20/15 ] 21.Qb3+ -0.55/17 [Rybka 3 : 21.Ng5 Qh5 22.f4 h6 23.Qb3+ Kh8 24.Ne6 fxe4 25.Rxc6 Bxc6 26.Nxf8 Bxf8 27.Qc2 Bb7 28.Qd2 Kg8 29.a3 c5 30.Qd7 Bd5 31.h3 Nf6 32.Qc8 Bc4 33.Bb6 0.64/16 ] 21...Kh8 -0.37/17 22.Ng5 -0.37/17 Qh5 -0.37/15 23.Ne6? -2.17/15 [Rybka 3 : 23.f4 fxe4 24.Nxe4 Be5 25.Qd1 Qh3 26.Rxc6 Bxc6 27.Re2 h6 28.fxe5 Bxe4 29.e6 Nf6 30.Bxc7 Re8 31.Qd4 Qg4 32.Rf2 Qxe6 33.Qb6 Qc4 -0.37/15 ] 23...Nxa5? 0.69/16 [Rybka 3 : 23...fxe4 24.Rxc6 Nxf2 25.Nxf8 Nh3+ 26.Kg2 e3 27.Rxe3 Bxc6+ 28.Rf3 Ng5 29.Nd2 Bxf8 30.a3 Bd6 31.Qe3 Bd5 32.Qe2 Qf7 33.Qe3 Nxf3 34.Nxf3 c5 -2.17/15 ] 24.bxa5 0.93/14 Rf6 0.99/15 25.f4 -0.26/17 [Rybka 3 : 25.Nc5 Bxe4 26.f4 Rf8 27.Nxe4 fxe4 28.Rxe4 0.99/15 ] 25...fxe4 -0.19/17 26.Ng5 -0.39/16 e3= 0.00/19 [Rybka 3 : 26...Nf2 27.Kxf2 Qxg5 28.Rcd1 Qh5 29.Kg1 Bc5+ 30.Ne3 Rd6 31.Rxd6 cxd6 32.Qb2 Bd5 33.Qg2 Kg8 34.a3 Bb7 35.Qc2 Qd5 36.Kf1 -0.39/16 ] 27.Qc2 0.00/17 Nf2 0.00/19 28.Rxe3 0.00/19 Qxg5 0.00/18 29.Kxf2 0.00/17 Qd5 0.00/16 30.a3= -0.20/16 [Rybka 3 : 30.Re8+ Rf8 31.Rxf8+ Bxf8 32.Qd2 Qg2+ 33.Ke1 Qe4+ 34.Kf2 Qg2+ 35.Ke1 Qe4+ 36.Kf2 Qg2+ 37.Ke1 Qe4+ 38.Kf2 Qg2+ 39.Ke1 Qe4+ 40.Kf2 Qg2+ 41.Ke1 Qe4+ 42.Kf2 Qg2+ 43.Ke1 Qe4+ 44.Kf2 Qg2+ 45.Ke1= 0.00/16 ] 30...Rf8= -0.09/17 [Rybka 3 : 30...g5 31.Qc3 Kg7 32.Ke1 Qf5 33.Rc2 Kf7 34.Rd2 gxf4 35.gxf4 Qxf4 36.Ng3 Bc6 37.Rde2 Qh4 38.Kd1 Bd5= -0.20/16 ] 31.Ke1 -0.32/17 [Rybka 3 : 31.Qd3 Qh1 32.Qe2 b4 33.Re8 Qg2+ 34.Ke1 Qxe2+ 35.Rxe2 bxa3 36.Kd2 Bf3 37.Re3 Bh5 38.Ra1 g5 39.fxg5 Rf2+ 40.Kd3 Bf8 41.Nd2= -0.09/17 ] 31...b4= -0.12/17 [Rybka 3 : 31...h6 32.Qe2 -0.32/17 ] 32.Rd1 -0.12/18 Qxa5 -0.01/17 33.axb4 -1.03/16 [Rybka 3 : 33.Rxd6 cxd6 34.Qd2 Qd8 35.Qxb4 Qd7 36.Kf2 Qc6 37.Re7 Qf3+ 38.Ke1 Bd5= -0.01/17 ] 33...Bxb4+ -0.80/16 34.Ke2? -2.71/19 [Rybka 3 : 34.Kf2 Bc5 35.h4 h6 36.Rd7 Bc6 37.Rdd3 Re8 38.Qc4 Rb8 39.Qc3 Qb5 -0.80/16 ] 34...Qh5+ -2.71/19 35.Kf2 -2.71/18 Bc5 -2.42/17 36.Rdd3? -4.09/15 [Rybka 3 : 36.Ke1 Bxe3 37.Nxe3 Re8 38.Qf2 a5 39.f5 Bf3 40.Rd4 Qxf5 41.Qd2 Qf6 42.Rf4 Qa1+ 43.Kf2 Bc6 44.Qd1 Qa3 45.Qd4 a4 46.Rf5 Bb7 47.Qc5 Qxc5 48.Rxc5 a3 49.Rxc7 -2.42/17 ] 36...Be4? -0.73/18 [Rybka 3 : 36...Qf3+ 37.Ke1 Bb4+ 38.Rc3 Qh1 39.Qb2 Bxc3+ 40.Qxc3 Bg2 41.Qd3 Qg1 42.Qe2 Bxf1 43.Qf2 Qxf2+ 44.Kxf2 Bb5 45.Re7 c5 46.Rc7 c4 47.Ke3 Rd8 48.Ke4 a5 49.Rc5 -4.09/15 ] 0-1

Oct-01-09		Sneaky: For those who don't get the pun, this video of the Monty Python skit will explain all -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2Je...

Oct-01-09		Sneaky: From RV's Rybka dissection, I noticed <23...Nxa5? 0.69/16 [Rybka 3 : 23...fxe4 24.Rxc6 Nxf2 25.Nxf8 Nh3+ 26.Kg2 e3 27.Rxe3 Bxc6+ 28.Rf3 Ng5 29.Nd2 Bxf8 30.a3 Bd6 31.Qe3 Bd5 32.Qe2 Qf7 33.Qe3 Nxf3 34.Nxf3 c5 -2.17/15 ]> Curious, I looked at this idea a little deeper, since Rybka always gives the "best" play you rarely get to see the real idea. Here is an exploration of this variation where White just gobbles up the material given to her: click for larger view 23...fxe4! 24.Nxf8? Nd4! click for larger view 25.Qc3 e3!! and White has too many threats to cope with. There is exf2+, Nf3+, Qd5, Qh3, Qf5, etc. etc. Let's keep in the spirit of gobbling material and let White take another piece: click for larger view 26.Qxd4 exf2+ (now concessions are forced) 27.Qxf2 "All right, take my queen already!" click for larger view 27...Qd5!! click for larger view "No thanks, I'm hunting bigger game!" 0-1

Oct-01-09		RandomVisitor: <newzild>You are correct, that move appears to be a good choice: [Rybka 3 : 30.Re8+ Rf8 31.Rxf8+ Bxf8 32.Qd2 Qg2+ 33.Ke1 Qe4+ 34.Kf2 Qg2+ 35.Ke1 Qe4+ 36.Kf2 Qg2+ 37.Ke1 Qe4+ 38.Kf2 Qg2+ 39.Ke1 Qe4+ 40.Kf2 Qg2+ 41.Ke1 Qe4+ 42.Kf2 Qg2+ 43.Ke1 Qe4+ 44.Kf2 Qg2+ 45.Ke1= 0.00/16 ]

Oct-01-09		Sem: I like White's 11. Ba5 and Black's 28. ... Qxg5.

Oct-01-09		pawneetribe: Is ll ba5 normal in this line? It seems like a strange place to strand the bishop after b4.

Oct-01-09		WhiteRook48: how did 11 Ba5 help?

Oct-01-09		dumbgai: 13. b4??

Oct-01-09		RandomVisitor: After 37.Qe2: 1: E Polovnikova-Atalik - Jan Werle, Corus Wijk aan Zee Group C 2006 click for larger view Analysis by Rybka 3 : <19-ply> 1. � (-0.86): 37...Qh3 38.Rc3 Bxe3+ 39.Rxe3 Bc6 40.Kg1 Bb5 41.Qf2 Rd8 42.Re1 Qd7 43.f5 Qc6 44.Re6 Qc4 45.Qe1 Qd4+ 46.Qf2 2. � (-0.85): 37...Qf5 38.Rc3 Bb6 39.Ke1 Bxe3 40.Rxe3 Qa5+ 41.Nd2 Bd5 42.Qd3 Qb6 43.Ke2 Rd8 44.Qc3 Bf7 45.Re7 Re8 46.Qe5 Rxe7 47.Qxe7 Bg8 48.Kf1 a5 3. � (-0.76): 37...Qg6 38.Rc3 Bb6 39.Ke1 Bxe3 40.Rxe3 Bc6 41.Re6 Qb1+ 42.Qd1 Qb4+ 43.Qd2 Qc4 44.Re7 Qc5 45.Qe3 Qa5+ 46.Qd2 Qa3 47.Re3 Qc5 48.Qc3 4. � (-0.72): 37...Qh6 38.Rc3 Bxe3+ 39.Qxe3 Re8 40.Qd4 Qh3 41.Re3 Qg2+ 42.Ke1 h6 43.f5 c5 44.Qc4 5. � (-0.72): 37...Qxe2+ 38.Kxe2 Bxd3+ 39.Rxd3 Re8+ 40.Kf3 a5 41.Rc3 Bb6 42.Ra3 Ra8 43.Nd2 a4 44.Ke4 Kg8 45.Ra2 Bc5 46.Kd5 Be7 47.Kc6 a3 48.Kxc7 Kf7 49.Nc4 Ke6

Oct-01-09		tivrfoa: <RandomVisitor> your post are very helpful. :)

Oct-01-09		sultanmir: Wow... I submitted this pun for the Chessgames pun contest and almost forgot about it. I am glad Chessgames decided to put it up now ! And yes... the game definitely reminded me of the Monty Python Sketch.

Oct-02-09		Sem: <WhiteRook48: how did 11 Ba5 help?> I couldn't really say, but I like this move because I myself mostly play opening moves that are too timid and too stereotype. And this one (which I would never have found) means an immediate threat to Black.

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