|
< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 16 OF 18 ·
Later Kibitzing> |
| Feb-01-06 | | whatthefat: Incredibly for such an intense game, Topalov appears to have made no errors whatsoever! The only move Fritz dislikes is 29.Qf2, suggesting 29.Qxe2 as better. But as far as I can see it, white has a won game in either position. This is a very rare accomplishment, and in a game of very rare creativity. I believe that this game belongs among the best 50 of all time. And perhaps even higher up in terms of the best individual performance in a game. |
 |
| Feb-02-06 | | 4daluvofchess: Whoever is naming these games is a brilliant wordsmith. The only thing missing is the Elmer fud voice! Bravo, chessgames... |
|
| Feb-03-06 | | LIFE Master AJ: Hmmm, I thought it was kind of cute, maybe even witty. (I guess you would have to have a sense of humor to appreciate it fully.) |
|
| Feb-07-06 | | c o r e: First time I've taken a look at this game, and ... wow. Toppy's ideas are executed with remarkable cunning. This game truly epitomizes great chess. |
|
| Feb-09-06 | | Cyphelium: <Ulhumbrus & ewenardus> After 19.-  c7 20.  xe4 d7 21. a5 xa5 22.  xd7  bd8!? (22. - bc8 is also possible)23. xf8  xf8 24. xc6 xc5 25. d5, white is a pawn up, but it looks very hard to make progress in view of the opposite coloured bishops etc. An alternative to 21. a5 is 21. xd7 xd7 22. f3, since black then either has to abandon pawn c6 and give white those connected pawns (which as we've seen is dangerous), or play 22.- bc8 23. f5. Then after 23.- d5 24. xd5 cxd5 25. xc8 xc8 26. b4! white is pawn up and will probably win rather easily by playing a2-a4 to activate his rook. 23.- c7 24. xc8 xc8 is a better defence, but white is a sound pawn up and still has the better position after, say, 25. b4. Conclusion: After 19.- c7 20. xe4 d7, white probably has a clear advantage. |
|
| Feb-12-06 | | Timothy Glenn Forney: I will admit I cannot touch Shredder 8,and can only beat it on handicap,Hat's off to any human who can beat it,I saw Nakamura do it a couple of times on ICC. |
|
| Feb-14-06 | | alexandrovm: <...I saw Nakamura do it a couple of times on ICC.> good for him |
|
Feb-15-06
 | | patzer2: Here is some analysis with the Opening Explorer, Fritz 8 and a couple of online sources: <1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3>
Entering a mainline of the Queen's Indian (E15). <4...Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3 d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7> An alternative is 9...Nbd7 as in Topalov vs Judit Polgar, 2005. <10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12.O-O Nf6> Also played is 12...Rc8 as in Topalov vs Anand, 2005. <13. e4 b5 14. exd5> Another option for White is 14. Re1 as in Karpov vs Leko, 2001. <14...exd5
15. Re1 Rb8> Perhaps worth considering is 15...dxc4 as in Bologan vs Macieja, 2004. <16. c5 Bc8 17. Nf3 Ne4> Maybe Black could have avoided the exchange sacrifice and survived after 17... Bg4 18. Qd3 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Re8 20. Qf5 Qd7 21. Qxd7 Nxd7 22. Bg4 Nf6 23. Bf5 g6 24. Bd3 Bf8  with only a slight White edge. <18. Rxe4!> This is a deep exchange sacrifice, and a novelty which Topalov prepared in advance. Previously played
was 18. Ne5 as in Kramnik vs Leko, 2004 and
Bologan vs Sadvakasov, 2005. In describing this
surprise exchange sacrifice, GM Sakev in his analysis at http://e3e5.com/eng/petersburg/comp... writes: <A bolt from the blue! The bomb has exploded!> The Corus tournament report
at http://www.coruschess.com/report.ph... states Topalov's
"preparation was <a serious piece of analysis, left over from the San Luis world
championship.> In a known line of the Queens Indian, he uncorked (what else
but!) another signature exchange sacrifice that gave him a long term
initiative." |
|
Feb-15-06
| | patzer2: <18...dxe4 19. Ne5!> A key followup as other moves lose. <19... Qd5> Per Fritz 8, White gets a winning edge after 19... Qc7 20. Bxe4 b4 21. Bd2 f5 22. Bg2 Bd7 23. Bf4 Qb7 24. Qe2  . <20. Qe1! Bf5> Even worse for Black is 20... f6?? 21. Bxe4 Qe6 22. Nxc6 Rb7 23. Nb4 . <21. g4 Bg6 22. f3 b4 23. fxe4 Qe6!> Other replies lose. <24. Bb2 Bf6 25. Nxc6!> After this discovered attack combination, the objective of
Topalov's earlier exchange sacrifice becomes obvious as White gains a monster center and two central passed pawns for the exchange. <25...Qxc6 26. e5 Qa6 27. exf6 Rfe8> White wins after 27... Qxf6 28. Qf2 Qg5 (28...
Qxf2+ 29. Kxf2 Rfe8 30. d5 Bd3 31. Bf3 Rbd8 32. c6 ) 29. d5 Qxg4 30. Qd4 Bf5 31. Qxg4 Bxg4 32. c6 Rfe8 33. Bd4 . <28. Qf1! Qe2 29. Qf2 Qxg4 30. h3! Qg5 31. Bc1! Qh5 32. Bf4 Rbd8 33. c6 Be4> Here Fritz 8 indicates White wins after 33... gxf6 34. c7 Rc8 35. d5 Re2 36. Qg3 Rc2 37. d6 . <34. c7 Rc8 35. Re1 Qg6 36. Rxe4 Rxe4 37. d5 Rce8 38. d6!>
The two connected passed pawns are decisive, despite White being two exchanges down. <38...Re1+ 39. Kh2 Qf5 40. Qg3 g6 41. Qg5 Qxg5 42. Bxg5 Rd1 43. Bc6> Also winning easy is 43. Bf4. <43...Re2+ 44. Kg3 1-0>
Black resigns in the face of an overwhelming White advantage. |
|
| Mar-18-06 | | LIFE Master AJ: http://www.geocities.com/thegotmman... This is my game of the month for February.
|
|
| Mar-18-06 | | LIFE Master AJ: <patzer2> Nice analysis. |
|
| Mar-21-06 | | CapablancaFan: It's a shame to go down in chess history on the wrong side of an immortal. I'm afraid because of this game that will be Aronian's fate. |
|
| Mar-21-06 | | Jim Bartle: Well, Topalov's been on the wrong end of at least three immortals, vs. Karpov, Shirov and Kasparov. So it's only fair to have a couple go the other way. Of course it takes a strong losing player to create an immortal game, otherwise it would be too easy. |
|
| Apr-13-06 | | psychic: hi guyz!!! 4 me as biggner topalov won that game bcoz of pooc queenside pawn structure of black,
specilally that on c6.... |
|
| Apr-13-06 | | psychic: topa did got those sacs moves coz he sees he could get 8 back in a doubled price... |
|
| Apr-13-06 | | roni.chessman: <It's a shame to go down in chess history on the wrong side of an immortal.> Well, Topalov had his own share of the wrong side of the immortal in Kasparov's immortal. When Aronian gets a shot at being Fide World Champ someday and wins, it won't matter that much. I'm still rooting for Radjabov to be the world champ when Radja's 25. :) |
|
| Apr-16-06 | | dbquintillion: This game just makes me love chess. |
|
| May-02-06 | | CapablancaFan: I still can't get over this game. How did Topa see 18.Rxe4? This is crazy chess. |
|
| May-02-06 | | positionalbrilliancy: <Capablancafan> If I understand correctly <patzer2> pointed out it was home preparation. Nevertheless it is still an intriguing and unforeseeable move. Great game from Topa. |
|
| May-02-06 | | wharfrat: Give credit to Topalov for great preparation, and not just for 18.Re4. He undoubtedly studied 21.g4 and the resulting loss of the g-pawn at home. This sac allowed White to create threats on g7, opened up dark squares for the White queen, and allowed White to play 30.h3 with gain of tempo. Very impressive, but an immortal game? I don't see that. |
|
| May-03-06 | | jackmandoo: This game is just another example of the strong passed pawn. Just like Paule Keres's famous quote: "The older I get, the more I value swans." The chess community was confused with this statement but as this game illustrates, swans can fly in the sky, and sometimes in coordinated formations. Just like the pawns in this game. |
|
| May-03-06 | | aw1988: LOL. I'm fairly sure Keres had nothing to do with swans... |
|
| May-20-06 | | spirit: i'm absolutely sure toppa has something going with bishops ;=) |
|
| May-25-06 | | Topzilla: This is the way a World Champion plays, is an awesome demonstration of Topalov greatness!! |
|
| Jun-18-06 | | harcee sarmiento: kasparov still the best!!
|
|
|
|
< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 16 OF 18 ·
Later Kibitzing> |
sac: 18.Rxe4