Peter Leko vs Alexey Shirov (2008)

Peter Leko vs Alexey Shirov
Morelia-Linares (2008) · Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation. English Attack (B90) · 1/2-1/2

To move:

Last move:

explore this opening	find similar games	47 more Leko/Shirov games
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Feb-18-08		Knight13: 13. cxb3!!

Feb-18-08		Alex Patkowski: I really like Shirov's play even though it doesn't always work against the top level GM's. He reminds me of Steinitz.

Feb-19-08		acirce: A very good game, but couldn't Shirov have played on? click for larger view After, say, 37..d5 (probably the most logical) or 37..Rc8 I see more possibilities than risks for Black. But ok, a pawn is a pawn, and you can go wrong. Still I suspect that Topalov might have played on. Ok, that wouldn't necessarily mean it's a good decision..

Feb-20-08		LivBlockade: <acirce> That would have been interesting. I think Black only had a minute or two remaining to reach move 40, while White had around 5 minutes. Also, in your diagram, I think the White Rook should be on d1, which makes 37...Rc8 even more effective. It's difficult for White to get his Knight back in play.

Feb-20-08		Hesam7: <Yet another Sicilian in Leko-Shirov, yay. Leko preferred the fashionable quiet line with kingside castling, boo. White got just about everything White wants in these positions with a good knight versus a bad bishop and domination against the backwards pawn on d6. (I referred to the position as "Leko porn" on the air at the time.) And yet Black had no trouble at all, as he opened the f-file and just left his bishop on e7. ("Bad bishops protect good pawns" as the saying goes.) It looked like Black's queenside pawns would be vulnerable, but apparently not vulnerable enough. Leko grabbed one and promptly offered a draw. It turns out White has to worry about his knight getting stuck after 37..d5 and Black is probably for choice, so a well-timed offer from Leko.> -- Mig Greengard

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