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Gata Kamsky vs Vugar Gashimov
Sochi Grand Prix (2008), Sochi RUS, rd 12, Aug-13
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation. Hedgehog Defense (A30)  ·  1/2-1/2

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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find similar games 3 more Kamsky/V Gashimov games
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Kibitzer's Corner
Aug-13-08  Marmot PFL: Typical English where being up one tempo in a nearly symmetrical position is not enough to win.
Aug-18-08  YouRang: Yeah, it looks like this one was pretty much even all the way.

Perhaps the best chance of making something decisive happen was at move 21, where black had this position:


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Black played 21...a6, but perhaps better would have been 21...Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Ba3! (diagram:white to move)


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Threatening the b2 pawn, which is guarding the c3 knight. If 23.bxa3, then: 23...Rxc3 24.Qb4 Qc7, with threat of 25...Nd5 26.Qb2 Qc5 27.Ra1, and white is rather tied up trying to guard his ugly doubled a-pawns. White may still hold a draw, but not easily.

It might continue: 25.Rd8+ Kh7 26.Qb1+ g6 27.Qb2 <guarding Pa3> Nd5 28.Ra8 a5 <now white has doubled a-pawns and badly disconnected Q+R, white black's pieces are well coordinated; white can try...> 29.Qb5 <threat: Qe8 and mate threats at g8 or h8> g5 <taking away Qh8#> 30.Qe8 Nf6! <attacking queen and guarding against Qg8#> 31.Qb8 <hoping to exchange queens such that the black rook ends up attacking Pb6> Qc4! (diagram:white to move)


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The queen hits f1, with threat of ...Rc1, pinning & winning the knight

32.Qb7 <threat: Qxf7, and also ready to play guard a6-f1 diagonal with Qa6> Kg6 33.Qa6 <note:33.Rf8 e5> Qxa4 <wins pawn, and soon to win another> 34.Rd8 <not Qxb6 since 34...Qd1 35.Kf1 Rc2 <threat ...Ne4 & ...Rxf2 & mate soon> and black should win with his connected passed q-side pawns.

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