chessgames.com

Sergey Karjakin vs Teimour Radjabov
FIDE Grand Prix 2008  ·  Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation. Yugoslav Attack Old Line (B78)  ·  0-1


Click Here to play Guess-the-Move
Given 5 times; par: 62 [what's this?]

explore this opening
find similar games 15 more Karjakin/Radjabov games
sac: 18...Bxg4 PGN: download | view Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: A game that has been used for Game of the Day will have a title (usually a pun) at the top of the page.

Java Viewer:  What is this?
For help with the default chess viewer, please see the Chess Viewer Deluxe Quickstart Guide.

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing >
Aug-14-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  kamalakanta: This same variation was employed by Anand vs. Carlsen, Chess Classic Mainz 2008.. Anand vs Carlsen, 2008

But Radjabov's 17th move is an efficient novelty! it takes away the square g5 from the White Queen (which is an entry point after Bxg7 and Rxh5), and rightly estimates that Black has th advantage after 18...Bxg4. All of Black's pieces are efficiently poised for attack, and Black has already a 2-pawn advantage!

20...Rxc3 is the icing on the cake, as after 21.Qxc3 Qxc3 22. bxc3 Black has a favorable position; White has no entry points; Black is better, even though white has the 2-exchange material advantage.

Aug-14-08   cannibal: GM Shipov gave the following saving line for white: <46.Rxe4! f5 47.Re1! f4 48.Rg1 Ke6 49.Kb2!! Kf5 50.Kc3 Kg4(50...Ke4 51.Kd2 Kf3 52.Rf1+!) 51.Kd2 f3 52.Ke3 f2 53.Ra1 Kh3 54.Kf3 Kh2 55.Ke2 Kg2 56.Rc1 and draw>

It's insanely hard to see through all this of course, it ends up almost the same way as in the game, only that white can stop the black g-pawn on g3 already, which is just enough to block everything.

Aug-14-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  OneArmedScissor: This game is just so incredibly awesome.

One of the best games of 2008, IMO.

Aug-14-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  OneArmedScissor: <17. ...Bf6!> is one of those subtle moves where you're just like... "damn"
Aug-14-08   Illogic: Every once in a while these GMs remind me that, no, I am indeed nowhere close to comprehending what goes on in these games of theirs!
Aug-14-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  micartouse: This is a pretty remarkable game. Radjabov decides his minor pieces are better than his opponent's rooks in a dragon ending. He just needs a bunch of pawns.
Aug-14-08   muradov: Simply a piece of art by Radjabov, in style of great Tal..

I'm looking forward to Bilbao!

Aug-14-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  micartouse: <in style of great Tal..>

Or Petrosian! He showed an appropriate contempt for the value of rooks in this game. Knights and pawns are better!

Aug-14-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  Dr. Funkenstein: Incredible game, Radjabov plays in the style of Topalov vs. Aronian and sacrifices both exchanges to eventually create a pair of killer passed pawns. However, the position after ... Qxc3 bxc3, doesn't look like black has enough for the massive material deficit. Congrats to Radjabov for his deep analysis of the position and his creativity to find a win down so much material.
Aug-14-08   Bobsterman3000: <dabears> Yes, 31. Rh3 was a monumental blunder on the same scale as the disastrous drafting of Cade McNown or Cedric Benson...

Aug-14-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  4tmac: In these endings a rook fears connected passed pawns. That's why I think Sergey played 46.Kb2?!. However, this leads to:


click for larger view

...which is won. 46.RxN! lets both pawns get going but this allows white the time to keep the g pawn from reaching the 7th rank. (Shipov's line given by cannibal)


click for larger view

...with a draw

Aug-14-08   Augalv: Commentary at www.Karjakin.blogspot.com
Aug-15-08   thathwamasi: Radja's immortal. I think this will qualify for Kasparov's my great sucessors book. :D
Aug-15-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  ahmadov: Amazing game by Radja! He really deserves to become one of the winners of the FIDE Grand Prix of 2008-2009... Congratulations!
Aug-15-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  ahmadov: I especially liked 45...Kd7!
Aug-15-08   Sui Generis: A truly great game by Radjabov and a pleasure to watch live. Two exchange sacrifices in the same game, remember the classic Petrosian vs Spassky, 1966?
Aug-15-08   Atking: I suggested on this site 17...Bf6 just a day after the game Anand vs Carlsen saying the importance of the diagonal a1-h8. But I had a doubt and I still have a doubt. Maybe (Surely) a miscaculation from my part but 18.f4 still looks strong to me a) 18...Nc4 19.BxNc4 RxBc4 20.Nb3 BxNc3 21.NxQa5 BxQd2 22.NxRc4 Bxf4 23.RxNh5 b) 18...Nf3 19.NxNf3 BxNc3 (19...RxNc3 20.e5!) 20.bxBc3 gxNf3 21.Rxg6+ Else c) 18...Nc6 19.Nde2 White isn't better here. Therefore I'm happy that Radjabov came back and finished strongly this tournament. His decision to play the dragon in the last round was clever and courageous.
Aug-15-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  4tmac: Karjakin's website pointed out a detail I didn't notice at first (this game has a lot of those) but 45. ... Nc3+? 46. Ka3 Ne2 47. RxP g2


click for larger view

.White draws by "perpetual" since if black goes to the e file, white gives up the rook for the g pawn and draws by one tempo. I like the line: 48. Rf7+ Kc6 49. Rf6+ Kc5 50. Rf5+ Kc4 51. Rg5 g1=Q 52. RxQ NxR white snags the pawns & draws

Aug-15-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  Ulhumbrus: The main point of the double exchange ascrifice seems to be that White's Rooks lack any open files. Or do they? What about the b file?

After 23 Bc4 Nxc4 24 Bxg4 White's K can't go to b2 and a1, but suppose instead of 23 Bc4 White tries 23 a4. This begins the plan of Ka1 and Rb1.

White has only to find one open file to occupy with his Rooks, and Black can start to worry. It is true that Black also has a King.

On 23 a4 Ke7 begins to move the King towards the Queen side. Then on 24 Ba2 Kd7 25 Nb3 heads for d2 or a5 or prepares a5

Aug-18-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  arsen387: Unbelievable, but in this report
http://www.chesspro.ru/_events/2008... is written that the final (maybe not exactly the final, but after 43..Kxc7)position was a draw. Computer found an amazing drawing line. Unfortunately that line isn't written there. Does anyone know that line?
Aug-18-08   najdorfman: arsen387:

The drawing line starts on move 46.
46. Rxe4 f5 47. Re1 f4 48. Rg1 Ke6 49. Kb2 Kf5 50. Kc2 Kg4 51. Kd2 f3 (51...Kf3 52. Rf1 Kg4 53. Rg1=) 52. Ke3 f2 53. Ra1 Kh3 54. Ke2.

White just sits and waits. Black cannot make any progress. Okay?

Aug-18-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  Ulhumbrus: <najdorfman: arsen387:

The drawing line starts on move 46.
46. Rxe4 f5 47. Re1 f4 48. Rg1 Ke6 49. Kb2 Kf5 50. Kc2 Kg4 51. Kd2 f3 (51...Kf3 52. Rf1 Kg4 53. Rg1=) 52. Ke3 f2 53. Ra1 Kh3 54. Ke2.

White just sits and waits. Black cannot make any progress. Okay?>

The variation which you have given
suggests that following 46 Rxe4 White can draw after with a Rook against the two connected Black passed pawns on the third rank if his King reaches the d file, because the two Kings are not of equal value. White's King is more valuable than Black's King.

Black's King cannot make up for the work done by White's King.

Thus after ...f2 White's King can attack the f2 pawn whereas Black's King cannot defend it, and this prevents ...g2. Or after ....g2 White's King can control f2 but Black's King cannot attack it.

An instructive lesson in the end-game.

Aug-19-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  arsen387: <najdorfman> yeah, thanks. cool, 4 passers can't beat a R (of course only because 2 pawns are doubled)! This is really a good lesson
Aug-19-08   ughaibu: If there are only four pawns and two of these are doubled, then there are not four passed pawns, there are only three.
Aug-25-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  dabearsrock1010: <bobsterman> haha yeah i know that all too well. <cannibal> You are almost certainly correct, I guess I was looking at the position superficially, but white is in tons of trouble no matter how he moves.
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing >

Secrets of Opening Surprises
NOTE: You need to pick a username and password to post a reply. Getting your account takes less than a minute, totally anonymous, and 100% free--plus, it entitles you to features otherwise unavailable. Pick your username now and join the chessgames community!
If you already have an account, you should login now.
Please observe our posting guidelines:
  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, or duplicating posts.
  3. No personal attacks against other users.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
Blow the Whistle See something which violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform an administrator.


NOTE: Keep all discussion on the topic of this page. This forum is for this specific game and nothing else. If you want to discuss chess in general, or this site, you might try the Kibitzer's Café.
Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
Spot an error? Please submit a correction slip and help us eliminate database mistakes!
This game is type: CLASSICAL (Disagree? Please submit a correction slip.)

Featured in the Following Game Collections [what is this?]
Sicilian Dragon
by KingG
Know-nothing snot-noses decide
by ughaibu
chocobonbon's favorite games
by chocobonbon
The Young Lions
by chocobonbon
Totally Rad!
from suenteus po 147's chautauqua of games by suenteus po 147
Random interesting games
by Lutwidge
Black Magic
by OneArmedScissor
finales de torre 2008
by afabian
Radjabov's best games
by percyblakeney
kinginmind01's B78 Dragon 9Bc4 10 0-0-0
by kinginmind01
204
from 2005 to 2008: Guess the Move Chess Training by Anatoly21
LEARNING
by gmlisowitz
Radjabov's jewel
from Masterpieces of chess history by ahmadov
The Dragon doesn't need Rooks.
from 1. e4 c5 by SniperOnG7
17..Bf6! black gives white an offer he can't refuse.
from Mendrys' favorite games by Mendrys
dragon1
from steves study games by skawuma
exchange sacrifices
by zatara
Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation. Yugoslav Attack Old Line
from adichess' B00 - C19 by adichess
FIDE Grand Prix, Sochi RUS 2008 Rd.13 (17.........Bf6!)
from Favorite Games #8 (2008) by wanabe2000
Teimour Radjabov: azeri Jewel
by randzo
plus 10 more collections (not shown)


home | about | login | logout | F.A.Q. | your profile | preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | new kibitzing | chessforums | new games | Player Directory | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Little ChessPartner | privacy notice | contact us
Copyright 2001-2009, Chessgames.com
Web design & database development by 20/20 Technologies