chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Vladimir Akopian vs Sergey Karjakin
"War-End Piece" (game of the day Apr-15-2020)
4th FIDE Grand Prix (2009), Nalchik RUS, rd 6, Apr-21
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation. English Attack Anti-English (B90)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

explore this opening
find similar games 5 more V Akopian/Karjakin games
sac: 51.Qb5 PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: You can get computer analysis by clicking the "ENGINE" button below the game.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

A COMPUTER ANNOTATED SCORE OF THIS GAME IS AVAILABLE.  [CLICK HERE]

Kibitzer's Corner
Apr-21-09  Bears092: how about 17. Bxe5 followed by 18. Bxb5

is there anything in that?

Apr-21-09  Dr. Funkenstein: Wow, great underpromotion at the end that somehow both stops the threatened perpetual check and threatens mate at the same time
Apr-21-09  braimondi: Very nice pawn promotion ;)
Apr-21-09  luzhin: In fact Akopian could have immediately played the winning king march (followed by the underpromotion) by playing 54.a7 etc. But who can blame him for using Q checks to spend more time to consider the position? Karjakin's 22...bxc4 looked very odd: after that his position was totally rigid.
Apr-21-09  luzhin: Bears092: Unfortunately after 17.Bxe5 Bxe5 18.Bxb5 axb5 19.Qxa8 Qxa8 20.Nc7+ Kd7 21.Nxa8 Kc6 Black will capture the wandering Knight and his two extra Bishops are much better than White's extra Rook.
Apr-21-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  JointheArmy: Nice underpromotion that forces Karjakin to resign.
Apr-21-09  Augalv: Commentary at: http://karjakin.blogspot.com/
Apr-22-09  arsen387: <The representative of the older generation (who had also been a young star someday) gave a perfect lesson to the young and brilliant opponent. Maybe Karjakin simply underestimated Akopian and decided to play against him beyond the acceptable risk. Perhaps judging Sergey’s novelty 16…b5 by a single game is irresponsible, especially considering that ‘Karjakin-made’ opening ideas are usually of the highest quality. However, Akopian used simple and logical means to parry Black’s threats, and obtained a lasting advantage. Vladimir converted this advantage in a classic way. The excellent 31.Qc7! deserves special attention. In the endgame White sacrificed a bishop (51.Qb5!) and advanced his passed a-pawn. Here began the most interesting part! Usually players always queen their pawns without giving a proper thought to underpromotion. However, in this case the automatic 71.a8Q? only led to a perpetual check. By promoting his pawn to the knight, Akopian defended his king and created irresistible threats to the opponent’s monarch! An excellent victory!> GM Shipov, http://nalchik2009.fide.com/round-6...

really very beautiful win by Akopian, the best of the tournament so far, at least for me

Apr-22-09  Alphastar: 78. a8=N is excellent.
Apr-24-09  syracrophy: The ♘ underpromotion at his best


click for larger view

<MATE IN THREE>

1.a8=♘!


click for larger view

<MATE IN THREE>

<1.a8=♕? fails to 1...♘c5+ 2.♔a7 ♘b7!. Another resource is missing...>

1.a8=♘!

May-12-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  Mateo: <luzhin: In fact Akopian could have immediately played the winning king march (followed by the underpromotion) by playing 54.a7 etc. But who can blame him for using Q checks to spend more time to consider the position? Karjakin's 22...bxc4 looked very odd: after that his position was totally rigid.> The other move was 22...Qxc4. However, after 23.Qxg5 Bxd5 24.Qxd5, White won a pawn too. As a matter of fact, it should be noticed that the natural move 21...Nc4 loses a pawn.
Apr-15-20  jith1207: Nice pun, great match and a beautiful game to play through.
Apr-15-20  goodevans: <syracrophy> I struggled with your 2nd diagram for some time before coming to the conclusion it should say <MATE IN 4>. Is that right?
Apr-15-20  morfishine: You know, this was a very good game, thanks!
Apr-15-20  pmukerji: 27...Rb8 captures the white knight, no?
Apr-15-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  harpendenwoodpusher: If 27...Rb8 then 28 Qxc4 threatening an unusual mate via Qg8 and Qg6. Neat!
Apr-15-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  harpendenwoodpusher: Oh no not so straightforward as Qg6 is not mate as the rook will have moved. Sorry should have checked this.
Apr-15-20  WorstPlayerEver: Black takes the Knight at d5 and gets in a difficult position, in this game from the same tournament happens the same, but now Karjakin has White:

Karjakin vs Aronian, 2009

Apr-15-20  RandomVisitor: After 16...b5 there is 17.f4


click for larger view

Stockfish_20041408_x64_modern:

<54/71 38:14 +0.65 17.f4 gxf4 18.Bxf4> Be6 19.Qg3 Ng6 20.Bh5 Rg8 21.Kb1 Nxf4 22.Nxf4 0-0-0 23.Nxe6 fxe6 24.Bf7 Be5 25.Bxe6+ Kb8 26.Qf2 Rg6 27.Bg4 Rf6 28.Qd2 Rdf8 29.Bf3 Rc8 30.c3 Qc5 31.Rhf1 Rcf8 32.Rfe1 Rf4 33.Rh1 Qc7 34.Qe2 Kb7 35.Qc2 Qc4 36.Rd3 Rc8

Apr-15-20  pmukerji: Interesting line <harpendenwoodpusher>. In analyzing I see that even though it fails, it only fails if black takes the knight with his queen. If he takes with his rook then white gets his minor piece back OR force a perpetual. Either way white's queen gets stuck in la-la land giving black solid tempo!
Apr-15-20  Kay Sadeeya: Even before I saw the game, I chuckled at that pun. Very clever. And it works perfectly with the under-promoting knight,

Good one thank you.

Apr-20-20  Ironmanth: Fantastic game! Thanks, chessgames. Had not seen this before. A true treasure.

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC