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Boris Gelfand vs Veselin Topalov
Linares (2010), Linares ESP, rd 4, Feb-16
Catalan Opening: Closed Variation (E06)  ·  1/2-1/2

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 5 OF 5 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Feb-16-10  Marmot PFL: <As perhaps in the Bonn match against Kramnik.> Didn't know that, I thought this was something new.
Feb-16-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  tpstar: <special curtain> That's all part of the pre-match gamesmanship, as in "It's Curtains For Topalov!"

Our game should be drawn any time.

Feb-16-10  A Karpov Fan: < tpstar: <special curtain> That's all part of the pre-match gamesmanship, as in "It's Curtains For Topalov!"

Our game should be drawn any time.>

-lol-

If the match starts going against Topalov it will be curtains for decency again that is certain :-)

Feb-16-10  Ulhumbrus: <Marmot PFL: <As perhaps in the Bonn match against Kramnik.> Didn't know that, I thought this was something new.> According to one website- it could have been the official website- there was an almost invisible curtain separating the audience from the players. The audience could see the stage and the display screen but the players could not see the members of the audience.
Feb-16-10  Marmot PFL: Now white can get a passed d pawn, and black will control the c file. Given that the black king can stop the d pawn he might have a slight edge.
Feb-16-10  Ulhumbrus: Perhaps Topalov's idea is 30 cxd5 Rc8 taking the c file and if 31 e4 Rc4 forks the e4 and a4 pawns.
Feb-16-10  whiteshark: Draw is as safe as the Bank of England.
You lucky Islanders
Feb-16-10  Marmot PFL: Black wins a pawn, but white doubles rooks on the 7th rank for easy draw.
Feb-16-10  uscfratingmybyear: Marmot, no, the white rook goes to a5 if he wants and the rook pawn is a goner.
Feb-16-10  Ulhumbrus: 32...Rxa5 33 Ra6 and the Black a pawn falls after which it looks like a draw.
Feb-16-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  ketchuplover: Rf7 eh?
Feb-16-10  Marmot PFL: Now its too simple to be interesting. Grischuk-Vallejo is still unbalanced (4 pawns for B)
Feb-16-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  chessgames.com: Don't touch that dial--we'll show another board in just a minute.
Feb-16-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  ketchuplover: okie dokie
Feb-16-10  Ulhumbrus: <Marmot PFL: <As perhaps in the Bonn match against Kramnik.> Didn't know that, I thought this was something new.> Here is a bookmark giving one page which mentions the giant gauze curtain separating the players from the audience: http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail...
Feb-16-10  Eyal: Well, in terms of playing for a draw with Black it was an easy game for Topalov, after he pretty much equalized right out of the opening with 15...Nxc3.
Feb-16-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  WannaBe: <chessgames.com: Don't touch that dial--we'll show another board in just a minute.>

What's a dial? Isn't that a soap? =))

Feb-16-10  shreyaslathi: Topalav sucks he outright played for draw just exchanging pieces !!!! lol
Feb-17-10  Atking: <Eyal: Well, in terms of playing for a draw with Black it was an easy game for Topalov, after he pretty much equalized right out of the opening with 15...Nxc3.> Have you an idea for some improvements on white side? 15.e4 doesn't seem to work. 15...NxBf4+ 16.gxN Bd6 and 17...Qh4
Feb-17-10  ajile: I think this version of the Catalan is a dead opening for White. Takes too much time for White to regain the c pawn. Meanwhile Black has time to equalize. Look at all the time White uses to play Bg2. After g3 and Bg2 the bishop ends up being exchanged later anyways.
Feb-17-10  Atking: I understand your analysis and your point of view <ajile> but history has showed many times that a "dead" opening could revive after a new understanding. I'm really intrigued by the position of Bf4. Nd5 looks something superior to Bf4. Else I see Ne5 a bit superior too Be7 and Nc3 >= Na6. My deep feeling is one knight - the remaining one - could give white a better ending. Not sure about that of course. So my question to <Eyal> Lets one try : 14.Rfc1!? a) NxBf4 15.gxB Bd6 16.e3 Nb4 17.Ne4 BxNe5 18.dxB Qh4 19.Ne4 is embarrassing 19...Qg4+ 20.Ng3 and h3 Kh2 Rg1 Black has obviously a better pawn structure but big pieces are still there for a king side attack. b) Nab4 15.Ne4 f6 16.Nd3 NxNd3 17.QxNd3 NxBf4+ 18.gxNf4 Qd5 19.Rxc7 Bd6 20.Rd7 Rad8 21.RxRd8 RxRd8 22.Kg3 Qf5 23.e3 (23.Qf3 Qg6+ 24.Kh3 Qh6 25.Kg2 Bxf4 26.Ng3 is interesting too) g5!? 24.Rg1! gxf+ 25.Kh4+ the position is incredibly complex Kh8? NxBd6! But Kf7?! too NxBd6+ RxBd6 e4! Qe5 Qc2 Qxd4 e5!! White) Maybe Kf8 Really I don't know. But I doubt that game will be the end of the story. Still a lot to write about this position.
Feb-18-10  ajile: If you are going to play a gambit then PLAY A GAMBIT.

Let Black keep the pawn in exchange for rapid development and a possible attack.

This opening with 7.Qc2 and then 9.Qxc4 is illogical. Especially when you combine it with the slow g3 and Bg2.

Feb-18-10  Atking: I guess (Or maybe hope) that's not as simple,
Feb-18-10  Everett: <ajile> If you click "similar games," you will see that white is doing quite well in this line. Not sure if you knew this.
Feb-19-10  percyblakeney: When Vasiliev ran into Topalov after the game the latter said he had played catenaccio, I suppose he saved the jogo bonito for the game against Grischuk.
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