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Ruslan Ponomariov vs Arkadij Naiditsch
Dortmund Sparkassen (2010), Dortmund GER, rd 8, Jul-23
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation. Bernstein Defense (E59)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Jul-23-10  goodevans: An ending for those who appreciate irony.

After <33 ... Rxf6> black's rook is pinned for the next 7 moves until he breaks it with <40 ... Kg6>. But after the rook finally moves away from the attack with <42 ... Rc6> the misplaced king on g6 is vulnerable to mate threats on g7.

Jul-23-10  YouRang: In this game, Naiditsch (black) was in time trouble. By move 30 I think he had about 12 minutes to Ponomariov's 40 (roughly).

I was surprised, therefore, by black's choice on move 31 [diagram:black to move]

It's still questionable as to whether black can hold the draw, but it should be easier for black than the game as played.

I think it might continue:

<31...Nxc3> 32.Nxc3 Rb3 33.Nd5 Be6 34.Ne7+ Kg7 35.f5 Kf6 36.fxe6+ Kxe7 37.Rab1 Rxb1 38.Rxb1 fxe6 [diagram]


click for larger view

Indications are (after stepping through a few lines with Rybka) that black may just be able to squeeze out a draw, or at least make the win very tough for white.

Jul-24-10  Ulhumbrus: An alternative to 23...Qc6 is 23...Qe7 keeping White's N out of g5.
Jul-24-10  sharkw: What I find really cute about this game is the series of semi-forcing moves initiated by White's 33. Be5. At first it looks like White is sacrificing two pieces for a rook, but after 33...Rxf6 White never actually takes it and places a series of moves a piece down, eventually winning it back!

34. Rfc1 threatens to take the bishop on c8.
35. Rab1 threatens 36. a4 Nd6 37. Rxb7 Nxb7 38. Rc7.
36. a4 attacks the knight on b5.
37. Bd4 attacks the rook on a7.
38. Rd1 threatens 39. Bxf6+ Kxf6 40. Rxd6.
39. Rb7 pins and attacks the bishop on d7.
40. Be5 discovers another attack and pin on the bishop on d7, winning the piece back with advantage.

Jul-24-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  tamar: <YouRang> Interesting choice you gave.

I would find it very hard to go for such a bad rook ending, even knowing how hard they are to win.

Naiditsch can take some consolation that it took very fine play from move 32 to 40 to push Black off his defensive stance.

Move 37 Bd4 Ra8 38 Rd1 is my favorite interlude of many fine sequences- pushing the rook back to a8, followed by 38 Rd1, setting up an attack on d7.

This type of manoeuver is very hard to foresee, I think, and marks it of the highest class.

White blocks the d file when he intends to win a piece on that file, but realizes that Black cannot counter even with the move.

Jul-25-10  Bacchante: Truly world class play from Ponomariov starting from move 32.

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