Jan Smeets vs Ruslan Ponomariov (2011)

Jan Smeets vs Ruslan Ponomariov
Tata Steel (2011) · French Defense: Winawer. Classical Variation (C18) · 0-1

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Jan-17-11		Stonehenge: During the game I was looking at 16.Rac1 (or maybe the other rook) instead of Nxd4. Would that have been any good?

Jan-17-11		TheRavenPK: <Stonehenge> After a 5 second analysis I think Black can after 16.Rac1 play for example 16..Qxc4 17.Rxc4 Ne2+ 18.Khi Nxg3+ 19 hxg3 or 16..Nxf3 17.gxf3 (17.Qxf3 Qxe5 18.Rfe1, but black stays pawn up).. anyway, I think White can achieve nothing more on 16th move than stay pawn down..

Jan-17-11		Stonehenge: Thanks, I had a feeling something was wrong with Rc1 but I just didn't see it.

Jan-17-11		TheRavenPK: Btw, nice example of a won opposite bishop endgame.. Black a2-pawn cannot be taken and Black has all the time in the world to come here with his king, win the White bishop and the game..

Jan-17-11		Stonehenge: I didn't understand 22.a4, why make that pawn more vulnerable? But I'm no GM ofcourse :)

Jan-17-11		Stonehenge: <Smeets>: "I played 14. c4 with the idea to follow up with 16. Rc1 after 14. …dxc4 15. Bxc4 Nxd4. Then I noticed, however, that 16. … Qxc4! 17. Rxc4 Ne2+ would be winning, not for me, alas, but for black. So I had to settle for 16. Nxd4, just losing the pawn".

Jan-17-11		notyetagm: J Smeets vs Ponomariov, 2011 <TheRavenPK: Stonehenge After a 5 second analysis I think Black can after <<<16.Rac1 play for example 16..Qxc4 17.Rxc4 Ne2+ 18.Khi Nxg3+ 19 hxg3>>> or 16..Nxf3 17.gxf3 (17.Qxf3 Qxe5 18.Rfe1, but black stays pawn up)..> You missed <THE STING IN THE TAIL>. (VARIATION) 19 h2xg3 click for larger view 19 ... e8-b5 <skewer: c4,f1> click for larger view So if White insists on playing 16 a1-c1??, he loses an additional exchange to the <REMOVAL OF THE GUARD> tactic 16 ... c7xc4!.

Jan-17-11		notyetagm: Game Collection: THE UNDERRATED REMOVAL OF THE GUARD -- Heisman J Smeets vs Ponomariov, 2011 16 ... Qc7xNc4! destroys c4-bishop defender of e2-royal fork sq

Jan-17-11		notyetagm: Game Collection: DISCOVERED ATTACK! J Smeets vs Ponomariov, 2011 15 ... Nc6xd4! wins pawn by discovery on undef White c4-bishop

Jan-17-11		notyetagm: http://www.tatasteelchess.com/tourn... <Jan Smeets spoiled a fine performance in the tournament so far when he made a serious mistake early in his French game against Ruslan Ponomariov of the Ukraine. Playing white, Smeets sacrificed a pawn in the hope of obtaining good chances only to discover –too late- that he had just squandered a fine position. <<<“I played (see diagram) click for larger view . c4 with the idea to follow up with 16. Tc1 after 14. …dxc4 15. Lxc4 Pxd4. Then I noticed, however, that 16. … Qxd4! 17. Rxc4 Ne2+ would be winning, not for me, alas, but for black. So I had to settle for 16. Nxd4, just losing the pawn.”>>> Ponomariov eagerly rose to the opportunity, exchanging queens and easily winning the end game at his 40th.> So the 16 a1-c1?? line involves the tactics 15 ... c6xd4! <DISCOVERED ATTACK>, 16 ... c7xc4! <REMOVE THE GUARD>, and 17 ... d4-e2+ <ROYAL FORK>. A lovely tactical sequence, showcasing the power of a <CENTRALIZED KNIGHT>.

Jan-17-11		notyetagm: Game Collection: CENTRALIZED KNIGHT J Smeets vs Ponomariov, 2011 16 .. Qc7xBc4! destroys defender of e2-base for Black d4-knight

Jan-18-11		TheRavenPK: <notyetagm> Nice, I admit I didn't see it.. thank you, but still my line is winning :D yes, I did NOT see it further, but still I think I deserve at least... let's say 70% :P

Jan-19-11		Chesschatology: <The RavenPK> Credit deserved, you <ANALYSED> a <VARIATION> with a correct <ASSESSMENT> which <NotyetaGM> supplemented with a <TACTICAL FINESSE> using his system of <CAPITALISED CATEGORIES> to systematically label every <TACTICAL MOTIF>. What a splendid example of <GROUP ANALYSIS>.

Jan-19-11		Stonehenge: Well, after 16.RFc1 Qxc4 17.Rxc4 Ne2+ 18.Kh1 Nxg3+ 19.hxg3 white doesn't lose the exchange. But his position is still nothing to Twitter home about.

Feb-04-11		ReikiMaster: 14.c4 looks like an unforced error.

Feb-25-11		Manuel G. Vergara: What is the idea behind 10. ..Nge7? Please update me. hehe

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Featured in the Following Game Collections [what is this?]

15 ... Nc6xd4! wins pawn by discovery on undef White c4-bishop
from DISCOVERED ATTACK! by notyetagm

16 ... Qc7xNc4! destroys c4-bishop defender of e2-royal fork sq
from THE UNDERRATED REMOVAL OF THE GUARD -- Heisman by notyetagm

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by cuppajoe

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from C18 French: Winawer [Black] by chess.master