notyetagm: Gelfand vs Kamsky, 2011 <lost in space: 16. a3?? c4! 17. dxc4 (instead of Qxc4) 17...Nc5 and the queen is gone too.>  click for larger view
16 a2-a3?? <self-block: a3>
 click for larger view16 ... c5-c4! <clearance: c5>
 click for larger view(VARIATION)
17 d3xc4 ♘d7-c5 <trapped piece: b3-queen>
 click for larger viewGelfand clearly missed IMHO the most difficult <KNIGHT PATTERN> to see on the board, <THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF A 3X5 RECTANGLE>, here the d7- and b3-squares. This pattern is *especially* hard to see on a crowded board, as it is here. The Black d7-knight just seems to come out of nowhere (the Black 2nd rank) to harvest the White b3-queen, which is <STALEMATED>. <Rob Morrison: Wow!! 16 . . . c4!! What a beautiful move! 16. a3? was a form of helpmate on white's queen but very easy to overlook the stunning reply.> Yes, Gelfand is the new challenger to World Champion Anand, is rated over 2740, and completely(!) overlooked that 16 a2-a3?? c5-c4! results in a fatal loss of material due to a <TRAPPED> queen. |