Mihaela Sandu vs Antoaneta Stefanova (2015)

Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players ·

Kibitzing

Mihaela Sandu vs Antoaneta Stefanova
European Championship (Women) (2015), Chakvi GEO, rd 7, May-25
Pirc Defense: Classical Variation. Quiet System Czech Defense (B08) · 1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

explore this opening	find similar games	1 more M Sandu/A Stefanova game
	PGN: download \| view \| print	Help: general \| java-troubleshooting

TIP: All games have a Kibitzer's Corner provided for community discussion. If you have a question or comment about this game, register a free account so you can post there.

For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.

PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

Sep-12-16		BloatedBelly: Except for the moves 11. dxe5 and 28.Qe3 this game looks extremely suspicious: White plays like a strong computer for the rest of the game. White is opting for an equal but very sharp game patiently waiting for a mistake or even a blunder from her opponent and then harvesting the fruits. What's her rating? 2600-2700? She cant be 2200: impossible.

Sep-12-16		Ron: After 3. ... c6 my Stockfish 7 preferred c4. Sandu played Nc3 After 4. ... d6 my Stockfish preferred a4. Sandu played Be2 5. 0-0 by Sandu is a commonsensical developing move. After 5. ... 0-0 my Stockfish preferred a4, as played by Sandu. After 5. ... Qc7 my Stockfish prefered, after some time h3, as played by Sandu Moves in parentheses is move by Sandu, Stockfish moves in non-parentheses 9 (Bf4) Bf4 10. (Be3) Bg5 11. (dxe) Qd2 12. (Ne2) Nb1 13. (Nc4) Nc4 14. (Nb6) Nb6 15. (Qxe2) Qe2 16. (Nc4) Nc4 17. (axb5) axb5 18. (Nd2) Nd2 19. (Nd5) Nd5 20 (exd5) exd5 21. (Nb3) Nb3 22. (Bc5) Bc5 23. (Qe3) gxf3 20 Qe3 was a blunder by Sandu, the evaluations change from advantage White to advantage Black 24. (Rd1) Re1 25. (d6) d6 26. (Ba7) Qe3 27. (Na7) Na7 Here, Stefanova blunders with 27. ... Qb5. White eval, which was about zero, now jumps to over 7 28. (Qb3+) Qb3 29. (c4) c4 Notice that Black is forced to lose material. I'm not going to go further. In my judgment, Sandu did not use computer assistance. There was variance in the opening moves that Sandu played. Sandu's moves that matched a computer were commonsensical moves such as castling, recapturing, and moving an attacked piece to a good square. One move by Sandu had flipped the advantage from her to her opponent. The position after 27. .. Qb5 would make a good puzzle of the week which at least some members of chess games.com would solve. So what do you have to say, <BloatedBelly>?

Sep-18-16		BloatedBelly: Hi Ron! Thank you for your analysis! Before giving my own analysis, I want you to know that I do not easily accuse someone of cheating unless I am almost 100% sure. Almost: because she did not admit cheating. I've also analysed her opening-repertoire and gamestyle.(solid/aggressive/sharp etc.) She has played this opening (the Pirc) many times before and knows what moves to play. I think 9.Bf4 is her first move out of book (9.Be3 is standard) The first 9 opening moves are completely normal. After that, is where I start to question the moves Sandu played. If your a 'good' cheater you will not play nr1 (best) engine moves all the time, but keep the position sharp and rather equal. Your opponent will eventually make a mistake/blunder and lose. Always comparing nr1-engine moves from Stockfish with her moves is not a logical way to analyse the game. For example: 10. Bg5 and 12. Nb1 are not human looking moves: If I was the cheater, I would not have played these moves at all. Also take in consideration that it's not always possible to cheat: maybe at certain times the risk of cheating is too high and she had to make move without help! Analysis: Opening: moves 1-9 (Sandu's opening-rep, no engine-analysis needed...yet) 10. Be3! (Bg5=computermove) 11. dxe5? (very odd move to give up your strong centre and exposing your queen on the d-file: even 11.d5 looks better closing the position) 12. Ne2! (Nb1=computermove) 13. (Nc4) Nc4 (moves 13 to 18 are rather forced and best) 14. (Nb6) Nb6 15. (Qxe2) Qe2 16. (Nc4) Nc4 17. (axb5) axb5 18. (Nd2) Nd2 19. (Nd5) Nd5 (best) 20 (exd5) exd5 (best) 21. (Nb3) Nb3 (best) 22. (Bc5) Bc5 (best)Stefanova played the sharp 22...f3 but maybe Sandu was expecting another move: 22...Rc8 and only knew what to do in that line. 23. (Qe3) gxf3 (Qe3 is not a big blunder imo. just a weak/dubious move, the position remains sharp and pretty equal) 24. (Rd1) Re1 (both are equally good: Rd1 looks more human supporting the d6 pawn) 25. (d6) d6 (best) 26. (Ba7) Qd3 (Ba7=computer move. Ba7 and Qd3 are equally good) 27. (Na5) Na5 (best) 28. (Qb3+) Qb3+! (best) 29. (c4) c4! (best) Of course I did not accuse Sandu of cheating by just analysing 1 or 2 games but all her games and knowing what happened during the tournament. She's won her first 5 games but then lost her 6th game: during that game something strange occured : In round six, the two top boards were transmitted with a delay due to technical problems. In that round, Sandu lost to Nino Batsiashvili (2473). (The top 35 boards were transmitted live on the internet.) The next day her game transmission wasn't delayed, and she won again. Her opponent was ex-world champion Antoaneta Stefanova (2512). Today Sandu has a rating of 2200.

Sep-18-16		perfidious: <BloatedBelly....Before giving my own analysis, I want you to know that I do not easily accuse someone of cheating unless I am almost 100% sure. Almost: because (Sandu) did not admit cheating....> Why on earth would anyone reasonably expect someone who falls under suspicion, but has not had the case against them proven, to admit to the offence? It will be noted that some players who signed the 'J'accuse' against Sandu retracted their signatures.

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:

No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
Nothing in violation of United States law.
No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
No trolling.
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.
Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

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

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.