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Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs Arkadij Naiditsch
GRENKE Chess Classic (2017), Karlsruhe GER, rd 1, Apr-15
French Defense: Steinitz Variation (C11)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Kibitzer's Corner
Apr-15-17  cormier: https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-t...
Apr-15-17  paavoh: King is caught in the crossfire: Re4 or Re2.
Apr-15-17  Toribio3: GM Naiditsch is a strategical player. When he traded his white bishop, he had the better position; because in French Defense, the white bishop is a bad bishop and when you disposed it-more often than not, you have the winning advantage already. Good job GM Naiditsch!
Apr-16-17  morfishine: Nice game by Naiditsch. He appears fired up, probably due to negative publicity questioning if he's qualified for this event. Lets see if he can keep up the momentum

*****

Apr-16-17  Gilmoy: <14..Nb6 16..Na8 19..Nc7> is a Breyer in the French!

<10.g4 h5> was a key strategic (anti-)idea: now White must continue on the already-shattered K-side, but his Q-side pieces are even less active than Black's. <12.f5 17.e6> sacks two pawns for central pressure, and he never gets the 2nd one back.

<28.Re1 Kd7 again> shows the <disadvantage> of space: Black's K is close enough to the action to count as a piece, and it's almost 5-v-1 on weak g5.

Apr-16-17  protonchess: Gilmoy: you must be kidding.

Look at the position after 20. Bf4. Black more active than White? Really??

IMO White's mistake was 25. Qg5. 25. Qg3 would have retained compensation for the Pawn.

Apr-16-17  Gilmoy: Defending without moving counts as doing something. That's more than two White pieces (Ra1, Bf1) are contributing to White's game. They don't even have plausible next-moves to join in, so they're at least two moves away <each>.

<20.Bf4> is so "strong" that Black auto-neutralizes it immediately with <20..Bd6>. If White can't promptly take that trade with advantage, then it's not really a strength (and you're cherry-picking before the eval settles). Thereafter, Black just plays simple uncoiling moves, and White is going to end up with Rg7 vs. the world.

Space can be nice, but maybe not worth <two> pawns.

Apr-17-17  JPi: On 10...h5!? why not 11.Ng3 as on 11..hxg4 (11...h4 12.Ne2 then Bh3 Be3-Bf2 and g5 wins the pawn) 12.Ng5 ~ 13.Qxg4 White has a strong attack on King side and an equal material.
Apr-17-17  JPi: I still do not understand why 14.Nxd5 should be wrong.
Apr-17-17  Boomie: <JPi: I still do not understand why 14.Nxd5 should be wrong.>

There is nothing wrong with 14. Nxd5. It could even be better than the text. MVL may have been wary of the wide open position that results.

For example:

14. Nxd5 Nf6 15. Nxf6 gxf6 16. Bg2 fxe5 17. Bg5 f6 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Qxd1+ 20. Rxd1 fxg5 21. Bxa8


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White is up the exchange but it's not easy to see how he can make progress.

Apr-17-17  protonchess: Gilmoy: I hope I don't get to play you. I sense you're a stonewaller :-(

The trade of Bf4 for Bd6 favors White strategically. There doesn't have to be an immediate tactic to justify it from White's side.

Since Black is pretty much forced to give one Pawn back, you're doing your own cherry-picking (I cheerfully admit to mine).

Jul-26-17  whiteshark: GM Naiditsch deeply analyses his game here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAI... Enjoy n learn

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