chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs Kirill Alekseenko
World Championship Candidates (2020/21), Yekaterinburg RUS, rd 12, Apr-24
Caro-Kann Defense: Maroczy Variation (B12)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

explore this opening
find similar games 4 more Vachier-Lagrave/K Alekseenko games
PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: The Olga viewer allows you to get computer analysis by clicking the "ENGINE" link on the lower right.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

A COMPUTER ANNOTATED SCORE OF THIS GAME IS AVAILABLE.  [CLICK HERE]

Kibitzer's Corner
Apr-24-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  OhioChessFan: I see no winning plan for White.
Apr-24-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  OhioChessFan: Hmmm. Just that quick, it turned from a 40 move game to 45.
Apr-24-21  dejandjakovic: 19.... Nd7???
Apr-24-21  macer75: MVL: Now, if only I had drawn those other 2 games...
Apr-24-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  OhioChessFan: 42...Bc7 is a positional blunder. Why in the world did Black take the Bishop off the c5 diagonal?
Apr-24-21  Ulhumbrus: An alternative to 3...dxe4 is 3...e6 4 Bd3 Nf6 5 Be3 c5 as in the game Tartakower vs Sultan Khan, 1931
Apr-24-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  0ZeR0: <OhioChessFan>

<42...Bc7 is a positional blunder>

Absolutely, but I think even if black hadn't done this his position is already dire.

Apr-24-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: white will place his Bishop on f6 and King on g5? He'll then play h4 and a timely e6, forcing the loss of the two white kingside pawns.
Apr-24-21  unferth: don't think there's any way for the white king to reach g5 if the black bishop just shuttles between f8 and h6.
Apr-24-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  kamajiro: Zugwang . The black loses the pawns
Apr-25-21  Messiah: Alekseenko had a pretty bad understanding in this game. There is no way he was tired - what was the problem then?
Apr-25-21  Ulhumbrus: <Messiah: Alekseenko had a pretty bad understanding in this game. There is no way he was tired - what was the problem then?>

Suppose that we take a look at the concessions which Black makes to White in the opening.

The capture 3...dxe3 loses a tempo with the d pawn and draws White's f3 pawn on to e4, clearing the square f3 for White's knight.

8...Bxf3 concedes not only the bishop pair but also a tempo for development as White's queen develops to f3 when she recaptures.

10 Bf4 develops with tempo.

All of this put together amounts to the equivalent of several concessions made to White.

In addition to the bishop pair (which becomes more serious in an open position) Black loses in effect several tempi for development and this typically gets a player into trouble in the opening.

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:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. 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.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

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

Blow the Whistle

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.

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC