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Judit Polgar vs Ivan Sokolov
7th Essent (2003), Hoogeveen NED, rd 3, Oct-14
Spanish Game: Closed Variations. Flohr System (C92)  ·  1-0

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
Notes by Stockfish 9 v010218 (minimum 6s/ply)better is 15.d5 bxc3 16.bxc3 Ne7 17.c4 c6 18.Nf1 Nd7 19.Ba3 Ng6 ⩲ +0.84 (26 ply)= +0.22 (24 ply)better is 21.Re1 Nxc3 22.Qc2 Nb5 23.Ncd2 c5 24.Bb2 Bc6 25.Bc4 Qd7 ⩲ +0.75 (20 ply)= +0.05 (24 ply) after 21...Nf4 22.Ncd2 Bxe4 23.Nxe4 d5 24.Bxf4 exf4 25.Ned2 c6 better is 22.Re1 Nb5 23.Ncd2 c5 24.Bb2 Qf6 25.Ba4 Bc6 26.Re3 Qf4 ⩲ +0.51 (20 ply)= 0.00 (25 ply) 23...h5 24.Bg5 Qd7 25.Nb6 cxb6 26.Rh4 bxa5 27.Qxc3 d5 = +0.07 (22 ply) ⩲ +0.92 (25 ply)better is 26.Bg5 Qe6 27.Qd1 Rb5 28.Ne3 d5 29.f4 d4 30.f5 Qb3 ⩲ +1.09 (23 ply)= +0.50 (24 ply) 28.f4 f6 29.Bh4 exf4 30.Qxe6+ Rxe6 31.Rxf4 g5 32.Rg4 Kf7 ⩲ +0.94 (22 ply)= +0.13 (22 ply)better is 31...Ra2 32.Bd2 g6 33.Ne4 Bh6 34.Qd3 Bxd2 35.Nxd2 Kg7 ⩲ +0.52 (22 ply) ⩲ +1.17 (24 ply) 33...gxf3 34.Qe4 Qd7 35.Nf5 Re6 36.Bd2 Rf6 37.Nh6+ Kh8 ⩲ +1.04 (23 ply) ± +2.45 (23 ply) 34...gxf3 35.Qxf3 Qf7 36.Qg4 Ba3 37.Bd2 Bd6 38.Rg3 Re6 ± +2.09 (21 ply)+- +3.31 (22 ply) after 35.Bxc7 a5 36.fxg4 a4 37.g5 Rg6 38.Qf3 Qf7 39.Qxf7+ Kxf7 36...Qa2 37.Qc4 Qxc4 38.Nxc4 Be7 39.Re4 Kf7 40.Bc7 Bf6 ± +1.66 (25 ply)+- +4.03 (23 ply) 43...a5 44.Bxa5 Bxd6 45.Rf5 Rd4 46.Kf3 Be7 47.Ke3 g6 +- +3.70 (28 ply)+- +7.17 (28 ply); 44...Rd4 45.Bxd4 d2 46.Nxd2 cxd4 47.Rd5 Bb4 48.Rxd4 a5 +- +7.31 (27 ply)1-0

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

Annotations by Stockfish (Computer).      [35434 more games annotated by Stockfish]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Oct-21-03  AdrianP: 13... b4?! is supposed to be a dubious novelty. The usual continuation is 13 ...exd4. I imagine that Sokolov already had in mind the 19...Nxe4?! piece sacrifice, but Polgar found the best refutation Rg4! over the board. There may well be improvements later in the game and Sokolov might have been able to hang on to 3 pawns for the piece with more accurate play, so we might not have seen the last of this move.
Dec-09-03  DavidDylanRoberts: What if Black plays 29 ... c4. It seems like ... Rxa5 is greedy. If 30 Rg2 ... e4. The black bishop can come to d6.
Oct-08-08  notyetagm: Wow, 44 ♖f4-f5! 1-0, a beautiful <KNIGHT FORK> combination by Judit Polgar.
Oct-08-08  notyetagm: Black to play: 43 ... ?


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Sokolov (Black) did not see anything wrong with grabbing the dangerous White d6-passer and so he played 43 ... ♗f8xd6?.

43 ... ♗f8xd6?


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But Judit Polgar (White) had prepared a very unpleasant surprise, the instantly winning 44 ♖f4-f5!, a wicked tactical shot based on a <KNIGHT FORK>.

44 ♖f4-f5! 1-0


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Her point is the PV 44 ... ♖d5x♖f5 45 ♘e4x♗d6+ <knight fork> ♔e8-d7 46 ♘d6x♖f5.


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This <PETITE COMBINAISON> by Judit Polgar is one of my favorites as the very strong GM Sokolov overlooked it despite not being in time trouble (move 44). (CONT)

Feb-07-09  WhiteRook48: do you have to use all those diagrams?
Oct-26-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: 13..b4 was a new idea that has not been repeated; 13..exd is the main line. With 19..Nxe4?! Black got three pawns but White also obtained attacking chances; 19..c6 seems more solid. After 32..fxg? White was in control; necessary was 32..Ra2 when Polgar offered 33 Rg5..Bb4 34 Ne4..Re7 35 Rg6..Qb3 36 f4!..fxe 37 Qg4..Qf7 38 Bxb4..Rxf2+ 39 Kh1..Rxf4 40 Qc8+..Re8 41 Rxg7+..Kh8 42 Qxa6..Qxg7 43 Rxg7..Kxg7 44 Qc6..Rg8 45 Qxc7+..Kh6 with an unclear position. 34..Qxa5 35 Qc4+..Kh8 36 Rxg4 would have been winning for White. Against, for instance, 43..a5 White planned on pushing the h-pawn down the board; not clear that there is a defense to that.

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