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Gata Kamsky vs Veselin Topalov
"Kamsky's Consolation Prize" (game of the day Jan-30-2010)
Topalov - Kamsky Candidates Final (2009), Sofia BUL, rd 4, Feb-21
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)13...Na5 was played in Timman vs Karpov, 1980 (0-1) 18...Bc8 19.Be3 Bg7 20.Qe2 Bd7 21.b3 Ng4 22.Bd2 Nf6 23.Be3 = 0.00 (24 ply) 19.h5 Kh7 20.b3 Bg7 21.Qe2 c5 22.Be3 Ng4 23.Bd2 Ree8 ⩲ +0.82 (24 ply)= -0.08 (23 ply)better is 20.b3 c6 21.Be3 Qc7 22.h5 cxd5 23.hxg6 fxg6 24.exd5 ⩲ +0.60 (23 ply)better is 20...c6 21.dxc6 Bxc6 22.b3 Kh7 23.Nf3 Qc7 24.Ba3 Rd8 = 0.00 (26 ply)better is 21.b3 c6 22.Be3 Qc7 23.Ng4 Nxg4 24.Qxg4 Bc8 25.Qd1 c5 ⩲ +0.74 (25 ply)= +0.06 (24 ply)better is 24...Rc7 25.Qe2 Rd8 26.Rd1 Qd7 27.Bd2 Rcc8 28.Rab1 Qe6 = -0.20 (22 ply)= +0.50 (23 ply) after 25.a4 bxa4 26.Nd5 Nbxd5 27.exd5 Qxd5 28.Qxd5 Nxd5 29.Rd1 better is 26.Bb3 Nc4 27.Nd5 Bxd5 28.exd5 Qc7 29.Bc2 e4 30.Nxe4 = +0.37 (22 ply)= -0.37 (25 ply) 30...Rd7 31.Bb4 Qc7 32.Bb1 a5 33.Ba3 b4 34.Bb2 Ne7 35.Bd3 ⩱ -0.79 (23 ply)= +0.08 (25 ply)better is 31...Rd7 32.Bd3 Ne7 33.hxg6+ fxg6 34.Bc4 Bxc4 35.Qxc4 h5 = 0.00 (25 ply) ⩲ +0.70 (24 ply)better is 37.Nd5 Bxd5 38.exd5 Kh7 39.Ba5 Rg8 40.Rd1 Ra7 41.Bb4 Rd8 ⩲ +1.15 (26 ply)better is 37...Qa8 38.Qc2 Ne8 39.Nd5 Ra7 40.a3 Kh7 41.Ne2 Rc8 ⩲ +0.51 (26 ply) ⩲ +1.18 (24 ply) after 38.Nd5 Qb7 39.Rdc2 Bxd5 40.exd5 Qa7 41.Bc3 Kg7 42.hxg6 better is 41.Nd5 Bxd5 42.exd5 e4 43.Bb6 Rf7 44.a4 bxa4 45.bxa4 e3 ⩲ +1.07 (22 ply)= +0.50 (27 ply) 42...Bc4 43.Rc7 Rxc7 44.Bxc7 Qxc7 45.bxc4 bxc4 46.Qxc4 = +0.50 (27 ply) ⩲ +1.46 (27 ply) after 43.Bxf8 Rxd2 44.Qc1 Rxf8 45.Rxf6 Rfd8 46.Ngf1 R2d6 45...Be6 46.Nd5 Rc8 47.Qb2 Bxd5 48.exd5 Qxd5 49.Qb1 e4 ⩲ +0.96 (26 ply) ± +2.20 (26 ply)better is 47.Rxe6 Qxe6 48.Qc7 Kg8 49.Qb8 Qa6 50.Kh2 h5 51.Qxe5 Bg7 ± +1.95 (25 ply) ⩲ +1.44 (25 ply)better is 49...Qe6 50.Ne2 Qe8 51.Rb7 Qc6 52.Qxc6 Rxc6 53.Rxb5 Rc2 ⩲ +1.47 (23 ply) ± +2.18 (24 ply) after 50.Nf1 Qa3 51.Qc3 Bd6 52.Rb7 Ra7 53.Rxb5 Qxa2 54.Rb6 52.Rc6 Ra1+ 53.Kh2 Qd8 54.Nf6+ Kg7 55.Qxe5 Rd1 56.Ng4+ +- +2.80 (26 ply) 52...Bxd5 53.Qxd5+ Qxd5 54.exd5 Ra1+ 55.Kh2 Re1 56.Rc4 ⩲ +0.96 (26 ply)+- +3.12 (27 ply) 55.Kh3 Ra2 56.f3 e4 57.Rc6 Qf7 58.Qxf7+ Kxf7 59.Nxe4 Ra1 +- +3.11 (27 ply) ± +1.54 (28 ply) 61.Nf6+ Kf8 62.Nd7+ Ke8 63.Nxe5 Rxd5 64.Nxg6 Rd2 65.f4 ± +2.23 (26 ply) ⩲ +1.47 (27 ply)better is 62.Nf6 Rh1+ 63.Kg3 Rd1 64.Nd7+ Ke8 65.b4 Bc1 66.Nxe5 ± +1.62 (26 ply)better is 62...Be7 63.Kg3 Ke8 64.Kf2 h5 65.Ke2 Rd4 66.Ke3 Rd1 67.g3 ⩲ +1.11 (28 ply)better is 63.b4 Rd4 64.Rb8+ Kg7 65.b5 Rxd5 66.Rb7+ Kh6 67.Ra7 Bc5 ± +1.78 (30 ply) 63...Rd4 64.Rb8+ Ke7 65.Ra8 Bb4 66.Ra6 Be1+ 67.Kh3 Rxd5 ⩲ +1.10 (30 ply) ± +2.23 (26 ply) after 64.d6 Rd1 65.Rb6 Rd4 66.Rb8+ Kf7 67.Rb7+ Ke8 68.Kh4 Bxd6 65...Ke8 66.b4 Rd1 67.Rb6 g5 68.d6 Rd4 69.Nxg5 Bxb4 ± +2.10 (27 ply) 66.b4 Rd1 67.b5 Rxd5 68.Ra7 Rxb5 69.Rxa3 Rb2 70.Ra5 Kg7 +- +4.33 (27 ply) 66...Rd1 67.d6 Rd4 68.Rb6 h4 69.Ra6 Bb4 70.Ke3 g5 71.Rc6 ± +1.75 (25 ply)+- +3.55 (25 ply) after 67.Kg3 Rc1 68.b4 Ke8 69.b5 Rh1 70.d6 h4+ 71.Kf2 Rd1 72.b6 71...Bxd6 72.Nxd6 Rb2 73.Kc4 g5 74.b4 g4 75.fxg4 Rd2 +- +4.42 (27 ply)better is 72.Ra8 Rg1 73.Rxd8+ Kf7 74.Kc4 Rd1 75.b4 h4 76.Rh8 g5 +- +10.00 (26 ply)+- +3.98 (25 ply) after 72...Rg1 73.Ke4 Rd1 74.Kxe5 Bh4 75.b4 Rb1 76.Rb7 Rf1 73...Ba5 74.d7+ Kf8 75.b4 Bb6 76.Ne6+ Kg8 77.Rg7+ Kh8 +- +8.57 (29 ply)1-0

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

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Given 14 times; par: 95 [what's this?]

Annotations by Stockfish (Computer).      [35436 more games annotated by Stockfish]

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 54 OF 54 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Feb-22-09  ontocaustic: you can compare also his record to anand's if you think that topalov would be anything but a joke against anand in a match
Feb-22-09  outplayer: My congrats for Mr. Kamsky. He really played like a god in this game. His positional play is gorgeous. I didn't like Topalov's 33...Nb5? It looked a strangely weak move to me when I was seeing the game. Fritz confirmed my evaluation. Toppy is not a defender. I think he should play the Marshall gambit and expect an anti-marshall from Kamsky. A draw would be a benefit. Gata excelled in the ending too.
Feb-22-09  Ulhumbrus: At the cost of repeating a question, what does either Rybka or Fritz say if Black declines the pawn offered by 26 b3 and plays 26...a5 instead of 26...Qxc3?
Feb-22-09  KamikazeAttack: <Toppy is not a defender.>

That is his main weakness. He cant sustain pressure for too long.

Feb-22-09  badest: <KamikazeAttack: <Toppy is not a defender.>

That is his main weakness. He cant sustain pressure for too long.> LOL! So true ... so true. If he can attack (or at least counter) Topa is really human.

But it takes a lot of skill to put Topa in such a situation...

Feb-22-09  melianis: <Ulhumbrus> this is neither of those machines, but my computer calculates that on 26...a5 27.Bb2 intending Qe2+Bd3 or Rd2! (depending on the response) gives white a small but comfortable (for Kamsky) lead. If 27...a4 28.Ba3 Rd8 29.Qe2 Ra7 30.Bb4 Kg8 31.hxg6 fxg6 32.Bd3 axb3 33.axb3 Rxa1 34.Rxa1 Bxb3 35.Bxb5 and I can't see how black could have a break in the center. Excellent game.
Feb-22-09  Eyal: <what does either Rybka or Fritz say if Black declines the pawn offered by 26 b3 and plays 26...a5 instead of 26...Qxc3?>

Pretty much what Ian Rogers says in the commentary quoted above - if Black doesn't grab the pawn White plays 27.Ba3 leading to similar positions to the game, but without the material solace. 26...a5 in particular seems like a bad idea because it creates a further weakness on b5 (in addition to d6).

Feb-22-09  Ulhumbrus: After 26 b3!! ( I think that the pawn sacrifice may warrant two exclamation marks by now) Black gets into too much trouble if he accepts the pawn. However if Black declines the pawn on c3, the b3 pawn keeps Black's N on b6 out of play. This suggests moving the N on b6 to a more useful square. On 26...Nb6-d7 27 Ba3 Nc5 the N attacks the e4 pawn a third time and obstructs White's QB. If White becomes then unable to make further headway, that may count as a success for Black, at least from this position.
Feb-22-09  freeman8201: go Gata! He handled the situation better than the 1st Ruy Lopez encouter with Topalov. Maybe he was physce out? You know "bad hair day" day!
Feb-22-09  Ulhumbrus: After 26 b3 what does Fritz or Rybka have to say if Black plays his N on b6 to c5 eg by 26...Nb6-d7 27 Ba3 Nc5?
Feb-22-09  Discerning King: alright!!!! kamsky!!!!
Feb-23-09  ChessEscudero: gata kamsky is god!
Feb-27-09  WhiteRook48: what do you mean, Gata Kamsky is God?
Feb-28-09  I Like Fish: is he...
rilly...
a god...

he...
has been...
toppled...
afterwards...

Mar-01-09  WhiteRook48: 73. Rg7 seems to be better, but the rh7 move is close enough
Mar-13-09  WhiteRook48: as it threatens 74 d7+ Kf8 75 Ne6#
Apr-10-09  WhiteRook48: 53...Bxd5? is an error. 53...Qd8 54 Ne7+ Bxe7 55 Rc8 Qxc8 56 Qxc8+ Bf8 was the last chance
Jan-30-10  hungry hippo: kamksy just hasn't been the same since this match.
Jan-30-10  RandomVisitor: After 30...Rd7:


click for larger view

Rybka 3:

<[-0.18] d=21 31.a4> Kh8 32.axb5 axb5 33.Bb4 Qb7 34.Kh1 Rfd8 35.Ba5 Re8 36.Bb4 Qc6 37.Qe2 Qb6 38.Ra1

[-0.19] d=21 31.Nd5 Bxd5 32.hxg6+

Jan-30-10  ruelas007: what the... is the pun supposed to mean?
PD: don`t answer
Jan-30-10  kevin86: a pretty good game. White sacs a pawn and then wins.
Jan-30-10  WhiteRook48: that pun was so catchy (sarcasm intended)
Jan-30-10  chillowack: Kamsky played this game very much in the style of Karpov: patient, accurate maneuvering, with each move being a link in a logical chain, leading to the next link, and so on, until in the end he has an overwhelming position.
Oct-16-11  Jambow: <chillowack: Kamsky played this game very much in the style of Karpov: patient, accurate maneuvering, with each move being a link in a logical chain, leading to the next link, and so on, until in the end he has an overwhelming position.>

Best description that could be given.

This is another game that if knowlegable chess players followed the moves and guessed who played it Karpov would be first pick by no small margin.

Oct-08-14  SpiritedReposte: Gata's rook owns this game.
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