chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Alexander Morozevich vs Predrag Nikolic
Corus Group A (2000), Wijk aan Zee NED, rd 13, Jan-30
French Defense: King's Indian Attack (C00)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

Click Here to play Guess-the-Move
Given 12 times; par: 69 [what's this?]

explore this opening
find similar games 1 more Morozevich/P Nikolic game
sac: 39.Qxf8 PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: To see the raw PGN for this game, click on the PGN: view link above.

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
Dec-07-05  jadumontelle: The new book on the King's Indian Attack-Starting Out which includes ECO code (C00) includes only 2 Morozevich games...there are more games in Chessgames.com database concerning C00.
Apr-04-06  TylerD: The tactics involving the queensac at f8 is of such nature that it alone broadens your mind as a player ... Great stuff!
Apr-04-06  DrJekyll: I love Moro pulled off this spetacular win over the French defence. Good day kind sirs, Henry Jekyll
Jul-01-06  erasmus: This game is annotated in the Chessmaster series:

2.d3 <A passive system against the French Defense that delays the battle until the midgame as White aims for a reverse King's Indian.>

9.g3 <Another possibility is 9. O-O-O a4 10. Nc4 f6.>

10.Bh3 when I saw this move it reminded me of another game by Moro which also has a nice ending (erasmus) Morozevich vs Xie Jun, 1998

16...b6 <"Black's play throughout has been exaggeratedly passive, but here it was essential to remember that some active move was possible," wrote Morozevich, who suggested instead 16...Ng5 17. Bf5 Nc5.>

32...Qxb4 <The only move. Not 32...Nd4? 33. Bxd4 cxd4 34. b7 Rab8 35. Qxe8+ Rxe8 36. Rc8.>

33...Qa4 <This remote queen can no longer come to the aid of the kingside. 33...Qg4! is more tenacious.>

37.Rbd1 <The last, precise move. White unites all his forces.>

38. Bxg7+ <"This infantile combination enabled me for the fourth time to win the spectators prize. In view of what I found with one and a half minutes left on my clock, I think it is my greatest creative achievement over the past few years." -- Morozevich>

43...Kh6 <43...Kg8 holds out longer but is still hopeless.>

44.Qf7 <The final blow. If 44...Ng6 45. Rd7 does the trick. Black Resigns.>

Jan-10-08  acirce: <It was just at this stage, with Kasparov waiting in the wings, that our normally reliable press officer, Mr Bottema, made a fatal mistake. Asked by Kasparov who had won the spectators Best Game of the Day prize, he replied "Alexander Morozevitch." This was enough for Kasparov to grab his coat and hat and make a sudden exit to the hotel muttering something like "They don't understand the first thing about chess. "I won this tournament by a margin of 1.5 points - and still they show no respect!" It was a crestfallen duo of van den Berg and Bottema who proved to be a poor substitute for Kasparov, as they explained with great honesty what had just happened.

I guess that's the thing that Garry never really understood about Wijk. It's not a tournament run for the benefit of the player's: instead it's run for the enjoyment of a hugely appreciative Dutch chess audience. In Morozevich, they appreciated the total unpredictability and randomness of his games. And who could blame them. You could have been a total beginner in the commentary room suggesting the most unbelievable moves in the world, only to discover that Morozevitch would play them - "..come on now, who in their right mind would want to play a move like 11 ..g5 against Kasparov?">

http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/event/w...

Jan-10-08  acirce: ... Kasparov's own game that day (the last round), Kasparov vs Judit Polgar, 2000, would definitely have been a worthy winner too, maybe more so. But spectators are spectators and only they know what they like.
Aug-04-08  dumbgai: <acirce> It seems that Kasparov wasn't very good friends with Morozevich. Perhaps Garry considered his unorthodox style of play unsound or something. For example in this game Morozevich vs Kasparov, 2000 he couldn't believe his opponent's opening and muttered something like "no respect". Fortunately for Kasparov, Morozevich never did manage to defeat him. Could you imagine Kasparov's reaction if he lost to Moro in the Albin Countergambit?
Nov-23-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: After 4 ..e5 the position loks more like an Open Game than a French with White having the extra move Qe2 which may not be beneficial. 6 g3 had been played in Yudasin - Cifuentes Parada Dos Hermanas 1998; 6 Nbd2 was new. 10 Bh3!? was an unusual idea given that Black will need to play ..f6 anyway; Morozovich later thought that 10 Bg2 was stronger. Morozovich did not understand 14..Re8?! since White had no plans to play f4. After 16..b6?! 16 Bd2 White had a small edge; 16..Ng5 would have equalized. After 24..Bxb4 25 cxb White was left with the superior minor piece. 28..Ra8 prepared ..Nc7 as 28..Nc7 29 bxc!..Nxd5 30 exd and 31 cxb is powerful for White. Initially Morozovich had intended 30 bxc but changed his mind after finding the problem-like drawing line 30..Rxa5 31 Rd6..Qxd6 32 Qxa5..bxc 33 Bxc5..Qd7 34 Qa7..Qd8 35 Bb6..Nb5 36 Qf7..Nd6. After 33..Qa4? Nicolic was lost; necessary was 33..Qg4 34 b7..Rab8 35 Rd6 and then maybe 35..Qg6 36 Qxg6..hxg 37 Rc6..Kh7 38 Bxc5..Nxc5 39 Rxc5..Re7 40 Rcb5..g5 with only a small edge for White. 43..Kg8 would have been a tougher defense.
Nov-23-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: <dumbgai: Fortunately for Kasparov, Morozevich never did manage to defeat him. Could you imagine Kasparov's reaction if he lost to Moro in the Albin Countergambit?>

That would have been quaint; perhaps on a par with the meltdown after his loss to Radjabov.

Dec-18-14  tonsillolith: I don't understand why White was so eager to jettison his light-squared bishop.
Dec-18-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: <tonsillolith: I don't understand why White was so eager to jettison his light-squared bishop.>

Black's kingside light squares are weak so exchange of light-squared bishops favors White

Dec-25-14  tonsillolith: <plang: Black's kingside light squares are weak so exchange of light-squared bishops favors White>

Ah, now that you mention it, that makes sense. Thanks.

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.

Featured in the Following Game Collections[what is this?]
Round Thirteen, Game #89
from Wijk aan Zee Corus 2000 by suenteus po 147
French KIA
from E4 opening rep. by samhamfast
3. Qe2
from French White plays King's Indian Attack by freeman8201
C00 French: King's Indian Attack [White]
by chess.master
Moro Master
from The Best Chess Games (part 4) by Dr Esenville
French Def vs K's Indian Attack 3.Qe2 (C00) 1-0 Battery on 7th
from 2 Turns Left. Help yourself says FTB Shak by fredthebear
Game 30
from Chess Secrets - Romantics (Pritchett) by Qindarka
French Def vs K's Indian Attack 3.Qe2 (C00) 1-0 Battery on 7th
from 300 Hit .300 but don't hit Fredthebear! by fredthebear
3. Qe2
from French White plays King's Indian Attack by Patca63
3. Qe2
from French White plays King's Indian Attack by Patca63
2. .. d5; 3. d3
from French Chigorin variation 2. Qe2! by Elesius
0ZeR0's Favorite Games Volume 74
by 0ZeR0
Game 30
from Chess Secrets - Romantics (Pritchett) by BrendaVittoria

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 2001-2023, Chessgames Services LLC