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Veselin Topalov vs Judit Polgar
Novgorod (1996), Novgorod RUS, rd 7, Jul-27
Sicilian Defense: Paulsen. Bastrikov Variation (B48)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Kibitzer's Corner
Mar-29-04  chessfected: splendid tactics from topalov with 43.Rc7! and 45. e6! 48...Rf1+ 49. Ke3 Rxf7 loses to 50.d7!
Apr-23-04  shr0pshire: 47. Qc1!!. This is a deflection sacrifice. White has two passed pawns ready to promote on the 6th rank, also his rook on the 7th rank is key for the deflection to work.

After white appears to give away his queen for no reason, and with no real compensation. White goes back and zigzags back through the checks to aide his passed pawns in promotion.

Apr-23-04  Brian Watson: 47.Qc1 isn't a deflection sacrifice, it's a forced move providing a flight square against Rf1#.

Did Polgar originally intend 48..Rf1+ 49.Ke3 Rxf7 50.ef+ Kxf7 and then decide that this doesn't draw?

Apr-23-04  shr0pshire: Well if you don't think it is a deflection sacrifice, then you can take it up with ICCF International Master Victor Charushin, because he calls it a deflection sacrifice in his book "Mitrofanov's Deflection". The rest of the analysis is mine.
Apr-23-04  Brian Watson: That might be awkward, since I don't know him personally.

But I see that I missed that <chessfected> already explained 48..Rc6.

Apr-23-04  Dudley: To call that a "deflection sacrifice" is really pushing it. It was a forced move to prevent getting checkmated. That is not the usual usage of deflection sacrifice.
Apr-23-04  backstreet player: backstreet player:<Brian Watson> In your variation: 48...Rf1+ 49.Ke3 Rxf7 50 d7 (instead of ef+) wins.
Feb-19-05  aw1988: This actually was the last game I saw before "retiring" from chess in 1996; what a beauty!
Feb-24-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  FSR: "Mitrofanov's Deflection" refers to 7.Qg5!! in this problem - interposing the queen in response to 6...Qxh5+, and allowing Black to take it for free with 7...Qxg5+. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopo... The point there is to deflect the queen from e2, so that now after 8.Ka6! the diagonal check 8...Qe2+ is no longer possible. That seems a lot different than the supposed "deflection sacrifice" here. Unlike the queen on g5 in Mitrofanov's study, the rook isn't badly placed on c1. It can still go to f1; it's just that now that move isn't mate.
Feb-24-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  FSR: Good Wednesday puzzle after 46...Rb1+.

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