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Etienne Bacrot vs Veselin Topalov
Dortmund Sparkassen 2005 (2005), Dortmund GER, rd 5, Jul-12
Benoni Defense: Modern Variation (A56)  ·  1/2-1/2

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
1/2-1/2

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
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Kibitzer's Corner
Jul-12-05  jamesmaskell: A 60 move endgame epic! Im impressed. They must be knackered. Thank god theres a rest day!
Jul-12-05  fgh: The longest game of the tournament so far, and also a very good defensive effort by Topalov.
Jul-12-05  Montreal1666: I don't understand 52)Bc5 and 53)Kd3
Why is white bringing his King back rather than going forward?
Jul-12-05  fgh: <Montreal1666>: Because he wanted to attack the e5 pawn. First, he transfers the bishop to c5, and then he moves his king to d3, where he can protect the bishop on e3 and offer an exchange of bishops. Later with a bit of maneuvering, he could attack the e5 pawn with the bishop.

Of course, this is not a winning plan and the game was already drawn at that point.

Jul-12-05  TruthHurts: Did Bacrot missed a win there and if yes, where, (during the endgame I see no mistakes, before maybe) ?
Jul-12-05  fgh: <TruthHurts>: As far as I can see, 14. Nd5 appears to be the most promising move for white.
Jul-12-05  sharpnova: 39. Bb4 was more or less an immediate and simple win for bacrot.. he missed it.
Jul-12-05  fgh: <sharpnova>: 39. Bb4 a3!! (a really brilliant shot) 40. Bc3 (anything else loses, for example 40. Bxf8 a2 and black wins, or 40. Kb3 Bxb4 41. Kxb4 a2 42. d6 a1=Q 43. d7 Qa8 and black wins) Kf4 and then what?
Jul-12-05  sharpnova: no. anything else doesn't lose.

my original thought was 39. Bb4 a3. 40. d6

Bxd6 Bxd6 and if black plays a2. Bxe5 wins

if after 40. d6 black plays Kf6, then Bxa3

all winning for white

Jul-12-05  tarytar: Sharpnova is right. Bacrot missed 39. Bb4 and his first win against Topalov.
Jul-12-05  fgh: <sharpnova>: You are right, I overlooked 40. d6. You can try this line out: 40. d6 Be7????!!!! 41. dxe7 a2 42. e8=Q a1=Q

White should win, but black still has perpetual checks avaible.

Jul-12-05  sharpnova: yep that's right (though i think you meant d7)

after 42. d7

black has two options: Kxd7 43. Bxf8
and now white can easily march his pawns to victory

the other option black has is: Be7 43. Bxe7 Kxd7 and white can win easily with pretty much any move. white can even play 44. Kd5 because if Kxe7 then still.. g3.. or Kxe5 or h4 or g4.. all win for white.. it's a simple endgame for white to win!

Jul-12-05  sharpnova: fgh.. i must disagree again.

if 40. d6 Be7????!!!! 41. dxe7 a2 42. e8=Q a1=Q

Qd8+ forces mate in a few moves

no pertpetual checks.. topalov has truly no drawing chances here

Jul-12-05  fgh: Yes! But curiously, the final conclusion is different, and it is the following one: Topalov isn't playing as well as he played a few months ago anymore!
Jul-12-05  sharpnova: i agree.. he performed very well at linares.. i'm a bit disapointed in him lately
Jul-12-05  SnoopDogg: What are you talking about he has never played well in the beginning of tournaments that he has won. Linares poor in the beginning great stretch at the end, and same with MTel, why should this be no different? He has white against Svidler and Leko, and black against Sutovsky and Van Wely. I predict 4-0 like last time (or near last time). If he won Anand with white last time, and Kramnik and Adams with black down the stretch why should Van Wely and Sutovsky be a more difficult task?
Jul-12-05  MrSifter: <SnoopDogg> I agree. Topalov is the most dangerous "post rest day" player in the world. 4-0 is very possible.
Jul-12-05  fgh: <SnoopDogg>: No, 4-0 for Topalov will not happen.
Jul-12-05  sharpnova: 4-0 is unlikely.. but i agree that his performance here.. will be great.. i hope.. and 4-0, unlikely as it is.. isn't impossible..
Jul-12-05  sharpnova: leko is such an amazing defender.. white against him.. isn't a foregone conclusion..
Jul-13-05  pantlko: i dont think that miracles happen every time...no 4-0 this time for tapalov.i hope
Jul-13-05  Gowe: 4-0 for Topalov is not impossible. But at the same time is not possible. Is so much complicated for him to win those 4 match. Perhaps a 3. With some luck and excellent play.
Jul-14-05  sharpnova: i'm really bummed out over bacrot missing Bb4. i've been watching his career ever since the kasparov vs. the world match.. he's come SO far.. this was his chance to have his first win against topalov.. and he blew it. i HOPE someday he gets a similar opportunity and seizes the bull by the horns

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