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Peter Leko vs Alexander Grischuk
Tal Memorial (2006), Moscow RUS, rd 2, Nov-07
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation. English Attack (B80)  ·  1/2-1/2

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Nov-07-06  Scarecrow: <1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 b5 8. Qd2> Seems to be Leko's move order, 8. g4 is a normal move too. See for example Anand vs Topalov, 2005 <8 ...b4 9. Na4 Nbd7 10. Bc4> I wonder how frequent this move is. Leko played 10. 0-0-0 in the (in)famous Leko vs Topalov, 2005 and got a fine game. <10 ...Ne5> On the tournament page someone said this was a novelty, I don't know :) Seems to be a good move either way. <11. Bb3> That's why I don't like Bc4 -- this bishop will be blocking White's b-pawn and thus contributing to the captivity of the Knight on a4. <11 ...Rb8 12. O-O Bd7 13. a3> 13. c3 was suggested instead on the tournament page <13 ...a5 14. axb4 axb4 15. f4 Nc6 16. e5> Leko sacrificed a pawn to open the e-file. Looks promising but doesn't seem to yield much after a few natural moves <16 ...dxe5 17. fxe5 Nxe5 18. Bf4 Nc6 19. Bxb8> This move has also been questioned, with <acirce> suggesting something like 19. Rfd1. It seems that Black has compensation for the exchange and White should seek other ways of retaining his advantage. <19 ...Qxb8 20. Rad1 Be7 21. Qf4> Going for simplifications <21 ...O-O 22. Qxb8 Rxb8 23. Nf3 Na5 24. Ne5 Bb5 25. Rfe1 h5 26. Nd3 Nxb3 27. cxb3 Nd5 28. Ne5> I just wonder why he didn't play 28 Nac5 here but cannot explain <29 ...g5 29. Nf3 Nf4 30. Nd4 Bf6 31. Nxb5 Rxb5 32. Re4 Nd5 33. Rc1 Kg7 34. Rc2 Be7 35. Re1 h4 36. Rc6 Bf6 37. Re4 Be7 38. Re1 Nf4 39. Rc7 Bf6 40. g3 Nd5 41. Rc4 h3 42. Kf2 Be7 43. Re5> I don't like this move, personally would have tried 43. Rec1 instead. Those rooks doesn't seem to achieve much on the 4th rank, I think they belong on the c-file to free the a4N. However, as long as the Knight stays on a4, Black's pieces remain tied up to some extent, so maybe Leko felt comfortable with it. <43 ...Kf6 44. Ree4 Kg6 45. Red4 f5 46. Rc6 Kf7 47. Ke2 Nf6 48. Rc7 Re5+ 49. Kf1 Nd5 50. Rc1 Ne3+ 51. Kg1 Ng4 52. Rd2 Re3 53. Kf1 Rf3+ 54. Ke1 Re3+ 55. Kf1 Re5> Some repetitions on the way up to move 60 don't hurt, but we wondered why Grischuk didn't play 55...Rxb3 here, winning a pawn. 55...Nxh2 56. Rxh2 Rxg3 was also suggested as winning for Black but it's unclear IMO <56. Nb6 Rc5 57. Nc4 Kf6 58. Ra1 f4 59. gxf4 Rf5 60. Ke2 Rxf4 61. Kd3 Bc5 62. Re2 Rf3+ 63. Ke4> This invites a repetition. On 63...Rxb3 White has 64. Rf1+ Ke7 65. Rf3 Rxf3 (forced) 66. Kxf3 and Black's attack is much less effective without the rook. <63 ...Rf4+ 64. Kd3 Rf3+ 65. Ke4 Rf4+ 1/2-1/2> Draw by repetition.
Nov-07-06  Confuse: Nice improvement over yesterday's game. Very tough and interesting fight here~ check it out
Nov-08-06  Microdot: 54...Nxh2 55.Rxh2 , Rxg3
Nov-08-06  dehanne: Heh, Leko really got out of jail.
Nov-24-06  Shajmaty: Black is more than O.K. after 19...Qxb8. Dark squared bishop plus a pawn is more than a rook plus the knight at a4.

<Scarecrow: 55...Nxh2 56. Rxh2 Rxg3 was also suggested as winning for Black but it's unclear IMO > Four (!) CONNECTED pawns supported with a bishop... unstoppable.

Jan-06-07  acirce: Lékó: <But still, my only problem was my first White game against Grischuk! Very strange! He made a novelty that I knew, and I was the one who was better prepared. When he suddenly realized that he ran into my preparation, he was in shock, and made the only move that was not losing immediately. I knew that the computer gives “ ”, but when I started looking deeper, I was surprised to discover that the things are more complicated. However, as I still had a feeling that I must play for a win, I underestimated the danger. Only one move later I understood and offered a draw, but it was already too late. He also understood everything and tortured me for hours, and after all it was just a miracle that I escaped. But you know, I wasn’t outplayed or something – such things just happen.>

http://www.russiachess.org/eng/cont...

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