Negi,P(2538) -Kosintseva,N (2496) [C11]
Corus Chess 2007 Wijk aan Zee (4), 17.01.2007 [Analyzed by Albertan,,Rybka 2.2 and Junior 9]

Opening:French Defense:classical system eco:C11

1.e4 e6

The French Defense.

2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6

She plays classically,developing her knight which creates a double-attack against his e-pawn.

4.e5

He decides to close the center,winning a tempo.

4...Nfd7

The lost tempo.

5.f4

The main continuation in this position,giving more support to his e-pawn and gaining space on the kingside.

5...c5

This is the main continuation in this position for Black,she gains counterplay in the center by attacking his weak d-pawn.This pawn is weak as it is not supported by his c-pawn.

6.Nf3

The most popular move in this position,continuing with the development of his minor pieces.

6...Nc6

She also plays the most commonly played move in this position,catching up in minor piece development. Now she has a double-attack against his d-pawn which ties down her queen and knight to defend this pawn.

7.Be3

Developing another minor piece and threatening to win a pawn by 8.dxc5.

7...cxd4

The most common move for Black, she exchanges pawns rather than spending a tempo to protect her c-pawn.

8.Nxd4

According to my database this capture is almost always played by Black in this position (rather than capturing with the bishop).

8...Bc5

This is the most popular move for Black in this position,she develops another minor piece, and in doing so she creates a double attack against his knight,which ties down his bishop and queen to defend this piece.

9.Qd2

An idea almost always played by White in this position,the intention of this move is to facilitate queenside castling.

9...0-0

This is the most often played move by Black in this position.

10.0-0-0

A move almost always played by White at this stage of the game.

10...a6

Again a move almost always played by Black in this position,she prevents him from playing 11.Bb5 and also prevents him from moving one of his knights to b5.

11.Qf2

11...Bxd4

[ Analysis:Other moves tried in this position are: 11...Nxd4 ; and 11...Qe7 ]

12.Bxd4

The only move White plays in my database in this position (21 games).Now he has the two bishops.

12...b5

The only move Black has played in this position in my database (21 games).She begins to storm his king with her pawns.She intends to play 13...b4 and then 14...a5. His next move of the game was:

13.Bd3

Developing his last minor piece and connecting his rooks. [ In my database the move 13.Be3 and the move 11.Bd3 are played equally in this position by White.] Her next move in the game was:

13...b4

Attacking his knight winning a tempo. Again this is the only move Black has used in this position in games in my database (11 games).

14.Ne2

The lost tempo. [ Analysis:The player of the White pieces has also used the move 14.Na4 in this position.]

14...a5

The only move Black has played in this position in my database (11 games). She spends a tempo to support her b-pawn.

15.Qf3

He plays this move with the intention of moving his queen to the h5-square. [Analysis:According to my database the player of the White pieces has also tried these other moves in this position: 15.Kb1 ; 15.g4; 15.Qg3; and 15.Rhe1 ] Returning to the moves of the game, it continued with Kosintseva playing:

15...Ba6

The only move Black has played in this position in my database (2 games).She offers to exchange bishops on a6.

16.Qh5

This move is a theoretical novelty for this position.She attacks his queen winning a tempo. [ Analysis:In the game [Event "Politiken Cup 26th"] [Site "Copenhagen"] [Date "2004.07.24"] [Round "4"] [White "Royset, Paal Nikolaj"] [Black "Bromann, Thorbjorn"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C11"] [WhiteElo "2232"] [BlackElo "2348"] [PlyCount "84"] play continued: 16...f5 16... f5 17. exf6 Bxd3 18. Qg4 Bg6 19. Qxe6+ Rf7 20. f5 Bh5 21. g4 Bxg4 22. Qxc6 Bxe2 23. Rd2 Bf3 24. Rf1 Be4 25. fxg7 Rc8 26. Qh6 Qc7 27. Rf4 Qc6 28. Qxc6 Rxc6 29. Rdf2 Nf6 30. c3 Rxg7 31. Bxf6 Rxf6 32. cxb4 axb4 33. a3 Rc6+ 34. Kd2 bxa3 35. bxa3 Rc2+ 36. Ke3 Rxf2 37. Rxf2 Ra7 38. Kd4 Rxa3 39. Ke5 Rf3 40. Rg2+ Kf7 41. Rg5 Rh3 42. f6 Bg6 0-1 ;

Analysis:Rybka 2.2: 16...h6 17.g4 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 Bxd3 19.Rxd3 Nc5 20.Rf3 f6 21.exf6 Rxf6 22.Rhf1 Qe8 23.Qe5 Qb8 24.Qxb8+ Rxb8 =] Returning to the moves played in the game, for his next move Negi played:

17.Qh6

The lost tempo,however now he has future threats against her h-pawn in the form of a double attack if he can get a rook to the third rank of the h-file.

17...Qc7

She connects her rooks.
[ Analysis:Rybka 2.2: 17...a4 18.Bxa6 Rxa6 19.Rd3 Qe7 20.Rh3 f6 21.exf6 Nxf6 22.Bxf6 Rxf6 ] The game continued with Negi playing:

18.Bf2

Creating the threat of 19.Bh4 20.Bf6 21.Qg7 checkmate. [ Analysis:Rybka 2.2: 18.Bxa6 Rxa6 19.Kb1 Rc8 20.Rd3 Ne7 21.Rc1 Nf5 22.Qh3 a4 23.c3 Nxd4 24.Rxd4 b3 25.a3 Nb6 ]

Her next move of the game was:

18...f5

Nadezhda is willing to allow her f-pawn to be captured en passant in order to move her knight to f6. [ Analysis:Rybka 2.2: 18...a4 19.Bxa6 Rxa6 20.Bh4 f6 21.exf6 Nxf6 22.Bxf6 Rxf6 23.Kb1 b3 24.cxb3 axb3 25.a3 Na5 ]

Negi now continued the game by playing:

19.exf6

[ Analysis:Rybka 2.2: 19.Bxa6 Rxa6 20.Rd3 Rc8 21.Rh3 Nb6 22.Kb1 a4 23.Ng3 Qf7 24.Ne2 Nc4 25.Rd1 Rca8 ] The game continued with Kosintseva playing:

19...Nxf6=

Rybka 2.2 evaluates this position as =.

20.Bxa6

He decides to simply the position.

20...Rxa6

21.Qh3

Attacking her unprotected e-pawn winning a tempo. [ Analysis:Rybka 2.2 : 21.Qh3 Re8 22.Qd3 Raa8 23.Kb1 a4 24.a3 Rab8 25.Be1 Ne4 ] Her next move in the game was:

21...Qf7

The lost tempo,however now she has the future threat of ....Ne4 with an attack against his bishop and a discovered double attack against his f-pawn. [ Analysis:Rybka 2.2:Better is: >=21...a4!? 22.Qxe6+ Kg7 23.Qh3 b3 24.a3 Re8 25.Qd3 Na5 26.c3 Rae6 27.Rhe1 Nc4 =] Returning tot the game,which continued with Negi playing:

22.Qd3

He attacks her rook winning a tempo.
[Analysis:Rybka 2.2 22.Qd3 Qb7 23.a4 bxa3 24.Qxa3 Rb8 25.Nc3 Qb4 26.Rhe1 Qxf4+ 27.Rd2 Re8 ]

22...Raa8

The lost tempo. [ Analysis:Rybka 2.2:Better is: >=22...Rfa8 23.a4 bxa3 24.Qxa3 a4 25.Be1 Rb8 26.Nd4 Ne4 27.g3 Rab6 ] Negi's next move in the game was:

23.Rhe1

He centralizes his rook,placing it on the same file as her backward e-pawn. [ Analysis:Rybka 2.2: 23.Kb1 a4 24.a3 Rfb8 25.Bd4 Ne4 26.Qf3 Rb7 ; (b)Better is: 23.a4 Ne4 24.Be3 Qf6 25.Kb1 Rab8 26.Rhf1 b3 27.c3 Qh4 28.Qa6 Qg4 29.Qxc6 Qxe2 30.Qxe6+ Rf7 31.Rfe1 Qxg2 ]

Returning to the game, Kosintseva next played:

23...Ne4=

Attacking his bishop,winning a tempo. [ Analysis:Rybka 2.2:Better is 23...a4 with a possible continuation being: 24.Kb1 a3 ( 24...Ne4 25.Bd4 Rac8 26.Qe3 a3 27.Ng3 Nxd4 28.Rxd4 Qc7 29.Qd3 Nc5 30.Qe3 axb2 31.Rxb4 Qa5 32.Rxb2 Rxf4!? 33.Rf1 ( 33.Qxf4?? Qxe1+ ) 33...Rb4 ) 25.Nd4 Ne4 26.Rxe4!? dxe4 27.Qxe4 Qxf4 28.Qxe6+ Qf7 29.Qxc6 Qxf2 30.Qc4+ Qf7 31.Qxb4 axb2 ]

The game continued with Negi playing:

24.Be3

The lost tempo. [ Analysis:Another idea in this position was to play 24.Bd4 after which play might continues: 24.Bd4 a4 ( 24...Nxd4 25.Qxd4 a4 26.Qxb4 a3 27.b3 Qc7 28.Kb1 Rac8 29.c4 dxc4 30.Qxc4 Qxc4 31.bxc4 Rxc4 ) 25.Kb1 Rfe8 26.g4 Nxd4 27.Qxd4 b3 28.cxb3 axb3 29.a3 Rac8 =] For her next move of the game she played:

24...a4

[ Analysis:Rybka 2.2:Another idea is: >=24...Rfc8 25.Ng3 Nd6 26.Qe2 Re8 27.Qf2 a4 28.Rd3 a3 29.b3 Rac8 ]

A mistake. [ Analysis:Rybka 2.2:Better is 25.Ng3 b3 26.Nxe4 Nb4 27.Qd4 Nxc2 28.Ng5 Qf5 29.Qe5 Qxe5 30.fxe5 Nxe1 ; (b)Junior 9: 25.Bd4 Nxd4 26.Qxd4 b3 27.a3 bxc2 28.Kxc2 Qf5 ] The game continued with the two players making these moves:

25...bxc3

26.Nxc3 Rfc8

Creating the threat of ...Nb4.

27.a3

He spends a tempo to prevent her from playing ...Nb4. [ Analysis:Rybka 2.2 27.a3 Na5 28.Re2 Nxc3 29.bxc3 Rab8 30.Rb2 Rxb2 31.Kxb2 Qb7+ 32.Kc1 Qb3 ] Her next move of the game was:

27...Rab8

Placing her rook on the half-open b-file which ties down his king to defend his b-pawn. [ Analysis:Junior 9 and Rybka 2.2:Better is 27...Na5 with a possible continuation being: 28.Bd4 ( 28.Re2 Nxc3 29.bxc3 Nc4 30.f5 Qf8 31.Ra2 Qg7 32.Bd2 gxf5 33.Re1 Nxd2 34.Kxd2 Qxg2+ ) 28...Nxc3 29.bxc3 Nc4 30.Kc2 Rab8 31.Qh3 Rc6 32.Qg4 Qe7 ] Returning to the moves played in the game, for his next move Negi played:

28.Kb1?

He spends a tempo to take his king off the open file,however this is a mistake. [ Analysis:Rybka 2.2:Better is 28.Re2 with a possible continuation being:28... 28...Qb7 29.Qc2 Na5 30.Rd3 Nxc3 31.bxc3 Nc4 32.Qa2 Qa6 ]

Kosintseva now played the move:

28...Ne5!

Attacking his queen and offering the knight as a sacrifice.

29.fxe5??

Another mistake which blunders a piece. [ Analysis:Rybka 2.2: (a) 29.Qd4 with a possible continuation being: 29...Rxc3!? 30.fxe5 Rxb2+! 31.Kxb2 Qb7+ 32.Qb4 Rb3+ 33.Ka2 Rxb4 34.axb4 Qxb4; 29.Qa6 Nxc3+ ] Due to his last move Kosintseva was now able to play:

29...Nxc3+

Winning a piece.

30.Ka1??

Now with his king no longer pinned he creates the threat of 31.bxc3, however this move is another blunder...which Kosintseva failed to capitalize upon to the greatest possible extent. [ Analysis:Rybka 2.2: 30.Qxc3 Rxc3 31.Rd2 Qf5+ 32.Ka2 Qe4 33.Bd4 Rxa3+ 34.bxa3 Qxe1 35.Rb2 Rxb2+ 36.Bxb2 Qd1 ]

The game continued with Kosintseva playing:

30...Nxd1

Winning the exchange. [ Kosintseva missed the following beautiful continuation: 30...Rxb2!! 31.Qb1 a) 31.Kxb2?? Qb7+ 32.Bb6 (a) 32.Ka1? Qb3 threatening ....Qa1 checkmate 33.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 34.Ka2 Qb3+ 35.Ka1[] the only move 35...Rc2 36.Bb6 Qa2#) ; b) 31.Rd2 Rb3 32.Ra2 Qb7 threatening:33...Rb8 34.Bb6 Rxb6 35.Rb2 Rxb2 36.Qxc3 Rb1+ 37.Ka2 Qb2+ 38.Qxb2 R8xb2# 33.Bd2 Nxa2 34.Rb1 Nc3 35.Rxb3 Qxb3 36.Bxc3 Rb8 37.Bb4 Qxd3 38.h4 Qc2 39.g3 Rxb4 40.axb4 a3 41.b5 Qb2#; 31...Nxb1 32.Rxb1 Rbb8 33.Rec1 Rxc1 34.Rxc1 Qb7 35.Bd4 Qb3 threatening ...Qxa3# checkmate 36.Bb6 ( 36.Rc8+ Rxc8 37.Bb2 Rc2 38.Bd4 Rc1#) 36...Qxb6]

threatening to end the game with ...Qxb2# [ Analysis:Better was: >=31...Qc7 with a possible continuation being: 32.Qa6 Qc6 33.Qd3 ( 33.Qe2 Qc2 34.Qxc2 Rxc2 35.Bd4 Rbc8 36.Kb1 Rxg2 37.h3 Rc4 38.Rd3 Rh2 39.Rd1 Kg7 40.Be3 Rcc2 41.Bc1 h6 ) 33...Qc2 threatening ...Qxb2# 34.Bd4 Qxd3 35.Rxd3 Rc2 36.g4 Rxh2 ]

Returning to the moves played in the game which continued with Negi playing:

32.Rb1

Defending his pawn which ends the checkmate threat. [ Analysis:Rybka 2.2: 32.Bd4 Qb3 33.Kb1 Rc4 34.g3 Rf8 35.Qd2 Kg7 36.Rg1 Qf3 37.Re1 Rfc8 38.Be3 Re4 39.Ka1 Kg8 40.Bf4 Rxe1+ 41.Qxe1 d4 ]

The game continued with the players making these moves next:

32...Rc4

33.Bd4

Overprotecting his b-pawn. [ Rybka 2.2: 33.Bd2 Qb3 34.Qe2 Rf8 35.Bb4 Rf5 36.g4 Qf3 37.Qxf3 Rxf3 38.g5 Rf5 39.b3 axb3 40.Rxb3 Rxg5 41.Bc3 Rg1+ 42.Ka2 Rg2+ 43.Bb2 Rxh2 ] For her next move she played:

Threatening to move her rook to c2.
[ Analysis:Rybka 2.2:Better is: >=33...Qb3 34.Qd2 ( 34.Qxb3 axb3 35.Rd1 Rf8 36.Be3 d4 37.Bh6 Rf2 threatening ...Rcc2) 34...Rc2 35.Qa5 Qc4 36.Bc3 Rxg2 37.h4 d4 38.Bb4 d3 39.Qxa4 Rd8 40.Qa5 Rc8 41.Bc3 Rh2 42.Rc1 Rf8 43.Qb4 Qxb4 44.Bxb4 Rff2 45.Bc3 Rxh4 ] Returning to the moves played in the game,which continued with the two players making these moves:

34.Qd2 Rc8

Creating the threat of 35...Rc2 followed by 36...Rxg2. [ Analysis:Rybka 2.2: 34...Rc2 35.Qf4 Rf8 36.Qg4 Rf5 37.Qd1 Qc4 38.g3 Qb3 39.Qg1 Qd3 40.Rd1 Qc4 41.Qh1 Qb3 42.h4 Qxg3 43.Qg1 Qb3 44.Rb1 Qc4 45.Qd1 Kf7 ] Negi's next move in the game was:

35.Bc3

Preventing her from playing ...Rc2.
[Analysis:Rybka 2.2: 35.h3 Rc2 36.Qb4 Rxg2 37.Be3 Qe8 38.Qb6 Rgc2 39.Bh6 Qf7 40.Rg1 Rh2 41.Bf4 Rxh3 42.Qa6 Qd7 ]

Kosintseva now continued the game by playing:

35...Qc5

creating the threat of ...d4.
[ Analysis:Rybka 2.2:Better is: 35...d4 36.Bb4 Qe4 37.Qg5 Rc2 38.h4 Qxg2 39.Qe7 Qh3 40.h5 Rc1 41.hxg6 hxg6 42.Ka2 Rxb1 43.Kxb1 Qf5+ 44.Ka2 Qxe5 ]
Negi's next move was:

36.Bb4

Attacking her queen threatening to win a tempo. [ Analysis:Rybka 2.2 36.Bb4 Rc2 37.Qg5 Qf2 38.g4 Qg2 39.Qh4 d4 40.Qe7 Qd5 41.Qd6 Rc1 42.h3 d3 43.g5 Qxd6 44.exd6 Kf7 45.d7 Rxb1+ 46.Kxb1 Rd8 47.Bc3 Rxd7 ] For her next move in the game, Kosintseva played:

36...Qd4

Offering to exchange queens.
[ Analysis:Rybka 2.2: 36...Rc2 37.Qg5 Qf2 38.g4 Qg2 39.h3 Qxh3 40.Qf6 Qxg4 41.Bc3 Qf5 42.Qe7 Qh3 43.Qb4 g5 ] Returning to the game, which continued with Negi making a mistake:

37.Qg5?

[ Analysis:Rybka 2.2: 37.Qxd4 Rxd4 38.h3 Rf4 39.Bc3 Rf2 40.Rg1 Rc4 41.g3 d4 42.Bb4 Kg7 43.h4 h5 44.Rd1 Rf3 45.Be7 Rxg3 ] The next move made by Kosintseva was:

37...Qf4

[ Kosintseva missed the following continuation: 37...Rxb4! 38.Qf6 ( 38.axb4?? a3 39.Ka2 axb2 40.Qg3 Ra8+ 41.Qa3 ( 41.Kb3?? Qc4+ 42.Kxb2 Ra2#) 41...Qc4+ 42.Kxb2 Qe2+ 43.Kb3 ( 43.Kc3 Rc8+ 44.Kb3 Qc2#; 43.Kc1 Rc8+ 44.Qc3 the only move 44...Rxc3#) 43...Qd3+ 44.Kb2 ( 44.Ka2?? Qxa3#) 44...Rxa3 45.Kc1 Rc3+ 46.Kb2[] the only move 46...Qd2+ 47.Ka1[] the only move 47...Ra3#) ] Returning to the moves of the game which continued with Negi playing:

38.Qe7

Threatening 39.Qxe6+

38...Qf7

Defending her pawn and offering to exchange queens.

39.Qd6

[ Analysis: 39.Qxf7+ Kxf7 40.Rf1+ Kg8 41.b3 axb3 42.Kb2 Rc2+ 43.Kxb3 Rxg2 44.Rh1 Re2 45.Bd6 Rc4 46.h3 Rf2 47.Bb4 Re4 48.Ka4 Rxe5 ] The game now continued with Kosintseva making this move:

39...R4c6

Forcing him to move his queen to d7 (obviously he cannot move his queen to e7 as it would be enprise).

40.Qe7[]

Now she can exchange queens.

40...Qxe7

The game concluded with these moves: