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Vasilios Kotronias vs Vasyl Ivanchuk
Gibraltar Masters (2011), La Caleta GIB, rd 5, Jan-29
Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation. Yugoslav Attack (B78)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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Given 24 times; par: 38 [what's this?]

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sac: 32...Qd4 PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 1 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Jan-30-11  mastermind7994: It seems that White is losing his rook next move.
Jan-30-11  Shajmaty: Vassilios (the Greek) had Vasyl (the Ukranian) beaten, but he let him escape. Nice game, the most entertaining of the tournament so far.
Jan-31-11  Skakalec: Against Chucky , I could not resist and play 18.Nf5!! and now
a) 18...gf5 19.gf5 Ne8? 20.Rhg1+ Kh8 21. Qf8#

b) 18... gf5 19. gf5 Bb3?? 20. Rhg1+ Kh8 21. Qg7#

c) 18....gf5 19.gf5 Kh8 20. Rd6! Qe7 (20...Qd6? 21. Qf6+ Kg8 22. Rhg1#) 21. fe6 fe6 22. Rhd1

d) 18...Ne8 Rd6!

Any refutation?

Jan-31-11  tonsillolith: <Any refutation?> Have you considered 18...Bxf5? I'm terrible at defense, but that seems to slow stuff down a bit.
Feb-01-11  Skakalec: On 18...Bf5 I considered 19.ef5! with the threat of g5 and f6 sealing the king side (in the case of 19...d5 because square d5 becomes weak after disappearance of the BS bishop). For instance 19.ef5 d5 20.g5 Ne8 (otherwise f6 and mate) 21.f6 and white is playing with 2R+N vs. Q+R, but he also has h4, h5 march and I dont think black can be saved.
Feb-01-11  sevenseaman: I think the Greek had it won here;


click for larger view

White goes R sac; 30. Rxh4 Qd1+ ( Ivanchuk cannot recapture as on a/c of 30 Qf2+ leading to mate)30. Nf1 and Black has nothing better than 30..Rc7 and White can withdraw the R to 2nd rank get his Q to the h file to spearhead an irresistible attack in this position with Q check threats from h6 and h8.


click for larger view

Feb-02-11  sevenseaman: My last comment was imprecise and not thoroughly analysed. I've put some work into R sac by White, viz

30. Rxh5 Nxh5 31. Qxh5 Qf1+ 32. Nc1 Ra1+ 33. Kxa1 Qxc1+ 34. Ka2 b3+ 35. cxb3


click for larger view

35...Qxd2? 36. Qh7+ Kf8 37. g7+ Ke7 38. g8=Q+ and White wins.

35?...Qxd2 is a natural looking move but unsound. It hands White the initiative with awkward checks. Black Q really needs to return to the 7th rank to wriggle out a draw. White could still try and divert it by 36. Rc2 or 36. Rxd6.

Feb-02-11  wierba: sevenseamam:
35...Qxd2? 36. Qh7+ Kf8 37. Qf7#
Feb-02-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sastre: 30.Rxh5 would be a mistake because of 30...Qf1+ 31.Nc1 Qxc1+ 32.Kxc1 Ra1#.
Feb-02-11  sevenseaman: Thats right <Sastre>. A blind spot; thanks. <wierba> right again, thanks.
Feb-04-11  chessbomb: Sevenseaman hi. it seems there's a hole in your analysis as 30. Rxh5 is a blunder, i.e., 30. Rxh5? Qf1+ 31. Nc1 Qc1+ 32. Kc1 Ra1 delivers mate.
Feb-04-11  sevenseaman: Thanks <chessbomb> my comment dated 2 Feb refers.
Feb-05-11  SetNoEscapeOn: Wonderful dragon by Chucky.
Feb-06-11  checkmateyourmove: move 25.....? makes for a good puzzle for black.

Hungry chucky is a dangerous chucky

Mar-05-11  ReikiMaster: 18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.exf5 Qc7 & Rc8 looks good for black.
Apr-03-11  jullios paras: Another Sicilian victory by Chucky!!
Mar-12-18  computer chess guy: Move 32 is also remarkable:


click for larger view

Ivanchuk "forked" his own Rook and Queen with Qd4. But this is not a mistake: it is the winning move.

Jan-05-19  devere: 32.Re3?? was a losing blunder in a superior position. This is not a good problem.
Jan-05-19  ChessHigherCat: This game confirms the theory that Ivanchuk was hiding under the table and making all of AlphaZero's moves against Stockfish.
Jan-05-19
Premium Chessgames Member
  al wazir: I got black's first move, but guessed wrong on white's response.

If white had played 32. Nxa5 as I expected instead of 32. Re3, I would have continued with 32...Rxa5. The continuation might have been 33. Ree2 (33. Rfe2 is no better) Qa2+ 34. Kc1 Qa1+ 35. Kd2 Qxb2, and now 36...Qd4+ looks winning.

Jan-05-19
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: Saturday puzzles are too hard for me, didn't even bother with this one, so I decided to present what is probably an easier puzzle.

White to move


click for larger view

Solution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4-....

Jan-05-19  The Kings Domain: The puzzle's a tough one for sure. Good game, nice attack by Ivanchuk.
Jan-05-19  OrangeTulip: First move was not so hard to find, just the most forcing move.
Jan-05-19  malt: Come up with
32...Rca5 33.N:a5 R:a5 34.Rh2 Qa2+ 35.Kc1 Qa1+ 36.Kd2 Q:b2 37.Rc1
Jan-05-19  Walter Glattke: 33.Rd2
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