Andrei Volokitin vs Vladimir Baklan (2014)

Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players ·

Kibitzing

Andrei Volokitin vs Vladimir Baklan
French Team Championship (2014), Saint-Quentin FRA, rd 2, May-25
French Defense: Steinitz. Boleslavsky Variation (C11) · 0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

explore this opening	find similar games	2 more A Volokitin/Baklan games
sac: 22...Nxc2	PGN: download \| view \| print	Help: general \| java-troubleshooting

TIP: At the top of the page we display the common English name for the opening, followed by the ECO code (e.g. "C11"). The ECO codes are links that take you to opening pages.

For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.

PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

Jul-17-15		greed and death: They say to always look for checks, so I did and got the first move but not much else...

Jul-17-15		gofer: It looks like black can grab a piece! <19 ... Qf4+> 20 Qd2 Qxf3 20 Rd2 Qxf3 20 Kb1 Qxf3 21 Qxf3 Rxf3 But white can just move Nf3, but in doing so White gives himself a horrible position by making Pc2 very weak as it can be attacked by three pieces very quickly... <20 Nd2 Nb4> Black threatens Nxa2+ 21 Kb1 Rfc8 <21 Qa3 Rfc8> <22 Bd3 Nxc2!> Black threatens Nxa3 and so black has to take back... <23 Bxc2 Bf5> Black has two attackers on poor Bc2 and threatens Rxc2+ click for larger view 24 Kb1 Bxc2+ 25 Ka1 Bxd1 26 Rxd1 Qxd2! <24 Qc3 Rxc3> <25 bxc3 ...> click for larger view <25 ... Bxc2> <26 Kxc2 Qa4+> 27 Kc1 Qxa2 mating 27 Nb3 Qxa2+ winning the knight <28 Kd3 Rb2> The white king is forced into the open, Pa2, Pc3 and Pg5 are all on offer and I see very little hope for white... click for larger view ~~~ Hmmm, well I got most of this, but didn't see how to convert the advantage; <25 ... Qe3> etc...

Jul-17-15		morfishine: I waddled down 19...Qf4+ 20.Nd2 Nb4; 22...Nxc2 was sweet *****

Jul-17-15		Moszkowski012273: The immediate 26...Qxc3 works better than the game continuation.

Jul-17-15		cocker: Not so much a combination, more a gradual build up (totally impossible by my standards).

Jul-17-15		diagonalley: "difficult" indeed!! ... <diagonalley>: nul points :-(

Jul-17-15		wooden nickel: 19... Rxf3 looked obvious, but it doesn't lead to nothing, a simple check does, after that everything falls into place! White must have also considered 20.Rd2... it's no good either! click for larger view

Jul-17-15		saturn2: I had the plan Qf4+ Nb4 Bf5 and Rc8 in this move order (in the actual game the rock moves after the bishop). Since the pawn c2 gets attacked by N,R and B, but can only be defended by K,Q,B black should have won without the knight sacrifice on c2.

Jul-17-15		newzild: Too tough for me - especially after my third Friday night vodka/grapefruit punch.

Jul-17-15		patzer2: Here's my look at the game and today's Friday puzzle position (19...?) with the chessgames.com Opening Explorer and Deep Fritz 14x64: <1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5> This is the second most popular move. Most often played is 4. Bg5 as in E Inarkiev vs I Lysyj, 2015. <4... Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. dxc5> The popular choice here is 8. Qd2 as in Z Almasi vs Lenderman, 2015. <8... O-O 9. Qd2 Nxc5 10. O-O-O a6 11. Qf2 b6 12. g4 f6 13. exf6 Bxf6 14. Bxc5?!> Trading off the dark square Bishop improves Black's position. Instead, White should maintain the tension with 14. Qd2 = when play might continue Qc7 15. Rg1 Bb7 16. g5 Bxc3 17. Qxc3 Rxf4 18. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 19. Kb1 d4 20. Nxd4 Rd8 21. Bxa6 Nxd4 22. Bxb7 Nxb7 23. Rgf1 Qd6 24. Qe3 e5 25. c3 Qg6+ 26. Qd3 Qxd3+ 27. Rxd3 Ne6 28. Rxd8+ Nexd8 29. Kc2 . <14... bxc5 15. Qxc5 Qc7 16. f5?> This concedes Black a clear advantage, and overlooks a last opportuity to equalize with 16. Ne5! when play might continue 16...Bb7 17. Bg2 Bxe5 18. fxe5 Qxe5 19. Rhe1 Qg5+ 20. Qe3 Qxe3+ 21. Rxe3 Rf2 22. Bh1 Nd8 23. h4 =. <16... Rb8 17. fxe6 Bxe6> This wins but an even stronger move is 17... Qf4+ when play might continue 18. Nd2 Nb4 19. Kb1 Bxe6 20. Nb3 Rfc8 21. Qa7 Bxg4 22. Bxa6 Ra8 23. Rdf1 Qxf1+ 24. Rxf1 Rxa7 25. Bxc8 Bxc8 26. a3 Bxc3 27. bxc3 Nc6 . <18. g5> This loses quickly. Putting up more resistance is 18. Kb1 when play might continue 18...Rfc8 19. Bxa6 Nb4 20. Qxc7 Rxc7 21. Nb5 Rxc2 22. Nbd4 Bxg4 23. Nxc2 Nxc2 24. Kxc2 Bxf3 25. Rhf1 Rxb2+ 26. Kc1 Bxd1 27. Kxd1 Kf7 28. a4 Rxh2 . <18... Bxc3!> This begins Black's winning combination. <19. Qxc3 Qf4+!> This strong follow up to 18...Bxc3! 19. Qxc3 solves today's Friday puzzle. <20. Nd2> If 20. Kb1, Black wins with 20...Qxf3 21. Qxf3 Rxf3 . <20...Nb4 21. Qa3> If 21. Kb1, Black wins following 21...d4 22. Qa3 Bxa2+ 23. Kc1 (23. Ka1 Nxc2+ ) 23... Rfc8 24. c3 Qf5 25. Bc4+ Bxc4 26. Qa4 Nd3+ 27. Kb1 Nxb2+ 28. Ka1 Nxa4 . <21... Rfc8 22. Bd3> If 22. c3, Black forces mate after 22...d4 23. Kb1 Bf5+ 24. Kc1 dxc3 25. Qb3+ Kh8 26. bxc3 Rxc3+ 27. Qxc3 Nxa2#. <22... Nxc2!> Here, this surprise move is the strongest follow up. <23. Bxc2 Bf5 24. Qc3> If 24. Kb1, Black wins after 24...Bxc2+ 25. Ka1 Bxd1 26. Rxd1 (26. Nb1 Rc1 ) 26... Qxd2 . <24... Rxc3 25. bxc3 Qe3 26. Rdf1 Be4> This wins easy, but also strong is 26... Qxc3! 27. Rxf5 Rb2 28. Kd1 Qxc2+ 29. Ke2 Qxd2+ 30. Kf3 Qg2+ 31. Kf4 Qe4+ 32. Kg3 Rg2+ 33. Kh3 Qg4#. <27. Rhg1 Qxc3 28. Nxe4 dxe4 0-1> White resigns in lieu of 29. Rd1 (29. Kd1 Rd8+ 30. Kc1 Rd2 ) 29... Qa3+ 30. Kd2 Rd8+ 31. Ke2 Qf3+ 32. Ke1 Qe3+ 33. Kf1 Rf8+ 34. Kg2 Qf3#.

Jul-17-15		kevin86: Pretty hard problem...I didn't even get the first move.

Jul-17-15		Penguincw: Not sure if I'm getting weaker, or lazier. Before, on Wednesday puzzles on, my best hope was to guess the first move, and that's what I did. However, now I'm not even trying/getting it. Today, I was hoping for 19...d4 20.Nxd4 Bd5 21.Rg1 (21.Bc4) to be played.

Jul-17-15		agb2002: Black is one pawn down. White threatens Bxa6. White has a number of weaknesses: Rh1, Nf3, a2, c2, etc. This suggests 19... Qf4+: A) 20.Nd2 Rfc8 (threatens Nb4 and Nd4) 21.Bd3 Nb4 A.1) 22.Rhf1 Nxa2+ 23.Kb1 Nxc3+ wins. A.2) 22.Qa3 A.2.a) 22... Nxc2 23.Bxc2 (23.Qxa6 Nb4+ wins the queen) 23... Bf5 looks very good for Black. For example, 24.Rhf1 Rxc2+ 25.Kb1 Rcxb2+ 26.Ka1 (26.Kc1 Rb1#) 26... Qxd2 27.Rxd2 Rb1+ 28.Rxb1 Rxb1#. A.2.b) 22... Nxd3+ 23.Qxd3 Bf5 24.Qxd5+ Kh8 25.Rhf1 (25.c3 Rxc3+ 26.bxc3 Rb1#, the queen pins the knight) 25... Rxc2+ 26.Kb1 Rxd2+ wins decisive material. A.3) 22.Qb3 Nxd3+ 23.Qxd3 transposes to A.2.b. B) 20.Rd2 Qxf3 21.Qxc6 (21.Bg2 Qxc3 wins a piece) 21... Qxh1 22.Qxe6+ Kh8 and Black will end up a rook ahead because the white bishop is lost. C) 20.Kb1 Qxf3 wins a piece (21.Qxc6 Qxd1#).

Jul-17-15		agb2002: According to Stockfish, the text 20... Nb4 (-4.5) is much better than my 20... Rfc8 (-1.3) because of 21.Qb3.

Jul-17-15		Marmot PFL: Got as far as move 22, missed 22...nxc2! in analysis, though its easy enough to find once that position is reached.

Jul-18-15		CHESSTTCAMPS: White is up a pawn, but it is obvious that black has all the chances, with several pieces aiming at black's queen-side castled position and white's loose knight protected only by a queen that is subject to harrassment. The problem for black is an excess of promising looking candidates: d4, Bg4, Rxf3, and Qf4+. 19... Rxf3 20.Qxf3 Nb4 seems to be adequately met by 21.Bd3, while 19...Bg4 20.Rd3 Qc4+ 21.Nd2 looks salvagable It seems more logical to unpin the black knight immediately to free it for mischief. 19... Qf4+! 20.Nd2 (Rd2 Qxf3 21.Qxc6 Qxh8 22.Qxe6+ Kh8 wins Bf1, finishing a rook ahead) Nb4! with multiple threats of Nxa2+, d4, Rfc8, and Bg4. So white can choose his poison: A) 21.Qg3 Nxa2+ 22.Kb1 Qxg3 23.hxg3 Nc3+ 24.Kf1 Nxd1 25.Kxd1 a5 and black's exchange and passed a-pawn should win easily. B) 21.Kb1 d4 22.Qg3 Qf7 23.a3 Bg4! 24.Qxg4 Qa2+ 25.Kc1 Nd3+ then 26...Qxb2#. All I have time for - time for review...

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
Nothing in violation of United States law.
No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
No trolling.
The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.

NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.