[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2014.11.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Model game 1: Aravindh, Chithambaram VR"]
[Black "Saric, Ivan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C96"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2680"]
[Annotator "dkulj"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2014.11.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteClock "1:30:30"]
[BlackClock "1:30:30"]

{[%evp 0,82,19,31,34,19,13,4,13,-2,-9,0,7,-5,5,-3,13,-28,-11,-13,-9,-3,2,17,15,
5,28,-6,43,14,29,24,54,45,44,24,44,16,40,32,32,-237,-14,-15,55,31,-3,-18,-18,
-34,-26,-14,25,20,11,11,36,40,45,45,39,45,23,11,-42,-33,-61,-126,-149,-160,
-161,-172,-114,-178,-182,-180,-253,-283,-279,-408,-459,-293,-459,-537,-537]} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O
9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nd7 {This is the Ruy Lopez middlegame tabiya of
our interest. We can get many typical middlegame structures from this position.
In the first two model games, we will explore the closed center structure that
arises after} 12. d5 {[%csl Ra5] With this move, White isolates black knight
on the rim and so one of Black's main goals in this closed position is to
reroute the knight from a5 to a better square.} ({In model game 3, we will
study the Benoni structure that arises after} 12. Nbd2 exd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. d5
Nce5 {[%csl Yc5,Gd5,Yd6,Ge4]}) ({In model game 4, we cover the fixed central
structure after} 12. dxe5 dxe5 {[%csl Ye4,Ye5] which was one of Bobby
Fischer's favorite Ruy Lopez structures.}) ({And finally, in the fifth model
game, we will talk about an essential Ruy Lopez structure with a backward
d6-pawn, as in the following line:} 12. b3 exd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. Bb2 cxd4 15.
Nxd4 {[%csl Yd6,Ye4] This structure can arise from many Ruy Lopez variations,
so it is important to cover it.}) 12... Nb6 13. Nbd2 {[%cal Yd2f1,Yf1g3,Yg3f5]
White's typically focuses on developing initiative on the kingside, while
Black on the queenside.} (13. g4 $6 {[%cal Rf7f5] was famously played by
Fischer against Keres, but it was not a good idea in the view of} h5 $1 {
[%csl Rg4]} 14. Nh2 (14. gxh5 Bxh3) 14... hxg4 15. hxg4 Bg5 $15 {[%csl Re7,Yg5]
This is a useful piece exchange for Black in this closed type of position
since his dark-squared bishop was one of his worst strategic pieces (Na5 being
another one).} 16. Nd2 g6 $1 {[%cal Gg8g7,Gf8h8]} 17. Ndf3 Bxc1 18. Qxc1 Kg7
19. Qg5 $6 {Exchanging queens was not the best idea. Black will have a clear
positional initiative in the endgame.} (19. Kg2 Rh8 20. b3 Qg8 21. Rg1 Qh7 22.
Kf1 $15) 19... Nb7 20. Qxd8 Rxd8 21. a4 bxa4 $1 {[%cal Yb8b2] Opening the
b-file to attack the b2-pawn.} 22. Bxa4 Nxa4 23. Rxa4 Bd7 24. Ra2 c4 $1 {
[%csl Rb2,Yc5,Re4][%cal Yb7c5,Yc5d3] The key move, not only fixing the b-pawn,
but also ensuring that the once bad knight reaches an ideal outpost on c5 from
where it can attack other white weaknesses.} 25. Nd2 Bb5 26. Nhf1 Rh8 27. Ne3
Rh4 $17 {[%csl Rb2,Gb5,Re4,Rg1,Rg4][%cal Yb7c5] 0-1 (73) Fischer,R-Keres,P
Curacao 1962 Candidates}) 13... Bd7 14. Nf1 Nb7 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Gc5c4,Gb7c5,
Yb7d8,Yd8f7] This is a typical maneuver. Black has two options for the knight
- it can go to either c5 (after ...c5-c4) or to f7 via d8, which is known as
Rubinstein's maneuver.} 15. Ng3 {[%cal Gg3f5]} g6 {[%csl Rh6] This move is
virtually a must for Black, even if it weakens the dark squares around the
king.} (15... c4 16. Nf5 Bxf5 17. exf5 Nc5 18. Be3 $36 {[%cal Gg2g4]}) 16. Bh6
Re8 17. Qc1 {[%csl Yg5]} (17. Nh2 $6 {[%csl Re7][%cal Ye7g5] would allow Black
to make the useful DSB exchange:} Bg5 18. Bxg5 Qxg5 $15) 17... Qc7 {[%cal
Yb7d8,Yd8f7,Yf7f6,Rc5c4,Rf3d4] In the main game, GM Saric goes for
Rubinstein's knight maneuver with this move.} ({A logical alternative is} 17...
c4 {[%csl Yc5][%cal Gb7c5]} 18. Ng5 {[%cal Gf2f4]} Nc5 19. f4 {and here Black
made an instructive mistake} exf4 $2 (19... f6 20. Nf3 Bf8 21. Bxf8 Rxf8 $13 {
was much more solid and better.}) 20. Qxf4 f6 21. Nf3 $16 {[%csl Yd4,Re7,Rf6]
The problem for Black is that he has no way of getting one of his knights to
e5 in time. On the other hand, White will put his knight on d4 and pile up on
the kingside without facing any resistance.} Bc8 {[%cal Yb6d7,Yd7e5]} 22. Nd4 {
[%csl Rc6]} Bf8 (22... Nbd7 23. Nc6) 23. Rf1 Qd7 24. Rf2 Bb7 25. Raf1 $18 {
[%csl Rf6] 1-0 (41) Robson, R (2675) -Naroditsky,D (2646) Chess.com INT 2017})
18. Nh2 {[%cal Gf2f4]} Nd8 (18... f6 $5 19. f4 exf4 20. Qxf4 Kh8 $1 (20... Nd8
21. Nf5 $1 $18) 21. b3 {[%cal Rb6c4,Yc4e5]} Nd8 $13 {[%cal Gd8f7]}) 19. f4 Bh4
$5 $132 {[%cal Yh4e1] An interesting active defense. It may not be completely
correct, but it does create some practical problems for White.} 20. f5 $5 {
An interesting piece sacrifice, but Black will ignore it.} (20. Nf5 $1 gxf5 21.
exf5 $40 {[%csl Gc2,Rg8][%cal Yc2h7,Yh2g4] was a very strong attacking idea.
White throws everything in the attack and Black might be in trouble.}) 20... f6
$1 {[%csl Yf6][%cal Gd8f7]} (20... Bxg3 $2 21. Ng4 Bh4 22. Bg5 Bxg5 23. Qxg5
$18) 21. Ng4 Nf7 {[%csl Yf7] Completing Rubinstein's maneuver - f7 is a great
square for the knight in this structure.} 22. Rf1 Qd8 $1 {[%csl Yf6] Black has
defended the weak f6-square and now it's time for white pieces to retreat.} 23.
Be3 Nc4 $1 24. Bf2 Bg5 25. Ne3 Kh8 $1 {[%cal Ge8g8,Yg8g1] Moreover, Black
plans to take over the initiative on the kingside!} 26. b3 Nxe3 27. Bxe3 Rg8
$132 28. Bxg5 Nxg5 29. Qe3 Qe7 30. h4 $2 {A very weakening move.} (30. Kh2 Qg7
31. a4 $13) 30... Nf7 31. Qf3 Nh6 {[%csl Gg4][%cal Gg6f5] Now opening of the
g-file will prove to be fatal for Black, not in the least because of the
weakened g4-square.} 32. fxg6 Rxg6 33. Nf5 Bxf5 34. exf5 Rg4 $19 {[%csl Gg4]
[%cal Ga8g8,Ge7g7]} 35. Be4 Qg7 36. a4 b4 37. cxb4 cxb4 38. Rac1 Rxh4 39. Rc4
Ng4 40. g3 Qa7+ 41. Rf2 Rh2 0-1

[Event "Bazna Kings 5th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2011.06.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Model game 2: Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C96"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2659"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D/dkulj"]
[PlyCount "155"]
[EventDate "2011.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,155,19,38,25,7,30,15,16,3,5,-4,19,-4,11,4,16,-29,-21,-14,8,4,8,17,18,
3,28,11,59,45,61,53,45,45,34,39,51,34,22,35,35,35,42,42,42,6,44,24,19,16,8,10,
7,-14,-25,-31,-7,0,-12,-20,-24,-37,-19,-33,-33,-7,-8,-25,0,-24,0,0,5,0,18,0,27,
18,26,10,14,0,0,0,0,0,11,-3,17,12,23,22,18,0,21,20,21,8,17,2,10,0,0,0,0,0,0,
-53,-44,-41,-47,-53,-36,-56,-33,-61,-55,-50,-26,-31,-12,-8,55,85,76,71,78,77,
78,77,78,111,185,217,257,249,271,247,242,241,241,231,249,254,254,279,279,279,
279,279,285,308,381,458,570,812,834,1012]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4
Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nd7
12. d5 Nb6 13. Nbd2 {In this model game, we will examine White's and Black's
queenside plans in contrast to kingside plans that were examined in the first
model game.} g6 (13... Bd7 14. Nf1 Nb7 15. Ng3 g6 16. Bh6 Re8 17. b3 {This is
a slightly different plan compared to what we have seen in the first model
game. White takes some prophylactic measures on the queenside before launching
the kingside attack.} (17. Qc1 {was played in Aravindh-Saric}) 17... c4 18. Be3
$6 {This is inconsistent.} (18. b4 {[%cal Rb7c5] was much more to the point,
fixing the queenside and isolating the b7-knight. We would get something
similar to the main game after, for example:} a5 19. a3 Ra6 {[%cal Ya6a1,Yd8c7,
Ye8a8]} 20. Qd2 Qc7 21. Nh2 {[%cal Gf2f4]} Nd8 $1 {[%cal Gf7f6,Gd8f7]} 22. Be3
(22. f4 $6 Qa7 $1 {[%csl Ra1,Rg1]}) 22... f6 23. f4 exf4 24. Bxf4 Nf7 {[%csl
Ye5][%cal Gf7e5]} 25. Nf3 {[%csl Yd4][%cal Gf3d4]} Rea8 26. Rab1 axb4 27. axb4
Ra2 28. Nd4 Ne5 $132 {[%csl Ga2,Rb5,Yd4,Ye5,Rf6][%cal Ya2g2,Ge1f1] This
position is similar to Nakamura-Nisipeanu.}) 18... a5 19. Qd2 Qc7 20. Reb1 {
White choses the wrong plan here. He should be trying to play on the kingside,
not the queenside.} Nc5 {[%csl Yc5] Black is obviously happy about the knight
on c5. White was too late pushing b4.} 21. Qe2 (21. b4 $2 axb4 22. cxb4 Nca4
$17 {[%cal Gc4c3,Gb6c4]}) 21... cxb3 $1 22. axb3 Rec8 {[%csl Rc3][%cal Ga5a4]
Black transformed the pawn structure so that he coul attack the backward
c3-pawn more easily.} 23. Qe1 Be8 {[%cal Gc5d7]} 24. Ra2 a4 $1 25. b4 Ncd7 {
[%csl Rc3,Gc4]} 26. Bd3 {[%csl Rb5]} Nc4 {[%csl Ga4,Rc3,Gc4] Black won the
strategic battle in the middlegame and eventually prevailed in the endgame.}
27. Bh6 Ndb6 28. Nf1 Bf8 29. Bc1 (29. Bxf8 Kxf8 $15) 29... Bd7 {[%cal Gf7f5]}
30. g4 Be7 31. Ng3 Kh8 $17 {[%cal Gc8g8,Gc7d8,Gf7f5] 0-1 (72) Kryvoruchko,Y 
(2679) -Mons,L (2339) Germany 2013}) 14. b4 Nb7 ({After the game Anand-Carlsen,
Morelia/Linares 2007 Black started to experience problems after the natural} 
14... cxb4 15. cxb4 Nac4 16. Nxc4 Nxc4 17. Bb3 $1 Nb6 18. Be3 {[%csl Rc6,Ye3,
Re7] The bishop belongs on e3.} Bd7 19. Rc1 Rc8 20. Rxc8 Bxc8 21. Qc2 $16 {
[%cal Ge1c1,Gc2c7] White dominates on the queenside. This soon allowed him to
launch the knigside attack more easily.} Bd7 22. Rc1 {This forces the knight
back to a8.} Na8 {[%csl Yc7]} 23. Qd2 Qb8 24. Bg5 $1 {Exploiting the fact that
f6 is impossible.} Bxg5 (24... Qd8 $1 25. Qe3 (25. Bxe7 Qxe7 26. Qe3 Rc8 $1)
25... Bxg5 26. Nxg5 Qe7 27. f4 $36) (24... f6 25. Nxe5 $18) 25. Nxg5 Rc8 26.
Rf1 $1 {[%cal Gf2f4]} h6 27. Ne6 $1 Kh7 (27... fxe6 28. dxe6 Be8 29. Qxh6 $1
Nb6 30. e7+ Nc4 31. Qf8+ Kh7 32. f4 Qa8 33. Rf3 Qxe4 34. f5 gxf5 35. Rg3 $18)
28. f4 $40 {1-0 (38) Anand,V (2779)-Carlsen,M (2690) Morelia/Linares 2007 CBM
117 [Anand, Viswanathan]}) 15. Nf1 {[%csl Yb4,Rc3][%cal Rb7c5,Gb7d8,Gd8f7]} a5
$132 {[%cal Ya8a1] The upsides of b2-b4 for White are that it cuts off the
knight from b4-square and fixes b5-pawn as a potential weakness. On the
donwside, it weakens some squares and provides Black with counterplay on the
adjacent files.} 16. Bh6 Re8 17. a3 Bd7 {This natural continuation is a new
move. Black prepares massive exchanges on the a-file.} 18. Ng3 Qc7 {[%cal
Yb7d8,Yd8f7,Yf7f6]} 19. Bd3 {[%csl Rb5]} axb4 20. axb4 Rxa1 21. Qxa1 Ra8 22.
Qb1 {[%csl Rb5][%cal Yb4c5] provoking Black's next move...} c4 23. Bc2 {
[%csl Yd4][%cal Gf2f4,Gf3d4] Now the queenside has been fixed and White can
gain access to d4-square.} f6 24. Be3 Nd8 25. Nd2 Nf7 26. f4 exf4 27. Bxf4 Ne5
{[%csl Ye5] Just in time!} ({An interesting alternative was to prevent the
white bishop from coming to the diagonal a7-g1 by continuing} 27... Na4 28. Ne2
Qb6+ 29. Kh2 Ne5 {with a very complex middlegame, where both sides have their
chances.}) 28. Be3 $1 Ra3 $1 {[%csl Rc3] A strong answer by Nisipeanu, which
cost the Romanian grandmaster a lot of time: before placing the knight on a4
Black activates his rook.} 29. Ne2 Na4 $132 {[%csl Rc3]} 30. Bd4 Bf8 {[%csl
Yf6][%cal Gf8g7,Gc7d8] The rook on a3 looks shaky, but White cannot exploit
this factor. The position is about equal.} 31. Rf1 Qd8 $11 32. Qc1 Ra2 33. Nf3
(33. Bb1 Ra1 {(or even 33...Rb2) and the rook cannot be attacked.}) 33... Bg7
34. Nxe5 fxe5 35. Be3 Nb6 36. Kh2 Be8 37. Ng1 h6 38. Bb1 Ra1 39. Qb2 Ra8 40.
Bc2 Nd7 {Both players assessed this to be an inaccuracy.} ({Nakamura
considered that after} 40... Na4 {the position is close to equal.}) 41. Ra1
Rxa1 42. Qxa1 Nf6 43. Qa6 {Now White has built some pressure, although Black
is still very solid and close to equal.} Bf8 44. Nf3 Bd7 45. Nd2 Nh5 46. Nf3
Nf6 47. Kg1 Qc8 48. Qa1 Qb8 49. Kf1 Nh5 50. g4 Nf4 {A very responsible
decision.} ({The simple} 50... Nf6 {was perfectly playable.}) 51. Bxf4 exf4 52.
e5 dxe5 53. Qa6 Qd6 54. Qxd6 Bxd6 55. Bxg6 Kg7 56. Be4 h5 {The endgame should
be a draw, but Nisipeanu was in time trouble and started to produce mistakes.}
57. Nh2 $1 {The best way to keep the pressure.} Kh6 58. Kg2 hxg4 {Completely
unnecessary, giving the h3-square to White's king.} ({After} 58... Bc7 {
Black has no problems whatsoever.}) 59. hxg4 Kg5 60. Kh3 f3 $2 {Blundering
with the last move before the time-control is always very painful.} ({It is
not clear if White has something real after} 60... Bc7 61. Nf3+ Kf6 62. Kh4 Kg7
) 61. Kg3 f2 62. Nf3+ {Probably missed by Nisipeanu when he played 60... f3.} (
{Not} 62. Kxf2 $2 Kf4 {and it is Black who can win.}) 62... Kh6 63. g5+ Kh5 64.
Kxf2 {White has won a pawn and the rest is a matter of technique.} Be8 65. Ke3
Bf7 66. g6 Bxg6 67. Bxg6+ Kxg6 68. Ke4 Kf6 69. Nd2 Bf8 70. Nb1 Bh6 71. Na3 Bc1
72. Nxb5 Bd2 73. Nd6 Bxc3 74. b5 Ke7 75. Nxc4 Be1 76. Kxe5 Bg3+ 77. Kd4 Bf2+
78. Kc3 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 15th"]
[Site "Caleta"]
[Date "2017.02.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Model game 3: Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anton Guijarro, David"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C96"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K/dkulj"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2017.01.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GGB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,84,34,23,34,28,13,13,28,9,-13,3,28,-4,-4,4,14,-12,-13,-10,4,4,5,-1,-1,
-1,12,15,22,41,48,35,31,-5,77,36,45,32,43,46,16,27,27,50,36,20,17,8,18,17,25,9,
31,31,43,29,65,29,49,31,16,-46,-42,-103,-105,-113,-43,-42,-14,-14,-23,-68,-88,
-91,-24,-22,-38,-57,-39,-85,-96,-66,-96,-86,-81,-93,-101]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2
c5 11. d4 Nd7 12. Nbd2 exd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 {This is Black's idea, nearly forcing
White to enter a double-edged position with 14.d5. In the event of 14.Nf1,
Black can simplify on d4 and enjoy a good initiative in exchange for the worse
pawn structure.} 14. d5 (14. Nf1 $6 cxd4 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 16. Qxd4 Ne5 {[%cal
Gc8h3] justifying the 11...Nd7 move} 17. Qd1 Bf6 18. Ne3 Be6 $11 {[%csl Rc1,
Rd6,Ge4,Yf6][%cal Ga8c8] This is a typical position where the piece activity
easily compensates for the weak pawn on d6. Black has easy play, with moves
like ... Rc8, ...Nc4, and ...Qb6. Meanwhile, White has a hard time developing
his queenside, and moves like f4 will create weaknesses. 1/2-1/2 (40)
Boruchovsky,A (2333)-Kuljasevic,D (2580) Plovdiv 2012}) (14. dxc5 dxc5 $13 {
[%cal Gc5c4,Gd7c5]}) 14... Nce5 {We have the sharp Benoni structure on the
board. It usually leads to an imbalanced strategic fight with strong tactical
overtones. White typically prepares to blow the center open with f2-f4 and
e4-e5, while Black tries to stop that while also generating counterplay on the
queenside.} 15. a4 Bb7 (15... Rb8 $5 $13 {is the main theoretical variation.})
16. Qe2 {[%csl Rb5,Re2] An interesting try to force a concession from Black,
but the queen does not quite belong here in this structure.} (16. Nxe5 $5 Nxe5
17. f4 {is a more straightforward continuation:} Nd7 {[%csl Yd5][%cal Re4e5,
Gb7d5,Ge7f6]} 18. Nf3 Re8 {[%cal Ge7f6,Gb7d5] Black bishops actively obstruct
White's main plan.} 19. Bd2 (19. e5 c4 $1 20. e6 fxe6 21. dxe6 Nc5 $13 {
[%csl Gb7,Gc5,Ye6][%cal Ge7f6]}) 19... Bf6 {[%cal Re4e5]} 20. Rb1 {[%cal Gd2c3]
White is getting ready to exchange the strong Bf6.} (20. Bc3 {wouldn't work
immediately due to} b4 $1 21. Bxf6 Qxf6 {[%csl Rb2,Rf4]}) 20... b4 $1 (20... c4
$2 {[%csl Yb4,Yd4] is a typical mistake in the Benoni structure, leaving too
many weaknesses on the dark squares.} 21. Kh1 Nc5 22. Bb4 $16 {[%csl Yb4][%cal
Ge4e5]}) 21. Bd3 {[%csl Gc4][%cal Gb2b3] White ensures that c4-square remains
under his control.} g6 22. Qc2 Bg7 {[%csl Yg7][%cal Re4e5]} 23. b3 {[%csl Gc4]}
a5 {[%cal Gb7a6] The light-squared bishop is Black's worst piece in strategic
terms, so it's well-worth exchanging it via a6.} 24. Rbd1 Qc8 {[%csl Rb7][%cal
Gb7a6,Gc5c4]} 25. Bc1 {[%cal Gc1b2]} Bc3 26. Bb2 $1 {An enterprising exchange
sacrifice. Control over the dark squares is really the key here.} Bxe1 27. Rxe1
{[%csl Yb2,Rg8]} Ba6 28. e5 {[%csl Gd5,Ge5,Rg8] White achieved his main goal
at a cost of exchange sacrifice. However, it provided him with excellent
attacking chances.} Bxd3 29. Qxd3 c4 $1 30. bxc4 Nc5 31. Qe3 Nxa4 32. Bd4 $13 {
[%csl Rg8] 1-0 (68) Saric,I (2648) -Mchedlishvili,M (2636) Porto Carras 2011})
16... Rb8 (16... c4 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Nf1 {[%cal Gc1d2,Gf1e3]}) (16... b4 $6
17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. f4 Ng6 19. Nc4 $16) 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. axb5 axb5 19. Nf1 ({
Perhaps it was a bit too late when Topalov realized that the thematic} 19. f4
Ng6 20. Nf3 {is met by} Bf6 $132 {[%csl Re2][%cal Gf8e8,Gg6h4] when the queen
seems to be particularly awkwardly placed on the e-file.}) 19... Re8 20. Ne3
Bf6 21. Bd2 Bc8 $1 {[%csl Rf5,Rg4][%cal Gc8d7] Bringing the bishop back into
play, Black achieves a fully consistent position, and keeps great prospects on
the queenside, which is basically one of the key ideas in this variation -
control White's central and kingside expansion and start advancing the b- and
c-pawns at some point. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Black is better here,
but nowadays it is not easy to achieve such a promising and interesting
position as Black without running into real dangers.} 22. Ba5 (22. f4 $6 Ng6
$17 {always looks good for Black, since all his pieces are well prepared to
meet this advance.}) (22. Ra7 $142 $13 {[%cal Ge1a1] was the best way to
obtain counterplay.}) 22... Qe7 23. Bc3 $6 (23. Qf1 $5 {trying to prepare
something like f4 followed by Nf5} b4 {locks the bishop in on a5, but hands
over the initiative to White} (23... Ng6 24. Nf5 Qd7 25. Ra2 $13 {with a weird
position}) 24. f4 Ng6 25. e5 $5 dxe5 26. f5 Nf4 27. g3 $13) 23... Ng6 $1 $15 {
[%csl Yf6][%cal Gg6f4,Gg6h4,Rf2f4] Making a very good piece exchange, Black
doesn't need to worry about f4 anymore.} 24. Qf3 (24. Bxf6 Qxf6 $15 {would be
equally good for Black, threatening the b2-pawn and moves like ...Nf4.}) 24...
Bxc3 25. bxc3 Qg5 26. Kh2 h5 {[%csl Ye5,Yf4][%cal Gh5h4,Rg2g3]} 27. Ra7 Re7 28.
Rxe7 Nxe7 29. Ra1 (29. Nf5 $5 {is a very counter-intuitive move pointed out by
the computer. Normally it could be a positional mistake, but here if Black
plays .. .Bxf5, then the knight on e7 has a hard time to find a good square}
Bxf5 30. exf5 $13 {[%csl Re7]}) 29... Ng6 30. Qg3 Qf6 $1 {[%csl Rc3] Black
aims to explore the c3 weakness, and exchange queens only after White makes
further concessions.} 31. Nf5 $2 {A mistake, as pointed out by David in the
post-mortem, and also by Topalov himself, according to him. Not only because
it may be the decisive mistake, but Black has very easy play from now on.} (31.
Nd1 {would be a very sad move to make} h4 32. Qe3 Bd7 $17 {Black has a very
confortable advantage, but for now White keeps control of the only open file,
and there is play.}) 31... Bxf5 32. exf5 Ne5 $19 33. Rb1 h4 34. Qf4 g5 $1 35.
Qe3 Nc4 36. Qc1 Kg7 37. Bd3 (37. Kh1 $5 {could have been better maybe, but the
position is already difficult.}) 37... Ne5 38. Be4 g4 $1 39. hxg4 Nxg4+ 40. Kg1
Qh6 $1 {Forcing a horrible endgame for White, because if the queen moves, then
...Qf4! is deadly.} 41. Qxh6+ (41. Qe1 Qf4 42. g3 hxg3 43. fxg3 Qg5 $19 {
and the white king is in trouble with all the black pieces joining the attack.}
) 41... Kxh6 42. Kf1 Kg5 {A slightly surprising resignation from Topalov, but
the position is already hopeless, Black will simply play ...Nf6, probably grab
two pawns and start marching with his queenside at some point. A superb win
from David Anton, the man of the hour, going into the last round as the sole
leader of the 2017 Gibraltar Masters! In the last round, he faces the
experienced super-GM Michael Adams.} 0-1

[Event "WchT 8th"]
[Site "Ningbo"]
[Date "2011.07.17"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Model game 4: Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Postny, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C96"]
[WhiteElo "2667"]
[BlackElo "2618"]
[Annotator "dkulj"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2011.07.17"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Armenia"]
[BlackTeam "Israel"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ARM"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ISR"]

{[%evp 0,113,21,28,13,18,15,-4,31,3,-4,-6,26,4,2,4,19,-13,-11,-10,-1,-1,6,6,6,
-15,-14,-20,-23,0,18,6,0,-9,4,0,2,8,38,20,51,44,46,38,19,19,38,33,30,27,87,67,
67,60,74,70,72,141,163,141,142,133,134,129,154,148,152,148,186,150,148,157,182,
147,140,140,163,154,154,145,178,162,165,157,147,149,149,138,117,142,165,164,
160,164,177,177,179,183,177,177,177,171,177,201,188,205,204,224,205,255,267,
288,284,286,296,293]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6.
Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nd7 12. dxc5 dxc5 {
[%csl Ye4,Ye5] This structure was one of Bobby Fischer's favorite in the Ruy
Lopez. The fixed center means that we have a big maneuvering battle ahead.
White tries to take control over d5-square and therefore the following Rauzer
maneuver:} 13. Nbd2 {[%csl Rd5,Rf5][%cal Gd2f1,Gf1e3] is the most appropriate.}
Bb7 {This is the most natural move, but it may not be the best one.} (13... Re8
$5 {[%csl Re5][%cal Ye7f8] might be a better choice because it is more
important to secure the e5-pawn from attacks than develop the queenside at
this stage.} 14. Qe2 Bf8 {[%cal Ye8e5]} 15. Nf1 (15. b3 Nb6 {[%csl Gd5][%cal
Ye8e5]}) 15... Nc4 16. b3 Nd6 {[%csl Yc8,Yd8]} 17. c4 {We have a position
which is very reminiscent of the main game, but Black has saved time on ...Bb7
and ...Qc7, which allows him to play} Nb8 $1 {[%csl Yd4][%cal Gb8c6,Gc6d4]} 18.
Ne3 Nc6 19. Nd5 {[%csl Yd8] Moreover, this move doesn't come with a tempo as
in the main game. Black is ready to counterattack with ...Nd4 at any moment,
so the position is roughly balanced.} Bb7 20. Ba3 $6 b4 21. Bb2 a5 22. a3 f6
23. Nd2 ({If White goes for Akopian's maneuver} 23. Nh4 {then Black obtains
counterplay on the queenside with} bxa3 24. Rxa3 Nd4 $132) 23... Nf7 $1 {
[%cal Gf7g5,Gg5e6] A very instructive maneuver. For some reason, White did
nothing to stop it.} 24. Qd3 (24. h4 Nd4 $13) 24... Ng5 25. Bd1 Ne6 26. Bg4
Ned4 27. Nf1 $2 (27. a4 $13) 27... bxa3 28. Bxa3 Nb4 {[%csl Yb4,Yd4] Now Black
takes over.} 29. Nxb4 cxb4 30. Bb2 Bc5 $17 {[%csl Rb3,Yc5,Yd4][%cal Ga5a4] 0-1
(95) Gutenev,A (2448)-Kovalev,V (2629) Sochi 2017}) 14. Qe2 {[%csl Yd5][%cal
Gb2b3,Gc3c4]} Qc7 {[%csl Rc7] This is also not the ideal square for the queen,
as we will see.} (14... c4 15. Nf1 Re8 16. Ne3 Nc5 17. Rd1 {[%csl Yd3,Gd5]} Qc7
18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. Rxd5 $14 {[%csl Gd5]}) 15. Nf1 Nc4 {[%csl Yd6][%cal Gc4d6]
The knight's headed to d6, a much better square than a5.} (15... Rfe8 $5 16.
Ne3 Bf8 {[%csl Ye8][%cal Ye8e4]}) 16. b3 Nd6 17. c4 $14 {[%csl Re5][%cal Gf1e3,
Ge3d5,Gc1b2] White has achieved his first goal - he took full control over the
d5-square. Meanwhile, Black will need some extra time to reroute his knights
toward d4-outpost.} Rfe8 18. Bb2 f6 {[%csl Rg8]} 19. Ne3 $1 {Tactics in
service of strategy.} Nf8 (19... Nxe4 {would be very risky in the view of} 20.
Nf5 Nd6 21. N3h4 Nxf5 22. Nxf5 $40 {[%csl Yb2,Yc2,Gf5][%cal Ge2g4,Gf2f4]}) 20.
Nd5 {[%csl Gd5]} Qc6 21. Qd3 $1 Rad8 ({The point behind White's last move is
that the intended} 21... Ne6 {wouldn't work due to} 22. Bxe5 $1 fxe5 23. Nxe5
Qc8 24. Nxe7+ Rxe7 25. Qxd6 $18) 22. a4 $1 {Playing on both flanks.} b4 (22...
Ne6 23. axb5 axb5 24. Ra5 b4 25. h4 $16 {[%cal Gh4h5,Gh5h6]}) 23. Nh4 $1 {
[%cal Gd3g3]} Ne6 24. Qg3 Kh8 25. Bd1 $1 {[%csl Rh8][%cal Gd1h5] The key
maneuver that will break Black's defense.} Nf4 (25... Nd4 26. Bxd4 cxd4 27. Bh5
$18 {[%cal Gh4g6]}) 26. Nxf4 exf4 27. Qxf4 Nxe4 28. Bh5 $1 $18 (28. Bf3 $6 Bd6
{[%csl Ye8][%cal Ye8e4]}) 28... Bd6 (28... Rf8 29. Bf3 $18 {[%csl Re4,Rf8]})
29. Bxe8 Rxe8 30. Qe3 Qc7 31. Nf3 Re7 32. Qd3 Kg8 33. Rad1 f5 34. Kf1 Bc6 35.
Nd2 Re6 36. Nxe4 fxe4 37. Qd2 h6 38. Re3 Kh7 39. g3 Be7 40. h4 Qc8 41. Qc2 Rg6
42. Rd5 Qh3+ 43. Ke2 Qg4+ 44. Ke1 Bxd5 45. cxd5 Kg8 46. Qxe4 Qxe4 47. Rxe4 Kf7
48. Be5 Bf6 49. Bc7 Be7 50. Ke2 Bd6 51. h5 Rf6 52. Bxd6 Rxd6 53. Re5 c4 54.
bxc4 b3 55. Kd3 Rb6 56. Re1 b2 57. Rb1 1-0

[Event "MNT-ch 66th"]
[Site "Podgorica"]
[Date "2014.12.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Model game 5: Djukic, Nikola"]
[Black "Blagojevic, Dragisa"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C96"]
[WhiteElo "2512"]
[BlackElo "2504"]
[Annotator "dkulj"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2014.12.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNE"]
[EventCategory "5"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,82,30,36,36,36,28,23,29,8,0,5,10,-2,2,10,15,-10,-6,-6,-1,-1,5,0,0,1,
45,40,54,37,37,12,35,14,23,18,18,3,6,9,22,21,21,26,25,-3,-4,2,21,21,34,30,41,
47,47,47,56,52,53,39,49,69,63,50,50,48,80,78,83,64,80,72,72,39,35,35,29,27,33,
22,28,28,28,39,56]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1
b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 ({This structure can arise from many different
branches of the Ruy Lopez, for example:} 9. d4 Bg4 10. Be3 exd4 11. cxd4 Na5
12. Bc2 Nc4 13. Bc1 c5 14. b3 Nb6 15. Nbd2 cxd4 16. Bb2 Nfd7 17. Qb1 Bxf3 18.
Nxf3 g6 19. Bxd4 Bf6 20. Qb2 {[%csl Rb6,Rd6,Ge4] [#] Compared to the main game,
Black doesn't have the passive bishop on b7, but his b6-knight is not much
better placed either. In the game, I managed to improve this knight with a
help of tactics:} Rc8 {[%csl Rc2]} 21. Re2 Re8 {[%csl Re2]} 22. Rd1 Nd5 $1 {
[%csl Yc3,Yf4] Now either c3- or f4-square will become a great outpost for
this knight} 23. Qa3 (23. Bxf6 N7xf6 {[%cal Gd5c3]}) 23... Nf4 {[%csl Rb6,Re2,
Yf4]} 24. Red2 Bxd4 25. Nxd4 Nc5 {[%csl Re4] Black needs to play actively with
his pieces in this structure in order to create dynamic chances for himself.}
26. Nf3 {[%csl Rd6]} Qe7 27. g3 (27. Rxd6 Nb7 $19 {[%csl Rc2]}) 27... Nxe4 $1 {
White did not react well to this tactic and his position collapsed quickly.}
28. gxf4 $2 (28. Bxe4 Qxe4 29. Qxd6 Qxf3 30. Qxf4 Qxf4 31. gxf4 $15) 28... Nxd2
29. Rxd2 Rxc2 $1 30. Rxc2 Qe4 $1 31. Rc1 (31. Rc3 b4 $19) 31... Qxf3 32. Qxd6
h5 $19 {0-1 (35) Jakic, I (2404)-Kuljasevic,D  (2580) Bosnjaci 2014}) 9... Na5
10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nd7 12. b3 exd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. Nc3 Bf6 15. Be3 cxd4 16.
Nxd4 Nxd4 17. Bxd4 {This is a very typical structure for the Ruy Lopez.
Sometimes we see it in the King's Indian defense, as well. The backward
isolated d6-pawn is not a pride of Black's position, so he needs to compensate
for this structural defficiency with active piece play.} Bb7 {[%csl Rc2,Rc3,
Rd6,Ye4][%cal Rc2b3] White would much rather have the pawn on b2 to protect
the c3-knight and allow the bishop to transfer to a2-g8 diagonal.} 18. Rc1 (18.
Nd5 $2 {is a typical strategic mistake as after} Bxd5 19. exd5 g6 $15 {[%csl
Rc2,Gd7] we will have a good knight vs bad bishop scenario (after the
inevitable exchange of DSB), as in the following game:} 20. b4 Rc8 21. Bb3 Be5
22. Bxe5 Nxe5 23. Qd4 Re8 24. Kf1 a5 $6 (24... Qf6 $17) 25. a4 $1 bxa4 26. Bxa4
Rf8 27. bxa5 Qxa5 28. Bd1 Qc5 $15 {[%csl Rd1,Rd5,Ye5] 0-1 (49) Prince,B (2316)
-Short,N (2674) Kolkata 2014}) 18... Rc8 19. Bb1 Re8 {This generic move is a
bit passive here.} ({Black should have taken the opportunity to activate his
knight with} 19... Nc5 20. Qd2 Bxd4 21. Qxd4 Ne6 22. Qe3 Qf6 $132 {[%csl Ye6,
Yf6][%cal Ye6f4,Ye6d4,Ye6c5]}) 20. Bxf6 Nxf6 21. Qd4 {[%csl Yd4,Rd6,Rf6][%cal
Gc1d1] White has excellent central control (so ...d6-d5 break is out of
question) and it's not so easy for Black to generate real counterplay.} Qe7 22.
Rcd1 Qe5 23. Re3 $1 {[%csl Yc3,Ye4][%cal Rd6d5] A nice consolidating move.
This game shows the proper strategy for White in this type of middlegame. A
worse endgame for Black is inevitable.} Qxd4 24. Rxd4 $14 Rc6 25. Ne2 Kf8 26.
Rd1 g6 27. f3 {[%csl Re4]} Rec8 (27... d5 28. e5 $14 {[%cal Ge2d4]}) 28. Kf2
Ke7 29. Red3 b4 {[%csl Ra2,Yc3]} 30. R3d2 {[%cal Gb1d3,Gd3c4]} a5 31. Bd3 Rb6
32. Nf4 Nd7 33. Be2 Nc5 34. Nd5+ $6 (34. g4 a4 35. Bc4 $16 {[%csl Rb7]}) 34...
Bxd5 35. Rxd5 a4 $132 36. bxa4 (36. Bc4 $14) 36... Nxa4 $11 37. Ra5 Nc3 38.
Ra7+ Ke6 39. Rd2 b3 40. axb3 Nxe2 41. Kxe2 Rxb3 1/2-1/2

