[Event "Khanty-Mansiysk ol (Men) 39th"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.24"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2632"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "Slovenia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "SLO"]

1. c4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 dxc4 7. Bxc4 Nxd4 $6
{Beliavsky is taking a central pawn in a position in which the opponent can
claim an advantage in development and very good compensation. The choice of
opening against the extremely strong Ivanchuk is hard to understand. The move
7...Qxd4 has a somewhat better reputation, but the defender would have to
defend the dangerous position with extreme precision.} (7... Qxd4 8. Qxd4 Nxd4
9. O-O-O e5 10. f4 $1 (10. Nf3 Nxf3 11. gxf3 Be7 12. Rhe1 O-O 13. Rxe5 Bd8 $11)
10... Bg4 11. Nf3 Bxf3 $1 {It is one of the opening paradoxes that at this
moment giving up the bishop offers better defensive prospects.} (11... Nxf3 $2
12. gxf3 Bxf3 (12... Be6 13. Bd3 Be7 14. f5 Bd7 15. Rhe1 O-O-O 16. Rxe5 Bd6 17.
Re2 Bc6 18. Ne4 Be5 19. Bh4 Rd5 20. Nxf6 gxf6 21. Be4 Rxd1+ 22. Kxd1 Bxe4 23.
fxe4 {1/2-1/2 Polgar,J (2727)-Bareev,E (2643)/Elista 2007 (56)}) 13. fxe5 (13.
Rhe1 Bxd1 14. Bb5+ Kd8 15. Rxd1+ Kc7 16. fxe5 h6 17. Be3 Ng4 18. Rd7+ Kc8 19.
Bd4 a6 20. Nd5 axb5 21. Nb6+ Kb8 22. Nxa8 Bc5 23. Bxc5 Rc8 24. b4 Kxa8 25. Rxf7
b6 26. Rf8 Rxf8 27. Bxf8 Nxe5 28. Bxg7 Nf3 {1/2-1/2 Kortschnoj,V (2598)
-Fridman,D (2640)/Baku 2008 (31)}) 13... Bxh1 {A truly fascinating position in
this opening. In order to prove his superiority White has to play rather
forcefully.} (13... Bxd1 $2 14. Rxd1 $18) (13... Nd7 14. Rhf1 Rc8 15. e6 (15.
Bb3 Bh5) 15... fxe6 16. Bxe6 Rxc3+ 17. bxc3 Ba3+ 18. Kc2 Bxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Nf6 20.
Bxf6 gxf6 21. Rd7 $16) 14. exf6 Rc8 $1 (14... Bc6 $2 15. Nb5 $18) (14... h6 15.
Nb5 Rc8 16. fxg7 Bxg7 17. Nd6+ Kd7 18. Nxc8+ Kxc8 19. Rxh1 {1/2-1/2 Pavlov,S 
(2508)-Kovalev,D (2460)/Alushta 2010}) 15. Re1+ Kd7 16. Rd1+ $1 {This move was
discovered by Grischuk, it robs the defender of real chances to level the
situation.} (16. Bxf7 Rxc3+ 17. bxc3 Ba3+ 18. Kc2 gxf6 19. Be6+ Kc7 20. Bxf6
Re8 $11 {Mainka,G-Buecker,P/Dortmund 1989}) 16... Bd6 (16... Ke8 17. Bd3 $1 (
17. Bf1 g6 18. Re1+ Kd8 $11) (17. Be2 h6 18. Bh4 g5 19. Bg3 Be4 20. Bg4 Rxc3+
21. bxc3 Ba3+ 22. Kd2 h5 23. Ke3 Bc2 24. Bd7+ Kf8 25. Re1 Kg8 26. Kd2 Bg6 {0-1
Jakovenko,D (2691)-L'Ami,E (2594)/Wijk aan Zee 2007 (45)}) 17... Rxc3+ (17...
Bd5 $2 18. Kb1 Rxc3 19. Bb5+ $3 Rc6 20. Rxd5 g6 21. Bf4 $18 {/\Bc7}) 18. bxc3
Bc6 19. Bc4 (19. Bb5 $1 Ba3+ 20. Kc2 Rg8 21. fxg7 f6 22. Bxc6+ bxc6 23. Bxf6
$18) 19... Ba3+ 20. Kc2 g6 21. Kb3 Bc5 22. Re1+ Kd7 23. Bxf7 $16) 17. Be2 gxf6
18. Bxf6 Bg2 19. Be5 Ke6 20. Bxd6 Rhd8 21. Bg3 Rxd1+ 22. Kxd1 a6 23. Kd2 Kf5 $2
(23... f5 24. Ke3 b5 25. a3 $18 {/\Bd3, Kf4}) 24. Bd3+ Kg4 25. Nd1 $1 Kg5 26.
Bxh7 {1-0 Grischuk,A (2704)-Bareev,E (2715)/Moscow 2004/ (55)}) 12. gxf3 Rc8 $1
(12... O-O-O 13. fxe5 Nxf3 14. Rxd8+ Kxd8 15. Rd1+ Kc8 {Stein,B-Speckner,R/
Dortmund 1993/} 16. Bxf6 $1 gxf6 17. exf6 $14) 13. fxe5 Rxc4 14. exf6 g6 (14...
Ne6 15. Rhe1 Rc8 $2 (15... g6) 16. Kb1 h6 $2 (16... g6 $1 $14) 17. Be3 $16 {
Black is behind in development and will suffer against the centralised enemy
forces.} gxf6 (17... a6 18. Nd5 g6 19. Bf4 $1 Bc5 20. b4 $1 Bf2 21. Re4 $18 {
/\Nc7}) 18. Nd5 Be7 (18... Bc5 19. Nxf6+ Ke7 20. Nd5+ Kf8 21. Bxc5+ Rxc5 22. f4
$16 {/\f5}) 19. Bxa7 Rg8 20. Rd3 Rg2 21. Rb3 Rxh2 22. Rxb7 Bd6 23. Nxf6+ Kf8
24. a4 $18 {1-0 Nielsen,P (2625)-Dominguez Perez,L (2603)/Esbjerg 2003/ (41)})
15. Be3 $5 $146 {An important novelty, that has never been played in praxis.} (
15. Rhe1+ Ne6 16. Kb1 (16. Rxe6+ fxe6 17. f7+ Kxf7 18. Rd7+ Kg8 19. Bf6 b5 20.
Kd1 Rf4 21. Ne4 Rxf3 $17 {Vrenegoor,T-Van Wely,L/NED 1993}) 16... Rc6 $1 (16...
Bb4 $6 17. Re4 Rxe4 18. Nxe4 $16) 17. Nd5 Bd6 18. Bh6 (18. Ne7 Ra6 (18... Bxe7
$2 19. fxe7 Rc8 20. Bf6 Rg8 21. f4 $18) 19. Nc8 Kd7 $1 20. Nxd6 Rxd6 $10) 18...
Kd7 19. Re2 Rd8 $11 {0,5 Hansen,S-Nielsen,P/Copenhagen 1996 (25)}) 15... Ne6 $8
16. Kb1 $1 {This fine retreat is vital in the fight for an advantage.} (16.
Bxa7 Bb4 $10) 16... Bc5 17. Bxc5 Nxc5 18. Rhe1+ Ne6 19. Re4 $16) 8. Nf3 Nxf3+
9. Qxf3 Qc7 {The defensive task is probably more than any human player could
manage; White is simply too active. In the games played so far results for
Black have been pretty depressing.} (9... a6 10. O-O e6 (10... Qc7 11. Bb3 Bg4
12. Ba4+ Bd7 13. Bxd7+ Qxd7 (13... Nxd7 14. Nd5 Qd8 15. Rac1 Ne5 16. Qb3 Rc8
17. Qxb7 Nc4 18. Rfd1 Nd6 19. Rxc8 Nxb7 20. Nc7# {1-0 Jakobsen,P (2206)
-Pedersen,F (2300)/DEN 2007}) 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Rad1 Qc6 16. Nd5 Rd8 17. Rfe1
Rd6 18. Re3 (18. Qf4 $2 Rxd5 19. Qb8+ Kd7 20. Rxd5+ Qxd5 {0-1 Tan,Z (2353)
-Shen,Y (2439)/Beijing 2008 (55)}) 18... e6 19. Rc3 $18) 11. Rfd1 Qc7 12. Rac1
Be7 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Qb6 15. Bxe7 Kxe7 16. Qa3+ Ke8 17. Bb3 Bd7 18. Rd6
Bc6 19. Rcd1 Qc7 20. Qc5 Rc8 21. Qg5 Kf8 22. Qc5 Qe7 23. h3 h5 24. Ba4 Rh6 25.
Rd8+ {1-0 Obodchuk,A (2430)-Pronin,V/Policka 1995}) 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. O-O Bc6 {
If the defender has to make the bishop move to c6 the omens are dark for Black.
He is well behind in development as it is..} (11... e6 12. Rac1 Bc6 13. Bxf6
gxf6 14. Ne4 Be7 15. Rxc6 bxc6 16. Bxc6+ Kf8 17. Bxa8 f5 18. Qc3 Qxc3 19. Nxc3
Bf6 20. Bc6 {1-0 Harikrishna,P (2563)-Murariu,A (2347)/Nakhchivan 2003 (23)}) (
11... Bxb5 12. Nxb5 Qb6 13. a4 a6 (13... e6 14. Be3 Qd8 15. Qxb7 Rb8 16. Qxa7
Nd5 17. Rfd1 Be7 18. Bc5 Rc8 19. Rxd5 exd5 20. Re1 O-O 21. Bxe7 Re8 22. Kf1 {
1-0 Brustkern,J (2240)-Duong The Anh (2287)/Budapest 2006}) 14. Be3 Qd8 15.
Rfd1 Nd7 16. Qxb7 axb5 17. Rxd7 Qc8 18. a5 b4 19. a6 Qxb7 20. Rxb7 e5 21. a7
Bd6 22. Ra6 {1-0 Gipslis,A (2445)-Schulze,H (2235)/Biel 1995}) 12. Bxf6 gxf6 (
12... exf6 $2 13. Rfe1+ Be7 14. Nd5 $18) 13. Rad1 e6 14. Nd5 $5 {Ivanchuk was
surely capable of finding a sensible solution after the tempting move 14.Qxf6,
but the position was probably not clear enough for his taste. The solution in
the game seems to be less penetrating, but also very unpleasant for Beliavsky.}
(14. Qxf6 Rg8 15. Nd5 Qd6 (15... exd5 16. Rfe1+ Be7 17. Bxc6+ bxc6 18. Rxe7+
Qxe7 19. Qxc6+ Kf8 20. Qxa8+ Kg7 21. Qxd5 $18) (15... Qd7 16. Nf4 Bd6 17. Rfe1
Bxb5 18. Nxe6 Be7 19. Ng7+ Kf8 20. Qh6 Rxg7 21. Rxd7 Bxd7 22. Rxe7 Kxe7 23.
Qxg7 $18) 16. Nf4 Be7 17. Qh6 Qe5 18. Bxc6+ bxc6 19. Qxh7 Rg4 20. Nd3 Qf6 21.
f4 $16) 14... O-O-O (14... exd5 15. Qxf6 (15. Rfe1+ Be7 16. Qxf6 O-O-O 17. Rxe7
Qd6 18. Qxd6 Rxd6 19. Bd3 Rf6 20. f3 $16) 15... Bg7 (15... Rg8 16. Rfe1+ Be7
17. Bxc6+ bxc6 18. Rxe7+ $18) 16. Qxg7 O-O-O 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. Rd3 $16) 15.
Bxc6 (15. Qxf6 $6 Bxd5 16. Qxh8 Qxh2+ 17. Kxh2 Bd6+ 18. g3 Rxh8 $14) 15... exd5
(15... Qxc6 16. Rc1 Bc5 17. Ne7+ $18) 16. Bxd5 Kb8 17. Rc1 Qd7 18. Rcd1 {The
only mysterious move in an otherwise swift game. White is ready to repeat the
moves in the hope of finding an improvement after the possible 18...Qc7.} (18.
Rfd1 Bd6 19. Qxf6 Rhe8 20. g3 Be5 21. Qf3 $16) 18... Be7 (18... Qc7 19. g3 Bc5
20. Rc1 $16) 19. g3 Qc7 20. Rc1 Qd7 21. Rfd1 (21. Bxf7 Qd3 22. Qf4+ $16) 21...
Rc8 (21... Qb5 22. Rc3 Rd7 23. Rb3 Qa6 24. Qf4+ Ka8 25. Rc3 $18) 22. Bxb7 $1 {
The final combination is for Black a merciful shortcut to the finish in a very
unpleasant position.} (22. Bxf7 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Qd4 24. Rc3 $16) 22... Rxc1 (
22... Qxb7 23. Qxb7+ Kxb7 24. Rd7+ Kb6 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. Rxe7 $18) 23. Rxc1
Qxb7 24. Qf4+ Ka8 25. Rc7 (25. Rc7 Qb4 26. Qe3 Bc5 27. Rxc5 Qb7 28. Qc1 $18)
1-0

[Event "Khanty-Mansiysk ol (Men) 39th"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.27"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "Hungary"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "HUN"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 a6 10. Rd1 b5 11. Bd3 Qc7 {Probably more accurate than} (11... Bb7
12. Ng5 $5) 12. Bd2 {This move is hardly dangerous for Black but what else can
be suggested?} (12. e4 e5 13. h3 h6 14. Be3 c5 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17.
exd5 Qd6 18. Rac1 Bxe3 19. fxe3 Qb6 20. Qf2 Bb7 21. e4 Qxf2+ 22. Kxf2 Rfc8 23.
b4 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Rc8 25. Rxc8+ Bxc8 26. Nd2 Nb6 27. Nb3 Kf8 28. Nc5 Ke7 $11 {
1/2 Akobian,V (2612)-Shulman,Y (2632)/Saint Louis 2009/CBM 130 (33)}) (12. h3
Bb7 13. Ng5 h6 14. Nge4 Be7 15. Nxf6+ Nxf6 16. Ne4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Rac8 18. Bd2
c5 19. dxc5 Bxc5 20. Rac1 Qb6 21. Qb1 Rfd8 {1/2 Fridman,D (2650)-Vasquez,R 
(2507)/ICC INT 2009/CBM 129 Extra}) (12. a3 $5 c5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. b4 Be7 (
14... Bd6 $1 $11) 15. Bb2 Kh8 ({but not} 15... Bb7 $2 16. Nd5 $1 Nxd5 17. Bxh7+
Kh8 18. Qxc7 Nxc7 19. Rxd7) 16. Rac1 Bb7 17. Qe2 Qb6 18. Ng5 h6 19. Nce4 $14 {
1-0 Lputian,S (2634)-Dreev,A (2690)/Taiyuan 2004/CBM 102 (40)}) (12. Ne4 Nxe4
13. Bxe4 Nf6 14. Bd3 c5 (14... h6 $143 $6 15. e4 Be7 16. e5 Nd5 17. Qe2 $14 {
1-0 Banikas,H (2582)-Nyback,T (2644)/ICC INT 2009/CBM 129 Extra (41)}) 15. dxc5
Qxc5 16. a4 bxa4 17. Qxc5 Bxc5 18. Rxa4 Bb7 19. Bd2 Rfd8 20. Bc3 Be7 21. Raa1
Nd5 22. Ba5 Rdc8 23. Nd4 g6 $11 {1-0 Eljanov,P (2751)-Akopian,V (2694)/
Astrakhan 2010/CBM 137 (64)}) (12. a4 Bb7 (12... b4 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Nf6
15. Bd3 c5 16. b3 (16. Bd2 Bb7 17. dxc5 Qxc5 18. Qxc5 Bxc5 19. a5 Rfd8 20. Be1
Nd5 21. Ne5 f6 22. Nc4 {1-0 Roselli Mailhe,B (2399)-Gerzhoy,L (2485)/
Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2010/The Week in Chess 829 (41)} Rac8 $11) 16... cxd4 17.
Qxc7 Bxc7 18. Nxd4 Bb7 $11 {1-0 Eljanov,P (2716)-Aronian,L (2768)/Jermuk 2009/
CBM 132/[Eljanov] (43)}) 13. e4 e5 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. h3 Rad8 (
16... Rac8 $143 17. Be3 Rfe8 18. Rac1 Qb8 19. b4 a5 $6 20. bxa5 b4 21. Ne2 c5
22. f3 $16 {1/2 Akobian,V (2628)-Nyback,T (2643)/Wijk aan Zee 2010/CBM 135 (47)
}) 17. Be3 Rd7 18. Rd2 Rfd8 19. Rad1 h6 {1/2 Pashikian,A (2647)-Grigoriants,S 
(2560)/Moscow 2010/CBM 135}) 12... c5 13. dxc5 Qxc5 14. a4 (14. Ne4 Qxc2 15.
Bxc2 {1/2 Jussupow,A (2587)-Stellwagen,D (2616)/Amsterdam 2008/CBM 126}) 14...
bxa4 15. Rxa4 Bb7 16. Rc4 $6 (16. Ne4 $11) 16... Qa7 $6 ({Missing} 16... Bxf3
$1 17. Rxc5 (17. gxf3 Qh5) 17... Bxd1 18. Nxd1 Nxc5 {, and 2 rooks should be
stronger than the white queen.}) 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Qxe4 $14 {
White is now slightly better due to his more active pieces.} Rac8 $6 (19...
Rfc8 $142 20. Qd4 $6 Rxc4) 20. Qd4 $1 {This tactical trick forces new
concessions from Black.} Bc5 (20... Bb8 21. Bb4 Qxd4 22. Rcxd4 Nc5 $14) 21. Qc3
Rcd8 (21... Rc7 $142 $1 22. Qc2 Rfc8 23. Bc3 f6 $14) 22. Qc2 $1 Rfe8 (22... Bb6
23. Bb4 Rfe8 24. Bd6 {[%csl Gd6]}) 23. Ng5 g6 24. Ba5 Bb6 25. Bc3 $1 {[%cal
Rg5h7]} e5 26. Ne4 Re6 27. Bb4 $1 Kg7 28. Rc6 $1 {White's subtle manouvres
have brought him a huge positional advantage. Black now decides to ruin his
pawn structure to avoid the total domination of the white pieces.} Nf6 (28...
Rxc6 $2 29. Qxc6 {[%cal Rb4e7]}) (28... Rde8 $2 29. Rxe6 Rxe6 30. Qc8 $18) (
28... Ree8 29. Rdd6 {[%csl Gc6,Gd6]} Qb7 30. Qc4 Rc8 31. Bc3 $18) 29. Rxe6 fxe6
30. Nxf6 Kxf6 31. Ra1 (31. Rxd8 $5 Bxd8 32. Qe4 {[%cal Rb4d6,Re4f3] winning a
pawn at once.}) 31... Qb7 32. Bc3 a5 33. Qa4 g5 (33... Qd5 $142 $5 34. h3 g5 {
putting up more stubborn resistance.} 35. h4 $140 h6 36. Qg4 Kg6) 34. h4 $1 h6
35. Qg4 Qh7 36. Qh5 Qg6 (36... Rg8 37. Bxa5 $18) 37. Bxe5+ Kf7 38. Qf3+ Kg8 39.
Qc6 {suddenly trapping the bishop!} 1-0

[Event "Khanty-Mansiysk ol (Men) 39th"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.28"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "Georgia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GEO"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 Qb6 4. a3 e5 5. exd5 Nf6 6. dxe5 Bc5 7. exf6 Bf2+ 8.
Ke2 O-O 9. Qd2 Re8+ 10. Kd1 Re1+ 11. Qxe1 Bxe1 12. Kxe1 Bf5 13. Be2 Nd7 14.
dxc6 bxc6 15. Bd1 Re8+ 16. Ne2 Nxf6 17. Nbc3 Bc8 18. a4 a5 19. Rf1 Ba6 20. Rf2
h5 21. Ra3 h4 22. g3 h3 23. g4 Rd8 24. Nf4 Nd7 25. Rb3 Qd4 26. Nfe2 Re8 27. Ne4
Qxa4 28. Bd2 Qa1 29. Bc3 Ne5 30. Ra3 Qb1 31. Nd2 Qc1 32. Rxa5 Ng6 33. Rxa6 Nf4
34. Ra8 1-0

[Event "Khanty-Mansiysk ol (Men) 39th"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.10.01"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D90"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2721"]
[PlyCount "181"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "France"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Qb3 Nb6 6. d4 Bg7 7. Bf4 Be6 8.
Qa3 O-O 9. e3 N8d7 10. Rd1 a5 11. Ng5 Bd5 12. e4 Bc4 13. h4 Bxf1 14. Kxf1 Nf6
15. Qc5 c6 16. Nf3 e6 17. Qd6 Nc4 18. Qxd8 Rfxd8 19. b3 Na3 20. Be5 Ng4 21.
Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Ke2 h5 23. Rd2 Nf6 24. Rc1 Ne8 25. Na4 Nd6 26. Ke3 Nab5 27. Ne5
Nc7 28. f3 Nce8 29. Nb6 Ra6 30. Nbd7 Raa8 31. Nc5 Nc7 32. Rcd1 Ra7 33. Rc1 Raa8
34. Ned3 Rab8 35. Nf4 Rh8 36. Rcc2 Nde8 37. Kf2 Nf6 38. Nfd3 Nfe8 39. Ne5 Nd6
40. Ned7 Rbd8 41. Nb6 Rhe8 42. Ke3 Ncb5 43. a4 Nc7 44. Rb2 Re7 45. b4 axb4 46.
Rxb4 Na6 47. Rbb2 Nc7 48. Rdc2 Kh6 49. Kf2 Na8 50. Nc4 Nxc4 51. Rxc4 b6 52. Nd3
c5 53. a5 Rxd4 54. Rxd4 cxd4 55. axb6 Rb7 56. Ne5 Rxb6 57. Ra2 Nc7 58. Ra7 Rb2+
59. Kg3 Rc2 60. Nxf7+ Kg7 61. Ne5 Kf6 62. Kf4 Ke7 63. g3 Rc5 64. Rb7 Kd6 65.
Rb6+ Ke7 66. g4 hxg4 67. fxg4 g5+ 68. hxg5 Rb5 69. Rc6 Rb7 70. Rc4 Nb5 71. Rc8
Nc3 72. Rh8 Ne2+ 73. Kf3 Rb5 74. g6 Ng1+ 75. Kg2 Rxe5 76. g7 Rg5 77. g8=Q Rxg8
78. Rxg8 d3 79. Ra8 d2 80. Ra1 Ne2 81. Rd1 Nc3 82. Rxd2 Nxe4 83. Re2 Ng5 84.
Kg3 Kf6 85. Kh4 Kg6 86. Re3 Kh6 87. Ra3 Kg6 88. Ra8 Nf3+ 89. Kg3 Ne5 90. Ra6
Kg5 91. Ra5 1-0

[Event "Khanty-Mansiysk ol (Men) 39th"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.29"]
[Round "8.4"]
[White "Efimenko, Zahar"]
[Black "Malakhov, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2683"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Efimenko,Z"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 {So, the Berlin,
Variation, which has been very popular recently. Of course, in the main I had
prepared for the Rio de Janeiro variation, which Vladimir has played regularly
in recent times, but I also devoted some attention to the Berlin Wall.} (5...
Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7) 6. Bxc6 dxc6 (6... bxc6 7. dxe5) 7.
dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. Ne2 {I decided to choose this rare
continuation, since in the main lines after 10.h3, Black has recently been
achieving good results. This was shown at the Olympiad itself, in the games
Caruana-Kramnik and Polgar-Karjakin.} Ne7 11. h3 Ng6 12. b3 h6 (12... Be7 13.
Bb2 a5 14. a4 c5 15. Nc3 Be6 16. Rad1 $14) 13. Bb2 c5 14. Rad1 Be6 15. Nc3 (15.
Nh2 $5 Be7 16. f4 Nh4 (16... Bf5 17. Ng3 Nh4 18. Nxf5 Nxf5 19. Rfe1 Rd8 20. Nf3
$14) 17. g4 g6 18. Nc3 $14) 15... Be7 (15... c6 16. Ne4 Rd8 17. Nfd2 Be7 18. f4
Nh4 19. g4 $16) 16. Nd5 Bd8 (16... Bxd5 17. Rxd5 Nf4 18. Rdd1 Rd8 19. Kh2 Ne6
20. Rfe1 $14) 17. c4 a5 18. a4 c6 19. Nc3 (19. Ne3 $5 Bc7 20. Nd2 $1 {I was
calculating the variation with Ne3, but I missed this strong move.} Nxe5 (20...
Rd8 21. Ne4 Rxd1 22. Rxd1 b6 23. Nd6+ Ke7 24. Nef5+ Kf8 25. f3 h5 26. Kf2 h4
27. Ke3 $14) 21. Ne4 f6 22. Nxc5 $16) 19... Be7 20. Ne4 Rd8 21. Rfe1 (21. Kh2
$5 Bf5 $132 22. Nfd2) 21... Rxd1 (21... b6 22. Nd6+ Kf8 23. Rd3 Nf4 24. Rd2 g5
25. Nh2 h5 26. Nf1 $14) 22. Rxd1 Nf4 (22... Bf5 23. Nd6+ (23. Re1 Kd8 24. e6 f6
25. Ng3 Bc2 26. Re3) 23... Bxd6 24. Rxd6 Nf4) 23. Ba3 $5 {Here I thought for a
long time, considering the many interesting variations given below. Also, at
this point it became clear that Karjakin of Russia had completely caught
Eljanov in a prepared line, and our team's position was bad. Therefore I
understood that I had to fight and do everything possible to save this very
difficult match against Russia.} (23. Kh2 $1 b6 24. Nd6+ Kf8 25. Ng1 $1 g5 26.
g3 Ng6 27. Ne2 h5 28. f3 $14) 23... b6 (23... Bf5 $5 {I spent most of my time
on precisely this continuation!} 24. Nd6+ $5 (24. Nxc5 $6 b6 $2 (24... Ne2+ $1
25. Kf1 (25. Kh2 Nc3 26. Rg1 Nb1 27. Nd4 Bh7 28. Rd1 Nxa3 29. Nxb7 c5 30. Nb5
Nxb5 31. axb5 Be4 32. Nxa5 Bd8 $15) 25... Nc3 26. Rc1 Nb1 $15) 25. Nb7 $1 Bxa3
26. Rd8+ $18) 24... Bxd6 25. exd6 Nd3 26. g4 Bh7 27. Rd2 b6 28. Re2+ Kd7 29.
Re7+ Kxd6 30. Rxf7 Rg8 31. Nd2 Ne5 32. Rb7 Nd7 33. f4 $132) 24. Nd6+ Kf8 25.
Kf1 (25. Kh2 $6 g5 26. Bc1 Ng6 27. g4 h5 $2 28. Kg3 $18) 25... g5 $5 (25... Ng6
26. Bb2 Kg8 27. Nd2 Kh7 28. N2e4 Rf8 29. Rd2 $14) 26. Bc1 Kg7 (26... Ng6 27. g4
Bd8 28. Kg2 Bc7 29. Kg3 $14) 27. Bxf4 (27. Nh4 {I thought a long time for this
move, but then decided against it. Though in this position is was the better
plan.} Bxd6 (27... gxh4 28. Bxf4 Rd8 29. Ke2 Kg6 30. Rd3 $14) 28. Rxd6 Nxh3 29.
Nf3 g4 30. Nh4 Ng5 31. Rxc6 Rd8 32. Ke2 Rb8 33. Ke3 $16) 27... gxf4 28. Nd2 $6
(28. Ke2 Rd8 29. Ne4 Rxd1 30. Kxd1 Bf5 31. Nfd2 {and White has better chances.}
) 28... Bxd6 $1 {Liquidating the strong knight just in time.} (28... f6 29.
exf6+ Bxf6 30. Re1 Bd7 31. Nf3 Kg6 32. Re4 $16 Bf5 33. Rxf4 Bc2 34. Ne4 Bg7 35.
Nfd2 $14) 29. exd6 Rd8 30. Ne4 f5 $2 {In mutual time-trouble, Vladimir commits
a serious strategic mistake.} (30... Bf5 $1 31. f3 f6 32. Kf2 Kf7 $11 {In this
position, neither side can strengthen their position and it is therefore drawn.
}) 31. Nc3 Kf6 32. Ke2 Bf7 33. d7 Bh5+ $2 {Practically the decisive mistake.} (
33... Ke6 34. f3 Rxd7 35. Rxd7 Kxd7 36. Kd3 Kd6 37. Ne2 Ke5 38. Kc3 Be8 39. h4
Bf7 40. Nc1 $16 {with good winning chances.}) 34. f3 Ke6 35. Ke1 $1 {This is
the resource that my opponent had overlooked. This was clear from his reaction
and the fact that he used up his last few minutes.} Bf7 36. Ne2 Ke5 37. Nc1 $1
{The white knight starts to attack the fixed black pawn weaknesses. Black's
position is close to being lost.} Be6 38. Nd3+ Kf6 39. Nxf4 Bxd7 40. Kf2 Ke7
41. Ng6+ Ke6 42. f4 Rb8 43. g4 $1 Be8 44. Nh4 $1 {The most accurate
realisation of the advantage. The knight now comes to f5, and the black king
is driven from the 6th rank, and White totally dominates.} fxg4 45. hxg4 b5 46.
Nf5 bxa4 47. bxa4 Rb4 48. Rd6+ Kf7 49. Rxh6 Rxa4 50. g5 Kg8 51. Nd6 (51. g6 $1
Rxc4 52. Kf3 Rc1 (52... Bd7 53. Ne7+ Kf8 54. Rh7 Be6 55. f5 $18) 53. g7 $18)
51... Bf7 52. Nxf7 Kxf7 53. f5 Rxc4 54. Kf3 Rb4 55. Rh7+ Kg8 56. g6 1-0

[Event "Khanty-Mansiysk ol (Men) 39th"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.24"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E24"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2826"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[WhiteTeam "Georgia"]
[BlackTeam "Norway"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GEO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "NOR"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 Nc6 {A rare continuation 
(with the idea of ...e6-e5), to which White replies with a genuine novelty on
move 6!} 6. e4 $5 $146 {Practice had seen:} (6. Bg5 e5 $5 7. e3 h6 8. Bh4 Qe7
9. Nf3 d6 10. Be2 g5 11. Bg3 Ne4 12. Rc1 f5 {(..) 1/2 Stahlberg,G-Porat,Y/
Warsaw 1935/EXT 2004}) (6. Nf3 d6 $5 7. Nd2 e5 8. e4 $6 exd4 9. cxd4 Nxd4 10.
Bb2 Ne6 11. Bd3 b6 12. O-O Bb7 13. Re1 O-O $15 {1/2 Kuzminykh,E-Bronstein,D/
Leningrad 1970/EXT 2001 (25)}) (6. e3 $5 e5 7. Bd3 O-O {leads to a position
from the 5...0-0 system}) (6. f3 e5 (6... d6 7. e4 O-O {leads to the 5...0-0
system}) (6... b6 7. e4 Ba6 {leads to a popular position from the 5...b6
system (6.f3 Ba6 7.e4 Nc6).}) 7. e4 d6 8. Be3 b6 9. Bd3 Na5 10. Ne2 Ba6 11. Ng3
h6 (11... O-O $142 {- 5...0-0}) 12. O-O Qd7 13. Qe2 O-O-O $6 14. Nf5 $1 Rh7 15.
c5 $1 $16 {1-0 Lazarev,E-Romantchouk,J/Ternopol 1964/EXT 1999 (22)}) 6... Nxe4
7. Qg4 f5 (7... Nf6 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qh6 e5 $5 {needs testing.}) 8. Qxg7 Qf6 9.
Qxf6 Nxf6 {This position presents a typical positional conflict: White has a
bishop pair with an asymmetrical pawn structure (which should favour him) but
his own pawn chain is damaged (doubled pawns). Such positions are very hard to
evaluate; usually the better player prevails.} 10. Nf3 b6 11. d5 $5 {A curious
pawn sacrifice, which Black, however, rejects.} Na5 (11... exd5 12. cxd5 Nxd5
13. Bd3 $5 (13. Bc4 Nce7) 13... O-O 14. Bc4 Nce7 15. Bg5 Kg7 16. O-O-O $44) 12.
Nd4 Kf7 13. dxe6+ dxe6 14. Bf4 Ba6 {Black keeps the tension. He had a good
chance to simplify the game:} (14... e5 $1 15. Bxe5 Re8 16. f4 Ng4 17. O-O-O (
17. Be2 Nxe5 18. fxe5 Rxe5 19. O-O c5 $1 20. Bf3 Rb8 21. Nb5 Kf6 22. Nxa7 Bb7
$15) (17. Nf3 Nc6 $15) 17... Nf2 $1 (17... Nxe5 18. fxe5 Rxe5 19. Bd3 $36 {
[%csl Rf7]}) 18. Be2 Nxh1 19. Bh5+ Kf8 20. Rxh1 Bd7 $1 (20... Re7 $143 21. Bf3
Bb7 22. Bxb7 Nxb7 23. Nxf5 $44) 21. Bxe8 Rxe8 $15 {/=}) 15. Nf3 Ne4 16. Ne5+
Kf6 17. f3 (17. h4 $5 Nxc3 18. Rh3 Ne4 19. Re3 $44 {[%cal Yg2g4]}) 17... Nd6
18. O-O-O Rhd8 $6 {Again avoiding drawish lines like} (18... Naxc4 19. Nxc4 (
19. Rxd6 Nxe5 $1 20. Bxe5+ Kxe5 21. Rc6 Bxf1 22. Rxf1 Kf6 23. Re1 Rae8 24. Rxc7
Re7 25. Rc6 h5 $11) 19... Bxc4 (19... Nxc4 20. Rd4 e5 21. Bxc4 Bxc4 22. Rxc4
exf4 $11) 20. Rxd6 $1 Bxf1 21. Rd7 Bb5 22. Rxc7 Rac8 $11) (18... Ndxc4 $6 19.
Bxc4 Nxc4 20. Rhe1 Nd6 21. Nc6 $44) (18... Bxc4 $6 19. Rxd6 cxd6 20. Nxc4 Nxc4
21. Bxc4 Rac8 22. Bb3 Rxc3+ 23. Kb2 Rd3 24. Rc1 $132) ({To complicate the game,
} 18... Rhg8 $5 {was probably more appropriate; if} 19. h4 {then} Bxc4 {gains
in strength.}) ({Or the mysterious} 18... Rac8 $5 19. c5 Bxf1 20. Rhxf1 Nb3+
21. Kc2 Nxc5 22. Rfe1 $44) 19. h4 $1 {Now White obtains pressure on the
kingside.} Nf7 20. Nd7+ Kg7 (20... Ke7 $2 21. Bg5+ $1 Nxg5 22. hxg5 $16) 21.
Rh3 $1 (21. g4 $5 Bxc4 22. Bh3 $36) 21... Kh8 $1 22. Bg5 $6 (22. Bxc7 $142 Rdc8
23. Bf4 Nxc4 24. Rd4 $1 $16 {[%cal Yh3g3]} (24. Rg3 e5 $1 25. Nxe5 Nfxe5 26.
Bxe5+ Nxe5 27. Bxa6 Rxc3+ $11) 24... e5 $140 $2 25. Bxc4 $1 Bxc4 26. Nxe5 $18)
22... Nxg5 23. hxg5 Kg7 (23... Bxc4 24. g6 (24. Nf6 Rxd1+ 25. Kxd1 Kg7 26.
Rxh7+ Kg6) (24. Bxc4 $5 Nxc4 25. f4 Kg7 26. Rh6 $16 {-23...Kg7}) 24... h6 $1
25. Bxc4 Nxc4 26. Rxh6+ Kg7 27. Rh7+ Kxg6 28. Rdh1 $40) 24. Rh6 $1 Bxc4 25.
Bxc4 Nxc4 26. Rdh1 (26. f4 $5) 26... Rh8 27. f4 $6 (27. Rxe6 Rae8 28. Rc6 Re7 (
28... Nxa3 29. Nf6 $16 Re7 $140 30. Nd5 Rd7 31. Nxc7 $18 {[%cal Rc1b2]}) 29.
Nf6 Ne5 30. Nh5+ Kf8 31. Rf6+ $1 Rf7 32. Rh6 $16 {[%cal Yh5f4]}) 27... c5 $6 (
27... Rad8 $142 28. Nf6 c5 (28... Rd3 $2 29. Rxh7+ Rxh7 30. Rxh7+ Kg6 31. Rh6+
Kf7 32. Nh5 {[%cal Rg5g6]} Rxc3+ 33. Kb1 Rb3+ 34. Kc2 $18) 29. Rxh7+ $140 ({
maybe it is better not to hurry:} 29. a4) 29... Rxh7 30. Rxh7+ Kg6 31. Rh6+ Kf7
32. Nh5 Rg8 $1 {- Black holds on.}) 28. Rxe6 Rae8 29. Rxh7+ (29. Rxe8 $5 {was
also good:} Rxe8 30. Nf6 Re3 (30... Rh8 31. Rh6 {etc.}) 31. Rxh7+ Kg6 32. Rh6+
Kf7 33. Nh5 Kg8 34. Rg6+ (34. g6 Re1+ 35. Kc2 Re6 $1 {-that's the point!})
34... Kf8 35. Rf6+ Kg8 (35... Ke7 36. g6) 36. g6 {[%cal Rg6g7]} Re1+ $8 37. Kc2
Rh1 38. Ng3 Ne3+ 39. Kd3 Nd5 40. Rc6 $1 Rd1+ 41. Kc4 Ne3+ 42. Kb5 $18) 29...
Rxh7 30. Rxe8 Kf7 (30... Nxa3 31. Ne5 {[%cal Yg2g4]}) (30... Rh1+ 31. Kc2 Nxa3+
32. Kb3 Nb1 33. Re7+ $18) 31. Ra8 Rh1+ 32. Kc2 a5 (32... Nxa3+ 33. Kb3 Nb5 34.
Ne5+ Kg7 (34... Ke7 35. g6 Kf6 36. Rf8+ Kg7 37. Rf7+ Kh8 38. g4 $1 $18) 35. g4
$1 fxg4 36. f5 {, and White's connected passed pawns decide the game.}) (32...
Ke6 33. Ne5 $1 Nxe5 34. Re8+ $18 {e.g.} Kd5 35. Rxe5+ Kc4 36. g4 $1 fxg4 37. g6
Rh8 38. g7 Rg8 39. Rg5 b5 40. Kd2 a5 41. Rxg4 Kd5 42. Kd3 $18 {_|_}) 33. Ra7 (
33. Kd3 $142 $1 b5 (33... Nb2+ 34. Ke2 Nc4 35. Rf8+ Ke7 36. g6 $18) 34. Ra7)
33... Nxa3+ 34. Kd2 $1 Rh2 $2 (34... Nb5 35. Rb7 Nd6 {was the last chance. A
possible line:} 36. Ne5+ Kg8 37. Rxb6 Ne4+ 38. Kd3 Rd1+ (38... Rc1 39. Kc4 {
[%cal Yc4d5,Yd5e6]} a4 40. Rb8+ Kg7 41. Rb7+ Kg8 42. Ra7 Nxc3 43. g3 $22 Kf8 (
43... a3 44. Nd3 Rc2 45. Kb3) 44. Ng6+ Ke8 45. Nh4 Ne4+ 46. Kd5 Nxg3 47. Rxa4
$18) (38... a4 39. Kc4) 39. Kc4 Nd6+ 40. Kxc5 Ne4+ 41. Kb5 Nxc3+ (41... Rb1+
42. Kxa5 Rxb6 43. Kxb6 Nxc3 44. Kc6 $18) 42. Kc6 Ne2 43. Rb8+ Kg7 44. Rb7+ Kg8
45. Ng6 Rd4 46. Ne7+ Kf8 47. g6 Rb4 48. Ra7 Nxf4 49. g3 $1 Ne6 50. Nd5 {, and
White should win.}) 35. Nxb6+ Kg6 36. Rxa5 Rxg2+ 37. Kd1 Nb1 (37... Nc2 38. Nd5
) 38. Rxc5 {, and White converted his material advantage without major
problems:} Nd2 39. Nd5 Ne4 40. Rc6+ Kf7 41. Ne3 Rg3 42. Ke2 Ke8 43. Re6+ Kf7
44. Re5 Nxc3+ 45. Kf2 Rh3 46. Rxf5+ Kg6 47. Rf6+ Kg7 48. Nf5+ Kg8 49. Kg2 Rd3
50. Rd6 Ne2 51. Rg6+ Kh8 52. Rh6+ Kg8 53. Ne7+ Kf7 54. Ng6 Kg7 55. Kf2 Nc3 56.
Ne7 Ne4+ 57. Ke2 Ra3 58. Nf5+ Kg8 59. Re6 Nc3+ 60. Kf3 Nd5+ 61. Kg4 Ra1 62. Re5
Rg1+ 63. Kf3 Rf1+ 64. Kg2 1-0

[Event "Khanty-Mansiysk ol (Men) 39th"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.27"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2728"]
[BlackElo "2826"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[WhiteTeam "England"]
[BlackTeam "Norway"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ENG"]
[BlackTeamCountry "NOR"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. e5 Nh5 4. Be2 d6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. exd6 exd6 7. d5 Ne7 8. c4
Bg7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. Re1 Re8 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Nf6 14. Bf4 Nd7 15.
Rc1 Ne5 16. b3 a6 17. g3 Nf5 18. Bg2 g5 19. Bxe5 Bxe5 20. Ne4 Ng7 21. Qd2 h6
22. f4 gxf4 23. gxf4 Bf6 24. Kh2 Nh5 25. Rg1 Kh7 26. Rcf1 Rg8 27. Qe2 Ng7 28.
Qd3 Kh8 29. Bf3 b5 30. Bd1 bxc4 31. bxc4 Bh4 32. Bc2 f5 33. Rg6 Kh7 34. Rfg1
Qe7 35. Ng3 Bxg3+ 36. Qxg3 Qf7 37. Bd1 Rae8 38. Rxh6+ 1-0

[Event "Khanty-Mansiysk ol (Men) 39th"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.10.01"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Sjugirov, Sanan"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2627"]
[BlackElo "2826"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia IV"]
[BlackTeam "Norway"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "NOR"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 Nd7 7. O-O Ba5 8. Nb3
Bc7 9. Ne1 f6 10. Bh5+ g6 11. Be2 g5 12. Bd3 Bg6 13. exf6 Qxf6 14. Qg4 h6 15.
f4 Bxd3 16. Nxd3 O-O-O 17. Bd2 Qg6 18. fxg5 Ngf6 19. Rxf6 Bxh2+ 20. Kh1 Nxf6
21. Qxe6+ Kb8 22. gxf6 Bc7 23. Ne5 Qxc2 24. f7 Rhf8 25. Bb4 1-0

