Top grandmasters speaking about superstitions

Fuente: World Chess Federation (FIDE)

Sunday, 26 April 2009 20:34

Peter Leko: I don't have any special secrets or rituals. Maybe everyone likes to do something. The main ritual is to check the analysis of the opening variation before the game. Boris Gelfand: I have no rituals, but before the game I listen to music to get ready for the game. As a rule the music is quite different, depending on the mood. Levon Aronian: I also have music rituals. As a rule I prefer jazz. Peter Svidler: I have rituals and I have a good answer for this question: I won't tell you. When I was very young, music helped me to get ready for a good game. Recently I have returned to this practice but it didn't influence my play. Sometimes a lot depends on the way you spent the day. Vassily Ivanchuk: It can't be called a superstition, you just need to be in optimal state, and music and a walk in the open air help to get into this state. Etien Bacrot: I'm quite superstitious. One of the signs is that I don't shave when everything goes well. It's one of the details. And it works as long as it works. Evgeny Alekseev: Sometimes I try to write with a lucky pen at tournaments. So you take a pen, if you have success in tournaments you continue to use it, if not you change it. Everything goes well here for the time being so I don't change the pen. Vladimir Akopian: Chess players are apt to superstitions. Many of them are attentive to the clothes. If they lose they put these clothes away. If the game is successful they go on playing the tournament in the same clothes. Some care about the pen. If the tournament is successful with one pen they write with it, if not they change it. I also care about clothes and pens. This tournament was not successful for me at the beginning, so I put away the suit I played in. Now I'm playing in other clothes. And it works for the time being. Pavel Eljanov: Many people have their superstitions. Chess players often care about the lucky pen. As for me I don't have any omens and superstitions. I use nothing but regime and training methods. Alexander Grischuk: I don't shave at playing days, either before or after games. I always wait for the day off. Gata Kamsky: The situation with omens and superstition in chess is as difficult as in other sports. For example: I haven't put on my tie today. The pen is of great importance. One more omen is that one mustn't change his dinner table and also should keep one regime and repeat everything thoroughly.

Topalov - Kamsky "Sofia 2009" Gana Veselin Topá;ov

Fuente: Noticias Ajedrez Tenerife

viernes 27 de febrero de 2009

Duelo de retadores (VII)

¿Cómo le vamos a decir a Veselin Topálov que juegue con calma en la séptima partida en donde disponía de las piezas blancas, para luego tener que recurrir mañana a defenderse con las piezas negras en lo que sería el “último cartucho” para Kamsky?.

Eso no entraba dentro de sus planes bajo ningún concepto. El búlgaro prefirió “quemar naves”. Estuvo perdido, cierto. Pero el mundo del tablero no está hecho para los cobardes… .

Así, terminó ganando en la séptima rueda y obtiene el ansiado derecho a medirse en un "apasionante" match contra el campeón del mundo Vishy Anand a finales de este año y también por ello un jugoso cheque de 125.000 dólares.

Enhorabuena para él y para todos sus fieles seguidores, donde me incluyo, pues Veselin a veces tiene muchos ramalazos de Bobby Fischer (!?).

Terminamos con una bonita foto que refleja el “reposo del guerrero”, para seguidamente ofrecerles esta interesante séptima partida comentada:

Topalov,V (2796) - Kamsky,G (2725) [C07] Duelo de retadores - Sofía Sofia (7), 26.02.2009 [Jimenez,A sobre notas de ICC y Rybka]

1.e4 e6 De nuevo la Defensa Francesa como en la quinta partida del match. 2.d4 d5 3.Cd2 c5 4.exd5 Never twice!, el lema de Bobby Fischer, que promueve ahora Veselin Topálov. [4.Cgf3] 4...Dxd5 [4...exd5 5.Cgf3 Cf6 6.Ab5+ Ad7 7.Axd7+ Cbxd7 8.0-0 Ae7 9.dxc5 Cxc5 10.Te1 0-0 11.Cf1 Cce4 12.Ae3 Te8 13.Ad4 b5 14.c3 a5 15.a3 Db8 16.Ce3 Db7 17.Db3 Ac5 18.Tad1 Tad8 19.h3 h5 20.Td3 Axd4 21.Txd4 Cc5 22.Dd1 Ce6 23.Td2 Cc5 24.Tde2 Cfe4 25.Cd4 b4 26.axb4 axb4 27.cxb4 Ce6 28.Cef5 g6 29.Cxe6 fxe6 30.Cg3 Cf6 31.Txe6 Txe6 32.Txe6 Rf7 33.De2 Dd7 34.Tb6 Te8 35.Df3 Te1+ 36.Rh2 De7 37.Df4 g5 38.Db8 Cd7 39.Dh8 Cxb6 40.Dxh5+ Re6 41.Dg6+ Df6 42.De8+ De7 43.Dg6+ Df6 44.De8+ 1/2-1/2 Ivanov,V (2499)-Vaganian,R (2596)/Moscow 2009/CB07_2009] 5.Cgf3 cxd4 6.Ac4 Dd6 7.0-0 Cf6 8.Te1 [8.Cb3 Cc6 9.Cbxd4 Cxd4 10.Cxd4 a6 11.a4 Dc7 12.De2 Ad6 13.h3 0-0 14.c3 h6 15.Te1 b6 16.Ad3 Ab7 17.Ad2 Tfd8 18.Tad1 Ac5 19.Cf3 Ad6 20.Ac2 Td7 21.Ae3 Tad8 22.Ad4 Ac5 23.Axf6 Txd1 24.Txd1 Txd1+ 25.Dxd1 gxf6 26.Cd4 De5 27.Ad3 Ad6 28.Cf3 Df4 29.Ae2 Rg7 30.Rf1 Ac7 31.Ce1 a5 32.Dd7 Ad5 33.Cd3 Dh2 34.Af3 Axf3 35.gxf3 Dxh3+ 36.Re2 Dh2 37.b4 h5 38.bxa5 bxa5 39.c4 h4 40.c5 h3 41.c6 Ab6 42.Db7 Dg1 43.Dxb6 h2 44.c7 0-1 Short,N (2683)-Ivanchuk,V (2762)/Montreal 2007/CBM 119] 8...Ae7 9.Cb3 Cc6 10.Cbxd4 [10.Ab5 is not that strong because after Bd7 some exchanges of pieces will come, which is good for black.] 10...Cxd4 11.Cxd4 0-0 Tiviakov has made a living in grinding such positions. [11...a6 12.c3 Ad7 13.Df3 Ac6 14.Dh3 Ad5 15.Axd5 Cxd5 16.Ag5 0-0 17.Axe7 Dxe7 18.c4 Cf6 19.Ted1 1/2-1/2 Tal,M (2620)-Petrosian,T (2580)/Niksic 1983/MCD] 12.c3 [12.b3 e5 13.Cf3 Dxd1 14.Txd1 e4 15.Ce5 Cg4 16.Cxg4 Axg4 17.Te1 Af6 18.Tb1 Tfd8 19.Af4 g5 20.Ae3 h6 21.h3 Ah5 22.g4 Ag6 23.Ted1 Ac3 24.Rf1 Rg7 25.Td5 a6 26.Tbd1 Txd5 27.Txd5 b5 28.Ae2 Tc8 29.Td7 Tc6 30.Ta7 Rf6 31.a4 bxa4 32.bxa4 a5 33.Ab5 Td6 34.Re2 Re6 35.Ac4+ Rf6 36.Tc7 Ad4 37.Axd4+ Txd4 38.Ab3 Td6 39.Tc5 Ta6 40.Re3 Re7 41.Ac4 Ta7 42.Tc6 h5 43.Ad5 Rd7 44.Tb6 Tc7 45.c4 h4 46.Ta6 Re7 47.Rd4 Ah7 48.Txa5 f5 49.Ta6 fxg4 50.hxg4 Rf8 51.a5 Rg7 52.Tb6 Ta7 53.a6 h3 54.Tb7+ Txb7 55.axb7 h2 1-0 Ljubojevic,L (2600)-Huebner,R (2620)/Tilburg 1986/CBM 003] 12...Ad7 [12...a6 13.Ab3 Dc7 14.Ag5 Cd5 15.Axe7 Cxe7 16.Dh5 Cg6 17.Tad1 Te8 18.Cf3 b5 19.Ac2 Cf8 20.Ce5 g6 21.Dh4 De7 22.Df4 Ab7 23.Cg4 Rg7 24.Dh6+ Rg8 25.h4 Ted8 26.h5 Txd1 27.Txd1 Td8 28.Te1 f5 29.Ce5 Dg7 30.Dxg7+ Rxg7 31.hxg6 hxg6 32.Td1 Txd1+ 33.Axd1 Rf6 1/2-1/2 Yandemirov,V (2504)-Krumpacnik,D (2410)/Pardubice 2007/CBM 119 ext; 12...e5? is quite dubius move here because of Qe2! or simply Nf3.] 13.Df3 Diagram

13...Db6N [13...Dc7 14.Ad3 Tfe8 15.Ag5 Cd5 16.Axe7 Txe7 17.Tad1 Aa4 18.Ac2 Axc2 19.Cxc2 1/2-1/2 Sokolov,A (2595)-Nogueiras Santiago,J (2560)/Brussels 1988/CBM 007; 13...Tac8 14.Af4 Db6 15.Ab3 Ac6 16.Cxc6 Dxc6 17.Dxc6 Txc6 18.Tad1 Tcc8 19.Td3 Tfd8 20.Ted1 Txd3 21.Txd3 Rf8 22.Rf1 Ac5 23.f3 Re7 24.Re2 a6 25.c4 Ch5 26.Ad2 Ad6 27.g3 Cf6 28.a3 Cd7 29.Aa2 Tc5 30.f4 Tc8 31.b4 b6 32.Ac3 g6 33.Te3 a5 34.bxa5 bxa5 35.Axa5 Ta8 36.Ad2 Txa3 37.Txa3 Axa3 38.g4 1/2-1/2 Liberzon,V (2480)-Tatai,S (2385)/Haifa 1989/EU-chT; 13...Dc5 14.Ab3 b5 15.Ae3 Dh5 16.Dxh5 Cxh5 17.Ad1 Cf6 18.Af3 Tac8 19.Af4 Tc5 20.Tad1 Td8 21.Cb3 Tc4 22.Ae3 Tc7 23.Ca5 b4 24.Af4 Tcc8 25.Ab7 Tc5 26.cxb4 Tc2 27.a3 Txb2 28.Ac7 g6 29.Cc4 Tc2 30.Axd8 Axd8 31.Ce5 Tc7 32.Ac6 Axc6 33.Txd8+ Ae8 34.Cg4 Cxg4 35.Txe8+ Rg7 36.h3 Cf6 37.Tb8 Cd7 38.Tb5 Cb6 39.Tc5 Td7 40.Tec1 Cd5 41.b5 Cf4 42.T1c2 Td3 43.T5c4 g5 44.Ta4 Td7 45.Ta6 Cd5 46.Tac6 h5 47.Tb2 Cb6 48.Tbc2 Td4 49.Tc7 Ta4 50.Tb7 Cd5 51.Tc6 Txa3 52.Ta6 1-0 Oral,T (2470)-Vrana,F (2250)/Zlin 1996/EXT 1999] 14.Ab3 a5 15.Ae3 Ac5 16.Tad1 a4 17.Ac2 [17.Ac4 e5! 18.Cf5 Axf5 19.Dxf5 Axe3 20.Txe3 Tfc8= ICC.] 17...Dxb2 18.Ag5 This is the kind of chess Topalov is supposed to be best in the world at. 18...Cd5 [18...Axd4 19.Txd4 Dxc2 20.Axf6 e5 (20...Ac6 21.Tg4 g6 22.De3 Df5 23.Tf4 Dd5 24.Tf3+- (24.Tg4 Df5= ICC.) ) 21.Txd7 gxf6 22.Dxf6+/= Rybka.] 19.c4 Got to congratulate Topalov: he could have played it safe, what a fighter!!. 19...Axd4 [19...Cb4 20.Axh7+ Rxh7 21.Te2 forcing 21...Cc2 22.Txc2+/= and attack continues.] 20.Dd3 f5 21.Dxd4 Dxc2 22.cxd5 Dxa2 23.Db6 a3 Diagram

24.Ae7 [24.Dd6!=/+] 24...Tfe8-/+ 25.Dd6 Now black are thinking about 30 minutes and he couldn't calculate the variations, shows how complex this position is. 25...Aa4? shaking his head while executing the move [Karpov would play Kf7 maybe: 25...Rf7! 26.Txe6 (26.Dxd7 Txe7 27.dxe6+ Dxe6!-+ ICC.; 26.Ah4 Aa4-+ ICC.) 26...Dc2 27.Tee1 (27.Tde1 Dc8-+) 27...Da4 28.Ta1 Ta6-/+ ICC y Rybka.; It's clear to me that the white passer is less dangerous on the e-file, so that's my rationalization in support of : 25...Ac8!? ICC: 26.Dc7 Db3 27.d6 a2-/+ Rybka.] 26.Dxe6+ Rh8 27.Ta1 Dc4 28.Tec1 [28.Dxf5 Ac2=] 28...Ac2 29.Dd7 [29.De3 f4=/+] 29...a2 30.d6 b5 31.Db7 Diagram

Black: only 10 moves for 3 minutes!. Topa is blitzing him. 31...Teb8? [31...b4! 32.d7 Teb8 33.d8D+ Txd8 34.Dxb4 (34.Axd8 Txd8 35.De7 Tc8-+) 34...Dxb4 35.Axb4 Tdb8 36.Txc2 Txb4 37.Tcc1 Tb2-/+] 32.Dc7 topa is clocking him. 32...Tc8? You think so?! i mean this was a blunder and white just gave him b5 b4 after getting back into the game [La última oportunidad de alargar el match pasaba por el bonito recurso: 32...Ae4! 33.Txc4 bxc4 34.h4 Tb1+ 35.Rh2 Txa1 36.d7 Th1+ 37.Rg3 h5 38.Af6 gxf6 39.d8D+ Txd8 40.Dxd8+ Rg7 41.De7+ Rg6 42.De8+ Rg7 43.De7+= Rybka. ¡Qué mágico es el ajedrez!.] 33.Dxc4+- The match is over. 33...Txc4 34.d7 Ab1 Diagram

35.Td1 [35.Txc4! bxc4 36.d8D+ Txd8 37.Axd8 c3 ICC. 38.Rf1 Rg8 39.Re2 Rf7 40.Rd1 Re6 41.Rc1 c2 42.Ag5 Rd5 43.Rb2 h6 44.Ae3 Re4 45.Txa2 Axa2 46.Rxa2+- Rybka.] 35...Rg8 36.d8D+ Txd8 37.Axd8 Ac2 38.Tdc1 b4 39.Txa2 b3 40.Ta8 Rf7 Kamsky lost because of poor clock handling. 41.Tb8 Re6 To think on 25.Ba4, 30 min lost a match. 42.Te1+ Rd5 43.Ae7 Ta4 44.Af8 Ta7 45.h4 Veselin Topálov se gana el noble derecho de enfrentarse en lo que será un apasionante match por el campeonato del mundo, con su actual titular, Vishy Anand, ganando esta partida en su más puro estilo. Es sin duda, un auténtico maestro del riesgo!. 1-0

Un saludo!,

Angel Jiménez Arteaga

Sofia R7: Topalov beats Kamsky, wins candidates match

Veselin Topalov won the match! Topalov 4,5 : 2,5 Kamsky The Official closure ceremony will be held tomorrow (27.02) at 14:30 ЕЕТ (12.30 UTC)

Topalov,V (2796) - Kamsky,G (2725) [C07] World Chess Challenge Sofia BUL (7), 26.02.2009 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Ngf3 cxd4 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Re1 Be7 9.Nb3 Nc6 10.Nbxd4 Nxd4 11.Nxd4 0-0 12.c3 Bd7 13.Qf3 Qb6 14.Bb3 a5 15.Be3 Bc5 16.Rad1 a4 17.Bc2 Qxb2 18.Bg5 Nd5 19.c4 Bxd4 20.Qd3 f5 21.Qxd4 Qxc2 22.cxd5 Qxa2 23.Qb6 a3 24.Be7 Rfe8 25.Qd6 Ba4 26.Qxe6+ Kh8 27.Ra1 Qc4 28.Rec1 Bc2 29.Qd7 a2 30.d6 b5 31.Qb7

The last chance Kamsky had in this match: 31...b4 32.d7 Reb8 33.d8Q+ Rxd8 34.Qxb4 Qxb4 35.Bxb4 Bb1 and Black can hope to win. Instead after 31...Reb8 32.Qc7 Rc8 it is White who is calling the shots. 33.Qxc4 Rxc4 34.d7 Bb1 35.Rd1 Kg8 36.d8Q+ Rxd8 37.Bxd8 Bc2 38.Rdc1 b4 39.Rxa2 b3 40.Ra8 Kf7 41.Rb8 Ke6 42.Re1+ Kd5 43.Be7 Ra4 44.Bf8 Ra7 45.h4 1-0. [Click to replay]

Con esta partida de la séptima ronda Topalov gana a Kamsky por 4,5 a 2,5 y se da por cerrado el match de Retadores de Anand. Así que Anand se verá las caras con Topalov en el próximo campeonato del mundo.

Anand - Kramnik

Game 1 - Slav Exchange (replay) Game 2 - Nimzo Indian Saemisch (replay) Game 3 - Queens Gambit Meran (replay) Game 4 - QGD (replay) Game 5 - Queens Gambit Meran (replay) Game 6 - Nimzo Indian (replay) Game 7 - Slav Defence (replay) Game 8 - QGD Ragozin (replay) Game 9 - Anti-Meran Gambit (replay) Game 10 - Nimzo Indian (replay) Game 11 - Sicilian Naidorf (replay)

'Topalov vs. Kamsky 2009' Sexta Ronda

Fuente: Noticias ChessBase 'Topalov vs. Kamsky 2009' R6: las tablas sirven a Topalov

En la sexta de las ocho partidas a las que está previsto el encuentro de candidatos entre Veselin Topalov y Gata Kamsky, el jugador búlgaro planteó con negras una Defensa Caro-Kann y una vez presentada la novedad en la jugada once, Kamsky no fue capaz de lograr o mantener una ventaja apreciable, así que la partida tendió a las tablas. Al final, cedió un peón a Topalov y entabló por jaque continuo. Mañana miércoles es el último día de descanso antes de las dos partidas finales.

Kamsky,G (2725) - Topalov,V (2796) [B12]

World Chess Challenge Sofia BUL (6), 24.02.2009 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Af5 4.Cf3 e6 5.Ae2 c5 6.Ae3 cxd4 7.Cxd4 Ce7 8.Cd2 Cbc6 9.C2f3 Ag4 10.0-0 Axf3 11.Cxf3 g6 12.c4 Ag7 13.cxd5 Cxd5 14.Ac5 Af8 15.Dc1 Tc8 16.Axf8 Cd4 17.Dd1 Cxe2+ 18.Dxe2 Rxf8 19.Tac1 Rg7 20.h4 Db6 21.g3 h6 22.a3 Tc5 23.Tc2 Thc8 24.Tfc1 a5 25.Dd2 Txc2 26.Txc2 Tc5 27.Dc1 Txc2 28.Dxc2 Ce7 29.Dc3 Cc6 30.b3 Dd8 31.a4 Dd1+ 32.Rg2 De2 33.De3 Dd1 34.Cd2 Cb4 35.Cc4 Cc2 36.Dd2 Db1 37.Df4 Ce1+ 38.Rh2 Dxb3 39.Df6+ Rg8 40.Dd8+ Rh7 41.Df6 Rg8 42.Dd8+ Rh7 43.Df6 Rg8 Tablas. [Haga clic aquí para reproducir la partida]

________________________________________________ Fuente: NOTICIAS AJEDREZ TENERIFE

Kamsky,G (2725) - Topalov,V (2796) [B12] Duelo de retadores - Sofía Sofia (6), 24.02.2009 [Jimenez,A sobre notas de ICC y Rybka]

1.e4 c6 La Defensa Caro-Kann. Topálov de nuevo como Tolia (!?). 2.d4 d5 3.e5 La Variante del Avance. Creo que hacen bien las blancas, pues deben complicar a toda costa. 3...Af5 4.Cf3 e6 5.Ae2 c5 6.Ae3 cxd4 [6...Db6 7.dxc5 Axc5 8.Axc5 Dxc5 9.Dd4 Cd7 10.Cc3 a6 11.Dxc5 Cxc5 12.Cd4 Ce7 13.f4 h5 14.0-0-0 Tc8 15.The1 Ag6 16.Ad3 Axd3 17.cxd3 Cc6 18.Cxc6 Txc6 19.Rd2 g6 20.Tc1 Re7 21.Ce2 Thc8 22.Cd4 T6c7 23.h4 Ca4 24.Txc7+ Txc7 25.b3 Cb6 26.a4 Cc8 27.b4 Rd7 28.Tb1 Ca7 29.b5 axb5 30.axb5 Tc5 31.Re3 b6 32.Tb3 Re7 33.Rf3 f5 34.exf6+ Rxf6 35.Re3 Cc8 36.Tb1 Cd6 37.Rd2 e5 38.fxe5+ Rxe5 39.Tb4 Cc4+ 40.dxc4 Rxd4 41.cxd5+ Rxd5 42.Rd3 Tc1 43.Tf4 Re5 44.Te4+ Rf5 45.Td4 Tc5 46.Tb4 Te5 47.g3 Te1 48.Tf4+ Re5 49.Tf3 Tc1 50.Tf4 Tg1 51.Tf3 Rd5 52.Re3 Re5 53.Rd3 Rd5 54.Re3 Re5 55.Rd3 Ta1 56.Rc4 Ta4+ 57.Rb3 Tg4 58.Td3 Td4 59.Tc3 Tg4 60.Td3 1/2-1/2 Topalov,V (2700)-Illescas Cordoba,M (2635)/Leon 1996/CBM 054; 6...Cd7 7.Cbd2 c4 8.a4 h6 9.b3 cxb3 10.Cxb3 Tc8 11.Ta2 Dc7 12.Ad3 Axd3 13.Dxd3 Ce7 14.0-0 Dc4 15.Tb1 b6 16.Df1 Cc6 17.c3 Dxc3 18.a5 Ae7 19.axb6 axb6 20.Dd1 Dc4 21.Cc1 Cb4 22.Ta7 Dc2 23.Dxc2 Cxc2 24.Ad2 Ca3 25.Ta1 Cc4 26.Tb7 Cb8 27.Ta8 0-0 28.Taxb8 Cxd2 29.Txc8 Cxf3+ 30.gxf3 Txc8 31.Ce2 Ad8 32.f4 g6 33.Rg2 Rf8 34.Rf3 Ta8 35.Re3 Ta3+ 36.Rd2 Ah4 0-1 Svidler,P (2727)-Topalov,V (2791)/Nanjing 2008/CB53_2008] 7.Cxd4 Ce7 8.Cd2 [8.c4 Cbc6 9.Da4 dxc4 (9...a6 10.Cc3 dxc4 11.0-0-0 Da5 12.Dxa5 Cxa5 13.Cxf5 Cxf5 14.Ab6 Cc6 15.f4 Tc8 16.Td2 Ae7 17.Af3 g5 18.g3 gxf4 19.gxf4 Cb4 20.Rb1 Tg8 21.Thd1 Cd3 22.Axb7 Tb8 23.Ac6+ Rf8 24.Aa7 Tc8 25.Ae4 Cxf4 26.Ca4 c3 27.Cxc3 Cg6 28.Te2 Rg7 29.Tf1 Ac5 30.Axc5 Txc5 31.Axf5 exf5 32.Txf5 Te8 33.Tef2 Te7 34.Rc2 Tcxe5 35.b4 Txf5 36.Txf5 Te6 37.a4 Ce7 38.Tf2 f5 39.Rb3 Rf6 40.b5 axb5 41.axb5 Te3 42.Td2 Te6 43.Ca4 f4 44.b6 Cc6 45.Cc5 Te3+ 46.Ra4 f3 47.b7 Rg5 48.Rb5 Cb8 49.Td8 Te1 50.Txb8 f2 51.Tf8 1-0 Leko,P (2747)-Cheparinov,I (2696)/Elista 2008/CB01_2009) 10.Ca3 Da5+ 11.Dxa5 Cxa5 12.Cab5 Cd5 13.Cxf5 exf5 14.Ad2 a6 15.Cd4 Ab4 16.Cxf5 0-0 17.Axb4 Cxb4 18.0-0 b5 19.f4 Tfd8 20.Tad1 Rf8 21.Cd6 Tab8 22.a3 Cbc6 23.Af3 Td7 24.Tfe1 Tc7 25.f5 Td8 26.Ag4 h5 27.Axh5 Tcd7 28.Axf7 Txd6 29.Txd6 Txd6 30.exd6 Rxf7 31.d7 Cb7 32.Te8 Cbd8 33.Rf2 a5 34.Re3 Rf6 35.g4 Rg5 36.h3 b4 37.axb4 axb4 38.Rd2 Rf6 39.h4 g6 40.fxg6 Rxg6 41.h5+ Rh6 42.Rc1 Rg5 43.Th8 Rf6 44.Tg8 Rf7 45.Te8 1-0 Gelfand,B (2700)-Karpov,A (2765)/Sanghi Nagar 1995/CBM 045; 8.0-0 Cbc6 9.Ab5 a6 10.Axc6+ bxc6 11.c4 Dd7 12.Cc3 dxc4 13.Ca4 Cd5 14.Cxf5 exf5 15.Ad4 Td8 16.Df3 c5 17.Cxc5 Db5 18.a4 Db4 19.e6 Axc5 20.Axg7 Tg8 21.exf7+ Rxf7 22.Ac3 Cxc3 23.Dxf5+ Rg7 24.Dg5+ Rf7 25.Df5+ Rg7 26.Dg5+ 1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B (2700)-Karpov,A (2765)/Sanghi Nagar 1995/CBM 045] 8...Cbc6 Siguen los "ilustres" comentarios de los maestros del ICC. 9.C2f3 I always think black is fine in these positions. Space doesn't matter, black has good squares for all his pieces. 9...Ag4 [9...a6 10.0-0 Ag4 11.c3 Dd7 12.Tc1 Td8 13.h3 Ah5 14.a3 Ca5 15.Cd2 Axe2 16.Dxe2 Tc8 17.b3 Cac6 18.C2f3 Cg6 19.Cxc6 Txc6 20.b4 Ae7 21.c4 Txc4 22.Txc4 dxc4 23.Dxc4 0-0 24.Tc1 Da4 25.h4 h5 26.g4 hxg4 27.Dxg4 Td8 28.h5 Td1+ 29.Rh2 Txc1 30.Axc1 Dd1 31.hxg6 Dxc1 32.gxf7+ Rxf7 33.Dh5+ Rf8 34.Dh8+ Rf7 35.Dh5+ Rf8 1/2-1/2 Svidler,P (2738)-Kamsky,G (2723)/Sochi 2008/CBM 126] 10.0-0 Axf3 11.Cxf3 Diagram

11...g6!N Topalov liked g6 at home, when he went through the lines with Rybka and his seconds over a considerable lenght of time, so I wouldn't condemn it just yet. [11...Cf5 12.Af4 Ae7 13.Ad3 Ch4 14.Cxh4 Axh4 15.Dg4 g6 16.Tad1 h5 17.Df3 g5 18.Ac1 g4 19.Df4 Dc7 20.Tfe1 Tg8 21.Dh6 0-0-0 22.g3 Cxe5 23.Txe5 Dxe5 24.gxh4 g3 25.hxg3 Txg3+ 26.fxg3 Dxg3+ 27.Rf1 Df3+ 28.Re1 Dg3+ 29.Rd2 Df2+ 30.Rc3 Dc5+ 31.Rd2 Df2+ 32.Rc3 Dc5+ 33.Rb3 Db6+ 34.Ra4 Dc6+ 35.Ra3 Dc5+ 36.b4 Dc3+ 37.Ra4 b5+ 38.Rxb5 d4 39.Ra4 a5 40.Dd2 1-0 Granda Zuniga,J (2628)-Gonzalez Vidal,Y (2473)/Havana 2003/CBM 096] 12.c4 Ag7 13.cxd5 Cxd5 14.Ac5 Af8 15.Dc1 Tc8 Don't really see any reason White should be better 16.Axf8 Cd4! Las negras se amparan en este movimiento para conseguir completa igualdad. [16...Cxe5? 17.Ab5+ Rxf8 18.Dh6+ Rg8 19.Cxe5+-] 17.Dd1 Cxe2+ 18.Dxe2 Rxf8 19.Tac1 Rg7 20.h4 Db6 Diagram

21.g3 Sólida. [Tal vez 21.h5!? Cf4 22.Dd2 Cxh5 23.Tfd1 con compensación. Rybka. (23.Txc8 ICC. 23...Txc8 24.g4 Cg3 25.Te1 Tc4-/+) ] 21...h6 22.a3 Tc5 23.Tc2 Thc8 24.Tfc1 a5= 25.Dd2 Txc2 26.Txc2 Tc5 27.Dc1 Txc2 28.Dxc2 Ce7 Why should Topalov accept draw here? I think he can safely play on and has some concrete advantage. 29.Dc3 Yes, better squares for knight, more flexible ("less exposed") pawn movement. It's draw in all probability with good play, but why not play on with black... . 29...Cc6 In some line may be possible Qe2 and then g5 xg5 Nxg5 Qxe5 and for the "Knight with pawns ending" black's knight is ready to jump to c4 while white's out of play for a moment in g5. 30.b3 Dd8 Qd5 coming... Black a little better. 31.a4 - ...Qd5 followed by g6-g5! is good for black. - ...Qd5 and the position is = but is easyer to play as Black. - With white queen on e3, even if black knight reaches square like c5 at some point, simple Nd4 will easily hold. [31.De3!? con idea de a4. ICC.] 31...Dd1+ 32.Rg2 De2 33.De3 Diagram

Well sure white cannot make any blunders in this ending, but its better than suffering with queens on for long time when youre under pressure continuously 33...Dd1 [33...Dxe3 34.fxe3 The knight ending after Qe3 seems easy to hold despite ugly structure, as its very difficult for black to activate his king 34...f6 35.exf6+ Rxf6 36.g4=] 34.Cd2 Cb4 35.Cc4 Cc2 hmm i think whites even slightly better in the ending after qd2 36.Dd2 Db1 Topalov mantiene las damas (sin peligro). [36...Ce1+ 37.Rf1 Dxb3 38.Df4= (38.Cxa5? Dxa4 39.Dxe1 b6-/+) ] 37.Df4 Ce1+ 38.Rh2 Dxb3 forzando una línea de tablas, ¡éxito con las piezas negras!. 39.Df6+ Rg8 40.Dd8+ Rh7 41.Df6 Diagram

41...Rg8 [41...Df3 42.Dxf3 Cxf3+ 43.Rg2 (43.Rh1 Ce1 44.Cxa5 Cd3 45.Cxb7 Cxf2+ 46.Rg1 Cd3 47.a5+/-) 43...Ce1+ 44.Rf1 Cd3 45.Cxa5 Cc5=] 42.Dd8+ Rh7 43.Df6 Rg8 Sólo quedan dos partidas y la siguiente es con Veselin jugando las blancas. Se ciernen nubarrones sobre el cuartel general de Gata Kamsky... . 1/2-1/2 Resultados

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Puntos	Elo
Kamsky	½	0	1½	1	10	½			2,5	2725
Topalov	½	1	½	0	1	½			3,5	2796

'Topalov vs. Kamsky 2009' R4: Veselin vuelve a cobrar ventaja

Fuente: Noticias ChessBase

Gata Kamsky jugó la Defensa Francesa y en una Variante Tarrasch, con un peón d aislado, aguantó bastante bien hasta la jugada 35, cuando un desastre irrumpió en forma de error con la pérdida de un peón. Veselin Topalov no dejó escapar la oportunidad y se embolsó el punto completo, en un final de damas, con dos peones pasados ligados. El búlgaro vuelve a estar ahora por delante 3,0:2,0, a falta de tres rondas para concluir el encuentro. Además de la partida, les ofrecemos algunos cotilleos que llegan desde Sofía.

¿Los colores de la partida cinco? En la regla original del contrato 3.4.1 se establecía: "El sorteo de colores se realizará durante la ceremonia de inauguración. Los colores se invertirán tras la partida 4. (El jugador al que le toquen blancas en la partida uno, jugará la partida cinco con negras)". Sin embargo después de haber jugado con negras en la partida cuatro, Topalov condujo las blancas en la partida cinco. El agente de Kamsky, Emil Sutovsky nos dijo que la decisión de alternar colores a lo largo de todo el encuentro fue tomada en noviembre en la olimpiada de Dresde.

La partida

Topalov,V (2796) - Kamsky,G (2725) [C07] World Chess Challenge Sofia BUL (5), 23.02.2009 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Cd2 c5 4.Cgf3 cxd4 5.Cxd4 Cc6 6.Ab5 Ad7 7.Cxc6 Axc6 8.Axc6+ bxc6 9.c4 Ad6 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.exd5 exd5 12.0-0 Ce7 13.Cf3 0-0 14.Dd3 Dd7 15.Td1 Tfd8 16.Ae3 a5 17.g3 h6 18.Ab6 Tdc8 19.Ad4 Ac5 20.Ac3 Ab4 21.Ae5 Ad6 22.Td2 Axe5 23.Cxe5 Dd6 24.Te1 Tc7 25.Df3 Tf8 26.Rg2 Tb7 27.h4 Db4 28.Tee2 Da4 29.b3 Db4 30.Cd3 Dd6 31.h5 Tc7 32.Cf4 d4 33.Te4 Cc6 34.Cd3 Td8 35.Tc2

35...Cb4? Así se pierde un peón. 36.Cxb4 axb4 37.Txd4 Df8 [37...Dxd4 38.Txc7]] 38.Txd8 Dxd8 39.Txc7 Dxc7 40.Da8+ Rh7 41.De4+ Rg8 42.Dxb4 Dc6+ 43.Rg1 Dc1+ 44.Rh2 Dc2 45.De1 Rf8 46.a3 Db2 47.Db4+ Rg8 48.Rg2 De5 49.Dg4 Db2 50.Dc8+ Rh7 51.Dc4 Dxa3 52.Dxf7 Db4 53.Dc4 Db7+ 54.Rg1 Df3 55.g4 1-0. [Haga clic aquí para reproducir la partida]

Resultados

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Puntos	Elo
Kamsky	½	0	1½	1	10				2	2725
Topalov	½	1	½	0	1				3	2796

Topalov - Kamsky "Sofia 2009" Quinta Ronda

Descargar partidas PGN

Game 5

23.02.2009

15.00 EET (13.00 UTC)

Veselin Topalov

1 - 0

Gata Kamsky

Veselin Topalov ½ 1 ½ 0 1 - - - 3 Gata Kamsky ½ 0 ½ 1 0 - - - 2

'Topalov vs. Kamsky 2009' R4: El Chico de Brooklyn Gana con Blancas

El Chico de Brookyn GM Gata Kamsky utilizo las piezas blancas en la cuarta partida para dominar a GM Veselin Topalov e igualar el marcador. El gran maestro de Brooklyn tuvo una actuación impresionante y atajo todos los intentos que hizo Topalov para complicar la partida, castigándolo cuando se paso de la raya.. Fue una variante Saitzev de la Apertura Española. Con ayuda de un sacrificio de peón, primero llevó la iniciativa en el flanco de dama y pronto recibió su inversión de material con intereses. Después de imprecisiones por parte de ambos, Kamsky llegó al final con ventaja la cual materializó el punto. Mañana domingo es día de descanso.

Veselin Topalov	½	1	½	0	-	-	-	-	2
Gata Kamsky	½	0	½	1	-	-	-	-	2

Ronda 4

Kamsky,G (2725) - Topalov,V (2796) [C92] World Chess Challenge Sofia BUL (4), 21.02.2009 1.e4 e5 2.Cf3 Cc6 3.Ab5 a6 4.Aa4 Cf6 5.0-0 Ae7 6.Te1 b5 7.Ab3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Ab7 10.d4 Te8 11.Cbd2 Af8 12.Cg5 Te7 13.d5 Cb8 14.Cf1 Cbd7 15.Cg3 g6 16.Ac2 h6 17.Cf3 Cb6 18.h4 Dd7 19.Ch2 Ag7 20.h5 Tf8 21.Chf1 c6 22.dxc6 Dxc6 23.Ce3 Rh7 24.Df3 Ac8 25.Td1 Ae6 26.b3 Dxc3 27.Ad2 Dc7 28.Aa5 Db8 29.Td2 Cc8 30.Tad1 b4 31.De2 Rh8 32.Ad3 Ca7 33.Tc1 Cb5 34.Axb5 axb5 35.Axb4 Td7 36.Tc6 Tfd8 37.Dd1 Af8 38.Dc2 Rh7 39.Aa5 Te8 40.hxg6+ fxg6 41.Ac7 Db7 42.Axd6 Af7 43.Ab4 Axb4 44.Txd7 Dxd7 45.Txf6 Te6 46.Cd5 Af8 47.Tf3 Rg7 48.Tc3 Ta6 49.Tc7 Dd6 50.De2 Rg8 51.Dxb5 Txa2 52.Db7 Ta1+ 53.Rh2 Axd5 54.exd5 Df6 55.Dc8 Dh4+ 56.Dh3 Dxh3+ 57.Rxh3 Td1 58.Ce4 Aa3 59.Ta7 Ab4 60.Tb7 Aa3 61.f3 Rf8 62.Tb5 h5 63.Rg3 Tc1 64.Tb8+ Rf7 65.Tb7+ Rf8 66.Rf2 Tc2+ 67.Rf1 Tc1+ 68.Re2 Tc2+ 69.Rd3 Txg2 70.Ta7 Ae7 71.d6 Ad8 72.Cc5 Re8 73.Th7 1-0.

Topalov - Kamsky "Sofia 2009" Tercera Ronda - Tablas

Topalov - Kamsky game 3

Source: Susan Polgar Chess Daily News and Information Posted by SusanPolgar at 2/20/2009 07:23:00 AM

Veselin Topalov	½	1	½	-	-	-	-	-	2
Gata Kamsky	½	0	½	-	-	-	-	-	1

[Event "Sofia match"] [Date "2009.02.20"] [Round "3"] [White "GM Topalov"] [Black "GM Kamsky"] [ECO "D81"] [White Elo "2796"] [Black Elo "2725"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 Topalov is mixing things up immediately. In game 1, Topalov played 4.cxd5 and the game continued with Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 O-O 10.O-O... dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg7 6. e4 O-O 7. Be2 a6 8. Bf4 b5 9. Qxc7 This could be an interesting line 9... Qxd4 10. Rd1 Qb4 11. Rd2 Nbd7 12. Be3 Rb8 += 9. Qxc7 10. Bxc7 b4 This is another option 10... Bb7 11. f3 Rc8 12. Bf4 Nc6 13. e5 Nd7 14. Rd1 = 11. Na4 Nc6 12. d5 Nd4 Gata is doing much better in time today. In fact, he is slightly ahead in time. This is a major improvement over the first two games. 13.Bd3 Bd7 The most logical continuation for White here would be 14.Nb6. However, Black has a possible dynamic response 14...Bb5 15. Be5 Bxd3 16. Bxd4 Rab8 17. e5 Rxb6 18. Rd1 Nd7 19. Bxb6 Bb5 20. Bd4 +=. The more natural 14...Ra7 15.Be5 is not as good for Black. 14.Nb6 Time for Black to calculate all the critical line. This is the key make or break moment of the game. 14...Bb5 Once again, Gata found the strongest and most aggressive line. The good thing is he is not afraid to get into a complicated position. He is comfortable with it. The not so good thing is this is the kind of brawl that Topalov likes. 15.Be5 Both 15...Bxd3 or 15...Rab8 are fine. I personally prefer Bxd3. Gata understand that the game is at a critical phase. This is why he is starting to take his time to calculate through so many complicated lines. 15...Nxe4 This is a possibility 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Bxe4 Rab8 18. O-O-O = 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Bxe4 The best move. Now 17...Rab8 is the only move to maintain equality. 17...Rab8 Now 18.0-0-0 is the best move. With 18...Nf5, Gata can equalize. 18.0-0-0 Nf5 19.Bxf5 gxf5 20. d6 Rxb6 21. dxe7 Re8 22. Nf3 = 19.Bxf5 gxf5 Gata is playing this game well. He badly needs to hold and it seems that he is doing just that to regain the self confidence to get back into this match. 20.d6 Rxb6 21.dxe7 Re8 22.Nf3 Just as expected. White has a very very small edge but Black should have no problem drawing this game. 22...Rxe7 23.Nd4 is the logical continuation. 22...Rxe7 23.Nd4 Black can ignore the Knight and play 23...Kf6 or he can retreat with 23...Bd7. Probably the second choice is more preferable. 23...Bd7 24.Rhe1 Rxe1 25.Rxe1 = Now a move like 25...Rh6 is important. Why? Basically it puts pressure for White to play h3. White wants to put his pawns on h4 and g3 dark squares. Then the Knight can park on f4 and White is in good shape. 25...Rh6 stops it. 25...Rh6 26.Rh7 Getting out of playing h3. 26...Rd6 27.Ne2 White is aiming to get his Knight to f4. The position is still equal. However, Topalov is making Kamsky earn it. I think it is more psychologically than the merit of the position. 27...Kf6 28.Re3 Another move to force Black to put his pawns on the light square. This is something to remember when playing endgame with a Bishop. 28...Ba4 29.b3 Bc6 = Still looks equal 30.Nf4 a5 31.g3 30...Be4 will take away the White's Rook mobility. In fact, it is a must move or else White will play Rd3 to exchange the Rooks. If the Rooks are gone, White will be better. 31...Be4 32.f3 Bc6 33.h4 Rd4 The position is still equal. 34.Kc3 White can try to give up the f3 pawn by playing Rd3. Once the Rooks are off the board, White can march his King to c4 then b5. 34...Bb5 Stopping Rd3. I expect draw shortly as neither side can really make progress. 35.Nh5+ Kg6 36.Nf4+ Kf6 37.Nh5+ 1/2 This is a good draw for Gata. He needs to have a relatively easy game to get back on track for game 4.

Duelo de retadores (II)

'Topalov vs. Kamsky': Duelo de Retadores II Veselin gana con negras

En una Defensa Berlinesa de la Ruy López, Veselin Topalov sorprendió a su rival en la jugada cuatro con ...Ac5, a juzgar por la prolongada meditación, de una media hora, en la que se sumió Gata Kamsky. Hacia la jugada quince, el búlgaro tomó la iniciativa e hizo trizas las defensas del chico de Brooklyn "Kamsky" Las blancas en aras de obtener ventaja, consumieron demasiado tiempo en el reloj y en vez de optar por una línea de tablas y esperar a acontecimientos venideros, decidieron forzar, quedando inferior, hasta que ¡el tiempo lo devoró!. Hoy, jueves es día de descanso.

Resultados

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Puntos	Elo
Kamsky	½	0	1		1				0,5	2725
Topalov	½	1							1,5	2796