| Mar-07-03 | | refutor: i was very impressed by ponomariov's opening play in this game (i used to dabble in the tchigorin variation of the ruy lopez myself) :) kramnik's novelty, according to the "games similar to this one" was 12.Kh1?! which i didn't think was really that great. he allowed ponomariov to do basically whatever he wanted and ruslan didn't have to work that hard for the draw. |
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| Mar-07-03 | | drukenknight: 15 Nd2 blocks support to the QP, any thoughts on capturing w/ 15...Bxd5 to get this B active? It seems natural since the only break in the pawns so far has been the capture on f5 where that pawn happens to block the power of whites light square B. |
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| Mar-07-03 | | refutor: that's a good point druken...the position after 15.Nbd2 Bxd5 16.Nxc4 Bxc4 is judged as approximately even by my Fritz but different styled players would prefer the different sides. what does white have? many open lines for his pieces, and his pieces seem more harmonious. white obviously won't be able to hang on to the f5 pawn so black is almost up a pawn. a player like morphy or kotov (or apparently kramnik) would prefer the white position here, with all the attacking chances. while a player like karpov would probably prefer black, taking the f-pawn, defending all game and emerging a pawn up in the endgame. why did ponomariov not take the pawn? compare the position here to when ponomariov does take that pawn after 17. ... Bxd5 his position seems a little more under control and white's position seem a little more ragged...just my patzer opinion. |
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| Mar-07-03 | | alhine: To drukenknight: I agree with you. 15...Nxd2 is silly move I see in speed chess. After 15...Bxd5, its black for play. If white plays 16.Nxc4, then 16...Bxc4 and the Black bishop can always move to f7 threatening Bh5. An inexcusable mistake by black. How about the remarkable 21...Rxf4 instead of 21...Rad8? After 22.Bxf4 Nxf4, where does the queen move to disallow Nxe6 winning another pawn? Any white piece on b3 is smothered by the move c4. |
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| Mar-07-03 | | refutor: it wasn't an inexcusable mistake, black gets the pawn on move 17, it was just a matter of when |
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| Mar-07-03 | | alhine: to refutor: Of course, these grandmasters can see much farther then we mortals; I was trying to show a line that avoided either the white queen or bishop holding the a2-g8 diagonal threatening the pawn advance e7+. I still like the exchange sac 21...Rxf4. Black is up 2 pawns. |
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| Mar-07-03 | | drukenknight: well, even Fritz agrees w/ me today! My medication levels must be just about right! |
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| Mar-08-03 | | drukenknight: I like the way alhine thinks, perhaps 21...Nf6 is a simpler way? how about: 26 Rf7 with a nice lateral pin? |
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| Mar-08-03 | | alhine: To drukenknight: I have to agree with you, 21...Nf6 is better. (I made a laughable oversight: Black can't play 21...Rxf4 because of 22.Qxa8+.) The question for white is, where to put the Queen? Black threatens 22...Rad8 followed by the pawn advances d5 and e4 strangling white. 26.Rf7 looks very strong threatening Bxg6 winning. Black seems to have 3 choices: (1)26...Rxf7 27.exf+27...Kf8, or (1) 26...Rde8 when white simply plays 27.Rf1 doubling or, (3) he cedes the f-ile with 26...Rfe8, again white doubling. All are ugly, but perhaps (1) is the least ugly. |
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| Jun-28-03 | | The Shark: Hello Guys: Have pity on my ignorance.Ponomariov move 14...Nc4 Did he anticipated or intend to meet White's Knight on Nd2 or maneuver his Knight to b6? I'm baffled by this move. Appreciate your help. |
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| Jun-28-03 | | Shadout Mapes: White had to develop the knight eventually and black wanted to free his position with some exchanges, so yes, he was trying to trade.. i think. |
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Dec-07-20
 | | plang: 12 Kh1 was a new move; one of the ideas was if Black exchanges on d4 then White can develop his knight on c3. 15..Nxd2?! was dubious; 15..Ncb6 looks like an improvement. Perhaps it would have been safer to play 21..Nxf4 22 Bxf4..exf. With 29 Rxf3?! White apparently overlooked Blacks 32..Qc8 and the game was quickly drawn; 29 h5 was suggested with some chances for White. |
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Kibitzing
