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Ruslan Ponomariov vs Teimour Radjabov
Corus Group A (2003), Wijk aan Zee NED, rd 8, Jan-20
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation. Bayonet Attack Sokolov's Line (E97)  ·  0-1

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
Notes by Stockfish 9 v010218 (minimum 6s/ply)13.b5 was played in Carlsen vs Ivanchuk, 2008 (1-0) 15...Re8 16.Be3 f4 17.Bf2 Nc6 18.c5 Rxe6 19.Qb3 Re7 = +0.36 (24 ply) ⩲ +1.13 (23 ply)better is 24...c5 25.a3 Rf3 26.Be2 Rf7 27.Rf1 Raf8 28.Rxf7 Rxf7 ⩱ -0.53 (22 ply)= +0.07 (23 ply)better is 25...Nd4 26.Bxd4 exd4 27.e5 Bxe5 28.Qh5 Qe6 29.c5 Bg7 = -0.17 (21 ply) 26.cxd5 cxd5 27.Qh5 d4 28.Bd2 Qe8 29.Qh3 Rc8 30.Rxf8 ⩲ +0.57 (22 ply) 26...Nd4 27.Rxf8 Rxf8 28.Qh5 Nf3+ 29.Kg2 d4 30.Bg1 Nf6 ⩱ -1.19 (22 ply)= 0.00 (26 ply)better is 33.Kh1 Ne1 34.Nf2 Nf6 35.Qd1 Qxd1 36.Rxd1 Rxf7 37.Rxe1 = -0.11 (30 ply) ⩱ -0.76 (30 ply) 34.Rd1 Ne3+ 35.Bxe3 Qxe3 36.Qg6 Qe2 37.h3 Qb2 38.Kg1 = -0.45 (28 ply)-+ -6.55 (31 ply)39.Qf5 Nxf5 40.exf5 Rxf7 41.Rf1 Rxf5 42.a4 Rf3 43.Kg2 -+ mate-in-130-1

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

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Kibitzer's Corner
Jun-12-03  poisonpawn: King's Indian may once again rejoice as players such as Radjabov and Smirin are making the black side of the bayonet look much more appealing to play! Is it just my wishful thinking or has black been scoring much better against the bayonet recently?

After 25...d5 I wonder if white has enough compensation for the pawn to give him an advantage. The point of 12...Kh8 is revealed since there will be no pins on the a2-g8 diagonal.

Feb-04-04  ughaibu: By move 25 I think black is well ahead. Radjabov seemed to find the more effective plans and clearly outplay Ponomariov.
Jul-04-04  mystique.mystique: Radjabov is the best!
Nov-17-06  adviser: Radjabov is playing at his best.
Dec-27-06  syracrophy: There's no way to avoid 39...♕f3 and ♕g2#
Jan-04-07  suenteus po 147: Very nice play by Radjabov in the King's Indian, but I'd like to see him play this defense against Kramnik and see how well he fares. And since Kramnik is using 1.d4 again we might have such an opportunity.
Feb-04-07  TiagoF: Can someone please explain the move 12...Kh8? thanks
Feb-05-07  percyblakeney: <Can someone please explain the move 12...Kh8? thanks>

I think the idea is to clear g8 for a rook or knight.

<I'd like to see him play this defense against Kramnik and see how well he fares>

Also in this fairly short but interesting draw Kh8 was to be played: Kramnik vs Radjabov, 2007

May-23-18  Saniyat24: this was a very interesting game...!
Jul-27-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: Earlier in the tournament Radjabov had played 12..Nh5 against Bareev and White had gone on to win; here he varied with 12..Kh8. Ponomariov spent 54 minutes on 13 Rb1 deciding on a similar plan to the one that Bareev had used though it is a new move in this position; 13 Be3 has been the most popular continuation. White's game went downhill after 26 Rf5?; 26 Rbd1 was suggested as an improvement.

I didn't find Radjabov's analysis very helpful in trying to understand this complicated struggle.

Jul-28-20  carpovius: What if 33.Kh3?
Jul-30-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  Clement Fraud: <carpovius> <What if 33.Kh3?>

That's a very good question 🤔

One line which I've been looking at is: 33.Kh3 Ne1 34.Ne3 Nd3 (followed by a repetition of moves) 35.Ng4 Ne1 36.Ne3 Nd3 37.Ng4 Ne1 etc.

I don't possess an engine, and my official elo grade is only in the thirteen hundreds... but a draw by repetition does seem likely to me (following 33.Kh3).

Nov-17-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  Clement Fraud: Oh dear... I have just seen an error in my last analysis:

33.Kh3 is met with 33... Ne1 Ne3 34.Nf6! (and then if) 35.Rd1 Qxd1! 36.Nxd1 Nxh5 37.Bxh5 Rd8!

... then who knows... a hundred years from now, and I might be a grandmaster 🤔

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