chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Veselin Topalov vs Hikaru Nakamura
World Championship Candidates (2016), Moscow RUS, rd 13, Mar-27
Queen's Gambit Declined: Harrwitz Attack (D37)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

Click Here to play Guess-the-Move
Given 6 times; par: 52 [what's this?]

Annotations by Stockfish (Computer).      [35437 more games annotated by Stockfish]

explore this opening
find similar games 76 more Topalov/Nakamura games
PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: You can get computer analysis by clicking the "ENGINE" button below the game.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

THIS IS A COMPUTER ANNOTATED SCORE.   [CLICK HERE] FOR ORIGINAL.

Kibitzer's Corner
Mar-27-16  apexin: why didnt he play 15.Bg5 or even Bf4?
the isolated e pawn is why Topalov lost this game. he hasnt enjoyed great results for a long time. i think i saw him talking about retirement, after London chess classic. it might be a good idea, i think even a 1600 player wouldnt leave himself with a weakness like that...
Mar-27-16  RookFile: He was already worse. 15. Be2 is probably the best move. 10. Be2 would have been better than 10. b4, which Naka met with the sharp 10.....d4!!

If you're going to play professional chess, the opening is vitally important. Naka has really toughened up his opening play in the last few years.

Mar-27-16  lionsden: Here is the question ?

Black move on 34...

why not Re4 (get the bishop) ? Instead he played Ne5

Mar-27-16  Chuckles: After 34...Rxe4 white can play Ra8+ and Ra7 and the double attack on the g7 pawn will let him make a draw.
Mar-27-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sally Simpson: Good question Lionsden,

A smashing trap set up by Topalov.


click for larger view

If 34.Rxe4 Ra8+

If the King ducks to h7 then Ra7 and Black, who is now threating checkmate with Raxg7+ has a perpetual. 35. Kh7 Ra7 36. Kh8 Ra8+ etc...

If the King runs away from h7 then as well as your very basic Rook mating pattern the e5 pawn has a say in things.

35.Kf7 Ra7+

36.Kf8 ...

The basic back rank corridor mates appear with 38.Ke8 Rgxg7.

36 ..... Ra8+

And now 37.Ke7 Rxg7 is checkmate (the e5 pawn cover d6 and f6) so the King has to go back to 37.Kf8 Ra8+ etc.

The White counter-trap is here.

37.Kf8 Rgxg7

Looks good enough to at least draw. But...

38.Nxe5 Rb7 39.Nf3+ White mates Black.

That Topalov trap would without a doubt have worked at the lower boards in a weekend tournament.

Mar-28-16  lionsden: Thank you so much Sally Simpson and Chuckles .
Mar-28-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  Richard Taylor: Good explanation Sally Simp. I ran that through my head proving I am a Super GM but thanks all the same....

Sad that Topa was lost so early in the piece. I stayed up late enough to see where he went wrong allowing d4 early on....Topa is not the player he was. I believe he is depressed.

Mar-28-16  Ulhumbrus: 6 a3 moves a pawn in the opening. It loses a tempo for development in a position where Black's king is castled and White's king is not.

With Black's king castled while White's king is still in the centre of the board and with White's having lost a tempo for development by 6 a3, Nakamura prepares to open lines by 6...c5!

7 dxc5 spends another move with a pawn and advances Black's king's bishop

9 cxd5 frees Black's queen's bishop

10 b4 once more spends a move on a pawn and Nakamura opens lines with 10...d4 against White's uncastled king.

Topalov's neglect of his development led to an advantage and then a win for Black

Oct-01-17  andares52: I agree with axepin's comment (Mar-27-16) regarding: - 15. Bf4
- weakness of isolated e-pawn
I disagree with the idea of retirement when looking at Topalov's rating and ranking at 2700chess.com.

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC