chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Alexandra Kosteniuk vs Luc Bergez
"Bad Luc" (game of the day Sep-11-2004)
Geneve Open (2001), Geneva SUI, rd 7, Jan-26
Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation. Yugoslav Attack Modern Line (B76)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

explore this opening
find similar games 1,997 more games of Kosteniuk
sac: 23.Qd8+ PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: As you play through the game, you can get the FEN code for any position by right-clicking on the board and choosing "Copy Position (EPD)". Copy and paste the FEN into a post to display a diagram.

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]

Kibitzer's Corner
Sep-11-04  ForeverYoung: Very nice game by one of the top Woman grandmasters on the planet!
Sep-11-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  patzer2: Black's 19...Rfc8? was bad. Better was 19...Rfb8!=.
Sep-11-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  kevin86: White has a three part plan:♖h7,♖cg7+,♖h8+ and mate next} black has little to do to stop it.. Here,bishops of opposite colors doom black.
Sep-11-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  patzer2: Stronger than 22. Qd3!? for White was the simple 22. Qxa5! with an immediate winning advantage.

The interesting 22. Qd3!? worked out OK due to Black's weak 22...Bxa2?, allowing 23. Qd8+! However, after 22. Qd3!? Bh6+ 23. Kb2 Be6 Black has counterplay and chances for a draw.

Sep-11-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  patzer2: Kosteniuk's play after 22. Bxa2? 23. Qd8+!! is brilliant, integrating a number of tactical themes to create the final won position [e.g. 25. Bxf8 (discovered check mate threat) 26. Bd6+ (discovered check) 28. Rd6 (double attack) 30. Re1 (quiet move) 32. Rc6 (quiet move) 36. bg7+ (deflection) 37. Bh6 (clearance).]
Sep-11-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  patzer2: <Kevin 86> I assume you are referring to the last position (e.g. 35...h5 36. Rh7! ).

Another nice threat is 35...h5 36. Rg7+ Kf8 37. Rh7+ Kg8 38. Rcg7+ Kf8 39. Rh8+ Bg8 40. Rhxg8#. Of course Black can delay mate a bit longer (e.g. in a blitz rate time scramble) with 35...Qxc7 36. Rxc7 , which is still a clearly won game for White.

Sep-11-04  Jack Rabbit: <patzer2>: Your 19 -- Rfb8 looks interesting. How might the game continue from there?

Black's position already looks difficult. After 14 Qc5, Ivanchuk vs J M Hodgson, 1996 (Amsterdam, Donner Memorial) continued 14 -- Qb8 15 b3 Bf5 16 Bd3 Rc8 17 Qa5 Rc3 and White won after 18 Bxf5 Rxe3 19 Be4 Qf4 20 Bxa8.

The move 14 -- Qb7 in the present game looks to be inferior to 14 -- Qb8 as played by Hodgson against Ivanchuk. Bergez' move has the Black Queen biting granite and block development of the Bishop on b7 or a6.

It's easy to see why Black would be reluctnat to exchange Queens with 13 -- Qxd5 14 Rxd5 and descend into an endgame where White has an extra Pawn in the person of the passed c-Pawn.

However, a Queen exchange does not an endgame make; each player still has both Rooks and both Bishops. Black will have plenty of time to do something about the c-Pawn (in this game, the c-Pawn remains at home). Perhaps the line 13 -- Qxd5 14 Rxd5 Bb7 would be better for Black?

Sep-11-04  dafish298: black's ...d5 is questionable...you need to be confident enough to play through the dragon as statistics do show that ...d5 is not very promising for black.
Sep-11-04  Jack Rabbit: <dafish298>: Three other moves I am able to find in MCO-14 are 9 -- Nxd4, 9 -- Bd7 and 9 -- Be6. MCO evaluates all of these as an advantage for White.
Sep-11-04  alexandrovm: I so the hole thing as a great game. Nice game from a beautiful player.
Sep-11-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  patzer2: <Jack Rabbit> After 19...Rfb8, White has a number of equalizing continuations, including 20. c4, 20. Qa5, and 20. b3.

One promising line for both sides is 19...Rfb8 20. c4 Be6 21. Kb1 e4 = Note that White should not play 20. Bd6?? Rb3! .

Mar-18-05  F47: After 13. Qxd5, Kosteniuk won a pawn. Can anybody tell me what Kosteniuk was thinking to win that pawn?
Aug-25-05  Medical Director: Why is this variation called "The Dragon"?
Dec-10-07  black knight c6: <Medical Director> Because black's pawn setup (after 5. ... g6) is said to resemble the outline of a dragon, and the opening is well known for the fiery games it produces.
Dec-19-07  computer chess guy: I think 26. .. ♔h7 would be a bit better defense than the game move 26. .. ♔g7 (but White would still be ahead).
Dec-30-07  DanLanglois: I don't suppose that White is already won with 14 Qxa8, when Black has no real threats (14...Bf5 15 Qxf8+ Kxf7 16 Rd2).
Mar-18-17  Ninai: If white would move 22.Qxa5? she would get into serious problems after 22... Ra8 23.Qb6 Bh6+ 24.Kb2 Qa4!!

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.

Featured in the Following Game Collections[what is this?]
Beautiful game from a beautiful player
from alexandrovm's favorite games by alexandrovm
23. Qxd8+!!
from Combined Operations by patzer2
hartkoka's favorite games manuver n tactic
by hartkoka
Sicilian Dragon, Yugoslav Attack, Vol II, White
by isolatedpawn
Bad Luc B76 23.Qxd8+!
from Kosteniuk! by larrewl
September 11: Bad Luc
from Game of the Day 2004 by Phony Benoni
Dragon Slayer
by Timothy Glenn Forney
Sicilian Def. Dragon Yugoslav Attack
from RPaterno1's favorite games Champions' "Notables" by RPaterno1
2001 Geneva Sicilian Def. Dragon
from RPaterno1's favorite games-Roman's Sicilian Def. by RPaterno1
Chess Queen: Kosteniuk
by BntLarsen
Sicilian Defense: Dragon. Yugoslav Attack Modern Line
from MKD's Sicilian Defense White by MKD
Experts vs the Sicilian by Aagaard et al
by takchess
Experts vs the Sicilian by Aagaard et al
by Sharpen Your Tactics
September 11: Bad Luc
from Game of the Day 2004 by Jaredfchess
23. Qxd8+!!
from Combined Operations by trh6upsz
Sicilian Defense: Dragon. Yugoslav Attack Modern Line
from MKD's Sicilian Defense White by Patca63
Dragon Slayer
by trh6upsz
Sicilian Defense: Dragon. Yugoslav Attack Modern Line
from MKD's Sicilian Defense White by marchipan

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 2001-2023, Chessgames Services LLC