Ron: GM Speelman wrote about this game in his column in The Guardian:Alexei Shirov v Kirill Kuderinov
Khanty Mansiysk 2005 (round 1 game 2)
Ruy Lopez Steinitz Defence
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 d6 By choosing the old fashioned Steinitz Defence, Kuderinov was presumably hoping to blunt Shirov's attacking instincts but there is a reason why it's old fashioned - White is given a great deal of scope.
4 d4 exd4 5 Nxd4 Bd7 6 Nc3 Nf6 7 Bxc6 bxc6 8 Qf3 c5 If 8...Be7 9 e5 is annoying though 9...Nd5 10 Nxd5 cxd5 11 Qxd5 is possible when the bishop pair provides some compensation for the pawn
9 Nf5 Bxf5 10 exf5 10 Qxf5 has also been played but Shirov wanted a pawn phalanx.
10...Rb8 If 10...Be7 11 Qc6+ is disruptive since the natural Nd7 is met by 12 Nb5!.
11 b3 Be7 12 Bb2 d5 13 0-0-0 c6 This is what Black wants to play but it does invite combinations based on Nxd5 later and so the rather ugly 13...d4 was possibly correct.
14 g4 0-0 If 14...Nd7 15 h4 anyway when 15...Bxh4? runs into 16 Nxd5! with a ferocious attack.
15 g5 Nd7 16 f6 Bd6 17 h4 Be5 18 Qf5 Rb7 If instead 18...g6 19 Qh3 Re8 White can't immediately force mate but the enemy king will be in danger for many moves. One main line goes 20 Nxd5! cxd5 21 Rxd5 Qa5! 22 Rxd7 Qxa2 23 Bxe5 Rxe5 24 Qc3 Re2! 25 Re7 Rxf2 26 Rhe1 h5! 27 R7e4! Qa6 28 Kb2 with a big advantage.
19 h5 Qa5 20 Rh3 Qb4 Threatening to exchange queens with ...Qf4+.
Kirill Kuderinov (Black) Alexei Shirov (White to play)
21 Nxd5! This thematic sacrifice rips Black's position apart.
21...Bxb2+ If 21...cxd5 22 Bxe5 is winning.
22 Kxb2 cxd5 23 fxg7 Kxg7 24 Rxd5 Qa4?! Losing immediately. He should have tried 24...Nb6 though after 25 Qf6+ Kg8 26 h6 Nc4+ 27 Kc1! Qe1+ 28 Rd1 Qe5 29 bxc4 Qxf6 30 gxf6 the double rook ending is lost.
25 Rhd3 Rd8 26 h6+ Kg8 Now 27 Qf6?? Nxf6 28 Rxd8+ Ne8 defends but White can choose a different square.
27 Qe5! f6 28 Qe7 and Kuderinov resigned.
Kibitzing
sac: 21.Nxd5
