Pentala Harikrishna vs Zoltan Almasi (2006)

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Pentala Harikrishna vs Zoltan Almasi
4th Marx Gyorgy Memorial (2006), Paks HUN, rd 3, Jul-30
Spanish Game: Berlin Defense. l'Hermet Variation Berlin Wall Defense (C67) · 1-0

White to move.

ANALYSIS [x]

1-0

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

FEN COPIED

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Aug-04-06		outplayer: I should study this game carefully.

Aug-04-06		homedepotov: Yes indeed, since opposite colored Bishops are very drawish, I'm surprised Black didn't keep playing as he can establish a white square blockade on the pawns that White won't be able to break through.

Aug-04-06		harifan: Hari plays this opening superbly with both White and Black peices ... Maybe a wrong decision by Almasi to go in for the Berlin?

Aug-04-06		Assassinater: <I'm surprised Black didn't keep playing as he can establish a white square blockade on the pawns that White won't be able to break through.> The Bishop will need to block both the c and f pawn (the black epawn can't be saved). White's plan will just be to just support one of the pawns with his king, force black to exchange his bishop for the pawn, then win regularly.

Aug-05-06		homedepotov: Good point. The pawns would need to be closer together for a blockade to work.

Aug-05-06		EmperorAtahualpa: Impressive endgame by Harikrishna! What I liked most is how White's king confidently marched forward to e4, knowing that the g-pawn was adequately defended. White's bishop was also very well placed on d2 and a vital part of the winning final combination.

Aug-05-06		Assassinater: What I think was black's initial mistake was simply prematurely developing his light-squared bishop. After it retreated to h7, white was essentially a piece ahead. Black usually needs to defend the e6 square with that bishop...

Aug-10-06		Mateo: Harikrishna complicated matters with some fireworks and then showed a great technical skill in the ending. A very interesting game if you go deep inside. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 h6 11. Be3 Bf5 <Maybe new. Known: 11... Ng6; 11... Bd7; 11... Nd5; 11... Ke8.> 12. Rad1+ Kc8 13. Nd4 Bh7 14. e6 c5 15. Ndb5 a6 16. Rd7! axb5 <16... fxe6 17. Rfd1! Nd5 18. Nxd5! Kxd7 19. Ndxc7 Kxc6 20. Nxa8 axb5 21.Rd8! (with the threat 22. Rc8) b6 22. Rb8 with a big advantage for White.> 17. Nxb5?! <Better 17. Rfd1 Nc6 18. Nxb5 Ra5 19. c4 Bd6 (19... fxe6? 20. Rxc7+ Kb8 21. Rdd7 with a devasting attack) 20. R1xd6! cxd6 21. Nxd6+ Kb8 22. e7! Rxa2 23.e8Q+ Rxe8 24. Nxe8, White should win a pawn.> Nd5 <17... fxe6 18. Rxc7+ Kd8 (18... Kb8?! 19. Rd1 Nd5 20. Rxd5! exd5 21. Bf4 with a strong attack) 19. Rd1+ Nd5 20. c4 is unclear.> 18. Rxd5 fxe6 19. Rd2 Rxa2 <19... Be7 20. Rfd1 c6 21. Rd7 Bf6 22. Rc7+ Kb8 23. Rdd7 cxb5 24. Rxb7 Kc8 could be a draw.> 20. Rfd1 Be7 21. Rd7 <After 21.Nxc7 there are many variations. 21... Bxc2 22. Rxc2 Kxc7 23. Bxc5 Bxc5 24. Rxc5+ Kb8 should give Black good drawing prospects.> Bd6 22. Nxd6+ Kxd7 23. Nf7+ Ke7 <After 23... Kc6 24. Nxh8 Bxc2 25. Rd8 Rxb2 26. Rg8, White a big edge.> 24. Nxh8 b6 25. Bf4 Ra8 <25... Bxc2? 26. Rd2 Rxb2 27. Kh2!. The Bishop is pinned (and Black cannot unpinn it with Rb1+). So the Knight can escape with Ng6. In the variation actually played, White wins a pawn but the opposite colour Bishops give Black some drawing hopes.> 26. Bxc7 Rxh8 27. Bxb6 Rc8 28. Rd2 c4 <Almasi wants to play 29... c3 drawing.> 29. Ba5 Be4 <The Bishop goes to d5 to close the open file.> 30. Bb4+ Ke8 <30... Kf7 allows 31. Rd7+ invading the 7th rank.> 31. Bc3 g6 32. f3 Bd5 33. Kf2 Ra8 <To play 34... Ra1.> 34. Rd1 <Impeding the Rook to invade the first rank.> Kf7 35. Ke3 <35. h4.> g5 36. h4 gxh4 37. Rh1 Rg8 38. Kf2 h5 39. Rxh4 Rg5 40. Rh1 e5 41. Bd2 Rf5 42. Ra1 Be4 43. Ra4 Bxc2 44. Rxc4 Bd3 45. Rc7+ Kg6?! <45... Ke6 was the last little hope to fight for a draw.> 46. Ke3 Bf1 47. Rc1! Bb5 <47... Bxg2? 48. Rg1 Rxf3+ (48... Rg5 49. Kf2 wins) 49. Ke2 Rg3 50. Kf2 wins.> 48. Ke4 h4 49. Rc5 Bf1 50. Rc6+ Rf6 51. Rxf6+! <The simplest way to win.> Kxf6 52. Be1 h3 <52... Kg5 53. Kxe5 Bxg2 54. f4+ Kg4 55. Bxh4! Kxh4 56. f5 wins.>53. gxh3 Bxh3 54. Bc3 1-0

Sep-17-06		harifan: <showed a great technical skill in the ending> This is the hallmark of Harikrishna!

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