Nice win by Polgar, It seems that Sokolov was weaving a decent mating net, but Polgar had enough initiative to keep an edge. Sokolov failed to find a complicated defence strategy based on 45...Qh2.

GM Polgar,Judit(HUN) (2710) - GM Sokolov,Ivan(NED) (2670) [C83] Essent Chess Tournament Hoogeveen (1), 22.10.2006
[Analysis by Albertan,Hiarcs 8, Shredder 8]
Opening:Ruy Lopez:Open Defense ECO:C83

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5

The Ruy Lopez opening.

3...a6

Morphy's idea forcing Judit to make a decision about the future of her bishop.

4.Ba4 Nf6

He begins to develop his kingside minor pieces and in the process he creates an attack against her undefended e-pawn.

5.0-0

The main continuation for White in this position.

5...Nxe4

This move defines the variation of the Ruy Lopez being played, it is known as the "open" defense. Sokolov will try to make use of the time Polgar will take to regain the pawn to gain a foothold in the centre. Play usually continues 6.d4 b5. The open variation was former world champion Mikhail Tal's preferred variation when he played the black side of the Ruy Lopez.The game continued with Judit playing:

6.d4

The main continuation for White she threatens to immediately regain the pawn by playing dxe5 or Nxe5. This move also reates the threat of d4-d5 in order to attack the c6 knight and cramp Black's game in the center.

6...b5

A move usually played by Black in this position, driving her bishop back.

7.Bb3 d5

Invariably played by Black at this time, giving support to his knight. This pawn advance also blocks off the white bishop's diagonal.

8.dxe5

The most often played move for White at this stage of the game, regaining her pawn and by capturing his e-pawn she creates a discovered double-attack against his d-pawn (winning a tempo).

8...Be6

The lost tempo, however he did use the tempo to develop another minor piece.

9.Nbd2

Developing another minor piece and creating an attack against his knight. [The main line is: 9.c3 Bc5 10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Bc2 Nxf2 12.Rxf2 f6 13.exf6 Bxf2+ 14.Kxf2 Qxf6 15.Nf1 Ne5 16.Be3 Rae8] Returning to the game which continued with Sokolov playing:

9...Be7

He simply develops his last minor piece and prepares to castle on the kingside. [Analysis:The main line is: 9...Nc5 10.c3 Be7 (10...d4 11.Ng5!? introduced by Karpov against Korchnoi in the 1978 Karpov-Korchnoi World Chess Championship match.) 11.Bc2 Bg4 12.Re1 Qd7 13.Nf1 Rd8 14.Ne3 Bh5 15.b4 Ne6 16.g4 Bg6 17.Nf5 0-0 18.a4 Rfe8 19.axb5 axb5 20.Bd3 Rb8 21.Qe2 Ncd8] Going back to the moves in the Polgar-Sokolov game which continued with Judit playing:

10.c3

The most often played move for White in this position. This move firstly gives her bishop an escape square on c2 (in case he plays ...Na5) and secondly it supports the advance of her d-pawn to d4.

10...0-0

[Analysis:The most popular continuation for Black is: 10...Nc5 and play usually continues: 11.Bc2 Bg4 12.Re1 Qd7 13.Nf1 Rd8 14.Ne3 Bh5 15.b4 Ne6 16.g4 Bg6 17.Nf5 0-0 18.a4 Rfe8 19.axb5 axb5 20.Bd3 Rb8 21.Qe2 Ncd8] The next move in the game was:

She creates a double-attack against his knight. Now he must decide whether to move his knight (to c5), capture her knight on d2 (...Nxd2), or guard the knight by playing....f5 or .....Bf5.

11...f5

The main continuation in this position.

12.Nb3

The main continuation for White in this position, she intends to use this knight to support the other one when it moves to d4). [Analysis:If she were to capture the pawn on f6 play would have probably continued: 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Nb3 Bg4 14.Qd3 Ne4 15.Nbd4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Bd6] Play in the game continued with Sokolov playing:

12...Qd7

The only move Black plays in this position in my database (39 games) connecting his rooks and overprotecting his f-pawn.

13.Nfd4

The most popular move for this position offering to exchange knights.

13...Nxd4

This capture is almost always played by Black in this position in my database.

14.Nxd4

[Analysis:Rarely played in my database is 14.cxd4 ] Topalov continued the game by playing:

14...c5

The only move Black plays in my database in this position (27 games) offering to exchange Polgar's knight for his bishop.

A move almost always played by White in this position, gaining the two bishops.

15...Qxe6

16.f3

The main continuation in this position for White,chasing his bishop.

16...Ng5

The only safe square the bishop can move to.

17.a4

The most popular continuation for White,threatening to win a pawn by 18.axb5.

17...Rad8

[Analysis:The most popular continuation for Black is 17...g6 ] The game continued with Polgar playing:

18.axb5

The only move White plays in this position in my database (5 games).

18...axb5

19.Ra7

First played in the correspondence game Akesson-Hultquist, Polgar ties down Sokolov's queen to defend the Black bishop on e7.

19...Rd7N

This move appears to be a theoretical novelty.He offers to exchange rooks on d7. [Analysis:(a): 19...c4 was played in a correspondence game between Akesson and Hultquist.; (b)Shredder 8: 19...b4 20.cxb4 cxb4 21.Be3!? Qxe5 22.Re1 Qd6 23.Bb3 f4 24.Bf2 Bf6 25.Ra5 Kh8 And white has sufficient compensation for the pawn.]

20.Rxd7 Qxd7
21.Kh1

Judit spends a tempo to take her king off the dark-squared diagonal. [Analysis(a):Hiarcs 8: 21.Bxg5 Bxg5 22.Qd3 Qe6 23.f4 c4 24.Qf3 Bd8 25.Rd1 Bb6+ 26.Kh1 Rd8 27.Ra1 Qd7 28.h3 g6 29.Ra6 Rb8=; (b)Shredder 8: 21.Be3 Nf7 22.f4 Nh6 23.h3 Qe6 24.Qf3 Rd8 25.Rd1 Qc6 26.Bf2 Qa8 ] The next move of the game was:

21...f4

He spends a tempo to isolate Judit's e-pawn from her f-pawn which weakens it. [Analysis:Hiarcs 8 and Shredder 8: 21...Ne6 22.Be3 (Shredder 8: 22.f4 d4 23.cxd4 Nxd4 24.Be3 Rd8 25.Bxd4 Qxd4 26.Qxd4 cxd4 27.Bxf5 d3 and Black has insufficient compensation for the pawn.) 22...g6 23.Qd2 f4 24.Bf2 Rd8 25.Bb3 Kf7 26.Ra1 Qc7 27.Re1 Qd7 ] Polgar's next move was the interesting:

22.b4!?

She offers a pawn sacrifice. [Analysis: (a)Hiarcs 8: 22.b4 cxb4 23.cxb4 Ne6 (23...Bxb4 24.Bb3 Rd8 25.Qd4 Qe7 26.Rd1 Ne6 27.Bxd5 Kh8) 24.Qd3 g6 25.Bb3 Rd8 ; (b)Shredder 8: 22.Qd2 Ne6 23.b4 cxb4 24.cxb4 Rd8 25.Bb2 d4 26.Rd1 Kh8 ] Returning to the moves of the game which continued with Sokolov playing:

22...c4

Sokolov declines the pawn and closes down the queenside pawn structure.Now however his d-pawn is on the open d-file and could be subject to a future attack by Judit. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 22...cxb4 23.cxb4 Bxb4 24.Qd3 Qe6 25.Bb2 Qc6 26.Bb3 Rd8 27.Rd1 Kh8 28.Bxd5 Qb6 ]

23.Qd2

Double-attacking Sokolov's f-pawn which ties down his rook to defend this pawn.Shredder 8 evaluates this position as

23...Ne6

Sokolov decides to spend a tempo to overprotect his weak f-pawn.

24.Rd1

She creates a double-attack against his d-pawn winning a tempo.

24...Nc7

The lost tempo, however now both is b- and d-pawns are protected.

25.Qf2

She intends to blockade his d-pawn by playing her queen to d4. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 25.Be4 Kh8 26.Qd4 Bg5 27.Bc2 Rd8 28.Bd2 Kg8 ] The game continued with Sokolov playing:

25...Qe6

Blockading her passed pawn. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 25...Qc6 26.Bb2 Ne6 27.Bb1 g6 28.Bc2 Rd8 29.Qa7 Rd7 30.Qb8+ Rd8 31.Qa7 Bf8=] Polgar's next move in the game was:

26.Qd4

26...Qc6

Overprotecting both his b- and d-pawns at the cost of leaving his f-pawn enprise. [Shredder 8: 26...Qc6 27.Kg1 Rf7 28.Ba3 Rf8 29.Bb2 Bg5 30.Bc1 Be7 31.Bb2 (Worse is: 31.Bxf4?! Ne6 32.Qa7 Bxb4!? 33.cxb4 Nxf4 34.Re1 Qh6 ) 31...Qh6 ] Returning to the game which continued with the Hungarian GM playing:

27.Kg1

Apparently a waiting move, however this idea is not without danger, due to the fact that her queen and king are on the same diagonal and he has a dark-squared bishop. This gives him the possibility of a knight sacrifice on b4 then after his bishop recaptures on b4 he would threaten ....Bc4 winning her queen for his bishop.

27...g6

Judit spends a tempo to take her king off the same diagonal as her queen. [Analysis:(a)Inferior is: 28.Bxf4 Ne6 29.Qxd5 Qxd5 30.Rxd5 Nxf4 ] Sokolov continued the game by playing:

28...Bg5

He spends a tempo to overprotect his f-pawn which saves it from being lost by Bxf4.Shredder 8 evaluates this position as equal.

29.Bb2

Ending her double-attack against his f-pawn, this could simply be a waiting move to see what Sokolov is planning to play before reacting. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 29.Qc5 Qxc5 30.bxc5 Kf7 31.g3 Ke6 32.Ke2 Kxe5 33.h4 Bh6 34.Re1 Ne6 And White has insufficient compensation for the pawn.] The next move of the game was:

29...Ra8

Sokalov take s the opportunity to grab the open a-file and now creates the threat of .... Ra2 winning a piece. Judit's next move of the game was:

30.Qd2

Now if he plays ....Ra2 she can simply move her attacked bishop and be okay. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 30.Qf2 Bh6 31.Qh4 Bg7 32.Qxf4 Ra2 33.Qc1 Bxe5 34.Bb1 Ra8 35.g3 Re8 ] Play in the game continued with Sokolov playing:

30...Ne6

He once again blockades her passed e-pawn and overprotects his weak f-pawn.This comes at the cost of leaving his d-pawn enprise. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 30...Qe6 31.Re1 Qb6 32.Re2 Rd8 33.Qe1 Ra8 34.Rd2 Qe3 35.Re2 Qb6 36.Qd2 Rd8=]The game continued with Polgar playing:

31.Bb1

She spends a tempo to prevent Sokolov from playing ...Ra2.

31...Rd8

Now that is attack on the a-file has been thwarted he returns the rook to the d-file where it overprotects his d-pawn preventing her from winning a pawn by Qxd5. Judit now continued the game by playing:

32.Qe1

Now that she can no longer win a pawn on the d-file she returns the queen to the e-file where it protects her weak e-pawn.

32...Qc7

He ties down her queen to the defense of her e-pawn. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 32...Qc7 33.Kg1 Qb6+ 34.Qf2 Qxf2+ 35.Kxf2 Bh6 36.h4 Bg7 37.Re1 d4 38.cxd4 Nxd4 39.Bc3 Nc6 40.h5!? gxh5 41.Bf5 h4 42.Re2 Rd1 43.Be6+ Kf8 44.Bf5 Nd4 45.Bxd4 Rxd4 ] Returning to the moves of the game which continued with Polgar playing:

33.h4

Attacking his bishop winning a tempo. [Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 33.Bc2 Bh6 34.Ra1 d4 35.cxd4 Nxd4 36.Bxd4 Rxd4 37.e6 Bf8 38.Ra8 Qe7=] Sokolov's next move in the game was:

33...Be7

The lost tempo. [Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 33...Bh6 34.h5!? gxh5 35.Qh4 Qf7 36.Qh3 Bg5 37.Qf5 Qe7 38.Rd2 Nc7 39.Re2 h4=]

34.Bc1

She ties down his knight to defend his weak f-pawn. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 34.h5!? gxh5 35.Bf5 Qb6 36.Bc1 Bg5 37.Qe2 Ng7 38.Bh3 Qg6=] Sokolov's next move of the game was:

34...Qc6

Overprotecting his d-pawn. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 34...Qb6 35.h5 g5 36.g3 fxg3 37.Be3 g2+ 38.Kxg2 Nf4+ 39.Bxf4 gxf4=] Judit's next move was:

35.Qf2

She gives her queen more mobility by placing it on the open diagonal. [Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 35.h5 g5 36.g3 fxg3 37.Qxg3 h6 38.Qg4 d4 39.Qf5 d3 40.Qg6+ Kf8 41.Kf2 Qd5 42.Qxh6+ Ng7 43.Bxg5 Qxe5 44.Bxe7+ Qxe7 ] The game continued with Sokolov playing:

35...Rf8

36.Bc2

This seems to be a waiting move, she simply is content with her position and she allows him to move before committing to any plan.By placing the bishop here she does prevent him from moving his knight to a4 in the future by the manuevre ...Nc7-a8-b6-a4 (which would attack her weak c-pawn and probably force her to play ...Bxa4 (giving him a passed a-pawn). [Analysis:Shredder 8: 36.h5 g5 37.Qa7 Rf7 38.Qf2 Bf8 39.Re1 Bg7 40.Kg1 Re7 ]

Sokolov's next move was:

36...Bd8

Possibly intending to win a tempo by playing the bishop to b6 attacking her queen.

37.Qd2?

She offers to exchange her h-pawn for his d-pawn.The Shredder 8 evaluation program labelled this move as a mistake. [Analysis:Shredder 8 and Hiarcs 8:Better is >=37.h5!? g5 38.Qd2 Nc7 39.Qd4 Qh6 40.g4 fxg3 41.Qg4 Qe6 42.Qxe6+ Nxe6 43.Kg2 Nf4+ 44.Bxf4 gxf4 45.Rxd5 Be7=]

37...Bxh4

38.Qxd5

She regains material equality.Now Sokolov must decide whether or not to exchange queens.

38...Qb6

He avoids the exchange of queens and he avoids the loss of tempo by creating the game ending threat of 39...Qf2 checkmate. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 38...Qb6 39.Qd2 Rd8 40.Qe2 Rxd1+ 41.Bxd1 Bg3 42.Bc2 Bh2 43.Ke1 Bg3+ 44.Kf1 Bh2 45.Ke1 Qg1+ 46.Kd2 Qe3+ 47.Qxe3 fxe3+ 48.Ke2 Bxe5 49.Bxe3 Bxc3 50.Be4 Bxb4 51.Bc6 Kg7 52.Bxb5 c3 53.Kd3 Kf6 54.Bc4 h5 ] The game continued with this move:

39.Qd2

Judit is forced to spend a tempo to deal with the game ending threat.

39...Bg3

Sokolov overprotects his f-pawn. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 39...Rd8 40.Qe2 Rxd1+ 41.Bxd1 Bg3 42.Bc2 Bh2 43.Ke1 Bg3+ 44.Kd1 Qg1+ 45.Kd2 Bf2 46.Bd1 h5 47.Kc2 Qxg2 48.Qd2 Ng7 ] Polgar's next move of the game was:

40.Qe2

She intends to move her queen to d5. This move however allows Sokolov (if he wants to) to play the move 40.....Bh2 which would threaten the game ending 40...Qf1 checkmate. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 40.Qe2 Qc7 41.Bd2 Qg7 42.Be1 Qh6 43.Bf2 Qh1+ 44.Bg1 the only move 44...Bh2 45.Qf2 the only move 45...Ng7 ]

He intends to transfer his queen to the kingside (h4) via the e7 square. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 40...Rd8!? 41.Rd2 Rxd2 42.Qxd2 Bh2 43.Ke2 Qg1 44.Qd5 Qxg2+ 45.Kd1 Qf1+ 46.Kd2 Qf2+ 47.Kd1 Qg1+ 48.Ke2 Qg2+ 49.Kd1 Qg1 ] The Hungarian GM continued the game by playing:

41.Be4=

She gives her bishop more mobility and prevents Sokolov from moving his rook to a8. This move also prevents him from moving his queen to the h1-a8 diagonal and threatens the move 42.Bd5 pinning his knight (and if he were to move the knight on his next move then her bishop on d5 would support the advance of her passed e-pawn to e6).Shredder 8 evaluates this position as equal.

41...Kh8

Attacking his unguarded knight winning a tempo (unless he plays ...Nc7). [Analysis:Shredder 8: 42.Rd6 Qe7 43.Qd2 Nc7 44.Qd4 Ne6 45.Qd2 Nc7 46.Qd4 Ne6 47.Qb6 Ng5 48.Bc6 Qxe5 49.Qd4 Rf5 50.Rd8+ Kg7 51.Rb8 Qxd4 52.cxd4 c3 And White has compensation for the pawn.] Returning to the moves of the game which continued with Sokolov playing:

42...Ng7

The lost tempo. [Analysis:Shredder 8:Better is >=42...Rd8 43.Rd2 Qa1 44.Qd1 Qa7 45.Qe2 Qa1 46.Qd1 Qa7 47.Qe2 Qa1=] Judit's next move in the game was:

43.e6

Advancing her passed pawn up the board.

43...Qe7

He uses his queen as a blockader of her passed pawn.This move also creates the game ending threat of ....Qh4-h1 checkmate.

44.Qe5

Pinning his knight and creating a double-attack against his f-pawn.

44...Qh4

He decides to force her to spend a tempo to defend against the checkmate threat on h1.

45.Ke2

The lost tempo.

45...h5??

GM Susan Polgar on her chess blog gave this move the ?? [Analysis:Shredder 8:Better (however not saving the game) is: 45...Qh2 46.Rd4 Qxg2+ 47.Kd1 Qh1+ 48.Kc2 Qh2+ 49.Bd2 Qh5 50.Qxh5 Nxh5 51.Bc6 Bh4 52.Bxb5 Ng7 53.Bd7 Bg5 54.Rxc4 ] The game continued with Polgar playing:

46.Be4

She threatens to capture his g-pawn.

46...Rg8

47.Rd7

Double-attacking his pinned knight which ties down his rook and king to defend this piece.

47...Qh1??

He creates the game ending threat of 48... Qe1 checkmate however this move is a blunder. [Analysis:Better (however not saving the game) is: >=47...Kh7 48.Rf7 (48.Bd2 Kh6 49.Rf7 Qg5 50.Qxg5+ Kxg5 51.e7 Ne6 52.Bc6 Nc7 53.Rf8 Rg7 54.e8Q Nxe8 55.Rxe8 ) 48...Qh1 49.Bd2 Qxg2+ 50.Kd1 Kh6 51.e7 Qg1+ 52.Kc2 Qb6 53.Rxg7 Re8 54.Rf7 h4 55.Bxf4+ Bxf4 56.Qxf4+ Kh5 57.Rh7#] The game concluded with Polgar playing:

48.Bd2