chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Alexander Morozevich vs Teimour Radjabov
"Thud and Blunder" (game of the day Aug-05-2011)
ACP Rapid (2007) (rapid), Odessa UKR, rd 2, Jan-07
Sicilian Defense: Nezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack (B30)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

explore this opening
find similar games 26 more Morozevich/Radjabov games
PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: Olga is our default viewer, but we offer other choices as well. You can use a different viewer by selecting it from the pulldown menu below and pressing the "Set" button.

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
Jan-07-07  myschkin: Well blundered!
Jan-07-07  Pounamu Knight: Cool pressing moves 4ward won the day 4 Radjabov; very effectiv against the mad scientist Morozevich - dammit!

Jan-08-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  Chnebelgrind:


click for larger view

64. b5?? Kxc5 0-1

Jan-08-07  euripides: Chessbase claim the position was a technical win for Morozevich. Is this right ? If 64.Kxe4 then 64...Bg2+ 65.Kd4 Bxd5 66.Rxd5+ Kc7 67.Rc5+ Kb7 68.Rxc8 Kxc8 69.Ke5 h5 70.Kf5 h4 looks drawn. White has the resource Nf6 in some lines as well as king moves, but is there a clear win ?
Jan-09-07  Ramin: no need for kxe4. kd4 and the game is won
Jan-09-07  euripides: <ramin> Kd4 is no doubt better than Ke4, but what's the winning line ?
Jan-09-07  acirce: <If 64.Kxe4 then 64...Bg2+ 65.Kd4 Bxd5 66.Rxd5+ Kc7 67.Rc5+ Kb7 68.Rxc8 Kxc8 69.Ke5 h5 70.Kf5 h4 looks drawn.>

69.g4 stops ..h5 and wins the pawn endgame.

Jan-09-07  euripides: <acirce> true. Is there any mileage in <64.Kxe4 Bg2+ 65.Kd4> h5 ?
Jan-29-07  AAAAron: Hey, chessgames.com!!! You need to fix the glych in this game. I heard Morozevich is such a radical player, that he pointed a BB gun at Radjabov. Radjabov, thinking the gun was real, resigned. All this before the first move. Good strategy by Moro!
Jan-29-07  positionalgenius: <AAAAron>I will be happy when you stop posting.
Jan-29-07  Shams: for the record, I laughed at AAAAron's post.

Radjabov gets the two bishops in exchange for ruined q-side pawns in the opening, but then gives up his dark squared bishop. Doesn't this seem a little odd? He goes on to win, though. I suspect he knows a little more than I do.

Feb-12-07  AAAAron: Thanks Shams.... I'm like a chessgames jester. Unfortunately, some people, like <positionalgenius> have no sense of humor. Just line after line analysis............ Which is OK, but I bet he's VERY boring in person. Oh well, I wish they'd fix the glych in this game.
Aug-05-11  hedgeh0g: Poor Morozevich...

In his defence, I would argue that it was a rapid game and he would likely be short of time by move 64. Nonetheless, 64...b5?? is a tragic blunder.

On a further note, I'm sure the numerologists on this site will point out that the blunder was committed on move 64 and there are 64 squares on a chessboard, etc. Please get jobs.

Aug-05-11  BiteByBits: sometimes sacrifices like that works, like if the black king wasn't at c5...
Aug-05-11  eSpade: just noticed that GOTD and Puzzle of the day both have Morozevich at the losing end :(
Aug-05-11  JohnBoy: I love the single annotation to this game score... HAHAHA
Aug-05-11  psmith: <acirce> no mileage.

64.Kxe4 Bg2+ 65.Kd4 h5 66. Ne3 Bb7 (or whatever) 67. Nc4+ and Nb6 winning.

Aug-05-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  kevin86: oops!!!!! White had a win until he left his rook hanging.
Aug-05-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  LIFE Master AJ: In the game, we had:

63.g3 Bxh3;
The position after Black's 63rd.


click for larger view

64.b5??,
A horrible blunder.

[ White wins in all lines after KxP/e4. For example:

64.Kxe4! Bf1;

Fritz shows this as being best.

(64...Bg2+; 65.Kd4 h5;
Again - several programs show this as being best, taking the Knight on e4 loses badly.


click for larger view

(Black loses after the capture on d5.
65...Bxd5; 66.Rxd5+ Kxc7; 67.Rc5+ Kb8; 68.Rxc8+ Kxc8; 69.g4,


click for larger view

This is an easy win in the K+P ending.)

Now White should win easily.
66.Ne3,


click for larger view

66...Bb7; 67.Nc4+ Ke6; 68.Re5+,


click for larger view

(Also interesting was 68.b5!?)

68...Kf6;
The machine wants to play 68...Kd7; in this position, but that loses to the immediate fork on b6.


click for larger view

69.Nd6 Rxc7; 70.Ne8+,


click for larger view

White wins - as he picks off the Rook.)

65.Kd4 Ba6; 66.Ra5 Bb7; 67.Rb5 Bc6; 68.Rb8 Rxc7; 69.Nxc7 Kxc7; 70.Rh8,


click for larger view

This is a fairly simple win for White. ]

64...KxR/c5; " " and White Resigns. 0-1

Aug-06-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  Peligroso Patzer: A bit reminiscent of Short vs Krasenkow, 2004, another game in which a world-class player suddenly spoiled a clear advantage by blundering a rook in a simplified position.

Presumably, severe time pressure was responsible in both instances.

Aug-07-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  LIFE Master AJ: <Presumably, severe time pressure was responsible in both instances.>

A safe assumption. (IMO)

Aug-13-11  Gambit All: What's wrong with 13...♘xc3? Setting up 14. bxc3 ♗xd3
Aug-13-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sastre: 13...Nxc3 14.bxc3 Bxd3 15.Qd1 Rfd8 16.Re1 gives White the advantage.

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: RAPID. 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?]
Morozevich's great blunder
from Great blunders by great GMs by ahmadov
thud and blunder...
from pun city by kevin86
zumakal blunders archivadas1
by zumakal
August 5: Thud and Blunder
from Game of the Day 2011 by Phony Benoni
Thud and Blunder
from marwanredman123's favorite games 6 by marwanredman123
Thud and Blunder
from marwanredman123's favorite games 6 by iago56
Thud and Blunder
from marwanredman123's favorite games 6 by Jaredfchess

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