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Vasyl Ivanchuk vs Peter Leko
Ivanchuk - Leko Rapid Match (2007) (rapid), Mukachewo, rd 2, Oct-26
Scotch Game: Classical. Intermezzo Variation (C45)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Oct-26-07  amadeus: I second this comment.
Oct-26-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  tamar: Leko mentally resigned when he saw the the three c pawns lined up after move 14.

The Irish Pawn Center as Miles would say.

Oct-26-07  pawnofdoom: One by one Leko lost his pawns (which were pretty impossible to defend. Then he got into the knight fork which will lose material.

After 14. ... dxc5, black got tripled pawns. Now white just has to attack those tripled pawns and he will probably win at least two of them eventually.

Oct-27-07  ajile: White takes advantage of Black's weakened pawns. There must be a better move than 4..Bc5.
Oct-27-07  capablancakarpov: 6...Qxf3 seems a better move
Oct-27-07  ounos: <ajile> I don't think the scotch defence is refuted by this game...
Oct-27-07  ajile: <ounos: <ajile> I don't think the scotch defence is refuted by this game...>

I don't think it is either. capablancakarpov is probably right though about 6..QxQ being a better move. After 6..QxQ both sides have damaged pawn structures.

Oct-28-07  ongyj: 6...Qxf3 7.gxf3 does look better than what was played, but it's not without 'concerns'. Firstly White has the g file to target Black's g7 pawn. Second, notice that 7.gxf3 somewhat centralises White's pawns. It is not easy for Black to exploit White's seemingly 'hanging pawns'. Most importantly, playing 6...Qxf3 will be akin to playing into Ivanchuk's preparations, which Leko probably wanted to avoid.

But even then, Black should have just played 6...dxc6, sacrificing pawn structure for activity.

Oct-29-07  Whack8888: I got brutally destroyed on the black end of this opening just last week--I also noticed Svidler lost his game while playing the black side of this against Morozevich. I have decided to switch to Nf6 instead of Bc5 and Qf6, not necessarily because I think the opening is not sound, but because it is very difficult to play. Black has to make something of his piece activity, and this is not all that easy to do.
Nov-21-07  timhortons: <whack888> the moro-svidler game youre referrin is not in intermezzo variation i presume...was it the one done in mexico?
Nov-21-07  jmrulez2004: First official mistake is 10.d6....10.a4 would have been of better prospects
Jan-14-08  hesyrett: <tamar> "The Irish Pawn Center as Miles would say."  Whew--that's a sharp English tongue wagging there!  As for the issue of how to defend against the Scotch, why not give Steinitz's 4...♕h5 a try?
Jan-14-08  Jim Bartle: The Englishman refers to the Irish Pawn Center in the Scotch Opening. No equal time for Wales?
Mar-08-10  Matsumoto: Brilliant game by Ivanchuk!!

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