chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Ruslan Ponomariov vs Hao Wang
"And Hao!" (game of the day Jan-12-2011)
World Cup (2007), Khanty-Mansiysk RUS, rd 2, Nov-27
Slav Defense: Chameleon Variation (D15)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

Click Here to play Guess-the-Move
Given 1 time; par: 162 [what's this?]

explore this opening
find similar games 18 more Ponomariov/H Wang games
sac: 25...Qxd1 PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: You can get computer analysis by clicking the "ENGINE" button below the game.

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
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Nov-27-07  refutor: great win by Wang Hao!
Nov-27-07  pawnofdoom: Something is definitely wrong with Pono. But truthfully, I hope that unlike with Hossain, he doesn't win the next game and ttiebreaks. I hope that the Chinese players, especially the really young ones like Wang Hao here, make it far. Wang Hao has been improving well and I hope he soon follows Wang Yue and possibly Bu into the 2700s.
Nov-27-07  notyetagm: <s4life: agreed. This was a nice game by W. Hao... his 25th was a 18-ply depth combination and it worked! Pono never saw that coming until it was too late.>

Yes, he must have calculated out to 35 ... b5-b4 when he played 25 ... ♕b3x♖d1!!, else his knight gets <TRAPPED> on the enemy side of the board on d1.

Very little branching factor but still a deep combination. Ponomariov with his 2700-rating completely overlooked it.

Nov-28-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  Bobsterman3000: 24. Qf1 seems pretty weak and useless, especially after having already separate the rooks with 23. Re3. There's got to be a better move available at that critical juncture, but I don't have Fritz right now :-)
Dec-01-07  notyetagm: I just love the combination that Wang Hao played in this game, beginning with the thunderbolt 25 ... ♕b3x♖d1!!.
Dec-24-07  notyetagm: One of the best games of 2007.
May-22-08  dumbgai: Typical Ponomariov, playing out a hopeless endgame just to spite his opponent.
Oct-04-10  notyetagm: Ponomariov vs Wang Hao, 2007

What a *great* combination this is by Wang Hao!


click for larger view

25 ... ♕b3x♖d1!!


click for larger view

36 ... ♘d1-c3+


click for larger view

The point: a winning endgame.

Just beyond brilliant.

Oct-04-10  notyetagm: Game Collection: Wang Hao's Best Games
Jan-12-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  coachjay: Can anyone name some other games with the same tactical theme of a sacrifice followed by a back-rank pin that cannot be avoided due to mate? I'd like to collect a few. Thanks.
Jan-12-11  Julian713: How do players see stuff like that...the queen sac/combination reminds me of something Tal would do.
Jan-12-11  Llawdogg: Wow! Great win for Wang. Beautiful queen sacrifice.
Jan-12-11  David2009:


click for larger view

is Ponomariov vs Wang Hao 2007 G4, White 7? Black having just played a6-a5.

It is remarkable that Black can find the time to play a6 and then a5 within his first 6 moves - and that White cannot take advantage.

In the 2007 World Cup Ponomariov and Wang Hao met four times, Ponomariov winning 2-1 with one draw. Their first game Ponomariov vs Wang Hao, 2007 also began 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 - and that time Ponomariov was the one to win with a Queen sacrifice. In the present game, Ponomariov varies - and loses.

Jan-12-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  matif: Not a monday morning puzzle (nor a sunday). Estupando!!!
Jan-12-11  gtgloner: What is the point of White playing beyond move 32? His opponent is Elo 2643!! Does white not think that 2 connected passed pawns can be brought home by opposition of that magnitude?
Jan-12-11  kellmano: <Coachjay> A similar motif is found here:

Seirawan vs Timman, 1990

Jan-12-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  kevin86: Who would ever have thought that the f-pawn would be the one to queen.

The final position finds the bishop with no move to stop the f-pawn

77 ♗f2 h2+ 78 ♔xh2 ♔xf2 the the pawn will queen.

Jan-12-11  haydn20: I suspect Hao's antennae began quivering after W refuses the Q trade with 18. Qb1. Now B has all the open lines and W is passive, to say the least.
Jan-12-11  Chessmensch: It took a couple of minutes, but Deep Fritz 12 found 25...Qxd1. However, at Depth = 26, it rates Qxa4 better, but just by a trifle of a trifle -1.26 vs. -1.23.
Jan-12-11  WhiteRook48: 25...Qxd1 is a great combination.
Jan-12-11  ajile: 23.Re3 seems to be where White lost it although 22.c5 was also not good.

Either 23.Rd1 or 23.Re2 was at least only a slight edge for Black. After the move played 23.Re3? Black is building serious threats with 23..Qd5! White's back rank is very vulnerable.

Jan-12-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  coachjay: Kellmano - Thanks!
May-21-13  Blunderdome: OK, this was good.
Apr-28-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  Messiah: What a shocking combination! I love it so much.
Jan-13-22  thegoldenband: An absolutely magnificent piece of calculation from Wang Hao.
search thread:   
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>

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: CLASSICAL. 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?]
refutor's favorite games
by refutor
jepflast's combination studies
by jepflast
Slav Defense: Chameleon Variation
from MKD's Queens Gambit Accepted and Declined Black by MKD
Major World cup 2007 games
by positionalgenius
25 Ra1-d1?! reinforces pin on Black d3-knight to recover piece
from Pins! Exploit every pin!!! by notyetagm
20 Nf3xd4! Black d7-queen cannot defend e7-bishop and d4-pawn
from OVERLOADED! by notyetagm
BestGamesBestPlayers
by Miguel Medina
tedster's favorite games set 2
by tedster
Winning Black Openings 2007 For IGM & IM, Part 2
by AuDo
Wang hao mind over matter
from test 10's favorite games by test 10
It *is* pretty good, despite notyetagm
from Games to analyse by SwitchingQuylthulg
Brilliancies in Queen's Gambit
by mmzkr
+1 -1 =0 [+1 -0 =1] vs. Wang Hao (World Cup, Rd.2)
from Match Ponomariov! by amadeus
zz30_B:N - Realise their magic relationship
by whiteshark

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