30. Nc6! is a nice Interference tactic which also defends b2. Note 30 ... Rxc6 31. Qxc3 (31. Qb8+? Rc8) Rxc3 32. Bc4 and the weak back rank costs the game anyway.

<percyblakeney: Not one of Topalov's better blindfold efforts, otherwise he has won the blindfold section of Amber twice>

<chessmoron: Stick to Classical/Rapid/Blitz/Advanced.>

<percyblakeney: but never the rapid section>

I feel like someone's misleading me.

Nope! :) At least according to Chess♔Vibes who are on the scene making reports and videos: 'R2: Magnus beat Loek twice' (March 16)... // http://www.chessvibes.com/rapid-che... ;-)

<kokorcho: What about 30...Rc6 Any chance?>

Just 31. Qxc3 there and after 31... Rxc3 then simply 32. Bc4! (new threat 33. Rxd7) and if the bishop moves then of course 33. Rd8 is curtains! (any check on the back rank is deadly!). ;)

Interesting.

I agree Bd6 looks odd at first glance. I guess it speeds up Black's development if White takes the bishop, and White's dark-squared bishop has quite good prospects on the h2-b8 line after g4 (which often occurs in the 3...Be7 line wherever White puts his queen). Given that the whole line is not really much of a winning attempt for Black it may not be a bad idea to reduce material early.

It has quite an interesting history:

Games Like Morozevich vs Topalov, 2008

Its results don't look very good, but I think Black generally has poor results in the exchange QGD.

I wonder if Topalov might have planned to play ....26.Nc4 hoping for 27.Bx[N]c4 Rx[B]c4 (which if 28.Qx[N|f4? Rx[N]d4 29.Rx[R]e4 Qx[R]d4 30.Qc1 forced Qxe4+ picks up the loose Knight on e7.

Unfortunately the simple 27.Nx[R]c8 and it is all over, because when this rook 'topples off' it can't be compensated for. These kind of multi-piece trade sequences are complex enough when you can actually see the pieces.....

GM Vladimir Kramnik once said this (paraphrased):

<"The standard of Chess is almost the same for classical and blindgames.">

I fully concur with this statement. Rapids being rapids (with or without sight) indeed makes it interesting. ;)

This IMHO is Vlad's Blindfold masterpiece...

Kramnik vs Topalov, 2003

Amber Blindfold 2003 · Sicilian Defense: Paulsen. Normal Variation (B45) · 1-0

If I was citing the great - Alexander Morozevich - there would be further examples of such fantastic Blindfold prowess played at Rapids speed at Melody Amber (Moro is presently ranked #1 and Kramnik is right behind him at #2 in Blindfold play). Many of us in fact are waiting in anticipation for the upcoming encounter to be played tomorrow between 'Kramnik vs. Morozevich' - in which <baited breath> is an understatement! ;-) Respectively, - Mal

PS: I'm a chess player who speaks with some authority on this Blindfold subject. May I suggest that you read my CG.com Profile and the notes given in the Postscripts.:-)

PPS: <minasina: Here is Rybka(?) analysis samples for this game: http://chessok.com/broadcast/live.p... >

Thanks <minasina> - that's an excellent supplement of analysis that you are providing for the Melody Amber games! :))