Nigel Short vs Zahar Efimenko (2009)

Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players ·

Kibitzing

Nigel Short vs Zahar Efimenko
Short - Efimenko Match (2009), Mukachevo UKR, rd 3, Sep-22
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf. Opocensky Variation (B92) · 1/2-1/2

White to move.

ANALYSIS [x]

1/2-1/2

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1

FEN COPIED

explore this opening	find similar games	7 more Short/Efimenko games
	PGN: download \| view \| print	Help: general \| java-troubleshooting

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

For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.

PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

Sep-22-09		Ezzy: Short,Nigel (2706) - Efimenko,Zahar (2654) [B92] Match Nigel Short vs Zahar Efimenko Mukachevo/Ukraine (3), 22.09.2009 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2< Nigel's played this many times.> 6...e5 <Standard for Efimenko. 6...e6 is the other main line choice. Nigel doesn't lose in this variation very often. I can only find 1 game against a no lesser player than Kasparov where Short lost.> 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Bg5 <This is new for Nigel in this position. He has played 8 0–0 and 8 Be3 before.> 8...Be6 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Qd3 Be7 <Efimenko's had this position before, but he faced 11 0–0–0> 11.Nd5 Nd7 12.Rd1 Bxd5 13.Qxd5 Qc7 14.c3 0–0 15.0–0 b5< Possibly the novelty. 15...Nf6 has been played before.> 16.Nd2 Nb6 17.Qb3 Qc5 18.a3 Rac8 19.Rfe1 g6 20.Nf1 Kh8 21.Ne3 f5 22.exf5 Bg5 23.Qb4< 23 Bd3 or 23 Nd5 can be played, but Nigel decides to force an endgame which he feels is favourable to him.> 23...Bxe3 24.fxe3 gxf5 <24...Qxe3+ 25.Kh1 Qc5 26.Qxc5 dxc5 27.Rd6 Na4 28.Rxa6 c4 29.f6 Nxb2 30.Rb1 Na4 31.Rxb5 Nxc3 32.Rxe5 Nxe2 33.Rxe2 Seems to lead to a drawish endgame. > 25.Qxc5 dxc5 26.Rd6 Rb8 27.Red1 <This position for Nigel is probably not strong enough to win, but it's certainly good enough to keep the pressure on >27...Kg7 28.h4 c4 29.Kf2 Rf6 30.Rxf6 Kxf6 31.Rd6+ Kg7 32.e4 fxe4 33.Ke3 Na4 34.Rxa6 Nxb2 35.Ra7+ Kh8 36.Kxe4 Na4 37.Kxe5 <37.Bxc4 Nxc3+ 38.Kd3 Na4 39.Bd5 Rd8 40.Ra8 Rxa8 41.Bxa8 Nc5+ 42.Ke3 Still heading for a draw>37...Nxc3 38.Bf3 Re8+ 39.Kf6 Rf8+ 40.Ke6 Re8+ 41.Kf7 Rg8 42.Ra5 Rb8 43.Bc6 Nb1 44.Bxb5 Nxa3 45.Ba6 <45.Be8! This move causes a multitude of problems for black to solve and with time getting low, mistakes can be made. 45...Nc2 46.Rg5 h6 47.Rg6 Kh7 48.Rg7+ Kh8 49.Bc6 Threatening 50 Be4 and mate in 6 49...Rc8 Threatening 51...Rc7+ 50.Bd7 Ra8 51.Rg6 Kh7 52.Bf5 Ra7+ 53.Ke8 Ra8+ 54.Kd7 Ne3 55.Ra6+ Nxf5 56.Rxa8 Nxh4 57.g3 Nf5 58.Ra3 Probably still a draw but the whole variation would make black suffer and he could easily go wrong.>45...Ra8 46.Rxa3 Ra7+ 47.Kf8 Ra8+ 48.Kf7 Ra7+ 49.Kf6 c3 50.Rxc3 Rxa6+ 51.Kf7 Ra7+ 1/2-1/2 Nigel steered the game into an endgame that had more potential than black's. Efimenko defended well, but there was a move which could of caused him a lot of problems as the time went ticking by. 45 Be8! would have given him plenty to think about. All in all a fair result with Nigel piling on the pressure in the endgame. So honours even at the halfway stage. I do feel that Nigel is gaining the momentum though. Been a good match so far. Extremely entertaining.

Sep-22-09		Atking: Keeping tension between passion and objectivity it's always a pleasure to read your great work <Ezzy>. Yesterday I suggested 45.Bd7 with the plan Rc5 Rc7 Bf5. Did you analyse it? My opinion is in this line too Black's position is very difficult. But I could have miss something.

Sep-22-09		Ezzy: Hi Atking. With 45 Bd7 analysis seems to show that your plan of Rc7 and Bf5 is difficult to accomplish. click for larger view White has played 45 Bb5-Bd7 then Nc2 46 Rc5 Ne1 47 g3 (47 Rxc4 Nxg2 48 h5 Ne3 covering the f5 square, and no progress can be made) Nd3 and white can't go 48 Rc7 or 48 Rxc4 because of Ne5+ and it's difficult to make progress. With 45 Be8 Nc2 Rg5 and white threatens mate in 1 and has time to put his pieces on better squares. It is defendable but adds to the pressure.

Sep-23-09		Atking: Thanks <Ezzy> for that try. I didn't see Nc2 but on your line immediately g4 for g5-h5-g6 I will check that on a board later after my work.

Sep-23-09		Atking: I analyse a bit there is many ways to go wrong for Black. But the line 45.Bd7 Nc2 46.g4 Nb4 47.g5 c3 48.h5 Nd3 49.g6 Rg8 50.Ba4 hxg 51.hxg Nf4 52.Bc2 which is a R+B vs R ending is draw. Draw but not equal and not easy (I got 3 times this ending I always won). Indeed, as in your line the conclusion is better for White still Black has some chance to draw.

Sep-23-09		Ezzy: <Atking: I analyse a bit there is many ways to go wrong for Black.> Yes your line is also quite forceful with opportunities for black to go wrong.

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:

No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
Nothing in violation of United States law.
No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
No trolling.
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.
Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

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.