Commentary – 1 round

(1) Eljanov,Pavel (2723) – Danielian,Elina (2467) [E10]
1-18 Board (1.2)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd55.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Bf4 Modern Benoni is played.This defense usually leads to very sharp positions.7.g3 used to be the main continuation for several years.7.Bf4 is more popular nowadays. Particularly it’s L.Aronian’s favorite.

7…Bg7 7..a6 is the other option for black.

8.Qa4+ Bd7 9.Qb3 Qc7 10.e4 0-0 11.Nd2Nh5 12.Be3 f5 13.exf5 Bxf5 [13…gxf514.Be2 f4 15.Bxc5 f3 16.Bxf3 Rxf3 17.gxf3Qxc5 18.Qxb7 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Nf4 20.Rg1+ Kf721.Ne4 Qxd5 22.Qxd5+ 1-0 Kortschnoj,V (2635)-Nunn, J (2600)/London 1984/MCL (41)]

14.Be2 Nf6 15.h3 [15.Nc4 a6 16.Bf4 Ne817.Qb6+/= ]

15…Na6 16.a3 Rae8 Strategically black’s position is bad as Nc4 and Nb5 are real treats ,but they have an active counterplay on the kingside.

17.0-0 Ne4 Black gives up the light-squared bishop. This decision probably is not the best.

18.Ndxe4 Bxe4 19.Nxe4 Rxe4 20.Bg4!This bishop is becoming very powerful.

20…Ree8 Black still has to solve the problem of the a6 knight. White has to choose between attacking on the kingside and the plan with b2-b4. Both are very promising.

21.Rab1 Nb8 22.Qa4 a6 23.Be6+ Kh824.h4?! The idea is correct, but it is not the right time.Black has 24…Nc6! now.

24…Nc6! This once passive knight is moving to the center.

25.Rfc1 Preventing Nd4.

25…Ne5 26.Qe4 Qe7 27.Rc2 [27.b4 c428.b5 ]

27…b5 28.b3 Nc6 29.g3 Nd8 30.Bg5 Bf631.Bh6 Bg7 32.Bxg7+ Qxg7 33.Re1 Nf734.Rce2 Qc3 35.Re3 Qd2 36.f4 Nh637.Qg2 Qd4 38.Qf2 Re7 39.R3e2 Qc340.Qe3 Qxe3+ Time control is over and black does not have visible problems.Knight will go to d4 and it will be hard for white to create serious treats.

41.Rxe3 Rfe8 42.Kf2 Nf5 43.Re4 Nd444.b4 Nxe6 45.g4 c4 46.Rxe6 Rxe647.Rxe6 Rxe6 48.dxe6 Kg7 49.Ke3 Kf650.f5 gxf5 51.gxf5 d5 52.Kd4 h5? [52…Ke753.Ke5 c3 54.f6+ Ke8 55.Kd6 c2 56.f7+ Kf857.e7+ Kxf7 58.Kd7 c1Q 59.e8Q+ Kg760.Qe5+ Kg6= ]

53.Kxd5 c3 54.Kd6 c2 55.e7 c1Q 56.e8QQd1+ 57.Kc7 White has good chances to win.

57…Kxf5 58.Kb7 Qh1+ 59.Kxa6 Qxh460.Qxb5+ Kg6 61.Qd3+ Kg7 62.b5 Qa4+63.Kb7 h4 64.b6 Qg4 65.Qc3+ Kh766.Qc7+ Kg6 67.Qc6+ Kg5 68.Ka8 Qg369.Qc5++- Kh6 70.b7 Qf3 71.Ka7 Qf772.Ka6 1-0