Commentary – 2 round

(1) Bacrot,Etienne (2739) – Onischuk,Vladimir (2583)
(2.1)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf30-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 A well known variation of King’s Indian Defense is played.

9.b4 This is the continuation that Bacrot prefers.

9…Nh5 10.g3 [10.Re1 f5 11.Ng5 is played more often. 10.g3 prevents Nf4 in some variations.]

10…f5 11.Ng5 Nf6 12.f3 f4 [12…c6 13.Kg2h6 14.Ne6 Bxe6 15.dxe6 Ne8 16.Qb3 Nc7 17.c5d5 18.exd5 cxd5 19.Rd1 Kh7 20.Bb2 d4 21.Nb5Nxb5 22.Bxb5 Nd5 23.f4 Ne3+ 24.Qxe3 dxe325.Rxd8 Rfxd8 26.Bxe5 Bxe5 27.fxe5 Rd528.Kf3 Rxe5 29.Rd1 Rxe6 30.Rd7+ Kh831.Rxb7 Rd8 32.Bc4 Re4 33.Be2 g5 34.h3 h535.c6 g4+ 36.hxg4 hxg4+ 37.Kg2 Rd2 38.Kf1Rc2 39.c7 Re8 40.Bd3 e2+ 41.Bxe2 Rcxe242.c8Q 1/2-1/2 Speelman,J (2630)-Akopian,V (2605)/Debrecen 1992/EU-chT]

13.b5 Ne8 14.Ne6 Bxe6 15.dxe6 c5 With the idea of Nc7 and N:e6. [15…Qc8 16.Nd5Qxe6 17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.Qd5+ Kh8 19.Qxb7 ]

16.Nd5 Nc7 17.Nxc7 Qxc7 18.Rf2! White prepares Bf1 and Bh3.

18…Rf6 19.Bf1 Rxe6 20.Bh3 Rf6 21.gxf4exf4 22.Bb2 All this was forced after 18.Rf2.

22…g5!? Black sacrifices the exchange hoping to get control over the dark squares. [22…Rff823.Be6+ Kh8 24.Qd2 White has enough compensation for the pawn.]

23.Bxf6 Bxf6 24.Kh1 24…B: a1 will be a huge mistake.This bishop is an important defensive piece.

24…Kg7 25.Rd2 Rd8 26.Qg1 Ng6 27.Rad1Ne5 28.Qf1 h5 29.Bf5 Kh6 30.h4 gxh431.Rg2 Qe7 32.Rd5 Treatening with 33.R:e5 and 34.Rg6+.White’s bishop is very strong.

32…h3?! 33.Rg1 Bg5 34.Qxh3 Rg8 [34…Nxc4? 35.Bg6!+- ]

35.Bg4?! This allows the black bishop to get out of the pin and trade the rooks.35. Rd2 was much better.

35…Bh4! 36.Bc8?! Rxg1+ 37.Kxg1 Even though the computer gives advantage to black, I don’t really think that white has serious problems.

37…Nxc4 38.Qe6+ Qxe6 39.Bxe6 Ne5 [39…Be7 40.Rd3 (40.Rxh5+ Kxh5 41.Bxc4= ) 40…Ne5 41.Ra3 ]

40.Rxd6 Be7 Time control is over and white can choose from 41.b6 and 41. Rd5.

41.Rd5 [41.b6 axb6 42.Rxb6 Nxf3+ 43.Kf2Ne5 44.Rxb7 and the “a” pawn is very dangerous.]

41…Nxf3+ 42.Kf1 c4 43.Rd7 Bb4 44.Ke2 [44.Rxb7 Nd2+ 45.Ke2 f3+ 46.Ke3 c3 black pawns are very mobile.]

44…Ne5 45.Rxb7 f3+ 46.Kd1 [46.Kf1 Bc547.Rc7 Bb6 48.Rc8 Ng4 49.Bxc4 Ne3+ 50.Ke1f2+ 51.Kxf2 Nxc4+ ]

46…Bc5 47.Rc7 Bb6 48.Rc8 Players agreed to a draw.One of the possible variations was 48…f2 49.Ke2 Nf3 50.B:c4 Nh2 51.Rf8 f1Q+ 52. R:f1 N:f1 53.K:f1 1/2-1/2