Filippov, V. (2621) - Iljushin, A. (2531) [A90], Russia ch semi-final, Kazan (1) 2005

Chess Siberia

Filippov, V. (2621) - Iljushin, A. (2531) [A90]
Russia ch semi-final, Kazan (1) 2005
Notes by Boris Schipkov

1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 c6 5. Nh3 d5 6. O-O Bd6

7. Bf4
The Modern Stonewall. You can see the Stonewall, the Alekhine Variation, the Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation and others in my classical CD "Dutch Defence A90-A99" (ChessBase).
7...Be7 8. Nd2 O-O

9. Qc2
After 9. Nf3 Nbd7 10. Bd2 (10. Nfg5 Nb6 11. c5 h6 12. cxb6 hxg5 13. Bc7 Qe8 14. Nxg5 axb6 15. a4 Ra6 16. e3 c5 17. b3 Bd7= Evdokimov,A-Ulibin,M/Moscow 2005) 10...Ne4 11. Nf4 Ndf6= Sakaev,K-Iljushin,A/Kazan 2005 or 9. Rc1 Qb6 10. Nb3 Na6 11. Bd2 Qd8 12. Nf4 Ne4= Gleizerov,E-Iljushin,A/Krasnodar 2002, Black has the equal chances.
9...Nbd7!?
Better than 9...Nh5 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. Bg5 Najer,E-Iljushin,A/Warsaw 2005 and White obtains a small edge.

10. Nf3
Black easily levels and after 10. Ng5 Nb6 11. c5 h6 12. cxb6 hxg5 13. Bxg5 axb6 14. Nf3 Bd7 15. Ne5 Be8 16. f3 Nd7 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 Bartel,M-Iljushin,A/Istanbul 2003.
10...Ne4 11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. Bxe5 Nd6
The position is even.
13. cxd5?!
13. b3 is more precise.
13...exd5

14. Nf4 Nf7
Now Black is slightly better.
15. Nd3 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 f4!
Seizing the initiative.

17. gxf4 Rxf4 18. e3 Rf6 19. f4 Bf5 20. Qe2

20...Bd6
20...Qb6 is interesting.
21. Kh1
If 21. e4 then 21...dxe4 22. Bxe4 Qe7 with a minimal advantage to Black.
21...Rh6
21... Qe7!?.

22. Bf3 Rh3
Both 22...Qh4 and 22...Qe7 deserve attention.
23. Bg2 Rh6 24. Rf2
24. Bf3.
24...Qe7
Interesting is 24...Qh4!? 25. Bf3 Bh3 26. Rg1 Rf8.
25. Bf3 Rh3 26. Rg1 Bxe5 27. dxe5
27. fxe5 Rxf3 28. Rxf3 Be4 29. Rg4 is also playable, with approximate equality.

27...Rxf3! 28. Rxf3 Be4 29. Rgg3 Rd8
Or 29...Re8.
30. Kg1 Bxf3 31. Rxf3 c5
31...Qe6.
32. Rf1?!
32. Qc2!? is stronger.
32...Qe6 33. Rd1

33...d4!
Again Black gets the initiative and a small edge.
34. exd4 cxd4 35. b3 Qg6+ 36. Kf2 d3 37. Qf3 d2

38. Qxb7?!
A mistake. 38. Ke2 or 38. Qe3 is more stubborn.
38...Qh5 39. Qf3 Qxh2+ 40. Ke3 g5!
A fine blow.

41. Qg4 Qxf4+ 42. Qxf4 gxf4+ 43. Kxf4 Kf7 44. b4 Ke6 45. b5

45...Rd4+!
The right decision. 45...h5? 46. a4 h4 47. a5 h3 48. b6 axb6 49. axb6 h2 50. b7 Rh8 51. Rh1 Rb8 52. Ke3 leads only to a draw.
46. Ke3 Kxe5 47. a4

47...Rxa4?
Black could win with 47...Kd5! 48. a5 (48. Rxd2 Rxd2 49. Kxd2 Kc4) 48...Kc4 49. b6 axb6 50. axb6 Kc3 51. b7 Rd8.
48. Rxd2
This is a drawish ending.
48...Re4+ 49. Kf3 Rf4+ 50. Ke3 Rf7 51. Rh2 Re7
Or 51...Kd5 52. Kd3 Kc5 53. Rh5+ Kb4 54. Kc2.
52. Rh5+

52...Kf6+ 53. Kf4 Rb7 54. Rc5 Kg6 55. Kg4 Rd7 56. Rc6+ Kf7

57. Rh6
Also possible is 57. b6.
57...Ke8 58. Kf4 Kf8 59. Ra6 Ke7 60. Kg4
Draw. 1/2-1/2