Boris Schipkov: Grischuk, Alexander (2710) - Shirov, Alexei (2720) [B30], Tal Memorial, Moscow (7) 2006

Chess Siberia

Grischuk, Alexander (2710) - Shirov, Alexei (2720) [B30]
Tal Memorial, Moscow (7) 2006
Notes by Boris Schipkov

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. d3 Ne7 6. Qe2!? Qc7
The alternatives are 6...Ng6 7. h4 Qc7 and 6...f6 7. Nh4.

7. Ng5!
Better and more active than 7. O-O Ng6 8. Ng5 e5 9. Qh5 d6 10. f4 h6 11. Nh3, a draw in Grischuk, A - Radjabov, T, RUS-chT, Sochi 2006.
7...e5
If 7...f6 then 8. Nh3.
8. f4!
Alea jacta est! White breaks through security lines.
8...exf4
In Anand, V - Radjabov, T, Mainz 2006, Vishy obtained an advantage after 8...c4 9. dxc4 Ba6 10. b3 Bc5 11. e5 d5 12. exd6 Bxd6 13. O-O.
9. O-O Ng6

10. Qh5 d6
10...Qe5, 10...Bd6 and 10...c4 are also possible.
11. Bxf4 h6

12. Nxf7!
Great! Alexander makes the offer a la Mihail Tal Alexei can't refuse.
12...Qxf7 13. Bxd6 Qe6 14. Bxf8 Rxf8 15. Nd2 Bd7
Or 15...c4 16. Nxc4 Ba6 17. Na5.
16. Qxc5

16...Qe7
White has gathered three pawns for the bishop. Here he has a clear edge due to good structure and an easy path to the center for his king.
17. Rxf8+ Kxf8 18. Rf1+ Kg8
18...Ke8 is met by 19. Qc4.
19. Qxe7 Nxe7 20. Nb3 Rd8 21. Nc5

21...Bc8
A nice outpost on c5 for the knight.
22. Kf2 Rf8+ 23. Ke2 Rxf1 24. Kxf1 Ng6 25. b4 Kf7 26. Ke2 Nf4+ 27. Kf3 Ne6 28. Nb3 Ke7 29. Ke3 Kd6 30. d4 Nc7 31. c4

31...Be6
Oh boy! This pawn armada is unconquerable.
32. Kd3 Bg8 33. a4 Ne6 34. g3 Ng5 35. Nd2 a6 36. h4 Nh3 37. Ke3 g5 38. d5 cxd5 39. exd5 gxh4 40. gxh4 Bh7 41. Ne4+ Ke5 42.Nc5

42...Nf4
Winning.
43. d6 Ne6 44. d7 Nd8 45. Nxa6 Kd6 46. Nc5 Bg8 47. Kd4 Nc6+ 48. Kc3 Ke7

49. b5
Hasta la vista...
49...Ne5 50. b6 Nxd7 51. b7
Black resigned. 1-0

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