A lot has already been said about this game, but fortunately there still remain many tricky moves to explain!
1.e4
c5
2.Sf3
d6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Sxd4
Sf6
5.Sc3
a6
6.f3
e6
7.Le3
b5
8.Dd2
Sbd7
9.g4
h6
10.0-0-0
b4
I decided to play a different variation from the one I chose against Nakamura recently in San Sebastian. [10...Lb7
11.h4
b4
12.Sa4
Da5
13.b3
Sc5
14.a3
Tc8
]
11.Sce2
Dc7
12.h4
d5
Up until this point there has been absolutely nothing new, though at that moment Morozevich began to think for 25 minutes. Nevertheless, I thought it was probably some kind of bluff because I had already played this variation and coming into this variation unprepared would be tantamount to suicide...
13.Sf4!N
Proving that I was right. Though this strong novelty doesn't seem to deliver a crushing blow to a variation in which Black anyway doesn't seem to be in trouble, it is really unpleasant to face it over the board.
13...e5!
Clearly the best practical choice. I thought about it for a while to check that at every turn I could have a back-up variation, in case my calculations were wrong at some point. [I think I had planned to play 13...dxe4
14.Sfxe6
fxe6
15.Sxe6
Dc6
16.Sxf8
Sxf8
(16...Txf8?!
17.g5!
Sh5
18.gxh6
gxh6
19.Lxh6->
) 17.Dxb4
exf3
if he had played 13.Sf4, but I didn't take this move seriously enough and so I didn't check the variation thoroughly. It was over the board that I realised that this position was extremely dangerous, e.g : 18.Lf2!?
Le6
(18...Sd5
19.Dd4
Se7
20.Dxg7
Tg8
21.De5
Txg4
22.Ld3->
) 19.Td6
De4
20.Td4
De5
21.Ld3->
All the white pieces are converging on Black's king which is unsafe everywhere. Furthermore, some pawns can fall at anytime, and so the position is very difficult to play, even though it is probably OK if Black plays well.]
14.Sfe6
The obvious continuation of the novelty.
14...fxe6
15.Sxe6
Da5
16.exd5
Dxa2
17.Dd3
Here I got lost in thought, seeing that my first idea was losing by force... Except that it didn't lose !
17...Kf7?
[I was not keen on 17...e4
because of 18.Dd4!
(18.fxe4?
Se5-/+
) 18...Ld6
19.Lc4
b3!
20.f4
Da1+
21.Kd2
Da5+
22.c3
Da2
23.Ke2!->
Here one can feel that something is wrong: my queen is out of play and my king unsafe. The kingside pawns are going to roll forward with crushing effect (beginning with g5).; 17...Ke7?
18.d6+!
Kxe6
(18...Kf7
19.Dc4!
Dxc4
20.Lxc4
Kg6
(20...Tb8
21.Sg5+
Ke8
22.Lf7+
Kd8
23.Se6#
) 21.h5+
Kh7
22.g5+-
) 19.Dc4+
Dxc4
20.Lxc4+
Sd5
21.Lxd5+
Kxd6
22.Lxa8++-
; 17...Lb7!
was probably the strongest, but I thought that after 18.Dg6+
(18.g5!?
is a very interesting idea which offers the opportunity to keep on playing, even though after 18...e4!
19.Sc7+!?
(19.Dc4
Dxc4
20.Lxc4
hxg5
21.hxg5
Txh1
22.Txh1
Sxd5
23.Lxd5
Lxd5
24.Sc7+
Kf7
25.Sxd5
exf3=
) 19...Kd8
20.Se6+
Ke8
21.Dd4!?
hxg5
22.Sxf8
Sxf8
23.Lc4
Da5
24.Lxg5
S8d7
25.fxe4
Da1+!
(25...Dc5?
26.e5!
Dxd4
27.Txd4
Sh7
28.Ld2+/-
is clearly bad: soon there will be 3 pawns all threatening to queen.) 26.Kd2
Da5
probably holds; I don't see a better idea (even if it's still possible to play on a piece down with some compensation) than to take a draw with 27.Kc1
Da1+
28.Kd2
Da5=
) 18...Ke7
19.d6+!
Kxe6
20.Lh3!
I was just lost, but after the very cool (20.g5?
Da1+
21.Kd2
Dxd1+!
22.Kxd1
Lxf3+
23.Kc1
Lxh1-+
) 20...Da1+!
(20...Ld5?
21.g5+
Kxd6
22.gxf6
Sxf6
23.Txd5+!
Dxd5
(23...Kxd5?
24.Df7++-
) 24.Td1+-
) 21.Kd2
Da5!
White has no other choice but to repeat moves. 22.Kc1
(22.Ke2?
Db5+
23.Kf2
Ld5!
24.g5+
Kxd6
25.Lxd7
Kxd7
26.gxf6
gxf6-+
And Black just remains a piece up...) 22...Da1+=
]
18.g5
[18.Sd8+?
didn't work, and I had even seen the best continuation for Black : 18...Ke7!
19.Sc6+
Kd6!
20.Sxb4?
(20.Sd8!
Ke7=
And Black gets at least a draw.) 20...Da1+
21.Kd2
Dxb2
22.Dc4
Lb7
23.Ke1
Tc8
24.Sc6
Kc7!-/+
]
18...Sxd5
19.Lh3!
Here I saw that my problems were anything but over!
19...Sxe3
Probably the best practical choice, even though this move loses by force. [19...S7f6
was my idea when playing 17...Kf7, but after 20.Sd8+
Kg8
(20...Ke8?
21.Dg6+
Kxd8
22.Lb6+
Ke7
23.gxf6+
gxf6
24.Lc5+
Kd8
25.Dxf6+
) 21.gxf6
Sxf6
I had rightly thought 22.Lf1!
was the only move. The only problem was when I understood it was winning because of the threat 23.Dc4+, e.g : 22...Lf5
(22...Le7
23.Sc6!+-
; 22...e4
23.Dc4+
Dxc4
24.Lxc4+
Kh7
25.Sf7
Tg8
(25...exf3
26.Sg5+!
hxg5
27.hxg5+
Kg6
28.Txh8
Sg4
29.Txf8+-
) 26.Sg5+
Kh8
27.Lxg8
Kxg8
28.Sxe4+-
) 23.Dxf5
Da1+
24.Kd2
Txd8+
25.Ld3+-
with a winning attack.]
20.Sd8+
Ke7!
[20...Ke8
was the best choice according to the computer, but only at the beginning. In fact il loses automatically after 21.Lxd7+
Kxd8
22.Lxc8+!
First the computer thinks this leads to draw. (22.Le6+
Sd5
23.Lxd5
Da1+
24.Kd2
Dxb2
25.Lxa8++/-
leaves some hope for Black.) 22...Kxc8
(22...Sd5
23.Le6
Tb8
24.De4!
Da1+
(24...Tb5
25.Dxe5!+-
) 25.Kd2
Dxb2
26.Ke2!+-
with a winning attack.) 23.Dd8+
Kb7
24.Td7+
Kc6
25.Tc7+
Kb6
26.Tc8+
Kb5
27.Txa8
(27.Dd7+
Ka5
28.Dc7+
Kb5
29.Db7+
Ka5
30.Txa8+-
is probably simpler.) 27...Da1+
28.Kd2
Sc4+
29.Ke2
Dxh1
30.Dd7+!
Kb6
31.Tb8+!
Kc5
(31...Ka5
32.Tb5+!!
axb5
33.Da7#
) 32.Tc8+
Kb6
33.Tc6+
Ka5
34.Dc7++-
]
21.Sc6+
Kf7
22.g6+!
The simplest, and perhaps the most powerful, although there was a well-hidden spectacular win. [22.Le6+!!
Kxe6
(22...Dxe6
23.Sd8+
Ke7
24.Sxe6
Kxe6
(24...Sxd1
25.Txd1!+-
) 25.Dxe3+-
and the lack of coordination among Black's pieces leaves him no hope of saving the game.) 23.Dg6+
Sf6
24.gxf6
gxf6
25.De8+
Kf5
26.Sd4+!
Kf4
27.Se2+
Kf5
Here I had thought this was a draw, but... (27...Kxf3
28.Dc6+!+-
) 28.Td4!!+-
The move we probably had both missed. Both threats (29.Sg3# and 29.Tf4+ exf4 30.De4#) are simply too strong.]
22...Kg8
[22...Kf6?
23.Dd6+!
Lxd6
24.Txd6+
De6
25.Txe6#
]
23.Dxe3
Lc5
24.De4!
The simplest, and what I was expecting. [24.Le6+!
Dxe6
25.Dxc5
Lb7
(25...Dxg6
26.Txd7!
Kh7
27.Sxe5+-
) 26.Se7+
Kf8
27.Txd7
Dxd7
28.Sc6+
Kg8
29.Dc4+
Kf8
30.Td1!
Dc7
31.Dc5+
Ke8
32.Td6+-
is another brilliant win, but is as tough to foresee as 22.Le6+.; 24.Dxc5?
Da1+
25.Kd2
Dxd1+
26.Txd1
Sxc5
27.Lxc8+/-
is still better for White, but 24.De4 is just much stronger.]
24...Sf8
25.Td8
Lb7
Losing on the spot, but there was no other choice. [25...Lxh3
26.Txa8
Le6
27.Dxe5!
Dd5
28.Te1!
Dxc6
29.Dxe6+
Dxe6
30.Txe6+-
is totally hopeless.]
26.Txa8?
Here Morozevich misses probably the simplest shot for a win, even though it is not completely obvious. I had also missed it. [26.Txf8+!
Lxf8
(26...Kxf8
27.Df5+!
Kg8
28.Dxe5+-
; 26...Txf8
27.Dxe5
Lc8
28.Lxc8
Txc8
29.Dxc5+-
) 27.Dxe5
Lc8
28.De8+-
]
26...Lxa8
27.h5!
The logical follow-up, my pieces are all tangled up, and so I'm still lost ! [27.Td1??
Lxc6
28.Dxc6
Le3+
29.Td2
Da1#
; 27.Lf1!?
Lxc6
28.Lc4+
Se6!
29.Df5!
Le3+
30.Kd1
Lxf3+
31.Dxf3
Db1+
32.Ke2
Dxc2+
33.Kxe3
Dxg6
34.Tf1+-
and despite being 3 pawns down, the Se6 is going to be lost, leaving a winning ending for White because Black's pawns are going to fall.]
27...Th7!
A strong defensive move, played because of the necessity of giving up the h8-square for the king; otherwise I'm just going to be mated one way or another.
28.Te1
Lxc6
Unfortunately the only move... [28...Kh8
29.Dxe5!+-
]
29.Dxc6
Ld4
30.Kd2?!
[30.Kd1!
Lxb2
31.Lf5
Lc3
32.Ke2!
Lxe1
33.Dc8!
wins on the spot : 33...Kh8
(33...Lc3
34.gxh7++-
) 34.Dxf8+
Dg8
35.Dxg8+
Kxg8
36.gxh7+
Kh8
37.Kxe1+-
]
30...Dxb2
31.Dc4+
Kh8
Black's Th7 is buried alive. And it will remain there for a while. Indeed why would White take the rook instead of continuing to have mating threats?
32.Kd3!
a5
An interesting try, but best was [32...Da3+!
33.Ke4
Da5
with some counterplay with the queen coming back into play.]
33.Dc8?
After this move, I'm not worse anymore ! [33.f4!
Lf2
(33...Dc3+
34.Dxc3
Lxc3
35.Te4!
Kg8
36.Tc4+-
) 34.Ke2!
Da3
35.Kxf2
Dxh3
36.Txe5
Dh4+
37.Ke2
Dd8
38.Df7
Dc8
39.Te8+-
]
33...Da3+
34.Ke4
b3
35.cxb3
a4!
Maybe the move in the game of which I'm the most proud... and it was found in big time trouble. [35...Db4?
36.Tc1
Lc5+
37.Tc4!
De1+
38.Kd5+/-
]
36.Tb1
A very dangerous move. [36.bxa4
Db4!
(36...Lf2!=
is also a draw because 35...a4 opened the third rank!) 37.Tc1
Lc5+!
and 38.Tc4 is no longer possible. 38.Kd5
Dd4+
39.Kc6
Dd6+
40.Kb5
Db6+=
]
36...Db4
[36...Dd6!?
is an interesting try for the win, but it is not enough : 37.bxa4
Lc5
38.Td1!
Dxd1
39.Dxc5
De2+
40.Kd5!
Dxf3+
41.Kc4
e4
42.Lf5!=
]
37.Dc4!
Db7+
38.Dd5
Db4
[38...Dxd5+??
39.Kxd5
a3
40.Tc1!
a2
41.Tc8+-
]
39.Dc4
Dd2!?
40.Lg4?
The decisive mistake, on move forty. [40.Dc8!
De2+
41.Kd5
Db5+
42.Ke4=
And the best choice is to get the draw.]
40...a3!-+
41.Df7
Dc2+
42.Kd5
Dc5+
43.Ke4
a2
44.Tc1
a1D!
45.Txc5
Lxc5
Now I'm a rook and a knight up. So, it's all over, even if Black loses the rook, isn't it?
46.Dd5!?
De1+
47.Kd3
Dd1+
48.Kc4
Dxd5+
49.Kxd5
La3?!
The following endgame is still winning, but I had a simple tactical shot: [49...Sxg6!
50.hxg6
h5
51.Lh3
Th6
52.Kxc5
Txg6
53.b4
Tg3-+
wins easily, because even if the rook has to be sacrificed for the b-pawn, the 3 remaining pawns helped by the king will win as White's king will be far from the kingside.]
50.Lf5!
[50.Kxe5?
Sxg6+!
51.hxg6
h5-+
]
50...Kg8
51.Kxe5
Obviously White doesn't take the rook, or else the win is easy with a knight up and all the pieces back in play.
51...Th8
Finally the rook remains alive after having been en prise for 24 moves. It will even deliver the final blow!
52.Kd5!
Here I understood that I couldn't free my rook and my king without leaving White with a strong passed pawn on h7.
52...Sh7!
[52...Sxg6??
53.Lxg6
Kf8
54.Ke6=
Even without the b3- and f3-pawns, White would draw easily!]
53.gxh7+
Kf7
54.Lg6+
Kf6
Here I was still 90% sure that the position was winning, as the winning idea is easy to find: stalemate White's king to force the Lg6 to move, when g5 wins because the rook is freed from the protection of the h8-square. In fact it's even easier to apply than I thought it was during the game.
55.f4
Lc1!
I want to get the e5-square for the king.
56.f5
[56.b4!?
To push the b-pawn was maybe the most interesting, but after 56...Lxf4
57.b5
Tb8!
58.Kc6
Ke7
59.b6
Lh2
60.b7
Th8(.)
White will be in zugzwang: either Black's king comes to the queenside, or Black can play g5... 61.Kb6
(61.Lb1
g5!
62.hxg6
Kf6-+
) 61...Kd6
62.Lf5
g5!
63.hxg6
Le5
64.Lc8
(64.Ka7
Kc7-+
) 64...Ld4+!-+
]
56...Ld2
57.Kd6
Le1
58.Kd7
Lb4!
Cuts White's king off from the kingside before taking the pawn on b3, leaving White no counterplay.
59.Kc7
Ke5
60.Kd7
La3
61.Kc6
Kd4
62.Kc7
Kc3
63.Kd7
Kb4
The first zugzwang of the game; I prevent unnecessary counterplay. [63...Kxb3
64.Lf7+
Kc3
65.Lg8
Kd4
66.Ke6
Ke4
67.f6
gxf6
68.Kxf6
Kf4!
69.Kg6
Lb2-+
was also winning anyway.]
64.Kd6
Kxb3+
65.Kd5
Lb2
66.Kd6
[Going to the kingside didn't change anything: 66.Ke4
Lf6
67.Lf7+
Kc3
68.Lg6
(68.Lg8
Kd2
69.Kf4
Kd3
70.Kf3
Kd4
71.Kf4
Le7-+
) 68...Kd2
69.Kf3
Kd3
70.Kf2
Ke4
71.Ke2
Td8!
72.Kf2
Td2+
73.Ke1
Lc3!
74.f6+
Kf3-+
]
66...Lf6
67.Kc5
Kc3
68.Kd6
Kd4
69.Kc6
[69.Ke6
Kc5
70.Kf7
with stalemate ideas, doesn't work: 70...Kc6!
71.Ke6
Td8!
72.Kf7
(72.Lf7
Td6#
) 72...Kd6
73.h8D
Txh8
74.Lh7
Txh7-+
]
69...Td8!
70.Kb6
[70.Kb5
Kd5
71.Lf7+
Kd6
72.Lg6
Tc8!
73.Kb4
Kd5
74.Lf7+
Kd4
75.Lg8
Tb8+-+
]
70...Kd5!
Zugzwang!
71.Kc7
[71.Lf7+
Kd6
72.Lg6
Tb8+-+
]
71...Kc5
72.Lf7
g5
73.fxg6
Td6
74.Le8
Le5
75.Kb7
Tb6+
76.Kc8
Kd6
A very exciting game, but also quite frightening! I experienced all sorts of states of mind during this game, and even if I think I got quite lucky, I also found all the moves to remain alive in the game. 0-1