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com is pleased to present its newest column, "Chess Purchases from our
Evolution." Chess Evolution is a new periodical edited by Arkadij chess shop help keep
Naiditsch, wherein a multinational team of Super-GMs analyse the most ChessCafe.com freely
important recent games, using their world-class skill and powerful accessible:
computers.

Contributors to the September 4/2011 issue include Naiditsch, Maze,

Sedlak, I. Sokolov, Miton, Bacrot, Jobava, and Predojevic. The games
are selected mainly for their importance to chess theory and each issue
consists of approximately 400 hours of chess research!

Chess A "Do-Not-Play-Again" Move

Evolution By Etienne Bacrot and Arkadij Naiditsch

E. Bacrot (2710) – R. Edouard (2587) Chess Informants 107-109

86th French Championship, Caen by Chess Informant
Round 9, 23.08.2011 [D27]
Annotated by Etienne Bacrot & Arkadij Naiditsch
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Black's choice of 11...Bd7?! is not the best solution in the position. Black
should stick to the more common 11...Na5 with very unclear play. White
chose the wrong reply with 12.Rad1 – instead 12.Rfe1! would have given him
a clear advantage. After a few mistakes on both sides, Black couldn't stand the
pressure and blundered with 23...Bc5??.

Overall, an interesting fighting game, but less interesting theoretically: 11...

Bd7?! is simply a "do-not-play-again" move.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.0–0 a6 7.Bb3 Nc6 8.Nc3 NIC Yearbook #99
cxd4 9.exd4 Be7 10.Bg5 0–0 11.Qd2 Bd7?! by New In Chess

11...Na5 is the main move in the position.

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Chess Informant 110

by Chess Informant

[FEN "r2q1rk1/1p1bbppp/p1n1pn2/6B1/
3P4/1BN2N2/PP1Q1PPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 12"]

12.Rad1?!

Not the best! The right move was:

12.Rfe1!

This is clearly the main move here.

12...Rc8
If Black wants to try the same idea as in the game, then now a surprise awaits
him: 12...Na5 13.Bc2 Nc4 14.Qe2 Nxb2?? Compared to the game, there is no
white rook on d1 under attack. 15.Bc1!+– Black's knight is trapped.

13.Rad1 Na5 14.d5 Nxb3 15.axb3 h6 16.Bxh6 gxh6 17.d6+/- Caruana –

Istratescu, Switzerland 2010.

12...Na5 13.Bc2 Nc4 14.Qe2

[FEN "r2q1rk1/1p1bbppp/p3pn2/6B1/2nP4/
2N2N2/PPB1QPPP/3R1RK1 b - - 0 14"]

A critical moment of the game.

14...Rc8?!

Black didn't use his chance and continued with schematic play.

14...Nxb2! was possible after which Black is at least equal.

[FEN "r2q1rk1/1p1bbppp/p3pn2/6B1/3P4/
2N2N2/PnB1QPPP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 15"]

a) 15.Rc1 Bc6

15...b5 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Be4 b4! 18.Bxa8 (18.Nb1 Na4 19.Bxa8 Qxa8 [19...
Bb5 20.Qd2 Qxa8 21.Qxb4 Bxf1 22.Kxf1 Qe8 23.Nbd2 Qb5+ 24.Qxb5 axb5
25.Ne4+/=] 20.Qc2 a5 21.Rfe1 Qd5=/+; 18.Qxb2 bxc3 19.Rxc3 Rb8 20.Qc2
g6 21.Rc1 Qb6=/+) 18...bxc3 19.Be4 Bb5 20.Qe3 Bxf1 21.Kxf1 Na4 22.Qd3
g6 23.Qxa6 Nb2 24.Rxc3 Bxd4 25.Rc2 Bf6 26.g3=

15...Rc8 16.Ne5 Rxc3 17.Bxf6 Rxc2 (17...Bxf6 18.Bxh7+ Kxh7 19.Rxc3 Kg8
20.Rh3 Bxe5 21.dxe5 Na4 22.Qh5 f5 23.exf6 Qxf6 24.Qh7+ Kf7 25.Rf3+–)
18.Qxc2 Bxf6 19.Qxb2 Bb5 20.Rfe1 Qd6+/= The bishop pair promises Black
good compensation, but White is the only one who can play for the advantage.

16.Rb1 Qa5 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Ne4 Na4

18...Bb5 19.Nxf6+ gxf6 20.Qe4 f5 21.Qf4 Bxf1 22.Qg5+ Kh8 23.Qf6+ Kg8
24.Ng5 Qc7 25.Qh6 f6 26.Nxe6 Qe7 27.Nxf8 Bd3
 [FEN "r4Nk1/1p2q2p/p4p1Q/5p2/3P4/
3b4/PnB2PPP/1R4K1 w - - 0 28"]

28.Nxh7! A very beautiful tactic. 28...Bxc2 (28...Qxh7 29.Qd2 Bxc2 30.Qxc2

+–) 29.Nxf6+ Kf7 30.Nd5 Qe4 31.Qf6+ Ke8 (31...Kg8 32.Ne7+ Qxe7 33.
Qxe7 Bxb1 34.d5+–) 32.Qh8+ Kf7 33.Qh7+ Kf8 34.Nf6! Qxd4 (34...Qe6 35.
Nd7+ Ke8 36.Nc5 Qe7 37.Qg8+ Qf8 38.Re1+ Be4 39.Qb3+–) 35.Qh8+ Kf7
36.Qxa8! Bxb1 37.Qe8+ Kg7 (37...Kxf6 38.Qh8++–) 38.Qe7+ Kg6 39.Qh7+
Kg5 40.Qg7+ Kf4 41.Qg3#

19.Nxf6+ gxf6 20.Ne5

20.Qe3 Kg7 21.Ne5 fxe5 22.Qg5+ Kh8 23.Qf6+ Kg8 24.Qg5+=

20.Bxh7+ Kxh7 21.Ne5 fxe5 22.Qh5+ Kg8 23.Qg5+ Kh7 24.Qh4+=

20...fxe5 21.Bxh7+

[FEN "r4rk1/1p3p1B/p1b1p3/q3p3/
n2P4/8/P3QPPP/1R3RK1 b - - 0 21"]

21...Kg7 22.Qg4+ Kxh7 23.Qh5+ Kg8 24.Qg5+ Kh7 25.Qh5+=

b) 15.Rb1 Rc8 16.Rxb2 Rxc3 17.Rc1 Nd5 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.Rxb7 Rfc8-/+

c) 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Bxh7+ Kxh7 17.Qxb2 Bc6 18.Ne5 Bxe5 19.dxe5 Qg5 20.
f4 Qf5=/+

d) 15.Bxh7+

[FEN "r2q1rk1/1p1bbppB/p3pn2/6B1/3P4/
2N2N2/Pn2QPPP/3R1RK1 b - - 0 15"]
15...Nxh7!

15...Kxh7 16.Qxb2 Bc6 17.Ne5 Kg8 18.Rd3+/= White has good attacking
chances on the kingside.

16.Bxe7 Nxd1

16...Qxe7 17.Qxb2 Rac8 18.d5 (18.Ne5 Nf6 19.Rfe1 Bc6 20.Nxc6 bxc6=)
18...Qc5 19.Ne4 Qc2 20.Qe5 Qxa2 21.dxe6 Bxe6 (21...Qxe6 22.Nd6 Qxe5 23.
Nxe5 Rc7 24.Rc1 Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Nf6 26.Nxd7 Nxd7 27.Rc7 Nf6 28.Nxb7=)
22.Nd6 Rcd8 23.Rd2 Qa3 24.Nh4! with compensation

17.Bxd8 Nxc3 18.Qd2

[FEN "r2B1rk1/1p1b1ppn/p3p3/8/3P4/
2n2N2/P2Q1PPP/5RK1 b - - 0 18"]

18...Ne2+ 19.Qxe2 Bb5 20.Qe4 Bxf1 21.Kxf1 Rfxd8 22.Qxb7 Rdb8 23.Qc6
Rc8 24.Qa4 Rc1+ 25.Ke2=

[FEN "2rq1rk1/1p1bbppp/p3pn2/6B1/2nP4/
2N2N2/PPB1QPPP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 15"]

15.Bb3!

The best decision. Black can't defend against the logical d4-d5! which is
usually crushing in such structures.

15.Bd3 Nb6 16.Ne5 Bc6 17.Rfe1 leads to a typically unclear IQP position.

15...b5

15...Na5 16.d5 exd5 17.Bxd5+/-.

15...Nb6 16.Ne5+/= Bc6 17.Nxc6 Rxc6 (17...bxc6 18.Qxa6+/-) 18.Bxf6 Bxf6

19.d5 exd5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Bxd5 Rd6 22.Bxb7 White is a clear pawn up
and has a big advantage, but Black still has some chances to fight for a draw
due to the opposite-coloured bishops.

15...Nd6 16.d5 exd5 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Rxd5 Bxg5 19.Nxg5 Bb5 20.Qd2
Bxf1 21.Rxd6 Qxd6 22.Qxd6 Rc1
 [FEN "5rk1/1p3ppp/p2Q4/6N1/8/1B6/
PP3PPP/2r2bK1 w - - 0 23"]

23.Bxf7+!+– Rxf7 24.Qd8+ Rf8 25.Qd5+ Kh8 26.Nf7+ Kg8 27.Nh6+ Kh8 28.
Qg8+ Rxg8 29.Nf7#

15...Bb5 16.a4 Na5 17.axb5 Nxb3 18.d5 exd5 19.bxa6 bxa6 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.
Nxd5 a5 22.Rfe1+/-

16.Ne5 Nb6

16...Qc7 17.Bxc4 bxc4 18.d5 exd5 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Nxd7 Qxd7 21.Nxd5+/=

17.Rfe1 h6

It may look as though Black is creating a weakness, but it was not easy to find
a good move in this position.

17...b4

[FEN "2rq1rk1/3bbppp/pn2pn2/4N1B1/
1p1P4/1BN5/PP2QPPP/3RR1K1 w - - 0 18"]

18.Bxf6

18.d5!? exd5 19.Nxd7 (19.Nxd5 Nbxd5 20.Bxd5 Nxd5 21.Rxd5 Bxg5 22.
Nxd7 h6 23.h4 Bxh4 24.g3 Bg5 25.f4 Bf6 26.Qxa6 Re8 27.Nxf6+ Qxf6 28.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 29.Qxf6 gxf6 30.Kf2 Ra8 31.Rd4 Rxa2 32.Rxb4 h5 White has a
slightly better endgame, but Black can draw with correct play.) 19...Qxd7 20.
Qxe7 Qxe7 21.Rxe7 bxc3 22.bxc3 Rxc3 23.Ra7 Ra8 24.Rxa8+ Nxa8 25.Bxf6
gxf6 26.Rxd5 With a much better endgame.

18...Bxf6 19.Nxd7 Qxd7 20.Ne4 Be7

20...Bxd4 21.Ng5 e5 22.Qe4 g6 23.Qh4 h5 24.Rxe5 Bxe5 25.Rxd7 Nxd7 26.

g4+/-

21.Qxa6+/-
 [FEN "2rq1rk1/3bbpp1/pn2pn1p/1p2N1B1/
3P4/1BN5/PP2QPPP/3RR1K1 w - - 0 18"]

18.Bxh6?!

This looks very pretty but it gives Black chances. White had better
possibilities:

18.Bh4 b4 19.d5 exd5 (19...Nfxd5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Nxd7 Bxh4 22.Nxf8

Qxf8 23.Bxd5 exd5 24.Rxd5+–) 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.Bxd5 Bxe5
23.Qxe5 Re8 24.Qf4 Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 Qf8 26.h4+/=

18.Bxf6! Bxf6 19.Qe4

[FEN "2rq1rk1/3b1pp1/pn2pb1p/1p2N3/
3PQ3/1BN5/PP3PPP/3RR1K1 b - - 0 19"]

With the simple and almost deadly threat of Bc2.

19...Bxe5

19...b4 20.Bc2 g6 21.Nxg6 fxg6 22.Qxg6+ Bg7 23.Qh7+ Kf7 24.Bg6++–

19...Qe7 20.Qb7 Bxe5 21.dxe5 Qc5 22.Ne4 Qc7 23.Qxc7 Rxc7 24.Nd6+/=

20.dxe5 Nc4 21.Bc2 g6 22.Bb3+/-

22.Qf4 Qg5 (22...Kg7 23.Ne4 Nxb2 24.Rd2 Qa5 [24...Nc4 25.Qf6+ Kg8 26.
Qxd8 Rfxd8 27.Nf6+ Kg7 28.Rxd7 Rxd7 29.Nxd7 Nxe5 30.Nxe5 Rxc2 31.
Ra1 Kf6 32.Ng4+ Kg5 33.Ne3 Rb2 34.a3+/-] 25.Re3! Rxc2 If Black doesn't
sacrifice the exchange, then next will be g4 with Rh3 and Black cannot
defend. 26.Rxc2 Nc4 27.Rec3 Bc6 28.Qf6+ Kg8 29.Nd6 Bd5 30.h4 Note that
22...Nxb2 23.Ne4 Kg7 24.Rd2 transposes to 22...Kg7.) 23.Qxg5 hxg5 24.
Rxd7 Nxb2 25.Rb1 Nc4 26.Ne4 Na3 27.Rb3! Rxc2 (27...Nxc2 28.Rh3+–) 28.
h4!+–

The idea is that after:

22...Nxb2
 [FEN "2rq1rk1/3b1p2/p3p1pp/1p2P3/4Q3/
1BN5/Pn3PPP/3RR1K1 w - - 0 23"]

23.Bxe6! Bxe6 24.Rxd8 Rfxd8 25.Qh4!+/-

18.Bf4!? is also interesting with the idea Rd3 followed by Bxh6 or a

breakthrough with d4-d5. Sometimes the threat is stronger than its
execution :) – a famous chess rule! 18...b4 Not best, but what else can Black
do?! (18...Bb4 19.Rd3 with a strong attack)

[FEN "2rq1rk1/3bbpp1/pn2pn1p/4N3/
1p1P1B2/1BN5/PP2QPPP/3RR1K1 w - - 0 19"]

19.d5! A killing move. 19...exd5 20.Nxd5 Nbxd5 21.Bxd5+– Black is losing

material.

18...gxh6 19.Rd3

19.d5 exd5 unclear 20.Nxd7 Qxd7 21.Qxe7 Qxe7 22.Rxe7 Rfd8 23.Ra7 Nc4
with serious counterplay for Black.

19...Kh8

19...Nc4 20.Bc2 Kh8 21.Rg3 with a strong attack.

20.Qd2

20.d5 exd5 (20...b4 21.dxe6+–) 21.Nxd7 Nbxd7 22.Qxe7 Qxe7 23.Rxe7 Nc5
24.Rd1 Nxb3 25.axb3 b4 26.Ne2 Rc2 27.Nd4 Rxb2 28.f3 White has
compensation.

20...Ng8 21.d5
 [FEN "2rq1rnk/3bbp2/pn2p2p/1p1PN3/8/
1BNR4/PP1Q1PPP/4R1K1 b - - 0 21"]

21...Nc4!?

The best defence!

21...b4?! 22.dxe6

22.Ne4 exd5 23.Bxd5 Bb5-/+

22...bxc3 23.bxc3 fxe6 24.Bxe6

After 24.Nxd7 Bg5! 25.Nxf8 Bxd2 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 27.Ng6+ Kg7 28.Rxe6 Nf6
29.Ne5 Re8 the position is about equal.

24...Bxe6 25.Ng6+ Kg7 26.Rxe6 Bc5 27.Nxf8 Qxf8 unclear 28.Rf3 Qd8 29.
Rg3+ Kf7 30.Qe2

[FEN "2rq2n1/5k2/pn2R2p/2b5/8/
2P3R1/P3QPPP/6K1 b - - 0 30"]

A funny position. Black has three minor pieces for just one white rook, but
Black is probably lost! Don't ask me why, turn on your engines!

30...Be7 31.Rxg8 Kxg8 32.Rxe7+–

This line would of course be very hard to calculate during the game.

22.Bxc4 bxc4 23.Rd4

[FEN "2rq1rnk/3bbp2/p3p2p/3PN3/2pR4/
2N5/PP1Q1PPP/4R1K1 b - - 0 23"]
23...Bc5??

Black's first big mistake and also his last.

Black should have played:

23...Qe8! 24.Nxd7

24.Nxc4 with compensation Bb5 25.d6 Bg5 26.f4 Bh4 27.g3 Rxc4-/+

24...Qxd7 25.dxe6 Qc6 unclear 26.Nd5

[FEN "2r2rnk/4bp2/p1q1P2p/3N4/2pR4/
8/PP1Q1PPP/4R1K1 b - - 0 26"]

26...c3!

With the idea of preventing White from playing Qc3.

27.bxc3 Bg5 28.f4 Bh4 29.g3 fxe6! 30.Nb4 Qb7

Now, if White takes with 31.gxh4? then after 31...Nf6 it is very strange, but
now Black is simply mating White!

31.Rd7 unclear

24.dxe6! Bxd4 25.Qxd4

[FEN "2rq1rnk/3b1p2/p3P2p/4N3/2pQ4/
2N5/PP3PPP/4R1K1 b - - 0 25"]

25...Qf6 26.exd7 Rcd8 27.Re3 Ne7 28.Rf3 Nc6

28...Nf5 29.Qe4 Qg5 30.h4!+–

29.Nxf7+ Rxf7 30.Qxf6+ 1–0

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