My young students crush strong GMs Part 3

[Event "V Sunway Sitges Chess Festival"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.12.14"] [Round "1"] [White "Sreeshwan M"] [Black "Ivanchuk Vassily"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A67"] [WhiteElo "2244"] [BlackElo "2717"] [Annotator "Alex"] [PlyCount "51"] [EventDate "2018.12.21"] [WhiteClock "1:13:53"] [BlackClock "1:31:42"] {In this game a 12-year-old boy with the rating of 2200+ made a huge sensation by smashing the great GM in the first round of the tournament. And the most amazing thing is that he spent only 15 minutes on his clock for the whole game! Let's take a closer look at how he achieved this.} 1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 $1 {The most aggressive!} Bg7 8. Bb5+ $1 Nfd7 (8... Nbd7 9. e5 $1) 9. Nf3 a6 10. Bd3 b5 11. O-O O-O 12. Kh1 Re8 13. a3 c4 14. Bc2 Nc5 15. Nd4 {Diagram [#]} (15. f5 $1 Nbd7 16. Bg5 Bf6 17. h4 {with some initiative for White}) (15. e5 Bg4) 15... Bg4 $1 {That's a good exchange of the light squared bishop against the knight, which usualy favours Black in the Benoni structure. But it brings the queen to a strong attacking position.} 16. Qxg4 (16. Qd2 $2 Qh4 {[%csl Rc1,Rd2][%cal Gb8d7] with an advantage for Black}) 16... Bxd4 17. f5 $1 (17. e5 $5 dxe5 18. f5 Qd6 {[%cal Gb8d7] Black is fine}) 17... Nbd7 {Diagram [#]} (17... Be5 {[%csl Rc2,Rc3,Ge5]} 18. Bg5 f6 19. Be3 Qd7 20. Rf3 {[%csl Rb8][%cal Ga1f1] with the initiative for White}) 18. fxg6 fxg6 19. e5 $1 {"Awakening of reserves" according to Aaron Nimzovich! A strong move in the spirit of the position that avoids strong blockade on e5 and releases the energy of White's pieces. Apart from the positional grounds, the move poses concrete problems as Black has to make a very responsible decision. Diagram [#]} Bxe5 $2 ({ The right defense was} 19... Bxc3 $1 20. Bxg6 $1 ({objectively better} 20. bxc3 Nxe5 21. Qg3 Qd7 {[%csl Gd3] Black is better due to the great d3-outpost for his knights}) 20... Nxe5 21. Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. Qh3+ Kg8 $1 (22... Kg7 $2 23. Bh6+ {White wins}) 23. Qg3+ Ng4 24. bxc3 (24. Qxg4+ Bg7) 24... Qd7 25. Rf4 (25. h3 Ne4 $1) 25... Re4 $1 {Vassily failed to calculate this line, which would give him a great game} 26. h3 Rae8 27. Be3 $1 (27. Rxg4+ Rxg4 28. Qxg4+ Qxg4 29. hxg4 Re1+ 30. Kh2 Nb3) 27... Rxf4 28. Bxf4 Ne4 29. Qxg4+ Qxg4 30. hxg4 Nxc3) 20. Bxg6 $1 hxg6 $2 {Another mistake, which obviously has psychological nature. } ({Much more stubborn would have been} 20... Rf8 $1 21. Bf5+ Kh8 22. Bg5 Nf6 23. Qh4 Qc7 24. Rf3 {White is clearly better, but the game is still very complex and double edged}) 21. Qxg6+ Bg7 {Diagram [#]} 22. Qf7+ Kh8 23. Qh5+ Kg8 {Perhaps Vassily expected that his young opponent would happily accept a draw repeating the moves, but an upleasant surprize is coming...} 24. Bg5 $1 Qc8 (24... Nf6 25. Bxf6 Bxf6 26. Qg6+ Bg7 27. Rf7) 25. Qf7+ Kh8 26. Rf4 $1 { A very powerful game by Sreeshwan! The most impressive part is how easily he conducted the game. The boy played so fast and confident putting so much pressure on his opponent that even great Ivanchuk lost his nerve and failed to calculate the lines in cold blood.} ({But not} 26. Rf3 $4 Ne5 27. Rh3+ Qxh3 $1) (26. Rf4 $1 Nf8 27. Rh4+ Nh7 28. Qg6) 1-0

[Event "Sharjah Masters"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.03.28"] [Round "7"] [White "Aditya, Mittal"] [Black "Idani, Pouya"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D85"] [WhiteElo "2454"] [BlackElo "2604"] [Annotator "Alex"] [PlyCount "75"] {An exciting game in which 12-year-old Aditya seized the initiative thanks to his interesting novelty and managed to convert it into a convincing victory. The curious fact is that it was Aditya's second win over 2600+ GM in his life and in a row!! In the previous round he defeteat Venezuelan GM Iturrizaga Eduardo (2639).} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bd2 Bg7 6. e4 Nb6 7. Be3 O-O 8. Bb5 Be6 9. Nf3 Bg4 {Diagram [#]} 10. a4 $5 $146 {An interesting novelty in the well-known position, which was picked up and played by GM Korobov one month later.} Bxf3 (10... e5 11. d5 c6 12. dxc6 Qxd1+ 13. Nxd1 $1 bxc6 14. Be2 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Rd8 16. Nc3 N8d7 17. a5 Nc8 18. O-O-O {with a big advantage for White, Korobov,A-Ondersteijn,N Karlsruhe 2019}) 11. gxf3 a6 12. Be2 e6 (12... Nc6 13. a5 Nc8 14. d5 N6a7 15. h4 h5 16. f4 {with an advantage for White}) 13. a5 N6d7 14. Qd2 Nc6 {Diagram [#]} 15. d5 $1 {The right moment to break in the center!} (15. h4 $6 Qe7 $1 16. h5 (16. d5 Nb4 $1 17. dxe6 Ne5 { [%cal Ga8d8]}) 16... Rfd8 {[%csl Rd4] with good counterplay in the center}) 15... Ne7 (15... exd5 16. Nxd5 {[%csl Gd5,Ge2,Ge3][%cal Ge1c1,Gh2h4]} f5 (16... Ne7 $140 {Diagram [#]} 17. Bg5 $1 {a strong provoking move} f6 18. Be3 { [%csl Rg7,Rg8] White is better}) 17. O-O-O {[%cal Gh2h4,Gh4h5] with the initiative for White in the opposite side castling middlegame}) 16. dxe6 fxe6 17. Bc4 $6 ({Objectively speaking, stronger would have been} 17. O-O-O $1 Nf6 ( 17... Ne5 18. Qc2) 18. Bc4 {with an advantage for White}) 17... Ne5 18. Bxe6+ Kh8 19. O-O-O Nxf3 (19... Qxd2+ 20. Rxd2 Nxf3 (20... Rxf3 21. h4) 21. Rd7 Nc6 22. h4 {with the initiative for White} h5 23. Rxc7 Nxa5 24. Rh3 $1 {[%csl Rg6] [%cal Ge6f7]}) 20. Qxd8 Rfxd8 {Diagram [#]} 21. Nd5 $1 {And again White is using skillfully the d5-square!} Nxd5 22. exd5 $1 {[%csl Ga5,Gd5,Ge3,Ge6] With the two bishops and strong a5, d5 pawns White applies quite strong pressure.} Ne5 {Black prevents Rd3 but it gives White the other strong oppotunities} ( 22... Rf8 23. Rd3 $1 {[%csl Rb7][%cal Gd3b3]}) 23. b3 Rf8 $6 {Diagram [#]} ({ Black should have kept the f2-pawn blocked} 23... Nf3 $1 {there is no Rd3-b3 threat anymore!} 24. h4 (24. Bf4 Be5 {trying to exchange one of the powerful bishops}) 24... h5 25. Rh3 Rf8 {with a slightly worse but holdable position}) 24. f4 $1 {The energy of White's pieces is getting released now!} Nf7 25. h4 $1 {When opponent's king is at gunpoint, Aditya becomes particularly dangerous! The position is hardly endgame but more queenless middlegame where attacking ideas are still very relevant.} Bf6 26. Rdg1 $1 {[%cal Gh4h5]} Kg7 (26... Nd8 27. Bd7 Rf7 28. Bg4 {[%csl Rd8][%cal Gh4h5]}) 27. f5 Rad8 28. Rg2 $1 {The last preparations for the decisive breakthrough.} (28. h5 g5) 28... c6 29. h5 g5 30. h6+ $1 {[%csl Ga5,Gd5,Ge3,Ge6,Gf5,Gh6] The point behind 28.Rg2! becomes clear. A great domination of White's forces!} Kh8 (30... Nxh6 $2 31. Rgh2) (30... Kg8 31. Bxg5 Bxg5+ 32. Rxg5+ Kh8 33. Rg7) 31. Bc5 {Material losses are inevitable.} Ne5 32. Bxf8 Rxf8 33. d6 $1 Rd8 34. Rd1 g4 35. Kb1 Bg5 36. Re2 Nf3 37. d7 Bxh6 38. f6 {An impressive achievement of Aditya, who skillfully used the power of his bishops and pawns to dominate the whole board!} 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters 17th"] [Site "Caleta"] [Date "2019.01.28"] [Round "7"] [White "Akobian, Varuzhan"] [Black "Sadhwani, Raunak"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E90"] [WhiteElo "2643"] [BlackElo "2451"] [Annotator "Alex"] [PlyCount "66"] [EventDate "2019.01.22"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventRounds "10"] [EventCountry "GGB"] [SourceTitle "Mega2019 Update 16"] [Source "Chessbase"] [SourceDate "2019.02.08"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2019.02.08"] [SourceQuality "1"] {In this game 13-year-old Raunak punished his strong opponent for breaking general principles in a spectacular and instructive way.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. h3 e5 7. d5 Nh5 8. g3 Qe7 9. Nd2 $6 { Anti-developing move which is supposed to prevent ...f5 Diagram [#]} ({The really effective prophylaxis against ...f5 would have been} 9. Nh2 $1 f5 $140 $2 (9... Na6 {with a complex game where White's chances are slightly better}) 10. exf5 $1 e4 (10... Rxf5 11. g4) 11. Be3 $1) 9... f5 $1 {The move Black should definitely try to make work!} 10. Be2 ({Probably only now the GM realized that capturing on f5 is dangerous in view of...} 10. exf5 {Diagram [#] } e4 $3 {it is King's Indian after all!} 11. fxg6 {and now Black has two promising options} (11. Ncxe4 Nf6 $1 12. Qe2 Bxf5 {[%csl Re1,Re2]}) 11... hxg6 ({or the direct} 11... e3 $5 12. gxh7+ Kh8 13. Nf3 $1 (13. Qxh5 exd2+ 14. Kxd2 Rxf2+ 15. Be2 Na6 {[%csl Rd2]}) 13... Nd7 14. Bxe3 Nxg3 15. Rg1 Nf5 16. Qe2 Nxe3 17. fxe3 Nc5 18. O-O-O Bf5 {with compensation for the pawns}) 12. Ncxe4 Bd4 13. Be2 Bf5 {with strong initiative for Black}) ({Better would have been the solid} 10. Bg2 f4 11. g4 Nf6 12. Nf3 {with about equal play}) 10... Nf6 11. g4 {Another non-developing pawn move...White is playing with fire breaking all the general principles.} (11. exf5 gxf5) 11... Na6 $1 12. exf5 gxf5 13. Nb3 { Diagram [#]} f4 $1 {[%csl Rb3,Rc1] A very strong positional move which greatly restricts White's minor pieces.} (13... e4 14. Nd4) 14. f3 (14. Bd2 e4 15. Bxf4 Nxg4) 14... e4 $1 {As natural as a baby's smile! Of course, with such a lead in development it is time to act!} 15. fxe4 Nd7 $1 {Not a pawn but piece domination is the main point. White simply has no chance to complete his development anymore.} (15... Nxe4 $6 16. Nxe4 Qxe4 17. O-O {with much better chances to consolidate compared to the game}) 16. Bf3 (16. O-O $2 Qh4) 16... Ne5 17. Qe2 Nb4 18. Kd1 c5 $1 19. Bd2 Nbd3 20. Kc2 {Diagram [#]} b5 $1 { It is time to open the queenside files for attack.} 21. cxb5 a6 $1 {Every KID player should understand Benko gambit ideas as well!} 22. a4 Qc7 $1 {The queen is joining the attack.} 23. g5 Bd7 24. Bg4 c4 $1 {the poor knight has to retreat back...} 25. Nc1 ({as does not work} 25. Nd4 Nxg4 {[%csl Rd4]}) 25... axb5 26. Bxd7 Qxd7 27. Nxb5 Rfb8 {[%csl Ra1] Amaizing domination of Black's pieces! White is absolutely helpless...} 28. Ra2 ({Does not help} 28. Ra3 Nxb2 $1 29. Kxb2 Rxa4 30. Rxa4 Qxb5+ 31. Rb4 Nd3+) 28... Nxc1 $1 {A little tactics at the end.} 29. Rxc1 Rxb5 30. Rca1 Rb3 31. Bc3 Nd3 32. a5 Bxc3 33. bxc3 Qb5 { A brilliant model King's Indian game that beautifully illustrates the typical dynamic ideas of the opening as well as the great strenght of the young man.} 0-1

[Event "Budapest Spring Festival 2019"] [Site "Budapest"] [Date "2019.04.12"] [Round "4.6"] [White "Arjun Kalyan"] [Black "Bernadskiy, Vitaliy"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B15"] [WhiteElo "2445"] [BlackElo "2587"] [Annotator "Alex+Arjun"] [PlyCount "57"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [EventCountry "HUN"] {This game is of a good value from theoretical point of view as it shows the typical ideas in topical nowadays Carro Kann defense lines.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 $1 {This line has recently become quite popular on the top GM level. Despite his slightly worse pawn structure, Black gets his own trumps and the middlegame attracts by its strategic complexity.} 6. c3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Qc2 Re8+ 9. Ne2 h5 $1 {This is a very latest and critical idea which has been tried by many top players. Black claims that the h5-pawn is not a weakness, but an important attacking resourse.} (9... h6 10. O-O Qc7 {[%cal Rc1f4]} (10... Nd7 11. Bf4 Nf8 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. Ng3 $14) 11. Ng3 Nd7 12. Bd2 Nf8 13. Rfe1 Bd7 14. c4 {with an edge for White}) (9... g6 10. h4 $1 Nd7 11. h5 Nf8 12. Bh6 Be6 13. O-O-O {with the initiative for White in the opposite side castling middlegame}) 10. O-O ({More principal to exploit the drawback of 9...h5 looks} 10. Be3 Nd7 11. O-O-O Nf8 {with a very complex and fighting opposite side castling middlegame. It is not easy for White to open files on the kingside, while Black gets counterplay on the other part of the board.} 12. Kb1 Be6 13. c4 Rc8 14. Nc3 b5 $5 {Savchenko,B-Oparin,G Sochi 2018}) 10... h4 {The main continuation played by numerous strong GMs Diagram [#]} (10... Qc7 $5 {preventing Bf4} 11. h3 Nd7 (11... Be6 12. c4 $1) 12. c4 c5 13. Be3 {with an edge for White due to his better pawn majority on the queenside}) 11. Bf4 $1 {Tactics serves strategy! Thanks to tactical nuances, White uses his chances to exchange the dark squared bishops which clearly favours him.} (11. h3 Nd7 12. Bf4 Nf8) 11... h3 $6 {A serious inaccuracy. The h3-pawn turns out to be more of a weakness than strenght. Also White gets strong f4-square for his knight.} ({Does not work} 11... Rxe2 12. Qxe2 Bxf4 13. Qe4 $1 {[%csl Rf4,Rh7] with the decisive attack for White} g5 14. Qh7+ Kf8 15. Rae1 Be6 16. g3 Bc7 17. f4 $1 hxg3 18. hxg3 Qd6 19. Re3 c5 (19... Nd7 20. f5) 20. f5 Nd7 21. fxe6 fxe6 22. Bg6 {1-0 Jakic,I-Tica,S Zadar 2018}) ({Probably the best is the flexible} 11... Na6 $1 12. Rfe1 $1 Nc7 13. Qd2 {with an edge for White}) 12. g3 Na6 13. Bxd6 $1 {White should act quickly before Black coordinates his pieces.} Qxd6 14. Nf4 $1 {White is threatening Bf5 when Black cannot defend the-h3 pawn.} g5 {Diagram [#]} (14... Nc7 {Diagram [#]} 15. Rfe1 $1 (15. Bf5 $2 {[%csl Rh3]} Nd5 $1 16. Nxh3 Bxf5 17. Qxf5 Re2 {[%csl Rb2,Ge2, Rh3] with compensation for the pawn}) 15... Bd7 16. Bh7+ Kh8 17. Bf5 Nd5 18. Nxh3) 15. Bc4 $1 {The main point that makes 14.Nf4! work} f5 (15... gxf4 $4 16. Qg6+ Kh8 17. Qh6+ Kg8 18. Bd3 {[%csl Rd6]}) 16. Nxh3 Qh6 17. Rfe1 $1 Bd7 $2 { A natural developing move but it creates extra weaknesses. Diagram [#]} ({ Black should have played} 17... Nc7 $1 18. Kg2 f4 19. Ng1 Kg7 20. Qd3 {with an extra pawn and advantage for White}) (17... Rxe1+ $2 18. Rxe1 Qxh3 19. Re8+ Kg7 20. Qe2 {[%csl Ra8,Rg7][%cal Ge2e5,Ge5e7]}) 18. Qb3 $1 {[%csl Ra6,Rb7,Rd7,Rf7, Rg8] the game is practically over now as Black is not able to hold numerous weaknesses} Rxe1+ (18... Qxh3 19. Bxf7+ Kf8 20. Bxe8 Rxe8 (20... Bxe8 21. Qxb7) 21. Qxb7 {[%csl Ra6,Rd7]}) (18... Kg7 19. Qxb7 Qxh3 20. Qxd7) 19. Rxe1 b5 ( 19... Rf8 20. Qxb7 Nb8 21. Kg2 {[%cal Gh3g1]}) 20. Bxf7+ Kg7 21. Qa3 $1 c5 22. Bd5 b4 (22... Re8 23. Rxe8 Bxe8 24. Nxg5 $1) 23. cxb4 Re8 24. Rxe8 Bxe8 25. dxc5 Bb5 26. Qc3+ Kh7 27. Qe3 Qxh3 28. Qe7+ Kh6 29. Qf8+ {A very convincing and smooth win for Arjun, who demonstarted a high level of opening preparation as well as good dynamic feeling. The game was an important step towards his 3rd GM norm that he scored in Budapest.} 1-0

[Event "DCC Open"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.04.14"] [Round "4"] [White "Kunka, Harshid "] [Black "Lopez , Angel Arribas"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B78"] [WhiteElo "2025"] [BlackElo "2520"] [Annotator "Alex"] [PlyCount "51"] {This game is an instructive illustration of the typical Sicilian Dragon middlegame ideas. Take a look at the Dragon lesson from a 10-year-old boy!} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Bc4 $1 {The most agressive! White prevents d6-d5 and wants to exploit his advantage in the center as positional ground for a flank attack.} (8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O d5 $1 {with counterplay in the center}) 8... Bd7 9. Qd2 O-O 10. g4 $5 Na5 11. Be2 $1 Rc8 12. O-O-O Nc4 13. Bxc4 Rxc4 {Diagram [#]} 14. Kb1 $1 {The last move is important prophylaxis against ...Qa5} ({Black gets more counterplay after the direct} 14. h4 $5 Qa5 $1 15. h5 Rfc8 {[%csl Ra2,Rc3] with a very double edged game}) 14... Re8 $5 ({The main line goes} 14... b5 15. b3 $1) (14... Qa5 $6 15. g5 $1 Nh5 16. Nd5 Qd8 (16... Qxd2 17. Nxe7+ $1) 17. Ne2 {[%csl Ra7][%cal Ge2g3] with some advantage for White}) 15. h4 $1 {[%csl Rg6][%cal Gh4h5] And finally everything is ready for attack.} b5 (15... h5 {Diagram [#]} 16. gxh5 $1 { in opposite side castling middlegame one should open files against opponent's king!} Nxh5 17. Rhg1 {[%csl Gh5][%cal Gg1g5] with the initiative for White} b5 18. Rg5 b4 19. Nd5 e6 20. Rxh5 $1 {it is very important to open the g-file and involve Black's king into the game!} gxh5 (20... exd5 21. Rxd5 {[%csl Rd6]}) 21. Rg1 exd5 22. Bh6 Bg4 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Nf5+ {with a strong attack and advantage for White}) 16. h5 b4 17. Nd5 $1 {[%csl Gf6] The key defenders to be exchanged!} e6 {Black is trying to renew communications between the flanks} ( 17... Nxd5 18. exd5 g5 $1 19. h6 Be5 20. Qd3 $1 Rc8 (20... Qc7 21. Nc6 $1) 21. Bxg5) 18. Nxf6+ Qxf6 19. hxg6 hxg6 20. Qh2 {The attack is developing very smoothly and Black has to make a difficult decision} d5 $2 {Diagram [#]} ({ More stubborn would have been} 20... e5 $1 {Diagram [#]} 21. Nf5 $1 {The g-file to be opened!} gxf5 22. gxf5 {[%csl Rf6,Rg7,Rg8][%cal Gd1g1]} (22. Qh7+ $2 Kf8 23. gxf5 Ke7 {[%cal Ge8h8] and the king escapes from the killing zone}) 22... Bxf5 23. exf5 e4 24. Bc1 $1 {[%csl Rf6,Rg7,Rg8,Rh7,Rh8][%cal Gd1g1] with the winning attack due to the open g-file!} Kf8 25. Rxd6 Qe5 26. Qxe5 Bxe5 27. f6 $1 {[%cal Gh1h8]}) 21. e5 $1 {The dark squared strategy in action!} Qxe5 22. Bf4 Qf6 {Diagram [#]} 23. g5 $6 {A serious inaccuracy. Why? Diagram [#]} ({ Much more accurate would have been} 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Bd6+ Re7 25. g5 $1 Qxg5 26. f4 {everything is by force!} Qf6 27. Be5) 23... Qd8 $2 {Desperation and clear miss...} ({There was a big chance to stay in the game after} 23... Qxf4 $1 24. Qxf4 e5 {and for the queen Black gets the two very powerful bishops and counterplay} 25. Qh4 exd4 26. Rd2 $1 {[%cal Gd2h2] White is still winning, but it would have not been that easy anymore} Bf5 27. Rdh2 Kf8 28. Qg3) 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. Bd6+ Re7 26. Qh8+ $1 {A great win of very young Harshid over a good GM! Everyone knows how double-edged the Dragon middlegame is. Moreover it is impressive that the boy did not allow the GM any counterplay...} 1-0