World Championship Hardenberg 2007 round 3
Pierre,R. - Podolski,M. 0-2 (2007.05.14)
It looks like white has got himself into trouble, but Pierre shows no respect for his opponent and advances to the seventh row.
20.22-18 12x23 21.29x18 13x22 22.27x18
It's quite a unique situation with a white front piece in the heart of the black defense. But it seems to be perfectly OK for white.
Pierre decides to move the piece from 18 to 17, in order to find a safe spot on 6. Podolski will have been pleased by this, since after ≡ 23.32-27 13x22 24.27x18 the white position seems preferable.
≡ 9-13 25.17-11 24-30 26.35x24 20x29! 27.33x24 19x30 28.31-27 3-8 29.38-32 14-20 30.11-6 7-12 31.43-38 2-7 32.38-33 10-14 33.33-28 14-19 34.48-43 7-11 35.6x17 12x21 36.43-38 1-7 37.38-33 7-12
With logical and strong moves, Podolski has managed to obtain a superior position. After white's next move, the position is probably lost. There is still a possible escape for white, but it is difficult to find: 38.28-22! 12-18 39.33-28. Now after 18-23? white can take a combination with 40.34-29 23x43 41.37-31 26x37 42.32x41 21x23 43.44-39 43x34 44.40x9 that results in a draw. So black will continue with ≡ 8-12 and at first sight it looks hopeless for white, since 40.22-17? 18-23 41.17x8 13x2 is lost. But white can sacrifice a piece with ≡ 40.34-29!! 30-34 41.39x30 25x23 42.40-34 with an equal position.
≡ 38.33-29 20-24 39.29x20 15x24 40.40-35 12-18 41.44-40 18-23 42.39-33 30x39 43.33x44 23-29 44.27-22 25-30 45.44-39 29-33!
Podolski at his best. White can still keep the material in balance with 46.37-31 26x37 47.32x41 33x44 48.40x49 but after 30-34 there is no hope that white can survive.
≡ 46.22-18 13x22 47.28x17 33x44 48.40x49 21x12 49.45-40 19-23 50.49-43 23-29 51.43-39 12-17 52.36-31 17-22 53.32-27 22-28 54.37-32 26x37 55.32x25 37-41 56.39-33 41-47 57.33-29 24x33 58.25-20 47-41 59.27-22 33-38
And Pierre surrendered.
Thijssen,K. - Mikhalchenko ,I. 2-0 (2007.05.14)
≡ 1.34-30 19-23 2.39-34 17-22 3.44-39 11-17 4.50-44 6-11 5.31-26 1-6 6.30-25 14-19 7.25x14 9x20 8.32-28 23x32 9.37x28 10-14 10.41-37 16-21 11.35-30 21-27 12.46-41 4-10 13.30-25 19-23 14.28x19 14x23 15.25x14 10x19
This is what the spectators like to see.
This is the beginning of a very consequently played surrounding strategy by Thijssen.
Black has to make difficult decisions. The attack 23-28 seems a little premature. But in the game he has to do a serious concession on the 19th move.
Since the logical continuation 19-23? fails due to 20.25-20 15x33 21.39x10, black has to play an ugly move now.
≡ 3-9 20.38-33 18-23 21.29x18 12x23 22.42-38 7-12 23.44-40 2-7!?
Mikhalchenko shows no fear. After this move there is no way back. A much cleaner way to continue was 13-18 24.37-31 9-13 .
24.37-31 15-20 25.47-42 20-24 26.41-37 12-18
And also Thijssen fully commits to his position, according to his next two moves.
27.49-44! 8-12 28.40-34! 24-30
The alternative ≡ 24-29 29.33x24 19x30 wasn't very attractive due to 30.38-33! 23-28 (what else?) 31.34-29 30-35 32.29-24 14-19 33.25-20 19x30 34.44-40 35x44 35.39x50 28x39 36.43x25 9-14 37.20x9 13x4 38.45-40 18-23 39.40-34 and white can unhindered walk towards a king.
≡ 29.33-29 23-28 (obligatory) 30.38-33 19-23?
This loses. The only alternative was ≡ 18-23 31.29x18 12x23 32.33-29 30-35 33.29x18 35-40 34.44x35 19-23 35.18x29 28-32 36.37x28 22x44 37.31x22 17x28, although this also looks suspicious for black after 38.29-24 44-50 39.24-20 etc.
≡ 31.42-38! 11-16 32.45-40 6-11 33.37-32 28x37 34.31x42 30-35(?)
Now Thijssen ends the game with an elegant combination. It is not clear why Mikhalchenko aimed for this position, since also the simpler combination 35.34-30! 23x45 36.42-37 35x24 37.44-40 45x34 38.39x10 is winning for white. And ≡ 35.42-37? 13-19 is not a serious option for white, so he must have foreseen that something bad was going to happen. Possibly he missed the move 32.45-40 in his calculations.
≡ 35.34-30 23x45 36.42-37 35x24 37.26-21 17x26 38.44-40 45x34 39.39x6
and black resigned. A beautiful victory for the Dutch champion!
© Wieger Wesselink https://10x10.org