Georgiev,A. - Schwarzman,A. 1-1 2009.06.18
In the 12th and last round with regular time controls there was firework on the board. Immediately after the 10th game Georgiev had explained that the Keller opening still has perspectives for the white color. Today he showed to be a man of his word by demonstrating this during the game.
≡ 1.33-29 17-22 2.39-33 11-17 3.44-39 6-11 4.50-44 1-6 5.31-26 16-21 6.32-28 19-23 7.28x19 14x23 8.35-30 10-14 9.30-24 5-10 10.37-31 20-25 11.24-20 15x24 12.29x20 22-27 13.31x22 17x28 14.33x22 18x27 15.26x17 12x21 16.20-15 13-18 17.34-30 25x34 18.39x30 8-13
19.40-35 In the 10th game Georgiev played ≡ 19.40-34, but that appears to be only a minor difference.
≡ 7-12 20.30-25 11-17 21.35-30 6-11 22.30-24 14-19 23.45-40 19x30 24.25x34 21-26 25.40-35 10-14 26.44-39 13-19 27.38-33 9-13 28.34-30!
This is the first significant difference with game 10. In that game the same position was on the board, with only one difference: the white piece on 35 was on 34. The main advantage of the Georgiev's last move seems that white has more freedom on his right wing.
11-16 Schwarzman also follows a different plan. Instead of the more centralized ≡ 17-22 he now plays ≡ 11-16 followed by 17-21. It requires a deep study to find out whether this is an improvement or not.
≡ 29.39-34 17-21 30.43-39 2-8 31.49-44! Georgiev follows a very consistent strategy. He only plays on his right wing, and leaves the cluster of pieces on his left wing untouched.
12-17 32.30-24 19x30 33.34x25 13-19 34.35-30 17-22 35.30-24 19x30 36.25x34 8-13 37.44-40 3-9 38.40-35 13-19 39.35-30
Perhaps this is the kind of position that Georgiev was looking for in earlier games. Black runs out of non-committing moves. Soon he will have to take decisions with far reaching consequences. It is noteworthy that by keeping his left wing intact Georgiev restrains Schwarzman from developing the fork formation 16, 21, 26 and 27.
23-28! Schwarzman steers towards a full confrontation! With ≡ 9-13 40.41-37 (after ≡ 40.33-29(?) 22-28 41.42-37 28-33! 42.39x28 23x32 43.37x28 27-31 44.36x27 21x23 black has the advantage) ≡ 27-31 41.36x27 21x41 42.46x37 he could have simplified the position.
≡ 40.48-43?! A beautiful and unexpected move! Georgiev tries to suffocate the black attack through the center.
A nice trap was ≡ 40.41-37 27-31 41.36x27 21x41 42.46x37 16-21 43.42-38 and now the logical 21-27? fails due to 44.34-29! 9-13 ( ≡ 19-23? 45.37-32! W+) ≡ 45.38-32!! 27x38 46.33x42 19-23 ( ≡ 22-27? 47.29-23 18x29 48.37-32 28x37 49.42x22 W+) ≡ 47.39-34 4-9* (what else?) 48.30-25 and white has good perspectives to force a break-through on the black left wing.
After ≡ 40.42-37 black can force a draw using 27-31 41.36x27 22x42 42.33x24 14-20 43.47x38 20x40 44.39-34 40x29 45.41-37 21-27 etc. Another option is to play ≡ 27-32?! 41.48-43 18-23! (the complications after ≡ 19-23 42.33-29! look better for white) with a very exciting and complicated position.
≡ 9-13 41.33-29 19-23 42.41-37! Now 27-31 43.36x27 21x41 44.46x37 is very unattractive for black, for example 16-21 45.43-38! and black has no other option than to play the poor move 4-9.
43.47-41!! Georgiev has set up a phenomenal trap. After the logical 27-31 44.36x27 21x32? white plays 45.43-38! 32x43 46.39x48 16-21 or? 47.37-32!! 28x37 48.42x31 26x37 49.41x32 21-26* 50.29-24! 26-31 51.24x13 18x9 52.32-27 and black is in deep trouble. And GMI Ton Sijbrands notes in the Volkskrant that after ≡ 43...27-32? white can win elegantly using the surprising 44.43-38!! 32x43 45.39x48 21-27 46.37-31! 26x37 47.41x21 16x27 48.42-37! 27-32 49.48-42! 32x41 50.46x37! etc.
An alternative plan was ≡ 43.46-41 with huge complications, for example 27-32 44.30-24 (not ≡ 44.29-24? due to 22-27! 45.24x31 23-29 46.34x23 28x19 47.37x28 26x46 with good chances for black) ≡ 19x30 45.34x25 23x34 46.39x30 etc.
≡ 27-31 44.36x27 22x31! If Schwarzman has recognized the trap that would be no less than amazing. At first sight the plan he chooses in the game looks dangerous, since he has to weaken his defense on the next move with 4-9. But Schwarzman has calculated correctly that he has enough compensation for this weakness to make a draw.
45.41-36 4-9 46.36x27 21x41 47.46x37 16-21 48.29-24 9-13 49.24-20 14x25 50.43-38 21-27 51.30-24 19x30 52.15-10 13-19 53.38-33 28-32 54.37x28 23x32 55.10-5 18-23 56.33-28 26-31 57.28x26 27-32
If both players can keep up this level of play during the tie break, a lot of spectacular games are awaiting us.
© Wieger Wesselink https://10x10.org