Georgiev,A. - Schwarzman,A. 1-1 2009.06.09

The fourth game in the match for the world championship ended in a draw again. Just like in some of the earlier rounds it was Georgiev who took the most risks, and it was Schwarzman who took the lead during the game. However, this time Georgiev didn't get into serious trouble, and near the end of the game a tricky situation was left on the board. Schwarzman decided not to burn his fingers on it, and headed towards a draw.

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 Georgiev plays a very aggressive opening scheme, indicating he is ready for a complicated game. 10-14 9.30-24 5-10 10.37-31 20-25 11.24-20 15x24 12.29x20 14-19 13.20-15 10-14 14.41-37

diagram 1

22-27 Schwarzman chooses the most solid continuation. The general opinion is that after this exchange it is difficult for white to find a constructive plan against the black attack. Of course the spectators had hoped for a more ambitious continuation like 23-28 or 11-16.

15.31x22 17x28 16.26x17 12x21 17.33x22 18x27 18.34-30 25x34 19.40x18 13x22 20.38-33 7-12 21.43-38 11-16 22.49-43 8-13 23.45-40 2-7 24.40-35 19-23

diagram 2

One of the online spectators (rumours are that it was the dutch top player Michiel Kroesbergen) showed a spectacular combination in this position. After 25.46-41 23-28 26.37-31 21-26? white plays 27.35-30! 26x46 28.42-37 46x32 29.39-34! 28x50 30.43-39 50x42 31.48x10 W+

25.47-41 14-19 26.35-30 Georgiev has introduced a new and somewhat risky plan, but it is not so clear what he had in mind with it. He didn't succeed in disturbing the black center, and so from now on he can do little more than keeping the damage to a minimum.

12-18 Again Schwarzman chooses the most solid continuation. Perhaps he wanted to tempt Georgiev to take even more risks with a move like 27.39-34. But Georgiev wisely rejects this plan and simplifies the position with a 3x3 exchange. With 23-28 27.37-31 Schwarzman could have kept the pieces on the board, with an exciting position that looks better for black.

27.30-24 19x30 28.33-28 22x33 29.39x8 3x12 30.43-39 9-13

diagram 3

White has been forced into a very passive position, and may be Schwarzman had good hopes here for more than a draw. But Georgiev finds a simple and active plan to compensate for the underdevelopment of his pieces.

31.37-31 6-11 32.31x22 18x27 33.41-37 12-18 34.38-33 7-12 35.33-29! By taking possession of the strategic square 29 white disturbs the black development in the center.

18-22 36.44-40 22-28

Schwarzman seems satisfied with a draw. After the next exchange of pieces he still has an advantage, but not enough to win the game. There were several alternative plans available, but for none of them the outcome was clear. For example 30-35 37.40-34 13-19 38.29-24!? 19x30 39.34x25 35-40 40.25-20 40-45 41.39-33 would lead to a highly complicated and unpredictable situation. For most players it's definitely not recommended to try something like that against Georgiev.

37.40-35 11-17 38.35x24 28-32 39.37x28 27-31 40.36x27 21x43 41.48x39 17-22 42.39-34 12-18 43.34-29 16-21 44.46-41 22-28 45.42-37 21-27 46.41-36 27-32 47.24-20 32x41 48.36x47 13-19 49.47-42 19-24 50.20-14 24x33 51.15-10 4x15 52.14-9 33-39 53.42-38 39-44