Schwarzman,A. - Georgiev,A. 1-1 2009.06.10

Christian van der Schaaf made a striking comment about today's game during the live chat: "Sometimes both players are willing, but they choose the wrong opening". There is nothing that I can add to this.

1-6!? A remarkable move. If black wants to prevent the white attack on his left wing, then he should not waste any time on the other side of the board. For example, with ≡ 10-14 14.35-30 13-19 15.40-35 8-13 black is just in time to counter the attack 16.30-24 19x30 17.35x24 with a combination: 15-20 18.24x15 25-30 19.34x25 23x34 20.39x30 14-20 21.25x14 9x20 22.15x24 13-19 23.24x22 17x50. At least this will give white something to think about. But surely Georgiev will have had a good reason for preferring his 13-th move.

≡ 14.38-32 10-14 15.35-30 14-19 16.40-35 16-21 17.30-24 19x30 18.35x24

Schwarzman grabs the opportunity to launch a simple and almost risk-free attack. 21-27 19.32x21 17x26 20.42-38 23-28 21.33x22 18x27 22.38-33 12-18 23.37-32 27x38 24.43x32 9-14 Of course Schwarzman doesn't consider the exchange 25.24-20 15x24 26.29x9 3x14, since it would cost him too much terrain.

≡ 25.41-37 3-9 26.45-40 7-12 27.49-43 12-17 28.47-42 17-22 29.33-28

The players don't have much choice. Georgiev cannot afford to start a surrounding strategy, because the white position has no weaknesses. Therefore he keeps his formations intact. On the other hand Schwarzman is not interested in complications after ≡ 30.24-20 15x24 31.29x20 or ≡ 30.43-38 14-20 since those moves would only weaken his own position.

≡ 22x33 30.39x28 18-22 31.28x17 11x22 32.43-39 22-27 33.32x21 26x17 34.37-32 14-19 35.40-35 19x30 36.35x24 9-14 37.32-28! The most precise reaction. It may seem logical to defend the white piece on 24 with ≡ 38.44-40. Then white is not afraid of 14-20 (on the contrary!). But black will play ≡ 17-22! instead with a small initiative.

≡ 14-19 38.44-40 19x30 39.40-35 4-10 40.35x24 13-19 41.24x13 8x19

Georgiev has neutralized the attacking piece on 24. It was the only sensible thing to do, since in the endgame this piece is simply too strong. If white now plays 42.29-23 black replies with 17-22 43.23x5 22x44 with an immediate draw. After the exchange on the next move a position remains without any tension at all. One can only wonder why the players bothered to produce almost 20 more moves before they agreed to the inevitable result.

≡ 42.36-31 19-24 43.29x20 15x24 44.31-27 2-8 45.39-33 10-14 46.42-37 14-19 47.37-31 6-11 48.31-26 11-16 49.48-43 24-30 50.43-39 30-35 51.33-29 8-12 52.27-22 19-24 53.29x20 25x14 54.22x11 16x7 55.28-22 7-11 56.26-21 11-16 57.22-17 16x27 58.17x8 27-31 59.8-3 31-37

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