A Sudden OCB Attack

The Tata Steel tournament keeps on producing games of very high quality. The following encounter demonstrated excellent defensive skills by both the players. At least until a moment when Black erred. Then Radjabov finished the game in a great attacking style in the endgame,

[Event "Tata Steel Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.01.18"]
[Round "8.7"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2734"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:00:07"]
[BlackClock "0:03:23"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 {The main idea of
this line is to achieve an improved version of the Fianchettoe line with an
extra tempo for White (g2-g4 in one go instead of g2-g3 first).} e5 7. Nde2 b5
{Not the most common reaction for Black. But since Wojtaszek is one of the
leading specialist in the Najdorf this move is definitely worth a try!} ({Both
the developing moves} 7... Be7) (7... Be6) ({Or the restricting} 7... h5 {are
more popular than the text move.}) 8. Bg5 {Radjabov chooses a rare, but very
logical line in return. The d5 square is a magnet for the white pieces.} ({The
main move is} 8. g4 Bb7 9. Bg2 Nbd7 (9... h6 10. Be3 Nbd7 11. Qd2 {Mamedyarov,
S (2728)-Sadvakasov,D (2596) Astana 2006}) 10. a4 b4 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Qa5
{Inarkiev,E (2682)-Adly,A (2594) Dubai 2014}) 8... Nbd7 9. Nd5 {White is
willing to trade pretty much every single light piece except for the black
dark-squared bishop.} Bb7 10. Nec3 Rc8 {A cunning idea.} ({White is slightly
better after} 10... Be7 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. a4 b4 14. Nd5 {when
both the positions with a knight versus a dark-squared bishop or pure opposite
colored bishops are favourable for him.}) 11. Nxf6+ ({Radek's idea becomes
clear in the line} 11. a4 b4 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. Nxf6+ Qxf6 14. Nd5 Qg6 $1 {
which looks awkward for the first player.}) 11... Nxf6 12. a4 $1 {It makes
sense to create some weaknesses before occupying the d5 square.} b4 13. Nd5 Be7
$1 {Black sacrifices a pawn. The alternatives are not appealing:} (13... Bxd5
$6 {leads to the above-mentioned opposite colored bishop position} 14. Bxf6
Qxf6 15. Qxd5 Rxc2 16. Qa8+ Qd8 17. Qxa6 Be7 18. Bb5+ Kf8 19. O-O {which White
would love to have.}) (13... a5 $2 {is simply bad due to} 14. Bb5+ Bc6 15. Bxf6
gxf6 16. O-O {with strategically won position for White- superior minor piece,
better pawn structure, bad king, etc...}) 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nxb4 {Radjabov
accepts the challenge.} ({The line} 15. b3 O-O 16. Bc4 a5 17. O-O Bg5 {leads
to equality.}) 15... O-O ({Naturally, not} 15... Bxe4 16. Bxa6 Rc5 17. Bb5+)
16. c3 $146 {Diagram [#] I need to bitterly disappoint you. All of this have
been previously played and the pawn sacrifice is not original. The strong move
in the game though is a novelty.} ({An important improvement. White reacted
poorly in the predecessing game} 16. Bd3 $6 Qb6 17. Qd2 a5 18. Na2 Qxb2 (18...
d5 $1 {was even better}) 19. O-O Qd4 20. Qxa5 Bxe4 {with advantage for Black
in Milovanovic,R (2399)-Sadvakasov,D (2605) Minneapolis 2005}) 16... Bxe4 17.
Bxa6 Rc5 {There is no time to digest the g pawn} (17... Bxg2 $2 18. Rg1 Bxh3
19. Qf3 $1 Be6 20. Bxc8 Bxc8 {normally would be a nice sacrifice of an
exchange if it was not the loose position of the black bishop on f6} 21. Nc6
Bb7 22. Rg3 $1 {the queen is now hanging and Black has to part with his bishop
pair} (22. Nxd8 $2 Bxf3) 22... Bxc6 23. Qxc6 {White is much better.}) 18. O-O
Ba8 {As a result of the opening battle White won a pawn but Black has distinct
compensation for it- a hefty bishop pair and central majority.} (18... Qa8 {
was another way to search for compensation} 19. Qg4 Be7) 19. Re1 {Now both the
players skillfully maneuver. Wojtaszek tries to advance his pawns in the
center and on the kingside while Radjabov carefully prevents this plan.} d5 20.
Bf1 ({Also interesting is} 20. Bb5 e4 21. Nc2 Be5 22. Nd4) 20... e4 21. Nc2 Be5
22. Nd4 Bb8 {One idea is to create a battery, another to advance the f pawn.}
23. g3 $1 ({Or else Black may advance the f pawn} 23. Qd2 f5 24. Ne6 $4 Qd6)
23... Qb6 24. Qe2 $1 {Diagram [#] Once more excellent profilaxys!} ({Teimour
should never allow the f7-f5 advance, as then f5-f4 will immediately follow
and the white position will fall appart on the dark squares.} 24. Qd2 f5) 24...
Rcc8 {The consequences of the direct assault are of a paramount importance for
the evaluation of the position. After the critical} (24... f5 {White has} 25.
Qa6 Qxb2 {and the fantastic resource} 26. Red1 $3 ({But not the tempting} 26.
Ne6 Bxg3 $1 27. fxg3 Rc6 28. Qb5 Qxb5 29. axb5 Rxe6) (26. Qxa8 Bxg3 27. Qxf8+
Kxf8 28. fxg3 Rxc3 {if anyone is better here, it is not White.}) 26... f4 {The
other tries do not work neither} (26... e3 27. Qe6+ Kh8 28. Qxe3 f4 29. Qe7) (
26... Qxc3 $2 27. Rac1 Qxc1 28. Rxc1 Rxc1 29. Qxa8) (26... Rxc3 27. Qxa8) 27.
Rab1 Qxc3 28. Rb3 Qa5 29. Ne6 {in all these lines White has the upper hand.})
25. a5 Qg6 26. Qg4 $1 Qh6 27. h4 $1 {[%cal Gg4g5] Very well played. Radjabov
will soon trade the queens.} Kh8 28. Qg5 Qd6 29. Nf5 Qe5 30. f4 $1 h6 31. Qxh6+
gxh6 32. fxe5 Bxe5 33. Be2 {As a result of his excellent strategy, Teimour
managed to trade the queens and took away one of Black's trumps- the possible
kingside attack. However, converting the advantage is far from easy.} Rb8 34.
Ra2 (34. Reb1 Bc6) 34... Kh7 35. Rd1 (35. a6 $1 {was more precise} Rg8 36. a7
Rb7 37. Kf2 {with excellent winning chances.}) 35... Rb3 ({Black couls also
sacrifice a second pawn} 35... d4 36. cxd4 Bd5 37. Raa1 Bf6) 36. Kf2 Rfb8 37.
Rd2 Kg6 $1 38. Ne7+ Kf6 39. Nxd5+ Bxd5 40. Rxd5 Rxb2 41. Rxb2 Rxb2 42. Ke3 {It
was Wojtaszek's turn to defend and he did it greatly as usual. The Polish GM
is one of the best defenders in the world.} (42. c4 Rb3 43. g4 Ra3 {is most
likely a draw.}) 42... Bxg3 (42... Bxc3 43. a6) 43. a6 {Diagram [#]} Bh2 $2 {
BBut this is wrong. Black could have drawn with} (43... Rc2 $1 44. Bb5 (44. Bc4
Rxc3+) 44... Rxc3+ 45. Kxe4 Ra3 {in this case the white bishop will not reach
the a2-f7 diagonal. All Black will need is to trade the rooks and sacrifice
the bishop for the a pawn.}) 44. Bc4 $1 {Suddenly, Radjabov creates an attack
which is usually unstoppable in the opposite colored bishop endgames!} Rc2 45.
Kxe4 Rxc3 46. Rf5+ Kg7 47. Rxf7+ Kg6 48. Bd5 Bg1 49. Rf1 Bc5 50. Ke5 Ra3 51.
Rf6+ Kh5 52. Rf4 Kg6 {The pawn is poisoned} (52... Rxa6 53. Bf7+ Rg6 54. Kf5
Be3 55. Bxg6#) 53. Rg4+ Kh7 (53... Kh5 $4 54. Kf5 {is instant mate.}) 54. Be4+
Kh8 55. Rg6 h5 56. Rc6 Bf8 57. Kf6 {Diagram [#] Total domination! The light
squares are undefendable.} Kg8 58. Bd5+ Kh7 59. Kf7 {A game with plenty of
content in which both the players skillfully defended when needed. Wojtaszek
committed only one mistake in the endgame and this was enough for Radjabov to
create deadly attack. Never underestimate the opposite colored bishops!} (59.
Kf7 Ra5 (59... Bb4 60. Be4+ Kh8 61. Rh6#) 60. Be4+ Kh8 61. Rc8 (61. Kxf8 Rxa6
$1 62. Rxa6)) 1-0

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Drama

Not all the Grandmaster games are completely logical. Even those at the top level. GMs remain human beings no matter how high their ratings are and this sometimes prevents them from conducting the game to a logical outcome.
As in the following game from round seven of the Tata Steel tournament.

[Event "Tata Steel Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.01.17"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2667"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "157"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:10:36"]
[BlackClock "0:01:17"]

1. c4 {White is playing the Sicilian Defense reversed.} c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3
Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nc7 7. O-O e5 {And Black does the Maroczy
bind on his turn.} 8. a3 {Since White has an extra tempo, he can afford more
things. Cncretely to attack the center with the move b2-b4!} Be7 ({A modern
way to prevent the b2-b4 advance is} 8... Rb8 {a move we discussed not long
time ago with Alex Yermolinsky at one of the chess.com TV shows. The idea is
that after} 9. b4 cxb4 10. axb4 Bxb4 {(a line in which once felt the Serbian
GM Bogosavljevic) Whie cannot win the pawn back with the typical trick} 11.
Nxe5 $2 Nxe5 12. Qa4+ Nc6 13. Bxc6+ bxc6 {[%csl Rb4][%cal Rb8b4] as the bishop
on b4 is defended.}) 9. b4 O-O {King's Loek concept is very simple and
effective. Finish the development and let White prove that they can actually
challenge the black center.} (9... cxb4 10. axb4 Bxb4 $2 {makes no sense now
due to} 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Qa4+ Nc6 13. Bxc6+ bxc6 14. Qxb4 {with large
advantage for White.}) 10. Rb1 ({White can try} 10. bxc5 Bxc5 11. Bb2 {this
frees the center a bit, but allows time to Black to regroup conveniently with}
Re8 12. Rc1 Bf8 {and level the game, Kramnik,V (2781)-Timofeev,A (2665) Moscow
2011}) 10... cxb4 $146 {Diagram [#] This simple move is a novelty. Black had
only tested} (10... Bf5 {previously, obviously not willing to give up the
central control. After} 11. d3 c4 12. e4 {was tried by White} ({However, the
immediate} 12. b5 Na5 13. Qa4 Ne6 14. Nd5 $5 {might be stronger as pointed by
the engines, with the idea} Qxd5 15. Nh4 e4 16. dxc4 Qc5 17. Nxf5 Qxf5 18. Qxa5
{with a solid extra pawn for White.}) 12... Be6 13. b5 Na5 14. d4 {with
initiative for White in the game Lalic,B (2500)-Izeta Txabarri,F (2340) Palma
de Mallorca 1989}) 11. axb4 b5 {The point. Van Wely blocks the b4 pawn and
slowly builds his play around it. This is a typical idea for the hedgehog.} 12.
Bb2 ({The tricks favor Black} 12. Nxe5 $2 Nxe5 13. Bxa8 Nxa8) (12. d4 $2 exd4
13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Bxc6 $2 Qxc3 {and wins}) 12... Bf5 13. Rc1 {The threat is
Nc3xb5.} Rc8 {Overprotects the knight on c6 and lets the rook stay clear of
the fianchettoes bishop on g2. Black had comfortably levelled the chances.} 14.
d3 Qd7 15. Nb1 {A crafty idea.} ({The more active} 15. Ne4 {bocks the white
bishop and after} Ne6 16. Nc5 Nxc5 17. bxc5 Qe6 {the black pawns on the
queenside are obviously more mobile than the white ones in the center.}) 15...
Na6 $1 {Loek is alert.} ({The natural defense} 15... f6 $2 {suddenly loses to}
16. Rxc6 $1 Qxc6 17. Nd4 Qd7 18. Bc6 $1 {and if} Qd6 19. Nxf5 Qxc6 20. Nxe7+)
16. Bxe5 ({The line} 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Bxe5 Nxb4 18. Nc3 {leaves the white
bishop exposed on e5.}) ({Most likely Ding should have opted for} 16. Nc3 Naxb4
17. Nxb5 Rb8 {with approximate equality.}) ({Or} 16. Na3) 16... Naxb4 17. Bb2
Rfd8 {A peculiar position. It seems as White's central superiority should
count more than Black's one on the queenside. However, since van Wely has
strong pressure along the half-open d file Ding Liren has no time to start
pushing the pawns.} 18. Nc3 (18. e4 $2 {creates a weakness on d3.} Bg6) ({While
} 18. d4 $2 {comically self-traps the white rook after} Na2) 18... a6 {In the
next moves Black confidently outplays his opponent.} 19. Ra1 Bh3 20. Bxh3 Qxh3
21. Qd2 Qf5 {The threat is Nb4xd3.} 22. Kg2 ({Say} 22. Rab1 $2 Nxd3 23. exd3
Qxf3) 22... a5 23. Ne4 Nd5 (23... a4 {looks also very nice for Black.}) 24.
Rfc1 a4 25. Kg1 h6 {The logical play gave Black large advantage. Ding Liren
further weakens his position with the next move.} 26. h4 $6 Bb4 27. Qd1 {
Diagram [#]} Bf8 {King Loek misses a good chance.} ({Strong was} 27... Qd7 {
with the threat f7-f5-f4! If} 28. Nc5 Qa7 29. Ne4 a3 {is strong} ({Or again}
29... f5 {In either case White is in trouble.})) 28. Rcb1 Nb6 (28... Qd7 $1)
29. Bc1 Nc4 30. Nc3 Bb4 31. Na2 Be7 32. Nc3 Bb4 33. Na2 Be7 34. Nc3 Nb4 {Van
Wely does not find a concrete plan but continues to play for a win.} 35. Kg2 (
35. Bf4 {was better although Black is much better here as well.}) 35... Na5 {
One more miss for Black.} ({After} 35... Ne5 $1 36. Nxe5 Qxe5 {the white
knight on c3 is trapped!} 37. Ne4 (37. Na2 Nxa2 38. Rxa2 Qd5+) (37. Bd2 Rxc3
38. Bxc3 Qxc3) 37... Qxe4+ 38. dxe4 Rxd1 {Black wins.}) 36. Bd2 Nb3 37. Rxb3
axb3 38. Rb1 {Black had won the exchange and is very close to the win.} Nc6 {
The third and last clear miss. The combo} (38... Nxd3 $1 39. exd3 Rxc3 40. Bxc3
Rxd3 41. Bd2 Rxf3 {would have wrapped the game home.}) 39. e4 Qh5 (39... Qc5 {
was better}) 40. Nd5 {Ding managed to stabilize the situation and Loek looks
for a way to retain the initiative.} Rxd5 41. exd5 Qxd5 42. Qxb3 Qxb3 43. Rxb3
b4 {Black is still better thanks to the outside passed pawn.} 44. Kf1 f6 45.
Rb1 Kf7 {Brings the king in the game.} 46. Ra1 Rb8 47. Be3 b3 48. Nd2 b2 ({A
more logical follow up was} 48... Ke6 49. Rb1 Na5 50. Ke2 Kd5) 49. Rb1 f5 50.
Nc4 Bf6 51. Bc5 Bc3 ({The last winning attempt was connected with the
computer-study idea} 51... Ra8 $5 {Very strong with the idea} 52. Nxb2 Rb8 53.
d4 {Diagram [#]} Rb3 $3 {when White has nothing to move.} 54. Kg2 (54. Ke2
Nxd4+ 55. Kd2 Nb5 56. Kc2 Rc3+ 57. Kd2 Rxc5) 54... Nb8 $1 {Try finding this
idea over the board!} 55. Kh3 Na6 56. Bd6 Nb4 57. Bc5 Nd3 58. Nxd3 Rxb1 {when
Black's chances for a win are quite resonable.}) 52. Ke2 Nb4 53. d4 Ke6 $4 {
Hallucination. Van Wely forgot that his king is not yet there.} (53... Nd5 54.
Kd3 Ke6 {would be equal.}) 54. Bxb4 Bxb4 ({Alas,} 54... Rxb4 55. Kd3 {traps
the bishop as} Be1 56. Rxe1+ {is taken with a check.}) 55. Rxb2 {Tables have
turned and it is White who has the advantage. The frustrated Loek van Wely
loses without much chances.} g5 56. h5 g4 57. Kd3 Bd6 58. Re2+ Kd7 59. Ne3 Rf8
60. Ra2 f4 (60... Ke6 61. Nc4 Bb8 (61... Rb8 62. Ra6) 62. Ra6+) 61. Nxg4 fxg3
62. fxg3 Bxg3 63. Nxh6 Rf4 64. Rg2 Bf2 65. Rg4 Rf3+ 66. Ke2 Rf8 67. Re4 Kd6 68.
Ng4 Bg1 69. Kd3 Rf3+ 70. Kc4 Ra3 71. h6 Ra4+ 72. Kc3 Ra3+ 73. Kb4 Rh3 74. Kc4
Rh4 75. d5 Be3 $2 76. Nf6 Rh3 (76... Rxe4+ 77. Nxe4+ Kd7 78. h7) 77. Re6+ Kc7
78. d6+ Kb7 79. d7 {Van Wely outplayed his strong opponent but was imprecise
in the detail when converting the advantage. The stubborness of the Chinese
star Ding Liren was rewarded by a ful point and he is now half point short of
the leaders.} 1-0

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