Annotated by GM Alexander Kali
In the penultimate round of the main tournament, the leader was substituted again. GM Ernesto Inarkiev, the winner of the last edition of the Moscow open "A", appeared in the lead half a point ahead of 6 players. This was reached by his round 8 victory over the 2008 Moscow Open winner, GM Artyom Timofeev.
Trojan Horse
The game reminds us about the history of ancient wars. Black couldn’t resist the temptation to win a white knight by a little combination. But that knight, or "horse" - as this light piece is sometimes called by amateur players - was truly the Trojan Horse! After its capture, a white pawn rushed deep inside the opponent's camp, bringing death to the Black's army.
Inarkiev, Ernesto – Timofeev, Artyom
Russia Cup Stage 2016
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3
These days, it's a popular way to fight against the Grunfeld Defense.
3…d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 0–0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.0–0–0 Qd6
One of the tabias of the 3.f3 variation. Black counts on exerting piece pressure on the white pawn center. Curiously, this position is favored by many top players with both colours!
10.Nb5 Qd7 11.Kb1Rd8 12.d5 a6 13.Nc3
In round 3, Timofeev's opponent wasn't really prepared for the opening and suffered a fast crash after 13.dxc6 Qxd2 14.Rxd2 Rxd2 15.Bxd2 axb5 16.Bxb5?! (16.cxb7 Bxb7 17.Bxb5 is known to lead to dynamic equality - 17...f5 18.exf5 Bd5 etc.) 16...bxc6 17.Bxc6 Rb8 18.Bb5 Nd7 19.Bc4 Rxb2+ 20.Kc1 Nb6 21.Bb3 Ba6 22.Ne2 Bxe2 23.e5 Bxe5 24.Re1 Bd3 0:1 (L.Martinez - A.Timofeev, Moscow Open 2016).
13...Na5 14.Qc1
14...Nac4
There is no necessity to determine the position of Black knights immediately. The top-level practice saw also 14...Qd6 15.h4 Qb4 (15...Nac4!?) 16.h5 Nac4 17.hxg6 hxg6 18.Bxc4 Nxc4 19.Nge2, A.Giri – B. Gelfand (Tromso 2014), or 14...Qe8 15.Bh6 Bxh6 16.Qxh6 e6, M. Carlsen – F. Caruana (Norway 2014), with complicated struggle.
15.Bd4 Qd6 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Nge2
White could have mobilized his forces quickly by 17.Bxc4 Nxc4 18.Nge2, but Inarkiev obviously wanted to keep both the black knights on the board.
17...Qf6 18.b3 Nd6 19.f4 Nb5 20.e5 Qh4 21.g3 Qh5 22.Bg2 Bg4 23.Rd2 c6
The alternatives are 23...Bf3 24.Bxf3 Qxf3 25.Rhd1 or 23...e6 24.Nxb5! (24.dxe6 Bxe2 25.Nxe2 Rxd2 26.Qxd2 Rd8! 27.Qxd8 Qxe2 28.Rc1 Na3+ 29.Ka1 Nc2+ 30.Rxc2 Qxc2 31.Qf6+ Kh6 32.Qg5+ with perpetual check) 24...axb5 25.Nd4 Nxd5 26.h3 Bf5+ 27.Ka1 Qh6. In both cases, White's chances are preferable.
24.dxc6!
Black has good counterplay after 24.Nxb5 cxb5.
24...Bxe2 25.Nxe2
Since White has already intended a positional piece sacrifice, he could have fulfilled it immediately - 25.cxb7! Nxc3+ 26.Qxc3 Rab8 27.Rxd8 Rxd8 28.Ka1 Qf5 29.Rc1 is in White's favour.
25...Rxd2 26.Qxd2 Rd8! 27.Qe3!
27.Qxd8 Qxe2 28.Rc1 Na3+ 29.Ka1 Nc2+ 30.Rxc2 Qxc2 31.a4 etc. leads to equality.
27...Qxe2?
This tempting combination is in fact disastrous for Black. He could maintain balanced play by simple 27...bxc6 28.Kb2 Nd5 29.Bxd5 Rxd5.
28.Qxe2 Nc3+ 29.Kc2 Nxe2 30.cxb7
A closer look at the position reveals that the black knights are nearly helpless against the b7-pawn supported by the g2-bishop.
30…Nd4+ 31.Kc3 a5
Or 31...Ne2+ 32.Kb4 Rd4+ 33.Ka5 Nd7 34.Kxa6 winning.
32.Rd1 Nb5+ 33.Kb2Rb8 34.Rc1 Nd4 35.Rc5 a4 36.Kc3
Here Black resigned. This decision might seem a bit early, but after 36...axb3(!) 37.axb3 [37.Kxd4? Rd8+ 38.Ke3 bxa2 39.Rc1 Nc4+ 40.Kf2 Rd2+ 41.Kf3 Rb2 42.Ra1=] 37...Ne6 38.Rc6 Nxf4 39.gxf4 Rxb7 40.b4 Black wouldn't be able to hold anyway.
