Annotated by GM Alexander Kalinin
The tournament favourites continue to move forward without significant losses. There were many decisive games in the second round but our attention was attracted by a very interesting draw between an experienced grandmaster from Togliatti and a Chinese 15-years old player.
A black hole on d5
The d5-square played the key role in the course of this game as it was attracting both White's and Black's pieces like a giant black hole. As a result, it absorbed two black knights, a white rook and a white bishop.
Yi ZHU – J. GELLER
Russia Cup Stage
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4
The main line of the Noteboom variation (4…d5xc4) is 5.a4 Bb4 6.e3 b5 7.Bd2 a5 8.axb5 Bxc3 9.Bxc3 cxb5 10.b3 Bb7 11.bxc4 b4 12.Bb2 Nf6 13.Bd3 Nbd7 14.0–0 0–0 etc. White decided to choose a less popular response.
5...b5 6.a4 Bb4 7.g3 Bb7 8.Bg2 Nf6 9.0–0 a6
Here Black's strategy consists of winning the c4-pawn and attempting to hold it. At the same time White tries to use Catalan ideas in the Slav defense. This line has become very popular nowadays. Let’s note that taking the second pawn is not a good idea: 9...Bxc3? 10.bxc3 Nxe4 11.Ne5 Nd6 (11...Nxc3 12.Qf3) 12.Ba3, and it’s bad for Black.
10.Nh4
The White's plan usually includes e4-e5 advance with further attack on the kingside, while the e4-square is used as the staging post for his knights aiming at d6 and f6.
The immediate 10.Ng5 h6 11.Nxf7!? Kxf7 12.e5 Nd5 13.Ne4 looks too gambling, but White has also typical 10.e5 Nd5 11.Ng5.
10...Nbd7 11.e5 Nd5 12.Ne4 Be7
This move gives the game a forced direction. The alternative is 12...0–0 13.Qg4 with complicated struggle.
13.Qg4 g6
13...0–0 makes Black to sacrifice an exchange after 14.Bh6.
14.Bg5!
A severe fight for dark squares begins.
14…Bxg5 15.Nd6+
Not 15.Nxg5? h5! and White loses a piece.
15...Kf8 16.Nxb7 Qb6
17.axb5!?
The alternative was 17.Nd6 Be7; 17.Qxg5 Qxb7 (Black isn't on time to cover the h6-square - 17...h6? 18.Nxg6+! fxg6 19.Qxg6 Qxb7 20.Qxe6 with a very strong attack) 18.Qh6+ Ke7 (or 18...Kg8 19.Nf3 Qb8 20.Ng5 Qf8 21.Qh3 Qe7 22.Ne4 Kg7) 19.Nf3 and White has good positional compensation for a pawn.
17...Bxh4
Black's position becomes too vulnerable in case of 17...Qxb7 18.bxc6 Qxc6 19.Qxg5 Kg7 20.Ra5 etc.
18.bxc6 Qxc6 19.Na5 Qb5 20.Qxh4 Kg7 21.Rfc1 N7b6
The situation has stabilized to some extent. Black has returned the extra pawn but his knight on d5 is now very strong as it guards all the paths leading to the black king. A new stage of struggle starts, where White wants to neutralize the centralized black knight.
22.Bxd5
Computer wants to attack the c4-pawn by 22.Bf1, but then after 22…Qxb2 23.Nxc4 Nxc4 24.Bxc4 Rhc8 25.Rcb1 Qxa1! 26.Rxa1 Rxc4 black's position is unassailable.
22...Nxd5 23.Nxc4 Rhc8 24.Nd6 Rxc1+ 25.Rxc1 Qxb2 26.Rc5 Rf8
The struggle reached its culmination, and it's time for the final battle for the d5-square.
27.Rxd5! Qc1+
27...exd5 28.Qf6+ Kg8 29.e6 fxe6 30.Qxe6+ Kg7 31.Qe7+ would also lead to a draw.
28.Kg2 Qc6
The white rook, although alive formally, is deadly pinned which makes it similar to "the flying Dutchman". White has to force a draw by a nice knight jump:
29.Nf5+! gxf5
Or 29...exf5 30.Qf6+ Qxf6 31.exf6+ Kxf6 32.Rd6+ Ke7 33.Rxa6 Rd8 34.Ra4 with equality.
30.Qf6+ Kg8 31.Qg5+ Kh8 32.Qf6+ Kg8 Draw.
A spectacular game honoring both opponents.