Chess (March): Candidates' Tournament begins in London on March 15

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Fridman - Naiditsch, Round 6

Although he lost his last three games to finish with a -2 score, Herr Niaditsch was acclaimed by many observers as the player of the tournament for playing decisive games in eight out of ten rounds in what was otherwise a drawfest.

Herr Naiditsch also turned in the best game of the tournament in the sixth round when he defeated his compatriot, Herr Fridman.

[center][/center]

[center]Arkadij Naiditsch[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Pawel Suwarski in Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Naiditsch_Arkadij.jpg)
(Public Domain)[/font]

Daniel Fridman - Arkadij Naiditsch
GRENKE Chess Classic, Round 6
Baden-Baden, 13 February 2013

West India Game: King's Indian Defense (Main Line/Aronin Variation)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Be3

• For [font color="red"]8.d5[/font] and more on this opening, see Wang Yue-A. Vovk, Op 1112, Hastings, 2012.

8...Ng4

• If [font color="red"]8...Re8[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9.dxe5 dxe5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]10.Qxd8[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]10...Nxd8 11.Nb5 Ne6 12.Ng5 Re7 13.Rfd1[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13...b6 14.a4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]14...c6 15.Nxe6 Bxe6 16.Nc3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]16...Rb7 17.b4 Bf8 18.Rab1 Nd7[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]19.b5 Rc8 20.Nd5 Nc5 21.bxc6 Rxc6 22.a5 bxa5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and White more space (Portisch-Dr. Nunn, IT, Amsterdam, 1990).
• [font color="burgundy"]19.h3 a5 20.bxa5 Rxa5 21.Bg4 Bxg4 22.hxg4 Bc5[/font] gives Black a stronger pawns on the queenside (Chekhov-Longinov, Soviet Armed Forces Ch, Sverdlovsk, 1987).
• [font color="#C08000"]16...Rb8 17.b4 Rd7 18.f3 Bf8 19.Rxd7 Nxd7 20.Rb1 [/font] is equal (Hjartarsson-Dr. Nunn, ITZ, Szirak, 1987).
• [font color="darkpink"]14...a6 15.Nc3 Nd4 16.Bxd4 exd4 17.Rxd4 a5 18.Rad1[/font] is equal (Movsesian-Babula, IT (Blitz playoff), Prague, 1999).
• If [font color="darkred"]13...c6 14.Nxe6 Bxe6 15.Nc3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15...b6 16.f3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16...Rd7 17.b4 Bf8 18.a3 Rc8 19.g4 Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1[/font] is equal (Pomar Salamanca-Dr. Penrose, IT, Palma de Mallorca, 1969).
• [font color="darkorange"]16...Rb7 17.b3 Bf8 18.Rac1 Nd7 19.Na4 f5[/font] is equal (Haugli-Wahls, Euro ChT, Haifa, 1989).
• [font color="magenta"]15...Rd7 16.Rxd7 Bxd7 17.Rb1 Ng4 18.Bd2 Be6 19.f3[/font] is equal (Reshevsky-Fischer, Match, Los Angeles, 1961).
• If [font color="darkred"]10...Rxd8 11.Bg5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11...Rd7 12.Bd1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12...Ne8 13.Ba4 f6 14.Be3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14...Bf8 15.Nd2 Rd8 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Nb3 a5 18.Nc5[/font] is equal (Hermlin-Vepkhvishvili, Op, Saaremaa, 1983).
• [font color="burgundy"]14...Rd6 15.h3 Be6 16.Nd5 Kf7 17.b4 Rdd8 18.Rac1[/font] is equal (Chekhov-Ehlvest, Soviet Ch ½-final, Tallinn, 1980).
• [font color="#C08000"]12...h6 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Ba4 Rd6 15.c5 Re6 16.Nd5[/font] gives White a fine game (Chekhov-Bukic, IT, Banja Luka, 1983).
• If [font color="magenta"]11...Rf8 12.Rfd1 Bg4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Nd4 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.cxd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]16...f5 17.Kf1 Rf7 18.Rac1[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]18...fxe4 19.Bxe4 Bf8 20.Rd3 Bd6 21.Be3 Nf5 22.Bd2[/font] is equal (Ponomariov-Nakamura, IT, Dortmund, 2011).
• [font color="burgundy"]18...f4 19.Bg4 Re8 20.Rxd4 exd4 21.Be6[/font] assures White of winning the exchange (Zielinska-Dembo, Euro ChW, Kusadasi, Turkey, 2006).
• [font color="#C08000"]16...f6 17.Bd2 Rfd8 18.Rac1 Rd7 19.Ba5 b6[/font is equal (Mitenkov-Vepkhvishvili, Op, Katowice, 1991).
• [font color="darkorange"]13.Rd3 h6 14.Be3 Rfd8 15.Rad1 Rxd3 16.Rxd3 Rc8[/font] is equal (Chekhov-W. Schmidt, IT, Dresden, 1985).
• If [font color="darkred"]10.h3 Be6 11.c5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11...Qe7 12.Qc2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12...Rad8!? 13.Rad1 Rxd1 14.Rxd1 Rd8 15.Bb5 Rxd1+ 16.Qxd1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Speelman-Dr. Nunn, IT 8788, Hastings, 1988).
• [font color="burgundy"]12...a6 13.Rad1 Rad8 14.Qa4 Rd7 15.Rxd7 Nxd7 16.b4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.
• [font color="darkorange"]15...bxc6 16.Qa4 Qe8 17.Rad1 f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.f3[/font] gives White a slight advantage (Van der Sterren-Gelfand, IZT, Biel, 1993).
• If [font color="darkred"]9.d5 Nd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10.Nxd4 exd4 11.Bxd4 Nxe4 12.Bxg7 Kxg7 13.Nxe4 Rxe4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]14.Bd3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]14...Rd4 15.Qc2 Qf6 16.Rae1 Bd7 17.Re3 Re8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]18.Qb3 b6 19.Rxe8 Bxe8 20.Re1 Bd7 21.Qc3 h5[/font] is equal (Martín-Geller, IT, Buenos Aires, 1954).
• If [font color="magenta"]11...Nh5 12.Ng5 Nf4 13.Nxe6 Nxe6 14.Bb5 Rf8 15.Bxc6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]15...Qxd1 16.Rfxd1 bxc6 17.Rd2 Rfd8 18.Rad1 Rxd2 19.Rxd2[/font] leaves White slightly better (DeMauro-Cutillas Ripoll, Corres, 2000).
• [font color="burgundy"]18.Rxe8 Bxe8 19.Re1 Bd7 20.Qc3 c6 21.dxc6 Bxc6[/font] is equal (Bronstein-Geller, Soviet Ch, Riga, 1958).
• If [font color="magenta"]14...Re8 15.Re1[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]15...Rxe1+ 16.Qxe1 Bd7 17.c5 dxc5 18.Qc3+ Qf6 19.Qxc5 Qxb2[/font] gives Black the initiative and an extra pawn (Muse-N. Davies, Bundesliga 8586, Germany, 1985).
• [font color="darkorange"]15...Bd7 16.Rxe8 Bxe8 17.Qb3 b6 18.Qc3+ Qf6 19.Qxf6+ Kxf6[/font] is equal (Pytel-Gligoric, IT 7273, Hastings, 1973).
• [font color="burgundy"]14.Qc2 Re8 15.Rfe1 Qf6 16.Bf1 Bf5 17.Qd2 a5[/font] is equal (Incutto-Olafsson, IT, Mar del Plata, 1960).
• If [font color="magenta"]10.Re1 Nxe2+[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]11.Qxe2 Ng4 12.Bg5 f6 13.Bh4 h5 14.h3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Kholmov-Nicevski, Godlidze Mem, Tbilisi, 1974).
• [font color="darkorange"]11.Rxe2 Ng4 12.Bg5 f6 13.Bd2 f5 14.Bg5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Rossetto-Bobekov, Ol, Amsterdam, 1954).

9.Bg5 f6 10.Bh4

• If [font color="red"]10.Bc1 f5 11.Bg5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11...Qe8 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Nd5 Qf7 14.Bd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]14...Nf6!? 15.Ng5! Qd7 16.exf5 gxf5 17.f4 e4 18.Bc3 h6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]19.Nxf6+!? Bxf6! 20.Qxd7 Bxd7 21.Bxf6 Rxf6 22.Rad1 Rd8[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space; White's Knight must retreat to h3 (Vera-Van Wely, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 1994).
• [font color="burgundy"]19.Ne6 Qxe6 20.Nxc7 Qe7 21.Nxa8 Be6 22.Qc2 Rxa8[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]a) 14...h6!? 15.Bd3! Re8 16.Qc2 f4 17.c5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]17...Be6? 18.Bb5![/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]18...g5 19.h3 Nf6 20.Bxc6 bxc6 21.Nxe5 Qh5 22.Nxc7[/font] gives White the exchange plus a pawn; Black capitulation soon after (Adamski-Hillarp Persson, Politiken Cup, Copenhagen, 2000).
• If [font color="magenta"]18...a6 19.Ba4 Kh7 20.h3[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]20...Bxd5 21.exd5 Qxd5 22.hxg4[/font] leaves White a piece to the good.
• [font color="darkorange"]20...Nf6 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Nxe5[/font] is only insignificantly different from [font color="darkred"]the quoted game.[/font]
• [font color="darkorchid"]17...Nf6 18.Nb4 Nxb4 19.Bxb4 Qd7 20.Rfd1 Kh7 21.Bc3[/font] gives White a target on e5, but the Black's position is good enough to keep him in the game.
• [font color="#C08000"]b) 14...Nxf2 15.Rxf2 fxe4 16.Be3 exf3 17.Rxf3[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]a) 11...Bf6 12.Bxf6 Nxf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13.exf5 Bxf5 14.d5 Ne7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15.Ng5 Qc8 16.Bd3 Bxd3 17.Qxd3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]17...Nh5 18.Ne2 Ng7 19.f4 Qf5 20.Qe3 Qc2 21.Nc3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Movsesian-B. Socko, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 1998).
• If [font color="magenta"]17...Qf5 18.Qd2 c6 19.f4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]19...e4!? 20.dxc6 Nxc6 21.Qxd6[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Movsesian-Kasimdzhanov, Op, Dordrecht, 1999).
• [font color="darkorange"]19...cxd5 20.cxd5 exf4 21.Ne6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="burgundy"]15.Qd2 Kg7 16.Nh4 Bd7 17.f4 exf4 18.Qxf4 Nf5[/font] gives White a clear advantage in space (Kasparov-Anand, Rpd KO, Geneva, 1996)
• If [font color="magenta"]13.dxe5 dxe5[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.Nd5 Nxe4 16.Nxc7 Rb8 17.Rfd1 Bd7[/font] is equal (Portisch-Kasparov, IT, Linares. 1990).
• [font color="darkorange"]14.c5!? Nxe4! 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.Nxe4 fxe4 17.Ng5 Rd2[/font] gives Black a clear advantage (Le Quang Liem-Sandipan, Asian ChT, Esfahan, Iran, 2005).
[
• If [font color="darkred"]b) 11...Qd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12.dxe5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12...Ngxe5 13.exf5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]13...Qxf5 14.Qd2 Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 Bxc3 16.Bd5+ Be6[/font] is equal (Kiriakov-Pokazanjev, Russian Ch HL, Novkuznetsk, 2008).
• [font color="purple"]13...gxf5?! 14.Nd5! Qf7 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.Bh5 Qd7 17.b4[/font] gives White a strong advantage (Portisch-Stellwagen, IT, Malmö, 2008).
• [font color="darkorange"]12...fxe4 13.Nxe4 Ngxe5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.Qc1 Qf7[/font] is equal (Portisch-Hereise, ZCC Bicentennial, Zürich, 2009).
• [font color="magenta"]12.exf5 exd4 13.Nb5 Rxf5 14.Bc1 Rf8 15.Nbxd4 Nge5[/font] is equal (Saric-B. G. Smith, Op, Zagreb, 2012).

10...g5 11.Bg3 Nh6 12.dxe5

• If [font color="red"]12.d5 Ne7 13.Nd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13...Ng6 14.b4 Nf4 15.c5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]15...f5 16.exf5 Nxf5 17.Nde4 Nd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]18.Bg4!?[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]18...Bxg4!?[/font] (Black is overanxious to trade his good Bishop; he should postpone and see if White will take on c8 instead) [font color="red"]19.Qxg4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]19...h5 20.Qd1 g4 21.Bxf4 exf4[/font] gives Black a clear kingside edge while White has the advantage on the opposite wing (Le Quang Liem-Nguyen Ngoc Phung, Vietnamese Ch Prelim, Hue, 2005).
• [font color="burgundy"]19...Nf3+ 20.Kh1 Nd4 21.cxd6 cxd6 22.h4 gxh4 23.Bxh4[/font] offers equal chances (R. Rodriguez-Ye Juangchuan, Op, Manila, 1989).
• If [font color="darkred"]18...dxc5![/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]19.bxc5 Nxd5 20.Nxd5 Qxd5 21.Nxg5 e4[/font] leaves Black slightly better.
• [font color="magenta"]19.Bxc8 Rxc8 20.Nxc5 Nxd5[/font] leaves Black slightly better.
• [font color="burgundy"]18.Bc4 a5 19.bxa5 Rxa5 20.cxd6 cxd6 21.Rb1[/font] continues to give Black a slight edge.
• [font color="#C08000"]15...a5[/font] (Black attempts to counter White's queenside advance, dropping his own kingside incusion to do so) [font color="#C08000"]16.cxd6 cxd6 17.b5 f5 18.f3 Bd7 19.Rc1[/font] gives White a better center; Black has considerable more space on the kingside (Hessler-Nemet, Op, Biel, 2005).
• If [font color="darkred"]13...f5 14.exf5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14...Nhxf5 15.Bh5 Nd4 16.Nde4 Nef5 17.c5 dxc5 18.Nxc5[/font] is equal (Kadimova-Topel, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).
• [font color="magenta"]14...Bxf5 15.c5 Ng6 16.cxd6 cxd6 17.Nc4 Nf4 18.Re1[/font] leaves White slightly better (Hracek-J. Polgar, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

12...fxe5

• If [font color="red"]12...dxe5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13.c5 g4 14.Nh4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]14...Be6 15.Qa4 Qd4 16.Qb5 Qb4 17.f4 gxf3 18.Nxf3[/font] is equal (Ivanchuk-Radjabov, Rpd Op, Odessa, 2007).
• [font color="magenta"]14...Nd4 15.Bc4+ Kh8 16.Re1 c6 17.Ne2 Ne6 18.b4[/font] is equal (Kadimova-Ohme, Euro ChW, Dresden, 2007).
• [font color="darkred"]13.h3 Qxd1 14.Rfxd1 g4 15.hxg4 Bxg4 16.Rd2 Rad8 17.Nd5[/font] is equal (Javakhishvili-Zawadzka, OlW, Dresden, 2008).

13.h3 Kh8 (N)

• If [font color="red"]13...Nf7 14.Nh2[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]14...Nh8 15.Qd5+ Rf7!? 16.c5!? Nd4 17.Bg4 Ng6 18.cxd6[/font] is equal (Krysa-Michailov, Pan Am Jr Ch, 2009).
• [font color="darkred"]14...Nd4 15.Bg4 Nh8 16.Nb5 Ng6 17.Bxc8 Qxc8 18.Nxd4 exd4 19.Nf3[/font] is equal (Golod-Xu Haizhou, Op, Toronto, 2011).

14.c5

• White stands slightly better.

14...g4!?

• Of course, this advance is somewhat risky. Black has King safety issues, but he is attempting to put a few chinks in White's castle wall.
• [font color="red"]14...dxc5 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.Nxg5 Nd4 17.Rad1 Bd7 18.Bh4[/font] continues to give White a slight edge.

[center]BLACK: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Daniel Fridman[/center][center]Position after 14...g5g4[/center]

15.hxg4!

• White takes a small advantage in space.
• [font color="red"]15.Bh4!? Bf6! 16.Bxf6+ Rxf6 17.hxg4 Bxg4[/font] is equal.

15...Bxg4 16.cxd6 cxd6

• White has a small advantage in space and fewer pawn weaknesses.

17.Nd2 Bc8

• [font color="red"]17...Qd7 18.Nb5 Rad8 19.Nc3 Rc8 20.Bxg4 Nxg4 21.Nf3[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

18.Nc4 Nd4 19.Ne3 Nf7

• [font color="red"]19...Be6 20.b3 Rc8 21.Bc4 Qe8 22.Rc1 Bxc4 23.bxc4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

20.Nc2!? Ng5 21.Bd3!?

• The Bishop interferes with the Queen's pressure on the backward pawn at d6.
• Better is [font color="red"]21.Qd3 Nxc2 22.Qxc2 Ne6 23.Qd3 a6 24.Qd2[/font] when White continues to enjoy a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Daniel Fridman[/center][center]Position after 21.Be2d3[/center]

21...Ndf3+!!

• The sacrifice levels game.
• If [font color="red"]21...Nge6!?[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]22.Nxd4! Nxd4 23.Nb5 Nxb5 24.Bxb5 Be6 25.Ba4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="darkred"]22.Bc4!? Qg5! 23.Qc1 Qg6 24.Qd1 Nc5 25.Be2 b6[/font] is equal.

22.gxf3 Qd7

• If [font color="red"]22...Nxf3+ 23.Kg2 Nh4+[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]24.Kg1 Nf3+ 25.Kg2 etc.[/font] draws.
• [font color="darkred"]24.Kh1 Qd7 25.Ne1 Qh3+ 26.Kg1 Rf6! 27.Be2 Be6[/font] is equal

23.Be2

• [font color="red"]23.Ne1 Rf6 24.Qc1 Nh3+ 25.Kh2 Rh6 26.Rh1 Nxf2+[/font] is equal.

23...Rf6 24.Nd5 Rh6 25.f4 Nh3+

• [font color="red"]25...Nxe4!? 26.Bf3! Nxg3 27.fxg3 Qh3 28.Kf2 Qh2+ 29.Bg2[/font] leaves Black with only a pawn for a minor piece while his attack has lost its strength.

26.Kg2 exf4 27.Bh2?!

• White needs to bring his pieces from the center to shield the King from Black's coming onslaught.
• If [font color="red"]27.Nd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]27...Qe8 28.Qd3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]28...Be5 29.Rac1 Bd7[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]30.Nc7 Qg8 31.Nxa8 fxg3 32.fxg3 Rg6 33.Rc3 Nf4+[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="burgundy"]30.Rc7 fxg3 31.fxg3 Bxg3 32.Rxd7 Be5 33.Bg4 Qg6[/font] gives White a slight advantage.
• [font color="#C08000"]28...Qe5 29.Nf3 Qh5 30.Nh4 Qe5 31.Nf3 Qh5[/font] invites a draw by repetition.
• If [font color="darkred"]27...Qf7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]28.Rc1 fxg3 29.fxg3 Nf2 30.Rxf2 Rh2+ 31.Kxh2 Qxf2+[/font] is equal.
• [font color="magenta"]28.Qd3 Bd7 29.Rac1 fxg3 30.fxg3 Nf2[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Daniel Fridman[/center][center]Position after 27.Bg3h2[/center]

27...f3+!!

• The pawn sacrifice gives Black a strong initiative.
• If [font color="red"]27...Qd8![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]28.Ne1 Qg5+ 29.Kh1 Qh4 30.Nf3 Nxf2+ 31.Rxf2 Qxf2[/font] gives Black a ston attack with mating threats.
• If [font color="darkred"]28.Nd4 Qg5+ 29.Kh1 Qh4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]30.Nf3 Nxf2+ 31.Rxf2 Qxf2 32.Qf1 Qg3 33.Qg2 Be6[/font] gives Black a strong game with threats to win material.
• [font color="magenta"]30.Nf5?[/font] proves disastrous after [font color="magenta"]30...Bxf5 31.exf5 Ng5![/font when White must surrender a truckload of material in order to avert immediate mate.

28.Bxf3 Ng5 29.Nf4 Rxh2+ 30.Kxh2 Be5

• If [font color="red"]30...Qf7 31.Ng6+ Qxg6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]32.Bh5 Qe6 33.Bg4 Qxg4 34.Qxg4 Bxg4 35.f4 Nxe4[/font] gives Black two minor pieces and a pawn for a Rook; White's King is out in the open.
• If [font color="darkred"]32.Bg4? Nf3+! 33.Qxf3 Be5+[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]34.Qg3[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]34...Bxg3+ 35.fxg3 Bxg4.[/font]
• If [font color="magenta"]34.Kg1 Bxg4 35.Qg2 Bh2+[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]36.Kh1 Qh5 37.f4 Rg8 38.Rf2 Bg3+ 39.Kg1 Bh3[/font] leads to mate.
• [font color="darkorange"]36.Qxh2 Bf3+[/font] leads to mate.

31.Kg2 Bxf4?!

• Black stumbles on his way to the finish line.
• [font color="red"]31...Qf7! 32.Rh1 Qxf4 33.Qd3 Bd7 34.Qe3 Qf6 35.Be2[/font] gives Black two pieces for a Rook and menacing activity in the neighborhood of the enemy King.

32.Rh1!

• Black's strong advantage has vanished. He is down by the exchange but still has an overall small advantage thanks to his activity in the vacinity of the White King and a passed pawn that is more mobile than White's passer in the f-file.

32...Qg7 33.Kf1 Be6!?

• Black misses the opportunity to throw a net around White's King and force White to return the exchange.
• If [font color="red"]33...Bh3+ 34.Rxh3 Nxh3 35.Bg2 Ng5 36.Nd4 Rg8[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage with a passed pawn and more actvity.
• Not sacrificing the exchange with [font color="darkred"]34.Ke1?[/font] proves penny wise and pound foolish after [font color="darkred"]34...Re8! 35.a4 Nxe4[/font] when:
• If [font color="darkred"]36.Qe2 d5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]37.Rd1 Bg2 38.Rg1 Bxf3 39.Rxg7 Bxe2 40.Kxe2 Kxg7[/font] leaves Black with an extra piece.
• [font color="darkorange"]37.Bh5[/font] loses quickly after [font color="darkorange"]37...Re5 38.Rd1 Nxf2.[/font]
• No better is [font color="magenta"]36.Ne3 Nxf2 37.Rxh3 Nxd1 38.Rxd1 Bxe3 39.Rd3 Qg1+.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Daniel Fridman[/center][center]Position after 33...Bc8e6[/center]

34.Nd4!?

• White fails to capitalize on Black's inaccuracy and drops a pawn.
• If [font color="red"]34.Bg4! Bc4+ 35.Be2 Nxe4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]
[center]Analysis Diagram[/center]
[center]BLACK: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Daniel Fridman[/center][center]Position after 35...Ng5e4:p (Analysis)[/center]
[/font]

• [font color="red"]36.Qd4![/font] (White's ability to play this move is the critical difference between this variation and the text position) [font color="red"]36...Nd2+ 37.Ke1 Qxd4 38.Nxd4 Re8[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]36.Bxc4??[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]36...Nd2+! 37.Ke1 Re8+ 38.Ne3 Nxc4.[/font]

34...Bc4+ 35.Be2 Nxe4 36.Bxc4?

• This seems like a reflexive move to restore material balance, but a Zwischenzug is needed to make the move work.
• If [font color="red"]36.Rg1 Qf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]37.Nf3! Qxb2 38.Qd4+[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]38...Be5 39.Qxb2 Bxb2[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]40.Rb1 Bxe2+ 41.Kxe2 Nc3+ 42.Kd3 Nxb1 43.Rxb1 Rf8[/font] gives Black a clear advantage with two extra pawns, but White has counterplay.
• [font color="burgundy"]40.Re1 Bxa2 41.Rg4 Bd5 42.Rd1 Bc6[/font] gives Black a material advantage, but for the moment White's King is safe.
• If [font color="darkred"]38...Qxd4 39.Nxd4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]39...Bd5 40.Rd1 Rf8 41.Rd3 Bxa2 42.Rg4 Bg8[/font] gives Black a material advantage; every pawn in the position is a passed pawn.
• [font color="magenta"]39...Be5?! 40.Bxc4! Nd2+ 41.Ke2 Nxc4 42.Rac1 d5 43.Nf3[/font] gives White a slight advantage.
• [font color="darkorchid"]37.Bxc4?[/font] still proves to be a dud after [font color="darkorchid"]37...Nd2+ 38.Ke1 Qxd4 39.Qe2 Qxc4 40.Qxc4 Nxc4[/font] when Black has two active minor pieces and a pawn for a Rook.
• Better than the text, but hadly satisfactory, is [font color="blue"]36.Nf3?! Nxf2![/font] when:
• [font color="blue"]37.Qd4 Nxh1 38.Qxg7+ Kxg7 39.Bxc4 Ng3+ 40.Kg2 Nf5[/font] leaves White's propects for survival grim.
• If [font color="darkblue"]37.Kxf2? Qg3+ 38.Kf1 Qxf3+[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]39.Ke1[/font] then [font color="darkrblue"]39...Qxh1+ 40.Kf2 Qh2+ 41.Kf3 Qg3+ 42.Ke4 Qe3+ 43.Kf5 Be6+ 44.Kf6 Bg5#.[/font]
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]39.Kg1[/font] then [font color="dodgerblue"]39...Rg8#.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Daniel Fridman[/center][center]Position after 36.Be2c4:N[/center]

36...Nd2+!

• Suddenly, White is toast.

37.Ke2

• White would provide a more stubborn defense after [font color="red"]37.Ke1 Qxd4 38.Qh5 h6 39.Qe2 Qxc4 40.Qxc4 Nxc4.[/font]

37...d5 38.Qc2 Re8+ 39.Kd1 Nxc4 40.Qc3

• If [font color="red"]40.Ne2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]40...Nxb2+ 41.Ke1 Nd3+ 42.Qxd3 Qxa1+.[/font]

40...Re4 41.Nf5

• If [font color="red"]41.Ne6 Qxc3 42.bxc3 Nb2+ 43.Kc2 Re2+ 44.Kb3 Nc4[/font] (all forced) then:
• If [font color="red"]45.Rab1[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]45...Rxe6 46.Rh4 Rb6+ 47.Kc2 Na3+.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]45.Nxf4[/font] then [font color="darkred"]45...Rb2+ 46.Ka4 b5#.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Daniel Fridman[/center][center]Position after 41.Nd4f5[/center]

41...Nxb2+!

• Black's mastery of the dark squares allows him to dictate a series of forced moves. The end is in sight.

42.Kc2 Re2+ 43.Kb3 Qxc3+ 44.Kxc3 Be5+ 45.Nd4

• [font color="red"]45.Kb4 Nd3+ 46.Kb3 Nc5+ 47.Kb4 Na6+ 48.Kb3 Bxa1[/font] leaves Black three pawns to the good

45...Re4 0-1

• [font color="red"]46.Kxb2 Bxd4+ 47.Kc2 Bxa1 48.Rxa1 Re2+ 49.Kd3 Rxf2[/font] leaves Black three pawns up.
• Herr Fridman resigns.