Today's Position

White to move

This position is not among the five that I considered today from Thomas Engqvist, 300 Most Important Chess Positions (2018), which I am working through at the rate of five positions per day. The position does come from a game from which Engqvist extracted three positions, but it was this moment in several games that captured most of my time this morning.

This position seems to have arisen for the first time in Gelfand,B. -- Karpov,A., Sanghi Nagar 1995 and at least twice more that year.

Gelfand played 9.Nd2 and lost after a long struggle. In Anatoly Karpov, How to Play the English Opening (2007), it references 9.Ne1, first played in Gulko,B. -- Sadler,M., Lucerne 1997 as an improvement for White (47). Nonetheless, ChessBase Mega has two White wins, two draws, and four Black wins after 9.Ne1. One of the draws is Engqvist's source game.

After 9.Nd2, White has three wins, a draw, and two losses. Why is 9.Ne1 an improvement?

Fortress

I was looking through a game played in 1996 and published in Chess Informant 65. Veselin Topalov and Boris Gelfand played an instructive endgame. Gelfand annotated the game for Informant. I studied the game as played, studied Gelfand's annotations, and with the engine running mistakenly thought that Topalov had a decisive advantage. Hence, I overlooked the game result. I tried to repeat Topalov's apparent success against Stockfish 11.

Naturally, I failed. Gelfand anticipated my failure in his annotations, which I should have studied with greater attention.

Black to move

Stockfish 11 64 POPCNT -- Stripes,J
Blitz 15m+10s, 04.06.2020

44...a5

Gelfand gave this move an explanation mark, as it is the only move with winning chances.

45.Kf3 24 a4 46.Kg4

Gelfand played 46.Ke2, and after 46...a3, sacrificed a pawn. 47.b6 cxb6 48.Nc1 Kc5 49.Kd3 Bf4 and the game was drawn ten moves later, but my chess engine says that Black has a decisive advantage. Many years of using chess engines should have taught me however, that -+ with a score in the neighborhood of -2.50 is not yet a won game.

White to move

After 49...Bf4

My play against the engine continued:

46...a3 47.Nc1 Kc5 48.Kf5

Black to move

48...Bb2

Gelfand's annotations offer 48...Kd4 here as unclear, but it is probably a draw.

49.Na2 Kd6 50.Nb4 Kc5 51.Na2 Kxb5 52.e5 Kc5 53.d6

Black to move

53...Kc6

There were a couple of ways to lose here.

a) 53...cxd6 54.e6 Kc6 55.Kg6+-

b) 53...Bxe5 54.d7+-

54.Nb4+ Kd7 55.dxc7 Kxc7 56.Ke4  Bxe5 57.Kxe5 a2 58.Nxa2 ½–½

I tried a second time against Stockfish. This time play began with Gelfand's suggested alternative to Topalov's choice.

Black to move

Stockfish 11 64 POPCNT -- Stripes,J.
Blitz 15m+10s, 04.06.2020

49...b5

Topalov played 49...Bf4, as noted in my note above.

50.Kc2 Kc4 51.d6 Bxd6 52.Nb3 Be5 53.Na5+ Kc5 54.Kb1 Kb6 55.Nb3 b4 56.Ka2

Black to move

White has a fortress very much like the one that Gelfand constructed in the actual game, whci was played at Wijk aan Zee in 1996 and published as Informant 65/588.

56...Kb5 57.Nc1 Kc4 58.Nb3 Bb2 59.Nd2+ Kd3 60.Nb3 Kxe4 61.Na5 Kd4

White to move

62.Kb3 Kc5 63.Kc2 Kb5 64.Nb3 Be5 65.Kb1 Kc4 66.Ka2 Bf4 67.Na5+ Kc3 68.Nb3 Bc7 69.Nc5 Kc2 70.Nb3 Bb6

White to move

I had worked hard to reach the position, and then just before Stockfish moved, I saw why it was not winning.

71.Nd4+!

71...Bxd4 is stalemate.

71...Kc1 72.Nc6 Bc5 73.Na5 Kc2 74.Nb3 Bb6 75.Na1+ Kc3 76.Nb3 Kc2 ½–½

Smash Through

Black to move

From Gelfand,B. -- Kramnik,V., Berlin 1996. This game is featured in Neil McDonald, Chess: The Art of Logical Thinking (2004), which I am going through superficially this morning. My intention is to go through the games and then the book more slowly in the coming weeks.

Find the Only Move

These positions arose in Simon Williams' commentary on Gelfand -- Nakamura 2010 in his video "Hikaru Nakamura Teaches the KID" on Chess.com.

The first position arose in three games. Once, White found the correct move. FM Delisle Warner was White in that game, scoring an upset win against IM Kevin Denny.

White to move

The second position comes about a couple moves after 22...h4 instead of Nakamura's 22...Nh4.

White to move

Finally, Gelfand could have stayed in the game with the right move in this third position.

White to move

Can you find the only move in each position?

Gelfand -- Aronian, Tata Steel 2014

In round seven of the Tata Steel Grandmaster tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Levon Aronian has Black against Boris Gelfand. So far, Gelfand has been having a poor tournament, although he seemed to have the advantage for a time yesterday against Anish Giri. Aronian is leading the event a full point ahead of Giri and Sergey Karjakin.

I am following Aronian's games live, but am not getting out of bed early enough in the morning to see them from the beginning. When I awoke this morning after sleeping in past 6:00 am, 25 moves had been played. As has been the pattern in this event, Aronian had a substantial lead on the clock and the position appeared to be one that calls for some subtle maneuvers.

Gelfand,Boris (2777) -- Aronian,Levon (2812) [D39]
Tata Steel Wijk aan Zee (7), 19.01.2014

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 dxc4

Aronian last played this move against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in 2006.

6.e4

Gelfand's move transposes to a position these two players have contested before.

Reference Game:
Gelfand,Boris (2733) -- Aronian,Levon (2754) [D39]
Nalchik FIDE GP Nalchik (9), 24.04.2009
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5 c5 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Qa5 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Bxd7+ Nxd7 13.0–0 a6 14.Rb1 Qc7 15.Qh5 Nc5 16.Rb4 Qe5 17.Qh4 Rd8 18.Nf3 Qxc3 19.e5 Rg8 20.Qxh7 Ke7 21.Rf4 f5 22.Qh4+ Ke8 23.g3 Ne4 24.Rxe4 fxe4 25.Qxe4 Rd5 26.Qf4 Qc2 27.Ng5 Qf5 28.Qxf5 exf5 29.Nh7 Rg6 30.Nf6+ Rxf6 31.exf6 Rd6 32.Re1+ Kf8 33.Re5 Rxf6 ½–½

6...b5 7.a4 c5

Aronian's last two moves have drawn this game into positions rarely seen. Gelfand used nearly two minutes for 7.a4 and nearly eight for the next move.

8.axb5 cxd4

White to move

9.Bxf6

Gelfand spent eighteen minutes on this move.

9...gxf6 10.Qxd4 Nd7

Here Aronian thought for four and one-half minutes, his first move that exceeded the increment. 10...Qxd4 had been played in Glek -- Sveshnikov 1983 and the game was drawn in fifteen moves.

11.Qxc4 Bc5 12.Be2 Bb7 13.0–0 Rc8 14.Qd3 Bb6 15.Na4 Nc5

White to move

16.Qxd8+ Rxd8 17.Nxc5

My initial impulse says to grab the bishop, but then White's doubled b-pawns are going nowhere. Gelfand chooses a dynamic route.

17...Bxc5 18.Rfc1 Bb6 19.Rc4 Ke7 20.Kf1 Rd6 21.e5 Rd5 22.exf6+ Kxf6 23.Rf4+ Ke7 24.Bc4 Rh5

White to move

The moves had been coming fast, but here Gelfand thought for six minutes, followed by another ten for the next two moves. Aronian used nearly twelve minutes for the next three moves.

25.h3 Rc8 26.b3 Bc7 27.Rxa7!? Bxf4 28.Rxb7+ Rc7

White to move

I like Gelfand's play here. The imbalances that he created seem to give Aronian no winning chances. But if Black gets sloppy, the White pawns will become a menace.

29.Rb6 Rd7 30.Ke2 Bd6 31.Ra6 Bb4 32.h4 Rc5 33.Ra8 Bc3 34.g3 h6 35.Bd3 Rcc7

White to move

36.Ra6 Rd6 37.Ra8 Bd4 38.Nxd4 Rxd4 39.Bc4 Rd8 40.Rxd8 Kxd8

The players have made the time control. Gelfand had been playing on the increment for the past few moves.

White to move

41.g4 1/2-1/2

Gelfand was in time pressure, but to my eyes his position was never worse. Indeed, he seemed to be the aggressor for a portion of the game. This game was the first to finish today.

Missed Opportunity for Gelfand

In Nakamura -- Gelfand during round three of the Tata Steel Tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Boris Gelfand missed a tactical blow.

Black to move

This position is at Black's move 43. The game was drawn after White's move 59.

Aronian -- Gelfand Critical Position

Kingscrusher suggested that finding Levon Aronian's move in this position makes for a nice tactical puzzle. This position is from Aronian -- Gelfand in the 2013 Candidates Tournament in London. In the second round, Aronian and Teimour Radjabov scored the first wins and moved into the early lead.

White to move

2rb4/pb3pkp/4p1p1/4N3/1P1P4/4B2P/1P3PP1/2R3K1 w - - 0 26

Theoretical Position: World Championship

Peter Svidler's analysis of the game in progress in the current World Chess Championship offers an interesting comic possibility. If Gelfand attempts to win Anand's h-pawn, things will go very badly for him.

A possible position:

White to move

1.Qxh5+ would be a blunder.

1...Kg7 2.Qe2 Rd8! 3.Qb2+ f6 and the threat of Rh8+ wins for Black

Lessons from Boris Gelfand

To my mind rating is overrated.
Boris Gelfand*

Nearly everyone believes that Vishy Anand will defeat Boris Galfand in the upcoming World Chess Championship Match, 10-31 May 2012 in Moscow, Russia. Boris Gelfand, the challenger, is not only older than the defending champion, but he is not even in the top ten on the FIDE rating list.

A quick search of Big Database 2011 turns up seventy games between these two players (Gelfand mentioned in an interview that they have played more than 100, including blitz). When Gelfand has had White, he leads 5-4 with 27 draws (only counting the 70 in my database). When Gelfand has had Black, Anand leads 13-1 with 20 draws. Gelfand's last win with White was in 1993, while his only win with Black was more recent in 2008. Such a record does not bode well for the challenger. Still, Bobby Fischer had never won against Boris Spassky when their World Championship battle began.

In their first few encounters, Gelfand drew with Black and won with White. Their second game was in an Interzonal.


Gelfand,Boris (2680) - Anand,Viswanathan (2610) [B38]
Manila Interzonal Manila (3), 1990

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.e4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 0–0 8.Be2 d6 9.0–0 Bd7 10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 12.f3 a5 13.b3 Nd7 14.Be3 Nc5 15.Rab1 Qb6 16.Rfc1 Qb4 17.Rc2 Rfc8 18.Qc1 Qb6 19.a3 Qd8 20.Qd2 e6 21.Bf1 Be5 22.b4 axb4 23.axb4 Na4 24.Ne2 Qh4 25.g3 Qe7 26.Nd4 Be8 27.Rbc1 Nb6

White to move

An elementary tactical shot wins a pawn.

28.Nxe6 Qxe6 29.Bxb6 Ra3 30.f4 Bg7 31.Qd5 Bc6 32.Qxe6 fxe6 33.Bg2 e5 34.Rd2 exf4 35.gxf4 Bc3 36.Rxd6 Bxb4 37.c5 Rf8 38.e5 Bxg2 39.Kxg2 Rxf4

White to move

Anand wins back the pawn, but Gelfand's e-pawn becomings menacing.

40.e6 Re4 41.Rd8+ Kg7 42.Rd7+ Kh6 43.e7 Re2+ 44.Kf1 Raa2

Anand generates threats.

White to move

45.Bc7 Ba3 46.Re1 Rf2+ 47.Kg1 Bxc5 48.Kh1

Black to move

Anand is in a quandary.

48...Bxe7 49.Rdxe7 Rf5 50.Bb6 Rf6 51.Be3+ g5 52.Rg1 Rf4 53.Bxf4 1–0

Gelfand's second win came in an endgame with dancing knights.


Gelfand,Boris (2700) - Anand,Viswanathan (2635) [E32]
Munich SKA Munich (10), 15.05.1991

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0–0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 b6 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.e3 h6 9.Bh4 d6 10.f3 Nbd7 11.0–0–0 d5 12.c5 Bc6 13.cxb6 cxb6 14.Kb1 Rc8 15.Rc1 Bb7 16.Qe1 Rxc1+ 17.Qxc1 Qa8 18.Bd3 a5 19.Qf1 e5 20.Ne2 e4 21.Bb5 Bc6 22.Nc3 exf3 23.gxf3 Re8 24.Qd3 Bxb5 25.Nxb5 Qc6 26.Re1 Nf8 27.Bg3 Ng6 28.Nd6 Re6 29.Rc1 Qd7 30.Nf5 Rc6 31.Rg1 Re6 32.Rc1 Rc6 33.Rg1 Re6 34.Be5 Nxe5 35.dxe5 Rxe5 36.Nxg7 Rg5 37.Rxg5 hxg5 38.Nf5 Qe6 39.Nd4 Qe5 40.Qf5 Qxf5+ 41.Nxf5 Kf8

White to move

42.Kc2 Nd7 43.Kc3 Ne5

White to move

44.f4 gxf4 45.exf4 Ng6 46.Kd4 Nxf4 47.h4 f6 48.Ne3 b5 49.Nxd5 Ne6+ 50.Ke4 Nc5+

White to move

51.Kd4 Ne6+ 52.Ke3 Nc5 53.Nxf6 Na4 54.Nd7+ Kg7 55.b3 Nc3 56.Kd3 Nd1 57.Kd4 Kg6 58.Ne5+ Kh5

White to move

59.Nc6 1–0

The final position is the sort of position that I like to play against the computer. For instance, what happens after 59...a4?

*"The Homecoming: Boris Gelfand is Back, Part I" ChessBase News (2011).