Hello Chess Lovers,
In the second part of this series I will look at a game of the very strong GM, Ivan Sokolov.
This player once defeated Kasparov and is especially lethal with the white pieces in the Slav
and Semi-Slav lines. He can play a very good variety of lines and at the board he is quite deep.
He does not simply search for single moves he searches for conceptual approaches which
involve a line of moves.
We will see how he handles Devereaux in the Reykjavik Open 2011
Sokolov v Devereaux D18
1.d4d5 2.Nf3c6 3.c4Nf6 4.Nc3dc4 5.a4Bf5 - A very popular line. In return for conceding e4 by ...dc4 black gets piece activity and to hit at the d4 square from the d-file.
6.e3e6 7.Bc4Bb4 -Fighting for e4 indirectly. 8.0-00-0 9.Nh4!?This move comes up in many Slav lines.
White wants to get the bishop pair. 9....Bg4 10.f3Bh5 11.g4Nd5 12.Ng2Bg6 so once again we see how theory is built around chasing bishops. Modern theory suggests that space and time can be gained in one move.
13.Na2Bg6 14.e4Nb6 15.Bb3a5 - 16.Be3N8d7 17.Nc3Bb4 18.h4h6 19.Qe2 when building up a space advantage, positioning the pieces behind the pawns for a breakthrough is very important.
19...Bh7 20.Rad1Re8 21.g5! This puts black on guard and it means having to look out for assaults on
the h-file.
21....hg5 22.hg5Nf8 23.Qf2Ra6 24.Bc2Nc4 25.Bc1Nd6 26.Na2 a funny sequence. Both knights retreat.
26...b5 -A sign that black has had enough of shadow boxing. Its a hallmark of experienced 2600+ GMs that they do not always force the issue against the lower rated player who may make pseudo active moves that go nowhere.
27.ab5Nb5 28.Nb4ab4 -There has been a positional transformation. c4 is now available for white.
The dark squares in black's camp may need more protection. 29.Be3Nd6 30.Bc2 Where as white has this scope for manoevering black has to wait in passivity.
30....Qe7 31.Bd2Nb7 32.Rc1Na5 33.Bd1Rb8 34.Qg3Rd8 -Both sides are making the most useful moves.
35.Be3Nb7 36.Ne1Nd6 37.Nd3 and now white dominates c4 and c5. Note how the SuperGM does simple things.
37....Nb5 38.Rc4c5!? This is the sign that black is tired of sitting behind weaknesses.39.Nc5Rd6 40.Nb3R6d7 41.Na5Nd6 42.Rc1Ra8 43.Nc6Qe8 44.Nb4Qb8 45.Nd3 Sokolov is patient.The knight went on a holiday trip and he is not losing on time. In the meantime black struggles to find an idea.
45...Qb5 46.Be2Rd8 47.Rc5Qb6 48.Qf2Nd7 49.Rc3Qb7 50.Rfc1 all very logical. Rooks are doubled and
the bishops are poised. 50...Bg6 51.Rc7 -penetration. ....Qb8 52.Bf4Nf8 53.Rc6Ra4 54.Bf1Bh5
and the desperate bishop seeks action. Its actually going to meet its fate on this square.
55.b4!Rb4 56.Nb4Qb4 57.Kg2Ng6 58.Bg3Ne7!? 59.Rc7Ng6 60.Be2Ne8 61.Rc8Qe7 62.Qe3 Sokolov holds on to g5 and prepares an eventual Rh1.
62...Qd7 63.Rd8Qd8 64.Rh1 1-0
So what can we take from this game:
1) The gain of space and time in chasing a bishop.
2)Using the g-pawn as a battering ram.
3)After gaining space regrouping the pieces. Now this takes schematic thinking not calculation.
4)Preserving the two bishops.
5)Not forcing the game
6)Piece coordination
I hope this was helpful and instructive.
Blessings John
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