A fantastic game by Gelfand!
"A player somehow conceives of an idea. The player then commands the mind's eye through use of the imagination as a necessary tool to conjure up a picture of the concept. Then, that picture ultimately becomes a possible objective in the game in progress...." - William Lombardy
A game of chess is more about imagination....and calculation is done....occasionally for a depth of few moves....only a few moves and let a concept take shape sheerly on the inherent strength of a position and the harmonious coordination of one's pieces and how they fit in the pawn formation that one has chosen! Of course, sufficient measures are taken, not to let one's opponent's pieces coordinate harmoniously and also induce him to create square weakness and instigate him to embark on improper exchanges.
Gelfand played a fine game in the penultimate round of this tournament and.... in this tournament, three games stand out amongst many good games....one of which you will see below and the other two were played between Gelfand - Lu Shanglei in the 4th round and Gata Kamsky - A.R. Saleh Salem in the 6th round.
Boris Gelfand - Rinat Jumabayev; Aeroflot, 2016
12.cd5 Nd5; 13.Bg7 Kg7?!
The game had followed Kiril Georgiev - Peter Leko, Cacak - 1996, until 13.Bg7 and Leko had recaptured the Bishop with 13.....Ng7!?
The difference between these two ways of recapture may appear to be trivial, but as we shall see during the further course of the game, how this decision has shaped the position....and therefore rendering this moment and the move a very significant one!
14.Qb3 Bb7; 15.Rfd1 Nf6; 16.Nc4 Qc7; 17.Rac1! Rac8; 18.Qb2 Qb8; 19.Bh3!
We shall soon see the effect of this fine move!
19.....b5; 20.Be6! fe6; 21.Nce5!
Gelfand cleverly safeguarded his g2 Bishop from Black's light squared Bishop and exchanged it for one of the Black's Knight - a potential defender of the dark squares!
In contrast look at the following position, which occurred in Kiril Georgiev - Peter Leko game:
As Leko had recaptured the on g7 with his Knight, he had the option of developing his Bishop with a gain of tempo, attacking the Queen on b3 and subsequently put it on d5, enabling the exchange with its counterpart! Though White was still better slightly, mainly due to the space that he obtained on the Queenside with his b2-b4-b5; Black was able to create enough play to hold the game.
A comparison of the above position with the position after Gelfand's 21st move (below) is striking:
White has firmly posted a Knight on e5 - ably supported by his counterpart on f3. Black's doubled e-pawns creates a great barrier severing the communication lines between his two halfs. A cursory look at the position would reveal how the absence of dark squared Bishop has weakened the dark squares especially....c5, c7, e5, e7 and the long dark diagonal where his light squared Bishop can only be a mere spectator, watching White increase the pressure with his Knights, the Queen and the Rook.
21.....Rc1; 22.Rc1 Qd6; 23.Qd4! Bd5
Black endeavours to avoid the Queen exchange.... as any ending that he enters into will be bad for reasons stated above!
24.a3 a5; 25.Ne1! ab4; 26.ab4 Bc4; 27.Qb2!
Of course, 27.Qd6? would straighten Black's pawn and dethrone that great Knight on e5! Also, watch how Gelfand never touches his e-pawn....as without its presence on 'e2', the situation would have reversed and it will not be the dark squares, but the light squares on this side of the board which would have mattered the most and given Black a great game!
Such is the nature of fight for initiative in chess, one cannot afford to weaken the squares on and around the "pawn rank", "fortified rank" and "zone of important squares" as Bronstein termed...viz, the second, third and fourth rank respectively. And if he had to move the pawns which would give up influence on the squares in front of them, a player needs to ensure that those squares are sufficiently protected by his pieces, especially the Bishop and Knight.
In this position, where there is no dark squared Bishops for both sides, Gelfand skillfully exchanged his light squared Bishop for Black's Knight which would defend his dark squares.
27......Qd5; 28.Ng2 Rc8; 29.Nf4 Qe4; 30.f3!!
A teaser! This move restricts the range of White pieces and it is made possible by the presence of those two fine Knights!
30.....Qe3; 31.Kg2 Kg8
What else.....Black is prepared to sacrifice even a pawn to gain some freedom of action.
32.Nfd3! g5?! 33.Nf2!
Poetic!
33.....Rd8; 34.Nc4 bc4; 35.Rc4 Kf7; 36.b5!
Passed pawn are meant to be pushed!
36.....h5; 37.Rc3 Rd2; 38.Rc2 Rd8' 39.Nd3 g4; 40.Ne5
Observe how Black is pounded on the dark squares, relentlessly!
40.....Kg7; 41.Nc4 Qc5; 42.Qa3!!
Another poetic move which succeeds in breaking the last bone of Black and with it any semblance of counter play or defence and 'rest is a matter of mere technique'!
42....Qa3
Else if Q to c7, 43.b6! would soon decide the issue.
43.Na3 Ra8; 44.Rc3 Nd5; 45.Rb3 gf3; 46.ef3 Nb6; 47.Kh3!
The King is getting ready for any transition in the nature of the endgame....the move played reminds Black of his weak h-pawn!
47......Rc8; 48.Nb1 Rd8; 49.Re3 Kf7; 50.f4! Nc4; 51.Re4 Rc8; 52.Re2! Nd6; 53.Rb2 Rb8; 54.Nc3 Nc4; 55.Rb4 Nb6; 56.Ne4 Nd5; 57.Ng5 Kf6; 58.Re4!
The commencement of final rites!
58.....Nc7; 59.Rc4!
Transformation enabling realisation of the advantage! What follows is mere formality....
59.....Nb5; 60.Rb4! e5; 61.Ne4 Kf5; 62.Nc3 Nc3; 63.Rb8 ef4; 64.Rf8! Kg6; 65.Rf4 Nd5; 66.Ra4 Ne3; 67.Re4 Nf5; 68.Kg2 Kf6; 69.Kf3 Nd6; 70.Rf4 Kg5; 71.Ra4 Kf5; 72.Rd4 Ne8; 73.Rf4 Kg6; 74.Ke4 Nf6; 75.Ke5 Kf7; 76.h3! Kg6; 77.Ke6 Kg5!? 78.h4! Kg6; 79.Ke7! Black Resigned
A fantastic play by Gelfand!
A game of chess is more about imagination....and calculation is done....occasionally for a depth of few moves....only a few moves and let a concept take shape sheerly on the inherent strength of a position and the harmonious coordination of one's pieces and how they fit in the pawn formation that one has chosen! Of course, sufficient measures are taken, not to let one's opponent's pieces coordinate harmoniously and also induce him to create square weakness and instigate him to embark on improper exchanges.
Gelfand played a fine game in the penultimate round of this tournament and.... in this tournament, three games stand out amongst many good games....one of which you will see below and the other two were played between Gelfand - Lu Shanglei in the 4th round and Gata Kamsky - A.R. Saleh Salem in the 6th round.
Boris Gelfand - Rinat Jumabayev; Aeroflot, 2016
12.cd5 Nd5; 13.Bg7 Kg7?!
The game had followed Kiril Georgiev - Peter Leko, Cacak - 1996, until 13.Bg7 and Leko had recaptured the Bishop with 13.....Ng7!?
The difference between these two ways of recapture may appear to be trivial, but as we shall see during the further course of the game, how this decision has shaped the position....and therefore rendering this moment and the move a very significant one!
14.Qb3 Bb7; 15.Rfd1 Nf6; 16.Nc4 Qc7; 17.Rac1! Rac8; 18.Qb2 Qb8; 19.Bh3!
We shall soon see the effect of this fine move!
19.....b5; 20.Be6! fe6; 21.Nce5!
Gelfand cleverly safeguarded his g2 Bishop from Black's light squared Bishop and exchanged it for one of the Black's Knight - a potential defender of the dark squares!
In contrast look at the following position, which occurred in Kiril Georgiev - Peter Leko game:
As Leko had recaptured the on g7 with his Knight, he had the option of developing his Bishop with a gain of tempo, attacking the Queen on b3 and subsequently put it on d5, enabling the exchange with its counterpart! Though White was still better slightly, mainly due to the space that he obtained on the Queenside with his b2-b4-b5; Black was able to create enough play to hold the game.
A comparison of the above position with the position after Gelfand's 21st move (below) is striking:
White has firmly posted a Knight on e5 - ably supported by his counterpart on f3. Black's doubled e-pawns creates a great barrier severing the communication lines between his two halfs. A cursory look at the position would reveal how the absence of dark squared Bishop has weakened the dark squares especially....c5, c7, e5, e7 and the long dark diagonal where his light squared Bishop can only be a mere spectator, watching White increase the pressure with his Knights, the Queen and the Rook.
21.....Rc1; 22.Rc1 Qd6; 23.Qd4! Bd5
Black endeavours to avoid the Queen exchange.... as any ending that he enters into will be bad for reasons stated above!
24.a3 a5; 25.Ne1! ab4; 26.ab4 Bc4; 27.Qb2!
Of course, 27.Qd6? would straighten Black's pawn and dethrone that great Knight on e5! Also, watch how Gelfand never touches his e-pawn....as without its presence on 'e2', the situation would have reversed and it will not be the dark squares, but the light squares on this side of the board which would have mattered the most and given Black a great game!
Such is the nature of fight for initiative in chess, one cannot afford to weaken the squares on and around the "pawn rank", "fortified rank" and "zone of important squares" as Bronstein termed...viz, the second, third and fourth rank respectively. And if he had to move the pawns which would give up influence on the squares in front of them, a player needs to ensure that those squares are sufficiently protected by his pieces, especially the Bishop and Knight.
In this position, where there is no dark squared Bishops for both sides, Gelfand skillfully exchanged his light squared Bishop for Black's Knight which would defend his dark squares.
27......Qd5; 28.Ng2 Rc8; 29.Nf4 Qe4; 30.f3!!
A teaser! This move restricts the range of White pieces and it is made possible by the presence of those two fine Knights!
30.....Qe3; 31.Kg2 Kg8
What else.....Black is prepared to sacrifice even a pawn to gain some freedom of action.
32.Nfd3! g5?! 33.Nf2!
Poetic!
33.....Rd8; 34.Nc4 bc4; 35.Rc4 Kf7; 36.b5!
Passed pawn are meant to be pushed!
36.....h5; 37.Rc3 Rd2; 38.Rc2 Rd8' 39.Nd3 g4; 40.Ne5
Observe how Black is pounded on the dark squares, relentlessly!
40.....Kg7; 41.Nc4 Qc5; 42.Qa3!!
Another poetic move which succeeds in breaking the last bone of Black and with it any semblance of counter play or defence and 'rest is a matter of mere technique'!
42....Qa3
Else if Q to c7, 43.b6! would soon decide the issue.
43.Na3 Ra8; 44.Rc3 Nd5; 45.Rb3 gf3; 46.ef3 Nb6; 47.Kh3!
The King is getting ready for any transition in the nature of the endgame....the move played reminds Black of his weak h-pawn!
47......Rc8; 48.Nb1 Rd8; 49.Re3 Kf7; 50.f4! Nc4; 51.Re4 Rc8; 52.Re2! Nd6; 53.Rb2 Rb8; 54.Nc3 Nc4; 55.Rb4 Nb6; 56.Ne4 Nd5; 57.Ng5 Kf6; 58.Re4!
The commencement of final rites!
58.....Nc7; 59.Rc4!
Transformation enabling realisation of the advantage! What follows is mere formality....
59.....Nb5; 60.Rb4! e5; 61.Ne4 Kf5; 62.Nc3 Nc3; 63.Rb8 ef4; 64.Rf8! Kg6; 65.Rf4 Nd5; 66.Ra4 Ne3; 67.Re4 Nf5; 68.Kg2 Kf6; 69.Kf3 Nd6; 70.Rf4 Kg5; 71.Ra4 Kf5; 72.Rd4 Ne8; 73.Rf4 Kg6; 74.Ke4 Nf6; 75.Ke5 Kf7; 76.h3! Kg6; 77.Ke6 Kg5!? 78.h4! Kg6; 79.Ke7! Black Resigned
A fantastic play by Gelfand!
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