Independent Pursuits: Chess
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Your support makes all the difference.EVEN IN these days of huge computer databases, the arrival of the latest edition of Chess Informant is still an event of some importance for professional chess players.
Produced by Chess Informant of Belgrade, the first volume came out as long ago as 1966, since when it has appeared initially twice and latterly three times yearly. Each edition contains round about 650 or 700 games from the relevant period.
As always, I turned first to the results of the panel of the (supposedly) great and good, myself among them: as to the best games of the previous volume. In fact, there are two panels, one for best games which I've been a member of for nearly 30 volumes; and one for the best theoretical novelty consisting of gentlemen considerably more theoretically knowledgeable than myself. The members are sent a short list of 30 from which to choose. My top selection came just seventh: though like the winning entry, it was also conducted by the incomparable Vassily Ivanchuk.
In this manically theoretical line, the first new move was Svidler's 20...h5 - 20...Nc6 had been played before. In his notes, Ivanchuk suggests that 22...Qa3 is an improvement and criticises 30...f5? suggesting 30...a6 or 30...Bc6.
The very strong 31.d5! broke up Black's structure but the result remained in doubt even after Ivanchuk won material with 38.Rxg7+!. Black could have provided more resistance with 39...a4 though after 40.Bxb7 Rb8 41.Ba6 a3 42.Bc4 Kf7 43.Bc5 Rc8 44.Bxe6+ Kxe6 45.Bxa3 White must have excellent winning chances. Ivanchuk won cleanly in the queen ending after both sides promoted.
Vassily Ivanchuk v Peter Svidler
Linares 1998
Grunfeld Defence
1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 g6
3.Nc3 d5
4.cxd5 Nxd5
5.e4 Nxc3
6.bxc3 Bg7
7.Nf3 c5
8.Rb1 0-0
9.Be2 cxd4
10.cxd4 Qa5+
11.Bd2 Qxa2
12.0-0 b6
13.Qc1 Bb7
14.Bc4 Qa4
15.Bb5 Qa2
16.Bc4 Qa4
17.Bb5 Qa2
18.Re1 Rc8
19.Qd1 e6
20.h4 h5
21.Qe2 Nc6
22.Bc4 Qa4
23.Ra1 Qc2
24.Bd3 Qb2
25.Ra4 b5
26.Bxb5 Rd8
27.Bg5 Qxe2
28.Bxe2 Rd7
29.Rb1 Nd8
30.Bd3 f5?
31.d5! fxe4
32.Bxe4 Bxd5
33.Bxg6 Rb7
34.Rxb7 Nxb7
35.Be3 a5
36.Bxh5 Bc6
37.Rg4 Bxf3
38.Rxg7+!Kxg7
39.Bxf3 Rb8
40.Bf4 Rd8
41.Bxb7 a4
42.Be5+ Kg8
43.h5 Rd1+
44.Kh2 Re1
45.f4 Rxe5
46.fxe5 a3
47.Bc8 Kf7
48.h6 a2
49.Bxe6+ Kxe6
50.h7 a1Q
51.h8Q Kd5
52.Qg8+ Ke4
53.Qg6+ Kd5
54.Qf7+ Ke4
55.Qg6+ Kd5
56.Qf7+ Ke4
57.e6 Qh8+
58.Kg3 1-0
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