e3e5.com

28.10.2005 A.RIAZANTSEV ANNOTATES GAME BERG-BAREEV

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. ¤c3 ¤f6 4. Ґg5 de The favorite variation of Evgeny Bareev, which has been serving him faithfully for many years. I've found 61 game of the grandmaster with this position in my database.

5. ¤e4 Ґe7 6. Ґf6 Ґf6 7. ¤f3 O-O 8. Јd2 Ґe7 Black has two ways of developing the initiative. The first one is positional – to move the bishop on c4, to castle long and threaten to break through in the center with d4-d5. Berg chooses the second, more aggressive plan to attack the enemy's monarch. White also brings his king to the queenside, puts bishop on d3 and pawn on h4, and starts attacking Black's castling position by ¤e4-g5, ¤f3-e5. 9. Ґd3 ¤d7 10. O-O-O b6 11. h4 Ґb7

The main position of the variation is on board. Many continuations have been tried, but Јf4 has been considered to be the main to this day. However, such insidious and still popular now continuations as ¤eg5 and c3 should also be remembered. Here are a few games on the subject.

12. ¤eg5 h6 (12... ¤f6 13. c3 Ґf3 14. gf c5 15. dc Јc7 16. ўb1 bc 17. ¦dg1! ¦fd8 18. Јc2 h6 19. Ґh7 ўf8 20. ¤f7! with very strong attack, Anand-Bareev, Wijk aan Zee 2004)13. Ґh7 ўh8 14. Ґe4 Ґg5! 15. ¤g5 Јb8 16. Ґb7 Јb7 with equality, Tseshkovsky-Bareev, Superfinal of the Russian championship, Moscow 2004;

12. c3 c5 13. ¤eg5 h6 14. Ґh7 ўh8 15. Ґc2 Ґf3 16. ¤f3 ¤f6 17. ўb1 Јc7 18. Јe2 cd 19. ¤d4 h5! 20. f3 Ґc5 21. g4 ¦ad8 22. ¤b3 g6, in a few moves the game was drawn, Anand-Bareev, Monaco (rapid) 2003.

12. Јe2!? Relatively rare continuation, though not without venom.

12... c5. Black starts dynamic actions in the center in response right away.12... ¤f6 can be an alternative. 13. ¤eg5. If 13... Јd6 is played now, then 14. ¤e5! 13... c5 is of no principled importance, as it leads to the game position: 14. dc (14. ¤h7? ¤h7 15. Ґh7 ўh7 16. ¤g5 ўh6 17. dc Јc7 18. Јd2 Ґg5 19. hg ўg6 does not work). It's very dangerous to move the h-pawn in this situation – 13... h6?! 14. ¤e5! (14. ¤e6?! Ґf3 15. ¤d8 Ґe2 16. ¤c6 Ґd1 17. ¤e7 ўh8 18. ¦d1 ¦fe8і) 14... Јd6 (suicidal is 14... Ґg2?? 15. ¦hg1 Ґb7 16. Јe3!ќ). Now 15. ¦h3!? isinteresting (15. ўb1!? c5 16. dc Јc5 17. ¤gf7 ¦f7 18. ¤f7 ўf7 19. ¦he1 e5 20. g4 e4 21. Ґc4 ўf8 22. g5‚): 15... c5 (15... Ґg2?? 16. ¦g3 Ґb7 17. ¦dg1ќ) 16. g4 with a dangerous attack.

13...Ґf3 14. ¤f3 Јd6 15. ¤e5 c5 16. dc (straightforward 16. g4 cd 17. g5 ¤d7 18. ¤d7 Јd7 19. Јe4 g6 20. h5 Јd5= gives nothing) 16... Јc5 17. ўb1!

White's chances in this position are preferable. 17... ¦ad8 (17... Ґd6 18. ¤c4! ¦fd8 19. g4 with initiative19... Ґf8 20. g5 (20. ¤d2 Јb4 21. ¤e4 ¤e4 22. Ґe4 ¦ac8 23. h5 Ґe7=) 20... ¤d7 21. Јe4 g6 22. f4 (22. h5 Јg5 23. hg hg) 22... b5 23. ¤d2 Ґg7 24. h5 a5 25. Јf3І) 18. Ґc4!І (18. g4!? Ґd6 19. ¤c4) 18... ¤d5 (other continuations are obviously worse, for example18... g6 19. h5!; 18... ¦d1 19. ¦d1 ¦c8 (19... ¦d8 20. ¦d8 Ґd8 21. ¤f7 ўf7 22. Јe6 ўg6 23. g4ќ) 20. h5ѓ; 18... ¦d6? 19. ¦d6 Ґd6 20. ¤f7 ¦f7 21. Јe6ќ) 19. Ґd5 ed 20. ¤d3 Јc7 21. g3І White got a firm advantage, Sakaev – Kacheishvili, Ubeda 2001.

Let's get back to the game.

13. dc.

13. ¤eg5 is also possible. A game Kosteniuk-Iliushin has been played recently on the subject in the Higher league of the Russian championship, Kazan 2005: 13... h6 14. ўb1 Јc7 15. ¦de1 Ґd6! 16. ¦h3? (too recklessly, better is 16. Ґh7 ўh8 17. Ґe4 ¤f6 18. Ґb7 Јb7 with equality) 16... ¤f6 17. g4 ¤d5 18. ¦g1 (18. ¤e6 fe 19. Јe6 Јf7 20. Јd6 ¦ad8 21. Јe5 ¤b4 22. Ґf5 Јa2 23. ўc1 Јa1 24. ўd2 Јb2 25. Јe6 ўh8 26. ¤e5 ¦f5 27. ¤g6 ўh7 28. Јf5 ¦d4 29. ўe2 Јc2°) 18... ¤f4 19. Јf1 ¤h3 20. Јh3 c4°  Black got a won position.

13... Јc7 14. ¤eg5. Two continuations were tried out in practice. Evgeny decided not to move the h-pawn, although 14... h6 is also possible. Interesting but hardly strong is 15. ¤e6!? fe 16. Јe6 ¦f7 17. Ґh7 (17. ¤g5?? Ґg5 18. hg ¤c5) 17... ўh7 18. Јf7 ¤c5 19. Јf5?!ўh8 20. ¤g5 Ґg5 21. hg Ґe4! (the threat of ¤b3) 22. Јh3 ¤e6! (impossible is 22... Јf4? 23. Јe3 Јe3 24. fe±) 23. ¦d2 ¤g5µ with advantage to Black. Stronger is 19. ¦he1 Ґd6 20. Јc7 Ґc7, here, however, Black's chances are not worse at least.

The game Ganguly-Dizdar, Dubai 2004, proceeded as follows: 15. Ґh7 ўh8 16. Ґe4,  and now, in my opinion, the simplest move is 16... ¤c5 17. Ґb7 Јb7 18. ¤e5 ўg8 – Black is out of danger.

14... ¤f6.

15. ¤e5. A novelty, which was undoubtedly prepared by the Swedish grandmaster at home. 15. ¤h7? ¤h7 (the easiest) used to be tried out in this continuation before 16. Ґh7 ўh7 17. ¤g5 ўg8 18. Јh5 Јf4 19. ўb1 Ґe4°;

15. ўb1 Јc5! – this is the only way! Both 15... h6?? 16. ¤e6 fe 17. Јe6 ¦f7 18. Ґg6 Ґc5 19. ¤e5 ¦af8 20. Ґf7 ¦f7 21. ¦d8ќ; and 15... Ґc5? 16. ¤h7! ¤h7 17. Ґh7 ўh7 18. ¤g5 ўg6 (18... ўh6 19. Јd2 Јe7? 20. ¦he1) 19. Јd3 ўf6 are bad.

20. b4! (20. ¤h7 ўe7 21. ¤f8 ¦f8µ) 20... ¦fd8 21. Јc3 e5 22. f4! ўe7 (22... ¦d1 23. ¦d1 Ґd6 24. fe Ґe5 25. ¦f1 ўg6 26. Јd3ќ) 23. fe ¦ac8 24. Јc4 with very strong attack.

16. ¤e5 (16. ¤h7? ¤h7 17. Ґh7 ўh7 18. ¤g5 ўg8 19. Јh5 Ґe4!° does not work here; the most rational is 16. ¤e4 Ґe4 17. Ґe4 ¦ac8=) 16... h6 17. ¤gf7 ¦f7 18. Ґc4 ¤d5 19. ¤f7 ўf7 20. ¦he1 ўf8!

The attack is repelled and material advantage of Black must tell over time.

15... Јc5? 16. ¤d7! ¤d7 17. Ґh7 ўh8 18. ¦d7ќis bad after 15. ¤e5

Let's examine 15... Ґc5?

1) 16. ¤ef7 ¦f7 17. Јe6 is interesting but does not lead to the goal.

17... ¦af8? 18. Ґc4 Ґc8 (18... b5 19. Ґb3) 19. Јe2 Ґg4 20. f3 Ґh5 (20... Ґe3 21. ўb1 Ґg5 22. hgќ) 21. ¤e6 Јe7 22. g4 Ґg6 23. h5ќ loses now; also bad is 17... ¦e8? 18. Ґh7! ўh8 (18... ўf8 19. Ґg6! ¦fe7 20. Ґe8 Јf4 21. ўb1 ўe8 22. Јb3±) 19. ¤f7 (19. Јf7 Јf7 20. ¤f7 ўh7 21. ¤d6 Ґd6 22. ¦d6 Ґg2 23. ¦g1 Ґe4 24. a4І) 19... ўh7 20. ¤g5 ўh8 21. Јf5±;

17... Ґd5 18. Ґh7 ўh8 19. ¦d5 ¦e7 (19... ¦ff8 20. Ґg6 ¤d5 21. Јd5ќ) 20. Јf5 ¤d5 21. Јd5 ¦d8 22. Јf3 leads to a position with better chances for White.

22... Јh2!! (a fantastic resource!) 23. ¦d1 (23. g3 Јf2 24. Јh5 ¦e1) 23... ¦d1 24. Јd1 Ґd4 25. Ґe4 Јh4 26. Јd4 Јg5 27. ўb1.

However, it becomes impossible to find advantage with White after the computer move 17... Ґg2!

In case of 18. ¦hg1 Ґd5 19. Ґh7 ўh8 20. ¤f7 (20. ¦d5 ¦e7! 21. ¤f7 ¦f7 22. Ґg6 ¦e7 23. Јf6 gf 24. ¦h5 ¦h7 25. ¦h7 Јh7 26. Ґh7 ўh7° or 21. Јf5¤d5 22. Јd5 ¦d8 23. Јf3 Јh2! 24. ¦f1 Јf2!  and White has a bad position) 20... Јf7 21. Јf7 Ґf7 22. Ґg6 Ґg6 23. ¦g6 Ґf2 24. ¦g2 Ґe3 25. ўb1 ¦e8 and it's White who has to seek salvation in the emerging ending).

Stronger is 18. Ґc4Ґh1 19. ¦h1! (in case of 19. ¤f7,19... ¦e8! 20. Јe8 leads to Black's advantage (20. ¦d8 ¦d8 21. ¤d8 ўf8 22. Јf6 gf 23. ¤e6 ўe7 24. ¤c7 Ґf2µ) after 20... ¤e8 21. ¤g5 ўh8 22. ¤f7 Јf7 23. Ґf7 ¤d6 24. ¦h1 ¤f7і) 19... ¦af8 20. ¤f7.

20... ¦f7 (there is also a computer trick, which allows Back to force a draw: 20... Јf4!? 21. ўb1 ¦e8! 22. ¤h6 ўh8 23. ¤f7 ўg8=) 21. ¦d1

Now cooperative 21... ўf8?? 22. ¦d8 ќ leads to a mate.

Dangerous is 21... a5 22. a3! Ґf8 (22... Јe7 23. Јc8 ¤e8 24. b4 ab 25. ab) 23. Ґa2©, and Black will have problems with making moves soon. Drawish is 21... Јe7 22. Јc8 ¤e8 23. b4! Ґb4 (23... Ґf2?? 24. ¦d7 Јe1 25. ўb2 Јb4 26. Ґb3ќ; 23... Јe5 24. Ґf7 ўf7 25. bc Јa1 26. ўd2 Јd4=) 24. ¦d7 Јe1 25. ўb2 Јc3 26. ўb1=.

Nevertheless 15... Ґc5? loses beautifully. White has to play

2) 16. Ґh7!¤h7 17. ¦d7, andany queen retreat will be followed by capturing on h7: 17... Јb8 18. ¤h7 ўh7 19. h5! Ґd6 20. h6 g6 21. ¤f7 Јe8 22. ¤e5ќ or 17... Јc818. ¤h7 ўh7 19. h5 with crushing defeat – 19... Ґg2 (19... ¦d8 20. ¦f7ќ; 19... Ґc6 20. Јd3 f5 (20... ўh8 21. ¤g6 ўg8 22. h6ќ; 20... ўg8 21. h6ќ) 21. h6 Ґd7 22. hg ўg7 23. Јg3 ўf6 24. ¦h7ќ) 20. ¦g1 Ґh3 21. Јe4 Ґf5 22. Јg2 ¦g8 23. ¤f7 Јd7 24. Јg6 Ґg6 25. hg#

Thus, in response to 15. ¤e5, Black has to advance the h-pawn.

15... h6 16. Ґg6!

Strong and effective move. However, I think, that this position had also been carefully studied in a home laboratory of the Swedish grandmaster. A series of 'the only' moves is to follow.

16... hg 17. hg fg 18. ¤g6. A crucial moment of the game. Black is making his only, but decisive mistake.

18... ¤e4? Loses by force!

18... Ґe4? also does not rescue: 19. ¤e7 Јe7 20. gf Јb7 21. fg ўg7 22. Јg4 Ґg6 23. Јe6 ¦ad8 24. Јe5ќ;

18... ¤h7? looks a bit more stubborn: 19. Јe6 ¦f7 20. f4! Ґg5 (the only move) 21. fg Ґg2 22. ¦h7! ўh7 23. ¤e5! There is no rescue from numerous threats of White, for example: 23... ¦f1 (23... ¦f4 24. ¦d7 ¦f1 25. ўd2 ¦f2 26. ўe1 ¦f1 27. ўe2 Јd7 28. Јd7ќ) 24. ¦f1 Ґf1 25. g6 ўh6 (25... ўh8 26. Јd5ќ) 26. Јf5 Ґh3 27. ¤f7ќ;

The only way of protecting against White's attack is giving back a part of 'Danae gift' by 18... ўf7!

19. gf (19. ¤e5 ўg8=) 19... Ґf6 (Black does not need any adventures after 19... ўg6 20. fe Јe7 21. Јh5 ўf6 22. ¦h4 Јc5 23. ¦f4 ўe7 24. Јh4 ўe8 25. ¦f8 Јf8 26. Јa4 ўf7 27. ¦d7 ўg8 28. ¦b7 Јf2). Forcing a draw is the best thing White can do in this position: 20. Јh5 (20. cb ab 21. ¤f8 ¦f8і; 20. ¤f8 ¦f8 21. ¦he1 Ґd5 22. ¦d5 ed 23. Јe6 ўg6 24. g4 Јf4 25. ўb1 bc 26. Јd5 Јg4µ) 20... ¦fd8 21. ¤f4 ўg8! (21...ўe7 22. Јg4‚) 22. Јh7 ўf7 23. Јg6 ўg8=).

19.¦h8 ўf7 20.¤e5!ќ. Did this leap of the knight drop out of Evgeny's sight?

20...Јe5 (20...ўe8 21.Јh5ќ) 21.Јh5 g6 22.¦h7 Јg7 23.¦g7 ўg7 24.Јh6 ўf7 25.Јh7 ўe8 26.Јg6 ¦f7.

27.c6! Ґc6 28.Јe6 Ґb7 29.g6 ¦g7 30.¦h1 ¤f6 31.¦h8 ¦g8 32.g7. Black resigned.


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