Topalov, Veselin – Eljanov, Pavel [#] It seems like most top level players avoid the Nimzo-Indian these days Topalov, Veselin (2741) Eljanov, Pavel (2751) Result: 1-0 Metadata » Click to open. Date: April 27, 2017 Location: Shamkir AZE Tournament: Vugar Gashimov Mem 2017 Round: 6.2 Opening: E17 Queen's Indian, 5.Bg2 Be7 Submitted by: Published on: June 11, 2023 [Event "Vugar Gashimov Mem 2017"] [Site "Shamkir AZE"] [Date "2017.04.27"] [Round "6.2"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Eljanov, Pavel"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E17"] [WhiteElo "2741"] [BlackElo "2751"] [PlyCount "119"] [EventDate "2017.04.21"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 {[pgndiagram] It seems like most top level players avoid the Nimzo-Indian these days} b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 Ne4 $5 {The main move in the position} (6... O-O {Loses control over e4 and leads to different pawn structure, since Black is forced to go d5} 7. Qc2 d5 {The most logical} (7... Na6 {Is inferior} 8. e4 d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. e5 {With advantage to White}) 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5) 7. Bd2 {Slightly counterintuitive, but this was played already by Viktor Korchnoi back in 1971} (7. Qc2 {Does nothing to win control over e4} Nxc3 8. Qxc3 O-O 9. O-O c5 10. Rd1 d6 {And Black is pretty solid}) 7... Bf6 {Also very old, stemming back to 1974 Karpov - Kortschnoj Candidates final} (7... Nxd2 8. Qxd2 O-O 9. e4 {Is good for White}) (7... Nxc3 {Also justifies White's idea} 8. Bxc3 O-O 9. d5 $1 {[pgndiagram] This is the difference. With the queen on d1, White can push d5 and choke the bishop on b7}) (7... O-O {Leads to another line} 8. O-O d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Rc1 {And I am not familiar with the evaluation of the opening theory here, but I guess that White has a slight advantage. Certainly both seventh moves are playable}) 8. Qc2 {[pgndiagram] Relatively rare move, although Topalov has already played it against Grischuk.} (8. O-O {Was Kortschnoj's choice in the 23rd game of that match.}) (8. Rc1 {Leads to complications that aren't unfavourable for Black} Bxd4 9. Nxd4 Nxc3 10. Bxb7 Nxd1 11. Rxd1 c6 (11... Na6 12. Bxa6 O-O 13. O-O) (11... O-O {Might be even better})) 8... Nxd2 {Black is forced to take here} 9. Qxd2 {White loses a tempo, but is ready for e4 now} d6 10. h4 $5 {A novelty by Topalov. He makes a move useful in many variations before embarking ona definite plan. The ball is in Black's court, so to speak} (10. d5 {Was seen previously.} O-O (10... e5 11. h4 {Happened in practice in the game Browne - Saidy, Reno, 1994}) 11. Nd4 {And here Black has several good continuations} e5 (11... Bxd4 {Exchanging the bishop, is also possible} 12. Qxd4 e5 13. Qd2 f5) 12. Nf5 Nd7 13. h4 Bc8 {And the position is balanced}) (10. O-O {Was also played on the highest level in a game between World Champions.} O-O 11. e4 Nd7 12. Rad1 g6 13. h4 Qe7 {And after a6-c5 Black reached a pleasant hedgehog, and the game was drawn in the end, Anand - Carlsen, Sao Paulo/Bilbao/2012}) 10... Nd7 (10... O-O {Probably transposes to the game}) 11. Rd1 O-O 12. Qc2 {[pgndiagram] To be completely honest, I don't quite understand why White delays castling that much and moves his queen instead. Sure, there are potential Ng5 ideas, but still} (12. e4 e5 {is an equalizer, as there is no e3} 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5) (12. O-O {Seems flexible enough. But I guess White wanted to keep the option of the kingside attack possible}) 12... c6 {Preventing Ng5} (12... Re8 {Was another way of doing so} 13. Ng5 $4 {Now simply loses} Bxg2 14. Qxh7+ Kf8) (12... c5 {Loses to} 13. Ng5 g6 14. Bxb7) 13. e4 Qc7 {Black is cramped for the moment, but he will soon play e5, and he has two bishops. I don't quite like White's opening experiment tbh} 14. Ng5 e5 {e5 had to be prevented} (14... g6 {Was also possible. Although White has provoked a slight weakening, it is not certain whether he can exploit it} 15. O-O a6 16. d5 cxd5 17. cxd5 e5 18. Rc1 Qd8 {And Black is fine}) 15. d5 h6 {[pgndiagram] Chasing the knight when he wants to move anyway} (15... a6 {Was very interesting, with the idea of b5} 16. dxc6 (16. O-O b5 {Is good for Black}) 16... Qxc6 17. O-O b5 $1 {Nevertheless} (17... Qxc4 18. Rxd6 { Is not ideal}) 18. cxb5 (18. Nd5 Qxc4 19. Qxc4 bxc4 20. Ne3 (20. Nxf6+ Nxf6 21. Rxd6 {And without the knight on f3, the pawn on e5 is not under threat, and Black gains an important tempo})) 18... axb5 19. Qd2 Nc5 {And I like Black's active position}) 16. Nf3 a6 17. dxc6 Qxc6 18. Bf1 $2 {[pgndiagram] After going over the game briefly for the first time, I thought that it is amazing that Topalov still fights for advantage after delaying castling for that long. But after this move, his position starts going downhill} (18. O-O {In analogy with previously examined variation, was correct} b5 19. Nd5 {Now this brings White an advantage} Qxc4 20. Qxc4 bxc4 21. Nxf6+ Nxf6 22. Rxd6 {And now Black should probably swap the e4 and e5 pawns} Nxe4 23. Rb6 Bd5 24. Nxe5 {With better endgame for White}) 18... Rfc8 $6 {Returning a favour, but only because computers exist} (18... Nc5 {ACtivating the knight and attacking e4, was better } 19. g4 {Now doesn't work} Bd8 20. g5 f5 $1 {[pgndiagram] With the rook on f8, this move really hurts White}) 19. a4 $6 {This creates another weakness} (19. g4 {Was very strong now} Bd8 20. g5 h5 21. Bh3 {And Black's pieces on the queenside are rather clumsy}) 19... Nc5 20. Nd2 Ne6 21. Qb1 {[pgndiagram] White's position is really ugly now} Nd4 22. Bh3 Rf8 23. Rc1 $6 {Refusing to castle and losing another tempo to prevent b5} (23. O-O b5 24. axb5 axb5 25. cxb5 Nxb5 26. Nd5 Nd4 27. Bg2 {Was nevertheless better, with chances of resisting}) 23... Bd8 {A good move. The bishop makes way for the f5-f4 advance, which will really hurt white due to the early h4} (23... b5 {Was still playable } 24. cxb5 axb5 25. Nxb5 Qa6 26. Nxd4 exd4 {With great compensation for the pawn}) 24. O-O {[pgndiagram] Finally deciding to castle, but now this is fraught with danger} f5 $1 {Logical continuation of the plan} 25. Kh2 f4 $1 { Now Black's position really looks threatening} 26. Qd3 (26. g4 Bxh4) 26... Kh8 $6 {I am not entirely certain why Eljanov moved his king. Whether there was a concrete variation, or more on general grounds, in accordion with the "Don't hurry" principle} (26... Bc8 {Exchanging the bishop defending the king, was even better} 27. Bxc8 Qxc8 28. Ne2 Nxe2 29. Qxe2 Ra7 $1 {A common maneovre of the rook} 30. Rc3 (30. c5 {Is maybe what bothered him, but I don't see what it has to do with the king position} bxc5 31. Nc4 Qe6) 30... Raf7 {And Black is much better}) 27. b3 (27. Nd5 {Was probably more resilient} Qxa4 28. Nxf4 exf4 29. Qxd4 Qb4 30. b3 {And White holds for the moment}) 27... Bc8 {As they say, better late then never.} 28. Bxc8 Qxc8 29. Ne2 Nxe2 30. Qxe2 Ra7 31. Rc3 (31. c5 bxc5 32. Nc4 Qe6 {And again Black is better}) 31... b5 $1 {[pgndiagram] Great play over the whole board, creating weaknesses on c4 and a4} 32. Rd3 (32. axb5 axb5 {Opens another front as Black rook can now penetrate on the a-file}) 32... bxa4 33. bxa4 Raf7 $1 {[pgndiagram] Taking the bold route and sacrificing the d6 pawn} (33... Qe6 {Was perfectly possible and slightly more pragmatic. It is hard for White to make a move} 34. g4 Bxh4) 34. Rxd6 {Now White at least has some weaknesses to play against on e5 and a6 if he survives the onslaught.} Bxh4 $1 {Of course, this sacrifice can't be accepted, but Black has to find the follow through} 35. Rd5 $1 {Topalov defends very resilliently from this point onwards} (35. gxh4 f3 36. Qe3 Rf4 {Is of course, game over soon}) 35... f3 $4 {And this move, releasing the tension is wrong and it is not clear whether Black is better anymore} (35... Bd8 {Slow play, improving the position, was in order} 36. Rxe5 Bb6 37. Nf3 (37. c5 {Is better} Bxc5 38. Nf3 Qg4 39. Rxc5 fxg3+ 40. fxg3 Rxf3 41. Rxf3 Rxf3 42. Qe1 {And White still holds}) 37... Qg4 {And Black has a decisive attack}) 36. Qd3 Qg4 37. Rh1 $1 (37. Rxe5 {I guess that eljanov only counted on this move} Bg5 {But here also White can use the same theme as in the game} 38. Rh1 {And everything is covered}) 37... Bg5 38. c5 {[pgndiagram] Now Black has to be precise in order to mantain the balance} (38. Rxe5 {Would transpose to the previous note}) 38... Rb8 $2 {Overstepping the mark. Black still plays for attack, that is now nonexistent} (38... Bxd2 {It was time to admit that the win is gone. But psychologically it is really hard to adjust} 39. Qxd2 Qxe4 40. Re1 Qxa4 41. Rdxe5) 39. Nc4 $1 {The queen covers b1. Now White is in the driver's seat} Rfb7 (39... Bf4 {Might still be sufficient for a draw} 40. Rd8+ Rxd8 41. Qxd8+ Kh7 42. Nd6 Bxg3+ 43. fxg3 Rf6 44. Qc8 Qg5 {And the machine sees a draw by repetition after} 45. Nc4 Rf4 46. Ne3 {Else Rh4 and Qxg2} Rf6 47. Nc4) 40. Nb6 Rxb6 $2 {[pgndiagram] And this is officialy desperation. Now Black is suddenly lost} 41. cxb6 Rxb6 42. Rxe5 {The remainder of the game doesn't require further comments} Bh4 43. Qc3 Rg6 44. Qe1 Bg5 45. Rf5 Rd6 46. Rf8+ Kh7 47. e5 Rd3 48. e6 Be7 49. Rf4 Qh5+ 50. Kg1 Qd5 51. Qe4+ Qxe4 52. Rxe4 Kg6 53. Kh2 Rd2 54. Rf1 Kf5 55. Re3 Kg4 56. Kg1 g5 57. Rc1 Ra2 58. Kf1 Rxa4 59. Rc7 Bb4 60. Rc4+ {A tenacious defence by Topalov and a great pity for Eljanov who fails to convert another good position after failing to beat Mamedyarov in the previous rounds.} 1-0 [Event "Vugar Gashimov Mem 2017"] [Site "Shamkir AZE"] [Date "2017.04.27"] [Round "6.2"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Eljanov, Pavel"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E17"] [WhiteElo "2741"] [BlackElo "2751"] [PlyCount "119"] [EventDate "2017.04.21"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 {[pgndiagram] It seems like most top level players avoid the Nimzo-Indian these days} b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 Ne4 $5 {The main move in the position} (6... O-O {Loses control over e4 and leads to different pawn structure, since Black is forced to go d5} 7. Qc2 d5 {The most logical} (7... Na6 {Is inferior} 8. e4 d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. e5 {With advantage to White}) 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5) 7. Bd2 {Slightly counterintuitive, but this was played already by Viktor Korchnoi back in 1971} (7. Qc2 {Does nothing to win control over e4} Nxc3 8. Qxc3 O-O 9. O-O c5 10. Rd1 d6 {And Black is pretty solid}) 7... Bf6 {Also very old, stemming back to 1974 Karpov - Kortschnoj Candidates final} (7... Nxd2 8. Qxd2 O-O 9. e4 {Is good for White}) (7... Nxc3 {Also justifies White's idea} 8. Bxc3 O-O 9. d5 $1 {[pgndiagram] This is the difference. With the queen on d1, White can push d5 and choke the bishop on b7}) (7... O-O {Leads to another line} 8. O-O d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Rc1 {And I am not familiar with the evaluation of the opening theory here, but I guess that White has a slight advantage. Certainly both seventh moves are playable}) 8. Qc2 {[pgndiagram] Relatively rare move, although Topalov has already played it against Grischuk.} (8. O-O {Was Kortschnoj's choice in the 23rd game of that match.}) (8. Rc1 {Leads to complications that aren't unfavourable for Black} Bxd4 9. Nxd4 Nxc3 10. Bxb7 Nxd1 11. Rxd1 c6 (11... Na6 12. Bxa6 O-O 13. O-O) (11... O-O {Might be even better})) 8... Nxd2 {Black is forced to take here} 9. Qxd2 {White loses a tempo, but is ready for e4 now} d6 10. h4 $5 {A novelty by Topalov. He makes a move useful in many variations before embarking ona definite plan. The ball is in Black's court, so to speak} (10. d5 {Was seen previously.} O-O (10... e5 11. h4 {Happened in practice in the game Browne - Saidy, Reno, 1994}) 11. Nd4 {And here Black has several good continuations} e5 (11... Bxd4 {Exchanging the bishop, is also possible} 12. Qxd4 e5 13. Qd2 f5) 12. Nf5 Nd7 13. h4 Bc8 {And the position is balanced}) (10. O-O {Was also played on the highest level in a game between World Champions.} O-O 11. e4 Nd7 12. Rad1 g6 13. h4 Qe7 {And after a6-c5 Black reached a pleasant hedgehog, and the game was drawn in the end, Anand - Carlsen, Sao Paulo/Bilbao/2012}) 10... Nd7 (10... O-O {Probably transposes to the game}) 11. Rd1 O-O 12. Qc2 {[pgndiagram] To be completely honest, I don't quite understand why White delays castling that much and moves his queen instead. Sure, there are potential Ng5 ideas, but still} (12. e4 e5 {is an equalizer, as there is no e3} 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5) (12. O-O {Seems flexible enough. But I guess White wanted to keep the option of the kingside attack possible}) 12... c6 {Preventing Ng5} (12... Re8 {Was another way of doing so} 13. Ng5 $4 {Now simply loses} Bxg2 14. Qxh7+ Kf8) (12... c5 {Loses to} 13. Ng5 g6 14. Bxb7) 13. e4 Qc7 {Black is cramped for the moment, but he will soon play e5, and he has two bishops. I don't quite like White's opening experiment tbh} 14. Ng5 e5 {e5 had to be prevented} (14... g6 {Was also possible. Although White has provoked a slight weakening, it is not certain whether he can exploit it} 15. O-O a6 16. d5 cxd5 17. cxd5 e5 18. Rc1 Qd8 {And Black is fine}) 15. d5 h6 {[pgndiagram] Chasing the knight when he wants to move anyway} (15... a6 {Was very interesting, with the idea of b5} 16. dxc6 (16. O-O b5 {Is good for Black}) 16... Qxc6 17. O-O b5 $1 {Nevertheless} (17... Qxc4 18. Rxd6 { Is not ideal}) 18. cxb5 (18. Nd5 Qxc4 19. Qxc4 bxc4 20. Ne3 (20. Nxf6+ Nxf6 21. Rxd6 {And without the knight on f3, the pawn on e5 is not under threat, and Black gains an important tempo})) 18... axb5 19. Qd2 Nc5 {And I like Black's active position}) 16. Nf3 a6 17. dxc6 Qxc6 18. Bf1 $2 {[pgndiagram] After going over the game briefly for the first time, I thought that it is amazing that Topalov still fights for advantage after delaying castling for that long. But after this move, his position starts going downhill} (18. O-O {In analogy with previously examined variation, was correct} b5 19. Nd5 {Now this brings White an advantage} Qxc4 20. Qxc4 bxc4 21. Nxf6+ Nxf6 22. Rxd6 {And now Black should probably swap the e4 and e5 pawns} Nxe4 23. Rb6 Bd5 24. Nxe5 {With better endgame for White}) 18... Rfc8 $6 {Returning a favour, but only because computers exist} (18... Nc5 {ACtivating the knight and attacking e4, was better } 19. g4 {Now doesn't work} Bd8 20. g5 f5 $1 {[pgndiagram] With the rook on f8, this move really hurts White}) 19. a4 $6 {This creates another weakness} (19. g4 {Was very strong now} Bd8 20. g5 h5 21. Bh3 {And Black's pieces on the queenside are rather clumsy}) 19... Nc5 20. Nd2 Ne6 21. Qb1 {[pgndiagram] White's position is really ugly now} Nd4 22. Bh3 Rf8 23. Rc1 $6 {Refusing to castle and losing another tempo to prevent b5} (23. O-O b5 24. axb5 axb5 25. cxb5 Nxb5 26. Nd5 Nd4 27. Bg2 {Was nevertheless better, with chances of resisting}) 23... Bd8 {A good move. The bishop makes way for the f5-f4 advance, which will really hurt white due to the early h4} (23... b5 {Was still playable } 24. cxb5 axb5 25. Nxb5 Qa6 26. Nxd4 exd4 {With great compensation for the pawn}) 24. O-O {[pgndiagram] Finally deciding to castle, but now this is fraught with danger} f5 $1 {Logical continuation of the plan} 25. Kh2 f4 $1 { Now Black's position really looks threatening} 26. Qd3 (26. g4 Bxh4) 26... Kh8 $6 {I am not entirely certain why Eljanov moved his king. Whether there was a concrete variation, or more on general grounds, in accordion with the "Don't hurry" principle} (26... Bc8 {Exchanging the bishop defending the king, was even better} 27. Bxc8 Qxc8 28. Ne2 Nxe2 29. Qxe2 Ra7 $1 {A common maneovre of the rook} 30. Rc3 (30. c5 {Is maybe what bothered him, but I don't see what it has to do with the king position} bxc5 31. Nc4 Qe6) 30... Raf7 {And Black is much better}) 27. b3 (27. Nd5 {Was probably more resilient} Qxa4 28. Nxf4 exf4 29. Qxd4 Qb4 30. b3 {And White holds for the moment}) 27... Bc8 {As they say, better late then never.} 28. Bxc8 Qxc8 29. Ne2 Nxe2 30. Qxe2 Ra7 31. Rc3 (31. c5 bxc5 32. Nc4 Qe6 {And again Black is better}) 31... b5 $1 {[pgndiagram] Great play over the whole board, creating weaknesses on c4 and a4} 32. Rd3 (32. axb5 axb5 {Opens another front as Black rook can now penetrate on the a-file}) 32... bxa4 33. bxa4 Raf7 $1 {[pgndiagram] Taking the bold route and sacrificing the d6 pawn} (33... Qe6 {Was perfectly possible and slightly more pragmatic. It is hard for White to make a move} 34. g4 Bxh4) 34. Rxd6 {Now White at least has some weaknesses to play against on e5 and a6 if he survives the onslaught.} Bxh4 $1 {Of course, this sacrifice can't be accepted, but Black has to find the follow through} 35. Rd5 $1 {Topalov defends very resilliently from this point onwards} (35. gxh4 f3 36. Qe3 Rf4 {Is of course, game over soon}) 35... f3 $4 {And this move, releasing the tension is wrong and it is not clear whether Black is better anymore} (35... Bd8 {Slow play, improving the position, was in order} 36. Rxe5 Bb6 37. Nf3 (37. c5 {Is better} Bxc5 38. Nf3 Qg4 39. Rxc5 fxg3+ 40. fxg3 Rxf3 41. Rxf3 Rxf3 42. Qe1 {And White still holds}) 37... Qg4 {And Black has a decisive attack}) 36. Qd3 Qg4 37. Rh1 $1 (37. Rxe5 {I guess that eljanov only counted on this move} Bg5 {But here also White can use the same theme as in the game} 38. Rh1 {And everything is covered}) 37... Bg5 38. c5 {[pgndiagram] Now Black has to be precise in order to mantain the balance} (38. Rxe5 {Would transpose to the previous note}) 38... Rb8 $2 {Overstepping the mark. Black still plays for attack, that is now nonexistent} (38... Bxd2 {It was time to admit that the win is gone. But psychologically it is really hard to adjust} 39. Qxd2 Qxe4 40. Re1 Qxa4 41. Rdxe5) 39. Nc4 $1 {The queen covers b1. Now White is in the driver's seat} Rfb7 (39... Bf4 {Might still be sufficient for a draw} 40. Rd8+ Rxd8 41. Qxd8+ Kh7 42. Nd6 Bxg3+ 43. fxg3 Rf6 44. Qc8 Qg5 {And the machine sees a draw by repetition after} 45. Nc4 Rf4 46. Ne3 {Else Rh4 and Qxg2} Rf6 47. Nc4) 40. Nb6 Rxb6 $2 {[pgndiagram] And this is officialy desperation. Now Black is suddenly lost} 41. cxb6 Rxb6 42. Rxe5 {The remainder of the game doesn't require further comments} Bh4 43. Qc3 Rg6 44. Qe1 Bg5 45. Rf5 Rd6 46. Rf8+ Kh7 47. e5 Rd3 48. e6 Be7 49. Rf4 Qh5+ 50. Kg1 Qd5 51. Qe4+ Qxe4 52. Rxe4 Kg6 53. Kh2 Rd2 54. Rf1 Kf5 55. Re3 Kg4 56. Kg1 g5 57. Rc1 Ra2 58. Kf1 Rxa4 59. Rc7 Bb4 60. Rc4+ {A tenacious defence by Topalov and a great pity for Eljanov who fails to convert another good position after failing to beat Mamedyarov in the previous rounds.} 1-0 White to move: find the best move... click the ? for the solution Black to move: find the best move... click the ? for the solution Warning: This game can only be seen if JavaScript is enabled in your browser. No related posts.
