[Event "Vienna Millenium"]

[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Ribli"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceDate "2004.01.01"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3 {

Ribli. Kramniks Wunderwaffe 4.Qb3 scheint mir besser.} b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O
O-O
7. d3 {Ribli.Das ist klar besser,als 7.d4?! Bc3 8.bc Nc6 9.Nd2 Na5 l0.Bb7 Nb7
11.e4 Ne8 - mit gleichen Chancen.Pinter -Horvath,T.Budapest 1984.} d5 8.
cxd5
Nxd5 (8... exd5 9. Bf4 Re8 $2 (9... Bd6 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 11. d4 Re8 12. Rc1 a6
13.
Rc2 Nbd7 14. Qc1 Ne4 15. Rd1 Qf6 16. Qf4 $14 {
Savchenko,S-Vukanovic,S,Ljubljana op,1996,EXP53.}) 10. Nb5 $1 Na6 11. Rc1
c6
12. Nbd4 Bc5 13. a3 Nh5 14. Bd2 $14 {Kramnik-Gulko,Horgen 1995.}) 9. Qc2
Be7 $5

{Ribli. Schwarz strebt nach vollwertigem Spiel. Wenn er c7-c5 ziehen und das
Laeuferpaar nicht abgeben mchte, kann er diesen Rueckzug nicht
vermeiden.} 10.
Rd1 (10. d4 $5 {Ribli.Aber das kostet Weiss ein Tempo im Vergleich :z.B. zu
der normalen Zugfolge 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.o-o o-o
7.
Nc3 d5 8.cd Nd5 9.Qc2 mit leichtem weissen Vorteil.}) 10... Nxc3 (10... c5 $5)
11. bxc3 c5 12. d4 (12. Bb2 Nc6) 12... Qc8 $1 {
Ribli.Schwarz spielt auf die Fesslung in der c-Linie.Es droht 13...cd.} 13.
dxc5 (13. Ba3 Nd7 14. e4 $5) 13... bxc5 (13... Bxc5 14. Ng5 g6 15. Ne4 $14)
14.
Rb1 $14 Bc6 (14... Nd7 $4 15. Rxb7 Qxb7 16. Ng5 $18) (14... Nc6 15. Ng5 g6
16.
Ne4 $16) 15. Bg5 f6 (15... Bxg5 16. Nxg5 g6 (16... f5 17. Bxc6 Nxc6 18. Rd6)
17. Ne4) 16. Bf4 Nd7 {Ribli. Schwarz muss ein paar gekuenstelte Zuege
machen
um auszugleichen. Weiss hat nicht so grosse, dafr aber dauerhafte Initiative.}
(16... e5 17. Bc1 {
Ribli.Und die weissen Felder sind schwach im Lager des Nachziehenden.}) 17.
Bd6
Rf7 $1 18. Bxe7 Rxe7 19. Rd6 Nf8 $1 $8 (19... Qc7 20. Rxc6 Qxc6 21. Ng5 $18)
20. Rxc6 Qxc6 21. Nd2 Qe8 22. Bxa8 Qxa8 {Ribli.Weiss hat einen
microscopisch
kleinen Vorteil, da Schwarz einige Schwaechen hat. Aber seine Verteidigung ist
sehr gut koordiniert, und so nhert sich die Partie dem Remis.} 23. Qe4 Qd5
$10
(23... Qc8 24. Nc4 $14) 24. Qxd5 exd5 25. Kf1 Kf7 26. Rb5 (26. c4 dxc4 27.
Nxc4
Ke6) 26... Rc7 27. a4 {Ribli} (27. e4 Ke6) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]

[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]

[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A24"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "158"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceDate "2004.01.01"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O e5 7. d3 h6 8. Rb1

a5
9. a3 Re8 10. b4 axb4 11. axb4 e4 12. Ne1 Bf5 13. Nc2 exd3 14. exd3 Qc8 15.
Ne3
Be6 16. Bb2 Nc6 17. Ncd5 Bxd5 18. cxd5 Na7 19. Ra1 Nb5 20. Ra5 b6 21. Rxa8
Qxa8
22. Qc2 Re7 23. d4 Na7 24. Ra1 b5 25. Qc6 Qb8 26. Qa6 Nc8 27. Qa8 Qxa8 28.
Rxa8
Re8 29. Bf1 Nb6 30. Rxe8+ Nxe8 31. Bxb5 Nf6 32. Bc6 h5 33. Kf1 Ng4 34. h3
Nxe3+
35. fxe3 f5 36. Ke2 Bh6 37. Kd3 Kf7 38. Bc3 Bg5 39. Be1 Kf6 40. Bf2 Kf7 41.
Be1
Ke7 42. e4 fxe4+ 43. Kxe4 Nd7 44. Kd3 Nb6 45. Bb7 Bh6 46. Ke4 Nd7 47. Bc6
Bg5
48. Kf3 Nb6 49. Bc3 h4 50. gxh4 Bxh4 51. Kf4 Kf6 52. Ke4 Bg5 53. Bb5 Bc1 54.
Be1 Ke7 55. Bh4+ g5 56. Be1 Kf6 57. Be2 Kg6 58. Bg4 Kf6 59. Bf3 Kg6 60. Kd3
Bf4

61. Ke4 Bc1 62. Bg4 Kf6 63. Be6 Kg6 64. Kd3 Kf6 65. b5 Bf4 66. Kc3 Be3 67.
Kd3
Bc1 68. Kc2 Bf4 69. Kb3 Ke7 70. Kb4 Ke8 71. Kb3 Be3 72. Kc3 Ke7 73. Kd3 Bc1
74.
Ba5 Kf6 75. Ke4 Kg6 76. Kf3 Bb2 77. Kg4 Bc1 78. Bf5+ Kf6 79. Be4 Be3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]

[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceDate "2004.01.01"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3

Nc6 9. Be2 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nh5 11. Qxd8 Rxd8 12. Bc7 Rd7 13. Be5 Nxe5 14.
Nxe5
Rd8 15. O-O Nf6 16. Rfd1 Bd7 17. Nxd7 Rxd7 18. Rxd7 Nxd7 19. Rd1 Nf6 20.
Kf1
1/2-1/2

[Event "Yerevan ol (Men)"]

[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Torre, Eugenio"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C82"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[Annotator "Kharitonov"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1996.09.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8.

dxe5
Be6 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 Bg4 11. Bc2 Qd7 12. Re1 Rd8 13. b4 (13. Nf1 d4 $5 14.
h3
(14. cxd4 $6 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Nxd4 16. Qd1 Nxc2 17. Qxc2 Qd3 $15) 14... Bh5
(14...
d3 $5) 15. Ng3 Bg6 16. Bxg6 hxg6 17. Bg5 Be7 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 (18... Kxe7 $5
19.
Qd2 (19. cxd4 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 Qxd4 21. Qf3 Qxb2 $1 22. e6 Nxe6 23. Qc6 Qd4
24.
Qxc7+ Rd7 25. Qc6 Rb8 $10 {Zagrebelny,SKharitonov,A/Tashkent/1985/0,5/25/})
19... Ne6 20. Rad1 dxc3 21. Qc1 Qc8 22. Qxc3 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Rd8 24. Rc1 $13
{

Klovans,J-Kharitonov,A/Omsk/1985/0,5/24/}) 19. cxd4 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 Ne6 21.

Nge2
c5 22. Nc6 Rxd1 23. Nxe7 Rxe1+ $10 {
Martin del Campo,R-Sagalchik,G/Linares/1994/0,5/23/}) (13. Nb3 $5 Ne6 14. h3
Bh5 15. a4) 13... Ne6 14. Nf1 (14. Nb3 $5) 14... Bh5 (14... Be7 15. Ng3 d4 $22
16. Be4 dxc3 17. Qxd7+ Kxd7 $36) 15. a3 $6 (15. Ng3 $5 Bg6 16. Nf5 Be7 $13)
15... Bg6 16. Ra2 a5 $1 $132 17. Bxg6 hxg6 18. Qe2 Ra8 19. Qxb5 $6 (19. Ng3
$5
Be7 20. Be3 $132) 19... axb4 20. cxb4 Bxb4 21. Rd1 Bc5 22. Qd3 $2 (22. Be3
$5
Nxe5 23. Qxd7+ Nxd7 24. Bxc5 Ndxc5 25. Rxd5 $10) 22... Ncd4 $1 23. Nxd4
Bxd4
24. Kh1 (24. Be3 Ra4 $1 $17) 24... Qa4 $1 25. f4 Bb6 (25... Bc5 $5) 26. Rb2 (
26. Qxd5 $4 Rd8 $19) 26... Bc5 27. Ng3 c6 $17 28. Rf1 (28. f5 $2 Rxh2+ 29.
Kxh2
Qh4#) 28... Qd4 $1 29. Qc2 (29. Qxd4 Bxd4 $17) 29... O-O 30. Rb3 Qa4 31.
Qb1
Qc4 32. Qb2 Bd4 33. Qb1 Bc5 34. Qb2 Bd4 35. Qb1 Bc3 36. Be3 d4 37. Ne4
(37. Bg1
Nc5 $17) 37... Nc5 $1 38. Nxc5 (38. Rxc3 dxc3 39. Bxc5 (39. Nxc5 c2 40. Qc1
Rfd8 41. Re1 Rab8 $19) 39... c2 40. Qc1 Rfd8 41. Re1 Rd1 42. Rxd1 cxd1=Q+
43.
Qxd1 Qxe4 $19) 38... Qxc5 39. Bg1 (39. Bc1 Qc4 $17) 39... Qc4 $5 (39... Rxa3
$5
$17) 40. Rf3 Rfd8 41. Rd3 c5 42. h3 Qa4 (42... Qe6 43. Rbxc3 dxc3 44. Rxc3 c4
$17) 43. e6 $5 Qe8 $5 (43... fxe6 44. Rg3 $132) 44. exf7+ Qxf7 45. Rb7 Rd7
46.
Rxd7 Qxd7 47. Qb3+ Qf7 (47... Kh7 $6 48. Qc4 $5 (48. Qxc3 $5 dxc3 49. Rxd7
c2
50. Be3 Rxa3 51. Bd2 Ra1+ 52. Kh2 Rd1 53. Rc7 $10)) 48. Rxc3 dxc3 49. Qxc3
c4
$19 50. Bd4 Rb8 51. Be5 Rb3 52. Qa5 Rd3 53. Kh2 Kh7 54. Qb4 (54. a4 c3 $19)
54... Qa7 $1 55. Qxc4 Qe3 (55... Qe3 56. Qc2 Qg3+ 57. Kh1 Re3 58. Bd4 Re1+
59.
Bg1 Qe3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Yerevan ol (Men)"]

[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Galego, Luis"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A22"]
[WhiteElo "2435"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1996.09.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bb4 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Qb3 a5 6. a3 Bxc3 7. Qxc3 Re8 (7...
Qe7 8. b3 d6 (8... d6 9. Bb2 Nc6 10. Nf3 Ne4 11. Qc2 Nc5 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4
Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Re8 15. Ra2 Bg4 16. e3 Qg5 17. O-O Bf5 18. Qc3 Be4 19. Bxc5
Bxg2
20. Kxg2 Qxc5 {Mack,P-Budde,V/BL 8586/1986/0-1 (50)})) (7... e4 8. b3 d5 9.
Bb2
Be6 10. Nh3 Nc6 11. cxd5 Bxh3 12. Bxh3 Qxd5 13. Bg2 Qe6 14. Rc1 Rfd8 15.
Qc4
Qd6 16. O-O Qxd2 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Qxe4 Nd4 19. Rxc7 {
1-0 Koehler,G-Pichler,M/OLO-A 9293/1993 (26)}) 8. d3 (8. Nf3 d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5
10. Qc2 e4 11. Nd4 Nf6 12. e3 b6 13. d3 c5 14. Nb5 exd3 15. Qc4 Be6 16. Qf4
Bd5

17. Bxd5 Qxd5 18. O-O d2 19. Bxd2 Qxd2 20. Nc7 Nbd7 21. Nxa8 Rxa8 {
Martinez,A-Bronstein,L/Buenos Aires Konex (02)/1991/0-1 (42)}) 8... d5 9. Bg5 (
9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Qc2 Nc6) 9... d4 10. Qc2 Nbd7 11. c5 $2 (11. Nf3 h6 12. Bxf6
Nxf6 13. O-O $10) 11... c6 $1 12. Nf3 h6 13. Bxf6 (13. Bd2 a4 $15) 13... Nxf6
14. Nd2 Be6 15. O-O a4 16. Nc4 (16. b4 axb3 17. Nxb3 Qe7 $15) 16... Bxc4 $1
17.
Qxc4 (17. dxc4 Qe7 $17) 17... Ra5 18. Bh3 (18. Rfc1 Nd7 19. Qb4 Qa8 (19...
Rb5
20. Qxa4 Nxc5 21. Qxb5 $1 $8 (21. Qc2 Nb3 $19) 21... cxb5 22. Rxc5 $15) 20.
Rc4
Rb5 21. Qxa4 Rxb2 $17) 18... Qe7 19. Rfc1 Rea8 20. Rab1 Nd5 21. Rc2 (21.
Bg2
Nc7) 21... Rb5 22. Bg2 Nc7 $1 (22... Raa5 $6 23. Bxd5 cxd5 24. Qxd5 Rxc5 25.
Rxc5 Rxc5 26. Qe4 $15) 23. b4 $8 (23. Bf3 Ne6 $17) 23... axb3 24. Rxb3 Rxb3
25.
Qxb3 Nb5 26. a4 Nc3 27. Rb2 Rxa4 (27... Qxc5 28. Qxb7 Rxa4 29. Bxc6 $10)
28.
Qxb7 Ra1+ 29. Bf1 Qe6 (29... Qxc5 $2 30. Qc8+ Qf8 (30... Kh7 $2 31. Qf5+
$18)
31. Qc7) 30. Kg2 (30. f3 Kh7 (30... Qh3 31. Qa8+ $1) 31. Kg2 Rc1 32. Rb6 Nd5
33. Rb1 Ne3+ 34. Kg1 Rxc5 $19) 30... Qd5+ 31. f3 (31. Kg1 Rxf1+ $1 32. Kxf1
Qh1#) 31... Kh7 (31... Nd1 32. Rb1 (32. Qc8+ Kh7 33. Rb8 Ne3+ 34. Kh3 Rxf1
35.
Qh8+ Kg6 36. Rg8 Qe6+ 37. g4 Qf6 $19) 32... Ne3+ 33. Kf2 Rxb1 34. Qxb1
Qxc5 $17
) 32. h4 (32. Qc8 Nd1 $19) (32. Rb6 Nd1 33. Rb1 Ne3+ 34. Kf2 Rxb1 35. Qxb1
Qxc5
$17) 32... Qe6 33. Rb6 (33. Rd2 Nd5 34. Kf2 Rxf1+ 35. Kxf1 Qh3+ 36. Ke1 Ne3
$19
) 33... Rxf1 $1 (33... Nd5 34. Rb1) 34. Rxc6 (34. Kxf1 Qh3+ 35. Kf2 (35. Kg1
Qxg3+ 36. Kf1 Nd1 $19) 35... Qh2+ 36. Kf1 Qh1+ 37. Kf2 Nd1#) 34... Qa2 35.
Kxf1
Qxe2+ 36. Kg1 Qe1+ (36... Qe1+ 37. Kh2 (37. Kg2 Nd1 38. f4 Ne3+ 39. Kf3
Qh1+
40. Ke2 Qd1+ 41. Kf2 Qf1#) 37... Ne2 $19) 0-1

[Event "Yerevan ol (Men)"]

[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Nogueiras, Jesus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1996.09.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Bd3 c5

8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. Qe2 Qc7 10. Bd2 O-O 11. O-O-O b6 12. Ne5 Bb7 13. f4 Nd5 14.
Kb1
f6 15. Nf3 Nxf4 16. Bxf4 Qxf4 17. Qxe6+ Kh8 18. Rhf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Yerevan ol (Men)"]

[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Saltaev, Mihail"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]

[ECO "B88"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "1996.09.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. a3 Be7 8. Ba2

Nc6 9. O-O O-O 10. Be3 Qc7 11. Qe2 b5 12. Rad1 Rb8 13. f3 Na5 14. Bc1 b4
15.
axb4 Rxb4 16. Kh1 Qb6 17. Be3 Qb7 18. b3 Qc7 19. Qd2 Rb8 20. Na4 Nc6 21.
Nxc6
Qxc6 22. Ba7 Rb7 23. Bd4 Rd8 24. c4 Bd7 25. Qe3 Be8 26. Rfe1 Nd7 27. f4
Rdb8
28. Qg3 Bf8 29. Rd3 e5 30. fxe5 dxe5 31. Bxe5 Nxe5 32. Qxe5 Qe6 33. Qxe6
fxe6
34. Nc3 Bc5 35. Rf1 Bc6 36. h3 Rf7 37. Rff3 Rf6 38. Kh2 Kf7 39. Kg3 Bb6 40.
Rxf6+ gxf6 41. Kf4 h5 42. g4 hxg4 43. hxg4 Bc7+ 44. Kf3 Be5 45. Nd1 a5 46.
Nf2
Ke7 47. Ke2 Bd6 48. Rd1 Bg3 49. Nh1 Bh4 50. Kf3 Rb4 51. Rd2 Rb7 52. Rh2
Bg5 53.
Rh7+ Kd6 54. Rxb7 Bxb7 55. Nf2 Kc5 56. Bb1 Kd4 57. Nd1 f5 58. gxf5 exf5 59.
Nf2
Bh4 60. c5 Kxc5 61. Nd1 Kd4 62. Ne3 fxe4+ 63. Ke2 Ba6+ 64. Nc4 a4 65. Kd1
Bxc4
66. bxc4 Be7 67. c5 Bxc5 68. Kc2 e3 0-1

[Event "Yerevan ol (Men)"]

[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]

[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "1996.09.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. a4 Nc6 8. O-O

Be7 9. Be3 O-O 10. f4 Qc7 11. Kh1 Re8 12. Bf3 Rb8 13. g4 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 e5
15.
fxe5 dxe5 16. Ba7 Ra8 17. g5 Rd8 (17... Bb4 18. Na2 a5 (18... Ba5 19. Be3 Rd8
20. Qe2 Ne8 21. c4 Be6 22. Rfc1 Qe7 23. Nc3 Bxc3 24. Rxc3 Nc7 {
Dolmatov,S-Kalegin,E/RUS-ch Elista (07)/1995/1/2-1/2 (76)}) 19. Be3 Nd7 20.
Nxb4 axb4 21. Qd2 Nf8 22. Qxb4 Qxc2 23. Rfc1 Qd3 {
1-0 Tiviakov,S-Marcantoni,H/Paris-ch (08)/1991/ (51)}) (17... Rxa7 18. gxf6
Bxf6 19. Nd5 Qd8 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Qc1 Kh8 22. Rg1 (22. Qh6 Rg8 23. Bh5
Bg4
24. Bxg4 Rxg4 25. Rad1 {1-0 Oll,L-Cvitan,O/Eupen op 25' (06)/1995/ (30)})
22...
Rg8 23. Qh6 Rg6 24. Rad1 Qe7 25. Qd2 Be6 {
1/2-1/2 Sutovskij,E-Zoler,D/ISR-ch (06)/1994/ (42)}) (17... Nd7 18. Nd5 Qc6 19.
Be3 Bc5 20. Bh5 g6 21. Qf3 Rf8 22. Bg4 b6 23. Bxd7 Bxd7 24. Bxc5 bxc5 {

1-0 Fishbein,A-MacArthur,J/New York op '60 Newark (01) 1996}) 18. Qe2 (18.
Qc1
Rxa7 19. gxf6 Bxf6 20. Nd5 Qc6 21. Nxf6+ Qxf6 22. Bh5 Qh4 23. Bxf7+ Kh8
24. Bd5
Bh3 25. Rf3 {Kaiumov,D-Semeniuk,A/Vladivostok2 op (06)/1995/1-0 (78)}) 18...
Ne8 (18... Rxa7 19. gxf6 Bxf6 20. Nd5 Rxd5 21. exd5 Be7 22. Be4 Bd6 23. Qd3
h6
24. Rf3 {1-0 Tiviakov,S-Andruet,G/Torcy op/1991/ (29)}) 19. Be3 Be6 20. Qf2
Qc4
$5 (20... Rdc8 21. Bg4 (21. a5 Nd6 22. Na4 Rf8 23. b3 Nb5 24. Nb6 Rad8 25.
Nd5
{1/2-1/2 Sax,G-Bairachny,R/Budapest Spring op (06)/1996/ (49)}) 21... Nd6 22.
Bxe6 fxe6 23. g6 Rf8 (23... Bf6 24. Qg2 Qe7 25. Rf3 Nc4 26. Bc1 hxg6 {
Fishbein,A-Gligoric,S/Moscow GMA-op (09)/1989/0-1 (75)}) 24. Qg2 Rxf1+ 25.
Rxf1
Rf8 {1/2-1/2 Riemersma,L-Ligterink,G/NLD-ch/1987/ (36)}) 21. Bb6 (21. Nd5
Bxd5
22. exd5 Rac8 $15) 21... Rdc8 22. Be3 Bc5 23. Rad1 (23. Bxc5 Rxc5 24. Be2
Qb4
25. Bg4 Bc4 26. Be2 Nd6 $15) 23... Bxe3 24. Qxe3 Qb4 25. Rd3 Rd8 (25... Qxb2
26. Rb1 Qa3 (26... Qxc2 $2 27. Bd1 $18) 27. Nd5 Qa2 28. Rdd1 Rd8 $17) (25...
Bc4 26. Nd5 Bxd5 27. exd5 (27. c3 Qxa4 28. exd5 Qb5 29. Bg2 Nd6 $17) 27...
Rxc2
28. Qxe5 Nd6 $17) 26. b3 Rd4 $1 (26... Rxd3 27. Qxd3 Qe7 28. Qd2 Rd8 29.
Nd5
$15) 27. Rfd1 Rc8 28. R1d2 (28. Nd5 $5 Rxd3 (28... Bxd5 29. Rxd4 exd4 30.
Rxd4
Bc4 $1 $17 (30... Qc3 31. Qxc3 Rxc3 32. exd5 Rxf3 33. d6 $15)) 29. Rxd3 Bxd5
30. exd5 Rxc2 31. Qxe5 Nd6 32. Re3 $15) 28... Qc5 29. Kg2 (29. Nd5 Rxd3
(29...
Bxd5 30. exd5 Rxd3 31. Qxd3 Nd6 $15) 30. Qxd3 Bxd5 31. Qxd5 Qe3 $15) 29...
b5
30. axb5 axb5 31. Nd1 Rxd3 32. Qxd3 (32. Qxc5 $2 Rxd2+ $19) 32... f6 33.
gxf6 (
33. h4 fxg5 34. hxg5 Qe7 35. Qe3 Nd6 $17) 33... Nxf6 34. Ne3 Kh8 $1 (34... b4

35. Qd6 $1) 35. c4 (35. Qd6 $2 Qxe3 $19) 35... bxc4 36. Nxc4 (36. bxc4 h6
$17)
36... h6 37. Rc2 (37. Qd6 Bxc4 38. bxc4 Qe3 $17) 37... Qb5 38. Rc1 (38. Nb2
Rxc2+ 39. Qxc2 Bxb3 $17) 38... Qc5 39. Rc2 Qb5 40. Rc1 Qb4 41. Qc3 Qe7 42.
Qe3
(42. Qxe5 Bh3+ 43. Kxh3 Qxe5 44. Nxe5 Rxc1 $17) 42... Nd7 43. Be2 Rb8 44.
Nd2 (
44. Qg3 Bg8 $17) 44... Nf8 45. Kh1 Ng6 46. Nc4 Bg8 47. Rf1 Qc7 48. Qg3 Bh7 (
48... Nf4 $2 49. Nxe5 Nxe2 50. Ng6+) 49. Rf2 Nf4 50. Qe3 (50. Nxe5 Bxe4+ 51.
Kg1 (51. Nf3 Rxb3 $19) (51. Bf3 Qxe5 $19) 51... Qc1+ 52. Bf1 Rf8 $19) 50...
Bg8
51. Bf1 (51. Nxe5 Nxe2 52. Ng6+ Kh7 53. Nf8+ Rxf8 54. Rxf8 Qc2 $17) 51...
Rf8
52. Nd2 (52. Ra2 Ne6 53. Bg2 Nd4 $17) 52... Qc1 53. Nc4 Qa1 (53... Qxe3 54.
Nxe3 Bh7 55. Bd3 Rc8 $17) 54. Qc5 Ne6 55. Qe3 (55. Qxf8 Nxf8 56. Rxf8 Kh7
$19)
55... Nf4 56. Qc5 Re8 57. Qe3 (57. Rf3 Qd1 58. Qe3 Bxc4 59. bxc4) 57... Bxc4
58. bxc4 Rd8 59. Qf3 (59. Rxf4 exf4 60. Qxf4 Kg8 $19) 59... Qe1 60. Qg3 (60.
Kg1 Rd3 61. Qg4 Nh3+ $19) 60... Rd1 61. h4 (61. c5 Qxf1+ 62. Rxf1 Rxf1+
$19)
61... Rd3 62. Qg1 (62. Qh2 Rh3 $19) 62... Qxe4+ 63. Kh2 (63. Bg2 Rh3+) 63...
Qe3 (63... Qe3 64. Kh1 Rc3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Yerevan ol (Men)"]

[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Apicella, Manuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E68"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]

[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "Shipov"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1996.09.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. e4

exd4 (8... c6) 9. Nxd4 Re8 10. h3 Nc5 11. Re1 Bd7 (11... a5) 12. Bf4 (12. Rb1
h6 13. b3 a6 14. Bb2 Rb8 15. b4 Ne6 16. Nde2 b5 17. cxb5 axb5 18. Nd5 Nxd5
19.
exd5 Ng5 20. Nf4 Be5 $132 {Greenfeld,A-Spasov,V/Belgrade/1994/0:1/35/})
12...
a6 (12... Qc8 13. Kh2 a6 (13... h6 14. f3 a5 $6 (14... a6 $5 {/\ Rb8,b5/}) 15.
Qd2 Kh7 16. Rad1 a4 17. Ndb5 $1 Bc6 18. Be3 b6 19. Qc2 $16 {
Zaichik,G-Georgiev,Ki/Katerini/1992/1:0/36/}) 14. Rc1 h5 15. b4 Ne6 16. Nxe6
Bxe6 17. c5 dxc5 18. Nd5 $1 Bxd5 19. exd5 Rxe1 20. Qxe1 Qf5 21. Bxc7 Re8
22.
Qd2 Ne4 23. Qf4 Qxd5 24. Rxc5 $14 {Ginsburg,G-Ryskin,A/Pinsk/1993/0,5/42/})
13.
Qd2 (13. Qc2 $2 Nfxe4 $1 $17) 13... Rb8 14. Rad1 Qc8 15. Kh2 b5 (15... Ne6 $5
16. Be3 b5 $132) 16. b4 $1 Ne6 17. Nxe6 Bxe6 18. c5 dxc5 19. bxc5 Nd7 $2
(19...
b4 $1 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. exd5 Rxe1 22. Qxe1 a5 $132) 20. Nd5 $1 Ne5 (20...
Nxc5
$6 21. Nxc7) (20... Bxd5 21. exd5 Rxe1 22. Rxe1 Nxc5 23. Rc1 $16) 21. Bg5 $1
Bxd5 (21... Nc4 22. Qf4 $16) 22. exd5 $16 Qf5 23. d6 cxd6 24. cxd6 Bf6 (24...
Nc4 25. Qf4) (24... Nd7 25. Qf4 $16 (25. Bc6 $2 Ne5 $1 26. Rxe5 Rxe5 27. d7
Qxg5 28. Qxg5 Rxg5 29. d8=Q+ Rxd8 30. Rxd8+ Bf8 $10)) 25. Bxf6 Qxf6 26.
Qf4 $1

Qxf4 (26... Kg7 27. d7 $18) 27. gxf4 Nc4 (27... Nd7 28. Re7 $1 Nb6 (28... Red8
29. Bd5 $1) 29. Ra7 $18) 28. Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. d7 Rd8 30. Bb7 Nb6 (30... a5 31.
Ba6) 31. Bxa6 Rxd7 (31... b4 32. Bb5 Kf8 33. Rd4 $18) 32. Rxd7 Nxd7 33. Bxb5
Nc5 (33... Nb6 34. a4 Kf8 35. a5 Nc8 36. Kg3 Ke7 37. Kf3 Kd6 38. Bc4 $18) 34.
a4 Nb3 35. Bc4 Na5 36. Bd5 $18 Kf8 37. Kg3 Ke7 38. Kf3 f6 39. Ke4 Kd6 40.
Kd4
g5 41. fxg5 fxg5 42. Ke4 Kc5 43. f3 h6 44. Ke5 Kb4 45. Kf6 Kxa4 46. Kg6 Kb4
47.
Kxh6 Kc5 48. Ba2 Nc6 49. Kxg5 Kd6 50. h4 1-0

[Event "Yerevan ol (Men)"]

[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Ehlvest, Jaan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A24"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "1996.09.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. Nc3 e5 7. d3 c6 8. Rb1

Re8 9. e4 a5 10. a3 Na6 11. b4 axb4 12. axb4 h6 13. Be3 Nc7 14. b5 Ne6 15.
bxc6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Yerevan ol (Men)"]

[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D67"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1996.09.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Nbd7 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3

dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Ne4 N5f6 12. Ng3 e5 13. O-O exd4 14. Nf5
Qd8
15. N5xd4 Nb6 16. Bd3 Qe7 17. Qc2 Bg4 18. a3 Rad8 19. Rfe1 Nbd7 20. Ng5
h6 21.
Nh7 Rfe8 22. h3 Be6 23. Nxf6+ Qxf6 24. Bf1 Bd5 25. f3 Ne5 26. Qf2 a6 27. b4
b5
28. Red1 Nc4 29. e4 Be6 30. Bxc4 Bxc4 31. Rd2 Rd7 32. Rcd1 Red8 33. f4 g5
34.
fxg5 Qxg5 35. Nf3 Rxd2 36. Rxd2 Rxd2 37. Qxd2 Qe7 38. Qd4 a5 39. Qe5
Qa7+ 40.
Nd4 axb4 41. axb4 Be6 42. Kh2 Qd7 43. Kg3 Kh7 44. Kf4 Qa7 45. Qc5 Qc7+ 46.
Kf3
Qd7 47. Qe5 Kg8 48. Kg3 Kh7 49. Kh4 Qe7+ 50. Kg3 Qd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Yerevan ol (Men)"]

[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E73"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Chekhov"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1996.09.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]

1. c4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c6 7. Qd2 e5 8. d5

Na6
9. h4 cxd5 10. cxd5 Qe8 11. f3 Bd7 12. Nh3 $1 (12. g4 $6 h5 13. Bxf6 (13. OO-O
hxg4 14. h5 Nxh5 15. fxg4 Nf4 16. Bxa6 bxa6 17. Qh2 f6 18. Bxf4 exf4 19.
Qh7+
Kf7 20. Rh6 Rh8 21. Qxg6+ Kg8 22. Rxh8+ Kxh8 23. Qxe8+ Rxe8 $17 {
Gyurkovics,M-Kuzmin,A/Budapest/1989/0|1/32/}) 13... Bxf6 14. gxh5 Kg7 15. OO-O
Rh8 16. hxg6 fxg6 17. h5 b5 18. h6+ Kh7 $146 {
Gaprindashvili,N-Makropoulou,M/MAS/1990/0|1/26/}) 12... Nc5 13. g4 h5 14.
Nf2
hxg4 15. fxg4 Rc8 (15... a5 $22 16. h5 b5) 16. Be3 Nh7 17. Nd3 (17. h5 $5)

17... Nxd3+ 18. Qxd3 a6 19. a4 Qd8 (19... b5 20. axb5 axb5 21. Nxb5 (21. Ra6
$5
) 21... Bxb5 22. Qxb5 Qxb5 23. Bxb5 Rb8 24. Ra5 Nf6 $132) (19... f5 $5) 20. a5
Bf6 21. Bf2 Be7 22. Kd2 Nf6 23. Rhg1 Ne8 24. Bb6 Nc7 25. g5 $36 Qe8 26. Qe3
(
26. Qf3 $5 f6 (26... Nb5 27. Bxb5 Bxb5 28. h5 Kg7 29. Be3 Rh8 30. Rh1 $36)
27.
gxf6 Rxf6 28. Qg3 Kh7 29. Be3 $36) 26... Nb5 27. Bxb5 Bxb5 28. h5 Kg7 (28...
gxh5 29. Rh1 (29. g6 fxg6 30. Qh6 Rf6 31. Rg5 Qf7 32. Rag1 Be8 33. Rxh5 Qg7
$17
) 29... Kg7 30. Rxh5 Rh8 31. Rah1 Rxh5 32. Rxh5 Qd7 $132) 29. Qf3 Bc4 $6
(29...
gxh5 $5 30. Rg2 (30. Qxh5 Rh8 31. Qf3 Rh2+ 32. Rg2 Qh8 $132) 30... Rh8 31.
Rh1
h4 32. Be3 Bd7 $17) 30. Rg2 Rh8 31. Rh1 Bb5 (31... Qd7 32. h6+ Kg8 33. h7+
Kg7
34. Qf2 $22 Bb5 35. Qh4) 32. Be3 Bd7 33. Rgh2 Qd8 (33... Rxh5 34. Rxh5 gxh5
35.
Rxh5 $36 (35. Qxh5 Qh8 36. Qf3 Qg8 37. Rh6 $36)) 34. Kd3 $1 (34. hxg6
Rxh2+ 35.
Rxh2 fxg6 $13) 34... Qc7 (34... Bxg5 35. hxg6 Rxh2 36. Qxf7+ $18) (34... Qxa5
35. hxg6 Bb5+ 36. Kd2 fxg6 (36... Rxh2+ 37. Rxh2 fxg6 38. Qh3 Rg8 39. Qh7+
Kf8
40. Rf2+ $18) 37. Rxh8 Rxh8 38. Rxh8 Kxh8 39. Qf7 Qd8 40. Nxb5 axb5 41.
Qxg6
$16) 35. hxg6 Qc4+ 36. Kc2 fxg6 37. Rxh8 Rxh8 38. Rxh8 Kxh8 39. Qf7 $18
Ba4+
40. Kd2 Qb4 41. Ke1 (41. Ke1 Qxb2 42. Nxa4 Qa1+ 43. Kf2 Qxa4 44. Qxe7
Qxe4 45.
Qxd6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Yerevan ol (Men)"]

[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "14"]

[White "Lalic, Bogdan"]

[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1996.09.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 c6 8. Qd2

Qe7 9. d5 cxd5 10. cxd5 Ng4 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bh4 Nh6 13. O-O Nf7 14. Ne1 h5
15.
f3 Bh6 16. Qd1 Na6 17. Kh1 Bd7 18. Bxa6 bxa6 19. Qe2 Rab8 20. Rb1 Bc8 21.
Nc2
a5 22. Qc4 Rb6 23. Qa4 Ba6 24. Rfd1 Rfb8 25. Qxa5 Bc8 26. Qa3 Ra6 27. Na4
Qb7
28. b3 Bd7 29. Ra1 Kg7 30. Be1 Bxa4 31. bxa4 Qb2 32. Qxb2 Rxb2 33. Nb4
Rxa4 34.
Rab1 Re2 35. Bg3 f5 36. exf5 gxf5 37. Kg1 h4 38. Bf2 a5 39. Nd3 Raxa2 40.
Re1
Red2 41. Rbd1 h3 42. gxh3 Ra3 0-1

[Event "Las Palmas"]

[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]

[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Dolmatov"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.10"]

1. d4 {Tischbierek} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Bg2 d5 6. Nf3 O-O 7.

O-O c6 8. Qc2 b6 9. Ne5 (9. b3 Bb7 10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. Nc3 Rc8 12. e4 dxe4 13.
Ne5
$13 {Palatnik,S-Rashkovsky,N/Palma de Mallorca/1989/}) 9... Nfd7 (9... Bb7)
10.
Nd3 (10. Nxc6 $2 Nxc6 11. cxd5 Nxd4 12. Qe4 Bf6 $17) 10... Bb7 11. Rd1 a5 (
11... Na6 12. a3 Rc8 13. Be3 Bf6 14. Nc3 Qe7 15. Rac1 c5 $13 {
Skembris-Tiviakov,S/Gausdal/1993/}) 12. a3 $6 (12. Be3 $5 b5 13. c5 Ba6 14.
a3
$14) 12... Ba6 13. cxd5 (13. b3 a4 14. cxd5 axb3 15. Qxb3 cxd5 $10) 13... cxd5
14. Be3 Ra7 $10 15. Nc3 Rc7 16. Bf4 $6 (16. Qd2 Nc6 17. Rac1 Bd6 (17... Bf6
18.
Nf4 g6 $10) 18. Bf4 $10) 16... Rc8 17. Bxb8 Nxb8 18. Rac1 Nc6 19. e3 Bc4 20.
Bf1 Qd7 21. Nf4 (21. b3 $2 Bxd3 22. Bxd3 Bxa3 23. Bxh7+ Kh8 24. Ra1 Bb4
$17)
21... b5 (21... Bxf1 22. Rxf1 b5 23. Qe2 b4 24. Na4 Qb7 25. Nc5) 22. Bxc4 (22.
Nxb5 $2 Nb4 23. axb4 Bxf1 $17) 22... bxc4 23. e4 Bf6 (23... Qa7 $5 24. exd5
Nxd4 25. Qe4 e5) 24. exd5 Nxd4 25. Qe4 (25. dxe6 Qb7 (25... fxe6 26. Qe4 e5
27.

Nfd5 $10) 26. Qe4) 25... e5 26. Nh5 $1 Bg5 27. f4 f5 (27... Qg4 $5 28. Nxg7
Bxf4 29. Kh1 f5 30. Nxf5) 28. Qg2 Qf7 (28... Bh6 $5 {Tischbierek} 29. fxe5
$140
(29. Rb1 $5 g6 30. fxe5 gxh5 31. Kh1) (29. Ne2 g6) (29. Qh3) 29... Bxc1 30.
Rxc1 Qe8 $1 $19) 29. Nxg7 Qxg7 30. fxg5 Qxg5 (30... e4 31. h4 Nf3+ 32. Kh1
$13)
31. Kh1 (31. d6 $5 e4 (31... Rcd8 32. Qd5+ Rf7) 32. Qf2 Nf3+ 33. Kh1 Ne5 34.
Qd4 Nd3 35. Qd5+ $16) 31... e4 32. g4 (32. Ne2 $5 Nf3 33. Nf4) 32... Kh8 33.
gxf5 Qxg2+ 34. Kxg2 Nxf5 35. Kh1 $11 (35. Re1 e3) 35... Nd6 36. Re1 Rf4 37.
a4
(37. Re2 $5 Kg7 38. Rce1 Re8) (37. Rg1 Rf2 38. Rg2 Rxg2 39. Kxg2 Kg7) 37...
Rb8
38. Re2 $2 (38. Nb5 $142 $1 Nxb5 39. axb5 Rxb5 40. d6 $1 (40. Rxc4 Rxd5 41.
Rcxe4 Rxe4 42. Rxe4 Rd1+ 43. Kg2 Rd2+ 44. Kg3 Rxb2 45. Re5 a4 46. Ra5
$10)
40... Rd5 (40... Rxb2 41. d7 Rf8 42. Rxc4 Rd8 43. Rc8 Rb8 44. Rxb8 Rxb8 45.
Rxe4 $18) 41. Rcd1 Rxd1 42. Rxd1 Rf8 43. d7 Rd8 44. Kg2 Kg7 45. Kf2 Kf6 46.
Ke3
Ke6 47. Rd4 Rxd7 48. Rxc4 $10) 38... Kg7 39. Rce1 Rb4 $1 40. Nb5 (40. Nxe4
Nxe4
41. Rxe4 Rxe4 42. Rxe4 c3 43. Re7+ Kf8 44. bxc3 Rb1+ $19) 40... Nxb5 41.
axb5
Kf7 42. d6 Ke6 43. Rd2 Kd7 44. Rg1 Rf7 45. Re1 a4 46. Re3 $6 (46. Kg2 $5 Rf6
(
46... Rxb5 47. Rxe4 Rg5+ 48. Kh3 $10) 47. Rxe4 c3 (47... Rxd6 48. Rc2 $10)
48.
Re7+) 46... Rg7 47. Rxe4 (47. h3 $142 {Tischbierek} Rb3 (47... Rg6 48. Rxe4
Rxd6 49. Rc2 Rd5 50. Rexc4 $10) (47... Rxb5 48. Rxe4 $10) 48. Rxe4 Rxh3+
49.
Rh2 Rhg3 $5 (49... Rd3 50. Rh6 Rd1+ 51. Kh2 Rd2+ 52. Kh3 Rxb2 53. Rxc4)
(49...
Rxh2+ 50. Kxh2 Rg5 51. Rxc4 Rxb5 52. Rxa4 Rxb2+ $10)) 47... a3 (47... c3 48.
Rxb4 cxd2 49. Rd4 $10) 48. Re7+ Rxe7 49. dxe7+ Kxe7 50. bxa3 Rb1+ 51. Kg2
c3

$19 52. Re2+ Kd6 53. Kf3 Kd5 54. a4 Kd4 55. a5 Rxb5 56. a6 (56. Ra2 Kd3 57.
a6
c2 $19) 56... Ra5 57. Re4+ Kd5 58. Re3 c2 59. Rc3 Rc5 (59... Rc5 60. Rxc5+
Kxc5
61. a7 c1=Q 62. a8=Q Qh1+ $19) 0-1

[Event "Las Palmas"]

[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Kramnik"]
[PlyCount "160"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.10"]

1. Nf3 {Dolmatov Shamkovich} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6.

Be2
e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 a5 (9... Nh5 {Dolmatov} 10. Re1 Nf4 11. Bf1
$14)
10. Ba3 axb4 11. Bxb4 Nd7 (11... b6 12. a4 Ne8 13. Nb5 f5 14. Ng5 $6 Bh6 15.
Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 fxe4 17. Bd2 Bxd2 18. Qxd2 c6 19. Nc3 Nf6 {

Black is better, D. Gurevich-T. Shaked/1996 U.S. Closed 1996}) 12. a4 Bh6 13.
a5 (13. Nd2 f5 14. Nb3 b6 15. a5 Nc5 16. exf5 gxf5 17. Nb5 Ng6 18. Re1 e4 {
with mutual chances, Sokolov,I-Gelfand,B/Koop Tjuchem, Groningen NED
1996})
13... f5 14. Nd2 Kh8 15. Bd3 (15. Bf3 Ra6 $5 16. Re1 b6 17. Nb5 Nc5 18. axb6
cxb6 19. Qc2 {White is slightly better, Bareev,E-Georgiev,V/32nd Chess
Olympiad Yerevan ARM 1996}) 15... Rf6 (15... Ng8 {Dolmatov} 16. Na4 Qe7)
(15...
Nb8 $5 {Dolmatov}) (15... b6 {Dolmatov} 16. axb6 Rxa1 17. Qxa1 Bxd2 $2 18.
bxc7
Qxc7 19. Nb5 $16) 16. Na4 Rf7 17. c5 dxc5 18. Bc3 $1 {
The big diagonal is more important than c-pawn. If} (18. Nxc5 Nxc5 19. Bxc5
fxe4 20. Bxe7 (20. Bxe4 {Dolmatov} Bf5 $5 (20... Nxd5 $6 21. Nc4 c6 22. Nxe5
Rf4 23. Re1 Bg7 $14) 21. Bxf5 Rxf5 $10) 20... Qxe7 21. Nxe4 {Black is no
worse}
) 18... fxe4 (18... Bg7 {Dolmatov} 19. Nc4 b5 20. axb6 cxb6 21. Nd6 $16) 19.
Bxe4 Nf5 20. Nc4 Bg7 (20... Nd6 $5 {Dolmatov} 21. Nxe5 Nxe5 22. Bxe5+ Bg7
23.
Bxg7+ Rxg7 24. Nxc5 b6 25. Ne6 (25. axb6 Rxa1 26. Qxa1 cxb6 27. Ne6 Bxe6
28.
dxe6 Nxe4 29. Rd1 Qf8) 25... Bxe6 26. dxe6 Nxe4 27. axb6 cxb6 28. Re1 Nc3
29.
Qf3 $40) 21. Bxf5 $1 (21. d6 $5 {Dolmatov} Nd4 22. dxc7 Qxc7 23. Re1 Ra6
$13)
21... Rxf5 22. d6 Rb8 (22... b5 $6 {Dolmatov} 23. dxc7 Qxc7 24. Nab6 Nxb6
25.
axb6 Rxa1 26. Qxa1 Qe7 27. Qa7 Rf7 28. Qxe7 Rxe7 29. Rd1 $16) (22... Qh4 {
Dolmatov} 23. Qd3 $36) 23. dxc7 (23. Rb1 $6 {Dolmatov} b5 24. dxc7 Qxc7
25. Nd6
bxa4 26. Nxf5 gxf5 27. Rxb8 Qxb8 28. Qxa4) 23... Qxc7 24. Qd6 Qxd6 25. Nxd6
Rf8
26. Rfd1 {Despite Black is a pawn up, White stays better due to the numerous
weaknesses in Black's position. So Topalov decides to create counterplay at

any cost} (26. Rab1 $5 {Dolmatov} Rf4 27. Nb2 b5 28. axb6 Nxb6 29. Nbc4
Nxc4
30. Rxb8 Nxd6 31. Rd1 Rd4 32. Bxd4 exd4 33. Rc1 $16) 26... b5 $5 27. axb6
(27.
Nxc8 $5 {Dolmatov} Rfxc8 28. Rxd7 bxa4 29. f4 $5 (29. Rxg7 Kxg7 30. Bxe5+
Kf7
31. Bxb8 Rxb8 32. Kf1 c4 33. Ke2 Rd8 34. Rxa4 c3 35. Rc4 Rd2+ 36. Ke3 Ra2
37.
Rc7+ Kg8 38. Ra7) 29... Rb3 30. Bxe5 Bxe5 31. fxe5 c4 32. e6 $16) 27... Nxb6
28. Nxc5 Bg4 29. f3 Nd7 $1 30. Na6 $1 Rb3 31. Rac1 Be6 32. Nc7 (32. Ne4 {
Dolmatov} Rb6 33. Nc7 Nf6) 32... Bf7 33. Ne4 Nb8 (33... Nf6 {Dolmatov} 34.
Ng5
(34. Bxe5 $6 Nxe4 35. Bxg7+ Kxg7 36. fxe4 Re3 37. Re1 Rxe1+ 38. Rxe1 Rc8
$14))
34. Ng5 Nc6 35. Rd7 Be8 (35... Kg8 {Dolmatov} 36. Nce6 Bxe6 37. Nxe6 Rf7
38.
Rd6 $16) 36. Rxg7 $6 {It looks like better was} (36. Nxe8 Rxe8 37. Rc7 Nd4
38.
Kf2) (36. Rd6 {Dolmatov} Nd4 37. Bxd4 exd4 38. Nge6 Rg8 39. Nxg7 Kxg7 40.
Ne6+
Kh8 41. Rc7) 36... Kxg7 37. Nce6+ Kg8 38. Nxf8 Kxf8 39. Nxh7+ Ke7 {White
has an
extra pawn and tries to convert the advantage into a victory, but this is not
an easy task.} 40. Ng5 Bd7 41. Bd2 (41. Kf2 {Dolmatov} Bf5 42. Bd2 Nd4) 41...
Rb2 42. Ne4 Nd4 43. Re1 (43. Rc7 {Dolmatov} Rb1+ (43... Ke6 44. h4 $5 (44.
Nc5+
$6 Kd6 45. Rxd7+ Kxc5 46. Be3 Kc6 47. Rg7 Rb1+ 48. Kf2 Rb2+ $10)) 44. Kf2
Rb2
45. h3 $5) 43... Bc6 44. Bg5+ Ke6 45. Nd2 Nc2 46. Rc1 Nd4 47. Re1 Nc2 48.
Rd1
Nd4 49. h4 Ne2+ (49... Kd5 {Dolmatov} 50. Kh2) 50. Kh2 Nd4 51. Kh3 Kd5 52.
Re1
Ra2 53. Ne4 Rc2 54. Ra1 Bd7+ 55. Kg3 Bb5 (55... Nf5+ {Dolmatov} 56. Kh2
Nd4 57.
Nf6+ Kd6 58. Ra6+ Bc6 59. Kh3 $14) 56. Ra8 Bf1 57. Rd8+ Ke6 58. Bd2 (58.
Nd2 $6

{Dolmatov} Bd3 59. Re8+ Kd5) 58... Bd3 (58... Ke7 {Dolmatov} 59. Rg8 Kf7)
59.
Re8+ Kf7 60. Nd6+ Kg7 61. Re7+ Kf8 62. Bg5 Bf1 {
Black's counterplay is quite sufficient for a draw} 63. Rxe5 Rxg2+ 64. Kf4 Re2
65. Ne4 Bg2 66. Be7+ $2 (66. Bh6+ $1 {Dolmatov Fritz} Kf7 (66... Kg8 67. Re7
$16 (67. Re8+ Kh7 68. Bf8 Rxe4+ 69. fxe4 $18)) 67. Rd5 $3 Nf5 (67... Ne6+
68.
Kg3 Rxe4 (68... Nf8 69. Nf2 Bf1 70. Rd1 $18) 69. fxe4 Bxe4 70. Ra5 $18) 68.
Rd7+ Ne7 $8 69. Bg5) 66... Kf7 67. Bc5 Ne6+ 68. Kg3 Bf1 69. Bf2 Ng7 70. Kg4
Ne6
71. Rd5 Rc2 72. Rd7+ Ke8 73. Nf6+ Kf8 74. Bg3 (74. Be3 {Dolmatov} Rg2+)
74...
Rc4+ 75. Ne4 Ke8 76. Ra7 Bd3 77. Bd6 Bxe4 78. fxe4 Rxe4+ 79. Kf3 Re1 80.
Kf2
Re4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]

[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Kramnik"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]

[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.10"]

1. Nf3 {Shamkovich} d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 a6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nf6 7.

Bb3 Nc6 8. Qe2 cxd4 9. Rd1 d3 (9... Be7 {
is worse; Black should not give up the center} 10. exd4 O-O 11. Nc3 Na5 $6
12.
Bc2 b5 13. Ne5 Bb7 14. Bg5 Nc6 $2 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Qe4 g6 17. Nxc6 Qc7 18.
Qf3
b4 (18... Bg7 19. Be4) 19. Qxf6 bxc3 20. Ne7+ {
1-0 Petrosian,A-Suetin,A/Memorial T.Petrosian Erevan 1994}) 10. Rxd3 Qc7 11.
Nc3 Be7 12. e4 Nd7 13. Be3 Nc5 14. Rdd1 O-O 15. Rac1 Nxb3 16. axb3 Rd8 17.
Na4
Rxd1+ 18. Qxd1 Bd7 19. Bb6 Qc8 20. Ne5 Be8 21. Nd3 e5 22. Nc3 Qe6 23. Nd5
Rc8
24. h3 {game is even} f6 25. Qg4 Qxg4 26. hxg4 Kf7 27. Nxe7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]

[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Kramnik"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]

[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.10"]

{This was one of the most dramatic and complicated games of the
tournament} 1.
e4 {Ftacnik Dolmatov} c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6.
Bd3 e6
7. N1f3 Bd6 8. Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Nf6 11. Qe2 (11. Qh4 {Dolmatov}
Ke7
$5 12. Ne5 Bxe5 13. dxe5 Qa5+ 14. c3 Qxe5+ 15. Be3 b6 16. O-O-O g5 17.
Qa4 c5
18. Rhe1 {Kamsky,G-Karpov,A/Dortmund/1993/}) 11... Qc7 12. Bd2 b6 13. O-OO(
13. Ne5 c5 14. Bb5+ Ke7 15. c3 Bb7 16. O-O Rhd8 17. f4 Ne4 18. Be3 Kf8 19.
Rae1
Kg8 20. Qg4 {with attack, Kamsky,G-Anand,V/It, Dos Hermanas ESP 1996})
13...
Bb7 14. Kb1 (14. Ne5 c5 15. Bb5+ Ke7 $1 16. dxc5 Qxc5 {
Black equalized, Kamsky,G-Karpov,A/w-ch (8) Elista RUS 1996}) (14. Rhe1 O-O
(
14... O-O-O {Dolmatov} 15. Ba6 b5 16. Bxb7+ Kxb7 17. Kb1 Ka8 18. Bc1 Qb7
19.
Nd2 Bb4 20. c3 Bd6 21. Nb3 Nd5 $10 {Chandler,M-Adams,M/Blackpool/1990/})
15. g4
$5 c5 16. g5 hxg5 17. Nxg5 Bf4 18. h4 {
with initiative, Kamsky,G-Karpov,A/w-ch (12) Elista RUS 1996}) 14... Rd8 (14...
O-O-O $5 {Dolmatov} 15. Ba6 (15. Ne5 $6 c5) (15. c4 c5 16. Bc3 Rhe8 17.
Rhe1
Kb8 18. g3 Ka8 19. Bc2 a6 20. dxc5 Bxc5 21. Ne5 $14 {
Sokolov,A-Spraggett,K/St.John/1988/}) 15... b5 16. Bxb7+ Kxb7 17. Rc1) (14...
Rc8 {Ftacnik} 15. Rhg1 (15. c4 $5) 15... c5 16. dxc5 Qxc5 17. Bc3 O-O 18. Bd4
Qc7 19. g4 Nd5 (19... Bxf3 $2 20. Qxf3 Be5 21. g5 $1 hxg5 22. Rxg5 Bxd4 23.

Rxg7+ $1 $18) 20. g5 h5 21. Ne5 (21. g6 $2 Nf4 22. gxf7+ Rxf7 $17) 21... Nf4
22. Qe3 Nxd3 23. cxd3 Bxe5 (23... Qc2+ 24. Ka1 Bd5 25. g6 $13) 24. Bxe5
Qc2+
25. Ka1 Bd5 26. b3 {1/2-1/2 Wolff,P-Orlov,G/USA-ch Modesto (09)/1995/ (30)})
15. Rhg1 (15. Rhe1 {Ftacnik} O-O 16. Ne5 (16. g4 Bf4 17. Ne5 Rxd4 18. Bxf4
Rxf4
19. h4 $2 (19. Qd2 $5) 19... c5 20. Qd2 Rd4 21. c3 (21. g5 $2 Ne4) 21... Rd5
22. Qe2 $2 (22. g5) 22... Rxe5 $1 23. Qxe5 Qxe5 24. Rxe5 Nxg4 25. Ree1 (25.
Re2
Bf3) 25... Nxf2 26. Rd2 Nxd3 27. Rxd3 Bd5 $19 {
0-1 Adams,M-Speelman,J/New York PCA-qual (08)/1995/ (39)}) 16... c5 17. f4
cxd4
18. g4 Nd5 19. g5 hxg5 20. Qh5 f5 21. Ng6 Nf6 22. Qxg5 Nh7 23. Qh5 Rf6 24.
Rg1
Be4 25. Rg3 Rc8 26. Rc1 (26. Rdg1 $2 Bxd3 27. Rh3 Qxc2+ 28. Ka1 Nf8 $1
$17)
26... Qc6 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G-Epishin,V/Moscow PCA-Intel GP 25'/1995/ (36)}) (
15. c4 {Ftacnik} O-O 16. Bc3 (16. g4 Bf4 $1 17. Rhg1 c5 18. h4 $13) 16... Rfe8
(16... Qe7 17. g4 (17. Rhe1 Bb4 $1 18. Qd2 $5) 17... c5 18. Rhg1 Bxf3 (18...
cxd4 19. Nxd4 Bb4 20. g5 $1 hxg5 21. Rxg5 Bxc3 22. Rdg1 $1 g6 23. bxc3
$16) 19.
Qxf3 cxd4 20. Bd2 Nd7 21. Qe4 (21. g5 Ne5 22. gxh6 Nxf3 23. Rxg7+ Kh8 24.
Rh7+
$10) 21... f5 22. gxf5 Nc5 23. Qe2 exf5 {
Almasi,Z-Adams,M/Groningen (04)/1995/1-0 (57)}) 17. Ne5 (17. g4 c5 18. Rhg1
Bxf3 19. Qxf3 cxd4 20. Bd2 Nd7 21. Qe4 g6 $1) 17... c5 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. f3 a5
20. Bc2 Ba6 21. Ba4 Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Rd8 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. Bc2 {
Almasi,Z-Karpov,An/Groningen (08)/1995/0-1 (74)}) (15. Rhe1 {Ftacnik}) 15...
c5
(15... Nd5 {Ftacnik} 16. c4 Nf4 17. Bxf4 Bxf4 18. c5 $16 {Leko}) 16. dxc5 Qxc5
(16... Bxc5 $5 {Dolmatov} 17. Ne5 Bd4 18. Bb5+ Ke7 19. Bb4+ Bc5) 17. a3 {
/\ 18.Bb4} O-O (17... a5 {Ftacnik} 18. Be3 Qc7 19. Bb5+ Ke7 20. Nd4 Bxh2
(20...

g6) 21. Nf5+ Kf8 22. Rxd8+ Qxd8 23. Rd1 Qc7 24. Bd4 e5 (24... exf5 25. Bxf6
gxf6 26. Rd7 Qe5 27. Rxb7 (27. Qc4 Qe1+ 28. Ka2 Qe6 29. Rxb7) 27... Qxe2
28.
Bxe2 $16) 25. Bxb6 Qxb6 26. Rd6 Qc7 27. Qc4 {
1-0 Timman,J-Leko,P/Groningen (01)/1996/ (34); CBM 57}) 18. g4 {
The methodical advance /\ 19.g5+-} Qd5 $2 (18... Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Qd5 $11)
(18...
Nd5 {Dolmatov} 19. g5 (19. Qe4 $2 Nc3+ 20. Bxc3 Bxe4 21. Bxe4 $17) 19...
Nf4
20. Bxf4 Bxf4 21. g6 $14 Qh5 22. gxf7+ Rxf7 23. Bg6 $16) 19. g5 $1 (19. Nh4
{
Ftacnik} Bxh2 20. Rge1 Bd6 $15) 19... Qxf3 20. gxf6 g6 {It is understandable
why Ivanchuk didn't take on f6: White's attack looked very strong, yet Black
could hold} (20... Qxf6 $142 21. Bc3 e5 22. f4 Qxf4 (22... Rfe8 23. Rdf1) 23.
Rdf1 Qh4 (23... Qa4 24. Bxe5 (24. Rxg7+ Kxg7 25. Bxe5+ $18) 24... Bxe5 25.
Qxe5
$18) 24. Rg4 (24. Bxe5 {Ftacnik} Bxe5 25. Qxe5 g6 (25... f6 26. Qe7 $18) (25...
g5 26. Qf5 $18 (26. Rf4 $5 {/\ h4->})) 26. Bxg6 $18) (24. Rxg7+ $5 Kxg7 25.
Bxe5+ f6 26. Bxd6) 24... Qe7 (24... Qh3 25. Rg3 Qh4 26. Rfg1 g5 27. Rg4 Qh3
28.
Rxg5+ {wins}) 25. Qe3 g5 (25... f5 26. Qxh6 Bd5 27. Bxf5 Rf6 28. Qh7+ Kf8
29.
Qh8+ Bg8 30. Rfg1 {wins}) 26. Rf5 f6 27. h4 Bc8 28. hxg5 hxg5 29. Rfxg5+
fxg5
30. Rxg5+ Kf7 31. Qg3 Qf6 32. Rg6 Qf4 33. Qxf4+ exf4 34. Rg7+ Ke6 35. Bc4+
Kf5
36. Bd3+ $11) (20... Qxe2 $2 {Ftacnik} 21. Rxg7+ Kh8 22. Rh7+ Kg8 23. Rg1+
$18)
21. Bxh6 $6 {There was an interesting 'Tal's style' Rook sacrifice 21. Rxg6+
which lead to wild complications. We spent a lot of time analyzing this
continuation and still cannot be sure that it is 100% sound; the sacrifice can
be a theme for a special analytical article. We invite the interested readers
to follow our steps!} ({Meanwhile} 21. Bxg6 {is not dangerous in view of} fxg6

(21... Qxe2 22. Bd3+ Kh8 23. Bxe2 Bxh2 24. Rg4 {is in White's favor}) 22.
Rxg6+
Kf7 23. Rg7+ Kxf6 24. Bc3+ Kf5 $1 {and White's attack vaporises} ({
Of course not} 24... e5 $4 25. Rxd6+ Kxg7 26. Qxe5+ {wins})) (21. Rxg6+ $5
fxg6
22. Qxe6+ {White sacrifice the Rook for dangerous attack. There are three
replies: 22... Kh7, 22... Rf7 and 22...Kh8} Kh8 (22... Kh7 $1 {
As we will see later, this is the best reply. Now 23.Bxg6+ is unclear} 23.
Bxg6+ ({White has a forced draw at this point:} 23. Rg1 Bc8 24. Rxg6 Bxe6 25.
Rg7+ {draw by perpetual check}) 23... Kh8 (23... Kxg6 $2 24. f7+ Qf6 25.
Rg1+ {
winning}) 24. f7 $1 Bc8 $1 (24... Bd5 25. Bc3+ Qxc3 26. Rxd5 Qg7 27. Rxd6
Rxd6
28. Qxd6 Rc8 29. f4 Qf8 30. Qe5+ Qg7 31. Qe8+ Qf8 32. f5 Rd8 33. f6 h5 34.
h4
Rc8 35. b4 Rd8 36. c4 {and White's pawns decide the matter}) (24... Qxd1+
25.
Ka2 {and Black has no defense against double threat 26.Bc3+ and 26.Qf6+})
25.
Qe1 Kg7 (25... Be7 26. Qxe7 Qxd1+ 27. Ka2 {wins}) 26. Be4 Qf6 $1 (26... Qh5
$2
27. Bc3+ Kxf7 (27... Be5 28. Bf3 Rxd1+ 29. Bxd1 {wins}) 28. Bd5+ Kg6 29.
Qe4+
Bf5 (29... Kg5 30. Rg1+ Bg4 31. f3 {and Black has no defense}) 30. Rg1+ {
winning}) 27. Qg1+ Kxf7 (27... Kh8 28. Bc3 Be5 29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. Bd5 $1 {
threatening 31.Qg8+} Be6 31. Bxe6 Qxe6 32. Qe1 Kg7 33. Bxe5+ Kxf7 34. f4 {
and White stays better}) 28. Bd5+ Be6 29. Bc3 Rg8 30. Bxf6 Rxg1 31. Rxg1
Kxf6
32. Bxe6 Kxe6 33. Rg6+ Kf5 34. Rxh6 Bc5 35. Rh7 Rd1+ 36. Ka2 Rd2 37. Rxa7
Rxc2
{White is fighting for a draw}) (22... Rf7 23. Rg1 g5 (23... Rdf8 24. Rxg6+ {
easy winning}) 24. Bc4 Qh5 (24... Rdf8 25. Qxd6 Qxf2 26. Rg3 {White is on
top}
Qc5 27. Qf4 $1 Kh8 28. Qg4 Bd5 29. Bd3) 25. f4 Qg6 26. f5 Qh7 (26... Qh5 27.
h4

g4 28. Rxg4+ Qxg4 29. Qxf7+ Kh8 30. Bg5 $1 {and mate follows}) 27. Re1
(27. h4
Bc8 28. hxg5 hxg5 (28... Bxe6 29. fxe6 hxg5 30. Rxg5+ Kh8 31. exf7
{winning})
29. Rxg5+ ({if} 29. Bxg5 Bxe6 30. fxe6 Rdf8 {and White has only draw after}
31.
Bh6+ Kh8 32. exf7 Rxf7 33. Bg7+ Rxg7 34. fxg7+ Qxg7 35. Rxg7 Kxg7) 29...
Kh8 (
29... Kf8 30. Qd5 (30. Qxf7+ Qxf7 31. Bxf7 Kxf7 32. Bc3 Rg8 33. Rh5 Rg2 $10)
30... Rdd7 31. Rg6 Ke8 32. Bb5 $14) 30. Qxf7 {and the game is over}) 27... Bf8
28. Bb4 Bc8 29. Qe8 $1 {Unbelievable position of zugzwang! White is
winning})
23. Rg1 Rc8 (23... Rxf6 24. Bc3) 24. Qxd6 Rxf6 (24... Qxf6 25. Rxg6 $1 Qxd6
26.
Rxd6 Rc6 27. Rd7 Bc8 28. Rxa7 {with advantage}) 25. Qe7 $1 Qxf2 26. Be3
Rf7 27.
Qe5+ Qf6 28. Qxf6+ Rxf6 29. Bd4 {winning}) 21... Bxh2 (21... Rfe8 $2
{Ftacnik}
22. h4 $16) 22. Rh1 (22. Bxf8 {Dolmatov} Bxg1 23. Be7 (23. Qxf3 {Ftacnik}
Bxf3
24. Rxg1 Kxf8 25. Rg3 Bh5 $15) 23... Qxe2 24. Bxe2 Rxd1+ 25. Bxd1 Bxf2 $17)
(
22. Bxg6 {Ftacnik} Rxd1+ 23. Qxd1 fxg6 $13) 22... Qxe2 23. Bxe2 Rxd1+
(23...
Bxh1 {Dolmatov} 24. Rxh1 Be5 25. Bg7 $18) 24. Rxd1 Rc8 25. f3 (25. Rd7
{Ftacnik
} Be4 $15) (25. Bg7 $5 {Ftacnik} Kh7 (25... g5 26. Rd7 Be4 (26... Bc6 27. Rxa7
Rd8 28. Bh5 (28. Bd3)) (26... Rc7 $2 27. Rd8+ Kh7 28. Bd3+) 27. Bd3 $1 (27.
Bh5
Kh7 28. Rxf7 Rxc2 29. Rf8 Rxf2+ (29... Rc8+) 30. Kc1 Bf4+ 31. Kd1 Bf3+ 32.
Bxf3
Rxf3) 27... Bxd3 28. Rxd3 {/\ Rh3} g4 (28... Rc4 29. Rd8+ Kh7 30. Rh8+ Kg6
31.
Rxh2) 29. Rd1 $18 {/\ Rh1}) (25... Be4 26. Ka2 $1 g5 (26... Bd5+ 27. c4 Rxc4
28. Bxc4 Bxc4+ 29. b3 Bd5 30. Rd3 $1 $18 {/\ Rh3}) 27. f3 Bh7 28. Rh1 Bg3 (

28... Bf4 29. Bd3) 29. Rh5 $1 $18 (29. Bd3 Bh4)) 26. f3 Rc5 27. c4 $18 {
/\ b4, Rd8; Rh1} (27. Rd7 Rc7)) (25. Ba6 $2 {Ftacnik} Bxa6 26. Rh1 Rc5 27.
Rxh2
Rh5) 25... Bg3 26. Bg7 {threatening 27.Rh1} (26. Rh1 {Dolmatov} Rc5 27. Bg7
Rh5
28. Rd1 Rd5 29. Rh1 Rh5 $10) (26. Rd7 {Ftacnik} Rc7 27. Rd8+ Kh7 28. Bg7
Rc8
29. Rd1 Rc5 $8 (29... g5 30. Rd7 Rc7 31. Bd3+ Kg8 32. Rd8#) 30. c4 $1 {
/\ b4, Rd8; Rh1} a5 (30... Re5 31. Rd8) 31. b4 axb4 32. axb4 $18) 26... g5 27.
Rd7 $6 {This natural move withdraws the Rook from the K-side. Correct was}
(27.
Bh6 $1 {and now} Bf4 $2 {fails. Correct is} (27... Kh7 28. Bxg5 Kg6 29. f4 Be4
30. Bd3 Bxd3 31. Rxd3 Bf2 32. Rd7 {White has some winning chances}) (27...
Bh4
{Dolmatov} 28. Rg1 Rc5 29. f4 Be4 30. Bd3 Bxd3 31. cxd3 Kh7 $15) 28. Rh1
Bg3
29. Rh5 {and White is winning}) (27. Rh1 {Ftacnik} Bh4) 27... Bc6 28. Rxa7
Rd8
29. a4 ({Perhaps better was} 29. Bh6 Bf4 30. Ra6 Be3 31. a4) (29. Ra6
{Ftacnik}
Bc7 (29... Bf2 30. Ra7 Rd2 $5 (30... Bg3 $10) 31. Rc7 Rxe2 32. Rxc6 Kh7 $13)
30. Bh6 Rd2 31. Bc4 Rg2 $15) (29. Ka2 $5 {Ftacnik} Rd2 $140 (29... Bd5+ 30.
b3)
30. Bd3 Bxf3 $2 31. Rd7 $18) 29... Be5 (29... Rd2 $2 {Dolmatov} 30. Bd3 Bd5
31.
b3 (31. c4 {Ftacnik} Bxf3 (31... Rxd3 32. cxd5 exd5 $17) 32. Rd7 Rxd3 33.
Rxd3
Be4 34. Kc2 g4 $17) 31... Be5 (31... Rd1+ 32. Kb2 Be5+ $19) 32. Kc1 Bf4 33.
Kb2
Be5+ 34. Ka3) 30. a5 (30. Ra6 {Ftacnik} Rd2 31. Rxb6 (31. Bd3 Bd5) 31... Bd5
32. c4 Ba8 $13) 30... Rd2 $1 {Black's counterplay is quite sufficient;
moreover, White must give up his f-pawn, and Black g-pawn begins to run...}
31.
Bc4 (31. Bd3 {Dolmatov} Bd5 (31... bxa5 $6 32. Be4 $1 Bxe4 33. fxe4 g4 34.
Rxa5

g3 (34... Bf4 35. Rh5) 35. Rxe5 g2 36. Rg5 Rd1+ 37. Ka2 g1=Q 38. Rxg1 Rxg1
39.
b4 $16) 32. c4 Bxf3 (32... Rxb2+ $1 {Ftacnik} 33. Kc1 Bc6 34. Be4 Bxe4 35.
fxe4
g4 $17) (32... Rxd3 33. cxd5 Rxd5 34. a6 Ra5 35. b3 $13) 33. Bc2 (33. Rd7
Rxd3
34. Rxd3 Be4 35. Kc2 bxa5 36. Kd2 Bxd3 37. Kxd3 Bxb2 38. c5 Be5 $19) 33...
bxa5
34. Rxa5 Re2 35. Rc5 (35. b4 $13) 35... Bb7) (31. axb6 {Ftacnik} Rxe2 32. b7
Re1+ 33. Ka2 Bd5+ $19 (33... Bd5+ 34. Ka3 Ra1+ 35. Kb4 Rxa7)) 31... b5 32.
Bb3
(32. Ra6 {Ftacnik} Bxf3 33. Bxb5 Be4 34. Ba4 g4 $17) (32. Bd3 {Ftacnik} Bd5
$1)
32... Bxf3 33. Re7 (33. a6 {Ftacnik} g4 34. Bh6 Rd6) 33... Rd6 (33... g4 $2 {
Dolmatov} 34. Rxe6 fxe6 (34... Rd1+ {Ftacnik} 35. Ka2 fxe6 36. Bxe6+ Kh7
37.
Bf5+ Kg8 38. Be6+ $10) (34... Bxf6 35. Rxf6) 35. Bxe6+ Kh7 36. Bf5+ $10 (36.
Bf5+ Kg8 37. Be6+ $10)) 34. Re8+ Kh7 35. Bf8 (35. Rc8 {Ftacnik} Kg6 36. Rc5
Bxf6 37. Bxf6 Kxf6 38. Rxb5 g4 $17) 35... Rd1+ 36. Ka2 Bxf6 37. a6 (37. c4 {
Dolmatov} Rd2 38. cxb5 Bxb2 $17) 37... g4 {
Suddenly, White realized that he must stop the Black passed pawn. But how?!}
38. c4 (38. a7 {Ftacnik} g3 39. c4 (39. a8=Q Bxa8 40. Rxa8 g2 41. Bc5 Bd4)
39... Rc1 40. a8=Q Bxa8 41. Rxa8 g2 42. Bc5 bxc4 43. Ba4 g1=Q 44. Bxg1
Rxg1 $19
) 38... Rd2 39. cxb5 (39. a7 {Ftacnik} bxc4 40. Bxc4 g3 41. a8=Q Bxa8 42.
Rxa8
g2 43. Bc5 Bd4 $19) 39... g3 40. b6 (40. Bc5 Bxb2 41. Rc8 Bd4+ (41... g2 42.
Bg1 Bd4+ 43. Rc2 Bxg1 44. Rxd2 Bc5 45. Rxg2 Bxg2 $19) 42. Ka3 g2 43. Bxd4
Rxd4
44. Rc1 Rh4 (44... Rd3 {Ftacnik} 45. Kb4 Bd1 $19) 45. Rg1 Rh1 46. Rxg2 Bxg2
{
and Black is winning}) 40... g2 41. Bc5 Bxb2 {and there is no defense against
deadly discovered check! White resigns. This was one of the most dramatic and

complicated games of the tournament.} (41... Bxb2 {Ftacnik} 42. Be3 Bd4+
43.
Bxd2 g1=Q 44. Ka3 Qa1+ $19) 0-1

[Event "Las Palmas"]

[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Shamkovich"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.10"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. d3 d6 {

This quiet system has a drawish reputation.} 7. Nc3 (7. Be3 Bxe3 8. fxe3 O-O 9.
Nc3 b5 10. Bb3 Na5 11. Qe1 c5 12. Bd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 f5 14. a3 Bd7 15. Kh1
Nb7 {
Black is no worse, Illescas Cordoba,M-Malaniuk,V/32nd Chess Olympiad Yerevan
ARM 1996}) (7. c3 O-O 8. Nbd2 b5 9. Bc2 Bb6 10. h3 Ne7 11. Re1 Ng6 12. Nf1
h6

13. a4 {White is slightly better, Hartman,C-Martinovsky,E/It, Wrexham WAL

1996}
) 7... b5 8. Bb3 Na5 9. Kh1 c6 10. h3 Ra7 11. Nh2 O-O 12. f4 {
The only chance to break through} Nxb3 13. axb3 Re8 14. fxe5 dxe5 15. Qe1
Nd7
16. Nf3 Nf8 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. Qxe3 Rd7 19. Rf2 f6 20. Nh4 Ne6 21. Nf5 Nd4 {
The chances are equal} 22. Qg3 Nxf5 23. Rxf5 c5 24. Rf2 Bb7 25. Raf1 Rf7 26.
Nd5 Bxd5 27. exd5 Qxd5 28. Rxf6 Rxf6 29. Rxf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]

[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Kramnik"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.10"]

1. e4 {Dolmatov Shamkovich} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 {

Scotch game has is one of the Kasparov's favorites} exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6

Qf6 6. Qd2 dxc6 7. Nc3 Ne7 8. Qf4 (8. Na4 {Dolmatov} Bd6 9. f4 O-O 10. Bd3
Ng6
11. g3 Re8 12. Qe2 Bb4+ 13. c3 Bf8 14. Be3 Bh3 15. Nc5 Bxc5 16. Bxc5 $10 {
Gluzman,A-Romanishin,O/Moscow/1994/}) 8... Ng6 (8... Qxf4 {Dolmatov} 9.
Bxf4
Bd6 $5 10. Bxd6 (10. e5 Bb4 $132) 10... cxd6 11. O-O-O Kd7 $10) 9. Qxf6 gxf6
10. Bd2 (10. Na4 Bd6 11. Be3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. O-O-O O-O-O {
Play is even, Relange,E-Onischuk,A/WchJ-U20 Halle/1995}) (10. f4 $5
{Dolmatov}
f5 11. Bd3 Nh4 12. g3 Nf3+) 10... Rg8 11. Na4 (11. f4 {Dolmatov} Nh4 12. Na4
Bd6 13. Kf2 b5 14. g3 bxa4 15. gxh4 Rb8 16. b3 $14) 11... Bd6 12. O-O-O Be6
13.
Nc3 (13. f3 $6 {Dolmatov} Bxa2) 13... O-O-O 14. g3 (14. f3 $6 {Dolmatov}
Nh4)
14... Bg4 (14... f5 $2 15. Bg5 {is good for White}) 15. Be2 Ne5 16. Bf4 (16. f4
{Dolmatov} Bxe2 17. Nxe2 Ng4 18. Rdf1 (18. Rhf1 Nxh2 19. Rh1 Ng4 20. Rxh7
Nf2
21. Rf1 Nxe4) (18. Be1 Rde8 19. Nc3 Bb4 20. h3 Ne3 (20... Bxc3 21. hxg4 Bxe1
22. Rdxe1 Rxg4 23. Rxh7 Rxg3 24. Rxf7 $16) 21. Rd3 Nc4 $13) 18... Bc5) 16...
Bh3 $5 {after} (16... Bxe2 17. Nxe2 Bc5 18. Rxd8+ (18. Bxe5 {Dolmatov} fxe5
19.
f3 Rd6 20. c3 Be3+ 21. Kc2 Rgd8 $10) 18... Rxd8 19. Bxe5 fxe5 20. Rf1 {
the ending is even}) 17. Bh5 Bc5 18. Rxd8+ Rxd8 19. Nd1 Bg2 20. Re1 Nf3
(20...
Bb4 $5 {Dolmatov} 21. Nc3 $8 (21. Re2 $2 Bf1 $17) 21... Rd4 $5 (21... Bc5) (
21... Bxc3 22. bxc3 Bf3 $2 23. Bxe5 Bxh5 24. Bxf6 $16) 22. Rg1 Bxe4 23. Nxe4
Rxe4 24. Bxe5 Rxe5 25. Bxf7 Re2 $15) 21. Re2 Ng1 $1 {
the only way to keep the position balanced} (21... Nxh2 $5 {Dolmatov} 22. e5
(
22. f3 $2 Bxf3 23. Rxh2 Rxd1#) 22... fxe5 23. Rxe5 Bd6 24. Rf5 $14) 22. Bg4+
Kb8 23. Rd2 Rxd2 24. Kxd2 Bxe4 25. Nc3 Bg2 26. Be3 Be7 27. Bh5 (27. h4 $5 {
Dolmatov} Nf3+ 28. Ke2 Ng1+ (28... Ne5 29. Bf5 $14) 29. Kd2 Nf3+ 30. Kc1
Ne5

31. Bf5) 27... Nf3+ 28. Ke2 Ng1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]

[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.17"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Kramnik"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.10"]

1. d4 {Dolmatov} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3

c6 8. d5 Ng4 9. Bg5 f6 ({
Black should not grab the b-pawn at cost of development:} 9... Qb6 $6 10. O-O
Qxb2 11. Bd2 {with the following 12.Rb1}) 10. Bh4 c5 11. O-O Nh6 12. Ne1
Nd7
13. Rb1 (13. Nd3 {Dolmatov} g5 14. Bg3 f5 15. exf5 Nf6 16. Qd2 g4 17. Bh4
Bxf5
$132 {Ioseliani,N-Dolmatov,S/Moscow/1993/}) 13... b6 14. a3 g5 (14... Nf7 {
Dolmatov} 15. Bg4 h5 16. Be6 g5 17. Qxh5 gxh4 18. f4 $40) (14... Qe7 $5 {

Dolmatov} 15. Nb5 Nb8 16. b4 a6 17. Nc3 Nd7 18. bxc5 bxc5 19. Qa4 g5 20.
Bg3 f5
21. exf5 Nf6 $132) 15. Bg3 f5 $6 {Black has no choice but to push the f-pawn,
otherwise he has no counterplay. The disadvantage of this continuation is that
the white squares are becoming weak} 16. exf5 Nxf5 (16... Nf6 $142
{Dolmatov}
17. Nf3 Nh5 18. Ne4 Rxf5 19. Nxe5 (19. Nfd2 Nf4) 19... Nxg3 20. Nc6 Nxe2+)
17.
Ne4 h6 18. Nc2 Nf6 19. Bd3 Qe8 (19... Nxe4 {Dolmatov} 20. Bxe4 g4 21. Qxg4
Ne3
22. Qg6 Nxf1 23. Qh7+ Kf7 24. Rxf1 Rh8 25. Qg6+ Kg8 26. Ne3 $40) (19... Bd7
{
Dolmatov} 20. Ne3 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 Nxg3 22. fxg3 $16) 20. Ne3 Nxe4 21. Bxe4
h5 (
21... Nxg3 22. hxg3 a6 23. b4 cxb4 24. axb4 {White is definitely better}) (
21... Nxe3 22. fxe3 Rxf1+ 23. Qxf1 {is in White's favor}) 22. Qd3 (22. Nxf5 {
Dolmatov} Bxf5 23. Bxf5 Rxf5 24. f3 Qg6 $10) 22... Qf7 23. f3 (23. h3
{Dolmatov
} Nxe3 24. fxe3 $18) 23... Nxe3 24. Qxe3 Bh6 25. Be1 Qg7 26. Bd2 $1 Rf6 27.
Qd3
g4 (27... Bd7 $2 {Dolmatov} 28. b4 $16) (27... a5 {Dolmatov} 28. h3 Ra7 29.
g4
$16) 28. Bxh6 Qxh6 29. fxg4 Bxg4 30. Rxf6 Qxf6 31. Rf1 Qg7 32. h3 Bd7 33.
Qf3
$1 {The King side is a White's possession} Be8 (33... h4 {Dolmatov} 34. Qf6
$18
) 34. Qf5 Qf7 35. Qg5+ Qg7 36. Qh4 Qh6 $2 (36... b5 {
allowed Black to stay in the game just a little bit longer, for example:} 37.
Rf6 (37. cxb5 Rb8 38. a4 a6 39. bxa6 Rxb2 {with some counterplay}) 37... Rb8
38. Rxd6 bxc4 39. Rd8 Rxd8 40. Qxd8 Qd7 41. Qb8 {and White is winning}) 37.
Rf6
(37. Qe7 $18 {Dolmatov} Qg7 38. Rf8+ Qxf8 39. Qh7#) 37... Qe3+ 38. Kh2
Kg7 39.
Rf3 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]

[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Stohl"]
[PlyCount "140"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.10"]

1. d4 {Shamkovich} Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7.

e4
Bg7 8. h3 O-O 9. Bd3 b5 $5 {This tactical shot initiates a forced sequence, in
which Black's chances are certainly better, than in the quiet lines. After e.g.
9...Nbd7 White's center and space advantage give him the upper hand.
Shamkovich: This sharp continuation leads to interesting complications} 10.
Bxb5 (10. Nxb5 Re8 11. Nd2 Nxd5 12. Nc4 Nb4 13. Be2 Ba6 14. Nbxd6 Re6 15.
Bf4
Nd7 16. O-O Ne5 17. Bxe5 Bxe5 18. a3 Rxd6 19. Nxd6 Qxd6 20. axb4 Qxd1 21.
Bxd1
(21. Rfxd1 Bxe2 22. Rd2 Bb5 $13) 21... Bxf1 22. Kxf1 cxb4 (22... Bxb2 23. Ra2
Bd4 24. b5 c4 $11) 23. Ra4 a5 24. b3 Rd8 25. Be2 Bc7 {

1/2,Hilarp Persson,T-Gdanski,J/Goteborg Excelsior Cup/1997/}) 10... Nxe4 11.

Nxe4 Qa5+ 12. Nfd2 Qxb5 13. Nxd6 Qa6 (13... Qd3 14. N2c4 Qxd1+ 15. Kxd1 {
gives White more chances to get an advantage.}) 14. N2c4 Nd7 15. O-O Nb6
16.
Nxb6 Qxb6 17. Nxc8 Raxc8 18. Rb1 $5 {The latest wrinkle. After other moves
Black usually quickly regains his pawn with a drawish position.} Rfd8 $5 ({
Not long ago} 18... Qd6 {was considered the best, as now the d-pawn really
falls. But lately White managed to create some problems for Black especially
after this move.} 19. Bg5 $5 (19. Be3 $5 Rfd8 20. Qa4 Qxd5 21. Rfd1 Bd4 22.
Rd2
Qc6 23. Qxc6 Rxc6 24. b3 $14 {Kozul,Z-Vranesic,Z/Toronto/1990/}) (19. Re1
Rcd8
20. Bg5 f6 $6 (20... Rd7 $142) 21. Be3 Qxd5 22. Qa4 f5 23. Qxa7 f4 24. Bxc5
Ra8
25. Qe7 Rf7 26. Qe4 $1 $16 {Lima,D-Outerelo,M/Aceimar op/1995/}) (19. Qf3
Rfd8
20. Rd1 Bd4 21. Be3 Qxd5 22. Qxd5 Rxd5 23. Rd2 a5 24. Rbd1 Rb8 25. Kf1 Kg7
26.
Rc2 a4 27. Rcd2 Rf5 28. Bxd4+ cxd4 29. b3 axb3 30. axb3 Rxb3 31. Rxd4 {
1/2,Smejkal,J-Wahls,M/BL/1989/}) 19... h6 20. Be3 Rfd8 21. Qa4 Qxd5 22. Qxa7
c4
23. Qa4 Ra8 24. Qc2 Rxa2 25. Rfd1 Qa8 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8 27. Qxc4 Rxb2 28.
Rxb2
Bxb2 29. Bxh6 $14 {Ibragimov,I-Nepomnishay,M/St.Petersburg op/1995/}) 19.
Bf4 (
19. Bg5 $143 $6 Rd7 20. Qg4 Qb7 21. Rfd1 h5 {
1/2,Ibragimov,I-De Firmian,N/Reykjavik op/1994/}) 19... Qb7 $1 $146 {Topalov
di
d his homework well and found an important improvement, which finally checks
the dangerous pawn. The previous tries failed rather drastically, e.g.} (19...
Rd7 20. d6 Bf8 21. Qg4 Qb7 22. Rfd1 Rc6 23. Rd2 Bxd6 24. Rbd1 Qc7 25. Rd5
h5
26. Qf3 Kf8 27. Be5 Qd8 28. b3 Qc7 29. Qd3 Ke7 30. g3 h4 31. Qe3 {

1-0,Grabarczyk,M-Oliwa,M/POL-ch Brzeg Dolny/1996/}) (19... Qa6 20. d6 Rd7

21.
Qd5 c4 22. Rbd1 Bxb2 23. Rfe1 Bf6 24. Be5 Bxe5 25. Rxe5 Rf8 26. Re7 Rdd8
27. d7
Qxa2 28. Rde1 Qa4 29. Kh2 a6 30. Rxf7 {
1-0,Rogozenko,D-Marin,M/Bucharest Ciocaltea/1995/}) 20. d6 Bf8 21. Qd2 (21.
Qd3
{Simplest and the best is however} Bxd6 $1 (21... Qb4 $143 22. Qg3 $36
{o^d6})
(21... c4 22. Qg3 (22. Qd4 Bxd6 23. Bxd6 Rc6 $11) 22... Rc6 23. Rfd1 Qb6 $5
24.
Rd5 (24. d7 Qb7 25. Qg4 h5 $11) 24... Bxd6 25. Rbd1 Be7 $132) 22. Bxd6 Rc6
23.
Rfd1 Qd7 $1 {[]} (23... Qb6 $2 24. Bxc5 $16) 24. Qb5 Rxd6 25. Qxd7 R8xd7
26.
Rxd6 Rxd6 $11) 21... Bxd6 22. Bxd6 Rc6 23. Rfd1 Qa6 $1 (23... Rdxd6 $2 24.
Qxd6
Rxd6 25. Rxd6 $16 {Two mobile R are stronger than the Q in such open
positions.
}) 24. Qg5 (24. Qc2 Rcxd6 25. Rxd6 Rxd6 26. b3 Rd5 $11) 24... Rdxd6 (24...
Rcxd6 $2 25. Qxd8+ Rxd8 26. Rxd8+ Kg7 27. a3 $16) 25. Rxd6 Rxd6 26. Qxc5
Qxa2
$1 $11 {Shamkovich: Tactically, Black holds the equality Blow for blow.Black
has calculated the tactical sequence well and is rewarded by equality.} 27. Re1
Rd8 ({Also possible was} 27... Re6 28. Rd1 (28. Rxe6 Qxe6 29. Qxa7 Qe1+ 30.
Kh2
Qe5+ $11) 28... Re8 $11 (28... Qxb2 $4 29. Rd8+ Kg7 30. Qf8+ Kf6 31. Qh8+
$18))
28. b4 a6 29. Qg5 Rf8 (29... Qd5 $4 30. Re8+ $18) (29... Rc8 $142 $5) 30. h4 {
Shamkovich: White is still better, but it is hard to believe that he can win
the game} Qc4 31. Qe7 h5 (31... Rb8 32. Re4 Qd5 $11) 32. g3 {White's pieces
are slightly more active, but of course this advantage is merely formal.
Karpov continues to probe in this lifeless position, probably due to
dissatisfaction with his result in Las Palmas.} Rc8 33. Rd1 Qc6 (33... Qc2 34.

Rd7 Qf5 35. Kg2 Kg7 $11) 34. Rd6 Qa8 (34... Qf3 $143 $6 35. Qe1 Ra8 36. Qd2
$14
) 35. Qe1 Qb7 (35... Rc6 $143 36. Rd7 $36) 36. Qd2 Re8 37. Qc3 Rc8 38. Qd2
Re8
39. Rd5 Qc6 40. Kh2 Qf6 41. Rd4 Qc6 $6 (41... Kg7 $142 42. Rd6 Re6 $11 {
Black should have moved his K to a safer place long ago and would have saved
himself the trouble later on.}) 42. Rd6 Qf3 43. Qd4 Qe4 44. Qc3 Qb7 (44... Re6
$5 45. Qc8+ Re8 $142 $11 (45... Kg7 46. Qxa6 Qxb4 {
leads to the position in the game.} (46... Qf3 47. Qa1+ Kh7 48. Rd2))) 45. Rc6
Qb5 46. Rf6 $1 $36 Re7 47. Qc8+ Re8 48. Qxa6 Qxb4 49. Qa2 $1 {This double
attack against f7 and g6 wins a pawn. Luckily for Black the arising Q_|_
doesn't offer Karpov realistic winning chances.

Shamkovich: suddenly,

Topalov realized that he must give up a pawn (the threat is Rxg6+) Yet it
seems that the Queen ending is still drawn} Re6 $1 {[]} (49... Qe7 $2 50.
Rxg6+
Kh7 51. Rg5 $18) 50. Rxe6 fxe6 51. Qxe6+ Kg7 52. Qd7+ Kf6 53. Qc6+ Kg7 54.
Qd5
Qc3 55. Kg2 Qf6 56. Qd7+ Kg8 57. Qc7 Qe6 58. Qf4 Qc6+ 59. Kf1 Qe6 60. Qe3
Qc4+
61. Ke1 Qc2 62. Kf1 Qd1+ 63. Kg2 Qd5+ 64. f3 {White can't penetrate
anywhere
with his K and after advancing his pawns he will be liable to perpetual check.}
(64. Qf3 Qe5 $11) 64... Qa2+ 65. Kh3 Qb1 66. g4 hxg4+ 67. fxg4 Qf1+ 68. Kg3
Qf6
69. Qc5 Qe6 70. Qc3 Qe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]

[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Kramnik"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.10"]

1. e4 {Psakhis} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O

Nc6 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 Qc7 10. Kh1 O-O 11. Bf3 Re8 12. a4 Bd7 13. Qd2 Rab8 14.
Nb3 b6 15. g4 Bc8 16. Qf2 {
Psakhis New move, but I don't see any real difference compare to normal} (16.
g5 Nd7 17. Rad1 (17. Bg2 Na5 18. Nxa5 (18. Qf2 Nc4 19. Bc1 Bf8 20. Nd4 Bb7
21.
b3 Na5 22. Bb2 Nc6 23. Nde2 Nb4 $13 {
0-1 Smirin,I-Avrukh,B/Tel-Aviv 30' Cup 1996 (39)}) 18... bxa5 19. b3 Bb7 20.
Ne2 Rbc8 21. Ra2 Ba8 22. Ng3) 17... Bf8 18. Bg2 b5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Rf3 b4
21.
Ne2 Bb7 22. Rh3 g6 23. e5 Ne7 24. exd6 Bxg2+ 25. Kxg2 Qc6+ 26. Kg1 Nd5
27. Ng3
Qxd6 28. f5 Bg7 {Glek,I-Ribli,Z/Budapest 1996}) 16... Na5 17. Rad1 Nc4 18.
Bc1
b5 19. g5 Nd7 (19... b4 $2 {Psakhis} 20. gxf6 bxc3 21. fxe7 cxb2 22. Bd2 $16)
20. axb5 axb5 21. Bg2 (21. Nd4 {Psakhis} b4 22. Ncb5 Qc5 23. b3 Na5 $15)
21...
b4 22. Ne2 Nc5 23. f5 (23. Nxc5 {Psakhis} dxc5 24. b3 Nd6 $11) 23... Bf8 24.
g6

Nxb3 25. cxb3 Ne5 26. gxf7+ Qxf7 27. Nd4 exf5 28. exf5 (28. Nxf5 {Psakhis}
Qxb3
(28... Ba6 29. Qg3 $1) 29. Nxd6 Bxd6 30. Rxd6 Bh3 $13) 28... Bb7 $11 {
Topalov didn't get any advantage .} 29. Ne6 Rbc8 $1 30. Ng5 (30. Bxb7
{Psakhis}
Qxb7+ 31. Qg2 Qxg2+ 32. Kxg2 Rc2+ 33. Rf2 Rec8 34. Bf4 Rxf2+ 35. Kxf2
Rc2+ 36.
Rd2 $11) 30... Qe7 (30... Bxg2+ $5 {Psakhis} 31. Qxg2 Qxb3 32. f6 Rc7 33.
Rd4
$44) 31. Qd2 (31. f6 $2 {Psakhis} gxf6 32. Ne4 (32. Qxf6 Rc2 $1 33. Be4 Qxf6
34. Rxf6 Ng4 $19) 32... Ng4 33. Nxf6+ Nxf6 34. Qxf6 Bxg2+ 35. Kxg2 Rc2+ 36.
Kh1
Qxf6 37. Rxf6 Ree2 $36) 31... Kh8 32. Rde1 Qd7 33. Ne6 Qb5 (33... Ba6 $5 {
Psakhis} 34. Rg1 Nd3) 34. Rd1 Be7 35. Bxb7 (35. Nxg7 $2 {Psakhis} Rg8 $1
(35...
Kxg7 $6 36. f6+ Bxf6 37. Qh6+ Kg8) 36. f6 Bxf6 37. Rxf6 Rxg7 38. Rf2 Rcg8
$19)
35... Qxb7+ 36. Qd5 Qxd5+ 37. Rxd5 $11 Nf7 (37... Rc2 {Psakhis} 38. Bd2 (38.
Nd4 Rc5 39. Rxc5 dxc5 40. Ne6 Nd3 $15) 38... Rxb2 39. Bxb4 Rxb3 40. Bxd6
Bxd6
41. Rxd6 $11) 38. Bd2 Bf6 39. Bxb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]

[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.21"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Shamkovich"]

[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.10"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 {

Alternate lines are 6... e5 and 6... Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5. Black is ready to
play the regular Scheveningen after 6.Be2} 7. g4 $5 {
Ivanchuk demonstrates his fighting spirit} h6 8. f4 b5 $5 (8... e5 9. Nf5 g6
10. fxe5 dxe5 11. g5 $1 {is in White's favor}) (8... Qc7 {Ftacnik} 9. g5 hxg5
10. fxg5 Nfd7 11. g6 Ne5 12. gxf7+ Nxf7 13. Qe2 Nc6 14. O-O-O Bd7 15. Qc4
Nfd8
16. h4 Rc8 17. Qe2 Be7 18. Qg2 Bf6 19. h5 Ne5 20. h6 gxh6 21. Rxh6 Rxh6 22.
Qg8+ Ke7 23. Nf5+ exf5 24. Nd5# {1-0 Mironov,S-Popov,A/Bankia op (08)
1990}) (
8... Nc6 {Ftacnik} 9. Qf3 (9. h3 Qc7 (9... d5 $5 10. e5 Nd7 11. Qe2 Qh4+ $1
12.
Kd2 Bc5 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Bxc5 Nxc5 15. Qe3 Qe7 16. Rd1 Rb8 17. Kc1 a5 $15
{
Shirov,A-Salov,V/Moscow/1992/0|1/44/}) (9... Bd7 10. Qe2 Be7 11. Bg2 Qc7 12.
O-O Nxd4 13. Bxd4 e5 14. Be3 exf4 15. Rxf4 Be6 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. exd5 O-O
$10 {
Balashov,Y-Psakhis,L/Sverdlovsk/1987/0,5/31/}) 10. Qe2 Bd7 $5 (10... e5 $5 11.
Nb3 exf4 12. Bxf4 Be6 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. exd5+ Ne5 15. O-O-O Nfd7 16. Kb1 g6
17.
Qd2 Bg7 18. Bd3 h5 $132 {Bologan,V-Novikov,I/Nikolaev/1995/0,5/42/}) 11. OO-O
(11. Bg2 b5 12. e5 $1) 11... b5 $5 12. Bg2 b4 13. Nd5 exd5 14. exd5 Nxd4 15.
Bxd4+ Be7 16. g5 Bb5 17. Qe3 Rc8 18. Rd2 hxg5 19. fxg5 Nd7 20. Bxg7 Rg8
21. Re1

Ne5 22. Bxe5 dxe5 23. h4 Bd6 24. Be4 a5 25. h5 a4 26. g6 {
1-0 Hracek,Z-Oll,L/Parnu-A (06)/1996/ (34)}) 9... Nxd4 10. Bxd4 e5 11. fxe5
dxe5 12. Bxe5 Nxg4 13. Bg3 Bb4 14. a3 Bxc3+ 15. Qxc3 O-O 16. Bd3 Qg5 17.
Qd2
Ne5 18. Qxg5 Nxd3+ 19. cxd3 hxg5 20. Kd2 {
Topalov,V-Kolev,At/Elenite (03)/1995/1-0 (54)}) (8... d5 {Ftacnik} 9. e5 Nfd7
10. Qd2 Nc6 11. O-O-O Qc7 12. Bd3 g5 13. Nf3 gxf4 14. Bxf4 Ndxe5 15. Nxe5
Nxe5
16. Nxd5 exd5 17. Bxe5 Bd6 18. Bxh8 Bf4 19. Rhe1+ Be6 20. Re3 d4 21. Bxd4
O-O-O
22. Bf5 Bxf5 23. gxf5 {1-0 Palac,M-Soln,P/Bled op (02)/1996/}) 9. Bg2 Bb7 10.
g5 $6 {This line is double-edged, but after defeat in the previous round,
Ivanchuk tries to create complications at any cost. It is nteresting to
mention that at the same time this variation was tested in the first round of
Groningen International.} (10. a3 Nbd7 11. O-O (11. g5 {Ftacnik} hxg5 12.
fxg5
Nh5 13. g6 Ne5 14. gxf7+ Kxf7 15. O-O+ Nf6 16. Nf3 Nxf3+ 17. Bxf3 Qc7 18.
e5
dxe5 19. Bxb7 Qxb7 20. Qg4 Rc8 21. Ne4 Rc4 22. Ng5+ Kg6 23. Qg3 Nh5 {
0-1 Shirov,A-Van Wely,L/Tilburg (07)/1996 (41)}) 11... g6 12. Qe2 e5 13. Nb3
exf4 14. Bxf4 Ne5 15. Rad1 Nfxg4 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. exd5 g5 18. Bg3 h5 19.
Nd4
Bg7 20. h3 h4 21. Be1 Nh6 22. Qh5 Nhg4 23. hxg4 Rxh5 24. gxh5 Ng4 25. Nc6
Qb6+
26. Kh1 Kf8 27. Rd3 Re8 28. Rdf3 Kg8 29. Ba5 Qc5 30. Rxf7 Ne3 31. h6 Bxh6
32.
Re7 Rf8 33. Rxf8+ Bxf8 34. Bb4 Qb6 35. Re6 Nxg2 36. Kxg2 Kh7 37. Re4 Qb7
38.
Rg4 Qf7 39. Nd4 Qxd5+ 40. Nf3 Be7 {
0-1 Shirov,A-Van Wely,L/Koop Tjuchem, Groningen NED 1996}) 10... hxg5 11.
fxg5
b4 {The necessary counterblow; now White Knight is distracted from center.
After 11... Nh5 White is better.} 12. Na4 (12. gxf6 {Ftacnik} bxc3 13. fxg7

Bxg7 14. bxc3 Bxe4 $1 $17) (12. Nd5 {Ftacnik} exd5 13. gxf6 Qxf6 (13... dxe4
14. fxg7 Bxg7 15. Nf5 Be5 16. Bd4 $10) 14. exd5 Qe5 15. Qe2 Be7 $15) 12...
Nh5
(12... Nxe4 $6 13. Qg4 d5 14. O-O-O {with dangerous attack} (14. Bxe4
{Ftacnik}
dxe4 15. O-O-O $40 Nd7 (15... Qa5 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Qxe6+ Be7 18. Qg6+ Kf8
19.
Rhf1+ $18) 16. Nxe6 $16)) 13. O-O (13. Bf3 {Ftacnik} g6 14. e5 d5 $15) (13.
g6
$5 {Ftacnik} Nd7 (13... Qh4+ 14. Bf2 Qe7 15. gxf7+ Qxf7 16. Nb6 Nf4 17. Bf3
$14
) 14. gxf7+ Kxf7 15. Qg4 Qe7 16. Rf1+ Nhf6 17. Qg3 $14) 13... Nd7 14. g6 ({
Maybe} 14. c3 bxc3 (14... Ne5 15. cxb4 Nc4 16. Qe2 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 {
with the threat 18.g6}) 15. g6 $1 {is more accurate}) 14... Nhf6 15. c3 (15.
gxf7+ {Ftacnik} Kxf7 16. Qg4 Qe7 17. Rad1 (17. e5 $6 Nxe5 18. Qxe6+ Qxe6
19.
Nxe6 Bxg2 20. Ng5+ Kg6 21. Kxg2 Nd5 $17) 17... Ne5 $13) 15... Ne5 (15...
bxc3
$2 {Ftacnik} 16. gxf7+ Kxf7 17. Qb3 cxb2 18. Rab1 Rb8 19. Nxe6 Qc8 20.
Ng5+ Kg6
21. Qf7+ Kh6 22. Rf3 $18) (15... Qe7 {Ftacnik} 16. Qb3 d5 17. exd5 Bxd5 18.
Bxd5 exd5 19. Rae1 $18) 16. gxf7+ Kxf7 17. cxb4 (17. Qb3 $5 {Ftacnik} Qe7
18.
Qxb4 Neg4 (18... Rh4 19. Nxe6 $1 Kxe6 20. Qb3+ d5 21. Bg5 $18) 19. Bf4 $16)
17... Rh4 $1 {Suddenly, Black Rook becomes very active. White must consider
both 18... Bxe4 and 18... Rg4} 18. Qb3 (18. Bf4 {Ftacnik} Rb8 19. b5 $16) 18...
Qe8 {The critical position of the game} 19. Rac1 (19. Nc3 Rxh2 (19... Rg4 20.
h3 Rg3 21. Nf5 Rg6 22. Rad1 {with very complex play}) 20. Kxh2 Neg4+ 21.
Kg1
Nxe3 22. Rf2 Nxg2 23. Kxg2 g5 {leads to complications with unclear outcome})
(
19. Bf4 Rc8 20. Bg3 Rh5 21. Nb6 Rc7) (19. Nc3 $16 {Ftacnik}) 19... Bxe4 20.
Rc7+ {Not a precise moves' order. Better was} (20. Bxe4 Rxe4 21. Rc7+ (21.
Nb6

Rb8 22. Nc4 Nxc4 23. Rxc4 Kg8 $10) (21. Bf2 Rg4+ 22. Kh1 Rf4 23. Rc7+ Nfd7
24.
Nc3 $10) 21... Kg8 (21... Ned7 22. Nb6 {and White is on top}) {and if} 22.
Nxe6
Rxe3 23. Qxe3 Qxe6 {the position is difficult to estimate}) 20... Kg8 (20...
Ned7 $2 {Ftacnik} 21. Bxe4 $1 (21. Nxe6 $6 Qxe6 22. Rxd7+ Be7 23. Bxe4
Rxe4 24.
Qxe6+ Kxe6 25. Ra7 Rxa7 26. Bxa7 Rxb4 $10) 21... Rxe4 22. Nb6 Rd8 23. Nc6
Kg8
24. Nxd8 Qxd8 25. Rc8 $18) 21. Nxe6 (21. Qxe6+ $2 {Ftacnik} Qxe6 22. Nxe6
Rg4
23. Rf2 Nd5 $19) 21... Rg4 $1 {The coldblooded reply! Discovered checks are
not dangerous for Black, for instance.} {Ivanchuk's hope was the next move...}
22. Rxf6 $2 {Here 22... gxf6 fails to 23.Ng5+} (22. Nxg7+ Kh8 23. Nxe8 Rxg2+
{
mating}) (22. Ng5+ Bd5 $1 $19) (22. Nxf8+ {Ftacnik} Bd5 $19) (22. Rf2 $2 {
Ftacnik} Bd5 $1 23. Qxd5 Nxd5 24. Rxf8+ Qxf8 25. Nxf8 Nxe3 $19) (22. Nf4+
$142
{Ftacnik} d5 23. Nc3 (23. Nc5 Bxc5 24. bxc5 Nd3 25. h3 Rg5 $17) 23... Bxg2
24.
Nxg2 Rxb4 $15) 22... Rxg2+ (22... gxf6 $4 23. Ng5+ $16) 23. Kf1 (23. Kh1 {
Ftacnik} Rg3+ 24. Rf3 Bxf3#) 23... Qb5+ {Ivanchuk obviously overlooked it.} (
23... Qb5+ {Ftacnik} 24. Rc4 gxf6 $19 (24... Qxc4+ 25. Qxc4 Nxc4 $19)) 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt Classic sim"]

[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Armbruster, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A18"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]

[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 d5 4. e5 Nfd7 5. cxd5 Nxe5 6. d4 Ng6 7. dxe6 Bxe6 8.

Nf3 Nd7 9. h3 Nb6 10. Bd3 Bd6 11. Ng5 Qd7 12. O-O O-O-O 13. Nxe6 Qxe6 14.
Qf3
Kb8 15. Bg5 f6 16. Rfe1 Qg8 17. Be3 Nh4 18. Qh5 g5 19. Rad1 Qg7 20. Bc1
Rdg8
21. a3 f5 22. Nb5 Be7 23. Re6 f4 24. Rde1 Bd8 25. R6e4 Nd5 26. Qd1 g4 27.
hxg4
Qxg4 28. Qxg4 Rxg4 29. Re8 Rxg2+ 30. Kf1 Rhg8 31. Rxg8 Rxg8 32. Bxh7 Rf8
1/2-1/2