Bareev – J. Polgar (Game 2) [E15]
Candidate’s match – Elista

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2 c5 6.d5 exd5 7.cxd5 Bb7 8.Bg2 Nxd5 9.0–0 Be7 10.Rd1 Nc6 11.Qf5 Nf6 12.e4 d6 13.e5 Qd7 14.Qxd7+ Nxd7 15.exd6 Bf6 16.Re1+ Kf8 17.Nc3 Nb4 18.Bg5 Bxf3 19.Bxf3 Rd8 20.Bxf6 Nxf6 21.Re7 Nc2 22.Rd1 Nd4 23.Kg2 g6 24.Rxa7 Rxd6 25.Be2 (White is slightly better. The idea of Be2 is to go to c4 to put pressure on the f7 pawn. The Black Knight on d4 is fantastic.)

25…Kg7 26.Bc4 (Now Black has 2 logical choices: Rf8 or Rd7. Rf8 is too passive. I prefer Rd7 to exchange White’s strong Rook on a7)

26…Rd7 (As expected, Judit responded with the strongest option.)

27.Rxd7 Nxd7 28. Re1 (Occupying the open file. White is still slightly better but nothing alarming.)

28…Kf8 (I am surprised by this move. I prefer 28…Nf5 better 29.g4 Nd6 and Black can comfortably hold this.)

29.a4 (29.Nd5 with the threat of Re7 is stronger. I would play Nf6 here. Black cannot allow White to play Nd5. It is fortunate that White did not do that last move.)

29…h5 30.Nd5 (Now Black should follow through with h4.)

30…h4 31.g4 g5 (I think Bareev has completely misplayed this position with a4 then g4. Now, Black’s Rook can get out via the h6 square. Black is back in the game now.)

32.32. Nc7 Nf6 33. h3 Kg7 (I am not so sure about this move. This allows 34.Re7 and White has a great position.)

34. Re5 (This is not as strong as Re7 but White is still better.)

34…Kh6 35. f4 Nh736. f5 Nc6 37.Rd5 Kg7 (38.f6+ Nxf6 39.Rxg5+ Kf8 40.Rf5 Kg7 41.g5 Nh7 42.Rxf7+ and White has an excellent position.)

38.f6+ (Bareev found the strongest continuation. Unfortunately, Judit will have a tough time holding this. But it’s never over until it’s over.)

38…Kh6 (39.Rd6 looks very strong.)

39.Bb5?! (Rd6 is the strongest move. 39.Bb5 gives Black some hopes.)

39…Nb4 40.Rd6 Rb8 (The players made the time control)

41.Na6 Nxa6 42.Bxa6 Nf8 (White still holds a strong advantage and Judit has to work very hard to hold this. Their endgame skills are now being tested.)

43.Bc4 Rb7 44.Kf3 Nd7 (This is a big problem for Black. Black cannot make much progress while the White King can just march forward.)

45.Ke4 Kg6 46.Bd3 c4 47.Bxc4 Nxf6+ 48.Kd4 Kg7 49.Bb5 Re7 50.Rxb6 Re4+ 51.Kd3 Rb4 52.Kc2 Nxg4 53.Kc3 Re4 54.hxg4 h3 55.Rd6 h2 56.Rd1 Rxg4 57.Rh1 Rg3+ 58.Kb4 Rg2 59.Kb3 g4 60.a5 g3 61.Bc6 Re2 62.a6 Re7 63.Ra1 Ra7 64.Bg2 1-0

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