Gelfand – Grischuk
(Game 2 – Candidates Final Match)
Analysis by the Chessdom team with GMs Naiditsch and Maze
1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 It seems that Boris is following the steps of Vladimir Kramnik, who started his white games against Grischuk with 1.c4 and managed to put enormous pressure.
3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. a3 Nge7 Sascha keeps on repeating his openings. Boring is choosing 4.g3 instead of 4.e3, which has been played by Kramnik. Gelfand is choosing the strategy to go for a “long fight”. The position is very flexible and both colors can choose between many different plans.
7. b4 Wow, Boris is not even “losing” time to castle first! But by far this is not a novelty, around 20 games been played in this position.
7… d5 One of the nice games is Kiril Georgiev – Baadur Jobava, that continued 7…d5 8.bc o-o 9. o-o dc 10.Rb1 and white managed to get advantage. Grischuk played 7…d5 rather quickly, which means he knows the position well. Perhaps white could also try 8.cd Nd5 9.Ng5 Nc3 10.dc Qd1 11.Kd1 with a slightly better endgame.
8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Ng5 Boris is going for it, and very quickly. Now this is a novelty!
9… Nc7 Grischuk seems to know it! As we can see both players are super well prepared even in the side lines! A very interesting moment now. For sure Gelfand knows about the computer move 10.d3 with a crazy position appearing after 10…e4 11.Nge4 cb 12.ab f5 13.Bg5 Bc3 14.Kf1!…very unclear. But I guess he is very surprised by the speed with which Grischuk played the opening, and might be afraid of being out-prepared in a very forced position. The quiet line starts with 10.Nge4, but after 10…c4 black solves most of the openings problems. Not an easy decision for Gelfand, risking to lose by force with white would be a tough blow.
10. d3 But he is going for it! Boris is a fighter, no fear! Now Grischuk has to make similar decision, to play 10…e4 or to be worse after 10…cb 11.ab 0-0 12.Rb1
10… cxb4 Candidates Matches are brought to you thanks to Chess Evolution and Chess Friends.
11. axb4 e4 12. Ngxe4 White also had an opportunity to play 12.Qb3, but after 12…0-0 13.Nge4 Be6 all black pieces are developed and he should do fine. Now only moves seems to be 12…f5…
12… f5 13. Bg5 Bxc3+ 14. Kf1 Qd4 After the quick play from both players (who are both probably hoping to know the line better than the other), we have reached a very interesting position.
White has a logical choise 15.Bf6 after which 15…Ba1 seems to be the only move, then 16.Bd4 Bd4 17.Nd6 with a super sharp position in which black has material advantage but white has definitely compensation for it. Or maybe to try now 15.Nc3!? Qc3 16.Bf4! Nb5 17.Rc1 Qf6 18.Rc5 with unclear position…But I guess 15.Bf6 is looking better and will be played in the game.
15. Nxc3 This move is very hard to make over the board. For sure Boris knew it, a human move would be definitely 15.Bf6. So lets see where Boris’ analysis will lead us…From human point of view, the white position is not looking great, being a piece down, no castle and only one pawn as compensation. But due to concrete tactical ideas, the position remains very unclear…
15… Qxc3 16.Bf4 or 16.Rc1 should be the main moves now. Maybe also interesting is to play 16.b5 Nd8 (if 16…Nb5 17.Rc1 Qe5 and 18.Rc6!) 17.b6 Nce6 18. Bd2 with some compensation for the piece, but somehow difficult to believe that it will be enough…
16. Bf4 Now Grischuk has 2 choices: 16…Nb5 main, or 16…Ne6 which could lead to following position 17.Rc1 Qb4 18.Rc6 bc 19.Bc6 Kf7 20.Ba8 Nf4 21.gf Be6 21.Bf3 Rc8 and to me black is doing fine. After 16…Nb5 the position is very difficult to evaluate, 17.Rc1 Qf6 18.Rc5 a6 19.Bc6 bc 20.Be5 Qf8, is highly unclear. I guess Grischuk would normally choose 16…Ne6, but who knows how deep are his analyses still going.
16… Nb5 Grischuk is choosing the “unclear”
17. Rc1 Qf6 Candidates Matches are brought to you thanks to Chess Evolution and Chess Friends.
18. Rc5 a6 We expect Boris to play 19.Bc6 bc 20.Be5 Qf8 and lets see what he will play on the 21st move. Another very interesting moment is ahead!
19. Bxc6+ bxc6 20. Be5 Qf8 So what can white do now? 21.Qc1 or 21.Qc2? Maybe simply to take the rook on h8? Or maybe to play something like 21.Qb3 with the idea 21…Rg8 22.Bf6 with attack. It would also be to develop the rook from h1! Maybe 21.h4!? but looking too slow.
21. Qc1 Black position is looking nice to me. Hard to imagine that white can be better here. According to the machines 21.Qc1 was the best move for white. Black has several replies: 21…Bd7 is the most solid I would say, why to give something if it is not necessary 🙂 Also 21…Be6 is an option as well as the logical 21…Rg8. After 21…Rg8 22.Rb5! cb 23.Qc6 Kf7 24.Qa8 Qb4 and I think black should be fine.
21… Bd7 White could try 22.Qc4 with the idea of 22…Rg8 23.Bf6!! and white is winning. It is not easy to find an improvement of black’s position after 22.Qc4…maybe something like 22…h6!? and next Rh7. 22.Rc6 is also not looking bad. Black would probably have to play 22…Rg8 because 22…Bc6 is bad in the view of 23.Qc6 Kf7 24.Qf6! After 22.Rc6 Rg8 23.Rb6 the position is looking very unclear.
22. Bxh8 Qxh8 23. Qe3+ A bit strange decision by Gelfand. If he wanted to grab the rook why not first 22.Qc4 and then take it one move later. What is he planning to do now after 23…Kf7? Probably 24.Re5 but after 24…Qf8 white position in not looking great at all.
23… Kf7 24. Re5 Boris is following his “wrong” plan. Black is doing very fine and with a bit of luck and good play maybe he can take a full point today. 24…Qf8 25.h4 h5 26 Qf4 Qd6 25.Kg2 Kf6 and black is clearly better.
24… Qf8 After some long thought Sasha is making the right choice, 24…Qf8!!
25. h4 h5 Candidates Matches are brought to you thanks to Chess Evolution and Chess Friends.
26. Qf4 Boris is making logical moves but his position is not improving. He will have a difficult defending task ahead of him…
26… Qd6 Grischuk is displaying a very good feeling for the position and makes the best moves. What to do for white now? Black simply wants to play Kf6 after which the queens’ exchange will be forced, and it is highly questionable if white will be able to save the endgame.
27. Kg2 Kf6 28. Re4 Boris wants to keep his pawn structure intact, but 28.Re4 is a risky decision. After 28…Qf4 29.Rf4 Be6 it will not be easy for white to take the rook out from f4. I am not sure if Boris did himself a favour. Maybe better way to defend was simple 28.Rc5 with clearly worse but “very hard to beat” position.
28… Qxf4 29. Rxf4 Move by move the white position is looking worse and worse. Now after 29…Be6 30 Rc1 Ke7 it is really hard to find a move. Black just wants to play next Kd6, develop the rook maybe to Re8-e5. This is not looking good for white at all.
29… Be6 30. Rc1 Ke7 What advise to give to white – no idea! Probably to bring the king to d2 is a good idea, so maybe 31.Kf1!?. Black’s plan we already know, King to d6, and then maybe Re8 and Bc8. Or maybe try to play Nc7!? with idea if Rd4+ then Bd5 followed by Ne6. This time instead of being under 2 minutes on the clock, as usual, Grischuk has 18 minutes for the last 10 moves!! It is a sign that Sasha knows very well what he is doing!
31. f3 Kd6 Candidates Matches are brought to you thanks to Chess Evolution and Chess Friends.
32. Kf2 Rb8 Grischuk is putting his rook on b8, but what for? 32…Nc7 has been an interesting option for black, with idea Bd5 and Ne6 to catch the rook on f4. Maybe Grischuk is thinking that this option will not “run away” and wants to make other useful moves. Maybe best option now is to push 33.g4.
33. e4 No, Gelfand is searching for some play after 33.e4, but what to do now after 33…Nc7?
33… Nc7 Grischuk makes it instantly, so far excellent play by Sasha!
34. g4 Boris throws everything in, there is nothing to lose!
34… fxg4 Grischuk keeps his cool and continues to make best moves 34…fg! Now black position is getting close to winning. As we can observe, Rb8 is standing just perfect, and soon will eat the pawn on b4.
35. Rf6 gxf3 36. Rxg6 Rxb4 37. Rh6 Gelfand is fighting like a lion but his chances to survive are not getting better. Grischuk has several good opportunities, 37…a5 and particularly 37…Rb3 are looking very nice. 37…Rb3 38.Rh5 Rd3 39.Rhc5 Bd7 40.h5 Ne6 and black is close to winning.
37… a5 Grischuk is choosing 37…a5 which also looks good!
38. Rxh5 a4 Grischuk is choosing 37…a5 which also looks good!
39. Rhc5 Bd7 The best chance for Boris might be to try and exchange the black rook with 40.R5c4. With the rook on the board I think black is doing very well.
40. Kxf3 Ne6 Candidates Matches are brought to you thanks to Chess Evolution and Chess Friends.
41. R5c4 Thank you GM Arkadij Naiditsch for the great commentary! GM Sebastien Maze, also member of the “Chess Evolution” team, is taking over. 41.Ra5 was more logical. I don’t like 41.R5c4, now the white rook on c4 is passive. Sasha will continue with 41…c5 and next Bb5.
41… c5 42. h5 Boris is trying to have some action with the “h” pawn. But after 42…Rb2 43. Rh1 (43. Rc2 not possible because of Nd4+ fork) 43…a3 44. Ra1 Bb5 Sasha will obtain wonderful position. Gelfand is a fantastic fighter, Grischuk needs to play very well to get a full point today.
Sasha is taking his time, he knows that a victory with black today could be the key of the match.
42… Rb2 43. Rh1 43…Nd4 is also interesting, then 44.Ke3 Re2 45.Kf4 Rf2 46.Ke3 Rf3 47.Kd2 Nb3 48.Kc3 Bb5 winning the Rook on c4. But after 49.h6, I think the position will be draw. So Sasha has to play 43…a3 to keep the good advantage.
43… Nd4+ 44. Ke3 Be6 Ouch! Sasha wants to deliver checkmate. After 45.Rxa4, he will play 45…Ke5 with the idea Re2 checkmate! But 45…Ke5 46. Rxd4! cxd4 47 Kf3 Rd2 48.h6 and Boris will manage to draw. Instead of 47…Rd2 , Sasha can try Bg8, then 48.h6 Bh7 49.Rh5+ and next Rd5 and draw.
45. e5+ Kxe5 46. Rxc5+ Bd5 47. Rxd5+ Kxd5 48. h6 Now the position is draw…Grischuk missed his chance in this game! For example 48…Nf5 49. Kf3 Nxh6 50. Rxh6 a3 51. Ra6 a2 52. Ra4.
48… Re2+ Candidates Matches are brought to you thanks to Chess Evolution and Chess Friends.
49. Kf4 Ne6+ Grischuk wants to keep his knight alive! Once again Boris Gelfand defended splendidly! Now he just has to play several accurate moves to obtain the draw. After 50.Kg3 Nf8 51.h7 Nxh7 52.Ra1! and next Rxa4.
50. Kg3 Nf8 51. h7 Nxh7 52. Rxh7 a3 53. Kf3 Re1 Grischuk is like always in big zeitnot, but no risk for him! Now the position is a dead draw after 54.Ra7 Ra1 55. Ke3 a2 56.Ra5+ Kc6 57.Kd4 and black rook has no possible check.
54. Ra7 Ra1 55. Ke3 a2 56. Ra5+ Kc6 57. Kd4 Kb6 Stay tuned for a video analysis here.
58. Ra8 Kb7 Thank you all for following the live coverage with GM Arkadij Naiditsch and GM Sebastien Maze on ChessBomb.com and ChessBomb.com and Chessdom.com! See you again tomorrow 13:00 CET.
59. Ke4 ½-½
How lucky can Gelfand get?