GM Nakamura (2710) – GM Ponomariov (2727) [B96]
San Sebastian (6), 13.07.2009
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0–0–0 b5 10.e5 Bb7 11.Qh3 dxe5 12.Nxe6 fxe6 13.Qxe6+ Be7 14.Bxb5 Game drawn ½–½
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Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
THE RECAP PLAYER DOESN’T WORK. THE LAST MOVE DOES NOT SHOW CORRECTLY.
And Svidler does not even bother trying to catch up, taking a twelve move draw with white against Vallejo Pons. ANother great display of attitude…
Why is it a draw?
It is games like this that give chess a bad name.
To markwingsk:
This is a theoretcial draw as white can perpetually check black unless of course black opts for an inferior continuation, which however would give him a clearly worse position.
One of those tricky Najdorf lines you’d better know about if you want to get any good. I can understand both players: Nakamura is leading comfortably and had a tough game yesterday while Ponomariov really had no choice to deviate following the knight sac.
to anonymous(1:24)
Could u provide me the lines cause I don’t really understand why it’s a theoretical draw.. Thanks! 🙂
Hi Lawrence,
easy enough. After 14…axb5 15.Nxb5 the black queen is under attack and must move. Just go from here and try out some moves for yourself – you will see that the white knight in combination with various pins is strong enough to force the perpetual.
Beelze
This should be a well analyzed line so surely none of the players was out of book.
Playing a draw book line is just refusal of work. I fully agree with Yancey.
As well as Nakamura did the last days the more sinks his reputation with this draw.
Sorry to say that but this is not worthy of a tournament winner. Hmm, too bad that his chasers both made refusal of work, too, today… So Karpov has to catch them all, I do not think anyone gave him a quick draw in this tournament. 🙂
Yeah Jochen,
you are the true fighter. One point lead in a prestiguous field, probably still jetlagged and a tiring round the previous day but you definitely would go out on a limb against a player of Ponomariov’s calibre rather than take a perpetual when the opportunaity presents itself.
Sorry, but please cut the crap. I am very much against short draws but Nakamura is one of the few players out there who usually displays a tru fighting spirit. Thus, cut him some slack once in a while, would you?!
14…. axb5 15. nxb5 Qb6 (I suppose this is the correct move?) Then 16. Nd6+ Kd8 17. e5/Nf7+
nt so sure with the lines though..