Topalov, Veselin – Shirov, Alexei (Linares 1998), presented by Andreas
Black to move. Is it possible for Black to win this? How should Black proceed?
8/8/4kpp1/3p1b2/p6P/2B5/6P1/6K1 b – – 0 47
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Kd6
Bxf6 Kc5
Kf2 Kc4
Ke3 Kb3
Ba1 a3
Bd4 Kc2
g4 Bxg4
Kf4 Be2
Kg5 Kd3
Ba1 Ke4
just use the pawn advantage. get your king centralized to cut off the white king then use the e and h pawns. the dark bishop cant stop both. its all about squares. gaining key squares to your advantage. keep in mind a timely bishop sac is good for black. since two pawns with a centralized king easily beats a bishop. hes no match.
Kd6
Bxf6 Kc5
Kf2 Kc4
Ke3 Kb3
Ba1 a3
Bd4 Kc2
g4
This doesn’t look particularly intuitive to me: 7.Kf4 looks much better.
keep in mind a timely bishop sac is good for black.
Shirov certainly agreed with you 🙂
I think 1. Bh3 wins, but I have to check it on my Fritz11.
“Kd6
Bxf6 Kc5
Kf2 Kc4
Ke3 Kb3
Ba1 a3
Bd4 Kc2″
You cant allow the black king go to c2. I think this is winning for black. But white can draw easily after:
1. .. Kd6
2.Bxf6 Kc5
3.Kf2 Kc4
4.Ke3 Kb3
5.Kd2 Ka2
6.Kc1
The bishop and king control the importaint squares.
I would agree with Pitor that 1.Bh3! wins straight away.
It’s 1.-Bh3!!!, well known as one of the most fantastic moves ever played in chess.
Why is it clear that Bh3 wins? White is not even forced to take the sacrifice….
1.gxh3
[1.Kf2 Kf5 2.Kf3 Bxg2+ 3.Kxg2 Ke4 4.Bxf6 d4 5.Be7 Kd3 6.Kf2 Kc2 7.Bb4 d3–+]
1…Kf5 2.Kf2 Ke4 3.Bxf6
3…d4 4.Be7
4…Kd3 5.Bc5 Kc4 6.Be7
[6.Bxd4 Kxd4 7.Ke2 Kc3 8.Kd1 Kb2–+]
6…Kb3 Black wins
[6…Kb3 7.Bc5 d3 8.Ke3 Kc2 9.Bb4 a3–+]
Analysis above is after the …Bh3!! move.
“Kd6
Bxf6 Kc5
Kf2 Kc4
Ke3 Kb3
Ba1 a3
Bd4 Kc2″
You cant allow the black king go to c2. I think this is winning for black.
We’re getting a little far afield, but how does Black win from here? 7.Kf4 Be4 8.g4 a2 9.h5 gxh5 10.gxh5 b1 11.h6 Bh7 12.Ke5 and White liquidates both Black pawns.
Why is it clear that Bh3 wins? White is not even forced to take the sacrifice….
Take a look at Dvoretsky’s analysis of this ending here.