Ivanchuk-Shirov
Wijk aan Zee 1996
Round 3
1. d4 d5
2. c4 c6
3. Nc4 Nf6
4. Nf3 e6
5. Bg5 dxc4
This move initiates Botvinnik's variation of the Semi-Slav, one of the most complex and chaotic opening variations in all of chess. Of late, black has been opting more for 5. ... h6 or 5. ... Nb6, avoiding the razor-sharp main line. The point here is that by capturing the c-pawn under circumstances such that it may be immediately defended via b5, black vacates the center, welcoming a rapid onslaught by white which he is able to counter with a swarming offensive of his own, spearheaded by a glut of queenside pawns.
6. e4 b5
7. e5 h6
8. Bh4 g5
9. Nxh5
(exf6 is also playable, but far less critical)
9. ... hxg5
10. Bxg5 Nbd7
11. exf6 Bb7
Interestingly, it is black who emerges from the opening down a pawn, but his development is more fluid (though his king safety is a bit of an issue).
12. g3 c5
13. d5 Qb6
Note that 13. ... exd5?? get destroyed by 14. Qe2+ when black must shed a piece.
14. Bg2 0-0-0
15. 0-0 b4
Given time to consolidate, white's passed h-pawn will become formidable, so black must take advantage of his advanced pawns to immediately stir up trouble.
16. Na4 Qb5
17. a3 exd5
18. axb4 cxb4
19. Be3 Nc5
Here it would seem that black's central preponderance is a pervasive factor, overshadowing the shakiness of his king, and indeed, a previous game went: 20. Nxc5 Bxc5 21. Qg4+ Kb8 22. Qf4+ Ka8 23. Qc7 Rc8 24. Qxf7 Rhf8 25. Qg7 Rg8
with a perpetual, as any queen move to vacate the 7th rank gives black a vital tempo to play d4 when the black center will ultimately prove overwhelming.
I'm not sure exactly when in the game Ivanchuk discovered his novel solution to this problem, but he did assert that it was definitely over-the-board inspiration and not preparation...
20. Qg4+ Rd7
21. Qg7!!
White offers his queen for two minor pieces and a brutal passed pawn. Shirov must have practically fallen off of his chair.
21. ... Bxg7
22. fxg7 Rg8
23. Nxc5
In this position, Shirov went astray with:
23. ... d4?
This is a commendable attempt to remain active, seeking to demonstrate that white's scheme is sheer fantasy, alas... In a few moves, we'll see the follow-up that Shirov overlooked. Subsequent analysis and praxis demonstrated that the straightforward 23. ... Rxg7 was best, with the variation 24. Bd4 f5 25. Nxd7 Rxd7 26. Rxa7
This arrives at a position that is atrociously difficult to evaluate; British GM Matthew Sadler asserts that it is "easier to play" with white...
24. Bxb7+ Rxb7
25. Nxb7 Qb6
This is the position that Shirov appears to have calculated, assuming that from b6 his queen would hold d4, preventing Bxd4 (which would defend the g-pawn) and guarding against the d6 knight fork. Unfortunately, he overlooked Ivanchuk's matter-of-fact reply:
26. Bxd4!
Ivanchuk's flight of fancy continues. It is as if he simply makes the moves he wants to make, regardless of all other factors!
Egads, Shirov must have been thinking. What are you supposed to do when your opponent is playing at Warp 11??
26. ... Qxd4
27. Rfd1
This is brutal. The poor black queen is terribly over matched.
27. ... Qxb2
28. Nd6+ Kb8
29. Rdb1
Here the computer cries out for 29. ... Qd2, attempting to hold the b-pawn, and thus the position, but Ivanchuk saw this possibility too, indicating 30. Nxc4 Qc3 31. Ra4!
One can't dream this stuff up...
The variation continues: 31. ... b3 32. Na5! b2 33. Rb4+!
And black can't capture the rook due to the threatened knight check on c6, so the b-pawn falls, and with it, all hope of counterplay.
The game continued:
29. ... Qxg7
30. Rxb4+ Kc7
31. Ra6
And here, black is getting mated, so Shirov made the miserable move:
31. ... Rb8
32. Rxa7+ Kxd6
33. Rxb8 Qg4
White doesn't even have any consolation checks...
34. Rd8+ Kc6
35. Ra1
White's rooks dominate the board.
1-0
What can one say? 21. Qg7 has to be one of the most incredible moves ever played!
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