An Ivanchuk Miniature

Continuing our exploration of Ivanchuk's strange and interesting creative spark, here's a nice little game he played in Spain in 1999.

Topalov-Ivanchuk
Linares 1999
Round 13

1. Nf3 c5
2. c4 Nc6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 e6
5. g3 Bb4+
6. Nc3 Qa5



The opening is a symmetrical English--not the snooze-fest hyper-symmetrical, but actually a fairly interesting variation. It's hard to say what was in the minds of the players going into this round. Topalov was having an uninspired tournament: -1 with 1 win, 2 losses, and many draws. Ivanchuk's tournament had been nightmarish to this point: -3, including 3 losses in his first five games. Given that there was only 1 round to go, one could readily have imagined the two players rattling off 20 or so quiet moves and shaking hands. Instead, they've contrived to bolt right off the pages of mainstream theory into some strange hybrid position...



7. Nb5 d5
8. a3 Bxc3+
9. bxc3

Note that 9. Nxc3?! would run into trouble with 9. ... d4

9. ... Nf6
10. Bg2 0-0



It seems like black is already a bit better in this position based on the awkwardness of white's queenside and the slightly tenuous placement of his knight, although white does have the 2 bishops.

11. Qb3 dxc4
12. Qxc4 e5

Now matters are even a bit clearer, as Ivanchuk has freed up his light-squared bishop.

13. Nd6 Be6
14. Qd3 e4



Ivanchuk persists with a policy of harassment, steadily demonstrating that Topalov's pieces are clumsily placed and subject to attack. The longer this persists, the most difficult it becomes for Topalov to complete development!

15. Nxe4 Nxe4
16. Bxe4 Rad8
17. Qc2 Nd4



The harassment continues; it seems as though white would be alright if he could only find a couple of tempo to unwind...



Topalov must have been very frustrated.

18. Qb2 Nxe2!

And here comes the blow. It seems like this sacrifice shouldn't really work; white ought to be able to play f3 and tuck his king over to f2, etc. But again, it seems like he's always a couple of tempos slow in this game.

19. Kxe2 Rfe8

So often it's a rook move that follows up on a sacrifice, bringing pressure to bear on the new soft spot.

20. Qb4



Topalov strives to diffuse the attack through exchanges, but Ivanchuk easily sidesteps the attempt

20. ... Qh5+
21. f3 f5

Now horrifying double checks hang in the air.

22. g4 Qh3
23. gxf5 Bxf5
24. Qc4+ Kh8
25. Re1

And here it comes:



25. ... Rxe4+!

Ouch.

0-1

Again we see Ivanchuk dispatching a top-ten opponent effortlessly. Enjoy enough of these games and one must begin to wonder why Ivanchuk is not World Champion. We'll get there...

As for the lesson here: white played impulsively, a little impatiently, and actually overextended with Nb5. Ivanchuk, playing with great precision, was able to demonstrate the tactical shortcomings of white's approach--it often pays to develop before stirring up trouble!