Ivanchuk on the Attack

Vassily Ivanchuk is famous for his creative, elegant style of play. He seems often to find little tactical nuances in positions that are uncannily difficult to see, enabling him to make moves in the midst of tactical melees that sometimes seem to entirely disregard the question at hand--because he has seen farther!



Ivanchuk-Svidler
Morelia-Linares 2006
Round 6

1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g6
3. Nc3 d5
4. Bg5 Ne4
5. Bh4 Nxc3
6. bxc3 dxc4
7. e3 Be6



Here we have a Bg5 Grunfeld, a specific move-order made popular by Armenian GM Levon Aronian (among others). This is a solid approach to the opening for white, attempting to blunt the Grunfeld bishop along the central dark squares. One would imagine that Svidler (a great expert in the Grunfeld) would be well prepared for such a tame approach...

8. Qb1 c5
9. Qxb7 Bd5
10. Qb5+ Nd7
11. Nf3



Black has seemingly gained a slew of tempos chasing the impetuous queen, but it soon transpires that he has difficulty holding onto his c-pawns.

11. ... Rb8
12. Qa4 cxd4
13. cxd4 Qc8
14. Rc1 e6

Black's last move strikes me as rather clumsy and unfortunate, but it's necessary if black is ever to castle, and the bishop may actually prove more useful along the f8-a3 diagonal than on g7.



15. Bxc4 Rb4

At this point, the computer gets confused for a moment, presuming that white has thrown away his advantage... Ivanchuk has seen farther than the silicon brain's event horizon! (The machine catches up in 10 seconds...)

16. Qa6 Bb7

It seems that white is simply losing a piece, but

17. Qa5!




The bishop is poisoned due to the mate threat on d8.

17. ... f6

Svidler gets rid of the mate threat.

18. Nd2 Bxg2

Material is restored, but Svidler's position is a mess. His pieces are half in the box; his pawns are placed helter-skelter...

19. Rg1 Qc6
20. Rxg2!



What? Ivanchuk sacks the exchange to deflect the black queen. But there isn't even a check, we all cry out. The black king is nevertheless doomed.

20. ... Qxg2
21. Bxe6 Bd6

Desperation. 21. ... Qb7 22. Rc7 is no better.



22. Rc8+ Ke7
23. Rxh8 Kxe6
24. Qd8 Qg1+
25. Ke2



And Svidler resigned rather than face the humiliation of something like 25. ... Rb8 26. Re8+ Kd5 27. e4+ Kxd4 28. Qxd7 when the whole house falls and the attack continues.

1-0

Black's mistake may have been the natural-looking 8. ... c5, but for the most part, he played thoughtful, thematic moves, and remember that Svidler is one of the world's greatest experts in the Grunfeld, and yet, Ivanchuk veritably wiped the floor with him!