Killegar Chess presents: Peter Svidler Vs. Loek van Wely, 2005

[LoveSophos]

Beautiful

[Doublemac88]

White should have taken the rook pawn with the bishop, winning the exchange.

Of course, seeing as how these guys are GM's i must have missed something, and I'd appreciate it if someone could point it out.

[SeanGGodley]

Where abouts do you mean buddy? I can check the variation with Fritz if you give me the time of the move. Thanks!

Sean

[Doublemac88]

Start watching about 1:56 and you will see the idea.

What I'm wondering is why van Wely didn't take the pawn. If Svidler recaptures, then Queen takes rook and black is 3 pawns up the exchange, and if Nf3 for example, black can just retreat with a pawn to show for it.

Again, I'd like to know what I missed here. Thanks for your time.

[SeanGGodley]

Aha yes, I see where you mean now. The point is that if Bxh4 white has Qh5, threatening both Qxf7, which is mate, and also to take the black bishop with the rook as the queen is now attacking it also. So effectively black would lose a piece. Hope this helps!

Sean

[Doublemac88]

Alright thanks boss. That's some crazy stuff, but its no wonder I'm not a GM. I bought Fritz though, thanks to your videos, and I subscribed.

[chiruzbg]

@SeanGGodley, i`m interested whether black can keep checking the white king in the very last example variation that you show. Looks to me like a perpetual (and a mate in one variation :).

Can someone check this please! 

[SeanGGodley]

Well, it's safer than the game continuation anyway, as it would be harder for white to coordinate an attack on the queenside - despite the pawn majority and looming pieces, it's safter than the kingside.

[Pellucidity]

It seems to me like h7-h5 was a rather useless move. Wouldn't h6 have given him better defense? maybe even Ng4?, guarding the middle pawn structure. I'm not sure. I'm not a very strong player but it just seems like either of those moves would've been better for him.

Very instructional video I enjoyed it a lot, thank you.

[SeanGGodley]

Yes, h5 was a bad move. Ng4 isn't much good either cos the knight won't be able to remain there for long and black's development is still lagging.

[buffguy86]

By the way, in the final position Queen - f8 check might lead to a perpetual, im not sure though, Rook x a5 is always a threat also

[buffguy86]

correction: c8 and h5 :p

[buffguy86]

omg...c1 and h4! i am extremely rusty.

[SeanGGodley]

It's okay for white if black starts checking. For example: 22. ... Qc1+ 23. Kf2 ... Qf4+ 24. Ke2 and the white king is okay. If 23. ... Qxc2 check instead, then white has a forced mate in eight.

[buffguy86]

i like your analysis i will definitely continue to watch your videos when you post them

[number94]

Very good, although too fast for me.