 Vasilias Kotronias with a win with the black pieces against Amin Tabattabai off Iran in round five of the Gibraltar Masters. Let's find out how he did it. Vasilias, a 21-moo win against Iran's Amin Tabattabai. A good result but also an interesting game. Yes, by all means it was a short game so it was good for me and it was kind of unexpected because he's a very strong young player. Maybe he was tired because of the blitz I don't know. He was there last night till very late. Yes, so okay, I basically got some kind of position that I'm familiar with because it's kind of a mixture of Sicilian and King's Indians. So it was, I was like a fish on the water, inside the water. Right, now Amin probably had prepared this new idea with Bishop F3 which he played very fast but you mentioned it to Q by surprise. Yeah, no I didn't prepare it but somehow it felt like an awkward move to make because okay it's of course not a bad move but I think it should lead definitely to a draw not more because I mean the game continuation looks forced after Bishop B7 I'm threatening 97-95 so he has to push. So do you feel the Bishop in such hedgehog position that is a little misplaced on F3? Yes, normally it should be misplaced until it works the E5 move I mean. Yes. So, well. Here it doesn't so you had to play Bishop B7 against White's idea to E5. Yes, yes, yes. He went E5 anyway. Yes, it was kind of shocking because I didn't know this position. As I said to you earlier, I mean I have to, I analyzed the move F3 and then no Castles and Bishop B7 F3 with a hedgehog that is more or less equal but okay we can say it's according to computers. My analysis was saying that this is very, very slightly better for White. My gain is that this pawn stands here so the dark squares are weakened. On the other hand the Bishop is on G7 and this could be a problem in the hedgehog because D6 is not protected. I mean I will have to go E7 to E6 later on and then I will get the usual weakness to D6 but my Bishop is on G7 so I'm not 100% sure who is favored more by this. Right. And after this E5 for which he took about 12 minutes, the complications seem to have favored you? Not really, I think it's just equal. So here he went 96. I didn't expect this but okay on the other hand I felt that these positions are never so dangerous because this E4 is typical trick. I knew it from the Sicilian so okay. On the other hand if he takes on A8, I take here and long castle looks pretty dangerous for him because the Queen is kind of awkward. I have enough material and threatening E5, Queen C7 and C4 will be weak so I think he did the right thing, 96. On the other hand it's not dangerous for Black because of the E4 trick. Right. Now just explain to our viewers why is it important to sacrifice this pawn on E5 before you take the knight on E6 to sacrifice the exchange. I opened the diagonal and the bishop on G7. Right. So the main idea is to activate your bishop and also so you went for this and this is quite a thematic idea that you were aware of. Yes, I knew it as I said from childhood. Yes. So I'm not doing anything special, I mean tactic wise this was something like knowledge before the game but not for this specific. Not for this specific position but general knowledge. Pattern recognition. Alright this position now was quite interesting because here White could have... First of all we should take a position one move earlier. I think what I calculated was that he should play, I didn't like this move. Maybe it's still a draw but I liked more for him to go Rc1, Rd1 with a bishop on E3 I mean. Alright so instead of bishop A6. Yes. I didn't see anything for me after this, I mean it looks like a draw I have to go here. So you're just stopping White from going short cast. Yes, I didn't say a way to go on to play for a win because I thought if I come here... Sorry. Yes, if I come there then suddenly this queen springs to life and if I take on B2... Well Qg3 and it's over yes. Right so... I don't have enough here. So he blocks the diagonal and then he's fine. So which is why you would probably just repeat with Qd3 in this line and not... Yes, the queen should go on d3. It's a natural conclusion to the game because... So the main point is to control the... Black can never win in chess. Well recent results have been proving that might not be the case for Black. Only Magnus can win with Black. Right and then he went wrong with this Bg7 here and Qb7. Yes, well yeah Qb7 is kind of strange move I don't know. Basically, well I was also considering to play Qh4 but I was... Unlike it wasn't working because... Qh4 instead of Qd3? Just a moment, can we take the position? Yes, yes here I was also considering Qh4 but after this move e3 suddenly I lost coordination you see and... This is a nice point. This is a nice point. I lost the light square so I must be also careful. I mean I cannot do whatever I want. Yeah because he just goes short castle next and everything's under control. And after Qb7 just rook f4 he resigned here. Probably hated his position but... He starts losing tons of material. Qe7, Qh6, f3, Qe3 it's a mating tool. So there's no... He goes to d1. And then if he goes f3 then you go Qd3. And rook d4 and Qd3 mate. Right. Here there was another option after Qf4 to play h4. Sorry after Qb7. Because Qf4 is a very strong threat. Did you see this on the board? Yes, I was looking at this but maybe it's... I have at least a draw I think. Rook f4, rook h3, check and... Enough compensation, yes. Yes I have enough compensation. The only thing I don't know if I can play for a win. Probably not because my knight is kind of awkward there. It's okay rook h3. Sorry I have to get used to this. Rook e3 takes, takes, yes. And at least you have this. Yes I have at least a draw but probably not more. Right. I mean actually after Qb7 it all falls apart. A nice way to win the game. Yes, again such a strong player. I think it's a rare occurrence to win in such a manner nowadays. But as I said I think he was tired from the Blitz or maybe he underestimated me because I'm too old nowadays. And we had played the game in Aeroflot some years ago and I had a totally winning position out of the opening as Black. Yes, sorry. And well and then I just blundered so maybe he underestimated me because I'm getting older and he's getting stronger so this is the kind of things are working. So we old masters we should take advantage of this somehow. Which is exactly what you're doing. Now of course today you're pleased with the way it went but overall the tournament happy with the way it's going so far? I should have four points. I mean I should have maximum two points because I was lost against Nadine Ha and I was lost on the first round. Maybe I should have drawn against Durar Bailey but okay two points, two and a half points would have been the best for me. And Ches so you make your own luck so I'm sure you're doing something right on the board as well. I played an interesting game against Pigot yesterday and okay I mean I didn't calculate very accurately at some points I got the worst position in the opening as usual but okay it was an interesting ending I didn't play the best way but still it was quite interesting for me. We look forward to more interesting chess from you thank you for your time. Yeah I will try to do my best. Yes and we look forward to having you back. Thank you very much.