Jobava, Baadur (2707) - Potkin, Vladimir (2653)
EU-ch 12th (Aix-les-Bains), 04/01/2011
Round 10 [Potkin,V]

After a very strong start, I had a series of draws, the last of which especially disappointed me. As a result, when in the penultimate round, I was paired with a strong and aggressive opponent, I was very pleased. Understanding that Baadur would strive only for a medal, I looked forward to an uncompromising battle and an interesting game, which was just what I needed at that moment.
1.c4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qb3

e6 In recent times, I have usually answered the modest queen move with 4...dxc4 5.Qxc4 Bg4, but since my opponent had obviously chosen this line deliberately, I decided to change course.
5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.Qxc4 b5 8.Qc2 Bb7 9.Nc3 I suspect that White chose this setup at the board. White usually prefers 9.e3.
9...Nbd7 10.e4

Qb6 At this moment, I was convinced I knew the correct plan, but in this position, it proved too daring.

[More in the spirit of the position was
10...b4 11.Na4 Qa5]

[but I prefer the immediate
10...Qa5]

11.Be2 Nh5 After making this curious move quite quickly, I was very pleased, but the reply came as an unpleasant surprise. But, he who doesn't take a risk, doesn't ever get to taste the champagne!
12.d5

[I had been counting on the natural
12.O-O where after
12...g5 13.Bg3 g4 14.Ne5 Nxg3 15.hxg3 Nxe5 16.dxe5 h5 17.a4 Bg7 Black obtains comfortable play.]

12...Nf4

[I did not want to have to retreat after
12...g5 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.Ne5]

13.dxe6 White chose this move quite quickly, but during the game, I was more worried about 13.0-0, after which Black would have to make some positional concessions, in ordert to complete his development.
13...Nxe6

14.O-O-O True to his aggressive style, Baadur chooses the most direct plan, showing that quiet development is not part of his plans.
14...Bb4 15.Kb1

[We were both sure that the direct
15.Rxd7 Kxd7 16.Ne5+ Ke8 17.Bh5 g6 18.Nxg6 did not work because of
18...Qc5 although the cold-blooded
19.e5 was missed by us both, and would have change the course of the gameconsiderably , as White manages to create some threats against the enemy king in the centre.]

15...Ndc5 16.Rd6 White sets up a threat, but clearly did not anticipate that his opponent would simply ignore it.
16...O-O It was still not too late to move the other knight.
17.Nd5 cxd5 18.Rxb6 axb6 After the queen sacrifice, Black soon outstrips his opponent in creating threats, the biggest problems for White being that his light-squared bishop is firing into the air.

19.a3

[After 19.Bxb5 d4 20.Qc4 Bxe4+ 21.Ka1 Black has a strong continuation of the attack, in the form of
21...Ra3 and White must seek salvation in the endgame arising after
22.Qxb4 Nb3+ 23.Qxb3 Rxb3 24.axb3 Ra8+ 25.Ba4 b5 26.Ka2 bxa4 27.b4 Even so, it is clear this is what White should have played.]

[The following variation demonstrates the dangers of White's position:
19.Ne5 Rxa2 20.Kxa2 Nd4 21.Qd1 Ra8+ 22.Kb1 Ncb3 winning.]

19...dxe4 20.axb4 exf3 21.bxc5

[Nor does 21.Bxf3 Bxf3 22.bxc5

(22.gxf3 Nd4)

22...Bh5 help, as the bishop transfers to the deadly diagonal.]

21...fxe2 22.c6 Nd4

23.Qd3

[After 23.cxb7 Black has the knockout blow
23...Ra1+ and despite the resource
24.Kxa1 Nxc2+ 25.Kb1 e1=Q+ 26.Rxe1 Nxe1 27.Bg3 Black should win the endgame without particular problems, after
27...Nxg2 28.Kc2 f5 29.b8=Q Rxb8 30.Bxb8 Kf7 and he is the first to occupy the key central squares.]

23...Nxc6 24.f3

[On 24.Qxe2 again Ra4 decides.]

24...Ra4

25.Qd7 Rxh4 26.Qxb7 Rd4

[Not 26...Rd8 27.Qxc6 Rd1+ 28.Ka2 Rxh1 29.Qc8+ with perpetual check. I have to mention Baadur's gentlemanly congratulations after the game. Not many players could maintain such manners, after defeat in so important a game. This win restored me to the leadership and made me the clear favourite amongst the three leaders going into the final round, thanks to my superior performance rating. I should thank all those close to me for their support. It was great to receive so many congratulations from around the world, and it made realise that some things are even worth celebrating more than a birthday!]

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Created with PGNtoJS

After a very strong start, I had a series of draws, the last of which especially disappointed me. As a result, when in the penultimate round, I was paired with a strong and aggressive opponent, I was very pleased. Understanding that Baadur would strive only for a medal, I looked forward to an uncompromising battle and an interesting game, which was just what I needed at that moment. 1.c4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qb3 e6 In recent times, I have usually answered the modest queen move with 4...dxc4 5.Qxc4 Bg4, but since my opponent had obviously chosen this line deliberately, I decided to change course. 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.Qxc4 b5 8.Qc2 Bb7 9.Nc3 I suspect that White chose this setup at the board. White usually prefers 9.e3. 9...Nbd7 10.e4 Qb6 At this moment, I was convinced I knew the correct plan, but in this position, it proved too daring.
	[More in the spirit of the position was 10...b4 11.Na4 Qa5]

	[but I prefer the immediate 10...Qa5]
11.Be2 Nh5 After making this curious move quite quickly, I was very pleased, but the reply came as an unpleasant surprise. But, he who doesn't take a risk, doesn't ever get to taste the champagne! 12.d5
	[I had been counting on the natural 12.O-O where after 12...g5 13.Bg3 g4 14.Ne5 Nxg3 15.hxg3 Nxe5 16.dxe5 h5 17.a4 Bg7 Black obtains comfortable play.]
12...Nf4
	[I did not want to have to retreat after 12...g5 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.Ne5]
13.dxe6 White chose this move quite quickly, but during the game, I was more worried about 13.0-0, after which Black would have to make some positional concessions, in ordert to complete his development. 13...Nxe6 14.O-O-O True to his aggressive style, Baadur chooses the most direct plan, showing that quiet development is not part of his plans. 14...Bb4 15.Kb1
	[We were both sure that the direct 15.Rxd7 Kxd7 16.Ne5+ Ke8 17.Bh5 g6 18.Nxg6 did not work because of 18...Qc5 although the cold-blooded 19.e5 was missed by us both, and would have change the course of the gameconsiderably , as White manages to create some threats against the enemy king in the centre.]
15...Ndc5 16.Rd6 White sets up a threat, but clearly did not anticipate that his opponent would simply ignore it. 16...O-O It was still not too late to move the other knight. 17.Nd5 cxd5 18.Rxb6 axb6 After the queen sacrifice, Black soon outstrips his opponent in creating threats, the biggest problems for White being that his light-squared bishop is firing into the air. 19.a3
	[After 19.Bxb5 d4 20.Qc4 Bxe4+ 21.Ka1 Black has a strong continuation of the attack, in the form of 21...Ra3 and White must seek salvation in the endgame arising after 22.Qxb4 Nb3+ 23.Qxb3 Rxb3 24.axb3 Ra8+ 25.Ba4 b5 26.Ka2 bxa4 27.b4 Even so, it is clear this is what White should have played.]

	[The following variation demonstrates the dangers of White's position: 19.Ne5 Rxa2 20.Kxa2 Nd4 21.Qd1 Ra8+ 22.Kb1 Ncb3 winning.]
19...dxe4 20.axb4 exf3 21.bxc5
	[Nor does 21.Bxf3 Bxf3 22.bxc5
		(22.gxf3 Nd4)
	22...Bh5 help, as the bishop transfers to the deadly diagonal.]
21...fxe2 22.c6 Nd4 23.Qd3
	[After 23.cxb7 Black has the knockout blow 23...Ra1+ and despite the resource 24.Kxa1 Nxc2+ 25.Kb1 e1=Q+ 26.Rxe1 Nxe1 27.Bg3 Black should win the endgame without particular problems, after 27...Nxg2 28.Kc2 f5 29.b8=Q Rxb8 30.Bxb8 Kf7 and he is the first to occupy the key central squares.]
23...Nxc6 24.f3
	[On 24.Qxe2 again Ra4 decides.]
24...Ra4 25.Qd7 Rxh4 26.Qxb7 Rd4
	[Not 26...Rd8 27.Qxc6 Rd1+ 28.Ka2 Rxh1 29.Qc8+ with perpetual check. I have to mention Baadur's gentlemanly congratulations after the game. Not many players could maintain such manners, after defeat in so important a game. This win restored me to the leadership and made me the clear favourite amongst the three leaders going into the final round, thanks to my superior performance rating. I should thank all those close to me for their support. It was great to receive so many congratulations from around the world, and it made realise that some things are even worth celebrating more than a birthday!]
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