Author: Pablo Rodriguez
Date: 04:16:04 05/10/04
GM Alexei Shirov (2700+ fide rating) played recently on the Internet Chess
Club (ICC) a few games against a strong computer under his ICC account handle,
Leon.
The computer was running Shredder 8 at that time, and manage to win
convincingly at a time control of 3' plus 2''increment per move, careless of the
strength of his opponent, who is well known for being one of the best blitzers
in the world.
Although the spanish GM was playing this games for fun, the big amount of
chess aficionados could perceive that he was trying to play at his best level in
some games, and managed to produce very beautiful moves in some games. The next
test position is a clear example of this fact.
This position appeared in on of the games, and the creative genious of Shirov
showed a clear example of a speculative sacrifice which is winning in all
variations. Have in mind that he played this move almost instantly in a blitz
game, which is even more meritorious.
[D]r3k2r/3bpp2/pp1p2qp/2p1bN2/4N3/2PP3P/PP1Q2P1/4RR1K w - - 0 1
Most engines go for Nh4 here showing black advantage, but Nxe7 is clearly the
best and offers winning chances! Can your engine find this move?
Unfortunatly the gm end up blundering a whole piece in the late middlegame
which equalised the options for both sides, losing his queen in the endgame...
For curious people, here i post the game
[Event "ICC 3 2"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2004.04.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Leon"]
[Black "Dreamland"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "3252"]
[BlackElo "3526"]
[Annotator ",Pablo"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2004.??.??"]
[TimeControl "180+2"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. O-O Bg7 7. d3 a6 8. Bxc6
Bxc6 9. f5 gxf5 10. exf5 Nf6 11. Bg5 Qd7 12. Qd2 h6 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Ne4 Qxf5
15. Nh4 Bd4+ 16. Kh1 Qg4 17. Nf5 Be5 18. h3 Qg6 19. Rae1 b6 20. c3 Bd7 21. Nxe7
$3 {The best move!} Kxe7 {What else?} (21... Qe6 22. d4 $1 Bg7 23. Nxd6+ $3 $18
) 22. d4 {The point of the combination!} Bb5 23. Rf2 cxd4 24. cxd4 Bg7 25. a4
$1 Bc6 (25... Bxa4 $2 26. Nc5+ Kf8 27. Nxa4 $16) (25... Rhe8 {
might have being considered} 26. axb5 Kf8) 26. d5 Be8 27. Nxd6+ $3 {
Shirov offers another piece for free in order to keep attacking} Kxd6 28. Qb4+
Kc7 {another pawn...} 29. d6+ Qxd6 30. Re7+ $1 {
The rook is inmune, beautiful and effective} Kc6 31. Rc2+ Qc5 32. Qe4+ Kd6 33.
Rd2+ Qd4 {wow, now white is winning and shredder offers material back to avoid
a mate net} 34. Rxd4+ Bxd4 35. Rxe8 $2 $11 {
ooops! GM Shirov blunders on time trouble in the easiest part} (35. Qxa8 Kxe7 (
35... Bc6 {maybe Shirov thought Bc6 offered counterplay for black, but after
Qa7 white is winning} 36. Qa7 Rg8 37. Qc7+ Kc5 38. Re2 $18) 36. Qe4+ Kf8 37.
Qxd4 $18) (35. Qxd4+ Kxe7 36. Qe5+ Kd7 37. Qxh8 $18) (35. Rb7 $3 $18 {
this move is the most difficult to find for a human, but is offering the best
chances forwhite}) 35... Raxe8 36. Qxd4+ Kc7 $11 37. Qc4+ Kb7 38. Qxf7+ Kb8 39.
Qf6 Ka7 40. Kh2 a5 41. b3 Rh7 42. Qc6 Re3 43. Qc4 Rg7 44. g4 Rd7 45. Kg2 Rd2+
46. Kf1 Rxh3 47. Qf7+ Ka8 48. Qf8+ Kb7 49. Qf7+ Kc6 50. Qc4+ Kd7 51. Qf7+ Kd8
52. Qf8+ Kc7 53. Qf4+ Rd6 54. Qc4+ Rc6 55. Qf7+ Kb8 56. Qe8+ Kb7 57. Qd7+ Rc7
58. Qd5+ Ka7 59. Kg2 Rhc3 60. Qb5 R3c5 61. Qd3 $2 {Qd8 was necessary} Rc2+ 62.
Kf1 Rc1+ {White resigns} 63. Ke2 R7c2+ 64. Ke3 Rc3 $19 0-1
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