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Sicilian Defence: Classical, Boleslavsky Variation

Morozevich–Kozul, TCh-Eur Novi Sad 2009 · Short–Nakamura, Corus 2010 · 7:54 · ECO B58

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In this video

Game 1: Alexander Morozevich (2750) vs Zdenko Kozul (2588)

TCh-Eur Novi Sad 2009, 22 October 2009 · White won (1-0) · 53 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 7...h6The first move after the opening line0:34
  2. 40.Bxe4The evaluation moves from +2.22 to +0.833:09
  3. 44...Qa1White stays more than two pawns ahead from here3:32
  4. 48...Nf5The evaluation moves from +3.56 to +6.513:52
  5. 52.a5The evaluation moves from +3.78 to +7.004:09
  6. 53.a6White wins after 53 moves4:14

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

Game 2: Nigel Short (2696) vs Hikaru Nakamura (2708)

Corus 2010, 18 January 2010 · Black won (0-1) · 43 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 7...h6The first move after the opening line4:47
  2. 24.Bh5The evaluation moves from −0.53 to −2.29, and Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here6:02
  3. 26.Rxe4The evaluation moves from −2.44 to −3.986:12
  4. 28.Ne5The evaluation moves from −3.43 to −5.606:22
  5. 37.Rxd1The queens come off7:08
  6. 43...Kh7Black wins after 43 moves7:40

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

About these games

After 6.Be2 e5 Black hits the d4-knight with a pawn and accepts a backward d6-pawn and a hole on d5 in return for space and quick development. The retreat 7.Nf3 keeps pressure on e5 and eyes d5, while Black aims for ...Be7, ...O-O, a bishop on g4 or e6 and, when ready, the central break ...e4 or ...d5.

Morozevich–Kozul followed 7...h6 8.O-O Be7 9.Re1 and 10.Bf1, then gained kingside space with 15.g4. Kozul gave up the bishop with 16...Bxe4 to win the e4-pawn, but 18.Nf5 and 21.Nxd6 won it back. The score was −0.38 at 17.Nxe4 and +0.56 at 27.cxd6, with a White passed pawn on d6. It reached +2.18 at 37.Qd4, then 40.Bxe4 let it slip from +2.22 to +0.83. From 44...Qa1 White stayed more than two pawns ahead. The queenside pawns advanced (+5.34 at 47.b6), 48...Nf5 raised the score from +3.56 to +6.51, 52.a5 took it to +7.00, and White won after 53.a6.

Short–Nakamura went 8...Be6 9.b3 with 11.Bb2. White played 13.Nd5 and 14.c4 and then pushed on the queenside with 19.b4 instead of on the kingside. Nakamura answered with 19...e4. The move 24.Bh5 dropped the score from −0.53 to −2.29, and 26...Bxf2+ followed. Then 28.Ne5 took it from −3.43 to −5.60. The queens came off with 37.Rxd1, and Black's queenside pawns advanced: 40...b4 moved the score from −3.75 to −4.87. Black won after 43...Kh7.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Morozevich vs Kozul, TCh-Eur Novi Sad 2009
  3. 4:23Game 2: Short vs Nakamura, Corus 2010

The opening line

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nf3

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