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Sicilian Defence: Najdorf, 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7

Topalov–Van Wely, Corus A Wijk aan Zee 2007 · Kovchan–Nepomniachtchi, 17. TCh-RUS Premier 2010 · 6:08 · ECO B90

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In this video

Game 1: Veselin Topalov (2783) vs Loek Van Wely (2683)

Corus A Wijk aan Zee 2007, 14 January 2007 · White won (1-0) · 35 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. 8.Qd2The first move after the opening line0:35
  2. 23.b3The evaluation moves from +1.14 to +0.291:44
  3. 25...Kg8The evaluation moves from +0.01 to +2.371:56
  4. 32...exd3The evaluation moves from +1.46 to +6.27, and White stays more than two pawns ahead from here2:32
  5. 35.Kxa2White wins after 35 moves2:44

Evaluation

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

Game 2: Alexander Kovchan (2595) vs Ian Nepomniachtchi (2656)

17. TCh-RUS Premier 2010, 8 April 2010 · Black won (0-1) · 40 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. 8.Be2The first move after the opening line3:18
  2. 27.Qf3The evaluation moves from −1.29 to −2.75, and Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here4:48
  3. 30...Nf3The evaluation moves from −2.28 to −5.495:05
  4. 34.Kh3The evaluation moves from −5.42 to −6.405:22
  5. 40...Kg7Black wins after 40 moves5:55

Evaluation

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

About these games

After 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 Black accepts a backward pawn on d6 and a hole on d5 in return for central space and quick development with ...Be6, ...O-O and ...b5. White chooses between Qd2, f3 and long castling with a kingside pawn storm, or a quieter Be2 and short castling aimed at d5.

Topalov–Van Wely, Wijk aan Zee 2007, took the sharp route: 8.Qd2 and 9.O-O-O, met by 9...b5. After 11.Nd5 Bxd5 12.exd5 White's pawn on d5 closed the centre. White advanced g4, g5, h4 and h5, reaching 20.g6, while Black pushed ...b4 and ...a4. At 25...Kg8 the evaluation jumped from +0.01 to +2.37, and after 26.Bxc5 the white queen reached h6 and took on h7 at move 28. Black's 31...e4 was met by 32.Be6, and after 32...exd3 the score stood at +6.27. White won at 35.Kxa2.

Kovchan–Nepomniachtchi, Russian Team Championship 2010, began with the quiet 8.Be2 and 9.O-O. Black answered 11.a5 with the exchange sacrifice 11...Rxc3 and 12...Nxe4, with the score at +0.49. Black's active pieces took control, and by 17...c4 it was −1.60. After 27.Qf3 the evaluation went from −1.29 to −2.75, and at 30...Nf3 from −2.28 to −5.49. Black's queen then collected pawns, and Black won at 40...Kg7. Unlike Game 1, there was no pawn storm: piece play in the centre decided the game.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Topalov vs Van Wely, Corus A Wijk aan Zee 2007
  3. 2:53Game 2: Kovchan vs Nepomniachtchi, 17. TCh-RUS Premier 2010

The opening line

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7

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