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Sicilian Defence: Najdorf, Fischer-Sozin Attack

Topalov–Anand, Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee 1996 · Mamedyarov–Gelfand, WCh Candidates 2011 · 5:28 · ECO B87

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In this video

Game 1: Veselin Topalov (2700) vs Viswanathan Anand (2725)

Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee 1996, 27 January 1996 · White won (1-0) · 28 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...Nbd7The first move after the opening line0:34
  2. 22...f5The evaluation moves from +0.29 to +1.721:42
  3. 25...Rxd4The evaluation moves from +1.27 to +5.76, and White stays more than two pawns ahead from here1:56
  4. 28.Qf7White wins after 28 moves2:09

Evaluation

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

Game 2: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2772) vs Boris Gelfand (2733)

WCh Candidates 2011, 7 May 2011 · Black won (0-1) · 39 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...b5The first move after the opening line2:42
  2. 23.Rd3The evaluation moves from −1.75 to −2.63, and Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here3:52
  3. 39...Rb8Black wins after 39 moves5:15

Evaluation

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

About these games

White's bishop on c4 aims at e6 and f7, and the retreat to b3 pre-empts ...b5 and ...d5 tricks, keeping the bishop on the a2–g8 diagonal ready for a later f4–f5 or e5 break. Black's small centre of pawns on d6 and e6 holds firm, while the a6 pawn prepares ...b5 and the knight can come to c5 to challenge the b3 bishop.

Topalov–Anand began with 7...Nbd7 8.f4 Nc5 9.e5, and after 9...dxe5 10.fxe5 Nfd7 White had a pawn on e5 and open lines for the pieces. Both sides castled queenside, White with 13.O-O-O and Black with 15...O-O-O, and the evaluation stood at +1.16 after 17.Be3. It had come back to +0.29 by 22.Rf4, but 22...f5 opened the position and the score rose to +1.72. White then hit the c5 knight with 24.b4. Black gave up a rook with 25...Rxd4, which took the evaluation from +1.27 to +5.76. After 27.Qxe7 (+5.77) and 28.Qf7, White won.

Mamedyarov–Gelfand followed the main line 7...b5 8.O-O Be7 9.Qf3 Qc7 10.Qg3. Black castled kingside, and White pushed f4–f5 against that king. Unlike Game 1, Black hit back in the centre: 17...d5 (−0.55 after 17.Qh3) and 18...Qxe5 won a pawn. The exchange sacrifice 20...Rxc3 21.bxc3 Qxc3 broke up White's queenside. From 23.Rd3 Black stayed more than two pawns ahead. The pawns on a and b then advanced, ...bxc3 left a passed pawn on c3, and the score reached −5.13 by 37.Qg2. After 39...Rb8, Black won.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Topalov vs Anand, Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee 1996
  3. 2:18Game 2: Mamedyarov vs Gelfand, WCh Candidates 2011

The opening line

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3

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