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Sicilian Defence: Rossolimo, 3...d6 4.Bxc6+ bxc6

Kasparov–Polgar, Eurotel Trophy 2002 · Adla–Vachier-Lagrave, TCh-FRA Top 12 2011 · 6:44 · ECO B30

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In this video

Game 1: Garry Kasparov (2838) vs Judit Polgar (2677)

Eurotel Trophy 2002, 30 April 2002 · White won (1-0) · 51 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. 5.O-OThe first move after the opening line0:26
  2. 27...Kg7The evaluation moves from +2.82 to +4.692:06
  3. 33.Qxh8+The evaluation moves from +4.76 to +0.792:34
  4. 36...Qc2The evaluation moves from +0.85 to +3.15, and White stays more than two pawns ahead from here2:52
  5. 40.Nxf7The queens come off3:09
  6. 51.Bg7White wins after 51 moves4:04

Evaluation

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

Game 2: Diego Adla (2507) vs Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2731)

TCh-FRA Top 12 2011, 31 May 2011 · Black won (0-1) · 31 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. 5.O-OThe first move after the opening line4:30
  2. 25...Bxb4The queens come off6:00
  3. 29.Be1The evaluation moves from −0.10 to −2.82, and Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here6:18
  4. 31...Re8Black wins after 31 moves6:30

Evaluation

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

About these games

White gives up the bishop pair with 4.Bxc6+ to leave Black with doubled c-pawns, then aims to open the centre with c3 and d4 so that White's knights can attack the weak pawns. Black keeps the two bishops and extra central pawns and wants to use them before the weaknesses on c6 and c5 start to matter. Both games reach the line by the move order 2...d6 3.Bb5+ Nc6.

Kasparov–Polgar went 5.O-O e5 6.c3. Black gained space with ...g5-g4, and White answered with 7.d4, opening the centre. After 13.e5 d5 14.Nd6+ Kf8, Black's king could no longer castle and the score was +2.70. Black counterattacked on the h-file and with ...c3 and ...g3. With 31.exf6 the evaluation rose from +2.47 to +4.85, but 33.Qxh8+ let it fall to +0.79. After 36...Qc2 it climbed back to +3.15, and White stayed more than two pawns ahead from then on. The queens came off with 40.Nxf7, and White won the bishop ending after 51.Bg7.

Adla–Vachier-Lagrave went 5.O-O Bg4. Black built a centre with ...e6, ...Be7 and ...d5 and castled, and White's knights found no fixed targets. The queens came off with 25...Bxb4, at about −0.71. With 29.Be1 the evaluation dropped from −0.10 to −2.82, and Black's two bishops took over the position. Black won after 31...Re8. Unlike Game 1, Black left the king safe and won with the bishop pair rather than defending against a direct attack.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Kasparov vs Polgar, Eurotel Trophy 2002
  3. 4:13Game 2: Adla vs Vachier-Lagrave, TCh-FRA Top 12 2011

The opening line

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. Bxc6+ bxc6

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