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Sicilian Defence: Sveshnikov, 9.Nd5 Line, 11.c3 O-O — Part 1 of 2

Kasparov–Kramnik, Novgorod 1994 · Nyzhnyk–Niemann, St Louis Fall A 2022 · 5:16 · ECO B33

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In this video

Game 1: Garry Kasparov (2805) vs Vladimir Kramnik (2725)

Novgorod 1994 · 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. 12...Rb8The first move after the opening line0:52
  2. 24.Ne6The evaluation moves from +0.22 to −1.721:49
  3. 25...Re8The evaluation moves from −1.90 to +2.841:56
  4. 27.h5White stays more than two pawns ahead from here2:04
  5. 35...Qf8The evaluation moves from +3.98 to +9.582:46
  6. 35...Qf8White wins after 35 moves2:46

Evaluation

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

Game 2: Illya Nyzhnyk (2687) vs Hans Moke Niemann (2699)

St Louis Fall A 2022, 9 November 2022 · Black won (0-1) · 29 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. 12...Rb8The first move after the opening line3:38
  2. 22.f3The evaluation moves from −0.56 to −1.554:25
  3. 23.fxe4Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here4:30
  4. 27.Ra1The evaluation moves from −3.25 to −5.124:50
  5. 29.Kf1The evaluation moves from −6.34 to −7.645:00
  6. 29...Rxa6Black wins after 29 moves5:02

Evaluation

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

About these games

After 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 White has given up the dark-squared bishop to gain lasting control of d5, where a knight faces Black's backward d6-pawn. With 11.c3 and 12.Nc2, White brings the knight from a3 back towards e3 or b4 to support d5, while Black, with the bishop pair and spare pawns on the queenside, looks for activity through the ...d5 break, queenside pawn advances, or play on the dark squares.

Kasparov–Kramnik reached the line by transposition from 2.Nc3 and 3.Nge2. After 12...Rb8 White chose 13.h4 and 14.Nxf6+ gxf6, doubling Black's pawns in front of the king, then castled queenside. Kramnik answered with 16...d5 and grabbed the a-pawn with 19...Qxa2, and stood at −1.90 before 25...Re8 swung the score to +2.84. The position then levelled to +0.18 before 27.h5 took it to +2.45. After 27...Nxf4 28.hxg6 Qxd6 29.Rxh7+, White pushed the g-pawn through to promote on e8 with 31.fxe8=Q. White won after 35...Qf8, which left the score at +9.58.

Nyzhnyk–Niemann followed a queenside plan instead: 13.a4 bxa4 14.Ncb4. Niemann gave up the a-pawn, broke with 17...d5 and was already at −0.97 at move 17. The e-pawns advanced with 20...dxe4 and 21...e3, and Black stayed more than two pawns ahead from 23.fxe4. 27.Ra1 (−5.12) and 29.Kf1 (−7.64) made things worse, and Black won after 29...Rxa6 picked up the stranded knight.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Kasparov vs Kramnik, Novgorod 1994
  3. 2:55Game 2: Nyzhnyk vs Niemann, St Louis Fall A 2022

The opening line

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2

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