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Sicilian Defence: Taimanov, Four Knights

Topalov–Ivanchuk, Pearl Spring Nanjing 2008 · Ponkratov–Stremavicius, IV Mohammed VI Masters 2023 · 7:54 · ECO B45

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In this video

Game 1: Veselin Topalov (2791) vs Vassily Ivanchuk (2786)

Pearl Spring Nanjing 2008, 19 December 2008 · White won (1-0) · 58 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.a3The first move after the opening line0:32
  2. 29...Ne7The evaluation moves from +1.50 to +3.36, and White stays more than two pawns ahead from here2:16
  3. 39.gxf5The evaluation moves from +4.57 to +2.683:04
  4. 41...Ne7The evaluation moves from +2.55 to +4.433:16
  5. 42...Nxd5The queens come off3:22
  6. 58.b3White wins after 58 moves4:39

Evaluation

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

Game 2: Pavel Ponkratov (2582) vs Titas Stremavicius (2534)

IV Mohammed VI Masters 2023, 16 August 2023 · Black won (0-1) · 38 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.a3The first move after the opening line5:10
  2. 12.Kxd1The queens come off5:28
  3. 34.g4The evaluation moves from −0.92 to −2.55, and Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here7:18
  4. 36.Ra1The evaluation moves from −2.45 to −4.197:28
  5. 37...Rxh2The evaluation moves from −4.69 to −5.247:35
  6. 38...h5Black wins after 38 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 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Ndb5 Bb4 Black pins the c3-knight and threatens ...Nxe4, while White's knight on b5 eyes d6. The usual answer is 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.Nxc3 d5: White gains the bishop pair, and Black takes a share of the centre. The structure depends on how White meets ...d5, either with an isolated black d-pawn or with an early queen exchange.

Topalov–Ivanchuk followed 9.exd5 exd5, leaving Black an isolated d-pawn. Ivanchuk pushed it with 11...d4. Topalov answered with 13.f3, chased the bishop and exchanged knight for bishop with 15.Nxh5, then advanced 16.f4 and 19.f5 and brought the queen to h6. After 21...gxf5 the score was +1.09, and by 26...Qe2 it was +2.05. The decisive slip was 29...Ne7, which moved the evaluation from +1.50 to +3.36. 41...Ne7 raised it to +4.43, and after 42...Nxd5 the queens were off, leaving White's bishop against Black's knight. White's king marched to b7, 50...b6 raised the score to +5.42, and White won after 58.b3.

Ponkratov–Stremavicius took the other branch, 9.Bd3 dxe4, and 11...Qxd1+ 12.Kxd1 removed the queens. Unlike Game 1, Black had no isolated pawn. Stremavicius built a centre with 13...f5 and 14...e5, then advanced 16...f4. The game stayed level, at +0.15 after 21...Rxd6, as Black's rooks took the c-file and the second rank. The turning point was 34.g4, which allowed 34...f3 and moved the evaluation from −0.92 to −2.55. After 36.Ra1 it reached −4.19, Black's rook collected the f2- and h2-pawns, and Black won after 38...h5.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Topalov vs Ivanchuk, Pearl Spring Nanjing 2008
  3. 4:48Game 2: Ponkratov vs Stremavicius, IV Mohammed VI Masters 2023

The opening line

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Ndb5 Bb4

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