This game is a story of how bad it can go, if you blindly believe in what the "books" says ... |
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1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6
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The Slav, which was the main theme of the recent match, Kramnik-Topalov. |
 
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3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. e4
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White chooses the gambit-line - a very sharp continuation. Black holds on to his extra pawn on c4, but White gets a nice centre. |
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5... b5 6. e5 Nd5 7. a4 h6
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According to a book by Markov and Schipkov - "Winning with the Slav" - this move prevents a Knight-move to g5. But does Black have the luxury of this kind of moves in the opening? I donīt know, it just doesnīt look right. But I decided to follow the book. |
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8. axb5 Nxc3 9. bxc3 cxb5 10. Ba3
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A strong move, keeping the initiative. Now the main line goes: 10. - Be6 11. Be2 Nc6 12. 0-0 Bd5, and Black is fairly okay. The book had another suggestion though - and unfortunately I decided to try it. |
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10... g6
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The idea is: 11. Nd2 a5! 12. Qf3 Ra7! when White is in greater danger than Black. Alternatively White could continue with: 11. d5!? Bg7 12. d6 Nc6 13. Qd5 Bd7, but Black is still okay. |
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11. Qb1
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(!) A very natural and good refutation of Blacks opening play! The Queen attacks b5 and has an eye on the good square e4. I have simply lost too much time with the moves h6 and g6. |
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11... a6 12. Qe4 Ra7 13. d5
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Now Whites centre-pawns comes rolling, and Blacks pieces are totally un-coordinated. Here already, I had the feeling it would be a short game ... |
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13... Bf5 14. Qd4 Rb7 15. g4
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Forcing the Bishop away from the defence. |
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15... Bc2 16. e6 Rh7
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Rooks on b7 and h7! It looks more like a joke than good opening-preparation. |
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17. Rc1 Bb3 18. Qe4 Qa5 19. Bb4 Qb6
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Desperately searching for some kind of counter-play, but the Pawns on d5 and e6 are simply too strong. |
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20. Ne5 a5 21. Ba3 Na6 22. Nxf7
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Enough is enough ... I canīt recall ever having had such a bad position after only 22 moves, but at least I learned a lesson: Opening-books are not flawless! |
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