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16. Rb1
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This is the modern response to 15... b4 but 16.Na4 is also a strong move for white to play. White tries to attack on the queenside. This move is willing to give up the c3 knight for the open b file. |
 
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16... Qa6
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Black gets his queen out of the line of fire. |
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17. dxe6
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White continues to go for the attack, and in order to do this he opens up the game. The pawns on e6 and f6 are marching forwards and the bishop on b7 is attacked, which is a key piece to defend black's kingside. |
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17... Bxg2
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Black trades, because if white was allowed to take on b7, either black's king or queen would end up on the dangerous b file, where white's rook is. |
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18. e7
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If white took back on g2 black would be allowed to play 18...Qxe6 where white's pawns are no longer rolling, his attacking (and defensive) bishop on g2 has been traded and finally white's knight on c3 would be attacked. With this move white forces his pawns through the defensive lines. |
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18... Bxf1
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Black sees material and he grabs material. If black can still defend this is a good choice, if not it's a very dangerous one to go for material. However, what choice does he have? After 18... bxc3 19.exd8=Q followed by Kxg2 gives white a nice material edge. |
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19. Qd5
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19.Qd5!! is a very powerful move that prepares 20.Bf4 (cutting off the square the black king can move to) followed by the winning move Qa8 . |
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19... Bh6
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Black tries to get rid of white's powerful bishop. 19... Bxe7 is also possible, it was played in the spectacular game at Dortmund 1996 Topalov-Kramnik. Anyone who finds the opening at all exciting should definitely check out that game (maybe I'll annotate it later). 19... Bd3 (getting the bishop out of the way) loses here after 20.Bf4! (threatening 21.Qa8 Nb8 22.Qxb8 Kc7 23.exd8=Q with a very simple win for white. In fact the main point of 19... Bh6 is not to get the dark squared bishop, it's to connect rooks so that when d8 falls it will be adequately defended. |
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20. Bxh6
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If white tries to avoid the trade with 20.Bh4 his bishop will be completely out of the game (where's it gonna go from h4, except maybe back to g5?) |
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20... Bd3
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Black can't take back as 20...Rxh6 leaves blacks king in the danger zone (the rooks aren't connected any longer) and white must has a crazy attack coming one, 21.Qa8 Nb8 22.Qxb8 ! Kxb8 23.exd8=Q Qc8 (23... Kb7 24.Re1!! where the following Re7 will easily win for white) 24.Qd6 Qc7 (24... Kb7 25.Re1! wins with the following Re7 ) 25.Qf8 where after the tactics, white is up a piece. |
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21. Qa8+
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The obvious, and probably correct way to continue the attack. 21.Ne4 is an interesting alternative tried by Shirov, he gets his knight out of the way, and prepares to use it in the attack. |
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21... Nb8
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The only move, as 21... Kc7 provokes 22.Bf4 1-0. |
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22. exd8=Q+ Rxd8 23. Re1
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White must move his rook out of the danger, and he has threats of the powerful Re7. |
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23... bxc3 24. Bf4
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White doesn't need to retake, and he continues his scary attack. |
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24... Qb6
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The other logical move, 24... Qb7 (both moves defend b8, this one tries to trade queens) loses to the pretty 25.Re7!! Qxa8 26.Rc7#. |
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25. bxc3
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Now white retakes as there is no immediate threat. |
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25... Bf5
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This is a move first played to my knowledge by Shirov (a major proponent of this opening for both colors). Black brings the bishop back to where it can enter the defense. |
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26. f3
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26.f3!! white cannot advance his attack on the queenside (26.Re7?? loses to 26...Qb1! where black gets the attack) so he mobilizes his kingside pawn majority. To prepare the advance of his kingside Van Wely first grabs control of the light squares, he prepares to play g4 to support his h pawns advance. This is Van Wely's novelty. Until this game this position was considered a draw, though black's defense had to be ingenious. Check out Azmaiparashvili-Shirov to see an amazing save. |
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26... Be6
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Black gets ready to play 27... Bd5 forcing the queens off the board, the position is still very dangerous. Another way is 27... Qb7 but it's bad, as shown by 28.Qxb7 Kxb7 29.Re7 Rd7 30.Bb8 Kb8 31.g4 (starting kingside expansion) 31... Be6 32.Rxe6! fxe6 33.g5 and the pawns are better than the rook, analysis in this position by Geert van der Stricht in New In Chess #77. |
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27. g4
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White expands, following his plan. |
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