GM So draws again in Round 4

Standings after Round 4

A group

1-3. GMs Hammer, Kuzubov, Andreikin 2.5
4. GM Mamedov 2.0
5. GM So 1.5
6. GM Akobian 1.0

Game annotation from Chessdom.com

Wesley So - Rauf Mamedov
Round 4
Spice Cup 2009
22.09.2009

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 Interesting move order. Perhaps Mamedov is attempting to enter the solid but passive Old Indian defence, with Nbd7, e5, Be7, or he is simply playing "mind games" on Wesley while proceeding to the regular King's Indian defence.

3.Nc3 g6 3...Bf5 would have some independent significance. For example, 4. f3 e5 5. e4 exd4!? 6. Qxd4 Nc6 etc

4.e4 Bg7 5.f3 O-O The players have entered the Saemish variation of the King's Indian defence. Once very popular weapon, even at the hands of Karpov and Kramnik, the variation somewhat faded away after White took up Bayonet attack and main lines, but it is still liked by many players.

6.Be3 c5!? Black is offering a pawn sacrifice, but after many years of trying, White still cannot gain any advantage there. Kramnik won some games in his early career, notably against GM Nunn, but later he switched to Petrosian system. At the same time, Alexei Shirov successfully defended the Black's cause.

7.Nge2 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. bxc5 Nc6 gives excellent play for Black thanks to the rapid piece development. Kasparov and Karpov are putting a fantastic show in their rapid match, tune into the live coverage to follow.

7... cxd4 (7... Nc6 is by far more popular, then 8.d5 Ne5 wins an important tempo 9.Ng3 e6 and Black is on time to create the Benoni-like counterplay.)

8.Nxd4 Nc6 The game has now transposed into Maroczy Sicilian, which is a very popular defence among Azerbaijani players. This shouldn't be a surprise for Wesley and he is probably prepared.

9.Qd2 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Be6 11.Rc1 (11.Be2 is more common)

11... Rc8 ( Usually Black proceed with immediate 11... Qa5 12.Be2 Rfc8 in order to put the f-Rook on c8.)

12.b3 a6 13.Be2 Qa5 14.O-O b5!? After some careful consideration, Mamedov is pushing for counterplay on the queenside. But it's still unclear why he moved Rook from a8 to c8. With f8 Rook on c8, White wouldn't have the option of 15. axb5 axb5 16. Rfd1 b4 17. Nb5!? But okay, perhaps this is not dangerous at all.

15.cxb5 axb5 16.Qb2!? Stepping away from the pin to threaten Nxb5, at the same time taking the long diagonal under observation. Black should probably push b4, otherwise Wesley will do it himself.

16... b4 17.Na4 Wesley probably preferred to have the Knight defended by a pawn instead of a "hanging" piece on b5.

17... Nh5! Excellent reaction by Mamedov. He is not afraid to trade the dark-squared Bishops because his pawn structure has better flexibility and White can't take advantage of the weakened dark complex.

18.Bxg7 Nxg7 19.Qd4 Nh5!? Attempting to prevent f4 which would threaten f4-f5 and provide more scope for the White Bishop. Black's 19...f5!? was interesting.

20.Qe3! Nevertheless, Wesley is insisting on pushing f4. The alternative was 20. Rxc8 Rxc8 21. f4 but why to surrender the c-file?

20... Nf6 21.Qb6 Giving up on f4, as White probably estimated that unsupported e4 pawn might be a liability. For example, Black can trade both pairs of Rooks and transfer the Bishop to b7.

21... Qe5 Mamedov is offering a pawn and will try to create some play over the dark squares as compensation (Nd5-f4). More solid but somewhat passive was to trade the Queens and then proceed Rb8-b7, successfully protecting the 7th rank.

22.Qxb4 Qf4 22...Nd5!? with idea Nf4 deserved attention.

23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Bd1 To parry the threat of Qe3+ and prevent Rc2.

24... Rc1 Looking aggressive but not actually threatening. Furthermore, Black should be careful about his own King and back-rank in some variations.

25.Qd4! Good move which centralizes the Queen and prepares to bring the Na4 back into play.

25... Nd5 26.Re1 Nf6 Mamedov was firing blanks. Wesley can improve the Knight with Nc3 (threat Ne2 fork) and then push the passed pawns.

27.g3 Both players are in mild time trouble, with about 13 minutes remaining on the clock for each.

27... Qg5 28.Kf2 Qa5 29.Re3 It is natural to try to untangle from the pin on the first rank, but it didn't look very dangerous. Black is probably consolidating now.

29... Bd7 30.Nc3 (30.b4! Rxd1 31.Qxd1 Qxa4 32.Qxa4 Bxa4 33.Ra3! looked strong...)

30... Qa3 Now the Queen is blocking pawns' advance.

31.Qd2 Preventing Qb2+

31... Ra1 32.Re2 Rc1 33.Re3 Ra1 34.Re1 Rc1 35.Bc2 Qc5+ 36.Re3 Maybe 36. Kg2 and finally swap the Rooks?

36... Ra1? 37.Bb1! Mamedov naively continued to mechanically repeat the Rook movement, but this piece ended up trapped on a1!

37... Bh3 38.Qb2 d5 Resolving to desperate measures. Black is trying to make use of White's time waste (to collect the Rook on a1) and launch a quick assault on the King.

39.exd5? And Wesley runs directly into the trap! It was necessary to take with the Knight 39. Nxd5 Nxd5 40. exd5, then 40...Qb5, attempting Qf1, breaks against simple 41. Rd3.

39... Qd4! This would not be possible after 39. Nxd5. The point is that Black Queen holds both Qa1 and Kf2 pinned, and Black's next Nxd5 comes in with brutal force.

40.Qxa1 Nxd5 41.Ke1? Cracking under pressure. The only way to possibly hold the position was to give up the Queen with 41. Nxd5 Qxa1 42. Nxe7+ when White has rough material equivalent. After the game move, Black has deadly attack...

41... Nxe3 42.Qb2 Ng2+ 43.Ke2 Qe3+ 44.Kd1 Qg1+ 45.Kd2 Qe3+ 46.Kd1 Qg1+ 47.Kd2 Qe3+? And another shock, Mamedov took a draw by repetition!! The only possible explanation is that both players were in severe time trouble, otherwise it would be expected from top Grandmaster to continue with the attack, 44. Kd1 Qe1+ 45. Kc2 Ne3+ 46. Kd3 Bf5+ etc, White King is under heavy fire. From here, Black can probably take draw anytime, if needed.
Thank you all for following Chessdom live coverage of the Spice Cup, see you again tomorrow for the fifth round. 1/2-1/2