Selected Games

(1) Rogozenko,D (2531) - Shirov,A (2741) [D16]
Bundesliga, 28.04.2001
[Rogozenko, D]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Na6 6.e4 Bg4 7.Bxc4 Bxf3 8.gxf3 e6 9.0-0 Be7 [ 9...Nb4 ] 10.Kh1 0-0 11.Rg1 g6 [ 11...Kh8 12.Be3 ( 12.Bxa6 bxa6 13.Be3~~ ) 12...Nb4 13.a5+/= ] 12.f4 Qa5 [ 12...Nb4 13.f5!? ( 13.a5 ; 13.Be3 ) 13...exf5 14.exf5 Nfd5 15.Ne4 Re8 16.fxg6 hxg6 17.Ra3 ( 17.Qh5!?-> ) 17...Bh4 18.Rg4|^ >>.] 13.Qf3!? [ 13.Be3+/= ] 13...Rad8 [ 13...Rfd8 14.e5!? ( 14.Be3+/= ) 14...Ne8 ( >=14...Nd5 15.Bxd5 cxd5 16.f5 Qb6 ( 16...exf5 17.Qxf5~~ ) 17.f6~~ ) 15.f5! Rxd4 ( 15...exf5 16.Qxf5 Nd6 17.Rxg6+! hxg6 ( 17...Kh8 18.Rxd6 Rxd6 19.Qxf7 Rd7 20.Bh6+- ) 18.Qxg6+ Kh8 19.Qh6+ Kg8 20.Bd3+- ) 16.fxe6+/- ] 14.Be3 [ 14.e5 Ne8 /\Ng7-f5. 15.f5 Rxd4 16.Bxa6 Qxa6 17.f6 Bb4 ] 14...Qb4 [ 14...c5 15.e5! ( 15.d5 exd5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Bxd5+/= ) 15...cxd4 16.exf6 Bxf6 17.Ne4+- ] 15.Qe2 /\a5, Ra4 - >< Qb4. 15...Nc7 [ 15...c5 16.d5 ( 16.e5 Nd5 17.Nxd5 exd5 18.Bd3 cxd4 19.Bd2 /\ f5 ->, Shirov) 16...exd5 17.exd5 Qb6 ( 17...Nc7 18.Bd2! ) 18.f5|^ ] 16.a5 /\ 17.Ra4 +-. 16...Nb5[] [ 16...b5 17.axb6 Qxb6 ( 17...axb6 18.Ra4 Qd6 19.e5+- ) 18.d5 c5 19.dxe6! Shirov ( 19.d6 Qxd6! 20.e5 Qc6+ ) 19...Nxe6 ( 19...fxe6 20.f5+- ) 20.Ra6 Qb7 21.Bxe6 fxe6 22.Rxe6+- ] 17.e5 Nd5 18.Nxd5 exd5 19.Bxb5 Qxb5 [ 19...cxb5 20.f5-> ] 20.Qxb5 cxb5 21.a6!+/- [ 21.f5? a6! 22.f6?! Bb4~~ ] 21...Rd7 [ 21...b6 22.f5 Rc8 23.f6 Bb4 24.Rac1 Rc4 25.b3 Rc3 26.Rxc3 Bxc3 27.Rc1 Rc8 28.Kg2 Rc6 29.Kf3 b4 30.Rc2 b5 31.Ra2+/- ] 22.f5 bxa6 [ 22...Rc8 23.e6 fxe6 24.fxe6 Rdc7 25.Bf4+- ] 23.f6 Bd8 24.Rxa6 Bb6 25.Rc1 Rb8 26.Kg2 Kf8 [ 26...h5 27.h4 ] 27.Kf3 Ke8 28.Ke2 Rdd8 29.Kd3 Rdc8 [ 29...Kd7 30.Bd2 Rdc8 31.Rxc8 Rxc8 ( 31...Kxc8 32.e6 fxe6 33.Rxb6 axb6 34.f7 Kd7 35.Bb4+- ) 32.Ba5 Kc6 33.Bxb6 axb6 34.Ra7+- ] 30.b3 [ 30.Bd2? Rc4 ] 30...Kd7 31.Bd2 Rxc1 32.Bxc1 Ke6?!(+) [ 32...Rc8[] 33.Bd2 Rc6[] 34.f4 ( 34.Ba5? Bxa5 35.Rxa5 a6= ) 34...Kc8 35.h4 Kb7 36.Ra1+/- ] 33.Bd2+- Kf5 34.Ba5 Bxa5 35.Rxa5 Rb7 36.Ra6 b4 37.Ra5(+) [ 37.Rd6 a5 38.Rxd5 a4 39.bxa4 b3 40.Rb5+- Shirov] 37...Ke6 38.f4 Rd7 39.Ke3 Rc7 40.Rc5 Rd7 [ 40...Rxc5 41.dxc5 Kd7 42.Kd4 Kc6 43.e6+- ] 41.Rc8 Kf5 42.Re8 Rc7 43.Re7 Rc3+ 44.Kd2 Rh3 [ 44...Ke4 45.e6 ] 45.Rxf7 Kxf4 [ 45...Ke4 46.Rc7 Rxh2+ 47.Kc1 Kd3 48.f7 Rh1+ 49.Kb2 Rh2+ 50.Kb1 Rh1+ 51.Rc1+- ] 46.Rc7 Rxh2+ 47.Kc1 1-0

(2) Rogozenko,D (2480) - Marin,M (2515) [E71]
Bucuresti, 1993
[Rogozenko,D]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 d6 4.Nc3 g6 5.e4 Bg7 6.h3 0-0 7.Bg5 e6 8.Bd3 exd5 9.cxd5 Re8N 10.Nf3 c4 11.Bc2 b5 12.a3 Na6 13.0-0 Nc5 [ 13...b4 14.axb4 Nxb4 15.Bb1 a5 16.Qd2+/= ] 14.Re1 [ 14.Qd2 h6! ] 14...Qb6 [ 14...h6 15.Bf4 g5 16.Bg3+/= Nh5 17.Bh2 Nf4 18.Bxf4 gxf4 19.Qd2+/- ] 15.Qd2+/= a5 [ 15...Bb7 16.Be3 /\ Bd4] 16.e5!? [ 16.Be3+/= ] 16...dxe5 17.Nxe5 Bf5!? [ 17...Bb7 18.a4 b4 19.Nb5+/- ] 18.Bxf5! Nb3 [ 18...gxf5 19.Qf4 Nfe4 20.Nxe4 fxe4 ( 20...Nxe4 21.Nc6 Bxb2 22.Bh6! Bxa1 23.Rxa1 Qxf2+ 24.Qxf2 Nxf2 25.Kxf2+/- ) 21.Qxf7+ Kh8 22.Nd7! Nxd7 ( 22...Qa7 23.Bf6 ) 23.Qxd7+/- ] 19.Qf4 [ 19.Nd7 Nxd7 20.Bxd7 Nxd2 21.Bxe8 Nb3 22.Rad1 Bd4 23.Bh4~~ ] 19...Nxa1 [ 19...Nh5 20.Nd7! Qa7 21.Qf3 Nxa1 22.Rxa1 gxf5 23.Qxf5+/- ] 20.Be6! fxe6 [ 20...Rxe6 21.dxe6 Qxe6 22.Nf3+- ; 20...Nc2 21.Bxf6 Rxe6 ( 21...fxe6 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.Qf7+ Kh8 24.Qf6+ Kg8 25.Ng4+- ) 22.dxe6 Qxe6 23.Bxg7 Nxe1 24.Bf6+- ] 21.Bxf6 exd5 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.Qf7+ Kh8 24.Nxd5 Qe6 25.Qxe6 Rxe6 26.Nf7+ Kg7 27.Rxe6 Kxf7 28.Re7+ Kg8 29.Rb7+- Nb3 30.Rxb5 [ 30.Nf6+ ] 30...Rd8 31.Ne3 Nd2 32.f3 Rd3 33.Kf2 a4 34.Rd5 c3 35.bxc3 Rxd5 36.Nxd5 Nc4 37.Ke2 Kf7 38.Kd3 Nb2+ 39.Kd4 1-0

(3) Vaisser,A (2575) - Rogozenko,D (2490) [A57]
Cairo, 1997
[Rogozenko,D]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Nf3 Bb7 5.a4 b4 6.Nbd2 d6 7.e4 e5 8.g3 g6 9.Bg2 Bg7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Ne1 Nbd7 12.f4 exf4 13.gxf4 Nh5 14.Nd3 Bd4+N [ 14...f5 - 48/95] 15.Kh1 Qh4 16.Qe1 [ 16.Rf3 Qe7~~ ] 16...Qe7 [ 16...Qxe1 17.Rxe1 Ba6~~ >17.Nb3 [ >=17.Nf3 Bg7 18.e5 Rae8 19.Be3|^ ] 17...Bg7 18.Na5 Ba6 19.Bd2 Nb8! 20.Nxb4!? [ 20.Rc1 Qc7 21.Nb3 Nd7 /\ Rae8 ] 20...cxb4 21.Bxb4© /\ e5 21...Bh6 22.e5 Nxf4 23.Bxd6 [ 23.Rxf4!? Bxf4 24.Bxd6 Qe8~~ ] 23...Nxg2 [ 23...Qg5? 24.Rxf4 Qxf4 25.Bxf8 /\ d6+/-] 24.Kxg2 [ 24.Bxe7 Nxe1 25.Bxf8 Bxf8 26.Raxe1 Bb4~~ ] 24...Qg5+ 25.Kh1 Nd7!~~ 26.e6? [ 26.Bxf8 Rxf8 ( 26...Bxf8 27.e6|^ /\Bxc4? 28.exf7+ Kg7 29.Qc3++- ) 27.e6~~ ] 26...Bxc4! 27.Nxc4 Qxd5+ 28.Kg1 fxe6!-/+ 29.Bxf8 Bxf8 30.Ne3 Bc5 31.Qg3?(+) [ 31.Qf2-/+ Qe4 32.Rae1 Ne5 33.Qf4 Qxf4 34.Rxf4 Nd3 35.Rc4! ] 31...Ne5 32.Qf4 [ 32.b4 Bd4 ] 32...Ng4!-+ 33.Rae1 Qf5? 34.Qc7 [ 34.Qc4 Bxe3+ ( 34...Nxe3+- 35.Rxf5 Nxc4+ 36.Rxc5-+ ) 35.Rxe3 Nxe3(+) ] 34...Qg5 35.Kh1 Nxe3 36.Qc6 Qd5+ 37.Qxd5 exd5 38.Rf3 d4 39.Re2 Rf8 70/60 [ 39...Rd8 ] 40.Rxf8+ Kxf8 41.Rd2 Nf5 42.Kg2 Ke7 43.Kf3 Ke6 44.Rd3 Kd5 45.Rb3 Kc4 46.Rb7 d3 47.Rd7 a5 48.h3 h5 49.Ke4 Nd6+ 50.Kf3 Kb3 51.Rc7 Bb4 0-1

(4) Rogozenko,D (2490) - Vaulin,A (2530) [D27]
Pardubice, 1997

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 e6 4.Bxc4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c5 6.0-0 a6 7.a4 Nc6 8.Qe2 cxd4 9.Rd1 Be7 10.exd4 0-0 11.Nc3 Nd5 12.Bb3 Ncb4 13.Ne5 Bd7 14.Qg4 Nf6 15.Qg3 Kh8 16.d5 exd5 17.Nxd5 Nbxd5 18.Bxd5 Be6 19.Bh6 gxh6 20.Bxe6 Qe8 21.Bb3 Ne4 22.Qf3 Ng5 23.Qf5 Rd8 24.h4 Ne6 25.Bc2 1-0

(5) Rogozenko,D (2460) - Knaak (2555) [A90]
Bundesliga, 1998
[Rogozenko, D]

1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 d5 5.Nh3 c6 6.0-0 Bd6 7.Bf4 Be7 8.Nd2 0-0 9.Qc2 Na6 10.a3 Qe8N [ 10...h6 11.f3 g5 12.Be5+/= ] 11.b4 [ 11.f3 h6 12.Nf2 g5 13.Be5 Nd7 14.Nd3 f4!?+/= ] 11...h6 12.f3 g5 13.Be5 Nd7 14.f4+/= Nxe5 15.dxe5 g4 16.Nf2 h5 17.h4 Qd8 18.Rfd1 Nc7 19.Nb3 [ 19.e4 a5!<=> ] 19...Bxh4 20.gxh4 Qxh4 21.Rd3 Qe7 [ >=21...Rf7+/- ] 22.Nh3! >< >>. 22...gxh3 23.Rxh3-> h4 24.Kf2 Rf7 25.Rah1 [ 25.c5! Bd7 26.Nd4 Rg7 ( 26...Rh7 27.Nf3+- ) 27.Rah1 Rg4 28.e3+- /\Bf3,Rh4.] 25...Rh7 26.c5 [ 26.Nd4 c5!<=> ; 26.Nd2!? ] 26...Bd7 27.Nd4 Kg7 28.Rg1 [ 28.Nf3 Rah8~~ ] 28...Kh8? >< Kh8. [ 28...Kf7+/- 29.Nf3 Rg8 ( 29...Rh6 30.Ng5+ Kg7 31.Bf3+/= ) 30.Ng5+ Rxg5 31.fxg5 Qxg5 32.Bxd5 Qf4+ 33.Bf3!? ] 29.Nf3 Rg8 30.Ng5 Rxg5 31.fxg5 Qxg5 32.Bxd5 Qf4+ 33.Bf3 Nd5 [ 33...Qxe5 34.Qd2+/- f4 35.Rg4 Qe3+ 36.Qxe3 fxe3+ 37.Kxe3 e5 38.Rhxh4 Bxg4 39.Rxh7+ Kxh7 40.Bxg4+/- /\ 38.Rd1.; 33...Qd4+ 34.e3 Qxe5 35.Qd2 Qf6 36.Qd6 Ne8 37.Qb8(+) ] 34.Qd3 Be8! [ 34...Qxe5 35.e3 Qb2+ ( 35...f4 36.Qxh7++/- Kxh7 37.Rxh4+ ) 36.Be2 e5 37.Rgh1+- ] 35.e3 Qxe5 36.Bxd5 Qb2+ [ 36...cxd5 37.Qd4+- ] 37.Qe2 Qxe2+ 38.Kxe2 cxd5 39.Rgh1 Kg7 40.Rxh4 Rxh4 41.Rxh4 e5 42.Kd2(.) a6 43.Rh1 Bc6 44.Rh5 Bd7 45.Kc3+- Be6 [ 45...Kg6 46.Rh8 ; 45...Kg8 46.Rh6 ] 46.a4 Bd7 47.b5 [ 47.b5 axb5 48.axb5 Kg6 49.c6 bxc6 50.b6 Bc8 51.Rh8 ] 1-0

(6) Kempinski,R (2545) - Rogozenko,D (2557) [D45]
Koszalin , 1998

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4 Bb4 8.Bd2 Qe7 9.Bd3 e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 Qxe5 12.f4 Qe7 13.g5 Ng4 14.0-0-0 dxc4 15.Bxh7 Nf2 16.g6 Nxd1 17.gxf7+ Kf8 18.Rxd1 Be6 19.a3 Ba5 20.Rg1 Qh4 21.Bg6 Rd8 22.Qe4 Qf6 23.Be1 Bxf7 24.Bxf7 Qxf7 25.f5 Re8 26.Qf3 Rh5 27.e4 Rd8 28.h4 Rd3 29.Qg4 Bb6 30.Rf1 Bd4 31.Ne2 c3 32.Nxd4 cxb2+ 33.Kb1 Rxd4 34.f6 g6 35.Bc3 Qd7 36.Qxd7 Rxd7 37.e5 Kf7 38.Re1 Ke6 39.Rg1 Rxh4 40.Rxg6 Rh2 41.Rg1 Rd3 42.Bb4 Rf3 43.Rd1 b6 44.Ka2 c5 0-1

(7) Shipov - Rogozenko [E39]
WICC, 15.10.2001
[Rogozenko, D]

Finding out that I am facing Shipov with Black in round 7 was not fun. Sergei Shipov was definetely the strongest player on WICC and I also stated that he didn't lose a single game in this tournament. All I could do was to prepare well for the game and hope for a fair game, which is always the first and ofthen the only wish before any on-line game. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 The decision to play Nimzo Indian was meant to avoid his preparation in Slav Defence - my main weapon against 1.d4. Still I used Nimzo Indian from time to time in my practice, so it shouldn't have been a big surprise for him. 4.Qc2 This is the system he usually plays. I chose a variation I knew quite well and another reason was that Shipov had not such a good score against the line 4. ... c5 5.dxc5 0-0. 4...c5 5.dxc5 0-0 6.a3 Bxc5 7.Nf3 b6 8.Bg5 Bb7 9.e4 [ The following game played its role during my preparation: 9.e3 h6 10.Bh4 Be7 11.Rd1 d6 12.Be2 a6 13.0-0 Qc7 14.Rd2 Nbd7 15.Rfd1 Rfd8 16.Qb1 Nc5 17.Rc2 Rac8 18.Nd4 Nce4 19.Bf3 Nxc3 20.Rxc3 Bxf3 21.gxf3 Qb7 22.Kg2 g5 23.Bg3 g4-> Shipov,S-Ivanchuk,V/Las Vegas 1999] 9...h6 10.Bh4 Be7 11.Rd1 Prevents 11. ... d6. [ 11.Be2 d6 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Rfd1 Qc7 14.Nd4 a6 15.Bg3 Rac8 16.a4 Rfe8 17.Rd2 Qb8 18.Rad1 Qa8 19.f3 Nh5=/+ Grigore,G-Rogozenko,D/Iasi 1999] 11...Nc6 However, I had my own ideas in this line. [ 11...Nh5 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Qd2 d5 14.Qe3 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Rd8 16.Rxd8+ Qxd8 and Black has a very pleasant position in Shipov,S-Shneider,A/Port Erin 1999.] 12.Be2 Rc8 13.0-0 Nh5 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Nb5 This is a tempting move, which looks very strong. How can Black defend against Nd6? There is no knight on f6 to play Ne8 now. However, the knight on h5 does not even thinks to go back to e8. My hopes were connected with a kingside attack... [ 15.Rfe1 A cautious move, making square f1 available for white bishop. At the same time placing the rook on the e-file prevents d7-d5 for quite a while. The move made by Shipov is more ambitious.; 15.Qd2 deserved attention. White controls square f4 and attacks on d7. Other idea is to play Nc3-b5 next. I believe Black is okay here, but difficult to prove it with variations because there were no games at all played with this position.] 15...d5! Otherwise White simply plays Nd6. 16.exd5 exd5 My opponent used quite a lot of time, which meant he didn't know the position. Using time helped Shipov - he succeeded to avoid many unpleasant variations. 17.Rfe1 [ 17.Rxd5 Nb4 18.axb4 Bxd5-+ ; 17.cxd5 Nd4-+ ] 17...Qf6 18.Qc3 This strong move was accompanied with a draw offer, which I rejected. The reason was simple - I had more time left and I knew he feels uncomfortable having less time with White. I just thought I had sort of psychological advantage and continued to play on. But francly speaking I was quite disappointed [ 18.cxd5 Nd4 19.Qd3 Nc2 20.Rf1 Nf4 and Black is very active.] 18...Qxc3 Unfortunately I mast trade queens in order to avoid an worse position. [ 18...dxc4?! 19.Qxf6 Nxf6 20.Nd6+/= ] 19.Nxc3 dxc4 20.Bxc4 Nf4 21.Nd5 Ng6 [ 21...Nxd5 this is "dead draw", but that would have meant that my decision to play on was a simple farce. I decided to keep more pieces. After his next reply I realized that White has a very simple play and objectively there was no reason at all to play for a win such a position. But we both were short of time, so I had to make moves instead of reflecting about the objective evaluation of the position. ] 22.h4 Rfe8 I must play accurately to hold the balance. 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Bb5 [ 24.h5 Nge5= ] 24...Kf8 [ 24...Rd8? 25.Bxc6 Bxc6 26.Ne7+ Nxe7 27.Rxd8++- ] 25.Nd4 Rc8 Here I was happy to make a draw, but had no time to offer it... So we played til the end: 26.Nxc6 Bxc6 27.Bxc6 Rxc6 28.h5 Ne5 [ 28...Ne7?? Normally I good move - his knight is strong, so it's only natural to trade it. He has a tactical refutation though, based on the weak bank rank. 29.Nxb6 ( 29.Nb4 Rc8 30.Rd7+/- ) 29...axb6 30.Rd8# ] 29.Ne3 Ke7 30.Rd4 Here I panicked - saw no moves and decided to trade as many material as possible. 30...g6 31.f4 Rc1+ 32.Kf2 Nc6 33.Rd5 Ke6 34.g4 Rb1 35.f5+ gxf5 36.gxf5+ Ke7 37.Nc4 f6 Now i was sure I will hold the position - his advances on the kingside brought White nothing. 38.b4 Rc1 39.Ne3 Rh1 40.b5 Na5 [ 40...Ne5 Don't ask me why I didn't play this.] 41.Rd3 Rxh5 42.Nd5+ Kf7 43.Ne3 Rh2+ [ 43...Ke7 44.Nd5+ Kf7 45.Ne3 Ke7 Look to the previous comment.] 44.Kf3 Rb2 45.Rd7+ Ke8 46.Rxa7 Rxb5 47.Ke4 Nc6 48.Rh7 Re5+ 49.Kf4 Ra5 50.Ng4 Ra4+ 51.Kg3 Rxa3+ 52.Kf4 Ra4+ 53.Kg3 Ra3+ 54.Kf4 Probably both players were happy with such an outcome. At least I had the feeling that I tried to do something, but he played accurately in the opening and then I had not the slightest chance. In the end both players qualified for the World Chess Championship. 1/2-1/2

(8) Rogozenko - Filipenko [D43]
WICC, 17.10.2001
[Rogozenko, D]

This game was played in the last round. By making a draw I had 90% chances to qualify for World Championship (actually in the end it turned out that it would have been enough). My opponent had even a better situation - by drawing this game he would definetely be in the first 8 places, thanks to his best Bucholz tie-break. Nevertheless there was a small possibility that draw could have turned out to be not enough for me. Of course I decided to play for a win. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 I must confess that preparation for this game took me many hours. As I explained already in the article, I was lucky to meet Filipenko - he always sticks to his openings which he knows very well (he used to be Dreev's coach). Soon in my preparation I figured out the variation which was most likely to be used by Filipenko for two main reasons, which I explain below. 6...dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 The sharp Anti-Moscow Gambit is fashionable these days and is a very risky choice for either side. Home preparation and a good feeling of the arising chaotic positions are essential in this opening. 9...Bb7 [ 9...Nbd7 Playing 9. ... Nbd7 was long time considered to be a must until the next advance was proved to be very unpleasant for Black: 10.d5! b4 11.dxe6 bxc3 12.exd7+ Bxd7 13.bxc3 Nxe4 14.Qd4 Nxg3 15.hxg3 Rg8 16.Qxc4 Rg6! A good novelty. The idea is to free the rook before playing Bg7 and Kf8-g8. 17.Ne5 After a long thought I decided that best chance to keep the initiative is to play a position with opposite-coloured bishops. ( 17.0-0 Bg7 /\Kf8-g8.) 17...Re6 18.Nxd7 Qxd7 19.Rd1 ( 19.0-0 Qd5 20.Qg4 ( 20.Qa6 Qc5 ) 20...Qe4 Black achieves here the trade of the queens, thus increasing a lot his chances to draw the game.) 19...Qe7 ( 19...Qc7 20.0-0+/- ) 20.0-0 Qc5 ( 20...Rd8 21.Rxd8+ Kxd8 22.Bg4 Rd6 ( 22...Re1 23.Qd4+ Ke8 24.Bd7++- ) 23.Rb1+- ) 21.Qg4 ( 21.Qa6?! Qb6 22.Qd3 Rd8+/= ; 21.Qd3?! Be7+/= ) 21...Bd6 ( 21...Rd8! Probably best chance to defend. 22.Rxd8+ ( 22.Bc4 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 h5!= ; 22.Rb1?! ) 22...Kxd8 23.Bc4 Rf6+/= ; 21...Bg7 22.Bc4 Rf6 23.Rfe1+ Kf8 24.Re3 h5 25.Qe4+/- ; 21...h5 22.Qxh5 Rh6 23.Qg4 Bd6 24.Bc4 Kf8 25.Rd3! /\Rf3+/-. ( 25.Rfe1 Kg7 /\26. ... Rah8<=>.) ) 22.Bc4 Rf6 23.Rfe1+ ( 23.Qe4+! Kd7 ( 23...Kf8? 24.Qh7+- ) 24.Rd4 Kc7 25.Bb3 Qe5 26.Qd3+/- ) 23...Kf8 24.Re3 Rd8 ( 24...Bf4 25.gxf4 ( 25.Re4 Bc7+/= ) 25...Qxc4 26.Qd7 ( 26.Rd4 Qxa2 ) 26...gxf4 ( 26...Rxf4? 27.Qb7!+- ; 26...Qxf4? 27.Qe7+ Kg8 28.Rf3+- ) 27.Rf3 Qxa2 28.Rd6|^ ; 24...Bxg3! We both missed this nice tactical blow. 25.Qxg3 ( 25.Rxg3 Rf4= ) 25...Qxc4 26.Qe5 Kg7 27.Rf3 Qe6= ) 25.Bb3 Bc7? Finally Black collapses and I win by force: ( 25...Kg7 26.Bc2+/= ) 26.Rxd8+ Bxd8 27.Qe4+- Kg7 ( 27...Be7 28.Qh7 Ke8 29.Qg8+ Kd7 30.Bxf7+- ) 28.Bc2 Rg6 29.Qe8 Bf6 ( 29...Rd6 30.Bb3 Qf5 31.Rf3 Qb1+ 32.Kh2+- ) 30.Qd7 ( 30.Bb3 Qf8 ; 30.Re6! ) 30...h5 31.Bxg6 Kxg6 32.Qd3+ Kg7 33.Rf3 Qe7 34.Kh2 1-0 Rogozenko-Peng/Dieren 2001] 10.h4 b4 Here we are. This line became fashionable this year and Dreev achieved two very important wins with it. As I knew Filipenko used to be Dreev's coach, there was definetely a big possibility that he could play it against me. [ 10...g4 11.Ne5 Rg8 12.Nxg4 Nbd7 13.Nxf6+ Nxf6 14.Bf3 Qb6 15.Qd2 h5 ( 15...0-0-0 16.Qf4 Rxg3 17.fxg3 Be7 18.e5 Rxd4 19.exf6 Rxf4 20.fxe7 Qe3+ 21.Ne2+- ) 16.0-0 Rd8 ( 16...Ng4 17.Rfd1 Bh6 18.Qc2 Rd8 19.Ne2 /\ b3+/-.) 17.Ne2 c5 18.d5 exd5 19.exd5 Bxd5 ( 19...Nxd5 20.Nf4! ( 20.Bxh5 Bh6 21.Qe1 Nf6-/+ ) 20...Nxf4 21.Qxf4 Bxf3 22.Qxf3© ) 20.Qf4 Bxf3 21.Qxf3 Rd3 22.Qf4 Be7 ( 22...Rg4 23.Qe5+ Be7 ( 23...Qe6? 24.Qb8++/- ) 24.Nf4|^ ) 23.Rfe1© Nd5 24.Qe5 Qb7 25.Qxh5 Kf8 26.Rad1! Trading Black's most active piece 26...Qc6 27.b3 Rg6 28.bxc4 bxc4 29.Rb1+/- Kg8 30.Rec1 Qe6 31.Rb8+ Bf8 32.Be5 Nf6 33.Bxf6 Qxf6 34.Qxc5 Rd6 35.Qxc4 Rd2 36.Nf4 Rh6 37.Qc5 Qg7 38.Qg5 Qxg5 39.hxg5 Rb6 40.Ra8 Kg7 41.g4 1-0 Rogozenko,D-Cosma,I/ Romanian Team Champ. 2001] 11.hxg5 [ 11.Na4 Nxe4 12.Be5 Rg8 13.Qc2 c5 14.Bxc4 g4 15.Bb5+ Nd7 16.dxc5 b3 17.Qd3 gxf3 18.c6 Bb4+ and Black was victorious later in this incredible sharp position, Sokolov,I-Dreev,A/Dos Hermanas, (0-1, 31 moves).] 11...bxc3 12.bxc3! White is a piece down and he is not even thinking yet to regain material! The initiative is more important, but here I would like to explain something. In principle Black's position looks ugly. He has a lot of weaknesses and no safe place for the king. But he has a considerable material advantage and also some possibilities for active play, connected mainly with queen's and knight's actions (Qa5, Ne4). So the most important for White is to prevent Black's initiative, not to take material yet. That's why 12.bxc3 is actually a very logical move - it eliminates the potential danger of black queenside pawns. In Informator 80 I found out that 12.bxc3 was Zaitsev's idea. Of course it is true, but still reading this was a bit painful, cause I came to the same idea myself during my preparation for the game with Cosma, which was played in March 2001. During that preparation I discovered already the refutation of Black's play, which was demonstrated in this encounter versus Filipenko. [ 12.gxf6 This is the most natural move, but it gives Black too strong initiative on the queenside, which was proved in the practice as well. In the second round of WICC Filipenko won against P.-H. Nielsen in this variation, that's why I could hope he would repeat it. 12...cxb2 13.Rb1 Qa5+ 14.Kf1 ( 14.Nd2 c3 15.0-0 Ba6