(1) Rublevsky,S (2652) - Bareev,E (2675) [C08]
ch-RUS Superfinal Moscow RUS (1), 19.12.2005
[Malcolm Pein]



1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 Nf6 5.exd5 exd5 6.Bb5+ Bd7 7.Bxd7+ Nbxd7
This line is a favourite of Korchnoi's as well. Black gets an Isolated Queen's Pawn but is rid of his white squared bishop which is often less potent than its counterpart.

8.0-0 Be7 9.Re1 0-0 10.dxc5 Nxc5 11.Nf1
11.Nb3 was also possible but this is more aggressive, heading for e3 to attack the weak pawn

11...Re8 12.Be3 b5
Black anticipates White's next and prepares a possible b5-b4 but to my eye it creates another weakness

13.c3 Qd7 14.Bd4!
White usually blockades on d4 with a knight but this works well, attacking the Nf6, a defender of d5 preparing Ne3

14...Rad8 15.Ne3 Nce4 16.Qb3 a6 17.Ne5 Qb7 18.Nd3!
Two centralised knights cover a huge number of squares and White is ready for a2-a4. Black needs to improve his position and Bf8 followed by g6 seems reasonable but there is no time.

18...Qc6
[18...Bf8 19.a4 Qc6 20.axb5 axb5 (20...Qxb5 21.Qxb5 axb5 22.f3 Nd2 23.Bxf6 gxf6 24.Rad1 Nc4 25.Nf5 ) 21.Ra5 ]

19.a4 Nd2 20.Qc2 Nc4 21.axb5 axb5 22.Nf5 Bf8 23.b3 Nb6 24.Ne5 Qe6 25.f3!
Preventing Ne4 which would dislodge the Nf5 and again asking Black how he willimprove his position. White is ready for Ra1-a6 [25.Ra6 ]

25...Ra8 26.Rad1 b4?
The alternative was unpleasant but this loses [26...Nbd7 27.Nh6+ gxh6 28.Nxd7 Qxd7 29.Bxf6 with a clear advantage]

27.Ng4! Qxe1+ 28.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 29.Kf2 Rea1
Black has won two rooks for a queen and threatens Ra2 winning but Rublevsky has prepared a combination

30.Nfh6+ Kh8
[30...gxh6 31.Nxf6+ Kh8 32.Qxh7# ]

31.Nxf7+ Kg8 32.Nfh6+ Kh8 33.Nxf6 gxf6
[33...R8a2 34.Nf7# ]

34.Qf5 Bg7 35.Nf7+
[35.Nf7+ Kg8 36.Qe6 h6 37.Nxh6+ Kh7 38.Ng4 bxc3 39.Nxf6+ Kg6 40.Ne4+ Kh7 41.Ng5+ Kh8 42.Qh6+ Kg8 43.Qxg7# ] 1-0