Pokémon Damage Formula

• Johannes Fischer, Schacherfolg Made in China, Zeit Online, May 4, 2015

• Malcom Pein, China win chess World Team Championships, The Telegraph, May 10, 2015

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Notes by International Master Malcom Pein

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Yuniesky Quezada Pérez – Vladimir Akopian
10th World Team Chess Championship; Tsaghkadzor, April 21, 2015
Sicilian Defence B41

Black plays the Hedgehog, but 14. ... a5 is an unusual idea, as the wall of Pawns that protects Black’s position is compromised.
White takes advantage:

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Qc7 7. a3 b6 8. Be3 Bb7 9. f3 d6 10. Be2 Nbd7 11. 0-0 Be7 12. Qd2 0-0 13. Rfc1. For 13. b4 Rac8 14. Kh1 Rfe8 15. Rac1 Qb8 16. Rfd1 see Jumabayev – Diamant, 48th World Junior Chess Championship, Puerto Madryn 2009 – Ed. Note. 13. ... Rac8 14. a4 a5!? 15. Ndb5 Qb8 16. Rd1 Rcd8. 16. ... Ne8 17. Bf4 Rc6 18. Qc2 Nc5 19. Rd2 makes Black contort, but his position remains solid.

17. Nxd6!! White had to calculate very deeply to appreciate that this pawn grab is advantageous. 17. ... Ne5 18. Ncb5 Bc6. 18. ... Ne8 19. Qc3! Rxd6 20. Nxd6 Bxd6 21. c5! Bxc5 22. Bxc5 bxc5 23. Qxc5 Nc6 24. Bb5 Ne5 25. Qb6 and White dominates the board. 19. Qc3 Rxd6 20. Nxd6 Bxd6 21. Rxd6! Qxd6 22. c5 Qb8 23. cxb6 Ba8 24. Qxa5. The passed Pawns supported by the Bishop pair are unstoppable. Black takes desperate measures. 24. ... Bxe4. 24. ... Rc8 25. Qa7 Nfd7 26. Qxb8 Rxb8 27. a5 Kf8 28. a6 Nxb6 29. a7 Rb7 30. Ba6. 25. fxe4 Neg4 26. e5! Nxe3 27. exf6 Qd6 28. Rc1 gxf6 29. b7 1 : 0. (Malcom Pein, The Telegraph, May 10, 2015).