聘礼

李超 (Lǐ Chāo) – Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov
4th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, April 25, 2016
Queen’s Gambit Declined D43

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. g3 Nd7 8. Bg2 dxc4 9. 0-0 Be7 10. Ne4 Qf5 11. Ned2 e5 12. e4 Qe6 13. Rc1 b5. For 13. ... exd4 14. Nxd4 Qf6 15. Nxc4 0-0 16. Nf5 Nb6 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Qd6 Qd8 19. Rfd1 Bg4 see Kramnik – Anand, 5th Classic KO, London 2013. 14. b3 c3 15. Rxc3 Bb7

16. d5! A very powerful Pawn sacrifice by 李超 (Lǐ Chāo), who suddenly feels the strength coming back to him. On the other hand, if 16. dxe5 then 16. ... c5 with equality. 16. ... cxd5 17. Rc7 Rb8 18. exd5 Bxd5 19. Re1 Rd8 20. Nd4 Qb6 21. Bxd5 Qxc7 22. Ne6 Qb6 23. Nxd8 Qxd8 24. Nf3 0-0 25. Bc6 Nf6 26. Qxd8 Bxd8 27. Nxe5. Peace after the storm. Topalov defended very well, even though he was a bit lucky because his moves were pretty forced. 27. ... Ba5 28. Re2 Rb8. The draw may well have been agreed within a few moves, but a warrior cannot indulge in lazy sweetness. 29. Kg2 Kf8 30. f4 Bc3 31. g4 Rb6 32. Bf3 Rd6 33. Nc6 a6 34. Nb8 Rb6 35. Nc6 Nxg4 36. Bxg4 Rxc6 37. Bd7 Rg6+ 38. Kf3 f5 39. Re8+ Kf7 40. Re3 Rd6 41. Be8+ Kf8 42. Bh5 g6 43. Bxg6 Rxg6 44. Rxc3 Rd6 45. Ke3 Kf7 46. a4 Re6+ 47. Kf3 bxa4 48. bxa4 Rb6 49. Ke3 Rb4 50. a5 Rb5 51. Rc7+ Kg8 52. Rc8+ Kg7 53. Rc7+ Kg8 54. Rc8+ Kg7 ½ : ½.

Former FIDE World Chess Champion Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov, ever more committed to his role of justitiarius errans, likes to show off his skill as a swordsman. Photo: Fiona Steil-Antoni.

李超 (Lǐ Chāo)
Photo: Rolf Haug/Matt & Patt