Two on an island

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov – Evgeny Yurievich Tomashevsky
World Chess Federation Grand Prix 2017; first stage; Sharjah, February 19, 2017
Queen’s Indian Defence E12

“[Mamedyarov] showed his strength in the Grand Prix’s round two. From the position shown in the diagram, he used a typical strategy for playing against hanging Pawns. How does White play?”, Grandmaster Rafael Duailibe Leitão says and asks. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. Qc2 Nbd7 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Bf4 a6 9. g3 Be7 10. Bg2 0-0 11. 0-0 Re8 12. Rac1. For 12. Rfd1 Nf8 13. Rac1 Ne6 14. Ng5 Nxf4 15. gxf4 g6 16. e3 Bd6 17. Qb3 Bf8 18. Nf3 Rb8 19. Ne5 Re6 20. Qa2 Rd6 21. b4 c6 22. Rd2 Kg7 23. Rdc2 Ng8 24. Na4 see Polugaevsky – Short, Interzonal Tournament, Biel 1985. 12. ... c5 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Ne5 Bf8 15. Qb3 Qb6 16. Qxb6 Nxb6 17. Rfd1. Black has not the most dynamic version of hanging Pawns and White can claim a slight but lasting edge. 17. ... Ra7 18. e3 h6 19. h4 Ba8 20. Nd3! Rd7 21. Bh3 Rb7

22. b4!± cxb4. 22. ... c4 23. Nc5 is no better. 23. axb4 d4 24. exd4 Nbd5 25. Be5 Nxc3 26. Rxc3 Nd5 27. Rc4 Nxb4 28. Nc5 Bxc5 29. dxc5 Nc6 30. Bc3 Rbe7 31. Rd6 Rc7 32. Rg4 f5 33. Rgg6 Ne5 34. Bxe5 Rxe5 35. c6 Kh7 36. h5 Rc5 37. Bg2 1 : 0.

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Photo: Day.az