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(875534) Adams,M (2715) - Leko,P (2725) [B31]
Corus 2000 Wijk aan Zee B Section (13), 30.01.2000
[Rohde]
1.e4 Adams is tied for fifth place going into the last round. 1...c5 Leko is tied for second place with Kramnik, a point behind Kasparov. 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 The Bb5 systems against the Sicilian are a favorite of Adams. Last year in Las Vegas he wore down Kramnik and finally defeated him in their mini-match using this opening. 3...g6 4.Bxc6 This has been revived lately. Formerly it was thought White should wait on this and just castle. 4...dxc6 5.d3 Bg7 6.0-0 Nf6 The idea of 6 ... e5 and ... Ng8-e7 is weak as the e7 knight will always lack scope. 7.h3 It may seem a bit early for this move but if 7 Nc3 then 7 ... Bg4 and White will not have a knight on f3 to support e4-e5. On the other hand, 6 ... Bg4 by Black would have been met by 7 Nbd2. 7...0-0 8.Nc3 Ne8 Leko is a very solid player. Here his sound plan is simply to maneuver this knight via c7 and e6 to d4. 9.Bf4 Nc7 10.Qd2 A good reaction to Black's plan. White will exchange off the dark-squared bishops with Bf4-h6 and after that a trade of knights will leave him with a mobile knight against Black'shemmed-in light-squared bishop. 10...f6 Leko wants to play ... e7-e5 before committing his knight to e6. A big decision for Adams now is whether to play 11. e5 or let Leko play 11 ... e5. 11.Bh6 Adams decides to force the exchange of bishops. 11...e5 12.Rad1 White's plan may involve, after moving his knights around, forcing through a lever such as d3-d4 - with the help of c2-c3 - or f2-f4. 12...Ne6 The knight may go to d4 or may just wait on e6, leaving the c8 bishop as a spectator for a while. 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.Ne2 Now 14 ... Nd4 can be met by 15 Nfxd4 cxd4 16 f4. 14...b6 The main purpose of this is to discourage c2-c3 and d3-d4 as then the bishop would find excellent employment at a6. 15.Nh2 White is thinking about f4. 15...Qd6 Leko offered a draw with this move. White would have a small edge after 16 f4 exf4 17 Nxf4 Nxf4 18 Rxf4 Bd7, but he felt it not to be worth pursuing on this last day of the event. Leko ties for second with Kramnik. 1/2-1/2
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