SI 42.9 (B42)
Nidjat Mamedov
Vadim Milov
Baku 2008 (4)
Notes by Jeroen Bosch

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In memory of Heydar Aliev the so-called President's Cup was held in Baku last May. This strong open was won by Evgeny Naer with 7,5 points. Second place was shared by 8 GMs. One of them was the winner of this Month's SOS game Vadim Milov. Let us observe how he beat his GM-opponent with an SOS from volume 3.

1.e4 c5 2.f3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 a6 5.d3 f6 6.0-0 e5!?

Rather than settle for the standard hedgehog positions that so often arise in the main line of the Kan Variation Milov employs a Najdorf-like move to unsettle his opponent. It was the eternally creative Oleg Romanishin who wrote on this line for SOS-3 under the catchy (sorry) title of 'Catch-as-catch-Kan'.

7.f3

White has several decent knight moves at his disposal:
A) 7.f5 d5 8.g5 xf5 9.exf5 e4 is OK for Black according to Romanishin;
B) 7.e2 c5 8.g5 d6 9.bc3 bd7 10.d5 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.ec3 e6 13.c4 h7!? Ipavec-Romanishin, Nova Gorica 1999;
C) 7.b3 e7 (7...d6) 8.c4 d6 9.c3 0-0 10.h3 e6 11.f4 exf4 12.xf4 c6 was about equal in Spraggett-Sulava, Metz St Symphorien 2008;
D) Interestingly enough, the d4-knight is not forced to move: 7.g5!? this brilliant move - invented by Peter Wells - is analysed in detail by Romanishin in SOS-3.

7...d6

Romanishin prefers 7...c6 and dislikes the text because of 8.c4. Milov clearly holds his own opinion on this matter!

8.c3

8.c4

8...e7 9.g5

9.a4 b6 10.d2 0-0 11.c4 g4!? 12.e1 e6 13.g5 bd7 14.xf6 xf6 15.e3 c8 16.e2 b7 17.f3 fc8 18.h1 c5 was the stem game Fedorowicz-Dorfman, New York 1989.

9...e6 10.xf6

White opts for a simple plan to control square d5. Play now resembles the Sveshnikov or the Boleslavsky systems.

10...xf6 11.e2

White's play (with 10.xf6 and the text) is rather modest. 11.a4 followed by d2-c4-e3 or d2, e1, f1-e3 is another typical way to aim for control over the d5-square. Yet, it is unlikely that such an elaborate plan will seriously harm Black who has a healthy position and two bishops.

11...c6 12.d5 c8

Milov is ready to go for the Sveshnikov pawn structure after 13.xf6+ gxf6.

13.c3 e7

Another typical Sveshnikov move fighting for control over the d5-square and almost forcing White to take on f6.

14.a4+ f8!

14...d7 15.xd7+ xd7 16.b6 is a slight edge for White. Milov is ambitious.

15.xf6

Maybe this is not the best move in the position. Milov now obtains dynamic chances on the kingside.

15...gxf6 16.fd1

This explains White's previous move - he has a clear target in the form of pawn d6.

16...c6 17.c4?! g6! 18.g3 h5!

To compensate for the backward pawn on d6 Black has clear counterplay on the kingside.

19.h4

This weakens the kingside of course, but allowing the opening up of the h-file is no picknick either. A sample line is: 19.d2 h4 20.ad1 hxg3 21.hxg3 g7 22.b4 winning d6 or b7 but underestimating the attack. 22...g8! 23.xb7 h7 24.h4 xh4! (24...cc8 is also strong) 25.xc6 g6 26.f3 g4! 27.g2 h5! 28.xd6 f3! and mates.

19...g8 20.a3 f4 21.f1 b6

Ouch! Suddenly g3 (and f2) are targeted.

22.xd6?!

22.d2.

22...xd6 23.c5

The point, but Black keeps his queen on the diagonal with

23...a7 24.cxd6 xg3+ 25.h1 g8

This is best, as White can protect f2 only with the ugly 26.e3. Not 25...xf2? 26.d7+ g7 27.d8 and it is White who wins.

26.e3 xe3 27.fxe3 h3 28.xh3

28.d2 f2+ 29.h2 e8 is even worse.

28...xh3

The ending is very favourable for Black. Pawn d6 is a weakness as are the doubled e-pawns and the h-pawn. Furthermore, rook and bishop are a superior combination to rook and knight.

29.h2 e6 30.c1 g7

30...e8 31.c7 g4 32.d2 xh4+.

31.g1+ g4 32.h1

Mamedov opts for the rook ending.Or 32.g3 d8 33.d1 d7! followed by ...c6.

32...d8 33.h2 xd6 34.xg4 hxg4 35.xg4+ h6 36.h2 h5 37.g7

37.h3 d2.

37...xh4

Black has a superior rook ending. His rook and king are very active.

38.g2

38.xf7? d2+ 39.g1 xb2 wins for Black.

38...d2+ 39.f3 xb2 40.xf7 g5! 41.a4 g6 42.c7 a5!

Milov is slowly improving his position.

43.d7 b6 44.c7 b4 45.c6 g5 46.e6 g6 47.c6 xa4

Black is winning.

48.xb6 a1

The simplest plan is to advance the a-pawn to a2 forcing White's rook to attack it via the a-file and forcing White's king back to g2 (or h2). Black can then enter with his own king.

49.b7 a4 50.a7 a3 51.g2 a2 52.h2 f5 53.exf5+ xf5 54.a5

54.a4 e4 55.g2 e5 56.a5+ d6 57.h2 c6 58.g2 b6 59.a8 b5 also loses in the end.

54...e4 55.g2 d3 56.a3+ c2 57.a5 e4 58.a6 d3 59.a3+ e2

White resigned. He is in Zugzwang.

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