The San Luis tournament was in Informant 94.  Unfortunately, I've temporarily misplaced that copy.

Smyslov_Fan wrote on 07/25/06 at 00:01:35:

Thanks SF,  (except for the and general lack of enthusiasm regarding giving me the info - well, at least no insults involving elderberries )

Which Chess Informant issue?  Since it's more recent than 93 (I assume) I wouldn't have access to it without making a purchase of the relevant issue (unless the game appeared free online (e.g., as for some games appearing at ChessCafe.com).  I will see if I can find the game in the europe echecs site.

Although the game ends in a draw, I saw it as a pretty good advert for the potential of 11.Nb3.

woofwoof wrote on 07/24/06 at 05:08:25:

11.g4 seems quite logical, and more consistent with White's typical kingside expansion plans than does 11.g3.  I've found a couple of annotated games where 11.g4 was played (Black won both), but haven't have time to look through them.  I will post something on 11.g4 after I've gone through these games.

I have a couple of links to annotations of the game Anand-Morozevich, San Luis 2005 featuring Nijboer's 11.Nb3 (as mentioned earlier), which could possibly be relevant to the game in this thread (although other 11th moves are still under consideration).

http://www.chesspro.ru/events/sanluis05-13en.shtml (commentary by Shipov)

[for other San Luis games, see: http://chess.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.chesspro.ru/events...]

http://www.e3e5.com/eng/petersburg/theory/article.html?127 (commentary by Sakaev)

Does anyone know of other sources of commentary on this game?

Keano wrote on 07/18/06 at 09:43:47:

I looked at a few games with 11.Nb3 last night and I'm really starting to like this move.  My impression is that it's still not clear (or agreed upon, at least) what Black's best response is (e.g., 11...Bb4, 11...Be7, 11...b6 have all been played).  Keano, you mentioned that this move might be Khalifman's suggestion.  Were you able to confirm this?

Well this is an extremely important decision for White - from my angle and what I know of the position my opinion is this:

11.h4 For many years this was considered the strongest move - and Kasparov won some nice games with it, lately it has gone out of fashion but it is still not without some venom in my opinion, although theoretically I think Black is solving his problems here (for the moment!) so I would not vote for this move.

11. Qf2 - very interesting move as played by Kramnik and very popular amongst top GMs it seems - so must be a serious option, although personally I find Blacks plan of ...Bxd4(not all will play this) 12.Bxd4 b5 the most awkward to meet - I think there is a game where Radjabov is Black against either Grischuk or Shirov (cant remember which) and he equalised, although went on to lose a rook + pawn endgame. This would be an interesting move to play.

11.Kb1 - Personally I like this move - a high class waiting move - inevitably it always seems White has to play this move so he gets it over with straight away and waits to see what Black does, as mentioned in some endgame lines where Queens go off then c3 is possible. critical might be that plan again of ...Bxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 but then I dont mind 13.Bf2 b4 14.Na4!? clogging up the queenside - havent follwed the recent games so not sure if there are examples of this plan. 11...Nxd4 is more popular reply from Black I think. 

11.Nb3 - extremely interesting and complex move which I have not really investigated properly. White basically stymies Blacks exchanging plan and enters a highly complex middlegame - g4 is coming, and sometimes Rg1-g3. White is basically playing for checkmate, so this has got to be critical.


In conclusion - it is extrememly difficult to know what Whites best move is now, I suspect even if I analysed for a few days I still would not be sure, so I will be happy with any of these 3 moves: 11.Qf2, 11.Kb1, or 11.Nb3.

Ostap, Thanks for the +ve feedback.

Amongst your list, I too wld find 11.Qf2 most positive. 11.h4 & 11.g3 (how abt 11.g4 instead?) really looks out of character. 11.Kb1 as noted by MNb, in retrospect is kinda slow & 11.Nb3 just looks plain ugly.

So, if 11.Qf2 is your final decision, you hv my fullest blessings!

Ostap, amongst your list of moves, my choices were between 11.Kb1 or 11.Qf2. Its just that this whole thing of black's sooner or later b5 was very very displeasing, hence I shifted my attention to 11.NxN. 

Yes, I'm aware of the potential opening of the b-file, but felt that it wld be similar as facing the Sicilian Kan with the 5...Nc6  6.NxN line. The difference being that d5 has not been played yet for black. Then again, as mentioned I was mentally numb, so am unable to really delve too deeply into all the ramifications.