1.e4
e6
2.d4
d5
3.Nc3
Nf6
4.Bg5
dxe4
5.Nxe4
Nbd7
6.Nf3
h6
7.Nxf6+
Nxf6
8.Be3
Bd6
9.Bd3
b6
The most topical way of treating this position.
10.Ne5
Surprisingly, this moves seems to be a novelty.
10...Bb7
11.Bb5+
Kf8
The Karpov king - only this time it is a French, not Caro-Kann.
12.Qe2
Preparing to castle long.
12...a6!?
An important finesse - after [12...c5
13.0-0-0
Qc7
(13...a6?
14.dxc5
) 14.f4
a6
White has an additional option of 15.dxc5
]
13.Bd3
c5
I could (should?) have castled kingside here, but it seemed to be in direct contravention of the spirit of the tournament, so I did not spend too much time on it.
14.0-0-0
b5!
However, this move quickly brought me back down to earth. Black uses the fact that the pawn is still on f2 to force White into opening the second front on the queenside.
15.c4
[is never a very good idea with the king on c1: 15.c3
c4
16.Bc2
Bd5
17.f4
b4!
, and Black starts first; However, Misha had to make sure he calculated 15.Bg6!?
correctly: 15...fxg6!
(everything else loses) 16.dxc5
(16.Nxg6+
Kf7
17.Nxh8+
Qxh8
18.dxc5
Be7
is good for Black) 16...Bxe5
17.Rxd8+
Rxd8
18.c6!
Bxc6
19.Bc5+
Bd6
, and Black seems fine. However, on closer inspection things are not that rosy: 20.Qe5!
(20.Qxe6
Bxc5
21.Qxc6
Bxf2
22.Qxa6
Kg8
23.Qxb5
Kh7
is very unclear) 20...Ne4
(20...Ke7
21.Rd1
Ne8
22.Rxd6
Rxd6
23.Bxd6+
Nxd6
24.Qxg7+
Nf7
25.Qxg6
is probably a draw, but I would prefer to be White here; 20...Ne8
21.Qxe6
Bxc5
22.Qxc6
Be7
23.Qxg6
Rd6
24.Qg4
, and once again White has some pressure: 24...Nf6!?
(24...g6
25.Rd1
) 25.Qc8+
Kf7
26.Qxh8
Rd8
27.Qxd8
Bxd8
28.Rd1
, and Black will have to suffer for a while) 21.Bxd6+
Nxd6
22.Qxe6
Bxg2
23.Re1
Nf7
24.Qxa6
g5
25.Qxb5
g6
26.a4
Kg7
27.a5
, and the position is very sharp, but I would once again pick White. Why didn't you then? might ask the reader. The answer is very simple: I failed to notice 15.Bg6 altogether. There is very little to be proud of in this game for me - the reason I am including it in the report is two-fold: A) it was a hugely important turning point in my tournament, and B) I had great fun analyzing all the stuff I missed during the game, and felt it would be a shame to let it all go to waste]
15...Qc7
Keeping the tension. The immediate exchanges seem to favour White: [15...bxc4
16.Bxc4
(16.Nxc4
is much less of a problem for Black: 16...cxd4
17.Bxd4
Bf4+
18.Be3
Bxe3+
19.Qxe3
(19.Nxe3
Qc7+
20.Kb1
g6
21.Rc1
Qb8
22.Ng4
Nxg4
23.Qxg4
Kg7
; 19.fxe3
Qc7
20.Kb1
Rd8
) 19...Bxg2
20.Rhg1
Bd5
21.Kb1
Rb8
22.b3
Qc7
, and White will have to prove he has anything concrete for the pawn) 16...Qc7
(16...cxd4
17.Bxd4
Qc7
18.f4
transposes; ; while 16...Bxg2?
17.dxc5
Bxh1
18.Rxd6
Qc7
19.f3
is bad for Black) 17.f4
(both 17.Kb1?!
Bxg2
18.Rhg1
Be4+
19.Bd3
Rb8!
; and 17.f3
Nd5
are hardly advisable) 17...cxd4
18.Bxd4
Rc8
19.b3
Bd5
(19...a5
20.Kb1
a4
21.Rc1
achieves nothing) 20.Kb1
Bxe5
21.Bxe5
Bxc4
22.bxc4
, and White is better: the king will be quite safe on a1, while the bishop is clearly stronger than the knight here]
16.f4
Ke7!?
A remarkable move. Black wants to connect the rooks at any cost. [The saner 16...bxc4
17.Bxc4 would transpose to the previous note, but White has an additional possibility: 17.Nxc4!?
Bxf4
(17...cxd4
18.Bxd4
Bxf4+
19.Kb1
Bd5
20.Rhf1
gives white good compensation for the pawn) 18.dxc5
Bxe3+
19.Qxe3
Nd5
20.Qf2
Rc8
(20...Qf4+
21.Qxf4
Nxf4
22.Rhf1
Nxd3+
23.Rxd3
is very good for White) 21.Rhf1
f6
22.Kb1
Qxc5
23.Qe2
, and Black needs to be careful: 23...Nb4
24.Qxe6
Nxd3
25.Rxd3
Qc6!
, with draw the most likely result. The text move is an admirable display of bravery - but objectively Black should have preferred something a bit less heroic.]
17.f5!
White needs to act fast - if Black is allowed to play 17...Rhd8 and retreat with the king back to relative safety of f8, he will have very little to worry about. [White is unlikely to achieve much by returning to normalcy: 17.dxc5
Bxc5
18.Kb1
bxc4
19.Bxc4
Rhc8
20.Bxc5+
Qxc5
21.Rd2
Kf8
22.Rhd1
Be4+
23.Ka1
Bd5
, and Black is fine]
17...Rhd8?!
As we will see, this is not fast enough. However, the pawn grab did not solve Black's problems either: [17...Bxe5
18.dxe5
Qxe5
19.Rhe1
Rhc8!
(19...Rhd8
20.Qf2!
(20.fxe6
fxe6
21.Bf2
wins the pawn back, but trades too many pieces: 21...Qxe2
22.Bxc5+
Kf7
23.Rxe2
Rdc8
24.b4
bxc4
25.Bxc4
Bd5
, and Black should be fine) 20...Ne4
21.Qh4+
Qf6
22.Qxf6+
Kxf6
23.fxe6
fxe6
24.Rf1+
Ke7
25.Rf4
Nd6
26.Bxc5
Rac8
27.b4
, and White is better - Black king is still far from being safe) , and now the machine suggests a very cool 20.fxe6
(20.Qf2
bxc4
21.Bc2
is also tempting, but would only result in a slightly better endgame after 21...Be4
(21...c3!
22.Bf4
cxb2+
23.Kb1+-
) 22.fxe6
Bxc2
23.Qxc2
Rd8!
24.Bxh6
Rxd1+
25.Qxd1
Qd5
) 20...fxe6
21.Bg6!
(creating the threat of 22.Bxc5) 21...Kf8
22.g3!
, and Black is unable to parry the very slow-looking threat of 23.Qf1 and 24.Bxh6: 22...Kg8
(22...Rd8
23.Rxd8+
Rxd8
24.cxb5
, and White is better) 23.Qf1
Qc7
24.Bxh6
, and once again White is ahead. Whether I would have found 22.g3, however, can not even be termed 'anyone's guess' - on my form on that particular day it is very much an outside bet.]
18.fxe6
I have undertaken a long analysis of [18.Rhf1
here, under the assumption that my play in this game was very flawed, and I should look for improvements every step of the way. However, this particular finesse is completely unnecessary, so I will present the reader with the bare minimum of my findings. 18...bxc4
(18...cxd4
is less precise, it would seem: 19.Bxd4
bxc4
20.Bc2!
(20.Bxc4
is wrong, however: 20...Rac8!
(but not 20...Be4
21.Ng6+!
fxg6
22.Bxf6+
gxf6
(22...Kxf6
23.Qxe4
exf5
24.Qe6+
Kg5
25.g3
Qxc4+
26.Qxc4
Rdc8
27.Rd4+/-
) 23.Qxe4
Be5
24.fxe6
Rac8
25.b3
- Black might very well hold this position, but 20...Rac8 is clearly stronger) 21.b3
Ba3+
(21...Be4
22.Ng6+
) 22.Bb2
Bxb2+
23.Qxb2
Rxd1+
24.Rxd1
exf5
, and Black is doing very well.) 20...Bc5
(there is nothing else) 21.Ng6+
fxg6
22.Bxf6+
gxf6
23.Qxe6+
Kf8
24.fxg6
Rxd1+
25.Bxd1
Bd4
26.g7+!
Kxg7
27.Qg4+
Kh8
28.Qxd4
Qe5
, and White has a variety of better endgames to choose from.) 19.Bc2
(19.Nxc4
cxd4
20.Bd2
e5
21.Ba5
Qc6
22.Bxd8+
Rxd8
gives Black excellent play for the exchange; while 19.Bxc4?
transposes back 18....cxd4) 19...Bxe5
(there is also the very adventurous 19...c3!?
20.fxe6
(an immediate 20.Bxh6!?
is also possible, with a hugely unclear position arising after 20...cxb2+
21.Kb1
Bxe5!
(21...gxh6
22.Ng6+!
is bad for Black) 22.dxe5
Rxd1+
23.Rxd1
Nd5
24.Bd2
exf5
25.Bxf5
Rh8
) 20...Bxe5!
(20...cxb2+
21.Kb1
Bxe5
(21...fxe6
is much too risky: 22.Bxh6!
cxd4!
(22...gxh6
23.Ng6+
Kf7
24.Rxf6+
Kxf6
25.Rf1+
Kg7
26.Qg4
is mate) 23.Ng6+
Kf7
24.Qg4!
(but not 24.Bxg7
Kxg7
25.Rxf6
d3!
, and suddenly Black seems to be winning: 26.Rxd3
(26.Bxd3
Ba3
) 26...Kxf6
, and the rook cannot give the all-important check along the f-file) 24...Kg8
25.Rxf6
, and White is breaking thru) 22.dxe5
Rxd1+
23.Rxd1
Qxe5
24.Qf2
Kxe6
, and now White has a very nice shot: 25.Rd6+!
- but Black should still hold after 25...Kxd6
26.Bf4
Ng4!
27.Bxe5+
Nxe5
) 21.dxe5
Rxd1+
22.Kxd1!?
(22.Rxd1
Qxe5
23.Qf2
transposes to the previous note) 22...Qxe5
23.Rf5
Qd6+!
24.Ke1
Rc8
, and the machine seems to suggest this position is a dead draw: 25.exf7
Kxf7
26.Bb3+
Kg6
27.Bc2
Kf7
, and so forth.) 20.dxe5
Qxe5
21.Qf2
Ne4!
(21...Kf8
22.Bxc5+
Kg8
23.Bd4
is worse for Black) 22.Bxe4
Bxe4
23.Bxc5+
Ke8
, and White has to take the draw after 24.fxe6
f6
25.Bd4
Qxe6
26.Rde1
Kf7
27.Bxf6
gxf6
28.Rxe4
Qxe4
29.Qxf6+
Kg8
However, all of this is hugely irrelevant - there was nothing wrong at all with the move I chose.]
18...bxc4
The point of Misha's play - and my reaction fully justified him.
19.Bxc4??
It is very hard to explain what went through my mind here. Perhaps all the lines I had to consider around move 15-16, where White would recapture on c4 and do well, impaired my judgement - or maybe I was just lazy. My initial instinct was to play [19.Bc2
, and it was, in fact, quite good: 19...Bxe5
(19...c3
20.Nxf7
cxb2+
21.Kb1
Nd5
22.Bd2
, and White's made much more progress with his attack) 20.dxe5
Qxe5
, and now the computer-inspired 21.Qf2!
(is also quite good: 21.exf7
Kf8
(21...Kxf7
22.Rxd8
Rxd8
23.Qxc4+
Bd5
24.Qxc5
) 22.Rde1
Kxf7
23.Rhf1
, and White is better) 21...fxe6
22.Bg6!
wins material - dual threats of 23.Bxc5 and 23.Bf4 are impossible to parry; However, it was even simpler to play 19.Nxc4
cxd4
20.Bd2!
, and Black is in a lot of trouble: 20...fxe6
(20...Bf4
21.exf7+
Kxf7
22.Bxf4
Qxf4+
23.Kb1
Re8
24.Rhf1!
, and White is much better.) 21.Ba5
Qc6
22.Bxd8+
Rxd8
23.Kb1
- compared to the previous notes, here Black's king is much weaker, and the e-pawn is still on e6.]
19...cxd4
20.Bxd4
Be4!
I very nearly resigned here - and it would not have been very premature, either. The knight is lost, since White cannot allow the check from f4. I tried one last chance.
21.Bc3
[21.Ng4
Bf4+
22.Ne3
Bxe3+
23.Bxe3
Bd3!
shows just how badly White is doing otherwise.]
21...Bxe5
22.Bb4+
Rd6?!
Does not spoil everything yet, but creates unnecessary complications. I suspect Misha missed my next move. [22...Bd6
23.Rxd6
Rxd6
24.Rd1
Bd5!
would have finished the game there and then.]
23.Rhf1!
Now Black suddenly has to calculate again, and with time running short, Black goes astray.
23...Qc6?
[at the board, I still thought Black was easily winning by 23...Rc8
24.b3
Qb6
- but the ice-cool 25.a3!
(25.Rxf6
Qxb4
loses; as does 25.Bxd6+
Bxd6
26.Rxf6
Ba3+
27.Kd2
Rd8+
) seems to hold everything together:) 25...Rcd8
26.Rxf6
gxf6
27.Bxd6+
Bxd6
28.Qxe4
Bxa3+
29.Kc2
Qf2+
30.Be2
, and the game is drawn.; The machine suggests Black is still better aftero 23...Bxb2+!
24.Kxb2
Rb8
25.a3
a5
, and White's best option seems to be 26.Rxf6
gxf6
27.Rxd6
Qxd6
28.Qxe4
axb4
29.exf7+
Kf8
30.a4
, with distant chances for a draw.]
24.exf7
Suddenly it is Black who has to work to make a draw.
24...Rb8?
And now there is no more salvation. Black had to play [24...Kf8!
25.Bxd6+
Bxd6
26.Rd4
Bxg2!
27.Rxf6
(27.Rxd6?!
Qxd6
28.Qxg2
Rc8
29.b3
Qd4
would force White to find 30.Kc2
Nd5
31.Kb1
Nc3+
32.Ka1
, and Black has to give a perpetual) 27...gxf6
28.Qg4
Bc5!
, and White has nothing better than 29.Qg8+
Ke7
30.f8Q+
Rxf8
31.Qg7+
Ke8
32.Qg6+
Ke7
, with a draw]
25.Bxd6+
Bxd6
26.Rd4
Bxh2
27.Rxf6
gxf6
28.Qxe4+
Qxe4
29.Rxe4+
Be5
30.b3
, and I was able to convert the extra pawn into a full point. 1-0