295MB, Fritz9.ctg [ KING'S INDIAN def.,A48]
1.d4
Nf6
2.Nf3
g6
3.Bg5
Bg7
4.Nbd2
c5
[4...d5
is also possible but I didn't feel like playing this position.]
5.c3
cxd4
6.cxd4
Nc6
I was happy to delay the decision as to what pawn structure to choose since e2-e4 is not particularly challenging to meet in this position.
7.e3
[7.e4
I intended 7...d5
! when black is fine since 8.e5
is well met by 8...Ne4
]
7...0-0
8.Bd3
h6
9.Bh4
d6
10.0-0
Bg4
My opponent mentioned after the game that he thought white was better here. He might be right, since white gets the bishop pair. However I felt that black's remaining pieces would co-ordinate well and white's space advantage would be less of an issue with this pair of pieces exchanged. I didn't much fancy putting the bishop on d7 since the black queen isn't too happy. I also considered ...e7-e5 but I thought my opponent might be happy to play the Benoni type of position arising after d4-d5 with the weak pawn on d6. It is interesting to note that (without ...h6/Bh4) Shirov handled the position the same way as me against Manor in the 1989 World Under-20 Championships. [10...e5
11.d5
Nb4
12.Bxf6
Bxf6
13.Bc4
; 10...Be6!?
]
11.h3
[11.Qb3!?
]
11...Bxf3
12.Qxf3
[12.Nxf3
leaves black with a comfortable square for the queen on b6. I think that after 12...Qb6
any white advantage has to be pretty minimal. The bishop pair is all very well but black has a decent structure and good squares for all his pieces.]
12...Rc8
13.a3
[13.Rac1
would be well met by 13...Qa5
though to be honest I had a wander round at this stage and hadn't calculated in any detail. It turns out that white can play (13...d5
is also possible but white is a bit better.) 14.Ne4
(14.Rc3!?
is also interesting.) 14...Nxe4
15.Bxe4
This position is quite interesting but white has chances to fight for an advantage here.]
13...d5!
This prepares ...e7-e5 in some lines, with a change of structure.
14.Qe2?!
[14.Rac1
which prepares to meet 14...e5?!
with the interesting exchange sacrifice 15.Rxc6!
Rxc6
16.dxe5
g5
17.Bg3
Nd7
18.Qf5
Re8
19.f4
when white has a pawn and black has a lot of kingside weaknesses. I think white's attack should be quite dangerous here.; 14.b4!?
]
14...e5
It might be a bit counter-intuitive to open the position like this when white has the bishop pair but chess is a concrete game and the variations indicate that black is better co-ordinated and even has chances of an advantage.
15.dxe5
Nxe5
16.Rad1?!
[16.Nf3
immediately might be better but I think black is ok. For example, 16...Nxf3+
(16...Qc7
17.Rad1
Nxf3+
18.Qxf3
Qe5
) 17.Qxf3
Qb6
18.Rfd1
Qe6
when the strong bishop on g7 and the idea of ...Ne4 should ensure equality.]
16...Qb6=/+
17.Nf3
Nxf3+
[17...Ne4
but I thought that after 18.Bb1
the attack on the d-pawn is a bit annoying. 18...Nxf3+
19.Qxf3
Qxb2
20.Bxe4
dxe4
21.Qxe4
is probably drifting towards a draw.]
18.gxf3
[18.Qxf3
seems more sensible, keeping the structure intact. However white has to be concerned about the loss of a pawn after 18...Qxb2
19.Rb1
Qxa3
20.Bxf6
Bxf6
21.Qxf6
Qxd3
22.Rxb7
when Fritz likes 22...Rb8
This is not a barrel of laughs for white, since the a7 pawn is taboo: 23.Rxa7??
Rb1
24.Rxb1
Qxb1+
25.Kh2
Qb8+
wins.]
18...d4
[18...Rfe8!?
]
19.Kg2?!
After this further inaccuracy my opponent offered a draw. With this being a team event where a draw would virtually seal victory for the opposing team I couldn't seriously consider accepting in such a position! The king is particularly badly placed on g2 since the black knight is trying to make use of f4 in many variations. [19.Rfe1!?
Rfe8
is good for black but white is still very much alive and kicking.]
19...Rfe8
20.Rfe1
[20.e4
Nh5
21.Bg3
Be5-/+
]
20...Nh5
21.Be4
f5
22.Bd5+
Kh8?!
I think this move comes quite naturally to a human since with ..g5 and even ... f4 coming in some varaitions it seems like the safest square. However, the computer prefers to put the king on f8 with the idea that f7 isdefended! [22...Kf8!
and now if 23.Qd2
g5
there is no Bf7 move! White has serious difficulties.]
23.Qd3?!
[23.Qd2!
g5
24.Bf7
allows white to keep fighting. 24...dxe3
25.fxe3
gxh4
26.Bxh5
Rg8
27.Kh1
Be5
still gives black the better chances but perhaps white's position is tenable.]
23...dxe3
24.fxe3
Qxb2+
25.Rd2
Rc3!-/+
26.Rxb2
[26.Qe2
I intended to keep control with 26...Qxa3!
when black should win. (26...Nf4+
27.exf4
Rxe2+
28.Rexe2
Qb5
29.Bf7
would give white at least some sort of counterplay. Capturing on a3 is also Fritz's preference.) ]
26...Rxd3
27.Rb5?-+
[27.Bf7
Bxb2
28.Bxe8
Kg7-/+
]
27...Rexe3
28.Rxe3
Rxe3
29.Bxb7
Nf4+
[29...Rxa3
]
30.Kf2
[30.Kg3
g5
31.Bxg5
hxg5
32.Rxf5
Rxa3
33.Rxg5
Ne6
should win for black because of the a-pawn.]
30...Rxa3
31.Be7?
White is l ost but this makes black's task trivial and came as a relief since I had around 4 minutes left to reach the time control at move 42.
31...Bd4+
32.Kg3
[32.Kf1
Ra1+
33.Rb1
Rxb1#
; 32.Ke1
Re3+
and the bishop on e7 falls.]
32...Nh5+
33.Kg2
[33.Kh4
Bf2#
; 33.Kh2
Ra2+
mates.]
33...Ra2+
34.Kf1
Ng3+
35.Ke1
Re2+
White resigned since I am about to capture the bishop on e7. 0-1