192MB, Shredder9.ctg, ACROPOLIS
1.d4
d5
2.c4
e6
3.Nc3
Nf6
4.Bg5
Be7
5.e3
h6
6.Bh4
0-0
7.Qc2
c6
8.cxd5
cxd5
Usual is ...exd5.
9.Nf3
Nc6
10.a3
a5
Was b4 really a threat?
11.Bd3
Ne8
12.Bg3
I did not want to trade and open up his pieces. If now ...Bd6 I would at least have considered Ne5.
12...f5
Way too loose. Better would be ...Nd6 or maybe even ...Bd6.
13.Rc1
I was happy with this move. The idea is to take advantage of ...cd5 by invading on c7.
13...Nd6
14.0-0
g5
15.Ne5
Nxe5
[15...f4
I I spent a long time making sure the "sacrifice" was sound. Black could try ...f4, "trapping" the bishop. 16.Bh7+
Kh8
17.exf4
gxf4
(17...Nxd4
18.Ng6+
Kxh7
19.Nxf8+
Kg8
20.Qh7+
Kxf8
21.Qh8+
Kf7
22.Qxd4
) 18.Ng6+
Kxh7
19.Nxe7+
Kh8
20.Ng6+
Kg7
21.Bh4
]
16.Bxe5
Bd7
17.Qb3
a4
18.Qd1
Eyeing h5.
18...Qe8
19.Qe2
Qf7
20.Bb5
Not best, and almost throws the advantage away, if not for a nice sacrifice. Better was Nb5 here... and I even saw why (...Nc4 by black), but for some reason I just reached for the bishop.
20...Bxb5
21.Nxb5
Nc4
22.Rxc4
Is this sound? Well, once I saw the idea I really liked it. I will get at least a knight and a pawn for it, and a4 and b7 remain weak. If i can net just one of the queenside pawns, then the sacrifice will pay off in bushels. Using that rationale, this move may deserve an ! Also, all my pieces will be in play and have a purpose, especially considering the possible d5 break.
22...dxc4
23.Qxc4
Rfc8
24.Qd3
Rc6
25.Rd1
d5 right away might have been best.
25...Bf8
26.d5
! the idea is to split up the pawns andhave targets on d5 and f5.
26...exd5
27.Nd4
! Get f5 first, round up d5 later.
27...Rc4
28.Nxf5
Rac8
29.Bc3
White's control over the kingside is impressive, but even the weaknesses on d5 and the queenside remain. Black's position is hard to hold, despite the material... "advantage" (?).
29...b5
Trying to solidify, and maybe break on b4. Very logical, but white's play comes through so quickly.
30.h3
It is necessary to make luft beefore taking on d5, or maneuvering the knight away.
30...R8c6
The last move before time control, and not very strong. Now both Nd4 and Qxd5 give white a small edge.
31.Nd4
[31.Qxd5
Qxd5
32.Rxd5
I avoided this because I feared Bxa3, but that doesn't work at all. 32...Bxa3
(32...R4c5
was much better for black. 33.Rxc5
Bxc5
) 33.bxa3
Rxc3
34.Ne7+
]
31...Rf6
?? Now white wins the exchange back, and black still has many weaknesses.
32.Nf3
Rxc3
?? A second blunder, and probably the losing one. After fighting a difficult, defensive battle, it is understandable that black may have been shaken by ...Rf6. [32...Rd6
was much better. 33.Ne5
Qe6
34.Nxc4
dxc4
35.Qc2
Rxd1+
36.Qxd1
And white is only slightly better.]
33.Qxc3
Bd6
34.Qd3
Rf5
35.Qxb5
d4
36.Qe2
Qe7
37.Qc4+
Rf7
38.Qxd4
The rest of the game can pass without comment.
38...Bc7
39.Qxa4
Rxf3
40.gxf3
Qe5
41.Qc4+
Kf8
42.f4
Qg7
43.Qc5+
Kg8
44.Qd5+
Kh8
45.Qd4
gxf4+
46.Qxg7+
Kxg7
47.Rd7+
1-0