Valley Chess Sept Open (4)
Coffee Buzz, Ahwatukee, 9/9/08
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5
The Trompowsky Opening. A good choice, because I was not familiar with the lines.
2...c5 3. c3 Qb6 4. Qb3
Already on move 4, I had to make a big decision that would determine the character of the game. I had to choose between cxd4, Qxb3, Nc6, Ne4, or maybe something else? Unfortunately, all moves looked the same to me, so I chose one at random.
4...Nc6 5. e3 d6
I should have considered 5...Ne4 6. Bf4 g5 7. Bg3, which looks better than what happened in the game.
6. Nf3 Be6
Not a bad move -- It develops with tempo, but I later regretted placing the Bishop here.
7. Qa3
This move surprised me. I was expecting 7. Qxb6. The Queen looks awkward on a3, but Black has no effective way to exploit it.
7...Bf5
I had some trouble finding the right squares for my pieces. How to develop my dark square Bishop? 7...g6 is probably met by Bxf6, weakening the d6-pawn. Or 7...h6 8. Bf4 g5 followed by Bg7, and it's psychologically hard for Black to castle kingside. In the end, I opted for Bf5, e6, Be7, although in this plan, White can still play Bxf6.
8. Nbd2
A fine move. The Knight is heading to c4.
8...cxd4 9. Bxf6!?
A zwischenzug! Apparently my opponent did not want me to play ...Ne4.
Here, I spent five minutes on 9...dxe3 trying to make it work. During the game, I saw 9...dxe3 10. Nc4 exf2+ 11. Kd1, and Black's initiative is gone. When I couldn't see a way to continue the "attack", I gave up. When I put this position in Rybka, it prefers Black. 11...Qc7 12. Bh4 d5 13. Ne3 Be4 14. Bxf2 Qf4, and I guess Black's piece activity and two pawns more than enough compensation for the piece. Although a famous international master once said that a piece is worth nine pawns.
Anaylsis Diagram - after 14...Qf4
9...gxf6 10. Nxd4
The second moment (the first one was on move 4) where I had to make a big decision. These kinds of positions demand a good understanding of chess as opposed to calculating ability. Should I play Nxd4 or Bd7?
10...Bd7? Following the rule of Never Trade, but moving backwards is passive.
11. Nc4 Qc7 12. Nb5 Qb8?
Here, I let my guard down. It was psychologically difficult for me to play Qd8, returning the Queen to its original square. Also, with Qb8, the d6-square is protected for a third time. So I played Qb8 automatically and quickly.
13. Be2?
White had a tactical shot 13. Nb6! winning the Exchange.
13...Ne5?
It was not too late to play 13...Qd8.
14. Nb6!
White sees it the second time around. One interesting point is that 14...Bxb5 is met by 15. Bxb5 CHECK.
14...axb6 15. Qxa8 Qxa8 16. Nc7+ Kd8 17. Nxa8 Bc6
The idea was that if White takes time to defend g2, then I can play ...Nd7 (protecting b6) and try to win the Knight in the corner.
18. Nxb6 Bxg2 19. Rg1 Nf3+
Hoping that my Bishop pair would be an asset.
20. Bxf3 Bxf3 21. Rg3 Bh5 22. Nd5!
Making it difficult for Black to free himself.
22...Kd7 23. a4 Bg6 24. a5 Kc6 25. Nf4 e5 26. Nxg6 hxg6 27. h3 Be7
I was in a hurry to activate my rook. Better was 27...d5, giving my Bishop more scope.
28. e4 Ra8 29. c4 Kc5
I played this before White could play b4 and lock my King in.
30. Rb3 Ra7 31. Ra4.
It is funny that Rybka suggests 31. O-O-O!
31...Bd8 32. Rba3 Kd4 33. f3 Kc5 34. Ke2 Ra8 35. Kd3 f5 36. b4+ Kc6 37. Ra1 Bg5 38. exf5 gxf5 39. Rg1 Bf6 40. Rh1
40...b5
An attempt to confuse the issue.
41. cxb5+ Kxb5
Here my opponent almost played 42. Rha1. I would have played 42...e4+ discover attack on his rook. (Rybka says 42...d5 is stronger (=), but I don't get it)
42. Ra2 Kxb4 43. Rb1+ Kc5 44. Rb7 Kd5
Seeing no good way to protect f7 (Rf8 was out of the question), I decided to play actively.
45. Rb5+ Kc6 46. Rb6+ Kd5 47. a6 e4+ 48. fxe4?
Apparently 48. Ke2 is much better.
48...fxe4+ 49. Ke2.
Of course, not 49. Ke3?? Bd4+
49...Bd4 50. Ra5+
50...Ke6??
It is a pity that I fought hard being down the Exchange to get a playable position (okay, maybe it's still lost), only to blunder badly in time trouble. 50...Bc5 was better.
51. Rb4!
Black loses the e4 pawn here. Both players were blitzing out their moves. Eventually, Black had two connected pawns, and White had a Rook. Black seemed to be holding the position together for dozens of moves, but then White found the key move:
In a position similar to this, White played Re8!. In order to save the e-pawn, Black has to play ...e3 allowing Kd3, or ...d3 allowing Ke3, winning in both cases. Black lost both pawns and played until checkmate.
1-0
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