518
The British Chess Magazine
gains a tempo, but on the other occasions it
just weakens the kingside – particularly in the
Orthodox Variation.
6 h4 e7 7 e3 0–0 8 c1 e8
There is a good argument for 8…a6 here,
although after 9 c×d5 Black is obliged to
recapture 9…e×d5 due to the tactical weakness on c7. And what then is the purpose of
8…a6?
9 d3 d×c4 10 ×c4 a6 11 a4
Sensibly restraining
expansion.
Black’s
queenside
11…c5 12 0–0 c×d4 13 e×d4
Probably the best, although it does leave White
with an isolated pawn.
13…b6 14 b3 d7
Black seeks to solve the problem of this bishop
as quickly as possible.
15 e5 c6 16 a5
Not bad, but very direct and committed.
Instead 16 ×c6 b×c6 achieves precious little, as White’s queenside is at least as weak as
Black’s.
16…bd5
Not wrong, but based upon an oversight despite 10 minutes thought. 16…bd7 is perfectly adequate.
17 ×d5!
I had failed to take into account how potentially venomous this somewhat anti-positional
move is.
17…×d5
17…×d5 18 h5! (now we see why …h6
can be hideously weakening) 18…f8 (18…
×h4? 19 ×f7+ h8 20 g6+ h7 21 c2 is
catastrophic) 19 ×e7 ×e7 20 ×f7 ×f7 21
×e6 e8 may be playable, but I did not like
it. White enjoys a numerical superiority, plus a
temporarily awkward pin.
18 a4 ×a5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+r+k+0
9+p+-vlpzp-0
9p+-+psn-zp0
9wq-+lsN-+-0
9L+-zP-+-vL0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zP-+-zPPzP0
9+-tRQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
On a higher level this sacrifice may be considered wrong. Objectively correct was the coldblooded 18…f8 19 ×f6 ×f6 20 d7 ×a5
21 ×f6+! (21 ×f8? ×f8 is simply very bad
for White, due to the weaknesses on d4 and b2)
21…g×f6 22 g4+ h8 23 f4 h7 24 c2+
g7! (24…f5? 25 ×f5+ e×f5 26 c5! winning
material), after which White has no better than
a draw.
However, one doesn’t win open tournaments
playing like that against 2400 players.
19 ×e8 ×e8
Somewhere around this point I checked upon
my opponent as he kept disappearing for several minutes at a time. I didn’t actually believe
he was cheating, but one never knows in this
day and age. I was very happy to find him nervously chain-smoking outside.
20 ×f6
Somehow, I knew this was coming. Everything
about my opponent suggested he would
choose the most direct option in any given
position. It is not a mistake, but it would have
been subtler to develop the pieces with 20
e2 so as to put the rook on d1.
20…×f6 21 h5
Here we go again. Always the most direct.
21…×e5 22 d×e5 d2!
Suddenly the tide has turned. If the b-pawn
falls, Black will be clearly better unless White
can generate rapid counterplay.
23 c3?