558 The British Chess Magazine
White needs to commit to a plan. 9 0 – 0 – 0
This setup is relatively popular and understandably so. It looks very natural to castle long with more space and a lead in development, but Black is very solid and is able to develop with great speed by making threats against c2 and e4 with the b4 push. 9 �e2 �b7 10 0 – 0 �c8 has been tested many times as well. Generally White’ s plans revolve around the central push e5, after which he will have to decide upon which side of the board to concentrate operations. 11 �fd1( 11 �ad1 is also possible, and the choice of rook can be rather revealing) 11 … �f6 12 e5 �d5 13 � × d5 � × d5 14 a4 with the initiative.
9 … �b7 10 �e2
10 �d3 was T Radjabov – Y Pelletier, Biel, 2006, where after 10 … �c8 11 �b1 �c5! Black pragmatically went into an endgame: 12 � × c5 � × c5 13 � × c5 � × c5 14 e5 f5! and now 15 �d2 �e7 16 �hd1 looks like only a symbolic edge for White.
10 … �c8 Threatening … b4. 11 �d2 �f6
Renewing the threat. 12 �f3
12 e5 b4! Meeting e5 like this is a common theme in this line 13 �b5 a × b5 14 e × f6 �c5! 15 � × c5 � × c5 16 � × c5 � × c5 17 f × g7 �g8 18 �e1( 18 �d3 � × g7 =) 18 … � × g2( 18 … � × g7 19 g3 gives White an edge) 19 �d3 �d5( 19 … � × g7? 20 �g1) 20 �g1 f5 =.
12 … �e7
Suddenly Black is well developed and I think he already stands equal. White’ s opening play has been unimaginative and uncritical. Perhaps Vallejo was beginning to get frustrated.
13 �hd1
13 e5 b4( again a strong counter) 14 �e4( 14 �a4 � × f3 15 g × f3 �d5 16 �b6 � × b6 17 � × b6 � × b6 18 � × b6 �c6 =) 14 … � × e4 15 � × e4 �c5!( 15 … � × e4 16 � × e4 was also equal, but �c5 is more clinical) 16 �d3( 16 � × c5? � × c5
17 � × c5 � × e4 hands the advantage to Black) 16 … � × e3 17 � × e3 � × e4 18 � × e4 �a5 19 �d3( 19 �b1? loses to 19 … b3) 19 … �c7 20 �b1 0 – 0 and again this e5 – b4 exchange has led to an equal position.
13 g4 has also been tried and is perhaps the best practical try for realistic winning chances 13 … d5!?( 13 … �c5 14 � × c5 � × c5 15 � × c5 � × c5 16 g5 �g8 17 �hd1 �c7 18 �d4 makes it look like White is making progress, but in fact with no weaknesses and a solid position Black was ready to push back in Y Masserey – P Cramling, Horgen, 1995 18 … �e7 19 a4 �c6 20 �d6 b4 21 �e2 h6! with counterplay) 14 e × d5 b4! A familiar theme by now. 15 �a4 � × d5 16 � × d5 � × d5 17 �b6( 17 � × g7? �f6 18 �h6 �c6 with advantage to Black) 17 … � × b6 18 � × b6. Now in F Nijboer – J Polgar, Wijk aan Zee, 1998 Black characteristically chose the sharp 18 … �c4( 18 … 0 – 0, however, was also sufficient for equality).
13 … 0 – 0
Incredibly this position has been reached six times before and in every case White has pushed e5!
14 e5
White’ s problem is that he lacks targets and already Black’ s position is already starting to show dynamism, so if White plays a waiting move like 14 �b1 then Black is ready to take over the initiative: 14 … b4 15 �a4( 15 �e2 d5 16 e5 �d7 with a very good French setup for Black as he has good chances to create threats on the queenside and White’ s pieces are clumsily placed) 15 … d5! 16 e5 �d7 is also good for Black; the immediate threat is … �c6.
14 … b4! Of course. 15 e × f6??
White’ s first error in the game, yet it is also decisive. On the one hand it reflects insufficient opening preparation, while on the other it is a pure calculation mistake. It is always hard to rationalise such blunders from players as strong as Vallejo. White’ s moves up to this point have all looked very natural, so he may have complacently felt that the tactics just‘ ought’ to work for him.