1.d4 Nf6
This is a standard opening move for White.
It develops a center pawn, contributes to further development. White
intends to establish a classical center with pawns at d4 and e4 if possible.
Black adopts this excellent waiting and developing
move as he would like White to commit to a fixed position in the center
which could be attacked from a distance by fianchettoed bishops (hyper
modernism) or countered favorably with a well timed central advance of
his own center pawns. These are the opening moves of many sound variations,
in this instance, a Grünfeld Defense.
2.c4 g6
White continues his development to meet the possibility
of ...d5 since Black will probably play that move, sooner or later. But
first, Black prepares to fianchetto his f8-bishop. Since king safety is
an important consideration in any game, Black's early moves both
develop and prepare for kingside castling.
3.Nc3 d5
Black wants to refrain from establishing a pawn
center or beginning a counter-attack until White has established a pawn
center to target. However, Black must be careful not to wait until
White's center is so well established and strong that he cannot succeed.
In the Grünfeld, Black keys on the knight move to time his pawn advance
to d5. The pawn at d5 fixes the white pawn on d4 where it is subjected
to several attacks.
4.cxd5 Nxd5
The exchange of a pawn for a center pawn is generally
to be commended and is considered the sharpest of the Grünfeld lines.
Black's recapture threatens to exchange knights. A balanced exchange of
material in the opening and middle game leads to drawing possibilities
which generally favor Black whose first game task is to equalize.
5.Na4
White avoids exchanging knights because he doesn't
wish Black to equalize by exchanging. Now 6.e4 will drive off the
black knight with a loss of a tempo.
5...Bg7
Now the black queen and bishop both attack d4.
6.e4 Nb6
White drives the knight which moves to a square
where it can be exchanged for the knight on d4. Or, if White takes
on b6, Black will have the a-pawn under attack, another Grünfeld theme.
7.Be3 0-0
In the Grünfeld, the white bishop belongs
on e3 where it defends the d-pawn. Too often, players only advance
the e-pawn to e3 which blocks the bishop from e3. Black's play and
development have allowed him to castle before White.
8.Nf3 Nxa4? 9.Qxa4
This is a good example of development by capture.
White has the better development.
After 9.Qxa4
9....c5
Black renews the attack on the d-pawn. If
the d-pawn moves, the b-pawn will be under attack.
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10.Rd1 Qb6
White defends d4 once more. Black directly attacks
b2, maintains the attack on d4, defends his own b-pawn, and releases the
bishop to go to g4, attacking the knight at f3 or driving it away from
its defense of the d-pawn.
11.Rd2
This rook move prevents the possibility of a knight
pin by the bishop and it also defends b2. Later the other white rook
or the queen maybe posted at d1 if play moves in that direction.
11...Bd7
Black drives a defender away from d4.
12.Qa3
White defends b4 and counter-attacks the pawn
at c5 which is now pinned against the pawn at e7.
12...cxd4
Black moves to resolve the center before the d-pawn
can advance; further defense of the c-pawn would be awkward.
13.Nxd4 Qc7
Black seizes the open c-file and threatens ...Qc1+.
14.Be2 e5
White could counter-attack the queen with 14.Re2
but continues to develop. Black attacks the knight; however, it can
just move away.
15.Rc2 Qd8
Black could have tried 15...Nc6 developing the
knight and connecting his rooks.
16.Nb5 Nc6
White piles on a7 and threatens to occupy d6 with
his knight, a great outpost where it can be supported by the queen, a rook,
a bishop, or all of them.
17.Nd6 Qb8
Black begins the process of attacking white's
outpost at d6. If the queen had returned, to c7, the knight would
have been pinned.
18.Bc4 Nd4
White begins operations against f7 which is twice
attacked and defended once. Black defends by counter-attacking the
rook at d2. The threat is to take the rook and fork the king and
queen.
19.Bxd4 exd4
Black secures a passed pawn, but he is unable
to protect it or secure a queening square.
20.0-0 Be6
White castles to connect his rooks, and Black
places another defender on f7, defense by interposing.
21.Bxe6 fxe6
White chips away at Black's castled position.
22.Rfc1 Be5
White now controls the open file and Black works
on the outposted knight.
23.Rc7
White seizes the seventh rank, a well-known tactic,
where the rook can attack any unmoved pawns from the side, and also
blocks one of the attacks on the knight.
23...Bxd6
Black exchanges the knight, liquidating the outpost,
but his king is stripped of defenders.
24.Qxd6 Rf7
Black confronts the rook at c7 to contest the
rank, but his king is exposed and several pawns are under attack.
25.Qxe6 1-0.
The black rook is pinned and under attack; the
position cannot be held.
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