1.Nc3
c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6
One advantage to being a Dragon player over being
a Najdorf player is that unusual move orders by white pose no problems,
as ...c5, ...Nc6, and ...g6 are impeccable moves in most closed positions.
5.e4 Bg7 6.Be3 d6 7.Bc4 Nf6
8.h3 O-O 9.Bb3 Bd7 10.O-O a6 11.f4
Black to play
With this move, White leaves book. Earlier in
the tournament, Miladin Djerkovic played the normal 11.Re1, mobilizing
to put pressure against e7 in the case of a future Nd5 Nxd5 exd5 exchange,
against Sonny Kamberi.
11...b5 12.Qd3 Rc8 13.Rad1 Nxd4
Best. 13...Nb4 14.Qd2 Rxc3 15.bxc3 Nxe4 is probably
good for Black, but White can vary with 14. Qe2! (So that 14...Rxc3 is
refuted with 15.bxc3 Nxe4 16.cxb4), when Black's QN is misplaced on b4.
The thematic 13...Na5, which I didn't actually analyze OTB but on account
of which I spent ten minutes analyzing the consequences of 13...Nxd4, gets
destroyed by 14.e5 Nh5 (14...Nxb3 15.exf6 Nc5 16.fxg7 Nxd3 17.gxf8+; 14...Ne8
15.e6; 14...dxe5 15.fxe5 Ne8/h5 16.e6) 15.e6 Be8 (15...Nxb3 16.exd7) 16.exf7+
Bxf7 17.Ne6 etc.
In his "Think Like a Grandmaster", Kotov recommends
traversing the tree of moves systematically, completing one's assessment
of the consequences of one move before moving on to the next move. Such
a strategy, however, has several drawbacks, three of which are:
1) One often uncovers resources or ideas during
the analysis of one variation which are useful in the analysis of another
variation.
2) One's analysis depends on one's ambitions for
the position. For example, if I expect an advantage from a position and
find a line in which my opponent stands no worse, I will reject the line
and move on. Should I later realize that my expectation cannot be fulfilled,
I may return to the line.
3) One can often choose a move by dismissing the
alternatives.
At any rate, given the prominence of White's Nd5
in this opening, 13...Nxd4 should be an excellent move on general grounds
and promise at least a slight advantage for Black.
14.Bxd4 b4 15.Ne2 Bb5
Best, as after 15. .. Bc6 16. e5 White's threat
of 17. Qxa6 would force Black into playing 16...Bb5 anyway.
16.Qe3
Black to play
An obviously critical position has arrived.
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16...a5?
This move allows White to introduce mindboggling
complications which ultimately favor him. Given that even in playing 25...dxe5
I still erroneously considered Black to have reasonable chances for a draw,
it is quite clear that OTB Black cannot expect to be able to calculate
the consequences of 16...a5 accurately. 16...a5 was an error in judgment.
17.Bb6!
White accepts the challenge. 17.c3 a4 18.Bc2 a3
should favor Black and would certainly justify Black's 16...a5.
17...Qd7 18.e5 Nh5 19.e6 Qb7
20.exf7+ Kh8 21.Bd4
Black to play
21...e5?
21...a4 would be met with 22.Bd5. Black's best
was 21...Bxe2 22.Qxe2 Ng3, seeking drawing chances in the endgame. After
23.Bxg7+ Kxg7 24.Qf3 Qxf3 (Black's exposed king should make a trade of
queens desirable.) 25.Rxf3 Nf5 26.Rd5 Rc5 27.Rxc5 dxc5 28.Rd3 Nd6 29.Rd5
c4 30.Ba4 Ra8, White is clearly better, but Black should be able to hold
with best play.
22.fxe5
Black to play
22...Bxe2?
22...a4 was the critical alternative. 23.Be6 Rxc2
would force White to play the awkward 24.Bg4, with excellent play for Black.
Unfortunately, White can play 23.e6! axb3 (else 24.Bd5) 24.e7 Bxe2 (24...bxc2
25.exf8+ Rxf8 26.Rd2, when Black, lacking a convincing continuation, is
left down an exchange) 25.exf8Q+ Rxf8 26.Qxe2 Ng3 (26...Bxd4+ 27.Rxd4 Ng3
[27...Qb6 28.Qf2] 28.Qf3 Nxf1 29.Qf6#) 27.Qe8 (27.Qf3 Qxf3 28. Bxg7+ Kxg7
29.Rxf3 bxc2 [--/++]) 27...Bxd4+ 28.Rxd4 Kg7 29.axb3 Nxf1 30.Kxf1 Rxf7+
31.Kg1, when whether White's advantage is decisive is unclear.
23.Qxe2 Ng3 24.Qe3 Nxf1 25.Rxf1
dxe5
I overlooked 26.Qxe5, expecting 26.Bxe5 Qb5 27.Bxg7+
Kxg7 28.Qd4+ Kh6 29.Rf4 Qc5, with some drawing chances, though since Black
is unable to prevent 26.e6 he is lost.
26.Qxe5 1-0. |