Fischer vs. Spassky

Fischer vs. Spassky

Match (9), Sveti Stefan 1992

Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Bxc6 The modern popularity of the Exchange Variation stems from three games Fischer played in the Havana Olympiad 1966. It has a small but loyal following amongst grandmasters. 4…dxc6 5 0-0 f6 6 d4 exd4 7 Nxd4 c5 8 Nb3 Qxd1 9 Rxd1 Bg4 10 f3 Be6

After 10...Be6

Black chooses a line which as regarded as one of his most solid defenses. The preliminary …Bg4 induces White to weaken the a7-g1 diagonal, thereby giving Black the possibility of developing his bishop at c5 with gain of tempo. 11 Nc3 11 Bf4 c4! 12 Nd4 0-0-0 13 Nc3 Rxd4 14 Rxd4 Bc5 is one line in which Black makes use of the weakening move f3. 11…Bd6 12 Be3 b6 13 a4 0-0-0?! Although this has been played quite frequently, it seems far risky than the two alternatives. These are the slightly passive 13…a5 and the solid 13…Kf7 14 a5 c4 15 Nd4 b5. 14 a5 Kb7

After 14...Kb7

15 e5! The most combative move. 15 axb6 cxb6 16 e5 is another variant of the e5 idea, which is also important for the game as where are transpositional possibilities. After 16…Be7 17 Rxd8 Bxd8 18 Bxc5

After 18 Bxc5 (analysis)

(or 18 Ne4 Bxb3 19 Nd6+ Kc6 20 cxb3 Ne7 21 Rxa6 Bc7 22 exf6 and White chances of exploiting the extra pawn are minimal in view of his weak queenside pawns and Black’s active king) Black can try:

1)      18…Bxb3 19 Bf8 Ne7 20 Bxg7 Rg8 21 exf6 is very good for White.

2)      18…Nh6 19 Nd4 Bd7 20 Bd6 Re8 (20…Nf7 21 e6!) 21 e6! Bxe6 22 Re1 Bd7 23 Rxe8 Bxe8 24 Bf8 wins a pawn.

3)      18…fxe5! 19 Bf8 (after 19 Bd6 Bf6 20 Re1 Bxb3! 21 cxb3 Nh6 22 Bxe5 Re8 23 Bg3 Rxe1+ 24 Bxe1 Nf5 we again have the situation where White’s chances of exploiting the extra pawn are not all the great in view of his weakened queenside pawns and Black’s active pieces) 19…Bf6 20 Ne4 Bxb3 21 Nxf6 Nxf6 22 Bxg7 Rg8 23 Bxf6 Bd5 and again White will have trouble making use of the extra pawn, e.g. 24 Kf2 e4 25 Rd1 Bc6 26 f4 e3+ 27 Kxe3 Rxg2.

15…Be7 15…fxe5 is bad; for example, 16 axb6 cxb6 17 Ne4 Bxb3 (17…Be7 18 Rxd8 Bxd8 19 Nbxc5+ wins) 18 Nxd6+ Kc6 19 cxb3 Rxd6 20 Rxd6+ Kxd6 21 Rxa6 Nf6 22Rxb6+ Kd5 23 Rb7 and White is clearly better. 15…Bxb3 is also inadequate after 16 exd6 Bxc2 17 Rdc1 Bg6 18 dxc7. 16 Rxd8 Bxd8 17 Ne4

After 17 Ne4

Intending 18 Nbxc5+. 17…Kc6? Spassky makes a serious mistake and loses quickly. The alternatives are:

1)      17…Bxb3 18 cxb3 Ne7 19 axb6 cxb6 20 exf6 (20 Nd6+ Kc6 transposes into the 18 Ne4 bracket in the note to White’s 15^th move) 20…gxf6 21 Rd1 (both 21 Nd6+ Kc6 22 Nf7 Rf8 23 Nxd8 Rxd8 24 Rxa6 Rd3 and 21 Nxf6 Nf5 22 Nd5 Nxe3 23 Nxe3 Nf6 are fine for Black) 21…Nf5 22 Bf2 with just an edge for White.

2)      17…Be7! 18 axb6 (18 Bxc5 Bxb3 19 Bxe7 Nxe7 20 cxb3 fxe5 21 axb6 Kxb6 with equality) 18…Bxb3 19 cxb3 cxb6 20 Rd1 (20 Nd6+ Bxd6 21 exd6 Nh6 22 Bxh6 gxh6 should be a draw) 21 Rd7+ Kc8 22 Ra7 Kb8 23 Rd7 Kc8 is level.

18 axb6 cxb6

After 18...cxb6

 If 18…Bxb3, then 19 b7 Kxb7 20 Nxc5+ Kb8 21 cxb3 fxe5 22 Nxa6+ wins. 19 Nbxc5 Crushing. 19…Bc8 Or 19…bxc5 20 Rxa6+ Kd5 21 Nxc5 Bf7 22 Rd6+. 20 Nxa6 fxe5 21 Nb4+

After 21 Nb4+ 1-0

1-0 The end might be 21…Kb5 (21…Kc7 22 Ra7+ Bb7 23 Rxb7+ Kxb7 24 Nd6+ wins) 22 Nd6+! Kxb4 23 Ra3 and 24 c3#.

Source from:

GAMBIT: John Nunn’s 101 Brilliant Chess Miniatures (Pages 113 - 114)

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Timman vs. Korchnoi

Timman vs. Korchnoi

Tilburg 1991

French Defense, 3…dxe4

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Nd7 5 Nf3 Ngf6 6 Bg5 Be7 7 Nxf6+ Bxf6 8 h4 This line offers White chances of a slight advantage. 8…c5 The solid but boring 8…0-0 9 Qd2 e5 gives Black a better chances of equality. 9 Qd2 cxd4 White can retain a faint edge after other moves too, e.g. 9…0-0 10 0-0-0 cxd4 11 Nxd4 or 9…h6 10 Bxf6 Qxf6 11 0-0-0. 10 0-0-0 e5

After 10...e5

This moves looks greed, but it is not a mistake. Korchnoi wants to make White work a bit to regain the previous note. 11 Re1 0-0 11…Qb6 12 Bxf6 Qxf6 13 Qxd4 0-0 14 Nxe5 Nxe5 15 Rxe5 gives White a useful extra tempo over the following note. 12 Nxe5 Re8?

After 12...Re8?

A tactical error. Black could justified his strategy by 12…Nxe5 13 Rxe5 Be6 14 Bxf6 Qxf6 15 Qxd4 Rfd8! 16 Qe3 Rac8, with enough play for the sacrificed pawn. 13…Rxe1+ Forced, because 13…Kxf7 14 Bc4+ Kf8 (14…Kg6 15 h5+ Kf5 16 Qf4#) 15 Rxe8+ Qxe8 16 Re1 Ne5 (or else 17 Qb4+) 17 Bxf6 gxf6 18 Qh6+ Ke7 19 Qg7+ wins for White. 14 Qxe1 Kxf7 15 Bc4+ Kf8 16 Qe6 Bxg5+ 16…Ne5 17 Qg8+ Ke7 18 Qxg7+ wins. 17 hxg5 Qxg5+ 18 Kb1 Ne5 Or 18…Qf6 19 Qg8+ Ke7 20 Re1+ Ne5 21 Qd5! And wins. 19 Qg8+ Ke7

After 19...Ke7

20 Re1! Threatening 21 Qd5. 20…Bd7 Black is forced to jettison material, as 20…h6 21 Qd5 Kf6 22 Qd6+ leads to mate. 21 Qxa8 Wd2 22 Rxe5+ Kf6 23 a3 Simplest. White emerges a piece up. 23…Kxe5 24 Qb8+ Kf5 Both 24…Ke4 25 Qxb7+ and 24...Kf6 25 Qd8+ drop a piece. 25 Qf8+ 1-0 As 25…Kg6 26 Qf7+ again wins the bishop.

Source from:

GAMBIT: John Nunn’s 101 Brilliant Chess Miniatures (Page 99)

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Sveshnikov vs. Scherbakov

Sveshnikov vs. Scherbakov

USSR Ch Moscow 1991

Sicilian Defense, Rossolimo Variation

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 e6 4 0-0 Nge7 5 c3 a6 5…d5 6 exd5 is thought to Black give excellent prospects of equality. 6 Ba4 b5 7 Bc2 d5?! With the bishop on c2, this move is no longer good. 7…Bb7 is a better chance. 8 e5

After 8 e5

White threatens 9 d4, reaching a favourable type of French position in which d4 Is absolutely secure and White’s light-squared is actively posted on the b1-h7 diagonal. 8…d4 Black tries to prevent White’s d4, but now the e4-square is available for White bishop. 9 Be4 Bb7 10 a4 White has several routes to a slight advantage; for example, 10 d3 Ng6 11 Re1 Be7 12 cxd4 cxd4 13 Nbd2 0-0 14 Nb3, Torre-Fedorowicz, San Francisco 1991 or 10 cxd4 cxd4 11 d3 Qb6 12 Re1 Rc8 13 a3 h6 14 h4 g6 15 Bf4, Morozevich-J.Polgar, Amsterdam 1995. 10…Ng6

After 10...Ng6

The e5-pawn exerts a cramping influence in Black position, so Black starts to besiege it. However, thanks to White pressure along the diagonal from e4 to a8, actually capturing it will be far from easy. 11 axb5 axb5 12 Rxa8 Bxa8 12…Qxa8 13 Qe2! (13 Na3 Ncxe5 14 Nxb5 Nxf3+ 15 gxf3 Qa5 is less clear) 13…b4 14 Qb5 is awkward for Black. 13 Na3 White strikes at the weak b5-pawn. 13…Na7 Abandoning any immediate attempt to take the e5-pawn, bute there was little choice; for example, 13…Ncxe5 )13…Qa5 14 Qe2 does not solve Black’s problems) 14 Bxa8 Qxa8 15 Nxe5 Nxe5 16 cxd4 cxd4 17 Nxb5 with advantage to White; the d4-pawn is weak and Black is still two moves from castling. 14 Bxa8 Qxa8 15 Qb3

After 15 Qb3

15…Qb7 Black’s best defense. 15…dxc3 16 dxc3 only makes it easier for White to develop his Bishop, while 15…c4 16 Nxc4!? bxc4 17 Qa4+ Kd8 (17…Ke7 18 Nxd4 Nxe5 19 Nb5 Nec6 20 d3 also gives White a slight advantage) 18 Nxd4 Nf4 19 Nf3 wins the c4-pawn, after which, with material equality and a permanently exposed black king, White can count on some advantage. 16 cxd4 cxd4 17 Nxd4 Opening the position is logical, as White is ahead in development. 17 d3 Bc5 18 h4 is less effective because 18…h6 prevents the advance h5-h6. 17…Bxa3 17…b4 18 Nc4 favours White. 18 bxa3 18 Qxa3 Nxe5 19 Re1 b4 is weaker as White has problems developing his bishop. 18…Nxe5 18…0-0 19 Nf3 keeps the extra pawn. 19 Bb2

After 19 Bb2

Aiming for threats on the long diagonal. 19 a4 is tempting line which fails, since after 19...0-0 20 Nxb5 Nxb5 White cannot retain the extra pawn. 19…Nc4 19…0-0 20 Nxe6 Nf3+ 21 gxf3 fxe6 22 Qxe6+ Kh8 23 Qe4 wins for White. 20 Wg3 Sveshnikov thinks that White is already winning, but this is not correct, as we shall see. White has an advantage, but Black can still hope to defend. 20…0-0 20…Nxb2? Loses at once to 21 Qxg7 Rf8 22 Nxe6. 21 Bc3

After 21 Bc3

21 Nf5? f6 22 Nd6 Qb6 lets Black off the hook. 21…g6? Only this move loses. 21…e5 is also bad due to 22 Nf5 f6 23 Bb4 Rb8 (White also wins after 23…Re8 24 d3 or 23…Rd8 24 Be7) 24 d3 Nb6 25 Be7 and White wins. 21…Qb8! Is the only chance; after 22 Qg5! h6 (22…f6 23 Qg4 e5 24 Nf5 g6 25 d3 also gives White the edge) 23 Qg4 Ne5 24 Qe4 White’s active bishop gives him some advantage, but Black is still in the game. 22 d3 Nb6 22…Nxa3 23 Qd6! Traps the knight. 23 Qe5! Nd7

After 23...Nd7

23…f6 24 Qxe6+ Kg7 25 Qd6 followed by Ne6+ is also decisive. 24 Qg7+!! 1-0 A beautiful finish. White forces mate after 24…Kxg7 25 Nf5++ Kg8 26 Nh6#.

Source from:

GAMBIT: John Nunn’s 101 Brilliant Chess Miniatures (Pages 100 - 101)

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Smagin vs. Sahovic

Smagin vs. Sahovic

Biel Open 1990

Nimzowitsch Defense

1 e4 Nc6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 The position resembles a 3 e5 Caro-Kann in that Black can develop his light-squared bishop outside his central pawn-chain. 3…Bf5 4 c3 e6 5 Nd2 An unusual move. 5 Ne2, 5 Bd3, and 5 Nf3 are more common alternatives. 5…f6 5…Qd7 followed by …0-0-0 is another possible plan. 6 f4 fxe5 7 fxe5 Nh6 8 Ndf3 Nf7 9 Ne2

After 9 Ne2

White’s idea is to hunt down the f5-bishop by Ng3 and (after …Bg6) h4. However, this plan requires several time-consuming knight moves. 9…Be7 10 Ng3 Bg4? 10…Bg6 11 h4 0-0 is more logical, playing for a lead in development. After 12 h5 Be4, for example, White cannot play 13 Nxe4 as 13…dxe4 followed by 14…Bh4+ wins for Black. 11 Bd3 Ng5

After 11...Ng5

The point of Black’s previous move was to exert pressure against the pinned knight, but it runs into an unexpected tactical riposte. 12 Nxg5! 12 Bxg5 Bxg5 13 0-0 followed by Qc2 would also be favourable for White since Black’s bishops are awkwardly placed. However, the sacrificial text-move is more forceful. 12…Bxd1 13 Nxe6 Qb8 13…Qd7 is refuted by 14 Nxg7+ followed by 15 Bf5, trapping Black’s queen. After 13…Qc8, White continues 14 Nxg7+ Kf7 15 Bh6 Bg4 16 0-0+ Kg8 17 N3f5 Qb8 18 Nxe7+ Nxe7 19 h3 (to play h5) 19…Bxh3 20 Nh5 with a decisive attack. 14 Nxg7+

After 14 Nxg7+

14…Kd8 14…Kf8 is met by 15 Bh6 Bg4 16 0-0+ Kg8 17 h3 and now both 17…Bf8 18 Rxf8+ Qxf8 19 hxg4 and 17…Bd7 18 e6 Be8 19 Nxe8 Qxe8 20 Rf4 are clearly better for White. After 14…Kf7 White has at least two routes to the advantage. He can continue simply by 15 N7f5 Bg4 16 Nh6+ when, as in the game, White restores a rough material balance and preserves a strong attack. However, 15 Nh6!? is also very good. After 15…Bf8 (15…Bg4 16 0-0+ Kg8 transposes to the analysis of 14…Kf8) 16 0-0+ Kg8 17 N7f5! Bg4 18 Rf4! Bxf5 19 Bxf5 Nd8 (19…Qe8 20 Rg4+ Kf7 21 Rf1 wins; 19…Bxh6 20 Be6+ Kg7 21 Nh5+ Kg6 22 Bf7+ Kg5 23 h4#) White wins neatly by 20 Be4!! Bxh6 21 Bxd5+ Kg7 22 Nh5+ Kg6 23 Rf6+ Kxh5 24 Bf3+ Kg5 25 g3 and mate next move. 15 Kxd1 Black has a miserable position. His slight material advantage in no way compensates for the fact that his three most powerful pieces are virtually impotent, and his king is permanently exposed. 15…b5 An attempt to extract Black’s queen from its hiding place on b8. 16 Ne6+ Kc8 17 Nf5 Bf8

After 17...Bf8

The bishop returns to base, but there was no satisfactory move. 17…Qb6 18 Ne3! Wins the d5-pawn, while 17…Kb7 18 Bxb5 strongly favours White. 18 Rf1! Kb7 18…Qb6 loses after 19 Ne3. The move played aims to release the queen along the first rank, but the escape route is closed before Black can make use of it. 19 Bh6!

After 19 Bh6!

Another powerful blow, aiming to gain the c5-square for a White knight. 19…Bxh6 Or 19…Kb6 20 Ne3! (20 Nxf8 Rxf8 21 Bxf8 Qxf8 22 Ne3 Qg8 23 Rf6 also wins) 20…Bxh6 21 Nxd5+ Ka5 (or 21…Kb7 22 Nc5+ Kc8 23 Rf7 winning) 22 b4+ Ka4 23 a3! Kb3 24 Nc5+ Kb2 25 Rf2+! Kxa1 26 Nb3#. 20 Nc5+ Kc8 21 Nxh6 Ne7 22 Be2 The light-squared bishop reaches the h3-c8 diagonal after all, with devastating effect. 22…Ng6 23 Nf7

After 23 Nf7 1-0

1-0 There is no defense to the twin threats of 24 Nxh8 and 24 Bg4#.

Source from:

GAMBIT: John Nunn’s 101 Brilliant Chess Miniatures (Pages 97 - 98)

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Ivanchuk vs. Csom

Ivanchuk vs. Csom

Erevan 1989

Nimzo-Indian Defense, 4 f3

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc6 Bb4 4 f3 c5 5 d5 Bxc3+ If Black is going to play …Nh5, he should do so straight away. 6 bxc3 Nh5 An attempt to exploit the weakening created by f3. 7 g3 Cutting out the check on h4. 7…f5 8 e4 f4 9 dxe6 The sharpest line. 9 Bxf4 and 9 Ne2 are also playable. 9…fxg3?

After 9...fxg3?

A tempting but incorrect move. 9…qf6 10 Ne2 fxg3 11 Bg2 is better, although theory gives White the edge here too. It may well be that Black cannot justify his attempt to seize the initiative at such an early stage. 10 Qd5! g2 10…Nf6 11 Qxc5 g2 12 Bxg2 dxe6 13 Ne2 favours White, while 10…Qh4 11 Bg5 g2+ 11 Bxh4 gxh1Q loses to 13 Qxh5+ g6 14 Qe5. 11 Qxh5+! 11 Bxg2 Qh4+ 12 Kf1 also favours White, but the text-move is even stronger. 11…g6 12 Qe5 Qh4+ 13 Ke2 gxh1Q

After 13...gxh1Q

14 Qxh8+ Ke7 15 Qg7+ Kxe6 Or 15…Kd6 16 Qf8+ Kc6 (16…Kxe6 17 Bh3+ Qxh3 18 Qg8+ Kd6 19 Bf4+ Ke7 20 Bg5+ Kd6 21 Rd1+ mates) 17 Qxc8+ Kd6 18 Qf8+ Kc6 19 Bf4 and wins. 16 Bh3+ Kd6 16…Qxh3+ 17 Qg8+ transposes to previous note. 17 Qf8+ Kc7

After 17...Kc7

17…Kc6 18 Qxc8+ Kd6 19 Qf8+ Kc6 20 Bf4 Kb6 21 Rb1+ Ka6 22 Qc8 mates. 18 Bf4+ Black is forced to surrender a queen to avoid being mated. 18…Qxf4 18…Kb6 19 Rb1+ Ka6 20 Qxc8 transposes into the note to Black’s 17th.  19 Qxf4+ d6 Material equality has been restored, but Black is dead lost. 20 Rd1 First White goes for the king… 20…Nc6 21 Qxd6+ Kb6 22 Qg3 …and now returns for the queen. There is no way to meet the threats of 23 Bg2 and 23 Bxc8 Rxc8 24 Nh3. 22…h5 23 Bxc8 Rxc8 24 Nh3 h4 25 Qf2 1-0

Source from:

GAMBIT: John Nunn’s 101 Brilliant Chess Miniatures (Page 86)

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Ehlvest vs. Kasparov

Ehlvest vs. Kasparov

Reykjavic (World Cup) 1988

English Opening

 1 c4 Nf6 2 Nc3 e5 3 Nf3 Nc6 4 e3 Bb4 5 Qc2 0-0 6 d3 6 Nd5 is a more critical continuation. 6…Re8 7 Bd2 Bxc3 8 Bxc3 d5 9 cxd5 Nxd5 10 Be2

After 10 Be2

A type of reversed Sicilian Scheveningen has been reach, although with one pair of minor pieces removed. As so often happens with reversed openings, White has no problem gaining equality, but playing for an advantage proves more difficult. 10…Bf5 10…Qd6 is also adequate for equality. 11 Rd1 White takes time out to counter the possibility of …Nxb4. After 11 e4 Nf4!? (11…Nxc3 12 bxc3 Bg4 13 0-0 Na5 is roughly level, Taimanov-Kuzmin, USSR Ch, Leningrad 1974) 12 exf5 Nd4 13 Bxd4 exd4 14 Ng1 (14 0-0 Rxe2 15 Qb3 Qd5 favours Black) 14…Qd5 15 0-0-0 Qxa2 the position is unclear. 11 0-0 is playable and probably safest, because 11…Ndb4 12 Bxb4 Nxb4 13 Qc3 Nxd3 14 Rfd1 e4 15 Ne1 is just dead equal. 11…a5 12 0-0 Qe7 13 a3 13 e4 leads to nothing after 13…Ndb4! 14 Qb1 Bg4. 13…a4

After 13...a4

14 Be1?! White would like to improve the position of his pieces by Nd2-e4, but it is not so easy to achieve this; for example, 14 Nd2 Nxc3 (14…Nd4 is less effective as 15 exd4 exd4 16 Bf3 dxc3 17 Bxd5 cxd2 18 Bxb7 is fine for White) 15 Qxc3 Nd4 and Black is slightly better. However, nothing good come from the text-book. Although White preserves his two bishops, he delays his development by severs moves. 14 Rfe1 is best; White improves the position of his rooks and waits to see Black’s plan before committing himself. 14…Bg6 Black easily sidesteps the threat of 15 e4. 15 Qc4 15 Nd2 is still bad, this time because of 15…Nf4. 15…Red8 16 Nd2?

After 16 Nd2?

White thinks the time is ripe to reposition his knight, but he runs into a tactical storm. 16 d4 Nb6 (or e4 18 Nd2 Qg5 straight away) 17 Qc3 e4 18 Nd2 Qg5 19 Nc4 Nd5 20 Qc1 Re8 would have restricted Black to an edge.  16…Nd4! A typical Kasparov move.  17 exd4 White must accept as 17 Bf3 Nb6 18 Qc3 Nb5 followed by …Bxd3 wins for Black. 17…Nf4 18 Bf3 Rxd4

After 18...Rxd4

19 Qb5 after this White’s queen is trapped, but even 19 Qa2 (19 Qc3 Bxd3 20 g3 Ne2+ 21 Bxe2 Bxe2 is also very good for Black) 19…Bxd3 20 Bxb7 Rad8 is very bad for White, e.g. 21 Ra1 (in order to recapture on f1 whit the knight; 21 Bf3 Bxf1 22 Kxf1 e4 23 Be2 Qg5 wins for Black) 21…Qd7 (threatening 22…c6) 22 Nf3 Qb5! 23 Nxd4 exd4 24 Bd2 Bxf1 25 Rxf1 Ne2+ 26 Kh1 Ng3+ 27 hxg3 Qxf1+ 28 Kh2 Qxf2 and the black d-pawn will be decisive. 19…c6 20 Bxc6 Or 20 Qb6 Ra6 and there is no escape. 20…bxc6 21 Qxc6 Qd8 The imminent loss of the d3-pawn is at least of White’s worries. The congested mass of white pieces means that he will be hard-pressed to avoid the immediate loss of the exchange after …Bxd3. 22 Nf3 Rd6

After 22...Rd6

White’s difficulties with his queen  are not over and now Black gains time by chasing is around. 23 Qb5  23 Qb7 loses to 23…Rb6. 23…Rd5 23…Bxd3 24 Qxe5 is less clear. 24 Qb4 Or 24 Qb7 Bxd3 25 Bc3 Bxf1 26 Nxe5 Ne2+ (but not 26…Rxd1?? 27 Qxf7+ Kh8 28 Ng6+ and White mates)  27 Kh1 Nxc3 28 Qxf7+ Kh8, winning for Black. 24…e4

After 24...e4

Even stronger than 24…Bxd3.  25 Bc3 25 Nd2 loses after 25…Qh4! 26 g3 (26 Nxe4 Ne2+ 27 Kh1 Qxh2+! 28 Kxh2 Rh5#) 26…Qh3 27 gxh4 Rh5 forcing mate. If 25 Rd2, then 25…Nxd3 finishes White off. 25…Ne2+ 0-1

Source from:

GAMBIT: John Nunn’s 101 Brilliant Chess Miniatures (Pages 77 - 78)

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Yusupov vs. Nogueiras

Yusupov vs. Nogueiras

Montpellier Candidates 1985

Queen’s Gambit Declined, Exchange Variation

1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 c6 4 Nf3 Nf6 5 Bg5 Nbd7 6 cxd5 exd5 7 e3 Bd6 Black intends the ambitious plan of …Nf8-g6, followed by …h6, forcing the exchange of White’s dark-squared bishop. The defect is that his king has to stay in the centre for a long time. 8 Bd3 Nf8

After 8...Nf8

9 Ne5 The sharpest reply; White’s intend f4, cementing his knight on e5. 9…Qb6 A rather greedy move aiming at the b2-pawn. 9…Qe7 is a playable alternative, when 10 f4 h6 11 Bh4 g5 12 fxg5 hxg5 13 Bxg5 Rg8 14 Bh4 Bxe5 15 dxe5 Qxe5 16 Qf3 is unclear, but an attacking player would favour White as Black’s king is trapped in the centre for the time being. 10 0-0 White does not want to spend tempo covering his b-pawn. 10…Bxe5 10…Qxb2  11 Rc1 is very dangerous; for example 11…Ng6 12 f4 0-0 13 Rc2 Qb6 14 Bxf6 gxf6 15 Ng4 Bxg4 16 Qxg4 with a very strong attack, Timman-Ljubojevic, KRO match (5), Hilversum 1987. Black therefore decides to eliminate the dangerous knight, but this has the effect of weakening his dark squares. Black is not yet seriously worse, but the fact that his king is still in the centre means that even a slight misstep could prove fatal. 11 dxe5

After 11 dxe5

11…Ng4? This move is a mistake because of White’s strong reply. 11 N6d7 is correct, when 12 Bf4 (12 Qa4 is dubious due to 12…Ne6) 12… Nc5 13 Na4 Nxa4 14 Qxa4 Ne6 was unclear in Gulko-Smagin, Moscow 1984. 12 Qa4!

After 12 Qa4!

This exposes the weakness of Black’s previous move: 12 Nxe5 loses to 13 Nxd5, while 12…Ne5 is impossible as the g4-knight hangs. 12…Qxb2 After 12…Bd7 White can gain a large advantage by either 13 e6 Bxe6 14 Nxd5 Bxd5 15 Qxg4 or 13 Qa3 f6 14 exf6 gxf6 15 Bf4. Since the alternatives are impossible, the text-move is practically Black’s only constructive possibility. However, the dangers are obvious. 13 Rac1

After 13 Rac1

Not, of course, 13 Nxd5? Qxe5 and the threat of mate at h2 turns the tables. 13 Nb5 is also inferior because 13…cxb5 14 Bxb5+ Bd7 15 Rab1 Bxb5 16 Qxg4 Bd7! is unclear. 13…Bd7 13…Nxe5 loses to 14 Rc2 Qb6 15 Nxd5, while 13…a5 14 Nb5! Ne6 15 Nd6+ Kf8 16 Qxg4 Qxe5 17 Nxc8 h5 18 Nb6 won for White in Hjartarson-Ljubojevic, Tilburg 1989 – another zero for Ljubo in this line. 14 Qd4!

After 14 Qd4!

It is the relatively quiet-looking moves which turn out to be the most deadly. By lining up the two queens on the same diagonal, White sets up the threat of 15 Nxd5 (15 Ne4 and 15 Nb5 are also threatened). In addition, Black has to worry about the possibility of 15 e6 Bxe6 16 Qxg7, trapping the rook. 14…f6 There is no defense, e.g. 14…Ng6 15 e6 Bxe6 16 Bxg6 hxg6 17 Qxg7 Kd7 18 Rb1 and White wins, or 14…Bc8 15 h3 Nh6 (15…Nxf2 fails to 16 Qc5) 16 Qc5 Ng8 (the position of Black’s knights is comical, at least for everybody except Nogueiras) 17 Qd6 Ne6 (17…Nd7 18 e6 fxe6 19 Qxe6+ Kf8 20 Bf4 is decisive) 18 Nxd5 cxd5 19 Rb1, followed by 20 Bb5+. 15 exf6 gxf6 16 Bxf6 Rg8

16...Rg8

Or 16…Nxf6 17 Qxf6 Rg8 18 nxd5. 17 Nb5! The discovered attack motif arises in any case. Now Black loses his queen. 17…Qxb5 17…Qxd4 18 Nd6# is an attractive mate. 18 Bxb5 Be6 19 Qb2 cxb5 20 Bh4 1-0

Source from:

GAMBIT: John Nunn’s 101 Brilliant Chess Miniatures (Pages 63 – 64)

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