Spassky vs. Seirawan

Spassky vs. Seirawan

Zurich 1984

Pirc-Defense

1 e4 d6 2 d4 Nf6 3 Nc3 g6 4 Nf3 Bg7 5 h3 0-0 6 Be3 This system became popular in the 1980s but is less often seen these days. White delays the development of his f-1 bishop until he has a better idea where it will be well placed. 6…a6 7 a4 b6 8 Bc4 Bb7?! It is risky to allow White to advance in the centre. 8…e6 is currently regarded as giving Black excellent equalizing chances. 9 e5 Ne4 9…dxe5 10 dxe5 Qxd1+ 11 Rxd1 is simply bad for Black as 11…Bxf3 loses material after 12 exf6, while 9…Ne8 10 e6 f5 11 d5 c6 12 h4 gives White a very dangerous attack. 10 Nxe4 Bxe4

After 10...Bxe4

11 Ng5! At the cost of the g-pawn, White opens a file towards Black’s king and gains a number of tempi for his attack. 11…Bxg2?! 11…d5? 12 Bb3 Bxg2 13 Rg1 Be4 14 Nxe4 dxe4 15 Qg4 regains the pawn with tremendous pressure on the light squares. 11…Bb7 12 Qg4 e6 offers better defensive chances, but this is still pretty grim prospect for Black. 12 Rg1 Bc6 13 Qg4

After 13 Qg4

White threatens 14 e6 f5 15 Qh4 h6 16 Nf7 with a decisive attack, so Black is obliged to make another non-developing move to prevent the advance of White’s e-pawn. 13…e6 13…dxe5 14 Qh4 h6 runs into the combination 15 Nxf7! Rxf7 16 Rxg6 Bd5 17 dxe5 Bxc4 18 Qxc4 c6 (Black must try to free his f7-rook; this threatens 19…Qd5) 19 Rd1 Qc7 20 Qe6 with total paralysis. 14 0-0-0 White completes his development. The threat is 15 h4 and if Black replies 15…h5, weakening g6, then White has only to retreat his queen to be threatening a deadly piece sacrifice on e6. 14…Nd7

After 14...Nd7

15 h4 15 Nxf7 Rxf7 16 Qxe6 Qf8 17 Qxf7+ Qxf7 18 Bxf7+ Kxf7 19 d5 Nxe5 20 dxc6 Nxc6 would be extremely difficult to win, so White goes for more. 15…dxe5 15…h5 16 Qg3 Qe7 (trying to support e6) 17 Nxe6 fxe6 18 Qxg6 wins for White. 16 dxe5 16 Nxe6 looks promising, but is not so clear after 16…fxe6 17 Qxe6+ Kh8 18 Qxc6 exd4 19 Bxd4 Bxd4 20 Rxd4 Qf6!. 16…Qe7

After 16...Qe7

17 Rxd7!? An imaginative sacrifice to gain a tempo for h5. This move can hardly be criticized, because it gives White the advantage. However, it is worth mentioning that the simpler 17 f4 would have given White a very strong attack without any additional material investment. 17…Bxd7 17…Qxd7 18 h5 is no better, e.g. 18…Rfe8 19 Nxh7! Kxh7 20 hxg6+ Kg8 21 gxf7+ Qxf7 22 Bh6 Re7 23 Bxg7 Qxg7 24 Bxe6+ Kh8 25 Qh4+ Qh7 26 Qf6+ Rg7 27 Bf5 and wins.  18 h5

After 18 h5

18…f5?! This allows White a rather easy win. Black’s other defenses require accurate play by White. First of all, after 18…h6 19 hxg6! hxg5 20 Bxg5 Qc5 (20…Qe8 21 gxf7+ Rxf7 22 Bf6 Qf8 23 Qg6 followed by 24 Bd3 wins) 21 Bf6 Qxf2 22 Bxg7 Qxg1+ 23 Qxg1 Kxg7 24 Bd3! Black still has serious problems with his exposed king. Secondly, 18…Rfd8 19 Nxh7 Bxe5 loses to 20 hxg6 f5 21 Qxf5 Bxb2+ 22 Kxb2 Qb4+ 23 Bb3 Qxb3+ 24 cxb3 exf5 25 Bh6! And White gains too much material. Finally, 18…Bxe5 19 Nxh7 Qb4 (19…Rfd8 transposes to previous line) 20 Bd4! Qxc4 21 Bxe5 Qxg4 22 Nf6+ Kg7 (22…Kh8 23 Nxg4+ wins) 23 Nxd7+ f6 24 Rxg4 fxe5 25 Rxg6+ Kh7 26 Nxf8+ Rxf8 27 Rxe6 gives White a very promising rook ending. 19 Qh3 f4 19…h6 loses to 20 hxg6 Bxe5 21 Nf7. 20 hxg6 Bxe5 21 Nxe6 21 Nf7 also wins. 21…Bxe6 22 Bxe6+

After 22 Bxe6+

22…Kg7 22…Kh8 23 Rh1 wins. 23 gxh7+ 1-0 It is mate in a few moves.

Source from:

GAMBIT: John Nunn’s 101 Brilliant Chess Miniatures (Pages 58 - 59)

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