Seirawan vs. Short

Seirawan vs. Short

Amsterdam (VSB) 1992

Queen’s Gambit Declined, 5 Bf4

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 d5 4 Nc3 Be7 5 Bf4 0-0 6 e3 c5 7 dxc5 Bxc5 8 Qc2 Nc6 9 a3 Qa5 10 Rd1 Be7 11 Nd2 e5 12 Nb3 Qb6 13 Bg5 Be6!?

After 13...Be6?!

This was a new move at the time. Although it led to a brilliant win for Black on its first outing, later analysis showed it to be inferior to the alternatives and it has not been seen since. 13…d4 is playable, but perhaps the safest line for Black is 13…Bg4 14 f3 Be6. In this refinement of Short’s idea, Black induces a weakness before playing the bishop to e6. 14 Na4 White can also secure a slight advantage by 14 Bxf6 (14cxd5?! Nxd5 15 Nxd5 Bxd5 16 Rxd5 Bxg5 is only equal) 14…dxc4 and now either 15 Nd2 Bxf6 16 Bxc4 or 15 Bxe7 cxb3 16 Qe4 Nxe7 17 Qxe5. The text-move is equally effective. 14…Qa6

After 14...Qa6

Black could have kept his disadvantage to a minimum by 14…Qc7, e.g. 15 Bxf6 dxc4 16 Bxc4  Bxc4 17 Qxc4 Bxf6 18 Nc3, when the coming occupation of d5 gives White an edge but no more. 15 cxd5? White starts a tactical sequence, but there is a flaw. 15 Bxf6? is also bad due to 15…Qxa4 16 Bxe7 (16 cxd5 transposes to the game) 16…Nxe7, with advantage to Black. 15 Nac5! Bxc5 16 cxd5! is best, when Black cannot utilize: 16…Qa4 (or 16…Bb4+ 17 Nd2 Bxd2+ 18 Rxd2 Qa5 19 dxe6 Rad8 20 Bxf6 gxf6 21 exf7+ Kg7 22 Bc4 and Black cannot prevent White freeing himself with Ke2) 17 dxe6 Bb4+ 18 axb4 Nxb4 19 exf7+ Kh8 (19…Rxf7 20 Qc4 b5 21 Qxb5 Qxb3 22 Bc4 Nc2+ 23 Ke2 Qxb5 24 Bxb5 gives White every chance to win the ending) 20 Qf5 Qxb3 21 Bxf6 and now 21…Qxf7 22 Bxg7+ Qxg7 23 Qe4 and 21…Rxf7 22 Bxg7+ Rxg7 23 Qxe5 Nc2+ 24 Ke2 Rc8 25 f4 both favour White. 15…Qxa4

After 15...Qxa4

16 Bxf6 Black is much better after 16 dxe6 Nb4! 17 exf7+ Kh8 18 axb4 Bxb4+ 19 Ke2 Rac8 20 Qf5 (20 Qd3 e4 21 Qd4 Qb5+ wins) 20…e4 21 Nd2 Rc5 22 Qxf6 Qb5+ 23 Ke1 Bxd2 24 Rxd2 Rc1+ 25 Rd1 Qa5+ 26 Qc3 Rxc3 27 bxc3 Qxg5. 16 Nb4!!

After 16...Nb4!!

Throwing a spanner in the works of White’s combination. Not 16…Bxd5? 17 Rxd5 Bxf6 18 Bd3 g6 19 0-0, when White has a definite advantage on account of Black’s vulnerable light squares. 17 Qe4 Running into a second surprise, but there was nothing better. 17 axb4 Bxb4+ 18 Ke2 Rac8 19 Qd3 Bd7! 20 Ra1 (20 Kf3 Bd6 21 e4 gxf6 regains the piece with a massive positional advantage) 20…e4! 21 Qxe4 Qxb3 22 Bd4 Rfe8 gives Black a decisive attack. 17…Rac8!

After 17...Rac8!

18 axb4?! Hopeless, but other moves would also not have saved the game in the long run. The lines 18 Bd3 Nxd3+ 19 Qxd3 Bxf6 20 dxe6 Rfd8, 18 f3 gxf6 19 dxe6 Qxb3 20 exf7+ Kh8 and 18 Bxe7 Nc2+ 19 Qcx2 Rxc2 20 Na1 Bg4 21 Nxc2 Bxd1 22 Bxf8 Qxc2 23 Bb4 Qb1 all lose fairly simply. 18 Bc4 Nc2+ 19 Qxc2 Bxf6 is more complex, but the result is the same after 20 Qd3 (or 20 Qe2 Rxc4 21 Nd2 Bg4 22 f3 Rc2 23 fxg4 Rxb2 24 0-0 Qxa3) 20…e4 21 Bb5 (21 Qe2 Rxc4 22 Nd2 Rc2 23 dxe6 Bxd2 24 exf7+ Rxf7 25 0-0 Rd7 also wins) 21…exd3 22 Bxa4 Bxd5 23 Rxd3 Bc4. 18…Bxb4+ 19 Ke2 Qxb3 White cannot take the piece, because after 20 dxe6 fxe6! the bishop cannot move owning to 21…Rc2+. Thus he is left with a shattered position and his king hopelessly exposed. 20 Bxe5

After 20 Bxe5

20…Rc4! 21 Rd4 21 Bd4 loses to 21…Rc2+ 22 Kf3 Bxd5. 21…Rxd4 22 Qxd4 Bxd5 0-1 White cannot avoid loss of the queen.

Source from:

GAMBIT: John Nunn’s 101 Brilliant Chess Miniatures (Pages 107 - 108)