1.e4
e6
2.d4
d5
3.Nd2
c5
4.Ngf3
Nf6
5.e5
transposing into the so called Universal System.
5...Nfd7
6.c3
Be7
7.Bd3
b6
David chooses a system with a solid reputation. I've had this position myself a few times before. The last couple of games went: I decided to deviate and came up with
8.h4
over the board. I decided not to worry about Black's plan of swapping off light squared bishops and instead start proceedings on the other wing. The move also had the advantage of deviating from any preparation David might have done before the game. [8.Qe2
a5
9.0-0
Ba6
10.c4
Nc6
11.cxd5
Bxd3
12.Qxd3
Nb4
(A later opponent tried 12...exd5
13.Re1
0-0
14.Qf5
cxd4
15.Nb3
Nc5
16.Nbxd4
0-1 Jones,G-Grigorya n,A/Yerevan 2007 (60) and White is slightly better although I overpressed and went on to lose) 13.Qe4
exd5
14.Qg4
0-0
15.Rd1
Kh8
16.Nf1
Nc2
17.Rb1
Nxd4
18.Nxd4
cxd4
19.Qxd4
Bc5
20.Qxd5
Nxe5
21.Be3
Qxd5
22.Rxd5
Bxe3
23.Nxe3
f6
24.f4
1-0 Jones,G-Hou Yifan/Liverpool ENG 2007 (57) and I was left in a very favourable ending due to more active pieces and the weakness of black's queenside pawns.]
8...Ba6
9.Bxa6
Nxa6
10.a3
cutting out Nb4 ideas for Black which would target the c2 and d3 squares. [The only previous game in this line ran: 10.h5
b5
11.h6
g6
12.Nf1
b4
13.Ne3
0-0
14.0-0
Nb6
Parligras,M-Rakhmanov,A/Athens GRE 2008 (1-0 in 43) which looked rather unclear but White went on to win]
10...Qc8
Maybe this plan is a little slow. Black's idea is to drop the knight back and then play Qa6 to activate the queen but maybe this is a little slow. [10...0-0
is the compute r's recommendation but it looks risky with White's attack already started. However with light squared bishops traded the attack will not be as strong and I think Black should probably go into this. My plan was to still play 11.Ng5
as after 11...Bxg5
12.hxg5
Qxg5
13.Nf3
White has good compensation for the pawn]
11.Ng5
h6
12.Nh3
It might look illogical to move the knight ofrom f3 to h3 but now the queen is free to come out to g4, the other knight can move to f3 if necessary and from h3 the knight can go to f4 and then perhaps to h5. Black has also created a weakness with h6 on his kingside.
12...Nab8
13.Qg4
Bf8
14.Nf4
I was very happy with this position. White has more space and a developmental advantage but Black's position is solid and he will get counterplay on the queenside. However he also has to look out for knight sacrifices on e6
14...cxd4
I don't much like this move and was happy to see it played. I think he should keep the tension with [14...Nc6
15.Ne2
(15.Nf3
cxd4
and White has been forced to play Nf3.) 15...Qa6~~
]
15.cxd4
Nc6
16.Ne2
And this is an odd looking move. I have now moved my g1 knight five times! Black's b8 knight though has moved three times and I did not want to play Now I have the idea to play f4,f5 breaking up his pawn structure and exposing his king. [16.Nf3
as this leaves the queenside a little vulnerable while White's plan is not so clear.]
16...Qa6
17.Rh3!?
An unusual way of developing my rook but my king is fairly safe on e1 and now my rook defends the d3 square and is ready to shift across the third rank to either c3,f3 or g3.
17...Rc8
18.Rb1
Black now has to come up with a plan. His main problem is that he cannot move the f8 bishop and so is playing without his rook and with his king stuck in the centre. Perhaps he should try h5 and g6 but this leaves the g5 square as a nice outpost and Black's king will never be totally safe. [18.f4
Nb4
is awkward to deal with so instead I just take time out to stop the threat.]
18...Na5
19.h5
Nc4
20.f4
The f pawn starts its march!
20...Nxd2
21.Bxd2
Black's last few moves have not achieved much, he has simply swapped one of his few active pieces while helping White complete his development.
21...Qa4
22.Rc1!
Swapping off another of Black's active pieces which exacerbates the problem of Black's kingside pieces. [22.f5
Nxe5!
is Black's idea exploiting the queen being undefended.]
22...Rxc1+
23.Bxc1
b5
24.Rc3
Kd8
Not a move Black wants to play but [24...Nb6
25.f5
is hardly appealing either]
25.f5!
b4
[25...Nxe5
26.Qf4
allows White's queen into Black's position e.g. 26...Nd7
27.Qc7+
Ke8
28.fxe6
fxe6
29.Qc8+
Ke7
30.Rc7
b4
31.b3
Qb5
32.a4+-
]
26.Rg3
Black's centre is collapsing; his king is vulnerable and he still has to develop his kingside. [26.axb4
exf5
27.Qxf5
Bxb4
28.Qxf7
should also be winning and is probably more accurate.]
26...Qc6
27.Bd2
Qc2
28.fxe6
fxe6
29.Qxe6
Nb6
30.axb4?!
However White's position should still be winning without too much difficulty. David plays well though to create some problems. [30.Bxb4
swapping dark squared bishops is more accurate but I'd got so used to the bishop on f8 I didn't want to let it develop and let him have even a sniff of counterplay but then his position would be basically resignable after 30...Bxb4+
31.axb4
Qb1+
32.Kf2
Rf8+
33.Rf3+-
]
30...Qb1+
31.Kf2
Qxb2
32.Bc3
Qb3
33.Qf5
[33.Qf7
Bxb4
34.Rxg7
Rf8
35.Rg8+-
]
33...Bxb4
34.Nf4
[34.Bxb4
Qxb4
35.Rxg7
Rf8
36.Rf7
Rxf7
37.Qxf7
Is winning for White but I was afraid of allowing any counterplay with Black's a pawn.]
34...Re8!
I had missed this move when I played my previous. I sunk into deep thought here trying to find a forced win. A few lines I looked at: I eventually came to my senses and realised I still had a clear advantage and it wasn't necessary to go for broke. [34...Bxc3
35.Ne6+
Ke8
36.Qg6+
Ke7
37.Qxg7+
Kxe6
38.Qf6+
Kd7
39.Rg7+
Kc8
40.Qc6+
Kd8
41.Qc7+
Ke8
42.Qe7#
was the line which inspired me to play 34.Nf4]
35.Bxb4
[35.Rxg7
Qxc3
36.Ne6+
Rxe6
37.Qxe6
Qxd4+
when Black will have at least a draw; 35.Ne6+
Rxe6
36.Qxe6
(36.Bxb4
Qxb4
37.Qxe6
Qxd4+
doesn't look clear to me) 36...Bxc3
37.Qg8+
Kc7
38.Qxg7+
(38.Rxg7+
Nd7
) 38...Kb8~~
]
35...Qxb4
36.Qd3
Qb2+
37.Kf3
Qc1
[37...Re7
38.Rxg7
Rxg7
39.Ne6++-
]
38.Rxg7
Rf8
39.g3
My position is back under control. I have to watch out for perpetual checks involving a rook sacrifice on f4 but it's winning for White.
39...Nc4
[39...Rxf4+
40.gxf4
Qh1+
41.Kg4
Qg2+
42.Qg3
Qe2+
43.Kh4+-
; 39...Qh1+
40.Kg4
Rxf4+
41.gxf4+-
]
40.Rxa7
Nd2+
[40...Rxf4+
41.gxf4
Qh1+
42.Kg4
and again the king escapes the checks.; 40...Qh1+
41.Kg4
Rxf4+
42.gxf4
Qg2+
43.Kf5
]
41.Kg2
Rxf4
42.Ra8+
Ke7
43.Qh7+
and mate in a few moves. 1-0