Avigdor Bykhovsky (2460) – Anatoly Bykhovsky (2254) [E60]
Ashdod, December 15, 2004
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 With this move White intends to avoid the Grunfeld Defense.
3…Nc6 4.e4 White is trying to obtain control over the center.
4…e5 Black is attacking White’s center.
5.Ne2 Another option would be 5.d5, but then after 5…Nd4 Black gets the control over the important d4 square.
5…exd4 6.Nxd4 Bg7 7.Be3 It is astonishing, but this natural developing move of the Bishop (on 7th move!), is a mistake that later costs White the game.
7…Nxe4! A nice tactical blow that was part of my home preparation.
8.Nxc6 The best response. White cannot capture the Knight with 8.fxe4, because of 8…Qh4+ 9.Bf2 (Or 9.Kd2 Bxd4; 9.Ke2 Nxd4+ 10.Bxd4 Qxe4+) 9…Qxe4+ 10.Ne2 and now 10…Nb4! with a winning attack.
8…dxc6 White still cannot capture the Knight safely, as after the exchange of Queens, Black will capture on b2 and then trap the Rook on a1.
9.Qe2 Defending the Pawn on b2 and preparing a discovered check after the Black Knight retreats from e4.
9…Nf6 10.Bxa7+ White is gaining back the material, but in doing so is delaying the development of his pieces. More accurate was 10.Bh6+ Kf8 11.Be3. Then, even though, Black has doubled pawns on the c file, Black is still a pawn up and it will take White some time to complete development.
10…Be6 Naturally, blocking the check was needed, to maintain the right to castle.
11.Bc5 Temporarily preventing Black from castling.
11…b6 12.Bb4 c5 Black chases away the Bishop to be able to castle next.
13.Bc3 0–0 Black finally castles and now the Black pieces are ready to quickly engage in attacking the White King in the center.
14.Kf2 White’s King does not have a safe shelter, but it must try to hide from the open files in the center.
14…Re8 15.Qd2 Hoping to exchange Queens and diminish Black’s attack.
15…Qe7 Black keeps the Queens on the board as a decisive attack is on the way.
16.Na3 White simply does not have a way to complete development of all the pieces.
16…Rad8 17.Qe1 Nh5 Opening the diagonal for the Queen (towards h4), while exchanging White’s only well placed piece (on c3).
18.Bxg7 Nxg7 19.Qc3 Nh5 20.Be2 White finally developed his Bishop and connected his Rooks, but it is too late as Black strikes decisively to win the game. More stubborn defense would be 20.g3. But even then, Black’s advantage should be still enough to win.
20…Bh3! A discovered attack, which wins the game.
21.Rhe1 Bxg2! 22.Bf1 If 22.Kxg2 Nf4+ wins.
22…Qg5 and White resigned as all the moves losing. For example 23.Bxg2 23…Rd2+ or 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Bxg2 Nf4 25.Bf1 Qh4+ 26.Kg1 Ne2+ 27.Bxe2 Rxe2.
0–1
[Anatoly Bykhovsky]
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Brilliant!