11 May '07 21:51>3 edits
Korch – ih8sens
The game started from position which arises after
1.g4!? d5
My opininon about Grob have been changed two times. At first when I was teen and I liked unortodox openings , I though that this opening white can get at least equal play in unstandart positions which arise from this opening. Later, when I have started to play more positional, I changed my mind and concluded that Grob is very dubious. But about two-three months ago once I did start analyse (with engine) possible lines after 1.e4 g5!!?? and concluded that its not so elementary for white to get something more real that small advantage. Then I though – “If black can afford playing 1…g5, why white cant play 1.g4 ?” After analyzing 1.g4 I concluded that this move is not so bad as its reputation and playable.
2.h3
In my opinion this move is much better than gambit move 2.Bg2.
2….e5 3.Bg2 c6
On 3…h5 white will respond 3.g5 and if 3…Qxg5 then 4.Bxd5.
Interesting move is 3…Nc6 on which white can respond 4.Nc3 attacking d5. For example 4…Be6 5.d3 Qd7!? 6.Nf3 f6 (6…0-0-0?! 7.Ng5! +=) 7.a3 planning attack in queenside. I think that position is at least equal for white.
Now black has solid centre, which white attacks in next move
4.d4!
Alternative 4.d3 Bd6 5.Nc3 Ne7 6.e4 =
4….e4
After 4….exd4 5.Qxd4 white will get small opening advantage attacking d4 with c4 or e4.
5.c4
Making pressure to d5
5….Be6
In well known game Basman – Keene, Manchester 1981 black did play 5…Bd6!? 6.Nc3 Ne7 7.g5 Be6 8.h4 Nf5 black got large advantage and won easily. After that game Keene declared that Grob is refuted, but this conclusion is not serious. - White should have play 7.Qb3! (instead of 7.g5?? and after 7….0-0 8.Bg5 f6 9.Bd2! white have some plus.
6.Nc3 dxc4?!
Why to give up the central pawn? After 6…Nf6 7.Qb3 Qb6 8.c5 Qxb3 9.axb3 Nbd7 10.b4 white would have slightly better position, but black position would be still playable.
7.Nxe4?!
After 7.Bxe4 Nf6 8.Bg2 white could start to move their central pawns and get advantage. I though that it does not matter playing 7.Nxe4 or 7.Bxe4, but I underrated my opponents reply.
7….Bd5!
Tie-up of knight on e4 making position more complicated.
8.Bd2
Played against check on b4 and offering pawn sacrifice.
8….h5
Making white to move their g-pawn which can weaken their kingside, but also restricts development of black kingside. – Knight on e7 or g6 usually are not so useful as on f6.
After 8….Bxe4?! 9.Bxe4 Qxd4 10.Qc2 Nf6 11.Bf5! white would have dangerous initiative for pawn.
8…Nd7 is also worth of consideration.
9.g5 Na6 10.Qb1!
I saw that after 10.Qc2 (protecting knight on e4 and preparing Nf3) attacking queen on b4 would be mindless, because after retry to b1 white will be able play a3 making knight return. I put my queen linking it with following plan:
White is 1) defending knight on e4 and preparing 11.Nf3 2) planning to play b3 when black will have to take on b3 and then after axb3 white will get half-open a-file which will make risky castling queenside for black. Also 10.Qb1 is one of the forst recommendations of Rybka.
10…f6?!
Black should have prevent 11.Nf3 and play 10…Qe7. Position after 11.b3 cxb3 (11…b5?! 12.h4!+=) 12.axb3 is very complicated and seems to me very unclear – both sides need to find good plan how to develop their pieces in the best way. Rybka rates this position as equal.
11.Nf3 Bd6?
Position after 11…Qd7 12.gxf6 gxf6 (12…Nxf6? 13.Ne5!) 13.Nc3 0-0-0 was better for white but still playable for black. Now white is forcing line which gives dangerous attack with large advantage.
12.Nxd6 Qxd6 13.Qg6+ Kd8 14.gxf6 Qxf6?
Better was 14…gxf6 after which white should continue their attack with 15.Rg1! For example 15…Bf7 16.Qb1! with b3.
After 14…Nxf6 15.Ne5 white will get decisive attack.
15.Ne5!
Perhaps my opponent overlooked this move.
15….Qd8?
Final mistake, but black is lost anyway. Some possible lines:
1) 15….Rd8? 16.Bg5!
2) 15…..Nc7? 16.Bb4+
3) 15…Bf7 (perhaps the best)16.Qg3 Qe7 17.Rg1 h4 18.Qc3 with b3 – white will play on both flanks and will win due to better coordination of their pieces.
16.Bxd5 Qxd5 17.e4
According to engine 17.Rg1! is better , but also after 17.e4 white wins easily – queen cant move from e5 (except on d7 controlled by white knight) due to mate on f7. That was the reason why Black resigned 1-0
The game started from position which arises after
1.g4!? d5
My opininon about Grob have been changed two times. At first when I was teen and I liked unortodox openings , I though that this opening white can get at least equal play in unstandart positions which arise from this opening. Later, when I have started to play more positional, I changed my mind and concluded that Grob is very dubious. But about two-three months ago once I did start analyse (with engine) possible lines after 1.e4 g5!!?? and concluded that its not so elementary for white to get something more real that small advantage. Then I though – “If black can afford playing 1…g5, why white cant play 1.g4 ?” After analyzing 1.g4 I concluded that this move is not so bad as its reputation and playable.
2.h3
In my opinion this move is much better than gambit move 2.Bg2.
2….e5 3.Bg2 c6
On 3…h5 white will respond 3.g5 and if 3…Qxg5 then 4.Bxd5.
Interesting move is 3…Nc6 on which white can respond 4.Nc3 attacking d5. For example 4…Be6 5.d3 Qd7!? 6.Nf3 f6 (6…0-0-0?! 7.Ng5! +=) 7.a3 planning attack in queenside. I think that position is at least equal for white.
Now black has solid centre, which white attacks in next move
4.d4!
Alternative 4.d3 Bd6 5.Nc3 Ne7 6.e4 =
4….e4
After 4….exd4 5.Qxd4 white will get small opening advantage attacking d4 with c4 or e4.
5.c4
Making pressure to d5
5….Be6
In well known game Basman – Keene, Manchester 1981 black did play 5…Bd6!? 6.Nc3 Ne7 7.g5 Be6 8.h4 Nf5 black got large advantage and won easily. After that game Keene declared that Grob is refuted, but this conclusion is not serious. - White should have play 7.Qb3! (instead of 7.g5?? and after 7….0-0 8.Bg5 f6 9.Bd2! white have some plus.
6.Nc3 dxc4?!
Why to give up the central pawn? After 6…Nf6 7.Qb3 Qb6 8.c5 Qxb3 9.axb3 Nbd7 10.b4 white would have slightly better position, but black position would be still playable.
7.Nxe4?!
After 7.Bxe4 Nf6 8.Bg2 white could start to move their central pawns and get advantage. I though that it does not matter playing 7.Nxe4 or 7.Bxe4, but I underrated my opponents reply.
7….Bd5!
Tie-up of knight on e4 making position more complicated.
8.Bd2
Played against check on b4 and offering pawn sacrifice.
8….h5
Making white to move their g-pawn which can weaken their kingside, but also restricts development of black kingside. – Knight on e7 or g6 usually are not so useful as on f6.
After 8….Bxe4?! 9.Bxe4 Qxd4 10.Qc2 Nf6 11.Bf5! white would have dangerous initiative for pawn.
8…Nd7 is also worth of consideration.
9.g5 Na6 10.Qb1!
I saw that after 10.Qc2 (protecting knight on e4 and preparing Nf3) attacking queen on b4 would be mindless, because after retry to b1 white will be able play a3 making knight return. I put my queen linking it with following plan:
White is 1) defending knight on e4 and preparing 11.Nf3 2) planning to play b3 when black will have to take on b3 and then after axb3 white will get half-open a-file which will make risky castling queenside for black. Also 10.Qb1 is one of the forst recommendations of Rybka.
10…f6?!
Black should have prevent 11.Nf3 and play 10…Qe7. Position after 11.b3 cxb3 (11…b5?! 12.h4!+=) 12.axb3 is very complicated and seems to me very unclear – both sides need to find good plan how to develop their pieces in the best way. Rybka rates this position as equal.
11.Nf3 Bd6?
Position after 11…Qd7 12.gxf6 gxf6 (12…Nxf6? 13.Ne5!) 13.Nc3 0-0-0 was better for white but still playable for black. Now white is forcing line which gives dangerous attack with large advantage.
12.Nxd6 Qxd6 13.Qg6+ Kd8 14.gxf6 Qxf6?
Better was 14…gxf6 after which white should continue their attack with 15.Rg1! For example 15…Bf7 16.Qb1! with b3.
After 14…Nxf6 15.Ne5 white will get decisive attack.
15.Ne5!
Perhaps my opponent overlooked this move.
15….Qd8?
Final mistake, but black is lost anyway. Some possible lines:
1) 15….Rd8? 16.Bg5!
2) 15…..Nc7? 16.Bb4+
3) 15…Bf7 (perhaps the best)16.Qg3 Qe7 17.Rg1 h4 18.Qc3 with b3 – white will play on both flanks and will win due to better coordination of their pieces.
16.Bxd5 Qxd5 17.e4
According to engine 17.Rg1! is better , but also after 17.e4 white wins easily – queen cant move from e5 (except on d7 controlled by white knight) due to mate on f7. That was the reason why Black resigned 1-0