The game that brought me over the 2000 limit was a memorable one.
Here is an analysis, for those interested. Remarks are welcome. gil.
[GameId "107695"]
[White "misslead"]
[Black "sintubin"]
[Result "0-1"]
The millenium game
1. e4 ... e5
2. Ng1f3 ... Ng8f6 {Petrov's defense}
3. Nf3xe5 ... d6
4. Ne5f3 ... Nf6xe4
5. d4 ... d5
6. Bf1d3 ... Bf8e7
7. o-o ... Nb8c6
8. c4 {sharper than the alternative Re1}
... Nc6b4 {less risky than Nf6!? or Bg4!?}
9. cxd5!? {again sharper than the standard move Be2
... Nb4xd3
10. Qd1xd3 ... Qd8xd5
11. Rf1e1 ... Bc8f5
12. Nf3e5 {?! or !? depending on the book.
much more aggressive than 12. Nc3.}
.... f6 {or g6 or 0-0-0}
13. Nb1c3 {better than retreating Nc4 or Qf3}
.... Ne4xc3
14. Qd3xf5 ... Nc3b5
15. Qf5h5+! {probably stronger than the book move 15. Qg4
White makes a (temporary) piece sacrifice for attack}
.... g6
16. Qh5h3 ... fxe5
17. Re1xe5 ... Qd5xd4
18. Qh3e6 ... Qd4d1+ {to get the rook back on line 1
and release the threath on Nb5}
19. Re5e1 ... Qd1d7
20. Bc1g5 {white wins the piece back and keeps the initiative}
.... o-o-o!? {might be better than ... QxQ RxQ 0-0-0 ReB}
21. Qe6xe7 {maintains the pressure, better than QxQd7}
.... Rd8e8 {or else QxQe7 RxQ Nd6 (perhaps better)
or even h6 Bf6 QxQ RxQ Rde8 Rae1 RxR RxR Rd8.}
22. Qe7xd7?! {Qb4 or Qc5 were strong alternatives
the game is equal at the moment.
Exactly the same position occured in the game I. Drozdov - D.
Pavasovic
in Ljubljana, 1994. The game ended 1/2 - 1/2. White played 22.Qc5.}
.... Kc8xd7
23. Ra1d1 {or directly Be3}
.... Nb5d6
24. Bg5e3 ... Re8e6 {or b6 followed by c5?}
25. Re1e2? { slightly better was: 25.f3 or 25.Bd4}
.... c5! {exploits the fact that Re2 is not covered.}
26. Re2d2 ... Rh8e8 {uses white's weak first line; Kc6 was also good}
27. h3 { perhaps better Rd5, b6, Kf1; white wanted to release the
pressure on the first line, however at the expense of a tempo}
.... Kd7c6
28. Be3f4 {or b4! , c4 (cxb, Rc1+, Kb5, Rd5+ etc..) Rd5}
.... Re6e1 {to eliminate the double rook, enhancing the pawn
majority on
Q-side}
29. Kg1h2 {or RxR, RxR, Kh2}
.... Re1xd1
30. Rd2xd1 ... Nd6f5
31. g4 ... Nf5d4 {black is slightly better now}
32. b4 {better directly Be3?}
.... b6 {difficult choice between Re2 or Re4 or Ne2
but b6 is probably more solid}
33. a4 {or bxc}
.... Re8f8! {stronger than a6, uses the fact that Bf4 is uncovered}
34. Bf4e3 ... Nd4f3+
35. Kh2g3 ... cxb4 {a very important pawn won}
36. Rd1c1+ ... Kc6d5 {a crucial choice. Kb7 was much safer
and consolidates the pawn. Black decides to go for the more risky way,
using the dynamic advantage of the pawn}
37. Rc1b1 {white chooses to defend. the alternative
was Rc7, Ne5, Rxa7, b3, Bxb6, Nc4 and black will win}
.... Kd5c4
38. Be3f4? { Rc1+, Kd3, Rc7 resists longer}
.... b3! {the game is virtually over}
39. Kg3xf3 ... g5
40. Kf3e2 ... Rf8xf4
41. Ke2e3 ... Kc4c3
White resigns because promotion can only be prevented
by sacrificing the rook. The following moves could have
been:
42. Rc1+ {42. h4? ,b2, 43. hxg, Rxa4 44. f4 , Kc2 45. Rh1, b1Q etc..}
.... Kb2
43. Rd1 ... Ka2
44. Rd2+ {if first h4, then h6 and if a5 then bxa5}
.... b2
45. Rd1 [same remark as above}
.... b1Q {Rxa4 more accurate} and white has to sacrifice the rook
Exciting game! White went for the attack. black could resist
and develop a winning Q-side.
Thanks, Lyn!
It does. For me, there is no such thing as a 'morphian' talent guiding
the high-rated player to undefeatable performance. Most players on
RHP are capable of beating any top-20 rated player. The difference in
winning chance are determined by: insight, which is the result of
experience and knowledge (can be circumvented by preparation and
surprising variations), dedication (call it sweat), and luck (call it
serendipity).
I don't know about insight and serendipity in this game, but sweat
was there! gil.
Lyn and Gil,
ran trough your game, verry nice game and verry wel played Lyn, I'm
sure it wasn't easy for Gil to win. You have to try me again, if you play
like that you surely can beat me.
One suggestion, but I'm not sure about it. What if white on move 18
takes the Bisschop on e7 with his Rook (e5) and after KxRe7, Bc1-g5+
Joost
thanks for the interest, Joost. I will answer from my side, but I am
sure Lyn went through a similar same reasoning.
After
18. RxBe7 ... KxRe7
19. Bg5+ ... Kf7
20. Qb3+ {the only move to go on}
.... Kg7
21. QxNb5 ... Rhe8 {or b6?}
black has the better game . If 22. Qxb7 ... Qb6! ; 23. Qd5 black wins
back pawn b2 since white cannot afford to exchange queens.
i hope this answers your question. If not, I will be happy to learn
where the flaw in the reasoning is.
gil.