|
|
|
1. d4
|
This game was part of a Semi-Slav thematic; for the starting position see black's 4th move. |
 
|
| |
|
|
1... d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6
|
This was actually the starting position. |
|
| |
|
|
5. e3
|
White opts for e3 rather than Bg5, leading as usual to the Meran Variation. |
|
| |
|
|
5... Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5
|
The Meran Variation. Black uses this "lunge" to gain time to reorganize his queen's wing. The Meran is one of the most heavily analyzed openings, and this game follows main line theory until about move 16. |
|
| |
|
|
8. Bd3 Bb7 9. O-O
|
A choice point: white could opt for the ultra-aggressive e4, or the very quiet a3. The text move is currently the "main line". |
|
| |
|
|
9... a6 10. e4 c5 11. d5 Qc7
|
11 ...c4 is more usual here, but the text transposes a few moves later. The queen goes to c7 to inhibit e5. |
|
| |
|
|
12. dxe6
|
As I intended to play this pawn exchange, I decided to force it now. Bc2 is considered more flexible. |
|
| |
|
|
12... fxe6 13. Bc2
|
A prophylactic against tactics on the d-file. |
|
| |
|
|
13... c4
|
Transposing back to the main line. Black frees c5 for his knight. |
|
| |
|
|
14. Nd4
|
Another choice point: Ng5 is a popular alternative, often leading to a delicate endgame. Given that my opponent was more highly rated, I preferred the tactical possibilities offered by Nd4. |
|
| |
|
|
14... Nc5 15. Be3 O-O-O
|
Black very often castles long in this variation, and the main theme of the next part of the game is white's attempts to exploit this. |
|
| |
|
|
16. Qe2 e5
|
A popular move, preventing white playing e5 to harrass black's knight. |
|
| |
|
|
17. Nf3 Ne6
|
Threatening ...Nd4 (Gelfand-Akopian 1996). |
|
| |
|
|
18. Nd5
|
The first deviation from theory; white reacts aggressively to black's threat. Moving one of the rooks to d1 is more usual. The attacking idea here is based on a game by Krasenkov, though the present game does not follow it at all closely. |
|
| |
|
|
18... Nxd5 19. exd5 Nf4 20. Bxf4
|
Not entirely nice, but better than a black knight outpost on d3. |
|
| |
|
|
20... exf4 21. a4
|
Natural, but possibly not the best move order; Rfd1 might have been better. White intends to sacrifice the exchange on d5, and might then have done so under more favourable circumstances. |
|
| |
|
|
21... Bxd5
|
I had thought that ...b4 was almost forced here. Instead Black takes the d5 pawn, allowing the opening of the a-file. |
|
| |
|
|
22. axb5 axb5 23. Rfd1
|
White prepares the exchange sacrifice, intending to control the long light-squared diagonal with his bishop. |
|
| |
|
|
23... Qc5
|
Now however black is able to overprotect the bishop and recapture with the queen, though I am not sure that black actually expected the exchange sacrifice. Ways of avoiding it: (A) Bc6 or Bb7, in both cases allowing the white queen to e6; (B) Nxf3, where white achieves his objective for free. |
|
| |
|
|
24. Rxd5
|
The exchange sacrifice at last, and we're off. |
|
| |
|
