Chessville - Annotated Games - IM Andrei Florean vs IM Dmitry Zilberstein

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IM Andrei Florean, Michigan vs IM Dmitry Zilberstein, North California
State Champion of Champions Final, Internet Chess Club (1), 04.12.2005

with Annotations by IM Andrei Florean

I started the Qualification Series without big hopes. Last year, totally unprepared for the 3 minutes blitz games, I ended up in the middle part of the final standings. This year, to my surprise, I did not have problems with the blitz tournament, leading by 1-2 points for the most part of it. When preparing for the next stage (the matches) I expected to have an easy time in the first match (my opponent was rated about 300 points below me) and a hard time in the second one. It didn't really happen this way, the Mississippi champion demonstrating very good fighting skills.

In the first game I had a much better position but I missed the win and after forcing too much I lost. In the second game to my surprise my opponent sacrificed a pawn for attack instead of holding back, which was perfect for me because I was able to block the threats keeping the material advantage and I won. In the first blitz game I had to accept the draw in a risky position but in the second one I finally scored the needed point.

The finals were tough and the North California champion proved a fair match for me, I think that in the end pure luck decided. In the first game I used a passive opening and got an inferior position but I think he underestimated White's resources and I had the advantage in the endgame even though the win was not obvious. In the second game the scenario was almost identical, lack of energetic play in the opening from my side but I was able to divert his crushing attack and get in an endgame where my drawing chances were big and I almost felt like qualifying. All I needed was to give up my knight for his last pawn but a very unfortunate move (I wanted to switch my rook from attacking the pawn from the side to attacking it from the back, but there was no time for it) made me lose the thread of the game.

The blitz games were in my favor, but again, in the second one, with two extra pawns and a good position I made a blunder (and then others, in the endgame!) and I lost. The last game was all in my opponent's hands but I guess there is destiny in everything. Maybe it was the payback time for my blunders in the previous games. The game below is the first one of the final match.

Florean,A (2490) - Zilberstein,D (2425)
State Champion of Champions Final Internet Chess Club
[A07] (1), 04.12.2005

1.g3 d5 2.Bg2 Nf6 3.d3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.0-0 0-0 6.Nbd2 Nc6 7.c3 a5 8.a4 e5

So far everything is fairly standard for a King's Indian type of position. I intentionally wanted to avoid any opening preparation, hoping to outperform my opponent in maneuvering. What happened in the end was that he got a better position.

9.Qc2?!

Many times the queen is better off in e2 but e2-e4 might be dangerous because Bc8 can switch to the a6-f1 diagonal.

9...h6 10.Re1 Re8 11.e4

Black threatened e5-e4.

11...Be6

12.b3

White has to continue development but this move, which weakens the queen's side, is a signal that things are not the way they should be. An option might have been Rb1 and b4 but White is not very well prepared for opening up the position. h3 and Kh2 is another choice.

12...Qd7 13.Ba3 Rad8 14.Rac1!?

With b4 in mind; White badly needs some play.

14...Bh3

Another fairly standard way to increase the pressure is to play f7-f5 at some point but trading the white-square bishops and playing for the d3 square is a good plan too, considering the White weaknesses on the queen's side.

15.Qd1

The queen is better in e2.

15...Bxg2 16.Kxg2 h5 17.Qe2 Bh6 18.Rcd1 dxe4?

This move seems logical but White cannot do too much anyway so slowly improving the position with b6 would be better.

19.Nxe4 Qf5

19...Nxe4 20.dxe4 Qe6 21.Qb5!

20.Nxf6+ Qxf6 21.d4!

The best chance for White. The weakness in d3 disappears and d4-d5 becomes a real threat.

21...e4

21...exd4 22.Qxe8+ Rxe8 23.Rxe8+ Kg7 24.cxd4±

22.Ng1!

The best place for the knight, defending the king's side and freeing the white pieces for attack in the center and on the queen's side.

22.Nd2? Bxd2 23.Qxd2 (23.Rxd2 Qf3+ 24.Qxf3 exf3+ 25.Kf1 g5 ) 23...Ne5 24.dxe5 Qf3+

22...e3?!

Black still thinks that he has a better position and plays aggressively but after this move the transition to an endgame favorable for white is unavoidable.

23.Qf3 Qxf3+ 24.Nxf3 exf2

24...e2 25.Rb1 Re4 26.Rb2 Rde8 27.Ng1±

25.Kxf2 Bf8 26.Bc1!

My bishop is much better and is heading towards f4 or g5. Black has to put his bishop on d6 but c4-c5 and d5 or Nd2-c4 will be very dangerous.

26...Bd6 27.Bg5 Rc8

The picture changed a lot during the last moves and now Black has to defend. At this point both opponents were in time trouble and I could not find the most precise way of continuing.

28.Nd2?! f6! 29.Be3 Ne7 30.Nc4 Nd5 31.Bd2 b6 32.Rxe8+!?

This short sequence of moves simplifies the position more, leaving White with a better pawn structure and no risk of losing, which is very convenient!

32...Rxe8 33.Nxd6 cxd6 34.c4?!

Re1 is more precise because Black cannot afford to trade the rooks so White would win the "e" file. White is clearly better here but under time pressure I missed this line.

34...Nb4 35.Bxb4 axb4 36.Re1 Kf7 37.Re3 Re6 38.Kf3

White might still keep a little advantage but it's hard to tell where the win is.

38...d5??

I think there might be two explanations for this move: either Black felt under pressure, thinking that he had to be active to achieve the draw or, overestimating his chances, he thought that he could play for the win. Both are wrong.

39.cxd5 Rxe3+

39...Rd6 40.Ke4

40.Kxe3 Ke7 41.Kd3 Kd6 42.Kc4 g5 43.Kb5!

The simplest way.

43...f5

43...Kc7 44.Kxb4 f5 45.Kc4 f4 46.gxf4 g4 (46...gxf4 47.Kd3) 47.Kd3 h4 48.Ke3 g3 49.hxg3 h3 50.Kf3+-

44.Kxb6 f4 45.a5 f3 46.a6 f2 47.a7 f1Q 48.a8Q +-

Everything becomes easy now. The white king is very well protected and White has two pawns available for promotion.

48...Ke7 49.Qb7+ Kf6 50.Qc6+ Kf5 1-0

Black resigns because it's checkmate in one move. This game illustrates very well the general spirit of the competition: next to good level play, alertness and strong fighting skills in any kind of position are prerequisites for success.

50...Kg7 51.Qd7+ Kg6 52.Qe6+ Kg7 53.d6+-