1.d4
d5 2.Nc3!?
For the first time in my life I chose this variation. My
coach and I spent a lot of time trying to figure out possible variations after
my favourite move 1.e4 and after all decided to surprise my opponent with an
unexpected choice. Especially the most important thing in chess is how to play
and not what to play.
2...Bf5 3.Bg5 h6 4.Bh4 c6 5.Qd2 Nd7 6.f3 Ngf6
7.0-0-0 e6 8.Re1
During the game I remembered that while I was preparing
for the game I had a look at this kind of position and decided to play Re1 with
the idea of e4. Now I think that the best plan might be playing e3, g4, Bd3,
trying to develop my king-side pieces and organize some kind of attack on the
king-side.
8...Bh7
8...Be7 9.Bf2 0-0 10.e4 Bh7 was also possible, with
an unclear position and counter chances for both sides.
9.e4
9...Nxe4 10.fxe4 Qxh4
11.Nf3
11...Qd8
11...Qh5!? during the game I didn't
consider this move seriously, in fact it's a very interesting move 12.exd5 cxd5
13.Bb5 that what I was planned to play during the game but after:
a) 13.h3
Bd6 14.g4 (14.Bd3 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Bg3 Black is a pawn up)
14...Qg6 15.Nxd5 Rc8-/+;
b) 13.Ne5 Be7 (13...a6 14.h4 with the
idea of g4 14...Nxe5 (14...Be7? 15.g4+-) 15.Rxe5 Bf5 16.Be2 Qg6
17.Rf1 Bd6 18.Rfxf5 Bxe5 19.Rxe5+/-) 14.Bb5 Bg5 15.Bxd7+ Ke7 16.Re3 Bxe3 17.Qxe3
Qg5 with unclear ending;
c) 13.Be2 in order to show Black that the Queen
is not in the right place 13...Bd6 (13...Be7 14.h4 Qg6 15.Bb5)
14.h4 Qf5 15.Bd3 Qg4 16.Nxd5 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 0-0=; 13...0-0-0 it's not obvious
how white can get a better position. Quite the contrary he has to be very
precise in order not to get a worse one. 14.Be2!? of course Black has some
problems with his misplaced Queen and White with every move has to try to
underline that (14.g4 Qxg4 15.Bxd7+ Rxd7 16.Ne5 Qg5-/+; 14.Bxd7+ Rxd7 15.Nb5
Bd6! 16.Nxa7+? Kb8 17.Nb5 Rc8 18.c3? Qf5-+) 14...Qg6 (14...Be7 15.h4 Qg6
16.Bd3 Qg3 17.Nxd5 White is slightly better) 15.Bd3 Qf6 16.Bxh7 Rxh7
17.Rhf1 Qe7 18.Nxd5 White is slightly better.
12.exd5 cxd5 13.Nxd5 Bd6
14.Bd3 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 0-0?!
After this move the position is still unclear
but White has a very obvious plan and that makes his life easier. Interesting
could have been 15...Qa5!? 16.Qb3 (16.Nc3 Bb4 17.d5 Nc5 18.Qc4 Bxc3
19.Qxc3 Qxc3 20.bxc3 0-0-0 21.dxe6 Nxe6 Black is better; 16.Rxe6+ fxe6
17.Qg6+ Kd8-+) 16...0-0 and comparing with the game Black gained some tempi.
16.Ne3
16... Rc8 17.Kb1 Bf4
The next variation shows that the position is not so
harmless for Black. White has a very straight plan that is very
difficult to resist 17...Qc7 18.g4 Rfd8 19.g5 hxg5 20.Nxg5 Nf6
21.Ng4 Qxc2+ 22.Qxc2 Rxc2 23.Nxf6+ gxf6 24.Nxe6.
18.g4 Nb6?!
I was thinking
only about 18...Bxe3 otherwise it's difficult to understand the idea of
the move Bf4 19.Rxe3 Nf6 (19...Nb6 20.g5 Nc4 21.gxh6! Qb6 (21...Nxe3
22.hxg7+/-) 22.Qb3 gxh6 23.Rg1+ Kh7 24.Qxb6 axb6 25.Re2 White is better)
20.g5 Nd5 21.Re5 Nb4 22.Qd2 during the game I was very happy to notice this
move, after which Black is not able to take on c2 (22.Qe4!? maybe even
stronger than Qd2 as Black is still not able to take on c2 because after
22...Nxc2? 23.gxh6 g6 24.Rxe6 Black is under attack.)
19.Ng2 Bd6 20.g5
20... h5??
A very bad move after which Black position
becomes hopeless. Black had to try to play for a counterattack: 20...Nc4
21.Ne3 Nxe3 22.Qxe3 hxg5 (22...Qc7 23.gxh6 Qxc2+ 24.Ka1 g6 25.Ng5 White
is better) 23.Nxg5 but even in this position the Black's king is very
weak and the positions is very unpleasant to play for Black.
21.g6 Nc4
22.Ne3 b5 23.Rhg1 f6?
The last mistake that finishes the game
immediately [more stubborn was 23...Bf4 but after 24.Nxc4 bxc4 25.Qe4 the
position is hopeless anyway.
24.Qe4 Re8 25.Qh4 f5 26.Qxh5 1-0
