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Larsen-Ljubojevic
Milan 1975

[Click here to follow the game on an interactive JavaScript board]
 

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 g6 6.Nf3 Bg7 7.e4 d6 8.Be2 0-0 9.Nd2 Re8 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.a4 a6?!

11...Ne5 is the usual move.

12.Kh1 Rb8 13.f4

13.Qc2 is an alternative.

13...c4 14.e5!

This move effectively refutes Black's strategy.  Not 14.Nxc4? Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Rxe4 16.Nxd6 Rd4 with advantage for Black.  Or 14.Bxc4 Nc5 15.Qc2 Ng4 16.Nf3 Bxc3 17.Qxc3 (or17.bxc3 Nxe4) 17...Nxe4 18.Qd4 Qf6 =

14...dxe5 15.Nxc4 b5

15...e416.Be3 is worse.

16.axb5 axb5 17.Nxe5?

White wins a safe exchange with 17.Nd6! b4 18.Nxe8 Qxe8 19.Nb5 Ne4.Black does not have sufficient compensation.

17...b4 18.Nb5?

The right choice was 18.Nc6! bxc3 19.Nxd8 cxb2 20.Bxb2 Rxb2 21.Ne6 fxe6 22.dxe6 Nf8, although Black has adequate chances.  The text move wins the exchange in unfavorable circumstances.  White loses his valuable bishop; his knight on b5 is stranded and out of play.

18...Nxe5 19.fxe5 Rxe5 20.Bf4 Nxd5!

This move turns the tables completely and Black has a powerful attack.

21.Bc4 Be6 22.Bxe5 Bxe5 23.Qe2 Qg5 24.Bxd5?

Black was threatening 24..Nf4. 24.g3 Ne3 25.Bxe6 Nxf1 26.Bxf7+ (or 26.Rxf1 fxe6 27.Re1 Bxb2!) 26...Kxf7 27.Rxf1+ Kg7 Black wins back the exchange and stands better.

24...Bxd5 25.Ra5

Black was threatening 25...Rxb5.  If 25.Na7 Re8.

25...Rc8 26.Na7?

26.Qf2 loses in less spectacular fashion: 26...Qh5 27.Qg1Rc2 wins.

26...Qh4! 27.Qxe5

27… Qf2!! 0-1

Black has 3 pieces en prise and none can be captured.  White's weakness on the first rank seals his fate.

Comments to this game are based on Ljubojevic's notes to the game in Informant 20 and the book Best Games Of Young Grandmasters By Craig Pritchett and Danny Kopec.
 

Back to Chess Informant 88

Index of Annotated Games

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