Chessville - Bits and Pieces with IM Andrew Martin - KID Fireworks - Part Three

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Bits and Pieces

with
International
Master
Andrew Martin

KID Fireworks - Part 3

Andrew's new book, King's Indian Battle Plans, published by Thinkers Press, will soon be appearing on the bookshelves.

To whet the appetite, here are a few snippets from the book. A new game from the book will be published here at Chessville each week throughout December.

Epishin,V (2640) - Hebden,M (2540) [E97]
12th Monarch Assurance, Port Erin IOM (8), 2003

[Click here to follow along on an interactive JavaScript board]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.b4 Nh5 10.Qc2 Kh8!?

Hebden loves these 'constructive waiting' moves and of course, it's White's job to prove ...Kh8 useless now.

What is the overall function of 10...Kh8?

I think the main idea is to free up the g8 square for a Knight. As we've seen many times, the e7-Knight tends to end up at a loose end, so Black prepares ...Ng8,...f7-f5 and perhaps ...N8f6. g8 might also be used for a Rook as the Black attack progresses.
The King is removed from the sensitive a2-g8 diagonal.
10...Kh8 is elastic. There's no total commitment here. Black may just wait to see how White lays out his pieces before revealing a concrete plan.
Finally 10...Kh8 is provocative, fully in keeping with modern King's Indian fashion. White is invited to overreact.

11.Re1 f5 12.Ng5 Nf6 13.Bb2 c6!

This would have to be a continuation of the same 'elastic' strategy. Although Epishin knows very well how to place his pieces, he committed his pawns early with 9 b4 and Hebden knows how to chip away to best effect. Hence 13...c6, connecting with d5,preparing...Qb6 and maybe even ...b7-b5.

14.exf5 Nxf5

It's e4 versus d4. Which central square will prove more influential?

15.dxc6

Epishin isn't interested in that fixed central deal, sweeping the centre away and preparing to attack Black's hanging pawns.

15...bxc6 16.Nce4 Nxe4 17.Nxe4 d5 18.Rad1

A critical position. Hebden elects to take the initiative at the cost of an enfeebled pawn structure. He likes his dark-squared Bishop!

18...Nd4!? 19.Bxd4 exd4 20.cxd5 cxd5 21.Nc5 Qb6 22.Qb3 Rb8

As always, Hebden is right on the button with counterplay. We quickly see that b6 is a very useful square indeed for the Black Queen, keeping an eye on b4 and, indirectly, on f2.

23.Rb1 d3!

Opening up a route to f2.

24.Bxd3

24.Nxd3 Bf5 25.Bf3 Bd4 26.Re2 Rbc8 with counterplay.

24...Bd4 25.Rf1

After 25.Re2 Black can switch his pieces to the Kingside with serious attacking pressure: 25...Bg4 26.Rc2 Qf6! 27.Rf1 Qg5! 28.Kh1 Be5 with the attack.

25...Qd6 26.Kh1 a5 27.a3 axb4 28.axb4 Rf4 29.Qc2 Qf6 30.b5

30.Qa2 was certainly superior, after which White appears to be defending: 30...Rxf2 ( 30...Qd6 31.Qd2 Qf6 32.Qe2 Kg7÷) 31.Rxf2 Qxf2 32.Qxd5 Bg4 33.Rf1 Qe3 34.Qd6±

30...Rh4 31.Qc1??

31.Kg1= ; 31.Na6 Qf4 32.Qc7! Rxh2+ 33.Kg1 Qxc7 34.Nxc7 Rh5 35.Be2 Rf5 36.Bf3±

31...Be5

Looks like mutual time trouble or Hebden trying to flag his desperate opponent. Otherwise how could Black miss 31...Bxc5 32.Qxc5 Qf4 33.g3 Qf3+ 34.Kg1 Bh3 forcing mate?

32.Qe3 Rxh2+ 33.Kg1 Rh1+ 0-1

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