Hussan,M (2152) - Gaprindashvili,N (2336) [B00]
Dubai op Dubai (4), 18.04.2002

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1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 g6 4.Nf3

Many of your opponents will settle for 4.Nf3 and this is a very sensible move.  White does not attempt to annihilate Black, settling instead for simple, effective central control and steady development.  Yet Black can feel satisfied too, having avoided many of White's more incisive lines of play.

Gaprindashvili drags her opponent into the swamp, where the Hippopotamus feels quite at home.

4...Bg7 5.0-0 d6 6.c3 e6!? 7.Bg5 Ne7 8.Nbd2 Nd7

Three rows - that's all Black has.  White is allowed to set up his pieces more or less as he pleases and Black will react accordingly.

9.Re1 h6! 10.Bh4 0-0 11.e5

White feels that he has to go somewhere and starts the action.  He should have continued to build up although it is tough to get a purchase on the elastic Black position.  I offer some ideas without providing a definitive assessment.

• 11.a4 a6 12.Nc4 Nf6 13.Qc2 g5 14.Bg3 Nh5;

• 11.Nc4 a6 12.Qe2 Qe8 13.Rad1 d5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Bg3 Qe7 16.Ne3 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 c5;

• 11.Qe2 a6 12.Rad1 Qe8 13.Qe3 e5.

Black is pitching in all of these lines.

11...dxe5 12.dxe5 g5

An ex-world champion never loses a sense of timing .  Gaprindashvili is wily; she notices that White can be provoked.

13.Bxg5?

Hussan should have settled for 13.Bg3 Nf5 14.Be4 Bxe4 15.Rxe4 Nc5 16.Re2 Nxg3 17.hxg3 Qd5=

But Black is in good shape.  The sacrifice on g5 is very dubious.

13...hxg5 14.Nxg5 Nf5 15.Qh5 Bh6!

Excellent defence.   g5 hangs and White is forced to continue sacrificing.

16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Qg6+

The attack can be parried.  17.Bxf5 wins the Bishop on h6 but White is running out of attackers: 17...Rxf5 18.Qxh6 Qe7 19.Re3 Rg5! 20.Nf3 Bxf3 21.Rxf3 Nxe5 .

17...Bg7 18.Qxe6+ Rf7 19.Bc4

19.Bxf5 Nf8 20.Qc4 Qxd2 21.Rad1 Qg5-+

19...Nh6 20.Qg6 Kf8

20...Nf8 was even more effective: 21.Bxf7+ Nxf7 22.Qc2 Bxe5 23.Ne4 Qh4

21.Bxf7 Nxf7 22.Qc2 Bxe5 23.Rad1 Qh4!

The boot is suddenly on the other foot.  The Black pieces run rampant:

24.Nf1 Re8

Planning Re8-e6-g6 eyeing g2.

25.Re3 Re6 26.Rde1 Qg5 27.f3 Rg6

Nice manouvre!

28.Qf2 Bd6 29.h4 Qf6 30.b4 Bf4 31.Rd3 Nde5 0-1

A capture on f3 follows.

I don't think that one can play this idea half-heartedly.  Black must be prepared for an obscure, unusual struggle and to play flat out for the win. There are no half-measures.

In our featured game Gaprindashvili gave White an opening edge but denied him any simplification or clarity.  That is the overall game plan.
 

The Hippopotamus Rises From the Swamp - Part 1
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 g6 4.f4 f5

The Hippopotamus Rises From the Swamp - Part 3
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.0-0 e6

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