In continuation of an earlier post on the same subject, Give more importance to understanding of openings and variations, we shall look at another game played between the grandmasters in a tournament in 1999, where as many as 28 moves played by both the players and the position reached at the end of these 28 moves was similar to a game played in an Olympiad held in 1998. While the earlier game had ended in a draw, an imaginative move by White helped him emerge victorious.
The idea we are trying to emphasize is that one should give more importance to the logic and thinking behind the moves of the grandmasters’ games and not try to memorize the moves or positions, which cannot help in the long-run development of the skill set.
The game followed the typical Sicilian defense with Kan Variation. For your ready reference, the first 28 moves of the game is given hereunder:
1.e4 c5
2.Nf3 e6
3.d4 cxd4
4.Nxd4 a6 This is Kan Variation
5.Bd3 Nf6
6.0-0 Qc7
7.Qe2 Bd6
8.f4 Bc5
9.Be3 Qb6
10.c3 Nc6
11.Kh1 Nxd4
12.cxd4 Bxd4
13.Bxd4 Qxd4
14.Nc3 0-0
15.Rad1 Qb4
16.e5 Ne8
17.a3 Qe7
18.Na4 Qd8
19.Bb1 d5
20.exd6 Bd7
21.Nc5 Bb5
22.Bd3 Qxd6
23.Bxh7+ Kh8
24.Qe3 Qe7
25.Qh3 Nf6
26.Ne4 Rfd8
27.Rfe1 Bc6
28.Ng5 Be8
The position after 28 moves by both the players is given below. It is the turn of White to make the next move.
(White to move)
A cursory look at the position reveals that White can use the discovered check at any point of time.
Here the white deviates from the normal course and comes up with this beautiful move.
1.Ra1 ….. White wants to avoid exchange and decided to move the rook
to the corner.
…. Rd6
2.Re5 Rad8
3.Rae1 …… White redeploys the rook to the attacking line
Qc7
4.Ne4 ….. Yet another interesting move from White
The position after white’s 32nd move is given below.
(Black to move)
The game continues further as follows :
…. Rd1
1.Nxf6 Rxe1+
2.Rxe1 gxf6
3.Bf5+ ….. Now, white decides to use the discovered
check.
Kg8
4.Qh7+ Kf8
5.Bxe6 Qxf4
6.Qh8+ Ke7
7.Bxf7+ Kxf7
8.Qh7+ Kf8
9.Qe7+ 1-0.
This is an interesting example that lays more importance on the fundamentals of the game and not much on the tried and tested variations of the games in the past.
Related posts:
- Middle game tactics: Give more importance to understanding of openings and variations
- Middle game tactics: Concentrating on fundamentals is very essential
- Middle game tactics: Do not relax with opposite colored bishops
- Middle game tactics: Use pawns judiciously; think twice before moving the pawns
- Chess Basics: Essential aspects of middle game every chess player should know