This edition of the Game of the Week will be slightly different, with an analysis by Raven Sturt of his win against GM Sambuev at the McGill Open. Raven, who played as the third board for McGill in the past Canadian University Championship, has met the requirements for the FIDE Master title and now aims at the International Master title.
Raven sent this game for publication in both the Canadian Chess Newsfeed and the Echec+ magazine (for Francophone readers). We thought you might enjoy his detailed analysis of this game.
[Event "McGill op"]
[Site "Montreal CAN"]
[Date "2014.05.04"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Black "Sturt, Raven"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2597"]
[BlackElo "2301"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2014.05.02"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 b6 {I wanted to try something new; with this move black opts
for Nimzo-Indian type set-ups focused around a queenside-fianchetto.} 3. Nf3
Bb7 4. e3 Nf6 5. d4 e6 {White has an array of possibilities but I believe
Sambuev chose the most critical continuation.} 6. d5 $1 {In all other lines,
Black's queenside fianchetto makes sense. However in moving to a Benoni, Black
will have wasted two tempi on b6 and Bb7 while White will only have wasted one
with e3. Thus, the ensuing Benoni set-up is slightly favorable for White.} exd5
7. cxd5 a6 8. a4 d6 {But he should have known that Benonis down two tempi are
my forte...} 9. Be2 $6 {It was better placed on d3.} g6 10. O-O Bg7 11. e4 O-O
12. Nd2 Re8 {Black's position is hanging by a thread. The next couple moves
are critical as if Black plays calmly he will end up in a terrible bind
associated with Nc4, Bf4 etc. This maneuver would have been immediately
possible if the bishop were on d3...} 13. f4 $6 {Houdini doesn't like this at
all, and neither do I. Though its effects aren't clear yet it seems he will
never have time to deploy his pieces so that they cover all the weaknesses. 13.
f3 was more solid.} Qc7 {A tricky move with the idea of meeting 14.Bd3 with
c4!? 15.Nxc4 b5 with unclear and double edged play} 14. Kh1 $6 {this wastes
too much time entering the complications after Bd3 was to be preferred.} Nbd7
15. Bd3 {Now White is threatening to continue his plans of suffocating Black
with Nc4 followed by Qb3 and perhaps Bd2 and Rae1 after which Black has no
clear avenues of counterplay. My next move was easy to make because not only
did it afford my pieces a temporary initiative, but in opening up the b and c
files ensured me long lasting compensation in the form of White's tied down
queenside.} c4 $1 16. Nxc4 {If White opted for 16.Bxc4, then Nc5 17.Qf3 Re7
and Black receives ample compensation and a clear plan in targeting the e4
pawn. Because of White's lack of coordination even though the position is
level, I would prefer playing Black.} Nc5 17. Be3 Nfxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Nxb6
$6 {Houdini prefers Bxb6 when after Qd7 White has an extremely slight edge.}
Rab8 {Clearly, Black has a ton of compensation, all his pieces are well placed
and White faces serious problems coordinating his forces.} 20. Qf3 $6 Nd2 $2 {
I miss my chance, after 20... Nc5 21.Bxc5 dxc5 22.Nc4, White has trouble
defending his d5 pawn which holds his position together, and after Qd8! he is
in trouble.} 21. Bxd2 Qxb6 22. Rab1 $6 Qb3 $1 {Black is clearly playing for
the win here, he will soon regain the sacrificed pawn and then it will simply
be a matter of playing on White's many weaknesses.} 23. f5 $2 {liquidating
with Bc3 would have led to a slightly disadvantaged yet nonetheless tenable
position. White's attack is illusory, he is just making more weaknesses for me
to play upon later on.} Bxd5 24. Qg3 Bc4 $2 {Be5 led to a large advantage, the
tactical justification for the move I played is shown to be erroneous by
Houdini.} 25. Bxc4 Qxc4 26. b4 $2 {I had been anticipating 25.f6 Rxb2! However
after 26.Qxd6 Bxf6 27.Qxf6 Rxd2 28.Rb7, White will inevitably liquidate to a
drawn endgame.} Re2 27. Bf4 Rxb4 28. Rbc1 Rc2 $1 29. Rce1 Qc6 {protecting e8
and eyeing the weak point on g2. White must now deal with the threats of Rb3
and Rbb2.} 30. h4 $2 {White could have held on with 29.Bxd6. I thought Black
was winning after 29...Rbb2 but white has the miraculous 30.fxg6 hxg6 31.Rxf7!
when all routes end in perpetual. The calmer 29...Rb3 still keeps black on top
but after 30.Re8+ Qxe8 31.Qxb3 White is still fighting.} Rxf4 {liquidating to
a close to winning endgame.} 31. Rxf4 Be5 32. Ref1 $2 {Now it's all over,
White could have prolonged the fight by 31.Rxe5 dxe5 32.Rf3 and even though
Houdini thinks it's not winning I believe it's only a matter. White's
over-extended kingside, poor activity and weak a4 pawn not to mention that he
is down a pawn make the loss inevitable.} Rc1 33. Qe3 Bxf4 34. Qxf4 Rxf1+ 35.
Qxf1 Qxa4 {Even if Black was only up one passed pawn (relative to the two) he
would still have great winning chances, thus converting the win in this
situation is trivial.} 36. Qe1 Qd4 37. fxg6 hxg6 38. g3 Qe5 39. Qf2 a5 40. Kh2
a4 41. Qa2 Qd4 {and twenty or so moves were played before White capitulated}
42. Qa3 Kg7 43. Kh3 Kh6 44. Qc1+ Kh7 45. Qa3 Kg7 46. Qc1 Qb4 47. Qa1+ Kg8 48.
Qf6 Qa5 49. g4 a3 50. h5 gxh5 51. Qxd6 a2 52. Qb8+ Kh7 53. Qf4 a1=Q 54. Qxf7+
Qg7 0-1
