This week I present you a game by Bator Sambuev and Razvan Preotu at the recently concluded Aurora Fall Open. Not only was ths game was important in deciding the eventual tournament winner, but it was interesting as well. Enjoy.
[Event "Aurora Fall Open 2014"]
[Site "Aurora (CAN)"]
[Date "2014.10.04"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Black "Preotu, Razvan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E99"]
[WhiteElo "2562"]
[BlackElo "2339"]
[Annotator "Kleinman,M"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
1. d4 {This week, I present to you an interesting game from the Aurora Fall
Open that took place last weekend.} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O
6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 {Razvan and Bator enter the main line of the
Kings Indian Defense. Both sides have their clear objectives. Since Black has
all his pieces on the kingside, he launches a kingside attack, whilte White is
very well prepared for c5 breaks and eventual queenside expansion.} 9. Ne1 {
I'm not so familiar with the exact theory here, but this Knight is usually
well placed on d3 to support c5 advances.} Nd7 10. Be3 f5 11. f3 f4 12. Bf2 g5
13. Rc1 Ng6 14. c5 {Here White sacrifices a pawn. This is very typical in
these types of positions. White gets active play along the c-file and c7
usually becomes extremely weak. If White manages to recollect this pawn, he
will stand much better in an endgame.} Nxc5 15. b4 Na6 16. Nd3 h5 17. Nb5 b6 {
Prophylaxis to protect a7.} ({In 1997, in the game Piket - Kasparov, Kasparov
continued} 17... Bd7 18. a4 Bh6 19. Rc3 b6 20. Be1 {and White was better.}) 18.
Be1 Bh6 19. Rc3 Rf7 {This is similar to the Piket - Kasparov game without the
inclusion of Bd7 and a4. It seems to favor Black because the c7 pawn is much
better protected.} 20. a3 {When white is making moves like these, it is clear
that he had played inaccurately somewhere. The c7 pawn now stands protected;
White cannot triple on the c file, and now Black finds a nice manoeuvre to
start kingside play.} Rg7 21. Nf2 Nf8 $1 {Heading for f6} 22. Kh1 Nh7 23. Rg1
Nf6 24. g3 g4 25. fxg4 hxg4 26. Bd2 (26. gxf4 Bxf4 27. Bxg4 Nxg4 28. Nxg4 Bd7
29. Qe2 $13) 26... Qe8 {Attacking the b5 Knight, and putting some eventual
pressure on the e4 pawn.} 27. Qc2 Bd7 28. Nxc7 Nxc7 29. Rxc7 Qh5 {As I
mentioned earlier, if White manages to get the c7 pawn, he usually stands
better.} 30. Rxd7 Nxd7 31. Bxg4 Qe8 32. Be6+ {Here White loses his advantage.}
(32. Qc6 Nf8 33. Qxe8 Rxe8 34. Bf5 $16) 32... Kh8 33. Ng4 Qh5 34. Qc6 Rag8 35.
Qxd6 ({White could have survived by playing} 35. Bxd7 fxg3 36. Rxg3 Bxd2 37.
Qxd6 Bf4 38. Rg2 {because Rxg4 is not possible due to} Rxg4 39. Bxg4 Rxg4 40.
Qd8+ Kh7 41. Qd7+) 35... Rxg4 36. Bxg4 Rxg4 37. Qxd7 fxg3 38. Rg2 Rg8 {
Threatening mate with Qd1+, and protecting his King. Black is completely
winning.} 39. Qa4 Bxd2 40. Qb3 Bf4 41. d6 Rc8 0-1
merida
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