This week's GOTW is an incredible attacking game by GM Sambuev, who was not afraid two sacrifice two pawns against a much lower rated opponent. While your favourite engine will not like White's plan, GM Sambuev showed that practical chances are often much better than a theoretical advantage.
[Event "Aurora Spring Open 2015"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.03.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Black "Tonakanian, Stephan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "2662"]
[BlackElo "2169"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 $5 {There is no doubt GM Sambuev knows a lot about the main
lines of the French defense. Yet, he decided to go for this very uncommon line,
looking for as much complications as possible. I can't tell if this is a good
strategy or not, but one thing is sure : we love the spectacle!} d5 3. e5 c5 4.
b4 $5 {The computer does not like this move, and perhaps with reason. However,
this was GM Sambuev's plan all along, and this move is the most popular in
this position (a few hundred games in my database feature this move).} cxb4 5.
a3 Nc6 {Black could capture in a3, but this would help White seize the center}
(5... bxa3 6. d4 Nc6 7. c3 Bd7 8. Bd3 {White has huge compensation for the two
pawns and can take back the pawn in a3 at any time.}) 6. axb4 Qc7 7. d4 Bxb4+
8. c3 {Surprisingly, I still have 25 games with this position in my database,
so we can safely assume GM Sambuev still knew what he was doing. He sacrificed
a pawn, but has two strong semi-open files and, more importantly, very strong
bishops to support an attack.} Be7 9. Na3 {With the obvious threat of Nb5} a6
10. Nb5 $5 {Very few people would have had the courage to play this move.
After Qb8, White will have no choice but to sacrifice another pawn (or come
back in a3, losing a tempo). It is hard to tell if this is objectively the
best move, but it will be extremely dangerous for Black, and this is what
White was looking for.} Qb8 11. Nd6+ Bxd6 12. exd6 Qxd6 {Black's position seem
really solid, and most players would probably be more than happy with it.
However, when you play against a very tactical GM, you can be sure this was
intentional. Black will have to be very careful and will need to play actively
in order to counter White's powerful bishop pair.} 13. Bd3 Nf6 $2 {Not only
the knight doesn't do much in f6, but Black may have trouble castling after
Ba3. Ne7 seems to be much stronger and safer.} 14. Ba3 Qc7 ({Also worth
considering was} 14... Qf4 $5 15. O-O Ne4 16. Re1 f5 {With a very unclear
position, although this may have prevented the game from going downhill as
fast as it did.}) 15. O-O Ne7 {It now seems pretty clear that Black's plan
didn't work out at all. He is by all means still in the game, but White's
position is getting better and better and it's probably just a matter of time
before Black makes a fatal mistake in this complicated position.} 16. Ne5 O-O
17. f4 {A very logical move, but perhaps not because of the usual reasons.
White does not want to play f5, but has instead a very simple plan : to bring
the rook in the game.} Re8 $2 ({Black probably had to go for a cold-blooded
variation} 17... b5 {And now White's plan is not nearly as strong :} 18. Rf3
Ne4 19. Rh3 g6 {And it's honestly not clear at all how White can continue the
attack.}) 18. Rf3 Ne4 19. Rh3 Ng6 $2 {So far, all of Black's mistakes were not
critical. However, this one might simply give the game away. Black wants to
exchange his knight, but he simply doesn't have the time to do so.} (19... g6
$1 {Black may very well hold... And if he does, he still is up two pawns!}) 20.
Bxe4 dxe4 21. Qh5 $1 h6 22. Rf1 ({Perhaps slightly more accurate was} 22. Rg3
$1 Qa5 23. Qg4) 22... Bd7 $2 {There is no way this can be good. Not only does
this allow White to play a nice combination, but the d7 bishop blocks the
queen and does not really help Black's position.} 23. Ng4 {While the move in
itself is not bad, White missed a probably easier continuation. Still, I must
admit the line chosen by GM Sambuev is much more beautiful.} (23. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7
24. Rg3 {And the game is pretty much over.}) 23... Nxf4 {Ignoring White's
threat... But BLack had literally nothing he could do, besides giving away way
too much material.} (23... Bc8) (23... Qd8 24. Nxh6+ gxh6 25. Qxh6) 24. Nxh6+
gxh6 25. Rg3+ Ng6 26. Rxg6+ fxg6 27. Qxg6+ Kh8 28. Rf7 1-0
