This week's Canadian Tactic comes from the 2015 Alberta Closed. IM Richard Wang won, and has annotated three games for an upcoming Chess Canada, including the following sharp game between Alex Yam and Rafael Arruebarrena.
[Event "2015 Alberta Closed"]
[Site "Calgary CC"]
[Date "2015.04.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Yam, Alex"]
[Black "Arruebarrena, Rafael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2367"]
[BlackElo "2334"]
[Annotator "Richard Wang"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2015.05.10"]
[SourceDate "2014.08.03"]
{This was an interesting game with some nice tactical motifs.} 1. e4 c5 2. c3
Nf6 {The alternative is 2...d5, which I've played multiple times against Alex
with mixed results. To be honest, I'm not completely familiar with the opening
theory here, so I'll limit myself to general comments on the position for the
next few moves or so :)} 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nf3 {A little move order
sortie - 5. cxd4 immediately also works.} e6 6. cxd4 d6 {Challenging White's centre right away. White has more space, but Black's
active knight and solid structure means that White needs to be a bit careful
as well.} 7. Bc4 Nc6 8. O-O (8. Bxd5 exd5 {is harmless, and White's probably
going to end up regretting giving up his bishop pair.}) 8... Be7 9. Qe2 O-O 10.
Qe4 {White foreshadows his aggressive intentions on the kingside. It does look
promising, although Black's position is very solid.} Qa5 11. Nbd2 dxe5 {This
move seems a bit rushed. White may be able to use the d4 square.} 12. dxe5 Rd8
13. a3 $6 (13. Nb3 {looks very natural here - otherwise, the
knight on d2 is just preventing White from developing his queenside.} Qb6 14.
Rd1 {Followed by ideas of maybe h4 and Bg5/Ng5. White's position looks
preferable in this case.}) 13... b5 $1 {Taking advantage of White's lacklustre
play and seizing space.} 14. Bd3 g6 15. h4 {Very aggressive - but
again, White probably should play 15. Nb3 here or on the next move. White's
attack won't succeed with his knight cluttering up all his pieces!} Bb7 {A
very nice diagonal for the bishop} 16. h5 Qb6 {Black's position looks better
here.} 17. hxg6 $2 {Releasing the tension prematurely! Surprisingly, it is
Black who can use the open h-file to his advantage. A slower move like 17. Bb1
was possible, although White is still a bit worse.} hxg6 18. Bb1 Kg7 $1 {
Foreseeing prospects on the open h-file. Interestingly, White's king soon
becomes under fire.} 19. Qg4 $2 {Critical Position Missing
Black's next shot, but in all fairness, it wasn't easy to see! 19. Nb3 might
still be tenable. White really needs to play this move.} Ne3 $1 20. Qf4 $8 (20.
fxe3 Qxe3+ 21. Rf2 (21. Kh2 Nxe5 $1 $19 {/\ ...Rh8.}) 21... Bc5 22. Qh4 Rh8 ({
editor -} 22... Nxe5 $1 23. Nxe5 Qxe5 24. Nf1 Kg8 $8 $19 {/\...Rd1 and ...Rac8.
} (24... Rd1 $4 25. Bh6+ Kg8 26. Bxg6 $1 $11)) 23. Nf1 Qxc1 24. Qf6+ Kg8 25.
Bxg6 Bxf2+ 26. Kxf2 Qc5+ 27. Ne3 Qe7 {And Black is winning.}) 20... Nxf1 21.
Nc4 {Desperation, but this falls short.} (21. Nxf1 {is clearly hopeless as
well, however, as Black is just an exchange up after} Rh8 {White has very
little compensation here.}) 21... Rd1 $1 {Precise.} ({editor -}
21... bxc4 $4 22. Qh6+ Kg8 23. Bxg6 $8 fxg6 24. Qxg6+ $11) 22. Qh6+ (22. Nxb6
Rh8 $1 {and White's extra queen can't save him!} 23. Bc2 (23. Qh6+ Rxh6 24.
Bxh6+ Kxh6 $19) 23... Ng3+ 24. Bxd1 Rh1#) 22... Kg8 23. Nxb6 Ne3+ {White
resigned here. After 24. Kh2 Ng4+ 25. Kg3 Nxh6, White is lost.} (23... Ne3+ 24.
Kh2 Ng4+ 25. Kg3 Nxh6 26. Nxa8 Rxc1 $19) 0-1
