This week, I present a very exciting rapid game featuring former top-5 player GM Evgeny Bareev and Canada's GM Alexandre Lesiege. The FQE sponsored a rapid match between these two players which marked Alexandre's return to the chess scene. In the second game (of two) after a draw in their first encounter, Bareev played enterprising chess to build up a winning position after a Tal-like sacrifice. Mr. Lesiege held on - with his King deep in enemy territory - to take the full point after White failed to find the correct continuation.
[Event "Rapid Match"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.06.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Lesiege, Alexandre"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2663"]
[BlackElo "2528"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
1. c4 c5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nc7 6. b3 {It seems Bareev is
happy to leave the theoretical lines for another day} (6. Qb3 $5 Nc6 7. Bxc6+
bxc6 8. Qa4) (6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O e5 $11) 6... e5 (6... Bf5) 7. Bb2 (7. Ba3 $5
Be7 8. Rc1 {targeting the c5 pawn is an interesting idea as well}) 7... Be7 8.
e3 {This move is somewhat unusual. White willingly gives himself a bit of a
hole on d3 in order to develop his Knight to e2 without getting in the way of
his g2 Bishop as it would on f3} (8. Rc1 f6 {Strange at first glance. I
haven't played this opening for either side, so I am not too familiar with the
nuances, but Black just defends e5 so that it is not under attack when White
moves his Knight to a4} (8... O-O 9. Na4 Nd7) 9. Nh3 O-O 10. O-O Nc6 11. f4 Be6
) 8... O-O 9. Nge2 Nc6 10. O-O Bf5 {eyeing d3 and putting the Bioshop on an
active square} (10... Be6) 11. f4 {here it comes. White shows his intentions
and begins his attack on the Kingside} Qd7 (11... f6 12. fxe5 fxe5 13. Be4 Qd7
{and Black should be doing well. His pieces are getting active and they seem
better placed than White's}) 12. fxe5 Nxe5 13. Nf4 (13. Bxb7 {the pawn is
poisoned} Nd3 {Black gets massive compensation for the pawn, and he should be
better after} 14. e4 Bg4 15. Bxa8 Rxa8 $15) 13... Rad8 (13... Nd3 14. Nxd3 Bxd3
15. Rf2 Rab8 $11) 14. Ncd5 Nd3 15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Bxg7 $1 {Bareev's instincts
are correct! This sacrifice is very strong and especially hard to meet over
the board in a rapid game.} Kxg7 17. Nh5+ Kg6 {With the Black King exposed,
it's time to do some damage} 18. g4 $2 (18. e4 Be6 (18... Bc8 19. Rf6+ Qxf6 20.
Nxf6 Kxf6 21. Qh5 {The computer shows complete equality in this position.
Practically, I think White should have excellent chances due to Black's
somewhat exposed King. I also believe the White position is easier to play.})
19. Rf6+ Qxf6 20. Nxf6 Kxf6 21. Qh5 {and here White should have a tiny edge.
At least it's very hard for him to lose}) 18... Be4 $2 {Lesiege's only mistake
of the game.} (18... Bc8 $1) 19. Rf6+ Kg5 (19... Qxf6 20. Bxe4+ Kg5 21. Nxf6 {
not the fanciest way to win but certainly the easiest} Kxf6 22. Bxd3) 20. Qe2
$6 {not throwing anything away but definitely making the win harder} ({White
would have had an easier time with} 20. Bxe4 Qxe4 21. Ng3 {and Black loses his
Queen or gets mated} Qxg4 (21... Qe5 22. Rf5+) (21... Qe7 22. Qf3 {mate
follows shortly as the f6 rook is immune due to Ne4+}) 22. Rf5+ Qxf5 23. Qh5+
Kf6 24. Qxf5+ $18) 20... Nd5 (20... Ne8 21. Raf1) 21. Raf1 Nxf6 22. h4+ $1 Kxh4
23. Nxf6 Bg6 24. g5 {threatening mate on g4} h5 (24... Qe6 25. e4 $18 {aiming
for Qe3 and Rf4+} (25. Be4 {should do the trick too})) (24... Kxg5 25. Qg4+ Kh6
26. Qh4+ Kg7 27. Nh5+ {discovered check} Bxh5 28. Qxe7 $18) 25. e4 $4 {I
expect Bareev was very low on time. Up to here, he played a very original game,
but this move throws it all away. Somehow, Black's King finds a safe haven on
White's side of the board.} (25. gxh6 $1 $18 Qe6 26. e4 {preparing different
ideas - one of which is Rf5}) 25... Qe5 26. Kh1 Kxg5 27. Qe3+ Nf4 (27... Nf4
28. Qg3+ Kh6 (28... Kxf6 $6 {leads to more complications than are necessary}
29. Rxf4+ Ke6 (29... Kg7 $2 30. Rxf7+ $13) 30. Bh3+ f5 31. Qxg6+ Kd7 $19) 29.
Rxf4 Rxd2 $19) 0-1
