This week's game is definitely for tactics lovers. The game got very complicated very fast, and the outcome was very hard to predict!
[Event "RA Fall Open"]
[Site "Ottawa (Canada)"]
[Date "2015.09.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Marin Sam"]
[Black "Dukic Zachary"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E63"]
[WhiteElo "1950"]
[BlackElo "2168"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 {Black played the King's
Indian defense, a setup that can be used against virtually any opening. White
now has the choice between pushing d4 and e4, entering in well-known theory,
or going more conservative with a plan based on e3 or d3.} 6. d4 Nc6 7. O-O (7.
d5 Na5) 7... a6 8. e4 e5 {We are now back into familiar territory, although
Black has played a6, which may be a weakness in some lines. To take advantage
of this, White should push d5 and then aim for the usual queenside attack.} 9.
dxe5 $5 {This probably helps Black, as the position will now become quite
solid and hard to win for either camp... Unless one of them try pushing too
much!} dxe5 10. h3 Be6 11. b3 {By all means, Black has equalized and should
not have any trouble.} Nd4 {As long as he does not try moves like this... It
seems like Black, being higher rated, felt he had to take risks.} 12. Ba3 {The
''safe'' move} (12. Nxe5 {A risky and complicated move for White, but it may
be worth it.} Nh5 13. Ng4 Nb5 14. Nxb5 Bxa1 15. Qxd8 Raxd8 16. Nxc7) 12... Re8
13. Nxd4 exd4 14. Nd5 Nd7 15. Nf4 c5 {The position is quite interesting,
although probably roughly equal. Black has a strong passed pawn, but White's
pieces are putting a lot of pressure.} 16. Nd3 $2 {Too passive} (16. Nxe6 Rxe6
17. f4 {Was probably the way to go}) 16... Qa5 17. Bb2 (17. Bc1 $1) 17... Rab8
18. f4 f5 $2 {Greatly helping White in getting a passed pawn.} 19. e5 b5 20. b4
$5 {A very interesting plan} cxb4 21. c5 Rbd8 (21... Bf8 {Would be a good use
of Black's bishop}) 22. c6 Nb8 23. Nc5 Bc4 24. Nb7 Qb6 25. Nxd8 Rxd8 {White
won the exchange, but Black has very active pieces, so the game is far from
being decided.} 26. Rf2 Nxc6 27. Bxc6 {Exchanging that bishop is annoying, but
White had no better option.} Qxc6 28. Bxd4 Qe4 29. Rd2 Bd5 (29... g5 $1 {And
White must be very careful}) 30. Kh2 Bb7 31. Qb3+ Kh8 32. Qxb4 {White is now
much better, but must still not make any mistake.} h5 33. Bc5 $2 ({There is no
way Black can attack the d4 bishop with one more piece, so White can simply
bring his queen to e3.} 33. Qc3) 33... Rd3 34. Rad1 $2 {A single mistake and
Black is now winning!} (34. Qb2 Rxg3 35. Rf1 {And as surprising as it may seem,
White could hold on.} (35. Kxg3 Qf3+ 36. Kh2 Qxf4+ 37. Kg1 Qg3+ $11)) 34... Qf3
35. Rg1 h4 36. Bf2 hxg3+ $2 (36... g5 $1 {And Black is winning} 37. fxg5 Be4
38. Rc2 Rd1) 37. Bxg3 Re3 $2 {Black was still able to equalize!} (37... Qe4 38.
Qxe4 Rxd2+ 39. Rg2 Rxg2+ 40. Qxg2 Bxg2 41. Kxg2 {With likely a draw}) 38. Qd4
g5 {Too little too late... The game is now over.} 39. fxg5 Re4 40. Qf2 Qc3 41.
Rd8+ Kh7 42. Qxf5# 1-0
