This week's game is from the Varennes Open Championship, a major tournament in Quebec. This year, there was a guaranteed prize fund of $10 000. This game features a good attempt from an expert to draw a strong FIDE master. While his efforts were unsuccessful, there is a lot to learn from this game.
[Event "Varennes Op 2015"]
[Site "Surrey"]
[Date "2015.11.06"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Turcotte, Jonathan"]
[Black "Chiku-Ratte, Olivier Kenta"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A61"]
[WhiteElo "1998"]
[BlackElo "1998"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2015.10.09"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 e6 4. c4 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. e4 {
There's no big surprise here. Olivier-Kenta always plays the Benoni and
today's no exception. The question is : how well is White prepared for this?}
a6 9. a4 {White must absolutely play a4, since Black would gain a solid
advantage if he could play b5.} Nbd7 10. Bd3 Nh5 11. O-O Ne5 12. Be2 Nxf3+ 13.
Bxf3 Qh4 {So far, we are still in the theory. This is not surprising from
Black, who plays this line all the time, but it also shows that maybe White
was expecting this exact line as well.} 14. Bg4 ({Perhaps now would have been
a good time to surprise Black. This move seems extremely risky, but in fact
gives a decent position in all variables. If White could have prepared this
complicated line, Black could have been in big trouble after the slightest
mistake.} 14. Re1 O-O (14... Be5 15. Be3 Bxh3 $2 {Doesn't work} 16. gxh3 Nf4
17. Bxf4 Qxf4 18. Bg2) 15. Bxh5 gxh5 16. Re3 {I would not recommend playing
risky lines like this one in most cases, but if you had the opportunity to
prepare it the day before, it could be a great idea.}) 14... Be5 15. Bxc8 Rxc8
16. Qg4 {It's hard to criticize White for trying to exchange the queens
against an FM, hoping to draw the resulting endgame... But masters are also
much stronger in the endgame!} Qxg4 17. hxg4 Nf6 {White should be fine in this
line, but black pieces are somewhat more active and Black could definitely try
to press for the win.} 18. f3 b6 (18... h5 19. g5 Nd7 {Was also a good option
to avoid having a weakness in h7 as we will see in some variations.}) 19. g5
Nd7 20. g4 Bd4+ 21. Kh1 (21. Kg2 Ke7 22. Ne2 Bg7 23. Rh1 {Would have given
White a decent position, since Black will have to permanently protect the h7
pawn.}) 21... c4 22. Ne2 Bg7 23. Bf4 $2 {This could be enough to lose the game.
.. Great accuracy was required in this position.} ({White should instead aim
at exchanging the bishops :} 23. Kg2 Nc5 24. Be3 Kd7 25. Bd4 Bxd4 26. Nxd4)
23... Ke7 {It's now pretty clear the bishop is not doing much in f4...} 24. Ra2
(24. Rab1 {Is now White's best option, but Black has a solid edge.}) 24... Nc5
25. Be3 {Too little too late...} ({Was probably White's best option.} 25. Kg2
h5 (25... Nd3 26. Bd2 Nxb2 27. Rb1) 26. gxh6 Bxh6 27. Bxh6 Rxh6 {With a clear
edge for Black but perhaps still some possibility for White to hold out}) 25...
Nd3 26. Nd4 (26. Bd4 $2 Bxd4 27. Nxd4 h6 $19) 26... Kd7 27. Rb1 $4 Rhe8 $2 {
Black just dropped all his advantage! It is really hard to see how Re8 helps
in any way.} (27... h5 $1 {And the game is over} 28. gxh5 Rxh5+ 29. Kg2 Rch8
30. Ne2 Rh2+ 31. Kf1 Rh1+ 32. Ng1 R8h2) 28. Nc6 Rxc6 29. dxc6+ Kxc6 {There was
no need for Black to get in such a position. We are now in very unclear
territory. With perfect play, the position may lead to a draw, but White must
play very carefully...} 30. b3 ({Surprisingly, helping Black creating a passed
pawn may be White's best option, as in return White will get more activity for
his rooks.} 30. b4 b5 31. axb5+ axb5 32. Ra6+ Kc7 33. Rd1) 30... Nb4 31. Rd2 $2
(31. Rh2 $1 c3 32. Rxh7 c2 33. Re1 Bc3 (33... Nd3 34. Re2) 34. Re2) 31... c3
32. Rc1 Kd7 33. Rd4 $4 (33. Rh2 $1 {With a pretty balanced position.}) 33...
Bxd4 34. Bxd4 c2 35. Bc3 Nd3 {And the game is over.} 36. Rxc2 Rc8 37. Kg1 Nb4
38. Rc1 Na2 0-1
