This week, I present to you a game played at the recently concluded Hart House Open. It is an interesting and unclear game where both sides had opportunities to seize the initiative. I hope you enjoy it, and happy holidays!
[Event "Hart House Holiday"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.12.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Song, Michael"]
[Black "Preotu, Razvan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E51"]
[Annotator "Kleinman,M"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.10"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. a3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 Bd6 8. Nf3
Nc6 {Admiteddly, I am not too familar with this position, but Black is
preparing to play e5, and change the structure of the position when White
advances d5. White now plays the prophylactic:} 9. h3 (9. O-O e5 10. h3 Bf5 {
is a typical continuation}) 9... e5 10. d5 Ne7 11. e4 Ng6 12. g3 $6 {White is
trying to limit the space of the g6 Knight, though in doing so makes it
impossible to castle kingside.} (12. Qc2 {seems like a reasonable move,
protetcting e4.} a6) 12... a6 13. Bg5 h6 14. Be3 b5 15. Ba2 a5 16. Nxb5 Rb8 (
16... Nxe4 $15) 17. Na7 (17. Nxd6 cxd6 18. Qc2 Bd7 19. Nd2) 17... Rxb2 18. Nxc8
Qxc8 19. Qd3 Nxe4 $2 (19... c6 $1 $15 20. Nd2 cxd5 21. Bxd5 Nxd5 22. Qxd5 Bxa3
$17) 20. Qxe4 f5 21. Qd3 (21. Qc4) 21... f4 $2 (21... e4 22. Qc3 Rxa2 23. Rxa2
exf3 $11) 22. gxf4 Nxf4 23. Qe4 Bxa3 $4 (23... Ng2+ $1 24. Kd1 $13 (24. Kf1 $4
Qf5 $1 25. Qxf5 Nxe3+ 26. fxe3 Rxf5 $19)) 24. Nxe5 $18 Re2+ 25. Kf1 Bd6 26. Bc4
Rxe3 27. Qxe3 Qf5 {Whit simplifies this game, and converts the full point.} 28.
Nd3 Nxd3 29. Bxd3 Qxd5 30. Qe4 Qc5 31. Qc4+ $18 (31. Qh7+ $1 Kf7 32. Re1 $18)
31... Kh8 32. Qxc5 Bxc5 33. Rxa5 1-0
