In the 5th round of the recently concluded BC Open, Tanraj Sohal played an exemplary attacking game with the White pieces. After a few inaccuracies from his opponent in the opening, he obtained a dangerous initiative on the kingside and never put a foot wrong. A very impressive display!
[Event "BC Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.02.08"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Sohal, Tanraj"]
[Black "Cao, Jason"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2382"]
[BlackElo "2386"]
[PlyCount "61"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 b6 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. O-O d5 6. Ne5 Bd6 7. f4 O-O 8. Rf3
$5 ({White immediately tries to get an attack going on the kingside. A calmer
and more common way to approach these positions is to play} 8. Nd2 {to control
the important e4-square. A typical continuation would be} c5 9. b3 Nc6 10. Bb2
Rc8 $11) 8... Ne4 9. Rh3 f5 10. Nd2 Nxd2 $6 ({A somewhat strange decision.
Black should let his opponent exchange on e4 himself, as ...fxe4 would then
gain control over some important central squares. As White is clearly planning
to play Qh5, a natural move would have been} 10... Qe8 11. b3 a6 ({the
immediate} 11... Nd7 {runs into an uncomfortable pin after} 12. Nxe4 fxe4 13.
Bb5) 12. Bb2 Nd7 $11) 11. Bxd2 Ba6 $6 (11... Qe8 {- or 11...Nd7 followed by 12.
..Nf6 - was a much safer option. Now White has a very strong attack.}) 12. Qh5
h6 13. g4 ({A very tempting move, with the intention of opening as many lines
as possible in front of Black's king. Also possible was} 13. Rg3 Bxe5 14. fxe5
Kh8 15. Qg6 {with a strong attack}) 13... Bxe5 14. dxe5 Bxd3 15. cxd3 Qe8 16.
Qh4 Qg6 17. Rg3 fxg4 18. Rxg4 Qf5 19. Kh1 Rf7 $2 ({Black's last chance was to
play} 19... Kf7 {, so that after} 20. Rag1 Rg8 21. Qg3 {the resource} g6 {is
still available. White should still be much better, but there is no immediate
win.}) 20. Rag1 Kh8 21. Qg3 Qh7 22. Rg6 Nd7 23. f5 $1 {A very nice touch.} Nf8
({The pawn is untouchable, as both} 23... Rxf5 24. Rxg7) ({and} 23... exf5 24.
e6 {lose immediately.}) 24. e4 $1 dxe4 25. dxe4 Rd7 26. Rg4 exf5 27. exf5 Qxf5
28. Rxg7 Qe4+ 29. Rg2 Ne6 30. Rxd7 Rf8 31. h4 {A very impressive win by Tanraj
Sohal.} 1-0
