This week, it is my pleasure to show you a spectacular win by GM-elect Razvan Preotu en-route to his final GM norm at the World Open. His seventh round win against a slightly younger opponent named John Ludwig (now rated 2373) appears elementary, but the hours of preparation that go into games such as this one are what allow the win to look so easy. Don't miss this one. http://chessevents.com/2016/07/world-open-2016-standings-open-section/
[Event "44th World Open"]
[Site "Philadelphia, PA"]
[Date "2016.07.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Preotu, Razvan"]
[Black "Ludwig, John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B76"]
[WhiteElo "2462"]
[BlackElo "2348"]
[Annotator "MacKinnon,Keith"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2016.07.??"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2
Nc6 {This position should be quite familiar to many a Sicilian player. It is
the starting point for the Dragon Yugoslav Attack. Here, White has two major
moves: Bc4 and 0-0-0. However, Razvan decides to play a less popular
continuation leading to similar attacking play} 9. g4 $5 Be6 {This move may
look somewhat strange to many amateur players. Why allow White to exchange his
Knight for the Bishop and double the pawns? Black gains some advantages from
the exchange as well. He has more central control (d5 specifically) and his f8
rook becomes more active.} (9... Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Be6 {is the continuation I've
chosen previously as Black. White has a small edge, but his attack should not
be as strong as in the main lines}) 10. Nxe6 fxe6 11. O-O-O (11. Bc4 Qc8 $13 {
with ...Na5 next}) 11... Ne5 12. Be2 Qc8 {Neat. Instead of using the rook on
the c-file (more common in these Yugoslav positions) the Queen will support a
Knight jump to c4. This will increase pressure on a2 and have the added bonus
of defending e6} (12... Rc8 13. Nb5 {with White scoring strongly. Here's a
sample game by one of the strongest creative players around:} Qd7 14. Nd4 Nc4
15. Bxc4 Rxc4 16. Kb1 Rfc8 17. c3 b5 18. Rc1 a5 19. h4 b4 20. cxb4 Rxb4 21. a3
Rbc4 22. Rxc4 Rxc4 23. Qxa5 Rc5 24. Qb4 Kf7 25. Rd1 Qc8 26. Nxe6 Qxe6 27. Bxc5
dxc5 28. Qb5 c4 29. e5 Ne8 30. f4 c3 31. Qd5 Nc7 32. Qxe6+ Kxe6 33. a4 Nd5 34.
a5 h5 35. g5 cxb2 36. a6 Nb6 37. Rd8 {1-0 (37) Vallejo Pons,F (2705)-Carlsson,
P (2476) Caleta 2010}) 13. h4 Nfd7 14. h5 (14. f4 {is the more common
alternative} Nc4 15. Bxc4 Qxc4 16. e5 {but Black seems to be doing fairly OK
after} Rad8 $11) 14... Nc4 (14... Nxf3 {seems too dangerous} 15. Nd5 $1 {out
of nowhere!} (15. Bxf3 Rxf3 16. hxg6 hxg6 $13 {Objectively, Black might even
be better here}) 15... Nxd2 (15... Qe8 16. Bxf3 exd5 17. Be2) 16. Nxe7+ Kf7 (
16... Kh8 $2 17. hxg6 h6 18. Bxh6 Bxh6 19. g5 $18 {a very brutal finish}) 17.
Nxc8 Raxc8 18. hxg6+ hxg6 19. Rxd2 $14 {Grandmaster Cvitan successfully
defended this position with the Black pieces twice in 2013 and 2014, but White
is clearly superior here}) 15. Bxc4 Qxc4 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. f4 Bxc3 {As an
occasional Dragon player myself, I know it's never fun to give up the g7
Bishop. Here, however, it's necessary, as otherwise White's pawns advance too
quickly.} (17... b5 18. f5 $1 b4 19. Qh2 $3 Nf6 (19... bxc3 20. Qh7+ Kf7 21.
Qxg6+ Kg8 22. Rh7 Rf7 23. Bh6 cxb2+ 24. Kb1 $18) 20. Rd4 Qc5 21. Nd1 $16) 18.
bxc3 Qxa2 (18... Qxe4 19. Rde1 $18 {nearly winning almost on the spot with the
threat of Bd4 in the air}) 19. Qh2 {Since I have no knowledge of the clock
times, it's tough to say whether either player had this position in his
preparation, but I would hope so because going for this position unprepared is
crazy!} Nf6 $4 {A very natural looking move. I answered my own question in
that it appears John Ludwig had not prepared deeply enough...} (19... Kf7 $8 {
played twice in 2014. White is only slightly better after} 20. Qh7+ Ke8 21.
Qxg6+ (21. e5 dxe5 22. Qxg6+ Kd8 23. Qe4) 21... Kd8 22. Qg7) 20. Bd4 $1 e5 {
Black puts up the best defence, but it's too late.} 21. fxe5 dxe5 22. Qxe5 Qa3+
(22... Qa1+ 23. Kd2 {makes no real difference}) 23. Kb1 Qd6 24. Qg5 Nxe4 25.
Qh6 Kf7 26. Rhf1+ Nf6 (26... Ke6 27. Qxg6+ Kd7 28. Qxe4 $18) 27. Bxf6 Qb6+ 28.
Kc1 exf6 29. Qh7+ {Games such as this one can sometimes look easy for the
victor, but the margin for error is very small. In this one, Razvan made no
errors and played a perfect game.} 1-0
