Dimity Ostapenko (2565) - Pavel Yartsev (2350)
[B89]
U.S.S.R., 1969.
To see the FULLY and DEEPLY annotated version of this game,
(text-only) click here.
One of the most brilliant games
ever played. This is surely a very wondrous
and fascination game.
It is also a key game to the opening
theory of this line.
***
My version of the analysis presented
here ... is that opening theory
[takes
the position] of the time when the
game was played.
In addition to this, I have tried to
give special emphasis to those
moves that
my students - average
players - found interesting or
surprising. Enjoy!!
1. e4
c5; 2.
Nf3
Nc6; 3.
d4
cxd4; 4.
Nxd4
Nf6; 5.
Nc3
d6;
6. Bc4!?, (Maybe - '!')
The Sozin Sicilian.
This has been
a favorite attacking system of
dozens of masters, most notably
is (of course!) Bobby Fischer.
[ The regular, "Classical Sicilian"
is the line: 6.Be2.
Both sides have good play. ].
Now both sides continue to develop.
6...e6; 7.
Be3!
Be7; 8.
Qe2!?, (Maybe - '!')
The ultra-sharp variation
known as, ...
"The Velimirovic Attack."
Usually both sides castle on
opposite wings and attack each
other VERY
violently. This line
has to lead to some of the
sharpest chess - the most
sacrifices - and some of the most
hair-raising attacks in all of chess.
(Only the Dragon
and the Najdorf
can rival this one for the degree
of tactics
that are seen in
some of the variations!)
[ More normal is a regular
line, which goes as follows:
8.Bb3
0-0; 9.0-0
a6;
10.f4
Nxd4; 11.Bxd4
b5!; "<=>" {"With good counter-play."}
This line has been played MANY
times in Master practice. ].
8...0-0; {Diagram.}
Castling can never be bad. (!)
[ 8...a6!?
].
9. Bb3
Qc7; 10.
0-0-0
a6; 11.
Rhg1!, {Diagram.}
This is a very sharp line ... and was considered the latest word in theory
...
at the time.
I much prefer this particular line
over g4 ...
but theory does NOT
agree with me here. (!)
[ Theory has almost always focused
most of its attention on the
move:
11.g4!?, in this position.
(See any good opening book
for an analysis of this line.).
Most books continue:
11...Nxd4!; 12. Rxd4!, Nd7!?;
12. g5!, etc. ].
The next series of blows are ALL
considered both best AND forced ...
at least according to the theory
of THAT DAY!!!
11...b5!; {Diagram?}
The most aggressive move,
even today.
(Modern opening theory concentrates
more heavily on the move, 11...Nd7.)
[ MCO-14 gives the moves:
11...Nd7!?; 12.g4!
Nc5!;
13.Nf5!?, (Hmm.)
(Maybe - '!!' or '?!'); and go on to quote a draw
in nearly 30 moves.
(GM Ian Rogers - Lanka;
Linz, 1997.)
{If you are interested,
see MCO-14. Page # 331, note # e.}
Or look up this game in any on-line
database. ].
12. g4!
b4!; {Best.}
The correct move.
(At least
according to the opening theory
of that time. Today, theory tends
to concentrate on other moves here.)
[ Interesting is: 12...Nd7!?,
with a fun game.
Or, Black could play: 12...Na5!?;
This is the move that
replaced ...b4;
but ONLY AFTER this
game was played. ].
13. Nxc6!
Qxc6!; 14.
Nd5!!, (WOW!!)
Impressive ... but also known
to opening praxis. (The theory of that day.)
(I was about 11 years old, when I
first saw this game... and it simply
blew me
away. In particular, I was
VERY impressed with this move!)
[ Also playable are: 14.g5!;
or 14.Na4!?
].
14...exd5!; 15.
g5!
dxe4!;
(Best?)
This may still be the best here
for Black, although that opinion
runs counter
to Opening Theory.
[ Theory today likes: 15...Nxe4!?
].
16. gxf6
Bxf6; (forced)
17.
Bd5!
Qa4!;
{Diagram?}
All known to opening theory of
that time. Several books and articles
stopped
here and concluded
Black was OK ... or even better. (!!)
18. Qh5!,
TN {Diagram?} (Maybe - '!!')
Ostapenko's
new move.
(Several magazine articles...
just after this game was played,
gave this
move a double-exclam!).
Was this prepared?
Almost certainly.
Is it brilliant? You bet!!
Now watch what happens!
[ IM Andy Soltis says that: 18.Bxa8!?,
leads to a very strong attack for
BLACK, after ...QxP/a2. ].
18...Be6!, {Nice.} {Diagram?}
Almost certainly the best move.
[ 18...Rb8!?
].
Now watch the next series of moves!
19. Rxg7+!!,
{FIREWORKS!!!}
An incredibly brilliant move ...
and to me, it does not matter if
it was prepared
in advance or not!!!
(GM John Nunn also gives this
move - AND ...
White's 21st - a
double exclam.)
[ 19.Bg5!?
].
19...Bxg7[]; {Box.}
This is obviously forced.
[ 19...Kh8??; 20.Qxh7#.
Or 19...Kxg7?;
20.Qh6+
Kg8; (This is forced.
If ...Kh8; then QxB/f6+,
and
Rg1+ to follow.) 21.Rg1+
Bg4; 22.Rxg4+
Bg5; 23.Rxg5+
Kh8;
24.Qf6#.
].
20. Rg1!
Rfc8!; {Correct.}
Black had MANY moves here
at his disposal here, but this
is the best one.
White's play ...
almost looks like a form
of 'suicide' chess here.
21. Rxg7+!!
Kxg7; 22.
Qh6+!
Kg8; 23.
Bxe4!!, {Very Brilliant.}
IM
Andy Soltis, in the book,
"Chess To Enjoy," gives this excellent
move,
a double exclam.
He notes that it is a quiet move ...
but it packs a terrific wallop.
[ 23.c3!?; Not 23.Bd4??
Qxc2#
].
23...b3!; (Best.) {Diagram?}
The correct move, and the move
ALL the strong computer programs
play
in this position.
Several authors claim this move
is inferior, but ALL of their analysis
is flawed,
... including GM J. Nunn's.
(See the book,
"The Sicilian Sozin." By Harding,
Botterill, and Kottnauer.
They analyze all of the alternatives pretty thoroughly.)
24. Bxh7+!,
(Nice.)
The correct way to continue
the attack.
[ The most natural move here is: 24.Qxh7+
].
24...Kh8; 25.
Bf5+!!, {Diagram?}
Very nice.
I have shown this game many
times to friends and students.
The average
player does not find
this move at all.
(In
fact, why this move is even played at all, will not become apparent for
several more moves.)
[ 25.Bd3+!?
].
25...Kg8; 26.
Qh7+!, {Diagram?}
White goes for the whole
enchilada.
(White has at least a draw, but wants so much more.)
[ 26.Bh7+
Kh8; 27.Bd3+
Kg8;
28.Bh7+
Kh8; 29.Bd3+, Draw. ].
26...Kf8; 27.
Bh6+!, (Best.)
The best again.
[ 27.Qh8+!?
].
27...Ke8; 28.Qg8+!?,
(Nice, maybe - '!')
The best.
[ White kills the attack with: 28.Qh8+?
Kd7; "-/+" ].
Now Black is forced into a
pin ... which he has been
desperately trying to avoid!!
28...Ke7; 29.
Bg5+
Kd7;
(Forced.)
Has White's attack run out?
(Nope.)
Now White ... although sometimes
he has 5 or 6 promising alternatives;
plays the best move every time.
(From here to the end of the game.)
30. Qxf7+!
Kc6; 31.
Bxe6!
Kb6!?;
{Diagram?} (Maybe '?!')
This might be an inaccuracy.
(GM
John Nunn awards a whole question
mark, but his analysis contains
several errors.)
Andy Soltis does not comment
on this move here.
[ Certainly better was:
31...Qe4!, {Diagram?}
although I may have found
a
forced win for White.
(See GM John Nunn's great book,
"The King-Hunt," for a more
complete analysis.) ].
32. Be3+!
Ka5; 33.
Bxc8!
Rxc8; 34.
Qf5+!
Rc5; {Box?}
This is forced, according to
most books.
[ 34...Kb4?; 35.a3+
Kc4;
36.Qd3#
].
35. Bxc5
Qb5!; (Hmmm.)
The best practical try.
[ 35...dxc5?; 36.Qxc5+
Qb5;
37.Qxb5+
Kxb5; 38.axb3,
"+/-"
is a boringly easy win for the
first player. ].
Now a few more precise moves
by White ends all resistance.
36. Bb4+!
Kxb4; 37.
a3+
Kc4; 38.
Qxb5+
axb5; 39.
cxb3+
Kd3;
40. Kd1, Black Resigns.
White
now has a simple win ... in the
King-and-Pawn in ending that
we now have.
1-0
Copyright (c) {LM}
A.J. Goldsby I
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 1995-2008.
Copyright © A.J. Goldsby, 2009. All rights
reserved.
 
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