GM
E. Bacrot (2653) - GM J. Lautier (2663)
[D20]
ch-FRA Playoff, (rapid)
Val d'Isere, FRANCE (Game # 1),
31.08.2002
[A.J.
Goldsby I]
This
game was annotated for the (possible) inclusion in the electronic
magazine: "The Week In Chess." (TWIC) (By Mark Crowther
& London's Chess Center.)
Or for publication in my web pages. ---> No other usage is
allowed!!!
{Copyright 2002, A.J. Goldsby.}
***
The
notes of Mr. Crowther's are used with his full permission.
I
use the normal symbols that Informant or
ChessBase
also uses, but they are (more-or-less) turned on their sides, like the smiley face. :)
Click
HERE
to see a detailed explanation of the symbols that I use.
This
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This
game was part of a rapid-playoff for the Championship of France.
White
plays a nice attack.
See
GM Robert Byrne's comments in the magazine, 'Chess
Life'.
(His column, "The 65th Square." January, 2003 issue. Page # 22.)
***
1.d4
d5; 2.c4 dxc4;
The Queen's Gambit Accepted.
In
the Q.G.A, Black gives up the center - instead of holding it. Black gets much freer piece play, but White's initiative can be dangerous.
[ The Queen's Gambit Declined runs:
2...e6;
3.Nc3 Nf6; 4.Bg5, etc. and is much more common at the master
level. ].
3.e4!?,
This move has a funny history.
It
is ancient. (I have found examples of it that are over 200 years old!)
It
was first played - in an important game - in the great MacDonnell
vs. LaBourdonnais matches. (See the book, "The Complete Chess Addict," {by Mike Fox and Richard James}, and their list of the "Sixty Greatest Games." This is game
#1 in that list.)
For
many years it was thought that this move was inaccurate - it was condemned by literally dozens of pundits.
***
-
"A
beginner's move," writes the early author, James Mason. (1849-1905)
{James Mason was an Irishman who was both a strong player; and wrote in
newspapers, magazines, and also authored a key book.}
-
"A
move which is today considered grossly inferior." - GM Ruben Fine.
(Writing for "Chess Review.") {Fine was - much later - to repeat many
of these
ideas in a popular book, "The World's Great Chess
Games."}
-
"Too
abrupt an advance," says the writers, GM Savielly Tartakower
& James du Mont. (In the book: "500 Master Games of Chess.")
***
Yet
by the 1980's and 1990's, this line was the height of GM fashion. (!)
(A search of any on-line database will reveal hundreds of modern examples of this particular line.)
I
have always thought that the move, 3.e4, here was perfectly legitimate. And it would seem Master practice today would bear this opinion out.
[ The main line here - but which is fairly old, examples of GM play
can be found
that were played over 50-to-75
years ago - is the continuation: 3.Nf3 Nf6;
4.e3 e6; 5.Bxc4
c5; etc. {Diagram?} and White usually maintains a slight
edge here in most of these variations.
[ See NCO; page # 386.]
A good (modern!) example of this line (by transposition) is the
game:
GM Vladimir Kramnik -
GM Vassily Ivanchuk;
Russia vs. "The Rest of The World."
Moscow/RUS/2002. (1/2, 40) ].
3...e5!;
The correct response, Black attacks vigorously in the center.
'!' - GM Ruben Fine.
(Many others have given this move an exclam as well.)
[ See the book, "The World's Great Chess Games," edited by GM Ruben Fine. © 1951. ]
[ Also playable is: 3...Nf6!?; "~"
{Dg?} with fair play. ].
4.Nf3!,
GM Huzman - when annotating a game in my database - gives this move an exclam. This is correct, as the move basically (in the main lines), involves playing a
gambit. (It is also the main line in several books I have on the Q.G.A.)
*****
[ The
famous 'partie' went: 4.d5!? f5!?; {Diag?}
Black anticipates Nimzovich ...
by attacking the base of the Pawn chain here.
(The move >= 4...Nf6!; {Diagram}
is a little more precise here.) 5.Nc3 Nf6;
6.Bxc4 Bc5; {Diagram?} "Black's
position is freer," says GM Ruben Fine.
7.Nf3 Qe7; {Diagram?} This
position is
close to equal. {Actually White may be a little better.}
8.Bg5?!,
(Maybe - '?') {D?}
This is an error, and overlooks a tactic. Qc2 was much
better. (
Now White should
correctly play: >= 8.Qc2!, "+/=" {Diagram?} with just
a very small advantage.
(I have done extensive analysis of this position and
even computer- vs-computer
tests.) {A.J.G.} ) Now Black combines against f2
and c4. 8...Bxf2+!; 9.Kf1!?,
{Diagram?}
While this is considered the correct
move by several writers, I think
it is inaccurate.
( 9.Kxf2! Qc5+; 10.Ke1 Qxc4; 11.Nxe5 Qa6;
"~" {Diagram?}
The position is unclear, or at best - Black has a
tiny advantage. ("=/+") )
9...Bb6!;
10.Qe2 f4!; 11.Rd1!? Bg4, "=/+" {Diagram?}
Black is clearly better,
(maybe "/+"); he has a fairly
significant advantage in this position. He went on
to win a very, very brilliant
game.
Louis C. de LaBourdonnais - Alexander
MacDonnell;
Match - ENGLAND vs. FRANCE
1834. (Game #
50)
GM Ruben Fine calls the above
encounter ...
the FIRST truly IMMORTAL game of chess!!
***
The continuation: 4.dxe5?! Qxd1+; 5.Kxd1
Nc6; "=/+" {Diagram?}
hands the initiative over to Black.
].
*****
4...Bb4+;
This is OK, it certainly is very playable.
(It is the main line, according to several books I have.)
But
according to a study of my database - and games I have downloaded from several online databases - the move 4...exd4; is probably more
reliable. (Statistically speaking.)
*****
[ The book, "Nunn's
Chess
Openings," gives the line: 4...exd4;
5.Bxc4, {Diagram?}
Most books give this as the main line, but it is
NOT the only move
that White can play in
this position.
***
a.) GM Robert Byrne gives the
following line: 5.Nxd4, Bc5; 6.Be3,
Nf6;
7.Qa4+!?, I guess this is best.
(7.f3!?, Nc6!; is strong for Black. - R.B.)
7...Nbd7; Nc3,
0-0; {Diagram?} ... "is good for Black."
- GM R. Byrne.
- Byrne in 'Chess Life.'
(The column, "The 65th Square."
January, 2003 issue, page # 22.)
b.) GM Byrne
also gives the following line as well: 5.Qxd4,
Qxd4; 6.Nxd4, Nf6;
7.Nc3, Bc5!?; 8.Ndb5, Na6!?;
9.Bf4!?, Be6; 10.Bxc7, 0-0; 11.Bd6,
Rfd8;
12.Bxc5, Nxc5; 13.Nc7, Rac8;
14. Nxe6, Nxe6; 15.f3, Nd4; 14.Nxe6,
Nxe6;
15.f3, Nd4; 16.0-0-0, b5;
"<=>" {Diagram?}
... "is at least equal for Black." - GM R. Byrne.
Zilberman - Bagirov; U.S.S.R; 1985.
- GM Robert Byrne in 'Chess Life.'
(The column, "The 65th Square." January, 2003 issue; page # 22.)
Not to be mean-spirited, but there is plenty of room in Byrne's analysis,
(and quoted games); for improvement.
***
5...Bb4+; ('!?') {Diagram?}
This is also not the only
move that Black can play here.
( Black can also try: 5...Nc6+; 6.0-0, Be6; 7.Bb5,
Bc5; 8.Nbd2, Nge7;
9.Ng5!?, This looks like a waste of time, to me. I would try instead to
try and
win back the d-pawn. 9...Qd7; 10.Nxe6, Qxe6; 11.Nb3, Qd6;
12.Bf4!?, Qxf4;
13.Nxc5, 0-0; "=/+" {Diagram?} Black appears to be just a little
better here.
Magai - Ganguly; Calcutta, IND; 2001. )
6.Nbd2 Nc6; 7.0-0 Nf6; 8.e5 Nd5; 9.a3!?,
{Diagram?}
This is sharp, but is it best?
***
( Maybe Nb3 is
better? "Modern Chess Openings" gives the continuation:
9.Nb3!? Nb6; 10.Bg5!? Be7; The end of the
column. 11.Bxe7 Qxe7;
12.Bb5 Bd7; 13.Bxc6 Bxc6; 14.Nfxd4 Bd5; 15.Qg4! 0-0!; "~" {Diagram?}
MCO stops here and calls this position unclear.
GM I. Sokolov - GM R. Huebner; Haifa/ISR/1989.
[ See MCO-14; page # 452, column # 19, & also
note # (e.). ]
But after the move: 16.Rfe1!, "+/=" {Diagram?} White has a small,
...
- but
secure - advantage in this position. {A.J.G.} )
***
(Returning to the NCO
analysis.)
9...Be7;
10.Qb3, {Diagram?} Once again, a very forcing move.
(10.Nb3!?)
10...Na5;
11.Qa4+ c6; {Diagram?} The end of the line/row. 12.Ba2 b5;
13.Qxd4 Be6;
14.Ne4!? h6; "~" {Diagram?} GM John Nunn
labels this as
"unclear," I think White is probably a tad better here, in this
position. ("+/=")
(Just looking at this position shows
that White has a little more space, and
is much better organized/centralized.)
[ See NCO; page # 380, line/row # 7, note # 42. ]
(Nunn quotes no game here. A search of
ChessBase's
on-line database
reveals ... no
significant matches - in this position.) ].
*****
5.Nc3!?,
{Diagram?}
While this is not a 'TN'
- it is a fairly unexplored move ... at least by the standards of today's
opening theory.
(I think this move is a favorite of GM's Alburt,
Bareev, and Dreev.)
[ Instead of this, the openings reference book, "Nunn's Chess
Opening's"
gives the continuation: 5.Bd2 Bxd2+;
6.Qxd2 exd4; 7.Nxd4 Qe7; 8.f3 Nf6;
9.Bxc4 0-0;
10.Nc3, "+/=" {Diagram?} Nunn stops here and evaluates this
position as White being just slightly better here. (I concur.)
[ See NCO; page
# 380, line/row # 6, & notes # 33-36. ]
Nunn quotes no games here, but this
is probably the encounter:
GM Ulf Andersson
- GM
Yasser Seirawan;
Tilburg, 1990. (1-0, 45)
(Both players are top GM's. White won a nice game.)
].
5...exd4;
This is logical here, Black wishes to reduce White's central
influence ... as much as possible.
[ Also playable is: 5...Nf6!?;
"~" {Diagram?}
(See NCO for a
complete analysis of this line.) ].
6.Nxd4 Ne7!?;
Black
wishes to develop safely - and as quickly as possible.
While there is nothing
terribly wrong with this approach, it is not the most aggressive - and probably
will allow the first player to gain the initiative. (Maybe - '?!')
(Perhaps
Black was trying to get away from his opponent's rather well-known 'book'
knowledge?)
The move
... Qe7; has a much better reputation here.
(According to
standard opening theory. Also according to a detailed search of the database,
this move {statistically speaking} is both more popular and more successful.)
I have noticed - that at the very highest level of Master play - that one
miscue such as this, (Black's failure to play ...Qe7 here); can often
permanently and adversely affect one's game. (As is the case here. Of course at
the lower levels of play, I doubt if such a development - as we have here -
would even be noticed by the average amateur.)
***
NOTE:
I am not saying that
...Ne7 is unplayable!!
(There are certainly many more places where the second player
could seek improvements in this particular encounter.)
I am saying this is a major fork the theoretical
road. An thus far ... the results have been predominantly in the first
player's
favor. (After ...Ne7.)
***
[ Probably better was: >/=
6...Qe7; ('!') 7.Bxc4 Nf6; 8.0-0 0-0; 9.Bg5!?,
{Diag?}
I am not sure about this move.
(Maybe better is: 9.Re1, "=") 9...Bxc3;
10.bxc3!?,
{Diagram?} This might be a try for an edge, but could be a tad
risky.
(Maybe safer was: 10.Bxf6, "="). 10...Qc5;
11.Bxf6 Qxc4; "~" {Diagram?}
Nunn
labels this as unclear, maybe Black is just a tiny bit better here.
("=/+")
[ See NCO; page # 380, line/row # 6, and note #
34. ]
Nunn quotes no games here, but this
is probably the contest:
GM G. Hertneck -
GM H. Westerinen;
FIDE (Men's) Olympiads,
Manila/PHI/1992. (56) ].
For the next few moves, both sides just sensibly
continue to bring their pieces out.
7.Bxc4 0-0; 8.Be3 Nbc6!?;
Straight-forward development cannot be bad.
But maybe Black could have tried
...c5 here?
[ 8...c5!? ].
9.Ndb5 Bd7;
('!?')
"9. ..Ba5 and 9.
..Be6; have both been played here." - Mark Crowther.
[ 9...Ba5!? ].
10.a3,
(!) {Diagram?}
I really like this, White forces the second player to make an immediate decision about his Bishop on b4.
"The
beginning of a good plan." - GM R. Byrne.
[ 10.Qh5!? ].
10...Ba5!?;
White gains a significant edge after this move, but
perhaps Black already has difficulties equalizing here.
[ White is also better
after: 10...Bxc3+; 11.Nxc3 Ne5!?;
12.Be2 b6;
13.f4 N5c6;
14.0-0, "+/=" {Diagram?}
with a fairly nice advantage ... for the first player here.
].
11.b4
Bb6;
Black is losing space, and slowly getting boxed in.
[ 11...a6!? ].
12.Bxb6 axb6;
13.f4 Na7!?;
This move is correct -
at least according to opening theory.
I think this move only serves to
compound Black's problems ...
the Rook on a7 will be out of play for the foreseeable future.
[ Maybe 13...Qc8!?;
"~" {Diagram?} was worth a try?
Black
could also consider: 13...Kh8!?;
"~" {Diagram?}
The main idea being to meet the
pawn advance f5, with ...f6. ].
14.Nxa7 Rxa7;
15.0-0, "+/=" (White is clearly a little better.)
White has emerged from the opening with virtually no weaknesses and a nice advantage in space. In addition, Black's Knight on e7 has some difficulty in finding a good square.
This position has been reached in GM praxis several
times before.
Most notably: A. Vizmanavin - V. Bagirov; Podolsk/RUS/1992. and L.
van Wely - R. Huebner; Klooster's Ter Apel/NED/1997. (White won BOTH games!!)
[ White could consider: 15.Qh5!?;
{Diagram?} (difficult play)
or also 15.Qb3!?,
{Diagram?} with an
interesting game. ].
15...Ng6!?;
Black is trying to get this
poor fellow back into the game.
But g6 hardly seems
the best square for this
piece.
[ Maybe a mite safer is: = 15...c6;
16.Kh1, "+/=" {Diagram?}
and White is still a
little better.
Another try is: 15...Bc6!?; {Diagram?}
but White is still a little
better. ].
16.Qf3!?,
This is simple and good. White masses
on the King-side, where he has more space.
(Tarrasch would have probably
approved.)
"The first new move." -
Mark Crowther.
[ I prefer 16.a4,
"+/=" {Diagram?} with a small advantage for White
in this position. {A.J.G.}
Also playable is: 16.Qd4,
"+/=" 16...Ba4?!; {Diagram?}
This looks like a mistake to me.
(Better had to be: >= 16...Bc6; when
17.Qf2, "+/=" {Diagram?} and White has a
small advantage.)
17.Qxd8 Rxd8;
18.Bb5! Bb3!?; 19.Rfb1, "+/" {Diagram?}
White has a clear advantage here. (White eventually won.)
GM L. Van Wely - GM R. Huebner;
R/Ter Apel/NED/1997. (1-0, 57). ].
White continues to seek some
opportunities on the K-side.
16...c6;
17.Qg3 Qc7;
"White has a very nice position with lots of pressure and Black doesn't
have a lot of counterplay." - Mark Crowther.
18.h4!? Ne7;
19.a4!,
White grabs even more territory.
[ 19.Qg5!? ].
19...Qd6!?;
This allows White a small combination, but it is difficult to
suggest a valid improvement for Black here.
"Black is short of options,
this move brings about complications which turn out badly for him." - Mark Crowther.
(The losing move? Maybe, maybe not.
It is certainly a very critical
juncture in this contest!)
[ Black's other two options were: 19...c5!?;
20.b5
Raa8; 21.h5, "+/=" {Diag?}
and White maintains a nice edge.
Or Black can
try: >= 19...b5!?; (Maybe - '!')
{Diagram?}
This appears to be Black's best chance
here. 20.axb5 Rxa1; 21.Rxa1 c5;
22.b6,
{Diagram?} This appears forced.
( Definitely not: 22.bxc5?? Qxc5+;
23.Kh2 Qxc4; which wins for Black. ("-/+") )
22...Qxb6; 23.b5 Qf6;
24.e5 Qf5;
25.Bd3 Qg4; "~" {Diagram?} Black has nearly equalized.
At worst White's advantage is actually
very small. ("+/=") {A.J.G.} ].
GM
R. Byrne calls White's next move ... "a nice idea."
20.Rad1! Qxb4!?; (Maybe - '?!')
Black continues his bid for freedom and counterplay ... but it might have been wiser to simply retreat.
[ Probably better was: 20...Qc7;
{Diag?} although White retains an edge. ]
21.Bxf7+!
Rxf7; 22.Rxd7,
"The seventh rank is once again a happy hunting ground." - GM R.
Byrne.
22...Ra8;
Black tries to re-activate his Rook.
[ The continuation: 22...Qc5+!?;
23.Kh2 Ng6!?; 24.Rd8+ Rf8; 25.Rxf8+,
25...Nxf8;
26.f5, "+/" {Diagram?} gives White ...
quite a sizeable advantage here.
The continuation: 22...Ng6; 23.Rxf7 Kxf7;
24.f5, "+/=" {Diagram?}
also looks pretty good for White.
].
23.Rfd1
Raf8;
Black is probably now losing. (Or at least a little worse.)
[ Mark Crowther - writing for his chess column in Barbados - looks at
the
line: 23...b5; 24.axb5 Ra3;
25.Rd8,
{Diagram?} This is ok, but ...
(25.R1d3, "+/" {Diagram?} {A.J.G.})
25...Rf8; 26.f5!?, {Diagram?}
This is interesting.
(Or White could play: 26.Rxf8+ Kxf8; 27.Rd3, "+/"
{Diagram?} {A.J.G.}) 26...Rxc3;
{Diagram?} Black grabs the free horse.
(If 26...Qxc3; 27.Qb8 Qc5+; 28.Kh2 Nd5; 29.exd5 cxb5;
{Diagram?}
is probably winning
for White. (Mark Crowther) White should now play
30.f6!, "+/-" {Diagram?} White should win. {A.J.G.} Maybe Black
should
try 26...Qc5+!?; instead? {A.J.G.} ) 27.Qb8 Nd5;
{Diagram?} This looks
forced - Black must cover d8.
(27...Rxd8??; 28.Rxd8+ Kf7; 29.Rf8#)
28.exd5 cxd5;
{Diagram?} He (M.C.) stops here and says: "This looks like
Black's best
chance." - Mark Crowther.
Continuing this line just one or
two moves
further reveals: 29.Rxf8+ Qxf8; 30.Qxb7,
"+/" {Diagram?} ...
& White is clearly
better. (Maybe winning?) {A.J.G.}
Another option is: 23...Qc5+!?; 24.Kh2,
"+/" {Diagram?}
White
remains with a large and distinct edge ... no matter what Black plays
from here.
White's large edge in space, his Rook on the 7th rank ... and total
command of
the d-file, add up to a great game for the 1st player. ].
24.f5 Kh8;
25.Kh2!,
A nice piece of prophylaxis - White avoids any nasty, surprise
checks on the g1-a7 diagonal.
[ 25.h5!? ].
25...Qc5;
26.Ne2!?,
This piece also decides to head for the King-side ... to join the
fracas there.
[ Another good continuation was: 26.Qc7!? Qxc3;
27.Rxe7 Rxe7; 28.Qxe7,
28...Qf6;
29.Rd7, "+/" {Diagram?} (A Rook on the
7th rank!)
with a very large advantage in the endgame to
follow. ].
26...Ng8?!;
(Maybe - '?') {Diagram?}
This is a mistake in an
already difficult position.
(Was Black low on time here? The computer's
assessment - of this position, after over 30 minutes of analysis time -
changes
VERY significantly after this move!)
[ Black's only chance is: 26...Qc2[];
{Diagram?} according to the computer.
(Although White holds a fairly large
advantage in this position as well.)
And now White should simply play:
27.Nc3, "+/" {Diagram?}
when White is clearly much better.
Some have suggested the
line: 26...Nxf5!?; ('?!') 27.exf5 Qxf5;
28.Rxf7 Qxf7; 29.Qg4, "+/-" {Diagram?}
but White
should win.
(And without any great difficulties.)
].
27.Nf4,
("+/-")
... and the second player throws in the towel. (Black Resigns.)
White's
play was a good model for exploiting a space advantage.
This
game is a stark warning: GM Larry Evans once stated that if
you do not take up the initiative during the course of the game, your opponent almost certainly
will. Black paid a high price for his rather tame and inaccurate opening.
Copyright
(c) A.J. Goldsby I. Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 2002.
(Click here
to go to my main {old Geo-Cities} home page.)
[ White wins easily after:
27.Nf4 Nf6; 28.Rxf7 Rxf7; 29.Rd8+ Ng8[]; {Diag?}
This is the only move.
(29...Rf8?; 30.Ne6, "+/-") 30.Ne6
Qe7; 31.Kh3!,
31...h6!?;
{Diagram?} Curiously - Black is almost in a form
of total and
complete zugzwang.
(Or 31...g6; 32.h5! Rf6[]; 33.Qb8, "+/-" winning.)
32.Qb8,
"+/-" {Diagram?} and the g8-Knight is lost. ].
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