International
RSSU Chess Cup

Tournaments↓

M.Matlakov (RUS) - V.Belous (RUS)

D. RSSU Student Grandmaster Cup (men)

Queen's gambit

7 Round

 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 Nbd7 Black successively refutes principal gambit continuations (5...dc 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Ng5 hg 10.Bg5 è 6...dc 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5), which leads to dangerous situation and changes the motive to Orthodox defense with moves h7-h6 and Bh4.   There is a tendency dominating in the "young grandmasters round" – most of participants prefer to avoid principal opening variations. Is it good or bad? We will see. Studying of principal continuations takes more time (if we speak not about process of reproducing of variations but about searching for your own "word" in it), which is important for improvement of other components of skills. But sooner or later comes a time for every young chess-player considering himself as a professional, to start a hard but interesting analytical process of opening.   7. e3 Be7 8. Bd3

[Alternative was struggle for "tempo" by 8. Qc2 O-O 9. Rd1] 

8... O-O 9. O-O 

9... b6

[A.Alekhin published an article about pros and cons of using moves h7-h6 and Bh4 in Orthodox defense. The essence of the article was that now unloading maneuver of Capablanka is ineffective 9...dc 10.Bc4 Nd5 due to possible avoiding of exchanging with 11.Bg3. In variation with extended fianchetto 9... dxc4 10. Bxc4 b5 11. Bd3 a6 answering to 12. e4 Black has tactical  ability 12... Nxe4! , leading to equation.    Moving in the game Black leads game to Makagonov-Bondarevsky system but with making not very useful move ñ7-ñ6.] 

10. Qe2 Bb7 11. Rfd1 Ne4

 

 

12. Bg3 Typical idea in such a position. Avoiding exchanging of Bishop å7, White deprives competitor’s Queen of the square. 12... Nxg3 13. hxg3 In theory (spending time at move ñ7-ñ6) opening stage was profitable for White. But not a threat for Black. 13... Bb4 Black is ready to exchange Bishop at black square, leaving the square å7 for Queen. 14. e4

[Alternative was 14. Rac1] 

14... Bxc3 15. bxc3 dxe4 16. Qxe4 Nf6 17. Qe3

 

 

A critical moment in the game. Black is going to make a rescue promotion ñ6-ñ5. 17... Qe7

[Move ñ6-ñ5 could be prepared with 17...Qñ7 or even make right away 17... c5!? 18. d5 (or 18. dxc5 Qc7; White is better maintain the situation with 18. a4 ²) 18... exd5 19. cxd5 Bxd5 20. c4 Re8 21. Qf4 Bb7 22. Bh7 Kxh7 23. Rxd8 Raxd8 with good compensation for sacrificed Queen. Move 17...Qe7 is inaccurate because places Queen at "suspended" position. Black fought to make Qd8-e7.] 

18. a4 Disturbing Queen side of its rival. 18... c5 19. d5!? Using vulnerable position of Queen at å7, White creates a transit pawn in center.

[Alternative was 19. a5]

 

 

19... Rfe8? Strengthening positions on  line "å". The move of pawn d5 Black considers as safe, but here Belous was mistaken.

[Black should make 19... Rad8 20. dxe6 Qxe6 21. Qxe6 fxe6 22. Ne5 Be4 23. f3 Bxd3 24. Nxd3 Rd6 25. Ne5 Rfd8 26. Rxd6 Rxd6 27. a5 , where White has some initiative.]

 

 

20. d6! White pawn enters competitor’s side. 20... Qf8 21. Ne5 Red8 22. d7! Qe7 

 

 

 

It seems that pawn d7 will die but White maintains its attack. 23. a5! And second White pawn makes an attack! 23... Rab8

[Impossiable 23... Nxd7? Due to 24. a6; 

to 23... bxa5 answer is 24. Rab1 Rab8 25. Qf4 , and Black forces are limited.] 

24. a6 Making future corridor on line "à". 24... Ba8 25. Qd2 Ne4

[And again pawn d7 invincible: 25... Nxd7? 26. Nxd7 Rxd7 27. Bh7] 

26. Bxe4 Bxe4 27. Qf4 Ba8 

 

 

28. Nxf7! Decisive combination, releasing potential energy of White pawns à6 and d7! 28... Qxf7 29. Qxb8 Rxb8 30. d8=Q Rxd8 31. Rxd8 Kh7 32. Rxa8 

 

 

Pawn à7 will fall now. As soon as White Rooks restore its interaction, Black resistance will be over. Yet followed: 32... Qd7 33. Rb8 Qd2 34. Rb7 Qxc3 35. Rd1 Qxc4 36. Rxa7 Qa4 37. Rdd7 Kg6 38. g4 Qa1 39. Kh2 Qe5 40. g3 [1:0]