Rohde - Z. Polgar: 1 c4 e5 system. Judged by GM Andy Soltis to be the

19th most beautiful game of the century!

Dzindzi - Browne: A Hedgehog. Dzindzi applies the bear hug!

Yusupov – Lautier: Complications in a Reverse Sicilian formation!

Gulko – Korchnoi: A rare blunder by the great Korchnoi puts him in big trouble!

And also Schwartzman - Kudrin

Rohde - Polgar, Z., NY INt. 1992

1 c4 e5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 Nf3 f5 4 d4 e4 5 Ng5 h6

[I believe that 5 ... Bb4 is Black's best here. I had just faced

the continuation that Polgar chooses in Rohde - Browne, Philadelphia

International 1992, so I was able to play the opening quickly.]

6 Nh3 g5 7 Ng1!

[Black's kingside space advantage will be nullified by h2-h4.]

Bg7 8 e3 Nf6 9 h4 Kf7?!

[In Steinitzian fashion, using the king (the only available piece)

to shore up the defence of g5. Instead Rohde-Browne featured a battle

over the f4 square - 9 ... g4 10 Nge2 Nh5 11 Nd5 Ne7 12 Nef4 Nxf4 13

Nxf4 h5! followed by ... Rh6! and ... Ng6.]

10 Nh3 Kg6 11 f3 Qe7 12 fxe4 Nxe4

[If Black had played 12 ... fxe4, then 13 Nf2 would threaten 14

Nfxe4 too strongly. After the text, 13 Nd5 is tempting, because if 13

... Qf7?, then 14 Qh5+!! Kxh5 15 Nhf4+ gxf4 16 Nxf4+ Kg4 17 Be2+ Kg3

18 Rh3 mate! But 13 ... Qd6! would stop all this.]

13 Nxe4 Qxe4 14 Bd3! Qxg2 15 Bxf5+!!

[The start of an incredible king-hunt.]

Kxf5 16 Rf1+

[A critical move. Not 16 Qd3+ Kf6! 17 Rf1+ Ke7 18 Qg6 Qg3+ 19 Kd1

gxh4! 20 Rf7+ Kd8 and Black is better. The text 16 Rf1+ disallows 16

... Kg6 17 Qd3+ Kh5 18 Nf4+! gxf4 19 Qf5+ Kxh4 20 Rxf4+, etc.]

Ke6 17 Qh5 Ne5

[A tough choice. 17 ... Rf8 loses to 18 Qg6+ Bf6 (18 ... Rf6? 19

d5+) 19 hxg5 hxg5 20 Rxf6+! Rxf6 21 Nxg5+. Not as clear is the

groveling 17 ... Ke7?! (J. Polgar) 18 Qf7+ Kd8 19 Qxg7 Re8. The

desperate 17 ... Bxd4 fails to 18 exd4 Qg3+ 19 Rf2!, but the bizarre

17 ... Qg3+ 18 Kd1 Bxd4!? may be tried.]

18 dxe5 Bxe5 19 Qf7+ Kd6 20 Rf6+ Kc5

[20 ... Bxf6 loses quickly to 21 Qxf6+ Kc5 22 Qxh8, because Black

still cannot take the knight on h3, due to 23 Qd4+.]

21 b4+! Kxb4 22 Bd2+ Ka3

[If the king went back to c5, then 23 Rf5! wins - 23 ... d6 (or 23

... Qg3+ 24 Nf2 and Black's situation has not improved) 24 Qxc7+ Qc6

25 Bb4+ Kxc4 26 Rc1+.]

23 c5

[Ultimately, the White queen will cross over to the queenside to

deliver checkmate, even though Black gets to have fun for a few

moves.]

d5 24 cxd6 Bg3+ 25 Rf2 Qh1+ 26 Ke2 Bg4+ 27 Kd3 Bd1 28 Bc1+ Ka4 29 Qc4+

Ka5 30 Bd2+ 1 - 0

Dzindzihasvili - Browne, Los Angeles, 1992

1 Nf3 c5 2 g3

[Move order considerations in the Reti/English complex are very

important. It is well known that after 2 c4 Nf6 Browne would head

towards the Hedgehog: 3 Nc3 b6, or 3 g3 b6. But 2 g3 disallows the

Hedgehog unless Black is willing to risk transposition to the King's

Indian attack - 2 ... b6 3 e4. 2 g3 invites Black to occuply the

center with 2 ... d5 with a Reversed King's Indian in store. Browne's

usual reply to 2 g3 is 2 ... g6, which can lead to an English if White

plays c4, a King's Indian if White plays c4 and d4, or a Gruenfeld

after 3 c3 Bg7 4 d4 cxd4 5 cxd4 d5. Browne explained that he had not

fared well with 2 ... g6 against Dzindzi in the past.]

Nf6 3 Bg2 Nc6 4 O-O e6

[Deciding against the King's Indian 4 ... g6 5 c4 Bg7 6 d4 cxd4 7 Nxd4

O-O 8 Nc3 Nxd4 9 Qxd4 d6.]

5 c4 Be7 6 d4 cd

[Opting for a Hedgehog-type formation without the fianchetto of the

Queen's Bishop. 6 ... d5 would enter the Tarrasch or the

Semi-Tarrasch.]

7 Nd4 O-O 8 Nc3 a6 9 Bf4 Nd4 10 Qd4 d6 11 Qd3 Qc7

[The pressure against d6 is very uncomfortable, but if first 11 ...

Nh5 12 Be3, and 12 ... Rb8 13 Ba7! Ra8 14 Qe3, or 12 ... Qc7 13 Na4

take advantage of the weak b6 square.]

12 Rfd1 Rd8 13 Ne4!!

[If 13 Rac1 (threatening 14 c5) Nh5! 14 Be3 Bd7 and Black completes

his development.]

Ne4 14 Be4 h6

[Better than the panicky 14 ... f5 15 Bg2 Rb8 16 e4.]

15 Rac1 g5

[A critical moment. The threat was 16 c5, and the dark-squared bishop

had to be driven away. Browne prefers weakening his kingside in the

hope of later creating dynamic play to the immobilization of his

center that would result from 15 ... e5. The tournament situation

mandated this risky decision.]

16 Be3 Bd7 17 Qb3!

[More headaches! White threatens 18 Bb6 and 18 Qxb7.]

Rdb8

[The more active 17 ... Re8 fails to 18 Qxb7 Qxb7 19 Bxb7 Rab8 20 Bxa6

Rxb2 21 c5! d5 22 Rd2. With the text Black hopes to eventually expand

on the queenside, but White's 20th move will hinder those plans.]

18 Bb6 Qc8 19 Qd3 Bc6 20 b3!!

[Stopping the planned freeing maneuver 20 ... Bxe4 21 Qxe4 Qc6 which

now fails to 22 Qxc6 bxc6 23 Bc7 as the b-pawn is protected.

Meanwhile, the move envisions the reorganization Bb6-d4-b2 and Qc3.]

a5 21 Bh7+ Kg7

[On 21 ... Kf8 22 Qc3 e5 23 c5 things start to unravel.]

22 Bd4+ Kf8!

[Again refusing, for positional reasons, the invitation to play 22 ...

e5. Black's position would not be pretty after 23 Bb2 b6, although he

would still be kicking.]

23 Be4

[Trying to clear a path to h7 for the queen.]

f5 24 Bc6 Qc6 25 Bb2 a4??

[Hastening to create counterplay, Black only encourages White's b-pawn

to join the fray. Passive defense with 25 ... Kf7 26 Qc3 Rg8 was best.

The ironic aspect of 25 ... a4 is that Black had better chances of

opening the a-file by leaving the a-pawn where it was as White may

have needed to open a second front with a2-a3 and b3-b4. As so often

happens when one is conducting a long and arduous defence, time

pressure rears its ugly head.]

26 b4 Kf7 27 b5 Qe4

[Losing, but 27 ... Qc7 28 e4 was not much of an alternative.]

28 Qc3 f4

[On 28 ... Rg8 or 28 ... e5, 29 f3 is curtains because of 29 ... Qxe2

30 Re1.]

29 Qg7+ Ke8 30 c5!

[The inevitable break. Since 30 ... d5 31 c6 is grisly, Black wants to

be shown.]

Bf8 31 Qg8 dc 32 Bg7 Ke7

[32 ... Qf5 loses to 33 Rd6 Rd8 (33 ... Ke7 34 Rcd1) 34 Rxe6+ Kd7 35

Rd1+ Kc7 36 Be5+ Kc8 37 Rxd8+ Kxd8 38 Rf6.]

33 Bf8+ Rf8 34 Qg7+ Rf7 35 Rd7+ Kd7 36 Qf7+ Kd6

[An unfortunate stroll, but if the king goes back Black will lose the

rook.]

37 Rd1+ Ke5 38 Qg7+ Kf5 39 g4+ 1 - 0

Granda-Zuniga - Seirawan, Buenos Aires, 1993

1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 Nc3 e6

[This method of entering the hedgehog system avoids aggressive

White systems such as 3 ... b6 4 e4 d6 5 d4 cxd4 6 Nxd4 Bb7 7 Bd3,

when a quick f2-f4-f5 is possible, or 3 ... b6 4 e3 Bb7 5 d4 cxd4 6

exd4 e6 7 a3 threatening d4-d5, and preparing 7 ... d5 8 cxd5 Nxd5 9

Ne5! On the other hand, with 3 ... e6 Black has lost the opportunity

for the double fianchetto which could develop after 3 ... b6 4 g3 Bb7

5 Bg2 g6, etc.]

4 g3 b6 5 Bg2 Bb7 6 O-O Nc6

[Much less common than 6 ... Be7 or 6 ... a6, the text has been

popularized by Nick DeFirmian. The main idea is that Black achieves

the typical Hedhehog goal of exchanging light-squared bishops after 7

d4 Nxd4! 8 Nxd4 Bxg2 9 Kxg2 (R.K. Delaune once essayed the solid 9

Nxe6 against DeFirmian) cxd4 10 Qxd4 Qc7 with equality.]

7 e4!

[An important innovation. White prepares to play d4 without

allowing the exchange of bishops, and Black loses time if he locks the

position up with 7 ... e5. In Salov - Seirawan, Rotterdam 1989, Yasser

awarded White an exclam for 7 b3 in Inf. 47, game 46, claiming that

the immediate 7 e3 is met by 7 ... Be7 8 d4 cxd4 9 exd4 Na5 10 b3 d5,

although White looks quite happy after 11 Ne5 (threatening 10 b4!) O-O

12 Bg5 Rc8 13 Rc1. In any case, Granda's method is more incisive - if

now 7 ... d6 8 d4 cxd4 9 Nxd4, Black's position lacks the dynamism

generally associated with the hedgehog. ]

e5 8 d3 g6

[This logical attempt to economize on the move 8 ... d6 meets a

shocking reply. The game Illescas - Ulybin, Chalkidiki 1992, which

deviated on the 6th move but reached a similar formation, illustrates

Black's difficulties: 6 ... d6 7 Re1 Be7 8 e4 e5 9 d3 O-O 10 Nh4 Nc6

11 Nf5 Nd4 12 f4 with the initiative.]

9 Nxe5!! Nxe5 10 f4 Nc6

[It is hard to give the piece back sensibly. Black just loses on 10

... d6?? 11 fxe5 dxe5 12 Bg5 Be7 13 Qf3. And 10 ... Bd6 11 fxe5 Bxe5

12 Bh6 is uncomfortable. Likewise, 10 ... Neg4 11 e5 Bxg2 12 Kxg2 Be7

13 exf6 Nxf6 14 f5 O-O 15 Qf3 fails to solve Black's problems. Given

this aggravation, Black holds onto the extra material.]

11 e5 Ng8 12 f5

[In this drastic situation, it is not easy to come up with workable

defenses. Possible is 12 ... Rb8, freeing the c6 knight for duty on d4

or e5. Seirawan comes up with a fearless and cold-blooded idea.]

Nh6!! 13 Ne4 Nxf5

[If 13 ... Nxe5 14 Bg5 is too strong.]

14 Nf6+ Ke7 15 Nd5+ Ke8 16 Nf6+ Ke7 17 g4

[Amazingly, there is no clear follow-up to 17 Bg5 Qb8.]

Nfd4 18 Qe1!

[The queen is headed to f2, to put inolerable pressure on f7 and

f6. Again, 18 Bg5 Qb8 is inconclusive.]

Qb8 19 Nd5+ Kd8 20 Bg5+ Kc8 21 Rxf7 Ne6!

[A solid move, shoring up the f8 bishop. The tempting 21 ... Qxe5?

runs right into 22 Bf6!, and 21 ... Nxe5? loses to 22 Rxf8+! Rxf8 23

Ne7+ Kc7 24 Qxe5+ d6 25 Qg7.]

22 Bf6 Ncd8?

[It turns out that this move allows White inroads into Black's

position through well-timed exchanges. Better was 22 ... Rg8, and

Black can wriggle forward with ... Ncd4, ... Bc6, etc. while White is

stymied. An excellent example of this kind of defensive maneuvering is

Granda's effort against Patrick Wolff from the '92 Reshevsky

Memorial.]

23 Re7 Rg8 24 Re8 Bc6 25 Bxd8!

[Much better than 25 Ne7+ which recovers the exchange but brings

Black's pieces to life. Granda foresees that the e-pawn will become a

monster. Another possibility was 25 Qh4, but Black can muddle with 25

... g5 26 Qxh7 Rg7.]

Nxd8 26 Nf6 Rh8 27 Bxc6 dxc6 28 Qe4 Qc7 29 e6 Bg7

[A humorous variation is 29 ... Rb8 30 e7 Bxe7 31 Rxe7 Qd6 32 Ne8.]

30 e7 Rxe8 31 Nxe8 Bd4+ 32 Kh1 Qd7 33 Nd6+ Qxd6 34 e8(Q)

[Granda has an extra queen in return for a bishop and knight.

Seirawan puts up a remarkable resistance, but there is no denying the

outcome.]

a5 35 Rf1 Ra7 36 Rf8 Rd7 37 Q4e6 Qxe6 38 Qxe6 Kc7 39 Qe2 Bg7 40 Rf2

Bd4 41 Rf3 Nf7 42 Rf4 Nd6 43 Kg2 Nc8 44 b3 Re7 45 Re4 Rf7 46 Qe1 Rd7

47 Qg3+ Kb7 48 h3 Rf7 49 h4 Rd7 50 Re6 Bc3 51 Qf3 Nd6 52 Qf8 Nc8 53

Re8 Rc7 54 Rd8 Bg7 55 Qe8 Bf6 56 Rxc8 1 – 0

[Event "CS Masters"]

[Site "Horgen SUI"]

[Date "1995.10.21"]

[Round "1"]

[White "Yusupov, A"]

[Black "Lautier, J"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]

[WhiteElo "2660"]

[BlackElo "2655"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. Nc3 Nc7 7. b3

[The normal recipe here is 7 d3 e5 8 O-O Be7 9 Nd2 Bd7 10 Nc4

giving Black a choice between the pawn sacrifice 10 ... O-O 11 Bxc6

Bxc6 12 Nxe5 Be8, or 10 ... f6 11 f4 with central play for White. Many

have found these lines unappetizing for White; the choice method of

avoiding them is by delaying Ng1-f3 - if the knights at f3 and c6 were

now on their home squares, White would have the moves 6 Qb3 and 6 Qa4+

to steer play off the beaten track. However, Yusupov always has fresh

opening ideas.]

e5 8. Ba3 Be7 9. O-O Bg4?! 10. Ne1!

[Now White's play is quite forcing; Black would have been better

off with the less ambitious 9 ... O-O with nothing to fear after 10

Na4 b6 or 10 Ne1 Bd7.]

Qd7 11. Nd3 Qxd3

[Forced. Not 11 ... c4?? 12 Bxc6 followed by 13 Nxe5, winning.]

12. exd3 Bxd1 13. Rfxd1 O-O-O 14. Rac1

[On the immediate 14 Na4 Black has 14 ... Nb4!

Rxd3 15. Na4

[Because of the unopposed light-squared bishop and the c-file

pressure, Lautier is on very thin ice. He must hope that Yusupov's

initiative will dissipate in the process of recovering the pawn.]

Rhd8

[A tough choice between this and 15 ... Ne6 16 Nxc5 (Black holds on

16 Bxc5 Nxc5 17 Nxc5 Rd6!) Bxc5! 17 Bxc5 Kb8 with a passive defensive

setup.]

16. Bxc5 Bxc5 17. Nxc5 Rxd2

[Now 17 ... Rd6 is quite uncomfortable after 18 Ne4 Rh6 19 Ng5.]

18. Bh3+

[White does not achieve enough with 18 Rxd2 Rxd2 19 Nxb7 Nd4!]

Ne6 19. Re1 Kb8 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. Na6+

[Not 21 Nxe6 R8d6! 22 Nxg7? Rf6 and Black is extremely active.]

Ka8 22. Nc7+ Kb8 23. Na6+ Kc8 24. Nb4

[It is a draw any way you slice it.]

R8d6 25. a4 Rb2 26. Rc3 Rdd2 27. Nxc6 bxc6 28. Rxe5 Rxf2 29. Rxc6+ Kd7

30. Rcxe6 Rg2+ 31. Kf1 Rxh2 32. Re7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "CS Masters"]

[Site "Horgen SUI"]

[Date "1995.10.21"]

[Round "1"]

[White "Gulko, B"]

[Black "Korchnoi, V"]

[Result "1-0"]

[WhiteElo "2595"]

[BlackElo "2635"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O Re8

[The immediate 6 ... e4 is the main line. Then White can try 7 Ng5

Bxc3 8 bxc3 Re8 9 f3 or 9 d3, or the much quieter 7 Ne1 with visions

of Ne1-c2-e3.]

7. d3 Bxc3 8. bxc3 e4

[Else White will play 9 e4 and Nf3-h4, and the e8 rook will be

misplaced.]

9. Nd4

[Christiansen - Kaidanov, US Champ. 1994 featured 9 Ng5 exd3 10

exd3 b6!? 11 Bd5!? with a quick crisis.]

d6 10. Bg5

[This forces liquidation of the strongpoint at e4 - Black cannot

try 10 ... Nxd4 11 cxd4 Bf5 12 dxe4 Bxe4 13 f3.]

exd3 11. exd3 Nxd4 12. cxd4 h6 13. Be3 Bg4 14.

Qb3 Rb8 15. h3 Bf5 16. Rae1 b5??

[Korchnoi intended the idea 16 ... Qd7 17 Kh2 b5 with a perfectly

fine position, but he decided to "refine" it with 16 ... b5 first,

figuring the queen did not need to be on d7 in certain variations ...]

17. cxb5 Bd7

[A sad admission. Now it becomes clear that on 17 ... Qd7 18 g4!

Rxb5? 19 Qc2 and the threat of 20 Bc6 wins. Therefore, Black goes

about recovering the pawn, but White will gain a tremendous positional

advantage. Also possible was 17 ... a6, although White is still much

better after 18 a4 axb5 19 a5!]

18. a4 a6 19. d5 axb5 20. a5

[Now the bishops rake the board, and the a-pawn is very hard to

deal with.]

Qc8 21. Kh2 Qa6 22. Ra1 b4 23. Rfc1 Rec8 24. Rc4!

[A combination allowing Black to win the exchange, but White gets

more passers.]

c5

[Not good at all was 24 ... Qb5 25 a6.]

25. dxc6 Be6 26. Bb6 Bxc4 27. dxc4 Rxb6 28. axb6 Qxb6 29. Qe3!

[Pushing the Black queen out of the way makes it easy for White to

snag the b-pawn.]

Qxe3 30. fxe3 Rb8??

[A blunder but the ending was lost.]

31. c7 1-0

A fascinating encounter took place in round 2 between Gabriel

> Schwartzman, a devotee of the

> White side

> of the Hedgehog, and Sergey Kudrin, an ardent supporter of the Black

> side.

>

> [Event "US Championship (Gp. 2)"]

> [Site "Chandler"]

> [Date "1997.08.23"]

> [Round "1"]

> [White "Schwartzman, Gabriel"]

> [Black "Kudrin, Sergey"]

> [Result "1/2-1/2"]

> [ECO "A30"]

> [WhiteElo "2510"]

> [BlackElo "2515"]

> [PlyCount "96"]

> [EventDate "1997.08.23"]

>

> 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. O-O Nc6

>

> A maneuver popularized by deFirmian. If White plays 6 d4, Black

> exchanges two pairs

> of minor

> pieces with 6 ... Nxd4 7 Nxd4 Bxg2.

>

> 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8. d4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 d6 11. Bg5

>

> Schwartzman already has in mind the idea to start trouble on the

> kingside later, so he

> draws

> Blak’s h-pawn forward.

>

> h6 12. Be3 O-O 13. Qd1

>

> First ... Nf6-g4 has to be stopped.

>

> Nd7 14. Rc1 a6 15. Qd2 Kh7 16. Nd5 Rb8 17. Rfd1 Re8 18. b4 e6 19. Nf4

> Bf8 20. Qe2 Qc7 21.

> h4

>

> After gaining space on the other wing, but without being able to

> make a real impression

> on the

> super-solid Kudrin, Schwartzman finally shifts his attention to the

> kingside.

>

> Rbc8 22. h5 g5 23. Nd3 Bg7 24. c5

>

> Hoping that an open position will allow him to exploit Black’s

> less cohesive setup.

>

> dxc5 25. bxc5 bxc5 26. Nxc5 Nxc5 27. Rxc5 Qe7 28. Rdc1 Rxc5 29. Bxc5

> Qd7 30. Rd1 Qa4 31.

> Rb1 Bc6

> 32. Rb6

>

> DIAGRAM

>

> Bb5

>

> The start of an amazing series of tactical blows.

>

> 33. Qf3 Rc8

>

> White would have the advantage on 33 ... Qc4 34 Be3 Re7 (or 34

> .. Qc7 35 e5!) 35 Rb8

> as 35 ...

> Qxa2 36 e5 is dangerous.

>

> 34. Qxf7! Qd1+ 35. Kh2 Be8

>

> This was Kudrin’s idea. Of course not 35 ... Rxc5? 36 Qg6+ and 37

> Rb8+.

>

> 36. Qe7 Qxh5+

>

> DIAGRAM

>

> 37. Bh3!

>

> Avoiding the draw which would follow 37 Kg1 Qd1+. Now 37 ... g4?

> loses to the very

> pretty 38

> Rb7! Qxh3+ (if 38 ... Qg5 39 Bd4) 39 Kg1.

>

> Bf7! 38. Rb7 Kg8 39. Kg1 Bf8!

>

> A forcing continuation. White would just stand better on 39 ...

> Qg6 40 Be3.

>

> 40. Qf6

>

> Now White is looking to play Rb7xf7 followed by Bh3xe6.

>

> Bg7 41. Qxe6

>

> Sacrificing the queen to avoid the draw with 41 Qe7 Bf8.

>

> Bxe6

>

> Unclear is 41 ... Rxc5 42 Rb8+ Kh7 (not 42 ... Bf8? 43 Qd6) 43

> Bf5+ Rxf5 44 Qxf5+

> although

> Black cannot be better.

>

> 42. Bxe6+ Kh8 43. Bxc8 Qd1+ 44. Kh2

>

> The problem with 44 Kg2 is 44 ... Qc2.

>

> Bd4 45. Rb8 Kg7 46. Rb7+ Kh8 47. Rb8 Kg7 48. Rb7+ Kh8 1/2-1/2

[Event "US Championship (Gp. 2)"]

> [Site "Chandler"]

> [Date "1997.08.25"]

> [Round "3"]

> [White "Gurevich, Dmitry"]

> [Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]

> [Result "1/2-1/2"]

> [ECO "A20"]

> [WhiteElo "2580"]

> [BlackElo "2555"]

> [PlyCount "53"]

> [EventDate "1997.08.23"]

>

> 1. c4 e5 2. g3 d6 3. Bg2 c5

>

> DIAGRAM

>

> 4. b4!?

>

> Like a Benko Gambit of course, except that Black’s d-pawn is on

> d6, not d4. The same

> themes of

> pressure on the long diagonal and the a- and b-files are present.

>

> cxb4 5. a3 bxa3 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. Bxa3 O-O 9. Nc3 Nc6 10. d3 Re8

>

> Given that Black has had no interference with his development,

> the gambit has been

> only

> moderately successful.

>

> 11. Qa4 Bd7 12. Qb3 Rb8 13. Rfb1 Bf8 14. Bc1

>

> Shabalov has not been able to find a useful role for this bishop.

>

> h6

> 15. Nd2 a6 16. Qb6 Qc8 17. Nde4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Be7 19. Ba3 Bg4 20. Ra2

> Bd8

>

> Perhaps 20 ... Qd7 was better, but it is hard for Black to prove

> a significant edge, as his

> b-pawn is

> backward and White controls the center.

>

> 21. Qe3 Qd7 22. Bxc6!

>

> A strange tactic which wins back the pawn.

>

> Qxc6 23. Qe4! Qd7 24. Bxd6 Bf5 25. Qf3 Bg4 26. Qe4 Bf5 27. Qf3

> 1/2-1/2

[Event "US Championship (Gp 1)"]

> [Site "Chandler"]

> [Date "1997.08.27"]

> [Round "5"]

> [White "Gulko, Boris"]

> [Black "Benjamin, Joel"]

> [Result "0-1"]

> [ECO "A29"]

> [WhiteElo "2590"]

> [BlackElo "2555"]

> [PlyCount "66"]

> [EventDate "1997.08.23"]

>

> 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O

> Be7

> 8. Rb1

>

> DIAGRAM

>

> g5

>

> An amazing spike in what looked like a routine position. After

> the event, Benjamin

> credited his opening preparation and work with Deep Blue for his

> success. This move, if good, is

> not the type of move a computer would come up with.

>

> 9. b4?!

>

> In response to Benjamin’s space-gaining but very committal thrust

> on the kingside,

> Gulko, immediately sacrifices his b-pawn to focus attention on the

> queenside. The idea is that it

> is not clear where Black’s king will live. It was also possible to play

> quietly with 9 d3 g4 10 Nd2,

> to see how Black follows this up.

>

> g4 10. Ne1 Nxb4 11. Nc2 Nc6

>

> White has not gotten much out of his pawn sacrifice, as there is

> little intrinsic value in the

> half-open b-file at this point.

>

> 12. Bxc6+ bxc6 13. d4 f6 14. dxe5

>

> I would prefer the obscure 14 Bh6 although 14 ... Kf7 is safe

> enough for the moment.

> Gulko’s queen-exchanging operation is predicated on his belief that the

> extra Black pawn, being

> doubled and isolated,will not be that meaningful.

>

> Qxd1 15. Rxd1 fxe5 16. Nb4 Bf5 17. e4 Bxb4 18. Rxb4 Be6

>

> Benjamin plays expertly in exploiting White’s newfound weaknesses

> on the light squares.

>

> 19. Bg5 Rf8 20. Rb2 Rf3 21. Nb1 Rc8 22. Rc1 Nc4 23. Rb7 Nd6 24. Rxa7

> Nxe4 25. Be3 Bd5 26.

> Nd2 Rxe3 27. fxe3 Nxd2 28. a4 Kd7 29. Rb7 Ra8 30. Rb4 Ne4 31. Rd1 Ke6

> 32. Rb7 Rxa4 33.

> Rxc7

> Ng5 0-1

[Event "US Championship (Gp 1)"]

> [Site "Chandler"]

> [Date "1997.08.27"]

> [Round "5"]

> [White "Gulko, Boris"]

> [Black "Benjamin, Joel"]

> [Result "0-1"]

> [ECO "A29"]

> [WhiteElo "2590"]

> [BlackElo "2555"]

> [PlyCount "66"]

> [EventDate "1997.08.23"]

>

> 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O

> Be7

> 8. Rb1

>

> DIAGRAM

>

> g5

>

> An amazing spike in what looked like a routine position. After

> the event, Benjamin

> credited his opening preparation and work with Deep Blue for his

> success. This move, if good, is

> not the type of move a computer would come up with.

>

> 9. b4?!

>

> In response to Benjamin’s space-gaining but very committal thrust

> on the kingside,

> Gulko, immediately sacrifices his b-pawn to focus attention on the

> queenside. The idea is that it

> is not clear where Black’s king will live. It was also possible to play

> quietly with 9 d3 g4 10 Nd2,

> to see how Black follows this up.

>

> g4 10. Ne1 Nxb4 11. Nc2 Nc6

>

> White has not gotten much out of his pawn sacrifice, as there is

> little intrinsic value in the

> half-open b-file at this point.

>

> 12. Bxc6+ bxc6 13. d4 f6 14. dxe5

>

> I would prefer the obscure 14 Bh6 although 14 ... Kf7 is safe

> enough for the moment.

> Gulko’s queen-exchanging operation is predicated on his belief that the

> extra Black pawn, being

> doubled and isolated,will not be that meaningful.

>

> Qxd1 15. Rxd1 fxe5 16. Nb4 Bf5 17. e4 Bxb4 18. Rxb4 Be6

>

> Benjamin plays expertly in exploiting White’s newfound weaknesses

> on the light squares.

>

> 19. Bg5 Rf8 20. Rb2 Rf3 21. Nb1 Rc8 22. Rc1 Nc4 23. Rb7 Nd6 24. Rxa7

> Nxe4 25. Be3 Bd5 26.

> Nd2 Rxe3 27. fxe3 Nxd2 28. a4 Kd7 29. Rb7 Ra8 30. Rb4 Ne4 31. Rd1 Ke6

> 32. Rb7 Rxa4 33.

> Rxc7

> Ng5 0-1

In last October's ICC GM Knockout tournament, I drew an unfavorable

pairing in the first round of the 8-man elimination event - the strong

GM Max Dlugy, who also happens to be one of the best blitz players in

the world. Luckily, the time limit for the 2-game event was 30 0,

analogous to the "Action" time limit in over-the-board play. If the

score is tied after the first two games, a blitz match at the time

limit 5 0 would ensue.

I got off to a bad start by blundering horribly on the 13th move as

White in an English:

Rohde - Dlugy

During this match I was playing under my older account name, "kc".

1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e4

I was just looking for some offbeat line.

Nc6 5.g3

5 d4 would transpose to a decent Sicilian for Black after 5 ...

cxd4 6 Nxd4 Bb4 in which White has tried to institute the Maroczy Bind

but Black gets quick counterplay.

d5

A very sharp reaction. Black invites White to establish a beachhead

at e5. The question is whether that pawn will be strong or weak.

6.cxd5 exd5 7.e5 Ng4 8.Bb5

Abandoning the idea of fianchettoing, the bishop must participate

in the battle over e5.

d4 9.Ne4 Bf5

A good move. This is distracting as 10 d3?? would lose to 10 ...

Qa5+ picking up the bishop. But I should now play 10 Bxc6+! bxc6 11 d3

and White stands better, as moves like Qd1-a4 and Bc1-g5 are on the

horizon.

10.Qe2 Qd5 11.d3 0-0-0 12.Bxc6

This is forced now. Otherwise White has insufficient compensation

for the loss of the e5 pawn.

Qxc6 13.h3??

A game-losing blunder! 13 Bf4 would have led to an exciting

position with approximately even chances.

c4

This wins, as the light squares are completely undermined and

collapse instantly!

Traditionally, after the New York Open, the Marshall Chess Club

holds a very strong blitz tournament. This year, I faced the tough GM

Vadim Milov in the Marshall Blitz. Milov turned a hedgehog / Queen's

Indian type of position into a King's Indian and then embarked on a

typical King's Indian attack.

Rohde - Milov

Marshall Blitz April 1997, 1997

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 b6 4.e3

A pet line against the Hedgehog. One possibility is 4 ... Bb7 5 d4

cxd4 6 exd4 e6 7 a3 (preventing ... Bb4 and thus preparing to shut off

the Black bishop by d4-d5). Then after 7 ... d5, great complications

can arise after 8 cxd5 Nxd5 9 Ne5 a6 10 Qf3.

4...g6!

A good reaction. Black suddenly treats the position like a King's

Indian, where the move e2-e3 is not very effective.

5.d4 Bg7 6.Be2 0-0 7.0-0 d6

Still avoiding the placement of his bishop on b7, which would only

be greeted by d4-d5.

8.a3 Na6 9.Re1 Bb7

Finally drawing forward the White d-pawn. The alternative was 9 ...

Bf5.

10.d5 Nc7 11.e4 e5

Achieving a position with potential counterplay. If 12 dxe6 Nxe6 is

satisfactory, and otherwise Black now plays it like a King's Indian,

ignoring the fact that he has wasted time with his queen's bishop.

12.b4 Bc8 13.Rb1?!

Correct was 13 Nd2, stopping the Black knight from traveling to h5.

13...Nh5 14.g3 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Qc2

Covering the c3 knight so that now White has the possibility of

Nf3xe5.

16...Nf6

Allowing White to dictate the tempo. Better was 16 ... Qe8.

17.Nh4 Qe8! 18.bxc5 bxc5 19.Nxf5

I thought that the resulting position, in which I have the two

bishops, would favor me. Possibly the preparatory 19 Bf1 was better.

19...Bxf5 20.Qxf5 Nfxd5 21.Qc2 Nxc3 22.Qxc3 e4

Now Black gets to use the d4 outpost.

23.Qe3 Bd4 24.Qg5+ Kh8 25.Be3 Ne6 26.Qd5

The position is unclear.

26...Qg6 27.Bh5 Qf6 28.Qxe4 Ng5 29.Qg2 Bxe3 30.Rxe3

Looks logical, but this is a blunder. After 30 fxe3! Qf5 31 Kh1 Nh3

32 g4, Black's activity just balances White's pawn up.

30...Nh3+ 31.Kh1 Nxf2+ 32.Kg1 Qd4 33.Rbe1 Nd3

If 34 Re2 Qa1+ mops up.

0 - 1