Game of the Month
>
> The Central Majority
>
> In the Nimzo-Indian Defence, right from the beginning a key battle
> is over the e4 square. Often this results in a middlegame where White
> has a central pawn majority, with pawns on d4, e3 and f3 against
> Black's pawn on d5, held back by Black's control of e4. In the game
> between Garry Kasparov and Judit Polgar from the Fontys (Tilburg)
> International in September, this tension exploded as Kasparov advanced
> in the center, jettisoning his kingside pawns in the process. Polgar
> battled back gamely and creatively, but when she allowed herself one
> passive defensive move, Kasparov consolidated and the center pawns took
> over.
>
> 1 c4 e6
>
> Polgar, an inveterate King’s Indian player, has diversified her
> repertoire greatly in recent
> years.
>
> 2 Nc3 d5 3 d4 Bb4
>
> An unusual hybrid, which can develop into the Ragozin Variation
> of the Queen’s Gambit
> Declined (if White now plays 4 Nf3 Nf6 5 Bg5), or the Nimzo-Indian.
>
> 4 e3
>
> A good idea, akin to the Rubinstein Variation of the Nimzo, which
> normally arises from 1
> d4 Nf6
> 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3. Then Black’s main alternatives are 4 ... O-O, 4
> .. c5 and 4 ... b6. Less
> common is
> 4 ... d5, as then White can count on immediately exchanging one of his
> potentially doubled c-
> pawns.
>
> c5 5 a3!
>
> DIAGRAM
>
> Bxc3+
>
> A surprising feature of this position is that 5 ... cxd4 is met
> by 6 Qxd4! and due to the hit
> on g7,
> Black is clearly worse after 6 ... Bxc3+ 7 Qxc3 Nf6 8 cxd5.
>
> 6 bxc3 Nf6 7 cxd5
>
> A similar position, with White having already played f2-f3 rather
> than e2-e3, is often
> reached via
> the Saemisch Variation of the Nimzo: 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 f3 d5
> 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 c5
> 7 cxd5.
> There, professionals have always played 7 ... Nxd5 (7 ... exd5?! 8 e3
> transposes to our game
> below - see
> the note to White’s eighth) and then White chooses between 8 dxc5 and 8
> Qd3.
>
> exd5
>
> Now 7 ... Nxd5 8 c4 is quite pleasant for White.
>
> 8 f3!
>
> Not strictly necessary at this juncture, but Kasparov wanted to
> underline the fact that
> Polgar has
> been hoodwinked into an inferior variation, i.e., a Saemisch Nimzo -
> see the note to White’s
> seventh -
> where the center has become static. Now White has possibilities for
> both central and kingside
> expansion,
> whereas White’s queenside dark squares are invulnerable.
>
> c4
>
> Radically preventing the development of the White bishop on d3.
>
> 9 Ne2 Nc6
>
> It would have taken a lot of confidence to play 9 ... h5!?,
> trying to hem White in.
>
> 10 g4!
>
> Having more pawns on one side of the board (the center /
> kingside) allows such moves
> to be
> played. Kasparov will develop behind his spearhead g-pawn, while Black
> is hampered by the
> need to stop
> e3-e4, and the difficulty in making a real target out of the e3 pawn.
>
> h6 11 Bg2 Na5
>
> Polgar wants to be ready to eliminate the bishop on c1, defender
> of e3.
>
> 12 O-O Nb3 13 Ra2 O-O 14 Ng3 Bd7 15 Qe1!
>
> The queen readies herself for a brighter future, even though she
> is still responsible for
> recapturing on c1 if Black takes. Kasparov avoids 15 h3 (with the idea
> of e3-e4) as 15 ... Qc7
> would
> embarass the knight on g3.
>
> Re8
>
> DIAGRAM
>
> 16 e4!!
>
> Pitching the proud g-pawn in order to get the center rolling! A
> nice aspect of this type of
> break is
> that the f-file opens for White.
>
> dxe4 17 fxe4 Nxg4!
>
> White’s initiative is more ominous on 17 ... Nxc1 18 Qxc1 Nxg4 19
> Qf4. By not taking on
> c1,
> Polgar causes logistical problems for White in the development of the
> attack.
>
> 18 Bf4 Qh4 19 h3 Nf6
>
> Now the pawn on h3 is under attack.
>
> 20 e5!
>
> DIAGRAM
>
> Rad8?
>
> Polgar backs away from the confrontation and gets crushed
> ignominiously. The only way
> was 20
> .. Bxh3. Then Black survives on 21 Ne4 Qxe1 22 Rxe1 Bxg2! After 20 ...
> Bxh3, White’s best
> would be
> the diabolical 21 Qf2!! Then Ng3-f5 is the threat on 21 ... Ng4 22 Qf3
> or 21 ... Bxg2 22 Qxg2.
> Therefore,
> Black should react with 21 ... Nh7 with a very complicated position.
>
> 21 Qf2 Nh5
>
> Trying to get some counterplay. On 21 ... Nh7, the routine 22 Ne4
> is very strong.
>
> 22 Bxh6!
>
> A neat form of destruction. 22 ... Nxg3 would allow mate in two,
> while 22 ... Qxg3 loses
> to 23
> Qxf7+ Kh7 (or 23 ... Kh8 24 Qxh5 gxh6 25 Qxh6+ Kg8 26 Rf6) 24 Qxh5
> gxh6 25 Rf7+ Kg8 26
> Rxd7.
>
> Re7 23 Nf5
>
> With Black’s main tactical weakness, f7, finally covered,
> Kasparov heads for an
> endgame where
> his powerful bishops and pawn center will rule.
>
> Qxf2+ 24 Rfxf2 Re6
>
> Horrendous-looking is 24 ... Bxf5 25 Rxf5, but allowing the
> knight to remain on f5 leads
> to a
> sudden denouement.
>
> 25 Be3 Bc6
>
> DIAGRAM
>
> 26 Bf1!
>
> It is impossible to deal with the double threat of 27 Bxc4, and
> 27 Be2 g6 28 Nh6+.
>
> f6
>
> Perhaps the best way to play on was 26 ... Rd7 27 Bxc4 27 Bd5.
>
> 27 Bxc4 Bd5 28 Be2 fxe5 29 Bxh5 exd4 30 Bg5 Rd7 31 Rae2 Be4 32 Nxd4
> 1 - 0
[note: direct any replies to mrohde@milbank.com]
Game of the Month
Clutter
Often in the middlegame, the player with the initiative must
decide whether opening up the position is more likely to cause the
opposition to be swept away or to allow the opponent unnecessary
counterchances. In the game
between Dmitry Gurevich and Nick deFirmian from the opening round of
the 1997 U.S. Championship, deFirmian probably did not think twice
about blasting open the position, once he had taken the initiative.
In the ensuing clash of minor pieces, deFirmian cut through the
jumble with precision, finding the shots which he felt his
better-placed forces had to offer. Although Gurevich gamely muddied the
waters with his own tacti
cal nuances, he ultimately could not stem the collapse of his position.
[Event "US Championship (Gp. 2)"]
[Site "Chandler"]
[Date "1997.08.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Black "DeFirmian, Nick"]
[Result "0-1]
[ECO "E48"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1997.08.23"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3
One of White's most reliable answers to the Nimzo-Indian Defence.
O-O
deFirmian has been one of the leading advocates of 4 ... b6
here. The other main alternative is 4 ... c5.
5. Bd3
Also popular is 5 Ne2, trying to win the two bishops without
suffering doubled c-pawns. Then, a little-known but worthy line is 5
.. Re8!? 6 a3 Bf8, tucking away the bishop. If White expands with 7 e4
e5 or 7 d5 exd5 8
cxd5 c5, Black gets satisfactory counterplay. Instead, Kasparov -
Rohde, NY (blitz) 1988 continued 7 g3! c5?! 8 dxc5! Bxc5 9 Bg2 Bf8?! 10
O-O d6 and I finally obtained some kind of hedgehog.
d5 6. cxd5
I do not believe this move offers good enough prospects for an
opening advantage. White should probably choose between the classical 6
Nf3 c5 7 O-O, and the sharper 6 a3, when 6 ... dxc4 (probably best is 6
.. Bxc3+) 7
Bxh7+! Kxh7 8 axb4 gives good chances for White. 6 Ne2 is also
possible, but this allows 6 ... dxc4! 7 Bxc4 Bd6 and the coming ...
e6-e5 (or if 8 f4 c5) will equalize.
exd5 7. Nge2 Bd6
deFirmian is able to find very comfortable posts for his minor
pieces. In Tisdall - Huebner, San Francisco 1995, Black directed his
play more towards the center than the kingside with 7 ... Re8 8 a3 Bf8
9 f3 c5 10 Bd2 Nc
6, also with no problems. Black's reaction was less apt in Fedorowicz -
Van der Sterren, Wijk aan Zee II 1990, where 7 ... c5 was tried. This
merely transposes to the 4 ... c5 lines, where Black becomes committed
to excha
nging on d4, liberating White's dark-squared bishop. After 8 a3 cxd4 9
exd4 Bd6 10 O-O Nc6 11 f3!? Nh5?! 12 g4, White had the better of the
sudden complications.
8. a3
The start of an ambitious plan of expansion on both the queenside
and in the center.
Re8 9. b4 c6
DIAGRAM
10. Ra2
A thematic rooklift in the Nimzo - after f2-f3 and Ne2-g3, the
rook can swing along the second rank to e2 (or more likely, f2) in
preparation for the central push e3-e4. Here, however, the rook move
serves another functi
on - as an indirect and highly bizarre means of defending the pawn on
b4.
Nbd7 11. f3 a5 12. O-O
See the note to White's 10th. The rook placement has secured the
b4 pawn.
axb4 13. axb4 Rxa2 14. Nxa2 Nf8 15. Qc2 Qe7
The battle rages over whether e3-e4 is playable. deFirmian plays
to stop this advance by controlling the e4 square, pressurizing the d4
square, or creating other threats or diversions.
16. Ng3 g6!
Not 16 ... Bxb4 17 e4 and White's central roller becomes very
meaningful. Instead, Black prepares to boot the knight away from g3, at
the same time preventing a foray into f5. Meanwhile, after 16 ... g6!,
17 e4 is still
not ready because of 17 ... Bxg3 18 hxg3 dxe4, etc.
17. Qd2 h5 18. Re1 Ne6
Now pressure against d4 is utilized to forestall the move e3-e4.
19. Re2 h4 20. Nf1 h3
This breach clarifies that Black has assumed the initiative.
However, White has created quite a fortress behind his pawns on the
third rank.
21. g3 b6!
Finally, the ... c5 lever is used to obliterate White's chances
of obtaining a rolling central duo with e3-e4.
22. Bb2 c5
Precipitating an explosion. Black would really like to get at
some of those weaknesses in the vicinity of f3, and he needs to blast
open the position in order to effectively do so.
23. dxc5 bxc5 24. Qc3
DIAGRAM
Gurevich decides to draw the Black pawns forward in hopes of
dissipating their energy. Instead, 24 bxc5 Bxc5 would leave White
facing the menace of ... Ne6-g5.
d4 25. exd4 cxb4
A neat switch. A White pawn is left on d4 rather than a Black
one, as deFirmian foresees that the d4 square can become weak.
26. Qd2 Bb7 27. Rf2 Nd5
The difference in mobility between the two players' sets of minor
pieces is stark. However, Gurevich takes the opportunity to lift one of
the thorns in his side, the pawn on h3.
28. Qh6?!
28 Be4 would have been no good due to 28 ... Ng5. Best was 28
Nc1! bringing the knight into the defence at b3 or e2.
Qf6 29. Qxh3 Ra8 30. Nc1 Nc3
Now White must first deal with the threat 31 ... Ng5.
31. Qg4 Nxd4 32. Nd2 Bc5
DIAGRAM
The f3 square is caving in, but Gurevich finds some counterplay
by hitting at some of Black's loose pieces. Note that 33 Kg2 would be
crushed by 33 ... Nd1!
33. Ne4 Nxf3+! 34. Kh1
Not 34 Kg2? Bxe4 35 Bxe4 Ne1+. But now both Black knights are
pinned!
Bxe4 35. Bxe4 Bxf2 36. Bxa8
DIAGRAM
Qa6!
The shot which justifies 33 ... Nxf3+. The Black queen threatens
mate in 1, stops White from playing Qc8+, and hits the bishop.
37. Kg2 Ne5 38. Qxb4
There is nothing better.
Qxa8+ 39. Kxf2 Nd1+ 40. Ke1
If 40 Kg1 both 40 ... Nf3+ and 40 ... Qa7+ are very strong.
Nxb2 41. Qxb2 Qh1+ 42. Kd2 Qxh2+
In a time scramble, Nick was not sure that he had made his 40th
move. For a moment, he overlooked 42 ... Nc4+.
43. Ne2
Also hopeless was 43 Kc3 Qxg3+, but now White loses his queen.