Gulko,Boris (2595) - Zviaginsev,Vadim (2610) [A40] NY Open (6), 1997

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 b6

This move signals Black's intention to play a Queen's Fianchetto

Defence rather than any old Indian Defence, as White is allowed to

establish pawns on c4, c4 and e4.

3.d4 Bb4 4.Bd2

Avoiding discussion of 4 e4 Bb7 5 Bd3 f5! with significant pressure

on the long diagonal.

Nf6 5.e4

A strange twist: now Gulko welcomes 5 ... Bxc3 6 Bxc3 Nxe4 7 Qg4,

meanwhile staking his claim to e4 when the lever ... f7-f5 has become

unavailable.

Bb7 6.f3

Good only for Black was 6 e5 Bxc3 7 Bxc3 Ne4.

Nh5!

For Black to make headway in chipping away at the center, he must

get ... f7-f5 in. Instead, 6 ... d5 7 cxd5 exd5 8 e5 would be

positional hari-kari.

7.Nh3

7 Nge2 may be stronger. Then 7 ... f5 can be met by either 8 Qc2 or

8 exf5 exf5 9 Qc2.

f5

DIAGRAM

8.a3?!

Very provocative. After 8 exf5 exf5 9 Ne2! is one interesting

possibility, as White endeavors to castle queenside. And if Black

tries 8 ... Qh4+ (instead of 8 ... exf5) then 9 Nf2 Qxd4 10 fxe6 is

not bad.

Bxc3 9.Bxc3 fxe4 10.fxe4 Qh4+ 11.Nf2 0-0 12.g3 Qf6 13.Qe2 Nc6

Trouble is coming from a new direction. Now there is nothing to be

gained by 14 Qe3 e5.

14.0-0-0 Qxf2 15.Qxh5 Qe3+ 16.Kb1

DIAGRAM

Nb4!

Not 16 ... Qxe4+?? 17 Bd3, but the text brings ominous threats.

Gulko tries to shut off the long diagonal.

17.d5 Qxe4+ 18.Ka1 Rf5

Zviaginsev steers clear of 18 ... Qxh1 19 axb4! and White's bishops

begin to menace the Black kingside.

19.Qe2 Nc2+

Now if 19 ... Qxh1 20 Bh3.

20.Ka2 Qxe2 21.Bxe2 Ne3 22.Rd2 exd5 23.Re1 Rf2

Simplifying to a clear one-pawn-up position.

24.Bd3 Rxd2 25.Bxd2 d4 26.Bxe3 dxe3 27.Rxe3 Kf7 28.h4 g6 29.Be4 Bxe4

30.Rxe4 Re8 31.Rf4+ Kg7 32.g4 h6 33.c5 bxc5 34.Ra4 Ra8 35.Ra6 c4

36.Kb1 c6 37.Ra4 Kf6 38.Rxc4 Ke5 39.Kc2 Rc8 40.Ra4 Rc7 41.Kd3 d5

42.Ke3 g5 43.h5 Rf7 44.b4 d4+ 45.Kd3 Kf4 46.b5 c5 47.Ra6 Rb7 48.Kc4

Rb6 49.Rxa7 Rd6 50.Kxc5 Rd8 51.Rf7+ Kxg4 0-1