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(12) Josh Waitzkin - Emory Tate
Eastern Open Boston, 03.1996
[Rohde, M.: Pin]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 Tate is known for his very sharp and uncompromising opening repertoire. Having recently defeated Waitzkin in another sharp Sicilian in the National Congress in Philadelphia, here he employs the Pin Variation, which does not have the best theoretical reputation, but can be very scary to deal with. By the way, if White wants to avoid this line, he can play 3 Nc3 instead of 3 d4. After 3 Nc3, 3 ... Nf6 transposes to the Alapin Sicilian after 4 e5, and after other moves (say, 3 ... Nc6) White can play 4 d4 and the Pin Variation is longer a possibility. 6.Bd3 The main line is 6.e5 Nd5 (this is better than 6...Ne4 7.Qg4!! Nxc3 8 Qxg7 Rf8 9 a3!, and, although the play is very complex, in many lines White's Bc1-h6 will be a killer, e.g., 9 ... Nb5+ 10 axb4 Nxd4 11 Bg5 Qb6 12 Bh6 Qxb4+ 13 c3 Nf5 14 cxb4 Nxg7 15 Bxg7 with a great endgame for White, Szabo - Mikenas, Kemery 1939) and now 7.Bd2 is probably best; then one line is 7 ... Nxc3 8 bxc3 Be7 9 Qg4.) 6...Nc6 Another challenge to get in the move e4-e5 is issued! After 6 ... e5, I once won a nice game with 7 Ne2 d5?! 8 exd5 Nxd5 9 O-O Nc6 10 f4!?, not satisfied with the routine 10 Nxd5 played in Yates - Alekhine, The Hague, 1921. But I do not see the need for Black to rush the move ... d7-d5 in this line. 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.0-0 ECO gives the cryptic variation 8.e5 Nd5 9 Qg4 Qa5 10 O-O with a large plus for White. 8...Qc7 9.Bd2 I still like White on 9 Qe2, with ideas such as 9 ... e5 10 f4, 9 ... d6 10 Na4, and 9 ... d5 10 exd5 cxd5 11 Bg5. 9...Rb8 10.Kh1 Bd6 11.Na4 Now on 11.f4 e5, Black's threat against b2 is very distracting. 11...h5 12.h3 Be5 13.c3 A passive move falling in with Black's plans. I think White would have decent compensation for the pawn after 13.f4! Bxb2 14.Nxb2 Rxb2 15.e5 Nd5 16.Qf3 in Black's weak dark squares and disorganized position. This exchange series would negate Tate's attacking gestures on the kingside. 13...Bf4 Appealing now that White does not have the reply Bd2-c3. 14.c4 This may be a tactical mistake. On 14.Qe2, 14 ... Ng4? would not work because of 15.Bxf4 Qxf4 16.g3. 14...Ng4 Mike Atkins reports that, in the post-game analysis, the players agreed that White was lost after this shot. In fact, Tate stated that he did not think that anyone could find a defense for White. The immediate threat is 15 ... Bxd2, leaving the diagonal so that the queen can make her way to h2. And the knight on g4 will always be immune to capture because the h-file opening will be decisive. 15.Bc3 Well, what about 15 g3 (but not 15 Bxf4? Qxf4 with the double threat of mate on h2 and 16 ... Nxf2+). Then 15 ... Bxg3 16 fxg3 Qxg3 and White can choose between 17 Qe2 allowing a draw by perpetual with 17 ... Qxh3+ 18 Kg1 Qg3+, or the riskier 17 Bf4 Qxh3+ (bad is 17 ... Nf2+ 18 Rxf2 Qxf2 19 Bxb8) 18 Kg1 e5 19 Rf3 Qh4 20 Bg3 Qg5. 15...Be3 16.f4 Bxf4 17.Qf3 Bd2 A nice finish. Establishing the pathway to h2 takes priority over everything. The next moves are virtually forced. 18.Qxf7+ On the defensive 18 g3 Bxc3 19 bxc3 Ne5, Black is a pawn up with an overwhelming position. 18...Kd8 19.e5 Bxc3 20.Qxg7 A pretty maneuver which staves off immediate disaster. White threatens mate via 21 Rf8+. 20...Qxe5 21.Rf8+ This is needed to liquidate the rook on h8 which has been holding up the knight on g4. 21...Kc7 Much better than 21 ... Rxf8 22 Qxf8+ Kc7 23 hxg4, and things are not so clear. 22.Qxe5+ Bxe5 23.Rxh8 Nf2+ 24.Kg1 Nxh3+ 25.gxh3 Bxh8 Tate emerges in a winning endgame a solid pawn up, with the advantage of the two bishops. 26.Rb1 d5 27.Rf1 Bxb2 28.Rf7+ Bd7 29.Nxb2 Rxb2 30.cxd5 cxd5 31.a4 Kd6 32.a5 e5 33.Rf6+ Kc5 34.Rf7 Bxh3 35.Rxa7 e4 36.Bc2 Kd4 37.Ba4 e3 38.a6 Rg2+ 39.Kh1 Ra2 40.Bb5 Bg2+ 41.Kg1 Be4 42.Ra8 h4 43.Rh8 Ra1+ 0-1
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