It was my second time in Denmark for the Politiken Cup, the last time being three years back. This time though, the tournament was held in a much nicer place with a spectacular view of the sea and a continuous stretch of green fields. Perhaps I have that as an excuse for my good performance. The tournament, once again, had a large number of players, so I breezed through the first four rounds. Facing weaker players gave me ample time to get into a good routine. At the stage this game was played, I had scored 5.5/6, among a group of a few players trailing Jonny Hector who was on a perfect 6.0/6.
1.e4
c6
A surprise. I didn't really know what to expect because he had played much less in the last few years, but, looking through his games, the Petroff or Spanish seemed much likelier alternatives. Incidentally, I got another white in the next round against Evgeny Postny – my second double white, something that I didn't have anything to complain about, as it gave me six whites from ten games – and he also surprised me with the Caro Kann. That game was a real marathon, with me missing a win in the endgame, and finally ending with a draw.
2.d4
[I had experimented a couple of times with 2.Ne2
but this didnt feel like the right choice against an experienced grandmaster.]
2...d5
3.Nc3
dxe4
4.Nxe4
Bf5
5.Ng3
Bg6
6.h4
h6
7.Nf3
Nd7
8.h5
Bh7
9.Bd3
Bxd3
10.Qxd3
e6
11.Bd2
Ngf6
12.0-0-0
Be7
[Postny went for the more solid 12...Qc7
in the next game.]
13.Rhe1!?
I spent a few minutes to choose this variation. On the previous two occasions, I had successfully employed 13.Ne4, with plans revolving around a quick g4-g5. Of course, that brutal attack on Black's position was clearly not the most efficient, and Nielsen was ready for it. This line, on the other hand, has recently come into prominence, and I had tested a few interesting ideas in the last few games.
13...0-0
14.Qe2
a5
has been played far fewer times, and looks a bit dubious. It was played after Nielsen had thought a long time. I guess he was debating whether or not to test my preparation after the more direct c5. [14...c5
is definitely the critical line here. The continuation goes as follows: 15.Nf5
cxd4
16.N3xd4
Bc5
17.Nxh6+
gxh6
18.Bxh6
Re8
19.g4!?
- the novelty played by Landa, upon which the assesment of this variation depends. I suppose he wasn't well-prepared for this variation, which would explain his decision to avoid it and go for a5.]
15.Ne5
For a while during the game, I also considered playing Kb1, but then I didn't see any point in moving the King from c1. So, I decided to try to build up pressure immediately:
15...a4
This looks like a somewhat inaccurate move to me. The idea of a3 is easily dealt with, and Black's camp gets weaker dark squares which I might be able to utilize through threats like Ng6, targetting the e7 Bishop. [15...Bb4
is !?, getting the Bishop out of the way of various shots involving Ng6, and continuing 16.c3
Bd6
17.f4
/\Qf3 -- Ne2 -- g4 -- g5, which was the plan Movsesian used very effectively against Morozevich. 17...a4
would, perhaps, irritate White a bit, by creating weaknesses on the queenside.]
16.a3
[16.Ng6
would not bring any dividends in this position: 16...a3!
17.b3
Re8
18.Nxe7+
Qxe7
and White doesn't keep any control of the dark squares.]
16...c5?
This move was played after some thought. I think he was only considering the lines with dxc5, which, opening up the d-file, looks optically dangerous for Black. He may have missed 19.d5!, though I would still not expect him to voluntarily allow me to take the e7-bishop. [16...Nxe5
17.dxe5
Nd7
18.f4
/\f5, and White maintains pressure; 16...Qc7
17.Ng6
also looks unpleasant for Black. ; 16...Re8
was an option to avoid Ng6 ideas, though it looks a bit shaky, with moves such as Nf7 hovering in the air. 17.f4
was what I had planned to played, taking a solid grip in the centre with ideas like either f5, or even a slow plan with Qf3 -- Ne2 -- g4, etc. (17.Nxf7
Kxf7
18.Qxe6+
Kf8
19.Nf5
Bxa3
20.Qa2
Be7
21.Nxe7
(21.Nxh6
Nd5
) 21...Rxe7
22.Bb4
Nd5
23.Bxe7+
Nxe7
24.Qa3
was also possible.) ]
17.Ng6!
Perhaps he missed this, or 19.d5. In any case, this move was extremely unpleasant for Black.
17...Re8
[17...cxd4
was a plausible exchange sacrifice, as suggested by the computer. I seriously doubt this gives Black enough compensation, however, after: 18.Nxf8
Bxf8
19.Ne4
]
18.Nxe7+
Qxe7
19.d5!
The opening of central files is, as usual, unpleasant for Black. [19.Qf3
cxd4
20.Bb4
Qd8
21.Rxd4
Nd5
was another possibility.]
19...Qd6
[19...Qf8
20.dxe6
arguably better places the queen because it's out of the way. That said, I think it's too passive. (20.d6
Ra6!
) 20...Rxe6
21.Qf3
the Queen can be argued to be better placed on f8 because its out of the way, but its too passive out there. 21...Ne5
22.Qf4+/=
(22.Qxb7
Rb8
) ; 19...Nxd5
20.Bxh6
Qf6
21.Bd2
looks extremely good for White, with Ne4 -- c4 -- Bc3 to follow. ]
20.dxe6
Rxe6
[Better was 20...Qxe6
. Accepting a slightly worse endgame, after 21.Qxe6
Rxe6
22.Rxe6
fxe6
seems to be a much better idea. With all of Black's pawn weaknesses, he clearly has a worse position. In this position, however, nothing comes easily to White and Black remains a bit more solid. Though, as is clear from his move choice, he wrongly overestimated his chances for initiative.]
21.Qf3
Ne5?
[Better was 21...Qc6
, of course, but after having avoided the queen exchange on the last move, to play this here would have been akin to admitting that Rxe6 was a ?! move. Clearly, this move was still something he wanted to justify. After 22.Qxc6
Rxc6
23.Bc3
Re6
24.Rxe6
(24.Nf5!?+/=
also needs to be considered, as it wasn't clear to me during the game.) 24...fxe6
White simply has a tempo more than in the 20...Qe6 line, though it isn't clear that it makes any difference. 25.Rd6
Kf7
26.Ne4
doesn't work, due to (26.Bxf6
Nxf6
27.Rb6
Rb8
) 26...Ke7!-/+
]
22.Qxb7
Initially, I was slightly worried about taking the pawn, but then I realised the open files don't promise Black anything. [22.Rxe5
had been my original idea when I played Qf3, but 22...Rxe5
(22...Qxe5
23.Bf4
is a really nice Queen trap. ) 23.Bf4
Qe7
24.Bxe5
Qxe5
seems fine for Black.; 22.Qf4
Nd5
would keep the position more complicated.]
22...Rb8
23.Qa7
Nc6
[23...Nc4
24.Rxe6
fxe6
25.Bxh6!
is an important resource.; 23...Rxb2
24.Kxb2
(24.Bc3
) 24...Nc4+
25.Kc1
, and the attack is over, though I also noticed that 24.Bc3 is, perhaps, even easier.]
24.Qxa4
There is nothing like greediness. Not that I had choice in the matter.
24...Nd4
[24...Rxe1
worried me much more. Allowing Qc4 isn't a very good idea, as that more or less cuts all counterplay for Black. 25.Bxe1
(25.Rxe1
Qd5
) 25...Qe6
(25...Nd4
26.Qc4
Qe5
27.Bc3
Qg5+
28.Kb1
Nb5
29.Ka2+/-
) 26.Bc3
Qa2
27.b3
doesn't seem to be a problem for White. ]
25.Qc4!
Otherwise, the ideas with Qd5 would really get irritating, and the pawns might easily lose value.
25...Nd5
26.Rxe6
[26.Ne4
was my original idea, but 26...Qb6
27.b3
Qa7!
suddenly gets into weird complications. For example, 28.Qxc5?
(28.Nxc5
Qxa3+
29.Kb1
, where White may still be good, but is unnecessarily complicated.; 28.a4
Nb6!
is getting tricky.) 28...Nxb3+!
was the point. Now, 29.cxb3
Rc6
30.Qxc6
Qxa3+
and White gets mated. Calculating this line was a rude shock, highlighting the fact that positions can change quickly. It made me realise all the dangers that a move like Qb6 can pose, influencing my following play.]
26...Qxe6
[26...fxe6
27.Ne4
Qb6
28.b3
Qa7
29.Qxc5
was another possibility. With the rooks exchanged, I can easily grab this pawn.]
27.Ba5!?
I guess White has other ways to win, but this one looks pretty smooth. It stops Qb6, which was causing me unnecessary weaknesses on the queenside, and nicely places the bishop for control of the d8-square – keeping it from the black rook. My opponent was also running out of time here, and with the position near collapse, I just needed to keep my nerves in check for the remainder of the game.
27...Qe5
28.Re1
Ne2+
A final attempt.
29.Rxe2
Qxb2+
30.Kd2
Qxa3
31.Qxd5
This was the only move, but it wasn't hard to find, as the king makes an easy escape. The final moves were not of much consequence.
31...Qxa5+
32.Ke3
Rd8
33.Qe5
Qa3+
34.c3
Qc1+
35.Kf3
Rd3+
36.Re3
Qd1+
37.Kf4
A nice square for the king.
37...Rd6
38.Nf5
Rf6
39.Kg3
With this win, I was among the leaders on 6.5/7, with three rounds to go. The next game was a long affair, which required three scoresheets, but I wasn't able to bring home the point, despite excellent chances against Postny. A short draw in round nine with black against Malakhov left me with white in round ten against Berg, against whom I lost three times in 2007. This time with white, however, I succeeded in utilising his passive play in the opening. This victory ended a great time for me in Lo Skolen. As an aside, the curious thing about the last round was that there were nearly no draws on the top ten boards, a rare sight in open tournaments. 1-0