1.e4
e6
2.d4
d5
3.Nc3
Nf6
4.e5
Steinitz liked this move, fixing the pawn structure in the center and getting more space. It avoids the Burn variation, 4.Bg5 dxe4, Akobian likes to play.
4...Nfd7
5.f4
c5
6.Nf3
Nc6
7.Be3
Qb6
8.Qd2
[Kamsky goes for a pawn sacrifice. The most analyzed and played variation 8.Na4
Qa5+
9.c3
cxd4
10.b4
Nxb4
11.cxb4
Bxb4+
12.Bd2
Bxd2+
13.Nxd2
gives black good compensation for a piece.]
8...Qxb2
9.Rb1
Qa3
10.Bb5
Qa5
Trying to escape with the queen. [Hikaru Nakamura tried twice to survive with 10...cxd4
11.Nxd4
Nxd4
12.Bxd4
a6
but it was an uphill battle against Topalov and Karjakin this year in Monte-Carlo.; Enclosing the light bishop with 10...c4
, threatening 11...Bb4, forces white to come up with a good plan.]
11.0-0
c4
12.f5
Nb6
Blocking the exit for the black queen. [12...Bb4
13.fxe6
fxe6
14.Ng5
Bxc3
15.Qd1
white has numerous threat and powerful attack for the piece.]
13.Qe1
Preparing Be3-d2 to harass the queen.
13...exf5
14.a4
[The black queen jumps out after 14.Bd2
Qa3
]
14...Be6
[14...Bb4
15.Qg3!
(15.Bd2
0-0
) 15...Bxc3
(15...Be6
16.Na2!
) 16.Qxg7
Rf8
17.Ng5
seem to favor white.]
15.Bd2
Bb4
16.Rxb4
Qxb4
17.Ne4!
"Beautiful," Kamsky summed up this move. He realized that his knight on d6 can do more harm than the obvious
[17.Nxd5
Qb2
18.Nc7+
Kd7
19.Nxa8
Rxa8
giving black more chances.]
17...Qb2
[The black queen has to stay in white's camp where it can be attacked. Retreating with 17...Qe7
does not solve black's problems after 18.Nd6+
Kf8
(18...Kd7
19.a5
Nc8
20.Nxb7+-
; 18...Kd8
19.Bg5
f6
20.Nxb7+!
Qxb7
21.exf6
gxf6
(21...Kc7
22.Qxe6
) 22.Bxf6+
Kc7
23.Be5+
Kc8
24.Bxh8+-
) 19.Bxc6
bxc6
20.Nxf5!
Bxf5
(20...Qd7
21.Bb4+
Ke8
22.Nxg7+
Kd8
23.Ng5+-
) 21.Bb4+-
]
18.Nd6+
Kf8
[18...Kd8
19.Bc3
Qxc2
20.Rf2
Qb3
(20...Qd3
21.Nxb7+
Kc7
22.Nc5+-
) 21.Nxb7+
Kc7
22.Nc5+-
; 18...Kd7
19.Bc3
Qa3
20.Qd2
Nxa4
21.Bxa4
Qxa4
22.Ra1+-
]
19.Bc3
Qxc2
20.Nxb7
[Kamsky makes a practical decision, forcing Akobian to find the best defense. The objectively better queen chase 20.Rf2
is easy to calculate for black: 20...Qb3
21.Rb2
Qa3
22.Bxc6
bxc6
23.Bb4
Qxb2!?
(23...Qxa4?!
24.Ne4+
Ke8
(24...Kg8
25.Nf6+
gxf6
26.Qg3#
) 25.Nc5
Qb5
26.Bc3
the queen is caught again.) 24.Nxc4+
Qxb4
25.Qxb4+
Kg8
26.Nxb6
axb6
and black may have some hopes to survive.]
20...Nxa4?!
[Black should have tried 20...Nd8!?
21.Nc5
threatening 22. Rf2, 21...f4
22.a5
h6!?
(22...Nc8
23.Qh4+-
) 23.Rf2
Qg6
24.axb6
axb6
25.Na4
with roughly equal chances.]
21.Bb4+
Kg8?
[Objectively, black should have tried 21...Nxb4
22.Qxb4+
Kg8
23.Bxa4
a5
24.Qa3
Qd3
25.Qc1
although the black queen still can't find peace, for example 25...c3
26.Nd6
Rb8
27.Bc2
Qe2
28.Bxf5
and black's position collapses.]
22.Bxc6
White has a winning advantage.
22...Rc8
23.Rf2
Qb3
24.Na5
Rxc6
25.Nxc6
[Although this move should also win, the computer analytical engines are screaming for 25.Nxb3
cxb3
26.Qb1
b2
27.Rc2
Rc4
28.Ba3
and the b-pawn is doomed.]
25...h6
26.Ne7+
Kh7
27.Ng5+!
Kamsky now wins the black queen and keeps attacking chances.
27...hxg5
28.Rf3
Threatening 29.Rh3 mate.
28...g6
29.Rxb3
cxb3
30.Ba3
Rb8
31.Qg3
g4?
[Loses nicely. Black had to try 31...b2
32.Bxb2
Rxb2
33.h3
g4
]
32.Qh4+
Kg7
33.Qf6+
Kh7
34.Bc1!
Black is hopeless against a mating attack on the dark squares. [34.Bc1!
Rh8
(34...b2
35.Qh4+
Kg7
36.Qh6#
) 35.Bh6
Kxh6
36.Qxh8+
Kg5
37.g3
b2
38.Qh4#
] 1-0