1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
d6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nf6
5.Nc3
a6
6.Bg5
e6
7.f4
h6
8.Bh4
Qb6
The postponed Poison Pawn variation of the Najdorf Sicilian.
9.Qd2!?
Accepting the challenge is the most principled decision. [White does not have to sacrifice the pawn and can play 9.a3
Be7
(9...Qxb2?
10.Na4
wins.) 10.Bf2
with good play.]
9...Qxb2
10.Rb1
Qa3
11.e5
dxe5
12.fxe5
g5
A sharp variation, leading to playable game for black. [The second popular line is rather unbelievable: 12...Nfd7
13.Ne4
Qxa2
14.Rd1!?
(14.Rb3
Qa1+
15.Kf2
Qa4
is good for black.) 14...Qd5
15.Qe3
Qxe5
16.Be2
and despite being three pawns down, white pieces radiate a lot of energy.]
13.exf6
gxh4
Up to here, the line is rather forced.
14.Be2
Nd7
15.0-0
Qa5
16.Kh1
Qg5
17.Qe1
According to GM Lubomir Ftacnik, this move was tested three years ago 2,500 times in computer games, while humans ventured there only a few times. [The main choice in this position was 17.Rf4
e5
18.Nd5
exd4
19.Qxd4
with a good compensation for the piece.]
17...Nxf6!?
An improvement. [After the previously played 17...Bd6
18.Ne4
Qe5
19.Nxd6+
Qxd6
20.Qxh4
white has a big advantage.; The computers suggest 17...h3
18.gxh3
Qe5
19.Nf3
Qe3=
]
18.Nf3
Qc5
[Black wants to keep his queen active, but 18...Qg7
19.Nxh4
Be7
20.Bf3
0-0
is roughly equal.]
19.Na4
Qc7
20.Nb6
Rb8
21.Qxh4
Be7
22.Qd4
Trying to secure the square e5 for his knight.
22...Rg8
23.Ne5
Rg5
24.Ng4
Nxg4
25.Bxg4
f5?
A reckless move and white finds the refutation. [Black should have tried 25...Bc5
26.Qh8+
Bf8
(26...Ke7
27.Rxf7+
Kxf7
28.Qh7+
Rg7
29.Rf1++-
) 27.Bf3
Qe5
]
26.Bxf5!
Robson might have overlooked this sacrifice. White gets a strong pressure on th e-file.
26...exf5
[Or 26...Rxf5
27.Rxf5
exf5
28.Re1+-
]
27.Rbe1
Kf8
28.Qh8+
[This should win, but
28.Nd5
Qd6
29.Rxe7
was even better.]
28...Rg8
29.Qxh6+
Rg7
30.Nxc8
Qxc2
Suddenly, black is threatening a mate and Yu gets nervous. [But not 30...Rxc8
31.Rxf5+
Kg8
32.Qe6+
Kh8
33.Rh5+
Rh7
34.Rxh7+
Kxh7
35.Qf7+
Kh8
36.Rxe7+-
]
31.Qh8+
Rg8
32.Qh3
[White misses a winning tic-tac-toe combination: 32.Rxf5+!
Qxf5
33.Qxg8+!
Kxg8
34.Nxe7+
Kf7
35.Nxf5+-
]
32...Rxc8
33.Rxf5+
Ke8
34.Qh5+?
The last moment when white misses the win, but the combination is not easy to calculate for human players. The computers provide the answers: [34.Rxe7+!
Kxe7
35.Qh7+
Kd6
36.Rf6+
Ke5
(36...Kd5
37.Qd7+
Kc5
38.Qe7+
Kb5
39.Qxb7+
Kc4
40.Rf4+
Kd3
41.Qd5+
Ke2
(41...Kc3
42.Qd4#
) 42.Qe5+
Kd1
43.Rf1+
Kd2
44.Rf2+
Kc1
45.Qa1+
Qb1
46.Rf1++-
) 37.Qe7+
Kd4
38.Rf4+
Kd3
(38...Kd5
39.Qd7+
Kc5
40.Qd4+
Kb5
41.Qb4+
Kc6
42.Rf6+
Kd5
43.Rd6+
Ke5
44.Qd4+
Kf5
45.Rf6+
Kg5
46.Qf4+
Kh5
47.Rh6#
) ; White also has 34.Rf2
, trying to deflect the queen, but it is not as strong. ]
34...Kd8
White lost the thread and the black king is escaping.
35.Rd5+?
The wrong check. White had to play [35.g3
; or 35.Qf3
]
35...Kc7
36.Qe5+
Kb6
37.Re2
Qb1+
38.Re1
Qxa2!
39.Qe4
Qc2!
Robson played two precise queen moves and the flashy combination is easily twarthed.
40.Rb1+
Ka7
41.Rxb7+
Ka8!
The refutation. White is weak on the first rank and his pieces are hanging. [But not 41...Kxb7?
42.Rb5+
Kc7
43.Qxe7+
Kc6
44.Qb7+
Kd6
45.Rd5+
Ke6
46.Qd7+
Kf6
47.Qd6+
white wins.]
42.Qf3
Qxg2+!
The final mating combination.
43.Qxg2
Rc1+
[43...Rc1+
44.Qg1
Rcxg1#
] 0-1