1.e4
e5
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.d4
exd4
4.Nxd4
Nxd4
5.Qxd4
Qf6
6.e5
Qb6
7.Be3
[7.Qxb6!
axb6
8.Nc3
gains a plus. (Hebert-Chaivicit, Malta 1980)]
7...Qxd4
8.Bxd4
Ne7
9.Nc3
Nf5!?
L'Ami has selected a quiet opening.He diverts from the known moves. [9...Nc6
was played in Nygaard-Bjelke Norway 1992.]
10.0-0-0
Nxd4
We return to the mentioned game.
11.Rxd4
Bc5
12.Rd2!?
[Nygaard played 12.Rf4
]
12...Bb4!
13.Bc4
Bxc3
14.bxc3
Ke7
Black opens the eighth rank for the rooks and keeps his king in the central area.
15.Rd3
Rb8
16.a4
a6
17.Rhd1
b5
18.axb5
axb5
19.Bd5
Erwin has slight problems with the development.
19...Rd8
20.Rg3
g6
21.Rh3
h5
22.Rf3
Rf8
Black parries all threads.
23.Kd2
Bb7
24.Rd3
Rfd8
25.Ke3
Bxd5
26.Rxd5
Fritz9, Hiarcs10 and Shredder9 evaluate the position as equal.
26...b4
27.Kd4
bxc3
28.Kxc3
Rb6
29.Kc4
Rc6+
30.Rc5
Rxc5+
31.Kxc5
Ke6
32.f4
Ra8!
33.Kb4
Ra6
34.g3
Rb6+
35.Kc4
Rc6+
36.Kd3
d6!
37.Re1!
[37.exd6??
Rxd6+
38.Ke2
Rxd1
39.Kxd1
Kf5!
leads to a won pawn ending for Black.]
37...Kf5
38.c4
dxe5
39.Rxe5+
Kg4
40.f5?!
[40.Re7
Kh3
41.Rxf7
Kxh2
42.f5!
Kxg3
43.Rg7!
Kf4
44.Rxg6
draws.]
40...g5
41.Kd4
Rd6+
42.Ke3
Kh3!?
Black attacks. [The Sharpest winning attempt gives 42...f6
43.Re7
Kh3
]
43.f6
Kg4
44.Re4+
Kh3
45.Re5
Kg4
46.Re4+
Kf5
47.Re7
Rxf6
48.Rxc7
Kg4
49.Re7
Kh3
50.Re5
Rg6
51.Rf5
[51.c5!
Kxh2
52.c6
draws.]
51...Kxh2
52.Kf2
h4
53.g4
[The pointe is 53.gxh4
g4!
]
53...Kh3?
[Right is 53...h3!
54.Rxf7!
Ra6!
55.Rf5!
Ra2+
Erwin l'Ami, Jaap van den Herik and I regarded this position as drawn. The correct analyses is 56.Kf3!
(56.Ke3
Kg2!
57.Rxg5
h2
58.Rh5
Ra3+
59.Ke4
Rh3
) 56...Kg1!
57.Rxg5
h2
58.Rh5
Rc2!!
59.c5!?
Rxc5
60.Rxc5
h1Q+
and Black has reached a theoretical win.]
54.Kf3
Rc6
55.Rxg5
Rxc4
56.Rf5
Rc3+
57.Kf2
Rc7
58.Kf3
Kh2
59.Rd5
Rc3+
60.Kf4
Rc2
61.Kf3
h3
62.g5
Rg2
63.Re5
Kh1
64.Rd5
Rg1
65.Kf2
h2
66.Rf5
Rg2+
67.Kf1
Rg1+
68.Kf2
Rg2+
Zappa played doubtful moves in the rook ending but survived. 1/2-1/2