1.d4
d5
2.c4
Nc6
3.Nf3
Bg4
4.cxd5
Bxf3
5.gxf3
Qxd5
6.e3
e5
7.Nc3
Bb4
8.Bd2
Bxc3
9.bxc3
Qd6
10.Rb1
b6
11.f4!?
A clever idea which allows White to create a pawn centre. It has the seal of approval of Garry Kasparov. 11...
11...exf4
12.e4
Nge7
[Black develops his knight and prepares kingside castling. Alternatively, Buytaert-Geenen, Charleroi, 2000, saw 12...f5
That game went 13.Bb5
(or 13.exf5
Nf6
14.Qf3
Nd5
15.Bc4
0-0-0
with an edge for White) 13...0-0-0
14.Qf3
fxe4
15.Qxe4
Nge7
16.Bxf4
Qg6
17.Qxg6
Nxg6
18.Be3
Nce7
19.Kd2
with the superior chances.]
13.Qf3
Qa3!
[An important idea which will most likely set White thinking as it varies from the famous Kasparov game which is usually quoted. The obvious threat is 14 ... Nxd4 when the c-pawn is pinned along the third rank. The old line continued 13...0-0
14.Bxf4
Qa3
15.Be2
f5
(some years later 15...Ng6
was tried as a possible improvement, then 16.Bg3
Qxa2
17.0-0
Nce7
18.Bxc7
Qe6
19.Rfe1
Rac8
20.Bg3
f5!
(Black has to challenge the centre otherwise White will make use of the bishop-pair) 21.exf5
Qxf5
22.Qxf5
Nxf5
23.Rb3
with equal chances in the ending, Urday-Caceres-Hertneck, Berlin 1998) 16.0-0
fxe4?
(Kasparov suggested 16...Ng6!
as a better course of action, giving the line 17.Bxc7
Qe7
18.exf5
Qxc7
19.Qd5+
Kh8
20.fxg6
Ne7!
21.Qc4
when White's chances are to be preferred) 17.Qxe4
Qxc3
18.Be3!
Qa3
(the only move as Rc1 was threatened while after 18...Rf6?!
19.Rfc1
Qa3
20.d5
Na5
21.d6
wins) 19.Bd3!
Qd6
(the alternatives lost quickly: 19...g6
20.Bc4+
Kg7
21.d5
Na5
22.Bd4+
; 19...Nf5
20.Qe6+
Kh8
21.Bxf5
; and 19...Rf5
20.Rb5!
Raf8
21.Rxf5
Rxf5
22.Qe6+
Rf7
23.Bc4
Nd8
24.Qd7
) 20.Qxh7+
gave White a clear advantage in Kasparov-Smyslov, Vilnius 1984]
14.Qxf4
White restores the material balance: Other moves: [14.Qd3
Qxa2
15.Bxf4
0-0
16.Be2
f5!?
as usual in this variation Black tries to agitate White's set-up by attacking the pawn centre 17.exf5
(17.e5
Na5
18.0-0
Qe6
is roughly equal) 17...Nxf5
18.0-0
Nfxd4
19.cxd4
Rxf4
20.Qc4+
Qxc4
21.Bxc4+
Kf8
22.Bd5
Rf6
23.Rfc1
Nxd4
24.Bxa8
Ne2+
25.Kf1
Nxc1
26.Rxc1
c5
Draw agreed. Jose Abril-Narcisco Dublan, Tondera 1995.; 14.Be2
Qxa2
is irritating for White who must for the time being postpone castling (instead 14...0-0
15.Bxf4
transposes to the Kasparov game mentioned in the note to Black's 13th move.) Then 15.Rd1
f5
offers equal chances as 16.exf5?!
allows Black a slight initiative after 16 ... 16...0-0
when the king's rook becomes a menace on the f-file.]
14...0-0
15.Rg1
Ng6
16.Qxc7
Rac8
17.Qg3
Qxa2
A quick count of the material would indicate the position to be level but it is rather more complicated than that. The question is whether White can continue to make progress with his king in the centre as this means that his queen's rook is cut off from the kingside attack.
18.Rd1
Rfe8
19.Bd3
Qd5
[White intends to meet 19...f5
with 20.e5
keeping the position closed and leaving him with the superior chances.]
20.Be3?!
[The alternative 20.Kf1
Qb3
21.Kg2
Na5
intending ... Nc4 is complicated and offers approximately equal opportunities.]
20...Qb3
21.Bd2
f5
22.e5
Ncxe5!
White had been hoping to keep the position closed, but this sacrifice blows it apart.
23.dxe5
Rxe5+
24.Be3
[If 24.Be2
Rce8
25.Be3
f4
wins; while 24.Kf1
Qxd1+
is crushing.]
24...f4
Black wins the piece and has a vicious attack to boot.
25.Qh3
Qxc3+
26.Kf1
fxe3
27.Rxg6
e2+!
28.Kg2
hxg6
0-1