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ANNOTATED GAME

Aboveoeuf's Happy Hours 8
valeriuzaharia (2133) vs. ybrevo (1957)
Annotated by: ybrevo (1200)
Chess opening: King's Indian (E83), Saemisch, Panno formation
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1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3
The Kings Indian, Sämisch ... I love to play this with both White and Black, because it has a great offer of different strategies. And as always in a Kings Indian, initiative is paramount.

 
5... O-O 6. Be3 Nc6 7. Nge2 a6 8. Qb3
So far we have followed theory, but this move I can´t find anywhere in the books or databases. And in combination with long castling it doesn´t look sound. The Queen will come under fire, giving Black some valuable tempi, as we shall see.

 
8... Rb8 9. O-O-O Bd7 10. Kb1 b5 11. cxb5 axb5 12. Ng3
Of course it is too dangerous to grab the pawn on b5.

 
12... b4 13. Nce2 Na5 14. Qc2 b3 15. axb3 Nxb3 16. Rd3
The White Rook comes into action for the defence, but look a the positions of the two Kings. White´s only have one pawn for cover, while Black´s can sleep peacefully.

 
16... Na5 17. Ra3 c5
Defending the Knight, and threatening Qb6-Qb4 with more power in the attack.

 
18. h4 Qb6 19. Ra2 Be6 20. d5
A very natural response, but this is a crucial moment. White´s Bishop on f1 is out of the game, and so is Rh1. The two Knights are more or less away from where the action is, so it wasn´t too dificult to find the sacrifice of a piece to open the lines for Black´s Bishops.

 
20... Nxd5 21. exd5 Bxd5 22. Nc3 Bb3
A "zwischenzug" to put the White Queen on a less favorable square, since the Black Knight on a5 wins a tempo going to b3 later.

 
23. Qd2 Bxa2+ 24. Kxa2
24. Nxa2, Qxb2 25. Qxb2, Rxb2 and Black wins decisive material after either 26. Ka1 or 26. Kc1.

 
24... Nb3 25. Qe2 Bxc3 26. Qb5
Only move. 26. bxc3 is mate after Nc1 and Qb1 followed by Qb3 mate.

 
26... Qxb5 27. Bxb5 Rxb5 28. Rc1
?? - but 28. bxc3 is no better: 28 -, Nd4! (threatening Ra8#) 29. Bc1 (only move), Ra8 30. Ba3, Nc2 and curtains.

 
28... Nxc1+ 29. Bxc1
Of course White should just resign, but even chess-players believe in miracles ...

 
29... Bxb2 30. Bxb2 Ra8+ 31. Kb1
Everything wins, but I had hoped for the cute alternative: 31. Ba3, c4! - when White can´t do anything against 32. -, Rb3 and 33. -, Raxa3 mate.

 
31... Rab8
White resigns, but I would like to thank my opponent for many great games during the time on GameKnot - and thanks to the inventor of the Kings Indian!