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Brilliancy between two very strong GMs. 'Wild' being a massive understatement. Thoughts or comments on the game greatly appreciated.
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1. g3 e5 2. Bg2 d5 3. Nf3
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?
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3... e4 4. Nd4 c5 5. Nb5
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? Running low on squares.
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5... a6 6. Nb5a3 b5
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!? Nail in the knights coffin.
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7. d3
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? Trapping knight on a3. But so far theoretical. All blacks moves are pawn moves - potentially permanent weakening moves. Weighed against whites fast development who knows what is going on here!?
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7... b4 8. c4
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!? [ 8. dxe4 bxa3 9. exd6 axb3 10. Bxb2 and white has strong bishops against blacks exposed king.]
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8... bxa3 9. cxd5
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9. bxa3 Qf6!
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9... axb2
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[ worse is 9... Qa5+? 10. Nd2 [10. Nc3? Nd7 11. dxe4 Rb8! and white faces considerable difficulties] ]
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10. Bxb2 Nd7 11. dxe4
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And after the smoke has cleared white is a pawn down but for obvious attacking compensation.
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11... Rb8 12. Qc2 Qb6
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Creating short and long term threats. Eg, ..c4, ..Bc5 ..Nf6-g4, etc..
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13. Bc3 Qg6
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A useful pin against White's unprotected queen.
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14. Nd2 Ngf6
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Threatening 15... Nxd5!
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15. Qa4
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!
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15... Ng4
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15...Bd7 16. e5 Ng4 17. Be4 Qh6 18. d6! and things look bleak for black due to imminent strikes like Nc4, Bf5, e6!
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16. h3 Ne3
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!! Good try. White though once again plays solidly.
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17. Bf3
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! [ 17. fxe3 Qxg3+ 18. Kf1 Qxe3 19. Qc4 Qf4+ 20. Nf3 Bd6 and black has good chances. ]
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17... Rb5
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Black overlooked 17. Bf3! and now has a stranded knight. If white can play Rg1 then all his problems are solved. After 17...Rb5 however things are a little more complicated. Threatening 18...Nb6 which, amazingly, wins the white queen! [ 18. Rg1 Nb6! 19. Qa3 Nc2+ ]
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18. fxe3
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Effectively forced. (See previous note) [ 18. Nc4? Nxc4 19. Qxc4 Nb6 20. Qd3 Na4 and black stands much better. ]
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18... Nb6 19. Qa3 Qxg3+ 20. Kd1 c4
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Discovered attack! White is becoming enormously cramped and i think black has adequate compensation for the knight sacrifice.
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21. Qc1 Bd7 22. a4 Rb4
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22...Rc5 23. Bd4.
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23. Qc2
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Why not take the rook, like everybody else would!!?? The obvious 23. Bxb4 Bxb4 24. Nxc4 looks OK to me.
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