1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Ndb5!? d6 7. Bf4!? The point of 6.Ndb5. The previous week, Mark coerced me into playing an alternating moves match against Joe. This position arose twice and both times mark played the much inferior 7.Bg5. After 7...a6 Black has just gained two tempi from the then pointlessknightmaneuver!
7. Bg5?! a6
7... e5 8. Bg5 This key position of the Sveshnikov can be reached on two different move numbers! Had black played 2...Nc6 3.d4 cd 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 the same position is reached a move earlier. In the game, Black's loss of time with e7-e6-e5 is matched by White's Bc1-Bf4-Bg5.
8... a6 If White wants to guarentee the doubling of the f-pawns he could take on f6 now.
9. Na3 b5 White has a key choice here. The sharper lines involve doubling Black's pawn, weakening his kingside but giving him an open g-file and extra f-pawn with which to attack. The positional approach is to focus completely on the d5 square. Ironically, the move that treatens to double the f-pawns is the one that doesn't do so.
10. Nd5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 since(10... Qxf6 11. Nd5 Qd8 wins an important tempo, giving White a choice of several good lines including the explosive 12. Bxb5)
10... Be7 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 It is already a slight surprise that Mr. Bourque has chosen the more positional line rather than the sharp fireworks that follow the doubling of Black's f-pawns. From the future placement of White's pieces, I suspect that most of his study involved the sharper lines.
12. Bd3 More common is the rehabiliation of the Na3 with
12. c3 O-O 13. Nc2
12... O-O 12... Ne7 gives another chance at the doubled f-pawn structure: 13. Nxf6+ gxf6
13. O-O Be6 14. c4 bxc4 15. Bxc4 Bg5!? White's piece placement is identical to one of the main lines with doubled f-pawns. But there White continues with play on the open c-file for his rooks. Here, Black takes the c1 square away.
16. Qe2?! Loses a tempo.
16. Qd3
16... Nd4 17. Qd3 Qa5?! The queen looks quite awkward here. It is traditional in this line for Black to offer the a-pawn for Benko-like compensation on the qside.
17... g6 18. Bxa6 Bxd5 19. exd5 Qb6 with good play for Black. But if he wants to save the a-pawn, I would prefer
17... a5
18. f4!? Bd8 Suddenly, Black's forces are sent back.
19. Kh1
Safety first. With no Black squared bishop, the White king must have felt especially vulnerable on g1. Now he recieves an unexpected present.
19... Bxd5?! This inexplicable move really lands Black in hot water. It cedes White the white squares and makes it easy for him to coordinate all of his forces with tempo with Nc4.
19... Rb8
20. Bxd5 Rb8 21. Nc4 This move is so strong that White could not even find a reason to wait and hope for Rxb2 first!
21... Qc5?? Perhaps willing to trade the e-pawn for b-pawn but not noticing the crushing attack on f7.
21... Qc7 would allow Black to struggle on.
22. fxe5 dxe5 23. Nxe5 Rxb2 24. Rxf7! Absolutely winning, but Fritz and I prefer
24. Nxf7
24... Rxf7 25. Nxf7 Bc7 26. Ne5+ Kh8 26... Kf8 27. Nd7+
26... Qxd5
27. Ng6+ If 27...hxg6 28. Qh3#. This is a good mating sacrifice to know. Here it is just a flourish, but I once lost a won game against John Curdo by missing it!
1-0
[Bauer,R]
Wilkin, Mark
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