00033.5.18 Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3

As you probably know, this position denotes the Grand Prix

attack. With proper play, black would equalize -- though

not without its pitfalls for black.

4... Bg7 5. Bb5 e6

?! This gives white a nice game. 5. ... Nd4! gives black

equality. Why, you ask? Several reasons 1) doesn't let

white double black's pawns on c6 2) let's white's bishop

stay a target. For example, 6. Nxd4 cxd4 7. Ne2 Nf6 8. d3?? Qa5+ 3)

the knight at d4 can't be booted from d4 by c3, since white's

knight occupies that square.

6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. O-O Ne7 8. d3 Bxc3

? This severely weakens black's dark squares and his king-side.

More logical is continued development with 8. ... 0-0

9. Be3 b6 10. Qe1 Ba6, with the idea of ..c4 to undouble black's pawns.

9. bxc3 Qb6 10. c4

! A strong multi-purpose move. Here's what it does:

1) fixes the black c5 pawn, keeping a target 2) controls d5,

so that black can't use that central square for his pieces when

white plays an eventual e5 to create an potential outpost for

white's knight at d6. 3) It evens opens up the a1-h8 diagonal

for white's bishop.

10... Bd7 11. Be3 Qa5 12. Bd2 Qc7 13. Bc3 Rg8

Good. You didn't fall for 13. ... O-O? 14. Bf6! Rae8 15. Qe1

with a winning king-side attack.

14. Be5

Dubious. This should've forced black to go to his most active

square (...Qa5). White has a MUCH stronger move instaed -- 14. Bf6!

This would put a massive cramp on black. Black can't mobilize

his king-side or center, he can't castle, and he can't even take

white's f4 pawn. (14. ... Qxf4 15 Ne5 with a clear advantage

for white. Try to work it out). White's bishop is a far

superior piece to black's knight at e7.

14... Qc8 15. Bd6 b6 16. Bxe7

This isn't bad, but again -- white's bishop is far superior

to black's knight. Why shouldn't white intensify pressure on

the dark squares with Qe1, with the idea of Qh4.

16... Kxe7 17. e5 b5 18. Qe1 Rh8 19. Qf2

?! This cashes in too early. White's winning chances in the

middle game are excellent. 19. Ng5 with the idea of Ne4, and

possibly Qh4, leaves white with a great game. Notice that white

is pratically a piece up, because of the limited scope of black's

bishop on d7, compared to white's knight.

19... Qf8

! A resourceful move! Black's chances aren't great, but

certainly they are better in the endgame than the middle

game. This is because black's king stuck in the center

is a drawback in the the middle game, but an advantage in

an ending.

20. Qxc5+ Ke8 21. Qxf8+ Kxf8 22. c5 a5 23. a4

I don't like this move (though it is okay). I'm sure white's

idea was to create a target on a5 and to create a potential

reroute for his knight (Nd2-c4), but his was unnecessary since

white could always reroute by Nd2-e4. I like 23. a3, keeping

white's pawn opposite black's bishop (hence not a target).

Here's a general rule to remember -- the farther advanced a

pawn is, the more vulnerable it is.

23... b4 24. Nd2 Kg7 25. Nc4 Rhb8 26. Rfb1 h5 27. Rb2 Ra7

28. Rab1 Rbb7 29.

Kf2 f6

Notice that if white would have posted his knight in the center

(e4), this break would not even be possible.

30. Ke2 Be8 31. exf6+

Simply 31. c3 would've won a pawn for white. Note that earlier,

c3 wasn't possible because after the exchange of rooks on b7,

black could've played ...c2! and white could not have stopped

the pawn. It doesn't work now, however, because the white

king is within range of the c-pawn.

31... Kxf6 32. h4 Rd7 33. Nd6 Ra8 34. d4 Rad8 35. Kd3 Rxd6

Good! I would've done this myself. Passive play is sure

to lose -- active play is black's best chance.

36. cxd6 Rxd6 37. c3 c5 38. Kc4 bxc3 39. Kxc3

39. dxc5! retains white's advantage.

39... Rxd4 40. g3 Rxa4 41. Rb8 Bf7 42. R1b7 Rb4

Resourceful!

43. Rxb4 cxb4+ 44. Kd4 Kf5 45. Rf8 Kf6 46. Ra8 Kf5 47. Rxa5+ Kg4

48. Rg5+ Kf3 49. Ke5 b3 50. Kf6 Be8 51. Rc5 b2 52. Rc3+ Kg4

53. Rb3 Ba4

? This gives white winning chances. Even in an endgame,

activity of yoru pieces is paramount. 53. ... Bc6! draws

by force AND has a subtle trap. If 54. Kxg6?? b1Q+ 55. Rxb1 Be4+

would force white to resign! And if white tries Rxb2 instead of

Kxg6, then Be4 sets up a fortress. This is a common motif for

the side with less material. White's rook for bishop in that

position would be worthless.

54. Rxb2 Kxg3 55. Kxg6

? White throws his win away. 55. Kg5! preserves the win.

The idea is to drive black's king away with a check on the

third rank, then pick off either the e6 or g6 pawn, and finally

to sacrifice the rook at the right moment to get a winning K + P

endgame.

55... Kxh4 56. Rh2+ Kg4 57. Rxh5 Be8+ 58. Kf6 Bxh5 59. Kxe6

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