00054.6.25
Analyzed by National Master Corey Russell
1. e4
e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O
{
This is
reasonable, but it is known that black gets a good
game in
the Berlin Defense (which is ...Nf6 without ...a6
in the
Ruy Lopez). I prefer either 4. d3 or 4.
Qe2, keeping
the
position closed, and preserving the winning chances for white.
}
4...
Nxe4 5. Re1
{
If
black plays properly should lead to equality.
Theory
suggests
5. d4 as the best chance for an advantage.
}
5...
Ng5
{
Dubious. Now white can try 6. Nxg5 Qxg5 7. d4 (notice
this
move causes the c1 bishop to hit the black queen) to
try to
fight for the initiative. Instead 5.
... Nd6 would
give
black equality with no problems. For
example, 5. ... Nd6
6. Bxc6
dxc6 (to open up the diagonally for the light-squared
bishop)
7. Nxe5 Be7, with a very reasonable game for black.
}
6. Nxe5
Be7 7. c3
{
Why not
7. d4 straight away? Normally in Ruy
Lopez, c3 is
needed
to help get in the d4 push, but not here.
There was
nothing preventing white from playing 7. d4 and 8.
Nc3,
completing
development.
}
7...
Nxe5 8. Rxe5 c6
{
Here
the computer does a strong multi-purpose move.
...c6
does
the following: a) frees the black d-pawn to move (it was
pinned
before) b) opens the a5-d8 diagonal for
the
black queen, and c) helps establish a strong pawn center
on d5.
}
9. Ba4
O-O 10. d4 d5 11. Bf4
{
A
natural move, but a little too mechanical.
The bishop has
good
scope on c1. White's best chance for an
advantage is a
king-side
buildup. Here, I would choose 11. Nbd2,
with the
idea of
Nd2-f1-g3 and Bc2, and you can see a lot of pressure
on
black's king-side.
}
11...
Ne6 12. Bg3 Bd6 13. Re1 Bxg3 14. fxg3
{
Definitely
a mistake. The general rule of thumb
is: If you
have
more than one pawn that can recapture take toward the
center. In this case, that would be 14. hxg3. The only
time
you don't follow this principle, is something VERY
specific
is to be gained by not doing so. Here,
this opens
the
f-line, but that leads to nothing.
Also, this loosens
the
g1-a7 diagonal. As we'll see later in
the game, black
takes
advantage of this fact.
}
14...
Qb6 15. Bb3 Bd7 16. Nd2
{
A
natural move, but this sets up black's sacrifice of a piece
for 2
pawns. Notice that if your pawn was on
f2, black would
only
get 2 pawns, because then the recapture on d4 wouldn't
be
check, and you could defend your b-pawn.
}
16...
Nxd4 17. cxd4 Qxd4+ 18. Kh1 Qxb2
{
Sometimes
3 pawns are worth a pieces, sometimes not.
In this
case,
black gets connected, passed (passed pawn = pawn
unopposed
by enemy pawns), and MOBILE center pawns, so it's
worth
it. If the black pawns had no mobility
(such as if
they
were blockaded), then it wouldn't be.
}
19. Re7
Rad8 20. Nf3
{
Instead
of this, 20. Rb1 Qf6 21. Qe2 (notice the rook isn't
hanging
in this line) ...Rfe8 22. Rae1 offers better chances
of
survival.
}
20...
Qf6 21. Qe1 Rfe8 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Qd1 Bg4 24. Bc2 Re3
25. Rb1
b6 26. a4
{
This of
course is a mistake. You need to hold
onto your pawns.
Rb3
would defend your knight on f3 laterally.
}
26...
Bxf3 27. gxf3 Rxf3 28. Kg1 Re3 29. Ra1 Re2 30. Kh1
{
As ugly
as it may look, 30. Qxe2 was the only way to play on.
Black
would still be winning, but at least white is still "kicking".
}
30...
Qf3+ 31. Kg1 Qg2#
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