[Event "Arctic Chess Challenge 2010"]
[Site "Tromso NOR"]
[Date "2010.08.06"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Collins, Sam"]
[Black "Ivanisevic, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2408"]
[BlackElo "2611"]
[ECO "B22"]
[Annotator "Collins, Sam"]
[ICUid "29652"]
[UsedInIcuSite "true"]
{ My opponent in this game is a strong GM who has been rated over 2650. I
remembered him from the Dresden Olympiad, when Alex Baburin beat him after
Ivanisevic made an unbelievably ambitious winning attempt, holding onto an
extra pawn while allowing Alex a passed d-pawn, which was guided to the
eighth rank with skill and conviction. } 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 g6 { The last time he had used this
against the c3-Sicilian was a couple of years ago, so I hadn't looked at
it, which was a definite mistake on my part. I have noted in various books
and articles that the fianchetto lines are a good choice for playing for a
win in this line, since the positions become unbalanced and less simplified
than some of the main lines. } ({ GM Normunds Miezis chose } 4... e6 {
against me in round 5. After } 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. a3 Be7 7. Be3 Ng4 8. Nbd2 Nc6
9. Bc4 Qd8 10. O-O cxd4 11. cxd4 O-O 12. Rc1 Nxe3 13. fxe3 { he went for a
very ambitious and (to my mind) dubious plan: } 13... Qb6 14. b4 e5 $6 { .
After } 15. Qb3 $1 exd4 16. Bxf7+ Kh8 (16... Rxf7 $2 17. Ng5 { wins }) 17.
Nc4 (17. Bd5 { is also strong }) 17... Qd8 18. b5 Na5 (18... Rxf7 19. bxc6
{ leaves White with a huge advantage }) 19. Nxa5 Qxa5 (19... dxe3 $3 { was
a great resource, equalising }) 20. exd4 Qxa3 21. Ne5 g6 { I could have
maintained my clear advantage with } 22. Rc7 $1 { , but instead selected
22.g4?! and drew after further adventures. }) 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Na3 { Looks a
bit odd, but this is a common square for the queen's knight in the
c3-Sicilian. Here it prepares Bc4 and looks at the b5-square. } 6... cxd4
7. Bc4 Qe4+ 8. Be3 Nh6 $1 { The best square for the knight, since it can
come to f5 or g4. } (8... dxe3 $4 9. Bxf7+ Kf8 10. Qd8+ Kxf7 11. Ng5+) 9.
cxd4 { In our brief conversation after the game, Ivan indicated that he
thought he should have a good position after I took on d4 with my pawn. I
think this must be correct, though the move I played is the most popular in
the position. } (9. Nb5 O-O 10. Nbxd4 { doesn't offer White anything after
10...Ng4. }) 9... O-O 10. Qb3 { It looks a little strange to play this
rather than 10.Bd3, but the idea is to take the d5-square away from the
black queen. The white pieces are quite harmoniously placed. } 10... Nc6
11. Bd3 Qg4 12. h3 (12. O-O Nf5 { is better for Black. }) 12... Qh5 (12...
Qxg2 $5 { seemed off-limits in view of } 13. Ke2 { , but in fact Black has
} 13... Ng4 $1 { . After } 14. Nh4 Nxe3 15. Nxg2 Nxg2 16. Nc2 { Black has
only two pieces and some change for the queen, but his pieces could
co-ordinate very effectively. After } 16... Be6 17. Qxb7 Bd5 18. Qa6 Rab8 {
it will take some skill to hold the white position together. }) 13. Rc1 {
For the moment, I can't castle, so I complete my development on the
queenside. } 13... Ng4 $6 { Played with a little frustration, I thought. }
(13... Qa5+ 14. Bd2 Qb6 { looks safest, when Black is fine. }) 14. Rc5 $1 (
{ My initial intention had been } 14. hxg4 Qxh1+ 15. Ke2 { , but in
addition to taking on g2 and giving up the queen for the remaining white
rook, with excellent compensation, the computer points out } 15... Nxd4+ $1
16. Nxd4 (16. Bxd4 $2 { leaves the rook unprotected }) 16... Qxg2) 14... e5
{ Like in my game with Miezis from the same tournament, Black is very weak
on the a2-g8 diagonal. } 15. Bd2 $1 { I was quite proud of this quiet
retreat. } (15. Bf4 { seems more aggressive, but I rejected it in view of
the simple } 15... b6 $1 16. Rxc6 exf4 { where Black has no cause for
complaint. }) 15... Nf6 16. dxe5 { About 30 seconds after playing this I
saw his resource on move 17, and started kicking myself. Actually my real
mistake only comes on move 18. } (16. Nc4 { was the move I had wanted to
play, but rejected because the immediate capture appeared more forcing.
Black is losing a pawn in the centre, though he has some compensation since
his pieces are so active, for instance } 16... Bg4 17. Nfxe5 Nxd4 18. Qxb7
Be6 19. O-O $1 { and White stays on top. }) 16... Nd7 { Played quickly. } (
16... Re8 { leaves White with a risk-free advantage after } 17. O-O Nxe5
18. Nxe5 Rxe5 19. Rxe5 Qxe5 20. Re1 { . Generally speaking, I don't think
positions with pawn free centres can be defended when significantly behind
in development, and Black will struggle to get out of this one. }) 17. Rxc6
Nxe5 $1 { Of course. } (17... bxc6 18. g4 { was the line which made me
decide on 16.dxe5. }) 18. Rc2 $2 { After making a mistake (or what you
think is a mistake), it's vital to calm yourself and soberly reassess the
situation. } (18. Rc4 $1 Nxf3+ (18... Be6 19. Nxe5 Qxe5+ 20. Be3 { doesn't
give Black enough compensation either }) 19. gxf3 Qxf3 20. Be4 Qxb3 21.
axb3 { and White remains a piece up. }) 18... Nxf3+ 19. gxf3 Qxf3 20. O-O
Bxh3 21. Be4 { Now Black has a pleasant choice of which bishop to exchange
(no pun intended) for my rook. } 21... Qg4+ 22. Qg3 Qxg3+ 23. fxg3 Bd4+ { A
very seductive move, keeping maximum tension in the position. } (23... Bxf1
24. Kxf1 Rac8 $1 { was what worried me, since I can't avoid an exchange of
rooks. When playing an exchange up, or with a rook against two minor
pieces, it's almost always a good idea to trade a pair of rooks since it
leaves you with the strongest piece on the board and reduces duplication.
This position is about equal since I can probably prevent his rook from
getting too active. }) 24. Rf2 { Frankly, after he took on g3 I was
frightened that I would lose a whole rook after 24.Kh2, but fortunately
rooks can move up. I should note that we were both approaching time
trouble, having spent a lot of time in the opening. } 24... Rfe8 25. Bxb7
$1 { Trying to shoot my way out of trouble. } (25. Bf3 { is passive. })
25... Rab8 26. Bd5 $1 Bxf2+ (26... Re2 $4 { , which looked scary from a
distance, loses to } 27. Bxf7+ Kh8 { (otherwise Bh6 comes with check) } 28.
Bc3) 27. Kxf2 Rbd8 { Again, in our mutual time pressure, I thought I might
be losing my bishop on d2 after ...Bf5. Fortunately my light-squared bishop
can keep generating threats. } 28. Bc6 Re6 $2 { A real mistake. } (28...
Bf5 $1 { was the best move, for reasons outlined at move 23. } 29. Bxe8
Bxc2 30. Be3 Rxe8 31. Nxc2 { and Black should be able to make a draw. })
29. Bf4 { Now I keep my rook on the board, and Black's position becomes
critical. } 29... Rd1 { A typical time pressure move with a cheap threat of
mate in one, but not helpful. } (29... Bf5 30. Rc1 Rc8 { manages to
exchange a pair of rooks, but after } 31. Bd5 Rxc1 32. Bxc1 { Black still
has a tough time since my bishop pair is very powerful. }) 30. Bg2 Bxg2 31.
Kxg2 Kg7 $6 (31... Ra1 $1 32. b4 Rae1 $1 { is better, continuing to
threaten an exchange of rooks. } 33. Kf2 R1e4 (33... Rh1 34. Rc8+ Kg7 35.
Kg2 Ra1 36. Rc2 { keeps the rooks on }) 34. b5 a6 35. bxa6 Rxa6 { and Black
should make a draw. }) 32. Nb5 h6 $6 (32... Re7 { was best. The position is
very complicated though, notwithstanding the strength of my opponent,
White's position has to be preferable. }) 33. Nxa7 g5 ({ It's possible that
my opponent was counting on } 33... Ra6 34. Nb5 Rxa2 { , missing the simple
} 35. Nc3) 34. Bc7 $1 { From now on my pieces control a lot of squares,
making it difficult for the black rooks to generate enough counterplay. }
34... Ree1 $2 { Makes it easy. } (34... Ra6 $1 35. Nb5 Rd5 $1 { and, if I
want to maintain my queenside pawns, my knight has to retreat to the bad
a3-square.Iit was a big ask to see this in time trouble though, and White
is still better after } 36. Nd6 $5 Rxa2 { (I don't think the rook endgame
is playable for Black) } 37. Ne8+ { with an attack. }) 35. Bb6 $1 { Not
strictly necessary, but it was very comforting in time trouble to bring my
bishop to f2 and my knight to c3, since they are perfectly placed
defensively and I can start pusing my pawns. } 35... f5 (35... Rc1 36. Rd2
Rcd1 { is more tenacious, since to avoid a rook trade I have to play the
slightly awkward 37.Rf2. } 37. Rxd1 Rxd1 38. a4 $1 { is stronger, when the
pawns should be decisive. }) 36. Bf2 Re4 ({ I was expecting } 36... Rc1 { ,
though after } 37. Rd2 Red1 38. Re2 { I avoid the rook exchange. }) 37. Nb5
{ This knight has many attractive routes, but I chose the safest. } 37...
Rd3 38. Nc3 Re6 39. a4 $1 { At last! } 39... Kg6 40. a5 $6 { I didn't want
to destablise my knight, but this might have been a mistake. } (40. b4 {
looks easier. }) 40... f4 $2 (40... Rc6 $1 { would stop my pawns for a
moment, though after } 41. Re2 h5 42. Re8 { I can play my rook to a8 to get
them going again. }) 41. gxf4 gxf4 42. b4 { Now it's straightforward. }
42... f3+ 43. Kg1 Ra6 44. Bb6 Kf5 45. b5 Ra8 46. a6 Rd6 47. Bf2 Rg6+ 48.
Kf1 Rg2 { This counterplay isn't really threatening, but I found a nice way
to finish. } 49. Nd5 $1 { Threatening 50.Ne3+. } 49... Rh2 50. Ne7+ Ke6 51.
Nc8 { The a8-rook is boxed in. } 51... Rh5 52. Rc6+ $1 { A very useful
intermezzo I had seen when playing 49.Nd5. The black king is forced to f7,
but then my b-pawn is immune. } 52... Kf7 53. a7 Rd5 54. b6 Rd1+ 55. Be1
Rb1 56. Rc7+ Ke6 57. b7 Rxa7 58. Nxa7 h5 59. Kf2 Kd6 60. Rh7 { I should
probably take this opportunity for a brief advertising plug. I'm planning
to take on a couple more students - email
[email protected] for details
if you're interested! } 1-0
