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Back to Basics / Reader annotations


Yes, it continues opening lines—but also gives the black knight the great e5-square, as well as several tempi. Much stronger is 9. f5, followed by Qh5+, with a real big advantage.


9. ... Nxe5 10. Bb3 Bg4 Removing a strong piece.


16. ... dxe5 17. Bxf7+ Better than Rxf7.


17. ... Rxf7 18. Qd5 Qb6+ 19. Kh1 Raf8 20. Nd2


22. Qxf7


Not 22. Nxb2 Rxf1+, and mate next move. Here the black queen on b2 was indeed pure poison!


22. ... Qxa1 23. Qxf8+


A serious error. I disagree. The error comes on Black’s next move.


11. Qd5 Bh5


Why give up a pawn? After the tempo- winning (or at least tempo-saving) 11. ... c6, Black can soon castle queenside, and feel relatively safe—safer than any time in this game after 3. ... f6. Note that 12. Qd4 Qb6 leads to a trade of queens.


12. Qxb7 Qb8


20. ... Qxb2


Objectively, a losing move. After, say, 20 ... Qd6 Black is just one pawn down— and thus preserving about 50% drawish chances.


21. Nc4 The fireworks begin.


Why go for fireworks, when the win was near? 21. Rxf7 Rxf7 (analysis diagram)


23. ... Bxf8 24. Rxa1, Black resigned.


All of the instruction in this game was at the end. Did Black play foolishly, or was he playing for fun? The choice was his and it made an interesting game. Both sides made their fair share of bad, very bad (blunders) and excellent moves. White blundered next to last (played an attractive 21. Nc4 rather than the winning —but requiring some creative thinking and some double-checking—21. Rxf7). Black reacted with the even nicer-looking but los- ing 21. ... Kh8—after which, among all those queen sacs, Lyov played precisely and won.


Send in your games! 13. Qd5


White correctly avoids an exchange of queens. The rule of thumb: To trade or not to trade (queens) depends on whose king is safer.


13. ... Be7 14. Bf4 Bf7 15. Qd2 0-0


(21. ... Qxa1+ 22. Rf1+) 22. Rf1! (Not 22. Rb1 Qd4 23. Rb8+ Bf8) 22. ... Bf6; and only now 23. Rb1 and 24. Rb8+. Note how, after 22. Rf1 Bf6 23. Rb1, the black bishop can no longer protect his king with ... Bf8.


21. ... Kh8


If you are unrated or were rated 1799 or be low on your Chess Life (CL) label, then GM Lev Alburt invites you to send your most instructive game with notes to:


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16. Bxe5


Sprinkling poison all over the queen and threats of mate; better was 21. ... Qd4. Indeed! Thus, 21. Nc4 was such an error—in a won position.


few notes, as they are of little instruc- tive value and can’t be used. Writing skills are a plus, but instructiveness is a must! Make sure your game (or part of it) and your notes will be of interest to other readers.


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