College Chess / 2013 UTD Invitational
English Opening (A13) GM Julio Sadorra (2654) GM Valentin Yotov (2606) 2013 UTD Fall GM Invitational Annotations by Julio Sadorra
This game was played in the last round
of the tournament. My opponent and I were both in fighting mode. I wasn’t sure how this game would turn out because in last year’s fall grandmaster invitational I was punished by Valentin for my reckless play. Therefore, I decided to play a more solid and patient type of game this year.
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 a6 4. Bg2 b5
This is one of the more solid Black set- ups against the English. 5. b3 Bb7 6. 0-0 c5 7. Nc3 Qb6 8. Re1 Going for the e2-e4 plan or structure.
8. ... Nc6 9. e4 d6 In my general opening-middlegame
studies, I have seen some knight sacrifice motifs on d5. I wasn’t sure if the knight sacrifice is entirely sound here so I checked normal continuations first like 10. d3, especially because I determined earlier not to take too much risk. But after normal Black moves like ... Be7 followed by ... 0-0, I couldn’t see a way for me to get an edge. Therefore, by process of elimination, 10. Nd5 may be the way to get better chances from the opening. I started calcu - lating resulting positions after 10. Nd5 exd5 11. exd5 and, after seeing that I’ll get compensation, I went for it.
10. Nd5!
take on d4 or use d5-d6 tactical motifs; e.g. 15. ... Kf8 16. Rxe7! Kxe7 17. Bxd4 Qc7 18. d6+ Qxd6 19. Bxb7 with a winning position as Black’s king, queen, and a8-rook are exposed to my active pieces.
12. d4! 0-0-0?! Played after a 40-minute think. Castling
is a good defensive idea but the tactics are simply not working for Black after accurate play from White.
13. Ng5! After some concrete analysis, I realized
that immediately attacking Black’s weakest spot is the best approach. Initially I con sid - ered 13. dxc5 dxc5 14. Ng5 Ng6! the most stubborn defensive move (14. ... Nexd5 15. Nxf7! Rd7 [15. ... Nc3?? 16. Bxb7+ Kxb7 17. Qxd8 wins material.] 16. Bh3 and Black cannot cope with all of White’s threats on d5, d7, and h8!) 15. Nxf7 Bd6 16. Nxh8 Rxh8 and although I may be better on material, I don’t think I have a clear advantage because Black can set up a blockade. He can slowly improve the position of his king and bishop e.g. ... Kb8 then ... Bb7-c8-f5/g4. I thought that there must be a way to get more out of my position.
13. ... Nexd5 Black gives back a piece in hopes of
diminishing White’s pressure or achieving counterplay. Now if 13. ... Ng6 14. Nxf7 Black’s options are limited as he cannot play ... Bf8-d6 here as in the previous variation.
14. Nxf7 Nc3 15. Bxb7+ Qxb7 16. Nxd8
Unfortunately for Black, the tactics still work in White’s favor. 16. ... Kxd8 16. ... Nxd1 17. Nxb7 Nc3 (17. ... Kxb7
18. Rxd1) 18. Na5 and in both cases White comes out the Exchange up.
17. Qd3 b4 Although Black was successful in saving
his wandering knight in my camp, he is still in a bad shape due to his exposed king and lack of piece coordination.
18. dxc5 d5 18. ... Nce4 the knight cannot escape
The exclamation point is given partic- ularly for the move’s practical value.
10. ... exd5 11. exd5+ Ne7 The solid choice, but it puts Black in a
cramped position. If Black had played 11. ... Ne5 I was planning to blow up the center with 12. d4! cxd4 13. Bb2 planning to take on d4 with the bishop and putting more pressure on e5. 13. ... Be7 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Rxe5 and I should have strong compen- sation as his king is stuck in the middle and I have immediate threats to either
34 February 2014 | Chess Life
right away 19. cxd6 Bxd6 (19. ... Qc6 20. Bf4; 19. ... Nxd6 20. c5 and the pin tactic wins material) 20. c5! a pin tactic that works due to an overloaded knight 20. ... Nxc5 21. Qxd6+ wins.
19. Be3 Simply developing and protecting the c5-
pawn which limits Black’s bishop’s mobility. 19. ... Qc6 Trying to exchange off his bishop and
free up the h8-rook. 20. a3!
Creating more threats before Black
develops his pieces and gains coordination. 20. ... Bxc5 If 20. ... a5 21. axb4 axb4 I felt that there
must be some tactics around the corner after I continue opening up the position, for example 22. cxd5! opening up more lines and squares of attack (d-file, a6- square) 22. ... Qxd5.
FIND THE BEST WAY FOR WHITE TO CONTINUE THE ATTACK
Solution: 23. c6! Qxd3 (23. ... Kc7 24. Ra7+ Kxc6 25. Qa6 mate) 24. Bb6+ Kc8 25. Ra8 mate. After 23. c6, if Black replies 23. ... Nd7 to prevent Bb6+, White can simply play 24. Qxd5 Nxd5 25. Ra8+ (25. cxd7 also wins but checking first shows accuracy until the end as it gains a tempo!) 25. ... Kc7 26. cxd7 with a winning mate - rial advantage in the ending.
21. Bxc5 Qxc5 22. axb4 Qxb4 23. Rxa6 Choosing activity and attack over material.
23. ... Na4 I intended to meet 23. ... Nce4 or 23. ...
Nfe4 with 24. Rxe4! Nxe4 25. Qxd5+ winning more material. If 23. ... Re8 White nets more material with 24. Ra8+ Kd7 25. Qf5+; finally if 23. ... Kc7 I intended to play 24. Re7+! Kb8 (24. ... Qxe7 25. Ra7+) 25. Qe3! with the idea of Qe5+ or Qa7+.
24. Qe3, Black resigned. And Black resigned as there’s no stopping
White from creating mating threats and winning more material. My friend and teammate Valentin graciously accepted defeat. I commend him for fighting this last game with me despite the temptation to draw. I’m grateful for his competitive advice during the many university events together. He’s definitely someone I’ll miss after I graduate from UT Dallas.
Dutch Defense (A90) WIM Mariam Danelia (2228) GM Alex Lenderman (2639) 2013 UTD Fall IM Invitational Annotations by Alex Lenderman
For the first round, I had black against a woman international master from the
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76