My best Move
GM VARUZHAN AKOBIAN
U.S. 11th-Ranked Player
2014 U.S. Championship Runner-Up
F me (41
orMy best Move, I've selected a move from a ferociously tactical game in round seven of Millionaire Chess 2. I had lost my first game in this tournament, a
disappointing start, and was battling uphill, determined to make a strong finish. My opponent, meanwhile, had a half point on 2⁄ /6 to my 4/6), and was enjoying an excellent
tournament. I had done my homework and knew that Barcenilla consistently played the King’s Indian Defense. To challenge and surprise him, I decided— for the first time in my life—to try the h3 system that was so beloved by Vladimir Makogonov, the great player and coach from Azerbaijan. My opponent was prepared, and exhibited a
deep understanding of this line. Our game turned intense. After a complex struggle with our knights off the board, we reached a sharp position on move 26. I had seen the possibility of this long combination two moves earlier to deflect his rook from c8. Still, my king was exposed on the c-file. My pieces were a little loose. And I was getting low on the clock. Without this next move, I would have been in big trouble. I unleashed:
DEFLECTION GM Varuzhan Akobian (2712) GM Rogelio Barcenilla (2606) Millionaire Chess Open 2 (7), 10.11.2015
“ WHITE TO MOVE
26. Rd8+!! Bf8 Only move. If 26. ... Rxd8? 27. Bxc4 is winning
because Black loses his queen to the pin. 27. Rxf8+ 27. Rxe5! Be6 28. Rg5+ Kh8 29. Bd4+ leads to
an immediate win. 72 January 2016 | Chess Life
… My opponent was prepared, and exhibited a deep understanding of this line …
27. ... Kxf8 The only way to capture without losing the
bishop on c4. 28. Bc5+ Interfering with the c8-rook’s protection of
the bishop on c4. If he moves the king, he loses a piece. The rook must capture.
28. ... Rxc5 29. Rxc5 Bxe2 If 29. ... Bxa2 30. Rxe5 Be6 31. Qc5+ leads to
a winning position. 30. Qxe2 b6 The storm has settled. Counting points, the
material balance is completely even. But White’s rook is on an open file. His queen can be more easily centralized. Both kings are exposed, but Black’s king is bereft of shielding.
31. Rxe5 Qxa2 Black is trying to stay materially even, but the
move makes the weakness of his king even worse. 32. Qc2!
” White cannot win without this powerful move.
32. ... Ra7 An interesting defense to protect the seventh
rank and the pawn on h7. Now I was running out of time, and had to find an accurate move to finish this game. 32. ... Qa1+ 33. Kd2 Rd8+ 34. Ke2 Black runs out of checks, and it’s White’s turn to start checking, which will lead to a mating attack.
33. Qc6!
Activating the queen, and foregoing the immediate check to prepare to play Qf6+, which will lead to mate.
33. ... Kg7 34. Rg5+ Kf8 35. Qf6+ Ke8 No better is 35. ... Qf7 36. Qd8+ Qe8 37. Rg8+
Kxg8 38. Qxe8+ winning the queen or 35. ... Rf7 36. Qd8 mate.
36. Re5+, Black resigned. Which was his only way to avoid 36. ... Kd7
37. Re7+ Kc8 38. Qf8 mate.
See more about Millionaire Chess 2 in our cover story beginning on page 22.
PHOTO: DAVID LLADA
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