1.e4
Nf6
2.e5
Nd5
3.d4
d6
4.Nf3
g6
[Text is a variation played extensively by GM Lev Alburt, but it invites an almost immediate attack. More usual is 4...Bg4
]
5.Bc4
Nb6
6.Bb3
Bg7
7.Ng5
e6
8.Qf3
[8.f4
is a line that 1989 State Champion Bryan Norman used to play.]
8...Qd7
[Text is Pushkin's idea; George has played both of the following against me, but only the text delivered a full point for him in our prior games. 8...Qe7
; 8...0-0
]
9.Ne4
dxe5
10.Nf6+
Bxf6
11.Qxf6
Rg8
12.Nc3
[In our earlier contest, I played 12.dxe5
and after quite a few complications ended up losing.]
12...Qxd4
[I had expected 12...exd4
13.Ne4
Qc6
14.Qxd4
N8d7
which Fritz thinks is equal, but White has all the play.]
13.Bg5
Nc6
14.Rd1
Nd7
15.Qf3
[Fritz prefers 15.Rxd4
Nxf6
16.Rd2
which solves most of Black's problems for him and ends any possible attack.]
15...Qb4
16.0-0
h6
[16...Nd4
waa the move I kept expecting that never arrived.]
17.a3
[I was hesitant to take on h6 for fear of opening the file leading directly to my castled King. Of course, Fritz has no fear (nor common sense): 17.Bxh6
Nd4
(17...Qh4?!
18.Nb5
Ke7
(18...Kd8
19.Qxf7
Re8
20.Nxc7
Kxc7
21.Qxe8+-
) 19.Nxc7
Rb8
20.Be3+/-
; 17...Rh8
18.Be3=
) 18.Qg4
Nxc2
(18...Rh8
19.a3
Qe7
20.Be3=
) 19.Bxe6
Qxg4
20.Bxg4
Nb6
21.Ne4
Bxg4
22.Nf6+
Ke7
23.Nxg4
Ke6=
]
17...Qf8
[Text was the result of 22 minutes consideration. I had expected 17...Qb6
to retain a presence on the queenside.]
18.Be3
[Fritz likes 18.Nb5
hxg5
19.Nxc7+
Kd8
20.Nxa8
Nd4
21.Qg4
Qe7+/-
]
18...Nc5
[18...a6
would force Black to "undevelop" a Knight after 19.Ba4
, not exactly what Black needs at this point.]
19.Nb5
[Fritz finally agreed that the text was best after reaching a search depth of 13 ply (half-moves); until then it preferred the following, probably because the material gain (the exchange) occurs more quickly: 19.Bxc5
Qxc5
20.Ne4
Qe7
(20...Qb6
21.Nf6+
Kf8
22.Nxg8
Kxg8
23.Qf6
Qc5
24.Rfe1
b6
25.Re3
Qe7
26.Qxe7
Nxe7
27.Rxe5+/-
) 21.Nf6+
Kf8
22.Nxg8
Kxg8
23.Ba4
Nd4
24.Qe4+/=
]
19...Na6
20.Ba4
Bd7
[20...e4
21.Qxe4
(21.Qg3
Qe7+/-
) 21...Bd7
22.Rxd7
Kxd7
is similar to the game]
21.Rxd7
[‹21.Nxa7
Nab8
22.Qe4
Qg7
23.Nb5
Na6
24.Rd2
f5
25.Qc4
f4
26.Bc5
0-0-0=
]
21...Kxd7
22.Nxa7
Rxa7
23.Bxa7
f5
[23...Ke7
24.Bxc6
Qa8
(24...bxc6
25.Qxc6
Qc8
26.Bc5+
Nxc5
27.Qxc5++-
) 25.Be3
bxc6
26.Bxh6
may provide Black some drawing chances, but the passed a-pawn should be decisive.]
24.Rd1+
[>=24.Bxc6+
bxc6
25.Qd3+
Qd6
26.Qxa6+-
]
24...Kc8
[24...Ke7
25.Bxc6
bxc6
26.Qe2
Qc8
27.Qxe5+-
]
25.Bxc6
e4
26.Bd7+
1-0