1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
d6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nf6
5.Nc3
a6
Wojtkiewicz' beloved Najdorf defense.
6.Be3
e6
7.f3
b5
8.g4
Nfd7
9.Qd2
Nb6
10.0-0-0
N8d7
See some of my games with Novikov for more battles in this opening.
11.Qf2
Bb7
12.Bd3
Rc8
13.Nce2
Qc7
14.Kb1
Na4
15.Bc1
Ndc5
This type of piece placement is favored by none other than Garry Kasparov. Many players have adapted this approach, such as Wojtkiewicz, Novikov and even myself. It is very difficult for white to find a specific plan.
16.b3
Nxd3
17.cxd3
Nc5
Blacks positional idea here is ....b4, a5 and Ba6. Black also has a tactical idea which was realized in the game.
18.Bb2?
Totally overlooking blacks reply. If the knight were not on d4, black would have the trick ...Nxd3 Rxd3 Qxc2 hence the move played..
18...e5!
Now I was very upset with myself. I completely overlooked blacks threat and already seemed to be totally lost. The whole idea is that once I move my knight, this trick involving Nxd3 is now winning. I desperately searched for a way to complicate issues. Ideas of counterattacking blacks knight with b4 do not work also.
19.Nf5
[19.b4
exd4
20.bxc5
dxc5-+
]
19...Nxd3!
20.Rxd3
Qc2+
21.Ka1
Qxd3
22.Qa7
This move is stronger than Qb6 because in some variations my queen eyes the f7 square. I was quite fortunate that I was still able to put up some very serious resistance after such oversights. It's important to really bear down after you make a serious blunder and not let it affect the way you play the rest of the game. At this point I spent a minute feeling sorry for myself and embarrassed, and then tried to put all my energy towards finding the path of most resistance. I felt like this was especially important against Wojtkiewicz, as I have saved some really terrible positions against him in the past by complicating matters and not giving up. [22.Qb6
]
22...Bc6!
This move contains the idea of bringing the bishop back to d7, a much more solid place for the bishop to be, also helping to defend the king. [22...Qxf3
23.Neg3
Now white has the double threat of capturing the b7 bishop and playing Rf1 with discoveries on f7. Black could consider simply taking on e4, but playing such a move in a tournament game, let alone in game 30, is very difficult. 23...Bxe4
24.Rf1
Qd3
25.Nxg7+
Bxg7
26.Qxf7+
Kd8
27.Qxg7
Re8
and black may be defending...]
23.Nc3!?
[23.Qxa6
Bd7
I could not see a way to continue the attack here. If black ever untangles his pieces the game is hopeless, and I don't see an effective way to stop ideas like ....g6 followed up by Be7 and 00.]
23...b4
24.Rd1
Qxf3
25.Qxa6!
Rc7
[25...Bd7
This was the move I was expecting, however white has some good counterplay here. 26.Nxd6+
Bxd6
27.Qxd6
Qxg4
(27...Bxg4?
28.Qxe5+
Be6
29.Qb5+
Kf8
30.Qxb4+
Kg8
31.Rg1
And white clearly has compensation for the material.) 28.Qxe5+
Be6
(28...Kf8
29.Qd6+
Kg8
30.Ne2!
Whites attack in this position is too strong. The rook on h8 is too great a liability. 30...Qxe2
31.Qxd7
Rf8
32.Qd4
f6
33.Qd5+
Rf7
34.Rc1+-
) 29.Qb5+
Kf8
30.Qxb4+
Kg8
31.Qd4
Now with ideas of Rg1, combined with the terrible development of the black pieces, gives white a crushing attack.]
26.Rf1
I must play this move to permit my knight on c3 to move.
26...Qxg4
27.Nb5
Bxb5
28.Qxb5+
Kd8
29.Qb8+
Kd7
Now I was aware that I had perpetual check if desired by playing Qb5-b8 and back and forth. Yet I had 6 minutes to my opponents 3 and I also felt that I should have a strong position, considering blacks clumsy development. Hence I was not yet ready to agree to a draw. Unfortunately it is very easy to make a calculation mistake with such little time, and this is exactly what I did.
30.Ne3?
[30.Qb5+
Kd8
31.Qb8+
Kd7
32.Qb5+
Kd8=
; 30.Qxb4
I feel like this is my best try, to simply play the position down the material but up the initiative. Things dont seem so easy for black here 30...Be7
31.Qb5+
Kd8
Once again its possible that white may have to acquiese to a draw.]
30...Qxe4
31.Rxf7+
Be7
32.Rxe7+
Kxe7
33.Qxc7+
Ke6
Now white is in serious trouble. Despite having 2 pieces for the rook, black has 2 extra pawns and also whites pieces are very clumsily placed.
34.Qc1?
[34.Bc1!
I believe this move is whites best practical chance. Whites only real active piece is the queen on c7. Why remove that queen from its active post by playing Qc1, thus leaving all of whites pieces defending and passive. With this move at least black still has some real problems to solve.; 34.Qc4+
Qxc4
35.bxc4
This endgame should be hopeless. Blacks rook and 2 pawns are far superior to whites two minors]
34...Rf8
Now it is easy, black can bring the pieces into the game at will.
35.a4
A desperate attempt to get some room for the king. This was a very frustrating loss for me, as I pride myself on not losing games like this. However this time control can really humble you sometimes.
35...bxa3
36.Bxa3
Qd4+
37.Kb1
Qd3+
38.Ka2
Rb8
39.b4
Qe2+
40.Nc2
Rc8
41.Kb2
Qd3
42.Qb1
Qc3+!
43.Kc1
Qxa3+
0-1