(37) Yudasin,L (2672) - Eisen,L (2307) [B01]
8th New York Masters New York (1), 07.05.2002
[Eisen, L]



1.e4 d5
Playing a grandmaster as black can be an unpleasant exerience. Usually there is a long period of suffering to go through. And sometimes it doesn't end until the game is over. If then.

2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.g3
White does not try for a big advantage with this move, rather he plans to develop his pieces, castle safely and advance on the queenside. Black has many possible piece placements.

4...c6 5.Bg2 Nf6 6.Nge2 g6 7.0-0 Bg7 8.Re1 0-0 9.d3 Nbd7 10.a3
I think Rb1 immediately is better as white may be able to save a tempo and go a4 in one move. However, action games often come down to the ability to play reasonable moves quickly.

10...a6
Preventing a quick b4-b5

11.Rb1 Re8 12.b4 Qc7 13.Bd2 h5!
With white advancing on the queenside black has to look for counterplay in the kingside or center. I always look at the kingside first.

14.h3 e5 15.a4 Nb6?!
At the time I felt this was either brilliant or stupid. I'm still sure of that. Black entices white to go for a5 instead of b5, but the cost of two tempi may be too great. Probably better is Nf8 immediately.

16.a5 Nbd7 17.Na4 Nf8 18.Nb6 Rb8 19.Nc3
[19.Nxc8 Rbxc8 20.Nc3 Ne6 21.Ne4 Nxe4 22.Rxe4 And white may try to exploit the two bishops.]

19...Be6 20.Nca4 N6d7 21.Be3 Nxb6 22.Bxb6 Qc8!? 23.Kh2
White can win the exchange here though Yudasin did not think it would lead to an advantage. [23.Ba7 Bxh3 24.Bxb8 Bxg2 25.Kxg2 Qxb8 26.Nc5 f5 ]

23...Nd7 24.Be3
At this point it may be better for white to trade his a4 knight. [24.Ba7 Ra8 25.Nb6 Nxb6 26.Bxb6 ]

24...Bd5 25.Bf1!?
A grandmaster's move, white intends to get the tempo back with c4. But when my opponent goes backward, I go forward.

25...h4 26.c4 hxg3+ 27.fxg3 Be6 28.Ba7 Ra8 29.Bf2 Kh7! 30.Nc3 f5 31.Qd2 Rh8 32.Rbc1
[32.d4 ]

32...Kg8 33.d4
[33.Nd5 Kf7 ]

33...f4! 34.gxf4 Nf6 35.Qd3
[35.h4 Ng4+ 36.Kg1 Nxf2 37.Qxf2 exd4 38.Nd5 Bxd5 39.cxd5 Qg4+ 40.Qg2 Rxh4 41.dxc6 d3! ; 35.dxe5 Bxh3 36.exf6 Bxf1+ 37.Kg1 Rh1+ 38.Kxh1 Qh3+ 39.Kg1 Qg2# ; 35.Kg1 Bxh3 36.Be2 Bg2 37.Bg3 Qh3 ]

35...Bf5 36.Qf3 Bg4
Ng4 immediately is good, though white has no better move than qd3 here. Then I can go back with bf5 and play ng4 on my next opportunity.

37.Qg3 exf4
Now white has no good options.

38.Qxf4 Bxh3 39.Kg1 Bxf1 40.Kxf1 Qh3+ 41.Ke2 Rf8 42.Qg3 Qh5+?!
[42...Ng4! ]

43.Kd2 Ng4 44.Bg1 Bh6+
Winning the exchange, which i was eventually able to convert in the time scramble. 0-1