How do we choose a move in a
chess game? This is a difficult question to answer, but after the game below it was clear to me that emotions play a large
role in how we make decisions at critical moments in the game. The round before
this game I played International Master Emory Tate and managed to blow a winning position that a class B player could have
won. I relaxed after obtaining a winning position and blew it. The next day I woke up an emotional wreck, I was able to funnel
these emotions in the game below and won with precise play.
Vaja,
A – Brasswell, I
Chicago
Open 2007
Kings Indian Attack
A08
1. Nf3
I had decided before the tournament to employ the KIA as
white in this tournament to learn more about these sorts of positions, but nothing can replace the timeless 1.e4, which I
ask all my students to stick with.
1…
d5
2. g3
c5
3. Bg2 Nc6
4. d3 ?!
Since I had prepared the Kings Indian Attack for the tournament and wanted to stick
to the set up. Better was 4.d4 with a reversed Gruenfeld.
4…
e5
5. 0-0
Nf6
The opening has now transposed to a Kings Indian Defense with reversed colors. White cannot really use the extra
tempo to fight for an advantage, thus the position is roughly equal.
6. Nbd2
Be7
7. e4
d4
8. Nc4
Qc7
9. a4
A common theme in this sort of position is for white to place the knight on c4 from which it exerts a great deal
of pressure. Black will try to play b5 and remove the knight from the active post with b5 therefore white must prevent it
with a4.
9…
b6 ?!
This
is a waste of time, black is trying to play b6-Bb7-a6-b5 removing the knight from c4, but this plan is too slow. It was more
logical to try the maneuver Nd7-b6 forcing white to exchange or move the knight to a less active square. Another option was:
9…0- with the idea of 10…Ne8 11…Nd6.
10.
Nh4
White has developed most of his forces on the kingside and begins operations on that part of the board. Note
that blacks move b6 now comes back to haunt him further, if black were to take the knight on f5 with the bishop, it would
awaken the sleeping giant on g2 after exf5.
10…
0-0
11.
f4
Nd7
12.
Nf5
Re8
13.
Qg4 g6
A critical moment has come up and I knew that I had the advantage after blacks opening inaccuracies. I funneled
all my emotions from the loss in the previous round and went into a think not stopping until I had found a way to realize
my advantage. The big question is whether white should take on e7 or play Nh6+.
14.
Nh6+
It turns out both moves would have kept the advantage,
but Nh6+ was the more accurate continuation.
14…
Kg7
15.
f5
This is one of the positions which I had to work out before I made my 14th move. White is threatening
to play fxg6 and Nxf7. I considered 15…Rf8 to be black’s best move
when I had prepared a subtle move which leaves black defenseless 16. Qh3!
Analysis
Black must play precisely to avoid being rolled over for example 16…Nb4
is refuted with: 17. fxg6 fxg6 (17…hxg6 is met with the same theme 18. Rxf7+! Rxf7 19.Qe6! and black is defenseless)
18. Rf7+ ! Rxf7 19. Qe6 + -
A much better defense could be put up with 16…Nf6 when white would try to
steam roll black with pawns after 17. g4 for example: 17…Ne8 (Otherwise g5 attacking the knight followed by f6+) 18.
g5 Kh8 19. Qg3 with a powerful attack after white regroups with a move like 20. Ng4.
15…
Nf6 ?!
16.
Qh4
Black is lost after this move!
This was the other critical variation which I had to work out before my 14th
move. I figured that 16…Rf8 was the same as my previous analysis and only had to work out what would happen if black
moved the knight with a discovered attack against the white queen.
16…
Ng8
Can you spot the final blow?
Scroll Down
to see solution
17.
f6+ !!
Bxf6 Black
could have tried 17…Nxf6 but white wins after 18. Bg5 Nd8 (18…Qd8?? 19. Nxf7 Kxf7 20. Qxh7 + Ke6 21. Bh3 Ng4 22.
Bxg4#) 19. Rxf6 + -
18.
Rxf6
Nxf6
19.
Nf5+
Resigns
(19…gxf5 20. Bh6+ Kg8 21. Qg5+ Kh8 22. Qxf6+ Kg8 23. Qg7#)
