PlayersS Games of the Site#2

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iamachessstudent
Posts: 380
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 1:35 pm

PlayersS Games of the Site#2

Post by iamachessstudent » Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:23 am

Once again, a real treat for all you on the site!
I have taken three (3) of our own GKTHOMAS and will be presenting them in this column over the next 2 days!
The games are very interesting in their own particular way and I hope you give them a look and feel free to comment :)
This game feathers the Archangelsk Variation of the venerable Ruy Lopez The"Archangel", as it often times called, is a way that black uses the Lopez for faster development and activity against White. Players such as Anand, Leko and now the young Italian GM Fabio Caruana is a regular supporter of this system. Black leaves book on the 13th move with a dubious attempt, and after that, White pounces, he is clearly winning by move 22 and a spectacular sacrifice on move 24 seals the victory one move later.


[Event "m1362336465"]
[Site "net-chess.com"]
[Date "2013.03.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "gkthomas"]
[Black "wvmaniac"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2516"]
[Game "g1105147288"]

ECO CODE: C78: RUY LOPEZ: ARCHANGELSK and MOELLER DEFENSES


1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 {The beginning of the variation, which is based on fast Queen-side activity and development.} 6.Bb3 Bc5 {as mentioned fast development and aiming at the White King-side} 7.c3 d6 8.d4 {Beginning play in the center and hitting the Black dark-squared Bishop} 8...Bb6 {the most popular move, it seems exchanging pawns in the center with 8...cxd4 gives White far too much play and initiative and the winning percentage after this move for White is over 67%!} 9.a4 {Now switching and attacking the Black queen-side, a very popular and effective method in this variation.} 9...Bb7 {Black chooses a lesser played and rarer continuation...more usual are 9...Rab8 and 9...Bg4 but the Text is fine if followed up properly} 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.Bd5 {the best move here, pinning the Knight and establishing the Bishop at the center of the board, a mighty piece!} 12...0-0 13.Na3 {More pressure on the black Queen-side, especially the b pawn..black must react correctly or he can find his position in ruins rapidly!} [color=#FF0000]13...Rab1?!N[/color] {This is the move, in my opinion that lands Black is serious trouble! The more usual move 13...exd4 has withstood the test of time and Black can expect equal chances in the upcoming middle game; 13...Rfba8 is also good, NOT giving up the a file after white exchanges pawns on the b file!} 14.axb5! {clear cut and logical! After the exchange of pawns, the A file is open for White and this creates many issues for Black in a few short moves; plus White is up a pawn} 14...axb5 15.Nxb5 exd4 {I don't want to make this a dubious move, but exchanging more pawns or pieces when are down material is, many times, contradictory to endgame principles! I liked either 15...Rfd8 or Rfe8 to centralize the rooks and strengthening the e/d pawn structure} 16.cxd4 Rfe8 17.Ra4 Ne7 {Again, 17...Ra8 to try and contest the a file} 18.Bxb7 Rxb7 19.Qd2 Qg6 20.Re1 c6 21.Nc3 f5 {Attempting to complicate and take Whites mind off the attack, it does not succeed though! I think maybe that 21...Rdb8!? might have been worth a try, counterattacking on the b file} 22.d5! +- {The game winner and a gorgeous move! White presses the attack home and creates all kinds of threats against Black's king-side!} 22...cxd5 {alternatives are no better: 22...c5 23.Nh4 Qg5 24.Qxg5 hxg5 25.Nf3 +- and White is winning regardless. A little trick here is that White must NOT play 25.Nxf5? because of 25...Nxf5 26.Rea1 and now ...Nd4! And suddenly Black is better! -+} 23.exf5 Qxf5 24.Nxd5! { A beautiful deflection to e7 ( a deflection involves luring an enemy piece away from a good square; typically, away from a square on which it defends another piece or threat.) Black is defenseless, here is some proof: 24...Nxd5 25.Rxe8; 24...Qxd5 25.Qxd5+ Nxd5 (25...Kf8 26.Rf4+ mating attack; 25...Kh7 26.Qxe4 double attack; 25...Kh8 26.Qxb7 combination) 26.Rxe8+ deflection and pinning. The move played by Black loses at once}} 24...Qf7? {allowing a viscous finish} 25.Rf4 BLACK RESIGNS {The continuation of 25...Qh5 26.g4 Qxd5 27.Qxd5 Nxd5 28.Rxe8+ Kh7 29.Rff8 wins easily for White}

What a nice game!
White gained control early, and a new try by Black on his 13th move {13...Rab8}certainly gave White a strong initiative and an extra pawn. White powered through the position with his 14th move {axb5} , gaining a pawn and his nice 22nd move {d5!}, ripping the position open and finishing well with his 24th move {Nxd5!}..laying waste to the Black position!

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