Reply #10: Gvetadze - Shen Yang, Round 4, Ekaterinburg

[Jack Rabbit]

Shen Yang
Photo: ChessBase.com

Sopio Gvetadze (Georgia) vs. Shen Yang (China)
Women's World Team Championship, Round 4
Ekaterinburg, May 2007

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Clam Opening

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3

• The Clam is less enterprising for both sides that the main line 5. 0-0.

5. -- d6 6. c3 g6 7. Bg5

• If 7. Nbd2 Bg7 8. Nf1 0-0 9. Ng3 then:
• 9. -- Bd7 10. 0-0 Re8 11. Re1 b5 12. Bc2 Na5 13. b4 Nc6 14. a4 Ne7 15. h3 Qb8 16. a5 c5 17. Be3 cxb4 18. cxb4 Nc6 19. Rb1 d5 20. Bc5 is equal (de la Riva-Ponomariov, match, Andorra 2003).
• 9. -- b5 10. Bc2 d5 11. 0-0 dxe4 12. dxe4 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Re8 14. a4 Rb8 15. axb5 axb5 16. Be3 Bf8 17. h3 Bd6 18. Nd2 Nd7 19. b4 Nf8 20. Nb3 Ne6 and, after similar fruitless maneuvering, the game was agreed drawn (Boleslavsky-Flohr, Soviet Ch, Leningrad 1947).

7. -- Bg7 8. Nbd2 0-0 9. Nf1 d5!?

• Black breaks out of the book with what looks like an energetic move.
• 9. -- h6 10. Bh4 Ne7 11. Bb3 c6 12. Ne3 Qc7 13. h3 b5 14. g4 Bb7 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. g5 hxg5 17. Ng4 Kg7 18. Qd2 Ng8 19. h4 Qd7 20. Rg1 gxh4 21. Nxf6 Nxf6 22. Nxh4 Rh8 23. Qg5 is unclear (Morozevich-Khalifman, Tussian Ch Superfinal, Moscow 2005).

10. exd5

• White makes the most energetic reply.

10. -- Qxd5 11. Ne3 Qe6 12. 0-0

• White tucks her King into safety, but it might have been better to exchange on c6, weakening Black's queenside pawns, while she had the chance.
• If 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. 0-0 Nd5 14. Re1 then:
• 14. -- Rb8 15. Qc2 Re8 16. Nc4 Qf5 17. Re4 is unclear.
• 14. -- h6 15. Bh4 f5 16. c4 Nxe3 17. fxe3 e4 is also cloudy.

12. -- b5 13. Bb3 Qd7

• 13. -- Qd6 is more accurate, as it overprotects the e-pawn, but it makes little difference here.
• Black doesn't gain from13. -- Qd6 15. d4 exd4 15. Nxd4 Bb7 16. Nxc7 Qxc6 with equality.

14. Re1 Bb7 15. h3!?

• This move is provocative; it isn't the objectively best move and White probably knew that when she played it.
• If then:
• 15. d4 exd4 then:
• 16. Nxd4 Nxd4 17. Qxd4 Qxd4 18. cxd4 Ne4 19. Bh4 Bxd4 20. Nd5
• 20. -- Nd2 21. Ne7+ Kg7 22. KBd5 Bxd5 23. Nxd5 c5 24. Rad1 is level.
20. -- Rad8 21. Rxe4 c5 22. Bxd8 Rxd8 23. Bxd8 Rxd8 23. Rae1 gives White serious threats against Black's center.
• 16. cxd4 Ne4 17. d5 Nxg5 18. dxc6 Nxf3+ 19. Wxf3 Bxc6 20. Rad1 Bxf3 21. Rxd7 gives White the initiative.

15. -- Rae8

• It doesn't make too much difference which Rook Balck uses.
• 15. -- Rfe8 16. Bh4 h6 17. a4 Nh5 18. Ng4 Nf4 19. Re3 g5 20. Bg3 is unclear.

16. a4 Kh8 17. axb5 axb5 18. Bh4

• The plan may be redeply the Bishop on g3 in order to harrass the e-pawn.
• If 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Nd5 Bg7 then:
• 20. Qe2 Nd8 21. c4 Nc6 22. Qe4 Qd6 23. Qh4 Nd4 24. Nxd4 exd4 is unclear.
• 20. Ne3 f5 21. Qe2 Nd4 22. cxd4 exd4 23. Ra7 Bd3 24. Qxf3 dxe3 25. Rxd3 Bd4 gives Black a significant initiative.

18. -- Nh5 19. Bc2 f5 20. Nd2?!

• White initiates a plan to attack on the queenside, but Black's kingside is better organized. Putting Black under restraint would be a better plan for the moment.
• If 20. g5 Ra8 then:
• 21. Rxa8 Rxa8 22. b3 h6 23. Bh4 Nf5 24. Bg3 Nxh3+ 25. gxh3 f4 26. Bh2 fxe3 27. Rxe3 Rf8 is unclear.
• 21. Nf1 Rxa1 22. Qxa1 Qd6 23/Qc1 Ra8 24. Bh6 Bf6 25. N1d2 Ng7 26. Bg5 Bxg5 27. Nxg5 gives Black a significant edge in space and mobility.

20. -- Nd8

• This opens the line for the Rook, but puts the Knight out of action.
• If 20. -- Nf4 then:
• 21. Nf3 Re6 22. Bg5 h6 23. Bxf4 exf4 24. Nf1 Rxe1 25. Nxe1 b4 gives Black a momentary edge in space.
• After 21. Nb3 Qd6 22. Qd2 h6 23. Nc1 Nxh3+!! 24. gxh3 g5 25. Bg3 f4 Black wins back the piece with interest.

Black: Sopio Gvetadze
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White: Shen Yang
Position after 20. -- Nf6d8

21. f3?!

• There is no need to weaken White's kingside pawns with this move.
• 21. Nb3 Qd6 22. Na5 Bc8 23. Nb3 Nf4 24. Ra5 Bb7 is drawish.

21. -- Ne6 22. Ra7

• White's superiority is on the queenside. She seeks activity there.
• If 22. Nb3 c5 then:
• 23. Ra5 Ra8 24. c4 Rxa5
• After 25. Nxa5 Ba6 26. cxb5 Bxb5 27. Nb3 Nhf4 28. Nc4 Qc7 gives Black an edge in space.
• After 23. Qd2 Ra8 24. Na5 Bc8 25. Nb3 Rza1 26. Rxa1 Nhf4 27. Ra8 Bb7 28. Rxf8+ Bxf8 Black's spatial edge is significant.
22. -- Ba8 23. Nb3


• White continues to maneuver on the queenside.
• If 23. b4 then:
• 23. -- Qc6 24. Qa1 Nhf4 25. Nb3 Nxg2 26. Nxg2 Qxf3 27. Rxa8 Rxa8 28. Qd1 Qxh3 29. Re3 Qg4 30. Qxg4 fxg4 Black has a Rook and three pawns for two minor pieces.
• After 25. Kh2 Bb7 26. Qb2 e4 37. d4 exf3 28. gxf3 Ra8 29. Ra5 Qd7 30. Raa1 Rxa1 31. Qxa1 Ra8 Black retains a sizable edge in space.
• 23. -- Bc6 24. Nb3 Nhf4 25. !Qd2 Ra8 26. Ba5 Rxa5 27. bxa5 Bb7 28. Nd1 Ra8 29. Bg3 Qd6 30. Nb2 Qa3 Black is winning.

23. -- Nhf4 24. Kh2 Qd6 25. Kh1?!

• This is a slight inaccuracey that makes a big difference in the game. White has placed her King in the line of fire of Black's Bishop.
• Better is 25. Kg1 Rb8 26. Qd2 Bc6 27. Ra3 Bb7 28. Ra5 c6 29. Ra7 Rf7 30. Rea1 c5 with an unclear position.

Black: Sopio Gvetadze
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White: Shen Yang
Position after 25. Kh2h1

25. -- Bh6?!

• Black misses the best line.
• 25. -- Kg8 26. Qd2 Bc6 27. Ra3 Bb7 28. Ra5 c6 29. Ra7 Rf7 30. Rea1 c5 maintains Black's advantage.

26. Bf2

• This is better than the alernative, although the text move seems less aggressive.
• After 26. d4 exd4 27. Nxd4 Nxd4 28. Qxd4+ Qxd4 29. cxd4 Bg7 White must extricate herself from the mating net.

26. -- Rd8 27. d4 Bg7 28. dxe5 Qxe5 29. Qb1

• Black's control of space has the effect of giving White few options. This move does little else than mark time.
• 29. Qa1 Qf6 30. Qa6 Qg5 31. Qxb5 Nxg2 32. Nxg2 Bxf3 33. Rg1 Nf4 gives Black an extra piece.

29. -- Qf6 30. Rg1?

• The Rook is offsided here.
• 30. Bg3 Qg5 31. Nf1 Bd5 32. Qc1 Nxh3 33. Rxe6 Bxe6 34. Bxc7 Qxc1 35. Nxc1 Rd1 is even.

Black: Sopio Gvetadze
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White: Shen Yang
Position after 30.Re1g1

30. -- Nxh3!!

• After this sacrifice, Black wins quickly and spectacularly.
• 30. -- Qg5 31. Qf1 Qh6 32. Nd1 Bxf3!! 33. gxf3 Nxh3 works, but slowly.

31. gxh3 Bxf3+ 32. Ng2

• If 32. Kh2 Qe5+ 33. Rg3 f4 34. Rxf3 Ng5 35. Kg2 Nxf3 then:
• After 36. Ng4 Qe2 37. Nd4 Nxd4 38. cxd4 Rxd4 Black has a Rook and three pawn for two minor pieces.
• After 36. Nf5 Nd2 37. Nxd2 Rxd2 38. Qf1 Qd5+ 39. Kh2 gxf5 Black has a Rook and two pawns for a minor piece.

32. -- Nf4 33. Kh2 Ne2 34. Nd4 Qe5+ 35. Kh1 Rxd4! 36. Qe1

After
• 36. cxd4 Ng3+ 37. Bxg3 Qxg3 mate at h3 or h2 cannot be stopped.
• 36. Bxd4 Ng3+ 37. Kh2 Nf1+ 38. Kh1 Qh2#.

36. -- Rdd8 37. Bh4 g5 38. Qf2

• 38. Bxg5 Ng3+ 39. Kh2 Nf1+ 40. Kh1 Qh2#.

38. -- gxh4 39. Re1 Qg3 40. Rxe2

• If 40. Qxg3 Nxg3+ then:
• 41. Kg1 Bxg2 42. Kxg2 Rd2+ 43. Kf3 Rxc2 leaves Black up by two minor pieces.
• 41. Kh2 Rd2 42. Rg1 Be5 43. Bb1 Ne4+ 44. Kh1 Nf2#.

40. -- Bxe2 41. Qxe2 Rfe8 42. Qf1 Rd2 43. 0-1

• After 43. Be4 Be5 44. Qg1 Qxh3+ Black mates on the next move.
• Ms. Gvetadze resigns.