Reply #6: Jansa - Klovans, Senior World Championship, Valle d'Aosta

[Jack Rabbit]

Vlastimil Jansa
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Vlastimil Jansa vs. Janis Klovans
Senior World Champiohsip, Round 11
Valle d'Aosta (Italy), September 2006

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Zaitsev Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 0-0 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. d5

• A satisfactory alternative is 12. a4 exd4 13. cxd4 Na5 14. axb5 axb5 15. e5.

12. -- Nb8 13. Nf1 Nbd7 14. N3h2

• The game is even. Typical of the Spanish Game, White's pieces are pointed kingside, but Black's defense is solid.
• If 14. Ng3 Be7 15. a4 then:
• 15. -- c5 16. Nf5 Qa5 17. Bg5 b4 18. cxb4 and White has thee usual edge in central space.
• 15. -- g6 16. Bh6 bxa4 17. Bxa4 Rc8 18. Qe2 also give White the edge in space and piece activity.

14. -- Nc5 15. Bc2 c6 16. b4 Ncd7 17. dxc6 Bxc6 18. Bg5

• The position is even. Black will either play his Queen to c7 or his King's Bishop to e7 in order to free his Knights.
• If 18. a4 Qc7 19. Bb2 Nb6 then:
• 20. axb5 axb5 21. Nd2 Be7 with equality.
• 20. a5 Nc4 21. Bc1 d5 22. exd5 Nxd5 and Black has more active pieces.
• 20. Ng4 Nxg4 21. Qxg4 Nxa4 22. Bxa4 bxa4 and Black's pieces have more freedom.

18. -- Qc7 19. Bxf6 Nxf6 20. Ng4 Nxg4 21. hxg4?!

• Better is 21. Qxg4 Bb7 22. Qf3 Be7 23. Bb3 Bg5 24. Rad1 when White has the edge in piece mobility. The text move allows Black to take the initiative.

21. -- Rac8

• Black takes control of the c-file and puts White on the defensive.
• 21. -- Rec8 22. a4 Bb7 23. Re3 a5 24. bxa5 Rxa5 also gives Black control of the c-file.

22. Bb3 Bd7 23. Rc1 Be7 24. Ne3!

• The Knight is headed for d5.
• Black rebuffs White's attack by 24. c4 Bg5 25. Rc2 Bc6 26. Ng3 Red8 27. Nf5 h6 28. a3 g6 and seizes the initiative.

24. -- Bg5 25. Nd5 Qb8?!

• Black makes an inferior move, relieving pressure on the c-file.
• Better is 25. -- Qc6 26. Rc2 then:
• 26. -- Be6
• 27. c4 Qb7 28. a3 Rc6 and Black has a little bit better pawn structure and a little more freedom for his pieces.
• 27. a3 a5 28. c4 axb4 29. axb4 Red8 and Black has a slightly superior pawn structure.
• 26. -- Qb7 27. c4 bxc4 28. Rxc4 Rxc4 29. Bxc4 Rc8 and has better command of open lines.
• 26. -- h6 27. c4 Qb7 28. Qe2 bxc4 29. Bxc4 Rc6 =+

26. Rc2 Rc6 27. g3

• White uses his time to strenghten his position. The move is a prophylaxis against the Bishop moving to f4.
• If 27. Qe2 a5 when:
• 28. a4 axb4 29. axb5
• 29. -- Rcc8 30. Bc4 b3 31. Rb2 White bockades the pawn adn leaves his own c-pawn protected.
• 29. -- Rc5 30. c4 Qa8 31. Nb6 Qb7 32. Nxd7 Qxd7 33. Ra2 and White has better command of open lines.
• 28. bxa5 Ra6 29. Nb6 Bc6 30. Bd5 Bxd5 31. Nxd5 andf the game is balanced.

27. -- Qc8 28. f3 Be6 29. Qd3

• Black has had a small edge since White's inaccurate 21st move, but White has fought back and equalized.
• If 29. c4 Qb7 30. a3 Rec8 31. Qe2 then:
• 31. -- Bd8 32. Kg2 Bb6 33. Qd3 Bd4 with chances for both sides.
• 31. -- a5 32. Kg2 axb4 33. axb4 Bh6 with a level game.

29. -- Bd8 30. Kg2!

• White's plan is to double the Rooks on the h-file and attack.

30. -- Qb7 31. Rh1 Be7?

• This move relieves the pressure on the center for no benefit to Black.
• Correct is 31. -- Bg5 32. c4 bxc4 33. Bxc4 h6 when:
• 34. a4 Rec8 and Black has command of an open diagonal while White has nothing comparable.
• 34. f4? is bad for White because after the exchanges 34. -- exf4 35. gxf4 Bxf4 36. Nxf4 Bxc4 37. Rxc4 Rxc4 38. Qxc4 Rxe4 -+

Black: Janis Klovans
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White: Vlastimil Jansa
Position after 31. -- Bd8e7

32. Kf1!

• This quiet-looking move clears the path for the Rook on c2 to join his comrade on the h-file. The game is now won for White.
• If 32. c4? Bg5 then Black gets back in the game:
• 33. a4 bxc4 34. Bxc4 Rec8 35. Rh5 h6 and White's attack is stopped.
• 33. cxb5 Rxc2+ 34. Bxc2 axb5 35. Rh5 h6 and Black actually has a small edge in piece activity.

32. -- Rec8

• Black tries to keep the pressure up, but it is of no use.
• 32. -- Rcc8 33. Rch2 h6 34. Qe3 Bxd5 35. Bxd5 Rxc3 36. Rxh6 and Black must give up his Queen to avoid mate: 26. -- gxh6 37. Qxh6 Bf6 38. Bxb7.

33. Rch2 h6 34. Qe3 Kf8 35. g5 h5

• If 35. -- Bxg5 36. Qxg5 then:
• 36. -- Rxc3 37. Rxh6 gxh6
• 38. Rxh6 Rxf3+ 39. Ke2 Ke8 40. Kxf3 and White contiues to penetrate Black's camp from the kingside.
38. Qxh6+ Ke8 39. Nxc3 Rxc3 40. Bxe6 and the Bishop cannot be taken becuase of a forced mate, for example: 40. fxe6 41. Qxe6+ Qe7 42. Rh8#.
• 36. -- f6 37. Qg6 Qf7 38. Qh7 Ke8 39. Kg2 and White's heavy pieces on the kingside are dominating the entire position.
• 36. -- hxg5 37. Rh8#

36. Rxh5 Ke8 37. Rh8+ Kd7 38. Rxc8 Kxc8 39. Rh8+ Kd7

• 39. -- Bd8 40. a4 bxa4 41. Bxa4 Bxd5 42. exd5 Rb6 43. Be8 and White wins material.

40. g6 fxg6 41. Nxe7 1-0

• If 41. Nxe7 Kxe7 42. Qg5+ then Black is soon mated:
• 42. -- Kf7 43. Bxe6+ Kxe6 44. Qxg6+
• 44. -- Ke7 45. Qxg7+ Ke6 46. Rh6#
• 44. -- Kd7 45. Qf7#
• 42. -- Kd7 43. Qd8#
• Klovans resigns.