Reply #13: Matta - Gupta, Round 4

[Jack Rabbit]

Abhijeet Gupta
Photo: All India Chess Federation


Vinay Kumar Matta - Abhijeet Gupta
Wnd Mayor's Cup Open, Round 4
Mumbai, 3 May 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Scheveningen Defense (Rauzer Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6

• For 7...Be7 and what follows, see P. Smirnov-Kryakvin, Russian ChT HL, Sochi, 2009.

8.0-0-0 Bd7

• For further notes on the opening, see Maze-Guilleux, Op, Reykjavik, 2009).[/li>

9.f4 b5 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Kb1 Qb6 12.Nb3 b4!

• Black introduces a novelty that is an improvement over 12...0-0-0 13.g3 Kb8 14.Bg2 Bc8 15.Bf3 Bg7 16.Rhe1 giving White the advantage in space and better pawn structure (Shamkovich-Zaltsman, Op, New York, 1980).

13.Na4?!

• The Knight has nowhere to go from a4.
• The retreat is better: 13.Ne2 a5 14.Qd3 a4 15.Nd2 Na5 16.Qd4.

13...Qc7!?

• Slightly better is 13...Qb7! (better protecting Black's queenside pieces) when if 14.c4 then 14...Nd8! 15.e5 fxe5 16.fxe5 Bxa4 wins the Knight.

14.Qf2 Rb8 15.f5??

• There are two things wrong with this move: first, it does nothing about the hanging Knight at a4; second, it Black's Knight a splendid outpost to move, discovering attack on the hanging Knight that has nowhere to go.
• Correct is 15.Na1! Ne7 16.b3 (both protecting the Knight and opening a square to which it can retreat) 16...f5 then:
• 17.Qd4 Rg8 18.Qxd6 Qxd6 19.Rxd6 fxe4 20.Rxa6 Nd5 Black is better, but White's game is playable.
• 17.exf5 Bxa4 18.bxa4 Bg7 19.Qe1 Bxa1 20.Kxa1 Qxc2 leaves Black better, but Whit can fight on.

BLACK: Abhijeet Gupta
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WHITE: Vinay Kumar Matta
Position after 15.f4f5

15...Ne5!

16.fxe6 Bxa4 17.Qxf6 Rg8 18.Bxa6 Rxg2 19.exf7+ Qxf7

• White has only two pawns for the Knight and those are weak.

20.Qh4

• If 20.Qxf7+ Kxf7 then:
• If 21.Rdg1 Rxg1+ 22.Rxg1 Rb6 23.Be2 then:
• 23...Bxb3 24.cxb3 Bg7 25.Bc4+ Nxc4 26.bxc4 Rc6 Black's material advantage is now decisive.
• 23...Bc6 24.Bd3 Bg7 25.Nd4 Bb7 26.Rf1+ Bf6 Black has a winning position.
• 21.Rdf1+ Ke7 22.Nd4 Rd2 23.Rd1 Rf2 24.Rdf1 Rxf1+ maintains the material advantage for Black.

20...Qg6 21.Rhf1 Be7 22.Qe1

• 22.Qf4 Rb6 23.Bd3 Nxd3 24.cxd3 Bxb3 25.axb3 Qe6 is time to turn out the lights.

22...Rxh2 23.Qe3 Bc6 24.Qf4 Rxc2

• Black is a whole piece to the good. The rest requires no comment.

BLACK: Abhijeet Gupta
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WHITE: Vinay Kumar Matta
Position after 24...Rh2c2:p

25.Nd4 Rg2 26.Nxc6 Nxc6 27.Bc4 Kd7 28.Bf7 Qg7 29.Rd2 Rxd2 30.Be6+ Kc7 31.Qxd2 Qd4 32.Qc2 Rb5 33.Rd1 Rc5 34.Qe2 Bg5 35.Bb3 Qe3 36.Qf1 Qxe4+ 37.Ka1 Qf4 0-1