Reply #4: Kransenkow - K. Lie, Round 7, Gausdal

[Jack Rabbit]

Michal Krasenkow
Photo: ChessBase.com

Michal Krasenkow vs. Kjetil Lie
Chess Classic, Round 7
Gausdal, Oppland (Norway), April 2007

Open Sicilian Game: Royal Dragaon Defense (Maroczy Opening)

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. e4 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Be2 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Bg7 9. Bg5

• If 9. Be3 0-0 10. Qd2 Be6 11. Rc1 Qa5
• 12. 0-0 Rfc8 13. b3 a6 14. f4 b5 15. f5 Bd7 16. fxg6 hxg6 17. e5 b4 18. exf6 bxc3 19. Qd4 Bxf6 20. Rxf6 exf6 21. Qxf6 is equal (Suba-Deze, Novi Sad 1974).
• 12. f3 Rfc8 13. b3 a6 14. Na4 Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2 Nd7 16. g4 is even.

9. -- 0-0 10. Qd2 Be6 11. Rd1

• If 11. Rc1 Qa5
• 12. f3 Rfc8 13. b3 a6 14. Na4 Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2 Nd7 16. g4 is balanced.
• 12. 0-0 a6 13. b3 Rfc8 14. f4 Rc5 15. Qe3 Re8 16. Kh1 is unclear (Oleksienko-Spiridonov, Breizh Masters, Guingamp (France) 2007).

11. -- a6 12. 0-0 Qc7

• 12. -- Qa5 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Nd5 Qxd2 15. Nxf6+ exf6 16. Rxd2 b5 17. cxb5 axb5 18. a3 gives White an extra pawn and better pawn structure (Campora-Morovic, Spanish TCh, Memorca 1994).

13. b3 Rfc8

• 13. -- Rac8 14. a4 Rfe8 15. Kh1 Nd7 16. Bh6 Bf6 17. f4 Qa5 is equal (Volokitin-Tiviakov, Rur Ind Ch, Istanbul 2003).

14. f4 b5?!

• Black ventures into uncharted waters. The purpose of the move is to fight for queenside space.
• The text move looks like a bust. White now obtains better piece activity and Black must quickly abandon his queenside designs.
14. -- Re8 15. f5 Bd7 16. Kh1 Bc6 17. Qf4 Qa5 18. Rd3 Qe5 19. fxg6 hxg6 20. Qxe5 dxe5 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. Nd5 Rab8 gives White an extra pawn, but the position is unclear (Renet-Petursson, IT, Reykjavik 1992).

15. f5

• White turns his attention to the kingside.
• 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. Qxd5 Qa7+ 18. Kh1 Rc5 19. Qd2 Rb8 gives Black slightly better piece activity.

15. -- b4

• Black still tries to keep the balance on the opposite wing.
• 15. -- gxf5 16. exf5 Bd7 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Nd5 Qc5+ 19. Kh1 bxc4 20. Bxc4 gives White a tremendous edge in space and piece activity.
• 15. -- bxc4 16. fxe6 cxb3 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. exf7+ Kh8 19. exd5 bxa2 20. Qxa2 is completely won for White.

16. fxe6 bxc3 17. exf7+

• Each side has established a passed pawn withing the other's defensive parimiter. Neither pawn is likely to promote, but each can (and eventually does does) cause some axiety to the opposing side.
• For the moment, White has far the better of it with greater piece activity and better mobility.

17. -- Kf8

• This is better than taking the pawn.
• If 17. -- Kxf7? 18. Qxc3 then:
• 18. -- Rab8 19. Qh3 Qa5 20. Bxf6 exf6 21. Qxh7 gives White an overwhelming position.
• 18. -- a5 19. Bg4 Rcb8 20. e5 Qc5+ 21. Kh1 Qxe5 22. Qd2 gives White considerably more mobility.

18. Qe3 Qc5

• Black's c-pawn is advanced, but within White's defensive parimeter it will take preparation to move it with advantage.
• 18. -- c2 19. Rd2 Kxf7 20. Rxc2 Kg8 21. c5 dxc5 22. Bc4+ gives White command of open lines.

19. Bf3 Rab8 20. Qxc5?!

• It's usually better to let one's opponent initiate the exchange. This move only helps Black activate a Rook.
• Better is 20. Rd3 Kxf7 21. Rxc3 Kg8 22. Rc2 a5 23. Qxc5 Rxc5 24. Be3 giving White an active Bishop, more central space and better mobility.

20. -- Rxc5 21. Be3 Ra5 22. Rf2 Nd7 23. Ba7?!

• White attacks a Rook, only provoking it to attack the Bishop in reply.
• Better is 23. Rd5 Rxd5 24. exd5 Ne5 25. Bd1 Nxf7 26. Kf1 Kg8 27. Ke1 when White has an active defense against the advance of the c-pawn.

23. -- Rb7 24. Bd4?!

• Allowing Black to exchange Bishops only helps him relieve his cramped kingside.
• Better is 24. Be3 Ne5 25. c5 dxc5 26. Bg4 Bf6 27. Be6 Nxf7 28. Bxf7 Kxf7 29. e5 wen Whie continues to enjoy better piece activity on the kingside and in the center.

24. -- Bxd4 25. Rxd4 Ne5 26. h3

• The text move keeps the Knight out of g4, but neglects Black's plan to advance the c-pawn.
• 26. Bd1 h6 27. Kf1 Rd7 28. Rd5 Ra3 29. c5 dxc5 30. Rxd7 Nxd7 keeps the c-pawn under watch.

26. -- Nc6?!

• Black initiates a faulty plan.
• If 26. -- Kxf7 then:
• 27. Rd5 Ra3 28. Rc2 Ke6 29. Kf1 a5 30. Rxc3 Rxa2 31. Bd1 Rb4 is level.
• 27. Bd1+ Ke6 28. Rc2 Ra3 29. Rd5 a5 30. Kh2 Rb4 is equal.
• 26. -- Nxf3+ 27. gxf3 Kxf7 28. Rd3 g5 29. Rxc3 h5 30. Rd3 gives White an extra pawn and better mobility.

27. Rd1

• White retreats to defend against the advance of the c-pawn.
• If 27. Rd5
• 27. -- Ra3 28. e5 Nb4 29. Rd1 Rb8 30. exd6 exd6 31. Be4 Rxa2 32. Rxa2 Nxa2 is level.
• 27. -- Kxf7? 28. e5 Rc7 29. exd6 exd6 30. Rxa5 Nxa5 31. Rc2 Nc6 32. Rxc3 gives White an extra pawn and a promising endgame.

27. -- e5?!

• Black sacrifices a pawn hoping for a foothold in the center, but it only make the rank less navigable for the Rook.
• If 27. -- Rb8 28. Bg4 Nb4 29. a4 then:
• 29. -- Re5! 30. Rdf1 Rxe4 31. Bd1 Re3 makes the c-pawn a greater threat, giving Black a strong initiative.
• 29. -- c2? 30. Rdf1 c1Q 31. Rxc1 Nd3 32. Rc3 gives White two extra pawns.

28. Rxd6

• White takes the pawn and gains time on the Knight.
• Although the text is better, White still has a strong position after 28. Rc1 Nd4 29. Rxc3 h6 30. Rd2 Rc5 31. Kf2 Rcc7 32. Rcd3.

28. -- Nd4 29. Rd8+ Kxf7

• Any other move results in checkmate.

Black: Kjetil Lie
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White: Michal Krasenkow
Position after 29. -- Kf8f7:p

30. Bd1+!

• The retreat is defensive, necessary and effective. White must overprotect the c2 square.
• 30. Rd5 Rxd5 31. exd5 Ke8 32. Kh1 c2 33. Rf1 Rf7 34. Rc1 is equal.

30. -- Kg7 31. Rc8

• The best way to keep the pressure up is to push the passed pawn. The preferable method of protecting the pawn with a Rook standing behind it is not possible. White therefore does the next best thing.
• 31. g3 Rf7 32. Rg2 c2 33. Bxc2 Rxa2 34. Bb1 Rxg2+ 35. Kxg2 Nxb3 is a level game.
• 31. g4 Rf7 32. Rg2 c2 33. Bxc2 Rxa2 34. Bb1 Ra3 35. Ba2 is equal.

31. -- Rf7 32. a4 c2 33. Rxc2!

• Obviously, this is the right way to capture the nasty little pawn.
• 33. Bxc2? drops a piece to 33. -- Rxf2 34. Kxf2 Nxc2 35. Rc7+ Kh6 36. g4 Nd4.

33. -- Nxb3 34. c5 Rxa4 35. c6 Ra1

• Cleary, this is Black's best shot.
• After 35. -- Kh6 36. c7 Ra1 37. Re8 Rxd1+ 38. Kh2 Black must give up a Rook to stop the pawn.

Black: Kjetil Lie
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White: Michal Krasenkow
Position after 35. Ra3a1

36. c7!

• The worst White can do now is draw, but that is the most likely outcome.
• 36. Kh2 Rxd1 37. c7 Nd2 38. Rd8 Nf1+ 39. Kg1 Nd2+ 40. Kh2 etc. draws by repetition.
• After 36. Rd8 Rc7 37. Kf2 Kh6 38. Bf3 Na5 39. Rd6 Rb1 the c-pawn is doomed.

36. -- Rxd1+ 37. Kh2 Kh6

• As in the red variation n the note to White's 36th move, 37. -- Nd2 38. Rd8 Nf1+ 39. Kg1 Nd2+ draws by repetition.

38. Rh8

• The move is satisfactory, but not the strongest.
• The fastest road to victory is38. Re8 Rxc7 39. Rxc7 Re1 40. Rxe5 Nd2 41. Ra5leaving Black an exchange up for the ending.

38. -- Rxc7 39. Rxc7 Kg5 40. Rhxh7 Nd2 41. Rcd7 Kf4?

• Black misses his final chance to draw.
• 41. -- Nf1+ 42. Kg1 Nd2+ etc. would still salvage a half point.

Black: Kjetil Lie
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White: Michal Krasenkow
Position after 41. -- Kg5f4

42. Rhf7+!!

• White gains time to escape escape the repetiton of moves.

42. -- Kxe4

• After 42. -- Kg5 43. g3 Nf1+ 44. Kg2 Rxd7 45. Rxd7 Ne3+ 46. Kf3 the Rook trumps the Bishop.

43. h4! Ke3

• 43. -- a5 44. Kg3 Nf1+ 45. Kf2 Ne3 46. Rxd1 Nxd1+ 47. Kg3 Nc3 48. Rf6 cleary gives White the upper hand.

44. Ra7 Nf1+ 45. Kh3 e4

• After 45. -- Ke2 46. Rxa6 Rd3+ 47. Rf3 e4 48. Re6 White wins.

46. Rxa6 Ke2 47. Rxg6 e3 48. h5 Rd3 49. h6 Kd2 50. Rf3 1-0

• After 50. Rf3 Rd5 51. Rxf1 e2 52. Rf2 Ke3 53. Rf8 e1Q 54. Re6+ White's pawns ride home to victory.
• Kjetil resigns.