Democratic Underground - L'Ami - Spoelman, Dutch Championships, Round 1, Hiversum

Erwin L'Ami
Photo: ChessBase.com

Erwin L'Ami vs. Wouter Spoelman
Dutch National Championships, Round 1
Hilversum, June 2007

Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. g3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d5 6. Bg2 e5 7. Nf3 d4

7. -- e4 is relatively untested, but it seems to offer something for Black: 8. Nd4 dxc4 9. 0-0 Na6 10. Nc3 Nc5 11. Ndb5 a6 12. Qxd8+ Kxd8 13. Rd1+ Bd7 14. Nd6 Bxd6 15. Rxd6 Ke7 16. Rd1 Bc6 gives Black a modest spatial plus (Ftacnik-Totsky, Czech Op, Pardubice 1997)

8. 0-0 Nc6 9. e3 Bc5

If 9. -- Be7 10. exd4 exd4 11. Bf4 0-0 12. Ne5 then:

12. -- Qb6 13. Qb3 Na5 14. Qxb6 axb6 15. Nd2 Nh5 16. Nb3 Nxf4 17. gxf4 Rd8 18. Nxa5 Rxa5 19. Bd5 Kf8 20. a4 f6 21. Nf3 Raxd5 22. cxd5 Rxd5 23. Rfd1 d3 gives Black more than enough compensation for the exchange (Beliavsky-Rublevsky, FIDE Grand Prix, Moscow 2002).
12. -- Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Bc5 14. Nd2 Re8 15. Re1 Ng4 16. Bf4 Rxe1+ 17. Qxe1 d3 18. Ne4 Bd4 is equal (Alburt-Furman, Soviet Ch, Yerevan 1975).

10. exd4 exd4 11. Bf4

If 11. Re1+ Be6 12. Ng5 0-0 13. Nxe6 fxe6 then:

14. Nd2

14. -- Qb6 15. Nb3 Rad8 16. Rxe6 d3 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. Rxe3 Nb4 19. c5 Qa6 gives Black an edge in space and a passed pawn, which is the center of attention (Nielsen-Nisipeanu, Ol, Torino 2006).
14. -- Qd6 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 h6 17. Bd3 Rf6 18. a3 a5 19. Qe2 a4 is equal (Ehlvest-Topalov, IT, Novgorod 1995).

14. Rxe6 d3 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Be3 Bd4 17. Nc3 Qd7 18. Qxd3 Qxe6 19. Qxd4 Rad8 20. Qxa7 Ng4 21. Bd4 Rd7 is level (Nenashev-Kasparov, Baku 1978).

11. -- 0-0 12. Nbd2!?

White decides to try something different.
12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Re8 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Nd2 Qb6 16. Nb3 Be6 17. Bxb7 Rad8 18. Nxc5 Qxc5 19. b3 is equal as Black has compensation for the pawn (Andrianov-Kasparov, Baku 1978).

12. -- Bf5

In response to the novelty, Black chooses a move that develops a piece and grabs more space.
12. -- Qb6 13. Nb3 Be6 14. Nxc5 Qxc5 15. b3 gives Balck a small edge in space, but his most important pawn is weak and White is blessed with the Bishops in an open position.

13. Nb3 Qb6 14. Ne5!?

White is looking for some adventure that a chess player does not get playing the objectively best move at every turn.
14. Bg5 Ne4 15. Nh4 Nxg5 16. Nxf5 Ne6 17. Re1 g6 18. Nh6+ Kg7 is equal.

14. -- Rfe8

It's easy to see through the bait and Black is not biting.
14. -- Nxe5?! drops a pawn to 15. Bxe5 Ng4 16. Bxd4 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Qh6 18. h3.

15. Nxc6

This is not the most accurate move.
Best is 15. Nd3! (blockading the d-pawn) 15. -- Bf8 16. Re1 Rxe1+ 17. Nxe1 Rd8 18. Nd3 Be7 19. Rc1 with equality.
15. Re1?! Rad8 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Rxe8+ Rxe8 18. Rc1 d3 gives Black an edge in space and his weak pawn is becoming a strong concern for White.

15. -- bxc6 16. Re1

Black has a healthy edge in space; White move to cut into it.
Black continues to enjoy an edge in space after 16. Rc1 Bg4 17. f3 d3+ 18. Nxc5 Qxc5+ 19. Kh1 Bf5 20. Bd2 a5.

16. -- Ne4?!

White responds to the challenge in the e-file by shielding it.

16. -- Rxe1+ 17. Qxe1 Re8 18. Qd1 Be4 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Qd3

Black: Wouter Spoelman
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White: Erwin L'Ami
Position after 16. -- Nf6e4

17. Qd3!

White simply forces the Knight to retreat.
17. Nxc5 Qxc5 18. Qh5 Nf6 19. Qg5 h6 20. Qh4 Qxc4 21. Bxh6 Qb4 gives Black more space an superior piece activity.

17. -- Nd6 18. Qf3

Sufficient, but not the most efficient.
Stronger is 18. Qf1 Bb4 19. Rxe8+ Rxe8 20. a3 g5 21. Bxg5 Bc5 22. Nxc5 Qxc5 23. Bf6/

18. -- Bd7

Black preseves his Bishop.
If 18. -- Ne4 19. Bc7 Qxc7 20. Qxf5 then:

20. -- Re5 21. Qf4 g5 22. Qc1 Nf6 23. Qd2 Bb6 24. Rac1 Nd7 25. Rxe5 Qxe5 26. Bxc6 Rd8 27. c5 wins a pawn.
20. -- g6 21. Qh3 Ng5 22. Qg4 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Bb4 24. Rd1 Ne6 25. Nxd4 wins a pawn.

19. Nxc5 Qxc5 20. b3 a5?

Black is wasting precious time.
After 20. -- Rxe1+ 21. Rxe1 Re8 22. Re2 Rxe2 23. Qxe2 White is better, but Black's game is still playable.

21. Rad1 Nf5 22. Qd3 h6

Black seems to be addicted to pointless pawn moves.
22. -- Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 a4 24. Re5 axb3 then:

25. axb3 Ra1+ 26. Bf1 Qf8 27. Rxf5 Bxf5 28. Qxf5 White has two minor pieces for a Rook and more space.
After 25. Rxc5?? bxa2! the pawn must promote.

23. h3!

Some players can build monuments from quiet moves like this one.
IThe text is beter than 23. Bh3 Rad8 when:

After 24. Bc7 Rc8 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. a3 g6 27. g4 Nh4 28. Qg3 g5 29. Bd6 White is better, but there is much work to do before he wins.
24. Rxe8+? Rxe8 25. a3 Nxg3 26. Qxg3 Qh5 27. Rd3 Re1+ 28. Kg2 Qe2 29. Rxd4 Qf1+ gives Black a winning initiative.

23. -- Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 a4

After 24. -- Re8 25. Rd1 h5 26. Bf3 g6 27. Bh1 Qb6 28. g4 hxg4 29. hxg4 White wins a pawn.

25. Re5 axb3

Black: Wouter Spoelman
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White: Erwin L'Ami
Position after 25. -- ab3:p

26. Rxc5

White goes for the complications of an asymmetrical material balance.
26. axb3 Qb4 27. Bd2 Qb8 28. Rc5 Ra2 29. b4 Qd6 30. Bf4 gives White the initiative.

26. -- bxa2 27. Rxf5 a1Q+ 28. Kh2 Bxf5 29. Qxf5 Qe1

As the smoke clears, White has two active Bishops for a Rook and a pawn

Black: Wouter Spoelman
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White: Erwin L'Ami
Position after 29. -- Qa1e1

30. Be5

While Black's mating attack is an mirage, White's has real teeth.

30. -- Ra1 31. h4 c5

31. -- f6 32. Bxd4 Rd1 33. Qc8+ Kf7 34. Bc5 Qe6 35. Qh8 Re1 36. Bf8 destroys Black's kingside.

32. Be4 Qg1+ 33. Kh3 Qf1+ 34. Kg4 h5+

34. -- Qe2+ 35. f3 h5+ 36. Kg5 Qe3+ 37. Bf4 is lights out for Black.

35. Kg5 Qc1+ 36. Bf4

Also good is 36. f4 when:

After 36. -- f6+ 37. Kg6 Ra8 38. Qd7 White delivers mate on the following move.
36. -- Ra8 37. Qh7+ Kf8 38. Bd6+ Ke8 39. Bc6+ Kd8 40. Qg8#.
36. -- g6 37. Qc8+ Kh7 38. Qh8#.

36. -- g6 37. Qc8+ Kg7 38. Bxc1 Ra2 39. f3 1-0

Young Mh. Spoelman resigns.

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