The deterioration from a position of strength to a losing one, might just be a matter of one move in a game of chess. The opponent also has to be on the look-out for any opportunity or a chance even in a disadvantageous position.
Here, luck does have to play a part but then it is not impossible.
In the game which follows, White builds up a good position and looks set for victory but suddenly sacrifices a rook for a bishop. Black, given a second lease of life, grabs the opportunity with both hands and converts a difficult game into a winning one..
White: Bukhuti Gurgenidze (2370) – Black: Zurab Sturua (2505)
Tbilisi , 1991,
The Centre Counter Gambit
1.e4 d5
The Centre Counter Gambit where Black temporarily sacrifices a pawn on the very first move!
2.exd5. Accepting the gambitted pawn
2. ..Nf6 3.Bb5+ Bd7
If 3...c6 4.dxc6 bxc6 5.Bc4 e5 6.d3 Bc5 7.Nf3 white gets advantage
4.Bc4
If 4.Be2 Nxd5
4...Bg4 5.f3 Bc8
Back to square one! If 5...Bf5 6.g4 Bc8 (6...Bg6 7.Nc3 c6 8.f4 h5 9.f5 Bh7 10.g5 Nxd5 11.Qxh5) 7.Nc3 c6
6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.d4 Nb6 8.Bb3 Nfxd5. Getting back the gambitted pawn with a couple of exchanges
9.Nxd5 Nxd5 10.c4 Nf6 11.Be3 e6. If 11...c6 12.Qd2 g6 13.Ne2 Bg7 14.0–0 0–0 15.Rad1
12.Ne2 Be7 13.0–0 0–0
Both have now castled on the same side
14.Nc3 b6
Making way for the light square bishop to come out on a good diagonal
15.Qe2 Ba6 16.Qf2 Qc8
He could have played 16. ..Bb7
17.Rfd1 Qb7.
These are not the usual moves made by black and the game is going into uncharted territories
18.a4 Rad8 19.Ba2 Qa8. Another strange looking move!
White has already hinted that he is keen on concentrating on the queen side
20.Rab1 Bb7 21.b4
Continuing with his plan
21. ..a5 22.b5 Bb4 23.Ne2 Nd7 24.Nf4 c5
Crowding on the queen side
25.Nd3
If 25.bxc6 Bxc6 26.Bb3
25...cxd4 26.Bxd4 Be7
With the intention of playing Bf6
27.Bxb6. Going for the pawn! If 27.Qg3 Bf6 28.Bxf6 Nxf6 29.c5 bxc5 30.Nxc5 Bd5
27...Nxb6 28.Qxb6 Bxf3
29.gxf3 Qxf3 30.Nf2
The knight comes to the defence in the nick of time
30. ..Rc8 31.Rd6
Sacrificing the exchange (rook for bishop) does not appear a good move.
Better was 31.Rd3 Qe2 gaining advantage for White.
Here White would have got a good grip on the game with 31.Qd4 Bc5 32.Qh4
Diagram 1
31...Bxd6
Black grabs this opportunity with both hands to get back into the game
32.Qxd6 Rfd8 33.Qg3 Qe2 34.Bb3 h6 35.Qg4 Qe3
Refusing repeatedly White’s attempt to exchange queens
36.Qe4 Qg5+
Resisting yet another attempt!
37.Kh1 Rd2
Invading the seventh rank
38.Rg1 Qc5 39.Ng4 Kh8 40.Ne5
If 40.Nf6 Qf5 41.Qxf5 exf5 42.Nd5 Rb2 43.Rg3 g5 44.Rc3 Re8
40...f5 41.Qe1 Rb2 42.Bd1 Kh7 43.Bf3 Rd8 44.Qg3 g5
Black has started sounding an attack on the king side
45.Nf7 Rdd2 46.Nxg5+
More a desperate sacrifice than anything else! But unfortunately it does not work!
46. ..hxg5 47.Qh3+ Kg6 48.Rxg5+
Yet another desperate sacrifice!
48. ..Kf6
If 48...Kxg5 49.Qh5+ (49.Qg3+ Kf6 50.Qh4+ Ke5 51.Qg3+ Kd4)
49.Qh6+ Ke5 50.Qh8+ Kf4 51.Qh4+ Kxf3
Walking boldly into enemy territory and grabbing a piece
52.Rg3+ Ke2 53.Qh5+ Ke1
Plumb into the first rank of the enemy!
54.Rg1+ Qxg1+
A queen sacrifice which shuts the door firmly on White
55.Kxg1 Rg2+ 56.Kh1 Rgf2 57.Qh4 Rb1 and White resigned
Diagram 2
Black to play and win
.. Bd2+ 2.Qxd2 Rc1+ 3.Qxc1 Qe2 checkmate.
