JOIN USDouble-edged volatile positions in a game of chess have to be very cautiously handled, especially in open positions.
Generally in open positions, the pawns are not blocked and the bishops, rooks and queen enjoy easy mobility and this makes the game dangerous. In such positions there is action on virtually every square and calculations cause a major headache. The ensuing game is one where there are plenty of possibilities and White is first in the driver’s seat, then can battle it out for a draw but ends on the losing side after a few mistakes.
White: Alexei Shirov (2734) – Black: Liviu Dieter Nisipeanu,L (2584)
FIDE-Wch , Las Vegas ,1999
Caro Kann Defence
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5
The Caro-Kann Defence
3.e5 Bf5 4.Nc3. White can also play 4.Nf3 or 4.h4
4...e6
If 4...Qb6 5.Nf3 . 5.g4 Bg6 6.Nge2 c5
If 6...Ne7 7.Nf4. 7.h4 h6
If 7...h5 8.Nf4 Bh7 9.Nxh5 cxd4 10.Nb5. 8.f4
The game is shaping up with a formidable pawn front
8...Be7 9.Bg2
If 9.h5 Bh4+ 10.Kd2 Bh7. 9...Bxh4+ 10.Kf1 Be7
Retreating back! If 10...cxd4 11.Nxd4 Nc6 12.f5 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Bh7 14.Nb5
11.f5 Bh7. If 11...exf5 12.Nxd5 fxg4 13.Nef4
12.Nf4 Qd7. If 12...cxd4 13.fxe6 dxc3 14.exf7+ Kxf7 15.Qxd5+ nets an exchange
13.Nh5. A novelty! If 13.Ncxd5 exd5 14.Nxd5 (14.Bxd5 Bg5) 14...Nc6 15.Bf4 0–0–0 16.c3 Bg5 17.Bxg5 hxg5 18.Qa4 Kb8 and Black is better
13...Bf8. If 13...Kf8 14.fxe6 Qxe6 (14...fxe6 15.Qf3+) 15.Bxd5 Qa6+ 16.Kg2
14.dxc5 Nc6. If 14...exf5 15.Qxd5 Nc6 16.Nb5 0–0–0 17.Nd6+ Bxd6 18.exd6 fxg4 19.Bd2 And if 14...g6 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Nf6+ Nxf6 17.exf6 g5 18.Qe2
15.Nb5 Bxc5
If 15...Nxe5 16.Qe2. 16.c4 . A surprising resource! If 16.Nxg7+ Kf8 17.Nh5 Nxe5 18.Qe2 Nxg4! 19.Qxg4 Qxb5+
16...Nxe5 17.Qe2
If 17.Bf4 Nxc4 18.Nc7+ Qxc7! 19.Bxc7 Ne3+. 17...Nxc4
If [17...dxc4 18.Qxe5 Qxb5 19.Nxg7+ Ke7 20.Be3 and White is stronger. 18.Bxd5 Qxb5
It definitely is a wild game with lot of things happening on board. If 18...Nd2+ 19.Bxd2 0–0–0 20.Nf4 exd5
19.Bxc4 Qb6 20.fxe6. Better appears 20.Nxg7+ Kf8 21.Nh5 Qc6 22.Rh3 …fe6
20...0–0–0
After being dangerously exposed on the original square, the King seeks shelter by castling on queen-side
21.exf7. This pawn well advanced to the seventh rank is White’s hope of pushing for a win. If 21.Bf4 Rd4
21...Ne7. 22.Qe6+ 22...Kb8
If 22...Qxe6 23.Bxe6+ Kb8 24.Bf4+ Ka8. 23.Bf4+
If 23.Nxg7 Rd1+ . 23...Ka8 24.Qxb6
If 24.Nxg7 Qxb2. 24...axb6 25.Be5
If 25.Nxg7 Rd4 26.Ne6 Rxc4 27.Be5 (27.Bxh6 Bd3+ 28.Ke1 Ng6). 25...Rhf8 26.Ke2. A wrong move! White miscalculates and this move probably costs him the game. White should have played 26.Bxg7 Bd3+ 27.Bxd3 Rxf7+ 28.Bf5
26...Nd5
Diagram 1
27.Rhf1. The decisive mistake. Now the game swings in black’s favour. If 27.Rhd1 Rxf7 28.Rxd5 Rxd5 29.Bxd5 Re7. 27...Ne3–+ 28.Bb5
If 28.Bxg7 Nxc4 29.Bxf8 Bd3+ 30.Ke1 Rxf8. 28...Nxf1 29.Rxf1 Bg6 30.Rf4 Bd6 31.Bxd6 Rxd6 32.Bc4
If 32.Be8 Re6+ 33.Kf3 Re7
32...b5 33.Bb3
If 33.Bxb5 Rxf7 34.Rxf7 Bxf7 35.Nxg7 Bxa2. 33...Bd3+ 34.Ke3 g5 35.Rf2
If 35.Rf6 Rxf6 36.Nxf6 Bc4
35...Bc4 36.Bxc4 bxc4 37.Ke4 Rd7 38.Rf6 Rfxf7 39.Rxh6 Rfe7+ 40.Kf5 Rd5+ 41.Kg6 Re2 a . 0–1
Diagram 2
White to play and win
1.Qxf8+ Kxf8 2.Rb8 checkmate.