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Winning with least possible moves is the most beautiful finish

Last Updated 09 April 2011, 14:37 IST

There would undoubtedly be a debate on this one but most experts opine that the one which is the most economical or the one which wraps up the game in the least possible moves, is the most beautiful one!

However in the game which follows, White is saddled with an unpleasant attack after he castles on the queen side and with so many Black pieces rustled up on the queenside, Black misses a quick finish which could have also been a spectacular one!
White; Alexei Fedorov (2500) – Black: Sergey Shipov (2525)

St Petersburg, 1994; Sicilian Defence

1.e4 c5  The Sicilian Defence
2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e6 7.Be3 b5 8.g4  
Trying to force play on opposite flanks
8. ..Bb7 9.Qd2 A hint that White has intentions of castling on the queen side
9. ..Nbd7 10.0–0–0 Nb6 11.g5
Now trying to push through on the King side. Note that black’s King is still standing on the original square
11. ..Nfd7 12.Qg2 g6
Till now the players were following previously played moves but now Black makes a new move. If 12...Rc8 13.g6 hxg6 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Qxg6+ Ke7 16.Bg5+ Nf6 17.e5
And if 12...b4 13.Nb1 Ne5 14.Nd2 Qc7
13.h4 b4 14.Nb1  If 14.Nce2 Nc4 15.Bf2 e5 16.Nb3 Qc7
14...d5 15.h5 Rg8  Black can also try 15. ..gxh5 or 15...Bg7
16.f4  If 16.hxg6 hxg6 17.Qg4 e5 18.Nb3 d4
16...dxe4 17.Nd2 Qc7 If 17...Nc5 18.N4b3 Qc7 19.Nxc5 Bxc5 20.Bxc5 Qxc5 21.Nxe4 Qe3+
18.Qf2 White had a better move in 18.Nxe4 0–0–0 (18...Nc5 19.Nf6+) 19.Nb3
18...Bg7 Here Black also had a better move in18...Rc8 19.Bg2 Nc5 which would have given him an edge
19.Bg2 If 19 hxg6 hxg6  20.Bg2 Nc4
19. ..Nc5 If 19...Rc8 20.Nxe4
20.Kb1 White should have given some thought to 20.Nxe6 fxe6  21.Bxc5 Bxb2+
20...Rc8 A good move!
21.hxg6 hxg6 22.N2b3 Nca4
Black’s pieces are very strongly placed to launch a major offensive on the White King
23.Bc1 The bishop comes back for defence 23. ..Nc4 24.Rde1 e3
If 24. ..Naxb2  25.Bxb2 e3
25.Bxe3 Bxg2 26.Qxg2 Naxb2 27.f5 gxf5 28.g6 Na4 29.Rh7 If 29.gxf7+ Kxf7 30.Rh7 Na3+ 31.Kc1 Qe5
Diagram 1
29...Bxd4 Black missed a quick finish with 29...Na3+ 30.Kc1 (30.Ka1 Qc3 checkmate) 30...Bxd4 And if 29...Nc3+ 30.Ka1 Ne4
30.Bxd4 If 30.gxf7+ Qxf7And if 30.Nxd4 Rxg6 30...Na3+ 31.Ka1
Forced move as 31.Kc1 Qxc2+  32.Qxc2 Rxc2+  33.Kd1 Rxg6
31. ..Rxg6  If 31...Nxc2+ 32.Qxc2 Qxc2 33.gxf7+ Kf8 34.fxg8(Q)+ Kxg8 35.Rg7+ Kf8 36.Rh1 32.Rxe6+ If 32.Qxg6 Nxc2+ 33.Kb1 fxg6 34.Rxe6+ Kf8 35.Rh8+ Kf7 36.Rf6+ Kg7 (36...Ke7 37.Rh7) 37.Rxc8 Qxc8 38.Rc6+ Nxd4 39.Rxc8
32...Rxe6 33.Qg8+ Kd7 34.Rxf7+ Re7 35.Rxe7+ Kxe7 36.Qg7+ Ke8 37.Qg8+ Kd7 38.Qg7+
If 38.Qd5+ Qd6  38...Kc6 39.Qg2+ Kb5
If 39...Kd6 40.Qg6+
40.Qd5+ Nc5 41.Nxc5  If 41.Bxc5 Ka4
41...Qc6 If 41...Nxc2+ 42.Kb2 Qc6 43.Qe5 (43.Qxc6+ Rxc6 44.Kxc2 Rxc5+) 43...Nxd4 44.Nb3+ Kb6 45.Qxd4+ Kc7
42.c4+  If 42.Qxf5 Qh1+
42...bxc3 If 42...Nxc4 43.a4+ bxa3 44.Qxf5  43.Qb3+ Ka5 44.Bxc3 checkmate.
Diagram 2
Black to play and win 1 .. Ng4 2.fxg4 hxg4 3.Re1  If 3.Bxf7+ Kd8 3...Qxh2+ 4.Kf1 Qh3+ 5.Kg1 Qh1checkmate.

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(Published 09 April 2011, 14:37 IST)

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