Complicated games need a cool head

Chess Checks

In the game which follows, an interesting tussle is witnessed with both players opting for sharp and aggressive play. Incidentally both neglect development of pieces in the initial stages, White on the King-side and Black on the queen- side. The Middle-game is wild, complicated with too many things happening and most interesting to go through.

White: Joel Lautier (2645) – Black: Alexei Shirov (2740)
Horgen, 1994
English Opening
1.c4

The English Opening

1..Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.d4 Bg7 5.f3 0–0 6.Bg5 c5 7.d5 h6 8.Bf4
The other option was 8.Be3
8. .. a6 9.Qd2 Kh7 10.a4 e6 11.g4
White’s King side pieces are still not developed and he starts aggressively on the King side. Better appears 11.dxe6 Bxe6 12.Bxd6 Re8. 11...exd5 12.cxd5 Re8
White can also think about 12...Qe7. 13.Be2
If 13.Nh3 Nbd7 14.Bxd6 Ne5 15.Bxe5 Rxe5 And if 13.Nge2 Nbd7 14.Bxd6 Ne5. 13...h5
Showing signs of aggression even though the King has castled there. If 13...Nfd7 14.Bxd6 Ne5 15.Bxc5 f5 16.gxf5 gxf5 17.0–0–0 with advantage for White
14.g5 Ng8. If 14...Nfd7 15.Bxd6
15.h4 f5 16.Nh3
If 16.gxf6 Qxf6 17.Bg5 Qf7 18.Nh3 Bxh3 19.Rxh3 Nd7
16...Bxc3
If 16...fxe4 17.Nxe4 Be5 18.Bxe5 Rxe5 19.Nhf2 Re8
17.bxc3 fxe4 18.fxe4 Rxe4
If 18...Bxh3 19.Rxh3 Rxe4 20.Kf2
19.Nf2 Re8 20.0–0
White finally castles
20. ..Nd7
Black’s queen side pieces had still not developed . If 20...b6 21.Bd3 Ra7 22.Ne4 And if 20...Bf5 21.Bd3 Bxd3 22.Qxd3 Qe7 23.Qg3 Nd7 24.Bxd6 Qe2. 21.Bxd6 Ndf6
Difficult to understand why Black played this move. If 21...Nb6 22.Qf4 Rxe2
22.Bg3. If 22.gxf6 Qxd6 23.f7 Qg3+ 24.Kh1 Rxe2
22...Qxd5
If 22...Nxd5 23.Rad1 Be6 24.Bc4 Nge7 25.Ne4 with advantage for White
23.Bd3. If 23.Rad1 Qxd2 24.Rxd2 Nd7
23...c4. If 23...Ng4 24.Bxg6+ And if 23...Qf3 24.Nh1 Qe3+ (24...Ne4 25.Rxf3 Nxd2 26.Rf7+ Kh8 27.Bxg6 Re7 28.Be5+) 25.Qxe3 Rxe3 26.gxf6 Rxd3 27.f7
24.gxf6 cxd3 25.f7 Qxf7 26.Ne4 Qd5
It has been a wild and complicated game with plenty of calculation needed for both sides. If 26...Qc4 27.Ng5+ Kh8 (27...Kg7 28.Qxd3) 28.Rf7 Re7 29.Be5+
27.Ng5+ Kg7. If 27...Kh8 28.Rf7 Re7 29.Rxe7 (29.Qxd3 Qxd3 30.Be5+ Nf6 31.Bxf6+ Kg8) 29...Nxe7 30.Qe3 d2 31.Rd1
28.Qxd3
White could have attained a winning position with 28.Rf7+ Qxf7 29.Nxf7 Kxf7 30.Qxd3 Nf6 (30...Bf5 31.Qd5+) 31.Rb1 Re7 32.Rb6/

Diagram 1
28...Be6. Here the best possible move for Black was  28...Nf6 29.Qxd5 Nxd5 30.Rf7+ Kg8 31.Rd1 Re3 and would have hopes of equalizing. And if  28...Qxd3 29.Rf7+. 29.Nxe6+
The position is favouring White
29. ..Qxe6 30.Qd4+ Kh6

Another mistake in an already crumbling position and black resigned here without waiting for White’s move.  If 30...Kh7 31.Rae1 And if 30...Nf6 31.Rae1 Qf7 32.Be5 Rxe5 (32...Re6 33.Bxf6+ Rxf6 34.Rxf6 Qxf6 35.Re7+) 33.Rxe5 Rf8 34.Qd6 Qc4 35.Re7+ Kg8 36.Rxf6 Qg4+ 37.Kf1 And if  30...Kh6 31.Qh8 checkmate.   1–0                         
Diagram 2

White to play and win
1.Bxf6 Qxf6  2.Rg3+ and Black is lost.