Special focus needed on opening theory

Chess Checks

Here the players have to carefully do their home work (opening study) as the minutest of advantage gained here, can determine the eventual outcome of the game. The advantage could be in terms of good pawn structure or placement of pieces as these days it is very rare to get material advantage in the openings.

In the game which follows, a strong opening by White results in him getting a bishop pair while Black has to exchange off one of his strong bishops. The advantage of the bishop  pair is nicely emphasized in the way in which White wraps up the game.

 White: Viktor Bologan (2620) – Black: Dmitrij Bunzmann (2596)
GM Event Biel (2), 20.07.1999
French Defence
 1.e4 e6
The French Defence
2.d3  
The best and the frequently played move is 2.d4, strongly aiming for the centre.
2. ..d5 3.Nd2 b6
Wanting to fianchetto the bishop and control the centre
4.Ngf3 Nf6 5.c3 Be7
Both players are playing over cautiously. Black can play  5...c5
6.Qa4+ c6 7.Be2 0–0 8.0–0 b5
If 8...Ba6 9.Re1 Qc7 10.Nf1 Nfd7 11.Ng3 Bd6 12.exd5 cxd5
9.Qc2 c5 10.d4 If 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Re1 Nc6 12.a4 b4 13.c4 Nc7 14.Bf1 f6
10...Qb6 Black plays a novelty here. If 10...c4 11.e5 Nfd7 12.b3 Nb6 13.Rd1 Nc6 14.Rb1 Ba6 15.bxc4 bxc4 results in more or less a balanced game
11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Bd3 Nc6
If 12...Nbd7 13.exd5 exd5 14.Nb3 And if 12...dxe4 13.Nxe4
13.exd5  If 13.e5 Ng4 14.Nb3 Ngxe5 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.Nxc5 Qxc5 17.Bxh7+ Kh8 with an unclear position  
13...exd5 14.Nb3 Bg4
If 14...Be7 15.Be3  
15.Nxc5  White has exchanged the important bishop which wa son a dangerous diagonal targeting the King side
15. ..Qxc5
Diagram 1
16.Be3 White now enjoys a strong bishop battery, thanks to a good Opening.
16...Qd6 17.Nd4 a6 18.Nxc6 Qxc6 19.Bd4 h6 20.f3 Bd7 21.Rad1
White has his pieces positioned rather nicely 21...Rad8 22.Qd2
Double intentional move. He wants to retreat his bishop to b1 and also position his queen on f4
22. ..Nh7 Not exactly the right move! He could have tried 22. Rfe8
23.Bc2 Rfe8 24.Qf2 Qd6 25.Rd2 Bc6 26.Bc5 Qf4 27.Rd4 Qe5 28.Rfd1 Nf6
If 28...Nf8 29.Bxf8 Kxf8 30.Bb3
29.R4d2 Nh5 30.Qd4 Qg5
Declining the exchange of queens. If 30...Qxd4+ 31.Bxd4 (31.Rxd4 Re2) 31...Nf4 32.Kf2 31.g3 Nf6 32.Qd3 g6 33.Bd4
Black is being subjected to numerous threats on his King
33. ..Nd7  Worth a look is 33...Rd6
 34.Qf1 Qe7 35.Qh3 Kh7
If 35...h5 36.g4
36.g4 An interesting move!
36. ..Nc5 37.Qg3 Ne6 38.Re2 Qg5
If 38...Qd6 39.Be5 Qc5
39.Be5 If 39.h4 Nxd4 40.Rxd4 Qf6 41.
39...Nc5 40.Bf4 Qf6 41.g5
A strong advance which leave Black reeling!  41...Qh8 If 41...Rxe2 42.gxf6 Rxc2 43.Bxh6 42.Be5 Qf8 43.gxh6 Ne6
If 43...Qxh6 44.Rd4
44.h4 44...Qxh6 45.h5 Ng7
If 45...Qg5 46.hxg6+ fxg6 47.Rh2+ Kg8 48.Rh8+ Kf7 49.Rh7+ Kg8 50.Bxg6 Qxg3+ 51.Bxg3 Rf8 52.Be5 with advantage for White  46.hxg6+ Kg8  If 46...fxg6 47.Rh2 Nh5 48.Bxg6+ Qxg6 49.Rxh5+
47.gxf7+ Kxf7 48.Kf2
If 48.Rh2 Qe3+
48...Nh5 49.Qh4 Rg8 50.Rh1 d4
If 50...Rg5 51.f4
51.Bb3+ 1–0
Diagram 2
White to play and win
1.Rxh7+ Kg5 2.h4 checkmate.