JOIN USThere might be many sharp and active continuations possible in a fluid position in a game of chess but with the liquidation of pieces, it is possible to steer such positions into draws. Even the most complex looking position, offering many attractive continuations may lose fizz after exchanging the active pieces which have been leading from the front.
The game which ensues is a good example where there are many possible continuations. Black breaks through on the queen side and infiltrates with his queen and knight. White on the other hand manages to invade the enemy territory with his queen and force a draw by perpetual check.
White: Pavel Blatny (2535) -- Black: Suat Atalik (2549)
Stratton Mountain, 2000
LarsenOpening
1.b3. One seldom comes across this Opening these days in chess, especially at the higher level of the game. It is named after the Danish GM Bent Larsen
1..g6. An opposite response of the same sort. 2.Bb2Nf6 3.f4 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.Be2 c5 6.Nf3 0–0 7.0–0 Nc6 8.Ne5. After some internal moves in their own territory, White’s knight ventures to the centre.
8. ..Bd79.Bf3 Rc8 10.Nc3 e6. Black plays a Queen's Indian with tempo down.
If 10...d4 11.exd4 cxd4 12.Ne2 Nxe513.fxe5 Ng4 14.Nxd4 Nxe5 15.Bxb7 Rb8.
11.Ne2. White canalso look at 11.a4.
12. Nxe5 fxe5. And if 11.d4 Qa5 leads to an unclear position.
11...Ne4. Now its Black’s turn to move his knight to the centre.
12.Nxc6Bxc6 13.Bxg7 Kxg7. Indulging in a spate of exchanges. 14.d3Nd6 15.Qd2 b6 16.Rad1
If 16.b4Bb7(16...cxb4 17.Qxb4 Nf5 18.g4 Nh4 19.Bh1).
16...f5 17.d4
If 17.c4Qf6 18.Qc3 And if 17.b4 Bb718.bxc5 Rxc5
17...c4
Black takes over the initiative.
18.b4 a519.a3
If 19.bxa5b5 with advantage for White
19...Ra820.Ra1
Both rooks are back to their original squares! 20. ..Rf721.Rfb1 Rfa7
Doubling the rooks! If 21...Ra622. Nc3 b5 23. Ra2 Rfa7 24. Rba1 Qa8 works better for Black.
22.Qc1axb4 23.axb4 Nb5 24.Rxa7+ Rxa7 25.Ra1 Qa8 26.Rxa7+ Qxa7 27.c3 Qa2
Invading the enemy territory but it does not achieve much. If 27...Qa3 28.Qe1 (28.Qxa3 Nxa3 29.Kf2 Nb130.Ke1 Ba4) 28...Qb2
28.g4Na3 29.Kf2 Nb1 30.gxf5
Perhaps better appears 30.h4Nd2 31.gxf5 exf5 32.Qg1 Qb1
30...exf531.h4
White is intent on forcing play on the King side. If 31.b5 Ba8 32.h4 h5
31...h532.Qg1
Not exactly the right choice! Black could have played more actively with 32. b5Ba8 33.Qg1 Nxc3
34.Bxh5 Ne4+ 35.Kf3 Nd2+
32...Nxc333.Qg5. If 33.Bxh5Be8 34.Bf3 (34.Bxg6 Qxe2+)
34...Qd2 35.h5 Nd1+ 36.Kg3 Nxe3 withadvantage for Black
Diagram1
33...Be8
The exchange of queens also leads to a draw as 33...Qxe2+ 34.Bxe2 Ne4+35. Ke1 Nxg5 36.fxg5 Kf7 (36...Ba4 37.Bf3 And if 36...c3 37.b5 Bd7 38.Bd3 f4 39.exf4 Bg4 40.Kf2Bd1 41.Ke3 And if 36...f4 37.exf4 with all variations leading to equality)
37.Bd1Ke6 And if 37...c3 38.Bb3 Ke6
39. Kd1Bb5 40.Kc2 Bc4
41.Bxc4 dxc4 42.b5 also with an equal position
34.Qe7+Bf7 35.Qe5+ Kg8 36.Qb8+ Kg7
If 36...Kh7 37.Qc7. 37.Qe5+½–½ by perpetual checks.
Diagram2
White to play and win 1.Bxg6+
If 1.f3 Qh52.g4 is also winning. 1...Qxg62.Rh8+ Kxh8 3.Qxg6 and White wins.