Even draws can offer lively games

The percentage of draws at the Mater’s level or what we call the Elo between 2500and 2800 is higher than in lower rated events. Albeit, quite a large chunk of draws are of the shorter variety, settled in a matter of moves and minutes.

However, draws can be of various varieties, from the technical to evenly contested battles. The technical ones branch out into   forced ones by repetition of moves, repetition of position, stalemates and lack of mating materials.

In the game which follows, the middle-game at times appears equal but White gains the upper hand and appears cruising for a victory. Black, on the other hand, has pushed his pawn right up to the seventh rank and this’s thorn in the flesh for White. White misses promising line and the game ends in adraw.

White: TunikGennady (2440) – Black: Michail Brodsky (2510)
Chigorin Memorial,  St Petersburg, 1996
Queen’s Indian Defence
1.d4 Nf62.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6
Fianchettoing the bishop on the queen side 4.g3 White also decides to counter challenge the diagonal and wants to fianchettoe his bishop on the King side
4. ..Ba65.b3 Double fianchetto!
5. ..Bb4+6.Bd2 Be7 Retreating!
7.Bg2 d58.cxd5 exd5 9.0–0 0–0 10.Nc3 Bb7 11.Qc2 Na6 The players are still in well trodden opening theory

12.Rad1 White has choices like 12.Rac1or 12.Rfd1 or 12.Bf4
12...Re8 If 12...Qc813.Bg5 (13.Nh4 Re8 14.Nf5 Bf8 15.Bh3 Qd8 16.Bf4 Ne4 17.Nxe4 dxe4 ) 13...Qe614.Ne5 c5 15.e3 Rfd8 16.Ne2 cxd4 17.exd4 Rac8 18.Qb1 Ne4 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Bg5 If 13.Bf4Qd7 14.Be5 Rad8 15.a3  13...Ne4
An invitation to swap bishops
14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Nxe4 dxe4

A few exchanges in the centre and the position is more or less evenly balanced
16.Ne5 Nb4 17.Qb2 f6 18.Nc4 a5
Black can also think about 18...Nd5
19.Rc1 Nd5 20.a3 Ra7
A surprising move! If 20...b521.Ne3
21.e3 White can also look at  21.Rc2

21...Kh8  Moving from the open diagonal 22.Rfe1 Black could have equalised with 22.Rfd1 22...b5 23.Nd2 b4! 24.Nxe4
If 24.axb4Nxb4! 25.Bf1 Bd5 with a tiny edge for Black 24...bxa3 25.Qa1 Nb4 26.Nc5Bxg2 Exchanging the fianchettoed bishops
27.Kxg2 Rb8 Worth a look is 27...a2
28.e4 If 28.Qxa3Nd3 29.Red1 Nxc1 30.Rxc1 28...a2
Pushing the pawn to the seventh rank!

29.Qc3 c6 30.Ra1
If 30.Nd3a4 31.Nxb4 Qxb4 32.Qxb4 Rxb4 33.Rxc6 h6 34.bxa4 Raxa4 35.Rcc1 (35.Ra1 Rb136.Rc1 Rxc1) 35...Rxd4 30...Qd6 31.Re2
If 31.Nd3a4 32.Nxb4 axb3
31...Rd8 32.Rd2 Re7 Also playable is 32...f5  33.Qc4 A good move!
33. ..f5 34.exf5
If 34.f3fxe4 35.fxe4 Rf8
34...Qf6 35.Ne6 Rd5 36.g4

White was clearly better after 36.Rdxa2 Qxf5 37.Qxb4 Qxe6  38.Rxa5 h6 36. ..Rxe6
If 36...h537.h3 Qh4 38.Qe2 And if 36...g6 37.Raxa2 gxf5 (37...Nxa2 38.Qxc6) 38.Qxb4
37.fxe6 Qxe6 38.f3 h5 39.h3 Qd6  If 39...c540.Re2
40.Qe2 c5 41.Qe8+ Kh7 42.Re2 h4
If 42...cxd443.Re6 Qf4 44.Qg6+ Kg8 45.Re8+
43.Qe4+ Kg8 44.dxc5
If 44.Qe8+Kh7 with an equal game
44...Qg3+ 45.Kh1 Rxc5
If 45...Qxh3+46.Rh2   47.Rhxa2

Diagram 1

46.Rd1
White should have seriously looked at 46.Qe3 Rd5  47.Qe8+ Kh7 48.Qe4+Kg8  49.Rexa246. ..Rd5 47.Rde1 Rc5 48.Qe8+Kh7 49.Qe4+ Kg8 ½–½
Diagram 2
White to play and win 1.Be6Bh4  2.Qxg6+ Kh8  3.Rhxh4 Qxh4 4.Rxh4 checkmate.

Diagram 2
White to play and win 1.Be6Bh4  2.Qxg6+ Kh8  3.Rhxh4 Qxh4 4.Rxh4 checkmate.