JOIN USThe creative aspect of chess is seen more in the middle-game where every player has an opportunity to try something spectacular or introduce an idea or a plan which may delight the watching spectators. The beginners and amateurs can also lose way in the middle-game and the position can swing from equality to a loss or even from a winning one to a losing one.
In the game which follows, White holds advantage first but fritters it away. Black also cannot hold onto the position and commits a couple of crucial mistakes which cost him the game. White advances his pawn to the seventh rank and though White has an extra knight he sacrifices it and nets four pawns leading to a winning position.
White: Sergey Zagrebelny (2485) – Black: Konstantine Shanavanine Moscow, 1998
The Sicilian Defence
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a4 e6 7.a5 Nc6 8.Nb3 Be7
A well analysed line in the Sicilian Defence. 9.Be3 Nd7 10.Qd2 b5
Black can castle here11.axb6 Nxb6 12.Be2 0–0 13.0–0 Bb7 14.Na4. White can play 14.Rfd114. ..Nd7 15.Rfd1 Qc7 16.f4A good move!
16. ..Rfd8 17.Bf3. White’s bishops are in good position, controlling the board
17. ..Rac8 18.Qf2 Rb8 19.Nb6 Nc5Inviting the exchange of knights 20.Nxc5 dxc5 21.Bxc5
If 21.Nc4 then 21...Nd4 And if 21.Na4 , then 21...Nd4 22.Nxc5 Bxc5 23.Bxd4 Rxd4 24.Rxd4 Qxf4. 21...Bxc5 22.Qxc5 Qxf4Interesting position! Both queens are on opposite flanks. 23.e5 Nd4If 23...Re8 24.Nd7 (24.Bxc6 Bxc6 25.Qxc6 Qe3+) 24...Rbc8 25.Qb6 Ba8 26.Rxa6 Nxe5 loses in view of 27.Nxe5 Qxe5 28.Rxa8 Rxa8 29.Bxa8 Rxa8 30.Qd8+ 24.Bxb7 Rxb7 25.Kh1
Worth a look is 25.c325. ..Rbb8 26.Qc7 Invading the seventh rank 26. ..Qh4 27.c3 Ne2
Here 26. ..Nc2 appears better 28.Rd6 Ng3+ 29.Kg1 Ne4 If 29...Ne2+ 30.Kf1
30.Rf1 White should have exchanged the rooks and queen with 30.Rxd8+ Qxd8 31.Qxd8+ Rxd8 32 Kf1 f5 30. ..Nxd6 31.exd6 Black appears better now. 31. ..f6
The correct continuation here is 31...Rf8 Nd7 (32.Rxf7 Qe1+) 32...Rfc8 (32...Rbc8 33.Qb7 Rfd8 34.Nb6) 33.Nxb8 (33.Qa7 Rxb2) 33...Rxc7 34.dxc7 Qc4 35.Nxa6 Qxa6 36.Rd1 Qb6+µ]
32.d7. Threatening 33.Nc8.
32...Qe4. A horrible mistake which immediately puts Black in a losing position. Black should have played 32...Qg5 33.Nc8 Rxd7! 34.Qxb8 Qc5+ 35.Kh1 Rd8 36.Ra1 with both players having chances to stay in the game
33.Nc8. Now Black is more or less forced to sacrifice his rook for a pawn, and White is clearly at an advantageous position as he has an extra knight.
33...Rxd7 34.Qxd7 h6 35.b4 Qe3+More in desperation than anything worthwhile
36.Kh1 Qxc3 37.Qxe6+ Kh8 38.Qe8+If 38.Nd6 Qxb4 39.Nf7+ Kh7 40.Qf5+ (40.Qxa6) 40...Kg8 41.Nxh6+ gxh6 42.Qg6+38...Kh7 39.Qe4+The Black King’s position is most vulnerable. 39. ..Kh8 40.Nd6 Qxb4 41.Nf7+ Kg8 42.Nxh6+Playing simple but crushing chess. Black is a knight up but will lose his pawns which is a pretty hefty price
42...gxh6 43.Qg6+ Kh8 44.Qxh6+The queen captures the pawns in checks and there is little that Black can do.
44. .. Kg8 45.Qg6+ Kh8 46.Qxf6+ Kg8 47.Qxa6 and Black resigned. 1–0
White to play and checkmate in two moves. 1.Rh8+ Qxh8 2.Qf7 checkmate And if 1. ..Kxh8 then 2.Qh7checkmate.