Chess can at times appear to be cruel when a single mistake can ruin all the previous good work. What appeared like a sure shot victory can translate into a devastating defeat. Momentary loss of concentration is often the explanation for this debacle.
In the game which follows, White is in an advantageous position almost for the entire duration of the game but a big blunder has him tasting defeat after just one move.
White: Boris Avrukh (2500) – Black: Zoltan Varga (2450)
Budapest, 1996
Queen’s Gambit Accepted
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4
Accepting the gambitted pawn! This is also one of the popular response to the Queen’s gambit
3.e3 Nf6 4.Bxc4 e6 5.Nf3 a6
Black can have a look at 5. ..c5
6.0–0 c5 7.Bd3 Nbd7. He can also develop the knight 7. ..Nc6
8.Re1 Be7 9.e4
If 9.a4 b6 10.e4 cxd4 11.Nxd4 Ne5 12.Bc2 Bb7 13.Nc3 0–0 14.Nf3 Qxd1 15.Rxd1 Nxf3+ 16.gxf3 Bc5 was played previously
9...cxd4 10.e5 Nd5 11.Nxd4
If 11.Bc4 Nc5
11...Bb4 12.Bd2
If 12.Nd2 Nf4 13.Be4 Qg5
12...Qb6. The Black King is still on the original square and Black could have castled here
13.Nb3. If 13.Qg4 Bc5 14.Bc3 0–0 (14...Nxc3 15.bxc3 Bxd4 16.cxd4 Qb2 17.Qxg7 Rf8)
13...0–0 14.Nc3. White can play 14.Qc2
14...Nxc3 15.bxc3 Be7 16.Qg4
The queen takes up an aggressive stance on the King-side. If 16.Qh5 g6 17.Qh6 Rd8
16...Rd8 17.Bh6
If 17. ..g6 18.Qc4 Qa7 19.Qf4
17. ..Bf8
If 17...g6 18.Rad1 Qc7 19.Bg5
18.Bg5 Re8 19.Bxh7+
White comes up with a bishop sacrifice which one has seen many times in such typical positions. If 19.Qe4 g6 20.Rad1 Qc7
19...Kxh7 20.Re3. The rook expectedly joins in the king-hunt
20. ..Kg8 21.Rh3 f5
If 21...g6 22.Qh4 Bg7 23.Bf6! Nxf6 24.exf6 And if 21...Nxe5 22.Qh5 f6 23.Bxf6 Nd7 24.Bxg7 Bxg7 25.Qxe8+ and White is better in both cases
22.Qh5. If 22.exf6 Nxf6 23.Qh4 (23.Bxf6 e5 24.Rh8+ Kxh8 25.Qh5+ Kg8 26.Qxe8 Qxf6–+) 23...e5
22...Re7. If 22...Rd8 23.Rd1
23.Qh8+. Infiltrating deep into Black’s territory
23. ..Kf7 24.Qh5+. White can get his other rook to join in the action with 24.Rd1
24. ..Kg8 25.Bxe7 Bxe7 26.Qe8+ Bf8 27.Rd1 Nxe5
If 27...Qc6 28.Rd6 Qc4 29.Rxd7 Bxd7 30.Qxd7 (30.Qxa8 Qe2 31.Rh8+ Kxh8 32.Qxf8+ Kh7 33.h3 Qe1+ 34.Kh2 Qxe5+)
28.Rd8. The rook too infiltrates, capitalising on the fact that Black has still not been able to complete his development. The rook on the queen side is cut off.
28...Ng6 29.Rxc8
If 29.Rhd3 e5 (29...Kh7 30.Qf7 And if 29...Qc6 30.Qxg6 e5 31.R3d6) 30.R3d6 Qb5 31.Qxg6
29...Rxc8 30.Qxc8 Qd6. Black can think about 30. ..Nd7 to offer resistance
31.Nd4. If 31.g3 Qd1+ 32.Kg2 Qd5+
31...Nf4 32.Rf3 Qa3 [32...e5 33.Qxf5+–]
Diagram 1
33.g3. A major blunder! White should have played 33.h3 or even 33.h4 g6 34.Nxe6 Qc1+ 35.Kh2 Nxe6 36.Qxe6+ Kh7.Now in just one move White’s winning looking position comes crashing down
33...Qc1 checkmate
0–1
Diagram 2
White to play and win
1.Qh7+ Kg5 2.f4 checkmate
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