Very nice attacking finish!

by kevinspraggettonchess · Published November 17, 2016 · Updated November 17, 2016

Game of the day !

(Eddie Czerniawski 1959)

The following game was played at the recently concluded European Club Cup and is between GM Arkady Naiditsch and a talented master from Luxembourg, Christian Jeitz. Interesting in all of its phases, I especially like the finish, a classical Queen sacrifice forcing mate.

Readers might also find instructive the tactical nuances leading up to the finish…in short: a game worth sharing with others! You can download this game in pgn HERE.

I use the RPB-plugin. Just click on any move and a pop-up board will appear. You can re-size it, drag it over the side, and what not. Enjoy!

gm Naiditsch,A-m Jeitz,C European Club Cup Novi Sad 6-11-2016

[Annotator "Spraggett"] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5{[#] What is in a name? The ‘Rossolimo Variation’ , named after the Russian/Greek/French emigree who eventually found his way to NYC, where he spent the rest of his life. Rossolimo was not the first to play it-it had been played as far back the 1850s, and maybe even earlier-but perhaps it is that Rossolimo’s games popularized the system associated with it. IN ANY CASE, today this system is one of the most important anti-Sicilian lines in modern tournament praxis, and occurs at all levels of play, even at the world championships!} g6 4.Bxc6$5 bxc6$5{[#] The last move by both players is not the main line given in the theoretical books, but fashion and modern tastes might soon change that. } 5.O-O Bg7 6.Re1{[#] Considered the most precise. White waits to see how Black intends to develop his Knight before committing himself to c3 or d4.} e5$5{[#] The theoretical texts that I know don’t like this move, but perhaps this is too dismissive. Many top grandmasters have played it. Curiously, with colours reversed in the English Opening, some texts give this move a ‘?!’ evaluation! In essence, one must be wary of dismissive evaluations without some lines to back it up} ({Not to be recommended is} 6...Nf6$6 7.e5! Nd5 8.c4! Nc7 9.d4! {when Black’s practical results have been depressing. One modern example is} cxd4 10.Qxd4 O-O 11.Qh4 Ne6 12.Nc3 f6 13.exf6 exf6 14.b3 d5 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.Ba3 Re8 17.Rad1 Bb7 18.Nb5 Nc7 19.Nd6 Rxe1+ 20.Rxe1 Bc6 21.Nd4 Bd7 22.Qg3 a6 23.Nb7 Qc8 24.Rc1 Qxb7 25.Rxc7 Qb6 26.Bc5 Qa5 27.h3 Qe1+ 28.Kh2 Be8 29.Nf5 Bf7 30.Rxf7 {1-0, Popov,Iv – Rieger,R , Novi Sad 9-11-2016 }) ({The most reliable line is} 6.Nh6$5 7.c3 O-O 8.h3 ( 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 d5 ) d6 ( 8...f5 ) 9.d4 cxd4 10.cxd4 f6 11.Nc3 {with a double-edged game. Black has two Bishops and a solid center, but White has more activity and a game that is easier to play. The theoretical verdict is still out in this line, but I would be happy to play either side.}) 7.c3{[#] The most popular move, and certainly consistent, but not necessarily the strongest. I am a bit surprised that Naiditsch, a player with a reputation for sharp play, did not avail of the opportunity to play more aggressively here.} ( {It could be that Fischer’s speculative} 7.b4$5 { is the strongest:} cxb4 8.a3 c5 9.axb4 cxb4 10.d4 exd4 11.Bb2 d6 12.Nxd4 Qd7 13.Nd2 Bb7 14.Nc4 Nh6 15.Nf5 Bxb2 16.Ncxd6+ Kf8 17.Nxh6 f6 18.Ndf7 Qxd1 19.Raxd1 Ke7 20.Nxh8 Rxh8 21.Nf5+ gxf5 22.exf5+ Be5 23.f4 Rc8 24.fxe5 Rxc2 25.e6 Bc6 26.Rc1 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Kd6 28.Rd1+ Ke5 29.e7 a5 30.Rc1 Bd7 31.Rc5+ Kd4 32.Rxa5 b3 33.Ra7 Be8 34.Rb7 Kc3 35.Kf2 b2 36.Ke3 Bf7 37.g4 Kc2 38.Kd4 b1=Q 39.Rxb1 Kxb1 40.Kc5 Kc2 41.Kd6 {1-0, Fischer R – Spassky B , Sveti-Stefan/Belgrade 1992 Match }) Ne7{[#] Consistent. Alternatives trying to delay this natural move a bit have not convinced. } ({A} 7...d6$6 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 Bg4 10.dxe5 Bxe5 11.Nbd2!{ and Black will soon have to part with his Bishop pair}) ({B} 7...Qb6$5 {risky} 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 exd4 10.e5 Ne7 11.Nxd4 Nd5 12.Nc3 O-O 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Be3 Qxb2 15.Nb3 d6 16.exd6 Be6 17.Bg5 Rfe8 18.Rc1 h6 19.Be7 Bf8 20.Bxf8 Kxf8 21.Nc5 Rad8 22.Nxe6+ Rxe6 23.Rxe6 fxe6 24.Rc7 Qf6 25.Rc6 Rb8 26.Qc1 Ke8 27.h3 Kd7 28.Ra6 {1-0, Smirin I- Abolianin A , Antwerpen 1994 } ) 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 exd4 10.Nxd4 O-O 11.Nc3{[#] Now Black must decide how to proceed. Neither theory nor practical results have come to a conclusion here, though Black’s results have not been encouraging. I think it fair to say that things are not so clear and Black’s game may very well be playable, though only just so.} Rb8$5 {[#] The most popular move, and quite logical. Many other moves have been tried.} ({A} 11...d5$6 12.Bg5 ( 12.exd5$5 ) f6 13.Bf4 dxe4 14.Nxe4 f5 15.Nd6 ) ({B} 11...h6$5 {has been tried once by Anand} 12.Bf4 ( 12.e5$6 d6! ) d6 13.Qd2 Kh7 14.Rad1$14 ) ({C} 11...Bb7$5 12.Nb3 d6 13.Bf4 ) ({D} 11...Qb6 12.Nb3 d5 13.Bg5! ) ( {E}11...Re8$5 12.Bf4 Qb6 13.Nb3 a5 14.Na4 Qa7 15.Qd2 d5 16.e5 Be6 17.Rac1 Rec8 18.Rc5 Rc7 19.Nxa5 Qb8 20.b4 Bf8 21.Bg5 Nf5 22.g4 Bxc5 23.Nxc5 Ng7 24.h3 Qb5 25.Rc1 Rca7 26.a4 Qb6 27.Ncb3 Rxa5 28.Nxa5 Rxa5 29.bxa5 Qa6 30.Bh6 Ne8 31.Qb4 {1-0, Dimitrov V – Cadillon J, Figueira da Foz 2005 } ) 12.e5$5 {[#] The sharpest move, but is it the best move? Difficult to say. Suffice to point out that Naiditsch risks nothing with this aggressive move and it is Black who must exercise caution.} ( {Computers like } 12.Rb1$5 {which has been played a number of times in master level chess with reasonable results. However, not everyone would be happy to essentially lose a tempo.}) c5$5 {[#] Once more there are choices:} ( {A} 12...d6$6 13.Bg5! f6 14.exf6 Bxf6 15.Bxf6 Rxf6 16.Rxe7 Qxe7 17.Nxc6! ) ({B} 12...Re8 13.Bg5! ) ({C} 12...Qb6$5 13.Nb3 ) 13.Nf3$5 ( {Curiously, this natural move has not been played before!. Black has fewer problems after} 13.Nb3 Nc6!$13 14.Nxc5 Nxe5 15.N5e4 Ba6 16.Bg5 f6 17.Qd5+ Kh8 18.Nxf6 Bxf6 19.Bxf6+ Qxf6 20.Qxe5 Qxe5 21.Rxe5 Rxb2 22.f3 Rc8 23.Nd5 Rd2 24.Ne3 Re2 25.h4 Rc3 {1/2-1/2, Girinath P – Gufeld E, Calcutta 1992 } ) Bb7 {[#] Now it is White’s turn to decide how to proceed. I think that White is somewhat better structurally here, but Black’s game should not be underestimated. In many lines he can sacrifice a pawn for piece activity} 14.Be3$5 {[#] A practical move, but not necessarily the critical line. It appears that Naiditsch’ plan is to rapidly develop his Queen-Rook} ( {Worthy of investigation for the next game is} 14.Ne4! Qb6! 15.Qxd7$14 ) Bxf3$6 {[#] An imprecision that Black can not really afford in such dynamic situations. Now White gets on top.} ({A} 14...Qb6$6 15.Na4!$14 ) ({B} 14...Qc7$5 15.Nb5 Qb6 16.Nd6 Bxf3 17.Qxf3 Qxb2 18.Bxc5 ) ({C}14...c4!$13 ) 15.Qxf3 Bxe5 ( {Logical, but perhaps a safer bet was } 15...Rxb2 16.Bxc5 Re8 17.Qd3$14 ) 16.Bxc5 {[#] Maybe Black had just assumed that this strong move was not possible} d6 {[#] An admission of defeat. White has the better pawn structure as well as the more active pieces. Black can only hope that White does not play precisely and maybe let him off the hook} ( {Unfortunately for Black} 16...Bxh2+ {does not work:} 17.Kxh2 Qc7+ 18.Kg1 Qxc5 19.Ne4! Qf5 20.Nf6+! Kg7 21.Qxf5 Nxf5 22.Nxd7 Rxb2 23.Nxf8 Kxf8 24.Reb1 {with a technical win} ) ( {Ugly but necessary is} 16...f6! 17.Rad1 Rf7 {though one can forgive Black for not wanting to play this way} ) 17.Rad1 {[#] Good enough, but there is a more precise move that would force the continuation that actually soon occurs in the game. } ( {The strongest move is the immediate} 17.Rxe5! dxc5 ( {Also depressing is } 17...dxe5 18.Rd1 Qe8 ( 18...Qc7 19.Bd6 Qb7 20.Qf6 Nc6 21.h4! {and Black is helpless} ) 19.Qf6! Rb7 20.Bd6! {and Black is paralyzed} ) 18.Rd1 Qc7 19.Qf6 {is the game continuation} ) Qc7 {[#] Understandable, but Black resigns himself to certain defeat now} ( {The only chance was to play}17...f6! {with some slim chances of surviving}) 18.Rxe5!$16 {[#] Naiditsch’ play from now one is very energetic. Black is curiously helpless on the Kingside and can only pray} dxc5 {[#]} ({Black has no better alternative. After} 18...dxe5 19.Bd6! Qb7 20.Qf6 Nc6 21.h4 Rfd8 22.h5 { is hopeless} ) 19.Qf6! {[#]} Nc8$5 ( {Not a pretty move, but there are no better moves. A} 19...Nf5 20.Nd5 Rbd8 ( 20...Qd8 21.Ne7+ ) 21.g4 Rxd5 22.Rdxd5 Nd4 23.Re7 Nf3+ 24.Kf1 Nxh2+ 25.Kg2 Nxg4 26.Rxc7 Nxf6 27.Rdxc5 ) ({B} 19...Rb7 20.Ne4 c4 21.h3 Nf5 22.Rxf5 gxf5 23.Qg5+ Kh8 24.Qh6 Rg8 25.Qf6+ ) 20.Nd5! {[#]} Qa5 {[#] Again, there is nothing better.} ( {Losing quickly is }20...Qb7 21.Qh4! Kg7 ( 21...f5? 22.Nf6+ Kh8 23.Rd7! ) 22.Nf6 Qc6 23.Rf5! {most precise} h6 24.Rd3 Rxb2 25.Qxh6+! {and mate follows} ) 21.Qh4! {[#] White’s pieces make an imposing picture! Not only is each White piece in play, but Black has only a Rook defending the Black King.} Kg7 {[#]} ( {A} 21...Rxb2 22.Nf6+ Kg7 23.Nh5+ gxh5 24.Qg5+ Kh8 25.Qf6+ Kg8 26.Rg5# ) ({B} 21...h5 22.Rxh5 gxh5 23.Qg5+ Kh8 24.Qh6+ Kg8 25.Nf6# ) 22.Nf6$5 {[#] Good enough, but there is even more precise!} ( 22.Rh5! Rh8 ( 22...gxh5 23.Qf6+ Kg8 24.Qg5+ Kh8 25.Qe5+ Kg8 ( 25...f6 26.Nxf6 Rb7 27.Nd7+ Kg8 28.Qg5+ Kh8 29.Nxf8 ) 26.Nf6+ {etc} ) 23.Qf6+ Kg8 24.Re5 ) Qa6 {[#]} ( {A} 22...Qb6 23.Ne8+ ) ({B} 22...Rb6 23.Rh5 Rh8 24.Rxh7+ Rxh7 25.Qxh7+ Kxf6 26.Qh8+ Ke6 27.Qxc8+ ) 23.Ne8+! Kh8 {[#]} ( {After} 23...Rxe8 24.Rxe8 Rxb2 25.Qd8 {it is also over} ) 24.Qh6 Rg8 {[#]}25.Re3 ({Faster, though hardly more effective is } 25.Rh5 gxh5 26.Nf6 ) Rb7 {[#]} 26.Qxh7+! {[#]} ( {Ofcourse not} 26.Rh3? f6! {when Black can still hope to survive} ) 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

Very nice attacking finish!

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Very nice attacking finish!

(Eddie Czerniawski 1959)

The following game was played at the recently concluded European Club Cup and is between GM Arkady Naiditsch and a talented master from Luxembourg, Christian Jeitz. Interesting in all of its phases, I especially like the finish, a classical Queen sacrifice forcing mate.

Readers might also find instructive the tactical nuances leading up to the finish…in short: a game worth sharing with others! You can download this game in pgn HERE.

I use the RPB-plugin. Just click on any move and a pop-up board will appear. You can re-size it, drag it over the side, and what not. Enjoy!

gm Naiditsch,A-m Jeitz,C European Club Cup Novi Sad 6-11-2016

A very powerful finish!

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SELECTED LINKS