Curiosity
The following game is nothing out of the ordinary, except for the finale, which is really brilliant. LIFE can be like that. Some individual moments are more special than entire years.
im Stets,D – im Vesselovsky,S Kosice (Czech Rep) 1997
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3
Nc6 8.Qd2 O-O 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.h4 Qc7 11.Bb3 Na5 12.O-O-O Rfc8 13.h5
Nxb3+ 14.axb3 b5 15.hxg6 fxg6 16.g4 b4 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Qa5
19.Kb1 Qxd5 20.Qh2 Qe5 ( 20...h5 21.gxh5 gxh5 ( 21...Qxh5 22.Qg2$16 )
22.Rdg1$16 ) 21.Qxh7+ Kf7{[#] <strong style="color:red;">Everything seems more or less normal so far. White’s attack has come to an end. Black threatens Rh8 snaring the Queen.</strong>} 22.f4!!{[#] <strong style="color:red;">The game now takes an unexpected turn!</strong>} Qxe3{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} ( 22...Qf6 23.g5 ) 23.f5!{[#] <strong style="color:red;">White’s idea. It turns out that the Black King is indeed in a lot of trouble.</strong>} gxf5{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>}
( 23...Rh8? 24.fxg6+$18 ) 24.Nxf5{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>}
({<strong style="color:black;">There is also a strong case for: </strong> } 24.gxf5$5 Kf8 25.Ne6+ Bxe6 26.fxe6
Qxe6 27.Rdf1+ Ke8 28.Qxg7 Kd7 29.Re1 Rg8 30.Qd4 Qg4 31.Re4 )
Bxf5 25.Qxf5+{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} Ke8!{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>}
({<strong style="color:black;">Wisely avoiding </strong> } 25...Bf6? 26.Rh7+ Ke8 27.Qb5+ Kd8 28.Rxd6+!!)
26.Qg6+{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} Kd7{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} ( 26...Kf8? 27.Rdf1+ ) 27.Qxg7{[#] <strong style="color:red;">The smoke has cleared. Material is even, but the Black King is floating in the middle of the board. White must be better, but Black should have sufficient resources. </strong>} Rxc2?{[#] <strong style="color:red;">Black is optimistic and sets a trap for White</strong>}
({<strong style="color:black;">Correct is </strong> } 27...Rc5!{<strong style="color:black;">and if now </strong> } 28.Rhe1 ( 28.Rxd6+? Kxd6 29.Rd1+ Kc7 ) Qg5!{<strong style="color:black;">and Black is fighting. </strong> } )
28.Rxd6+!!{[#] <strong style="color:red;">The only good move!</strong>}
( {<strong style="color:black;">Black was counting on </strong> } 28.Kxc2? Qe4+!$17 29.Kd2 Rc8 30.Rc1 Qf4+ 31.Kd3 Rxc1 )
Kxd6{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>}
( 28...Kc7 29.Rhd1 ) 29.Qg6+!{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} Kd7 {[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} 30.Qf5+{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} e6{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} ( 30...Kd6 31.Qxc2$18 )
31.Qxc2{[#] <strong style="color:red;">Now it is clear that White should win. The Black King no longer has an island of pawns in which to hide.</strong>} Re8{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} 32.Rd1+ Ke7{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} 33.Qh7+{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} ( 33.Qc7+! ) Kf6 {[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} 34.Rf1+ Ke5{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} 35.Qh5+{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>}
Kd6{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>}
( {<strong style="color:black;"> One pretty win is</strong> }35...Ke4$5 36.Qh7+ Ke5 37.Qc7+ Ke4 38.Qc6+ Ke5 39.Rf5+!! )
36.Rd1+{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} Ke7 37.Qh4+ Kf7 38.Rd7+{[#] <strong style="color:red;"></strong>} Kg6 39.Qh5+{[#] <strong style="color:red;">Black resigns. It is mate next move. </strong>} 1-0
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The finish is definitely worth the price of admission! Surprising moves. Daring sacrifices. Both sides trying to win…but there can only be one winner.
