Annotated Game

A lesson in exploiting an edge: when your opponent has less space and is behind in development, don't execute a plan that is too slow and allows him to regroup. The following game presents a gradual erosion of the edge achieved in the opening leading up to a sudden breakthrough.

Lassila, T. - N.N (D26 - Queen's Gambit Accepted)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 Nc6

Unusual move. Black has some other ideas for counterplay than the usual c5.

6.Nc3 Bb4 7.O-O O-O 8.a3 Be7 9.b4!

Expanding on the queenside is a logical progression to playing a3. 9.e4 a6 10.a4 += (White has a space advantage).

9...Nd5 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Bd3

The c-file has opened up with the black knight still on c6. This spells trouble.

11...f5?!

Aggressive but maybe too much so. The weakness allows White to build up lasting pressure on the c2-h7 diagonal. 11...a6 12.Qc2 g6 13.Bb2 +=

12.Qc2

12.b5! Nb8 13.Ne5 Bd6 14.Qf3 Be6 15.Bb2 +/- (Black is lagging far behind in development).

12...Bd6

12...a6 (Again b5 is threatened).

13.Bd2?!

Better is: 13.b5 Nb8 14.a4 a6 15.Bb2 +=.

13...Qe7 14.b5

Finally! Now the idea is to play a4, Rb1 and continue expanding on the queenside.

14...Nd8 15.a4

Position after 15. a4

15...c6

Here Black's intentions are obvious. He wants to open the c-file and gain counterplay that way. This plan is enforced by the knight coming to e6 and eyeing c5.

16.Rfb1 Be6

Black is holding up so far but the lack of space and poor placement of the bishops slows him down.

17.b6 axb6 18.Rxb6 Rc8

In order to finally play c5. Here it becomes obvious my queenside plan hasn't really worked as well it should have. There are no particular threats and the only gain is Black's weak b7-pawn. It too can be adequately defended, and I must face the threat of c5 opening an avenue for counterattack.

19.Qb1!?

Stepping out of the way but in no way preventing c5.

19...Rb8

19...c5 20.dxc5 Bxc5 21.Bb4 {unclear} and Black probably has adequate compensation for his weak pawns in the form of activity.

20.Bb4 Nf7

The endgame clearly favors White: 20...Bxb4 21.Qxb4 Qxb4 22.Rxb4 f4 23.a5 fxe3 24.fxe3 Ra8 25.a6 bxa6 26.Rxa6 Rxa6 27.Bxa6 Nf7 +/-.

21.Bxd6?! Nxd6

The knight has now entered an ideal defensive square and is impossible to shoo away.

22.Ne5

Looks like an active posting for the knight, but without support from other pieces it can do little. Black is doing fine here.

22...Qc7

Nxc6 was threatened.

23.Ra2 Nb5! 24.Rxb5

Absolutely necessary, as the attempt to keep material equality fails miserably: 24.Nxc6!? Nc3 25.Qb2 Rbe8 26.Ra3 Nd1 27.Qb1 bxc6 28.Bc2 {What else?)28...Nxf2 29.Kxf2 Qxh2 -+.

24...cxb5 25.Bxb5

Here White would have enough compensation were it not for the open c-file and the annoying threat of f4.

25...Rbc8

Position after 25...Rbc8

26.Nd3

Stopping both threats at the same time, but White is running seriously short of good moves here.

26...Qe7 27.Ne5 Rc7

27...f4 28.Bd3 g6 29.Bxg6!? fxe3 30.fxe3 hxg6 31.Qxg6+ Kh8 32.Qh6+ Qh7 33.Ng6+ Kg8 34.Qxh7+ Kxh7 35.Nxf8+ Rxf8 -/+ (with some chances to hold).

28.h3 Rfc8 29.Kh2 Rc1 30.Qd3 Qb4!

The white position now collapses in short order.

31.Qe2

31.Rd2 R8c3 32.Qe2 -/+.

31...Qb1 ! 32.Rb2 Rh1+ 33.Kg3 Qg1 34.Nf3?

Now Black mops up with a forced mating combination. Required was 34.f4 Rc3 35.Bd3 -/+ but if White holds it is by miracle alone.

34...Rxh3+! 35.Kxh3

35.Kf4 Qxg2 36.Ke5 Qg6 -+ brings no comfort either.

35...f4+ 36.g4 fxg3+ 37.Kh4 Qh1+ 38.Kxg3 Rf8 39.Nh2 Qg1+ 40.Kh4 Qxh2+ 41.Kg5 Qh6# 0-1