Annotated Game

Lassila,T. - N.N (D46 Queen's Gambit Declined)

1.d4 d5
2.c4 e6
3.Nc3 Bb4

A relatively little seen attempt to mix a Nimzo-Indian flavor into the QGD. Instead of preserving his pawn structure with 4.cxd5 exd5 5.a3, White should just actively develop with 4.e3. Because a3 comes with tempo on the bishop, it can be easily followed by b4 taking space and preparing to play the dark-squared bishop to b2 to enforce the break e4 at the correct moment. It turns out Black's bishop is better placed on e7.

4.e3 c6

4...Nf6 looks less committal.

5.Nf3 Nd7
6.Bd3 Ngf6

A variation of the Semi-Slav has been reached by transposition.

7.O-O O-O
8.Qc2 a6

8...dxc4 9.Bxc4 b5 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Ne5! h6 12.f4 is unpleasant for Black.

9.b3 g6

The QB-battery succeeds in making Black loosen his king's defenses. 9...dxc4 10.bxc4 b6 11.Rb1 would give White the advantage.

10.Bb2 dxc4
11.Bxc4 b5
12.Bd3 Nb6?!

Leaving the defense of the e5 and c5 squares, Black's central position is slowly eroding.

13.Ne5 Bb7
14.Ne4 Nxe4
15.Bxe4 Nd5

Position after 15...Nd5

The exchanges do not reduce White's plus. The offered pawn on c6 could be safely taken as 16.Nxc6 Bxc6 17.Qxc6 Rc8 18.Qxa6 Bc3 19.Bxc3 Nxc3 20.Bf3! and there is no 20...Ra8 ruining things.

16.a3 Bd6

Taking the pawn was never my intention, but to conduct a kingside attack. For that purpose the knight is a valuable piece that must be kept for possible sacrifices into the enemy king's position.

17.Nf3 Rc8
18.h4!? Qf6

Here, Black could try for counterplay with 18...c5 19.dxc5 Bxc5 when White's attack is temporarily stopped. The placement of the queen looks strange, but Black's defensive idea is to block Pd4 from advancing at all costs. The biggest drawback to this move is that it prevents any counterplay based on c5.

19.h5 a5

The logical continuation. Black's counterplay is too slow, he should have played c5 at once but that is now impossible due to the queen on f6.

20.g3 Ba8
21.Kg2 Rfe8

Now White must be careful of tricks involving Bxg3 fxg3?? Nxe3+.

22.Rh1 Bb7

Black is simply waiting for the inevitable attack to materialize, but his opportunity for counterplay came and went.

23.hxg6 fxg6
24.Rh3 Re7
25.Rah1 Rcc7

Position after 25...Rcc7

At last it looks like Black has mobilized his defenses. Unfortunately, White has reached the end of his buildup and will now begin with a stock demolition sacrifice.

26.Bxg6! Qxg6

The other possibility was 26...hxg6 27.e4 Rh7 28.e5 Rxh3 29.exf6 Rxg3+ 30.Kf1 Ne3+ 31.fxe3 Rxf3+, which doesn't look promising either.

27.Qxg6+ hxg6
28.Rh8+ Kf7?

A critical mistake. Forced was 28...Kg7 as 29.e4 Nf6 30.e5 Bxe5 31.Nxe5 wins back the material with a strong attack, but at least Black can dream of holding. The rest is simple demolition.

29.Ng5+ Kf6
30.Ne4+ Kf5
31.Nxd6+ Kf6
32.e4 Nb6

Of course the knight is very much pinned, but the game was lost anyway.

33.e5+ 1-0

The prettiest way to end things is 33...Kg5 34.Bc1+ Kg4 35.f3#.

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Solution to previous Problem Of The Day:

1. Rb7+ Kd6 (1...Kc8 2. Rxa7+ Kb8 3. Qb7#) 2. Rxd7+! Rxd7 (2...Kxd7 3. Qxc6# / 2...Kc5 3. Ba3# / 2...Ke5 3. Qe2#) 3. Qxc6+ Ke5 4. Qe6# (Lassila - N.N., 2005).