Annotated Game

Lassila, T. - N.N (E15 - Queen's Indian Defense)

1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nf3 b6

I have recently played a lot of Nimzo-Indian from both sides, but on this occasion wanted less complications since my opponent was well rehearsed in tactical play. Perhaps in hindsight this was a mistake, as I myself prefer slightly sharper positions and needlessly altered my play to suit my opponent.

4. g3 Bb7

More popular is 4...Ba6 and after 5. b3 d5 6. Bg2, the results have been mixed.

5. Bg2 Be7
6. Nc3 O-O

Only occupying c3 once the bishop has wasted a move.

7. Qc2 h6

Aimed at discouraging Ne4 rather than eyeing h7. Black could happily play 7...c5 here, as not successful was 8. d5!? exd5 9. Ng5 h6 10. Nh3 (10. Nxd5 Bxd5 11. cxd5 hxg5 12. d6 Nc6 13. dxe7 Qxe7 14. Bxg5 Qe6 =) 10...b5 11. Nf4 Nc6 12. cxd5 Nd4 in Kortschnoi-Stefansson, Reykjavik Open 2000 (0-1 in 46 moves).

Another attempt was 9...Na6 10. cxd5 h6 11. h4 d6 12. Nce4 g6 13. Nh3 and Black was fine in Dlugy-Kramnik, ICC 1999 (0-1 in 38 moves).

8.O-O Bb4
9.a3 Bxc3
10.Qxc3 d5

The immediate 10...Ne4 is not impressive, as 11. Qe3 d5 12. Nd2 puts the question to the knight.

11.Nd2 c5!

Or 11. Ne5 Ne4 12. Qc2 Nd7 13. Nxd7 Qxd7 14. Bf4 Rac8 15. Rfd1! (freeing f1 for the bishop) +/=.

12.dxc5 d4
13.Qd3 Bxg2
14.Kxg2 bxc5

Position after 14...bxc5

Black has managed to break White's pawn center and build up his own. Worse, I have no easy way of attacking his "weak" pawn at c5. 15. b4 Nbd7 16. bxc5?! Nxc5 17. Qc2 just helps Black. Another possibility was 12. e3 cxd4 13. exd4 Nc6 14. c5 bxc5 15. Qxc5 Rc8 16. Qb5. The IQP can be defended as Black lacks his dark-squared bishop, but White's pieces are dangerously out of play to open the position so suddenly.

15.Nb3 Nbd7
16.f3 Rb8

Since the bishops have been traded, f3 can now be considered, but the knight manoeuvre was a waste of time.

17.Nd2 Ne5
18.Qc2 Qb6
19.b4!? Rfc8

A small trick, but Black has the strong response 19...cxb4 20. axb4 Rfc8! winning a pawn (21. Qa2 Qxb4 22. Qxa7 Qb6 23. Qa2 Qc6 -/+).

20.b5 a6
21.a4 axb5
22.axb5 Ra8

By creating a passer it seems White has clawed his way back into the game. However, the weak white pawns spell doom.

23.Bb2 Rd8

The fact it took me 23 moves to move the queen's bishop speaks something about White's success in the opening.

24.Rxa8 Rxa8
25.Ra1 Rxa1
26.Bxa1 Qa5

Position after 26...Qa5

27.Qb2? Nfd7

Correct here was 27. Bb2. Now the black queen infiltrates rapidly.

28.Nb3 Qa7

The immediate 28...Qb4 29. Nd2 Qa4 is very strong here.

29.Qc1 Qa2
30.Qb2 Qxb2
31.Bxb2 Nxc4

The pawn goes and with it White's hopes of saving the game.

32.Bc1 e5

No hope is offered by 32. Bxd4 cxd4 33. Nxd4 Kf8 -+.

33.Kf2 f5
34.h4 Kf7
35.Ke1 Ke6 0-1

White can do absolutely nothing to stop the black king from simply walking over to pick up the b-pawn and then from supporting his pawns down the board.