Annotated Game

N.N. - Lassila, T. (E29 - Nimzo-Indian Defense, Sämisch Variation)

1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 e6
3.Nc3 Bb4

Yes, it's another Nimzo!

4.Nf3 O-O
5.a3 Bxc3+
6.bxc3 c5

The best way to attack the pawn on d4, as 7. d5?! is not playable due to 7...d6 8. e3 e5 (or 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 e5) and White will suffer from a cramp due to the pawn structure in the center favoring Black. Play might continue 9. Be2 Bf5 10. O-O Ne4 and Black is better.

7.e3 Nc6

Now 8. d5 would be met by 8...Ne7 9. d6 Ng6 10. Bd3 (10. h4!?) Ne8 11. Ra2 f5 and White has more space but Black should be more solid in an endgame. The position is somewhat unclear.

8.Bd3 d6
9.O-O e5

Practically forcing the push d4-d5, as can be seen from what happens after the capture. After 10.d5 e4 (10...Ne7 11.Nd2 Bf5 12.e4 Bd7 13.f3 Ng6 14.g3 Ne8 15.Rb1 Rb8 16.Qe2 Qe7 17.Rf2 b6 18.Nf1 f5 and draw in 41 moves, Puc - Pachman, Ljubljana 1945) 11.dxc6 bxc6 12.Be2 exf3 13.Bxf3 d5 14.Qa4 Qb6 15.Rd1 Qa6 16.Qxa6 Bxa6 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.Bxd5 Nxd5 19.Rxd5 Rfd8 20.e4 Rxd5 a draw was agreed in Golubiatnikov - Pakhteev, Kimry 2004.

10.dxe5!? dxe5

The threat of e5-e4 now equalizes the game for Black.

11.Qc2 h6

Should White opt for 11. e4 himself, follows 11...Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Qe2 Qe7 14. Rd1 Rad8 15. Be3 b6 and White's hopes of winning with his bishop pair are greatly diminished.

12.Re1 e4!

Note that Black could have played this one move earlier, but given that 12. e4 still goes nowhere it is useful to get in h7-h6. 12. Rd1 would have prevented this push, but allowed 12...Qe7 13. Nd2 Be6, Black is fine.

Position after 12...e4

13.Bxe4 Nxe4
14.Qxe4 Re8

Having removed the light-squared bishop from the board, Black will now activate his pieces towards the center with great efficiency while targeting the weak doubled c-pawns.

15.Qc2 Be6

Or 15. Qd5 Qf6! 16. h3 (threat 16...Bg4) 16...Rd8 17. Qxc5 Bxh3 18. e4 Bg4 19. Nh2 Be6 offers Black some chances.

16.Nd2 Na5
17.Qa4 Bd7

Simply 17...b6.

18.Qd1 b5!?

With an idea of opening the b-file for the rook and occupying b3 with the knight. The pawn deficit did not worry me, but White it turns out can also play actively here.

19.cxb5 Bxb5
20.Qh5 Qc7
21.e4 Bd3

The bishop is strong here, but less useful than I had assumed.

22.Ra2 Rab8
23.Qf3 c4


Position after 23...c4

24.Qg4 Kh8

This is a critical moment of the game. I analyzed 24...Nb3 25. Nxb3 Rxb3 26. Bxh6 f5 27. Qxf5 gxh6 28. Qg6+ Kf8 29. Qxh6+ and draw, but never considered 25...cxb3 26. Rd2 (26. Bxh6?? Qcx3 and Black wins) 26...Rbd8 and Black stands better. Of course breaking the pin is useful too, but White will now gain an attack on the long a1-h8 diagonal.

25.Rb2 Rxb2
26.Bxb2 Rb8!?

26...Qb7.

27.Bc1 Nb3
28.Nxb3 Rxb3

The other option 28...cxb3 29. Bb2 Re8 30. h3 seems to hold better. The problem I failed to appreciate was that White builds up an attack as soon as the back rank problem is dealt with.

29.Be3! f6

29...Rxc3?? 30. Bd4 is an obvious trick.

30.Bd4 Qb7

Threatening 31...Rb1.

31.h3 Rxa3

31. f3 Rb1 32. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 33. Kf2 Qf1+ 34. Kg3 also leads to nothing. Black grabs his pawn back but his attack has fizzled and now it's White who attacks.

32.e5 fxe5

32...f5? loses in rapid succession to 33. Qg6 f4 34. Qd6 Ra6 35. Qf8+ Kh7 36. e6 etc.

33.Rxe5 Ra1+

Or 33. Bxe5 Ra6 34. Bxg7+ Kh7 35. Bf8 Rg6 36. Re7+ Qxe7 37. Bxe7 Rxg4 38. hxg4 with a drawish endgame.

34.Kh2 Qc7

The pin holds Black together for now.

Position after 34...Qc7

35.Qg3 Kh7

A terrible blunder would have been 35. g3? Qb7!! 36. Rd5 Kh7! and Black wins. Having sidestepped this pothole White has clear sailing ahead of him.

36.f4 Rf1?

A fatal mistake. Required was 36...Rb1 to bring the rook to defense.

37.Qh4 1-0

There follows 37...Kg8 38. Re7 Qxf4+ 39. Qxf4 Rxf4 40. Rxg7+ Kf8 41. Rxa7 and Black will have no fun trying to save the endgame.