Annotated Game

N.N. - Lassila,T. (E32 - Nimzo-Indian, Classical)

1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 e6
3.Nc3 Bb4
4.Qc2 O-O
5.a3 Bxc3+
6.Qxc3 b6
7.Bg5 Bb7
8.e3 d6
9.Nf3 Nbd7

More usual is 9.f3. Now Black gets some pressure on the f3-square.

10.Bd3 h6
11.Bh4 c5

Also possible was 11...e5 12. Bf5 (12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 dxe5 14. O-O +/=) exd4 13. Qxd4 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Ne5 15. Qf4 +/=.

12.O-O Rc8

Interesting is 12. b4 cxd4 13. exd4 e5 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Bf5.

13.Nd2 cxd4
14.exd4 d5

Using the pin to give White an IQP.

15.Qb4 e5

This is going too far. 15...dxc4 16. Nxc4 Ba6 17. Rfd1 Nd5 18. Bxd8 Nxb4 19. axb4 Bxc4 20. Bxc4 Rxc4 was better.

16.Bf5 exd4?

It was still possible to play 16...Rc7 17. cxd5 Bxd5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 +/=. Now White has good winning chances.

Position after 16...exd4

17.Bxf6! Nxf6

Black will avoid mate after 17...gxf6 18. Qb3 Rc7 19. Qg3+ Kh8 20. Qh4 Kg7 21. Qg4+ Kh8 22. Qxd4 Ne5 23. Qf4 Kg7 24. Qg3+ Ng6 25. cxd5, but will have a miserable position. I considered it better to give the exchange and try to gain counterplay in the center.

18.Bxc8 Qxc8
19.Rfc1 dxc4
20.Rxc4 Qg4

When down material, attack!

21.f3 Qe6
22.Rxd4 Nd5

The white queen is low on squares and the white rooks are uncoordinated.

Position after 22...Nd5

23.Qa4 Qe3+
24.Kh1 Bc6?

A critical position. Almost every piece is hanging at some point. It turns out that with 24...b5! 25. Qxa7 Nf4 26. Ra4! (26. Ne4 Bxe4 27. fxe4 Qf2 28. Rg1 Nh3 29. gxh3 Qf3+ 30. Rg2 Qf1+ =) 26...Qxd2 27. Rxf4 Qxf4 28. Qxb7 Black could still have good chances to draw. The remainder of the game is a cleanup operation despite the wild tactics that follow.

25.Qc4 b5

One move too late.

26.Qc5 Re8

Or Nf4 27. Rc4 Qxd2 28. Rc2 Qd5 29. Qxc6 Qxc6 30. Rxc6 +-. The rest is a pure attempt to swindle.

27.Qxc6 Qe1+
28.Nf1 1-0

How is one to defeat an opponent who refuses the offer of a free queen?

Position after 28.Nf1