Vachier Lagrave-Kasimdzhanov

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(7) Vachier Lagrave,Maxime (2703) – Kasimdzhanov,Rustam (2672) [B78]
Donostia-A San Sebastian (1), 07.07.2009
[Juett, Jason]

[Where indicated, a couple lines are from Stohl’s notes for ChessBase Magazine. I thank him for his excellent and highly instructive commentary on this game. I focus primarily on the opening phase and analysis of an improvement for White I’d like to propose, and I urge anybody who hasn’t yet studied this game to read his notes.] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.Bb3 Rc8 11.0-0-0 Ne5 12.Kb1! Re8! 13.h4 h5 14.g4!? I imagine that this ultra-sharp line is to both players’ tastes. 14…hxg4 15.h5! Nxh5 16.Bh6 e6! 17.Rdg1! g3!? 18.Rxh5!? This flashy move has gotten all the attention, but it seems to lead by force to a position where White’s advantage is only slight, if he has any advantage at all. [Black defends fairly easily after 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Rxg3 Rh8!=/+ 0-1 Rudolf,S (2132)-Lichman,P (2355)/Willingen 2008/CBM 124 Extra (33) (or he can take a forced draw with 19…Nxg3 20.Qh6+ Kf6 21.Qf4+ Ke7 22.Qg5+= (Stohl)) ; 18.Nce2! is an interesting untried idea, first suggested by Gawain Jones on chesspublishing.com, although he appears to have also joined on the 18.Rxh5!? bandwagon after this game. With 18.Nce2!, White wants to get rid of the Nh5 without sacrificing an exchange just yet. After some analysis, I believe that this neglected move is a refutation of 17…g3!?. 18…Qf6! (Jones) This seems like the most sensible move, continuing with Black’s basic defensive plan of getting the queen near the king to defend. (18…Bh8?! 19.Nxg3 Nxg3 20.Rxg3+/- gives White a great attack. For example: 20…Nc4 21.Bxc4 Rxc4 22.Bg5! Bf6 23.Qh2! Rxd4 24.Qh7+ Kf8 25.Qh6+ Bg7 (25…Kg8? 26.Rgh3+- with the winning threat of 27.Qh8+! Bxh8 28.Rxh8+ Kg7 29.R1h7#.; 25…Ke7? 26.Bxf6+ Kxf6 27.Qf4+ Ke7 28.Qg5+ Kf8 29.Rh8+ Kg7 30.Qh6+ Kf6 31.Qf4+ Kg7 32.Rh7+! Kxh7 33.Qxf7+ Kh8 34.Rh3+ Qh4 35.Rxh4#) 26.Qh4 Qc7 27.Bf6+- with the winning threat of 28.Qh8+! Bxh8 29.Rxh8#.) 19.Bxg7N Jones stopped on the last move, just noting that it was an idea to be considered. Let’s do some deeper analysis of his idea. 19…Qxg7 a) 19…Nxg7 20.Nxg3 Nc4 21.Bxc4 Rxc4 22.c3+/- gives White a big initiative; b) 19…Kxg7!? My computer’s least favorite move, but it seems no worse than 19…Qxg7. 20.Nxg3! (Again, White can force the pace with an interesting exchange sac, but 20.Rxh5!? gxh5 21.Nxg3 Kf8 22.Nxh5 Qh8 23.Qg5 Nc4+/= is only slightly better for White.) 20…Nxg3 21.Qh6+ Otherwise Black defends with …Rh8. 21…Kg8 22.Rxg3 This is the point behind 19…Kxg7!. White’s major pieces seem to be in a suboptimal order on the h-file. 22…Nc4 b1) 22…Qg7! 23.Qd2! transposes to 19…Qxg7 (23.Qh2 Kf8! 24.Rh3 Ke7!+/= isn’t as clear) ; b2) 22…Rc5 23.f4 Nc4 24.Bxc4 Rxc4 (24…Qxd4? 25.e5!+-) 25.e5! Qg7 (25…dxe5?! 26.fxe5+- Qxe5? 27.Rxg6+! fxg6 28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.Rf1++-) 26.Qh2+/- Rxd4 27.Rh3 Kf8 28.Rh7 Qg8? 29.Qh6+ Ke7 30.Qg5+ Kf8 31.Rxf7+! Qxf7 (31…Kxf7 32.Qf6#) 32.Rh8+ Kg7 (32…Qg8 33.Qf6#) 33.Qh6#; 23.Bxc4 Qxd4 (23…Rxc4 24.c3 e5?! Probably not maximum resistance, but Black’s position is difficult in any case. 25.Nc2+/- The knight will soon make its way into e3 and g4 with a crushing attack to follow.) 24.Bb3+/- Rc5 25.Rhg1 Re7[] 26.c3! Qe5 27.Qh2 Bc6 28.Bc2 Rd7 29.f4 Qf6 30.Ka1!+/- White has patiently put all his pieces in optimal attacking position and now is read to break with e5 or f5 with devastating effect.; 20.Nxg3! (20.Rxh5!? gxh5 21.Rxg3 Ng6 22.Nf4 d5[] 23.Nxh5 Qh8 24.Rg5+/= gives White very good compensation, but is not nearly as convincing as the main line.) 20…Nxg3 21.Rxg3 a5 (21…Nc4 22.Bxc4 Rxc4 23.c3+/- White has great attacking chances. Just one sample line: 23…Rec8 24.Rgh3+/- e5?! 25.Nf5!!+- gxf5 26.R3h2!!+-) 22.f4! Nc4 (22…a4?! 23.fxe5 axb3 24.axb3+- dxe5 25.Nf3 Red8 26.Ng5+-) 23.Qf2!+/- I could simply stop the analysis here and say that White enjoys so many different attacking options on either the f- or g- or h-file while Black’s counterplay is hardly meaningful, but I’d like to give some sample lines showing several different ways that the initiative could be developed. (23.Qh2 Kf8! 24.c3 Ke7!+/= is not as clear) 23…Qf6 a) 23…Kf8 24.Rf3!+/- Now attention is switched to the f-file. Black is in dire straits. 24…a4 (24…e5 25.f5!!+/- exd4? 26.f6 Qg8 27.Bxc4 Rxc4 28.Qh2 Rxe4 29.Qh6+ Ke8 30.Qg7! Qxg7 31.fxg7+-) 25.Bxc4 Rxc4 26.e5 Rec8 (26…dxe5 27.fxe5+/- Bc6 28.Nxc6 Rxc6 29.Rd3+- Ke7? 30.Qh4+ Kf8 31.Qf6!!+- Kg8 32.Rdh3 Qxf6 33.exf6+-) 27.b3+/- Rb4? 28.Rfh3+- dxe5 29.Nf3!+- with a decisive attack.; b) 23…a4 24.Bxc4 Rxc4 25.Rgh3!+/- a3 (25…Qxd4? 26.e5!+- Qxf2 27.Rh8+ Kg7 28.R1h7#; 25…Rxd4? 26.Rh8+ Qxh8 27.Rxh8+ Kxh8 28.Qxd4++-) 26.Qh2 Kf8 27.e5! Rxd4 28.Rh7 Qg8? 29.Qh6+ Ke7 30.Qg5+ Kf8 31.Rxf7+! Qxf7 32.Rh8+ Kg7 (32…Qg8 33.Qf6#) 33.Qh6#; c) 23…e5 24.f5!!+- exd4? 25.Bxc4 Rxc4 26.f6 Qf8 27.Qh2+-; 24.Rgh3 Kg7 (24…Kf8 25.Rf3! Qg7 26.Bxc4 Rxc4 27.e5+/-) 25.Rf3! There are a wealth of attacing options here. For some reason I decided to spend time finding the strongest one. Below you’ll find some other interesting possibilities, just to illustrate all the resources available to White. a) 25.Rh4!? e5 26.Rh7+ Kf8 27.Qe2 exd4 28.Bxc4 Rxc4 29.Rh8+ Ke7 30.Rxe8+ Bxe8 31.Qxc4 Qxf4 32.Qxd4 Bc6 33.Re1+/=; b) 25.Qh2!? Qxd4 26.Bxc4 Rg8 (26…Rxc4? 27.Rh7+ Kf8 28.Qh4!+-) 27.f5!? Qxc4 28.Rh7+ Kf6 29.fxg6 Qxc2+ 30.Qxc2 Rxc2 31.gxf7 Rxb2+ 32.Kxb2 Rf8 33.Rf1+ Ke7 34.Kc3+/=; 25…Rh8 26.Rxh8 Kxh8 27.e5 Qg7 28.Rh3+ Kg8 29.Nf3 dxe5 30.Bxc4 Rxc4 31.Nxe5 Re4 32.a3!!+/- Now White’s threatening to take the bishop. Black is busted. (White couldn’t grab the piece immediately due to back rank problems: 32.Nxd7? Qd4!) 32…Be8 33.Qc5! Qf6 34.Qc8 Qe7 35.Rd3 Rxf4 36.Rd7 Qf8 37.Rd8+-] 18…gxh5 19.Rxg3 Ng6 20.Nf5!! Bf6 Kasimdzhanov’s novelty, but the move looks completely forced. [20…Bxh6? 21.Qxh6 Qf6 22.Ne2!+/-; 20…exf5?? 21.Rxg6 1-0 Muller,J (1981)-Goundar,S (1903)/Gold Coast 2009/CBM 130 Extra] 21.Nxd6 Now White’s attack is slowed a little as he regains his material. 21…Rc6! 22.Nxe8 Bxe8~~ 23.Qh2 h4 24.Rg2 [24.Rg4!? is a consideration, so that Black can’t continue like in the game: 24…Bxc3?! 25.bxc3 Qd1+?! 26.Kb2 Qxf3 27.Qe5! f6 28.Qh5 Qxc3+ 29.Kb1 Qe1+ 30.Bc1 Kf8 31.Rxg6 Bxg6 32.Qxg6+/-] 24…Bxc3! This move shows Kasimdzhanov’s extremely high class. Most average players tend to be dogmatic about things like giving up the bishop, but he sees a specific continuation that justifies this unusual decision. [Stohl points out the line 24…Rxc3!? 25.bxc3 Qd1+ 26.Bc1!? Qxf3 27.Rxg6+! fxg6 28.Bxe6+ Bf7 29.Qb8+ Kg7 30.Qc7 Bd8 31.Qxd8 Bxe6 32.Qxh4+/= as a way for Black to achieve a slightly inferior but probably drawn position. should be a draw, but only White can fight for more.] 25.bxc3 Qd1+ 26.Bc1 [26.Kb2? Qxf3-/+ (Stohl) Note that there’s no Qe5-h5 continuation like in the last note, because that would hang the rook in this case.] 26…Qxf3 27.Rg1! Preventing …Qxe4 due to the threat of Qb8. Without this resource White would be worse. 27…Kh7 28.Qb8 Bd7? Up until this point, we can say that Kasimdzhanov won the opening duel, but unfortunately he goes wrong here. [In his notes Stohl points out that Black can draw with 28…h3! 29.Qxe8 h2 30.Rxg6 fxg6 (30…Kxg6? 31.Qg8+ Kh5 32.Qg5#) 31.Qe7+ Kh8 32.Qh4+ Qh5 33.Qf6+ Kh7=] 29.Qd8! Now for the rest of the game Black never has a chance to get in h3. 29…Bc8 [29…h3? 30.Rxg6! fxg6 31.Qxd7+ Kh8 32.Bxe6+- (Stohl)] 30.Qg5 Kg8 [30…h3? 31.Qh6+ Kg8 32.Rxg6+! fxg6 33.Qxg6+ Kh8 34.Bg5!+- (Stohl)] 31.Qxh4+/- The game is effectively over now that Black lost his only source of counterplay (the h-pawn) while White retains his attack. The rest of the game is not without errors, but it follows its natural course and there is never doubt about the result. White has liquidated Black’s main trump with a continuing ->. This gives him a permanent advantage and in a higher sense the game is decided. 31…b6? [31…Rxc3? 32.Bb2+- (Stohl)] 32.Qe7? [The computers point out that 32.Rg3!+- wins immediately for some obscure reason.] 32…Kg7 33.Qxa7 e5 34.Rg5 Rf6 35.Qc7 Be6 36.Qxe5 Kg8 37.Qd4 Bxb3 38.axb3 Re6 39.Qd8+ Kg7 40.c4 Rxe4 41.Qd5 Qe2 42.Bb2+ Kh6 43.Rg1 Qf3 44.Bd4 b5 45.Bf6 bxc4 46.Qxf7 1-0

[Event “Donostia-A”]
[Site “San Sebastian”]
[Date “2009.07.07”]
[Round “1”]
[White “Vachier Lagrave, Maxime”]
[Black “Kasimdzhanov, Rustam”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “B78”]
[WhiteElo “2703”]
[BlackElo “2672”]
[Annotator “Juett, Jason”]
[PlyCount “91”]
[EventDate “2009.07.07”]
[EventType “tourn”]
[EventRounds “9”]
[EventCountry “ESP”]
[EventCategory “18”]
[Source “ChessBase”]
[SourceDate “2009.09.16”]

{[Where indicated, a couple lines are from Stohl’s notes for ChessBase
Magazine. I thank him for his excellent and highly instructive commentary on
this game. I focus primarily on the opening phase and analysis of an
improvement for White I’d like to propose, and I urge anybody who hasn’t yet
studied this game to read his notes.]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. Bb3 Rc8 11. O-O-O
Ne5 12. Kb1 $1 Re8 $1 13. h4 h5 14. g4 $5 {I imagine that this ultra-sharp
line is to both players’ tastes.} hxg4 15. h5 $1 Nxh5 16. Bh6 e6 $1 17. Rdg1 $1
g3 $5 18. Rxh5 $5 {This flashy move has gotten all the attention, but it seems
to lead by force to a position where White’s advantage is only slight, if he
has any advantage at all.} ({Black defends fairly easily after} 18. Bxg7 Kxg7
19. Rxg3 Rh8 $1 $15 {0-1 Rudolf,S (2132)-Lichman,P (2355)/Willingen 2008/CBM
124 Extra (33)} ({or he can take a forced draw with} 19… Nxg3 20. Qh6+ Kf6
21. Qf4+ Ke7 22. Qg5+ $11 {(Stohl)})) (18. Nce2 $1 {is an interesting untried
idea, first suggested by Gawain Jones on chesspublishing.com, although he
appears to have also joined on the 18.Rxh5!? bandwagon after this game. With
18.Nce2!, White wants to get rid of the Nh5 without sacrificing an exchange
just yet. After some analysis, I believe that this neglected move is a
refutation of 17…g3!?.} Qf6 $1 {(Jones) This seems like the most sensible
move, continuing with Black’s basic defensive plan of getting the queen near
the king to defend.} (18… Bh8 $6 19. Nxg3 Nxg3 20. Rxg3 $16 {gives White a
great attack. For example:} Nc4 21. Bxc4 Rxc4 22. Bg5 $1 Bf6 23. Qh2 $1 Rxd4
24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. Qh6+ Bg7 (25… Kg8 $2 26. Rgh3 $18 {with the winning threat
of 27.Qh8+! Bxh8 28.Rxh8+ Kg7 29.R1h7#.}) (25… Ke7 $2 26. Bxf6+ Kxf6 27. Qf4+
Ke7 28. Qg5+ Kf8 29. Rh8+ Kg7 30. Qh6+ Kf6 31. Qf4+ Kg7 32. Rh7+ $1 Kxh7 33.
Qxf7+ Kh8 34. Rh3+ Qh4 35. Rxh4#) 26. Qh4 Qc7 27. Bf6 $18 {with the winning
threat of 28.Qh8+! Bxh8 29.Rxh8#.}) 19. Bxg7 $146 {Jones stopped on the last
move, just noting that it was an idea to be considered. Let’s do some deeper
analysis of his idea.} Qxg7 (19… Nxg7 20. Nxg3 Nc4 21. Bxc4 Rxc4 22. c3 $16 {
gives White a big initiative}) (19… Kxg7 $5 {My computer’s least favorite
move, but it seems no worse than 19…Qxg7.} 20. Nxg3 $1 ({Again, White can
force the pace with an interesting exchange sac, but} 20. Rxh5 $5 gxh5 21. Nxg3
Kf8 22. Nxh5 Qh8 23. Qg5 Nc4 $14 {is only slightly better for White.}) 20…
Nxg3 21. Qh6+ {Otherwise Black defends with …Rh8.} Kg8 22. Rxg3 {This is the
point behind 19…Kxg7!. White’s major pieces seem to be in a suboptimal
order on the h-file.} Nc4 (22… Qg7 $1 23. Qd2 $1 {transposes to 19…Qxg7} (
23. Qh2 Kf8 $1 24. Rh3 Ke7 $1 $14 {isn’t as clear})) (22… Rc5 23. f4 Nc4 24.
Bxc4 Rxc4 (24… Qxd4 $2 25. e5 $1 $18) 25. e5 $1 Qg7 (25… dxe5 $6 26. fxe5
$18 Qxe5 $2 27. Rxg6+ $1 fxg6 28. Qh7+ Kf8 29. Rf1+ $18) 26. Qh2 $16 Rxd4 27.
Rh3 Kf8 28. Rh7 Qg8 $2 29. Qh6+ Ke7 30. Qg5+ Kf8 31. Rxf7+ $1 Qxf7 (31… Kxf7
32. Qf6#) 32. Rh8+ Kg7 (32… Qg8 33. Qf6#) 33. Qh6#) 23. Bxc4 Qxd4 (23… Rxc4
24. c3 e5 $6 {Probably not maximum resistance, but Black’s position is
difficult in any case.} 25. Nc2 $16 {The knight will soon make its way into e3
and g4 with a crushing attack to follow.}) 24. Bb3 $16 Rc5 25. Rhg1 Re7 $8 26.
c3 $1 Qe5 27. Qh2 Bc6 28. Bc2 Rd7 29. f4 Qf6 30. Ka1 $1 $16 {White has
patiently put all his pieces in optimal attacking position and now is read to
break with e5 or f5 with devastating effect.}) 20. Nxg3 $1 (20. Rxh5 $5 gxh5
21. Rxg3 Ng6 22. Nf4 d5 $8 23. Nxh5 Qh8 24. Rg5 $14 {gives White very good
compensation, but is not nearly as convincing as the main line.}) 20… Nxg3
21. Rxg3 a5 (21… Nc4 22. Bxc4 Rxc4 23. c3 $16 {White has great attacking
chances. Just one sample line:} Rec8 24. Rgh3 $16 e5 $6 25. Nf5 $3 $18 gxf5
26. R3h2 $3 $18) 22. f4 $1 Nc4 (22… a4 $6 23. fxe5 axb3 24. axb3 $18 dxe5 25.
Nf3 Red8 26. Ng5 $18) 23. Qf2 $1 $16 {I could simply stop the analysis here
and say that White enjoys so many different attacking options on either the f-
or g- or h-file while Black’s counterplay is hardly meaningful, but I’d like
to give some sample lines showing several different ways that the initiative
could be developed.} (23. Qh2 Kf8 $1 24. c3 Ke7 $1 $14 {is not as clear}) 23…
Qf6 (23… Kf8 24. Rf3 $1 $16 {Now attention is switched to the f-file. Black
is in dire straits.} a4 (24… e5 25. f5 $3 $16 exd4 $2 26. f6 Qg8 27. Bxc4
Rxc4 28. Qh2 Rxe4 29. Qh6+ Ke8 30. Qg7 $1 Qxg7 31. fxg7 $18) 25. Bxc4 Rxc4 26.
e5 Rec8 (26… dxe5 27. fxe5 $16 Bc6 28. Nxc6 Rxc6 29. Rd3 $18 Ke7 $2 30. Qh4+
Kf8 31. Qf6 $3 $18 Kg8 32. Rdh3 Qxf6 33. exf6 $18) 27. b3 $16 Rb4 $2 28. Rfh3
$18 dxe5 29. Nf3 $1 $18 {with a decisive attack.}) (23… a4 24. Bxc4 Rxc4 25.
Rgh3 $1 $16 a3 (25… Qxd4 $2 26. e5 $1 $18 Qxf2 27. Rh8+ Kg7 28. R1h7#) (25…
Rxd4 $2 26. Rh8+ Qxh8 27. Rxh8+ Kxh8 28. Qxd4+ $18) 26. Qh2 Kf8 27. e5 $1 Rxd4
28. Rh7 Qg8 $2 29. Qh6+ Ke7 30. Qg5+ Kf8 31. Rxf7+ $1 Qxf7 32. Rh8+ Kg7 (32…
Qg8 33. Qf6#) 33. Qh6#) (23… e5 24. f5 $3 $18 exd4 $2 25. Bxc4 Rxc4 26. f6
Qf8 27. Qh2 $18) 24. Rgh3 Kg7 (24… Kf8 25. Rf3 $1 Qg7 26. Bxc4 Rxc4 27. e5
$16) 25. Rf3 $1 {There are a wealth of attacing options here. For some reason
I decided to spend time finding the strongest one. Below you’ll find some
other interesting possibilities, just to illustrate all the resources
available to White.} (25. Rh4 $5 e5 26. Rh7+ Kf8 27. Qe2 exd4 28. Bxc4 Rxc4 29.
Rh8+ Ke7 30. Rxe8+ Bxe8 31. Qxc4 Qxf4 32. Qxd4 Bc6 33. Re1 $14) (25. Qh2 $5
Qxd4 26. Bxc4 Rg8 (26… Rxc4 $2 27. Rh7+ Kf8 28. Qh4 $1 $18) 27. f5 $5 Qxc4
28. Rh7+ Kf6 29. fxg6 Qxc2+ 30. Qxc2 Rxc2 31. gxf7 Rxb2+ 32. Kxb2 Rf8 33. Rf1+
Ke7 34. Kc3 $14) 25… Rh8 26. Rxh8 Kxh8 27. e5 Qg7 28. Rh3+ Kg8 29. Nf3 dxe5
30. Bxc4 Rxc4 31. Nxe5 Re4 32. a3 $3 $16 {Now White’s threatening to take the
bishop. Black is busted.} ({White couldn’t grab the piece immediately due to
back rank problems:} 32. Nxd7 $2 Qd4 $1) 32… Be8 33. Qc5 $1 Qf6 34. Qc8 Qe7
35. Rd3 Rxf4 36. Rd7 Qf8 37. Rd8 $18) 18… gxh5 19. Rxg3 Ng6 20. Nf5 $3 Bf6 {
Kasimdzhanov’s novelty, but the move looks completely forced.} (20… Bxh6 $2
21. Qxh6 Qf6 22. Ne2 $1 $16) (20… exf5 $4 21. Rxg6 {1-0 Muller,J (1981)
-Goundar,S (1903)/Gold Coast 2009/CBM 130 Extra}) 21. Nxd6 {Now White’s attack
is slowed a little as he regains his material.} Rc6 $1 22. Nxe8 Bxe8 $13 23.
Qh2 h4 24. Rg2 (24. Rg4 $5 {is a consideration, so that Black can’t continue
like in the game:} Bxc3 $6 25. bxc3 Qd1+ $6 26. Kb2 Qxf3 27. Qe5 $1 f6 28. Qh5
Qxc3+ 29. Kb1 Qe1+ 30. Bc1 Kf8 31. Rxg6 Bxg6 32. Qxg6 $16) 24… Bxc3 $1 {This
move shows Kasimdzhanov’s extremely high class. Most average players tend to
be dogmatic about things like giving up the bishop, but he sees a specific
continuation that justifies this unusual decision.} ({Stohl points out the line
} 24… Rxc3 $5 25. bxc3 Qd1+ 26. Bc1 $5 Qxf3 27. Rxg6+ $1 fxg6 28. Bxe6+ Bf7
29. Qb8+ Kg7 30. Qc7 Bd8 31. Qxd8 Bxe6 32. Qxh4 $14 {as a way for Black to
achieve a slightly inferior but probably drawn position. should be a draw, but
only White can fight for more.}) 25. bxc3 Qd1+ 26. Bc1 (26. Kb2 $2 Qxf3 $17 {
(Stohl) Note that there’s no Qe5-h5 continuation like in the last note,
because that would hang the rook in this case.}) 26… Qxf3 27. Rg1 $1 {
Preventing …Qxe4 due to the threat of Qb8. Without this resource White
would be worse.} Kh7 28. Qb8 Bd7 $2 {Up until this point, we can say that
Kasimdzhanov won the opening duel, but unfortunately he goes wrong here.} ({In
his notes Stohl points out that Black can draw with} 28… h3 $1 29. Qxe8 h2
30. Rxg6 fxg6 (30… Kxg6 $2 31. Qg8+ Kh5 32. Qg5#) 31. Qe7+ Kh8 32. Qh4+ Qh5
33. Qf6+ Kh7 $11) 29. Qd8 $1 {Now for the rest of the game Black never has a
chance to get in h3.} Bc8 (29… h3 $2 30. Rxg6 $1 fxg6 31. Qxd7+ Kh8 32. Bxe6
$18 {(Stohl)}) 30. Qg5 Kg8 (30… h3 $2 31. Qh6+ Kg8 32. Rxg6+ $1 fxg6 33.
Qxg6+ Kh8 34. Bg5 $1 $18 {(Stohl)}) 31. Qxh4 $16 {The game is effectively over
now that Black lost his only source of counterplay (the h-pawn) while White
retains his attack. The rest of the game is not without errors, but it
follows its natural course and there is never doubt about the result. White
has liquidated Black’s main trump with a continuing ->. This gives him a
permanent advantage and in a higher sense the game is decided.} b6 $2 (31…
Rxc3 $2 32. Bb2 $18 {(Stohl)}) 32. Qe7 $2 ({The computers point out that} 32.
Rg3 $1 $18 {wins immediately for some obscure reason.}) 32… Kg7 33. Qxa7 e5
34. Rg5 Rf6 35. Qc7 Be6 36. Qxe5 Kg8 37. Qd4 Bxb3 38. axb3 Re6 39. Qd8+ Kg7 40.
c4 Rxe4 41. Qd5 Qe2 42. Bb2+ Kh6 43. Rg1 Qf3 44. Bd4 b5 45. Bf6 bxc4 46. Qxf7
1-0