1.e4
c5
2.Sf3
e6
He may have thought we were heading for a Tajmanov Sicilian, but that's not what I had in mind
3.d3
Sc6
4.g3
d5
5.De2
[5.Sbd2
is probably the more normal move]
5...Le7
[another development plan is to fianchetto the bishop 5...Sge7
6.Lg2
g6
7.0-0
Lg7
]
6.Lg2
Sf6
7.0-0
0-0
8.e5
This is a key move in the King's Indian attack! - it could in fact have been on the previous move I guess.
It's so important because otherwise black could play e5 at the right time!
The move also removes a couple of defending from the kingside: The bishop on c8 and the knight on f6
8...Sd7
This is an important position in the King's Indian Attack.
White's plan is to start a piece attack on the black king, possibly following up with a pawn storm.
Black, on the other hand, should do one of two things:
1) Quick advance of his queenside pawns to gain space and initiative there, or
2) Play f6 as quickly as possible to remove the white spearhead pawn on e5
9.c4
prophylaxis against black's b5! [if instead 9.Te1
black can quickly expand on the queenside 9...b5
10.h4
b4
11.Sbd2
a5
]
9...a6
[in view of white's prohylactic move against b5, black should probably go for plan B - removing the e5 pawn 9...f6
10.exf6
Sxf6
]
10.Te1
[I did consider 10.Sc3
to keep control of the b5 square, but black has 10...Sd4
11.Sxd4
cxd4
the knight on f3 was an important attacker for white and should not have been traded off for a black kingside knight!]
10...d4?
Clearly in white's interest! The e4 square is now a very nice square for a white knight [Surely the most principled continuation for black is 10...b5!
]
11.a4!?
I allow myself another move directed at b5.
The position is quite "slow", so why not take as much counterplay away as possible. Btw, the computer has no idea what is going on in a position like this one. If my memory serves me well, this was evaluated as slightly better for black! [the alternative 11.Sbd2
b5
12.Se4
bxc4
13.dxc4
gives black a little more play on the queenside]
11...Dc7?
strategically bad, if you ask me! Black has to play for either the b5 or f6 pawn break! [11...Tb8
12.Sbd2
b5
13.axb5
axb5
14.cxb5
Txb5
15.Sc4
; 11...f6
12.exf6
Sxf6
13.Sbd2
]
12.Sbd2
Tb8
13.h4
adding support for a piece to g5 and also giving space for a knight manoeuvre to h2-g4
13...b6
a strategical victory for white! [the obvious alternative was 13...b5
14.axb5
axb5
15.cxb5
Txb5
16.Sc4
black can "liberate" some queenside pieces, but can he withstand the upcoming white attack?]
14.Se4
Lb7
15.Lf4
with the black queen on c7 this move rules out a future f6 from black
15...Sb4
16.Tad1
This is pretty much a dream position for the King's Indian Attack player!
Black has been deprived his usual queenside counterplay and f6 is also not possible at the moment. And all white pieces are ready to jump at the black king!
16...Lc6
What else can he play? Should I defend the a4 pawn?
17.Sfg5!
the position is offering white some tactical possibilities which is why it's not neccessary to care about the pawn for now
17...Dd8
black wisely removes the queen [if black takes the pawn he is in big trouble: 17...Lxa4??
18.Sf6+!
taking advantage of the fact that the f4 bishop is on same diagonal as the black queen 18...Lxf6
19.exf6
Lxd1
20.Dxd1
e5
21.fxg7
exf4
22.Dh5
]
18.b3
[the tactic on f6 doesn't work 18.Sf6+
gxf6
19.Sxh7
Te8
only leads to a draw]
18...h6
in view of the upcoming Qh5, h6 has to come sooner or later
19.Sf3
b5
20.axb5
axb5
now that the knight has been driven from g5 it's time to occupy g4 instead.
21.Sh2
bxc4
22.bxc4
De8
23.Sg4
black is in trouble! All sorts of threats on f6 and h6
23...h5
a really ugly move, but the alternatives were no better [one example 23...Ta8
24.Sef6+
Sxf6
25.exf6
gxf6
26.Lxc6
Sxc6
27.Lxh6
]
24.Sh2
[There may still be some tactic on f6 24.Sgf6+
gxf6
25.Dxh5
Sxe5
but probably not leading to more than a draw according to the computer]
24...Ta8
25.Ta1
there is still time to take ALL counterplay from black [25.Dxh5?
f5
forcing a queen exchange]
25...Tb8
26.Ta7
White has a big advantage. Dominating both sides of the board. Black has no good moves
26...Ta8
27.Tea1
Txa7
28.Txa7
g6
After the pieces has provoked weaknesses in the black king position it's time push the pawns
29.g4
Db8
[29...Lxh4
30.gxh5
Le7
31.Sg4+-
]
30.Txd7!
rook had to move anyway, so why not remove a defender of the f6 square?
30...Lxd7
31.gxh5
Lc6
32.Sg4
Lxe4
33.Lxe4
Dd8
34.Lh6
Sa6
[34...Lxh4
35.Df3
f5
36.exf6
Txf6
37.Dg2+-
]
35.hxg6
fxg6
36.Sf6+
Lxf6
37.Dg4
I believe it was an interesting display of how dangerous the King's Indian Attack can be if black doesn't seek counterplay in time 1-0