Crazy and decisive game in Cappelle la Grande R8

Sanikidze, Tornike(2549) vs. Petrosian, Tigran L(2643)
28th Cappelle Open (8) - Cappelle la Grande FRA - 2012.03.09

[Event "28th Cappelle Open (8)"] [Site "Cappelle la Grande FRA"] [Date "2012.03.09"] [Round "8"] [White "Sanikidze, Tornike"] [Black "Petrosian, Tigran L"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D13"] [WhiteElo "2549"] [BlackElo "2643"] [PlyCount "93"] [EventDate "2012.03.03"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 {The exchange variation of the Slav defense usually leads to calm and positional play, but not in this game!} 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 a6 7. Ne5 {7.e3 and 7.Rc1 are main moves here.} Qb6 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. f3 $5 {White plays for e2-e4 and thus sacrifices the b2 pawn.} (9. Qd2 {is the normal move}) 9... Nh5 (9... Qxb2 10. Na4 Qb4+ 11. Kf2 $44) (9... e6 {was the only other game with 9.f3, and another very interesting one.} 10. Na4 Qa5+ 11. Kf2 Nh5 12. Bd2 Qc7 13. Qc2 Bd6 14. Rc1 O-O 15. Qxc6 Qe7 16. Qxa8 Qh4+ 17. g3 Nxg3 18. hxg3 Qxg3+ 19. Ke3 Bd7 20. Qxa6 e5 21. Be1 Qg5+ 22. Kf2 e4 23. e3 Qg3+ 24. Ke2 Qxf3+ 25. Kd2 Qxh1 26. Qxd6 Qxf1 27. Nc5 Bg4 28. Qh2 Rc8 29. Bg3 Qb5 30. Ke1 h5 31. a4 Qb6 32. Ra1 Ra8 33. Bc7 Qf6 34. Qf4 Qh4+ 35. Kd2 Ra7 36. Rf1 Qe7 37. Bb6 Ra8 38. a5 Bf3 39. a6 Qe8 40. Rxf3 exf3 41. Qxf3 Qb5 42. Qxd5 Qxb2+ 43. Kd3 Qb1+ 44. Kc3 Re8 45. Qb7 Qc1+ 46. Kb4 Qxe3 47. d5 f6 48. a7 f5 49. a8=Q Rxa8 50. Qxa8+ Kh7 51. Qb7 {1-0 Jobava,B (2707)-Pridorozhni,A (2542)/ Aix-les-Bains FRA 2011}) 10. Be3 Qxb2 11. Na4 Qa3 12. Kf2 Rb8 13. Rc1 Bd7 14. Rb1 {Funny switch-back!} Rb5 (14... Rxb1 {is of course dangerous for Black.} 15. Qxb1 Qd6 16. Qb7 $14) 15. Qc2 e6 16. Bc1 Qd6 17. Nc5 Be7 18. e3 Bh4+ { After this move the game will become more and more complicated.} (18... Rxb1 19. Qxb1 O-O {was solid.}) 19. g3 (19. Kg1 {is hardly a human move.}) 19... Rxb1 20. Qxb1 Nxg3 {The logical continuation Black was aiming for.} 21. hxg3 Qxg3+ 22. Ke2 Qe1+ 23. Kd3 Qd1+ 24. Kc3 Be1+ 25. Kb2 Qxf3 {I saw this position during the live and thought White was in trouble because it seems he will lose either the Rh1 or the Bf1.} 26. Bxa6 $6 ({White could play safer with} 26. Rxh7 Rxh7 27. Qxh7 Qxf1 28. Qxg7 {and it's a draw.} Qf3 ({not} 28... Qf5 $2 29. Nb7 $1 {and now White is winning!}) 29. Qg8+ ({not} 29. Nb7 $2 Qe2+ {and now Black is mating!}) 29... Ke7 30. Qg5+ Ke8 $11 ({not} 30... Kd6 $2 31. Qd8 $18)) 26... Qxh1 27. Bd2 {White's idea : he wins the Be1. But Black has a lot of pawns...} Qh2 28. Qxe1 h5 29. Ka3 (29. Kb3 {was another possibility}) 29... h4 30. Bb4 O-O {Black wants to hide his King. On other moves it seems that White can draw as well!} (30... f5 31. Nd3 $1 h3 32. Ne5 Qc2 33. Bc5 h2 34. Qb4 Qc1+ 35. Ka4 Qc2+ 36. Ka3 $11) (30... f6 31. Qb1 Qg3 32. Qc2 h3 33. Nxd7 Kxd7 34. Qc5 Re8 35. Bc8+ $1 Kxc8 36. Qxc6+ Kd8 37. Qa8+ Kd7 38. Qa4+ $1 Kd8 $11) (30... h3 {is a very nice (and crazy) variation} 31. Qc3 O-O 32. Nxd7 Qg3 33. Nxf8 h2 34. Nxe6 h1=Q (34... fxe6 35. Bd3 h1=Q 36. Qxc6 Qb8 37. Qxe6+ Kh8 38. Kb3 {Black is better but the position remains unclear!}) 35. Nc5 (35. Nf4 Qe4 36. Qxc6 Qgxe3+ 37. Nd3 g5 $19) 35... Qh6 36. Bd3 Qhxe3 37. Kb3 Qgg1 38. a4 Qxd4 39. Qxd4 Qxd4 40. a5 Qf6 41. a6 Qd8 42. Nb7 Qb6 43. Ka3 Qd4 44. Nc5 Qe5 45. Nb3 Qe3 46. Nc5 $11 {with an incredible draw!}) 31. Nxd7 Ra8 32. Qf1 $1 ({If} 32. Nc5 h3 {and it's not easy for White to stop the h pawn.} 33. Ba5 $1 Qg2 34. Bc7 h2 35. Bxh2 Qxh2 36. Kb3 g5 {Next pawn!} 37. Kc3 $1 Rb8 38. Bb7 g4 39. Qf1 f5 40. a4 Kf7 $19 {and it seems that Black wins.}) 32... h3 (32... Qc7 33. Nc5 Qg3 34. Qe1 $1 {fighting for the b8-h2 diagonal!!} Qg5 35. Ba5 h3 36. Bc7 Qe7 37. Qg3 Rxa6+ 38. Kb3 Ra7 39. Bb6 Ra8 40. a4 $1 e5 41. Qxh3 exd4 42. exd4 {remains unclear but it seems White can hold.}) 33. Nb6 Rxa6+ 34. Qxa6 Qg3 ({Better was } 34... Qg1 35. Bd6 (35. Nc8 $2 h2 36. Ne7+ Kh7 37. Qc8 h1=Q $19) 35... Qxe3+ 36. Kb2 Qxd4+ {eating all pawns!} 37. Kc2 Qf2+ 38. Kb3 Qf3+ 39. Kb2 h2 40. Bxh2 Qg2+ 41. Kc3 Qxh2 {and with 4 pawns for the Knight Black has better chances, even if it's still unclear.}) 35. Nc8 $1 {Strong defensive move by Sanikidze, the Knight is going to e7 to reach Black's King.} Qxe3+ 36. Ka4 Kh7 37. Ne7 Qe4 $2 {Probably in time trouble Black commits a mistake.} ({Black had to play something like} 37... Qxd4 38. Qa8 c5 39. Qg8+ Kh6 40. Qh8+ Kg5 41. Nc6 Qd1+ 42. Ka5 cxb4 43. Qxh3 $11) ({or} 37... h2 38. Qa8 Qe2 $1 $11) 38. Qc8 Qxd4 ({ Petrosian probably planned} 38... Kh6 39. Qh8+ Qh7 {missing the nice} 40. Bd2+ $18) 39. Qg8+ Kh6 40. Qh8+ Kg5 41. Qxh3 c5 {Now it's not the same because Black lost a tempo.} 42. Qg2+ Kh4 43. Qh2+ Kg4 44. Qe2+ Kh3 45. Nc6 Qf4 46. Qd2 Qc4 47. Qc3+ {We are sad for Black but the game was really complicated and spectacular.} 1-0

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Cf3 Cf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 The exchange variation of the Slav defense usually leads to calm and positional play, but not in this game! 5. Cc3 Cc6 6. Ff4 a6 7. Ce5 7.e3 and 7.Rc1 are main moves here. 7...  Db6 8. Cxc6 bxc6 9. f3!? White plays for e2-e4 and thus sacrifices the b2 pawn. ( 9. Dd2 is the normal move ) 9...  Ch5 ( 9... Dxb2 10. Ca4 Db4+ 11. Rf2 ) ( 9... e6 was the only other game with 9.f3, and another very interesting one. 10. Ca4 Da5+ 11. Rf2 Ch5 12. Fd2 Dc7 13. Dc2 Fd6 14. Tc1 O-O 15. Dxc6 De7 16. Dxa8 Dh4+ 17. g3 Cxg3 18. hxg3 Dxg3+ 19. Re3 Fd7 20. Dxa6 e5 21. Fe1 Dg5+ 22. Rf2 e4 23. e3 Dg3+ 24. Re2 Dxf3+ 25. Rd2 Dxh1 26. Dxd6 Dxf1 27. Cc5 Fg4 28. Dh2 Tc8 29. Fg3 Db5 30. Re1 h5 31. a4 Db6 32. Ta1 Ta8 33. Fc7 Df6 34. Df4 Dh4+ 35. Rd2 Ta7 36. Tf1 De7 37. Fb6 Ta8 38. a5 Ff3 39. a6 De8 40. Txf3 exf3 41. Dxf3 Db5 42. Dxd5 Dxb2+ 43. Rd3 Db1+ 44. Rc3 Te8 45. Db7 Dc1+ 46. Rb4 Dxe3 47. d5 f6 48. a7 f5 49. a8=D Txa8 50. Dxa8+ Rh7 51. Db7 1-0 Jobava,B (2707)-Pridorozhni,A (2542)/ Aix-les-Bains FRA 2011 ) 10. Fe3 Dxb2 11. Ca4 Da3 12. Rf2 Tb8 13. Tc1 Fd7 14. Tb1 Funny switch-back! 14...  Tb5 ( 14... Txb1 is of course dangerous for Black. 15. Dxb1 Dd6 16. Db7 += ) 15. Dc2 e6 16. Fc1 Dd6 17. Cc5 Fe7 18. e3 Fh4+ After this move the game will become more and more complicated. ( 18... Txb1 19. Dxb1 O-O was solid. ) 19. g3 ( 19. Rg1 is hardly a human move. ) 19...  Txb1 20. Dxb1 Cxg3 The logical continuation Black was aiming for. 21. hxg3 Dxg3+ 22. Re2 De1+ 23. Rd3 Dd1+ 24. Rc3 Fe1+ 25. Rb2 Dxf3 I saw this position during the live and thought White was in trouble because it seems he will lose either the Rh1 or the Bf1. 26. Fxa6?! ( White could play safer with 26. Txh7 Txh7 27. Dxh7 Dxf1 28. Dxg7 and it's a draw. 28... Df3 ( not 28... Df5? 29. Cb7! and now White is winning! ) 29. Dg8+ ( not 29. Cb7? De2+ and now Black is mating! ) 29... Re7 30. Dg5+ Re8 = ( not 30... Rd6? 31. Dd8 +- ) ) 26...  Dxh1 27. Fd2 White's idea : he wins the Be1. But Black has a lot of pawns... 27...  Dh2 28. Dxe1 h5 29. Ra3 ( 29. Rb3 was another possibility ) 29...  h4 30. Fb4 O-O Black wants to hide his King. On other moves it seems that White can draw as well! ( 30... f5 31. Cd3! h3 32. Ce5 Dc2 33. Fc5 h2 34. Db4 Dc1+ 35. Ra4 Dc2+ 36. Ra3 = ) ( 30... f6 31. Db1 Dg3 32. Dc2 h3 33. Cxd7 Rxd7 34. Dc5 Te8 35. Fc8+! Rxc8 36. Dxc6+ Rd8 37. Da8+ Rd7 38. Da4+! Rd8 = ) ( 30... h3 is a very nice (and crazy) variation 31. Dc3 O-O 32. Cxd7 Dg3 33. Cxf8 h2 34. Cxe6 h1=D ( 34... fxe6 35. Fd3 h1=D 36. Dxc6 Db8 37. Dxe6+ Rh8 38. Rb3 Black is better but the position remains unclear! ) 35. Cc5 ( 35. Cf4 De4 36. Dxc6 Dgxe3+ 37. Cd3 g5 -+ ) 35... Dh6 36. Fd3 Dhxe3 37. Rb3 Dgg1 38. a4 Dxd4 39. Dxd4 Dxd4 40. a5 Df6 41. a6 Dd8 42. Cb7 Db6 43. Ra3 Dd4 44. Cc5 De5 45. Cb3 De3 46. Cc5 = with an incredible draw! ) 31. Cxd7 Ta8 32. Df1! ( If 32. Cc5 h3 and it's not easy for White to stop the h pawn. 33. Fa5! Dg2 34. Fc7 h2 35. Fxh2 Dxh2 36. Rb3 g5 Next pawn! 37. Rc3! Tb8 38. Fb7 g4 39. Df1 f5 40. a4 Rf7 -+ and it seems that Black wins. ) 32...  h3 ( 32... Dc7 33. Cc5 Dg3 34. De1! fighting for the b8-h2 diagonal!! 34... Dg5 35. Fa5 h3 36. Fc7 De7 37. Dg3 Txa6+ 38. Rb3 Ta7 39. Fb6 Ta8 40. a4! e5 41. Dxh3 exd4 42. exd4 remains unclear but it seems White can hold. ) 33. Cb6 Txa6+ 34. Dxa6 Dg3 ( Better was 34... Dg1 35. Fd6 ( 35. Cc8? h2 36. Ce7+ Rh7 37. Dc8 h1=D -+ ) 35... Dxe3+ 36. Rb2 Dxd4+ eating all pawns! 37. Rc2 Df2+ 38. Rb3 Df3+ 39. Rb2 h2 40. Fxh2 Dg2+ 41. Rc3 Dxh2 and with 4 pawns for the Knight Black has better chances, even if it's still unclear. ) 35. Cc8! Strong defensive move by Sanikidze, the Knight is going to e7 to reach Black's King. 35...  Dxe3+ 36. Ra4 Rh7 37. Ce7 De4? Probably in time trouble Black commits a mistake. ( Black had to play something like 37... Dxd4 38. Da8 c5 39. Dg8+ Rh6 40. Dh8+ Rg5 41. Cc6 Dd1+ 42. Ra5 cxb4 43. Dxh3 = ) ( or 37... h2 38. Da8 De2! = ) 38. Dc8 Dxd4 ( Petrosian probably planned 38... Rh6 39. Dh8+ Dh7 missing the nice 40. Fd2+ +- ) 39. Dg8+ Rh6 40. Dh8+ Rg5 41. Dxh3 c5 Now it's not the same because Black lost a tempo. 42. Dg2+ Rh4 43. Dh2+ Rg4 44. De2+ Rh3 45. Cc6 Df4 46. Dd2 Dc4 47. Dc3+ We are sad for Black but the game was really complicated and spectacular. 1-0

Crazy attacking play by SamuraiJunior

Here is an interesting 3 min game I played yesterday on Internet.

arnackor(1994) vs. SamuraiJunior(1927)
rated blitz match - Free Internet Chess Server - 2012.03.06

[Event "rated blitz match"] [Site "Free Internet Chess Server"] [Date "2012.03.06"] [Round "?"] [White "arnackor"] [Black "SamuraiJunior"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C61"] [WhiteElo "1994"] [BlackElo "1927"] [Annotator "arnackor"] [PlyCount "35"] [EventDate "2012.??.??"] [TimeControl "180"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 {ok, this is the Bird defense. It's not very commendable...} 4. Nxd4 exd4 5. O-O f5 $6 {But what's that?? Some Bird-Schliemmann? I did not find any game with this move!} 6. Bc4 {I choose a solid move. 6...fxe4 is not possible because of 7.Qh5+. White might be threatening Bxg8 followed by Qh5+.} Nf6 7. e5 Ng4 8. h3 {Because Black can't take in e5 thanks to Re1 followed by f4, but Black is ready...} h5 $1 {Well, Black uses a wellknown pattern, the Knight is immune.} 9. d3 b5 $5 {Wow, what kind of player is that? Is Anderssen back? Are we really in 2012?} 10. Bxb5 Bb7 11. c3 {As d4 is very annoying I want to eliminate it.} Qh4 {Finally a move that did not surprise me :-)} 12. e6 $2 {As I saw absolutely no threat for Black I became too confident and make a mistake... I had to follow my plan and take in d4 with a winning position.} (12. cxd4 $18) 12... O-O-O (12... Bd6 { was better}) 13. Bxd7+ Kb8 14. cxd4 $2 ({now} 14. Bf4 {was better}) 14... Bd6 { After this move I understood it was very dangerous. Black has 4 pieces in the attack and is threatening Bh2+ Kh1 Qxh3 f3 Qh4. It's very difficult to find a defense for white, could you?} 15. Qb3 {Quite good but there was better.} ({ White had to find the great} 15. d5 $1 Bxd5 16. Nc3 Bb7 17. Qb3 Bh2+ 18. Kh1 Nxf2+ 19. Kxh2 Ng4+ 20. Kg1 Qg3 21. Qxb7+ Kxb7 22. Bf4 $11) 15... Bh2+ 16. Kh1 Qxh3 $4 {Black doesn't care of White 15th move and loses the game with this blunder.} ({Winning the Queen and the game was} 16... Nxf2+ 17. Kxh2 Ng4+ 18. Kg1 Qg3 19. Rf3 (19. Qxb7+ Kxb7 20. Bf4 Qxd3 $19) 19... Qh2+ 20. Kf1 Qh1+ 21. Ke2 Qxg2+ $19) 17. Qxb7+ (17. Bc6 {was even better}) 17... Kxb7 18. gxh3 $18 1-0

1. e4 e5 2. Cf3 Cc6 3. Fb5 Cd4 ok, this is the Bird defense. It's not very commendable... 4. Cxd4 exd4 5. O-O f5?! But what's that?? Some Bird-Schliemmann? I did not find any game with this move! 6. Fc4 I choose a solid move. 6...fxe4 is not possible because of 7.Qh5+. White might be threatening Bxg8 followed by Qh5+. 6...  Cf6 7. e5 Cg4 8. h3 Because Black can't take in e5 thanks to Re1 followed by f4, but Black is ready... 8...  h5! Well, Black uses a wellknown pattern, the Knight is immune. 9. d3 b5!? Wow, what kind of player is that? Is Anderssen back? Are we really in 2012? 10. Fxb5 Fb7 11. c3 As d4 is very annoying I want to eliminate it. 11...  Dh4 Finally a move that did not surprise me :-) 12. e6? As I saw absolutely no threat for Black I became too confident and make a mistake... I had to follow my plan and take in d4 with a winning position. ( 12. cxd4 +- ) 12...  O-O-O ( 12... Fd6 was better ) 13. Fxd7+ Rb8 14. cxd4? ( now 14. Ff4 was better ) 14...  Fd6 After this move I understood it was very dangerous. Black has 4 pieces in the attack and is threatening Bh2+ Kh1 Qxh3 f3 Qh4. It's very difficult to find a defense for white, could you? 15. Db3 Quite good but there was better. ( White had to find the great 15. d5! Fxd5 16. Cc3 Fb7 17. Db3 Fh2+ 18. Rh1 Cxf2+ 19. Rxh2 Cg4+ 20. Rg1 Dg3 21. Dxb7+ Rxb7 22. Ff4 = ) 15...  Fh2+ 16. Rh1 Dxh3?? Black doesn't care of White 15th move and loses the game with this blunder. ( Winning the Queen and the game was 16... Cxf2+ 17. Rxh2 Cg4+ 18. Rg1 Dg3 19. Tf3 ( 19. Dxb7+ Rxb7 20. Ff4 Dxd3 -+ ) 19... Dh2+ 20. Rf1 Dh1+ 21. Re2 Dxg2+ -+ ) 17. Dxb7+ ( 17. Fc6 was even better ) 17...  Rxb7 18. gxh3 +- 1-0