弗拉明戈 (Flamenco)

Iván Salgado López (Chieti) – Sergio Mariotti (Augusta Perusia)
46th Italian Team Championship; Condino, May 3, 2014
Spanish C88

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Ae7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 0-0 8. a4. The old Main Line Anti-Marshall. 8. ... Rb8. Lately I’m recommending to my most beloved students – as you know, big Cæsar is the sunshine of my eye! – the system with 8. ... Bb7 9. d3 Re8!?, because, by playing thus, it is no longer necessary to memorise too much “theory”. 9. axb5 axb5 10. c3 d6 11. d4 exd4 12. cxd4 d5!? A novelty! For the usual 12. ... Bg4 see M. D. Tseitlin – Lercel, Catalan Bay 2014. 13. e5 Ne4 14. Nc3 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Be6 16. Bd2. It looks more sensible 16. Ra6, e.g. 16. ... Qd7 17. Ng5 and White retains a definite initiative. 16. ... b4 17. Ba4 bxc3 18. Bxc3 Rb6 19. Qd2 Qc8 20. Rec1 h6 21. Bxc6 Rxc6 22. Bb4 Bxb4 23. Qxb4 Rc4! The next manoeuvres of the black Queen and Rooks are most attractive. 24. Qa3 Qb7 25. Rcb1 Qc6 26. Qe3 Ra8 27. h3 Rxa1 28. Rxa1 Rc3 29. Qf4 Qb7 30. Rc1 Rc4 31. Ra1! Qb2! A picturesque position: both players are looking for the victory! 32. Ra8+ Kh7 33. Kh2 c5

34. Ng5+! A highly imaginative – although speculative – sacrifice. 34. ... hxg5. The offer must be accepted, for if 34. ... Kg6 then 35. Nxe6 fxe6 36. Qg4+ Kf7 (on 36. ... Kh7 37. Ra7 White mates in two moves) 37. Qh5+ g6 (37. ... Ke7 38. Qe8 mate) 38. Qf3+ Ke7 39. Qf8+ Kd7 40. Qd6 mate. 35. Qxg5 Qc1 36. f4 Qd1 37. f5! Rxd4?? A gross blunder and also a fatal tactical error. Black had to play 37. ... Qc1!, which would have enabled him to hold the position. A blow now annihilates Black: 38. f6! 1 : 0. On 38. ... gxf6 39. Qg8+ Kh6 40. Qh8+ Kg6 41. Qxf6+ White mates next move, whilst 38. ... g6 is beautifully refuted by 39. Rh8+! Kxh8 40. Qh6+ and mate next move.