狮子王

Wolfgang Uhlmann – Viktor Lvovich Kortschnoi
Clash of the Legends; match game 3; Zürich, February 16, 2015
English Opening A29

“I’m satisfied with the third game, although it seems he had some chances for a draw at the end of it. Earlier, he had compensation for a Pawn”, then Kortschnoi said. 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nde7 7. 0-0 g6 8. b4 a6 9. Rb1 Bg7 10. a4 0-0 11. d3 Nd4 12. Nd2 c6 13. e3 Ne6 14. Qe2. It was preferable 14. Nc4 Nd5 as in the game Sarno – Martorelli, 55th Italian Chess Championship, Verona 1995, after which International Master Sagar Shah suggests 15. Bb2! Nxb4?! 16. Ba3! and White gets the upper-hand. 14. ... Nd5 15. Nxd5 cxd5 16. f4 exf4 17. gxf4 Re8 18. Nb3 Qd6 19. Qf3 Qxb4 20. f5 gxf5 21. Qxf5 Nd8 22. Qxd5 Qxa4 23. Nc5 Qc2 24. Rb6 Be6 25. Qh5 Bg4? This is a bad tactical slip. 26. Qg5? Uhlmann missed his golden chance! After 26. Qxg4! Qxc5 27. Bb2! Qxe3+ 28. Kh1 Black is busted. 26. ... Re5 27. Qxg4 Qxc5 28. Rb4 Rg5 29. Qf4 Rg6 30. Re4 Qb5 31. Ba3 Rf6 32. Qh4 Rxf1+ 33. Bxf1 Ne6 34. d4 Qb1. 34. ... Qb3! looks much more powerful, threatening both ... Qb3xa3 (winning the Bishop) and ... f7-f5 (trapping the Rook). 35. Rg4 Kh8 36. d5 Nf8

37. Be7?? A palpable blunder which loses the Exchange. 37. Qe7 looks much more to the point, e.g. 37. ... Ng6 38. Qxf7 Rg8 with a double-edged position. 37. ... Ng6 38. Rxg6. White has no choice as 38. Qg5 is refuted by 38. ... h6. 38. ... Qxg6+ 39. Bg2 Rc8 40. Qh3 Rc1+ 41. Kf2 Qc2+ 42. Kf3 Qd1+ 43. Kf4 Rc4+ 44. e4 Qxd5 0 : 1.

Viktor Lvovich Kortschnoi
Photo: Zürich Chess Challenge 2015