Vesta case

Francisco Vallejo Pons – Prantik Roy
15th Bangkok Chess Club Open; Bangkok, April 13, 2015
Tarrasch Defence D41

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 c5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Be6 7. e3 c4 8. Be2 Nc6. For 8. ... Be7 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Ne5 Nfd7 see Penrose – Ed. Lasker, 28th Hastings Christmas Chess Congress, Hastings 1952/1953. 9. 0-0 Bb4 10. Ne5 Bxc3 11. bxc3 h6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. f4 Bf5 14. Bf3 Qd6 15. e4 dxe4 16. Nxc4 Qg6 17. Bh5 Qf6 18. Ne3 0-0 19. Rb1 g6? A very bad move which fatally weakens the Kingside. Better was 19. ... b6 in order to answer 20. Rb5 with 20. ... Bc8. 20. Bg4! Bc8. Now, after 20. ... b6 21. Bxf5 gxf5 22. Rb5 Ne7 23. Re5 White’s position looks imposing. 21. f5! Qg5 22. Qe1 b6 23. h4 Qd8 24. Qg3 Ba6 25. Rf4! g5

26. f6! An extremely elegant solution! 26. ... Qd6. The Rook is taboo, as 26. ... gxf4 runs into a mating net by force after 27. Qxf4 followed by Qf4xh6. 27. hxg5 hxg5 28. Qh3! 1 : 0. For if 28. ... gxf4 then 29. Bf5 and mate in two moves, whilst after 28. ... Qxf4 both 29. Qh6 and 29. Nf5 would force a quick mate.