Baadur Scissorhands

Baadur Jobava – Dmitry Olegovich Jakovenko
FIDE Grand Prix; Khanty-Mansiysk, May 20, 2015
Larsen’s Opening A01

1. b3. “This harmless looking opening (1. b3) wasn’t given much respect until the great Danish Grandmaster Bent Larsen (who jokingly called it the Baby Orangutan) began winning one game after another with it in the late 1960s and early 1970s”, International Master Jeremy Silman wrote in his “The Complete Book of Chess Strategy: Grandmaster Techniques from A to Z”, Los Angeles, Siles Press, 1998, p. 55. 1. ... e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 Nf6 4. h3!? “I found [this] before the Grand Prix. I thought I had to try it at least once. It is not such a stupid move as it seems”, then Jobava said. 4. ... d5. “I don’t think Jobava really expect to get an advantage with b2-b3, e2-e3 & h2-h3 in first 4 moves. :)”, Tarjei J. Svensen ‏said. 5. Bb5 Bd6 6. Nf3 Qe7 7. d4 exd4 8. Qxd4. Thus spoke Jobava! For the colourless 8. Nxd4 Bd7 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bd3 0-0 see Bobanac – Solic, 2nd Zlatni Rat Open, Bol, 2011. 8. ... Bd7 9. Bxc6 Bxc6 10. Nbd2 0-0 11. 0-0-0! When a player such as Jobava castles on the opposite wing it is a clear indication he is out for blood! 11. ... a5 12. g4 a4 13. g5 Ne8 14. Kb1 axb3 15. axb3 Bc5 16. Qe5. White has nothing better than to propose the exchange of Queens as after 16. Qh4 Ba3 Black would get the upper hand. 16. ... Bd6 17. Qxe7 Bxe7 18. Rhg1 Nd6 19. Ne5 Be8 20. h4 f6 21. Nd3. Note that not all chess programs can understand Jobava’s play. 21. ... fxg5 22. hxg5 Nb5 23. Nf4 c6 24. c4 Na3+ 25. Kc1 dxc4

26. Ne4. A typical Jobava idea. 26. ... Bg6. Chess engines do not like this move, but who would dare to play 26. ... cxb3 27. Nf6+! now? 27. Rd7 Rf7 28. Nxg6 hxg6 29. Rxb7 cxb3 30. Rxb3 Nc4 31. Rd1 Nxb2 32. Kxb2 Ra4 33. Rb8+ Rf8 34. Rxf8+ Kxf8 35. f3 Ra3 36. Nc3 Bb4 37. Rc1 Kf7 38. f4 c5 39. e4 Ke6 40. Nd5 Rd3 41. Ra1 Rxd5. A good practical Exchange sacrifice which ensures the draw. 42. exd5+ Kxd5 43. Kc2. Or 43. Ra7 Ke4 44. Rxg7 Kxf4 45. Rxg6 Kf5 46. Rg8 Bd2 47. g6 Kf6 followed by ... Bd2-h6-g7 and then ... Kf6xg6 drawing. 43. ... Ke4 44. Ra6 Kf5 45. Kd3 Kxf4 46. Rxg6 c4+ ½ : ½.

Baadur Scissorhands
Photo: Kirill Merkurev