Le roi s’amuse

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave – Richárd Rapport
48th International Chess Festival; Biel/Bienne, July 30, 2015
Philidor Defence C41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6. Philidor’s dogma. 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. g3 0-0 7. Bg2 Re8 8. 0-0 Bf8 9. Bf4 Nbd7 10. Qd2 Ne5 11. Rad1 c6 12. h3 b5. For 12. ... Nc4 13. Qc1 Qa5 see Brady – Wall, e2e4 Dublin International Easter Congress Masters, Dublin 2012. 13. b3 b4 14. Na4 c5 15. Nb5

15. ... d5? This pseudo-freeing counter-move is a serious error of judgment, leading to the loss of a Pawn without any compensation. Here 15. ... Ba6 16. c4 Bxb5 17. axb5 Qa5 would seem a quite reasonable continuation. 16. exd5 Bxh3 17. Bxe5 Rxe5 18. Bxh3 a6 19. Nbc3 bxc3 20. Nxc3. White is not only a Pawn ahead, but has a powerful passed Pawn. Such an advantage is more than enough for Maxime to convert to a win. 20. ... Bd6 21. Rfe1 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Qc7 23. Ne4 Nxe4 24. Rxe4 Qb6 25. Qe3 g6 26. Bd7 Rd8 27. Be8 Qc7 28. Kg2 Rb8 29. Rh4 h5 30. Re4 Rb4 31. c4 Rb8 32. Qf3 Bf8 33. Qf6 a5 34. d6! Qb7. After 34. ... Bxd6 35. Bxf7+! Qxd7 36. Qxd6 Black is busted. 35. f3 Bg7 36. Qe7. Without further thought, Maxime forces the exchange of Queens as to ensure the win of the second Pawn. 36. ... Qxe7 37. Rxe7 Bf8 38. Bxf7+ Kg7 39. Ra7 Bxd6 40. Bd5+ Kf6 41. Rxa5 Rb6 42. f4 g5 43. Kf3 h4 44. fxg5+ Kxg5 45. gxh4+ Kxh4 46. Ke4 Kg5 47. Rb5 Rb8 48. Rxb8 1 : 0.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. Richárd Rapport
Photo: Biel International Chess Festival