Le Roi Soleil

Michael Adams – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
48th International Chess Festival; Biel/Bienne, July 22, 2015
Sicilian Defence B51

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. c3 Ngf6 5. Qe2 a6 6. Ba4 e5. Transposing from Sicilian into Spanish. 7. 0-0 Be7 8. d4 b5 9. Bc2 0-0 10. Rd1 Qc7 11. a4 Rb8 12. Na3 c4!? A theoretical novelty. For 12. ... cxd4 13. cxd4 bxa4 14. Bxa4 exd4 15. Nxd4 Nc5 16. Bc2 Re8 see Cs. Balogh – Babula, Austrian Team Chess Championship, Hohenems 2012. 13. Bd2 Re8 14. axb5 axb5 15. h3 d5! With excellent sense of timing! 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Nxe5? This is a serious error from White as it gives his opponent definite tactical targets. Correct was 17. exd5 Ng6 18. Be3 Bc5 with fairly even chances. 17. ... Qxe5 18. f4 Bc5+ 19. Be3. There is nothing better: if 19. Kh1 there follows 19. ... Nxe4!, whilst 19. Kh2 Qe7 20. e5? is refuted by 20. ... Ng4+! 21. Kg3 Bf2+ 22. Kf3 Qh4.

19. ... Qh5! A fresh surprise! 20. Rd2. Similarly, 20. Qf2 Bxe3 21. Qxe3 dxe4 loses a Pawn. 20. ... dxe4. Sic et simpliciter. 21. Re1 Qxe2 22. Rdxe2 Bxe3+ 23. Rxe3 Rb6. Black is a clear Pawn ahead, but the war is not yet won. 24. Kf2 Bf5! 25. Rd1. 25. g4? is refuted by 25. ... Bxg4! and Black disintegrates. 25. ... h5 26. Kg3 g6 27. Rd4 Kg7 28. Kh4. As they say, “the King is a strong piece”. 28. ... Be6 29. Re2. Not 29. Bxe4? Bf5 and White gains material. 29. ... Rbb8 30. Bd1. Comparatively best was 30. Bxe4, though after 30. ... Bd5 31. Bf3 Rxe2 32. Bxe2 Bxg2 Black stands much better. 30. ... Bf5 31. Bc2 Rec8 32. Re1 Rc5. White’s position is almost desperate. 33. Bd1? From now on, White cooperates with Black to create the shortest mate on the board! 33. ... Nd5 34. g3. Or 34. g4 Nxf4 and wins. 34. ... Rh8 35. Nc2 Ne7! With the deadly threat of 36. ... g5+! 37. Kxg5 (37. fxg5 Ng6 mate) 37. ... f6+ 38. Kh4 Ng6 mate. 36. Rd6 Be6! 0 : 1.

Michael Adams vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Photo: Biel International Chess Festival