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David Navara – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
48th International Chess Festival; Biel/Bienne, July 29, 2015
English Opening A37

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. 0-0 Nge7 7. Ne1 a6 8. d3 Rb8 9. a4 d6 10. Nc2 0-0 11. Rb1 a5 12. Bg5 f6 13. Bd2 f5 14. f4 Be6 15. Nd5 Nb4!? Theoretical novelty. The older reference was 15. ... b6 16. Na3 Nb4 17. Qb3 Qd7 18. Rbe1 Kh8 19. Nb5 Bg8 20. Kh1 h6 21. fxe5 dxe5 22. e4 Nec6 23. Bh3 Be6 24. Bxb4 axb4 25. Qd1 Rb7 26. Rf2 Qd8 27. Ref1 Rbf7 28. Kg1 Ne7 29. Nbc7 Bxd5 30. Nxd5 Nxd5 31. exd5 f4 32. Be6 Rf6 33. Qg4 fxg3 34. hxg3 Rxf2 35. Rxf2 Rxf2 36. Kxf2 Qf6+ 37. Ke2 h5 38. Qf3 Qxf3+ 39. Kxf3 Bf8 40. Ke2 Kg7 41. Kd2 Kf6 42. Kc2 Ke7 43. Kb3 g5 44. Kc2 Kd6 45. Bf7 h4 46. gxh4 gxh4 47. Be6 Kc7 48. Bh3 Bd6 ½ : ½ Botvinnik – Bobotsov, 16th Chess Olympiad, Tel Aviv 1964. 16. fxe5?! We guess Mikhail Moiseyevich Botvinnik would never have played such a move! After 16. Ncxb4 axb4 17. fxe5 Bxe5 18. Bh6 Bxd5 19. cxd5 Rf7 the position appears quite even. 16. ... Nbxd5 17. cxd5 Nxd5 18. exd6 Qxd6

19. Bxa5? White should not have taken this Pawn, since thus he allows Black a terrific attack. 19. ... f4! 20. Qe1. Also 20. Be1 can be answered by 20. ... Be5. 20. ... Be5 21. e4 fxe3 22. Bc3 Rxf1+ 23. Bxf1 Re8 24. Na3 Nxc3 25. bxc3 Bd5. White’s position is a nightmare. 26. Nc4 Bxc4 27. dxc4 Qd2 28. Qe2 Rf8 29. Rxb7 Bxc3 30. Rb1 Qxe2 31. Bxe2 Rf2 32. Bd3 Rd2 33. Be4 e2 34. Kf2 Ra2! 0 : 1. Maxime’s finishing touch is very elegant.

David Navara vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Photo: Biel International Chess Festival