Short Skin

Wesley So – Sergey Viktorovich Volkov
Türkiye İş Bankası Süper Satranç Ligi; Kocaeli, July 5, 2015
French Defence C11

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. Qd2 b5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Bd3 Qb6 11. Bf2 Bb7 12. 0-0 Rc8 13. Rae1 g6? The remedy is worse than the disease, since this “prophylactic” move further compromises Black’s King position. The accepted continuation is 13. ... Bxf2+ 14. Rxf2 Ne7 as in the game 王玥 (Wáng Yuè) – 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), 2nd Hǎinán Dānzhōu Super GM Chess Tournament, 儋州 (Dānzhōu) 2011. Furthermore, also 18. ... Nb4 deserves consideration.

14. f5! An impressive display of strength! 14. ... gxf5. A little better is 14. ... Ne7, although after 15. fxe6 fxe6 16. Qh6 Black’s position remains very precarious. 15. Bxf5 Bxf2+ 16. Rxf2 Na5 17. Qh6. Threatening both Qh6-g7 and Nf3-g5. 17. ... d4? Black’s only choice was between bad looking moves and worse moves. If 17. ... exf5? then 18. e6! and wins. Comparatively best was 17. ... Kd8, though after 18. Qg7 White just keeps enhancing his own command over the chessboard. 18. Ne4 exf5. No better is 18. ... Bxe4 19. Bxe4 Nc4 20. Ng5! with an overwhelming attack. 19. Nd6+ Kd8 20. Nxf7+ Kc7 21. e6 Bxf3 22. Qf4+ Kb7 23. exd7 1 : 0.

Wesley So vs. Sergey Viktorovich Volkov
Photo: Turkish Chess Federation