Sometimes a Great Notion

Jan-Krzysztof Duda – Karen H. Grigoryan
54th World Junior Chess Championship; Khanty-Mansiysk, September 7, 2015
Four Knights Game C48

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Ba4 Bc5 6. Nxe5 0-0 7. Nd3 Bb6 8. e5 Ne8 9. 0-0 d5 10. Kh1. No better is 10. exd6 Nxd6 (Grandmaster Jan Gustafsson recommends 10. ... Nf6! 11. dxc7 Bxc7 with a decisive initiative for Black) 11. Kh1 c6 as occurred in the game Tylor – Vlagsma, England – Netherlands, London 1948. 10. ... c6 11. Ne2 Qh4 12. Ng3 Bg4 13. f3 Be6 14. c3 Nf5 15. Ne2 d4 16. Bc2 Rd8 17. c4 f6 18. b3 fxe5 19. Ba3 Rf6 20. Qe1 Qh6

21. Nxe5!? A very human-like way of playing: sharp and speculative. 21. ... d3! 22. Ng4. Obviously the Pawn is taboo: 22. Bxd3?? Qxh2+! 23. Kxh2 Rh6+ and mate next move. 22. ... dxe2 23. Nxh6+ Rxh6 24. Rf2. Initiative is more important than material here. If 24. Rg1 then 24. ... Bc7 25. g3 Nd4 26. Be4 Nf6 and Black has more than sufficient dynamic compensation for his material deficit. 24. ... Bxf2 25. Qxf2 Rxd2 26. Qc5. With the brutal threat of Qc5-f8 mate. Not 26. Rc1 Nd4 and the Bc2 is doomed. 26. ... Ned6. The alternative was 26. ... Rf6 27. Bb2 Rxc2 (or, less ambitiously, 27. ... Rh6 28. Ba3 Rf6=) 28. Bxf6 Nxf6 with a very unclear position. The text move looks more natural. 27. Qa5 Rxc2 28. Qd8+ Kf7 29. Qc7+ Ke8 30. Re1. Not 30. Bxd6? because of 30. ... Rd2! with overwhelming effect. 30. ... Rd2 31. Kg1. Theoretically, Black has more than sufficient material compensation for the Queen, but Her Majesty alone virtually paralyzes the whole Black’s army. 31. ... Rd1? A grave error of judgment. The comparatively best is 31. ... Bd7 32. Kf2 Rxa2 33. Rxe2+ Rxe2+ 34. Kxe2 b6 35. Qxa7 Nc8 when Black apparently builds up a rock-solid defence. 32. Kf2 Rxe1 33. Kxe1 Nc8. On 33. ... Bd7 34. g4 White wins a Knight. 34. Kxe2 Bd7 35. Qxb7 Rxh2 36. Kf2 Rh6 37. Bc5 Nfd6 38. Qb8! Gradually but inexorably, White penetrates into the enemy’s camp and very soon a second Black Pawn will fall. 38. ... a6 39. Qa8 Rf6 40. Kg1 a5 41. Bd4 Rg6 42. Qxa5 Nf5 43. Bf2 Rd6 44. Qe1+ Kf7 45. Bc5 Re6 46. Qd2 Ke8 47. a4 Nfd6 48. Ba3 1 : 0. The resignation might appear to be a bit premature, but actually Black is quite helpless.

Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs. Karen H. Grigoryan
Photo: Vladimir Barsky