Logan’s Run

Shardul Gagare – 韦奕 (Wéi Yì)
2nd Qatar Masters Open; Doha, December 20, 2015
Blumenfeld Counter-Gambit E10

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 b5!? But no, let’s say nothing. 5. Nc3 b4 6. Na4 Bb7 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. e4 d6 10. a3 Nd7 11. axb4 cxb4 12. Qd2 Rb8. The critical line 12. ... a5 13. c5 dxc5 14. Bb5 exd5 15. 0-0 0-0-0 is unclear, Bönsch – Votava, 15th Mitropa Cup, Bad Wörishofen 1993. 13. Be2 Be7 14. 0-0 0-0 15. Nd4 Rfc8 16. b3. The position certainly looks a bit more pleasant for White. 16. ... Bf8 17. Rae1 Re8 18. Bd1 g6 19. Nc2 a5 20. Nd4 h5 21. g3 Rbc8. Alternatively, 21. ... Bh6 22. f4 (22. Qxh6 Qxd4 23. Qg5 Qf6 leads nowhere) 22. ... e5 with consequences similar to those in the game. 22. f4 e5 23. Nb5 exf4 24. gxf4

24. ... Ba6. Enabling White’s Knight to invade easily Black’s territory. 24. ... Bh6 deserved consideration. 25. Na7 Rc7 26. Nc6 Bh6 27. Qf2. The immediate 27. Nxa5 was also good. 27. ... Bc8 28. Kh1 Qg7 29. Qg3 Bb7 30. Nxa5 Ba8 31. Bf3 Kh8 32. Bg2. Black has insufficient compensation for the sacrificed (lost) Pawn. 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) tries his luck in lottery chess. 32. ... Qd4 33. Rd1 Qa7 34. Nc6 Bxc6 35. dxc6 Rxc6 36. e5. White’s preponderance is overwhelming. 36. ... Ra6 37. exd6 Re3 38. Qf2 Rxb3 39. Qxa7 Rxa7 40. Bc6 Nb8 41. Bb5 Ra3 42. Rfe1 Kg7 43. Re8 Rb7 44. Re7 Rxb5 45. cxb5 Rxa4 46. Rb7 Ra8 47. d7 Nxd7 48. Rbxd7 Rb8 49. R7d5 Kf6 50. R1d4 Bf8 51. Rd8 Bc5 52. Rxb8 Bxd4 53. Rd8 1 : 0. You’d better save your strength for tomorrow! In fact, if 53. ... Bb6 then 54. Rc8 Ke7 55. Rc4 Ba5 56. Rd4 b3 (or 56. ... f6 57. Kg2 Ke6 58. Kf3 g5 59. fxg5 fxg5 60. Ke4 g4 61. Rd5 b3 62. Rd3 Bc7 63. h4 gxh3 64. Rxh3 b2 65. Rb3+-) 57. Rd3 b2 58. Rb3+- (André Schulz’s analysis).

Shardul Gagare
Photo: Alla Oborina