Revival

Luca Moroni – Johan-Sebastian Christiansen
2nd Qatar Masters Open; Doha, December 26, 2015
Queen’s Gambit Accepted D20

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 e5 4. Bxc4 exd4 5. exd4 Nf6 6. Nf3 Bd6. “The correct move; in subsequent games, however, M’Donnell almost invariably committed the error of playing the Bishop to e7”, writes Paul Charles Morphy in his commentary to de la Bourdonnais – McDonnell, London 1834, match game 12. 7. Qe2+ Qe7 8. Qxe7+ Bxe7 9. 0-0 Nbd7 10. Re1 Nb6 11. Bb3 Nfd5 12. Nc3 c6 13. h3 a5 14. Re2 Be6 15. Bg5 Bb4 16. Bd2 0-0 17. Ng5 Bd7 18. a3 Nxc3 19. bxc3 Bd6 20. a4! Luca energetically exploits his initiative. 20. ... c5 21. Rb1 Ra6? Not 21. ... Nxa4? because of 22. Nxf7 Rxf7 23. Bxf7+ Kxf7 24. Rxb7 and wins. It deserved consideration, however, 21. ... Bxa4 since after 22. Bxf7+ Rxf7 23. Nxf7 Kxf7 24. Rxb6 Bc6 25. d5! Bc7 26. dxc6 Bxb6 27. cxb7 Rb8 28. Be3 Rxb7 29. Rb2 White stands better, but not enough to be sure of winning the game. 22. Bc2! Bxa4. If 22. ... Nxa4? then 23. Rxb7 Bc6 24. Rxf7 Rxf7 25. Bb3 Ra7 26. Nxf7 Rxf7 27. Re6 c4 (what else?) 28. Bxc4 Nb6 29. Ba2 Nc8 30. Bf4! with a huge advantage. 23. Bxh7+ Kh8 24. dxc5 Bxc5 25. Bd3 Ra7 26. Re4! Threatening Re4-h4+. 26. ... Bc6 27. Rh4+ Kg8 28. Bh7+ Kh8 29. Re1! a4 30. Re5 a3. It looks like Black just won the lottery, but Luca has everything under his control. 31. Ne4! Moroni plays to win. After 31. Rxc5 a2 32. Bb1+ Kg8 33. Bxa2 Rxa2 Black should be able to hold his own despite the Pawn disadvantage. 31. ... a2? This allows a forced mate. Black could have prolonged the game with 31. ... Be7! 32. Rxe7 Nd5, although after 33. Re5 a2 34. Reh5 a1=Q+ 35. Kh2 Qd1 36. Bg6+! Qxh5 37. Rxh5+ Kg8 38. Bh7+ Kh8 39. c4! eventually followed by Bd2-b4 White would have conserved excellent winning chances.

32. Bg8+! Kxg8 33. Nf6+! gxf6 34. Rg4+ Kh7 35. Rh5 mate.

Luca Moroni (right) vs. Johan-Sebastian Christiansen (left). Photo © David Llada (@lladini).