Scellé de garantie

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave – Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina
14th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, January 27, 2016
Réti Opening A07

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. 0-0 e6 5. h3 Bh5 6. d4 Nd7 7. c4 Be7 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Nc3 Ngf6 10. Nh4 0-0 11. f4 Ne4 12. Nf5 Nxc3 13. bxc3 f6 14. Qb3 Nb6 15. e4 Re8 16. g4 Bf7 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. e5 Nc4 19. Qc2 fxe5 20. dxe5 Rad8 21. Qf2 c5 22. Re1 Qc7 23. f5! Monsieur Vachier-Lagrave sacrifices a Pawn in order to launch his attack. 23. ... Rxe5 24. Bf4 Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Qa5 26. Qg3! (Δ Bf4-c7) 26. ... Qxa2 27. Bg5 Rc8 28. f6 gxf6 29. Bxf6 Qd2 30. g5 Nd6? We feel istinctively that Black’s situation was not yet as bad as it now is, but, if nothing else, the text allows a delightful finish:

31. g6! Bxg6. Or 31. ... hxg6 32. Qh4 and wins. 32. Qe5! Rf8. “32. ... Bf7 33. Re2 Qd1+ 34. Bf1 with a winning attack”, Grandmaster Kevin Spraggett said. 33. Bxd5+ Nf7 34. Bg5! 1 : 0.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina
Photo: 14th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival (‏@GibraltarChess)