Marvel One-Shots

Evgeniy Yuryevich Najer – Artyom Valeryevich Timofeev
23rd Russian Team Chess Championship; Sochi, May 8, 2016
French Defence C10

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bd3 c5 7. 0-0 Nxe4 8. Bxe4 Nf6 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Qe2 f5 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. Rad1 0-0 14. c3 Bf6 15. Nxd4 Qb6 16. Bc4 Kh8 17. Rd3 Qc7 18. Rh3 Rg8 19. Rd1 Bd7? The decisive mistake, which allows Najer – who is in great shape – to make a pretty combination. Deserving consideration was 19. ... a6 (preventing Nd4-b5) in order to answer 20. Qh5 by 20. ... Rg7 and Black should be able to handle the worst and the best of his own situation; for instance: 21. Rg3 b5 (both 21. ... Qxc4?? 22. Qh6! and 21. ... Rxg3 22. hxg3 Qxc4?? 23. Qxf7 would lose instantly) 22. Qh6 Be5 23. Nc6! Bxg3 24. Rd8+ Qxd8 25. Nxd8 Bxf2+! 26. Kxf2 bxc4 27. Qh4 Rb8 28. Nxf7+! Kg8 29. Qd8+ Kg7 30. Qg5+ with perpetual check.

20. Nxf5! White starts his devastating attack with a Knight sacrifice. 20. ... exf5. There is no serious alternative to the acceptance of the gift as White was threatening 21. Rxh7+ Kxh7 22. Qh5 mate. 21. Rxh7+! Kxh7 22. Qh5+ Kg7 23. Qxf7+ Kh6 24. Qxf6+ Rg6 25. Qh4+ Kg7 26. Qe7+ Kh6 27. Rxd7. The end, as well as the beginning, is pretty forced: 27. ... Qxc4 28. Qh7+ Kg5 29. Rd4! 1 : 0.

Evgeniy Yuryevich Najer
Photo: Chess-News.ru