Playing It Cool

Vladimir Vasilievich Fedoseev – Marco Codenotti
17th European Individual Chess Championship; Gjakova, May 22, 2016
Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. 0-0 Bb6 7. a4 h6 8. Na3 0-0 9. Bb3 a5 10. Re1 Re8 11. h3 Be6 12. Nc4 Ba7 13. Bc2 Bxc4 14. dxc4 Nh5 15. Kf1 Nf4 16. Ng1 Qf6 17. Qf3 Nh5 18. Qxf6 Nxf6 19. g3 h5 20. Nf3 g6 21. Kg2 Kg7 22. Bd2 Bb6 23. Rad1 Nd7 24. b4 axb4 25. cxb4 Nd4 26. Nxd4 Bxd4 27. a5 b6 28. Ba4 Red8 29. Bc6 Ra7 30. Rb1 Nb8 31. Bb5 Rc8. Black’s position is surely easier to handle, but now White, rather than play to keep his slight uncomfort within acceptable terms by 32. axb6, decides to leave the a-Pawn to its fate, for focusing on the Kingside. 32. f4 bxa5 33. bxa5 c6 34. Ba4 Nd7 35. f5 Nc5 36. Bd1 Nb7 37. fxg6 fxg6 38. Rf1 Rc7

39. Bg5!?? White launches into a reckless attack, evidently overestimating his own Bishop pair. Maybe 39. g4 hxg4 40. hxg4 Nxa5 41. Bg5 Rf7 was not appealing to him as Black has a Pawn to the good and clearly better chances, but yet it would have been the best offering he could find. 39. ... Rxa5 40. Bf6+ Kh7 41. g4. As consistent as bad. 41. ... Ra2+ 42. Kh1 hxg4. Fedoseev to play and selfmate: 43. hxg4?? What a blunder! After 43. Bxg4 Kh6! 44. Bf3 Nc5 45. Rb8 Rh7 46. h4 Be3! Black should win anyway, but must play carefully for a while yet. 43. ... Kg8! 0 : 1. Very bad news for Fedoseev: mate is unstoppable.

Marco Codenotti
Photo © Andreas Kontokanis