Rex Romae

Daniele Vocaturo – Jon Ludvig Nilssen Hammer
17th European Individual Chess Championship; Gjakova, May 16, 2016
Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 0-0 6. 0-0 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 10. Nbd2 Nb6 11. b4 Be7 12. Qe2!? Most usual is 12. g4, e.g. 12. ... Bg6 13. b5 Na5 14. Nxe5 Naxc4 15. Ndxc4 Nxc4 16. dxc4 Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Bc2 18. Rd2 Ba4 19. Re2 a6 20. Ng6 hxg6 21. Rxe7 axb5 22. Rxc7 bxc4 23. Rxc4 Bb3 24. Rb4 Bxa2 25. c4 Ra6 26. Rxb7 Bxc4 27. Rxa6 Bxa6 28. Rb6 Rc8 29. Bf4 Bc4 30. Rb8 Rxb8 31. Bxb8 ½ : ½ Forcén Esteban – Sandipan, 34th International Chess Open, Benasque 2014. 12. ... Nxc4 13. Nxc4 f6. Deserving consideration was 13. ... Bf6 in order to answer 14. b5 by 14. ... Nb4! with very appealing variations. 14. b5 Nb8 15. d4 a6 16. bxa6 Rxa6 17. dxe5 Rc6 18. Bb2 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 fxe5 20. Qe4 Bc5 21. Rad1 Qe7. 21. ... Bxf2+ 22. Kh1 Qe8 is Stockfish’s first choice, and indeed, it might have been chosen. 22. Re2 Nd7 23. Rdd2 Rcf6 24. Ne3 Nb6 25. c4 Bxe3 26. fxe3! Far from obvious. 26. ... Qe6 27. Rc2

27. ... Qc6? Hammer intuitively feels that it’s time to search for counterplay, even at cost of sacrificing a Pawn. His version, however, will not prove good enough to provide him sufficient compensation. Best was 27. ... Nd7! in order to met 28. Qxb7 by 28. ... Rf1+ 29. Kh2 Nf6 (threatening ... Nf6-g4+!) with fairly good compensation. 28. Qxe5 Nxc4 29. Qd4 b5 30. a4 Qe6? “30. ... Qb6 31. axb5 (31. Qxb6 Rxb6 32. axb5 Nxb2 33. Rxb2 Rfb8 should lead to a draw) 31. ... Nxb2 32. Rxb2 Re8 appears to be a better plan”, writes Tarjei J. Svensen (Matt & Patt, May 17, 2016). 31. axb5 Nxb2 32. Rxb2 Rf1+ 33. Kh2 h6 34. Rbc2 R8f7? This loses a second Pawn, making Black’s cause desperate. 34. ... Qb6 35. Qxb6 cxb6 36. Rc6 doesn’t look pleasant, but is the best worst thing that Black could hope for. 35. Rxc7! Rxc7 36. Qd8+ Kh7 37. Qxc7 Rb1 38. Qc5 Qe4 39. Rf2 Rb3 40. Rf4 Qb1. Clearly not 40. ... Qxe3?? on account of 41. Qf5+ Kg8 42. Rf3 winning the Rook. 41. Rf5 Qd3 42. Re5 Qg6 43. Qd5 Rb2 44. Qf3 Qd6 45. Qf5+ Kh8. Or 45. ... g6 46. Qf7+ Kh8 47. Qe6 Qxe6 48. Rxe6 Rxb5 49. Rxg6 and White should win the ending. 46. Qf4 Kh7 47. h4 Qg6 48. Qg3 Qf6 49. Qf4 Qg6 50. Qf3 Rb4 51. Kh3 Qb1 52. Qf5+ Qxf5+ 53. Rxf5 Kg6 54. g4 Re4 1 : 0. Hammer resigns without waiting for 55. Kg3 Rxe3+ (as bad as any other move) 56. Rf3 Re6 57. h5+ Kh7 58. Rb3 Rb6 59. Kf4 with an easy win.

Daniele Vocaturo
Photo © Fred Lucas