The Genius of the Crowd

Leinier Domínguez Pérez – Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk
51th Capablanca Memorial; Varadero, June 13, 2016
Spanish Game C72

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. 0-0 b5 6. Bb3 Na5 7. d4 Nxb3 8. axb3 f6 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. Nh4 Ne7 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Qf3 Qd7 13. Rd1 Qe6 14. Be3 g6. Not 14. ... g5? because of 15. Nxb5! axb5 16. Qh5+ Qf7 17. Rxa8+ Bxa8 18. Rd8+! winning, Spassky – Taimanov, 22nd USSR Chess Championship, Moscow 1955. 15. Bc5 Kf7. After 15. ... Rc8 16. h3 Nc6 17. Nd5 Bxc5 18. Nxf6+ Ke7 19. Rd7+ Qxd7 20. Nxd7 Kxd7 21. Qf7+ Ne7 22. Rd1+ Bd6 23. Nf3 Black is in trouble, Paschall – Nikčević, Belgrade 2001. 16. Qe3 Bg7 17. Bxe7?! Grandmaster Rafael Duailibe Leitão rightly recommends 17. Nf3. 17. ... Qxe7 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. Rxd5 Rhd8 20. Rxd8 Rxd8 21. Nf3 Bf8. Black has to be content with a very slight plus. 22. h3 Qe6 23. Ne1 Rd4 24. f3? A decidedly bad move. Correct was 24. c3 (Leitão) 24. ... Rd6 with a symbolic plus for Black. 24. ... Qd6? Chucky misses 24. ... Bc5 25. Kh2 Rd1 26. Qxc5 Rxa1 27. Qxc7+ Qe7 when White is left with insufficient compensation for the Exchange. 25. Nd3 c5 26. Kf1 Bg7 27. Qe2 Bh6 28. Rd1 c4 29. bxc4 bxc4 30. Nf2 Ke7 31. Rxd4 Qxd4 32. Nd1 Bc1 33. b3?! On the wrong track. Best was 33. Nc3 Bxb2 34. Nd5+ Kf7 35. Qe1! (Leitão’s analysis). 33. ... a5 34. c3?

34. ... Qd2! 35. Qxd2 Bxd2 36. Ke2 Bc1 37. bxc4. On 37. b4 a4 it is just the same price. 37. ... a4 0 : 1. In fact, the Black a-Pawn promotes.

Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk
Photo © Fred Lucas