Tablescapes

Ilya Yulievich Smirin – Anton Sergeyevich Korobov
17th Poikovsky Karpov Chess Tournament; Poikovsky, July 28, 2016
Sicilian Defence B93

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4 Qc7 7. a4 g6 8. Be2 Bg7 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Kh1 e6. For 10. ... e5 11. Nf3 b6 12. f5 see Filipowicz – Kavalek, 2nd Rubinstein Memorial, Polanica-Zdrój 1964. 11. f5 Nc6 12. fxg6 hxg6 13. Nxc6. There is nothing wrong yet, but Black will strengthen his own centre nearly for free. 13. ... bxc6 14. Bf4 e5 15. Bg5 Nh7 16. Be3 Be6 17. a5 f5 18. Qd3 Nf6 19. Bb6 Qe7 20. Qg3 Kf7 21. exf5 gxf5 22. Bd3 e4 23. Be2 Rh8 24. Rad1 d5 25. Na4 Nd7 26. Bc7 Rag8 27. Bd6 Qf6. 27. ... Qxd6 28. Qxd6 Be5 is quite interesting, but, rightly enough, Korobov prefers to keep as many pieces as possible on the board. 28. Bf4 Bf8 29. Qe3 Bh6 30. Bxa6. Such a courage will be bitterly rewarded. 30. ... Qh4. Black’s attack will son become overwhelming. 31. h3 Bxf4.

31. ... Bxf4. Exitus acta probat, but here 31. ... Rg4! was quicker and stronger. 32. Rxf4 Qg5 33. Bf1 Nf6 34. Kg1 Rxh3. Black regains his Pawn without ceding anything. 35. Qxh3 Qxf4 36. a6 Rg3 37. Qh2 Qe3+ 38. Kh1 Rg7 39. Ra1 Rh7 40. Qxh7+ Nxh7 41. Nb6 Nf6 42. Ra3 Qe1 0 : 1. A pretty attacking game.

Both Ilya Yulievich Smirin (standing) and Anton Sergeyevich Korobov (seated) like playing on more tables. Photo: papinchess.ru.