Letting the Other Speak

Alexander Vladimirovich Riazantsev – Dmitry Sergeyevich Bocharov
69th Russian Chess Championship; Novosibirsk, October 16, 2016
Nimzo-Indian Defence E56

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 0-0 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. 0-0 Nc6 10. h3 a6 11. b3 d4 12. exd4 Nxd4 13. Bb2 Ne6. Also after 13. ... Ba7 14. Nxd4 Qxd4 15. Qf3 White’s chances seem more promising, Olszewski – Ghaem Maghami, Schachbundesliga 2012/2013, Schwetzingen 2013. 14. Ne4 Be7. Bocharov appears to underestimate his opponent’s lead in development. Stockfish’s first line 14. ... Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Qxd1 16. Rfxd1, though far from equalizing, would seem more suitable in order to mitigate damages. 15. Qc2 Nd5 16. Nc3 Nf6 17. Rad1 Qa5 18. Rfe1 Rd8 19. Re5 b5

White has two powerful Bishops and a flashy advantage in development. No wonder he will succeed in capitalizing on it. 20. Nd5! Nxd5 21. Bxh7+ Kf8 22. Rexd5 Rxd5 23. Rxd5 Bb7 24. Rf5 Rc8. Black’s first threat in the game, but it came a bit too late. 25. Rxf7+! Not hard to see, but very spectacular. 25. ... Kxf7 26. Qg6+ Kf8 27. Qxe6 Bf6 28. Bg6 1 : 0. For if 28. ... Qc7 then 29. Ba3+ and mate in two moves.

Alexander Vladimirovich Riazantsev
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili