Youth Vintage

Ivan Sokolov – Jorden van Foreest
Match game 1; Hoogeveen, October 16, 2016
King’s Indian Defence E73

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. d4 Bg7 5. Be2 0-0 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 a5 8. g4 Na6 9. g5 Ne8 10. h4 Nc5 11. h5 Bd7 12. Nf3 c6 13. Nd2 a4 14. b4!? axb3 15. axb3 Rxa1 16. Qxa1 Na6 17. Kf1 Nb4 18. Qb1 Nc7 19. Na2 cxd5 20. cxd5 Nxa2? Sokolov himself afterwards suggested 20. ... Nbxd5! 21. exd5 Nxd5 with interesting possibilities for Black. 21. Qxa2 Nb5 22. Bxb5 Bxb5+ 23. Nc4 Qc8 24. Qe2 f5 25. gxf6 Rxf6 26. Bg5 Rf7 27. hxg6 hxg6 28. Kg2 Rc7 29. Rc1 Bf8 30. Rc3 Ba6? After a long and laborious defence, van Foreest becomes optimistic and goes for the c-Pawn. Stockfish’s first line 30. ... Rh7 31. Rg3 Qc7 appears to be worth considering. 31. Rg3 b5. Jorden seems to have changed his mind. He probably did not take the Pawn by 31. ... Bxc4 32. bxc4 Rxc4 for fear of 33. Bd8! with serious threats. It’s hard to disagree. 32. Ne3. Sokolov naturally maneuveres his Knight to the Kingside and very quickly will mount an overwhelming attack against the enemy King. 32. ... b4 33. Qf3 Bg7

34. Bf6! The rest is easy. 34. ... Rf7 35. Rxg6 Qf8 36. Ng4 Qc8 37. Nh6+ Kh7 38. Qh5 Bf1+ 39. Kxf1 Qc1+ 40. Kg2 Bxh6 41. Rxh6+ 1 : 0.

Ivan Sokolov vs. Jorden van Foreest
Photo: Lennart Ootes