Code Simplicity

Wesley So – Radosław Wojtaszek
79th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Haarlem, January 25, 2017
Catalan Opening E06

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bg2 0-0 6. Qc2 c5 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. dxc5 d4 9. a3 a5 10. Rd1 e5 11. Nc3 Bxc5 12. Nd5 h6 13. Bd2. This is apparently a new idea. It is clear that Wesley is not afraid of allowing his opponent to advance ... a5-a4. 13. ... a4. So it is worth wondering if the Black Pawn on a4 is more useful than weak. 14. Bb4! Nxb4 15. axb4 Nxd5 16. bxc5 Nb4 17. Qd2 Nc6 18. b4! Qe7. Wesley afterwards said he thought 18. ... Be6 was more suitable for keeping the balance. 19. Qb2 Bg4 20. Re1! Rfd8. Stockfish disapproves Wojtaszek’s decision, but also its recipe 20. ... f5 after 21. Nh4 Kh7 22. Bd5 sounds very encouraging for White. 21. Nd2 Be6. If 21. ... d3 then 22. e3 followed by b4-b5 would soon put Black into a very unpleasant situation. 22. b5 Nb8 23. Qb4 f5

24. Nb3! Very, very elegant and simple. Now the a4-Pawn is doomed, and with it the whole Black’s Queenside. 24. ... Nd7. This hurries the end, but nothing could have avoided it. 25. Bxb7 Rab8 26. Rxa4! Rxb7 27. c6 Qxb4 28. Rxb4 Rc7 29. cxd7 Rxc4 30. Rxc4 Bxc4 31. Rc1! Be6 32. Rc8! Rxc8 33. dxc8=Q+ Bxc8 34. b6 1 : 0. A superb game Wesley made look easy.

Wesley So
Photo: Renée Jones Schneider/StarTribune