Hidden Stone

Michele Godena – Danyyil Dvirnyy
77th Italian Chess Championship; Cosenza, November 29, 2017
French Defence C03

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Be7 4. Bd3 c5 5. dxc5 Nf6 6. exd5 Qxd5 7. Qf3. Godena adopts a modest approach which will turn out to be psychologically quite crafty. 7. ... Qxc5 8. Ne4 Nxe4 9. Qxe4. Calling for Black’s castling Kingside. 9. ... Nd7 10. Nf3 Nf6 11. Qh4 Nd5 12. Qg3 0-0 13. a3(!) Bd6. Dvirnyy was probably very relaxed and plays by ear. Here he should have done better to play 13. ... Qc7! (eventually exchanging Queens) with at least equality. 14. Qh4 f5 15. 0-0 e5? Black probably made this move so natural without thinking too much about it first, but, unluckily for him, it is a mistake which loses at least a Pawn. After 15. ... Qc7 16. Re1 Black’s position is quite unpleasant, but there’s nothing irreparable.

16. Qc4! e4 17. Qxc5 Bxc5 18. Bc4 Rd8?? Blundering a piece! It’s true that after 18. ... exf3 19. Bxd5+ Kh8 20. Bxf3 White remains a Pawn ahead with a clear advantage in position, but it’s also true that it was by far the lesser evil. 19. Bg5 Rd6 20. Be7 1 : 0. Things that can happen to everyone! Michele Godena himself has once lost in 21 moves to Stefano Tatai (on occasion of the 48th Italian Chess Championship at Chianciano Terme in 1988).