Spot the Shark

Alexander Igorevich Grischuk – Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
21st European Team Chess Championship; Hersonissos, November 5, 2017
Spanish Game C72

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. 0-0 Bd7 6. Re1 g5!? 7. Bxc6. The historical premiere went 7. d4 g4 8. Bxc6 Bxc6 9. Nfd2 Qh4 10. Nc4 Bg7 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Nc3 Rd8 13. Nd5?? (White ought to play 13. Qe2) 13. ... Bxd5 14. exd5 g3! Black won a piece and then the game, Kortschnoi – L. Portisch, 30th Hoogovens International Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 1968. 7. ... bxc6 8. d4 g4 9. Nfd2 exd4 10. Nb3 Ne7 11. Nxd4 Bg7 12. Nc3. If 12. Nf5 then 12. ... Nxf5 13. exf5+ Kf8 14. Qxg4 h5 15. Qf3 Qf6 and Black wins back his Pawn with a lead in development, 陈琪 (Chén Qí) – 戴常人 (Dài Chángrén), 上海 (Shànghǎi) Youth Gulf Cup, 上海 (Shànghǎi) 2017. 12. ... 0-0 13. Bg5 f6 14. Be3 Qe8 15. Qd3 Qf7 16. Qd2 Qg6 17. Bf4 h5 18. b4 h4 19. a4 Qh5 20. Be3 h3 21. Nce2 hxg2 22. Nf4 Qh7 23. Nfe6 Bxe6 24. Nxe6

24. ... Ng6! Black’s Exchange sacrifice shows that Mamedyarov has decided to initiate his attack. 25. Nxf8 Rxf8 26. Bf4 f5! 27. exf5 Nh4 28. Ra3 Qxf5 29. Bg5 Nf3+ 30. Rxf3. Grischuk has nothing better than to give back the Exchange with vague hopes of somehow holding on in spite of his minus Pawn. 30. ... gxf3 31. Bh6 Qd5 32. Qc1? Grischuk falls apart. 32. Qe3 was White’s only chance to keep playing. 32. ... Bc3 33. Re3 Bd4 34. Rd3 Re8 35. c3 Bxf2+ 36. Kxf2 Re2+ 0 : 1. Let’s think of how much geography can change in a short period of time.