The Good Old Stuff

Artur Gabrielian (Dinamit) – Hikaru Nakamura (Smallville)
Internet Chess Club (ICC), June 28, 2009
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Position 63

“As the pieces are set on the board both sides have the same position and the same amount of material. White, however, have the move, and the move in this case means the initiative, and the initiative, other things being equal, is an advantage. Now this advantage must be kept as long as possible, and should only be given up if some other advantage, material or positional, is obtained in its place”, writes José Raúl Capablanca in his book “I Fondamenti degli Scacchi”, Milano, Aldo Martello, p. 69. A starting position featuring two/four undefended Pawns (a2 and b2/a7 and b7) obviously gives White’s initiative a much higher value. 1. g3 Nc6 2. Nb3 f5 3. Nc3 Nb6 4. f4 g6 5. Nc5. Attacking the undefended b7-Pawn. 5. ... Rb8. 5. ... d6!? 6. Nxb7 Qd7 was worth considering, as Black gains an exciting play at the cost of a Pawn. 6. d4 Nc4. 6. ... d6!? 7. Nxb7 Qd7 was still possible and probably commendable. 7. b3 Na3 8. Qd2 b6? After this White easily gains a much superior game. On the other hand, it is not easy to suggest something constructive for Black. For instance: 8. ... d6 9. Na6! Rc8 10. Bxc6+ bxc6 11. Na4! with huge advantage. 9. Na6 Rc8 10. d5 Nb8 11. Nxb8 Rxb8 12. Bd4. White dominates the board. 12. ... Bf6. Or 12. ... Bxd4 13. Qxd4 e6 14. 0-0-0 with a deadly supremacy. 13. e4! “The four squares, K4 and Q4 on each side respectively, are the centre squares, and control of these squares is called control of the centre. The control of the centre is of great importance. No violent attack can succeed without controlling at least two of these squares, and possibly three”, writes Capablanca, op. cit., p. 26. 13. ... fxe4 14. Nxe4 Bxd4 15. Qxd4 Nb5 16. Qg7

16. ... Nd6. 16. ... Bxd5? 17. 0-0-0(!) was even less appealing. 17. Nxd6+. Castling on the a-side was a powerful way to proceed as well. 17. ... cxd6? A little better seems 17. ... exd6 18. Kd2 Qf6, although after 19. Rfe1+ Kd8 20. Qxf6+ Rxf6 21. Re2 followed by Rc1-e1 White’s total domination of the only one open file must soon produce its effect. 18. Kf2! Qc7 19. Rfe1 Bf7 20. Rxe7+! 1 : 0. For after 20. ... Kxe7 21. Re1+ mate in two follows.