End of the Line

The following game was published, among others, in The Chess Player, No. 16/1977, (31), p. 12, with annotations by the winner, and once again it is thanks to the good offices of Mr. Dominique Thimognier that it reappears here with brief notes by French chess Master and journalist Sylvain Zinser.

Florin Gheorghiu – Roberto Cosulich
1st International Open; Val Thorens, July 1977
English Opening A28

Notes by Master Sylvain Zinser, Europe Échecs, Nos. 225-226, September-October 1977, p. 297.

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4. This continuation is now abandoned in favour of 4. g3.
4. ... exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4. Necessary to prevent or delay e2-e4.
6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Bxc3+. Otherwise White, by Ra1-c1 or Qd1-b3, would avoid the shattering of his Pawn structure with a good game.
8. bxc3 Ne5. 8. ... d6 is more precise, forcing White to reveal his intentions in the centre: e2-e3 or f2-f3 followed by e2-e4. Then the manoeuvre ... Nc6-e5-g6 gains more strength.
9. f4! Ng6. After 9. ... Nxc4 10. e4 Ne3 11. Qe2 Nxf1 12. e5 0-0 13. Nf5 gives White a dangerous attack.
10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. g3 0-0 12. Bg2 c5. 12. ... d6 13. 0-0 Re8 14. Rb1 c6 15. Qd2 Nf8 16. e4 and White is also better.
13. Nb5 d5?! An attempt to rehabilitate the variation.
14. Qxd5 a6

15. Nd6! A game Chukaev – Buslaev, Riga 1964, continued with 15. Nc7 and Black obtained excellent chances by 15. ... Nxf4 16. gxf4 Qh4+ 17. Kd1 Rd8 18. Nxa8 Be6 19. Nc7 Bxd5 20. Nxd5 Qxf4 etc.
15. ... Qxc3+ 16. Kf2 Bg4 17. Qxc5! Bxe2 18. Qe3! 18. Kxe2? Rae8+! 19. Nxe8 Rxe8+ 20. Kf2 Qb2+! and 21. Kf3? is not possible because of 21. ... Qe2# mate.
18. ... Qb4 19. c5 Bd3 20. Rhc1! Bb5 21. Bxb7 Rab8 22. Rab1 Qa4 23. Bd5 Ne7 24. Bb3 (24. Qxe7 Qd4+ and ... Qd4xd5)
24. ... Qa5 25. Nxb5! Nf5 26. Qd3 axb5 27. Qxf5 Qd2+ 28. Kg1 Qe3+ 29. Kg2 Rbd8 30. Rc2 Rd3 31. Rf1 1–0.