Al-Modiahki, M. (2502) - Baburin, A. (2590) [B03] (9) 2000 [Alexander Baburin]
1. e4
Nf6
2. e5
Nd5
3. d4
d6
4. c4
Nb6
5. exd6
exd6
6. Be3
Be7
7. Bd3 I think that such 'simple' development does not give White any advantage. Nc6
8. Nf3
Nb4!
9. Be2
Bf5
10. Na3 Now White's knight is pretty awkwardly placed on a3. d5! I felt that it was important to take away from White the possibility of d4-d5. Besides, Black does not have any other plan than to go ...d5 at some point. 11. c5
Nd7
12. O-O
O-O
13. Qb3
a5
14. Rac1 White wants to play Nb1 and a2-a3, therefore Black must hurry up: b6!
15. Nb5 This is an interesting idea. I expected 15 cxb6, when I was going to play 15...Nxb6; 15...c6 is also possible. c6 After 15...bxc5 16 dxc5 c6 White would, of course, play 17 Nbd4. 16. Nd6
Bxd6 I also considered 16...Bg4 here, but then decided that it would be better to get rid of the d6-knight. 17. cxd6
c5! This move and the following line is the only way to justify 16...Bxd6. 18. dxc5
bxc5
19. Bxc5
Bc2! The line 19...Nxc5 20 Rxc5 Qxd6 21 Rfc1 is not what I played 16...Bxd6 for! 20. Qc3 This is yet another interesting solution, although this sacrifice is not forced. The variation 20 Rxc2 Nxc2 21 Qxc2 Rc8 is better for Black, but the line 21 Qxd5! Rc8 22 Bd4 Nxd4 23 Qxd4 is OK for White. Probably it is objectively stronger than what he played in the game. Rc8! I guess White would be happy after 20...Nxa2 21 Qxc2 Nxc1 22 Rxc1 Rc8 23 Qf5. 21. Bxb4
Rxc3
22. Bxc3
Be4
23. Bd4!
Nf6!? 23...Re8!? was interesting too, but I had a particular manoeuvre in mind: 24. Rc6
Nh5 Black is trying to employ his knight. White must not allow the knight to f4, but this leads to weakening of his king. 25. g3!
Qd7
26. Ne5 Here White offered a draw, but Black can and should play for a win. Qh3
27. f3
Nxg3
28. hxg3
Qxg3+
29. Kh1
Qh3+
30. Kg1
Qg3+
31. Kh1
Bf5!
32. Ng4
Perhaps, better was 32 f4, but such a move is easier to suggest than to make! Black is still better after 32...Be4+ 33 Bf3! f6 34 Bxe4 dxe4 35 Rc7 e3 36 Rxg7+ Qxg7 37 Rg1 Qxg1+ 38 Kxg1 fxe5 39 Bxe5. Qh4+
33. Kg2
h5?? I saw 33...Re8!, but decided that 33...h5 was winning by force. I guess that subconsciously I was afraid that somewhere White would have d6-d7 with a tempo. 33...Re8! would have given Black a big, if not winning, advantage after 34 Bd1 h5 35 Bf2 Qg5 36 f4 Qxf4 37 Nh2. Now White comes up with a great shot: 34. Bf6!! I saw the line 34 Rh1? Qg5 35 Bf6 Qg6!. When I considered 31... Bf5!, I saw the idea of 34 Bf6!! too, but that was just a passing thought, which unfortunately did not quite register in my mind. Otherwise I would have played 33...Re8 without any thinking. gxf6
35. Rh1
Qg5?? Black had to play 35...Qxh1+ 36 Kxh1 hxg4 37 fxg4 Be4+ 38 Kg1 Rd8, although the ending is very unpleasant. 36. Rxh5
Qd2
37. Nh6+
Kg7
38. Nxf5+
Kg6
39. Ng3 This knight is a fantastic worker! Re8
40. Kf1 Now Black is lost. d4 After 40...Rxe2 41 Nxe2 Kxh5 42 d7 the d-pawn is unstoppable. 41. d7
Rxe2
42. Rxf6+
Kg7
43. Nf5+
Kxf6
44. d8=Q+
Kg6
45. Qg8+
Kf6
46. Qg7+
1-0
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