P.H. Nielsen (2626) - V. Chuchelov (2603) [E11]
Bundesliga, 02.11.2003

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Be7 5.Bg2 d5 6.Nf3 0-0 7.0-0 c6

The opponents opened the game with the closed line of the Catalan. The point of Black's maneuver Bb4-e7 is to prevent the fianchetto of the white dark-squared bishop with b2-b3 and Bc1-b2.

8.Qb3

No, 8.b3 is not that efficient: 8...Nbd7 9.Bc3 Ne4!? 10.Bb2 f5 11.Nbd2 Qe8 12.e3 Qh5= (Hertnek – Jussupow, Germany 1995).

Often met is 8.Qc2.

8...b6 9.Bf4 Nbd7 10.Nc3 Ba6

This natural move has its pros and cons. Another option is 10...Bb7, for example, 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.Nb5 Ne8 13.Rac1 a6 14.Nc3 Nd6 with a roughly equal position (Schneider -Tiviakov, Podolsk 1993).

11.cxd5

A tactical operation 11.Qa4 Bxc4 12.b3 does not promise much in view of 12...b5 13.Qa6 Bb4! 14.bxc4 Bxc3 15.Rac1 b4 =+. In case of 11.Nd2 Black gets good counterchances by building a so-called stonewall: 11...Nh5 12.Be3 f5.

11...cxd5

The capture with the knight is also possible: 11...Nxd5 12.Qa4 Nxf4 13.gxf4 Bb7 14.Rfd1+=. On the other hand not many like this type of position: Black is solid, but rather passive.

12.Nb5!

With this move White forces the opponent to trade the bishop. In case of 12...Ne8 13.Rfc1 Black can't dislodge the pesky knight with a7-a6.

12...Bxb5 13.Qxb5 a6 14.Qd3

Another good option is 14.Qc6 Rc8 15.Qa4 Ra8 16.Qc6 Rc8 17.Qa4 Ra8 18.Rfc1!? b5 19.Qc2 Rc8 20.Bc7! (as we will see later on, that is a standard maneuver in this position) 20...Qe8 21.Qd2 and White got the upper hand (Markowski - Filippov, Kosalin 1999).

14...b5 15.Rfc1 Qb6 16.Rc2

Thanks to his control over the c-file, White has a small but long-lasting advantage. It is time to bring the light-squared bishop into play.

16...Rfc8

In the game Fedorowitcz – Peters (Ostende, 1987) Black did not suffer for long: 16...Rac8 17.Rac1 Qb7 18.Rc7 Qa8 19.Ne5 Rxc7 20.Rxc7 Qe8 21.Nc6 Nh5? 22.Rc8! 1-0

17.Rac1 Qd8

To make his defense easier, Black should have traded a pair of pieces with 17...Rxc2 18.Qxc2 Bd6. Actually, even in this case after 19.Bxd6 Qxd6 20.Ne5! he would have to work hard for equality.

18.Bc7!

This is a very strong move. Note that this maneuver is similar to Be3-a7! from the game Karpov – Unzicker (Nice, 1974). A normal “circulation of the blood” in Black's camp is disabled, whereas White can concentrate his forces for a final onslaught.

18...Qf8 19.Qe3

The immediate 19.Ne5 allows Black to break free - 19...Bd6! 20.Bxd6 Rxc2.

19...h6 20.Ne5 Qe8

It looks like better was 20...Nxe5 21.dxe5 Nd7 22.Qd4 Bd8, trying to exchange White's mighty bishop.

21.Nc6 Bf8?!

After this move Black is doomed to a slow death. This was the right moment to deliver a counterblow, 21...Bc5! Although White gets an edge 22.Ba5 Rxc6 23.dxc5 Rac8 24.b4, the main fight is yet to come.

22.Ba5 Nc5?

This attempt to dam the c-file fails to a spectacular rejoinder. Black could have dragged out his resistance with 22...Bd6.

23.Nd8!

Nice shot! Suddenly the c5-knight finds himself pinned.

23... Be7

This is the only move . Otherwise Black ends up an exchange down.

24.Nxf7!

Unlike his counterpart, the white knight can sell his life at a higher price.

24...Nb7 25.Qxe6

With so many attractive options, White might be dazzled. With this in mind, Nielsen opted for a forced line. Another attacking continuation, 25.Nxh6+ Kf8 (25...Kh7 26.Qxe6 Rxc2 27.Rxc2 Nxa5 28.Nf7+-) 26.Bc7 gxh6 27.Qxh6+ Kf7 28.e4, is not that clear.

25...Rxc2 26.Ne5+ Kh7

After 26...Kf8? White wins on the spot: 27.Rxc2 Nxa5 28.Rc7.

27.Rxc2 Nxa5 28.Rc7 Bd8

Again, this is the only reasonable response.

29.Qf5+ Kh8

The move 29...Kg8 does not help. For example, 30.Rf7 Ne4 31.Bxe4 dxe4 32.Qg6 Bf6 33.Ng4! (33.Rxf6, transposing into the endgame with two extra pawns, also looks good) 33...Bxd4 34.Nxh6+ Kh8 35.Qh5! Nc6 36.Nf5+ Kg8 37.Qg6 Qe5 38.Rxg7+ Qxg7 39.Nxg7 Bxg7 40.Qxc6+-

30.Rf7!

This subtle move decides the game . Black has no defense against numerous threats. As GM Grigory Levenfish pointed out once, such moves in the middle of a combination produce the greatest aesthetic satisfaction.

30...Nc4 31.Ng6+ Kh7 32.Ne5+

The checkmate line 32.Bxd5! Nd6 33.Nf8+ Kh8 34.Qh7+! Nxh7 35.Ng6+ Kg8 36.Rf8#! would be the most spectacular climax for this encounter. However, as my coach taught me when I was a kid: “If you have to choose between checkmating and winning the queen, grab the queen: the checkmate might not be there!” Peter Heine is guided by the same principle.

32...Kh8 33.Rf8+ Qxf8 34.Ng6+ Kg8 35.Bxd5+ Qf7

No better is 35...Nxd5 36.Qxf8+ Kh7 37.Qf7 Ndb6 38.b3 Na3 39.e4+-.

36.Bxf7+ Kxf7 37.Nf4

Having completed a long raid in the opponent's territory, the knight can have a little rest.

37...Kg8 38.Qe6+ Kh7 39.e4 1-0