Friday, October 13, 2017

Not in my Day

Lorenzo Lodici – Stellan Brynell
33rd European Chess Club Cup; Göynük, October 13, 2017
English Opening A30

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Nc3 0-0 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. d4 Na6 10. Bf4 c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Nd4 Nfe4 13. Qc2 Bf6!? Black’s position is fundamentally sound, so Brynell’s novelty only confirms Aron Nimzowitsch’s saying that “A position that is healthy has at least two ‘only’ moves”. 13. ... Bg5 14. Bxg5 Qxg5 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. e3 Rfc8 17. Qe2 Rc5 18. Nb3 Rc7 19. Rac1 Rac8 20. Rxc7 Rxc7 21. Rd1 g6 22. Nd4 h5 23. Qf3 Ba6 24. Qf4 Qxf4 25. gxf4 Kg7 26. Bf1 Bxf1 27. Kxf1 a6 also led to equality, Gulko – Browne, Grandmaster Invitational Chess Tournament, San Francisco 1995. 14. Red1 Nxc3 15. Qxc3 Re8


16. Qc2. White Queen’s coming and going look quite artificial and betray some uncertainty of strategy. 16. ... Rc8 17. Qd2. Feeling a little uncomfortable, White decides to temporarily sacrifice a Pawn in order to level the playing field as much as possible. 17. ... Bxd4 18. Qxd4 Rxe2 19. Be3. Lodici was possibly looking forward to trap Black’s Rook, but he will have to content himself to win back the Pawn. 19. ... Ne6 20. Qe5 Qc7 21. Qxc7 Rxc7 22. b3 d4 23. Bf1 Rec2 24. Bxd4 Nxd4 25. Rxd4. After heavy liquidation White has regained the Pawn and can now confidently look for a draw. 25. ... g6 26. Bc4 Re7 27. a4 Kg7 28. h4 h6 29. Bf1 Rec7 30. Bc4 Re7 31. Bf1 Rec7 32. Bc4 Re7 ½ : ½.

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