Reply #5: Tea Bosboom-Lanchava - Ivan Sokolov, Stauton Memorial, London [View All]

[Jack Rabbit]

Ivan Sokolov
Photo: World Chess Trophy (Czech)

Tea Bosboom-Lanchava vs. Ivan Sokolov
Howard Staunton Memorial Tournament, Round 9
London, August 2006

West India Game: Tal-Indian Defense (Czech Variation) (Modern Benoni)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Nbd7 6. Nge2 h5!?

This move is a bit out of the ordinary.

A satisfactory game for both plays can be achieved by 6. -- Be7 7. Ng3 g6 8. Be2 a6 9. Bh6 Bf8.

7. Bg5 h4 8. Qd2 a6 9. Ng1 Be7 10. Nf3 Nf8

In spite of Black's unusual sixth move, the game is level.

The equalibrium is also maintained by 10. -- Ng4 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. h3 Ngf6 13. Qg5.

11. Be2 Ng6 12. 0-0 Nh5

If 12. -- h3?! 13. g3 then:

• 13. -- b6 14. a3 Ng4 15. b4
• 15. -- f6 16. Be3 Qc7 17. Rab1 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 and White has a clear advantage in space.
• 15. -- Bb7 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Rab1 and White will open up the queenside to her advantage.
• 13. -- Ng4 14. b3 f6 15. Be3 Qb6 16. Ne1 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 and White has clear advantage in mobility.

13. g3?!

This moves looks like a nervous reaction. A better idea for White is to develop a plan to counter Black's kingside aggression with some aggression of her own on the queenside.

If 13. Be3 Nhf4 then:

14. a3 Nxe2+ 15 Nxe2 f5 16. exf5 Bxf5 17.b4 and White has succeeded in moving in on the queenside.
• 14. Rfb1 f5 15. b4 Nxe2+ 16. Qxe2 f4 17. Bd2 and again White has expanded on the queenside successfully.

13. -- Bxg5 14. Qxg5 Nf6 15. Ne1

As it stands on the board, Black has a small advantage with his command of open lines, especially the c8/h3 diagonal.

If 15. Nxh4 Nxh4 16. gxh4 Bh3 17. Rfd1 Rh6 then:

• 18. h5 Nxh5 19. Qxd8+ Rxd8 20. Bxh5 Rxh5 21. Rd3 f5 and Black has a small plus in space on the kingside.
• 18. Rd3 Rg6 19. Qxg6 fxg6 20. Rxh3 Nh5 and Black has better mobility and ought to be able to begin generating threats.

15. -- Rh6 16. f4?

If 16. Ng2 then:

• 16. -- Qc7 17. b3 Qd7 18. gxh4 Qh3 19. f3 Nxh4 20. Nxh4 Rxh4 21. Rf2 is equal.
• 16. -- Qd7 17. gxh4 Qh3 18. f4 Nxf4 19. Nxf4 exf4 and Black has better control of open lines.

Black: Ivan Sokolov
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White: Tea Bosboom-Lanchava
Board w/o pieces

16. -- hxg3!

Watch this pawn go.

17. f5

If 17. fxe5 gxh2+ 18. Kh1 dxe5 then:

• 19. Rf2 b6 20. Rc1 Qe7 21. Qd2 Nf4 and Black has command of open lines and is dominating the kingside.
• 19. Nd3 Qe7 20. Nxc5 Qxc5 21. Rxf6 Qe7 22. Rxg6 Rxg6 23. Qxe7+ Kxe7 and Black's Bishop and Queen's Rook will soon join the assault on the King
  s wing.

17. -- Nf4 18. Qxg7 gxh2+

Black dominates the game in everyway after 18. -- Rxh2 19. Rxf4 exf4 20. Nf3 Rh7 21. Qg5 Rh8 22. e5 dxe5.

19. Kh1 Rh7 20. Qg5 Qe7 21. Ng2

After 21. Rxf4 exf4 22. Nf3 Bd7 23. Qxf4 0-0-0, Black will be able to put all his forces against the White King.

21. -- Nxe2 22. Nxe2 Bd7 23. Ne3 Rh5 24. Qg2 Rh4 25. Qg5

If 25. Nc3 0-0-0 then:

• 26. Rf3 Rg8
• 27. Rg3 Rxg3 28. Qxg3 Nxe4 29. Nxe4 Rxe4 30. b4 Qh4 and after teh exchange of Queens, the Black Rook will devour pawns.
• 27. Qf2 Nxe4 28. Nxe4 Rxe4 29. f6 Qf8 30. b4 cxb4 and, in addition to kingside threats, Black has a mass of queenside pawns on the march.
• 26. b3 Rg8 27. Qf3 Nh5 28. Ne2 Qg5 29. Qg2 Qxg2+ 30. Nxg2 Rxe4 and White can make no headway while applies more pressure.

25. -- Nxe4 26. Qg8+ Qf8 27. Qg2

If 27. Qxf8+ Kxf8 28. Rf3 Ke7 29. f6+ then:

• 29. -- Kd8
• 29. -- Nxf6 30. Raf1 Ne4 31. Rxf7+ Kd8 32. Rf8+ Be8 33. R1f7 b5 and Black is now expanding on the queenside.

30. Ng3 Rh3 31. Kg2 Ng5 32. Rff1 Kc7 and Black has everything going his way.27. -- 0-0-0 28. Rf3

Sacrificing the exchange would get White nowhere: 28. Nc3 Nxc3 29. bxc3 Qh8 30. Rf3 e4 31. Rg3 Qxc3.

28. -- Qh8 29. Ng3 Rg8 30. Re1 Rh3 31. Nef1 Bxf5 32. 0-1

32. Ree3 Qh4 33. b3 Bh7 34. a3 f5 35. Rxe4 fxe4 36. Re3 Bf5 and White has no good moves left. Mw. Bosboom-Lachava resigns.