RASHID NEZHMETDINOV
27/12/2007
|
RASHID NEZHMETDINOV
27/12/2007
|
The Vienna game. In this opening White tries to open the f-file by f2-f4 in order to develop an attack on the black king (on f7). In case of an exchange at f4, besides the open file White gets a pawn superiority in the centre (d- and e- pawns vs a d-pawn.) In several variations White intends to storm the castled king by f2-f4-f5 and g2-g4-g5. Black in turn tries to hinder White's flank attack by a counter-thrust in the centre (d6-d5)
2...Nf6
One of the best responses, preparing the advance d7-d5. also possible is 2...Bc5
in order to take control of the centre square d4 and the diagonal a7-g1.
3.f4
The brilliant Russian player Alekhine preferred the continuation 3.Bc4
followed by d3 to prepare f2-f4. however by 3...Nxe4
Black gets sufficient counterplay. After 3. ...Nxe4 4.Qh5
Nd6
5.Bb3
( if 5.Qxe5+
Qe7
6.Qxe7+
Bxe7
7.Bb3
and after c6 and d5 Black has a solid position 7...Nf5
) 5...Nc6
6.Nb5
g6
7.Qf3
f5
8.Qd5
Qe7
9.Nxc7+
Kd8
10.Nxa8
b6
the fight is very sharp. Black, in spite of his sizable loss of material has, apparently, the better chances since his attack is very dangerous.
The following example shows how a player unfamiliar with opening variations gets into difficulties. In a 1940 game against the Kazan Caregory 1 player Ingenol, I fell into this line for the second time (the first was against Saigin in the 1939 Kazan championship where I drew with difficulty) After long consideration, White found the following
fantastic plan of mobilising his forces: Qd5-d3, Qd3-f1, Qf1-g1, h2-h4, Qg1-h2, 0-0. White ultimately won this game, exploiting poor play by Black.
But now I would on no account want to repeat this artificial manouevre.
3...d5
A counter-thrust in the centre is the best reply to a flank attack.
4.fxe5
Nxe4
5.Nf3
5.Qf3
and; 5.Qe2
are often played here.
5...Bb4
I played the opening without having any real idea of opening theory. Unfortunately, I learned the strength of many theoretical variations by my own bitter experience ......
As is generally known, 5...Be7
and; 5...Nc6
are good continuations.
In the latter case, the interesting variation 6.Qe2
Bf5
7.Qb5
a6
8.Qxb7
( 8.Qxd5
Nb4
) 8...Nb4
9.Nxe4
dxe4
10.Nd4
Rb8
11.Qa7
Bc5
12.Qxc5
Qxd4!
13.Qxd4
Nxc2+
14.Kf2
Nxd4
gives Black the advantage.
6.Qe2
Stronger here is 6.Be2
with a good game for White.
6...Bxc3
7.bxc3
Bg4?!
Activity at all costs! This is the way I generally played at the beginning of my chess career.
The move is the beginning of a combination by Black which, if White plays correctly, leads to a draw. Black should castle, to put his king in a safe position. Then a position with about equal chances would arise.
8.Qb5+
This inexact move gives Black tactical counterplay. Correct was 8.Ba3
and White gets significant chances for an attack on Black's king which is caught in the centre.
I will cite one possible variation: 8...Nc6
9.0-0-0
Nxe5
10.Qb5+
c6
11.Nxe5
cxb5
( Here the zwischenzug 11...Qc7
foils White's line: e.g. 12.Qb4
Bxd1
13.Bd3
0-0-0
14.Nxc6
Qxc6
15.Rxd1
Kb8
and Black remains the exchange ahead. - WAF) 12.Bxb5+
Bd7
13.Bxd7+
Qxd7
14.Nxd7
Kxd7
15.Rhf1
with a marked advantage for White in the endgame.
8...c6?
......is more active; then 8...Nc6
9.Qxb7
is risky because of 9...0-0!
and if 10.Qxc6?
Bxf3
11.gxf3
( Instead White should play 11.h4!
though after 11...Bg4
Black still has the better position.) 11...Qh4+
and White loses material.; In this case better is 8...Nc6
9.Be2
Bxf3
10.Bxf3
( 10.Qxb7?
0-0
) 10...0-0
with chances for both sides.
9.Qxb7
Bxf3
10.Qxa8
Instead of such a straightforward attempt to win material, White should make a deep appraisal of the specific features of the position. Then he would probably have found this promising sacrifice of the exchange: 10.gxf3!
Qh4+
11.Kd1
Nf2+
12.Ke2
Nxh1
13.Qc8+
Qd8
( 13...Ke7??
leads to mate after 14.Ba3+
) 14.Qxd8+
Kxd8
15.Bg2
In this position, Black's small material advantage is outweighed by White's
large positional advantage; a strong pawn centre, two active bishops, and the
lack of co-ordination of black's pieces are grounds for evaluating this line in
White's favour.
10...Bxg2
11.Be2
Suicide. 11.Bxg2
is correct and after 11...Qh4+
12.Ke2
( worse is 12.Kd1
since after 12...Qg4+
13.Ke1
0-0!
14.Rg1
Qh4+
15.Kd1
Qf2
16.Rf1
Qxg2
Black has a strong attack, for example: 17.Ke1
Qxh2
18.a3
Ng3
winning.) 12...Qf2+
13.Kd1
0-0!
14.Bxe4
dxe4
15.Re1
Black should force a draw by perpetual check 15...Qf3+
16.Re2
Qf1+
11...Qh4+
12.Kd1
Nf2+
13.Ke1
Nd3+
14.Kd1
Qe1+
15.Rxe1
Nf2#
The first and only "smothered mate" in my career. It was only many years later that I noticed the final attack in this game recalls the ending of a game by the famed Italian master Gioacchino Greco (1600 -c 1634). 0-1