Renaissance Man
Games and analysis from the 2024 Upper Peninsula Open.
BY ALEX LAMBRUSCHINI
Blast off! Back to tournament life and I finish off on Board 2 in this doozy of a game.
BOGO-INDIAN DEFENSE,
NIMZOWITSCH VARIATION (E11)
V. Pesola (1711)
A. Lambruschini (1761)
Upper Peninsula Open (4), Brimley, MI, 08.11.24
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 Bb4 4. Bd2 Qe7 5. Qc2
It is taking me a while to get settled at the board and this move unsettles me. There is a quirk in the position, and I can’t figure out what it is.
5. … O-O?
The niggling sensation is that castling is too slow, but what else? Seeing deeper, the key is to control square e5. 5. … Bxd2 6. Nbxd2 d6! 7. e4 e5 with a good game for Black.
6. e4 Bxd2 7. Nbxd2 d5
Already the computer suggests bailing out with e5!? or doubling down with d6. Trying to walk the straight and narrow with d5 is going to be hit with a hail of bullets to the kingside.
8. e5 (see diagram)
I consider 8. … Ne4 here. 9. Nxe4 dxe4 10. Qxe4 Qb4 is not too promising.
8. … Nfd7 9. Bd3 h6 10. c5 Re8?!
I concern myself with kingside safety. 10. … Nc6 (threatening …Nb4) 11. Bb5 f6 looks like a more robust defense.
11. g4 Nf8 12. h4
12. g5! is stronger.
12. ... g6∞ 13. O-O-O b6 14. b4? bxc5 15. Qc5 a5 16. b5 c6 17. Nb3? a4 18. Qxe7 Rxe7 19. Nc5 Nfd7 20. Kd2 Nxc5 21. dxc5 cxb5 22. Rb1 Rc7 23. Rhc1 Ba6 24. Bxb5 Bxb5 25. Rxb5 Nc6
The attention unexpectedly turns away from the kingside, with the result that Black has signs of an initiative. I expect a3.
26. g5
My impression is that White is losing the thread here, or at least a tempo. I see the advantage of playing …a3 and bringing my rook to the fourth rank.
26. … hxg5 27. hxg5 a3 28. Re1 Ra4 29. Rh1 Rb4?!
There seems to be many moves that fight for the initiative here, …Rf4 chief among them, but the rook does seem to be immune from capture on b4.
30. Rxb4!
Not so fast says White. I notice just in time that it is unwise to capture the a2 pawn because my knight has no way to back out of the situation after bagging the pawn (see next diagram).
30. … Nxb4 31. Rb1
31. Nh2! is also a great move which is hard to spot. The knight and rook coordinate beautifully to create checkmate threats against the Black king.
31. … Na6! 32. Rb3?
The clock is just starting to spin a little too fast for both players - a mistake is made. The unhurried 32. Rc1 keeps things equal.
32. … Nxc5 33. Rxa3 Ne4!
It feels good to play this move. Black's burgeoning advantage is more apparent than ever.
34. Ke3 Rc2?!
It is not the time for concrete action, but for consolidation. 34. … Kg7 is sanguine. White's pawns are loose, and time is on Black's side.
35. Ra8 Kg7 36. a4 Rf2 37. a5 Ra2 38. a6 Nc5 39. a7 Nd7
The dust settles and it turns out to be nothing more than a draw. The knight is left chomping at the bit.
40. Nd4?
A mistake. 40. Kd3 draws.
40. … Nxe5?
Oops. The winning plan is …Nb6 threatening …Nc4 with check, allowing the a7 pawned to be picked up.
41. Nb5?
Both players are getting low on time and missing their chances. 41. Kf4! is the way.
41. … Nc6 42. Nd6? Ra3 43. Kd2 Rxa7 44. Rc8 Ne7 45. Rb8 f5 46. Ne8
White offers a draw. I'm a little taken aback because I just created space for my king to walk to f7.
46. … Kh7 47. Nf6 Kg7
Tired, with only a couple minutes left for each of us, nerves give out and the gears of calculation grind to a welcome halt. It's a draw by repetition. Or is it!? My opponent accepts my draw offer, and we settle our accounts.
Just when I was at the edge of the canyon ready to enjoy the wondrous view, it turns out I turned my back to watch the whole game before me.
Crazy! Some takeaways from this game:
- Control of the centre takes precedence over castling in this opening.
- The clock is a fine balance. Take time, but don't hunker down. You'll need the time later.
- Fight the temptation to weaken squares around your king for the sake of clarity (move 12)
- Putting pressure on your opponent is always a good thing. That's how mistakes happen.
- Keep your cool under pressure. You just need to keep finding one good move.
