Treasures from the Paladin's box

The following game was played in our weekly meeting in Jyväskylä. Time control was 15 + 15 minutes.

Ruosteenoja, E. - Venkat., V.

Jyväskylä 4th May 2011

King's Indian Defence: Classical Variation, Gligoric System (E92):

1. c4

White wants to play English game.

1...d6

Not the most common move. More popular moves are 1...c5, 1...e5 and 1...Nf6 which will lead to the most common variants of English game. I have used it a couple of times during last 4 months but have not had any success because I don't understand the positional ideas behind those lines I played. I have used it only seldom and between those games may be several months or even years. 

1...e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.d3 etc. (0-1, 46 moves), Vehviläinen - Behemon, Keuruu (2001).

 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 g6

This kind of fianchetto is possible nearly in every opening. White has similar kind of idea: g2-g3. It is playable in many variations.

For example: 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 etc.

4. d4 Bg7 5. e4

Now we have arrived to positions of the Kings' Indian defense. Altering the move order is a good way to hide your real plans from your opponent.

5...e5 6. Be2 exd4 7. Nxd4 0-0 8. Be3 Re8

The Classical variation. The ordinary move order is following: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 0-0 6. Be2 e5 and now 7. Be3 exd4 8. Nxd4 Re8

7. Be3 is called Gligoric system. The variation is named after Serbian grandmaster Svetozar Gligoric (born 1923). 

9. f3

9. Qc2 Ng4 10. Bxg4 Bxg4 11. 0-0 Nc6 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 and position is even, Frey - García Martínez, Havana (1985). 

9...c5?!

I think this move is a little bit inaccurate. It leaves the squares b5 and d5 free for white knights. Black has also problems with his backward pawn in d6. White can attack towards it via semiopen d-line.

a) 9...c6 and for example 10. Bf2 d5 11. exd5 cxd5 12. 0-0 Nc6 13. c5  Nh5 14. Qd2 be5 15. g3 Ng7 with unclear position (ECO).

b) 9...Nc6 10. Qd2 Nh5 11. Bg5 f6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Bh6 Bxh6 14. Qxh6 Rb8 15. 0-0-0 Qe7 16. g4 Ng7 and white has small advantage, Khalifman - Topalov, Linares (1995). 

10. Ndb5 Bf8 11. Nd5 Qa5+ 12. Nbc3 Nxd5 13. cxd5

This was what black wanted. White blocks d-line and now black d-pawn is no more under attack.

13...Na6 14. h4 Bg7 15. Qd2 Bd7 16. h5 gxh5 17. Bh6 Re5 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. f4 Re7 20. 0-0 Rae8 21. Bxh5 f5? 22. g4

After 22. Bxe8 white has no attack anymore.

22...fxe4 23. f5 Rf8?

23...Rg8? 24. Qg5+ Kf8 25. Df6+ Rf7 26. Qxf7#; 25...Kh7 26. Qxe7 +-

Black is forced to give the exchange at least. In the game black chooses inferior path.

24. Qg5+

Black queen is completely out of the game and can not protect the king.

24...Kh8 25. Qxe7 and black resigned (1-0).

[Comments: Behemon]

PS. Feedback is welcome! 

These are my "hand analysis" and may be incorrect. I'll check this game with Rybka 4 later.