KID - The Taimanov-Korchnoi Attack for White
The Taimanov-Korchnoi Attack is an out of fashion old line in the King's Indian Defence, where the Black King very often lacks a pawn shield, whilst the typical blocked King's Indian Defence centre is not blocked at all! Those two factors significantly increase the accuracy level required by Black in these types of positions and make White's play much easier. A perfect surprise weapon!
(Interactive chess board at the end of the post)
More about the Taimanov-Korchnoi Attack here
deltakiss 2247 - modoahmed 2188
Online rapid game
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Bd2
The starting move of the Taimanov-Korchnoi Attack. White delays Ne1 as he wants to meet 1...f7-f5 with 2.Ng5. In addition the bishop clears the c1 square for the rook to come and support the c4-c5 push and in some occasions the bishop from d2 can move to b4 and hit the d6-pawn.
9...Nd7
Geller played this move against Taimanov.
10.Rc1
The second characteristic move of this variation. The rook will support the c4-c5 advance from the c1.
Now Black has to decide wether he goes for 10...f7-f5 or control the g5 square before the f5 advance. 10...h6 stops the Ng5 idea but on the other hand it slows down Black's activity on the kingside.
10...f5
{10...h6 11.Ne1 f5 12.Nd3 and now:
12...fxe4 (12...f4?! allows 13.Bg4!) 13.Nxe4 Nf5 14.f3 Nf6 15.Ndf2 Nd4 16.Nxf6+ Qxf6 17.Bd3 Bf5 18.Ne4 Qe7 19.Be3 and White is ready for queenside pawn storm. Nf2 with the intention of exchanging bishops is also on the agenda.
12...Nf6 13.f3 g5 14.Nf2 f4 15.c5! A typical pawn sacrifice in the Taimanov-Korchnoi Attack in order to open up the queenside.
15...dxc5 16.Na4 b6 17.b4 cxb4 18.Bxb4 Ne8 19.Qb3 Kh8 20.Nb2
White has fantastic compensation for the pawn. After Rf-d1, Nc4 white is ready to break through with d5-d6. Notice how nice placed is the bishop on b4 exerting pressure along the a3-f8 diagonal.}
11.Ng5 Nf6
Now White can continue either with 12.exf5 or the following interesting move.
12.f3 h6
{12...f4 13.c5!
Again this typical sacrifice!
13...dxc5 14.Qb3 Kh8 15.Rfd1 b6 16.Be1 h6 17.Ne6 Bxe6 18.dxe6 Qe8
With the hope that the queen will reach the kingside but it is impressive that computer here thinks that White's top move is 19.a3! If White has the luxury to play this slow-burn move then he is surely more than fine.
E.g.: 19...g5 20.Nd5 Nfxd5 (20...Nexd5 21.exd5 Rd8 22.Bc3 The bishop is beautifully placed on c3. White is clearly better. +1.4) 21.exd5 Rd8 22.Qc4 White dominates the light squares. 22...Nf5 23.b4! If Black tries to win the exchange with 23...Ne3 then 24.Qe4 threatening 25.Bd3 and White is almost winning.
+2.6}
13.Ne6 Bxe6 14.dxe6 c6
A natural reaction as Black does n't want to allow the white knight placed on d5.
15.Be3
Clears the d-file for the heavy pieces.
15...f4 16.Bf2 g5 17.Qb3
Another standard move in the Taimanov-Korchnoi Attack. From b3 the white queen x-rays the black king and might provide support to the e6-pawn. However, there was also another interesting idea:
17.Rc2 Qc7 18.Rd2 and it seems that Black will have to move away from the kingside the f8 rook to defend the d6 pawn. White has the initiative. +1.2
17...Qc8
Defending the b7-pawn and attacking the e6-pawn at the same time.
18.Rfd1 Qxe6?
Played carelessly. Black obviously thought that if b7 is captured then one of the black rooks will capture and invade at b2. 18...Rd8 was a better choice but after the calm 19.Rd2 intending to double on the d-file White is clearly better. +1.1
19.Rxd6!
That's what Black had missed.
19...Qf7 20.Qxb7 Rab8
(20...Rfb8 21.Qa6 Rxb2 22.Rb1 Rab8 23.Rxb2 Rxb2 24.Qxa7 and White is winning again with the help of the a-pawn. +3.52)
21.Qxa7 Rxb2 22.a4
The a-pawn decides the game. Notice how slow Black is on the kingside.
22...h5 23.a5 g4 24.a6 Bh6
Intending 25...g3 probably.
25.Bh4 Qg7 26.Bxf6 Rxf6 27.Rxf6 Qxf6 28.Qc7
The queen makes room for the a-pawn.
28...Qg7 29.a7 Rxe2
A last desperate attempt.
30.a8=Q+ Kh7 31.Nxe2 gxf3 32.g3 fxe2 33.Qe8 f3 34.Qexe7 Be3+ 35.Kh1 Bh6 36.Qxg7+ Bxg7 37.Kg1 1-0
More about the Taimanov-Korchnoi Attack here.
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