Games

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[Event "Malakoff Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2010.04.23"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Green, Andrew"]
[Black "Boric, Elena"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2169"]
[BlackElo "2263"]
[Annotator "ADG"]
[PlyCount "220"]

{When David asked me to annotate a game for the magazine from Paris, I really
wasn't sure which one to do. I had some very nice quick wins against weaker
opponents, but they were a bit one sided - and some very dull draws where I
just "shut-up shop". So in the end I chose the lowest quality game! This game
has not one or two, but more like five serious blunders. However, I think
something can be learnt from it. Quite often I hear chess players talking
about hearing songs while they play, and indeed I suffer from this also (in
this tournament I had a song by Pitbull in my head). However, more frequently
I get phrases or words in my head. Normally this is extremely frustrating 
(especially when it's "Run Forest Run," as your opponent chases your king
around the board and checkmates you) but sometimes it can be some kind of
motivating factor. One of my Edinburgh chess club team mates, Graeme Kafka, is
quite keen on the phrase "Infinite Resistance" and it was exactly his voice
that came through my head in this game.} 1. e4 e6 2. d3 {The Kings Indian
Attack (KIA). An opening that becomes a lot more effective once black has
played e6. It was a favourite of Bobby Fischer, and more recently Morozevich.
Dvorestky also recommends it to his pupils.} c5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7
6. O-O Nge7 7. Re1 O-O 8. c3 e5 {As soon as black places his pawn on e5, it
becomes a Botvinnik setup. It is such a good setup that black is willing to
waste a tempo just to arrange it. This is the main reason why the KIA becomes
a lot more effective against e6 setups, black has to waste a tempo to play
this setup.} 9. a3 d6 10. b4 h6 (10... Be6 {Everyone plays h6 to prepare Be6
but I think you can play it anyway?!?!}) 11. b5 $5 (11. Nbd2 {Is more normal
and the main line. However why commit this knight so early? It might be better
on c3.} Be6 12. Rb1 Qd7 13. b5 $1 Na5 14. d4 $1 cxd4 $6 15. cxd4 exd4 16. Qa4
b6 17. Nxd4 $11) 11... Na5 12. c4 {This was all preparation so far and I was
quite happy with the result. It is an English Opening with black having a very
poor knight on a5, and I can place my knight on c3 rather than d2 where it is
better, white should have a small stable edge.} b6 $146 (12... f5 {the
critical try.} 13. exf5 $5 $146 (13. Nc3 {With a normal game has been played a
few times.}) 13... e4 14. dxe4 Bxa1 15. Bxh6 Bg7 (15... Re8 16. Ng5 Nxc4 17.
Nd2 Nxd2 18. Qxa1 $18) 16. Bg5 $13 {With three pawns for the rook and stronger
pieces.}) 13. Bd2 $6 {I failed to understand how to play such a position. This
was a critical moment where I had to come up with a plan. It is quite obvious
that black and white both only have one plan: that is to play f4 and f5.} (13.
Nh4 $142 {Preparing f4} Nb7 14. Ra2 $1 {An extremely logical move. White wants
to open up his powerful light squared bishop when black plays f5 but there can
be annoying e4 threats. Ra2 sidesteps these threats and also allows a rook
lift to the centre for example:} f5 (14... Rb8 15. Nc3 (15. f4 $5 exf4 16. gxf4
f5 17. Bb2 $14) 15... f5 $6 (15... Be6 16. Rae2 g5 17. Nf3 $14) 16. exf5 gxf5
17. Nd5 $16) 15. exf5 gxf5 16. f4 $1 exf4 17. Bxf4 d5 18. Rae2 $18) 13... Nb7
14. Nc3 f5 {My opponent clearly understands this position better than I do and
goes for the obvious plan.} 15. Nd5 $4 {Playing with my hands and not my head.
This is a horrible positional error.  After this I block in my bishop on g2
and If I take on f5 I am left with weak pawns on d3 and d5.} (15. exf5 $142 $1
{White had to play this to keep his edge.} gxf5 16. Nh4 Rb8 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18.
Bxd5+ {The weak light squares around the around black king make black worse.}
Kh7 19. f4 (19. Ra2) (19. Qh5 Qe8 20. Qxe8 Rxe8 21. Re2 Bf6 22. Ng2 Be6 23.
Bxe6 Rxe6 24. f4 Rbe8 25. Rf1) 19... exf4 20. Bxf4 Bxa1 21. Qxa1 Bd7 22. Bxb7 (
22. Qd1 Re8 23. Rf1) 22... Rxb7 23. Bxd6 Rf7) 15... Nxd5 16. cxd5 g5 {It was
at this moment I thought I was in trouble. I actually evaluated this as lost.
I could not see a way to stop f4-g4-f3 followed by h5-h4-hxg3 and getting
mated down the h-file. However I am not lost here and if white finds a few
precise moves he can keep the balance.} (16... f4 {Would lead to similiar play.
}) 17. h3 $1 {A move that creates extra defensive resources. The idea was to
play g4 at the right moment and close the kingside up or to sacrifice the
h3-pawn for lightsquared compensation.} (17. h4 g4 18. Nh2 h5 $17) 17... Qf6 (
17... c4 18. dxc4 fxe4 19. Nh2 Nc5 20. Ng4 Nd3 21. Rf1 Nc5 22. Bb4 $14) 18.
exf5 $2 {I had misevaluated the position. I thought I was completely lost and
tried to mix things up. If white just plays solid it is not clear how black
will break through.} (18. a4 {White wants to play this move and go for some
counterplay on the queenside but black's attack comes first.} g4 (18... fxe4
19. dxe4 Bxh3 20. Bxh3 Qxf3 21. Qxf3 Rxf3 22. a5 $14) (18... f4 19. g4 $11) 19.
hxg4 fxg4 20. Nh4 Qxf2+ $17) (18. Qe2 $142 {Needed to protect f2.} Bd7 (18...
g4 {Now this just fizzles out to nothing.} 19. hxg4 fxg4 20. Nh4 $14) 19. a4
Rf7 20. Nh2 Raf8 21. f3 $15 {It is not entirely clear how black will break
through. However it is him who will be having all the fun.} (21. g4 fxe4 $1 (
21... f4 22. Bf3 $11) 22. dxe4 Qxf2+ $19)) 18... Bxf5 19. g4 $2 (19. Bc3 $142
$15 {The tactics in the game are just winning for black so with hindsight it
was better to grovel on in this position with the pawn weaknesses.}) 19... Bxd3
20. Bxg5 Qg6 21. Be3 e4 22. Nh4 $2 {White is losing an exchange but doing it
this way allows black to trade queens.} (22. Nd2 $142 Bxa1 23. Qxa1 Rae8 $19)
22... Qf6 23. Nf5 Qxa1 24. Nxh6+ Kh7 25. Qxa1 Bxa1 26. Rxa1 a6 $1 {After this
black's pieces come to life through the a-file and all of white's are pretty
much tied down. It was at this point I think I would normally resign, but with
the words "Infinite Resistance" running through my head over and over, I
decided to play on. The idea behind "Infinite Resistance" is that once you
find yourself in a lost position you try to play the best moves to make your
opponent's task of winning as hard as possible. Here I decided the best way to
create "Infinite resistance" was to try create as many tactical tricks as
possible and play as quickly as possible. The tactical shot I decided to go
for was Re1-Bd2-g5-Bc3 and then Rxe4 Bxe4 and Bxe4 would be mate. Not very
likely but at least its a plan.} 27. bxa6 Rxa6 28. Kh2 (28. Re1 {I wanted to
play this one.} Rxa3 29. Bc1 Ra1 {And my plan of Bb2, g5 and Rxe4 is not
possible but if the king was on h2 I could play Rxe4, Bxe4, Bxe4+ and Bb2 with
maybe some mate on the cards.}) 28... b5 29. g5 b4 30. Re1 {All going to plan
so far....} bxa3 31. Bd2 Rxf2 32. Bc3 Kg6 33. Kg3 Rc2 34. Ba1 (34. Rxe4 {I did
consider the "plan" here and  hope she didn't see Rxg2 with her little time
left (she had to make move 40). However even if she falls into the "plan" she
is still totally winning so I decided to just keep playing moves.} Rxg2+ (34...
Bxe4 35. Bxe4+ Kxg5 36. Nf7+ Kh5 37. Bxc2 a2 $19) 35. Kxg2 Bxe4+) 34... Kxg5 (
34... Rb2 $1) 35. Ng8 $1 {Giving the king less squares and maybe lining up
some potential mate threats.} a2 (35... Rb2 $142 $1 {As soon as my dark
squared bishop is cut out I have no counterplay and black is easily winning.}
36. h4+ Kg6 37. h5+ Kxh5 38. Rh1+ Kg6 $19) 36. h4+ Kg6 37. h5+ {Another little
guy goes to the fire to make my rook active.} Kxh5 38. Rh1+ {Suddenly things
are not so clear. "Infinite Resistance," was really going through my head now
and I even thought I might be mating here.} Kg5 (38... Kg6 39. Rh6+ Kf7 40. Nf6
$19 (40. Bh3 e3 41. Be6+ Ke8 42. Nf6+ Kd8 43. Rh8+ Kc7 $19)) 39. Rh7 $3 {
Suddenly it is black who has to look out for mate threats. This was
psychologically hard for my opponent and she was now shaking her head
wondering what on earth had happened.} Rxg2+ $8 (39... e3 $2 40. Bf6+ Kf5 41.
Bh3+ Ke4 42. Rh4+ Kxd5 43. Ne7#) (39... Kg6 40. Rg7+ Kh5 (40... Kf5 41. Nh6#)
41. Bh3 $3 Rg2+ 42. Bxg2 Ra3 43. Kf4 Ra8 44. Rg5+ Kh4 45. Bf6 Rf8 46. Rg6+
Rxf6+ 47. Nxf6 Be2 48. Rh6+ Bh5 49. Rxh5#) 40. Kxg2 Na5 (40... Ra8 $1 {This
was the last way to win.} 41. Rg7+ (41. Nf6 Na5) 41... Kf4 $19) 41. Kg3 $1 {
Another attacker comes to the party. With 4 pieces luming around the king I
thought there might be mate but sadly she has a defensive resource herself and
can sacrifice her e-pawn and d3 bishop to keep mate away. The position is
equal.} e3 (41... Ra8 $2 42. Rg7+ Kh5 (42... Kf5 43. Nh6#) 43. Nf6+ Kh6 44.
Ng4+ Kh5 45. Bf6 $3 a1=Q 46. Rg5#) 42. Rg7+ Bg6 43. Ne7 e2 44. Rxg6+ Kh5 45.
Kf2 $4 (45. Re6 $142 {This just gives white a simple draw.} Nb3 46. Bg7 e1=Q+ (
46... a1=Q 47. Rh6+ Kg5 48. Rg6+ Kh5 49. Rh6+ $11) 47. Rxe1 a1=Q 48. Bxa1 Nxa1
49. Kf4 $11) (45. Kf4 {I looked at this for a while but black manages to run
away.} e1=Q 46. Rg5+ Kh4 (46... Kh6 47. Rg6+ Kh5 48. Rg5+ $11) 47. Nf5+ Kh3 48.
Rh5+ Kg2 49. Ne3+ Kf2 50. Rh2+ Kg1 $19) 45... e1=Q+ $1 46. Kxe1 Nb3 47. Bb2
a1=Q+ 48. Bxa1 Rxa1+ {Now I find myself in a very tricky position. With the
d5-pawn weak and having to be careful I do not drop my knight or rook through
Ra7 or Re1. I decided to set myself the challenge of drawing this position.
Once again I had to get in the "Infinite Resistance" frame of mind.
Objectively white has some chances of drawing by sacrificing his knight for
the two pawns and black's king being on the edge of the board.} 49. Kf2 Ra2+ (
49... Ra7 $1 50. Re6 Nd4 51. Re4 Rc7 {Was a much better try for black to win.})
50. Ke1 (50. Kg3 Re2 $1 (50... Ra6) 51. Re6 Rxe6 52. dxe6 Nd4 53. Nc8 c4) 50...
Nd4 51. Rg7 c4 52. Nc6 Nf3+ (52... Nxc6 53. dxc6 Ra6 54. c7 Rc6 55. Kd2 Kh6 56.
Rd7 Kg6 57. Kc3 Kf5 58. Rxd6 $11) 53. Kd1 $2 Rd2+ 54. Kc1 Rxd5 55. Rc7 (55. Nb4
Rb5 56. Na2 d5 57. Nc3 Rc5 58. Rd7 d4 59. Ne2 d3 $19) 55... Rg5 (55... Rc5 $1
$19 56. Rf7 Ng5 57. Rc7 d5) 56. Nb4 Rg1+ 57. Kb2 Ne5 58. Rc8 Rg6 59. Kc3 Rg3+
60. Kd4 {Now my king is active, it should be a draw.} Rb3 61. Nd5 Kg5 62. Ke4
$1 (62. Ne3 Rd3+ (62... Nf3+ 63. Ke4 (63. Kxc4 Rxe3 64. Kd5 Rd3+ 65. Ke4 Ne5)
63... Nd2+ 64. Kd4 Rd3#) 63. Ke4 $11 {Is also probably good enough.}) 62... Rb1
63. Rg8+ Kh6 64. Rd8 Re1+ 65. Kf5 $3 {A very nice idea. After this it is a
forced draw. I give up my piece to win both of black's pawns to end up in a
drawn ending.} Nf7 66. Rc8 $1 Re5+ 67. Kf6 Rxd5 68. Rxc4 Nh8 (68... Nd8 69. Rc8
$11) 69. Rh4+ Rh5 70. Rd4 d5 71. Ke6 Ng6 72. Kd6 $1 (72. Rxd5 $4 Nf4+) 72...
Kg7 73. Rxd5 {The rest is just a simple draw. If you want to learn more about
"Infinite Resistance," I strongly recommend reading chapter three of Jonathan
Rowson's wonderful book "Seven Deadly Chess Sins".} Rh1 74. Rd2 Re1 75. Rg2 Kf6
76. Rf2+ Kg5 77. Rg2+ Kf5 78. Rf2+ Nf4 79. Ra2 Rd1+ 80. Kc6 Ke5 81. Rc2 Rd8 82.
Rh2 Rc8+ 83. Kb5 Kd6 84. Rh6+ Ne6 85. Kb4 Rg8 86. Kb5 Rg5+ 87. Kb4 Kd5 88. Kc3
Nd4 89. Kb4 Nc6+ 90. Kc3 Rg3+ 91. Kd2 Ne5 92. Rh8 Nc6 93. Rh5+ Kc4 94. Rh8 Rg4
95. Rc8 Kd5 96. Ke3 Re4+ 97. Kf3 Ne5+ 98. Kg3 Rg4+ 99. Kf2 Ke4 100. Re8 Rg6
101. Re7 Ra6 102. Re8 Ra3 103. Re7 Rf3+ 104. Ke2 Ra3 105. Kf2 Kf4 106. Ke2 Ra2+
107. Kd1 Ke4 108. Re8 Rh2 109. Rc8 Kd4 110. Rd8+ Kc3 1/2-1/2

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