1.e4
e6
2.d3
White chooses to avoid all main lines of the French Defence hoping to spoil any illusions that black has of entering into familiar territory. Instead white opts for the Kings Indian Attack
2...d5
3.Nd2
Nf6
4.Ngf3
c5
[4...Nc6
; 4...b6
are both popular whilst 4 g6 is a modern system employed by some of the top players. However my system is more straightforward and adheres to the traditional French centre counter system characterised by c5 and f6]
5.g3
Nc6
6.Bg2
Be7
7.0-0
0-0
Reaching a typical position in the Kings Indian attack against the French where white aims to build up pieces on the king side and launch a combined pawn and piece attack down the king/^s wing with a sequence of key moves like Re1, Nf1, h4, Bf4, N1h2, h5, Ng4. Later white may sacrifice a knight or even rook on e4 in order to retake with the white squared Bishop that will bear down ominously on h7
8.Qe2
b5
As white prepares operations on the kingside it is natural for black to expand on the queenside with pawn thrusts that simultaneously create space and threats
9.e5
9.exd5 exd5 only makes an easier life for black. Otherwise the e5 advance has to come from white at some point and when it does it acts as the cue for black to prepare a timely f6 to counter the e5 square. Later after exf6, black will aim to place his own king pawn on e5. It is very common for black to have his pawns fixed on e6 and d5 and although it is still solid for black it is even better if he can safely advance to e5
9...Nd7
10.Re1
a5
11.Nf1
This could announce the build up of a king side attack
11...a4
12.a3
White decides on prophylaxis first. He was rightly concerned that after 12.h4 a3 which might have proved tricky [12.h4
a3
]
12...Kh8
[This move gave me great satisfaction. It looks strange but it prepares for the f6 thrust with more venom. The normal continuation would be 12/\ f6 13.exf6 Nxf6 However I am ambitious and want to get e5 in at the earliest opportunity and to do this I need to exchange on f6 with the Bishop instead of the Knight. I cannot play 12/\ f6 13.exf6 Bxf6 because of 14. Qxf6+ However by moving the King out of range, I can safely retake on f6 with the Bishop.]
[12...f6
13.exf6
Nxf6
]
13.h4
f6
14.exf6
Bxf6
15.c3
[15.N1h2 e5 16.Ng4 Qe7 17.h5 Bb7 18.h6 maintains the spirit of the Kings Indian attack system and looks more promising for white. Afterwards white said he thought (+)15.Ne3 was perhaps better than 15.c3 to prevent 15...e5[+]. He has a point!]
[15.Qxe6?
Nde5
]
15...e5
Black is happy and although it is still playable for white, it is difficult and from a psychological point of view as the black pawn centre looks very imposing. But, can it be maintained and how effective is it?]
16.Ng5
Nb6
17.Qh5
Bf5
18.Be3
Better is 18.Nxf7+ Rxf7 19.Qxf5 Qd6 20.Qh5 and white has gained the Bishop pair. After 18.Nf7+ Rxf7 white cannot play 19.Qxf7 because of 19/\Qc8 with the threat of Bg6 when white loses material in the exchange. 18.Nf7+ Rxf7 19.Qxf7 Qc8! 20.Bxd5 Ra7! (20.Ne3 Bg7 21.Nxd5 Bxf7 22.Nxb6 and white is still down on the exchange).] [18.Nf7+
Rxf7
19.Qxf5
(19.Qxf7
Qc8
) 19...Qd6
20.Qh5
]
18...Bg6
19.Qe2
Qd6
20.Rad1
h6
21.h5
Be8
22.Nh3
Bd7
23.Nh2
Rae8
Now black has the stronger position
24.Kh1
It is unclear what this achieves but afterwards white said he intended to follow up with Rg1 and g4
24...Bd8
25.Ng1
25.Rg1 no longer looked very attractive and white seems to be disillusioned with his position by making an ineffectual Knight move
25...Nd4
Black has the initiative and embarks on a promising attack but has to be tactically accurate with some sharp continuations from here on
26.Qf1
Nc2
27.Re2
Nxe3
28.Rxe3
d4
29.Re2
Nd5
30.Qe1
dxc3
31.bxc3
Ba5
32.Rc1
b4
33.cxb4
cxb4
34.Nhf3
Nc3
35.Rec2
e4
36.dxe4
Nxe4
37.Re2
Nc3
38.Qd2
Rf6
39.Rxe8+
Bxe8
40.Nd4
b3
This passed pawn should prove decisive. I think black has a won position with best play
41.Rxc3
Bxc3
42.Qxc3
Rxf2
43.Nge2
Qe5
44.g4
b2
45.Qd3
Bc6
0-1