DATM0 2009

GM negi's Round 9 win

GM negi Senador ,E

Senador,E (2395) - Negi,P (2590) [B21](9), 2009

Anecdoted by GM Negi

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 Morra gambit.

even though its not really seen much at the higher level these days the line is not without some venom as I realised while preparing for it. My opponent had employed it successfully many times before but i was ready with an interesting line for this game.

4...dxc3 5.Nxc3 Bc5!?

Comparitively rare idea with the only notable game being Chandler-Timman. This move creates certain problems for white as he no longer can continue with his usual slow initiative plan as black chooses a more active approach now. 6.Bc4 [6.Bf4 trying to exploit the dark squares is another possibility but i dont see many problems for black.] 6...Ne7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Bf4 [8.Bg5 was played in Chandler-Timman but after 8...f6 9.Bh4 Nbc6 10.Bg3 Ng6 and Nge5 black obtained comfortable play.] 8...f5!?

Interesting move which i had prepared before. The idea is clear, black doesnt want white to settle comfortably with some compensation and play passive. Now white has to show his compensation for the pawn. 9.e5 I dont really like this move much as the closed structure with f5-e6 pawn chain restricts whites pieces extremely. Ofcourse its anyway not easy for white to decide otherwise what is the best way to continue. What surprised me was how quickly and unperturbed Senador went to this position. 9...a6 controls Nb5, restricting white. 10.Rc1 b5 11.Bb3 Bb6 [11...Qb6 12.Nd5! would have been irritting.]

12.h4? A strange decision, and again played fairly soon by him. The pawn on h5 doesnt help white much and only serves as a target for black with Qe8. [12.a3 White has some compensation anyway though blacks position looks more prefferable to me.] 12...Nbc6 13.h5 h6 14.a3 Qe8!

Ofcourse pawn h5 is really weak now. 15.Nh4 Bb7 black has all pieces developed and whites compensation for the Morra sac has nearly dissapeared. Like Maghami remarked later Black seems to have compensation for the pawn instead of white! Still black has to find a way to break the solid structure. 16.Ba2 Rd8 17.Rc2 g5!

Thats the way to generate counter! Blacks pieces were all set but still the rooks and queen werent in the play, now black will be able to arrange his initiative along the g file. 18.hxg6 Nxg6 19.Nxg6 [19.Qh5 Nxf4 20.Qxh6 Nd4 looks bad for white.] 19...Qxg6 20.Qf3 I'd overlooked this resource as otherwse its hard for white to defend against the multiple knight jumps.

20...Kh8?! [20...Nd4! would have been a pretty finish immiediately. I saw this idea one move too late, instead going quickly for Kh8. 21.Qxb7 Rb8! and Queen cant keep Nf3+ under control.] 21.Rd2 Rg8 [21...Nd4!? I didnt think this would be very easy in comparison as now the attack gets finished. Ofcourse its also clearly better. 22.Qxb7 Rb8 23.Rxd4 Rxb7 24.Rd3] 22.g3 Ba8 23.Qd1 Qf7! 24.Re1 Rg4 25.Nd5!?

The best practical chance as otherwise the attack would be finishing white off easily. 25...exd5 26.Bxd5 Qg6 27.Qf3 Bc7!

Containing all ideas related to e6, thats the only plan for white to generate some play for the initiative. 28.Kf1 Re8 29.Re3 Bb7!?

My idea was based on 31...Bc8!, i guess there are other lines too to keep an advantage but this one seems the best practically. 30.e6 Bxf4 31.gxf4 Bc8 32.Bxc6 dxc6 33.Qxc6 Bxe6 34.Rd6 Bc4+

[34...Rg1+ was winning also but my line was simpler i guess. 35.Ke2 Qh5+ 36.Kd2 Qd1+ 37.Kc3 Qb3+ 38.Kd2 (38.Kd4 Rd1+ 39.Ke5 Qxb2+) 38...Rd1+ 39.Ke2 Bc4+ 40.Kf3 Rxe3+ 41.fxe3 Bd5+] 35.Ke1 Rxe3+ 36.fxe3 Rg1+ 37.Kd2 Qg2+ 38.Qxg2 Rxg2+ 39.Kc3 Kg7 40.b3 Bf7 41.a4 bxa4 42.bxa4 h5 43.Rxa6 h4 44.Rd6 h3 45.Rd1 h2 46.Rh1 Bd5 0-1