NM Wilbert Paige World Open |
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qc7 7. Nf3 Maybe Wilbert realized that 7. Qg4!? has been analyzed almost to mate.
7... Ne7 8. a4 b6 9. Bb5+ I like this move because Black is forced to make the painful decision of misplacing the bishop. Generally, Black attempts to play Ba6 to trade bishops.
9... Bd7 10. Bd3 c4 11. Be2 f5 12.
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Perhaps GM Alexi Shirov would be proud! 17... fxg4 18. Bxg4 Ng6 19. f4 Nh4 20. Kh1 g6 21. Bd6 Nf5 22. Bxf5 gxf5 23. Qe3 Qh4 24. Rf3 The Rook maneuvers that follow are instructive. 24... Rag8 25. Rh3 Qd8 26. Rh6 Rg6 27. Qh3 Kg7 28. Rh5 h6 29. a5 Rg8 30. Qe3 Kh7 31. Bb4 R8g7 32. axb6 axb6 33. Rh3 Qg8 34. Bd6 Ba4 The crafty IM appears to have gotten the upper hand, but Wilbert uncorks. . . 35. Bf8! Bxc2 36. Bxg7 Be4+
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Black seems to have bayonetted the white king but the Philly master revealed a stroke of brilliance with the scintillating. . . 37. Qxe4!! Taking a Paige from Morphy! 37... fxe4 38. Bxh6! Qb8 38... Rxh6 39. Ra7+ Qg7 40. Rxg7+ Kxg7 41. Rxh6 Kxh6 42. Kg2 Kg6 43. h4 b5 44. Kf2 Kg7 45. Ke2 Kg6 46. Kd1! and Black cannot contend with both the h-pawn and the looming pawn avalanche of f5 and e6. 39. Bg5+ Kg7 40. Rg1 Qg8 40... Kf7 41. f5! exf5 42. Rh7+ Kg8 (42... Rg7 43. e6+) 43. Rd7 41. Ra1 41. Bf6+ Kf7 42. Ra1 is quicker. 41... Qb8 42. Rg1 Qg8 43. Bf6+ Kf7 44. Ra1 Qb8
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45. Ra7+ Pow! Like a Mike Tyson body shot. Also devastating is 45. Rh7+ Kf8 46. Rg1! Rxg1+ 47. Kxg1 45... Kf8 46. Rh8+ Rg8 47. Bg7+ Formanek resigned here. Playing 37. Qxe4!! must’ve been gratifying. How often do we get the chance to intuitively sac a Queen against such a strong player. Your spirit lives, Brother Paige!! 1-0 [Shabazz D.]