SicilianB89

Tate E. (2295)
Gurevich D. (2475)

Software Toolworks op
Long Beach, 1988


Emory Tate faces Dmitri Gurevich, perhaps the most personable Russian emigre in the U.S. However, this Grandmaster (as well as others) realize that Tate is a slasher and must be alert. Sometimes "knowing your opponent" doesn't help.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Will it be a Najdorf or Rauzer? 5... Nc6 6. Bc4 Neither. 6... e6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qe2 This move characterizes the Velimorovic Attack named after Yugoslavian Grandmaster Dragolub Velimorovic. He apparently employed the idea in the 60s and also played a part in popularizing the "Yugoslav Attack" in the Dragon. 8... O-O 9. O-O-O a6 9... Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Qa5 11. Rhg1 was once the main line, but begin to run into some problems theoretically. The idea is that the exposed bishop on c4 becomes an ultimate target allowing black to gain momentum on the queenside.( 11. Bb3!) 11... Bd7 12. g4 Rfc8 13. g5 Ne8 14. f4 Rxc4! occurred in Brunner-Christiansen, Novi Sad Olympiad, 1990 (0-1, 35). 10. g4 10. Rhg1 Qc7 11. Bd3!? 10... Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. g5!










Tate has found another way to carry out white's attack. He neglects to play an early Bb3 and/or Rhg1 and comes up with a novel plan. There is only one game in the ChessBase database and this is it. 12... Ne8 13. Bb3 Bxg5+ True to Tate's style... he sacrifices a pawn to open the g-file toward the black king and will gain a crucial tempo in the process. During the 70s, a similar idea was played in the Najdorf variation. 14. Kb1 Qe7 15. Rhg1 Bf6 16. f4 Bxd4 17. Rxd4 Despite his passivity, Black appears to be OK here. 17... Bb7 18. Qh5 g6 19. f5! Tate cannot afford to allow black to consolidate, so he attacks swiftly. Under a bit of pressure, Gurevich begins to lose his thread and panics. 19... Ng7 20. Qh6 Qf6? 20... Rfc8 21. Rd3 21. Rxd6 b4 22. Bd5 bxc3 23. Bxb7 Rab8 21... Rfc8 22. Rh3 Now white's attack is too strong. 22... b4 22... Kf8 23. fxe6 b4 24. Nd5 Qf2 25. Rc1 fxe6 26. Ne3 23. Qxh7+ Also 23. fxg6 Kf8 (23... fxg6 24. Qxh7+ Kf7 25. Bxe6+!) 24. gxh7 Ke7 25. Qxf6+ Kxf6 26. Rh6+ 23... Kf8 24. fxg6 Rc5 25. Nd5!










Wham! The idea of this is not only shock value, but it cuts the black rook off from defending the kingside. 25. gxf7 Rg5! 25... exd5 26. gxf7 dxe4 27. a4?! 27. Rhg3 Rf5 28. Bc4 Ke7 29. Rg6 Qd4 30. f8=Q+ 27... bxa3 28. bxa3 Rb5 28... Rf5 29. Qg8+ Ke7 30. Rc3!?










Another move with shock value which threatens mate. Tate could have opted for the"cleaner" 30. Rxg7! and it is doubtful that Gurevich would've played more than a couple of more moves. 30... Qxc3 31. f8=Q+ Rxf8 32. Rxg7+ Qxg7 33. Qxg7+ Ke8 34. Qg6+ Ke7 34... Kd7 35. Qg7+ Time pressure phase of the game. 35. Qe6+ Kd8 36. Qxd6+ Ke8 37. Qe6+ Kd8 38. a4 35... Ke8 36. Ka2 Fritz 8 has white as only slightly better as black attempts to coordinate the rooks and build a fortress. However, the outside passed pawn will prevent black from this plan. 36... Bc6? 36... Bd5! 37. Qg6+ Ke7 38. Qg7+ Ke8 39. Qc7 Bd7 40. Qxd6 Rbf5 41. Qxa6 Rf4 42. Bd5 Ke7 43. Qb7 e3 Gurevich attempts to complicate matters. 44. Qb6 44. c4? e2! and black is back in the game. 44... e2 Gurevich is relying on the passed e-pawn to hold white at bay. The pawn prevents Tate from pushing his own pawns. However, if this pawn is lost black will be doomed. 45. Qc5+ 45. Qe3+ Kd6 46. Be4 Bg4 47. Bd3 Rf2 and black appears to be holding a fortress. 45... Kd8 46. Qa5+ Ke7 47. Qd2 Bg4 48. h3 Rf1










Interesting position! Next... Tate reels off 11 consecutive checks! 49. Qb4+ Kd8 50. Qd6+ Bd7 51. Qb8+ Bc8 52. Qd6+ 52. Qb6+! 52... Bd7 53. Qb6+ Ke7 54. Qb4+ Kd8 55. Qb8+ Bc8 Fritz 8 says the position is dead equal probably because the position was repeated at move 51, but this time... 56. Qb6+! Ke7 Black has no choice but to run. All other moves lose the e2-pawn immediately. 57. Qc7+ Kf6 58. Qd6+ Kg5 59. Qe7+ Kf4 60. Qxe2 The lowly pawn is captured and the kingdom falls! 60... Bxh3 and black resigned. 60... Bxh3 61. Qh2+ Kg4 62. Be6+ R8f5 63. Bxf5+ Rxf5 64. c4 and black won't be able to stop the pawns without getting one of his pieces picked off in the process. Another energetic game by Emory Tate. 1-0 [Shabazz D.]

Game(s) in PGN