Robert Fromke Memorial (5) |
Robert Fromke Memorial (5) |
Game against Ben Silva, a relatively late bloomer in chess, but very tricky. The only issue with him is his tendancy to be impatient at times. He usually wins games against me in blitz, but in longer time controls, it's important to have a good pace.
1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6 3. c4 b5!? The Benko Gambit. It is still a respected defense and new ideas are evolving all the time. It is a favorite of many top players.
4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. e4 One of the more practical lines.
7... Bxf1 8. Kxf1 d6 9. g3 9. g4!? was a line that was considered an Anti-Benko system that Yasser Seirawan used successfully a couple of times. 9... Qc8 10. h3 Bg7 11. Kg2 
17. Bxe5 Rd8 During the post-mortem, Ben thought this was a mistake, but it was the correct choice.
17... Nc4 was another move I considered and probably decent. 18. Qd3 Nxe5 19. Rxe5 Rd6
18. Bc7?! Rd7 19. Bxb6 Rxb6 20. Qe3 Qa5?? Clear blunder. This was a move played without a purpose other than guarding c5, but the queen belongs on the diagonal. Black can press with
20... Nxd5! 21. Nxd5 (21. Qxc5? Nxc3 22. Qxb6 Nxb1)
21... Qxd5 22. b3 (22. Rbd1 Bd4)
22... Qa8 23. Kg1 Houdini(23. a4 Re6 24. Qxc5 Rd3 25. Re3 Rexe3 26. fxe3 Rd2+!
)
21. Ne5 I knew this move would cause lots of trouble, but I found the best try.
21... Nxd5 22. Nxd5 ... now the game takes an interesting turn after my next move... which was not good.
22... Re6? not good but probably the most complicated.
22... Rxd5 23. Nc4
not good either.
22... Qa8 23. Nxd7 Qxd5+ 24. Kg1 Qxd7 25. Qxe7 Qxe7 26. Rxe7
23. Nxd7! Best. This gives white a lasting initiative with two rooks and two passed pawns. However, the black queen would earn her paycheck in this game.
23. b4
23... Rxe3 24. Nxe3 
24. Rxe3!
24... Qc7 The knight is trapped, so white has to playing actively to coordinate pieces.
25. Red1? Unnecessary. White has allowed black a chance to complicate matters.
25... Bd4 26. Nxc5 Bxc5 27. Nd5 Qe5 27... Qa7! with good play. After 28. Rd2 Qxa2 29. Rc1 Qa5 30. Rdc2 Bd6 it's hard for white to make any use of his doubled rooks.
28. b4 Bd4? No excuse. I was concerned about white's pawns and I wanted to create threats, but this move gives white the advantage again.
28... Ba7 29. b5 Bc5
29. Nxe7+ Kg7 30. Re1 Qf6 31. Re2 Be5 Trying to confuse him, and.. .
32. f4? It worked!
32. Nd5! is winning.
32... Bd6 33. Nd5 Qd4 White's pieces cannot get coordinated and this spells trouble against a fleet-footed queen and an exposed white king.
34. Ne7 Bxb4 Now I was completely relieved as I knew the remaining passed pawn would be no problem.
35. h4? Final mistake.
35. Rxb4!? with an idea of a fortress.
35... Bxe7 36. Rxe7 Qd5+! I saw that this wins a rook in all variations. Wow!
37. Kf2 37. Kh2 Qxa2+
37. Kh3 Qf5+
37. Kf1 Qd3+
37. Kg1 Qc5+
37... Qxa2+ 38. Re2 Qxb1 Now it's over. Just need a bit of technique.
39. Re3 Kf6 40. Re5 h6 41. g4 Qb2+ 42. Kf3 Qxe5! I decided to do it the most concrete way. I calculated this to an easy win.
43. fxe5+ Kxe5 44. Ke3 f5 44... g5 45. hxg5 hxg5 46. Kf3 Kd4
45. gxf5 Kxf5 46. Kf3 h5 47. Kg3 Ke4 48. Kg2 Kf4 49. Kh3 Kf3 0-1
[Shabazz D.]
Game(s) in PGN
Silva B.