Banter Chess March 24, 2002. GM Alexei Dreev and GM Larry Christiansen play
2 games at 20 20.
Game 2 LarryC - Dreev
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LarryC(GM): Hi everyone welcome back
1. e4 c6
LarryC(GM): Alexei knows too much about the Slav
2. d4 d5
LarryC(GM): he knows a lot about that too
Dreev(GM): Caro-Kann so...
LarryC(GM): the Caro
Dreev(GM): I know, Larry playes 1.d4 also
3. Nd2
Dreev(GM): I expected e5
3... dxe4
LarryC(GM): He likes this line involving 3...dxe4 4 Nxe4 Bf5 5 Ng3 Bh6 6 h4
4. Nxe4 Bf5
5. Ng3 Bg6
6. h4 h6
LarryC(GM): now on 7 Nf3 he plays 7...e6
LarryC(GM): slightly offbeat
7. Nf3
LarryC(GM): expecting 7...e6,,,
Dreev(GM): I choose between e6 and Nd7
Dreev(GM): I do not know what he is better prepared
LarryC(GM): 7..e6 8 Ne5 Bh7 9 Bd3 Qxd4 10 Nxf7 Bb4+ 11 c3 Bxc3+ 12 bxc3 Qxc3+
13 Bd2 is good for White
7. ..Nd7
LarryC(GM): He probably did not want to reveal his secrets in the patented
7...e6 8 Ne5 line
8. h5 Bh7
LarryC(GM): now we are in a standard Caro
9. Bd3 Bxd3
10. Qxd3
LarryC(GM): a very solid line
10. ... e6
Dreev(GM): "classical" Caro-Kann
LarryC(GM): now 11 Bf4 provokes B into playing ....Qa5+
LarryC(GM): I have also seen people play 10...Bb4+ 11 c3
Dreev(GM): now Bd2 or Bf4 are the options
11. Bf4
LarryC(GM): that looks fishy
11.. Ngf6
Dreev(GM): Bf4 is more principal
12. O-O-O
LarryC(GM): this could get interesting
12. .. Nd5
Dreev(GM): This rare line I played against Peter Leko in Wijk aan Zee ("finger
Corus2002") recently
LarryC(GM): never seen this before
LarryC(GM): I have to retreat
13. Bd2 Nb4
Dreev(GM): from strong GMs also Vadim Zvjagintsev plays this line for Black
Dreev(GM): But frankly speaking it could a bit risky line
Dreev(GM): Now White options are: Bxb4 or Qb3
LarryC(GM): now what?
LarryC(GM): 14 Qb3 springs to mind
Dreev(GM): Leko played Qb3 against me
LarryC(GM): 14 Qb3 a5 15 a3 a4 looks good for B
LarryC(GM): also possible is 14 Bxb4 of course
LarryC(GM): I hate to part with that bishop
Dreev(GM): I played a5 - "liblist Corus2002"
LarryC(GM): here we go
Dreev(GM): Think, it's new move
LarryC(GM): pretty much telegraphing him my plan
Dreev(GM): I did not expect it, frankly speaking
LarryC(GM): 15...a4 16 Rxe6+ fxe6 17 Qxe6+ Qe7 18 Qg6+ Kd8 19 Re1
LarryC(GM): looks good
LarryC(GM): more likely is 15...Be7
Dreev(GM): Leko played Kb1
Dreev(GM): and other playes too
Dreev(GM): what Larry intending to a4 -?
Dreev(GM): May be, Rxe6 -?
LarryC(GM): 15...Be7 16 Bxb4 maybe
Dreev(GM): othervwise not clear why Larry played Re1
LarryC(GM): 15...Be7 16 Ne4 a4 17 Qxb4 Bxb4 18 Bxb4 could be fun
Dreev(GM): a4 Rxe6 fe Qe6 Qe7 Qg6 Kd8 Re1...
Dreev(GM): I do not like that line...
Dreev(GM): so, what to do?!
15. ..Be7
Dreev(GM): I decided to play Be7
LarryC(GM): 15...Be7 16 Nf5 exf5 17 Bxb4 axb4 is garbage
Dreev(GM): may be, nothing dangerous?
LarryC(GM): now I have to worry about a4
Dreev(GM): Be7 is helpfull move anyway
LarryC(GM): maybe some Ne5 action now
LarryC(GM): 16 Rxe6 is garbage too
LarryC(GM): worthy of a bullet game
Dreev(GM): Are Larry telling something very interesting now? :-)
LarryC(GM): 16 Ne5 Nxe5 17 dxe5 a4 is good
16 Ne4
LarryC(GM): lets try this
LarryC(GM): what the heck
Dreev(GM): What now on a4 -?
LarryC(GM): 16...a4 17 Qxb4 Bxb4 18 Bxb4 looks hard to handle
Dreev(GM): On a4 - not more that Qxb4 can follow
Dreev(GM): I always consider Larry as very strong player
Dreev(GM): and very initiative
LarryC(GM): 16...a4 17 Qxb4 Bxb4 18 Bxb4 Qb6 19 Nd6+ Kf8 20 a3 Kg8 maybe
Dreev(GM): So, I do not want to make advance a4 now....
LarryC(GM): 16...0-0 17 Ne5 a4 18 Qg3 looks promising
LarryC(GM): 16...Nb6 intending qd5 looks plausible
LarryC(GM): 16...Nb6 17 Nc5 is possible
Dreev(GM): I afraid that without capturing the queen I could be worse
LarryC(GM): so 16...a4 17 Qxb4 Bxb4 18 Bxb4 Qb6 19 a3 is critical I think
Dreev(GM): If Qc7 - Ne5 with further Qg3 - I do not like it
Dreev(GM): if a4 - also not good
Dreev(GM): can be
LarryC(GM): then 19 a3 0-0-0 20 Nd6+ Kb8 21 Nxf7 establishes material equality
and maybe positional plus
Dreev(GM): But it could be funny!
Dreev(GM): in the long run, "not cow is as prize" (Russina proverb)
16. .. a4
LarryC(GM): 16...0-0 17 Ne5 a4 18 Qg3 Nxa2+ 19 Kb1 looks strong for somebody,
probably white
LarryC(GM): ok here goes
Dreev(GM): 16...a4?!
17. Qxb4 Bxb4
18. Bxb4 Qb6
LarryC(GM): yes
19. a3
LarryC(GM): not Nd6+
19. .. Qa6
Dreev(GM): 18...Qb8!? deserve attention also
LarryC(GM): now d4-d5 is interesting
Dreev(GM): may be, even better
Dreev(GM): than Qb6
Dreev(GM): Nd6 suggest itself
Dreev(GM): If 20.Ne5 - my idea:
LarryC(GM): 20 d5 cxd5 21 Rxd5 exd5 22 Nc5+Kd8 23 Nxa6 Rxa6
Dreev(GM): to take and play b6 + c5
Dreev(GM): But after Nd6 Kf8 Nxb7 can take
LarryC(GM): I can also pretend nothing is happening and try to strengthen
LarryC(GM): Rd3 or Re3
Dreev(GM): Now I think, that my 18...Qb6 was not good
Dreev(GM): Qb8 with same idea (+ possibility to move on f4) could be better,
may be
Dreev(GM): though.... who knows?!
LarryC(GM): 20 d5 is not that good
20. Rd3
LarryC(GM): lets bring the rook up
Dreev(GM): thanks for moral support, littleknight! But I would think to give 2
pawns for castling...
LarryC(GM): maybe it can swing over to the kingside if needed
Dreev(GM): Well....
Dreev(GM): Larry made many-funktional move
LarryC(GM): I had Nd6+ Kf8 Nb5+ Kg8 Nc7 but that reduces the attack
Dreev(GM): "preparing" move
20. .. b6
LarryC(GM): now the idea might be Ne5 Nxe5 followed by something else
Dreev(GM): I had no many options...
LarryC(GM): can i hit c6 now?
LarryC(GM): Rc3
Dreev(GM): b6 looks like the only move that could be helpfull
LarryC(GM): now d5 makes some point
21. d5
Dreev(GM): d5 may be good, but Larry can see "kibitzes"
LarryC(GM): lets try it
LarryC(GM): lots of possiblities and too little time
LarryC(GM): 21...c5 or cxd5
LarryC(GM): c5 Nd6+ Kf8 Nxf7 maybe
Dreev(GM): My position is hard; and bonvivant gave interesting thoughts....
21. .. cxd5
22. Rxd5
LarryC(GM): now exd5 Nc5+
LarryC(GM): maybe Nc5
LarryC(GM): Nc5 is harder to meet
Dreev(GM): Except cxd I had no choice
Dreev(GM): I had hard day today; and finally such position... :-(
Dreev(GM): O, God! For what all this is for me?!
LarryC(GM): exd5 looks good for white
LarryC(GM): Nc5 is critical
Dreev(GM): Somebody! Help me!
LarryC(GM): Nc5 Nd6+ Kf8 Rd3 maybe
LarryC(GM): no Nc5 Nd6+ Kf8 Rd4 maybe
Dreev(GM): exd - Nc5 -?
Dreev(GM): probably
LarryC(GM): ideas of Ne5
Dreev(GM): then Na6 and Re7
Dreev(GM): I do not like it...
22. .. Nc5
Dreev(GM): Need to exchange something...
23. Nd6+
LarryC(GM): looks like the best try
LarryC(GM): stalemates his queen
LarryC(GM): now Kf8 Rd4
23. .. Ke7
Dreev(GM): Now it was impossible to understand - where better - to f8 or e7
Dreev(GM): Almost no time to calculate all
Dreev(GM): At least Ke7 is more natural
24. Nd4
LarryC(GM): this looks consistent
LarryC(GM): it might also be stupid
Dreev(GM): Larry! We did not agree to play such moves :-)
LarryC(GM): Rfd8 maybe
LarryC(GM): Kf6 looks dangerous
Dreev(GM): Need to give back something
24. .. Rac8
LarryC(GM): setting up shots on b3 and d3
Dreev(GM): As Russian former Finance Minister Livshits (talking with
bussinesmen) said : "Sirs! Time to share!.."
25. Kb1
LarryC(GM): lets get the king out of there
LarryC(GM): maybe take on c7 later
Dreev(GM): may be, good that I remember this phrase...
Dreev(GM): may be, not...
25. .. Kf8
LarryC(GM): Rhd8 looks good
26. Nxc8
LarryC(GM): Qxc8 Rd6
LarryC(GM): exd5 Nd6 looks promisng
LarryC(GM): fritz or crafty are probably laughing at us
26. .. exd5
LarryC(GM): exd5 Nd6 looks like the best chance
27. Nd6
LarryC(GM): threatening mate
27. .. Kg8
28. N4f5
LarryC(GM): lets get this guy active
LarryC(GM): Kh7
28. .. Kh7
LarryC(GM): now maybe the restricting move f3
LarryC(GM): Nxf7 Nd3 maybe
LarryC(GM): aha Nxf7 Nd3 Re7
29. Nxf7 Rf8
LarryC(GM): a funny mate after Nd3 Re7 Nxb4
30. N7d6
LarryC(GM): Nd3 is possible
30. .. Nd3
31. Re7
LarryC(GM): Nxb4
31. .. Nxb4
LarryC(GM): now axb4 or Rxg7+
32 axb4
LarryC(GM): lets ave the check for later
32. .. Qf1+
33. Ka2 Qxg2
LarryC(GM): now I regret not taking
Dreev(GM): may be, not so bad....:)
Dreev(GM): for me
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