BANTER2

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"

14. Qb3  a5

LarryC(GM): 14 Qb3 a5 15 Rhe1 a4 16 Rxe6+ fxe6 17 Qxe6+ Qe7 18 Qg6+ Kd8 19 Re1
            looks strong
LarryC(GM): lets stick to classical moves

15. Rhe1

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

34. c3     d4
35. Rxg7+  Qxg7
36. Nxg7   Kxg7
37. cxd4   Rxf2
38. Ka3

LarryC(GM): Rh2

38.  .. Rh2
39. Nf5

LarryC(GM): Kh7

39.    .. Kh7
40. Kxa4  Rxh5
41. Ne7   Kg7
42. d5    Kf7
43. d6    Ke6
44. Nc8   b5+
45. Ka5   Kd7

LarryC(GM): yes hopeless
LarryC(GM): oh well
LarryC(GM): good game Alexei

{Game 852 (LarryC vs. Dreev) LarryC resigns} 0-1