The 1997 Interplay U.S. Chess Championships:
Annotated Games
www.uschess.org is the official Website of the US Chess Federation
Round Four
Kaidanov-Gurevich
Result 1-0
ECO A50
Annotations by Jeremy Silman
"A beautiful and theoretically important game by Kaidanov."
IM Jeremy Silman
International Master Jeremy Silman has won the US Open, the American Open, the National Open and the California Championship. He now spends the majority of his time coaching and writing chess books and main-stream fiction. Among the more than 30 books that he has authored or co-authored is the bestselling REASSESS YOUR CHESS, one of the most popular books for intermediate players. A frequent contributor to international chess magazines, he also writes a regular column for CHESS LIFE, "Understanding Chess."
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 a6This odd move allows Black to jump into Benoni/Benko Gambit formations with a quick ...c5 followed by ...b5 or, depending on what White does, the dreaded Djin might appear (the Djin, popularized by Dzindzichashvili and Alburt in the mid-80's, usually comes about after 2...e6 3.Nf3 a6). Gurevich has played the Djin on several occasions so he has quite a bit of experience in this nether-world of opening theory.
3. Nc3On 3.Nf3 Black could have slithered into the Djin with 3...e6 or tried the interesting 3...b5!?.
3... c5Inviting 4.d5 b5 when Benko Gambit type positions occur after 5.cxb5 while 5.e4 b4 leads down relatively unexplored paths.
One can see why Gurevich likes these early ...a6 lines: they tend to confuse the opponent, can easily take White into positions that he is not familiar with, and lead to highly unbalanced positions-a fact that suits Gurevich's style quite nicely.
4. dxc5!Something new. Suddenly it's Black who must face new problems, and the psychological pendulum swings in Kaidanov's direction.
Though this move is usually harmless in these positions (for example, after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.dxc5 Black has the option of 4...Na6 followed by 5...Nxc5), the present case appears to be a heavy exception. By opening the center and preparing a quick e2-e4 while Black scrambles to regain his pawn, White labels ...a6 as a time wasting move (not to mention the fact that in many lines in weakens the b6-square).
4... e6Dreaming of ...Bxc5; unfortunately for Black, it will only be allowed at a high price.
On 4...Qc7 White would have three tempting choices:
1) The mundane 5.e4 Qxc5 6.Be3.2) The greedy 5.b4 when 5...a5 (ugly, isn't it?) 6.Nb5 Qe5 7.Be3 leaves White facing the annoying threats of 8.Nf3 and 8.Bd4.
3) The bothersome 5.Na4 when c5 is alive and b6 is begging to be entered.
5. e4 Qc7Deciding that 5...Bxc5 6.e5 Ng8 would grant White a clear advantage, Black decides to enter complications that quickly turn around and bite their creator.
Black's opening can already be termed a disaster.
6. b4By holding onto the pawn in this manner, White forces Black to react in a violent way; quiet play by Gurevich would allow White to consolidate his extra pawn and space advantage.
6... Nxe4The only other possibility was 6...a5, which bites at the b4- pawn. However, aside from wasting time, this horrible-looking pawn move also gives White's Knight access to the b5-square: 7.Nb5 Qe5 8.Be3 threatens to win immediately with 9.Nf3. After the forced 8...Na6 White gains a massive lead in development with 9.Nf3 Qxe4 10.Bd3 Qg4 11.a3 (11.0-0 is also good) 11...Qxg2 12.Rg1.
7. Nxe4 Qe5 8. Be3 Qxe4Black has gotten his pawn back but he is significantly behind in development. White now plays to develop the rest of his forces as quickly as possible.
9. Nf3 b6 10. Bd3 Qb7 11. Ng5!Having gotten most of his pieces out, White now begins to create as many threats as possible (ideas like 12.Qh5 and 12.Be4 are itching to be employed) so Black won't be able to get his own guys into play.
As strange as it may sound, this kind of game requires very little concrete calculation from White. A firm knowledge of what a lead in development can do is enough to assure the first player that something has to break in the Black camp.
11...bxc5Naturally, 11...Qxg2?? 12.Be4 must be avoided. By taking on c5, Black avoids White's threat of 12.Be4 Nc6 13.b5 (or 13.Qf3).
Note that 11...h6 fails to 12.Be4 (White is also on top after the simple 12.Ne4. The immediate 12.Qh5 is possible, but why let Black take on g2 after 12...hxg5 13.Qxh8 Qxg2? Of course, even this position would favor White) 12...Nc6 13.Qh5 hxg5 (13...g6? 14.Bxg6! wipes Black off the board) 14.Qxh8 and White should win without too much trouble.
12. bxc5Calmly recapturing his pawn while retaining all the good stuff that White's position promises. Now White threatens 13.Rb1 Qc7 (13...Qxg2 14.Be4) 14.Qf3 with a double attack against a8 and f7.
12... f5Black takes the e4-square away from the White pieces and avoids suicidal lines like 12...Qb4+?? 13.Bd2 Qxc5 14.Qf3 when the threats against a8 and f7 end the game.
13. O-OA satisfying move. White gets his King to safety and is now ready to attack his opponent with everything he's got. Black's lack of development, insecure King, weak kingside light-squares and tactical problems with the loose Rook on a8 have to lead to his demise.
13... Qc6 14. Bd4Taking aim at g7 and h8, and also opening up the e-file. This latter point becomes important if Black tries to keep White's Queen out of h5 with 14...h5?: 15.Bxf5! exf5 16.Re1+ Be7 17.Qe7 and Black doesn't have a sane way to defend e7.
14... Bb7A piece finally gets developed and a mate threat goes along with it. Unfortunately, it's too little too late.
15.Qh5+ g6 16. Qh3Simple chess. White defends the mate and threatens the h8- Rook. Black can't avoid material losses.
16... Rg8 17. Be4!Sacrificing the Bishop in order to close up the b7-g2 diagonal. This frees White's Queen and allows it to have lunch on h7.
17... fxe4 18. Qxh7The Rook can't be saved. Black could safely resign now but he tries to make it to the 20th move before bowing to the inevitable.
18... Rg7 19. Bxg7 Qxc5 20. Bf6 1-0Huge material losses follow if Black wants to avoid mate. A beautiful and theoretically important game by Kaidanov.
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