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The 1997 Interplay U.S. Chess Championships:
Annotated Games


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1997 Interplay Women's Chess Championship

Round Six
GM Nick de Firmian - GM Gabriel Schwartzman
Annotations by Jack Peters

IM Jack Peters

International Master Jack Peters, 46, has been the Los Angeles Times chess columnist since 1982 and has authored several books, including Bobby Fischer Vs. Boris Spassky - the 1992 Rematch.

An active tournament player as well as a chess journalist, he has won the American Open four times, the Southern California Championship 12 times, and participated in 5 US Championships.


1. e4             e5

2. Nf3            Nf6
The Petroff Defense, a counterattack with, ironically, a drawish theoretical reputation. It can lead to exciting games if White ambitiously tries to make something of nothing. 

3. Nxe5           d6

4. Nf3            Nxe4

5. d4             d5

6. Bd3            Nc6

7. 0-0            Be7

8. c4
Another thicket of variations springs from 8. Re1 Bg4 9. c3 f5. 

8. �              Nb4
Probably the most unpleasant move for White to face. In the good old days, Black would automatically retreat 8�Nf6, and White would gain attacking prospects in a standard position with an isolated d-pawn. 

9. Be2
For years, Black avoided 8�Nb4 because of the famous game Browne - Bisguier, Chicago 1974, which continued 9. cxd5 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 Qxd5 11. Re1 Bf5 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 c6? 14. Bh6!!, and White won spectacularly. However, now masters know that 13�Be6! 14. Qxc7 Bd6 15. Qc2 0-0 is fine for Black, and it is White who avoids 9. cxd5. 

9. �              0-0

10. Nc3           Be6
Some books credit Larry Christiansen for introducing this move. One point is that, if 11. cxd5 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nxd5 13. Bd2 Nb6!, the Bishop helps restrain White's pawns by controlling c4 and d5. 

11. Be3           Bf5
It looks odd to move the Bishop a second time, but Black hopes to fork White's Rook and Bishop with �Nb4-c2. Yasser Seirawan twice played 11�f5!? 12. a3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Nc6 14. Qa4 f4, losing to Anatoly Karpov and beating Michael Rohde. 

12. Qb3
Another interesting idea is 12. Rc1 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Nxa2 14. Rc2! Bxc2 15. Qxc2 Nxc3 16. Qxc3, which should favor White. 

12. �             c6

13. c5            Nxc3

14. bxc3          Nc2

15. Rad1          Nxe3
Forced. After 15�b6? 16. Bc1!, Black cannot extricate his Knight. For example, 16�bxc5 17. dxc5 Rb8 18. Qa4 Bxc5 loses to 19. Bd3. 

16. fxe3          Rb8
White can meet 16�b6 energetically by 17. Ne5 Bd7 18. c4 bxc5 19. cxd5. 

17. c4            Be6

18. Qc2           Qc7
The immediate 18�f5 takes a firmer grip on the center. 

19. Bd3           f5?!
A desirable move, but badly timed. Now White should strike with 20. cxd5 cxd5 21. g4! g6 (Black cannot stand 21�fxg4? 22. Bxh7+ Kh8 23. Ne5) 22. Ne5 fxg4 (else White gets the advantage with 23. gxf5) 23. Bxg6 Bg5 24. Bf5 Bxe3+ 25. Kh1. Black cannot hold his extra pawn, and White has dangerous threats against Black's exposed King. 

20. g3?           g6
Now Black is secure on the Kingside. He may take the initiative with �b7-b6. 

21. cxd5          cxd5
Not allowing White any counterplay from 21�Bxd5 22. e4. 

22. Rb1           Bf6

23. Rfc1          Bf7

24. Ne1?!
White should support his e-pawn by 24. Rb3 Rfe8 25. Bf1, when it's unlikely that Black can utilize his small advantage. 

24. �             Rfe8

25. Ng2??
Either an oversight or a miscalculation. Black has nothing special after 25. Qf2. 

25. �             Rxe3!

26. Nxe3          Bxd4

27. Re1           Re8

28. Kf1
The Knight must fall. If 28. Kf2 or 28. Qd2, then 28�f4 wins it. Or, if 28. Qf2 Qxc5 29. Rbc1, Black reaches an easily won endgame by 29�Rxe3! 30. Rxc5 Rxe1+ 31. Kg2 Bxf2 32. Kxf2 Ra1. 

28. �             Bxe3
Black has a Bishop and two pawns for the Rook, which is more than enough. In addition, he threatens to pry open the Kingside by �f5-f4. White is lost. 

29. Qb3           Qxc5

30. Qxb7          Qd4

31. Rbd1
Black refutes 31. Bb5 by 31�Qe4! 32. Rxe3 Qxb1+. 

31. �             Qg4

32. Kg2           d4

33. Bb5
White has a choice: he can lose in the endgame (33. Be2 Qe4+ 34. Qxe4 fxe4) or the middlegame (33. h3 Qg5 34. Bb5 Re7 35. Qc8+ Kg7 36. Bc4 f4 37. g4 Qh4). 

33. �             Re7!
As 34. Qxe7 allows 34�Bd5+ 35. Kf1 Qf3 mate. 

34. Qa8+          Kg7

35. Bc6           Rc7

36. Bf3           Qg5

37. Re2           f4

38. Qb8
No better is 38. g4 h5 39. h3 Qh4, and Black's Queen sneaks in via the dark squares. 

38. �             Rd7

39. Qa8?!
White lasts longer with 39. Qc8 Be6 40. Qc6. 

39. �             fxg3

40. h4
After 40. hxg3, one convincing method is 40�d3 41. Rb2 Bf4 42. g4 Bd5! 43. Bxd5 Qxg4+ 44. Kf2 Bg3+! 45. Ke3 Re7+, seeing 46. Be4 Qxd1 and 46. Kd2 Qe2+ 47. Kc1 Bf4+ 48. Rbd2 Bxd2+ 49. Rxd2 Qe1+ 50. Rd1 Qc3+ 51. Kb1 Qc2+. 

40. �             Qxh4

41. Rh1           Qf4

42. Rb2           h5
Killing White's hopes on the h-file. Black just has too many pawns for the exchange. 

43. Rb7           Rxb7

44. Qxb7          Qf5

45. Rf1
If 45. Kxg3 Qg5+ 46. Kh3 Bf4 or 45. Qxa7 Qc2+ 46. Kh3 g2! 47. Bxg2 Qf5+, Black forces checkmate. 

45. �             h4

46. Qe7           Qc2+

47. Kh3           Qh2+

48. Kg4           g2

      White Resigns.

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