Isle Of Man 2000
Réti Opening
1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.b3
The Réti is one of those opening systems where it is especially dangerous to rely on the judgment of engines. Here, for example, Stockfish10 and Komodo10 reckon the text is much inferior to 4.d4 and 4.Bg2, but it has been played by Kramnik, Anand, Gelfand and a host of other grandmasters.
4...c5
The engines like the space-gaining 4...d4, but the text is much more popular in ChessBase's 2020 Mega database.
5.Bg2 Nc6 6.0-0 Bd6 7.e3 0-0 8.Bb2 Qe7
The engines like 8...e5, which is consistent with having played ...Bd6.
9.Qe2 Bd7 10.d3 Rad8
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| How should White proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
11.Nc3!?
The queen's knight in these sorts of lines often goes to d2, so as not to obstruct the dark-square bishop, but the engines like the text, which puts more pressure on Black's centre.
11...dxc4?!
This gives up a lot of central influence. The engines like 11...Rfe8 or 11...d4.
12.bxc4 Rfe8 13.Rfd1!?
13.Rad1 might look more natural, but the queen's rook is being reserved for the half-open b file.
13...e5 14.Rab1 h6 15.h3 Bc7
I cannot recall my thinking here, but I probably wanted to exert pressure on the d pawn (the bishop was masking the d8 rook).
16.Nd2
Preparing an answer to Black's next move.
16...Bf5 17.Nde4 Nxe4 18.Nxe4
The engines like 18.Nd5!? Qd6 19.dxe4, when White has a powerful knight on d5.
18...Bd7 19.Nc3 Bb8
Presumably played so White's next move does not fork queen and bishop, but that would be nothing much to worry about as Black's dark-square bishop is bad.
20.Nd5 Qe6 21.Bc3 Bc8 22.Rb5 Bd6 23.Qb2 Ne7 24.Ra5 Nc6 25.Ra3 Bb8 26.Rb3 Bd6 27.Rb1 Ne7 28.Qa3 Nc6
The engines give 28...Nxd5!? 29.cxd5 Qd7 30.Qxa7 b5 31.Qxd7 Bxd7, claiming only a small edge for White despite White's extra, albeit doubled, pawn.
29.Qa4 Qg6 30.Kh2
The engines give 30.Rxb7!? Bxb7 31.Rxb7, eg 31...Nb4 32.Bxb4 cxb4, when White has only a pawn for the exchange in material terms, but has queenside weaknesses to aim at.
30...h5 31.h4
The engines still like Rxb7!?
31...Qf5
The engines give 31...e4!?, followed by sacrificing the exchange with 32.Bxe4 Rxe4!? or 32.dxe4 Rxe4!? In each case the point is the white light-square bishop is the only piece protecting the white king.
32.Kg1 e4 33.dxe4 Rxe4!? 34.Rxb7!?
Black has good kingside chances after 34.Bxe4?! Qxe4.
34...Nxe5?
The problem with the text is that too much material comes off the board, negating Black's kingside pressure. The engines give 34...Nb4 35.Bxb4 Bxb7 36.Qc2 Rde8 37.Bxc5 Bxd5 38.Bxd6 Bc6, when White has two pawns and the bishop-pair for the exchange.
35.Bxe4 Qxe4 36.Bxe5 Bxb7 37.Rxb7 Bxe5 38.Qd1
This retreat solves any defensive difficulties White may have had. More to the point, he is a pawn up, and Black has two hanging pawns.
38...Rb8?
This speeds the end.
39.Ne7+ Kf8 40.Rxb8+ 1-0
LESSONS FROM THIS GAME
Play was fairly even out of the opening, but the grandmaster's greater positional understanding saw him find better squares for his pieces than I managed. And when the game became sharp around move 32, he proved better tactically too. Once again a grandmaster showed how small incremental improvements can be just as effective in securing a win as striving for a knockout blow.
(Next: Kramnik)
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