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Yuri Balashov vs Oleg Romanishin
Lvov Zonal (1978), Lvov URS, rd 5, Apr-??
Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov Variation (E12)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Dec-11-05  ughaibu: According to his player page, Balashov is a positional player and opening specialist. However his games are full of simple, unusual openings and direct, wild attacks.
Dec-12-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  Chessical: Balashov was on top form here, and won the very strong Lvov Zonal of 1978. He then went on to be third in the 1979 Soviet Championship. <7.0-0> allowing 7...Nxc3 8.bxc3 Bxc3 9.Rb1 for central predominance, an early <d5> push, and the open diagonal from a1..h8 is a very interesting idea.

Perhaps <14...f6!?> was a better try in the long run, and after 15.Nf3 <f5>

If <15...c6>, then 16.f4! cxd5 17.cxd5 exd5 18.f5! dxe4 19.f6 fxg7 with the threat of Nf6+

I can see no viable alternative defence from move 22, e.g.:

<22...Qf7> 23.f5 Ne7 24.f6 and wins;

or

<22...Re8> 23.Rg3 Qe4 24.Qxe4 Rxe4 25.f5 Ne5 26.f6 Bb4 27.Rg7+ Kh8 28.Bxe5 Rxe5 29.Rxd7 and wins.

Mar-14-25  Mayankk: Black has a bad Bishop while the two White Bishops are menacingly aiming at the opposite monarch. Black Knight looks lost on g6 and can be a key target after the thematic White Knight sacrifice. 18 Nxh6+ gxh6 19 Kh5. Now Black has two choices to defend: 19... Kh7 and 19... Qh7. 19... Qh7 and now White can either restore material parity first via 20 Bxf5 Rxf5 21 Qxf5, followed by lining up its Rooks on the g and h files or start with a 20 Rf3 Rook lift first.

Black position seems so devoid of any counterplay that it should only be a matter of time. Most reasonable lines should likely win from here.

Mar-14-25  King.Arthur.Brazil: Like Botvinnik in the past, Balashov prepared his attack and seems clear the next move is the sac : 18. Nxh6+. If refused with 18... Kh7 19. Qh5 is very unpleasant for B.

Therefore, seems "forced" 18... gxh6 with the same answer 19. Qh6 and B position seems to have little resources. 19... Kh7 20. Bxf5 Qf7 21. Rh3... or 19... Qh7 20. Bxf5 also explodes the BK protection.

The king believes the best defense comes from 19... Qf7 20. Qxh6 Qh7 21. Qg6 Qf7 22. Bb1 and the threat of Rh3-h8+ combined with Rg3 ou Bxf5 must win the game.

Mar-14-25  Allderdice83: Beautiful combo. It could have been an even prettier finish had Black played on. Say, 28...Bxc4 29. f8=N+! Kg8 30. Qxg6# Of course, Black could stave off mate by giving up the queen and dark-squared bishop with 29 ... Qxf8 30. Rxf8 Bc3 31. Bxc3 Bg8 32. Rxg8 Kxg8 33. Qxg6+ Kf8 34. Qg7+ Ke8 35. Bf6 and 36. Qe7#

Another try for Black would be 28...Bxg2+ 29. Qxg2 h5 30. f8=N+ Qxf8 31. Rxf8 Nxf8 32. Qg7#

Mar-14-25
Premium Chessgames Member
  takebackok: Black bishops on the wrong side Friday, just play the forcing moves 18. Nxh6+ gxh6 19. Qh5 Kh7 20. Bxf5 Rxf5 21. Qxf5 Rf8 now what? ask a GM!
Mar-14-25  mel gibson: I saw the first few moves after about 30 seconds of looking.

Stockfish 17 says:

18. Nxh6+

(18. Nxh6+ (1.Nxh6+ gxh6 2.Qh5 Nxf4 3.Rxf4 Qg5 4.Be2 Be1 5.Qxg5+ hxg5 6.Rf1 Bd2 7.Rh3 Rae8 8.Rh8+ Kf7 9.Bh5+ Ke7 10.Ba3+ d6 11.Rh7+ Kd8 12.Bxe8 Rxe8 13.Bxd6 cxd6 14.Rxb7 Re5 2) +4.73/43 336)

score for White +4.73 depth 43.

Mar-14-25
Premium Chessgames Member
  scormus: Nice combination, temporarily saccing the two minors Nxh6 enables W to open the door for Bxf5.

<mel> yes, B could have put up a better fight with 19 ... Nxf4. SF16 rates it slightly less bad for B. Also, the winning continuation might have been more difficult for W to spot OTB. After the text move, W's moves looked very natural. Playing through, I wondered about 22 Qb1 instead of Qc2. The text protects the c4 pawn, but allows it to be pinned (... Qc5+ 23 Kh1 Bxd5, bringing the B bishop into play.)

Mar-14-25
Premium Chessgames Member
  chrisowen: In c q z its wham flight judy its Nxh6+ affix pi aoh its jah its a fig pug bod tod Nxh6+ faith;

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