FM David H. Levin: It took me a while to see what White has after 16...Qxb2. click for larger view17.Nb3! <Seemingly counterintuitive to offer the exchange of queens.>, and now, A) 17...Qxb3 18.Bc4 Bxf2+ 19.Bxf2 Qc3 20.Bd4, finally winning the queen. B) 17...Qf6 18.Rac1 Be7 19.Na5 Bc8 20.e5 Ngxe5 21.Be4 Rb8 22.Nxe5
<If now 22...Qxe5, then 23.Nc6.> 22...Nxe5  click for larger view23.f4! <Attacking Black's only defender of the c6-square.> 23...Qxf4 24.Bg3 Qg5 25.Bxe5, winning a ton of material. C) 17...Qxe2 18.Bxe2 <Threatening 19.Nxc5 Nxc5 20.Bxb4 or 19.Rxd7 Kxd7 20.Nxc5+.> and now,
C1) 18...Be7 <White must now take measures against 19...a5 and 19...Bxe4.>  click for larger view19.Nfd4 Ngf6 20.f3! <Restraining Black's b7-bishop and f6-knight, while threatening 21.Na5.> 20...a5 21.Bb5 <If now 21...O-O, then 22.Bxd7 Nxd7 23.Nxe6 fxe6 24.Rxd7.>,
and White has a powerful grip for the pawn. The e1-bishop can redeploy effectively to f2 or g3. C2) 18...Ngf6
 click for larger view19.Nxc5 Nxc5 20.Bxb4 Nfxe4 21.Ne5 <Threatening 22.f3.> 21...Rc8 22.f3 Nf6 23.Nc4 O-O 24.Nd6, winning material. |