But then again, even GM's produce really ugly efforts, like this: Naiditsch vs Harikrishna, 2014

Hideous

GMs make lots of mistakes all the time, just less than the rest of us. Just less.

White's idea, with 12.Ne4,13.Bb2 and 14.Qc2, putting pressure on the black king and exploiting the uncovered black knight on c6 is very creative.

As Larsen once wrote "It is OK that you can't calculate what happens - but it is not so good if you didn't even get the idea."

At 14.-,Ng4 things start to get a bit complicated and surprisingly (for me, at least) is is suddenly Black that attacks White's king. Beware of bishops on a6, they may suddenly step in. (R Byrne vs Fischer, 1963)

Did you see this turn after 14.Qc2 ? Is Black's attack healthy? If no, does this mean he was in trouble already. If so, was White's plan a stroke of genius?

What would happen on the simpler 16.dxe? Doesn't White's bishop on b2 look like having a great future? But white struggles for more advantage with 16.Bxh7+ and 16.Be4.

I see a very complicated game where it is very hard to know what to really think.

<Phony Benoni: Well, OK. But what if White plays something like 22.Qe4 instead of committing suicide?>

Good question. -,Re8 seems to be the only reply, and the game goes on.

But Westerinen, who was a sly rat (on the chess board) (maybe still is) - might just had planned the possibility of the little detail that ended the game. A good chance for a sudden murder - and if not, well, we will think of something else.

I recall a tongue-in-cheek comment from an old long gone player in my club 30 years ago: "All these players here, with no true understanding of the game. They only beat me because they make so cheap traps, which I fall right into!"

Perfection would be great, and while I tried I didn't even get close.

But ah, the smart ideas where the opponent can go wrong, and the surprises which sent me home laughing so many times. Or near-crying when on the receiving end.

This is a very difficult game, centre dissolving, mutual threats, "non-standard" and "unclear" written all over it.

There are positions where making a mistake is almost impossible and some where finding the right move is so too.

You might be interested in the discussion on

A bit unfair on IM Dive of kiwiland but it's a nice finish by Westerinen!

I've seen Russell play some nice combos also.

< sfm: Funny to see these comments. One person has one suggestion, otherwise mostly totally superficial remarks. >