[Event "Russian Club Championship"]
[Site "Smolensk"]
[Date "2000"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ivanov, Sergey"]
[Black "Vaulin, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "GM Sergey Ivanov"]
[BlackELO "2540"]
[Source "Russian Chess"]
[WhiteELO "2543"]

{ The match vs. Siberia (Tomsk) was of decisive importance for determination of the Championship's winner. For I played with white, a task was set to me to keep tension all the game, but to play firmly, avoiding unfounded risk. It was desirable to "drag" a rival into an unfamiliar for him position, to make him solving non-standart problems and, bearing in mind his disposition to long thought, to "drive" him into the time trouble. It is a reader who should judge which of our plans were realized. } 1. d4 d6 { Wow! The basic opening of Grandmaster A.Vaulin is accepted queen's gambit, but it when he plays for a draw. By the first move, that day the contender had an aggressive mood. } 2. Nf3 $1 ( { An exclamation mark - for the right decision in the psychological plan. Earlier in this position I played only } 2. c4 e5 3. Nf3 e4 4. Ng5 f5 5. Nc3 { etc. Arose complex in the strategic plan positions, in which Black usually built the pawn centre, and White consistently undermined it. But now I would like to struggle absolutely in the other key, and main - to bring down the partner from concrete preparation. } ) 2... Bg4 ( { As Vaulin had no experience of playing King's indian } 2... Nf6 3. c4 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 { I could to afford "prematurely" to move by knight on f3 (then my favourite Averbach system is possible). } ) 3. e4 { While there is an opportunity, it is meaningful to grasp the centre by the pawn. Alternative The continuation 3. c4 Nd7 etc. repeatedly met in practice of the contender. } 3... Nf6 4. h3 { It is useful to find out intentions of the black bishop. } 4... Bh5 { Obviously, that the exchange in f3 gave for White small, but proof advantage. } 5. Bd3 e6 6. c4 ( { White throw forward one more pawn, that on prepared d6-d5 to have an opportunity c4xd5 and e4-e5, keeping the pawn superiority in the centre. In case of } 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Nb3 Nd7 { the play is approximately equal, U.Bonsch - G.Hickl, Lippstadt, 1994. } ) 6... Nc6 ( { The correct reaction - it is necessary for Black to attack the white centre immediately. Played Black in the game more poorly, on which, actually, and mine was under construction home preparation: } 6... Be7 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. Be3 O-O 9. Qe2 Bg6 10. Rd1 d5 11. cxd5 exd5 12. e5 Ne4 13. O-O Qd7 14. Bc1 f5 $2 15. Nxd5 $1 $18 { G.Kasparov - V.Anand, Paris, 1992, (rapid). } ) 7. Be3 ( { The most natural answer. } 7. g4 Bg6 8. Nc3 d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. e5 Ne4 { With unclear game, it seemed to me too causing. } ) 7... d5 $5 ( { While White yet didn't castle, Black hurry up to put impact in the centre. Met } 7... Bxf3 8. Qxf3 g6 ( 8... Nb4 9. Qd1 Nxd3+ 10. Qxd3 $14 ) 9. Na3 ( 9. Nc3 Bg7 10. Rd1 $5 ) 9... Bg7 10. Nc2 O-O 11. O-O a5 { (L.Hansen - G.Hickl, Polianiza-Zdrui, 1993) with game in the spirit of King's indian constructions, that, I repeat, not in the taste of my opponent. } ) 8. cxd5 exd5 9. e5 Bb4+ { The important move, differently in case of 9...  $2e4 10. 0-0 with subsequent Nc3 White leads the game to the favourable position from the game Kasparov - Anand. } 10. Nc3 ( { Considerably less actively } 10. Nbd2 Ne4 { and the pins of the white knights are rather unpleasant. } ) 10... Ne4 11. O-O ( { Up to this moment on my clock has passed 7 minutes, and on the clock of my partner - about 40. But now it was my turn to medidate longer. Certainly, White here has the strong move } 11. Rc1 { probably, the strongest in this position, but then the play of Black would be simple and clear: } 11... O-O 12. O-O Bxc3 13. bxc3 f5 { But for me it would be desirable to hold the contender uder the pressure constantly, to put before him concrete problems and to force to choice from the several opportunities. On the other hand, the strategy of reliability ordered to act circumspectly. And still, having counted the variants and some time having hasitated, I have accepted the decision and have played with the sure appearance } ) 11... Bxc3 ( { I have understood, that my decision was justified - contender was above what to think. Let's look, whether Black could take the pawn. } 11... Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bxc3 14. Rac1 { allows for White to develop the initiative without troubles: } 14... Bxd4 ( 14... Nxd4 15. Qg4 Ne6 16. Rxc3 d4 17. Rd1 $16 ) ( 14... Bb4 15. Bb5 Qd7 16. Qg3 $36 ( 16. Qd1 -- 17. Qa4 $36 ) ) 15. Rxc6 $1 Bxe3 16. fxe3 $1 bxc6 17. Qxf7# { this nice variation move me to choice for the benefit of 11. 0-0. } ) ( 11... Nxc3 12. bxc3 Bxc3 { more problematically. But here White plays already } 13. Rb1 $1 ( 13. Rc1 Bxd4 ) 13... Bxf3 ( 13... Bxd4 14. Bxd4 Bxf3 15. gxf3 $1 Qg5+ 16. Kh1 Nxd4 17. Qa4+ Nc6 18. Rxb7 $18 ) 14. Qxf3 ( 14. gxf3 $5 ) 14... Bxd4 ( 14... Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Bxd4 16. Qg4 Bxe5 17. Rfe1 Qe7 18. f4 Bd4+ 19. Kf1 Be3 20. Rxe3 Qxe3 21. Re1 $16 ) 15. Rxb7 ( 15. Bxd4 Nxd4 16. Qg4 $44 ) 15... Bxe3 16. Bb5 O-O 17. Bxc6 Bb6 18. Bxd5 $16 ) 12. bxc3 O-O 13. Qc2 ( { It was better, apparently, } 13. Rc1 f5 14. exf6 Qxf6 15. Be2 { and White keeps the minimal advantage. The move in the game is connected with the small miscalculation. } ) 13... f5 ( 13... Bxf3 14. gxf3 Ng5 15. Kg2 h6 16. f4 Ne6 17. f5 Ng5 18. f4 $16 ) 14. Rab1 ( { Not only attacking b7-pawn, but also preparing c3-c4 - to undermine the Black foundations in the centre. At first I planned to play here } 14. exf6 Bxf3 15. fxg7 Kxg7 ( 15... Rf7 $5 ) 16. gxf3 { But when I have found out } 16... Ng5 17. Bxg5 Qxg5+ 18. Kh1 Rxf3 19. Rg1 Rxh3# $1 { the capture en passant was rejected immediately. } ) ( 14. Nh2 f4 15. Bc1 f3 $1 $133 ) ( { More precisely } 14. Nd2 { planning f2-f3, but also here after } 14... f4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 ( 15... fxe3 $2 16. Ng3 $16 ) 16. Bc4+ Kh8 17. Bc1 Bg6 { the complete clearness is not present. } ) 14... f4 15. Bc1 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Ng5 { Black is not going to sit out in defense, and is going to organize attack on the white king, the pawn covering of which is destroyed. } 17. Kg2 Qe8 18. Rh1 ( { The prophylaktic is necessary here. } 18. h4 Qh5 19. hxg5 { resulted to the perpetual check: } ( 19. Qe2 ) 19... Qxg5+ 20. Kh2 Qh4+ ) 18... Qh5 19. Qe2 b6 20. Ba3 Rfe8 ( { It was not necessary to lose the control above the f5-field. After right } 20... Rf7 { there was a position of dynamic balance. And for white too it is impossible to lose vigilance. His king is opened, and what the dangers can be here, shows next variation: } 21. Bb5 Ne7 22. Bxe7 ( 22. e6 $2 Rf6 23. Bxe7 Rxe6 $19 ) 22... Rxe7 23. Bc6 Rd8 24. Rb5 Qg6 $1 25. Bxd5+ Nf7+ 26. Kh2 Rxd5 27. Rxd5 c6 { the rook has got in a trap in the centre of the board, but White can escape here by way } 28. Qa6 Qe6 29. Rd6 Nxd6 30. exd6 Qxd6 31. Qc8+ ) ( { And in case of } 20... Rf7 21. Rb5 Ne7 22. Bxe7 { Black has an intermediate move } 22... c6 $1 ) 21. Bf5 $1 { White has defenced all weak pawn and begins operation on the replacement of black pieces from the K-side. } 21... Rad8 ( 21... Nxf3 22. Bxh7+ ( 22. Qxf3 Qxf5 23. Qxd5+ Re6 { leads to unclear play, and } ) ( 22. Bd7 $2 { even loses - } 22... Nh4+ 23. Kf1 Qg6 $1 $19 ) 22... Kxh7 23. Qxf3 $14 ) 22. Bg4 Qg6 ( 22... Qh4 23. e6 { the passed pawn "e" can become dangerous, as } 23... h5 { does not comprise any threat. White simply will play } 24. e7 Nxe7 25. Bxe7 hxg4 26. hxg4 $18 { the queen is caught! } ) 23. h4 h5 $2 ( { Already lacking time, Black suppose a mistake, incorrectly having estimated the arisen position. It was necessary to continue } 23... Ne6 24. h5 Qg5 { and though White owns the initiative, all struggle was ahead more. } ) 24. hxg5 hxg4 25. fxg4 Rd7 ( 25... Qxg5 26. Rh5 Qg6 27. Rbh1 $18 ) 26. Rbd1 $1 Nd8 27. Qd3 { Black planned manoeuvre Nd8-e6xg5, but last by two moves White has prevented this opportunity. } 27... Re6 ( { It is necessary to take a field of knight, as it is bad } 27... Qxd3 28. Rxd3 Ne6 29. g6 $16 ) ( 27... Qe4+ 28. Qxe4 dxe4 29. Rde1 $18 ) 28. Rh3 $6 ( { Here I slightly have relaxed and have made a mediocre move. } 28. Rh5 Qxd3 ( 28... Rf7 29. Rdh1 $18 ) 29. Rxd3 { etc. resulted to positions from the game, but with an extrapawn at white. } ) 28... Qxd3 29. Rdxd3 Rg6 ( 29... Nf7 30. Rhf3 Nxg5 31. Rxf4 $16 { White has a healthy extra pawn. } ) 30. Rh5 Ne6 31. Bc1 c5 32. dxc5 Nxc5 $2 ( { Here my contender who was already in the strong zeitnot, supposes decisive mistake. To continue struggle it was possible by } 32... bxc5 { on what I was going to answer } 33. Rf3 d4 34. Bxf4 ( 34. cxd4 Rxd4 { with unclear game } ) 34... Nxf4+ ( 34... dxc3 35. Bc1 c2 36. Rc3 Nd4 37. Be3 $18 ) 35. Rxf4 d3 36. Rh1 { White should win. More strongly } ) ( 32... bxc5 33. Rf3 Nxg5 34. Rxf4 Ne6 35. Ra4 d4 36. f3 { White has an extra pawn, but Black has counterchances - game yet is finished. } ) 33. Rf3 $18 { f4 pawn falls, then the outcome of struggle does not cause doubts. } 33... Ne4 34. Bxf4 Rc7 35. Rd3 Nxc3 36. Bd2 Nxa2 37. f4 { The avalanche of the white pawns has come in movement, preparing displace all on the way. } 37... Rc2 38. Rxd5 Nc3 39. Rd8+ Kf7 40. Kf3 Rc6 41. f5 { This victory has allowed our team to be fixed on the first place, and me has brought also moral satisfaction that it was possible to execute almost all trainer's installations and to realize the strategic plan conceived at to preparation for the game. } 1-0