CHESSPLAYER

Sacrifice in the opening

The beginning of a game or, according to chess terms, an opening, is a very important part of a chess game. If a good position is reached after the opening, it frequently brings a victory in the game. There are many positions where a chessplayer has a choice between a quiet continuation and a sacrifice.

When should a player sacrifice material, and how can one judge whether such sacrifice is sound?

In my view, the following factors are important:

1. If one can reach an advantage in development of two tempi or more, the likelihood of success increases dramatically.
2. Even more important is position of a King. If opponent’s King can be kept in the center indefinitely, a sacrifice has even a higher chance to bring results.
3. Another important factor is an ability of other pieces to join the attack quickly. (Communications and supplies!)

In the following game White was able to take advantage of a better development by sacrificing an exchange and a pawn. This allowed to keep opponent’s King in the center and further sacrifices brought a win.

Georgi Orlov – Slava Mikhaljuk, Seattle Fall Open, October 1998, Trompovsky Attack

1.d4 d5 2.Bg5!?

After looking at several games played by GMs Julian Hodgson and Michael Adams, I liked this unusual opening move. It brings freshness to the game and leads to many unexplored lines. The idea if to meet 2…Nf6 with 3.Bxf6, damaging the pawn structure on the Kingside.

2…c5

While this move is possible, 2…f6 seems to be a better choice here. After 3.Bh4 Nh6 4.e3 Nf5 5.Bd3 Nxh4 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxh4 Bg7, Black had a good game in Smith – Bosch, Manchester, 1997. In case of 3.Bf4, Black plays 3…Nc6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Nbd2 e6 6.h3 Bh5 7.c3 g5 8.Bh2 Bd6 9.Bxd6 Qxd6, as in Gilles – Parmentier, France 1996. Here 10.Qa4 should keep a small edge for White. Another reasonable alternative is 2…c6.

3.dxc5 Qa5+?

A mistake. Here 3…f6 is best. After 4.Bh4 e5 5.e4 dxe4 6.Qxd8+ Kxd8 7.Nc3 Bf5 8.0-0-0+ Kc8 9.b4 a5 10.Nd5, White had an advantage in Drazic – Susnik, Bled, 1997.

4.Nc3 e6 5.e4 Bxc5

Black avoids a gravely trap. In case of 5…dxe4?? 6.b4!! wins at once, since 6…Qc7 (6…Qxb4 7.Qd8#!) meets 7.Nb5 Qd7 8.Qxd7+ Kxd7 9.0-0-0+ Kc6 10.Rd8 and White wins.

6.exd5 Qb6 7.Qd2

White is up a pawn and Black already made two moves with his Queen. Obviously something like 7…Qxb2? 8.Rb1 Qa3 leads to a disaster after 9.dxe6. Black, however, had something else in mind.

7…Bxf2+!?

This was rather unexpected. Black tries to distract white Queen from defending c3-square, so after …Qxb2 both Knight on c3 and Rook on a1 are attacked. White has to take the Bishop. This tactical attempt is the best option, since everything else is fairly unattractive.

8.Qxf2 Qxb2

Here I spent a bit of time thinking about the situation. Several things came to mind. First, it occurred to me that Black has only one piece out, his Queen. Secondly, Black’s King is not safe. I realized that if I give up the Rook on a1, Black’s Queen would also be out of play, and even in danger of being trapped.

Another idea was to play 9.Rd1 Qxc3+ 10.Bd2 Qe5+ 11.Be2, and while Black won many pawns, White has a great advantage in development and potential for a great attack. Still, I did not see anything forced after 11…Nf6.

After thinking about it for a little while, I came to conclusion that the advantage in development after 9.Kd2 will be so large that it will compensate White handsomely for material loss.

9.Kd2! Qxa1

10.Nf3

Now White threatens Bf1-b5+, winning a Queen. White an advantage of approximately four or five tempi, considering the fact that Bf1-b5+ will win another tempo. Basically, Black should be lost here.

10…Nd7

I could not find a better alternative. In case of 10…Qb2 11.Bb5+ Bd7 12.Ne5 gives White a winning attack. Here 12…f6 meets 13.Nxd7 Nxd7 14.dxe6 and White wins.

11.dxe6 fxe6 12.Qe3!

White attacks e6-square and Black simply can’t defend it. In case of 12…Kf7 13.Bc4 wins at once, hitting e6-square and the Queen on a1 at the same time.

12…Ngf6 13.Qxe6+ Kd8

14.Ne5!

More pieces are brought into action. Here 14…Nxe5 meets 15.Bxf6+ gxf6 16.Qxf6+ and White wins. In a mean time, 15.Nf7+ Kc7 16.Qd6# is a serious threat.

14…Rf8 15.Be2?!

While this move does not spoil everything, better was 15.Bb5! here, forcing Black into accepting the Rook on h1. After 15…Qxh1 16.Nd5! Qxg2+ 17.Kc3 Black has no more checks, while Qe7# is coming. The only was to stop it is 17…Qxd5, but after 18.Qxd5 Black has more or less hopeless position.

15…Qb2!

I was hoping for 15…Qxh1 16.Nd5! with spectacular position, where two extra Rooks can’t save Black from a checkmate.

16.Rb1 Qa3 17.Rxb7 Nxe5

Of course, 17…Bxb7 leads to 18.Qxd7#. Now a Queen from a3 protects e7-square. White also has no time for 18.Qxe5 in a view of 18…Bxb7.

18.Qd5+!

The only move.

18…Ned7

In case of 18…Bd7 19.Qxe5 Black is unlikely to survive the attack.

19.Bg4 Ke8?

After defending well for a while, Black finally makes a blunder. The only move was 19…Rf7!! After 20.Rxd7+! Bxd7 (20…Rxd7 21.Bxd7 Bxd7 22.Qxa8+ Ke7 23.Qg8! White has a decisive advantage. 21.Qxa8+ Ke7 22.Nd5+ Kd6 23.Bf4+ Kc5 24.Be3+ Kd6, White ahs a choice between forcing a draw with 25.Bf4+ Kc5 26.Be3+, or go for more with 25.Qb8+ Kxd5 26.c4+! Kxc4 27.Qc7+ Kd5 28.Qc5+, where White should have a win also.

20.Bxd7+ Bxd7

Here 20…Nxd7 loses at once to 21.Qe6+ Qe7 22.Qxe7#

21.Bxf6 Rf7 22.Rb3!

A very simple discovery wraps up the game. Black can not protect his Queen and Rook at the same time.

1-0

CHESSPLAYER