Dmitry
Ostapenko (2565) - Pavel Yartsev (2350)
[B89]
USSR, 1969
[A.J.
Goldsby I]
To see the (rather) briefly annotated version of this game, (js-replay)
click here.
This
is the deepest and best - - - the most carefully annotated version of this
game
you are ever likely to see! "No brag,
just fact."
Easily
one of the more brilliant games ever played. Truly a game of great beauty.
(Soltis says it is one the best games ever by players that were relatively
unknown.)
There
are many different renderings of the names of both players.
(Black
is given as "Jarcev" in my database. One on-line db gives Black as
"Kartsev." The book, "The Sicilian Sozin,"
gives
Black as "Zhartsev.")
This
game is also a very important one to opening theory.
(This
game may also have been played in a qualifying tournament for
the U.S.S.R. Championship.)
(I
have attempted to give a survey of opening theory in this one game,
placing a
lot of emphasis on the state of theory
... at the time this game
was actually
played!!!)
{A.J.G.}
***
(I
started on this page in 2000 ... but it was probably not until almost a
year later that I
began posting these pages on my web site.) This game was published ...
unfinished for
more than a year. Completed July 06, 2002.
MCO
- 14 = "Modern Chess Openings, 14th
Edition," by GM Nick de Firmian.
(Edited by Walter Korn.)
***
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Click HERE to go to
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Click
HERE
to see some of the standard symbols that I use - and a short explanation
of how I like to use them.
We
start off with a fairly normal, Open Sicilian.
1.
e4 c5; 2. Nf3 Nc6; 3. d4 cxd4; 4. Nxd4
Nf6; (!)
5. Nc3 d6;
We have now reached a position that MCO-14 calls the
"Classical Sicilian."
(Perhaps for the want of a better name.)
Both
sides have controlled the center with pawns, and developed their Knights
early, mostly to the "Bishop-Three" squares. This is a system of
deployment any
classical player would surely approve of.
[ The line: 5...e5!?; 6.Nb5,
d6; 7. Bg5, a6!?; "~" would have
led to a type of
Sicilian the books refer to as
a "Lasker/Pelikan/Sveshnikov"
Sicilian. ].
6. Bc4!?, (Maybe - '!')
The
"Sozin Sicilian."
Seen
as early as the 1800's ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
(Sellman - Zukertort; London 1883 - is one example.);
......................
this line was not really formed into a coherent and viable system until it was
played by
the Russian/Soviet player, V. Sozin. (1896 - 1956) But he lost many of the
key games
he played with this system, and the rapidly increasing interest in both 6. Be2,
and 6. Bg5,
('The Richter Rauzer'); all but relegated this system to the dark
halls of obscurity.
This
line began gaining popularity again in the late 1940's and the early '50's ...
perhaps as other players began turning back to this line ...
- maybe tiring of the Rauzer.
This
line really gained tremendous popularity when Bobby Fischer took it up and made
it his main, ... "Anti-Sicilian" weapon. (Late fifties to early
1960's.)
[ The most venerable choice is also probably the oldest move here, (and
probably
the most universal and
respected); viz: 6.Be2,
"+/=" with good play.
The move, 6. Bg5!?
("+/=") would have led to the equally dangerous
"Richter Rauzer
Attack," a line that is also difficult for Black to meet. ].
6...e6;
(best)
Probably the most accurate move here. Black immediately
blunts White's dangerous KB,
controls an important center square, (d5); gains some space, and also
immediately
prepares further development. (...Be7; and ...0-0.)
[ 6...Bd7!? ].
7. Be3!?,
The most modern way of playing this line.
(Indeed,
this is the exact move order given by MCO-14!)
[ White could also play: 7.0-0!?,
"+/=" with a good game.
And after: 7...Be7; 8.Bb3 0-0; 9.Be3,
"+/=" play will probably transpose back
to the Main Lines of the Sicilian Sozin.
]
7...Be7;
Black continues to develop normally. There is obviously nothing wrong with this.
Today
modern theory concentrates heavily on ...a6 here.
[ Black can also play ...a6. After
7...a6!?;
8.Qe2 Qc7; 9.0-0-0 Na5; 10.Bd3! b5;
11.a3 Bb7; 12.g4 Rc8; 13.g5
Nd7; 14.f4 Nc5; 15.Kb1 Nxd3!?; The
end of
the column. 16.cxd3
Be7; 17.Rc1 Qd7; 18.h4, "+/=" {Diagram?}
White is
slightly better here.
Cselotei - Kovacs; Budapest, 1995.
[ See MCO-14; pages 330 - 332. Column # 30,
and also note # (v.). ]. ].
8.
Qe2!?, (Maybe even - '!')
A relatively new weapon in chess, less than 50 years old.
("The Velimirovic Attack.")
White
usually castles 'long,' giving the first player a virulent attack when
Black
(normally) castles on the King-side.
This
is the idea worked out by a very young Master and University Student,
(GM Dragolub Velimirovic, born in 1942); in the late 1950's and
early 1960's.
He
achieved enormous success with this system - despite dire warnings from his
teacher and coach ... NOT to play this system!! (He crushed many strong Masters
with this system the first few times that he used it.!)
It
attained enormous popularity in the late 60's and early 70's.
(One
article in the 'Shakmatny Bulyetin' {magazine} on this opening, - circa late
60's -
stated that this line comprised roughly 70 to 75% of all Sicilians in
major {Soviet}
tournaments.)
(I
have spent nearly 3 months learning the theory of this line. And this is easily some
of the sharpest theory in all of chess!!
{I first wrote the above words in
the year 2000 or 2001. At one time, I had dedicated
myself to spending 1-3
hours a day studying the theory of this line - - - and analyzing
games of this line.}
)
[ One of the main lines, according to a
very old book I have on this
particular
opening, is: 8.Bb3!
0-0; 9.0-0 a6!; 10.f4 Nxd4!; 11.Bxd4 b5!;
"<=>"
(With counter-play.) {Main
Analysis Diagram.}
(Apparently this is still the main line,
over 25 years later. This line is in both MCO-14;
{page # 333, column #
31}; and also in the brand-new book, {new - as of this writing}
"The Sicilian
Sozin," by GM Mikhail Golubev. { See
Chapter # 9, beginning on
page # 132. See also the
line # C222.) } So, a suggestion that might have
been
made Russian GM E. Geller
over 50 years ago, {at one time it was considered too
risky}; turns into the
main line - - - and has remained so since at least the 1970's!!)
One book I have on this line is over 35 years old. When I did a search of my
database, (by position) I found over 700
examples of this line.
The first example was in the 1920's. There are many examples from
Soviet
tournaments from the 1930's through the
1950's. Then the popularity of this line
simply exploded, mainly because of
Fischer's success with the Sozin.
There is a game (draw) between GM Walter S. Browne and GM Jan Hein
Donner, from Hoogovens - Wijk aan
Zee. (1974.) There are dozens of other
games. Probably the best (most
recent) example is between GM Olivier Renet
and FM Andrew Lewis from a European
team tournament.
(EUCup Gr2, 1997. 1-0, White
won in around 40 moves.)
(I think the current position - after
11...b5; - is roughly equal.
- LM A.J. Goldsby I "=" {Dynamic
equality!) ].
8...0-0;
(King safety.)
Castling cannot be bad.
(It
mobilizes the King's Rook ANDS gets the King out of the center ... in {double} KP
openings, the King is nearly ALWAYS safer on the K-side than in the
center.)
[ One book says that, "8...a6; is much better than 8...0-0."
But after: 8...a6!?;
9.0-0-0 Qc7; 10.Bb3 0-0; and now White could simply
play Rhg1, and we will have just
transposed back to the actual game. ].
In the next few moves, both sides
complete their development and set their respective middle-game plans into action.
9. Bb3 Qc7; 10. 0-0-0 a6;
Now by transposition, we have reached the main lines of
this variation.
[ 10. Bd7!? ].
Now,
according to most MODERN books, {Circa 2002}; the MAIN LINE here
is the thrust, 11.g4. (Gain space, K-side initiative & a possible
attack.)
11. Rhg1!, {Actual
Diagram}
An excellent move, taking away Black's main drawing resource, (NxN/d4) and
avoiding any early endgames.
I
feel this is much superior to g4, although theory does NOT bear this opinion
out!
( GM J. Nunn considers this the main line in his book, "Nunn's
Chess Openings."
But he is definitely in the
minority. )
(
The latest book on the Sozin says this is playable, but g4 is far superior.
But
their analysis is questionable - to say the least! - and their choice of
games
is a ... "Big, bad GM versus a guy no one ever heard of." I have
little or no confidence in such games. I prefer to base MAJOR theoretical
decisions on
{Super} GM vs. GM games - - - preferably those that were
played in important, {big-money};
international tournaments. This way, you
know both players were taking the game very,
very seriously. )
***
I took the following steps to familiarize myself with the latest theory:
# 1.) I purchased the latest book on the Sozin, which just
came out;
# 2.) I reviewed dozens of games in this line from recent
issues of my ChessBase
Magazines.
(on CD-ROM);
# 3.) I looked through the last 3 "Informants."
(Yugoslav.)
# 4.) For a period that lasted months at a time, I
spent 1-3 hours a DAY looking at
and analyzing games
of this line. (I began this project - of trying to learn this
line - nearly THREE
{3} YEARS ago!!) {August, 1999.}
(I also began the
project of putting all the lines that are in MCO into the computer,
shortly after
it came out. I was to put this project aside and pick it back up
several times
before I finished it!)
This
process made me aware of many things, but the following are THE most notable:
A.) The popularity of the Velimirovic
Attack has GREATLY decreased in recent times;
B.) The amount of high-quality games
(GM vs. GM) in recent times is very minute;
C.) The theory of this line seems to
have passed the move, 11. Rhg1, by.
Modern theory concentrates almost
entirely on 11. g4.
[ Another line here is: 11.g4!? This
is the main line here. (Theory has ALWAYS
preferred this move.) 11...Nxd4!;
{Diagram?} According to opening theory,
this is the best move here.
**********
(Very
interesting is: 11...Nd7!?; (Maybe - '!')
{This was played in a very famous
encounter, Fischer-Larsen;
Interzonal, 1970.} At this point, Larsen had used less
than 2 minutes on his clock. It was obvious he was playing a prepared variation.
- GM E. Mednis. 12.h4!?,
(Interesting.)
This is very sharp, but perhaps not the
best. (Possibly dubious?) (GM E. Mednis gives this move a question mark!)
After
spending several hours of computer-aided analysis, it is clear that h4 is
probably inferior to most of the other alternatives. (At this point.)
According to a fairly reliable chess source, this move may have been the result
of a mis-communication between Fischer and the guy who invented this
line!
(GM Dragolub Velimirovic.)
***
Now White has a small army of move alternatives to choose between:
a).
I like 12.Rhg1! Nc5; 13.g5 Bd7; 14.Rg3! Rfc8;
15.Qh5, "--->" White
has a strong
attack. (His attack may be a little quicker
than Black's.);
b). White
could also try: 12.g5!? Nc5;
13.Kb1!, I like this best, getting
the King
out of the center.
(Another well-known author gives: 13.f4!? b5; 14.Kb1 Bd7;
15.f5
Nxd4; 16.Bxd4 b4; 17.f6! bxc3; 18.fxe7 Rfe8;
19.e5!,
"~")
13...Bd7; 14.Rhg1 Nxb3; 15.cxb3! b5;
16.Qh5! b4; 17.Nce2, "~" or "Unclear."
(Maybe "=/+") ... "with an unclear position, in an even way."
- GM
E. Mednis.
c). 12.f4!? Nc5;
(Or Black could
play: 12...Nxd4!?; 13.Rxd4
Nc5; 14.g5 b5; "<=>")
13.f5 Bd7!?;
14.Kb1! Nxb3; This is
probably best.
Mednis only gives: 14...b5?!; ('?') when 15.Nxe6! fxe6; This is probably
forced.
(Worse is: 15...Nxe6; 16.Nd5!, "+/")
16.Bxc5 dxc5; 17.Rxd7 Qxd7;
18.Bxe6+, ("+/-") wins for White.
15.axb3 b5; "=" {Diagram?} The
position is about level.
***
Now we return to our analysis (and game) that began with 11...Nd7!?
12...Nc5!;
{Diagram?} Probably best. (Or
12...Nxd4!?; 13.Rxd4 b5; "=")
13.g5! b5!;
14.f3!?, (Hmmm.) It is not
clear if this is best.
(Perhaps - '?!', or even - '?')
{GM E. gives this move a
whole question mark, but I am not so sure
such a harsh evaluation
is warranted. I think inferior is the correct
appellation.}
One of THE definitive books on the Sozin, ("The Sicilian Sozin");
by T.D. Harding,
G.S. Botterill; and C. Kottnauer, also gives
this move a question mark. ('?')
Nunn, in annotating this game for a British
chess magazine, also roundly
condemns this move.
It appears that White wanted to secure his center against any Black threats,
but
this is the kind of position where
White had better press on with his attack, or watch
Black's initiative grow to
frightening proportions. f3?! may be slightly inferior to
some of the alternatives for White,
which are examined below.
***
Some of the alternatives to f3 were:
a).
Much better than the game was: 14.Nxc6!? Qxc6;
15.f3, "="
Now
White has just the slightly worst of a very near equal position.
(White could also play: 15.a3!? "~")
b). Also interesting is: 14.Kb1!?,
"~" (Maybe - '!') The
position could be
evaluated as unclear, as it is wildly unbalanced. (I spent several hours
of
computer-assisted analysis here, and never came to a clear
conclusion.)
c). Probably the best line had
to be: 14.h5! b4; {Diagram?}
Several authors give this
move here, it is also the first choice of most
of the computers. 15.Na4 Nxe4!?;
(Maybe - '?!')
This may be bad, according to
Harding, Botterill, and Kottnauer.
(Maybe better is
15...Nxb3+!?).
16.g6!?, "--->"
(With an attack.) - GM Edmar Mednis.
( Even better is: >=16.Qc4!
Nc5; Is this best? 17.Nxc6 Qxc6; {Diag?}
This is forced. 18.Nxc5 dxc5;
Now the position looks to be balanced.
(But...) 19.g6! (Correct.) White has an incredibly powerful
King-side
attack. This is a big improvement over published analysis! )
***
(We now return to our examination of the Fischer-Larsen
game.)
14...Bd7!?; (Hmmm.)
Mednis gives this an exclam, but does not explain why.
(The move is good because it
develops rapidly, connects the Rooks, and keeps
the e6-square firmly guarded.)
( Maybe better was: 14...b4!;
"=/+" which is much sharper. )
15.Qg2?!,
(Maybe - '?') Clearly
inferior. (But MOST authors do not catch that
this move is bad!) (A
BIG improvement here for White is: 15.Nxc6 Bxc6; 16.h5, <=>
when Black has good counterplay, and may even be a tad better. But ... this
is
still much better than what happened in the game!)
15...b4;
16.Nce2 Nxb3+;
17.axb3 a5;
18.g6?!, (Ugh.) (Really - '?') This is very bad ...
and looks to be a
near "panic reaction." (Fischer must have known he
was slightly worse and
somehow wanted to change the course of the game.)
(A
definite improvement is: >=18.h5 a4!; "=/+" when Black is better, but a forced
win is a long ways off! Or even 18.Nxc6 Qxc6; 19.Nd4
Qc7; "=/+"
was slightly
better than the game.)
18...fxg6!?;
"=/+" (Maybe - "/+") Black is already clearly better.
Black won (0-1) a nice game ... in 52 moves.
Robert J. Fischer - Bent Larsen; FIDE
Interzonal Tournament/Palma de Mallorca,
(ESP)/ 1970 /[A.J.G.]/(52).
This is an extremely
important game to the theory of this line ... and a very rare Fischer
loss. (To
annotate this game, I mainly used the nice (excellent!) book, "How To
Beat
Bobby Fischer," by
GM
Edmar Mednis.)
What is curious is how most authors all roundly condemn White's 12th and
14th
moves here, (which were - at
worst - inferior, or - '?!'); yet fail COMPLETELY to
point out how bad White's 15th and
18th moves were. (Both were probably
deserving of a full question mark, or -
'?')
(
Maybe even better for Black was the
move: 18...a4!?;
"/+"
(Maybe - '!') )
**********
(Back to the main line here.)
12.Rxd4!,
{Diagram?} The only good move here,
according to theory.
(After the continuation: 12.Bxd4!?
{Really inferior or dubious.} 12...e5!;
The best,
according to theory. (12...Nd7!?; - Bozic.)
13.Be3 Bxg4;
14.f3
Be6!; "=/+" - Nitikin.
{Black is slightly better.} 15.Rhg1,
{Comp?}
{Diagram?} According to all the opening
books, White does NOT have
enough play for the pawn here! ).
12...b5; {Diagram?} The best move here.
(According to several books.)
***
( Black should NOT play: 12...e5?!; 13.Rc4,
"+/=" with the better game for White.
MCO gives the line: 12...Nd7!;
13.g5! Nc5!; 14.f4!? f5!; 15.Rg1!? b5!;
"<=>"
when Black
has very good counter- play. ("=") This could lead to the game:
GM J. Nunn - GM A. Shirov;
Melody Amber, (rapid); Tournament. Monaco,
FRANCE; 1995.
[ See MCO-14; pg.'s # 330-332, column # 27,
and also note # (k.). ].
)
***
13.g5
Nd7; Probably the best square for the Knight. 14.Rg1!
Nc5; "~" {Unclear?}
White
has an enormous K-side attack, whilst Black is quite a bit of play on the
Queen-side.
I would stop here and adjudicate this position as roughly equal.
("=")
Now a line that is VERY popular in several of the newer books is:
15.e5!? g6!?;
16.Rh4!?, etc. "--->"
{Diagram?} (Again, the focus for White is a direct attack
on Black's King!) ].
(THE
END OF THE OPENING SURVEY.)
(
We now return to our examination of the {actual} Ostapenko - Yartsev
game. )
11...b5!?; (Probably - '!')
Black immediately
launches a Q-side offensive ... to balance the coming attack
on the K-side. (Hey! At least it sounds good, right?)
At
the time this game was played, this was considered the sharpest and best.
(And
this move was given an exclam in all the books or any magazine articles
on this
line!)
The excellent book,
"The Sicilian Sozin," by T.D. Harding,
G.S. Botterill; and
C. Kottnauer, also gives this move an exclam. (!!!)
(MCO-14 does
not consider this the main line anymore.)
[ Var. # 11B1.)
11...Nxd4; 12.Bxd4 Bd7; 13.g4,
"--->" (White has a strong attack.)
This set-up looks much too slow for Black.
Var.
# 11B2.) 11...Nd7!?;
('!') 12.g4! Nc5; 13.g5!?, "--->" (Maybe - '!')
White has a very
strong attack. This is also very similar to the
Fischer - Larsen game, quoted
earlier.
( MCO gives the line:
13.Nf5!?, (Maybe - '!!'/'?!') An
amazing move, if you
stop and think about it. 13...b5!; {Correct} (Taking the piece gives White
a very strong attack.)
14.Bd5!?, (Maybe -
'!') {Diagram?}
This is considered best by several newer books on the Sicilian.
14...Bb7; 15.g5! Rfc8!; The end of the column.
16.Rg3! Bf8; 17.Qh5
g6; 18.Nh6+ Kh8; 19.Qh4 b4; 20.Rh3 bxc3;
21.Ng4
f5!?; 22.Nf6 h6; 23.Qxh6+ Bxh6; 24.Rxh6+ Kg7;
25.Rh7+
Kf8; 26.Rh8+ Kg7; 27.Rh7+ Kf8; 28.Rh8+, Draw. ("=")
(White can continue checking with the Rook ... until the sun
burns out, if need be!)
GM Ian Rogers - GM Zigurds Lanka; Linz, 1997.
[ See MCO-14; pages 330 -
332. Column # 25, and also note # (e.). ]. )
].
12.
g4!,
This is sharpest ... and must be the best. It is also the most
thematic.
(And the most consistent.)
REMEMBER:
The great teacher, Tarrasch always said:
"ALWAYS attack on the side of the board where you have more
space!!"
(Then logically, g4 paves the way for White's ambitions on the
right-hand
side of the board.)
< This is the most active and energetic thrust here. >
[ Also sometimes played here was the older move: 12.a3!?
Or even 12. Kb1. ].
12...b4!?;
(Maybe - '!')
Black
immediately engineers his Queen-side play.
At the time this game was played,
this was generally considered the best move here.
( It had been given an exclam
{and highly praised} in an article in the Soviet magazine
'64,' in the year,
1967. {Or 1968?} )
(I think - largely as a result of this one game - 12...b4; was
eventually completely abandoned.
And to be honest, I think ...b4; is roundly
condemned in just about all of the modern opening
manuals today.)
[ According to
theory, (Today); MUCH better for Black is: >= 12...Na5!; 13.g5 Nxb3+;
14.axb3!? Nd7; 15.Qh5!?, ('!')
White has both the initiative, and a
King-side attack.
It is not clear what the best defense is for Black. (The
position is about equal.) ("=")
( White can also play: 15.f4!? b4; 16.Nf5!?,
( Interesting
is: 16.Na4!? "=" )
16...exf5; 17.Nd5
Qd8; 18.exf5 Re8; 19.Qc4!, "--->" White has an attack.
(But I much prefer 15. Qh5! The general consensus of theory
is that this is the
best move.)
) ].
13.
Nxc6!, (best)
This is
easily the best here, according to the book, "The Sicilian
Sozin."
(This
is far from being the only move, White has many playable alternatives
here.)
[ Or 13.g5?! bxc3; 14.gxf6
cxb2+; 15.Kb1 Bxf6; "=/+" (Black
is a little better.)
Or 13.Nd5!?
Nxd5!; 14.Nxc6 Nxe3; 15.Nxe7+ Qxe7; 16.Qxe3, "="
(Equal.) ].
13...Qxc6!;
According to the
books, this is forced. (Or best.)
[ Black could also play: 13...bxc3!?;
14.Nxe7+ Qxe7; 15.Bd4! cxb2+;
16.Bxb2 Bb7;
17.f3, "=" (Maybe - "+/=") but Black may not have liked
the idea of White's 2 Bishops ... in
a very open position. ].
White to play,
what move would YOU make here?
14. Nd5!!, Tactics,
tactics, and more tactics.
I saw this game for
the first time when I was very young ... and to be honest, I was not
a very
strong player.
This move left a tremendous impression on me.
(It always seemed more of a magic trick than an actual chess move!! But it is
based on
a real {possible} weakness in the Black
position, the {open} d5-to-the-a8
diagonal.)
[ 14.Na4!? Nxe4; "=/+"
(Black is just a little better here.) ].
14...exd5!,
Again an exclam, and again the best
... according to SEVERAL books I have on
the Sozin Sicilian!
The book,
"The
Sicilian Sozin," by T.D. Harding, G.S. Botterill; and C. Kottnauer;
gives
almost a whole page of analysis, proving that 14...exd5; is the best.
[ 14...Bd8?;
15.g5! Nxe4!?; 16.Qf3! exd5!?;
( >=16...Rb8!?; 17.Qxe4, "+/=" )
17.Bxd5,
"+/" (Maybe "+/-") White may be winning here.
(The book,
"The Sicilian Sozin.");
14...Nxd5?!; 15.exd5 Qc7; 16.Kb1!,
"+/=" {Diagram?} White is better here.
(The book, "The
Sicilian Sozin.");
14...Re8?; (Maybe - '??') 15.Nb6 Rb8; 16.Ba4 Qb7; 17.Bxe8, "+/"
].
15.
g5!,
(Nice.)
This is really the only way of continuing the attack for the first
player.
(An in-between-move?)
[ The line: 15.exd5? Qc7; kills the attack.
].
15...dxe4!?;
(Maybe - '!')
AT THE TIME THIS GAME WAS PLAYED, THIS WAS
CONSIDERED ABSOLUTELY
THE BEST MOVE!!!
(Most opening books or magazine articles
on this line also awarded this move
an exclam, here in this position.).
The book,
"The Sicilian Sozin," by T.D. Harding, G.S. Botterill; and C.
Kottnauer;
examines about
eight (8) different possibilities here. (!)
[ According to current opening
theory, Black has to play the line: 15...Nxe4!;
16.Bxd5 Qa4!?;
( 16...Qe8!? ) 17.Bxa8!,
"+/" (Maybe "+/-") but this also
looks very
good for White!! (If not winning.)
( Theory recommends: 17.Bxe4!?,
"+/="
instead. But I think their analysis is flawed!
(It would take many pages of
analysis to find and reproduce all of the analysis of
this position that exists
in many opening books. Then it would be a long process to
analyze all of the
games and correct all of the {bad} analysis of opening theory -
as concerns this
particular position. Suffice it to say, I will ask you just to take my
word for
it!! {A.J.G.} )
For those who are interested in what current theory says about this game, See MCO.
[ See MCO-14;
pages 330-332, columns # 25 through col. # 27, and see also
note # (f.), Part (B.). ] );
Or 15...Bg4?!; 16.f3,
"+/=" ].
16.
gxf6, {Box?}
This is nearly forced, and the only way to continue the attack.
[ 16.Kb1? Bg4!; "-/+" ].
16...Bxf6;
This is completely forced.
[ 16...Bd8??; 17.Rxg7+ Kh8;
18.Rxh7+! Kxh7; 19.Qh5+ Kg8;
20.Rg1+ Bg4;
21.Rxg4# ].
17.
Bd5!,
The best, White splits Black's forces.
The book,
"The
Sicilian Sozin," by T.D. Harding, G.S. Botterill;
and C. Kottnauer;
also
award this an exclam here.
[ Popular, at one time, was the move: 17.Bd4!?
("+/=") ]
17...Qa4!?;
(Really -
'!')
Black seeks immediate counter-play.
(Many theoretical manuals - and
articles in many magazines - gave this move
an exclam too!!).
(This position
was reached in another game in a Soviet qualifying tournament. The GM's
that were involved in that game had
analyzed this position extensively and apparently
had concluded that Black was
fine here ... no worries. And much of their analysis was
published in several Russian/Soviet magazines!)
The book,
"The Sicilian Sozin," by T.D.
Harding, G.S. Botterill; and C. Kottnauer;
says White has 4 different moves
here. (Bd4, Bxa8, Bg5, and the text.).
---> According to GM John Nunn, this
was all known theory at the time!
Another funny thing is, I have a very old
book on the Sozin that I purchased when I was
overseas. (I don't think it was
ever published in the U.S.A.) It gives EVERY SINGLE MOVE,
(from move 11 to
Black's 17th move); an exclam ..... FOR BOTH WHITE AND
BLACK!!!!
(It ends
here and concludes that Black is probably better.)
[ 17...Qe8?!; 18.Bxa8,
"+/" (Maybe "+/-") ].
***
IM Andy Soltis lets the first 17 moves pass
without comment. (!!)
Soltis now says:
"The art of annotating a game is
knowing when to say something and when to shut up.
There's a lot that could be
said about this virulently disputed opening variation and the
position it has
generated. Suffice it to say that after very lengthy analysis - by several
of
the world's leading players - it was thought that, at the time this game was
played,
that Black stood well." - IM Andrew Soltis.
(Soltis goes on to say
that if White captures the Rook in the corner, that White will
have to face a
very strong attack.).
White to play:
18. Qh5!, (TN)
{Diagram?} (Really,
probably - '!!').
Very nice ... AND a HUGE improvement over existing theory.
(This is also probably one of
THE most important Sicilian "TN's" of
the entire decade!!)
IM A. Soltis also awards this move an exclamation point.
('!' - IM Andy Soltis.)
"Ostapenko's discovery."
-
GM John Nunn.
(GM John Nunn also gives
this move an exclamation mark.)
[ White could {also} play: 18.Bg5!? Bxg5+;
19.Rxg5, "+/=" (White is just a
little better)
According to several books, if White plays: 18.Bxa8!?,
he is subjected to a very
strong attack. 18...Qxa2;
Black has a very powerful attack. (Older books
consider
this position a complete win for Black!)
Now I should give at least
one example ... to
make a point: 19.Bd5??,
{Diagram?} This is obviously a
mistake.
(
19.Bf4?! Qxb2+, ("=/+" or "/+") Black
has a very strong attack.
The best line probably is: >=19.Kd2 Bxb2!; when Black has
"comp." )
19...Qxb2+;
20.Kd2
Bc3#. A unique mate ... and a strong reminder of just how
sharp and
double-edged these lines of the Sicilian can be!! ].
18...Be6!;
(Best.)
Once again, the best move here ... according to opening theory.
The
book, "The Sicilian Sozin," by T.D. Harding, G.S. Botterill; and C.
Kottnauer;
looks at close to half a dozen different alternatives here for Black!
This move is also the
first choice of the computer ...
after over 30 minutes of
analysis time!!!
"Yartsev could have hardly anticipated the storm which
White now unleashes. In any
case, there can hardly be a better move for Black
than 18...Be6." - GM John Nunn.
It seems that Black is no danger,
since - with his last move - he has nearly completed
the development of his forces.
[ Not 18...g6?!;
19.Rxg6+! hxg6;
(19...Kh8;
20.Rxf6, "+/-")
20.Qxg6+! Kh8;
21.Qxf6+ Kg8;
22.Rg1+, ("+/-") and mates.
Or 18...Rb8; 19.Rxg7+!!,
(19.Bh6!?, "+/")
19...Bxg7; 20.Rg1 Kh8;
21.Rxg7!,
21...Kxg7!?;
22.Qg5+ Kh8; 23.Qf6+ Kg8; 24.Bd4, "+/-" This analysis is from the
book, "The
Sicilian Sozin," by T.D. Harding, G.S. Botterill; and C. Kottnauer.
].
19.
Rxg7+!!, (Maybe - '!!!/!!!!').
This is an incredibly shocking
blow, and perhaps one of the most important Sicilian
opening ideas of the entire
decade. (And perhaps of the 20th century!)
Even in the year 2002, the better
computer programs do NOT immediately find this
move.
IM Andy Soltis also
awards this move two exclams.
('!!' - IM A. Soltis.)
GM John Nunn ALSO awards this move two
exclamation marks!
('!!' - GM John Nunn.)
[ 19.Bd4!? ].
19...Bxg7;
{Box?, Diagram?}
This is
completely forced, according to all the books.
[ 19...Kxg7?; (Maybe - '??') Simply unplayable.
20.Qh6+! Kg8;
(Or 20...Kh8;
21.Qxf6+ Kg8; 22.Rg1+
Bg4; 23.Rxg4#).
21.Rg1+ Bg4; 22.Rxg4+ Bg5;
23.Rxg5+ Kh8;
24.Qf6#. ].
20.
Rg1!,
This is now the only reasonable way for
continuing the attack.
IM A. Soltis also awards this move an exclamation
point.
[ 20.Bh6? Rfc8!; "-/+" ].
20...Rfc8!;
This move is the best here, and now Black
threatens a mate in one!
(On the c2-square!)
The book,
"The Sicilian Sozin," by
T.D. Harding, G.S. Botterill; and C. Kottnauer;
also awards this move an exclam.
[ Var. # 20B1.)
20...Bxd5?; 21.Rxg7+!,
(21.Qg5!?, "+/-")
21...Kxg7;
22.Qg5+ Kh8;
23.Qf6+ Kg8; 24.Bh6, "+/-"
White is winning here.
Var. # 20B2.) 20...Kh8!?; 21.Rxg7! Kxg7;
22.Qg5+ Kh8; 23.Bd4+!,
(Or 23.Qf6+ Kg8; 24.Bd4, "+/-")
23...f6; 24.Bxf6+ Rxf6; 25.Qxf6+ Kg8;
26.Bxe6#.
A nice mate.
Var. # 20B3.) 20...Rac8?!; 21.Rxg7+!
Kxg7; 22.Qg5+!, Best.
(22.Bd4+!? f6;
23.Qg5+!,
("+/-") with a winning
attack. - IM Andrew Soltis.)
22...Kh8;
23.Bd4+ f6;
24.Bxf6+ Rxf6; 25.Qxf6+ Kg8; 26.Bxe6#. {Diagram?}
This line represents a big improvement over
the analysis of several annotators ...
- including Soltis!!
(I worked this line
out on my own, but Nunn also quotes this line.)
Var. # 20B4.) 20...Rfb8?; 21.Rxg7+! Kxg7;
22.Bh6+! Kh8; {Diagram?}
This
looks like it is forced here.
(22...Kf6??; 23.Qg5#)
23.Qg5
Rg8; 24.Qf6+ Rg7;
25.Qxg7#.
A snazzy finish.
By now you should get the idea that Black's
best option is the one played
in the game. (...Rfc8!) ].
Once more, it is White
to play.
21. Rxg7+!!, (Maybe - '!!!')
White - systematically
- destroys the defender of the dark squares.
This second sacrifice is very
logical to a LIFE - Master, but was incredibly shocking
to me ... as a very young
person.
(To say that I was stunned ... - is a very big
understatement!!).
To me
it does not matter if White found this move over the board ... or if it was the
product
of much study and preparation. It is very, very, VERY brilliant. (!!!)
IM Andy Soltis also awards this move two exclams.
('!!' - IM Andy Soltis.)
GM John Nunn ALSO awards
this move two exclamation marks!
[ 21.Bxe4!?
b3!, "=/+" (21...b3!; is the best
move according to a book by several
West German Masters.) White will now play Qxh7+,
with a very strong attack.
The other alternatives (to 21...b3) are not as convincing:
a). 21...Kf8!?, "~"
- GM Nunn. 22.Rxg7 b3!; 23.Qxh7
Qa5!; "~" {Diagram?}
(Maybe "=/+")
The position is very
unclear, according to GM J. Nunn.
(23...bxa2?; 24.Qg8+! Ke7; 25.Bg5+ Kd7; 26.Rxf7+! Bxf7; 27.Qxf7#. - Nunn.)
b). 21...Rxc2+!?;
- Kottnauer. 22.Bxc2 Rc8; 23.Rxg7+! Kf8;
24.Rg8+! Kxg8;
{Diagram?}
This is forced. (
24...Ke7?; 25.Bg5+
Kd7; 26.Rd8+! Rxd8; 27.Bxa4+,
with an easily won game for
White. ("+/-") )
25.Qxh7+ Kf8; 26.Qh8+ Ke7;
27.Qxc8!,
"+/-" {Diagram?} ... "wins (for White)
by force." - GM J. Nunn. ].
21...Kxg7;
{Box.}
Forced, according to several sources here.
[ 21...Kf8?!; 22.Rxf7+!
Ke8; (22...Bxf7??; 23.Qxf7#)
23.Rxh7+ Kf8;
(Or 23...Kd8?;
24.Bg5# Or 23...Bf7; 24.Qxf7+ Kd8; 25.Bg5#)
24.Bh6+ Kg8; 25.Qg6#.
21...Kh8??; 22.Qxh7# ].
22.
Qh6+, (Maybe - '!')
The correct way of continuing the attack in this position.
(Black's
King is forced to a less favorable square here. He is also temporarily
prevented from "running away" via f8-e7, etc.)
[ 22.Bxe4!? ].
22...Kg8;
23. Bxe4!, {Diagram.} (Maybe - '!!').
This is an excellent move,
White stops the threatened mate on c2 ... and threatens
general mayhem to the
second player.
One of White's threats ... on a 'do-nothing' move by Black, is
for White to play either
Bd4, or Bg5, with the idea of Bf6, with a mating net.
IM Andy Soltis
gives this nice, little 'quiet' move TWO (2) EXCLAMS!!
('!!" - IM A. Soltis.)
(GM John
Nunn says White is threatening a mate in 3.)
[ Definitely not 23.Bd4?? Qxc2# ].
23...b3!,
(Easily the best.)
This is the best move here. It is given an exclam by close to a dozen
different annotators,
and it is the
first choice of the strong commercial
computer program, Nimzo 8.0.
(Study the analysis below, and you will soon see
this move has got to be superior to any
of the possible alternatives.)
(But
the book, "The Sicilian Sozin," by T.D. Harding, G.S. Botterill; and
C. Kottnauer;
gives this move a dubious appellation. But their line which they
give as superior contains
an analysis error.).
"This covers d4 and sets up
eventual counterplay based on ...bxa2." - GM John Nunn.
***
[ Below are the
main variations given in the book, "The Sicilian Sozin."
Var. #
23B1.) 23...Rxc2+; 24.Bxc2 Rc8;
( 24...b3!?; 25.Bxh7+ Kh8; 26.Bf5+,
26...Kg8; 27.Qh7+ Kf8; 28.Bh6+ Ke7; 29.Bg5+ Kd7; 30.Qxf7+,
"--->" with a
very strong attack for White. )
25.Qxh7+ Kf8; 26.Qh8+ Ke7;
27.Bg5+ Kd7;
28.Qxc8+!, - Ostapenko.
Now 28...Kxc8; 29.Bxa4, ("+/-")
White is winning easily,
a piece ahead
with the Queens off. (GM Soltis also quotes this line.);
Var. # 23B2.) 23...Qxc2+; 24.Bxc2 Bf5;
25.Bd4 Rxc2+; 26.Kd1 f6;
27.Qxf6,
("+/-") - Ostapenko. (Black will be mated ... or suffer severe
material loss.)
(Soltis also quotes this line.)
Var. # 23B3.) 23...f6; 24.Bxh7+! Kf7;
25.Bg6+ Ke7; 26.Qg7+ Kd8;
27.Bb6+, ("+/-")
White
has a winning attack. - Ciocaltea and Ghizdavu.
Var. # 23B4.) 23...Rc4; 24.Bxh7+ Kh8;
25.Bg5 Rf4; 26.Bf5+! Kg8; 27.Qh7+,
27...Kf8;
28.Qh8#. (Mate) -
Ciocaltea and Ghizdavu.
Var. # 23B5.) 23...Rc5!?, ('!' - Ostapenko.)
( I think this move is inferior. {A.J.G.} )
Better
than ...b3; according to Master Ostapenko.
24.Bxh7+ Kh8;
25.Bf5+!?, Ostapenko's move. (He claims it is
best.)
***
I {A.J.G.} found the very large
improvement:
------>
( Maybe better is: 25.Bd4+! Re5; 26.Bxe5+!,
(26.Be4+!?
Kg8; 27.Bxe5 dxe5;
28.Qg5+ Kf8; 29.Bxa8, "+/="
- GM
John Nunn.)
26...dxe5; 27.Bd3+ Kg8;
28.Qh7+ Kf8; 29.Qh8+ Ke7; 30.Qxa8,
"+/"
(Maybe - "+/-" ... winning?) - LIFE-Master A.J. Goldsby I.
(I did
nearly half-a-dozen computer engine, versus another strong computer
analysis
engine ... from this exact position. WHITE WON EVERY TIME
...
WITH NO MAJOR
PROBLEMS!!!)
I think this represents
a fairly substantial improvement over the
existing
analysis
of this game!! {A.J.G.} )
***
(Returning now to Ostapenko's original analysis.)
25...Kg8; 26.Bd4 Re5; 27.Bxe5
dxe5; 28.Qh7+ Kf8; 29.Bxe6 fxe6!?; (Hmmm.)
Probably not the best.
(Better is: 29...Qe8!; "~" - GM John Nunn.)
30.Qh8+ Kf7;
31.Qxa8 Qxa2;
32.Qb7+ Kf6; {Box?} 33.Qxb4, "+/"
(This is much better for White.)
(Maybe "+/-")
- Dimitry Ostapenko.
(This is the supposed improvement? {over ...b3}
It stinks! According to the
computers, ... White is winning
easily.) (Soltis also quotes this line.);
Var. #23B6.) 23...a5??; 24.Bxh7+ Kh8;
25.Bd4+ f6; 26.Bxf6#,
(This is the
mate Nunn was trying to warn you about.);
Var. #23B7.) 23...Rc3!?;
{Diagram?} (Really - '?' or '??') One of my Internet
students suggested this
move. (The idea is that PxR, PxP/c3; gives Black an attack.
Black also is
considering ...RxB/e3; trying to slow down the vicious White attack.
It is a
pretty good idea, but one that fails badly.)
Now the finish is:
24.Bxh7+ Kh8; 25.Bd4+ f6;
26.Bxf6#
(The move, 23...Qxa2??; also loses quickly.) ].
***
White now begins a long series of consecutive checks.
(And the moves all seem
forced.)
Now
... "The King hunt moves into top gear."
- GM J. Nunn.
24. Bxh7+!,
The best (only) way of continuing the attack.
[ Many of my
students want to play the VERY natural-looking move: 24.Qxh7+!?
But this move is incorrect and
will cause White's attack to fail. ].
24...Kh8;
This is forced here, in fact - it is the ONLY legal move here! (For
Black.)
25.
Bf5+!!, (Nice.)
This is the very best move
here.
It is not even immediately clear why this move is any good.
(Most
lower-rated players never even consider this move.)
The book,
"The
Sicilian Sozin," by T.D. Harding, G.S. Botterill; and C. Kottnauer;
only
gives this move one exclam.
[ 25.a3! Qc4; 26.Bd3+, ("+/")
White may
still have a winning attack.
Totally unimpressive is: 25.Bd3+!? Kg8;
26.Bh7+ Kh8; 27.Bd3+ Kg8;
28.Bh7+, ("=")
with a draw by a
three-time repetition of the position.
Some people call this a a
draw by "perpetual check," but that is incorrect. ].
25...Kg8;
26. Qh7+!,
The best move here ... going for the jugular.
White could DRAW by
moving the light-squared Bishop back and forth ...
(from say, h7 to d3); but he obviously wants more
from this position. (!)
[ 26.Bh7+!? ].
26...Kf8;
27. Bh6+ Ke8; 28. Qg8+, (Maybe - '!').
The correct move here.
[ The move 28.Qh8+?, kills
the attack. ].
28...Ke7;
Black is trying to avoid walking
into a pin.
[ 28...Kd7!?; 29.Qxf7+, ("+/")
].
29.
Bg5+ Kd7; Forced.
For a long time, Black has been playing the only move he has.
Now it
appears to some ... (esp. me as a young boy), that White's attack has run out.
30. Qxf7+!, (Cute.)
While this might be obvious to a Master, when I first saw this
game, I was very impressed.
(Of course, Black cannot take the Queen because the
Bishop on e6 is "pinned" ...
to the King!)
[ The continuation: 30.Bxe6+?
fxe6; 31.Qf7+ Kc6; ("-/+") leaves Black with
a won game. ].
30...Kc6;
{Box.}
Once again, the only legal move for Black.
31.
Bxe6!, (Maybe
- '!!')
A nice move, now White has 2 Bishops for 2 Rooks, and about a zillion
threats.
(White's big threat is Qd7+, SKEWERING the
Black Queen!)
The book,
"The Sicilian Sozin," by T.D. Harding, G.S.
Botterill; and C. Kottnauer;
says, "White now has a winning attack."
IM A. Soltis also awards this move an exclamation point.
('!' - IM A. Soltis.)
[ Also playable is: 31.Qxe6!?,
"+/=" when White is still at least a little better. ].
"Black has
a free move, but the attacking force of a Queen and 2 Bishops severely
restricts
his options." - GM J. Nunn.
31...Kb6!?;
(Maybe -
'?!/'?')
This might be a mistake, but the authors of the book, "The
Sicilian Sozin,"
do not mention it.
I remember reading someplace Black
was short of time here.
GM John Nunn roundly condemns this move, but I found
several errors in his
analysis. (See my analysis just below.)
[ Var. # 31B1.) Much
better was (>=) 31...Qe4!; 32.Qd7+ Kb6;
33.Qxd6+ Rc6;
According to several sources, this is
completely forced.
(Both 35...Ka5?; and 35...Qc6?!; will lose miserably.)
34.Bd8+ Rxd8;
35.Qxd8+ Ka7; 36.Bxb3 Qe1+; 37.Qd1 Qxf2; - GM
J. Nunn.
( The continuation: 37...Qxd1+?!; 38.Kxd1 Rh6; 39.Ke2, "+/"
{Diagram?}
(Maybe "+/-" ?) probably
gives White a won ending. {A.J.G.} )
38.h3,
"+/=" {Diagram} Nunn says Black has, "some drawing chances here."
(According to all of my endgame books,
any ending of 1 Rook, & a QRP; vs.
3 connected Pawns and a Bishop is a win for the player who has the B and 3 P's.)
Objectively Nunn is correct ... but a
loss is a loss is a loss!!!
Var. # 31B2.) 31...Qxa2!?;
32.Qd7+!?, This is
nice ... and is quoted in many
books, but ...
( Much better is: >=32.Bd5+! Kc5; 33.Be3+
Kb5; 34.Qb7+ Ka4;
35.Bxb3+ Qxb3; 36.Qxb3+ Ka5 ; 37.Bb6#. - GM John Nunn. )
32...Kb6;
33.Be3+, ('!?')
This is sufficient. (Better
is: 33.Qxd6+! Kb7; 34.Bd5+ Rc6; 35.Qxc6+,
35...Kb8; 36.Qb7#)
33...Ka5; 34.Bd2+ Kb6; 35.Qxd6+ Rc6;
36.Be3+ Kb7;
37.Qd7+ Rc7;
38.Bd5+ Kb8; 39.Qd8+ Rc8; 40.Qb6#.
- IM Andy Soltis.
(This line is also
quoted by several other authors, I am unsure of who originated
this analysis here.
{A.J.G.} );
Var. # 31B3.) 31...Rc7?!;
32.Bd5+ Kb6; 33.Be3+ Rc5; 34.Qb7+ Ka5;
35.Bd2+,
("+/-") "The Bishops are sheer murder." -
IM Andy Soltis.
Var. # 31B4.) Very obviously bad is the line:
31...bxa2?; 32.Qd7+ Kb6;
33.Qxa4,
("+/-") with a won game for White.
(Notice that the a-pawn is covered.) ].
White
to move, what move would you play here?
32. Be3+!, (Yes!)
The correct way of continuing the attack in this position.
[ Also
very good for White is: 32.Bxc8!?, "+/" ].
32...Ka5; (Ugh.)
{Box?}
Poor Black!
His hapless Monarch has been chased from g8 all the way to the
a5-square.
(This could be forced.)
"There is no longer any defence."
-
GM John Nunn.
[ Several writers have stated flatly that Black could have done better by
playing ...Rc5:
But 32...Rc5;
33.Bd5!, ("+/-") Several authors also
suggest the move, 35.Bxb3.
(This is a BIG improvement over what
many writers
have given in this position. To
be fair, Nunn also gives this line ... BUT ... I
looked at his book last, AFTER I had
done my
analysis.) (When I originally annotated this game, I stopped
here.)
Nunn continues this line with: 33...Rb8;
34.Qe7! Qc6!?; (Black
has to defend d6 ...
or die a horrible death.)
35.Bxc6 bxa2; 36.Qxd6 a1Q+; 37.Kd2 Qa5+;
38.c3,
("+/-") ... "and Black's King
succumbs." - GM John Nunn. ].
33.
Bxc8!, (Nice.)
The
simplest and best.
[ 33.Qf5+!? ("+/=") ].
33...Rxc8;
This is probably
forced.
"Material equality is restored, but the onslaught continues
nevertheless."
- GM John Nunn.
34.
Qf5+!, (Very nice.)
The correct way of continuing the attack. . This is not the obvious check - and
fork - that
everyone thought it was, White actually had at least 3 other
promising continuations!
[ Also winning for White was: 34.Qd5+!?,
("+/-"); Or 34.axb3!?, ("+/-")
].
34...Rc5;
{Box?}
This is pretty much forced. (Black obviously could not
allow White to take the
Rook on c8 ... WITH CHECK!)
[ An inferior continuation is:
34...Qb5?!; 35.Qxc8 bxa2;
36.Qc7+ Ka4; 37.b3+ Ka3; 38.Qxd6+ Qb4;
39.Qxa6+!, {Diagram?}
This is best.
( The
authors of the book, "The Sicilian Sozin,"
give the line: 39.Qxb4+?
Kxb4;
40.Kb2, "+/-" but I much prefer a
mate in 2 ...
to an ending ... where Black
could maybe struggle on for another 20 (or so) moves ... if he were
so inclined!!! )
39...Qa5; (Forced.)
(39...Qa4; 40.Bc5#!)
40.Qxa5#. (The end.)
"Check-Mate ends ALL arguments!"
- (the
late) Frank Goodenough.
The Pensacola Chess Club, circa 1974.
A really bad mistake is:
34...Kb4?;
35.a3+!, {Diagram?} A
big improvement over most of the
(existing)
analysis of this game.
(Also winning is: 35.Bd2+ Kc4; 36.axb3+ Qxb3; 37.cxb3+,
{Diagram?} ("+/-") with an easy win. (GM J. Nunn also gives this
line.))
35...Qxa3;
36.bxa3+ Ka4;
(36...Kxa3??; 37.Qa5#)
37.Qxc8, ("+/-") A very easy win for White.
].
35.
Bxc5 Qb5;
This looks forced again. (The only real practical try.)
[ 35...bxa2!?; 36.b4+! Kb5; 37.Qd7+ Kc4;
38.Qxa4, ("+/-") with an easy win for
White. (Soltis
also quotes this line.) (Even
better was: 38.Qg4+! Kd5; 39.c4+ Ke5;
40.Bd4#. - GM J. Nunn. "Black has never quite found time for the move,
...bxa2.
He has been too busy attending to White's threats." - GM John
Nunn.)
35...dxc5?; 36.Qxc5+ Qb5; 37.Qc7+! Qb6[]; 38.Qxb6+
Kxb6; 39.axb3, ("+/-")
This is too easy for White.
35...Qc6?!;
36.Bd4+ d5; 37.axb3, ("+/-") ].
36.
Bb4+!, (Nice.)
A very nice and
alert tactic.
[ An average tournament player might have been happy with:
36.axb3, ("+/-")
with a fairly easy win. ]
36...Kxb4;
37. a3+ Kc4; 38. Qxb5+ axb5;
39. cxb3+ Kd3; 40. Kd1, (!) Black
Resigns. 1 - 0
White
grabs the all-important opposition.
(White has an easy win ... in the King-and-Pawn ending.)
***
An ultra-brilliant game.
"A marvelous display." -
IM Andrew Soltis.
(His book was published before he was awarded the GM title.)
While
part of this game was almost certainly prepared in advance, it is
none-the-less
very beautiful and exceptional. White's handling of the attack
was virtually
flawless.
(I can find
not one, - NOT ONE!!! - improvement in White's play ... for the
entire game!)
I finally allowed my curiosity to get the better of me. If we go
with best case scenario,
(what OTHER writers considered were good moves - NOT
me!); the number of moves
that receive an exclam are as follows:
A.) White gets
like 17 single exclams;
B.) White gets like 4-5 DOUBLE exclamation points;
C.) Black gets like 7-8 exclams.
This is an incredibly high number, and has to be close to some kind of
record!!
Additionally - at worst - Black gets only one
dubious and one move deserving
of a full question mark. (Maybe.)
********************************
Dmitry
Ostapenko was a very strong player, probably
at least IM strength. (He played
in at least one Soviet Championships
Semi-Finals.) He played several beautiful games
of chess. He wrote articles for
chess magazines, and probably played postal chess, but
not much else is known
about this player. (A search of my database shows that he
played in the Soviet
Semi-Finals as recently as 1998.)
Pavel Yartsev
was not as strong as his
opponent, but may not have been allowed to play
as much ... as he was Jewish. He
later immigrated to Israel, where he lives today.
********************************
I consulted at least eight different
books, and many magazines in preparing these
annotations. (Plus several on-line sources.) But the three books
listed below are
easily the best sources of info and analysis of variations.
***
Bibliography:
I consulted {primarily} the following books, in the order listed,
to
annotate this game. (These are NOT the only books ... or magazines - that I
have
seen this game in! But the sources given below are certainly the best
sources
of analysis ... and stand heads and shoulders above any other sources of
info
for this game.)
# 1.)
"The Sicilian Sozin," by T.D,
Harding, G.S. Botterill,
and C. Kottmauer.
[ Copyright © 1974 ... by the authors; and
Chess Digest. (Dallas, TX)
This book is part of the series, The 'Contemporary Chess
Openings.' ].
# 2.)
"Chess To Enjoy," by IM Andrew
Soltis. (Pg. #
201.)
[ Copyright © 1978, by the author. Stein & Day,
Publishers. ]
(This
book came out BEFORE Soltis was awarded the GM title.)
# 3.)
"The King-Hunt," by GM/(Dr.)
John Nunn.
{Copyright, © 1996; by the author.
Batsford (ENG), and Henry Holt (US); are the publishers of this book.}
(
This
game is also in dozens of old magazines. It also appears in many of my books,
and also several books on chess problems. It also appears in at least 10 books
on
the Sicilian, - just about every book {OR any pamphlets!}; that looks at the
Sozin,
usually analyzes this game. Additionally, it also appears in a very good
book on
tactics ... but that author's analysis of this game is very poor. I purposely have
not
mentioned this book here, it is not my intent to ridicule a respected
author, or to give
a bad impression of an otherwise VERY good book! )
Copyright, (c)
A.J. Goldsby I;
2002.
NOTE:
I also accessed MCO-14 and the new book on the Sozin by GM M. Golubev.
This
is the full, unabridged copy of the game, as I originally generated
it on my hard drive.
This
game was originally posted in early 2001, but took over a year to complete.
(Last up-date: October 4th, 2002.)
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby I
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 1993 - 2008.
Copyright © A.J. Goldsby, 2009. All rights
reserved.
 
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