1.d4
Nf6
2.Nc3
d6
[2...d5
would lead to an irregular QP opening where the Nc3 prevents the Pc2 from advancing.]
3.e4
g6
4.Nf3
Bg7
5.Bb5+
[5.Be2
0-0
6.0-0
c6
7.h3
Nbd7
8.e5
Ne8
9.Bf4
Nb6
Smyslov-Petrosian (Moscow, 1964) by transposition is the Classical Variation against the Pirc Defense.]
5...Bd7
[5...c6
6.Ba4
0-0
7.0-0
b5
8.Bb3
b4
9.Ne2
Nxe4
Vital-Andrianarisoa (Dresden 2008) and Black won.; 5...c6
6.Bd3
0-0
7.h3
b5
8.Be3
Qc7
9.Ne2
Nbd7
Chimthere-Sousa (African Championship, 2005) with a level game.]
6.Qd3
0-0
7.Bf4
a6
8.Bc4
b5
9.Nxb5!?
A speculative sacrifice, gaining two Pawns for a piece.
9...axb5
10.Bxb5
Bxb5
11.Qxb5
Nxe4?!
[11...Nbd7
and Black is better.]
12.Qd5
Fork.
12...Nxf2
Desperado.
13.Qxa8!?
[13.Kxf2
Nd7
14.Rhe1
and White castles by hand.]
13...Nxh1
14.Ke2
Nd7
15.Qxd8
Rxd8
16.Rxh1
DIAGRAM White has an endgame advantage due to the connected Queenside Pawns but material is even.
16...c5
17.c3
cxd4
18.cxd4
e5
19.dxe5
Nxe5
20.a4!?
[20.b3
would avoid losing a Pawn.]
20...Nxf3
21.Kxf3
Bxb2
22.Rd1
Ra8
[22...Be5??
23.Bxe5
]
23.Rd2
Be5
24.Ra2
Bxf4
25.Kxf4
Ra5!
An excellent move, blockading the Pa4 while cutting off the White King.
26.Ke4
Kf8
27.Kd4
Ke8
[27...Ke7
28.Kc4
Kd7
is better.]
28.Kc4
Kd8
29.Kb4
Ra7!?
[29...Rh5
30.g3
Kc7
and the Black King blockades White's a Pawn, giving Black realistic winning chances. The Rook is too passive at a7.]
30.Kb5
Kc7
31.Re2
Rb7+
32.Ka6
Rb6+
33.Ka7
Rb4
34.Rc2+
Kd7
35.a5
h5
[35...f5
follows the principle of advancing the candidate first, while leaving the base of the Pawn chain at h7 where it's harder to attack.]
36.a6
f5
37.Ka8
d5
38.a7
d4
39.h3
d3
40.Rf2
[40.Rc3
Rd4
41.Kb7
Rb4+
42.Ka6
is equal per Fritz 7.]
40...Kc8
41.g4
hxg4
42.hxg4
Rxg4
DIAGRAM
43.Rd2
Rh4
[43...Rd4
44.Rxd3!
Rxd3
and drawn by stalemate. With the White Pawns traded off, and the White King stuck in the corner, White now has a SuperRook which could never be taken due to instant stalemate.]
44.Rxd3
Rh8!?
[44...Rc4
keeps the draw in hand for Black, who could win after 45.Rd6
g5
but more likely White would draw with 46.Rc6+!
and stalemate again.]
45.Rb3
Rh4
46.Rc3+
Kd7
47.Kb8
[47.Kb7
Rb4+
48.Ka6
Ra4+
49.Kb6
Rb4+
50.Ka5
Rb1
51.Rc4
wins for White.]
47...Rb4+
48.Ka8
f4
49.Rh3
Ke7
50.Rh7+
Kd8
51.Rb7
Rc4
52.Rb8+
[52.Kb8?
Rc8#
]
52...Kc7
53.Rb7+
[53.Rc8+!
Kxc8
is another draw by stalemate.]
53...Kc8
54.Rb6
Rd4?!
The Black Rook should remain on the c file to prevent checks nudging the Black King away. Better was 54 ... g5 and this should be drawn.
55.Rc6+
Kd7
56.Kb7
DIAGRAM Now White can win by building a bridge to promote the a Pawn.
56...Rb4+
[56...Ra4
57.Ra6
Rb4+
58.Rb6
Ra4
59.a8Q
]
57.Rb6
Ra4
58.a8Q
Rxa8
59.Kxa8
f3
60.Rf6
[60.Rxg6
Ke7
(60...f2
61.Rf6
) 61.Rg3
f2
62.Rf3
wins for White.]
60...g5
61.Rxf3
g4
62.Rg3
Kd6
63.Rxg4
White has an elementary mate but is in extreme time pressure.
63...Ke5
64.Kb7
Kd5
65.Kb6
Ke5
66.Kc5
Kf5
67.Rd4
Ke5
68.Kc4
Kf6
69.Kd5
Kf5
70.Re4
Kf6
71.Kd4
[71.Re5
]
71...Kf5
72.Kd5
Kf6
73.Re5
Kg6
74.Ke6
Kg7
75.Rf5
[75.Rg5+
Kh6
76.Kf6
Kh7
77.Kf7
Kh6
78.Rf5
Kh7
79.Rh5#
]
75...Kg6
76.Ke5
Kg7
77.Rf6
Kg8
78.Ke6
Kg7
79.Ke7
White's flag fell, but Black had insufficient mating material, so the game was drawn. Congratulations to Freddie and Nathan for their fighting spirit. 1/2-1/2