J. Owczarzak (2210) - M. Gagunashvili (2265)
B33 Sveshnikov Sicilian
Notes by Tim McGrew



1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.a4 a6 8.Na3

The Knight is somewhat out of play on a3, but White is hoping that the harmonious development of the rest of his pieces will make up for it.

8...Be6 9.Bc4 Be7 10.Bg5 0-0 11.Bxf6!

White's play is very consistent: he wants to take over the d5 square, and he is willing to give up the Bishop pair to achieve that goal.

11...Bxf6 12.0-0 Rc8 13.Bd5?!

Right square, wrong piece. 13.Nd5 is a more effective way to take a lasting grip on this central square.

13...Qc7 14.Ne2 Bg5 15.c4 Bd7 16.Nc3 Nd4 17.Nc2 Nb3 18.Ra3 Qb6 19.Re1 Nd4 20.Nxd4 exd4 21.Ne2?

This is the point at which the game spins out of control for White. 21.Rb3! Qa5 22.Qxd4 Bf6 23.Qe3+/-

21...Qxb2

Black is not yet winning, but the disappearance of the b-pawn sows confusion in the White ranks.

22.Rb3 Qd2 23.Qxd2 Bxd2 24.Ra1 Bc6! 25.Nxd4 Bxd5 26.exd5 Rxc4 27.Nf5 Bf4 28.Rxb7 Be5 29.Rab1 g6 30.Ne7+ Kg7 31.R7b4 Rc5 32.Rd1 Re8 33.Nc6 Bc3 34.Rbb1 Re4

Black's pieces have gradually taken up more active posts than White's.

35.a5 Bxa5

Cashing in his positional superiority for a pawn.

36.f3 Re2 37.Kf1 Rd2 38.Rxd2

38.Nxa5 Rxd1+ 39.Rxd1 Rxa5 is a win for Black because of White's weak d-pawn.

38...Bxd2 39.Ke2 Bg5 40.Rb6 a5 41.Ra6 Rxd5 42.Rxa5 Rd2+

42...Rxa5 43.Nxa5 might be a win for Black, but it is not as clear as the line Black chooses.

43.Kf1

43.Ke1 Rxg2 44.Kf1 Rc2 45.Rxg5 Rxc6-+

43...Be3 44.Ra3 Bc5

Now Black's Bishop and pawn are in a stable formation.

45.Ra5 Rf2+ 46.Kg1 Rb2+ 47.Kf1 Rb6 48.Nd8

On d8, the Knight takes aim at f7. Black is not in danger yet, but he must stay on his guard against allowing a double attack to be focused there.

48...Rb1+ 49.Ke2 Rb2+ 50.Kd3

50.Kf1 Bb6 51.Ra8 Rf2+ 52.Ke1 Rxg2 is very similar to the game.

50...Bb6 51.Ra8 Rxg2 52.Rb8

With this move, White acquiesces in a simplification into a lost Rook ending. Unfortunately, there is nothing better.

52...Bxd8! 53.Rxd8 Rxh2 54.Rxd6

This ending is a relatively simple win for Black, but it is nice to see it handled well.

54...Rh4 55.Ke3 Ra4 56.Kf2

To put up maximum resistance, White brings the King over in front of Black's pawns.

56...g5 57.Kg2 f6

Black thoughtfully provides some shelter so that his King can come up to g6 to aid the advance of the pawns. 57...f5?! would render the win more difficult.

58.Rb6 Kg6

Black's King moves up into the hole. The King and pawns move forward together -- no stragglers, no pawns running on ahead.

59.Kg3 h5 60.Kg2 g4 61.Rb3 Kg5!

61...gxf3+? would throw away the win. There is no need for Black to fracture his own pawns.

62.Rb5+ f5

Still keeping everything together.

63.Rb3 Kf4 64.fxg4 hxg4

64...Ra2+ 65.Kg1 hxg4 might be a bit more accurate.

65.Rb2

For a moment, White prevents ...Ra2+. So Black finds a different way to make progress.

65...g3

Now the idea, clearly, is ...Kg4, ...f4, and ...f3+.

66.Kh3

Again White puts up resistance. But Black has a maneuver that breaks down the defense.

66...Re4 67.Rg2 Re1!

Forcing a liquidation into a won pawn ending.

68.Rxg3 Rh1+! 69.Kg2 Rg1+!

69...Rg1+ 70.Kxg1 Kxg3 71.Kf1 Kf3 72.Ke1 Kg2-+ wins without any difficulty.

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