Loek Van Wely (2605) - Curt Hansen (2595)
D20 Queen's Gambit Accepted
Notes by Tim McGrew



1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4

This is one of White's more ambitious tries in the Queen's Gambit Accepted. Black needs to keep an eye on the big center.

3...Nc6 4.Be3 Nf6 5.f3 e5 6.d5 Nd4 7.Bxd4 exd4 8.Qxd4 c6 9.Nc3 cxd5 10.0-0-0

The position is quite double-edged. White has a clear lead in development, but his King might be exposed on the queenside.

10...Qb6?!

Forcing Queens off -- but since this also leaves Black with damaged pawns, White can be assured of some advantage. 10...Qa5!? deserves consideration.

11.Qxb6 axb6 12.e5 Nd7 13.Rxd5 Bb4 14.Bxc4 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Nc5 16.Rd6 Ke7 17.Rxb6

Now White is two pawns up, but he has to worry about his weak pawns on the queenside.

17...Be6 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Kb1 Rhd8 20.Ne2 Rd2 21.Rb2 Rxb2+ 22.Kxb2 Nd3+ 23.Ka1 Nxe5 24.Rb1 Ra7 25.Nd4 Nc4 26.Rb5 Kf6 27.f4 h6 28.g3 g5 29.Rb4 Nd6 30.Nb5 Nxb5 31.fxg5+ hxg5 32.Rxb5

In this pure Rook and pawn ending, White's extra material gives him decent winning chances.

32...g4 33.Rb4 Kg5 34.Kb2 e5 35.a4 Ra6 36.Kb3

Now the King defends the pawn at a4, so White's Rook really is attacking the Black pawn at b7.

36...b6 37.Kc4

White threatens Kb5 followed by Kxb6 with an easy win.

37...Ra5

Black prevents White's King from coming forward.

38.Kd3

White now uses his King to block Black's e-pawn.

38...Kf5 39.c4 Ra8

Black would be glad to see more pawns come off the board since that would make it easier for him to draw. White, who has the extra pawn, keeps things complicated.

40.Kc3 Ra7 41.Kb3

Now White's Rook can come to b5 without leaving the a-pawn undefended.

41...Ra6 42.Rb5 Ke4 43.Kb4 Ra8

Finally Black tires of babysitting the pawn. In any event, White was threatening Rd5 followed by Kb5, so Black could not hold everything indefinitely.

44.Rxb6 Kf3

Now Black wants to run with the e-pawn as fast as possible.

45.Rf6+ Kg2 46.Re6

Black is going to win both of White's kingside pawns; White is going to win the Black e-pawn and then give up his Rook for the g-pawn. If White's timing is right, the White King and two pawns will then overwhelm Black's Rook.

46...Kxh2 47.Rxe5 Kxg3

Now we have a two-against-one contest. The problem, from Black's point of view, is that if each side gives up his Rook for one of the enemy pawns, White will still have a pawn left.

48.c5 Kf4 49.Re1 g3 50.c6 g2 51.a5 Re8

51...Rg8 52.Rg1 Kf3 53.Kb5 Rb8+ 54.Ka6 Ra8+ 55.Kb6 Rb8+ 56.Ka7 Rb2 57.c7 Rc2 58.Kb8 Rb2+ 59.Kc8 Kf2 60.Rxg2+ Kxg2 61.a6 and the pawns win: 61...Kf3 62.a7 Ra2 63.Kb7 Rb2+ 64.Ka6 Ra2+ 65.Kb5+- and White's King zig-zags his way toward the Rook.

52.Rg1 Ke5

52...Kg3 53.Kb5 Rb8+ 54.Ka6 Ra8+ 55.Kb6 Rb8+ 56.Ka7 Rb2 57.c7 Rc2 58.Kb7 Rb2+ 59.Kc8 Kh2 60.Rxg2+ Kxg2 61.a6 Ra2 62.Kb7 Rb2+ 63.Kc6 Rc2+ 64.Kd7 Rd2+ 65.Ke8 Re2+ 66.Kf8 Rf2+ 67.Kg8 Rc2 68.a7! and White will make a new Queen.

53.Kc5 Ra8 54.Rxg2
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54.c7 also works.

54...Rxa5+ 55.Kb6 Ra1

There are many ways for White to win here, but one of them is simplest for a human to find and play.

56.Rd2!

Cutting off the King -- the only move that makes any sense for a normal human being.

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