Vishal Garg is a second year graduate student in the Department of Philosophy at Western Michigan University. Having played about 100 blitz games with Vishal, I can attest that he has serious tactical talent. In this game, Vishal takes it to an entirely new level by playing a game against one of our professors, Richard Glatz, without looking at the board. Richard wrote down the game, and Mike Schulte passed it on to me.
1.e4
e5
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.Bb5
Nge7
This old Cozio defense to the Ruy Lopez is by no means bad. Black accepts a somewhat cramped game, but White is denied the opportunity to double Black's pawns with a capture on c6. Bent Larsen used it very successfully in the 1970s, and in recent decades it has been championed by the strong GMs Oleg Korneev and Alexey Dreev.
4.0-0
a6
This follow-up, however, is less popular at high levels.
4...g6
is the most popular move today. 4...Ng6!?
also deserves consideration.
5.Ba4
b5
6.Bb3
Bb7
7.Re1
7.Ng5!?
would put pressure on f7, giving the game a Two Knights feel. Black's best response is probably 7...d5
8.exd5
(8.Qh5
g6
9.Qf3
f5
10.exf5
Nd4
is simply unclear.) 8...Nd4!
when Black appears to be no worse.
7...d5?
This optimistic thrust simply loses a pawn for Black. As a general rule, it is a bad idea for a player who has not castled to open the center when his opponent has castled already.
8.exd5
Nxd5
9.Nxe5
Nxe5
10.Rxe5+
Be7
11.d4
11.Qf3
c6
12.Nc3
11...0-0
12.c3
Nf6
13.Bg5
h6
14.Bh4
g5
15.Bg3
Bd6
16.Re1
c5
17.Bxd6
Qxd6
18.d5?
Here, the blindfolded player loses the thread of the position.
18.dxc5
keeps White a healthy pawn ahead, as 18...Qc6
can be met by 19.f3
Qxc5+
20.Kh1
g4
21.Nd2
Rad8
22.Qc2
and the threat of Qg6+ forces Black to take a tempo out with a move like 22...Qh5
giving White time to play 23.Ne4
Nxe4
24.fxe4
g3
25.h3+/=
when Black's initiative does not seem to be quite worth the pawn.
18...c4!
19.Bc2
Nxd5
19...Rfe8
would be even better, exchanging off more pieces. White cannot use the move to
bring enough defenders to d5, so the capture of the pawn can wait.
20.Nd2
Nf4
21.Ne4
Qxd1?!
Trading Queens does not seem like a particularly good idea at this point, since it reduces Black's attacking chances.
21...Qc6-/+
would keep a menacing lineup on the long diagonal.
22.Raxd1
f5
23.Ng3
Nxg2
23...Bxg2
24.Nxf5
Rf6
25.Re7
is probably a bit better for Black, but at least White is getting some piece
activity.
24.Re7!
Now White should have enough piece activity to hold the balance.
24...Bf3
25.Rdd7
Rfe8
26.Rg7+
26.Nxf5!+/=
even gives White a small plus.
26...Kh8
27.Bxf5
Rad8
Here Vishal, after thinking for a while, declared his intention to take a perpetual check. At first glance (and a glance, of course, is just what Vishal didn't have), this looks like all that White can hope for.
But on a closer examination it appears that White can sensibly play for the whole point. 27...Rad8 28.Rh7+ Kg8 29.Rdg7+ Kf8 30.h3 Re1+ 31.Kh2 Nh4 32.Rc7! Kg8 33.Rxh6 Rf8 34.Bh7+ Kh8 Now all light squares are denied to Black's Rooks because of the discovery, so Black's heavy pieces are literally cut to half of their normal fighting strength. Meanwhile, Black cannot give up control of any square on the a2-g8 diagonal or disaster will strike. So White can simply shift over to the queenside and start trouble there, e.g. 35.b3 cxb3?? 36.Bc2+! Kg8 37.Bxb3++-
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