The game is from the last round of World Open 1988, where Nick heads the field with 8/10 and I am the sole follower a 1/2 point behind. He needs a draw to take down the $25,000 first prize and I need a win. My strategy was to confuse him in the opening with original play and then to nurse my positional advantage very slowly, stopping his typically agressive style. 7.Bf4 is a very tricky move that confuses typical Benoni players, since it hints at stopping ..e6 and invites Black to play e5. 7...e6 is playable, but without preparation Black is usually afraid to sacrifice a pawn.
The game transposes from a Benoni to a King's Indian.
5... Bg7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Bf4!?White is trying to complicate as soon as possible.
Black is now ready to push his f-pawn.
10. g3White is not just preventing a possible Nf4 jump but also opens the f1-h3 diagonal for his bishop.
10... f5 11. Bh3!?White is happy to exchange his bad bishop.
11... fxe4?!A big positional mistake that probably decided the game.
Black's wish to keep the N/h3 out of g5 is understandable, but as it is said, 'pawns do not go backwards'. Black creates a big weakness on g6.
14. Nxe4Choosing the positional approach.
A very passive move.
Since Black is not planning to do any counter-attacking, White is using his time to slowly improve his position move by move.
16... Nhf6 17. Nc3It is also useful to save as many pieces as possible.
17... Kh7 18. Nf2Now both of White's knights are controlling the critical e4 square.
18... Rae8 19. Kg2 a6 20. a4Making any counterplay with b5 impossible.
20... Nb6 21. b3 Nc8 22. g4White is setting all his pawns on light squares, because he foresees an endgame. In the endgame White's bishop will dominate its counterpart.
22... Ne7 23. Rae1 Qd7 24. h3Now it looks like all White's pieces and pawns stand perfectly. But White finds another maneuvre to improve his position.
24... Rf7 25. Nh1! Ref8 26. Ng3 b6 27. Qd3 a5 28. Rh1Before executing the winning plan, White is trying to scare Black with some threats.
28... Kh8 29. Ref1 Kg8 30. Be3 Kh8 31. Rf2White finds the needed structure.
31... Kg8 32. Rhf1 Ne8 33. Nce2Now White has a strong threat: f4!
33... Nf6?Counterplay is too late. Black only manages to create another weakness.
35. fxe5 dxe5 36. gxh5 Nxh5 37. Rxf7 Rxf7 38. Rxf7 Kxf7 39. Nxh5 gxh5After many exchanges, the material is still equal, but Black's position is hopeless.
40. Ng3 h4 41. Ne4 Kg8 42. Bg5 Nf5 43. Nf6+Forcing the exchange of Black's bishop, leaving Black's pawns with no defense.
43... Bxf6 44. Bxf6 Kf8 45. Bxe5 Qf7 46. d6 Qd7 47. Qf3 Qe6 48. Bf4 Ke8 49. Kf2 Nd4 50. Qh5+ Kd7 51. Qh7+ Ke8 52. d7+!Simplifying into a winning ending.
52... Qxd7 53. Qg8+ Ke7 54. Bg5+ Kd6 55. Qd5+ Kc7 56. Qxd7+ Kxd7 57. Bxh4Now the passed pawn decides.
57... Nxb3 58. Ke3 Nd4 59. Ke4 Ke6 60. Bg3 Ne2 61. Be5 Ng1 62. h4 Nh3 63. Bg3Trapping the knight.
63... Ng1 64. Ke3 Kf5 65. Bh2 Nh3 66. Kf3 Kg6 67. Kg3 Ng5 68. hxg5 Kxg5 69. Kf3 Kf5 70. Bc7 b5 71. cxb5 Ke6 72. Bxa5A great positional game by White.
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