Boris F Gulko - Maxim Dlugy

World Open, 1988

Boris Gulko and I are good friends. Still none of the games we played have ever been agreed to draws. I like playing him, because he always finds ways to liven up the game with his original style. During the tournament we took walks together and I remember him predicting that Yasser Seirawan will win the tournament. I took that to heart and started trying harder....

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nc3!?
Usually White chooses the much more popular 3. Nf3
3... a6!?

Already after the third move the position is almost unknown.

Possibly the best way to equalize was 3... e5 For example: 4. e3 4... exd4 5. exd4 Nf6 6. Bxc4 Bb4 =
4. e4
The alternative 4. e3 would transpose to the main lines in the Queen's Gambit Accepted.

4... b5

Black is holding to the pawn.

5. a4

A questionable decision since in the game White achieved only a bad position.

On the other hand, 5. Nf3!? Nf6 6. e5 would transpose to a well known variation where White has great compensation for the pawn.

5... b4 6. Na2 Bb7!

Giving White no time to consolidate his position.

7. f3

But now White seems to be doing well: next move he will capture on c4, then develop his pieces, and Black will be left with weaknesess...

7... e5!

After this move, it is clear who is really on top.

8. Bxc4!

White decides to sacrifice a pawn to solve his problems.

Not good was 8. dxe5? Qxd1+ 9. Kxd1 Nc6 10. Bxc4 Nxe5 11. Be2 Bd6 -/+ White is almost lost here, and the fault of that is the N/a2.

8. d5 c6 -/+
8... exd4 9. Qb3

White creates two strong threats: Bxf7 and Nxb4.

9... Qe7

Defending both pawns.

10. Nh3 Nc6 11. Bg5?!

A mistake based on a wrong evaluation of the position.

White should have played more safely: 11. O-O Na5 12. Qd3 Nxc4 13. Qxc4 c5 14. Nf4 Rd8 15. Bd2 Nf6 16. Nc1 with good positional compensation for the lost pawn.

11... f6! 12. Bxg8
It was still not late to go back to the right road: 12. Bd2 Na5 13. Qd3
12... fxg5 13. Nxg5

White continues to attack. But after this move the position becomes hopeless.

More chances for survival were offered by 13. O-O O-O-O 14. Bc4
13... Rxg8! 14. Qxg8 Qxg5 15. Qe6+ Qe7 16. Qh3 b3

Black finishes the game with a mating attack.

17. Nc1 Qb4+ 18. Kd1 Qc4 0-1