Tom Polgar

Lomasov, Semen (2305) – Bukavshin, I (2647) [B40]
19th Voronezh Master Open Voronezh RUS (1.1), 12.06.2015

Weekly game analysis by Tom Polgar

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.0–0 d5 8.Nd2 Be7 9.Re1 9.Qe2, 9.b3 or 9.c4 are all commonly played.

9…0–0 10.c3 a5 11.e5 Nd7 12.Nf3 c5 13.Bf4 Ba6 Black tries to exchange White’s key Bishop.

14.Bc2 But of course White prefers to keep it on the board.

14…Rb8 15.Qd2 Re8 15…Rxb2? would be a blunder, because of the discovery 16.Bxh7+.

16.h4 d4 This is an inaccuracy and gives white a lot of play.

Black could’ve aimed for a draw with 16…Bxh4 17.Nxh4 Qxh4 18.Bg5 Qg4 (18…Qc4 19.Re3) 19.Bd1 Qf5 20.Bc2 Qg4 21.Bd. If white plays on, he is down a pawn and black is a little better. And Black’s Queen cannot escape via c4 either, because of 22.Be2. But given the huge rating difference it is understandable that Black is looking for more than a draw.

17.cxd4 cxd4 18.Bg5 Black’s idea was that if 18.Nxd4 Bb4 or 18.Qxd4 Bc5.

18…f6 A very risky move. 18…Bxg5 19.Nxg5 Nf8 lead to a safer position for black.

19.exf6 gxf6 20.Bh6 Better was 20.Rxe6 Bc4 (20…fxg5 21.Rxa6 Nc5 22.Rxa5 d3 23.Ba4 White is up 2 pawns with a solid advantage.) 21.Re4 fxg5 22.Rxd4 Bb4 (22…Bb5 23.a4 Bc6 24.Qd3; 22…Be6 23.Re1 Bc5 24.Rxe6) 23.Bxh7+! Kh8 (23…Kxh7? 24.Rxd7+) 24.Qc2 Be6 25.hxg5 with a winning position.

20…e5 Black has a nice center, but due to the lack of a g-pawn Black’s King is in danger.

21.Re4 A natural and strong attacking move.

21…Kh8 Black’s best choice was 21…Bf8 22.Bb3+ Kh8 23.Rg4 Rxb3 24.axb3 f5 25.Rg3 f4 26.Bxf4 exf4 27.Qxf4 Bg7 28.Ng5 Qf6 29.Nf7+ Kg8 30.Qxf6 Nxf6 31.Nd6 and White is better, but Black has some hope to survive.

Lomasov - Bukavshin

22.Nxd4 Another good option was 22.Bg7+ Kxg7 23.Rg4+ Kf7 24.Qh6 with a killer attack.

22…exd4 Relatively best was 22…Bb4 23.Bg7+ Kxg7 24.Rg4+ Kh8 25.Qh6 Re7 26.Nc6 Qf8 27.Qxf8+ Rxf8 28.Rxb4 axb4 29.Nxe7 but white has a winning endgame advantage.

23.Rxd4 Rb7 24.Bg7+! Bang! White finds a second nice sacrifice, which wins the game.

24…Kxg7 25.Rg4+ Kf8 If 25…Kh8 26.Qh6.

26.Qd5 Black cannot stop the mate. If he goes 26…Bc5, then 27.Rg8+ Ke7 28.Rg7+ Kf8 29.Qf7 checkmate.

1–0

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