Chess Simul by IM Alexei Khamat Galiev 2009

CHESS SIMUL BY FIDE INTERNATIONAL MASTER ALEXEI KHAMAT GALIEV (30 Boards)
Skills and Development Center, Doha, Qatar
30 March 2009
(Annotations by ARH)

I.M. A. GALIEV(White) vs. ANDRO HUERTO (Black) (French Defense)

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 Bb4
4. e5 c5

The text is played more frequently than 4…Ne7 which was used by Botvinnik against the ten-years younger Smyslov in their long rivalry since 1941. In their theoretical dispute, Botvinnik, finally, gave up and turned to the Caro-Kann in their 3rd match for the title.

However, Botvinnik’s abandonment did not diminish the value and importance of the French as one of the viable defenses against the King Pawn Opening. Other notable players like Bronstein, Petrosian, Uhlmann, Korchnoi, Geller, Portisch, Ivkov, Hort and Andersson took over Botvinnik’s flag. Today, the French Defense is one of the most widely-used weapons of Black especially by players who love to counter-attack.

5. a3 Bxc3
6. bxc3 Nc6
7. Qg4

This is more aggressive than Nf3. Still, after the Queen has left its wing in order to destroy its foe’s Kingside, White has to reckon with some backwardness in development and the disappearance of his own central pawns: e.g. 7…..Nge7 8. Qxg7, Rg8 9. Qxh7, cxd4 10. cxd4, Nxd4. Possible continuation could be 11. Qd3, Qa5+ 12. Bd2, Qa4 13. Rc1, Bd7 followed by 14…..Rc8 with strong pressure along the c-file.

7. ….. Nge7
8. Rb1

An interesting move! It has 3 purposes: first, it seizes the open b-file where White can launch an attack against Black’s Queenside; second, it prevents Black’s Queen from occupying the b6-square where it can exert pressure on White’s pawn at d4; and third, it removes the Rook from the line of attack in the event Black’s Queen targets the c3-square.

8. ….. Qa5

A surprise counter-attack on White’s own weak c3-square. The immediate threat
is 9…..cxd4, forcing White’s next move.

9. Bd2 0-0
10. Nf3 f6

This move is meant to break White’s center-pawn formation and to open a line of attack for Black’s Rooks along the f-file.

11. exf6 Rxf6
12. Bd3 h6

White is building a dangerous attack against Black’s King. I feel it is necessary to deny White from using the g5-square as an outpost for his Knight. The move also prevents White’s black-square Bishop from attacking Black’s Rook at f6.

12…..e5 looks very attractive but after 13. Bxh7+, Kxh7 14. Qh5+, Kg8 15.Ng5,
Black’s King is exposed to attack.

12…..g6 is bad for Black because of 13. Ng5 followed by 14. Qh4

13. Qh5

White threatens 14. Qe8+, Rf8 15. Bh7+

13. ….. Bd7

14. Ne5

14. Rxb7, Be8 15. Qh3, c4 16. Be2, Bg6 17. Bd1, Raf8 18. 0-0, Qxa3 is
advantageous for Black.

….. Be8
15. Qh3 Qc7

15…..c4 16. Be2, Qc2 17. f4 is good for White.

16. Ng4

16. f4 is no longer possible because of 16…..cxd4

16. ….. Rf5

Not 16…..Rf8 because of 17. Nxh6+, gxh6 18. Qxe6+, Rf7 and 19. Bxh6 exposing the Black King.

17. Bf5 ef5
18. Ne3 Bg6
19. Qf3 cd4
20. Nd5???

A costly blunder by IM Galiev. But after 20. Nd1, Qe5+ 21. Kf1, b6 , Black
can mobilize his Rook to join the attack on the open files while White pieces especially the Rooks remain on the back ranks.

20. ….. Qe5+
21. Ne3 dc3
22. Bc1 f4
23. 0-0

Alas, too late to hide for safety!

23. ….. fe3
24. Be3 Rf8
25. Qd1 Rd8
26. Qe2 b6

Closes the only line of attack for White. The rest if a matter of technique for Black.

27. Rfe1 Qe4
28. Rbc1 Bf7

The intention is to transfer the Bishop to d5 and move the Rook to g6 via d6 in order to create direct mating attacks against White’s King.

29. f3 Qc4
30. Qxc4 Bxc4
31. Rcd1 Rxd1
32. Rxd1 Nd5
33. Bd4 Be2

White Resigns.