Winning Without Castling

Last updated 2 May 2002

Gurtovoi,N - Giese,G [A02]
X ICCF Cup, 1995
[Notes by Nickolai Gurtovoi]

1.f4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.e3 g6 4.Be2 Bg7 5.d3 d6 6.Nbd2 e6 7.c3 Nge7 8.g4 b5 9.Qc2 Rb8 10.Rg1 b4 11.Ne4 f5 [On the board there is a picturesque mixture of Bird's Opening, Sicilian and Dutch Defences.]

12.gxf5 exf5 13.Ng3 0-0? [A suicidal decision: Black hurries to put his K into a corner trap. It was necessary to continue the attack on the Q-side: 13...a5! with 14... Bd7 and 15... Qb6! unclear.]

14.Bd2 Re8 15.Kf2! [A perfectly correct judgement. White undertakes an attack on the K's flank.]

15...Qb6 16.h4! d5 17.h5! [It is necessary to hurry - delay may mean death!]

17...bxc3 18.bxc3 Qb2 19.Rac1! Ba6 [Or 19... Qxc2 20.Rxc2 Bd7 (20... Ba6 21.Ng5! +-) 21.hxg6 hxg6 22.e4! dxe4 23.dxe4 fxe4 24.Nxe4 +-]

20.hxg6 hxg6 21.Ng5 Qa3 22.Rh1! [22.Rb1?! is weak because of 22... Rxb1 23.Rxb1 c4 +=]

22...Rb2 23.Qd1 Reb8 24.Rh7! [Threatening the murderous 25.Qh1]

24...Bxd3!? [Perhaps the only chance of defence.]

25.Rxg7+! [The only winning move! 25.Bxd3?! is weak because of 25... Bxc3! unclear, as is 25.Qh1?! because of 25... Nd8!! 26.Rxg7+ Kxg7 27.Qh7+ Kf8 28.Qh8+ Ng8 unclear.]

25...Kxg7 26.Bxd3 c4 27.Nxf5+!! [A bolt from the blue.]

27...Nxf5 [Or 27... gxf5 28.Qh5! Rxd2+ 29.Kg3 Rf8 30.Qh7+ Kf6 31.Rh1! +-]

28.Bxf5 Qe7 [If 28... gxf5 29.Qh5 Rxd2+ 30.Kg3 Qf8 31.Rh1! etc.]

29.Bg4 Rxa2 30.Rc2 Rbb2 31.Rxb2 Rxb2 32.Kg3 Qf6 33.Bc1 1-0