Winning Without Castling

Last updated 2 May 2002

Gurtovoi,N - Moles,J [A22]
VI-VII ICCF Cup, SF-21, 1993
[Notes by Nickolai Gurtovoi]

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 Bc5 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.e3 d5!? [Probably this is a novelty favoured by my opponent.]

6.cxd5 Nb4 7.d4 exd4 8.exd4 Qe7+?! [Probably 8... Bf5!? was better, for example: 9.dxc5 Nc2+ 10.Kf1 Nxa1 11.Bg5 Nc2 12.a3 Qe7 unclear.]

9.Kf1! [The best move! If 9.Nge2?! Bxd4! 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.Nxc3 0-0 unclear.]

9...Bb6 10.a3 Na6 11.Qd3 0-0 12.Bg5 Re8 13.Nf3 Qd6 14.Ne5 Bxd4 15.Nc4! [Another interesting possibility was 15.Nxf7! Kxf7 16.Qxd4 Bd7 17.h4 +-]

15...Qc5 16.Na4! [Not 16.b4? Bf5!]

16...Qb5 17.Qxd4 Qxa4 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.h4 Bf5 [Or 19... b5 20.b3! Qxb3 21.Nd2 Qc2 22.Ne4!]

20.g4! c5 21.Qc3 Bxg4 22.b3 Be2+ 23.Kg1 Qb5?! 24.Rh3! [Threatening 25.Rg3+ or 25.Qxf6] 1-0