Winning Without Castling

Last updated 2 May 2002

Zubtzov,S - Gurtovoi,N [D30]
VI-VII ICCF Cup G-192, 1988
[Notes by Nickolai Gurtovoi]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.a3 c6 4.e3 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nbd7 6.Nf3 Be7 7.Bd3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 b5 9.Bd3 [9.Ba2 or 9.Be2 were better.]

9...Bb7 10.0-0? [A waste of tempo. Better is 10.Bd2 followed by 11.Rc1]

10...a5! [Better than the theoretical 10... a6?!]

11.e4 b4! 12.Ne2 [If 12.axb4 axb4 13.Rxa8 Qxa8 -+]

12...c5! [Suddenly it's a Sokolsky Opening for Black!]

13.Ng3 cxd4 14.Nxd4 h5! [Threatening 15... h4! Black has the advantage without castling.]

15.f3 [Probably the best defensive move. If 15.h4 Nc5! 16.Bb5+ Kf8! 17.Bg5 (or 17.e5 Ng4! 18.Nxh5 Nxh5) 17... Ncxe4]

15...Qb6 16.Be3 Bc5 17.Bb5 h4 18.Nge2 e5 19.Bxd7+ Nxd7 20.axb4 axb4 21.Rxa8+ Bxa8 22.Qa4 Bb7 23.Rd1 exd4 24.Bxd4 [Threatening 25.Qxd7+ Kxd7 26.Bxc5+]

24...Bc6! 25.Qc2 Rh5! [Now all Black's pieces are in play and White could resign here!]

26.Kh1 b3 27.Qd2 Kf8 28.Bc3 h3 29.Ng3 hxg2+ 30.Kxg2 Rh7! [If 30... Rh6?? 31.Bxg7+ Kxg7 32.Nf5+]

31.Ba5 Qb5 32.Bc3 Kg8 33.Qg5 Bf8 34.Qd8 Nc5 35.Rd4 Ne6 0-1