Winning Without Castling

Last updated 2 May 2002

Burenin,I - Gurtovoi,N [B52]
Soviet All-Union CC Tourney, 1991
[Notes by Nickolai Gurtovoi]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 Nc6 6.Nc3 g6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bg7 9.Be3 Nf6 10.f3 b6! [It was important to limit the movement of White's B and so the more usual 10... a6? was not appropriate.]

11.0-0 Ne5 12.b3 h5! [Without loss of time with 12... 0-0? Black gets ready for the attack.]

13.Rc1 h4 14.Nd5 Nh5! 15.Bf2 e6! 16.Nc3 Bf6 17.Ndb5 Ke7! [The Black K goes boldly into play!]

18.Qe1? Nd3 19.Qd2 Nxc1 20.Rxc1 g5! [Prevents 21.f4. Black has the upper hand, but has some difficulty converting to a win.]

21.Rd1 Rad8 22.Qe3 [Threatening 23.Rxd6]

22...Nf4!! [The best move.]

23.Ne2 [23.Rxd6? would have been immediate capitulation, eg 23... Qxd6! 24.Nxd6 Rxd6 25.Kf1 Rd3!]

23...Nxe2+ 24.Qxe2 Be5 25.c5?! [White attempts to fish in troubled waters!]

25...bxc5 26.Nxd6 Kf8! [Also possible, of course, is 26... Bxd6 27.e5 Qc7, but Black decided to catch White's N.]

27.Bxc5 Qc6! 28.Nb7+ Kg7 29.Nxd8 [Or 29.Rxd8 Rxd8 30.Nxd8 Qxc5+ 31.Kf1 Qc7 32.Qd2 Bf6!]

29...Qxc5+ 30.Kh1 [If 30.Qf2 Qc7 31.Qd2 Bf6!]

30...Qc7 31.Qd2 Bf6 32.Nxe6+ fxe6 33.Qd7+ Qxd7 34.Rxd7+ Kg6 35.Rxa7 Rc8 36.h3 Rc1+ 37.Kh2 Be5+ 38.g3 hxg3+ 39.Kg2 Rc2+ 0-1