Winning Without Castling

Last updated 2 May 2002

Chlupin,M - Gurtovoi,N [A81]
VI-VII ICCF Cup, 1991
[Notes by Nickolai Gurtovoi]

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.c4 d6 6.0-0 Nbd7 7.Nc3 c6 8.Ng5 Nf8! [Excuse me for the immodesty, but perhaps this is my patent!]

9.Re1 h6 10.Nh3 d5 11.Nf4 g5 12.Nd3 Ng6 13.Ne5 Nxe5 [Not the strongest move. Probably 13... Rg8 was better.]

14.dxe5 Ng4! 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Qd4 [If 16.f4? Bc5+! 17.e3 gxf4 18.gxf4 Qh4!]

16...Qa5 [Threatening 17... Bc5]

17.e3 Bc5 18.Qd2 Be6 [Another possibility is 18... Nxe5 and if 19.Bxd5 cxd5 20.Qxd5 Nf7!]

19.Qe2 Nxe5 20.Bd2 Qd8 [20... Qc7?! 21.Rac1 unclear.]

21.e4!? [The best defence!]

21...fxe4 22.Nxe4 dxe4 23.Be3? [23.Qxe4! was necessary, eg (a) 23... Bxf2+ 24.Kxf2 0-0+ 25.Kg1 Qxd2 26.Qxe5 =+; (b) 23... Qxd2 24.Re2 Qd4 25.Qxe5 Qxe5 26.Rxe5 Bxf2+ 27.Kxf2 0-0+ 28.Ke3 Rf6 =+; (c) 23... Bd4?! 24.Bc3! =]

23...Bc4! 24.Qc2 [Or 24.Qh5+ Bf7! 25.Qe2 Bxe3 26.Qxe3 0-0]

24...Bxe3 25.Rxe3 Bd3! 26.Qc3 Qf6 27.f4 [Desperation! If 27.Bxe4 0-0!]

27...gxf4 0-1