Winning Without Castling

Last updated 2 May 2002

Gurtovoi,N - Jacot,L [A02]
Latvia v Switzerland, 1995
[Notes by Nickolai Gurtovoi]

1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 g5 4.g4 h5 5.d4 hxg4 6.Nxg5 Be7 7.h4 gxh3 8.Nxf7!? [This extremely risky move led to unforeseen consequences. However, after 8.Rxh3 Rxh3 9.Nxh3 Bh4+ 10.Nf2 it did not seem very promising for White!]

8...Bb4+ [Perhaps better was 8... Bh4+ 9.Kd2 Kxf7 10.e4 d6! =+]

9.c3 Qh4+ 10.Kd2 Qxd4+ 11.Kc2 Qe4+ [Rather recklessly, Black tries to win by taking pieces. Necessary was 11... Qxd1+ 12.Kxd1 Kxf7 13.cxb4 unclear.]

12.Qd3 Qxh1? [The last fatal mistake! It's not too late for 12... Qxd3+ 13.exd3 Kxf7 14.cxb4 Nxe5 15.Bxh3 +=]

13.Nxh8 Qxf1 14.Qg6+ Kf8 15.Bh6+! Nxh6 16.Qxh6+ Kg8 17.Nd2! Qf5+ [If (a) 17... Qxa1 18.Ne4! Be7 19.Nf6+! Bxf6 20.exf6 doubly threatening 21.Qg7# or 21.f7# or (b) 17... Nd4+ 18.cxd4 Bxd2 19.Qg6 Kxh8 20.Rxf1 or (c) 17... Bf8 18.Qg6+ Kxh8 19.Rxf1 or (d) 17... Qg2 18.Rg1! (another possibility is 18.Ng6) 18... Qxg1 19.Ne4 Qg7 20.Nf6+ Kf8 21.Qh5! threatening 22.Qe8#]

18.e4 Nd4+ [Looks showy, but is insufficient for defence.]

19.cxd4 Qf2 [Or (a) 19... Qh7 20.Rg1+ Kxh8 21.Qf6+ Qg7 22.Qxg7# or (b) 19... Qg4 20.Ng6! d5 21.Qh8+ Kf7 22.Qh7+ (or 22.Rf1+)]

20.Qg6+! [20.Ng6 is weak, eg 20... Qxd2+ 21.Qxd2 Bxd2 22.Kxd2 d6 23.Rh1 Kg7 24.Nf4 Bd7 25.Nxh3 Rh8 +=]

20...Kxh8 21.Qh5+!! [21.Rg1? is not so good because of 21... Qxd2+ 22.Kb1 Qg2 23.Rxg2 hxg2 24.Qxg2 b6! with 25... Bb7 +=]

21...Kg7 22.Qg4+! Kh6 [Or 22... Kf7 23.Rf1!]

23.Qxh3+ Kg5 24.Rg1+! Qxg1 25.Nf3+ Kg6 26.Nxg1 1-0