Winning Without Castling

Last updated 2 May 2002

Geller,E - Rublyovsky,S [B84]
Russian Championship, 1995
[Notes by Nickolai Gurtovoi]

[In this significant game, I wish to feature a violent engagement between the "old" and "new" schools of chess experts.]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Qc7 6.Be2 Nf6 7.0-0?! [As representative of the "old" school, GM Efim Geller plays as in old times - develop the kingside pieces and castle quickly!]

7...d6 8.f4 Be7 9.Qe1 Nbd7 10.Bf3 h6 11.Kh1 Rg8! [Well played! Bravo!]

12.Qd1 g5 13.f5 e5 14.Ne6!? [The only possibility to sharpen play. If 14.Nb3? b5! =+]

14...fxe6 15.Bh5+ Nxh5 16.Qxh5+ Kd8 17.fxe6 Nf6 18.Qf7 Rf8 19.Rxf6!? Rxf7 20.exf7 Bf8 21.Nd5 Qxc2! [If 21... Qc6? 22.Rg6 Qd7 23.Be3 Qxf7 24.Rf6! (idea 25.Bb6) +=]

22.Be3 Bh3! [Only move. If 22... Qxe4? 23.Rxd6+ Bxd6 24.Bb6+ Kd7 25.Nf6+ Ke6 26.Nxe4 Be7 27.Rf1 Bd7 28.Nc5+! +-]

23.Rf2 Qd3 24.Rd2 Bxg2+ 25.Kg1 [Or 25.Kxg2 Qxe4+ 26.Kg3 Qh4+ 27.Kg2 Qg4+ 28.Kh1 Qf3+ 29.Kg1 Rc8 -+]

25...Qxe4! 26.Bb6+ Kd7 27.Nf6+ Ke6 28.Nxe4 Bxe4 29.Re2 Bf3 30.Rc2 Be7 31.Rf1 g4 32.Kf2 Rf8 33.Kg3 h5 34.h4 Rxf7 [A well-deserved victory for the adventurous young GM!] 0-1