1.e4
e5
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.Bb5
The Ruy Lopez
3...a6
4.Ba4
Nf6
5.0-0
Nxe4
The open variation. Black wins a pawn temporarily. White will seek counterplay in the center and down the open e-file.
6.d4
b5
7.Bb3
d5
Securing the position of the Ne4. exd4 is far too dangerous in face of the pressure on the e-file.
8.dxe5
Be6
A common position in the Ruy
9.c3
Securing d4 and preparing the Bc2 retreat
9...Be7
10.Be3
0-0
11.Nbd2
TRading off black's advanced Ne4 post
11...Nxd2
12.Qxd2
Qd7
13.Qd3
Na5
14.Bc2
IN a correspondence game between grandmasters, mate will not occur quickly. White simply wants to impel the weakening of the kingside pawns.
14...g6
The f6 and h6 squares are now weak
15.Bh6
Moving immediately into the vaccuum
15...Bf5
16.Qe2
Rfe8
17.Nd4
Forcing the exchange of the bishops and supporting f4-f5
17...Bxc2
18.Nxc2
Avoiding Qxc2 c5
18...Bd6
19.f4
White securesa the center. The idea is f5.
19...f6
Identifying the e5-weakness, fixing and attacking it with his pieces and finally a pawn. Black will win the e-pawn but at the cost of further kingside weakening.
20.Qd3
Out of the pin, supporting f4-f5
20...fxe5
21.f5!
[21.Qxd5+
Qe6
]
21...Bc5+
22.Kh1
e4
23.Qg3
threat fxg6. White must play actively to avoid Nc4-e5
23...Bd6
24.Qg5
maintaining the threat.
24...Re5
active defense, pinning the f-pawn
25.Ne3
idea Ng4-f6+
25...Qf7
26.Qh4
Renewing the fxg6 threat.
26...Nc4!
active defense!
27.fxg6
Qxg6
28.Rf6
Diagram
28...Rh5
allowing Rxg6 CHECK!
29.Rxg6+
hxg6
30.Qf6
And black emeres with Rxh2 and Rxh6
30...Rxh2+
31.Kg1
Rxh6
32.Qg5
Kh7
Black has a R+B+2 pawns and an active game for the queen
33.Ng4
Diagram
33...Bc5+
34.Kf1
Rh1+
35.Ke2
Rxa1
Winning the Ra1 but ceding the inititative back to white
36.Qh6+
Kg8
37.Qxg6+
Kh8
38.Qf6+
Kh7
39.Qh6+
White can force a perpetual but tries for more.
39...Kg8
40.Qg5+
Kh8
41.Qxd5
Rf8
42.Qh5+
Kg7
43.Qxc5
Rff1
threat Rae1#
44.Qxc7+
Kg6
45.Qg3
Rae1+
46.Qxe1
Rxe1+
47.Kxe1
Nxb2
Material equality has been restored!
48.Kd2
Kf5
49.Ne3+
Kf4
50.Nd5+
Ke5
51.Nc7
Nc4+
52.Ke2
Na3
53.Nxa6
Nb1
54.Nb4
Nxc3+
55.Kd2
Nb1+
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