(1) Akopian,V (2693) - Sokolov,I (2706) [C95]
GMA Wijk aan Zee NED (5), 15.01.2004



1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6
Not the Marshall Gambit with ...0-0 and ...d5

8.c3 0-0 9.h3
The normal prelude to d4, avoiding ...Bg4

9...Nb8
The Breyer. The Nc6 returns to b8 to prepare Nbd7 and ...c7-c5

10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2
Usually, the start of the Nf1-g3 manoeuver

11...Bb7 12.Bc2 c5 13.b3 cxd4
More customary is Re8 and Bf8 first

14.cxd4 exd4
Opening the e-file for ...Re8. White gets an isolated e-pawn, but black has opened up lines for the white bishops.

15.Nxd4 Re8 16.a4
A problem for black. Pushing b5-b4 would open up the c4 squrae and leave the b-pawn weak. And the b-pawn is hard to defend, so...

16...bxa4 17.bxa4
But now, white gains the open a2-g8 diagonal for the Bc2

17...Rc8 18.Nf5
A beutiful outpost, hitting the isolated d6-pawn and, in some lines, threatening Nxg7

18...Qc7 19.Bb3 Bf8
Three attacks upon the white e-pawn

20.Bb2
Preferring active development.

20...d5
Trying to get rid of the isolated d-pawn [ 20...Nxe4 21.Qg4 with the idea of Nh6 and Nxf7 21...g6 22.Nxe4 Bxe4 23.Rxe4 Rxe4 24.Qxe4+- ]

21.Rc1 Qf4
The beginning of a lengthy queen sortie. More prudent, perhaps, was Qb8

22.Rxc8 Bxc8 23.g3 Qg5 24.h4 Qg6
[ 24...Qg4 25.Qxg4 Nxg4 26.Bxd5+- ]

25.h5! Nxh5
Qg5 first may be an improvement.

26.Nh4 Qg5?
[ 26...Qh6 27.Nf5 ( 27.Ndf3!? Nc5 28.Bxd5 Nf6 ) 27...Qg6 28.Nh4= ]

27.Ndf3
White's pieces are all pointing towards the kingside. Black is busted.

27...Qe7 28.exd5 Qd8 29.Rxe8 Qxe8
Diagram

30.Ng5
Threatening Qxh5

30...Nxg3
Black is lost, trying here to complicate. [ 30...h6 31.Qxh5 hxg5 32.Bc2 Qe1+ 33.Kg2 f5 34.Qxg5+- ; 30...Nc5 31.Qxh5 h6 32.Bc2+- ; 30...g6 31.d6 Ne5 32.Qe2+- ]

31.d6!
[ 31.fxg3 Qe3+ 32.Kg2 Qxg5-/+ ]

31...Qe2
[ 31...Ne5 32.fxg3 ]

32.Bxf7+ Kh8
And My first law is now in effect: The king's can't move... white only needs a check!

33.Qb1 Ne4
[ 33...Nf5 34.Qxf5 Qd1+ 35.Kg2 Bb7+ 36.Nhf3+- ]

34.Qxe4 Qd1+ 35.Kh2
[ 35.Kg2?? Bb7!= 36.Qxb7 Qg4+ 37.Kf1 Qd1+ 38.Kg2 Qg4+= ]

35...Bxd6+ 36.f4 Qd2+ 37.Kg3
Black is out of checks 1-0