(1) Kouatly,B (2455) - Ermenkov,E (2500) [A57]
Albena Albena, 1985



1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5
The Benko Gambit

4.cxb5 a6 5.e3
An interesting approach. Rather than take again on a6 and permit Ba6xf1 when white moves the e-pawn, white insists on exchanging the light squared bishops without giving up the right to castle. But there is a price. e3-e4 costs a tempo (rather than e2-e4 in one move).

5...axb5
Enticing the Bf1-b5 and then counter-attacking the white center.

6.Bxb5 Bb7
Two attacks on the d5-pawn, and e3-e4 cannot be played.

7.Nc3
Two defences.

7...Qa5
Pinning the defender. It's once again 2 on 1

8.Bd2
Defending the d-pawn in a somewhat complex manner. Nc3xd5 would also attack the Qa5

8...Qb6
And, thanks to the Bd2 blocking the white Qd1, it's once again 2 on 1

9.Qb3
Again,a second defender

9...e6
Just like Nimzovitch. And only then attack it with a pawn. dxe6 meets Bxg2 (thanks to the light squared B on b5)

10.e4
Diagram Three attacks, three defenses

10...Nxe4
Taking advantage of the g2-weakness.

11.Nxe4 Bxd5
The Bb5, Ne4 and the Qb3 are all under attack!

12.Qd3
Moving the queen and still defending the Bb5 and Ne4

12...f5
Forcing the Ne4 to move

13.Ng3 Bxg2
The logical follow-up. Black will win the exchange of h1. Does white have enough compensation?

14.a4
Freeing the Qd3 from its defense of the Bb5

14...Qb7
There's no rush to capture on h1. Be7 is another good move, developing the kingside. [14...Bxh1 15.Nxh1 ]

15.f3 Be7 16.N1e2 Bxh1
last chance to take

17.Nxh1 0-0 18.0-0-0
Seeking activity against the black d-pawn

18...Nc6
To an active square, watching b4, d4, and e5, and preventing a4-a5

19.Kb1
perhaps Bc3 first to stop Ne5-f3

19...Ne5 20.Qe3 Nxf3
breaking through. The threat is Bg5

21.Bc3 Bg5 22.Qxc5
very dangerous, opening lines against the white queenside

22...Qe4+
taking the beautiful entry square

23.Rd3 Rfc8
[23...Qxe2 24.Ng3 Qg2 25.Bxd7~~ ]

24.Qf2 Ne5 25.Qd4 Qxe2
seeking simplification

26.Qxe5?
[26.Ng3! Qxh2 27.Qxe5 Bf6 28.Qd6~~ ]

26...Qf1+
[26...Qxe5 27.Bxe5 Rc1+ 28.Ka2 Rc5 winning a piece]

27.Ka2 Bf6 28.Qxf6! Rxa4+
[28...gxf6 29.Rg3+ Kf7 30.Bxf1 ]

29.Kb3
[29.Bxa4 gxf6 ]

29...Ra3+! 30.Kxa3?
[30.Kb4 Raxc3 31.Qxg7+ Kxg7 32.Rxd7+ Kh6 33.Bxf1 Rc1 34.Ng3 f4 35.Ba6 fxg3-+ ]

30...Qa1+ 31.Kb4 gxf6 32.Ng3
black has a huge advantage

32...Qg1 33.Bd4 Qe1+ 34.Bc3 Qg1 35.Bd4 Qf1 36.Bc3 Qf2 37.Bd4 Qf4 38.Nh5 Qd6+ 39.Kb3 Rb8 40.Ka4 Ra8+ 41.Kb3 Ra5 42.Bc4 Qc6 43.Nxf6+ Kf7 44.Rh3 Ra1 45.Rxh7+ Kg6 46.Be2 Qa4+ 47.Kc3 Rc1+ 48.Kd3 Qc2+ 49.Ke3 Re1 50.Rg7+ Kxg7 0-1