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(12) Alarie,D (1666) - Della-Selva,J (2083) [E90]
MCC Stanley Crowe Memorial Natick MA (1), 02.11.1999
[D Slater/D Alarie]
E90: King's Indian Defense: Classical T/C: 40/90+SD/30
1.d4
Nf6
2.c4
g6
3.Nc3
Bg7
4.e4
d6
5.Nf3
0-0
6.h3
e5
7.d5
DS: This early lock-up of the pawn structure pretty much dictates the plan for each side. White's natural pawn break is c5, so she'll play on the queenside (typical play might include b4, c5, cxd6 and then attempted penetration via the c-file and/or attack against d6). Black's natural pawn break is ...f5, leading to a kingside attack. I don't know what opening theory says, but I'm suspicious of White's setup, combining d5 with h3. In this kind of opposite-side-play position, it's a race, and the pawn on h3 has weakened White's kingside and already given Black a possible target to shoot at.
7...Nbd7
8.Be3
Nc5
DS: Now White is wise to pass by the chance to 'win' the e-pawn, since the White king is still a couple of tempi from castling. 9.Bxc5 dxc5 10.Nxe5 Re8 11.f4 Nh5, for example, is just plain ugly for White.
9.Bd3
a5
10.0-0
Nh5
11.Qc2
Nf4
DS: This is an interesting position. White's setup at first glance looks very classical and sensible - big center, bishops and knights developed to standard central squares. However, it doesn't work very well against Black's strategy. Now White is forced to exchange on c5 to try to untangle her pieces, after which White will have trouble getting anything going on the gummed-up queenside. Black's doubled pawns there aren't weak; White has no particular way of getting at them. Meanwhile Black is ready to roll on the kingside with ...f5. The knight on f4 is very powerful, eyeing the White kingside and particularly that weakness on h3. All of this suggests to me that White would have been better off with the more modest development 8. Be2, preparing to castle and perhaps shoot for a subsequent setup like O-O, Ne1, f3, Be3 and then Bf2 (in response to ...f5-f4). This is a common deployment in these KID positions - White sets up a fort on the kingside first, then turns to the queenside w/ Ne1-d3, supporting b4 and c5. [FYI - If you want to see a nice example of how to play the White side, look up Tal Shaked's win against Babula in the first round of the FIDE Knockout in Las Vegas this fall. It's available online.]
12.Bxc5
dxc5
13.Ne2
Nxd3
14.Qxd3
f5
15.Nd2
f4
16.Nf3
g5
17.Rfd1
DS: A nice idea by White. As the old maxim goes, the best way to counter a wing attack is to play in the center. Now she's planning 18.d6. But Black prevents this. I might go a step further and suggest more radical measures: White is about to get crushed on the kingside by ...g4, so why not sacrifice the pawn with 17.d6. If Black plays ...Qxd6, White gets the queens off the board (very important for surviving on the kingside) and gets counterplay based on the backward Black d6 pawn, the stinky dark-squared Black bishop, and perhaps the b5/d5 squares as possible knight posts. It seems like the best practical chance to me here.
17...Ra6
18.Qa3
Qe7
19.Nc3
h5
20.Na4
g4
DS: Black could certainly play 20...b6 here, ending White's queenside counterplay, although the Rook on a6 would look silly. Black decides his kingside attack is overwhelming and he can jettison the queenside at this point. It works out great for Black.
21.Qxc5
[ DA: >=21.Nxc5
]
21...Qe8
22.Qb5
Bd7
23.Qxb7
gxf3
24.Qxa6
Rf6
25.Qxa5
Qg6
26.g4
fxg3
27.Nc3
gxf2+
28.Kxf2
Qg2+
29.Ke3
f2
30.Rf1
Qf3+
31.Kd2
Bxh3
32.Qxc7
Bxf1
33.d6
Q |
