The following game was played at the World Open a couple of years ago. In the previous
round, I'd blown a winning position against the young grandmaster Gabriel Schwartzman, so when
I was paired against Alex Dunne, the Chess Life
columnist, (who was rated only a hundred and fifty points or so
higher than I) I was far from intimidated. After each of us got off some fine
shots, I achieved a highly favorable, probably winning, position.
But I erred, he found a fine defensive move and won. While I don't generally
like to publish losses (who does?), this one contains so many excellent moves
by both of us that it merits publication. It's a shame that Alex,
a first class gentleman who does a lot for chess, got off the last
good shot.
Alex Dunne - Robert Jacobs
Queen's Gambit Declined, Slav Defense, D16
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bg4
I often play this move in lieu of the more common 5...Bf5. After the game,
Alex told me that he too used to play it often, so it's not surprising he found some good
ideas.
6. Ne5 Bh5
Here the books recommend three possible pawn moves, each of which
supposedly gives White a slight edge: h3, g3, and f3. Alex chooses the most solid.
7. g3 e6 8. Bg2 Be7
The books give 8...Bb4 but I'm inclined to think that square is
best reserved for the knight.
9. 0-0 0-0 10. Nxc4 Na6 11. h3 Qc8!
A fine move which gives Black equality if not a bit
more. The primary idea is to get a rook on the Queen file immediately.
12. g4 Bg6 13. e4 Rd8 14. Be3
White's achieved an apparently strong pawn center--but it's soon under a lot of pressure.
14...c5 15. d5 Nxe4! 16. Nxe4 exd5 17. Ned6 Bxd6
18. Bxd5!
Threatening 19. Nxd6 and if 19...Rxd6 then 20. Bxf7+.
18...Bb8
Probably not the best. Today 18...Bc7 looks better.
19. Bxb7?!
Flashy but with precise play (a big proviso), Black should emerge on top. 19. Qf3 is probably
better since 19...Qc7 can be parried with 20. Rfd1.
Now of course Black must do something about the back rank mate.
19...Bxh2+ 20. Kxh2
A critical position. I looked a long time, failed to anticipate
Dunne's defensive resources and erred. The simple 20...Qxb7 produces a
winning position for Black since his pieces pretty much
control the board; White's queen is en prise; Black threatens 21...Bd3
winning material or Black's queen and the light square bishop can pulverize
the White king on the light squares. But I thought I saw the
chance to win the game quickly so...
20...Qc7+?
21. Nd6!!
A star defensive move truly snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Black must lose
the exchange with little compensation.
21...Rxd6 22. Bf4 Qxb7
The only way to continue the fight. If 22...Rxd1 23. Bxc7 Rxa1 24. Rxa1 Nxc7
25. Bxa8 Nxa8 26. Rd1 wins.
23. Qxd6 Qf3 24. Bg3 Be4 25. Rg1
And though I struggled on a few more moves, I was
unable to generate anything against Dunne's accurate defense and
soon resigned.
1-0