NIVELES DE SEVERIDAD

ICCF correspondence, 2011

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.g4

Today I would play 7.f3 here, but my opponent had made a correspondence career in this line with 7...h5. I spent hundreds of hours analyzing these positions and I am now convinced that the verdict after 7.g4 is indeed a complex draw. I am tempted to offer my many pages o analysis, but instead, I present this game with what I intend to be useful verbal notes. Enjoy this struggle but know that I have lost my own faith in Perenyi's gambit.

Hungarian IM Bela Perenyi introduced the immediate 7.g4!? into serious chess during the 1970s. The idea is to transpose quickly into a Keres Attack (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.g4), but  Black does gain the opportunity in this move order to gain material with ...e5.

There are other tries here, notably ...h6 and ...b5, but this pawn move is the critical line. On its face, Black wastes a tempo now to attack the Nd4 as well as exposing White's g-pawn to a double attack.

8.Nf5

Perenyi found that White gains substantial play by sacrificing the knight here.

8...g6

There are other tries here too. Anand has played ...h5. But ...g6 is the main idea, attacking the knight while it cannot move without ceding the g4-pawn.

9.g5

For me, a new try, though many grandmasters have followed this path. White responds to the attack on the knight with a quick counter on the Nf6.

More than twenty years ago, I played this line twice. I analyzed this and another game in my book, The Chess Analyst. 9.Bg2 gxf5 10.exf5 h5 11.h3 Nc6 12.Qe2 hxg4 13.hxg4 Rxh1+ 14.Bxh1 Bd7 15.0–0–0 Rc8 16.g5 Bxf5 17.gxf6 Qxf6 18.f4 Qg6 19.Rg1 Qh7 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Bd5 b5 22.Rh1 Qg6 23.Rg1 Qd6 24.Qf2 Qd7 25.Rd1 Be6 26.Ne4 Be7 27.Bb3 Nd4 28.Qh2

Qc7 29.Bxd4 exd4 30.Qh8+ Kd7 31.Qxd4+ Kc6 32.Nc3 Bxb3 33.axb3 Kb7 34.Qe4+ Kb8 35.Nd5 Bg5+ 36.Kb1 Qd6 37.Re1 Rc5 38.Nb4 Ka7 39.Qg4 Bf6 40.Rd1 Qh2 41.Rf1 Qd6 42.Qg1 Qd4 43.Qxd4 Bxd4 44.Rxf7+ Kb6 45.Rd7 Be3 46.Rd6+ Kb7 47.Rxa6 Rh5 48.Re6 Bd4 49.Re2 Kb6 50.Nd3 Kc6 51.c3 Bb6 52.b4 Bc7 53.Kc2 Kd5 54.Kb3 Rh3 55.Ne1 Bb6 56.Rg2 Rh5 57.Rg6 Bd8 58.Nc2 Ke4 59.Na3 Bc7 60.Rg7 Bh2 61.Rb7 1–0 Edwards, J (2440) - DuBois, L (2280) ICCF correspondence 1990.

9...gxf5 10.exf5

But here's a surprise. White recaptures on f5 rather than f6, essentially sacrificing a knight in order to gain very quick positional activity down the d- and g-files and along the long h1–a8 diagonal.

10...d5

Black must play aggressively, but all readers must have already noticed that seven of Black's pieces remain "in-the-box." Black's idea is ...d4 forking White's knight and bishop. My Uncle Joe liked to remind me never to find myself up more than one pawn so early in the game, and if I did, to return one as quickly as possible. Here, Black aims to capture a second piece, undoubtedly with a comparable aim.

11.Qf3

Making room for a rook on d1, defending f5, and pressuring d5 and the squares along the long diagonal.

The main alternative is 11.gxf6 recovering the knight straight away but committing both players to a very long, forced sequence. 11...d4 12.Bc4 Development is more important here than trying to save a piece. 12...Qc7 Guaranteeing that the pawn fork will net a piece. After a piece capture, White had Bxf7 winning the queen. 13.Qd3 dxe3 14.0–0–0 exf2 Essentially defying White to find compensation for the piece. 15.Bxf7+ Now offering the bishop too! 15...Kxf7 16.Qd5+ Kxf6 17.Ne4+ Ke7 After 17...Kxf5 18.Rhf1 and the rook will join the attack. 18.f6+ Ke8 19.f7+ Ke7 Avoiding 19...Qxf7 20.Qd8# 20.Qd2 Steering the queen back towards g5. 20...Qb6 21.Qg5+ Kxf7 22.Rhf1 Not many players would accept this position on either side! 22...Bh6 23.Rxf2+ Ke8 24.Rd8+ Needed to break  the pin on the queen. 24...Qxd8 25.Qxh6 Qe7 26.Nf6+ Kd8 27.Nd5 Qe6 28.Qg5+ Kd7 29.Qg7+ Kc6 30.Rf6 Kxd5 31.Rxe6 Kxe6 32.Qxh8 And only here is there room for creativity. White will capture on h7 and try to advance the h-pawn. Black has ...Nc6 and only a small inconvenience in developing the rest of the queenside. Almasi, Z (2665)-Svidler, P (2685) Memorial A.Rubinstein 2000 was a win for Black from here in 54 moves.

11...d4

The main line, with its obvious fork of White's two minor pieces.

Little played and not compelling is 11...Bb4 12.gxf6 Nc6 13.0–0–0 Bxc3 Here's the point of Black's odd 11th move, nicking the queenside structure but giving up Black's dark-squared bishop. 14.Rxd5 Bxb2+ 15.Kxb2 Qxf6 16.Qg3 1–0 Lehiste, M (2247) - Jogi, J Estonia 2000 (34).

The second alternative 11...Ne4 was a popular way of playing this line when Perenyi introduced it. White will only gain a pawn rather than the Nf6 outright, and White will not easily castle queenside, but then again, Black loses the opportunity to play ...d4. 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Qxe4 Nc6 Some development is sorely needed. 14.Bc4 It's hard to argue with a compelling development move, but better may be the immediate Rd1. 14...Qd7 Pressuring f5, and continuing to prevent 0–0–0. 15.Bd5 Aiming

at c6 and preparing to castle. 15...Ne7 16.0–0–0 Qxf5 0–1 Bartel, M (2594) - Shomoev, A (2567) Moscow 2009 (53)

Old but not forgotten is 11...Bd7 12.0–0–0 Bc6 with its quick  reinforcement of the center. 13.Qe2 Bb4 14.Bd4 Justifying the whole approach, blasting the center and even covering the Nc3. 14...Ne4 15.Bxe5 Bxc3 Not 15...Qxg5+ 16.f4 16.Bxc3 Qxg5+ 17.Kb1 Rg8 18.f3 1–0 Timman, J (2590) - Portisch, L (2610) Reykjavik 1987 (39).

12.0–0–0

The rook needs to be on d1 to pin the d-pawn, so White might as well take the additional opportunity to safeguard the king.

12...Nbd7

Unpinning the queen. 13.Bc4

Many other moves have been tried here, notably including 13.Bd2, 13.Bxd4, the old main line with 13.gxf6, and even Rxd4, but I had a new idea in mind. Such is the nature of this line. Everyone is well prepared for it!

13...Qc7

As I said, not for the feint of heart. We are still in book. Black removes the queen from the d-file and pressures the Bc4.

Black gets crushed after 13...dxc3 14.Bxf7+ Kxf7 15.gxf6 cxb2+ 16.Kb1 Qxf6 17.Qh5+ Ke7 18.Bg5 winning the queen.

There's another long, forced sequence after 13...dxe3 14.Bxf7+ Kxf7 15.gxf6 Qxf6 16.Qh5+ Kg8 17.Ne4 Qf7 18.Rhg1+ Bg7 19.Rxg7+ Qxg7 20.Qe8+ Nf8 21.Nf6+ Qxf6 22.Rg1+ Qg7 23.Rxg7+ Kxg7 24.Qe7+ Kh6 25.Qf6+ Kh5 26.fxe3 when here, White emerges with a queen and two pawns for two undeveloped rooks and two undeveloped minor pieces.

14.Bxd4

With the light-squared bishop en pris, White offers up the other bishop.

Farago, S (2360) - Stocek, J (2350) Budapest 1994 tried 14.Bb3? but  the retreat proves to be too slow. 14...dxc3 15.gxf6 Nxf6 16.Bg5 Be7 17.Ba4+ This was White's idea, but Black has 17...b5!? 18.Qxa8 bxa4 19.Rhe1 h6 and Black won in 42 moves.

Necessary, but now the e-file opens for White's rooks.

14...Qxc4 loses rather quickly. 15.Rhe1 Bd6 15...Ng4!? fails to 16.Qxg4 Be7 17.Re4! 16.gxf6 Rg8 17.Bxe5! Bxe5 18.Nd5 with the threat of Qa3+-.

15.Rhe1+ Kd8

Sad to have to keep the king in the center, but required. The upside for Black is the possibility later of ...Rhe8 challenging White's control over the e-file.

Black cannot successfully play 15...Ne5 16.gxf6 Bd6 Not 16...dxc3 17.Qf4 cxb2+ 18.Kb1 Bd6 19.Rxd6 An obvious exchange sacrifice 19...Qxd6 20.Rxe5+ Black is a rook down and can now resign, facing mate on g7 or the loss the queen. 17.Rxd4 Bd7 Trying to castle to the safety of  the queenside. 18.Bxf7+ Kd8 On 18...Kxf7 19.Qh5++- 19.Qd5 Already with an overwhelming position. 19...Nxf7 20.Qxf7 Kc8 21.Nd5 Qa5 22.b4 1–0 Timman, J (2616) - Smeets, J (2535) Hilversum 2006.

16.Rxd4

If you are impressed by all this, know that the two players were still following existing theory, a game played between Leko and Anand in a rapid game!

16...Bc5

Gaining time on the rook and getting ready for ...Re8.

Less convincing is 16...Qc6!? when 17.Qg3 Bc5 18.Rdd1 Re8 19.gxf6 Rxe1 20.Rxe1 Bd6 21.Qg8+ Kc7 22.Qxf7 is much better for White with the advanced f-pawns as an asset.

17.Rd3

Not a novelty but an attempted improvement over the Leko -Anand game referenced just below. White readies the doubling of the rooks on either central file.

A key game in this line is Leko, P (2753) - Anand, V (2799) Nice 2008: 17.Rdd1 Re8 18.gxf6 Rxe1 19.Rxe1 Nxf6 20.Rd1+ Bd7?! Much better is ...Ke8 aiming to hide the king on the kingside. 21.Bxf7 Qxh2 22.Nd5 Rc8 23.Be6 Bxf2 24.c3 Rc7 25.Nxf6 Qh6+ 26.Kb1 Qxf6 27.Qxf2 Ke8 28.Qg3 1–0.

17...Qxh2

Not quite a novelty, but improving on 17...Re8 18.Red1 Qxh2 19.gxf6 Kc7 20.R3d2 with very complex play.

On 17...Qc6 I intended 18.Qg3.

And on 17...b5!? I planned to play 18.Bxf7 Bb7 19.Nd5. 18.gxf6

Some folks may appreciate my raw research notes: 18.Rh1 Qxf2 19.Qxf2 Bxf2 20.gxf6 Kc7 21.Ne4 Ne5 22.Nxf2 Nxd3+ 23.Nxd3 Bxf5 24.Ne5 Rae8 25.Nxf7 Rhf8 26.Nh6 Rxf6 27.Nxf5 Rxf5 28.Rxh7+=.

18...Kc7

18...Qxf2!? 19.Qe4 Kc7 20.b4 with the advantage.

19.Re7

My novelty. I looked at seven moves here, including 19.Bxf7, 19.Rd2, 19.Na4, 19.Rh1, 19.Nd5, and even 19.b4. There's not an edge to be found anywhere. I selected what I judged to be the most tactically challenging line, but my opponent was up to the task.

19...Bxe7

On 19...Bd6 I intended 20.Qd5 Bxe7 21.fxe7 Qg1+ 22.Nd1 Qg5+ 23.Re3 Re8 24.Qe4=.

Good for White is 19...Qg1+ 20.Rd1 Qg5+ 21.Kb1 Bxe7 22.fxe7 Re8 23.Bxf7 Rxe7 24.Nd5+ with play.

20.fxe7 Ne5

21.Qe3 Nxd3+ 22.cxd3

Leaving White the equivalent of a rook down, but take note of the fact  that both Black rooks are undeveloped.

22...Qd6

Re-centralizing the queen. 23.e8Q

Recovering most of the material. 23...Rxe8 24.Qxe8 Kb8

And here, I spent a huge amount of time searching for even the smallest of edges.

25.Qxf7

25.Nd5!? was rejected owing to 25...b5 26.Ne7 Kc7 27.Bb3 Bb7 28.Qxf7 Rd8 29.f6 Kb6.

And I found nothing for White after 25.Bxf7 Qf4+ 26.Qe3 Qxe3+ 27.fxe3 Bxf5 28.e4 Bg6 29.Bxg6 hxg6 30.e5 Kc7 31.Nd5+ Kd8 32.d4 Rc8+ 33.Kd2 g5 34.Nf6 Ke7 35.d5 Rh8 36.Ne4 Rh2+ 37.Ke3 Rxb2 38.d6+ Kd7 39.Nc5+ Kc6 40.d7 Kc7 41.e6 Kd8 42.Ne4=.

And White is probably losing after 25.Ne4 Qc7 26.a4 Ka7 27.f6 Bf5 28.Qxf7 Qxf7 29.Bxf7 Rf8–+.

Offering a draw, which I must accept since the lines require that I deliver a perpetual.

Here's the main line of my final analysis. 26...b5 27.Be6 Rc7 28.Kd2 Qf4+ 29.Ke2 b4 30.Bxc8 Rxc8 31.Qe6 Qd4 32.Ne4 Rc2+ 33.Kf3 Qxd3+ 34.Kg2 Qc4 35.Qe5+ Qc7 36.Qe8+=.

Game #14: Morozevich, Alexander (2732) - Topalov,