Mystery game #92: This Lion roared! Potential of rare variation (B07).

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  • Mystery game #92: This Lion roared! Potential of rare variation (B07).

    Here is the text of an interesting game. You can discuss the game, variations, player strengths, era, setting, time controls, etc. I will post all data in a few days. Enjoy!!

    1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.f4 e5 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.Nf3 exf4 7.Bxf4 Bb4 8.e5 Qe7 9.Qd3 Nc5 10.Qd4 Nfe4 11.O-O-O Nxc3 12.bxc3 Ba3+ 13.Kb1 O-O 14.Be2 Be6 15.Bg5 Qe8 16.Qh4 Qa4 17.Nd4 b5 18.Nxb5 Qxh4 19.Bxh4 Rfb8 20.Ka1 Bb2+ 21.Kxb2 a6 22.c4 axb5 23.cxb5 Na4+ 24.Kc1 Nc3 25.Bf3 Rxa2 26.Rde1 Nxb5 27.Rhf1 Na3 28.Bd1 Rb1+ 29.Kd2 h6 30.Re2 Bg4 31.Ree1 Bxd1 32.Rxd1 Rxc2+ 33.Ke3 Rxd1 34.Rxd1 Rxg2 35.Rd8+ Kh7 36.Rd7 Rxh2 37.Be7 Nb5 38.Rd5 c6 39.Rc5 Rh3+ 40.Kf2 Nd4 41.Rc4 Nf5 42.Bd8 Rd3 43.Bb6 h5 44.Rxc6 g5 45.Rf6 Nh6 46.Kg2 Kg7 47.Bg1 Ng4 48.Rf5 Kg6 49.Rf1 Nxe5, 0-1.

  • #2
    Matthew Struthers (2167) -- Frank Dixon (2090), Kingston 2000. Played 2000-02-08. Queen's University Chess Club quad (3). Time control: G/30'. Lion Defense, B07. TD Frank Dixon. Clack times in brackets.

    [First, a note on the opening move order and name. Although not formally a Philidor, due to f2-f4 before Ng1-f3, GM Simon Williams, one of the line's advocates, does classify it as the Lion variation of the Philidor. It is a relatively recent idea in terms of popularity; doesn't appear in major openings guides as of 2000. I had looked at it as a surprise weapon, and got the chance to try it out here against a strong player.]
    1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.f4 e5 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.Nf3
    [GM Spassky won a game with 6.fxe5 Nxe5 7.Qxd8+ Kxd8.]
    6...exf4 7.Bxf4
    [Possibly stronger is the immediate 7.e5, reducing Black's options. With 6.Nf3 exf4 7.Bxf4, Black gets the chance to free his game with 7...Bb4, a move for which I have not been able to find any other examples.]
    7...Bb4 8.e5 Qe7
    [Black has a freer and more active position than in many Philidor lines.]
    9.Qd3 Nc5! (8,3)
    [White was surprised with 9...Nc5!, since he discovers that he cannot win a piece with 10.Qb5+ c6 11.Qxb4?? due to 11...Nb3+ winning his queen. The same tactic also works for one more move.],
    10.Qd4 Nfe4! 11.O-O-O
    [White is aiming for quick pressure down the d-file with his majors, against Black's uncastled King. However, this gives Black the chance to open lines.]
    11...Nxc3! 12.bxc3 Ba3+!, 13.Kb1 O-O 14.Be2
    [With 14.Bc4! instead of the text, White could have obtained a more active position than in the game. As well, the immediate 14.Bg5 looks strong.]
    14...Be6 15.Bg5 Qe8 16.Qh4 Qa4! 17.Nd4 b5! (17,8)
    [Offering a pawn sac to exploit the open b-file. This will be the emphasis of Black's middlegame plans; he has a significant lead on the clock, as White has been having to think on every move in the unusual opening line.]
    18.Nxb5 Qxh4 19.Bxh4 Rfb8
    [With the queens having been traded in unusual fashion, Black looks to attack White's king.]
    20.Ka1 Bb2+!
    [A temporary piece sac which surprised Matthew.]
    21.Kxb2 a6 22.c4 axb5 23.cxb5 Na4+! (23,12)
    [Another good possibility is the immediate 23...Rxa2+. The text sets up the further invasion of Black's pieces.]
    24.Kc1 Nc3 25.Bf3 Rxa2 26.Rde1 Nxb5 27.Rhf1 Na3! 28.Bd1
    [Not 28.c3?? or 28.c4??, due to 28...Rb1#!]
    28...Rb1+ 29.Kd2 h6! (28,19)
    [Creating some king 'luft', for the coming sequence of exchanges.]
    30.Re2?
    [I think White can hold with 30.Rf2!, as he can dance around with his king to keep c2 guarded -- 30...Bb3 31.Kc3! But time shortage on top of continual pressure forced this mistake.]
    30...Bg4
    [Also good is 30...Bc4 winning the exchange, but this is clearer, I think.]
    31.Ree1 Bxd1 32.Rxd1 Rxc2+ 33.Ke3 Rxd1 34.Rxd1 Rxg2 35.Rd8+ Kh7 (29,22) 36.Rd7?
    [36.Bg3 keeps White in the game. Now it is over.]
    36...Rxh2 37.Be7 Nb5!
    [Moves one threatened unit to guard the other!]
    38.Rd5 c6 39.Rc5 Rh3+ 40.Kf2 Nd4 41.Rc4 Nf5 42.Bd8 Rd3 43.Bb6 h5 44.Rxc6 g5 45.Rf6 Nh6 46.Kg2 Kg7 47.Bg1 Ng4 48.Rf5 Kg6 49.Rf1 Nxe5, 0-1. (29:50, 24)
    [Three pawns down, with his flag about to fall, and with Black having plenty of time, White conceded. This clinched first place for me in the event.]

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