[Event "alexcolovic's Study: The Gothenburg Variation"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/MmCjedXj/XHlzlvfc"] [Date "2019.??.??"] [White "The Gothenburg Variation"] [Result "*"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B98"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Goteborg Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/alexcolovic"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/MmCjedXj/XHlzlvfc"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 h6 9. Bh4 g5?! { The move probably deserves only a "?" but I add the "!" for historical value. } 10. fxg5 Nfd7 11. Qh5! { This is the refutation. } (11. Nxe6 { was the flashy move the Soviet trio couldn't resist. But with very precise play Black can draw. } 11... fxe6 12. Qh5+ Kf8 13. Bb5 Rh7!! { Fischer's innovation in 1958 and the only move not to lose. } (13... Ne5? { was natural, but Black lost quickly after } 14. Bg3 Bxg5 15. O-O+ Ke7 16. Bxe5 Qb6+ 17. Kh1 dxe5 18. Qf7+ Kd6 19. Rad1+ Qd4 20. Rxd4+ exd4 21. e5+ Kc5 22. Qc7+ Nc6 23. Bxc6 { 1-0 (23) Geller,E-Panno,O Gothenburg 1955 }) (13... Kg7? { was played by Najdorf and Pilnik, with both games copying each other for a long time, though this couldn't have made the Argentinians happy. } 14. O-O Ne5 15. Bg3 Ng6 16. gxh6+ Rxh6 17. Rf7+ Kxf7 18. Qxh6 axb5 19. Rf1+ Ke8 20. Qxg6+ Kd7 21. Rf7 Nc6 22. Nd5! Rxa2 23. h4 { A matter of taste, really, as both h-pawn moves win. } (23. h3 Qh8 24. Nxe7 Nxe7 25. Qg5 Ra1+ 26. Kh2 Qd8 27. Qxb5+ Kc7 28. Qc5+ Kb8 29. Bxd6+ Ka8 30. Bxe7 Ra5 31. Qb4 { 1-0 (31) Spassky,B-Pilnik,H Gothenburg 1955 }) 23... Qh8 24. Nxe7 Nxe7 25. Qg5 { 1-0 (25) Keres,P-Najdorf,M Gothenburg 1955 }) 14. O-O+ (14. Qg6 { was Gligoric's move, but Fischer was precise } 14... Rf7! 15. Qxh6+ Kg8 16. Qg6+?! { after this Black is better } (16. Rf1! { still keeps the balance. }) 16... Rg7 17. Qxe6+ Kh8 18. Bxd7 Nxd7 19. O-O-O Ne5 { White has 4 pawns for the piece, but g5 will most likely fall and since Black's king is rather safe, the extra piece is more valuable in the middlegame. 1/2-1/2 (32) Gligoric,S-Fischer,R Portoroz 1958 }) 14... Kg8 15. g6 Rg7 { play is forced now and it leads to a perpetual check. I will only give the main line. } 16. Rf7 Bxh4 17. Qxh6 Rxf7 18. gxf7+ Kxf7 19. Rf1+ Bf6 20. e5 (20. Qh7+ Ke8 (20... Kf8? 21. Be2! { wins for White }) 21. Qg6+ Kf8 22. e5 dxe5 23. Bxd7 (23. Ne4 { also leads to a draw }) 23... Nxd7 24. Ne4 Qe8 25. Qh6+ Ke7 26. Nxf6 Nxf6 27. Qxf6+ Kd6 28. Rd1+ Kc6 29. Qxe5 Qe7 30. Qe4+ Kc7 31. Qe5+ Kc6) 20... dxe5 21. Ne4 Qb6+ 22. Kh1 axb5 23. Nxf6 Ke7 24. Qg7+ Kd8 25. Qg8+ Kc7 26. Ne8+ Kd8 27. Nd6+ Kc7 28. Ne8+ Kd8 29. Ng7+ Kc7 30. Ne8+ { ½-½ (30) Karjakin,S (2773) -Nepomniachtchi,I (2776) Cote d'Ivoire 2019 }) 11... Ne5 12. Bg3 (12. Bf2 { is an alternative }) 12... Bxg5 13. Nf3! (13. Be2!? { also looks very promising for White } 13... Qb6 (13... Qf6 14. Rf1) 14. Rd1! Nbd7 (14... Qxb2 15. O-O!) 15. O-O Nf6 16. Qh3 Qxb2 17. Bh4! Bxh4 18. Qxh4 Qxc3 (18... Nh7 19. Nd5 exd5 20. Qxh6 $16) 19. Qxf6 Rh7 20. Kh1 { The position is prospectless for Black, who will have to defend for a long time without any chances for counterplay. }) 13... Nxf3+ (13... Nbd7 14. Nxg5 Qxg5 15. Qd1! { after the exchange of the dark-squared bishop the pawn on d6 is very vulnerable. } 15... h5 (15... Qe7 16. Qd4 $16) 16. Qxd6 h4 { Objectively White is better, though Black has some vague compensation. Still, the maximum he can hope for is a draw. } 17. Bf2 (17. Bxe5 Nxe5 18. Be2 Bd7 19. Rf1 { is also good for White. }) 17... h3 18. Rg1!) 14. Qxf3 Nc6 15. h4 Bf6 16. O-O-O Be5 17. Be2 $16 Bd7 18. Rxd6! { With a very strong initiative. } *