[Event "Grunfeld defense: Illustrative Game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/eMUN5PEp/OboQWXPu"] [Result "*"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D85"] [Opening "Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/realhercules"] [UTCDate "2020.07.20"] [UTCTime "17:57:52"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/eMUN5PEp/OboQWXPu"] [Orientation "white"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8. Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 { By transposition we have arrived at the main position } 9... b6 (9... Bg4 { has also been played a few times. After } 10. O-O Bxf3 11. Bxf3 cxd4 12. cxd4 Bxd4 13. Rxb7 Nc6 14. Qa4 { theory slightly favours White, which seems reasonable. }) 10. O-O Bb7 11. Qd3 Ba6 { Without this move Black has nothing. The possible exchange of the bishops eases his defense } 12. Qe3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Qd7 14. d5! f5?? { This was a new move, and also a horrible mistake. One cannot help but wonder what can inspire a strong grandmaster like Alderman to play such a hideous move. The weakness of e6 and e7 immediately catches the eye, and Black has little active play to justify this recklessness. Quite obviously Alterman was capable of understanding this, so why did he go for the move anyway? Well, it is hard to explain. And does a poor writer really trash the competition if he points out the mistakes of others? No, of course not. We are not the moves we play, and chess writers are not in competition with other writers or with chess players, but rather in alliance with the chess reader, and there some objectivity and honesty is required. Here it looks as if Alterman simply remembered that he is a great player, but forgot that this fact matters little when you play bad moves. He simply took too much risk in his attempt to make the position sharper, and forgot to evaluate his opponent’s chances of winning. Or at least that is a qualified guess. } 15. Ba3! { White develops, eyeing the weakness in Black’s position. } 15... fxe4 16. Qxe4 Bxe2 { We’re just out of the opening and Black is already lost. After } (16... Qf5!? 17. Qxe7 Qxd5 18. Rbd1! Qxa2 19. Rd2 Qb3 20. Qe4 { White wins the exchange and retains his positional advantage. }) 17. Qxe2 Qxd5 18. Rfd1 { All White’s pieces are in the game and now the final attack can be orchestrated. } 18... Qf5 { There is no way to save this position. After } (18... Qc6 19. Ng5 Re8 20. Rbc1 Qf6 21. Qc4+ e6 22. Nxe6!! { Black is defenseless, as } 22... Qxe6 23. Rd8! Qxc4 24. Rxe8+ Kf7 25. Re7+ Kg8 26. Rxc4 { Also }) (18... Qf7 19. Ng5 Qf5 20. Bxe7 { is hopeless }) 19. Bxe7 Re8 20. Ng5! Be5 { Black cannot save himself with } (20... Kh8 21. Rb5 Qf8!? { as White has the pretty winning line } 22. Re5 Qf4 23. Bf6! Rxe5 24. Rd8+ Re8 25. Qxe8# { mate }) 21. Qc4+ Kh8 22. Rb5! { TIP: When you attack it is often a good idea to include your worst placed piece. Now the rook adds to the pressure. The main threat is simply 23.Rxe5. } 22... Nd7 { Or } (22... Rxe7 23. Rd8+ Kg7 24. Rg8+ Kf6 25. f4 Qxf4 26. Rf8+ Kxg5 27. Qxf4+ { and White wins }) 23. g4 Bxh2+ { After } (23... Rac8 24. gxf5 Rxc4 25. Rxd7 { White wins a piece }) 24. Kg2 { 1-0 } *