Game Two

Orlovas,G - Sanghani,N [C50]

Chingford Under-14, Round 2, 07.07.2008
 
Notes by ECF-Accredited Chess Coach Ron Franklin.

This was Nikhil Sanghani's Round 2 game in the Essex Junior Chess Association's (EJCA's) Under-14 Grand Prix event, held 
at Chingford on 7th July 2008 (he won the first game). The EJCA provided a DGT Sensory Board and this was used by both 
players to record the moves. This game is a long, hard-fought affair with both sides trying hard to win.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5
Black plays the Giuoco Piano (ie 3...Bc5 on his 3rd move) to counter White's King's pawn opening. A good choice.
4.d3
This is OK but rather passive and too defensive to cause Black much trouble. Instead there are many alternatives here for 
White, but perhaps the most active line is 4.c3, but this may be too aggressive for White's taste as it is quite risky and 
you must be prepared to sacrifice the odd pawn. [If 4.c3 then the following line is critical :- 4...Nf6 5.d4?! (a pawn sacrifice) 
5...exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.0-0 with very sharp play, and chances for both sides.]
4...d6 5.Bg5
This develops the Bishop and also attacks the Queen. Black has to decide how to counter this threat. 
5...Nf6
An interesting choice, ie self-pinning his f6 Knight. Black already has in mind the possibility of attacking the g5 Bishop (and 
thereby removing the pin on the Knight) by playing h6 and then g5 if necessary.This line would probably mean that it would be 
too risky for Black to castle Kingside; but he assumes White will castle Kingside and thus Black's h and g pawns would then be 
ideally placed to attack White's castled King.
6.Nc3 h6
A good move by Black, who must not delay removing the g5 Bishop (as White was threatening 7.Nd5, with advantage).
7.Bh4
White plays to keep the tension, and forces Black to make a decision about the pin.  [The alternative is 7.Bxf6 and after 
7...Qxf6 8.Nd5 Qd8 White has a slight advantage.]
7...g5
Black makes a good choice. He abandons any thoughts of subsequently playing 0-0 (now too risky).
8.Bg3
White plays the expected move. [However, 8.Nxg5!? was a realistic, alternative choice for White, which Black had to consider. 
If then 8...hxg5 9.Bxg5 Rg8 10.h4 and Black has to play very carefully to neutralise White's attacking threats.]
8...Bg4
Black decides to do a little pinning of his own! He now threatens 9...Nd4. 
9.0-0!?
Another difficult decision to have to make. White decides to castle, even though he must be aware of the dangers of Black 
launching a Kingside attack. The move played was probably a big (and pleasant) surprise to Black, who now has a genuine target 
at which to aim his pieces.
9...Nd4
Black wastes no time in playing this move, which further attacks the pinned f3 Knight.
10.Nd5
A move which shows that White isn't at one with the position. He ignores Black's threats, and plays for wholesale exchanges by 
the centre pieces in the hope of equalising. However, it is not easy to find a good move for White (perhaps 10.Na4). If he tries 
10.h3? then 10...Nxf3+ 11.gxf3 Bxh3 and Black wins a pawn.
10...Bxf3
Black is happy to exchange a piece or two.
11.gxf3 Nh5!?
Black wants to remove the g3 Bishop, but this move only gives added strength to the d5 Knight. The advantage swings to White! 
[Better was 11...Nxd5 12.Bxd5 c6 13.Bc4 h5 and Black's position is strong. ]
12.c3 Ne6 13.b4 Nxg3
13...Bb6 was better. The move played simply gives up a potentially strong Knight for a weakish Bishop. Admittedly White cannot 
recapture with the f2 pawn as it is pinned, so he must retake with his h2 pawn.  
14.hxg3 Bb6 15.Nxb6
White takes the opportunity to remove the b6 Bishop. However, better would have been 15.Qb3 putting further pressure on the f7 
and e6 squares.
15...axb6
The position is roughly equal now. 
16.d4
White plays for the attack (by using his central pawns!).
16...h5
and Black plays for the counter attack (by using his outside pawns!). [The alternative was 16...exd4 , and after 17.cxd4 Qf6 
18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Rc1 both sides have reasonable positions.]
17.d5
Blocking the centre reduces the c4 Bishop's scope. Better was either 17.Bxe6 or 17..dxe5
17...Ng7 18.Bb5+ Ke7 19.Qd2 f6
By playing accurately over the last couple of moves White has built up an advantage. Black will have to watch his defences. 
20.f4?
Unfortunately for White he now makes a mistake. This move only loosens the position around White's King. Better was 20.a4.
20...gxf4 21.gxf4 Rg8
Black immediately positions his Rook to gain control of the dangerous g file. He now threatens 22...Nf5+, and also winning a 
pawn by 24..Ne6+ 25..Kh1 Nxf4. White is in a certain amount of trouble.
22.Kh1
So White removes his King from the g file (this is virtually forced!).
22...Qc8!
This is a particularly strong move which White has to face. Black threatens both 23...Qh3+ and also 23...Qg4. 
23.Qd3
There are a number of seemingly good defensive moves for White, but each one has its drawback. Perhaps the best line here is 
23.f3 and after 23...Qh3+ 24.Qh2 Qxh2+ 25.Kxh2 Ra3 Black has an advantage (but  not a great one).The move played stops 
23...Qh3+, but not 23...Qg4. [Note that if White plays instead 23.f5? then Black can play the piece sacrifice 23...Nxf5! 
24.exf5 Qxf5 and Black has a won position due to his many threats, eg 25...Qh3#, or 25...Qf3+, or 25...Rg4.]
23...Qg4
Another strong move by Black, who now threatens 24...Qh4+, and also 24...Nf5 (or Ne6).
24.Qg3
Although White would prefer to keep the Queens on the board, this move is virtually forced in view of Black's many threats. 
On the other hand Black is quite happy to exchange Queens as the endgame favours Black by quite a margin. 
24...exf4!
Another fine move by Black. He takes the opportunity to win a pawn before the Queens are exchanged.
25.Qxg4 hxg4 26.Rg1 Rh8+ 27.Kg2 Ra3
Black is playing this phase of the game very well. He is covering the whole board. First he makes a check on the Kingside, 
by 26...Rh8+, then he makes a move on the Queenside, by 27...Ra3. Both Black Rooks are working hard!
28.Rgc1
White tries to hold his position together, but Black continues to press his advantage.
28...Rh3!
Something's got to give! 
29.Be2??
White, under extreme pressure, makes a bad blunder which loses a piece. However, there isn't much White can do to stop 
the Black Rooks invading his position. [Perhaps best here is 29.Rh1 but after 29...f5 30.Rxh3 gxh3+ 31.Kh2 Rxc3 Black is 
winning easily.]
29...f3+
The winning move.
30.Bxf3 Rxf3
The game goes on for another 24 moves, but there can only be one winner, and that is  Black. White could well have resigned here.
31.Rc2
There is not much White can do here. [If 31.Rh1 Raxc3 and Black wins easily enough.; Or if 31.c4 Nh5 and with 32...Nf4+ to come 
Black again wins easily enough.]
31...Raxc3
Winning another pawn!
32.Rxc3 Rxc3 33.Rf1 Rc4 34.f3 gxf3+ 35.Rxf3 Rxe4
Winning another pawn!
36.a3
In a hopeless position White carries on!
36...Re5 37.Rg3 Re2+!?
A bit risky, but when you are in an endgame a Knight and two pawns up you have earned the right to take a little risk!
38.Kh3
Not the best as it doesn't put any real pressure on Black. Instead 38.Kf1 would have made Black come up with accurate moves to 
hold onto his two piece and two pawn advantage. [Better is  38.Kf1 Nf5 39.Rc3 Rc2! 40.Rf3 (If 40.Rxc2 Ne3+ 41.Ke2 Nxc2 and Black 
wins easily.) 40...Nh6 and again Black wins easily.
Another try for White is 38.Kf3 Nf5 39.Kxe2 Nxg3+ with an easy win for Black.]
38...Nf5 39.Rf3
This gives Black the chance to swap off the Rooks. Better would have been 39.Rg8. 
39...Re3!
and this is the move (probably missed by White) that removes the Rooks.
40.Rxe3+ Nxe3 41.Kg3
The position for White is now even more hopeless, but he soldiers on and hopes for a miracle!
41...Nxd5
Winning another pawn!
42.b5 Ke6 43.Kf3 Kf5 44.a4 c6 45.Kg3 Ke4 46.Kg4 f5+ 47.Kg5 f4 48.Kg4 Ke3 49.Kf5 f3 50.Kg4 f2 51.Kf5 f1Q+ 52.Kg4 Qf4+ 53.Kh3 Kf3 54.a5 
And with this move White resigned. It is mate in one by Black (54...Qg3# or 54...Qh6#).

In summary, this was quite a tussle. It certainly was one of the longest (serious) games Nikhil has ever played (it lasted 54 moves). 
White gave as good as he got, until he blundered away his Bishop on move 29. Up to that point both players had played well, and Nikhil 
needed to be at his best to steer the game his way. 0-1