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[Jack Rabbit]

7. Amin - Li Wenliang, Round 6

Egyptian grandmaster Bassem Amin was the world junior champion in 2008.
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[center]Bassem Amin[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Andreas Kontokanis in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bassem_Amin.jpg) modified from flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8022405@N02/2741862393)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
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Bassem Amin - Li Wenliang
28th International Open, Round 6
Reykjavik, 23 February 2013

Moorish Game: Horseman Defense (Center Opening/Balogh Variation) (Alekhine Defense)

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Bc4

• This move, the Balogh Variation, is not often seen.
• For the more common lines of this defense, see Hou Yifan-Dimakiling, Op, Kuala Lampur, 2010.

4...c6 5.Nf3 dxe5 (N)

• The players throw away the book, although this line is only found in footnotes.
• If [font color="red"]5...Bg4 6.0-0 e6 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 dxe5 9.dxe5 Qh4[/font] is equal (Bujnoch-Freisler, Op, Pilsen, 2001).

6.dxe5

• [font color="red"]6.Nxe5 Nd7 7.Bxd5 cxd5 8.Qe2 e6 9.0-0 Bd6[/font] is probably better.

6...Bg4

• Black has a lead in development.

7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 e6 9.0-0 Nd7

• [font color="red"]9...Qc7 10.Re1 h6 11.Bf4 Qb6 12.Bb3 Nd7 13.Bh2[/font] is equal.

10.Re1 Qc7 11.Qe2 g6

• If [font color="red"]11...Bc5 12.c3 0-0 13.Kh1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]13...Rfd8 14.Bxd5 cxd5 15.Nd2 a5 16.Nf3 b5[/font] leaves Black standing slightly better; he'll play on the kingside and try to keep White at bay on the opposite wing.
• [font color="darkred"]13...Ne7 14.Bd3 a5 15.Qh5 Ng6 16.f4 Rfd8[/font] is equal.

12.Nd2

• The game is equal.

12...Bg7 13.Nf3 0-0 14.a3

• If [font color="red"]14.Bd2 a5 15.Bb3 b5 16.a4 b4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]17.Bc4 Nc5 18.b3 Rfd8 19.Bg5 Rd7 20.Qd2[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]17.Bxd5!? cxd5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]18.Bf4 Nc5 19.Qe3 Rfc8 20.Bh6 Bh8 21.Nd4 Qd7[/font] gives Black a small advantage.
• [font color="magenta"]18.c3!? bxc3 19.Bxc3 Qb7 20.Qe3 Rfc8 21.Reb1 Bf8[/font] gives Black a small advantage.

14...b5 15.Ba2 a5 16.h4

• If [font color="red"]16.Bg5 h6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]17.Bh4 Rfb8 18.Bxd5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]18...cxd5 19.Be7 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 Bxe5 21.Qxe5 Qxe7 22.Qxd5[/font] is equal.
• [font color="burgundy"]18...exd5!? 19.e6 Re8 20.exf7+ Kxf7 21.Qd2 Kg8 22.Bg3[/font] leaves White slightly better.
• If [font color="darkred"]17.Bd2 Rfb8 18.Kh1 Ne7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]19.Rad1 b4 20.Bc4 bxa3 21.bxa3 Nd5 22.Qd3 Rb7[/font] is equal.
• [font color="magenta"]19.c4 b4 20.Bf4 g5 21.Bg3 bxa3 22.bxa3 a4[/font] is equal.

16...b4 17.Bd2

• [font color="red"]17.Bc4 Rfb8 18.Qe4 bxa3 19.Rxa3 Bf8 20.Ra1 Bb4[/font] remains equal.

17...bxa3

• [font color="red"]17...Rfb8 18.Bxd5 cxd5 19.axb4 Qxc2 20.Rxa5 Qxb2 21.Qe3[/font] remains equal.

18.bxa3 h5

• The downside of this move is that is weakens the dark squares around Black's King at a moment when White's minor pieces are trained on g5.
• If [font color="red"]18...Rfb8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]19.Rab1 Ne7 20.Rbd1 Nd5 21.c4 N5b6 22.Bb1[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="darkred"]19.c4 Ne7 20.Bg5 Nf5 21.h5 a4 22.Bb1[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Li Wenliang[/center]

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[center]WHITE: Bassem Amin[/center][center]Position after 18...h7h5[/center]

19.Rad1

• [font color="red"]19.c4 Ne7 20.Bc1 Nf5 21.Bg5 Rfe8 22.Rad1 Rab8[/font] remains equal.

19...Ne7 20.Bg5 Nd5 21.Bd2

• [font color="red"]21.Rd2 Nc5 22.Qc4 Nd7 23.Qd4 N5b6 24.c4 Rfb8[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="blue"]21.Rd3 Nc5 22.Rd4 Rab8 23.Bxd5 cxd5 24.c4 Nb3[/font] remains equal.

21...Ne7 22.c4

• [font color="red"]22.Bg5 Nf5 23.c3 Rfe8 24.Bb1 Rab8 25.Bf4 Ne7[/font] remains equal.

22...Nf5 23.Bb1

• [font color="red"]23.Bf4 Rfb8 24.Bb1 Nc5 25.Ng5 Bf8 26.Bxf5 exf5 27.Nxf7[/font] gives White an extra pawn (if 27...Qxf7?? then White wins after 28.e6! Qe7 29.Bd6 Qe8 30.Bxb8).

23...Nh6!?

• Black is rightly concerned about the possibility of structural damage to his kingside, but, as we will see in the notes to White's 24th move, this mave fails to address the problem.
• If [font color="red"]23...Nc5 24.Bf4 Rfe8 25.g3 Qb7 26.Ng5 Rad8[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Li Wenliang[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bassem Amin[/center][center]Position after 23...Nf5h6[/center]

24.Bf4!?

• White fails to find the best continuation.
• If [font color="red"]24.Bxh6! Bxh6 25.Rd6[/font] when:
• If [font color="red"]25...Rfc8 26.Red1 Nc5 27.Be4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]27...Ra6 28.Nd4 Bf8 29.Bxg6!![/font] (the sacrifice rips apart Black's King position) [font color="red"]29...fxg6 30.Nxe6 Nxe6 31.Rxe6[/font] gives White two pawns and a fierce kingside initiative for the sacrificed piece.
• If [font color="darkred"]27...Rab8 28.Bxc6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]28...Nb7 29.Bb5 Nxd6 30.exd6 Qc5 31.Ne5 Bg7 32.Nd7[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
• If [font color="magenta"]28...Bf8?! 29.Bb5![/font] then [font color="magenta"]29...Rd8 30.R6d4 Rxd4 31.Rxd4 Rd8 32.Qd1 Rxd4 33.Qxd4[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
• [font color="darkorange"]29...Bxd6 30.exd6 Qb6 31.Ne5 Rf8 32.Nc6 Rb7 33.Qe3[/font] leaves White threatening Qe3h6 followed by the advance of White's kingside pawns, putting stress on Black's defense.
• If [font color="darkred"]25...Nc5 26.Be4 Ra6 27.Nd4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]27...Rb8 28.Rd1 Bg7 29.Bf3 Bf8 30.Rxc6 Rxc6 31.Nxc6[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
• If [font color="magenta"]27...Rc8?![/font] then [font color="magenta"]28.Bxg6!! fxg6 29.Nxe6 Nxe6 30.Rxe6 Qf7 31.Rf6[/font] gives White two extra pawns and a strong attack for the sacrificed piece.

24...Ng4

• The game remains equal.

25.Nh2 Nxh2 26.Bxh2

• If [font color="red"]26.Kxh2 Rab8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]27.Rd6 Rb3 28.Red1 Nc5 29.Be4 Rc8 30.Rxc6 Qb8[/font] gives White an extra pawn, but it's not going anywhere.
• [font color="darkred"]27.Qe3 Nb6 28.Rc1 Nd7 29.Qc3 Rb7 30.Rcd1 Rfb8[/font] is equal.

26...Rfd8 27.Bc2

• If [font color="red"]27.g4 hxg4 28.Qxg4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]28...Nf8 29.Rd6 a4 30.Red1 Rxd6 31.exd6 Qb6[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]28...Nc5 29.h5 gxh5 30.Qg5 Rxd1 31.Rxd1[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]31...Kf8 32.Kh1 Qe7 33.Qxh5 Ke8 34.Bf4 Bf8 35.Bg5[/font] gives White a strong game.
• [font color="magenta"]31...Nd7 32.Qxh5 Kf8 33.Rd6 Nc5 34.Qf3 Qb7 35.Bc2[/font] gives White more activity; the Rook at d6 is a bone in Black's throat.

27...Nc5 28.Qe3 Nb7

• [font color="red"]28...Bf8 29.Bf4 Rxd1 30.Rxd1 Rd8 31.Re1 Rb8 32.Bh6[/font] is equal.

29.Bf4 Rxd1 30.Rxd1 Bf8!?

• Black takes the pressure off e5, allowing White to redirect his resources toward to the Black King.
• If [font color="red"]30...a4 31.Rb1 Nd8 32.Qc3 Nb7 33.Qe3 Bf8 34.Bh6[/font] leaves White in control of the dark squares around the enemy King.

31.g4!

• White has a more aggressive posture on the kingside; opening the position will be to his advantage.
• Also good is [font color="red"]31.Bg5! Nc5 32.Bf6 Nd7 33.Qg5 Nxf6 34.exf6,[/font] giving White the advantage for his activity in the neighborhood of the enemy King.

31...Rd8?!

• An exchange of Rooks is not going to stop White's kingside progress.
• Better is [font color="red"]31...hxg4 32.h5 Rd8 33.Rb1[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]33...Nc5 34.hxg6 fxg6 35.Bxg6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]35...Qg7 36.Bc2 Qh8 37.Bg5 Rc8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]38.Kg2 Qh3+ 39.Qxh3 gxh3+ 40.Kxh3 Rc7 41.Be3 Rb7 42.Rg1+[/font] gives White an extra pawn, but it is neither passed nor remote and getting it up the board is problematic.
• [font color="burgundy"]38.Bf6?! Qh6! 39.Bg5 Qh3 40.Qxh3 gxh3 41.Kh2[/font] will soon give White an extra pawn, but exploiting the advantage will not be easy.
• [font color="#C08000"]35...Rd7 36.Bg5 Rg7 37.Bc2 Nd7 38.Bh6 Bc5 39.Qg3[/font] gives White greater activity in an attack on the Black King.
• If [font color="darkred"]a) 33...Bc5? 34.Qg3! Rd4[/font] when:
• If [font color="darkred"]35.hxg6 Nd8[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]36.Qh4 fxg6 37.Be3 Qh7 38.Qg5 Be7 39.Bxg6.[/font]
• If [font color="magenta"]35...fxg6[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]36.Qxg4 Nd8 37.Bxg6 Bf8 38.Rb3 Bh6 39.Bf7+.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]b) 33...Rd7?[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]34.Bg5![/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]34...g3 35.Qxg3 Bg7 36.Re1 Nd8 37.hxg6.[/font]
• If [font color="magenta"]34.hxg6?![/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]34...fxg6 35.Bxg6 Nc5 36.Kf1 Qa7 37.Bg5.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Li Wenliang[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bassem Amin[/center][center]Position after 31...Ra8d8[/center]

32.gxh5! Rxd1+ 33.Bxd1 Qd8

• If [font color="red"]33...gxh5? 34.Bg5! Bg7 35.Bf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]35...Nd6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]36.Qg5 Ne8 37.Bxh5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]37...Qd7 38.Bd8 Qa7 39.a4 Qc5 40.Qf4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]40...Nd6 41.exd6 Qxh5 42.Qg3 Qd1+ 43.Kg2 Kh7 44.Bxa5[/font] White's passed pawn triumphs.
• [font color="burgundy"]40...Qf8 41.Bxa5 Bh6 42.Qf3 Ng7 43.Bc7 Nxh5 44.Qxh5[/font] gives White passers on both sides of the board.
• If [font color="darkred"]37...Nxf6 38.exf6 Kf8 39.fxg7+[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]39...Ke8 40.g8Q+ Kd7 41.Qd2+ Qd6 42.Qxf7+[/font] leads to mate.
• If [font color="magenta"]39...Kg8[/font] then [font color="magenta"]40.Qh6 f5 41.Qh8#.[/font]
• [font color="#C08000"]36.exd6? Qxd6! 37.Bxh5 Bxf6[/font] is equal.
• Black has no time for [font color="darkorchid"]35...Nc5??[/font] (with the intention of 36...Nd7) when [font color="darkorchid"]36.Qg5![/font] wins immediately.

34.Be2 gxh5?

• Black voluntarily opens the g-file for White's Queen.
• If [font color="red"]34...Nc5 35.hxg6 Qxh4 36.gxf7+ Kxf7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]37.Bg3 Qh6 38.Qf3+ Kg8 39.Qxc6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]39...Qg6 40.Qf3 Qf5 41.Qe3 Be7 42.Bf3 Qc2 43.Qf4[/font] gives White two extra pawns and the Bishop pair; Black's active Queen may be able to put up some resistance for a while.
• If [font color="darkred"]39...Qc1+ 40.Kg2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]40...Qc2 41.Bh5 Qd3 42.Qa8 Qe4+ 43.Qxe4 Nxe4 44.a4[/font] gives White two extra pawns and the Bishop pair.
• If [font color="magenta"]40...Qg5 41.Qe8[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]41...Qe7 42.Qa8 a4 43.Bd1 Qb7+ 44.Qxb7 Nxb7 45.Bxa4[/font] gives White two extra pawns and the Bishop pair.
• [font color="darkorange"]41...Qg7 (42.Bd1 Qb7+ 43.Bf3 Qd7 44.Qxd7 Nxd7 45.a4[/font] gives White two extra pawns and the Bishop pair.
• If [font color="darkred"]37.Bf3!? a4![/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]38.Bxc6 Qg4+ 39.Bg3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]39...Kg8 40.Qc3 Ne4 41.Qd3 Nc5 42.Qc2 Bg7 43.Qc3[/font] gives White two extra pawns and the Bishop pair; Black's active Queen may be able to put up some resistance for a while.
• [font color="darkorange"]39...Qxc4? 40.Qf3+! Kg8 41.Be8 Qc1+ 42.Kg2 Qh6 43.Qg4+[/font] gives White an extra pawn and the Bishop pair; Black's Queen may be able to put up some resistance, but with Black's King in a corner with White pieces flying about, it is a question of how much longer.
• [font color="magenta"]38.Bg5 Qh3 39.Bxc6 Qg4+ 40.Kh2[/font] gives White an extra pawn, but Black is still able to play an active defense.

[center]BLACK: Li Wenliang[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bassem Amin[/center][center]Position after 34...gh5:p[/center]

35.Qg3+!

• White rushes into the breach.

35...Kh8

• No better is [font color="red"]35...Bg7 36.Bg5 Qb6 37.Bxh5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]37...Qb1+ 38.Kh2[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]38...Kf8 39.Qf4 Qf5 40.Qxf5 exf5 41.f4 a4 42.Bd1[/font] gives White an extra pawn, apassed pawn and stronger pawns.
• [font color="magenta"]38...Nc5 39.Bf6 Qh7 40.Bf3 Qg6 41.Bxg7 Kxg7 42.Bxc6[/font] gives White an extra pawn and the pin at g6.
• [font color="darkred"]37...Kf8 38.Qd3 Bxe5 39.Bxf7 Qd4 40.Qf3 Qc3 41.Qxc6[/font] gives White an extra pawn.

36.Bxh5 Qc7

• If [font color="red"]36...Qd7 37.Bg5 Nc5 38.Qf4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]38...Kg8 39.Kg2 a4 40.Bf6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]40...Kh7 41.Be2 Bh6 42.Qg4 Qd2 43.Be7 Nd7 44.Qe4+[/font] leaves the Black King in a mating net.
• If [font color="burgundy"]40...Nd3[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]41.Qg4+ Kh7 42.Qe4+ Kg8 43.Be2 Nxf2 44.Qe3.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]38...Bg7 39.Bf6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]39...Kh7 40.Qe3 Bf8 41.Bf3 Qd3 42.Qxd3+ Nxd3 43.Be4+[/font] wins the Knight.
• If [font color="magenta"]39...Bxf6 40.Qh6+ Kg8 41.exf6[/font] Black cannot prevent mate on g7.

37.Bd1 Nc5

• This hastens the end.
• If [font color="red"]37...Qb6 38.Bc2[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]38...Qd4 39.Qg5 Bg7 40.h5 f5 41.Bxf5 exf5 42.Qxf5[/font] gives White three pawns for a piece and White threatens 43.h6!.
• If [font color="darkred"]38...Qc7 39.Qd3 f5 40.exf6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]40...Qf7 41.h5 Nd6 42.Bxd6 Bxd6 43.Qxd6[/font] gives White an extra piece.
• If [font color="magenta"]40...Nc5[/font] then after [font color="magenta"]41.Qg6 Nd3 42.Bxc7 e5 43.Bxd3[/font] Black cannot escape mate.

38.Bc2 Qd8

• If [font color="red"]38...Bg7[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]39.h5 Nd7 40.Qd3 Nf8 41.h6 Ng6 42.Qd6.[/font]

39.Qg4 Bg7 40.Bg5 Qb8 41.Qh5+ Kg8 42.Bf6 1-0

• The alternative to the text is [font color="red"]42.Be7,[/font] after which White cannot escape mate on h7.[/font]
• Following the text, if [font color="blue"]42...Kf8[/font] then White wins after [font color="blue"]43.Bxg7+ Ke7 44.Bf6+ Kd7 45.Qxf7+ Kc8 46.Qf8+ Kc7 47.Qxc5.[/font]
• Li Xiangsian resigns.