Troianescu - Szabo [E07]


1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Nbd7 4... dxc4 Leads to more lively play 5. Nf3 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 c6 Not of course 7... dxc4 8. e4 Nb6 9. Qe2 c5 10. Rd1 with strong pressure for the pawn sacrifice 8. b3 b6 9. Bb2 Ba6 More active than the usual Bb7 which would allow White to prepare e4 and get a somewhat freer game. 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Nd7 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Re1 Rc8 13... Nxe5 14. Nxd5! is better for white 14. Rc1 More accurate was a3 so that if Bc5 then b4 driving the bishop back 14... Bc5 15. a3 Now had to be played against the threat of Qg5 15... Nxe5? 15... Qg5 was not good, owing to 16. b4 Be7 17. f4 Qg6 18. e4 etc but it was possible to play simply 15... Re8 and after 16. b4 Bf8 take control of the c4 square 16. Nxd5 exd5 Overlooking white;s 19th move. Better was 16... Ng4 17. e3 Nxf2 18. Kxf2 exd5 19. b4 Be7 20. Qxd5 Qxd5 etc with an equal position 17. Bxe5 Bxa3?! Creating tactical chances whilst Bb7 would be too passive 18. Rxc8 Bxc8 19. Bxg7! Kxg7 20. Qa1+ d4 21. Qxa3 a5 22. Qb2 Qf6 23. Rc1 A direct attack on the d4 pawn, which is pressing down on e2 unpleasantly would not be effective 23. Rd1 Rd8 24. Rd3 (24. b4 axb4 25. Qxb4 Rd6) 24... Bf5 25. Rf3 Qe5 followed by f6, would both be adequate in defence and in the b4 line Black's b pawn may even become dangerous. White therefore decides to target the weak c6 square 23... Be6 24. Rc6 Rb8? This passive move allows the exchange of the dangerous black bishop. As Szabo pointed out right after the game, a double pawn sacrifice would have created good chances 24... d3! 25. Qxf6+ Kxf6 26. exd3 Rc8 27. Rxb6 (27. Rxc8 loses after 27... Bxc8 28. Bd5 Be6 etc) 27... Rc1+ 28. Bf1 Ke5 29. Kg2! (29. f4+? Kd4 30. Kf2 Ra1 followed by Ra3 is in black's favour) 29... Bd5+ 30. f3 Rc2+ 31. Kh3 Rf2 and despite being 2 pawns down black has serious chances 25. Bd5 d3 26. Qxf6+ Kxf6 27. exd3 b5 27... Ke5 28. Bxe6 fxe6 29. Kf1 Kd4 was somewhat better 28. d4 threatening Bxe6, fe, d5 28... Rd8 29. Bxe6 fxe6 30. Rb6 b4 31. Ra6 Rxd4 32. Rxa5 Rd3 33. Rh5 Rxb3 33... Kg6 34. Re5 Kf6 35. Re3 34. Rxh7 e5 35. Rb7 Rb2 36. Rb6+ Kf5 37. Rb5 Kf6 38. h4 b3 39. g4 Ke6 40. Kg2 e4 41. Kg3 The sealed move. With 2 connected passed pawns white has an easy win 41... Rb1 42. Kf4 Rf1 43. Kxe4 Rxf2 44. Rb6+ Kf7 45. Rxb3 Rh2 46. h5 Ra2 47. Rb5 Kf6 48. g5+ Ke6 49. Rb6+ Kf7 50. g6+ Kg7 51. Rb7+ Kg8 52. h6 Ra8 53. Kd5 Kh8 54. Kc6 Re8 55. Rd7 1-0

Game(s) in PGN