Queen Gambit Accepted Win at ICCF

#Chess #ICCF .

I mentioned in the comments to the previous item on ICCF Chess that I had begun playing the Queens' Gambit as White after years of Reti/Catalan and London System.  I've had good success playing the systems resulting from 1.Nf3 but they had started becoming stale and some of my opponents were zeroing in on my preferences (one emailed me after a game with information to this effect).  In looking for a new weapon as White the QG seemed a natural to my tastes so I ran with it despite my aversion to deeply explored openings...  The following game finished this morning with a resignation from my opponent.

He chose the Accepted variation and the fight was on.  After 14...hxg6 Black's King Side was disrupted and I began exploring the possibility of a Rook lift to exploit the h-file.  The game would turn on the mobility of White's Rooks and their threats both on the King Side and threats in the middle game on the c-file.  This mobility was made possible by the great amount of space the advanced pawn center gave White.

[Event "WS/H/227"]
[Site "ICCF"]
[Date "2010.3.20"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Owens, Steve"]
[Black "Sperandio, Andrea"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2051"]
[BlackElo "2019"]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Bxc4 Nb6
6.Bd3 Nc6 7.Ne2 Bg4 8.f3 Bh5 9.Nbc3 e6 10.Be3 Be7 11.O-O O-O 12.a3 Qd7 13.Qc2 Bg6 14.Bxg6 hxg6 15.Bf2

Clearing the third rank for an eventual Rook lift against Black's weakened King Side.

15...Rad8 16.Rfd1 a6 17.f4 Kh7

A temporary prophylactic against the Rook pressure on the h-file with ...Rh8 to follow.   

18.Rd2

Before starting King Side activities I need to counter his pressure against my center.

18...Nd5

I'm not a fan of this move.  The resulting exchanges allow White to solidify the strong center and control action on both wings.

19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Rd3

Threatening to complete the Lift and surveying the field via the third rank.

20...Rh8 21.Rc1

Since Black is countering on the King Side, action on the Queen Side via the c-file should fracture his defense.

21...Kg8 22.h3 Qf5 23.Rc3 Qe6

23...Qxc2 might have been a better try.  After this the Black Queen is completely defensive while the White Queen attacks using the third rank.  The Rooks will have the first and second ranks to use with only a few clearing moves needed.  Black's King Rook, castled and then maneuvered back to the h-file, now maneuvers back to the Queen Side at the White Rooks' demonstration on the c-file.  Throughout the entire game it seemed as if the Black Rooks were a step or two behind the events.  Initiative.

24.Qd3 Rb8 25.R3c2 Kh7 26.Nc3 Rhd8 27.Qf3 Kg8 28.g4

The King Side attack resumes. 

28...f5 29.gxf5 gxf5 30.Kh1 Rd7 31.Rg1 Bf8 32.Be3

A clear path to the Black King.

32...Ne7 33.Rcg2 Qh6 34.Bf2 b5 35.Rg5 b4 36.Na4 bxa3 37.Qxa3 Rdd8 38.Qg3 Rb5 39.b3 Kh8 40.Qf3 g6 41.h4 Rdb8 42.Nc5 Qh7 43.h5 Rb4 44.R1g2 1-0

33...Qh6 was probably a mistake.  In the end the Black Rooks are marooned on the Queen Side away from the action.  If either rook tries to get back via the sixth rank e6 will again cut them off followed by Rh2 and a trapped Black Queen.  Black chose not to see the result and resigned.