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WORTHING CHESS CLUB
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Budapest Chess Olympiad(2024)
Baadur Jobava vs. Luke McShane
In this one to watch game versus Baadur Jobava; Luke McShane is beaten.
For anyone interested, the game originally can be sourced here : https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2771796
White: Baadur Jobava
Black: Luke McShane
Event: Budapest Olympiad - Hungary, 14 September, 2024
Opening: A45: Indian Defence - Richter-Veresov Attack
1. d4 Nf6
2. Nc3 d5
3. Bf4 e6
White elects to play the 3. Bf4. variation of the Indian Defence, Richter-Veresov Attack instead of the more traditional 3. Bg5. mainline.
4. Nb5 Na6
5. e3 Be7
6. Nf3 O-O
7. h4 c6
8. Nc3 Nc7
9. Ne2 c5
10. c3 b5
11. dxc5 Bxc5
12. Ned4 Bd7
13. Ne5 b4
14. Nd3 ...
The White Knight forks Black's pawn on b4 & its only protection, the undefended Bishop on c5.
14. ... Bb6
The Black Bishop is chased away, leaving the b4 pawn undefended.
15. Nxb4 Ne4
The White Knight captures Black's undefended b4 pawn and goes ahead in material by a pawn.
16. Bd3 f6
17. Bxe4 dxe4
18. Qb3 Qe8
19. a4 Ba5
20. O-O Rf7
21. Bxc7 Bxc7
22. Nb5 Be5
23. Rfd1 f5
24. Nd6 Bxd6
25. Rxd6 f4
26. exf4 Rxf4
27. Qd1 Rf7
28. Qd4 Bxa4
29. Qxe4 Bb3
30. c4 a5
After a series of exchanges including more pawns and minor Pieces; Black kicks the White Knight on b4 with a Rook pawn thrust.
31. Nc6 Qf8
The White Knight escapes to c6, replying and adding to the attack on the Black pawn on a5. The Black Queen threatens the undefended Rook on d6 and doubles the Black Rook threat on the White pawn at f2 and onto White's 2nd Rank. Black believes this is sufficient defence for the under-defended pawns on a5 & e6 as the White pawn on c4 is en prise from the Black bishop on b3. The potential loss of a pawn won't cost as much to Black as a free Rook from White.
32. Rxa5 Rxa5
White sacrifices the Rook on the a File forcing Black to recapture and materially go into the lead by a minor Piece.
33. Rd8 ...
However instead of re-taking the Rook with 33. Nxa5; White uses the weakened Back-Rank and partially pins the Black Queen on f8 against the Black King on g8.
33. ... Ra1+
Black desperately tries to protect his a-File Rook. Queen on f8 & pawn on e6 by going on the offensive.
34. Kh2 Rxf2
35. Qxe6+ Kh8
Another pawn exchange takes place via the aforementioned strike by the Black Rook onto f2 and the White Queen onto e6. However the Black Rook moving off f7 has exposed the Black King on the e6-g8 diagonal allowing the White Queen to both force the Black King into the corner with tempo & protect the White pawn on c4.
36. Qe3 Qxd8
White breaks the pin of the Black Bishop on b3 on the pawn on c4 while using the Queen to threaten the Bishop back. The pinned Black Queen is forced to trade space & time with her life otherwise the Rook on f2 is lost. White now leads materially by 1 pawn.
37. Nxd8 Rf8
In the exchange, the Black Rook is now free to threaten the recapturing White Knight back.
38. Ne6 Rb8
The White Knight re-threatens the Black Rook, however Black blunders & instead of playing 38... Re8, he plays 38...Rb8 allowing a Queen fork by 39. Nxg7 Kxg7 40. Qg3+ then 41. Qxb8.
39. Qg3 ...
Sets up the Checkmate against the g7 pawn & threatens the Black Rook on b8 however this allows the Black Bishop on b3 to keep the pin on the White pawn on c4 against the White Knight on e6. Black's Rook can still escape and defend g7 with 39,,, Rg8 however the alternative Rook destination square of b7 leads to problems.
39... Rb7
40. Nc5
The White pawn on c4 is no longer pinned but now the White Knight threatens a fork against the Black Rook on b7 and the Black Bishop on b3 which is also attacked by the White Queen on g3. Materially, White is ahead by a pawn and is about to lose at least another minor piece. Black has to keep the Rook on the b File otherwise White plays Qb8#.
Black Resigns : 1-0
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