Speed kills

limankaca (Albania) - Hennie Schaper

Alekhine's Defence

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. d4 d6 5. f4 dxe5 6. fxe5 Bf5 7. Nc3 e6 8. Nf3 Be7 9. Be2 c6

White has chosen one of the most aggressive lines against my favourite Alekhine's Defence: the four pawns attack. Black has a somewhat cramped position, but one that often can be opened effectively in the course of the game. The computer (in post mortem analysis) does not like my c6, preferring Nc6 instead.

10. 0-0 0-0 11. a3 a5 12. Be3 N8d7 13. Qb3 a4 14. Qd1 Bg6 15. h3 f6

The thematic attack on the white pawn centre. So far, both sides have made pretty natural and logical moves. 

16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Nh2 Qe7 18. Ng4 Rfd8

This rook move is a mistake, because after white's natural next moves it returns to f8. Better would have been Bg5, a move I did not consider. Latest here I was starting to get worried. My opponent, rated almost 100 points higher than me, had played well, and had used far less time (I had invested half of my 30 minutes already to get in this slightly worse position).

19. Nxf6+ Nxf6 20. Bg5 (probably better is Qe1) Rf8 (computer prefers e5) 21. c5 Nbd5 22. Nxa4

White has gained a pawn, but black has compensation, and tactical threats creep now into the position.

22. ... h6 23. Bxf6 Rxf6 24. Qb3 Raf8 25. Nb6 Qf7 26. Nxd5 exd5 27. Rxf6 Qxf6 28. Qe3 Re8 29. Qf2

A crucial position. I felt that passive play (including a queens exchange) would in the end lead to defeat, especially because I had far less time left on the clock. I invested 3 of my remaining 10 minutes on the next move, a speculative exchange sacrifice for one or two pawns and a less balanced situation. I was hoping that white would continue to play quickly and give me some tactical chances.

29. ... Rxe2 30. Qxe2 Qxd4+ 31. Kh1 (better would be Qf2) Qxc5 32. Qe6+ Kh7 33. b4 Qf2 34. Qe1 Qf7 35. Ra2 Be4 36. Rf2 Qe6

With two obvious threats, including Qxh3+. White should have played Kg1, which takes care of both threats at once. White is better, although black still has chances to draw. Instead, after only 5 seconds of thought, he blundered: 37. Qe3 Bxg2+ 0-1.