Iotov, Valentin (2440) - Nijboer, Friso (2584) [A80], 7th European Championship, Kusadasi (5) 2006

Chess Siberia

Iotov, Valentin (2440) - Nijboer, Friso (2584) [A80]
7th European Championship, Kusadasi (5) 2006
Notes by Boris Schipkov

1. d4 f5
The Dutch Defense.
2. Nf3
Black obtained a small edge in Georgiev, K - Nijboer, F, Kusadasi 2006, after 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. d5 a5 9. Be3 Na6 10. Qd2 Ng4 11. Bf4 Nc5 12. h3 Nf6 13. Bh6 Nfe4!? 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Qc1 Bxh6 16. Qxh6 e5 17. dxe6 Bxe6 18. Rac1 Qf7 19. Rc2 Rae8 20. Ng5 Nxg5 21. Qxg5 b6 22. Rd1 f4.
2...Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. c4 Bg7 5. b4 O-O 6. Bg2 c6

7. Nbd2
A novelty. In the game Weeks,M-Nijboer,F/Hoogeveen 2005 White played 7. Bb2 Ne4 8. Qb3 a5 9. a3 d5 10. O-O Be6 11. c5 with equality.
7...a5!
The best move. Here after 8.b5 White cannot defend the b5-pawn with Nc3, because this knight is already placed on d2.
8. b5 cxb5 9. cxb5 a4!
In the Japanese game Go the strongest move is often occupying a spot which your rival wants. Now Black does not allow White to push a2-a4.

10. Ba3 d6 11. O-O
If 11. Qc2 then 11...Nbd7 12. Qc4+ Kh8 13. Ng5 (13. O-O) 13...Nb6! 14. Nf7+? (14. Qd3=) 14...Rxf7 15. Qxf7 Ng4 16. Rc1 Bd7 17. Ne4 (17. Nf3 Bf6!) 17...fxe4 18. h3 Nh6 19. Qf4 Qg8, Black wins. Or 11...Ra5 12. O-O Bd7 13. Rfc1 Rxb5 14. Qxa4 Qa5 15. Qc4+ Kh8 with equality.
11...Nbd7 12. Nc4
12. e3 is possible.

13...Ne4!
Centralization.
13. Qd3 Ndf6 14. Nfd2 Bd7 15. Rab1 Rc8
Black has good counterplay.
16. Rfc1 Be6

17. e3
White could also continue 17. Bb4 or 17. Bxe4 Nxe4 (17...fxe4) 18. Nxe4 fxe4 19. Qxe4 Bf5 20. Qd5+ e6 21. Qxd6 Qf6 22. Rb4 Bh3 23. f3 (23. f4 Qf5) 23...Rfd8 24. Qf4 Qxf4 25. gxf4 Bxd4+ 26. e3 Rxc4 27. exd4 Rxc1+ 28. Bxc1 Rc8.
17...Nxd2 18. Nxd2 Bxa2 19. Rxc8 Qxc8 20. Rc1
Deserving attention is 20. Rb4 Bd5 21. Rxa4 Bxg2 22. Kxg2.
20...Qd7 21. Qc2 Bd5

22. Qxa4
Or 22. Bxd5+ Nxd5 23. Qxa4 g5 24. Qb3 Qe6 25. Bb2 Qf7.
22...Bxg2 23. Kxg2 g5!
Black develops the initiative on the kingside.
24. Qc4+ Kh8 25. Qc7?!
Correct is 25. d5.

25...Qe6!!
A brilliant idea. Black sacrifices the b7-pawn, but can take the b5-pawn 25...Qxb5 26. Qxe7 Qe2 27. Bxd6 Ng4 28. Rf1 Qxd2 29. h3 Nf6 30. Qe6 Re8 31.Qxf5 with some advantage, however, the text is clearly better.
26. Qxb7
If 26. Qc4 then 26...Nd5.
26...f4!
Black attacks!
27. exf4
Black also wins after 27. e4 fxg3 28. hxg3 Ng4 29. Rf1 Bxd4 30. Nf3 Rxf3 31. Kxf3 Nh2+ 32. Kg2 Nxf1 33. Kxf1 Qa2 34. Qc8+ Kg7 35. Qf5 Qxa3 36. Qxg5+ Kf8 37. Qf5+ Bf6.
27...gxf4

28. Qf3?!
More stubborn is 28. Nf3 fxg3 29. hxg3 Nd5 30. Qc6 Qf5 31. Nh4 Qxf2+ 32. Kh3 Qxd4 or 28. Rc7 Nd5 29. Bxd6 fxg3 30. Bxg3 Nxc7 31. Bxc7 Qe2 32. Ne4 (32. Nf3 e5! 33. dxe5 Rg8) 32... Qf3+ 33. Kg1 Bxd4 34. Bg3 Bf6 35. Nc5 Qxb7 36. Nxb7 Ra8. But Black must win anyway.
28...fxg3 29. b6
Also hopeless is 29. hxg3 Ng4 30. b6 Rxf3 31. Nxf3 Bf8 32. b7 Qb3 33. Rc8 Qxb7 34. Rxf8+ Kg7.
29...Nd7!
Or 29...gxf2 30. b7 Bh6 31. Rc8 Rxc8 32. bxc8Q+ Qxc8.

30. Qxg3
Or 30. Qe4 Qa2 31. Bb4 gxf2, winning.
30...Bh6 31. Nf3
Black wins a queen with 31...Rg8. The Dutch grandmaster Friso Nijboer has applied the Dutch with success.
White resigned. 0-1

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