Vidovdanski rejting turnir
II kolo
Ja – Miroljub Jevtić
I declared this tournament to be “preparational” for Serbian Open in couple of weeks. But whom I am kidding? Everyone prefers getting easy point in a bad game over weaker opponent to losing and "learning from strong player in tough & instructive game". I lived under false impression – after I recently watched Candidates tournament and many many Carlsen’s games in blitz – that I learned something, that I learned to get comfort from GM’s mistakes: “Even the rich cry”, as the soap opera’s title says. But, no, it still hurts, and this game bursts with ignorance and patzerism. I doubt very much that I will be capable of extract any lessons from it.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6
Ruy Lopez Closed Chigorin
5. d4 exd4 6. Qxd4 Bd7 7. Bxc6 Bxc6
So we entered Steinitz’ variation with that difference that white early castled and cannot unleash an attack on black king any more.
8. Nc3 Be7 9. Bf4 O-O 10. Rad1 Nh5
I felt very comfortable both in the opening and at the physical table – Number 12, besides the window, this time closed because everyone’s terrified by draught. Next to my table an obviously prefabricated draw in Sozin Sicilian was being played. I felt optimistic and loved my position, known from myriad of “free games” with pensionists in the parks. But I made mistake in next move. 11. Bd2 is what I should’ve played. And after 11. ...Bf6 I should calmly play 12. Qc4 with following Nd4 and exchanges. Equal position I was however dreaming of pushing e5 after I set my rooks on central files, though.
11. Be3?! Bf6 12. Qc4 Bxc3 13. bxc3?
New mistake. I thought 14. e5 is now the only one solution to save the game. Engine says I was supposed to separate from the pawn gladly and peacefully with 13. Qxc3.
13. ... Qe7?
This is a mistake. 13. ...Qe8 was better, because after 14. Nd2 black would have had 14. ...Bb5 and he wins exchange (Qc4-Rf1).
14. e5? Bxf3?
Firstly, I should have played 14. Nd2. Secondly, black had no reason to be afraid of 14. ...dxe5 15. Bc5, which I had in mind. I wouldn’t have become any richer from that exchange I was looking for. Engine therefor recommends 15. Bg5, which I didn't consider at all.
15. exd6??
This was a blunder. After 15. gxf3 Qxe5 16. Qxc7 I would’ve been in just slightly worse position. But I didn’t see it, on the contrary I was afraid of 15. ...Qf6, which would’ve good only for equal position. Now black had 15. ...Qe4!!
15. ...cxd6 16. gxf3 Rfc8 17. Qd5 Nf6 18. Qxd6 Qxd6 19. Rxd6 Rxc3
After comedy (or tragedy) of mistakes and blunders, there is an equal endgame on the board. Here I saw 20. Bxa7, but was afraid of 20. ...Ne8 without a reason because I had 21. Bd4 Rxc2 22. Rd7 Rd2 23. Rb1 with equal position. I should’ve played that beautiful 20. Bxa7!
20. Rfd1 h6 21. Rd8+ Rxd8 22. Rxd8+ Kh7 23. Bxa7 Rxc2 24. Rb8 Rc7 25. Rd8?? Re7?
Blunder was 25. Rd8??. I must not exchange rooks. If I had played 25. a4, and had posted bishop on e3, I could easily save my pawn on a4, because black can’t take it without giving his own pawn on b7 in return. Easy draw. I should've known better...
But all the false confidence from watching rich chessists crying vanished, and insecurity began to nest in me. Meanwhile, my opponent shamelessly pursued the whole point. But he didn’t understand at this point that it’s good for him to exchange rooks. My king is too far from a pawn, that is the key in this ending. Never mind "pawns on two flanks & bishop is strogner than knight", my king is weaker, and that's the key factor in the evaluation of this position.
27. a4 Nd7 28. Bd4 f6 29. Kg2 Ne5 30. Bc5 Rd7 31. Rxd7?? Nxd7 32. Bd4 Kg6 33. Kg3?!
Even now, says the engine, I could have saved the game had I played 33. f4 and Kf3. To tell the truth, it’s long disgusting engine line, and I would have to fight with a bishop against three pawns, and I doubt I could make a draw... But the point is, I wasn’t dead yet at this point. I felt such, though.
33. ...Kf5 34. a5 g5 35. h4?? h5??
Black gave me last chance. 34. Be3 was better and I then I could pull the draw.
36. Kh3? Ne5 37. Bxe5?? (Now it is decided. Eith 27. Kg2 I could prolong resistance, and, who knows, maybe save the game...) Kxe5 38. Kg3 Kf5 39. Kh3 Kf4 40. hxg5 fxg5 41. Kg2 h4 42. Kh3 Kxf3 43. Kh2 Kxf2
Here I was even hallucinating of a stalemate... Black was visibly irritated by my moves and with 44. ...Ke3 he demonstrantively began the march toward my a5 pawn leaving my king against two chained pawns.
44. Kh3 Ke3 White resigned
Did I “learn” something from this game? I honestly doubt it. I must play both position (from I and II round) against the engine several times to-night. I had paid the entrance fee, so I must give my best. I have to finish some translations in order to have for the bread and Infostan in July and I have to deliver 2 manuscripts. Right now when the tournament started I am called and called again from different sides of the world.
