Wednesday 20 August 2008

Another save in the Traxler

(NB These comments and annotations first appeared on chessworld.net)

As the Traxler involves such a heavy material investment for Black, possible refutations always seem just around the corner for White. In this game White grabs almost all that Black offers, and then tries to give some of it back to achieve a simplified but winning position.

Jose Gener - shaunpress
www.ChessWorld.net server game www.ChessWorld.net , 2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 5.Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6.Kf1 Qe7 7.Nxh8 d5 8.exd5 Nd4 (8. ... Bg4 9.Be2 Bxe2+ 10.Qxe2 Nd4 I'd played this variation in a couple of other games in this tournament (and won). But 11.Qd3 came up in one of the games, and I found it impossible to crack. Not to say that there isn't a line for Black, but I decided to avoid it in this game. ) 9.d6 This move (and the next one for White) is another refutation attempt of the Traxler. If it works then the whole Nd4 line is under a cloud. 9...cxd6 (I ignored 9. ... Qxd6 as I wasn't prepared for White's next move. However I may well play it next time I reach this position ) 10.Kxf2 This is a new-ish move (within the last decade or so) but apart from an article in Chessmail I haven't found much on it. 10...d5 When I played this move I at least saw White's next move and overall idea. Black is down a rook and a piece so White can afford to return some material to stop back's mating attack. 11.Bxd5 So here it is decision time. Black needs to find something to keep the attack going. 11... Bg4 (D)
After 4 days thought I decided the game move was the best try. (The obvious 11. ... Nxd5 can be met by 12.Qh5+ g6 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.Qxg6+ when Black is running out of pieces to mate with. A sample continuation leaves White in front after 14. ... Kd8 15.Qg8+ Kc7 16.Qxd5 Nxc2 17.Na3 Nxa1 and White will pick up the knight in the corner and remain a piece and a few pawns ahead) 12.Bf3? After this move Black is winning. White has to move the Queen instead (probably to f1) although blacks attack becomes very strong. 12...Ne4+! This is the move that makes the whole line work. Of course white can give up the queen for the material already captured, but with the White King still exposed and a lack of development, Black will be able to pick up loose pieces. 13.Ke3 The three retreats also lose. (13.Kf1 Nxf3 14.gxf3 Qh4! 15.Qe2 Bh3+ 16.Kg1 Qg5+ 17.Qg2 Qxg2+ is one of the many mates that can occur) (13.Kg1 Qc5! wins) (13.Ke1 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Qh4+ mates) 13...Qg5+ This leads to a forced mate 14.Kxe4 Qf4+ 15.Kd3 Bf5+ 16.Kc4 Rc8+ And White overstepped the time limit here. (17.Kb4 Nxc2+ followed by Qb4 mate) (17.Kd5 Be6+ 18.Kd6 e4+ is another way to get mated.) 0-1

No comments: