0015 Queen’s Gambit Declined
Midtown VII, 10-21-98
Fuerstman (2095) Pietras (1825)
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Nf3 a6 5 c5 Be7 6 b4 Nc6 7 a3 Ne4 8 Bb2 0-0 9 e3 Nc3 10 Bc3 Re 11 Bd3 Bf6 12 Qc2 g6 13 h4 e5 14 de Ne5 15 Ne5 Be5 16 0-0-0 Qf6(=) 17 Be5 Re5 18 h5 Bg4 19 hg!? fg (if 19…Bd1 then 20 gf Kf7 21 Rh7 Kg8 22 Qd1 and with his open lines and extra pawns White probably stands better; 20…Kf8 21 Kd1 22 h6 Rh3 and White has three pawns for the exchange) 20 f3 Bf5 21 e4 de 22 fe Be4! (A trick move!; if 23 Be4 then 23…Qf4! Winning back the Bishop with an extra pawn in hand) 23 Bc4! Kg7 24 Qd2?! (This move is not accurate for many reasons. Remember what the great E. Lasker said, "When you see a good move, wait, don’t make it; there might be a better one!" 24 Rd7!! Re7 {forced or 24…Kf8 25 Qd2+-} 25 Re7 Qe7 26 Qc3 Qf6 27 Rh7+- winning the Queen) 24…Qg5? (Surprisingly, Black bails out? Stronger is a move like 24… Rh5!! which defends against and threatens mate simultaneously! White does best to avoid continuations like 25 Rh5?? Qa1 mate! and would probably opt for something like 25 Qd7 Kh8 26 Rh5 which does offer Black slight drawing chances) 25 Qg5 Rg5 +/= (This ending slightly favors White) 26 Rd7 Kf6 27 Rhh7 Rg2 28 Rhf Kg5 29 Bd3 Rah?? 30 Be4 1-0 (However, amazingly, the ensuing pawn down ending after the correct moves 29…Bd3 30 Rd3 actually favors White, due to Black’s doomed "c" pawn. This is the type of endgame whereby a master might state, "I can win with White; and draw with Black!" (Work it out for yourselves and report back to me!!)
(Notes by Fuerstman)