Most players only rarely get the opportunity to play a Grandmaster, whether in a tournament or at an exhibition, so it is important to get the most out of the experience. A game with a GM is almost always a valuable chess lesson if we are willing to look closely enough to learn it.
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From my simultaneous loss against GM Lev Alburt, I learned: "If a GM allows you a draw by repetition, TAKE IT!" From my tournament loss to GM Alex Sherzer, I learned "Even if a GM is having an off day, if you make enough bad moves he will beat you like a chicken-killing dog." When GM Lubosh Ftacnik gave an exhibition in Charleston this summer, I hoped to learn more:
1.d4
Nf6
2.Nf3
b6
3.c4
e6
4.g3
Ba6
5.Qc2
Bb4+
6.Nbd2
The Grandmaster is not out for a theoretical duel in these exhibitions. He's not going to play his latest innovation because, with today's instant online publication, all his rivals could see it before he has a chance to use it on them! He only wishes, in an exhibition, to play simple moves until the inevitable weeding-out of the weaker players leaves him in a speed-chess battle with the survivors. In such a case, the advantage is with the Grandmaster, of course.
6...0-0
7.Bg2
Bb7
[7...d5
is a good alternative here or on the next move.]
8.0-0
c5
9.dxc5
Bxc5
10.e4
d6
[10...d5!?
was also playable: 11.e5
Nfd7
12.cxd5
Bxd5
13.Ne4
Nc6
14.Nxc5
Nxc5
15.Ng5
g6
and Black is holding on.]
11.a3
a5!
Necessary, but good. Black should now be able to freely complete development. It was already too late for the alternative [11...d5
after 12.b4
Be7
13.cxd5
exd5
14.e5
Nfd7
when Black has lost both space and time in moving his pieces to worse positions, and White enjoys a comfortable development and initiative. (14...Ne4
15.Nd4!+/-
) ]
12.b3
Qc7
[Better was 12...Nc6!
and Black stands very well - for instance, 13.Bb2
Nd7!
14.Rad1
Qe7
15.Rfe1
Rac8
when despite White's central Ps, Black is better placed.]
13.Bb2
Nbd7
[13...Nc6
was still better]
14.Rac1
Rac8
15.Nd4
Rfd8
16.Nb5
Qb8
17.Bc3
[17.Rcd1
Qa8=
]
17...d5
Seeking to resolve the center. More ambitious was [17...Ba6!?
keeping White off balance]
18.exd5
exd5
19.Qf5
dxc4
[19...d4!?
with the idea of eliminating the isolated QP, was also worthy of consideration, but the number of competitors was dwindling and Ftacnik was coming around ever faster. He had generously waived the "three passes" limit usually imposed on players, but one could wave him by only so many times . . . 20.Nxd4
Bxg2
21.Kxg2
Bxa3
22.Rce1
when White retains an edge due to his better-placed Queen and Nd4.]
20.Nxc4
Bxg2
21.Kxg2
Qa8+
22.Qf3
It is here I should have listened to my own counsel, as the first article in this series dealt with the "Queen-less middlegame" and the poison it can contain. It is not that exchanging here leaves Black poorly placed at all; he could still defend the position. Rather, the Queenless middlegame presents few opportunities for active play, while also bringing White's King out to an active square where he will be well positioned for the ending.
22...Qxf3+
[22...Ne4
might not be objectively better, but it offers Black more counterplay. Whether facing a GM or a novice, more counterplay is generally better. Not to say I would have declined a safe drawing line, had one been available - but with no such chance, it's always better to seek more play for one's self.]
23.Kxf3
Nd5
24.Bb2
N7f6?!
[24...Be7!
25.Rfd1
Nc5
should have easily held the balance, as Black's centralized Knights are very strong. That I didn't seriously consider this showed an old weakness: the reticence to take away protection from a weak P. b6 would have been adequately covered, even without the Bc5.]
25.Rfd1
Kf8
[Better was 25...Be7
This time, I rejected this move because of a hallucination! I feared 26.Bxf6
Bxf6
27.Rxd5
Rxd5
28.Nxb6
missing, of course, the fact that White's Rc1 is hanging and Black would emerge ahead the Exchange. White would have retained an advantage in any case, though.]
26.Be5
Ne8?!
[26...Rd7
was slightly better 27.Nxa5
bxa5
28.Bd4
Ne7
29.Bxf6
Rxd1
30.Bxe7+
Kxe7
31.Rxd1
Rb8
32.a4+/-
when Black at least has some hope of holding a draw]
27.Na7
f6?
[27...Ra8
was better, but still losing: 28.Nc6
Rd7
29.Nb8!
and wins]
28.Nxc8
fxe5
29.N8xb6
e4+
30.Ke2
Nef6
31.Nxd5
Ng4
32.Nde3
around this time I noticed I was down a whole Rook, and resigned! 1-0