FM Igor Goldenberg Annotates

FM Igor Goldenberg and international master David Smerdon were joint first placers at the recent Drouin Open in Victoria. These two slugged it out in the fifth round and the FIDE master came out on top. Goldenberg also won against the same opponent last month at the Australian Championships in Brisbane.

This post is a special treat. Igor annotated his all-important game against Smerdon for the chess fans in Australia's most lively chess forum, Chess Chat. I bring it here for our international readers so that they may also enjoy it. My thanks to FM Igor Goldenberg for giving me permission to display this game to a wider audience.

Annotations by FM Igor Goldenberg
Drouin Open 2006
Smerdon, David
Goldenberg, Igor
B22

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 d5 7. exd6 Qxd6 8. Na3 Be6 9. d4 Bxb3 10. Qxb3 cxd4 11. Nb5 Qd7 12. Nbxd4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 g6

After 13...g6

(13...e6 and 13... e5 both playable here. The move in the game creates problems for black.) 14. Nb5! Threat Nxa7 is quite unpleasant 14... a6 15. Nd4 Qc7 (15... Nc8 would be more cautious and accurate, as knight protects important e7 square and will have to move anyway, thus saving atempo) 16. Be3 Nd7 17. O-O-O Bg7 18. h4?! (18. Rhe1! prevents castle. 18... Rd8 19. Qc4) 18... Nc5 (18... O-O? 19. Ne6!) 19. Qa3 (19. Qb4 saves tempo) 19... Rc8 20. h5 O-O 21. Qb4 Rfd8 22. Kb1 Rd5 white still have some initiative, however after 23. h6? pendulum swings to black. No attack and permanent weakness on h6 makes black's position preferable (23. hxg6 hxg6 24. Nf3=)

After 23. h6?

23... Bf6 24. Nb3 Nd3 25. Qe4 Rcd8 26. Rd2 (26. Bd4? Nxf2; 26. Nd4? Nxb2 27. Kxb2 27... e5) 26... e6 27. Bd4 Ne5 (27... Bxd4 28. Nxd4 28... Nc5 more cautious, but black was affraid with some phantom threats on g7 and wanted to keep dark-coloured bishop) 28. Qf4 Qe7 29. Bc5 Bg5 30. Bxe7 Bxf4 31. Bxd8 Bxd2

After 31. Bxd2

32. Nxd2?? (32. Bf6 or 32. Bb6 leads to an endgame with small advantage for black [weak h6 pawn!], but quite defensible. Now black get big, almost decisive advantage as rook gets to the 2nd rank) 32... Rxd2 33. Bg5 Rxf2 34. Rd1 f6 35. Be3 Rxg2 36. Rd8+ Kf7 37. Rh8 g5 38. Rxh7+ Kg6 39. Rxb7 Kxh6 40. Rb6 last mistake (40. Bd4 leaves some practical chances) 40... Nc4! forces rook endgame that is easily won for black as pawns are much more advanced 41. Rxe6 Nxe3 42. Rxe3 g4 43. c4 f5 44. c5 f4 45. Re6+ Kg5 46. c6 Rh2 47. c7 Rh8 48. Kc2 g3 49. Re7 f3 50. Rd7 Rc8 51. Kd3 g2 52. Rg7+ Kf5 53. Ke3 Rxc7 54. Rg3 Rc1 55. Kf2 Rf1+ 0-1