Baburin, A. (2590) - Sarsam, A. (2423) [D36]
(6) 2000 [Alexander Baburin]
1. d4
Nf6
2. c4
e6
3. Nc3
d5
4. cxd5
exd5
5. Bg5
Be7
6. e3
c6
7. Qc2
Bg4 This is a rare move, but it's not bad.
8. Bd3
Bh5! Black rightly avoids 8...Nbd7?, which allows 9 h3!, and if 9...Bh5, then 10 f4!.
9. Nge2
Bg6
10. f3!? This seems to be a new move (of course, I did not know any theory here!). I wanted to keep the option of 0-0-0 open.
Na6
11. a3!
Bxd3
12. Qxd3
Nh5
13. Bxe7
Qxe7
14. e4
Nf6
15. e5
Nd7
16. f4
Nc7
17. O-O
f6
18. Ng3
fxe5
Now Black cannot castle kingside, but 18...0-0 19 Nf5 Qe6 20 Rae1 left White some initiative, while 18...g6? would be just bad in view of 19 e6 Nxe6 20 f5 gxf5 21 Nxf5, with attack.
19. fxe5
g6
20. b4
O-O-O
21. Nge2!?
I felt that I had to relocate the g3-knight, which was doing nothing on g3.
Kb8
22. Nf4
Nb6
23. b5
c5
24. a4
Nc4
25. a5!?
I also considered 25 Rae1 here, but it was tempting to leave the rook on a1, in case the queenside will be opened.
Nb2 I expected mainly 25...g5 26 Nfxd5 Nxd5 27 Nxd5 Rxd5 28 Qxc4 Rxd4 29 Qf7. In this line the advantages of the move a4-a5 are apparent, as White can play a5-a6, weakening the 7th rank.
26. Qg3
g5 26...cxd4 27 b6 dxc3 28 bxc7+ Qxc7 29 Ne6 would have left White with an advantage too.
27. b6 This is a safe move, but it gives away some of White's advantage. Here I considered 27 Nfxd5! Nxd5 28 Nxd5 Rxd5 29 e6+. Then Black would have a difficult choice: 29...Qc7?? loses after 30 e7 Re8 31 Rf8, while both 29...Kc8 and 29...Ka8 gives White a terrific attack after 30 a6!. Objectively 27 Nfxd5! is very good for White, but playing in a team event I was reluctant to sacrifice a piece.
gxf4
28. bxc7+
Qxc7
29. Qxf4
a6
30. e6!
Rhe8 Better was 30...Qxf4 31 Rxf4 Rhe8.
31. Qxc7+
Kxc7
32. Rf7+
Kc6
33. Rb1
cxd4?
34. Ne2
Nc4
35. Nxd4+
Kc5
36. e7!
Rb8
Black had to play 36...Rd7! 37 Ne6+ Kc6 (not 37...Kd6? because of 38 Ng7!) 38 Nd8+ Kc7 39 Rxb7+ Kc8 40 Rxd7 Kxd7 41 Rxh7, although White retains better chances. Now he is lost:
37. Ne6+
Kc6
38. Ng7
Nd6
39. Rf6!
Kd7?!
40. Nxe8
Rxe8
41. Rb6
1-0
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