Elizabeth Paehtz plays Michael Adams, courtesy of John Upham
M Adams-v-Elizabeth Paehtz
4NCL, 2011/12
Tarrasch French C03
[Taulbut]
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nd2 Be7
The Kellner/Romanishin.
4 Ngf3 Nf6 5 e5 Nfd7 6 c3 c5 7 Bd3 b6
The alternative is 7…Nc6 8 0–0 Qb6 attacking d4.
8 0–0 Ba6
Achieving a strategic aim of exchanging off the light squared bishops: a good choice for Black.
9 Ne1
A subtle retreat allowing the White queen to come into play on the kingside 9 Bxa6 Nxa6 10 Qe2 Nc7 leaves Black with a solid game. The British No.1 can try to open the position with b3 and c4 but, as yet, there are no weaknesses in the Black camp to attack.
9…Bxd3 10 Nxd3
White is aiming to play on the kingside with Qg4
10…Nc6 11 Qg4 g6
11…g5 is much more combative; Black aims to drive the White queen back with …h5. White can then try -
(a) 12 Qh5 sacrificing a pawn, a worthy consideration to hold up Black, also
(b) 12 Nf3 h5 13 Qg3 g4 and Adams is driven back by the Black pawn army;
(c) 12 f4 aiming to open the f-file 12…h5 13 Qf3 (13 Qd1 cxd4 14 cxd4 Nxd4 with an edge for Black) 13…cxd4 14 fxg5 Rh7 15 g6 with complex play, White has chances for the sacrificed material.
After 12 Qh5 cxd4 13 Nf3 dxc3 (13…h6 14 cxd4 with a clear advantage to White) 14 Nxg5 Bxg5 15 Bxg5 Qc7 16 bxc3 with play for White on the dark squares.
12 Nf3
After this White has the edge due to the cramping effect of the pawn on e5.
12…h5 13 Qg3
White now has the plan of occupying the dark squares on the kingside notably g5 which is a very good outpost for his pieces and a jumping-off point into the Black position.
13…Qc7
13…h4 14 Qg4 retains White’s edge.
14 Bg5
The logical approach, aiming to exchange the dark squared bishops.
14…0–0–0
Black chooses to castle queenside fearing an attack on the kingside.
15 b4!
The key move, gaining important space on the queenside and threatening b5 attacking the knight which is guarding the Black bishop on e7.
15…c4
Black decides to close the queenside to safeguard her king.
Instead 15…cxb4 16 cxb4 Nxb4 17 Rac1 Nc6 18 Bxe7! wins; or 15…h4 is no better after 16 Qg4! and Elizabeth Paehtz is still worse.
16 Nf4 Rde8
Defending against the threat of …b5.
17 b5
White gains more space.
17…Nd8
17…Na5 18 Bxe7 Rxe7 is similar to the game but maybe a better alternative for Black. See what you think.
18 Bxe7 Rxe7 19 Rfe1 Ree8 20 Ng5 Nf8 21 Re3
This rook can now aim at the weak points in the Black position.
21…Qd7 22 a4 Nb7 23 Rf3
The continuation of the attack on the f-pawn.
23…Re7 24 h4
Blocking the Black h-pawn allows White to apply the pressure.
24…Na5 25 Nfh3 Kd8
Black hurries to defend f7 with her king. 25…Nb3 26 Rd1 a6 allows White to gang up on f7: 27 Qf4 when – bang – the Black position collapses!
26 Rf6
White cannot win the f7 pawn so takes a different tack. The Cornishman broadens his net.
26…Ke8 27 Qf4 Nb7 28 Re1 Nd8
Black now has sufficient defence of f7 so White has to find a breakthrough.
29 Re3 Qc7 30 Rf3 Rg8
30…Nd7 31 Nxf7! and Adams wins immediately.
31 Kf1 Qd7 32 Kg1 Qc7 33 Kf1 Qd7 34 g3 Qb7 35 Kg2
White has repeated moves in order to gain time on the clock.
35…Qc7 36 Kh2 Qb7 37 Qc1 Qc7 38 Kg1 Qb7 39 Qf4 Qc7 40 Kf1 Qb7
Forty moves have been reached so, now, White plays his breakthrough.
41 g4 hxg4 42 Qxg4 Rh8
Black prevents h5 for a move.
43 Nf4
Now White can force through h5 which will increase the pressure on Black.
43…Nd7
Now White is able to crash through with a sacrifice.
Alternatives favour the English Grandmaster:
43…a6 44 h5 gxh5 45 Nxh5 axb5 46 axb5 Qa7 47 Rh3 ~ with the threat of Ng7+ ~ is very hard to meet 47…Rg8 48 Rh6 Nd7 49 Rh8 Rxh8 50 Ng7+ Kf8 51 Rxh8+ Kxg7 52 Nxe6+ Kxh8 53 Qg7#
44 Nxf7 Rxf7
44…Nxf7 45 Nxg6 Nxf6 46 exf6 Rg8 47 fxe7 Qxe7 48 Qh5 and the threat is Ne5 or Qh7.
45 Rxf7 Nxe5
If 45…Nxf7 46 Qxe6+ Kd8 47 Qxf7! wins; 45…Kxf7 46 Qxg6+ Ke7 47 Qg7+ Nf7 48 Nxe6 scores the full point once again.
46 dxe5 Qxf7
On 46…Nxf7 47 Nxg6 Rh7 48 Qxe6+ Kd8 49 Qf6+ Kc8 50 Ne7+ Kc7 51 Nc6 Qc8 52 Qxf7+ Rxf7 53 Rxf7+ Qd7 54 e6 wins.
47 Nxd5 1–0
