Ruy LopezC77

Kleiman J. FM (2389)
Sammour-Hasbun J. NM (2576)

Blitz vs Seattle Sluggers (2)
USCL, Week 2, 2007


1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 b5 9. Bc2 Bb7 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Nf1 Bf8 12. Nh4?! A novelty, but I'm not sure it is a good one. Both 12. Ng3 and(12. Bg5) have been played numerous times in this position. 12... g6 13. Qf3 Bg7 14. Ng3 Nd7 Highlighting the awkward placement of the knight on h4. 15. Bb3 Bf6!? The move played practically forces White into the sacrificial attack. As the game was being played, and even now in the analysis, I prefer the prophylactic 15... Rf8 16. Qg4 Nc5 17. Bg5 Qc8= 16. Nhf5 gxf5 17. Nxf5 Kh8 18. Qh5 Ne7 18... Rg8 19. Nh6 Rg7 20. Re3 gives White compensation for the piece. 19. Nh6 Rf8 20. Re3 Bg7 21. Ng4 I'm not sure that 21. Nxf7+ Rxf7 22. Rh3 Nf6 23. Qxf7 Qf8 trading off the queens is what White is looking for, but it's definitely better than the move played, which overlooks Black's defensive resources. 21... Ng8! 22. Rh3 Ndf6 23. Qh4 Bc8 Black threatens to trade everything off, leaving him with a winning ending. 24. f3 Bxg4? 24... h5 25. Bg5 Kh7 is your typical unclear computer variation! 25. fxg4 h6 26. g5 Nh7 27. gxh6 27. Qh5!? c6 28. Be3 d5 29. Rf1 and White's attack looks strong. 27... Bf6 28. Qh5 Bg5! 29. Rg3 Ngf6 30. Qf3 Bf4 31. Bxf4 exf4 32. Rh3? 32. Rg7!? Rg8 33. Qxf4 Rxg7 34. hxg7+ Kxg7 leaves White with two pawns for the piece and he can still fight on. 32... Ng5 33. Qxf4 Nxh3+ 34. gxh3 Nh7 35. Kh1 Qg5 36. Qf2 Qxh6 37. Rg1 Rg8 0-1

Game(s) in PGN