Theo Hommeles - IM Vladimir Chuchelov (2490)
Dieren, 1992
BDG, Euwe Defense
Nowadays Chuchelov is a grandmaster. For me it was the first time to test the BDG on a player with a title. For him it will be also a life-long remembrance I expect.
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e4 dxe4 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 e6 6.Bg5 Be7 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.0-0 c5 9.Bxf6 Nxf6 10.dxc5 Bxc5+ 11.Kh1 0-0
All very well played by Black. In order to keep the attacking bishop White had to change the one of the black squares.
12.Ng5 h6?
But this is certainly not the best reaction. 12 ... g6 seems reasonable though white may have the typical BDG compensation. As IM Erik Hoeksema showed me later, 12 ... Be3! is probably the refutation of White's setup. After 13. Rxf6 Bxg5 the capture 14. Rxf7 is impossible because of 14 ... Rxf7 and the black queen is protected by the bishop. Therefore we must conclude that 12. Ng5?! is mere speculation.
13.Nxf7!
13...Qd4!
A real blow for my opponent. He invested a whole hour trying to find the best way to even continue. [It is clear that 13...Rxf7? 14.Bh7+ Kxh7 15.Qxd8 is no option at all,; while 13...Kxf7 14.Qh5+ Kg8 15.Qxc5 leaves Black behind in development, with an awkward e-pawn to defend and still an unsafe king.]
14.Nb5
14...Qg4!
[Chuchelov had also been thinking of the cunning 14...Qe3 after which 15.Rf3 Ng4 16.Rxe3?? Nf2+ loses outright. In time he saw 16.Nxh6+! winning a sound pawn. After 14.Ne2 (instead of 14.Nb5) it would be a very good try.]
15.Ne5 Qxd1 16.Raxd1 Nd5 17.Rxf8+ Bxf8 18.Bc4 a6
19.Nc3
[Perhaps it was better to go for 19.Bxd5 axb5 20.Bb3 though after 20...Ra6! which Chuchelov had planned, the advantage has vanished.]
19...Nxc3 20.Rd8?
[To a dead draw leads 20.bxc3 Be7 21.Nd7]
20...Nd5 21.Ng6 Kf7 22.Rxf8+
[It now became clear to me that things were not as simple as they appeared before. I had planned 22.Nxf8 Ke7 23.Nxe6 Bxe6 24.Rxa8 Nb6 25.Bxe6 Nxa8 26.Bc8 but Black can interfere with 23...Nb6, winning a piece. Perhaps Caissa felt I deserved the draw since Chuchelov refuses to take full advantage of my overextended play.]
22...Kxg6 23.Bd3+ Kg5 24.g3
24...Ne3?!
[Winning is only 24... 24...e5! 25.h4+ Kg4 26.Kg2 Nf6 27.Rf7 e4 etc, but not 24...Nf6? 25.Rf7 and it's Black who has to fight for the draw.]
25.h4+ Kh5 26.Be2+
26...Kg6
[Or 26...Ng4 27.Kg2 e5 28.Kh3 Kg6 29.Bd3+ Kh5 30.Be2=]
27.Bd3+ Kh5 28.Be2+ Kg6 29.Bd3+ 1/2-1/2
Chuchelov just couldn't believe what had happened.
Play through the game and download PGN here.
