GM So misses a win in Round 1

Wesley So - Yuriy Kuzubov
Round 1
Spice Cup 2009
19.09.2009

Annotation from Chessdom.com

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 So avoids the popular Nimzo-Indian and goes for Catalan Opening

3... Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7 (4... Be7 is the usual move after the check hoping to exploit the badly situated Bd2. The game move transfers to a line of Bogo-Indian Defense.)

5.Bg2 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bxd2+ 7.Nbxd2 d6 8.O-O O-O 9.e4 e5 The main strategic motive of this line is to fix the White central pawns on light squares. This way Bg2 will be relatively passive and that compensates for the advantage in space.

10.d5 Nb8 11.Ne1 a5 Prevents a possible offensive on the queenside and secures a good outpost on 'c5' for a Black Knight.

12.Nd3 Na6 13.Qc2 (13.a3 Bg4 14.f3 Bd7 15.b4 axb4 16.axb4 c6 lets Black equalize with ease as was proved in a dozen of games.)

13... c6 Usually the counterplay on the 'c' file is prepared by a preliminary Bc8-d7 or Bg4 but it shouldn't really matter. Black is looking for chances on the flank where Bg2 has no impact.

14.dxc6 bxc6( Opening the 'c' file would favor Kuzubov but now c6-c5 followed by a Knight transfer to 'd4' becomes a strategic threat. If White tries to counter it by comfortably playing c4-c5 than Black has a promising pawn sacrifice: 14... bxc6 15.Qc3 a4 (15... Qc7 16.c5) 16.Qc2 Bg4 17.f3 (17.Qxa4 Be2) 17... Be6 18.Nc5 Rfb8 19.Rfb1 d5 with dangerous initiative.)

15.c5 Practically forced as otherwise White can't hope to achieve any advantage while Black would have ways to improve his position.

15... Nxc5 16.Nxc5 dxc5 17.Rfc1 Be6 18.Qxc5 Qxc5 19.Rxc5 The pawn 'c6' is weak but the 'b' file offers sufficient counterplay.

19... Rfb8 20.Rc2 Defending economically and preparing to attack the Black center by f2-f4.

20... Rb4 The idea is simple - Rfb8 and a5-a4.

21.Nf3 Rxe4 22.Rxc6 Directly from the opening the game transfered in about equal endgame yet with slight initiative for So - Bg2 is finally active. Clock readings: 0.43 1.05

22... Bd5 (22... Re2 23.Nxe5)

23.Rd6 Rb4 24.Rd1 e4 ( A risky move. 24... Rxb2 25.Nxe5 Bxg2 26.Rd8+ Ne8 27.Kxg2 Rxd8 28.Rxd8 Kf8 would lead to draw.)

25.Nh4 (25.Ne5 was way more dangerous - just a sample line: 25... Rxb2 26.R1xd5 Nxd5 27.Bxe4 Ne3 28.fxe3 Rc8 29.Nc6) ( Now Kuzubov has to play 25...Rb5 as retreating the Bishop leads to trouble 25.Nh4 Bc6 (25... Rb5) 26.Rd8+ Ne8 27.Rxa8 Bxa8 28.Rd8 Bc6 29.a3 Rxb2 30.Bxe4)

25... Rb5 26.Nf5 Kf8 ( Doubling the 'f' pawns after 26... Re8 27.Rxf6 gxf6 28.Nd6 Reb8 isn't dangerous but Black prefers to keep his pawn structure solid.)

27.g4 Re8 28.a4 ( Overambitios. 28.Rxf6 like in above mentioned line seems more natural. Now White queenside pawns are no longer an asset but a burden.)

28... Rc5 29.Ne3 Be6 30.h3 h5 Kuzubov is trying to get the initiative in the approaching time trouble of the Filipino.

31.R1d4 hxg4 32.hxg4 Rg5 33.f4 (33.Bxe4 Bxg4)

33... exf3 34.Bxf3 Rb8 Draw agreed. (34... Rb8 35.Rd8+ Rxd8 36.Rxd8+ Ke7 37.Rd4 Nxg4 38.Bxg4 f5 39.b4 was the probable move sequence which would make the result even more apparent. After the opening the game rapidly transformed into equal ending. So had his chance to punish his opponents inaccuracy on move 25 but playing 25.Nh4 instead, he missed his chance and in spite of both players' desire for the win they had finally to share the point.) 1/2