Annotated Game #352: Simul vs. GM Ben Finegold

This simul game, played versus GM Ben Finegold at this year's National Open in Las Vegas, ended up in an exciting finish. As with other GM simuls I've played in, I was able to do well with my opening prep, studying published games and focusing on the most likely lines I would face. GM Finegold has publicly touted the Torre Attack setup versus the Dutch Defense, and we in fact enter that, following some other games in the database until around move 8. In the middlegame, I make some awkward, piece-restricting moves that GM Finegold takes advantage of positionally with easy, harmonious development, which is instructive to see. The end becomes wild as I boldly (finally!) emphasize piece activity for practical chances and could have drawn (or even won), but was not able to find the more subtle solutions, and White then wins with an aesthetic discovered checkmate.

[Event "National Open - Simul"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Finegold, Ben"] [Black "ChessAdmin"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "ChessAdmin/Dragon 3.2"] [ECO "A80"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "73"] [GameId "2323483478960773"] 1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5 {a Torre Attack-style setup versus the Dutch Defense. I had expected this from my pre-game prep.} e6 {the usual antidote for Black, playing in more of a Classical Dutch style. This is relatively easy to remember and implement.} (3... Ne4 $5 {is an interesting, non-traditional approach.}) 4. Nbd2 {this looks a little strange at first glance, but is the main line. The knight is developed without blocking the c-pawn.} Be7 5. Bxf6 Bxf6 6. e4 O-O 7. exf5 (7. Bd3 {is usually played first, to develop the bishop.}) 7... exf5 8. Be2 {now out of my prep} Nc6 $11 {the engine validates this move as a good equalizing one. The knight is developed straightforwardly.} (8... d5 $5 {interestingly is played in all of the (handful of) database games. This would be less flexible and leave a hole on e5, but typical Stonewall plans can then be used.}) 9. c3 {a natural reaction to protect d4.} Re8 $6 {while the rook looks good lined up against the White king, it immediately castles away and afterwards it is not clear if the rook would be better off on the f-file (probably so).} (9... d6 {would control e5 and release the Bc8.}) (9... Kh8 $5 {is a standard precaution in the Dutch when the g8-a2 diagonal is open and White pieces (as is the case here) can take advantage of it.}) 10. O-O $14 d5 {here I go with what I know and aim for a Stonewall-like domination of the light squares.} 11. Re1 Be6 $6 {following the principle of getting the minor pieces out first, but the bishop is awkwardly and prematurely placed here.} (11... Qd6 12. Bb5 Bd7 $14) 12. Bd3 {safe but not particularly aggressive.} (12. Bb5 Qd6 {is now more awkward for Black than the above variation.} 13. Ne5 $16) 12... Qd7 $6 {wrong square for the queen and an over-reaction to pressure on f5.} 13. Qc2 $16 {White now enjoys harmonious development and easy pressure on my position.} g5 {I decided that it would be better to go for counterplay than play passively with ...g6} 14. Ne5 {I'm happy to exchange off the good White knight.} (14. Nb3 $5 {would preserve more of an edge for White, with his knights eyeing both c5 and e5.}) 14... Nxe5 15. dxe5 Bh8 $2 {simply a blunder. I over-valued the pressure on the e5 pawn, when greater piece activity was better.} (15... Be7 $16 {White still has an edge, but the bishop is much more in the game, rather than having just two squares.}) 16. Nf3 $1 $18 {simple but effective. Without piece support, Black's advanced kingside pawns are now good targets, and combined with White's central pressure my position crumbles.} h6 17. Nd4 Rf8 18. Rad1 {bringing all the pieces to the party} c6 19. c4 a6 {preventing White from using b5 as a pivot for his minor pieces} 20. cxd5 cxd5 21. Qb3 b5 22. Be2 Rfe8 {it is interesting to see just how useless the Bh8 is.} (22... Bxe5 $2 23. Nxe6 Qxe6 24. Bf3 $18) 23. Nxe6 Qxe6 24. Rxd5 (24. Bf3 {would be even more devastating.}) 24... Kf8 {I am out of good moves, but at least wanted to get the king off the diagonal with White's queen.} 25. Bh5 {now the bishop joins the party.} Re7 26. h4 Kg7 {completing the entombment of the bishop.} 27. Qf3 Rf8 28. Rd6 Qc4 {objectively the engine assesses it is best to trade on d6, which tells you how badly off I am.} 29. hxg5 hxg5 30. Rg6+ Kh7 31. Qh3 Rxe5 {a last desperate shot, which is the best practical move.} 32. Rxe5 (32. Rd1 $1 $18 {and I have no follow-up.}) 32... Qc1+ {this was the point.} 33. Kh2 $6 {after this, things are still very tricky, but as the engine observes Black is now equal.} (33. Bd1+ $1 $18) 33... Bxe5+ $11 34. g3 Qxb2 $4 {I knew this was a critical move but could not find a way to make progress, so figured I should at least grab a pawn and threaten f2.} (34... Qd2 $11 {I did not consider this superior move, protecting g5 while still attacking f2 and therefore maintaining equality.}) 35. Kg2 $4 {a natural response, to protect f2, but one that should lose.} (35. Rxg5 $1 Qxf2+ 36. Kh1 Qe1+ 37. Kg2 {and Black is done, due to the threat of mate on move with the Bh5}) 35... Qxa2 $4 (35... Bd4 $1 $19 {I did not consider moving the bishop to threaten f2, against which White has no good reply.}) 36. Rxg5 $1 {White finds the solution. Now the bishop is mobile and the rook can no longer be taken, so mate is inevitable.} Qd5+ 37. Bf3# {a nice finish, with a discovered checkmate.} 1-0