ODT150414

=**Outsider wins European Championship**=




 * Problem:** Black to play and mate in 4.

The 2015 European Individual Championship was held in Jerusalem, Israel over February and March. The event was a giant swiss with 250 participants including 113 grandmasters. Apart from the prizefund of 120,000 Euros, the big drawcard was the 23 qualifying places for the FIDE World Cup later in the year – part of the qualifying cycle for the 2016 World Championship. Top seeds were GMs David Navara of the Czech Republic and Nikita Vitiugov of Russia, both rated over 2700. But this sort of event can lead to surprising results. In the end it was 37th seed GM Evgeniy Najer or Russia, a player not even in the world top 100, who prevailed. He finished on 8½/11, half a point ahead of Navara, GM Bartel Mateusz (Poland) and GM Denis Khismatullin (Russia) tied for second. Today's game is from the second round and features Najer with the black pieces against Czech GM Vlastimil Babula. media type="custom" key="27398914" **1.d4 Nf6** **2.c4 g6** **3.Nc3 Bg7** **4.e4 d6** **5.Nf3 O-O** **6.Be2 e5** **7.O-O Nc6** **8.d5 Ne7** **9.b4** This pawn move signifies the Bayonet Attack against the Orthodox King's Indian. White claims territory on the queenside and threatens to advance c4-c5. Black's response is directed against this plan. **9... a5** **10.Ba3 b6** **11.bxa5 Rxa5** **12.Bb4 Ra8** **13.a4 Re8** **14.Qb3?!** In a position with many choices, this move appears to be new. But the Black reply immediately takes advantage of the queen's absence from the d-file. **14...** **c5!** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**15.Ba3** After the pawn capture Black's pieces get active: 15.dxc6 Nxc6 16.Rfd1 (16.Ba3 Nd4) 16... Nxb4 17.Qxb4 Bf8 with the two bishops. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**15...** **Bh6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**16.Bc1!?** This bishop now has so little scope White acquiesces to a bishop exchange normally seen as favourable for Black in the King's Indian. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**16...** **Bxc1** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**17.Rfxc1 Rf8** Normal King's Indian service resumed: Black prepares a pawn attack on the kingside while holding off White on the queenside. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**18.Rcb1 Ra6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**19.Nd2 Ne8** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**20.Nb5 f5!** The thematic King's Indian move at last. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**21.f3 Nf6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**22.Qc3 g5** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**23.Ra3 Ng6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**24.a5!?** This temporary pawn sacrifice to open the a-file sharpens the battle. The attempt to bolster e4 by 24.Qe3 Nf4 25.Bd3 leaves White without active counterplay. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**24... bxa5** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**25.Rba1 Nf4** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**26.Bf1 fxe4** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**27.fxe4 Ng4** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**28.Rxa5?!** Drawing his pieces away from the defence at the critical moment. After 28.Nf3 or 28.g3 White can defend. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**28... Rxa5** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**29.Qxa5?** Now Black's attack is unstoppable. The only chance was the exchange sacrifice 29.Rxa5!? Ne3! (29... Qf6 30.Nf3 is balanced) 30.Qxe3! Qxa5 though Black retains the advantage after 31.Nxd6 g4! 32.Nb3 Qa2 when his attacking potential outweighs his weak pawns. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**29... Qf6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**30.Nf3 Ne3!** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**31.Qc7** A breakthrough on f1 or g2 is inevitable so White tries to exchange queens. E.g. 31.Qd2 Nxf1 32.Rxf1 g4 winning a piece. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**31... Nh3+!** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**32.Kh1 Nf2+** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**33.Kg1 Nh3+** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**34.Kh1 g4!** Also winning was 34... Ng4! <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**35.Qxd6 gxf3** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**36.gxh3** After 36.Qxf6 Rxf6 37.gxh3 f2! the f-pawn is decisive even without queens. E.g. 38.Na7 Rg6! 39.Bg2 Bd7 and wins. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**36... Qg5** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**37.h4** Leading to today's puzzle diagram, which Black solves. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**37... Qg2+!**

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**0-1**


 * Solution:** 1... Qg2+! 2.Bxg2 fxg2+ 3.Kg1 Rf1 4.Rxf1 gxf1=Q#.