Pawn Grab
Rubinstein - Miezis
Black’s last move was 14… Qe7. He has clear plan of attacking against e4 pawn while White pieces are still undeveloped. The problem is that Black underestimates importance of “time” as factor. Rubinstein will not only complete the development while Black is busy taking that pawn, but he will also gain other positional advantages.
15. Nc3 Nh5
According to the plan, wins tempo by attacking g3 to exchange the e4 defender - Nc3. Better was 15… Nfd7 to fight against e4-e5, even if Nb6 will look stupid for awhile.
16. Kh2 Bxc3
Principled, stubborn and bad. Miezis didn’t pay attention to the incoming transformation.
17. bxc3 Nf6 18. c4! Nxe4 19. Bb2
White has wonderful play over the long diagonal after Black gave up his dark-squared Bishop. That’s not the only trouble for Black, Ne4 will be pinned and White will force opening of g-file resulting in a crushing attack.
19… h6
There is hardly anything better. Black wants to have Kh7-Rg8 option handy. 19… Nf6 20. Qc3 is good night.
20. Rae1 f5 21. g4! Kh7 22. gxf5 gxf5 23. Rg1 Rg8 24. Bxe4 and Black resigned. Bb2 was simply too powerful to bare with.
pawn said,
Wrote on April 13, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
very good game by white
Magua said,
Wrote on July 17, 2007 @ 12:41 pm
Would it not have been stronger for white to play 16. g4 … instead of playing 16. Kh2?
Example: 15. Nc3 Nh5 16. g4 Ng3 17. Re1 h5 18. Qh5 Qf2??
It seems logical, because Nf6 would just cause major havoc on Blacks already deprived development.
19. e5 After that line is crushing also?
Goran Urosevic said,
Wrote on July 17, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
Hey Magua
16.g4 is possible, but it gives more options to Black. He can continue same as in the game with 16…Bc3 and 17…Nf6, but also dive into wild complications (which would be better in this case) with 16…Ng3 17.Re1 h5 or 17…Bd4 18.Kh2 Qh4 and now Bd4 is preventing Qf2.
In general (this game is exception), with similar pawn structures, White will usually prefer Kh2 over g4 (unless there is tactical justification), because it’s safer. With different pieces’ setup, Black can respond to g4 with all kinds of sacrifices on f4 or g4, or anchor Bd4 with tempo (check when King is not on h2). Also, g4 is loosening protection of the f4 pawn, which itself should serve as support to “programmed” e5.
There are many nuances, it still all depends on the particular position. In our game, it might give some tactical opportunities to Black, and White wanted to avoid it with safer Kh2.
Hope it helps