[Event "Sarajevo"] [Site "Sarajevo"] [Date "1998.06.06"] [Round "9"] [White "Sokolov, Ivan"] [Black "Dizdarevic, Emir"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A40"] [WhiteElo "2625"] [BlackElo "2540"] [Annotator "Martin"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "1998.05.29"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "BIH"] [EventCategory "15"] 1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Bd2 a5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. e4 d6 6. Bd3 e5 {The diagram position has been reached after only 6 moves! Black's last move threatens to grab control over the dark squares therefore the positionally correct move for White to challenge this is Option E} 7. a3 $1 {which forces Black to swap off his bishop and ensures White maintains good control over the central d4 square. This is the only way to guarantee an advantage.} ({Option A} 7. Nf3 {This cedes the dark squares and provides Black a good option for his bishop on b4 with} exd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Nb3 (9. Nf5 {looks more in keeping but after} Bxf5 10. exf5 Qe7+ 11. Qe2 Qxe2+ 12. Bxe2 Nc6 {Black is comfortable.}) 9... Bb6 { when Black has achieved his objective. Most players would prefer Black.}) ({ Option B} 7. Nge2 {leads to the same position as Option A after.} exd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5 {etc.}) ({Option C} 7. dxe5 {This is positionally weak as it allows Black to maintain a pawn grip in the centre as well as dark square control. After} dxe5 {there is the added bonus that the bishop on d3 is attacked. One course of play may go} 8. Nd5 Bxd2+ 9. Qxd2 c6 10. Nxf6+ Qxf6 {when Black has an easy game, better control over the d4 square than White has over d5 and the better bishop!}) ({Option D} 7. d5 {The second best move gaining space in the centre but it cedes the important c5 square. After} Na6 8. Nf3 (8. Nge2 {is better as then after} Nc5 9. Bc2 {White's e-pawn is not under threat as if} Bxc3 { then simply} 10. Nxc3) 8... Nc5 9. Qe2 ({White cannot retreat the bishop with} 9. Bc2 {as the e-pawn is lost after} Bxc3 10. Bxc3 Nfxe4) 9... Nh5 {Black can look forward to a middlegame with an easy plan to play f5 with good kingside attacking chances.}) 7... Bxc3 ({The point of White's last move. If instead} 7... exd4 8. axb4 dxc3 9. Bxc3 {White wins the pawn on a5.}) 8. bxc3 {White has maintained his control in the centre and can look forward to an easy game. It is not clear yet how Black's remaining bishop will be developed.} (8. Bxc3 { simply allows} exd4 9. Bxd4 Nc6 10. Bc3 O-O 11. Ne2 Qe7 {exerting pressure on White's less formidable centre.}) 8... c5 {A natural move restricting the mobility of White's centre.} 9. Ne2 {The better square for the knight as it keeps open the option of playing f4.} (9. Nf3 {blocks the f-pawn.}) 9... Nc6 10. O-O O-O ({Although} 10... cxd4 11. cxd4 exd4 {wins a pawn, the open board will favour the bishops e.g.} 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 g5 {The pin is uncomfortable.} 14. Bg3 Nh5 15. Nxd4 Nxg3 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. hxg3 {when it is not clear how Black's king will find safety.}) 11. f3 Nd7 12. Be3 ({Most chess engines prefer } 12. d5 {gaining space but bishops generally prefer open positions and the move played by Sokolov is very logical.}) 12... a4 13. Rb1 Ra6 14. f4 {Now is the right time to play this break.} Na5 15. Ng3 {swinging the knight over to the kingside.} Nb3 {It is not clear if this knight manoeuvre has achieved very much.} 16. Bc2 Re8 (16... exd4 17. cxd4 cxd4 18. Bxd4 Nxd4 19. Qxd4 {is more consistent but White's pieces (and pawns!) look more cohesive.}) 17. Nh5 $6 { Probably Sokolov's only weaker move of the game as it gave Black a chance to force complications or claim equality.} (17. fxe5 dxe5 18. d5 {is possibly stronger and is the chess engines' choice but as Sokolov has the two bishops he prefers not to close the centre.}) 17... Nf8 $2 {This move invites White's next.} (17... g6 {looks stronger. After} 18. Ng3 Qa5 {forces White to sacrifice a pawn if he wants to play for an advantage, though it appears he has at least adequate compensation. He has two ways of saccing the pawn, though they lead to similar types of position.} 19. Qd3 {retains the pawn but leads to a level position} (19. fxe5 {is perhaps the more natural sac} dxe5 20. d5 (20. Bxb3 axb3 21. d5 Qxc3 22. Rxb3 {is another option}) 20... Qxc3 21. Bd3 {and the weak black squares around the Black king provide White with good attacking potential}) (19. dxe5 {is the other way to sac} Qxc3 (19... dxe5 20. Qe1 $16) 20. Rf3 dxe5 21. Bf2 Qa5 (21... Qxc4 22. Bd3 {regains the exchange}) 22. Bxb3 axb3 23. f5 {and again White has good attacking potential for his pawn.}) 19... cxd4 20. cxd4 exd4 21. Bxd4 Nxd4 22. Qxd4 Qc5 23. Qxc5 Nxc5 $11) 18. f5 exd4 ({An alternative is} 18... f6 {to prevent any opportunity for White to play f6 but this move invites a brilliancy} 19. Bh6 $1 {and if} gxh6 20. Qg4+ Ng6 21. Qg3 {with an irresistible winning attack!}) 19. Qg4 {White's attack is now too strong.} Ng6 (19... g6 {allows} 20. Bg5 $1 gxh5 21. Qg3 Qd7 22. Bf6+ Ng6 23. Qg5 {with Qh6 to follow.}) 20. cxd4 cxd4 21. Bf2 Qe7 22. Bxb3 axb3 23. Rxb3 Rc6 24. Qd1 {Backward moves are sometimes the hardest to find.} Ne5 25. Bxd4 Kh8 (25... f6 {preventing White's next move invites} 26. Rg3) 26. f6 {Black resigns rather than face} gxf6 27. Nxf6 {when the h7 square cannot be defended following moves like Qh5 and Rh3.} 1-0