Author: Chuck
Date: 04:22:58 11/30/05
Here we are...back for Round 3 of the match between the Novag Star Diamond and the Mephisto Berlin Pro. Today the SD will have the White pieces and a chance to make up for its late loss in Round Two. That game was so close until the SD made one mistake at move 62, the Berlin Pro did not miss its chance. All games in the match are being played at Game in 60; a good time control because computers usually will not get into time trouble at it. Coming into this game the Berlin Pro leads the match 1.5-0.5. [White "Novag Star Diamond"] [Black "Mephisto Berlin Pro"] [Round "3"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D31"] 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 e6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bb4 6.e3 b5 7.Bd2 Bb7 8.b3 c5 9.bxc4 bxc4 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Bxc4 Nf6 The last book move was at move 7, but this position seems more like the end of the opening phase to me, although both sides have yet to castle. I think the SD has come out OK against the mighty Berlin Pro - the one thing I don't like for the SD here is how Black has achieved what I call a Bishops' Razor, both Black Bishops pointing menacingly down on the White King. [D]rn1qk2r/pb3ppp/4pn2/2b5/P1B5/2N1PN2/3B1PPP/R2QK2R w KQkq - 0 12 12.Rb1 Qe7 Here the SD appears to be the best move (at move 13), going into a forcing line that gives White an advantage of two Rooks for a Queen. However, the Rooks are not in a position to team up so the SD will have to work this out. 13.Qb3 Bxf3 14.Qxb8+ Rxb8 15.Rxb8+ Kd7 16.Rxh8 Bb7 [D]7R/pb1kqppp/4pn2/2b5/P1B5/2N1P3/3B1PPP/4K2R w K - 0 17 The position has cleared now, and materially White is up two Rooks for a Queen. 17.Bb5+ Kc7 18.0-0 a6 19.Be2 Qd6 Now White's advanced Rook on h8 has no move that doesn't result in its capture, so getting this Rook back into play is a major problem for the SD. To complicate matters, the Black pieces are all well-coordinated and pointing at the White King. White is going to have to get play against the exposed Black King. [D]7R/1bk2ppp/p2qpn2/2b5/P7/2N1P3/3BBPPP/5RK1 w - - 0 20 20.Rd1 Qe5 21.a5 Bd6 Threatening on h2, giving White a choice between g3 or f4. 22.f4 Qf5 23.Rc1 Kd7 24.Rb1 Kc7 [D]7R/1bk2ppp/p2bpn2/P4q2/5P2/2N1P3/3BB1PP/1R4K1 w - - 0 25 Only 25 moves into the game and I just can't explain why the SD is compelled to play this move. Surely Rc1 is simple and better, forcing the Black King to duck. 25.g3? Ba3 26.Rb3 Bc5 27.Rb2 e5 28.fxe5 Opening the door, the Berlin Pro makes it look easy. 28..Ne4 29.Rxb7+ Kxb7 30.Nxe4 Qxe4 31.Kf2 Qf5+ 32.Ke1 Qxe5 [D]7R/1k3ppp/p7/P1b1q3/8/4P1P1/3BB2P/4K3 w - - 0 33 The SD finally has a chance to bring the Rook back into the game, but decides to go another way. 33.Kf2? Qb2?! (Qd6 seals it up) 34.Rd8 Kc7 35.Rd5 Kc6 36.Rd3 Bb4 37.Bxb4 Qxb4 38.Bf3+ Kc7 39.Rd5 Qc4 40.Rg5 Qc3 41.Rd5 Qc2+ 42.Be2 f5 (getting in a hurry) 43.Re5 Kd7 44.Rd5+ Ke7 45.Re5+ Kd6 46.Re8 Qc6 47.Rg8 Qb7 48.Rf8 Ke5 49.Re8+ Kf6 50.Rf8+ Kg6 [D]5R2/1q4pp/p5k1/P4p2/8/4P1P1/4BK1P/8 w - - 0 51 At this point the SD has been defending very well and I'm starting to get the impression it might pull out half-a-point. 51.Bd3? Qd5 52.Bxf5+ Kh6 53.h3? g6 White's 53rd is a useless move, after which the a-pawn will fall and Black's a-pawn will advance. From here the Berlin Pro gradually puts the press on and rolls up the full point. 54.Bg4 Qxa5 55.Ra8 Qa2+ 56.Be2 a5 57.h4 a4 58.g4 Qf7+ 59.Bf3 Qc7 60.g5+ Kg7 61.Bd5 h5 62.gxh6+ Kxh6 63.Kf3 Qh2 64.e4 Qh3+ 65.Ke2 Qc3 66.Bf7 a3 67.Ra6 Kh5 68.Rxg6 Kxh4 69.Bd5 a2 70.Bxa2 Qb2+ 71.Ke3 Qxa2 72.Kd4 Kh5 73.Rd6 Qb2+ 74.Kd5 Kg5 75.e5 Kf4 76.Rf6+ Ke3 77.Rf5 Qb3+ 78.Kd6 Ke4 79.Rg5 Qf7 80.Rg2 Qd5+ 81.Ke7 Qxe5+ 82.Kf7 Qh5+ 83.Kg7 Qc5 84.Kf6 Kf4 85.Rh2 Qb6+ 86.Kf7 Kg5 87.Re2 Qb7+ 88.Re7 Qd5+ 89.Kg7 Qf5 90.Re1 Qf6+ 91.Kg8 Qd4 92.Re7 Kf6 93.Rg7 0-1 That's it. And now after 3 games the Berlin Pro has 2 1/2 points.
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