1.e4
e6
2.d4
d5
3.Nc3
Nf6
4.Bg5
Be7
First surprise of the game. I expected 4...Bg5. Var knows I will never run from the challenge of playing the Alekhine-Shatar Gambit.
5.e5
Nfd7
6.h4
Bxg5
7.hxg5
Qxg5
8.Nh3!?
I know that 8. Qd3 is perhaps the better move but, as I said before, I wasn't ready to play that particular line.
8...Qe7
9.Nf4
Nc6
10.Qg4
Nxd4
11.0-0-0
Nf5
12.Nfxd5!
Very brave but, actually, the only move. White needs to be very agressive here in order to win the game.
12...exd5
13.Nxd5
Qxe5!
14.Bb5
0-0
15.Qh5N
A very interesting novelty in a very well known position. I found this move over the board and that made this novelty really spicy. [15.Bxd7
The main book line leads to a forced draw after 15...Bxd7
16.Qh5
f6
] But I wanted more blood and, after spending almost half an hour, I found a very nice idea.
15...h6
[Much worse is ‹15...Nh6
16.Bxd7
Qxh5
17.Ne7+
Kh8
18.Rxh5+/-
with a big advantage for White.]
16.Rhe1
[16.Bxd7??
g6
17.Qh2
Qxh2
18.Rxh2
Bxd7
19.Ne7+
Kg7-+
]
16...Qxd5!?
[<= 16...Nf6
17.Rxe5
Nxh5
18.Nxc7
Rb8
19.g4
Nf6
20.gxf5
Ng4
21.Red5
Nf6
22.Re5
Ng4=
] Varuzh spent around 40 minutes here and finally decided to take a fight and play for a win. Very brave.
17.Rxd5
Nf6
18.Qf3
Nxd5
19.g4!
A nice inbetween move, which was underestimated by Var.
19...Nfe7
[19...Nh4?
20.Qxd5
c6
21.Qh1!+-
]
20.c4
Nb6?!
[>= 20...Be6
21.cxd5
Nxd5
I believe this line was better for Var.]
21.Rxe7
c6
22.c5
cxb5
23.cxb6
axb6
24.Qe2!+/=
A very strong move. White wants to trade the Rook by threatening Re8. At the same time, the b5 pawn is attacked and White is threatening to push the f pawn to restrict the activity of Black's Bishop. Most important, White wants to play b3 to protect the a2 pawn with the Queen. That is why the Queen is the best piece.
24...Be6
25.b3
Ra5
26.f4
Rfa8
27.f5
Rxa2
28.Qxb5
R2a5!
In trouble, Var defends very well. All other moves lose.
29.Qxb6
Bd5
30.Rd7!
R5a6
31.Qe3+-
[I offered a draw because I thought after 31.Qe3
Ra1+
32.Kb2
R1a2+
I have to repeat the position in order to avoid 33.Kc3
Bxb3
In fact, I missed a brilliant move, 34.Qe7!
!!, after which I was actually winning. Truthfully, we both missed it. We were both tired and it was a tough fight. But I'm still happy and believe I played well.] 1/2-1/2