Reply #5: Vozovic - Dolzhikova, Ukrainian National Championships, Odessa [View All]

[Jack Rabbit]

Oksana Vozovic
Photo: ChessBase.com


To view this game: Please click here and select the next-to-last game.

Oksana Vozovic vs. Katerina Dolzhikova
Ukrainian National Championships, Round 10
Odessa, December 2006

Moorish Game: Horseman Defense (Alekhine Defense)

1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3

• 2. e5 is more common and more aggressive; White will come out the the opening with a space advantage.

2. -- d5

• 2. -- e5 would stop any further advance of White e-pawn and trsform into a Vienna Game

3. exd5 Nxd5 4. Bc4 e6

• 4. -- Nb6 5. Bb3 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bf5 7. d4 e6 8. 0-0 Be7 9. d5 would give White a comfortable game.

5. Nf3 Be7 6. 0-0 0-0 7. d4 b6

• 7. -- Nxc3 8. bxc3 c5 9. Ne5 Qc7 10. Bd3 Nd7 11. Bf4 Bd6 12. Re1 Nf6 13. Bg5 Nd5 14. Bd2 b6 is balanced (Bernard-Martinidesz, Geneva Open 2001).

8. Qe2

• After 8. Re1 Bb7 9. Nxd5 Bxd5 10. Bxd5 Qxd5 11. Qd3 Nc6 12. c3 Bf6 13. Bf4 Rac8 14. Ne5 Bxe5 15. Bxe5 f6 16. Bg3 e5 17. Qf5 a draw is agreed (Crespan-Begovac, Bled Open 2003).

8. -- Bb7 9. Ne4 Nd7 10. c3

• If 10. Rd1
• 10. -- c5 11. Bb5 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Qc7 13. c4 N5f6
• 14. Nxf6+?! Nxf6 15. Be3 Rac8 16. Rac1 Rfd8 gives Black more activity (Bisguier-Keres, Tallinn 1971).
• however, 14. Bxd7 Bxe4 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Nxe6 Qe5 17. Nxf8 Rxf8 is level.
• 10. -- N7f6 11. Bd3 Nb4 12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. Be4 Bxe4 14. Qxe4 is a standoff (Zhigalko-Krainski, Pocztowy Open, Bydgoszcz (Poland) 2001).

10. -- c5 11. Neg5 N7f6

• The text move is aimed at overprotecting the Knight at d5, but Black misses an opportunity to gain the advantage.
• If 11. -- cxd4!
• 12. Qe4 N7f6 13. Qxd4 Nc7 14. Ne5 Qxd4 15. cxd4 Rac8 gives Black better command of open lines.
• 12. Rd1 dxc3 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. Qxe6+ Kh8 15. Rxd5 Bxd5 16. Qxd5 Nf6 leave Black and exchange up with the initiative.

12. Ne5 h6

• White puts the question to the Knight.
• 12. -- cxd4 13. Nexf7 Qc8 14. cxd4 Rxf7 15. Nxf7 Kxf7 16. Bd2 is a balanced position.

13. Nh3?!

• This isn't the best answer to the question. The Knight offsided and out of play here.
• Better is 13. Ngxf7 Rxf7 14. Nxf7 Kxf7 15. Re1 Qc8 16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17. c4 Be4 offers equal chances.
• Black gets the better game as a result of White's inaccuracy.

13. -- cxd4 14. cxd4 Re8

• Black has it a little better at the moment, but the text move doesn't do a lot toward exploiting the advantage.
• A little better is 14. -- Rc8, activating the Rook: after 15. Be3 Bd6 16. Rac1 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 Nd5 18. Qe4 Qe7 Black retains a fine initiative.

15. Be3 Qd6 16. Bd2 Qb8?!

• This is almost a blunder. It makes it particularly difficult to activate the Queen's Rook.
• Better is 16. -- Rec8 17. Rac1 a6 18. Rfe1 b5 19. Bb3 Qb6 20. Be3 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Rd8 leaves Black in better control of the center.

17. Bd3!?

• After her inaccuracy on move 13 and following Black's inaccuracies in the last several moves, White has a chance to equalize and misses it.
• Better is 17. Rfe1 Qd6 18. Rac1 Rac8 19. Bf4 Nxf4 20. Nxf4 Ne4 21. Qh5 when White takes over the initiative in a level position.

17. -- Rd8 18. f4 Nd7?

• Black will not recover from this inaccuracy.
• If 18. -- Nb4 19. Bxb4 Bxb4
• 20. Ng5 hxg5 21. fxg5 Rxd4 22. gxf6 Rh4 the game is level.
• 20. f5? exf5 21. Bc4 Rxd4 22. Bxf7+ Kh8 give Black command of vital open lines and White's defense disorganized.
• White now punishes Black severely.

Black: Katerina Dolzhikova
!""""""""#
$tW T +l+%
$Ov+mVoO %
$ + +o+ O%
$+ +mN + %
$ + P P +%
$+ +b+ +n%
$pP Bq+pP%
$R + +rK %
/(((((((()
White: Oksana Vozovoc
Position after 18. -- Nf6d7

19. Qh5!

• White wins the the game the old-fashioned way: she strikes at f7.
• If Black now plays 19. -- f6 then White wins by 20. Qf7+ 21. Kh8 21. Ng6+ Kh7 22. Ng5+ fxg5 23. Nxe7+ Kh8 24. Ng6+ Kh7 25. Ne5+ Kh8 26 Nxd7 leaving White two pieces up.

19. -- Nxe5 20. fxe5 f5 21. Qg6 1-0

• If 21. -- Rf8 22. Qxe6+
• after 22. -- Kh8 23. Rxf5 Rxf5 24. Qxf5 Qg8 25. Qg6 Nb4 26. Bxb4 Bxb4 27. Ng5 Black must lose material or submit to checkmate.
• 22. -- Rf7 23. Rxf5 Qe8 24. Raf1 Black must lose a piece.
• Ms. Dozhikova resigns.