Taming the Lion Killer

I played Yoseph Debesai "The Lion Killer" last night in the G90 tournament. Yoseph has improved his tactical ability and his opening play has improved. However, he's still missing something from his game. I think he needs to improve his knowledge on basic positional understanding. Even with improved tactical understanding, a weak positional understanding will nullify your tactical strengths. The reason is: Tactics and Strategy go hand in hand.

This game is an example of a player who just goes "Tactical." As so often happens in this type of play, once the tactics are over then you are left with a less than desirable position, open to counterattack.

I don't mean this to sound like bragging, but I blitzed the first 15 moves and moved to my computer to try and figure out my pairings problems with the WinTD program. It upset me that I couldn't get the program to work correctly, so I was unhappy. Unfortunately, I brought this attitude back with me when I returned to make my moves. As a result I struggled with my concentration. Because of this I thought Yoseph would destroy me. I'm usually ripe for blunders when I get in this frame of mind.

Yoseph played the Veresov Opening. In my opinion, the Veresov can be played but it takes a lot of effort for White to play this well. I might be wrong though. Why play something that you have to do so much work at?

He moved his dark-squared bishop too often and I managed to get the bishop pair which is a small plus.

Yoseph took the wrong path on move 11. He should have opened his position and got rid of his backward pawn with 11. e4. My goal was to prevent this move. I decide the way to proceed was to open my king-file, freeing my cramped position. After 13...Qxe5 I gained a small advantage.

I played 15...Nc5. If I had to do it over again I would have played 15...Bc5. I don't understand 18. a3?. It's a waiting move that does nothing. Things are beginning to "heat up". Making a useless waiting move in a wild position can be deadly. Lucky for him. The position is not at a "boil" yet.

I played 18...f5 to prevent e4, but it weakens my king's position. I may have taken unnecessary risks with my king safety in this game. But as Tal said, "It's not a weakness if it cannot be taken advantage of."

I like Yoseph's move 19. c4, although Fritz doesn't consider it. It gets crazy after this move. He had to do something or soon I will take away all his activity and crush him positionally. It's easier said than done though.

I go wrong on move 22 when I should have played 22. Bxd4. Fritz recommends 23. Bxd4!?, but I played 23. Bb7. I believe it's more important to complete development in these types of position. My light-squared bishop will soon become a monster piece, only to be sacrificed.

On move 24 I had to decide what was the best way to take--with the queen, rook, or knight. I chose correctly with 24...Nxf6.

After 27...Bd5, it's time for a positonal assessment. I have the better light-squared bishop. From d5, it dominates. My queenside pawns are weak, but I don't consider protecting them. Activity is what counts in this type of position, not pawns. My rooks will soon be centralized. The question I asked myself is: "Can I get some activity going? I would like to double rooks on the c-file but White's knight and queen make it more difficult to do so. My king safety is a definite concern that gives him hope for counterplay. His isolated e-pawn is a weakness and he's using a rook to guard this pawn. It would have been better for him to sac this pawn for some activity. As a result, he's playing a rook down. His knight and queen will wipe out my queenside pawns, but does he have the time to go pawn hunting? I don't think so. As a result of his pawn hunting, I use the time to maximize the activity and coordination of my pieces.

29...Rc5 is an unnecessary risk. 29...Rc3!? is better. Since my mind was so preoccupied with my computer problems, I thought I blundered on move 29, but 30...Qe7 covers everything, but my queen is overworked and this might create the condition for a favourable tactical exchange by my opponent.

I think Yoseph could have responded better on move 32. He played 32. Kxg2. I think he had to play Rbd1, protecting the bishop and centralizing his rook. This might have held his positon.

33. Qb8+ was a mistake. He had to guard his weak rank with 33. Rb2!?.

I like my move 34...Nd7, although Fritz doesn't consider it. The knight later goes to e5 with great effect. My problem here is king safety. So I spend some time moving my queen and king off the weak rank so I pieces can be activited. There might have been a better strategy. I continue to weaken my king position and I might have gotten clobbered by a high-ranked player by doing this.

After 34. Qf4 which I think is almost forced, it's time for an assessment. My rooks are performing useful defensive functions with some possibility of useful checks. I believe that I have to time the check right to avoid a counterattack against my king. The problem I have is I need to unpin my queen and king from my 2nd rank to allow piece activity. It might give White time to organize counterplay. So, my goal is to try an prevent counterplay as I consolidate my position for a final, deadly thrust.

The move 25...g5 was necessary, although it opens up my king. 36...Kg6 might be too cautious but I like it. I did not analyze this move with the computer--I probably get crushed with it!.

I like 38...Rd2+. I timed it right. Now if 39. Re2 then 39...g4! and it's over.

After 39...Ne5, it's all over as the counterattack is in full swing.

After 41...Nf3+ Yoseph nervously touched his king which would lead to mate. I didn't make an issue out of it as I wanted to mate him down the prettier line.

Here's the game.

cheers

paul