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E08 Catalan (closed)

Catalan Opening: Closed Variation

Raymond Keene vs Karl Robatsch, 1971

1-0, 27 moves ("Smells Like Keene Spirit")

[Event "Madrid (Spain)"]
[Site "Madrid (Spain)"]
[Date "1971.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Raymond Keene"]
[Black "Karl Robatsch"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "54"]
1. c4 { Notes by Raymond Keene. } Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 Nbd7 7. Qc2 b6 8. Nc3 Bb7 9. cxd5 Nxd5 {This line was employed by Geller in his 1965 Candidates' match with Smyslov, and resulted in easy equality for Black. Here, or on the next move, a recapture on d5 with the e-pawn would restrict the mobility of Black's queen's bishop, though this might not prove serious in view of the foothold Black would gain in the centre.} 10. Nxd5 Bxd5 11. e4 Bb7 12. Bf4 {Smyslov played 12 Rd1, which got him nowhere. The text seems to me logical to me, since White now has the opportunity to place his rooks on d1 and e1, and in addition he has no reason to fear the central thrust ...c7-c5 on account of the following pawn sacrifice.} 12...c5 13. d5 exd5 14. exd5 Bf6 {And not 14...Bxd5 15 Rad1 when Black must lose material. 14...Nf6 would fail to 15 d6 followed by 16 Rad1.} 15. h4 Re8 {15...h6 is possible, although White could then try 16 Nh2 and Ng4, attacking the weakness on h6.} 16. Ng5 Nf8 17. Rad1 Bd4 {Hoping to surround White's d-pawn, but White's next move thwarts this.} 18. Be3 {Now Black cannot capture at once on e3 in view of the sensitivity of f7.} 18...h6 {After the game Robatsch suggested 18...f6 but this fails to 19 d6! Bxg2 20 Qb3+ c4 21 Qxc4+ Ne6 22 Nxe6 Bxf1 23 Kxf1 etc.; en passant, it should also be mentioned that the variation 18...Bxd5 19 Bxd4 Bxg2 20 Bxg7! is in White's favour.} 19. Ne4 Bxe3 20. fxe3 Ng6 {? A severe tactical error. Correct is 20...Qe7!} 21. Rxf7 {!! I played this sacrifice after only a few minutes thought. It is clear that both 21...Rxe4 22 Qxe4 or 22 Rxb7 Rg4 23 Qf5 and 21...Kxf7 22 Rf1+ Kg8 23 Nf6+ gxf6 24 Qxg6+ Kh8 25 Qxh6+ Kg8 26 Qg6+ Kh8 27 Rxf6 Re7 28 Be4! are inadequate, and I felt that after 21...Kxf7 22 Rf1+ Ke7 there had to be a mate.} 21...Kxf7 {It is hopeless to decline. White remains a pawn up with a rook firmly established on the 7th rank.} 22. Rf1+ Ke7 {Now I paused to think for 50 minutes before continuing with the combination. White is winning but some of the variations demand precise calculation.} 23. d6+ Kd7 {Or 23...Ke6 24 Nxc5+ bxc5 25 Qxg6+ Kd7 26 Rf7+ etc.} 24. Rf7+ Ne7 {If 24...Kc8 then 25 Rc7+ Kb8 (or 25...Qxc7 26 dxc7 Kxc7 27 Nd6 Kxd6 28 Qxg6+ Re6 29 Qd3+ Kc7 30 Bxb7 Kxb7 31 Qd7+) 26 Rxb7+ Kxb7 27 Nxc5+ Kb8 28 Na6 mate. 25 Nxc5 also wins easily.} 25. Qa4+ Kc8 {There are two alternatives: a) 25...Bc6 26 Bh3 mate. b) 25...Ke6 26 Qc4+ and now: b1) 26...Kd7 27 Bh3+ Kc6 28 d7 Rf8 29 Qe6+ Kb5 30 Nd6+. b2) 26...Ke5 27 dxe7 Rxe7 (if 27...Qd5 28 Qc3+ Ke6 29 Ng5+) 28 Rf1! and Black's king is stranded. b3) 26...Bd5 27 Rxe7+ Rxe7 (if 27...Qxe7 28 Nxc5+ Kxd6 29 Qxd5+ etc.) 28 Nxc5+ bxc5 (or 28...Kf6 29 Qf4+ Kg6 30 dxe7 Qxe7 31 Bxd5) 29 Qxd5+ Kf6 30 Qf3+ followed by dxe7 and Qxa8 winning a piece.} 26. d7+ {Leading to a surprising final twist.} 26...Qxd7 {Or 26...Kc7 27 dxe8=N+ Qxe8 28 Qc4 and Black is helpless.} 27. Bh3 {! 27...Qxh3 28 Qxe8+; or 27...Bc6 28 Qxc6+ Nxc6 29 Bxd7+ Kb8 30 Bxc6+-.} 1-0

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