PU 11.3 (B09)
Vasil Spasov
Dimitar Marholev
Kyustendil ch-BUL 2010 (13)
Notes by Jeroen Bosch

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Game of the Month July 2010 [SOS-12, Chapter 12, p.88] In the 2010 Bulgarian Championship GM Spasov won a game straight out of the Pirc opening. Curiously, everything was known up to the moment where White has already gained a significant (nearly winning) plus. The details may be found in Alexander Finkel's article in the latest SOS volume.

1.e4 d6 2.d4 f6 3.c3 g6 4.f4 g7 5.e5!?

The Pirc for Endgame Lovers is how Finkel dubbed his article. Rather than go all-out for a dangerous attack with the Austrian, White uses the opportunity to exchange queens. What can be his intention?

5...dxe5

5...fd7 is certainly playable.

6.dxe5 xd1+ 7.xd1

Well, White can no longer castle, but Black's proud Pirc-bishop is in a cage, the knight has to move, and White plans d5.

7...g4

7...fd7?! 8.f3 c6 9.e3 b6 10.d3 0-0 11.e2 was somewhat better for White in Gagunashvili-Spasov, Izmir 2002. So, Spasov knew what he was letting himself in for!

8.e1

The riskier 8.d5 has been played by Hector and is also analysed by Finkel.

8...c6

 A) 8...f6 9.h3 h6 10.d5 (10.exf6 exf6) 10...d8 11.e3 c6 12.exf6 exf6 13.c3 e8 14.d1+ c7 15.d2 was OK for Black in Sarthou-Todorov, Vandoeuvre 2010, but Finkel indicates that White has a plus after 10.exf6 - see SOS-12. According to Finkel;
 B) 8...c6 also leads to some advantage for White after 9.h3 h6 10.g4. (10.f2)

9.h3 h6?

9...b4 is critical according to Finkel.

10.d5! d4?!

Taking things too far, although Black is already uncomfortable. 10...d8 11.e3 f5 12.f2 h5 13.d1 d7 14.f3 favours White, but this was still the lesser evil.

11.xc7+ d7?

This blunders another useful tempo (14.b5+). 11...d8 12.xa8 xc2+ 13.f2 xa1 14.e3 was the main illustrative game in SOS-12. White won in Lukin-Tseitlin, Leningrad 1972.

12.xa8 xc2+ 13.f2 xa1

Material is still equal. The knights will both escape from their respective corner squares, but Black's king is in mortal danger, while White's king is entirely safe.

14.b5+ d8

14...e6?? 15.c7+ f5 16.d3X is a witty mate.

15.f3 e6 16.e3 c2

The only way to save the knight, but Black's king obviously cannot escape the coming onslaught.

17.xa7 b4 18.d1+ c8 19.d4

Bringing all his friends to the party.

19...xa2 20.c1+ c6

20...d8 21.b6X.

21.xc6 bxc6 22.xc6+ b7

[22...d8 23.b6+ d7 24.e6+ xe6 25.c4+ d6 26.c5+ d5 27.b6X is another nice mate.

23.c7+

and Black resigned in view of 23.c7+ xa8 24.c6X.

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