White: GM Alexander Ivanov

Black: Peter Bereolos

Land Of The Sky, 1999

Round 4 Board 1

1.e4 g6

I decided to try a different approach against Ivanov this time. I was interested in how he would react against his own usual opening.

2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c6 4.Bc4 d6 5.Qf3 Nf6!?

An active pawn sacrifice that I first tried out against David Sprenkle in the 1997 Knoxville City Championship.

6.e5 dxe5 7.dxe5 Nd5 8.Nxd5 cxd5 9.Bxd5 0-0 10.Bxb7

Sprenkle declined the challenge here with 10.Ne2 when after 10...Qc7 Black was fine.

10...Qa5+ 11.c3 Bxb7 12.Qxb7 Na6 13.Qf3 Rad8 14.Ne2 Nc5 15.0-0

[15.b4 Qa4]

15...Nb3

16.axb3!

The only try for advantage. 16.Rb1 Qxa2 is completely equal.

16...Qxa1 17.Nd4 Qa6 18.Qe4 e6 19.f4 Rd5 20.b4

preventing the maneuver Rd5-a5-a1

20...Rfd8 21.Be3 Bf8 22.h3 Qc4 23.Rc1 Qa2 24.Qc2 Rc8 25.Qf2

[25.Nb3 Bxb4 26.Ra1 Rxc3]

25...Bxb4 26.cxb4 Rxc1+ 27.Bxc1 Qb1 28.Ne2 Rd1+ 29.Kh2 Rxc1 30.Nxc1 Qxc1 31.Kg3 a6 32.Qd4 h5 33.Qc3 Qf1 34.Qd4 Qe1+ 35.Kh2 h4

In the time scramble Ivanov dissipated any winning chances he may have had. Now, white has the constant threat of perpetual check hanging over him.

36.Qd8+ Kg7 37.Qf6+ Kg8 38.Qg5 Kg7

[38... Qxb4 39.Qxh4 Qxb2=]

39.Qg4 Kg8

Black can again pick up a pawn, but I decided to take the simple draw preserving the h4 pawn.

40.Qf3 Kg7 41.Qc3 Qf2 42.Qc1 Qd4 43.Qf1 Qe3 44.Kh1 Qd2 45.b3 Qe3 46.Qc4 1/2:1/2