GOTM;  March, 2012. 

Note that the diagrams are very large ... in this game, I left them as they were, I thought that it might make it easier for you to be able to study the game without a chess-board. 

GOTM / March, 2012.   
(Our focus this month is to examine lines/variations in the Modern Benoni ... where White plays  g2-g3 and fianchetto's the King's Bishop.)  

[ See MCO-15, beginning on page # 649 ... for complete coverage of all lines of the Modern Benoni. ]  

   *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************   

Nigel Short has always been one of my favorite players.  
(I met him in England he was very young, he was already trashing everyone in blitz.) 
Nigel eventually played a World Championship Match with Garry Kasparov in 1993.  [Replay the games.]  

Here, Short has the almost impossible task of beating a 2700 opponent in the last round ... with the Black pieces. He managed to do this, and as soon as he did, I knew that this epic struggle had to be my "Game of The Month" for March, 2012. (He also defeated Hou Yifan in the playoff as well, congrats to Nigel Short for a well-played tournament!)  
[See all the games on the CG website - between Nigel Short and Hou Yifan.]  

     1.d4 Nf6;  2.c4 e6;    

There is a lot to be said for Black's move order here. 
(Keep White guessing for a little while longer. Maybe - if  3.Nc3,  then  3...Bb4;  does White really want to face a Nimzo-Indian Defense?)  

  rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/4pn2/8/2PP4/8/PP2PPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 0  

Most players handling the White pieces will meet  2...e6;  with  2.Nf3.  Meanwhile, (if White does defer 3.Nc3, and plays any other move); then many of the most potent lines for the first player - like the Taimanov vs. the Benoni ... have been avoided.  [See some games in the Benoni.] 

                         [ The 'book' line here is:   2...c5;  3.d5 e6;  4.Nc3 exd5;  5.cxd5 d6;  6.Nf3 g6;    
                           7.g3 Bg7;  8.Bg2 0-0;  9.0-0 Nbd7;  10.Nd2 a6;  11.a4 Re8;  12.Nc4 Ne5;    
                           13.Nxe5 Rxe5;  14.e4,  "+/="   14...Re8;  "~"  (unclear)  and the position is close to equal.   
                           [ See MCO-15, page # 653;  column # 05 ... and all notes. ]    

                            One of the better examples of this position would be:    
                            GM Anatoly Karpov (2745) - GM Utut Adianto (2610); [A64] 
                            Match game (#4) Jakarta, India / 23,11,1997.    
                            {A tough draw ... in 45 total moves.} ]   

     3.g3!?,  (A hyper-modern line.)   

White selects the fianchetto line ... a safe move, that seems to offer the first player an edge with virtually no risk.   
(White avoids 3.Nc3, as Black may respond with 3..Bb4; I guess.)    

[ See previous columns  <esp. here>  for a very detailed examination of the various systems in the Modern Benoni opening. ]    

                         [ RR  3.Nc3 Bb4; = a Nimzo-Indian. ]    

     3...c5;  ('!?')  [Pawn structure.]   

Black chooses the belligerent Benoni, which is often (seemingly) a risky choice at the highest level. However, Short needed a win, so his choice of opening reflects his attitude. 

The next few moves ... are all pretty much 'book' here.   

     4.d5 exd5;  5.cxd5 d6;  6.Nc3 g6;  7.Bg2 Bg7;  8.Nf3 0-0;  9.0-0 Nbd7;    

Thus far, both sides have played relatively conventional opening moves and ideas.   

   r1bq1rk1/pp1n1pbp/3p1np1/2pP4/8/2N2NP1/PP2PPBP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 0   

The position above is one that is relatively common for this opening. White has more Pawns in the middle of the board, while Black has a majority (here) on the Queen-side.   

     10.a4!?,  (Gaining space?)  

This move grabs territory, but maybe the first player should wait on this until after Black has (first) played ...a7-a6.    

                         [ There are two lines which might offer White a tad more of an edge than what was played in the game:    
                            A.) 10.Qc2 a6;  11.a4 Rb8;  12.a5,  "+/="  (space)  and White is slightly better.  

                            Or White could have tried:  
                            B.) 10.Nd2 Re8;  11.h3 a6;  12.a4 Rb8;  "~"  (unclear)   
                            when White has excellent piece play and a strong majority of Pawns  ...  right in the middle of the board. ]   

     10...h6!?;   (Risky?)   

Black is obviously playing for a win, and also wishes to prevent the first player from playing an idea like Bg5 followed by Qd2; which would establish a bind on the dark squares near 
Black's King.   

   r1bq1rk1/pp1n1pb1/3p1npp/2pP4/P7/2N2NP1/1P2PPBP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 0   

Instead of the text move, the "Power-Book" recommends  10...a6;  or  10...Qe7;  here. 
(Fritz likes  10...Ng4;  or perhaps the "book" move,  >/= 10...Re8.)   

     11.Qc2 Qe7;  12.Ra3!?,    

This frees the QR (QR = Queen's Rook) and places it on a square where it is protected and prepares (possibly) R/a3-b3. However, it looks somewhat artificial, both the simple Re1 and e4 appear to be simpler and more effective than this strange (and possibly unnecessary) "Rook-luft."   

                         [ Possibly an improvement was:   >/= 12.e4! , "~"   (Unclear, maybe slightly better for White, here.) ]   

     12...a6;  13.Nd2 Rb8;  14.a5!?,   (hmmm)    

White 'prevents' ...b7-b5; yet at what cost to the first player? 
(14.a5, forces Black to play ...b7-b5; which he was going to do anyway. In the Benoni, the advance of ...b7-b5; is usually the cornerstone of Black's counterplay, and will activate the second player's Q-side Pawn majority.)    

                         [ Maybe better was:  RR 14.Nc4, "/\"  yet this is not 100% certain. ]   

     14...b5;  15.axb6 Nxb6;   

A crucial position.   

   1rb2rk1/4qpb1/pn1p1npp/2pP4/8/R1N3P1/1PQNPPBP/2B2RK1 w - - 0 0   

White has the slightly better overall Pawn structure, yet Black has very good piece play, and his position is not without chances.   

     16.b3,  (Q-side fianchetto?)   

White prepares ideas like Bb2 and maybe even Nc4, yet this seems to leave the first player's position looking a tad porous.   

                         [ (>/=) 16.e4 Re8;  - Fritz 13. ]   

     16...Ng4!;  17.Bb2 f5!?;     

This is very ambitious, yet it could have blown up in Black's face here, if White had found the most accurate continuation. 
(Fritz preferred 17...Ne5;  while Houdini likes the rather odd play of  17...h7-h5!?)   

     1rb2rk1/4q1b1/pn1p2pp/2pP1p2/6n1/RPN3P1/1BQNPPBP/5RK1 w - - 0 0   

However, few humans are able to find all of the moves of any good chess engine, so perhaps Short is justified in trying to grab as much K-side space as possible.   

   *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************   

Now h2-h3 might be White's most accurate continuation from here ...  

     18.e3 g5;  19.Raa1 Bb7;  20.Rae1 Rbe8;  21.h3 Ne5;  22.f4,  "+/="  (space)  

The first player's moves have not been entirely without consistency and/or chess logic ... ... ...    

   4rrk1/1b2q1b1/pn1p3p/2pPnpp1/5P2/1PN1P1PP/1BQN2B1/4RRK1 b - - 0 0   

GM K. Sasikiran probably enjoys at least a small edge in this position.    

     22...Ng6;  23.Kh2,    

White sees that - sooner or later - Black is going to open the g-file. 

---> So, in lieu of the possible attack, White decides to go ahead and move his King.   
(The move is not bad, in fact, Kh2 is the first choice of several of the engines here.)    

   4rrk1/1b2q1b1/pn1p2np/2pP1pp1/5P2/1PN1P1PP/1BQN2BK/4RR2 b - - 0 0   

Personally, I might have waited on this, and played  23.Nc4,  instead.   

                         [ RR  23.Nc4 Nxc4;  24.bxc4,  +/=" ]   

     23...gxf4;  24.gxf4!?,  (Less than best?)   

According to the computer - this is not White's best play here. However, it was easy to understand why White avoided capturing with the e-pawn at this point ...   

   4rrk1/1b2q1b1/pn1p2np/2pP1p2/5P2/1PN1P2P/1BQN2BK/4RR2 b - - 0 0   

If White had captured with the e-pawn, as recommended by nearly all the strong computer programs / engines, it would have meant that the first player would have to surrender two Rooks for the Queen, which is sometimes a very difficult decision to make. (Most of the time, two Rooks are much better than a Queen; all other things being completely equal.)   

                         [ According to the engines, it would have been better for White to play:    
                             >/=  24.exf4! Qxe1;  25.Rxe1 Rxe1;  26.Nc4 Nxc4;  27.bxc4 Rf7;  28.Bf3, '±'   ({"+/"}  White is much better.)   
                            when GM K. Sasikiran clearly holds a fairly large edge here.  (Analysis by - Fritz 13 & Houdini 2.0)   

                           [Here - the two Rooks lack a lot of useful open files or ranks ... and there are not any convenient targets for the    
                            Rooks to double-up on. In this somewhat rare chess environment, the Queen is often superior to the two-Rooks.] ]   

     24...Kh7!?;   (hmmm)   

The computers recommend the immediate  24...Qf7;  or even  24...Nh4;  here, at this point.   

   4rr2/1b2q1bk/pn1p2np/2pP1p2/5P2/1PN1P2P/1BQN2BK/4RR2 w - - 0 0   

However, the difference between the choices is miniscule, so I only mention it as a point of information.   

                         [ Maybe better was:   (>/=)  24...Nh4!;  25.Bh1 Kh7;  26.e4 Qf7;  27.Nd1!,  "+/="   
                           (White has a small - but solid - edge, in this particular position.) Analysis by - Houdini 1.5 ]   

   *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************   

Now the computers are divided on what might be the best approach {here} for White. Some engines choose  >/= 24.e4!,  (piece play);  and this is the variation that I would recommend that White should play. (Some other machine tries are Rg1, Na4, and also Nc4, the move that was actually played - here - in the game that we are looking at.)  

     25.Nc4!? Nxc4;  26.bxc4 Bc8;   

Black has played the opening fairly well ... and Short has consistently chosen the most aggressive line as Black.   

   2b1rr2/4q1bk/p2p2np/2pP1p2/2P2P2/2N1P2P/1BQ3BK/4RR2 w - - 0 0   

Meanwhile, Sasikiran (as White) has avoided a couple of the key tangents, the net result being that Black stands well ... and continues to think about launching an assault on W's King. 

     27.Rf3!?,  (Dubious?)   

This looks a tad clumsy and might actually wind up helping Black. (Never place your pieces on awkward squares, especially if there is a good chance that they will have to remain there any real length of time!)   

                         [ It would have definitely better for White to have played:    
                           >/= 27.Na4! Bxb2;  28.Qxb2 Bd7;  29.Nb6 Rb8;  30.Ra1,  "~"  (unclear)    
                            when White probably stands no worse than Black. (- Fritz 13) ]   

Now White has several pieces on squares that seem less-then-best, so naturally Short begins an attack on his opponent's King.   

     27...Rg8!;  28.Rg1 Bf6;   

Black may have a very small edge here, but you would almost need a microscope to really find it.   

   2b1r1r1/4q2k/p2p1bnp/2pP1p2/2P2P2/2N1PR1P/1BQ3BK/6R1 w - - 0 0   

Now White - obviously uncomfortable in the defense of his position - has a few choices to make.   
("What is the best defensive position that I can set up from this position?")   

     29.Bh1?,  (Maybe even- '??')   

A big mistake, (blunder); perhaps caused by the chess clock.  (See the critical position, just below.) 

   2b1r1r1/4q2k/p2p1bnp/2pP1p2/2P2P2/2N1PR1P/1BQ4K/6RB b - - 0 0   

In any case, Black now has a relatively simple way to gain the advantage ... can you find it?   

                         [ >/= 29.Bf1 Nh4;  "~"  (unclear) ]   

     29...Ne5!;   (Yes!)   

Of course Short - who is well known for finding sharp play, even in quick games on the Internet - finds the best move for Black in this position.   

   2b1r1r1/4q2k/p2p1b1p/2pPnp2/2P2P2/2N1PR1P/1BQ4K/6RB w - - 0 0   

29...Ne5!  is a very simple idea, and is based on the simple observation that  29.Bh1?,  did not leave the first player with any good flight squares for his own King.   

     30.Rfg3[],   (Forced/"box" here.)   

White had no choice, it was suicide to capture the Black Knight. 
(See the analysis - just below - for what happens if White is foolish enough to capture on the e5-square here.)   

                         [ White loses horribly after:  </=  30.fxe5?? Bxe5+;  31.Rf4 Rxg1;  32.Kxg1 Qg5+;  33.Kf1[],  Forced.   

                                          ( Much worse was: </= 33.Qg2? Bxf4;  34.exf4 Re1+;  35.Kf2 Qh4+;  36.Kf3 Qe7;     
                                             37.Qf2[],  37...Rxh1;  "-/+"  (material)   with an easy win for Black. )     

                           33...Bxf4;  34.exf4 Qxf4+;  35.Qf2 Qxc4+;  36.Kg1 Bd7;  "-/+"   
                           White has two minor pieces for The Rook ... however, Black also has three extra Pawns -    
                           - and continued threats against the White King from here. ]    

Now comes a series of moves ... that are pretty much best/forced ... for both players, here.   

     30...Rxg3;  31.Rxg3 Nxc4;  32.Bc1 Bh4;  33.Rf3 Qg7!?;  

Short grabs the file ...   

   2b1r3/6qk/p2p3p/2pP1p2/2n2P1b/2N1PR1P/2Q4K/2B4B w - - 0 0   

This was a natural move for Black, and it was easy to understand that Short was (probably) already mentally chalking up check-mates in his mind here.   

However, Nigel had a move that was probably a little better here ... ... ...  (See the analysis - just below, editor.)  

                         [ Better was:  >/=  33...Bd7!;  "/+"  - Fritz 13. (Houdini also prefers >/= 33...Bd7!) ]    

     34.Ne2 Nb6;    "=/+"  (Black is a little better.)  

Black holds a fairly solid edge here ...   

   2b1r3/6qk/pn1p3p/2pP1p2/5P1b/4PR1P/2Q1N2K/2B4B w - - 0 0   

Yet White's position is a long way from being completely lost here, it is (now) obvious, that to offer a competent defense, that the first player must re-arrange his pieces and place them on squares where they work with each other, instead of inhibiting the other's overall movement.   

     35.e4?!,  (Maybe just - '?')   

Now White decides to open the game. 
(And gives away another button in the process.)   

   2b1r3/6qk/pn1p3p/2pP1p2/4PP1b/5R1P/2Q1N2K/2B4B b - - 0 0   

White finally breaks in the center, but now this is all wrong. 
(This play causes all the warning lights to come on and the newly opened lines are mainly to Black's benefit, especially in the long-term view.)   

                         [ A fairly substantial improvement over the course of the actual game would have been:    
                            >/= 35.Rf1 Qf7;  36.Qb3 Nd7;  37.Rg1 Nf6;  "/+"  (Black is much better.)   
                            ... and although Black has a clear edge ... and obviously has the much better position; yet ...    
                            a forced win is still a long way off. ]   

     35...Rxe4!;  36.Rb3,  (Double attack.)    

So this was the whole point of White's sneaky tactic, it appears to win material, as Black's Rook on e4 is being threatened by White's Bishop ... 
and Short's Knight (on the b6-square) ... is "en prise," as well.   

   2b5/6qk/pn1p3p/2pP1p2/4rP1b/1R5P/2Q1N2K/2B4B b - - 0 0   

If all of this is true, than what did GM Nigel Short miss?  

                         [ Of course, White could not play: </=  36.Rf1?? Rxe2+!;  37.Qxe2 Qg3#.  (The first player has been mated.) ]   

     36...Re8!;    (The trapper - trapped!)  

A very nice move by Black.  

   2b1r3/6qk/pn1p3p/2pP1p2/5P1b/1R5P/2Q1N2K/2B4B w - - 0 0   

Perhaps only now - to his growing sense of chess horror - did GM K. Sasikiran realize that if he takes the (so-called) "hanging piece" (on b6) ... 
that Short will simply play  ... RxN/e2+!;  and then  ...Qg3#. 

Now the box (Fritz-13) clearly prefers Bg2 here for White ... ... ...   

     37.Bf3 Bf2!;   (Blocking / interference.)   

A very nice tactic.   

   2b1r3/6qk/pn1p3p/2pP1p2/5P2/1R3B1P/2Q1Nb1K/2B5 w - - 0 0   

Now Short threatens  38...RxN/e2!;  followed by  ...Qg3+,  and then  ...Qg1#.  (IF White foolishly captures on b6, that is.)  

     38.Bg4 Qg6!;   (Unpins the f-Pawn.)   

This is very good, of course Black could have also played the simple  38...c4;  which also wins for Black.   

     39.Rxb6 fxg4;  40.Qxg6+ Kxg6;   41.Rxd6+,  (Pawn grabbing.)    

White - who is now down quite a bit of material - is understandably quick to grab some buttons for himself.   

   2b1r3/8/p2R2kp/2pP4/5Pp1/7P/4Nb1K/2B5 b - - 0 0   

However, the very complicated line, (given just below); was probably White's best and toughest defense.   

                         [ White should have probably played the following line:   
                            (>/=)  RR  41.Ng3 Bxg3+;  42.Kxg3 gxh3;  43.Rxd6+ Kf5!;    
                            44.Kxh3 Re1;  45.Bd2 Re2;  46.Bc1 Rc2;  47.Rd8 Rxc1;  48.Rf8+ Ke4+;   
                            49.Rxc8 Kxf4;  50.d6 Rd1;  51.Rc6 Ke5;  52.Rxc5+ Ke6;  53.Kg3 Rxd6;    
                            54.Kf4 Kd7;  55.Ke3 Rc6;  56.Ra5 Kc7;  57.Ra1 h5;  "-/+"  (Black is winning.)    
                            when Black probably has a won endgame, yet (with 2 RP's); it still is not at all    
                            an easy win for the second player here. ]   

The next few moves are all best and/or forced (for White).   

     41...Kf7;  42.Ng3 Re1!;  43.Bd2 Rg1!;   (2x - a double attack - on g3.)    

Now Black's advantage is decisive, and White could throw in the towel ...   

   2b5/5k2/p2R3p/2pP4/5Pp1/6NP/3B1b1K/6r1 w - - 0 0   

Although Black is only ahead by one button, the machine has Short winning by nearly 5 points.   

     44.Rf6+!?,   (Tricky!)   

White plays a small combination ... 
perhaps Short did not have a lot of time on his clock. Either that, or Saskiran is not yet willing to give up the fight.   

   2b5/5k2/p4R1p/2pP4/5Pp1/6NP/3B1b1K/6r1 b - - 0 0   

Now some wood is coming off the board, and Short inches closer to having a won game.   

                         [ Black is also winning after:  
                           44.Rd8 Rxg3;  45.Rxc8 Rd3;  46.Rc7+ Ke8;  47.Kg2 Rxd2;  48.hxg4 Be1+;  49.Kf3 Rxd5;  "-/+"   
                           when you don't need a chess engine to see that Black is winning ...    
                           although, with the Black Monarch (at least temporarily) trapped on the first rank, it is not exactly    
                           what I would call ... "an easy win." ]   

The remaining moves are just a wrap-up ... and do not really require too much comment.   

     44...Kxf6;  45.Ne4+ Kf7;  46.Nxf2 Ra1;  47.hxg4 Ra2;  48.Be3 Bxg4;   
     49.Kg3 Bf5;  50.Bxc5 Ra5;   "-/+"  White Resigns.   

GM Sasikiran has had enough, and decides that it is (now) the correct time to throw in the proverbial towel.   

   8/5k2/p6p/r1BP1b2/5P2/6K1/5N2/8 w - - 0 0   

The final position speaks for itself ... White has nothing left to play for.   
(After winning White's QP, Black can simply run his QRP down the board, and this will cost White even more material to prevent it from reaching the last rank - and promoting.)   

All in all, a wonderful, fighting game of chess from Nigel Short, who remains one of the world's more dangerous opponents ...    
it does not matter if he is playing White or Black!