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The advent of the
database reduces originality in the opening stage
of the game. All seems to be known, played and
catalogued for everyone to examine. We are in
the age of the chess “all-rounder.”
I think it is still
possible to develop new ideas or to take ideas
from the past and refine them to our own satisfaction.
One must remain optimistic. Let us rewind forty
years now and start off by examining a classic
game.
Petrosian - Geller
[E73]
USSR Team Ch, 1961
1.c4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0–0 6.d5!?
Petrosian
was very fond of this type of advance, hoping
to cramp the opponent and set new problems. His
own system against the King's Indian, 6.Nf3 e5
7.d5!, bears the same stamp and there are echoes
of his theme all over the Queens Pawn openings.
A notable example would be the Petrosian System
against the Queen's Indian, e.g. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4
e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3 Be7?! (there are several
better moves) 6.d5!
The Bishop on b7
is restricted and White builds his centre with
a subsequent e2-e4. Of course 6.d5 in the current
position is much more controversial. The pawn
advance opens the diagonal for Black's fiachettoed
Bishop and leaves weak squares on c5 and e5 in
its wake. I'm not sure I like the move too much
but as stated, for this one game Geller will
have to think for himself.
6...Na6!
A good response.
The Knight aims for c5 and Black can chip away
at the d5 pawn with either ...c7-c6 or ...e7-e6.
7.Bg5 Nc5 8.f3
c6! 9.Qd2 cxd5 10.cxd5 Bd7 11.h4
As Geller states,
not so much a kingside attacking move, but an
attempt to get the Knight on g1 going!
11...Rc8
Black has a fine
position. He is ahead in development and correctly
starts the tactical action.
12.Nh3 b5! 13.Nd1
13.Nxb5
Bxb5 14.Bxb5 Nfxe4 15.fxe4 Nxe4 16.Qb4 Ng3 was
given by Geller in his notes and we can see why
Petrosian doesn't go down this route. White is
condemned to defense and his pieces are all over
the place. With Deep Fritz whirring away, the
position reveals itself as anything but clear
after 17.Rh2 Qb6 (17...Rb8 18.a4 a6 19.Qg4 Bxb2
20.Ra2 Be5) 18.a4 a6 19.Qa3, but in those days
you just had to make a practical decision.
13...Nh5 14.g4
Ng3 15.Rg1 Nxe2
Taking off this
Bishop is a big gain for Black who can now hope
to infiltrate on the light squares.
16.Kxe2 b4! 17.Kf2
Qa5 18.Ne3 Qa6
Black's advantage
is obvious. Petrosian tries to scurry away.
19.Kg2 h6! 20.Bf4
But not 20.Bxe7
Rfe8.
20...Nd3 21.Rgb1
h5!
Black handles the
attack in a very striking way winning the battle
on both flanks and tying White down before penetrating
in the centre. Take away names and dates and
I'm sure this could be identified as a very “modern” King's
Indian.
22.Bg5 hxg4 23.fxg4
Rc7 24.Nf2 Bb5 25.Nh3 Rfc8
Beautiful coordination.
26.h5 Qb6 27.hxg6
fxg6 28.Kh2 Qd4!
White's scattered
forces make a poor impression.
29.Qg2 Rf8 30.b3
Nc5 31.Rd1 Qxe4
Well, he could resign
now. Petrosian limps on but it quickly becomes
obvious that he is never going to get back into
the game.
32.Rac1 Bd3 33.Rd2
Bc3
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