In playing the exchange variation of the Slav Defense, I chose 6.h3 followed by 7.Bg5. I do not see mention of this sequence of moves in my opening reference books. As I encountered a rather comfortable game, I wonder if you can give your opinion of this variation in relation to 6.Bf4, the move often encountered.
Joseph Krasovsky
Union NJ
* * * * * * * * * * *
Readers of this column are familiar with Joe Krasovsky. In the September-October 1990 issue of Atlantic Chess News, I pointed out a win that he missed in a 121-move marathon against a nameless opponent, described only as an unrated "friend".
Imagine my astonishment when I encountered Mr. Krasovsky at the Marshall Chess Club last November* and he informed me that his "friend" was none other than the Par Excellence computer, rated USCF 2100!
I asked Joe to send me another game and to note the time control, as he has done here with 30/90. The readers can decide for themselves whether my earlier estimate of Class D strength for both players was accurate or not.
(All notes by Jim West)
Joseph Krasovsky (USCF Class D) - Par Excellence (USCF 2100)
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.h3 e6 7.Bg5 Bb4 8.a3
White should play 8.Rc1, but Black has a good game following 8...h6 9.Bxf6 Qxf6. Or 9.Bh4 g5 10.Bg3 Ne4 11.Bh2 Qa5 12.Qb3 f5. The normal developing move 8.e3 allows 8...Qa5 and 9...Ne4.
8...Be7This retreat loses a tempo, since Black could have played 7...Be7 at once. Instead, 8...Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Qa5 breaks the pin of the king knight advantageously. For, if now 10.Bxf6?, Black wins a pawn with 10...Qxc3+ 11.Nd2 gxf6. Other 10th moves by White, such as 10.Qc2 or 10.Bd2, can be met b7 10...Ne4.
9.e3 O-O 10.Bd3 h6 11.Bh4 Qb6 12.Qd2 Bd7 13.O-O Rac8
In spite of its mishandling of the opening, the computer would still have a tenable position with 13...a5.
14.b4 a5 15.Na4 Qa7 16.b5 Nb8 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Rfc1 b6
Black plays this last move to prevent 19.b6 Qa8 20.Nc5. Had White played an immediate 18.b6 Qa8 19.Nc5, Black would have countered with 19...Rxc5 20.dxc5 Bxa1.
19.Rxc8 Bxc8?!
The correct recapture is 19...Rxc8 to contest the c-file, although the computer probably wanted to vacate the d7 square for its knight.
20.Rc1 Be7 21.Rc3 f5?!
White's knight had to be kept out of e5, and 21...Nd7 seems the logical way to do it.
22.Ne5 Bd6 23.Nc6 Qb7 24.Nxb8 Qxb8 25.Rc6 Bc7 26.Qc2Now Black must drop material, since 26...Bd8 loses to 27.Rxc8; and 26...Rf7 fails to 27.Nxb6.
26...Bh2+ 27.Kh1 Bd7 28.Rxb6 Qc7 29.Qxc7 Bxc7 30.Rb7 Bxb5?
This is desperation, but 30...Rc8 31.Nc5 Be8 32.Nxe6 was just as hopeless.
31.Bxb5
And White won in about 30 more moves. Here, a human opponent would have resigned. The remainder of the game was a complete rout.
*{This article originally appeared in Atlantic Chess News in 1991}
