Lee’s Larsen’s leads to win
TODAY’S game is from the 2019 South Island Championships, played in Hanmer Springs recently. We are looking at the interesting seventhround game between Edward Lee (2099), who had the white pieces, and Felix Xie (1926).
1 b3e5
Xie replies to Lee’s NimzowitschLarsen attack with the most common modern variation. Also known as Larsen’s opening, 1 b3 is the sixthmostcommon opening move behind e4, d4, Nf3, c4, g3. Its success is variable, depending strongly on the user. Success was found by the late Bobby Fischer and is seen from active Hungarian GM Richard Rapport.
2 Bb2 d6
3 g3 Nf6
4 Bg2 g6
5 c4 Bg7
6 Nc3
Clamping down on the central light squares.
6 —Nc6
7 e3 OO
8 Nge2
Developing the knight towards the centre while entertaining ideas of expanding with 9 d4. Note that 8 Nf3, inviting 8 — e4, is not good, where Black has lingering threats of getting a knight to d3. White will not be able to win Black’s e4 pawn via 9 Ng5 Ng4, 10 Ngxe4 without losing at least the knight.
8 —Bf5
9 e4 Be6
10 d3 Qd7
11 h3 Ne8
12 g4!?
An interesting idea, aiming to sidestep any of Black’s ideas to keep White’s pawns from rolling. A more precise move was 12 f4, with plans of Qd2 and OOO. The best idea for Black after the game move is to exploit White’s weakened dark squares with 12 — Qd8, 13 OO Qh4. 12 —f5
13 exf5 gxf5
14 g5 Bf7?!
Lee’s g5 pawn is not easily attacked and makes it hard for Xie to rally troops to his king’s defence. Xie’s move Bf7 aims to pin the e2 knight with Bh5, but this isn’t effective enough, since it can be sidestepped with 15 Qd2. Better was 14 — f4.
15 Qd2 Bh8?!
Making room for the knight, but this plan is too slow, and Xie’s pieces end up awkwardly placed. Better was 15 — Bh5, 16 Ng3 Bf7, 17 h4 f4.
16 OOO Ng7
17 Rdg1 Rab8
18 Bf3 Bh5
19 Bd5+ Bf7?!
Xie seems to have made headway towards plugging up his position sufficiently. However, Lee makes sure that this doesn’t happen . . .
20 g6!
Leading to further activation of the rooks.
20 — hxg6
21 Rxg6 Ne7
22 Rh6 Nxd5
23 cxd5 b5?
Far too slow. The best defence is 23 — f4, 24 Rg1 Qf5.
24 Rg1 Qe7??
Xie overlooks a mate in 3, which is today’s puzzle. The strongest resistance is 24 — f4, 25 Nxf4 exf4, where Black will fall shortly.
25 Rxh8+ Kxh8
26 Qh6+ Kg8
27 Rxg7#
10
Solution: 25 Rxh8+!, the rest is forced . . . 25 — Kxh8,
26 Qh6+ Kg8, 27 Rxg7#
(or 27 Qxg7#). Black is punished for his weak king position paired with the awkward placement of his defending pieces.