1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5
The Grũnfeld Defence.
4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0–0 7.e4
The Russian System was the main choice of players such as Botvinnik
and Smyslov in the 1950s. In the 1980s it became a battle ground
in the Karpov-Kasparov matches.
7...Na6
The Prins Variation. Other alternatives are 7...a6 (the
Hungarian Variation) and 7...Bg4 (the Smyslov Variation.)
8.Be2 c5 9.d5 e6 10.Bg5
10.0-0 exd5 cxd5 is more usual.
10...exd5 11.Nxd5
"Capturing with the knight is the main point behind 10.Bg5." - Aagaard
11...Be6 12.0–0–0!?
Beliavsky is known for his uncompromising play. But I think
12.Rd1 preserving the option of 0-0 is safer and better.
The game Sosonko-Kalinin, USSR 1967 went13. Bd2 Bxd5 14.exd5 Qb6
15.Bc3÷ with an unclear position.
This line needs more tests.-NSH
12...Bxd5 13.Rxd5 Qb6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.e5 Qf5!
Tempting White to put his bishop on d3 -Aagaard.
16.Bd3
16.Rhd1? Bh6+! 17.Nd2 Nb4 with the evil threat of 18...b5.-Aagaard.
16...Qc8
Kasparov recommends 16...Qe6!? 17.Rd6 Qe7÷ with an unclear position.
17.Rd1?
This 'routine' development move has a tactical flaw in that it ignores
the precarious position of the rook on d5.
White should have played17.Rd6! b5 18.Qh4 (18.Qxb5 Nb4 19.Qc4 Nxd3+
20.Rxd3 Rb8 21.a3 Rb6) 18...c4 19.Be4 Nc5 20.Bxa8 Nd3+ 21.Kb1 Qxa8
22.Rd1 Now Black should not continue 22...Nxe5 23.Nxe5 Bxe5 24.R6d5±
(24.Rd8? Qxg2). Instead he should play 22...Qc8 23.R6xd3
(23.Qd4? Nxe5! 24.Nxe5 Qf5+) 23...cxd3 24.Rxd3 Qf5.
17...b5!
Black has the upper hand.
18.Qh4
Not 18.Qxb5? Nc7 winning the exchange.
18...Nb4 19.Bxg6?!
Like the ancient Roman, Beliavsky throws himself on his sword.
Here Kasparov gives 19.Rd6 c4 20.Be4 c3! 21.a3 c2 22.axb4 cxd1Q+
23.Kxd1 Rb8
With the hindsight of computer analysis Aagaard points out that White
has a drawing line here: 21.R1d4! cxb2+ 22.Kxb2 Qc5 23.a3 Rac8
24.axb4 Qc1+ 25.Ka2 Rc3 26.Ra6 It appears that Black has no way to
strengthen his attack,and must give perpetual check with 26...Rc2+.
However, Kasparov's evaluation of the position is right.
''After 19...Nxa2 20.kb1 Nb4 Black's position still gives a good
impression.''-Aagaard.
19...fxg6!
Not 19...hxg6?? 20.Ng5 Re8 21.Rd7+-
20.Rd7 Qe8!
Protecting the e6 square that White cannot swing the knight around.-Aagaard.
21.Re7
21.a3 Nc6 22.e6!? Rxf3!
22...Nd4! Simply excluding the rook on d1 from the attack is also
good.
White cannot overstep the mark with 23.Rxg7+ Kxg7 24.Rd7+ Qxd7 25.exd7
Rf6–+ - Aagaard.
21...Bh6+!
Creating a mating net around the White King.
22.Kb1 Rd8! 23.Rd6
Isn't Black lost?
Aagaard gives 23.Re1 Qc6! 24.Qxh6?Rd1+!! 25.Rxd1 Qe4+ 26.Ka1
Nc2+ 27.Kb1 Na3+ 28.Ka1 Qb1+ 29.Rxb1 Nc2# and modestly admits that it
is computer analysis.
23...Qc6!! –+
A stunning move.
24.a3
24.Rxc6?? Rd1# #; 24.Qxh6?? Qe4+–+
24...Rxd6 25.exd6 Qxd6 26.axb4 cxb4 27.Qe4
Going down the heroic way. Beliavsky would not play the
demeaning 27.Re1.
27...b3 28.Nd4
Exchanging the queens brings no relief.
After 28.Qe6+ Qxe6 29.Rxe6 Rc8 White loses the game on the second
rank. - Aagaard.
28...Rf4 29.Qa8+ Bf8 0–1
