1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6
3.Nc3 Bb4
Certainly not a
new move, Chigorin played similarly 100 years before and was the inspiration
for Nimzovich. This variation is more active for the black pieces than
most variations of the Queen's Gambit, but the pawn on d5 is more limiting
compared to the Nimzo Indian.
4.e3 Nf6 5.Nf3
Nbd7
A very interesting
move. The game has transposed into a standard Nimzo Indian position in
which Black would normally aim to play c7-c5 before revealing the final
destination of Nb8.
While there is a
point that White has an added possibility after 5...c5 of playing Bb5+
without losing a tempo on Bd3, not much to make use of, the real explanation
is that Horvath is keeping other options in mind. For instance, in the
current position 6.Bd3 c6 is the Romih line in the Semi-Slav which is
bypassed in modern practice by White playing Qc2 before Bd3.
6.Qc2 c5 7.a3
Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Qc7
This move has two
features to think about. First, Horvath is keeping some influence on
the black squares, notably e5 and c5. Second, by having the Q's on the
same file Black is using tactical motifs to determine how the central
tension is resolved.
The indirect
pressure on the c-file provides Black some resources. At a later stage
if he decides to release the tension with ...c5xd4, either before or after
...d5xc4, then he would oblige White to recapture with the e3 pawn.
Why? The Bc1 needs a job and would be better placed on f4 or g5 and
the e-file would be more useful to White than the c-file.
This all sounds
very distant, but these are the kinds of thoughts that get players
international titles.
9.cxd5 exd5
10.Bd3 c4 11.Bf5
This appears to be
a standard type of move, but watch what happens to the Bc1 when his
colleague strays too far.
11...0-0 12.a4
Re8
These last four
moves for both sides have seemed very natural. Still, are natural
moves always good? The course of events have found Black increasing
the strength on the white squares and White has simply shifted pieces
without moving towards a goal.
White's obvious
target is to get in e3-e4 in order to release the Bc1 and make use of the
pawn majority on the K-side. How can this be done? Direct play
with 0-0, Nd2, Re1 and e4 would be a natural hope, but in that amount of
time Black will aim to have doubled rooks on the e-file. e3 will be en
prise at a critical moment, and that would require defense by Nf1, removing
another supporter of e4.
From a distance it
appears that White is being outplayed.
13.0-0 Nf8
14.Bxc8 Raxc8 15.Ne5 Ng6 16.Nxg6 hxg6
The situation has
crystallized in just four moves. Compare the Bc1 to the Nf6 to see
what has happened. White suffers from not being able to get e4 in.
Black has more active rooks, a possible target in the a-pawn and can look
for an aggressive approach to play on the K-side.
Black just needs
to find the right way to go forward. One thing, the Nf6 shouldn't be
in any hurry to occupy e4 - attacking c3 is way down the list of things
Black should consider. White could gain enough momentum via f3 to then
push e4, and Black is certainly not going to exchange the knight for the
bishop.
17.f3 Re7
18.Re1 Rce8 19.Qf2 Re6 20.Re2 Qa5
White had found a
way to look for e3-e4 and Black gently reminds him about the pawn on a4.
21.Qe1 g5
This pawn will go
forward to begin the demolition of White's K-side structure. 22.e4
dxe4 23.Bg5 exf3 24.Rxe6 Rxe6 with Ne4 to follow is not a worry for Black.
22.Ba3 g4
23.Bb4 Qd8 24.a5 gxf3 25.gxf3 Nh5
The efforts of the
g6 pawn are now apparent. Black has ...Qg5+ and ...Nf4 on the menu.
26.Kh1 Nf4
27.Raa2 (Surrender.) 27...Nxe2 28.Rxe2 Qg5 29.e4 dxe4 30.fxe4 Rxe4
0-1
...Qd5 will be a
winner.
