Counter Attack in the Panov

I was really pleased after this game, as I managed to quickly take over initiative with Black and win the game very convincingly. Analysis shows that not all moves were perfect, but it was a decent game all in all.

Joseph Oszvald - Roman Jiganchine [B13]

Fraser Valley Championship 2004/2005 (3) 2004

1. c4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. c5 7. Nf3 Be7 8. c5 transposes 7... Be7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. a3 This aims at setting up a pawn storm with b4, but neglects development. 9. Bb5 Ne4 10. Bxe7 Nxe7 11. Rc1 is the main line 11... b6 12. c6 Nd6 13. c7 Qxc7 14. Nxd5 Qd8 15. Nxe7+ Qxe79... Ne4 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Qc2?! The queen stops controlling d4, and the king is still in the center. 11... Ng5 Nf3 is the key piece that controls d4 and e5, so exchanging it is very beneficial. 12. Nxg5 Qxg5 now d4 needs to be protected. 13. Rd1

13... e5! Black takes over the initiative, and White should defend very carefully to avoid losing immediately. 14. dxe5? 14. h4 Qg4 15. dxe5 d4 16. Be2 Qe6! (16... Qxg2 17. Qe4 Qxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe5 19. Nd6)17. Nb5 Qxe5 18. O-O Bf5 19. Qc414... d4!

15. Ne4 Qxe5 After this central break Black enjoys great initiative. 16. Be2 16. Bc4 d3! 17. Bxd3 (17. Qxd3 Bf5 18. f3 Rad8 19. Qc2 Rxd1+ 20. Kxd1 Bxe4 21. fxe4 Nd4 22. Qd3 Qxc5)17... f516... d3? Temptation to play a sacrificial move led to an inaccuracy. 16... Bf5 was much stronger. 17. f3 Bxe4 18. fxe4 f5! (18... Qf4 is not as strong. )19. exf5 Rxf5! and White king can never leave the center. 20. Rf1 Rxf1+ 21. Kxf1 Qxh217. Qxd3 17. Bxd3 f5 18. f4 Qe8 19. O-O fxe4 20. Bxe417... Bf5 18. f3 Bxe4 19. fxe4 Rad8 20. Qc4 Rxd1+ 21. Bxd1

21... Qf4! The greedy 21... Qxb2 was also possible: 22. O-O Qxa322. Rf1 Qxh2 23. Bb3 Qg3+ 24. Ke2

It may seem that black is getting counterplay against f7, but the game is actually over due to a queen sacrifice: 24... Qxb3! 25. Qxb3 Nd4+ 26. Kd3 Nxb3 27. Rf5 Rd8+ 28. Kc3 g6 29. Rd5 Rxd5 30. exd5 Nxc5 31. Kd4 Nd7 32. a4 Kg7 0-1