Tactics in the Spanish (by Alexei Shirov)

Replay Game

Alexander Goloshchapov (2574) - Alexei Shirov (2732) [C99]

EU-Cup 19th/Rethymnon (5) 2003

An excellent game by Alexei Shirov - in Chigorin Spanish he gains initiative with the Black pieces, and ends the game with a few tactical shots, which are calculated perfectly and lead to a winning endgame.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. Nb3 a5 15. Be3 a4 16. Nbd2 Bd7 17. Rc1 Qb7 18. Qe2 Rfe8 19. Bd3 Rab8 20. a3 exd4 21. Nxd4 Ne5 22. Bb1 b4

23. axb4 Qxb4 24. Rc2 d5 25. f4 Ng6 26. e5 Nxf4!

27. Qf1 N6h5 28. Rc7 Bc5 29. Rxc5 Qxc5 30. Ne6

30... Qb5 31. Nxf4 Qxf1+ 32. Nxf1 Nxf4 33. Bxf4 Rxb2 34. Ne3 Be6 35. Bd3 a3 36. Ra1 Rb4 37. g3 Rb3 38. Bb1 Reb8 39. Ba2 Rd3 40. h4 Rb2 41. Nd1 Rxd1+ 42. Rxd1 Rxa2 43. Be3 Rc2 44. Rc1 a2 0-1