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Jonathan Speelman vs Nigel Short
Short - Speelman Candidates Eighthfinal (1991), London ENG, rd 1, Jan-27
Gruenfeld Defense: Russian. Prins Variation (D97)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Feb-25-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: Speelman had a novelty prepared for this game, but it turned out badly. It was the move 8. b4. It had been played before in T Karolyi Jr. vs M Konopka, 1987, but that had been a 12-move draw. It is possible that Speelman had never seen the 1987 game.

The 8. b4 move is a bit rubbishy, Short beats the TN OTB.
If this game has a hero, it is the black c-pawn.


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10...Nb5
11. Nxb5 cxb5. That pawn looks doomed, but 12. Qxb5 Nxe4 would be very risky, with the white king stuck in the centre. So the pawn survived. Soon it was supported by 18...a6.

Short played this game powerfully right through. He angled to get his knight to c4.
23...Nd6-c4!


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Speelman had to get rid of that knight immediately, it was too strong.

The minor pieces come off the board and we have a ♕♖♖ middlegame.


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Black could have played 28...b5, and that is strong, but Short played 28...c3!. The passed c-pawn caused big problems for White.

Short was approaching his best ever form. He hardly puts a foot wrong in this difficult game.

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