David Howell vs Wang Hao (2006)

David Howell vs Wang Hao
World Junior Championship (2006) · French Defense: Tarrasch. Pawn Center Variation (C05) · 0-1

To move:

Last move:

Given 35 times; par: 42 [what's this?]

explore this opening	find similar games	1 more D Howell/Wang Hao game
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Nov-08-06		notyetagm: Wow, what a finish by Black.

Jan-08-07		princeofdragons: <1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nd2 Nf6 4 e5 Nfd7 5 f4> Building a big pawn center. Some prefer quicker development with 5 Bd3 c5 6 c3 Nc6 7 Ne2. <c5 6 c3 Nc6 7 Ndf3 cxd4 8 cxd4 f5> Less common than 8 ... Nb6 9 Bd3 h5, but similarly motivated. Black wants Queenside counterplay while restraining White's attacking thrust f4-f5. <9 Bd3 Be7 10 Ne2 Nb6 11 Rg1> Most logical, as White needs Kingside activity. a5 12 g4 0-0 Not fearing 13 gxf5 exf5, as Black can easily guard g7. <13 a3 Bd7 14 Nc3 a4 15 Qe2 Na5 16 Be3 Rc8 17 Kf2 Be8 18 Qc2> Probably correct, although White passes up his last chance to make Black recapture at f5 with a pawn. Bg6 Cleverly bolstering his Kingside. 19 Rg3 Nbc4 20 Rag1 Not 20 Qxa4?? because 20 ... Nxb2 21 Qc2 Nxd3+ 22 Qxd3 fxg4 unleashes the "bad" Bishop at g6. <Bh4! 21 Nxh4 Qxh4 22 gxf5?> White overestimates a tactical shot. He should play 22 h3 and wait for a more promising moment to exchange on f5. <Bxf5 23 Bxf5 Rxf5 24 Nxd5> It's too late for defense with 24 Ne2. After 24 ... Nb3, Black can use almost any light square. <Rcf8!> Now 25 Nc7? loses a piece to 25 ... Nxe3 26 Kxe3 Qxf4+ 27 Kd3 Qf3+! 28 Rxf3 Rxf3+ 29 Ke2 Rf2+ 30 Kd1 Rxc2 31 Kxc2 Rc8, while 25 Nc3 (best) Kh8 26 Ne2 g5! cedes Black the initiative. <25 Ke2> White's point is that 25 ... exd5?? permits 26 Rxg7+ Kh8 27 Qxf5! Rxf5 28 Rg8 mate. <Qh5+??> The right way is 25 ... Kh8! 26 Rxg7 Qxh2+! 27 R7g2 Qh5+ 28 Ke1 exd5, safely grabbing the Knight. If 26 Nc3, then 26 ... Nxe3 27 Kxe3 Rxf4 should win. <26 Ke1??> Not realizing his good fortune. Instead, 26 Kd3! gains material, as 26... exd5?? runs into 27 Rxg7+ Kh8 28 Qg2 Qe8 29 Rxh7+! Kxh7 30 Qg7 mate. <exd5 27 Rxg7+ Kh8 28 Qg2 Qd1+!> Anticipating 29 Kxd1 Nxe3+. <29 Kf2 Qc2+ 30 Kf3 Rxf4+! 31 Bxf4 Qe4+ 32 Kg4 Rxf4+ 33 Kh5 Rh4+, 0-1.>

Jul-14-10		JohnBoy: It looks like black totally set white up to fail with 24.Nxd5. Nice psych job.

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