keypusher: This is a cool game!
 click for larger viewHere Bellon plays the pawn sacrifice 10.f5, sort of reminiscent of the one in Karpov vs J Bellon Lopez, 1973. SF likes the sacrifice well enough, and Andersson makes no effort to hang on to the extra pawn. But instead of Rxd6 Bellon goes all in with 16.g4?! and 17.Nf5, which doesn't seem to quite work.  click for larger viewI suspect Andersson surprised his opponent with 21....d5!, and if 22.exd5 then ...Ne7 forking f5 and d5 keeps Black's advantage. After 22.Rg1 d4 White's position looks dire. But Bellon manages to scare up some chances on the kingside.  click for larger viewHere Andersson cleverly sacrificed his queen with 31....Bxd1 32.Nxe7 Bh5! bringing the bishop around to defend and clearing the way for the d-pawn. After 33.Qxf6+ Rg7 34.Ng6+ Andersson found 34....Kg8!. If ...Bxg6 35.hg d1/Q+ 36.Bf1 Bellon has salvaged a draw, because if, say, 36....Qd7?? then 37.Rxh7+ Kg8 38.Bc4+ and Black gets mated.  click for larger viewHere Andersson could have spared them both some anxious moments with 37....Rxf1+ 38.Kg2 Rxg6+!. As it was there was one more hidden turning point.  click for larger viewHere, on the last move of the time control, Andersson played the natural-looking 40....Bf7, allowing 41.Bd5!! and White threatens to take the knight on d8. After 41....Rxd5 42.exd5 Nb7 43.Qc6 and the engine shows triple zeros -- likewise after 42....Bxd5 43.Qxd8+ Kh7 44.exd5. But Bellon missed this, and Andersson gradually consolidated and won. |