samsloan
2012-07-05 20:04:26 UTC
My Game against Grandmaster Smirin
Grandmaster Ilia Smirin has been ranked as high as in the top ten in
the world. By luck of the pairing system, I was pared against him in
the second round of the 2012 World Open today. Here is the game:
[Event "World Open"]
[Site "Philadelphia PA USA"]
[Date "2012.07.05"]
[Round "02"]
[White "Smirin, Ilia"]
[Black "Sloan, Sam"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C40"]
[WhiteElo "2647"]
[BlackElo "1902"]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6
[When Grandmaster Smirin saw my second move, first he started
laughing. Then, his face turned beet red. Finally, he went into deep
thought. He was probably realizing that he was not up on the latest
theoretical developments on this important line. He spent about ten
minutes thinking about this position until finally he played.}
3.d4
{He probably realized that it is not possible that I had made a
beginner's blunder. After all, what was I doing playing him on the top
boards if I was a beginner? He must have realized that I had
thoroughly analyzed the complications arising after 3. Nxe5 fxe5 4.
Qh5+. Even a top grandmaster could not feel confident of working out
all the possibilities over the board. So, it made sense for him to
play a developing move instead.}
d5 4.exd5 e4 5.Nfd2 Qxd5 6.Nc3 Qxd4 7.Ncxe4
[At this point I think I have achieved at least equality and possibly
the advantage. I even considered offering him a draw since he is a
much stronger player than I am but he might take it if he felt that
his position was inferior.}
Bf5 8.Qf3 Bxe4 9.Nxe4 Nc6 10.Bb5 O-O-O 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.O-O Nh6 13.Bxh6
gxh6 14.Rad1 Qe5 15.Rxd8+ Kxd8 16.Nxf6 Bd6 17.Ng4 Qxb2
{This I think was my fatal error. I could have played 17. . . . Qf4
forcing a trade of queens or 17. . . . Qg7. Although I would have been
a pawn down, my more active pieces would have made it difficult for
him to win, I believe.}
18.Nxh6 Rf8 19.Nf7+ Kd7 20.Qf5+ Ke8 21.Nxd6+ cxd6 22.Re1+ 1-0
Grandmaster Ilia Smirin has been ranked as high as in the top ten in
the world. By luck of the pairing system, I was pared against him in
the second round of the 2012 World Open today. Here is the game:
[Event "World Open"]
[Site "Philadelphia PA USA"]
[Date "2012.07.05"]
[Round "02"]
[White "Smirin, Ilia"]
[Black "Sloan, Sam"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C40"]
[WhiteElo "2647"]
[BlackElo "1902"]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6
[When Grandmaster Smirin saw my second move, first he started
laughing. Then, his face turned beet red. Finally, he went into deep
thought. He was probably realizing that he was not up on the latest
theoretical developments on this important line. He spent about ten
minutes thinking about this position until finally he played.}
3.d4
{He probably realized that it is not possible that I had made a
beginner's blunder. After all, what was I doing playing him on the top
boards if I was a beginner? He must have realized that I had
thoroughly analyzed the complications arising after 3. Nxe5 fxe5 4.
Qh5+. Even a top grandmaster could not feel confident of working out
all the possibilities over the board. So, it made sense for him to
play a developing move instead.}
d5 4.exd5 e4 5.Nfd2 Qxd5 6.Nc3 Qxd4 7.Ncxe4
[At this point I think I have achieved at least equality and possibly
the advantage. I even considered offering him a draw since he is a
much stronger player than I am but he might take it if he felt that
his position was inferior.}
Bf5 8.Qf3 Bxe4 9.Nxe4 Nc6 10.Bb5 O-O-O 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.O-O Nh6 13.Bxh6
gxh6 14.Rad1 Qe5 15.Rxd8+ Kxd8 16.Nxf6 Bd6 17.Ng4 Qxb2
{This I think was my fatal error. I could have played 17. . . . Qf4
forcing a trade of queens or 17. . . . Qg7. Although I would have been
a pawn down, my more active pieces would have made it difficult for
him to win, I believe.}
18.Nxh6 Rf8 19.Nf7+ Kd7 20.Qf5+ Ke8 21.Nxd6+ cxd6 22.Re1+ 1-0