[Event "Ch URS ( 1/2 )"]

[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1947.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Andrey Mikhailovich Batuev"]
[Black "David Bronstein"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A48"]
[PlyCount "68"]
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.e3 O-O 5.h3 b6
{Interesting approach by Bronstein.}
6.Nbd2 Bb7 7.Bd3 d6 8.O-O Nbd7 9.Qe2 a6
{Stopping any Ba6 bussiness.}
10.e4 Nh5 11.Bh2 e5
( 11...c5 {Another possibility which at first I liked as the g7-bishop
stays open. The problem with it is that firstly it does not control
the f4-square and does not block the h2 bishop. So probably after c3
Black will need to take on d4 as if d5 is played e6 will be a double
edge move, a bishop is already pressuring on d6 and a knight is ready
to jump into c4.} 12.g4! {Overlooked this.} 12...Nhf6 13.d5 b5 = )
12.c3 Nf4
( 12...f5? {This natural King's Indian move fails due to tactics.} 13.
exf5 gxf5 14.Nxe5 dxe5 15.Qxh5 )
13.Bxf4 exf4 14.g4?!
{This is a very weird move. Altough it was hard to suggest a plan for
White I dont think that g4 was the best move. This move now gives
Black a real target, the g4-pawn itself, now that Black has something
in which to focus the attack will begin. Engines suggest White to play
on the queenside with moves like b4-Qd1-Qb3. Makes some sense, I think
the queen is very misplaced now that the e-file has been opened.}
( 14.Rfe1 Re8 15.Qd1! {It was neccesary to get the queen out of e2 as
it is completely misplaced there.} 15...c5 16.Qb3 )
14...Re8
( 14...fxg3 15.fxg3 {Should be better than what happened in the game
for White as this structure is more solid.} )
15.Rfe1 Nf8 16.Rad1 Qd7 17.Qf1?!
{Wasnt Kh2 a better way of defending the}
( 17.Bc2 h5 18.gxh5 Qxh3 19.hxg6 Nxg6 {Looks scary for White.} )
( 17.Kh2 )
17...Ne6
{In the next moves, White that lacks a plan and self destroys him. I
can't explain why he didnt play on the kingside by playing Kh2-Qg2-Rg1
trying to at least play the game!}
18.Qg2 Rad8 19.Qh2 d5 20.e5 c5 21.Nf1 Bc6 22.Bf5
{It was hard to suggest something for White and this is surely not
sound. Some tactical punches now are exchanged.}
( 22.Bxa6 Ra8 23.Bd3 Rxa2 )
22...gxf5 23.gxf5 Nxd4 24.Nxd4
( 24.cxd4 Qxf5 )
24...Bxe5 25.Rxe5 Rxe5 26.Qxf4 f6 27.Ne6 Rxe6 28.Qg4+ Kh8 29.fxe6 Qd6 30.
Ng3 Rg8 31.Qe2 d4 32.c4
( 32.Kh2 {And altough this is losing White is still alive.} )
32...Rxg3+ 33.fxg3 Qxg3+ 34.Kf1 Bf3
{This game is a great example of how not having a plan may backfire.
Instead of looking for play on one wing or another, White aimlessly
manouvered his pieces, giving Bronstein time to setup his attack which
couldnt culminate as out of desesperation White destroyed himself
before the storm even began.}
0-1