(The annotations to this game, by E. P. Geller, are from Shakhmaty v SSSR (№ 5, 1985).

The
translation from the original Russian is by Douglas Griffin.)

Geller – A. Petrosian
7 round, 52 USSR Championship, Riga, 1st February 1985
th nd

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0–0 0–0
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9.Re1!?
A new continuation, associated with the idea of defending the e4–pawn with the rook and
thereby preparing the leap of the knight to d5.

9...Be6
A standard plan, employed in the usual variations. 9...b5!? or 9...Nbd7 are possible.

10.Bf1 Nbd7 11.Nd5!

White is not in time to blockade the opponent’s queen’s flank with 11.a4 on account of 11...Rc8
12.a5 Qc7 .

11...Nb6
Deserving attention is 11...Bxd5 12.exd5 b5. For example, 13.a4 Nb6 14.axb5 axb5 15.Rxa8
Qxa8 16.Bxb5 Nbxd5 with an interesting struggle.

(Translator’s note: Later, 11...Nxd5 12.exd5 Bf5 became established as the main line here.)

12.c4 Rc8 13.Nd2 Nfd7?

Necessary was 13...Nbxd5 14.cxd5 Bd7, and White has only a minimal advantage. Black’s
attempt to obtain a fully equal game with 14...Bg5 proves to be unrealisable.

14.Nxe7+! Qxe7 15.b3 Nc5

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16.Nb1 f5
In search of at least some counter-play. White has a large positional advantage: the two bishops
(the dark-squared one is particularly dangerous) and pressure on the d-file, and in addition the
knight at b6 is poorly placed (impossible is 16...Nbd7? on account of 17.b4).

17.exf5 Bxf5 18.Nc3 Rcd8 19.Be3 Nbd7 20.b4 Ne6

Losing is 20...Ne4? on account of 21.Qd5+ Qf7 22.Nxe4 Qxd5 23.cxd5 Bxe4 24.Bg5.

21.Nd5 Qf7
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22.Qf3! Rde8
The threat of 23.Qxf5 forces Black to lose still another tempo for defence. Greater chances were
retained by 22...Qe8.

23.Rad1 Nb8 24.b5

Depriving the enemy knight of the square c6 – a trampoline for a leap to d4.
24...Nd7 25.Nc3 e4
A forced reply.

26.Qg3 Ne5 27.Rxd6 Nd3 28.Rd1 Rd8

28...Nec5 extended the resistance.

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29.Nxe4!
The beginning of a forcing variation with a queen sacrifice.

29...Bxe4 30.Bxd3 Rxd6 31.Qxd6 Rd8 32.Bxe4! Rxd6 33.Rxd6 Qf6 34.g3 Kf8 35.Bd5 Qa1+
36.Kg2 Nc7 37.Rd8+
Black resigned in view of 37...Ke7 38.Bg5+ or 37...Ne8 38.Bc5#.