Jyrki Heikkinen - Lauri Aapola

French Defence, Tampere University of Technology Championship, Tampere 1990

Quite unique. Maybe Black wanted to prevent Nb5, which is not any threat. The other idea, however, comes after three moves.

7. Be2 c5 8. d5 exd5 9. cxd5

9. Nxd5 Nxd5 10. cxd5 is out of the question because I don't want to exchange pieces, and it is too hopeful that Black would play 9. -Be6? 10. Nxf6 Qxf6?? 11. Bg5 1-0.

9. -b5 10. O-O

10. Bg5 Be7 is more natural, but I wanted to keep my Bishop.

10. -b4 11. Re1

This is what we do with an open line! An innocent threat is 12. Bb5#.

11. -Be7

11. -Qd6? 12. Bb5+ Kd8 13. Ne5! Qc7 14. d6 Bxd6 (14. -Qb7 15. Qf3 or 14. -Qa7 15. d7) 15. Nxf7+ Qxf7 16. Qxd6+ threatening Bf4.

12. Bc4 O-O

12. -bxc3 13. d6 Ra7 (12. -O-O?? 13. dxe7) 14. Qa4+ Bd7 15. Bxf7+! Kf8 (15. -Kxf7 16. Qc4+ Be6! 17. Rxe6! +-) 16. Qf4 Bxd6 17. Qxd6+ Kxf7 18. Ne5+ 1-0. White could also play 14. Bf4 with the idea dxe7 and Bxb8.

13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Rxe4 Bb7 15. Qe1 Bf6 16. Be3 Nd7

• 16. -Bxb2 17. Bxc5 Bxa1 18. Bxf8 Kxf8 (18. -Bc3 19. Re8!) 19. Ng5! Nd7 (19. -Bc3 20. Re8+ Qxe8 21. Nxh7+ Kg8 22. Qxe8+ Kxh7 23. Bd3+) 20. Qxb4+ Kg8 21. Qxb7 Rb8 22. Qa7 with sharp game. A crazy 22. Nxf7 does not work because of 22. -Qf6!.
• 16. -Bxd5 17. Rd1 Bxe4 18. Rxd8 Rxd8 19. Bxc5 +-.

17. Qf2 Rc8 18. Rd1 Qa5

18. -Nb6 19. Bb3 Nxd5 (19. -Qd6!?) 20. Bxc5 Re8 21. Rxb4.

19. Bg5 Bxg5 20. Nxg5 Nb6

20. -Nf6 21. Rh4 h6?! 22. Rxh6! Qd8 (22. -gxh6 23. Qxf6 or 22. -Ng4 23. Qf5).

21. Nxh7

• 21. -Kxh7 22. Qf5+ Kg8 (22. -g6 23. Qf6) 23. Rh4 f6 (23. -Rfd8 24. d6) 24. Bd3! (threatening 25. Rh8+; 24. Qe6+ Rf7 25. Rd3! works too, but 25. Rh8+ Kxh8 26. Qxf7 b3!! 27. Qxb7 bxa2 28. Bxa2 is slower) Rfe8 (24. -Rce8 25. Qg6 or 24. -Bxd5 25. Re1) 25. Qg6 Kf8 26. Rh7 1-0.
• 21. -Rfd8 22. Re7 f6 (22. -Kxh7 23. Qxf7) 23. Nxf6+ 1-0.
• 21. -Rfe8 22. d6!
  • 22. -Nxc4 23. Nf6+! gxf6 (23. -Kf8 24. Qh4) 24. Rg4+ Kf8 25. Qxf6 Nxd6 26. Qh6+ Ke7 27. Qxd6#.
  • 22. -Bxe4 23. Qxf7+ Kh8 24. Qh5 Bxh7 25. Bd3 g6 26. Bxg6 Kg7 27. Qxh7+ Kf6 28. Bxe8 1-0.
  • 22. -Rxe4 23. Qxf7+ Kh8 24. Qh5 g6 25. Qh6 Rh4 26. Qxh4 Kg7 (26. -Nxc4 27. Qf6+!) 27. Qe7+ Kh6 28. Rd3 1-0.
• 21. -g6 22. Nf6+ Kg7 23. Nh5+ gxh5 (23. -Kh7 24. Qf6 Rg8 25. Rh4 1-0) 24. Qg3+ Kh6 (24. -Kh7 25. Re5) 25. Bd3! threatening 26. Re6+!.
• 21. -f5 22. Re7
  • 22. -Kxh7 23. Rd3 Rf6 24. Rh3+ Kg8 25. Qh4 Kf8 26. d6 Rh6 27. Qf6+!.
  • 22. -Nxc4 23. Qh4 Rfe8 (23. -Rf7 24. Ng5) 24. Nf6+ Kf8 25. Nd7+ Kg8 26. Rxg7+! Kxg7 27. Qg5+ 1-0.

PGN version.