random thoughts: Grunfeld To The Rescue

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Grunfeld To The Rescue

Stepanovic Miroslav vs Rulix Batistil

I struggled lately in my chess games since hitting the 2k plus rating. My last five games has been a nosedived but as a chess player, I take all lows in stride and fight every opportunity at the chess board to bounce back and win games again. In round 2, I faced Stepanovic Miroslav - above 2k plus rated veteran club player. He opened the game with d4 and I replied Nf6 hoping to lured him into playing my untested Grunfeld Defense that I've been practicing for quite a while already. Well, be always careful what you wish for - surprisingly enough, he played the main line of the Grunfeld.

It was a tight battle in the Queenside entering the middle game. Almost at equal position then I sacrificed my pawn on move 12 to open up the D file. He toke the bait but then gave the pawn back three moves later. For I gained more space with promising attack on his broken pawn structure.

Then came a series of missed opportunities and slight inaccuracies. But the position is very sharp, wide open ready to break lose. I can smell fireworks on the board ready to explode in a moment. I'm treading a tight rope so as he - the first to blink will be in great trouble. Thankfully he was in time trouble and did blinked with some tactical blunders toward the end game playing under two minutes remaining on his clock.

The crowning moment was my all or nothing sacrifice on move 40 - a gambled trick that leads to a beautiful combination winning the white Queen. Miroslav is the second 2000+ player that I conquered so far in my chess career.

Replay and enjoy the game below!