Winning Without Castling

Last updated 2 May 2002

Deutsch,H - Gurtovoi,N [B32]
International Thematic T433/23-G, 1975
[Notes by Nickolai Gurtovoi]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 a6 6.Nd6+ Bxd6 7.Qxd6 Qf6 8.Qd1 Qg6 9.Nc3 Nge7 10.h4 h5 11.Bg5 d6!? [I don't think that the theoretical 11... d5 (?) is a weak move. The game Strautynsh-Norkin (III USSR Team CC Championship, 1972) has the following: 12.exd5 Nd4 13.Bd3 Bf5 14.Bxf5 Qxf5 15.0-0 f6 16.Be3 Nxc2 17.Rc1 Nxe3 18.fxe3 Qd7 19.d6 Nc6 20.Nd5 0-0 21.Rxc6! 1-0]

12.Bd3 [12.Rg1 is better.]

12...f6 13.Be3 Qxg2 14.Kd2!? Bg4 15.Qe1 [Other possibilities were 15.Qg1 or 15.Rg1]

15...Nd4 16.Bxd4 exd4 17.Nd5 Rc8 18.Qg1? [White errs. After 18.Rg1! Qh2 19.Rh1 Qe5 20.f4 Qe6 21.Nxe7 Kxe7 22.Qf2 Rc5 23.Qxd4 Rhc8 24.c3 it is a position with complex play.]

18...Qf3 19.Re1 Kf7! [Black's K is very well positioned without castling, as is White's.]

20.Be2 Rxc2+! [Not 20... Qxe4? because of 21.Bc4!]

21.Kxc2 Qxe4+ 22.Kd2 Nxd5 23.Qg3 [If 23.Bc4 Qf4+ (a) 24.Kc2 Rc8 25.Kb3 Rxc4! 26.Kxc4 b5+! 27.Kxd5 (or 27.Kb3 Qf3+) 27... Bf3+; (b) 24.Kd3 Bf5+ 25.Ke2 d3+! 26.Bxd3 Re8]

23...Bxe2 24.Rxe2 Qxh1 25.Re1 [On first glance, Black's Q is in a trap, but ... ]

25...Nc3! 26.f3 [If 26.Rxh1 Ne4+ and 27... Nxg3, or 26.bxc3 dxc3+]

26...Ne2! 27.Qf2 [Or 27.Rxe2 Qb1]

27...Qh3 28.Rxe2 Re8 29.Rxe8 Kxe8 30.Qxd4 Qe6 31.a4 Qe5 32.Qc4 Qxb2+ 33.Kd3 Kd7 34.Qf7+ Kc6 35.Qxg7 Qb3+ 36.Ke2 Qc4+ 37.Ke3 Qxh4 0-1