IM RICHARD BITOON'S BEST GAME AT THE 2011 AEROFLOT B

( photo from pinoychess.informe.com )


IM Richard Bitoon scored 5.5 points in 9 rounds in the 2011 Aeroflot
B held in Moscow, Russia just recently. Although his score was not
enough for a GM norm, his 8th round win against GM Mikhail Ulibin
of Russia was something to cheer about. The Russian GM was the
second seed of his group with a 2547 rating. Below is their game.


[Event "Aeroflot Open 2011 B"]
[Site "Moscow, Russia"]
[Date "2011.2.15"]
[Round "8"]
[White "IM Bitoon, Richard"]
[Black "GM Ulibin, Mikhail"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteELO "2461"]
[BlackELO "2547"]


SICILIAN DEFENSE
ENGLISH ATTACK
( Annotations by Caissa's Father )


1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3



This is the starting position of the English Attack. IM Steffen
Pedersen, in his book " Easy Guide to the Sicilian Scheveningen ",
has this to say:

The English Attack is a modern way of combating the Najdorf and
Scheveningen. The English Attack is characterized by White's set-
up with f3, Qd2 and 0-0-0 followed by advancing the g-pawn. This
plan can be extremely dangerous and Black must be careful not to
neglect his development.


6... Be7 7.g4 h6



IM Pedersen:

Black's most popular plan is to slow down White's kingside
advance with ...h6, followed by...Bb7 and ...d5. White must
then open up the kingside as quickly as possible.

In practice this has been Black's most popular option, but
as remarked above kingside castling is hardly feasible since
White can quickly break through with h4 and g5, and as the
queenside is quite airy, the king must therefore stay in the
centre.


8.Rg1 a6 9. Qd2 b5 10. Bd3 g5?!



This move unduly weakens Black's kingside. Instead, Fritz 10
suggest 10... Bb7 11. h4 b4 12. Nce2 Qa5 13. Nb3 Qc7 14. 0-0-0
Nbd7 15. Qxb4 Ne5 with counter-play.


11. O-O-O Nfd7 12. Kb1 Ne5 13. h4 Bb7 14. hxg5 hxg5 15. Rh1 Rg8


16. f3 Nbd7 17. Rh7


The game GM Renet, O (2515) vs. GM Ribli, Z (2605) Clermont
Ferrand 1989 continued 17. Of2 Rc8 18. Rd2 Nc5 19.a3 Nexd3
20. cxd3 Bf6 21.Rdd1 Qa5 1/2-1/2


17... Qa5?!



[17...Nf6 18. Rh3 b4 19. Nce2 d5 20. Bxg5 dxe4 21. Bxf6 Bxf6
22.fxe4 Qb6 23. Nf3 Rxg4 24. Nxe5 Bxe5 Aaberg, A (2383) vs.
Eriksson, J (2414), Sweden Championships, 1/2- 1/2 in 42 moves]


This move started Black's downfall. Instead, Black could have
organized his counter-play with 17...b4 18. Nce2 d5! as suggested
by Fritz


18. a3!


Preventing b4. An interesting alternative is 18. Nxe6! and then
if 18... fxe6? 19. Rxe7! Kxe7 20. Nd5 ch.! and Black's queen
falls.


18... Bf6?!


Another dubious move. The bishop is needed in e7 to protect Black's
d6 pawn. Black's best move it seems, is 18... Oc7 followed by Nb6.


19. Be2 Qd8??



Black's only way of prolonging resistance is by castling queenside
although in that line White would still maintain a big advantage.
With this blunder, IM Bitoon quickly finished the game in style..


20. Nxe6! fxe6 21. Qxd6 Be7 22. Qxe6 Rf8 23. Bb6!



Final position.

Black resigns. 1-0

Replay the game below.