Yeoh Li Tian - GM Jan Smeets

Yeoh Li Tian (2258) - GM Jan Smeets  ( 2620)Olympiad Istanbul, Round 1, 28.8.12

Analyzed by Centaur ( Hairulov + Rybka 4)

1.e4 c5 2. c3 Sicilian Alapin -  Li Tian Favorite  variation  2...Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 d6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Bc4 Nb6 8. Bb3 dxe5 9. d5 A typical idea in this variation. White gambit a pawn for initiative. 9...Na5 10. Nc3 Bg4 This move is not in Rybka 4 opening book. 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 g6 13. Be3 Nxb3 14. axb3 White have a double pawn on b-file but as compensation, he got an open file on a-file for his rook and his bishop add pressure along the g1-h7 diagonal. 14...Nc8 Black decide to re-position his knight. He can also play aggressively with 14...f5 or complete his development with 14...0-0. 15. O-O An interesting try is 15.d6!? sacrificing a pawn for initiative  15...Nxd6 16.Nd5 Nb5 17 Rd1 15... Bg7 16. Nb5 O-O 17. Nxa7

White win a back his pawn pawn but after 17...Nd6 his knight on a7 is in danger and may not find way back home safely...18. Rfd1 Qd7 19.Qe2 h5 20.Rac1 Nf5 21.Bb6 Nd4 22.Qc4 Bf6 I don't understand the idea behind this move.  23.Re1 Qf5 24.Rcd1 Kg7 Ok now it is clear that black 22.Bf6 is to plan for Kg7 which means that black has already planning for endgame by  centralizing his king.25.Qd3 Qxd3 26.Rxd3 Nf5

The queens has been exchange. Black seems to have a slight advantage due to white's two double pawns on b and d file compare to only one for black's on e file. However if white can conquer the c file with his rooks and penetrate to the 7th rank with Rc7, he would have a good chance. 27.Rc3 Rfe8 28.Rc7 Maybe white should have delay playing  Rc7 for a moment  because 28...e6!  29.Rxb7 Reb8?! Black should have play 29...exd5 creating a strong passed pawn on d-file! 30.Rxb8 Rxb8 31.Bc5 exd5 32.b4 

 Now white passed b-pawn is much stronger then the position after  29...exd5 in my previous note.

32...Nd4 33.Rd1 Rb7?! Black wasting his time playing in his weakest area. He should consider playing 33...g5 followed by Kg6 to use his king to support his pawns majority in the center.  34.Nc8 Rd7 35.Kf1 Rd8 36.Nb6 g5 37.f3 37...Kg6 38.Kf2 h4 39.Na4? Li Tian probably want to clear the b-file for his passed pawn to roll but probably he should have weaken black's pawn center first with 39.Bxd4  39...Ne6 40.b5 

40...d4 Black can go for a drawish position with 40...Nxc5 41.Nxc5 Rb8 42.Rxd5 Rxb5 43.b4 Rxb4 44.Nd3 followed by Nxe5 next  41.b4 Bg7 42.Nb2 f5 43.Nc4 e4 44.Bd6?

A serious mistake. Li Tian missed a tactical shot. He should have keep his bishop to looks after black's center pawns. Now black's passed pawns and his knight will give white's serious headache in the center after

44...e3+ 45.Kf1 Rxd6!! 46.Nxd6 Nf4 Black is winning.47.Re1 d3 Grim 0-1 An unfortunate end for Li Tian. His only mistake is 44.Bd6?? and his more experience opponent punish it mercilessly. Anyway a good fight from our youngster. I bet GM Jan Smeets certainly had  hard time in this game.