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Notes by Sagar Shah (ChessBase India)
Within only a few days of the appearance one the website of David Jenkins' queen sacrifice in the openng as Black against Phil James, this theme appeared in two grandmaster games. Surely this can't be mere coincidence? Clearly there are players at the higher levels who come here in search of fresh ideas! Wonderfully bold and imaginative play by black in this game against a much higher rated opponent.
This is an active line against the English and very much in Ratnakaran's style.
6...d6 is the more popular move.; 6...g6 is also played.
Interestingly this position has been reached 8 times. All the black players have captured on d5 with the queen, but Ratnakaran had different ideas!
The double exclamation is not for the objective value of the move, but for the creativity and the risk taking ability. Truth be told, even objectively this move could be pretty decent. 8...Qxd5 is the normal way to play. After 9.Bxf6 gxf6 Ratnakaran didn't like the wekening of the f4 square and the doubled pawns.
10...Nb5+ was another way to play. 11.Kd1 Nbxd4 when we reach the same position as in the game, but white has an e2 pawn. Ratnakaran was confused between this and taking the e2 pawn (as he did in the game). Here White has the option of kicking the knight away at any point with e3, while in the other case, the bishop on f1 is activated without any effort. Not an easy choice, but Ratnakaran went for the material and stability of the d4 square.
12.Qa4 was another possibility. 12...Kxd8 leads to an interesting position. The queen here on a4 is not as well placed as it was on e3 and hence this move is possible.
What a brilliant move. You have just sacrificed a queen for a piece, you are getting another piece. Although two pieces are insufficient, still taking the piece is the first move that comes to your mind. Instead, Ratnakaran just goes for aggressive development. 12...Kxd8 13.Qg5+ and somehow Black doesn't have the same coordination that he had.
13.Bxc7 Rc8 14.Bf4 0-0 is what Ratnakaran had planned. Next the rook comes to d8 and it is all over!
It was now Mchedlishvili's turn to be creative. He was clearly unhappy with developments and didn't want his opponent to just play 0-0-0 without any effort. He therefore decided to sacrifice his bishop in a very unique way! 14.Ng6 hxg5 15.Nxh8 0-0-0 is not what you want as White.
14...gxf6 15.Kc1 0-0-0 16.Bh3 16...Bc5?!
Maybe not the best continuation. 16...Ne5 and the knight is coming to d3. Black pieces are all over White.
The position is no longer better for Black but, as it turns out, it is much easier for him to play
Threatening Rc4 and winning the queen.
21.Kb2 was also considered. 21...Rd2+ 22.Ka3 R8d5 23.Qf8+ Kd7
The king will soon run away from the checks and Ra5+ will end the game.
Ratnakaran's comment after the game was that he wanted to prevent the White queen from coming to h5 and hence played this move.
Rd2+ 24.Ka1 (24.Ka3 Rxa2+ ) 24...Rxa2+ 25.Qxa2 Nxa2 26.Kxa2 f5 Black is not worse here.This is what I call being comfortable with what you have! Ratnakaran has two pieces and a pawn for the queen and nice squares for his pieces and he is comfortable with it. Hence he is able to play a move like c5 which creates no real threat, but simply throws the ball back in White's court.
25.Qg3 Bf3 26.Rhc1 Rd2 27.Rb2 Rd1 28.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 29.Rb1 Rd2 30.Rb2 Rd1+ would have ended peacefully.
>25...Nd5 26.Qc1 26.h5 27.Rg1 Rd3 28.Qc4 28.Rd4 29.Qc1 29.Rd3
Here Ratnakaran was fine with a draw, but Mchedlishvili wanted to punish his opponent.
Over-ambitious and at the same time weakening his king's position. We can say that it was this move that led to Mikheil's loss in the game. 30.h3!? Rxh3 (30...Bxh3 31.Rg7 is good news for White. His rook is now activated.) 31.Qc4 f5 32.Rbd1!, sacrificing back some material. 32...Bxd1 33.Rxd1+- and White is well coordinated and stands better.
30...Nc3 31.Qb2 31.Nxb131...Be6 was also possible. 32.Rbc1 Na4 33.Qxf6 Rxa3+ 34.Kb1 Ba2+ 35.Kc2 cxb4! and Black is winning.
>32.Rxb1 Rf3 33.bxc5 Rdd3 34.Qb5 Rxa3+ 35.Kb2 Bd7!
Ratnakaran overall doesn't like too many checks to his king, hence this move.
36.Qc4 Ra4 37.Qg8+ Kb7 38.Rd1 Rxf2+ 39.Kb3
39.Kc3! Rf3+ 40.Kc2 is unclear.
39...Rf3+ 40.Kb2 Rb4+ 41.Kc1 Rc3+ 42.Kd2 Rxc5
Now Black is clearly winning as he has a rook and a bishop and three pawns for a queen.
43.Ke1 Ba4 44.Qf7+ Rc7 45.Qd5+ Bc6 46.Qxh5 Rg7 47.Rd6 Rb2
Let's forget strict objectivity for a while and enjoy the Ratnakaran's imaginative play!
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