Analysed Games

You have been asking us. We respond to it. Cyber Chess has approached Grand Master G.N.Gopal who gave two his best chess games played in the Asian Chess Championship held at Cebu,Philippines during September 2007. In the first Game he defeated world famous Eugene Torrre of Philippines and in the second game he defeated Grand Master Antonio. Both these Grand  Masters are from Philippines. With these victories he could reach the Magic Rating of 2500 and became Indias 16th  Grand Master!!

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Gopal,GN (2480) - Torre,E (2536) [B07]

6th Asian Individuals Cebu (2), 20.09.2007

[Gopal Geetha Narayanan]

Eugenio Torre, the first Grand Master of Asia is undoubteldly a chess legend by all means, and was one of the world's top players during 70s-80s, playing in many top tournaments with Karpov, Spassky, Korchnoi and others.

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 c6 5.Qd2 b5 6.Bd3 Nbd7 7.Nf3 e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.h3 Bg7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Ne2 Qe7 12.Ng3 Nc5?!

[   12...Bb7 is the normal move 13.c4 a6 14.a4 b4 15.c5 a5]

13.b4!

[   13.Qc3 Nfd7 (

13...Nxd3 14.cxd3) 14.b4 Nxd3 15.cxd3 Bb7]

13...Nxd3

[   13...Ne6 14.a4 bxa4 15.Rxa4;  

13...Na4 14.c4 bxc4 (

14...Rd8 15.c5) 15.Bxc4]

14.cxd3 Nd7 15.a4 bxa4?!

[ ¹15...a6 16.d4 (

16.Bh6 Bxh6 (

16...Bb7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.d4 exd4 19.Nxd4) 17.Qxh6 Bb7 18.d4 f6 (

18...exd4 19.Nxd4 f6 20.Ngf5 gxf5 21.Nxf5 Qf7 22.Ra3) 19.h4 Qg7 20.

Qe3 exd4 21.Nxd4 Rae8 (

21...Qe7 22.Ngf5 (

22.h5 c5 23.bxc5 Nxc5 24.axb5 axb5 25.Rab1) ;

22.axb5 cxb5 23.h5 Ne5;

16...Bb7 (

16...exd4 17.Bxd4 Bxd4 18.Nxd4 Bb7 19.Ndf5 gxf5 20.Nxf5) 17.Rfc1 exd4

18.Bxd4 f6]

16.Rxa4 a6 17.Rc1 Bb7 18.Qa2 Rfe8 19.Nd2

[

19.d4]

19...Rac8 20.Nb3 Bf8 21.Nf1

[

21.Na5 Ba8 22.Qc4 Qe6 23.Qxa6 f5 was possible]

21...Qd6 22.Rc3 Qc7 23.Nc5 Nxc5 24.Bxc5 Bh6 25.Ne3 the white knight is

heading towards c4. 25...Bxe3 26.Bxe3 Rcd8 27.Ra5 Qd6 28.Rac5 Rd7 29.Qd2

[

29.Qe2 with the idea of Qg4 and a further f4 was a strong idea. 29...f6

30.Qg4 Qe6 31.Qg3 Red8 32.f4 Rxd3 33.Rxd3 Rxd3 34.fxe5 f5 35.Qf4]

29...Re6 30.f3 Qe7 31.Qe2 g5?!

[

31...f5! 32.Qf2 f4 (

32...Qf6) 33.Bc1]

32.Qf2 Qd8 33.Qg3 f6 34.f4 exf4

[

34...Rxd3 35.fxg5 fxg5 36.Rxe5 Rxc3 (

36...Rxe5 37.Qxe5 Rxc3 38.Qxc3) 37.Rxe6]

35.Bxf4 Kf7 36.Bc1 Red6 37.Rf5 Rxd3

[

37...h6! was better but black's position is difficult 38.Bb2 (

38.e5 Re6 39.Bb2 Kg6 40.Rxf6+ Rxf6 41.exf6 Qxf6) 38...Rxd3 39.Rxd3

Rxd3 40.Qg4]

38.Rxd3 Rxd3 39.Qxg5 Qd4+ 40.Kh2 Bc8 41.Qh5+ Ke7 42.Qxh7+ Kd8 43.Rg5 There

were many roads leading to Rome! but i was very much fascinated by this

idea. 43...Be6

[

43...Qd6+ 44.e5]

44.Qh8+ Ke7 45.e5!

[

45.e5 fxg5 (

45...fxe5 46.Rg7+ Bf7 47.Bg5+ Ke6 (

47...Kd6 48.Rxf7) 48.Qh6+;

46.Bxg5+ Kf7 47.Qf6+ Kg8 48.Qxe6+ Kg7 49.Bf6+ Kg6 50.Be7+ Kh5 51.Qf5+ (

51.g4+) ]

1-0

Gopal,GN (2480) - Antonio,Rogelio Jr (2539) [B07]

6th Asian Individuals Cebu (3), 21.09.2007

[Gopal Geetha Narayanan]

This game was played in the 3rd round and I was playing against Grand

Master Antonio Rogelio of Philippines. 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 c6 5.

Qd2 b5 6.Bd3 Nbd7 7.Nf3 e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.h3 Bb7 10.0-0 a6 11.a4

[

11.Ne2 c5]

11...Bg7 12.Ne2 c5? This is a serious mistake.Black should simply have

castled

[

12...0-0 13.Ng3 Qe7 14.c4 is the normal follow up]

13.axb5 Nxe4

[

13...axb5 14.Bxb5 Nxe4 15.Qd3]

14.Bxe4 Bxe4 15.Ng5 Bb7 16.Rfd1

[

16.bxa6 was also equally good 16...Rxa6 17.Rxa6 Bxa6 18.Rd1 0-0 19.Nc3 (

19.Qxd7 Qxd7 20.Rxd7 Bxe2 21.Bxc5 Rc8 22.b4) 19...Bc8 20.Bxc5]

16...Qe7

[

16...axb5 17.Nxf7! Kxf7 18.Qxd7+ Qxd7 19.Rxd7+ Kg8 (

19...Ke6 20.Rad1) 20.Rxa8+ Bxa8 21.Bxc5 Be4 (

21...h5 22.Nc3 Bc6 23.Rc7) 22.c3]

17.bxa6 Rxa6 18.Rxa6 Bxa6 19.Nc3 Bc8 20.Nd5 Qd8 21.Ne4 0-0 22.Nxc5 Nf6 23.

c4 Nxd5 24.cxd5 Qd6

[

24...f5 25.d6 f4 26.Qd5+ Kh8 27.Bd2]

25.Ne4 Qb8 26.d6 Bf5 27.Nc5 Rd8 28.g4 Bd7 29.Qd5 Qc8

[

29...h6 30.Nxd7 Rxd7 31.b3 Bf8 32.Bc5]

30.Nxd7 Qxd7 31.Rc1 Bf8 32.Rc7 Qe6 33.Qxe6 fxe6 34.d7 Kf7 35.Rb7 1-0

Magnus Carlsen acknowledges his win over Peter Leko to his Chess Guru- Garry Kasparov. In an interview to Sports.Sina.com he said "I received training from Kasparov for some time already, Nanjing's games are the homeworks by Kasparov and today's game I played was also provided by Kasparov, he helps me lot."

(1) Sasikiran,Krishnan (2684) - Rozentalis,Eduardas (2599) [B04]

Mazovian Najdorf Tourney Sports Centre, Warsaw (2), 03.08.2008

[Sasikiran,Krishnan]

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 dxe5 5.Nxe5 c6 6.Be2 My preparations for the game were mainly based on the games of the World Blitz Championship played last year at Moscow. 6...Nd7 [6...Bf5 7.0–0 Nd7 8.Nf3 e6 9.a3 Be7 10.c4 N5f6 11.Nc3 h6 12.Bf4 0–0 13.d5!² 1–0 Rublevsky,S (2676)-Carlsen,M (2714)/Moscow 2007/EXT 2008 (50)] 7.Nf3 N7f6 8.0–0 Bg4 [8...Bf5 9.Nh4 Bg6 10.c4 Nb6 11.Nc3 e6 12.g3 Be7 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Nxg6 hxg6 15.Qb3² 1–0 Anand,V (2799)-Carlsen,M (2733)/Nice FRA 2008/The Week in Chess 698 (47)] 9.Ne5 Bxe2 10.Qxe2 e6 11.c4 Ne7 12.Rd1 Ng6 13.Nc3 Qc7 14.g3!? Preparing to disturb the knight on with h4-h5 in case Black castles kingside. After the exchange of light coloured Bishops white need not be afraid creating weaknesses around his own king. [14.Bg5 Bd6 15.f4 0–0 (15...0–0–0 16.c5 Bxe5 17.fxe5 h6 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.exf6 Rhg8 20.g3 Nh4 21.Rd3 Nf5 22.Rad1²) 16.g3 leaves the Bishop in front of the pawn chain( prone to getting trapped). Nevertheless White may claim a small edge due to the space available for manoeuvring. 16...Ne8!?²] 14...Be7?! [It was stronger to attack e5 immediately. 14...Bd6 15.Nxg6 hxg6 16.d5 0–0! (16...0–0–0 17.Be3!²) 17.Be3!? (17.dxe6 Rae8 18.exf7+ Qxf7 19.Be3 (19.Qf1 Bb4 20.f3 Nd7„) 19...Bc5 20.Re1 (20.Kg2 Re5 21.Rf1 Rfe8 22.Nd1 Qe6©) 20...g5!? preparing ¤d7-e5 with excellent compensation for the pawn.) 17...exd5 18.cxd5 Rfe8 (18...Rae8 19.dxc6 bxc6 20.Qf3 Re6 21.Rac1²) 19.dxc6 Qxc6 20.Qb5 Qxb5 21.Nxb5 Be5 22.Nd6 Bxd6 (22...Re7 23.Nc4 Ng4 24.Nxe5 Rxe5 25.Bd4 Re2 26.h3 Nf6 27.Rac1²) 23.Rxd6 Ng4 24.Bd4²] 15.h4 [15.Bg5!?] 15...0–0 [15...Nxe5 16.dxe5 Nd7 17.Bf4 0–0 18.Ne4! Rfd8 (18...Nxe5? 19.Ng5 Bxg5 20.Bxe5+-) 19.Nd6² h6 20.Qg4 Kf8 21.Rd3 Bxd6 22.Rxd6] 16.Bg5! Rae8 [¹16...Rfd8 17.h5 Nxe5 18.dxe5 Ne8 19.Bf4 h6 20.Ne4 c5²] 17.Rd2 [the attempt to drive the knight to the corner after 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Ng4 Bd8 19.h5 does not work 19...Nh8 20.h6 (20.Ne5 f5) because of 20...f5!„ ; 17.h5!? Nxe5 18.dxe5 Nd7 19.Bxe7 (19.Bf4 h6) 19...Rxe7 20.Rd6 f6 21.exf6 Nxf6 22.Rad1² (22.Rxe6 Rxe6 (22...Rfe8 23.Rxe7 Rxe7 24.Qf3 h6 25.Kg2 Qb6 26.b3 Qa5 27.Rh1 Re5 28.Rd1²) 23.Qxe6+ Qf7 24.Qxf7+ Kxf7 25.Rd1 Re8 26.h6 gxh6 27.f3²) ] 17...a6 [17...c5 18.Nb5! Qa5 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Nd7 cxd4 21.Nxf8 Rxf8 22.Nxd4±] 18.Rad1?! Routine development. White overlooks an important detail: Black can now play c5 without fearing h5 because of a tactical trick. [18.h5! Nxe5 19.dxe5 Nd7 20.Rad1! (20.Bf4!?) 20...Bxg5 (20...Nxe5 21.Bf4 f6 22.Rd7! Qc8 (22...Qb6 23.Bxe5 fxe5 24.Ne4 Rf7 25.h6!+-) 23.Bxe5 fxe5 24.h6 Rf5 25.Ne4±) 21.Rxd7 Qb8 22.f4 Be7 (22...Bh6 23.Qd2±) 23.h6! g6 (23...f5 24.exf6 Rxf6 25.hxg7) 24.Ne4±] 18...c5! 19.Nxg6 [19.h5? Nxh5! 20.Qxh5 (20.Nxg6 hxg6 21.Bxe7 Rxe7³) 20...cxd4³] 19...hxg6 20.Bf4 Bd6?! Black wants to exchange pieces to relieve the cramped position. However precisely at this moment, White has a favourable transition to the endgame. [20...Qc8 was necessary. 21.dxc5 (21.d5 exd5 22.cxd5 Bd6 23.Qf3 (23.Bxd6 Rxe2 24.Rxe2 Re8 25.Be7 The Queen sacrifice which i was considering over the board is too optimistic. Black has the very strong  25...Qh3 threatening ¤g4 26.Bxf6 Rxe2 27.Nxe2 gxf6 28.Nc3 (28.d6 Qd7 29.Nc3 f5 30.b3 b5!) 28...f5 29.d6 f4 30.gxf4 Qd7 31.Kh2 f5 32.b3 b5µ covering all the entry points of the knight. Black now brings over his king in front of the d-pawn and wins with the mobility of the Queen.) 23...Qd7=) 21...Qxc5 22.Ne4 Nxe4 23.Qxe4 b5 24.cxb5 Qxb5 25.b3² White retains a minimal edge because of the Queenside majority. However in comparison, Black's position has improved a lot over the last few moves.; 20...Qc6?! 21.d5 exd5 22.cxd5 Qc8 23.Qf1!! Qd7 24.d6 Bd8 25.Qc4 Bb6 26.Na4±] 21.Bxd6 Qxd6 22.Qe5!? Qxe5 23.dxe5 Ng4 24.Re2 Rd8 25.Rxd8 Rxd8 26.f3!? [Perhaps the prophylactic 26.Kg2!? was stronger. White defends the f3 square and prepares to invade Black's Queenside with ¤a4.Although Black's plan of bringing the King to e7 and breaking with f6 should give enough counterplay. For example 26...Kf8 27.f3 Nh6 28.g4 Ke7 29.Na4 Rc8 30.Kg3 f6²] 26...Nh6 27.g4 Rd4 28.Re4 Rd2 [28...Kf8 29.Rxd4 (29.Kf2!?) 29...cxd4 30.Ne2 d3 31.Nc3 f6 (31...f5 32.g5 Ng8 33.f4 Ne7 34.Kf2 Nc6 35.Ke3+-) 32.exf6 gxf6 33.Kf2 Nf7 34.b3 Ne5 35.g5 fxg5 36.hxg5 d2 37.Ke2 Ke7 38.f4 Nf7 39.Kxd2 e5 40.Ke3±] 29.Na4 b5 [29...b6?! 30.b3 Rxa2 31.Nxb6 Ra5 Otherwise ¤a4 picks up the c5-pawn. 32.Re3 (32.Na4 Kf8 33.Re3 Ke7 34.Kf2 f6!²) 32...Kf8 33.Kf2! Improving the position of the King before moving to the d-file. 33...Ke8 (33...Ke7 34.Rd3 f6 35.Rd7+ Kf8 36.exf6 gxf6 37.Rc7+-) 34.Rd3 Ng8 35.Na4!?+- finally trapping the Rook and intending Rd6-c6 ( or b6) winning material.] 30.cxb5 [30.Nxc5 Rxb2 31.Nxa6 bxc4 32.Rxc4 Rxa2 33.Rc8+ Kh7 34.Nc5 Rc2 35.Rc7 Ra2 (35...Ng8 36.Nxe6 Rxc7 37.Nxc7 Ne7 38.Kf2+-) 36.Ne4 Ra8 and it is not clear whether White has any advantage, considering that pawns are on one side of the board and Black has only one weakness(f7) to protect] 30...axb5 31.Nxc5 Rxb2 32.Rd4! Rxa2? The decisive mistake. [¹32...Kf8! was much stronger and king is not boxed in at h7. 33.Rd8+ Ke7 34.Rd7+ Kf8 35.Ra7 Re2!? 36.Kf1 Rd2 It is not clear how White can profit from his active knight. 37.Ra5 Ke7 38.a3 Ra2 39.Ne4 (39.Rxb5 Rxa3 40.Kf2 Ra7) 39...Kd7 40.Rxb5 (40.Nd6 Kc6!) 40...Rxa3 41.Kg2²] 33.Rd8+ Kh7 34.Ne4 f6 [34...g5 35.Nxg5+ (35.h5? g6=) 35...Kg6 36.Ne4 f5 37.exf6 gxf6 38.h5+ Kg7 39.Rd7++-] 35.exf6 gxf6 36.Rd7+ Kg8 37.Nxf6+ Kf8 38.Nh7+! Gaining time to reach the time control on move 40. 38...Ke8 39.Nf6+ Kf8 40.Rb7! Re2 [40...Nf7 41.Rxb5 Kg7 42.Ne4±] 41.Rxb5?! A technical error. [41.Nh7+ Ke8 (41...Kg8 42.h5 gxh5 43.g5 Nf5 44.g6+-) 42.Ng5+- controls the knight on h6 and White can pick up the pawns at leisure.; 41.h5 gxh5 42.g5 Nf5 43.g6 Ne7 44.Rxe7 Kxe7 45.g7 Kxf6 46.g8Q+- was another winning line and a much easier one than the game!] 41...Ke7 [41...Nf7 42.Ne4 Nd8± would have offered more resistance, though White should win in the end, considering black's broken pawn structure and restricted knight.] 42.Rb7+! Kxf6 43.g5+ Ke5 44.gxh6 Rd2 45.h7 Rd8 46.Rf7! Standard technical measure in Rook & pawn endgames. Cutting off the King. 46...Rh8 47.Kf2 Kd6 48.Kg3 e5 49.h5!? [49.Rg7 Ke6 50.Rxg6+ Kf7 51.Rh6 Kg7 52.Rh5 Kg6 53.Kg4 Kf6 54.Rh6+ Kg7 55.Kg5 Kf7 56.Rf6+ Kg7 57.Rg6+ Kf7 58.Kh6+-] 49...gxh5 [49...g5 50.Rg7 Ke6 51.Kg4 Kf6 52.h6 Ke6 53.Kxg5+-] 50.Kh4 Ke6 51.Ra7 Rf8 [51...Kf6 52.Kxh5 Rb8 53.Kh6 Rd8 54.Rg7 Rd1 55.Rg6+ (55.Rg1!? Rxg1 56.h8Q++-) 55...Kf7 56.Rf6+ Ke7 57.Kg7+-] 52.Rg7 1–0

(2) Sasikiran,Krishnan (2684) - Berg,Emanuel (2592) [A67]

Mazovian Najdorf Tourney Sports Centre, Warsaw (4), 05.08.2008

[Sasikiran,Krishnan]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8.Bb5+ Nfd7 9.a4 Qh4+ 10.g3 Qd8 [10...Qe7 11.Nf3 0–0 12.0–0 Na6 13.f5 Nb4 14.Bg5 Bf6 15.Bh6 Rd8 16.Qd2 Ne5 17.Nxe5 Bxe5 18.Rae1 a6 19.Bc4 Re8 20.Kg2 Bd7 21.h3 Rab8 22.a5 b6 23.axb6 Rxb6 24.Rf3 f6 25.Be3 Kh8 26.Bg1 Qg7 27.Bf2 Rg8 28.Qc1 h5 29.Rf1 Qh7 30.Be1 g5 31.Rh1 g4 32.Rff1 Be8 33.hxg4 Rxg4 34.Be2 Rg5 35.Rh3 Qg7 36.Qd1 Kg8 37.Rfh1 Rb8 38.b3 Rc8 39.Nb1!! … ¤d2-f3 39...Bb5 40.Kf1 Bxe2+ 41.Qxe2 Bd4 42.Rxh5 Rxh5 43.Rxh5 Re8 44.Rh4 Kf8 45.Qh2 Qg5 46.Bd2 Be3 47.Rh8+ 1–0 CM10th Xperience (2761)-Smarthink 1.00 32-bit (2756)/CCRL 2006] 11.Nf3 0–0 12.0–0 Na6 13.f5!?N An inspiration from the above mentioned game. When preparing for the game, I was intrigued by the fact that White played f5 ( giving up control over e5)restricting the ¥c8 and proceeded to advance on the Kingside quite easily. In this specific case, space & manoeuvrebility plays an important role also considering the fact that the ¤a6 will find it difficult to come to the Kingside. And moves like ¤b1!! create a great impression.... [13.Re1 Nc7 14.Bf1 Re8 with a complex game ahead(14...Nf6 15.h3 a6 16.Be3 Rb8 17.Bg2÷ ½–½ Hulak,K (2515)-Zelcic,R (2380)/Croatia 1992/EXT 2004 (60)) ] 13...Nf6 There were several worthy alternatives to the text move. [13...Nb4 14.Bg5 Bf6 15.Bh6 Re8 16.Qd2 a6 17.Bxd7 Bxd7 18.Bg5 (18.g4?! c4 19.Ng5 Nd3ƒ) 18...gxf5 (18...c4 19.fxg6 fxg6 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Ng5±) 19.exf5÷; 13...Nc7 14.Bxd7!? (14.Bd3!?) 14...Qxd7 (14...Bxd7 15.Bf4 Ne8 16.Qd2 c4 (16...gxf5 17.e5© with good compensation for the pawn.) 17.Bh6 Qb6+ 18.Rf2 Nf6 19.h3!?÷ with g4 to follow.) 15.Bf4 Re8 16.Qd2 b5 17.axb5 Nxb5 18.Bh6 Nxc3 19.bxc3 f6÷; 13...gxf5?! breaking up the king is bad especially when White has the possibility of establishing a knight on f5. 14.Nh4! fxe4 (14...Nf6 15.Nxf5 Bxf5 16.Rxf5±; 14...Bd4+ 15.Kh1 fxe4 16.Nxe4±) 15.Nf5 Ne5 16.Nxg7 Kxg7 17.Nxe4 f5 18.Qh5‚] 14.Bf4?! [14.fxg6! hxg6 (14...fxg6 15.e5 dxe5 16.Nxe5 Bh3 17.Rf3²) 15.Bg5 Bh3 16.Rf2 Qb8 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.e5 dxe5 19.Ne4 with good chances to seize the initiative] 14...gxf5! [14...Nb4 15.Bc4] 15.e5!? [15.Bg5!? h6 16.Bh4 Nb4! (16...Qc7 17.exf5 Nb4!? (17...Bxf5 18.Nd2 Bg4 19.Be2 Bxe2 20.Qxe2 Rae8 21.Qf3 Nd7 22.Nb5 Ne5 23.Qh5 Qd7 24.Bf6 Qg4 25.Qxg4 Nxg4 26.Bxg7 Kxg7 27.Nc4²) 18.Qd2²) 17.Nd2 a6 18.Be2 Re8 19.exf5 Bd7÷] 15...Ne4?! [15...dxe5 16.Nxe5 (16.Bxe5 Nb4 17.Qb3 (17.Bc4 Bh6 18.Re1 Ng4³) 17...Bh6!÷) 16...Nb4 17.Bc4 Re8 18.Qd2÷] 16.Re1?! [16.Bxa6 bxa6 17.exd6 Nxd6 18.Qc2 Rb8 19.Rae1©] 16...Nb4 17.Bc4 a6?! [17...dxe5 18.Nxe5 Nd6! (18...Bxe5 19.Bxe5 Re8 20.Bf4 Bd7 21.Nb5 Bxb5 22.Bxb5 Qxd5 23.Qxd5 Nxd5 24.Bxe8 Rxe8 25.Rad1 Nxf4 26.gxf4 Re6 27.Rd5²) 19.Bb3 (19.b3 Re8„) 19...Re8 20.Qf3 Bd7 21.Rac1÷] 18.a5? creating an unnecessary weakness on a5 to which the rook on a1 is tied down. [In calculating 18.e6! fxe6 (18...Re8 19.exf7+ Kxf7 20.Ng5+ Kg6 (20...Nxg5 21.Qh5+ Kf8 22.Rxe8+ Qxe8 23.Bxd6++-; 20...Qxg5) 21.Ngxe4 fxe4 22.Nxe4 Be5 23.Be2!?ƒ) 19.dxe6 d5 I missed the simple 20.e7! (20.Bg5 Qe8 21.Nxd5 Bxe6 22.Nc7 Bxc4 23.Nxe8 Raxe8 with a lot of counterplay) 20...Qxe7 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.Qxd5+ Kh8 23.Ne5 Bf6 24.Nf7+ (24.Rad1!? Ra7!? (24...Kg7 25.Ng4!ƒ) 25.Nf7+ Rxf7 26.Qxf7 Qxf7 27.Bxf7 b5 (27...Kg7 28.Bd5 Bxb2 29.Bxe4 fxe4 30.Rxe4 b5 31.axb5 axb5 32.Be5+ Bxe5 33.Rxe5±) 28.Bd5 bxa4 29.Bxe4 fxe4 30.Rxe4 Bf5 31.Re3 Bxb2 32.Be5+ Bxe5 33.Rxe5 Bh3 34.Rxc5 (34.Ra1!?) 34...Bd7±) 24...Rxf7 25.Qxf7 Qxf7 26.Bxf7 Bxb2 27.Rab1 Bd4+ 28.Be3±] 18...dxe5 19.Nxe5 Re8? [19...Bxe5 20.Bxe5 Re8 21.Bf4©; 19...Nd6! 20.Bb3 (20.b3 Re8 21.Qd2 Bd7 22.Re3 Bb5! 23.Rae1 Qxa5!µ) 20...Re8 (20...Bd7 21.Nxd7 (21.Qh5 Bb5) 21...Qxd7 22.Na4 Bd4+ 23.Be3 Bxe3+ 24.Rxe3 Qc7 25.Qh5 c4 26.Qg5+ Kh8 27.Qf6+ Kg8=) 21.Qf3 (21.Qh5 Bd7 22.Na4 Bxa4 23.Bxa4 Re7³) 21...Bd7 22.Nxd7 Qxd7 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Bxd6 Qxd6 25.Qxf5 c4 26.Rf1!„] 20.Nxe4 [20.Nxf7 Kxf7 21.d6+ Kg6 22.Qh5+ Kxh5 23.Bf7+ Kg4 24.Kg2 The idea of Queen Sacrifice followed by a quiet king move is quite pretty but there is no mate after 24...Ng5–+ ] 20...fxe4 21.Rxe4 [21.Qh5! Qf6 22.Rxe4 Bf5 23.Bg5 (23.Rae1!?) 23...Bg6 (23...Qxe5 24.Rxe5 Rxe5 25.Bf4 Bg6 26.Qxe5 Bxe5 27.Bxe5±) 24.Nxg6 hxg6 25.Bxf6 gxh5 26.Be7± followed by the advance of d-pawn. ] 21...Bf5 22.Nxf7! Rxe4 [22...Bxe4 23.Nxd8 Raxd8 24.Qg4! Kh8 25.Re1 Nc2 26.Be5 Bxe5 27.Rxe4 Ne3 28.Qh5+-; 22...Qf6 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.d6 Kf8 25.Ne5! Rxe5 26.d7 Nc6 27.Bxe5 Qxe5 28.d8Q+ Nxd8 29.Qxd8+ Qe8 30.Qxe8+ Kxe8 31.Rf1 Bd4+ 32.Kg2 Be4+ 33.Kh3+-; 22...Kxf7 23.Qh5+ Bg6 24.d6+ Kf8 25.d7! (25.Rxe8+ Qxe8 26.Qxc5 Qc6 (26...Nc6 27.Rf1 Bd4+ 28.Qxd4 Nxd4 29.Bh6#; 26...Rc8 27.d7+ Rxc5 28.Bd6+ Qe7 29.d8Q+ Be8 30.Bxe7#) 27.Be3! Nd3 28.Bxd3 Bxd3 29.d7+ Kf7 30.Qxc6 bxc6 31.Rd1 Rd8 32.Rxd3 Ke6 33.Rb3 Rxd7 34.Rb6 Kd5 35.Rxa6 Bxb2 36.Rb6 Bc3 37.a6 Ra7 38.Kf2±) 25...Bxh5 26.Bd6+ Re7 27.Rf1+ Bf6 28.Rxe7 Qxe7 29.Rxf6+ Kg7 30.Bxe7+-] 23.Nxd8 Rxd8 24.Rc1 [24.Qb3 Kh8 25.Rf1 Ree8 26.d6 Bc2 27.Qa3 Re4 28.b3 Nd3 29.Kg2 Nxf4+ 30.Rxf4 Rxf4 31.gxf4 Bd4 32.b4+-] 24...Kh8 [24...Bd4+ 25.Kg2 Nxd5 26.Qh5 Kh8 27.Bxd5 Rxd5 28.Qf7 Be6 29.Be5+ Bxe5 30.Qxe6 Rd2+ 31.Kf3+- (31.Kh3?? Rxh2+! 32.Kxh2 Bxg3+ 33.Kxg3 Rxe6 34.Rxc5 Re3+ 35.Kg4 Rb3µ) ; 24...Bxb2 25.Qh5 Bg6 26.Qg5 Rd7 27.d6+ Kf8 (27...Kh8 28.Qxc5 Bd4+ (28...Nc6 29.Rd1+-) 29.Qxd4+ Rxd4 30.Be5+ Rg7 31.Bxd4+-) 28.Kg2!! The surprising move prepares Qc5 and White wins] 25.d6 Bxb2 26.Qh5 Bg6 [26...Rf8 27.Rf1 Rxc4 28.Be3+-] 27.Qg5 Nc6 28.Bd5 Rxf4 29.gxf4 Rxd6 30.Re1! Bd4+ 31.Kg2 Kg7 [31...Bg7 32.Re6+-] 32.Bxc6 Bf6 33.Qg3 Rd2+ 34.Kh1 bxc6 35.f5 c4 36.fxg6 hxg6 37.Qc7+ 1–0

Nimzo Indian Defence is considered to be the powerful weapon against formidable 1.d4 players. It is worthy to mention here that  even those formidable 1.d4 players choose this opening when they played Black. Among them was Ex World Champion  M.Botvinnik who won the following game in a brilliant way against Paul Keres in 1941 (Photo source from Wikipedia)