Slav Defense, Winawer Countergambit

ALEXANDER BELIAVSKY vs. BORIS GELFAND
Linares 1992

1. d4, d5
2. c4, c6
3. Nc3, e5

The Winawer Countergambit of the Slav.

4. dxe4, d4
5. Ne4, Qa5
6. Nd2, Nh6

The Black Queen could have taken the e4-pawn, but Black decides to complicate the position.

7. Nf3, Nf5
8. g3, Ne3
9. fxe3, dxe3
10. a3, Bf5
11. Bg2, Bc5
12. b4 ....

White decides to trade his Rook for the opponent's Bishop in order to ease Black's attack on the kingside.

12. .... Bxb4
13. axb4, Qxa1
14. 0-0, exd2
15. Qxd2, 0-0
16. Bb2, Qa6
17. Ng5, Bg6
18. e6!!, f6

If 18....fxe6, 19. Rxf8 Kxf8, 20. Nxf6 the position favors White.

19. e7, Re8
20. Bh3 ....

White sets up a poisoned pawn.

If 20....Rxe7, then 21. Be6+ (....Kh8, 22. Rxf6 gxf6, 23. Bxf6 mate) Kf8, 22. Bxf6 gxf6, 23. Qd8+ Re8, 24. Rxf6+ and mate in succeeding moves.

Black cannot take White's Knight because of the threat Be6+ followed by Rf8+.

20. .... Qb6
21. c5, Qc7
22. Be6+, Kh8
23. Rxf6, Nd7
24. Rxg6, Resigns

Black realizes that hope is lost after 24....hxg6, 25. Nf7+ Kh7, 26. Qg5 with a mating attack.