[Event "2008 Chess Olympiad"]
[Site "Dresden, Germany"]
[Date "2008.11.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Akobian 2606"]
[Black "Stefan Kristjansson 2474"]
[Result "1-0"]

{Hello everyone! This game was played in Round one at the Dresden Chess Olympiad in the match USA vs Iceland. I was very happy to start the tournament with this win. Akobian vs Kristjansson IM 2477.}1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 {My opponent decided to play the sharp Benoni Defense. I was glad to see this opening because I have good preparation in it.}4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. h3 {Idea behind this move is to prevent Bg4 after I play Nf3. In this opening it's good for black to trade his light square bishop for the knight.}Bg7 8.
Nf3 O-O 9. Bd3 {Here black has two options 9..a6 and the more aggressive 9...b5. I believe 9..b5 is the best move in this position if 9...a6 10. a4 and white is slightly better.}b5 10. Bxb5 {Also 10.Nxb5 is possible though I prefer this move.}Nxe4 11. Nxe4 Qa5+ 12. Nfd2 Qxb5 13. Nxd6 Qa6 {So far all of this is theory. I have played this a few times as white.}14. N2c4 Nd7 15. O-O Nb6 16. Nxb6 Qxb6 17. Nxc8 Raxc8 {Here the most popular move is 18.Rb1 but for this game I prepared a different move which is rare and black needs to play very accurately to have a chance to equalize.}18. Re1 Rfe8 19. Rxe8+ {also 19.Be3 gives white a slight advantage.}Rxe8 20. Rb1 {Here also 20.Be3 is slightly better for White.}Bd4 21. Bf4 Qf6 22. Qf3 {If, 22.Bg3 Rd8 23.d6 Be5 24.Bxe5 Qxe5 25.Qa4 Rxd6 26.Qxa7 Rd2 27.b3 Kg7 with equal position.}Qf5 23. Rd1 Re4 24. Bd6 {After making this move my opponent looked confident as he thought he is winning my d5 pawn since I have to defend my bishop on f4. But here I came up with a very strong move which I think my opponent missed. Now it is clear that White is better.}Qxd5 {Black had another move here also but it still gives a white big advantage .24...Qxf3 25.gxf3 Re2 26.b4! Bxf2+ 27.Kf1 Rc2 28.Be7 cxb4 29.d6 Bb6 30.d7 Rxf2+ 31.Ke1 Rxf3 32.D8Q Bxd8 33.Rxd8 Kg7 34.Bxb4 Rxh3 35.a4 Rh4 36.Bc3+ Kh6 37.a5 and white has good winning chances.}25.Bxc5 Qe5 {If 25...Qxc5 26.Qxe4 Bf2+ 27.Kh1 and white is up an exchange without much compensation for black
.}26. Bxd4 Rxd4 27. Rxd4 Qxd4 28. g3 {Now I am up a pawn but still I have to show good technique in order to win this Queen and pawn endgame. This move also strengthens my position as it gives my King the g2 square.}h5 {if 28..Qxb2 29.Qa8+ Kg7 30.Qxa7 Qb1+ 31.Kh2. Now I can start advancing my a passed pawn and black cannot create any counterplay. After h5 I play h4 immediatly to fix Black's pawn structure.}29. h4 Qa4 30. a3 a6 31. Qd3 Kh7 {My plan now is to play b3. If Qxb3 Qxa6 and I can advance my passed pawn.}32. Qd6 Kg8 33. b3 Qb5 {if 33...Qxb3 24.Qxa6 and white will slowly advance the pawn all the way to the Queen.}34. a4 Qe2 35. Qd8+ Kh7 36. Qd5 Kg8 37. Kg2 Qe8 38. a5 Qb8 39. Qc4 {Now I am preparing to play b4 Qc5 Qb6 and then a6 a7.}Qb7+ 40. Kg1 Kh7 41. b4 Kg8 42. Qc5 {Here my opponent resigned because he cannot create any counterplay and my plan is very simple: Qb6 b5 and then a7 Qb8 and a8Q. Black cannot resist. I was very glad to win this game and help our team win the first match at the Dresden Chess Olympiad vs Iceland we won this first match 2.5-1.5. I hope you enjoyed this game. More games from the Olympiad are coming up!.}*

Final Position:

Thank you for posting this game.

planetchess.org is GM Akobian?

You are certainly welcome Najdork.


GM Akobian is the Resident GM at PC.

Thanks planetchess for posting this. The analysis is good, and I have been looking into the Benoni Defense/Benko Gambit. Where are the other games posted?

My Pleasure.

GM Akobian has a great gift for breaking down the ideas to where even we can understand.

Unlike a book of games from the past, These games are from current events utilizing the latest advancements in Opening theory and novelty prep.

There are a few other games here in the CF archives, (Spread throughout) Of course we also present the knowledge for free at PC.

Cheers!

Well then, looks like I'd better head on over!