Rapid Album: Sicilian Lasker, white plays 12.h4

 From time to time, white may go with h2-h4 idea against B33...

kristijanZD - black [B33]

Rapid game (15+0), 2022

 

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3 0–0 12.Nc2 Bg5 13.h4

This move came into wide practice about 15 years ago. Practice has shown that black can handle this early action on king side.

13...Bh6 14.g4 g6?

Bf4 would be sufficient for equal game.

15.g5 Bg7 16.Bh3 Be6

Black can't take on h3, he has to control white knight on d5.

17.Nce3 Ne7

18.Nf6+

Exchange on f6 will create more weakness on black king side.

18...Bxf6

18...Kh8 19.h5 With strong attack incoming along h file.

19.gxf6 Nc6 20.Qf3 h5 21.Rg1

With h file blocked, I decided to immediately transfer my rook to new route. Threat is Qxh5.

21...Kh7

22.Bf5!?

Most beautiful move in the game.

Bxf5?

There was threat of Qxh5. Still it was better for black to play Qxf6. After exchange on f5 white gets one more pawn in action against black king side with a tempo due to hanging knight on c6.

23.exf5 Rc8 24.Nd5 e4 25.Qe2 b4

26.0–0–0

Positional paradox! White king goes where black threats to activate his forces. I predicted that black action on queen side would be too short in time comparing the threats against black king.

26...bxc3 27.Rg5!

Threat is Qxh5 with checkmate to follow.

27...cxb2+ 28.Kb1 Rh8 29.Rdg1?!

29.Qxh5+! gxh5 (29...Kg8 30.Rxg6+ fxg6 31.Qxg6+ Kf8 32.Qg7+ Ke8 33.Qxh8+) 30.Rxh5+ Kg8 31.Rg1+ Kf8 32.Rxh8#

29...Ne5

Defending g6 but leaving e7 with no control.

30.Rxh5+ Kg8 31.Ne7+ Qxe7 32.Rxh8+ Kxh8 33.fxe7

1–0