Julian Way takes us through two great Planinc games

[Event "Rovinj/Zagreb"] [Site "Zagreb"] [Date "1975.05.14"] [Round "11"] [White "Minic, Dragoljub"] [Black "Planinc, Albin"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Medworth,Andrew"] [ECO "C78"] [EventCategory "11"] [EventCountry "CRO"] [EventDate "1975.05.01"] [EventRounds "13"] [EventType "tourn"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "1999.07.01"] [SourceQuality "1"] [SourceTitle "MCD"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5 6.Bb3 Bb7 { This Arkhangelsk variation of the Spanish is back in vogue again at the top level, so it was interesting to see how they handled it in decades gone by. } 7.d4 { This isn't a very common move though. } ( 7.d3 Be7 8.Nc3 O-O { was the continuation of Nepomniachtchi - Carlsen, in the Opera Euro Rapid Prelim just last week! } ) 7...Nxd4 8.Nxd4 exd4 9.e5 Ne4 10.c3 d3 { An interesting way to interfere with White's development. } 11.Qf3 Qe7 12.Nd2 { Now comes the first big "wow" moment of the game! } 12...O-O-O $5 ( 12...Nc5 { was the boring way to play it } 13.Bd5 Bxd5 14.Qxd5 c6 15.Qd4 d6 $11 ) 13.Nxe4 Qxe5 14.Re1 f5 15.Qg3 { Black has obviously obtained a significant initiative for the piece, but at first sight, this move looks strong. } 15...Qe8 { The only move, but Black is about to have to give his queen. } ( 15...Qe7 $2 16.Bg5 $18 ) ( 15...d6 $2 16.Bf4 $18 ) 16.Nd6+ Bxd6 17.Rxe8 Rhxe8 $1 { A very important detail. } ( 17...Rdxe8 $2 18.Bf4 d2 19.Rf1 Re1 20.Qxg7 $18 { is a vital contrast to the game - here White wins a tempo against the Rh8. } ) 18.Bf4 ( 18.f4 { was another defensive try that we didn't have time to delve into, though Stockfish does think it should bring White some advantage. } ) 18...d2 $1 { This powerful response ensures Black is OK here. } 19.Rf1 ( 19.Kf1 { is also possible, and wasn't discussed in much depth during the session. } 19...Re4 $1 20.Bxd6 Rde8 $1 { is again the critical idea. } ) 19...Re1 20.Bxd6 ( 20.Qh4 Re4 21.g3 Bxf4 22.gxf4 { is the preferred defensive try of Stockfish } ) 20...Rde8 $1 { An amazing concept, just completely ignoring d6. } 21.f3 { Now for another eye-opening moment: } ( 21.Qd3 { was another move we spent some time analysing } 21...Rxf1+ 22.Qxf1 cxd6 { and Black will win material back with ...Re1. } ) 21...Bd5 $3 { A nice deflection, trying to undermine White's control of d1. ...Bc4 is also a killer threat. } ( 21...Rxf1+ $2 22.Kxf1 Re1+ $2 { doesn't work due to } 23.Kf2 $1 $18 ( 23.Qxe1 $2 { is not so strong } 23...dxe1=Q+ 24.Kxe1 cxd6 $11 ) ) 22.Qf4 $2 { Attacking the d-pawn was White's only chance, but this wasn't the way to do it. } ( 22.Bc2 Bc4 $19 ) ( 22.Bf4 Bc4 23.h4 Rxf1+ 24.Kh2 Bxb3 25.Bxd2 Bxa2 $17 { was White's only real hope of survival, but Black is still better here. } ) 22...Bc4 ( 22...Rxf1+ 23.Kxf1 Bc4+ $19 { was also very strong here. } ) 23.h4 ( 23.Bxc4 d1=Q $19 ) 23...Rxf1+ ( 23...Bxf1 { was stronger here } 24.Qxd2 R8e2 $19 ) 24.Kh2 Re2 25.Bxc7 Rff2 { This was White's last real chance to defend. } 26.Qd6 $2 ( 26.Bb8 $2 Rxg2+ 27.Kh3 Rh2+ 28.Qxh2 ( 28.Kg3 Reg2# ) 28...Rxh2+ 29.Bxh2 Bxb3 $19 ) ( 26.Bd1 $1 Rxg2+ 27.Kh1 $1 ( 27.Kh3 $2 Be6 $1 { is a nice variation - the threat is ...Rh2+ followed by ...f4+ } 28.Bxe2 Rxe2 29.Bb6 { White appears to have a deadly mate threat, but... } 29...d6 $3 { and White collapses at once, since } 30.Qxd6 f4+ $19 { and White must give his queen. } ) 27...Bd5 ( 27...Ref2 $2 28.Bb6 Rh2+ 29.Qxh2 Rxh2+ 30.Kxh2 $18 ) 28.Bb8 Rh2+ 29.Qxh2 Bxf3+ 30.Kg1 Rxh2 31.Kxh2 Bxd1 32.Bf4 $17 { This was clearly the way to play. Black is a couple of pawns up but the opposite-coloured bishops give some drawing chances. } ) 26...Rxg2+ 27.Kh3 Rh2+ 28.Kg3 ( 28.Qxh2 Rxh2+ 29.Bxh2 Bxb3 $19 ) 28...Reg2+ 29.Kf4 Rxh4+ 30.Kxf5 Rh6 { Here White resigned, as the White queen will be lost shortly. Qd4 runs into ...Rh5+ followed eventually by ...Rh4+ with a skewer (possibly with ...Re2+ in between). An extraordinary game! } ( 30...Bxb3 31.axb3 Rh6 $19 { also does the job } ) 0-1

[Event "Varna-09"] [Site "Varna"] [Date "1970.06.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Planinc, Albin"] [Black "Gerenski, Hristo"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Medworth,Andrew"] [ECO "B90"] [EventCountry "BUL"] [EventDate "1970.06.02"] [EventRounds "15"] [EventType "tourn"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "1998.11.16"] [SourceQuality "1"] [SourceTitle "EXT 1999"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 { We often think of this as a very modern response to the Najdorf, so it's good to be reminded that it isn't really all that new! } 6...b5 7.Nd5 $5 { Already an eyebrow-raiser on move 7! This gambit is considered quite sound by modern engines. It was also played by Fischer, as Mike Bennett pointed out to me afterwards. } 7...e5 ( 7...Nxe4 8.Qf3 Nc5 9.b4 Na4 { happened in a couple of Internet blitz games in 2020 between Jeffery Xiong and Alexey Sarana. Both were won by Black. However, Stockfish is rather impressed with White's position here! } ) 8.Nxf6+ Qxf6 9.Ne2 { A remarkable manoeuvre - the knight is headed for d5! } 9...Bb7 10.Nc3 Qg6 11.Be3 Nd7 ( 11...Bxe4 12.Nxe4 ( 12.f3 { is stronger according to Stockfish } ) 12...Qxe4 13.Be2 { was analysed quite a bit during the session, though nobody noticed } 13...Qc6 { when } ( 13...Qb4+ $2 14.c3 Qxb2 15.Bf3 e4 16.Bxe4 Qxc3+ 17.Ke2 Qc4+ 18.Qd3 $18 ) 14.Bf3 { is well met by } 14...e4 ) 12.h4 { A remarkable move, which again Stockfish approves of! } 12...f5 13.Be2 { Another dynamic move, threatening Bh5. } ( 13.exf5 { is slightly preferred by Stockfish, it must be said. } ) 13...Nf6 14.Bg5 fxe4 15.O-O { Continuing the attack. Stockfish doesn't approve, but who cares? } 15...Qf7 ( 15...h5 { is the machine's choice, when it says Black is better. } ) 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.a4 Qe6 $2 ( 17...b4 { was essential according to the machine, keeping the queenside closed. } 18.Nd5 Qf7 19.Bc4 Rc8 20.Ba2 Rc5 21.Ne3 d5 { Black's king is still awkwardly placed, but he is still well in the game. } ) 18.axb5 a5 { Trying to keep things closed, but it's too late now. } 19.Bg4 Qf7 20.f4 { Powerful stuff! } 20...d5 ( 20...exf4 21.Qd2 $1 f3 ( 21...e3 22.Qd4 $18 ) 22.Nxe4 $1 Bxe4 23.Rae1 d5 24.Qd4 $18 { Black's king is about to face the hurricane! } ) 21.fxe5 Bc5+ 22.Kh1 Qe7 23.Nxd5 { The centre collapses and the end is nigh. } 23...Qxe5 ( 23...Qxh4+ { was a better chance } 24.Bh3 Rd8 25.Rf4 Qxf4 26.Nxf4 Rxd1+ 27.Rxd1 { At least Black has exchanged some pieces and avoided being mated, but White is still much better in this ending. } ) 24.Rf5 Qg3 25.Nc7+ { Not the only way to win, but very nice! } 25...Qxc7 26.Rxc5 $1 Qe7 ( 26...Qxc5 27.Qd7+ Kf8 28.Rf1+ { mates, similarly to the game } ) 27.Re5 $1 Qxe5 28.Qd7+ { And Black resigned, as mate follows shortly. Amazing stuff! } 1-0