Bill Cohen - Steve Stoyko [B51]
Legends of New Jersey Chess/Westfield, NJ USA (1) 2006
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4.
This leads to an exchange of White's good Bishop
for Black's bad one. Instead, it was time to activate the Knight, which has
a number of useful squares via c4 including e3-f5. 11. Na3 ![]()
11...
Slowing White from trying a b4 break while activating the Rook for later.
The position has become a King's Indian Defense and Black now goes about developing the typical KID f-pawn break and kingside attack. Though White is theoretically not worse, he has much more trouble finding a good plan in this position and quickly goes downhill.
Though intended to slow Black's attack, this actually aids it by opening lines and creating weak squares around the White King. "The best defense is a good offense": 17. Qh6! f6!? (17... f5 18. Ng5! Nh5 19. c4 and Black cannot make progress in his attack without allowing White play via Ra1-a3-h3. Likely best is 19... Qg7=) 18. Qh4 Nf7 19. Ne3 and Black is slowed down considerably.
17... f5! 18. exf5 gxf5 19. gxf5 Rxf5 20. Qe3 Qf6 21. N3d2 Nf7 22. Ne4 Qg6+ 23. Nfg3 Rf4 24. Kf1?
White's plan can be summed up in two words: "Run away!" A better plan may be to stand and fight: 24. Kh1! Nh6 25. Qe2 Rcf8 26. Rg1! Kh8 27. Rg2 Ng4 28. Rf1 creates a fortress position that Black will have trouble breaching.
24... Rf8 25. Ke2 Ng5 26. Nxg5?

Position after 26.Nxg5
26... Qc2+!!
with mate in four. "He was looking for a jab and I gave him a right hook," Stoyko said of the last move.
0-1
[Michael Goeller]