Malcolm Pein on…The 150 Attack

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150 Attack
Table of Contents

One of my favourite games of all time is Garry Kasparov’s victory over Anatoly Karpov at Linares 1993 when Kasparov, playing black in the King’s Indian, managed to outplay his perennial rival to such an extent that all the white pieces ended up on the first rank.

In this encounter, Black mishandles the Modern Defence to such an extent that she is in a similarly hopeless position after 10 moves. White’s plan is known as the ‘150 Attack’, as it is so easy to play – a middle-ranked player could upset a master.

D.Saduakassova – C. Yip

Gelfand Challenge 2021 Chess24 (10+5)

Modern Defense 

1.d4 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 c6 5.Qd2 Nd7 6.Nf3 b5 7.Bd3 Nb6 (7…Qc7 8.0–0 Ngf6 9.Bh6 0–0 is much sounder. White’s next is unusual in this position and strong) 8.h4! h6?! (After 8…Bg4 9.Nh2! Bd7 10.h5 The h-pawn is a nuisance and if 10…gxh5 11.Nf1 Qc7 12.Ng3 Nf6 13.Nxh5 Nxh5 14.Rxh5 White is much better. 8…h5 must be right) 9.e5! b4?! 10.Ne4 Nd5 11.exd6 exd6 12.Bf4 Nxf4? 13.Qxf4 Bf8 (White can’t miss from here)

14.0–0 Be6 15.Rfe1 Qd7 (White wins after 15…Be7 16.d5 Bxd5 17.Nxd6+ or 15…Be7 16.d5 cxd5 17.Nd4 dxe4 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Bb5+) 16.Nf6+ Nxf6 17.Qxf6 Rg8 18.d5! (Or 18.Rxe6+! fxe6 19.Bxg6+) 18…cxd5 (If 18…Be7 19.dxe6!)

19.Bb5! (Or 19.Rxe6+! fxe6 20.Bb5) 19…Qxb5 20.Rxe6+! fxe6 21.Qxe6+ Kd8 22.Qxg8 Kc7 23.Nd4 Qe8 24.Qxd5 Rb8 25.Ne6+ Kd7 26.Re1 Qc8 27.Nd4 1–0

Aronian-So, GCT Blitz Paris, White to play and win:

Highlight the space below to reveal the answer

Answer: 27.Rxd8 Nxf3 + 28.gxf3 1-0

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