1.d4
1...d6
2.c4
2...e5
3.Nf3
Exchanging queens offers less than nothing for White - Black's king will find a safe haven on c7 after ...c6.
3...e4
4.Ng5
f5
In a mere four moves Speelman and Knaak have combined to produce a highly unbalanced (although not unknown) position. The game has turned into a reversed French, more or less, where Black's delay in achieving ...d5 is compensated for by the time White will be forced to expend repositioning his misplaced knight on g5.
5.Nc3
5...c6
6.Nh3
Na6!?
Looking to support the ...d5 advance from c7.
7.e3
7...Nf6
8.d5?!
White's plan preventing ...d5 is not of itself bad, but it is at least poorly timed. White could have waited until the Black knight was on c7 before committing himself to this advance - now the Black knights are able to use the c5 and e5 outposts without delay.
8...g6!
9.b3
9...Bg7
10.Bb2
10...0-0
11.Qd2
11...Ng4!
12.Be2
12...Nc5
13.Rd1?
[ Although this move leads to a rapid debacle, Knaak probably believed 13.Rd1
to be one of his "safest" possibilities, worrying Black with latent threats to the d-pawn. However after Speelman's next move White's king is permanently trapped in the centre so a "risky" defence such as ; 13.0-0
; 13.0-0-0
or ; 13.b4
was called for. Speelman was rather skeptical about White's chances of survival after ; 13.b4
13...Nd3+
but at least White would have material solace in this line. ; 13.0-0-0
is perhaps not the best try since after 13...Ne5
14.Kb1
14...Ned3
15.Ba1
it is clear that Black should be able to exploit his beautiful position; White threatens 16.Bxd3 Nxd3 17.Nf4 easing the pressure but both 15...g5
and (15...b5
look good. That leaves 13.0-0 (or even 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.0-0 playing for 14...Qh4 15.Qxd6!?) when Black obviously has some advantage but Speelman was convinced it was substantial.) ]
13...Qh4!
14.Na4
[ A desperate attempt to confuse the issue since 14.0-0
14...Be5
15.Bxg4
15...fxg4
(15...Bxh2+!?
) 16.Nf4
16...Bf5
is extremely ugly for White.]
14...f4!
The decisive breakthrough which leaves the e3 square indefensible, eg. 15.exf4 e3 or 15.Bd4 Bxd4 16.exd4 e3.
15.Bxg7
15...fxe3
16.Qc3
16...Rxf2
17.Bh8
but since even 17...Kxg7!? is good for Black the question is purely academic. [ Showing a sence of humour if nothing else. Speelman had trouble demonstrating a forced win against 17.Rd4!?
; 17.Ra1
17...Rxg2+
18.Kd1
18...Rxe2!
]
17...Rxg2+
18.Kf1
18...Ne5!
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