Brill-Ostriker

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Steve Brill (1875)- Ostriker (1780) Second Long Island Winter Open, 2/13/73 Play through this game using almost any chess software using this pgn file.

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Petroff Defense/Steinitz Variation This game began as a positional struggle for white to keep his first-move edge. Black missed opportunities to equalize and finally succumbed when white's pressure swept up a weak center pawn. 1. e4, e5; 2. Nf3, Nf6 Petrov's Defense, leading to an open game with a symmetrical pawn structure. If white can't use his advantage in development to gain space and the initiative, a draw often results. 3. d4, exd4; 4. e5, Ne4, 5. Qxd4, d5; 6. exd6 e.p., Nd6; 7. Bd3, Nc6; 8. Qf4, g6; 9. Nc3, Bg7; 10. Be3, Be6; 11. 0-0 or 11. 0-0-0, Bc3= (11...0-0, 12. Bc5!) 11...Qf6! Now black either relieves the pressure by trading queens, or gains a much-needed tempo if white retreats with 12. Qa4. 12. Qf6?!, (12. Qa4! give white the edge.) 13...Bxf6; 13. Ng5!? White tries to use his lead in development to try to gain the bishop pair and saddle black with a weak pawn. 13...0-0-0 Black gives up the bishop pair and weakens his pawn structure, but still maintains equality, as these factors are temporary. 13...Bd7 gives white the edge after 14. Nd5! 14. Nxe6White is better 14...fxe6; 15. Rfe1 Also possible is 15. Rde1, followed by Bc1 and Ne4, still with equality. 15... a6; 16. Bc5, Rhe8; 17. Rab1, Bg7? (17...Ne5!=) 18. Ne4 White has the edge. 18...Nxe4; 19. Bxe4, Nd4; 20. c3, Nb5; 21. Bf3?! (21. a4!?, followed by b4 and b5 to try to lines on the queenside for White, while maintaining pressure on the center, could be met by counterplay from Black's pieces. Now black gets to advance his e-pawn, making it more secure and gaining some space in the center.) 21...e5!? White still has the edge. 22. Be3 Bf6; 23. Rbd1, Nd6; 24 Bd5, Nf5; 25. Bc5, Nd6 If 25...h5? 26. Be4 targets the Black kingside pawns. 26. g4!?

White begins a kingside advance, hoping that there aren't enough well-placed black pieces to threaten the exposed king. 26...h5; 27. h3, hxg4? 27...Rh8 leaves White with just an edge. 28. hxg4, Rh8 29. Be6?! (White underestimates Black's attack on the h-file. Better is 29. Kf1 with the advantage. Now White will only have an edge again.) 29...Kb8; 30. f3, Rh7; 31. Bf2, Rdh8; 32. Bg3, Re8; 33. Bb3? (33. Bd5, holding back the Black e-pawn, retains the edge.) 33...Bh4; 34. Bhx4?= (34. Kg2 retains the edge.) 34... Rhx4; 35. Re2, Kc8? (35... e4! 35. Rde1, Rf8!=) Now White regains the edge. 36. Rde1, e4; 37. Bc2? (37. Kf2 retains the edge yet again.) 37...Nb5? (A serious error. 37...Rf8! holds on to the pawn with an equal game that should end in a draw. Now Black loses the vital e-pawn.) 38. Bxe4, Nd6?? Discouraged, Black hangs the g-pawn and loses. 39. Bg6 1-0. Although dead lost, as was his wont (the same thing happened every time I played him), Black continued to play for another 31 moves until checkmated, getting some consolation by depriving his opponent of some rest time before the next round of the tournament!