I. Boleskavsky vs G. Lissitzin – USSR Championship (Feb 01, 1956) – Round 13

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.O-O-O { [diagram] } 9...Nxd4 ( 9...d5 $6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.exd5 cxd5 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Qc7 { 13...Qc7 is +0.00/41 on Stockfish 9. 14.Qxa8 (exchanging the Queen for the Rooks) loses too much tempo for the gain in material. 14.Qc5 is preferred by the engine. } ) 10.Bxd4 Qa5 11.Kb1 e5 12.Be3 Be6 13.a3 Rfd8 { [diagram] } 14.Nb5 $1 Qa4 { [diagram] Stockfish 9 much prefers 14...Qxd2 (+0.57/40) here exchanging the Queens to 14...Qa4 (+2.55/40) } ( 14...Qxd2 15.Rxd2 { is better for Lissitzin } ) 15.c4 $3 { [diagram] beautiful move!! Boleskavsky is threatening to prevent ... d5, freeing the position for Lissitzin and threatening to establish the d5 square as an outpost for the Knight. } ( 15.Nxd6 $2 { the d-pawn is under a lot of pressure, but capturing may not be safe. } 15...Ne8 16.Bc5 Nxd6 17.Bxd6 Bf8 18.Qb4 Rxd6 19.Rxd6 ( 19.Qxa4 $4 Rxd1# ) 19...Qxb4 20.axb4 Bxd6 { with Lissitzin winning a piece } ) 15...Bxc4 16.Nc3 Qb3 17.Bxc4 { getting rid of the Lissitzin's Bishop protecting the d5 square } 17...Qxc4 18.Bg5 $1 { pinning the Knight ensuring that the last threat to Nd5 can be eliminated (if desired) } 18...Qe6 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Nd5 { [diagram] successfully posting the Knight on a safe outpost on d5 now that the Lissitzin's Bishop and Knight have systematically been removed. Boleskavsky has chosen to sacrifice the c-pawn in return for being able to safely place a Knight (that cannot be driven off) on d5. } 20...Qh4 21.Qe2 $1 Bf8 22.Qf1 $1 { preventing ... Qh3, blocking the h-pawn, after 23.g3 } 22...Rac8 23.g3 Qg5 24.h4 $1 { another gorgeous move here pushing the pawns on the kingside. superb. } 24...Qh6 ( 24...Qxg3 $2 25.Rh3 { (+7.54/40) and Lissitzin loses the Queen } ) 25.g4 $1 { threatening to push the g-pawn to g5 making it difficult for Lissitzin to protect his Queen } 25...g5 ( 25...Bg7 26.g5 Qh5 27.Nf6+ ) ( 25...Qg7 ) 26.hxg5 Qxg5 27.Rh5 Qg6 { [diagram] } 28.g5 $1 { threatening 29.Nf6+ forcing the exchange of Lissitzin's Queen after 30.Rxh7+ } 28...h6 ( 28...Qxh5 $4 29.Nf6+ Kh8 30.Nxh5 { losing Lissitzin's Queen } ) ( 28...Bg7 $4 29.Ne7+ { also results in the loss of the Queen } ) 29.Rxh6 $1 Qxg5 30.Rh5 $1 { [diagram] Lissitzin resigns (#15/51 according to Stockfish 9 – starting with 30...Qxh5, losing the Queen for a Rook) } 1-0