1.e4
e6
Vinay is a staunch supporter of the French Defense. He shows his experience and understanding of this line in this game.
2.d4
d5
3.e5
c5
4.c3
Nc6
[4...Bd7
This is a common idea, with the idea of ...Qb6 and Bb5. Black almost always wants to trade the light squared bishop in the French Defense.]
5.Nf3
Nh6
A slightly unorthodox plan in this system. Black's most popular plan involves ...Qb6, forcing white to immediately address the pressure on d4. Blacks second most common plan is to play Bd7 before placing the Knight on c6, with the idea of a later Qb6 and Bb5.
Nh6 has the idea of putting extra pressure on d4 with Nf5. Black doesn't fear that white will play Bd3xf5 as the bishop pair and white's difficulty finding any clear plan provide amply compensation for black's weakened pawn structure. [5...Qb6
]
6.a3
Nf5
7.b4
cxd4
8.cxd4
Qb6
9.Be3
g6!
This shows a good understanding of the position. Of course black wants to finish his development, and the natural move to do so would be to simply play ...Be7 and 00, however the bishop on e7 isn't fulfilling any useful task.
It's worth it to spend an extra move and play ...g6, because now after capturing on e3, black has an active spot for the bishop on h6, as it pressures e3. Once again it's a case of making your to develop your pieces correctly, instead of just rushing to develop them as quickly as possible.
It's important to be able to sense in which cases rapid development is important, and in which cases you can take your time and develop in a slower yet more accurate way. White has no way to punish black for taking his time here.
10.Bd3
Nxe3
11.fxe3
This capture of a knight for a bishop plays a big part in this game. Numerous oppurtunities occur for white to trade the bishop on d3 for the a knight on f5, however the two bishops become increasingly powerful when faced by only two knights. This imbalance reduces Ehlvest's options quite a bit.
11...Bh6!
12.Qe2
Bd7
13.Nbd2
a5
14.b5
By far the most natural move. If white had captured on a5, black has a lot of presure on the a3 pawn.
14...Ne7
15.g4
Planning to later shut out the h6 bishop with the move g5.
15...a4
Vinay wants to keep white busy defending the b5-pawn. Now the pawn is slightly weak, however if white had ever played a4, the pawn on b5 would have been rock solid.
16.0-0
0-0
17.h4
Rac8
18.h5
gxh5
A strange but good move. Usually one is afraid to capture a pawn like that and ruin one's king cover, however white also has a weak king with zero pawn cover. After ...Kh8 and Rg8 it could become white who's under attack.
19.g5!
[19.gxh5
Nf5!
20.Bxf5
exf5-/+
Black has weak pawns, but a tremendous positional edge. The two bishops against the two knights will prove to be a huge advantage, meanwhile black is attacking the b5 pawn, has a rook ready to invade on c3, and also has ideas of Kh8 and Rg8. Black is much better here.]
19...Bg7
20.Kf2
White has a simple plan of putting a rook on h1, moving the knight on f3, playing Qh5 and then checkmating black's king. Vinay will have to play with precision to distract Ehlvest from his plan.
20...Rc3
21.Rh1
Nf5
22.Ne1
This move was unpleasant to play, but the simple Rh5 had a gaping problem... [22.Rxh5
This move seems simple and strong for Ehlvest, however Bhat had a thunderbolt planned... 22...Bxb5!
23.Bxb5
Rxe3
24.Qf1
Bxe5!
and suddenly, white's position is falling apart. Black will win another pawn, the white king is extremely weak and white cannot capture on d4 due to the queen's pressure along the a7-g1 diagonal.. 25.Nxe5
(25.Kg2
Bxd4
Black simply has too many pawns. Also when black moves the e3-rook, he is threatening Ne3. ) 25...Qxd4-+
Black is simply winning here 26.Ndf3
Re2+!
27.Kxe2
Ng3+
ouch, black takes everything with check! 28.Ke1
Qxa1+
29.Kf2
Nxf1
30.Bxf1-+
]
22...h4
23.Qh5?
Simply missing Blacks tactical shot.. [23.Bxf5
exf5
24.Rxh4
This was preferable to the game, however I still prefer black due to the two bishop's advatange, and the activity that black's rooks will experience along the c-file.]
23...Bxe5!!
Huge problems for Ehlvest now. White cannot take on e5 because of Qxe3. White's position falls apart rapidly.
24.Kg2
Bg3
Nxe3 was also crushing.
25.Ndf3
Nxe3+
26.Kg1
Nf5
27.Rd1
e5
and Ehlvest simply called it quits, as he's down two pawns in a totally hopeless position. 0-1