1.d4
This was the tournament in which David scored a remarkable 8.5/9. What's funny about this result is David was visibly upset when he told me of how he drew to one of the lower rated players and thus didn't acheive his desired 9/9!
1...d5
Jean Hebert is a very solid and experienced Canadian IM. He's very difficult to beat with the black pieces as he has a pretty solid style that's tough to break. Let's see how David manages to accomplish this task.
2.Nf3
c6
3.c4
e6
4.e3
Nf6
5.Bd3
Nbd7
6.0-0
Bd6
7.Nbd2
So far we have a typical Semi-Slav except white has placed his knight on d2 instead of c3. The knight is more commonly placed on c3, however while placed on d2 it discourages black from capturing on c4, as white can recapture with the knight and from there put pressure on the d6 square.
7...0-0
8.e4
White breaks in the center, but now David takes advantage of white's odd placement of the d2-knight.
8...e5!?
This move wouldn't be possible with the knight on c3 due to the added pressure on d5.
9.cxd5
cxd5
Suddenly the position is entirely symmetrical with a box of pawns in the center! It's quite a beautiful formation.
10.exd5
exd4
11.Nc4
Bc5
and finally the symmetry is broken.
12.Qc2
b5
13.Ncd2
Bb7
14.Bxb5
Rc8
A nice in between move before taking the pawn on d5. The rook on c8 will annoy the daylights out of queen on c2.
15.Nb3
Bb6
16.Qd1
It looks like both players will pick up the other guys pawn, and white will remain up an extra pawn on the queenside, however Pruess had a big surprise in store for Hebert...
16...Ne5!
An impressive tactic that opens up the position for the black pieces.
17.Nxe5
Qxd5
Triple Attacking the Bishop on b5, the Knight on e5 and most importantly the pawn on g2. Now even though white may win the pawn on d4, black's rooks are ready to rake down the open center files, and provide signifigant compensation for the lost pawn.
18.Qf3
Now black gains a clear advantage as he gets to keep material equality yet has the super-powerful passed pawn on d4, and better development. Notice white's rooks are still sitting on the back rank doing nothing.
18...Qxb5
19.Qxb7
Qxe5
All of blacks pieces are perfectly developed. The Rook is raking down the c-file, the queen is perfectly placed in the center of the board, the pawn on d4 will be a monster soon, and black has some possibility of a kingside attack with ideas like ....Bc7 or ...Ng4
Meanwhile white has trouble developing his bishop, as it can only go to the reasonably passive square d2.
20.Qf3
Rc2
Torture! Now white's bishop is imprisoned if Hebert wants to keep his b2 pawn. Black's rook on c2 is a monster.
21.a4
d3
and here comes the passed pawn! Pruess had a thematic tactic planned if white attempted to capture the pawn...
22.Nd2
Black's position is beyond disgusting. White's pieces are still on the back rank while all of black's are brimming with life. [22.Qxd3??
Rxf2!-+
23.Rxf2
Qe1+
24.Qf1
Bxf2+
25.Kh1
Qxf1#
]
22...Rd8
And black's final piece comes into the game, actively placed behind the passed d-pawn. Meanwhile white has only developed the queen and the knight on d2. Both rooks and the c1-bishop have not even moved yet!
23.Rb1
Qe2
24.Nb3
Ng4
25.Bd2
Qe6
Ouch! Black attacks the knight on b3, but if the knight moves, white loses the bishop on d2. Meanwhile white has no way to defend the knight. Pruess is completely winning.
26.a5
Bxf2+
27.Rxf2
Nxf2
28.Qb7
[28.Qxf2
Qxb3
Black is completely winning here with an extra exchange, and a passed pawn.]
28...Ne4
29.Re1
f5
30.Be3
Qf7
Down an exchange and a pawn for negative compensation, white resigns. An impressive game from Pruess, who was absolutely relentless. 0-1