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1994 must have been a good year. I became father of my first-born, Isa, and started creating my first masterpieces. I already told you the story behind my first masterpiece, here I explain the creation of the second one.
In 1994 I received a letter from the Centralkontoret for ICCF Tematurneringer, inviting me to play in the semi-finals of the thematic tournament Schliemann-Jaenisch. And that letter started my road to the Worldchampionship Schliemann-Jaenisch.
In the semi-finals I played one game which got me addicted to the analysis of the Schliemann-Jaenisch line in the Ruy Lopez. After you've seen the game, you'll probably understand why..
White: Erkki Halilla
Black: Jos Heesen
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.Nc3 fe4 5.Ne4 d5 6.Ne5 de4 7.Nc6...
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The above was the starting position of the ICCF Thematic. Black has to do something to save his queen. Theory give 3 options: 7...bc6, 7...Qd5 and 7...Qg5. Most players (including myself) prefer:
7... Qg5
Combining defense and attack (on Bb5 and g2).
8.Qe2 Nf6
Not 8...Qg2 because of 9.Qh5 Qg6 10.Ne5... and white's got a strong and lasting initiative.
9. f4 ...
Again black is on a crossroad and has to decide whether he plays 9...Qf4 or 9...Qh4. I prefer the first option :
9... Qf4 10.Na7 Bd7 11.Bd7 Kd7 12.Qb5 Ke6
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This royal and proud step forwards was my personal theoretical novelty (TN)! Now both Erkki and myself had to continue without the help of books.
13.Qb7 ...
In another game in the same semi-final Erwin Ritter forced the exchange of queens with: 13.d4 e3 14.Qe5... but the black pawn on e3 was a nail in his coffin.
13... Bd6
Active play! Black has to use his lead in development to bring out his pieces, open up lines, and build up an attack before white gets a chance to do the same. For the time being white can only give some checks to get his knight on a7 in play, but that does not hurt too much... :
14.Qb3 Kd7 15.Qf7 Be7
Now white has no more checks, but his knight gets the chance to escape.
16.Nc6 ...
Playing 16.Qg7... would be asking too much, with 16...Rhg8 and 17...Rg2 black makes efficient use of the open g-line.
16... Kc6 17.Qe7 Rae8
This chases the queen away and prevents white from freeing his game by playing his d-pawn.
18.Qb4 Rhf8 19.Qc4 Kb7 20. g3 Qf3 21.Rf1 Qh5 22.Rf2 Rd8
This move allows black to get an eye on the d1 square (with both Rd8 and Qh5), but gives white the possibilty to start checking again.
23.Qb3 Kc8 24.Qe6 Kb8 25.Qe7 ...
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Probably white thinks he's better off in the above position, because he does not go for a draw by repetition.
25... Qd5
With the powerful threat ...e3. White's plan will be to exchange the queens and black will have to prevent that from happening; this explains the curious dance of two ladies and one gentleman in the next moves:
26.Qb4 Kc8 27. c4 Qc6 28.Rf1 Qd7 29.Qa5 Qd4 30.Qa6 Kb8 31.Qb5 Kc8 32.Qb4 e3
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After the ritual dance follows the final break.
33. d3 ...
White could not take the pawn : 33.de3 Qd1 34.Kf2 Ng4 35.Kg2 Qf1 mate.
33... Qd3
Threatens mate again.
34.Qb3 Qe4
Black once again prevents the exchange of queens, giving white the possibilty to grab the e-pawn before it continues its way to e2.
35.Qe3 Qc2
The threat ...Rd1 is annoying.
36.Qe6 Kb8
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White is out of checks and there's nothing else to prevent black from playing ...Re8, so white resigned (0-1).