WGM Voiska,M (2385) - Dorobanov,S (2185 BG) [E42]
Pavlikeni Open, Bulgaria 1993
[Dorobanov, 1999]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Nge2 [5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nf3 (6.Nge2 is another popular variation) 6...Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 d6 8.0-0 e5 9.d5 Ne7². This is the main line of the Rubinstein variation, and literally thousands of games can be found on it in widely available databases. A common mistake made by Nimzo-Indian players is to commit 90% of their time reserved to studying the defense to this main line. This is because the positional character of the main line allows one to do "OK" with just basic understanding of the ideas, while concrete continuations are not crucial to memorize. In some secondary lines of the Rubinstein (such as the one used by Voiska in this game) things are more tactical and "exact" which obligates one to be better booked in order to get by without a disadvantage.] 5...d5 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.Nxc3 cxd4 8.exd4 dxc4 9.Bxc4.

White has won the bishop pair (generally awarded a 1/2 point bonus) but in the process received an isolated pawn. The overall reputation of this line is that Black has significant difficulties equalizing. Notice that in forcing the issue of White's IQP Black encouraged his opponent's development - 8...dxc4 9.Bxc4 develops in a single move. However, if Black doesn't take on c4, he has to deal with 9.c5, which represents an entirely different problem. All in all, taking on c4 is a matter of taste, and I believe that with precise defense this line is far better than its reputation. 9...Nc6 10.Be3. White would like to develop with Bg5, but the weakness of d4 demands protection. Black's primary concern is White's bishop pair, which if given the opportunity can turn into a rather devastating attacking tool. Although White plays 10.Be3 now, he doesn't give up the idea of Bg5, which makes a very unpleasant pin at f6 considering Black's difficulties in dealing with it (the dark-squared bishop is long gone). Immediately after castling White will attempt to overprotect d4, as to free the QB and pursue a redeployment with Bg5. Therefore... 10...0-0 11.0-0 b6 12.Qd3.

The beginning of a standard maneuver, typical for the Isolated Queen's Pawn. White plans Rad1, and then Bc4-a2-b1. This way White overprotects d4 (with Rad1) and frees his QB for the long desired Bg5; the KB maneuvers to b1 to team up with the queen in her efforts against h7, and meanwhile White's QR doesn't end up locked at a1. Notice that White's attack down the b1-h7 diagonal is wonderfully combined with the attack against the defender in question - the f6-knight; with his bishops stationed at b1 and g5 White is well on his way to a powerful kingside attack. 12...Bb7 13.Rfd1 [13.Rad1 is by far the more common move. This is because White will have to play Rac1 before he can complete the maneuver with the KB, Bc4-a2-b1, which gives Black an extra move to face the concrete threats. What it comes down to is whether White wants his rooks on d1+c1 or e1+d1. The latter development is more logical in later attempting a rook-lift via Re1-e3-g3(h3), greatly adding up to the kingside attack, while having a rook on c1 is a rather defensive idea - opposing Black's attack down this file. On the other hand, it can be argued that an alert defender would never allow the fore mentioned rook-lift, which can be stopped while pursuing the centralization of a black knight on d5.] 13...h6. Quite necessary since 14.Bg5 is bad news! 14.Ba2N [14.h3 and 14.Bf4 have previously been tried. Korchnoi in particular liked 14.Bf4, eventually attempting Be5. After all, White's QB was just robbed from his ideal development at g5 and it makes sense to seek an alternative outpost for this piece. Voiska's novelty, 14.Ba2, is perfectly reasonable too, and it actually transposes to Korchnoi's line after 15.Bf4 on the next move.] 14...Ne7. And where is this guy going? To d5, of course. Consistent with the anti IQP strategy, Black prepares the blockade at d5, which secures against White's possible plan of advancing the d-pawn and trading off this endgame weakness, while his bishop pair secures enough advantage for the later stages of the game. Given the overprotection at d5 (Nimzowitsch would be proud) Black expects no difficulties in containing the status of d4 as the one of a permanent structural weakness. And all Black wants out of this position is a few trades - then he doesn't have to worry about the safety of his king, while White will have to worry about the safety of his central pawn. As always, accomplishing so is easier said than done. 15.Bf4 Ng6. Wait a minute! Wasn't this knight suppose to arrive at d5? That was certainly the original plan, and it wouldn't have suffered a change if White left his QB at e3; then 15...Ned5 would've secured the blockade at d5 as well as the square f4. However, with 15.Bf4 White attempts to answer 15...Ned5 with 16.Be5, which acts much like Bg5! Therefore, Black plays 15...Ng6, attacking the QB and covering e5, as well as blocking the b1-h7 diagonal against the well expected Bb1 in the near future. As for the blockade at d5, Nf6-d5 will have to do. 16.Bg3 Nd5 17.Bb1. Under the circumstances Voiska probably regrets playing 13.Rfd1 instead of 13.Rad1 (the famous joke is "it's always the wrong rook, no matter what!"). 17.Rac1 and then Bb1 was more consistent with White's 13th move.

17...Nxc3! This type of capture is commonly misjudged. You have to evaluate beyond "this connects White's isolated pawn". It's true that d4 is greatly strengthened, but as a result c3 is weak, and not to be ignored is a3. To fix the weakness of c3, White would have to advance to c4, when d4 is once again weakened (we arrive at the so called "hanging center"). A possible continuation after 18.bxc3 is 18...Qd5 19.f3 Rac8 20.Ba2 Qa5 21.c4 Ba6 and it is hard to tell whether 18.bxc3 has improved White's structure or weakened it instead. 18.Qxc3 Rc8 19.Qe3 Qd5 20.f3 Ne7. Black must certainly avoid the demolition of his pawn structure after 21.Bxg6 fxg6, very ugly. 21.Be5 Rfd8 22.Qe1! A sneaky threat, 23.Qg3 will cause a lot of damage. 22...Nc6! 23.Be4 Qd7 24.Bxc6 Bxc6 25.Qg3. White chose to give away his KB in order to preserve the e5-outpost for his QB and thus proceed with the attack against g7. 25...f5= [of course not 25...g6?? 26.Qf4!+-, devastating] 26.Rac1 Bd5 27.h4 Qf7 28.Kh2 Kh7 29.Re1 Bb7. Black has no way to progress but neither does White. 30.Qf4 Rxc1 31.Rxc1 Rc8 32.Rxc8 Bxc8 33.Qc1 Bb7 34.Qc7 Qxc7 35.Bxc7 g5 1/2-1/2.