I don’t have a real problem to ask you, but I am very interested in getting your opinion of an idea of mine. Some of my friends have been spending time analyzing the famous game Dolmatov-Speelman (Hastings, 1989), in particular the position where white is to play his 18th move. (See Diagram1)

Diagram 1

I have studied Dolmatov’s notes from the 49th informator, as well as what was written about the whole game in one of Dvoretsky’s ‘bestsellers’.

1.Bxh7+ Kxh7 2.Qh5+ Kg8 3.Qg5 Qf8 [3...g6 4.Qh6 Qf8 5.Qh8#] 4.Rd1 b6 5.Rd4 Ba6 6.Rg4 Be2 7.Bxg7 [7.Qxg7+ Qxg7 8.Rxg7+ Kh8!; 7.f3 Bd3 8.Bxg7 Qc5+ 9.Kh1 Rac8; 7.Rg3 Red8 8.h3 Rd3 9.f3 Rd1+ 10.Kh2 Bd3 11.Bxg7 Qc5!] 7...Bxg4 8.Bxf8+ Kxf8 9.Qxg4 Rac8 10.h4 White eventually won

I don’t feel satisfied with what I have read! White deserves more than the better ending that he got in the game (even if he did win it in eventually)! White’s position is almost overwhelming! His two bishops paralyze Black, and Black’s extra exchange seems too little without any development or activity what is the use of extra material?

Can’t white try to win in the middlegame by maintaining the pressure with 18.Qg4!? ? (See diagram 2)

Diagram 2

With the variations that I give

it is clear that white is going to decide the game much faster than in the actual game! What am I missing?

I am very well acquainted with the Dolmatov-Speelman game from Hastings ‘89—I was also participating in the tournament! A very interesting position...maybe one of the most interesting of the entire tournament.

Your analysis looks very reasonable. There is no doubt that black is suffering bigtime! In the notes in the Dvoretsky book Dolmatov tries to present the ‘human side’ of the game. He is quite honest: he was not sure if he was winning or drawing and was just trying to do his best! Dolmatov chose the variation leading to a winning ending because that was the best he could see at the time over the board.

What is the truth of the position? (After all, the game was played a long time ago and ‘practical’ considerations such as the clock and the emotion of the moment should be put aside.)

I agree with you that white has a crushing position! White should be able to do better than the ending!

Your 18.Qg4 is very strong, and (without wanting to get into a very exhaustive analysis of all of the defensive posibilities at black’s disposal) I am sure it wins faster than Dolmatov’s solution .

However, Dolmatov’s first move (18.Bxh7ch) is probably the best move! Where he went wrong is on the next move: he should have played 19. Qd3 ch !!.

White would then win even faster than in your clever solution! (See Diagram 3)

Diagram 3