Outpreparing a Titled Player

Right now I'm in the middle of a tournament, and I'd like to share a game from the first round. The paring was unexpected, as the opponent I was supposed to face couldn't play in round 1.

Luckily I checked her repertoire at home, before the tournament started. With Black she plays the Classical Sicilian, and with White d4. Against d5 she enters the London System, and against Nf6, she plays c4-Nc3.

The opening

As I expected, we entered the London System. I haven't played this particual line yet, but from my brief analysis, it looked much more pleasent for Black, so I was kinda excited.

Most of online games go 5. c3 instead, and against 5. Nbd2 I used to play Bg4, so I had literally no experience in this position. And honestly, I don't really get this for White. the structure is bad, Black will likely winn the c5 pawn back, and the counterplay is very mysterious.

I'll provide deeper analysis of this opening in my part 2 about beating the London.

Preparation end

My brief preparation ends after 11. e5 Nd7 12. Nb3 Qb4!, her, based of her time usage, ended after Bb5.

It's kinda surprising, as this is the mainest of the main lines in the London according to the Masters database. She clearly didn't want to play e5 and give up the pawn, as she didn't see her compensation for that pawn, so she decided to complicate things with Bd6?

This is the kind of move, that is either really good, or really bad, and since I know it's not the main line, well... It wasn't hard to spot Bxd6-dxe4-Qe5 holding on to the e4 pawn.

Start of complications

f4!? is a desperate, but interesting idea of complicating up the game, and looking for some kingside counterplay. (she definitely found some) I calculated that after 14... exf3 15. Ndxf3 Qc5+ 16. Kh1 h3 17. Nh3 i can play e5, and deal with my bad bishop, develop the rooks, and be a clean pawn up. She had different plans about the knight...

More complications

My opponent, looking for chaos, found a nice idea - Bd3, looking for Rb5 after I take the knight. I decided it's not worth the risk, and let the knight stand there for a move... or 12...

The knight could be captured, but I just couldn't calculate until stability, so I chose a risk-free approach. Now after blundering the d6 pawn, since Bd3+ isn't winning it anymore, White's position is hopeless.

Desperate times call for desperate measures

My opponent also realized, that there is nothing to play for, so she made a good practical decision - Rxf6. By any means is this move scary, but it gives White some false hope for a miracle.

Initailly I thought, that i can finnish the Qf4-g4-d7 maneuver with f5, but I decided, that it gives too much counterplay with Bc4+. My next thought was Kh8, preparing f5, but that gives White time to play Qh5!

I didn't know what to do, and couldn't see the winning continuation after taking the knight, so i decided to restrict the bishop with b5. I planned to meet Qh5 with Qg4, but completely missed Nf6+

Qd5 pinning the knight isn't blessed by the engine, but is pretty cool. I want to go f5, and after Qg6 hxg5 Nxg5 Rf6 have my queen cover g8. Very cool find, but I missed, that White can play Qe8+ instead repeating the position.

Last chance

Qg6! would've forced me to find Rf7! But my mind was already set on Rd8, which doesn't work due to insane Be4!! Had she played that, the game might've ended in a draw. But with so little time, it's impossible to find.

After Rd1 Black launches a counterattack on the diagonal, and combined with material advantage, and hanging pieces, no miracles will happen.

Conclusion

Don't play the London against me.

Taking isn't forced, and the most accurate, isn't always the most practical.

Titled players are still human. You can beat them like you can bean any other player.

The End

A big achievement for me, as it's the first time I played a titled woman in a classical rated game. It's cool to see, that my preparation doesn't go to waste, and the position I think are practically good, actually are. Still waiting, for someone to play the Najdorf against me.

I think the game also is pretty instructive, as it shows, that refusing to complicate things in a better position does wonders. Captures arent forced ;)

Thank you for reading! Right now I'm 2/5, with 2 more interesting games I'd like to share. When I get back home, I'll have some free time, so I hope to cover the London System, including this line.