[Event "Rated Rapid game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/eAKccv9s"] [Date "2022.04.07"] [White "zhaoecon"] [Black "capablancaz"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2355"] [BlackElo "2573"] [TimeControl "900+5"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B33"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Chelyabinsk Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/kyrongriffith"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/0OKbGySU/iitfSVu3"] [Orientation "white"] { This round 12 game features Nan Zhao of SIG as white versus Kola Adeyemi of Google } 1. e4 { [%clk 0:15:00] } 1... c5 { [%clk 0:15:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:15:02] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 0:15:04] } 3. d4 { [%clk 0:15:05] } 3... cxd4 { [%clk 0:15:08] } 4. Nxd4 { [%clk 0:15:09] } 4... Nf6 { [%clk 0:15:12] } 5. Nc3 { [%clk 0:15:12] } 5... e5 { [%clk 0:15:15] } 6. Ndb5 { [%clk 0:15:14] } 6... d6 { In this game we see a Sveshnikov Sicilian. This opening has always had its practitioners but it saw a large resurgence after Carlsen's employment of the system in his successful world championship defense against Fabiano Caruana in 2018. } { [%clk 0:15:19] } 7. Bg5 { This has been the main line historically, but recently most top level games actually see 7. Nd5 as white players have been largely unable to prove an edge in 7. Bg5 } { [%clk 0:15:17] } (7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Nb8 9. c4 { And white argues that the extra space may represent an easier game in the long run, although objectively there is probably no real edge for white here either. }) 7... a6 { [%clk 0:15:23] } 8. Na3 { [%clk 0:15:20] } 8... b5 { [%clk 0:15:26] } 9. Nd5 { [%clk 0:15:15] } 9... Be7 { [%clk 0:15:28] } 10. Nxe7!? { A positionally counterintuitive line. Typically white will play Bxf6 instead and try to maximize control over the d5 square. } { [%clk 0:14:28] } (10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 { This position has been played thousands of times with decent chances for both sides } { [%cal Ga3c2,Gc2e3,Ge8g8,Gf6g5] }) 10... Nxe7 { [%clk 0:14:02] } 11. Bd3 { [%clk 0:13:07] } 11... Ng6 { [%clk 0:13:02] } 12. c4 { White's general game plan is to open up the position as much as possible so that their bishop pair will show its relative strength over black's knight+bishop } { [%clk 0:12:29] } 12... O-O { [%clk 0:10:47] } 13. cxb5?! { Pawn grabbing in the Sveshnikov can be a bit dangerous if white hasn't castled yet. Better was to castle and keep the tension. } { [%clk 0:11:45] } (13. O-O) 13... h6 { [%clk 0:10:51] } 14. Be3 { [%clk 0:10:59] } 14... d5!? { A double edged move. On one hand, black is trying to strike the center before white can coordinate their pieces, but on the other hand this will open up the game for white's bishops in the long run. } { [%clk 0:09:26] } (14... Bb7 15. f3 d5 { Would have been an improvement on the game as white's structure is even weaker here. }) 15. exd5 { [%clk 0:07:43] } 15... Qxd5 { [%clk 0:07:57] } 16. Be2?? { [%clk 0:07:37] } 16... Qe6?? { An all-too-common case of double-blindness. Both players disregarded the pawn grab on g2 due to Bf3. However, it was winning for black! } { [%clk 0:06:27] } (16... Qxg2!! 17. Bf3 Qh3 18. Bxa8 Bg4 { Black is a rook down but completely winning due to white's lack of king safety! } 19. f3 Rxa8 20. fxg4 Nh4!! { is the computer move although simply taking on e3 also promises black a large advantage }) 17. Bc4 { [%clk 0:06:33] } 17... Qf5 { [%clk 0:05:43] } 18. bxa6? { [%clk 0:04:54] } 18... Bxa6? { Another missed chance for black to cause real problems } { [%clk 0:04:55] } (18... Nh4! { Is very hard to deal with } 19. O-O?? Qe4 { Wins on the spot }) 19. Bxa6 { [%clk 0:04:55] } 19... Rxa6 { [%clk 0:04:54] } 20. O-O { [%clk 0:04:52] } 20... Rfa8 { White is up a pawn but has no advantage due to black's activity. Typically in positions like this, white will find a way to sacrifice the pawn back in such a way that neutralizes black's activity. } { [%clk 0:03:31] } 21. Rc1 { [%clk 0:04:32] } 21... e4 { [%clk 0:03:14] } 22. Rc5 { [%clk 0:02:47] } 22... Qe6 { [%clk 0:03:18] } 23. Qb3 { [%clk 0:02:29] } (23. Nb5! { Is a clever insertion } { [%cal Gb5c7] }) 23... Qe8 { [%clk 0:02:57] } 24. Rd1 { [%clk 0:02:01] } (24. Nb5! { [%cal Gb5c7] }) 24... Ne5 { [%clk 0:02:39] } 25. Qb5 { [%clk 0:01:28] } 25... Nd3 { [%clk 0:01:49] } 26. Qxe8+ { [%clk 0:01:08] } 26... Rxe8 { [%clk 0:01:54] } 27. Rb5 { [%clk 0:01:06] } 27... Nxb2 { [%clk 0:01:16] } 28. Rxb2 { [%clk 0:01:09] } 28... Rxa3 { Although the computer proclaims 0.00, there is still some life in this endgame. White's bishop will outperform the knight since there are pawns on both wings of the board. If white can get the a-pawn rolling, it can get scary for black very quickly. } { [%clk 0:01:20] } 29. Kf1 { [%clk 0:00:57] } 29... Rea8 { [%clk 0:01:08] } 30. Rdd2 { [%clk 0:00:59] } 30... Ng4 { [%clk 0:00:47] } 31. Bc5 { [%clk 0:00:18] } 31... Rc3 { [%clk 0:00:50] } 32. Bd6 { [%clk 0:00:19] } 32... e3! { A very nice move that exposes the white king } { [%clk 0:00:46] } 33. Rdc2 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 33... Rd3 { [%clk 0:00:32] } 34. Bg3 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 34... exf2 { [%clk 0:00:31] } 35. Bxf2 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 35... Nxh2+ { [%clk 0:00:29] } 36. Ke2 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 36... Rda3 { Black has managed to snag a pawn and is now playing for the win. Winning this with black will be an arduous task as it will require mobilizing all of black's kingside pawns. } { [%clk 0:00:32] } 37. Bc5 { [%clk 0:00:18] } 37... Re8+ { [%clk 0:00:28] } 38. Kd1 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 38... Rd3+ { [%clk 0:00:19] } 39. Rd2 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 39... Rc3 { [%clk 0:00:18] } 40. Rbc2 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 40... Rxc2 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 41. Rxc2 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 41... Ng4 { [%clk 0:00:17] } 42. Kd2 { [%clk 0:00:05] } 42... Nf6 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 43. Kd3 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 43... h5 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 44. a4 { As mentioned before, this a-pawn will be very hard for black to deal with. Objectively the position is still balanced, but the white side is much, much easier to play. } { [%clk 0:00:08] } 44... Ra8 { [%clk 0:00:09] } 45. Ra2 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 45... Nd7 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 46. Bd4 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 46... Nf8 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 47. a5 { [%clk 0:00:17] } 47... Ne6 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 48. Bb6! { This is called "corralling the knight". Black's knight is completely unable to help stop the pawn and white is now very close to winning. } { [%cal Gb6d8,Gb6d4] [%clk 0:00:17] } 48... Kf8 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 49. Kc4 { [%clk 0:00:20] } 49... Ke7 { [%clk 0:00:19] } 50. Kb5 { [%clk 0:00:23] } 50... Kd7 { [%clk 0:00:23] } 51. Rd2+ { [%clk 0:00:24] } 51... Ke7 { [%clk 0:00:25] } 52. Kc6 { [%clk 0:00:25] } 52... g5 { [%clk 0:00:21] } 53. Kb7 { [%clk 0:00:28] } 53... Rg8 { [%clk 0:00:18] } 54. a6 { Black decides that the only hope is to create counterplay on the kingside, but this won't be enough to hold the game. } { [%clk 0:00:29] } 54... f5 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 55. a7 { [%clk 0:00:33] } 55... f4 { [%clk 0:00:07] } 56. a8=Q { [%clk 0:00:34] } 56... Rxa8 { [%clk 0:00:10] } 57. Kxa8 { [%clk 0:00:39] } 57... Kf6 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 58. Kb7 { [%clk 0:00:43] } 58... g4 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 59. Kc6 { [%clk 0:00:45] } 59... Kf5 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 60. Kd5 { [%clk 0:00:47] } 60... Ng5 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 61. Re2 { [%clk 0:00:30] } 61... Nf7 { [%clk 0:00:07] } 62. Re7 { [%clk 0:00:28] } 62... Kf6 { [%clk 0:00:06] } 63. Re6+ { [%clk 0:00:29] } 63... Kf5 { [%clk 0:00:10] } 64. Bd4 { [%clk 0:00:30] } 64... Nd8 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 65. Rf6+ { [%clk 0:00:15] } 65... Kg5 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 66. Rf8 { A nice transition of plans. Instead of trying to stop the pawns, white takes a moment to chase the knight as far away as possible } { [%clk 0:00:19] } 66... Nb7 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 67. Be5 { Now black will start losing pawns and the game is over } { [%clk 0:00:18] } 67... f3 { [%clk 0:00:18] } 68. gxf3 { [%clk 0:00:21] } 68... gxf3 { [%clk 0:00:20] } 69. Rxf3 { [%clk 0:00:24] } 69... Kg4 { [%clk 0:00:24] } 70. Rf4+ { [%clk 0:00:26] } 70... Kh3 { [%clk 0:00:28] } 71. Rf7 { [%clk 0:00:26] } 71... Na5 { [%clk 0:00:30] } 72. Rh7 { [%clk 0:00:29] } 72... Kg4 { [%clk 0:00:33] } 73. Ke4 { [%clk 0:00:31] } 73... Nb3 { [%clk 0:00:34] } 74. Rg7+ { [%clk 0:00:33] } 74... Kh3 { [%clk 0:00:37] } 75. Rg3+ { [%clk 0:00:34] } 75... Kh4 { [%clk 0:00:41] } 76. Rxb3 { 1-0 Black resigns. } { An instructive game that shows how quickly white can find themselves in danger in the Sveshnikov. Some missed opportunities for black led to an endgame in which white's bishop confidently overpowered black's knight. } { [%clk 0:00:37] } 1-0