[Event "SouthWest Class Champs"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/1LK2x3ba/BHiDplqh"] [Date "2024.02.17"] [Round "5"] [White "Burke, M John"] [Black "Adewumi, Tanitoluwa"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2582"] [BlackElo "2280"] [Annotator "Lang, JJ"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B40"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/1LK2x3ba/BHiDplqh"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. a3 { An uncommon, but by no means unheard of, way to play flexibly as White. } 6... Qc7 7. Be3 d6!? { A very rare move! } (7... a6 { is almost always played. } 8. f4 { One idea is to meet 8. f4 with } 8... d5!? { without having to worry about 9. Ndb5 (see note below). That said, even after the more popular } (8... d6 { , } 9. Qf3 Bd7 10. O-O-O { , Black's position is a bit safer than in the game due to not having to worry about either knight coming to b5. } 10... h5 11. Bd3 b5 $14 { would, for instance, give Black slightly more venom in counterplay associated with ... Ra8-b8 and .. . b5-b4. The bishop still being on f8, in contrast, is not at all a factor, as Black has no interest in castling kingside. }) 9. e5 Ne4 10. Nxe4 dxe4 11. Be2 Bd7 { with a normal position. }) 8. f4 Be7 (8... d5? 9. Ndb5! { is the tactical ponit: } 9... Qd8 10. exd5 exd5 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. Qxd5 Qxd5 13. Nc7+) 9. Qf3 Bd7 10. O-O-O h5?! { At this point, the lack of ... a7-a6 is starting to become an issue. } 11. h3 (11. Ncb5!? Qb8 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. Bd3 a6 14. Nd4 $16 { is a favorable trade for White. }) 11... a6 12. Bd3 h4 13. Rhe1 Rc8 14. Qf2 b5 15. Nxc6 Bxc6 16. Bd4 { Black has not been fast enough with creating any counterplay. } 16... e5 17. Be3 Nd7 18. Nd5 { The structural transformation favors White given Black's kings precarity in the center. } 18... Bxd5 19. exd5 Bf6 20. Bf5 g6 21. Bxd7+ Qxd7 22. fxe5 Bxe5 23. Bd4 { White has earned a significant advantage against Black's slightly slow play in the opening. } 23... Rh5 24. Re4!? { This gives Black a little time to activate. It was more accurate to achieve the d5-d6 pawn push after exchanging pieces, although Burke can be forgiven for not wanting to trade with such an initiative against Black's uncastled king. } (24. Bxe5 { was more precise: } 24... Rxe5 (24... dxe5 25. d6 { is also strong: } 25... Kf8 (25... Rc6? 26. Qf6 $18) (25... Rf5? 26. Qxh4??) 26. Re4 $18) 25. Rxe5+ dxe5 26. d6 Rd8 27. Qb6 $18 { and the d-pawn is clearly a strength, not a liability, for White! }) 24... Qf5 25. Qe2 Qf6 26. Re1 Kd7?! (26... Rf5! { Black's best chance to stay in the game. } 27. c3 (27. Kb1 Kf8 28. Bxe5 dxe5 { Compared to taking on e5 earlier, now the d5-pawn is far more precarious, while Black's pieces are more actively placed against White's king. } 29. Rxe5 Rf2 30. Qe3 Kg7! (30... Rcxc2?? 31. Qh6+) 31. c3 Rxg2) 27... Ke7! { with the point that White cannot hold onto the extra pawn anymore after } 28. Bxe5 (28. Kb1 Rc4) 28... Rxe5 29. Rxe5+ dxe5 30. Qxe5+ Qxe5 31. Rxe5+ Kd6) 27. a4 { The king is slightly misplaced here, so White opens the queenside and regains his initiative, this time for good! } 27... Rc4 28. axb5 axb5 29. b3 Rxd4 30. Qxb5+ Kd8 31. Rxd4 Qf2 32. Rde4 Ke7 33. Rf1 Qa7 34. Qa4 Qc5 35. Qb4 Qa7 36. Rxe5+ Rxe5 37. Qxh4+ { and Black has seen enough. } 1-0