[Event "Rated Rapid game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/5nM9EFSN"] [Date "2024.03.28"] [White "andreystukopin"] [Black "ghost_of_bobby"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2736"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackElo "2451"] [TimeControl "600+2"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B23"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/kyrongriffith"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/1zqwGnWk/ek3YlBqW"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 0:10:00] } 1... c5 { [%clk 0:10:00] } 2. Nc3 { [%clk 0:10:00] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 0:09:58] } 3. Bb5 { An offbeat variation of the closed sicilian, usually as a means for white to try to get black out of theory. } { [%clk 0:10:00] } 3... Nd4 { [%clk 0:09:49] } 4. Nf3 { [%clk 0:10:01] } 4... Nxb5 { At first glance it seems like white has given up the bishop pair for nothing. However in these structures black's LSB doesn't end up being tremendously dangerous. } { [%clk 0:09:38] } 5. Nxb5 { [%clk 0:10:03] } 5... d5!? { A temporary pawn sac that has been known about for decades. Recent engines don't like it as much as the old masters did though. } { [%clk 0:09:38] } 6. exd5 { [%clk 0:09:57] } 6... a6 { [%clk 0:09:40] } 7. Nc3 { [%clk 0:09:49] } 7... Nf6 { [%clk 0:09:41] } 8. O-O { [%clk 0:09:20] } 8... g6 { Black is in no rush to grab the d5 pawn back } { [%clk 0:09:15] } 9. d4 { [%clk 0:08:58] } 9... Nxd5 { Now black needs to capture it or else white would have been able to hold onto it. } { [%clk 0:09:13] } 10. dxc5!? { this forces a pawn-up endgame but at the cost of a horrible pawn structure and the bishop pair. I would be slightly fearful of going into this with white. } { [%clk 0:07:52] } (10. Ne4 { Is the dynamic choice and probably a bit stronger. Black is underdeveloped and needs to find a strange move to keep the balance: } 10... c4! 11. Re1 Bg7 12. Ne5 Nb6 { black is slightly worse due to the lag in development and the awkward c4 pawn. }) 10... Nxc3 { [%clk 0:09:13] } 11. Qxd8+ { [%clk 0:07:52] } 11... Kxd8 { [%clk 0:09:15] } 12. bxc3 { [%clk 0:07:54] } 12... Bg7 { [%clk 0:08:59] } 13. Rd1+ { [%clk 0:07:54] } 13... Ke8 { [%clk 0:08:55] } 14. Nd4 { White plugs the a1-h8 diagonal for now. White would love to somehow trade the c5 and b6 pawns and trade a pair of minor pieces as well. } { [%clk 0:07:54] } 14... e5 { [%clk 0:08:27] } 15. Re1 { [%clk 0:07:31] } 15... Kd8 { [%clk 0:08:14] } 16. Nf3 { [%clk 0:07:08] } 16... f6 { [%clk 0:08:10] } 17. Nd2 { [%clk 0:06:21] } 17... Kc7 { [%clk 0:07:48] } 18. Ne4 { [%clk 0:05:50] } 18... Bd7 { [%clk 0:07:45] } 19. f3 { [%clk 0:04:55] } 19... Ba4 { A nice move, targeting white's pawns. I would prefer to play black in this position. } { [%clk 0:07:32] } 20. Re2 { [%clk 0:04:50] } 20... Rad8 { [%clk 0:07:30] } 21. Be3 { [%clk 0:04:45] } 21... Rd7 { [%clk 0:07:00] } 22. Rb1 { [%clk 0:04:37] } 22... Rhd8 { [%clk 0:06:54] } 23. Nd6 { [%csl Gb7] [%clk 0:04:35] } 23... Bc6 { [%clk 0:06:53] } (23... b5 { is an interesting idea but not necessarily a great one. The pawn cannot be taken due to the Nd6, but on the other hand white may engineer c4 at some point (like right now) }) 24. Bc1 { [%clk 0:03:50] } 24... Bf8 { [%clk 0:06:39] } 25. Ba3 { [%clk 0:03:51] } 25... Ra8 { [%clk 0:04:45] } (25... b6!! { is a beautiful tactical solution. The white c5 pawn is overloaded. } 26. cxb6+ (26. Rxb6 Rxd6 { is just a free piece }) 26... Kb8 { [%csl Gd6] } 27. Nc4 Bb5! { and white is completely lost }) 26. c4 { [%clk 0:03:48] } 26... Bh6 { [%clk 0:04:40] } 27. Kf2 { [%clk 0:03:40] } 27... Re7 { [%clk 0:04:27] } 28. Bb4 { [%clk 0:03:14] } 28... a5! { Not allowing white to wiggle the bishop into a5 } { [%clk 0:04:15] } 29. Bc3 { [%clk 0:03:08] } 29... Bg7 { [%clk 0:03:51] } 30. Nb5+ { [%clk 0:03:08] } 30... Kd7 { [%clk 0:03:32] } 31. Rd2+ { [%clk 0:03:07] } 31... Ke6 { [%clk 0:03:31] } 32. Rd6+ { [%clk 0:02:40] } 32... Kf7 { [%clk 0:03:31] } 33. Rb3 { [%clk 0:02:37] } 33... Bf8 { [%clk 0:03:27] } 34. Rd1 { [%clk 0:02:23] } 34... Ke6 { [%clk 0:02:45] } 35. Rd6+ { [%clk 0:01:28] } 35... Kf7 { [%clk 0:02:44] } 36. Rd3 { [%clk 0:01:28] } 36... Ke6 { [%clk 0:02:37] } 37. Bb2 { White signals an intention to play for the win, however objectively black might even be slightly better at this point } { [%csl Gc5] [%clk 0:01:13] } 37... Rf7 { [%clk 0:02:02] } 38. Ba3 { [%clk 0:01:13] } 38... g5 { [%clk 0:01:46] } 39. Nd6 { [%clk 0:01:13] } 39... Rc7 { [%clk 0:01:37] } 40. Rb6 { [%clk 0:01:13] } 40... Ra7?? { after some great defense, black hangs a fork! A sad way for the game to end. } { [%clk 0:01:08] } (40... Bxd6 41. cxd6 Rg7 { and black is super solid and can even start pushing on the kingside }) 41. Nb5 { 1-0 Black resigns. } { Unfortunately for black, Bxb5 isn't a legal move. } { [%clk 0:01:12] } 1-0