[Event "Rated Rapid game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/7jHmAHTx"] [Date "2022.03.24"] [White "kyrongriffith"] [Black "zhaoecon"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2480"] [WhiteTitle "IM"] [BlackElo "2221"] [TimeControl "900+5"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B90"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/kyrongriffith"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/2GsZvDWU/QjyxMjDS"] [Orientation "black"] { This round 7 game features me as white versus Nan Zhao of SIG } 1. e4 { [%clk 0:15:00] } 1... c5 { [%clk 0:15:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:15:03] } 2... d6 { [%clk 0:15:02] } 3. d4 { [%clk 0:15:03] } 3... cxd4 { [%clk 0:15:05] } 4. Nxd4 { [%clk 0:15:08] } 4... Nf6 { [%clk 0:15:08] } 5. Nc3 { [%clk 0:15:12] } 5... a6 { The Najdorf Sicilian is one of the most popular openings in chess and has held its own at the very top level. White does have a plethora of good setups to choose from though. } { [%clk 0:15:11] } 6. Be3 { [%clk 0:14:14] } 6... e5 { [%clk 0:15:03] } 7. Nf3 { [%clk 0:14:15] } 7... Be7 { [%clk 0:15:03] } 8. h3 { Perhaps a slight waste of time, Bc4 is preferred in most games here targeting the d5 square immediately. } { [%clk 0:14:04] } (8. Bc4 O-O 9. O-O Be6 10. Bb3 Nc6 { And both sides can be reasonably satisfied with their positions }) 8... Nbd7 { [%clk 0:14:38] } 9. g4 { While this looks threatening at first, it is more positional in nature, taking control of the f5 and h5 squares. } { [%clk 0:13:29] } 9... h6 { [%clk 0:14:21] } 10. Bg2?! { [%clk 0:13:32] } (10. a4 { would have been a bit more accurate preventing black's next move }) 10... b5! { A typical multipurpose move in the Najdorf which threatens to dislodge the c3 knight as well as fianchetto the c8 bishop. } { [%clk 0:14:04] } 11. a4 { [%clk 0:13:14] } 11... b4 { [%clk 0:13:35] } 12. Nd5 { While this is thematic, white has wasted a bit of time in the opening and is therefore slightly worse already. } { [%clk 0:13:18] } 12... Bb7 { [%clk 0:12:43] } 13. O-O { [%clk 0:12:58] } 13... Nxd5! { [%clk 0:11:42] } (13... Nxe4 { While this looks like a free pawn at first, black is actually correct in not grabbing it. White can immediately win the pawn back and the positional transformation is favoring white. } 14. Nxe5! dxe5 15. Bxe4 $14) 14. exd5 { [%clk 0:13:01] } 14... Nb6 { [%clk 0:11:41] } 15. Bxb6! { The knight was stronger than the bishop in this case } { [%clk 0:13:00] } 15... Qxb6 { [%clk 0:11:42] } 16. Nd2 { [%clk 0:12:12] } 16... Rc8 { [%clk 0:10:58] } 17. b3?! { A bit too simplistic. White wants to plant a knight on c4, but this move order allows black to dislodge it with a5 and Ba6. } { [%clk 0:11:36] } (17. a5! { would have been preferred ensuring that black's bishop doesn't make it to the f1-a6 diagonal }) 17... Qc5 { [%clk 0:10:04] } 18. Nc4 { [%clk 0:11:05] } 18... a5 { [%clk 0:10:06] } 19. Re1 { [%clk 0:10:57] } 19... O-O { Surprisingly, white's position is close to losing now. The knight on c4 won't be able to stay there for long and black's dark squared bishop will activate quickly via g5. } { [%clk 0:10:01] } 20. Be4 { [%clk 0:10:52] } 20... Bg5 { [%clk 0:09:45] } 21. Qf3 { [%clk 0:09:49] } 21... g6 { [%clk 0:09:24] } 22. Rad1 { Black can slowly build up and aim for an eventual f5 push } { [%clk 0:09:41] } 22... Kg7 { [%clk 0:09:23] } 23. Nb2 { [%clk 0:08:30] } 23... Rc7 { [%clk 0:06:39] } 24. Qg2 { [%clk 0:08:12] } 24... Kh8 { [%clk 0:06:13] } 25. Re2 { [%clk 0:06:41] } 25... f5 { [%clk 0:06:09] } 26. h4 { A last-ditch effort to complicate matters } { [%clk 0:03:57] } 26... Bf4? { [%clk 0:04:38] } 27. Bf3? { [%clk 0:03:35] } (27. Nd3! { and black would have to be very careful to maintain an edge here }) 27... e4 { [%clk 0:03:55] } 28. Bxe4 { [%clk 0:03:39] } 28... fxe4 { [%clk 0:03:59] } 29. Qxe4 { White sacrifices a piece for two pawns, but black's pieces are too well organized for this to be a legitimate try } { [%clk 0:03:44] } 29... Ba6 { [%clk 0:03:47] } 30. Nd3 { [%clk 0:03:37] } 30... Bxd3 { [%clk 0:03:35] } 31. Rxd3 { [%clk 0:03:42] } 31... Rcf7 { [%clk 0:02:58] } 32. Qxg6 { [%clk 0:03:29] } 32... Rg7 { [%clk 0:03:01] } 33. Qe6 { [%clk 0:03:12] } 33... Qc8 { [%clk 0:01:13] } 34. f3 { [%clk 0:02:59] } 34... Qd8! { A very accurate move, not trading down into an endgame where white's passed e-pawn might create some chances } { [%clk 0:01:13] } 35. g5 { [%clk 0:01:01] } 35... Bxg5 { [%clk 0:01:01] } 36. Rg2 { [%clk 0:00:58] } (36. hxg5 Qxg5+ 37. Qg4 Qc1+ { would pick up a queen }) 36... Re8 { [%clk 0:00:49] } 37. Qf5 { [%clk 0:00:49] } 37... Bxh4 { [%clk 0:00:40] } 38. Rd2 { [%clk 0:00:26] } 38... Reg8 { [%clk 0:00:32] } 39. Rxg7 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 39... Rxg7+ { [%clk 0:00:35] } 40. Kf1 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 40... Qg5 { [%clk 0:00:33] } 41. Qxg5 { [%clk 0:00:20] } 41... Bxg5 { [%clk 0:00:27] } 42. Rd4 { [%clk 0:00:23] } 42... Rc7 { [%clk 0:00:26] } 43. f4 { [%clk 0:00:22] } 43... Bf6 { [%clk 0:00:29] } 44. Re4 { [%clk 0:00:25] } 44... Re7 { [%clk 0:00:31] } 45. Rc4 { [%clk 0:00:26] } 45... Rf7 { [%clk 0:00:25] } 46. Kg2 { [%clk 0:00:28] } 46... h5 { [%clk 0:00:20] } 47. Rc6 { [%clk 0:00:21] } 47... Be7 { [%clk 0:00:23] } 48. Kg3 { [%clk 0:00:21] } 48... h4+ { [%clk 0:00:19] } 49. Kg4 { [%clk 0:00:25] } 49... Rg7+ { [%clk 0:00:22] } 50. Kh3 { [%clk 0:00:30] } 50... Rg3+ { [%clk 0:00:25] } 51. Kh2 { [%clk 0:00:34] } 51... Kg7 { [%clk 0:00:22] } 52. Ra6 { [%clk 0:00:33] } 52... Kf6 { [%clk 0:00:21] } 53. Rxa5 { [%clk 0:00:36] } 53... Kf5 { [%clk 0:00:24] } 54. Rb5 { [%clk 0:00:36] } 54... Kg4 { [%clk 0:00:24] } 55. Rxb4 { [%clk 0:00:39] } 55... Rc3 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 56. f5+ { [%clk 0:00:32] } 56... Kxf5 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 57. a5 { [%clk 0:00:36] } 57... Rxc2+ { [%clk 0:00:18] } 58. Kh3 { [%clk 0:00:40] } 58... Ra2 { [%clk 0:00:21] } 59. Rb5 { [%clk 0:00:44] } 59... Bd8 { [%clk 0:00:23] } 60. b4 { [%clk 0:00:48] } 60... Ra3+ { [%clk 0:00:24] } 61. Kh2 { [%clk 0:00:51] } 61... Kg4 { [%clk 0:00:28] } 62. Rb7 { [%clk 0:00:51] } 62... Ra2+ { [%clk 0:00:31] } 63. Kg1 { [%clk 0:00:56] } 63... Bf6 { [%clk 0:00:33] } 64. Rf7 { [%clk 0:00:51] } 64... Bd4+ { [%clk 0:00:34] } 65. Kf1 { [%clk 0:00:49] } 65... h3 { [%clk 0:00:36] } 66. Rh7 { [%clk 0:00:47] } 66... h2 { [%clk 0:00:29] } 67. a6 { [%clk 0:00:47] } 67... Kg3 { [%clk 0:00:29] } 68. a7 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 68... Ra1+ { [%clk 0:00:31] } 69. Ke2 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 69... Rxa7 { [%clk 0:00:32] } 70. Rh6 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 70... Ra1 { [%clk 0:00:27] } 71. Kd3 { [%clk 0:00:18] } 71... Bb6 { [%clk 0:00:18] } 72. Kc4 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 72... h1=Q { [%clk 0:00:20] } 73. Rxh1 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 73... Rxh1 { [%clk 0:00:23] } 74. Kb5 { [%clk 0:00:18] } 74... Be3 { [%clk 0:00:23] } 75. Kc6 { [%clk 0:00:21] } 75... Bf4 { [%clk 0:00:26] } 76. b5 { [%clk 0:00:26] } 76... Rc1+ { [%clk 0:00:29] } 77. Kd7 { [%clk 0:00:27] } 77... Rb1 { [%clk 0:00:31] } 78. Kc6 { [%clk 0:00:30] } 78... Kf3 { [%clk 0:00:35] } 79. b6 { [%clk 0:00:34] } 79... Ke4 { 0-1 White resigns. } { A very well played game by my opponent who is much stronger than their unrated rating suggests! } { [%clk 0:00:39] } 0-1