[Event "Lonewolf 8"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/3DTXx8Om/eXfrOQb0"] [Date "2017.08.24"] [White "chess4life"] [Black "mn8"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2364"] [BlackElo "2227"] [TimeControl "1800+30"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/mn8"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D10"] [Opening "Slav Defense"] [StudyName "Game"] [ChapterName "chess4life - mn8"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/3DTXx8Om/eXfrOQb0"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 { [%emt 0:0:30] } 1... d5 { [%emt 0:1:0] } 2. c4 { [%emt 0:0:6] } 2... c6 { [%emt 0:0:0] } 3. Nc3 { [%emt 0:0:30] } 3... Nf6 { [%emt 0:0:12] } 4. e3 { [%emt 0:0:27] A quiet-looking continuation, but not without venom. } (4. Nf3 { is the main line, when 4...e6 is a Semi-Slav, 4...dxc4 a Classical Slav, and 4...a6 a Chebanenko Slav. }) 4... e6 { [%emt 0:0:15] An invitation to a Semi-Slav. } 5. b3 { [%emt 0:0:0] Not the most common move, but not an unreasonable one either. White prepares to develop his Bishop to b2, while also discouraging the standard device ...dxc4, Bxc4, ...b5. } (5. Nf3 { would complete the transposition to a Meran/Anti-Meran. A game of mine from an earlier round continued } 5... Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. e4 e5 13. Bg5 exd4 14. Rxd4 Ne5 15. g3 Bc5 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Rd2 Qb6 18. Rf1 Bc8 19. Kg2 Be6 20. b3 Ng4 21. Bd1 Bxf2 22. Qd3 Rad8 23. Qe2 Ne3+ 24. Kh1 Nxf1 { 0-1 (24) quirked (2044)-mn8 (2226) Lonewolf 8 2017 }) 5... Nbd7 { [%emt 0:1:7] I played this automatically, but there's an interesting alternative available due to the weakening of the c3 square. } (5... Bb4!? 6. Bb2 Ne4 7. Qc2 e5 $13) 6. Bd3 { [%emt 0:1:11] } 6... Bd6 { [%emt 0:1:41] } 7. c5!? { [%emt 0:1:40] A interesting, but rather commital decision. White releases the tension on the d5 point, while gaining space on the Queenside. However, his pawns can also find themselves overextended. } (7. Nf3 O-O 8. Bb2 { is standard, when Black can continue in a number of ways. }) 7... Bc7 { [%emt 0:0:15] } 8. f4! { [%emt 0:0:0] This looks like a good decision to me. Allowing Black to break with ...e5 would make it too easy for him. } (8. b4 e5! { This, by the way, is made strong by the fact that White played c4-c5, and released the pressure on Black's centre. Otherwise cxd5, cxd5 and dxe5 would give Black an isolani, and White would perhaps have an advantage. } 9. b5 (9. dxe5? Nxe5 $17) 9... e4 { , and I think Black is doing very well. It's not clear how White will continue his Queenside attack, while Black, with his strong c7 Bishop, is likely to have excellent prospects on the Kingside. }) 8... b6 { [%emt 0:2:44] Getting started on undemining the Queenside. If White has time to consolidate with b4, Bb2 and a3, he'll have a lot of extra space at no cost. } 9. b4 { [%emt 0:3:14] } 9... a5 { [%emt 0:3:22] Typical } 10. b5! { [%emt 0:1:17] Fighting back. This is practically necessary, as otherwise White's Queenside structure falls apart and the whole thing backfires. } (10. cxb6 Nxb6 $15) 10... bxc5 { [%emt 0:0:27] } (10... cxb5 11. c6 Nb8 12. Bxb5 { This is another position with a White pawn on c6. However, Black is far more cramped here than in the game. }) 11. bxc6 { [%emt 0:0:32] } 11... Nb8 { [%emt 0:0:5] } 12. Bb5?! { [%emt 0:3:13] The battle lines are drawn - White has a cramping pawn on c6, but will have to work hard to avoid losing it. } (12. dxc5! { is the main alternative. } 12... Nxc6 13. Bb5 Bd7 14. Qa4 Nb4 15. c6 Bc8 { This was the line I had calculated, and I concluded Black was doing okay here. ...Ba6 is coming up, and White's c6 pawn is looking vulnerable. As well, the threat of ...d4, breaking open the position with White's King in the middle, may come into play at some point. } 16. a3 { This is really the only challenging move (otherwise ...Ba6 is coming and Black is probably better). } 16... d4!? (16... Na6 17. Nf3 Nc5 18. Qc2 Ba6 19. a4 $14) 17. axb4 dxc3 18. Nf3 Nd5 $13 { It's a mess, but I don't think Black is any worse off. }) 12... c4!? { [%emt 0:2:14] Black had to do something about his c-pawn, and both the text and 12...cxd4 were rather interesting. I wound up choosing the move I chose because it cut off the b5 Bishop from easily returning to play, as well as the potential for ...Na6-b4-d3 (although this never ended up occuring). } (12... cxd4 { I also wasn't sure opening the position suited me in this case - I was kind of hoping to keep play closed and quiet, and allow the c6 pawn to fall in due course. } 13. Qxd4 O-O 14. Nf3 Ba6 15. Ba3 Bd6 16. Bxd6 Qxd6 17. Ne5 $13) 13. Nf3 { [%emt 0:2:18] } (13. Ba3 { This put me off 12...c4 at first, as Black is prevented from castling, and ... Bd6 is always met by c7+. However, Black does have a coherent way to remedy this problem. } 13... Na6! { This is a theme which will come up many times - Ba3 being defused by ...Na6-b4, blocking the diagonal. } (13... Ba6 { is what I was intending. This is also decent, because White lacks a2-a4 to maintain his defense of the c6 pawn. })) 13... O-O { [%emt 0:2:44] } 14. O-O { [%emt 0:0:51] } 14... Bd6 { [%emt 0:2:19] Possible now that Black has castled and there's no c7+. } (14... Ba6 { This is a logical way to try to undermine White's ability to control c6. However, it doesn't really lead anywhere after } 15. a4!) 15. Ne5? { [%emt 0:1:9] Black's position looks depressing at first glance, but White's dominance is only temporary. The proud-looking Knight on e5 cannot be maintained in the long run. } 15... Bb4!? { [%emt 0:0:31] Here's the plan: eliminate the c3 Knight, play ...Ne4, then play ...f6. Push back the e5 Knight, and then attempt to round up the c6 pawn. } (15... Ne8! { A picturesque position. All Black's pieces are on the back rank besides one...and he's significantly better. The next move will likely be ...f6, followed by rounding up the c6 pawn, with White lacking resources to maintain it. The move I played is also fine, but it's simpler to eject the e5 Knight without needing to cede control over the dark squares. }) 16. Qc2 { [%emt 0:2:38] } 16... Bxc3 { [%emt 0:0:20] } 17. Qxc3 { [%emt 0:0:17] } 17... Ne4 { [%emt 0:0:6] } 18. Qc2 { [%emt 0:0:47] } 18... Nd6 { [%emt 0:0:16] } (18... f6 { until I noticed a tactic: } 19. Nxc4! { However, all is not lost: } 19... Ba6! (19... dxc4? 20. Qxe4 $18) 20. Bxa6 Rxa6 { ...and due to the time White has lost, Black comfortably regains his pawn. } 21. Nd2 Rxc6) 19. Ba4 { [%emt 0:1:15] } (19. a4 { This probably isn't a great move. It frees the a3 square for the Bishop, but this can be neutralized with ...Na6-b4. It also weirdly traps the Bishop in the b5 square, so I'm not sure this option is all that healthy for White. } 19... Na6 20. Ba3 Nb4 { As we'll see later, Ba3 can generally be conveniently answered with ...Na6-b4. Otherwise the pressure down the a3-f8 diagonal can become annoying. }) 19... f6?! { [%emt 0:0:26] I thought I was just much better here. White is being pushed back, and the c6 pawn is looking more vulnerable by the second. However, I missed a nice tactical resource available to White. } (19... Na6! { In retrospect, this patient move is stronger. In the game, Black experiences problems along the a3-f8 diagonal, so he maneuvers his Knight to the nice b4 square, blockading said diagonal. } 20. Ba3 Nb4 21. Qc3 f6 22. Nd7 (22. Nf3? Ne4 23. Qe1 c3 $17) 22... Ne4 23. Qe1 Nd3 24. Qd1 Rf7 (24... Bxd7 25. cxd7 (25. Bxf8 Be8 26. Ba3 Nc3) 25... Rf7 $17)) 20. Ba3! { [%emt 0:3:56] This is the resource which allows White to complicate the game. Black can take a piece, but after f4xe5, he experiences problems involving the f8 square. 20 Ba3 turns out to also be rather forced: if White retreats his Knight, Black will win the c-pawn sooner or later for no compensation. } 20... fxe5? { [%emt 0:4:5] This leads into tactical complications which are not in Black's favour. Black's position is hanging by a thread, but I hadn't seen anything specific that would dissuade me from going for this. } (20... Na6! { , again, is simplest and best. Simply planning ...Nb4, blocking the a3-f8 diagonal, with an advantage for Black. }) 21. fxe5 { [%emt 0:0:0] } 21... Rxf1+ { [%emt 0:0:18] } (21... Nf5 22. Bxf8 Qxf8 23. g4 { is no good, of course. }) 22. Rxf1 { [%emt 0:0:10] } 22... Nf5 { [%emt 0:0:8] } 23. c7?! { [%emt 0:2:28] This is a valiant attempt, but not the best. White is trying to win his piece back with g2-g4, utilising the pin against the check on f8. However, the immediate 23 g4 would fail due to 23...Qg5!. Therefore, White first attempts to deflect the Queen away from the d8-h4 diagonal, and only then play g4. } (23. e4! { is the right move, although it isn't immediately obvious why. } 23... dxe4 24. Qxc4 { Black's problem is he has to deal with the twin threats of Rxf5 and c7. } 24... Qg5 { Answering both, but abandoning the back rank... } (24... Kh8 25. c7) 25. Qc5 { Now we see Black's lack of development biting him. } 25... Qe3+ 26. Kh1 h6 27. Qf8+ Kh7 28. Qxc8 $18) (23. g4? { immediately fails to } 23... Qg5! (23... Nxe3?? { looks tempting, counterattacking the Queen to nullify Rf8+. } 24. c7! $18 { and Black has no answer. })) 23... Qg5!? { [%emt 0:2:39] An ambitious attempt to counterattack. } (23... Qxc7 { is safest, when after } 24. g4 Na6 25. gxf5 exf5 26. Bd6 Qf7 27. a3 Be6 { , it's not clear how either side can make much progress. }) 24. cxb8=Q { [%emt 0:1:40] } 24... Qxe3+ { [%emt 0:0:17] } 25. Qf2 { [%emt 0:1:10] This is pretty much forced. } (25. Kh1? Rxb8 { Black is a pawn up, has the safer King, and the d4 pawn is likely to fall as well. The same goes for 25 Rf2? Rxb8. }) 25... Qxf2+ { [%emt 0:1:12] } 26. Rxf2 { [%emt 0:0:16] } 26... Rxb8 { [%emt 0:0:0] Black, again, is a pawn up, but in this case, he still has some slightly awkward problems to solve regarding the Knight on f5. As well, in general, White's Bishops are very strong, and the c8 piece will find it hard to locate an ideal square. } 27. g4 { [%emt 0:0:12] At first glance, it might look like Black is losing a piece at the end of the line. He can rescue it, however: } 27... Rb1+ { [%emt 0:0:7] } 28. Kg2 { [%emt 0:0:10] } 28... Ne3+ { [%emt 0:0:0] This is slightly inaccurate. } (28... Nh4+ 29. Kg3 g5! { is a neat idea which I hadn't seen. White can win the Bishop on c8, but he's caught in a mating net, and thus will be forced to give a perpetual. } 30. Rf8+ Kg7 31. Rxc8 Rf1 32. Rc7+ Kg8 33. Rc8+ Kg7) 29. Kh3 { [%emt 0:0:34] } (29. Kf3 { blocks the f-file. }) (29. Kg3 Rg1+) 29... Rf1 { [%emt 0:1:39] } 30. Rxf1 { [%emt 0:0:0] } 30... Nxf1 { [%emt 0:0:28] This ending should be about equal. However, in time pressure, White gets a bit careless and makes it dangerous. } 31. Kg2 { [%emt 0:0:0] } (31. Bb2 { halts the c-pawn, and White isn't in any danger. His Bishops are far superior to Black's completely unco-ordinated minors, and therefore, the first player may even be the one pressing for a win. }) 31... Nd2 { [%emt 0:0:0] } 32. Bc5?! { [%emt 0:0:25] Now Black's c-pawn is allowed to start running, and things get a bit hairy for White. I don't think he's overstepped the bounds of a draw, but it's getting a bit tricky. } (32. Bb2 Ne4 33. Kf3 { and White should be pretty safe. }) 32... c3 { [%emt 0:1:7] } 33. Bb5 { [%emt 0:0:0] } 33... c2 { [%emt 0:5:30] } (33... Nc4 { is the computer's initial suggestion, attempting to stop Ba3 as a defense to the passed pawn, however } 34. Bxc4 dxc4 35. Kf3 { just looks like a draw to me, due to the Opposite Coloured Bishops. }) 34. Ba3 { [%emt 0:0:5] } 34... Nb1 { [%emt 0:0:17] -c3xa2 } 35. Bb2 { [%emt 0:1:3] } (35. Bc1? { is natural, but would lose to } 35... Nc3 36. Bd3 Nxa2 { , because unlike in the game, the Dark Squared Bishop is under threat, so Bxc2 is not in time. }) 35... Nc3 { [%emt 0:0:30] } 36. Bd3 { [%emt 0:2:13] Just in time to save the day. } 36... Nxa2 { [%emt 0:0:9] } 37. Bxc2 { [%emt 0:0:1] Black has an extra outside passed pawn, but White's two Bishops, and the passivity of Black's own pieces make it difficult to push that pawn very far. } 37... Bd7 { [%emt 0:0:34] } 38. Bb1 { [%emt 0:1:44] } 38... Nb4 { [%emt 0:0:7] } 39. Bc3 { [%emt 0:0:1] } 39... g6 { [%emt 0:0:0] } 40. Kg3 { [%emt 0:0:20] } 40... Kf7 { [%emt 0:0:6] } 41. h4 { [%emt 0:0:52] } 41... Bb5 { [%emt 0:0:28] } 42. Kf4 { [%emt 0:0:38] } 42... Nc6 { [%emt 0:0:8] } 43. h5 { [%emt 0:0:28] } 43... a4?! { [%emt 0:0:22] This is probably a bit inaccurate. Now the g6 pawn will inevitably fall after hxg6 and Kg5, and Black's chances of winning diminish. } (43... gxh5! { might be worth a try, creating a second weakness on the opposite flank. I still don't think Black is winning, though, after a sequence such as: } 44. gxh5 Kg7 45. Kg5 h6+ 46. Kf4 a4 47. Ke3 a3 48. Bc2 a2 49. Kd2 Kf7 50. Kc1 Be2 51. Bb3 Bxh5 52. Bxa2 Bg4 53. Kd2 Kg6 54. Ke3 Kg5 { A similar situation to the game: Black has an outside passed pawn (on the opposite flank this time), but it may not be enough to win the game. }) 44. hxg6+ { [%emt 0:0:49] } 44... hxg6 { [%emt 0:0:5] } 45. Bb2 { [%emt 0:0:43] } 45... a3!? { [%emt 0:1:38] An attempt to change the nature of the position - White's Bishops are covering the a-file very well, so Black exchanges his passed a-pawn for a passed d-pawn. } (45... Nb4 { is the only move the computer doesn't rate at 0.00, but it's just as drawn as anything else. } 46. Bc3 Nd3+ 47. Bxd3 Bxd3 { Black doesn't even really have practical chances here. It's just a draw. }) 46. Bxa3 { [%emt 0:0:32] } 46... Nxd4 { [%emt 0:0:6] } 47. Bb2 { [%emt 0:0:43] } 47... Ne2+ { [%emt 0:4:8] } 48. Kg5 { [%emt 0:0:4] } 48... d4 { [%emt 0:0:18] } 49. Bxg6+ { [%emt 0:0:40] } 49... Kg7 { [%emt 0:0:14] } 50. Bc2 { [%emt 0:0:34] } 50... d3 { [%emt 0:0:0] } 51. Bd1 { [%emt 0:0:19] } 51... Bc4?! { [%emt 0:0:25] This allows White to draw very simply by taking on e2 and going for the OCB ending. However, the alternative doesn't objectively lead anywhere either: } (51... d2 52. Ba1 Ng1 53. Bd4! (53. Bc3?? Nh3+ 54. Kh4 Nf2 $19) 53... Be2 (53... Nh3+ 54. Kh4 Nf4 55. Kg5 Ne2 56. Bb2) 54. Bxg1 Bxd1 55. Be3) 52. Bxe2 { [%emt 0:0:31] } 52... dxe2 { [%emt 0:0:5] } 53. Bc3 { [%emt 0:0:1] } 53... Bd3 { [%emt 0:0:17] } 54. Bd2 { [%emt 0:0:7] } 54... Bc4 { [%emt 0:0:10] } 55. Bc3 { [%emt 0:0:1] } 55... Bd3 { [%emt 0:0:0] } 56. Bd2 { [%emt 0:0:1] } 56... Bc4 { [%emt 0:0:5] } 57. Bc3 { ½-½ The game is a draw. } 1/2-1/2