[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/cbiNTv03"] [Date "2020.10.31"] [White "axel_muller"] [Black "ky_pepper"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2070"] [WhiteTitle "NM"] [BlackElo "1500"] [TimeControl "3600+10"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A20"] [Opening "English Opening: King's English Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/axel_muller"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/3PMGTRza/SPZhtdUr"] [Orientation "white"] 1. c4 { [%clk 1:00:00] } 1... e5 { [%clk 1:00:00] } 2. g3 { [%clk 1:00:03] } 2... Nf6 { [%clk 1:00:01] } 3. Bg2 { [%clk 1:00:07] } 3... Nc6 { [%clk 1:00:03] } 4. Nf3 { [%clk 1:00:07] } 4... Bc5 { [%clk 0:59:57] } 5. O-O { [%clk 0:59:57] } 5... O-O { [%clk 1:00:00] } 6. Nc3 { [%clk 0:59:23] } (6. Nxe5 { This thematic move gives white the advantage. I wasn't sure how to evaluate the following position } 6... Nxe5 7. d4 Nxc4 8. dxc5 { I thought the position looks promising with the bishop pair but I wasn't sure about black's counterplay on the e-file and the fate of the c-pawn. }) 6... d6 { [%clk 0:59:55] } 7. a3 { [%clk 0:59:15] } 7... Be6 { more common are: } { [%clk 0:59:39] } (7... a6) (7... a5) 8. d3 { [%clk 0:59:08] } 8... h6 { [%clk 0:59:36] } 9. b4 { [%clk 0:58:36] } 9... Bb6 { [%clk 0:59:38] } 10. Bb2 { [%clk 0:57:16] } (10. Bd2 { Looks like a good alternative. From here the bishop can control both b4 and a5 and it doesn't block the b-file. }) 10... Qd7 { [%clk 0:58:45] } 11. e3 { unfortunately, } { [%clk 0:52:08] } (11. c5 { doesn't give white too much after } 11... dxc5 12. b5 Na5 13. Nxe5 Qd6) 11... Bg4 { [%clk 0:56:36] } 12. Qc2 { [%clk 0:50:38] } (12. Qb3? { [%csl Gb4][%cal Ga3a4] } 12... Qf5) 12... Rad8 { [%clk 0:54:53] } 13. Nd5? { This is a mistake. White should have continued to improve his position. } { [%clk 0:45:23] } (13. Rfe1 { with the idea of preserving the light-square bishop. } 13... Bh3 14. Bh1) 13... Nxd5 { [%clk 0:54:37] } 14. cxd5 { [%clk 0:45:33] } 14... Ne7 { [%clk 0:54:42] } 15. Nd2 { [%clk 0:44:26] } 15... Bh3 { [%clk 0:51:42] } 16. Qc4 { [%clk 0:40:51] } 16... Bxg2 { [%clk 0:51:03] } 17. Kxg2 { [%clk 0:40:46] } 17... a5 { [%clk 0:51:02] } 18. bxa5? { [%clk 0:37:22] } (18. d4 { holds the balance }) 18... Bxa5 { [%clk 0:51:08] } 19. Nb3 { [%clk 0:37:26] } 19... b5! { Now black is better } { [%csl Gb5] [%clk 0:50:03] } 20. Qc2 { [%clk 0:36:01] } 20... Bb6 { [%clk 0:49:57] } 21. e4 { [%clk 0:33:14] } 21... f5 { [%clk 0:48:25] } 22. d4 { [%clk 0:29:30] } 22... fxe4 { [%clk 0:44:54] } 23. Qxe4 { [%clk 0:26:00] } 23... Nf5 { [%clk 0:45:03] } (23... Qf5) 24. dxe5 { [%clk 0:25:13] } 24... dxe5 { [%clk 0:45:03] } 25. Rad1 { [%clk 0:24:06] } (25. Bxe5 { was better }) 25... Qf7 { a good move. Worth considering was } { [%clk 0:43:22] } (25... Nd6! { d6 is a great square for the knight. } 26. Qxe5? { loses to } 26... Nc4 27. Qc3 Rxf2+ 28. Rxf2 Ne3+ $19) 26. Rd3 { [%clk 0:23:01] } 26... Ne7 { [%clk 0:41:30] } (26... Nd6! { was a stronger continuation }) 27. Bxe5 { [%cal Gf2f4] [%clk 0:16:59] } 27... Rxd5 { [%clk 0:40:56] } 28. Rxd5 { [%clk 0:16:26] } 28... Qxd5 { [%clk 0:41:03] } 29. Qxd5+ { [%clk 0:16:33] } 29... Nxd5 { Black lost his advantage. The position is now completely equal. } { [%clk 0:41:13] } 30. Bd4 { This doesn't change too much but black just spend a tempo to improve white's position. } { [%clk 0:15:52] } 30... Bxd4?! { [%clk 0:39:40] } (30... Ra8 31. Bxb6 Rxa3 32. Bxc7 Nxc7 33. Nd4 $10) 31. Nxd4 { [%clk 0:15:58] } 31... b4 { [%clk 0:39:47] } 32. axb4 { [%clk 0:15:59] } 32... Nxb4 { White's position improved ever so slightly. The weak pawn on a3 is exchanged and white's pieces are a bit more active. The passed pawn on the c-file might be a liability. } { [%clk 0:39:56] } 33. Ne6 { [%clk 0:14:07] } 33... Rc8 { [%csl Gc7] [%clk 0:39:47] } 34. Rd1 { The idea was to threaten an invasion and to cut off the knight. } { [%clk 0:13:09] } (34. Rc1 { was a safer choice }) 34... Kf7 { black should have ignored the threat and played } { [%clk 0:39:20] } (34... c5 35. Rd7 g5 { white has to be careful not to overdo it. } 36. f4 (36. Rg7+ Kh8 37. Rg6 Kh7 38. Rg7+ Kh8) 36... c4 37. fxg5 hxg5 (37... c3 38. gxh6 c2 39. Rg7+ Kh8 40. Ng5 Rf8 41. Rh7+ Kg8 42. Rg7+) 38. Rg7+ Kh8 39. Rxg5) 35. Nc5 { [%clk 0:13:12] } 35... Kf6 { [%clk 0:38:15] } 36. h4 { [%clk 0:12:52] } 36... Nc6 { [%clk 0:37:42] } 37. Rd7 { [%clk 0:11:39] } 37... Ne5 { [%clk 0:37:01] } 38. Rd2 { [%clk 0:11:27] } 38... g5! { [%cal Gh4h5] [%clk 0:36:16] } 39. hxg5+ { [%clk 0:09:23] } (39. h5 g4 { [%csl Gg3][%cal Ge5f3,Gc8a8,Ga8a1,Ga1g1] }) 39... hxg5 { [%clk 0:36:23] } 40. f3 { [%clk 0:09:28] } 40... Ra8! { Black activates his rook and the game should end in a draw soon. } { [%clk 0:34:32] } 41. Rc2 { [%cal Ga8a3] [%clk 0:08:01] } 41... Rc8? { one of the most important features in endings involving rooks is rook activity. } { [%clk 0:34:34] } 42. Ne4+ { [%clk 0:08:03] } 42... Kf5?? { [%clk 0:34:42] } 43. Rc5?? { mutual blindness } { [%clk 0:07:47] } (43. Nd6+ cxd6 44. Rxc8 { White still has to overcome some technical challenges here but winning this position shouldn't be too difficult. }) 43... Ra8 { [%clk 0:34:20] } 44. Rxc7?? { I was still in shock after having missed the golden opportunity in the last move. } { [%clk 0:07:14] } (44. Nxg5 { gives white decent winning chances too. }) 44... Ra2+ { black has many options to make a draw here } { [%clk 0:34:28] } 45. Kf1 { [%clk 0:06:01] } 45... Nxf3 { [%clk 0:34:29] } 46. Nf2 { [%clk 0:06:06] } 46... Nd2+ { [%clk 0:33:49] } 47. Kg1 { [%clk 0:05:29] } 47... Ne4?! { This move doesn't spoil anything but black makes his life a bit more difficult. I like } { [%clk 0:32:50] } (47... Kg6 { The white king remains blocked off and white can't make any progress. There were many other options, including the game continuation to make a draw though. }) 48. g4+ { [%clk 0:04:59] } 48... Kf4 { [%clk 0:32:14] } 49. Rf7+ { [%clk 0:05:04] } 49... Ke3 { [%clk 0:32:19] } (49... Kg3 50. Nxe4+ Kxg4) 50. Nxe4 { [%clk 0:04:40] } 50... Kxe4 { [%clk 0:32:27] } 51. Rf5 { White wins a pawn but shouldn't be able to keep the extra pawn. } { [%clk 0:04:46] } 51... Rd2 { [%clk 0:32:12] } (51... Ra1+ 52. Kg2 Ra2+ 53. Kf1 Ra1+ 54. Ke2 Ra2+ 55. Kd1 Kd3 (55... Rg2)) 52. Rxg5 { [%clk 0:04:40] } 52... Kf4 { [%clk 0:32:17] } 53. Rg8 { [%clk 0:04:46] } 53... Rd3 { It's still a draw, but again black makes his life more difficult than need to be. The easiest continuation was } { [%clk 0:32:07] } (53... Rd5 { with the idea of Rg5 wins the pawn. }) 54. Kh2 { [%clk 0:04:22] } 54... Rd5 { not as strong as before, although the position is still a draw. } { [%clk 0:31:02] } 55. Kh3 { [%clk 0:04:17] } 55... Rd3+?? { pushing the white king where it needs to be. Black is lost now. } { [%clk 0:30:44] } (55... Rd1 { and white still can't make any progress Since Kh4 now wouldn't be that great. }) 56. Kh4 { [%clk 0:04:24] } 56... Rd1 { [%clk 0:30:21] } 57. Rf8+ { [%clk 0:04:30] } 57... Ke5 { The king is separated from the passed pawn and it's all over now. } { [%clk 0:30:28] } 58. Kg5 { [%clk 0:04:36] } 58... Rh1 { [%clk 0:29:40] } 59. Re8+ { [%clk 0:04:43] } 59... Kd6 { [%clk 0:29:45] } 60. Kg6 { [%clk 0:04:47] } 60... Kd7 { [%clk 0:29:52] } 61. Re2 { [%clk 0:04:53] } 61... Rh8 { [%clk 0:29:57] } 62. Kg7 { [%clk 0:04:57] } 62... Rh3 { [%clk 0:30:06] } 63. g5 { [%clk 0:05:04] } 63... Rg3 { [%clk 0:30:15] } 64. g6 { [%clk 0:05:12] } 64... Kd6 { [%clk 0:30:20] } 65. Kf7 { [%clk 0:05:17] } 65... Rf3+ { [%clk 0:30:24] } 66. Kg8 { [%clk 0:05:25] } 66... Rg3 { [%clk 0:30:33] } 67. g7 { [%clk 0:05:34] } (67. Rh2 Rxg6+) 67... Rf3 { [%cal Ge2e4,Ge4h4,Ge2h2] [%clk 0:30:35] } 68. Re4 { played on autopilot with the aim of building the bridge, but quicker was } { [%clk 0:05:17] } (68. Rh2 { immideately }) 68... Rf6 { not that it makes a difference here, but generally in positions like this the rook should stay away as for as possible from the enemy king. } { [%clk 0:30:37] } (68... Rh3 69. Kf7 Rf3+ 70. Kg6 Rg3+ 71. Kf6 Rf3+ 72. Kg5 Rg3+ 73. Rg4 { that was the idea behind Re4. }) 69. Kh7 { being so close to the king deprives black of any checks but with the white rook in position to build the bridge that doesn't make a difference. } { [%clk 0:05:12] } 69... Rf7 { [%clk 0:30:43] } 70. Kg6 { [%clk 0:05:14] } 70... Rxg7+ { [%clk 0:30:26] } 71. Kxg7 { [%clk 0:05:21] } 71... Kd5 { [%clk 0:30:29] } 72. Re7 { [%clk 0:05:29] } 72... Kd6 { [%clk 0:30:37] } 73. Kf6 { [%clk 0:05:37] } 73... Kd5 { [%clk 0:30:47] } 74. Kf5 { [%clk 0:05:46] } 74... Kd6 { [%clk 0:30:56] } 75. Rf7 { [%clk 0:05:55] } 75... Kd5 { [%clk 0:31:05] } 76. Rd7+ { [%clk 0:06:04] } 76... Kc6 { [%clk 0:31:14] } 77. Ke6 { [%clk 0:06:14] } 77... Kc5 { [%clk 0:31:23] } 78. Ke5 { [%clk 0:06:23] } 78... Kc6 { [%clk 0:31:33] } 79. Re7 { [%clk 0:06:32] } 79... Kc5 { [%clk 0:31:42] } 80. Rc7+ { [%clk 0:06:41] } 80... Kb5 { [%clk 0:31:51] } 81. Kd6 { [%clk 0:06:51] } 81... Kb6 { [%clk 0:32:00] } 82. Rc5 { [%clk 0:07:00] } 82... Kb7 { [%clk 0:32:09] } 83. Kd7 { [%clk 0:07:08] } 83... Kb6 { [%clk 0:32:18] } 84. Rh5 { [%clk 0:07:17] } 84... Kb7 { [%clk 0:32:27] } 85. Rb5+ { [%clk 0:07:24] } 85... Ka8 { [%clk 0:32:37] } 86. Kc6 { [%clk 0:07:34] } 86... Ka7 { [%clk 0:32:46] } 87. Kc7 { [%clk 0:07:43] } 87... Ka8 { [%clk 0:32:55] } 88. Ra5# { 1-0 White wins by checkmate. } { [%clk 0:07:39] } 1-0