[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/M7T3K50r"] [Date "2021.03.20"] [White "ElAurens"] [Black "Gambit_Guy"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "1961"] [BlackElo "2013"] [TimeControl "3600+10"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B00"] [Opening "Nimzowitsch Defense: Declined Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ElAurens"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/4LEV0fnx/HsMn5YC7"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 1:00:00] } 1... Nc6 { [%clk 1:00:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 1:00:04] } 2... d5 { [%clk 1:00:08] } 3. exd5 { [%clk 1:00:08] } 3... Qxd5 { [%clk 1:00:18] } 4. Nc3 { [%clk 1:00:04] } 4... Qa5 { [%clk 1:00:25] } 5. Bb5 { The Scandinavian Defense is a good line to play against me. I have trouble against it because it's different from other lines and it's not often played. One idea behind 5.Bb5 is that if Black plays 5...Bg4, White can take on c6, doubling the pawns and making Kingside castling preferred, which is still 4 moves away. } { [%clk 0:59:52] } 5... Bd7 { [%clk 0:59:36] } 6. d4 { [%clk 0:54:20] } 6... a6 { [%clk 0:58:36] } 7. Ba4 { [%clk 0:50:36] } 7... O-O-O { One thing that definitely bothers me, as White, is the Black Rook and my Queen both on the d-file. } { [%clk 0:57:55] } 8. Bxc6 { [%clk 0:47:12] } (8. O-O { was my instinct, but somehow I was bothered by that d-file situation. For example, after } 8... Nxd4 (8... Nf6 { is more like a main line, and after } 9. Be3 e6 10. Bxc6 Bxc6 11. Ne5 { This plan is working better. }) 9. Qxd4 { wins. If } 9... Bxa4 { then just } 10. Qxa4 { Somehow, I couldn't see this. }) 8... Bxc6 { [%clk 0:57:40] } 9. Ne5 { This idea is not so bad, but it is much better if White castles first as in the previous note. } { [%clk 0:47:12] } 9... Be8 { Unexpected. Now this position seemed good to me, as it's going to take some time for Black to develop and connect the Rooks. However, the computer sees it as about equal. White still has to castle and solve that d-file problem before thinking about advancing pawns on the Queenside against the Black King. Black will be able to catch up. } { [%clk 0:56:45] } (9... Bd5 { This is what I expected, but Black's actual move is much better. After } 10. O-O Nf6 11. b4 Qxb4 { White can solve the problem of the unprotected Knight on c3 by taking on d5. } 12. Nxd5 Rxd5 13. Be3 $16 { And now White is ready to try to start the attack on the King. The e7-pawn is hanging, too. }) (9... Bxg2? { would lose the Bishop to } 10. Qg4+) 10. O-O { [%clk 0:46:24] } 10... f6 { [%clk 0:51:38] } 11. Qg4+ { [%clk 0:39:54] } 11... Kb8 { [%clk 0:51:27] } 12. Nf3 { [%clk 0:39:55] } (12. Nd3! $14 { is better. After } 12... Bd7 13. Qg3 e6 { White can finally get energetic with } 14. d5) 12... h5 { [%clk 0:45:03] } (12... Bf7 { is better, with the idea of } 13. Be3 e6 $15 { establishing a strong point at d5 so Black's pieces can develop. }) 13. Qe4 $10 { [%clk 0:38:40] } 13... Bc6 { [%clk 0:42:24] } 14. Qe2 { The Queen was restricted a bit after Nf3, but has found a decent square. } { [%clk 0:38:22] } 14... e6 { [%clk 0:34:24] } 15. a3 { Black takes over after this move. } { [%clk 0:35:41] } (15. Qxe6 $7 { was the only way to keep it equal, according to the computer. White will be looking at d5 and also Rd1 in the various lines. For example, } 15... Bxf3 (15... Bb4 16. d5 Bd7 17. Qe3 Ne7 18. Bd2 $10 { This computer line may be equal, but at each point, Black always has several decent choices of what to play, but White only has one. }) 16. gxf3 h4 17. Rd1 $10) 15... h4! $17 { [%clk 0:26:27] } 16. Be3 { I have been trying to get to the right moment and position to advance the Queenside pawns and maybe open lines, but it hasn't arrived yet. But now the QR is protected and maybe I can get in b2-b4-b5. Still, taking the e-pawn was a bit better. } { [%clk 0:28:11] } (16. Qxe6) 16... Qf5 $17 { [%clk 0:19:47] } 17. d5 { Trying to avoid the exchanges on f3, which would weaken the Kingside. } { [%clk 0:25:18] } 17... Bxd5 { [%clk 0:17:04] } 18. Nd4 { [%clk 0:25:17] } 18... Qg6 { [%clk 0:15:39] } 19. Nxd5 { [%clk 0:25:09] } 19... exd5 { Finally, a chance to advance on the Queenside. } { [%clk 0:15:35] } 20. b4? { [%clk 0:24:05] } (20. Ne6! { is better! This gets back to equality! } 20... h3 21. g3 Re8 22. Bf4 $10) 20... h3 $17 { [%clk 0:14:29] } 21. g3 { [%clk 0:24:01] } 21... Nh6 { [%clk 0:13:24] } 22. b5 { At last, contact with the Black pawn formation. } { [%clk 0:21:21] } 22... Re8 { [%clk 0:10:53] } 23. bxa6 { [%clk 0:18:03] } (23. Rfb1 { Gives White more options, for example } 23... Qe4 24. Qf1 $17) 23... Qe4 $7 { Black's only move, but definitely good enough. } { [%clk 0:09:50] } 24. Qf3 { [%clk 0:17:47] } 24... Qxf3 { [%clk 0:07:15] } 25. Nxf3 { [%clk 0:17:52] } 25... Ng4! { Computer-best. } { [%clk 0:06:14] } 26. Rab1 { [%clk 0:14:26] } 26... b6 { [%clk 0:05:49] } 27. Nd4? { [%clk 0:14:26] } 27... Nxe3 $19 { [%clk 0:05:35] } 28. fxe3 { [%clk 0:14:02] } (28. Rfe1 { I missed this idea. Still, Black wins with } 28... Bc5 29. fxe3 Rxe3! 30. Nc6+ Kc8 31. Rxe3 Bxe3+ 32. Kf1) 28... Rxe3 $19 { [%clk 0:05:14] } 29. Nc6+ { [%clk 0:13:20] } 29... Ka8? { [%clk 0:04:45] } (29... Kc8 $19 { makes it easier }) 30. Rbe1 { Ooops! As soon as I made the move, I realized my King gets forced to h1, losing valuable time. } { [%clk 0:12:43] } (30. Rfe1 { was better, and now best is } 30... Re4 $19) 30... Bc5! { [%clk 0:03:48] } 31. Rxe3 { [%clk 0:12:47] } 31... Bxe3+ { [%clk 0:03:57] } 32. Kh1 { This is terrible. Now White has a weak back rank. } { [%clk 0:12:49] } 32... Bc5 { [%clk 0:03:42] } (32... Re8! { makes the most of it. And the pin } 33. Re1 { is answered with } 33... Re4!) 33. Re1 { [%clk 0:12:07] } 33... Bxa3 { [%clk 0:03:30] } 34. Kg1 { [%clk 0:12:11] } 34... Bc5+ { [%clk 0:03:30] } 35. Kf1 { It took a while, but the King is out now. } { [%clk 0:12:18] } 35... g5 { [%clk 0:02:32] } 36. Re6 { [%clk 0:12:11] } (36. g4! $17) 36... f5 { [%clk 0:02:23] } 37. Rg6 { [%clk 0:11:30] } 37... Be3?? { [%clk 0:01:52] } (37... g4 $7 { was the only way to keep the win at this point. }) 38. Rg7 { [%clk 0:11:28] } 38... g4 $17 { [%clk 0:01:15] } 39. Rxc7 { [%clk 0:11:28] } 39... b5 $7 { Mate was threatened at a7. It's an interesting situation. The Bishop has to stay on its diagonal to prevent mate at a7, and Black's Rook has to stay on the back rank to prevent mate there. But White has to keep both the Knight and Rook where they are, in order to maintain that situation. In the meantime, Black has the Kingside pawn majority which must prove decisive. } { [%clk 0:01:14] } 40. Ke2? { [%clk 0:09:49] } (40. Rg7 $17 { After this move, Black's only move to keep the big plus is } 40... Bc5! { Black was almost in zugzwang. The only other move that's not at least a draw for White would have been 40...Rf8. } (40... Rc8 { is answered with } 41. Nb4 { and the computer says this position is 0.00. This must be because Black can't advance on the Kingside and White is holding the Queenside position. } 41... d4 42. Nd5 $10) 41. Rg6 Rc8 42. Re6 $17 (42. Rf6?? { A seemingly similar move to 42.Re6 loses quickly: } 42... f4 43. gxf4 g3 44. hxg3 Rh8! $19) 42... f4 { Now the computer demonstrates a surprising resource: } 43. gxf4 g3 44. hxg3 Rh8 45. Re1! { And here, the evaluation is 0.00. And now if } 45... h2?? { White's resource is } 46. Kg2! $18) 40... Re8 { [%clk 0:00:57] } (40... Bc5 $19 { would have taken advantage of White's last move. Now any Rook move is answered by 41...Rc8. And otherwise, 41...f4 is the winning threat. So, forced is } 41. Nd8 Re8+ 42. Kf1 Rxd8 43. Rxc5 b4 $19) 41. Kd3 { [%clk 0:09:53] } 41... Bg1 $7 $19 { Excellent. } { [%clk 0:00:50] } 42. Kc3?? { Too far away from the Kingside. Now 42...Rh8 or 42...f4 win quickly. } { [%clk 0:09:25] } 42... Bc5 { [%clk 0:00:49] } 43. Kd2 { [%clk 0:09:19] } (43. Rh7 { was necessary. }) 43... f4! $19 { [%clk 0:00:37] } 44. gxf4 { [%clk 0:09:11] } 44... g3 { [%clk 0:00:42] } 45. hxg3 { [%clk 0:08:48] } 45... Rh8 { [%clk 0:00:49] } 46. Ne5 { The only hope, but it's too late. } { [%clk 0:07:30] } 46... Bg1?? { [%clk 0:00:36] } (46... h2 { Wins by giving up the Bishop. Also, if the Bishop threatens the Rook or gives check, the win is still there. } 47. Rxc5 h1=Q $19) 47. Nf3 $10 { This was very lucky. } { [%clk 0:07:30] } 47... h2 { [%clk 0:00:43] } 48. Nxh2 { [%clk 0:07:35] } 48... Bxh2 { [%clk 0:00:52] } 49. Rc5 { I wanted to be sure to win a pawn. } { [%clk 0:06:34] } (49. Rb7 { wins the b-pawn and sidelines the Black King. If now } 49... Rb8 { then } 50. Rg7 { constricts both the Bishop and the King. }) 49... Bxg3 { [%clk 0:00:37] } 50. Rxb5 { OK, so this sidelines the King and it's going to be all right now. } { [%clk 0:06:20] } 50... Bxf4+ { [%clk 0:00:44] } 51. Kd3 { [%clk 0:06:25] } 51... Rd8 { [%clk 0:00:25] } 52. Kd4 { [%clk 0:06:29] } 52... Ka7 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 53. Rxd5 { [%clk 0:06:31] } 53... Rxd5+ { [%clk 0:00:12] } (53... Re8 { is answered by } 54. c4 { and it looks like White has a fortress with that protected Rook on a white square, so that the King ought to be safe in the corner. }) 54. Kxd5 { [%clk 0:06:37] } 54... Kxa6 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } { [%clk 0:00:21] } 1/2-1/2