[Event "North American Corporate Chess League (MAIN)"] [Site "https://lichess.org/KUS8yO5D"] [Date "2024.02.23"] [Round "1.101"] [White "BARYSHPOLETS, ANDREY (PWC)"] [Black "DESMARAIS, NICHOLAS (DRW)"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2626"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackElo "2183"] [BlackTitle "NM"] [TimeControl "600+2"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D37"] [Opening "Queen's Gambit Declined: Harrwitz Attack, Two Knights Defense, Blockade Line"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/kyrongriffith"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/4TKL7CNW/FJpobq6t"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 { [%eval 0.15] [%clk 0:09:53] } 1... d5 { [%eval 0.25] [%clk 0:09:46] } 2. c4 { [%eval 0.26] [%clk 0:09:51] } 2... e6 { [%eval 0.28] [%clk 0:09:46] } 3. Nc3 { [%eval 0.24] [%clk 0:09:46] } 3... Be7 { [%eval 0.27] } { The Be7 before Nf6 move order is a subtle touch intended to avoid the exchange QGD which is known to be annoying for black. } { [%clk 0:09:47] } (3... Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Be7 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. Nge2 { The whole reason why this system is annoying for black: white is able to develop the king's knight to e2, often heading to g3 in order to support an f3 and e4 break in the center later. }) 4. Nf3 { [%eval 0.2] [%clk 0:09:44] } 4... Nf6 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:09:47] } 5. Bf4 { [%eval 0.31] } { We find ourselves in a very classical QGD position, played millions of times in the lichess database. } { [%clk 0:09:45] } 5... O-O { [%eval 0.27] [%clk 0:09:44] } 6. e3 { [%eval 0.33] [%clk 0:09:46] } 6... Nbd7 { [%eval 0.17] [%clk 0:09:44] } 7. c5 { [%eval 0.32] } { This is a counter-intuitive idea to release the tension in the center, but concretely the gain of space is a good thing for white. If black could engineer an e5 break, then black would be happy but it is quite hard to do in this position. } { [%clk 0:08:51] } 7... c6 { [%eval 0.24] [%clk 0:09:44] } 8. h3 { [%eval 0.36] [%clk 0:08:39] } 8... b6 { [%eval 0.34] [%clk 0:09:42] } 9. b4 { [%eval 0.31] [%clk 0:08:40] } 9... a5 { [%eval 0.33] [%clk 0:09:43] } 10. a3 { [%eval 0.32] } { The position becomes very tense. Whoever releases the tension first will fall into the worse position, so both sides properly maintain the tension. } { [%clk 0:08:41] } 10... h6 { [%eval 0.28] [%clk 0:09:44] } (10... axb4? 11. axb4 Rxa1 12. Qxa1 bxc5 13. bxc5 { To illustrate what happens if black relieves the tension: white has a dominating space advantage, control of the queenside and black faces real troubles developing the rest of their forces. }) 11. Bd3 { [%eval 0.34] [%clk 0:08:40] } 11... Ba6 { [%eval 0.35] } { A typical way for black to exchange their bad bishop for white's good bishop } { [%clk 0:09:44] } 12. O-O { [%eval 0.28] [%clk 0:08:24] } 12... Qc8 { [%eval 0.26] [%clk 0:09:43] } 13. Rc1 { [%eval 0.26] [%clk 0:07:41] } 13... Qb7? { [%eval 0.86] } { Just a bit careless and now the GM finds a strong tactical breakthrough } { [%clk 0:09:04] } (13... axb4 14. axb4 Bxd3 15. Qxd3 Qb7 { Would have kept the balance, importantly not allowing any serious b5 breakthroughs. }) 14. b5! { [%eval 0.92] [%clk 0:07:32] } 14... cxb5 { [%eval 1.05] [%clk 0:08:21] } 15. c6 { [%eval 1.01] [%clk 0:07:29] } 15... Qxc6 { [%eval 0.95] [%clk 0:08:18] } 16. Nxb5 { [%eval 0.91] [%clk 0:07:29] } 16... Bxb5 { [%eval 0.95] [%clk 0:07:13] } (16... Qb7? { trying to save the queen is hopeless } 17. Rc7 Qb8 18. Rxd7 { black is losing everything }) 17. Rxc6 { [%eval 0.55] [%clk 0:07:29] } 17... Bxc6 { [%eval 0.59] [%clk 0:07:14] } 18. Qb3 { [%eval 0.56] } { Material is technically equal! Black has a rook, knight and pawn for the queen. However black still suffers from a lack of coordination. } { [%clk 0:06:35] } 18... Rfc8 { [%eval 0.56] [%clk 0:06:16] } 19. Rc1 { [%eval 0.78] [%clk 0:05:14] } 19... Bb7? { [%eval 1.99] } { Allowing a deadly invasion. Black's defensive task was already very difficult though. } { [%clk 0:05:27] } (19... a4 20. Qb2 b5! { is the engine recommendation to dynamically swap the a3 and b5 pawns in order to create an annoying passer on the a-file } 21. Bxb5 Bxa3 22. Qxa3 Bxb5 23. Rxc8+ Rxc8 24. Qb4 Be2 25. Ne5 Nxe5 26. Bxe5 Bd1 { Black should be holding with accurate play, but white is still having all the fun. }) 20. Rc7 { [%eval 1.33] [%clk 0:05:00] } 20... Rxc7 { [%eval 1.29] [%clk 0:04:44] } 21. Bxc7 { [%eval 1.42] [%clk 0:05:02] } 21... Bd8 { [%eval 2.53] [%clk 0:04:44] } 22. Bxd8 { [%eval 2.51] [%clk 0:03:46] } 22... Rxd8 { [%eval 2.46] [%clk 0:04:43] } 23. Bb5 { [%eval 2.27] } { The trades favor white as black's queenside pawns will become weaker and weaker. } { [%clk 0:03:47] } 23... Rc8 { [%eval 2.23] [%clk 0:04:30] } 24. Qa4 { [%eval 2.19] [%clk 0:03:41] } 24... Rc7 { [%eval 2.11] [%clk 0:04:23] } 25. Bxd7 { [%eval 1.55] [%clk 0:03:25] } 25... Nxd7 { [%eval 1.57] [%clk 0:04:21] } 26. Ne5 { [%eval 1.38] [%clk 0:03:26] } 26... Nxe5 { [%eval 1.4] [%clk 0:04:07] } 27. Qe8+?! { [%eval 0.36] } { This allows a beautiful defensive idea for black } { [%clk 0:03:26] } (27. dxe5 d4 28. Qxd4 { makes all the difference }) 27... Kh7 { [%eval 0.37] [%clk 0:04:08] } 28. dxe5 { [%eval 0.44] [%clk 0:03:28] } 28... Kg6? { [%eval 3.01] [%clk 0:03:30] } (28... d4!! { is a very nice sacrifice, opening up the Bb7. } 29. exd4 Bd5 30. Qb8 Rc1+ 31. Kh2 Rc2 { and black has serious counterplay resulting in dynamic equality. }) 29. Qb8 { [%eval 2.82] } { Black's pieces are too clumsy and as a result a queenside pawn will fall } { [%clk 0:03:17] } 29... Rc1+ { [%eval 3.02] [%clk 0:02:35] } 30. Kh2 { [%eval 2.85] [%clk 0:03:17] } 30... Bc6 { [%eval 3.32] [%clk 0:02:36] } 31. Qxb6 { [%eval 3.01] [%clk 0:03:17] } 31... a4 { [%eval 3.45] [%clk 0:02:37] } 32. Qb2 { [%eval 3.86] [%clk 0:02:57] } 32... Rc4 { [%eval 3.85] } { For the moment it looks like black has setup a fortress. All of black's pieces and pawns are defended - how can white win? } { [%clk 0:02:25] } 33. Qb1+ { [%eval 3.74] [%clk 0:02:55] } 33... f5 { [%eval 3.57] [%clk 0:02:05] } 34. g4! { [%eval 3.42] } { Breaking the fortress immediately. Black's king is in much more danger than white's. } { [%clk 0:02:49] } 34... Be8 { [%eval 4.52] [%clk 0:01:27] } 35. gxf5+ { [%eval 4.57] [%clk 0:02:41] } 35... exf5 { [%eval 4.53] [%clk 0:01:28] } 36. Qb8 { [%eval 4.46] [%clk 0:02:34] } 36... Bf7 { [%eval 4.48] [%clk 0:01:08] } 37. Qd6+ { [%eval 4.74] [%clk 0:02:31] } 37... Kh7 { [%eval 4.71] [%clk 0:01:09] } 38. e6 { [%eval 4.61] } { Suddenly black's position is completely hopeless. An instructive conversion from the GM. As Magnus Carlsen once said "I don't believe in fortresses". } { [%clk 0:02:30] } 38... Bg6 { [%eval 4.55] [%clk 0:01:07] } 39. Qxd5 { [%eval 4.38] [%clk 0:02:22] } 39... Re4 { [%eval 4.45] [%clk 0:01:07] } 40. Kg3 { [%eval 4.37] [%clk 0:02:05] } 40... h5 { [%eval 4.29] [%clk 0:01:05] } 41. Qc6 { [%eval 4.33] [%clk 0:01:14] } 41... Kh6 { [%eval 4.6] [%clk 0:00:51] } 42. Qb6 { [%eval 4.54] [%clk 0:01:00] } 42... Kh7 { [%eval 4.69] [%clk 0:00:45] } 43. f3 { [%eval 4.53] [%clk 0:00:58] } 43... Re5 { [%eval 5.86] [%clk 0:00:36] } 44. Kf4 { [%eval 5.67] [%clk 0:00:51] } 1-0