[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/otnfo98g"] [Date "2018.03.28"] [Round "-"] [White "f1nn33"] [Black "s2004k1993"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2022"] [BlackElo "2165"] [TimeControl "2700+45"] [Termination "Normal"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A45"] [Opening "Indian Defense"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/5wYcdjXQ/EZkYfv54"] [Orientation "black"] { London System. A board 1 brawl! Two of the strongest players in the 45+45 league courageously navigate through a complex middlegame. Not for the faint of heart. } 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 c5 { This line resembles a Queen's Gambit with reversed colors. White has gotten the bishop outside of the pawn chain, but as a consequence the b2-pawn is undefended. } 4. dxc5 Nc6 5. Bb5 e6 { Looking like a Queen's Gambit Accepted! The extra tempo white has makes it easier to hold onto the extra pawn. } (5... Qa5+ 6. Nc3 { leads to some interesting complications after } 6... a6 7. Bxc6+ bxc6 8. Qd4 e6 9. b4 Qa3 10. Nge2 a5 { , where while Stockfish says the line is equal, } 11. b5 { has won white all 4 games in the database. }) 6. b4 a5 7. c3 Ne4 { A move that has been played once (and successfully), but I don't understand it. The move looks aggressive, but not all of the play on the queenside has been developed yet. } (7... Bd7 { is the theoretical move and threatens to start a fight on the queenside. }) 8. f3 { A novelty. Its merit is a little suspect to me thanks to Ben Finegold, but surely it's simply a free tempo against the knight? } (8. Nf3 g5 9. Be5 f6 10. Bg3 h5 11. h4 Nxg3 12. fxg3 { Meister, Jak - Naumann, Al, 0-1, World Rapid 2015, https://lichess.org/lGZySeA6 }) 8... Nf6 9. Ne2 Be7 10. Nd4 Bd7 11. Bxc6 bxc6 (11... Bxc6 { is possibly slightly preferable. Instead of entombing a bad piece and having to reroute it to a6, there exists a dynamic option of breaking in the center and playing against the f3-weakened kingside. }) 12. b5 { Possibly a bit too ambitious, and it gets white into some trouble later on. There was no immediate danger, so getting developed and castling wouldn't have been a bad idea. } 12... Bxc5 { The correct capture. } (12... cxb5 13. c6 Bc8 14. Nxb5 { is no fun for black. }) 13. bxc6 (13. Nxc6 Bxc6 14. bxc6 Qb6 { looks dreadful for white. }) 13... Bc8 14. Nb5 O-O 15. a4 e5 { A very difficult move to turn down! On capturing, white helps black obtain counterplay in the center. } (15... Qb6 { first is a promising move as well, practically regaining the pawn on the spot if needed. } 16. Nc7 Ra7 17. Nb5 Re7 { is super clumsy, but black looks like he's in good shape with the e-pawn rolling. }) 16. Bg5 (16. Bxe5 Bxe3 17. Bd4 Re8 18. Bxe3 Rxe3+ 19. Kf2 Re6 { is supposedly "equal"... Black seems to be doing just fine here! }) 16... Qb6 17. c7 Bxe3 18. Bxf6 gxf6 (18... Qxf6 { is the other capture, and arguably stronger because it repositions the queen and threatens to create further weaknesses. Also, the d-pawn is poisoned. } 19. Qxd5 Be6 20. Qd3 Bb6 { and two bishops dominate the open game. }) 19. Qxd5 Bb7 20. Qd6 Bc6 21. N1a3 { Accurate play by white saddles black with difficult questions. For one, how does black use the two bishops while keeping queens on the board? } 21... Bf2+ 22. Kf1 Bc5 23. Qd3 Bxa3 { Tragically, black is unable to do anything more with the bishop pair, and must give it all away. } 24. Rxa3 Bxb5 25. axb5 Qxc7 26. Kf2 { An unfortunate blunder to seal the game, but this final position is interesting. White has a menacing endgame with two connected passed pawns on the queenside. If the rooks get coordinated and the king gets safe, white has excellent chances to win. Alternatively, white can play for checkmate in the endgame. } (26. Ra4 Rfd8 27. Rg4+ Kf8 28. Qxh7 Qxc3 29. Kf2 Ke7 30. Qe4 { and black might be slightly better, but practically this could go both ways. }) (26. g3 { is another option just trying to get the king to a safer spot. Black is still possibly better due to more harmonious piece coordination. }) 26... Qc5+ { White resigns. 0-1. A really interesting, confrontational game. Hopefully there are more of these in future rounds! } 0-1