[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/N6nizlJC"] [Date "2018.02.18"] [Round "-"] [White "colwem"] [Black "PsiMaster"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1648"] [BlackElo "1642"] [TimeControl "2700+45"] [Termination "Normal"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D53"] [Opening "Queen's Gambit Declined"] [StudyName "Erin's Annotated Games"] [ChapterName "colwem - PsiMaster"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/5wYcdjXQ/MrDITFgI"] [Orientation "white"] { Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation. An interesting little strategical battle where white presses and black defends. } 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. cxd5 { The common way is playing this a move earlier, but we transpose easily. } 5... exd5 6. e3 c6 { This pawn structure features many plans for both sides, and play is not limited to any one side. One very common idea for white is to undermine black's queenside via a minority attack, while black often tries to pressure white in the center of the board. In-game, white tries to acquire a strong center. } { [%csl Rc6,Rd5,Gd4,Ge3][%cal Gb2b4,Gb4b5,Rh8e8,Re8e4,Yf2f3,Ye3e4] } 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Qc2 Nbd7 9. Nge2 Re8 10. O-O Nf8 11. f3 Be6 12. e4 { A little premature. There's no real urgency to play e4, so white is probably better off developing with moves like Rad1 or Rae1. The issue with playing this so early is that the dark squares become weak. } { [%csl Rd4,Re3] } 12... dxe4 13. fxe4 Bg4 { Finally out of book. 13 moves is Master-level preparation! } (13... Ng4 { immediately targets the weak dark squares. } { [%cal Re7g5,Rg4e3] } 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Qd2 { [%cal Gd2e3] } 15... c5 16. d5 { [%csl Re5][%cal Rg4e5] } 16... Bd7 { Salem, AR Saleh - Fenollar Jorda, Manuel, 0-1, Gibraltar Masters 11th, 2013, https://lichess.org/nC4OFdjI }) 14. e5 { This isn't really a "bad move," but it rigidifies the center pawns. One of the dangers of this position is that the center pawns are also "hanging pawns," which means they can become a serious weakness in the endgame. White would like to break in the center to create some initiative instead of to harass a knight. } { [%csl Gd4,Ge5][%cal Ra8d8,Rd8d4,Re8e5] } (14. Be3 Rc8 { [%cal Rc6c5] } 15. e5 Nd5 16. Nxd5 cxd5 { is a bit different because black gets an isolated pawn. }) 14... Nd5 { [%csl Gd4,Ge5] } 15. Bxe7 Rxe7 (15... Qxe7 16. Nxd5 cxd5 { and white doesn't have hanging pawns anymore, but black has an isolated pawn just like in the previous note. }) 16. Nxd5 Qxd5 { The weakness of the hanging pawns shows. White still has a bit of initiative, but it's becoming clear that the d-pawn is difficult to defend. White attempts the correct plan of gaining space and supporting the d-file. } 17. Bc4 Qd7 18. Rad1 { [%cal Gd4d5] } 18... Rd8 19. Qe4 { [%cal Gd4d5] } 19... Bh5 20. Rd2 { This move is a little tame. White should be playing for an initiative! } (20. Qh4 { is Stockfish's find, and I like it. It attempts to resolve the problem of the pinned d2-knight in an active way. } 20... Bg4 21. h3 Be6 22. Bxe6 Qxe6 (22... Nxe6 23. Ng3 { [%cal Gg3f5] }) 23. Nf4 Qd7 24. Rfe1 { , for example. }) 20... Ne6 21. Bxe6 { Playing for the initiative would imply not trading, but this isn't a poor choice. } (21. Nf4 { is a strong option because white doesn't trade the powerful f7-attacking bishop for the defending e6-knight. }) 21... Qxe6 22. Nf4 Qh6 23. Rdf2 Bg6 24. Nxg6 { Stockfish frowns upon this move, but I don't know about that. It gives white a free attack on the kingside even if it's giving up a strong knight for a bad bishop. } (24. Qf3 Bf5 25. Qa3 { I think this would be a clear indication if someone were cheating. I doubt too many would find this maneuver. }) 24... Qxg6 25. Qh4 Rde8 (25... Red7 { may have been the better move, trying for counterplay. It's not easy to defend the d4-pawn here unless } 26. Rxf7 Qxf7 27. Rxf7 Kxf7 { happens, and here black isn't completely gasping for air. }) 26. Rf5 { [%cal Rg6e6,Re6d5] } 26... Re6 27. R1f3 { Here's where a funny sequence occurs. Over and over again, Rxf7 is a winning move, but why? } (27. Rxf7 Qxf7 28. Rxf7 Kxf7 29. Qxh7 c5 { is where I stopped calculating, and it looks double-edged. However... } 30. dxc5 Rxe5 31. Qc2 { and it's clear that with pawn majorities on both sides, while it's going to be tough to win, it's way more winning than with equal material. }) 27... Rf8 28. b4 { Here, Rxf7 is super winning. } (28. Rxf7 Qxf7 29. Rxf7 Rxf7 30. Qd8+ Rf8 31. Qd7 Ree8 32. Qxb7 { and white gobbles up the pawns. }) 28... a6 29. h3 { These pawn pushes are a little unnecessary. While they gain space, they also leave behind weaknesses because pawns can't move backwards. } (29. Qf4 { Apart from a3 because you already created a weakness, this move is my choice. Keeps the presure while improving the scope of your queen. }) 29... Qh6 { Black finally cracks under the pressure and plays a poor move after only several seconds. Now, the tactic really works. } 30. Qxh6 (30. Rxf7 { wins on the spot. Might as well shake hands. }) 30... Rxh6 31. g4 { Here the pawn pushes are acceptable because the queens are off the board, but bringing the king into the game is possibly better. } (31. Kf2) 31... Re6 32. Kg2 h6 33. Kf2 g6 { Not the best move because it creates a hole on f6. It gives white more chances to win a dead draw! } { [%csl Gf6] } (33... Rd8 { is a sensible developing move, though it requires tactics. } 34. Rxf7 Rxd4 35. Rxb7 Rxe5 { , and this should be a draw just because black's rooks are finally active, but... } 36. Rff7 g5 37. Rg7+ Kh8 38. Rh7+ Kg8 39. Rxh6 Rd2+ { is a funny perpetual I wanted to share.. } { [%cal Rg5f4,Rg5h4,Re5e1,Rd2h2,Rd1h1,Rd3g3] }) 34. Rf6 Rxf6 35. Rxf6 Kg7 36. Ke3 Rd8 37. Rd6 { Unfortunate! White should have calculated the pawn ending better - that's all there really is to say. } (37. Ke4 { is a more-or-less obvious move that further improves the king's position. This probably isn't winning, but white has great chances. }) (37. Kd3 { more directly goes for the simple plan of invading on the queenside, but this allows Rd5, maybe. The position is still good for white due to the activity and space advantage. } { [%cal Gd3c4,Gc4c5,Gc5b6] }) 37... Rxd6 38. exd6 Kf6 39. d7 Ke7 40. d8=Q+ Kxd8 { The rest of the game plays itself. Black is guaranteed a passed pawn on the kingside, and that's all she wrote. } 41. Ke4 f6 42. d5 Kd7 43. dxc6+ Kxc6 44. Kd4 b6 45. a4 b5 46. a5 Kd6 47. Ke4 Ke6 48. Kd4 f5 49. gxf5+ gxf5 50. Ke3 Ke5 51. Kf3 h5 52. h4 f4 53. Kf2 Kf5 54. Kf3 Ke5 55. Kf2 Ke4 56. Ke2 f3+ 57. Kf2 Kf4 58. Kf1 Kg3 59. Kg1 Kxh4 60. Kf1 Kg3 61. Kg1 h4 62. Kh1 h3 63. Kg1 f2+ 64. Kf1 h2 { And white resigns. 0-1. } 0-1