[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/38XhWSpB"] [Date "2017.10.12"] [Round "-"] [White "tnan123"] [Black "shetoo"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1720"] [BlackElo "1783"] [TimeControl "2700+45"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D00"] [Opening "Queen's Pawn Game: Levitsky Attack"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ErinYu"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/5wYcdjXQ/hTwyTyp6"] [Orientation "black"] { Levitsky Attack. This game was played between my teammate and his opponent. The game features black's efforts to break down white's queenside and the amalgam of strategies both sides employed. } 1. d4 { [%clk 0:45:00] } 1... d5 { [%clk 0:45:00] } 2. Bg5 { [%clk 0:45:43] } 2... Nf6 { [%clk 0:45:26] } 3. Bxf6 { [%clk 0:46:21] } 3... exf6 { [%clk 0:46:03] } (3... gxf6 { is another move trying to exert pressure in the center and developing the bishop to a different diagonal. The move played in game is more common. } { [%cal Gf8h6,Ge7e5] }) 4. e3 { [%clk 0:47:04] } 4... c6 { [%clk 0:46:03] } 5. c4 { [%clk 0:47:37] } 5... Bb4+ { This isn't very dubious, but black has the bishop pair, and because white lacks a dark square bishop (in a semi-open game), black's own dark square bishop is particularly valuable. It's not a bad idea to keep this bishop. The question is, after Bb4+, if you're trying to keep the bishop, why is it there? } { [%clk 0:45:43] } (5... dxc4 6. Bxc4 { is the most common continuation, and the game tends to be equal - both sides are rather solid with few weaknesses, and both sides develop. }) 6. Nc3 { [%clk 0:47:55] } 6... Be6 { Out of the Master's database. } { [%clk 0:45:38] } (6... Bf5 { would have been my preference, placing the bishop on a more active diagonal while the knight is pinned. } { [%cal Gc4d5,Gd8d5,Rb4e1] }) 7. c5 { Typically, diffusing the pawn tension is a bad idea (even though I do it all the time). A well timed b6 puts white's structure into question and gives black a small initiative. } { [%cal Gb7b6] [%clk 0:43:55] } 7... O-O { [%clk 0:44:56] } (7... b6 8. cxb6 axb6 { , and black is attacking. } { [%cal Ga8a1,Gc6c5] }) 8. Nf3 { [%clk 0:43:57] } (8. Qc2! b6 9. a3 Bxc3+ 10. Qxc3 Nd7 11. b4 { and white justifies his unprincipled pawn advance with a queenside stronghold. }) 8... Nd7 { [%clk 0:44:38] } 9. Qc2 { [%clk 0:42:38] } 9... Qa5 { [%clk 0:37:05] } 10. Bd3 { [%clk 0:40:37] } 10... h6 { [%clk 0:36:48] } 11. O-O { What follows is a surprisingly forced sequence putting black on the offensive. } { [%clk 0:40:43] } 11... Bxc3 { [%clk 0:34:25] } 12. Qxc3 { Personally, a move I'd hesitate to play. The next few moves are somewhat forced and in black's favor (according to me; Stockfish gives 0). } { [%clk 0:40:51] } (12. bxc3 { , a nice subtlety. } 12... b6 13. cxb6 axb6 14. c4 { , and white defends the a2 pawn, eliminates the backwards c3 pawn, and it's evident that keeping queens on the board gives white more chances. }) 12... Qxc3 { [%clk 0:34:31] } 13. bxc3 { [%clk 0:41:36] } 13... b6 { [%clk 0:31:24] } 14. cxb6 { [%clk 0:41:51] } 14... axb6 { [%csl Ga2][%cal Ga8a3,Gf8a8] [%clk 0:32:05] } 15. a4 { [%clk 0:40:04] } 15... Ra7 { [%clk 0:30:14] } 16. Ra2 { Not only is the pawn threatened, but a b5 advance as well. } { [%clk 0:35:41] } (16. Bc2 Rfa8 17. Rfb1 b5 { Amusingly, Stockfish rated 16.Bc2 as the best move, but then here it says black is better. } { [%csl Gc4][%cal Ga7a1,Gd7b6,Gb6c4] }) 16... Rfa8 { [%clk 0:27:11] } 17. Rfa1 { [%clk 0:36:20] } 17... Ra5 { [%clk 0:23:09] } (17... b5 18. a5 { , and the pawn is now passed, becoming an asset denying black's rooks of space. }) 18. Bb1 { This is where the game gets interesting. Overall scheme: Black has mobile pawns and an attack on the queenside. White is tied down to the defense with both rooks and and a bishop. The center is basically closed, and the kingside isn't open enough to ever be open. For white: Defend a4 and b5 at all costs. Get every piece involved in the defense, including swinging the knight over and putting the bishop anywhere but on b1. Play for e4 if allowed, and make sure the kingside stays closed for a draw. For black: Rush b5. Play for c5-c4 to restrict the bishop's d3 and the knight's b3 squares. Restrict counterplay in the center with f5 and possibly g6 to stabilize everything. If c5-c4 is a success, Bd7 will attack a4. Activate the king when necessary. The green arows show black's plans, and the red arrows show white's plans. All of them were either played or could have been played. } { [%cal Gb6b5,Re3e4,Ge6d7,Gd7a4,Rf3d2,Rd2b3,Gc6c5,Gc5c4,Gg8f8,Gf8e7,Ge7d6,Rb1c2,Rb1d3,Ra2b2,Ra1b1,Rb1b6,Gf6f5,Gg7g6] [%clk 0:34:21] } 18... c5! { Seeing through everything I didn't see. } { [%clk 0:14:44] } (18... f5 { is what I suggested during the game. Unfortunately, it gives white counterplay. } { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gd7f6,Gf6e4] } 19. Nd2 Nf6? 20. f3 { [%cal Gf3e4,Rd2b3] } 20... Kf8 { Null move. } 21. Nb3 R5a7 22. a5! { relieves white of literally his only major weakness. } { [%cal Gb6a5,Gb3c5] }) (18... Kf8 { is what my move would have been. Since white is stuck, black has time to develop all of the non-participating pieces. } { [%cal Gf8e7,Ge7d6] } 19. Nd2 Ke7 20. Nb3 { [%cal Gb3a1] } 20... R5a7 21. Bd3 { , and white's bishop is now activated, making b5 more than difficult. }) 19. h3? { This doesn't accomplish much. Improving the position of the knight would have been better. } { [%csl Gf3,Rb3] [%clk 0:31:13] } 19... c4? { Too ambitious and ignores white's counterplay (just like my other suggestions during this game). } { [%clk 0:11:27] } (19... f5 { prevents counterplay. } { [%cal Gf5e4,Gd5e4,Re3e4] }) 20. Nd2? { [%clk 0:29:56] } (20. e4! { When your opponent attacks on the sides, attack in the center! This move was highlighted earlier but failed due to Bxa2 tactics. With the pawn on c4, Bxa2 is illegal. } 20... Nf8 21. Nd2 { , and play more or less continues with an extra struggle for black. }) 20... f5 { [%cal Gf5e4,Gd5e4] [%clk 0:11:30] } 21. Kf1 { [%clk 0:27:30] } 21... f6?! { Doesn't really do anything, from what I can see. } { [%clk 0:10:41] } (21... Nf6 { [%cal Gf6e4,Ge6d7,Gd7a4] } 22. f3 Bd7 23. Bc2 g6 { makes b5 unstoppable. Winning? I'm not sure. But definitely not losing. }) 22. Ke2 { [%clk 0:27:55] } 22... g6 { [%clk 0:11:16] } 23. f4 { [%cal Gg2g4] [%clk 0:26:16] } 23... h5 { [%clk 0:11:34] } 24. h4 { It was around this point white whispered into chat "I can't think of any ways to improve my position." White is right! Those chances are over. White had to break in the center and mobilize his pieces quicker. } { [%clk 0:22:39] } 24... Nf8 { [%cal Ge6d7,Gd7a4] [%clk 0:06:56] } 25. Rb2 { [%clk 0:16:24] } 25... R8a6? { Engine gives an evaluation of 0. } { [%clk 0:06:39] } (25... b5 { is the only move for reasons I couldn't figure out without using Stockfish. Either way, how could you not play it here? This renders white almost in zugzwang. } 26. Bc2 { [%cal Gf8d7,Gd7b6] } 26... Nd7 27. Re1 { This is how you catch a cheater. Only an engine would play this. } 27... bxa4) 26. Bc2 { [%clk 0:15:28] } 26... Kf7 { Black would love to play Bd7 and/or b5, but the b6 pawn becomes weak in every variation. The king is getting involved by defending it. } { [%csl Gb6][%cal Gf7e7,Ge7d7,Gd7c7,Ge6d7,Gd7a4,Gc7b6] [%clk 0:04:20] } (26... b5 27. axb5 Rxa1 28. bxa6 Rxa6 { , which is looking pretty drawish because black gave away his attack. }) 27. Rab1 { [%clk 0:15:24] } 27... Nd7 { [%clk 0:05:03] } 28. Nf3 { [%clk 0:14:34] } 28... Ke8 { [%cal Ge8d8,Gd8c7] [%clk 0:05:42] } 29. Rb5?! { White actually has a very clever way of forcing a draw. Given black's inability to defend b4, and given tactical luck, white can place a knight on c2 and make it impossible for black to advance. Courtesy of Stockfish, here's a line that I modified to make it seem more human. } { [%clk 0:14:32] } (29. Bd1!! { [%cal Gf3e1,Ge1c2] } 29... Kd8 30. Ne1!! Kc7 31. Nc2!! Nb8 (31... Rxa4 32. Nb4 { [%cal Gb4a6,Gd1a4] }) 32. Kd2 { And now the shuffling begins. } 32... Bd7 33. Kc1 Be8 (33... Bxa4 34. Nb4 { [%cal Gb4d5,Gb4a6] }) 34. Kd2 { And amazingly this is a draw. } 34... Nc6 35. Nb4) 29... Kd8 { [%clk 0:04:52] } 30. Ne1 { [%clk 0:14:56] } 30... Kc7 { [%clk 0:05:35] } 31. Kd2 { [%clk 0:15:25] } 31... Nb8 { [%cal Ge6d7] [%clk 0:06:13] } 32. R1b4 { [%clk 0:13:41] } 32... Bd7 { [%clk 0:04:50] } 33. Rxa5 { [%clk 0:14:23] } 33... Rxa5 { [%clk 0:05:31] } 34. Kc1 { [%clk 0:14:24] } 34... Na6 { [%clk 0:05:55] } 35. Kb2?? { Overly optimistic about giving up the exchange. Better was to play down a pawn and hope to draw. } { [%clk 0:12:45] } 35... Nxb4 { [%clk 0:06:08] } 36. cxb4 { [%clk 0:13:30] } 36... Ra8 { 0-1 White resigns. } { [%csl Ga4,Re3][%cal Ga8a4,Gd7a4,Ra8e8,Re8e3] [%clk 0:06:03] } 0-1