[Event "Byrne Memorial IM"] [Site "Naperville, IL"] [Date "2023.01.20"] [White "Pedro Rodriguez Rivera"] [Black "Ryan Amburgy"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Avrukh, Boris"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D02"] [Opening "Queen's Pawn Game: London System"] [StudyName "Byrne Memorial"] [ChapterName "Pedro Rodriguez Rivera - Ryan Amburgy"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/9sS1qGlp/BjkBmgjm"] [Orientation "white"] { Annotations by GM Boris Avrukh } 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 cxd4 6. exd4 Bf5 { This is a very ambitious line for Black. Amburgy doesn't want to leave his bishop on c8. } 7. c3 { More challenging would be } (7. Bb5 Qb6 8. c4 { with a lot of games. }) 7... h6!? { Black's idea is to avoid the more popular } (7... e6 8. Qb3 Qc8 9. Nh4 { where he has to give up his light-squared bishop. }) 8. h3 { This is too soft. Obviously } (8. Qb3 { and }) (8. Ne5 { are more challenging, although Black is doing fine in both lines. }) 8... e6 9. Qa4?! { A wrong plan, better would have been } (9. Bb5) 9... Bd6! $146 { A nice improvement over } (9... Nd7 { Peregudov,D-Semenikhin,O Taganrog 2019 }) 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 11. Ne5? { This is consistent with 9. Qa4, but still flawed. } (11. Be2 { is better. }) 11... O-O 12. Ndf3 Ne4! { Black seizes the initiaitve. } 13. Bb5 Nxe5 { Stronger would have been } (13... f6! { is the tactical justification here. } 14. Nxc6 (14. Nd3 a6 $17) 14... bxc6 15. Bxc6 Rab8 16. Bb5 Qf4! { threatening 17...Nd6 } 17. O-O Bxh3 { with a massive advantage. }) 14. Nxe5 f6 15. Nf3 a6 (15... Rfc8! { was a stronger alternative. }) 16. Be2 Qf4 17. Qd1 { White is back in the game, but Black's position remains more pleasant. } 17... Rac8 18. Qc1 Qd6 { This is an undersatndable desicion when fighting for an IM norm, although } (18... Qxc1+ 19. Rxc1 Rc6! $15 { would lead to a slightly better endgame for Black. }) 19. O-O Rc7 { Black is keeping flexibility. } 20. Nd2 e5 (20... Ng5!? { was an interesting alternative. }) 21. Nxe4 Bxe4 22. Rd1 { The position is equal, but fortunately remains complicated. } 22... Re8 23. Bf1 (23. dxe5 fxe5 24. Bh5 Rd8 25. Qe3 Bh7) 23... Bg6 24. Bd3? { Missing Black's idea, instead } (24. dxe5 fxe5 25. Qd2 { would maintain equal chances. }) 24... e4! { Amburgy seizes the opportunity, Black's initiaitve on the kingisde is very powerful. } 25. Bc2 (25. Be2 { was more stubborn, although after } 25... Rce7 { threatening 26...e3 } 26. Qe3 f5 27. g3 Rf8 { Black is clealry better, with an incoming attack on the kingside. }) 25... f5 26. g3 e3! { A well-timed break! } 27. f4 (27. fxe3 Qxg3+ { is losing for White. }) 27... Bh5 28. Re1 Qg6! { All of Black's pieces are joining the attack. } 29. g4 { This doesn't help. But no better was } (29. Kh2 Rce7 { following up with 30. ...e2 and 31. ...Re3, winning. }) 29... Bxg4! { Not a difficult choice, but neverthless an elegant sacrifice which decides the game. } 30. hxg4 Qxg4+ 31. Kh1 Qh3+ 32. Kg1 Rc6! { The rook lift wraps up the game, White is hopless against Black attack. } 33. Bxf5 Qxf5 34. Rxe3 Rg6+ { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1