[Event "Byrne Memorial IM"] [Site "Naperville, IL"] [Date "2023.01.21"] [White "Eric Moskow"] [Black "Vladimir Georgiev"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Avrukh,Boris"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A14"] [Opening "English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined"] [StudyName "Byrne Memorial"] [ChapterName "Eric Moskow - Vladimir Georgiev"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/9sS1qGlp/pJMUroKD"] [Orientation "white"] { Annotations by GM Boris Avrukh } 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 a5 { This is a very tricky continuation. } 7. a3 { Both } (7. Nc3 { and }) (7. Bb2 { are much more popular. }) 7... d4! { Black has a very good position out of the opening. The following sequence is quite logical. } 8. e3 c5 9. exd4 cxd4 10. d3 Nc6 11. Re1 Nd7 12. Nbd2 e5 { The players reached a reversed Benoni position. As always, this opening leads to a very complex battle. } 13. Rb1?! { A small inaccuracy. More precise would be the thematic } (13. Ne4 h6 14. g4! { . }) 13... f5?! { Georgiev rushed with this move, instead } (13... h6! $15 { covering the g5-square and thus preventing Nd2-d4 move would be way stronger. }) 14. c5! { A fantastic move, fully justified by thematic Benoni tactics. } 14... e4! { The best response for Black. Both captures on c5 are favourable for White: } (14... Nxc5 15. Nxe5! Nxe5 16. Rxe5 Nxd3 17. Rd5 Qe8 18. Nc4 Nxc1 19. Rxc1 $14 { reagaining d4-pawn with positional edge. }) (14... Bxc5 15. b4! axb4 16. axb4 Bd6 17. b5! Na5 (17... Ne7 18. Nc4 $16) 18. Ra1 $16 { threatening Nc4. }) 15. dxe4 Nxc5 16. b4! { Another great move. The alternatives are clearly worse. } (16. e5 Nd3 $17 { or }) (16. exf5 Bxf5 $17) 16... axb4 17. axb4 fxe4 (17... Nxe4? { would be a serious mistake in view of the intermediate } 18. b5! { . }) 18. bxc5 exf3 19. Nxf3 Kh8! { Obviously an experienced grandmaster is not failng for } (19... Bxc5? 20. Ng5! { and White has too many threats : Qd1-b3, Qd1-h5, etc. }) 20. Ne5!? (20. Bf4 { was a good alternative. }) 20... Nxe5? { Black should have accepted White's sacrifice. } (20... Bxc5 21. Nd3! { only not } (21. Nxc6 bxc6 22. Bxc6 Ra2 $36 { when Black has some initiaitve. }) 21... Bd6 22. Be4! $44 { with very interesting compensation for the pawn. }) 21. Rxe5 Ra2 22. Bd2 { Much stronger would have been } (22. Bf4 Bf6 23. Rh5 { with a very dangerous initiaitve. }) 22... Bf6 23. Rd5 Qe8 24. Qe1 (24. Bf4!? Be6 25. Rd6 { would lead to very complex game. }) 24... Qa4 { Black is definitely playing for a win. } 25. Bf4 Re8 26. Qd1 Qxd1+ 27. Rxd1 Bg4 28. Rb1 d3? (28... Rb2! { would retain a balanced position. }) 29. c6!? { Being at the tournament hall during this game I was very impressed with this move and the tactical idea behind it, however when I checked this position again it's appeared White is better after } (29. h3! Be6 30. Rd6 Bf5 31. g4 Bg6 32. Be3!) (29. Rxd3? { runs into } 29... Bf5! $19 { . }) 29... bxc6 30. Rxd3 c5 (30... Bf5 31. Re3! { and White's rook is untouchable } 31... Rxe3? { in view of } 32. Rb8+ { . }) 31. Bd5 { After a wild middlegame, we arrived at a draiwsh endgame. } 31... Rae2 32. Re3 R2xe3 33. fxe3 h6 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } 1/2-1/2