[Event "Tata Steel Chess Challengers"] [Site "https://lichess.org/broadcast/tata-steel-chess-2026--challengers/round-2/kmmiaiDH/POJFQicD"] [Date "2026.01.17"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Woodward, Andy"] [Black "Roebers, Eline"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2608"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteFideId "30953499"] [BlackElo "2398"] [BlackTitle "IM"] [BlackFideId "1058401"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "E04"] [Opening "Catalan Opening: Open Defense"] [StudyName "Tata Steel 2026"] [ChapterName "Woodward, Andy - Roebers, Eline"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/9wSwLYbF/ptHjLUga"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] { In Round 2, Woodward bounced back from a disappointing loss by defeating the 2025 Women's World Blitz bronze medalist and 2026 Women's European Blitz gold medalist in a highly tactical game. One strategic error from Black early in the sharp 4. g3 variation of the Slav defense was enough for Woodward to wrestle the initiative away from Black. } 1. d4 { [%clk 1:59:56] } 1... d5 { [%clk 1:59:43] } 2. c4 { [%clk 1:59:39] } 2... e6 { [%clk 1:59:39] } 3. Nf3 { [%clk 1:59:30] } 3... Nf6 { [%clk 1:59:30] } 4. g3 { The main alternative to 4. Nc3 in the Slav. } { [%clk 1:59:20] } 4... dxc4 { By far the most testing move. Black voluntarily elongates the long diagonal for White's light-squared bishop, but White won't have an easy time regaining the pawn. } { [%clk 1:58:34] } 5. Bg2 { [%clk 1:59:09] } 5... a6 { [%clk 1:57:50] } 6. O-O { [%clk 1:57:34] } 6... b5 { [%clk 1:57:04] } (6... Nc6 { is about ten times more popular than Roebers' move. The idea is to stop Nf3-e5 first. }) 7. Ne5 { If Black allows it, White has to go for it. } { [%clk 1:56:46] } 7... Nd5 { [%clk 1:56:57] } 8. e4 { Both players are following the same plan of opting for the second most popular move in any given position. } { [%clk 1:51:20] } (8. a4 { , softening up the queenside, is typically played. } 8... Bb7 9. b3 { is the main continuation. White goes full "gambit mode" but after } 9... cxb3?! (9... c3 { is a more daring alternative, based off a piece sac: } 10. e4 b4! (10... Nf6?! 11. Nxc3 b4 12. Ne2 { is not great for Black, as } 12... Nxe4? 13. Qc2 Nd6 14. d5! Bxd5 15. Bxd5 exd5 { gives White a substantial amount of compensation for the two pawns: } 16. Nf4 f6 17. Nxd5! $18) 11. exd5 Bxd5 12. Qh5 g6 13. Qh3 Ra7!? $13 { when Black has two advanced pawns for the piece and pressure along the d-file, with ... c7-c5 to follow. }) 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Qxb3 c6 13. e4 $16 { White enjoys a dominant center and a kingside attack with Bg2-h3 next. }) 8... Nf6 { [%clk 1:56:25] } 9. a4 { [%clk 1:51:07] } 9... Bb7 { [%clk 1:55:18] } 10. axb5 { [%clk 1:50:59] } 10... axb5 { [%clk 1:55:13] } 11. Rxa8 { [%clk 1:50:50] } 11... Bxa8 { [%clk 1:55:08] } 12. Nc3 { The point of 8. e4 is there is no ... Nd5xc3 here, giving White a safer alternative to the b2-b3 plan. } { [%clk 1:50:41] } 12... c6 { [%clk 1:53:52] } 13. h4 $146 { The first new move in the position and, unsurprisingly, an engine-approved one. White is playing in Alpha Zero's style, just gaining space on the kingside and maybe provoking a weakening ... h7-h6 that can cause Black problems in an endgame. } { [%clk 1:49:19] } (13. d5 { is the engine's choice and the most popular move in the position. } 13... Be7 (13... cxd5?! { is not advised. } 14. exd5 exd5 15. Nxb5 Bc5 16. Qa4 $14) 14. dxe6 fxe6 15. Qe2 O-O 16. Bh3 Kh8! 17. Bxe6 { wins back the pawn, but } 17... Qe8 18. Rd1 Bb7 19. Bf4 Na6 { and Black's pieces start to come to life. } 20. Bf5 Nc5 21. Be3 $14) 13... Nbd7 { [%clk 1:50:42] } 14. Nxd7 { [%clk 1:48:29] } 14... Nxd7 { [%clk 1:50:38] } 15. e5 { The first critical position, and one in which Roebers thought for just over 30 minutes. } { [%clk 1:43:48] } 15... c5? { Capitulation on the queenside. } { [%clk 1:19:02] } (15... b4 { was best, when } 16. Ne4 c5 { comes when d4-d5 is less of a threat, so } 17. Bf4 Be7! (17... Bd5 { is an alternative, but } 18. Nd6+ Bxd6 19. Bxd5 Bb8 20. Bxc4 O-O 21. Bb5 $14 { gives White the bishop pair and a space advantage despite already regaining the pawn. }) 18. Qg4 O-O { could be played, but Roebers presumably rejected this line due to } 19. Bh6 { winning an Exchange. But the engine is not impressed, coldly suggesting } 19... g6 20. Bxf8 Bxf8 { when the pressure on the d4-pawn is going to make the e-pawn a nagging weakness. } 21. Nxc5 Nxc5 22. dxc5 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Qd5+! { The key to the whole variation is quite deep. } (23... Bxc5? 24. Qxc4 $16) 24. Qf3 Bxc5 { Here, White does not want to strengthen Black's pawn mass by capturing on d5, but Rf1-e1 allows ... Bc5-d4 when the e-pawn still falls. So, Black will enjoy two pawns for the Exchange and equality in the three-result endgame. } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { }) (15... h6 { , e.g., is too passive. } 16. Be3 { White can simply prevent ... c6-c5 ideas. } 16... Be7 17. Qg4 $16 { and prevent Black from castling easily. }) 16. Bg5!? { [%clk 1:37:13] } (16. d5! { is even better, according to the engine, but Woodward's move preserves a large advantage with fewer complications. } 16... Nxe5 (16... Be7 17. d6 Bxg2 18. dxe7 Qxe7 19. Kxg2 Nxe5 { is the best the engine can offer for Black, with three precarious pawns for the piece. } 20. Qe2 $16) 17. Nxb5 Be7 18. Bf4 $18 { This is the point, with threats on c7 coming. }) 16... Be7 { [%clk 1:11:17] } 17. Bxa8 { [%clk 1:15:43] } 17... Qxa8 { [%clk 1:10:12] } 18. Nxb5 $16 { White has regained his pawn, left Black with doubled, isolated weaknesses on the c-file, and enjoys a space advantage from a position where the bad bishop is about to get off the board. } { [%clk 1:12:51] } 18... Qa5?! { [%clk 1:07:50] } (18... Qb8 19. Bxe7 Kxe7 20. Nd6 $16) 19. Bxe7 { [%clk 1:00:59] } 19... Kxe7 { [%clk 1:06:33] } 20. dxc5 { Black's threat on the knight can be ignored! } { [%clk 1:00:26] } 20... Nxe5 { [%clk 0:56:25] } (20... Qxb5 { is just as bad: } 21. Qd6+ Kd8 (21... Ke8? 22. Rd1 { [%cal Gc5c6] } 22... Qa4 23. c6 $18) 22. c6 (22. Ra1 { works straightaway, too. }) 22... Qd5 23. Ra1! Qxd6 24. exd6 $18 { Black will not be able to keep the piece or the peace, with the c- and d-pawns so poised to advance. }) 21. Qd6+ { [%clk 1:00:00] } 21... Kf6 { [%clk 0:56:19] } (21... Ke8 22. Nc7+ $18) 22. Nc3?? { This mistake gives Black one chance to claw back into the game. } { [%clk 0:59:35] } (22. Na3!? $10 { was more promising, as } 22... Rd8?? { loses tactically, but } (22... Qd8 23. f4 Nd3 24. Nxc4 $16 { is just pleasant for White. The point after 22. ... Rd8 was: }) 23. Qxe5+ Kxe5 24. Nxc4+ $18) (22. f4! { This won on the spot. } 22... Ng4 23. f5 Qxb5 24. fxe6+ { The knight can again be sacrificed because now the rook (and e-pawn!) join in the attack. } 24... Kg6 25. exf7+ Nf6 26. f8=N+ { Why not? } 26... Rxf8 27. Qxf8 $18) 22... Qd8?? { Right idea, wrong piece. } { [%clk 0:44:45] } (22... Rd8!! { This was crucial. White clearly intended } 23. Nd5+ { but } 23... Kg6 { and now what does White have? } (23... Kf5?? 24. Ne3+ Ke4 25. Qxe5+ Kxe5 26. Nxc4+ $18 { makes use of the same geometric motif. }) 24. Qxe5 Rxd5 25. h5+ Kh6 26. Qf4+ { looks scary, but } 26... Rg5! { is tough to crack. } (26... Kxh5?? 27. Qxf7+ Kh6 28. Qxe6+ $18) 27. Qxf7 Qxc5 28. Qxe6+ g6 { and Black's king has somehow achieved safety, and threats of ... Rg5xg3+ put White on the defensive. } 29. Kg2 $13) 23. Nd5+ { [%clk 0:53:23] } 23... Kf5?! { [%clk 0:38:17] } (23... Kg6 24. Qxe5 Qxd5 25. h5+ Kh6 26. Qf4+ Qg5 { Contrasted with 22. ... Rd8, the problem is that now } 27. Qxc4 { or } (27. Qxf7 { both reach very promising endgames for White because Black is only playing with her queen. } 27... Qxc5 28. Re1 $18 { While White is playing with his full army. }) 27... g6 28. c6 $18) 24. g4+ { [%clk 0:50:28] } 24... Kxg4 { [%clk 0:37:48] } (24... Nxg4 25. Qf4+ $18 { and the knight falls with check. }) (24... Ke4 { again sees the knight fall with check: } 25. Re1+ Kd4 26. Qxe5+ $18) 25. Qxe5 { [%clk 0:50:22] } 25... exd5? { Now, White forces mate. } { [%clk 0:34:45] } (25... Qxd5 { was "best" but } 26. Qxg7+ $18 { nets the rook and there is no perpetual for Black. }) 26. f3+ { [%clk 0:50:15] } 26... Kxh4 { [%clk 0:34:38] } 27. Kf2! { It's mate in three, so Black resigned. } { [%clk 0:50:12] } 1-0