[Event "US Open"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/AF1RlfBP/46lwQ02D"] [Date "2018.07.31"] [Round "1.75"] [White "Hartmann, John"] [Black "Langer, Michael"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "1879"] [BlackElo "2303"] [Annotator "Hartmann,John"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A34"] [Opening "English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Three Knights Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/AF1RlfBP/46lwQ02D"] [Orientation "white"] 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb4 6. Bb5+ N8c6 7. d4 cxd4 8. a3 { Diagram [#] Looking at Langer's games, I suspected that he would play into the position after move eight, and my good friend IM John Watson helped me prep these lines via the web right before the round. It's amazing how much confidence I had because of the work we did. (Thanks, John!!!) } 8... Bd7!? (8... dxc3 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. axb4 cxb2 11. Bxb2 { is the main line here. }) 9. axb4 (9. Nxd4 { might be theoretically preferable but the game continuation was fairly forcing, and I thought White's chances were better than the common wisdom would suggest. }) 9... dxc3 10. bxc3 g6 11. O-O Bg7 12. Bf4 { There a few paths here. } (12. Qb3) (12. Be3) (12. Ra3) 12... Bxc3!? (12... O-O { was what I expected, and I intended to play. } 13. Qc1 (13. Rc1 a5 14. h3 Be6 15. Qxd8 Rfxd8 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. bxa5 Rdc8 18. Rfd1 c5 { 1/2-1/2 (35) Christiansen,L (2620)-Ivanchuk,V (2710) Monte Carlo 1993 }) (13. Be2 { Aagaard } 13... Bg4 (13... Bxc3?! 14. Ra3 Bxb4 15. Rd3) (13... e5?! 14. Be3 a6 15. Nd2 (15. Qd6 Bg4)) 14. b5 Qxd1 15. Rfxd1)) 13. Ra3 (13. Bc4 { (Aagaard) to blunt some of the problems after ... Ne5 } 13... Be6 (13... Bxa1 14. Qxa1 f6 15. e5!?) (13... Bxb4 14. Qb3) (13... O-O 14. Ra3) (13... Qc8 14. Qb3! Bxa1 15. Bxf7+ Kf8 16. Rxa1) 14. Qc1 Bg7 15. Rd1) 13... Bxb4 { In for a penny, in for a pound. The pawn grabs are very risky, but if you want to win against lower rated players, sometimes you need to take some chances. } (13... Bg7 14. Rd3 Qc8 15. Qd2 { is very unclear. White has compensation, but perhaps not more than that. }) 14. Rd3 (14. Rb3!? { MF } 14... Ba5 (14... Bc5 15. Qc1) (14... a5 15. Qa1) 15. Rd3 $40) (14. Qa1!?) 14... Qc8?! { Very natural, but now White gets to play natural developing moves. } (14... Qa5 { but after } 15. Bc4 Bg4 16. Bh6 Bxf3 17. Qb3 { Black has to play fairly precisely to hold the balance. }) 15. Qb3 a5 (15... Bd6 16. Rxd6! (16. e5!? Be6 (16... Bc7 17. Bh6) 17. Qc3 Bb8 (17... Bc7 18. Bxc6+ bxc6 19. Qxc6+ Kf8 20. Bh6+ $18)) (16. Bxd6?! exd6 17. Rxd6 O-O { and Black is hanging in }) 16... exd6 17. Bxd6 { I don't know if I would have actually had the courage to go ahead with it, but I really wanted to play this sac as I analyzed in-game. }) 16. Rfd1?! { Very natural, but flawed. } 16... Be6 17. Qb2 f6? (17... O-O 18. Bh6 f6 19. Bxf8 (19. Ng5!? { MF } 19... Bf7 20. f4 (20. Bxf8 Kxf8 21. Nxf7 Kxf7 22. Rd7) 20... Rd8 21. Nxf7 Rxd3 22. Rxd3 Kxf7 23. f5 { wti Bc4 }) (19. h4 { Lc0 } 19... Bg4 20. e5 Qe6 21. exf6 Qxf6 22. Qb3+ Kh8) 19... Qxf8 { was what I expected. Things are completely unclear, and I suspect that Black might even be better. }) 18. Bh6! { Langer said this was the move he missed. We both thought White was just crushing here. } 18... Rg8 (18... Kf7 19. Ng5+ Ke8 (19... fxg5?? 20. Qg7+) 20. h4 { making luft. Black has a hard time finding good moves. }) 19. e5! (19. h4 { was another consideration, given some back rank issues, but I thought opening lines was more important. }) (19. Rc1!? Kf7 20. e5 f5? (20... g5 21. exf6 exf6 22. Nd4) 21. Ng5+) 19... Kf7 20. exf6 exf6 21. Ng5+! fxg5 22. Rf3+ (22. Bxg5 { and I was scared of } 22... Be7 { when I completely miscalculated. White wins with } 23. Rf3+ Ke8 24. Bxe7 Kxe7 25. Qf6+ $18) 22... Ke8 23. Re3 (23. Rf6 { Langer } 23... Be7 24. Qe5 $18) (23. Qe2 $18 { wti Rf6 }) 23... Kf7 24. Rf3+ Ke8 25. Re3 Kf7 { With 11 minutes on my clock, and with out a clear, calculated win, I took the draw. It's my first draw against a titled player, and while the win would have been nice, I can't complain about my play. (My calculation is another story entirely!) } (26. Bxg5 Be7 27. Rf3+ Ke8 28. Bxe7 Kxe7 29. Qf6+ { mate is inevitable }) 1/2-1/2