[Event "Round 6: Andrei Volokitin - Hans Moke Ni"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2023.12.08"] [White "Andrei Volokitin"] [Black "Hans Moke Niemann"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2659"] [BlackElo "2667"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Shohreh_b"] [Variant "From Position"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [FEN "r1br4/ppp1bk2/2p5/5p2/3B1NP1/7P/PPP5/4RRK1 w - - 0 21"] [SetUp "1"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/BR7gZIqE/bL7nOd1o"] [Orientation "white"] { Typical Berlin Endgame! Even though this is an endgame position White has huge lead in development advantage and two connected pawns are potentially dangerous. This factors lead Volokitin to make a positional exchange sacrifice. } { [%csl Gd4][%cal Gd8d4] } 21. Rxe7+?! { Stockfish doesnt rate this positional exchange sacrifice highly and rather likes bishop moves (21.Be5 or 21.Bc3), practically this looks like the easiest solution. } (21. Be5) 21... Kxe7 22. Bc5+ Kf7 23. g5 { After forced sequence White gets two connected passers and it's a critical situation for Black. For training purposes you might try to find a way for Black to put up the best resistance. } 23... Rg8?! { Black goes for passive defence to blockade the passers and sacrifice the exchange back. Stockfish goes for active play on the e-file which is very instrcutive yet counterintuitive to let the passers advance as you might expect from the machine. If we would like to get a lesson from this game we can definitely say that the best defence is the active counterplay (with precise calculation of course!) } (23... Re8! { Although this is not the only way, it's the most instructive one. } 24. g6+ Kg8 25. h4 { This looks really threatening but Black still has resources. } 25... Re4 26. h5 b6 { White bishop has little scope and Black forces come into the game with tempo. } { [%csl Gc5][%cal Gc8a6,Ga8e8] } 27. Ba3 Ba6 { [%csl Gf1] } 28. Rf2 Kg7 29. b3 { [%cal Ga3b2] } 29... Rae8 { should give Black enough counterplay to equalize. }) 24. h4 Be6?! (24... b6 { as in the previous note Stockfish like to play ...b6 and ...Ba6 for not to block e-file fot the rooks. }) 25. Kf2 { Getting rid of the pin on the g-file and centralize the king. } 25... Rg6 { Black is hoping to sacrifice the exchange back and try to make a draw with opposite colored bishops by blockading on the light squares, but white is not interested. } (25... Rad8 26. Re1 { [%cal Gg5g6,Ge1e7] }) 26. Rg1 (26. Nxg6? Kxg6 { [%csl Gh5,Gg6] } 27. Re1 Bd5 28. Re7 f4 $132 { [%cal Ga8h8] }) 26... Rag8 { Black managed to bring all his forces but they are really passive. } 27. Re1 Re8 28. Rg1 { Since Time trouble approaches White repeats moves. } 28... Reg8 29. Bd4 Bd5 30. Be5 b5 31. Bxc7 Be4 32. Rd1 Bxc2?! { Seeing White eventually play b3-c4 Black did not try to block with 32...Bd5 } (32... Bd5 33. b3 { [%cal Rc2c4] }) 33. Rd7+ Ke8 34. Rd8+ Kf7 35. Rd7+ Ke8 36. Rd2 { White prevents Black from taking g6 with the King and withdraws he'll take on g6 next and prepares h5 with Kg3-f4. } { [%cal Rf4g6,Gd2c2] } 36... R6g7 (36... Be4 37. Nxg6 Rxg6 38. Kg3) 37. Be5 Rh7 38. Bf6 Rf8? { Stockfish doesnt like this but there is already no solution. } (38... Rxh4 39. Rd8+ Kf7 40. Rd7+ Ke8 41. Re7+ Kd8 (41... Kf8 42. Ne6#) 42. Rg7+ $18) 39. Rd8+ { Black resigns. } { [%cal Ge8f7,Rg5g6] } 1-0