[Event "Round 4: Hans Moke Niemann - Shreyas Royal"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/eTVF1DAG/DwC0FBA5"] [White "Hans Moke Niemann"] [Black "Shreyas Royal"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2667"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackElo "2438"] [BlackTitle "IM"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Shohreh_b"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C50"] [Opening "Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Normal"] [UTCDate "2023.12.08"] [UTCTime "14:44:23"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/BR7gZIqE/gcF8vTns"] [Orientation "white"] { This is a nice illustrative example about the modern lines of Italian Opening. } 1. e4 { [%eval 0.36] [%clk 1:30:50] } 1... e5 { [%eval 0.35] [%clk 1:30:53] } 2. Nf3 { [%eval 0.29] [%clk 1:31:11] } 2... Nc6 { [%eval 0.32] [%clk 1:31:18] } 3. Bc4 { [%eval 0.21] [%clk 1:31:29] } 3... Bc5 { [%eval 0.2] [%clk 1:31:42] } 4. d3 { [%eval 0.11] [%clk 1:31:47] } 4... Nf6 { [%eval 0.09] [%clk 1:32:05] } 5. O-O { [%eval 0.24] [%clk 1:32:08] } 5... d6 { [%eval 0.21] [%clk 1:32:32] } 6. c3 { [%eval 0.17] [%clk 1:32:31] } 6... a5 { [%eval 0.24] } { Nowadays most of the GMs go for this move instead of the old 6...a6. } { [%clk 1:32:27] } 7. Re1 { [%eval 0.16] [%clk 1:31:59] } 7... O-O { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 1:32:47] } 8. h3 { [%eval 0.23] [%clk 1:31:47] } 8... h6 { [%eval 0.24] [%clk 1:33:10] } 9. Nbd2 { [%eval 0.24] [%clk 1:31:24] } 9... Be6 { [%eval 0.21] [%clk 1:33:23] } 10. Bb5 { [%eval 0.28] } { One of the downsides of 6...a5 is the weakened b5-square and White uses it. } { [%clk 1:31:39] } 10... Qb8 { [%eval 0.12] } { A standard move in this position trying to control central squares in an original way but it's hard to believe that this position is only 7 years old. } { [%cal Gb8a7,Ga7f2] [%clk 1:33:45] } 11. Nf1 { [%eval 0.17] [%clk 1:30:19] } 11... Qa7 { [%eval 0.05] [%csl Gf2] [%clk 1:34:05] } 12. Re2 { [%eval 0.2] [%clk 1:30:39] } 12... a4 { [%eval 0.0] [%cal Ga7a5] [%clk 1:34:28] } 13. Ng3 { [%eval 0.04] [%clk 1:30:44] } 13... Qa5 { [%eval -0.03] [%clk 1:34:40] } 14. Bxc6 { [%eval 0.01] [%clk 1:31:07] } 14... bxc6 { [%eval -0.03] } { Black gets the bishop pair and nice space advantage on the queenside. White might have 3 ideas in this position 1.Try to push d4 2.Go for a kingside attack with the typical Nh4-Qf3-Nhf5 or f4. 3.Try b4 to reduce Black's space advantage While black has ...d5 or ...f5 as an idea. } { [%clk 1:35:05] } 15. Rc2 { [%eval 0.08] [%clk 1:31:31] } 15... Rfb8 { [%eval 0.16] } { Even though this is a new position both sides blitzed out their moves up to this point! } { [%clk 1:31:42] } 16. c4 { [%eval 0.04] } { White wants to put his pawns on the "correct" squares since he has a dark squared bishop, then he may push d4 or play Bd2 at some point. } { [%clk 1:29:42] } 16... Qb6 { [%eval 0.14] } { Black prevents d4 ideas. } { [%clk 1:28:52] } 17. Qe2 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 1:29:14] } 17... Kh7 { [%eval 0.1] [%clk 1:26:04] } 18. Rb1 { [%eval -0.21] } { White starts arranging b4 } { [%clk 1:26:53] } 18... Qa7 { [%eval 0.15] [%clk 1:21:31] } 19. Bd2 { [%eval 0.17] [%clk 1:25:49] } 19... Bb6 { [%eval 0.47] [%clk 1:16:31] } 20. b4 { [%eval 0.08] [%clk 1:24:07] } 20... axb3 { [%eval -0.01] [%clk 1:16:50] } 21. axb3 { [%eval 0.02] } { Now white wants to further expand with b4 may be c5 to take advantage of Black's packed army there. } { [%clk 1:24:32] } 21... c5 { [%eval 0.0] } { Since black's pieces are now out of play on the queen side, and d4 is not possible Niemann starts his play on the kingside. } { [%clk 1:16:15] } 22. Nh4 { [%eval 0.11] [%cal Gh4f5,Gf2f4] [%clk 1:23:30] } 22... Ng8?! { Inaccuracy. Qb7 was best. } { [%eval 0.73] [%clk 1:12:26] } (22... Qb7 23. f4) 23. f4 { [%eval 0.62] [%clk 1:18:48] } 23... exf4 { [%eval 0.56] [%clk 1:06:07] } 24. Bxf4 { [%eval 0.54] [%clk 1:19:09] } 24... Re8 { [%eval 0.78] [%clk 1:05:55] } 25. Bd2?! { Inaccuracy. Rf1 was best. } { [%eval 0.07] [%cal Gd2c3,Gc3g7] [%clk 1:06:53] } (25. Rf1 Qb8) 25... c6 { [%eval 0.15] } { Black is very solid and starts bringing his forces back in to play and goes for a counterattack in the center. } { [%clk 0:51:21] } 26. Ngf5?! { Inaccuracy. Nhf5 was best. } { [%eval -0.42] [%clk 0:59:03] } (26. Nhf5 Qd7) 26... d5 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:46:24] } 27. Bc3 { [%eval -0.51] [%clk 0:48:20] } 27... d4 { [%eval -0.54] [%clk 0:42:37] } 28. Bd2 { [%eval -0.78] [%clk 0:44:55] } 28... Bc7 { [%eval -0.34] [%clk 0:41:28] } (28... Qb8! { is in fact somewhat better for Black according to Stockfish } 29. g4? (29. Qf3 g6 30. Bf4 Qd8 { [%csl Gh4,Gf5][%cal Gd8h4,Gg6f5] }) (29. Qf2 Bc7 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Gg7g6] }) 29... Bxf5 30. Nxf5 g6 { [%cal Gb8g3] }) 29. Qf3 { [%eval -0.65] [%clk 0:36:50] } 29... g6 { [%eval -0.43] [%clk 0:40:20] } 30. g4! { [%eval -0.52] } { Knight should be sacrificed in order to open the g-file but Black is still solid. } { [%clk 0:35:04] } 30... Bd8 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:36:21] } (30... gxf5 31. gxf5 Bc8 (31... Bxc4 32. bxc4 Nf6 { is OK according to Stockfish }) 32. Qh5 { is White's idea similar to the game. }) 31. Ng2 { [%eval -0.18] [%clk 0:34:24] } 31... gxf5 { [%eval -0.2] [%clk 0:35:37] } 32. gxf5 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:34:49] } 32... Bc8 { [%eval -0.03] [%clk 0:35:35] } 33. Kh1 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:34:25] } 33... Qe7?! { [%eval 0.57] [%clk 0:33:33] } (33... Bg5 { Stockfish wants to defend by exchanging the attackers. }) 34. Rg1 { [%eval 0.41] [%clk 0:32:54] } 34... Bc7?! { [%eval 1.17] [%clk 0:30:39] } (34... Bd7 { and Black is still defending according to Stockfish. } 35. Qh5 Qf8 { [%cal Gg8f6] }) 35. Qh5! { [%eval 1.12] } { Now white's attack looks threatening. } { [%clk 0:25:12] } 35... Be5?? { [%eval 3.12] } { only this is really bad and losing on the spot. Black plans to play Bg7 to bolster h6 but it fails. } { [%clk 0:24:56] } (35... Qf8 36. Bg5 Qg7 37. Bf4 Nf6 38. Qh4) 36. Nh4! { [%eval 3.13] } { This is what Black probably missed. } { [%cal Gh4f3] [%clk 0:23:00] } 36... Ra7 { [%eval 3.24] [%clk 0:13:38] } 37. Nf3 { [%eval 3.22] [%csl Gg8][%cal Gg1g8] [%clk 0:21:39] } (37. Rxg8?? { White should prepare this shot. } 37... Kxg8 38. Bxh6 Ra1+ 39. Kg2 Bg7 40. Qg4 Qf8 $19) 37... Bg7 { [%eval 3.66] [%clk 0:10:20] } 38. Bf4 { [%eval 3.74] } { Even though White is a piece down his attack can not be stopped. } { [%cal Gc2g2] [%clk 0:18:00] } 38... Bf8?! { Inaccuracy. f6 was best. } { [%eval 5.11] [%clk 0:10:33] } (38... f6 39. Rcg2) 39. Rxg8! { [%eval 6.08] } { Now it's fully playable and decisive. } { [%clk 0:14:39] } 39... Kxg8 { [%eval 6.22] [%clk 0:10:53] } 40. Rg2+ { [%eval 6.35] [%clk 0:44:56] } 40... Bg7 { [%eval 6.27] [%clk 0:39:38] } 41. Rxg7+ { [%eval 6.86] [%clk 0:45:07] } 41... Kxg7 { [%eval 6.15] [%clk 0:39:54] } 42. Bxh6+ { [%eval 6.22] [%clk 0:45:33] } 42... Kh7 { [%eval 6.11] [%clk 0:39:57] } 43. Bg5+ { [%eval 6.51] [%clk 0:45:51] } 43... Kg8 { [%eval 6.06] [%clk 0:40:22] } 44. Bxe7 { [%eval 6.75] [%clk 0:46:17] } 44... Rexe7 { [%eval 6.12] [%clk 0:40:45] } 45. f6 { [%eval 6.1] [%clk 0:46:43] } 1-0