[Event "The American Cup | Group B 2023"] [Site "St Louis"] [Date "2023.03.27"] [Round "7"] [White "Lee, Alice"] [Black "Paikidze, Nazi"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2362"] [BlackElo "2314"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] [Annotator "Zong, Davis"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A40"] [Opening "Queen's Pawn Game: Modern Defense"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/DZGTvv5d/onyIzSWM"] [Orientation "white"] { [%evp 0,45,25,24,74,46,25,39,48,24,25,-4,92,54,50,57,75,63,65,56,70,72,106,96, 107,93,47,33,26,79,119,119,113,91,91,91,545,545,545,549,549,564,656,717,872, 899,995,658] } 1. d4 { [%emt 1:05:41] } 1... g6 { [%emt 1:05:42] } 2. c4 { [%emt 0:00:21] } 2... Bg7 { [%emt 0:00:22] } 3. e4 { [%emt 0:00:25] } 3... c5 { [%emt 0:00:29] } 4. d5 { [%emt 0: 00:21] } 4... d6 { [%emt 0:00:22] } 5. Be2 { [%emt 0:00:34] } 5... e6 { [%emt 0:02:03] } 6. Nc3 { [%emt 0:01:06] } 6... Bxc3+!? { [%emt 0:02:31] Black is usually hesitant to part with the "King's Indian bishop" so early, even if it means White's c-pawns are doubled. Although it complements the ...e6-e5 idea well, there may have been other ways to play this. } (6... exd5 7. cxd5 Nf6 { is more in the spirit of a Benoni, and it may have been better than trading off the strong bishop. }) 7. bxc3 { [%emt 0:00:22] } 7... e5 { [%emt 0:00:21] An interesting opening choice by Paikidze, closing up the position. However, with the fianchettoed bishop having been traded off, White can potentially get a strong initiative here. } 8. Bd3 { [%emt 0:01:33] } (8. f4! { The bishop pair and extra space gives White a large advantage here. Often, it is bad to play f2-f4 because it gives Black the e5 square, but it is not as risky here because the g7-bishop is absent. } 8... Nd7 9. Nf3 f6 10. O-O Qe7 11. Rb1 $16) 8... Nd7 { [%emt 0:01:45] } 9. Ne2 { [%emt 0:00:36] } 9... Qe7 { [%emt 0:01:07] } 10. h3 { [%emt 0:02:04] } 10... Kd8! { [%emt 0: 02:03] I like this idea a lot, even though it may not be the top engine choice. The king walk demonstrates how in closed positions like these, it may not always be bad to keep the king in the center. } 11. Be3 { [%emt 0:00:58] } 11... Kc7 { [%emt 0:00:36] A creative odyssey by the king has landed it in a surprising haven of c7. Now Black is ready to pounce with ...f7-f5 } 12. Qd2 { [%emt 0:03: 01] } 12... f5! $10 { [%emt 0:03:13] } 13. exf5 { [%emt 0:02:18] } 13... e4 { [%emt 0:00:24] } 14. Bg5 { [%emt 0:00:29] } 14... Ndf6? { [%emt 0:03:12] } (14... Ngf6! { It was advisable to develop the more passive knight. Followed up with ...Nd7-e5, Black's pieces are waking up and seizing the initiative. } 15. Bc2 gxf5 16. Nf4 Ne5 $15 { Notice the difference here! Otherwise, the black knight would have been on g8 instead of e5, making the position much more passive. }) 15. Bc2 { [%emt 0:01:32] } 15... Bxf5 { [%emt 0:00:48] } 16. Qe3 { [%emt 0:01:11] } 16... h6 { [%emt 0:01: 01] } 17. Bf4 { [%emt 0:00:25] } 17... g5?? { [%emt 0:01:48] An unfortunate oversight by Paikidze which decides the game. } (17... b6) 18. Qxc5+! { [%emt 0:00:25] A nice blow, winning both the c5- and d6-pawns and utilizing the pin. Both queen and bishop are en prise at the moment, but none can be taken. Lee has no trouble converting the two extra pawns and large attack. } 18... Kd8 { [%emt 0:01:41] } 19. Bxd6 { [%emt 0:00:33] } 19... Qd7 { [%emt 0:00:31] } 20. Nd4 { [%emt 0:00:51] } 20... Rc8 { [%emt 0:00:45] } 21. Qb4 { [%emt 0:00:38] } 21... Ne8 { [%emt 0:02:22] } 22. Be5 { [%emt 0: 00:40] } 22... Rh7 { [%emt 0:00:35] } 23. g4 { [%emt 0:00:28] 1-0 White wins. } 1-0