[Event "Rated Rapid game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/wFsclSlL"] [Date "2022.11.18"] [White "kyrongriffith"] [Black "not-an-aardvark"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2537"] [WhiteTitle "IM"] [BlackElo "2333"] [TimeControl "900+5"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C22"] [Opening "Center Game: Paulsen Attack Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/kyrongriffith"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/FSnxEaJ2/q1Ru6YEP"] [Orientation "white"] { This round 5 game features me (IM Kyron Griffith of Lyft) playing white versus Teddy Katz of Google } 1. e4 { [%clk 0:15:00] } 1... e5 { [%clk 0:15:00] } 2. d4 { The center game is not a serious try for an advantage but if black plays a bit passively then white can actually get an attacking position quite quickly } { [%clk 0:14:53] } 2... exd4 { [%clk 0:15:03] } 3. Qxd4 { [%clk 0:14:58] } 3... Nc6 { [%clk 0:15:05] } 4. Qe3 { [%clk 0:14:58] } 4... b6?! { Too slow, now white will achieve the optimal setup of Nc3, Qg3, Bishop somewhere and 0-0-0 } { [%clk 0:14:34] } (4... Nf6 5. Nc3 (5. Bd2 Be7 6. Nc3 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 { is instant equality also }) 5... Bb4 6. Bd2 O-O 7. O-O-O Re8 { and white is under pressure already }) 5. Nc3 { [%clk 0:14:45] } 5... Bc5 { [%clk 0:13:59] } 6. Qg3 { [%clk 0:14:39] } 6... Nf6 { [%clk 0:13:03] } 7. Bg5 { [%clk 0:12:43] } (7. Qxg7? { falls for a nice trick as pointed out in the stream: } 7... Rg8 8. Qh6 Bxf2+! 9. Kd1 { and material is still equal but white has lost castling rights which is quite a serious problem in such a dynamic position } (9. Kxf2?? Ng4+ { [%cal Gg4h6,Gg4f2] })) 7... Qe7 { Black is already in some trouble since normal development fails } { [%clk 0:12:25] } (7... O-O? 8. O-O-O d6 9. f4 { white's attack is going to be overwhelming }) 8. O-O-O { [%clk 0:12:14] } 8... Nxe4! { A tactical solution and the only move for black to stay in the game } { [%clk 0:11:32] } 9. Nxe4 { [%clk 0:11:49] } (9. Bxe7 Nxg3 10. Bxc5 Nxh1 11. Be3 { is an equally good solution. White is still down a pawn but black will have very a hard time extracting the knight from h1 and may end up losing it. }) 9... Qxe4 { From my experience, a pawn sacrifice is a small price to pay for the open lines and black's unsafe king. The computer gives +2 } { [%clk 0:11:32] } 10. Bd3 { [%clk 0:11:33] } 10... Qe6! { Preventing Re1 is necessary and the counterattack on a2 shouldn't be taken too lightly } { [%cal Ge6a2] [%clk 0:10:49] } 11. Nf3 { [%clk 0:10:15] } 11... Bd6?! { [%clk 0:10:31] } (11... Qxa2!? { is what I would have gone for. White should be winning with strong play, but if white doesn't find a breakthrough, then black is up two pawns and has counterplay against white's king }) 12. Qh4 { [%clk 0:10:01] } 12... f6 { [%clk 0:09:28] } 13. Rhe1 { [%clk 0:08:52] } 13... Be5 { [%clk 0:09:02] } 14. Bc4 { I was surprised I couldn't find a forced win here, however it turns out that this is one of the best moves. I sacrifice some material momentarily but I'm always reclaiming it with interest. } { [%clk 0:05:45] } 14... fxg5 { [%clk 0:07:26] } 15. Nxg5 { [%clk 0:05:24] } 15... Qh6 { I actually missed this move at first! Luckily I have multiple paths to victory } { [%clk 0:06:22] } 16. Qxh6 { [%clk 0:04:51] } (16. Qg3 d6 17. f4 { also does the trick }) 16... gxh6 { [%clk 0:06:25] } 17. Nf7 { [%clk 0:04:56] } 17... Rf8 { [%clk 0:03:58] } 18. Nxe5 { [%clk 0:04:57] } 18... Nxe5 { [%clk 0:04:00] } 19. Rxe5+ { [%clk 0:05:02] } 19... Kd8 { I saw this position when taking on h6 and evaluated it as winning for me due to the massive difference in piece activity, especially black's sad rook on a8 } { [%clk 0:04:04] } 20. Rh5 { [%clk 0:05:06] } 20... Rxf2 { [%clk 0:03:47] } 21. Rxh6 { a bit of a sneaky trap } { [%clk 0:05:05] } 21... d6 { [%clk 0:02:59] } (21... Rxg2?? 22. Bd5 { can be easily missed in time pressure }) 22. Bd5 { [%clk 0:04:56] } 22... Bf5! { I missed this move as well! White is still winning luckily but this is quite a nice resource } { [%clk 0:02:48] } 23. Re1 { [%clk 0:04:37] } (23. Bxa8?? Rxc2+ 24. Kb1 Rd2+ 25. Kc1 Rc2+ { would be an unfortunate end to the game }) 23... Rxc2+ { [%clk 0:02:15] } 24. Kd1 { [%clk 0:04:41] } 24... c6 { [%clk 0:02:18] } 25. Be6! { An aesthetic removing the guard tactic which wins on the spot } { [%csl Gc2] [%clk 0:02:54] } 25... Rc5 { [%clk 0:01:11] } (25... Bd3 26. Re3 { and black loses the bishop for free } { [%csl Ge4,Gf5,Gg6] } 26... Bg6 27. Rxg6) (25... Rf2 { was black's best try but the rook endgame is easily winning } 26. Bxf5 Rxf5 27. Rxh7 { [%cal Gh7h8] } 27... Rf8 28. Ree7 { and black will lose all the pawns at the very least }) 26. b4 { [%clk 0:02:34] } 26... Rb5 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 27. a4 { a second and final removing the guard shot } { [%csl Ga5,Gb5,Gc5,Gd5,Ge5] [%clk 0:02:39] } 27... Rxb4 { [%clk 0:00:20] } 28. Bxf5 { [%clk 0:02:43] } 28... Rxa4 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 29. Rxd6+ { [%clk 0:02:47] } 29... Kc7 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 30. Rd7+ { 1-0 Black resigns. } { [%clk 0:02:52] } 1-0