[Event "2014 Golden Knights Final (14Nf02)"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/FVApHVCD/fF2oXQ1E"] [Date "2014.??.??"] [White "Adams, Gary"] [Black "Wilson, Abe"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2383"] [BlackElo "2236"] [Annotator "Irons,Robert"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D46"] [Opening "Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense"] [StudyName "Check is in the Mail: October 2023"] [ChapterName "Adams, Gary - Wilson, Abe"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/FVApHVCD/fF2oXQ1E"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 a6 10. Rd1 b5 11. Bd3 Qc7 12. Bd2 Bb7 $14 { My source for all things Semi-Slav is Alexey Dreev, and his 2011 book on the Meran and Anti-Meran Variations (published by Chess Stars) recommends 12...c5. The text move allows White more of an advantage than he would have after the c5 break: } (12... c5!? 13. Bxb5 (13. dxc5 Qxc5 { and neither player has much to build an advantage upon. }) (13. Ne4 c4 14. Nxd6 Qxd6 15. Be2 Bb7 { may be White's best try, but I still like Black's chances. }) 13... axb5 14. Nxb5 Qc6 15. Nxd6 Qxd6 16. dxc5 Qxc5 17. Qxc5 Nxc5 18. Bb4 Nfe4 19. Rac1 Rxa2 20. Bxc5 Nxc5 21. Rxc5 Rxb2 { Black should have little difficulty holding this ending. }) 13. Rac1?! { Here White misses an opportunity to shut down the c5 break for good: } (13. b4! e5 (13... Bxb4? 14. Nxb5! $16 { wins }) 14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Bxe4 g6 16. Rac1 $14) 13... c5 { This position is dead even, and if I were Black here, I would play to strengthen my position so that White can't play for more without taking risks. Black has nullified White's opening advantage, but White still has a lead in development, and his pieces are well coordinated. Unless the tournament situation requires more, Black should be satisfied with a draw from this position against a player of Gary Adams' calibre. Given that this was the Finals, playing for more is understandable. } 14. dxc5 Nxc5?! { An indication that Black is indeed playing for more than a draw. Again, if I were Black, I would play to simplify rather than complicate: } (14... Qxc5 15. Ne4 (15. b4?! Qh5 (15... Qxb4? 16. Nxb5! $18 { wins in a manner much like the line after White's 13th move. }) 16. Ne4 Rac8 $15) 15... Qxc2 16. Nxf6+ Nxf6 17. Rxc2 Rfc8) 15. Bxb5 axb5 { The in-between check doesn't upset the balance any more than the text move: } (15... Bxh2+ 16. Nxh2 axb5 17. Nxb5 Qc6 18. Nf3 Qxb5 19. Nd4 Qb6 20. Qxc5 Qxc5 21. Rxc5 Rxa2 22. Rb5 Ba6 23. Ra5 Rxa5 24. Bxa5 Nd5 { While there is more play left in this position, without significant mistakes, the game is likely to end in a draw. }) 16. Nxb5 Be4? { This is the culprit, and White makes the most of this opportunity. Black can maintain equality if he plays with that intent: } (16... Bxh2+ 17. Nxh2 Qc6 18. Nf3 Qxb5 19. Nd4 Qb6 20. Qxc5 Qxc5 21. Rxc5 Rxa2 22. Rb5 Ba6 23. Ra5 Rxa5 24. Bxa5 Nd5 { with the same position as in the line after Black's 15th move. There is no more equality after the text. }) 17. Nxc7 Bxc2 18. Rxc2 Bxc7 19. Rxc5 Bd6 20. Ra5 Ne4 21. Be1 Rxa5 22. Bxa5 Ra8 23. b4?! { Here I prefer seeking the trade of Black's well-placed knight: } (23. Ng5 Be7 24. Nxe4 Rxa5 25. a3 $18 { However the text wins just as well. }) 23... Be7 24. Ne5 Nc3 25. Rd7 Bf6 26. Nc4 g6 27. a3 Kf8 28. Rb7 Be7 29. g3 Nd5 30. b5 Bxa3 31. e4 Nf6 32. Rc7 Ne8 33. Rc6 Be7 34. b6 Rb8 35. e5 g5 36. Nd6 { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0