[Event "Sparkassen A-Open"] [Site "Dortmund, Germany"] [Date "2023.06.27"] [Round "4"] [White "Pourkashiyan, Atousa"] [Black "Prraneeth Vuppala"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2282"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackElo "2498"] [BlackTeam "India"] [Annotator "WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C78"] [Opening "Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/GHa9RCw7/7BvflEwu"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { Atousa almost exclusively plays 1. e4. She is an aggressive player so it suits her. } 1... e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 { The Ruy Lopez is always fun! } 3... a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 { This move order is played a lot; however, 6. ... Be7 is even more popular. This line requires accurate knowledge because many lines can transpose to each other with different move orders. } 7. a4 (7. c3 { is another interesting option and main line. White wants to play d2-d4 with a tempo, using the fact that Black's bishop on c5 is attacked. } 7... d6 8. d4 (8. a4 { transposes to the game }) 8... Bb6 9. a4 Rb8 { and transposes to the game. }) 7... Rb8 (7... Bb7 { It is a bit early for ... Bc8-b7 because White now can play d2-d3 and the bishop on b7 is not doing much. }) 8. c3 d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. Qd3 { A surprise from Atousa! She only played 10. axb5 before. The idea behind this move is to put pressure on b5 and protect the e4-pawn and, of course, develop the queen, which usually in this line stays on d1 for a while. } 10... O-O (10... Bd7 { is a nice alternative, protecting the b5-pawn. } 11. axb5 axb5 12. Qxb5?? (12. Na3 h6 13. Nxb5 { It is typical in this line to sacrifice the b5-pawn for the initiative. Black's rook on b8 is strong, and Black is also putting some pressure on the center. } 13... O-O 14. Bd2 Ne7 $13) 12... Nxd4! $19) 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. axb5 axb5 { [%csl Rd4] } 14. Qxb5 { It is crucial to grab the pawn! Otherwise, there is no point for White in giving away the dark-squared bishop. } (14. d5 Ne7 15. Nbd2 Ng6 $17) 14... Na7 (14... Bd7? 15. Bd5 Bxd4 16. Qa4 $18) 15. Qd3 { Protecting everything. } { [%cal Rd3b3,Rd3d4] } 15... exd4 16. cxd4 Nc6 17. Ra4 { The only good move to protect the d4-pawn. } (17. d5?! Qxb2 18. Nbd2 Nd4 { Black is taking over. }) 17... Bd7 { The most logical move, targeting the rook on a4. } (17... Bg4 { does not give anything. } 18. Nbd2 { And the pawn on d4 is protected as White has successfully finished their development. }) 18. Nc3 { [%cal Rc3d5] } 18... Ne7 19. Raa1 (19. Ra3 { was also a good alternative, protecting the bishop on b3 and keeping the option to play Rf1-a1. So Black has to act fast. } 19... Bg4 20. Nd5 Nxd5 21. Bxd5 Bxf3 22. Qxf3 Qxf3 23. Rxf3 { Now the rook shows why its a3-square was nice. Even though the position is still equal, it feels good to have some pressure to the f7-pawn. }) 19... Bg4 20. Ne2 Ng6 21. Rfd1 c5 22. h3 { It's time to give the pawn back in exchange for Black's bishop. } (22. d5 Bd8 { After this strange move, White is in trouble. } (22... Qxb2 { is also good, but ... Bb6-d8 was a fun and stronger move :). }) 23. Bc4 Rxb2 24. Rdb1 Rxb1+ 25. Rxb1 Bxf3 26. Qxf3 Qxf3 27. gxf3 Ne5 $19) 22... Bxf3 23. Qxf3 Qxf3 24. gxf3 cxd4 25. Bd5 Rfc8 26. b4 { So far, both sides are playing a great game! It's an indication of how well they feel and know the position. } 26... Rc2 27. Ra2 (27. Nxd4 { was also possible, but Atousa did not want to give any play to her opponent. } 27... Bxd4 28. Rxd4 Nf4 29. Rc4 Rb2 30. Ra7 Nxh3+ 31. Kh2 Nxf2 32. Bxf7+ $13) 27... Rxa2 28. Bxa2 Ra8 29. Bd5 Ra3 30. Nxd4 Nf4 { A tricky move! } (30... Bxd4 { It looks pleasant to have the bishop on d5 against the g6-knight; however, Black can act fast. } 31. Rxd4 Nf4 (31... Rxf3 32. b5 $18) 32. Bc4 Nxh3+ 33. Kg2 Nf4+ 34. Kg3 Nh5+ 35. Kg2) 31. Kh2 (31. Bc4 { This is the right move, where White has an easier time holding equality. } 31... Nxh3+ 32. Kg2 Nf4+ 33. Kg3) 31... Bxd4 32. Rxd4 Rxf3 { Now White has to give away a pawn, which means they should defend the position and must be more precise. The other option would be more comfortable. } 33. Rd2 Rxh3+ 34. Kg1 Nxd5 35. Rxd5 Rb3 36. b5 Kf8 37. Rxd6 Rxb5 { Make sure to know how to defend such rook endgames! Atousa showed a good example here. } 38. Kg2 Rg5+ 39. Kh3 Ke7 40. Ra6 Rg1 41. f3 f6 42. Kh4 Kf7 43. Rb6 g5+ 44. Kh5 Rh1+ 45. Kg4 Rf1 46. e5! f5+ 47. Kxf5 Rxf3+ 48. Ke4 Rf4+ 49. Kd5 h5 50. Rh6 h4 51. e6+ Ke8 52. Kd6 { An active king always helps! } 52... Rd4+ 53. Ke5 Rd1 54. Kf6 Rf1+ 55. Kxg5 { It was a high-quality game and a fighting game for both players. } 1/2-1/2