[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/0PJ0AHLq"] [Date "2021.02.20"] [White "ElAurens"] [Black "JRWright"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2019"] [BlackElo "1672"] [TimeControl "3600+10"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C31"] [Opening "King's Gambit Declined: Falkbeer Countergambit, Nimzowitsch-Marshall Countergambit"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/axel_muller"] [StudyName "Larry vs John"] [ChapterName "ElAurens - JRWright"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/Ir1PAHHH/nmLd5xu7"] [Orientation "black"] 1. e4 { [%clk 1:00:00] } 1... e5 { [%clk 1:00:00] } 2. f4 { [%clk 1:00:01] } 2... d5 { [%clk 1:00:05] } 3. exd5 { [%clk 1:00:04] } 3... c6 { I usually play 3 - e4 but just recently discovered this line and felt it would give me the type of position I was trying to reach. A little history on Larry and I. We've known each other over 30 years, played on two USATs together and I consider him a good friend. But friendship aside, he has made my life as Black miserable! I only have one draw to show in all these years. Well we are talking about a guy who has "1 e4" on his license plate. And he's a strong player. Earned his NM title in 1991, beat GM Walter Browne once, and won four straight tournaments at Arcadia once going something like 24-0, not a single draw. So with all that in mind I am playing 1 - e5 against him for the first time. I then decided on this gambit line as I hoped it would complicate the game. Trying to outplay him in more normal positions has never worked out well! } { [%clk 1:00:11] } 4. Nf3 { [%clk 0:55:03] } 4... exf4 { [%clk 0:58:10] } 5. d4 { [%clk 0:54:42] } 5... Bd6 { [%clk 0:58:14] } 6. Nc3 { [%clk 0:53:25] } 6... Ne7 { [%clk 0:58:19] } 7. Bc4 { [%clk 0:52:13] } 7... O-O { [%clk 0:58:15] } 8. O-O { [%clk 0:51:37] } 8... Bg4 { All "book" so far! Black's idea is to overprotect the f4 pawn and restrict some of White's development. For his part White has decent control of the center. } { [%clk 0:57:59] } 9. Ne2 { But this retreat takes the Knight away from its control of the center. A number of games have gone } { [%clk 0:48:49] } (9. dxc6 Nbxc6 10. Ne4 Bc7 11. c3 Ng6 { with a dynamically balanced position where both sides have chances }) 9... cxd5 { [%clk 0:57:21] } 10. Bb3 { [%clk 0:48:13] } 10... Qc7 { [%clk 0:55:34] } 11. Qd2 { A critical juncture. Do I protect the f pawn or let the d5 pawn go? } { [%clk 0:34:04] } 11... Ng6 { It's the f pawn although the computer disagrees, giving } (11... Nbc6 12. c3 Ng6 13. Bxd5 Rae8 { with a plus for Black. But as noted earlier, this structure where I do all I can to hold the f4 pawn was what I had aimed for and frankly all I understood. }) 12. Bxd5 { [%clk 0:30:31] } (12. Nc3 { re-posting the Knight and threatening both Nxd5 and Nb5 seems better. Still White has to solve the problem of getting his Q Bishop free and of course his Q Rook, which are held captive by the Queen on d2 }) 12... Nc6 { [%clk 0:47:18] } 13. c3 { [%clk 0:30:04] } 13... Rae8 { [%clk 0:45:14] } 14. Qd3 { [%clk 0:27:26] } 14... Nce7 { [%clk 0:40:01] } 15. Bb3 { [%clk 0:25:46] } 15... Bf5 { [%clk 0:34:29] } 16. Qc4 { [%clk 0:24:41] } 16... Nc6 { [%clk 0:33:16] } 17. Ne5 { [%clk 0:21:34] } 17... Ncxe5 { [%clk 0:30:08] } (17... Bxe5 18. dxe5 Qb6+ 19. Nd4 Ncxe5 { was better }) 18. Qxc7 { [%clk 0:20:43] } 18... Bxc7 { [%clk 0:30:04] } 19. dxe5 { [%clk 0:20:48] } 19... Bd3 { [%clk 0:27:38] } 20. Re1 { White was about 10 minutes behind on the clock and finally succumbs to the pressure. Instead } (20. Rf2 Ba6 21. Nd4 Bxe5 22. Bd2 { is better for Black but White is still in the game }) 20... Rxe5 { [%clk 0:27:24] } 21. Kf2 { [%clk 0:14:14] } (21. Bxf4 Bb6+ 22. Kh1 Rxe2 23. Rxe2 Bxe2 { also sees White have to give up a piece }) 21... Rfe8 22. Bd2 Rxe2+ { Can it really be?! Well, it wasn't over the board but I'm sure my friend will not mind my satisfaction after all my failures. White resigned. } 0-1