[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/4jMg91ep"] [Date "2017.10.21"] [Round "-"] [White "MoistvonLipwig"] [Black "RazorBoy"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2271"] [BlackElo "2211"] [TimeControl "2700+45"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B02"] [Opening "Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/MoistvonLipwig"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/Jtj8Fkgo/mBnf5hls"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 0:45:00] } 1... Nf6 { I expected the Sicilian and did not prepare for the Alekhine. Since I know very little theory I thought it would be a better idea to avoid a theoretical battle. } { [%clk 0:45:00] } 2. Nc3 { [%clk 0:44:11] } 2... d5 { [%clk 0:44:46] } 3. e5 { [%clk 0:43:15] } 3... Nfd7 { [%clk 0:44:47] } 4. d4 { I also considered: } { [%clk 0:43:15] } (4. e6 fxe6 5. d4 { which to my surprise is still in the lichess book and scored ok. However I didn't think I had quite enough compensation. }) 4... c5 { [%clk 0:44:14] } 5. Nxd5? { [%clk 0:41:33] } 5... cxd4 { [%clk 0:43:28] } 6. Qxd4? { I would have liked to play } { [%clk 0:38:59] } (6. e6 fxe6 (6... Qa5+ 7. c3 Qxd5 8. exd7+ Bxd7 9. Qxd4 Qxd4 10. cxd4 { and black is significantly better. }) 7. Nf4 { where I was feeling like my position is more comfortable to play. However I then realized black can simply play }) 6... Nb6 $19 { I managed to already have a lost position here. I somehow thought after Bb5 he would need to play a piece to d7 but he obviously has Nc6 too. With nothing to lose I at least could put the board on fire without fear. ;) } { [%clk 0:40:37] } 7. Bb5+ { Here I had planned some long variations including one leading to me checkmating (see comment on move 9). } { [%clk 0:28:06] } (7. c4 e6 8. Bg5 Bb4+ 9. Ke2 Qd7 10. a3 { was an alternative however I felt the game line gave me better chances. (the computer disagrees though; from a practical standpoint I think the game line is good as it poses problems for black) }) 7... Nc6 $7 { [%clk 0:38:50] } 8. c4 { [%clk 0:28:48] } 8... e6 $7 { [%clk 0:39:17] } 9. Bg5! { The position is still lost however this creates practical chances. Of course black can't take it because of Nc7+. } { [%clk 0:29:25] } 9... Bb4+?! { [%clk 0:31:02] } (9... Qd7! { Here I probably would have hoped on the previously mentioned checkmating variation } 10. O-O-O Nxd4?? (10... exd5! { however just wins the piece. I had planned to try something with my central pawns and the bit of activity that I have however it doesn't look good for white at all. }) 11. Nc7#) 10. Kf1 { [%clk 0:27:53] } 10... Qd7 $7 { While black is still winning, after Bb4+ the position suddenly became not that clear anymore. } { [%clk 0:30:16] } 11. Bxc6! { On a side note: I was down to 18 minutes at this point. Playing for tricks costs a lot of time as they're hard to find. ;) } { [%clk 0:18:41] } 11... bxc6 $7 { [%clk 0:29:02] } 12. Ne2! { This was the point of the white play with Kf1 and Bxc6. Now black never has Qb5 checks so the game variation poses some real problems for black. } { [%clk 0:19:20] } 12... cxd5 { [%clk 0:20:55] } 13. c5 { [%clk 0:19:28] } 13... Nc4 { [%clk 0:16:20] } 14. b3 { After playing this I realized black has 14...Ba6 which indeed is strong. However playing a3 first doesn't help either: } { [%clk 0:17:27] } (14. a3? Ba5 15. b3 Nxe5! 16. Qxe5 f6 $19) 14... Na3?? { [%clk 0:08:03] } (14... Ba6! 15. bxc4 Bxc4 { Or the computer move 15...Rc8 and black is better though at least not up a piece. }) (14... h6! { was pointed out by the spectator chat and also is a very strong move which I didn't consider at all. }) 15. Qxb4! { [%clk 0:18:00] } 15... Nc2 { [%clk 0:08:08] } 16. Qa5! { Now black suddenly is worse and has a difficult to play position. The gamble worked greatly. } { [%clk 0:18:42] } 16... f6?! { [%clk 0:05:09] } (16... Nxa1?? 17. c6! $18) 17. c6? { I should instead play the simple Rc1 however I did not see the computer line for move 17... } { [%clk 0:15:38] } 17... Qf7? { [%clk 0:03:47] } (17... Qxc6! 18. exf6 gxf6 19. Bxf6? O-O!!) 18. exf6 { [%clk 0:09:28] } 18... O-O { I was instead expecting } { [%clk 0:04:03] } (18... gxf6 19. Rc1 fxg5 20. Rxc2 O-O 21. Ng3 { after which the position is not so clear. In the game black lost quickly. }) (18... Nxa1? { here I planned the nice tactic: } 19. Qd8+!! Kxd8 20. fxg7+ $18) 19. Rc1 { [%clk 0:09:22] } 19... Qg6 { [%clk 0:03:46] } (19... gxf6? 20. Bh6!) 20. Qd2 { [%clk 0:07:57] } 20... Nb4 { [%clk 0:01:37] } 21. h4 { Now black is in all kinds of trouble. The knight is hanging and even the white h1 rook could come into the game via h3 and g3. } { [%clk 0:07:31] } 21... Nd3 { [%clk 0:01:44] } (21... gxf6 22. Bh6 Rd8 23. Rh3! $18) 22. h5 { [%clk 0:06:22] } 22... Qf5 { [%clk 0:00:53] } (22... Qe4 23. Ng3 (23. Rh4 Qf5 (23... Qe5 24. f4) 24. Nd4) 23... Qd4 24. Be3 { was my planned reply, however 23.Rh4 is even more precise as it doesn't allow 23...Qe5 tricks. }) 23. Ng3 { [%clk 0:07:04] } 23... Qg4 { [%clk 0:01:00] } 24. Rh4 { 1-0 Black resigns. } { The morale of the game: Never give up! Never stop playing for tricks. } { [%clk 0:07:24] } 1-0